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Biomedical subjects

S Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to S Watanabe.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Long-term prognosis of acute aortic dissection with medical treatment: a survey of 263 unoperated patients.

Between 1973 and 1998, 263 patients with acute aortic dissection were medically treated only. They were divided into 4 groups: Stanford type A and B with open false lumen (open) or with early thrombosed false lumen (thrombosed). An event was defined as death by dissection or re-dissection. Gender, age, maximum diameter of dissected aorta and presence of shock at onset were examined as risk factors. In the open false lumen group, the presence of shock was associated with the event. During the chronic period, the diameter of the aorta was associated with prognosis in open type B dissection. The rate of event was higher in the open type A and B groups than in the thrombosed type A and B groups; however, there was no difference in the event-free rate between types A and B in patients surviving the acute period. The prognosis of medically treated dissecting aorta was not poor in patients with type B or with early thrombosed false lumen. The presence of shock at onset with open false lumen and the diameter of the aorta (> or =40 mm) in type B were significantly correlated with a poor prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Effects of adenosine A1- and A2A-receptor agonists on enhancement of dopamine release from the striatum in methamphetamine-sensitized rats.

We report here both adenosine A1- and A2A-receptor agonists inhibit the expression of methamphetamine (MAP)-induced behavioral sensitization in rats. Animals were treated with MAP (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) every 3 days with a total of 5 administrations. The augmentation of dopamine release from the striatum was demonstrated by MAP re-administration (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) after 7-day withdrawal by microdialysis. The augmentation of dopamine release was inhibited by pre-treatment not with N6-cyclohexyladenosine (0.01 mg/kg, i.p.) but by with 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxy-amide adenosine (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.). These results suggested that adenosine A1 and A2A receptors play an inhibitory role in sensitization via different mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Performance of a partially packed charcoal pellet bioreactor for acetic acid fermentation.

The performance of a partially packed charcoal pellet bioreactor was compared to that of a fully packed bioreactor for aerobic acetic acid production. In the fully packed charcoal pellet bioreactor, it was considered that the shortening of an actual retention time of the culture broth limited the bioreactor performance under high dilution rate and high aeration conditions. By reducing the filling ratio of charcoal pellets to 44%, which increased the actual retention time of the culture broth, the maximum productivity increased from 3.9 g/l/h in the fully packed bed bioreactor to 5.7 g/l/h in the partially packed bioreactor without affecting the operational stability.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

A mainstay of functional food science in Japan--history, present status, and future outlook.

The development of food science in the near future probably depends on the advance in functional food science, the concept of which was proposed first in Japan nearly 15 years ago. The new science has been internationally distributed and accepted as conceptually being beyond nutrition. In Japan, however, it traced a unique path of progress in the form of a product-driven rather than concept-driven science. Actually, a number of substances and products with potential for disease risk reduction rather than simply for health maintenance have been investigated for their body-modulating functions. Some of them have been applied in practice to the industrialization of functional foods in terms of "foods for specified health uses" legally defined by new legislation. A variety of sophisticated methods have been introduced as well, including the so-called "XYZ" evaluation system, database construction for assessment of the function, and even the DNA microarray technique. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) also commenced their scientific as well as political activity, with its spread to industries which almost simultaneously began to vigorously investigate functional food products for enlargement of the food market. With all of this as a background, the Japan Liaison of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) hold a function food science symposium on behalf of related scientific bodies including the Japan Section of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI). This paper is an overview compiled from 12 presentations made in the symposium, with the aim of internationally publicizing the activity of functional food science in Japan.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Purification and characterization of a cold-adapted isocitrate lyase and a malate synthase from Colwellia maris, a psychrophilic bacterium.

Isocitrate lyase (ICL) and malate synthase (MS) of a psychrophilic marine bacterium, Colwellia maris, were purified to electrophoretically homogeneous state. The molecular mass of the ICL was found to be 240 kDa, composed of four identical subunits of 64.7 kDa. MS was a dimeric enzyme composed of 76.3 kDa subunits. N-Terminal amino acid sequences of the ICL and MS were analyzed. Purified ICL had its maximum activity at 20 degrees C and was rapidly inactivated at the temperatures above 30 degrees C, but the optimum temperature for the activity of MS was 45 degrees C. NaCl was found to protect ICL from heat inactivation above 30 degrees C, but the salt did not stabilize MS. Effects of temperatures on the kinetic parameters of both the enzymes were examined. The Km for the substrate (isocitrate) of ICL was decreased with decreasing temperature. On the other hand, the Km for the substrate (glyoxylate) of MS was increased with decreasing temperature. The calculated value of free energy of activation of ICL was on the same level as that of MS.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed2001

Isolation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading microorganisms and characterization of PHB-depolymerase from Arthrobacter sp. strain W6.

Microbial degraders of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were isolated from soil. Arthrobacter sp. strain W6 used not only PHB as a carbon source, but also PHAs such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-[5%]3-hydroxyvalerate), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-[14%]3-hydroxyvalerate), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-[22%]3-hydroxyvalerate). PHB-depolymerase was purified to homogeneity from the culture broth of Arthrobacter sp. strain W6 by a procedure involving DEAE- and butyl-Toyopearl column chromatographies. The Mr of the enzyme was estimated to be about 47,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 and 50 degrees C, and was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, Hg2+, Ag+, and Pb2+.

Arthrobacter↗
PubMed2001

Isolation and identification of 2-phenylethyl disaccharide glycosides and mono glycosides from rose flowers, and their potential role in scent formation.

2-Phenylethyl 6-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), and its 6-O-beta-D-xylopyraranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) were identified in the flowers of Rosa damascena Mill. harvested at the full bloom stage. 2-Phenylethyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and its beta-D-galactopyranoside (4) together with 1 and 2 were also found in the flower buds harvested 44 hrs before the opening stage. Their potential role in scent formation is discussed.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed2001

Specific accumulation and elimination kinetics of tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol, and other persistent organochlorines in humans from Japan.

We examined human adipose tissue, liver, and bile from humans in Japan to understand the contamination status, specific accumulation, and elimination of two newly identified environmental contaminants, tris(4-chlorophenyl)methane (TCPMe), tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPMOH), and other persistent organochlorines such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and chlordane compounds (CHLs). TCPMe and TCPMOH concentrations in Japanese human adipose tissue were slightly higher than those reported previously, indicating widespread exposure to these compounds in humans. Elevated residues of PCBs and DDTs are found in adipose tissue and liver. Concentrations in bile strongly correlated with concentrations in adipose fat and liver, which may suggest an equilibration in adipose fat/bile and liver/bile and possible biliary excretion of persistent organochlorines in humans. Composition of the organochlorines accumulated further indicates a metabolic capacity in humans higher than that of marine mammals. We observed age-dependent accumulation for TCPMe, TCPMOH, and other organochlorines, but there were no significant gender differences. p,p'-DDE and TCPMe were estimated to have low biliary excretion rate. Elimination potential of persistent organochlorines may be related to their octanol-water partition coefficient. The relationship between excretion rate and octanol-water partition coefficient may be used to predict the biliary excretion potential of some other lipophilic organochlorines such as dioxins and dibenzofurans in humans. The presence of organochlorines in bile suggests that the hepatic excretory system plays a major role in the elimination of xenobiotics in humans. To our knowledge, this is the first study of accumulation and elimination of TCPMe and TCPMOH in humans.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Immunohistochemical analysis of cytokeratin expression in dog skin.

The expression of cytokeratins and involucrin was analyzed to identify the skin cells which compose the epidermis of dogs. The distribution of cytokeratins and involucrin in normal dog skin was immunohistochemically examined with 27 commercial monoclonal antibodies for human use. Antibodies, No.4. OV-TL12/13, 35betaH11, 4.1.18, CAM5.2, NCL5D3, Ks.13.1, Ks.18.04, Ks.19.1, 170.2.]4 and Ks.20.8 stained hair follicles and/or the sweat gland duct, but not the epidermis. Antibodies, 34betaB4, AE3, 34betaE12. LP34, RCK102, MNF116, AE1, KLI, DE-K10 and DE-K13 reacted with every layer of the epidermis, hair follicles and the sweat gland duct. These results were similar to those reported in the human skin. No positive staining, however, could be detected in the epidermis, hair follicles and the sweat gland duct with commercial antibodies, 6B10, Ks.7.18, Mu146-uc, E3, RCK108 and involucrin. Therefore, immunohistochemical investigation with these commercial antibodies developed for human skin examination might be available for investigating the origin of skin tumors in dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A serodiagnostic ELISA using recombinant antigen of swine transmissible gastroenteritis virus nucleoprotein.

A serodiagnostic ELISA utilizing the recombinant nucleoprotein (rN protein) of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) was developed, and evaluated by examining a panel of 141 virus neutralization (VN) positive and 101 negative sera. The rN protein-based ELISA (rnELISA) appeared to be highly sensitive and specific (98.6% and 98.0%, respectively) when it was compared to the VN test. The result was similar to that of an ELISA based on purified viral antigens with showing good correlation (R=0.829). No cross-reaction was detected with antisera against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, hog cholera virus, type A rotavirus, pseudorabies virus and swine vesicular disease virus in this ELISA. The rnELISA can be an alternative for the diagnosis of TGE with a great advantage in antigen preparation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Arthroderma benhamiae infection in a rabbit.

The isolate from the rabbit with dermatophytosis which was transmitted to the owners was proved to be Arthroderma benhamiae (-) by mating experiments as well as by chitin synthase 1 (CHSI) gene analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Japanese female patients with Graves' disease.

We reported previously that vitamin D deficiency is a causal mechanism of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves' disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency by reviewing serum 25(OH)D levels in 208 patients with Graves' disease (146 women, 62 men) during a 1 year period. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in female Graves' patients (31.8 +/- 13.3 nmol/l) than in male patients (41.3 +/- 15.0 nmol/l). Vitamin D deficiency (defined as a serum 25(OH)D value below 25 nmol/l) was found in 40% of female patients and in 18% of male patients (p < 0.005). There was a significant seasonal variation in the 25(OH)D concentrations in female patients [amplitude 6.38 (95% CI, 5.42-7.56)], with values below 25 nmol/l found in 58% of female patients during the winter months. There were significant (p < 0.001) differences in serum 25(OH)D levels between age groups in the female patients. The concentrations were lowest in patients in their twenties (25.1 +/- 8.2 nmol/l) and highest in patients in their fifties and sixties (43.2 +/- 13.7 nmol/l). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations might be monitored in patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug therapy, and vitamin D and/or calcium supplements are recommended for patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Unique place of Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine) in complementary and alternative medicine: a survey of doctors belonging to the regional medical association in Japan.

Although there are various kinds of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, it is conjectured that medical doctors consider individual CAM therapies to be heterogeneous in nature. Therefore, to investigate the relationship among Kampo (Japanese traditional medicine) and other CAM, a survey using a structured, self-administered questionnaire was performed for 540 randomly selected doctors of the Kyoto Medical Association (KMA). The results showed that some form of CAM was practiced by 73% of the KMA doctors. The most common CAM practice was Kampo, which corresponded to 96.1% of CAM-practicing doctors. A smaller percentage of doctors practiced other forms of alternative medicine. Kampo was best known by doctors among other CAM therapies. Almost all doctors believed in the effectiveness of Kampo. Doctors who believed in the effectiveness of Kampo tended to believe that other CAM therapies were also effective. Cluster analysis revealed that Kampo was distant from the other CAM. It was concluded that Kampo was most frequently practiced and most believed by doctors in Japan among CAM therapies. Since Kampo was independent of other CAM therapies, Kampo's place in CAM therapies was very unique in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Dioxins in bile in relation to those in the human liver and blood.

The levels of 20 dioxin congeners, 7 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), 10 polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and three coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs), in bile were examined in comparison with those in the blood and liver, in 27 autopsy cases. Total-TEQ values were the same in the bile (43.2 +/- 30.9 pg TEQ/g lipid) and blood (43.1 +/- 24.2 pg TEQ/g lipid), and three times higher in the liver (127.8 +/- 57.4 pg TEQ/g lipid). Highly chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs have a tendency to accumulate in the liver, and their levels in bile and blood were relatively low compared with those in the liver, with 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran having the highest tendency among the 20 congeners. Daily excretion in bile was calculated to be 54 pg TEQ at age 65, by assuming that daily bile secretion is 750 ml and is concentrated 7.5-fold in the gallbladder. The correlation between bile and blood total-TEQ was high, with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 among the 27 autopsy cases. Thus, the regression equation of y = 1.14x - 6.02 will provide us levels in bile (total TEQ per g lipid), knowing the blood total-TEQ level, where x is total-TEQ per g lipid of the blood. Furthermore, accumulation of dioxins was estimated to be 0.99, 0.70 and 1.91 pg TEQ/g lipid/year in bile, blood and liver, respectively.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Passage of dextran magnetite nanoparticles through the subcupular space of the pigeon.

We examined the permeability of the subcupular space for endolymph flow in the pigeon. A new technique was developed in which nanoparticles consisting of dextran magnetite were attracted by use of a magnet, instead of injecting a dye solution. The method was revealed to prevent an excess pressure application by the injection of dye solution. The Berlin blue color resulting from the dextran magnetite nanoparticles was found mainly within the subcupular space contacting with the sensory hairs. Further formation of the Berlin blue was found within the sensory cells. The result supports the idea that the fluid passes through the subcupular space.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Cupular response and functional anatomy to pressure application in the pigeon.

In this study, horizontal semicircular canal of the pigeon was inserted with a microfill, 164 micrometers in outer diameter, to gauge the pressure change in the canal and to clarify two things. One is whether the endolymph passes through the crista ampullaris or not. The other is as to the space where the endolymph passes through in the crista ampullaris if the endolymph goes through the crista. The pressure applications were performed by using Evans blue solution and as a result three pressure groups, i.e., 1) high, 2) moderate and 3) low were discriminated. Our results suggest that the endolymphatic fluid passes through the subcupular space or the top of the crista ampullaris when the pressure is enough small like the head rotates in daily life. Accordingly we present a new hypothesis as to the functional anatomy of the cupula in contrast to current hypotheses e.g. drum membrane or revolving door.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Study design and organization of the JPHC study. Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study on Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases.

The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study on Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases (JPHC Study; formerly called "Koseisho Multipurpose Prospective Cohort Study") began in 1990 (Cohort I) and 1993 (Cohort II). The JPHC Study covers 11 public health center areas throughout Japan and includes a total of 140,420 residents. The study's design includes a baseline survey with a self-administered questionnaire on lifestyle and collection of blood and health checkup data; a follow-up system for mortality, migration, and incidence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases; an additional follow-up survey after 5 and 10 years; and distribution of a newsletter. The JPHC study is expected to provide evidence for the prevention and control of cancer and cardiovascular diseases in the 21st century.

Adult↗