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Biomedical subjects

K Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to K Fujii.

At least 1,117 records · Page 62Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral venous angiomas associated with hemorrhagic lesions. Their MRI manifestations.

Using two 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) scanners, 82 venous angiomas (VAs) were imaged. There were 13 (16%) VAs associated with hemorrhagic lesions. Ten of the 13 hemorrhagic lesions were considered hematomas in the subacute or chronic stage, caused by VAs or coexisting cavernous hemangiomas. Two of the 13 were subacute intracerebral hematomas; the remaining one was a sequela of a hemorrhagic venous infarct. After analysis of our data, it was concluded that infratentorial VAs and deeply draining supratentorial VAs in relatively young adults, especially females, are relatively frequently associated with intracerebral hemorrhagic lesions. MR imaging proved useful for diagnosing VAs and associated hemorrhagic lesions.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Estrogenic and dioxin-like potency in each step of a controlled landfill leachate treatment plant in Japan.

The estrogenic activity (by E-screen bioassay), the concentrations of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs (and their resulting toxicity equivalents, TEQ) and several endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs: e.g., bisphenol A, nonylphenol, Butyl benzylpthalate (BBP), di-n-butylphthalate (DBP), 17alpha-ethynyl-estradiol or 4-octylphenol) have been analyzed from leachates of each step (before treatment, after biodegradation/sedimentation and after charcoal treatment) of a controlled landfill leachate treatment plant. The comparison of the effluent of the examined landfill leachate treatment plant with water from a nearby river in this study indicated no additional dioxin-like (e.g., TEQ: 0.027 compared to 1.01 pg TEQ/l; PCBs: 1.2 compared to 3.9 ng/l) or estrogenic impact (2.8 compared to 3.5 ng estradiol equivalents EE/l; analyzed by E-screen bioassay) from the leachate treatment plant into the surrounding water environment. The impact of dioxin-like compounds from uncleaned leachates into the final cleaned effluents could be sufficiently reduced by the leachate treatment plant for PCDDs (75%), PCDFs (62%), dioxin-like PCBs (97%), and the sum of TEQ (78%). The leachate treatment plant also achieved a reduction of the estrogenic activity as determined by E-screen (from 4.8 to 2.8 ng EE/l = 42%), by GC/MS for bisphenol A (>96% and nonylphenol (>98%) or by ELISA for estradiol (>80%). Additionally, for the validation of the E-screen, five known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs: bisphenol A, BBP, DBP, 17 alpha-ethynyl-estradiol, 4-octylphenol) were analyzed. The EC50 values and estradiol equivalents factors (EEFs) for the five EDCs determined in this study were comparable to previously published data. The combined biological and chemical trace analysis data have provided valuable information on the relative contribution of natural, synthetic, and non-steroidal anthropogenic chemicals to the estrogenic and dioxin-like activity in leachates from a wastewater treatment plant, and water from a nearby river.

Benzofurans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of spondylolytic olisthesis in adolescents.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although it has been well documented that slippage in patients with spondylolysis is most prevalent during the growth period, the exact time when slippage initiates and halts during the growth period is still unknown. Moreover, the contribution of spinal deformities, such as wedging of the vertebral body to the slippage, remains controversial. PURPOSE: To clarify when slippage in pediatric spondylolysis initiates and halts. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENT SAMPLE: We radiographically examined 46 athletes under 18 years of age with spondylolysis at the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5). The mean age at the first consultation was 13.3 years. The average follow-up period was 6.0 years. OUTCOME MEASURES: Longitudinal observation of slippage at L5 on radiogram in correlation with the maturity of the lumbar spine. METHODS: From a lateral radiogram of each patient, percent slippage, lumbar index (LI), and skeletal age of the affected vertebra were measured. Changes in the percent slippage over time were investigated, and the correlation between the percent slippage and LI was analyzed. RESULTS: From the cartilaginous stage to the apophyseal stage, the slippage increased in 80.0% of the patients (16 of 20). From the cartilaginous stage to the epiphyseal stage, slippage increased in 11.1% of the patients (3 of 27). None of the patients (0 of 22) showed an increase after the epiphyseal stage. In 20 patients in whom slippage increased during the follow-up period, the percent slippage at the final consultation and the LI at the first consultation showed no significant correlation; however, the percent slippage and the LI at the final consultation were significantly (p<.01) correlated. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, slippage was more prevalent in individuals of a younger skeletal age whose lumbar spine was immature, and it halted during the epiphyseal stage when the growth period was over and the vertebra matured. Furthermore, the results suggest that wedge deformity of an affected vertebra might be the result rather than the cause of slippage.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Postrevascularization recovery of fatty acid utilization in ischemic myocardium: a randomized clinical trial of potassium channel opener.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal fatty acid metabolism persists in hibernating myocardium, even after reperfusion. This study was designed to determine whether the K+ channel opener, nicorandil, improves fatty acid utilization after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS: Patients undergoing elective PTCA were randomly assigned to treatment (group N, n = 26) or control groups (group C, n = 22). Group N received intracoronary and intravenous nicorandil during PTCA. Myocardial fatty acid use and perfusion were quantitatively evaluated by means of iodine-123-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid single photon emission computed tomography (I-123 BMIPP SPECT) and thallium-201 (Tl-201) imaging before PTCA, 72 hours after PTCA, and 3 months after PTCA. Left ventricular function was also evaluated by means of contrast ventriculography before and 3 to 6 months after PTCA. RESULTS: The 1-123 BMIPP defect score in group N significantly decreased, from 28%+/-13% to 20%+/-20% after PTCA and to 18%+/-17% 3 months later. In contrast, the I-123 BMIPP defect score in group C increased from 28%+/-20% to 36%+/-15% (P<.05 versus group N) after PTCA, then returned to 28%+/-17% (P<.05 versus group N) 3 months after PTCA. Recovery of left ventricular function paralleled the recovery of I-123 BMIPP uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil improves the recovery of myocardial fatty acid utilization and cardiac function after PTCA. K(ATP) channel activation may have a protective effect during coronary artery occlusion and improve subsequent recovery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reduction of endothelial microfilament bundles in the low-shear region of the canine aorta. Association with intimal plaque formation in hypercholesterolemia.

To interrelate in vivo wall shear stress, endothelial microfilament bundle formation, and atherosclerosis localization, we used a mild abdominal aortic stenosis in 11 beagles to produce a range of wall shear stresses above and below the constriction. Six of the beagles were fed standard animal chow supplemented with 5% cholesterol and 10% coconut oil. Wall shear stresses, endothelial microfilament bundles, and intimal plaque localization were assessed along the stenosed aorta. Shear stress was determined in vivo from the near-wall velocity profiles with a 20-MHz, 80-channel, multigate Doppler velocimeter. Content of the microfilament bundles was quantified by planimetry of transmission electron photomicrographs. After 6 weeks, mean shear stress was higher immediately upstream from the throat of the stenosis than at the proximal site (46.1 +/- 7.3 dynes/cm2 versus 24.0 +/- 6.2 dynes/mc2, p less than 0.001) and was significantly lower immediately distal to the stenosis than at the proximal site (9.4 +/- 0.3 dynes/cm2, p less than 0.01). The microfilament bundle content increased immediately upstream from the throat of the stenosis and decreased immediately distal to the stenosis compared with the proximal site in both normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic fat-fed beagles. Intimal plaques formed exclusively immediately distal to the stenosis in the hypercholesterolemic beagles. These findings suggest that a low shear-stress environment attenuates endothelial microfilament bundle formation, thus leading to a predilection for the initiation of atherosclerosis in atherogenic conditions such as hypercholesterolemia.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of long-term antihypertensive treatment on medial hypertrophy of cerebral arteries in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of antihypertensive treatment on the structural changes of middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were studied quantitatively and morphometrically in young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Fifteen male SHR, 10 weeks of age, were divided into control and experimental groups. In the experimental group, the animals were administered hydralazine and guanethidine for the following 10 weeks. At the age of 20 weeks, mean arterial blood pressure of experimental animals was 177 +/- 9 mm Hg (mean +/- SD), being significantly lower than that of 195 +/- 12 mm Hg in control ones. Media thickness of large (external diameter greater than or equal to 200 micron) and medium sized MCA (150-200 micron) in treated SHR was 12.3 +/- 2.8 and 6.3 +/- 1.1 micron, respectively, being significantly smaller than that of 14.0 +/- 2.2 and 8.5 +/- 2.6 micron, respectively, in control SHR. The media cross-sectional area and the ratio of media thickness to external diameter were also significantly reduced by antihypertensive treatment. In the smaller vessels (75-150 micron), however, vascular morphometry revealed no difference between the two groups. Long-term antihypertensive treatment during the early phase of hypertension attenuates the development of medial hypertrophy in large cerebral arteries.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Regional cerebral blood flow autoregulation in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats--effects of sympathetic denervation.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of acute sympathetic denervation on the regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation during acute elevation of blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). CBF to the parietal cortex and thalamus was measured by the hydrogen clearance method and, to test autoregulation, systemic arterial blood pressure was elevated by intravenous infusion of phenylephrine. Superior cervical ganglia were removed on both sides to interrupt sympathetic innervation in the deeper structures of the brain. Acute bilateral sympathetic denervation did not alter the resting blood pressure or CBF in either SHR or WKY. In innervated SHR, resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 165 +/- 5 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM) and the upper limit of autoregulation in the cortex was 210 +/- 3 mm Hg, which was significantly lower than that in the thalamus (229 +/- 3 mm Hg, p less than 0.02). In bilaterally denervated SHR, the upper limits were lowered to 193 +/- 4 mm Hg in the cortex (p less than 0.02 vs. innervated SHR) and to 207 +/- 5 mm Hg in the thalamus (p less than 0.02 vs. innervated). In WKY, resting MAP was approximately 55 mm Hg lower than that in SHR. Acute denervation reduced the upper limits from 142 +/- 3 mm Hg to 130 +/- 4 in the cortex (p less than 0.05) and from 158 +/- 4 to 145 +/- 4 in the thalamus (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of long-term antihypertensive treatment on cerebral, thalamic and cerebellar blood flow in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Cerebral blood flows (CBF) were measured in the parietal cortex, the thalamus and the cerebellum by the hydrogen clearance technique in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats, of which hypertension was treated for 16 weeks (long-term) or 8 weeks (short-term) with antihypertensive agents of hydralazine and guanethidine. As compared to non-treated control animals, CBF in the three regions were significantly increased while the calculated cerebrovascular resistances (CVR) were decreased in hypertension-treated animals. Such CBF and CVR changes were greater in SHR with long-term than short-term therapy. Both an increase in CBF and a decrease in CVR were closely related to a fall in the blood pressure. From the present results, it was concluded that earlier and longer treatment of hypertension could lessen or even prevent the increased CVR due to the hypertensive vascular changes, and increase CBF as a result.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Renal blood flow in acute cerebral ischemia in spontaneously hypertensive rats: effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade.

The influences of acute cerebral ischemia on renal hemodynamics were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats in which cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion. Renal and cerebral blood flow were measured with a hydrogen clearance technique. Either phenoxybenzamine (0.5 mg/kg body wt) or propranolol (2 mg/kg) was given i.v. immediately after ischemia was induced to examine the drugs' effects on cerebral and renal hemodynamics. One hour after ischemia, cerebral blood flow was markedly reduced to 5, 3, and almost 0% of the preischemic value in the untreated, phenoxybenzamine-treated, and propranolol-treated rats, respectively. In contrast, renal blood flow at that time was decreased to 65, 88, and 67%, respectively. The calculated renal vascular resistance was similarly increased to 151% in the untreated and 136% in the propranolol-treated rats, but decreased to 82% in the phenoxybenzamine-treated rats. The present results indicate that in acute cerebral ischemia renal blood flow was considerably decreased with concomitant increased renal vascular resistance, and that such reduction in renal blood flow was minimized by alpha-adrenergic blockade but not by beta-blockade. It is concluded that activation of the alpha-adrenergic system in acute cerebral ischemia causes renal vasoconstriction.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complication of parenteral nutrition composed of essential amino acids and histidine in adults with renal failure.

This is a case report on six patients with hyperammonemia that developed while they were receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) as a component of renal failure therapy. Clinically, the hyperammonemia presented as mental status changes in all six cases. Four of the six patients with renal failure initially received 400 mL Amiyu in 1400 mL 17% glucose (total = 1800 mL TPN-A) administered over each 24-hour period. Two patients had been placed on 400 mL complete amino acid in 1400 mL 17% glucose (total = 1800 mL TPN-C over each 24-hour period) prior to therapy with TPN-A. Approximately 3 weeks after initiation of TPN therapy with TPN-A, episodes of mental status changes of increasing duration and paroxysms were documented in five of the six patients. In one of the patients receiving TPN-C prior to TPN-A therapy, toxicity was clinically evident only 4 days after initiation of TPN-A. Serum ammonia levels were obtained and found to be elevated in the acute (ie, presenting) stage in all patients. With the discontinuance of TPN-A, ammonia levels normalized uniformly. Mental status also improved in all cases except for the patient with rapid clinical presentation who died 2 weeks after first evidence of clinical toxicity. In cases 1, 2, and 6, serum amino acid analysis in the acute phase showed reduced levels of ornithine and citrulline, the substrate and product, respectively, of condensation with carbamyl phosphate at its entry into the urea cycle. Moreover, levels of arginine, precursor to ornithine, were found to be elevated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of cardiac injury and acute renal failure induced by electrical burn.

Reported is a case of electrical burn associated with cardiac injury and acute renal failure in a 21-year-old man. After coming into contact with a high-tension cable, he became drowsy and oliguria developed. Twenty-four hemodialyses were required. Although the ECG findings revealed an inferior wall myocardial infarction, neither cardiac scintigram (201TlCl) nor ultrasonic cardiography revealed any local lesions. In this case the cardiac damage following electrical burn appeared different from true myocardial infarction.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in an amnestic patient with left thalamic infarction--a positron emission tomographic study.

A 30-year-old man with left thalamic infarction developed severe amnesia. The positron emission tomography showed a decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in the left thalamus and the ipsilateral frontal cortex (-20% to -12% of asymmetry index) both at day 11 and at 5 months after onset, although amnestic symptoms certainly improved during that period. The selective hypometabolism of the cerebral cortex suggested the remote effects of neuronal fiber disconnection between the left thalamus and the ipsilateral frontal cortex, which did not parallel the clinical course.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human gallbladder lesions.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) regulates angiogenesis in human gallbladder carcinomas. We examined the expression of VEGF in 131 gallbladder lesions by immunohistochemistry and in situ mRNA hybridization technique. VEGF immunoreactivity was detected in 100% (9/9) of hyperplasias, 75% (3/4) of adenomas and 91% (107/118) of carcinomas. In gallbladder carcinoma tissues, VEGF mRNA level directly correlated with its protein level. VEGF expression in the neoplasms significantly correlated with vascularization, but not prognostic parameters. These findings suggest that VEGF is commonly expressed in human gallbladder carcinomas and may contribute to neovascularization during carcinogenesis.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cyclin E overexpression in human gallbladder carcinomas.

The expression of cyclin E, one of the important positive cell cycle regulators, was examined immunohistochemically in gallbladder carcinomas. Cyclin E gene product was detected in 58 (49%) out of 118 cases. The degree of cyclin E expression was not associated with any clinicopathological factor including histology, the depth of tumor invasion, tumor stage and patient prognosis. Cyclin E expression was not correlated with that of p53 protein statistically, whereas it was correlated with the proliferative activity of the tumor cells by PCNA (p<0.05). These results suggested that cyclin E expression may confer progression of gallbladder carcinomas.

Biomarkers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized study comparing oral and standard regimens for metastatic breast cancer.

We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing oral regimen [doxifluridine, an intermediate metabolite of capecitabine, + medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) + cyclophosphamide (CPA)] (Method A) with a standard regimen (5-fluorouracil + adriamycin + CPA) plus MPA (Method B) as first line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. Overall response rate was 55.8% for Method A, 46.3% for Method B. The total ratio of responder and long stable disease was significantly higher with Method A (p=0.006). Median time to progression and survival were not differences between Methods. Incidence of toxicity was 56.3% with Method A and 80.0% with Method B (p=0.014). Oral regimen is more useful than standard therapy.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of paraaortic lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of paraaortic lymph node dissection (D4) for gastric cancer from the viewpoint of long-term results. METHODOLOGY: Among 879 patients who underwent gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer, 130 patients who underwent D4 lymphadenectomy were evaluated in relation to clinicopathological findings and long-term results. RESULTS: The frequency of histological paraaortic lymph node metastasis (n4) was 23.1% (30/130). The cumulative 5-year survival rate of 30 n4 patients with D4 lymphadenectomy was 16.7%, which was higher than that (4.2%) of n4 patients without D4 (sampling of paraaortic lymph nodes). Among n4 patients with D4 lymphadenectomy, the cumulative survival rate in 8 patients with 1-2 paraaortic lymph nodes involved (5-year survival rate: 50%) was significantly higher than that in 21 patients with 3 or more paraaortic lymph nodes involved (5-year survival rate: 4.6%). According to the intra-operative macroscopic extent of lymph node metastasis, the cumulative survival rate of patients who were judged as N2 was higher than that of patients judged as N4. CONCLUSIONS: Paraaortic lymph node dissection for advanced gastric cancer was effective, especially when it was done prophylactically and when the number of paraaortic lymph node metastases were 2 or less.

Aorta↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) is elevated in patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a stromally derived protein growth factor that modulates epithelial cell proliferation and motility. HGF may therefore be involved in tumor progression. METHODOLOGY: We measured the immunoreactive (ir)-HGF concentration in the sera of 56 patients with human gastric carcinoma, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and evaluated its association with clinical and histopathologic factors. Clinical stages were classified in accordance with The General Rules for TNM Classification (International Union Against Cancer). RESULTS: The serum hHGF concentrations from patients with gastric carcinoma significantly increased with increasing pathologic tumor grades. Also, there were significantly higher concentrations in patients with nodal metastasis compared to patients without metastasis. The serum hHGF concentrations in patients with liver metastasis were significantly higher than in patients without liver metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the serum hHGF concentration is elevated in gastric carcinoma patients with liver and nodal metastasis. In multivariate analysis, the serum hHGF concentration was found to be the most important independent factor in predicting overall survival. Thus, the current results suggest that HGF may be important in the progression and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Aged↗