Biomedical subjects

M Hoshi

Publications and source records attributed to M Hoshi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effective dose of A-bomb radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as assessed by chromosomal effectiveness of spectrum energy photons and neutrons.

The effective dose of combined spectrum energy neutrons and high energy spectrum gamma-rays in A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has long been a matter of discussion. The reason is largely due to the paucity of biological data for high energy photons, particularly for those with an energy of tens of MeV. To circumvent this problem, a mathematical formalism was developed for the photon energy dependency of chromosomal effectiveness by reviewing a large number of data sets published in the literature on dicentric chromosome formation in human lymphocytes. The chromosomal effectiveness was expressed by a simple multiparametric function of photon energy, which made it possible to estimate the effective dose of spectrum energy photons and differential evaluation in the field of mixed neutron and gamma-ray exposure with an internal reference radiation. The effective dose of reactor-produced spectrum energy neutrons was insensitive to the fine structure of the energy distribution and was accessible by a generalized formula applicable to the A-bomb neutrons. Energy spectra of all sources of A-bomb gamma-rays at different tissue depths were simulated by a Monte Carlo calculation applied on an ICRU sphere. Using kerma-weighted chromosomal effectiveness of A-bomb spectrum energy photons, the effective dose of A-bomb neutrons was determined, where the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of neutrons was expressed by a dose-dependent variable RBE, RBE(gamma, D (n)), against A-bomb gamma-rays as an internal reference radiation. When the newly estimated variable RBE(gamma, D (n)) was applied to the chromosome data of A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the city difference was completely eliminated. The revised effective dose was about 35% larger in Hiroshima, 19% larger in Nagasaki and 26% larger for the combined cohort compared with that based on a constant RBE of 10. Since the differences are significantly large, the proposed effective dose might have an impact on the magnitude of the risk estimates deduced from the A-bomb survivor cohort.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Identification and expression analysis of Drosophila melanogaster genes encoding beta-hexosaminidases of the sperm plasma membrane.

Sperm surface beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases are among the molecules mediating early gamete interactions in invertebrates and vertebrates, including man. The plasma membrane of Drosophila spermatozoa contains two beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases, DmHEXA and DmHEXB, which are required for egg fertilization. Here, we demonstrate that three putative Drosophila melanogaster genes predicted to code for beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases, Hexo1, Hexo2, and fdl, are all expressed in the male germ line. fdl codes for a homolog of the alpha-subunit of the mammalian lysosomal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase Hex A. Hexo1 and Hexo2 encode two homologs of the beta-subunit of all known beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases, which we have named beta(1) and beta(2), respectively. Immunoblot analysis of sperm proteins indicated that the gene products associate in different heterodimeric combinations forming DmHEXA, with an alphabeta(2) structure, and DmHEXB, with a beta(1)beta(2) structure. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that all the gene products localized to the sperm plasma membrane. Although none of the genes was testis-specific, fdl was highly and preferentially expressed in the testis, whereas Hexo1 and Hexo2 showed broader tissue expression. Enzyme assays carried out on testis and on a variety of somatic tissues corroborated the results of gene expression analysis. These findings for the first time show the in vivo expression in insects of genes encoding beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases, the only molecules so far identified as involved in sperm/egg recognition in this class, whereas in mammals, the organisms where these enzymes have been best studied, only two types of polypeptide chains forming dimeric functional beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases are present in Drosophila three different gene products are available that might generate numerous dimeric isoforms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

The Third International Intercomparison on EPR Tooth Dosimetry: part 2, final analysis.

The objective of the Third International Intercomparison on EPR Tooth Dosimetry was to evaluate laboratories performing tooth enamel dosimetry <300 mGy. Final analysis of results included a correlation analysis between features of laboratory dose reconstruction protocols and dosimetry performance. Applicability of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tooth dosimetry at low dose was shown at two applied dose levels of 79 and 176 mGy. Most (9 of 12) laboratories reported the dose to be within 50 mGy of the delivered dose of 79 mGy, and 10 of 12 laboratories reported the dose to be within 100 mGy of the delivered dose of 176 mGy. At the high-dose tested (704 mGy) agreement within 25% of the delivered dose was found in 10 laboratories. Features of EPR dose reconstruction protocols that affect dosimetry performance were found to be magnetic field modulation amplitude in EPR spectrum recording, EPR signal model in spectrum deconvolution and duration of latency period for tooth enamel samples after preparation.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗

PubMed2005

Comparison of three methods of numerical procedures for ESR dosimetry of human tooth enamel.

Three numerical methods were employed to examine how gamma ray doses ranging from 100 mGy to 1Gy could be reconstructed using five human molar teeth. For samples above 28 0mGy, the obtained doses are consistent with each other within the errors but slightly larger than actually given doses. Background doses range from 20 to 170 mGy depending on the methods and samples. Further precise studies would be needed to characterize each method, but it would be recommended to apply several methods to check the reliability of the obtained doses.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

The 3rd international intercomparison on EPR tooth dosimetry: Part 1, general analysis.

The objective of the 3rd International Intercomparison on Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Tooth Dosimetry was the evaluation of laboratories performing tooth enamel dosimetry below 300 mGy. Participants had to reconstruct the absorbed dose in tooth enamel from 11 molars, which were cut into two halves. One half of each tooth was irradiated in a 60Co beam to doses in the ranges of 30-100 mGy (5 samples), 100-300 mGy (5 samples), and 300-900 mGy (1 sample). Fourteen international laboratories participated in this intercomparison programme. A first analysis of the results and an overview of the essential features of methods applied in different laboratories are presented. The relative standard deviation of results of all methods was better than 27% for applied doses in the range of 79-704 mGy. In the analysis of the unirradiated tooth halves 8% of the samples were identified as outliers with additional absorbed dose above background dose.

Benchmarking↗

PubMed2005

A stylized computational model of the head for the reference Japanese male.

Computational models of human anatomy, along with Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations, have been used by Snyder et al. [MIRD Pamphlet No. 5, revised (The Society of Nuclear Medicine, New York, 1978)], Cristy and Eckerman [ORNL/TM-8381/VI, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (1987)] and Zubal et al. [Med. Phys. 21, 299-302 (1994)] to estimate internal organ doses from internal and external radiation sources. These were created using physiological data from Caucasoid subjects but not from other races. There is a need for research to determine whether the obvious differences from the Caucasoid anatomy make these models unsuitable for estimating the absorbed dose in other races such as the Mongoloid. We used the cranial region of the adult Japanese male to represent the Mongoloid race. This region contains organs that are highly sensitive to radiation. The cranial region of a physical phantom produced by KYOTO KAGAKU Co., LTD. using numerical data from a Japanese Reference Man [Tanaka, Nippon Acta. Radiol. 48, 509-513 (1988)] was used to supply the data for the geometry of a stylized computational model. Our computational model was constructed with equations rather than voxel-based, in order to deal with as small a number of parameters as possible in the computer simulation experiment. The accuracy of our computational model was checked by comparing simulated experimental results obtained with MCNP4C with actual doses measured with thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) inside the physical phantom from which our computational model was constructed. The TLDs, whose margin of error is less than +/-10%, were arranged at six positions. Co-60 was used as the radiation source. The irradiated dose was 2 Gy in terms of air kerma. In the computer simulation experiments, we used our computational model and Cristy's computational model, whose component data are those of the tissue substitute materials and of the human body as published in ICRU Report 46. The observed absorbed dose values (Gy) at all six points were calculated as the percentage difference between MCNP4C simulation and the TLDs. In our computational model, the average values of all the percentage differences were 6.0+/-4.0% (tissue substitute materials) and 7.6+/-6.6% (ICRU Report 46), respectively. In Cristy's model, the corresponding values were 20.4+/-3.8% (tissue substitute materials) and 21.0+/-4.1% (ICRU Report 46), respectively. Considering the margin of error in the radiation sensitivity of the TLDs, this study validates our computational model as a test object for radiation dosimetry studies.

Asian People↗

PubMed2004

Characteristics of BDE dependent on 10B concentration for accelerator-based BNCT using near-threshold 7Li(p,n)7Be direct neutrons.

The characteristics boron-dose enhancer (BDE) was evaluated as to the dependence on the (10)B concentration for BNCT using near-threshold (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be direct neutrons. The treatable protocol depth (TPD) was utilized as an evaluation index. MCNP-4B calculations were performed for near-threshold (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be at a proton energy of 1.900MeV and for a polyethylene BDE. Consequently, the TPD was increased by increasing T/N ratio, i.e., the ratio of the (10)B concentration in the tumor ((10)B(Tumor)) to that in the normal tissue ((10)B(Normal)), and by increasing (10)B(Tumor) and (10)B(Normal) for constant T/N ratio. It has been found that the BDE becomes unnecessary from the viewpoint of increasing the TPD, when (10)B(Tumor) is over a certain level.

Beryllium↗

PubMed2004

Calibration of EPR signal dose response of tooth enamel to photons: experiment and Monte Carlo simulation.

The experimental energy dependence of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) radiation-induced signal at irradiation by photons in the energy range of 13 keV-1.25 MeV was analysed in terms of the absorbed dose in human tooth enamel. The latter was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation of the photon and electron transport. The dependence of the calculated absorbed dose on the sample thickness was analysed. No energy dependence of the EPR signal on the absorbed dose in enamel was verified in the range of 37 keV-1.25 MeV. At 13 and 20 keV the EPR signal dose response was reduced by 8% probably due to sample powdering. Dose-depth profiles in enamel samples irradiated by 1.25 MeV photons in polymethylmethacrylate and aluminium build-up materials were calculated. It was concluded that secondary electron equilibrium conditions are better fulfilled for irradiation in aluminium, which makes this material preferable for calibration.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Microdosimetry of neutron field for boron neutron capture therapy at Kyoto university reactor.

Microdosimetric single event spectrum in a human body simulated by an acrylic phantom has been measured for the clinical BNCT field at the Kyoto University Reactor (KUR). The recoil particles resulting from the initial reaction and subsequent interactions, namely protons, electrons, alpha particles and carbon nuclei are identified in the microdosimetric spectrum. The relative contributions to the neutron dose from proton, alpha particles and carbon are estimated to be about 0.9, 0.07 and 0.3, respectively, four depths between 5 and 41 mm. We estimate that the dose averaged lineal energy, yD decreased with depth from 64 to 46 keV microm(-1). Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of this neutron field using a response function for the microdosimetric spectrum was estimated to decrease from 3.6 to 2.9 with increasing depth.

Academic Medical Centers↗

PubMed2004

GAFChromic film dosimetry with a flatbed color scanner for Leksell Gamma Knife therapy.

GAFChromic films MD-55-2 have recently been established widely in industrial, scientific, and medical applications as radiation dosimeters. We applied these films to the dosimetry for Leksell Gamma Knife therapy. We used a flatbed image scanner to take digital images of irradiated MD-55-2, and the data were converted to Red, Green and Blue pixel values. The absorbed dose, as derived from the response curve of the Red pixel value, was consistent with the Leksell Gamma Plan dose planning system, for exposures using collimator sizes, 4 mm, 8 mm, and 14 mm. However, the maximum dose in the exposure of the 18 mm collimator was measured to be about 5% smaller than Gamma Plan due to the density effect of the compound material in the head phantom.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Trunk position influences vestibular responses of fastigial nucleus neurons in the alert monkey.

Vestibulospinal reflexes play an important role for body stabilization during locomotion and for postural control. For an appropriate distribution of vestibular signals to spinal motoneurons, the orientation of the body relative to the head needs to be taken into account. For different trunk positions, identical vestibular stimuli must activate different sets of muscles to ensure body stabilization. Because the cerebellar vermis and the underlying fastigial nucleus (FN) might be involved in this task, vestibular neurons in the rostral FN of alert rhesus monkeys were recorded during sinusoidal vestibular stimulation (0.1-1.0 Hz) in the roll and pitch planes at different trunk-re-head positions (center and +/-45 degrees ). From the sensitivity and phase values measured in these planes, the response properties in the intermediate planes and the stimulus orientation eliciting the optimal response [response vector orientation (RVO)] were calculated. In most neurons, the RVOs rotated systematically with respect to the head, when trunk-re-head position was altered, so that they tended to maintain their orientation with respect to the trunk. Sensitivity and phase at the RVO were not affected. This pattern was the same for neurons in the right and left FN and independent of stimulus frequency. The average sensitivity of this partially compensatory RVO shift in response to trunk-re-head displacements, evaluated by linear regression analyses, was 0.59 degrees / degrees (n = 73 neurons). These data show that FN neurons may encode vestibular information in a coordinate system that is closer to a trunk-centered than to a head-centered reference frame. They indicate an important role of this nucleus in motor programs related to posture and gait control.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

36Cl measurements in Hiroshima granite samples as part of an international intercomparison study. Results from the Munich group.

Within the effort to resolve the so-called Hiroshima neutron discrepancy, an international intercomparison study has been carried out on granite samples from Hiroshima, with participating institutions from Japan, the US, and Germany. (36)Cl and (152)Eu produced in these samples by thermal neutrons from the A-bomb explosion were assessed independently by means of different techniques. At the Maier-Leibnitz-Laboratory near Munich, Germany, (36)Cl concentrations were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Measured (36)Cl/Cl ratios ranged from 1,670 x 10(-13) (at a distance of 146 m from the hypocenter) to 2.2 x 10(-13) (at a distance of 1,163 m from the hypocenter). One granite sample not exposed to A-bomb neutrons was measured as a control, and a (36)Cl/Cl ratio of 2.6 x 10(-13) was obtained. On average, our experimental results are 20-30% lower than those provided by model calculations based on the dosimetry system DS86. The results presented here do not support previous assessments of (36)Cl, (60)Co, and (152)Eu which had suggested much larger thermal neutron fluences than those calculated on the basis of DS86 for distances from the hypocenter of more than 1,000 m.

Chlorine↗

PubMed2003

Relationship between oocyte apoptosis and ovarian tumours induced by high and low LET radiations in mice.

PURPOSE: To investigate the biological effectiveness of neutrons at the energy below 1 MeV on apoptosis and carcinogenesis in the mouse ovary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female mice were exposed to 1.0 Gy monoenergetic neutrons (0.317, 0.525 and 1.026 MeV), (252)Cf fission neutron (2.13 MeV) or (137)Cs gamma-rays at 7 days of age. Apoptosis of the oocyte and pregranulosa cells, and ovarian carcinogenesis were compared between the radiations. The efficiency of gamma-rays for granulosa cell tumorigenesis was tested by transplantation of the irradiated ovaries into non-irradiated mice. RESULTS: The cumulative apoptotic index of oocytes was 77.9%, 65.6% and 41.6% for the 0.525 MeV neutron, 2.13 MeV neutron and gamma-rays, respectively. Follicles with apoptotic pregranulosa cells were 53.0%, 18.3% and 22.8% of cumulative index for the three groups. Tubular adenomas developed in the groups of monoenergetic neutrons (26.1%) and gamma-ray (35.5%), whereas granulosa cell tumours developed only in the gamma-ray groups (3.2% for 1.0 Gy and 15.6% for 3.0 Gy). Partial-body irradiation with 3 Gy gamma-rays to the ovaries induced granulosa cell tumours with an incidence of 27.3%. CONCLUSION: Effectiveness of neutrons to cause apoptosis was higher for 0.525 MeV than for 2.13 MeV. The pregranulosa cell apoptosis occurred in an oocyte-prone manner. The higher effectiveness of neutrons than gamma-rays to induce oocyte and pregranulosa cell apoptosis correlates with the inhibition of granulosa cell tumour development.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2003

131I content in the human thyroid estimated from direct measurements of the inhabitants of Russian areas contaminated due to the Chernobyl accident.

The method of processing and the results of measurements of 131I content in the thyroids of Russian people performed in May-June 1986 are presented. The contribution of radiation from Cs radionuclides in the human body was taken into account in the processing of measurement data with an SRP-68-01 device. The greatest individual 131I content was found in the thyroids of inhabitants of the Bryansk region, up to 250-350 kBq, and in the Tula and Orel regions, up to 100 kBq. The average 131I thyroid activity in the middle of May 1986 reached 80 kBq for inhabitants of some settlements in the Bryansk region, 5-8 kBq in the Tula region and 5 kBq in the Orel region.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Use of glazes on porcelain from near ground zero to measure Hiroshima neutron fluence.

Several porcelain samples from almost directly beneath the atomic explosion at Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, have been scanned for induced fission tracks, produced mostly by the thermal neutrons from the bomb due to interactions with trace uranium in their glass coatings. The ability to use porcelain opens a new and abundant material for retrospective dosimetry. Four different samples had thermal neutron fluences in 1945 of 1.0, 3.8, 4.1, and 8.9 x 10(12) cm(-2). The different values are not caused by track fading, but are likely to result from differing shielding at different nearby positions. Assuming that the three highest fluences, which have overlapping uncertainties, are at locations of minimum shielding, the statistically weighted thermal fluence in the air at ground level and ground zero was 4.8 x 10(12) cm(-2) with a statistical uncertainty of 15%. This value lies between the calculated value of 6.5 x 10(12) given in DS86 and the 3.7 x 10(12) inferred from induced radionuclides by Hoshi et al. (1998).

Calibration↗

PubMed2003

Three-dimensional eye position and slow phase velocity in humans with downbeat nystagmus.

Downbeat nystagmus (DN), a fixation nystagmus with the fast phases directed downward, is usually caused by cerebellar lesions, but the precise etiology is not known. A disorder of the smooth-pursuit system or of central vestibular pathways has been proposed. However, both hypotheses fail to explain why DN is usually accompanied by gaze-holding nystagmus, which implies a leaky neural velocity-to-position integrator. Because three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of nystagmus slow phases provides an excellent means for testing both hypotheses, we examined 19 patients with DN during a fixation task and compared them with healthy subjects. We show that the presentation of DN patients is not uniform; they can be grouped according to their deficits: DN with vertical integrator leakage, DN with vertical and horizontal integrator leakage, and DN without integrator leakage. The 3-D analysis of the slow phases of DN patients revealed that DN is most likely neither caused by damage to central vestibular pathways carrying semicircular canal information nor by a smooth pursuit imbalance. We propose that the observed effects can be explained by partial damage of a brain stem-cerebellar loop that augments the time constant of the neural velocity to position integrators in the brain stem and neurally adjusts the orientation of Listing's plane.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Purification and characterization of the plasma membrane glycosidases of Drosophila melanogaster spermatozoa.

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated the presence of two integral proteins with glycosidase activity in the plasma membrane of Drosophila melanogaster spermatozoa and we have suggested that these enzymes might have a role in sperm-egg binding. In this study the glycosidases have been purified and characterized. We have evidenced the presence of three distinct enzymes, two beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoforms, named HEX 1 and HEX 2, and an alpha-mannosidase. The molecular size of the native enzymes estimated by gel filtration was 158 kDa for beta-hexosaminidases and 317 kDa for alpha-mannosidase. SDS-PAGE showed that HEX 1 and HEX 2 are dimers formed by subunits with different molecular sizes, whereas alpha-mannosidase consists of three subunits with different molecular weights. All the enzymes are terminally glycosylated. Characterization of the purified enzymes included their 4-methylumbelliferyl-substrate preferences, kinetic properties, inhibitor constants and thermal stability. On the basis of substrate specificity, kinetics and the results of inhibition studies, beta-hexosaminidases appear to differ from each other. HEX 1 and HEX 2 are similar to mammalian isoenzyme A and isoenzyme B, respectively. These findings represent the first report on the characterization of sperm proteins that are potentially involved in interactions with the egg in Insects.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Microdosimetry of epithermal neutron field at the Kyoto University reactor.

Microdosimetric spectra were measured in order to gain the microdosimetric parameters of some epithermal neutron fields. Changes in dose mean lineal energy YD as a function of depth of heavy water showed a trend of softening with heavy water of the beam. The neutron absorbed dose was obtained by using the frequency mean lineal energy. Results show good agreement with measurements with the activation method using gold foil. This study demonstrated how microdosimetric parameters change in radiation quality as a function of heavy water depth.

Deuterium Oxide↗