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Biomedical subjects

M Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujii.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Otoconia on the vestibular dark cells of the ampullar areas.

Morphological and metabolic differences in the otoconia on vestibular dark cells of the ampullar area before and after streptomycin treatment were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalyser. Young adult pigmented guinea pigs were used in this study. In the control group, distribution of the otoconia showed a regular pattern. In the SM group the otoconia decreased in numbers and the regularity of the distribution pattern seemed to disappear. Calcium content of the otoconia in SM group also decreased. From these findings, it was concluded that SM might affect not only the sensory and supporting cells but also the vestibular dark cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria (ADP) with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in a 69-year-old woman.

delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria (ALAD porphyria, ADP) with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in a 69-year-old woman is reported. The patient was admitted to our hospital complaining of slight cough with low-grade fever, and treated with piperacillin sodium, resulting in complete resolution of the symptoms, following a diagnosis of bronchopneumonia. Thereafter, however, she began to complain of vomiting, abdominal pain, facial numbness and paresis of the extremities with gait disturbance, and became comatose with hyponatremia (serum Na concentration 119 mEq/L) in a few days. Laboratory tests revealed an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) level of 13.5 pg/mL, plasma osmolality 218 mOsm/KgH2O, urinary osmolality 429 mOsm/KgH20, urinary Na concentration > 20 mEq/L, and no abnormalities of thyroid, adrenal or renal function. Neither edema nor dehydration was evident. These data indicated the presence of SIADH. No abnormalities suggestive of malignant or infectious diseases such as lung cancer, pneumonia and Guillain-Barré syndrome were evident from laboratory and roentgenographic findings. As the cause of SIADH, therefore, porphyria was suspected. Metabolites and activities of enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway were examined, and very low activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) (0.14 mumol PBG/mL RBC/h) was found. The patient was neither an alcoholic nor a heavy smoker, and she had no past history of heavy metal intoxication, photosensitivity or tyrosinemia. On the basis of these data and clinical features, she was diagnosed as having ADP. We consider this to be the first case of ADP reported in Japan.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1995

[Pharmacokinetic study of intraperitoneal cisplatin chemotherapy for gastric cancer as an adjuvant setting].

The pharmacokinetic studies of intraperitoneal cisplatin (CDDP) for gastric cancer were discussed elsewhere, but those studies were investigated in patients with ascites. The purpose of this study is to compare the difference in pharmacokinetics between patients with malignant ascites and those curatively resected without ascites. One hundred mg of CDDP and 300 ml of saline were administered intraperitoneally for 9 curatively resected patients by catheter just after operation, and the same doses of CDDP were administered for 3 advanced or recurrent patients with ascites just after removal of whole fluid. Blood samples were corrected at 6 points after administration. Results were as follows: The 0-t area under the curve (AUC) and the Cmax of both total and free CDDP in the patients without ascites was higher than in the patients with ascites. The 0-infinity AUC and MRT of the ascites patients were higher than in the patients without ascites. These data suggest that intraperitoneal CDDP chemotherapy for gastric cancer as an adjuvant setting is more effective than chemotherapy for advanced malignant ascites patients.

Ascitic Fluid↗
PubMed1995

[Effects of anticancer drugs and combination effects of anthracyclines on the hypoxic cells of head and neck cancer].

Head and neck cancer has hypoxic compartment. The hypoxic cells are resistant to anticancer drugs and thought to be one of the causes of recurrence. We examined effects of anticancer drugs on the hypoxic cells using HEp-2 human laryngeal cell line. Anticancer drugs, CDDP, peplomycin (PEP), 5-FU, THP-adriamycin (THP-ADR), and adriamycin (ADR), were incubated with cells in hypoxic condition (5% CO2 and 95% N2) for 72 hours. Drug effects were measured by proliferation rates (IC50). IC50 of PEP increased 22.89 folds in hypoxic cells. IC50 of CDDP and 5-FU also increased 1.86 and 2.27 folds respectively. However, IC50 of THP-ADR and ADR remained same in the hypoxic cells. It was proved that THP-ADR and ADR were effective for the hypoxic cells. The combination effect with THP-ADR and CDDP or PEP were more than additive against the hypoxic cells. It was suggested that the combination with THP-ADR and CDDP or PEP are effective for head and neck cancer which contains hypoxic cell compartment.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1995

[Head and neck cancer].

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent advances of cancer chemotherapy for head and neck cancer from the viewpoint of survival, focusing on 1) neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, 2) concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, 3) adjuvant chemotherapy, and 4) chemotherapy for palliation. Although neo-adjuvant chemotherapy did not increase survival, it produced a higher rate of organ preservation in some sites such as the larynx and maxilla. Concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy form the most promising primary chemotherapy approach to prolong survival of patients with locally advanced resectable and unresectable disease. It is the only systemic approach consistently shown to improve local-regional control and survival in randomized trials. The lack of impact on distant relapse rates, however, suggests that concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. No survival benefit is evident in adjuvant chemotherapy trials, but some randomized trials including ours produced a significant reduction in the distant relapse rate. As for chemotherapy for palliation, the 5- and 10-year survival were 3.8% and 2.5%, respectively, in patients with local-regional diseases who received chemotherapy for palliation, according to our results. In the patients with distant relapse, the median survival was 10 months, ranging from 2 to 53 months.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1995

[Lymphatics of the thoracic surface of the diaphragm especially located around the inferior surface of the pericardial sac].

The lymphatics on the thoracic surface of the diaphragm, especially lying around the lateral and posterior sides of the base of the cardiac sac, were examined in 68 adult Japanese cadavers macroscopically (37 males and 24 females, aged 45-92 years, no clinical evidences of neoplasms). In this observation, a vein which drained into the terminal portion of the inferior vena cava was observed. The lymph nodes in this region were located along the vein frequently (80.9%). The vein passed through the esophageal hiatus, or penetrated the diaphragm and finally communicated with veins around the esophagogastric junction. However, lymphatic vessels were not observed passing through the phrenico-esophageal membrane and/or the diaphragm. The collecting vessels, which originated from the lymphatics, drained into the esophageal lymphatics, and it drained into the thoracic duct via the esophageal lymphatics. In pleural effusion cases, lymphatic nets were clearly observed on the thoracic surface of the diaphragm immediately under the parietal pleura. The lymphatic nets did not communicate with the diaphragmatic lymphatics around the base of the cardiac sac. Moreover, large collecting vessel from the lymphatic nets passed through the muscular crus of the diaphragm near the medial arcuate ligament and traveled inferior to merge at the original portion of the thoracic duct at the level of the renal vessels. From these observations, the lymphatics on the posterior part of the thoracic surface of the diaphragm communicated with several regional lymphatics independently. This morphological lymphatic traveling suggests that the route differs in cases of pleural effusion or cancer metastasis.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Two patients with far advanced gastric cancer responding to combination chemotherapy with 5-FU and CDDP].

Combination chemotherapy with 5-FU and CDDP was given to two patients with far advanced gastric cancer. One patient was associated with metastases of lung, liver, pancreas and Virchow and periaortic lymph nodes, and the other was associated with metastases of periaortic lymph nodes and malignant ascitis. The regimen consisted of 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2 (day 1-5, continuous infusion) and CDDP 100 mg/m2 (day 3, 1 hr drip infusion). The interval was from the 6th to the 21st day. The response to chemotherapy showed shrinking of primary gastric lesions and metastases of liver, pancreas and periaortic lymph nodes, and disappearance of Virchow lymph nodes and malignant ascitis. Adverse reactions were thrombocytopenia (Grade 4), leukocytopenia (Grade 3), stomatitis (Grade 1, 3), vomiting (Grade 1, 2) and peripheral neuropathy (Grade 3). This therapy is thought to be effective against far advanced gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[Late phase II trial of RP56976 (Docetaxel) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer].

A late phase II trial on RP 56976 (Docetaxel) was carried out against stage IIIB or IV non-resectable non-small cell lung cancer as a multicenter cooperative trial. Of 78 enrolled patients, seventy five patients were eligible and 71 were evaluable for the response. The overall response rate was 19.7% (14/71): 27.9% (12/48) of patients with adenocarcinoma and 10.0% (2/20) of patients with squamous cell carcinoma responded to docetaxel. The response rate was 15.0% (3/20) in patients with stage III B disease and 21.6% (11/51) in patients with stage IV disease. Leukopenia (neutropenia) occurred frequently, but most tended to recover in a short period of time. Other adverse reactions included nausea/vomiting, anorexia, general malaise, alopecia, all of which were not severe. Severe hypersensitivity reactions occurred in 2 patients (2.7%). The results seemed to show usefulness of docetaxel for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[A late phase-II trial comparing KW-2307 with vindesine in non-small cell lung cancer (1). Lung cancer section in KW-2307 Study Group].

A multicenter cooperative study was performed to compare KW-2307 (KW), a novel vinca alkaloid (VA) derivative, and vindesine (VDS), with respect to tumor response and toxicity in patients (pts) with non-small cell lung cancer. In the former part of the trial, pts received monotherapy with KW 25 mg/m2 or VDS 3 mg/m2. Pts refractory to treatment with KW or VDS were crossed over to treatment with VDS (3 mg/m2/W x 3) or KW (20 mg/m2/W x 3), respectively, in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) 80 mg/m2. Both drugs were administered in 4 courses or more once weekly by intravenous bolus injection in monotherapy. In the subsequent combination therapy, non-responders were treated with CDDP on day 1 and KW or VDS on day 1, 8 and 15 with a course of 28 days, and treatment was given in 2 courses or more in principle. According to the method of O'Brien/Fleming, comparison of tumor response between the 2 treatment groups in the 2nd stage was performed in 154 cases. The response rate of KW group (29.4%, 22/75) was significantly better than that of VDS group (9.3%, 7/75). The main adverse effect in both groups was leukopenia (neutropenia), and no significant difference was observed between the incidence in each group. Among other adverse effects, increased GOT, fever and phlebitis were slightly more often found in KW group, and alopecia and paresthesia a little more in the VDS group. In the later part of combination therapy with CD DP, the KW group achieved PR in 10 of 34 pts (29.4%), and no response was observed in the VDS group (28 pts).

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

[A case of infantile ganglioglioma].

Gangliogliomas are common in childhood, but rare in infancy. The authors report a rare case of ganglioglioma who had an initial episode of complex partial seizure in infancy. A two-year-old girl was admitted for the surgical treatment of intractable seizures. She presented with an annual episode of seizure at two months old. The CT scan at 2 months old showed a light high-density tumor in the left medial temporal lobe. However, she had no treatment because she had no seizure since then and her psychomotor development was normal. She was treated with anticonvulsants from 1 year and 10 months old since seizures recurred. She was admitted to our ward at 2 years old because the frequency of seizures increased. Plain CT on admission showed an enlarged high density mass in left medial temporal lobe. The T1 weighted images of MRI demonstrated the mass to be isointense compared with the cortex, with homogeneously contrast enhancement. Total removal of the tumor was performed and histological diagnosis was ganglioglioma. She is seizure-free after surgery and synaptophysin was useful for the histological diagnosis. This case may indicate that gangliogliomas can be a congenital brain tumor which slowly enlarges.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1994

[Comparison between the mammographic extent of microcalcifications and the virtual extent of breast carcinoma, and observation of changes in mammographic features with time].

In 26 nonpalpable breast carcinoma cases showing microcalcifications not accompanied by any associated mass on mammograms, the maximum diameter of the area of microcalcifications was measured and then compared with the histological extent of carcinoma. The extent of carcinoma was larger than the diameter of the area of microcalcifications in 14 cases (53.8%) and almost equal in five cases. When the maximum diameter of the area of microcalcifications was less than 2.5cm, carcinoma extended no more than 1.5cm beyond the diameter of the microcalcifications. Employing 24 cases subjected to excision biopsy, the extent of carcinoma was compared with the diameter of the area of microcalcifications on sectioned material containing microcalcifications, and it was found that carcinoma tended to extend further than the extent of calcifications (62.5%). Mammographic microcalcifications obtained from 37 breast cancer cases not accompanied by any associated mass were analyzed in contrast to their previous survey films. Twelve cases were found to have shown several extremely faint calcifications on the previous survey films. Follow-up study that focused on such faint calcifications had been performed in 43 cases from 1990 to 1992, resulting in the successful detection of four cases of breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A high-level and regulatable production system for recombinant glycoproteins using a human interferon-alpha promoter-based expression vector.

A novel expression vector for human cells, pIFP, which expresses a cloned gene under the control of the human interferon-alpha-encoding gene (IFN-alpha) promoter (pIFN) was constructed. As a model of glycoprotein production, a human erythropoietin-encoding cDNA (EPO) inserted downstream from pIFN in pIFP was introduced into human B-cell leukemia-derived BALL-1 cells, and EPO-producing cells were established. Upon stimulation with Sendai virus, the cells produced human EPO at high levels. The highest production level and the highest inducibility were 872 IU/ml and 67-fold, respectively. Simultaneously, the transformed cells also produced IFN-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as the parental BALL-1 cells did. Comparing the amounts of the substances produced, activity of the exogenous pIFN introduced seemed much higher than that of the endogenous one. Further, the transformed cells could be obtained in a large quantity by being applied to the 'in vivo cell proliferation method (hamster method)'. Human EPO produced by the transformed cells had a molecular mass range of 35 to 42 kDa, similar to that of EPO produced by CHO cells. The processing of EPO seemed to occur properly. The combination of the human pIFN, BALL-1 cells and the hamster method provides us with a useful production system for bioactive glycoproteins of human origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Tax proteins of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 and 2 induce expression of the gene encoding erythroid-potentiating activity (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, TIMP-1).

A growth factor-like activity for erythroid cells (erythroid-potentiating activity) is produced by the T-cells infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 (HTLV-2) (Gasson, J. C., Golde, D. W., Kaufman, S. E., Westbrook, C. A., Hewick, R. M., Kaufmann, R. J., Wong, G. G., Temple, P. A., Leary, A. C., Brown, E. L., Orr, E. C., and Clark, S. C. (1985) Nature 315, 768-771) and is reportedly identical with tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) (Docherty, A. J. P., Lyons, A., Smith, B. J., Wright, E. M., Stephens, P. E., Harris, T. J. R., Murphy, G., and Reynolds, J. J. (1985) Nature 318, 66-69). We found that adult T-cell leukemia cell lines infected with HTLV-1 also express high levels of a TIMP-1 transcript. A viral transactivator of HTLV-1, Tax1, in a human T-cell line (Jurkat), was sufficient to stimulate transcription of the TIMP-1 gene. Deletion and mutation analysis of the TIMP-1 gene promoter showed that the AP-1 binding site in the 38-base pair sequence conserved between the human and mouse genes was essential for activation by Tax1. The transactivator of HTLV-2 also stimulated the promoter through the same cis-element. The reported growth-promoting activity of TIMP-1 against erythroid cells and potentially against HTLV-1-infected T-cells may modulate the clinical course of adult T-cell leukemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Transplant-to-host neuron migration and neurite projection from homotopically transplanted olfactory bulb as demonstrated by mouse allelic Thy-1 form.

Transplant-to-host neuron migration and neurite projection were demonstrated using the mouse allelic Thy-1 system, namely, BALB/c (Thy-1.2) embryonic olfactory bulb (OB) as the graft and 5- to 6-week-old AKR (Thy-1.1) OB as the host. From OB transplants inserted into the host OB, small neurons were often extensively moved mainly in the internal granular layer and showed almost the same morphology as the normal granule neurons. Some large neurons also migrated. Furthermore, inside OB the transplants sent axons mainly into the internal granular layer and dendrites into the external plexiform layer. Outside OB the axons arrived at the anterior olfactory nucleus, primary olfactory cortex, olfactory tubercle, and cortical nucleus of the amygdaloid complex. These fibers appeared to terminate in normal target areas. These findings show that the olfactory system at 5-6 weeks of age still has the capacity to integrate newly migrated neurons and to receive newly growing fibers from the transplant.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

The effects of stimulus rates upon median, ulnar and radial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials.

We examined the effect of stimulus rates on the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude following stimulation of the median nerve (MN) and the ulnar nerve (UN) at the elbow or wrist, and the radial nerve (RN) at the wrist in 12 normal subjects. We measured the amplitude of frontal (P14-N18-P22-N30) and parietal peaks (P14-N20-P26-N34) at a stimulus rate of 1.1, 3.5 and 5.7 Hz. The amplitude attenuation was found at frontal P22 and N30 and to a lesser degree at parietal N20 and P26 peaks with an increasing stimulus rate from 1.1 to 5.7 Hz. The amplitude attenuation was greatest at the elbow when compared to the wrist stimulation for both MN and UN. The attenuation was least for wrist stimulation for the RN. The UN block by local anesthesia just distal to the stimulus electrode at the elbow abolished the amplitude attenuation caused by the fast stimulus rate. The observed amplitude attenuation with the faster stimulus rate is probably due, in part, to interference from the "secondary" afferent inputs. The secondary afferent inputs arise from peripheral receptor stimulation (muscle, joint and/or cutaneous) as a subsequent effect of efferent volleys initiated from the point of stimulation. The greater number of peripheral receptors being activated as more proximal sites of stimulation in a mixed nerve would result in greater attenuation of the SEP recorded from scalp electrodes. We postulate that the attenuation of frontal peaks by the fast stimulus rate is due to the frontal projection of interfering "secondary" afferent inputs.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The role of MRI for the diagnosis of recurrence of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy have attained good response rates in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Despite excellent response rates to initial treatment, however, five year survival rates are reported to be poor. The reason for this poor prognosis is the high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis. It is therefore thought to be important to detect local recurrence as early as possible. CT scan is useful in the diagnosis of NPC. Asymmetry of the nasopharyngeal cavity proven by CT suggests NPC, and CT is therefore regarded as important in evaluating the efficacy of therapy. We analyzed CT findings in 23 patients with NPC who were treated in the period from 1986 to 1991. Asymmetry on CT after chemoradiotherapy suggests residual tumor or local recurrence, but 10 patients out of 14 with asymmetry survive without recurrence. False positive rate was 71%. Therefore asymmetry seen on CT does not always mean residual tumor or recurrence. MRI is thought to be superior to CT in the diagnosis of NPC because it can discriminate soft tissue and malignant tumors. Even when fiberscopic examination shows no remarkable findings and CT fails to prove asymmetry of the nasopharyngeal cavity, a high signal area on MRI could suggest local residual tumor or local recurrence. False positive rate of MRI is 17%, which is much superior to CT. Also a low-intensity signal on MRI suggests fibrous tissue rather than tumor. Coronal sections of MRI are also useful in diagnosing the extent of recurrent tumor invading the skull base, mesopharynx, or hypopharynx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

A case of vascular leiomyoma of the larynx.

We present a 68-year-old woman with a vascular leiomyoma of the larynx, a benign tumour that rarely involves that organ. Chief complaints were a feeling of a narrowing of the pharynx and difficulty in breathing in the supine position. A spherical tumour measuring 1.5 cm and covered with normal mucosa was found at the margin of her epiglottis. The patient was administered a general anaesthetic and the tumour was successfully removed via direct laryngoscopy. Histological examination revealed that the tumour lay beneath a layer of stratified squamous epithelium and was encased in a well-defined fibrous capsule. The tumour parenchyma was composed of proliferated fibres that consisted of elongated cells, surrounded by an abundance of blood vessels. Its complete removal is the treatment of choice with care taken to avoid profuse bleeding. Recurrence is rare.

Aged↗