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Volume 48, Issue 2
Displaying 1-6 of 6 articles from this issue
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Jonathan D. Kaunitz1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 63-68
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSA viscoelastic mucus gel layer covers the gastric mucosa in a continuous sheet. The functions of the mucus gel have been one of the least studied aspects of gastric barrier function. Although the role of gastric mucus in providing physical protection against ingested particles, and preventing contact between digestive enzymes such as pepsin and the underlying mucosa is generally accepted, the barrier role function of gastric mucus with regard to luminal acid is still conjectural. The modest proton diffusion barrier that mucus provides is negligible in relation to the overall barrier properties of the gastric mucosa; nevertheless, stabilization of unstirred layers and damping of rapid shifts in luminal pH are potentially important functions. Associative studies have suggested a possible role of a hydrophobic barrier in strengthening the barrier functions of mucus. One of the most actively investigated areas of mucus function in recent times has been the mechanism by which secreted acid traverses the gel. Although compelling and complementary data obtained in vivo and in vitro have been consistent with secretion of acid under pressure, creating temporary viscous fingers through the gel, recent evidence obtained with in vivo confocal microscopy suggests that secreted acid diffuses through the gel. Since Helicobacter pylori exists solely in the juxtamucosal portion of the gastric mucus gel, detailed knowledge concerning the pH microenvironment in which the organism thrives is important in understanding the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease and related conditions.View full abstractDownload PDF (6381K) -
Yoichi Sakurai1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 69-78
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIt has been long time since the alterations of protein kinetics in critical illness was reported, and various attempts in administering energy substrates and/or nutrients have been made to improve negative protein balance. However, none of the nutritional supports available so far have completely curtailed negative protein balance. Administration of anabolic hormone associated with energy substrates seems to be the most effective means available that efficiently improve protein kinetics. Although the mechanisms of alteration of protein kinetics have not been fully understood and none of the factors that directly regulate protein kinetics in critical illness have been identified, recent studies using tracer method have enable us to elucidate the mechanism involved in the alterations seen in critical illness. The impairment of amino acid transport in skeletal muscle may explain some aspects of the unresponsiveness of amino acid and protein kinetics to the administration of energy substrates and/or amino acids. Although it may not be conceivable to explain the alteration of protein kinetics by a single factor, several mechanisms and factors that are mainly responsible for the alterations of protein kinetics will be clarified in the future. Metabolic study using stable isotope tracers is an essential tool for in vivo quantitative evaluation of protein and amino acid kinetics.View full abstractDownload PDF (12276K) -
Haruo Kashima, Motoichiro Kato, Haruo Yoshimasu, Taro Muramatsu1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 79-86
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSProgress in the neuropsychology of memory disorders has provided a foundation for development of cognitive rehabilitation for amnesic patients. Accumulating evidence in the past two decades suggested that certain training techniques could be beneficial to many amnesic patients, such as teaching and acquisition of domain-specific knowledge, motor coding, reality orientation, and metacognition improvement. In this article we review and discuss the current trends in cognitive rehabilitation of memory disorders and provide a future direction in this emerging field. In addition, our experience in the successful rehabilitation of Korsakoff syndrome patients is also introduced.View full abstractDownload PDF (765K) -
Shuyuan Yeh, Hong-Chiang Chang, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Hiroshi Takatera, Mu ...1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 87-92
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSSeveral new androgen receptor (AR) cofactors, associated to the ligand binding domain of AR, have been identified by our group and named AR associated protein (ARA)70, ARA55, and ARA54. Our previous reports have suggested that the cofactor ARA70 can confer the androgenic effect from 17 β-estradiol (E2) and antiandrogen to AR. It is of interest for us to compare and determine if the specificity of sex hormones and antiandrogens could be modulated by different coactivators. Our results indicate that ARA70 is the best coactivator to confer the androgenic activity on E2. Only ARA70 and ARA55 could increase significantly the androgenic activity of hydroxyflutamide, a widely used antiandrogen for the treatment of prostate cancer. Furthermore, as compared to the relative specificity of these coactivators to AR in the prostate cancer DU145 cells, our results suggest that ARA70 has a relatively higher specificity. Together, our data suggest that the specificity of sex hormones and antiandrogens can be modulated by some selective AR coactivators. These findings may not only help us to better understand the specificity of the sex hormones and antiandrogens, but also to facilitate the development of better antiandrogens or androgens to fight the androgen-related diseases, such as prostate cancer.View full abstractDownload PDF (588K) -
Junichi Kaburaki, Mitsuhiro Yamada, Minoru Kamikawara, Yumiko Konosu, ...1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 93-96
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe report the case of an 81-year-old female patient with diverticulitis of the colon, whose symptoms were relieved by intravenous administration of cefpirome. However, her serum creatinine levels were falsely increased by the Jaffe method when serum samples were drawn after intravenous administration of cefpirome. The serum creatinine level in the same sample was within the normal range by the enzymatic method in the automated analyzer. In vitro experiment demonstrated dosedependent positive interference of the creatinine level with cefpirome. These results indicate that we should be aware of the positive interfering effect of cefpirome when we measure serum creatinine by the Jaffe method, and that the enzymatic method should be widely used to measure serum creatinine levels to eliminate false reactions due to certain chemicals.View full abstractDownload PDF (269K) -
1999 Volume 48 Issue 2 Pages 108
Published: 1999
Released on J-STAGE: March 27, 2009
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSDownload PDF (39K)
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