Publications by authors named "I Ashrafi Tamai"
Magenstrasse (stomach road) is reported to potentially influence the absorption of orally administered drugs by facilitating a gastric emptying of ingested water under postprandial condition. We hypothesized the Magenstrasse is a consequence of the formation of protein aggregates due to the decrease in gastric pH associated with stimulated gastric acid secretion. The formation mechanism of the Magenstrasse was examined in vitro using a gastric chamber system which reproduces postprandial conditions in the stomach.
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- - Excessive or insufficient levels of soluble uric acid (sUA) are linked to various health issues, while sUA at normal levels appears to be important for overall health, though its specific functions are not well understood.
- - This study shows that sUA can inhibit the enzyme CD38, which is involved in the breakdown of NAD, through a reversible non-competitive mechanism, particularly affecting purine metabolism.
- - At physiological levels, sUA may help to reduce systemic inflammation and peritonitis in mice, suggesting a significant role in regulating NAD availability and supporting the immune system by interacting with CD38.
This study aimed to analyze the contributions of multiple transport mechanisms to the intestinal uptake of serotonin (5-HT) by employing a variety of in vitro experimental techniques, focusing on organic cation transporters expressed in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as SERT, PMAT, THTR2, OCT3, and OCTN2. Analysis of the concentration dependence of 5-HT uptake by Caco-2 cells revealed multi-affinity kinetics with high-affinity and low-affinity components, suggesting that multiple transporters are involved in the intestinal 5-HT uptake. Comparative analysis of transporters using K values obtained in Xenopus oocyte expression systems suggested that SERT is responsible for the high-affinity transport, while PMAT, THTR2, and OCT3 contribute to the low-affinity transport.
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- Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is a key factor in acute kidney injury (AKI), primarily affecting renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) which play a crucial role in drug processing in the kidneys.* -
- The study utilized three-dimensional cultured human RPTECs (3D-RPTECs) and found that certain drugs, like tenofovir and cisplatin, reduced ATP levels in these cells, indicating potential toxicity.* -
- 3D-RPTECs demonstrated high sensitivity (82.4% to 88.2%) and specificity (100% to 93.3%) in predicting DIKI when compared to traditional two-dimensional cell cultures, suggesting they are a valuable tool
Background: Despite the prevalence of echogenic foci floating in the urinary bladder seen in ultrasonography in dogs, surprisingly little has been written on its significance, including its potential association with urinalysis. The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of the echogenic foci floating in urinary bladders in dogs.
Results: - Cystosonography was performed on 45 dogs.