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M Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to M Kondo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Floral scent diversity is differently expressed in emitted and endogenous components in Petunia axillaris lines.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Among the subspecies of Petunia axillaris are various lines emitting sensorially different scents. Analysis of variations in floral scent among genetically close individuals is a powerful approach to understanding the mechanisms for generating scent diversity. METHODS: Emitted and endogenous components were analysed independently to gain information about evaporation and endogenous production in 13 wild lines of P. axillaris. A dynamic headspace method was used to collect emitted components. Endogenous components were extracted with solvent. Both of these sample types were subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis by gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detector (FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Whereas the profiles of emitted compounds showed qualitative homogeneity, being mainly composed of methyl benzoate with quantitative variation, the profiles of endogenous compounds showed both qualitative and quantitative variation. A negative correlation was found between the evaporation ratio and boiling point of each compound examined. Lower boiling point compounds were strongly represented in the emitted component, resulting in the reduction of qualitative variation in floral scent. In conclusion, floral scent diversity results from variation in both the endogenous production and the evaporation rate of the individual volatile compounds.

Flowers↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a novel autoantibody reactive with 155 and 140 kDa nuclear proteins in patients with dermatomyositis: an association with malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) are a useful tool in diagnosis, defining clinical subsets and predicting prognosis of dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM). In this study, we identified a novel MSA reactive with 155 and 140 kDa nuclear proteins [anti-155/140 antibody (Ab)] and determined the clinical feature of DM patients positive for this autoantibody (autoAb). METHODS: Sera from 52 Japanese patients with DM, 9 with PM, 48 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 126 with systemic sclerosis and 18 with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia were examined by immunoprecipitation assays. Positive sera were further characterized by immunodepletion and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Seven of the 52 (13%) Japanese patients with DM immunoprecipitated 155 and 140 kDa proteins from 35S-labelled K562 leukaemia cell extract. No patients with SLE, systemic sclerosis or idiopathic interstitial pneumonia as well as healthy controls were positive for this autoAb. Patients with anti-155/140 Ab developed heliotrope rash, Gottron's papules or sign and flagellate erythema significantly more frequently than those negative. Notably, internal malignancy was found at significantly higher frequency in those positive than those negative (71 vs 11%; P < 0.005). In contrast, none of these patients positive for this autoAb had interstitial lung disease. CONCLUSIONS: This novel MSA is associated with cancer-associated DM and may serve as a diagnostic serological marker for this specific subset.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effect of S5P alpha-helix charge mutants on inactivation of hERG K+ channels.

The ether-à-go-go (EAG) family of voltage-gated K(+) channels contains three subfamilies, EAG, ether-à-go-go related (ERG) and ether-à-go-go like (ELK). The human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) K(+) channel has been of significant interest because loss of function in the hERG channel is associated with a markedly increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias. The hERG channel has unusual kinetics with slow activation and deactivation but very rapid and voltage-dependent inactivation. The outer pore region of the hERG K(+) channel is predicted to be different from that of other members of the voltage-gated K(+) channel family. HERG has a much longer linker between the fifth transmembrane domain (SS) and the pore helix (S5P linker) compared to other families of voltage-gated K(+) channels (43 amino acids compared to 14-23 amino acids). Further, the S5P linker contains an amphipathic alpha-helix that in hERG channels probably interacts with the mouth of the pore to modulate inactivation. The human EAG and rat ELK2 channels (hEAG and rELK2) show reduced or no inactivation in comparison to hERG channels, yet both channels are predicted to contain a similarly long S5P linker to that of hERG. In this study, we have constructed a series of chimaeric channels consisting of the S1-S6 of hERG but with the S5P alpha-helical region of either hEAG or rELK2, and one consisting of the S1-S6 of rELK2 but with the S5P alpha-helical region of hERG to investigate the role of the S5P linker in inactivation. Our studies show that charged residues on the alpha-helix of the S5P linker contribute significantly to the differences in inactivation characteristics of the EAG family channels. Further, individually mutating each of the hydrophilic residues on the S5P alpha-helix of hERG to a charged residue had significant effects on the voltage dependence of inactivation and the two residues with the greatest affect when mutated to a lysine, N588 and Q592, both lie on the same face of the S5P alpha -helix. We suggest that inactivation of hERG involves the interaction of this face of the S5P alpha-helix with a charged residue on the remainder of the outer pore domain of the channel.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Evaluation of the flexion gap by axial radiography of the distal femur.

The shape of the flexion gap in 20 normal knees was evaluated by axial radiography of the distal femur, and the results compared with those obtained in a previous study by MRI. The observed asymmetry was reduced by 29% using radiography, with a mean value of 3.6 degrees (1.5 degrees to 6.3 degrees) compared with that obtained by MRI of 5.1 degrees (2.6 degrees to 9.5 degrees), a mean discrepancy of 1.49 degrees. The results obtained by radiography and MRI showed a strong correlation (r = 0.78). Axial radiography is acceptable for the evaluation of the flexion gap and is less expensive and more comfortable to perform than MRI. Additionally, no metallic artefact occurs when the radiological method is used for assessment after arthroplasty.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein thrombosis by combined therapy with subcutaneous interferon-alpha and intra-arterial 5-fluorouracil; role of type 1 interferon receptor expression.

We previously reported the beneficial effects of combination therapy of interferon (IFN)-alpha/5-fluorouracil (FU) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumour thrombi in the major portal branches. This report describes the results of longer follow-up and includes more than double the number of patients relative to the original report, and evaluates the role of IFN-alpha/type 2 interferon receptor (IFNAR2) expression on the response to the combination therapy. The study subjects were 55 patients with advanced HCC and tumour thrombi in the major branches of the portal vein (Vp3 or 4). They were treated with at least two courses of IFN-alpha/5-FU without major complication. In the 55 patients, 24 (43.6%) showed objective response (eight (14.5%) showed complete response, 16 (29.1%) partial response), four (7.3%) showed no response, and 27 (49.1%) showed progressive disease. Immunohistochemically, IFNAR2 expression was detected in nine out of 13 (69.2%) patients. There was significant difference in the time-to-progression survival (P = 0.0002) and the overall survival (P < 0.0001) between IFNAR2-positive and -negative cases. There was a significant correlation between IFNAR2 expression and response to IFN-alpha/5-FU combination therapy in univariate analysis (P = 0.0070). IFN-alpha/5-FU combination therapy is a promising modality for advanced HCC with tumour thrombi in the major portal branches and could significantly depend on IFNAR2 expression.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Serum laminin, type IV collagen and hyaluronan as fibrosis markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with progression of the disease. In the present study, we analyzed the discriminative ability of serum laminin, type IV collagen and hyaluronan levels to predict the presence of fibrosis in these patients. In this preliminary report, we studied 30 overweight patients divided into two groups according to the absence (group I, N = 19) or presence (group II, N = 11) of fibrosis in a liver biopsy. Triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidade, hyaluronan (noncompetitive fluoroassay), type IV collagen, and laminin (ELISA) were determined. Group II presented significantly higher mean laminin, hyaluronan, type IV collagen, and aspartate aminotransferase values, which were due to the correlation between these parameters and the stage of fibrosis in the biopsy (Spearman's correlation coefficient, rS = 0.65, 0.62, 0.53, and 0.49, respectively). Analysis of the ROC curve showed that laminin values >282 ng/ml were those with the best diagnostic performance, with 87% accuracy. Association of laminin with type IV collagen showed improvement in the positive predictive value (100%), but with reduction in diagnostic sensitivity (64%). When compared with the criteria of Ratziu et al. for the diagnosis of septal fibrosis, laminin values presented a better diagnostic accuracy (83 vs 70%). Determination of extracellular matrix components in serum, especially of laminin, may identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and fibrosis and these components may be used as indicators for liver biopsy in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of muscarinic receptor- and beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation between euthyroid and acute hyperthyroid rats.

Hyperthyroidism was induced by subcutaneous injections of L-thyroxine (T4) (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 3 days in order to investigate the effects of acute hyperthyroidism on the vasorelaxing responses to isoprenaline and acetylcholine in isolated rat aortae. In the aortae, there was no significant difference in isoprenaline-induced relaxation between hyperthyroid and control rats, however acetylcholine-induced relaxation was significantly greater in hyperthyroid rats than in control rats. N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, reduced isoprenaline- and acetylcholine-induced relaxations in both hyperthyroid and control rats and in the presence of L-NOARG no significant difference in the acetylcholine-induced relaxation was seen between the two groups of rats. Indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, had no significant influence on both isoprenaline- and acetylcholine-induced relaxations in both control and hyperthyroid rats. 17-Octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA), a cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenase inhibitor, reduced the both isoprenaline- and acetylcholine-induced relaxation in both hyperthyroid and control rats, and acetylcholine-induced relaxation was still greater in hyperthyroid rats than in control rats. These results indicate that an acute hyperthyroidism significantly enhances muscarinic receptor- but not adrenoceptor-mediated relaxations of the aortae and L-NOARG abolished an enhancement by acute hyperthyroidism of muscarinic receptor-mediated relaxation, suggesting that the effects may be due to an alteration in muscarinic receptor-mediated NO systems of the aortae at early stage of hyperthyroidism.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2005

Leaky phenotype of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia in a Japanese family.

X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) is an inherited immunodeficiency that is caused by a block in early B-cell differentiation. Whereas early B precursors in the bone marrow are present in substantial numbers, XLA-affected individuals have dramatically reduced numbers of circulating mature B cells, plasma cells and immunoglobulins of all isotypes. We report on a Japanese family with 3 XLA patients, in whom the serum immunoglobulin levels and number of B cells showed a significant difference among them in spite of harbouring the same splice donor site mutation in the BTK gene. We developed concise method for detection of this mutation, which is helpful for discovering the carrier. Patient 2 showed a significant serum immunoglobulin levels of all isotypes, including allergen-specific IgE. Expression of a normal and truncated size BTK gene was detected in patient 2's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Expression of BTK protein was also detected in some B cells. These results suggest that the leaky phenotype in patient 2 was caused in part by the expression of a normal BTK gene transcript. The increased frequency of infection with age expanded the number of B cells with normal BTK gene expression and produced the serum immunoglobulin, including IgE.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A case of chromomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and a review of reported cases of dematiaceous fungal infection in Japan.

We report a case of chromomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi that developed in the left buttock of a 63-year-old female farmer. About 4 years ago, the patient developed erythema in the left buttock, which gradually spread. At the first consultation, we noted a well-defined, red-brown, infiltrated erythematous plaque (8 x 6 cm). Histopathological examination revealed a granulomatous lesion, containing sclerotic cells, associated with giant cells in the upper dermis. The causative fungus was difficult to identify due to low conidiogenesis, but was eventually identified by slide culture as F. pedrosoi. Excision and skin graft were performed, and no recurrence has been observed after 2 years. In Japan, 212 cases of dematiaceous fungal infection were reported in the period from 1982 to 2001. The causative fungus was F. pedrosoi in the majority of cases (126/212; 66%), followed by Exophiala jeanselmei (36/212; 19%). Similar incidence of dematiaceous fungal infection was reported in male and female patients. The upper limbs were affected most frequently in both male and female patients. Ten cases were associated with visceral lesions.

Ascomycota↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of T-cell clones specific to ovomucoid from patients with egg-white allergy.

BACKGROUND: Allergic reactions to foods are specific problems for infants and young children. Ovomucoid (OM) is one of the major allergens found in egg-white. We previously established several T-cell clones (TCCs) specific to OM in non-polarizing conditions from 4 patients (TM and YN are immediate-type, IH and YT are non-immediate-type) with egg-white allergy. We characterized their reactive epitopes, antigen-presenting molecules (HLA class II), and usage of TCR alpha and beta genes and the CDR3 loop sequence. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize these seven clones (TM 1.3, TM1.4,YN 1.1, YN1.5, IH3.1, IH3.3 and YT6.1) for cytokine production patterns and cell-surface-marker phenotypes. METHODS: We measured the production of cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by stimulation with ovomucoid peptides and stained intracellular IL-4 and IFN-gamma, and determined cell-surface markers using anti-interleukin-12 receptor (IL-12R) beta1, anti-IL-12Rbeta2 and anti-interleukin-18 receptor alpha (IL-18Ralpha). RESULTS: Most TCCs secreted both IL-4 and IFN-gamma in response to the OM peptide mixture, but the secretion patterns were variable; an IFN-gamma dominant pattern was seen in IH3.1 andYT6.1, an IFN-gamma>IL-4 pattern in TM1.3 and TM1.4, an IL-4> IFN-gamma pattern in YN1.5. In intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 staining, IFN-gamma single-positive cells were predominant in TM1.3, TM1.4, IH3.1 and YT6.1 and IFN-gamma and IL-4 double-positive cells were predominant in YN1.1, YN1.5 and IH3.3. All TCCs were IL-12Rbeta1-positive, and TM1.3, IH3.1, IH3.3 and YT6.1 were both IL-12Rbeta2- and IL-18Ralpha-positive. TM1.4 and YN1.1 were both IL-12Rbeta2- and IL-18Ralpha-negative. Based on these results, TM1.3 and TM1.4, IH3.1 and YT6.1 had a predominantly Th1 character and YN1.1, YN1.5, and IH3.3 possessed a predominantly Th0 character. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotypes of TCCs were not in accordance with their clinical manifestations. TCCs established from patients with immediate-type hypersensitivity had either the Th1 or Th0 phenotype as well as those with non-immediate-type hypersensitivity.

Egg Hypersensitivity↗
PubMed2004

Ionization and solvation of HCl adsorbed on the D2O-ice surface.

The interaction of HCl with the D(2)O-ice surface has been investigated in the temperature range 15-200 K by utilizing time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The intensities of sputtered H(+)(D(2)O) and Cl(-) ions (the H(+) ions) are increased (decreased) markedly above 40 K due to the hydrogen bond formation between the HCl and D(2)O molecules. The HCl molecules which form ionic hydrates undergo H/D exchange at 110-140 K and a considerable fraction of them dissolves into the bulk above 140 K. The neutral hydrates of HCl should coexist as evidenced by the desorption of HCl above 170 K. They are incorporated completely in the D(2)O layer up to 140 K. The HCl molecules embedded in the thick D(2)O layer dissolve into the bulk, and the ionic hydrate tends to segregate to the surface above 150 K.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

A phase I trial of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte precursor-oriented peptide vaccines for colorectal carcinoma patients.

In most protocols of peptide-based vaccination, no consideration has been paid to whether or not peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) precursors are pre-existent in cancer patients. Initiation of immune boosting through vaccination is better than that of immune priming to induce prompt and strong immunity. In this study, 10 human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen-A24(+) patients with advanced colorectal carcinomas were treated with up to four peptides that had been positive for pre-vaccination measurement of peptide-specific CTL precursors in the circulation (CTL precursor-oriented peptide vaccine). No severe adverse effect was observed, although local pain and fever of grade I or II were observed. Post-vaccination peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from five patients demonstrated an increased peptide-specific immune response to the peptides. Increased CTL response to cancer cells was detected in post-vaccination PBMCs of five patients. Antipeptide immunoglobulin G became detectable in post-vaccination sera of seven patients. Three patients developed a positive delayed-type hypersensitivity response to at least one of the peptides administrated. One patient was found to have a partial response; another had a stable disease, sustained through 6 months. These results encourage further development of CTL precursor-oriented vaccine for colorectal cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Interactions of D2O with methane and fluoromethane surfaces.

TOF-SIMS is used to investigate the interactions between D2O and hydrophobic molecules, such as CH4, CH3F, CH2F2, CHF3, and CF4, at cryogenic temperatures (15 K). By irradiation with a 1.5-keV He+ beam, the D(+)(D2O)n ions are ejected efficiently from the D2O nanoclusters physisorbed on the CF4 layer due to Coulomb explosion: the ion yields are by about two orders of magnitude higher than those from a thick D2O layer via the kinetic sputtering. The D(+)(D2O)n yields decrease on the CHnF(4-n) layer with increasing the number of the C-H group. This is because the Coulombic fission is quenched due to the delocalization of valence holes through the C-H...H-C and C-H...D2O contacts. A pure D2O film is hardly grown on the CH4 layer as a consequence of intermixing whereas the D2O molecules basically adsorb on the surfaces of fluoromethanes, suggesting the attractive (water-repellent) interactions in the C-H...D2O (C-F...D2O) contacts. The C-H...O bond behaves like a conventional O-H...O hydrogen bond as far as the collision-induced proton transfer reaction is concerned.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

A role for Id in the regulation of TGF-beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) is a critical morphogenic event that occurs during embryonic development and during the progression of various epithelial tumors. EMT can be induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in mouse NMuMG mammary epithelial cells. Here, we demonstrate a central role of helix-loop-helix factors, E2A and inhibitor of differentiation (Id) proteins, in TGF-beta-induced EMT. Epithelial cells ectopically expressing E2A adopt a fibroblastic phenotype and acquire migratory/invasive properties, concomitant with the suppression of E-cadherin expression. Id proteins interacted with E2A proteins and antagonized E2A-dependent suppression of the E-cadherin promoter. Levels of Id proteins were dramatically decreased by TGF-beta. Moreover, NMuMG cells overexpressed Id2 showed partial resistance to TGF-beta-induced EMT. Id proteins thus inhibit the action of E2A proteins on the expression of E-cadherin, but after TGF-beta stimulation, E2A proteins are present in molar excess of the Id proteins, thus over-riding their inhibitory function and leading to EMT.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Heterologous expression of the flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase gene of Vinca major alters flower color in transgenic Petunia hybrida.

Flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H) is the key enzyme for the expression of blue or purple flower color. A full-length cDNA for the F3'5'H gene was cloned from petals of Vinca major, and its genomic clone, designated VmFH1 (accession number AB078781 in the GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ databases), was isolated from leaves by a PCR-based strategy. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that VmFH1 contains one intron and an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 506 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows between 51% and 83% identity with those of previously reported F3'5'H genes. Southern blot analysis showed that there are 3-4 copies of the F3'5'H gene in the genome of V. major. Transcripts of the F3'5'H gene were detected in young flower petals but not in leaves as revealed by RT-PCR analysis. When VmFH1 was expressed in transgenic Petunia hybrida under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, some transgenic plants showed drastic flower color alteration from red to deep red with deep purple sectors. These transgenic plants accumulated 3',5'-hydroxylated anthocyanins in their petals, which were never detected in non-transgenic plants by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. These results indicate that VmFH1 isolated from V. major encodes F3'5'H and is active in a heterologous plant species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Production of transgenic lily plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

A system for the production of transgenic plants was developed for the Oriental hybrid lily, Lilium cv. Acapulco, by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Filament-derived calli were co-cultivated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA101/pIG121Hm, which harbored a binary vector carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase II, hygromycin phosphotransferase, and intron-containing beta-glucuronidase genes in the T-DNA region. Six hygromycin-resistant (Hyg(r)) culture lines were obtained from 200 calli by scratching them with sandpaper prior to inoculation and using NH(4)NO(3)-free medium for co-cultivation and a hygromycin-containing regeneration medium for selection. Hyg(r) culture lines regenerated shoots, which developed into plantlets following transfer to a plant growth regulator-free medium. All of these plantlets were verified to be transgenic by GUS histochemical assay and inverse PCR analysis.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗
PubMed2003

The mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (T2) deficiency in Japanese patients: urinary organic acid and blood acylcarnitine profiles under stable conditions have subtle abnormalities in T2-deficient patients with some residual T2 activity.

Mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (T2) deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism affecting isoleucine and ketone bodies in the catabolic process. Mutation analysis and expression analysis of mutant cDNAs have facilitated the division of T2-deficient patients into two groups: those with null mutations in either allele (group 1) and those with mutation(s) retaining some residual T2 activity in at least one of two mutant alleles (group II). Among 5 Japanese T2-deficient patients, GK01 belonged to group I and the other patients (GK19, GK19B, GK30 and GK31) to group II. As we have suggested previously, the severity of ketoacidotic episodes in the group II patients was similar to that in the group I patient. However, the urinary organic acid and blood spot acylcarnitine profiles under stable conditions differed between the two groups. The group I patient had typical profiles for the T2 deficiency. In contrast, in all four patients in group II, tiglylglycine was not or was only faintly detected and the 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyrate levels were less than the cutoff value. Their tiglylcarnitine levels were within the normal range and 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-, butyrylcarnitine was detected just around the cutoff value in our newborn screening pilot test. Hence, these analyses under stable conditions are not reliable for diagnosing the T2 deficiency in the group II patients. The T2 deficiency (group II) can be misdiagnosed as normal if these analyses are performed under nonepisodic conditions and possibly during the newborn screening for inborn errors of metabolism.

Acetoacetates↗