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Satoshi Nakayama

Publications and source records attributed to Satoshi Nakayama.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Steady-state force-velocity relation in human multi-joint movement determined with force clamp analysis.

To study the force-velocity characteristics of human knee-hip extension movement, a dynamometer, in which force was controlled by a servo system, was developed. Seated subjects pressed either bilaterally or unilaterally a force plate, a horizontal position of which was servo-controlled so as to equalize the measured force and a force command generated by a computer at a time resolution of 2 ms (force clamp). The force command was based on the relation between maximum isometric force and foot position within the range between 70% and 90% of "leg length" (LL: longitudinal distance between the sole of the foot and the hip joint), so that the same force relative to the maximum isometric force was consistently applied regardless of the foot position. By regulating the force according to this function, the force-velocity relation was determined. The force-velocity relation obtained was described by a linear function (n=17, r=-0.986 for 80% LL, r=-0.968 for 85% LL) within a range of force between 0.1 and 0.8F(0) (maximum isometric force). The maximum force extrapolated from the linear regression (F(max)) coincided with F(0) (n=17, F(0)/F(max)=1.00+/-0.09 for 80% LL and 1.00+/-0.20 for 85% LL). Also, the velocity at zero force (V(max)) was obtained from the extrapolation. When compared to the bilateral movements, unilateral movements gave rise to a smaller F(max) but the same V(max), suggesting that V(max) is independent of force and therefore represents the proper unloaded velocity. It is suggested that some neural mechanisms may be involved in the force-velocity relation of the knee-hip extension movement, and make it exhibit a linear appearance rather than a hyperbola.

Adult↗

High expression of ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase-L1 and -L3 mRNA predicts early recurrence in patients with invasive breast cancer.

The present study investigated the mRNA expression level of ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase (UCH)-L1 and -L3 in breast cancer tissue and aimed to elucidate its association with tumor characteristics and patient prognosis. UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 mRNA levels in invasive breast cancer (n = 100) were determined by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and their relationship with various clinicopathological characteristics of breast tumors as well as patient prognosis were studied. UCH-L3 mRNA level was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissue compared to adjacent normal breast tissue (P < 0.005), and UHC-L1 mRNA level also showed a non-significant increase in tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal breast tissue. Both UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 mRNA levels were significantly higher in high histological grade tumors than in low histological grade tumors (P < 0.001 and P < 0.005, respectively). High UCH-L1 mRNA level was significantly associated with negative estrogen receptor status (P < 0.05) and negative progesterone receptor status (P < 0.05). Patients with both UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 mRNA high tumors showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those in the UCH-L1 or UCH-L3 mRNA low group (P < 0.005). These observations that UCH-L3 mRNA level is upregulated in breast cancer tissue, and breast tumors with both UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 mRNA high expression are associated with a poor prognosis, suggest the possible involvement of UCH-L1 and UCH-L3 in the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer.

Antigens, CD↗

A new cancer diagnostic system based on a CDK profiling technology.

A series of molecular pathological investigations of the molecules that stimulate the cyclin dependent kinases (CDK1, 2, 4, and 6) have led to enormous accumulation of knowledge of the clinical significance of these molecules for cancer diagnosis. However, the molecules have yet to be applied to clinical cancer diagnosis, as there is no available technology for application of the knowledge in a clinical setting. We hypothesized that the direct measurement of CDK activities and expressions (CDK profiling) might produce clinically relevant values for the diagnosis. This study investigated the clinical relevance of CDK profiling in gastrointestinal carcinoma tissues by using originally developed expression and activity analysis methods. We have established novel methods and an apparatus for analyzing the expression and activities of the CDK molecules in lysate of tumor tissue in a clinical setting, and examined 30 surgically dissected gastrointestinal carcinomas and corresponding normal mucosal specimens. We demonstrate here that remarkably elevated CDK2 activity is evident in more than 70% of carcinoma tissues. Moreover, a G1-CDK activity profiling accurately mirrored the differences in proliferation between tumor and normal colonic tissues. Our results suggest that CDK profiling is a potent molecular-clinical approach to complement the conventional pathological diagnosis, and to further assist in the individualized medications.

Adult↗

The use of flow cytometry as a diagnostic test for malaria parasites.

A total of 453 clinical blood samples were determined for malaria parasites by flow cytometric assay (FCM) and reagents from Sysmex Corporation, Japan. In this study, the FCM greatly simplified and accelerated parasite detection, with sensitivity of 91.26%, specificity 86.28% and accuracy 87.42%. Overall, the parasite counts by flow cytometric measurement correlated well with the parasitemia measured by microscopic assay (regression coefficient = 0.9409). The detection limit was 0.05-0.1% parasitemia. No evidence of malaria parasites in either blood donor volunteers or other disease patients groups was determined by FCM. However, 48 samples who had been treated with antimalarial drugs and whose parasite microscopic counts were negative, showed false-positive results. When the data of these 48 samples were analyzed, they were found to have high levels of reticulocytes, ranging from 2.0-18.9%. This finding suggested that a high reticulocyte concentration in the blood may interfere with the performance of the FCM. Further improvement, by eliminating this interference, will make the FCM one of the most promising tests for malaria diagnosis.

Animals↗

Fluorescence imaging of metabolic responses in single mitochondria.

The membrane potentials, rates of NAD(P)H formation, and rates of flavoprotein reduction have been measured for single mitochondria isolated from porcine hearts. These metabolic responses were elicited by the addition of malate and measured using fluorescence microscopy. For the measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondria were stained with tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester, and the membrane potentials of single mitochondria were determined. Individual mitochondria maintained the membrane potential at around -80 mV before addition of malate. Upon the addition of malate, each mitochondrion was rapidly polarized to around -100 approximately -140 mV and underwent repeated cycles of polarization and depolarization, which were probably caused by openings and closings of permeability transition pores. NAD(P)(+) and flavoprotein were reduced immediately after addition of malate and then slowly became reoxidized. Thus, single mitochondria can undergo rapid and repetitive changes in membrane potential, but not in the redox state of NAD(P)H and flavoprotein.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Response of the ice-nucleating bacterium Pantoea ananas KUIN-3 during cold acclimation.

The ice-nucleating bacterium Pantoea ananas KUIN-3 accumulated glucose in cells following a shift in temperature (10 degrees C) from the optimum growth temperature (30 degrees C). This accumulation might be caused by the activation of glucose-6-phosphatase. Although this strain after culturing at 30 degrees C was harmed by freezing, the cryotolerance of this strain was reached about 80% after cold acclimation at 10 degrees C.

Acclimatization↗