PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Sawamura

Publications and source records attributed to T Sawamura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Pheochromocytoma--basic and clinical analyses].

A variety of vasoactive substances including biogenic amines, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, enkephalin, ACTH, corticotropin-releasing hormone, growth hormone releasing hormone, vasoactive intestinal peptide, calcitonin, and atrial natriuretic factor have been extracted from intra-adrenal and extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas in men. Some of them appear to play an important role for the development of hypertension or clinical serious symptoms. However, informations on the molecular forms of other substances in pheochromocytomas are still limited, and precise amount of the peptides or hormones in the tumors has not yet been quantitated. Numerous in vitro or in vivo studies of this documented neoplasm over the years have been reviewed in this manuscript. Clinical analyses of early diagnosis, localization diagnosis, treatment of multiple endocrine neoplasia, preoperative and operative treatments are also evaluated in this paper. These informations will probably provide additional evidence for the multi-secretory APUD cells of neural crest origin and will contribute the therapy in patients with pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

[Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting for failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty].

There were 1151 patients who underwent PTCA at our facilities from August 1984 to December 1990. The records of 298 patients were reviewed from August 1984 to June 1988 (former period), and were compared with records of 853 patients undergoing treatment after June 1988 (latter period). Of 852 elective PTCA procedures, complete occlusion of the lesion increased from 2.3% in the former period to 17.5% in the latter period, while for partial occlusion there were 60.4% in the former and 60.5% in the latter. Emergency PTCA for acute myocardial infarction decreased from 37.2% in the former to 22% in the latter. The number of patients with multivessel disease increased slightly from 43.6% in the former to 46.8% in the latter. The success rate for patients who underwent elective PTCA for complete occlusion was 42.8% in the former and 49.6% in the latter, while for partial occlusion it was 87.2% in the former and 91.8% in the latter. The success rate for patients requiring emergency PTCA was 73.8% in the former and 90.4% in the latter. Of the patients undergoing elective PTCA, acute coronary closure occurred in 3% of the former and in 1% of the latter, while for patients requiring emergency PTCA, there were 4.4% in the former and 2.7% in the latter. Of the 8 patients who required emergency CABG, elective PTCA was unsuccessful in 4 cases and emergency PTCA was also unsuccessful in the other 4; in other words, 4 of a total 852 elective PTCAs (0.47%) and 4 of 299 emergency PTCAs (1.3%) for an overall figure of 8/1151 (0.7%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Phosphoramidon inhibits the intracellular conversion of big endothelin-1 to endothelin-1 in cultured endothelial cells.

Effects of various protease inhibitors on the conversion of big endothelin (ET)-1 to ET-1 in cultured endothelial cells were analyzed. A metal protease inhibitor, phosphoramidon, decreases the amount of ET-1 and increase that of big ET-1 released. This effect is dose-dependent and not nonspecific. When the contents of ET-1 and big ET-1 in the cells after culturing in the medium with or without phosphoramidon were measured, the ratio of ET-1: big ET-1 in the cells was 3.3 : 1 and phosphoramidon inverted the ratio in the cells to 1 : 3.5. These data strongly suggest that a phosphoramidon-sensitive protease converts big ET-1 to mature ET-1 intracellularly.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Distribution of endothelin-like immunoreactivity and mRNA in the developing and adult human lung.

Localization and characterization of endothelin-producing cells in the developing (fetal and postnatal) and adult human lung was investigated using the technics of immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Immunoreactivity for endothelin was seen mainly in pulmonary endocrine cells of developing human lung. Immunoreactivity was also seen in the airway epithelium in fewer cases (about 50%) of human adults. In situ hybridization with 35S- or 32P-labeled RNA probes complementary to endothelin-1, -2, and -3, showed that endothelin mRNAs were expressed in a number of cells that were in similar sites to endocrine cells. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization employed on pairs of reverse-face serial sections showed the presence of endothelin immunoreactivity and mRNAs in the same endocrine cell. Correlative studies revealed that endothelin is co-localized with general endocrine markers (synaptophysin, chromogranin, protein gene product 9.5) and regulatory peptides (e.g., gastrin-releasing peptide). The density (cells/mm2) of endocrine cells containing immunoreactivity or mRNAs was highest during fetal life and started to decline before birth, and was minimal in adults. Endothelin-like immunoreactivity and mRNAs were also expressed in endothelial cells. From these results, it is concluded that endothelin is synthesized in endocrine cells of human lung and the change of developmental expression of this peptide suggests it may play a part in growth regulation in addition to its putative vasoconstrictor role in human lung.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Analysis of big endothelin-1 digestion by cathepsin D.

Digestion of big endothelin (ET)-1 by cathepsin D, which is the only substantially identified protease showing ET converting enzyme activity, was characterized. Increased doses of cathepsin D showed decrease of immunoreactive (ir-) ET produced from big ET-1. Time course of big ET-1 conversion showed marked increase of ir-ET in a relatively short period, but further incubation resulted in the decrease of ir-ET. Incubation at various pHs with different doses of cathepsin D revealed that low doses of cathepsin D yielded the maximum production of ir-ET at pH 3.5-4.0, but higher doses of cathepsin D showed a bimodal curve of ir-ET production, which may be due to degradation of ir-ET. HPLC analysis revealed that cathepsin D cleaves Asn18-Ile19 bond in addition to Trp21-Val22 bond of big ET-1. These data suggests cathepsin D is not a physiological endothelin converting enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Hemopexin-dependent down-regulation of expression of the human transferrin receptor.

To investigate the regulation mechanism of the uptake of iron and heme iron by the cells and intracellular utilization of iron, we examined the interaction between iron uptake from transferrin and hemopexin-mediated uptake of heme by human leukemic U937 cells or HeLa cells. U937 cells exhibited about 40,000 hemopexin receptors/cell with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1 nM. Heme bound in hemopexin was taken up by U937 cells or HeLa cells in a receptor-mediated manner. Treatment of both species of cells with hemopexin led to a rapid decrease in iron uptake from transferrin in a hemopexin dose-dependent manner, and the decrease seen in case of treatment with hemin was less than that seen with hemopexin. The decrease of iron uptake by hemopexin contributed to a decrease in cell surface transferrin receptors on hemopexin-treated cells. Immunoblot analysis of the transferrin receptors revealed that the cellular level of receptors in U937 cells did not vary during an 8-h incubation with hemopexin although the number of surface receptors as well as iron uptake decreased within the 2-h incubation. After 4 h of incubation of the cells with hemopexin, a decrease of the synthesis of the receptors occurred. Thus, the down-regulation of transferrin receptors by hemopexin can be attributed to at least two mechanisms. One is a rapid redistribution of the surface receptor into the interior of the cells, and the other is a decrease in the biosynthesis of the receptor. 59Fe from the internalized heme rapidly appeared in non-heme iron (ferritin) coincidently with the induction of heme oxygenase. The results suggest that iron released from heme down-regulates the expression of the transferrin receptors and iron uptake.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of endothelin converting enzyme activities in soluble fraction of bovine cultured endothelial cells.

Endothelin converting enzyme activities in the soluble fraction of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were characterized. The two major endothelin converting enzyme activities were eluted from a hydrophobic chromatography column and the elution profile of the endothelin converting enzyme activities was the same as that of cathepsin D activities. These activities had a same pH optimum at pH 3.5 and were effectively inhibited by pepstatin A. Furthermore, anti-cathepsin D antiserum absorbed these activities as well as cathepsin D activity. Immunoblotting analysis using the antiserum showed the major active fractions have immunostainable components of identical molecular weights with cathepsin D. From these results, we concluded that the major endothelin converting activities in the soluble fraction of endothelial cells are due to cathepsin D. In addition to these cathepsin D activities, a minor endothelin converting enzyme activity with an optimum pH at 3.5 was found, which does not have angiotensin I generating (cathepsin D) activity from renin substrate and needs much higher concentrations of pepstatin A to inhibit the activity than cathepsin D.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Purification and characterization of putative endothelin converting enzyme in bovine adrenal medulla: evidence for a cathepsin D-like enzyme.

A specific and sensitive assay has been established for measurement of endothelin converting activity in a tissue extract. This assay is based on measuring endothelin-1 generated from big endothelin-1 by endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) with radioimmunoassay using an endothelin C-terminal specific antibody. By using this assay, we purified and characterized ECE in bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin granules ECE was purified over 3,000 times by a combination of DEAE, hydrophobic and gel filtration chromatography. A molecular weight of ECE was estimated to be approximately 30,000 by gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that ECE had three major components with estimated molecular weights of 45,000, 30,000 and 15,000 like bovine spleen cathepsin D. ECE had a pH optimum at 3.5 and was inhibited by pepstatin. These results strongly suggest that ECE is a cathepsin D-like aspartic protease.

Adrenal Medulla↗
PubMed1990

Detection of endothelin immunoreactivity and mRNA in pulmonary tumours.

Paraffin sections of 66 surgically resected lung tumours were immunostained with antisera to human endothelin-1 and to the C-terminal peptide of big endothelin. With both antisera, strong immunoreactivity was demonstrated in 11 of 15 squamous cell carcinomas and 11 of 16 adenocarcinomas. Focal immunoreactivity was seen in small cell carcinoma (2/12), large cell carcinoma (2/5), and carcinoid tumours (2/11). Four lymphomas and three sarcomas did not show endothelin immunoreactivity. Cryostat sections of 22 of the 66 tumours were hybridized with radiolabelled complementary RNA probes prepared from the 3' non-coding region of endothelin-1 cDNA, and the chromosomal genes encoding endothelin-2 and -3. In situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of endothelin mRNAs in 4 of 7 squamous cell carcinomas and in 5 of 8 adenocarcinomas, in a pattern similar to that shown by immunocytochemistry. No hybridization signals were obtained from the other types of tumours. In lung tissue adjacent to the tumours, endothelin-like immunoreactivity and mRNA were detected in pulmonary endocrine cells and, in some cases, other epithelial cells, and in alveolar capillary endothelial cells. This study demonstrates the expression of endothelin in a number of pulmonary tumours and suggests a possible role for this peptide in the growth and/or differentiation of these tumours.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Increased maternal plasma concentration of endothelin-1 during labor pain or on delivery and the existence of a large amount of endothelin-1 in amniotic fluid.

The concentration of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in plasma and amniotic fluid from normal pregnant women was determined by a sensitive sandwich-enzyme immunoassay system, established recently. The plasma ET-1 level increased gradually during normal pregnancy as the pregnancy advanced, the levels (0.40 +/- 0.02 pmol/l, n = 45) being significantly (p less than 0.05) higher after 29 weeks of gestation than those (0.32 +/- 0.01 pmol/l, n = 30) before 28 weeks of gestation. The plasma ET-1 level during labor pain was significantly higher (0.59 +/- 0.06 pmol/l, n = 10) than that (0.40 +/- 0.02 pmol/l, n = 45) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy without labor pain (p less than 0.02). Moreover, a high level of ET-1 (17.38 +/- 0.25 pmol/l, n = 18) was detected in amniotic fluid on term delivery. The ET-1 level in amniotic fluid was significantly higher than the levels in maternal and umbilical cord plasma (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.001, respectively). After delivery the maternal ET-1 level decreased gradually and 2 day postpartum ET-1 levels reached the normal non-pregnant level.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Endothelin].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Experimental and clinical study on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for newborn respiratory failure].

Simple method of venoarterial (V-A) bypass was developed for neonatal ECMO. Technical aspects in the management of our device was shown in this report. The most important technique was to keep the flow of ECMO less than 60-80 ml/min/kg. The low flow circulation less than 80 ml/min/kg made puppies alive under apnea experimentally. Clinically we experienced four newborn cases. All cases had severe respiratory failure with AaDO2 above 580 mmHg due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Two cases of them were able to survive. Other two cases died from intracranial hemorrhage during ECMO. The oxygenation of all cases was satisfactory under relative low flows. Our simple ECMO circuit was not only easy to operate but also to give less damage to blood.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[A case of thymic carcinoid].

Thymic carcinoid is rare disease. The frequency, treatment and prognosis of thymic carcinoid are discussed. This report presents a case of a 55-year-old man who underwent rt-hemithymectomy and radiotherapy postoperatively. The patient had no complaint but chest roentgenogram and CT scan revealed an abnormal mass in the anterior superior mediastinal region. Through median sternotomy, rt-hemithymectomy including partial resection of the pericardium was performed. The tumor was 6 X 5 X 5 cm in size, and diagnosis of thymic carcinoid was histologically established. The patient was discharged after postoperative irradiation of total dosage of 54 Gy to the mediastinum. He was no evidence of recurrence twelve months after operation.

Carcinoid Tumor↗
PubMed1989

Endothelin-3 is a novel neuropeptide: isolation and sequence determination of endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in porcine brain.

The molecular forms of endothelin (ET) related peptides were investigated in porcine brain by using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with three specific radioimmunoassays. ET-1 and its oxidized form were isolated and sequenced as in the case of porcine spinal cord. A very small amount of big ET-1 (1-39) and its C-terminal fragment (big ET-1 (22-39] were also detected. Furthermore, immunoreactive (ir)-ET-3 was isolated and sequenced; its partial primary structure was identical to that of human (rat) ET-3. The concentrations of ir-ET-1 and ir-ET-3 in porcine brain were 140 fmol/g tissue and 5 fmol/g tissue, respectively. These results indicate that besides ET-1, ET-3 is a novel neuropeptide in the central nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Analysis of endothelin related peptides in culture supernatant of porcine aortic endothelial cells: evidence for biosynthetic pathway of endothelin-1.

We investigated the molecular forms of endothelin (ET) related peptides in culture supernatant of porcine aortic endothelial cells by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassays for ET related peptides. We isolated and sequenced a C-terminal peptide (big ET-1(22-39] of big ET-1(1-39) and its N-terminal truncated form (big ET-1(23-39] in addition to ET-1(1-21) and its oxidized form, [Met7 (0)]ET-1(1-21). The total contents of the two C-terminal peptides of big ET-1(1-39) are approximately equal to those of ET-1(1-21) and its oxidized form on a molar basis in the culture supernatant. Furthermore, we isolated big ET-1(1-39) although its content is approximately 2% of that of ET-1(1-21). These results strongly suggest that ET-1(1-21) and big ET-1(22-39) are generated from big ET-1(1-39) by specific processing between Trp21-Val22.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Presence of endothelin-1 in porcine spinal cord: isolation and sequence determination.

We investigated the molecular forms of endothelin (ET) related peptides in porcine spinal cord by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with radioimmunoassays using three antisera raised against ET-1 and C-terminal fragments of ET-1 and big ET-1. ET-1 and its oxidized form were isolated as major immunoreactive peptides and sequenced. Furthermore, immunoreactivities like ET-3 and big ET-1(22-39) (contents: less than 8% and less than 1% of ET-1, respectively) were detected based on their chromatographic retention times and characteristics of immunoreactivity to the antisera. Big ET-1 was only scarcely detected. Immunohistochemical study showed the presence of ET-1-like immunoreactivity in motoneurons, dorsal horn neurons and dot- and fiber-like structures in the dorsal horn of lumbar spinal cord. These results indicate that ET-1 is present not only in endothelial cells but also in spinal cord, and that big ET-1 is converted into ET-1 in spinal cord by specific processing between Trp21-Val22. The data also indicate that ET-1 may act as a neuropeptide in the central nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗