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Biomedical subjects

K Fukushi

Publications and source records attributed to K Fukushi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis with anterior uveitis.

Two patients with IgA nephropathy and a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis each associated with anterior uveitis are described. As anterior uveitis accompanying IgA nephropathy improved, renal manifestations were relieved. The patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis suffered from not only anterior uveitis but also keratitis. It is suggested that immune mechanisms which induce IgA nephropathy may play a role in the development of anterior uveitis and keratitis.

Adolescent↗

Deficiency of peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide components in Rickettsia tsutsugamushi.

Analyses of chemical composition in whole cells of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi were performed and compared with those of the other rickettsiae and gram-negative bacteria. The results indicated that R. tsutsugamushi does not contain detectable amounts of 3-deoxy-D-mannooctulosonic acid, heptose, muramic acid, or glucosamine (less than 2, less than 2, less than 3, and less than 3 nmol/mg, respectively). The microorganism was found to contain four kinds of fatty acids (16:0, 18:0, 18:1, and 18:2), but not hydroxy fatty acids. Furthermore, in analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver or Coomassie blue staining, lipopolysaccharide bands were not detected in preparations treated with proteinase K. It is concluded that R. tsutsugamushi has little or no peptidoglycan or lipopolysaccharide.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Electron microscopic studies of lipopolysaccharides from phase I and phase II Coxiella burnetii.

Lipopolysaccharides from phase I (LPSI) Coxiella burnetii Ohio and Nine Mile strains and from phase II (LPSII) Nine Mile stain were negatively and positively and examined with the electron microscope. The ultrastructure of LPSI and LPSII positively stained with uranyl formate or uranyl acetate was ribbon-like. When negatively stained with uranyl acetate, LPSI was ribbon-like but LPSII exhibited hexagonal lattice structures. However, LPSII stained negatively with sodium phosphotungstate and ammonium molybdate exhibited hexagonal lattice ultrastructures which were not identical to those observed when negatively stained with uranyl acetate. The hexagonal lattice structures formed in vitro were due to the interactions of LPSII and the staining reagents rather than to protein-LPS interactions. The differences in the ultrastructures of LPSI and LPSII are undoubtedly based on variations in their chemical composition.

Coxiella↗

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with prifinium bromide.

Prifinium bromide, an anticholinergic agent, was given to patients with irritable bowel syndrome in an open trial to evaluate the drug's clinical efficacy. The trial lasted four weeks, although two of the 40 patients were treated for only two weeks. Prifinium bromide was judged beneficial in 28 patients (70%), slightly beneficial in six (15%), and not beneficial in six (15%). One case of moderate constipation was the only side effect encountered. In conclusion, prifinium bromide is considered a valuable drug for the management of irritable bowel syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Chemical and ultrastructural differences in endotoxic glycolipids from Salmonella minnesota Re mutant extracted with various solvent systems.

Endotoxic glycolipids ( ReGl ) extracted from the whole cells (WC) and cell walls of heptose-less Re mutant of Salmonella minnesota with hot phenol-water (PW), phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether (PCP), and chloroform-methanol (CM) were analyzed chemically and examined with an electron microscope. ReGl -PW-(WC) contained mannose and proteins as contaminants, ReGl -PCP(WC) consisted of an excess amount of amino compound (cadaverine), and ReGl -PCP(WC) consisted of proteins and cadaverine, in addition to the ReGl constituents. The ultrastructure of ReGl -PW(WC) resembled onions when stained with uranyl formate, and was spherical when stained with uranyl acetate, sodium phosphotungstate and ammonium molybdate, whereas those of ReGl -PCP(WC) and ReGl -CM(WC) were shaped like ribbons. However, the shadowed ultrastructures of ReGl -PCP(WC) and ReGl -CM(WC) showed small pieces of flat and wide sheets, respectively. ReGl -PCP(WC) re-extracted by the PW method was found to be converted into the onion-like structure which was similar to that of ReGl -PW(WC), while an intermediate form (fingerprint-like) was observed after re-extraction of ReGl -PW(WC) with PCP. It was strongly suggested that the ultrastructural arrangement of ReGl was dependent on the solvent systems used for extraction.

Alkanes↗

Chemical and ultrastructural comparison of endotoxins extracted from Salmonella minnesota wild type and R mutants.

Endotoxic lipopolysaccharide and glycolipids ( RGl ) extracted from Salmonella minnesota wild type and R mutant cells ( chemotypes Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd1, and Rd2 ), respectively, with hot phenol-water (PW) and phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether (PCP) were analyzed chemically and electron microscopically. All RGl extracted with PW ( RGl -PW) contained excess amounts of phosphate, O-ester linked fatty acids and neutral sugars, while all RGl extracted with PCP ( RGl -PCP) contained excess amounts of free amino groups and fatty acids, in addition to the RGl constituents. Polyamine (cadaverine), phosphoethanolamine, and an unidentified amino compound were contained in RGl -PCP as free amino groups. When stained with uranyl formate, the ultrastructure of RGl -PW showed a spherical form (onion-like form), whereas the micrographs of RGl -PCP showed a filamentous structure, regardless of strain differences. On the other hand, the micrographs of RGl -PW represented spherical and doughnut-shaped forms, and the micrographs of RGl -PCP showed filamentous or stick forms, when stained with uranyl acetate. Thus, it is suggested that the ultrastructures of RGl were dominated by the solvent systems used for extraction, and not by the strains used here.

Alkanes↗

Electron microscopic studies of endotoxins treated with alkaline and acid reagents.

Endotoxins extracted from Salmonella minnesota wild strain and R mutants (Ra to Re) were treated with two different alkaline reagents. Treatment with diluted sodium hydroxide, which caused partial removal of O-ester linked fatty acids, changed the ultrastructures of endotoxins from an onion-like structure to monolayer particles (approximately 100 A in diameter) except for endotoxic glycolipids from Rd2 and Re mutants which showed mixed ultrastructures of untreated and treated endotoxins. Treatment with alkaline hydroxylamine, which caused liberation of all O-ester linked fatty acids, changed the ultrastructures of all endotoxins to monolayer particles. The results suggested that the ultrastructures of alkaline-treated endotoxins were dependent on the degree of their hydrophobicity. On the other hand, the micrographs of acid treated endotoxins did not show a constant structure because of the high hydrophobicity.

Acetates↗

Glomerular deposition of Hageman factor in IgA nephropathy.

Glomerular localization of Hageman factor and fibrin-related antigen (FRA) was examined in 31 cases of IgA nephropathy by immunofluorescent techniques. Hageman factor was observed in 21 cases (68%) and FRA in 24 cases (77%). It is suggested that blood coagulation occurs and fibrin is formed in the glomerulus of IgA nephropathy.

Antigens↗