PCR detection of 9 polymorphisms in the WT1 gene.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Base Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
H Fujii
Publications and source records attributed to H Fujii.
Platelet-derived growth factor is released into the coronary circulation after coronary spasm.
BACKGROUND: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells and is implicated in the vascular response to injury and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It is also a potent vasoconstrictor. METHODS: To examine whether acute myocardial ischemia increases the level of PDGF in the coronary circulation, we measured plasma levels of PDGF in the coronary sinus and the aortic root simultaneously in 14 patients with coronary spastic angina. These measurements were performed before and after the left coronary artery spasm induced by intracoronary injection of acetylcholine, and measurements were also taken in 15 patients with stable exertional angina before and after acute myocardial ischemia induced by rapid atrial pacing. Eleven patients with chest pain but normal coronary arteries and no coronary spasm served as controls. RESULTS: Plasma PDGF levels increased significantly (P < 0.01) from 274 +/- 28 pg/mL to 364 +/- 27 pg/mL only in coronary sinus after anginal attacks in the patients with coronary spastic angina. However, plasma PDGF levels in coronary sinus remained unchanged after these attacks in the patients with stable exertional angina (from 230 +/- 27 pg/ml to 247 +/- 28 pg/mL) and after intracoronary injection of acetylcholine in the control subjects. Plasma PDGF levels in aortic root remained unchanged in all three patient groups. CONCLUSIONS: PDGF is released into the coronary circulation after coronary artery spasm, and this may exacerbate coronary artery spasm.
Aged↗
Supraophthalmic chemotherapy with long tapered catheter: distribution evaluated with intraarterial and intravenous Tc-99m HMPAO.
Supraophthalmic intraarterial chemotherapy has not become popular due to a high incidence of damage to the normal brain and eye. This damage is due to inhomogeneous distribution of the agent secondary to streaming and other flow-related phenomena. To try to minimize this complication, the authors developed a catheter and studied different infusion techniques. A 4.5-F catheter tapered to 2.5 F was used to perform supraophthalmic intraarterial chemotherapy in 26 patients with malignant gliomas. Forty-one of 45 catheterizations were successful. In 17 patients (20 procedures), technetium-99m hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) was then injected through the catheter and single photon emission computed tomography was performed to assess the cerebral distribution of the radiopharmaceutical with either a pulsatile or continuous infusion technique. Diffuse and relatively homogeneous distribution of Tc-99m HMPAO was observed with fast pulsatile infusion (10 of 10 procedures); however, inhomogeneous distribution was mostly seen with slow continuous infusion (eight of 10 procedures).
Adolescent↗
Augmented induction by dexamethasone of metallothionein IIa messenger ribonucleic acid in fibroblasts from a patient with cortisol hyperreactive syndrome.
Northern blot analysis was used to investigate the effect of dexamethasone (Dex) or zinc on messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of metallothionein-IIa (MT-IIa) in fibroblasts from a patient with cortisol hyperreactive syndrome and from three normal subjects. Dex was seen to increase MT-IIa mRNA levels and brought them to a maximum after 12 h. Zinc also increased the levels of MT-IIa mRNA and brought them to a maximum at 8 h after the addition. Dex as well as zinc caused a dose-related increase in MT-IIa mRNA levels. Dex had a maximal inductive effect on MT-IIa at a concentration of 10(-6) mol/L and zinc at a concentration of 10(-4) mol/L. There was no significant difference in the levels of basal expression of the MT-IIa gene between the patient's and normal fibroblasts. But in three separate experiments induction of MT-IIa gene by Dex obtained for the patient's fibroblasts was almost twice as much as that for normal fibroblasts. On the other hand, there were no significant difference in induction by zinc between the patient's and normal fibroblasts. These data indicated that the patient's cells were hyperreactive to glucocorticoids as seen from the effect of Dex on the MT-IIa mRNA levels.
Adrenal Glands↗
Hepatic arterial infusion of interleukin-2 in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
From August 1988 to February 1991, we performed hepatic arterial cannulation after tumor mass reduction in 17 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. By a subcutaneous infusion pump the patient received a continuous infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) (0.35 x 10(6) Japanese Reference Unit/day) and intermittent chemoembolization with 10 mg doxorubicin emulsion. The longest period of IL-2 infusion was 32 months. In 3 patients, the IL-2 dose could not be increased to the planned level due to fever or jaundice. Eight patients received the infusion for more than 10 months. NK and LAK activity in the peripheral blood, which had been reduced after partial liver resection, arterial embolization, or ethanol injection, was enhanced significantly by the IL-2 infusion, and the levels remained high for about 8 to 10 months. During periods of high NK and LAK activity, direct effects on the liver tumors were observed. In 11 patients who received IL-2 infusion for more than 6 months there was CR in 4, PR in 2, NC in 3 and PD in 2. Thereafter, however, the levels of NK and LAK activity decreased despite increase in the IL-2 dose, and sudden appearance of metastatic tumors caused deterioration of the patients. The 1-year and 2-year cumulative survival rates were 41% and 16% respectively. Further studies are required to explore ways for longer-lasting enhancement of NK and LAK activity.
Adult↗
Relationship between autoantibodies and clinical parameters in Sjögren's syndrome.
Glandular function as estimated by salivary function scintigraphy and extraglandular manifestations were compared among 174 Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients according to their anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, and anti-U1RNP autoantibody status, to clarify the relationship between these autoantibodies and clinical parameters in SS. These antibodies were detected by RNA-immunoprecipitation. Anti-La/SSB or only anti-Ro/SSA antibody was common in 84 primary SS (P-SS) patients, whereas the frequency of only anti-U1RNP was high in 90 secondary SS (S-SS) patients, especially in those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antibody-negativity was common in SS with rheumatoid arthritis and was also found in 33% of P-SS. In P-SS, salivary gland dysfunction and parotid swelling were severe in patients who had serological abnormalities with anti-Ro/SSA and with or without anti-La/SSB. They were mild in antibody-negative patients who had mild extraglandular symptoms and in patients with only anti-U1RNP antibody who had Raynaud's phenomenon, pulmonary fibrosis, and later disease onset. P-SS patients positive for both anti-Ro/SSA and anti-U1RNP had SLE-like features. SS could be classified clinically according to these autoantibodies.
Autoantibodies↗
[Successful collection of peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by a combination of G-CSF with high-dose Ara-C or high-dose etoposide].
The author evaluated the effectiveness of a combination of G-CSF with high-dose Ara-C (HD Ara-C) or high-dose etoposide based on the collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) during the recovery phase from myelosuppression in 17 patients with various types of hematopoietic malignancies. Following therapy with HD Ara-C or HD etoposide, G-CSF (250 micrograms/body) was administered from the nadir state and blood mononuclear cells were collected using a CS-3000 by processing 15 litres of blood at each apheresis. Stem cell-enriched fractions obtained from discontinuous Percoll gradients were collected and stored in liquid nitrogen. The mean numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM) obtained by the first apheresis were 10.9 x 10(5)/kg after chemotherapy with HD Ara-C and 13.4 x 10(5)/kg after HD etoposide therapy, respectively. In 14 out of the 17 first apheresis, more than 2 x 10(5) CFU-GM/kg were collected. Serial apheresis was performed in seven patients, at intervals ranging from 21-79 days, and the progenitor yield in the second apheresis decreased in five patients. These results suggest that the use of either HD Ara-C or HD etoposide induces an effective mobilization of PBSC and enables large scale collection of PBSC for autotransplantation.
Acute Disease↗
[Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in adult patients].
We reported the experience of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) performed in adult patients with hematological malignancies and solid tumors. After myelosuppressive chemotherapy, peripheral blood stem cells were collected using a Blood Cell Separator (CS-3000) during bone marrow recovery and subsequently cryopreserved in 17 patients (9: malignant lymphoma; 2: ALL; 2: AML; 2: multiple myeloma; 2: solid tumors). In 28 apheresis cases, the collected number of granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM) was more than 5 x 10(5)/kg BW in 17 apheresis cases and ranged between 2 and 5 x 10(5)/kg BW in 4 of such cases. Eleven patients (7: malignant lymphoma; 1: ALL; 1: AML; 1: multiple myeloma; 1: neuroblastoma) underwent PBSCT following myeloablative chemotherapy. The infused number of CFU-GM ranged between 0.6 and 18.1 x 10(5)/kg BW. In 7 patients, more than 5 x 10(5) CFU-GM/kg BW were infused. The median time to reach 500 neutrophils/microliter or 50,000 platelets/microliter was 10 (range: 8-17) and 20 (range: 8-63) days, respectively. One patient died from sepsis before hematologic recovery occurred. Eight patients are alive with no evidence of active disease for 7-19 months after PBSCT. When the infused number of CFU-GM is more than 2 x 10(5)/kg BW, PBSCT following myeloablative chemotherapy seems to be safe and useful treatment.
Adolescent↗
[Peripheral blood stem cell transfusion for a patient with RAEB-T].
This report deals with a case of RAEB in transformation (RAEB-T) who received peripheral blood stem cell transfusion (PBSCT) and has remained in complete remission for 15 months. A 51-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with abnormal hematological examinations in August 1991. Peripheral blood showed a WBC of 3,580/microliters with 19% myeloblasts. Bone marrow aspirate revealed slight hypocellularity with 21.2% myeloblasts. Many of these myeloblasts contained Auer rods. He was diagnosed as having RAEB-T. He was treated with low dose Ara-C, followed by the BHAC-VEP regimen and complete remission was obtained 2 months later. After high dose Ara-C regimen, one leukapheresis was performed using CS-3000 during bone marrow recovery. The collected number of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU-mix were 4.3, 4.3 and 0.68 x 10(5)/kg b.w., respectively and they were cryoreserved. In November 1991, 16 mg/kg b.w. of busulfan, 120 mg/kg b.w. of cyclophosphamide and rG-CSF were used as a conditioning regimen and PBSCT was performed. The infused number of CFU-GM, BFU-E and CFU -mix were 0.8, 0.9 and 0.14 x 10(5)/kg b.w., respectively. The number of days to reach 500 neutrophils/microliters and 5 x 10(4) platelets/microliters was 17 and 63 days, respectively. He has remained in complete remission for 15 months after PBSCT. PBSCT appears to be one effective therapeutic choice for the treatment of RAEB-T.
Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts↗
[Hematological recovery after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation followed by recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor].
The hematological recovery of 11 patients who received autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) followed by recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF) was studied. After high-dose cytarabine therapy or high-dose etoposide therapy followed by rG-CSF, the peripheral blood stem cells were collected using CS-3000 during bone marrow recovery and subsequently cryopreserved in 8 patients with malignant lymphoma, 2 with multiple myeloma and 1 with ALL. The infused dose of CFU-GM following myeloablative chemotherapy ranged from 1.9 to 18.1 x 10(5)/kg BW. Nine patients received more than 5 x 10(5) CFU-GM/kg BW. The median time to reach 1,000 WBC/microliter, 500 neutrophils/microliter, 5 x 10(4) platelets/microliter and 1% reticulocytes was 9 (range; 8-12), 9 (range; 8-12), 16 (range; 8-27) and 15 (range; 9-38) days, respectively. A negative correlation was found between the logarithm of CFU-GM/kg BW numbers infused and the time post-transplant to reach 500 neutrophils/microliter (r = -0.82, P < 0.005), 5 x 10(4) platelets/microliter (r = -0.48) and 1% reticulocytes (r = -0.57, p < 0.05). Transient decrease in the neutrophil (n = 3) or platelet counts (n = 9) was observed 4 to 8 weeks after transplantation, but the recovery of hematopoiesis became stable thereafter. We concluded that with combined use of rG-CSF, the minimal CFU-GM dose required for safe PBSCT is 2 x 10(5)/kg BW.
Blood Cell Count↗
[Cortisol hyperreactive syndrome].
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cushing Syndrome↗
An application of laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive two-dimensional evaluation of microcirculation in ocular fundus--a preliminary report.
A new instrument has been developed which uses the laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive two-dimensional analysis of the microcirculation in the optic nerve head (ONH). The ONH is illuminated by a diode laser spot and its image speckle is detected by an area sensor. The difference between a pair of output data from successive scannings of the image speckles at the sensor plane is calculated and integrated for each pixel to obtain the average difference (AD) value, which is a quantitative index of blood flow velocity. The results are displayed in color graphics showing the two-dimensional variation of the AD value in the area of interest. In an in vitro model, the AD value correlated well with the speed of rotation of a ground glass in a range between 0 and 5 mm/second. Using this instrument, the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) on the circulation was studied in the area of the rabbit ONH free of surface vessels. The coefficient of reproducibility was 4.7% when measured twice in this area at 5-minute intervals. A stepwise reduction in the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was introduced by elevating the IOP manometrically. The AD value was little affected by a change in OPP when the OPP was above 40 mmHg; while when the OPP was below 40 mmHg, a linear correlation was found between the AD value and the OPP. This finding agreed well with those of previous studies where the effect of the OPP on the ONH blood flow were studied using various invasive methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Animals↗
[An apparatus using laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive 2-dimensional analysis of microcirculation in the optic nerve head].
A new instrument using the laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive 2-dimensional analysis of the microcirculation in the optic nerve head (ONH) was developed. The ONH was illuminated with a diode laser spot and its image speckle was detected by an area array sensor. The difference between a pair of output data for successive scannings of the image speckles at the sensor plane was calculated and integrated for each pixel to obtain the average difference (AD), which is a quantitative index of blood speed. The results were displayed in color graphics showing the 2-dimensional variation of the AD level in the area of interest. The AD had good correlation with the speed of ground glass in a range between 0 and 8 mm/sec. Using this instrument, the effect of intraocular pressure (IOP) on the circulation in the area of the rabbit ONH free from surface vessels was studied. The coefficient of reproducibility was 4.7% when measured in this area twice at 5-minute intervals. A stepwise reduction in the ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) was introduced by elevating the IOP manometrically. The AD was little affected by OPP change when OPP was above 40 mmHg, but with the OPP below 40 mmHg, a linear correlation was found between the AD and OPP.
Animals↗
[An apparatus using laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive 2-dimensional analysis of choroidal microcirculation].
A new instrument using the laser speckle phenomenon for noninvasive 2-dimensional analysis of the choroidal microcirculation was developed. The fundus was illuminated with a diode laser spot and its image speckle was detected with an area sensor. The difference between the average of the output data (I-mean) and the output data from successive scannings of the image speckles at the sensor plane was calculated and integrated to give as D-mean, and I-mean/D-mean was defined as normalized blur (NB), which is a quantitative index of blood flow velocity. The results were displayed in color graphics showing the 2-dimensional variation of the NB level in the area of interest. The NB had good correlation with the speed measured on ground glass in the range between 2 and 130mm/sec. Using this instrument, the effect of intraocular pressure on the chroidal circulation of the rabbit was studied. The coefficient of reproducibility was 6.9% when measured in the same area twice at 5-minute intervals. A stepwise reduction in the ocular perfusion pressure was introduced by elevating the intraocular pressure manometrically. A linear correlation was found between the NB and the ocular perfusion pressure.
Animals↗
[An acute axonal form of Guillain-Barré syndrome with autoantibody against ganglioside GD1b--a case report].
We reported a 3-year-old boy of an acute axonal form of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) with autoantibody against GD1b ganglioside. A week after an episode of upper respiratory infection, he was hospitalized with a weakness in the lower extremities. Neurological examination revealed facial weakness, restricted extra-ocular movement, hyporeflexia and tetraparesis without any sensory impairment. CSF protein was elevated with normal cell count after the first week of symptoms. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated normal motor nerve conduction velocity and low M potential amplitude. He had been on a respirator for two months. Although he received plasmapheresis in the acute phase, sixteen month after the onset he continued to have distally dominant limb weakness with wasting. Thin-layer chromatogram with immunostaining revealed that serum IgG from this patient reacted with GD1b, but did not react with GM1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that anti-GD1b titer (IgG) decreased concurrently with the clinical improvement. There have been several reports of an acute axonal form of GBS with antibody to GM1. GD1b, as well as GM1, seems to be a target pathogenic antigen in motor axon disorders.
Autoantibodies↗
[Brain SPECT by intraarterial infusion of 99mTc-HMPAO for assessing the cerebral distribution of carotid artery infusions in patients with brain tumor].
In order to assess the cerebral distribution of intracarotid chemotherapy, 17 postoperative patients with brain tumor underwent brain SPECT obtained by intraarterial infusion of 18.5 MBq of 99mTc-HMPAO. Injection methods were continuous (5.0 ml/min) or pulsatile infusion with supraor infraophthalmic catheterization. The findings obtained by brain SPECT were frequently different from those of angiography and/or DSA. In supraophthalmic catheterization with continuous infusion, only 2 of 10 studies (20%) had homogeneous distribution and 5 of them (50%) had maldistribution of 99mTc-HMPAO which appears in association with laminar flow effect. The remaining 3 studies showed localized distribution (two: tumor localization, one: healthy brain localization). On the other hand, all of 5 studies with pulsatile infusion had homogeneous distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO. In infraophthalmic catheterization, all but one of 5 studies had homogeneous distribution with continuous infusion. These results suggest that pulsatile infusion may be effective in eliminating maldistribution of 99mTc-HMPAO in supraophthalmic catheterization. In conclusion, we are convinced that 99mTc-HMPAO is a useful intraarterial agent for assessing cerebral distribution of intracarotid chemotherapy.
Adolescent↗
[A case of coronary artery bypass grafting for single coronary artery complicated by angina pectoris].
A case of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for single coronary artery complicated by angina pectoris (AP) was reported. The patient was a 74-year-old male, complained of anginal discomforts. His single coronary artery originated in left coronary sinus, bifurcated to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the circumflex artery (CX), and then, an abnormal communicating branch, passing in front of the right ventricular outflow, was branched from the proximal region of LAD; it showed a route corresponding to the proximal region of the right coronary artery (RCA). The distal region of RCA and the posterior descending artery were angiographed in continuity from CX. Other findings included 75%-stenosis at LAD-#6 and 90%-stenosis at CX-#13. Using two saphenous vein grafts, CABG operation was carried out on those regions at LAD-#7 and distal CX corresponding to #3 normally. Postoperatively, anginal discomforts disappeared, and favorable results were obtained.
Aged↗
[A case of malignant paraganglioma].
Herein we report a case of paraganglioma. The metastatic lesion was incidentally found in a 64-year-old man by chest roentgenography. The primary tumor was extra-adrenal and was revealed to be malignant. The patient was normotensive without clinical symptoms despite extreme high serum and urinary dopamine levels. A venous injection of 5 mg metoclopramide elicited a significant increase of the blood pressure. This phenomenon disappeared after surgical excisions of the primary and metastatic lesions. The metoclopramide test is considered to be useful to diagnose asymptomatic paraganglioma.
Humans↗