Changes of hepatic vitronectin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon alpha.

Hepatic vitronectin expression was assessed in 27 patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after interferon alpha treatment and in 7 control patients. Before interferon therapy, vitronectin was localized in the hepatocytes and in the portal and central venous regions. A high correlation was found for the vitronectin expression level with the histological grading and staging scores in the hepatocytes as well as in the portal region.

Inhibitory effect of metformin on intestinal glucose absorption in the perfused rat intestine.

To investigate the effect of metformin on intestinal glucose absorption, a perfusion study of the intestine was performed in the rat. Male Wistar albino rats (8 weeks old) were used in the present study. The glucose absorption by the perfused intestine (788.

Long-term effect of epalrestat on cardiac autonomic neuropathy in subjects with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

To evaluate the effect of long-term administration of an aldose reductase inhibitor on diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, 22 subjects with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, 11 men and 11 women, mean age; 64.8 +/- 7.8 years, duration of diabetes; 18.

Sulfonylureas stimulate renin secretion from the perfused kidney of the rat.

To elucidate whether sulfonylureas directly influence renin secretion, the effect of tolbutamide, glibenclamide, or chlorpropamide on renin secretion was investigated by using the perfused kidney of the rat. The isolated kidneys of male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were perfused with a medium containing 2 microM tolbutamide, 2 microM glibenclamide, and 2 microM chlorpropamide, respectively. Renin activity significantly increased from a basal value of 11.

The effect of pioglitazone on glucose metabolism and insulin uptake in the perfused liver and hindquarter of high-fructose-fed rats.

To investigate the effect of pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione oral antidiabetic agent, on the glucose and insulin metabolism in insulin resistance, a perfusion study of the liver and hindquarter was performed in high-fructose-fed rats. Male Wistar albino rats were assigned randomly to one of the following diets for 2 weeks: (1) normal chow (control group), (2) a diet high in fructose (fructose group), or (3) a high-fructose diet plus pioglitazone (pioglitazone intake of approximately 10 mg/kg body weight; pioglitazone group). The elevated levels of plasma insulin, triglyceride, and free fatty acids (FFA) in the fructose group were normalized by pioglitazone administration.

Glucose stimulates renin secretion via adrenergic mechanisms in the rat.

To elucidate whether and why glucose directly influences renin secretion, the effect of glucose on renin secretion was investigated in the rat. In an in vivo study, renin activity significantly (p<0.01) increased from the basal value of 7.

[Clinical usefulness of the measurements of plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex and plasma tissue factor activity in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation].

The early stage of the state in which coagulation or fibrinolytic pathway is activated has been difficult to estimate. It has become possible to detect disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at an early stage due to the development of highly sensitive methods which quantitate so called "molecular markers". Herein, to evaluate the clinical usefulness of plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) and tissue factor activity in plasma were examined.

[Simple analysis of fatty acid in human milk by HPLC].

The conventional analysis of fatty acid requires such complicated operations as extraction of total lipid, evaporation of organic layer, alkaline hydrolysis, washing with n-hexane, re-extraction of fatty acid and washing with water, and therefore, is time-consuming. Herein, we report a simplified method dispensing with the steps of the extraction of total lipids, the evaporation of organic layer and the washing with n-hexane after hydrolysis. This method showed satisfactory results on the linearity of standard curves and their productibility, and a correlation was obtained between those obtained by the traditional method and by our simple method in human milk.

[Fluorometric determination of selenium in breast milk: studies on wet ashing].

A fluorometric method for the determination of selenium content in breast milk was studied. After the wet ashing of breast milk with nitric acid and perchloric acid at 160 degrees C for about 2.5-3 hours and the reduction with 6 mol/l hydrochloric acid, selenium was determined by 2,3-diamino-naphthalene fluorescence reaction.

[Blood coagulation-fibrinolysis tests by a biochemical method].

Blood coagulation-fibrinolysis factors are conventionally measured using fibrinogen or fibrin as a natural substrate. With recent advances in the technology to biochemically separate and purify, individual coagulation-fibrinolysis factors were isolated and purified, and their biochemical properties, function, and primary structure were clarified. Measurement techniques for blood coagulation-fibrinolysis factors were also developed.

[A study of taste-sensitivity in pre-school children with special reference to its time-course according to their growth].

Sensitivity to drops of sweet, salty, sour and bitter tasting test liquids was evaluated in 47 kindergarteners (20 males, 27 females). The results revealed that ability for taste discrimination in pre-school children was related to growth and development processes, and was strongly affected by environmented factors mainly dietary lifestyle. Pre-school children showed no sex difference in sensitivity to these 4 kinds of tastes, but displayed gradually increasing sensitivity to sweet and salty tastes from age 3, 4 to 5 on, and gradually decreasing sensitivity to sour taste, while no age-related change was found with regard to bitter taste.

[Silicon concentrations in maternal serum and breast milk in the postpartum period].

The silicon (Si) concentrations in maternal serum and breast milk were determined for 38 healthy postpartal women, 19 primiparae and 19 multiparae, by using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results are as follows: 1. The geometric mean (95% confidence interval) of the Si level in maternal serum was 9.

[Zinc and copper concentrations in breast milk and maternal serum in the postpartum period].

This study reports the contents of Zn and Cu in the breast milk and serum of postpartum mothers, 17 primiparas and 20 multiparas, at one week and at one month after delivery. Results were as follows. 1.

Measuring tissue factor (factor III) activity in plasma.

This is a method for measuring tissue factor (TF, Factor III, tissue thromboplastin) activity in plasma by using a chromogenic substrate. As pretreatment, the euglobulin fraction of plasma was prepared by removing endogenous inhibitors and heated at 60 degrees C for 3 min to remove fibrinogen. This allowed us to measure the low TF activity in plasma that could not otherwise be measured.