著者
由良 敬
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.128, no.11, pp.1547-1555, 2008-11-01 (Released:2008-11-01)
参考文献数
28
被引用文献数
2 2

A vast amount of DNA sequence data, protein three-dimensional (3D) structure data, and RNA expression data have been produced by the efforts of genome sequencing, structural genomics, and omics projects, and we are at the stage where comprehensive views of cell activity and molecular mechanisms of life can be deduced. But in reality, we are inundated with massive amounts of data and are still in the process of finding ways to fully utilize the data. In this report, I would like to present our observations on the growth of protein 3D structure data and our effort to deduce the functions from the 3D structures. We found that the 3D structure of quite a high proportion of proteins derived from genome sequences can be now predicted and methods to predict the functions from 3D structures are in high demand. The methods we have developed can be used to predict some functions, namely RNA and ligand interfaces, based on those 3D structures and DNA sequences with relatively high accuracy. The methods enable predictions that are accurate enough to help with deducing the atomic structures of the complexes.
著者
眞島 崇 早坂 正孝 大原 宏司
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.141, no.9, pp.1117-1121, 2021-09-01 (Released:2021-09-01)
参考文献数
10

Various types of pre-learning—including pre-learning for practical training—provide pharmacy students with practical training and sufficient knowledge, skills, and attitudes for practical work. Opportunities in the medical field, including for pharmacists, have been greatly expanded for students with a hearing disability, and we have responded with appropriate training for such students. In this study, we report on the results of an evaluation of a survey on the preparatory training conducted by the students and the changes in their consciousness, such as in their level of understanding, knowledge, and self-confidence. Before the training, the participants' anxiety concerning items related to dispensing and communication were quite high; after the training, however, these anxiety levels were reduced. In addition, we were able to encourage the participant's concern for people and to face the difficulty of expressing words in letters, as well as to drive enthusiasm for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and practical training. These results suggest that having a teacher as an assistant is useful for helping students with hearing disability in practical training.
著者
金子 尚文 中山 智洋 一川 暢宏
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.132, no.7, pp.849-853, 2012-07-01 (Released:2012-07-01)
参考文献数
8
被引用文献数
4 2

Antimicrobial agents occasionally cause certain adverse effects, such as diarrhea and loose stool, by altering the composition of the intestinal flora. Antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria are used to prevent these adverse effects. Although these bacteria are not resistant to several recently introduced antimicrobial agents, bacterial preparations are still sometimes prescribed concomitantly with these antimicrobial agents. In this study, we investigated whether the administration of the spore-forming butyric acid bacteria Clostridium butyricum improves the adverse clinical effects by preventing diarrhea. Inhibition of C. butyricum growth was observed with 17 of the 20 antimicrobial agents used. However, dilution of 11 of these 17 agents resulted in the regrowth of C. butyricum. These results suggest that C. butyricum may survive exposure to several antibiotic agents by forming spores. Further, a decrease in the antimicrobial agent concentration in the gastrointestinal tract permits the vegetative growth of C. butyricum, which functions as a probiotic.
著者
内林 政夫
出版者
The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.125, no.7, pp.583-586, 2005-07-01 (Released:2005-07-01)
参考文献数
5
被引用文献数
3 3

A certain Chinese herbal book presented to the emperor in 1505 shows a drawing of maize under the caption of Yiyi-ren (Job's Tears). Also, a Chinese poem written around 1368 contains a term yumi, which indicates maize. These new findings offer clear evidence that maize existed in China in the pre-Columbian era, or before 1492. Details of this evidence are discussed here.
著者
袴塚 高志
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.140, no.6, pp.783-788, 2020-06-01 (Released:2020-06-01)
参考文献数
6
被引用文献数
1

The latest edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) is the second supplement to the 17th edition containing 324 herbal medicines, of which 176 are crude drugs and 35 are Kampo extracts. Although 148 prescription Kampo extracts are covered by national health insurance, only 35 are listed in the latest JP. However, the sales volume of these 35 Kampo extracts accounts for more than 70% of the total sales volume of Kampo products, as Kampo formulas with higher sales volumes are preferentially listed in the JP. The JP officially defines the origin and description of the listed crude drugs and Kampo extracts and elaborates on their limited values and testing methods. As crude drugs and Kampo extracts are derived from natural products and have the characteristics of traditional medicines, some degree of variation has been experienced during their long-term use, which is one of the crucial differences from chemical drugs. The Japanese Pharmacopoeia Committee on Crude Drugs promotes standardization of the JP by reflecting the actual Japanese market situation. This review explains the characteristics of natural and traditional medicines in crude drug-related items, the JP drafting process and points to be noted, and the significance of listing in the JP.
著者
尾﨑 昌宣
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.136, no.4, pp.591-605, 2016-04-01 (Released:2016-04-01)
参考文献数
65
被引用文献数
1

The characteristics and functional roles of opioids originally present in vivo (endogenous opioids) in guinea-pig ileum were investigated. The release of endogenous opioids was determined by the inhibitory twitch response evoked by 0.1 Hz stimulation after 10 Hz stimulation (post-tetanic twitch inhibition). The effects of peptidase inhibitors increased the post-tetanic twitch inhibition, prevented by β-funaltrexamine and nor-binaltorphimine, which are selective μ- and κ-opioid receptor subtype antagonists, respectively. Dopamine receptor antagonists (haloperidol, sultopride and domperidone) increased the post-tetanic twitch inhibition. These results suggest that dopamine receptors are involved in modulation of the ileal opioid system, so as to diminish endogenous opioid release by tetanic stimulation, and dopamine antagonists increase the opioid action, that might depend more on the increased release of endogenous opioids. The post-tetanic twitch inhibition was inhibited by adrenalectomy, and showed the supersensitivity of the opioid receptors, resulting from a decrease of endogenous opioids by adrenalectomy. These findings suggest that the increase in morphine-analgesia by adrenalectomy was due to this process. In the presence of naloxone, an opioid antagonist, an increase in basal tension after tetanic stimulation (10 Hz stimulation) (post-tetanic contraction) was observed, and was blocked by spantide, a substance P antagonist, and indomethacin, a prostaglandins-biosynthesis inhibitor. This contraction increased with morphine or peptidase inhibitor exposure, depending on the length of time the ileum was exposed to the morphine or peptidase inhibitor. Post-tetanic contraction might be a useful indicator of the formation of physical dependence to morphine or endogenous opioids in the ileum.
著者
清水 一広 川添 祥一 山田 修 長瀬 英生
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.105, no.8, pp.784-790, 1985-08-25 (Released:2008-05-30)
参考文献数
22
被引用文献数
1

The present study was undertaken to determine if adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride (ATP-MgCl2) would have beneficial effects on the membrane electrolytes transport and deformability of shocked red blood cells (RBC) with impaired cellular energy metabolism. Shocked RBC suspensions were obtained by incubation of 10% rabbit RBC suspension in phosphate buffered saline at 37°C for 14 h. Cellular ATP level was reduced to approximately 6% of normal value by this incubation. ATP-MgCl2 (100 μM), added to the incubation medium along with glucose (10 mM) after 14 h of incubation, significantly prevented further decreases in cellular ATP and 2, 3-diphosphoglycerate (2, 3-DPG) levels. Increases in intracellular sodium concentration and potassium leakage from RBC were counteracted by simultaneous ATP-MgCl2 and glucose treatment and pH of the incubation medium showed significant reduction compared with the control. It was also observed that glucose utility and deformability of shocked RBC were improved by ATP-MgCl2 and glucose treatment. These results indicate that ATP-MgCl2 would be helpful to restore the impaired RBC function by improving the intracellular energy metabolism.
著者
北村 雅史
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.139, no.5, pp.725-730, 2019-05-01 (Released:2019-05-01)
参考文献数
15
被引用文献数
1

As criminal cases have become more complicated, Japan's law enforcement officials are promoting the use of more sophisticated technologies, such as DNA analysis, in the course of criminal investigations in order to verify facts with objective evidence. The primary DNA analysis method employed by law enforcement officials is short tandem repeat (STR) analysis, a method for identifying individuals utilizing individual differences in the number of repeat units of characteristic DNA sequences. Presently, STR analysis can discriminate between individuals with the probability of one in approximately 4.7 trillion, even when the DNA profile is the most common type among the Japanese population. In every prefectural police department, members of criminal investigation laboratories, who were trained and certified by the Training Center of Forensic Science at the National Research Institute of Police Science, perform STR analysis. Forensic DNA analysis plays an important role not only in criminal investigations but also following large-scale disasters, to aid in individual identification. The accuracy of DNA typing is increasing with the availability of STR typing kits that can examine more loci than conventional kits. However, it remains difficult for DNA analysis to identify individuals with only small amounts of samples, old samples, or mixed samples. New methods for handling these problematic samples are required. Here, we review current investigative techniques and challenges of DNA analysis, and focus on the latest research for solutions to these challenges.
著者
酒井 義朗 三輪 涼子 光岡 正浩 渡邊 浩
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.140, no.5, pp.751-754, 2020-05-01 (Released:2020-05-01)
参考文献数
20
被引用文献数
1 2

In the hospital, antibiotics are widely used to treat infections. We report a case of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by an antibiotic drug combination. A 30-year-old Japanese male presented with lung metastases, pneumothorax, empyema, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. The patient received a combination of vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam, which resulted in elevated vancomycin trough concentration and subsequently in AKI. Renal function was restored upon vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam cessation. Though this patient had AKI most likely due to the combined use of two agents as has been reported in many cases, vancomycin trough concentration showed an unexpected abnormal increase when halting vancomycin treatment. This is the first report indicating a drug-drug interaction between vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam with unexpected abnormal vancomycin trough concentration, leading to AKI, additionally we think that there was a situation that he stressed against the kidney by a history of medications caused renal dysfunction and co-administration. We suggest that when using vancomycin in combination with piperacillin/tazobactam, the trough concentration of vancomycin must be confirmed simultaneously with renal function and evaluation, and that the combination of these two drugs should be minimized.
著者
武田 香陽子 高橋 淳 益川 弘如 島森 美光
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.6, pp.659-664, 2017-06-01 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
22
被引用文献数
8 9

Recently, the practice of active learning has spread, increasingly recognized as an essential component of academic studies. Classes incorporating small group discussion (SGD) are conducted at many universities. At present, assessments of the effectiveness of SGD have mostly involved evaluation by questionnaires conducted by teachers, by peer assessment, and by self-evaluation of students. However, qualitative data, such as open-ended descriptions by students, have not been widely evaluated. As a result, we have been unable to analyze the processes and methods involved in how students acquire knowledge in SGD. In recent years, due to advances in information and communication technology (ICT), text mining has enabled the analysis of qualitative data. We therefore investigated whether the introduction of a learning system comprising the jigsaw method and problem-based learning (PBL) would improve student attitudes toward learning; we did this by text mining analysis of the content of student reports. We found that by applying the jigsaw method before PBL, we were able to improve student attitudes toward learning and increase the depth of their understanding of the area of study as a result of working with others. The use of text mining to analyze qualitative data also allowed us to understand the processes and methods by which students acquired knowledge in SGD and also changes in students’ understanding and performance based on improvements to the class. This finding suggests that the use of text mining to analyze qualitative data could enable teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of various methods employed to improve learning.
著者
中村 浩規 横山 晴子 矢口 武廣 鈴木 優司 徳岡 健太郎 渡邊 昌之 北川 泰久 山田 安彦
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.131, no.3, pp.445-452, 2011-03-01 (Released:2011-03-01)
参考文献数
15
被引用文献数
4 4

In this study, we investigated the effect of histamin H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for the prevention of upper gastrointestinal lesions associated with low-dose aspirin. We carried out a retrospective study of 2811 patients who had been prescribed low-dose aspirin (Bayaspirin® 100 mg) for more than 30 days at Tokai University Hachioji Hospital from 2006 to 2008. We classified them into three groups: aspirin alone group (n=1103), aspirin with H2RA group (n=844) and aspirin with PPI group (n=864). Patients who developed upper gastrointestinal lesions were diagnosed with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis or duodenitis by gastroscopy. We then compared the incidence of upper gastrointestinal lesions among the groups. The incidence in aspirin alone group, aspirin with H2RA group and aspirin with PPI group was 2.54%, 1.54% and 1.04%, respectively; that of aspirin with PPI group being significantly lower (p<0.05). Additively, the odds ratio (OR) of aspirin with H2RA group and aspirin with PPI group was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.31-1.17) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.19-0.86) as compared with aspirin alone group, respectively. The upper gastrointestinal lesions were developed within two years in all groups. Our results suggest that the combined administration of low-dose aspirin and PPI is effective for the prevention of upper gastrointestinal lesions associated with low-dose aspirin. Also, the pharmacists should be especially careful for upper gastrointestinal lesions development within two years after administration of low-dose aspirin, regardless of combined whether H2RA or PPI.
著者
駒井 三千夫 後藤 知子 大日向 耕作 神戸 大朋 真柳 祐希 白川 仁
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.138, no.8, pp.1011-1016, 2018-08-01 (Released:2018-08-01)
参考文献数
8
被引用文献数
2 4

We investigated the role of zinc in regulation of food intake using male SD rats during early-stage of zinc deficiency (the 3rd day of the feeding) without decreased zinc concentrations in tissues (hypothalamus and liver). As a result, we found that orally but not intraperitoneal administered zinc stimulates food intake in the short-term zinc-deficient rats. The mRNA expressions of hypothalamic peptides, such as orexin (OX) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), were increased after oral administration of zinc to increase food intake. Pretreatment with an antagonist for the NPY Y1 receptor or the orexin OX1 receptor blocked orexigenic activity by zinc administration. The stimulation of food intake by oral administration of zinc was also abolished by vagotomy. Taken together, our results indicate that zinc stimulates food intake in short-term zinc-deficient rats through the afferent vagus nerve followed by activating the hypothalamic peptide associated with food intake regulation. This study showed the first evidence that gastrointestinal zinc signal is indispensable for the food appetite induction in the experimentally anorexigenic rat. However, since it has not yet been clarified the mechanism involved in zinc sensing by the epithelial membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, further detailed investigations are necessary.
著者
大久保 正人 高橋 由佳 山下 純 高橋 秀依 宮田 興子 鈴木 貴明 石井 伊都子
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.6, pp.745-755, 2017-06-01 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
18
被引用文献数
15 3

Pharmacy education comprises basic pharmacy (organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physical chemistry) and applied pharmacy (clinical pharmacy, pharm aceutics, and chemical hygiene). Students are expected to apply these subjects studied in pharmacy school during their practical pharmacy training. However, knowledge gained in university does not appear to be fully utilized in practice. We hypothesized that this is due to a lack of connection between pre-practical training education and actual practical training. Thus, we conducted a questionnaire study among pharmacy students to verify this hypothesis. We sent a questionnaire to 601 students in their sixth year of the pharmacy course at Chiba University, Teikyo University, or Kobe Pharmaceutical University who had undergone long-term practical training. The questionnaire asked about the utility of each subject of study and the reason for the judgement regarding the utility. Four hundred and forty-two students replied (response rate, 73.5%). A small proportion of students found the basic pharmacy subjects useful: physical chemistry, 5%; organic chemistry, 10%; and biochemistry, 24%. In contrast, more than half of the students found the clinical pharmacy subjects useful: pharmacology, 85%; pharmaceutics, 55%; pathophysiology, 75%; pharmacotherapeutics, 84%; and pharmaceutical regulations, 58%. Analysis of the comments left in the free-description section on the questionnaire revealed that most students did not have any opportunity to use their knowledge of the basic subjects during practical training, and furthermore, did not learn the processes involving the use of such subjects to solve clinical problems. Universities and pharmacists need to collaborate so that students can learn such processes.
著者
泉 太郎 堀 里子 佐藤 宏樹 三木 晶子 澤田 康文
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.132, no.5, pp.617-627, 2012 (Released:2012-05-01)
参考文献数
8
被引用文献数
3

Aggravation of asthmatic response (asthmatic attack, 2 cases) and adverse events (tremor, 1 case) due to a switch from a brand-name tulobuterol tape to a generic tape were recently reported. These changes disappeared after reformulation from generic to the brand-name tape. To investigate this issue, we conducted a questionnaire survey on changes of asthmatic response, adverse events and product usability due to a switch between tulobuterol tapes. We identified 44 cases (18 from doctors, 26 from pharmacists) in which changes of asthmatic response or adverse events had occurred due to a switch between tulobuterol tapes. Aggravation of asthmatic response had occurred in 30 cases and adverse events in 21 cases due to switch from brand-name tulobuterol tape to generic tape. As regards change of product usability, we obtained 96 relevant responses (18 from doctors, 78 cases pharmacists), and the major response was that generic tulobuterol tape peeled off the skin more easily than did the brand-name tape (60 cases). These results suggest that changes of asthmatic response, adverse events and product usability should be carefully monitored when switching tulobuterol tapes.
著者
細川 雅人 長谷川 成人
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.139, no.7, pp.1021-1025, 2019-07-01 (Released:2019-07-01)
参考文献数
18

Abnormal proteins such as tau or α-synuclein that accumulate in brains with dementia have been shown to propagate like prion proteins. However, the expression patterns of tau in the mouse brain are different from those in humans, and the pathogenesis in the animal model of abnormal tau propagation remains incompletely understood. To overcome this problem, a novel mouse showing tau expression patterns similar to those of humans was developed using genome editing techniques. We inoculated the brain of this mouse with a sarkosyl-insoluble fraction containing abnormal tau derived from tauopathy patients and examined the accumulation of tau pathologies. We also performed a detailed analysis of the relationship between the inoculation site and the sites where tau accumulates abnormally by histochemical and neuronal circuitry and elucidated the propagation mechanism of the abnormally accumulated protein. This research is expected to lead to the development of novel drugs for the treatment of dementia using the innovative approach of “inhibition of abnormal protein propagation”.
著者
平田 純生
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.132, no.4, pp.461-470, 2012 (Released:2012-04-01)
参考文献数
39
被引用文献数
1

The kidney is the most important organ for the excretion of drugs. It was previously thought that appropriate dosages of these drugs could be easily estimated by evaluating the kidney function of patients and the excretion rate of the drug. However, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of patients with kidney disease are as follows: 1) Active metabolites with a higher polarity can accumulate, which can induce unpredictable adverse effects. For example, over sedation with morphine or the development of the fatal toxic syndrome in the case of allopulinol are due to the accumulation of active metabolites derived from these drugs. 2) Although the renal excretion rate of acetoaminophen is only less than 5%, the accumulation of its glucuronide conjugate during multiple dosing in patients with kidney failure may induce high serum acetoaminophen trough levels via the entero-hepatic circulation. 3) Although the renal excretion rate of the drugs are negligible, a remarkable increase in the serum levels of certain drugs were observed in patients with end stage kidney disease, suggesting a significant reduction in non-renal clearance probably by the accumulation of uremic toxins. For drugs that are likely to be administered to patients with kidney disease, even including drugs that are not excreted by the kidney, a full pharmacokinetic study should be conducted in patients and the results carefully assessed. Information on dosing adjustments for impaired kidney function based on estimated glomerular filtration rates should then be clearly stated in the package insert of the drugs.
著者
池田 博昭 高本 彩音 池田 純子 河野 清尊 中妻 章 徳村 忠一 森 久美子 飯原 なおみ 芳地 一 二宮 昌樹
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.140, no.12, pp.1455-1462, 2020-12-01 (Released:2020-12-01)
参考文献数
23
被引用文献数
2

We investigated the success rates of eyedrop instillation and the distance between the cornea and the dropper tip in 100 volunteers using high-speed digital video recording. Past eyedrop adherence studies assumed that instillation occurred without failure. The ideal distance between the cornea and dropper tip remained unclear, although the general estimate was approximately 2.54 cm (1 inch). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of all participating medical institutions, and all volunteers provided written, informed consent. Successful instillation was defined as when 1 drop fell accurately into the eye on the first attempt. The instillation of ≥2 drops or drops delivered outside the eye was considered a failure. The distance between the eye and dropper tip was measured using still images from a paused digital video camera and a digital ruler. Forty percent of the volunteers instilled eyedrops without instructions from ophthalmologists, pharmacists, or other healthcare workers. When the images were analyzed, the success rate of the first instillation was 70.1%. When the eye was arbitrarily divided into 9 sections, most of the drop sites were the iris or the center of the eye. The distance between the dropper tip and cornea was 2.62±1.75 (median 2.20) cm. These results indicate that the generally recommended distance is usually followed. The successful instillation rate based on the distance from the dropper tip to the cornea was 77% at 1.6±0.88 cm and 54.9% at 4.8±1.25 cm.
著者
山口 由基
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.137, no.10, pp.1209-1214, 2017-10-01 (Released:2017-10-01)
参考文献数
19
被引用文献数
3

Grapefruit juice (GFJ) consumption has been shown to increase the bioavailability of certain orally administered drugs. The furanocoumarin derivatives Paradisin A and bergamottin, which are present in GFJ, are potent mechanism-based inhibitors of CYP3A4. The primary aim of this work was to synthesize a series of furanocoumarin derivatives with a view to determining the relationship between the structure of the inhibitors and their inhibitory CYP3A4 activity. Furanocoumarin derivatives that were more stable and accessible than the furanocoumarin derivatives in GFJ were prepared, and their ability to inhibit CYP3A4 was examined. Synthesized furanocoumarin monomers showed strong mechanism-based inhibition of CYP3A4. The furanocoumarin dimers are also mechanism-based inhibitors of CYP3A4. These monomers and dimers are more potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 than bergamottin and Paradisin A, respectively.
著者
中川 公恵
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.133, no.12, pp.1337-1341, 2013-12-01 (Released:2013-12-01)
参考文献数
20

Natural vitamin K is found in two forms: a plant form, phylloquinone (PK) and bacterial forms, menaquinones (MKs). PK is a major form of dietary vitamin K; however, the most prevalent form of vitamin K in animals and humans is menaquinone-4 (MK-4). Despite its high concentrations, the origin of MK-4 is yet to be defined. It is postulated that PK is converted into MK-4 and accumulates in extrahepatic tissues. The molecular mechanisms for these conversion reactions have been unclear. To identify the MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme, we screened the human genome database for prenylation enzyme. We found UbiA prenyltransferase domain containing 1 (UBIAD1), a human homologue of Escherichia coli prenyltransferase menA. The short interfering RNA against the UBIAD1 gene inhibited the conversion of deuterium-labelled vitamin K derivatives into deuterium-labelled-MK-4 (MK-4-d7) in human cells. We confirmed that the UBIAD1 gene encodes an MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme through its expression and conversion of deuterium-labelled vitamin K derivatives into MK-4-d7 in insect cells infected with UBIAD1 baculovirus. UBIAD1 was localized in endoplasmic reticulum. Our results show that UBIAD1 is a human MK-4 biosynthetic enzyme. This identification will permit more effective decisions to be made about vitamin K intake and bone health.
著者
大谷 壽一 竹田 正幸 今田 結城 澤田 康文
出版者
公益社団法人 日本薬学会
雑誌
YAKUGAKU ZASSHI (ISSN:00316903)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.126, no.5, pp.349-356, 2006 (Released:2006-05-01)
参考文献数
8
被引用文献数
7 8

Brand name confusion is one of the most common causes of drug-related errors. The aim of this study was to develop quantitative measures of similarity among brand names of drugs. We modified the fragmentary pattern-based measure, a measure of similarity for character strings based on the string resemblance system, to develop three novel measures of similarity, i.e., the head and tail-weighted fragmentary pattern-based measure (htfrag), visually weighted htfrag (vwhtfrag), and auditorily weighted htfrag (awhtfrag). The 227 pairs of brand names for which confusion errors have been reported were used as a positive control group. Ten sets of 2270 random pairs of brand names were generated as negative controls. Then we evaluated the measures developed by using the geometric mean of sensitivity and selectivity as an objective function, in comparison with two conventional measures of similarity based on the vector space model (cos1 and htco). The measures developed, htfrag, vwhtfrag, and awhtfrag, provided better discrimination with mean objective function values of 0.953, 0.962, and 0.940, respectively, which were higher than those for the conventional measures cos1 and htco (0.922 and 0.892, respectively). The rates of false-positives and false-negatives were 3.3—10.7% and 5.3—11.9% for cos1, respectively, while the rates for vwhtfrag were 4.8—5.9% and 2.2%, respectively. The measures of similarity developed may provide significant information to avoid drug-related errors associated with brand name confusion.