Nobuo Hoshino

Damage to the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia Coli by catechin-copper (II) complexes

In the presence of a nonlethal concentration of Cu(II), washed Escherichia coli ATCC11775 cells were killed by (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-epicatechin (EC). Cell killing was accompanied by a depletion in both the ATP and potassium pools of the cells, but the DNA double strand was not broken, indicating that the bactericidal activity of catechins in the presence of Cu(II) results from damage to the cytoplasmic membrane. Induction of endogenous catalase in E. coli cells increased their resistance to being killed by the combination of catechins and Cu(II). In all cases studied, EGC and EC with Cu(II) were found to generate hydrogen peroxide, but its concentration was too low to account for the bactericidal activity. The bactericidal activity of EGC in the presence of Cu(II) was completely suppressed by ethylenediaminetetraacetate, bathocuproine, catalase, superoxide disumutase (SOD), heated catalase, and heated SOD, but not by dimethyl sulfoxide. When catalase, either heated or unheated, was added to the cells incubated with EGC in the presence of Cu(II), it completely inhibited further killing of the cells. These findings suggest that recycling redox reactions between Cu(II) and Cu(I), involving catechins and hydrogen peroxide on the cell surface, must be important in the mechanism of the killing.

Prooxidative Activities of Tea Catechins in the Presence of Cu2

The ability of various tea catechins to generate H2O2 and the hydroxyl radical in the presence of the Cu2+ ion was investigated and compared with the effect of iron ions. The presence of Cu2+ accelerated the generation of H2O2 by EGC, while EGCg with Cu2+ generated a little H2O2. The presence of iron ions inhibited the generation of H2O2 by EGC. EGC and EC with Cu2+ generated the hydroxyl radical, while EGCg and ECg with Cu2+ did not. The fact that EGCg showed less prooxidative activity than EGC can be explained by the chelating ability of catechin gallates to metal ions under the experimental conditions.

Bactericidal activity of catechin-copper (II) complexes against Staphylococcus aureus compared with Escherichia coli

The bactericidal activity of catechin‐copper (II) complexes against Staphylococcus aureus compared with Escherichia coli was investigated in relation to the generation of hydrogen peroxide and the binding of Cu(II) ion onto the bacteria. The bactericidal activity of catechin‐Cu(II) complexes against Staph. aureus (Gram‐positive) was much lower than that against E. coli (Gram‐negative), suggesting that the binding of copper ions to the surface of bacterial cells plays an important role in the bactericidal activity of catechin‐Cu(II) complexes.

Resting energy expenditure and nutritional status in patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

This study was to assess the resting energy expenditure of patients with esophageal cancer using indirect calorimetry. Eight male patients with esophageal cancer and eight male healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymph nodes dissections. The resting energy expenditure was measured preoperatively, and on postoperative day 7 and 14 using indirect calorimetry. Preoperatively, the measured resting energy expenditure/body weight in these patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (23.3 ± 2.1 kcal/kg/day vs 20.4 ± 1.6 kcal/kg/day), whereas the measured/predicted energy expenditure from the Harris-Benedict equation ratio was 1.01 ± 0.09, which did not differ significantly from the control values. The measured resting energy expenditure/body weight was 27.3 ± 3.5 kcal/kg/day on postoperative day 7, and 23.7 ± 5.07 kcal/kg/day on postoperative day 14. Significant increases in the measured resting energy expenditure were observed on postoperative day 7, and the measured/predicted energy expenditure ratio was 1.17 ± 0.15. In conclusion, patients with operable esophageal cancers were almost normometabolic before surgery. On the other hand, the patients showed a hyper-metabolic status after esophagectomy. We recommended that nutritional management based on 33 kcal/body weight/day (calculated by the measured resting energy expenditure × active factor 1.2–1.3) may be optimal for patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Influence of Glycerol-induced Acute Renal Failure on the Pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporin in Rats

Although it is widely believed that renal dysfunction has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin, many clinical reports suggest that renal dysfunction after renal transplantation is closely related to the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin. To clarify the relationship between renal dysfunction and the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin, we examined the influence of acute renal failure (ARF) on its pharmacokinetics in glycerol‐induced ARF rats.

Bactericidal activity of catechin-copper (II) complexes on Escherichia coli ATCC11775 in the absence of hydrogen peroxide.

Washed Escherichia coli ATCC11775 cells were killed by (–)‐epigallocatechin (EGC) in the presence of a non‐ lethal concentration of Cu2+ (1 μmol l−1) without additional H2O2, but not by (–)‐epicatechin (EC). EGC alone (< 0·1 mmol l−1) did not reduce the viability of the cells. The survival curve obtained in the presence of EGC and Cu2+ was similar to that obtained in the presence of (–)‐adrenaline (EN) and Cu2+.

Factors that affect absorption behavior of cyclosporin a in gentamicin-induced acute renal failure in rats.

Factors that affect the absorption of cyclosporin A (CsA) were examined in gentamicin-induced acute renal failure (ARF) rats. In ARF rats, the area under the blood CsA concentration-time curve after oral administration was significantly decreased in comparison with that of control rats; 5.81 ± 0.55 vs 11.30 ± 1.59 mg h mL−1 (mean ± s.e.m.), respectively, and the relative bioavailabilities in ARF and control rats after oral administration were 15.2% and 43.4%, respectively. The flow rate of bile and the amount of bile acids in ARF rats were markedly decreased to about 61% of control, and 41% of control, respectively. The amount of CsA uptaken into the evened sac of jejunum, transferred to serosal side, and metabolized in tissues was significantly decreased in ARF rats without verapamil, while with 0.3 mM verapamil, the amount in ARF rats recovered to the levels of control rats. The absorption clearance of CsA in ARF rats was significantly decreased, however it was significantly improved by adding bile or bile acid. Adenosine triphosphate released from enterocytes in ARF rats was significantly decreased in the presence of 2.0 1−M CsA, 0.3 mM verapamil, or both, in comparison with control rats. From these findings, we concluded that a reduction of CsA bioavailability during ARF is caused by depression in bile excretion and renal function-dependent depression of uptake from intestinal tract via maybe P-gLycoprotein in enterocytes. They are main two factors that reduce the absorbed fraction of CsA in ARF rats.

An open study of a lotion formulation to improve tolerance of tacrolimus in facial atopic dermatitis

Background We identified 19 patients with facial atopic eczema who failed to respond to tacrolimus (FK506) ointment, although tacrolimus ointment has shown excellent benefit for the treatment of recalcitrant facial erythema in most patients with atopic dermatitis.

Über die myogene Automatie des Limulusherzens

Die rein neurogene A u t o m a t i e des Limulusherzens wurde yon Carlson zuerst behauptet , weleher Ansicht Patten und unsere beiden Forseher S. Iwai und S: Nukada sieh anschlossen. Es wurde von Physiologen als eine merkwiirdige Tatsache betrachtet, dal~ das Limulusherz allein rein neurogen schlagt. Ieh habe im vorigen und in diesem Sommer das Limulusherz unter Leitung von Proi. K. Kurg studiert. Ieh habe zuerst nach der Methode Carlsons das Limulusherz blol~gelegt und die Funktion desselben beobachtet, dabei bekam ieh dasselbe l~esultat wie Carlson. Nach der Entfernung des medianen Nervenstranges stand das ganze Herz still. Bei der gleiehzeitigen ~)urehtrennung der drei Nervenstr~nge (des medianen Nervenstranges und beider lateralen Nervenstr~nge) zwischen 2. und 3. HerzSffnung standen die vorderen Herzsegmente ganz still. Sp~ter babe ich gefunden, dal~ die Beobaehtung Carlsons nieht ganz richtig war.

Dry mouth as a novel indicator of hoarseness caused by inhalation therapy

Abstract Objective: To investigate the influence of dry mouth on the incidence and severity of inhalation therapy-induced hoarseness. Methods: The volume of saliva secreted without stimulation was measured in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also answered a questionnaire on subjective ratings for hoarseness. The relationship between salivary secretion and hoarseness was analyzed by the Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. The prediction accuracy of salivary secretion for the grade of hoarseness was evaluated using a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: A total of 232 patients participated in this study. The subjective rating score of hoarseness was negatively correlated with the volume of saliva secreted (r = −0.273, p < 0.001). A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that salivary secretion (p < 0.001) and the dose of fluticasone administered (p < 0.05) were significant variables for predicting hoarseness. The ROC analysis for predicting severe hoarseness by salivary secretion showed significant prediction accuracy (AUC = 0.690, 95% CI: 0.614–0.766, p < 0.001) and was higher in patients administered fluticasone (AUC = 0.732, 95% CI: 0.644–0.821, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Hyposalivation is a significant prediction factor of hoarseness induced by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The prediction accuracy was higher in patients administered fluticasone than in those administered another inhalation drug. Although the pharmaceutical efficacy of fluticasone is high, patients with hyposalivation should be prescribed other inhalation drugs.