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Biomedical subjects

S Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujimoto.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The roles of the marginal veins in the differentiation of the rat hind limb bud: an immunocytochemical study.

Rat hind limb buds, aged between prenatal days 14 and 18, were used for electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry of fibronectin, laminin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining indicative of DNA fragmentation. Fibronectin and laminin were actively synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of epidermal cells in the apical ectodermal ridge between prenatal days 14 and 15, but most cells underwent apoptosis after prenatal day 15. As the regression of the apical ectodermal ridge progressed, mesenchymal cells associated with the marginal veins were successively incorporated into the endothelium devoid of the basal lamina. No mitotic figures of endothelial cells were recognized either in the marginal vein or in the surrounding growing capillaries. Extracellular matrix components connected the adjacent mesenchymal cells, with the endothelium of such vessels immunoreacting to fibronectin and laminin. In addition, fibronectin-immunoreactive networks among the interstices of the mesenchymal cell cords developed in the avascular zone between the epidermis and the growing capillaries at prenatal day 15, but became inconspicuous at prenatal day 16. These results indicate that the apoptosis of the epidermal cells is the major reason for the regression of the apical ectodermal ridge, and that the capillary ingrowth from the marginal veins to the avascular zone is accelerated by transformation of mesenchymal cells to endothelial ones. Fibronectin and laminin seem to play crucial roles in capillary growth, especially in the adhesion between endothelial cells of the pre-existing vessels and mesenchymal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Epidemiologic application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to an outbreak of Campylobacter fetus meningitis in a neonatal intensive care unit.

An outbreak of nosocomial Campylobacter fetus meningitis occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Eight C. fetus strains were isolated from 4 infants with meningitis, the mother of the index patient and 2 infants who were asymptomatic intestinal carriers. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern with the restriction endonucleases Smal and Sall were found to be identical for the nosocomial C. fetus isolates, but the patterns were different from those of sporadic strains. These nosocomial strains were strongly suspected to be a single strain. The finding revealed that the index patient was infected by the mother, and that the outbreak developed from this patient by cross-infection. This is the first confirmed nosocomial C. fetus meningitis outbreak spread by cross-infection in a NICU.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A case of Trichuris trichiura infection diagnosed by colonoscopy.

A 65-year-old Japanese female was admitted to our hospital because of right lower abdominal pain. Laboratory and roentgenological tests revealed no abnormalities. Repeated stool examinations revealed no ovum or parasite. However, colonoscopic examination demonstrated the presence of a parasite on the edematous mucosa of cecum. The adult male whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) was then removed endoscopically. Her symptoms disappeared quickly, and no additional parasite was found in the feces during or after the mebendazole treatment. Repeated stool examinations failed to show any ova, because this patient was infected by a single male parasite. Colonoscopic study should be considered a useful tool for the diagnosis of T. trichiura infection, even if no ovum is found in stool examination.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[A case of diaphragmatic paralysis following herpes zoster].

We report a case of diaphragmatic paralysis after herpes zoster. A 82-year-old woman developed shortness of breath on effort after about two months of a typical herpes zoster eruptions affecting the C4 and C5 dermatomic areas on the right side. A chest x-ray showed an elevated right diaphragm. The diaphragmatic evoked potential by stimulation of the right phrenic nerve at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was not elicited. Chest CT and cervical MRI were normal. The viral antibody titers of herpes zoster were elevated in the serum. Cervical herpes zoster should be considered as a possible cause of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Postoperative olfactory dysfunction in interhemispheric approach for ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms].

Between 1969 and 1994 we treated 450 patients with ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms, of which 434 cases (96.4%) were operated on via the interhemispheric approach (IH), namely, until 1979 mainly, via bifrontal craniotomy, subfrontal and interhemispheric approach (SIH) and, since 1979, via posterior interhemispheric approach (PIH). Postoperative olfactory dysfunction is one of the main disadvantages of IH. The mechanisms and the incidence of this disadvantage were studied in both approaches. The causes of postoperative anosmia in SIH were as follows: sectioning of olfactory tracts intentionally or not, avulsion of olfactory bulbs and probability of ischemic or minor mechanical insults to olfactory tracts. However, these matters rarely occur in PIH because of little exposure of olfactory nerves. The mechanisms of postoperative anosmia in PIH were considered to be as follows: sinking of frontal lobes due to excessive drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and over-retraction of frontal lobes. The incidence of postoperative anosmia decreased from 27.0% via SIH to 5.5% via PIH.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗
PubMed1996

[An analysis of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis in ovarian carcinoma by systematic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection].

We performed a systematic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) on 137 patients with primary ovarian carcinoma, of whom 97 had undergone RPLND during the primary surgery before chemotherapy and 40 had undergone RPLND during the secondary cytoreductive surgery after preoperative chemotherapy. The tentative staging of the ovarian carcinoma used in this study was determined according to the FIGO criteria without considering the pathologic findings of retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Nodal metastasis was seen in 21.9% (30/137) of them. Thirteen had positive pelvic lymph nodes (PLN) but no positive para-aortic nodes (PAN). Eleven had both positive PLN and positive PAN. Six had positive PAN but no positive PLN. The PAN was the most frequent site of metastasis (17/137). Next were the common iliac, obturator, and lateral group of deep inguinal nodes. Solitary metastasis in the patients who had undergone RPLND during the primary surgery was seen in a PAN and a common iliac node. Among 24 patients with PLN metastasis, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the number of positive PLN between the patients with PAN metastasis (5.27 +/- 3.00) and the patients without PAN metastasis (2.62 +/- 1.66). These results indicate that the PAN and common iliac nodes are the most important site of nodal metastasis in ovarian carcinoma. The metastasis to PLN such as obturator node and internal iliac node seems to occur independently of the PAN metastasis, and the PAN metastasis occurs not only through the direct route but also as a consequence of extension of PLN metastases. Systematic retroperitoneal lymph node exploration therefore seems to be necessary to clarify the lymph node status.

Aorta↗
PubMed1996

Electron and immunoelectron microscopy on healing process of the rat anterior cruciate ligament after partial transection: the roles of multipotent fibroblasts in the synovial tissue.

The healing process of the rat anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after partial transection was examined. In sham operated samples, the synovial tissue near the infrapatellar fat pad includes an abundance of young fibroblasts which can be classified into two types: A type cells often exist along the surface of the synovial tissue and contain numerous lysosomes, while B type cells are often associated with small vessels and are actively involved in the production of fibronectin and laminin. At 1 week after transection of the ACL, B type cells frequently undergo mitotic proliferations and are eventually incorporated into the endothelium of the growing capillaries extending from the proximal remnants of the synovial tissue to the transected lesion. The transformation of B to A type cells is indicated by our electron micrographs. After 2 weeks, the replacement of the transected lesion by regenerated soft tissue becomes pronounced. After 4 weeks, B type cells in the deeper layer of the regenerated tissue are first involved in the production of type III and then in that of type I collagens as revealed by the immunocytochemistry. The present study indicates that B type cells are a kind of stem cell: they possess the ability to transform to vasoformative cells involved in a manner suggestive of vasculogenesis, to phagocytic A type cells and to the synthetic fibroblasts in the regeneration of the ACL.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A successfully treated case of multiple liver abscesses accompanied by portal venous gas.

A case with multiple liver abscess accompanied by massive portal venous gas is reported. A 61-yr-old male was admitted because of left lower abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. Abdominal x-ray examination demonstrated multiple branching lucencies in the liver. Computed tomography revealed multiple liver abscesses and massive gas in the portal system as well as a thickened wall of the sigmoid colon. Enema study using contrast medium revealed a perforation of the sigmoid colon with diverticulitis. The outcome was favorable after sigmoid colectomy in addition to intensive treatment with antibiotics. Bacteroides fragilis, which produces gas (H2 and NH3) by fermentation, was isolated not only from the resected specimen but also from blood samples. Although the presence of portal venous gas is a sign of poor prognosis in patients with intestinal infectious diseases, the sensitive detection of hepatic portal venous gas by computed tomography and the appropriate treatment may improve the patient's prognosis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1995

Alterations of low molecular weight acid phosphatase protein level in Alzheimer's disease.

We have previously reported that the activity of low molecular weight (LMW) acid phosphatase, which can remove tyrosine-linked phosphates of epidermal growth factor receptor, was significantly decreased in Alzheimer brains. In the present study, a specific antibody was prepared to analyze the protein level of this enzyme. Western blot analysis indicated that the level of LMW acid phosphatase protein was significantly reduced, whereas the activity of LMW acid phosphatase per enzyme molecule was not changed in Alzheimer brains. These results suggest that the reduction of LMW acid phosphatase activity in Alzheimer brains is due to its decreased protein level in Alzheimer's disease.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1995

Denopamine as an alpha 1H-adrenoceptor antagonist in isolated blood vessels.

The effects of denopamine, clinically used as a cardiotonic beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, were investigated on alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated contraction in vascular preparations of rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits. Norepinephrine, phenylephrine (alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist) and clonidine [and 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)quinoxaline (UK 14,304, alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists)] concentration dependently contracted the vascular preparations. Phenylephrine was more potent than the alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the rat aorta and carotid artery. The reverse was true in the rabbit ear vein. pA2 values for prazosin (rat tissues, 9.7-10; guinea-pig aorta, 9.1-9.3) and for yohimbine (rat tissues, 6.6-6.9; guinea-pig aorta, 6.2-6.3; rabbit ear vein, 7.9) suggested that alpha 1H (high affinity for prazosin)-, alpha 1L (lower affinity for prazosin)-, and alpha 2-adrenoceptors were predominantly distributed in the rat tissues, the guinea-pig aorta, and in the rabbit ear vein, respectively. Vasoconstrictions mediated by alpha 1H-adrenoceptor subtypes were more susceptible to inhibition by denopamine than those mediated by alpha 1L and alpha 2 subtypes. These results suggested that in addition to activity as a beta 1-adrenoceptor agonist, denopamine also possessed activity as an alpha 1H-adrenoceptor-selective antagonist. These actions may contribute to the denopamine-induced decrease in total peripheral resistance in vivo.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed1995

Association of reduced PR-AC interval with ventricular early potentials in dilated cardiomyopathy.

We studied 31 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, correlating mitral valve cusp motion with the continuous wave Doppler signal of mitral regurgitation and the signal averaged electrocardiogram (ECG). Sixteen patients had a B point (early partial closure) on the mitral echogram and 15 did not. Fifteen normal cases were used as controls. The duration of ventricular early potentials (< 40 microV) was measured on the signal averaged ECG of the QRS complex. The PR interval was increased in patients with a B point (190 (33) ms vs. 145 (16) ms in normal, P < 0.01) and PR-AC interval was reduced (25 (71) ms vs. 65 (11) ms in normal, P < 0.05). The B point itself was effectively synchronous with the onset of low velocity early systolic mitral regurgitation, and followed the Q wave of the succeeding beat by 20 ms or less. Early low velocity on mitral regurgitation was not present in patients without a B point. The duration of early potentials was greatly increased in patients with a B point (43 (26) ms) compared both to those without (17 (20) ms, P < 0.01) and to normals (12 (7) ms, P < 0.01) and their duration correlated with B-C interval (r = 0.6, P < 0.02). We conclude that a B point on the mitral echogram in patients with left ventricular disease is due to early systolic low velocity mitral regurgitation which itself results from an abnormal pattern of left ventricular activation, probably bilateral bundle branch block. Once established, this low velocity jet delays complete mitral valve closure.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Glutamate-induced antigenic changes of phospholipase C-delta in cultured cortical neurons.

Phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC) is a key enzyme in signal transduction. It was previously demonstrated that an antibody to an isozyme of PLC, PLC-delta, produces intense staining of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), the neurites surrounding senile plaque (SP) cores and neuropil threads in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the etiology of neuronal degeneration in AD is still to be defined, excitotoxic glutamate might be a candidate. In the present study, an anti-PLC-delta antibody was used to examine the influence of glutamate on PLC-delta immunoreactivity in cultured rat cortical neurons. Exposure to glutamate caused the death of cultured cortical neurons and exhibited increased immunostaining with the anti-PLC-delta antibody. Subtoxic doses of glutamate also increased PLC-delta immunoreactivity in a dose-dependent manner. Both glutamate-induced neuronal degeneration and the increases in PLC-delta immunoreactivity were prevented by removal of extracellular Ca2+ or the application of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK-801. The glutamate-induced increase in PLC-delta immunoreactivity was also prevented by N omega-nitro-L-arginine, a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor. These results suggest that NO formation secondary to Ca2+ influx by NMDA receptor activation leads to similar modifications of PLC-delta to those seen in AD.

Animals↗