Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujii.

At least 1,135 records · Page 63Linked to original sources

Relationship between guanase activity in donor blood and the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis, and a possible method for preventing posttransfusional hepatitis.

A total of 107 recipients, who did not show any evidence of hepatic disorders in pretransfusional liver function tests and gave a negative reaction for HBsAg, were observed from 3 weeks to 3 months after blood transfusion of 711 units of blood. The blood was judged suitable for use in transfusion because it had a normal level of ALT activity and gave a negative reaction for HBsAg. The guanase activities of the blood used for transfusion were examined. Cases in which an increase of ALT to at least twice the upper limit of normal persisted for at least 3 weeks and the ALT value increased to more than five times the normal upper limit at least once during this period, which also gave a negative reaction for HBsAg, were judged to have posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. Of 107 recipients, 18 developed posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis. It was detected in 2 of 71 recipients (3%) with blood guanase activities below 3.5 units per liter and in 16 of 36 recipients (44%) with blood guanase activities above 3.6 units per liter. Thus, the incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly higher in recipients with blood guanase activities above 3.6 units per liter. The incidence of posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis increased linearly with increase in the level of guanase activity in donor blood. Thus, a high guanase activity in donor blood is considered to be an important predicting factor for posttransfusional non-A, non-B hepatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine Transaminase↗

Effects of single or repeated administration of a carbamate, propoxur, and an organophosphate, DDVP, on jejunal cholinergic activities and contractile responses in rats.

Wistar rats were injected once or repeatedly for 10 days with dichlorvos (DDVP, 5 mg kg-1), propoxur (10 mg kg-1), oxotremorine (0.1 mg kg-1) or atropine (5 mg kg-1). Animals were killed 20 min or 24 h after single or consecutive injections, respectively, for determinations of cholinergic activities and contractile responses to acetylcholine (ACh) of the jejunum. Single treatments: while DDVP and propoxur decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, oxotremorine and atropine did not. Although DDVP, propoxur and oxotremorine increased levels of ACh, atropine decreased them. Contractile responses to ACh were enhanced by DDVP and reduced by oxotremorine and atropine. The Bmax value of binding of [3H]quinuclidinyl benzylate (QNB) to muscarinic ACh receptors was decreased by atropine. Consecutive treatments: DDVP and oxotremorine decreased AChE activity markedly and slightly, respectively. Although DDVP and oxotremorine increased levels of ACh, propoxur decreased them. Without affecting the contractile responses, DDVP caused a reduction and propoxur and atropine caused an increase in the Bmax value for binding of [3H]QNB. Both the contractile responses and the value of Bmax for binding of [3H]-QNB were decreased by oxotremorine. In summary, propoxur and DDVP showed similar effects mainly through their anticholinesterase properties in the case of single injection, but DDVP had similar effects to those of oxotremorine and propoxur had similar effects to those of atropine in the case of repeated injection.

Acetylcholine↗

Thyroid hormone abnormalities in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Thyroid hormone abnormalities in serum were investigated in 47 patients with diabetes mellitus. Although no significant differences in T4 were found between normal subjects and diabetics, a group of diabetics whose fasting blood sugar levels were over 250 mg/dl showed significantly higher reverse T3 (rT3) (p less than 0.01) and lower T3 levels (p less than 0.05) than healthy controls. A significant correlation was observed between rT3 and FFA levels in diabetics. Moreover, patients in diabetic ketoacidosis showed markedly high rT3 with low T3 levels. With insulin treatment, these levels returned to normal in several days. These findings suggest that the reduction of T3 and the increase of rT3 may indicate an adaptation to limit catabolism in diabetics.

Adult↗

Giant sigmoid colonic diverticulitis: case report.

Giant colonic diverticulum is a rare condition, and the usual site is the sigmoid colon. In this report, magnetic resonance imaging was performed in a patient with lower abdominal pain. The modality was useful for the evaluation of giant sigmoid colonic diverticulitis and the differential diagnosis.

Colon, Sigmoid↗

Clinical significance of urinary laminin P1 in diabetic patients.

The urinary concentrations of laminin fragment P1 (L-P1), a major component of laminin, were determined in diabetic patients without diabetic nephropathy and healthy controls. In the control subjects, urinary L-P1 increased with age, especially over 60 years of age. A significant increase of urinary L-P1 was observed in diabetics aged less than 50 years. Neither urinary albumin nor N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase correlated to the urinary L-P1 level. We used immunohistochemistry to locate L-P1 in the cortex of human kidneys. In non-diabetic kidneys, the glomerular and tubular basement membranes, mesangium, and Bowman's capsule were stained. In the diabetic kidney, more was stained, including the mesangial expansion and the thickened capillary basement membranes.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Altered expression of genes in experimentally induced myopic chick eyes.

PURPOSE: To identify a casual pathway between the alteration in visual experience, due to form deprivation and hyperopic defocus, and the increase in eye growth, we searched for candidate genes having regulatory effects on eye growth under myopic conditions. METHODS: The expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, sonic hedgehog, nerve growth factor, Six-3 and the Lh-2 group of genes in the transcriptional level after experimentally induced myopia (form-deprivation by goggles and by hyperopic defocus using negative spectacle lenses) were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Results showed that only the sonic hedgehog gene was differentially expressed in the experimentally induced myopic retinal samples compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The sonic hedgehog gene may have regulatory functions in the signaling of the cascade of events that leads to axial elongation and vitreous enlargement of the eye under myopic conditions.

Animals↗

Indocyanine green videoangiography in macular variant of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

BACKGROUND: Fifty patients diagnosed with choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration were examined by indocyanine green videoangiography. Results were correlated with fundus photographs and fluorescein angiograms. Two patients were diagnosed with the macular variant of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. CASES: Two middle-aged hypertensive women were diagnosed with macular idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy. Throughout the follow-up period, both cases showed improved signs and symptoms without worsening of visual acuity, and despite the absence of definitive therapy. OBSERVATIONS: Indocyanine green videoangiography demonstrated the characteristic polypoidal lesions in idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy better than fluorescein angiography, particularly when blood, exudates, or pigment epithelial detachments blocked visualization of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy may not be as low as reported, as its presentation mimics choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. Differentiation can be made only through indocyanine green videoangiography. Conservative management may be beneficial, as visual prognosis is good.

Choroid↗

Microencapsulation of pancreatic islets. A technique and its application to culture and transplantation.

Hamster pancreatic islets were encapsulated by a biocompatible membrane composed of the molecular sequence of alginate-polylysine-alginate. The encapsulated islets released insulin into the culture medium in response to secretagogues in short-term incubation. In long-term culture, the encapsulated islets maintained their insulin-releasing capacity for 28 days at a level similar to that of the unencapsulated islets. No overgrowth of fibroblastic cells was observed inside the capsule even after 70 days of culture. Further, the encapsulated hamster islets were xenotransplanted to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats intraperitoneally. Some of the encapsulated islets, which were recovered from a recipient 27 days after transplantation, were found to be viable, although prolonged normalization of fasting plasma glucose levels of the recipients could not been achieved. On the contrary, the unencapsulated islets were replaced by massive connective tissue elements and insulin-positive B cells were hardly detected within the grafts 22 days after transplantation. The results of this study seem to confirm the potential of the application of the encapsulating technique to primary culture of parenchymal cells and to transplantation of pancreatic islets.

Alginates↗

Rat two-generation reproductive toxicity study of bisphenol A.

This study was conducted to determine the low-dose effects of bisphenol A (BPA) in a rat two-generation reproduction study. Groups of 25 male and 25 female Crj: CD (SD) IGS rats were given BPA at 0.2, 2, 20, or 200 microg/kg/day by gastric intubation throughout the study beginning at the onset of a 10- and 2-week premating period, in F0 males and females, respectively, and continuing through the mating, gestation, and lactation periods, for two generations. There were adult (F0, F1, F2) and postnatal day (PND) 22 (F1, F2) necropsies: the oldest F2 males and females being killed at postnatal weeks 7 and 14, respectively. No compound-related clinical signs or effects on body weight or food consumption were observed in any generation. There were no compound-related changes in surface righting reflex, negative geotaxis reflex, mid-air righting reflex, pinna detachment, incisor eruption, eye opening, testes descent, preputial separation, or vaginal opening in F1 and F2 generations, or behavior in the open field or water filled multiple T-maze in the F1 generation. No test compound-related changes in estrous cyclicity, copulation index, fertility index, number of implantations, gestation length, litter size, pup weight, pup sex ratio, pup viability, or other functional reproductive measures were noted in any generation. A few significant changes in the anogenital distance (AGD) per cube root of body weight ratio were found at 0.2 and 20 microg/kg in F1 males, at 2, 20, and 200 microg/kg in F1 females, and at 20 and 200 microg/kg in F2 females. However, the changes in the AGD were consistently small (within 5% of control values), and no continuous changes in the AGD or AGD/cube root of body weight ratio were detected. There were no compound-related changes in epididymal sperm counts or motility in F0 and F1 males. No compound-related necropsy findings or effects on organ weight including the reproductive organs were found in any generation. Histopathologic examinations revealed no evidence of compound-related changes in any organs including the reproductive organs of both sexes. The data indicate that oral doses of BPA of between 0.2 and 200 microg/kg over 2 generations did not cause significant compound-related changes in reproductive or developmental parameters in rats.

Administration, Oral↗

Polydactyly lethal: a new mutant spontaneously occurring in the FPL strain of rats.

A new mutant gene that causes preaxial polydactyly in the hindlimbs was found in the strain of rats with fused pulmonary lobes (fpl). Genetic analysis has revealed that the new mutation is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and is not closely linked with the fpl gene. Since homozygous mutants die within the first 2 days after birth, the mutant gene was named polydactyly lethal, gene symbol pl. A test for allelism between the pl gene and another gene, pd, which also causes preaxial duplication anomalies, showed no allelism between these two genes. Skeletal examination revealed that all pl/pl newborns had thickening and/or bifurcation of tarsal I and metatarsal I, as well as duplication of the proximal and distal phalanges of digit I in the hindlimbs. In some cases, phalangeal duplication or bifurcation in digit I with thickening of metacarpal I was also found in the forelimbs, although extra forelimb digits were not detected externally. The pl/pl newborns showed hunchback-like abnormal posture externally and had several associated vertebral abnormalities in varying degrees, i.e., kyphosis, scoliosis, splitting of the thoracic vertebral bodies, and fusion of the lumbar vertebral bodies. No major malformations were seen in the visceral organs. The cause of neonatal deaths has not yet been determined.

Alleles↗

A comparison of genetic variability in strains of Japanese quail selected for heavy body weight.

Electrophoretic analyses of body tissues from three strains of Japanese quail from the Quail Genetic Stock Centre at the University of British Columbia, two selected for heavy body weight and one randombred, were carried out to determine whether genetic variations in selected strains were different from randombred strains. In addition, the data were also compared with those obtained from domestic and wild populations in Japan. The proportion of polymorphic loci was higher in the heavy strains than in the randombred strain. The selected strains also differed from the randombred strain in the allelic frequencies of liver esterase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. While the randombred strain was genetically similar to the domestic strains in Japan, the two selected strains were different from each other and from the domestic strains in Japan. This indicates that (1) polymorphic loci have adaptive importance, and (2) heavy body weight can be achieved by separate genetic mechanisms. A previously unreported allele that affects the migration pattern of muscle adenylate kinase was also discovered in one of the selected strains.

Animals↗

Yolk sac tumor of the ovary: radiologic-pathologic correlation in four cases.

We report the radiologic and pathologic features of yolk sac tumor (endodermal sinus tumor) of the ovary in four patients. Yolk sac tumors were shown as well-enhancing solid tumors on both CT and MR studies and were associated with prominent signal voids on MRI. A hypervascular nature was confirmed on microscopic studies. Areas of hemorrhage were another common characteristic. These imaging findings seem to have an important implication for the diagnosis of this tumor.

Adolescent↗

Synaptic plasticity in hippocampal CA1 neurons of mice lacking type 1 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors.

In hippocampal CA1 neurons of wild-type mice, delivery of a standard tetanus (100 pulses at 100 Hz) or a train of low-frequency stimuli (LFS; 1000 pulses at 1 Hz) to a naive input pathway induces, respectively, long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD) of responses, and delivery of LFS 60 min after tetanus results in reversal of LTP (depotentiation, DP), while LFS applied 60 min before tetanus suppresses LTP induction (LTP suppression). To evaluate the role of the type 1 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) in hippocampal synaptic plasticity, we studied LTP, LTD, DP, and LTP suppression of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the CA1 neurons of mice lacking the IP3R1. No differences were seen between mutant and wild-type mice in terms of the mean magnitude of the LTP or LTD induced by a standard tetanus or LFS. However, the mean magnitude of the LTP induced by a short tetanus (10 pulses at 100 Hz) was significantly greater in mutant mice than in wild-type mice. In addition, DP or LTP suppression was attenuated in the mutant mice, the mean magnitude of the responses after delivery of LFS or tetanus being significantly greater than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that, in hippocampal CA1 neurons, the IP3R1 is involved in LTP, DP, and LTP suppression but is not essential for LTD. The facilitation of LTP induction and attenuation of DP and LTP suppression seen in mice lacking the IP3R1 indicates that this receptor plays an important role in blocking synaptic potentiation in hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Animals↗

Immunoreactive-somatostatin concentrations of the human stomach and mood state in patients with functional dyspepsia: a preliminary case-control study.

Immunoreactive-somatostatin (ir-SS) concentrations of the gastric mucosa and mood state in patients with functional dyspepsia were examined. The subjects were 12 patients with upper abdominal discomfort, nausea and/or vomiting (motility disorder group) and 14 patients complaining of upper abdominal pain (ulcer-like disorder group) for more than a month without any organic upper-gastrointestinal tract disease proven by endoscopy. These patients were compared with either an age- and sex-matched group of asymptomatic outpatients without any organic disease (control group: n = 26) or to a group of patients with peptic ulcer (n = 19). Somatostatin concentrations of the stomach were measured by radio-immunoassay, and the mood state of each subject was assessed by Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale test. Immunoreactive-somatostatin concentrations of the gastric mucosa were significantly higher in the ulcer-like disorder group than in the peptic ulcer, motility disorder or control group, and gastric juice levels were higher in the ulcer-like disorder group. The psychometric tests showed that the motility disorder group was more depressive than the ulcer-like disorder group, but there were no differences between the motility disorder, ulcer-like disorder and peptic ulcer group in MAS scores or environmental factors. These results indicate that there may be two different subgroups in functional dyspepsia influenced by both ir-SS concentration of the stomach and/or mood state.

Adult↗

Positron emission tomography application for gynecologic tumors.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG), which originated as a research tool to evaluate glucose metabolism in cancer tissues, has now become an essential imaging modality for determining the appropriate therapeutic management of various cancer patients. The clinical role of FDG-PET for gynecologic tumors has not been established yet, but FDG-PET has come to be considered one of the important imaging modalities for evaluating patients with gynecological cancers. The objective was to review the literature regarding the utility of FDG-PET in the clinical setting of gynecological malignancies. Many articles reported that FDG-PET could be used for staging and restaging in patients with uterine cervical cancer. Although there is limited data about the feasibility of FDG-PET for endometrial cancer, preliminary results for detecting recurrence were promising. Furthermore, FDG-PET has been reported as a useful imaging modality, especially for restaging, in ovarian cancer, although the prognostic value needs to be fully investigated. Currently, a combined PET/computed tomography scanner is available, and its clinical application has begun. It is expected that this modality will contribute to the management of gynecological cancers, as has been reported recently for other malignancies.

Animals↗

Increased cyclooxygenase-2 expression is correlated with suppressed antitumor immunity in cervical adenocarcinomas.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition suppressed the growth of various tumors. The augmentation of antitumor immunity by increasing cytotoxic lymphocytes may be an important mechanism for COX-2 inhibition. Among cervical cancers, adenocarcinomas present more aggressive behavior and overexpressed COX-2. The expression of COX-2 and the CD8+ lymphocyte infiltrations were evaluated in this study by immunohistochemistry. We studied COX-2 expression and CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration in 55 women with cervical adenocarcinomas. COX-2 expression and tumor stromal CD8+ lymphocytes were evaluated by semiquantified methods. Tumor intraepithelial lymphocytes were counted under microscopic field of x200. Correlations between these data and other clinicopathologic features were investigated. Thirty-seven out of 55 (67.3%) cervical adenocarcinomas significantly expressed COX-2. Patients who died within 5 years showed higher percentage of COX-2 expression than survivors (100% vs 58.1%, P < 0.05). Victims also showed lesser intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte counts than survived patients (3.4 vs 26.4, P < 0.05). COX-2 expression and tumor intraepithelial lymphocyte count were reversely correlated with each other (correlation index: -0.38, P < 0.01). Up-regulated COX-2 expression and lesser tumor intraepithelial CD8+ lymphocyte count are poor prognostic indicators for cervical adenocarcinoma patients. COX-2 may play an important role in the suppression of host antitumor immunity in cervical adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗