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Biomedical subjects

K Kanaya

Publications and source records attributed to K Kanaya.

64 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Digital processing methods for structural analysis of an electron micrograph.

Digital processing method using the scanning-densitometer with microcomputer provides a useful description system. It draws attention to the usefulness of local lattice averaging in clarifying images of periodic structures in crystals as well as crystalloids and para crystalline arrays in biological specimens. Digital processing of lattice images in crystal structures from the selected diffraction spots is successfully developed to the structural analysis of evaporated gold, graphitized carbon and human tooth enamel of hydroxyapatite. Furthermore, known microbody crystalloids in enzyme and icosahedral capsids in virus are confirmed and clarified by the procedure of selecting diffraction spectra transformed from the information taken with high resolution electron micrographs. The processed results can provide significant improvements in structural analysis of an electron micrograph.

Crystallography↗

Digital processing methods using scanning densitometer and microcomputer for the structural analysis of a scanning electron micrograph.

The fundamental equation of image contrast with practical resolving power is shown taking account of the optical and specimen characteristics. Then, the structural factor which is used to indicate the scattering from the unit of structure to form the periodic object in a scanning electron microscopy can be derived straight-forwardly by digital processing. Based on the Fourier analysis, the reconstruction and subsequent interpretation of structural images such as biological specimens of rat microvilli have been successful. These microvilli must exhibit regularity of a hexagonal lattice consisting of rod-like crystalline arrays. Lattice defects are analysed by means of contrast enhancement, level slicing and histogram plotting techniques. The resolution of SEM can be tested from the granularity distance of coated films by the image sharpening by differentiation and subsequent superimposition of reconstructed images. Furthermore, the structural details in high brightness owing to reducing of the brightness level and filtering the high frequency component have been analysed.

Animals↗

Uncoated observation and etching of non-conductive materials by ion beam bombardment in scanning electron microscopy.

In a scanning electron microscope, techniques of uncoated observation and subsequent observation of internal and intracellular structures in nonconductive materials removed by ion beam etching have been successfully obtained. An apparatus in which a beam of argon ions is collimated and focused by an electrostatic lens onto an appropriate target and in addition, the specimens are both cooled and rotated during processing to avoid artifacts and thermal damages has been used. Organic and biological specimens can be directly observed without coating of metallic films by pre-bombardment of argon ions. High resolution images of structural details eroded by ion beam etching and coupled with tungsten sputter coating have been clearly observed. The role of angle of incidence of ion beam and accelerating voltage in determining the optimum etching condition without artifacts are experimentally obtained for soft biological specimens as well as hard materials. Step and general views of internal structures in soft biological specimens as well as ceramics and polyvinyl chlorides eroded by cleaning and subsequent etching are revealed without artifacts and thermal damages.

Animals↗

High resolution shadowing for electron microscopy by sputter deposition.

The sputtering process by an ion beam well collimated and highly accelerated provides a valuable means of high resolution shadowing, replication of a fine object by a combination of pre-shadowing and deposition as well as a preparation of supporting films. High resolution shadowing and films with grains smaller than 1 nm can be obtained by argon ion-sputtering targets of tungsten and tungsten/tantalum alloy. The resolution of carbon replicas pre-shadowed with tungsten/tantalum is determined from the radius of curvature of replicated magnesium oxide crystal corners.

Alloys↗

The pH jump study of enzyme proteins. I. Liquefying alpha-amylase from Bacillus subtilis.

Rapid conformational changes due to pH jump were studied kinetically at 25 degrees mainly by the stopped-flow method using liquefying alpha-amylase from Bacillus subtilis [EC 3.2.1-.1, liquefying]. First, the conformational change due to a pH jump produced by mixing with alkali was monitored as a function of time at 245 nm through the ionization of phenolic hydroxyl groups of tyrosine residues which were originally buried and finally become exposed due to the pH jump. Three distinct phases of conformational change were clearly recognized by this method by varying the final pH values. Each phase involved the exposure of an essentially definite number of tyrosine residues, whose rate constant was crucially dependent on pH. Second, these phases of conformational change were subjected to examination in terms of the optical rotation change at 411 nm and the reversibility upon reverse pH jump with respect to conformational reconstitution, as observed through the protonation ofphenolic hydroxyl groups of ionized tyrosine residues and the enzyme activity. The first phase, which occurs above pH 12.5, involves no change in the optical rotation and is reversible as observed by the above two monitoring methods. In contrast, the other two phases, which are observed above pH 12.7, are accompanied by an optical rotation change and no appreciable reversibility was detected by these methods.

Amylases↗

Efficacy of long-term treatment with nipradilol, a nitroester-containing beta-blocker, in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension.

The effects of long-term treatment with nipradilol, a nitroester-containing beta-blocker, on casual and 24-hour blood pressures were studied in 70 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Antihypertensive effects of nipradilol on casual blood pressure were observed in 68% of patients. Nipradilol reduced pulse rates, but no bradycardia was observed. The usefulness of nipradilol in the present study was 65%. The results of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring indicated that nipradilol reduced systolic blood pressure more than diastolic blood pressure, and reduced blood pressure during waking more than during sleep. These results suggest that nipradilol is a safe and useful long-term antihypertensive drug in both young and older patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. When administered twice daily, nipradilol is effective throughout a 24-hour period.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Correlation between progression of spinal deformity and pulmonary function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how age at and value of the plateau of vital capacity (VC plateau) correlate with the severity of the progression of spinal deformity in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Changes in spinal deformity and pulmonary function in 36 DMD patients were examined in a retrospective longitudinal study. Patterns of progression of spinal deformity were classified into three types according to Oda's classification. Of the 32 patients who showed spinal deformity, six were classified as type 1, 19 as type 2, and seven as type 3. The correlation between the patterns of progression of spinal deformity and the VC plateau was examined using a discriminant analysis. Rapid and severe progression of spinal deformity could be expected in patients whose VC plateau was less than 1,900 mL and in those in which it occurred before age 14 years. Thus VC plateau may be an indicator of the severity of the progression of spinal deformity in DMD patients.

Adolescent↗