Family history study on hypertension in Japan.

1. Familial aggregation of hypertension was determined in 187 Japanese nuclear families. The necessary data on family and case history particularly concerning the hypertensive status were obtained by personal interviews of outpatients at six local hospitals, using a specifically designed questionnaire.

Experimental studies on cardiovascular disorders and cellular Ca handling in shell-less chick embryos.

1. Chick embryos rendered Ca deficient by long-term culture outside the eggshell develop hypertension/tachycardia. 2.

[Isolation of Legionella spp. from cooling tower water in Kinki District, Japan].

Distribution of Legionella spp. were surveyed two different times in Kinki District, Japan. The first time, eighty six building cooling tower waters were collected from Osaka, Hyogo and Nara Prefecture between April and December, 1987.

Small GTP-binding proteins in bovine aortic smooth muscle.

In bovine aortic smooth muscle, GTP-binding activity was equally distributed in the membrane and cytosol fractions. The most abundant GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) in each fraction were purified to near homogeneity and characterized. The most abundant G protein in the membrane fraction had a Mr value of about 22,000 (m22K G) as estimated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

Vasoconstrictor-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, angiotensin II induced tyrosine phosphorylation of at least 9 proteins with molecular masses of 190, 117, 105, 82, 79, 77, 73, 45 and 40 kDa in time- and dose-dependent manners. Other vasoconstrictors such as [Arg]vasopressin, 5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of the same set of proteins as angiotensin II. The tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins was mimicked by the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, phorbol 12 myristate 13-acetate, and the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin.

[Effect of XKJ-001, a crude drug preparation, on body water distribution and water excretion in mice].

The effect of XKJ-001, a crude drug preparation based on Seisho-ekki-to, was investigated on the hematocrit, plasma volume, extracellular and interstitial fluid volumes as well as water excretion in mice. Mice were housed in an animal room maintained at 34 degrees C for 3 d with water and food freely available. While the hematocrit, extracellular and interstitial fluid volumes increased, the plasma volume decreased.

The molecular heterogeneity of the smg-21/Krev-1/rap1 proteins, a GTP-binding protein having the same effector domain as ras p21s, in bovine aortic smooth muscle membranes.

smg p21 is a member of the ras p21/ras p21-like small GTP-binding protein (G protein) superfamily, having the same putative effector domain as ras p21s. In the preceding report, we showed that smg p21 was a major G protein in bovine aortic smooth muscle membranes. Recently, two different smg p21 cDNA clones, designated smg-21A and -B, were isolated from a bovine brain cDNA library.

[Localization of HTLV-I-associated antigens in adult T cell leukemia cells and HTLV-I-infected cell line cells].

Localization of HTLV-I-associated antigens was studied in adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cells and HTLV-I-infected cell line cells using monoclonal and human polyclonal antibodies against the viral-related antigens. Two monoclonal antibodies that we obtained by hybridoma technique reacted with HTLV-I-virus core antigens, P19 and P24, respectively. Human anti-HTLV-I-antibodies, which were purified from sera from ATL patients reacted with not only HTLV-I virus particles but also their precursors located in the cytoplasm.

Dynamic exercise-induced elevation in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with effort angina pectoris.

We investigated the relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) levels and hemodynamic indices during dynamic exercise testing in 15 patients with effort angina pectoris. Patients exercised on an angina-limited, supine, multistage bicycle ergometer, and plasma ANP levels and hemodynamic indices were measured at rest, at peak exercise, and 6 minutes after exercise. Plasma ANP levels increased significantly at peak exercise.

Identification of a major GTP-binding protein in bovine aortic smooth muscle cytosol as the rhoA gene product.

In bovine aortic smooth muscle, about 50% of total GTP-binding activity was present in the cytosol fraction. A major GTP-binding protein (G protein) with a Mr value of about 21,000 (21K G) in this fraction was purified to near homogeneity and characterized. 21K G bound maximally about 0.

Fasting prevents acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein in rats.

We examined the effect of fasting on the course of experimental acute pancreatitis induced in rats by four subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg body weight of cerulein at hourly intervals. Rats were either fasted from 24 hr before to 9 hr after the first cerulein injection or fed ad libitum throughout the experiment. Twenty-four hours of fasting reduced cerulein-induced increases in serum levels of amylase and anionic trypsin(ogen) to 50 and 70% of those in fed rats, respectively.

Prediction of left ventricular function during supine bicycle ergometer exercise in angina-free patients with old myocardial infarction.

We investigated whether or not left ventricular function during dynamic exercise in angina-free patients with old myocardial infarction could be estimated using resting left ventricular function and noninvasive parameters determined during exercise. We studied 70 patients with old myocardial infarction by measuring hemodynamic parameters during supine multistage bicycle ergometer exercise. Coronary arteriography and left ventriculography were performed: then the left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume were measured.

Mechanism of abnormal postexercise systolic blood pressure response and its diagnostic value in patients with coronary artery disease.

To define the factors that affect an abnormal postexercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) response and to verify the diagnostic value of that response in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we studied 33 normal subjects, eight patients with hypertension who had no CAD, and 42 patients with documented CAD who underwent supine leg exercise testing. SBP recovery ratios were derived by dividing the values obtained 1 and 3 minutes after exercise by the peak value. The upper normal limit of the SBP ratio was defined by two standard deviations from the mean for 33 normal subjects.

Hemodynamic mechanisms of antianginal action of calcium channel blocker nisoldipine in dynamic exercise-induced angina.

To investigate the mechanism of antianginal action of the calcium channel blocker nisoldipine and to determine the reproducibility of the clinical and hemodynamic events induced by supine leg exercise, 30 patients with stable effort angina pectoris were studied. They were divided into two groups; one group of 19 patients received a single 10-mg dose of nisoldipine orally, and the other group of 11 patients received a single dose of placebo orally. Chest pain was induced in all of 30 patients during the control exercise test.

Immunohistochemical study of peptide-containing nerves in the gastrointestinal tract of the Japanese field vole, Microtus montebelli.

The distribution and relative frequency of nerves containing immunoreactivity for substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastrin-releasing polypeptide (GRP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and menthionine-enkephalin (MENK) were studied by immunohistochemistry in the gastrointestinal tract of the herbivorous Japanese field vole, Microtus montebelli.

Covalent labeling of the cocaine-sensitive catecholamine transporter.

Xylamine is an alkylating agent that is a substrate for and specific irreversible inhibitor of the cocaine-sensitive catecholamine transporter that functions in catecholamine reuptake into neurons and PC12 cells. [3H]xylamine prominently labels nine PC12 proteins; the relative xylamine-alkylation of a Mr 54,000 protein was decreased by cocaine and increased in the case of a PC12 variant, B9, which is deficient in catecholamine transport. [3H]xylamine labels no such protein in another transport variant, MPT1.

Proglumide analogues CR 1409 and CR 1392 inhibit cholecystokinin-stimulated insulin release more potently than exocrine secretion from the isolated perfused rat pancreas.

The effects of proglumide-related cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonists CR 1409 and CR 1392 on CCK-octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated immunoreactive insulin (IRI) release and exocrine secretion were examined simultaneously in the isolated perfused rat pancreas. The CR 1409, at concentrations of 10-100 nM, significantly inhibited CCK-8 (100 pM) stimulation on IRI release but failed to inhibit the stimulatory effect of CCK-8 on both pancreatic juice flow and protein secretion. Increasing concentrations of CR 1409 inhibited both CCK-8-stimulated IRI release and exocrine secretion.

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats.

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. (G.

Regulatory effect of cholecystokinin on subsequent insulin binding to pancreatic acini.

We investigated the regulatory effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on subsequent insulin binding to pancreatic acinar cells. Rat isolated acini were preincubated with various concentrations of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8) at 37 degrees C. Acini were then washed, resuspended in the binding buffer, and incubated with 8.

New model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by excessive doses of arginine in rats.

We examined the biological and histologic characteristics of a new experimental model of acute necrotizing pancreatitis induced by excessive doses of arginine in rats. Rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/100 g body weight of L-arginine. At 12-24 hr after the arginine injection, serum levels of amylase, lipase, and anionic trypsin(ogen) reached respective peak values 2, 5, and 20 times those of control rats without arginine and returned to control levels after 24-48 hr.

[Second serogroup of Legionella pneumophila isolated from a patient with fulminant pneumonia].

A 67-year-old female was admitted to our hospital, because of high fever and dry cough. She had undergone semiradical hysterectomy and radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix one year previously. Her chest roentgenograms on admission showed lobar consolidation of the left upper lobe.

Effects of L-364,718 on pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretion in the rat.

We examined the inhibitory effect of L-364,718, a nonpeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) antagonist, on CCK stimulation of pancreatic exocrine and endocrine secretion in both the isolated pancreatic acini and the isolated perfused pancreata of rats. In the isolated acini, L-364,718 inhibited CCK octapeptide (CCK-8)-stimulated amylase release and binding of 125I-CCK-8 in a dose-dependent manner without appreciable effects on the basal amylase secretion. L-364,718 also inhibited amylase release in response to caerulein and gastrin I, but had no effect on amylase release stimulated by other secretagogues or by agents bypassing receptors.

Severe hypersensitivity to mosquito bites associated with natural killer cell lymphocytosis.

A 2-year-old girl showed exaggerated skin reactions to mosquito bites and associated general symptoms, including a high temperature, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Peripheral blood lymphocytes contained a high percentage of CD2+, CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, CD11b+, CD16+, CD38+, CD56+, CD57-, and HLA-DR+ large granular lymphocytes that exhibited a marked natural killer cell activity. Immunohistochemically, biopsy specimens taken from the lesional skin demonstrated an infiltrate of the cells bearing the natural killer cell phenotype, indicating a role of these cells in the development of the abnormal skin reactions to mosquito bites and other systemic manifestations.

Adrenergic regulation of calcium-deficient hypertension in chick embryos.

Chick embryos rendered calcium deficient by long-term culture outside the eggshell develop hypertension and tachycardia (R. Tuan and H. Q.