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H Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to H Fujimoto.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Left postpneumonectomy syndrome successfully treated with endobronchial stent.

We describe a case of left pneumothorax-induced left postpneumonectomy syndrome in the absence of anatomical anomalies developing at 10 years after the operation. We placed an endobronchial stent into the right truncus intermidius and the procedure resulted in recovery of the syndrome. We consider endobronchial stent placement as an effective treatment for postpneumonectomy syndrome, especially when surgical management is not feasible.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome with impaired prognosis].

We report two cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome with impaired prognosis. Case 1: A 58-year-old woman started to complain of progressive dysesthesia and muscle weakness of the lower extremities on February 6, 1992 and was admitted to our hospital eight days later. The eosinophil count was 1, 170/microliters and chest X-ray on admission revealed bilateral diffuse interstitial shadows. Necrosis of muscle fibers and significant infiltration of eosinophils into vessel walls were histopathologically demonstrated. Case 2: A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with productive cough and back pain. An expiratory wheeze was audible in all lung fields and bronchial asthma was diagnosed. Laboratory findings showed eosinophilia (8, 550/microliters), an IgE level of 16, 266 IU/ml and no positive data for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. A biopsy of subcutaneous nodules in the lower extremity revealed significant edema of vessel walls and infiltration eosinophils and lymphocytes. Churg-Strauss syndrome was diagnosed in both cases, and corticosteroid therapy was successful in alleviating eosinophilia. However, symptoms of vasculitis in case 1, including mononeuritis multiplex, did not improve, and cardiomyopathy in case 2 progressively worsened. Particularly in elderly patients, it is very important to make an early diagnosis and to initiate therapy that does not disturb quality of life, even for diseases generally regarded as having a good or fair prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Expression of CD44 splicing isoforms in lung cancers: dominant expression of CD44v8-10 in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

We examined CD44 isoform expression in 138 frozen tissue samples, which included primary lung carcinomas, adjacent non-tumorous lung tissues and benign lung diseases, by both reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analyses. CD44v8-10 mRNA and protein were dominantly expressed in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), while non-tumorous tissues principally expressed CD44s and small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC) expressed either CD44s or no detectable CD44. These results indicate that CD44v8-10 is the dominant splicing isoform in NSCLC and can be practically utilized as a diagnostic marker and therapeutical target in NSCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Collaterals after flow alternation in pelvic arteries: precondition for pelvic reservoir therapy].

To determine the best flow alternation in the internal iliac arteries for regional chemotherapy using a reservoir to treat pelvic malignancies, collateral arteries that arose after arterial flow alternation were evaluated on follow-up pelvic angiographies. Follow-up angiographies were obtained in 11 patients with 21 embolized arteries; six male and five female patients including three with urinary bladder cancer, two with prostate cancer, four with uterine cervical cancer and two with bone metastasis. The interval until follow-up angiography ranged from one to-28 months (mean 8.9 months). Three radiologists interpreted the angiographic results and evaluated collateral vessels. Among 21 embolized arteries, 19 were well occluded, while two were not blocked completely. The two arteries with incomplete embolization did not induce collaterals. Eight internal iliac arteries occluded at the proximal portion enhanced retrogradely via collaterals from the ipsilateral external iliac arteries. Collaterals between the bilateral internal iliac arteries were noted only in four of them. In conclusion, embolization at the proximal point of the internal iliac arteries usually induced collaterals from the ipsilateral external iliac arteries and did not always from collaterals between the bilateral internal iliac arteries, which were necessary for regional chemotherapy. This should be considered when pelvic malignancies are treated with reservoirs.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Identification of p34cdc2 kinase from sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and its involvement in the phosphorylation of myosin II regulatory light chain in the metaphase extract.

We present here the nucleotide sequence for a cDNA clone encoding p34cdc2 from sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus. The obtained cDNA comprised 301 amino acid residues that contained the PSTAIRE domain to be important for binding to cyclins. Amino acid sequence similarity between this clone and other eukaryotic cdc2 sequences averaged approximately 72%. Using p13suc1-conjugated Sepharose 4B and a selective inhibitor of p34cdc2 kinase, butyrolactone I, it was first suggested that p34cdc2 kinase is involved in the phosphorylation of MRLC at both MLCK site and two PKC sites.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

alpha-Galactosyl oligosaccharides conjugated with polyethylene glycol as potential inhibitors of hyperacute rejection upon xenotransplantation.

Antibodies to an alpha-galactosyl saccharide structure are mainly responsible for hyperacute rejection after pig-to-primate xenotransplantation. The beneficial effect of alpha-galactosyl oligosaccharides has been shown on the inhibition of anti-pig natural antibodies. We synthesized polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugates of alpha-galactosyl disaccharide (Di) and trisaccharide (Tri) as potential inhibitors of the rejection reaction. The half lives of Di, Tri, PEG-conjugated Di (Di-PEG) and PEG-conjugated Tri (Tri-PEG) were 18.1 +/- 2.3 min, 20.2 +/- 0.9 min, 38.7 +/- 2.8 min and 35.8 +/- 1.6 min, respectively. Furthermore, Di-PEG and Tri-PEG showed biphasic clearance, and their half lives at the second phase were longer than 10 hours. PEG-conjugated oligosaccharides (Di-PEG, Tri-PEG) markedly inhibited cytotoxic action of human sera to pig kidney cell line (PK15) compared to unconjugated oligosaccharides (Di, Tri). The binding of IgM antibodies to PK15 cells, however, was more strongly blocked by unconjugated oligosaccharides than PEG-conjugated oligosaccharides. This phenomenon can be explained by the finding that PEG has anti-complement activity and masks antigenic sites of oligosaccharides. In conclusion, conjugation of PEG to oligosaccharides provided two beneficial effects; prolonged intravascular retention time and anti-complement activity, upon systemic application of the oligosaccharides. The present findings opened a new approach to treatment of hyperacute rejection after xenotransplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cyclic thrombocytopenia in a patient treated with cyclosporine for refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Cyclic thrombocytopenia (CT) is a rare disorder with cyclic changes of the platelet counts. Though the pathogenesis of this disorder has not been clarified, recent reports suggest that periodic destruction and/or ineffective production of platelets may be important causes of the disease. We report a case of a patient with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in whom CT developed after cyclosporine A (CyA) therapy. There was an inverse relation between platelet counts and the serum levels of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG). The ploidy of bone marrow megakaryocytes also had an inverse relation with platelet counts. When the platelet count was low, the ploidy of megakaryocytes increased (P < 0.01). The number and area of bone marrow megakaryocytes were unrelated to platelet counts. These results indicate the possibility of platelet destruction caused by immunological mechanisms in CT. Cyclosporine A could have certain but fluctuating regulatory effects against antibody production for circulating platelets, which could lead to cyclic changes of the platelet counts. This case also suggests that CyA can be effective in severe refractory ITP. Regulatory mechanisms of platelet production and destruction and appropriate doses of CyA should be further studied in autoimmune-mediated thrombocytopenias.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Giant calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe (pilomatrixoma): imaging features.

We present a case of giant calcifying epithelioma of Malherbe (pilomatrixoma) in the right upper arm of a 62-year-old man. It measured 18 x 12 x 8 cm in size, making it the largest of all the cases reported previously. CT clearly demonstrated a well-defined, subcutaneous mass with amorphous calcifications. The mass showed intermediate signal intensity on T2*-weighted MR images and slight contrast uptake on contrast-enhanced MR images. Histopathologically, this tumor showed no aggressive or malignant nature. The patient is without evidence of recurrence or metastasis 3 years following the resection.

Arm↗
PubMed1997

Enzymatic syntheses of GlcNAc beta 1-2Man and Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man as components of complex type sugar chains.

GlcNAc beta 1-2Man and GlcNAc beta 1-6Man were synthesized using the reverse hydrolysis activity of beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase from both jack beans and Bacillus circulans. In turn, Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-2Man and Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-6Man were synthesized regioselectively using the transglycosylation activity of beta-galactosidase from Diplococcus pneumoniae and B. circulans, respectively. These di- and trisaccharides are important components of complex type sugar chains and will be used as intermediates in our synthetic studies.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1997

Involvement of the anterior urethra in male patients with transitional cell-carcinoma of the bladder undergoing radical cystectomy with simultaneous urethrectomy.

Histological tumor extension into the prostate, urethra and ureters was examined in 52 specimens obtained by cystourethrectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with one or more risk factors for urethral involvement. In four (21.1%) of 19 patients with diffuse carcinoma in situ in the bladder extending to the internal urethral orifice and prostatic urethra, the anterior urethra was affected by transitional cell carcinoma, including one specimen with invasion into the corpus spongiosum. However, none of 33 patients without these findings had synchronous anterior urethral transitional cell carcinoma involvement. It is recommended that patients with diffuse carcinoma in situ extending into the prostatic urethra undergo careful preoperative assessment of the anterior urethra before cystectomy. In other cases, the anterior urethra can be preserved and used for orthotopic neobladder replacement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Restricted expression of a member of the transcription elongation factor S-II family in testicular germ cells during and after meiosis.

Whether expression of transcription elongation factors is regulated during development has not been investigated, though genes encoding elongation factor S-II are transcribed in a tissue-specific manner. We investigated the expression profile of tissue-specific S-II during development using an isolated cDNA, termed mouse S-II-T1, whose transcripts are detected almost exclusively in testis. Three experiments were performed with various types of germ and somatic cells in testis to determine in which cells S-II-T1 is expressed. (1) Expression of S-II-T1 is markedly reduced in the testes of adult WBB6F1-W/Wv mutant mice which lack testicular germ cells, indicating its expression is specific to testicular germ cells. (2) The onset of mouse S-II-T1 mRNA appearance in testis is seen about 10-14 days after birth, which is consistent with the start of meiotic events, suggesting that S-II-T1 is not transcribed in premeiotic and early meiotic cells such as spermatogonia, leptotene spermatocytes, or zygotene spermatocytes. (3) Mouse S-II-T1 transcripts accumulate in meiotic pachytene spermatocytes and are detected in postmeiotic haploid cells such as round and elongated spermatids during spermatogenesis, as shown by fractionation of testicular germ cells at four different stages. These results indicate that expression of mouse S-II-T1 is restricted to testicular germ cells during and after meiosis in the course of spermatogenesis. This is the first report that expression of a transcription elongation factor in particular cells is regulated in a stage-specific manner in the course of development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Isolation of cleavage furrows from eggs of regular sea urchins and identification of furrow-specific proteins.

We have developed a method for the isolation of cleavage furrows from dividing sea urchin eggs, which is applicable to various sea urchin species. The new method differs from that used for isolating cleavage furrows from sand dollar Clypeaster japonicus eggs [Yonemura, S., Mabuchi, I., and Tsukita, S. (1991) J. Cell Sci. 100, 73-84] in the type and concentration of detergent included in the isolation medium, the temperature during the treatment of dividing eggs with the isolation medium, and the centrifugation conditions. The contractile ring was included in the isolated cleavage furrows, as seen on rhodamine-phalloidin staining of actin filaments. When the furrows were isolated with the isolation medium containing both NaF and beta-glycerophosphate, which are potent protein phosphatase inhibitors, the isolated furrows were found to be accompanied by the mitotic apparatus. When the isolation was carried out in the absence of both NaF and beta-glycerophosphate, cleavage furrows without the mitotic apparatus were obtained. The development of a method of isolation of cleavage furrows from regular sea urchin eggs enabled us to compare protein constituents among furrows from different sea urchin and sand dollar species. We found that 32, 36, and 51 kDa proteins were concentrated in common in the cleavage furrows isolated from eggs of the sand dollars, C. japonicus and Scaphechinus mirabilis, and the sea urchins, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and Strongylocentrotus nudus, on two-dimensional gel electrophoreses.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Nitric oxide synthase activity in human lung cancer.

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) exist in human tumor cell lines and solid tumor tissues, and it has been suggested that NO may play important roles in growth, progression or metastasis of tumors. We investigated the activity and distribution of NOS in a series of human cancer and normal lung tissues. Seventy-two primary lung cancer samples (44 cases of adenocarcinoma, 18 of squamous cell carcinoma, 4 of large cell carcinoma, 2 of small cell carcinoma, 2 of adenosquamous carcinoma, and 2 of carcinoids) and corresponding normal lung samples were obtained from surgically treated patients. In normal lung tissues, little NOS activity was observed with no correlation between the patient's age and NOS activity. The total NOS activities in lung adenocarcinoma samples were significantly higher than those in other types of lung cancers of normal lung samples (P < 0.05). Analysis by tumor grade of the adenocarcinoma samples revealed no significant difference of NOS activity between grades. TNM classification showed that, although T stage did not correlate with NOS activity, cancer tissues from patients with N2 disease tended to have lower activity than those from patients with NO or N1 disease. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the intensity of NOS immunoreactivity correlated with NOS activity. These results suggest that NO may play an important role in the metabolism and behavior of lung cancers, especially adenocarcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Novel detoxification of the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol by a soil bacterium isolated by enrichment culture.

A mixed microbial culture capable of metabolizing deoxynivalenol was obtained from soil samples by an enrichment culture procedure. A bacterium (strain E3-39) isolated from the enrichment culture completely removed exogenously supplied deoxynivalenol from culture medium after incubation for 1 day. On the basis of morphological, physiological, and phylogenetic studies, strain E3-39 was classified as a bacterium belonging to the Agrobacterium-Rhizobium group. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis indicated the presence of one major and two minor metabolites of deoxynivalenol in ethyl acetate extracts of the E3-39 culture filtrates. The main metabolite was identified as 3-keto-4-deoxynivalenol by mass spectroscopy and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The immunosuppressive toxicity of 3-keto-4-deoxynivalenol was evaluated by means of a bioassay based on the mitogen-induced and mitogen-free proliferations of mouse spleen lymphocytes. This compound exhibited a remarkably decreased (to less than one tenth) immunosuppressive toxicity relative to deoxynivalenol, indicating that the 3-OH group in deoxynivalenol is likely to be involved in exerting its immunosuppressive toxicity. Strain E3-39 was also capable of transforming 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol but not nivalenol and fusarenon-X.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides containing Gal beta-->4Gal disaccharide at the non-reducing end using beta-galactanase from Penicillium citrinum.

The transglycosylation reaction was done with a beta-galactanase from Penicillium citrinum. The regioselectivity in the transglycosylation reaction was studied using soy bean arabinogalactan as a donor and mono- or disaccharide derivatives containing beta-galactosyl residue as acceptors. We also synthesized oligosaccharides containing Gal beta 1-->4Gal sequence such as Gal beta 1-->4Gal beta1-->4Glc, Gal beta 1-->4Gal beta 1-->3GlcNac, Gal beta 1-->4Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc, Gal beta 1-->4Gal beta 1-->6GlcNAc, and Gal beta 1-->4Gal beta 1-->3GalNAc for use in the total synthesis of complex sugar chains.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[Significance of transrectal ultrasound and sextant systematic core biopsy for performing radical prostatectomy].

BACKGROUND: To estimate the usefulness of sextant systematic core biopsy or transrectal ultrasonography (TURS) for performing radical prostatectomy. METHODS: The findings of sextant biopsy and TRUS were compared with 52 step-sectioned specimens obtained from radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: In 34 cases with no influence of hormonal therapy at the time of TRUS and biopsy, sextant systematic core biopsy provided tumor distribution rather precisely. In 33% of the cases who had received hormonal therapy, tumor cells were not detected by this sextant biopsy series. In these cases, majority of residual cancer existed in transition zone, paraurethral or fibromuscular stroma. Six cases showed small adenocarcinoma in only one biopsy tip obtained from sextant biopsy, while 4 cases were revealed well differentiated adenocarcinoma (Gleason score less than 4) by these core biopsies. Comparing with tumor mapping, Gleason score, PSA level and pT stage of the radical prostatectomy specimens, these tumors presented as, not clinically insignificant, but clinically significant prostate cancer. Playing special attention to distraction of normal ultrasound zonal configuration, TRUS detected neurovascular invasion with 94.7% sensitivity, 78.3% positive predictive value and 90. 9% negative predictive value, while seminal vesicle invasion with 75% sensitivity, 50% positive predictive value, 90.9% negative value. CONCLUSION: Sextant biopsy tended to underestimate the tumors located in the transition zone, paraurethral and fibromuscular lesion. Additional or direct biopsies in transition zone are indispensable for accurate diagnosis. Findings of TRUS and distribution of positive core biopsy from sextant biopsy enable to extract stage C prostate cancer providing negative surgical margin.

Biopsy↗