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Biomedical subjects

T Kogure

Publications and source records attributed to T Kogure.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The effect of Juzen-taiho-to/TJ-48 on the expression of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (CD158a/b) on peripheral lymphocytes in vitro experiment.

Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), a mixture of extracts from 10 medicinal herbs, has been used traditionally to treat patients with anemia, anorexia or fatigue. It is well known that the treatment of TJ-48 result in the decrease of patient's complaints, as well as the increase of NK cytolytic activity (NK activity) although its augmentation is not clear in the other kampo formula from the clinical viewpoint. To investigate its biological activities, such as the augmentation of NK activity, we analyzed the effects of TJ-48 on the expression of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in vitro experiment. The peripheral lymphocytes were incubated in medium alone, or medium containing TJ-48 or interleukin-2 (IL-2) plus TJ-48 at several concentrations for 48 h. After each incubation, cells were collected and their KIRs were detected by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies CD158a and CD158b. TJ-48 increased the populations of CD16+CD158a+ and CD16+CD158b+ cells in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, CD16-CD158a/b+ cells did not increase. Additionally, the extract of TJ-48 enhanced the increase of KIRs expression induced by IL-2. These actions contribute to the augmentation of NK cytolytic activity by TJ-48, and might explain, in part, its antitumor effects which has been observed in vivo.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2005

A randomized double blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of Hochuekkito, a traditional herbal medicine, in the treatment of elderly patients with weakness N of one and responder restricted design.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Hochuekkito, a traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine, in the treatment of elderly patients with general weakness. To devise a suitable study design for assessing the clinical effectiveness of traditional herbal medicines. METHODS: Fifteen elderly patients (mean +/- SD: age 78.4 +/- 7.8; m/f 3/12) participated in this study. A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with N of one and responder restricted design was performed. After the run-in period, the patients were divided into responders and non-responders. Only responders were entered in the study, and were randomized into three groups: an active-placebo group, a placebo-active group and an active-active group. The study consisted of two 6-week terms with a 2-week washout period in between. We assessed the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) as an endpoint of quality of life (QOL). In addition, we assessed the biodefense status by measuring the natural killer cytolytic activity (NK activity), IL-2 producing activity of peripheral lymphocytes, lymphocyte proliferating activity and lymphocyte cell-surface antigens. RESULTS: The physical component summary of the SF-36 analysis significantly improved in the Hochuekkito-treated group. Four components (A-H: anger-hostility, F: fatigue, T-A: tension-anxiety, C: confusion) out of six improved in the Hochuekkito-treated group in the POMS analysis. Lymphocyte proliferating activity improved in the Hochuekkito-treated group but not significantly. Concerning the surface antigens of peripheral lymphocytes, the population of CD3 positive cells and CD3CD4 double positive cells increased in the Hochuekkito-treated group. CONCLUSION: We revealed that Hochuekkito improved the QOL and immunological status of elderly patients with weakness by randomized controlled trial. Our study design might be useful for assessing the efficacy of traditional herbal medicine in the future.

Affect↗
PubMed2005

A decade-long sour-taste sensation successfully treated with a proton-pump inhibitor.

We report a case study of a 54-year-old Japanese woman who persistently suffered from a sour-taste sensation in her mouth for 10 years, and was treated with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). She found sour-tasting meals irritable, and after eating such meals the sour-taste sensation worsened. She also complained of eructation and regurgitation. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy showed duodenal erosion, superficial gastritis, and erosive oesophagitis. After 2 weeks of PPI therapy (lansoprazole, 30 mg day(-1)) the sour taste subjectively decreased to 70%, and after 6 weeks the symptoms disappeared. In addition to increased sensitivity of the mouth, gastro-oesophageal reflux might have created her obstinate sour-taste sensations. It is suggested that in such cases PPI therapy should be attempted.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed2004

Nanofilm allotrope and phase transformation of ultrathin Bi film on Si(111)-7x7.

Our scanning tunneling microscopy and electron diffraction experiments revealed that a new two-dimensional allotrope of Bi forms on the Si(111)-7x7 surface. This pseudocubic [012]-oriented allotrope is stable up to four atomic layers at room temperature. Above this critical thickness, the entire volume of the film starts to transform into a bulk single-crystal (001) phase, as the bulk contribution in the cohesion becomes dominant. Based on ab initio calculations, we propose that the new allotrope consists of black phosphorus-like puckered layers stabilized by saturating all the p(z) dangling bonds in the film.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Usefulness of FDG-PET to diagnose intravascular lymphomatosis presenting as fever of unknown origin.

Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is a rare systemic disease characterized by proliferation of lymphoid cells within the lumina of small arteries, veins, and capillaries. Diagnosis requires skin, liver, lung, bone marrow, renal, meningeal, or brain vessel biopsy but is often made only when the illness has progressed or post mortem because early involvement of organs was not evident. We report a case of IVL presenting as fever of unknown origin (FUO). In this case, gallium scintigraphy and computed tomography (CT) showed no evidence of malignancy, whereas (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed increased FDG uptake in the sternum, left and right vertebra, humerus, femur, and especially ilium. The diagnosis was made on iliac bone marrow biopsy examination. FDG-PET was useful for the detection of spread of disease in a patient with IVL suffering from FUO.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2004

Effects of Keishi-bukuryo-gan on vascular function and hemorheological factors in spontaneously diabetic (WBN/kob) rats.

Keishi-bukuryo-gan (Gui-zhi-fu-ling-wan) is a formula used for the improvement of blood circulation. Recently it has often also been used for arteriosclerosis. One of the mechanisms involved is thought to be the improvement of endothelial dysfunction, but the details are still unclear. In this study, the effect of Keishi-bukuryo-gan on vascular function and hemorheological factors in spontaneously diabetic (WBN/kob) rats was studied. Rats were given Keishi-bukuryo-gan in chow for 30 weeks. Body weight, blood glucose, endothelium-dependent/-independent relaxation, vasocontraction by free radical-induced and contractive prostanoids, triglyceride, advanced glycation endproduct, lipid peroxides, serum NO2-/NO3- and blood viscosity were measured. The results indicated that Keishi-bukuryo-gan caused a decrease in endothelium-dependent relaxation by acetylcholine to become significantly increased, and vasocontraction induced by free radicals and contractive prostanoids was significantly decreased. Furthermore, serum NO2-/NO3- and blood viscosity were significantly decreased. From these results, it was supposed that Keishi-bukuryo-gan exerted a protective effect on the endothelium. The WBN/kob rat is a useful study model for the complications of human diabetes, and Keishi-bukuryo-gan showed a protective effect against vascular injury in the susceptible rat.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Microstructure analysis of calcium phosphate formed in tendon.

The surface of soft tendon tissue has been modified using calcium phosphate in order for the tendon to directly connect with hard bone and reconstruct an injured ligament. Calcium phosphate was coated onto the tendon in a soaking process using alternating a CaCl(2) (200 mM) and a Na(2)HPO(4) (120 mM) solution. According to SEM/EDX observations, calcium phosphate was formed, not only on the tendon surface, but also inside the tendon tissue. When the tendon was treated with seven soaking cycles, calcium phosphate was detected between 0-500 microm from the tendon surface. According to TEM observations, the crystal morphology of calcium phosphate depends on the distance from the surface. Hydroxyapatite crystals were observed near the surface, while octa-calcium phosphate crystals could be observed further from the surface, thus at initial soaking. The crystals were formed on collagen fibrils in spaces between the collagen fibrils with the c-axes of the crystals aligned parallel with the collagen fibrils. This finding suggests Ca(2+) ions to interact with the tendon surface, most probably with the carboxyl functional groups of collagen, and subsequently forming nucleation centers for the crystals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Incidence and clinical features of liver injury related to Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine in 2,496 cases between 1979 and 1999: problems of the lymphocyte transformation test as a diagnostic method.

We retrospectively examined the summaries of all admission records of patients from 1979 to 1999 in our department, and selected for further study all liver injuries suspected of being related to Kampo medicines. Among 2,496 summaries, 30 summaries described liver disorders suspected of being related to Kampo medicines. Whether there was a causal relationship between the use of Kampo medication and the occurrence of liver injury was assessed according to the criteria described by Haller and Benowitz (2000), independently of the results of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). Among 30 events, we concluded that 9 were definitely unrelated, and 6 were probably unrelated to the use of Kampo medicines. Nine events (0.36% of 2,496 patient admissions and 0.06% of 14,616 outpatients) were considered possibly related, and only 6 events (0.24% of 2,496 patient admissions and 0.04% of 14,616 outpatients) were judged to be definitely or probably related to Kampo medicines. Low-grade eosinophilia was observed in a few patients of these "related" groups, and no fever or rash was observed in these "related" groups. Other clinical features, including type of liver injury, duration of Kampo medicine-use, recovery period and laboratory data, were not different from liver injuries associated with western drugs. Most patients in the definitely "unrelated" group were positive in the LTT for the suspect Kampo medicine, suggesting that the LTT may be unreliable for the diagnosis of Kampo-medicine-induced liver injury. From 1979 to 1999, our use of Kampo medicines to treat patients resulted in a low rate of liver injury and no fatalities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The efficacy of a herbal medicine (Mao-to) in combination with intravenous natural interferon-beta for patients with chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1b and high viral load: a pilot study.

Patients with chronic hepatitis C, with a high serum viral load (> or = 1 Meq/ml) and genotype 1b seem to be resistant to interferon (IFN) therapy. To evaluate the efficacy of a herbal medicine (Mao-to) in combination with natural IFN-beta for the treatment of these patients, eighteen Japanese patients were enrolled in this study. Every patient received 6 million units (MU) of IFN-beta intravenously daily for 8 weeks. Mao-to was given orally 3-4 times a day during the IFN-beta administration, Sixteen of the 18 patients (89%) became negative for serum HCV RNA at the end of treatment, but only 2 of them (11%) remained negative for the virus RNA at 6 months of follow-up. Serum ALT levels normalized in 17 patients (94%) at 2 weeks of follow-up after the cessation of therapy, and 11 patients (61%) retained normal ALT levels for more than 6 months of follow-up. This rate of biochemical response was high as compared with that of therapy with IFN-beta alone (19%) in the largest IFN-beta trial in Japan. Serum hyaluronic acid levels were decreased significantly from 147.0 +/- 110.5 ng/ml to 77.4 +/- 67.4 ng/ml in the sustained biochemical response group (P = 0.003). None of the patients needed to interrupt therapy because of side effects of IFN-beta. Thus, Mao-to administration together with IFN-beta treatment could increase the sustained biochemical response rate, and reduce liver fibrosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A comparative study between excess-dose users and regular-dose users of rhubarb contained in Kampo medicines.

With prolonged use of rhubarb-containing Kampo medicines, some patients come to ask for high-dose rhubarb because of deteriorated reactivity to rhubarb. We divided patients into two groups in terms of rhubarb-dose, and compared clinical backgrounds between regular-dose group and excess-dose group. Patients who were treated with rhubarb-containing Kampo extracts (manufactured prescriptions) or Kampo formulae (decoctions) for more than 12 months were enrolled. These two groups were compared for age, sex, shape of stool, abdominal symptoms, existence of hemorrhoids, Kampo diagnosis of abdomen, past stimulant laxative use, duration of stimulant laxative use before the first administration of rhubarb, duration of rhubarb use in our hospital, and initial existence of stimulant pain caused by taking stimulant laxatives for the first time. No significant difference was shown between the two groups in terms of age, duration of stimulant laxative-use before the first prescription of rhubarb, shape of stool, abdominal symptoms, existence of hemorrhoids, or duration of rhubarb-use. However, most patients in the regular-dose group had initial stimulant pain of the abdomen upon taking stimulant laxatives for the first time, but most patients in the excess-dose group did not (p < 0.001). All patients except one in the regular dose group had the sign of "umbilical region tenderness on pressure", but half of the excess-dose group did not have it (p = 0.041). Based on these findings, the absence of "initial stimulant pain" and the absence of "umbilical region tenderness on pressure" may predict increasing or excess use of rhubarb, and long-term use of rhubarb should be discouraged more strongly in the patients without these signs.

Cathartics↗
PubMed2002

Reduction of plasma triglyceride level and enhancement of plasma albumin concentration by Oren-gedoku-to administration.

Oren-gedoku-to (Huanglian-Jie-Du-Tang, OGT) has been used for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, gastritis and liver disease in Japan. The present study was to test whether ingestion of OGT extract (TJ-15) would affect the metabolism of fatty acids and the usual antioxidant molecule (such as albumin, uric acid and bilirubin) levels in human plasma. After the administration of TJ-15, plasma total cholesterol and the triglyceride level significantly decreased, and lipoprotein lipase mass increased. Significant enhancement of plasma albumin level and reduction of the total plasma protein level resulted in an increment of the albumin/globulin ratio. Plasma fibrinogen, an independent risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, declined considerably, but the reduction was not statistically significant. The findings of this study suggest that ingestion of TJ-15 improves the microcirculation through lipid and protein metabolisms, and is useful for the treatment of cerebral vascular attack in human.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2001

Reactivity of anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) murine monoclonal antibodies and human autoantibodies to the PCNA multiprotein complexes involved in cell proliferation.

Proliferating cell nuclear Ag (PCNA) occurs as a component of multiprotein complexes during cell proliferation. We found the complexes to react with murine anti-PCNA mAbs, but not with anti-PCNA Abs in lupus sera. The complexes were purified from rabbit thymus extract by affinity chromatography using anti-PCNA mAbs (TOB7, TO17, and TO30) and analyzed by ELISA, immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, and HPLC gel filtration. That PCNA was complexed with other proteins was demonstrated by its copurification with a group of proteins excluded by an HPLC G3000 SW column. Although immunoblot analysis showed the mAbs to react exclusively with the 34-kDa PCNA polypeptide, they nonetheless immunoprecipitated the same group of proteins, confirming the interaction of the isolated PCNA with other proteins. Anti-PCNA sera, including AK, which reacts with biologically functional sites on PCNA, did not react with complexed PCNA, but did react with it once it was dissociated from the complexes. PCNA complexes in turn reacted with murine anti-DNA mAbs, as well as with Abs against p21, replication protein A, DNA helicase II, cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 5, and topoisomerase I. These findings suggest that the PCNA complexes purified using anti-PCNA mAbs comprise the "protein machinery" for DNA replication and cell cycle regulation. They also suggest that anti-PCNA mAbs are useful tools with which to characterize the protein-protein interactions within PCNA complexes, as well as the autoimmune responses to proteins interacting with PCNA, which may shed light on the mechanisms of autoantibody production in lupus patients.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Alternative splicing of Rh blood group polypeptide mRNA produces a novel transcript containing a short nucleotide insertion on human erythroleukemia K562 cells.

A novel isoform of the human Rh blood group polypeptide cDNA was isolated from human erythroleukemic K562 cells. This isoform was produced by deletion of the sequences derived from exons 2 and 3 of the RHCE gene and insertion of 44-bp into the resulting junction between exon 1 and 4 derived sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that the 44-bp insertion sequence contains an in-frame stop codon that causes premature chain termination. A sequence homology search using GenBank showed that the inserted sequence was derived from the intron between exons 1 and 2 of the RHCE gene. Moreover, analysis of the region surrounding the inserted sequence indicated that the insert was a cryptic exon flanked by consensus donor and acceptor splice sequences. This novel transcript was most likely produced by alternative splicing.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed2001

Cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex: case report and review.

Cholesterol granuloma in the petrous apex presents with various symptoms of cranial nerve dysfunction, so the selection for surgical treatment remains controversial. We report a 41-year-old woman with a cholesterol granuloma at the left petrous apex, which was totally resected via a combined middle fossa and posterior transpetrosal approach. In a review of 92 cases, including our case, treated for petrous apex cholesterol granuloma between 1990 and 2001, 38 were men (41.3%) and 54 were women (58.7%). The mean age of these patients was 37.4 years (males were 35.2 years, females were 39.4 years). The most common presenting clinical symptom was hearing loss due to dysfunction of cranial nerve VIII. Seventy-nine patients, including our case, underwent operation, and 13 patients were managed without surgery. The most frequently selected surgical approach was middle cranial fossa approach. Revision surgery (including the 2 cases who underwent revision twice and three times) was performed in 12 patients (15.2%). In 92 cases, all of those who underwent total removal have not shown re-accumulation of cyst contents. On the other hand, 11.4% of the patients with or without permanent drainage route proceeded by subtotal removal of the cyst wall needed revision surgery because of stenosis of the drainage route. Therefore we conclude that the most important treatment for the prevention of re-accumulation of cyst contents may be the extent of the cyst wall resection rather than the establishment of permanent drainage route.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Inhibition of human parainfluenza virus type 1 sialidase by analogs of 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid.

Eleven novel analogs of 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac2en) modified at the C-4 and C-9 positions were designed and tested for their ability to inhibit sialidase of human parainfluenza virus type 1 (hPIV-1). The analogs modified by the cyanomethyl, amidinomethyl, and thiocarbamoylmethyl groups at the C-4 position exhibited potent inhibition against hPIV-1 sialidase compared with Neu5Ac2en. The most effective compound was thiocarbamoylmethyl analog (4-O-thiocarbamoylmethyl-Neu5Ac2en). The activity of 4-O-thiocarbamoylmethyl-Neu5Ac2en causing 50% enzyme inhibition at a concentration of approximately 1.0x10(-5) M was 30-fold larger than Neu5Ac2en. While, the analogs of Neu5Ac2en modified by the azido and N-acetyl groups at the C-9 showed a decrease in inhibition of sialidase compared with the 9-hydroxy analogs. In addition, 4-O-thiocarbamoylmethyl-Neu5Ac2en strongly inhibited hPIV-1 infections of Lewis lung carcinoma-monkey kidney cells in comparison with Neu5Ac2en. The present findings would provide useful information for the development of anti-human parainfluenza virus compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Administration of isoferulic acid improved the survival rate of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice.

BACKGROUND: Isoferulic acid (IFA) is a main active ingredient of the rhizoma of Cimicifuga beracleifolia, which is used frequently in Japanese traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory drug. It has been revealed that IFA inhibits the production of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), which is a murine counterpart of the chemokine family that may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases through the chemotactic activity for inflammatory and immune effector cells. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of IFA on the progression of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice by comparison with that of dexamethasone (DX), a potent inhibitor for various inflammatory cytokines including MIP-2. METHODS: Mice were infected by intranasal inoculation of influenza virus under ether anesthesia. The IFA or DX was given by oral administration once daily for 4 days after infection. After infection, the survival rate and the change in body weight were daily monitored. RESULTS: IFA administration markedly improved the survival rate and body weight loss of influenza virus-infected mice in a suitable dose range (0.5 mg/day). However, DX administration did not show a beneficial effect at any dose. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that IFA is a novel tool not only for the intervention therapy, but also for the studies on the pathogenesis of influenza virus-induced pneumonia.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Characteristics of proper names and temporal memory of social news events.

Long-term memory of social news events was investigated by means of a questionnaire methodology with a large sample of participants. In Experiment 1, a total of 501 university students were asked to give proper names (i.e., persons and places) that related to a certain news event, and to estimate the date of the event. The accuracy of proper names (especially person names) was superior to that of estimated date (i.e., year). In addition, telescoping effects were found in the events that occurred more than 3 years ago, but time expansion effects emerged in the events that occurred less than 2 years ago. In Experiment 2, in which 182 students participated, the accuracy of proper names and the date estimates tended to be high on the events that participants judged to be given frequent exposure by the mass media. Based on these results, we discuss long-term memory and temporal schemata regarding social news events.

Adult↗