Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Ushijima

Publications and source records attributed to K Ushijima.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Absorption of fructose by isolated small intestine of rats is via a specific saturable carrier in the absence of glucose and by the disaccharidase-related transport system in the presence of glucose.

Previous studies have shown that the absorption of fructose is aided by simultaneous ingestion of glucose. The aim of the present study was to reproduce this finding in vitro to better understand the mechanism of the effect of glucose on absorption of fructose. The phenomena could not be reproduced with everted sleeves of rat intestine or brush border vesicles. In a perfused segment of isolated intestine, it was possible to demonstrate that the transport of fructose was accelerated when glucose was present in the perfusion medium. The enhanced transport was inhibited by sucrose and also by acarbazone, an inhibitor of intestinal alpha-disaccharidases. Phlorizin had no effect on the transport of fructose. The results of these studies indicate that there is a specific carrier for fructose saturated with a low concentration of the sugar, and that in the presence of glucose there is joint absorption of the two sugars by the disaccharidase-related transport system.

Animals↗

Detection of lymph node metastasis in ovarian carcinoma and uterine corpus carcinoma by preoperative computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Preoperative CT or MRI findings were compared with the results of staging the laparotomy to evaluate the accuracy of CT or MRI for detecting pelvic and para-aortic lymph-node metastases. METHODS: In evaluating CTs in 95 ovarian carcinomas, we examined plain and contrast images made in 1- to 1.5-cm-thick slices from the pubis to the xiphoid process. Lymph nodes 1.5 cm or larger were considered to be positive. MRIs of 60 uterine corpus carcinomas utilized T1-weighted contrast, T2-weighted, and short-inversion time inversion-recovery (STIR) images. RESULTS: CT had a sensitivity of 60.9% and a specificity of 93.1%. The positive and negative predictive values were 73.7% and 88.2%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of CT for detecting para-aortic lymph-node metastases exceeded that for pelvic node metastases. The results of MRI indicated that the T1-weighted image and STIR image were the most accurate in identifying metastatic nodes. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the most practical approach might be to search for enlarged lymph nodes by CT, and to follow-up with MRI when CT scans are questionable.

Carcinoma↗

Combination treatment with cisplatin and schizophyllan for 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced rat ovarian adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Experimental chemotherapy was conducted to investigate the combined effect of Schizophyllan (SPG) and Cisplatin (CDDP). METHODS: Rats with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced ovarian adenocarcinoma received SPG and/or CDDP, were observed for the anti-tumor effect of the drugs and were subjected to immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: 1) Tumor reduction was enhanced by the combined use of SPG and CDDP; 2) The survival rate of rats given SPG alone was significantly higher than that of the control rats, and treatment with SPG combined with CDDP tended to improve the survival rate; 3) Immunohistochemically, an infiltrative increase in cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) was induced, although the development of helper T-cells and macrophages was immunohistochemically weak at the tumor site. CONCLUSION: The administration of SPG enhanced the anti-tumor effect of CDDP.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Profile of urinary bile acids in familial intrahepatic cholestasis with Coombs' negative haemolytic anaemia.

We present two male siblings with intrahepatic cholestasis and prolonged indirect hyperbilirubinaemia. Their familial intrahepatic cholestasis syndrome was characterized by Coombs' negative haemolytic anaemia, without giant cell transformation of hepatocytes and high concentrations of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and cholesterol. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we detected large amounts of 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids, especially 1 beta,3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (25.5-67.9% of total urine bile acids) in the urine during phenobarbital therapy. However, the amount of urinary 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids gradually decreased as the disease progressed. At the end-stage, we detected large amounts of 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxochol-4-en-24-oic acid (19.6% of total urine bile acids). The ratio of 7 alpha,12 alpha-dihydroxy-3-oxochol-4-en-24-oic acid to cholic acid in the urine was 0.8. We conclude that in infants with end-stage liver failure, the microsomal hydroxylation of bile acids is impaired and the excretion of delta 4-3-oxo bile acids is increased.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Fetal bile acid metabolism during infancy: analysis of 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids in urine, meconium and feces.

Fetal bile acids (1 beta-hydroxylated, 6 alpha-hydroxylated and unsaturated bile acids), especially 1 beta, 3 alpha,7 alpha, 12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (CA-1 beta-ol), have been detected in urine and feces early in life. To investigate whether a fetal pathway of bile acid synthesis exists in infancy, we measured the concentrations of bile acids in the urine, meconium and feces from normal newborns and infants by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean ratio of total bile acids to creatinine in urine increased between birth and 7 days and then gradually decreased; however, the concentration of total bile acids in urine remained significantly higher than that in adult urine until 3 mo of age. The main urinary bile acid was CA-1 beta-ol, and substantial amounts of fetal bile acids were detected in urine until 3 mo of age. The ratio of cholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid was abnormally low in meconium (mean, 0.44; range, 0.19 to 0.74), and hyocholic acid constituted 19.3% of total bile acids. The mean total bile acid content of feces decreased between birth and 7 days of age and thereafter increased. The mean percentage of fetal bile acids in feces decreased after birth, but substantial amounts were present in feces until 1 mo of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Alagille syndrome with a spontaneous appearance of the interlobular bile ducts.

We report a rare case of a 10 year old girl diagnosed as having Alagille syndrome on the basis of a characteristic face, posterior embryotoxon, cholestasis, peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis and the absence of interlobular bile ducts in a liver biopsy at 1.5 years of age. Since 1.5 years old, she had been in good health without medication and the serum biochemical liver function tests indicated no progression of cholestasis. A second liver biopsy at 9.5 years of age showed normal interlobular bile ducts confirmed by anti-keratin staining at each of the five examined portal areas. Alagille syndrome is usually associated with the progressive disappearance of interlobular bile ducts. The findings of interlobular bile ducts in the second liver biopsy were therefore rare and unique to this case.

Alagille Syndrome↗

[A study on the distribution of metastases at autopsy in 70 patients with ovarian cancer].

A total of 6,457 autopsy protocols were reviewed to identify 70 women who died of ovarian cancer. 1. Epithelial tumors were the most common tumor (74%). Twenty% were germ cell tumors. There were two cases each of sarcoma and stromal cell tumors. 2. The patients with germ cell tumors were younger than those with epithelial tumors. The duration of the epithelial tumor disease was longer than that of germ cell tumor. 3. The most common mechanism of death was carcinomatosis (69%). Eight of 70 patients (11%) had respiratory failure. One case of subacute cor pulmonale was due to tumor embolization. One case had a rupture of the portal vein. 4. The peritoneum was most frequently involved in every tumor (87%). The liver was the second most frequent site (73%). Other frequent metastatic sites included the lungs (44%), and spleen (47%). Lymph nodes including the paraaortic, pelvic and mesenteric were also very frequent metastatic sites. 5. CDDP containing regimens were used in 33 cases (47%). FAMT regimen was the second most common treatment (15.7%). Another common treatment is whole abdominal radiotherapy (14%). The patients treated with the CDDP containing regimen had a significantly longer survival time (23.4 months) than those treated with FAMT (19.2 months) and others (13.6 months). 6. For metastasis to the lungs, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes the patients treated with the CDDP containing regimen were more numerous than those treated without CDDP. For metastasis to the kidneys, the patients treated without CDDP were more numerous than those treated with CDDP containing regimens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Regulation of expression of the 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases of human placenta and fetal adrenal.

The appropriate expression of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-->4-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) is vital for mammalian reproduction, fetal growth and life maintenance. Several isoforms of 3 beta-HSD, the products of separate genes, have been identified in various species including man. Current investigations are targeted toward defining the processes that regulate the levels of specific isoforms in various steroidogenic tissues of man. High levels of expression of 3 beta-HSD were observed in placental tissues. It has been generally considered that the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblastic cells are the principal sites of 3 beta-HSD expression and, moreover, that 3 beta-HSD expression is intimately associated with cyclic AMP-promoted formation of syncytia. Herein we report the presence of 3 beta-HSD immunoreactive and mRNA species in uninucleate cytotrophoblasts in the chorion laeve, similar to that in syncytia but not cytotrophoblast placenta. In vitro, 3 beta-HSD levels in chorion laeve cytotrophoblasts were not increased with time nor after treatment with adenylate cyclase activators, whereas villous cytotrophoblasts spontaneously demonstrated progressive, increased 3 beta-HSD expression. Moreover, 3 beta-HSD synthesis appeared to precede morphologic syncytial formation. Thus high steroidogenic enzyme expression in placenta is not necessarily closely linked to formation of syncytia. Both Western immunoblot and enzymic activity analyses also indicated that the 3 beta-HSD expressed in these cytotrophoblastic populations was the 3 beta-HSD type I gene product (M(r), 45K) and not 3 beta-HSD type II (M(r), 44K) expressed in fetal testis. In cultures of fetal zone and definitive zone cell of human fetal adrenal, 3 beta-HSD expression was not detected until ACTH was added. ACTH, likely acting in a cyclic AMP-dependent process, induced 3 beta-HSD type II activity and mRNA expression. The higher level of 3 beta-HSD mRNA in definitive zone compared with fetal zone cells was associated with parallel increases in cortisol secretion relative to dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate formation.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Large amounts of 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids in urine during taurine therapy.

The management of infants with cholestasis remains a difficult challenge. On the hypothesis that taurine is effective in treating neonatal cholestasis, taurine (1 g/day, per os) was administered to 2 patients with neonatal hepatitis and the bile acids were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The serum levels of bilirubin and bile acids were significantly decreased by taurine. Before the treatment, cholic acid (CA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were predominant (79.2% in both patients) in the urine. There was a significant elevation of 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids (1 beta BA), especially 1 beta, 3 alpha, 7 alpha, 12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (CA-1 beta-ol), in urine collected during the taurine therapy, and 1 beta BA became predominant (57.7-78.3%). Therefore, increased amounts of urine 1 beta BA were excreted during taurine administration. Taurine therapy is recommended, because it might be effective for treating neonatal cholestasis.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Neonatal Dubin-Johnson syndrome with severe cholestasis: effective phenobarbital therapy.

We described Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) with severe cholestasis in a 20-day-old Japanese boy. Although neonatal DJS has been sporadically reported. DJS with severe cholestasis has not to our knowledge been described in the English literature. The ratio of urinary coproporphyrin isomer I to urinary total coproporphyrin in our patient was high (93%). Liver histology showed cytoplasmic pigment granules in the liver cells. Administration of phenobarbital (PB) significantly decreased the levels of bilirubin and bile acids in the serum. There was a significant elevation of 1 beta-hydroxylated bile acids in the urine. It is predicted that severe cholestasis in neonatal DJS may cause metabolic abnormalities in both bilirubin and bile acids transport.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

A sequential immunosuppressive treatment with mizoribin (Bredinin) plus cyclosporin A on the subrenal capsule assay.

To minimize immunological interferences on the subrenal capsule (SRC) assay, a new immunosuppressor, mizoribin (MZB: Bredinin) alone or combined with cyclosporin A (ScA) was evaluated by an experimental SRC assay system using a rat ovarian cancer tissue. Daily applications of MZB (200 mg/kg) for 7 days following the xenograft of cancer tissue were insufficient to suppress immunological reactions of the recipient mice, and all the grafted cancer tissues were rejected. Although CsA monotreatment (60 mg/kg of CsA given daily for 7 days) successfully suppressed the host immune reaction, enhanced toxicities of CsA in combination with anticancer agents caused high lethal rate of host mice during the experimental chemotherapy. Sequential use of CsA on day 0 to day 2 followed by MZB on day 3, 5 and 7 brought the most favorable results with minimal host reactions and toxicities. An anticancer screening test using the modified SRCA accurately reflected the results of experimental chemotherapy against the rat ovarian cancer. The immunosuppressive treatment which minimizes immunological interferences with SRC assay chemoscreening test.

Animals↗

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (adenoma malignum) of the uterine cervix associated with mucinous ovarian carcinoma.

A case of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA: adenoma malignum) of the uterine cervix associated with ovarian mucinous carcinoma is documented. Diagnosis was possible only retrospectively after surgery by histological examinations including immunohistochemistry. Three courses of chemotherapy, consisting of cisplatin, doxorubicin and ifosfamide, could eradicate the residual diseases of ovarian cancer from the peritoneal cavity, but was insufficiently effective against lymph node metastases of the cervical MDA. Subsequently, the disease flared-up retroperitoneally during the sixth course of treatment course, suggesting chemoresistance developed, and further chemotherapy using different regimens were not effective. Therapeutic intractability of MDA as well as the diagnostic difficulty was again emphasized.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[The comparative study of fluids in middle ear cavity and maxillary sinus--biochemical and cytological analysis].

Both paranasal and middle ear cavities are surrounded by bony walls and are lined with upper respiratory mucosae. Thus it can be worthwhile to compare the biochemical and cytological characteristics of the fluids in these cavities, and this gives valuable information to help us to understand the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion. The fluids in the otitis media with serous effusion (OME-S), otitis media with mucoid effusion (OME-M) and acute otitis media (OMA) were sampled for the middle ear diseases, and those in postoperative maxillary cyst (POMC) and acutely aggravated chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) were chosen for maxillary sinus group. LDH (lactate dehydrogenase). ALP (alkaline phosphatase), CHO (total cholesterol), LDH isozymes and ALP isozymes of these effusions were assayed and the results of each group were compared. Coincidently, through smear samples of these effusions, infiltrating cell count, cell differential count and cholesterol crystals were observed microscopically. LDH activity of the fluids was extremely higher than those of the serum in all diseases. The LDH activity ratios to serum were CMS greater than or equal to OMA greater than or equal to OME-M greater than POMC greater than OME-S in order of activity. LDH isozyme analysis showed higher LDH 4 and 5 than LDH 1 and 2 in all diseases. ALP activity ratios to serum were OME-S greater than or equal to OMA greater than OME-M much greater than POMC greater than or equal to CMS in order of activity. Middle ear diseases manifested higher ALP activities than maxillary diseases. CHO ratios to serum were POMS greater than OME-M greater than or equal to OME-S greater than CMS greater than or equal to OMA in order of quantity. This result agreed with the frequencies of cholesterol crystallization of these fluids. The fluids of OME-M showed mild infiltration of cells, and cell differentiations were polymorphonuclear leucocyte greater than lymphocyte much greater than macrophage much greater than epithelial cell in order of cell numbers. There were few infiltrating cells in the fluids of OME-S and differentiations were lymphocyte greater than or equal to polymorphonuclear greater than or equal to macrophage in order of numbers. There were a few cells but were many cell debris in the fluids of POMC, and cells were polymorphonuclear much greater than macrophage greater than lymphocyte in order of cell count.

Adult↗

Hemodynamic effects of high-frequency jet ventilation in dogs with acute right coronary arterial ligation and pulmonary arterial banding.

The hemodynamic effects of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), synchronized with diastole, and intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) were studied in 10 dogs with acute right-sided myocardial ischemia and elevated right ventricular pressure. Myocardial ischemia was produced by ligation of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA), then the right ventricular pressure was elevated to facilitate the ischemia by banding the main pulmonary artery. Before and 1, 2, 3, and 5 hr after the RCA ligation, cardiorespiratory variables for each ventilatory mode and creatine phosphokinase MB isoenzyme (CPK-MB) were measured. During HFJV compared with IPPV: there were significant increases in stroke index and left ventricular stroke work index at all ischemic periods, and decreases in peak and mean airway pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance at all ischemic periods, and in the product of systolic right ventricular pressure and heart rate at 2 hr, 3 hr, and 5 hr. The difference in mean airway pressure between IPPV and HFJV correlated significantly with those in cardiac index and stroke index (r = 0.575 and 0.779, respectively). CPK-MB was significantly greater at 3 hr and 5 hr than that before RCA ligation. These findings suggest that HFJV synchronized with diastole offers hemodynamic advantages over IPPV to ischemic right ventricle with constricted pulmonary artery, mainly due to lowering the mean airway pressure.

Journal Article↗

An experimental model for advanced ovarian cancer.

Intraperitoneally transplanted tumors implanted and began developing with ascites in about 62% of the female rats within 4 to 6 weeks after transplantation. The tumor used in this study was an adenocarcinoma and which originated from a primary ovarian cancer in rats of the same strain (Wistar). The morphology and biological behavior of the tumor were very similar to the tumor in humans. Moreover, the preliminary results with cisplatin therapy indicate that intraperitoneal cancer corresponding to stage III or IV in the FIGO classification is a promising model for experimental therapeutic studies of common epithelial carcinoma at an advanced stage.

Animals↗

[Evaluation of norfloxacin in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group for Norfloxacin].

Norfloxacin (NFLX, AM-715), a new quinolone antibiotic agent, was evaluated clinically and bacteriologically for its efficacy and safety in pediatrics by a study group organized with pediatricians from all over the country. A summary of the results of the evaluation is as follows. 1. Incidence of NFLX-resistant strains (MIC over 12.5 micrograms/ml) isolated from children with various infections was 1.6% (8/512). One resistant strain was observed among 45 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, and none among 30 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 2. After single oral administration of 1.5-2.9, 3.0-4.8 and 5.1-6.1 mg/kg NFLX in tablet form at fasting, mean peak values of serum concentration of 0.37, 0.56, 0.92 micrograms/ml, T1/2 of 2.5, 2.6, 2.6 hours and urinary recovery rates in 8 hours at 25.3, 25.3, 27.1% were observed, respectively. 3. Clinical effects were studied chiefly in intestinal and urinary tract infections. Among 317 patients from whom pathogens had been isolated, responses to the treatment were excellent in 187, good in 79, fair in 9, poor in 7, and unknown in 35 cases. The overall efficacy rate was 94.3% (266/282) and the efficacy rate for excellent responses was 70.3% (187/266). Among all the 406 patients treated, including those with undetermined pathogens, responses were excellent in 233, good in 106, fair in 11, poor in 11, and unknown in 45 cases. The overall efficacy rate was 93.9% (339/361). 4. Clinical effects of NFLX classified by diseases with identified pathogens were 81.8% (9/11) for acute pneumonia, 80.8% (21/26) for other respiratory infections, 95.8% (23/24) for bacillary dysentery, 98.6% (70/71) for Campylobacter enteritis, 100% (24/24) for Salmonella enteritis, 100% (6/6) for other acute enteritis and 98.1% (104/106) for urinary tract infections. Including other infections as high as 94.3% (266/282) of efficacy rate was obtained in total. There was no significant difference in NFLX efficacies between unidentified and identified pathogens. Thus, the total clinical efficacy rate was 93.9% (339/361). 5. The total eradication rate of 325 pathogens evaluable was 84.3%, with identical eradication rates for Gram-positive cocci (GPC) (43/51) and for Gram-negative rods (GNR) (231/274). 6. The optimal daily dose of NFLX seemed to be in a range between 6.0 and 12.0 mg/kg, and the optimal duration of treatment to be 7 days for children over 5 years old. 7. The clinical efficacy in treating P. aeruginosa infections in 12 patients was 100% (11/11) and the eradication rate was 83.3% (10/12).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Administration, Oral↗