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T Wada

Publications and source records attributed to T Wada.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Effective prevention of carotid artery atherosclerosis by following this motto for healthy habits: "Give up one, reduce two, and increase three".

OBJECTIVES: Lifestyle has a major influence on the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Our motto for healthy habits is "give up one, reduce two, and increase three". The one thing that is to be given up is smoking. The two things that are to be reduced are intake of food and alcohol. The three things that are to be increased are exercise, rest and enjoyable activities. We assessed correlation between these six health habits and plaque score indicating degree of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. METHODS: Subjects were divided into unfavorable (practicing zero to three habits) and optimal (practicing four to six habits) healthy habits groups. RESULTS: Plaque score was significantly higher in the unfavorable group (7.6 +/- 5.8) than in the optimal group (4.9 +/- 4.2) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The healthy habits that significantly contributed to prevention of atherosclerosis were quitting smoking and increasing rest and enjoyable activities.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Allelic imbalance at 1p36 may predict prognosis of chemoradiation therapy for bladder preservation in patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Invasive bladder cancers have been treated by irradiation combined with cis-platinum (CDDP) as a bladder preservative option. The aim of this study was to find a marker for predicting patient outcome as well as clinical response after chemoradiation therapy (CRT) by investigating allelic loss of apoptosis-related genes. A total of 67 transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder treated by CRT (median dose: 32.4 Gy of radiation and 232 mg of CDDP) were studied. We investigated allelic imbalances at 14 loci on chromosomes 17p13 and 1p36 including the p53 and p73 gene regions by fluorescent multiplex PCR based on DNA from paraffin-embedded tumour specimens and peripheral blood. The response to CRT was clinical response (CR) in 21 patients (31%), partial response (PR) in 31 (46%), and no change(NC) in 15 (22%). There was no statistical correlation between treatment response and clinical parameters, such as tumour grade, stage, radiation dose, or CDDP dose. The frequencies of allelic imbalance for TP53 and TP73 were 21 and 56%, respectively; neither was correlated with clinical treatment response and tumour stage or grade. There was no statistical correlation between treatment response and allelic imbalance at the other 12 loci. We found a significant correlation between cancer-specific survival and an imbalance of D1S243 (P=0.0482) or TP73 (P=0.0013) using a Log-rank test, although other loci including TP53 did not correlate with survival (P=0.4529 Multivariate analysis showed performance status (P=0.0047), recurrence (P=0.0017), and radiation doses (P=0.0468) were independent predictive factors for cancer-specific survival. However, an allelic imbalance of TP73 was the most remarkable independent predictive factor of poor patient survival (P=0.0002, risk ratio: 3382). Our results suggest that the allelic loss of the p73 gene predicts a clinical outcome of locally advanced bladder cancer when treated by CRT.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Improved conception in timed-artificial insemination using a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device and Ovsynch protocol in postpartum suckled Japanese Black beef cows.

The primary objective was to determine the effect of supplemental progesterone, administered via an intravaginal device (CIDR), on conception rates to timed-artificial insemination (timed-AI) in postpartum suckled Japanese Black beef cows treated with the Ovsynch protocol. A secondary objective was to compare the effects of treatments on plasma concentrations of progesterone and estradiol. Cows in the control group (Ovsynch, n=38) received a standard Ovsynch protocol (100 microg GnRH analogue on Day 0, 500 microg PGF2alpha analogue on Day 7, and 100 microg GnRH analogue on Day 9), with AI on Day 10, approximately 20 h after the second GnRH treatment. Cows in the treatment group (Ovsynch+CIDR; n=40) received a standard Ovsynch protocol plus a CIDR for 7 days (starting on Day 0). Plasma progesterone concentrations were determined on Days 0, 1, 7, 9, 10, and 17 and plasma estradiol-17beta concentrations were determined on Days 7, 9, 10, and 17. The odds ratio for likelihood of conception was 3.29 times greater (P=0.02) in the Ovsynch+CIDR group compared to Ovsynch group. The conception rate was greater (P=0.03) in the Ovsynch+CIDR group than in the Ovsynch group (72.5% versus 47.7%). Insertion of a CIDR device significantly increased plasma progesterone concentrations only on Days 1 and 7 (P<0.001 and P=0.05, respectively), but had no significant effect on plasma estradiol-17beta concentrations. Including a CIDR with the Ovsynch protocol significantly improved conception rates in postpartum suckled Japanese Black beef cows.

Administration, Intravaginal↗
PubMed2004

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint: clinical and immunohistopathological considerations.

A histopathological study of 30 cases of synovial osteochondromatosis found that the process followed a temporal sequence characterised by three phases: (I) active intrasynovial disease only; (II) transitional lesions with both active intrasynovial proliferation and free loose bodies; and (III) many free osteochondral bodies with no demonstrable intrasynovial disease [J. Bone Joint Surg. 59 (1977) 792]. We present five cases of synovial chondromatosis of the temporpmandibular joint (TMJ) which we studied by immunohistochemical methods of for transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and tenascin.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Positive impact of social intervention on disturbed neurobehavioral function in an elderly community-dwelling population: longitudinal investigation for longevity and aging in Hokkaido County (LILAC).

Several kinds of health consultation and rehabilitation for functional disorders aimed at stroke prevention and maintenance of cognitive function in an elderly population in Hokkaido county, Japan. Changes in cardiovascular and neurobehavioral endpoints between 2000 and 2002 were assessed in 72 of 115 subjects over 75 years of age. Direct social intervention, including lifestyle modification can have a positive impact, notably on subjects with cardiovascular disorders.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A key factor of translation reinitiation, ribosomal protein L24, is involved in gynoecium development in Arabidopsis.

In polycistronic genes, uORFs (upstream open reading frames) within the 5'-transcript leader sequence of major ORFs may regulate the translation of these major ORFs. In this case, ribosome reinitiates translation at a start codon of downstream ORF after translation termination of uORF. The plant RPL24 (ribosomal protein L24) is a key factor for translation reinitiation of downstream ORFs on the polycistronic cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA transcription unit. In the RPL24-deficient mutant of Arabidopsis, short valve (stv), the basal region of the ovary is shortened, whereas the gynophore appears elongated. This phenotype is never seen in known mutants of other ribosomal protein genes, suggesting that RPL24 has a specific role in gynoecium development. Similar phenotypes were observed in the ett (ettin) and mp (monopteros) mutants. Both ETT and MP genes possess uORFs. We examined the hypothesis that these uORFs regulate their downstream major ORFs by a transient expression assay in Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts. Our results supported the idea, suggesting that the structural defects of the gynoecium in stv mutants were caused by decreased efficiency of translation reinitiation of ETT and/or MP.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2004

Concomitant tumour resistance in patients with osteosarcoma. A clue to a new therapeutic strategy.

Concomitant tumour resistance (CTR) is a unique phenomenon in which animals harbouring large primary tumours are resistant to the growth of smaller metastatic tumours by systemic angiogenic suppression. To examine this clinically, in ten patients with osteosarcoma, we investigated the effects of removal of the primary tumour on the development of pulmonary metastases, the systemic angiogenesis-inducing ability and the serum levels of several angiogenesis modulators. We found that removal of the primary tumour significantly elevated systemic angiogenesis-inducing ability in five patients who had post-operative recurrence of the tumour. Post-operative elevation of the angiogenesis-induced ability was suppressed by the addition of an angiogenic inhibitor, endostatin. Also, primary removal of the tumour decreased the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin. These findings suggest, for the first time, the presence of CTR in patients with osteosarcoma for whom post-operative antiangiogenic therapy may be used to prevent the post-operative progression of micrometastases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Vertebrate TBP-like protein (TLP/TRF2/TLF) stimulates TATA-less terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase promoters in a transient reporter assay, and TFIIA-binding capacity of TLP is required for this function.

The TBP-like protein (TLP/TRF2/TLF), which belongs to the TBP family of proteins, is present in all metazoan organisms. Although the human TLP has been reported to interfere with transcription from TATA-containing promoters, the transcription activation potential of TLP in higher animals is obscure. We previously demonstrated that artificially promoter-recruited TLP behaves like an unconventional transcriptional activator. In this study, we investigated the effects of TLP on TATA-less promoters of mouse and human terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) genes by transient reporter assays. As expected, TLP repressed both basal and activator-augmented transcription from the TATA-containing adenovirus major late promoter (MLP) and E1B promoter. On the other hand, however, TLP significantly stimulated both basal and activated transcription from TdT promoters. We investigated the strength of the promoters in chicken DT40 cells that lack the TLP gene. The MLP showed higher activity but the TdT promoter showed lower activity in TLP-null cells than in the wild-type cells. Moreover, ectopic expression of mouse TLP in the TLP-null cells considerably stimulated the TdT promoter. Insertion of a TATA element upstream from the TdT core promoter resulted in a loss of TLP-mediated activation. The mouse TLP was demonstrated to bind specifically to TFIIA with greater strength than TBP. We constructed mutated TLPs having amino acid substitutions that impair TFIIA binding. A representative TLP mutant lacking TFIIA-binding ability could not stimulate transcription from the TdT promoter, whereas that mutation suppressed TLP-mediated transcription repression of TATA promoters. The results of the present study suggest that the vertebrate TLP potentiates exogenous TATA-less promoters and that TFIIA plays an important role in the TLP function.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Antigen selectivity characteristic of polyclonal antibodies against omega-conotoxin GVIA and N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels.

The antibodies against omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CTX GVIA; N-type voltage-dependent calcium channel [VDCC] blocker) and B1Nt (N-terminal segment [residues 1-13] of BI alpha1 subunits of VDCCs) were prepared, and the selectivity for each antigen omega-CTX GVIA and B1Nt was investigated. For the antigen selectivity of anti-omega-CTX GVIA antibody against omega-CTX GVIA, ELISA, and immunoprecipitation were used. The reactions for ELISA and immunoprecipitation were observed except when antibody IgG purified by Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B from nonimmunized serum (purified NI-Ab) was used. The specific reactions were inhibited by 10 nM omega-CTX GVIA, but not by omega-CTX SVIB (N-type VDCC blocker), omega-CTX MVIIC (N- and P-type VDCC blocker), or omega-Aga IVA (P-type VDCC blocker). For the antigen selectivity of the anti-B1Nt antibody, analyses by ELISA, immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting were conducted. The reactions were observed except when NI-Ab was used. The ELISA and immunoprecipitation reactions were inhibited by the antigen peptide B1Nt, and the IC50 values were about 1.2 x 10(-8) and 1.3 x 10(-8) M, respectively. The bands of 210 and 190 kD by Western blotting of crude membranes from chick brain were also inhibited by 1 microM B1Nt. These results suggest that the antibodies prepared against omega-CTX GVIA and B1Nt in this work have high selectivity for their antigen. Therefore we assume that the antibodies against omega-CTX GVIA and B1Nt are useful tools for the analyses of the function and distribution of N-type VDCCs. The anti omega-CTX GVIA antibody must also be useful for the radioimmunoassay of omega-CTX GVIA.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

DNA microarray analysis of hematopoietic stem cell-like fractions from individuals with the M2 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may develop de novo or secondarily to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Although the clinical outcome of MDS-related AML is worse than that of de novo AML, it is not easy to differentiate between these two clinical courses without a record of prior MDS. Large-scale profiling of gene expression by DNA microarray analysis is a promising approach with which to identify molecular markers specific to de novo or MDS-related AML. This approach has now been adopted with AC133-positive hematopoietic stem cell-like fractions purified from 10 individuals, each with either de novo or MDS-related AML of the M2 subtype. Sets of genes whose activity was associated with either disease course were identified. Furthermore, on the basis of the expression profiles of these genes, it was possible to predict correctly the clinical diagnosis for 17 (85%) of the 20 cases in a cross-validation trial. Similarly, different sets of genes were identified whose expression level was associated with clinical outcome after induction chemotherapy. These data suggest that, at least in terms of gene expression profiles, de novo AML and MDS-related AML are distinct clinical entities.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2003

Expression of midkine and receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP)-beta genes in the rat stomach and the influence of rebamipide.

BACKGROUND: Midkine has been reported to bind to receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP)-beta and to play important roles in growth and differentiation of various cells. Midkine is expressed in rat stomach during experimental ulcer healing, suggesting that the midkine-RPTP-beta system has some physiological functions in the stomach. Rebamipide is a mucoprotective drug used for the treatment of gastric ulcers. We have tested the hypothesis that the ulcer healing mechanism stimulated by rebamipide is linked physiologically to the gastric midkine-RPTP-beta system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven-week-old-male Wistar rats were used. Midkine and RPTP-beta gene expression in rat stomach was investigated by laser capture microdissection coupled with the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of rebamipide on midkine and RPTP-beta expression in rat stomach and the gastric epithelial cell line RGM1 were evaluated by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses. RESULTS: Midkine and RPTP-beta expression was detected in the gastric mucosal, submucosal and muscle layers. Rebamipide stimulated both midkine and RPTP-beta expression in rat stomach and RGM1 cells. CONCLUSION: Rebamipide may protect the gastric mucosa by regulating midkine and RPTP-beta expression.

Alanine↗
PubMed2003

A Japanese case of segmental Darier's disease caused by mosaicism for the ATP2A2 mutation.

Darier's disease is an autosomal dominant skin disorder that is characterized by multiple keratotic papules, focal loss of adhesion and abnormal keratinization. Mutations in the ATP2A2 gene encoding sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium pumping ATPase type 2 have been identified as the molecular basis of Darier's disease. Segmental Darier's disease is a rare type of Darier's disease in which there is characteristic localization of the keratotic papules in a linear pattern following Blaschko's lines. In this study we examined ATP2A2 mutations in a Japanese patient with segmental Darier's disease. The samples from affected skin, unaffected skin and peripheral leucocytes were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Direct sequencing of the PCR products was performed. Sequence analysis revealed that the patient had 160A-->G substitution mutation which predicts I54V. This novel mutation was present in the affected skin, but not in the unaffected skin or peripheral leucocytes. This is the first report of segmental Darier's disease caused by mosaicism for an ATP2A2 mutation in Japan.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Extraction of total RNA from leaves of Eucalyptus and other woody and herbaceous plants using sodium isoascorbate.

Rapid extraction of total RNA from Eucalyptus leaves is difficult due to the high content of polyphenolics and polysaccharides. A rapid and simple method was developed by using an extraction buffer containing sodium isoascorbate at a concentration of 500 mM. This method consisted of one or two chloroform extractions, one acid guanidium-phenol-chloroform extraction, and isopropanol precipitation alone. The yields of the RNA fractions were 246-1750 micrograms/g fresh weight when leaves of Eucalyptus, five other woody plants, and four herbaceous plants were used as samples. The contamination of the RNA fractions by proteins and polysaccharides was very limited as judged spectrophotometrically. When the RNA fractions were subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis, intact rRNA bands were detected. The RNA fractions could be used for RT-PCR. These results indicate that our new method achieves a simple and rapid preparation of high-quality RNA from leaves of Eucalyptus and other plant species.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed2002

TRIPTYCHON and CAPRICE mediate lateral inhibition during trichome and root hair patterning in Arabidopsis.

Trichome patterning in Arabidopsis is a model for the generation of a spacing pattern from initially equivalent cells. We show that the TRIPTYCHON gene that functions in lateral inhibition encodes a single-repeat MYB-related transcription factor that lacks a recognizable activation domain. It has high sequence similarity to the root hair patterning gene CAPRICE. Both genes are expressed in trichomes and act together during lateral inhibition. We further show that TRIPTYCHON and CAPRICE act redundantly in the position-dependent cell fate determination in the root epidermis. Thus, the same lateral inhibition mechanism seems to be involved in both de novo patterning and position-dependent cell determination. We propose a model explaining trichome and root hair patterning by a common mechanism.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2002

Increased pre-therapeutic serum vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with early clinical relapse of osteosarcoma.

To investigate the clinical significance of circulating angiogenic factors, especially in association with early relapse of osteosarcoma, we quantified pre-therapeutic levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and placenta growth factor in the sera of 16 patients with osteosarcoma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After a 1-year follow-up, the serum level of angiogenic factors was analysed with respect to microvessel density of the biopsy specimen and clinical disease relapse. The serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were positively correlated with the microvessel density with statistical significance (P=0.004; Spearman rank correlation) and also significantly higher in seven patients who developed pulmonary metastasis than the remaining nine patients without detectable disease relapse (P=0.0009; The Mann-Whitney U-test). In contrast, the serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor or placenta growth factor failed to show significant correlation with the microvessel density or relapse of the disease. Although there was no significant correlation between serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels and the tumour volume, the serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were significantly higher in patients with a vascular endothelial growth factor-positive tumour than those with a vascular endothelial growth factor-negative tumour. These findings suggest that the pre-therapeutic serum vascular endothelial growth factor level reflects the angiogenic property of primary tumour and may have a predictive value on early disease relapse of osteosarcoma.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Overexpression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor induces severe osteopenia in developing mice that is partially prevented by a diet containing vitamin K2 (menatetrenone).

Mice transgenic for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) exhibit severe osteopenia with an increase of osteoclast number and acceleration of bone resorption in adult mice. To examine the effect of G-CSF overexpression on developing bone, bone mineral density levels were examined from 4 weeks through 36 weeks after birth. Peak bone mass was observed at around 24 weeks of age irrespective of G-CSF expression. Apparent osteopenia was observed as early as 4 weeks of age without detectable developmental retardation in bone length and skeletal structure. Morphological examination confirmed a reduction of cancellous bone and cortical bone at this early stage of life, indicating that overexpression of G-CSF results in apparent osteopenia in developing mice, similar to that in adult animals. The effect of vitamin K2 (menatetrenone) (MK4) on bone phenotypes during development was then examined. Mice were fed chow containing either 0.05 mg MK-4 per 100 g or 20.0 mg MK-4 per 100 g for 12 weeks as the control and experimental diets, respectively. This treatment did not change bone length, irrespective of the type of mouse or diet. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) revealed an increase of in CT value bone of MK4-treated mice. Taken together, these results indicate that overexpression of G-CSF induces an apparent reduction of bone mass and results in osteopenia in developing mice. The bone reduction was partially restored by feeding the mice MK4, suggesting a choice for treatment on the osteopenia induced by G-CSF.

Animals↗