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Biomedical subjects

K Kasai

Publications and source records attributed to K Kasai.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

The successful treatment of a divided nevus on a young patient using a modified Kunhnt-Szymanowski procedure.

A 16-year-old boy underwent excision of a congenital divided nevus on his left eyelids. The defect of the lower eyelid was repaired utilizing a modified Kuhnt-Szymanowski procedure, and the part of the nevus on the upper eyelid was removed by simple horizontal excision and suture. The symmetry of both of his eyelids was successfully preserved without ectropion or conspicuous scars. This procedure is especially effective even in a young patient when removing a lesion extending to the lower ciliary border.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of the transferrin receptor in UMR-106-01 osteoblast-like cells.

The accumulation of iron or aluminum can cause metabolic bone disease, but the mechanisms by which these agents affect bone metabolism remain uncertain. Since transferrin (Tf) can bind several different metals in plasma, equilibrium radioligand binding studies were performed to identify and characterize the Tf receptor in UMR-106-01 osteoblast-like cells; the role of Tf as a modifier of metal-induced changes in cell proliferation was also examined. Osteoblast-like cells grown in serum-free medium have approximately 40,000 Tf receptors on the cell membrane. Tf receptor expression increases during iron depletion and decreases with iron supplementation; the number of Tf receptors was also inversely related to both cell density and the rate of cell proliferation in vitro. Physiological levels of unsaturated Tf (5 microM) enhanced DNA synthesis in osteoblast-like cells maintained in serum-free medium, as measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. Although neither 10 microM iron (Fe) nor 10 microM gallium (Ga), a known antiproliferative agent, altered DNA synthesis in UMR-106-01 cells during 48-h incubations in serum-free medium, both agents reduced the rate of DNA synthesis when added to serum-free medium containing 5 microM apo-Tf. Decreases in the incorporation of [3H] thymidine into DNA were also noted in osteoblast-like cells incubated for 48 h with 3 microM partially saturated iron Tf or gallium Tf. The results indicate that osteoblast-like cells have a single class of membrane receptors for Tf and that the regulation of Tf receptor expression in UMR-106-01 cells is similar to that in other cell types. The uptake of iron and gallium via the Tf-receptor complex can affect osteoblast proliferation, and such a mechanism may contribute to the bone cell toxicity of various metals.

Acetates↗
PubMed1990

Cryopreservation of mouse spermatozoa in the presence of raffinose and glycerol.

When mouse epididymal spermatozoa were rapidly frozen in two steps (37 to -70 degrees C for solid CO2 and -70 to -196 degrees C for liquid nitrogen) as pellets, 18% raffinose provided the greatest protection to ICR mouse spermatozoa against cold-shock; sperm motility and fertilizing ability were 43% and 22.4%, respectively. A small proportion of spermatozoa frozen with 10% sucrose was motile but incapable of fertilizing ovulated oocytes. Glycerol and dimethylsulphoxide were less effective at any concentration examined. However, the fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed ICR spermatozoa was significantly improved (35.5%) by addition of glycerol (1.75% final concentration) to medium containing 18% raffinose. Spermatozoa from one outbred (ddY) and 5 inbred (C57BL/6N, C3H/HeN, DBA/2N, BALB/c and kk) strains of mice were successfully frozen in the presence of 18% raffinose and 1.75% glycerol, although the fertilization rates of frozen-thawed spermatozoa varied among strains (13% for C57BL/6N to 64% for DBA/2N). A small fraction of mouse eggs resulting from fertilization by frozen-thawed spermatozoa developed normally in vitro (37% in C57BL/6N to 71% in ICR) to the blastocyst stage and in vivo (19% for C57BL/6N spermatozoa and ddY oocytes) to Day 18 of gestation.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

New screening system for unruptured cerebral aneurysms--combination of an expert system and DSA examination.

We have designed a screening system to diagnose unruptured aneurysms, including the use of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We surveyed 115 patients who had undergone clipping procedures after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and questioned them with regard to the subjective symptoms. Sixty-eight of 92 patients who returned the questionnaire reported, prior to rupture, headache, eye pain, and neck pain most frequently, and also impairment of extraocular movements, ptosis, visual field defects, and motor and sensory disturbances. Nineteen (47.5%) of 40 patients who had complete pain relief after surgery complained of headache from 1 week to 1 month before SAH. In addition, nine patients (22.5%) complained of headache for several years, and were also pain-free after surgery. For the indication of DSA, we employed an expert system based on fuzzy set theory. Seven groups of parameters are: Group 1, a basic questionnaire concerning age, sex, and past and family histories; Group 2, 15 warning signs selected on the basis of retrospective study; and Groups 3-7, detailed questions concerning each sign. Scoring weights assigned to each condition based on the results of the retrospective study, and threshold values were determined by several neurosurgeons. The certainty factors for intermediate hypotheses were calculated from these weights and threshold values and summed up, from which the conclusion was obtained. Twelve new cases of unruptured cerebral aneurysm were diagnosed using this screening system. This system may improve the ability to diagnose cerebral aneurysms before rupture.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Correlation between morphologies of mandibular vertical sections and linear measurements of the skull].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationships between the sectional forms of the mandible and the craniofacial morphology. Vertical sections were made at the symphysis (SY) and at the second molar region (M2R). Materials were dried human skulls which were measured in three dimensional co-ordinate system. The correlation matrix of 24 measurements was examined in the male and the female. The difference of these measurements between the low angle group and the high angle group of gonial angle was also examined. Results obtained were as follows: 1. Gonial angle was negatively correlated with the height, width, breadth of ramus and the breadth of second molars. SY form was related to the facial height and size of the mandible. On the other hand, M2R form was related to the height, width and breadth of ramus. 2. The differences of measurements between the low angle group and the high angle group of gonial angle were as follows: 1) The ramal height, ramal width, bicondylar width and breadth of second molars in the low angle group were significantly larger than those in the high angle group. 2) The measurements of SY in the high angle group and the low angle group showed no significant difference. 3) The height and area of M2R in the low angle group were significantly larger than those in the high angle group. This study demonstrated that SY form might relate to vertical factors of the face (facial height), the size of mandible and the types of occlusions. On the other hand, M2R form being nearer to the attachment of masseter and medial pterygoid muscles than SY was related to the form of ramus and the gonial angle.

Cephalometry↗
PubMed1990

Amplification of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) locus (pMCT118) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its application to forensic science.

A genetic locus (D1S58, defined by DNA probe pMCT118) that contains a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) has been successfully amplified from a very small amount of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA sequence of the locus was determined and was found to consist of a 16-base consensus sequence and flanking sequences. Oligonucleotide primers complementary to the flanking sequences were synthesized to serve as primers for amplification of MCT118 by the PCR method. Human genomic DNA isolated from blood (2 ng from each sample) was successfully amplified at the MCT118 locus, and polymorphic bands were detectable by ethidium bromide staining after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. Determination of genotypes at this VNTR locus can now be routinely achieved within 24 h, without the need for Southern blots or radioactive materials. Furthermore, the small size (387 to 723 base pairs) of the DNA fragments produced in the PCR amplification permits good resolution of individual alleles that differ by only one repeat unit. The precise specification of the number of tandem repeats present in each allelic fragment is reproducible from one analysis to another.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

[Basic and clinical studies on norfloxacin in the pediatric field].

Pharmacokinetic , bacteriological and clinical studies on norfloxacin (NFLX), a quinolone-carboxylic acid antibacterial agent, were conducted in the pediatric field. 1. Serum concentrations and urinary excretion of NFLX after single dose of 2.2 approximately 5.6 mg/kg (mean 4.4 +/- 1.2 mg/kg) were determined in 13 children with ages between 6 and 11 years. The mean peak serum concentration of the drug was 0.37 +/- 0.20 micrograms/ml at 2 hours after administration. The mean half-life of the drug in serum was 2.8 +/- 0.4 hours and the serum concentration at 8 hours was 0.11 +/- 0.06 micrograms/ml. The mean urinary concentration reached a maximum of 125.2 +2- 166.2 micrograms/ml in pooled urine from 0 to 2 hours and the mean urinary recovery rate in the first 8 hours after administration was 22.1 +/- 6.0%. A dose-response relationship was observed between doses/body weight and peak serum concentrations. 2. The clinical efficacy, bacteriological efficacy and the safety of NFLX were evaluated in 65 pediatric patients with ages between 2 years 10 months and 15 years 7 months with infections. In 62 assessable cases (acute purulent tonsillitis 9 cases, acute pneumonia 3 cases, chronic rhinitis 1 case, urinary tract infections 15 cases, and acute colitis 34 cases), clinical efficacies were excellent in 48 cases, good in 13 cases, and fair in 1 case with an overall efficacy rate of 98.4%. Staphylococcus aureus 1 strain, Staphylococcus epidermidis 1 strain, Escherichia coli 10 strains, Salmonella sp. 5 strains, Morganella morganii 1 strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3 strains, Haemophilus parainfluenzae 1 strain and Campylobacter jejuni 12 strains were isolated from the patients as pathogens. Bacteriologically, all of these strains were eradicated except that 3 strains of C. jejuni only decreased. With regard to side effects, dizziness and nausea were observed in 1 case each but they were slight and the continuation of the treatment was possible. No abnormal laboratory test data were observed. From the above results, NFLX was considered to be a useful drug for the treatment of pediatric infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Preparation of adsorbents for affinity chromatography using TSKgel Tresyl-Toyopearl 650M.

The optimum conditions for the coupling of proteins were investigated using TSKgel Tresyl-Toyopearl 650M. They were dependent on the proteins coupled. For example, when soybean trypsin inhibitor was coupled at pH 8 the coupling was completed within 1 h and the subsequent adsorption capacity for trypsin was maximal. Longer coupling times decreased the adsorption capacity due to multi-point attachment. The adsorbents obtained were successfully used for affinity chromatography in a short time.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1989

Production and purification of a recombinant human 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin.

The cDNA for a 14 kDa human beta-galactoside-binding lectin was inserted into a plasmid carrying a taq promoter, and the lectin protein was expressed in E. coli cells. The recombinant lectin was extracted from the cells and purified to apparent homogeneity by a single-step chromatography on an asialofetuin-agarose column. Subunit molecular mass (14 kDa), hemagglutinating activity and antigenicity were indistinguishable from those of the human placental lectin. Though the N-terminal of the placental lectin is blocked with an acetyl group, the recombinant lectin was found to have a free amino group. However, the N-terminal amino acid sequences were identical. The recombinant lectin was considered to have the same three-dimensional structure as the placental lectin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of a full-length cDNA for human 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin.

A full-length cDNA for a 14K-type human lung beta-galactoside-binding lectin was cloned. The cDNA includes a 405 bp open reading frame coding 135 amino acids including the initiator methionine, and having a single internal EcoRI site and a polyadenylation signal. The deduced amino-acid sequence agreed completely with the sequence of a human placenta lectin determined by direct amino-acid sequence analysis (Hirabayashi, J. and Kasai, K. (1988) J. Biochem. 104, 1-4). It showed extensive sequence similarity with other vertebrate 14K-type lectins and a 35K-type lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein 35) of mouse 3T3 cell. Search of a Genbank sequence data base revealed significant sequence similarity between the beta-galactoside-binding lectins and the carboxyl-terminal half of an IgE-binding protein, the cDNA of which has been cloned from rat basophilic leukemia cells. Thus, 14K-type lectin, 35K-type lectin and IgE-binding protein appeared to form a superfamily of proteins. Almost all invariant residues are located in the central region of the 14K-type lectins, so this region may constitute an essential part of the lectins, such as the sugar-binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Size-dependent, chromatographic separation of double-stranded DNA which is not based on gel permeation mode.

A new procedure for size-dependent fractionation of DNA was investigated. DNA fragments ranging from 10 to 40 kbp were separated by using columns for high-performance gel permeation chromatography. However, the order of elution was opposite to that which would be expected for gel permeation chromatography, i.e., smaller fragments were eluted faster than larger fragments, though separation based on normal gel permeation chromatography was observed when smaller DNA fragments (less than 5 kbp) were applied. The size range of DNA which can be resolved by this new procedure was found to depend on both particle size and flow rate; the use of a column packed with smaller particles or the application of a faster flow rate enabled us to resolve smaller DNA fragments, but the pore size or chemical nature of the column packing had scarcely any effect on the resolution. This mode of separation was attained by using both silica and polymer packings. The results suggest that the separation is based on a hydrodynamic phenomenon.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1989

Influence of a soluble anionic polymer on the electrophoresis of proteins.

The influence of a soluble anionic polymer on electrophoresis of proteins was studied in relation to the nonspecific ionic effect of an affinophore on application to affinophoresis. Zone electrophoresis of proteins was carried out in agarose gel in the presence of succinyl-poly-L-lysine (degree of polymerization, 120) by using three electrophoresis buffers differing in ionic strength (0.06, 0.12 and 0.18) and pH (7.0 and 7.9). Proteins migrated as distinct single bands even in the presence of the polymer. The mobility of cationic proteins towards the cathode was first decreased and then increased towards the anode as the polymer concentration increased, while that of anionic proteins was not affected. The dependence of the apparent mobility changes of the proteins on the concentration of the polymer was treated quantitatively in the same way as affinity electrophoresis. The extent of the ionic interaction between a cationic protein and the polymer could be estimated as an apparent dissociation constant. It greatly depended on the ionic strength of the electrophoresis buffer. Except for the extremely cationic proteins such as lysozyme, the ionic interaction with up to 0.1 mM of the polymer could be practically suppressed by the use of 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).

Anions↗
PubMed1989

Affinophoresis of red blood cells: surface antigen-specific acceleration of electrophoresis.

A method employing the technique of affinophoresis to increase the electrophoretic mobility of specific cells according to their surface antigens was developed. Red blood cells were treated consecutively with the maximum subagglutinating dose of an anti-red blood cell serum, a biotinylated second antibody, avidin and finally with a negatively charged biotin-affinophore which was prepared by coupling biotin to polylysine (average degree of polymerization, 270 or 1150), followed by complete succinylation. The electrophoretic mobility of cells was analyzed with an automatic cell electrophoresis analyzer. The use of a homologous anti-serum increased the electrophoretic mobility of rabbit, human and rat blood cells by 2.9, 1.7 and 1.6 times, respectively. A larger affinophore containing fewer biotin moieties was more effective. In the case of a mixture of red blood cells from two species, cells from only one species could be accelerated by using homologous antiserum, e.g., affinophoresis of a mixture of human and rat red blood cells by using either homologous antiserum gave two separate peaks on the histogram, whereas a single peak would be obtained in usual electrophoresis because there is little difference in the original migration velocities of the two cell types.

Agglutination↗
PubMed1989

Nailplasty using a distally based ulnar finger dorsum flap.

A case of reconstruction of the nail fold and the release of the scar contracture proximal to the nail matrix using a distally based ulnar finger dorsum flap and skin grafting is presented. An aesthetically fine nail fold was obtained, and the deformity of the nail plate was corrected by the release of the scar contracture.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Endogenous beta-galactoside-binding lectin expression is suppressed in retinol-induced mucous metaplasia of chick embryonic epidermis.

The fate of endogenous beta-galactoside-binding lectin of chick embryo (14K type) was investigated during the course of skin differentiation. Lectin (14K) was found in keratinized epidermis and was localized mainly in the basal and intermediate cells. However, the protein lectin in the epidermis disappeared when the cultured skin was treated with vitamin A and mucous metaplasia was observed. The synthesis of lectin mRNA was also strongly suppressed by vitamin A in a concentration-dependent manner. On the other hand, in the dermis, in which the lectin was localized in the extracellular matrix, lectin expression was scarcely affected by vitamin A. These results indicated that the lectin was expressed in the keratinized epidermis but that its expression was suppressed in vitamin A-induced mucous-secreting epithelium. The suppression may be a result of a transition of the epidermal regulatory system to one of mucous-secreting epithelium. This is the first finding that 14K lectin expression might be regulated during the course of the epidermal differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of thyroid peroxidase activity by thyrotropin, epidermal growth factor and phorbol ester in porcine thyroid follicles cultured in suspension.

The activity of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) in porcine follicles cultured for 96 h in suspension with five hormones (5H) still attained over 50% of that in the freshly isolated follicles. On the other hand, the activity in those cultured with 5H + TSH (6H) was several times higher than that cultured with 5H after 96 h, although an initial decrease of TPO activity during the first 24 h of culture was observed in both conditions. The ability of follicles to metabolize iodide (uptake and organification) when cultured with 6H for 96 h was also several times higher than that of those cultured with 5H. The half-maximal dose of TSH for stimulation of TPO activity and iodide metabolism was 0.03-0.04 mU/ml and the effect was mediated by cAMP. These results indicate that in porcine thyroid follicles in primary suspension culture, TPO activity as well as the ability of iodide metabolism is induced by chronic TSH stimulation. In addition, epidermal growth factor (EGF, 10(-9)M) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 10(-8) M) completely inhibited TSH stimulation on both activities and also basal (5H) activity of iodide metabolism.

Animals↗