PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

M Kawanaka

Publications and source records attributed to M Kawanaka.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Schistosoma japonicum: excretory-secretory products of the eggs during miracidial development.

The release pattern of excretory-secretory (E-S) products of Schistosoma japonicum eggs was investigated using eggs cultured in a chemically defined medium (MEMSE-J) for 16 days. The amount of protein released in culture supernatants was greater in 0- to 4-day and 12- to 16-day cultures than in 4- to 12-day cultures. The protein composition of E-S products and soluble extracts of newly laid eggs (N-SEA) and in vitro matured eggs (M-SEA) was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Silver staining patterns of N-SEA and M-SEA were found to be similar except for the band at approximately 66 kDa, which appeared in highest concentrations in N-SEA. Western blot analysis with human infected sera showed antibody recognition of a 140- to 160-kDa antigen present in E-S products from mature eggs, while E-S products from immature eggs were unreactive. When either [35S]methionine or [3H]glucosamine was added to the culture medium, newly synthesized proteins or glycoproteins of the SEA and E-S products were labeled. Incorporation of both isotopes into SEA appears to correlate with developmental activity of the eggs. In contrast, release of E-S proteins and glycoproteins is more apparent as the miracidium matures. These results suggested that the source of E-S products from immature eggs is likely to be the collapsing vitelline cells and that of E-S products from mature eggs to be mainly miracidial secretions.

Animals

Incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids by adult Schistosoma japonicum: further characterization of a putative eggshell precursor protein.

The synthesis patterns of female-specific proteins of Schistosoma japonicum were further investigated with particular reference to the 34 kDa putative eggshell precursor protein. Adult male and female worms of S. japonicum were metabolically labelled with 14C-tyrosine, 14C-glycine and 35S-methionine in vitro. The rates of amino acid incorporation for female worms were significantly higher than for males in all radiolabelling experiments. Labelled proteins were resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography. By using 14C-tyrosine and 14C-glycine, the 34 kDa female protein band resolved into three major spots with pI 6.0, 5.8 and 5.6. On the other hand, labelling studies using 35S-methionine failed to reveal synthesis of any corresponding spots at Mr 34 kDa. These results, together with the observations that eggshell hydrolysates are very rich in glycine but poor in methionine, suggested that the 34 kDa putative eggshell precursor protein of S. japonicum consists of at least three isoelectric forms. In addition, we have demonstrated several other female-specific polypeptides synthesized by this worm.

Amino Acids

Identification of a putative eggshell precursor protein of the female Schistosoma japonicum.

In adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum, a prominent radiolabelled female-specific protein (34 kDa) was demonstrated on fluorography of SDS gels with the pulse incorporation of 14C-tyrosine in vitro, though it was difficult to detect major female-specific proteins by direct staining methods. This female-specific protein was demonstrated to localize exclusively in the vitelline cells by indirect immunofluorescence using the rabbit anti-34 kDa female protein antiserum. It was shown that 14C-tyrosine was selectively incorporated into the vitelline cells by the pulse labelled autoradiographs. Two days after the exposure of worms to radio-tyrosine, the shells of eggs in the uterus were demonstrated to have become radioactive, indicating that 14C-tyrosine-labelled protein was used as a material for the eggshell. In the fluorograph of proteins extracted from newly laid eggs in vitro, the prominent band was not found at the 34 kDa region, but a lot of radioactivity appeared at higher than 100 kDa. The results suggested that a 34 kDa female protein was a precursor of the eggshell and became a much larger protein molecule as a result of cross-linking during eggshell hardening.

Animals

[Development of the dental CAD/CAM system].

Studies have been undertaken to apply CAD/CAM system to Dentistry and to make prosthetic appliances with this system automatically. Specimens are 4 times large plaster models. For the inside of the crown, the plaster model of prepared tooth is measured with laser displacement meter then the numerical data is obtained. After modification of this data for the concave cutting, the modeling machine works with this numerical data. For the outside of the crown, the typical colonal figure data (= CAD Data Base) is prepared. And this data is modified with computer to fit the prepared tooth margin and proximal or antagonical tooth (= CAD). This CAD Data Base was obtained with 3 dimensional point digitizer (3DPD). Because this measuring method with 3DPD is to be able to select points, the CAD Data Base could be consists of characteristic points. When this data base is really used, it is interpolated with s-spline. Spline interpolation is indispensable to the CAD/CAM system. Further understanding of this system, explanation is divided into three parts which are 3D measurement, CAD and CAM. (3D measurement) Two types of 3D measurement is dealed with this system. One is for the CAD data base and another is for the prepared tooth model. 3D measurement of the prepared tooth model is equivalent of the impression takings in the routine method. For the clear marginal line and for the uniform distribution of measuring points, the prepared tooth model is tilted and rotated on the working table when it is measured with laser. (CAD) The CAD Data Base can be extended, contracted, parallel translated and rotated with the Affine transformation. For putting the individual margin data on the CAD Data Base, the prepared tooth margin is re-digitized with 3DPD. Occlusal data is taken from F.G.P. core. (CAM) The application of the spline interpolation to the tool offset theory, which is effective at the groove especially, makes easy to calculate the tool path. When the prepared tooth model is manufactured, it is tilted and rotated on the table like the measurement with laser-scan.

Crowns

Clinical application of SPECT in adrenal imaging with iodine-131 6 beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholesterol.

Forty-one patients with or without adrenocortical disorders were studied to evaluate the clinical usefulness of SPECT in adrenal imaging with I-131 Adosterol. In the SPECT images from this study, all glands with either normally functioning or hyperfunctioning adrenal cortices could be detected, while those glands with hypofunctioning adrenal cortices could not be detected. Particularly in transaxial and sagittal slices, the adrenal gland was identified posteriorly and was clearly distinguished from the gallbladder. In preliminary results using SPECT by a standard method, uptake in 68 detectable glands ranged from 1.7% to 4.9% in four glands with Cushing's syndrome, from 1.1% to 1.3% in seven glands with primary aldosteronism, and were distributed below 1.0% in the remaining glands with normally functioning adrenal cortices. These data show that it is possible to evaluate the adrenocortical functioning status simply by analyzing the SPECT images of the adrenal.

Adosterol

Glucose metabolism of adult Schistosoma japonicum as revealed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with D-[13C6]glucose.

Excretory end-products of adult Schistosoma japonicum, fed D-[13C6]glucose in vitro under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, were studied using 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The glucose in the medium is degraded to produce lactate and alanine aerobically and succinate and acetate as well as lactate and alanine anaerobically. Succinate and acetate have not been previously recorded as excretory products resulting from the metabolism of glucose for schistosomes. The presence of [13C3] and [2,3-13C2]lactate, and [1,2,2'-13C3] and [2,2'-13C2]succinate as end-products suggests that a partial reversed tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is active in adult Schistosoma japonicum under anaerobic conditions. The physiological role of this pathway in adult schistosomes remains obscure.

Acetates

[An approach to the dental CAD/CAM (Part 4). Fundamental CAD procedure for the data base].

Studies are currently underway to apply the CAD/CAM system to dentistry and to make prosthetic appliances automatically. This paper reports the basic CAD procedure by using the CAD data base in the previous (part 3) report and gives some modified teeth figures. Mathematically, with Affine transformation, extension, contraction, parallel translation, and rotation of the dental figures are done. In the transformation, the origin of the individual tooth is decided from the mean value of the data base points, and X, Y, Z coordinates are the bucco-lingal, mesio-distal, vertical directions, respectively. This basic transforming procedure reduces the time needed for the CAD procedure.

Computer Graphics

Effect of cytidine diphosphate choline on growth hormone and prolactin secretion in man.

The effect of intravenous infusion of cytidine diphosphate choline (CDP-choline) on the serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) was studied in six normal adult male subjects. Serum GH levels increased and reached a maximum at 60--90 min after the initiation of infusion in all subjects examined. The mean peak value of GH in six subjects was 10.0 +/- 2.1 (mean +/- SE) ng/ml, which was signigicantly higher than the basal level (p less than 0.01). In four subjects, serum PRL levels decreased from 10--24 ng/ml to less than 7.2 ng/ml at 60--120 min, while in the other two no significant change was observed. These results indicate that CDP-choline affects GH and PRL secretion from the anterior pituitary.

Adolescent

Uptake and excretion of amino acids and utilization of glucose by Schistosoma japonicum eggs.

The utilization of amino acids and glucose in the external nutrients and the excretion of nitrogenous compounds by Schistosoma japonicum eggs were investigated with the eggs cultured in a chemically defined medium (MEMSE-J). Of the 15 amino acids in MEMSE-J, arginine and glutamine markedly decreased in concentration during cultivation of S. japonicum eggs. The nitrogenous excretory products of developing eggs were demonstrated to be at least four amino acids (alanine, proline, glutamic acid and ornithine), urea and ammonia. Glucose was consumed at an estimated rate of 32 ng/living egg/day during the period of egg growth and differentiation. When 14C-labelled glucose was included in the culture medium, the radioactivity was incorporated into three amino acids (alanine, proline and glutamic acid), which were excreted by S. Japonicum eggs. The results were discussed with reference to the possible role in stimulating fibrosis in the granuloma of schistosomiasis.

Amino Acids