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Biomedical subjects

N Katsura

Publications and source records attributed to N Katsura.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Rapid determination of vitamins A and E in serum with surfactant as a diluent by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography.

The rapid and simple determination of fatty vitamins (vitamins A and E) in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with a column-switching technique was investigated. The dilution of serum with an aqueous solution containing surfactant and organic solvent and the use of an aqueous solution with organic solvent as a sample pretreatment were an effective means of improving the sample recovery. To prevent sample decomposition during storage, the addition of an antioxidant reagent into the diluent was required. Under the optimal conditions, the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values against the standard samples were 1.12% (16.7 I.U./dl), 0.25% (333 I.U./dl) for vitamin A, and 1.02% (0.43 microgram/ml), 0.45% (8.5 micrograms/ml) for vitamin E, respectively. The relative coefficients (r2) between the sample amounts in serum and the peak areas were 1.0000 in the range from 16.7 to 667 I.U./dl (for vitamin A) and 0.9998 from 0.434 to 17.46 micrograms/ml (for vitamin E). The recoveries of vitamins from spiked serums were ca. 100% (vitamin A) and ca. 86% (vitamin E), respectively. By the combination of an on-line deproteination column and diluting solution, the simple and rapid determination of fatty vitamins could be routinely achieved in 18-min intervals.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1998

Significant decrease of serum vitamin A level in Japanese Black beef steers after introduction to a farm.

Significant decrease of serum vitamin A (V.A) level in 4 out of 5 Japanese Black beef steers on day 7 after introduction was described in the present study. The feeder steers were fed the diets containing much more V.A than they required. In the farm where they were introduced, the productivity was high and the frequency was low in bovine cases of death and disease. The herd management; i.e. feeding method and environment of the farm were properly arranged. Results obtained from blood serum analyses revealed that health and nutritional status of the feeder steers were good on the day of introduction. The feeder steers, clinically healthy on the day of introduction, manifested mild bronchitis and diarrhea on days 2 and 10 after introduction, respectively, and slightly decreased dietary intake on both days. Serum V.A levels of the feeder steers were within the normal range. However, significantly decreased serum V.A level was detected in 4 feeder steers out of 5 on day 7 after introduction. This may be attributed to stress-increased V.A consumption rather than the decreased V.A intake.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1997

Values of the serum components in Japanese black beef steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Few reference values for use in metabolic profile tests for the maintenance of high productivity and the prevention of production diseases have been reported in Japanese Black beef cattle. To obtain basic data, 101 healthy steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, were examined for the values of their serum components in this preliminary study. At the later fattening stage (5 to 20 months after introduction), statistically significant increases were observed in the mean serum activities of lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and creatine phosphokinase, the mean serum contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol, albumin (Alb), total protein, blood urea nitrogen, magnesium, and vitamin E, and the mean serum calcium (Ca)/inorganic phosphorus (IP) ratio, and statistically significant decreases were seen in the mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the mean serum contents of glucose, IP, and vitamin A. The mean serum Alb/globulin ratio and the mean serum Ca and nonesterified fatty acids contents demonstrated no statistically significant changes.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

Serum vitamin A and vitamin E in Japanese black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture as determined by automatic column-switching high performance liquid chromatography.

Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan were examined for serum vitamin A (V. A) and vitamin E (V. E) by automatic column-switching high performance liquid chromatography with automated deproteinization. Results indicated that most Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture may be provided with V. A supplement and diets including little V. E, moderate beta-carotene and V. A during the early fattening stage, and diets including little beta-carotene, V. A and V. E during the middle and later fattening stages. Therefore, monitoring serum V. A and V. E in Japanese Black fattening cattle throughout the fattening period seems necessary for farmers in Miyazaki prefecture to avoid economic loss attributable to these deficiencies.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

[Pulmonary artery banding using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene suture].

Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is essential for infants of complicated cardiac anomaly without pulmonary stenosis, especially those who require future Fontan type correction. In order to avoid pulmonary artery branch stenosis or uneven growth we utilize expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (E-PTFE) suture (Gore-Tex suture, CV-0) as a banding material. We performed three PABs (two newborns and one infant) with this suture. All children were doing well after the banding and no one revealed residual pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary artery distortion in the postoperative catheter study. One patient successfully underwent total cavopulmonary connection eight months after PAB. We believe E-PTFE suture is an advantageous material of PAB for newborns and young infants.

Female↗
PubMed1995

An improved method for extraction of mRNA and protein from the fungus Chaetomium gracile with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride.

We previously reported that DNAs directly applicable to restriction analyses and transformation of Escherichia coli can be extracted from fungi and yeasts by use of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) under a mild condition, 5 min at 0 degrees C [Oshiro, S., Katsura, N., Kitada, K., and Gunge, N. (1987) FEBS Lett. 220, 383-386]. In the present investigation, we examined whether this improved method is also applicable to extraction of RNA and protein from the fungus Chaetomium gracile. The RNA and protein were effectively extracted from the fungus after anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) treatment for a short time (1 min) at 0 degrees C. The extracted poly(A)-enriched mRNA and proteins were fully intact: the mRNA purified by messenger-activated paper with poly(U) directed not only the incorporation of [3H]glycine into polypeptides but also the synthesis in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system of proteins reactive to antibodies against the soluble fraction extracted from the fungus by HF. Analyses by gel filtration and polyacrylamide electrophoresis under native conditions showed that dextranase extracted from the fungus by HF under the same conditions had the same molecular weight and electrophretic mobility as the enzyme excreted into the medium. This suggests that the mRNAs and proteins extracted by this method are also applicable to protein synthesis directed in a cell-free system and to enzyme purification from a fungus insusceptible to lytic enzymes. This method provides a pure preparation of mRNA within 5 h and starting materials for protein purification within 1 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Nanospace theory for biomineralization.

The precipitation of inorganic crystals from body fluid requires (A) elimination of the macromolecules that inhibit for crystal formation, (B) sufficient supersaturation of the relevant ions, and (C) local restriction of molecular movement. All of these must be accomplished within a space of several nanometers width. Such a nanospace excludes most peptides and oligosaccharides (A). The relaxation time of the outer layer of hydration water (nano second order) on the nanospace wall is 1,000 times longer than that of free water (pico second order). This means that the structure temperature of vicinal water is low, thus the solubilities of calcium ions and phosphate ions are reduced (B,C). Stable ion clusters are formed easier in the nanospace than in the bulk water. The 5-6 nm space in which 3 nm thick hydroxyapatite crystallites can exist should be called critical space. The critical space should be formed according to the fibril diameter and disposition of the fibril or by deployment into the filaments, and by microtubular and lamellar structures.

Calcification, Physiologic↗
PubMed1987

A simple method for extraction of DNA from fungi and yeasts with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride.

A novel method is described for the extraction of DNAs from fungi and yeasts. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) selectively cleaves their cell walls under mild conditions (for 5 min at 0 degrees C), enabling the effective extraction of DNAs from organisms with a cell wall. A possible mechanism for this method concerning the selective cleavage of O-glycosidic linkages in cell walls has been described previously [(1977) Anal. Biochem. 82,289-309]. The extracted DNA is intact: in fact, the yeast DNA is directly applicable for restriction analysis and transformation of Escherichia coli.

DNA Restriction Enzymes↗
PubMed1986

Isolation and characterization of a metalloprotease associated with chicken epiphyseal cartilage matrix vesicles.

A metalloprotease has been isolated from matrix vesicles of chicken epiphyseal cartilage and subsequently characterized. Matrix vesicles obtained by collagenase digestion and differential centrifugation were further purified by Sepharose CL2B gel filtration. The protease was solubilized from the vesicles by treatment with deoxycholate and freeze-thawing, and then isolated by Sephadex G150 gel filtration. Disc electrophoresis of the enzyme, which displayed protease activity toward azocasein substrate, gave a single protein band. Based on molecular weight (MW) determination, lack of immunocross reactivity, and differences in electrophoretic migration, there is little possibility of any contamination with external protease from the commercial collagenase used for vesicle preparation. The matrix vesicle protease had a MW of 33,000 and a pH optimum of 7.2 and was completely inhibited by 0.1 mM EDTA and 0.2 mM o-phenanthroline. alpha 2-Macroglobulin, ovalbumin, cysteine, penicillamine, ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) and pyrophosphate at higher concentrations were also inhibitory. The inhibition by omicron-phenanthroline was reversed by Co2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, and Cu2+. Protease activity was most abundant in the heavy fraction of matrix vesicles fractionated by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Release of this protease at the calcifying front could degrade noncollagenous protein moieties that inhibit precipitation of minerals in the extravesicular matrix and thus facilitate mineralization.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Glycosaminoglycans in pterygium tissues and normal conjunctiva.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in pterygium tissues were analyzed and the results were compared with those in the normal human conjunctiva. A marked difference in the GAG composition was found: 78% of the total hexosamines of GAG from pterygium was glucosamine, whereas 98% of those of the conjunctiva was galactosamine. Pterygium contained mainly hyaluronic acid (48.8%), followed by chondroitin sulfate A, chondroitin sulfate C, chondroitin and dermatan sulfate in this order. The normal conjunctiva contained mainly chondroitin sulfate C (73.5%), followed by chondroitin sulfate A and chondroitin sulfate E-like GAG. The amino acid composition showed some differences between pterygium and normal conjunctiva. The pterygium tissues contained an extremely large amount of hydroxyproline, but the conjunctiva contained a very small amount of this substance. Considerable changes in amino acid composition of both tissues were found after digestion with elastase.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1981

[Studies on degradation of cartilage proteoglycan by rheumatoid synovial tissue. Part I: On the degraded products of proteoglycan (author's transl)].

The degradation of MgCl2-extracted proteoglycans (PG) from bovine nasal and articular cartilage was performed by using human rheumatoid synovial tissue extract, and the products were compared with that of being degraded by different commercially available proteases. 2. Degradation of PG by crude synovial extract occurred under the wide range of pH, and the degradation products showed the changes as follows; 1) a decrease of viscosity, 2) a decrease of hydrodynamic size, 3) an increase of electrophoretic mobility, 4) no change of the length of glycosaminoglycan side chains, 5) an increase of chondroitin sulfate relative to keratan sulfate in precipitate with 1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and 6) an increase of serine content in precipitate with 1% CPC. 3. The average hydrodynamic size of degradation products by crude synovial extract was larger than that of degradation products by pronase or papain. 4. The results indicate that the proteases play the main role on the PG-degrading activity of rheumatoid synovial tissue extract but the glycosidase play no significant role.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Studies on degradation of cartilage proteoglycan by rheumatoid synovial tissue. Part II: On the property of acid and neutral proteases obtained from rheumatoid synovial tissue (author's transl)].

1. Proteolytic enzymes are likely to play the main role on the proteoglycan (PG)-degrading activity of rheumatoid synovium. In this paper, the presence of cathepsin D, cathepsin B, lysosomal elastase and cathepsin G in rheumatoid synovium is established by isolation, purification, and characterization of these proteases. 2. The degradation of MgCl2-extracted PG from bovine nasal cartilage was performed by using these proteases and the property of the products was studied by the viscosity, Sepharose CL-4B chromatography, Agarose/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, hexosamine analysis and amino acids analysis. 3. These proteases reduced the viscosity of PG solutions and the reaction was inhibited by addition of pepstatin, antipain, elastatinal and chymostatin for each protease. 4. The size and chemical composition of the degradation products varied with the different proteases. Of the four proteases, cathepsin G produced the largest glycosaminoglycan multi-chain peptides and cathepsin B produced the smallest contained chondroitin single-chain peptide. Each protease specifically split PG core protein and the degradation products particularly indicated the characteristic structure of core peptides. 5. The results suggest that these proteases may be contributed to the breakdown of cartilage PG in rheumatoid arthritis.

Amino Acids↗