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Biomedical subjects

K Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to K Fujii.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Paraquat inhibits the lipid peroxidation caused by carbon tetrachloride in guinea pig liver microsome.

Pentane, which is an index of lipid peroxidation, was formed in a mixture of microsomes, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and NADPH. Trichloromethyl radical adduct of the N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone-trichroromethyl (BPN) was also formed in the mixture with BPN. The formation of pentane and the radical adduct were reduced in the presence of paraquat. Furthermore a spectrophotometric study showed that substrate-induced difference spectra in the Soret region (Type I) caused by CCl4 and microsomes were changed after adding paraquat. We conclude that paraquat inhibits the lipid peroxidation mediated by the radical intermediate of CCl4 by inhibiting the mixed function oxidase system.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Myopathy in acromegaly. Report of two cases].

Acromegaly is often associated with neuromuscular disorders. Most of them are caused by compression of nerves with hypertrophic bone and soft tissues or complications of diabetes mellitus. Myopathy has rarely been reported in the Japanese literature. We report two cases with myopathy out of 14 cases of acromegaly. Case 1 is a 62-year-old woman who developed muscle weakness and atrophy in the shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle and femoral regions after a 10-year history of acromegaly. She showed positive Gowers' sign and normal DTRs. Basal growth hormone (GH) level in plasma was 1076 ng/ml. Electromyograms (EMG) obtained from the deltoid and rectus femoris muscles revealed typical myopathic abnormalities; an excess of small-amplitude, short-duration, polyphasic motor unit potentials. Histological examinations of the rectus femoris muscle showed diffuse atrophy of both type I and type II fibers. She also had bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome, which were confirmed by nerve conduction studies of median nerves and posterior tibial nerves. A cranial computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated sellar mass with suprasellar extension. She underwent transsphenoidal adenomectomy and radiation therapy. GH level lowered to 29 ng/ml, however, myopathy remained unchanged for 3 years after the surgery. Case 2 is a 38-year-old woman who had undergone partial removal of a pituitary adenoma 9 years after the onset of acromegaly. Basal GH level in plasma before the surgery had been 1694 ng/ml and was still high after the surgery (100-505 ng/ml). The patient developed proximal muscle weakness and atrophy 4 years after the surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1990

[MRI of lymphedema using short-TI-IR (STIR)].

Thirty four cases with lymphedema of the extremities were examined with MRI at 0.5 tesla. On T1-weighted image, the enlarged subcutaneous tissue and the subcutaneous trabecular structures were seen in all cases. Moreover, the trabecular structures in the enlarged subcutaneous tissue showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on T2-weighted image in all cases. Additionally, in 12 of 15 cases examined by Short-TI-IR (STIR) image, the trabecular structures and fluid collections in the subcutaneous tissue were shown more definitely in high signal intensity than by T2-weighted image. We consider MRI using STIR is to be useful in the evaluation of edematous disease.

Female↗
PubMed1990

[Retrospective study of tumor growth and progression in gastric leiomyosarcoma; a care report].

Presented is the case of a 58-year-old female who had been found to have a submucosal tumor of the stomach during a group medical examination 7 years earlier. Since that time, the proliferative course of the tumor has been regularly observed and the diagnosis of a gastric smooth muscle sarcoma was finally determined after an endoscopic examination performed this year. On the basis of X-ray photographs taken periodically, the mass gradually proliferated from 1.3 to 3.5 cm in diameter during the observation period of 2392 days. According to the doubling time (DT) calculation of Horai et al, the DT was 0.69. The proliferation in this case was very slow and this seems to be a characteristic of a highly differentiated smooth muscle sarcoma of the stomach.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1990

The association of halothane-induced lipid peroxidation with the anaerobic metabolism of halothane: an in vitro study in guinea pig liver microsomes.

The formation of pentane and anaerobic metabolites of halothane (2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane and 2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethylene) in a mixture of guinea pig liver microsomes and halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane) in the presence of NADPH was studied by gas chromatography. Under anaerobic conditions, pentane was formed without halothane and was inhibited by oxygen tension. This anaerobic pentane formation was potentiated 2.5 times by addition of halothane. Halothane-induced pentane formation increased dose-dependently with a halothane concentration of up to 2.1 mmol/liter and then decreased in the presence of increasing concentrations of halothane. Inhibition by a higher substrate was also observed in the formation of anaerobic metabolites of halothane. Antioxidant agents, vitamin E and glutathione, reduced the pentane formation, but did not reduce the anaerobic metabolites of halothane. Metyrapone, an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450, reduced both the pentane and anaerobic metabolites of halothane. These results show halothane-induced lipid peroxidation in association with the anaerobic metabolism of halothane in guinea pig liver microsomes.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1990

[Two cases of thymic cyst].

We reported two cases of thymic cyst which were accidentally found by chest X ray. On CT, they showed near water low density masses with thin walls, situated in the prevascular space. In the case 2, the septum-like structure was found by MRI, however, it was not clear by CT.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

An improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of anti-collagen antibodies in human serum.

An improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of anti-collagen antibodies in human serum has been developed. The method is based on the use of serum samples diluted to 1/50 with heat-inactivated normal rabbit serum adjusted to pH 8.0 with solid Tris (0.05 M), NaCl (0.15 M) and 2 M HCl. The use of normal rabbit serum minimizes non-specific adsorption of immunoglobulin G onto the plastic surface of microtiter plate. The applicability of the method for the quantitation of anti-collagen antibodies in human serum is demonstrated with 290 specimens of sera from normal controls (194) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (96).

Antibodies↗
PubMed1989

Inhibitory effect of tranilast on prostaglandin D synthetase.

The effect of Tranilast [N-(3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid] on the synthesis of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) by homogenates of rat peritoneal mast cells was investigated. The major cyclooxygenase product formed by mast cell homogenates was PGD2, smaller quantities of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were also formed. Tranilast suppressed the production of PGD2 in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.1 mM. This suppression was due to inhibition of PGD synthetase, but not cyclooxygenase, since the formation of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were unchanged at a 0.1 mM concentration. In addition, the glutathione-dependent conversion of [14C]PGH2 to PGD2 by PGD synthetase (PGH-D isomerase, EC 5.3.99.2) was inhibited by Tranilast, with 50% inhibition achieved at 0.08 mM in broken cell preparations of rat peritoneal mast cells. Tranilast also inhibited purified rat spleen and brain PGD synthetases. Furthermore, Tranilast prevented the PGD2 generation from intact mast cells stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187. These results suggest that Tranilast exerts some of its therapeutic effects by prevention of PGD2 generation in mast cells and some other tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Interrelationship between Ca2+-dependent phospholipid base-exchange reaction and phospholipase D-like activity in bovine retina.

Endogenous substrates (phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine) for the Ca2+-dependent base-exchange reaction were investigated using bovine retinal microsomes. The amounts of the three bases, serine, ethanolamine and choline, released from the membranes and the amount of phosphatidic acid generated in the membranes were measured in the presence of Ca2+ with or without exogenous bases. When the membranes were incubated with Ca2+ alone, the three bases were liberated into the water-soluble fractions accompanied by accumulation of phosphatidic acid, suggesting the presence of Ca2+-dependent phospholipase D-like activity. When an exogenous base was added to the reaction mixture, the liberation of the other two bases increased slightly and the formation of phosphatidic acid decreased markedly. The exogenous base also stimulated the liberation of the same base from prelabeled phospholipids. Accompanying these changes, the exogenous base was incorporated into the membrane phospholipid. With respect to pH profile, time course and metal requirements, both the base incorporation and phospholipase D-like activity were quite similar. The amount of base incorporated generally agreed with both the decreased amount of phosphatidic acid formed and the increased amount of base released. These results suggest that, beside the base-exchange reaction, phospholipase D-like activity plays an important role in Ca2+-dependent base incorporation into bovine retinal membranes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[MR imaging of orbital tumors].

Nine cases of pathologically confirmed orbital tumors were evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 0.5T. Seven cases were examined with orbit-coil using 7-mm-thick sections and two cases were examined with head-coil using 10-mm-thick sections. All lesions were clearly demonstrated on T1-weighted images as low intensity. However, the lesions were indistinct on T2-weighted images because of low contrast between the lesions and surrounding orbital fat and artefact produced by eye movement. Two of three cases with meningioma examined with orbit-coil were clearly discriminated from the optic nerve. Meningioma in the remaining case examined with head-coil was discriminated from the optic nerve by administration of Gd-DTPA. Adenoma of the right lacrimal gland was shown as an enlarged gland on T1-weighted images. Pseudotumors (four cases) showed very low intensity on T1-weighted images. Three cases of four pseudotumors showed low intensity on T2-weighted images. Among them one was moderately low intensity, and histological examination of the lesion showed prominent fibrotic changes. Pseudotumor of the remaining case examined with the head-coil showed same intensity with fat on T2-weighted images. Intraorbital infiltrating foci of chronic lymphocytic leukemia showed low intensity with fat on T1-weighted images, and the same intensity with fat on T2-weighted images. MRI may be useful to discriminate pseudotumor with fibrotic changes (chronic inflammatory lesions) from lymphoma or leukemic infiltration.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1989

[MR imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter hepatic chemo-embolization].

Transcatheter chemo-embolization (TCE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed on 31 patients, and on 4 of the 31 patients, it was performed twice. The patients were examined by MR both before TCE and after TCE (1 week and 4-5 weeks respectively). On MR images, the change of the tumor signal intensity was classified into 3 groups. In group 1, (G1, 8 cases), obvious change of intensity was seen in the whole tumor. In group 2, (G2, 10 cases), it was seen in some parts of the tumor and in group 3, (G3, 17 cases), only a very slight change of intensity was seen in the whole tumor. In G1 and G2, the rate of AFP decrease was remarkable, but in G3, it was very slight. In G1 and G2, the change of the tumor signal intensity was divided into 2 types on a T2 weighted image. One, is the increase of the intensity, (6 cases). The other, is decrease of intensity, (12 cases). The former seemed to reflect the intra-tumoral hemorrhage accompanying tumor necrosis, the latter, seemed to reflect the coagulation necrosis. The ring of low and high intensity around the tumor appeared anew in 11 cases, and in 2 cases, it increased in size. These changes which have never been recognized on CT images, were thought to be a granulation tissue around the tumor. The influence of the accumulated lipiodol is slight for the change of intensity on the tumor.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Halothane-induced hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation in guinea pigs and rats.

Halothane-induced hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation in guinea pigs and rats was examined with respect to the mixed function oxidase system, anaerobic dehalogenation activity of halothane, and the antioxidant system. The levels of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase were significantly higher in guinea pigs than in rats. There was no difference between the two animals in anaerobic dehalogenation activity of halothane per cytochrome P-450 in microsomes. Microsomal alpha-tocopherol was significantly lower in guinea pigs than in rats, and was increased by multiple exposure to halothane in guinea pigs but remained lower than in rats. Microsomal alpha-tocopherol was decreased in rats by multiple exposure. The concentration of reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid was decreased significantly by multiple exposure to halothane in guinea pigs but not in rats. These results suggest that the higher level of halothane-induced hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation in guinea pigs is due to the large production of radical metabolites resulting from the large amounts of cytochrome P-450, the high activity of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and the low concentration of microsomal alpha-tocopherol.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the brain and neurohypophysis of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica.

Distribution of molluscan cardio-excitatory tetrapeptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide) was determined by means of immunohistochemistry in the brain and neurohypophysis of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica. Many FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons were found in the periventricular nuclear region and in a region near the mammillary recess. Neurons situated in the former region were larger. The immunoreactive cell groups were shown to be located at sites differing from those of the AF-positive cell groups. The fibers of immunoreactive neurons extended in all directions within the brain and towards the spinal cord, some reaching the third ventricle and capillaries. Thus, FMRFamide-like immunoreactive peptides appear to function as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and possibly also as neurohormones. FMRFamide-like immunoreactive material was rarely observed in the posterior neurohypophysis (neural lobe), but was noted to be present to a limited extent in the caudal part of the anterior neurohypophysis (median eminence). It would thus follow that FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons may not necessarily be related to the hypothalamo-neural lobe system, but may possibly be associated with the hypothalamo-adenohypophysial system. The pineal body showed no FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Surgical treatment for paediatric patients with moyamoya disease by indirect revascularization procedures (EDAS, EMS, EMAS).

Surgical results of paediatric patients with Moyamoya disease who were treated by indirect revascularization procedures are reported. Encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis (EDAS), encephalomyo-arterio-synangiosis (EMAS), and/or encephalo-myo-synangiosis (EMS) were performed on 47 sides of 29 children with Moyamoya disease. The results of those non-anastomotic EC-IC bypass procedures were evaluated clinically, angiographically, and by computed tomography (CT). Postoperative external carotid angiograms showed a good collateral formation through EDAS, EMAS, or EMS in about 70-80 percent of all surgically treated sides. The symptoms such as TIA, RIND, and/or involuntary movements disappeared in the cases with a good collateral formation but not in those with insufficient development of the collateral circulation. The indirect EC-IC bypass surgery seems effective for most of the children with Moyamoya disease who present with ischaemic signs.

Angiography↗
PubMed1989

Supratentorial astrocytic tumours of childhood: a clinicopathologic study of 41 cases.

Forty-one patients with ages from 0 to 16 years harbouring supratentorial astrocytic tumours were treated between 1964 and 1986. Twenty-four of them were located in the cerebral hemisphere or in the ventricle, and 17 were in the basal ganglia, thalamus, and/or optico-hypothalamic region. There were nine glioblastomas multiforme, four anaplastic astrocytomas, 11 fibrillary astrocytomas, 12 pilocytic astrocytomas, two pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas, two subependymal giant cell astrocytomas and one primitive astrocytic tumour. Low grade tumours tended to occur in young subjects near the midline, and high grade one in older patients in the hemisphere. Initial treatment in most the patients was a resection or biopsy followed by radiation therapy. Eleven patients were retreated for their recurrent tumours with combinations of surgical removal of the tumour, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. After a follow-up of 3 months to 17 years, 51% of the patients survived with a median survival of 7 years. Outcome of the patients with supratentorial astrocytomas correlated mostly with the histological grade of malignancy of the tumour, and to a lesser degree with the tumour location. The biological behavior and treatment of supratentorial astrocytomas in childhood are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery with monitoring of compressed spectral arrays (CSAs) of electroencephalogram.

We used the compressed spectral arrays (CSAs) of the electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor cerebral blood flow related events in balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery (balloon Matas test). Reliability of the CSAs was examined in 22 patients subjected to the test. Of 9 patients who underwent subsequent permanent carotid occlusion, in 6 there was no change on CSAs and/or in neurological conditions. In 2 patients, there was a slowing on CSAs prior to the appearance of neurological deterioration during clinical testing. CSAs transformed these EEG changes into a succinct graphic display. In 1 of the 2, for whom the Matas test was repeated 1 year later, there was a change from positive to negative and delayed cerebral infarction occurred after carotid occlusion. In the other patient, an ischemic insult occurred during the balloon occlusive procedures. The third patient had a fatal delayed ischaemic complication 3 days after surgical ligation of the cervical carotid artery, despite the negative balloon Matas test. Complications in these 3 patients were presumably related to thromboembolic mechanisms. The balloon Matas test monitored by CSAs is useful for detecting change in brain functions attributed to an inadequate blood flow. However, this test is unreliable for predicting thrombo-embolic complications.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Oculomotor nerve palsy in patients with cerebral aneurysms.

Twenty-six patients with oculomotor nerve palsy due to cerebral aneurysms were examined. There were six males and twenty females with a mean age of 55 years. 25 of the 26 aneurysms were located at the junction of the internal carotid and the posterior communicating artery and one was at the junction of the basilar artery and the superior cerebellar artery. Twelve patients had associated subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH); the other 14 did not. The initial symptoms in many patients were ptosis and double vision. Twenty-one of the patients had total oculomotor nerve palsy, one had a sparing of medial rectus muscle; three patients had only ptosis and anisocoria, and one had oculomotor nerve palsy with pupillary sparing. All aneurysms, including giant aneurysms, were clipped under a microscope, and six oculomotor nerves were found to be decompressed at surgery. The follow-up periods were from six months to three years. Nine patients had a complete recovery of oculomotor function; thirteen had an incomplete recovery; and four remained unchanged. The mean interval between the onset of palsy and the time of surgery was 24 days in complete recovery cases, 42 days in incomplete recovery cases, and 119 days in unchanged cases. The recovery of oculomotor function started with the levator palpebrae muscle and followed by the medial rectus muscle. The recovery of pupillary function was, however, not consistent. Of the factors influencing recovery from oculomotor nerve palsy, the interval between the onset of palsy and the time of surgery was most important. Therefore, aneurysms with oculomotor nerve palsy should be operated on as early as possible, regardless of the presence or absence of SAH.

Adult↗