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L Kobayashi

Publications and source records attributed to L Kobayashi.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Hepatic acute phase induction of murine beta-galactoside alpha 2,6 sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) is IL-6 dependent and mediated by elevation of exon H-containing class of transcripts.

Hepatic expression of CMP-NeuAc:Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) is induced as part of the acute phase response in mammals by mechanisms that remain poorly understood. Previous work suggests that murine liver ST6Gal I mRNA contains an additional and novel region that is not found on ST6Gal I mRNA from human HepG2 hepatoma cells and from rat liver. This novel region, residing 5' of the common Exon I sequence, is encoded by a discrete upstream exon, Exon H. Here we provide evidence that the Exon H-containing transcript is the murine counterpart of the human and rat ST6Gal I mRNAs transcribed from the hepatic-specific promoter, P1. Exon H-containing ST6Gal I mRNA is expressed in all three mice strains examined: balb/c, C57B46, and 129Sv. Furthermore, murine RNA tissue survey indicates that presence of Exon H-containing transcripts is restricted to the liver. When mice are subjected to subcutaneous injection of turpentine to elicit the hepatic acute phase response, greater than 4-fold elevation in liver ST6Gal I mRNA was observed. Consistent with the view that Exon H-containing transcripts is regulated by the murine P1 promoter, 5'-RACE analysis indicates that the majority of these transcripts contains the Exon H sequence. This is consistent with the view that Exon H-containing transcripts are regulated by the murine P1 region. To assess the mechanism of ST6Gal I response in the hepatic acute phase reaction, mice harboring lesions in both alleles of the IL-6 gene were examined. IL-6(-/-) animals expressed normal levels of ST6Gal I mRNA in liver, with Exon H-containing transcripts remaining the predominant mRNA isoform. However, hepatic ST6Gal I is not elevated upon turpentine injection in the IL-6(-/-) animals. These results indicate that ST6Gal I induction in mouse liver during the acute phase reaction is mediated predominantly by the IL-6 pathway, and results in the induction of the Exon H-containing class of ST6Gal I mRNA that is specific to the liver.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Twenty-five years of obstetric patient satisfaction in North America: a review of the literature.

The North American literature on obstetric patient satisfaction of the past 25 years was reviewed using two major computerized databases. The articles identified by these searches were supplemented with other research articles identified in reference lists. The review highlights the difficulties inherent in the use of many different methodologies to study obstetric patient satisfaction. The main methodologies have been mailed questionnaires, telephone interviews, and semistructured interviews, with data collection periods ranging from 24 hours to 2 years postpartum. The various approaches to data collection make comparison of results among studies exceedingly difficult. The reluctance of patients to criticize their caregivers has been problematic and is evidenced by satisfaction ratings that are positively skewed. Factors that have been reported to be most influential in obstetric patient satisfaction include communication, control, participation in decision making, presence of a support person, information/prenatal classes, nursing care services, length of stay, and physical environment. The relative importance of these factors, however, has not been ascertained.

Communication↗