Structure and action of MIP (Mytilus inhibitory peptide)-related tetrapeptides synthesized with a multipeptide synthesizer.

Using a multipeptide synthesizer we synthesized 19 peptide libraries, each of which consisted of 19 MIP-related tetrapeptides, and isolated a number of peptides, which have an inhibitory effect on phasic contraction of the ABRM of Mytilus, from the libraries. To the present, the structures of about 30 species of the peptides were determined, and the peptides with the determined structures were synthesized. The structure and action of each synthetic peptide was compared with those of others to explain structure-activity relationship of MIPs.

Mechanisms of the Frank-Starling phenomena studied in intact hearts.

The impact of ventricular volume on the relationship between intracellular calcium and ventricular pressure under steady-state conditions was determined in intact ferret hearts. The results reveal major quantitative differences and minor qualitative differences between these relations and those previously measured in isolated intact and skinned cardiac muscle. The importance of these differences is discussed within the context of developing a comprehensive mechanistic theory to describe load-dependence of the intact ventricle.

An approach for an immunoaffinity AIDS sensor using the conservative region of the HIV envelope protein (gp41) and its monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody for the conservative region of gp41, which is one of the HIV envelope proteins, was produced. The antigen determining site of gp41 was examined using the epitope mapping technique, followed by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Some peptides had comparable affinities for the monoclonal antibody, but the peptide EGIEE, having a slightly weaker immunoaffinity than gp41, was the most preferable for the construction of an immunoaffinity AIDS sensor.

Effects of zinc on production of active oxygen species by rat neutrophils.

The effects of zinc on the production of active oxygen species were investigated in rat neutrophils by chemiluminescence and spectrophotometric assays. The luminol-dependent chemiluminescence in unstimulated neutrophils showed a single peak. Zinc at concentrations lower than 0.

Nicorandil suppressed myocardial purine metabolism during exercise in patients with angina pectoris.

To elucidate the effect of Nicorandil on myocardial energy metabolism and myocardial sympathetic activity, we administered Nicorandil orally to eight patients with angina pectoris prior to exercise testing. Arterial and coronary sinus levels of lactate, ammonia, hypoxanthine (HX), adrenaline and noradrenaline were measured during exercise in order to determine the irrespective myocardial extraction ratios (MER). Compared to placebo, Nicorandil increased the time to development of significant ST depression (322 vs 390 s) while decreasing the maximum amplitude of ST depression (0.

Changes of QRS axis in transient myocardial ischaemia induced by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

The QRS axis of 130 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) were measured before balloon inflation and just before balloon deflation. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A (103) had angina pectoris and/or non-transmural old myocardial infarction with no abnormal Q waves; group B (27) had an old transmural myocardial infarction with abnormal Q waves.

Identification of EGF as an angiogenic factor present in conditioned medium from human salivary gland adenocarcinoma cell clones with varying degrees of metastatic potential.

We have previously shown that conditioned medium (CM) from metastasizing human salivary gland adenocarcinoma cell clones contains factor(s) that stimulate the proliferation and migration of bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells, and inhibit the production of collagenases by BAE cells (Azuma M. et al. (1993) Cancer Lett.

[Response to a questionnaire on DNR-order from 307 trustee members of Japanese Medical Societies].

A questionnaire on the use of DNR-order was conducted on 427 trustee members of Japan Society of Reanimatology, Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesiology with responses from 307 or 71.9%. The results of the questionnaire are as follows: DNR-order is unnecessary, 2.

Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on activating mechanisms of neutrophils.

The effects of diethyldithiocarbamate on superoxide release by rat neutrophils were investigated in a chemiluminescence study. Diethyldithiocarbamate augmented lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibited luminol-dependent chemiluminescence at concentrations of 0.1-1 microM.

Zinc hydroxide induced respiratory burst in rat neutrophils.

The effects of zinc hydroxide on the respiratory burst and phagocytosis by rat neutrophils were examined. Zinc hydroxide induced an increase in oxygen consumption and O2- production. Electronmicroscopy showed that neutrophils engulfed zinc hydroxide particles by phagocytosis.

Perfusion reserve of coronary collateral circulation and its significance in the development of exercise-induced ischemia in patients with multivessel disease.

To assess the perfusion reserve of coronary collateral circulation, we analyzed exercise-stress tomographic thallium-201 myocardial images in 12 patients who had total occlusion in the right coronary artery (RCA) or left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) with well-developed collateral circulation and 90% stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). In 6 of the 12 patients, the collateral circulation was non-jeopardized (group A). In the remaining 6 patients, the collateral circulation was jeopardized (group B).

[Damage to cultured corneal endothelium caused by ultrasound during phacoemulsification].

An experimental study was performed to estimate the degree of corneal endothelial damage caused by ultrasound during phacoemulsification. Cultured corneal endothelium prepared from bovine eyes was exposed to ultrasound. Dead cell rates were determined by counting the number of cells positively stained by trypan blue under various conditions of ultrasonic radiation.

Effects of media conditioned by a non-metastasizing human salivary gland adenocarcinoma cell clone and metastasizing clones from salivary gland and various other tissues on the proliferation, migration and protease production of bovine aortic endothelial cells in vitro.

We demonstrate the role in tumor-associated angiogenesis of factors released into conditioned medium (CM) from in vitro human salivary gland cell clones with biological phenotypes ranging from non-metastasizing to metastasizing. A non-metastasizing human salivary gland adenocarcinoma cell clone HSGc and its subclone with metastatic potential (Gc2-100 cl-1) were employed. We also used metastasizing cell clones obtained by explant cultures of organs of Gc2-100 cl-1 tumor-bearing nude mouse.

Acute hemodynamic effects of bunazosin in congestive heart failure--differing responses according to degree of cardiac dysfunction.

1. Hemodynamic responses to Bunazosin (BZN) in congestive heart failure (CHF) were evaluated for 6 hours (hr) in 30 patients (A, normal cardiac function; B, mild cardiac dysfunction; C, severe cardiac dysfunction). 2.

Role of plasminogen activators, metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in the metastatic process of human salivary-gland adenocarcinoma cells.

An in vitro system has been established in which conversion from non-metastasizing to metastasizing adenocarcinoma cells can be induced, and subsequently subjected to analysis of the expression of proteases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). A human salivary-gland adenocarcinoma cell clone HSGc, with no metastatic ability, was exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Following exposure to MNU, cells with altered morphology were cloned.

Effects of volume and pressure overloads and myocardial hypertrophy on exercise-induced changes in electrocardiographic QRS amplitude.

To investigate the effects of volume and pressure overloads and myocardial hypertrophy on exercise-induced changes in QRS amplitude, we reviewed treadmill exercise electrocardiograms. In 10 normal young men, Rv5 amplitude decreased and Sv1 amplitude increased at peak exercise, and returned to the resting value in the recovery period. In 10 patients with aortic regurgitation, Rv5 and Sv1 amplitudes increased after 5 min of recovery.

[Effects of typhoon-caused power failure on medical care facilities].

In the evening of September 27, Typhoon 19 passed Yamaguchi prefecture. The wind velocity exceeded anything that the local meteorological observatory has ever recorded so far in this area. When the typhoon was off shore near Yamaguchi prefecture, the gale brought down many electric-light poles around Hofu city with power failure in Hofu city continuing for more than a week.

Renal hypouricemia with both drug-insensitive secretion and defective reabsorption of urate: a novel type of renal hypouricemia.

Renal handling of urate in the hypouricemic patient with increase in both urate clearance (Cur) and Cur/creatinine clearance (Ccr) and normal urinary excretion of urate was studied according to the pharmacological evaluation. In the present case there was no response of urate excretion to either pyrazinamide or probenecid. Both furosemide and prednisolone could not alter Cur and Cur/Ccr.

Plasma catecholamine responses to dynamic exercise in patients with coronary artery disease--the relationship between sympathetic activity and systolic blood pressure and exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias.

In order to investigate the relationship between sympathetic activity and postexercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) and exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we studied 38 patients and 9 normal subjects who underwent treadmill testing. Peak pressure-rate product was similar in the 2 groups. The plasma concentrations of norepinephrine and epinephrine at rest and immediately after exercise were significantly higher in patients with CAD compared with normal subjects (norepinephrine at rest, p < 0.

Hemodynamic changes during dynamic exercise in patients after mitral valve replacement for chronic mitral regurgitation.

To evaluate hemodynamic changes during dynamic exercise, we investigated 13 patients after mitral valve replacement (MVR) for chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) and 5 control subjects by right heart catheterisation during supine bicycle exercise. According to the sizes of the St. Jude Medical (SJM) prosthesis during MVR, patients were divided into group A (n = 8) with SJM 31mm and group B (n = 5) with SJM 29mm.

Effect of alacepril on blood pressure and neurohumoral factors at rest and during dynamic exercise in patients with essential hypertension.

We assessed blood pressure and neurohumoral factors at rest and during exercise in 10 patients with essential hypertension before and after treatment with the new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, alacepril (25-50 mg day-1). Alacepril significantly lowered mean blood pressure at rest and at the same exercise load as before treatment without affecting heart rate response. The response of plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and plasma adrenaline were not changed by alacepril, but increase of plasma angiotensin II and plasma noradrenaline during exercise were significantly attenuated after alacepril treatment (ANOVA, P = 0.

Zinc hydroxide stimulates superoxide production by rat alveolar macrophages.

The effect of zinc hydroxide on superoxide (O2-) production by rat alveolar macrophages was determined by chemiluminescence and by cytochrome c reduction. Zinc ions had no effect on the chemiluminescence of unstimulated alveolar macrophages. By contrast, zinc hydroxide (ZnOH2), a neutralized form of zinc ions, increased the chemiluminescence level and O2- release.