Biomedical subjects

C Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to C Fujii.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Study on Parkinson's disease and alcohol drinking.

To clarify alcohol drinking habits of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Japanese, we compared mean values of alcohol consumption of PD patients and controls with special references to genetic polymorphism of ALDH2. Ninety-three Japanese outpatients with PD (39 males, 54 females) diagnosed by three skilled neurologists from 4 hospitals in Kanto area were analyzed for ALDH2 genotypes and alcohol consumption. A total of 297 healthy controls (156 males, 141 females) in the same area were also analyzed. PCR- SSCP (polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational change polymorphism) analysis was used to determine ALDH2 genotypes. Mean values of alcohol consumption (ethanol g/month/person) from patients with PD were estimated by direct interview, and those from controls were obtained by questionnaire. Distributions of three genotypes and allele frequencies of ALDH2 were not different between patients and controls, however mean values of alcohol consumption of PD group were significantly lower than those of control group when compared between the same ALDH2 genotype. Our data suggested that the lower values of alcohol consumption in patients with PD for every ALDH2 genotypes may be caused by other factors such as premorbid personality rather than ALDH2 variant.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

[Early treatment for body fluid shifts and circulatory derangement in patients with extensive burns].

The initial postburn period is characterized by body fluid shifts and circulatory derangement, or so-called burn shock. The fluid shifts are mainly due to a marked increase in capillary permeability. This loss of capillary integrity is so great that colloid including albumin, readily disperse into the extravascular space. This is limited to the burned area when of 30% or less of the body surface area (BSA) is involved, but is found throughout the entire body when more than 30% of the BSA is involved. The tremendous fluid shifts from the intravascular to the extravascular space result in edema formation and hemoconcentration. Along with the reduction in intravascular volume, there is a rapid reduction in cardiac output which gradually returns to the normal level 24 to 48 hours after burn injury. Therefore fluid resuscitation should be initiated immediately after injury. Currently a number of methods for achieving adequate volume replacement are available. In this paper we review fluid resuscitation methods for patients with extensive burns and also introduce recent topics on new regimens for resuscitation.

Burns↗

PubMed1997

The complete genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic, sulphate-reducing archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

Archaeoglobus fulgidus is the first sulphur-metabolizing organism to have its genome sequence determined. Its genome of 2,178,400 base pairs contains 2,436 open reading frames (ORFs). The information processing systems and the biosynthetic pathways for essential components (nucleotides, amino acids and cofactors) have extensive correlation with their counterparts in the archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii. The genomes of these two Archaea indicate dramatic differences in the way these organisms sense their environment, perform regulatory and transport functions, and gain energy. In contrast to M. jannaschii, A. fulgidus has fewer restriction-modification systems, and none of its genes appears to contain inteins. A quarter (651 ORFs) of the A. fulgidus genome encodes functionally uncharacterized yet conserved proteins, two-thirds of which are shared with M. jannaschii (428 ORFs). Another quarter of the genome encodes new proteins indicating substantial archaeal gene diversity.

Archaeoglobus fulgidus↗

PubMed1997

The complete genome sequence of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori, strain 26695, has a circular genome of 1,667,867 base pairs and 1,590 predicted coding sequences. Sequence analysis indicates that H. pylori has well-developed systems for motility, for scavenging iron, and for DNA restriction and modification. Many putative adhesins, lipoproteins and other outer membrane proteins were identified, underscoring the potential complexity of host-pathogen interaction. Based on the large number of sequence-related genes encoding outer membrane proteins and the presence of homopolymeric tracts and dinucleotide repeats in coding sequences, H. pylori, like several other mucosal pathogens, probably uses recombination and slipped-strand mispairing within repeats as mechanisms for antigenic variation and adaptive evolution. Consistent with its restricted niche, H. pylori has a few regulatory networks, and a limited metabolic repertoire and biosynthetic capacity. Its survival in acid conditions depends, in part, on its ability to establish a positive inside-membrane potential in low pH.

Antigenic Variation↗

PubMed1997

Deacetylation as a determinant of sulphonamide pharmacokinetics in pigs.

Sulphamonomethoxine (SMM), sulphadimidine (SDD), sulphadiazine (SDZ) and their N4-acetyl derivatives (AcSMM, AcSDD and AcSDZ) were intravenously injected into Goettingen miniature pigs and deacetylation was evaluated from plasma concentration-time curves, renal excretion, and rate constants obtained from pharmacokinetic analysis, using a non-linear least-squares method. Deacetylated metabolite was detected in both plasma and urine after intravenous injection of AcSMM, AcSDD and AcSDZ. The area under the curve (AUC) values for the deacetylated metabolite were significantly higher than those for acetyl derivatives after AcSMM and AcSDD administration, but significantly lower after AcSDZ. After AcSMM and AcSDD injection, the concentration ratio between deacetylated metabolite and acetyl derivative was almost constant in the terminal linear phase and similar to that seen after injection of sulphonamide. After AcSDZ injection, however, a constant ratio was not observed. These results indicate that deacetylation can have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of SMM and SDD, but not on those of SDZ in pigs. The rate constant for deacetylation was significantly higher than that for acetylation for SMM and SDD, but significantly lower for SDZ. It is, therefore, concluded that deacetylation may be a determinant of the pharmacokinetics of SMM and SDD in pigs. It was, however, not a determinant of SDZ pharmacokinetics because N4-acetylation is not the main elimination route in pigs.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1997

[Self-efficacy and related factors related in Parkinson's disease patients].

This study was designed to assess self-efficacy and the factors leading to higher self-efficacy in Parkinson's disease patients, as measured by General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES). Questionnaires were mailed to patients with Parkinson's disease in Tokyo. This study surveyed 73 male and 70 female patients. Approximately 66.5% of the patients fell into the low self-efficacy group. Data was divided into 3 groups (high, moderate and low) and evaluated statistically. Approximately 66.5% of the patients fell into the low self-efficacy group. Patients in the high self-efficacy group exhibited the following features: Males: 1) The male patients in the high self-efficacy group tended to belong to more groups and had less trouble than any other groups in coping with their daily lives; 2) they generally had people to turn to for mental support outside their families, and for their daily life inside or outside their families; 3) they also felt confident that they had sufficient understanding of better life styles and how to exercise. Females: 1) The female patients in the high self-efficacy group tended to go out more often than any other groups and had places to go where they could practice hobbies and exercise; 2) they generally had people outside their families to turn to for mental support; 3) their subjective symptoms, such as freezing and dysarthria, tend to be less acute than in the moderate or low self-efficacy patients. 4) had les trouble than any other groups in coping with their housing accommodations; 5) they also felt confident that they understood how to exercise. In order to increase self-efficacy among Parkinson's disease patients, this study suggests that support, both social and psychological, and providing health education, are important.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

[Two cases of Candida endocarditis associated with abdominal disease].

Two cases of Candida endocarditis are reported. The first case was of a 63-year-old man who had a positive blood culture for Candida albicans during treatment for liver abscess and early gastric cancer. He was transferred to our department, and aortic and tricuspid regurgitation due to Candida endocarditis was diagnosed. The patient was successfully treated with aortic valve replacement, tricuspid valve plasty and anti-fungal agents. The second case was of a 65-year-old man who complained of fever. Despite a diagnosis of common bile duct cancer and resection of the tumor, the fever persisted. He was transferred to our department and was diagnosed having aortic regurgitation due to Candida endocarditis, complicated by heart failure. Although intense medical therapy including antifungal agents, diuretics, catecholamines and digoxin was initiated, the patient died from multiple embolisms 9 days later. In the treatment of Candida endocarditis, early diagnosis and early decision-making for either surgical or medical therapy is indispensable. Although the prevalence of Candida endocarditis is low, the differentiation of this disease should be taken into account in febrile elderly patients with long-standing therapy with antibiotics.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Involvement of protein-tyrosine kinase p72syk in collagen-induced signal transduction in platelets.

Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of platelets by collagen results in a dramatic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins, including pp125FAK, through the interaction of collagen with integrin alpha 2 beta 1 (GP Ia-IIa). In this study, we report that p72syk is a potential candidate for the protein-tyrosine phosphorylation event following collagen stimulation in porcine platelets. Washed platelets were stimulated with collagen and the activation of p72syk was assessed in an immunoprecipitation kinase assay. The activity of p72syk increased within 1 min, reached a maximum at 5 min after stimulation by collagen, and the phosphorylation at tyrosine residues of p72syk in platelets also occurred in the same time course as the activation of p72syk. Prior treatment of platelets with cytochalasin D to inhibit actin polymerization, or with aspirin and apyrase to inhibit the secondary reaction, or EGTA and the acetoxymethyl ester of 5,5'-dimethyl-bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid to chelate both extracellular and intracellular Ca2+, did not affect the activation of p72syk induced by collagen. Furthermore, herbimycin A, a potent protein-tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, was capable of reducing collagen-evoked p72syk activation, Ca2+ mobilization and platelet aggregation. These results suggest that upon stimulation by collagen p72syk is physically activated by a process that is independent of the effects of Ca2+, ADP, and actin polymerization, and may participate in the regulation of Ca2+ mobilization mediated by collagen in platelets.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

[Nontraumatic acute subdural hematoma caused by the rupture of transdural anastomotic vessels in moyamoya disease].

A case of nontraumatic acute subdural hematoma caused by the rupture of transdural anastomotic vessels in a patient with Moyamoya disease is reported. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital in a comatose state. A diagnosis of acute subdural hematoma associated with Moyamoya disease was made on the basis of CT and angiographic findings. No lesions suggestive of trauma, such as cerebral contusion, could be detected during surgery. Although total evacuation of the hematoma was performed, she developed the apallic syndrome and did not recover consciousness. Judging from the angiographic and operative findings, it appears that subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred first and stretched the transdural anastomotic vessels which supplied the collateral circulation. This led to tearing of some of the vessels, and their proximal ends were consequently exposed in the subdural space. The surgical treatment of acute subdural hematoma associated with Moyamoya disease requires the closest attention to avoid damage to the collateral circulation. Although we carefully arrested the bleeding without using a coagulator in order to spare the collateral vessels, the transdural anastomosis was no longer visible on postoperative angiograms. Our experience suggests that hematoma irrigation with trephination therapy, which may minimize the damage to the collateral circulation, may be the most appropriate treatment for acute subdural hematoma associated with Moyamoya disease. Furthermore, cerebral revascularization should be performed for the treatment of the circulatory disturbance intercepted by the hematoma itself or by operative manipulation.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1993

The lectin concanavalin A stimulates a protein-tyrosine kinase p72syk in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

We report that the activation of porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by lectin concanavalin A (Con A) led to the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation on 84-, 72-, 55-, 40-, and 33-kDa proteins. A non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK), p72syk (Taniguchi et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 15790-15796), was detected in PBL around 0.1% of total protein and distributed in both particulate and cytosolic fractions. Furthermore, Con A induced a rapid activation of p72syk within 1 min in a manner similar to the time course of Con A-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. These results suggest that p72syk plays a certain role in the activation of PBL and that p72syk may be one of the major non-receptor PTKs in T cells as well as in B cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Superovulation of Japanese black heifers treated with FSH-P and FSH-R.

The effects on superovulation in beef heifers of two kinds of porcine FSH preparations with different LH content, FSH-P and FSH-R, were compared. Forty-two heifers of the Japanese Black Breed received a total dose of 28AU of FSH-P containing 6.5% LH or FSH-R containing 0.58% LH intramuscularly, in a descending manner for four days. The mean numbers (+/- SD) of obtained ova/embryos and transferable embryos were 4.9 +/- 2.3, 1.5 +/- 0.9 and 11.2 +/- 2.4, 4.8 +/- 1.4, respectively. FSH-R treatment yielded a significantly greater number of ova/embryos and transferable embryos than FSH-P treatment (P < 0.05).

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Do health care needs of indigent Mexican-American, black, and white adolescents differ?

Few studies have addressed the specific health care needs of Mexican-American adolescents. This 2-year study assessed the routine health care needs and incidence of chronic illness among 279 Mexican-American, 233 white, and 333 black indigent adolescents enrolled in a vocational training program. Mexican-Americans were more likely to have a positive purified protein derivative tuberculin test and acne/eczema requiring treatment. Blacks were more likely to have incomplete immunizations and thyroid disorders, while whites were more likely to have musculoskeletal conditions and require family planning services and psychiatric intervention for mental health disorders. Although no difference in incidence of chronic illness was noted, our data suggests that routine health care needs may differ among indigent Mexican-American, white, and black adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Circulatory disturbance of deep cerebral veins in eclampsia].

A case of eclampsia with interesting angiographic findings is reported. A 19-year-old woman in the 35th week of gestation by date was admitted due to a sudden onset of generalized clonic convulsion and disturbance of consciousness. The diagnosis was eclampsia. On the second hospital day, extraction of a stillborn female was performed by laminaria. Thereafter, the consciousness improved rapidly and she became alert on the following day. She was discharged without neurological deficit on the 18th hospital day. A CT scan on the day of admission showed narrow lateral ventricles and symmetrical low-density lesions in and around the basal ganglia. These had almost disappeared by the 10th hospital day. Carotid angiography on admission revealed no abnormality in the arterial phase including the lenticulostriate arteries, but, early appearance of deep cerebral veins and some cortical veins was noted. These deep veins, however, were not distinct even in the venous phase. These angiographic findings suggested medullary dilatation caused by circulatory disturbance of the deep cerebral veins. Most authors have stressed the contribution of diffuse arterial vasospasm in the pathogenesis of eclampsia in relation to low-density lesions on CT scans. In the present case, we could not find vasospasm but found circulatory disturbance of the deep cerebral veins. These angiographic findings suggested that the appearance of the low-density lesions on the CT scan was most likely due to venous congestion caused by circulatory disturbance of the deep cerebral veins, since most of the deep medullary veins in the low-density lesions flowed into the deep cerebral veins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Complications associated with barbiturate therapy.

Fifty-six patients with elevated intracranial pressure caused by cerebrovascular accident, head injury, etc., were the subjects of this study. They were divided into three groups: low dose barbiturate therapy (15 patients), high dose barbiturate therapy (24 patients), and control group (17 patients). Barbiturate therapy was instituted using thiamylal, and the complications caused by barbiturate therapy were recorded. In the control group, complications occurred in the liver of two patients, but there were no renal or pulmonary complications. Pulmonary, renal, and hepatic complications were common in the barbiturate groups. Complications in the high dose therapy group were significantly more common than in the control group. Opportunistic infections occurred in ten patients, with seven patients having pneumonia. Only one patient, with pneumonia, was seen in the control group. The deaths of three patients were influenced by complications associated with barbiturate therapy, while the single death in the control group was not associated with the complication of barbiturate therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

A comparison of polypeptides and restriction endonuclease sites of BHV-1 isolates and identification of IPV virus in Japan.

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) isolates from respiratory tract and from vagina of bovine in Japan were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the DNA restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern, and compared with European BHV-1 strains. Both protein profile and DNA cleavaged pattern of BHV-1 isolates from respiratory tract were the same as those of European infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, whereas the protein profile and DNA cleavage patterns of one isolate (M1) from vagina was the same as those of the European infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV) virus. The facts indicate that IPV virus has existed in Japan.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Regional cerebral blood flow in the persistent vegetative state.

Regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in eight patients in a persistent vegetative state was measured and compared with that in five healthy volunteers. The patients were classified into three groups: Group 1 (locked-in syndrome) consisted of a single patient, Group 2 (typical vegetative state) of five patients, and Group 3 (prolonged coma) of two patients. CBF was measured early after onset by single photon emission computed tomography with 123I-N-isopropyl-p-iodo-amphetamine and/or 99mTc-hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime. The regions of interest (ROIs) were the bilateral frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and cerebellar areas and basal ganglia. The values obtained in these areas were averaged, and the ratio for each ROI [(the value in the ROI/the mean value) x 100] was calculated. "Hyperfrontal distribution" of CBF was found to be rare in both the normal condition and the vegetative state. Higher CBF values were noted in the left than in the right frontal area in four of the five volunteers but in only four of the eight patients. CBF distribution in the frontal lobe was characteristic for each group: Group 1 showed high CBF bilaterally, although the elevation was statistically significant only on the right side, and Group 3 exhibited significantly low values. In Group 2, CBF was variable but, for the most part, within normal limits. Awareness was closely correlated with frontal lobe function and alteration of CBF in the frontal region.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Traumatic intraventricular haemorrhage.

The findings of computerized tomography and clinical features were studied in 19 patients with traumatic intraventricular haemorrhage. Blood was found in various portion of the ventricles. Main sites of the blood was as follows: around the foramen of Monro, 6 patients; in the body and occipital horn of the lateral ventricle, 5 patients; solely in the occipital horn, 8 patients. The haemorrhage around the foramen of Monro, resulting from contusion of the ventral portion of the corpus callosum, septum pellucidum, and fornix, showed an interesting CT finding. Intracranial co-existing lesions were seen in 17 patients, and extracranial lesions were seen in 13 patients, suggesting the external force was excessive. Both the Glasgow coma scale scores on admission and Glasgow outcome scale were generally unfavourable, but 4 patients showed good recovery. The final outcome was mainly influenced by the severity of the co-existing intracranial lesions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Changes in left ventricular preload and contractility following severe burns in the dog.

To examine the effects of severe burns on preload and left ventricular (LV) contractility, we continuously measured LV pressures and dimensions in severely burned dogs throughout the early part of the postburn period. Hemodynamic parameters, including cardiac output (CO), mean aortic pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), LV pressures and their first derivatives (dP/dt), and the LV regional dimension, were measured and compared before and every 30 min after burns were produced (up to 360 min) in four groups: group A (n = 7), dogs with sham burns; group B (n = 5), dogs with nonresuscitated full-thickness burns involving 50% of the total body surface area; group C (n = 6), dogs with burns resuscitated with lactated Ringer's solution at 4 ml X kg X % burn/24 h; and group D (n = 6), dogs with burns resuscitated with 1.5% dextran in lactated Ringer's solution at 2 ml X kg X % burn/24 h. From these measurements, we obtained the LV end-diastolic segment length (EDL) as an index of preload and three indices of cardiac contractility, i.e., peak dP/dt, the percentage of shortening (% delta L), and mean Vcf. Our results showed that CO, MAP, and preload (i.e., EDL) decreased significantly more in the three burn groups (groups B, C, and D) than in the sham burn group, but that there were no significant differences in CO, MAP, and EDL among the three burn groups. The three indices of contractility also decreased significantly more in the three burn groups than in the sham burn group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗