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Biomedical subjects

S Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to S Kubo.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Molecular diversity of neurotoxins from Clostridium botulinum type D strains.

The molecular properties of Clostridium botulinum type D South African (D-SA) were compared with those of neurotoxins from type D strain 1873 (D-1873) and type C strains Stockholm and 6813. D-SA toxin, purified 610-fold from the culture supernatant in an overall yield of 30%, consisted of an intact peptide chain with a molecular weight of 140,000. Limited proteolysis of the toxin by trypsin formed a dichain structure consisting of a light chain (Mr, 50,000) and a heavy chain (Mr, 90,000) linked by a disulfide bond(s) and enhanced the lethal activity about fourfold. Antibodies against the D-SA toxin light chain reacted with D-1873 toxin but not with C1 toxins. On the other hand, antibodies against the heavy chain of D-SA toxin cross-reacted with type C strain Stockholm, D-1873, and type C strain 6813 toxins in that order. Amino-terminal sequences of heavy and light chains of D-SA and D-1873 toxins were similar but not identical. These results indicate that within the type D strains, neurotoxins differ in molecular structure and antigenicity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Murine leukaemia virus gene product as an acute phase protein: complete suppression of serum gp70 synthesis in hepatocytes of B10.S mice.

The Sgp-1c trait is associated with H-2s and relates to the small content of serum gp70 as well as the lack of serum gp70 responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Northern hybridization of RNA from B10.S liver and its hybrid with NZB showed that the suppression of gp70 in Sgp-1c carrying mice can be regulated at the transcriptional level. However, the inheritance of this trait shows the complicated manner of segregation in certain crosses. All (B10.S x NZB) F1 hybrid mice and F1 x B10.S back-cross mice had low amounts of serum gp70 and did not respond to LPS with increased levels of serum gp70. In contrast, F1 x NZB back-cross progeny varied widely in serum gp70 levels. The serum gp70 levels of most F1 x NZB back-cross mice was increased by LPS, although the range of increases was broad. These results indicate that the Sgp-1c alone is not sufficient to lower serum gp70 levels, unless B10 background is present. The expression of Sgp-1 system, which is linked with the H-2 region, requires non-H-2-linked genes.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1989

[Measurement of portal blood flow in man by a continuous local thermodilution method. III. Effects of dopamine on systemic and portal hemodynamics after hepatectomy].

We gave dopamine (3 micrograms/kg/min, 30 min) intravenously on the third day after hepatectomy to 19 patients, and studied the effects of the drug on systemic and portal hemodynamics. In another 42 patients, administration of dopamine at the same rate was started soon after hepatectomy and continued for about 2 weeks; the clinical results were evaluated. After hepatectomy, the systemic hemodynamics were hyperdynamic and the portal hemodynamics were hypodynamic. After 30 min of dopamine administration, the oxygen pressure in portal blood increased, and because portal blood flow also increased, the oxygen delivery to the liver increased. The mechanism involved an increased proportion of portal venous flow to cardiac output, and a decrease in the splanchnic resistance, not portal venous resistance. Probably, specific dopamine receptors played important role in the increase in the superior mesenteric arterial blood flow. Among 42 patients given small dosage of dopamine, the clinical symptoms of five of seven who had developed liver failure improved. None of the other 35 patients given dopamine preventively developed liver failure. Dopamine in small doses is useful for the management of liver failure after liver resection.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm].

Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TEDE) was performed in three patients with proven or suspected DeBakey type I and type III aortic dissection. Case 1: A 66-year-old woman, with DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Clear images of a widened dissected aorta and an intimal flap were obtained in both the ascending and descending aorta, including the aortic arch. The site of an entry into the false lumen was identified by the defect of the intimal flap and the pulsatile entry flow through it. The reentry into the true lumen was also identified near the orifice of the celiac trunk. In this case, the observation was performed using this technique during the operation; i.e., replacement of the ascending aorta with an artificial graft. Case 2: A 77-year-old man, DeBakey type III aortic dissection. The study was performed after surgery which consisted of replacement of the descending aorta with an artificial graft. TEDE provided clear images of the artificial graft, the aorta, and their boundaries. The remaining intimal flap was clearly confirmed. Case 3: An 80-year-old man, DeBakey type III aortic dissection. In this case, though abdominal echography suggested aortic dissection, angiography and X-ray CT failed to facilitate the diagnosis. Only TEDE confirmed the diagnosis. The abnormal flow via the entry directing toward the false lumen was clearly demonstrated on the color Doppler images. We therefore conclude that TEDE is a useful and reliable means of diagnosing dissecting aortic aneurysm.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

A case of hypoxic brain damage consequent to ligature strangulation.

A case of delayed death following strangulation is reported. A 43-year-old woman died 18 days after being subjected to strangulation. The autopsy and neuropathological findings are presented. Informatively, enzymatic immunohistochemical techniques were used for the neuropathological investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

A demonstration of spermatozoa on vaginal swabs after complete destruction of the vaginal cell deposits.

The proteolytic enzyme, proteinase K, has been found to destroy all vaginal cells though it does not have the same effect on spermatozoa. In cases of sexual offenses, in which a swab has been used to wipe out the vagina, the female cells and their nuclei on that swab may also contain the heads of spermatozoa. After as short a time as 30 min of proteinase K treatment, the spermatozoa that had separated from the enzymatically destroyed vaginal cells were recovered. This proteinase destruction furnishes some spermatozoa with deformed heads and a somewhat greater number of isolated tails though a sufficient number of spermatozoan heads still remain for a reliable diagnosis. For detection of spermatozoa from a vaginal swab after proteinase K pretreatment, the heads of the spermatozoa are distinctly stained by Oppitz's method. Further, on prior treatment with proteinase K, the ABO blood grouping of the spermatozoa could also be determined on the vaginal swab by using the absorption-elution technique. The resistance of the spermatozoa to proteinase K is the basis for this method.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1989

Changes in the specificity of blood groups induced by enzymes from soil fungi.

Three strains of Cunninghamella elegance (C. elegance), Penicillium simplicissimum (P. simpl.), and Aspergillus niger (A. niger) were isolated from soil that produced the enzymes acting on blood groups A and B red cells. Culture filtrates from these fungi contained alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminidase as an A-decomposing enzyme, which resulted in an almost complete loss of A specificity and an enhancement of blood group H activity as measured by elution tests using monoclonal antibodies. They also contained an alpha-D-galactosidase and an alpha-L-fucosidase, which partially destroyed the blood group B specific activity, but did not influence the blood group H specific activity.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1988

Synthesis of porcine C5a anaphylatoxin by the solution procedure and confirmation of the reported structure.

Porcine C5a anaphylatoxin, the primary structure of which was first determined by Gerard and Hugli in 1980 as a 74-amino acid peptide having three intramolecular disulfide bonds, was synthesized by the solution procedure applying our maximum protection strategy. The fully deprotected peptide was subjected to air oxidation in an acetate buffer at pH 7.5, and the product was isolated as a single entity by HPLC. Amino acid analysis and biological activities of the synthetic peptide agreed well with the reported values. However, the retention time of the synthetic C5a was different from that of the natural product, supplied by Dr. Hugli, on both reversed phase (RP) and ion-exchange (IEX) HPLC systems. The tryptic peptide mapping on HPLC revealed that Gln which was incorporated into the peptide at position 65 was replaced by Glu in the natural product. The elution pattern of tryptic peptides containing three disulfide bonds was identical with natural and synthetic C5a. It was also identical with that of a peptide which was synthesized following the estimated secondary structure proposed by Zimmermann and Vogt in 1984.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Resection of hepatocellular carcinoma with obstructive jaundice caused by compression of the common hepatic duct.

We treated a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma in whom jaundice was caused by obstruction of the common hepatic duct because of compression by the tumor. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage was performed preoperatively. The tumor was entirely in the medial segment of the liver, without invasion of the hepatic ducts, and medial segmentectomy was performed. As of the end of 1985, 58 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma complicated by extrahepatic obstructive jaundice have been reported in Japan. In only four was obstructive jaundice caused by extraluminal biliary compression. We review ten patients treated by liver resection.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Comparative immunological and electrophoretic analysis of Gc protein in sera from various animals.

1. On immunodiffusion, using an anti-human Gc antibody, serum Gc in all mammals tested revealed a partial identity with human Gc. 2. The relative cross-reactivities of serum Gc in monkeys, dogs, cats and rats with human Gc antiserum were found to be more than 70% while the serum Gc in other mammals (pigs, cattle, goats and a guinea pig) was less than 50%. 3. Testing, using the isoelectrofocusing method, showed specific patterns of Gc in the mammals. In the sera of cats and cattle, Gc polymorphisms were detected. 4. Neuraminidase treatment affected the isoelectrofocusing Gc patterns of pigs, goats and cattle, whereas those in other mammals remained unchanged.

Alleles↗
PubMed1988

Influence of collateral ventilation on single-breath washout curves.

To examine the relationship between airway closure and collateral ventilation, Ar bolus single-breath washout tests were performed in the supine position in 10 mature dogs (animals with a well-developed collateral ventilation). Transpulmonary pressure was measured simultaneously to obtain the volume above residual volume of the inflection point in the pressure-volume curve (VIP). In pigs, closing volume (CV/VC%, mean 27.4%, where VC is vital capacity) equaled the volume of inflection (VIP/VC%, mean 35.1%) when the dead space (0.07 liter) was accounted for, indicating simultaneous onset. In dogs, closing volume (CV/VC%, mean 48.1%) was greater than the volume of inflection (VIP/VC%, mean 27%). Furthermore, as closing volume increased, so did the volume exhaled between closing volume and the volume of inflection [(CV-VIP)/VC%]. These increases were strongly age related, with the oldest dogs showing the greatest differences between closing volume and volume of inflection. These results support the previous suggestion that this difference is a measure of the degree of collateral ventilation. We defined a concavity index (CI) of phase IV by measuring the ratio of the end-to-mid phase IV height above extrapolated phase III (no concavity implies CI = 2). Whereas pigs had a low CI (mean 3.3), dogs had a high CI (mean 10.6). In dogs, the CI correlated well with closing volume (CV/VC%) and the volume exhaled between closing volume and volume of inflection [(CV-VIP)/VC%]. Again, this relationship was strongly dependent on age, suggesting that the CI is also a valid indication of the degree of collateral ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Gravitational independence of single-breath washout tests in recumbent dogs.

To examine the mechanisms of lung filling and emptying, Ar-bolus and N2 single-breath washout tests were conducted in 10 anesthetized dogs (prone and supine) and in three of those dogs with body rotation. Transpulmonary pressure was measured simultaneously, allowing identification of the lung volume above residual volume at which there was an inflection point in the pressure-volume curve (VIP). Although phase IV for Ar was upward, phase IV for N2 was small and variable, especially in the prone position. No significant prone to supine differences in closing capacity for Ar were seen, indicating that airway closure was generated at the same lung volumes. The maximum deflections of phase IV for Ar and N2 from extrapolated phase III slopes were smaller in the prone position, suggesting more uniform tracer gas concentrations across the lungs. VIP was smaller than the closing volume for Ar, which is consistent with the effects of well-developed collateral ventilation in dogs. Body rotation tests in three dogs did not generally cause an inversion of phase III or IV. We conclude that in recumbent dogs regional distribution of ventilation is not primarily determined by the effect of gravity, but by lung, thorax, and mediastinum interactions and/or differences in regional mechanical properties of the lungs.

Animals↗