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Biomedical subjects

K Ohe

Publications and source records attributed to K Ohe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Genogrouping of vaccine breakdown strains (VBS) of feline calicivirus in Japan.

Although prevention of feline calcivirus (FCV) infection by vaccination has been attempted, and isolation of FCV, development of the disease, and a few fatal cases in vaccinated cats have been reported. Fifteen FCV strains isolated from cats that had been vaccinated with commercially available FCV vaccines (F9, FCV-255, and FC-7) were genogrouped. Molecular analysis of viral genomes involved the construction of a phylogenetic tree of capsid genes using the NJ method. Cat anti-F9 serum and rabbit anti-FCV-255 serum were used for virus neutralization tests. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequences of 15 virus isolates and those of the previously published and GenBank-deposited 9 global and 14 Japanese strains showed that 8 (53%) of the 15 virus isolates as well as the vaccine strains F9 and FCV-255 belonged to genogroup I (G(A)I), and 7 (47%) belonged to genogroup II (G(A)II). Of the 8 G(A)I strains, 2 were isolated from cats that had been vaccinated with an F9 strain live vaccine, 5 from cats vaccinated with an FCV-255-derived vaccine, and 1 from a cat vaccinated with an FC-7-derived vaccine. Of the 7 GAll strains, 5 were isolated from cats that had been vaccinated with the F9 strain live vaccine, 1 from a cat vaccinated with the FCV-255-derived vaccine, and 1 from a cat vaccinated with the FC-7-derived vaccine. These results indicate that more vaccine breakdown strains isolated from the cats vaccinated with the F9 strain-derived vaccine belong to G(A)II than to G(A)I, whereas more vaccine breakdown strains isolated from the cats vaccinated with the FCV-255 strain-derived vaccine belong to G(A)I than to G(A)II, and that when the FC-7 strain-derived vaccine is used, the vaccine breakdown strains belong almost equally to G(A)I and G(A)II. Thus, the genogroups of virus isolates varied with the vaccine strain used (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the neutralizing titres of feline anti-F9 serum and rabbit anti-FCV-255 serum against the 15 isolates were very low, showing no relationships between neutralizing antibody titres and genogroups. The DNA sequence identities between the virus isolates and the vaccine strains were low, at 70.6-82.9%, and no strains were found to have sequences derived from the vaccine strains. Alignment of amino acid sequences showed that the G(A)I or G(A)II virus isolates from the F9-vaccinated cats differed at position 428 of the 5' hypervariable region (HVR) of capsid region of the F9 strain, whereas those from the FCV-255-vaccinated cats differed at positions 438, 453, and 460 of the 5'HVR of capsid region E of the F9 strain. We speculate that these differences influence genogrouping. The amino acid changes within the F9 linear epitopes common to G(A)I and G(A)II were noted at positions 450, 451, 457 of 5'HVR of the capsid region E in the isolates from F9-derived vaccine-treated cats, and 449, 450, and 451 of 5'HVR of capsid region E in the isolates from FCV-255-derived vaccine-treated cats, suggesting that these amino acid changes are involved in escapes. These results suggest that alternate vaccination with the F9 and FCV-255 strains or the use of a polyvalent vaccine containing GAll strains serves to inhibit development.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Accuracy of economic studies on surgical site infection.

Estimating the cost of hospital infection has become a matter of increasing interest in terms of health economics. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of economic studies on hospital infections, using surgical site infection (SSI) as an example. A search was performed for original articles reporting the cost of SSI, published in the English language between 1996 and 2005. For the critical review, the period of cost tracking, classification of costs and cost counting methods were noted. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The costs of SSI vary according to surgical procedures, country, publication year, study design and accounting method. Only two studies estimated the additional cost of SSI after discharge. All 15 studies included healthcare costs and none measured patient/family resources. In 10 studies, the costs were calculated based on accounting. Three studies used estimated costs from the ratio of costs to charges and two studies used charge data in place of cost data. It will become increasingly important for future studies to perform multi-centre prospective surveys, establish a standard method for cost accounting, include the cost of healthcare services following hospitalization and consider the morbidity cost to patients themselves from a societal perspective.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed2006

Detection of feline calicivirus (FCV) from vaccinated cats and phylogenetic analysis of its capsid genes.

We analysed genogroups of four feline calcivirus (FCV) isolates (FCV-S, H10, Ao198-1 and ML89) obtained from cats that experienced FCV infection after having been vaccinated against FCV. New PCR primer sets (8F/8R, Ao-S/Ao-A, cp-S/cp-A) were also designed, since the conventional Seal primer failed to amplify the target sequences in two samples. The genogroups of the four isolates as well as eight global and 17 domestic strains were determined by phylogenetic analysis of their amino acid sequences. One out of the four strains (25%) isolated in this study, H10, was grouped into genogroup I, along with the vaccine strains F9 and FCV-255. The other three isolates (75%) belonged to genogroup II. Thus, there were more isolates in genogroup II than in genogroup I. However, the antibody values of the four isolates against cat anti-F9 antisera were significantly decreased. There may be no relationship between the neutralizing antibody titre and genogroup. Amino acid sequence alignment of the four isolates showed that only a single amino acid in region C, which is involved in neutralization epitopes, was different in ML89 strain from that of F9. The other three strains, H10, Ao198-1 and FCV-B, shared the same amino acid sequence with F9. Alignment of amino acids for linear epitopes in the F9 strain, which are located at regions D and E, showed variations in 5' hypervariable region (HVR) of E, whereas D and conE had only synonymous substitutions i.e. no change in the amino acid sequence. This mutation in 5' HVR of region E suggested a vaccine breakdown, as the region is known to be essential for antigenicity. The genogroup II FCV is likely to be the cause of the FCV infection in this study, while the vaccine strains belong to genogroup I. Thus, the existing vaccine may need reevaluation for its effectiveness.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Capsid protein genetic analysis and viral spread to the spinal cord in cats experimentally infected with feline calicivirus (FCV).

We investigated primitively the molecular basis of the neural spread of a feline calcivirus isolate (FCV-S) from the spinal cord of a cat that died after manifesting excitation. Experimental infections of cats with three clones from parent virus isolate FCV-S, isolated based on plaque size, were performed, and virus recovery from the spinal cord and the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the viral capsid protein region (ORF2) were compared. In the experimental infection with the one-time cloned virus (C1L1) isolated from a large plaque, the C1L1 was recovered from the spinal cord. In contrast, seven-times cloned C6L7 (from large plaque) and five-times cloned C5S2 (isolated from small plaque) were not recovered from the spinal cord. Genetic analysis of the capsid protein gene of the three viral clones revealed that four bases were different and two amino acids were different at positions 34 (Val in C6L7 and Ala in C1L1 and C5S2) and 46 (Leu in C6L7 and Pro in C1L1 and C5S2) between C6L7 (with large plaque) and C5S2 (with small plaque). The amino acid at position 434 of C1L1 was different from those of C6L7 and C5S2 (Gly in C1L1, D (Asp) in C6L7 and C5S2). From these results, the plaque size seemed not to be related to the spread of virus to the spinal cord. Clone C1L1, which spread to the spinal cord, had a difference of one amino acid from the other two clones, which may be related to the ability to spread to the spinal cord.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Detection of canine distemper virus antigen in canine serum and its application to diagnosis.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) antigen was detected in the serum of dogs by an ELISA and the results of this assay were compared with an anti-CDV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody test. In paired sera from 26 naturally infected dogs, the antigen-positive rate was 26.9 per cent at the first examination and 11.5 per cent at the second examination two to three weeks later. The antigen was detected in three of the 10 dogs which were negative for anti-CDV IgM antibody at the first examination. It could also be detected in the serum of between eight and two of 40 specific pathogen-free dogs vaccinated against CDV, for up to four weeks after they were vaccinated.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Phylogenetic analysis of field isolates of feline calcivirus (FCV) in Japan by sequencing part of its capsid gene.

The molecular epidemiology of the infectious disease caused by feline calcivirus (FCV) in Japan was investigated by analysing the phylogenetic relationship among 21 Japanese field isolates, including the F4 strain, and 30 global isolates. Parts of the capsid gene (B-F) of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, and the amino acid sequences were compared with those from the global isolates. Thirty-seven and 14 out of a total of 51 isolates were clustered into two distinct genogroups, I and II respectively, by UPGMA and NJ analysis. Seven of the 21 Japanese isolates (33%) fell into group I together with 30 global isolates, while the other 14 Japanese isolates (67%) belonged to group II. The bootstrap repetition analysis of groups I and II formed by the NJ method gave a value of 99.00%. The 14 latter Japanese isolates were clearly separated from the isolates in group I, and they were different from any previously known FCV, forming a new genogroup, which implies that this lineage has been confined to Japan. Comparing the amino acid sequences shared by groups I and II, the amino acid at position 377 in B region was asparagine (Asn or Asp (NH2)) in group I, while it was lysine (Lys) in all the strains in group II. Similarly, the amino acid at position 539 in the F region was alanine (Ala) or proline (Pro) in group I, while it was valine (Val) in group II; glycine (Gly) at position 557 in group I was serine (Ser) in Group II; and phenylalanine (Phe) or leucine (Leu) at position 566 in genogroup I was tyrosine (Tyr) in group II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Oxidative transformation of tert-cyclobutanols by palladium catalysis under oxygen atmosphere.

Palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative reaction of tert-cyclobutanols involving the cleavage of a C-C bond via beta-carbon elimination under atmospheric pressure of oxygen is described. An alkylpalladium intermediate produced by beta-carbon elimination from a Pd(II) alcoholate gives a variety of products, depending on the substituents on the cyclobutane ring, in which reactions such as dehydrogenative ring opening, ring expansion and ring contraction are involved. For some substrates, the addition of a catalytic amount of ethyl acrylate dramatically accelerates the reaction. In all cases, the dehydrogenative products are obtained and the Pd(II)-hydride species produced at the final stage can be converted again to active Pd(II) species by molecular oxygen.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

UMIN--key information infrastructure for the Japanese medical community.

University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) was established in 1989 as a collaborative project of national university hospitals in Japan funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture, and it started its Internet-based service for medical professionals in 1995. Since then, many services including those for academic societies and research groups have been added. Currently, due to batch registration of the members of large academic societies, the number of registered users and Web accesses are rapidly increasing (about 87,000 registered users and 4,500,000 page views in November, 2000). More than one hundred homepages of academic societies and research groups (including forty- two member-only ones) and one thousand mailing lists are operated. More than one hundred thirty academic societies collect abstracts using the UMIN server. All the Internet-based clinical and epidemiological research projects in Japan are now under way using UMIN. The characteristics of UMIN are its large variety of services and large number of user accounts of medical professionals, which are beneficial to both users and information service providers. UMIN is now important for some medical specialties and will be so for further ones in the future. UMIN is, in fact, evolving into a collaborative project of the Japanese medical community and is considered as its key information infrastructure.

Hospitals, University↗
PubMed2000

A novel amphiphilic chiral ligand derived from D-glucosamine. Application to palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reaction in an aqueous or an organic medium, allowing for catalyst recycling

A novel amphiphilic phosphinite-oxazoline chiral compound, 2-methyl-4,5-[4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-bis[4-((diethylamino)methyl)phenyl]phosphino-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-[2,1-d]-2-oxazoline (1), has been prepared from natural D-glucosamine hydrochloride. The newly prepared complex, [Pd(2-methyl-4,5-[4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-bis[(4-((diethylmethylammonium)methyl)phenyl)]phosphino-1,2-dideoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-[2,1-d]-2-oxazoline)(eta3-C3H5)]3+ x 3BF4- (3), is soluble in water and an efficient catalyst for asymmetric allylic substitution reaction in water or an aqueous/organic biphasic medium (up to 85% ee). This catalytic system offers an easy separation of the aqueous catalyst phase from the product phase and allows recycling of the catalyst phase. In addition, compound 1 also works as an effective ligand for the palladium-catalyzed reaction under conventional homogeneous conditions in an organic medium, in which the catalyst (Pd-1 complex) can be recovered by simple acid/base extraction and reused in the second reaction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Catalytic diastereoselective sulfimidation of diaryl sulfides and application of chiral sulfimides to asymmetric allylic alkylation.

The copper-catalyzed diastereoselective imidation of diaryl sulfides bearing a chiral oxazolinyl moiety at the ortho-position with [N-(p-toluenesulfonyl) imino]phenyliodinane (TsN=IPh) or Chloramine-T trihydrate [TsN(Cl)Na.3H2O] was successfully carried out to give the corresponding optically active N-tosylsulfimides in good yields. For example, the imidation of diphenyl sulfide bearing a methoxymethyl moiety at the 4-position of the oxazoline ring with TsN(Cl)Na.3H2O in acetonitrile in the presence of 10 mol% Cu(OTf)2 at 25 degrees C for 24 h affords the corresponding optically active N-tosylsulfimide in 52% isolated yield with a high diastereoselectivity of 99%. Hydrolysis of the optically active N-p-tosylsulfimides converts them into the corresponding optically active sulfimides in high yields without loss of diastereoselectivity. These novel optically active sulfimides and N-tosylsulfimides work as efficient chiral ligands for palladium(II)-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1, 3-diphenyl-3-acetoxy-1-propene with dimethyl malonate to give the corresponding alkylation product quantitatively and with a high stereoselectivity (up to 90% ee).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Computerized reminders to monitor liver function to improve the use of etretinate.

OBJECTIVE: to determine whether computerized reminders during the process of prescribing can improve the use of drugs requiring prior laboratory testing according to the indications listed in the Drug Package Insert. MEASURES: Change in proportion of appropriate prescribing and frequency of severe hepatotoxicity between pre- and post-intervention. METHODS: etretinate, a medication indicated for psoriasis, was selected as a monitored drug because it was the most prescribed of all the identified drugs that require specific prior laboratory tests. Computerized reminders are designed to alert a physician who is about to prescribe etretinate either without the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test or the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) test within 3 months or despite abnormality in ALT or AST. Data on alerts were gathered by using electronic mail whenever alerts occurred. RESULTS: prescriptions of etretinate with normal ALT or AST results within the previous three months increased suddenly from 25.9% (127/491) in the pre-intervention period to 66.2% (353/533) in the post-intervention period (P < 0.0001). Moreover, three patients who used etretinate had markedly abnormal tests in the pre-intervention period, but none of the patients were classified in this way in the post-intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: the computerized reminders appear to improve physicians' use of a drug requiring specific prior laboratory tests.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗
PubMed2000

Orphan receptor DAX-1 is a shuttling RNA binding protein associated with polyribosomes via mRNA.

The DAX-1 (NR0B1) gene encodes an unusual member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily which acts as a transcriptional repressor. Mutations in the human DAX-1 gene cause X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHG). We have studied the intracellular localization of the DAX-1 protein in human adrenal cortex and mouse Leydig tumor cells and found it to be both nuclear and cytoplasmic. A significant proportion of DAX-1 is associated with polyribosomes and is found complexed with polyadenylated RNA. DAX-1 directly binds to RNA, two domains within the protein being responsible for cooperative binding activity and specificity. Mutations in DAX-1 found in AHC-HHG patients significantly impair RNA binding. These findings reveal that DAX-1 plays multiple regulatory roles at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1999

Nicotinamide potentiates TSHR and MHC class II promoter activity in FRTL-5 cells.

Here we show that nicotinamide modulates the promoter activity of rat thyrotropin (TSHR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes in rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells, and have identified a novel mechanism for its action. TSHR and MHC class II, are potentiated through reduced expression of a common repressor of these two genes, TSEP-1 (TSHR suppressor element binding protein-1)/YB-1. Thus we show that TSHR mRNA is increased and TSHR promoter activity was concentration-dependently activated from 0 to 40 mM nicotinamide. The promoter lengths of TSHR and MHC class II containing TSEP/YB-1 binding sites were enhanced by 40 mM nicotinamide, but not the ones deleted of these binding sites. TSEP-1/YB-1 binding to the recognition sites in both TSHR and MHC class II promoters was reduced in nicotinamide-treated FRTL-5 nuclear extracts. Nicotinamide reduced the expression of TSEP-1/YB-1 mRNA and TSEP-1/YB-1 protein in the nucleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Plasma endothelin-1 elevation associated with alcohol-induced variant angina.

Vasospastic angina as a result of alcohol ingestion has been reported, but the mechanism of alcohol-induced coronary artery spasm is presently unknown. This report presents 2 cases of alcohol-induced variant angina (VA) with elevated levels of plasma endothelin-1 after alcohol ingestion. In case 1, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 3.15 pg/ml before drinking (normal <2.30 pg/ml) and increased to 4.09 pg/ml when measured 5 h after alcohol ingestion. After 2 months of abstinence, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 2.88 pg/ml and 6 months after abstinence, it decreased to 2.03 pg/ml (normal range). In case 2, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 2.44 pg/ml before drinking and increased to 4.36 pg/ml when measured 5 h after alcohol ingestion. After 2 months of abstinence, the plasma endothelin-1 concentration was 3.04 pg/ml and 6 months after abstinence, it decreased to 2.09 pg/ml (normal range). These 2 cases suggest that a relationship may exist between alcohol-induced VA and elevation in the plasma endothelin-1 concentration after alcohol ingestion.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A CORBA-based object framework with patient identification translation and dynamic linking. Methods for exchanging patient data.

Exchanging and integration of patient data across heterogeneous databases and institutional boundaries offers many problems. We focused on two issues: (1) how to identify identical patients between different systems and institutions while lacking universal patient identifiers; and (2) how to link patient data across heterogeneous databases and institutional boundaries. To solve these problems, we created a patient identification (ID) translation model and a dynamic linking method in the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) environment. The algorithm for the patient ID translation is based on patient attribute matching plus computer-based human checking; the method for dynamic linking is temporal mapping. By implementing these methods into computer systems with help of the distributed object computing technology, we built a prototype of a CORBA-based object framework in which the patient ID translation and dynamic linking methods were embedded. Our experiments with a Web-based user interface using the object framework and dynamic linking-through the object framework were successful. These methods are important for exchanging and integrating patient data across heterogeneous databases and institutional boundaries.

Database Management Systems↗
PubMed1998

MERIT-9: a patient information exchange guideline using MML, HL7 and DICOM.

To realize clinical data exchange between healthcare providers, there must be many standards in many layers. Terms and codes should be standardized, syntax to wrap the data must be mutually parsable, then transfer protocol or exchange media should be agreed. Among many standards for the syntax, HL7 and DICOM are most successful. However, everything could not be handled by HL7 solely. DICOM is good for radiology images, but, other clinical images are already handled by other 'lighter' data formats like JPEG, TIFF. So, it is not realistic to use only one standard for every area of clinical information. For description of medical records, especially for narrative information, an standard generalized mark-up language, document type definition (SGML DTD) for medical information, called MML (medical markup language) had been created in Japan. It is already implemented in more than ten healthcare providers. However, it is again not realistic to use MML solely for clinical information in various level of detail. Therefore, we proposed a guideline for use of available medical standards to facilitate clinical information exchange between healthcare providers. It is called MERIT-9 (Medical Records, Images, Texts, -Information Exchange). A typical use is HL7 messages, DICOM files, referred from an MML file in a patient record, as external entities. Both MML and MERIT-9 have been research projects of Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare and the purpose is to facilitate clinical data exchanges. They are becoming to be used in technical specifications for new hospital information systems in Japan.

Community Networks↗
PubMed1998

Expression of an orphan nuclear receptor DAX-1 in human pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVES: An orphan nuclear receptor, DAX-1, is known to be involved in the development and differentiation of anterior pituitary cells. The present study aimed to examine 1) whether DAX-1 is expressed in human pituitary adenomas, and 2) if it is expressed, what types of adenoma express the factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adenoma tissues examined included 18 clinically non-functioning adenomas, 14 GH-secreting adenomas and 7 PRL-secreting adenomas. The expression of the following genes were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR): DAX-1, Adrenal-4-binding protein/steroidogenic factor-1 (Ad4BP/SF-1), Pit-1, LH beta, FSH beta, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R), GH, PRL, and TSH beta, as well as beta-actin as a control. RESULTS: Eleven clinically non-functioning adenomas expressed DAX-1, 10 of which also expressed Ad4BP/SF-1. Nine out of the 11 DAX-1 expressing adenomas also expressed LH beta, FSH beta and GnRH-R as well, indicating that these adenomas possessed gonadotrophic properties. Nine clinically non-functioning adenomas expressed Pit-1 as well as GH, PRL and/or TSH beta, thus having somatomammotrophic or thyrotrophic properties, 3 of which overlapped with the above DAX-1-expressing adenomas. One non-functioning adenoma expressed Ad4BP/SF1 and FSH beta but not DAX-1, and another one expressed DAX-1 and Ad4BP/SF-1 with PRL. On the other hand, all GH-secreting and PRL-secreting adenomas expressed Pit-1 and GH and/or PRL, but neither DAX-1 nor Ad4BP/SF-1. CONCLUSIONS: The results shown here indicate that DAX-1 is expressed in the majority of human pituitary adenomas of gonadotrophic origin in parallel with Adrenal-4-binding protein/steroidogenic factor-1.

Adenoma↗