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Biomedical subjects

K Sone

Publications and source records attributed to K Sone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Distribution of dorsal-forming activity in precleavage embryos of the Japanese newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster: effects of deletion of vegetal cytoplasm, UV irradiation, and lithium treatment.

Two types of axis-deficient embryos developed after deletion of the vegetal cytoplasm: wasp-shaped embryos and permanent-blastula-type embryos. In situ hybridization revealed that neither type of axis-deficient embryo expressed goosecoid or pax-6. brachyury was expressed in the constricted waist region of the wasp-shaped embryos but was not expressed in the permanent-blastula-type embryos. Further, we examined the effect of UV irradiation on Japanese newt embryos. Surprisingly, UV-irradiated Japanese newt eggs formed hyperdorsalized embryos. These embryos gastrulated in an irregular circular fashion with goosecoid expression in the circular equatorial region. At tailbud stage, these embryos formed a proboscis which is very reminiscent of that formed in hyperdorsalized Xenopus embryos. Transplantation of the marginal region of the UV-irradiated embryos revealed that the entire marginal zone had organizer activity. Thus we conclude that UV hyperdorsalizes Japanese newt embryos. Finally, lithium treatment of normal embryos at the 32-cell stage also resulted in hyperdorsalization. Lithium treatment of vegetally deleted embryos had two distinct results. Lithium treatment of permanent-blastula-type embryos did not result in the formation of dorsal axial structures, while the same treatment reinduced gastrulation and dorsal axis formation in the wasp-shaped embryos. Based on these results, we propose a model for early axis specification in Japanese newt embryos. The model presented here is fundamentally identical to the Xenopus model, with some important modifications. The vegetally located determinants required for dorsal development (dorsal determinants, DDs) are distributed over a wider region at fertilization in Japanese newt embryos than in Xenopus embryos. The marginal region of the Japanese newt embryo at the beginning of development overlaps with the field of the DDs. Gastrulation is very likely to be a dorsal marginal-specific property, while self-constriction is most probably a ventral marginal-specific property in Japanese newt embryos.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Successful trial of amantadine hydrochloride for two patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

We report here the efficacy of amantadine hydrochloride for two patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) that did not respond to flunarizine. Amantadine was administered to one patient at age one year and seven months and to the other at age 25 years. The frequencies and duration of the hemiplegic attacks significantly improved in both patients. However, the attacks gradually returned to the previous level after a significant reduction in seizures for three years in the younger patient with ongoing AHC. Our therapeutic results further support the hypothesis that glutamate and NMDA receptors are involved in inducing alternating hemiplegic attacks, because amantadine as well as its derivative, memantine, are clinically available non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, with neuroprotective effects. Amantadine is worth trying when treating patients with AHC as a first trial or a substitute for flunarizine once the latter agent looses effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Corticosteroids in the treatment of the acute phase of Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVES: Corticosteroids are considered to be contraindicated during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) based on unfavorable results in early studies. In our hospital, however, corticosteroids have been used in some cases of KD with satisfactory results. We analyzed outcomes of patients with KD treated with or without corticosteroids. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of 299 children with KD treated with one of the 4 regimens were reviewed retrospectively. Regimen 1 consisted of aspirin, dipyridamole, and propranolol; regimen 2 was regimen 1 plus prednisolone, 2 mg/kg/d, for 1 week, followed by tapering over 2 weeks; regimen 3 was regimen 1 plus intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG), 200 or 400 mg/kg/d, for 5 consecutive days; and regimen 4 was regimen 1 plus both prednisolone and IVGG. RESULTS: Although patients treated with regimens 2 and 4 were more ill at presentation than those treated with regimens 1 and 3, respectively, the duration of fever was shorter in the former patient groups (P =.0013). Coronary aneurysms developed least frequently in patients treated with regimen 4 and less frequently with regimen 2 than with regimen 1 (P =.0730). Multiple regression analysis showed significant reductions of fever and coronary aneurysm incidence with prednisolone (P <.0001 and P =.0307, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a possible role of corticosteroids in the treatment of the acute phase of KD.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Expression of five novel T-box genes and brachyury during embryogenesis, and in developing and regenerating limbs and tails of newts.

Several T-box genes are considered to play important roles in developing limbs, tails and neural retinae. Five novel T-box genes in the Japanese newt were isolated and their expression was analyzed, together with another T-box gene of brachyury, during embryogenesis and in the developing and regenerating limbs and tail. Four are designated CpTbx2, CpTbx3, CpTbx6R and CpEomesodermin based on molecular phylogenetic analyses, and the other is named CpUbiqT from its ubiquitous expression. While all were expressed during embryogenesis, only four of them (CpTbx2, CpTbx3, CpUbiqT and brachyury) were detected in developing limbs and/or tails. Except for brachyury, they were continuously expressed in normal adult appendages and showed elevated expression levels in regenerating limbs, whereas only CpTbx2 showed significant up-regulation in regenerating tails. Compared with orthologous genes in other species, CpTbx2, CpTbx3 and CpEomesodermin showed several notable differences such as an abundance of maternal transcripts of CpEomesodermin, a unique insertion sequence within the T-box domain of CpTbx2, and a lack of visible expression of CpTbx2and CpTbx3 in the apical ectodermal region of developing limbs. In view of the uniqueness of the newt, these results are discussed with respect to the possibility of their involvement in regeneration.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

[Ventricular septal defect associated with pulmonary hypertension in monozygotic twins--a case report with surgical repair].

This is a report of two-year-old female monozygotic twins, both having a ventricular septal defect (VSD, Kirklin type II) and accompanying moderate pulmonary hypertension (PH). The two patients underwent a patch closure procedure to repair the VSD at the same time, and their postoperative courses were uneventful. Rubenstein and Weaver have reported the only case of surgical treatment for monozygotic twins having both VSD and PH. Our patients are the second such case of surgical treatment of VSD and PH in monozygotic twins.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1998

[Prefectural health administration's view on otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas].

In a previous study, we investigated otorhinolaryngological care by the general practitioners in medical rural areas and demonstrated that a close relationship between general practitioners and otorhinolaryngologists was necessary. In the present study, a survey of prefectural health administration's views on otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas was performed. A questionnaire for otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas was sent to the divisions of health administration in the 47 prefectures of Japan. Of these prefectures, 46 (97.9%) responded. About 80% of respondents have medical rural areas, and the otorhinolaryngological care is inadequate in most areas. General practitioners of internal medicine or surgery are primarily demanded in about 75% of the prefectures. Otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas has never been considered in most prefectures. Because the need for otorhinolaryngological medical care will increase, prefectural health administrations need to pay more attention to otorhinolaryngological care in medical rural areas, and a close relationship between general practitioners, otorhinolaryngologists, and the administration should be established.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of hereditary hepatitis and liver tumor development in Long-Evans cinnamon rats by the copper-chelating agent trientine dihydrochloride.

Trientine dihydrochloride (trientine) is an alternative medicinal copper chelating agent for patients with Wilson's disease of penicillamine intolerance. We examined the effects of trientine on the spontaneous development of hepatitis and hepatic tumors, by its short-term and long-term administration to Long-Evans cinnamon (LEC) rats with an accumulation of copper in the liver, as animal models of Wilson's disease. Male rats were given trientine in their drinking water at 1500 ppm for 18 weeks, from 6 weeks to 24 weeks of age in short-term experiment, and 1500 ppm for 27 weeks then 750 ppm for 52 weeks, from 8 to 87 weeks of age in the long-term experiment. Development of hepatitis was observed in the control LEC rats at 18 weeks of age. They had high levels of plasma transaminases (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT], glutamic pyruvic transaminase [GPT]), and on pathological examination, hepatocyte destruction was observed. Histological findings revealed that short-term administration of trientine inhibited the development of hepatitis remarkably. The plasma GOT and GPT levels of treated animals were only slightly higher than those of normal LEA (Long-Evans with agouti coat color) rats, a sibling line of LEC rats. Copper levels in the liver were decreased by a maximum of 50 percent. In the long-term administration of trientine, the incidence of hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) in the treated rats was 67 percent that of the untreated LEC rats, and the number of HCCs per rat in the treated group was 0.7 +/- 0.5, being significantly lower as compared with 4.7 +/- 3.5 in the untreated rats. Additionally, the development of cholangiofibrosis in LEC rats was completely prevented by long-term administration of the agent. The copper level in the liver of treated rats was reduced by 33 percent at 87 weeks of age. Development of HCC in LEC rats might be partly, but not totally, because of copper accumulation. No effects on the levels of copper, iron, or zinc in the liver of LEA rats was detected, and no adverse effects were detected in either LEC or LEA rats after both short- and long-term administration of trientine in drinking water.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1996

Measurement of beta 2-microglobulin in bovine serum and urine by radioimmunoassay.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) system for quantification of bovine beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) in serum and urine was developed. The protein isolated from bovine colostrum showed a single band in SDS-PAGE, and its molecular weight was approximately 11,600. Amino acid sequences for the first 24 residues and the amino acid composition of the protein were in agreement with those in the bovine beta 2-M of previous research works. In an Ouchterlony test, a single precipitation line was formed between the protein and the antiserum made by the protein. From these results, it was confirmed that the protein isolated from the colostrum was pure bovine beta 2-M. For creation of an RIA calibration curve for urine, a urine void of beta 2-M, as much as possible (beta 2-M-free urine), and a PBS were used as diluents. Intraassay (n = 10) and interassay (n = 3) variances were 1.7-4.6% and 7.1-11.5% in the PBS dilute method, and were 1.4-5.1% and 12.3-13.5% in the beta 2-M-free urine dilute method, respectively. Mean recoveries were 160 +/- 19% (mean +/- SD) and 98.4 +/- 7.9% in PBS and beta-M-free urine, respectively. It was found that the method using the beta 2-M-free urine as a diluent was more accurate than using PBS. The beta 2-M concentrations in serum and urine of healthy Holstein cows measured by this RIA system showed a logarithmic normal distribution for urine and a normal distribution for serum. The mean beta 2-M concentrations were 0.0305(+0.04443)(-0.0210) mg/l (Geometric mean +/- S.D., n = 43) in urine and 2.87 +/- 0.45 mg/l (Arithmetic mean +/- S.D., n = 26) in sera. Further, we could not observe the particular tendency of daily variation in urinary beta 2-M concentrations of healthy cows (Holstein, n = 3 x 2 days).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

[Mesocardia].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1995

Mutations of the basic amino acid transporter gene associated with cystinuria.

To investigate the function of a basic and neutral amino acid transporter-like protein (rBAT) which is a candidate gene for cystinuria, we analysed the rBAT gene in cystinuric patients. Patient 1 is a compound heterozygote with mutations in the rBAT gene causing a glutamine-to-lysine transition at amino acid 268, and a threonine-to-alanine transition at amino acid 341, who inherited these alleles from his mother (E268K) and father (T341A), respectively. Injection of T341A and E268K mutant cRNAs into oocytes decreased transport activity to 53.9% and 62.5% of control (L-cystine transport activity in oocytes injected with wild-type rBAT cRNA), respectively. Co-injection of E268K and T341A into oocytes strongly decreased amino acid transport activity to 28% of control. On the other hand, co-injection of wild-type and mutant rBAT did not decrease transport activity. Furthermore, immunological studies have demonstrated that the reduction of amino acid transport is not due to a decrease in the amount of rBAT protein expressed in oocyte membranes. These results indicate that mutations in the rBAT gene are crucial disease-causing lesions in cystinuria. In addition, co-injection experiments suggest that rBAT may function as a transport activator or regulatory subunit by homo- or hetero-multimer complex formation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of the rabbit intestinal fructose transporter (GLUT5).

Recent studies suggest that the jejunal/kidney-type facilitative glucose transporter (GLUT5) functions as a high-affinity D-fructose transporter. However, its precise role in the small intestine is not clear. In an attempt to identify the fructose transporter in the small intestine, we measured fructose uptake in Xenopus oocytes expressing jejunal mRNA from five species (rat, mouse, rabbit, hamster and guinea-pig). Only jejunal mRNA from the rabbit significantly increased fructose uptake. We also cloned a rabbit GLUT5 cDNA from a jejunal library The predicted amino acid sequence of the 487-residue rabbit GLUT5 showed 72.3 and 67.1% identity with human and rat GLUT5 respectively. Northern-blot analysis revealed GLUT5 transcripts in rabbit duodenum, jejunum and, to a lesser extent, kidney. After separation of rabbit jejunal mRNA on a sucrose density gradient, the fractions that conferred D-fructose transport activity in oocytes also hybridized with rabbit GLUT5 cDNA. Hybrid depletion of jejunal mRNA with a GLUT5 antisense oligonucleotide markedly inhibited the mRNA-induced fructose uptake in oocytes. Immunoblot analysis indicated that GLUT5 (49 kDa) is located in the brush-border membrane of rabbit intestinal epithelial cells. Xenopus oocytes injected with rabbit GLUT5 cRNA exhibited fructose uptake activity with a Km of 11 mM for D-fructose. D-Fructose transport by GLUT5 was significantly inhibited by D-glucose and D-galactose. D-Fructose uptake in brush-border membrane vesicles shows a Km similar to that of GLUT5, but was not inhibited by D-glucose or D-galactose. Finally, cytochalasin B photolabelled a 49 kDa protein in rabbit brush-border-membrane preparations that was immunoprecipitated by antibodies to GLUT5. Our results suggest that GLUT5 functions as a fructose transporter in rabbit small intestine. However, biochemical properties of fructose transport in Xenopus oocytes injected with GLUT5 cRNA differed from those in rabbit jejunal vesicles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Psychological evaluation of Japanese astronaut applicants.

In 1991, a new psychological selection procedure was employed during the selection of Japanese Space Station astronauts. It was based on international selection criteria developed by an international psychological/psychiatric working group. A total of 372 individuals--fewer than expected--submitted applications for Space Station astronaut in Japan. Of the applicants, 233 were given several psychological written tests [Anxiety Scale, Performance Test, General Aptitude Test Battery, and Environmental Adjustment Test Battery (EATB)] in Phase I of the selection. Forty-five applicants went on to take the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB), Human Assessment Method (a group test), a semi-structured psychological interview and an intelligence test in Phase II of the selection. All applicants were found to be highly intelligent. Interestingly, an unexpectedly large number of candidates were disqualified by the newly developed EATB. Assessment of individual functioning in a group (the Human Assessment Method) resulted in no applicant being ranked in either the "qualified with reservation" (QR) or "disqualified" (DQ) category. Much has been learned from this initial application of psychological "select-in" testing, but further efforts are needed to improve both psychological criteria and evaluation methods and to determine their reliability and validity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗