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H Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to H Watanabe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Measurement of neutrino oscillation with KamLAND: evidence of spectral distortion.

We present results of a study of neutrino oscillation based on a 766 ton/year exposure of KamLAND to reactor antineutrinos. We observe 258 nu (e) candidate events with energies above 3.4 MeV compared to 365.2+/-23.7 events expected in the absence of neutrino oscillation. Accounting for 17.8+/-7.3 expected background events, the statistical significance for reactor nu (e) disappearance is 99.998%. The observed energy spectrum disagrees with the expected spectral shape in the absence of neutrino oscillation at 99.6% significance and prefers the distortion expected from nu (e) oscillation effects. A two-neutrino oscillation analysis of the KamLAND data gives Deltam(2)=7.9(+0.6)(-0.5)x10(-5) eV(2). A global analysis of data from KamLAND and solar-neutrino experiments yields Deltam(2)=7.9(+0.6)(-0.5)x10(-5) eV(2) and tan((2)theta=0.40(+0.10)(-0.07), the most precise determination to date.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Insertion and excision of a transposable element governs the red floral phenotype in commercial petunias.

Commercial cultivars of Petunia hybrida with red flowers (red petunias) accumulate cyanidin 3-glucoside as a main floral anthocyanin pigment. The conversion of anthocyanidin 3-glucosides to anthocyanidin 3-rutinosides is catalyzed by a UDP-rhamnose: anthocyanidin 3-glucoside-rhamnosyltransferase (RT). In red petunias, the RT gene is known to be disrupted by the insertion of a transposable element (dTph3). We have cloned the dTph3-like element (called dTph3-C) from a red petunia. Unlike dTph3, dTph3-C harbored a perfect terminal inverted repeat. In addition, an excision product (so-called "footprint") of dTph3/dTph3-C was found in another red petunia. The RT transcripts harboring this footprint could not produce the RT enzyme because a stop codon was created in the footprint sequence. The genotypes of the 42 commercial petunias which exhibit different anthocyanin pigmentation were determined by multiplex PCR. In this technique, the amplified products from normal, dTph3/dTph3-C-inserted, and footprint-retaining RT genes can be separated from one another. Our results indicate that the red-floral phenotype of commercial petunias is governed by insertion and excision events of a transposable element in the coding region of the RT gene.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed2005

Differences in survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 under various conditions that re-enact the cooking of lunches implicated in an outbreak of haemorrhagic diarrhoea.

Two elementary schools were served lunches that were cooked in the same kitchen. An outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 occurred at one school where the dishes that were prepared for the school were lukewarm and kept for 33 min at an average temperature of 45 degrees C before serving. However, no outbreak occurred at the other school where dishes were hot and were kept for 60 min at an average temperature of 50 degrees C before serving. In a series of experiments on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in the liquid portion of similarly prepared food, the population of E. coli O157:H7 was reduced by 10-3 by heating at 50 degrees C for 60 min and by only 10-1 by heating at 45 degrees C for 40 min. Further, E. coli O157:H7 survived at 45 degrees C for 40 min but not at 50 degrees C for 60 min at pH 4.0 with a 4.0% salt concentration that was similar to that of the liquid part of the food. These results indicate that pH and salt concentration of cooked food markedly affect the survival of E. coli O157:H7 and help to explain the occurrence of the disease outbreak at only one of the schools.

Diarrhea↗
PubMed2005

Promoter region polymorphism of macrophage migration inhibitory factor is strong risk factor for young onset of extensive alopecia areata.

We have demonstrated that serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was significantly elevated in patients with extensive alopecia areata (AA). Recently, functional polymorphisms have been identified in the MIF promoter region. To address the functional and prognostic relevance of the -173G/C and -794[CATT]5-8 repeat polymorphisms in MIF genes in patients with extensive AA, 113 patients with extensive AA and 194 healthy controls were genotyped. We found that MIF-173*C was a risk factor for early onset (<20 years) of extensive AA (odds ratio for GC heterozygotes with -173G/C was 4.88 (95% CI, 2.04-11.8), P=0.00038; odds ratio for CC homozygotes with -173G/C was 10.42 (95% CI, 2.56-43.5), P=0.0011). We found no statistically significant differences in the genotype frequencies of the -794[CATT]5-8 repeat polymorphism and extensive AA. These results suggest that polymorphisms within the MIF-173*C allele confer an increased risk of susceptibility to the extensive forms of AA, especially with an early onset of disease. MIF is therefore suggested to be closely implicated in the pathogenesis of the more extensive forms of AA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Factors associated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced peripheral blood stem cell yield in healthy donors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Poor collection results are a clinical problem in granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection in healthy donors. It would be beneficial to be able to predict the PBSC yield from allogeneic donors before mobilization or harvesting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the relationship between certain donor characteristics and the effectiveness of G-CSF-induced PBSC collection in 59 healthy family donors aged 3-63 years old (median 16 years). G-CSF was administered subcutaneously at 10 microg/kg for mobilization, daily for 5 days, and PBSC harvest using a continuous blood cell separator was started on day 5 of G-CSF treatment. Total cell yields were calculated as the number per unit of processed blood (l) per unit weight of the donor (kg). RESULTS: In a univariate analysis, the donor's age, body mass index (BMI), white blood cell (WBC) count before mobilization, and platelet count before and during mobilization were significantly correlated with the yield of mononuclear cells (MNC), CD34(+) cells and granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (GM-CFU). Younger age (P < 0.001), a low BMI (P = 0.002), a high WBC count before mobilization (P = 0.004), a high platelet count before (P = 0.012) and during (P < 0.05) mobilization, and a low speed of withdrawal (P = 0.019) were associated with a higher CD34(+) cell yield. No significant correlation was found for gender, the type of G-CSF, the serum level of G-CSF, the type of cell separator, or the type of blood access. A multivariate forward and backward stepwise selection regression analysis showed that the factors associated with CD34(+) cell yield were age, platelet count before and during mobilization, and circulating CD34(+) cell concentration on day 2 of G-CSF treatment. CONCLUSION: In this small preliminary study, we found that donor age is the most important factor in predicting G-CSF-induced PBSC yields. Old age and low platelet counts before mobilization might be useful indicators for identifying poor mobilizers. Further validation of these findings in a larger number of donors are needed to establish whether these findings apply to other populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of metabolic effects of pioglitazone, metformin, and glimepiride over 1 year in Japanese patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: To compare the metabolic effects of pioglitazone, metformin, and glimepiride in the treatment of Japanese patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with Type 2 diabetes who had never used oral hypoglycaemic drugs were studied for 12 months. Patients were randomly assigned to pioglitazone (30-45 mg/day, n = 38), metformin (750 mg/day, n = 39), or glimepiride (1.0-2.0 mg/day, n = 37). The effect of treatment on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5AG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids (FFA), and fasting plasma insulin levels was monitored monthly. Body weight and safety data were also collected. RESULTS: Eight patients withdrew from the study (three in the pioglitazone group, two in the metformin group, and three in the glimepiride group). The rate of reduction of HbA(1c) was fastest in patients receiving glimepiride and slowest in patients receiving pioglitazone. Although there were no significant differences among the three groups in HbA(1c) levels at the end of the study, patients taking pioglitazone had relatively lower FPG and 1,5AG levels than patients taking the other two drugs. These results suggest that pioglitazone acts predominantly on nocturnal metabolism rather than at mealtimes. FFA were reduced significantly in those taking pioglitazone (542.2 microEq/l vs. 237.3 microEq/l; P < 0.01) before a decrease in HbA(1c) was apparent. The change in FFA levels correlated with the change in HbA(1c) (r = 0.409, P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in other lipid parameters among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone, metformin, and glimepiride are equally effective in reducing blood glucose in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. However, their specific characteristics, such as the rapid action on blood glucose levels of glimepiride and the favourable action on FPG and FFA of pioglitazone, should be considered when choosing an appropriate agent.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Er:YAG laser irradiation increases prostaglandin E production via the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in human gingival fibroblasts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and Er:YAG laser irradiation accelerate wound healing. The stimulatory action of laser seems to occur during the proliferative stage of healing by stimulation of prostaglandin E2 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which are crucial early mediators in the natural healing process. We have then investigated the effect of Er:YAG laser irradiation on PGE2 production and COX-2 gene expression in human gingival fibroblast in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cultured fibroblasts were exposed to low-power Er:YAG laser irradiation with an energy density of 3.37 J/cm2. The amount of PGE2 production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). COX-2 mRNA level, which is a critical enzyme for PGE2 production, was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Er:YAG laser significantly increased PGE2 production by human gingival fibroblasts. COX-2 mRNA, which was hardly detectable in control, increased dramatically after irradiation. COX-2 inhibitor, NS398, completely inhibited the PGE2 synthesis stimulated by Er:YAG laser irradiation. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that Er:YAG laser irradiation appears to exert its stimulative action on gingival fibroblasts proliferation through the production of PGE2 via the expression of COX-2. This should be considered as one of the important regulatory pathways to accelerate wound healing after Er:YAG laser irradiation.

Cell Proliferation↗
PubMed2005

Progression and prognosis in pure autonomic failure (PAF): comparison with multiple system atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the progression of autonomic symptoms and functional deterioration in pure autonomic failure (PAF), particularly in comparison with multiple system atrophy (MSA). METHODS: The investigation involved eight patients with PAF (M/F = 7/1; mean age at onset, 57 years) and 22 with probable MSA matched for age at onset (M/F = 14/8; onset 56 years). Subjects were followed up for neurological symptoms, activities of daily living, and autonomic function for more than seven years. Autonomic functional tests were carried out. RESULTS: In PAF, fainting or sudomotor dysfunction occurred first, followed by constipation and syncope. Urinary dysfunction developed late, and respiratory dysfunction was not evident. This clinical course contrasted sharply with that in MSA, where early urinary dysfunction usually proceeded to sudomotor dysfunction or orthostatic hypotension (p = 0.004), followed by respiratory dysfunction (p = 0.0004). Results of pharmacological tests also distinguished PAF from MSA. Progression and prognosis in patients with PAF did not worsen, unlike the steady progressive autonomic dysfunction in MSA (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0009, and p = 0.003, for progression to modified Rankin scale grade III, IV, V, and death, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The time course and pattern of progression of autonomic failure differed significantly between PAF and MSA. Patients with PAF had slower functional deterioration and a better prognosis.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Osteoid osteoma treated with computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation: a case series.

The nidi of osteoid osteoma are small and difficult to identify precisely; this can necessitate substantial resection of the surrounding normal bone. We applied percutaneous, image-guided radiofrequency ablation to treat 5 patients with osteoid osteoma. The precise location of each nidus was determined using a 3-mm-thick spiral computed tomographic scan. The most appropriate needle pathway was selected to avoid major neural and vascular structures. A 14-gauge core needle was introduced into the nidus and then exchanged for a 17-gauge straight rigid electrode with a 1-cm exposed tip to heat the lesion to 90 degrees centigrade for 5 minutes. Four of the 5 patients were discharged on the day after surgery without any external supports, and were pain-free after a few days. The remaining patient had a pes equinus contracture induced by the penetration of the calf muscles through a posterior approach but was fully recovered 6 days later. The mean follow-up period was 20.6 months. No recurrences or late complications were observed in this series. This case series shows that the computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is a simple, minimally invasive, and highly effective technique for the treatment of osteoid osteoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ultrasound evaluation of the fibrosis stage in chronic liver disease by the simultaneous use of low and high frequency probes.

A liver biopsy is currently considered the definitive diagnostic modality for establishing the severity of hepatic fibrosis. We analysed the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of ultrasound (US) using both low frequency and high frequency probes as a repeatable, inexpensive, and reliable method to determine the fibrosis stage in chronic liver disease and then compared our results with the histological findings. A total of 103 patients with chronic liver disease (60 males and 43 females, average age 51 years old) who had undergone both a liver biopsy and US with 2-5 MHz frequency and 5-12 MHz frequency probes were prospectively evaluated in this study. An US scoring system using both the low frequency and high frequency probes was performed by evaluating the edge, surface and parenchymal texture of the liver. Each score was obtained by evaluating three parameters; the bluntness of the liver edge, the irregularity of the surface and the coarseness of the parenchymal texture were evaluated and then compared with the histological findings. The US scores of the liver edge (rs: 0.6668), liver surface (rs: 0.9007) and liver parenchymal texture (rs: 0.8853) correlated significantly with the fibrosis stage obtained based on the biopsy findings. The accumulated US scores of these three parameters, however, was found to be the most reliable indicator (rs: 0.9524). Patients with an accumulated score of 6.5 or more were all found to have fibrosis stage 4 in which the accuracy of our scoring system for correctly predicting cirrhosis was found to be 100% sensitive. When an accumulated US score of 3 was interpreted to indicate mild fibrosis (a fibrosis score of 0 or 1), all 42 patients with stage 0 or 1 fibrosis were found to have an accumulated US score of 3 or less (a probability of 100%) and 42 of 53 patients with a score of 3 or less were found to have stage 0 or 1 fibrosis (specificity of 79.2%). An ultrasound evaluation of the liver fibrosis stage based on the scoring system using both low and high frequency probes was found to be a reliable and effective alternative to the histological staging in chronic liver diseases.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2005

CT findings as a significant predictive factor for the curability of mandibular osteomyelitis: multivariate analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To re-evaluate computed tomographic (CT) imaging as a diagnostic tool for mandibular osteomyelitis and to assess the clinical significance of CT findings. METHODS: CT images of 78 patients with mandibular osteomyelitis were reviewed. All patients were classified as cured or non-cured. Each CT finding was investigated for frequency, correlation with duration and disease cure. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients, 49 (63%) were classified as "cured" and 29 (37%) as "non-cured". Non-cured had experienced a significantly longer duration of symptoms. The most frequent CT finding was sclerosis and defect in the trabecular bone. Changes of bone width and thickening of the cortical plate were accompanied with longer disease duration. The extent of the diseased area was linearly correlated with the duration of symptoms. The significant factors to discriminate non-cured from cured were the extent of the disease, the number of findings, changes in the bone width, osteosclerosis and thickening of the cortex. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the extent of the disease and presence of changes in bone width were significant variables correlating with the cure of osteomyelitis. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of disease and the presence of change in bone width shown on CT were significantly correlated with the curability of osteomyelitis. These results indicated the usefulness and importance of CT examination for the diagnosis of mandibular osteomyelitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Motility and growth of human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells during ex vivo expansion in autologous serum.

Human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells have an important role in the repair of musculoskeletal tissues by migrating from the bone marrow into the injured site and undergoing differentiation. We investigated the use of autologous human serum as a substitute for fetal bovine serum in the ex vivo expansion medium to avoid the transmission of dangerous transfectants during clinical reconstruction procedures. Autologous human serum was as effective in stimulating growth of bone-marrow stem cells as fetal bovine serum. Furthermore, medium supplemented with autologous human serum was more effective in promoting motility than medium with fetal bovine serum in all cases. Addition of B-fibroblast growth factor to medium with human serum stimulated growth, but not motility. Our results suggest that autologous human serum may provide sufficient ex vivo expansion of human bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells possessing multidifferentiation potential and may be better than fetal bovine serum in preserving high motility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Tumor induction by azoxymethane (AOM) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in F344 rat gastric mucosa featuring intestinal metaplasia caused by X-irradiation.

Male F344 5-week-old rats were X-irradiated, and 16 weeks after the first dose, azoxymethane (AOM) was injected or 2-amino-1 -methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was given by intragastric intubation. Tumors in the pylorus of the glandular stomach were observed in 4 out of the 29 animals receiving X-rays + AOM and in 4 out of the 25 animals receiving X-rays + PhIP, 12 months after administration. No such lesions were found in the chemical or X-ray alone groups. Intestinal metaplasia and some induced tumors were positive for CDX2. It was concluded that the presence of intestinal metaplasia may increase sensitivity to the induction of gastric tumors by colon carcinogens.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

DNA sequence and comparative analysis of chimpanzee chromosome 22.

Human-chimpanzee comparative genome research is essential for narrowing down genetic changes involved in the acquisition of unique human features, such as highly developed cognitive functions, bipedalism or the use of complex language. Here, we report the high-quality DNA sequence of 33.3 megabases of chimpanzee chromosome 22. By comparing the whole sequence with the human counterpart, chromosome 21, we found that 1.44% of the chromosome consists of single-base substitutions in addition to nearly 68,000 insertions or deletions. These differences are sufficient to generate changes in most of the proteins. Indeed, 83% of the 231 coding sequences, including functionally important genes, show differences at the amino acid sequence level. Furthermore, we demonstrate different expansion of particular subfamilies of retrotransposons between the lineages, suggesting different impacts of retrotranspositions on human and chimpanzee evolution. The genomic changes after speciation and their biological consequences seem more complex than originally hypothesized.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

High sensitivity search for nu;e's from the sun and other sources at KamLAND.

Data corresponding to a KamLAND detector exposure of 0.28 kton yr has been used to search for nu;(e)'s in the energy range 8.3<E(nu;(e))<14.8 MeV. No candidates were found for an expected background of 1.1+/-0.4 events. This result can be used to obtain a limit on nu;(e) fluxes of any origin. Assuming that all nu;(e) flux has its origin in the Sun and has the characteristic 8B solar nu(e) energy spectrum, we obtain an upper limit of 3.7 x 10(2) cm(-2) s(-1) (90% C.L.) on the nu;(e) flux. We interpret this limit, corresponding to 2.8 x 10(-4) of the standard solar model 8B nu(e) flux, in the framework of spin-flavor precession and neutrino decay models.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Anomalously hindered E2 strength B(E2;2+(1)-->0+) in 16C.

The electric quadrupole transition from the first 2(+) state to the ground 0(+) state in 16C is studied through measurement of the lifetime by a recoil shadow method applied to inelastically scattered radioactive 16C nuclei. The measured mean lifetime is 77+/-14(stat)+/-19(syst) ps. The central value of mean lifetime corresponds to a B(E2;2+(1)-->0(+)) value of 0.63e(2) fm(4), or 0.26 Weisskopf units. The transition strength is found to be anomalously small compared to the empirically predicted value.

Journal Article↗