Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Makoto Ogawa.
Transparent thin (ca. 100 nm) films of silica-surfactant mesostructured materials were deposited on borosilicate glass plates and soda-lime glass tubes from aqueous solutions containing tetraethoxysilane, alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, ammonia, and methanol. By calcination in air, the films became mesoporous (BET surface area of 700-900 m2 g-1) with pore diameter 2.0-2.8 nm.
Transcriptome Auto-annotation Conducting Tool (TACT) is a newly developed web-based automated tool for conducting functional annotation of transcripts by the integration of sequence similarity searches and functional motif predictions. We developed the TACT system by integrating two kinds of similarity searches, FASTY and BLASTX, against protein sequence databases, UniProtKB (Swiss-Prot/TrEMBL) and RefSeq, and a unified motif prediction program, InterProScan, into the ORF-prediction pipeline originally designed for the 'H-Invitational' human transcriptome annotation project. This system successively applies these constituent programs to an mRNA sequence in order to predict the most plausible ORF and the function of the protein encoded. In this study, we applied the TACT system to 19 574 non-redundant human transcripts registered in H-InvDB and evaluated its predictive power by the degree of agreement with human-curated functional annotation in H-InvDB. As a result, the TACT system could assign functional description to 12 559 transcripts (64.2%), the remainder being hypothetical proteins. Furthermore, the overall agreement of functional annotation with H-InvDB, including those transcripts annotated as hypothetical proteins, was 83.9% (16 432/19 574). These results show that the TACT system is useful for functional annotation and that the prediction of ORFs and protein functions is highly accurate and close to the results of human curation. TACT is freely available at http://www.jbirc.aist.go.jp/tact/.
The silylation of K2Ti4O9 x nH2O with organosilanes (methyl, n-butyl, n-octyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyltrimethoxysilanes and n-octadecyldimethylmethoxysilane) was conducted using the octylammonium-exchanged form as the intermediate. The surface coverage of the octadecylsilylated derivative was controlled by changing the employing amounts of octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The swelling behaviors of the octyl, dodecyl, and octadecylsilylated derivatives in organic solvents were investigated to show that the degree of the swelling varies depending on the kind of solvents, the alkyl chain length of the attached alkylsilyl groups, and the surface coverage. The octadecylsilylated derivative with the largest surface coverage was converted to film with a thickness of ca. 500 nm by casting the chloroform suspension on a substrate. The octadecylsilylated derivative showed a reversible thermoresponsive change of the basal spacing by ca. 0.5 nm in the temperature range between 15 and 60 degrees C.
We analyzed the requirements for plasma-induced alcohol polymerization by comparing the reactions of several types of aliphatic alcohols and alkanes. The experiments revealed that alcohol polymerization requires the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen into alcohol. The OH group in alcohol physically contributes to initiate the airborne plasma reactions with its permittivity. However, the group chemically works to inhibit the fixation of nitrogen and successive polymerization of alcohols. Our study demonstrates that the ratio of OH groups per weight percent of each molecule decides the feasibility of the polymerization and the properties of the polymers.
Otx3/Dmbx1 is a member of paired class homeodomain transcription factors. In this study, we found that Otx3/Dmbx1 represses the Otx2-mediated transactivation by forming heterodimer with Otx2 on the P3C (TAATCCGATTA) sequence in vitro. The 156 amino acid region (residues 1-156) of Otx3/Dmbx1 is required for its repressor activity, and interacts directly with Otx2. Co-localization of Otx3/Dmbx1 and Otx2 in brain sections was confirmed by in situ hybridization. These data suggest that Otx3/Dmbx1 represses Otx2-mediated transcription in the developing brain. We also identified the consensus binding sequence [TAATCCGATTA and TAATCC(N2-4)TAATCC] of Otx3/Dmbx1.
Composite films of a meso-(tetramethylpyridinium)porphyrin (TMPyP) hybrid incorporated in mesoporous silica (MPS) and cast on a methyl viologen (MV2+)/titania nanosheet hybrid were synthesized and a light-induced charge separation between the two could be observed. These composite thin films were able to initiate a one-electron reduction of the MV2+ ions accompanied by the simultaneous decomposition of the TMPyP organic dye within the mesoporous silica channels.
OBJECTIVE: To histologically evaluate the long-term outcomes of autologous fat grafts after injection laryngoplasty in the human larynx. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We injected liposuctioned fat for vocal fold augmentation in patients with vocal fold paralysis. We suctioned autologous fat from the low abdomen with an 18-G disposable needle and a 20-mL disposable syringe under negative pressure. This is different from the conventional liposuction technique and avoids the use of special equipment. In this article, we report the histological evaluation of 2 patients (patient 1: 12 months, patient 2: 41 months) who required total laryngectomy after autologous fat injection into the vocal folds. RESULTS: Histological examination revealed normal-appearing viable adipocytes with minimal inflammatory response in both patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our liposuctioned autologous fat injection histologically offered long-term improvement in patients with impaired glottal closure from vocal fold paralysis.
Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder associated with abnormal laryngeal posture or glottic configuration induced by excessive contraction of the laryngeal muscles, and supraglottic contraction is one of the characteristic findings in MTD. In recent study we investigated the changes in laryngeal findings and voice quality and the association between them in the course of voice therapy for MTD with supraglottic contraction. The effects of voice therapy on the laryngeal and the vocal findings were assessed by two rating methods: the MTD score and the conventional GRBAS scores and both scores were gradually improved. Of the two components of supraglottic contraction, false vocal cord compression was more curable than anterior-posterior compression at the aryepiglottic level. Little correlation was found between the scores at the first examination, but significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between the differences of MTD score and G/R/S scores but not B/A scores before and after the series of voice therapy. These results suggest that supraglottic contraction is a crucial factor worsening voice quality and that MTD score is useful to assess the efficacy of voice therapy for MTD.
YM 294 was administered for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gynecologic cancer at a dose of 50 microg/kg in order to examine the efficacy and safety by a randomized trial, using the non-treatment observation group as a control. Increase in the nadir platelet counts as well as shortening of the days to return the platelet number to>100,000/ microl were significantly higher in the 50 microg/kg groups, in comparison with the non-treatment observation group. The major adverse drug reactions observed in the 50 microg/kg groups were edema, erythema of injection site, and fever. All of these adverse reactions were either mild or moderate (not serious), and they resolved. Abnormal changes in laboratory value for which a casual relationship with the study drug could not be excluded were reversible and manageable. The efficacy and safety of 50 microg/kg groups for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gynecological cancer was confirmed by the results of this study.
An early phase II study was conducted to examine the efficacy and safety of YM 294 on chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with solid tumors and malignant lymphoma. The response rates which were judged as having good or excellent efficacy by the investigators were 66.7% in all groups with 25 microg/kg or more, and the increase in nadir platelet counts and decrease in platelet transfusions were observed. Adverse reactions were fever, edema, abnormal electrocardiogram and weight gain. All adverse reactions as well as abnormal changes in laboratory values for which the casual relationship with the study drug could not be excluded were resolved and proved to be not serious. The results of this study suggest the efficacy of YM 294 at 25 microg/kg or more for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with solid tumors and malignant lymphoma. It was considered that a study should be performed to assess the efficacy and safety of YM 294 using a dose of 25 microg/kg or more in the future.
BACKGROUND: Although allogenic blood transfusion has become safer than ever, there still exist some risks such as infection and immunomodulation. The importance of autologous blood transfusion is emphasized. METHODS: Fourteen cases of radical prostatectomy performed with the use of acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) were examined retrospectively. The efficacy of ANH was evaluated in comparison with a mathematical model. RESULTS: The average blood loss was 1321 ml and the average blood volume collected during ANH was 637 ml. In no cases, allogenic blood transfusion was necessary. According to a mathematical model, however, the actual blood loss was smaller than the calculated allowable blood loss in all the cases, which implied allogenic blood transfusion would have been avoidable even without ANH. It was also suggested that only a limited efficacy was obtained due to a relatively small blood volume collected during ANH. CONCLUSIONS: Our way of performing ANH was considered suboptimal in that no efficacy was found as to avoidance of allogenic blood transfusion and the extent of ANH was not sufficient to prepare for unexpected massive blood loss. It seemed necessary to reconsider the indications for ANH to increase the efficacy. The importance of the informed consent was also recognized.
We examined whether there was a difference in the description of the tracheal intubation technique among the Japanese textbooks of anesthesiology. We examined Japanese textbooks of anesthesiology stored in a university medical library. We found a considerable difference in the description concerning the technique of the tracheal intubation. To achieve the better compulsory clinical training, we think it is necessary to make a certain criterion for the tracheal intubation.
Electron-transfer quenching of tris(2,2-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) by methylviologen in an aqueous suspension of clay in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) was investigated. The quenching behavior of the excited tris(2,2-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) on clay by the coadsorbed methylviologen indicated the homogeneous distribution of the adsorbed dyes. The quenching rate was high when the clay with larger particle size was used as the host. The adsorption of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) on clay resulted in the coadsorption of the tris(2,2-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) and methylviologen without segregation.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
PURPOSE: The primary purposes of this study were to determine the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD), to recommend a dose for phase II studies, and to analyze the pharmacokinetics of KW-2170. A secondary purpose was to assess tumor response to KW-2170. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: KW-2170 was given as a 30-min i.v. infusion every 4 weeks. Doses were escalated from 1.0 mg/m2 according to a modified Fibonacci method. RESULTS: A total of 45 cycles of KW-2170 were delivered to 41 patients at doses ranging from 1.0 to 53.0 mg/m2. The primary DLT was neutropenia which was observed in two of six patients treated at 32.0 mg/m2 and in two of two patients treated at 53.0 mg/m2; therefore, the MTD was 53.0 mg/m2. Although no patients showed a complete response (CR)or partial response (PR), 15 patients were evaluated a shaving freedom from progression at the 1-month time-point, with two demonstrating slight tumor shrinkage in their metastatic lesions. None of the patients experienced significant cardiotoxicity. The plasma concentration of KW-2170 declined in a triphasic manner. The half-life, total clearance (CLtot) and volume of distribution (Vdss) were nearly constant and independent of dose, and showed a relatively small interpatient variability. A linear relationship was observed between dose and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-infinity). In addition, there was a good correlation between neutropenia and AUC 0- infinity. This suggests that toxicity may be dependent on systemic exposure to the drug. Two oxi-dative metabolites were observed in the patients' plasma and urine. CONCLUSIONS: The primary DLT of KW-2170 in this study was neutropenia, with a MTD of 53 mg/m2.A significant linear relationship was observed between neutropenia and AUC 0- infinity. We estimate the recommended dose for phase II studies to be 41.0 mg/m2.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Aristolochic acids (AA), present in Aristolochia plants, are the toxin responsible for Chinese herbs nephropathy (CHN), a rapidly progressive tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). To clarify the mechanisms of the development of CHN, we tried to induce TIN in mice using AA. Three strains of inbred mice, BALB/c, C3H/He and C57BL/6, received 2.5 mg kg(-1) of AA or AA sodium salt (AANa) daily by intraperitoneal or oral administration, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Serum and renal tissue were obtained at sacrifice. Twelve-hour urine samples were individually collected in a metabolic cage at one-week intervals. In the AA-injected groups, severe tubular injury, with the appearance of acute tubular necrosis, and rare cell infiltration into the interstitium, were seen in BALB/c mice. C3H/He mice also developed TIN with prominent cell infiltration into the interstitium and interstitial fibrosis. In C57BL/6 mice, only mild and focal tubulointerstitial changes were seen. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen increased in BALB/c and C3H/He mice. Immunofluorescent study revealed no deposition of immune components in kidneys. In the AANa-treated groups, TIN was also seen in all groups, but even more severe tubulointerstitial changes were induced by intraperitoneal injection. Further examination using purified AAI, AAII, AAIVa and aristolactam I (ALI) revealed that AAI induced strong nephrotoxicity in mice, and that AAII resulted in mild nephrotoxicity. However, AAIVa and ALI caused no nephrotoxicity in this experimental system. There are strain differences in mice in their susceptibility to AA nephropathy. AAI exerted the strongest nephrotoxic effect in mice.
We report three cases of intraoperative coronary spasm that developed during non-cardiac surgical procedures. None of the patients had a history of anginal chest pain. The presumed contributing factors were: 1) suction of the trachea during general anesthesia, 2) hyperventilation and hypotension during induction of general anesthesia, and 3) hyperventilation during neuroanesthesia. Coronary vasodilators were administered and all cases recovered promptly without any clinical sequelae. A review of the literature reveals that the majority of patients who developed intraoperative coronary spasm had no history of anginal chest pain. Some of common intraoperative conditions such as hyperventilation, hypotension, and inadequate depth of anesthesia, were reported to be potent precipitating factors for coronary spasm. In recent years, a larger proportion of surgical patients have coronary risk factors. Careful anesthetic management is required to prevent intraoperative coronary spasm even in patients without a history of coronary artery disease.