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Biomedical subjects

S Yamagami

Publications and source records attributed to S Yamagami.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Allo-cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in corneal allografted mice treated with monoclonal antibodies to adhesion molecules].

Corneal transplantation was performed by grafting C3H/He donor corneas into BALB/c corneal beds. The allografted mice were injected either with 0.5 mg/day of anti-very late antigen (VLA)-4 antibody, anti-leukocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1 antibody, or 0.25 mg/day each of both antibodies on days -2, 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. After 3 weeks, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to donor alloantigens were assessed. Splenocytes in the allografted mice without treatment demonstrated greater CTL responses that those in naive mice. CTL responses were depressed in mice treated with either anti-LFA-1 alone or a combination of anti-LFA-1 and anti-VLA-4 antibodies as compared with splenocytes from allografted mice without treatment. These data suggest that CTLs play significant roles in eliciting immune response to corneal allografts.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of three methods for analysis of urinary sediments.

Efficiency of urine sediment analysis was evaluated in 423 specimens including 86 documented renal disorder ones using three methods; a traditional centrifugal and microscopic one, an image-scanning one and a flow cytometric one. Among the three methods, good correlations were observed in white blood cells and epithelial cells. Between white blood cells and bacterial counts a good correlation was observed only in the flow cytometry one. Female specimens usually demonstrated high values in white blood cells except with the microscopic method. Casts in patients with renal disorder exhibited significantly high in the flow cytometric method. In all methods, proteinuria specimens showed high cast count in the sediment. From these results we concluded that the flow cytometric method was clinically useful, especially in urinary tract disorder specimens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Plasma neuropeptide Y is reduced in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is demonstrated to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, as well as somatostatin. We measured the plasma NPY content in patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy control subjects (n = 25) by HPLC coupled with radioimmunoassay. The difference in screening pattern of NPY-like immunoreactivity in 50 fractions eluted by HPLC obtained from the plasma peptide-rich fraction between patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy controls suggested the abnormal metabolism of plasma NPY in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Plasma NPY in patients with Alzheimer's disease was significantly decreased compared with that in healthy controls, which was compatible with the findings obtained from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid and could be involved in the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Full active baculovirus-expressed human monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 with the intact N-terminus.

The Sf-9 insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus integrated with a cDNA encoding human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) produced three different MCP-1s, which were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC as 13kDa, 14kDa, and 15kDa bands on SDS-PAGE. The heterogeneity between these MCP-1s was ascribed to the different degree of O-glycosylation with Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-Ser/Thr, while the 13kDa was regarded as carbohydrate-free. The integrity of the N-termius was confirmed by the amino acid sequence analysis. Each MCP-1 isolated showed equipotent monocyte chemotactic activity, which was rather higher than that of the E. coli-derived one.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Metabolic profile of opioid peptides differs in the hippocampus and striatum of seizure-susceptible E1 mice.

We previously suggested that a deficit of anticonvulsant endogenous methionine enkephalin, in the cerebral cortex, septal area, hippocampus, and striatum of seizure-susceptible El mice plays a role in the pathogenesis of seizures. To determine whether a hypofunction of enkephalinergic neuron may be due to metabolic abnormalities of opioid peptides in the El mouse brain, we measured methionine enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (ME-LI) of 50 fractions eluted by high performance liquid chromatography obtained from those four regions of the brain of El and seizure-nonsusceptible ddY mice (the mother strain of El mice). We observed the same ME-LI patterns of 50 fractions in the cerebral cortex and septal area in El and ddY mice, whereas exhibited differing ME-LI patterns in the hippocampus and striatum in the two stains. Different ME-LI patterns may imply the difference in the metabolic profile of opioid peptides. Thus, an abnormal metabolism of opioid peptides in the hippocampus and striatum of the El mouse may be involved in the pathogenesis of seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

HPLC/RIA analysis of bioactive methionine enkephalin content in the seizure-susceptible El mouse brain.

We previously reported a deficit of methionine enkephalin-like immunoreactivity (ME-LI), in the cerebral cortex, septal area, hippocampus, and striatum and the abnormal metabolism of opioid peptides in the hippocampus and striatum of seizure-susceptible El mice, which are involved in the pathogenesis of seizures. However, these findings suggest that the ME-LI does not necessarily reflect the bioactive methionine enkephalin (ME). Herein, we measured the biologically active peptide, ME excluding cross-reactive substances by using HPLC coupled with radioimmunoassay to clarify the abnormal function of enkephalinergic neurons in the El mouse brain. The ME content in 25-day-old El mice that had no seizures was significantly decreased in the hippocampus and septal area, as compared with corresponding regions in ddY mice (seizure-nonsusceptible; the mother strain of El). At the age of 50 days when El mice displayed abortive seizures, this content in both stimulated El[s] and nonstimulated El[ns] was significantly reduced in the septal area and cerebral cortex. At the age of 150 days when El mice exhibit tonic-clonic seizures, this content in both El[s] and El[ns] was significantly reduced in the septal area, cerebral cortex and striatum. These findings were generally compatible with our previous findings. This study further supports our hypothesis that a deficit of anticonvulsant endogenous ME, in the cerebral cortex, septal area, and hippocampus of seizure-susceptible El mice play an important role in the pathogenesis of seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

D2 receptors in the ventrolateral striatum are involved in feeding behavior in rats.

To study the role of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the ventrolateral striatum in feeding behavior, a D1 receptor agonist (CY 208-243), a D1 receptor antagonist (SCH 23390), a D2 receptor agonist (quinpirole), and a D2 receptor antagonist [(-)-sulpiride] were perfused via a microdialysis probe into the ventrolateral striatum of rats fasted for 22 h. Then the rats were allowed to feed freely for 6 h. Sulpiride perfusion at a high concentration suppressed food and water intake significantly, whereas dopamine release and the levels of DOPAC and HVA were increased at all concentrations. In contrast, quinpirole perfusion at a high concentration increased food intake by 41%. Dopamine release and the levels of DOPAC and HVA were decreased at all concentrations. On the other hand, neither CY 208-243 nor SCH 23390 changed food intake or dopamine release, but both drugs decreased water intake. These results suggest that D2 receptors in the ventrolateral striatum have a more important role than D1 receptors in the feeding behavior of rats.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1995

Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale.

The reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (JY-BOCS) were determined by 20 raters for 12 Japanese patients with obsessive compulsive disorder at four institutions. Interrater reliability for the total JY-BOCS score was excellent, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was high (ICC = 0.960). Internal consistency was also excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.889). Concurrent and discriminant validity of the JY-BOCS was examined by comparing the scores on the JY-BOCS with those on the Maudsley Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) and scales for depression and anxiety. A slight correlation was found between scores on the JY-BOCS and MOCI, but no significant correlations were found between scores on the JY-BOCS and those on scales for depression or anxiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with chronic renal failure.

The serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were determined in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Nondialysis patients with renal insufficiency had significantly higher serum HGF than normal subjects (0.34 +/- 0.10 ng/ml, n = 21 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, n = 15; p < 0.001), and the elevated serum HGF correlated with their serum creatinine levels. Hemodialysis (HD) patients treated for 5-10 years showed higher serum HGF than those receiving HD for 1 year or less (0.45 +/- 0.14 ng/ml, n = 8 vs. 0.33 +/- 0.11 ng/ml, n = 9; p < 0.05). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients also showed elevated serum HGF levels comparable to those of HD patients. There was no difference in serum HGF levels in HD patients with or without acquired cystic disease of kidney. Consequently, serum HGF is elevated in CRF, which may be attributed to the increased production of HGF in response to the chronic renal injury, the effect of heparin, or reduced removal of serum HGF in CRF patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The effects of bifemelane hydrochloride on depressive illness of the elderly.

The therapeutic efficacy, utility and safety of bifemelane hydrochloride were studied in 52 elderly depressive patients. The drug was administered as a tablet containing 50 mg orally three times daily for 8 consecutive weeks. The final global improvement rating and global utility rating were respectively 80.8 and 73.1 percent for all patients. The improvement rates on the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) were more than 60% for depressed mood, guilt, suicide, middle insomnia, delayed insomnia, psychotic anxiety, gastro-intestinal symptom, hypochondriasis, depersonalization and derealization. The rates regarding global symptoms evaluated by the Psychoneurotic rating scale for doctor's use were more than 60% for tension, agitation, irritability and excitement, phobia, depression, hypochondria and nocturnal delirium in psychotic symptoms, and insomnia in addition to palpitation in somatic symptoms. A significant decrease was also observed in the symptoms covered by the Self-rating depression scale of Zung after treatment with this drug. There were no instances of side-effects, nor any abnormalities in laboratory tests, encountered throughout the trial. Therefore, bifemelane hydrochloride is of value for the treatment of geriatric depression.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Local cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism during seizure in spontaneously epileptic El Mice].

Local cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism were examined in spontaneously epileptic El mice using autoradiography with 125I-IMP and 14C-DG in the interictal phase and during seizure. El (+) mice that developed generalized tonic-clonic convulsions and El (-) mice that received no stimulation and had no history of epileptic seizures were examined. The seizure non-susceptible, maternal strain ddY mice were used as control. Uptake ratios for IMP and DG in mouse brain were calculated using the autoradiographic density. In the interictal phase, the pattern of local cerebral blood flow of El (+) mice was similar to that of ddY and El (-) mice, and glucose metabolism in the hippocampus was higher in El (+) mice than in El (-) and ddY mice, but flow and metabolism were nearly matched. During seizure, no significant changed blood flow and increased glucose metabolism in the hippocampus, the epileptic focus, and no markedly changed blood flow and depressed glucose metabolism in other brain regions were observed and considered to be flow-metabolism uncoupling. These observations have never been reported in clinical or experimental studies of epilepsy. Seizures did not cause large regional differences in cerebral blood flow. Therefore, only glucose metabolism is useful for detection of the focus of secondary generalized seizures in El mice, and appeared possibly to be related to the pathophysiology of secondary generalized epilepsy in El mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of bifemelane hydrochloride on plasma neuropeptide Y, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol and 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid concentrations in patients with cerebral infarction.

Bifemelane hydrochloride (BH) is widely employed in Japan in the treatment of cerebral infarction patients with depressive symptoms and its antidepressant action is considered to be caused by the normalizing effects of neurotransmitters. The relationship between the normalizing effects of neurotransmitters of BH and the depressive state of patients with cerebral infarction was examined. BH 150 mg/day was administered for three months to 13 cerebral infarction patients with depressive state. We measured the plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) and 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid (5-HIAA), and assessed the depressive symptoms using the 21-item Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) before and after administration of BH. After treatment, the plasma NPY concentration was significantly increased, the plasma MHPG concentration and total score of HRSD were significantly decreased, and the plasma 5-HIAA concentration showed no changes. These findings suggest that the antidepressant effect of BH is caused by the normalizing effects of NPY and noradrenalinergic neurons.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

cDNA cloning and functional expression of a human monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 receptor.

A novel human G-protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-type receptor gene, 24-1, has been cloned from THP-1 cells. The 24-1 was 56% and 34% identical to the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) receptor and the interleukin-8 (IL-8) receptors at the amino acid level, respectively. To examine the ligand specificity of the receptor, we have established a stable transfectant of this gene with human kidney 293 cells. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) induced a rapid increase of Ca++ influx in the 24-1-transfectant, while other C-C chemokines tested did not. This indicates that the 24-1 encodes the human MCP-1 receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗