Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Nagata

Publications and source records attributed to S Nagata.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

Histological properties and biological significance of pouch in red kangaroo, Macropus rufus.

2 embryos, 4 youngs, 4 older youngs and the pouch of 2 mothers of the red kangaroos were examined. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The initial muscle spindles are already observed light microscopically in the vertebral, dorsal neck and forelimb muscles of the newborn baby and a little bit later in the masticatory muscles of the young of 68 mm in craniorump length and 28 g in body weight. 2. In the skin with less hair lining the inner surface of the pouch, abundant apocrine large sweat glands are observed, especially surrounding the basal region of the nipple and in the pleat formation of the skin. 3. The lactiferous mammary gland is enlarged, the lobules being divided by the interlobular muscle fiber tissue and enwrapped by the muscular capsule. The milk is squirted automatically by the muscle fiber contraction from the gland to the nipple, to which the baby attaches itself. 4. The musculature of the pouch wall is developed to form the sphincter muscle in the pouch orifice. The sphincter muscle plays an important role in conditioning the optimum temperature for the naked baby inside the pouch. 5. The apocrine perfume plays an important role in guiding the baby on the journey to the pouch after birth and the apocrine products also in maintaining the optimum humidity of the pouch to accomodate the baby. 6. During the long period of stay in the pouch, the masticatory and locomotive systems and their neuromuscular mechanism related to the herbivorous mastication become fully established and then the young leaves the pouch to feed on the animal's proper diet.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Gene cloning and sequence determination of leucine dehydrogenase from Bacillus stearothermophilus and structural comparison with other NAD(P)+-dependent dehydrogenases.

The gene for leucine dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.9) from Bacillus stearothermophilus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The selection for the cloned gene was based upon activity staining of the replica printed E. coli cells. A transformant showing high leucine dehydrogenase activity was found to carry an about 9 kilobase pair plasmid, which contained 4.6 kilobase pairs of B. stearothermophilus DNA. The nucleotide sequence including the 1287 base pair coding region of the leucine dehydrogenase gene was determined by the dideoxy chain termination method. The translated amino acid sequence was confirmed by automated Edman degradation of several peptide fragments produced from the purified enzyme by trypsin digestion. The polypeptide contained 429 amino acid residues corresponding to the subunit (Mr 49,000) of the hexameric enzyme. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of leucine dehydrogenase with those of other pyridine nucleotide dependent oxidoreductases registered in a protein data bank revealed significant sequence similarity, particularly between leucine and glutamate dehydrogenases, in the regions containing the coenzyme binding domain and certain specific residues with catalytic importance.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Left ventricular structural characteristics in unilateral renovascular hypertension and primary aldosteronism.

To assess the importance of the renin-angiotensin system and plasma volume as determinants of hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy and its anatomy, patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension and primary aldosteronism were studied by echocardiography. Blood pressure, age and sex were matched as closely as possible. The 19 patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension and the 19 patients with primary aldosteronism were similar in age, sex and blood pressure (168 +/- 19/97 +/- 11 and 163 +/- 17/99 +/- 10 mm Hg, respectively), but plasma volume was increased in the patients with primary aldosteronism. Interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness did not differ between the 2 groups of patients. There was a significant correlation between the level of systolic blood pressure and either left ventricular mass index (r = 0.34, p less than 0.05) or relative wall thickness (r = 0.58, p less than 0.001) in both groups of patients. Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension index was increased in the patients with primary aldosteronism compared with those with unilateral renovascular hypertension (3.2 +/- 0.4 vs 2.9 +/- 0.3 cm/m2, p less than 0.02). When confined to the patients with systolic pressure greater than or equal to 150 mm Hg, relative wall thickness was significantly increased in the patients with unilateral renovascular hypertension. Patients with primary aldosteronism and unilateral renovascular hypertension of similar blood pressure levels, age and sex have almost identical degrees of left ventricular hypertrophy and anatomy. In contrast, the patients with primary oldosteronism had increased left ventricular dimension index.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Microsurgical anatomy of the choroidal fissure.

The microsurgical anatomy of the choroidal fissure was examined in 25 cadaveric heads. The choroidal fissure, the site of attachment of the choroid plexus in the lateral ventricle, is located between the fornix and thalamus in the medial part of the lateral ventricle. The choroidal fissure is divided into three parts: (a) a body portion situated in the body of the lateral ventricle between the body of the fornix and the thalamus, (b) an atrial part located in the atrium of the lateral ventricle between the crus of the fornix and the pulvinar, and (c) a temporal part situated in the temporal horn between the fimbria of the fornix and the lower surface of the thalamus. The three parts of the fissure are the thinnest sites in the wall of the lateral ventricle bordering the basal cisterns and the roof of the third ventricle. Opening through the body portion of the choroidal fissure from the lateral ventricle exposes the velum interpositum and third ventricle. Opening through the temporal portion of the choroidal fissure from the temporal horn exposes the structures in the ambient and crural cisterns. Opening through the atrial portion of the fissure from the atrium exposes the quadrigeminal cistern, the pineal region, and the posterior portion of the ambient cistern. The neural, arterial, and venous relationships of each part of the fissure are reviewed. The operative approaches directed through each part of the fissure are also reviewed.

Cerebral Arteries↗

Production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor by acute myelomonocytic leukemia cells.

Two patients with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMoL) were tested to determine whether or not their cells produced granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Using the NFS-60 bioassay method, relatively high levels of G-CSF were demonstrated in the serum pre-treated with acid-dialysis and in the media conditioned by leukemia cells. Northern blot analysis for G-CSF using cDNA as a probe revealed that G-CSF production was increased at the mRNA level in the cells. No rearrangement at the DNA level, however, was observed by genomic Southern analysis. Our data indicate that the leukemic cells in AMMoL probably have the capacity to synthesize and secrete G-CSF.

Aged↗

Human liver type pyruvate kinase: complete amino acid sequence and the expression in mammalian cells.

Pyruvate kinase (PK) has four isozymes (L, R, M1, M2) that are encoded by two different genes. Among these isozymes, abnormalities of liver (L)-type PK is considered to be associated with hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia in humans. We isolated and determined the full-length sequence of human L-type PK cDNA. The cDNA contains 1629 base pairs encoding 543 amino acids, 68 base pairs of 5'-noncoding sequence, and 734 base pairs of 3'-noncoding sequence. The similarity between human and rat L-type PK was 86.9% at the nucleotide sequence level and 92.4% at the amino acid sequence level. The full-length L-type PK cDNA was placed under the promoter of simian virus 40 and introduced into monkey COS cells. Human L-type PK activity was detected in the extract of COS cells by the classical PK electrophoresis method.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Our method of correcting cryptotia.

Our technique for the correction of cryptotia using both Z-plasty and the advancement flap is described. The main advantages are the simple design of the skin incision and the possibility of its application to cryptotia other than severe cartilage deformity and extreme lack of skin.

Child↗

Transient abnormal septal motion after non-surgical closure of the ductus arteriosus.

Abnormal septal motion on M mode echocardiography was seen in eight of 16 patients soon after non-surgical closure of the ductus arteriosus. Ten to twenty-nine months after the procedure the abnormal septal motion had disappeared spontaneously. The cross section of the left ventricular cavity was circular both when septal motion was abnormal and when it was normal. Cross sectional echocardiography showed that there was an exaggerated anterior swinging motion of the heart in systole in patients with abnormal septal motion on the M mode recordings. The left ventricular end diastolic diameter before closure was significantly larger, and its reduction after closure was more pronounced in those with abnormal septal motion than in those without. This suggested that the abnormal septal motion was associated with relief of long standing left ventricular volume overload. It is suggested that acute shrinkage of the heart caused temporary laxity of the pericardium, and consequently more movement of the heart within the thorax. The return of normal septal motion suggests that the pericardium gradually shrank to accommodate the smaller heart.

Adult↗

Abnormal blood pathways in left ventricular cavity in acute myocardial infarction. Experimental observations with special reference to regional wall motion abnormality and hemostasis.

To elucidate the mechanism of regional hemostasis in the left ventricular (LV) cavity during myocardial infarction, the blood pathway in LV cavity was examined with contrast echocardiography injected from the left atrium before and after coronary ligation in nine canines. Before coronary ligation, contrast echoes spread over LV cavity with one rush. After ligation, smokelike echoes indicating hemostasis were observed at the apical middle of the LV cavity in five dogs with apical akinesis and at the apical area in four dogs with apical dyskinesis. The contrast echoes did not reach the apex within one diastolic period but turned upward to the outflow tract in the middle of the cavity in all dogs. In the cardiac beats that followed, some contrast echoes spread slowly toward the apex, forming a thin layer along the posterior wall in cases with akinesis but not in cases with dyskinesis. The area separated from the blood pathway developed where the smokelike echoes had been developed. Tachycardia exaggerated the abnormality of blood pathway and widened the contrast echo-free area. The abnormal pathway of the blood in apical myocardial infarction develops hemostasis in the apex. This should be one of the mechanisms of thrombus formation in myocardial infarction.

Animals↗

Magnetic resonance imaging in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with abnormal thallium perfusion and cardiac enzymes.

Gated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 6 patients with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with abnormal thallium perfusion, and 12 patients with ordinary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The patients with ordinary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and abnormal thickening of the septal wall and normal left ventricular dimensions, while the patients with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had focal wall thinning (usually involving the apical-septal wall) and dilated left ventricle in addition to hypertrophied heart. The quantitative measurement for cardiac dimensions using MRI was similar to that found on echocardiography in all cases. In addition, inhomogeneous signal intensities at left ventricular wall were observed in 3 cases of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which may suggest the existence of myocardial fibrosis. Gated MRI should be performed for early detection and follow-up of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, since some patients will progress from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adult↗

Bipotential murine hemopoietic cell line (NFS-60) that is responsive to IL-3, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and erythropoietin.

NFS-60 cells were previously obtained from leukemia cells that were infected with the Cas-Br-M murine leukemia virus in vivo. We examined the proliferation and differentiation capacity of NFS-60 cells in the presence of native and recombinant (r) interleukin 3 (IL-3), recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF), recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rGM-CSF), and r-erythropoietin (Ep) using methylcellulose culture methods. This cell line was able to form colonies in response to each hemopoietic factor, but colony formation was rarely seen in their absence. Some populations of NFS-60 cells could differentiate into neutrophils and macrophages in the presence of IL-3 and GM-CSF. Moreover, in the presence of Ep, this cell line formed well-hemoglobinized colonies as well as nonerythroid colonies. In the presence of G-CSF, NFS-60 cells remained in the promyelocytic state. Electron microscopic studies confirmed these morphologies. A single-cell transfer experiment demonstrated that neutrophils, macrophages, and erythroblasts were derived from a single cell. It is concluded that the NFS-60 cell line is a factor-dependent, bipotential hemopoietic cell line.

Animals↗

Localization of Evi-2 to chromosome 11: linkage to other proto-oncogene and growth factor loci using interspecific backcross mice.

A common site of ecotropic murine leukemia virus integration designated Evi-2 (ecotropic viral integration site-2) has been identified in BXH-2 myeloid tumors. As part of experiments to determine whether Evi-2 identified a new proto-oncogene locus involved in myeloid disease, we determined its chromosomal location. We mapped Evi-2 to mouse Chromosome 11 using standard recombinant inbred strain and genetic backcross analysis. We then determined the location of Evi-2 relative to other proto-oncogene and growth factor loci located on Chromosome 11 by interspecific backcross analysis. The loci included in this study were the proto-oncogene loci, Erbb, Erba, and Rel, as well as, Il-3 (interleukin-3), Csfgm (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor), and Trp53-1 (transforming protein p53). All loci except Erbb had been previously mapped to Chromosome 11 with the use of somatic cell hybrids and consequently their positions on Chromosome 11 were not known. One proto-oncogene, Erbb-2 (analogous to the neu proto-oncogene), and one growth factor locus, Csfg (granulocyte colony-stimulating factor), which had not been mapped in the mouse were also localized on Chromosome 11 using the interspecific backcross mice. Recombination between Evi-2 and all proto-oncogene and growth factor loci was demonstrated, suggesting that Evi-2 may ultimately identify a new proto-oncogene involved in myeloid disease. This study revealed a number of interesting conserved linkage groups common to mouse and man.

Animals↗

[Anterolateral papillary muscle motion before and after septal myotomy in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy].

The left ventricular outflow pressure gradient in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy results from systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve (SAM). This abnormal orientation of the valve was previously proposed to be caused by inappropriately hypertrophied papillary muscles which protrude to the interventricular septum (IVS). Septal myotomy can alter the orientation of the papillary muscles and resolve the pressure gradient, without myectomy. Recently, we have experienced two instructive cases to prove our previously advocated hypothesis. Case 1: This 54-year-old man complained of effort dyspnea, and his echocardiogram disclosed marked SAM, and a thickened IVS (28 mm) and left ventricular posterior wall (16 mm). The intraventricular pressure gradient was 134 mmHg, and there was mitral regurgitation of grade 2/4. A longitudinal incision via the aorta on the anterior portion of the IVS, toward the base of the anterolateral papillary muscle, resolved the pressure gradient and mitral regurgitation, and two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated that the SAM resolved at the lateral aspect of the valve, but it remained on the medial side. Case 2: This 57-year-old man complained of dyspnea during effort. He had marked SAM. The intraventricular pressure gradient was 65 mmHg, and there was grade 3/4 mitral regurgitation. Longitudinal incisions on the anterior, medial and posterior parts of the IVS abolished the SAM and reduced mitral regurgitation to grade 1/4. In both cases, during systole, the anterolateral papillary muscle protruded into the left ventricular ontflow tract, causing SAM. After surgery, the direction of the muscle axis moved toward the mitral orifice during systole, resulting in alleviation of SAM on the same side of the location of septotomy. This further confirmed our concept that disoriented papillary muscles play essential roles in causing SAM. If the Venturi forces previously stressed by other investigators cause SAM, the latter should resolve on both the medial and lateral aspects, even by septotomy. Thus, the Venturi theory seems untenable.

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic↗

Right ventricular thallium-201 visualization in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Fifty-six patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who had echocardiography and cardiac catheterization were studied. Eleven (18%) of 56 patients had right ventricular (RV) thallium-201 visualization at resting scan. RV thallium-201 visualization was observed in the apex or lower half of the RV free wall, which was quite different from that with RV pressure or volume overload. There was no significant correlation between RV thallium-201 visualization and interventricular septal thickness or haemodynamic data. RV systolic pressure and RV dimension were within normal limits whether RV visualization was observed or not. Thus, an abnormal increase of RV mass in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may lead to RV thallium-201 visualization without RV pressure or volume overload.

Adult↗

Chromosomal gene structure of human myeloperoxidase and regulation of its expression by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

By using the full-length cDNA as a probe, the chromosomal gene for human myeloperoxidase was isolated from a human gene library. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the chromosomal gene with that of the cDNA has revealed that the human myeloperoxidase gene is composed of 12 exons and 11 introns. S1 mapping analysis of human myeloperoxidase mRNA identified the single transcription initiation site at 180 base pairs upstream of the ATG initiation codon. In the 5'-flanking region of the human myeloperoxidase gene, there are several blocks of sequences which are homologous to the sequences found on the 5'-promoter region of the human c-myc proto-oncogene. The myeloperoxidase gene is expressed in mouse myeloid leukemia WEHI-3B D+ and NFS-60 cells. When these cells were treated with human recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, the steady-state level of myeloperoxidase mRNA declined to zero within 36 h in WEHI-3B D+ cells, but not in NFS-60 cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The chromosomal gene structure for murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

The chromosomal gene for murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been isolated from a mouse genomic library. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene and its flanking region has revealed that the murine G-CSF gene is composed of four introns and five exons, which is similar to the human G-CSF gene. The S1 mapping analysis of murine G-CSF mRNA has identified the major transcription initiation site for the murine G-CSF gene at 36 base pairs upstream of the ATG initiation codon. In the flanking region, there are sequences of about 300 base pairs which are highly conserved between human and murine G-CSF genes. The decanucleotide GAGRTTCCAC, which was found at the 5'-flanking region of genes for other hemopoietic growth factors, was also present within the corresponding regions of human and murine G-CSF gene. Unlike the human G-CSF gene, no alternative splicing was observed for the murine G-CSF gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗