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Biomedical subjects

S Fujimori

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujimori.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Endoscopic diagnosis of lower intestinal lesions of leukaemia and malignant lymphoma.

There have been only a few endoscopic studies with respect to lower intestinal lesions of leukaemia and malignant lymphoma, although there have been many autopsy studies of these lesions. The aim of this study was to clarify these lesions using endoscopy. Colonoscopy was performed on 11 of 341 patients with leukaemia and on 32 of 105 patients with malignant lymphoma for frequent diarrhoea, anal bleeding or abnormal findings on barium enema examination, between April 1984 and September 1994. In eight of the 11 patients with leukaemia on whom endoscopy was performed, nine lesions were found; aphthoid ulcers, small ulcers or large tumours due to leukaemic infiltration were found in five, and colorectal adenoma was found in only one patient. Antibiotic-associated haemorrhagic colitis or pseudomembranous colitis was found in one patient each. In 10 of the 32 patients with malignant lymphoma, 11 lesions were found. The following were found in one patient each: large lymphomatous tumours, a large lymphomatous ulcer, multiple small polypoid lesions, multiple lymphomatous polyposis; and colorectal cancer or adenoma in six patients. However, the autopsy findings in patients with both diseases were mostly pseudomembrane formation or ulcers due to fungal and/or bacterial infection. It is concluded that accurate endoscopic diagnosis of lower intestinal lesions in patients with leukaemia or malignant lymphoma is essential for staging and treatment of these diseases and for determining their prognosis. Most lesions in leukaemia are aphthoid and small ulcers are due to leukaemic infiltration or antibiotics; most lesions in malignant lymphoma are elevated lesions such as cancer, adenoma or lymphomatous lesions as determined by endoscopy. This is in contrast to pseudomembrane formation or ulcers due to fungal and/or bacterial infection which are detected at autopsy.

Adult↗

Anthraquinones from Neonauclea calycina and their inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerase II.

In a series of searches for DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors from naturally occurring compounds, a wood extract of Neonauclea calycina MERR. (Rubiaceae) showed a moderate effect in vitro. Purification of the extract resulted in the isolation of seven known anthraquinones. The structures were characterized as damnacanthal, rubiadin 1-methyl ether, nordamnacanthal, morindone, damnacanthol, lucidin 3-O-primeveroside and morindone 6-O-primeveroside by spectral analysis, respectively. Damnacanthal and morindone showed an intensive inhibitory effect against topoisomerase II (IC50: 20 micrograms/ml and 21 micrograms/ml).

Anthraquinones↗

Pharmacologically active components of viticis fructus (Vitex rotundifolia). II. The components having analgesic effects.

The extract of Viticis Fructus appeared to have an analgesic effect, and was subjected to activity-guided separation using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The active fraction gave new compounds, vitexfolin A (1A), B and C, 10-O-vanilloylaucubin (3), dihydrodehydrodiconiferylalcohol-beta-D- (2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)glucoside (4), and vanilloyl-beta-D-(2'O-p-hydroxybenzoyl)glucoside, together with agnuside (2) and erythro- and threoguaiacylglycerols. Compounds 1A and 2-4 showed significant writhing inhibition following oral administration at doses of 15, 50, 25, and 50 mg/kg, respectively. The effect on pressure pain threshold was tested using compounds 1A and 2 at a dose of 50 mg/kg, and only the former produced the analgesia. The analgesic effect of some related iridoid glucosides is also discussed.

Administration, Oral↗

Partial deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase manifesting as acute renal damage.

A 32-year-old man who had had frequent gouty arthritis over the past 17 years, was admitted for acute renal failure. Acute renal failure was improved rapidly after medication was resumed and the patient was sufficiently hydrated. The hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) activity in the patient had been reduced to about 30% of the normal control. Therefore we considered that this patient suffered from a partial deficiency of HPRT. A point mutation of HPRT gene 68G (guanine) to T (thymine) was detected. This is a mutation that has not been previously reported. Familial analysis indicated that his mother and sister were heterozygotes.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Use of the radial artery graft in coronary artery bypass grafting: harvesting technique and spasm prevention].

The use of radial artery (RA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been increasing recently as a revival. In this report, we describe several practical suggestions for improving patency rate of the graft. Between April of 1997 and February of 1998, 41 CABGs were performed using RA graft, totalling 56 anastomoses. The early patency rate of the graft has been 100% (graft: 38/38, anastomosis: 53/53). Harvesting technique: with the use of Harmonic Scalpel, it is possible to atraumatically harvest the vessel in a short time. Although longitudinal fasciotomy of the adventitia has been recently reported to be effective in releasing spasm, the nature of the vessel raise concern that the fasciotomy may even induce spasm. We hypothesize that leaving the adventitia intact, preserving vasa vasorum, rather than performing fasciotomy leads to improvement of long-term patency. Spasm prevention: we consider the body temperature to be the most important factor. Therefore, we utilize normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Another important factor is that the arterial CO2 is kept at a high level during CPB. For dilation of RA graft, milrinone is used instead of papaverine. For the intra- and postoperative management, intravenous continuous administration of diltiazem was changed to nicorandil. Technically, essential resolution for improvement of patency rate is either to allow for large proximal anastomosis, or to make sequential anastomosis with another coronary artery which has a good run off. For these purposes, the proximal anastomosis on the ascending aorta seems to have the advantage over placing it on ITA.

Adult↗

Effect of pre-induction of heat shock proteins on indomethacin-induced small-intestinal lesion in rats.

Systemic hyperthermia induces the synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in several organs. However, the mechanism of induction and the functions of HSPs in the small-intestinal mucosa have not been established. We examined the expression of HSPs in the small-intestinal mucosa after systemic hyperthermia, and evaluated the cytoprotective function of pre-induced HSPs on experimentally induced mucosal damage. HSP expression was investigated by Western blot and densitometric analysis before and after hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C; 20 min). Expression of a 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) and a 73-kDa heat shock protein (HSP73), both of which are endogenous cytoprotectants in vitro significantly increased, peaking 6-9 h after hyperthermia, without any pathologic alterations, whereas the expression of a 60-kDa heat shock protein (HSP60) did not increase. To investigate the influence of pre-induction of HSPs on small-intestinal damage, rats received indomethacin (10 mg/kg; orally) with or without pre-treatment with hyperthermia. Small-intestinal damage caused by indomethacin was not influenced by pre-induction of HSP72 and HSP73. We demonstrated that systemic hyperthermia induced HSP72 and HSP73, although pre-induction of these proteins did not have a cytoprotective function in the small-intestinal damage caused by indomethacin.

Animals↗

Analysis of bile acids in colon residual liquid or fecal material in patients with colorectal neoplasia and control subjects.

Bile acids are believed to play a role in the etiology of colorectal cancer. To examine the relationship between bile acids and colorectal neoplasia, bile acids in colon residual liquid or fecal material were analyzed in 18 patients with colorectal adenoma, 12 patients with colorectal cancer, and 18 healthy control subjects. High-performance liquid chromatography combined with immobilized 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in column form showed a significant elevation in the proportion of deoxycholic acid (P < 0.05), lithocholic acid (P < 0.05), secondary bile acids (deoxycholic acid plus lithocholic acid) (P < 0.02), and the chenodeoxycholic acid-lithocholic acid family (chenodeoxycholic acid plus lithocholic acid) (P < 0.05) in the colon residual liquid or fecal material of the patients with colorectal adenoma compared with proportions in the control subjects. A similar trend was noted in the patients with colorectal cancer compared to the control subjects. These findings suggested that an increase in the proportion of secondary bile acids, in particular, of lithocholic acid, was closely related to the pathogenesis of colorectal neoplasia.

Adenoma↗

An asymptomatic germline missense base substitution in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene that reduces the amount of enzyme in humans.

A 40-year-old normouricemic (5.5 mg/dl) male showed 46% hemolysate and 37% lymphoblast hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) activities but was otherwise completely free of symptoms. His genomic DNA and cDNA had a missense base substitution (CAT-to-CGT in codon 60) leading to the amino-acid substitution His-to-Arg. Western blot analysis revealed that the amount of HPRT protein in lymphoblasts from this individual was 25%-50% of normal cells, suggesting that the decrease in the amount of enzyme protein was responsible for the partial deficiency. This provides the first clear evidence that a genomic missense mutation at the HPRT locus leads to a decrease in the amount of the enzyme protein but that otherwise it has no evident adverse effects in the hemizygote (asymptomatic mutation).

Adult↗

Induction of a 72-kDa heat shock protein and cytoprotection against thioacetamide-induced liver injury in rats.

Heat shock proteins are ubiquitous intracellular proteins induced by various physiological stress-related events. A 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) has been reported to be an endogenous cytoprotectant in variety of cells in vitro. In order to study the cytoprotective function of HSP72 in the liver, the effect of preinduction of HSP72 in rat liver by systemic hyperthermia on thioacetamide-induced hepatic injury was investigated in this study. Expression of HSP72 in the liver was investigated by immunoblot and densitometric analysis. Rats were injected with thioacetamide (100 mg/kg, subcutaneously) with or without preinduction of HSP72 by hyperthermia. Serum AST and ALT concentrations were measured before and after thioacetamide injection in both group. Histologic alteration of the liver was evaluated also. Systemic hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C, 20 min) significantly induced HSP72 in the liver. Thioacetamide-induced hepatic injury was clearly prevented by preinduction of HSP72 by hyperthermia. Prevention of hepatocyte damage was more clear in the area around central veins where HSP72 induction was apparent. Our findings might suggest that HSP72 has an important function in the liver with respect to cytoprotection. These results might be important for understanding the mechanism of "adaptive cytoprotection" in the liver mediated by the function of heat shock proteins as "molecular chaperons" as reported in vitro.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Synthesis of a new potent anti-angiogenic agent, 17 alpha-acetoxy-9 alpha-fluoro-6 alpha-methylprogesterone (9 alpha-fluoromedroxyprogesterone acetate [FMPA]).

A new anti-angiogenic agent, 17 alpha-acetoxy-9 alpha-fluoro-6 alpha-methylprogesterone (9 alpha-fluoromedoroxyprogesterone acetate [FMPA, 9] was synthetized in a 10-step sequence. FMPA (9) had about two orders of magnitude stronger anti-angiogenic activity than medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), as estimated in a bioassay involving chorioallantoic membranes of growing chick embryos.

Animals↗

Virus neutralizing antibody titer to feline immunodeficiency virus isolates of subtypes A, B and D in experimentally or naturally infected cats.

Six strains of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) classified into subtypes A, B and D were examined by cross-neutralization test using Kumi-1 cells (CD4+, CD8+, and CD9+), an interleukin-2 dependent feline T-lymphocyte cell line. Neutralizing activities against these six FIV strains were also investigated in 50 FIV-antibody-positive serum samples collected from different geographical regions in Japan. The cross-neutralization test revealed that antisera against the six strains tended to possess high neutralizing activity against the homologous strain. These antisera were also capable of neutralizing viral strains of the same subtype. However, some of the antisera were broadly crossreactive with all six FIV strains. Serum samples collected from naturally infected cats in the field showed various neutralization patterns for the six FIV strains. These observations reflect the antigenic diversity in FIV strains prevailing in the field. There were also broadly crossreactive serum samples, and 36% (18/50 samples) showed neutralization for all six FIV strains.

Animals↗

Significance of serum iron and ferritin in patients with colorectal adenomas.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal adenomas are often detected on mass screening, although detection rates with fecal occult blood tests are low. The relationship between colorectal adenomas and the resulting blood loss was examined indirectly, using serum iron and ferritin levels. METHODS: Serum iron and ferritin concentrations were measured in 184 men with colorectal adenomas (> or = 1 cm in 92; < 1 cm in 92) and in 92 healthy male controls. Values in the three groups were compared. In the patients with adenomas > or = 1 cm, serum iron and ferritin levels were compared on the basis of the site, number, histology, and degree of dysplasia of the adenoma. RESULTS: The mean serum iron level was significantly lower in patients with adenomas > or = 1 cm than in controls (P < 0.05), although this level did not differ significantly between those with adenomas < 1 cm and controls. The mean serum ferritin level also was significantly lower in patients with adenomas > or = 1 cm than in those with adenomas < 1 cm and controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), although this level did not differ between those with adenomas < 1 cm and controls. There was no difference in mean serum iron or ferritin levels on the basis of the site, number, histology, or degree of dysplasia of the adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that decreased serum iron and ferritin levels are related only to adenoma size and that adenomas > or = 1 cm may bleed steadily, resulting in iron deficiency. However, low dietary intake of iron and fiber may be one of the causes of low serum iron and ferritin.

Adenoma↗

[PRPP synthetase superactivity].

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate(PRPP) synthetase(PRS) catalyzes the formation of PRPP from ATP and ribose-5-phosphate. PRPP is an important substrate for the synthesis of purine, pyrimidine, and pyridine dinucleotides. Human PRS exists as complex aggregates composed of the 34 kDa catalytic subunits(PRS1 and PRS2) and other 39 kDa component designated PRPP synthetase-associated protein (PAP39). PRS superactivity is an X-chromosome linked disorder, characterized by gout and uric acid overproduction resulting from accelerated synthesis of PRPP and purine nucleotides. Among the nearly 30 affected families identified to date, there are several families in which PRS superactivity with purine nucleotide feedback resistance are associated with neurodevelopmental abnormalities in addition to hyperuricemia and gout. Different nucleotide substitutions in the PRPS1 gene encoding PRS1 have identified in six unrelated affected families with purine nucleotide feedback-resistant PRS superactivity.

Gout↗

Induction and intracellular localization of a 72-kDa heat shock protein in rat gastric mucosa after water-immersion stress.

We investigated the expression and changes in the intracellular localization of a 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) in rat gastric pyloric and fundic mucosa before and after water-immersion stress. Severe mucosal damage was found in the fundic mucosal area of the stomach after this stress. However, no mucosal lesion developed in the pyloric mucosal area. HSP72 in both the soluble and insoluble fractions of the pyloric and the fundic mucosal areas was significantly increased after water-immersion stress, peaking 6h after the initiation of the stress. The increase in HSP72 was more significant in the pyloric mucosal area than in the fundic mucosal area under both normal and stress conditions. The increase of HSP72 in the pyloric mucosal cells occurred prior to the formation of the mucosal lesions, whereas the increase of HSP72 in the fundic mucosal cells was observed after ulcer formation. An immunohistochemical study showed that HSP72 was constitutively expressed in the cytoplasm of the gastric mucosal cells, and that the intranuclear induction of HSP72 was remarkably intense in the pyloric mucosal cells, especially in the proliferative zone, compared with the fundic mucosal cells. Our results may suggest that HSP72 has an important cytoprotective function in gastric mucosal cells and that there is a "biophysical" difference between pyloric and the fundic mucosal cells.

Animals↗