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Biomedical subjects

T Kokubo

Publications and source records attributed to T Kokubo.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of the Drosophila 85-kilodalton TFIID subunit.

Transcription initiation factor TFIID is a multimeric protein complex that plays a central role in mediating promoter responses to various activators and repressors. To further understand the role of the 85-kDa TFIID subunit (p85), we have cloned the corresponding cDNA with a probe based on an amino acid sequence of the purified protein. The recombinant p85 interacts directly with both the TATA box-binding subunit (TFIID tau or TBP) and the 110-kDa subunit (p110) of TFIID, suggesting that p85 may play a role in helping to anchor p110 within the TFIID complex and, with other studies, that TFIID assembly and function may involve a concerted series of subunit interactions. Interestingly, the carboxy terminus of p85 contains eight of the WD-40 repeats found originally in the beta subunit of G proteins and more recently in other transcriptional regulatory factors. However, truncated p85 lacking all the WD-40 repeats maintained interactions with both TFIID tau and p110. These observations leave open the possibility of a distinct function for the WD-40 repeats, possibly in transducing signals by interactions with transcriptional regulators and/or other components of the basic transcriptional machinery.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

[Studies on as-triazine derivatives. XIX. Synthesis of 2,3-diarylpyrazine 2,3-diarylpyridine derivatives as blood platelet aggregation inhibitors].

4,5-Diphenyl-2-ethoxypyrimidine (1), 3,4-diphenyl-6-ethoxypyridazine (2) and 2,3-diphenyl-5-ethoxypyrazine (3) were evaluated for inhibitory activity towards arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of rabbit blood platelet in vitro. 2,3-Diphenyl-5-ethoxypyrazine (3) exhibited significant inhibitory activity. Thus, various 5-substituted 2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrazines were synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 5-chloro-2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrazine (9). In a similar manner, substituted 2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)pyridines were prepared from 2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-methylsulfonylpyridine (17), which was synthesized by the cycloaddition retro Diels-Alder reaction of 5,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylsulfonyl-1,2,4-triazine (16) with norbornadiene. Among the compounds prepared, 6-isopropoxy-2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-pyrazine (10f) showed the most potent inhibitory activity, which was more than the activity of anitrazafen[5,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazine.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Natural history and magnetic resonance imaging.

We studied the prognostic value of MRI in 32 radiographically normal, asymptomatic hips in 25 patients at risk of osteonecrosis from glucocorticoids or alcoholism. The early findings were band-like hypointense zones on spin-echo images. No operations were performed. Life-table survival curves showed that femoral heads in which the hypointense zone traversed the middle portion of the head were most at risk of subsequent segmental collapse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

A novel skeletal drug delivery system using self-setting bioactive glass bone cement. IV: Cephalexin release from cement containing polymer-coated bulk powder.

A novel device consisting of Eudragit-coated cephalexin as a model drug and a self-setting bioactive cement based upon CaO-SiO2-P2O5 glass was investigated. The glass cement hardened within 5 min of mixing with a phosphate buffer. After setting, in vitro drug release from homogeneous or heterogeneous drug-loaded cement pellets in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at pH 7.25 and 37 degrees C continued for over 2 weeks. The hardened cement gradually formed low-crystallinity hydroxyapatite and decreased in volume by about 5% during drug release in SBF. Consequently, 30% of the loaded drug was initially released from the homogeneous cement system, and thereafter it was released more slowly. Since the heterogeneous system consisting of the cement and a 50% polymer coated, drug-loaded pellet avoided this drug's burst, the drug was released over a longer period than that in the homogeneous system. The heterogeneous system released the polymer-coated drug very slowly, because it completely avoided the initial burst, and sustained the release over a long period.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1993

A case of severe IgA nephropathy associated with psoriatic arthritis and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

A patient is described with severe IgA nephropathy associated with psoriatic arthritis, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and brain hemorrhage that developed serially over one and a half years. The histological findings of the renal biopsy showed severe endo- and extracapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis. Massive IgA deposits were observed by immunofluorescence not only in the mesangium but also along the capillary walls. Electron microscopy revealed abundant electron-dense deposits in the mesangial and subendothelial areas. The overlapping or coexistence of these conditions has rarely been reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Butyrolactone I, a selective inhibitor of cdk2 and cdc2 kinase.

We screened cdc2 kinase inhibitors from cultured mediums of micro organisms using purified mouse cyclin B-cdc2 kinase and a specific substrate peptide for cdc2 kinase. A selective inhibitor of cdc2 kinase was isolated from the cultured medium of Aspergillus species F-25799, and identified as butyrolactone I. Butyrolactone I inhibited cdc2 and cdk2 kinases but it had little effect on mitogen-activated protein kinase, protein kinase C, cyclic-AMP dependent kinase, casein kinase II, casein kinase I or epidermal growth factor-receptor tyrosine kinase. Its inhibitory effect was found to be due to competition with ATP. Butyrolactone I selectively inhibited the H1 histone phosphorylation in nuclear extracts. It also inhibited the phosphorylation of the product of retinoblastoma susceptibility gene in nuclear extracts and intact cells. Thus butyrolactone I should be very useful for elucidating the function of cdc2 and cdk2 kinases in cell cycle regulation.

4-Butyrolactone↗
PubMed1992

Identification of human TFIID components and direct interaction between a 250-kDa polypeptide and the TATA box-binding protein (TFIID tau).

Previous studies have indicated that human transcription initiation factor TFIID is a large complex that contains a TATA-binding polypeptide (TFIID tau or TBP) and other components that qualitatively alter promoter interactions and are uniquely required for activator-dependent (versus basal) transcription. TFIID tau-specific antibody columns have been employed to identify a number of human TFIID polypeptides that are tightly associated with TFIID tau. These differ in size from polypeptides in known general initiation factors, including the initiator-binding factor (TFII-I) which shares some promoter binding characteristics with TFIID. The largest component (p250) identified in TFIID was shown to interact directly and tightly with TFIID tau, suggesting that it may play a major role in the assembly of the TFIID complex.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding Drosophila transcription factor TFIIB.

A Drosophila cDNA encoding a human transcription factor TFIIB homologue was isolated by PCR methods. The deduced amino acid sequence indicates 85% sequence similarity with human TFIIB, and the corresponding cDNA product expressed in Escherichia coli is interchangeable with human TFIIB for both basal and GAL4-VP16-induced transcription. Structural motifs including the direct repeats, basic repeats, and sigma sequence similarities are well conserved among Drosophila, human, and Xenopus TFIIB. However, the N-terminal region of each direct repeat is less conserved among the three species, suggesting the presence of two structural subdomains in the direct repeat. Moreover, the amino acid changes in the N-terminal subdomain produce altered positions of the conserved amino acids between the direct repeats. An overall similarity in general structural features between TFIIB and TFIID tau (the TATA-binding subunit of TFIID) was previously noted. However, in contrast to the sequence divergence reported for the N-terminal domains of TFIID tau from different species, the N-terminal sequence of TFIIB was highly conserved among the species. This suggests that TFIIB has a more rigid structure, consistent with its function as a "bridging" protein between TFIID and RNA polymerase II. Further implications of the TFIIB structure are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Osteoconduction of bioceramics in normal and osteopenic rats: comparison between bioactive and bioinert ceramics.

Rats with experimental osteopenia, which was induced by resecting both ovaries and sciatic nerves (OVX + NX), were used to evaluate osteoconduction of an apatite and wollastonite-containing glass-ceramic (designated A-W.GC) and an alumina ceramic. The bone mineral densities (BMDs) of the femurs were measured by dural energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and determination of the ash weight. Twelve weeks after the first operation, when the BMDs in the OVX + NX groups were about 20% less than that in the sham-treated groups (Sham), the bioceramics were implanted into the proximal tibiae. The bone mineral masses around the implants in the proximal tibiae were evaluated by histological examination of undecalcified specimens and DEXA. Both types of implants in the OVX + NX groups showed less reactive bone than those in the Sham groups. However, a histomorphological study revealed that the direct contact area between bone and implant was larger with bioactive ceramic A-W.GC than with the bioinert alumina ceramic even under osteopenic conditions while two types of ceramic made no difference on the bone at distance from the implant. The direct contact area with A-W.GC did not show any difference between the Sham and the osteopenic OVX + NX groups. The bioactive ceramic A-W.GC appears to have good osteoconductivity solely on its surface even under osteopenic conditions.

Aluminum Oxide↗
PubMed1992

Differences in ceramic-bone interface between surface-active ceramics and resorbable ceramics: a study by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

The interface between bioactive ceramics and bone was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The materials were apatite-wollastonite-containing glass ceramic (A-W.GC) as a representative surface-active ceramic, and calcite and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) as resorbable ceramics. Particles of these materials, ranging between about 100 microns and 300 microns in diameter, were implanted into rat tibiae, and specimens were prepared for observation at 8 weeks after implantation. Both SEM and TEM demonstrated that A-W.GC was bonded to bone through a thin Ca-P-rich layer consisting of fine apatite crystals apparently different from those of bone in shape, size, and orientation. Collagen fibers of the bone reached the surface of this layer, and chemical bonding between A-W.GC and the bone was speculated. Calcite and beta-TCP, on the other hand, made direct contact with the bone, and no apatite layer was present at the interface. The surfaces of the implants became rough due to degradation, and bone grew into the finest surface irregularities. However, we were unable to demonstrate any continuity of crystals between the resorbable implants and bone by high-resolution TEM. Accordingly, the bonding strength was considered to be mainly attributable to mechanical interlocking.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Mechanism and strength of bonding between two bioactive ceramics in vivo.

A study was conducted to examine the mechanism and strength of bonding between two bioactive ceramic plates in vivo. Rectangular plates (15 mm X 10 mm X 2 mm) of Bioglass, apatite-wollastonite-containing glass ceramic (designated A-W.GC), and two types of hydroxyapatite sintered at 900 degrees C and 1200 degrees C (designated HA900 and HA1200) were prepared. Two plates of the same materials tied together with silk thread were implanted subcutaneously into rats. The force required to detach the mutually bonded bioactive ceramic plates was measured 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after implantation. The interface between the two bonded plates was examined by SEM-EPMA and thin-film x-ray diffraction analysis. At 24 weeks after implantation, the mutual bonding of Bioglass and A-W.GC was stronger than that of the two HA types. SEM-EPMA and thin-film x-ray diffraction analysis of the bonded area of Bioglass and A-W.GC plates showed bonding zones with apatite in the margins, and a bonding zone with calcite in the center. The greater strength of bonding of Bioglass and A-W.GC plates compared with the two types of HA plate 24 weeks after implantation is explained by the wider bonding zone provided by the calcite layer formed in the center of the plates, which is considered to have been perfused with PO4-poor body fluids resulting from PO4 consumption for apatite formation in the margins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A comparative study of ultrastructures of the interfaces between four kinds of surface-active ceramic and bone.

The interfaces between four kinds of surface-active ceramic and bone were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using undecalcified specimens. The materials were Bioglass-type glass (Bioglass), Ceravital-type glass-ceramic (KGS), apatite- and wollastonite-containing glass-ceramic (A-W.GC) and hydroxyapatite (HA). Particles of these materials, ranging between about 100 and 300 microns in diameter, were implanted into rat tibiae, and specimens were prepared for observation at 8 weeks after implantation. All materials were observed to bond to bone through a collagen-free layer consisting of fine apatite crystals distinct from those in bone. The crystals of this apatite layer and those of bone were intermingled at their interface, suggesting chemical bonding. In Bioglass, which had only a glassy phase, several tens of microns of the material surface had changed to such an apatite layer. In KGS and A-W.GC, which had macrocrystals in the glassy phase, an intervening apatite layer about 0.5 micron thick was observed between the materials and bone. Furthermore, fine apatite crystals were also observed among the macrocrystals near the surface of the materials. In HA, which had no glassy phase, an intervening apatite layer was much less distinct and sometimes absent. These differences were considered to be attributable to the differences in chemical composition, crystallization, and solubility of the materials.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Influence of substituting B2O3 for CaF2 on the bonding behaviour to bone of glass-ceramics containing apatite and wollastonite.

Glass-ceramics containing crystalline oxy-fluoroapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(O,F2)) and wollastonite (CaSiO3) (designated AWGC) are reported to have a fairly high mechanical strength as well as the capability of forming a chemical bond with bone tissue. The chemical composition is MgO 4.6, CaO 44.9, SiO2 34.2, P2O5 16.3, and CaF2 0.5 in weight ratio. In this study the influence of substituting B2O3 for CaF2 on the bonding behaviour of glass-ceramics containing apatite and wollastonite to bone tissue was investigated. Two kinds of glass-ceramics containing apatite and wollastonite were prepared. CaF2 0.5 was replaced with B2O3 at 0.5 and 2.0 in weight ratio (designated AWGC-0.5B and AWGC-2.0B). Rectangular ceramic plates (15 x 10 x 2 mm, abraded with No. 2000 alumina powder) were implanted into a rabbit tibia. The failure load, when an implant detached from the bone, or the bone itself broke, was measured. The failure load of AWGC-0.5B was 8.00 +/- 1.82 kg at 10 weeks after implantation and 8.16 +/- 1.36 kg at 25 weeks after implantation. The failure load of AWGC-2B was 8.08 +/- 1.70 kg at 10 weeks after implantation and 9.92 +/- 2.46 kg at 25 weeks after implantation. None of the loads for the two kinds of glass-ceramics decreased as time passed. Giemsa surface staining and contact microradiography revealed direct bonding between glass-ceramics and bone. SEM-EPMA showed a calcium-phosphorus rich layer (reaction zone) at the interface of ceramics and bone tissue. The thickness of the reaction zone was 10 to -15 microns and did not increase as time passed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A case of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis with sicca symptoms and lupus nephritis.

A 48-year-old Japanese woman presented with many subcutaneous nodules. The skin was purplish in color and tender; the nodules were scattered over the entire surface. Histological findings of biopsy specimens from the nodules indicated septal panniculitis comprised of histiocyte and/or macrophage infiltrates, often with erythro- and/or leukophagocytosis. Phagocytic cells were OKM1 (CD11b), MT1 (CD43), LeuM3 (CD14), and histiocyte antigen positive, indicating the presence of histiocytes and/or macrophages. The patient had sicca symptoms, positive homogenous, speckled pattern ANA (x320), and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

Female↗
PubMed1992

[Studies on as-triazine derivatives. XVIII. Synthesis of 5,6-diaryl-1,2,4-triazine derivatives as blood platelet aggregation inhibitors].

5,6-Diphenyl-, 3,5-diphenyl-, and 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine (as-triazine) derivatives were evaluated for inhibitory activity towards arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of rabbit blood platelet in vitro. Among the isomers, 5,6-diphenyl-as-triazine derivatives were active, therefore a phenyl substituent on the as-triazine ring at the 5- and 6-position was essential for the inhibitory activity. Thus, various 3-substituted 5,6-diaryl-as-triazines were synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of 5,6-diaryl-3-methylsulfonyl-as-triazines with O,N,C-nucleophiles. In the case of as-triazines having different aryl groups at the 5- and 6-positions, the compounds were prepared by the step-wise addition reaction of Grignard reagents with 3-methylthio-as-triazine. Among these compounds, ethyl 5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-phenyl-as-triazine-3-acetate (24a) and ethyl 5,6-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-as-triazine-3-acetate (24f) showed the most potent inhibitory activity, which was almost equal to the activity of anitrazafen.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium detected by magnetic resonance imaging.

A 20-year-old woman with a primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium is reported. The patient had a cardiorespiratory arrest due to cardiac tamponade with bloody pericardial effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor, which was corroborated by selective coronary angiography. Open-heart surgery was performed. The tumor relapsed however, and she died four months after operation. The tumor was undetectable by echocardiography, but MRI demonstrated a heterogeneous mass with focal areas of high- and low-signal intensity in the right atrium, suggesting that MRI may allow characterization of cardiac tumors.

Adult↗