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Biomedical subjects

K Kondoh

Publications and source records attributed to K Kondoh.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

DNA analysis in hereditary dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy: correlation between CAG repeat length and phenotypic variation and the molecular basis of anticipation.

Hereditary dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease with variable clinical phenotypes. Progressive ataxia, choreoathetosis, and dementia are the main clinical features of adult-onset cases, whereas the main feature in juvenile-onset DRPLA is progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Earlier onset is apparent in successive generations (anticipation). The molecular abnormality underlying DRPLA is an expanded, unstable CAG trinucleotide repeat on chromosome 12p. We analyzed 71 DNA samples obtained from 12 Japanese DRPLA pedigrees that included 38 affected individuals. Normal alleles had 7 to 23 repeats, DRPLA alleles 53 to 88 repeats. DRPLA alleles also were detected in five asymptomatic family members. Patients with juvenile onset had significantly larger repeats than did those with adult onset, and there was a significant negative correlation between CAG repeat length and age at onset. In 80% of the paternal transmissions, there was an increase of more than five repeats, whereas all the maternal transmissions showed either a decrease or an increase of fewer than five repeats. There was a significant correlation between father-child differences in repeat length and differences in age at onset. The analysis of CAG repeat length is a reliable diagnostic test for DRPLA and is of value for the presymptomatic detection of individuals at risk. The expansion of CAG repeats is important in phenotypic variation and anticipation. In addition, the sex of the transmitting parent has a significant effect on the molecular mechanism of anticipation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Purification and characterization of a lipase from Aspergillus oryzae.

A lipase from Aspergillus oryzae was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, anion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and anion exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 41 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE and 39 kDa by gel filtration. The optimum pH at 30 degrees C and optimum temperature at pH 7.0 were 7.0 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 6-9 at 25 degrees C for 18 h, and up to 30 degrees C at pH 7.0 for 3 h. Ag+, Fe3+, Hg2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ inhibited the enzyme activity severely. The enzyme was a lipase that hydrolyzed monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols, but did not hydrolyze triacylglycerols. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was highly homologous with that of the mono- and diacylglycerol lipase from Penicillium camembertii U-150.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The 3'-untranslated region of mouse myelin basic protein gene increases the amount of mRNA in immortalized mouse oligodendrocytes.

The 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of the myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA has been found previously to enhance the translational efficiency of the coding region by two-fold in cell-free translational systems. In this study, we transfected eukaryotic expression vectors containing the reporter cDNA for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) with or without the mouse MBP cDNA 3'-UTR into cultured cells. CAT activity in the mouse oligodendrocyte cell line, N20.1, transfected with a CAT cDNA containing the MBP 3'-UTR [CAT-MBP 3'-UTR], was twice as high as that of the CAT cDNA without the 3'-UTR; CAT activities for the two constructs were the same in the mouse fibroblast cell line, NIH 3T3. Using reverse transcriptase PCR quantitative analysis, the expression of mRNA was determined. The level of the [CAT-MBP 3'-UTR] mRNA was about ten times higher than CAT mRNA in N20.1 cells but they were the same in NIH 3T3 cells. We conclude that the 3'-UTR of MBP gene increases gene expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in oligodrocyte cell lines, probably through a post-transcriptional mechanism such a message stabilization.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1994

Protection by prosaposin against ischemia-induced learning disability and neuronal loss.

Prosaposin, the protein precursor of saposins A, B, C, and D which activate sphingolipid hydrolases, is abundant in several brain regions including the hippocampus. We infused prosaposin continuously for 7 days into the lateral ventricle of gerbils starting 3 hours before 3-min of forebrain ischemia. Using the step-down passive avoidance task, we demonstrated that ischemia-induced learning disability is prevented almost completely by prosaposin infusion. Subsequent light and electron microscopic examinations showed that pyramidal neurons in the CA1 field of the hippocampus as well as synapses within the strata moleculare, lacunosum/radiatum and oriens of the field were significantly more numerous in gerbils infused with prosaposin infusion than in those receiving saline infusion. These findings suggest that prosaposin possesses neurotrotrophic activity to protect hippocampal CA1 neurons from lethal ischemic damage.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Expression of nm23 H-1 RNA levels in human gastric cancer tissues. A negative correlation with nodal metastasis.

BACKGROUND: Gene expression of nm23 has been investigated in number of tumors, including breast cancer, colon cancer, malignant melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its down-regulation has been shown to be associated with metastasis or disease progression in some of the tumors. METHODS: nm23 H-1 mRNA levels were investigated in 31 surgically resected specimens of gastric cancer by Northern blot analysis, and association with clinical stages was determined. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in nm23 expression between tumor and matching normal mucosa. There was a significant down-regulation of the nm23 gene in gastric cancer with serosal invasion (T3 and T4 by the TNM classification) and nodal metastasis (pN1 and pN2), although the association of the down-regulation with clinically manifest hepatic or peritoneal metastasis was not significant. The tumors with low nm23 expression were associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that the down-regulation of nm23 gene might have a role in metastasis and invasion in gastric cancer, possibly leading to a poor prognosis.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1994

Experimental intimal thickening studies using the photochemically induced thrombosis model in the guinea-pig femoral artery.

We have used the photochemically induced thrombosis model to study intimal thickening in the guinea-pig femoral artery. The femoral artery was occluded by a combination of rose bengal and green light which caused endothelial cell damage followed by formation of platelet rich thrombus at the site of endothelial damage. Thrombolysis was then achieved by administration of tissue-type plasminogen activator. Intimal thickening in the femoral arteries was histologically measured at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 9 weeks after the treatment. The neointimal areas gradually increased until 3 weeks and then remained unchanged up to 9 weeks. Cells in the neointima were identified as smooth muscle cells by immunohistochemical staining with an actin-specific antibody, HHF35. Cell proliferation in the media begun within 48 h after the thrombolysis and bromodeoxyuridine labeled cells appeared to migrate to the intima within 1 week after the thrombolysis. Administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, cilazapril (30 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 3 weeks, suppressed intimal thickening and decreased the medial area in the femoral artery. These observations suggest that in this model cell proliferation and migration characteristics of pathological intimal thickening occur and this model is useful for investigating the effect of pharmacological preparations on intimal thickening.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effects of MS-551, a new class III antiarrhythmic drug, on programmed stimulation-induced ventricular arrhythmias, electrophysiology, and hemodynamics in a canine myocardial infarction model.

We examined the effects of MS-551 (1,3-dimethyl-6-[(2-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-(4- nitrophenyl)propylamino]ethylamino] 2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione hydrochloride), a new class III antiarrhythmic drug, on programmed electrical stimulation (PES)-induced ventricular arrhythmias, the effective refractory period (ERP), intraventricular conduction, and hemodynamics in a canine myocardial infarction (MI) model. MS-551 was administered intravenously (i.v.) in two consecutive doses; the first dose (low dose) was 0.5 mg/kg/min after a bolus injection of 0.3 mg/kg, and a second dose (high dose) was 0.1 mg/kg/min after a bolus injection of 0.3 mg/kg. PES induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in 10 of 12 animals. MS-551 abolished or lessened the ventricular arrhythmias in 7 of 10 animals at both doses. ERP was significantly prolonged by MS-551 in both the normal and infarcted zones in a dose-dependent fashion. Ventricular conduction of a premature excitation induced by a premature stimulation with various coupling intervals was decreased only at a coupling interval approximating that of ERP. MS-551 at either low or high dose did not significantly change the heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), cardiac output (CO), or maximum rate of increase in left ventricular pressure (LVP) significantly. MS-551 produced a suppression of the PES-induced ventricular arrhythmias through prolongation of ERP without having any significant effect on hemodynamics in a canine MI model.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[M-VAC chemotherapy for advanced urothelial cancer--side effects and their management].

Since the M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatin) regimen was reported by Sternberg in 1985, it has been widely accepted for the treatment of metastatic transitional cell carcinoma. This regimen has a significantly high response rate, but bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are inevitable. To complete this M-VAC regimen, preventive therapy for side effects is necessary. From November 1986 to March 1993, a total of 72 patients were admitted and received M-VAC therapy at our hospital. All of them had metastatic or invasive transitional cell carcinoma and they received a total of 163 complete courses of M-VAC therapy. We examined the side effects of this M-VAC regimen, and evaluated the effectiveness of colony-stimulating factor for prevention of granulocytopenia or granisetron for prevention of GI symptoms. Twenty-three patients (39 courses) were given recombinant colony-stimulating factor. This cytokine prevented the nadir of neutropenia and shortened the period to reach the nadir and period that the neutrophil count was below 1,000/mm3. Twelve patients (26 courses) were given granisetron, with significant reduction of the incidence of GI symptoms. These findings suggest that M-VAC therapy is effective and safe when used in combination with these drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of prosaposin-like immunoreactivity in rat brain.

Prosaposin is the precursor for saposins A, B, C, and D, which are small lysosomal proteins required for the hydrolysis of sphingolipids by specific lysosomal hydrolases. With a monospecific anti-saposin C antibody, which cross-reacts with prosaposin but not with saposin A, B, or D, the present immunoblot experiments showed that the rat brain expresses an unprocessed approximately 72 kDa protein (possibly prosaposin) and little saposin C. Regional analysis demonstrated that prosaposin is abundant in the brainstem, hypothalamus, cerebellum, striatum, and hippocampus, and less abundant in the cerebral cortex. Consistent with this finding, prosaposin-like immunoreactive neurons and fibers as revealed by immunohistochemistry were observed frequently in subcortical regions. The medial septum, diagonal bands, basal nucleus of Meynert, ventral striatum, medial habenular nucleus, and motor nuclei of cranial nerve had significant numbers of immunoreactive neurons. There were also nerve fibers with prosaposin-like immunoreactivity in several projection fields of the above nuclei. Other brain areas that contained prosaposin-like immunoreactive neurons and/or processes were: several brain nuclei (nucleus caudate putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, red nucleus) constituting the so-called extrapyramidal system, reticular thalamic nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus, mammillary nuclei, auditory relay nuclei, cerebellum, sensory cranial nerve nuclei, and the reticular formation. The distribution pattern of prosaposin is apparently different from that of other neuroactive substances so far examined, and thus prosaposin may be involved in novel central events.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Purification and characterization of human lysosomal protective protein expressed in stably transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Chinese hamster ovary cells were transfected with a recombinant DNA containing the entire coding sequence of human lysosomal protective protein cDNA under the control of mouse metallothionein I promoter. Neomycin and methotrexate-resistant stably transformed cell lines expressing this protein were isolated. Immunoprecipitation of the product with antiserum against human placental protective protein-beta-galactosidase complex revealed a 52-kDa protective protein precursor, which was then processed to mature form, a heterodimer of 32- and 20-kDa polypeptides. The precursor secreted in the culture medium was taken up by the mannose 6-phosphate receptor system and restored acid carboxypeptidase, beta-galactosidase, and neuraminidase activities in galactosialidosis fibroblasts. The expressed protein showed a granular pattern in intracellular distribution, was fractionated at the density of lysosomes, and had serine esterase activities; acid carboxypeptidase at pH 5.6, esterase at pH 7.0, and carboxyl-terminal deamidase at pH 7.0. They were inhibited simultaneously by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, or iodoacetamide. The acid carboxypeptidase activity of the purified monomeric mature protective protein was labile in vitro under the acidic condition. Saposins (sphingolipid activator proteins) stabilized the activity at micromolar level concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA) in gastrointestinal cancer; the correlation with degree of differentiation.

In spite of its reputation as a tumour marker, little is known about the function of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). We examined the mRNA expression of CEA and NCA in 26 gastric and 14 colorectal cancers together with adjacent morphologically normal mucosae. There was no significant difference between the CEA mRNA levels of colorectal cancer and adjacent mucosa, whereas the CEA mRNA levels were significantly elevated in gastric cancer compared with normal gastric mucosa. The expression of NCA, on the other hand, was more cancer-specific and was significantly up-regulated in both gastric and colorectal cancers compared with the corresponding normal mucosae. No correlation was found between the mRNA level and plasma CEA value. No significant up-regulation was recognised in the node positive cancer, cancer with distant metastasis, or the metastatic tissues themselves. Marked diversity in the degree of differentiation in gastric cancer tissues, however, resulted in varied expression of the CEA gene family, compared with the constantly high expression found in colorectal cancer. Further analysis revealed significant up-regulation of NCA in well and moderately differentiated gastric cancers over poorly differentiated cancers, suggesting that NCA might have roles in differentiation.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1993

[Efficacy of stellate ganglion block judged by quantitative measurement of perspiration].

Sudomotor function tests provide information on the activation of the sympathetic efferent fibers. We have studied the efficacy of stellate ganglion block (SGB) by assessment of changes in perspiration of the thumb in 10 patients. SGB was performed at C7 with 6 ml of 1% mepivacaine, and perspiration was induced by mentally stressful conversation and having patients draw up their knees for physical stress. Suzuken Kenz Perspiro OSS-100 was used for quantitative detection of perspiration. The value before SGB was 1.49 +/- 0.46 mg.3 min-1, and it showed a statistically significant decrease to 0.73 +/- 0.33 mg.3 min-1 10 min after SBG (P < 0.01). The present study suggests that quantitative measurement of perspiration is useful to judge the effects of SGB on arm.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Clinical application of a third generation lithotripter (Therasonic) for upper urinary tract calculi].

A third generation lithotripter (THERASONIC Lithotripsy Treatment System) was used for disintegration of upper urinary tract calculi. A total of 115 patients was treated at Miki Municipal Hospital, 54 with renal calculi, 8 with UPJ calculi, 30 with upper and 23 with lower ureter calculi. The stone-free rate one month after treatment was 89%, 88%, 90% and 100% for renal, UPJ, upper ureter and lower ureter calculi, respectively. As for side effects, we experienced two cases of perinephric hematoma which were treated conservatively. However, we encountered no other severe complications. These findings clearly indicated that the THERASONIC lithotripter is highly useful for disintegration of calculi of the upper urinary tract.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Saposin-C from bovine spleen; complete amino acid sequence and relation between the structure and its biological activity.

Saposin-C, a small acidic glycoprotein that can activate glucosylceramide-beta-glucosidase, has been isolated from bovine spleen. The complete amino acid sequence of bovine saposin-C was determined by Edman degradation of the purified protein and its fragmented peptides. It contains 80 amino acids, one carbohydrate chain attached to a single asparagine residue and six cysteine residues in oxidized form. The sequence of bovine saposin-C is 76 and 65% identical with the sequences of saposin-C from human spleen and guinea pig liver, respectively. Hydropathy profiles of the sequence of saposin-C from three species were similar despite the significant residue substitutions. Bovine saposin-C had a stronger effect in stimulating bovine beta-glucosidase compared to human saposin-C. However, the effect of human saposin-C in stimulating human enzyme was stronger than that of bovine saposin-C. The region around residue 35, which is next to the extremely hydrophilic region, seems to be important to produce an interaction with the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Polyoxyethylene-modified superoxide dismutase reduces side effects of adriamycin and mitomycin C.

Polyoxyethylene-modified superoxide dismutase (SOD-POE) is a newly developed long-acting superoxide dismutase. Adriamycin (ADR) and mitomycin C (MMC) generate superoxide, which contributes to their cytocidal effects or side effects. We examined whether SOD-POE could prevent the side effects induced by superoxide generated by antitumor agents, and the following results were obtained. SOD-POE did not influence the antitumor effects of ADR and MMC either in vitro or in vivo, but prevented the toxic death of BALB/c, nu/nu male mice caused by overdoses of ADR or MMC. As for its effective sites, SOD-POE prevented a decrease in the specific activity of rotenone-sensitive NADH-ubiquinone oxido-reductase (complex I) in heart muscle mitochondrial respiratory chain function in BALB/c male mice administered 10 mg/kg ADR, and prevented damage to the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria of mouse heart muscle by ADR as observed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, SOD-POE prevented bone marrow suppression induced by MMC in Donryu rats. The above results suggest that combination chemotherapy with SOD-POE would make it possible to increase the maximum permissible doses of antitumor agents, improving the efficacy of these agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Distribution of free methylarginines in rat tissues and in the bovine brain.

A sensitive and specific method for determining three forms of methylarginine, i.e., NG-monomethylarginine, NG,NG-dimethylarginine, and NG,N'G-dimethylarginine, in mammalian tissues was developed. After partial purification by ion-exchange chromatography, the methylarginines were derivatized to phenylthiocarbamyl compounds and quantitatively determined using HPLC with a reverse-phase C18 column. In rat organs, the highest concentrations of methylarginines were observed in the spleen. In rat brain, cerebellum and olfactory bulb contained large amounts of NG-monomethylarginine and NG,NG-dimethylarginine. A detailed study of the distribution of methylarginines in the bovine brain was also made, and the concentration of NG,N'G-dimethylarginine was almost the same in all regions. The cerebellar gray matter, hippocampus, and hypothalamus contained large amounts of methylarginines. The distribution of methylarginines seems to parallel the distribution of nitric oxide synthase, which is known to be inhibited by NG-monomethylarginine. This may indicate that methylarginines play some role in controlling nitric oxide synthase activity.

Animals↗