Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Shirai

Publications and source records attributed to H Shirai.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

A newly designed deodorant pad for urinary incontinence.

The authors designed a new pad for urinary incontinence. It is composed of a cloth of acrylonitrile copper sulfide and another cloth of iron-phthalocyanine. In vitro experiments showed that acrylonitrile copper sulfide cloth inhibited the growth of most bacteria causing urinary tract infection, and that iron-phthalocyanine cloth effectively eliminated bad-smelling gases. The use of this pad relieved diaper-dermatitis and diminished offensive smells from feces and urine. This pad was well received by nurses and helpers taking care of incontinent elderly people.

Acrylonitrile↗
PubMed1990

Molecular epidemiologic evidence for association of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with gastroenteritis.

The Kanagawa phenomenon induced by the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is almost exclusively associated with clinical strains, and TDH has been considered an important virulence factor. However, Kanagawa phenomenon-negative strains isolated from patients with diarrhea have recently been shown to produce TDH-related hemolysin (TRH). We studied the distribution of the tdh gene encoding TDH and the trh gene encoding TRH in vibrios by hybridization analyses. The presence or absence of the tdh gene and the trh gene in 285 strains of V. parahaemolyticus was examined by the DNA colony hybridization test with a tdh gene-specific probe and a newly constructed trh gene-specific probe. For assessment of the importance of TRH, many Kanagawa phenomenon-negative clinical strains (35.4% of all strains) were included. Of 214 clinical strains of V. parahaemolyticus, 112 strains (52.3%) had the tdh gene only, 52 strains (24.3%) had the trh gene only, and 24 strains (11.2%) carried both the tdh and the trh gene. The coexistence of the tdh and trh genes in these 24 strains was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization analysis. Of 71 environmental strains, 5 strains (7.0%) hybridized very weakly with the trh gene probe and none hybridized with the tdh gene probe. These results suggest that TRH as well as TDH is an important virulence factor of V. parahaemolyticus. Among 118 strains of other Vibrio species examined for the trh gene, only 1 strain of Vibrio furnissii gave a very weak hybridization signal. Among 48 representative trh gene-positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus, only 18 strains (37.5%) were found to produce TRH in culture medium when examined by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1990

[The experimental study of the effects of J-hook type headgear on the craniofacial complex. A study using strain gauge method].

In this study, the dry skull with Multibanded appliance was employed in several tractional directions and positions for the investigation of the effects of J-hook headgear on the craniofacial complex including the palate. The traction was carried out by the tractor constructed by J-hook headgear exerting the load of 3 kg on the dry skull applied with the strain gauges. The tractor was connected to the four positions: the gingival and the incisal hooks on the archwire between the central and the lateral incisors, and onto archwire mesial to the canine and the 1 st premolar brackets. The tractional directions were five, varied from -20 degrees - (+)60 degrees to the occlusal plane at the interval of 20 degrees. The distribution of two-dimensional strain in several tractions and the effects on the craniofacial complex were investigated. The results were as follows: 1. In the right side view, the maxillary complex was not rotated when the tractional directions were set about at +40 degrees in the incisal traction, and between +40 degrees and +60 degrees in the canine and the 1 st premolar tractions. In the maxillary complex, clockwise rotation was induced by downward traction less than these angles, and the counterclockwise rotation was induced by upward traction more than these angles. 2. In the horizontal view, the degree of the curvature of the zygomatic arch tend to increase by the horizontal traction in any positions. 3. The palatine region was suggested to enlarge in the lateral direction at -20 degrees traction in any tractional positions. The enlargement gradually lessened in upward traction by the incisal traction. The palatine region between the canines was suggested to compress at +40 degrees and +60 degrees traction in the gingival hooks, and at +60 degrees traction in incisal hooks. In the canine and the 1 st premolar tractions, palatine region was suggested to enlarge in the lateral direction in any tractional directions. 4. The palatine region was suggested to compress in the backward direction in any tractional direction. The trend was not found to be different among tractional points. The maximum compression was produced in -20 degrees traction, and then gradually decreased in upward traction.

Dental Stress Analysis↗
PubMed1989

The effect of Ca2(+) -antagonist on visual field in low-tension glaucoma.

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Ca2(+)-antagonist on the visual field in low-tension glaucoma (LTG). Twenty-five consecutive patients (50 eyes) with LTG received nifedipine at 30 mg/day per os for 6 months. Visual field was tested with an Octopus 201 (program G1) prior to and each month during the period of nifedipine administration. In addition to tonometry and the measurements of systemic blood pressure and pulse rate, the reactivity of peripheral vessels was estimated by determining the response of skin temperature of a finger to cold water (4 degrees C). Twelve eyes (six patients) showed a constant improvement of visual field as expressed by an increase in mean sensitivity (MS). Canonical discriminant analysis demonstrated that the visual field is likely to improve with systemic nifedipine in patients who are young, have a higher initial MS and lower intraocular pressure, and have less decrease in diastolic blood pressure with the nifedipine administration and better cold recovery of skin temperature after their hand is soaked in cold water.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

Structure and organization of Marchantia polymorpha chloroplast genome. I. Cloning and gene identification.

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of chloroplast DNA from a liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, using a clone bank of chloroplast DNA fragments. The circular genome consists of 121,024 base-pairs and includes two large inverted repeats (IRA and IRB, each 10,058 base-pairs), a large single-copy region (LSC, 81,095 base-pairs), and a small single-copy region (SSC, 19,813 base-pairs). The nucleotide sequence was analysed with a computer to deduce the entire gene organization, assuming the universal genetic code and the presence of introns in the coding sequences. We detected 136 possible genes. 103 gene products of which are related to known stable RNA or protein molecules. Stable RNA genes for four species of ribosomal RNA and 32 species of tRNA were located, although one of the tRNA genes may be defective. Twenty genes encoding polypeptides involved in photosynthesis and electron transport were identified by comparison with known chloroplast genes. Twenty-five open reading frames (ORFs) show structural similarities to Escherichia coli RNA polymerase subunits, 19 ribosomal proteins and two related proteins. Seven ORFs are comparable with human mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase genes. A computer-aided homology search predicted possible chloroplast homologues of bacterial proteins; two ORFs for bacterial 4Fe-4S-type ferredoxin, two for distinct subunits of a protein-dependent transport system, one ORF for a component of nitrogenase, and one for an antenna protein of a light-harvesting complex. The other 33 ORFs, consisting of 29 to 2136 codons, remain to be identified, but some of them seem to be conserved in evolution. Detailed information on gene identification is presented in the accompanying papers. We postulated that there were 22 introns in 20 genes (8 tRNA genes and 12 ORFs), which may be classified into the groups I and II found in fungal mitochondrial genes. The structural gene for ribosomal protein S12 is trans-split on the opposite DNA strand. The universal genetic code was confirmed by the substitution pattern of simultaneous codons, and by possible codon recognition of the chloroplast-encoded tRNA molecules, assuming no importation of tRNA molecules from the cytoplasm. The nucleotide residue A or T is preferred at the third position of the codons (G+C, 11.9%) and in intergenic spacers (G+C, 19.5%), resulting in an overall G+C content that is low (28.8%) throughout the liverwort chloroplast genome. Possible gene expression signals such as promoters and terminators for transcription, predicted locations of gene products, and DNA replicative origins are discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Structure and organization of Marchantia polymorpha chloroplast genome. II. Gene organization of the large single copy region from rps'12 to atpB.

The nucleotide sequence (56,410 base-pairs) of the large single-copy region of chloroplast DNA from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has been determined. The sequence starts from one end (JLA) of the large single-copy region and encompasses genes for 21 tRNAs, six ATPase subunits (atpA, atpB, atpE, atpF, atpH and atpI), two photosystem I polypeptides (psaA and psaB), four photosystem II polypeptides (psbA, psbC, psbD and psbG), five ribosomal proteins (rps2, rps4, rps7, rps'12 and rps14), and three RNA polymerase subunits (rpoB, rpoC1 and rpoC2). In addition, we detected 18 open reading frames ranging from 29 to 2136 amino acid residues long, four of which share significant amino acid sequence homology to those of an Escherichia coli malK protein (designated mbpX), human mitochondrial ND2 (ndh2) and ND3 (ndh3) of a respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenase, or a bacterial antenna protein of a light-harvesting complex (lhcA). Sequence analysis suggests that four tRNA genes and six protein genes might be split by introns; they are trnG(UCC), trnK(UUU), trnL(UAA), trnV(UAC), atpF, ndh2, rpoC1, rps'12, ORF135 and ORF167. In the large single-copy region described here, the gene organization deduced is highly conserved with respect to that of higher plants, but an inversion of some 30,000 base-pairs flanked by trnL(CAA) and trnD(GUC) was seen between the liverwort and tobacco chloroplast genomes.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1988

Structure and organization of Marchantia polymorpha chloroplast genome. III. Gene organization of the large single copy region from rbcL to trnI(CAU).

The nucleotide sequence (25,320 base-pairs) of a part of the large single-copy region of chloroplast DNA from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha was determined. This region encodes putative genes for four tRNAs, isoleucine tRNA(CAU), arginine tRNA(CCG), proline tRNA(UGG) and tryptophan tRNA(CCA); eight photosynthetic polypeptides, the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL), 51,000 Mr photosystem II chlorophyll alpha apoprotein (psbB), apocytochrome b-559 polypeptides (psbE and psbF), 10,000 Mr phosphoprotein (psbH), cytochrome f preprotein (petA), cytochrome b6 polypeptide (petB), and cytochrome b6/f complex subunit 4 polypeptide (petD); 13 ribosomal proteins (L2, L14, L16, L20, L22, L23, L33, S3, S8, S11, S12, S18 and S19); initiation factor 1 (infA); ribosome-associating polypeptide (secX); and alpha subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoA). Functionally related genes were located in several clusters in this region of the genome. There were two ribosomal protein gene clusters: rpl23-rpl2-rps19-rpl22-rps3-rpl16-+ ++rpl14-rps8-infA-secX-rps11-rpoA, with a gene arrangement similar to that of the Escherichia coli S10-spc-alpha operons, and the rps12'-rpl20-rps18-rpl33 cluster. There were gene clusters encoding photosynthesis components such as the psbB-psbH-petB-petD and the psbE-psbF clusters. Thirteen open reading frames, ranging in length from 31 to 434 amino acid residues, remain to be identified.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Structure and organization of Marchantia polymorpha chloroplast genome. IV. Inverted repeat and small single copy regions.

We characterized the genes in the regions of large inverted repeats (IRA and IRB, 10,058 base-pairs each) and a small single copy (SSC 19,813 bp) of chloroplast DNA from Marchantia polymorpha. The inverted repeat (IR) regions contain genes for four ribosomal RNAs (16 S, 23 S, 4.5 S and 5 S rRNAs) and five transfer RNAs (valine tRNA(GAC), isoleucine tRNA(GAU), alanine tRNA(UGC), arginine tRNA(ACG) and asparagine tRNA(GUU)). The gene organization of the IR regions in the liverwort chloroplast genome is conserved, although the IR regions are smaller (10,058 base-pairs) than any reported in higher plant chloroplasts. The small single-copy region (19,813 base-pairs) encoded genes for 17 open reading frames, a leucine tRNA(UAG) and a proline tRNA(GGG)-like sequence. We identified 12 open reading frames by homology of their coding sequences to a 4Fe-4S-type ferredoxin protein, a bacterial nitrogenase reductase component (Fe-protein), five human mitochondrial components of NADH dehydrogenase (ND1, ND4, ND4L, ND5 and ND6), two Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins (S15 and L21), two putative proteins encoded in the kinetoplast maxicircle DNA of Leishmania tarentolae (LtORF 3 and LtORF 4), and a bacterial permease inner membrane component (encoded by malF in E. coli or hisQ in Salmonella typhimurium).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Assembly of a protein sharing epitopes with sperm dynein heavy chains into meiotic spindle in the prometaphase starfish oocyte.

Starfish oocyte meiosis provides a good system for studying the mechanism for prometaphase chromosome movement. Since a protein sharing epitopes with sperm dynein might be a force generator for mitosis, the contribution of such a protein was assessed in this movement. Specific antibodies to heavy chains (HCs) and intermediate chains (ICs) of dynein subunits were affinity-purified from whole antidynein serum. We confirmed that the oocytes contain several polypeptides identical to sperm dynein subunits. The anti-HCs binding to in situ antigen was examined in the oocytes permeabilized with detergent at appropriate stages of maturation with special reference to tubulin and chromosomes, and the meiotic apparatus-establishing process was described in terms of a force generator (oocyte dynein). Before resumption of maturation, dynein HCs were particularly associated with prophase chromosomes within the germinal vesicle (GV). After GV breakdown, there was a striking local accumulation of dynein HCs in the "fading GV" (nuclear matrix). When chromosomes were pulled toward the central area between 2 asters, dynein was accumulated at first at the presumptive equator and then moved to the poles, showing uneven localization on the meiotic spindle.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1987

Cyclic nucleotide content and protein phosphorylation during maturation of Spisula oocytes.

Cyclic nucleotide levels in the oocytes of the surf clam Spisula solidissima were measured during germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) induced by fertilization. The level of cAMP and cGMP in untreated oocytes was 8.23 +/- 0.95 and 4.89 +/- 0.39 pmol/10(6) oocytes. The ratio of cAMP to cGMP ranged from 1.5 to 2.0. The cAMP level in Spisula oocytes fluctuated after fertilization and before GVBD. The cGMP level showed minimal fluctuation, with a tendency to decrease initially followed by a subsequent rise to the basal level in a nonsynchronous manner. These changes were not statistically significant. There was a general increase in protein phosphorylation during the period after fertilization and before GVBD. The greatest increase occurred with proteins of estimated molecular weights of 52, 18, and 12 kD, analyzed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.

Animals↗