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Biomedical subjects

S Fujioka

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujioka.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Ubenimex activates the E-cadherin-mediated adhesion of a breast cancer cell line YMB-S.

It has been reported that ubenimex, a biological response modifier, has a direct anti-tumor effect. To clarify the mechanism involved, we examined the effects of ubenimex on the growth and adhesive property of a breast cancer cell line YMB-S. The cells proliferate in a floating manner without aggregation in normal complete medium. Ubenimex induced cell-cell and cell-surface adhesion of the cells accompanied with growth suppression. E-Cadherin localized at cell-cell contact sites of adhered cells, and anti-E-cadherin antibody inhibited the adhesion. Both Western blot analysis and binding assay disclosed that there was no apparent difference between E-cadherin levels of the cells before and after the treatment with ubenimex. These results indicate that ubenimex inhibits the proliferation of YMB-S cells and augments cell-to-cell adhesion through the induction of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion resulting from the functional activation of pre-expressed but inefficient E-cadherin.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Evaluation of soluble IL-6 receptor concentration in serum and epithelial lining fluid from patients with interstitial lung diseases.

We measured soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from patients with interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology (IP) (n = 17), sarcoidosis (n = 8) and normal control subjects (n = 10), to investigate its role in pulmonary diseases. Soluble IL-6R was determined by an ELISA. The volume of epithelial lining fluid (ELF) in BALF was estimated using an urea method. We found that levels of sIL-6R in serum, BALF, and ELF from patients with IP or sarcoidosis were significantly higher than those from normal subjects. Furthermore, levels of sIL-6R in BALF or ELF were significantly correlated with those of albumin, indicating that sIL-6R, together with albumin, may enter ELF as a result of the increased permeability caused by pulmonary inflammation. Thus most of the sIL-6R in ELF would be from serum, and relatively small amounts of it might be produced locally. However, sIL-6R levels in ELF, but neither serum nor BALF, were significantly correlated with levels of C-reactive protein in patients with IP. These results suggest that both systemic and local production of sIL-6R are increased, and raised sIL-6R is involved in the modulation of systemic and local inflammatory responses in patients with IP and sarcoidosis.

Adult↗

Circulating interleukin-6 levels in patients with bronchial asthma.

Circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were determined using a sensitive enzyme immunoassay in adults with asthma in stable condition during naturally occurring attacks and before and after allergen inhalation tests. IL-6 was significantly elevated even in asymptomatic asthmatic subjects (n = 17) compared with normal control subjects (n = 17). During naturally occurring asthmatic attacks, serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in comparison with those in a symptom-free condition (4 wk interval; n = 8, p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed in serum IL-6 levels obtained from control asymptomatic asthmatic subjects during the period (n = 10). There was a significant elevation in circulating IL-6 levels in eight asthmatic patients following inhalation of allergen but not methacholine. These results suggest that IL-6 is involved in the pathophysiology of bronchial asthma.

Adult↗

[A case of chylothorax caused by mesenteric panniculitis].

A 76-year-old female was referred to our hospital for examination of milky pleural effusion. We diagnosed her illness as chylothorax because of the high concentration of triglyceride in the effusion. There was neither obstruction nor damage of the thoracic duct. Systemic evaluation disclosed an abdominal mass in the umbilical region. Fasting with intravenous hyperalimentation followed by pleurodesis with minocycline successfully eliminated the effusion. On the other hand, the abdominal mass was diagnosed as mesenteric panniculitis by open biopsy. Since she also had chylous ascites, the tumor could have obstructed the intestinal lymphatics. Chylothorax was probably caused by damage to collateral lymph circulation.

Aged↗

Kernohan's notch in chronic subdural hematoma: findings on magnetic resonance imaging.

A 69-year-old man presented with mild left-sided hemiparesis of 2 years' duration. A computerized tomography scan revealed a left-sided chronic subdural hematoma and a midline shift to the right. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging obtained on admission to the hospital also disclosed a deformity of the right crus cerebri. After drainage and irrigation of the hematoma through a single burr hole, the left hemiparesis improved significantly. Magnetic resonance imaging performed 9 days after the operation revealed that the size of the subdural hematoma had diminished and the deformity of the crus cerebri had improved markedly. Kernohan's notch, caused by a supratentorial mass and producing ipsilateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia, is rarely demonstrated radiographically. This may be the first reported case in which Kernohan's notch in chronic subdural hematoma has been demonstrated on MR imaging.

Aged↗

[Small cell lung cancer that appeared as a strange shape on chest X-ray films].

A 70-year-old man was admitted for diagnosis of an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film. Chest X-ray films and chest tomograms showed a club-like shadow close to the pulmonary artery. The tumor was diagnosed as a small cell lung cancer, after transbronchial biopsy. The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This patient had small cell lung cancer that appeared on chest X-ray films to have a strange shape.

Aged↗

[Ferritin].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

Varying populations of CD59-negative, partly positive, and normally positive blood cells in different cell lineages in peripheral blood of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients.

CD59-antigen expression on the surface membranes of erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets was determined by flow cytometry in 34 healthy controls and 17 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). In all PNH patients, CD59-negative erythrocytes accounted for > 10% of the total erythrocyte population. Two erythrocyte populations (CD59-negative and normally positive or CD59-negative and partly positive), three populations (CD59-negative, partly positive, and normally positive), and one population (CD59-negative) were demonstrated in ten, six, and one patients, respectively. However, CD59-negative granulocytes did not account for > 10% of the total granulocytes in two patients, and one of them had only a CD59 normally positive granulocyte population. A particular granulocyte population extended over both CD59-negative and partly positive areas was shown in two patients. Two populations (CD59-negative and normally positive) and one population (CD59-negative) were demonstrated in monocytes and lymphocytes. CD59-negative lymphocytes accounted for > 50% of the total lymphocytes in only two patients. Three patients had a CD59 normally positive lymphocyte population. Percentages of CD59-positive platelet population in normal controls were widely various. Therefore, it was usually difficult to discriminate between PNH-affected and normal platelets. Thus, the flow cytometric profiles of CD59-antigen expression varied not only between PNH patients but between cell lineages. The present results and our prior study indicate that CD59 flow cytometry using erythrocytes and granulocytes is most suitable for diagnosing PNH.

Adult↗

Difference in sero-diagnostic values among KL-6-associated mucins classified as cluster 9.

KL-6 classified as Cluster 9 (MUC-I) is a circulating high-molecular-weight mucin-like molecule. Serum level of KL-6 was measured by a sandwich assay using KL-6 antibody as not only a catcher but also as a tracer. We established 2 additional monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), LISA 101 and EH-123, reacting with KL-6 epitopes different from the epitope recognized by KL-6 antibody. The KL-6-associated mucins detected by the sandwich assay using LISA 101 or EH-123 antibody as a catcher and KL-6 antibody as a tracer were designated as LISA 1-6 and CAM 123-6 respectively. The diagnostic values as the serum markers of KL-6, LISA 1-6 and CAM 123-6 were evaluated measuring their levels in the same serum from healthy individuals and from patients with pulmonary, pancreatic and breast adenocarcinomas. KL-6 was increased abnormally at high rates of more than 50% in pancreatic cancer and in benign lung diseases, LISA 1-6 only in pancreatic cancer, and CAM 123-6 only in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. In benign lung diseases, however, LISA 1-6 and CAM 123-6 were increased abnormally at the rates of only 5.3% and 0% respectively. These observations clearly indicate that LISA 1-6 and CAM 123-6 constitute a part of KL-6, but that they are superior to KL-6 as tumor markers for pancreatic cancer and for pulmonary adenocarcinoma respectively, because of their much lower false-positive rates.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Marked reduction of pancreatic insulin content in male ventromedial hypothalamic-lesioned spontaneously non-insulin-dependent diabetic (Goto-Kakizaki) rats.

The effects of ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions were examined in male and female non-obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic (Goto-Kakizaki [GK]) rats with respect to glucose metabolism and pancreatic insulin content. VMH lesions produced hyperphagia and hyperinsulinemia in both male and female GK rats. In male rats, plasma glucose levels of VMH-lesioned GK rats (22.7 +/- 3.1 mmol/L) were significantly greater than the levels of sham-operated GK rats (10.6 +/- 1.0 mmol/L, P < .001) at 7 weeks after the operation, although there were no differences in these levels between VMH-lesioned and sham-operated groups in Wistar rats. Plasma insulin levels in male VMH-lesioned GK rats tended to be lower at 7 weeks than at 1 week. VMH lesions caused a significant decrease in the pancreatic insulin content of male GK rats (12.0 +/- 2.3 nmol/L/g pancreas) compared with male sham-operated rats (15.8 +/- 1.4 nmol/L/g pancreas, P < .05) 9 weeks postoperatively. In contrast to the results in male rats, female GK rats showed no differences in plasma glucose levels between VMH-lesioned and sham-operated groups at 7 weeks. Female VMH-lesioned GK rats also showed no difference in plasma insulin levels between 1 week and 7 weeks. The pancreatic insulin level of female VMH-lesioned GK rats was unchanged from that of female sham-operated GK rats. The insulin content was significantly greater in the VMH-lesioned Wistar group than in the sham-operated Wistar group, regardless of sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Increased plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein in obese subjects. A possible mechanism for the reduction of serum HDL cholesterol levels in obesity.

It is well known that obesity is frequently associated with low levels of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, the mechanism for this reduction has not been fully clarified. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) transfers cholesteryl ester from HDL to apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and plays an important role in regulating the concentration and composition of HDL. To elucidate the mechanism for the reduction of serum HDL cholesterol in obesity, we analyzed serum lipoproteins, CETP, and postheparin lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activities in 30 obese subjects (17 women and 13 men, age 44 +/- 14 years, mean +/- SD). We also investigated the relationship between these variables, total adiposity, and indices of body fat distribution. The average body mass index of the obese subjects was 33.1 +/- 4.8 kg/m2 (range, 26.4 to 43.8 kg/m2). The obese subjects showed significantly lower serum HDL cholesterol levels than control subjects (1.04 +/- 0.28 versus 1.50 +/- 0.34 mmol/L, P < .01). In the obese subjects, both activities and protein mass of CETP and postheparin HTGL activities were significantly increased, whereas postheparin LPL activities were significantly decreased. CETP activities, independent of postheparin HTGL and LPL activities, were correlated negatively with HDL cholesterol (r = -.39, P < .05) and the cholesteryl ester to triglyceride ratio of HDL2 and HDL3 (r = -.36, P < .05; r = -.46, P < .05, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Significance of elevated thrombin-antithrombin III complex and plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex in the acute stage of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) were examined in the acute stage in 51 patients with nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. TAT and PIC values were correlated with severity at the time of onset and with outcome. In the patients whose TAT levels were 25 ng/ml or more and PIC levels were 3.0 micrograms/ml or more (n = 16), only 25% had a good or fair outcome. In the patients with TAT levels less than 25 ng/ml or PIC levels less than 3.0 micrograms/ml (n = 35), on the other hand, 82.9% had a good or fair outcome. There were no significant differences in TAT and PIC levels between patients who experienced arterial spasm and those who did not. These results indicate that TAT and PIC values may reflect the severity of the brain damage induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage. It is speculated that marked coagulation and fibrinolytic disorders occur in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Adult↗

Occlusion of internal carotid artery and formation of anterior communicating artery aneurysm in cervicocephalic fibromuscular dysplasia--follow-up case report.

A 44-year-old female with cervicocephalic-fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage 10 years after presenting with left impaired extraocular movement. Carotid and vertebral angiography had shown string-of-beads sign in the left external carotid artery and fusiform aneurysms in the left carotid cavernous portion and in the left vertebral artery. On admission, the left carotid angiogram showed complete occlusion of the left internal carotid artery and the right carotid angiogram showed a new anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The territory of the left middle cerebral artery was supplied from the right internal carotid artery via the anterior communicating artery and from the basilar artery via the posterior communicating artery. Occlusion of the main arteries is rare in the clinical course of FMD. We suggest that hemodynamic stress due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery contributed to formation of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm, possibly associated with intrinsic changes of the arterial wall induced by FMD.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

[Evaluation of serum thrombomodulin in patients with interstitial pneumonia].

We encountered a 63-year-old man whose dry cough due to interstitial pneumonia had been successfully with an anti-thrombin drug, argatroban, which was given to treat exacerbated Buerger's disease. We therefore prospectively evaluated fibrinogen, fibrin-degradating product D-dimer, thrombin anti-thrombin III complex, and plasmin anti-plasmin complex in patients with interstitisal lung diseases. In a preliminary study, we found that some patients actually had elevated levels of these markers. These findings suggested that increased coagulability was involved in the pathophysiology of interstitial pneumonia. In this study, we measured the levels of serum-soluble thrombomodulin as a marker of endothelial cell damages that lead to hemostasis. We found that serum levels of thrombomodulin were high in about 35% of patients with sarcoidosis, interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen diseases, or idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Furthermore, these levels decreased as the patients' conditions improved. Although further evaluation is needed, these results suggest that endothelial cell damage and hemostasis are involved in the pathophysiology of interstitial pneumonia.

Adult↗

Sexual dimorphism of age-related changes in whole-body fat distribution in the obese.

We performed a cross-sectional study using whole-body computerized tomographic (CT) scans in order to clarify age-related changes in whole-body fat distribution in both genders. The subjects were 66 men and 96 women, whose body mass index (BMI) was over 25 kg/m2. CT scans were performed at seven levels (head, fore-arms, upper arms, chest, abdomen, thighs and calves), and the fat volumes of the segments were calculated from the cross-sectional areas of the fat tissues. After calibrating to the total fat volumes, the relationship between age and the relative segmental fat volumes was analysed. In both genders, the relative intra-abdominal visceral fat volume increased and that of the legs decreased with age. The relative abdominal subcutaneous fat volume decreased with age only in male subjects. The increase in the relative visceral fat volume with age was about 2.6 times larger in males than in pre-menopausal females, while post-menopausal females showed the same increase as male subjects. These data suggest that there is a definite gender difference in the age-related changes in whole-body fat distribution, especially in the abdominal fat tissues. In addition, the accumulation of visceral fat is markedly accelerated by menopause in women.

Abdomen↗

[Occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery due to a dog bite wound: case report].

A rare case of traumatic occlusion of the carotid artery at the neck caused by a dog bite is reported. A 10-year-old boy presented delayed onset of left hemiparesis after a dog-bite wound in the right neck. CT scan revealed a cerebral infarction in the right basal ganglia, and IV-DSA disclosed complete occlusion of the right internal carotid artery at the neck. The patient was treated conservatively and his left hemiparesis improved, but impaired visual acuity remained on the right side. Repeated IV-DSA 12 days later showed recanalization of the right internal carotid artery. The mechanisms of the traumatic occlusion of the internal carotid artery were discussed with reference to the literature.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗