In the present study, we examined the relationship between the increase in respiratory resistance following exposure to antigen and the IgE level in the identical rate sensitized with DNP-As. Additionally, we investigated the effects of the antiallergic drugs, suplatast tosilate and azelastine hydrochloride, which have been reported to suppress the production of IgE, on the increase in respiratory resistance in rats following exposure to antigen. The IgE antibody level rose to its highest value on day 10 during the course of sensitization with DNP-As, and decreased sharply on day 20. The changes of IgE antibody level in the azelastine hydrochloride-administered group were similar to those in the distilled water-administered group (control). In contrast, in the suplatast tosilate-administered group, the IgE antibody levels were lower than those in the control group at days 10 and 15. The ratio of increase in the respiratory resistance induced by the early and late phase responses in the control group reached its highest value on day 15, and then decreased gradually. In contrast, in both the azelastine hydrochloride and suplatast tosilate-administered groups, the ratio of increase in the respiratory resistance induced by the early and late phase responses remained almost unchanged, and was lower than that in the control group at day 15 or 20. In the present study, an increased peak of respiratory resistance was observed at 5 days after the appearance of an increased peak in the IgE level.
We investigated the action of calmidazolium (CMZ), an inhibitor of calmodulin (CaM), on the L-type Ca2+ currents (ICa(L)) of cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells (A7r5 cell line), by using the whole-cell voltage-clamp method. All experiments were conducted at room temperature (24-25 degrees C). The peak IBa (Ca2+ channel current with 5 mM Ba2+ as charge carrier) was evoked every 15 s by a test potential to +10 mV from a holding potential of -60 mV. To elevate intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca]i) to pCa 6.5, the pipette solution contained a Ca2+-EGTA buffer (pCa 6.5) to allow equilibration with the cells. Bath application of 1 microM CMZ reduced the peak amplitude of IBa to 36.7+/-4.9% (n = 8); maximal effect occurred within 7-8 min. Peak IBa continued to decrease even after washing out the CMZ. Recovery of IBa was not observed even after 10 min of washout. Even in presence of an peptide inhibitor of CaM-dependent protein kinase-II (5.2 microM) in the pipette solution, CMZ inhibited IBa to 27.8 +/-5.3% (n = 7). To exclude the possibility that other Ca2+/ CaM-dependent kinases and phosphatases may regulate Ca2+ channel activity, we examined the effect of CMZ on IBa when [Ca]i was reduced by use of Ca2+/EGTA-buffered pipette solutions. At pCa approximately equal to 10 (10 mM EGTA and only contaminant Ca2+), CMZ inhibited IBa to 33.4+/-5.9% (n = 14) with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.29 microM. The activation curve (pCa approximately equal to 10) was shifted in the positive direction by 6.3 mV; the inactivation curve was shifted in the negative direction by 5.0 mV. CMZ decreased IBa progressively during repetitive step depolarizations. CMZ did not slow the rate of recovery from inactivation. In conclusion, CMZ inhibits Ca2+ channel current in a use-dependent manner. This inhibition is independent of CaMK-II and other Ca2+/CaM-dependent pathways. Therefore it is likely due to direct blockade of Ca2+ channels by CMZ. CMZ may reduce the outer surface charge and block the open state of the Ca2+ channels.
To investigate whether long-term ingestion of guava juice has anti-diabetes and/or anti-obese actions, we employed spontaneous non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and its control strain Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Thirty rats of each strain were divided into three groups consisting of glucose, vitamin E, and guava juice ingestion groups. Ingestion of these test solutions was continued from 9 to 32 weeks old. Serum lipid parameters including total cholesterol, triglyceride, free fatty acid, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were measured. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at 32 weeks old rats and at 42 weeks old rats (10 weeks after discontinue of ingestion of guava juice), and then blood glucose levels and plasma insulin concentrations were measured. There were no significant differences in body weight, the amount of food intake and the volume of drink among the groups in OLETF rats. Although the blood glucose level in the guava juice group was not changed as compared with the glucose group, the amount of initial insulin secretion was significantly increased in OLETF rats and was restored by discontinue of ingestion of guava juice. Therefore, the long-term ingestion of guava juice may increase plasma insulin concentration in OLETF rats.
To identify yeasts involved in white-colony formation on Japanese commercial kimchi products, three types of kimchi were prepared and fermented at four different temperatures. At 4 °C, yeast colonies did not appear until 35 days, while more rapid white-colony formation occurred at higher temperatures (10, 15, and 25 °C). Combination of PCR-DGGE and direct isolation of yeasts from white colonies revealed that Kazachstania exigua and K. pseudohumilis were responsible for the white-colony formation. Inoculation of the isolated Kazachstania strains into fresh kimchi successfully reproduced white-colony formation at 15 °C but not at 4 °C. Growth experiments in liquid medium revealed that Kazachstania spp. grew fast at 15 °C even in the presence of acidulants, which are commonly added to Japanese kimchi products for prevention of yeast growth. These results suggest that white-colony formation on Japanese kimchi is caused by the genus Kazachstania, and that one of important factors determining white-colony formation is its fermentation temperature.
A community-based education program was conducted for persons found to be hypercholesterolemic by screening during cardiovascular surveys, in an urban population, to evaluate the feasibility and effect of the program in primary prevention of coronary heart disease. The subjects were men and women aged 40-64 living in the suburbs of Osaka whose serum total cholesterol was between 240 and 299 mg/dl in both the 1988 and the 1989 surveys. Persons with hypothyroidism, those taking medication for hypercholesterolemia or hypertension, and with a history of stroke and coronary heart disease were excluded. Of the 111 persons who were eligible, 104 persons were recruited for the program on March, 1989. The 104 persons were randomly assigned to either an intensive education group (n = 51) or a usual education group (n = 53). For the intensive education group, seven education classes were held from April to November, 1989. Lectures, practice sessions, interviews, and spot cholesterol measurements were conducted in a local community center. The usual education group received a letter with results from the 1989 survey and dietary instruction in April 1989 and an education class in September 1989. Mean serum cholesterol in the intensive education group showed a 10.0 mg/dl greater reduction in September 1989 and a 9.0 mg/dl greater reduction in March 1990 than in the usual education group (p less than 0.05) while mean HDL-cholesterol did not change in either groups. The intensive education group reported a larger decrease in the dietary frequency of chicken egg, poultry skin and small fishes, foods which are rich in saturated fat and cholesterol. The frequency of fatty meat, butter and fish eggs was low in both groups and did not differ between the two groups after the one-year program. These results indicate that a population-based education program is feasible and effective in reducing serum total cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic persons.
