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Biomedical subjects

M Kono

Publications and source records attributed to M Kono.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

A case of Turner syndrome with schizophrenia: genetic relationship between Turner syndrome and psychosis.

An 82-year-old woman with Turner syndrome and schizophrenia, and her 46-year-old daughter with schizophrenia are described. 45X/46XX chromosomal mosaicism was identified in the peripheral leukocytes of the mother, who showed several Turner dysmorphisms and cavum septi pellucidum in the brain. She had a normal reproductive life-span. The daughter resembled the mother in terms of schizophrenic symptoms, but she did not show any signs of Turner dysmorphism or chromosomal abnormality. The phenotype-karyotype relationship of Turner syndrome and the genetic relationship with psychosis are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Simultaneous detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae by nested PCR amplification from cerebrospinal fluid samples.

Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae are often the cause of serious diseases such as meningitis. We designed a nested PCR assay to identify these pathogens from cerebrospinal fluid samples. The first-step PCR was able to detect eubacterial rRNA genes with a unified set of universal primers. In the second-step PCR, the identification primers, HI I and II and SP I and II, could detect H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae respectively through amplification of the rRNA spacer between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes. We suggest that the two-step PCR assay can be used as a novel method for the immediate and retrospective diagnosis of bacterial meningitis caused by H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1997

Solitary pulmonary nodules: evaluation of blood flow patterns with dynamic CT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of dynamic computed tomography (CT) for differentiating benign from malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients with noncalcified SPNs (diameter, < or = 30 mm; 42 malignant, 16 benign, seven inflammatory) underwent single-location dynamic contrast material-enhanced (100 mL, 4 mL/sec) serial CT. Peak height of time-attenuation curves and ratio of peak height of the SPN to that of the aorta were measured. Precontrast attenuation and enhancement pattern were recorded. Perfusion was calculated from the maximum gradient of the time-attenuation curve and the peak height of the aorta. RESULTS: Peak heights of malignant (41.9 HU +/- 2.8) and inflammatory (43.6 HU +/- 7.7) SPNs were significantly higher than that (13.4 HU +/- 2.2) of benign SPNs (P < .001; P < .01). SPN-to-aorta ratios in malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than that in benign SPNs (P < .001, P < .05). No statistically significant differences in the peak height and SPN-to-aorta ratio were found between malignant and inflammatory SPNs. Precontrast attenuation of inflammatory SPNs was lower than that of malignant SPNs (P < .05). Perfusion values in malignant and inflammatory SPNs were significantly higher than that of the benign SPNs (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Dynamic CT provides quantitative information about blood flow patterns of SPNs and is an applicable diagnostic method for differentiating SPNs.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Isolation of a cDNA encoding a chitinase family protein from cuticular tissues of the Kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus.

To identify and characterize a chitinase related to molting in the Kurumia prawn Penasus japonicus, we searched for chitinase-encoding cDNAs expressed in cuticular tissues. Using two degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from the two conserved regions of the chitinase protein family, a RT (reverse transcription)-PCR product was obtained. This product was used as a probe to screen a cDNA library from a mixture of the tall fan and blade-two tissues which consist mainly of chitinous exoskeleton and underlying epidermis. A positive cDNA clone was analyzed for the sequence. This clone contains an open reading frame for a protein (named Pjchi-2) of 527 amino acids which exhibits sequence similarity to known chitinases. A typical signal sequence could not be found in the Pjchi-2 sequence. Significant accumulation of Pjchi-2 mRNA was detected in the mixture of the tall fan and blade prior to molting, whereas the transcript level was much lower during the intermolt stage. This observation suggests that Pjchi-2 plays a role in molting. The mRNA was not detected in the hepatopancreas. This expression pattern of Pjchi-2 makes a contrast to that of Pjchi-1 which encodes another chitinase family protein in P. japonicus, and is expressed in the hepatopancreas but not in the tall fan or blade.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[Development and clinical application of MR simulation system for radiotherapy planning: with reference to intracranial and head and neck regions].

To obtain the optimal radiation field, an MR simulation system (MRSS) has been developed. It basically depends upon the higher soft tissue contrast resolution of MRI than of CT. The system consists of an MR unit, an image processing work-station and a laser marking system. In brief, the procedures are as follows: [1] marking the reference point on the patient's skin out of the MR gantry, and automatic table shift to set the reference point at the center of the magnetic field (CMF); [2] MR imaging (T1W1: SE, TR:500 msec, TE: 20 msec); [3] transfer of MR data to a work-station through floppy disc; [4] postprocessing of MR data using a work-station to perform radiotherapy planning; delineation of ROI for irradiation, calculation of the contour of radiation field along with iso-center; [5] corresponding the reference point correspond with the base point of the laser marking system on the CT table; [6] reproducing the calculated iso-center on the patient's skin using the laser marking system. A phantom study of geographic distortion and the total accuracy of MRSS revealed that the former was less than 1 mm within a 90 mm distance between MR slices and CMF, while the latter showed maximal errors of 2 mm in field size and 3 mm in iso-center. This system was applied to 15 patients with intracranial or head and neck lesions, and all procedures were smoothly performed. In order to evaluate the usefulness of MRSS, 6 experienced radiation oncologists compared the difference between MRSS and a CT simulation system in setting the radiation field. The results were satisfactory in all cases, especially in cases in which the tumor extent was unclear on CT images. In spite of some limitations of MRI such as distortion of image and impossibility of iso-dose curve calculation, it was considered that this system could support radiotherapy planning for intracranial or head and neck regions.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Balloon-occluded ethanol ablation therapy: (BEAT) for hepatocellular carcinoma].

To obtain simultaneous embolization of feeding arteries and portal veins in the hepatocellular carcinoma, we performed a new treatment, balloon occluded ethanol ablation therapy (BEAT), in 7 patients. A Balloon catheter was inserted into the hepatic vein draining the tumor bearing segment of the liver. During occlusion of the hepatic vein by balloon catheter, an absolute ethanol-Lipiodol emulsion was injected through a microcatheter or a microballoon catheter placed in the feeding artery. There were no major side effects. Histological examination of the specimen taken from one case showed complete necrosis of the tumor and accumulation of Lipiodol within the portal veins of the surrounding tissue.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Improvement of respiratory burst by individual neutrophils from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease, type X91- under treatment by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for multiple liver abscess].

A 20-year-old male with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was admitted with multiple liver abscesses. He had already been diagnosed as CGD, type X91-, when he was 10 years old. He was successfully treated with antibiotics and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) combined with continuous drainage of abscess. Employing flow cytometry, respiratory burst by individual neutrophils was measured using 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein. The fluorescence intensity in all individual neutrophils from the patient under G-CSF treatment was higher than the one without G-CSF. G-CSF can be one of effective therapies for infection in some patients with CGD such as X91-.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The role of CT and MR imaging in the diagnosis of lung cancer].

CT and MR imaging can play an important role in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule is usually carried out using CT. High-resolution CT is useful in the morphologic diagnosis of a solitary pulmonary nodule. The enhancement characteristics of a pulmonary nodule in contrast-enhancement CT can be a method of distinguishing benign and malignant nodules. MR imaging is superior to CT in contrast resolution and multidirectional imaging capability. Contrast-enhancement MR imaging can describe the enhancement characteristics of the pulmonary lesion better than contrast-enhancement CT. The extent of chest wall and mediastinal invasion of lung cancer can be better shown using MR imaging than CT.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of therapeutic effect using enhanced MRI in lung cancer: evaluation of methods in terms of necrosis].

To evaluate therapeutic effect in terms of necrosis or cavity, enhanced MRI was performed in 40 lung cancer patients treated by conservative therapy. We provided the reduction ratio of the viable tumor as calculated by a volume method and a cross-sectional method. In the volume method, the volume of necrosis was subtracted from the volume of the tumor, and in the cross-sectional method, the product of the longest diameter and widest perpendicular diameter of necrosis was subtracted from the product of the longest diameter and widest perpendicular diameter of the tumor. We then examined whether we could substitute the cross-sectional method for the volume method. The reduction ratios of viable tumor calculated by the two methods were in good correlation. The limits of agreement of each method and their repeatability coefficients were considered small enough for clinical use. Therefore, we concluded that the cross-sectional method could be used in place of the volume method for clinical purposes. In evaluating therapeutic effect in terms of necrosis when using contrast-enhanced MR imaging, the reduction ratio of the viable tumor determined by the cross-sectional method can be substituted for that determined by the volume method.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Usefulness of photon counting X-ray radiography for diagnostic imaging of the thorax: experimental and clinical studies].

To evaluate the usefulness of photon counting X-ray radiography (quantum radiography, QR) for diagnostic imaging of the thorax, comparative studies between QR and the conventional screen-film system (SF) were performed. Exposure dose, spatial resolution and density resolution on QR were evaluated in the experimental study. The ability of QR to describe normal structures and several kinds of abnormal shadows was evaluated in the clinical study. The relative exposure dose of QR was lower than that of SF, while the spatial resolution of QR was slightly inferior to that of SF. However, the density resolution of QR was superior to that of SF. Clinically, QR was superior to SF in the description of normal structures and several kinds of abnormal shadows. In conclusion, it was considered that QR is useful for diagnostic imaging of the thorax.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning and expression of a fifth type of alpha2,8-sialyltransferase (ST8Sia V). Its substrate specificity is similar to that of SAT-V/III, which synthesize GD1c, GT1a, GQ1b and GT3.

The cDNAs encoding a new alpha2,8-sialyltransferase (ST8Sia V) were cloned from a mouse brain cDNA library by means of a polymerase chain reaction-based method using the nucleotide sequence information on mouse ST8Sia I (GD3 synthase) and mouse ST8Sia III (Siaalpha2,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAcalpha2,8-sialyltransferase ), both of which exhibit activity toward glycolipids. The predicted amino acid sequence of ST8Sia V shows 36.1% and 15.0% identity to those of mouse ST8Sia I and III, respectively. The recombinant protein A-fused ST8Sia V expressed in COS-7 cells exhibited an alpha2, 8-sialyltransferase activity toward GM1b, GD1a, GT1b, and GD3, and synthesized GD1c, GT1a, GQ1b, and GT3, respectively. The apparent Km values for GM1b, GD1a, GT1b and GD3 were 1.1, 0.082, 0.070, and 0.28 mM, respectively. However, ST8Sia V did not exhibit activity toward GM3. Thus, the substrate specificity of ST8Sia V is different from those of ST8Sia I and III, both of which exhibit activity toward GM3. Transfection of the ST8Sia V gene into COS-7 cells, which express GD1a as a major glycolipid, led to the expression of determinants for monoclonal antibody 4F10, which recognizes GT1a and GQ1b, suggesting that ST8Sia V exhibits activity toward gangliosides GD1a and/or GT1b in vivo. The expression of the ST8Sia V gene was tissue- and developmental stage-specific, and was clearly different from those of other alpha2,8-sialyltransferase genes. The ST8Sia V gene was strongly expressed in the brain and weakly in other tissues such as the liver. In addition, its expression was greater in the adult than fetal brain. These results strongly indicate that ST8Sia V is a candidate for SAT-V, the alpha2,8-sialyltransferase involved in GD1c, GT1a, GQ1b, and GT3 synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Biosynthesis and expression of polysialic acid on the neural cell adhesion molecule is predominantly directed by ST8Sia II/STX during in vitro neuronal differentiation.

We have reported recently that ST8Sia II/STX as well as ST8Sia IV/PST-1 is a neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-specific polysialic acid (PSA) synthase (Kojima, N., Tachida, Y., Yoshida, Y., and Tsuji, S. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19457-19463). To investigate which of two PSA synthase (ST8Sia II and IV) are involved in the biosynthesis of PSA associated with NCAM, the expressions of PSA, PSA synthase activity, and the genes of two PSA synthases during in vitro neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells were determined. PSA was not expressed on undifferentiated cells (day 0) or cell aggregates (days 1-3) induced with retinoic acid. Expression of PSA began after cell aggregates had been dissociated and re-plated on a dish (day 4) and increased up to day 7. The expression of the mouse ST8Sia II gene was negligible in both undifferentiated and aggregated cells, it beginning at day 4, then dramatically increasing, and reaching the maximum level at days 6-7. On the other hand, transcription of the ST8Sia IV gene remained at a very low level throughout the entire period, a significant increase in its expression during differentiation not being observed. PSA synthase activity was not detected in undifferentiated or aggregated P19 cells, it increasing in parallel with ST8Sia II gene expression during differentiation. In addition, the cells at day 7 were stained with an anti-mouse ST8Sia II antiserum. Similar up-regulation of the ST8Sia II gene were observed during the differentiation of rat MNS-8 cells, which were derived from E-12 rat neuroepithelium of the neural tube and shown to differentiate into neurons. These results indicate that ST8Sia II predominantly directs PSA expression during neuronal differentiation rather than ST8Sia IV.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Two distinct long-chain-acyl-CoA synthetases in guinea pig Harderian gland.

Two distinct long-chain-acyl-CoA synthetases which have different kinetic properties were identified in the guinea pig Harderian gland. One was localized in the microsomes and the other in the mitochondria. The relative V(max) values of the microsomal enzyme were 8.1, 1.7 and 1 and the apparent Km values were 66.7, 12.0 and 30.0 microM for palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids, respectively. The relative V(max) values of the mitochondrial enzyme were 2.7, 3.5 and 1 and the apparent Km values were 33.3, 29.9 and 30.0 microM for palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids, respectively. The relative V(max) values for the liver microsomal enzyme were 2.0, 2.5 and 1, while those of the liver mitochondrial enzyme were 4.1, 3.9 and 1 with palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids, respectively. There were no difference between the microsomal and the mitochondrial enzymes in the liver, regarding apparent Km values; these were 38.4, 29.9 and 22.0 microM for palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids, respectively. Thus, the substrate specificity and catalytic rate of the mitochondrial enzyme in Harderian gland for palmitic, linoleic and arachidonic acids were similar to the liver enzyme, but not to the microsomal enzyme in Harderian gland. On the other hand, the antiserum raised against the rat liver enzyme immune-titrated and immuno-blotted the enzymes from Harderian gland microsomes and liver, but not so the enzyme from Harderian gland mitochondria. Thus, the microsomal enzyme in Harderian gland had a common immunogenic epitope(s) with the liver enzyme, but the mitochondrial enzyme did not. The Harderian gland mitochondrial enzyme was a distinct protein from liver enzymes. The catalytic and immunogenic characteristics suggest that the enzyme proteins in the Harderian gland are unique, that is, different from that in the liver. The large V(max) value of the Harderian gland microsomal enzyme for palmitic acid suggests that it contributes to the synthesis of a large amount of the secretory lipid and the high Km value to maintenance of cellular lipid in this organ. The evidence that long-chain-acyl-CoA synthetase in the mitochondria is distinct from that in the microsomes was first found in guinea pig Harderian gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Conformational search for the N6-substituted adenosine analogues and related adenosine A1 receptor antagonists.

The search for 3-D requirements for the adenosine A1 receptor affinity is useful to aid in the design of more potent and/or novel ligands as pharmacological tools and therapeutics for the receptor. To emboss 3-D requirements for adenosine A1 receptor affinity among adenosine receptor antagonists, adenosine and xanthine analogs, conformations for the N6-substituted adenosine analogues and related adenosine A1 receptor antagonists were thoroughly searched by semi-empirical quantum mechanics calculations. Newly established global minima for these compounds (C1'-N6-C6-N1 torsion: 10 degrees) are consistent with retrieved structures from the Cambridge Structural Database and previously published NMR data on the solution conformation of N6-substituted adenosine analogues. However, these newly studied global minima for adenosine analogues are found to be different from those previously reported (C1'-N6-C6-N1 torsion: +/-75 degrees).

Adenosine↗
PubMed1996

Theoretical structure-activity studies of adenosine A1 ligands: requirements for receptor affinity.

The three-dimensional (3-D) requirements for A1 adenosine receptor affinity have been studied based on hydrogen-bonding functionality correlation between a group of twelve A1 adenosine receptor ligands representing ten structurally different classes of compounds. Electrostatic potential similarity indices and shape similarity indices strongly support the proposed receptor-bound orientations of the ligands. We conclude, in areas common to both agonist and antagonist binding at the A1 receptor, that the ligands are recognized by a similar physicochemical 3-D environment. The finding of similar 3-D requirements for agonists and antagonists suggests a fairly static receptor structure in the region common to agonist and antagonist binding. The ribose moiety is remote from antagonist binding site. Such a 3-D environment rationalizes the binding of a number of potent novel antagonists including KW-3902, not previously reported in modeling studies.

Ligands↗
PubMed1996

The clinical utility of visual evaluation of scintigraphic perfusion patterns for Alzheimer's disease using I-123 IMP SPECT.

The authors examined the role of SPECT perfusion pattern in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using I-123 IMP. They studied 93 patients who had memory and cognitive disorders, including 42 patients with a diagnosis of probable AD, classifying SPECT images into determined perfusion patterns. The probability of AD was 54% with bilateral temporal and/or parietal defects, 69% with bilateral temporoparietal defects with additional defects, 17% with no defects, and 11% with frontal defects only. The sensitivity of bilateral temporoparietal perfusion defects for AD was 95.2%, whereas the specificity was 56.9%. In the absence of bilateral temporal and/or parietal defects on visual evaluation of SPECT, the diagnosis of AD was unlikely, although it is not pathognomonic for AD, because this sign would be seen in various neuropsychiatric diseases causing memory and cognitive impairments. Visual evaluation of SPECT is of value in the diagnosis of AD among patients with dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Pectoralis major tendon avulsion in association with a proximal humerus fracture.

We report a very rare case of an avulsion of the pectoralis major tendon in association with a two-part proximal humerus fracture. Pectoralis major tendon avulsion was confirmed intraoperatively during open reduction and internal fixation of the humerus fracture. In retrospect, the preoperative radiographic finding of posterolateral and proximal displacement of the humeral shaft suggested an injury to the pectoralis major. Because others have reported that the best treatment of a pectoralis major tendon avulsion is surgical repair, we feel that it is important to suspect such an injury in a proximal humerus fracture when this anatomic displacement is present.

Adult↗