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Biomedical subjects

M Hoshi

Publications and source records attributed to M Hoshi.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Different localization of tau protein kinase I/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta from glycogen synthase kinase-3 alpha in cerebellum mitochondria.

We examined the subcellular distribution of two glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) isoforms in rat cerebellum. Results from immunoelectron microscopy and subcellular fractionation revealed that one isoform, tau protein kinase I/GSK-3 beta (TPKI/GSK-3 beta), was present in mitochondria, but GSK-3 alpha was not. Although the two GSK-3 isoforms seem to have similar properties, the difference of subcellular localization observed here suggests that TPKI/GSK-3 beta fulfills some specific function in mitochondria.

Animals↗

Thermoluminescence dosimetry of the Hiroshima atomic-bomb gamma rays between 1.59 km and 1.63 km from the hypocenter.

Gamma-ray kermas from the Hiroshima atomic bomb were measured by a thermoluminescence (TL) method using tile specimens collected from five locations on the rooftop of a building (Postal Saving Bureau), 1,591-1,635 m from the hypocenter. Four tile specimens each from five locations were sampled and quartz grains were extracted from them. TL of these grains were analyzed by the high temperature TL method and gamma-ray kermas were obtained. The results in tissue kerma, on average, are 21% higher (standard errors are 4.3-7.3%) than the DS86 estimation. The present data and the reported TL results indicate that the measured gamma-ray kermas begin to exceed the DS86 values at about 1.3 km and the discrepancy between them increases with ground distance. This discrepancy is attributed to errors in the DS86 neutron source spectrum and is supported by previous neutron activation measurements.

Gamma Rays↗

Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 vesicle on adherence of Streptococcus mutans OMZ 70 to the experimental pellicle.

The vesicles of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277 strongly aggregated Streptococcus cricetus, S. rattus, and S. mutans, but poorly aggregated S. sobrinus. The adherence of S. mutans OMZ 70 to hydroxyapatite (HA) coated with whole saliva was increased in parallel with the quantity of the vesicles. The significant increase of adherence of S. mutans OMZ 70 by the vesicles was also observed on the HA coated with parotid saliva, submandibular saliva, serum, and type I collagen. These findings suggest that the vesicles may act as a bridge between mutans streptococcus and the tooth surface.

Animals↗

Hemocytes release phenoloxidase upon contact reaction, an allogeneic interaction, in the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.

Contact reaction is the morphological expression of allogeneic recognition by hemocytes in the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi; namely they undergo an exocytotic burst upon contact with non-self (allogeneic) hemocytes in vitro. We have found that contact reaction is accompanied by a burst of cyanide-insensitive oxygen consumption that, unlike exocytotic events of mammalian phagocytes, is Ca(2+)-dependent and does not culminate in the production of superoxide anions or H2O2. Instead, the burst is due to the release of phenoloxidase from hemocytes as known for the self-defense systems in insects and crustaceans. The activity of phenoloxidase released from hemocytes corresponds well to the degree of contact reaction observed under the microscope. Therefore, it is possible to quantify the contact reaction simply by measuring the activity of phenoloxidase released from hemocytes into the medium.

Animals↗

Neutron generator at Hiroshima University for use in radiobiology study.

A neutron generator (HIRRAC) for use in radiobiology study has been constructed at the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University (RIRBM). Monoenergetic neutrons of which energy is less than 1.3 MeV are generated by the 7Li(p,n)7 Be reaction at proton energies up to 3 MeV. The protons are accelerated by a Schenkel-type-accelerator and are bombared onto the 7Li-target. An apparatus for the irradiation of biological material such as mice, cultured cells and so on, was designed and will be manufactured. Neutron and gamma-ray dose rates were measured by paired (TE-TE and C-CO2) ionization chambers. Contamination of the gamma ray was less than about 6% when using 10-microns-thick 7Li as a target. Maximum dose rates for the tissue equivalent materials was 40 cGy/min at a distance of 10 cm from the target. Energy distributions of the obtained neutrons have been measured by a 3He-gas proportional counter. The monoenergetic neutrons within an energy region from 0.1 to 1.3 MeV produced by thin 7Li or 7LiF targets had a small energy spread of about 50 keV (1 sigma width of gaussian). The energy spread of neutrons was about 10% or less at an incident proton energy of 2.3 MeV. We found that HIRRAC produces small energy spread neutrons and at sufficient dose rates for use in radiobiology studies.

Animals↗

[Smooth induction and stable maintenance of hypertensive state for clinical response in angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy].

In angiotensin II (A II)-induced hypertension chemotherapy (IHC), the role of the level of hypertension induced by A II and pattern of maintenance of the state was investigated in 5,840 IHC records of 264 patients. The pattern of IHC records of each patient was evaluated according to the range of the mean elevated blood pressure (MBPe) and induced hypertension point (IHTP). The MBPe of each record was calculated from 5-7 randomly selected values. The range of MBPe from each record was estimated, while discarding the max and min values. IHTP was classified into three categories as follows: 1:160 > MBPe > or = 140, 2: MBPe > 160 and 140 > MBPe > or = 130; and 3: 130 > MBPe. The most frequent category of all records was determined as the IHTP of each patient. One point was added to IHTP, when the fluctuation range of MBPe was more than 10 mmHg, and when the other categories were mixed more than 25% among all records. The MBPe of CR + PR group were significantly higher than in the other non-response group. IHTP was also better in responders. Many patients aged below 40 responded poorly to A II, and the level of MBPe was significantly lower than that of patients above 40. It may be essential to induce the hypertensive level and maintain a stable state during IHC for enhancement of clinical effects. Symptoms accompanied during IHC such as chest oppressive sense, dull head pain, and abdominal discomfort were observed in half the patients, although the IHC procedure almost never had to be discontinued.

Adult↗

Structural analysis of N-linked oligosaccharides of equine chorionic gonadotropin and lutropin beta-subunits.

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and lutropin (eLH) are composed of alpha- and beta-subunits with an identical amino acid sequence but show different biological activities. To elucidate the molecular difference between these gonadotropins, the structure of the N-linked oligosaccharides of each beta-subunit was determined. N-linked sugar chains, liberated as tritum-labeled oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and reduction with NaB3H4, were neutralized by sialidase digestion and/or methanolytic desulfation. Neutralized oligosaccharides were fractionated by sequential chromatography on serial lectin affinity columns and on a Bio-Gel P-4 column. Each oligosaccharide structure was determined by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in conjunction with elution profiles on lectin columns and methylation analysis. Each beta-subunit contained a single N-glycosylation site, but a high degree of microheterogeneity was observed in the structure of its N-linked oligosaccharides. eCG beta contained mono-, bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharides in a ratio of 3:63:13:1. eCG beta oligosaccharides contained about 16% of the bisecting GlcNAc and about 20% of poly-N-acetyllactosamine structures. Elongation of N-acetyllactosamine units showed a preference to the Man alpha 1-->6 side rather than the Man alpha 1-->3 side. Triantennary chains had only a C-2, 4-branched structure. eLH beta contained only mono- and biantennary complex-type and hybrid-type oligosaccharides in a ratio of approximately 18:67:10. eLH beta also contained bisected structures in about 18%. Oligosaccharides derived from the sulfated fraction of eLH beta contained GalNAc residues at nonreducing termini. Oligosaccharides from the sialylated/sulfated fraction of eLH beta contained both Gal and GalNAc residues at nonreducing termini, and those GalNAc residues were preferentially distributed to the Man alpha 1-->3 side of the trimannosyl core. These results clearly indicate that eCG beta and eLH beta possess structurally distinct N-linked oligosaccharides in addition to different charge groups even though they have a protein moiety identical to each other. Our results suggest that the biological activity of these hormones might be modulated by its terminal charge groups and stem structures of carbohydrate moiety synthesized in different organs.

Amino Sugars↗

Effects of oxygen concentration and oviductal epithelial tissue on the development of in vitro matured and fertilized bovine oocytes cultured in protein-free medium.

Examination was made of the effects of oxygen concentration and supplementation of bovine oviductal epithelial tissue (BOET) on the development of bovine in vitro matured and fertilized (IVM/IVF) oocytes in a protein-free medium. The IVM/IVF embryos were cultured in protein-free tissue culture medium 199 supplemented with or without BOET under 5% CO2 in air (20% O2) or 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2 (5% O2). We found that blastocyst development without BOET at 5% O2 was the same as that with BOET at 20% O2 (30 vs 33%); BOET suppressed blastocyst development at 5% O2 (4%). Blastocysts cultured without BOET at 5% O2 developed into normal fetuses after transfer to recipient heifers. Examination was also made of oxygen pressure in the medium cultured with or without BOET at 20% O2 or 5% O2 by a blood gas analyzer. Oxygen pressure in the medium cultured with BOET at 20% O2 was lower than that without BOET (111.0+/-13.3 vs 149.2+/-1.3 mmHg). These results indicate that bovine IVM/IVF embryos can develop to the blastocyst stage in a protein-free medium without somatic cell support at low oxygen concentration (5%) and that the beneficial role of BOET for embryonic development may be to reduce oxygen concentration in the medium.

Journal Article↗

Comparative study of glycosphingolipid composition in mammalian lenses.

The carbohydrate epitope Gal alpha 1-3Gal-R (alpha-galactosyl epitope), which is detectable by its binding with Bandeiraea simplicifolia-IB4 lectin, was found in glycosphingolipids (GSLs), both neutral and acidic (gangliosides), from lens tissues of non-primate mammals, but not in those of human senile cataracts and Old World monkeys. Instead, human cataractous and Old World monkey non-cataractous lenses expressed Lewisx (Le(x)) epitopes (Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc-R) in neutral GSLs. Sialylated Le(x) epitopes were found in rat and pig lenses as well as in human and Old World monkey lenses. Ganglio-series gangliosides, consisting mainly of GM3, GM1, GD1a and GD3, were detected in a species-specific fashion. On the other hand, alpha-galactosyl epitopes were expressed in lens tissues only in water-insoluble proteins of non-primate mammals, but Le(x) and sialylated Le(x) epitopes were not detectable in lens proteins. Among the several mammalian lenses examined, humans and Old World monkeys showed similar GSL compositions, in particular the presence of Le(x) and sialylated Le(x) epitopes and the absence of alpha-galactosyl epitopes, in lens tissue.

Aged↗

Effects of cumulus cells on sperm penetration of bovine oocytes in protein-free medium.

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cumulus cells on sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction and penetration of bovine oocytes in vitro in a protein-free medium. In vitro matured oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs) and denuded oocytes were co-incubated with spermatozoa in the medium with or without bovine serum albumin (BSA). Higher fertilization rates were obtained in the OCCs (92 and 89%, respectively) than denuded oocytes (57 and 6%, respectively) in the medium with or without BSA (P<0.01). Higher proportion of the denuded oocytes were fertilized in the medium with BSA (57%) than without BSA (6%; P<0.01). These results suggest that the cumulus cells are more effective for increasing fertilization rate than BSA (P<0.05). Both the percentages of capacitated and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa incubated for 4 h with isolated cumulus cells were not significantly different in the medium without cumulus cells in the presence or absence of BSA. The denuded oocytes were inseminated with isolated cumulus cells taken from OCCs matured with or without hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol-17beta (E(2)), and from immature OCCs in a protein-free medium. Presence of the cumulus cells matured with hormones enhanced sperm penetration of denuded oocytes more effectively (81%) than either of the cells matured without hormones (41%) or the immature cells (26%; P<0.01). The conditioned medium of cumulus cells matured with hormones was not effective for sperm penetration of denuded oocytes (2%), while a high proportion (82%) of the oocytes were fertilized when they were inseminated with isolated cumulus cells (P<0.01). In conclusion, the presence of cumulus cells matured with FSH and E(2) was effective for sperm penetration but not for sperm capacitation or acrosome reaction.

Journal Article↗

Effects of 252Cf neutrons, transmitted through an iron block on human lymphocyte chromosome.

Chromosome aberration of human peripheral blood lymphocytes exposed to californium-252 (252Cf) neutrons transmitted through a 15 cm thick iron block was analysed. The spectrum of the filtered neutrons ranged from 0.1 to 2 MeV with a peak at 0.7 MeV, simulating the Hiroshima atomic bomb neutron spectrum as shown in the Dosimetry System 1986 (DS86). Chromosome aberration frequencies after exposure to filtered and unfiltered 252Cf radiation were compared. Acentric ring chromosomes were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the filtered condition. However, yields of dicentrics and centric rings induced by the filtered neutrons were not statistically different from those induced by the unfiltered neutrons (p > 0.1). The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the neutrons with respect to the formation of dicentrics and centric rings was 10.9 and 12.3 in the filtered and unfiltered conditions respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. These results provide useful information for the re-evaluation of the biological effect of the Hiroshima atomic bomb radiations.

Californium↗

Glycosphingolipids in cultured lens epithelial cells from dog and rhesus monkey.

Vertebrate lens tissues contain several species of acidic and neutral glycosphingolipids in relatively high amounts. However, the epithelia with capsule from dog and rhesus monkey lenses had a simpler composition and lower content of glycosphingolipids than whole lenses. Gangliosides and neutral glycosphingolipids in monolayer cultures of lens epithelial cells were also different from those in whole lenses. Although alpha-galactosyl (Gal alpha 1-3Gal-R) or Lewis(x) (Gal beta 1-4[Fuc alpha 1-3]GlcNAc-R) epitopes were found in glycosphingolipids from whole lenses, they were not detected in those from monolayer cultures of dog and rhesus monkey lens cells. In addition, significant changes in ganglio-series gangliosides were induced in monolayer cultures of both cells, where GM3 and GD3 were predominant. Immunofluorescence study revealed a characteristic distribution of cell surface gangliosides in confluent monolayers. These findings suggest that glycosphingolipid synthesis in lens epithelia is intrinsically different from that in cortical and nuclear fibres, and that the expression of Lewis(x) and alpha-galactosyl epitopes in glycosphingolipids appears to be associated with the differentiation of epithelial cells to fibres.

Animals↗

Fallout radioactivity in soil and food samples in the Ukraine: measurements of iodine, plutonium, cesium, and strontium isotopes.

To estimate the level and distribution of fallout attributable to the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power station accident in the Ukraine, we sampled several kinds of substances at Korosten, Zhitomir and at Katyuzhanka, Vishgorod, Kiev in the Ukraine, and measured the radioactivity of 137Cs, 134Cs, 90Sr, 129I, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, and the density of 127I (stable). The substances investigated were soil, dry milk, wheat, rye, drinking water, and mushrooms. Except for the mushrooms collected, which were sampled at Katyuzhanka, Vishgorod, and at Kiev, all substances were at Korosten, Zhitomir. The activity of 137Cs, 134Cs, 90Sr, 238Pu, and 239,240Pu were all higher in soil and mushrooms than in the other four substances. The activity of 137Cs was 960 and 1,210 Bq kg-1 in the two soil samples and 6,110 Bq kg-1 in the mushrooms. The activity of 134Cs was approximately 15% of 137Cs in the two soil samples while < 3% of 137Cs in the mushrooms. The activity concentration level of 90Sr as compared to 137Cs concentration was 15-31% in food samples other than mushrooms but only 1.9% in mushrooms and 1.4 and 1.2% in the two soil samples. The radioactivity ratios, 238Pu: 239,240Pu and 239,240Pu: 137Cs, suggested that the proportion of cesium radioisotopes and 239,240Pu in the soil attributable to the Chernobyl accident was approximately 100% and 10-20%, respectively, while approximately 100% of 239,240Pu in the mushrooms was attributable to the accident. The activity of 129I was small but the ratio of 129I: 127I in the two soil samples was 4.3 x 10(-8) and 1.0 x 10(-7), which is approximately 10 times larger than that in the global fallout. These results suggest that the areas where the soil was sampled are iodine-deficient and were contaminated slightly by the Chernobyl accident.

Accidents↗

137Cs concentration among children in areas contaminated with radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl accident: Mogilev and Gomel oblasts, Belarus.

The level of radiation exposure in children in Belarus caused by the Chernobyl accident was investigated on the basis of whole body 137Cs count. The subjects were 10,062 children (4,762 boys and 5,300 girls) in Mogilev and Gomel, Belarus, who received Chernobyl Sasakawa Health and Medical Cooperation Project health examinations from May 1991 to December 1992 and who were 5-16 y old at the time of examination. The median whole body 137Cs count per body weight varied from 21-48 Bq kg-1 and from 28-126 Bq kg-1 in Mogilev oblast and Gomel oblast, respectively. (The "oblast" is the largest administrative district constituting the country. Belarus consists of 6 oblasts). Corresponding annual effective dose equivalents were all less than the public dose limit of 1 mSv y-1, but the observed levels in the children were considerably higher than the average level of 2.3 Bq kg-1 reported in the past for the former Soviet Union.

Accidents↗