Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Fujimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujimura.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Haemoglobin receptor protein is intragenically encoded by the cysteine proteinase-encoding genes and the haemagglutinin-encoding gene of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

The obligately anaerobic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis produces characteristic black-pigmented colonies on blood agar. It is thought that the black pigmentation is caused by haem accumulation and is related to virulence of the microorganism. P. gingivalis cells expressed a prominent 19 kDa protein when grown on blood agar plates. Analysis of its N-terminal amino acid sequence indicated that the 19 kDa protein was encoded by an internal region (HGP15 domain) of an arginine-specific cysteine proteinase (Arg-gingipain, RGP)-encoding gene (rgp1) and was also present in genes for lysine-specific cysteine proteinases (prtP and kgp) and a haemagglutinin (hagA) of P. gingivalis. The HGP15 domain protein was purified from an HGP15-overproducing Escherichia coli and was found to have the ability to bind to haemoglobin in a pH-dependent manner. The anti-HGP15 antiserum reacted with the 19 kDa haemoglobin-binding protein in the envelope of P. gingivalis. P. gingivalis wild-type strain showed pH-dependent haemoglobin adsorption, whereas its non-pigmented mutants that produced no HGP15-related proteins showed deficiency in haemoglobin adsorption. These results strongly indicate a close relationship among HGP15 production, haemoglobin adsorption and haem accumulation of P. gingivalis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of gyrA, gyrB, grlA and grlB mutations in fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

The distribution of fluoroquinolone resistance-associated point mutations in genes encoding the subunits of DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase i.v. was examined in 110 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Point mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and mutations were further characterized by sequencing of PCR products. Mutations at Ser84 of GyrA were widely distributed among isolates exhibiting various degrees of fluoroquinolone resistance, and border zones between mutant and non-mutant strains based on drug susceptibility were generally distinct. Mutations at Ser80 of GrlA were also widely distributed, but border zones between mutant and non-mutant isolates were in this case less distinct and several GrlA mutants were highly susceptible to sparfloxacin and tosufloxacin. Only two gyrB mutants and one grlB mutant were observed among the isolates: all contained a previously unreported mutation. GyrA and grlA mutations thus appear to impart high levels of fluoroquinolone resistance in many S. aureus clinical isolates.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1998

Threonine requirements of laying hens.

In order to determine the Thr requirement of laying hens, two experiments were conducted using laying performance and plasma Thr concentration as parameters. At 29 and 39 wk of age, 100 and 600 laying hens in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, with average BW and high egg production rate, were randomized, housed in individual cages, and given free access to water and experimental diets with five graded levels of Thr: 0.31, 0.39, 0.46, 0.54, and 0.61% for 21 d in Experiment 1 and diets with 0.31, 0.36, 0.41, 0.46 and 0.51% Thr for 58 d in Experiment 2. On the last day of the experiment, blood samples were taken for determination of plasma amino acid concentration. Feed intake and daily egg mass increased and then decreased linearly as dietary Thr increased. Plasma Thr increased slowly, then sharply with increasing dietary Thr levels. Using the broken-line model, the Thr requirements were estimated to be 0.425, 0.428, and 0.430% or 453, 456, and 458 mg/hen per d in Experiment 1 and 0.395, 0.404, and 0.400%, or 457, 467, and 462 mg/hen per d, in Experiment 2, for egg mass, feed efficiency, and plasma Thr concentration, respectively. These results indicate that the Thr requirements expressed as milligrams per hen per day as determined by plasma Thr concentration agree with those of laying performance.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

Clotrimazole, an imidazole antimycotic, is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis.

Clotrimazole, an imidazole antimycotic, interferes with the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ and inhibits cell proliferation in a reversible manner. Here we describe the effect of clotrimazole on vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Clotrimazole inhibited the proliferation of ECs stimulated with typical angiogenic growth factors; vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). This inhibitory effect of clotrimazole was dose-dependent and the maximal inhibition was observed at a concentration of 10 mM. We did not observe any increase in 51Cr release from ECs during treatment with 10 microM clotrimazole. Moreover, clotrimazole inhibited the basal and bFGF-stimulated migration of ECs. As clotrimazole inhibited two principle components of angiogenesis; the proliferation and migration of ECs, we examined whether clotrimazole inhibited angiogenesis. Tube formation by ECs in type 1 collagen gel was investigated, and clotrimazole was found to be significantly inhibitory. The inhibitory effect of clotrimazole on angiogenesis was further confirmed in an in vivo angiogenesis model of murine Matrigel plug assay. These results demonstrate that clotrimazole is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Increased hepatic nicotinamide N-methyltransferase activity as a marker of cancer cachexia in mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma.

When a cachexigenic subclone (clone 20) of murine colon 26 adenocarcinoma was transplanted into female BALB/c mice, hepatic NNMT activity continued to increase until death in proportion to progressive carcass weight loss, a marker of cancer cachexia. On the other hand, noncachexigenic subclone (clone 5)-transplanted mice showed neither increase of NNMT activity nor carcass weight loss. Among cytostatic fluorinated pyrimidines, 5'-dFUrd could inhibit the increase of NNMT activity and prevent weight loss in mice bearing clone 20. On the other hand, 2'-dFUrd did not show these effects. 5-FUra and Tegafur inhibited the increase of NNMT activity at higher concentrations. These findings suggest that the levels of hepatic NNMT activity are closely associated with the degree of weight loss, and they appear to be a useful marker of cancer cachexia.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Purification and properties of a bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque.

An extracellular bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque was purified and characterized. Its molecular mass was 3500 Da and pI was 10.5. This bacteriocin inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus mitis, but Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and other oral indigenous bacterial species examined were not inhibited. The mode of inhibition was found to be bacteriostatic.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Expression of inhibin alpha-subunit in horse testis.

Inhibin is believed to play roles in the pituitary secretion of FSH and in the paracrine regulation of testicular function. Although it has been generally accepted that inhibin is produced in Sertoli cells, there was a recent evidence for the localization of inhibin in Leydig cells of primates, rat and sheep. However, there is no report on the expression of inhibin in the adult horse testis. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and in situ hybridization techniques, the present study examined inhibin alpha-subunit (Ih-alpha) expression in the adult horse testis. For the detection of Ih-alpha protein, we used anti-porcine Ih-alpha antibody in immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, digoxigenin-labeled complementary RNA probes were prepared to detect intracellular messenger RNA (mRNA) of Ih-alpha. Immunostainings for Ih-alpha were found not only in Leydig cells but also in Sertoli cells. The intensity in Leydig cells was stronger than in Sertoli cells. Immunoreactivities for Ih-alpha were found at approximately 46 kDa, 56 kDa and 90 kDa in the homogenates from testicular interstitial tissues. The bands at 56 kDa and 90 kDa agree with previous report, but not at 46 kDa. Signals for mRNA of Ih-alpha by in situ hybridization were detected in Leydig cells and in the basal region of seminiferous epithelium including Sertoli cells. These results suggest that Ih-alpha is expressed in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells of horse testis, and the expression level should be higher in Leydig cells than Sertoli cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Modulating activity of indomethacin to vincristine cytotoxicity in various human carcinoma cells.

The modulating activity of indomethacin to vincristine (VCR) was investigated in thirty human pulmonary carcinoma cell lines (adenocarcinoma 9, large cell carcinoma 9, squamous cell carcinoma 6, small cell carcinoma 6) and five other cell lines (colon carcinoma 2, melanoma 1, teratocarcinoma 1, thymoma 1). The survival of these cell lines treated with VCR with or without indomethacin (2 microg/ml) for 72 hours were examined using MTT assay, and IC50 values were calculated. When the cutoff level of potent combined effect in clinical use was set at 2-fold increase of sensitivity, the positive rate was 100% for adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas, 25% for squamous cell carcinomas, 33% for small cell carcinomas. Mean modulating index was 2.91 in adenocarcinomas, 1.92 in squamous cell carcinomas, 3.06 in large cell carcinomas and 1.67 in small cell carcinomas. Of the cell lines of other tumors, three cell lines (colon carcinoma 1, melanoma 1, teratocarcinoma 1) showed the potent combined effect of VCR and indomethacin, while indomethacin was not effective in modulating activity to VCR in a thymoma cell line and fibroblast cells. In conclusion, it is considered that modulating activity of indomethacin for VCR is a general effect for various human cancer cells, and combined use with VCR and indomethacin may be a useful modulation therapy for the advanced lung cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Specificity of 4'''-acetylation by an aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme in arbekacin-resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Four arbekacin (ABK)-resistant clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were studied regarding their mechanism of aminoglycoside-resistance. Metabolites of amikacin (AMK) and gentamicin(GM) were obtained by reaction with excess amounts of crude enzyme preparation extracted from the ABK-resistant MRSA strains. Then the metabolites were then isolated and analyzed by means of 1H, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance. The AMK-modification was 4'''-N-acetylation. However, the site of GM-acetylation may be 6'-N-position by these strains.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1998

Effects of troglitazone on the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cell lines.

Troglitazone (Tro), one of the thiazolidinediones, is a novel antidiabetic agent for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tro is a specific ligand of PPARgamma, the nuclear receptor that regulates the growth and differentiation of cells at the transcriptional level. We attempted to investigate the effect of Tro on HL-60 and other hematopoietic cell lines and thus found HL-60 cells to be arrested at the G1 phase and to differentiate into monocytes. In addition, apoptosis was also induced by Tro at higher concentrations. The G1 arrest was induced in all the hematopoietic cell lines examined while differentiation into the monocytic lineage was observed not only in the myelogenous and promonocytic cell lines but also in an erythroleukemia cell line.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Lung transplantation: present international status and basic approach].

Lung transplantation has been established as an optional treatment for irreversible diffuse lung disease. To date, more than 8,000 patients have undergone lung transplantation, while heart-lung transplantation is confined to a very limited number of cases due to the severe shortage of donors. There are various problems in clinical lung transplantation, including limited preservation time, post-transplantation edema, acute and chronic rejection, and a shortage of donor organs. Several solutions to these problems have been found in recent experimental studies. For example, potential therapies for posttransplantation edema have been proposed, and the possibility of long-term preservation has been suggested. Research on xenotransplantation and cadaveric lung transplantation is ongoing, and this may result in options to solve the problem of the shortage of donor organs. In particular, we believe that cadaveric lung transplantation has the potential to become a clinically useful therapy in the near future.

Child↗
PubMed1998

[Preoperative endovascular ultrasonography in lung cancer patient for detecting aortic wall invasion: a case report].

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of left primary lung cancer. As tumor invasion to the descending artery was suspected, preoperative endovascular ultrasonography was performed. Part of the wall lacked respiratory movement. However, the wall of the descending artery was visualized as three layers, i.e., hyper-, hypo- and hyperechoic layers by sonography, so tumor invasion to the descending artery was diagnosed as negative. Although inflammatory tumor adhesion to the descending artery was found, left upper lobectomy was safely performed. Endovascular ultrasonography was considered to be useful in marking an accurate diagnosis of tumor invasion to the descending artery.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Identification of a 910-kb region of common allelic loss in chromosome bands 16q24.1-q24.2 in human lung cancer.

To understand the molecular pathogenesis of human lung cancer, we analyzed allelic deletions on the long arm of chromosome 16 by PCR amplification of microsatellite markers. A total of 203 lung cancer specimens (78 squamous cell carcinomas and 125 adenocarcinomas) were analyzed. In both cell types, a common region of allelic loss was identified in 16q24.1-q24.2; it is flanked by the two markers D16S534 and D16S422 that spanned at most 910 kb. These results were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. There was no correlation between allelic loss and histopathologic diagnosis or clinical stage. These results suggest the existence of a tumor-suppressor gene that plays an important role in the course of carcinogenesis in both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lungs.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Increase in pulmonary vascular permeability caused by increased adhesiveness of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and superoxide].

We report that mechanical stimulation of human neutrophils results in their accumulation in isolated rat lungs and in an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. To determine whether reactive oxygen species were involved in this increase and, if so, whether it is mediate by xanthine oxidase metabolites, we assessed the effect of stimulated and unstimulated neutrophils, and of a superoxide scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol (ALLO) on pulmonary vascular permeability in isolated perfused lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats. Pulmonary vascular permeability in isolated rat lungs was assessed using a filtration coefficient determined by gravimetry. To quantify neutrophil accumulation in the lung, we measured myeloperoxydase (MPO). Neutrophils were stimulated by gentle agitation in a glass container for 10 s and Mac-1 was subsequently upregulated on the surface of the neutrophils. In lungs that received stimulated neutrophils, the pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient was about 5 times higher than in lungs that received unstimulated neutrophils. An increase in filtration coefficient was almost completely blocked by pretreatment with SOD or ALLO. However, the accumulation of stimulated neutrophils was not, or only partly, blocked by SOD or ALLO, respectively. We conclude that the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability caused by mechanically stimulated neutrophils was partly mediated by reactive oxygen species generated via the xanthine oxidase system.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Surgical treatment for multiple bilateral pulmonary metastatic tumors].

To date, 162 patients with metastatic pulmonary tumors have undergone surgical treatment in our institute (93 carcinomas, 51 sarcomas, 17 germ cell tumors, 1 melanoma). Of these, 57 and 105 had solitary and multiple lesions, respectively, at their first surgery. Five of 57 patients developed additional lesions later. The incidence of multiple pulmonary metastases was higher in sarcoma than in cancer patients, and the prognosis after surgical treatment was found to be significantly better in cancer than in sarcoma for patients with multiple lesions. However, no significant difference was observed between the survival of those with solitary and multiple lesions. The number of lesions found at surgery was greater than that calculated based on preoperative chest CT scans, and the discrepancy was greater when lesions exceeded 10 in number. However, the increase in the number of metastatic lesions found did not affect the surgical results. There was also no statistical difference in survival between patients with bilateral and unilateral lesions. In contrast, those who underwent complete had a significantly better prognosis than those who underwent incomplete resection at surgery.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1998

[An experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for an intrapulmonary needle under CT-guided marking].

A 46-year-old female visited a near hospital, complaining of repeating skin eruption with spontaneous remission. A chest X-ray and CT examinations revealed a needle in the left S6, about 5 mm in length, which was suspected of causing the eruption. She was admitted to our hospital for operation. After CT-guided marking, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Because the needle was too small to be palpable, we decided to respect of it with the lung surrounding the marker and clamped the lung, followed by finding the needle finally. The analysis of the removed needle showed that it contained lead and tin besides iron, nickel and chromium, which are components of stainless steel. Although dermatological examination could not reveal the relation between the needle and the eruption, it has never recurred since the operation. It is thought that CT-guided marking is very useful for resection of an intrapulmonary needle and that a foreign body should be removed for the possibility of being harmful.

Endoscopy↗
PubMed1998

[Gamma-knife radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors from primary lung cancer].

Forty patients with metastatic brain tumors from primary lung cancer underwent radiosurgery (gamma-knife). We retrospectively compared their prior treatment history number of metastatic foci, and performance status, to evaluate the effects of, and indications for, gamma-knife therapy. After both the primary and the metastatic tumors were controlled, performance status could be used as an index in the choice of gamma-knife therapy. Our results demonstrate that repeated gamma-knife radiosurgeries prolonged survival time. Gamma-knife radiosurgery improves quality of life and prognosis of patients with metastatic brain tumors.

Adult↗