Biomedical subjects

H Kodama

Publications and source records attributed to H Kodama.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Decreased very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression in placentas from preeclamptic pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the levels of very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid expression in placentas obtained from normal pregnant women at various gestational stages and from patients with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: The relative level of expression of very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in each sample was determined by Northern blot analysis as a ratio of the intensity to that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase messenger ribonucleic acid. RESULTS: The expression of very-low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid increased significantly (p < 0.05) from both the first (n = 9) and second (n = 8) trimesters to the third (n = 11) trimester. Similarly, the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acid increased significantly (p < 0.05) from the first to the third trimester. The expression of both very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acids in third-trimester placentas from preeclamptic pregnancies (n = 13) was significantly lower than that in normal pregnancies in the third trimester. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the expression of very-low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein receptor messenger ribonucleic acids in the human placenta, both of which increase at late gestational stages, and the decreased expression in cases of preeclampsia. Abnormal fetomaternal lipid metabolism resulting from low expression of these receptors in the placenta may be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Status of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate characteristic changes of plasma hemostatic markers in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) cycles. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: The IVF-ET program of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Akita, School of Medicine. PATIENTS: Forty cycles of 40 IVF patients, including 12 cycles in which a severe form of OHSS occurred. INTERVENTIONS: Blood samples were taken during IVF treatment to determine the levels of blood markers that reflect activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Thrombin-antithrombin III complexes, plasmin-alpha 2 antiplasmin complexes, and other hemostatic markers related to the coagulation and fibrinolytic system activation. RESULTS: In the OHSS cycles, the levels of thrombin-antithrombin III and plasmin-alpha 2 antiplasmin complexes in the plasma began to rise within a few days after hCG administration and demonstrated significantly higher levels during the midluteal phase. In OHSS cycles with pregnancy, elevation of these markers continued for > or = 3 weeks after the onset of disease. There were some characteristic changes in OHSS cycles in other hemostatic markers, such as a decrease in the levels of antithrombin III and prekallikrein and shortened activated partial thromboplastin time. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate the status of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in OHSS cycles and provide insight into the mechanism of activation in the hemostatic system.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Benefit of in vitro fertilization treatment for endometriosis-associated infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of IVF treatment in endometriosis-associated infertility. DESIGN: Nonrandom retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Akita University School of Medicine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Cumulative pregnancy rate. PATIENT(S): One hundred eighteen infertile patients in whom diagnosis of endometriosis was established by laparoscopic examination. INTERVENTION(S): The prognoses of 60 patients (IVF group) who started IVF treatment within 6 months after laparoscopy were compared with those of 58 patients who were managed expectantly without IVF treatment during the same period. RESULT(S): The cumulative conception rates at 36 months after laparoscopy were 62% in the IVF group and 43% in the control group, and the difference was not significant (a log-rank test). For patients > or = 32 years of age, the conception rates were significantly higher in the IVF group (59% versus 29%). A relatively large but nonsignificant difference in the conception rate between the two groups was observed in patients with endometriosis at stages III or IV (52% versus 27%). CONCLUSION(S): In vitro fertilization treatment provides better prognosis in patients > or = 32 years of age and is recommended for such patients. The benefits of treatment appear to be greater in patients with more advanced stages of endometriosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Identification of cyclic cystathionine sulfoxide and N-acetylcyclic cystathionine in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface system.

Perhydro-1,4-thiazepine-4,5-dicarboxylic acid sulfoxide (cyclic cystathionine sulfoxide [cyclic cystaSO]) and N-acetylperhydro-1,4-thiazepine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (NAc-cyclic cysta) have been identified in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria as new metabolites of cystathionine for the first time using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface system (LC/APCI-MS). The concentrations of cyclic cystaSO and NAc-cyclic cysta in the urine of a patient with cystathioninuria have also been determined for the first time using this method: 18.24 +/- 0.79 and 25.23 +/- 0.83 mg/g creatinine, respectively.

Atmospheric Pressure↗

PubMed1996

Novel aspects of interaction between UDP-gal and GlcNAc beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase: transferability and remarkable inhibitory activity of UDP-(mono-O-methylated gal), UDP-Fuc and UDP-man.

Four mono-O-methylated and one mono-O-acetylated UDP-D-Gal analogues and UDP-L-Fuc were synthesized. 2-O-Methyl-D-galactose residue was enzymatically transferred to give 2'-O-methyllactosaminide in high yield. UDP-Fuc and UDP-Man showed potent inhibitory activities against beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. Structural requirement and steric allowance for the ground and transition states of the enzyme reaction were discussed.

Fucose↗

PubMed1996

Mode of interaction of loop diuretics with human serum albumin and characterization of binding site.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the binding mechanism of loop diuretics with HSA and to characterize the binding site on HSA. METHODS: Quantitative analysis of potential interaction between ligands bound to HSA was performed by equilibrium dialysis and data for binding of the two ligands to HSA were analyzed on the basis of a theoretical model of simultaneous binding of two ligands. RESULTS: The binding of loop diuretics is dependent upon the N-B transition, conformational change of albumin. Furthermore, from the results of binding of the drugs to modified HSA, the lysine residue seems to be involved in the binding of loop diuretics to HSA. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis using models describing independent, competitive, cooperative and anti-cooperative binding led to the conclusion that loop diuretics bind to site I, particularly to the warfarin region on HSA.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1996

N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase (17 kDa) and alkaline phosphatase as protein arginine phosphatases.

Seven synthetic polymers, (Glu4, Tyr)n, (Arg)n, (Arg, Pro, Thr)n, (Arg-Gly-Glu)6, (Arg-Gly-Phe)6, (Glu-Arg-Gly-Phe)5, and (Ala-Leu-Arg-Arg-Ile-Arg-Gly-Glu-Arg)2, were treated with phosphoryl chloride to phosphorylate their Tyr, Thr, and Arg residues. Protamines and histones were phosphorylated similarly. These phosphorylated peptides were examined as to whether or not they serve as substrates for intestinal alkaline phosphatase [EC 3.1.3.1] and liver N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase [Kuba, M., Ohmori, H., and Kumon, A. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 208, 747-752]. Phosphorylated polyarginine was hydrolyzed with a lower Km with alkaline phosphatase than with N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase, while the phosphorylated forms of (Arg-Gly-Phe)6 and culpeine were better substrates for N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase. When (Arg, Pro, Thr)n and culpeine were phosphorylated chemically after treatment with phenylglyoxal, these phosphorylated peptides were worse substrates for N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase than for alkaline phosphatase. Moreover, the results of proton-decoupled 31P NMR analysis indicated that N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase released Pi from N(omega)-phosphoarginine residues of phosphopeptides. These results indicate that both phosphatases function as protein arginine phosphatases in different manners, and that N(omega)-phosphoarginine phosphatase is useful for selectively detecting N(omega)-phosphoarginine residue in peptides containing various kinds of phosphorylated amino acids.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1996

Purification and characterization of a marine bacterial beta-galactoside alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase from Photobacterium damsela JT0160.

A bacterial sialyltransferase, named sialyltransferase 0160, was purified from a marine bacterium that had been isolated from seawater from Sagami Bay, Kanagawa. This strain has been identified as Photobacterium damsela, and named P. damsela JT0160. Sialyltransferase 0160 was purified 688-fold to homogeneity from the crude extract of the cells with a yield of 19% using a combination of anion exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme migrated as a single band (61 kDa) on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. This sialyltransferase was found to be a beta-galactoside alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase [EC 2.4.99.1] which catalyzes the incorporation of NeuAc from CMP-NeuAc into the galactose residue of the carbohydrate chain at position 6 on the basis of an analysis of the enzymatic reaction products with HPLC, 1H-, 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Reversible affinity labeling of opioid receptors via disulfide bonding: discriminative labeling of mu and delta subtypes by chemically activated thiol-containing enkephalin analogs.

The 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl (Npys) group bound to a mercapto group is a highly activated electrophilic reagent, which only reacts with a free mercapto group to form a disulfide bond via the thiol-disulfide exchange reaction. We incorporated the Npys group into enkephalin analogs to affinity label mu and delta opioid receptors. When rat brain membranes were incubated with [D-Ala2,Leu(CH2SNpys)5]enkephalin, and assayed for the inhibition of binding of DAGO and DSLET enkephalin analogs to opioid receptors, the number of receptors decreased sharply, depending upon the concentration of this SNpys-containing enkephalin. It was found that this enkephalin analog occupies mu receptors highly specifically (EC50 = 51 nM) and almost 100 times more selectively than delta receptors. In contrast, [D-Ala2,Leu5]enkephalyl-Cys(Npys)6 attached covalently to delta receptors (EC50 = 34 nM) about 150 times more selectively than to mu receptors. Although N-ethylmaleimide also inhibited the binding of DAGO and DSLET, four to six orders of magnitude higher concentrations were required as compared to SNpys-containing enkephalins. When enkephalin-bound rat membranes were treated with dithiothreitol, the loss of receptors was reversed, depending upon the concentration of and incubation time with dithiothreitol. The recovery was much faster (about 1,000 times) for delta receptors than for mu receptors. The present results indicated that both mu and delta receptors in rat brain consist of a free mercapto group near the enkephalin binding site and that SNpys-containing enkephalins can label these mercapto groups discriminatively. The disulfide bond between [D-Ala2,Leu5]enkephalyl-Cys6 and delta receptors appears to be exposed, while that between [D-Ala2,Leu(CH2-SNpys)5] enkephalin and mu receptors is shielded.

Affinity Labels↗

PubMed1996

cDNA cloning of a wounding-inducible gene encoding a plastid omega-3 fatty acid desaturase from tobacco.

A cDNA encoding the plastid omega-3 fatty acid desaturase was isolated from a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. SR1) leaf cDNA library. The amino terminal extension of the deduced amino acid sequence of this clone had a characteristic feature of the transit peptides of plastid-destined proteins. Northern analysis indicated that the mRNA corresponding to this cDNA was present in leaves, but was not detected in roots. Responses to wounding of the plastid and microsome omega-3 desaturase genes were investigated in tobacco leaves. The mRNA level of the plastid omega-3 desaturase gene increased to about 2-fold that of unwounded controls at 12 h after a wounding treatment. On the other hand, the mRNA level of the microsome omega-3 desaturase gene remained constant in the wounded leaves. Linolenic acid contents of major leaf polar lipids increased by wounding. These results indicate that wounding enhances the accumulation of the plastid omega-3 desaturase mRNA, and increases the conversion of linoleic acid to linolenic acid in leaf polar lipids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Split posterior tibial tendon transfer for varus deformity of hindfoot.

Sixteen patients (23 feet) who underwent split posterior tibial tendon transfers were evaluated. The patients were seen on a followup basis for a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. The causes were spastic cerebral palsy in 13 feet, spastic-athetoid cerebral palsy in 3 feet, hydrocephalus in 3 feet, and other diseases in 4 feet. The indication for surgery was varus deformity during the stance phase of gait and increased varus deformity during the swing phase of gait because of spasticity of the posterior tibial muscle. Heel cord lengthening was done on 17 feet. Preoperative and postoperative gaits were evaluated while the patients were walking. Axial radiographs of the calcaneus and the tibia were taken of all patients while they were weightbearing. There were 15 excellent, 6 good, and 2 poor results. The poor ratings were assigned to patients who had recurrence of varus deformity; there were no cases of overcorrection. Split posterior tibial tendon transfer was effective for treating spastic varus deformity of the hind part of the foot. This treatment also could be considered for a patient with spastic-athetoid cerebral palsy, if the deformity was determined to be caused by overactivity of the tibialis posterior muscle.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Evaluation of unbound serum carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide concentration prediction methods in polytherapy adult patients with epilepsy.

We retrospectively evaluated the ability of equations with in vivo population binding parameters of our previous study (Method 1) or an average unbound fraction of 0.25 of Pynnönen (Method 2) to predict the unbound serum carbamazepine (CBZ) concentration in 35 serum samples from 18 adult patients with epilepsy receiving polytherapy. In 9 serum samples from 6 patients, the ability of equations for unbound serum carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E) concentration prediction was also determined in predictive performance with in vivo population binding parameters of our previous study (Method A) or an average unbound fraction of 0.5 of Pynnönen (Method B). Mean prediction error, mean absolute prediction error (MAE), and root mean squared error (RMSE) were calculated for each method, and these values served as a measure of prediction bias and precision. Method 1 shows a bias to underpredict unbound serum CBZ. The MAE and RMSE were smaller in Method 2 (MAE = 0.454 &mgr;m/L, RMSE = 0.597 &mgr;m/L) than Method 1 (MAE = 0.597 &mgr;m/L, RMSE = 0.721 &mgr;m/L). Method 2 is superior to Method 1 in accuracy and precision. The effects of antiepileptic comedications on predictive performance of Methods 1 and 2 were determined in each group of serum samples with (n = 18, Group 1) or without (n = 17, Group 2) valproic acid (VPA) comedication. The results obtained by Method 1 show a bias to underprediction in Group 1 and no bias to over- or underprediction in Group 2. Results obtained by Method 2 show no bias to over- or underprediction in Groups 1 and 2. The effects of VPA comedication on predictive performance of unbound serum CBZ are relatively larger in Method 1 than Method 2. There was a weak but significant positive relationship between age and unbound serum CBZ fraction by simple regression analysis (n = 35, r = 0.368, p = 0.0297). The determined coefficient indicated that only about 14% of variations in unbound serum CBZ fraction can be explained by age, however. In each of Groups 1 and 2, no significant relationship was observed between age and unbound serum CBZ fraction. The effects of age on predictive performance of unbound serum CBZ are relatively small in patients receiving polytherapy. For unbound CBZ-E prediction, each of Methods A and B has no bias to over- or underprediction. The MAE was larger in Method B (MAE = 0.311 &mgr;m/L) than Method A (MAE = 0.233 &mgr;m/L). The differences in RMSE were small between Methods A (RMSE = 0.349 &mgr;m/L) and B (RMSE = 0.333 &mgr;m/L), however. Each of Methods A and B may have similar accuracy and precision.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Epidemiological analysis of prognosis of 496 Japanese patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc). Scleroderma Research Committee Japan.

For the first time, we performed an epidemiological study of SSc in Japan to study the factors influencing prognosis, survival rate and cause of death of Japanese SSc patients and to compare our data with those from foreign countries. Prognosis of 496 Japanese patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc) was analyzed based on clinical data described in case cards provided by the members of the Scleroderma Research Committee of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. The essential observation period was from 5 to 20 years, at ending in 1994. Ninety patients died (males 11, females 79). The age of onset of the deceased patients was significantly higher than that of surviving patients (deceased, 45.6 yrs, surviving 41.3 yrs). Statistically significant factors for a poor prognosis were as follows: Barnett type III > type II > type I, positive for anti-Scl-70 antibody, negative for anti-centromere antibody. The survival rate at 5 years after the onset of the disease was 0.937, followed by 0.82 at 10 years, 0.567 at 20 years and 0.40 at 30 years after the onset. Sex was not a predictor for prognosis, although male patients died at an earlier stage of the disease. The most common causes of death were heart failure, pulmonary insufficiency, lung fibrosis, and renal failure. Twenty-four patients had cancer of which 13 were lung cancers. The current status of the survival rate and prognostic factors of 496 Japanese SSc patients is summarized. In future, more well-controlled studies using the same criteria should be performed for the better understanding and management of SSc.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Disseminated superficial porokeratosis with amyloid deposition.

Two patients with disseminated superficial porokeratosis (DSP) with amyloid deposition are reported. The skin lesions were distributed over both sun-exposed areas and sun-protected areas. No exacerbation by sun exposure was noted. Abundant amyloid substances were deposited at the papillary dermis, not only beneath the cornoid lamellae but also within the annular margin. The skin lesions and amyloid deposition regressed with topical application of dimethyl sulfoxide in one patient, suggesting that DSP is one of the clinical phenotypes of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Another possibility is that amyloid substances are produced by poorly differentiated keratinocytes in DSP.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1996

Palmar erythema ab igne without detectable type IV collagen at the basement membrane zone.

A 42-year-old baker had hyperkeratotic lesions on reticular erythema of his palms and volar digits. Attachment between the epidermis and the dermis was loose at the hyperkeratotic sites, but no blisters had formed. After he stopped work for 2 months, the skin lesions disappeared, leaving a slight scar. Immunofluorescence studies showed a normal distribution of type VII collagen and laminin, but there was almost no fluorescence for type IV collagen in the basement membrane zone. Disappearance of cytoplasmic organelles and aggregated tonofibrils was evident under electron microscopy in the basal cells which appeared shrunken under light microscopy. The structures of lamina lucida, basal lamina and anchoring fibrils were disarranged. The loose dermo-epidermal attachment is probably due in part to this disorganized basement membrane structure lacking type IV collagen, which may have been digested by heat-activated matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, his work-related chronic heat exposure might have caused hyperproliferation of keratinocytes.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Chemical synthesis of phosphorylated peptides of the carboxy-terminal domain of human p53 by a segment condensation method.

A segment condensation method was developed for the chemical synthesis of large (> 90 amino acid) phosphopeptides and was used to produce phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated derivatives of the C-terminal tetramerization and regulatory domains of human p53 (residues 303-393). Efficient condensation synthesis of the 91 residue p53 domain was achieved in two steps. The non-phosphorylated N-terminal segment p53(303-334) (1) and its derivative phosphorylated at serine 315 (1P315), and the non-phosphorylated middle segment p53(335-360) (2), were synthesized as partially protected peptide thioesters in the solid phase using Boc chemistry. The C-terminal segment p53(361-393) (3) and its derivative phosphorylated at serine 392 (3P392) were synthesized as partially protected peptides in the solid phase using Fmoc chemistry. Phosphoamino acid was incorporated into the N-terminal segment (1P315) at the residue corresponding to p53 serine 315 as Boc-Ser(PO3(Bzl)2)-OH during synthesis. Serine 392 in the C-terminal segment was selectively phosphorylated after synthesis by phosphitylation followed by oxidation. A derivative phosphorylated at serine 378 was synthesized in a one-step condensation of the unphosphorylated N-terminal segment (1) and the phosphorylated long C-terminal segment p53(335-393) (2-3P378). Yields of the ligated peptides after removal of the protecting groups and HPLC purification averaged 60% for the first condensation and 35% for the second condensation. All five p53 peptides exhibited monomer-tetramer association as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that phosphorylation at Ser315 increased the alpha-helical content, which was abolished when Ser392 also was phosphorylated, suggesting an interaction between N-terminal and C-terminal residues of the C-terminal domain of p53.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

In vitro fertilization of in vitro matured oocytes obtained from the follicles without hCG exposure for prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a case report.

We aspirated ovarian follicles of an infertile patient who encountered a great risk of ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS) during her ovulation-induction cycle, which had been stimulated with gonadotropins, in order to avoid OHSS without interrupting the treatment. If this action were to yield a considerable number of immature oocytes, some of which were to achieve in vitro maturation and subsequent fertilization, this method could be an alternative to conventional ovulation-induction methods for patients who repeatedly present imminent signs of hyperstimulation. However, the number of oocytes collected from the patient was disappointingly low, even though a large number of follicles were thoroughly aspirated. One of these oocytes was matured in vitro in a medium containing 30% follicular fluid and granulosa cells of mature follicles, fertilized, cryopreserved, and transferred in a later artificial cycle; but pregnancy was not achieved. A low number of recovered oocytes from patients in this situation might be a factor that greatly limits the clinical applications of this method.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Short protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration gave better results in long protocol poor-responders in IVF-ET.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a short protocol (SP) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) administration in patients who already had undergone at least one in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) treatment cycle with the long protocol (LP) and had shown poor results. METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients were studied. The E2 levels, the number of preovulatory follicles, the number of oocytes retrieved and fertilized, the number of embryos cleaved, the fertilization rate and the number of embryos transferred were calculated. RESULTS: The values for the mentioned parameters were significantly higher in the SP than those in the LP. So were the pregnancy rates per cycle and per ET (23.2% and 24.1%, respectively) in the SP significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than those in the LP (12.5% and 13.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: In cases who showed poor results to the LP, instead of repeating the same protocol the SP may be substituted. This strategy may not only improve the results, but also decrease the total cost of the IVF-ET treatment.

Adult↗