The VP4 gene sequence of a haemagglutinating strain of feline rotavirus.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
S Ueda
Publications and source records attributed to S Ueda.
Production of anti-tumor-promoting iridoid glucosides in Genipa americana and its cell cultures.
The Genipa americana plant contains geniposide [3] and geniposidic acid [2] in the fruits and geniposidic acid [2] in the leaves. On callus induction, the plant produces tarennoside [1], geniposidic acid [2], and gardenoside [4] in high levels. The leaves of Ge. americana plants redifferentiated from the callus tissues produce 2.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
Rhnull with naturally occurring antibody.
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Adult↗
The subjective dimension of functioning and disability: what is it and what is it for?
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, WHO 2001) made a great advancement over ICIDH of 1980 in the understanding of the human functioning and disability. However, in both of them there is an important 'missing' element. That is the subjective dimension of functioning and disability. One of the authors (S. Ueda) published on this topic in 1981 both in Japanese and English. It had originated from his clinical experience in rehabilitation medicine. The understanding of the inner world of the client has proved a great asset in clinical practice. This paper explains its importance and provides a definition. It also proposes a tentative framework of a classification of subjective dimension of functioning and disability as the starting point for more intensive and extensive discussion on this important problem, and for its future inclusion into ICF.
Activities of Daily Living↗
Gene delivery systems using the Sendai virus.
Fusogenic liposome (FL) is a delivery system that can transfer encapsulated materials into living cells directly through membrane fusion. FL is a promising approach for gene therapy because it can deliver various genetic materials much more efficiently than other non-viral vectors without damaging the cell. FL-mediated gene transfer consists of two independent membrane fusion phenomena; generation of a FL by fusing a Sendai virus (SV) particle with a simple liposome encapsulating DNA, and successive fusion of the FL with cell membrane. The former requires viral F protein but no other special molecule on the liposomal membrane, whereas the latter may require the receptor (sialic acid) and unidentified assistant molecule(s) on the cell membrane. Further analysis suggests that these assistant molecule(s), not the receptor, may control the fusion and govern the cell specificity of FL-mediated delivery. This review has described a detailed analysis of these fusion phenomena and discussed possible applications of FL-mediated gene delivery to human gene therapy.
Genetic Therapy↗
Mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence diversity of hominoids.
We determined nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (about 1.6 kb) for 35 chimpanzee, 13 bonobo, 10 gorilla, 16 orangutan, and 23 gibbon individuals. We compared those data with published sequences and estimated nucleotide diversity for each species. All the ape species showed higher diversity than human. We also constructed phylogenetic trees and networks. The two orangutan subspecies were clearly separated from each other, and Sumatran orangutans showed much higher nucleotide diversity than Bornean orangutans. Some gibbon species did not form monophyletic clusters, and variation within species was not much different from that among species in the subgenus Hylobates.
Animals↗
Chemical shift GRE MRI of renal angiomyolipoma.
The renal angiomyolipoma is a fairly common benign renal tumor composed of various proportions of smooth muscle, blood vessels, and fat. Because fat is present in virtually every case, the CT findings in angiomyolipomas are so distinctive that a histologic diagnosis may be suggested. In angiomyomas composed mainly of vascular tissue and muscle or in those in which recent hemorrhage has occurred, the majority of tumors may have soft tissue CT density values without apparent fatty component (1,2). In such cases, preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. In this case report, we detected a small amount of fatty tissue with a chemical shift GRE MRI technique, although CT failed to detect the fatty tissue.
Aged↗
In vitro evidence for dopaminergic receptors in human renal artery.
Effects of dopamine on human renal arteries were pharmacologically investigated in vitro. Norepinephrine (5 X 10(-10)-5 X 10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent contractions of isolated renal arterial strips, which were significantly depressed by prior administration of phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine. Isoproterenol (4 X 10(-10)-4 X 10(-6) M) concentration dependently relaxed the strips under potassium contracture, but a high dose (4 X 10(-5) M) constricted them. Biphasic responses to isoproterenol were changed to concentration-dependent contractions by prior administration of propranolol, and abolished by propranolol together with phentolamine. Dopamine (5 X 10(-8)-5 X 10(-4) M) produced concentration-dependent contractions of human renal arteries, which were not significantly influenced by propranolol but which were reversed to relaxations by phentolamine. Dopamine-induced relaxations, which were obtained after administration of phentolamine, were not significantly affected by propranolol, but were significantly depressed by combined application of propranolol and haloperidol, or of propranolol and droperidol. Results suggest that isolated human renal arteries have dopaminergic receptors in their smooth muscles which show relaxations of renal arteries after alpha-adrenoceptor blockade.
Adult↗
Insulin as a vascular hormone: implications for the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.
1. Metabolic disorders, such as obesity and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disorders, such as essential hypertension, congestive cardiac failure and atherosclerosis, have two features in common, namely relative resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake and vascular endothelial dysfunction. 2. Significant increases in limb blood flow occur in response to systemic hyperinsulinaemia, although there is marked variation in the results due to a number of confounding factors, including activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Local hyperinsulinaemia has a less marked vasodilator action despite similar plasma concentrations, but this can be augmented by co-infusing D-glucose. 3. Insulin may stimulate endothelial nitric oxide production or may act directly on vascular smooth muscle via stimulation of the Na+-H+ exchanger and Na+/K+-ATPase, leading to hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and consequent closure of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. 4. There is evidence both for and against the existence of a functional relationship between insulin-mediated glucose uptake (insulin sensitivity) and insulin-mediated vasodilation (which can be regarded as a surrogate measure for endothelial function). 5. If substrate delivery is the rate-limiting step for insulin-mediated glucose uptake (in other words, if skeletal muscle blood flow is a determinant of glucose uptake), then endothelial dysfunction, resulting in a relative inability of mediators, including insulin, to stimulate muscle blood flow, may be the underlying mechanism accounting for the association of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disorders with insulin resistance. 6. Glucose uptake may determine peripheral blood flow via stimulation of ATP-dependent ion pumps with consequent vasorelaxation. 7. A 'third factor' may cause both insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease. Candidates include skeletal muscle fibre type and capillary density, distribution of adiposity and endogenous corticosteroid production. 8. A complex interaction between endothelial dysfunction, abnormal skeletal muscle blood flow and reduced insulin-mediated glucose uptake may be central to the link between insulin resistance, blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance and the risk of cardiovascular disease. An understanding of the primary mechanisms resulting in these phenotypes may reveal new therapeutic targets in metabolic and cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular Diseases↗
Pleural effusion cytology in a case of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma). A case report.
BACKGROUND: Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) presents with subcutaneous panniculitis associated with hemophagocytic syndrome. Many cases of CHP are now being classified as a natural disease progression of subcutaneous panniculitic T-cell lymphoma (SPTL). There have been no cytologic reports dealing with pleural aspirates in cases of CHP or SPTL. CASE: A pleural aspirate obtained from a 19-year-old female revealed lymphoma cells and hemophagocytic histiocytes. A skin biopsy specimen showed the presence of CD8-positive lymphoma cells in fat lobules associated with cytologically benign histiocytes with erythrophagocytosis and lymphophagocytosis. CONCLUSION: Hemophagocytic histiocytes were seen in the pleural effusion from a patient with SPTL.
Adult↗
Peripheral hypoglossal nerve palsy caused by lateral position of the external carotid artery and an abnormally high position of bifurcation of the external and internal carotid arteries--a case report.
An unusual case of peripheral hypoglossal nerve palsy, caused by lateral position of the external carotid artery and an abnormally high carotid bifurcation is reported. Improvement followed ligation and cutting of the external carotid artery at its origin.
Carotid Artery, External↗
Chronological changes in spontaneous intracerebral hematoma--an experimental and clinical study.
A model of intracerebral hematoma that closely resembles the state in humans after spontaneous intracerebral hematoma was developed. Sequential changes in experimental intracerebral hematomas were compared with the in vivo findings in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The clinical series consisted of 28 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage observed by CT during their natural course from 1976 through 1978. The experimental series consisted of 26 adult mongrel dogs with intracerebral hematoma near the basal ganglia studied by CT and histological examinations. In neither the clinical nor the experimental series was the time of decrease in density beginning in the periphery of the hematoma or the first appearance of ring enhancement and its concentric concentration toward the center of the hematoma affected by the size of the hematoma. In the experimental series, the tissue reaction near the periphery of the intracerebral hematoma showed constant processes: First, a necrotic layer appeared; this was then replaced by immature connective tissue with newly formed vessels and argentophilic fibers, and finally the immature layer was gradually transformed into mature connective tissue with collagenous fibers. Ring enhancement was accompanied by the appearance of immature connective tissue and capillaries. This process of change was also unrelated to the size of the hematoma. The following correlations were suggested from the chronological observation of CT images and the histological appearance: 1) acute stage - homogeneous high density extending to the periphery, appearance of the necrotic layer; 2) subacute stage - decreased density spreading from the periphery and formation of ring enhancement, appearance of immature connective tissue with argentophilic fibers; 3) chronic stage - concentric concentration of ring enhancement and development of mature connective tissue with collagenous fibers.
Animals↗
Effect of zaprinast on nitric oxide levels in serum and aortic tissue.
Nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized from the guanidino nitrogen of l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Most of the effects of NO are mediated by cyclic guanosine 3'5 monophosphate (cGMP), which is synthesized by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Although the NO/cGMP pathway has been extensively studied, remarkably little is known about the regulation of NO release. Furthermore, controversial studies have indicated that intervention of the sGC/cGMP pathway modulates the release of NO. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that drugs that affect the sGC/cGMP pathway may modulate NO release and, if so, is there a correlation between NO levels and blood pressure effect? To this end, we investigated the effects of the PDE 5 inhibitor zaprinast on mean arterial pressure (MAP), nitrite/nitrate levels and cGMP in normotensive male Sprague Dawley rats. The results of the current study indicated that zaprinast dose-dependently increased plasma cGMP levels at 18, 24 and 36 mg/kg and decreased MAP at 24 and 36 mg/kg. However, zaprinast at 18, 24 and 36 mg/kg did not affect NO levels either in serum or aortic tissue. We have concluded that the PDE 5 inhibitor zaprinast has no regulatory effect on NO release in serum and aortic tissue, and NO was not involved in the hypotensive effect of zaprinast.
Animals↗
Beta 0-thalassemia due to a nonsense mutation at beta 90 (GAG----TAG) in human hemoglobin gene.
We studied a patient with severe anemia and jaundice who exhibited a high hemoglobin A1 (HbA1) level secondary to an increase in HbF despite normal glucose tolerance. The red blood cells showed anisocytosis, poikilocytosis and polychromasia; target cells, Howell-Jolly bodies, Heints bodies and punctate basophilia were observed. No defect or reduction in activity was observed in 19 red cell enzymes. A family history of similar anemia in the patient's daughter and cousins on the mother's side indicated an involvement of genetic factors. Gene cloning and DNA analysis showed that the condition is a new type of beta 0-thalassemia caused by a nonsense mutation (GAG----TAG) in codon 90 of the beta-globin gene.
Adult↗
Factors affecting microencapsulability in simple gelatin coacervation method.
Microencapsulation by way of simple coacervation by gelatin was examined. Five kinds of core material and six kinds of coacervation-inducing agent (CIA) were chosen and the encapsulability of each combination was studied. Some core materials are easily encapsulated, others are difficult to encapsulate, and some show a dependency of encapsulability on the CIA. Electrophoresis and gelatin adsorption studies revealed that encapsulation by way of simple coacervation by gelatin is caused by the affinity between core and coacervate resulting from gelatin adsorption on the core surface. These studies further revealed that cores onto which a large amount of gelatin has been adsorbed before coacervation can be encapsulated.
Adsorption↗
Core treatment for improving microencapsulability in simple gelatin coacervation method.
In microencapsulation by way of simple coacervation by gelatin, some core materials are encapsulated easily, whilst others are difficult to encapsulate or show an encapsulability dependent on the coacervation-inducing agent. The treatment of core materials to improve encapsulability was studied. It was found that core particle encapsulability can be improved by recrystallization from aqueous solution of an ionic polymer. Electrophoresis, microscopical observation and pH dependency of encapsulability of recrystallized cores revealed that the electrostatic attractive force between gelatin molecules in solution and a polymer attached to the core particle cause gelatin adsorption on the core surface to result in a great improvement in encapsulability.
Carbazilquinone↗
Altered erythropoiesis and increased hemolysis in hemoglobin M Akita (M Hyde Park beta92 His replaced by Tyr) disease.
Hb M Akita disease is a cyanotic hemoglobinopathy found in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The abnormal hemoglobin was found to be the same as Hb M Hyde Park (beta92 His replaced by Tyr) by chemical analysis in 1967. In this disease signs of accelerated hemolysis (serum bilirubin, 2.4 mg/dl; splenomegaly, 2 finger breadths; Hb, 10.7 g/dl; reticulocyte index, 2.7) were noted, but the causes of its slight anemia were revealed to be fairly complex by ferrokinetic study, RBC life-span measurement, and 99mTc myeloscintigram. The anemia in this disease is caused not only by shortened erythrocyte survival (T 1/2 = 11.5 days by 51Cr-tagging method) and sequestration of red cells in the spleen (Spleen: liver ratio = 2.5 approximately 3.0 by 51Cr-surface counting), but also by slow supply of erythrocytes to the peripheral blood from the bone marrow, presumably, related to the existence of unstable Hb M Akita and its derivative (Hb Akita) in the erythroid cells. Both Carrell's isopropanol test and Heinz body formation test were positive. In spite of maximally increased total erythropoiesis (8 times as high as the normal level; M:E ratio = 0.22:1.0), supply of red cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood was significantly decreased. The distribution of hematopoietic sites throughout the body was reasonably uniform.
Adult↗
[Two autopsy cases of aortitis syndrome in the elderly].
Two autopsy cases of aortitis syndrome (Takayasu's aortitis) in the elderly are presented. Case 1 was an 81-year-old woman in whom hypertension was observed at age 37, and difference of right and left arm blood pressure was pointed out at age 65. She was referred to the authors' hospital at age 72. Chest X-ray and computed tomography of the thorax indicated atypical coarctation and diffuse calcification of the aorta. Case 2 was a 69-year-old woman in whom hypertension was pointed out at age 49, and blood pressure in the arms was found to differ from that in the legs at age 63. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed diffuse calcification and marked narrowing of the descending aorta. Pathological examination revealed marked calcification in the thickened adventitia of the aorta with mild atherosclerotic change. Irregular fibrotic changes of the adventitia and degeneration of elastic fibers of the media of the aorta were noted in both cases, and were consistent with Takayasu's aortitis. This disorder is common in young women and only a small number of elderly cases are reported although its incidence is increasing. Diffuse calcification of the aorta with an absence of inflammatory signs, which is frequent in older patients, were observed in both case. Systemic hypertension is the most important risk factor with coarctation of the aorta in Takayasu's aortitis. Bypass surgery is recommended in young patients, however in elderly patients, it is generally avoided, in favor of medical control of hypertension.
Aged↗