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H Akiba

Publications and source records attributed to H Akiba.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Identification of an unusual structure in the Drosophila melanogaster transposable element copia: evidence for copia transposition through an RNA intermediate.

The Drosophila melanogaster transposable element copia is usually 5 kb long with long terminal repeats (LTRs), and its major transcripts are a full-length 5-kb RNA and a 2-kb RNA. We have previously shown that the 2-kb RNA is generated through splicing. Here, we have cloned a genomic intronless copia using an oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe which is specific for the junction of the two exons. The unusual copia is bounded by two LTRs and lacks precisely the intron of the 2-kb copia RNA. Identification of genomic intronless copia strongly suggests that copia transposes through an RNA intermediate. Moreover, we have found that copia virus-like particles (VLPs), in which reverse transcription of copia RNA seems likely to occur, packages the spliced copia RNA much less efficiently than the full-length copia RNA. This result leads to the suggestion that much lower copy number of genomic intronless copia, as compared with that of 'normal' copia, may be responsible for the inefficient packaging of the spliced copia RNA into the VLP.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Production of normal young following transfer of mouse embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization using cryopreserved spermatozoa].

Spermatozoa from cauda epididymis of mature mice were suspended in preservation solution (Dulbecco's PBS containing raffinose in combination with glycerol, DMSO or skim milk as freezing protective agents). The suspension was frozen by the dry ice-alcohol method and preserved for 1-120 days in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C). Highest sperm viability after thawing was obtained with a combination of 10% raffinose and 5% glycerol or with a combination of 10% raffinose and 10% DMSO. These frozen thawed sperm were found to have fertilizing capacity when used for in vitro fertilization. The 2-cell embryos obtained through the above procedures developed into normal pups at a high rate when transferred into the oviducts of pseudopregnant female mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Three dimensional CT reconstruction image using a personal computer].

Three dimensional (3D) images were reconstructed from axial CT slices using the personal computer. Some devices of the program made it possible to decrease the image processing time and to produce the realistic images with cubic effect. The thresholding in the conventional 3 D imaging was not practical especially in the display of the soft tissues. The employment of the volume rendering technique and MRI data will give a clue to the solution of these problems.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Availability of 111In-labeled platelet scintigraphy in patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm.

Eighteen patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysms (LVAs) were examined with Indium-111-labeled autologous platelet scintigraphy to identify intracardiac thrombi and to investigate the effect of antithrombotic agents on thrombogenesity within their LVAs. Left ventriculography (LVG), and two-dimensional echocardiography were also carried out to assess the diagnostic ability of the platelet imaging. Indium-111-platelet scintigraphy for the detection of LVA mural thrombi had a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 100%. Four of six patients with false-negative scintigraphic studies had been under antiplatelet therapy. Eight of the nine patients who had showed active platelet deposition on initial examination had not received antiplatelet therapy. Thereafter, five of these nine were treated with tichlopidine (300 mg/day) for 29.8 +/- 5.0 days. On the second platelet study, two had resolution and the other three had interruption of intra-aneurysmal deposition, which remained positive. In only one patient of the three, the third platelet study was performed after warfarin therapy. It took two weeks after beginning the therapy to completely interrupt platelet deposition within the LVA in this patient. ECG gated radionuclide ventriculography and Thallium-201-myocardial scintigraphy were also performed to assess left ventricular wall motion of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial blood perfusion. Thallium-201-SPECT showed apical or anteroapical perfusion defects and the radionuclide ventriculography correctly identified all 18 apical and anteroseptal aneurysms which were confirmed by LVG methods. The comparison between the thrombus positive group and the thrombus negative group was carried out on both the LVEF and the period from the last myocardial infarction to the initial platelet scanning study. There were no statistical differences in the LVEF and the interval (34.5 +/- 12.5% vs 37.3 +/- 14.6%, 39.6 +/- 52.6 days vs 89.6 +/- 108.3 days) between the two groups. These results suggest that Indium-111-labeled platelet scintigraphy can be a reliable method for the identification of active left ventricular mural thrombi and a practical method of judging antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Fundamental study of 99mTc nanocolloids for inflammation imaging].

The biodistribution of nanometer-sized colloidal particles (nanocolloids, Solco-Basle Ltd.) was examined in six rabbits with turpentine-induced abscesses in the musculature of their hind legs. 99mTc labelled colloids with a mean particle size less than 100 nm were administered to each rabbit intravenously. The biodistribution of the tracer was studied with a gamma camera 1, 3, and 24 hours after injection. Prominent uptakes were demonstrated in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, kidneys, and urinary bladder. On the other hand, the abscess and surrounding inflammatory edema were depicted as unclearly margined faint hot spots. Subsequently, the rabbits were sacrificed and activity per gram tissues were counted with a well-type gamma counter. Although the results were almost in agreement with a gamma camera study, it was noticed the activity counts in the abscess were significantly higher than that of control muscles.

Abscess↗
PubMed1975

Defective DNA repair replication in xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts and DNA repair of somatic cell hybrids after UV irradiation.

Primary fibroblast cultures were obtained from 9 patients with xeroderma pigmentosum of various clinical types. Repair replication of the UV-damaged DNA in fibroblasts was studied by means of 3H-thymidine labeling and radioautography. A DNA repair replication was found to be decreased in all xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts as compared with the control cells obtained from normal donors. The repair activities in cells from patients ranged from nearly 0% in two infant cases and one case of De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome to approximately 100% in adult moderate case. There was, however, no correlation between the level of repair replication and the severity of clinical symptoms. Since two cases which showed a lack of repair DNA replication were infant, it is assumed that these cases may develop De Sanctis-Cacchione syndrome in future. On xeroderma pigmentosum cells, a genetic analysis was performed with cell fusion methods using irradiated HVJ virus in order to determine the type of the complementation group. XP-1, XP-4 and XP-9 may be classified into the group D; XP-2, XP-7 and XP-8 into the group A; and XP-5 into the group E.

Adolescent↗