Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujii.

At least 919 records · Page 51Linked to original sources

Feasibility study of imaging a living murine tumor by electron paramagnetic resonance.

An electron paramagnetic resonance image was measured for the first time from in vivo field gradient spectra of a living murine tumor (Cloudman S-91 melanoma in the tail of a DBA-2J mouse) using the paramagnetic nitroxide imaging agent 3-carboxamido-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-1-oxyl injected into the tail vein. The experiments were accomplished at L-band frequency (1.55 GHz) with a single-turn flat-loop coil. A cross-sectional image was obtained perpendicular to the tail axis, which clearly distinguished features to the submillimeter resolution level.

Animals↗

Characterization of hepatic and pulmonary cytochromes P-450 in 3-methylcholanthrene-treated hamsters.

Two major forms of hepatic cytochrome P-450 (hepatic P-450MCI and P-450MCII) were purified approximately 5-fold from liver microsomes in Syrian golden hamsters treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). The purified preparations of hepatic P-450MCI and P-450MCII contained 9.6 and 8.3 nmol cytochrome P-450 (P-450) per mg protein, respectively, and were essentially free from NADPH-cytochrome c (P-450) reductase (fpT), NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and cytochrome b5. By sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), the molecular weights of hepatic P-450MCI and P-450MCII were estimated to be 56,000 and 53,500. Further, a major form of pulmonary P-450 (P-450MC) were purified from lung microsomes of MC-treated hamster, and contained 14.2 nmol P-450 per mg protein, and estimated to be 56,000 in monomeric molecular weight, indicating the similar molecular weight to hepatic P-450MCI in the hamster. From the absorption spectra the oxidized forms of hepatic P-450MCI and P-450MCII were high- and low-spin ferric hemoproteins, respectively, and pulmonary P-450MC was similar to hepatic P-450MCII in their hemoprotein spin state. No difference, however, was observed in the CO-reduced forms among hepatic P-450MCI, P-450MCII and pulmonary P-450MC, all exhibiting 446.5 nm Soret bands. In a reconstituted system containing fpT and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC), pulmonary P-450MC efficiently catalyzed benzo[a]pyrene (BP) hydroxylation at a rate of 11.4 mol formed per min per mol P-450, but hepatic P-450MCI and P-450MCII both exhibited lower levels, e.g., 0.49 and 0.54, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effect of estriol on the production of alpha-fetoprotein by the liver in adult mice.

A single intraperitoneal injection with a 10 mg estriol (E3) in aqueous suspension induced a large and prolonged elevation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in adult mice. E3 also raised the mitotic activity of hepatocytes in the absence of liver injury. Although both the AFP concentration and hepatocyte proliferation reached the peak on day 5 after E3 administration, a high level (about 12,500 ng/ml) of serum AFP persisted for a long period after hepatocyte proliferation declined. Five mg E3 showed a remarkable threshold effect on AFP elevation and 3 mg E3 on hepatocyte proliferation. Immunohistochemical studies indicated AFP production by hepatocytes in adult mice after the E3 administration.

Animals↗

Five year results of radical mastectomy for breast cancer, by a sternal splitting, intrapleural en bloc resection of the internal mammary lymph nodes.

A new operative method of extended radical mastectomy enables complete resection of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. In this paper, we present the histological analysis of the internal mammary involvement, and the estimated 5 year survival rate, of 100 patients with breast cancer of Stage I, II or III, who underwent this operation. The incidences of axillary and internal mammary involvements were 41 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. The metastases in the internal mammary lymph node chain were located from just below the supraclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. The types of lymphatic invasion observed in the internal mammary chain were lymph node metastases in 88 per cent, metastatic lesion in the lymphoid tissue in 29 per cent and cancer cell emboli in the lymphatic channel in 71 per cent. The overall estimated 5 year survival rate was 90.5 per cent. Where there was internal mammary involvement, the estimated 5 year survival rates for those with no axillary lymph node metastasis, those with fewer than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and those with more than 4 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 31.2 per cent, respectively. Although the assumption that more aggressive surgical removal of the primary lesion and the regional lymphatic spread gives a higher cure rate has not been proved, this extended radical mastectomy with adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy seems to give a higher 5 year survival rate for patients with internal mammary involvement.

Adult↗

Indications for bilateral neck dissection in well-differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid.

This paper analyses the results of sixty-eight patients with thyroid carcinoma in whom bilateral modified radical neck dissection was performed, and discusses the indications for bilateral modified radical neck dissection. High frequencies of bilateral jugular lymph node metastases were found in eleven patients with obviously widespread involvement of both thyroid lobes, 13 with cancer mainly located in the isthmus, 2 with clinically detectable bilateral or contralateral jugular chain lymph node metastases, and 10 with recurrent thyroid cancer. Bilateral modified radical neck dissection, therefore appears to be indicated for those conditions. On the other hand, lymph node metastases in the contralateral neck were histologically confirmed in 6 out of 27 patients (22 per cent), in whom papillary carcinoma was clinically confined to one lobe, and where there were no obviously enlarged lymph nodes in the contralateral neck. In those patients, the histological confirmation of the contralateral thyroid lobe involvements, and of the contralateral paratracheal lymph node metastasis, appears to be a valid indication for elective contralateral modified radical neck dissection.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Selective deficiency in IL-2 production and refractoriness to extrinsic IL-2 in immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM.

Various lymphokines are inducible by the stimulation of T-cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin, and concanavalin A. A 32-year-old female with an atypical type of immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM was evaluated for possible defects in the production of several immunoregulatory lymphokines. Although the mitogens appeared to bind effectively to the specific surface receptors of patient peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL), the proliferative responses were significantly decreased. The culture supernatant of patient PBL stimulated by the mitogens contained only a trace amount of interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity. Addition of recombinant IL-2 to the cultures concomitantly with the mitogens could not restore the decreased responses of patient PBL. Tac antigen expression of patient PBL induced by the mitogens was moderately impaired. These data suggest that there is a defect in both IL-2-producing and IL-2-responding cells. In contrast, the culture supernatant of mitogen-stimulated patient PBL contained B-cell growth and differentiation factors as well as interferon-gamma activities equal to those of the control. These results suggest that there are independent regulatory pathways for the production of IL-2 and other T-cell-derived lymphokines.

Adult↗

Coexistence of fast and slow myosin isozymes in human external urethral sphincter. A preliminary report.

Human external urethral sphincter muscle was isolated for biochemical research. Myosin samples were prepared and pyrophosphate gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis were performed. Assignment in pyrophosphate gel of myosin isozymes of human external urethral sphincter was carried out by making comparisons with those from human rectus abdominis muscle. Myosin light chains in human external urethral sphincter were identified using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Human external urethral sphincter, similar to other voluntary muscles, is composed of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers, since fast and slow myosin components were shown in both pyrophosphate gel and two-dimensional electrophoretograms.

Electrophoresis↗

In vitro studies of skin fibroblasts from a patient with a new type of primary cortisol resistance: glucocorticoid receptor status and glucocorticoid effect on DNA synthesis.

Studies made on cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from a patient with primary cortisol resistance are described. Whole cell in vitro assays, using the patient's fibroblasts revealed a reduction in the dexamethasone binding capacity (7.86 +/- 0.73 fmol/micrograms DNA, mean +/- SD, n = 3; normal: 15.2 +/- 1.90 fmol/micrograms DNA, n = 8) and an apparently normal dissociation constant (3.69 +/- 0.15 nM; normal: 3.74 +/- 0.40 nM). In addition, the effects of glucocorticoids on DNA synthesis in these cells were examined. DNA synthesis was inhibited by dexamethasone both in normal fibroblasts and in the patient's cells, but the patient's cells were less sensitive to this inhibition, indicating resistance of the cells to glucocorticoid in vitro. These results suggest that the resistance of target tissues to glucocorticoids is due to the reduction in receptor number and that this is the primary defect in this new type of primary cortisol resistance in man.

Adult↗

Human aldolase A deficiency associated with a hemolytic anemia: thermolabile aldolase due to a single base mutation.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase A (fructose-bisphosphate aldolase; EC 4.1.2.13) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with hereditary hemolytic anemia. To clarify the molecular mechanism of the deficiency at the nucleotide level, we have cloned aldolase A cDNA from a patient's poly(A)+ RNA that was expressed in cultured lymphoblastoid cells. Nucleotide analysis of the patient's aldolase A cDNA showed a substitution of a single nucleotide (adenine to guanine) at position 386 in a coding region. As a result, the 128th amino acid, aspartic acid, was replaced with glycine (GAT to GGT). Furthermore, change of the second letter of the aspartic acid codon extinguished a F ok I restriction site (GGATG to GGGTG). Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA showed the patient carried a homozygous mutation inherited from his parents. When compared with normal human aldolase A, the patient's enzyme from erythrocytes and from cultured lymphoblastoid cells was found to be highly thermolabile, suggesting that this mutation causes a functional defect of the enzyme. To further examine this possibility, the thermal stability of aldolase A of the patient and of a normal control, expressed in Escherichia coli using expression plasmids, was determined. The results of E. coli expression of the mutated aldolase A enzyme confirmed the thermolabile nature of the abnormal enzyme. The Asp-128 is conserved in aldolase A, B, and C of eukaryotes, including an insect, Drosophila, suggesting that the Asp-128 of the aldolase A protein is likely to be an amino acid residue with a crucial role in maintaining the correct spatial structure or in performing the catalytic function of the enzyme.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital↗

Preparation and some properties of giant liposomes and proteoliposomes.

Optimal conditions for formation of giant liposomes and proteoliposomes were investigated. A suspension of small unilamellar vesicles made of various phospholipids in a buffer of 0-3 M KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, and 20 mM MOPS (pH 7.0) was subjected to a freeze-thaw treatment. Giant multilamellar liposomes of diameter ranging from 10 to 60 microns were found to form from phospholipid mixtures containing phosphatidylethanolamine as a major component and phosphatidylserine as a minor component. The concentration of KCl optimal for the giant vesicle formation was 30-500 mM. By applying a patch-pipette to a giant liposome, suitable conditions for obtaining a high-resistance (giga-ohm) seal were sought. It was found that use of a patch-pipette of relatively small tip diameter (less than 1 micron), the presence of divalent metal cations in the suspension medium and inflation of vesicles in a hypotonic solution facilitated giga-seal formation. In a suspension of asolectin (soybean phospholipid) vesicles which had been subjected to the freeze-thaw treatment, giant unilamellar vesicles were found. They could be held on the tip of a suction pipette and impaled with a microelectrode filled with an EGTA solution. Small unilamellar proteoliposomes were prepared by the cholate-dialysis method from asolectin and sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, and were subjected to a freeze-thaw cycle. When the ratio of exogenous phospholipid to protein was larger than 10, giant multilamellar vesicles were formed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electrochemistry↗

Chromatographic analysis of human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase from five patients with pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency.

Human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) was separated into two subclasses. P5N-I and P5N-II, by DEAE Bio-Gel A column chromatography. Their enzymological properties were studied using five normal subjects and five patients with different P5N deficiencies. Study of the normal subjects showed that P5N-I and P5N-II have distinctive properties, and P5N-II is similar to the 5'-nucleotidase in rat liver cytosol. The P5N-II from the five subjects with this deficiency had normal activity and other normal enzymological properties. However, the P5N-I from these patients had abnormal properties, including reduced activity. These variant enzymes had a high Michaelis constant for substrate cytidine 5'-monophosphate and were heat stable. The optimum pH was shifted towards the acidic side in two patients, towards the basic side in one, and was unchanged in the other two. These results strongly suggest that the main cause of P5N deficiency is an abnormality of P5N-I, probably arising from a structural gene mutation.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Inter- and intra-pathologist variability in histologic diagnoses of lung cancer.

To estimate variability and reliability in histologic diagnosis (Dx) of lung cancers, lung cancer preparations were divided into eight equal sets and diagnosed independently by an eight-man pathology panel. Majority Dx (Dx affirmed by more than 4 panelists) was regarded as the consensus Dx of each cancer. The consensus rate of each panelist ranged from 78.8% to 96.1% with an average of 89.4%. The consensus rates were not significantly different among the panelists. Relatively high inter-pathologist agreement was observed in squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. However, regarding large cell carcinoma, there was occasional disagreement among the panelists. Forty-seven cancers were reexamined by the same panelists, with no preliminary announcement, 7 months after the first examination to study the intra-pathologist agreement. The rate of the intra-pathologist agreement ranged from 76.6% to 93.3%. Dx of large cell carcinoma was the most intra-changeable. It was concluded that the histologic Dx of large cell carcinoma was the most inter- and intra-changeable, and the most frequent dissenting Dx from it was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pulmonary hypertension in hepatitis B virus carriers.

Two autopsy cases of pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with liver cirrhosis are presented. Both patients were hepatitis B (HB) virus carriers and suffered from type B cirrhosis during the clinical course. The first patient was a 52-year-old male with type B cirrhosis. He died of hepatic encephalopathy but did not have any specific symptoms for PH except abnormal laboratory findings. Chest roentgenograms displayed prominence of the central pulmonary artery. Cardiac catheterization indicated marked increment of pulmonary arterial pressure. Autopsy revealed dilatation and sclerosis of the main pulmonary artery and right ventricular hypertrophy. Microscopically, the pulmonary arteries showed intimal fibrosis, medial hypertrophy, and plexiform lesions throughout the lungs. The second patient, a 15-year-old boy, had PH with juvenile liver cirrhosis which had existed for 8 years prior to the onset of PH. He complained of severe dyspnea and dizziness before death. Electrocardiogram indicated right ventricular hypertrophy. Autopsy disclosed cardiomegaly, type B cirrhosis and sclerotic pulmonary arteries. Grade VI pulmonary plexogenic arteriopathy including plexiform lesions and necrotizing arteritis was observed. HBsAg was detected in both the hepatocytes and the pulmonary arterial walls. We discuss the possible relationship between persistent HB viral infection and PH with liver cirrhosis.

Adolescent↗

Genetic control of the immune responsiveness to Streptococcus mutans by the major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RT1).

The lymph node cells from 11 strains of rats, differing in the genotype of the major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RT1), were examined on the basis of their proliferative response to the cell wall antigen of Streptococcus mutans. The 11 rat strains fell into three groups: high, intermediate, and low responders. To demonstrate the influence of the major histocompatibility complex on immune responsiveness to S. mutans, further experiments were performed using the RT1-congenic rat strains WKAH.1L(LEW), WKAH. 1AV1(ACI), and WKAH.1J(LEJ), which differ only in the genotype of the RT1 region. Although the background genes of each strain were of WKAH origin, WKAH.1L(LEW) and WKAH.1AV1(ACI) rats showed a low response whereas WKAH.1J(LEJ) rats showed a moderate response to the S. mutans cell wall antigen. The results indicate that the immune response is controlled by the class II gene(s) in RT1. Furthermore, the RT1.D locus products were shown to play an important role in the restriction molecule, since a monoclonal antibody, HOK7, directed to the RT1.Dk locus products reduced the proliferative response of lymph node cells.

Animals↗

Japanese patients with leukaemia following the use of Thorotrast including a patient with marked chromosomal rearrangements.

It is estimated that 20,000-33,000 persons have been injected with Thorotrast in Japan. By August 1984, 12 patients with leukaemia following the use of Thorotrast have been reported. Their clinical and haematological data indicate that most of the patients were males over 50 years of age and that the most frequent type of leukaemia involved the stem cells common to the granulocytic, erythroid and/or megakaryocytic lines. This assumption was supported by the evidence of marked chromosomal rearrangements in 100% of the cells from the bone marrow in our case. The median latent period from the administration of Thorotrast to the onset of leukaemia in Japan was 35 years, ranging from 16 to 45 years, which indicates that patients who were injected with Thorotrast should be carefully followed up in the future.

Acute Disease↗