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Biomedical subjects

K Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to K Fujii.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in hypertensive patients with cerebral infarction.

The authors investigated, by positron emission tomography, the effect of long-standing hypertension on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen metabolism in patients with chronic atherothrombotic brain infarction. In the nonbrain infarct (non-BI) group (n = 13, mean age: sixty-two years), the regional CBF (rCBF) was decreased significantly with a rise in the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in the cerebral cortexes (r = -0.575) and the deep gray matter (r = -0.451), whereas the regional cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (rCMRO2) remained unchanged. In the brain infarct (BI) group (n = 22, mean age: fifty-eight years), however, the rCBF as well as the rCMRO2 were reduced even in the normotensive patients and thus did not correlate with the MABP. These results suggest that long-standing hypertension per se causes a reduction in the rCBF but not in the oxygen metabolism with a compensatory increase in the oxygen extraction fraction. On the other hand, patients with brain infarction, even normotensives, show a diffuse decrease in cerebral circulation and metabolism, which is probably due to the more severe sclerotic changes that take place in the cerebral vessels.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1995

Alterations in the mitral flow velocity pattern induced by acute myocardial infarction. Doppler findings before and after infarction.

Several studies have demonstrated that myocardial infarction (MI) is likely to alter left ventricular diastolic function. However, it is unclear whether MI per se alters Doppler transmitral flow velocity patterns (TMF) clinically. To investigate how myocardial infarction alters TMF clinically, we assessed serial changes in TMF in 13 patients whose TMF patterns were recorded at a mean of 7 months before and after MI in relation to the size of MI. From TMF, early and atrial filling flow velocities (E and A (m/s), respectively), and the E/A ratio, were measured. From simultaneously recorded two-dimensional echocardiograms, left ventricular dimensions and wall motion score (WMS: sum of 17 segmental scores (dys/akinesis = 3 to normal = 0)) were determined. The patients were divided into two subsets based on the values for WMS in the convalescent stage; 8 patients had small MI (WMS < or = 10) and 5 patients had large MI (WMS > 10). In patients with small MI, although E and the E/A ratio decreased at day-1 compared with pre-MI values (pre-MI vs day-1, E; 0.54 +/- 0.12 vs 0.39 +/- 0.15, p < 0.05, E/A ratio 0.91 +/- 0.23 vs 0.68 +/- 0.14, p < 0.05), these values increased to levels similar to those observed at pre-MI in the convalescent stage. There were no changes in left ventricular dimensions between pre-MI and in the convalescent period. In patients with large MI, the changes in the TMF patterns varied among patients after MI. In 3 patients with WMS < or = 25, E and E/A ratio were decreased in the convalescent stage, compared with pre-MI values. In 2 patients with WMS > 25, TMF patterns showed 'pseudonormalization' (E/A ratio > 1.0) throughout the follow-up period, with a progressive increase in left ventricular dimension. Thus, MI per se does not always produce clear changes in the Doppler TMF pattern in clinical settings, and the size of the MI seems to be a determinant of the TMF pattern after MI.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Cerebral blood flow and brain function in hypertension.

In mild hypertensive patients, regional cerebral blood flow, measured by positron emission tomography, was reduced in the frontal cortex and basal ganglia compared with normotensive patients. In moderate to severe hypertensive patients, cerebral oxygen metabolism was diminished, although the patients were neurologically intact. In elderly hypertensives, white matter vascular lesions on brain imaging were more frequent and cognitive function was impaired, compared with age-matched normotensives. In nontreated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), local cerebral blood flow was decreased in the cortex and thalamus, compared with normotensive rats (NTR). Spatial memory and learning in maze tests were more impaired in aged SHR than in old NTR or young SHR. This impairment was related to decreased cerebral glucose utilization in the medial septal nucleus, hippocampus, and other regions of the brain. Reduced cerebral blood flow, increased media thickness of the cerebral arteries and impaired cognitive function in SHR were improved by long-term antihypertensive treatment. In humans as well as animals, long-standing hypertension per se leads to reductions in cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and cognitive function, each of which possibly may be improved by controlling hypertension with long-term antihypertensive treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Inhibitory effects of corticoids on reductive halothane dehalogenation.

The effects of corticoids, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone and dexamethasone, on the reductive metabolism of halothane to produce chloro-difluoroethylene (CDE) and chlorotrifluoroethane (CTE) in the liver microsomes of guinea-pig were examined. The substrate differential spectrum for methylprednisolone showed a peak at 412 nm and trough at 395 nm, typical modified type II. The other corticoids showed a similar spectral change. The corticoids had no effect on NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. All of these corticoids inhibited the reductive dehalogenation of halothane. The concentrations of hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone and dexamethasone causing 50% inhibition of CDE formation from halothane were 5.1 +/- 0.7 mg/ml, 3.1 +/- 1.2 mg/ml, 2.3 +/- 0.4 mg/ml and 2.4 +/- 0.6 mg/ml, respectively, with no significant differences except for hydrocortisone. The concentrations of hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone and dexamethasone causing 50% inhibition of CTE formation from halothane were 4.9 +/- 0.5 mg/ml, 3.1 +/- 1.0 mg/ml, 2.4 +/- 0.3 mg/ml and 28.0 +/- 9.1 mg/ml, respectively, with no significant differences except for dexamethasone. Our results showed that corticoids inhibit halothane metabolism.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1995

Autopsy findings of Addison's disease caused by systemic cytomegalovirus infection in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We previously reported a case of Addison's disease associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (Endocr J, 41:13, 1994). A 46-year-old man with hemophilia B and AIDS was diagnosed as Addison's disease. The positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen in urine suggested that CMV adrenalitis may have caused the adrenal insufficiency. Despite treatment with ganciclovir, the patient died one year later. Autopsy findings revealed that the typical inclusions of CMV were seen in the lung, adrenal glands (both cortex and medulla) and small intestine. Here, we describe the subsequent clinical course and postmortem findings of this case.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1995

Expression of the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, and its relationship to prognosis.

Proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been correlated with degree of differentiation in some tumours, but information on PCNA expression in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder is currently limited. Therefore, we examined PCNA expression in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, and its relationship to prognosis. The expression of PCNA was studied by immunohistochemistry in 70 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of surgically removed adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder. The percentage of stained nuclei was recorded, and the PCNA-labelling index (LI) was expressed as the ratio of labelled nuclei to the total number of nuclei counted. In all histological types, the PCNA-LI in the invasive zone of the tumour was higher than that in the luminal zone of the tumour (p < 0.05). The PCNA-LI showed a stepwise increase with decreasing degrees of differentiation in both the invasive and the luminal zone of the tumour (p < 0.01). In advanced adenocarcinomas, patients whose tumours had a PCNA-LI of less than 35 in the invasive zone had significantly longer survival rates than those with PCNA-LI equal to or greater than 35 (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis, using the Cox proportional hazards model, indicated that a PCNA-LI > or = 35 in the invasive zone of the tumour was a significantly unfavourable prognostic factor (p = 0.002). The PCNA-LI of routinely processed specimens of adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder may be helpful for the evaluation of cell proliferation and prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Deterioration of mechanical properties of composite resins.

The deterioration of the mechanical properties of composite resins was examined. The bending strength and the stress relaxation rate for sixteen experimental composite resins with different filler shapes, particle sizes and filler contents immersed in distilled water for 0-60 days were measured. The bending strength of all of the composites decreased with the increase of the immersion time in water. The composites with a high filler content (65 vol%) showed a greater decreasing ratio of bending strength than those with low filler content (40 vol%). The stress relaxation rate also increased with and increase of immersion time. The phenomena may be caused by the hydrolytic degradation of the silane coupling agent (gamma-MPTMS).

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of magnetoencephalography, functional MRI, and motor evoked potentials in the localization of the sensory-motor cortex.

To clarify the topographical relationship between peri-Rolandic lesions and the central sulcus, we carried out presurgical functional mapping by using magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI), and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) on 5 patients. The sensory cortex was identified by somatosensory evoked magnetic fields using MEG (magnetic source imaging (MSI)). The motor area of the hand region was identified using f-MRI, during a hand squeezing task. In addition, transcranial magnetic stimulation localized the hand motor area on the scalp, which was mapped onto the MRI. In all cases, the sensory cortex was easily identified by MSI and the results of MSI correlated well with the findings obtained by the intraoperative recording of somatosensory evoked potentials. In contrast, the motor cortex could not be localized by f-MRI due to either the activated signal of the large cortical vein or the lack of any functional activation in the area of peri-lesional edema. MEPs were also unable to localize the entire motor strip. Therefore, at present, MSI is considered to be the most reliable method to localize peri-Rolandic lesions [corrected].

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Diagnostic assistance system based on possibility for evaluation of long bone tumorous lesions].

We constructed a diagnostic assistance system for long bone lesions using a relational data base management system, in which we categorized radiographic findings of all parameters in various lesions and stored them as degrees of possibility. Possible diagnoses of unknown lesions were listed by max-min calculation between the data base and findings of the lesions. Integration of parameters narrowed the scope of possible diagnoses. Fifty-six cases with long bone lesions were tested. Experts diagnosed correctly up to 64 percent, while the system showed a correct diagnosis rate of 43 percent as the first rank of possibility. However, the system gave 75 percent correct diagnosis when listed up to the third rank, and this increased up to 100 percent at the ninth rank. The rate of true diagnosis by experts did not exceed 73 percent. The diagnostic assistance system based on possibility analysis proved to be useful for suggesting differential diagnoses in diagnosing long bone tumorous lesions from plain radiographs.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

MR evaluation of tuberous sclerosis: increased sensitivity with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and relation to severity of seizures and mental retardation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility and possible increased sensitivity of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images for the detection of tubers in patients with tuberous sclerosis, compared with standard T2-weighted images, and to evaluate whether the tubers are correlated with neurologic symptoms. METHOD: We examined the number, size, and location of tubers in five tuberous sclerosis patients using T2-weighted and FLAIR images. Their intelligence quotients, ages at the onset of the first seizure, seizure types, and epileptic severity also were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The number of tubers observed ranged from 4 to 17 on T2-weighted images, and from 10 to 33 on FLAIR images. All the tubers, other than the myelination line on T2-weighted images, were remarkably demonstrated as high-intensity lesions on FLAIR images. No correlation was found between the neurologic outcome and the number, size, or location of tubers on FLAIR images. CONCLUSION: FLAIR images were very sensitive for the detection of tubers, especially small subcortical ones, the number, size, and location of which are not related to the neurologic symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Transient achromatopsia caused by cardioembolic brain ischemia].

A 51-year-old right-handed man with dilated cardiomyopathy, sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation suddenly suffered from transient color imperception, which completely recovered next morning. During the attack, both color naming and color pointing were severely disturbed, while he could correctly state the colors of named objects. There were no additional neuropsychological disturbances such as aphasia, alexia and prosopagnosia. Brain MRI revealed a new ischemic change, i.e. laminar cortical necrosis, in the right fusiform gyrus as a causative lesion as well as old asymptomatic infarcts in the left middle cerebral arterial territory. Cardioembolism was considered to be responsible for the development of brain ischemia. The transient achromatopsia is a rarely reported disease and this case appears to support 'ischemia' as its etiology.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed1995

Origin of ciliated craniopharyngioma: pathological relationship between Rathke cleft cyst and ciliated craniopharyngioma.

Histological study was undertaken on ciliated craniopharyngioma and Rathke cleft cyst, to know the origin of ciliated craniopharyngioma. Subjects were 7 cases with symptomatic Rathke cleft cysts and a ciliated craniopharyngioma. Light and electron microscopic observations were made on surgically resected specimens of the 8 cases. The ciliated craniopharyngioma was composed mainly of papillary type of craniopharyngioma and of dispersed ciliated columnar epithelium including goblet cells. Four cases with Rathke cleft cyst showed squamous metaplasia of which the basal cells were histologically similar to that of papillary type of craniopharyngioma. Other 3 cases of Rathke cleft cyst, basal cells were revealed to have tonofilaments and desmosomes. It seems possible that ciliated craniopharyngioma has derived from the basal cells of Rathke cleft epithelium.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of the proteoglycan (PSK) on lymphocyte subsets in normal rats.

The effect of the proteoglycan biologic response modifier, PSK, on lymphocyte subsets was investigated in normal rats. Six-week-old male SPF Wistar-Imamichi rats were fed a diet containing 2% PSK. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL), and those existing in the thymus, spleen and Peyer's patches were collected for analysis of subsets of T cells, helper/inducer T (Th) cells, suppressor/cytotoxic T (Ts) cells and B cells compared with those of the control group. In the PBL, differential and absolute counts of T and Th cells were lower in the group fed PSK (the PSK group) than the control group. There was no difference in Ts cells between the groups, and the PSK group showed a higher B-cell differential count. In the case of TDL, the PSK group showed greater absolute counts of T and Th cells than the control group. In tissue lymphocytes, differential T and Th cell counts were significantly greater in the PSK group than the control group, as observed first in Peyer's patches and later in the spleen. No differences between the groups were observed in these counts in the thymus. Changes in body distribution of T and Th cells induced by PSK treatment first appeared in lymphocytes in Peyer's patches, followed by PBL and TDL, and those in the spleen. No such changes were observed in the thymic lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Frequent loss of heterozygosity of the long arm of chromosome 7 is closely associated with progression of human gastric carcinomas.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the long arm of chromosome 7 was examined using 5 polymorphic marker probes on 98 gastric carcinomas to elucidate a novel locus for development and progression of the tumors. Twenty-six (32%) of 82 informative cases showed LOH on 7q on at least one locus of 5 loci. Among 5 loci, LOH at D7S95 locus was most frequent, the incidence being 53% in well-differentiated gastric carcinomas and 33% in poorly differentiated and scirrhous gastric carcinomas respectively. At 3 loci, c-met, D7S63 and D7S22, the incidence of LOH was about 30% and 10% in well-differentiated and poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma cases respectively. In contrast, LOH at D7S64 was not detected in any gastric-carcinoma cases. Deletion mapping of 7q revealed that D7S95 locus was the essential region of LOH. Eight (62%) of 13 cases with LOH at D7S95 locus belonged to the most advanced stage grouping. Furthermore, 6 (75%) of 8 cases with abdominal dissemination showed LOH at D7S95. Therefore, cases with LOH at D7S95 showed significantly worse prognosis than the cases without the LOH in the stage-III and stage-IV groups. These findings overall suggest that D7S95 locus on 7q may contain a candidate suppressor gene for the progression of gastric carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of human sputum elastase by 7-substituted 5-methyl-2-isopropylamino-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-ones.

7-Substituted 5-methyl-2-isopropylamino-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-ones (BOZNs) were prepared and tested as inhibitors of human sputum elastase (HSE). The BOZNs with certain amino acid residues at the 7-position proved to be potent inhibitors of HSE. Some of the compounds also showed a high selectivity for HSE versus chymotrypsin. In a hamster model in which acute injury was induced by intratracheal administration of HSE (1.0 mg/kg), these compounds, when administered intratracheally (1.0 mg/kg) either 30 or even 240 min before challenge with HSE, significantly suppressed pulmonary hemorrhage. These findings suggest that 7-substitution of BOZN by amino acid residues can produce strong and HSE-specific inhibitors, with potential use in elastase-mediated disorders.

Animals↗