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Biomedical subjects

K Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to K Fujii.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Non-invasive blood pressure measurements in cats: clinical significance of hypertension associated with chronic renal failure.

The systolic, mean and diastolic pressures as well as the heart rate were measured using the oscillometric method, on a total of 104 cats (60 cats in the normal group, and 44 in the renal disease group) which were brought into Azabu University Animal Hospital. The blood pressure in the normal group was systolic: 115.4 +/- 10.1 mmHg, mean: 96.2 +/- 12.2 mmHg, and diastolic: 73.7 +/- 10.7 mmHg. Although no difference in heart rate, the renal disease group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values for systolic, mean, and diastolic pressure when compared with the normal group. Moreover, when plasma renin activity, angiotensin I and II, and aldosterone concentrations were measured in other cats (11 normal and seven with chronic renal failure), all cats with chronic renal failure showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values than the normal group. It is, therefore, indicated that hypertension due to stimulating renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may have manifested in cats with renal dysfunction.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Patterns of utilization of external employee assistance program--analysis of employees who have their psychiatrists].

The purpose of this paper is to clarify some patterns of utilization of an external employee assistance program (EAP) we have conducted for other public and private facilities in the Tokyo Kenbikyoin Foundation between April, 1986 and December, 1996. The subjects were 26 men and 12 women in 7 facilities under the following conditions: (1) Employees who have already had their own psychiatrists at the first interview of the external EAP; (2) Facilities utilize the EAP for two or more employees who met the first criterion. As a result, utilization patterns differed depending on medical staff's attitude toward the external EAP. There was a significant difference according to sex. The rate for men was 54% in worksites where medical staff understood this external program (worksite A1) and 93% in worksites where they did not (worksite A2-3, B). As to expectations for the program, there were more consultations for organizational measurements (63%) in worksite A1, while less organizational matters (27%) and more personal complains about their psychiatrists in the worksite A2-3, and B. These results suggest that the involvement of medical staff is the key to utilizing the external EAP effectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Clinical and neuroimaging features of Chiari type I malformations with and without associated syringomyelia.

The clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of 22 consecutive patients with Chiari type I malformations were evaluated to investigate the pathogenesis of syrinx formation. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and x-ray tomography before surgery. The electric manometric Queckenstedt test was performed on 16 patients pre- and postoperatively. Syringomyelia was present in 17 patients and absent in five patients. All patients without syringomyelia suffered from foramen magnum compression syndrome, with a wider basal angle, more acute clivo-axial angle, shorter clivus, and more prominent tonsillar ectopia than patients with syringomyelia. Low brain stem position, basilar impression, and beaking of the cervicomedullary junction were also more prominent in patients without syringomyelia. Marked to complete block with the neck in flexed position by Queckenstedt test was present in all patients except one. Patients with Chiari malformation not associated with syringomyelia have more pronounced compression of the brain stem at the foramen magnum. Therefore, despite a block of the cerebrospinal fluid pathway at the foramen magnum, syrinx formation may be prevented by severe compression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Juvenile symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst--case report.

A 14-year-old girl presented with a rare symptomatic Rathke's cleft cyst manifesting as diabetes insipidus and growth retardation. Neuroimaging demonstrated the suprasellar cyst. Computed tomography showed the cyst as an isodense area with enhancement, and magnetic resonance imaging showed an hyperintense area on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Histological examination showed the cyst was consistent with Rathke's cleft cyst. Symptomatic Rathke's cleft cysts usually occur in middle-aged adults. Juvenile cases tend to present with diabetes insipidus, and the cyst content may include more mucopolysaccharides or hemosiderin degradation products.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Prognostic value of tumor cell proliferation and intratumor microvessel density in advanced gastric cancer treated with curative surgery.

To clarify the prognostic value of tumor cell proliferation [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive rate assessed by anti-PCNA immunostaining] and intratumor microvessel density (/0.74 mm2, assessed by anti-CD34 immunostaining) in gastric cancer, 192 advanced gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery were investigated. Multivariate analysis showed that the following variables were significantly related to prognosis: age (P=0.029), depth of invasion (P=0.005), lymph node metastasis (P=0.006), lymphatic invasion (P=0.038), venous invasion (P=0.0005), PCNA-positive rate (P=0.049) and intratumor microvessel density (P=0. 011). In conclusion, tumor cell proliferation and intratumor microvessel density were independent prognostic factors in patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing curative surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Dynamic viscoelastic properties in torsion of four commercially available resins for crown and bridge.

In order to clarify the viscoelastic properties of four commercial resins for crown and bridge, the dynamic shear modulus (G'), Knoop hardness (KHN), filler content, quantity of unreacted substance and thermal expansion were measured. The results were as follows. The G' (37 degrees C) of each material ranged from 2.61-11.1 GPa, and gradually decreased with increasing temperature. KHN (23 degrees C) ranged from 29.4 to 120, and the most significant correlation (0.999) was found between G' and KHN. Of the relationship among G', filler content and unreacted substance, there was a highly significant correlation (0.980) between G' and filler content. The coefficient of linear-thermal expansion (alpha) also ranged from 17.9-65.0 x 10(-6)/degree C (25-60 degrees C), and the correlation (-0.961) between G' and alpha was meaningful. It can be presumed that the temperature dependence of G' is closely connected with the specific volume of each material, together with an increase in temperature.

Composite Resins↗
PubMed1998

A new anti-MRSA antibiotic complex, WAP-8294A. I. Taxonomy, isolation and biological activities.

WAP-8294A, produced by Lysobacter sp., is a complex consisting of water soluble depsipeptide antibiotics. It was further purified by column chromatographies and HPLC, and 19 components were obtained. WAP-8294A2, a major component, and minor components A1, A4, Ax8, Ax9 and Ax13 were active against gram-positive bacteria, in particular, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro. WAP-8294A2 was highly active in vivo in mice against the systemic infection of MRSA.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Novel phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor T-440 reverses and prevents human bronchial contraction induced by allergen.

To study the roles of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 in the human airways, we examined the effect of the novel PDE4 inhibitor T-440 in the isolated human bronchus. T-440 inhibited PDE4 extracted from human bronchial smooth muscle. IC50 values for the effect of T-440, rolipram (a PDE4 inhibitor) and theophylline on PDE4 activity of the bronchial tissues were 0.08 microM, 2 microM and > 100 microM, respectively. T-440 (10(-6) M to 10(-5) M) and aminophylline (3.3 x 10(-5) M) significantly reversed the 10(-5) M histamine-induced contraction, the efficacy of 10(-6) M T-440 being almost the same as that of 3.3 x 10(-5) M aminophylline. T-440 (10(-6) M to 10(-5) M) and aminophylline (3.3 x 10(-5) M) significantly reversed the 10(-4) M ACh-induced contraction. But their reversal effects on the ACh-induced contraction were weaker than those on the histamine-induced contraction. T-440 (10(-5) M) significantly reversed the contraction induced by allergen in passively sensitized bronchi. The efficacy of the reversal effect of T-440 (10(-5) M) was significantly higher than that of aminophylline (10(-5) M). T-440 and aminophylline significantly relaxed the basal tension, but pretreatment with T-440 or aminophylline did not significantly prevent histamine- or ACh-induced contraction. In contrast, both T-440 (10(-5) M) and aminophylline (3.3 x 10(-5) M) prevented the contraction induced by allergen, which suggests that PDE4 inhibitor inhibits the release of chemical mediators probably from bronchial mast cells in the allergic response. T-440 (10(-6) M to 10(-5) M) caused the accumulation of cAMP at the concentration that relaxed histamine-induced contraction. Thus selective PDE4 inhibitor is a candidate for the treatment of asthma.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1998

[Three-dimensional MR angiography of HCC and portal and hepatic veins using superparamagnetic iron oxide].

We examined a new MR technique for obtaining 3D-MRA images of the liver that simultaneously depicts HCC and the portal and hepatic veins. Five patients with clinically suspected HCC were studied with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SHU-555A) used as a negative contrast medium for the liver. In our study, a 3D-rotational display was provided on the CTR monitor from 2D-TOF images by computed reconstruction, clearly showing HCC and portal and hepatic veins on the same image. Our method was found to be of great value in planning surgery of the liver.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

PET evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in occlusive cerebrovascular disease pre- and postsurgery.

UNLABELLED: We studied cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), transit time (TT) and hemodynamic reserve capacity using acetazolamide (ACZ) in both the pre- and postoperative states, and evaluated the effect of surgery on the cerebral hemodynamics. METHODS: Twelve patients with a unilateral occlusive cerebral artery were studied. Among them, seven patients had extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery, while the remaining five patients had carotid endarterectomies. The CBF was measured using the (15)O-water bolus injection method in a resting state, 5 and 20 min after intravenous ACZ (1 g), while the OEF and TT were measured by the (15)O steady state method. The values of these parameters were obtained by regions of interest set over the cerebral hemisphere on both sides, and which then were compared between the pre- and postoperative states using the paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: The t values were 1.36 (CBF at rest), 2.97 (CBF at 5 min after intravenous ACZ), 1.40 (CBF at 20 min after intravenous ACZ), 2.00 (OEF) and -0.86 (TT) on the surgical side, and -0.16, 0.21, 0.22, -0.47 and 0.61 on the nonsurgical side, respectively. The t values of the ACZ response (% increase in CBF) were 3.07 (5 min after intravenous ACZ) and 0.72 (20 min) on the surgical side, and 1.03 and 0.90 on the nonsurgical side, respectively. A significant change was observed only in the CBF studies 5 min after intravenous ACZ. CONCLUSION: PET can demonstrate significant cerebral hemodynamic change after surgery, especially in CBF measurement 5 min after intravenous ACZ, and may therefore be useful for evaluating cerebral hemodynamics pre- and postsurgery.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1998

Regression of carotid wall thickening after corticosteroid therapy in Takayasu's arteritis evaluated by B-mode ultrasonography: report of 2 cases.

We describe 2 young Japanese female patients with active Takayasu's arteritis whose diagnosis was mainly based on the characteristic ultrasonographic finding, that is, a circumferential vascular wall thickening in common carotid arteries. Following corticosteroid therapy, serial ultrasonographic examination documented the improvement of their thickened carotid walls (in Case 1 from 1.4 to 0.5 mm after 2 months of therapy, in Case 2 from 1.5 to 0.9 mm after 9 months of therapy). These cases emphasize that ultrasonography is useful for evaluation of the therapeutic effect as well as for the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis in its early stage.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1997

Multiple regression analysis of relationship between frontal lobe phosphorus metabolism and clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

We investigated the differences among diagnostic types of 36 schizophrenic patients in the brain phosphorus metabolism in the frontal lobe. We performed phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) in the frontal region in patients with schizophrenia of the catatonic (n = 4), disorganized (n = 8), paranoid (n = 10) and undifferentiated (n = 14) types. In the disorganized type, the PME level was significantly decreased compared to those in the other three types, while the phosphodiester (PDE) level tended to be higher, although not significantly, than those in the other types. Using multiple regression analysis, we investigated whether or not the clinical symptoms were correlated with the brain phosphorus metabolism. An increased motor retardation factor score was significantly correlated with decreased PME level, whereas more severe emotional withdrawal and blunted affect were associated with increased PDE level. These results suggest that altered membrane phospholipid metabolism in the frontal region may be associated with negative symptoms and that schizophrenia of the disorganized type is associated with more severe negative symptoms and may present more severe brain abnormalities compared to the other types.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning and characterization of CDEP, a novel human protein containing the ezrin-like domain of the band 4.1 superfamily and the Dbl homology domain of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors.

A cDNA for a novel human protein named CDEP was cloned using the subtractive hybridization method between dedifferentiated cartilage cells and overtly differentiated cartilage cells. CDEP cDNA contained an open reading frame encoding 1,045 amino acids in a total length of 3.4 kb. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that a single polypeptide contained the ezrin-like domain, which is found in cytoskeleton-associated proteins of the band 4.1 superfamily, and the Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, which are conserved in the Rho GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) family. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that CDEP mRNA was expressed not only in the differentiated chondrocytes but also in various fetal and adult tissues. Since members of the band 4.1 superfamily and the Rho GEF family are crucial for microfilament organization, the novel protein CDEP may be involved in the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of some cell types including chondrocytes via changes in the cytoskeleton.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of cross-linking of actin filament by IQGAP1, a target for Cdc42.

We have previously shown that IQGAP1, a recently identified target for Cdc42 and Rac1 small GTPases, showed a distribution similar to that of cortical actin cytoskeleton at the membrane ruffling area induced by insulin and Rac1(val12) (Kuroda, S., Fukata, M., Kobayashi, K., Nakafuku, M., Nomura, N., Iwamatsu, A., and Kaibuchi, K. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 23363-23367). Here we identified an IQGAP1-interacting molecule with molecular mass of 43 kDa (p43) from bovine brain cytosol, using glutathione S-transferase (GST)-IQGAP1 affinity column chromatography. The amino acid sequencing of the protein revealed that p43 was identical to beta- and gamma-actin. IQGAP1 was cosedimentated with filamentous actin (F-actin). The amino-terminal domain (amino acids 1-216) of IQGAP1 was responsible for the interaction with F-actin. Falling ball viscometry assay revealed that IQGAP1 cross-linked the F-actin. This IQGAP1 activity was further enhanced by guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTPgammaS).GST-Cdc42 but not by GDP.GST-Cdc42. The gel filtration analysis of IQGAP1 revealed that IQGAP1 appeared as oligomers and that GTPgammaS.GST-Cdc42 but not GDP.GST-Cdc42 enhanced the oligomerization of IQGAP1. These results strongly suggest that IQGAP1, acting downstream of Cdc42, can cross-link the actin filament through its oligomerization.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Abnormal DNA synthesis activity induced by X-rays in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome cells.

DNA synthesis activity was examined in fibroblasts and isolated nuclei derived from patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) upon exposure to X-ray and ultraviolet (UV). The DNA synthesis activity in NBCCS fibroblasts increased after X-ray irradiation, i.e., to twice that on mock-irradiation, while it decreased in healthy donor-derived fibroblasts. The DNA synthesis activity in isolated nuclei of X-ray irradiated NBCCS fibroblasts also increased, i.e., more than twice that on mock-irradiated. In the experiments using synchronized cells, DNA synthesis activity showed the most marked increase when the fibroblasts at S phase were irradiated with X-rays. In contrast, UV-irradiated NBCCS fibroblasts showed no such increase in DNA synthesis. These results revealed that DNA synthesis is abnormally induced in X-ray irradiated NBCCS cells and that this abnormality might be related with the tendency of tumorigenesis in NBCCS patients after exposure to X-ray.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗
PubMed1997

Regulation of cell-cell adhesion of MDCK cells by Cdc42 and Rac1 small GTPases.

Rac1, a member of the Rho small GTPases family, has recently been shown to be involved in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherin. Here we showed that Cdc42, another member of Rho family, accumulated at cell-cell contact sites. Microinjection of Rho GDI, a negative regulator of the Rho family members, into Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells resulted in perturbation of epithelial cell morphology and of cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesions, and comicroinjection of dominant active Cdc42 or Rac1 reversed the action of Rho GDI, suggesting that the active form of Cdc42 or Rac1 is required for maintaining the cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesions. These observations suggest that Cdc42, in addition to Rac1, can regulate the cell-cell adhesion.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Single-column high-performance liquid chromatographic-fluorescence detection of immature, mature, and senescent cross-links of collagen.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic-fluorescence detection method of reducible (immature) and nonreducible (mature and senescent) cross-links of collagen was established without the use of a radioisotope and preliminary fractionation step. This method used a gradient elution procedure of sodium citrate buffer containing 7% ethanol. The reducible cross-links (dihydroxylysinonorleucine, hydroxylysinonorleucine, and lysinonorleucine) and nonreducible cross-link (histidinohydroxylysinonorleucine) were detected by O-phthalaldehyde derivatization with the postcolumn method, whereas other nonreducible cross-links (pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline, and pentosidine) were detected by natural fluorescence. The linear ranges of contents of the O-phthalaldehyde derivative cross-links and the natural fluorescent nonreducible cross-links were 20-600, 5-500 (pyridinoline, deoxypyridinoline), and 0.2-20 pmol (pentosidine), respectively. Tissue containing 1-2 mg dry wt of collagen was adequate for duplicate analyses of the reducible and nonreducible cross-links. An equivalent of 0.25 mg of hydrolyzed collagen could be analyzed by this HPLC system. Using this system, age-related changes in the cross-links of collagen from human connective tissues were also investigated.

Adolescent↗