tag:www.shinshu-u.ac.jp,2010-12-06:/faculty/medicine/eng/research/topics//1512 2018-03-06T21:46:30Z PowerCMS Platform 6.3.7001 tag:www.shinshu-u.ac.jp,2011:/faculty/medicine/eng/research/topics//932.37386 2011-01-31T04:10:34Z 2018-03-06T21:46:30Z

A System for preparing genetically modif...

JBN /cgi-bin/pooZ1eez/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1512&id=1 Department of Organ Regeneration Prof. Takayuki Shindo, M.D., Ph.D.

Genetically modified mice are valuable as models of human diseases, and they are currently indispensable analytical tools for the development of new drugs. It is vital that the gene-targeting mouse of the relevant gene is obtained as soon as possible since it influences the initial progress of the development of a drug.
Various steps are needed when generating a gene-targeting mouse. It usually takes a long time. Unfortunately, failure is often the result because of the complexity of the steps. The failure rate particularly increases in tissue/organ specific deletion. Therefore, producing conditional gene-targeting mice in a short period of time using a reliable method is desirable.
Our laboratory is mainly working on cardiovascular research using genetically-engineered mice as the main research tools. We have developed original materials and techniques for gene-targeting. We have invented a method for establishing a conditional gene-targeting mouse within half a year through the systematic combination of these materials and technologies. We named this system Speed Conditional Gene Targeting (abbreviation: SCOT). The value of SCOT will be immense in the research and development of new drugs.

Our homepage URL; http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~shindo/]]> tag:www.shinshu-u.ac.jp,2010:/faculty/medicine/eng/research/topics//932.36636 2010-12-17T04:50:49Z 2018-03-06T20:08:17Z

Characteristics of Metabolic and Lifesty...

JBN /cgi-bin/pooZ1eez/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1512&id=1 Characteristics of Metabolic and Lifestyle Risk Factors and A Strategy of Preventive Approaches to Coronary Heart Disease in Young Japanese Patients

Minoru Hongo, Masako Azegami, Setsuko Yanagisawa, et al.
Shinshu University School of Health Sciences, Matsumoto, Japan

In recent years, there was a marked change in lifestyle, including the dietary pattern and transportation system, in Japan. We have previously reported that the number of young Japanese patients (aged < 40 years) with coronary heart disease (CHD) showing multiple metabolic risk factors, especially childhood obesity, is gradually increasing during the last few dacades. Based on these results, we conducted a multicenter study in entire areas of Nagano Prefecture in order to assess the relationship between the CHD event and metabolic and lifestyle risk factors and its onset season in young Japanese patients between 1992 and 2002. We found that obesity and a lack of regular physical exercise were independent risk factors for CHD events in young patients compared with older patients (aged >= 50 years). In addition, there was a seasonal difference in the onset of CHD events with an increase in the prevalence during the summer months (Fig. 1) and a trend for an association between history of smoking and the onset of CHD events in young patients. On the basis of these observations, both the acute and chronic risk factors were suggested as the possible mechanisms for the onset of acute coronary syndrome in young patients (Figs. 2). Thus, the data may provide insights into the effective screening of high-risk individuals and the development of educational programs for prevention of CHD, especially in the young Japanese population.

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O-glycans that protect stomach from Heli...

JBN /cgi-bin/pooZ1eez/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1512&id=1 O-glycans that protect stomach from Helicobacter pylori infection
(Department of Molecular Pathology: Masatomo Kawakubo, Yuki Ito, Jun Nakayama, et al.)

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects nearly a half of the human population. However, it is well known that most infected individuals remain asymptomatic, suggesting that there is a host defense mechanism against this bacterium. H. pylori is associated solely with surface mucin secreted by the surface mucous cells, but it is rarely found in gland mucin secreted by deeper portion of the gastric mucosa. The gland mucin contains unique O-glycans having terminal a1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine. Recently, we discovered that these O-glycans have antimicrobial activity against H. pylori, inhibiting its biosynthesis of cholesteryl-a-D-glucopyranoside, a major cell wall component. Since the gastric mucin is essentially equipped with the O-glycans, it appeared to function as a natural antibiotic, thus protecting the host from H. pylori infection. Our results provide a basis for development of novel and potentially safe therapeutic agents to prevent and treat H. pylori infection in humans without adverse reactions.

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