PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S Akashi

Publications and source records attributed to S Akashi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Insulin-like growth factor-I supports formation and activation of osteoclasts.

Although the action of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on bone formation has been extensively investigated, the effect of the factor on bone resorption is little known. We first examined the effect of IGF-I on bone resorption by preexistent osteoclasts by using unfractionated bone cells cultured on dentin slices. IGF-I had a dose-related effect of stimulating bone resorption by preexistent osteoclasts, whereas IGF-II did not. When IGF-I was added to cultures of bone cells after preexistent osteoclasts had degenerated on the dentin slices, IGF-I increased the number of osteoclastic multinucleate cells (MNCs) with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Moreover, IGF-I augmented the area of pits produced by newly formed osteoclasts. These results suggest that IGF-I directly or indirectly stimulates osteoclast recruitment and activation. Therefore, we next examined the direct effect of IGF-I on osteoclastic MNC formation by using hemopoietic blast cells. In the presence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, IGF-I, like granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), dose-dependently increased the number of TRAP-positive MNCs. This stimulatory effect of IGF-I was additive with that of GM-CSF. Both IGF-I and GM-CSF supported the survival of the blast cells, indicating that IGF-I as well as GM-CSF are supporting factors for osteoclast differentiation. In addition, the blast cells possessed high affinity binding sites for IGF-I, with a Kd of 0.8 nM. These data, thus, indicate that IGF-I stimulates osteoclastic bone resorption through its direct or indirect action of supporting the generation and activation of osteoclasts.

Animals

The three dimensional distribution of chromium and nickel alloy welding fumes.

In the present study, the fumes generated from manual metal arc (MMA) and submerged metal arc (SMA) welding of low temperature service steel, and the chromium and nickel percentages in these fumes, were measured at various horizontal distances and vertical heights from the arc in order to obtain a three dimensional distribution. The MMA welding fume concentrations were significantly higher than the SMA welding fume concentrations. The highest fume concentration on the horizontal was shown in the fumes collected directly above the arc. The fume concentration vertically was highest at 50 cm height and reduced by half at 150 cm height. The fume concentration at 250 cm height was scarcely different from that at 150 cm height. The distribution of the chromium concentration vertically was analogous to the fume concentration, and a statistically significant difference in the chromium percentages was not found at the different heights. The nickel concentrations were not statistically significant within the welding processes, but the nickel percentages in the SMA welding fumes were statistically higher than in the MMA welding fumes. The highest nickel concentration on the horizontal was found in the fumes collected directly above the arc. The highest nickel concentration vertically showed in the fume samples collected at 50 cm height, but the greater the height the larger the nickel percentage in the fumes.

Air Pollutants, Occupational

[Radioimmunoassay of arginine vasopressin in unextracted random urine: clinical application for discrimination of diabetes insipidus].

The concentration of arginine vasopressin in unextracted random urine was directly measured by radioimmunoassay. The urinary AVP value (Vm) measured by RIA, their AVP value (Vc) revised by urinary creatinine and their AVP value (Vc/op) revised by urinary creatinine and urinary osmotic pressure were applied for discriminate diagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI). In children with central DI, Vm was significantly lower then that of normal subjects and the distribution of Vm was different from that of normal subjects. In children with renal DI, the distribution of Vc/op was different from that of normal subjects. In conclusion the children with central DI and renal DI can be discriminated from the normal children in comparison with Vm and Vc/op.

Arginine Vasopressin

Rapid confirmation and revision of the primary structure of bovine serum albumin by ESIMS and Frit-FAB LC/MS.

Incorrectness of the amino acid sequence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was suggested from the observed molecular weight of BSA obtained by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). Lack of a tyrosine residue in the position of 156th was found rapidly, by the combination of frit-fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry/liquid chromatography (Frit-FAB LC/MS), automated Edman degradation and tandem mass spectrometry (MS). Then it turned out that BSA is composed of 583 amino acid residues, and that its average molecular weight is not 66267.1, and it is corrected to 66430.3. Moreover the amino acid sequence of the positions of 94th and 95th was corrected to -QE- by using automated Edman degradation method.

Amino Acid Sequence

Screening for hypercalciuria.

Reference values for the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (Ca/Cr ratio) in the first morning urine were established in 361 healthy children aged 5 to 15 years, on unrestricted diets. The urinary Ca/Cr ratio in the urine upon arising was independent of sex but dependent upon age. The measurement of the urinary Ca/Cr ratio in the urine upon arising while on unrestricted diets may be a reasonable screening test for elevated calcium excretion. On the basis of the urinary Ca/Cr ratios in the urine upon arising during unrestricted diets and the calciuric response to calcium restricted diets and the oral calcium loading test, idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) was subclassified into three groups: (1) absorptive hypercalciuria; (2) renal hypercalciuria; (3) dietary hypercalciuria. The pathogenesis of IH is controversial. Our data suggest that disordered 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D metabolism with excessive urinary phosphate excretion occurs in absorptive hypercalciuria.

Adolescent

The primary structure of human EGF produced by genetic engineering, studied by high-performance tandem mass spectrometry.

The primary structure of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF), which was produced by Escherichia coli using recombinant DNA technique, has been studied by tandem mass spectrometry. The molecular weight of hEGF (about 6200 amu) was determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Then reduced and carboxymethylated hEGF was digested by chymotrypsin into seven peptides which could cover the whole sequence of hEGF. The amino acid sequences of five of these seven peptides could be confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry with or without isolation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After isolation by HPLC, the other two peptides were digested with trypsin or thermolysin into small peptides, and sequenced by tandem mass spectrometry.

Amino Acid Sequence

Determination of the primary structure of Paim II, an alpha-amylase inhibitor from Streptomyces coruchorushii, by high-performance tandem mass spectrometry.

This study indicates one of the advantages of tandem mass spectrometry; the primary structures of proteins with little structural difference can be determined by using tandem mass spectrometry without prior purification of each component. The primary structure of Paim II, a protein alpha-amylase inhibitor from Streptomyces coruchorushii, was determined by using tandem mass spectrometry. Paim II consists of two component proteins with ragged N-terminus, and was sequenced on the basis of the structure of Paim I, an analogous alpha-amylase inhibitor from the same natural origin.

Amino Acid Sequence

A determination of the positions of disulphide bonds in Paim I, alpha-amylase inhibitor from Streptomyces corchorushii, using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

Paim I, a protein alpha-amylase inhibitor, is a single-chain polypeptide which consists of 73 amino acids, including 4 half-cystine residues. The positions of disulphide bonds in Paim I have been determined with the combination of enzymatic digestion and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. Denatured Paim I was digested to peptides with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. These peptides were subjected to FAB mass spectrometry, with or without isolation by high-performance liquid chromatography. The positions of disulphide bonds in Paim I were determined from the relative molecular masses of the peptides containing a disulphide bond and by the enzyme specificity of S. aureus V8 protease. It is deduced that Paim I has two disulphide bridges at Cys(8)--Cys(24) and Cys(42)--Cys(70).

Amino Acid Sequence

Primary structure of Paim I, an alpha-amylase inhibitor from Streptomyces corchorushii, determined by the combination of Edman degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

Paim I, a protein alpha-amylase inhibitor, inhibits animal alpha-amylases from pig, dog, cow, horse, etc. but has no activity against human salivary and pancreatic amylases. The primary structure of Paim I has been determined by Edman degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). This protein is a single-chain polypeptide of 73 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight from the sequence data of 7415.3 (monoisotopic molecular weight) and 7420.2 (average molecular weight). The sequencing strategy chosen for Paim I consists of four steps. First, the accurate molecular weights of the intact and tetra-S-carboxymethylated Paim I are determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Second, the primary fragments generated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease are isolated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The molecular weights of these subpeptides are determined by FABMS. The peptides that must be sequenced are selected by the molecular weights of these subpeptides and the tetra-S-carboxymethylated Paim I. Third, these subpeptides and the whole protein are sequenced by automated Edman degradation. Finally, the primary structure of tetra-S-carboxymethylated Paim I is confirmed by the combination of tryptic, chymotryptic, and S. aureus V8 protease digestion and FABMS. The sequence of Paim I is compared with those of Haim II, Hoe-467A, Z-2685, and AI-3688 because they have different alpha-amylase inhibition spectra against mammalian alpha-amylases but belong to a family of related proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence

Field desorption tandem mass spectrometry of anthracycline antibiotics, cosmomycin A, B, A', B', C and D.

Field desorption mass spectrometry was applied to a series of underivatized anthracycline, cosmomycins, to obtain fragment ions which were mass analysed using the linked scan technique without using collision activated dissociation. The daughter spectra of the various protonated compounds contain sugar sequence information which is in the mass spectra. The mass spectrometric data make it clear that field desorption tandem mass spectrometry can become a valuable additional technique for the structural analysis of anthracyclines.

Anthracyclines

[Studies on the hygiene of arc-welding. (Part 8). Effects of atmospheric conditions on the chemical composition of fumes from low hydrogen welding].

Welding fumes were generated from several kinds of low hydrogen type electrodes which changed the atmosphere with use of various gases, such air, Ar, CO2 and N2, and were collected in water with an impinger. These fumes were analyzed by X-ray refractometry and chemical analysis, and pH of their collecting water was measured. Based on these results, this paper discusses the mechanism of scattering K and Na in fumes from low hydrogen welding which are considered to be the sources of respiratory tract irritation. All sample fumes from low hydrogen welding in several atmospheric conditions contained fluorite (CaF2). The pH of water in which all sample fumes were collected remarkably elevated. Chemical composition ratios of both K2O and Na2O in all sample fumes were larger than those in coating materials. The sample fumes from welding in each of both N2 and CO2 atmosphere showed higher ratios of K2O and Na2O than those in Ar. The conclusions obtained from the discussion are as follows: The potential gradient of the arc becomes larger during welding in the atmosphere with use of N2 or CO2 because the dissociation voltage of N2 and CO2 is very low. Furthermore, fluorite (CaF2) makes the slag more fluid. Then, K and Na become easily dispersed from the arc column of low hydrogen welding.

Air Pollutants, Occupational

Structure of extracellular polysaccharides of Escherichia coli strains 36M, 72M, and 29M isolated from coligranuloma of chick intestine. I. Polysaccharide from E. coli 36M.

An extracellular polysaccharide was isolated from culture broth of Escherichia coli 36M, and fractionated on a column of Sephadex G-150 into two fractions; the high molecular weight portion (85% of the total polysaccharide) contained pyruvic acid, and showed a positive immune reaction with anti-Ps-I-serum obtained from a rabbit. The low molecular weight portion (15% of the total polysaccharide) showed a negative immune reaction. The methylation, Smith's degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and methanolysis of the higher molecular weight polysaccharide revealed a repeating structure as follows: (see article).

Animals