Assignment of 1H, 13C and 15N resonances of FKBP. from Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus.
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Archaeal Proteins↗
Biomedical subjects
R Suzuki
Publications and source records attributed to R Suzuki.
The fibrous structure of the cemento-dentinal junction in human molars shown by scanning electron microscopy combined with NaOH-maceration.
The cemento dentinal junction was studied in acellular and cellular cementum of human mandibular third molars by scanning electron microscopy combined with NaOH-maceration. Scanning electron microscopy with NaOH-maceration was applied to observe the fibrous structure in detail through long sections of the cemento-dentinal junction. In macerated specimens, the cemento dentinal junction was a fibril-poor groove. Some cemental fibrils or fibril bundles penetrated the groove and appeared to intermingle with dentinal fibrils. Prolonged maceration caused detachment of the cemento-dentinal junction irrespective of fibril intermingling allowing observation of the inner cementum surface facing the root dentin. Observations suggested that the fibril intermingling was point-like and present only in places at the cemento-dentinal junction. It was established that NaOH-maceration removes interfibrillar substances effectively in connective tissues and does no damage to the collagen fibril structure and architecture. This study showed the 3-dimensional fibrous structure of the cemento-dentinal junction in human mandibular third molars, and suggested that interfibrillar adhesive substances are more important than the fibril intermingling for the cemento-dentinal attachment.
Caustics↗
The fibrillar structure of cement lines on resorbed root surfaces of human teeth.
The cement lines between reparative cementum and resorbed dentin or cementum in human teeth were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy combined with NaOH maceration. The NaOH maceration was used to remove interfibrillar substances and to observe the fibrillar architecture of the cement lines directly. Light microscopy showed that the cement lines were rich in proteoglycans with mucopolysaccharides, but deficient in collagen fibrils. The cement lines were artificially broken after treatment with hyaluronidase, which digests some of the mucopolysaccharides, but digests no collagen fibrils. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fibril intermingling occurred only in some places between reparative cementum and resorbed tissue. These findings suggested that the proteoglycans in cement lines mediate the attachment between new and old mineralized tissue.
Cytological Techniques↗
Proliferation-associated expression of the MEN1 gene as revealed by in situ hybridization: possible role of the menin as a negative regulator of cell proliferation under DNA damage.
The gene responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) has recently been identified. Wide expression of the MEN1 gene in endocrine and non-endocrine organs examined by northern blotting has been reported, but the detailed cellular distribution of the MEN1 transcript in each tissue has not yet been examined in any species. In this report, expression of the MEN1 gene in adult human tissues was studied by in situ hybridization. The MEN1 transcript was widely observed in all tissues examined, and an enhanced expression in relation to cell proliferation was seen in some organs. Cell cycle arrest at the G1-S border reduced the MEN1 mRNA level to less than 50% of that in exponentially growing asynchronous cells. The expression increased as cells entered into S phase, indicating cell cycle-associated transcriptional regulation of the MEN1 gene. Increase or decrease of the amount of menin did not affect proliferation of CHO cells under normal conditions. However, when cells were exposed to the DNA-cross-linking agent, diepoxybutane, overexpression of wild-type menin inhibited DNA synthesis. This effect was not observed when cells were exposed to ultraviolet light. These results suggest that menin may negatively regulate cell cycle under certain DNA damage.
Adult↗
Donor lymphocyte infusion for treatment of life-threatening respiratory syncytial virus infection following bone marrow transplantation.
We describe two patients who developed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia after BMT. One died of RSV pneumonia after three courses of steroid pulse therapy. Surprisingly, RSV antigen was identified in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained post mortem. Steroid pulse therapy might have suppressed anti-RSV immunity, leading to persistent RSV infection for more than 1 month. The other patient received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) for relapsed plasma cell leukemia, while having active RSV pneumonia. His respiratory condition improved after DLI, and RSV antigen disappeared in BALF and nasal swabs. DLI might be effective in cases of life-threatening RSV pneumonia.
Acute Disease↗
Preperitoneal fat thickness determined by ultrasonography is correlated with coronary stenosis and lipid disorders in non-obese male subjects.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between preperitoneal fat thickness (PFT) determined by ultrasonography and the risk of coronary arterial disease, 130 non-obese patients with ischemic heart disease (77 men and 53 women) were examined. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between PFT and coronary artery stenosis score (r = 0.212, P < 0.05). After dividing the patients by gender, the correlation was recognized only in men (r = 0.246, P< 0.05). Also, PFT was positively correlated to serum total cholesterol (r = 0.259, P < 0.01), triglyceride (r = 0.205, P < 0.05) and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (r = 0.205, P < 0.05), and negatively correlated to serum high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (r = -0.261, P < 0.01). Again, these correlations were found only in men, not in women. CONCLUSION: PFT shows good correlations with coronary artery stenosis score and dyslipidemia, and may lead to the development of coronary artery disease in non-obese male subjects.
Adipose Tissue↗
Limitations of the diagnostic criteria for minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-MO)
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Acute Disease↗
Restricted usage of T-cell receptor alpha-chain variable region (TCRAV) and T-cell receptor beta-chain variable region (TCRBV) repertoires after human allogeneic haematopoietic transplantation.
We analysed T-cell receptor alpha-chain variable region (TCRAV) and T-cell receptor beta-chain variable region (TCRBV) repertoires in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 34 recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT), seven of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and 19 of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using the quantitative microplate hybridization assay. TCR usage skewed at an early period (6-7 weeks) after BMT. The change was more apparent in allogeneic recipients than in autologous recipients. In particular, a predominant increase was detected in the frequency of VA1-4 (26%, 11 of 41 recipients), VA3-1 (32%) and VB24-1 (28%). Interestingly, acidic amino acid residues frequently followed the arginine residue in complementarity-determining region 3 of BV24S1. We further examined the extent of skew using samples obtained at serial time points after transplantation. The normalization of skewed repertoires occurred over a long period of time (> 8 years). There was a significant difference in the rate of normalization of skewed TCR repertoires between adult and child recipients (P < 0.05). The results suggest that these T cells may have expanded in response to allogeneic antigens, such as miHA (minor histocompatibility antigen), and that altered repertoires are eventually normalized by T-cell regeneration via a thymic-dependent pathway in children.
Adolescent↗
The calcium-independent protein kinase C participates in an early process of CD3/CD28-mediated induction of thymocyte apoptosis.
Thymocyte negative selection eliminates self-reactive clones and involves both a T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3-mediated signal and a costimulatory signal, which can be delivered via CD28. Anti-CD3/anti-CD28-triggered apoptosis in isolated CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in vitro provides a basic model for negative selection. Effects of isoform-selective and non-isoform-selective inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) on this apoptotic process suggest that activation of Ca2+-independent PKC isoforms during the first 2-3 hr of culture is essential for inducing apoptosis, and that Ca2+-dependent PKC isoforms may be influential, but not essential, for apoptosis. To assess the CD3/CD28-mediated activation of PKC in the apoptotic process, we prepared CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (without contamination with cells that had received negative or positive selection signals in vivo) by establishing TCR-transgenic mice with RAG-2-deficient and non-selecting major histocompatibility complex (MHC) backgrounds, in addition to a CD4+CD8+ thymocyte-enriched population from normal mice. Translocation of Ca2+-independent PKC from the cytosolic fraction to the particulate fraction of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes was induced by CD3/CD28-mediated stimulation, but not by CD3- or CD28-mediated stimulation alone, and peaked 2 hr after the start of culture. The kinase activity of the translocated Ca2+-independent PKC was dependent on cofactors in vitro, indicating that novel (n)PKC, but not atypical (a)PKC or a proteolytic PKC fragment, was responsible for the activity. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that the nPKC-theta isoform was the major contributor among nPKC isoforms, and that the classical (c)PKC-alpha isoform was the major contributor among cPKC isoforms. These results suggest that activation of nPKC (especially the theta isoform) in CD4+CD8+ thymocytes is involved in a pathway for negative selection.
Animals↗
Two independent pathways of maternal cell transmission to offspring: through placenta during pregnancy and by breast-feeding after birth.
Cell transmission from mother to offspring was demonstrated using mice with green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic markers. GFP transgene heterozygous (+/-) females were mated with GFP (-/-) males, and GFP(+) cells in the GFP (-/-) fetuses generated between them were analysed to assess maternal blood cell transmission to conceptuses in utero. The GFP+ maternal cells were observed throughout the body of the fetuses, as shown by fluorescence stereomicroscopy. Cell entrance into the fetal immune system was shown by histochemical and flow cytometric analyses of fetal organs such as thymus, spleen and liver. The GFP(+) maternal cells persisted in the offspring until postpartum. Next, GFP (-/-) neonates fed by GFP(+) foster mothers were examined to study the transfer of maternal milk leucocytes to offspring through breast-feeding. GFP(+) leucocytes that had infiltrated through the wall of the digestive tract were mainly localized in the livers of neonates. Their accumulation in the livers reached a maximum on days 5 or 6, and these cells became undetectable, as assessed by either histochemistry or flow cytometry, after day 9 of starting foster nursing. Collectively, the present results demonstrate two independent pathways of maternal cell transmission to offspring: transplacental passage during pregnancy and breast-feeding after birth.
Animals↗
Proliferation and differentiation in the human breast during pregnancy.
Using multiple immunofluorescence labelling on human breast tissues obtained and freshly frozen at the 12th, 15th, and 18th weeks of pregnancy, we have shown that markers of mammary functional differentiation, milk proteins (beta-casein and kappa-casein), are synthesised by actively cycling (Ki67 positive) as well as non-cycling (Ki67 negative) cells. These results demonstrate that functional differentiation/maturation does not coincide with loss of proliferative potential in human mammary luminal epithelial cells. In addition, we have examined expression patterns of integrin subunits (alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha6, beta1, and beta4) and extracellular matrix components (laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen IV), since they have been shown to exert influences on mammary differentiation and morphogenesis in vitro. Compared to human breast tissues obtained from non-pregnant women, a decrease in alpha2 labelling on luminal epithelial cells was observed, particularly in expanding acini that showed abundant Ki67 positivity. The expression patterns of other integrin subunits, however, did not change, indicating that the expression patterns of most integrins existing prior to pregnancy are sufficient to support the morphological and functional development associated with milk protein synthesis.
Adult↗
Ralstonia pickettii colonization of patients in an obstetric ward caused by a contaminated irrigation system.
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Burkholderia↗
The effectiveness of the visual analogue scale 8 in measuring health-related quality of life for COPD patients.
The Visual Analogue Scale 8 (VAS8), consisting of eight linear scales, has been developed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the validity and responsiveness of the VAS8. First, HRQoL was assessed in a cross-sectional study with the VAS8 and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) in 46 COPD patients. Relationships between the VAS8 and various physiological parameters were examined. Second, in a longitudinal study, changes in HRQoL scores after pulmonary rehabilitation were evaluated in 29 COPD patients. The total VAS8 scores showed a weak correlation with vital capacity and maximal inspiratory pressure and a moderately strong correlation with 6-min walking distance and dyspnoea rating. The total VAS8 score showed a significant correlation with each SGRQ score. Furthermore, almost every VAS8 and SGRQ score improved significantly after pulmonary rehabilitation. The change in the total VAS8 value showed a strong correlation with that of the SGRQ. The VAS8 is well-suited to assess HRQoL in COPD patients. Visual analogue scales are generally useful in measuring HRQoL in COPD patients, and the VAS8 is particularly beneficial because of its ease of use.
Aged↗
An ileostomy at the aganglionic ileum for total colon aganglionosis.
For the initial management of total colon aganglionosis (TCA), an ileostomy is usually created at the distal end of the ganglionic bowel, which is associated with profuse diarrhea resulting in a water and electrolyte imbalance as well as malnutrition during the ileostomy period. An ileostomy at the aganglionic ileum several centimeters toward the anal side of the transition for TCA is thus expected to cause bowel retention without any bowel obstruction and to facilitate water reabsorption in the small bowel. We performed this procedure in 2 babies with TCA. The length of the aganglionic ileum was 50 cm and 10 cm, respectively. The ileostomies were made 5 cm distal to the transition at 1 month and 1 day after birth, respectively. Oral feedings were well tolerated, resulting in adequate weight gain and the stools were semisolid during the ileostomy periods. Definitive operations using the Duhamel procedure with a right colon patch graft without the creation of a new ileostomy were successfully performed at 7 and 3 months of age, respectively. The postoperative courses were satisfactory. An ileostomy at the aganglionic ileum appears to be the method of choice as initial management for patients with TCA.
Female↗
Delayed recovery of CDR3 complexity of the T-cell receptor-beta chain in recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplants who had virus-associated interstitial pneumonia: monitor of T-cell function by CDR3 spectratyping.
BACKGROUND: In the T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta chain, complementary-determining region 3 (CDR3) contains specific peptide sequences essential for recognition. Diversity of this region is considered to contribute to immunocompetence in humans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the process of reconstitution of CDR3 complexity of the TCR-beta chain after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and to investigate the association between host immunocompetence and CDR3 complexity. METHODS: Diversity of the CDR3 region of the TCR-beta chain was examined by CDR3 size distribution analysis with the use of an automated DNA sequencer. RESULTS: Reconstitution of the alphabeta T-cell repertoire and CDR3 diversity was incomplete for at least 2 months after bone marrow transplantation. Delayed reconstitution of T-cell diversity was more marked in immunocompromised hosts. Unlike the situation in patients who received allogeneic bone marrow grafts, the recovery of CDR3 complexity was almost perfect by 2 months after transplantation in patients who received allogeneic blood stem cells. Clonal expansion of alphabeta T cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation was readily detected by CDR3 size spectratyping analysis. CONCLUSION: PCR-based CDR3 size spectratyping may be a useful tool for clinically monitoring immune reconstitution after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Adolescent↗
T-cell activation and induction of antibodies and memory T cells by immunization with inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine.
Mouse brain-derived inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine is the only currently internationally accepted vaccine against JE virus. We analyzed cellular and humoral immune responses to the JE vaccine in healthy adults in order to understand the protective immunity induced by this vaccine. Immunization with the JE vaccine induced T-cell activation in vivo, demonstrated by increase in the plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and soluble CD8. JE virus-specific antibodies determined in radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP), hemagglutination inhibition (HI), and neutralization assays were also induced by immunization with the JE vaccine. JE virus-specific memory T cells were detected 60 days after immunization. These results suggest that protective immunity induced by the inactivated JE vaccine includes JE virus-specific T cells as well as antibodies with multiple biological activities.
Adult↗
The changes in glycosylation after partial hepatectomy enhance collagen binding of vitronectin in plasma.
Vitronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein present in the extracellular matrix and plasma. Changes in rat vitronectin were studied during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Carbohydrate concentrations of vitronectin decreased to 2/3 of sham-operated rats at 24 h after partial hepatectomy. Carbohydrate composition and lectin reactivity indicated that N-glycosylation and sialylation of vitronectin changed markedly after partial hepatectomy, while amino acid composition did not change significantly. We previously showed that deN-glycosylation of vitronectin in vitro affects collagen binding among various ligands (Yoneda et al., Biochemistry (1998) 37, 6351-6360). Vitronectins from partially hepatectomized rats at 24 h were found to exhibit markedly enhanced binding to type I collagen. The effect of sialylation on collagen binding was further examined using enzymatically deglycosylated vitronectin of nonoperated rats. Collagen binding increased by 1.2 times after deN-glycosylation of vitronectin, while it increased more than 2.9 times after desialylation. Various glycosyltransferases in liver are known to change after partial hepatectomy, including the attenuation of N-oligosaccharide transferase. The findings therefore suggest that the collagen binding of vitronectin is modulated by the alteration of peptide glycosylation caused by postoperative physiological changes of glycosyltransferases and that the change may contribute to tissue remodeling processes.
Amino Acids↗
Characterization of the binding of spike H protein of bacteriophage phiX174 with receptor lipopolysaccharides.
The spike H protein of bacteriophage phiX174 was prepared as a hexa histidine-tagged fusion (HisH). On enzyme-linked plate assaying, HisH was found to bind specifically to the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of phiX174-sensitive strains, Escherichia coli C and Salmonella typhimurium Ra chemotype, having the complete oligosaccharide sequence of the R-core on the LPSs. In sharp contrast, HisH bound weakly to the LPSs of phiX174-insensitive strains, i.e. E. coli F583 (Rd(2)) lacking some terminal saccharides and E. coli O111: B4 (smooth strain) having additional O-repeats on the R-core. The fluorescence spectra of HisH changed dose-dependently in the case of the LPS of E. coli C, the intensity increasing and the emission peak shifting to the shorter wavelength side, which was attributable to the hydrophobic interaction of HisH with the LPS. The binding equilibrium was analyzed by fluorometric titration to determine the dissociation constant K(d), 7.02 +/- 0.37 microM, and the Gibbs free energy change DeltaG(0), -29.1 kJ mol(-1) (at 22 degrees C, pH 7.4). Based on the temperature dependence of (K)d in a van't Hoff plot, the standard enthalpy change DeltaH(0) and the entropy change DeltaS(0) were calculated to be +23.7 kJ mol(-1) and 179 J mol(-1) K(-1) at 22 degrees C, respectively, and this binding was thereby concluded to be an entropy-driven reaction.
Bacteriophage phi X 174↗