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Biomedical subjects

S Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujii.

At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Impaired glucagon secretion to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in anorexia nervosa.

In order to clarify the role played by pancreatic alpha-cell dysfunction in the impaired glucose recovery from hypoglycemia in patients with anorexia nervosa, the response of pancreatic alpha-cells to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was investigated in 16 patients with anorexia nervosa before and after treatment. The results were compared with those obtained after loading with arginine. Before treatment, despite comparable falls in plasma glucose levels, glucagon secretion was significantly reduced in the anorectic patients compared with control subjects. In addition, glucose recovery from hypoglycemia in the patients was attenuated. However, after treatment, both glucagon secretory activity and plasma glucose recovery following insulin-induced hypoglycemia were restored to normal. Plasma glucagon responses to arginine infusion were not significantly different in the untreated anorectic patients and control subjects. However, the plasma insulin response in the patients was significantly lower than in the control group. These results suggest that the impaired recovery of plasma glucose levels from insulin-induced hypoglycemia in patients with anorexia nervosa is primarily attributable to impaired pancreatic alpha-secretory capability. In addition, this abnormality in pancreatic alpha-cell function is reversible with treatment leading to improved nutrition and weight gain.

Adolescent↗

[Validity of estimating left ventricular relaxation and filling dynamics by Doppler trans-mitral flow].

To evaluate the validity of estimating left ventricular (LV) diastolic function using the Doppler transmitral flow profile, the relationship of transmitral flow to LV relaxation and LV filling dynamics was observed. A total of 54 subjects, including patients with ischemic heart disease, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, and normal persons were examined. LV filling dynamics were assessed in 20 of them who had no regional wall motion abnormality or irregular LV geometry. Peak velocity of rapid filling (R) and acceleration of rapid filling (AR) at the mitral annular level were measured as indices of transmitral flow during the rapid filling period. LV relaxation was evaluated according to the time constant of LV isovolumic pressure decline (T) using the method of Weiss et al. The correlation coefficient between R and T was -0.27 and that between AR and T was -0.16, indicating lack of correlations. The v-wave of pulmonary wedge pressure (PWPv) was measured as an index for left atrial driving pressure during the rapid LV filling period. Multiple regression analyses of R or AR as dependent variables and T and PWPv as independent variables revealed significant correlations (r = 0.66 and r = 0.59). The peak transit rate (PTR = R/TVI) and atrial transit fraction (ATF = TVIa/TVI) were determined from the time integral of the transmitral flow velocity (TVI = time velocity integral during diastole, TVIa = time velocity integral during the atrial contraction phase). Also, the peak filling rate (PFR) during the rapid filling and atrial filling fraction (AFF) were determined by left ventriculography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[A case of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer with liver metastases].

A 53 year old male was admitted with cough, chest pain and bloody sputa for one month. His admission chest radiography revealed a tumor shadow in right hilus. The patient was diagnosed as small cell lung cancer (oat cell type) by transbronchial biopsy. Clinical staging was IIIA and performance status was 1. The patient was treated by combined chemotherapy (CPA, ADM and VCR) for 3 courses and chest irradiation (5,000 rad). After such therapy, the primary site was regressive until 2 months prior to death. One month after irradiation, abdominal CT showed multiple liver metastases. Though CDDP 100 mg/body and etoposide 100 mg/body X5 were administered systemically, improvement of metastases of the liver was not revealed by abdominal CT. However, after hepatic arterial infusion of ADM (10 mg/body) suspended in a lipiodol (3 ml/body) and CDDP (100 mg/body) was performed, liver metastases were remarkably regressive by abdominal CT. The patient died of a systemic relapse about 14 months after liver involvement.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Viscoelastic properties of the alveolar wall in experimental pulmonary fibrosis].

In pulmonary fibrosis the connective tissue framework and the mechanical properties of the lung are profoundly altered. Changes in amounts or distributions of each component of lung tissue (collagen, elastin, and ground substance such as glycosaminoglycans) might be expected to produce changes in viscoelastic properties of lung parenchyma and lead to mechanical inefficiency of the lungs. In order to evaluate the viscoelastic properties of the alveolar wall of fibrotic lungs, we analysed stress relaxation curves (SRL) of lung tissue in hamsters. Golden hamsters were divided into two groups: control (group C) and a group treated intratracheally with bleomycin (group B). Small piece of the alveolar wall tissue (80 x 80 x 1000 microns) was extended, and SRC was recorded for 3 minutes at the fixed extended length. Relaxation times (Tm) were used as indices of tissue viscoelastic properties. Three different Tm (Tm1: short, Tm2: moderate, and Tm3: long relaxation times) were obtained using the method of residuals. In group B, Tm3 (long relaxation time) was significantly larger than Tm3 in the other. Our results in relaxation time suggested that alveolar walls become more viscous with fibrosis. This rise in tissue viscosity with fibrosis may have been due to altered properties of the increased elastic fibers.

Animals↗

The molecular structure of Okazaki fragment r(CGCA)d(AAAAAGCG):d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) in solution.

The hetero duplex molecule, r(CGCA)d(AAAAAGCG):d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) which corresponds to Okazaki fragment was synthesized and its molecular structure has been analyzed by NMR study. The RNA strand of RNA-DNA hybrid region adopts A-form and DNA strand of the same region deviates from the standard B-form. The conformation of DNA-DNA duplex segment belongs to B-form. The hybrid-DNA duplex junction shows a structural discontinuities, A-B junction. The same conformational characteristic of oligo(dA): oligo(dT) tract as that of DNA oligomer which has same base sequence has been observed.

Base Sequence↗

Protection by thymosin fraction 5 from streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice.

Protection by thymosin fraction 5 (TF5) from subdiabetogenic-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetes in CD-1 mice was investigated. Mice which received multiple subdiabetogenic-dose (35 mg/kg) injections of STZ became hyperglycemia within two weeks. Hyperglycemia was also induced in those treated with low dose of TF5 (0.01 mg/day) in addition to STZ, though it was somewhat mild. In contrast, animals given STZ plus high dose of TF5 (0.1 mg/day) remained normoglycemic throughout the whole observation period (within 4 weeks). In the pancreatic islets from these animals, histologically, the well-granulated beta cells were observed and the infiltration of lymphoid cells was absent or mild. These results suggest that the administration of TF5 prevents the induction of insulitis and hyperglycemia in the subdiabetogenic-dose STZ-treated mice.

Animals↗

[Clinical experience of chemotherapy with cefmetazole for severe infections accompanying malignant hematological disorders].

We made an attempt to treat with cefmetazole (CMZ) 25 patients who developed severe infectious diseases while suffering with granulocytopenia associated with the treatment of malignant hematological disorders. 1. Determination of bacteriological efficacy While 20 strains were isolated and identified from 15 patients, no significant bacteria were detected in 9 patients. Isolates obtained were: 5 strains of Enterococcus faecalis, 3 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 2 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 strains of Klebsiella oxytoca, 2 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and 1 strain each of Neisseria sp., Pseudomonas maltophilia, Enterobacter sp., alpha-Streptococcus, beta-Streptococcus and Gram-positive cocci. Causative organisms were eradicated or markedly in 7 of the 15 patients from whom bacteria were isolated. Clinical findings, including fever, revealed that none of the patients, in whom bacteriological efficacy was determined to be poor, exhibited sufficient clinical response. E. faecalis was isolated from 4 of 6 patients bacteriologically determined to have no response. 2. As for 23 patients, who were found to be evaluable among the 25 patients, 8 (34.8%), 4 (17.4%), 4 (17.4%), and 7 (30.4%) demonstrated excellent, good, fair and poor responses, respectively, showing a 69.6% efficacy rate which indicates a sum of percentages of patients with excellent, good and fair responses. 3. While an efficacy rate of 100% was obtained for 3 patients with number of peripheral neutrophils less than 500/mm3 before the beginning of CMZ administration, only an efficacy rate of 66.7% was obtained for 15 patients with neutrophils more than 500/mm3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Distribution of the enkephalin neuron system in the rat thalamus; an immunohistochemical analysis].

Met-and Leu-enkephalin immunoreactive structures in the rat thalamus were investigated by indirect immunofluorescent method. Both structures showed similar distributions. Distribution: A large number of enkephalin-like immunoreactive (ENKI) terminals were observed in the antero-ventral nucleus (AV), the region between the parataenial nucleus, the antero-medial thalamic nucleus and ventral part of the ventral nucleus. ENKI cells were seen in the medial thalamic nucleus and ventral nucleus of the lateral geniculate body. Furthermore, ENKI cells are seen at the pars parvicellular of the posterior commissure and the lateral posterior thalamic nucleus detected only following pretreatment with colchicine. Fiber connection: The origin of ENKI terminals in the AV was examined by means of experimental manipulations. Injections of HRP (horseradish peroxidase) into the AV resulted in labeling of the MM (medial mammillary nucleus pars medialis) and MMC (medial mammillary nucleus pars centralis) but not the PM (premammillary nucleus). Destruction of the MM, where a number of ENKI neurons were seen, resulted in a disappearance of ENKI terminals in the ipsilateral AV. These findings suggest that MM is a major source of ENKI terminals in the AV.

Animals↗

[Fabrication of a 3-dimensional plastic model with photopolymer from CT images].

A new type of the 3-dimensional model fabricating system was developed using a focused laser beam and liquid photopolymer. The system can easily fabricate solid models, without tools, directly from digital data received from medical CT scanners or CAD systems. Solid models are fabricated as follows. After a layer of liquid photopolymer is placed above the already solidified layers, a laser beam is scanned along horizontally sliced patterns on the liquid photopolymer. The parts where the light shone is solidified. And then the solidified layers agreed with the patterns are stacked. This process is repeated for each layer. This paper describes the fabrication of a smoothly natural solid model from an original CT image sequence which is taken with rough pitches. Interpolation between original neighboring sliced images which are composed of extracted contour data is performed by use of the third order spline curve. This method can be implemented using a rather small computer. This technique can play a major role in diagnosis procedure, personal prosthesis design, and surgical operation planning.

Humans↗

Immunohistochemical localizations of CA 125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA 19-9 in normal and neoplastic glandular cells of the uterine cervix.

Immunohistochemical reactivities with CA 125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA 19-9 were studied in 15 cervixes without histologic abnormalities, ten with microglandular hyperplasia, nine adenocarcinomas in situ, ten adenocarcinomas with an invasion of less than 5 mm in depth, and 25 frankly invasive adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix. The glandular cells of the normal cervix and microglandular hyperplasia always exhibited reactivity with anti-CA 125 in the luminal surfaces and the secretory products within the lumina, but there was usually no reactivity with either anti-CEA or anti-CA 19-9. In the neoplastic glandular cells (adenocarcinoma in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma), the reactivity with anti-CA 125 was negative or was not in the luminal surface, but in the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm as accumulations of atypical coarse granules. In addition, the positive reaction with anti-CEA and anti-CA 19-9 was seen in 78% and 0% of adenocarcinomas in situ, in 80% and 40% of adenocarcinomas less than 5 mm in depth, and in 84% and 56% of frankly invasive adenocarcinomas, respectively. Therefore, neoplastic cervical glandular cells show an unusual staining pattern with anti-CA 125, which may be associated with impaired production and/or the intracytoplasmic transport of CA 125, and they begin to produce antigens recognized by anti-CEA and/or anti-CA 9-9, which are usually negative in the normal tissue.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Regulation of the expression of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor in Hep G2 cells by epidermal growth factor.

To identify factors potentially influencing expression of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), we characterized the human tissue-specific distribution of PAI-1 mRNA and the influence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on expression of steady state levels of PAI-1 mRNA and secretion of PAI-1 by Hep G2 cells. Two species of PAI-1 mRNA (3.2 and 2.2 kilobases) were detected, and the ratio of the two varied among tissues (3 to 5:1) in contrast to the 1:1 ratio detected in Hep G2 cells. Expression of PAI-1 mRNA was inversely related to the distribution of tissue-type plasminogen activator mRNA (2.3 kilobases). Nu-Serum, a growth media supplement, increased steady state levels of PAI-1 mRNA 5-fold within 3 h. Factors responsible were found to be trypsin-sensitive and dialysis-resistant. Antisera to EGF attenuated Nu-Serum-induced increases of PAI-1 mRNA by 57%, suggesting that EGF or EGF homologous peptides contributed to the response. EGF elicited increases of PAI-1 mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. Induction was rapid (7-fold at 3 h with 5 ng/ml) and complete within 10 h. The response was not attenuated by cycloheximide (25 micrograms/ml). Factor X and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA did not increase. Increased levels of PAI-1 antigen were detected in conditioned media of Hep G2 cells by 4 h and were maximal at 8 h (6-fold). We conclude that the expression of PAI-1 mRNA is tissue-specific and regulated by epidermal growth factor in Hep G2 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

One- and two-dimensional NMR studies on the conformation of DNA containing the oligo(dA)oligo(dT) tract.

The resonances of the imino protons and all of the non-exchangeable protons (except for H5'/H5'') of d(CGCAAAAAAGCG)d(CGCTTTTTTGCG) have been assigned by means of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopies. Qualitative analyses showed that the overall structure is of the B-form, but local conformational deviations exist. The NOEs between the imino protons of thymines and H2 of adenines suggest that the A-T base pairs are propeller-twisted to almost the same degree as in crystals. A remarkable chemical shift of H1' was observed for the residue located just before the oligo(dA)oligo(dT) tract, suggesting the presence of conformational discontinuity at the junctions between the oligo(dA)oligo(dT) tract and the other portions. Analyses of cross peaks in NOESY spectra between H2 of adenines and H1' of the 3'-neighbouring residues on the complementary strand revealed that the minor groove of the oligo(dA)oligo(dT) tract is narrow and compressed gradually, from 5' to 3', along the tract.

Base Sequence↗

Plasma fructosamine assay in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Plasma concentrations of fructosamine, an indicator of glycated plasma proteins, were measured in non-diabetic children and children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) to see if they also correlate with glycemic control in children as well as in adults. Non-diabetic children aged less than 4 yr had significantly lower plasma fructosamine than non-diabetic children aged 4 or more. Total plasma protein in these children was slightly lower or close to that of older children. There was no difference in fructosamine between non-diabetic children aged 4 or more and healthy adult subjects. Plasma fructosamine in children with IDDM was twofold that of age-matched controls. In children with IDDM, correlations between fructosamine and HbAI (r = 0.799) or HbAIc (r = 0.841) were high. The measurement of plasma fructosamine, which is practical in children because of the small sample volume needed and no influence of HbF, is useful in the management of children with IDDM.

Adolescent↗

Analysis of the levels of CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus for a detection of cervical adenocarcinoma.

To verify whether analysis of the levels of CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and CA19-9 in the cervical mucus is effective for a detection of cervical adenocarcinomas or not, simultaneous measurement of these three tumor markers in the cervical mucus samples from women without gynecologic disorders, with leiomyoma, with cervical squamous cell carcinomas, and with cervical adenocarcinomas was performed. Extremely high levels of CA125 with low levels of both CEA and CA19-9 were demonstrated in the cervical mucus samples from women without gynecologic disorders and with leiomyoma. The cervical mucus samples from cervical adenocarcinomas showed low CA125 levels with extremely high CEA and/or CA19-9 levels. Therefore, analysis of the levels of these three tumor markers in the cervical mucus possibly helps in the diagnosis of cervical adenocarcinomas if CEA and/or CA19-9 show extremely high levels. When a ratio of (CEA + CA19-9)/CA125 was calculated, all women without gynecologic disorders and with leiomyoma showed a ratio less than 0.5, whereas ten of 11 cases of cervical adenocarcinomas had a ratio greater than or equal to 0.5. Only one case of microinvasive adenocarcinoma showed a ratio less than 0.5. Accordingly, the ratio greater than or equal to 0.5 strongly suggested an existence of cervical adenocarcinoma, although it included some cases of squamous cell carcinomas (four of 17 cases).

Adenocarcinoma↗

A method for the determination of N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity in rat tissues involving HPLC.

A fluorescence assay method for UDP-GlcNAc:glycopeptide beta 1-4 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (Gn T-III) has been developed involving a pyridylaminated sugar as a substrate. A fluorescent sugar chain, in which the reducing end of the GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-6(GlcNAc beta 1-2Man alpha 1-3)Man beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-4GlcNAc has been aminated with 2-aminopyridine, is incubated with an enzyme sample, and then the fluorescent product with a bisecting N-acetylglucosamine is separated by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and quantitated with a fluorescence detector. This assay method was found to be sensitive enough for the detection of 0.1 pmol of a reaction product. This assay is a reliable alternative to the use of a radiolabeled substrate and can be used for assaying N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity in crude extracts of various rat tissues. The kinetic experiments were carried out using crude enzyme extracts from the rat kidney. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 6.25 and requires Mn2+. The Km values for UDP-GlcNAc and a sugar acceptor substrate were found to be 3.1 mM and 190 microM, respectively. The enzyme activity in the rat kidney was higher than those in the other tissues examined.

Animals↗