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Biomedical subjects

M Ishimaru

Publications and source records attributed to M Ishimaru.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Comedolytic effect of topically applied active vitamin D3 analogue on pseudocomedones in the rhino mouse.

BACKGROUND: Retinoids and active vitamin D(3) analogues regulate the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes and are effective in the treatment of psoriasis. Retinoids are known to be effective against acne vulgaris through comedolysis. However, the comedolytic effect of active vitamin D(3) analogues has not been reported. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether maxacalcitol, one of the active vitamin D(3) analogues, has a comedolytic effect by using spontaneously comedogenic rhino mice. METHODS: Rhino mice were treated topically with tretinoin and maxacalcitol once daily for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. The dermal side of the epidermal sheet was observed to determine the size of the utricle. Haematoxylin and eosin-stained vertical sections were used to measure utricle diameter and density and to evaluate histological changes. RESULTS: Maxacalcitol (25 microg g(-1)) and tretinoin (0.1%) significantly decreased the size and the diameter of the utricle after 1 week of treatment. However, maxacalcitol did not affect the density while tretinoin did have an effect. Histopathologically, maxacalcitol and tretinoin markedly induced epidermal hyperplasia accompanied by a minor accumulation of inflammatory cells in the dermis, with and without hypercornification, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that maxacalcitol has a prominent effect on comedolysis and that its mechanism of action may be different from that of retinoids.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed2003

Essential Bacillus subtilis genes.

To estimate the minimal gene set required to sustain bacterial life in nutritious conditions, we carried out a systematic inactivation of Bacillus subtilis genes. Among approximately 4,100 genes of the organism, only 192 were shown to be indispensable by this or previous work. Another 79 genes were predicted to be essential. The vast majority of essential genes were categorized in relatively few domains of cell metabolism, with about half involved in information processing, one-fifth involved in the synthesis of cell envelope and the determination of cell shape and division, and one-tenth related to cell energetics. Only 4% of essential genes encode unknown functions. Most essential genes are present throughout a wide range of Bacteria, and almost 70% can also be found in Archaea and Eucarya. However, essential genes related to cell envelope, shape, division, and respiration tend to be lost from bacteria with small genomes. Unexpectedly, most genes involved in the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway are essential. Identification of unknown and unexpected essential genes opens research avenues to better understanding of processes that sustain bacterial life.

Bacillus subtilis↗
PubMed2002

Myb-related genes of the Kyoho grape ( Vitis labruscana) regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Partial cDNAs of myb-related regulatory genes were isolated from the tetraploid Kyoho grape ( Vitis labruscana: V. labrusca x V. vinifera) and the expression patterns of the corresponding genes were studied. Since MybA gene expression is closely related to coloring and/or ripening of the berry (expression increases strongly with the commencement of coloring and berry softening, and is detected only in berry skin and flesh), full-length cDNAs for the gene were isolated from a mature-berry cDNA library. Three different species of MybA were identified from the cDNA sequences. Delivery of these cDNAs to somatic embryos of grape led to the induction of reddish-purple spots and UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3- O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene expression in non-colored embryos. The UFGT transcript was not detected in control embryos, while other structural genes for anthocyanin biosynthesis were expressed in both control and pigmented embryos. In addition, introduction of the UFGT gene induced the same reddish-purple spots in embryos. In contrast, treatment with the leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) gene failed to induce these spots. Our results strongly suggest that MybA genes are involved in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the grape via expression of the UFGT gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of 20 antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine intramammary infections in Japan.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 antimicrobial agents were determined against 51 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine intramammary infections. Fourteen (27.4%) isolates were resistant to benzylpenicillin, but none of the isolates was resistant to cloxacillin, nafcillin, or cephems. Among aminoglycosides, gentamicin was the most active, with an MIC50 of 0.2 microg/ml, followed by kanamycin, with an MIC50 of 0.78 microg/ml. Five isolates (9.8%) were resistant to dihydrostreptomycin, three isolates (5.9%) to kanamycin and two isolates (3.9%) to gentamicin. Resistance to erythromycin was observed in two isolates (3.9%). Tylosin was less active than erythromycin, with MIC50s of 1.56 microg/ml versus 0.39 microg/ml, but none of the isolates was resistant to this antibiotic. Oxytetracycline MICs were situated in the range of 0.39-1.56 microg/ml for 48 susceptible isolates. Although 19 (37.3%) isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents, a single resistance pattern was most frequent: benzylpenicillin (12 isolates), dihydrostreptomycin (two isolates) and kanamycin (one isolate). There were no isolates resistant to antimicrobial agents such as methicillin, lincomycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, florfenicol and virginiamycin, which have not been approved for use in cattle husbandry in Japan.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene sequences between white grapes (Vitis vinifera) and their sports with red skin.

The expression of the UDP-glucose:flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT) gene has been shown to be critical for anthocyanin biosynthesis in the grape berry. Using white cultivars and bud sports with red skin, we examined the expression of seven anthocyanin biosynthetic genes including the UFGT gene and compared the coding/promoter sequences of the UFGT gene. Northern blot analysis showed that the seven anthocyanin biosynthetic genes were expressed coordinately at higher levels in the red-skin sports than in the white-skin progenitors of the sports. It was especially notable that UFGT gene expression was detected only in the red-skin sports and Kyoho. However, there were no differences in either coding or promoter sequences between Italia (Vitis vinifera) and its red-skin sport Ruby Okuyama, or between Muscat of Alexandria (V. vinifera) and the red-skin sport Flame Muscat. From these findings, the phenotypic change from white to red in the sports is thought to be the result of a mutation in a regulatory gene controlling the expression of UFGT.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Pasteurella multocida isolated from cattle and pigs.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 10 antimicrobial agents were determined for Pasteurella multocida from cattle and pigs (72 and 68 isolates, respectively). Higher MICs were observed with oxytetracycline, doxycycline, tilmicosin and thiamphenicol for porcine isolates than for bovine isolates. Enrofloxacin was the most active, with an MIC for 90% of the isolates (MIC90) of 0.05 microg/ml for both bovine and porcine isolates. Aspoxicillin exhibited the same excellent activity against penicillin-susceptible isolates as ceftiofur, with MICs ranging from < or = 0.025 to 0.1 microg/ml. Aminoglycosides were less active, with an MIC90 of > 100 microg/ml for both bovine and porcine isolates.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2001

Application of nano-diffraction to local atomic distribution function analysis of amorphous materials.

A method is proposed for the local atomic distribution function analysis of amorphous materials. This method is based on local halo-electron diffraction intensity analysis with nano-sized electron probes as small as 25 to approximately 3 nm, taking advantage of the intensity recording with imaging plate. Nanodiffraction and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns from an amorphous SiNx (x approximately 4/3) thin film were taken using a conventional transmission electron microscope operated at 200 kV and recorded on imaging plates. An intensity correction to omit inelastic intensity was made using electron energy-loss spectroscopy. When a beam-convergence angle is larger than 1 x 10(-3) rad, the Wiener-filter deconvolution method becomes helpful in producing atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) from the nano-diffraction intensity profiles that are more similar to the PDF from the SAED intensity. This technique was applied to the analysis of local amorphous structures of SiO2 layers formed by an oxygen-ion implantation into single crystal SiC.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

One month survival with the undulation pump total artificial heart in a goat.

The undulation pump is a small continuous flow displacement-type blood pump. The undulation pump total artificial heart (UPTAH) is a unique implantable total artificial heart using undulation pumps. An adult female goat weighing 45.8 kg was used for implantation. The natural heart was replaced with the UPTAH under extracorporal circulation. The cardiac output (CO) was maintained to 100 ml/kg/min by controlling the right pump manually. To prevent lung edema, the left pump was controlled automatically to maintain the left atrial pressure below 20 mm Hg. The CO was maintained for 2 weeks. Thereafter, the CO gradually decreased. The goat suddenly died because of a brain stroke on the 31st postoperative day. At autopsy, the cavity of the left atrial cuff was almost occupied by the big pannus-like thrombus, which was thought to be the cause of death. Improvement of the atrial cuff is necessary to obtain longer survival and is being modified. No thrombus was found inside the pumps. However, temperature rise in a left motor was a problem. Improvement of the efficiency in a motor is necessary. Although many problems still remained, 1 month survival could be obtained with this unique implantable TAH using continuous flow displacement-type blood pumps.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Radiation tolerance of complex oxides

The radiation performance of a variety of complex oxides is predicted on the basis of a material's propensity to accommodate lattice point defects. The calculations indicate that a particular class of oxides possessing the fluorite crystal structure should accept radiation-induced defects into their lattices far more readily than a structurally similar class of oxides based on the pyrochlore crystal structure. Preliminary radiation damage experiments substantiate the prediction that fluorites are inherently more radiation resistant than pyrochlores. These results may permit the chemical durability and radiation tolerance of potential hosts for actinides and radioactive wastes to be tailored.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Analysis of the antigen recognition sites of anti-methamphetamine monoclonal antibodies (II): unique feature of MA-3 antibody.

A monoclonal antibody against methamphetamine (MA-3 mAb) was found to be strongly bound to ephedrine. This feature was quite different from that of other fourteen mAbs against MA. Analyses of cDNA sequence and steric conformation by molecular modeling revealed that one hydrophilic pocket was generated in the heavy chain of MA-3 mAb involving CDRH-1 and CDRH-2. Asn33, Asn35, Asn50 and Asp52 were the main components of the unique pocket capable of binding to the hydroxyl group of ephedrine.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of enterococci isolated from faeces of broiler and layer chickens.

Enterococci were isolated from faecal droppings of chickens in broiler and layer farms and the susceptibilities to nine therapeutic antimicrobial agents and six growth-promoting antibiotics were determined by the agar dilution method. Resistance to therapeutic antimicrobial agents such as ampicillin, clindamycin, erythromycin, streptomycin, tetracycline or tylosin was more frequent in enterococcal isolates from broiler farms than in those from layer farms. Resistance to ofloxacin was rare, occurring in only one (0.7%) of the Enterococcus faecium isolates from broiler farms. Resistance to growth-promoting antibiotics such as avilamycin, salinomycin and virginiamycin was common among isolates from broiler farms. Of the E. faecium isolates from broiler farms, 12.4% were resistant to avilamycin and 27.4% were resistant to virginiamycin. Resistance to salinomycin was detected in all enterococcal species, ranging from 12.4% of E. faecium isolates to 50% of E. hirae isolates.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2000

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolated from cattle and pigs.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 18 antimicrobial agents were determined for 49 Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolates (42 bovine isolates and 7 porcine isolates). Benzylpenicillin and ampicillin were the most active antibiotics, with MIC ranges of < or = 0.0125-0.05 microgram/ml for both bovine and porcine isolates. All isolates were susceptible to penicillins and cephems. MICs for 90% of the isolates of dihydrostreptomycin, gentamicin and oxytetracycline for bovine isolates were > 100 micrograms/ml, 1.56 micrograms/ml and 25 micrograms/ml, respectively. More resistance to dihydrostreptomycin appeared among porcine isolates (85.7%) than among bovine isolates (52.4%). Resistance to gentamicin occurred in only 3 (7.1%) of the bovine isolates. Resistance to oxytetracycline also appeared more frequent among porcine isolates (85.7%) than among bovine isolates (57.1%). All bovine isolates were susceptible to erythromycin, tilmocosin and lincomycin, but two porcine isolates (28.6%) were simultaneously resistant to these antibiotics. Tiamulin was as active as tilmicosin, with an MIC for 50% of the isolates (MIC50) of 0.05 microgram/ml for both bovine and porcine isolates. The MIC50s of chloramphenicol and its derivatives florfenicol and thiamphenicol were all 1.56 micrograms/ml. The fluoroquinolones enrofloxacin and ofloxacin were not so active as penicillins and macrolides, with MIC50s of 0.78 microgram/ml and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively, for both bovine and porcine isolates.

Actinomycetaceae↗
PubMed2000

[A thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer: a case report with a 27-year disease-free interval].

A 70-year-old woman, who had undergone a right radical mastectomy for breast cancer 27 years previously, was found to have a tumor measuring 15 mm in diameter between the S5 area and the S8 area of the left lung. We suspected it to be either metastatic or primary lung cancer based on preoperatively any conclusive diagnosis. We thus performed a thoracoscopic partial lung resection and pericardial resection. The pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was pulmonary metastasis from the previous breast cancer, since the pathological findings of the lung lesion were closely similar to those of the previous breast lesion. Using immunohistochemical methods, the tumor cells show positive staining for anti-estrogen receptor antibody. In lung tumor cases in which the patient has undergone a breast cancer resection, even more than 20 years previously, surgeons must not rule out the possibility of recurrence. Thoracoscopic surgery is considered to be most effective method for both making a definitive diagnosis and for performing curative treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Apoptotic neurodegeneration following trauma is markedly enhanced in the immature brain.

Age dependency of apoptotic neurodegeneration was studied in the developing rat brain after percussion head trauma. In 7-day-old rats, mechanical trauma, applied by means of a weight drop device, was shown to trigger widespread cell death in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the trauma site, which first appeared at 6 hours, peaked at 24 hours, and subsided by 5 days after trauma. Ultrastructurally, degenerating neurons displayed features consistent with apoptosis. A decrease of bcl-2 in conjunction with an increase of c-jun mRNA levels, which were evident at 1 hour after trauma and were accompanied by elevation of CPP 32-like proteolytic activity and oligonucleosomes in vulnerable brain regions, confirmed the apoptotic nature of this process. Severity of trauma-triggered apoptosis in the brains of 3- to 30-day-old rats was age dependent, was highest in 3- and 7-day-old animals, and demonstrated a subsequent rapid decline. Adjusting the mechanical force in accordance with age-specific brain weights revealed a similar vulnerability profile. Thus, apoptotic neurodegeneration contributes in an age-dependent fashion to neuropathological outcome after head trauma, with the immature brain being exceedingly vulnerable. These results help explain unfavorable outcomes of very young pediatric head trauma patients and imply that, in this group, an antiapoptotic regimen may constitute a successful neuroprotective approach.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1999

[Relation between wall motion and scintigraphic uptake altered by the cut-off level on technetium-99m sestamibi tomographic imaging--the preferable cut-off levels according to tomographic uptake correlated with the wall motion].

BACKGROUND: Whether technetium-99m sestamibi imaging can evaluate myocardial viability is still obscure. It may be partially because the preferable cut-off level for evaluation of the viability is not known. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to investigate which cut-off level should be used for estimation of the contractile function, and verify whether technetium-99m sestamibi tomographic imaging can evaluate myocardial viability. METHODS: We studied 45 patients who had had myocardial infarction. They underwent technetium-99m sestamibi imaging, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization. The myocardial image was divided into 16 segments, each of which was scored according to wall motion on echocardiography with a 4-point scale. The segmental technetium-99m uptake was also scored with a 4-point scale. We investigated the correlation between wall motion and scintigraphic uptake with the use of 7 cut-off levels (from 35% to 65%, in 5% increments). The correlation ranks were compared among patient groups with a number of stenotic vessels. RESULTS: Irrespective of the number of stenotic vessels, the defect score was similarly enlarged according to cut-off levels. The patient groups had the maximum correlation ranks with different cut-off levels, which were 40% for 1-vessel disease (rho = 0.512, n = 160, p = 0.0001), 50% for 2-vessel disease (rho = 0.424, n = 208, p = 0.0001), and 60% for 3-vessel disease (rho = 0.540, n = 272, p = 0.0001). The correlation ranks for all groups were stable, whereas not high, throughout various cut-off levels. CONCLUSIONS: Technetium-99m sestamibi imaging can approximately estimate myocardial viability from the point of view of function, which may be corrected by the careful choice of cut off levels according to the number of the stenotic vessels (40% for 1-vessel disease, 50% for 2-vessel disease, 60% for 3-vessel disease).

Coronary Circulation↗
PubMed1998

Modeling pediatric head trauma: mechanisms of degeneration and potential strategies for neuroprotection.

We have developed a model for head trauma in infant rats in an attempt to study mechanisms of neurodegeneration in the developing brain and were able to morphologically characterize two distinct types of brain damage. The first type or primary damage evolved within 4 hrs after trauma and occurred by an excitotoxic mechanism. The second type or secondary damage evolved within 6-24 hrs and occurred by an apoptotic mechanism. Primary damage remained localized to the parietal cortex at the site of impact. Secondary damage affected distant sites such as the cingulate/retrosplenial cortex, subiculum, frontal cortex, thalamus, hippocampal dentate gyrus and striatum. Histological evidence of delayed cell death was preceded by decrease of bcl-2- in conjunction with increase of c-jun-mRNA-levels, already evident at 1 hr after trauma. Increase of CPP32-like activity and elevated concentrations of oligonucleosomes in affected brain regions represented additional findings to indicate that this secondary disseminated degenerative reaction is apoptotic in nature. At the age of 7 days, secondary apoptotic damage was more severe than primary excitotoxic damage, but its severity declined with increasing age. In 7-days-old rats, NMDA antagonists protected against primary excitotoxic damage but increased severity of secondary apoptotic damage whereas the free radical scavenger SPBN, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor pentoxifylline and the antioxidant N-acetylcystein mitigated apoptotic damage. These findings demonstrate that in the developing rat brain apoptosis and not excitotoxicity determines neuropathologic outcome following head trauma. Whereas radical scavengers and TNF-inhibitors may prove useful in treatment of pediatric head trauma, great caution should be applied in regards to the use of NMDA antagonists because of the inherent risk of apoptosis promotion.

Journal Article↗