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Shinji Sato

Publications and source records attributed to Shinji Sato.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The Ross procedure performed in the setting of congenitally bifoliate aortic valve with anomalous right coronary artery.

We treated successfully using the Ross procedure a 14-year old with a congenitally stenotic bifoliate aortic valve associated with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery. The anomalous artery arose from the same aortic sinus that gave rise to the main stem of the left coronary artery, and reached the right atrioventricular groove by traversing the tissue plane between the aortic root and the subpulmonary infundibulum. Both coronary arteries were reimplanted using a single arterial button.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Ion transport regulated by protease-activated receptor 2 in human airway Calu-3 epithelia.

We examined the mechanisms underlying anion secretion mediated by protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and its role in the regulation of ion transport, using polarized human airway Calu-3 cells. PAR2 stimulation by trypsin and a PAR2-activating peptide (PAR2AP), especially from the basolateral aspect, caused transient Cl(-) secretion due to cytosolic Ca(2+) mobilization. Antagonists of PI-PLC (U73122, ET-18-OCH(3)) and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (xestospongin C (Xest C)) were without effect on the PAR2AP-mediated Cl(-) secretion, whereas it was attenuated by D609 (a PC-PLC inhibitor) and phorbol 12-myristate 13 acetate (PMA, a PKC activator). Even 30 min after removal of PAR2AP after a 10-min-exposure, cells were still poorly responsive to PAR2 stimulation, but the reduced responsiveness was upregulated by a PKC inhibitor, GF109203X (GFX). Pretreatment with PAR2AP did not affect responses to anion secretagogues, such as isoproterenol, forskolin, thapsigargin, 1-ethyl-2-benzimdazolinone, and adenosine, but ATP-induced responses were significantly reduced. Nystatin permeabilization studies revealed that the presence of PAR2AP prevented ATP-induced increments in basolateral membrane K(+) conductance without affecting apical membrane Cl(-) conductance. ATP-elicited Ca(2+) mobilization, which was sensitive to D609 and PMA, was inhibited by the pretreatment with PAR2AP, and this inhibition was blunted by the presence of GFX. Collectively, stimulation of PAR2 generates a brief response of Cl(-) secretion through PC-PLC-mediated pathway, followed by not only auto-desensitization of PAR2 itself but also cross-desensitization of a PC-PLC-coupled purinoceptor. The two types of desensitization seem likely to have PKC-mediated downregulation of PC-PLC in common.

Calcium↗

Additional physical activity during cardiac rehabilitation leads to an improved heart rate recovery in male patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise, which is thought to be a marker of vagal activity, has been reported to improve after cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with exercise in patients with coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not additional physical activity outside the CR program, would accelerate improvement of the HRR in male patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty male patients were enrolled in a supervised CR program at 2 weeks after CABG, and divided into an active group (walking >or=5,434 steps/day) or a less-active group. The time constant of HRR immediately measured after pedaling exercise was assessed at baseline and after the 2-week CR program. After completion of the CR program, the time constant of HRR improved from 439.7+/-177 s to 288.6+/-97.4 s in the active group (p<0.01), but no changes were observed in the less-active group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that additional physical activity during a CR program may lead to an improved HRR in patients after CABG. Therefore, post-CABG patients should increase their level of physical activity in addition to that in the CR to improve their cardiac autonomic control.

Aged↗

Ber-EP4 and anti-calretinin antibodies: a useful combination for differential diagnosis of various histological types of ovarian cancer cells and mesothelial cells.

The differential diagnosis between reactive mesothelial cells and ovarian carcinoma cells is often difficult in cytologic specimens. Immunocytochemical procedures have been utilized in assisting this differential diagnosis, with limitations. Furthermore, previous studies examined only serous type but not other histological types of ovarian carcinoma cases. Therefore, we evaluated the practical value of various epithelial and mesothelial markers in differential diagnosis of these two types of cells. Various types of ovarian carcinoma (serous, n = 22; mucinous, n = 10; endometrioid, n = 7; clear cell, n = 10) and benign mesothelial tissues (n = 15) were studied by immunohistochemistry. We then studied effective panels of antibodies by immunohistochemistry in 43 cytologic specimens of ascites or peritoneal lavage fluid consisting of 20 reactive mesothelium and 23 adenocarcinomas of the ovary. In the tissue specimens, Ber-EP4, a monoclonal antibody of epithelial antigen, and a polyclonal antibody against calretinin, which is expressed in mesothelium, are used in differentiating reactive mesothelial cells from ovarian carcinoma. In cytologic specimens, the sensitivity and specificity of Ber-EP4 were 100% and 90%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the anti-calretinin antibody were 90% and 91%, respectively. Using multiple regression analysis, the correlation coefficient between epithelial antigen and calretinin reactivity was r = 0.938, with a significance level of p < 0.0001. In conclusion, the combined immunostaining of cytologic specimens for Ber-EP4 and the anti-calretinin antibody is helpful for the differential diagnosis between mesothelial cells and not only serous type, but also mucinous, endometrioid and clear cell types of ovarian cancer cells.

Antibodies↗

Reduction of airway anion secretion via CFTR in sphingomyelin pathway.

The present study concerns the involvement of the ceramide produced through sphingomyelinase (SMase)-mediated catalysis in airway anion secretion of Calu-3 cells. Short-circuit current (Isc) measurement revealed that isoproterenol (ISO, 0.1 microM)-induced anion secretion was prevented by pretreatment with SMase (0.3 U/ml, for 30 min) from the basolateral but not the apical side, although basal and 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO, a Ca2+-activated K+ channel opener)-induced Isc were unaffected. The effects of SMase were reproduced in responses to forskolin (20 microM) or 8-bromo-cAMP (2 mM). C2-ceramide, a cell-permeable analog, also repressed the 8-bromo-cAMP-induced responses. Nystatin permeabilization studies confirmed that the SMase- and C2-ceramide-induced repressions were due to hindrance of augmentation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mediated conductance across the apical membrane. Further, SMase failed to influence K+ conductance across the basolateral membrane. These results suggest that the ceramide originating from basolateral sphingomyelin acts on activated CFTR from the cytosolic side, hindering anion secretion.

Anions↗

Determination of some aliphatic carboxylic acids in anaerobic digestion process waters by ion-exclusion chromatography with conductimetric detection on a weakly acidic cation-exchange resin column.

The determination of seven aliphatic carboxylic acids, formic, acetic, propionic, isobutyric, n-butyric, isovaleric and n-valeric acids in anaerobic digestion process waters was examined using ion-exclusion chromatography with conductimetric detection. The analysis of these biologically important carboxylic acids is necessary as a measure for evaluating and controlling the process. The ion-exclusion chromatography system employed consisted of polymethacrylate-based weakly acidic cation-exchange resin columns (TSKgel OApak-A or TSKgel Super IC-A/C). weakly acidic eluent (benzoic acid), and conductimetric detection. Particle size and cation-exchange capacity were 5 microm and 0.1 meq./ml for TSKgel OApak-A and 3 microm and 0.2 meq./ml for TSKgel Super IC-A/C, respectively. A dilute eluent (1.0-2.0 mM) of benzoic acid was effective for the high resolution and highly conductimetric detection of the carboxylic acids. The good separation of isobutyric and n-butyric acids was performed using the TSKgel Super IC-A/C column (150 mm x 6.0 mm i.d. x 2). The simple and good chromatograms were obtained by the optimized ion-exclusion chromatography conditions for real samples from mesophilic anaerobic digestors, thus the aliphatic carboxylic acids were successfully determined without any interferences.

Acids↗

Determination of monovalent inorganic anions in high-ionic-strength samples by electrostatic ion chromatography with suppressed conductometric detection.

A new ion chromatographic (IC) system has been established by using micelles of 3-(N,N-dimethylmyristylammonio)propanesulfonate (Zwittergent 3-14) loaded onto a reversed-phase packed column as the separation column with an electronic rotary switching valve packed-bed suppressor for conductometric detection of inorganic anions. An aqueous H3BO3-Na2B4O7 solution has been demonstrated to be the most desirable eluent for this IC system. The relationship between retention time and the concentration of the borate eluent was determined for a series of model anionic analytes and this relationship was found to be opposite to that exhibited in a conventional anion-exchange IC system. The rapid elution and complete separation of monovalent inorganic anions were obtained by initially using a high-concentration borate solution as the eluent for a short-period, and then switching to a lower-concentration borate eluent to complete the separation. Detection limits for nitrite, bromide, nitrate, and chlorate were 0.85, 0.88, 0.95 and 4.8 microM, respectively, when a 7.0 mM Na2B4O7 eluent was used. Moreover, the ability to directly detect these monovalent anions in samples containing high concentrations of sulfate and/or chloride ions provided a major advantage of this approach.

Anions↗

Scaffold protein JSAP1 is transported to growth cones of neurites independent of JNK signaling pathways in PC12h cells.

The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase-associated protein 1 [JSAP1; also known as JNK-interacting protein 3 (JIP3)] has been identified as a scaffold protein for JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways and as a cargo adapter in the conventional kinesin-mediated transport system. Furthermore, a functional relationship between UNC-16, the C. elegans ortholog of JSAP1, and JNK signaling has been established genetically. In this study, we first demonstrated that the kinesin light chain is required for the targeting and localization of JSAP1 to the tips of neurites in PC12h cells. Furthermore, to understand whether JNK signaling is involved in kinesin-mediated JSAP1 trafficking, we established stable PC12h cell lines that expressed wild-type JSAP1 or its mutant lacking the JNK-binding domain (JBD). Immunocytochemical studies of the cell lines indicated that the mutant JSAP1 was localized to the growth cones of differentiating PC12h cells in a similar manner to wild-type JSAP1. Taken together, these results suggest that the proper subcellular localization of JSAP1 along microtubules probably does not require JNK signaling.

Animals↗

Alterations in glucose metabolism induce hypothermia leading to tau hyperphosphorylation through differential inhibition of kinase and phosphatase activities: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains contain neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Regional reductions in cerebral glucose metabolism correlating to NFT densities have been reported in AD brains. Assuming that reduced glucose metabolism might cause abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation, we induced in vivo alterations of glucose metabolism in mice by starvation or intraperitoneal injections of either insulin or deoxyglucose. We found that the treatments led to abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation with patterns resembling those in early AD brains and also resulted in hypothermia. Surprisingly, tau hyperphosphorylation could be traced down to a differential effect of low temperatures on kinase and phosphatase activities. These data indicate that abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation is associated with altered glucose metabolism through hypothermia. Our results imply that serine-threonine protein phosphatase 2A plays a major role in regulating tau phosphorylation in the adult brain and provide in vivo evidence for its crucial role in abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation in AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Hemodynamic effects of carvedilol infusion and the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system in rats with heart failure.

We investigated the contribution of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in maintaining the blood pressure and in regulating the cardiac function during and after carvedilol administration in rats with heart failure (group F). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, percent functional shortening, and rates of intraventricular pressure rise were significantly changed by carvedilol infusion as compared with the basal values in group N (normal rats), but not in group F. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was elevated, corresponding to the enhancement of the plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentration caused by carvedilol infusion, in group N. The enhancement of the plasma NE concentration induced by carvedilol administration in group F was higher than that in group N. The value for the maximal hypertensive effect of NE intravenous infusion (Emax) was decreased, and the plasma NE concentration at half-maximal effect (EC50) was increased in group F as compared with the values in group N. These results indicate that the SNS (presynaptic) activity is increased and that the SNS receptor sensitivity in the cardiovascular regulation system is decreased in heart failure.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

[A case of mixed connective tissue disease successfully treated for hemophagocytic syndrome with intermittent intravenous injection of cyclophosphamide].

A 52 year-old woman noticed general fatigue, polyarthralgia, and muscle weakness of lower extremities in October 2001. In December, she felt difficulty in walking due to muscle weakness. In January 2002, she admitted another hospital because of dyspnea on exertion and edema of lower extremities. Laboratory test revealed leukocytopenia, the elevation of creatine kinase and positive anti-U1-RNP antibodies. Her chest computed tomography (CT) showed severe interstitial pneumonia. Cardiac echogram revealed that she had pericardial effusion and pulmonary hypertension. Then she was transferred to Keio University Hospital and she was diagnosed as having mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) manifestating myositis, interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension and pericarditis. Prednisolone (PSL) 60mg daily following to methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse therapy was begun and her symptoms were gradually improved. In middle of February, she complained of high fever over 39.0 degrees C. Bacterial culture tests were negative and laboratory data indicated pancytopenia and a high level of serum ferritin. Bone marrow aspiration revealed hemophagocytosis in bone marrow specimens and she was diagnosed as having hemophagocytic syndrome associated with MCTD. mPSL pulse therapy was not effective and intermittent cyclophosphamide pulse therapy (IV-CY) was performed resulting in improvement of the symptoms. This case suggested the effectiveness of IV-CY therapy in patients with corticosteroid-resistant HPS associated with connective tissue diseases.

Cyclophosphamide↗

[Experimental study on treatment planning verification using a positron emitting (10)C beam for heavy-ion radiotherapy.].

An advantage of heavy-ion therapy is its good dose concentration. A limit for full use of this desirable feature comes from range ambiguities in treatment planning. The treatment planning is based on X-ray CT measurements, and the range ambiguities are mainly due to an error in calibration of the CT number. The heavy-ion ranges are related to electron density of the medium while the CT numbers are defined using the X-ray attenuation coefficient. The range verification method using positron emitter beams has been developed to reduce the range ambiguities. In this verification, probing beams of positron emitters are implanted into the tumor, and pairs of annihilation gamma rays are detected with a positron camera. This paper demonstrates an application to verify treatment planning. Here the treatment planning was made on a head phantom and the ranges estimated from the CT-number were compared with the ranges measured with the positron camera. As a result, disagreements were detected between the planned ranges and the measured ones; there were 1.6 mm at maximum. The disagreements were due to an error of transformation of CT-number to range for the phantom material in the water column depth-dose measurement. The disagreements could be lowered to 0.4 mm by using the calibrated water-equivalent lengths. It was confirmed that the range verification system has a designed measurement accuracy of 1 mm and is useful for verifying irradiation fields on heavy-ion radiotherapy.

Electrons↗

Effects of fluoranthene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, on cAMP-dependent anion secretion in human airway epithelia.

The human respiratory tract is constantly exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through inhalation of atmospheric pollutants. We examined the effects of three PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, anthracene, and fluoranthene) on the airway ion transport, which is essential for lung defense and normal airway function, using human airway epithelia (Calu-3). These three PAHs had no significant effect on the basal short-circuit current (I(sc)). However, fluoranthene (1-100 microM) applied in the apical compartment potentiated I(sc) in response to cAMP-related agents (isoproterenol, forskolin, and 8-bromo-cAMP). The effects of fluoranthene were unaffected by ellipticine, a PAH receptor antagonist. Estimation of the anionic composition of I(sc) revealed that isoproterenol increased both HCO(3)(-) and Cl(-) transport in the control, whereas it potentiated only Cl(-) transport in the presence of fluoranthene. The fluoranthene-induced modulations of these anion transporters were counteracted by charybdotoxin (ChTx, a hIK-1 channel blocker). Fluoranthene gradually augmented the ChTx-sensitive K(+) current (I(K)) across the basolateral membrane, accompanied by a sustained increase in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). In the presence of fluoranthene, however, a much larger hIK-1-dependent I(K) was identified by the application of 8-bromo-cAMP without concomitant elevation of [Ca(2+)](i). These results suggest that fluoranthene switches from cAMP-dependent HCO(3)(-) secretion to Cl(-) secretion through the hIK-1 channel, whose sensitivity to protein kinase A may be up-regulated by the sustained [Ca(2+)](i) elevation produced by this chemical.

Anions↗

Apical and basolateral ATP-induced anion secretion in polarized human airway epithelia.

The present study investigated mechanisms underlying apical and basolateral P2Y(1)-mediated Cl(-) secretion in human airway epithelial cells. Apical and basolateral ATP induced short-circuit currents (I(sc)) with different properties via P2Y(1) receptors. The former comprised an immediate rise followed by a slow attenuation, whereas the latter was a transient rise with a higher peak and shorter duration (< 2 min). The actions of ATP were simulated by those of ADP, ADPbetaS, and ATPgammaS. Antagonists of phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (U73122, ET-18-OCH(3)) were without any effect on the bilateral ATP-induced I(sc), which were, in contrast, attenuated by a phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C inhibitor (D609) and an adenylate cyclase inhibitor (SQ22536). The responses to ATP from either aspect were also sensitive to an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator, 1,2-bis (o-amino-phenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra-(acetoxymethyl)-ester, or a Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel inhibitor, charybdotoxin, although differential Ca(2+) signals were concomitant with each reaction. Nystatin permeabilization studies revealed a good correlation between the I(sc) and the basolateral K(+) current rather than the apical Cl(-) current under ATP-stimulated conditions. In conclusion, apical and basolateral P2Y(1) receptors couple with both phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase, leading to Cl(-) secretion, whose rate is essentially regulated by the Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel-mediated K(+) conductance. This suggests the importance of this channel in airway mucociliary clearance.

Adenine↗

ATP release triggered by activation of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel in human airway Calu-3 cells.

Airway mucociliary clearance is subject to the autocrine/paracrine regulation of extracellular nucleotides released from the airway epithelial cells. The present study was performed in pursuit of effective modulators of ATP release under physiologic conditions in polarized human airway epithelial cells (Calu-3). Neither isoproterenol, forskolin, nor ionomycin augmented extracellular ATP release detected by luciferase assay. However, direct activation of the human intermediate conductance, Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (hIK-1) by 1-ethyl-2-benzimdazolinone (1-EBIO, 1 mM) and chlorzoxazone (CZ, 1 mM) increased ATP release predominantly in the apical compartment. Measurement of fluo-3 signals revealed that 1-EBIO- and CZ-stimulated cytosolic Ca(2+) mobilization was suppressed by the presence of MRS-2179, a specific P2Y(1) receptor antagonist. The hIK-1-mediated ATP release was inhibited by a hIK-1 blocker (charybdotoxin), and an Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransport blocker (bumetanide) without interruption by GdCl(3), an inhibitor of stretch-activated nonselective cation (SA) channels, or glybenclamide, a blocker of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). These results suggest that a cell volume decrease via the hIK-1-mediated KCl loss and the resultant induction of a regulatory volume increase via the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) transporter may trigger release of ATP, which causes P2Y(1)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization, through mechanisms unrelated to the CFTR and SA channels.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

A sensitive transcriptome analysis method that can detect unknown transcripts.

We have developed an AFLP-based gene expression profiling method called 'high coverage expression profiling' (HiCEP) analysis. By making improvements to the selective PCR technique we have reduced the rate of false positive peaks to approximately 4% and consequently the number of peaks, including overlapping peaks, has been markedly decreased. As a result we can determine the relationship between peaks and original transcripts unequivocally. This will make it practical to prepare a database of all peaks, allowing gene assignment without having to isolate individual peaks. This precise selection also enables us to easily clone peaks of interest and predict the corresponding gene for each peak in some species. The procedure is highly reproducible and sensitive enough to detect even a 1.2-fold difference in gene expression. Most importantly, the low false positive rate enables us to analyze gene expression with wide coverage by means of four instead of six nucleotide recognition site restriction enzymes for fingerprinting mRNAs. Therefore, the method detects 70-80% of all transcripts, including non-coding transcripts, unknown and known genes. Moreover, the method requires no sequence information and so is applicable even to eukaryotes for which there is no genome information available.

Animals↗