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Biomedical subjects

S Namba

Publications and source records attributed to S Namba.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Successful thoracoamniotic shunting using a double-flower catheter in a case of fetal cystic adenomatoid malformation associated with hydrops and polyhydramnios.

We describe a case of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation treated by thoracoamniotic shunting using a double-flower catheter. An ultrasound examination at 25 weeks' gestation revealed a cystic mass within the fetal thoracic cavity, hydrops and polyhydramnios. Thoracoamniotic shunting under ultrasound guidance using a double-flower catheter was performed at 27 weeks. The procedure not only decompressed the lung cyst but also improved the secondary physiological changes, i.e. mediastinal shift, hydrops and polyhydramnios. A 2438-g male neonate was delivered at 37 weeks with no respiratory problems and resection of the right lower pulmonary lobe was successfully performed 24 h after birth.

Adult↗

Cystic lymphoplasmacyte-rich meningioma--case report.

A 47-year-old female presented with an unusual cystic meningioma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic tumor with marked edema in the left parietal region of the brain, resembling a metastatic tumor. The tumor was totally removed. Histological examination revealed meningioma with dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates.

Female↗

Isolation of Bartonella henselae from domestic cats in Japan.

During the period from January to March 1995, the authors first isolated Bartonella henselae from the blood of three (9.1%) of 33 domestic cats in Japan. The three cats were a 1.5-year male pet cat-old with urinary retention, and 6-year-old female pound and age-unknown female pet cats with no abnormalities. The blood was taken in a lysis-centrifugation tube (Wampole Isolator tube) and cultured on 5% rabbit-blood heart infusion agar plates at 35 degrees C in the 5% CO2 atmosphere. Visible tiny rough colonies developed 14 days after incubation. The isolates showed Gram-negative and pleomorphic rods in microscopic observation. The DNA extracted from the isolates was amplified by PCR using two primers, which were specific for the rikettsial citrate synthase gene. The isolates were identified as B. henselae from the patterns of digestion with TaqI and HhaI of the amplified gene. It was confirmed that cats in Japan harbored B. henselae in their blood, and that cats play a significant role as the reservoir of the organism.

Animals↗

[Mouth mask method for fiberoptic tracheal intubation in difficult intubations].

We tried 72 fiberoptic tracheal intubations (FTI) using a mouth mask in difficult intubation cases. In this method, ventilation is performed via only the mouth using a mask applied over the mouth (mouth mask) and FTI can be done via a nostril with no hindrance from the mask in anesthetized patients. We have been using an infant or child type Seal Mask (Gibeck Respiration) for the mouth mask or a specially made mouth mask. An oral airway is usually inserted and the nostril of one side is plugged with cotton. FTI is performed by another anesthesiologist. An endotracheal (ET) tube capped with a rubber diaphragm is passed through another nostril, and a fiberscope is inserted through the ET tube. The subsequent technique is the same as that of the usual FTI for awake patients. Intubations were successful in all cases except 2; in one, ventilation was impaired even with oral airway in place, and in the other, bleeding in upper airway due to jaw injury from traffic accident hindered the sight of the scope. Mouth mask method for FTI is safe, useful and practical in difficult intubations with little discomfort to the patient.

Adolescent↗

In vitro ischemia-induced intracellular Ca2+ elevation in cerebellar slices: a comparative study with the values found in hippocampal slices.

Changes in levels of intracellular calcium ion ([Ca2+]i) induced by in vitro ischemic conditions in gerbil cerebellar and hippocampal slices were investigated using a calcium imaging system and electron microscopy. When the cerebellar slice was perfused with a glucose-free physiological medium equilibrated with a 95% N2/5% CO2 gas mixture (in vitro ischemic medium), a large [Ca2+]i elevation was region-specifically induced in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex (a dendritic field of Purkinje cells). When the hippocampal slice was perfused with in vitro ischemic medium, a large [Ca2+]i elevation was region-specifically induced in CA1 field of the hippocampal slices. Electron microscopic examinations showed that the large [Ca2+]i elevations occurred in Purkinje cells and CA1 pyramidal neurons. To isolate Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ store sites, the slices were perfused with Ca(2+)-free in vitro ischemic medium. The increases in [Ca2+]i in both cerebellar and hippocampal slices were significantly lower than those observed in the slices perfused with the Ca(2+)-containing in vitro ischemic medium. However, the suppression of the [Ca2+]i elevation in the molecular layer of the cerebellar slices was smaller than that in the CA1 field of the hippocampal slices. These results reinforce the hypothesis that calcium plays a pivotal role in the development of ischemia-induced neuronal death, and suggest that Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ store sites may play an important role in the ischemia-induced [Ca2+]i elevation in Purkinje cells.

Animals↗

Synthesis of 15 alpha-hydroxyestrogen 15-N-acetylglucosaminides.

The synthesis of 15-N-acetylglucosaminides of 15 alpha-hydroxyesterone, 15 alpha-hydroxyestradiol, and 15 alpha-hydroxyestriol (estetrol) is described. The latter two were prepared by condensation of 2-acetamido-1 alpha-chloro-1,2-dideoxy-3,4,6-trio-O-acetyl-D-glucopyranose with appropriately protected 15 alpha-hydroxyestrogens by the Koenigs-Knorr reaction employing cadmium carbonate as a catalyst. Subsequent removal of protecting groups with methanolic potassium hydroxide provided the desired conjugates. 15 alpha-Hydroxyestrone 15-N-acetylglucosaminide was synthesized from the corresponding 15 alpha-hydroxyestradiol derivative by Jones oxidation followed by brief alkaline hydrolysis. These conjugates underwent enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from Jack beans to produce 15 alpha-hydroxyestrogens.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Complete sequence of an infectious full-length cDNA clone of citrus tatter leaf capillovirus: comparative sequence analysis of capillovirus genomes.

The complete nucleotide sequence of citrus tatter leaf capillovirus (CTLV lily strain) was determined. It is 6496 nucleotides long, excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tract, and contains two putative overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 (positions 37-6354) encodes a potential polyprotein of molecular mass 242 kDa. ORF2 (positions 4788-5750) codes for a 36 kDa protein. The 242 kDa polypeptide contains several non-structural protein domains (i.e. methyltransferase, NTP-binding helicase, papain-like proteinase and polymerase) and, at its C terminus, the putative coat protein. The N-terminal region of the 36 kDa protein displays sequence similarity to the cell-to-cell movement proteins of the '30 K superfamily'. Such a genome structure is conserved between CTLV and apple stem grooving capillovirus. Capped transcripts from a plasmid containing the complete sequence of CTLV, with a T7 RNA promoter, successfully infected Chenopodium quinoa plants and caused symptoms characteristic of CTLV. Uncapped transcripts were noninfectious.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the coat protein coding region of tulip breaking virus.

cDNA of tulip breaking virus-tulip (TBV-tulip) RNA was synthesized and cloned in E. coli. One clone that contains a 4.5 kb insert was identified by restriction enzyme analysis, dot immunobinding assay (DIBA), and partial sequencing. Then 1479 nucleotides of the 3'-terminus of the clone were sequenced and revealed that the sequence contains one open reading frame (ORF), followed by an untranslated region of 255 nucleotides and a poly(A) tract. The deduced amino acid sequence was found to include the C terminus of the predicted RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the coat protein. A glutamine-alanine dipeptide was identified as a putative NIa protease cleavage site at the N terminus of the coat protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nucleotide sequence of the 3'-terminal region of citrus tatter leaf virus RNA.

The 3'-terminal sequence of citrus tatter leaf virus lily isolate (CTLV-L) was determined from cloned cDNA. The sequence contains two open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a protein that contains consensus sequences associated with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. ORF2, which is in a different reading frame within ORF1, can encode a 36 kD protein, putatively identified as a movement protein. CTLV-L coat protein (CP) was found to be located in the C-terminal region of the polyprotein encoded by ORF1. Evolutionary relationships and classification of capilloviruses is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Impression of smoothness of a sound stream in relation to legato in musical performance.

Physically continuous sounds do not always produce the subjective impression of legato. In the present study, the effect of temporal factors on the impression of smoothness of a sound stream was systematically investigated in relation to the dynamic characteristics of hearing. The results showed that decaying sounds, successively presented, were perceived as being marginally connected when the sounds physically overlapped, while steady-state sounds were perceived as being marginally connected when they were physically separated. It was also shown that judgments by the subjects agreed quite well with the effect intended by the pianist when the passage was given in different temporal interpretations.

Adolescent↗

Gliosarcoma with features of chondroblastic osteosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of osteoid-chondral elements in gliosarcoma is extremely rare and has been reported in only two cases. A new, rare case of gliosarcoma with osteosarcomatous differentiation in a 55-year-old man and histogenesis of osteoid-chondral tissue in gliosarcoma is discussed. METHODS: Surgically removed tumor tissues were examined immunohistochemically and electron microscopically, and a histologic examination was performed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies confirmed the presence of glial, fibroblastic, and osteoid-chondral elements. A major part of the sarcomatous tissue was undifferentiated and stained only by vimentin. Some areas of osteoid-chondral tissue were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that osteoid-chondral elements came from the sarcomatous portion and GFAP positivity is not restricted to astrocytes and has been seen particularly in chondroid areas of non-glial tumors.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Properties of a filamentous virus isolated from grapevines affected by corky bark.

A virus with highly flexuous filamentous particles c. 800 nm long, showing distinct transverse striations was isolated with high frequency (60%) by inoculation of Nicotiana occidentalis with sap from grapevine accessions indexing positive for corky bark. The virus, for which the name grapevine virus B (GVB) is proposed, has an ssRNA genome with mol. wt. of c. 2.5 x 10(6) Da (c. 7600 nt) and coat protein subunits with mol. wt. of c 23,000 Da. GVB has a very restricted herbaceous host range and was experimentally transmitted by the mealybug Pseudococcus ficus. The physicochemical and ultrastructural properties of GVB resemble those of closteroviruses. However, it is serologically unrelated to other grapevine closteroviruses including grapevine virus A, with which it shares some biological and physicochemical properties.

Capsid↗

Phylogenetic diversity of phytopathogenic mycoplasmalike organisms.

By using specific primers, the 16S rRNA genes of Japanese mycoplasmalike organisms (MLOs) were amplified by polymerase chain reactions from MLO-enriched fractions of plants infected with each of six different MLOs. Each of the polymerase chain reaction fragments (length, 1,370 nucleotides) was directly sequenced in both strands by using 17 oligonucleotide primers. A phylogenetic tree constructed by using the sequence data showed that these Japanese MLOs are phylogenetically diverse microorganisms that fall into three groups, group I (onion yellows, tomato yellows, mulberry dwarf, and paulownia witches' broom MLOs), group II (tsuwabuki witches' broom MLO), and group III (rice yellow dwarf MLO). A high level of sequence homology (99%) between the Oenothera hookeri MLO and the severe strain of the western aster yellows MLO on the one hand and group I MLOs on the other indicates that the O. hookeri MLO and the severe strain of the western aster yellows MLO belong to group I and suggests that these MLOs, isolated from two geographically separated locations, descended from a very similar ancestor. Although group I contains phylogenetically identical MLOs, the organisms are transmitted by diverse insect vectors. The three MLO groups are more closely related to Acholeplasma laidlawii than to Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Thus, although MLOs are phylogenetically diverse, they are evolutionarily distant from other mollicutes. These data, together with other information (including phylogenetic relationships, vector specificity, plant-pathogenic properties, and habitat in plant phloem sieve tubes), suggest that MLOs could be classified into at least three phylogenetic groups (groups I through III).

Acholeplasma↗

Expression of the gene encoding the coat protein of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strain WL appears to provide protection to tobacco plants against infection by several different CMV strains.

The gene (cp) encoding the coat protein (CP) of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strain WL (CMV-WL, which belongs to CMV subgroup II) was custom polymerase chain reaction (CPCR)-engineered for expression as described by Slightom [Gene 100 (1991) 251-255]. CPCR amplification was used to add 5'- and 3'-flanking NcoI sites to the CMV-WL cp gene, and cp was cloned into the expression vector, pUC18cpexp. This CMV-WL cp expression cassette was transferred into the genome of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Havana 423) via the Agrobacterium T-DNA transfer mechanism. R0 plants that express the CMV-WL cp gene were subcloned, propagated, and challenge-inoculated with CMV-WL. Several R0 plant lines showed excellent protection against CMV-WL infection; however, plants found to accumulate the highest CP levels did not show the highest degree of protection. Thus in our case, CP levels appear not to be a useful predictor of the degree of protection. Plants from the best protected CMV-WL cp gene-expressing R0 tobacco lines were also inoculated with CMV strains belonging to the other major CMV subgroup (subgroup I), CMV-C and CMV-Chi, and compared in a parallel experiment with a transgenic tobacco plant line that expresses the CMV-C cp gene. Plants expressing the CMV-WL cp gene appeared to show a broader spectrum of protection against infection by the various CMV strains than plants expressing the CMV-C cp gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗