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Biomedical subjects

M Furukawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Furukawa.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Sudden cardiac death in Japanese people aged 20-60 years--an autopsy study of 133 cases.

In order to elucidate the principal cause and actual circumstances of sudden cardiac death in Japan, especially among people in the prime of life, we investigated 133 out of 161 autopsied patients (82.6%) (106 men and 27 women, mean age 47.5 years). Coronary artery disease (CAD) was the most frequently detected disorder (50 cases, 37.6%), and included 15 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (11.3%). We found that CAD was less frequent among younger patients than in Western countries: 10.0% in subjects in their twenties and 22.2% among subjects in their thirties. The left anterior descending artery (LAD) was the vessel most often affected by infarction (47.0%), but the proportion of LAD lesions was not different from that in AMI patients who were survived for least 1 day after the attack. In conclusion, CAD was infrequent among patients aged 20-39 years in comparison with Western countries and LAD was the most commonly affected vessel, but the proportion was not different from that found among AMI patients who survived for at least 1 day after the attack.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Antiallergic effects of a novel compound, SWR-00151].

The effects of a newly synthesized compound, SWR-00151 (4-[2-[4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl)ethyl]-2(1H)-quinolinone), on experimental Type I allergic models were investigated. Results obtained were as follows: The compound (3 approximately 30 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited 48-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in the rat. From the strong antagonism against the histamine-induced contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum and the lack of suppressive effect on anaphylactic histamine release from rat peritoneal exudate cells, it is deduced that the compound's inhibitory action against PCA is due to antihistaminic action. Both gamma 1-rich serum- and IgE-rich serum-mediated experimental asthmas in the guinea pig were also considerably inhibited by a small dose (1 mg/kg, p.o.) of the compound. The inhibitory mechanism seems to be almost the same as that of the PCA because the compound did not show any effect on the experimental asthma in guinea pigs pretreated with H1- and H2-antihistaminics. In addition to that, it is well known that the model is largely mediated by anaphylactically released histamine. On the other hand, while ketotifen and oxatomide, which possess potent antihistaminic activity, modestly suppressed a rat experimental asthma SWR-00151 still demonstrated a substantial inhibitory activity, strongly suggesting that histamine does not play an important role in this asthma model. Serotonin was revealed to be partly responsible for the early phase of the reaction by the assessment with methysergide, an antiserotonergic, and SWR-00151 as well as oxatomide and ketotifen showed slight antagonism against serotonin in high concentrations (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) in vitro. When thromboxane (TX) B2 in the plasma was measured during the reaction, significant increased levels of the chemical mediator were found, which were obviously prevented by the treatment with SRW-00151. From these results, SWR-00151 is expected to be a drug effective for the treatment of asthma through mechanisms not only of antihistaminic action but also through inhibition of anaphylactic formation/release of other mediators like TXA2.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Increase of Cl- secretion induced by Kampo medicine (Japanese herbal medicine), Sai-rei-to, in Mongolian gerbil middle ear epithelium.

Sai-rei-to, a type of Kampo medicine (Japanese herbal medicine), has been shown to be clinically effective in treating patients with otitis media with effusion. The effect of Sai-rei-to on the ion transport of the middle ear surface epithelium cultured from the Mongolian gerbil was investigated by using an Ussing chamber. Application of Sai-rei-to to the mucosal bath but not the serosal bath induced an increase in the short-circuit current (I(SC)) in the basal state. The increase in I(SC) was almost completely inhibited by addition of diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid but not by amiloride, indicating enhancement of Cl- secretion. On the basis of the lack of changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration and a sideness of action, the effect of Sai-rei-to on I(SC) is thought to be a direct and selective activation on the apical Cl- channel.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1997

Peptidergic innervation in human von Ebner's glands: an immunohistochemical study.

The occurrence and distribution of several neuropeptides were studied in human von Ebner's glands. Immunoreactivity for substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin, and somatostatin was found in the nerve fibers around the acini, ducts, and blood vessels. VIP-immunoreactive varicose fibers were numerous compared with the other five neuropeptides. Most NPY fibers were associated with the vasculature in the gland. These findings suggest that the neuropeptides may regulate the secretion and vascular tone in human von Ebner's glands.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Models for evolving community health information networks.

Community stakeholders, from hospital systems to independent physicians, from self-insured employers to managed health plans, from government agencies to consumers, require access to health information across the continuum of care. As the information highways for organizations and communities, health information networks and community health information networks have become the vehicles to address this growing health information imperative. Research identified more than 500 health information networks in all 50 states and most metropolitan markets. Health information networks vary widely in their definition, strategy, and operational status. Despite tumultuous change with both successes and failures, health information networks are indeed affecting health care delivery within enterprises and local communities, across regions, and on a national scale.

Community Networks↗
PubMed1997

[Detection of Epstein-Barr virus genomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

In situ hybridization using EBV encoded small RNAs (EBERs) probe and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to detect the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes in 56 primary nasopharyngeal carcinomas. EBERs was detected in 46 cases(82%); 30 of 32 cases (94%) in differentiated non-keratinizing carcinoma (NKC, WHO-2) and 16 of 17 cases (94%) in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (UNPC, WHO-3). But none of 5 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, WHO-1) nor 2 cases of adenocarcinoma showed EBERs. EBV-DNA was also detected in 22 of 24 cases of NKC and in all 13 cases of UNPC by PCR but not in 3 cases of SCC or 2 cases of adenocarcinoma. This findings shows that the examination of EBERs and EBV-DNA is very useful, sensitive method in the detection of EBV.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

[A case of paraganglioma of urinary bladder in a 96-year-old female].

A 96-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with gross hematuria. Cystoscopy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a submucosal bladder tumor. Incomplete transurethral resection was performed with no intraoperative complications. The histopathological diagnosis of nonmalignant paraganglioma was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. This patient is the oldest of the 49 patients with paraganglioma of the urinary bladder reported in the Japanese literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[DNA topoisomerases targeting anticancer agents and mechanism for acquirement of drug resistance].

DNA topoisomerase(topo) I and II regulate the topological conformation and DNA molecules by catalyzing the concerted breakage of single or double strands. Topo I and II targeting anticancer agents such as camptothecins (CPT-II), epipodophyllotoxins (VP16 and VM26), and amsarcine are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. To enhance their therapeutic efficacies, one should understand how cellular sensitivities to these topo-targeting agents are regulated, and one should also understand what mechanisms or factors are involved in the appearance of tumor cells resistant to them. We will discuss if there is any marker useful for determining drug sensitivity to these topo-targeting agents in cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1997

[Transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUV-P): comparative study with transurethral resection (TUR-P)].

A total of 27 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated by transurethral electrovaporization of the prostate (TUV-P). A roller bar electrode was used for 13 patients and a roller loop electrode for 14. Therapeutic efficacy and complications of TUV-P were compared with those of transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) performed before TUV-P was started (24 patients). The improvements in subjective symptom scores and objective voiding parameters after 3 months were not significantly different between the TUV-P and TUR-P groups. Furthermore, the improvements were similar between TUV-P using the roller bar and the roller loop. No patients treated by TUV-P had TUR syndrome or received blood transfusion, while blood transfusion was performed in 4 patients treated by TUR-P. Postoperative duration of urethral catheterization and hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TUV-P group than in the TUR-P group. The operative time for TUV-P (roller bar) was 1.6 min per g. preoperative prostate volume, while that for TUV-P (roller loop) and TUR-P was 2.1 and 1.9 min/g, respectively. From our experience, TUV-P was as effective as TUR-P for relieving bladder outlet obstruction with fewer complications. Furthermore, the operative time could be shortened with a roller loop.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Chemoradiation therapy for esophageal carcinoma].

Cancer of the esophagus poses a great challenge to the surgical, medical, and radiation professions. Despite standardization of resection and reconstruction techniques, extended lymph node dissection, and advances in perioperative management, the overall prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer undergoing surgical resection has not improved. Preoperative combination chemoradiation therapy in patients with squamous cell esophageal carcinoma has recently received increasing attention, because preoperative chemoradiation therapy, consisting of the concurrent combination of 5-fluorouracil, cis-platinum and radiation, appears to increase the resection rate, the rate of pathological complete responders, and survival time after esophagectomy in patients with locally advanced tumors. Overall in the trials using preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy, major antitumor responses have been reported in 40% to 80% of patients, and, consistently, up to 42.1% pathologic complete responses have been seen at esophagectomy. Therefore, preoperative chemoradiation therapy can be anticipated for better prognosis of the patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1996

Cryptic origin of SPAI, a plasma protein with a transglutaminase substrate domain and the WAP motif, revealed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

SPAI, originally isolated as a sodium/potassium-ATPase inhibitor and now considered to be a proteinase inhibitor of unknown specificity based on its similarity to elafin (an elastase inhibitor), is a new type of plasma protein that has a transglutaminase substrate domain, which serves as an anchoring sequence to be covalently cross-linked at target sites. To determine the source of SPAI, we carried out in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry using an antisense cRNA probe and an antiserum against recombinant SPAI, respectively. Since previous RNase protection analysis had indicated that SPAI mRNA is almost exclusively expressed in the porcine small intestine, we used its frozen sections for the staining. The lower crypt was decorated with both the cRNA probe and antiserum, indicating that SPAI is synthesized and secreted by the enteroendocrine cells located near the crypt base. The native form of SPAI was also characterized by Western blotting. This result together with the previous biochemical and molecular biological characterizations may set the stage for identifying the physiological roles of the conceptually very interesting protein SPAI.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in the cochlear lateral wall of the gerbil.

We examined Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in four regions of the gerbil cochlear lateral wall by measuring intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i). The application of 1 mM ouabain and removal of external K+ caused a most striking increase in [Na+]i of the suprastrial fibrocytes, followed by the stria vascularis and the type II fibrocytes, but no detectable response in the type I fibrocytes. These results may imply the potency of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. The high values of the resting [Na+]i in these cells under perilymph-like solution returned to the [Na+]i within physiological values after exposure to low-Na+ conditions similar to endolymph. Our results are interpreted in the light of recent morphological findings with regard to the roles in the secretion of K+ into endolymph of several cell types within the lateral wall.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Oligomerization of the hemolytic lectin CEL-III from the marine invertebrate Cucumaria echinata induced by the binding of carbohydrate ligands.

The hemolytic lectin CEL-III is a Ca2+-dependent, galactose/GalNAc-specific lectin purified from the marine invertebrate Cucumaria echinata (Holothuroidea). We found that this lectin forms ion-permeable pores in erythrocyte and artificial lipid membranes that have specific carbohydrate ligands on the surface. The hemolytic activity of CEL-III exhibited characteristic pH dependence; activity increased remarkably with pH in the alkaline region, especially above pH 9. When rabbit erythrocyte membrane was examined by immunoblotting using anti-CEL-III antiserum after treatment with CEL-III, the irreversible binding of the CEL-III oligomer increased with pH, indicating that the increase in hemolytic activity at higher pH is associated closely with the amount of oligomer irreversibly bound to the membrane. Surface hydrophobicity of CEL-III, as measured by the fluorescent probe 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate, increased markedly with the binding of specific ligands such as lactose, lactulose, and N-acetyllactosamine at pH 9-10 in the presence of 1 M NaCl. The enhancement of surface hydrophobicity induced by the binding of carbohydrates was also accompanied by the formation of a CEL-III oligomer, which was found to be the same size on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as the oligomer that formed in CEL-III-treated erythrocyte membranes. Far-UV circular dichroism spectra of CEL-III and the oligomer revealed a definite difference in secondary structure. These data suggest that the binding of CEL-III to specific carbohydrate ligands on the erythrocyte surface induces a conformational change in the protein, leading to the exposure of a hydrophobic region which triggers oligomerization and the irreversible binding of the protein to the membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Accelerated evolution in inhibitor domains of porcine elafin family members.

Through the analysis of the porcine gene encoding the elastase inhibitor elafin, we demonstrated that there are at least three closely related members of the elafin family, and their genes have arisen by accelerated evolution. A porcine genomic DNA library was screened with a previously cloned human elafin cDNA probe, and several positive clones were obtained that can be distinguished by a combination of restriction enzymes. Sequence analysis of these clones revealed the presence of three homologous members whose genes, all consisting of three exons and two introns, are almost identical except the exon 2 sequences encoding the inhibitor domain called "WAP motif"; the intron sequences are related to each other with sequence similarities of 93-98%, whereas the exon 2 sequences exhibited only 60-77% similarities among the three members. The extreme divergence in the exon 2 sequences compared to the highly conserved intron sequences may be generated by accelerated mutations confined in a short stretch of the genes following recent duplication events of a single ancestral gene. An RNase protection assay indicated that the messages of the elafin family members are abundantly expressed in the trachea and intestine, suggesting that the most likely selective forces for the accelerated evolution are extrinsic proteinases produced by invasive microorganisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗