Trace element analysis of biological samples by analytical atomic spectroscopy.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
K Inagaki
Publications and source records attributed to K Inagaki.
Inflammatory cell population and bacterial contamination of membranes used for guided tissue regenerative procedures.
The purpose of this study was to determine the types of inflammatory cells and bacterial contamination on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes which might affect new tissue formed by guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Forty periodontal bony defects were treated by the flap procedure, which included the use of an ePTFE membrane. Twelve months after the second surgery, the defect sites were re-evaluated for changes in probing depth and clinical attachment level. The ePTFE membranes were retrieved after 4 to 6 weeks of healing and sectioned serially at 3 microm in a coronal-apical plane. The ePTFE membrane was divided into 3 portions: cervical, middle, and apical, each of which was subdivided into outer, central, and inner segments, providing a total of 9 fields. Cells and bacteria were analyzed by light microscopy for their types: mononuclear cell, erythrocyte, fibroblast, neutrophil, plasma cell, T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, macrophage, and oral bacteria. Both cells and bacteria decreased in number towards the apical portion and were present even in the central part. Most cells were mononuclear cells. Erythrocytes, fibroblasts, neutrophils, and plasma cells were rarely encountered. Bacteria, most of which were Gram-positive, were observed in almost the same number in the outer and inner parts. The results indicate that numerous inflammatory cells adhered to and invaded the ePTFE membranes accompanied by bacterial contamination and that there was a tendency for a negative correlation between the increment number of bacteria and the gain of clinical attachment level.
Adult↗
Partial adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency detected by ureterolithiasis.
A 30-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of recurrent ureterolithiasis. She was suspected of having adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) deficiency based on the presence of 2,8-dihydroxyadenine (DHA) crystals in her urinary sediment, infrared spectrophotometric analysis of the excreted stone, and then the definitive diagnosis by gene analysis. A pedigree study indicated only a slight possibility of this disease in the family. From these results, we consider that urinary sediment and stone analysis should be used for screening while gene analysis should be employed for definitive diagnosis of APRT deficiency, so that the complications of this condition can be prevented.
Adenine↗
[Malignant recurrence of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura developed 20 years after the surgery: a case report of re-extirpation].
A 63-year-old female developed the chest wall tumor protruding into the right thoracic cavity. She consulted our hospital complaining of chest pain. 20 years before this episode, she had undergone tumor extirpation combined with the partial resection of adherent anterior chest wall and the diaphragm for large benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Because of the difficulty in making diagnosis by needle biopsy, operation (re-tumor extirpation combined with the chest wall) was done. Histological examination revealed that the tumor was malignant solitary fibrous tumor. We concluded that the tumor was the malignant recurrence of the benign solitary fibrous tumor resected 20 years before. Occasionally, benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura recurs and behaves more aggressively than primary, but such a long latent period as 20 years is quite uncommon. So we present the case and the review of the literature.
Female↗
Determination of methylation specificity of sequence-specific DNA methyltransferases using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
We describe here a sensitive and straightforward method for characterizing the methylation specificity of type II DNA methyltransferase (MTase) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. DNA substrate, prepared by ligation of a commercially available oligonucleotide, was modified by the subject MTase, and was derivatized to a mixture of single-stranded oligonucleotides through endonuclease treatment, heat-denaturation and limited digestion by 3'-terminus-specific phosphodiesterase I. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used to determine the mass differences between the digestion products, and the methylated nucleotide was explicitly identified by the mass increase of 14 Da due to the base modification. The method was applicable to the three representative MTases M. Eco RI, M. Bam HI and M. Hae III.
Base Sequence↗
The presence of a manganese-rich particle in lysosome of rat pancreas due to excess manganese treatment.
Manganese (Mn) accumulates at a higher level in the pancreas than in any other organs when excess Mn is administered to the rat. The present study is carried out to analyze the intracellular localization of Mn existed in the pancreatic cell of Mn-treated rats. Transmission electron microscope and X-ray micro-analysis connected with a rapid freezing fixation technique showed that a large amount of Mn was localized in lysosomal particles of the pancreatic cell of Mn-treated rats. The Mn-rich particles disappeared when the element-administration was discontinued, showing that the accumulation of Mn is reversible. To confirm that Mn is in the lysosomes, a centrifugal subcellular-fractionation and a neutron activation analysis were carried out. The result indicated that much Mn existed in the lysosomal fraction.
Animals↗
Molecular characterization of the mde operon involved in L-methionine catabolism of Pseudomonas putida.
A 15-kb region of Pseudomonas putida chromosomal DNA containing the mde operon and an upstream regulatory gene (mdeR) has been cloned and sequenced. The mde operon contains two structural genes involved in L-methionine degradative metabolism: the already-identified mdeA, which encodes L-methionine gamma-lyase (H. Inoue, K. Inagaki, M. Sugimoto, N. Esaki, K. Soda, and H. Tanaka. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 117:1120-1125, 1995), and mdeB, which encodes a homologous protein to the homodimeric-type E1 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. A rho-independent terminator was present just downstream of mdeB, and open reading frames corresponding to other components of alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex were not found. When MdeB was overproduced in Escherichia coli, the cell extract showed the E1 activity with high specificity for alpha-ketobutyrate rather than pyruvate. These results suggest that MdeB plays an important role in the metabolism of alpha-ketobutyrate produced by MdeA from L-methionine. Accordingly, mdeB encodes a novel E1 component, alpha-ketobutyrate dehydrogenase E1 component, of an unknown alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex in P. putida. In addition, we found that the mdeR gene was located on the opposite strand and began at 127 bp from the translational start site of mdeA. The mdeR gene product has been identified as a member of the leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp) family and revealed to act as an essential positive regulator allowing the expression of the mdeAB operon.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Regulatory region of expression of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans leuB gene in Escherichia coli.
The regulatory region of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans leuB gene was analyzed. The deletion analysis indicated that the promoter sequences CATCCG and TATTAT, which were similar to the consensus -35 and -10 sequences of Escherichia coli, respectively, existed. The transcriptional initiation site was located at the position of cytosine -26. The deletion analysis of the upstream region suggested the existence of a regulatory region by leucine and the region related to transcription of the gene.
3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗
[Surgically unsuccessful cases with pulmonary tuberculosis].
Because of the development of effective drugs, surgical treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis has decreased in recent years, but there are some cases which require surgical operation in patients with drug resistant tuberculosis. Between 1979 and 1994, 52 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis underwent surgical operations for the negative conversion of drug resistant bacilli. Pulmonary resection was the principal procedure and when a patient was not tolerant to this procedure, thoracoplasty or cavernostomy was selected. Continuation of bacilli positive sputum after the operation was seen in 12 cases (23.1%). The main causes of the failure were multiple drug resistance and remaining lesions. The unsuccessful rate in the patients with bacilli completely resistant to all of the 5 main drugs (SM, KM, INH, RFP, EB) was extremely high amounting to 57.1%. When 2 or more of the 5 main drugs were effective, the unsuccessful rate was 11.1%. A total of 21 cases had tuberculous lesions remaining in the lung postoperatively, because of bilateral lesions or poor lung function. In such cases, the unsuccessful rate was 42.3%. In the 31 cases that had no remaining lesion, the rate was 9.7%. There was no unsuccessful case in the patients who had 2 or more effective drugs and no remaining lesion. We reoperated on 6 patients and 5 of them got negative conversion. In the 2 of other patients who didn't undergo reoperation, their sputum became negative after long term postoperative chemotherapy, and the other 2 patients had only a few bacilli in ther sputum postoperatively. Nine cases were able to return to normal daily life.
Adult↗
Antimutagenic activity of extracts from Japanese eggplant.
Using the Salmonella/microsome assay, the antimutagenic effects of specific components of the extracts from eggplant fruits were investigated. The eggplant fruit juice exhibited an antimutagenic activity against 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) induced mutagenicity. In some of the fractions extracted with several organic solvents (acetone, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate; and methanol), the activity was recognized. No mutagenicity or toxicity for Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of S9 mixture was observed with any of the extracts. It is suggested that there are multiple components of the activities that exist in the eggplant fruit. We isolated lutein from the 84% methanol (methanol/water, v/v) layer, pheophorbide or chlorophyllide from the 70% methanol layer and tannins containing sugar-moieties from the water layer. Pheophytin a and b, Mg-free derivatives of chlorophyll a and b, were isolated from the petroleum ether layer as possible antimutagens. The pheophytin a with S9 mix inhibited by 30-40% the mutagenicity of Trp-P-2.
Antimutagenic Agents↗
Transport properties of Bi2Sr2CuO6 single crystals: Possibility of interplane coupling in the weakly localized regime.
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Journal Article↗
Superconductor-insulator transition in ultrathin Pb films: Localization and superconducting coherence.
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Journal Article↗
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against (1R,2R)-cyclohexanediamine platinum(II)-DNA adduct.
Two monoclonal antibodies raised against Pt(II)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)-DNA were prepared, and the specificity of the monoclonal antibodies against Pt(II)(cyclohexanediamine)-DNA derivatives was determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding affinity of the monoclonal antibodies is apparently influenced by the cyclohexanediamine moiety of Pt(II)(cyclohexanediamine)-DNA adducts, but the monoclonal antibodies can not bind to the low molecular analogue, Pt(II)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)-d(GpG), which is the intrastrand binding model compound of Pt(II)(1R,2R-cyclohexanediamine)-DNA. Therefore, the monoclonal antibodies recognize the macromolecular parts, including DNA duplex, in addition to the cyclohexane moieties of the platinum complexes on Pt(II)(cyclohexanediamine)-DNA adducts.
Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
[Repeated pneumonia in the middle lobe caused by congenital bronchoesophageal fistula].
A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of repeated episodes of pneumonia in the middle lobe. She had also experienced coughing during meals. The history and chest CT findings suggested the presence of a bronchoesophageal fistula. An upper GI series revealed a fistula between an esophageal diverticulum and the superior segment bronchus of the right lower lobe. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy done immediately after the upper GI series revealed barium sulfate leaking from the superior segment bronchus of the right lower lobe into the middle lobe bronchus. These findings indicated that the repeated pneumonia in the middle lobe was caused by a congenital bronchoesophageal fistula. Examination of the resected fistula showed that it was a Braimbridge type I bronchoesophageal fistula. Although of at least 49 cases of congenital bronchoesophageal fistulas with esophageal diverticula have been reported in the Japanese medical literature, we know of no previous case in which such a fistula was associated with middle-lobe pneumonia.
Bronchial Fistula↗
Young children's recognition of commonalities between animals and plants.
In 4 experiments, we examined whether young children have grasped commonalities between animals and plants as one of the essential components of an autonomous domain of biology. Experiment 1 revealed that by age 5, children distinguished both animals and plants from nonliving things in terms of growth (i.e., changes in size over time). Experiments 2 and 2A indicated that a considerable number of 5-year-olds, when given brief vitalistic descriptions about properties of all living things, constrained inductive projections of these properties using the category of living things. They attributed not only growth but also taking food/water and being taken ill to both animals and plants only. In Experiment 3, when 5-year-old children were asked directly whether plants or nonliving things would manifest phenomena similar to those observed for animals, they responded affirmatively for plants and could offer specific phenomena for growth, feeding, and aging/dying in support of their answers (e.g., watering for plants as analogous to feeding for animals). Overall, contrary to Carey, children as young as 5 years have an integrated category of living things. The possibility that early biology is established around taking food/water and growth is discussed.
Animal Population Groups↗
Structural analysis of the L-methionine gamma-lyase gene from Pseudomonas putida.
The gene encoding L-methionine gamma-lyase from Pseudomonas putida was cloned and the primary structure of the enzyme was deduced from its nucleotide sequence. The L-methionine gamma-lyase gene was expressed in Escherichia coli. The amino acid sequences of BrCN-digested peptides agreed with the corresponding parts of the L-methionine gamma-lyase sequence determined from the gene structure. The polypeptide is composed of 398 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 42,626, corresponding to the subunit of the homotetrameric enzyme. The deduced amino acid sequence of L-methionine gamma-lyase only showed extensive homology with other well known alpha,gamma-elimination and/or gamma-replacement pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes, such as cystathionine gamma-lyase, cystathionine gamma-synthase, and O-acetylhomoserine O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase, that participate in the biosynthesis of sulfur amino acids. However, the deduced essential cysteine residue of L-methionine gamma-lyase was not conserved in these enzymes. We confirmed the presence of a part of an open reading frame in the 3'-flanking region of the L-methionine gamma-lyase gene, which showed high homology with the N-terminal region of pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) from E. coli, suggesting that it participates in the degradative pathway for L-methionine together with L-methionine gamma-lyase.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Reaction of (1R,2S,3S)-3-methylcyclohexanediamineplatinum(II) with DNA: isolation and characterization of the platinum-nucleotide adducts by means of HPLC and NMR spectroscopy.
Reaction products of calf thymus DNA with (1R,2S,3S)-3-methylcyclohexanediamineplatinum (abbreviated as Pt(RSS-dach)Cl2) were investigated by enzymatic degradation of the platinated DNA and subsequent HPLC analysis. Five platinated adducts involving d(GpG), d(ApG) and (dG)2 residues were identified by HPLC after complete digestion using deoxyribonuclease I, nuclease P1, and alkaline phosphatase. The adducts with d(GpG) and d(ApG) consisted of two geometrical isomers, because Pt(RSS-dach)Cl2 lacks a C2 symmetry element. The d(GpG) and d(ApG) adducts were intrastrand compounds crosslinked between the N7 atoms of the adjacent purine bases. The two d(GpG) adducts were most abundant and comprised more than 65% of all the platinated adducts. The relative ratio of the two d(GpG) isomers was 3:2 for reaction with DNA, whereas the ratio was 1:1 for reaction with a single stranded oligonucleotide. The detailed structure of the two d(GpG) adducts is also described based on NMR spectroscopic data.
Alkaline Phosphatase↗
[Castleman's lymphoma presenting marked bronchial obstruction and compression of the great vessels: a case report].
A 24-year-old Caucasian male from Chile developed mediastinal Castleman's lymphoma, hyaline-vascular type, occupying from upper pre-tracheal to sub-carinal region, severely compressing the trachea, left main bronchus, pulmonary artery, and pericardium. Bronchofiberscopy demonstrated complete obstruction of the left main bronchus and the severe telangiectasis of the mucosa. The patient complained of the stridor and shortness of breath. The left thoracotomy had been performed in Chile, but unsucceeded in extirpation because of the adherence and the hypervascularity of the tumor. After 24 Gy irradiation, we performed the right thoracotomy and succeeded in extirpation of the tumor. It was the key for success that we could approach from right side under left sided unilateral ventilation. Castleman's lymphoma is not a rare disease, but the manifestation due to the bronchial obstruction is uncommon. So we present this case and review the literatures.
Adult↗