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Biomedical subjects

Akiko Kashima

Publications and source records attributed to Akiko Kashima.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Crystal structure of human dual specificity phosphatase, JNK stimulatory phosphatase-1, at 1.5 A resolution.

Human JNK stimulatory phosphatase-1 (JSP-1) is a novel member of dual specificity phosphatases. A C-terminus truncated JSP-1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and was crystallized using the sitting-drop vapor diffusion method. Thin-plate crystals obtained at 278 K belong to a monoclinic space group, C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 84.0 A, b = 49.3 A, c = 47.3 A, and beta = 119.5 degrees , and diffract up to 1.5 A resolution at 100 K. The structure of JSP-1 has a single compact (alpha/beta) domain, which consists of six alpha-helices and five beta-strands, and shows a conserved structural scaffold in regard to both DSPs and PTPs. A cleft formed by a PTP-loop at the active site is very shallow, and is occupied by one sulfonate compound, MES, at the bottom. In the binary complex structure of JSP-1 with MES, the conformations of three important segments in regard to the catalytic mechanism are not similar to those in PTP1B. JSP-1 has no loop corresponding to the Lys120-loop of PTP1B, and tryptophan residue corresponding to the substrate-stacking in PTP1B is substituted by alanine residue in JSP-1.

Alkanesulfonic Acids↗

Japanese version of the Body Attitude Test: its reliability and validity.

The Body Attitude Test (BAT) was developed by Probst et al. (1995) for female patients with eating disorders (ED). This test measures the subjective body experience and attitudes toward one's body. The present authors have developed the Japanese version of the BAT and the purpose of the present paper was to investigate its reliability and validity in control (CON, n = 599) and ED patients (n = 46). The ED patients consisted of 21 anorexia nervosa, restricting type (AN-R) patients and 25 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients. Internal consistency was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient in CON. Factor analysis was conducted on BAT ratings given by CON. Factor analysis indicated that BAT was composed of two factors. These were body dissatisfaction (factor 1) and lack of familiarity with one's body (factor 2). A comparison was made among AN-R, BN, and CON. Bulimia nervosa had a significantly higher score than the other two groups. The BAT scores of ED patients correlated significantly with the Self -rating Depression Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. These results show that ED patients have negative feelings toward their own body, similar to the findings in the original report. On factor analysis, however, it was not possible to distinguish between negative appreciation of body size and general body dissatisfaction as described in the original report. The authors also examine influences on this difference from a cross-cultural view point.

Adolescent↗

A behavior therapy program combined with liquid nutrition designed for anorexia nervosa.

We have introduced behavior therapy as standard in-patient treatment for anorexia nervosa and have modified the treatment program. At first, we used Fukamachi's activity restriction therapy (FT), followed by Token economy therapy (TET), which combined token economy with FT. Finally, we have developed Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Behavior Therapy (KPT). According to KPT, only liquid formula is given in the early stages of hospitalization and a target weight is not set at admission. We examined the effect of these three programs with respect to bodyweight gain. Thirty-five anorexic patients participated in these three programs in our hospital: seven completed FT, seven completed TET and 21 completed KPT. We compared the effects of these three programs on body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, the effects of these three programs on BMI were compared at admission, 1 month after admission and at discharge, 6 months after discharge. In addition, the rate of increase of BMI for the following three periods was investigated: 1 month after admission, total hospitalization (from admission to discharge) and from admission to 6 months after discharge. The result is that KPT was the most effective of the three programs with regard to both the amount and the rate of increase of BMI at all points and there is a significant difference between KPT and FT. This effectiveness may be attributable to the use of an oral liquid formula, the setting of target weight at a later stage of hospitalization and the release of activity restriction based on weight gain.

Activities of Daily Living↗