Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to N Fujii.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Enzyme immunoassay of a substance P-like immunoreactive substance in human plasma and saliva.

A sensitive and specific double-antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for a substance P (SP)-like immunoreactive substance (SP-IS) was developed. For competitive reactions, the SP-antibody was incubated with SP standard (or sample) and beta-D-galactosidase labeled Tyr8-SP (delayed addition). Free and antibody-bound enzyme hapten were separated by using an anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G coated immunoplate. Activity of the enzyme on the plate was fluorometrically determined. The present immunoassay allows detection of 0.4 to 10 fmol/well of SP. Using the present EIA, SP-ISs in human saliva and plasma were determined. The level of SP-IS in human saliva was about 7 pmol/l, which was almost three times higher than that in human plasma.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1990

Enzyme immunoassay of somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactive substance in bovine milk.

A sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for somatostatin (SS)-like immunoreactivity (SS-LI) was developed with the use of beta-D-galactosidase labeled antigen. The minimum amount of SS-like immunoreactive substance (SS-IS) detectable by this method was 1.0 fmol/well (25 pmol/l). The level of SS-IS in bovine foremilk was about 20 pmol/l, and the level was unchanged after delivery. On the other hand, the levels of gastrin releasing peptide (GRP)-IS and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-IS in bovine foremilk were very high, but fell during 1 week after delivery to about 10% of those in foremilk.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Micro-enzyme immunoassay of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactive substance in bovine milk.

A sensitive and specific enzyme immunoassay for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactivity was developed with the use of synthetic carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) fragment (residue 11-28) of porcine VIP conjugated with beta-D-galactosidase and a second antibody-coated immunoplate. Using 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-galactopyranoside as a fluorogenic substrate, the minimum amount of VIP-like immunoreactive substance (VIP-IS) detectable by this method was 0.1 fmol/well (2.5 pmol/l). The level of VIP-IS in bovine foremilk was above 100 pmol/l, which was more than eightfold higher than that in normal milk.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Electrical activities of pyramidal cells in the kindled hippocampus of the rabbit.

1) The pyramidal cell in the kindled hippocampus of the rabbit was intracellularly studied and compared with that in the normal hippocampus. 2) As previously reported, what characterized the kindled hippocampus was the appearance of a spontaneous hyperpolarization in the pyramidal cell. Practically all the pyramidal cells in the kindled hippocampus showed spontaneous hyperpolarizations. The hyperpolarization consisted of Cl-dependent and Cl-non-dependent components. The former was evidently the somatic IPSP. On the other hand, the latter was interpreted as the dendritic IPSP. This was supported by the fact that there was an interictal positivity in the apical dendrite layer. 3) There was no evidence whatsoever that indicated an increased excitability of the pyramidal cell. This showed that the kindled hippocampus was essentially different from the penicillin-treated hippocampus. It was suggested that the former was similar to the human brain in the interictal phase, whereas the latter was similar to that in status epilepticus. 4) In a few pyramidal cells there was a slow depolarization which could possibly trigger a seizure discharge and the nature of the slow depolarization was discussed. However, the slow depolarization was not peculiar to the kindled hippocampus.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Biological effects of leptospiral lipopolysaccharide to mouse B, T and NK cells.

Leptospiral lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) extracted from Leptospira interrogans serovars copenhageni and hebdomadis were tested for the biological effect to mouse B, T and NK cells. Each leptospiral LPS was a potent mitogen for spleen B cells. Activation of the cells was also expressed by polyclonal B cell activation. In contrast, mitogenicity for T cells, induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in T cells and increase of tumor-killing activity and chemiluminescence in NK cells were not observed after stimulation with leptospiral LPS. After intravenous injection of leptospiral LPS in mice, the spleen and lymphnodes were examined by histocytochemical technique. Increase of Ig-bearing lymphocytes was recognized while decrease of T cells was observed in the lymphoid organs. Mitogenic response to PHA, Con A and PWM decreased with relation to the T cell depletion. In conclusion, it is apparent that leptospiral LPS possess marked immunological potencies on B cells but not T and NK cells. The biological effects of leptospiral LPS were common ones as LPS but the level was considered to be different from classical LPS such as Escherichia coli LPS.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of corticostatin-I on rat adrenal cells in vitro.

We have examined the mechanism by which corticostatin-I (CS-I) acts to attenuate ACTH-induced steroidogenesis in rat adrenal cells. CS-I inhibited ACTH-induced corticosterone production in a dose-dependent manner, without any effects on the basal corticosterone level in adrenal cells. When the cells were stimulated by 100 pg ACTH/ml, the minimum effective concentration of CS-I was 100 ng/ml, and 0.3-1.0 micrograms CS-I/ml produced a 50% reduction of the stimulated corticosterone production. The inhibitory effect of CS-I on ACTH-stimulated corticosterone production became apparent within 15 min of incubation, and the effect was reversed quickly by the removal of CS-I from the media. CS-I had no effect on angiotensin II-stimulated aldosterone production by adrenal zona glomerulosa cells. CS-I also did not affect cyclic AMP- or forskolin-stimulated corticosterone production. In an in-vitro binding study using 125I-labelled CS-I, CS-I showed considerable specific binding to rat adrenal cells, and the binding competed with ACTH in a dose-dependent manner. These experiments suggest that CS-I competes with ACTH on their binding sites and exerts an inhibitory effect on the adrenal cells.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1990

[Hepatocellular carcinoma treated by continuous hepatic arterial infusion of etoposide, CDDP and 5-FU].

Fifteen patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by hepatic arterial infusion (HAI). Treatment consisted of a 24-hour continuous HAI of etoposide (60 mg/day, day 1-5), CDDP (30 mg/day, day 1-5) and 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/day, day 1-26). Three patients had two series of infusions. Five patients were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization following HAI. Among 13 evaluable patients, one showed a complete remission and five patients had a partial response. We obtained a response rate of 46.2%. Toxicity included hematologic toxicity, alopecia, nausea and vomiting. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, but it was well tolerated. These results indicate that continuous HAI of etoposide, CDDP and 5-FU is effective for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Middle term follow-up and comparative study of valve replacement with four kinds of new model bovine pericardial xenografts].

Our early clinical experience (up to 4 year's follow-up) with four new pericardial xenografts were reviewed. During the period July 1983 to December 1986, 148 Ionescu-Shiley Pericardial Xenografts (ISL) in 130 patients, 68 Carpentier-Edwards pericardial xenografts (CEP) in 65, 32 Mitroflow pericardial xenografts (MF) in 29 and 36 Hancock pericardial xenografts (HP) in 29 have been implanted. The actuarial survival rates at 3.3 years are 89.9 +/- 2.7% for ISL, 92.3 +/- 3.3% for CEP, 93.1 +/- 4.7% for MF and 93.1 +/- 4.7% for HP. Fifteen cases of primary tissue failure (PTF) were caused in all groups but CEP. The actuarial free rates from PTF at 3.3 years were 92.9 +/- 2.4% for ISL, 100% for CEP, 95.5 +/- 4.4% for MF, 82.6 +/- 7.9% for HP. All bioprostheses explanted because of PTF showed commissural tears occurred at the top of the stent posts or at the edge of the stent. In this respect, it is the reason why the cases with CEP were free from PTF that CEP has been achieved to be improved its frame design. The incidences of prosthetic valve endocarditis were not different among these kinds of bioprosthetic valves. The free rates from thromboembolism at 3.3 years were 97.5 +/- 1.5% for ISL, 98.3 +/- 1.7% for CEP, 96.0 +/- 3.9% for MF and 88.7 +/- 6.1% for HP. There was no patient with CEP and MF suffered from thromboembolism with sinus rhythm. In comparison of these 4 valves, we conclude that CEP is useful clinically because of its satisfactory durability and antithrombogenicity.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Two cases of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis; the utility of CT scan].

Two cases of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis were examined with computed tomography. Prior to the operation the CT appearances of the disease were, as follows: focal thickening of the bowel wall, gas and fluid collection in the dilated bowel, mesenteric leaf, a little ascites and dilated superior mesenteric vein with central filling defect. We conclude that CT scan is very useful for an early diagnosis of the superior mesenteric vein thrombosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Purification and characterization of a protein containing D-aspartic acid in bovine lens.

A protein containing biologically uncommon D-aspartic acid (DAsp) was extracted with 60% EtOH from the water-insoluble fraction of bovine lens. The protein was purified by DEAE-TOYOPEARL chromatography and electrical elution by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by reverse-phase chromatography. The D/L ratio of aspartic acid in the protein isolated was 0.12. The molecular weight of this protein was estimated to be 22,500 by SDS-PAGE. The high content of serine, glycine and glutamic acid was noteworthy. It has been considered that the presence of DAsp in the living body is caused by racemization closely related to aging. The age of bovines used was relatively young (5 years old). If the racemization was caused by aging, the presence of DAsp in the relatively young bovine lens suggested that the aging of the lens protein may start at a relatively young age. The protein containing DAsp may be generally present in lens beyond species such as mouse, bovine and human.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Sensitive determination of ambenonium chloride in serum from patients with myasthenia gravis using ion-exchange resin extraction and reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography.

An effective and selective procedure for the extraction of ambenonium chloride (AMBC) from serum using a weak cation-exchange extraction cartridge has been developed. The solid-phase extraction procedure permitted the extraction of AMBC from serum without adhesion to materials such as the containers. A 200-microliter volume of the eluate could be directly injected on to a reversed-phase ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatographic column. The recovery was in the range 97-100%. The limit of detection for AMBC was 0.5 ng/ml in serum (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The method was used to determine the serum concentration of AMBC in patients with myasthenia gravis. The method would be useful for monitoring AMBC in serum in order to study its pharmacokinetic behaviour in patients under oral administration therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[New technique of intra-arterial catheterization via the branch of left axillary artery for continuous infusion chemotherapy].

A new technique of intra-arterial catheterization via the branch of left axillary artery is described. This provides relatively swift and safe insertion and long-term placement of an infusion catheter through the left thoracoacrominal artery without exposure of the left axillary artery, that was required by conventional methods. With our technique, the tip of the catheter tends to enter the distal axillary artery because of oblique angulation of the trunk of the thoracoacrominal artery. Therefore, the tip of the catheter in the axillary artery must be deflected using a deflecting guidewire, so that it will advance into the subclavian artery and then down to the descending aorta. The deflection guidewire can also be of help when the catheter tip migrates into either celiac or SMA. The selective catheterization has been successful in all twenty seven patients without preliminary selective left subclavian arteriography.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Magainin 1-induced leakage of entrapped calcein out of negatively-charged lipid vesicles.

Effects of magainin 1, a novel antimicrobial peptide, on the permeability of lipid vesicles were investigated by using calcein as a trapped fluorescent marker. Magainin 1 induces the leakage of calcein specifically out of negatively-charged vesicles. The peptide binds to bovine brain phosphatidylserine sonicated vesicles according to the Langmuir isotherm with a binding constant of 3.8.10(5) M-1 and a binding-site number of 0.10 per lipid molecule. The leakage seems to occur at a critical binding number of approx. 0.03 per lipid molecule. A circular dichroism study revealed that magainin 1 conforms mainly to an unordered structure both in an aqueous solution and in the presence of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine vesicles, whereas to an amphiphilic helix with the phosphatidylserine vesicles. In conclusion, magainin 1 interacts with acidic lipids through electrostatic interactions followed by hydrophobic interactions to form an amphiphilic helix, inducing the leakage.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Dermatoses among poultry slaughterhouse workers.

A survey on the incidence of occupational dermatoses among poultry slaughterhouse workers, who, in order to do their work more efficiently, protected their hands only with cotton gloves, revealed that many workers had dermatoses of the hands. Their symptoms included maceration, erosio interdigitalis, paronychia, trichophytia unguium, and eczema, presumably caused by the constant wetness of their hands during work. Candida albicans was detected in the ungual lesions of some patients. A second survey including a skin examination was performed at a plant where preventive measures such as better working gloves and improved sanitary conditions had been implemented because of the high incidence of skin disorders. The results of this survey showed marked improvement in the reduction of the incidence of dermatoses.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1989

Increases in helper inducer T cells and activated T cells in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy.

Using two-color flow cytometric analysis, we studied peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in 15 patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy. The percentage of CD4+ 4B4+ cells (helper inducer T cell) was significantly increased in the patients with the myelopathy, compared with 16 healthy control subjects who were seronegative for human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I. However, there was no difference in the percentage of CD4+ 2H4+ cells (suppressor inducer T cell) between the two groups. The ratio of CD4+ 4B4+ cells to CD4+ cells and CD4+ 4B4+ to CD4+ 2H4+ cells was also elevated in these patients. The percentage of CD4+ DR+ cells and CD8+ DR+ cells, both of which are phenotypically activated T cells, and the ratio of CD4+ DR+ cells to CD4+ cells and of CD8+ DR+ cells to CD8+ cells are also increased in the patients, compared with the control subjects. The percentage of CD4+ 4B4+ cells showed positive correlations with values of spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and serum IgG level in patients with the myelopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Activated T cells in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy: autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction.

We examined the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy to elucidate the known increase in spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Proliferative responses in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction test were significantly increased (34,205 cpm) in cells from 9 patients with the myelopathy, as compared with findings (18,695 cpm) in the control subjects. When non-T-cell fractions were depleted from autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction cultures, proliferative responses were completely suppressed in the control subjects, while proliferation of the peripheral blood lymphocytes from the groups with the myelopathy were not affected by depletion of non-T-cell fractions. The increase in spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with the myelopathy is probably not related to an increase in autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of HIV-1 replication and syncytium formation by synthetic CD4 peptides.

Only one peptide of CD4 (amino acid residues 70-132) among 16 synthetic peptide fragments selectively inhibited HIV-1 replication and HIV-1-induced syncytium formation. Several smaller peptides within this region did not show any activity, except for the peptide (86-132) which showed somewhat lower activity.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗