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Junko Kobayashi

Publications and source records attributed to Junko Kobayashi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Hydrolytic cleavage of pyroglutamyl-peptide bond. V. selective removal of pyroglutamic acid from biologically active pyroglutamylpeptides in high concentrations of aqueous methanesulfonic acid.

Application of aqueous methanesulfonic acid (MSA) for selective chemical removal of pyroglutamic acid (pGlu) residue from five biologically active pyroglutamyl-peptides (pGlu-X-peptides, X=amino acid residue at position 2) was examined. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH), dog neuromedin U-8 (d-NMU-8), physalaemin (PH), a bradykinin potentiating peptide (BPP-5a) and neurotensin (NT) as pGlu-X-peptides were incubated in either 70% or 90% aqueous MSA at 25 degrees C. HPLC analysis of the incubation solutions showed that the main decomposition product was H-X-peptide derived from each pGlu-X-peptide by the removal of pGlu. The results revealed that the pGlu-X peptide bond had higher susceptibility than various internal amide bonds in the five peptides examined, including the Trp-Ser bond in Gn-RH, the C-terminal Asn-NH(2) in d-NMU-8, and the Asp-Pro bond in PH, whose acid susceptibility is well known. Thus, mild hydrolysis with high concentrations of aqueous MSA may be applicable to chemically selective removal of pGlu from pGlu-X-peptides for structural examinations.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[An interview survey for health promotion for older residents in T District, Sendai City].

OBJECTIVE: To plan a program for promoting health and improving quality of life among the older residents in T District, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City. SUBJECTS & METHOD: T District has the highest rate of aged individuals and the largest number of elderly living alone in the Ward. Based upon our community-based health and welfare activities, we recognized that many older residents in T District had health and social problems. In order to grasp these problems and plan a program for health promotion, we conducted an interview survey (using the Esnographic method) of resource persons and older residents in the District. The information obtained at interviews was analyzed by the KJ method. RESULTS: The interview survey indicated the most prominent needs for the older residents were extension of the network for human relationships and increase in opportunities for communication and meeting each other. The older residents did not have enough information on the health and welfare services provided by Miyagino Public Health and Welfare Center, and we realized the importance of promoting communication between residents, private organizations and our Center. We informed the residents of these results, and discussed the strategies to promote health and improving quality of life among the older residents in T District in 2001. Based upon the survey and discussion, we started to publish and circulate "Community Information for Older Residents", established a class for residents to become supporters of the needy older population in T District, and facilitated their active participation in the community activities. CONCLUSION: The interview survey using the Esnographic approach and analysis with the KJ method were useful tools for us to plan and implement a program for health promotion for older residents.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Effect of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Ren-Shen-Yang-Rong-Tang (Japanese name: Ninjin-Youei-To), on oligodendrocyte precursor cells from aged-rat brain.

Understanding of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their role in the generation of oligodendrocytes in developing and adult rodents has been considered, particularly much less is known about aged-rodent oligodendrocyte precursor cells and their cell lineage. In this present study, we have developed oligodendrocyte cultures from the 30-month-old rat brain and examined whether oligodendrocyte precursor cells can proliferate in vitro. Adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (O1(-), O4(+)) and oligodendrocytes (O1(+), O4(+)) are present in the cultures of the 30-month-old rat brain. They are also capable of proliferating and differentiating in the cultures. These capabilities increased four- to fivefold, when the aged rats are treated with Ninjin-Youei-To for 3 months in comparison with those of control aged rats. These results suggest that Ninjin-Youei-To has a potential mitotic effect on oligodendrocyte precursor cells in aged-rat brains and may be expected to have a therapeutic effect on brain aging.

Aging↗
PubMed2002

The effect of scatter correction on 123I-IMP brain perfusion SPET with the triple energy window method in normal subjects using SPM analysis.

Scatter correction (SC) using the triple energy window method (TEW) has recently been applied for brain perfusion single-photon emission tomography (SPET). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of scatter correction using TEW on N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) SPET in normal subjects. The study population consisted of 15 right-handed normal subjects. SPET data were acquired from 20 min to 40 min after the injection of 167 MBq of IMP, using a triple-head gamma camera. Images were reconstructed with and without SC. 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images were also obtained with a 1.5-Tesla scanner. First, IMP images with and without SC were co-registered to the 3D MRI. Second, the two co-registered IMP images were normalised using SPM96. A t statistic image for the contrast condition effect was constructed. We investigated areas using a voxel-level threshold of 0.001, with a corrected threshold of 0.05. Compared with results obtained without SC, the IMP distribution with SC was significantly decreased in the peripheral areas of the cerebellum, the cortex and the ventricle, and also in the lateral occipital cortex and the base of the temporal lobe. On the other hand, the IMP distribution with SC was significantly increased in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex, the insular cortex and the medial part of the thalamus. It is concluded that differences in the IMP distribution with and without SC exist not only in the peripheral areas of the cerebellum, the cortex and the ventricle but also in the occipital lobe, the base of the temporal lobe, the insular cortex, the medial part of the thalamus, and the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex. This needs to be recognised for adequate interpretation of IMP brain perfusion SPET after scatter correction.

Adult↗