Biomedical subjects

Satoshi Nomura

Publications and source records attributed to Satoshi Nomura.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

MafA differentiates rat intestinal cells into insulin-producing cells.

Recent studies have suggested that basic leucine zipper transcription factor MafA has a crucial role in pancreatic beta-cell-specific insulin gene transcription. Thus, we investigated whether MafA overexpression in the intestine induces insulin production in small-intestinal epithelial cells in vivo. Recombinant adenovirus containing MafA gene (Ad-MafA) was prepared and administered orally to streptozocin-treated diabetic rats. Insulin gene expression was observed in the intestine by RT-PCR analysis, and then insulin protein was detected by immunohistochemical analysis after Ad-MafA administration. Furthermore, MafA overexpression in the intestine increased plasma insulin levels and ameliorated hyperglycemia. These results indicate that MafA overexpression in the intestine induces intestinal epithelial cells newly to produce and release insulin.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Quantitative assessment for stimulated saliva flow rate and buffering capacity in relation to different ages.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate salivary flow rate and buffering capacity using a quantitative pH measurement among three broad age groups. METHODS: The population consisting of 117 patients was classified into three age groups: young, middle-aged, and elderly group. The volume of stimulated saliva after chewing gum was measured. Saliva samples were titrated with 0.1N HCl to evaluate the buffering capacity. Saliva pH change was measured directly using a hand-held pH meter. At the point of 50 microL of titrated HCl, individual salivary buffering capacities were ranked into one of the following three categories; high buffering capacity (above pH 5.5), medium buffering capacity (from pH 5.5 to 4.5), and low buffering capacity (below pH 4.5). RESULTS: Chi(2)-test showed that the proportional distribution of individuals in the three buffering capacity groups was not statistically different among the age groups (p>0.05). One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test showed the flow rate of stimulated whole saliva in the young group was significantly greater than that of the middle-aged and elderly groups (p<0.05). Two-way ANOVA showed there was no significant interaction between the independent variables buffering capacity and age group (F=0.419, p=0.7950). One-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test indicated the flow rate showed significant differences among the three age and buffering capacity groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although a limited number of subjects were investigated in this study, the quantitative saliva assessment is useful as a screening method for different ages to identify patients with a low saliva flow rate and/or buffering capacity.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap for foot reconstruction using an external pedicle.

When it is necessary to apply free flaps for foot reconstruction, the choices are limited. Conventionally, split-thickness skin-grafted muscle flaps and fasciocutaneous flaps from the back or thigh have been two major options, but these methods take substantial time to wearing normal shoes. As an alternative, the authors use the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap with an external pedicle. After elevation and thinning of the flap, the vascular pedicle is anastomosed at a site distant from the skin defect of the foot. About 20 days after that, the pedicle is severed, and the skin island is trimmed and sutured. This method provides thin and wide coverage within a limited time, and donor-site morbidity is minimal both functionally and aesthetically.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Global analysis of circadian expression in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803.

Cyanobacteria are the only bacterial species found to have a circadian clock. We used DNA microarrays to examine circadian expression patterns in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. Our analysis identified 54 (2%) and 237 (9%) genes that exhibited circadian rhythms under stringent and relaxed filtering conditions, respectively. The expression of most cycling genes peaked around the time of transition from subjective day to night, suggesting that the main role of the circadian clock in Synechocystis is to adjust the physiological state of the cell to the upcoming night environment. There were several chromosomal regions where neighboring genes were expressed with similar circadian patterns. The physiological functions of the cycling genes were diverse and included a wide variety of metabolic pathways, membrane transport, and signal transduction. Genes involved in respiration and poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) synthesis showed coordinated circadian expression, suggesting that the regulation is important for the supply of energy and carbon source in the night. Genes involved in transcription and translation also followed circadian cycling patterns. These genes may be important for output of the rhythmic information generated by the circadian clock. Our findings provided critical insights into the importance of the circadian clock on cellular physiology and the mechanism of clock-controlled gene regulation.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

PubMed2005

Predictors for typical asthma onset from cough variant asthma.

Cough variant asthma is recognized to be a precursor of asthma or preasthmatic state because nearly 30% patients with cough variant asthma develop typical asthma within several years. However, predictors for risk of typical asthma onset from cough variant asthma are unknown. Forty-one patients with cough variant asthma (median age 50 years, 13 men and 28 women), who had undertaken spirometry, bronchial reversibility test, methacholine provocation test, measurements of peripheral blood eosinophil count, serum total IgE, and specific IgE to common allergens, and induced sputum eosinophil count at presentation, were followed up with special emphasis on typical asthma onset during 1 year or more (median 4 years, range 1-12.4). Long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were taken in 27 patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to determine the predictors for typical asthma onset. Asthma onset was recognized in 7 patients. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness, peripheral blood eosinophil count, and no use of ICS were significant predictors for the typical asthma onset by univariate analysis. However, only bronchial hyperresponsiveness was the significant predictor when multivariate analysis was used (adjusted OR 0.028, 95% CI 0.001-0.783, p = 0.0355). Bronchial hyperresponsiveness may be the most important predictor for risk of typical asthma onset from cough variant asthma.

Asthma↗

PubMed2005

Simplified and quantitative saliva buffer capacity test using a hand-held pH meter.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare saliva buffer capacity using a hand-held pH meter and a commercial buffer strip in patients at risk of caries. METHODS: To obtain stimulated saliva, 109 patients were given a paraffin wax to chew for 5 minutes. After reading the pH value of 0.5 ml of tested saliva using a portable hand-held pH meter (B-212), 10 microl of 0.1N HCl was titrated into the obtained saliva up to a total titration of 160 microl, and then the pH value read each time. The commercial buffer strip (CRT) was also evaluated. The correlation in ranking results (high, medium, low) between the B-212 pH meter and CRT buffer were statistically analyzed by the Bartlett's test (P < 0.001). RESULTS: At the point of 50 microd of titrated HCl, the individual saliva buffer capacities were ranked into one of the following three categories; high (above pH 5.5), medium (pH from 5.5 to 4.5) and low (below pH 4.5). The percentages of the tested patients for the different ranks (high, medium, low) of buffer capacity were 50%, 17% and 33% respectively for the B-212 pH meter, and 56%, 17% and 27% respectively for the CRT. For the CRT buffer, 23 out of 109 cases showed inconclusive color change under the colorimetric test. There was significant correlation between ranking buffer capacity measured by the B-212 pH meter and the CRT buffer (P < 0.001).

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Surgical orthodontic treatment of a severe open bite malocclusion with cleft palate and neuropathy.

AIM: This case demonstrates an orthodontic and surgical approach to a severe open bite malocclusion with cleft palate and neuropathy. METHODS: Pre- and postsurgical orthodontic treatment involved a multi-bracket appliance, Le Fort I osteotomy, and sagittal split mandibular ramus osteotomy. The diagnostic background and the treatment procedures are sequentially presented. CONCLUSION: The combined orthognathic surgery and orthodontic treatment resulted in a significant correction of the occlusion.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effect of artificial saliva contamination on pH value change and dentin bond strength.

OBJECTIVE: This study was to examine the effect of artificial saliva contamination on pH change of the dentin surface and the micro-shear bond strength (MSBS) of the two bonding systems to contaminated dentin. METHODS: Fifty-six human dentin disks were tested with two resin bonding systems: a self-etching primer system, Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Medical Inc., Tokyo, Japan), and a one-bottle adhesive system, Single Bond (3M-ESPE, St. Paul, MN). Dentin surfaces were conditioned with the self-etching primer (primer) or phosphoric acid (etchant) and divided into four groups: conditioning without contamination (conditioning), contamination with artificial saliva (contamination), re-conditioning the contaminated dentin (re-conditioning), water-rinsing the contaminated dentin and re-conditioning (rinsing and re-conditioning). The pH change on the dentin surface was measured using a pH-imaging microscope (SCHEM-100, Horiba Ltd, Kyoto, Japan) to estimate the acid-base characteristics of the conditioned and contaminated dentin surface. The MSBS to the dentin was examined after storage in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 1 week. RESULTS: The pH of intact dentin surfaces was 6.9. Conditioning with the primer and etchant decreased the pH to 5.4 and 5.9, respectively. Saliva contamination increased the pH slightly, and re-conditioning decreased the pH again. The MSBS of the two bonding systems decreased after contamination. Re-priming restored the MSBS to control values, while re-etching did not. Rinsing and re-priming produced a reduction in MSBS, and rinsing and re-etching did not increase the MSBS. SIGNIFICANCE: The conditioning and saliva contamination changed the pH value of dentin surface. The MSBS decreased after contamination; however, re-priming with SE Bond primer was an adequate treatment to restore the bond strength.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

PubMed2003

Relationship between ceramic primer and ceramic surface pH on the bonding of dual-cure resin cement to ceramic.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between a ceramic primer and ceramic surface pH on the microtensile bond strength of dual-cure resin cement to ceramic. METHODS: Ceramic blocks (Vita Celay Blanks) were cut into multiple 3mm-thick slices and polished using 600-grit SiC paper. Two pairs were left untreated (controls), six pairs were treated with 40% phosphoric acid (PA), six pairs were treated with 20% hydrofluoric acid (HFA), and rinsed with water for either 15, 30 or 60 s. Half the specimens were silanated with Tokuso ceramics primer (TCP) (Tokuyama) and the other half with TCP formulated without phosphate monomer (TCP-NoPM). All the pairs were bonded with Bistite II dual-cure resin cement (Tokuyama) and light-cured. After 24 h water storage at 37 degrees C, the bonded specimens were cut into 6x0.7x0.7 mm(3) beams and their microtensile bond strengths (micro TBS) determined. Failure modes were determined using a confocal laser-scanning microscope. For scanning chemical analysis, the polished slices were cut into quarters, divided into seven groups of six, and treated in a similar manner as described for the micro TBS test. Surface pH was then determined using a scanning chemical microscope. For SEM examination, one ceramic quarter from each of the seven groups was used. RESULTS: Three-way ANOVA revealed that the micro TBS of TCP was significantly higher than TCP-NoPM with no acidic treatment (p<0.05). However, after treatment of the ceramic surface with either PA or HFA, and 15 s rinsing, there was a significant reduction in surface pH (p<0.05), and no significant difference in micro TBS between TCP and TCP-NoPM (p>0.05). For TCP, there were no significant differences in micro TBS and failure mode between the control, PA, and HFA treated groups when the water rinsing time was increased. Whereas, for TCP-NoPM and surface treatment with PA, an increase in rinsing time resulted in a significant reduction in micro TBS and a significant increase in surface pH (p<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Acidic treatment of the ceramic surface did not significantly increase dual-cure resin/ceramic bond strengths when the ceramic primer, TCP, was used. It is suggested that when no phosphate monomer is present in a ceramic primer, dual-cure resin cement/ceramic bond strength is dependent upon the concentration of H(+) ions on the ceramic surface.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

PubMed2003

[A case of broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis complicated by bronchial asthma attack].

A 55-year-old man was hospitalized for the treatment of severe asthma. However, his condition improved with steroid chemotherapy under artificial ventilation, but high fever and multiple patchy shadows of the lung that were not responsive to antibiotics appeared. We detected aspergillus hyphae, probably inhaled with a quantity of dust in the attic of his workplace, in the sputum. We diagnosed invasive broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis complicated with allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis. His condition improved with anti-fungal drug treatment. We consider that the causes of invasive broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis in this case were massive inhalation of aspergillus conidia, artifical ventilation and steroid chemotherapy.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

PubMed2003

[Influence of smoking on longitudinal decline in one-second forced expiratory volume in clinically healthy Japanese men: a longitudinal study].

We prospectively studied 2140 clinically healthy men to assess the influence of smoking on longitudinal decline in one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0). All the subjects had annual medical checks including pulmonary function tests from 1995 to 1999. The mean values +/- standard deviations of annual decreases in FEV1.0 (slope) were 22 +/- 49 mL/year in non-smokers, 26 +/- 52 mL/year in former smokers, and 33 +/- 57 mL/year in current smokers (p < 0.01; non-smokers vs. current smokers). The adjusted slope (slope divided by predicted value of FEV1.0, per year) in current smokers was also greater than that in non-smokers (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that initial age, height, FEV1.0, and smoking status were significant parameters for determining the slope. This study clearly showed that smoking is an important risk factor foracceleration of the aging-related longitudinal decline in pulmonary function in Japanese men.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Observation and evaluation of proton diffusion in porous media by the pH-imaging microscope using a flat semiconductor pH sensor.

The diffusion of protons in porous media was observed and evaluated using a pH-imaging microscope with a flat semiconductor. Small particles were packed on the sensing surface of the flat sensor, followed by the addition of a lactic acid droplet on the top of the packed particle layer. The pH distribution accompanied by the diffusion of lactic acid was visualized at the bottom of the layer using the flat sensor. The difference in the diffusion property was confirmed depending on the particle type. The effective diffusion coefficients of the lactic acid in some porous media were estimated by combining the experimental results and mathematical calculation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

[A case of left diaphragmatic eventration treated by thoracoscopic plication].

A 59-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of left diaphragmatic eventration due to a left phrenic nerve injury following surgery for recurrent thyroid cancer. She underwent plication by thoracoscopic surgery followed by marked expansion of the left lung and improvement of pulmonary function and dyspnea on exercise. Thoracoscopic plication for diaphragmatic eventration is a useful minimally invasive surgical technique.

Diaphragmatic Eventration↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surface pH and bond strength of a self-etching primer/adhesive system to intracoronal dentin after application of hydrogen peroxide bleach with sodium perborate.

This study compared the dentin bond strength of a self-etching primer/adhesive system with dentin surface pH with or without bleaching and observed the morphological changes in bleached dentin treated with a self-etching primer. Dentin disks were prepared from the coronal-labial region of 32 human anterior teeth. The pulpal surfaces of the dentin disks were polished with 600-grit SiC paper under running water. The dentin surfaces on all specimens were bleached with a mixture of 30% hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate in 100% humidity at 37 degrees C for one week. The bleaching agent was then rinsed off with water for 5, 15 or 30 seconds. All specimens were stored in water at 37 degrees C. Half of the five-second rinsing specimens were stored in water for an additional week. Dentin surface pH with or without bleaching was examined using a pH-imaging microscope (SCHEM-100). A self-etching primer/adhesive system (Clearfil SE Bond) was applied to bleached or unbleached dentin according to the manufacturer's instructions. After 24-hour water storage, the bonded specimens were prepared for microtensile testing. Microtensile bond strength (microTBS) to dentin was measured using a universal-testing machine (EZ test, Shimadzu, Japan) at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/minute. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Scheffe's test (alpha=0.05). The pH values of the dentin surfaces of the 5 and 15 second rinsing groups were significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05), while the 30-second rinsing and one-week water storage groups had similar surface pH values to the control group (p<0.05). The microTBS of 5, 15 and 30 second rinsing specimens after bleaching were significantly lower than the control specimens (p<0.05). However, after one-week of water storage, the microTBS returned to the control group. The application of a bleaching agent increased the pH value of the dentin surface and decreased the bond strength of the self-etching primer/adhesive system. One-week water storage after bleaching recovered the surface pH and the microTBS to dentin.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of active and arrested carious dentin using a pH-imaging microscope and an X-ray analytical microscope.

A pH-imaging microscope was tested on carious teeth to examine the acid-base characteristics of active and arrested carious dentinal lesions and compared with an assessment of mineral loss in carious affected lesions using an x-ray analytical microscope. Extracted human molars, 22 active and 83 arrested carious teeth, were sliced vertically to maximize the presence of visible carious lesions. The pH change on the dentin surface was measured with a pH-imaging microscope, and the mineral loss was measured with an x-ray analytical microscope. The pH value of intact dentin and active and arrested carious dentinal lesions showed 7.0 (n=105), 5.8 (n=22) and 6.6 (n=83), respectively (analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis). The mineral loss was distinguishable in active dentinal lesions (4.92 times as much as intact dentin), while arrested lesions showed a slight mineral loss (2.19 times as much as intact dentin). The changes in pH value and mineral loss were significantly correlated (Pearson's correlation coefficients r=-0.8024) in active carious dentin lesions and weakly correlated (r=-0.1480) in arrested carious dentin lesions. Changes in tooth substance with the progression of the active carious process were reflected in a reduction in pH value and an increase in the amount of mineral loss.

Adolescent↗