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Biomedical subjects

M Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujimoto.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Prevalence of head-shaking nystagmus in patients according to their diagnostic classification in a dizziness unit.

OBJECTIVE: In a previous publication, the authors documented the prevalence and characteristics of head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) in over 1300 consecutive dizzy patients during formal electronystagmography (ENG) at the combined Otologic Function Unit (OFU) of the Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospitals. This companion study was done to prospectively analyze a subgroup of 300 patients with known clinical diagnoses belonging to the senior author (J.R.). METHODS: The prevalence of HSN in this series of patients with a known diagnosis is prospectively compared to the presence of HSN in a series of normal controls. RESULTS: Results indicate that HSN is seen significantly (p < .05) in those patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction and that the more globally the peripheral vestibular disorder involves end-organ (i.e., Meniere's) or primary afferent-neuron function (i.e., vestibular neuronitis), the more likely HSN will be present. CONCLUSION: We further comment on the usefulness of the head-shake test and its clinical relevance in the bedside examination of the dizzy patient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Bacteria isolated from surgical infections and their susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents. Special references to bacteria isolated between July 1995 and June 1996].

Isolated bacteria from infections in general surgery during the period from July 1994 to June 1995 were investigated in a multicenter study in Japan, and the following results were obtained. One hundred and sixty-four strains were isolated from primary infections, and 202 strains were isolated from postoperative infections. From primary infections, anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant, while from post operative infections, aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant. Among aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Enterococcus faecalis was the highest, followed by that of Staphylococcus aureus from postoperative infections. Among anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Peptostreptococcus spp. was the highest from both types of infections. Among anaerobic Gram-negative, Escherichia coli was the most predominantly isolated from primary infections, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in this order, and from postoperative infections, P. aeruginosa was the most predominantly isolated, followed by Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. Among anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, the isolation rate of Bacteroides fragilis group was the highest from both types of infections. We noticed that MICs of cefazolin against three out of 23 strains of E. coli were higher than 100 micrograms/ml. Among anaerobic bacteria, there were many resistant strains against penicillins and cephems with MICs higher than 100 micrograms/ml, and the same trend was observed among other Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1997

Elevated serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in patients with systemic sclerosis: association with pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels are elevated, and whether they correlate with clinical features in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Serum samples from patients with limited cutaneous SSc (ISSc) (n = 51), diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) (n = 30), and control subjects (n = 30) were examined by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum TNF-alpha levels were elevated in patients with ISSc and dSSc and correlated with the presence of pulmonary fibrosis and with the decreased vital capacity of the patients. CONCLUSION: Serum TNF-alpha may be one of the cytokines that contribute to the disease process, especially to pulmonary fibrosis in patients with SSc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Isolation rate of Enterococcus spp. from surgical infections and their susceptibilities].

Enterococcus spp. isolated from surgical infections during the period from July 1982 to June 1995 were investigated in a multicenter study involving 19 hospitals in Japan, and the following results were obtained. 1. Though the isolation rate of Enterococcus faecalis and other Enterococcus spp. were not high from primary infections, and from postoperative infections the isolation rate of other Enterococcus spp. was also low, the isolation rate of E. faecalis was highest from postoperative infections after 1993. 2. Vancomycin (VCM) showed strongest activity against E. faecalis, and followed by those of ampicillin (ABPC), imipenem. levofloxacin (LVFX) and meropenem in this order. Against other Enterococcus spp., VCM showed strongest activity, and followed by those of ABPC and LVFX. There were no resistant strains against VCM.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1997

Hepatic arterial complications in pediatric segmental liver transplantations from living donors: assessment with color Doppler ultrasonography.

To investigate the clinical utility of color Doppler ultrasonography in detecting hepatic arterial complications in pediatric living-related liver transplantation, we studied peak systolic velocity (Vp) and pulsatility index (PI) intrahepatic artery during and after surgery in 122 transplants. Six cases with hepatic artery thrombosis were detected by Doppler studies. In 2 cases with dampened waveforms at intraoperative flowmetry (Vp < or = 23 and PI < or = 0.6), thrombosis occurred soon after surgery. A further 2 cases had a rapid decrease in Vp and PI values postoperatively, leading to absence of arterial signals. Follow-up Doppler studies suspected collateral formation after thrombosis in 2 survivors. Normal Doppler waveforms were obtained in all of the 116 cases without arterial complications. Among them, 6 cases had absent signals or dampened waveforms at initial intraoperative flowmetry (Vp < or = 30 and PI < or = 0.9), and maneuvers such as re-reanastomosis of the artery improved flow signals with an increase in Vp and PI values. Serial intra- and post-operative Doppler examinations are useful for early detection of arterial complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[A study of MRI and clinical neurology in acute cerebellar infarcts].

We studied clinical manifestations of sixteen patients with cerebellar infarcts diagnosed by MRI. In fourteen of them, the stroke developed abruptly with vertigo, which continued for several days. At the early stage of illness, ataxia was obscure. But after vertigo and nausea disappeared, nine cases showed truncal ataxia, while limb ataxia was found in only five. Their vertigo was rotatory and aggravated by head movement. Gaze-evoked nystagmus was observed in only 5 cases. Four patients preferred to take unilateral posture since they experienced less vertigo. The side of their lesions was the lower side of their posture. Limb ataxia was more frequent in SCA-involving cases than in SCA-non involving cases (3 out of 6 vs 2 out of 10, respectively). On the other hand, headache was more frequent in PICA-involving cases than in PICA-non-involving cases (6 out of 11 vs 1 out of 5, respectively). Ataxic gait was seen more in medial branch-involving cases than medial branch non-involving cases (5 out of 6 vs 4 out of 10, respectively). One patient died due to obstructive hydrocephalus.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Distribution of anti-p80-coilin autoantibody in collagen diseases and various skin diseases.

Anti-p80-coilin antibody produces a unique pattern of immunofluorescence staining called nuclear dots characterized by the presence of up to six discrete nuclear bodies in interphase cell nuclei. The distribution of this antibody and its clinical relevance have not been established. We studied the prevalence of anti-p80-coilin antibody in the sera from 810 patients with collagen diseases and various skin diseases. Five sera showed the nuclear dot pattern by indirect immunofluorescence on an HEp-2 cell substrate, and reacted by immunoblotting with 80-kDa protein in a nuclear extract from HeLa cells. Four of these sera were from patients with localized scleroderma, and the other was from a patient with primary Raynaud's phenomenon. The patients with localized scleroderma who were positive for anti-p80-coilin antibody had all been classified as having linear scleroderma. They had only one or two lesions, and were negative for antihistone and anti-single-stranded DNA antibodies. Our data indicate that anti-p80-coilin antibody is uncommon in skin diseases: however, this antibody is present in patients with a milder form of linear scleroderma, although the incidence of positivity may not be high.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1997

Experimental quantitation of cation effect on nucleic acid stability.

Cation effect on DNA/DNA, RNA/RNA, and RNA/DNA stabilities was investigated quantitatively. Plots of predicted delta G degree 37 values vs. measured delta G degree 37 ones showed the same relationship for DNA/DNA, RNA/RNA, and RNA/DNA. The number of sodium ion concerned in a double helix formation was estimated, and the result indicated that the number of bound sodium ion may determine the duplex stability regardless of DNA/DNA, RNA/RNA, and RNA/DNA. Since these duplex stability can be predicted with the nearest-neighbor model, it is considered that the number of bound sodium ions is affected by the nearest-neighbor bases. The importance of the screening effect of the electrostatic repulsion by bound cations was also indicated for determining the duplex stability as well as the hydrogen bonding and stacking interactions.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Stabilities of internal rU-dG and rG-dT pairs in RNA/DNA hybrids.

We report stabilities of internal non-Watson-Crick rU-dG and rG-dT pairs in RNA/DNA hybrids. UV melting curves revealed that a hybrid containing internal rG-dT pair had about 2 kcal mol-1 greater stability in free energy change at 37 degrees C than hybrids with other mismatches, rA-dA and rU-dT, at the same position. We discuss why internal rG-dT as well as rU-dG is stable nearly Watson-Crick base pairs rather than the other mismatches.

Base Composition↗
PubMed1996

Cloning and characterization of the genomic DNA of the human MSSP genes.

MSSP proteins have been identified by their binding to an upstream element of c-myc. Independently, two different approaches yielded two cDNA clones highly homologous to the MSSP cDNAs, suggesting an involvement of MSSP in the regulation of the cell cycle (scr2) and in the repression of HIV-1 and ILR2 alpha-promoter transcription (human YC1). Screening human genomic libraries, we have isolated clones belonging to two different gene loci. Whereas the human MSSP gene 1 turned out to be intronless, the organization of the coding sequence within gene 2 is more complex. It spans more than 60 kb and contains 16 exons (including two alternative first exons), ranging from 48 to 287 bp, respectively. The intron sizes vary from 0.1 to more than 13 kb. Gene 1 has been completely sequenced. A deletion series of its upstream region was conjugated to the luciferase gene, but the transfection of the constructs did not display any promoter activity. Moreover, compared with gene 2 and the cDNA sequences known so far, about 20 point mutations as well as flanking direct repeats have been detected in the MSSP gene 1, showing that it possesses all the characteristics of processed retropseudogenes. Sequence analysis of a 1.7 kb fragment of the 5' flanking region of the MSSP gene 2 revealed that the promoter of gene 2 lacks consensus sequences for TATA and CCAAT boxes, is GC-rich, and contains numerous potential transcription factor binding elements including an Sp1 binding site. DNase I footprinting experiments showed that the putative Sp1 site was bound by proteins. The results of primer extension and S1 mapping analyses suggested the transcription of the gene starts at multiple positions upstream from the initiator methionine codon. Luciferase assays employing progressive deletions of the 1.7 kb promoter region allowed us to define the minimal promoter region of 428 bp (-488/+) and revealed a complex pattern of the transcriptional regulation the human MSSP gene 2. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the MSSP gene 2 encodes both MSSP-1 and MSSP-2, and moreover scr2 and human YC1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Histamine selectively enhances human immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG4 production induced by anti-CD58 monoclonal antibody.

We studied the effects of histamine on human immunoglobulin (IgE) and IgG4 production. Histamine selectively enhanced IgE and IgG4 production in purified surface IgE and IgG4 negative (sIgE-sIgG4-) B cells from normal donors stimulated with interleukin (IL)-4 plus anti-CD58 or IL-13 plus anti-CD58 monoclonal antibody (mAb) without affecting production of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgM, IgA1, or IgA2. In cultures with IL-4 plus anti-CD58 mAb, histamine-induced enhancement of IgE and IgG4 production was specifically blocked by thioperamide (H3 receptor antagonist), and was inhibited by anti-IL-10 antibody (Ab). In contrast, in cultures with IL-13 plus anti-CD58 mAb, histamine-induced enhancement was blocked by dimaprit (H1 receptor antagonist), and was inhibited by anti-IL-6 mAb. Histamine also enhanced IgE and IgG4 production by in vivo-generated sIgE+ and sIgG4+ B cells, respectively, from atopic patients; enhancement was blocked by dimaprit and thioperamide, and was inhibited by anti-IL-6 mAb and anti-IL-10 Ab. In sIgE-sIgG4- B cells, IL-4 plus anti-CD58 mAb induced IL-10 production and IL-10 receptor expression, whereas IL-13 plus anti-CD58 mAb induced IL-6 production and IL-6 receptor expression. Histamine increased IL-10 and IL-6 production without affecting IL-10 and IL-6 receptor expression, in cultures with IL-4 plus anti-CD58 mAb and with IL-13 plus anti-CD58 mAb, respectively, which was blocked by thioperamide and dimaprit, respectively. In contrast, sIgE+ and sIgG4+ B cells spontaneously produced both IL-6 and IL-10 and constitutively expressed IL-6 and IL-10 receptors, and histamine increased IL-6 and IL-10 production without affecting IL-6 or IL-10 receptor expression, which was blocked by thioperamide and dimaprit. These results indicate that histamine enhanced IgE and IgG4 production by increasing endogenous IL-6 and IL-10 production via H1 and H3 receptors, respectively.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Diagnosis of four chromosome abnormalities of unknown origin by chromosome microdissection and subsequent reverse and forward painting.

A molecular cytogenetic method consisting of chromosome microdissection and subsequent reverse/forward chromosome painting is a powerful tool to identify chromosome abnormalities of unknown origin. We present 4 cases of chromosome structural abnormalities whose origins were ascertained by this method. In one MCA/MR patient with an add(5q)chromosome, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using probes generated from a microdissected additional segment of the add(5q) chromosome and then from a distal region of normal chromosome 5, confirmed that the patient had a tandem duplication for a 5q35-qter segment. Similarly, we ascertained that an additional segment of an add(3p) chromosome in another MCA/MR patient had been derived from a 7q32-qter segment. In a woman with a history of successive spontaneous abortions and with a minute marker chromosome, painting using microdissected probes from the whole marker chromosome revealed that it was i(15)(p10) or psu dic(15;15)(q11;q11). Likewise, a marker observed in a fetus was a ring chromosome derived from the paracentromeric region of chromosome 19. We emphasize the value of the microdissection-based chromosome painting method in the identification of unknown chromosomes, especially for marker chromosomes. The method may contribute to a collection of data among patients with similar or identical chromosome abnormalities, which may lead to a better clinical syndrome delineation.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1996

RANTES and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha selectively enhance immunoglobulin (IgE) and IgG4 production by human B cells.

We studied the effects of various chemokines including neutrophil-activating peptide 2 (NAP-2), beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), platelet factor 4 (PF-4), melanoma growth stimulating activity (GRO), gamma interferon-induced protein (IP-10), regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), MIP-1 beta, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) on Immunoglobulin (IgE) and IgG4 production by human B cells. None of these chemokines with or without interleukin (IL-4), anti-CD40 or -CD58 monoclonal antibody (mAb), induced IgE and IgG4 production by B cells from nonatopic donors. However, RANTES and MIP-1 alpha selectively enhanced IgE and IgG4 production induced by IL-4 plus anti-CD40 or -CD58 mAb without affecting production of IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgA1, or IgA2, whereas other chemokines failed to do so. Enhancement of IgE and IgG4 production by RANTES and MIP-1 alpha was specifically blocked by anti-RANTES mAb and anti-MIP-1 alpha antibody (Ab), respectively, whereas anti-IL-5 mAb, anti-IL-6 mAb, anti-IL-10 Ab, anti-IL-13 Ab, and anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha mAb failed to do so. Purified surface IgE positive (slgE4) and slgG4+ B cells generated either in vitro or in vivo spontaneously produced IgE and IgG4, respectively, whereas sIgE- and sIgG4- B cells failed to do so. RANTES and MIP-1 alpha enhanced spontaneous IgE and IgG4 production in slgE+ and slgG4- B cells, respectively, whereas neither RANTES nor MIP-1 alpha did so in sIgE- or sIgG4- B cells. Purified sIgE4+ and sIgG4+, but not sIgE- or sIgG4- B cells, generated in vitro and in vivo expressed receptors for RANTES and MIP-1 alpha, whereas they failed to express receptors for other chemokines. These findings indicate that RANTES and MIP-1 alpha enhance IgE and IgG4 production by directly stimulating sIgE+ and sIgG4+ B cells.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1996

Nitrooxy alkyl apovincaminate modulates GABA(A) receptor in rat neocortical neurones.

We investigated the effects of VA-045 ((+)-eburnamenine-14 carboxylic acid (2-nitroxyethyl) ester) on GABA(A) receptor-mediated Cl- currents in dissociated rat cerebral cortical neurones, using a nystatin-perforated patch recording configuration. At a holding potential of - 40mV, the external application of GABA evoked an inward Cl- current with an EC50 value of 5.6 x 10(-6)M. VA-045 increased the GABA response at GABA concentrations below 3.0 x 10(-6)M. The GABA response showed a time dependent decay consisting of fast and slow components and VA-045 significantly accelerated both components. The site of action for VA-045 was considered to be different from that for benzodiazepines or barbiturates.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Immune response to different doses of a hapten of fluorescein isothiocyanate analyzed by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis.

The immune response to different doses of a hapten of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) in BALB/c mice was analyzed by two-dimensional affinity electrophoresis (2-D AEP). The mice were immunized with different doses (0.5 microgram, 5 micrograms, 50 micrograms, 500 micrograms and 2.5 mg) of FITC-conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA). The antibodies to FITC bovine serum albumin (BSA) were separated into a large number of IgG spots due to differences in their isoelectric points (pI) and binding affinity to FITC ligand immobilized in the gel. The IgG spots, showing identical affinity to the ligand but different pI, have been considered as an IgG family. The affinity and quantity of IgG families changed with the increase in FITC-BSA dosage. With a low dose (5 micrograms) most of the families showed high affinity (Kd < 1 microM < Kd < 50 microM) and low affinity (Kd > 50 microM) antibodies were produced. The increase of FITC-BSA up to 500 micrograms markedly increased the quantity of IgG spots showing a variety of affinity to FITC. However, 2.5 mg FITC-BSA did not increase the quantity and heterogeneity of IgG spots significantly. The changes in the heterogeneity and quantity of anti-FITC antibodies and the subclass switch were observed over the course of immunization. The heterogeneity and the quantity of IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 antibodies increased markedly during the first and the second immunization, whereas an increase in the heterogeneity and the quantity of IgG2a antibody was observed in the third immunization. This suggests that the subclass switch to IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 and the somatic mutation of IgG1, IgG2b and IgG3 occur during the first and the second immunization, but the subclass switch to IgG2a and the somatic mutation of IgG2a seem to occur later than that of the other IgG subclasses.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Mercury concentrations in hair from populations in Wau-Bulolo area, Papua New Guinea.

Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in scalp hair from the populations in the Wau-Bulolo area, eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG), where humans are exposed to large quantities of Hg through gold-mining activities by Hg amalgamation processes. Humans living upstream and not engaged in gold mining had a mean hair Hg concentration of 0.55 micro g g-1 (range: 0.19-1.1 micro g g-1 (n = 80), which was recognized as the background level in this area. In contrast, the populations involved in gold-mining activities had a significantly higher level of hair Hg (mean: 1.2 micro g g-1, range: 0.39-3.0 micro g g-1 (n = 86) than the background level, indicating direct or indirect exposure to Hg from gold mining. The hair Hg level in populations downstream of the gold-mining area was significantly higher than the background level, due to the consumption of Hg-contaminated fish. Mercury concentrations were significantly higher in males than in females, regardless of location properties.

Adolescent↗