Association of keratoconus and Avellino corneal dystrophy.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
K Hanada
Publications and source records attributed to K Hanada.
Thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa and condylar bone change: a CT study.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the existence and types of condylar bone change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Helical CT was used to measure the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa at its thinnest part in 37 orthodontic patients with temporomandibular disorders. Condylar bone changes were classified into four types: no bone change (24 joints); flattening (19 joints); osteophyte formation (13 joints); and erosion (18 joints). RESULTS: The roof of the glenoid fossa was significantly thicker in joints with bone change than in joints with no bone change (Mann-Whitney U-test, P<0.05). There was also a significant difference in relation to the type of condylar bone change: the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa in the erosion group was significantly greater than in the no bone change (P<0.01), flattening (P<0.05) and osteophyte formation (P<0.05) groups (Kruskal-Wallis and Games-Howell tests). CONCLUSION: Compensative bone formation in the roof of the glenoid fossa might help to withstand the increased stress in the TMJ accompanying condylar bone change, especially erosion.
Adolescent↗
Changes in occlusal force and occlusal contact area after active orthodontic treatment: a pilot study using pressure-sensitive sheets.
The aim of this study was to investigate functional changes in occlusion during retention. Data on occlusal force (OcFr) and occlusal contact area (OcAr) was obtained using the pressure-sensitive sheet, from a treated group (20 female patients) who had had four premolar extractions and treatment with standard edgewise appliances, and a control sample who matched the treated group of retainer for sex, age and Angle classification at 1 year after removal. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the mean values of total OcFr and OcAr in the treatment group gradually increased during retention and were 669.3 N and 15.1 mm2, respectively, at 1 year after removal of retainer. The increases of OcFr and OcAr were larger in the molar region, especially at the second molar. At 1 year after removal of retainer, OcFr and OcAr in the second molar were significantly larger in the treatment group than in the control sample, and a similar distribution pattern of OcFr and OcAr to those in normal occlusion was seen. These results suggested that balanced OcFr and OcAr might be obtained during and after retention, due to the settling of molars that had been discluded by active orthodontic treatment.
Adolescent↗
G(s) signaling is intact after disruption of lipid rafts.
Membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids modulate a number of signal transduction pathways and provide a residence for heterotrimeric G proteins, their receptors, and their effectors. We investigated whether signaling through G(s) was dependent on these membrane domains, characterized by their resistance to detergents, by depleting cells of cholesterol and sphingolipids. For cholesterol depletion, rat salivary epithelial A5 cells were cultured under low-cholesterol conditions, and then treated with the cholesterol chelator methyl-beta-cyclodextrin. For sphingolipid depletion, LY-B cells, a mutant CHO cell line that is unable to synthesize sphingolipids, were incubated under low-sphingolipid conditions. Depletion of cholesterol or sphingolipid led to a loss or decrease, respectively, in the amount of Galpha(s) from the detergent-resistant membranes without any change in the cellular or membrane-bound amounts of Galpha(s). The cAMP accumulation in response to a receptor agonist was intact and the level slightly increased in cells depleted of cholesterol or sphingolipids compared to that in control cells. These results indicate that localization of Galpha(s) to detergent-resistant membranes was not required for G(s) signaling. Analysis of the role of lipid rafts on the kinetics of protein associations in the membrane suggests that compartmentalization in lipid rafts may be more effective in inhibiting protein interactions and, depending on the pathway, ultimately inhibit or promote signaling.
Animals↗
Tamoxifen agonism and estrogen antagonism of c-fos gene promoter activity through non-consensus-responsive elements in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.
We find that the activity of a 0.4-kb human c-fos gene promoter (-404/+41), which lacks consensus estrogen-responsive elements (EREs), is regulated by estrogen receptor (ER) ligands in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells through ERs in a manner distinct from ERE-mediated regulation. When ERalpha is coexpressed, both estrogens and antiestrogens upregulate promoter activity. When ERbeta is coexpressed, however, three tested antiestrogens affect c-fos promoter activity, with tamoxifen exerting the greatest effect, while estrogens have no such effect. The tamoxifen agonism through ERbeta is antagonized by 17beta-estradiol, while the 17beta-estradiol agonism through ERalpha is canceled by excess-level coexpression of ERbeta. Deletion analysis revealed that the sequence -206/-110 plays a crucial role in the ERbeta-mediated tamoxifen agonism. Interestingly, there is no ERbeta-mediated tamoxifen agonism when nonosteoblastic cells are tested. Taken together, these results suggest that the transcription of the c-fos gene is regulated by ER ligands possibly through non-ERE elements in ligand structure-, cell type-, and ER subtype-dependent manners.
Animals↗
Tongue and jaw muscle activities during chewing and swallowing in freely behaving rabbits.
To study the function of the tongue and the coordination among jaw, tongue, and hyoid muscles during chewing and swallowing, we recorded the electromyographic activities from the masseter (Mas), digastric (Dig), mylohyoid (Myl), thyrohyoid (Thy), genioglossus (Gg) and styloglossus (Sg) muscles as well as jaw movement trajectories in the freely behaving rabbit. Three phases were identified in the chewing cycle (fast- and slow-closing and opening phases). The Gg (main tongue protruder) was active synchronously with the Dig during opening. The Sg (tongue retractor) showed two peaks in each cycle, one in the opening phase and the other in the closing phase. The latter may have a role in retracting the tongue during jaw closing. The co-contraction of the antagonists (i.e. Gg and Sg) during opening may contribute to shape the tongue to be appropriate to gather the foodstuff. In the swallowing cycle, five phases were identified, two in the closing phase and three in the opening phase. Regression analysis revealed that swallowing cycles had a longer cycle duration than that of the chewing cycles due to an extra phase (a pause) inserted in the opening phase, where there was a small co-activation in the jaw opening and closing muscles. The findings suggest that the swallowing center affects masticatory center in the central nervous system, and may also support the view that the masticatory burst timing begins with the Dig activities in the middle of the opening phase.
Animals↗
A novel inhibitor of ceramide trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum to the site of sphingomyelin synthesis.
Ceramide produced at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is transported to the lumen of the Golgi apparatus for conversion to sphingomyelin (SM). N-(3-Hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropyl)dodecanamide (HPA-12) is a novel analog of ceramide. Metabolic labeling experiments showed that HPA-12 inhibits conversion of ceramide to SM, but not to glucosylceramide, in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Cultivation of cells with HPA-12 significantly reduced the content of SM. HPA-12 did not inhibit the activity of SM synthase. The inhibition of SM formation by HPA-12 was abrogated when the Golgi apparatus was made to merge with the ER by brefeldin A. Moreover, HPA-12 inhibited redistribution of a fluorescent analog of ceramide, N-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-pentanoyl)-d-erythro-sphingosine (C(5)-DMB-Cer), from intracellular membranes to the Golgi region. Among four stereoisomers of the drug, (1R,3S)-HPA-12, [corrected] which resembles natural ceramide stereochemically, was found to be the most active, although (1R,3S)-HPA-12 [corrected] did not affect ER-to-Golgi trafficking of protein. Interestingly, (1R,3S)-HPA-12 [corrected] inhibited conversion of ceramide to SM little in mutant cells defective in an ATP- and cytosol-dependent pathway of ceramide transport. These results indicated that (1R,3S)-HPA-12 [corrected] inhibits ceramide trafficking from the ER to the site of SM synthesis, possibly due to an antagonistic interaction with a ceramide-recognizing factor(s) involved in the ATP- and cytosol-dependent pathway.
Amides↗
Convergent total synthesis of khafrefungin and its inhibitory activity of fungal sphingolipid syntheses.
A convergent total synthesis of khafrefungin, a novel inhibitor of fungal sphingolipid syntheses isolated from the fermentation culture MF6020, has been developed. Alkenylboronic acid 5 and alkenyliodide 6, key fragments for the total synthesis, were prepared from the corresponding achiral aldehydes using tin(II)-catalyzed and Zr(IV)-catalyzed asymmetric aldol reactions, respectively. The Suzuki coupling reaction of these two fragments was successfully performed to give 17 in good yield. Through the total synthesis, epimerization of the C4 position having a rather highly acidic proton did not occur, indicating that khafrefungin was under strict conformational constraints to prevent the epimerization process. This characteristic stability of khafrefungin has also been discussed using semiempirical calculation and synthesis. Finally, khafrefungin derivatives have also been synthesized, and their antifungal activities have been measured to obtain information on the structure--activity relationships.
Antifungal Agents↗
Temporal and spatial distribution of Fos protein in the parabrachial nucleus neurons during experimental tooth movement of the rat molar.
The present study was undertaken to reveal spatio-temporal changes in the distribution of Fos-like immunoreactive (-IR) neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN), one of the important relay nuclei for processing autonomic and somatosensory information from the oro-facial regions, following the induction of experimental tooth movement in rat upper molars. The experimental tooth movement was induced by the insertion of elastic rubber between the first and second upper molars. In normal animals, the PBN contained a smaller number of Fos-IR neurons. Following experimental tooth movement, the Fos-IR neurons increased in number significantly on both the ipsilateral and contralateral PBN, reaching a maximum at 4 h (about 10 times that of normal animals), and then decreased gradually. However, a significant number of Fos-IR neurons remained at 24 h post-operation. Remarkable side-by-side differences in the number of Fos-IR neurons were recognized at 1 to 4 h following the experimental tooth movement. Their number returned to normal (basal) levels at 5 days post. All subnuclei of PBN showed similar temporal changes in the number of Fos-IR neurons, this being particularly apparent in lateral PBN. Administrations of morphine (3 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) drastically reduced the induction of Fos-IR neurons in all subnuclei of both the ipsilateral and contralateral PBN in a dose-dependent manner, and its effect was antagonized by pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.). The reduction of Fos-IR neurons by morphine pretreatment suggests that the appearance of Fos-IR neurons in the PBN may be partly due to the noxious stimulation and/or stress arising from tooth movement. The bilateral expression of Fos-IR neurons in the PBN indicates that the experimental tooth movement causes the activation of PBN neurons for the processing of somatosensory as well as autonomic information. The prolonged expression of Fos-IR neurons in all the subnuclei of bilateral PBN reflects clinical features of the transient discomfort and/or abnormal sensations, which many patients often complain about during orthodontic treatment.
Afferent Pathways↗
Identification of fibroblast growth factor-5 as an overexpressed antigen in multiple human adenocarcinomas.
Methodology for identifying tumor-associated antigens recognized by T cells has been successfully used to clone antigens from melanoma cells. Similar efforts for nonmelanoma tumors have had limited success with few antigens identified. To identify potentially relevant tumor-associated antigens expressed in renal cell carcinoma cell lines, a tumor-specific CTL clone was established from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from a regressing pulmonary lesion. This CTL recognized nonmutated fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR revealed that FGF-5 was overexpressed in the majority of renal cell carcinomas, as well as in some prostate carcinoma and breast carcinoma lines. FGF-5 expression by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR in normal tissues was below the recognition threshold for this CTL. As a normal protein with significant overexpression by multiple adenocarcinomas and little normal tissue expression, FGF-5 represents an immunotherapy target with potential utility against a broad array of nonmelanoma cancers.
Adenocarcinoma↗
GPI anchoring leads to sphingolipid-dependent retention of endocytosed proteins in the recycling endosomal compartment.
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is important for the function of several proteins in the context of their membrane trafficking pathways. We have shown previously that endocytosed GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) are recycled to the plasma membrane three times more slowly than other membrane components. Recently, we found that GPI-APs are delivered to endocytic organelles, devoid of markers of the clathrin-mediated pathway, prior to their delivery to a common recycling endosomal compartment (REC). Here we show that the rate-limiting step in the recycling of GPI-APs is their slow exit from the REC; replacement of the GPI anchor with a transmembrane protein sequence abolishes retention in this compartment. Depletion of endogenous sphingolipid levels using sphingolipid synthesis inhibitors or in a sphingolipid-synthesis mutant cell line specifically enhances the rate of endocytic recycling of GPI-APs to that of other membrane components. We have shown previously that endocytic retention of GPI-APs is also relieved by cholesterol depletion. These findings strongly suggest that functional retention of GPI-APs in the REC occurs via their association with sphingolipid and cholesterol-enriched sorting platforms or 'rafts'.
Animals↗
BMP-2 induction and TGF-beta 1 modulation of rat periosteal cell chondrogenesis.
Periosteum contains osteochondral progenitor cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes during normal bone growth and fracture healing. TGF-beta 1 and BMP-2 have been implicated in the regulation of the chondrogenic differentiation of these cells, but their roles are not fully defined. This study was undertaken to investigate the chondrogenic effects of TGF-beta 1 and BMP-2 on rat periosteum-derived cells during in vitro chondrogenesis in a three-dimensional aggregate culture. RT-PCR analyses for gene expression of cartilage-specific matrix proteins revealed that treatment with BMP-2 alone and combined treatment with TGF-beta 1 and BMP-2 induced time-dependent mRNA expression of aggrecan core protein and type II collagen. At later times in culture, the aggregates treated with BMP-2 exhibited expression of type X collagen and osteocalcin mRNA, which are markers of chondrocyte hypertrophy. Aggregates incubated with both TGF-beta 1 and BMP-2 showed no such expression. Treatment with TGF-beta 1 alone did not lead to the expression of type II or X collagen mRNA, indicating that this factor itself did not independently induce chondrogenesis in rat periosteal cells. These data were consistent with histological and immunohistochemical results. After 14 days in culture, BMP-2-treated aggregates consisted of many hypertrophic chondrocytes within a metachromatic matrix, which was immunoreactive with anti-type II and type X collagen antibodies. In contrast, at 14 days, TGF-beta 1 + BMP-2-treated aggregates did not contain any morphologically identifiable hypertrophic chondrocytes and their abundant extracellular matrix was not immunoreactive to the anti-type X collagen antibody. Expression of BMPR-IA, TGF-beta RI, and TGF-beta RII receptors was detected at all times in each culture condition, indicating that the distinct responses of aggregates to BMP-2, TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 1 + BMP-2 were not due to overt differences in receptor expression. Collectively, our results suggest that BMP-2 induces neochondrogenesis of rat periosteum-derived cells, and that TGF-beta 1 modulates the terminal differentiation in BMP-2 induced chondrogenesis.
Activin Receptors, Type I↗
X-ray induced reduction of rare earth ion doped in Na2O-Al2O3-B2O3 glasses.
5Na2O-10Al2O3-85B2O3 glasses doped with 0.05 mol% Sm2O3 or 0.05 mol% Eu2O3 turn to orange after irradiation by focussed femtosecond pulsed laser or x-ray irradiation. To know the mechanism of photo-induced coloring, the glasses were studied by Sm or Eu L(III) XANES before and after x-ray or UV irradiation. XANES in both edges showed that a part of trivalent ion converted to divalent ion upon the irradiation of x-ray. These facts reveal that photoreduction of rare earth ion is the mechanism of photo-induced coloring. However no photoreduction upon UV irradiation occurred in both glasses.
Journal Article↗
Suppression of gamma ray-induced illegitimate recombination in Escherichia coli by the DNA-binding protein H-NS.
To study the mechanism of gamma-ray-induced illegitimate recombination, we examined the formation of lambdabio transducing phage in Escherichia coli after gamma-ray irradiation. We show that gamma-ray irradiation enhances the formation of lambdabio transducing phage during prophage induction. Moreover, an hns mutation synergistically enhanced the incidence of lambda-ray-induced illegitimate recombination. Next we determined the sequences at the recombination junctions of the lambdabio transducing phages induced by gamma-ray irradiation. Most of the recombination sites coincided with known hotspots. Among them, hotspot I accounted for 67% and 77% of gamma-ray-induced lambdabio transducing phages in the wild type and the hns mutant, respectively. Therefore, the recombination sites appear to occur mostly at hotspot I or at other hotspots, but rarely at non-hotspot sites. These results suggest that types of DNA damage other than the double-strand breaks induced at random sites are mainly responsible for the introduction of the site-specific or region-specific DNA double strand breaks that lead to recombination at the hotspots. The results also showed that the recombination events took place between DNA sequences possessing short stretches of homology. H-NS protein, which binds to curved DNA, suppresses illegitimate recombination in the presence and absence of gamma-ray irradiation. Models for gamma-ray-induced illegitimate recombination are discussed.
Bacterial Proteins↗
Comparison of the S RNA segments among Japanese isolates and Taiwanese isolates of Watermelon silver mottle virus.
The complete nucleotide sequences of the S RNA of two Japanese isolates of Watermelon silver mottle virus were determined. One was isolated from naturally infected watermelon and causes malformation on upper leaves of Tetragonia expansa. The other was isolated from melon and causes characteristic yellow necrotic lesions on upper leaves of T. expansa. The total nucleotide sequences of the S RNA of WS-O and WS-Y were 3553 nt and 3558 nt long, respectively. Both the nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences of WS-O and WS-Y were quite similar even though the symptoms on T. expansa are quite different. They were also significantly similar to those of the Taiwanese isolates, Topso-W and Tospo-To. These results suggested that the Japanese isolates and the Taiwanese isolates of WSMoV were classified as one group not only serologically but also genetically. Within the S RNA sequences, the most variable region was the intergenic region between the N gene and the NSs gene. This was due to a 20 nt insertion between the Japanese isolates and the Taiwanese isolates.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Role of stromal cells in osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow.
Bone marrow stromal cells have been considered to play an important role in osteoclast differentiation. However, the interaction of these cells in vivo has not been clearly demonstrated. To clarify this, we examined the distribution of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAPase) activities as markers of osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells, respectively. Rat tibiae were fixed and embedded in Technovit 8100 or paraffin. ALPase and TRAPase activities were detected simultaneously on a plastic section by the azo-dye method. ALPase activity was detected on the plasma membranes of osteoblasts and some bone marrow fibroblastic stromal cells. These ALPase-positive cells were connected to each other by cytoplasmic processes, forming a cellular network in bone marrow. The ALPase activity of fibroblastic stromal cells tended to be stronger in those cells close to the bone surface than in the cells in the center of bone marrow. Reticular fibers in bone marrow were found to form a network. The ALPase-positive fibroblastic stromal cells may be reticular cells, because the localization of those cells was in accord with the localization of reticular fibers. The TRAPase-positive mononuclear cells and osteoclasts were mostly observed to be associated with the intensely ALPase-positive fibroblastic stromal cells. Immunoreactivity of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) was found in the fibroblastic stromal cells. These findings suggest that the network of ALPase-positive fibroblastic stromal cells in bone marrow serves as a guide for the migration of osteoclast precursor cells toward the bone surface, and may control the differentiation and activity of osteoclasts.
Acid Phosphatase↗
Multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation for severe ulceration of the cornea and sclera.
PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy of amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment of deep corneal and scleral ulcers. PATIENTS: A total of 11 patients were recruited for this study: four patients (four eyes) with corneal perforation, five patients (five eyes) with a deep corneal ulcer and descemetocele, and two patients (two eyes) with a scleral ulcer. METHODS: Ulcers were treated by amniotic membrane transplantation. Separate amniotic membranes were transplanted as material to fill the stromal layer (amniotic membrane filling), as a basement membrane (amniotic membrane graft), and as a wound cover (amniotic membrane patch). After surgery, all cases were treated with artificial tears, autologous serum drops, antibiotic eyedrops, topical corticosteroids, and sodium hyaluronate eyedrops. RESULTS: Eight eyes (72.7%) healed with epithelialization in 16.5 +/- 8.0 days (range, 7 to 29 days), with five and three eyes showing corneal epithelialization and conjunctival epithelialization, respectively. A persistent epithelial defect was noted in one eye with corneal ulcer after limbal allograft transplantation for a chemical burn and in two eyes with corneal ulcers as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSION: Multilayered amniotic membrane transplantation may be effective for the treatment of deep ulceration of the cornea and sclera. In some eyes with total corneal limbal dysfunction or autoimmune disorders, amniotic membrane transplantation alone is not effective.
Administration, Topical↗
RT-PCR for detecting five distinct Tospovirus species using degenerate primers and dsRNA template.
RT-PCR procedures for detection of multiple species of tospovirus from plant tissues were investigated. Downstream primers were designated from the 3' untranslated sequences of the S RNA. An upstream primer was designated from the degenerated sequences of the nucleocapsid protein. Approximately 450 bp DNA fragments were detected when Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)- or Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV)- infected tissues were examined. Approximately 350 bp DNA fragments were detected when Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV)- or Melon yellow spot virus (MYSV)-infected tissues were examined. Template RNA was extracted using CF 11 cellulose powder, and nonspecific amplification became unnoticeable when double-stranded RNA was used. The amplified fragments of WSMoV were differentiated from those of MYSV by AluI or TaqI digestion. The amplified fragments of TSWV were differentiated from those of INSV by DraI or HindIII digestion. An alstroemeria plant that was infected with an unidentified tospovirus was also examined, and a 350 bp fragment that was 97% identical to Iris yellow spot virus was detected. This method, therefore, detected at least five distinct Tospovirus species.
Amino Acid Sequence↗