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Biomedical subjects

M Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujii.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Histologic and biochemical alterations in experimental acute pancreatitis induced by supramaximal caerulein stimulation.

We studied the histologic and biochemical alterations in experimental acute pancreatitis induced by supramaximal caerulein stimulation in rats. All rats received 4 subcutaneous injections of various doses of caerulein (5-50 micrograms/kg body weight) at hourly intervals over 3 h, and 9 h after the first injection all animals were killed. Subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg body weight of caerulein induced a significant increase in serum amylase activity and histologic evidence of acute interstitial pancreatitis similar to those observed with the 50 micrograms/kg body weight dosage of caerulein. Therefore, a total of 4 subcutaneous injections of 20 micrograms/kg body weight of caerulein was chosen to study the time-course of structural and biochemical alterations in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Serum amylase activity reached a maximal value of 10-fold increase over the basal values at 6 h, and then decreased gradually to normal values at 18 h after the first injection. Remarkable interstitial edema and cytoplasmic vacuoles in acinar cells were the earliest histologic alterations. Cellular infiltration was prominent at 9-12 h after the first injection. Although these histologic changes almost completely disappeared after 24 h, the reduction in the number of zymogen granules was still detectable by electron microscopic examination even after 7 days. DNA content in the pancreas showed no significant changes following the induction of acute pancreatitis, whereas a moderate to marked reduction in enzyme content persisted after 7 days. Within 14 days after the initiation of the injections, both structural and biochemical changes had completely disappeared.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The influence of interfering input from the peroneal nerve on tibial-nerve somatosensory evoked potential.

Using a conditioning-test paradigm, we studied the recovery function of tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) conditioned by preceding peroneal nerve stimulation. The inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) ranged from 0 to 400 msec, where 0 msec indicated simultaneous arrival of tibial and peroneal nerve volleys at the L1 spine. The recovery curve was W-shaped, showing two peaks of SEP suppression, maximum at 6 msec ISI (1st phase) and 50-75 ISI msec (2nd phase). In the 1st phase suppression, we found distinct differences in wave forms between 0-2 msec ISI and 4-6 msec ISI. At 0-2 msec ISI, P40-N50-P60 amplitude decreased and latencies shortened, while P31 and N35 were unchanged. At 4-6 msec ISI, all peaks, possibly excluding P31, were markedly depressed. We attribute the former change to an "occlusive effect" and the latter to an "inhibitory effect," each mediated via a central synaptic network between the two nerves. The attenuation of the 2nd but not the 1st phase suppression by peroneal nerve block distal to the stimulating electrodes provided evidence that the 2nd phase suppression resulted primarily from interfering afferent signals generated by peroneal nerve peripheral receptors, activated by foot movement.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. on glucose homeostasis in rats.

Effect of Gymnema sylvestre, R.Br. (G. sylvestre; GS4) on glucose homeostasis was studied in rats. In the first set of experiments, the acute effect of GS4 was examined in both non-diabetic and streptozocin (30 mg/kg)-induced mildly diabetic rats. Administration of 1 g/kg body weight of GS4 to 18-h fasted non-diabetic rats significantly attenuated the serum glucose response to oral administration of 1 g/kg glucose. The immunoreactive insulin (IRI) response in GS4-administered rats was lower, but not significantly, than that in control rats. In mildly diabetic rats, a 60 min increment in serum glucose concentrations was significantly reduced by GS4 administration. No IRI response was observed in these diabetic rats irrespective of GS4 administration. In the second set of experiments, the chronic effect of GS4 was examined in mildly diabetic rats. Two weeks after the induction of diabetes, the rats were divided into two groups that had similar impairment of glucose tolerance assessed by an oral glucose loading test. The rats were fed for 32-35 days with either a control diet or a diet supplemented with GS4. After 4 weeks, GS4 showed a tendency to reduce the serum glucose concentrations in the fed state and to improve the glucose tolerance. Gain in body weight, food intake, pancreas weight and the pancreatic contents of IRI, protein, amylase and trypsinogen were unaltered in the GS4-treated group compared with the control. These results suggest the usefulness of G. sylvestre in the treatment of certain classes of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bicipital radial bursitis: CT and MR appearance.

The authors present two cases of bicipital radial bursitis in the elbow. In these two cases, different CT and MR imaging patterns were observed. In the first case, postcontrast CT inhomogeneously enhanced the entire lesion. T1-weighted MR images showed the lesion with iso-signal intensity with muscle. T2-weighted images demonstrated the lesion with inhomogeneous high signal intensity, with internal, linear hypointensity. Histologically, the lesion consisted of hypertrophic synovia. In the second case, postcontrast CT failed to enhance the lesion. T2-weighted MR images showed the lesion with homogeneous, marked high signal intensity. Histologically, the lesion consisted of a monocystic bursa lined by thin synovial lining layers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Specific binding and stabilization of DNA and phosphorothioate DNA by amphiphilic alpha-helical peptides.

Synthetic cationic peptides with amphiphilic alpha-helical structure were found to have DNA binding ability to stabilize double and triple stranded DNA. The stabilization effect was significant for cationic alpha-helical peptides indicating the importance of an electrostatic interaction of a positive charge of peptides and a negative charge of DNAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Amphiphilic beta-sheet peptides can bind to double and triple stranded DNA.

It was shown that synthetic peptides with amphiphilic beta-sheet structure can bind to and stabilize double and triple stranded DNA. CD spectra indicated that beta-sheet conformation of peptides were emphasized in the presence or absence of DNA and that no significant change of DNA conformation occurred. UV melting study at pH 7.0 revealed that interaction of peptides with DNA and its hybrids are sensitive and specific depending the host structure.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A novel approach for the solid phase synthesis of DNA-peptide conjugates.

The strategy of this study involves automated synthesis of oligonucleotides on a CPG support using standard cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry followed by covalent linkage to peptide fragments bearing a free terminal alpha-amino group and residues with protected side chains. Conjugation was formed through an alkyldiisocyanate linker. Conjugates were isolated by cleavage from the solid support and deprotection in one step.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative in vivo measurement of thyroidal iodine content by static x-ray fluorescent technique: some preliminary clinical observations.

A static x-ray fluorescent technique utilizing an 241Am source of low activity and a wide view diverging collimator which allows in vivo determination of the concentration and total content of iodine in the thyroid is described. Determinations of normal thyroidal iodine concentration and total iodine content were as follows: 0.40 mg/g and 10.6 mg for 16 men, and 0.67 mg/g and 17.6 mg for 14 women. This fluorescent system has been applied to 70 patients to date. Thyroidal iodine concentrations in patients with Graves' disease were approximately equal to those in healthy suspects, and little change was observed among the concentrations in patients before, during, or after treatment. In most of the patients with chronic or subacute thyroiditis, concentrations levels were lower.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intravenous leiomyomatosis.

We present two cases of intravenous leiomyomatosis with uterine leiomyoma or previous hysterectomy because of uterine leiomyoma in which MRI was characteristic. MRI showed a mass in the inferior vena cava and the heart. These MR findings are useful in diagnosing intravenous leiomyomatosis.

Biopsy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adjuvant chemotherapy with oral tegaful and uracil for maxillary sinus carcinoma.

We have applied tegaful and uracil (UFT) treatment as adjuvant chemotherapy to patients after the completion of primary therapy. UFT was given per os at a dose of 300 or 400 mg/day for more than 1 year. A retrospective study was conducted on 15 patients, assessed as the UFT-treated group, and 24 patients assessed as the UFT-nontreated group. The 5-year survival rate in patients treated or not treated with UFT was 76.6 and 22.6%, respectively. Among those who underwent surgery in combination with other therapy, the 5-year survival rate was 74.1% with UFT and 27.3% without UFT. In patients receiving chemotherapy plus radiotherapy alone, the 5-year survival rate was 80.0% with UFT and 19.2% without UFT. In 23 patients with proven effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy comprising 18 PR cases and 5 CR cases, a comparison was made between 10 patients treated with UFT and 13 patients not treated with UFT. As a result, the 5-year survival was 76.2 and 17.9%, respectively. In the patients with T3 disease, who occupied the majority, the 5-year survival rate was 71.4 and 23.8%, respectively. Adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT tends to show a substantial significant difference particularly in patients who were successfully treated with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy as the primary treatment. UFT was clearly shown to have a statistically significant effect, despite a small population. The findings of the present investigation point to the value of conducting further study to ascertain the effect of UFT by a randomized trial in a larger population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase II study of vinorelbine in heavily previously treated small cell lung cancer. Japan Lung Cancer Vinorelbine Study Group.

Twenty-four previously treated patients with refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were entered into a prospective, multicenter phase II study. All 24 patients had been pretreated with some form of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The median time of chemotherapy was 4.2 months (range 1.4-9.4 months). Patients were treated with a dose of 25 mg/m2 of vinorelbine weekly. Twenty-four patients were eligible for response and for toxicity. Partial response was observed in 3 out of 24 eligible patients (12.5%; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-32.4%). All 3 patients who responded had previous chemotherapy including vincristine. The most common toxicity was leukopenia (91.7%, 66.7% in WHO 3-4 grade) and anemia (70.8%, 20.8% in WHO 3 grade). Nonhematological toxicities were moderate and mild. These results support a two-state sequential study design of previously untreated patients for further phase II study in SCLC.

Aged↗