PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Minato

Publications and source records attributed to S Minato.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy.

We found unstimulated (spontaneous) peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) proliferation significantly increased in 14 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) compared with findings in HTLV-I seropositive non-HAM carriers (N = 8) or HTLV-I seronegative controls (N = 16). The proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, or pokeweed mitogen was decreased in the HAM patients. Cell clusters were frequent in cultures of unstimulated PBL from the HAM patients, but much less common in the controls or carriers. This spontaneous PBL proliferation was depressed when adherent-cell populations were depleted from the cultures. IL-2 activity increased in the supernatant of 3-day cultured cells from HAM patients, but not in cultured cells from the controls. Since IL-2 receptor positive cells increased in HAM, this spontaneous PBL proliferation is probably a response to IL-2 through the expression of IL-2 receptors.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase with alanine dehydrogenase in the presence of anthglutin.

gamma-Glutamyl cyclotransferase activity is assayed in tissues by a colorimetric method using gamma-glutamyl alanine as a substrate coupled with alanine dehydrogenase from B. sphericus, to measure the formation of NADH. In order to avoid interference by the reaction catalyzed by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, anthglutin, a specific inhibitor of the transpeptidase was included in the reaction mixture. The Km value of rat kidney gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase with respect to gamma-glutamyl alanine appeared to be the same when determined by either the colorimetric or the radiometric method. This assay presents a reliable alternative to the use of radiolabeled substrate and is used for the assay of gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase in a variety of physiological and experimental samples.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1985

Purification of phenylalanine hydroxylase from human adult and foetal livers with a monoclonal antibody.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase from adult and foetal livers was purified by single step monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography. From adult and foetal livers, about 1280- and 1450-fold purified enzymes were obtained with 37% and 23% yield, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the resultant adult enzyme showed an essentially single band with an apparent molecular weight of 49K. On the other hand, two subunits (molecular weights 52K and 49K) were observed from the foetal enzyme. Molecular weights of the native adult and foetal enzymes as determined on Sepharose CL-6B column chromatogram were 150K and 160K, respectively. It was clear that adult and foetal liver phenylalanine hydroxylases were different proteins having different subunit molecular weights.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hip flexion-abduction to elicit asterixis in unresponsive patients.

Asterixis at the hip joints can be elicited by a simple diagnostic maneuver in which the hips are passively flexed and abducted about 60 to 90 degrees between the thighs. The test evoked asterixis in 8 of 10 patients who were stuporous or semicomatose because of hepatic encephalopathy. The asterixis seems to be provoked by the involuntary contraction of hip adductors against gravity.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1984

Inhalation toxicity study of welding fumes: effect of single or repeated exposure on the lungs of rats.

An inhalation toxicity study of L fumes generated from the manual metal arc (MMA) welding of mild steel with a Lime electrode and S fumes generated from the MMA welding of stainless steel with a Lime-titania electrode has been carried out in rats. A method allowing continuous exposure of rats to a reasonably uniform fume concentration was established. Rats wer exposed to 1000 mg/m3 fumes for 1 h in the single exposure study and to 400 mg/m3 fumes for 30 min/day, 6 days/week, for 2 week in the repeated exposure study. Physical and chemical characteristics of the fumes, such as chemical composition, water solubility and particle size, were evaluated. Exposure to S fumes produced greater changes in lung weight and morphology than exposure to L fumes. Histopathological signs of respiratory irritation, such as mucus granules in the alveoli and hyperplasia of mucus cells in the bronchial epithelium, and bronchiectasia were observed only in the rats exposed to S fumes. Fume elements deposited in alveolar macrophages were qualitatively analyzed by means of an electron probe X-ray micro-analyzer and were essentially identical to those in the welding fumes.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1984

[Dynamics of upper urinary tract during vesico-ureteral reflux].

Two types of experiments were performed in dogs to clarify physiological state during vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR). In the first experiment, VUR was established by performing operations to disturb the VUR protecting mechanism. In the second experiment, a tube was inserted into the uretero-vesical junction to prepare VUR model and using this model VUR was induced experimentally. In these experiments, recordings of ureteral myogram, intravesical pressure and intrapelvic pressure as well as macroscopic observations of the ureter were made and the following results were obtained. Functional failure of the ureteral orifice was the most important factor for the development of VUR. When the ureteral orifice showed functional failure, VUR appeared at a mean intravesical pressure of 20 cmH2O. During VUR developed, ureteral peristalsis occurred frequently, whereas no ureteral contraction was observed macroscopically. Antiperistalsis was not an immediate factor responsible for the induction of VUR. In the presence of VUR, intrapelvic pressure became lower than intravesical pressure. These findings seemed to have properly reflected the physiological states in patient with VUR.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[A case of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of renovascular hypertension in a solitary kidney].

The patient was a 18-year-old woman. Past history included right nephrectomy for right congenital hydronephrosis when she was an infant of 40 days. On examination, her blood pressure was 220/140 mmHg, and plasma renin activity was 4.2 ng/ml/hr. The selective renal arteriogram showed fibromuscular dysplasia of the left main renal artery, and a diagnosis of renovascular hypertension in the solitary kidney with an aberrant artery was made. Treatment with orally-active inhibitor of angiotensin I converting enzyme, Captopril, was started. Her blood pressure became normal after oral administration of Captopril, but her renal function deteriorated. Therefore, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed twice resulting in effective dilatation of the stenotic portion of the left main renal artery. Thereafter, her blood pressure fluctuated between 170/120 and 140/70 mmHg. Eight months later, her blood pressure is now being controlled with mild antihypertensive treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Effects of bucumolol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, and its d-isomer on myocardial infarction produced by coronary artery ligation in rats.

Acute ligation of the left coronary artery of rats produced abnormal Q-wave in the electrocardiogram, tachycardia and frequent ventricular fibrillation. Serum CPK level was elevated, reaching a maximum at 3 to 5 hours after ligation and returning to near the pre-ligation level 24 hours later, when CPK activity in the left ventricle markedly decreased. Pretreatment with bucumolol at 2.5 mg/Kg s.c. and 5 mg/Kg s.c. lessened these changes and increased the survival rate in a dose related manner. d-Bucumolol at 5 mg/Kg, on the other hand, increased survival rate primarily by suppressing ventricular fibrillation without any significant effect on other parameters. These results suggest that the membrane stabilizing action does not contribute to protective actions of bucumolol against myocardial ischemia.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1980

Purification of an anemia-inducing factor from human placenta and its application to diagnosis of malignant neoplasms.

An anemia-inducing substance was isolated from the human placenta and designated placental anemia-inducing factor (PAIF). An amount of 2.8 mg was purified from about 70 total placentas (total wet weight, 42 kg). PAIF caused hemolysis of human erythrocytes in vitro and reduced the number of erythrocytes in rabbits to 80% of that in the control by i.v. administration of 27 micrograms/kg of body weight. PAIF is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 20,000 and containing about 56% sugar. Radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled PAIF and antiserum revealed a common antigenicity with crude anemia-inducing substance in sera from patients with cancer. No cross-reactions were observed between PAIF and alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, Australia antigen, human chorionic gonadotropin, or human placental lactogen. The level of anemia-inducing factor in normal serum was less than 100 ng/ml, whereas 43 of 63 cancer patients (68.3%) had over 100 ng/ml of serum anemia-inducing factor. Anemia-inducing factor assay may provide a means of detection and aid in the treatment of malignant diseases.

Anemia↗
PubMed1979

A new colorimetric method for the determination of serum enzyme, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cystine aminopeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase.

A new colorimetric method for the serum enzyme assay was developed, using the color reaction of a ferrous salt complex and a primary aromatic amine. For this method new substrates containing primary aromatic amines were synthesized. The aromatic amine liberated by the enzyme reaction was measured by its color reaction with pentacyanoammineferroate treated with hydrogen peroxide. The determination was made at a wavelength of around 700 nm, at which the assay is not affected by colored substances in serum. Therefore a blank assay was not necessary. This method was applied to the assay of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, cystine aminopeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase. The results obtained were in good agreement with those of the p-nitroanilide method also used to assay each enzyme. This new method can be used on a Technicon autoanalyzer system.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1979

Characterization of Ustilago Ribonuclease U2. Effects of chemical modification at glutamic acid-61 and cystine-1 and of organic solvents on the enzymatic activity.

RNase U2 was purified and crystallized from the enriched culture medium (ammonium sulfate-urea-corn meal) of Ustilago sphaerogena and its characteristics were investigated. Chemical modification of RNase U2 was conducted with monoiodoacetic acid to carboxymethylate Glu-61 and with 2-methoxy-5-nitrotropone to nitrotroponylate the amino terminal residue. The amino terminal residue was modified reversibly by this reagent. Comparison of the 2'-AMP binding in the modified enzyme and the native one showed that Glu-61 is essential for the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex, while the amino terminal residue plays no important role in the enzymatic activity. The enzymatic activity and the structure of RNase U2 in aqueous organic solution were also investigated. The affinity of the enzyme for 2'-AMP, the inactivation by monoiodoacetic acid and the fluorescence intensity were examined. The profiles of the changes in the properties of the enzyme protein were consistent with those in the enzymatic activity. Fluorescence studies of the enzyme suggest that the tryptophan residue is closely related to the activity.

Amino Acids↗