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Biomedical subjects

M Kawanaka

Publications and source records attributed to M Kawanaka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Changes in serum levels of sialoglycoproteins in mice exposed to UV-B radiation.

In the acute phase reaction, hepatocytes in the liver are activated and increase the plasma levels of acute phase reactants. Our previous study has shown that plasma sialic acid, an acute phase reactant, was increased following exposure of mice to UV-B radiation. Plasma sialic acid is derived from many plasma components. To clarify the type of plasma sialic acid that is increased by exposure to UV-B radiation, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis and staining for sialic acid. Consequently, the increases in haptoglobin and hemopexin were marked and 90% or more of the increased sialic acid was derived from these two glycoproteins after exposure to UV radiation. The increase in alpha1-acid glycoprotein levels was slight and did not contribute to the total increase in plasma sialic acid after exposure to UV radiation. Plasma levels of several proteins including antichymotrypsin (ACT), were reduced following exposure to UV radiation. The discrepancy between our results and published ones regarding ACT levels are discussed in terms of the type of cytokine.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1997

A novel cDNA clone of Schistosoma japonicum encoding the 34,000 Dalton eggshell precursor protein.

A cDNA clone encoding the 34 kDa eggshell protein of Schistosoma japonicum was isolated from an adult female cDNA library with a rabbit antiserum raised against the 34 kDa female worm fraction. A 230 bp-insert of this clone (Sj23A) was introduced in frame into the expression plasmid vector, pMAL-c2, and the recombinant fusion protein of the Sj23A transiation product was induced in Escherichia coli. The antiserum raised against the recombinant protein reacted only with the native 34 kDa protein of mature female worms, which localized in the vitelline cells of the vitelline glands. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, it was found that the gene corresponding to the Sj23A was expressed exclusively in mature female worms. The clone Sj23A showed a high degree of homology to the genes for the eggshell precursor proteins of Fasciola hepatica. At the deduced polypeptide level, the Sj23A also had similarities with the F. hepatica-protein sequence, the amino acid composition [high glycine (16%), lysine (12%) and tyrosine (11%)] and the presence of tyrosine residues flanked by glycine. The clone Sj23A also shared an extensive sequence homology with 3 S. mansoni expression sequence tags (ESTs). The present results suggest that the protein encoded by the female-specific Sj23A gene of S. japonicum is widely conserved in trematodes and plays a significant role as a precursor involved in eggshell formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Germline mutations of the MEN1 gene in Japanese kindred with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant familial cancer syndrome. The responsible gene MEN1 has recently been isolated, and its germline mutations have been identified in affected individuals in the United States, Canada and Europe. We screened for MEN1 mutations by direct nucleotide sequencing of all protein-coding regions, and identified five distinct germline mutations in five among six Japanese kindreds with familial MEN1 or familial hyperparathyroidism. The mutations were dispersed across the gene. These findings suggest that, because of the absence of an obvious founder effect, the entire MEN1 gene region should be examined for germline mutations in the probands of MEN1 and related syndromes in Japanese families.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1994

Thyroid imaging in a typical case of acute suppurative thyroiditis with abscess formation due to infection from a persistent thyroglossal duct.

The clinical evaluation of thyroid imaging with 99mTc, 201Tl, and 67Ga in the uncommon, but potentially serious, disorder of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) with abscess formation due to infection from a persistent thyroglossal duct is reported. The 99mTc image showed functioning areas of the diseased thyroid gland and the 201Tl image demonstrated abscess formation in the thyroid gland of this patient. In addition, marked 67Ga accumulation was demonstrated in a wide area covering not only the area of the thyroid gland involved, but also associated circumferential inflammatory lesions in a patient with AST. The net thyroid uptake of 67Ga at 72 hours was calculated to be 13.8% of the injected dose.

Abscess↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of BEKI TPS radioassay kit as a one-step immunoradiometric assay utilizes monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for serum tissue polypeptide antigen].

We evaluated the usefulness of the BEKI TPS radioassay kit as a one-step immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) utilizes monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specific for serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). This IRMA was found to be highly sensitive to serum TPA; minimum detectable concentration of TPA was 20 U/L. There were no problems in the intraassay and interassay reproducibility and recovery test. However, dilution test of the patient's serum with higher TPA concentrations showed no linear relationship between TPA concentrations and diluted serum samples. The antigen measured by this IRMA was immunologically similar to TPA, and the TPS concentration was closely correlated (r = 0.835, p < 0.01) with the TPA concentration in 101 patient's serum. Four out of 77 healthy subjects (5.2%) and 24 out of 74 patients with benign diseases (32.4%) showed a serum concentration over cut-off value of 71 U/L. The serum TPS concentration was elevated in 80 of 232 patients with malignant diseases (34.5%) including 21 of 26 with hepatocellular carcinoma (80.8%) and 9 of 15 with cholangiocarcinoma (60.0%). In addition, the serum TPA level during the clinical course of patients with malignant diseases was a very useful indicator for the effect of treatment. Thus, our findings suggested that BEKI TPS IRMA kit is a useful assay system for serum TPA as a tumor marker that can be performed by a simple assay operation within about 2 hours.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Schistosoma japonicum: excretory-secretory products of the eggs during miracidial development.

The release pattern of excretory-secretory (E-S) products of Schistosoma japonicum eggs was investigated using eggs cultured in a chemically defined medium (MEMSE-J) for 16 days. The amount of protein released in culture supernatants was greater in 0- to 4-day and 12- to 16-day cultures than in 4- to 12-day cultures. The protein composition of E-S products and soluble extracts of newly laid eggs (N-SEA) and in vitro matured eggs (M-SEA) was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Silver staining patterns of N-SEA and M-SEA were found to be similar except for the band at approximately 66 kDa, which appeared in highest concentrations in N-SEA. Western blot analysis with human infected sera showed antibody recognition of a 140- to 160-kDa antigen present in E-S products from mature eggs, while E-S products from immature eggs were unreactive. When either [35S]methionine or [3H]glucosamine was added to the culture medium, newly synthesized proteins or glycoproteins of the SEA and E-S products were labeled. Incorporation of both isotopes into SEA appears to correlate with developmental activity of the eggs. In contrast, release of E-S proteins and glycoproteins is more apparent as the miracidium matures. These results suggested that the source of E-S products from immature eggs is likely to be the collapsing vitelline cells and that of E-S products from mature eggs to be mainly miracidial secretions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids by adult Schistosoma japonicum: further characterization of a putative eggshell precursor protein.

The synthesis patterns of female-specific proteins of Schistosoma japonicum were further investigated with particular reference to the 34 kDa putative eggshell precursor protein. Adult male and female worms of S. japonicum were metabolically labelled with 14C-tyrosine, 14C-glycine and 35S-methionine in vitro. The rates of amino acid incorporation for female worms were significantly higher than for males in all radiolabelling experiments. Labelled proteins were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography. By using 14C-tyrosine and 14C-glycine, the 34 kDa female protein band resolved into three major spots with pI 6.0, 5.8 and 5.6. On the other hand, labelling studies using 35S-methionine failed to reveal synthesis of any corresponding spots at Mr 34 kDa. These results, together with the observations that eggshell hydrolysates are very rich in glycine but poor in methionine, suggested that the 34 kDa putative eggshell precursor protein of S. japonicum consists of at least three isoelectric forms. In addition, we have demonstrated several other female-specific polypeptides synthesized by this worm.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

Identification of a putative eggshell precursor protein of the female Schistosoma japonicum.

In adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum, a prominent radiolabelled female-specific protein (34 kDa) was demonstrated on fluorography of SDS gels with the pulse incorporation of 14C-tyrosine in vitro, though it was difficult to detect major female-specific proteins by direct staining methods. This female-specific protein was demonstrated to localize exclusively in the vitelline cells by indirect immunofluorescence using the rabbit anti-34 kDa female protein antiserum. It was shown that 14C-tyrosine was selectively incorporated into the vitelline cells by the pulse labelled autoradiographs. Two days after the exposure of worms to radio-tyrosine, the shells of eggs in the uterus were demonstrated to have become radioactive, indicating that 14C-tyrosine-labelled protein was used as a material for the eggshell. In the fluorograph of proteins extracted from newly laid eggs in vitro, the prominent band was not found at the 34 kDa region, but a lot of radioactivity appeared at higher than 100 kDa. The results suggested that a 34 kDa female protein was a precursor of the eggshell and became a much larger protein molecule as a result of cross-linking during eggshell hardening.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Development of the dental CAD/CAM system].

Studies have been undertaken to apply CAD/CAM system to Dentistry and to make prosthetic appliances with this system automatically. Specimens are 4 times large plaster models. For the inside of the crown, the plaster model of prepared tooth is measured with laser displacement meter then the numerical data is obtained. After modification of this data for the concave cutting, the modeling machine works with this numerical data. For the outside of the crown, the typical colonal figure data (= CAD Data Base) is prepared. And this data is modified with computer to fit the prepared tooth margin and proximal or antagonical tooth (= CAD). This CAD Data Base was obtained with 3 dimensional point digitizer (3DPD). Because this measuring method with 3DPD is to be able to select points, the CAD Data Base could be consists of characteristic points. When this data base is really used, it is interpolated with s-spline. Spline interpolation is indispensable to the CAD/CAM system. Further understanding of this system, explanation is divided into three parts which are 3D measurement, CAD and CAM. (3D measurement) Two types of 3D measurement is dealed with this system. One is for the CAD data base and another is for the prepared tooth model. 3D measurement of the prepared tooth model is equivalent of the impression takings in the routine method. For the clear marginal line and for the uniform distribution of measuring points, the prepared tooth model is tilted and rotated on the working table when it is measured with laser. (CAD) The CAD Data Base can be extended, contracted, parallel translated and rotated with the Affine transformation. For putting the individual margin data on the CAD Data Base, the prepared tooth margin is re-digitized with 3DPD. Occlusal data is taken from F.G.P. core. (CAM) The application of the spline interpolation to the tool offset theory, which is effective at the groove especially, makes easy to calculate the tool path. When the prepared tooth model is manufactured, it is tilted and rotated on the table like the measurement with laser-scan.

Crowns↗
PubMed1989

Clinical application of SPECT in adrenal imaging with iodine-131 6 beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol.

Forty-one patients with or without adrenocortical disorders were studied to evaluate the clinical usefulness of SPECT in adrenal imaging with I-131 Adosterol. In the SPECT images from this study, all glands with either normally functioning or hyperfunctioning adrenal cortices could be detected, while those glands with hypofunctioning adrenal cortices could not be detected. Particularly in transaxial and sagittal slices, the adrenal gland was identified posteriorly and was clearly distinguished from the gallbladder. In preliminary results using SPECT by a standard method, uptake in 68 detectable glands ranged from 1.7% to 4.9% in four glands with Cushing's syndrome, from 1.1% to 1.3% in seven glands with primary aldosteronism, and were distributed below 1.0% in the remaining glands with normally functioning adrenal cortices. These data show that it is possible to evaluate the adrenocortical functioning status simply by analyzing the SPECT images of the adrenal.

Adosterol↗
PubMed1989

Glucose metabolism of adult Schistosoma japonicum as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with D-[13C6]glucose.

Excretory end-products of adult Schistosoma japonicum, fed D-[13C6]glucose in vitro under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, were studied using 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The glucose in the medium is degraded to produce lactate and alanine aerobically and succinate and acetate as well as lactate and alanine anaerobically. Succinate and acetate have not been previously recorded as excretory products resulting from the metabolism of glucose for schistosomes. The presence of [13C3] and [2,3-13C2]lactate, and [1,2,2'-13C3] and [2,2'-13C2]succinate as end-products suggests that a partial reversed tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is active in adult Schistosoma japonicum under anaerobic conditions. The physiological role of this pathway in adult schistosomes remains obscure.

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

[An approach to the dental CAD/CAM (Part 4). Fundamental CAD procedure for the data base].

Studies are currently underway to apply the CAD/CAM system to dentistry and to make prosthetic appliances automatically. This paper reports the basic CAD procedure by using the CAD data base in the previous (part 3) report and gives some modified teeth figures. Mathematically, with Affine transformation, extension, contraction, parallel translation, and rotation of the dental figures are done. In the transformation, the origin of the individual tooth is decided from the mean value of the data base points, and X, Y, Z coordinates are the bucco-lingal, mesio-distal, vertical directions, respectively. This basic transforming procedure reduces the time needed for the CAD procedure.

Computer Graphics↗