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Biomedical subjects

T Oku

Publications and source records attributed to T Oku.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Serum glucose and insulin levels and erythritol balance after oral administration of erythritol in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of an oral administration of erythritol on serum glucose and insulin levels in healthy subjects and estimate available energy of erythritol in human. DESIGN: Ingestion of erythritol (0.3 g/kg body weight) or the same dose of glucose as a control. SETTING: Omiya Research Lab., Nikken Chemicals Co., Japan. SUBJECTS: 5 healthy male volunteers aged 45-58 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum glucose, insulin and erythritol levels after erythritol ingestion. Urinary erythritol excretion. RESULTS: Erythritol did not increase serum levels of glucose or insulin, while the same dose of glucose increased rapidly glucose and insulin levels within 30 min. Erythritol did not induce any significant effects on serum levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, free fatty acids, Na, K and Cl. Also, urinary Na, K and Cl were not affected by erythritol ingestion. Serum levels of erythritol reached the maximum concentration of 426.5 +/- 113.4 micrograms/ml at 30 min and declined to 13.5 +/- 3.2 micrograms/ml at 24 h. Total urinary excretion of erythritol was 85.8 +/- 4.6% for 24 h and 90.3 +/- 4.5% for 48 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Erythritol did not affect serum levels of glucose, insulin or other serum constituents. More than 90% of ingested erythritol was readily absorbed and excreted in urine without degradation. This fact suggests that available energy of erythritol in human is less than 1.7 kJ/g (0.4 kcal/g). DESCRIPTORS: erythritol, glucose, insulin, low energy sweetener.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Amino acid sequence and thermostability of xylanase A from Schizophyllum commune.

The amino acid sequence (197 residues) of xylanase A from the fungus, Schizophyllum commune, was determined by automated analysis of peptides from proteolytic and acid cleavage. The sequence is similar to two Trichoderma xylanases (approximately 56% identical amino acids), but also shows at least 40% identities with xylanases from Bacillus subtilis, B. pumilus and B. circulans. The conserved regions of the enzyme contain only two glutamic acid residues which implicates their possible involvement in catalysis. The disulfide bond in xylanase A is not conserved in this family. In spite of this, the B. subtilis xylanase was found to be more thermostable than xylanase A.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Synergism between IFN-gamma and IL-1 alpha/beta in growth inhibition of an allografted tumor.

Soluble effector molecules involved in the rejection of allografted mouse Meth A (3-methylcholanthrene-induced ascites type tumor) cells were examined. A potent antiproliferative activity against the tumor cells was detected in the culture supernatant of leukocytes that had infiltrated into the peritoneal cavity of C57BL/6 mice on days 6-8 after transplantation, when the i.p. transplanted Meth A cells were undergoing rejection. Studies with neutralizing antibodies indicated that both IFN-gamma and IL-1 alpha/beta were required for the activity but that TNF-alpha was not. Actually, mouse rIFN-gamma and rIL-1 alpha/beta used, at the concentrations found in the culture supernatant determined by ELISA, were able to reconstitute the potent antiproliferative activity, although each cytokine alone had a weak growth inhibitory activity against Meth A cells. The half-maximal inhibition was observed with 0.02-0.03 U/ml of rIL-1 alpha/beta at 1-100 U/ml of rIFN-gamma. The synergistic growth inhibitory effect of these cytokines also was observed with four of 15 mouse transformed cell lines tested, indicating that the effect was not specific to Meth A cells. These findings suggest that IFN-gamma and IL-1 alpha/beta participate as soluble effector molecules in the rejection of some allografted tumor cells including Meth A cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Folded skin with an underlying cutaneous smooth muscle hamartoma.

We report a 3-month-old male infant with marked folding of the skin, who manifested mental retardation and delayed growth at the age of 31 months. Histological examination of the folded skin disclosed smooth muscle hamartomatous changes. To our knowledge, this represents the third reported case of folded skin with an underlying smooth muscle hamartoma.

Growth Disorders↗
PubMed1993

[Complications of intraaortic balloon pumping after open heart surgery].

During from 1979 to 1991, intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) was used in a total of 120 patients following open heart surgery at our department. Nine complications (7.5%) caused by IABP have occurred; four balloon rupture, two ischemia of the lower extremity, two vascular injury and one peroneal nerve palsy. A more careful attention must be paid and earlier finding of the complications is imperative.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[The effect of Ryanodine for the myocardial protection in the working heart model of rabbit].

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of Ryanodine for myocardial protection. Twenty-four rabbits were studied using the working heart model divided four groups. The first is control group with no Ryanodine, the second is 10(-9) M, the third is 10(-8) M and the last one is 10(-7) M Ryanodine with GIK cardioplegic solution respectively. The hemodynamics was studied and the elemental concentrations (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cl) of myocardial cell was measured using X-ray microanalysis. The results showed that intracellular Ca accumulation was dose-dependently suppressed with Ryanodine during reperfusion and also Ryanodine was significantly effective to maintain the hemodynamics during same one.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Metabolism and disposition of erythritol after oral administration to rats.

The metabolism and disposition of erythritol was studied using [14C]erythritol in rats. When [14C]erythritol was administered orally at a dose of 0.1 g/kg body wt to male rats, only 6% of the total radioactivity was excreted as expired 14CO2 and 88% was excreted in the urine within 24 h. The excreted metabolite in the urine consisted of a single component identified as intact [14C]erythritol. The excretion of 14CO2 and the incorporation ratios of radioactivity into tissues increased with the oral dosage. After rats were given an intravenous injection of [14C]erythritol, approximately 1% was excreted as 14CO2 and greater than 94% was excreted in the urine as intact [14C]erythritol. The excretion of 14CO2 within 24 h was increased to approximately 10% when [14C]erythritol was administered to rats that had been adapted to erythritol by feeding a diet containing 10% erythritol for 2 wk. When [14C]erythritol was incubated in vitro with the cecal contents from rats adapted to erythritol, greater than 20% was fermented to 14CO2 and 60% to short-chain fatty acids in 6 h. These results indicate that most orally administered erythritol was excreted in the urine without any degradation and that the remainder was transferred to the lower intestine and fermented by microbes.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

A 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, FR110302, suppresses airway hyperresponsiveness and lung eosinophilia induced by Sephadex particles in rats.

To study the role of chemical mediators in airway hyperresponsiveness and simultaneous eosinophilia, we examined effects of a potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor FR110302 and those of prednisolone, indomethacin, platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist (RP-59227) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) antagonist (ONO-1078) on airway hyperresponsiveness and lung eosinophilia induced by Sephadex particles. Sephadex G200 particles (2.5 mg/kg) were injected intravenously to rats and 3 days later the airway hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine (ACh) and the eosinophilia in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were observed. FR110302 (10 mg/kg b.i.d.p.o.) significantly suppressed both of these indicators of asthma. The amounts of immunoreactive LTB4,C4 (i-LTB4, C4) in the BAL fluid were measured by radioimmunoassay. The amounts of i-LTB4,C4 in the FR110302-treated rats were significantly less compared with that in the Sephadex-injected controls. Prednisolone completely inhibited the airway hyperresponsiveness. PAF antagonist and LTC4 antagonist partially inhibited the airway hyperresponsiveness, and indomethacin had no effect. The results indicate that 5-lipoxygenase products play important roles in the Sephadex-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and lung eosinophilia in rats.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

[Coronary artery bypass utilizing vein grafts: why didn't we use an arterial graft?].

Internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are superior to SVG in the long-term patency and survival. In spite of our effort to utilize ITA whenever possible, we still have some cases which have to receive only vein grafts. Among the consecutive 201 patients undergoing CABG in the past three years, 32 patients (16%) received only vein grafts. We compared these patients (SVG group) with those who received ITA grafts (ITA group). The SVG group consisted of all emergency cases and many cases with single and double vessel disease. In the SVG group, perioperative use of IABP was more frequent and operative mortality was higher, although the number of grafts was fewer (2.66 vs 3.61) and aortic cross clamping time was shorter in this group. Main reasons for selecting only vein grafts were emergency surgery, inadvertent injury of ITA, inadequate ITA free flow etc. Technical refinement in the preparation of ITA is important to make possible wider application of arterial grafts for CABG.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[The results and problems of reoperation for coronary artery disease].

In six hundred and six consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) within the past 17 years (May 1974 to March 1991), repeated CABG were performed on 10 patients (1.65%). The main reasons for repeated CABG were graft failure (GF) in 8, progression of native disease (NP) in 5 and incomplete revascularization (IR) in 3 patients. The incidence of GF was high either within a half year or around 5 years after CABG. Although all patients survived from reoperation, four patients continued to have mild angina pectoris. When the recurrence of angina is noted after CABG, coronary arteriography and if necessary PTCA should be done as soon as possible. If a second surgery is inevitable, maximum utilization of arterial graft and accomplishment of complete revascularization are emphasized.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[A case of coronary artery bypass for bilateral coronary ostial stenosis in aortitis syndrome with occlusion of bilateral subclavian arteries].

A 52-year-old female with bilateral coronary ostial stenosis in aortitis syndrome underwent CABG. Vein grafts were used instead of arterial grafts, because of the occlusion of bilateral subclavian arteries. Proximal anastomosis of the grafts was performed after oval stomas larger than usual were created on the aortic wall to prevent late graft occlusion due to intimal proliferation of the aorta. On postoperative CAG, all grafts to RCA, LAD and Cx were patent. The patient left the hospital 3 weeks after surgery. We believe that CABG is preferable to the transaortic endarterectomy in the surgical treatment for coronary ostial stenosis associated with aortitis syndrome, because of the prevalence of technical difficulty and postoperative morbidity in the latter.

Aortic Arch Syndromes↗
PubMed1991

Mononuclear phagocytes: a major population of effector cells responsible for rejection of allografted tumor cells in mice.

To understand the in situ mechanism of immunological response of recipient animals to allografted tumor cells, the types of cells that infiltrated into the rejection site were examined. When Meth A cells (H-2d) were given i.p. to an allogeneic [C57BL/6 (H-2b)] strain of mouse, the tumor cells ceased to grow on the 6th day, accompanied by an i.p. infiltration of leukocytes. The tumor cells were totally eliminated from the peritoneal cavity around the 12th day. The highest cytotoxic activity against Meth A cells was obtained with the peritoneal exudate cells harvested on day 8. On this day, the exudate cells consisted of three populations when examined by flow cytometry, and each was isolated by sorting. Each of them appeared to be homogeneous, and they were morphologically identified as lymphocytes; granulocytes; and medium-sized, mononuclear, less-granular cells. The cytotoxic activity was confined exclusively to the last population. The effector cells (H-2b) were cytotoxic against not only Meth A cells (H-2d) but also concanavalin A-stimulated allogeneic spleen cells [C3H/He (H-2k), CBA/N (H-2k), A/J (H-2a), BALB/c (H-2d), and DBA/2 (H-2d) strains of mouse]. The effector cells were totally inert against concanavalin A-activated syngeneic spleen cells [C57BL/6 (H-2b) and C57BL/10 (H-2b) strains of mouse]. The effector cells were phenotypically (Thy-1.2- CD3- Lyt-1- Lyt-2- L3T4- immunoglobulin- asialo GM1-), morphologically, and functionally distinct from cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells, and lymphokine-activated killer cells but were adherent mononuclear phagocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Immunological properties of Borrelia burgdorferi isolated from the Ixodes ovatus in Shizuoka, Japan.

Three strains of spirochetes (IKA1 to 3) were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes ovatus collected in the Ikawa region of the northern part of Shizuoka, Japan. These isolates had eight flagella, and their size and other morphological features were similar to Borrelia burgdorferi. They showed similar motility and reacted with monoclonal antibody (MAb) H9724 against borrelial flagella and with MAb H5332 against the outer surface protein A. These strains showed similar SDS-PAGE profiles to that of B. burgdorferi strain B31 and P/Bi isolated in the U.S.A. and Europe, respectively. Immunoblot with Lyme disease patient serum showed positive reactions with the flagella (41 Kilodalton, kDa), protein C (20 to 22 kDa), and outer surface protein A (29 kDa) of the isolates. Immunological properties, morphological characteristics, and epidemiological features revealed that these isolates were B. burgdorferi.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Metabolic fate of ingested [14C]-maltitol in man.

Six healthy male subjects were given a single oral dose of 0.4 g of maltitol per kg body weight containing [U-14C]-maltitol (50 microCi) and their breath, urine, feces and blood were collected at appropriate intervals for 48 h to measure the recovery of administered radioactivity. Further, to measure breath hydrogen, 15 healthy male subjects ingested 30 g of maltitol and samples of their breath were collected for a 10-h period. The expired 14CO2 showed a wide peak about 3 h after ingestion and 56% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in 48 h. An additional 0.2% of administered radioactivity was recovered as expired 14CH4, 2.6% in urine and 14.3% in feces, respectively. The obvious increase of breath hydrogen was detected at 1 h after maltitol ingestion and then a big peak at 3.5 h, whereas maltose ingestion did not increase breath hydrogen. Both excretion profiles of breath 14CO2 and hydrogen coincided well. These results demonstrate that a greater part of ingested maltitol is fermented by intestinal microbes than is hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes. Although maltitol is catabolized to carbon dioxide via intestinal microbes, the available energy is much lower than that of digestible sugars such as sucrose.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Differences of contact photosensitivity responses to tetrachlorosalicylanilide among BALB/c, mast cell-deficient W/Wv and their normal littermate +/+ mice.

Time course of ear swellings induced in BALB/c mice with contact photosensitivity (CPS) of tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCSA) exhibited a typical delayed-type hypersensitivity response. Repeated challenges by the painting of TCSA and UVA irradiation on ears once a week brought about the enhancement of the early CPS response immediately after elicitation. CPS response was not induced in the mast cell-deficient mouse (W/Wv) by the standard protocol and painting in its normal littermates (+/+). However, the second challenge performed 1 week after the first challenge brought about the delayed type-like CPS response of ear swelling in both mouse strains. The early responses were enhanced stepwise by the third and fourth challenge in the normal +/+ mouse but not in the mast cell-deficient W/Wv mouse. Histological examination revealed that mast cells were not found in the any sections of ears of W/Wv mouse, whereas many mast cells were found at early stage after elicitation in the BALB/c and +/+ mice challenged 4 times. These results suggest that early responses induced by the repeated challenge in BALB/c and +/+ but not in W/Wv mice may be an immediate-type hypersensitivity.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

[Similarity between internal thoracic artery and gastroepiploic artery graft: pharmacological point of view].

The pharmacological responses of internal thoracic artery (ITA), gastroepiploic artery (GEA) and saphenous vein (SV) obtained from patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were assessed by isometric contraction records. The concentration-response curves for ergonovine and serotonin showed the leftward shift in SV compared with ITA and GEA. The 50% effective dose values of SV for ergonovine and serotonin were significantly less than those of ITA and GEA. The concentration-response curves for phenylephrine were similar among three kinds of grafts. There were no significant differences in the 50% effective dose values for phenylephrine among them. The effect of 0.4% papaverine chloride on the free graft flow was assessed in 15 patients receiving CABG with mean body surface area of 1.62 +/- 0.12 M2. The free flow of ITA graft was 71 +/- 32 ml/min before intraluminal papaverine injection, and that increased to 112 +/- 41 ml/min after injection. The free flow of GEA graft was 82 +/- 39 ml/min before injection, and that also increased to 128 +/- 40 ml/min after injection. The patency rates at the mean 2.2 months after grafting were 98% in ITA, 93% in GEA, and 88% in SV. In conclusion, both GEA graft and ITA graft can be expected as an excellent conduit in myocardial revascularization.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Two year longitudinal study of the fluctuation of clinical signs of TMJ dysfunction in Japanese adolescents.

Signs of TMJ dysfunction syndrome were monitored longitudinally from the age of 12 to 14 years in 160 junior high students and 15 to 17 years in 480 senior high school students. Thirty-one percent of the junior high school students and 39.6% of the senior high school students presented with one or multiple signs of TMJ dysfunction syndrome at least once during the examination period. The percentage of subjects presenting continuously with one or multiple signs at all examinations was 8.9% among junior high school students and 12.9% among senior high school students. The predominant sign in the subjects, who continuously presented with one or multiple signs of TMJ dysfunction syndrome was TMJ sounds. The number of subjects presenting with TMJ clinical signs for the first time at the third examination (third year student) was high compared to the other examinations. When intra-individual longitudinal results were examined in subjects, who at least once during the examination period presented with one or multiple signs of TMJ dysfunction syndrome was found to be high (75.0% among junior high school students and 86.5% among senior high school students). In the subjects presenting with one or multiple signs of TMJ dysfunction syndrome continuously over the two year period, the percentage of subjects, who at least once presented with multiple signs was 90.9% among junior high school students and 22.0% among senior high school students.

Adolescent↗