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Biomedical subjects

K Fujiwara

Publications and source records attributed to K Fujiwara.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Five cases of peptic ulcer of gastric tube after radical esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and analysis of Helicobacter pylori infection at gastric tube].

The peptic ulcer of gastric tube using for esophageal reconstruction is rare. We report herein five cases of peptic ulcer of gastric tube used for esophageal reconstruction after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. The reconstructive route, in all cases, was posterior mediastinum. In one case, 10 days after esophagectomy, he had high grade fever and pneumonia of right lower lobe of lung. Endoscopic examination revealed a deep ulcerative lesion on anterior wall of gastric tube and fistula formation on membranous part of trachea. The partial resection of gastric tube was performed for closing to tracheo-gastro fistula. In other four cases, the location of ulcer was middle or lower third of gastric tube. One had multiple peptic ulcer and other had single. Two cases of four underwent post irradiation therapy. One case of then, the Helicobacter infection detected using by rapid urease test and histological examination. We analyzed of Helicobacter pylori infection and serum gastrin level of gastric tube in outpatients who have used gastric tube for esophageal reconstruction after radical esophagectomy. Helicobacter pylori infection was positive at 56% (9/16) of all patients. The serum gastrin level of patients who was positive of Helicobacter pylori infection is not significantly higher than that of patients who was negative. We consider that post operative irradiation therapy and Helicobacter infection might play in development of peptic ulcer of gastric tube.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Blood coagulation in the hepatic sinusoids as a contributing factor in liver injury following orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat.

Blood coagulation equilibrium in the hepatic sinusoids may be deranged after orthotopic liver transplantation, since tissue factor activity increases in Kupffer cells and thrombomodulin expression disappears in sinusoidal endothelial cells in orthotopically transplanted rat liver. The presence of sinusoidal blood coagulopathy and its contribution to the development of early graft failure following orthotopic liver transplantation were investigated in rats. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed using livers preserved in cold UW solution, according to the method of Kamada, in rats. Abnormalities in the hepatic sinusoids were evaluated electron-microscopically. Anticoagulation therapy was done using antithrombin III concentrate infused immediately and 12 hr after operation. Fibrin deposition and endothelial cell destruction in the hepatic sinusoids were observed in transplanted rats 5 hr after operation. In these rats, plasma antithrombin III activity was decreased to less than 40%o of normal levels, and massive hepatic necrosis developed with increased plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentration 24 hr after operation. Anticoagulation therapy significantly attenuated the extent of hepatic necrosis, with normalization of plasma antithrombin III activity and further increase in plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentration. A hypercoagulative state exists after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats. Fibrin deposition in the hepatic sinusoids associated with this state may contribute to the development of early graft injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Inhibitory effect of tranilast on activation and transforming growth factor beta 1 expression in cultured rat stellate cells.

Stellate cells, the primary extracellular matrix-producing cells in the liver, undergo activation characterized by fibrogenesis, proliferation and smooth muscle alpha-actin expression, in hepatic fibrosis or when cultured on plastic. TGF beta 1 is known to have a pivotal role in fibrogenesis. Tranilast, a drug used for allergic diseases with anti-inflammatory effects, is known to inhibit collagen synthesis by cultured fibroblasts. Thus, effects of tranilast on activation and TGF beta 1 expression in stellate cells was investigated in vitro. Tranilast reduced collagen synthesis in a dose-related manner up to 50.8% of the control. This effect was reversible after tranilast withdrawal. The mobility of procollagen on gel electrophoresis and the ratio of intracellular procollagen to extracellular collagen concentrations were not affected by tranilast. Tranilast decreased DNA synthesis and increased smooth muscle alpha-actin expression. mRNA expressions of procollagen and TGF beta 1 were reduced by tranilast. Tranilast with anti-fibrogenic and anti-inflammatory actions merits consideration as a candidate for therapeutic agent of hepatic fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Increased expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors, flt-1 and KDR/flk-1, in regenerating rat liver.

Sinusoidal endothelial cells proliferate following hepatocyte regeneration in the liver after partial resection. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, flt-1 and KDR/flk-1, were studied by Northern blotting in isolated rat liver cells and 70% resected rat liver. VEGF was expressed in hepatocytes immediately after isolation, and both flt-1 and KDR/flk-1 were expressed in non-parenchymal cells including sinusoidal endothelial cells. The VEGF expression in hepatocytes decreased during primary culture for 48 hr. This expression was maintained at 48 hr of culture by addition of EGF to the medium at 24 hr, increasing thereafter. VEGF, flt-1, and KDR/flk-1 were also expressed in normal rat liver. In 70% resected rat liver, VEGF expression increased with a peak at 72 hr after the operation, followed by expressions of flt-1 and KDR/flk-1 increasing between 72 and 168 hr. These results suggest that VEGF expression increases in regenerating hepatocytes, which may contribute to proliferation of sinusoidal endothelial cells of rat liver following partial resection, probably through flt-1 and KDR/flk-1 receptors upregulated on sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Post-traumatic syringomyelia.

STUDY DESIGN: This study retrospectively analyzed patients who developed post-traumatic syringomyelia secondary to spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVES: To identify an indicator that would predict the outcome of surgical treatment for post-traumatic syringomyelia. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Syrinx-subarachnoid shunting was chosen as a surgical treatment for post-traumatic syringomyelia. No previous study has been published concerning magnetic resonance imaging findings' ability to predict surgical results before surgery. METHODS: Nine patients diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging with post-traumatic syringomyelia were the subjects of this study. The magnetic resonance imaging findings and surgical results were analyzed. RESULTS: Neurologic deterioration was found in five patients. Ascending dissociated sensory disturbances and motor weakness were noticed to occur characteristically above the level of the spinal cord injury. The other four patients complained of a slight worsening of numbness without displaying neurologic deterioration. The five patients with neurologic deterioration were treated with a syrinx-subarachnoid shunting. Two of the five patients experienced sustained neurologic improvement after a midline myelotomy, which allowed the fluid within the syrinx to spout out and cause the expanded spinal cord to collapse. This was called a "high-pressure syrinx." In these two patients, the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a positive flow-void sign. On the other hand, drainage of the syrinx in the three patients with a negative flow-void sign did not collapse the expanded spinal cord, and the surgical results were considered fair. This was called a "low-pressure syrinx." CONCLUSIONS: Post-traumatic syringomyelia was classified into two types. A preoperative distinction could be made based on the presence or absence of the flow-void sign on a T2-weighted magnetic resonance image.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Lipoylation of acyltransferase components of alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes.

Lipoic acid is a prosthetic group of the acyltransferase components of the pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes, protein X of the eukaryotic pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, and H-protein of the glycine cleavage system. We have purified lipoyl-AMP:Nepsilon-lysine lipoyltransferase I and II from bovine liver mitochondria employing apoH-protein as an acceptor of lipoic acid (Fujiwara, K., Okamura-Ikeda, K., and Motokawa, Y. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16605-16609). In this study, we demonstrated the lipoylation of the lipoyl domains of the mammalian pyruvate (LE2p), alpha-ketoglutarate (LE2k), and branched chain alpha-keto acid (LE2b) dehydrogenase complexes using the purified lipoyltransferase I and II. Lipoyltransferase I and II lipoylated LE2p and LE2k as efficiently as H-protein, but the lipoylation rate of LE2b was extremely low. Comparison of amino acid sequences surrounding the lipoylation site of these proteins shows that the conserved glutamic acid residue situated 3 residues to the N-terminal side of the lipoylation site is replaced by glutamine (Gln-41) in LE2b. When Gln-41 of LE2b was changed to Glu, the rate of lipoylation increased about 100-fold and became comparable to that of LE2p and LE2k. The replacement of the glutamic acid residue of LE2p (Glu-169) and LE2k (Glu-40) by glutamine resulted in decrease in the lipoylation rate more than 100-fold. These results suggest that the glutamic acid residue plays an important role in the lipoylation reaction possibly functioning as a recognition signal. Gly-27 and Gly-54 of LE2k are also well conserved among the lipoyl domains of the alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and H-protein. The mutagenesis experiments of these residues indicated that the glycine residue situated 11 residues to the C-terminal side of the lipoylation site (Gly-54 of LE2k) is important for the folding of lipoyl domain, and that existence of a small residue such as Gly or Cys at the position is essential for the lipoylation of these proteins.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗
PubMed1996

Relevance of the arginine transport activity to the nitric oxide synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Transport of arginine and production of nitrite have been investigated in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The arginine transport activity was induced by LPS at very low concentration (maximally induced at 1 ng/ml), whereas much higher concentration of LPS was required for the induction of nitrite production. Arginine was more concentrated in the cells when its transport activity was induced. Lysine, which is a competitive inhibitor of the transport of arginine, neutralized the concentrative effect of the induced transport activity and thus inhibited the nitrite production. Induction of the arginine transport activity seems to be prerequisite to the enhanced synthesis of nitric oxide in activated macrophages.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗
PubMed1996

Serum transforming growth factor alpha level as a marker of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) is alleged to play a role in malignant progression as well as normal cell growth in an autocrine manner and its serum levels have been reported to increase during this progression. Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) develop in cirrhotic livers in which hepatocyte necrosis and regeneration prevail. The significance of serum TGF alpha levels in the diagnosis of HCC complicating cirrhosis should be clarified. METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients with cirrhosis were studied, 80 with HCC (HCC) patients and 44 without (LC) patients. There was no difference in clinical features between the two groups. One hundred eighty-two healthy adults were also studied as controls. Serum TGF alpha levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent diffusion assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Serum TGF alpha levels were significantly higher in HCC patients than in healthy adults or LC patients (mean +/- SD: 45 +/- 40 vs. 21 +/- 15 or 25 +/- 19 pg/ml, respectively). In LC patients, serum TGF alpha levels were significantly correlated with serum albumin and total bilirubin levels (r = -0.44 and 0.32, respectively). When the cutoff level was defined as 25 pg/ml from receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of HCC in the presence of cirrhosis were 69% and 66%, respectively. Serum TGF alpha levels were decreased after successful treatment for HCC in 60% of the HCC patients. Serum TGF alpha levels showed no correlation with serum alpha-fetoprotein levels; the levels were greater than 25 pg/ml in 67% of the HCC patients whose serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were within 20 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Serum TGF alpha levels may provide useful information for the diagnosis of HCC developing in the presence of cirrhosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1996

An unusual variation of left ventricular-right atrial communication.

We herein present a 5-month-old boy with an infravalvular-type left ventricular-right atrial communication without an abnormal tricuspid valve leaflet. The thick chorda of the anterior tricuspid leaflet was inserted into the upper edge of the ventricular septal defect which was placed just under the commissure. The jet from the septal defect pushed this thick chorda and opened the commissure, which thus caused the abnormal pathway from the left ventricle to the right atrium. This mechanism of left ventricular-right atrial communication has not yet been reported elsewhere.

Heart Atria↗
PubMed1996

Management of subarachnoid fluid collection in infants based on a long-term follow-up study.

We report the natural history and management of subarachnoid fluid collections in infants and their management based on a longterm follow-up study in 20 cases. These subarachnoid fluid collections were resolved spontaneously in 17 of 20 patients and only 3 by surgical intervention at the age of 2. In our 20 patients the natural history of subarachnoid fluid collection in infants was benign unless the patients sustained head trauma. Surgical treatment was performed in the cases where a subarachnoid fluid collection developed into a subdural haematoma. Head trauma may precipitate subdural haematoma in patients with subarachnoid fluid collection. All patients except one who underwent the placement of subdural-peritoneal shunt, attained normal psychomotor development in time. During the follow-up period of 3 to 10 years after resolution of the fluid collection, no patient has had a recurrence once it resolved.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed1996

Relationship between reaction time of eye movement and activity of the neck extensors.

This study investigated the relationship between the reaction time of eye movement (RTEM) and activity of the superficial neck extensor muscles when the shoulder girdle elevator muscles contracted isometrically. The results were compared with those of a previous study in which the subjects's head was fixed and loaded with the neck flexed. When the shoulder girdle elevator muscles contracted isometrically, RTEM decreased significantly in comparison to RTEM at rest. This demonstrated that the reaction time significantly decreased not only as a result of the neck in flexion, which activated the deep and superficial neck extensor muscles, but also from contraction of the shoulder girdle elevator muscles which mainly activated the superficial extensor muscles. The relationship between RTEM and relative muscle load of the shoulder girdle elevator muscles showed that RTEM decreased up to 30% loading, and with loading above 40% the RTEM was longer than with 30%. The relative muscle load for the shortest RTEM demonstrated a subject-to-subject variance ranging from 24.7% to 49.6%. The difference between RTEM at rest and at their shortest reaction time was approximately 20 ms, which was consistent with the data for the neck in flexion. However, the relative muscle load for the shortest RTEM differed between the current and previous studies. The parameters obtained in this study were higher than for those in the previous study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Immunocytochemical localization of polyamines in the gastrointestinal tracts of rats and mice.

An immunocytochemical method using a recently produced monoclonal antibody (ASPM-29) with an antibody specificity to spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) fixed in situ, was used to demonstrate an immunocytochemical localization of polyamine (PA) pools in the gastrointestinal tracts of rats and mice. High PA immunoreactivity was always found in the cytoplasm of cells not only at the cell proliferative zone or the precursor cell zone but also at the neighboring non-proliferative premature cell zone of the epithelium, and a gradient of decreasing PA levels was noticed from these cells to the fully mature differentiated gastric surface mucous cells and absorptive cells of the small and large intestines. Also, strong staining for PAs was seen in the cytoplasm of fully differentiated gastric chief cells and neurons of both the myenteric and submucous plexuses, whereas the nuclei of the cells remained virtually unstained. These results may suggest that PAs are closely associated with the high biosynthetic activity in the cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa of normal rats and mice. This seems to be consistent with the PA immunocytochemical results previously obtained for neoplastic cells and active protein- or peptide-secreting cells, including exocrine or endocrine cell types.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effect of the exposure dose of etoposide on the cell growth and cell kinetics of human ovarian cancer cells.

Although schedule-dependent cytotoxicity of etoposide has been reported, its mechanisms have not been elucidated fully. In this study, we attempted to clarify what concentration, time or exposure dose (ED, concentration of drug x time) of etoposide result in the antitumor effect on human ovarian cancer cells from the standpoint of cell cycle perturbation. The different ED were produced by different drug treatment schedules: 10 microgram/ml x 4 h (ED 40), 1.66 microgram/ml x 24 h (ED 40), 5 microgram/ml x 4 h (ED 20), 0.83 microgram/ml x 24 h (ED 20), 10 microgram/ml x 0.8 h (ED 8), 5 microgram/ml x 1.6 h (ED 8), 2 microgram/ml x 4 h (ED 8), 0.33 microgram/ml x 24 h (ED 8). Cell cycle perturbation on day 5 and the suppression of cell growth were dependent on the drug concentration at the lowest exposure dose (ED 8), but were dependent on ED at the higher EDs (20 or 40). The percentage of cells in the G2/M fraction significantly decreased from day 5 to day 7 in BG-1 cells treated at ED 20 or treated with higher concentrations (10 and 5 microgram/ml) at ED 8, but not in those treated at ED 40 or treated with lower concentrations (2 and 0.33 microgram/ml) at ED 8. Therefore, the cytotoxic mechanism of etoposide may not be explained by simple schedule dependency.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1996

Operative technique for persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium.

We applied a surgical method with an inverted flap of the left atrial appendage to construct an internal conduit in a 4-year-old girl with a persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium associated with an atrial septal defect. The remaining defect of the septum was closed with autologous pericardium. The short-term result is satisfactory, although the long-term result remains to be ascertained.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF) from canine NK cells.

We investigated the presence of canine natural killer cytotoxic factor (NKCF). Canine natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity measured by 51chromium (51Cr) release assay was found to be highest in the T-cell population, which was fractionated into the 35-40% Percoll fraction by discontinuous gradient centrifugation. The cytotoxicity of NKCF in the culture supernatant showed a similar tendency to NK activity. Release of NKCF was rapid after contact with target cells, and reached a plateau in 60 min. The cytotoxicity of NKCF could be detected within at least 15 min in coculture with CL-1 target cells, reaching a plateau in 60 min. We also characterized canine NKCF and found it to be a protein, which was stable against both heat and cold treatment. These findings suggest that canine NK cells release NKCF immediately after recognition and binding to the target cell, and that NKCF plays an important role in canine NK-mediated cytotoxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Failure to detect paramyxovirus RNA in the skin of connective tissue disease.

Etiology of connective tissue disease is unknown. The association of infectious agents has been suspected serologically, ultrastructurally and recently by means of molecular biological techniques. We extracted RNA from lesions of 25 discoid lupus erythematosus, 9 systemic LE, and 3 systemic sclerosis biopsies, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed for all paramyxoviruses known to infect human beings. None of the samples yielded positive signal for any of the viruses. The existence of paramyxovirus in the skin of connective tissue disease is very unlikely.

Base Sequence↗