PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Kazuhiro Noda

Publications and source records attributed to Kazuhiro Noda.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Sequence upstream of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ALMT1 gene and its relationship to aluminum resistance.

Aluminum (Al) resistance in wheat relies on the Al-activated malate efflux from root apices, which appears to be controlled by an Al-activated anion transporter encoded by the ALMT1 gene on chromosome 4DL. Genomic regions upstream and downstream of ALMT1 in 69 wheat lines were characterized to identify patterns that might influence ALMT1 expression. The first 1,000 bp downstream of ALMT1 was conserved among the lines examined apart from the presence of a transposon-like sequence which did not correlate with Al resistance. In contrast, the first 1,000 bp upstream of the ALMT1 coding region was more variable and six different patterns could be discerned (types I-VI). Type I had the simplest structure, while the others had blocks of sequence that were duplicated or triplicated in different arrangements. A pattern emerged among the lines of non-Japanese origin such that the number of repeats in this upstream region was positively correlated with the levels of ALMT1 expression and Al resistance. In contrast, many of the Japanese lines exhibited a large variation in ALMT1 expression and Al resistance despite possessing the same type of upstream region. Although ALMT1 expression was also poorly correlated with Al-activated malate efflux in the Japanese lines, a strong correlation between malate efflux and Al resistance suggested that malate efflux was still the primary mechanism for Al resistance, and that additional genes are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of ALMT1 function.

Aluminum↗
PubMed2006

Preferential destruction of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes by laser irradiation.

Upon laser irradiation in air, metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in carbon nanotube thin film can be destroyed in preference to their semiconducting counterparts when the wavelength and power intensity of the irradiation are appropriate and the carbon nanotubes are not heavily bundled. Our method takes advantage of these two species' different rates of photolysis-assisted oxidation, creating the possibility of defining the semiconducting portions of carbon nanotube (CNT) networks using optical lithography, particularly when constructing all-CNT FETs (without metal electrodes) in the future.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Relative optical absorption of metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes.

While it is well-known that tube-tube interaction causes changes (peak red-shift and suppression) in the optical absorption of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), we found in this work that, upon bundling, the optical absorption of metallic SWNTs (M11) is less affected compared to their semiconducting counterparts (S11 or S22), resulting in enhanced absorbance ratio of metallic and semiconducting SWNTs (A(M)/A(S)). Annealing of the SWNTs increases this ratio due to the intensified tube-tube interaction. We have also found that the interaction between SWNTs and the surfactant Triton X-405 has a similar effect. The evaluation of SWNT separation by types (metallic or semiconducting) based on the optical absorption should take these effects into account.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Cortical processing of tactile language in a postlingually deaf-blind subject.

We compared neural activation detected by magnetoencephalography (MEG) during tactile presentation of words and non-words in a postlingually deaf-blind subject and six normal volunteers. The left postcentral gyrus, bilateral inferior frontal gyri, left posterior temporal lobe, right anterior temporal lobe, bilateral middle occipital gyri were activated when tactile words were presented to the right hand of the deaf-blind subject. This set of activated regions was not observed in the normal volunteers, although activation of several combinations of these regions was detected. Positron emission tomography confirmed the location of the MEG-activated areas in the deaf-blind subject. Our results demonstrated that the deaf-blind subject is heavily involved in interpreting tactile language by enhancing cortical activation of cognitive and semantic processing.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

The alteration of odor-induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in the rat olfactory bulb after olfactory nerve transection.

We used the rats in which one olfactory nerve had been transected and observed the odor (Propionic acid) -induced c-Fos immunoreactivity in the bulb at different times (2, 4, 8 weeks) after nerve transection. The exposure to odor produced a strong cluster of c-Fos positive cells in the mediodorsal region of the intact bulb. On the other hand, the transected bulb showed much less reactivity 2 weeks after neurectomy; however, a large number of positive cells were observed in the whole of the bulb from 4 weeks after neurectomy. Furthermore, we measured the levels of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), which was the marker of odor-induced olfactory nerve activity in the bulb, by using real-time PCR. The level of TH mRNA decreased on the transected side at 2 weeks but recovered to the level of the contralateral side at 4 weeks after neurectomy. We firstly demonstrated that projection mapping of odor receptors was altered after olfactory nerve transection by using an immunohistochemical method.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Involvement of CD100, a lymphocyte semaphorin, in the activation of the human immune system via CD72: implications for the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses.

CD100/Sema4D belongs to the semaphorin family, factors known to act as repulsive cues for axons during neuronal development. Mouse CD100 plays a crucial role in both humoral and cellular immunity through ligation of the lymphocyte receptor, CD72. It remains controversial, however, whether human CD100 can function through human CD72 in a manner similar to mouse CD100. To determine the function of human CD100, we generated a recombinant soluble human CD100 protein comprised of the extracellular region of human CD100 fused to the human IgG1 Fc region (hCD100-Fc). hCD100-Fc specifically binds to cells expressing human CD72. As observed previously in the mouse, hCD100-Fc induces the tyrosine dephosphorylation of human CD72, leading to the dissociation of SHP-1 from the CD72 cytoplasmic tail. Consistent with findings for mouse CD100, hCD100-Fc exerts a co-stimulatory effect on B cells and dendritic cells that are stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb. Furthermore, both hCD100-Fc and anti-human CD72 agonistic mAb induce the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8, even in the absence of anti-CD40 mAb. Collectively, our findings not only demonstrate that human CD100, interacting with human CD72, can function as a ligand in a manner similar to mouse CD100, but also suggest the involvement of human CD100 in inflammatory responses.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Ultrasonography in a nasal cavity filled with water during endoscopic sinus surgery.

We developed a new ultrasonographic imaging technique to be used in a water-filled nasal cavity during endoscopic sinus surgery, and estimated how well surgically dangerous sites were depicted. Our newly developed balloon can completely fill the choana, preventing water from leaking into the pharynx. The balloon enables endoscopic sinus surgery to be relatively safely performed in "flowing water." Fifteen patients with chronic sinusitis underwent endoscopic sinus surgery under local anesthesia, and a MicroTip Radial probe was inserted into the water-filled nasal cavity. The orbital contents, skull base, and maxillary sinuses were visualized in all cases. Even in cases with a thin lamina papyracea, the boundary of the orbit could be judged from the motion of the orbital contents. Ultrasound information obtained in real time will be useful for improving the safety of endoscopic sinus surgery. Our ultrasonographic imaging technique can provide an early warning to the surgeon and thereby prevent severe complications.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed2002

Abatement of morphine-induced slowing in gastrointestinal transit by Dai-kenchu-to, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine.

As a way of alleviating severe constipation in cancer patients taking morphine to relieve pain, effects of Dai-kenchu-to (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine (Kampo medicine), on gastrointestinal transit in mice or on the isolated guinea pig ileum were studied in special reference to morphine. Without altering the anti-nociceptive effect of morphine, DKT was significantly effective against morphine-induced disorder of gastrointestinal transit in mice as assessed by the charcoal meal test for the intestine and measurement of transit time for the colon tract. The results of in vitro studies with guinea pig ileum suggest that abatement of morphine-induced disorder of transit by DKT is caused by both moderate contraction of morphine-treated longitudinal muscle and relaxation of morphine-induced tonic contraction of circular muscle.

Analgesics, Opioid↗