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Biomedical subjects

Y Okubo

Publications and source records attributed to Y Okubo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

EEG coherence in unmedicated schizophrenic patients: topographical study of predominantly never medicated cases.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) power and coherence were compared in 11 unmedicated schizophrenics (including 9 never mediated patients) and in 15 normal controls. There was no significant difference in power between the two groups. However, interhemispheric coherence between O1-O2 was higher in the schizophrenics in the delta and beta bands, and interhemispheric coherence between T5-T6 was higher in the delta band. These results suggest that coherence is more sensitive than power for comparison of these two groups, and that cerebral function is less lateralized in schizophrenics.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Topographical changes in alpha power in medicated and unmedicated schizophrenics during digits span reverse matching test.

The topographical distribution of alpha power reduction was compared in nine unmedicated schizophrenics (predominantly never-treated), 17 medicated schizophrenics, and 15 normal controls. The task involved four procedures: (1) listening to signal sound, (2) listening to digits for memorization, (3) after listening, and (4) listening to digits for recognition. The electroencephalograms (EEGs) during each procedure were analyzed with Fast Fourier Transformation and compared with EEGs at rest. While listening to the digits, medicated schizophrenics showed less alpha power reduction than normal controls and unmedicated schizophrenics. In addition, there were correlations found between the degree of alpha power reduction and medication dose, and score of chronic symptoms. These suggest that patients with different clinical backgrounds have differing cerebral activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Glycosphingolipid expression in spontaneously aborted fetuses and placenta from blood group p women. Evidence for placenta being the primary target for anti-Tja-antibodies.

A 12-week-old fetus and one 17-week-old fetus + placenta were obtained after spontaneous abortions from two women of blood group p. The 17-week-old fetus was dissected into intestine, liver, brain and residual tissue. Nonacid glycosphingolipid fractions were prepared from the tissues. Glycolipid characterization was carried out using thin layer chromatography immunostained with monoclonal antibodies and bacteria and by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In the placental fraction substantial amounts of globotetraosylceramide (P-antigen) and globotriaosylceramide (Pk-antigen) were identified. In contrast, the fetuses contained only trace amounts of these structures, as revealed by immunostaining. These results indicate that the primary target for the antibodies of the anti-Tja serum is the placenta tissue, resulting in termination of the pregnancy.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1992

Collaborative multicenter field trial of the Draft of ICD-10 in Japan--interdiagnostician reliability and disagreement: a report from the WHO project on "field trials of ICD-10, Chapter V".

The Draft of "ICD-10, Chapter V, Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines" was tested in a multicenter field trial in Japan. We have previously reported good results in suitability, confidence and ease of diagnosis, and adequacy of descriptions of the Draft. In this paper, the interdiagnostician reliability of the Draft is reported. Among the two-character categories, "Schizophrenia, Schizotypal States and Delusional Disorders (F2)" (ICC = .80) and "Mood Disorders (F3)" (ICC = .80) proved reliable. "Neurotic, Stress-Related, and Somatoform Disorders (F4)" was less reliable (ICC = .65). The ICCs of the 17 major categories (three-character code) and the 21 subcategories (four-character code) were also calculated. The finding that in Japan subtyping schizophrenia with ICD-10 was more reliable than that made using DSM-III Diagnostic Criteria supports the need to use a descriptive version of ICD-10 as the basis for several versions serving different purposes. The nature of disagreements with unreliable categories was also investigated. The results are discussed with special reference to the changes in the final Draft of Chapter V, which contained a feedback of the results from field trials from all over the world.

Delusions↗
PubMed1992

Response of lipoprotein lipase to calorie intake in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The mechanism regulating lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in adipose tissue was examined in rats in the conditions of different calorie intakes with and without streptozotocin-induced (STZ-) diabetes. The LPL activity released from adipose tissue was greater with the higher calorie intake (20 g of normal chow diet per day) than with the lower calorie intake (13 g of normal chow diet per day), and was greater in normal rats than in STZ-diabetic rats. The LPL activity was proportional to the serum insulin level in all conditions. Dot-blot analysis showed that the amount of LPL mRNA in adipose tissue was increased by the higher calorie diet and that the increase was less in the diabetic state. Expression of mRNA was also nearly parallel with the serum insulin level. LPL activity released from the heart was not affected by either the calorie intake or the diabetic state. These results suggest that the mechanisms of LPL expression in adipose tissue and the heart are different, and that LPL expression in adipose tissue was closely dependent on the insulin level.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1991

[A case of polyarteritis nodosa with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy].

A 55-year-old male was admitted with non productive cough and fever which had continued for 6 weeks. The patient had symptoms of peripheral neuralgia. Chest X-ray revealed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) and reticular shadows in both lung fields. Other laboratory abnormalities included hematuria, RBC cast, high BUN, leukocytosis and thrombocytosis. Destruction of the internal membrane of arterioles was observed in a livedo reticularis on the right lower extremity. Renal angiography showed irregularity in the diameter, discontinuation and narrowing of peripheral arteries of both kidneys. These findings suggested the existence of "angiitis". These data were compatible with the diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PN). Prednisolone (60 mg/day) administration resulted in the improvement of his symptoms and laboratory findings. A case of PN with lymph node swelling has been reported, however PN with BHL has not yet been reported. This is the first report of PN with BHL.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

FK506, a novel immunosuppressive agent, induces antigen-specific immunotolerance in active Heymann's nephritis and in the autologous phase of Masugi nephritis.

FK506 is a new drug which has potent immunosuppressive activity. We studied its immunosuppressive effects on active Heymann's nephritis and the autologous phase of Masugi nephritis. The induction of active Heymann's nephritis was completely suppressed by FK506 injected simultaneously with the antigen (day 1) and then daily for 14 days at a dose of 0.64 mg/kg per day or more. With a lower dosage of this agent, antibody production and immune deposits in the glomerular basement membrane occurred despite the suppression of proteinuria. Similar results were obtained in rats on other treatment schedules (1-7 days or day 8-14 days duration). Rats that were prevented from developing Heymann's nephritis or the autologous phase of nephrotoxic antiserum nephritis by FK506 treatment exhibited a suppressed immune response to a second immunization of the same antigen even 4 weeks after cessation of drug administration: however, they developed antibodies when inoculated with other antigens. Rat peripheral leucocyte counts and serum creatinin were not remarkably influenced by the administration of FK506. These results indicate that FK506 has potent immunosuppressive activity, and it is suggested that it is able to induce an antigen-specific immunotolerance.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Factor VIII procoagulant activity, factor VIII related antigen and von Willebrand factor in newborn cord blood.

The mean level of factor VIII procoagulant acitivity (VIII:C) and factor VIII related antigen (VIIIR:AG) was normal in 100 newborn cord plasmas, whereas that of von Willebrand factor (VIIIR:WF) activity was slightly lower than normal. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis, 20 of 50 newborn infants had an increased anodal mobility of VIIIR:AG. When the cord plasma showing an abnormal electrophoretic pattern was mixed with normal plasma, two precipitation peaks with a broad base were found. Similar mixing experiments with the abnormal cord plasma and plasma from a patient with atypical von Willebrand's disease did not normalize the electrophoretic mobility of VIIIR:AG. Gel filtration of the cord plasma with an abnormal electrophoretic pattern of VIII:AG, showed that the three activities were all detected at the position corresponding to a molecular weight of about 800 000. The results suggest the presence of qualitative abnormalities of the factor VIII molecule in half of full-term newborn cord plasma.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Cross-reaction between the mycelial galactomannas of three Hormodendrum strains and the mannans of two Candida albicans strains of different serotypes, A and B.

Cross-reactivity between galactomannans of three representative Hormodendrum strains, H. pedrosoi IFO 6071, H. compactum IFO 6726, and H. dermatitidis IFO 6421, and the mannans of two Candida strains, C. albicans NIH A-207 (serotype A) and C. albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B), were investigated by means of agar-gel double diffusion, quantitative preciptin reaction, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. The following results were obtained. (i) Antisera to whole cells of three Hormodendrum strains were completely inactive in all in vitro antigen-antibody reactions to mannans of C. albicans NIH A-207 and C. albicans NIH B-792, whereas antisera to both C. albicans strains were found to be cross-reactive against the three Hormodendrum galactomannans. (ii) The results of cross-passive cutaneous anaphylaxis tests using guinea pigs sensitized with antiserum of three Hormodendrum and two Candida seemed to be consistent with those of the vitro assay. (iii) The reactivities of the corresponding acid-resistant core moieties of the three Hormodendrum galactomannas against two anti-C. albicans sera were nearly identical to those of the parent galactomannans in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Relationship between phosphate content and serological activities of the mannans of Candida albicans strains NIH A-207, NIH B-792, and J-1012.

The mannans from Candida albicans strains NIH A-207 (serotype A), NIH B-792 (serotype B), and J-1012 (serotype C) were fractionated on a column of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex into five subfractions containing different amounts of phosphate. Antibody-precipitating activities of the mannan subfractions of strains NIH A-207 and NIH B-792 were proportional to their phosphate content, while those of strain J-1012 did not show regularly proportional precipitin activity. A similar tendency was also observed in the cross-reaction between the mannan su,fractions of strains NIH A-207 and J-1012 and their heterologous antisera. The mannans of strain NIH B-792 showed lower cross-reactivities against antisera of strains NIH A-207 and NIH B-792, i.e., only two subfractions containing larger amounts of phosphate were able to react with these antisera.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1978

An example of naturally occurring anti-Kell (K1) in a Japanese male.

'Naturally occurring' anti-Kell (K1) was found in a Japanese male who has never received a transfusion. The antibody agglutinated K:1 cells suspended in saline at 4 and 22 degrees C as well as cells suspended in albumin and treated with proteolytic enzymes.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1978

Relationship between phosphate content and immunochemical properties of subfractions of bakers' yeast mannan.

The mannan of bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was fractionated on a column of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex into five subfractions. Phosphate content of these mannan subfractions was proportional to the concentration of NaCl solutions used in the chromatographic separation. Quantitative precipitin reactions showed that the serological reactivities of the subfractions were proportional to the content of phosphate. The result of acetolysis study showed that the amounts of mannotetraose and phosphate-containing oligosaccharide fractions increased proportionally to the acidity, whereas the amount of mannose decreased inversely. The results from quantitative precipitin reaction tests and acetolysis study demonstrated that both phosphate contents and multiplicity of branching moieties of mannan subfractions increased proportionally, i.e., micro-heterogeneity concerning the acidity comprised in the parent bulk mannan is not attributable merely to the coexistence of molecular species containing different amounts of phosphate but also to the presence of more of the branching moieties.

Chemical Phenomena↗