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Biomedical subjects

M Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujimoto.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Absent myocardial iodine-123-BMIPP uptake and platelet/monocyte CD36 deficiency.

UNLABELLED: Global absence of myocardial 123I-15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-(R,S)-methyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) uptake is occasionally noted, and it reflects myocardial long-chain fatty acid uptake abnormality. CD36, a membrane glycoprotein expressed on platelet, monocyte and endothelial cells, may contribute to myocardial fatty acid transport, and its deficiency has been reported in a small subset of the population. We hypothesized that CD36 deficiency may be related to absent myocardial BMIPP uptake. Thus, we investigated CD36 expression of platelet/monocyte in patients with absent myocardial BMIPP uptake. METHODS: Peripheral blood of 7 patients with global absence of myocardial BMIPP uptake (3 of 7 patients in one family) and 3 control subjects were examined in flow cytometric analysis. Platelet/monocyte surface CD36 was detected by using OKM5, an anti-CD36 mouse monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: There were no apparent relationships between specific clinical symptoms and absent myocardial BMIPP uptake. None of the blood samples of the 7 patients were stained with OKM5 on the platelet/monocyte cell surface, indicating that all of these patients were Type I CD36-deficient subjects. In contrast, all the control subjects showed normal staining. CONCLUSION: The fact that rare Type I CD36 deficiency was observed in all patients with absent myocardial BMIPP uptake suggests that CD36 plays a role in the myocardial long-chain fatty acid uptake process in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Bilateral synchronous adrenal myelolipomas: a case report].

A 70-year-old man, who was diagnosed by computed tomographic scan as having bilateral synchronous adrenal myelolipomas 6 years ago during the follow-up of fatty liver, underwent tumor resection at our Department because of growth of bilateral tumors without any subjective symptoms. Histopathological examination revealed mature adipose tissue cells without atypism and areas of hematopoietic tissue, including the myelotic, lymphotic, erythrocytic, and megakaryocytic cells. The diagnosis of myelolipoma was confirmed. The in vivo doubling time of bilateral tumors was 16.1 months and 31.3 months, respectively.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

[Labial adhesion presenting as urinary incontinence and dysuria in a postmenopausal woman: a case report].

A 68-year-old woman admitted to our hospital complaining of urinary incontinence and dysuria. On examination, the labia were found to be fused extensively, with a pinhole opening at the midline. Under spinal anesthesia, the adhesion was clearly separated with the Hegar's dilator. There remains no recurrence in this patient following therapy. The labial adhesion was considered to be an acquired disease caused by infection, trauma in the genitalia, or sexless life, according to hypoestrogenism.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

A 1.2-megabase BAC/PAC contig spanning the 14q13 breakpoint of t(2; 14) in a mirror-image polydactyly patient.

We previously assigned a 14q13 breakpoint of t(2; 14) in a patient with mirror-image polydactyly to a segment between two loci, AFM200ZH4 and D14S306, within a genetic distance of 0.6 cM. In the present study, we constructed a 1.2-Mb high-resolution physical map with a contig composed of 16 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and 6 P1-derived artificial chromosomes (PACs) at a region around the breakpoint, extending from D14S75 to D14S728 loci. Thirty-four novel sequence-tagged sites (STSs) were also characterized at this region. Of nine ESTs that had been mapped between D14S75 and D14S288, T99065 was confirmed to be in two BAC clones, B102 and B319. This BAC/PAC contig with STSs is useful for further genomic sequencing, for construction of a transcription map, and for the isolation of the putative gene for mirror-image polydactyly.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1997

Cross-family interaction between the bHLHZip USF and bZip Fra1 proteins results in down-regulation of AP1 activity.

Heterodimerization among the basic-leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins or among the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLHZip) proteins confers a multitude of combinational activities to these transcription factors. To further examine the function of the bHLHZip protein, USF, we screened for cellular proteins which could directly interact with USF using the yeast two-hybrid system. A bZip protein, Fra1, was found to efficiently interact with USF. USF specifically interacts with Fra1 but not with other closely related family members, c-Fos, Fra2, FosB, or with c-Jun. Both the bHLHZip and the N-terminal regions of Fra1 are required for efficient interaction with USF. In vivo association between USF and Fra1 has been demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation. Expression of exogenous USF led to a decrease in AP1-dependent transcription in F9 cells. Co-expression of exogenous Fra1 restored the AP1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. These data show that USF and Fra1 physically and functionally interact demonstrating that cross-talk occurs between factors of distantly related transcription families.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of the promoter region, first ten exons and nine intron-exon boundaries of the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit gene, DNA-PKcs (XRCC7).

The gene, DNAPKcs (XRCC7), for the human DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) is a strong candidate that complements a severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) and hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation in mice. We constructed a cosmid library from a previously identified, X RCC7-covering YAC clone (943G4). From the library, we isolated three cosmid clones containing the 5'-region of XRCC7. Sequence analysis with primer walking on a 6.3-kb segment of these cosmids identified the promoter region, the first ten exons and nine intron-exon boundaries of XRCC7. The promoter region contains several potential Sp1 protein-binding sites and a high G+C content but no TATA or CCAAT boxes. These findings are consistent with the TATA-less housekeeping gene promoter and provides the basis for transcriptional regulatory studies. Since nine other exons spanning an 8-kb segment are already known, a total of 19 exons in the gene have been identified. The cosmids isolated and the primer sets designed in the present study are useful for mutation analysis in patients with a SCID phenotype.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Change in hepatic arterial hemodynamics induced by hepatocellular carcinoma detected with Doppler sonography.

PURPOSE: To understand the hemodynamic differences between the hepatic arterial branches that supply hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and those that do not, we compared the velocity waveforms of both types of arteries. METHODS: Using duplex color Doppler sonography, we examined 38 patients with HCC localized within a single lobe of the liver and 34 patients with chronic liver disease but without HCC (controls). We measured angle-corrected peak systolic velocity and the pulsatility index (PI) of color-coded hepatic arteries along the right anterior segmental portal branch and the vertical segment of the left portal vein. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in peak systolic velocity and PI between the arterial branches tested in the controls. In contrast, we found a significantly lower PI and a higher peak systolic velocity in the arterial branches supplying the tumor than in those not supplying the tumor in patients with an HCC 3 cm or larger in diameter (p < 0.05). The degree of these hemodynamic changes correlated with the tumor size and the presence or absence of tumor thrombus in the major portal branches. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the hepatic arterial branch supplying an HCC has a lower impedance than the branch not supplying the tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Fish mapping of a translocation breakpoint at 6q21 (or q22) in a patient with heterotaxia.

Heterotaxia is a congenital lateralization defect of visceral organs. As several single-genes that act on the formation of left-right asymmetry during embryogenesis have been identified in animals, a defect in the similar system may play a role in heterotaxia in man. We previously reported a Japanese girl with heterotaxia associated with a de novo balanced translocation (6;18)(q21 or q22;q21.3 or q22). In the present study, based on a hypothesis that one of the putative situs-determining genes is disrupted at a breakpoint of the translocation, we first isolated a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone covering a breakpoint, 6q21 (or q22) of the translocation. Then, using STSs mapped on the YAC, we isolated bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones spanning the breakpoint. FISH analysis using the BAC clones as probes revealed that the breakpoint is confined to a segment between two STS loci, WI-4066 and the CHLC.GATA6B06.192, within a genetic distance of 1.4 cM. The human connexin43 gene was not disrupted in our patient, although mutations of this gene have been reported in patients with complex heart disease and heterotaxia. The molecular localization of the translocation breakpoint in our patient may contribute to the positional cloning of a putative heterotaxia gene.

Blotting, Southern↗
PubMed1997

Molecular mapping of a translocation breakpoint at 14q13 in a patient with mirror-image polydactyly of hands and feet.

Mirror hands and feet (MIM, 135750) is a rare congenital anomaly, and mirror-image polydactyly is considered to be a variant of mirror hands and feet. To our knowledge, seven patients with the disorder have been reported in the literature. Parent-to-child transmission was reported in two families, which may indicate a single-gene defect inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. We had previously encountered a boy with mirror-image polydactyly whose karyotype showed 46,XY,t(2;14) (p23.3;q13) de novo. We hypothesized that at least one of the putative genes responsible for the determination of an anterior-posterior limb pattern is disrupted by a translocation breakpoint. In this study, we identified a yeast artificial chromosome clone spanning a translocation breakpoint at 14q13, and the breakpoint was confirmed to be located between two loci, AFM200ZH4 and D14S306, within a genetic distance of 0.6 cM.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1997

Alkaline phosphatase expression in cultured endothelial cells of aorta and brain microvessels: induction by interleukin-6-type cytokines and suppression by transforming growth factor betas.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is markedly high in endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) type but absent from or low in those of the non-BBB type. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has been identified as a glial cell line-derived factor that induces high ALP activity in cultured aortic endothelial cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of IL-6-type cytokines and transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas) on ALP expression in cultures of calf pulmonary aortic endothelial (CPAE) cells and porcine brain microvascular endothelial (PBME) cells. Leukemia inhibitory factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, and oncostatin M, which are known as IL-6-type cytokines, induced high ALP expression in the CPAE cells but not in the PBME cells. ALP levels in these cells were markedly suppressed by culture with TGF-betas. However, in cultured PBME cells, IL-6 and a derivative of cyclic adenosine monophosphate significantly increased ALP activity. Our findings raise the posibility that local concentrations of IL-6, IL-6-type cytokines, and TGF-betas affect the ALP levels in the endothelial cells of aorta and brain microvessels under normal development and also under inflammatory conditions.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1997

Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis: enhancement by inflammatory cytokines.

We measured serum levels of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (cICAM-1) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and normal controls. The levels of cICAM-1 were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 88 patients with SSc and in 20 healthy controls. In addition, these levels were examined in the supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and dermal fibroblasts from 10 patients with SSc and 10 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of cICAM-1 were significantly higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls. Serum cICAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) than in patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc). These serum levels were correlated with the presence of contracture of phalanges, pulmonary fibrosis, joint involvement and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The release of cICAM-1 was significantly increased in the supernatants of cultured PBMC from patients with SSc. Moreover, inflammatory cytokines (interferon-gamma, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) enhanced the release of cICAM-1 in vitro in SSc cells. These findings suggest that cICAM-1 may be involved in immune reactions in this disease.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence and clinical relevance of 52-kDa and 60-kDa Ro/SS-A autoantibodies in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of 52-Kda and 60-Kda Ro/SS-A autoantibodies in serum samples from Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Serum samples from 263 Japanese patients with SSc were examined by double immunodiffusion and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: By double immunodiffusion, 29 serum samples from patients with SSc were found to possess anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies. By ELISA, 31 serum samples were positive for anti-Ro52 and/or anti-Ro60. Of 27 serum samples that were positive by both methods, 15 reacted with both Ro52 and Ro60, five with Ro52 alone, and seven with Ro60 alone. Eleven of 12 patients with both anti-Ro52 and anti-Ro60 and all five patients with anti-Ro52 alone had Sjögren's syndrome, while only one of six patients with anti-Ro60 alone had this disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-Ro52 may be a serological marker for the presence of Sjögren's syndrome in anti-Ro/SS-A-positive patients with SSc.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed1997

Renal pelvic cancer with tumor thrombus in the vena cava inferior. A case report and review of the literature.

Renal pelvic cancer with a large vein tumor thrombus is very rare. We report a case of transitional cell carcinoma of the right renal pelvis with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Based on the radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed having renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the vena cava preoperatively. Radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy was performed. A literature review of 17 reported cases revealed that 13 cases (76.5%) were diagnosed as renal cancer preoperatively. Prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma with vena cava tumor thrombus is relatively poor compared to that of renal cell carcinoma with a large vein tumor thrombus.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1997

Follow-up study of children with precocious puberty treated with cyproterone acetate. Ad hoc Committee for CPA.

A total of 1840 children and adolescents treated with cyproterone acetate (CPA) to block gonadal function, as a treatment for precocious puberty, short stature and other disorders, were registered to survey for the risk of developing hepatic tumors. Patients responding to follow-up numbered 1552 (85%). The cumulative dose and duration of CPA therapy for boys and girls were 110.4g and 2.6 years, and 122.9 g and 2.8 years, respectively. Among the 1552 patients, five hepatoma cases were found. Four underwent successful surgery and remain alive and well to date. Two of the 5 cases had been given more than 500g, the other 3 more than 1000 g, of CPA. Three had also been given androgens before CPA administration. Although further follow-up is necessary to monitor for the development of adenoma and hepatoma, the risk of developing these tumors among patients to whom limited doses of CPA were administered appears to be negligible.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗
PubMed1997

Elevated serum levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, and IL-13 in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-10, and IL-13 levels in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are elevated and whether they correlate with the clinical or serologic features of this disease. METHODS: Serum samples from patients with limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) (n = 45), diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) (n = 28), and control subjects (n = 30) were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum IL-4 and IL-13 levels were significantly higher in patients with ISSc and dSSc than in the controls. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the patients with dSSc compared with controls. Elevated IL-10 levels were detected frequently in patients with arthralgia. Serum IL-13 levels correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels in patients. CONCLUSION: We suggest that IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 may be some of the cytokines that contribute to the disease process, and that IL-13 may be a serologic indicator of systemic inflammation in patients with SSc.

Adolescent↗