Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to A Fujii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Anesthesia-related mortality and morbidity over a 5-year period in 2,363,038 patients in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Statistical data of mortality and morbidity related to anesthesia have not been reported in Japan since World War II. The need to comprehensively examine the events of cardiac arrest as well as mortality prompted the first national study in Japan. METHODS: Confidential questionnaires were sent to all Japan Society of Anesthesiologists Certified Training Hospitals every year from 1994 through 1998. Collected data were analyzed for incidence of cardiac arrest and other critical events during anesthesia and surgery, and their outcomes within 7 postoperative days. The principal causes of the critical incidents were also analyzed. RESULTS: With an average response rate of 39.9%, a total of 2,363,038 cases were documented over 5 years. The average incidence per year of cardiac arrest during surgery due to all etiologies and that totally attributable to anesthesia was 7.12 [95%CI: 6.30,7.94] and 1.00 [0.88, 1.12]) per 10,000 cases, respectively. The average mortality per year in the operating room or within 7 postoperative days due to all etiologies and that totally attributable to anesthesia was 7.18 [6.22, 8.13] and 0.21 [0.15, 0.27] per 10,000 cases, respectively. The two principal causes of cardiac arrest during anesthesia and surgery due to all etiologies were massive hemorrhage (31.9%) and surgery (30.2%), and those totally attributable to anesthesia were drug overdose or selection error (15.3%) and serious arrhythmia (13.9%). Preventable human errors caused 53.2% of cardiac arrest and 22.2% of deaths in the operating room totally attributable to anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: The rates in Japan of cardiac arrest and death during anesthesia and surgery due to all etiologies as well as those totally attributable to anesthesia are comparable to those of other developed countries.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2002

Late infantile Hirschsprung disease-mental retardation syndrome with a 3-bp deletion in ZFHX1B.

A 48-year-old woman with late infantile onset mental retardation developed megacolon. Although the patient had no typical clinical features of Hirschsprung disease-mental retardation syndrome, a new 3-base pair deletion, eliminating an Asn, was identified in the responsible gene ZFHX1B. This suggests that screening for ZFHX1B mutations is warranted even in the absence of typical clinical features of the syndrome.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2002

Gynecomastia with sulpiride.

OBJECTIVE: Neuroleptic agents have been associated with gynecomastia, but evidence for a causal link is insufficient. We describe a case of unilateral gynecomastia without galactorrhea in a 38-year-old man during sulpiride treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. The patient had been treated with sulpiride (100 mg/day) for about 5 months by a primary care physician. In this patient, no specific endocrine alterations were found, except for a marked increase in prolactin (PRL) level and slight decrease in testosterone (T)/estradiol (E2) ratio. Drug withdrawal led to a reduction of the lump. Sulpiride is a substituted benzamide with selective dopaminergic blocking activity. From the marked increase in PRL level and the slight decrease in T/E2 ratio observed during sulpiride therapy, it is proposed that sulpiride may induce gynecomastia by inhibiting hypothalamic-pituitary function directly, and/or indirectly through hyperPRLemia.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

The serotonin syndrome: investigation using the Japanese version of the Serotonin Syndrome Scale.

This preliminary study was performed to investigate the prevalence of the serotonin syndrome in a group of Japanese patients in a clinical setting and to test the reliability and value of the Serotonin Syndrome Scale (SSS) as an assessment tool in a Japanese-language version (JSSS). Twenty-three patients, all being treated with serotonin agonists, gave informed consent to participate. Only one patient fulfilled strict diagnostic criteria of the serotonin syndrome and none of the JSSS scores reached the cutoff point of the SSS. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the JSSS was 0.56. All inter-rater reliability coefficients were in the excellent range, and the JSSS had a high stability over time. The mean dose of fluvoxamine in the subgroup with high scores on the JSSS was significantly larger than that in the subgroup with low scores and there was a positive but non-significant correlation between total JSSS scores and doses of fluvoxamine. This preliminary study indicates that (1) a full serotonin syndrome was a rare phenomenon in a group of Japanese patients in a clinical setting and (2) the JSSS is a simple and reliable scale for evaluating the serotonin syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Extensive neuronal localization and neurotrophic function of fibroblast growth factor 8 in the nervous system.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8 has been well established to play a critical role in the early development of the central nervous system (CNS). We report here extensive neuronal localization and neurotrophic function of FGF8 in the nervous system. In sections of mouse embryos at E10.5, FGF8 was immunohistochemically found in neurons at the marginal zones of the CNS and in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Neuronal localization of FGF8 was marked at later embryonic stages and in adults, involving most of the central and peripheral neurons, including intermuscular enteric neurons, DRGs, and paraaortic sympathetic ganglia. Functionally, FGF8 promoted neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells as well as in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, suggesting that FGF8 acts as a neurotrophic factor. FGF8 also supported neuronal survival and differentiation in cultured human neural progenitor cells. In a cell growth assay, treatment with 50 ng/ml FGF8 on human cultured neuroblastoma SK-N-MC and IMR32 cells attenuated the growth of both. In accordance with these in vitro findings, the immunohistochemical analysis on human neurological diseases showed that FGF8 expression is evident in differentiating histological types of neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma, and that the levels of FGF8 immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra from Parkinson's disease are significantly lower than those in age-matched controls. Taken together, the present findings strongly suggest that FGF8 acts as a more generalized neurotrophic factor than previously reported.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Behavior of boundary string field theory associated with integrable massless flow.

We put forward an idea that the boundary entropy associated with integrable massless flow of thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA) is identified with tachyon action of boundary string field theory. We show that the temperature parametrizing a massless flow in the TBA formalism can be identified with tachyon energy for the classical action at least near the ultraviolet fixed point, i.e., the open string vacuum.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Hepatocyte growth factor and stem cell factor involvement in paracrine interplays of theca and granulosa cells in the human ovary.

OBJECTIVE: To examine gene expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), the receptor for HGF, c-met, and the receptor for stem cell factor (SCF), c-kit, in the human ovary and to investigate the effects of HGF and SCF on the proliferation and function of granulosa and theca cells. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Six premenopausal women. INTERVENTION(S): Follicular fluid and granulosa cells were collected during IVF cycles. Ovarian tissues were obtained from women who underwent surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Gene expression of HGF, c-met, and c-kit in the human ovary was determined. RESULT(S): Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction showed the presence of HGF and c-kit mRNA in the theca and stroma cells of the ovary, whereas c-met mRNA was observed in the granulosa, theca, and stroma cells. HGF increased the expression of SCF gene in granulosa cells, and SCF reciprocally increased the expression of HGF gene in theca cells. SCF stimulated the proliferation of theca cells. HGF stimulated progesterone production in granulosa cells. CONCLUSION(S): A positive feedback loop between theca cells and granulosa cells was identified that is mediated by HGF and SCF. HGF and SCF modulate the interplay between theca and granulosa cells by promoting cell proliferation and steroid hormone production.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Platelet serotonin concentrations in medicated schizophrenic patients.

1. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of neuroleptic administration on platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels, and the relationships between platelet 5-HT levels, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and psychopathology in schizophrenia. 2. The subjects were 49 regularly medicated inpatients who were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. Each patient gave informed consent for the research involved in this study. All patients were first considered as one group and then divided into two groups: those with lower levels (LL) and those with higher levels (HL), according to their platelet 5-HT levels. Psychotic symptoms and EPS were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Drug Induced Extra-Pyramidal Symptoms Scale, respectively. 3. (1) The mean level of the platelet 5-HT in the schizophrenics with neuroleptic-treatment was significantly lower than that in the normal subjects. (2) The mean level of the blood monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the schizophrenics tended to be lower than that in the normal subjects. (3) There was no significant difference in the mean scores of the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, or EPS between the LL and HL groups. (4) Platelet 5-HT levels were not correlated with blood MAO concentrations. 4. Overall, these results seem to indicate that (i) administration of neuroleptics lowers platelet 5-HT levels, and (ii) platelet 5-HT levels in the schizophrenics with neuroleptic-treatment do not reflect psychopathology of schizophrenia or severity of neuroleptic-induced EPS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Malignant portal venous obstructions treated by stent placement: significant factors affecting patency.

PURPOSE: To identify factors affecting stent occlusion after stent placement in the portal vein in patients with malignant portal vein invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were studied. Twenty-three patients had hepatocellular carcinoma, nine patients had pancreatic cancer, and eight patients had bile duct cancer. Stents were placed in the portal venous system across stenotic (n = 28) or obstructive (n = 12) lesions after percutaneous transhepatic portography. Bare stents were used in 33 patients and covered stents were used in seven patients. Twenty-two variables were analyzed with use of univariate and multivariate analyses to identify significant factors affecting stent occlusion. RESULTS: Stents remained patent during a mean follow-up period of 11.9 months (range, 2-61 mo) in 60% of the patients. Stent occlusion was found in 40% of the patients, with a mean period until occlusion of 3.7 months (range, 0.2-16 mo). In the univariate analysis, the following five factors were significantly associated with a higher probability of stent occlusion: (i) splanchnic vein involvement, (ii) Child-Pugh class C, (iii) obstruction of the portal venous system, (iv) pancreatic cancer, and (v) lack of anticancer treatment after stent placement. In the multivariate analysis, the first three factors were found to have independent value for stent occlusion. CONCLUSIONS: Splanchnic vein involvement, severe hepatic dysfunction, and obstruction of the portal venous system are the most important factors affecting stent occlusion in patients with malignant portal vein invasion.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Complications in tunneled CVL versus PICC lines in very low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of complications associated with tunneled central venous lines (TCVLs) versus peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in infants <1500 g. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study at a university medical center. A total of 96 catheters were placed in 60 infants between 4/94 and 3/99. A retrospective review of these infants' medical record was done to review associated complications of catheter placement. RESULTS: Both groups had similar weights and gestational ages. The duration of catheterization was 28 days in TCVLs and 11 days in PICCs (p<0.05). Total, infectious, and mechanical complications between the two groups were similar. Survival function estimates showed no difference between the two groups up to the 15th day of catheterization. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in efficacy or associated complications between the two groups. If one could anticipate needing a catheter longer than 15 days, then a TCVL might be the better choice.

Catheterization, Central Venous↗
PubMed2001

Menstrual cycle-specific inhibition of endometrial stromal cell proliferation by oncostatin M.

We have investigated the possible roles of oncostatin M (OSM), which is a member of the interleukin-6 family of cytokines, in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cell growth. Endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells were collected from the uterus or ovarian chocolate cysts. We observed the expression of mRNA transcripts for OSM, OSM receptor subunit beta, leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor subunit (LIFR), and glycoprotein 130 in endometrial and endometriotic stromal cells. We also examined the effects of OSM (0-50 ng/ml) and LIF (0-10 ng/ml) on endometrial and endometriotic stromal cell proliferation and evaluated the effects of OSM on endometrial stromal cell differentiation. The presence of 10-50 ng/ml OSM significantly suppressed endometrial stromal cell growth in secretory phase tissue but not in proliferative phase tissue. In contrast, stromal cells in endometriotic tissues were resistant to the inhibitory effects of OSM. Addition of LIF did not influence the growth of endometrial stromal cells. We also showed that 10 ng/ml OSM stimulated markers of differentiation causing increased prolactin secretion and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression in endometrial stromal cells from the secretory phase. These results suggest that OSM may play a pivotal role in regulating the growth and differentiation of endometrial cells. Endometriotic cells may behave differently from normal endometrial cells in terms of the inhibitory response to OSM.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2001

Generation and characterization of a mammalian cell line continuously expressing Japanese encephalitis virus subviral particles.

We have generated a cell line (F cells) producing a secreted form of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) subviral particle (extracellular particles [EPs]) that contains the JEV envelope glycoprotein (E) and a precursor (prM) of the virion membrane protein (M). The F cells were engineered to synthesize these JEV products from a cDNA encoding a mutated (furin proteinase resistant) form of prM, since stable cell lines expressing E and the authentic form of prM could not be obtained, due (in part) to the cell-fusing ability of EPs containing E and M. Our biochemical alteration of the prM protein was critical for the successful production of EP-producing cell lines. EPs produced by F cells share the biochemical properties of empty viral particles produced by JEV-infected cells, except that the F-cell EPs lack hemagglutinating activity and M. F-cell EPs were recognized by a panel of monoclonal antibodies to E, and EPs were shown to be useful as vaccine candidates in mice and as diagnostic reagents in evaluating human immune responses to JE vaccination. The amounts of E antigen released into the culture fluid of F cells were similar to those found in virion fractions of JEV-infected cell culture fluids or JEV-infected weanling mouse brains (the current source of antigen used to produce human vaccines for JE). Thus, the F-cell line would appear to be a useful source of antigen for JE vaccines and diagnostics.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Portal venous stent placement in patients with pancreatic and biliary neoplasms invading portal veins and causing portal hypertension: initial experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of portal venous stent placement in patients with pancreatic or biliary neoplasms invading portal veins and causing portal hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients underwent portal venous stent placement because of gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 8), risk of gastroesophageal varix rupture (n = 4), ascites (n = 4), thrombocytopenia (n = 3), and/or portal venous thrombosis (n = 3). The main portal vein or both the intrahepatic and main portal veins were invaded in six patients (group A). The main portal vein and splanchnic veins were involved in seven patients (group B). Stents were placed across the stenotic (n = 8) or occluded (n = 5) lesions after percutaneous transhepatic portography. Changes in portal venous pressure, stent patency, and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean portal venous pressure decreased significantly immediately after stent placement, from 24.9 mm Hg +/- 5.9 (SD) to 15.8 mm Hg +/- 4.6 (P <.001). In group A, blood flow through the stent was maintained and the symptoms had subsided at follow-up (mean, 12.5 months). In group B, symptoms were improved in five patients, but the stents were occluded in all but one patient at a mean follow-up of 1.5 months. There was a significant difference in stent patency between the patients with (14%) and those without (100%) splanchnic venous involvement (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Stent placement helped to relieve portal hypertension symptoms. Splanchnic venous involvement was associated with worse stent patency.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Comparative study of calcium-channel blockers on cell proliferation, DNA and collagen syntheses, and EGF receptors of cultured gingival fibroblasts derived from human nifedipine, nicardipine and nisoldipine responders.

Our previous study indicated that fibroblasts derived from patients reactive to nifedipine might be susceptible to the other calcium-channel blockers (nicardipine, verapamil and diltiazem) in terms of cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and collagen synthesis. Thus, the present investigation was designed to clarify the cross-reactivity among dihydropyridine calcium-channel blockers (nifedipine, nicardipine, and nisoldipine). Human gingival fibroblasts derived from seven, two, and one patients who developed gingival overgrowth as a result of nifedipine, nicardipine, and nisoldipine medications, respectively, were examined in terms of the effect of calcium-channel blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, and nicardipine) on cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, collagen synthesis, and the number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Phenytoin was used as a positive control. With most of the calcium-channel blockers and phenytoin, fibroblasts from patients reactive to nifedipine and nicardipine medications gave a better cell proliferation rate, DNA synthesis, and an increased number of EGF receptors, compared to non-drug-treated control. However, this was not the case for calcium-channel blockers tested in fibroblasts from patients reactive to nisoldipine medication.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Application and improvement of aflatoxin analysis in foods using a multifunctional column and HPLC].

In an earlier report, we developed a rapid, sensitive and clean method consisting of non-chloroform extraction, clean-up on a commercial multifunctional cartridge column and HPLC with fluorescence detection for the analyses of aflatoxins. In this report, we applied this method to analyze aflatoxins in nuts, giant corn, cereals, spice and black teas. The method was effective for macadamia nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, brazil nuts, giant corn, rice, wheat and buckwheat, and the recoveries of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 spiked in them at the level of 10 ng/g were 85-106%. However, in the chromatograms of spices and black tea, many background peaks were observed. Therefore, we added a purification step with an affinity column to the clean-up of these samples with the multifunctional cartridge column. After the additional purification, most of the background peaks were gone. The recoveries of aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 spiked at the level of 10 ng/g were 71-112% except for the case of B2 in white pepper (48%). The recoveries of G2 were 49-95%.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed2001

[Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody--enzyme immunosorbent assay].

Enzyme immunosorbent assay(ELISA) is a very useful method to determine anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA), which is an important serological marker for pauci-immune type systemic vasculitis and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. A test was made using new myeloperoxidase(MPO)-ANCA ELISA(A), employing native MPO purified from the neutrophils in sputum as a liquid phase antigen. Furthermore, the ELISA(B) using MPO, composed of one large and one small subunit, was tested as solid phase antigen. The intra-assay and inter-assay CV of the new ELISA(A) were 3.92 to 6.75% and 5.0 to 8.1%, respectively. Close ANCA titer correlation was shown between the new MPO-ANCA ELISA(A) and the conventional ELISA, using native MPO from peripheral neutrophils as solid phase antigen. ELISA(B) showed low MPO-ANCA detection sensitivity compared to ELISA(A) and to conventional ELISA. ELISA using native MPO from neutrophils in sputum as liquid phase antigen is useful for MPO-ANCA detection. There might be an ANCA which recognizes only native form MPO.

Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic↗
PubMed2001

Effects of tandospirone, a serotonin-1A agonist, on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of male patients.

BACKGROUND: Serotonin (5-HT) agonists are reported to affect prolactin (PRL) and gonadotropin secretion. A small study was conducted on male patients with generalized anxiety disorders to investigate the clinical and neuroendocrinological effects of the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist tandospirone (TDS) on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. METHODS: The subjects for the present study included 11 male outpatients. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in this study. The endocrine studies were done before and during TDS administration. Psychiatric ratings were done using the Japanese version of the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: We found that both state- and trait-anxiety scores were significantly reduced by TDS treatment; there was no significant difference in PRL, gonadotropins or testosterone (T) between the patients and normal controls; TDS administration showed significant stimulatory effects on PRL and T; and PRL change between baseline and TDS steady state (DeltaPRL) did not show a significant correlation with improvement in state or trait-anxiety scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that PRL response may not provide a clinical predictor; (2) PRL level may not reflect the level of anxiety, and 5-HT(1A) may have stimulatory effects on PRL. However, further, double-blind evaluation with a larger sample would be needed for clarification of effects of 5-HT(1A) on the HPG axis.

Adult↗