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Biomedical subjects

T Takigawa

Publications and source records attributed to T Takigawa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[A case of cortical reflex myoclonus manifesting tremor].

A 58-year-old woman developed slowly progressive tremulous myoclonus provoked mainly by action and posture. She had neither seizure nor dementia. No one in her family had similar symptoms. The presence of giant somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) with enhanced long loop reflex and premovement cortical spikes demonstrated by the jerk-locked averaging method suggest that the involuntary movement is cortical reflex myoclonus. Magnetoencephalogram revealed that the generator sources of giant SEPs were the post-central somatosensory cortex and probably also the pre-central motor cortex. Symptoms improved after treatment with zonisamide, clonazepam and valpolate. This kind of involuntary movement might be called cortical myoclonic tremor.

Anticonvulsants↗

Antibodies against GM1 ganglioside affect K+ and Na+ currents in isolated rat myelinated nerve fibers.

High titers of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies (anti-GM1 antibodies) may be implicated in lower motor neuron disease. We studied the pathogenic role of anti-GM1 antibody using the petroleum jelly-gap voltage clamp technique on isolated single myelinated rat nerve fibers. Anti-GM1 antisera were obtained from rabbits immunized with GM1 ganglioside. Extracellularly applied anti-GM1 antisera without complement activity increased both the rate of rise and the amplitude of the K+ current elicited by step depolarization, with little effect on Na+ current. In the presence of active complement, however, anti-GM1 antibodies decreased the Na+ current, and caused a progressive increase of nonspecific leakage current. Neither complement alone nor complement-supplemented antisera from which anti-GM1 antibodies were depleted by affinity chromatography had any effect on ionic current. These observations indicate that anti-GM1 antibodies themselves can uncover K+ channels in the paranodal region, while anti-GM1 antibodies bound to the nodal membrane in the presence of complement may form antibody-complement complexes that block Na+ channels and disrupt the membrane at the node of Ranvier.

Action Potentials↗

Programmed cell death in the interdigital tissue of the fetal mouse limb is apoptosis with DNA fragmentation.

BACKGROUND: Programmed cell death is an essential event during mammalian morphogenesis which eliminates unnecessary cells to accomplish histogenesis and organogenesis. Cell death in interdigital spaces of the developing limb is a classical example of morphogenetic cell death. We investigated whether classical programmed cell death in the interdigital tissue of the developing limb in mice is apoptosis with fragmentation of nuclear DNA and also examined sequentially the occurrence of programmed cell death and cell proliferation in the developing limb of mouse fetuses to analyze their interrelation. METHODS: We examined the occurrence of apoptotic cell death in the developing limbs of mouse fetuses by using Nile blue sulphate staining, agarose gel electrophoresis for detecting DNA laddering, and a cytochemical labeling of DNA fragmentation. We also labeled proliferating cells using BrdU/anti-BrdU immunohistochemistry and examined the interrelation between apoptotic programmed cell death and cell proliferation. RESULTS: DNA ladders, a biochemical evidence of apoptosis, were detected in DNA extracts from the interdigital tissue of day 13 mouse fetuses by agarose gel electrophoresis. Programmed cell death and DNA fragmentation were detected by Nile blue staining and cytochemical labeling of DNA fragmentation, respectively, in the interdigital mesoderm and in the regions of presumptive joints of the digit. BrdU/anti-BrdU immunohistochemistry for identifying proliferating S-phase cells revealed that interdigital mesenchymal cells cease DNA synthesis before programmed cell death and DNA fragmentation begin. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that both cytological apoptotic alterations and fragmentation of nuclear DNA occur in the interdigital tissue and presumptive joint areas of fetal mouse limbs, and they appear to play a significant role in the separation of digits as well as the formation of joint cavities.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of pH-sensitive K+ channel, RACTK1.

RACTK1 cDNA encodes a pH-sensitive K+ channel from the renal cortical collecting tubule cells, which is only localized in the kidney by Northern blots (Suzuki, M., K. Takahashi, M. Ikeda, H. Hayakawa, A. Ogawa, Y. Kawaguchi, and O. Sakai. Nature Lond. 367: 642-645, 1994). We further investigated the localization of the channel by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the signal was detected in various epithelia, including the luminal membrane of the cortical collecting tubules, artery of the kidney, and pancreatic ducts. Interestingly, the signal was also detected in the coronary vascular smooth muscle and cerebral artery. These tissue distributions were confirmed by localization of mRNA determined by RT-PCR. These findings suggest that RACTK1 encoding pH-sensitive K+ channels is widely distributed in epithelia as well as in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗

[Jaw position, head position, body posture: development of an integrated system of examination, Part I].

Recently in the field of clinical orthodontics, there has been increased interest in the relationship between jaw and head position, sleep apnea, and equivocal symptoms occurring in head, neck and shoulder. It has already been determined that a relation exists between head posture and mode of breathing. Since the craniofacial skeleton is supported by the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, the head position might have some biomechanical connection to total body posture. Therefore, an integrated system of examining jaw position, head position and body posture is being developed.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

An animal model of chronic ischemic neuropathy with proliferative changes of nerve microvessel wall.

In order to produce a model of ischemic neuropathy with neural microvascular alterations, sodium laurate was injected into a femoral artery and saline into the contralateral artery at the mid-thigh level in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 11 weeks. In view of the dose-related findings, 0.3 mg sodium laurate dissolved in 0.1 ml saline was used for the main experiment. The laurate-injected leg showed paresis during the experimental period. On day 1-7, various stages of Wallerian degeneration and acute microvascular changes were found. At 1 month, regenerating myelinated nerve fibers (MNFs) were found at the central or total fascicular area mainly in the distal tibial nerve. Morphometric analyses suggested that MNFs other than regenerating fibers are atrophic ones. The proliferative changes of nutrient microvascular walls were striking. The percent of closed epineurial microvessels was significantly larger on the laurate-injected sides and inversely associated with the diameter of MNFs. At 7 months, the attenuation of MNFs was more prominent and microvascular alterations were persistently observed. These pathological findings resemble those of chronic ischemic neuropathy including diabetic neuropathy, suggesting that this neuropathy model might provide some valuable and useful clues for clarifying the pathogenesis of chronic ischemic neuropathy.

Animals↗

[Lifestyles related to preserving 20 or more teeth at 80 years of age].

To explore lifestyle factors related to preserving 20 or more teeth at 80 years of age, a total of 114 Japanese persons aged 80 years old (70 with 20 teeth or more (mean teeth: 25.0 +/- 2.8) and 44 with 19 teeth or less (mean teeth: 5.2 +/- 6.3)) were studied. Study subjects received a dental examination and were directly interviewed, using a questionnaire, to collect such information as past episodes of tooth and gingival conditions, past attitude to dental care and several lifestyle habits. The following major findings emerged by statistical analysis. Probability of preserving 20 or more teeth at 80 years of age was significantly high with: (1) strict upbringing in childhood (p < 0.05 in males), (2) no swollen gums around 60 years old (p < 0.01 in males), (3) early visit to a dentist around 40 years old (p < 0.05 in males), and (4) not being fond of sweets in childhood (p < 0.05 in females). The following related to a high tendency toward preserving 20 or more teeth at 80 years of age: (1) graduate from primary school only (in females), (2) having a home dentist around 20 years old (in males), (3) tended to visit a dentist earlier at 20 years old (in males), (4) not eating sweet things at 60 years old (in males), and (5) have not smoked cigarettes (in males).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[Dimensional change and deformation on stone dies for full cast crowns. Differences according to impression methods using vinyl silicone impression materials].

In order to reconfirm the efficiency of an individual tooth tray, an apparatus and method were developed for measuring dimensional changes and observing over all deformation on a stone die for a full cast crown. The stone dies, which were made by combination impression methods I, II and double impression (individual tooth tray use) with vinyl silicone impression materials, were measured and compared. The results were as follows: 1. It made no difference what kind of vinyl silicone impression materials were used. 2. As to the dimensional changes: for combination impression method I, irregular results were found for the stone dies with the differences between +1 standard deviation (SD) and -1 SD being large. The variations of the other two methods were quite small, indicating that the stone dies were made accurately. 3. Observing to magnified images with the naked eye, there were no clear differences between the three methods on the marginal parts, but at the top corners of the stone dies there were good results with the double impression method. 4. It was possible to grasp easily the general aspect of dimensional changes in the stone dies using this newly developed measuring method.

Calcium Sulfate↗

Synergistic effect of dolichyl phosphate and human recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on recovery from neutropenia in mice treated with anti-cancer drugs.

Severe hematopoietic injury in mice was induced by using either 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C, or vinblastine. Daily subcutaneous administration of purified human recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF; 0.3-10.0 micrograms/day) markedly accelerated recovery from the drug-induced granulocytopenia in a dose-dependent manner, as reported previously. On the other hand, daily intraperitoneal administration of dolichyl phosphate (Dol-P) also enhanced granulopoiesis to accelerate recovery from granulocytopenia, although the effect of Dol-P was relatively moderate as compared with that of rG-CSF. A synergistic recovery of granulopoiesis was observed when Dol-P was administered together with rG-CSF to the mice treated with anti-cancer drugs. Joint use of Dol-P (1 mg/day) and rG-CSF (0.3 micrograms/day) was as effective as a higher dose of rG-CSF (3 micrograms/day). Joint use of Dol-P (1 mg/day) and rG-CSF (3 micrograms/day) was sometimes more effective.

Agranulocytosis↗

Effectivity of dolichyl phosphates with different chain lengths as acceptors of nucleotide activated sugars.

Chemical synthesis of different S-forms of dolichyl-P was performed in order to investigate the use of these polyprenes in mannosyl, glucosyl and glucosaminyl transferase reactions. Determination of the Vmax values for a series of dolichyl-P demonstrated that the velocities of transferase reactions with all those dolichyl-P derivatives present in animal tissues are largely the same. The apparent Km values for the various dolichyl-P in the transferase system studied differed, but this property does not appear to have physiological importance.

Animals↗

Reaction of optically active S- and R-forms of dolichyl phosphates with activated sugars.

Chemical synthesis was used to produce optically active isomers of dolichol (S- and R-forms) with 18 and 19 isoprene residues. The phosphorylated polyprene was studied in rat liver microsomal GDP-mannosyl and UDP-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase systems. The two dolichol-P forms in both transferase systems gave Vmax values which for the S-form exceeded 4-6 times what was obtained with the R-form. The Km values were also higher for the S-form. The hepatocyte appears to contain a large excess of dolichyl-P, by 100 times exceeding that of the Km values. For this reason the S-form of dolichyl-P seems to be one of the requirements for the normal establishment of the N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chain.

Animals↗

Long-chain betulaprenol-type polyprenols from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba.

A long-chain betulaprenol-type polyprenol mixture was isolated from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba mainly as acetate. The structure was determined by mass spectroscopy, 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The mixture contained polyprenols-14-22, predominantly polyprenols-17, -18 and -19, and consisted of the dimethylallyl terminal unit (omega-terminal), two trans-isoprene residues, a sequence of 11-19 cis-isoprene residues and a terminal hydroxylated isoprene unit (alpha-terminal) aligned in that order. The concentration of these polyprenols in leaves increased from 0.04 to 2.0% of dry wt. with maturing of the leaves, though the content of total lipids was constant. The distribution of chain length in these polyprenols showed little variation throughout the whole life of the leaves.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the methyl esters of (+)-12-fluoro-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha and (+)-15-epi-12-fluoro-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha.

(+)-12-Fluoro-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha methyl ester (2a) and (+)-15-epi-12-fluoro-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha methyl ester (2b) were prepared from the readily available (-)-7-fluorospiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,2'-[1,3]dioxolane]-7-methanol (3). Fluoroprostaglandins 2a and 2b possess truly significant separations of antifertility activity from smooth-muscle stimulating properties. In addition, our studies showed that 2a and 2b were totally inert toward the placental 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase.

Animals↗

[Apicoectomy].

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Adult↗