Kumamoto University

About: Kumamoto University is a education organization based out in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 19602 authors who have published 35513 publications receiving 901260 citations. The organization is also known as: Kumamoto Daigaku.

Cyanobacterial daily life with Kai-based circadian and diurnal genome-wide transcriptional control in Synechococcus elongatus

Abstract: In the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, essentially all promoter activities are under the control of the circadian clock under continuous light (LL) conditions. Here, we used high-density oligonucleotide arrays to explore comprehensive profiles of genome-wide Synechococcus gene expression in wild-type, kaiABC-null, and kaiC-overexpressor strains under LL and continuous dark (DD) conditions. In the wild-type strains, >30% of transcripts oscillated significantly in a circadian fashion, peaking at subjective dawn and dusk. Such circadian control was severely attenuated in kaiABC-null strains. Although it has been proposed that KaiC globally represses gene expression, our analysis revealed that dawn-expressed genes were up-regulated by kaiC-overexpression so that the clock was arrested at subjective dawn. Transfer of cells to DD conditions from LL immediately suppressed expression of most of the genes, while the clock kept even time in the absence of transcriptional feedback. Thus, the Synechococcus genome seems to be primarily regulated by light/dark cycles and is dramatically modified by the protein-based circadian oscillator.

Identification of glypican-3 as a novel tumor marker for melanoma.

Abstract: Purpose: We reported recently the novel tumor marker glypican-3 (GPC3) for hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study, we investigated the expression of GPC3 in human melanoma cell lines and tissues and asked whether GPC3 could be a novel tumor marker for melanoma. Experimental Design: Expression of GPC3 mRNA and protein was investigated in human melanoma cell lines and tissues using reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis. Secreted GPC3 protein was quantified using ELISA in culture supernatants of melanoma cell lines and in sera from 91 patients with melanoma and 28 diseasefree patients after surgical removal of primary melanoma. All of the subjects were Japanese nationals. Results: In >80% of melanoma and melanocytic nevus, there was evident expression of GPC3 mRNA and protein. Furthermore, GPC3 protein was evidenced in sera of 39.6% (36 of 91) of melanoma patients but not in sera from subjects with large congenital melanocytic nevus (0 of 5) and from healthy donors (0 of 60). Twenty-seven of 36 serum GPC3positive patients were negative for both serum 5-S-cysteinyldopa and melanoma-inhibitory activity, well-known tumor markers for melanoma. The positive rate of serum GPC3 (39.6%) was significantly higher than that of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (26.7%) and of melanoma-inhibitory activity (20.9%). Surprisingly, we detected serum GPC3 even in patients with stage 0 in situ melanoma. The positive rate of serum GPC3 at stage 0, I, and II (44.4%, 40.0%, and 47.6%) was significantly higher than that of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (0.0%, 8.0%, and 10.0%). Also observed was the disappearance of GPC3 protein in sera from 11 patients after surgical removal of the melanoma. Conclusions: GPC3 is apparently a novel tumor marker useful for the diagnosis of melanoma, especially in early stages of the disorder.

Intracranial aneurysms: detection with three-dimensional CT angiography with volume rendering--comparison with conventional angiographic and surgical findings.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic (CT) angiography for intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3D CT angiograms obtained in 49 patients with or without intracranial aneurysms were evaluated by four blinded observers. Results were compared with findings at conventional angiography or surgery. A volume-rendering method was used, and 13 images obtained in different directions were reviewed in each study. The diameter of aneurysms was divided into four sizes: large, greater than 13 mm; medium, 5–12 mm; small, 3–4 mm; and very small, less than 3 mm. Results were also evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: At conventional angiography, 47 aneurysms, including 14 less than 3 mm, were depicted in 35 patients. The mean sensitivity of CT angiography for very small aneurysms was 64%; small, 83%; medium, 95%; and large, 100%. Some very small aneurysms that were not depicted at conventional angiography were depicted a...