The Impact of Potassium Dynamics on Cardiomyocyte Beating in Hemodialysis Treatment.

: Observational studies of intermittent hemodialysis therapy have reported that the excess decrease in K concentration in plasma (KP) during treatment is associated with the destabilization of cardiac function. Elucidating the mechanism by which the decrease in KP impairs myocardial excitation is indispensable for a deeper understanding of prescription design. : In this study, by using an electrophysiological mathematical model, we investigated the relationship between KP dynamics and cardiomyocyte excitability for the first time.

Electrophysiological insights into the relationship between calcium dynamics and cardiomyocyte beating function in chronic hemodialysis treatment.

For patients in which the Ca concentration of dialysis fluid is lower than that in plasma, chronic hemodialysis treatment often leads to cardiac beating dysfunction. By applying these conditions to an electrophysiological mathematical model, we evaluated the impact of body fluid Ca dynamics during treatment on cardiomyocyte beating and, moreover, explored measures that may prevent cardiomyocyte beating dysfunction. First, Ca concentrations in both plasma and interstitial fluid were decreased with treatment time, which induced both a slight decline in beating rhythm on a sinoatrial nodal cell and a wane in contraction force on a ventricular cell.

The inhibition of aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation by the intravenous anesthetic ketamine.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation has been recognized as central to the pathology of both major forms of vascular disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension. Recently, we reported that ketamine inhibits rat mesangial cell proliferation, suggesting that ketamine inhibits cell growth. Although the IV anesthetic ketamine has been widely used clinically, the exact effects of ketamine on vascular SMC proliferation have not been studied.

A forskolin derivative, colforsin daropate hydrochloride, inhibits the decrease in cortical renal blood flow induced by noradrenaline or angiotensin II in anesthetized rats.

A forskolin derivative, colforsin daropate hydrochloride (CDH), acts directly on adenylate cyclase to increase the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels which produce a positive inotropic effect and a lower blood pressure. However, little is known about the effects of CDH on the renal function. We used laser Doppler flowmetry to measure the cortical renal blood flow (RBF) in male Wistar rats given a continuous intravenous infusion of CDH and evaluated the effects of CDH on the noradrenaline (NA) and angiotensin II (AngII) induced increases in blood pressure and reductions in RBF.

Experience with the JMS fully automated dialysis machine.

A fully automated dialysis machine has been developed and evaluated clinically. It uses highly pure dialysate (produced by a new dialysate cleaning system) instead of the conventional physiologic saline for the processes of priming, guiding blood to the dialysis machine, replenishing fluid, and returning the blood to the body. The piping for the dialysate is in the shape of a loop, and the dialyzer coupler has no mechanical parts that might become contaminated.

A forskolin derivative, colforsin daropate hydrochloride, inhibits rat mesangial cell mitogenesis via the cyclic AMP pathway.

A forskolin derivative, colforsin daropate hydrochloride (CDH), has been introduced as an inotropic agent that acts directly on adenylate cyclase to increase intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and ventricular contractility, resulting in positive inotropic activity. We investigated the effects of CDH on rat mesangial cell (MC) proliferation. CDH (10(-7)-10(-5) mol/l) inhibited [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into cultured rat MCs in a concentration-dependent manner.

Flavoxobin, a serine protease from Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) venom, independently cleaves Arg726-Ser727 of human C3 and acts as a novel, heterologous C3 convertase.

We have recently shown that crude Trimeresurus flavoviridis (habu snake) venom has a strong capability for activating the human alternative complement system. To identify the active component, the crude venom was fractionated and purified by serial chromatography using Sephadex G-100, CM-cellulose C-52, diethylaminoethyl-Toyopearl 650M, and Butyl-Toyopearl, and the active fractions were evaluated by the C3a-releasing and soluble membrane attack complex-forming activities. Two peak fractions with the highest activities were detected after gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography, and the first fraction was purified to homogeneity.