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Biomedical subjects

S Fukushima

Publications and source records attributed to S Fukushima.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Differential effects of acyclothymidine, a potent pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor, on the pharmacokinetics of doxifluridine in rabbits via oral administration.

Acyclothymidine (AcyT, 5-methyl-1-(2'-hydroxyethoxymethyl)uracil), a potent inhibitor of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (PyNPase), was co-administered with 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), a PyNPase activating prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), to rabbits. The absorption and pharmacokinetic parameters of 5'-DFUR and its active metabolite 5-FU, after administration of 5'-DFUR in combination with AcyT, were evaluated in the animals. Animals were given an oral or intravenous administration of 5'-DFUR (50 mg/kg) in combination with an equimolar dose of AcyT (40 mg/kg). The half-lives (t1/2) of 5'-DFUR and 5-FU in plasma were 16.8 and 11.5 min, respectively. AUC (area under the plasma concentration-time curve) of 5'-DFUR and 5-FU following the oral administration of 5'-DFUR (50 mg/kg) was 1710 and 24.3 micrograms.min/ml, respectively. After the oral co-administration of 5'-DFUR and AcyT (at a molar ratio of 1:1), the AUC values for 5'-DFUR and 5-FU increased to 2680 and to 121.1 micrograms.min/ml, respectively. However, this combination had little effect on the t1/2 of 5'-DFUR.

Administration, Oral↗

Effects of oleic acid/propylene glycol on rat abdominal stratum corneum: lipid extraction and appearance of propylene glycol in the dermis measured by Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflectance (FT-IR/ATR) spectroscopy.

Fourie transform infrared/attenuated total reflection analysis demonstrated that the absorbance intensity of C = O stretching bands, which reflect the amounts of lipids in the stratum corneum, decreased with an increase in the duration of skin treatment with 0.15 M oleic acid/propylene glycol (PG) system, suggesting that the oleic acid/PG system induced the lipid extraction, which was followed by a reorganization of the stratum corneum structures. The spectral peaks which originated from the PG molecule were detected in dermal tissues after 30 min of treatment of the stratum corneum with the same system. This observation suggested that the reorganization of the lipid domains due to the lipid extraction by the oleic acid/PG system helped the PG molecules enter the dermal tissues. It was also suggested that an effective volume within the stratum corneum for solutes and/or solvents which could penetrate through the inter-, and/or intracellular routes could be altered in conjunction with the structural changes of the lipids.

Animals↗

Sequencing analysis of mutation points in the biotin operon of biotin-overproducing Escherichia coli mutants.

We analyzed mutation points of the biotin operon from biotin-overproducing mutants of Escherichia coli resistant to two biotin analogs, actithiazic acid and 5-(2-thienyl)-valeric acid, by DNA sequencing. The biotin operons cloned from these mutants were classified into three groups. One point mutation, which was a GC-->AT change within the operator overlapping the -10 region of the rightward (bioB) promoter, was considered to result in disruption of operator structure and enhancement of promoter activity. Two other point mutations, which were both GC-->AT changes just before and after the initiation codon of the bioB gene, were considered to activate the translation efficiency. These mutations significantly accelerated the biotin-forming activity from dethiobiotin in cell-free extracts.

Base Sequence↗

Lectin immunohistochemical evaluation of human bladder carcinomas. A comparison of Carnoy's and formalin fixation.

A lectin immunohistochemical analysis of 51 human bladder carcinomas, including 44 cases of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) (G1, 15 cases; G2, 17 cases; G3, 12 cases) and 7 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), was performed. Tissues were obtained by cold punch biopsies, fixed in Carnoy's or 10% formalin solution, stained for binding of 10 different lectins, and evaluated under the light microscope. The lectins used were concanavalin agglutinin (Con A), soybean agglutinin (SBA), Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin (LTA), Dolichos biflorusa agglutinin (DBA), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA1), Ulex europaeus agglutinin I, II (UEA-I, II), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Pisum sativum agglutinin (PEA). TCC prepared with Carnoy's fixation tended to show moderately positive Con A, UEA-I, and WGA reactions for G1, and strongly positive reactions for G2 and G3 lesions. UEA-II was mainly negative in G1, but tended to increase to become moderate in G3. DBA tended to show a moderately positive reaction in G1 and G2, but was mainly negative in G3. With formalin fixation, only RCA1 demonstrated grade specific variation, tendency to react moderately in the G1 and G2 cases, and strongly in G3. There were no further differences among the histopathological grades of TCC for other lectins. Thus, Carnoy's fixation appears superior for distinguishing between grades of lesions. SCC tended to react more strongly than TCC with all the various lectins except PEA, independent of fixation.

Adult↗

[Experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in children].

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treatment for calculi of the upper urinary tract was performed on 4 children between 6 and 13 years old. The patients were treated under general anesthesia with Lithostar. Good fragmentation was achieved in all cases. No undue side effects or complications were encountered in the cases. We conclude that extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a safe and effective method of treating renal and ureteral calculi in children.

Adolescent↗

Structure of the gene for human transglutaminase 1.

Transglutaminase 1 (TG1) is an enzyme that is expressed and activated during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes and synthesizes cornified envelope by a cross-linking reaction. The gene encoding human TG1 was isolated from human genomic DNA and characterized. It spans 14.3 kilobase pairs and is composed of 15 exons. All exon-intron junctional sequences conformed to the canonical GT-AG rule. The translation start was located in the second exon. The active site Cys residue of the enzyme was in exon 7. The coding sequence for human TG1 was comprised of 2454 nucleotides identical with the published human TG1-cDNA sequence (Yamanishi, K., Liew, F.-M., Konishi, K., Yasuno, H., Doi, H., Hirano, J., and Fukushima, S. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 175, 906-913). The sizes of exons from 3 to 14 were markedly conserved between the genes for the human TG1 and factor XIIIa, another member of the transglutaminase family. The one major and two minor transcription initiation sites of the TG1 gene were determined by primer extension. The 5'-flanking region of the human TG1 gene showed features of a housekeeping gene and contained potential regulatory motifs, including elements found in keratinocyte-related genes. The chromosome sublocalization of the TG1 gene was assigned to 14q11.2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Carcinogenicity of uracil, a nongenotoxic chemical, in rats and mice and its rationale.

In Experiment 1, groups of thirty 6-wk-old male and female F344 rats were given diets containing 0 (control) or 3% uracil for 104 wk. In the uracil-treated groups, carcinomas, in particular transitional cell carcinomas, developed in the urinary bladder of 90% of the males and 19% of the females. Squamous cell carcinomas also developed in 10% of the males, but not in females. Striking findings were that calculi were present in the urinary bladder of almost all males, but in only 30% of the females, and that induction of urinary bladder carcinomas was related to the presence of calculi. In Experiment 2, groups of thirty 6-wk-old male and female C57BL/6 x C3H F1 mice were given a diet containing 0 (control) or 3% (from Wk 1 to Wk 6) and 2.5% (from Wk 7 to Wk 96) uracil. The total observation period was 96 wk. In the uracil-treated groups, transitional cell carcinomas developed in 76% of the females and 8% of the males. Squamous cell carcinomas developed in only 8% of the males. In Experiment 3, 6-wk-old male F344 rats were given diets containing 3% uracil, 3% uracil plus 5% or 10% NaCl, or 10% NaCl for 36 wk and then diet without chemicals for a recovery period of 4 wk. The incidences of carcinomas and calculi of the urinary bladder were 75% and 81% in the group given uracil alone, 6% and 6% in the group given uracil plus 5% NaCl, and both zero in the group given uracil plus 10% NaCl. Thus, the present study showed that the inductions of urinary bladder carcinomas by uracil, a nongenotoxic compound, in rats and mice showed sex differences and were related to the presence of calculi in the urinary bladder.

Animals↗

Change of membrane potential in rat urinary bladder epithelium treated with sodium L-ascorbate.

We previously showed that 5% sodium L-ascorbate (Na-AsA) in the diet promotes rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis, whereas 5% ascorbic acid (AsA) and 1% sodium chloride (NaCl) in the diet do not. In order to cast light on basic properties of these compounds regarding the rat urinary bladder, we examined membrane potential levels in the bladder epithelium of F344 rats treated with 5% Na-AsA, 5% AsA or 1% NaCl in the diet for 2, 4 or 8 weeks. Microelectrode measurement showed Na-AsA to induce hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, which was, however, lacking with AsA and NaCl from week 2 until the end of experiment. Thus a good correlation between the effects on membrane potential and tumor promoting activity could be established.

Animals↗

Anticancer effects of free polyunsaturated fatty acids in an oily lymphographic agent following intrahepatic arterial administration to a rabbit bearing VX-2 tumor.

The anti-hepatic cancer effects of three free polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and gamma-linolenic acids) dissolved in an oily lymphographic agent, Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid (Lipiodol), following intrahepatic arterial administration were examined using a rabbit liver cancer model, VX-2. The tumor was inoculated into the subcapsular parenchyma of the liver of rabbits, and Lipiodol alone or Lipiodol containing each one of the free fatty acids was administered into the hepatic artery 14 days after inoculation. The rabbits were sacrificed 7 days after administration. Lipiodol containing one of the fatty acids selectively remained in the tumor area. Although VX-2 tumor grew extensively in both the untreated group and the group that received Lipiodol alone, growth of VX-2 tumor was greatly suppressed in the group that received Lipiodol containing the free fatty acid. Pathological observation also showed that Lipiodol containing the free fatty acid had an anticancer effect on VX-2 tumor growing in the liver of rabbits. Average survival days in the group treated with Lipiodol containing gamma-linolenic acid were significantly prolonged compared with those in the control groups. Although growth rates of the tumor at the death of rabbits were large in the control groups, VX-2 tumor shrank at death of five rabbits of six in the group treated with Lipiodol containing gamma-linolenic acid. These results suggest that the intrahepatic arterial administration of Lipiodol containing the free fatty acids is an effective method of delivery of these fatty acids as anticancer agents.

Animals↗

Control of drug release with a combination of prodrug and polymer matrix: antitumor activity and release profiles of 2',3'-diacyl-5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) microspheres.

Drug release was controlled by a combination of prodrug and polymer matrix. Prodrugs of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine with different physicochemical properties were synthesized by esterification with aliphatic acids (propionate, n-butyrate, and n-pentanoate). Microspheres containing these ester prodrugs were prepared with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) of three molecular weights (65,000, 135,000, and 450,000). The release rates from the spheres depended on both the lipophilicity of the prodrug and the molecular weight of the polymer. Regardless of the polymer, the relative release rates were propionate greater than butyrate greater than pentanoate. The release of butyrate and pentanoate from the spheres consisting of low-molecular-weight polymer (M(r), 65,000) was faster than that from the spheres of higher molecular weight (M(r), 135,000 or 450,000). A single intraperitoneal injection of spheres of the highest molecular weight polymer containing butyrate or pentanoate resulted in higher antitumor effects against P388 leukemia in mice than did free prodrugs given over a period of five consecutive days. The polymer sphere itself showed low toxicity to and good biocompatibility with mice and rats.

Animals↗

Uracil-induced urolithiasis in the urinary bladder of rats is irritation-dependent.

The correlation between urolithiasis due to uracil administration and epithelial proliferation in the urinary bladder was investigated in male F344 rats. Animals, 6 weeks old at the start, which ingested 3% uracil alone in the diet for 4 weeks developed urolithiasis and papillomatosis of the urinary bladder, whereas addition of NaCl, particularly at high concentration (10%), to the 3% uracil in the diet blocked production of both. In contrast, NaHCO3 was without influence on either calculi or proliferative changes. These results indicate that uracil-induced epithelial proliferation is due to direct mechanical irritation by calculi, and not to any chemical stimulus presented by uracil itself.

Animals↗

Detection of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh) and the thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin gene (trh) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by polymerase chain reaction.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols were established for specific detection of the tdh and trh genes, the virulence marker genes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus encoding two related hemolysins. The tdh and trh genes are known to have sequence divergence of up to 3.3% and 16%, respectively. Attempts were made to find suitable primer pairs and annealing temperatures to detect each gene without fail. DNAs extracted from 36 representative strains of V. parahaemolyticus were used in the initial screening with various combinations of primer pairs and annealing temperatures. The combinations of primer pairs and annealing temperatures selected were then tested with DNAs extracted from 227 more strains of V. parahaemolyticus and from 133 bacterial strains belonging to 40 species other than V. parahaemolyticus. PCR protocols (primer pairs and annealing temperatures) were established that gave identical results to those obtained with the tdh- and trh-specific polynucleotide probes. These protocols established for the tdh and trh genes could detect 400 fg (100 cells) of cellular DNA carrying the respective gene. Spike experiments demonstrated that the sensitivities of the established PCRs were reduced by a factor of 10(4)-10(5) by an inhibitor(s) present in a normal faecal sample, indicating the need for either DNA extraction or enrichment of the faecal sample in alkaline peptone water for 4 h before the PCR of faecal samples.

Base Sequence↗

Non-isotopic microtitre plate-based assay for detecting products of polymerase chain reaction amplification: application to detection of the tdh gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

A non-isotopic microtitre plate-based assay method was devised for detection of products of the polymerase chain reaction. This assay involves affinity immobilization of the biotinylated amplification products in microtitre plate wells and their fluorescence detection by their hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe linked to alkaline phosphatase. An advantage of this procedure is that the immobilization and hybridization are carried out simultaneously in the wells, thus shortening the assay time. The assay method was applied to the detection of the tdh gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Seven copies of the target chromosome could be detected in about 45 min after 35 cycles of amplification.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Effects of mutagens on the clonal lifespan of Paramecium tetraurelia.

There has been interest in the phenomenon that a cell cannot undergo unlimited reproduction under adequate conditions and undergoes senescence. In holotrichous ciliates, Paramecium has a limit of vegetative reproduction without sexual reproduction but Tetrahymena does not always have a limited lifespan. Comparing the two species would increase our knowledge of the mechanism of cellular clonal aging. We previously showed that mutations induced by X-rays shorten clonal lifespan. In this study, we examined whether mutagens shorten the clonal lifespan of Paramecium tetraurelia. P. tetraurelia was exposed to the alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), 0.045 mg/ml, for 30 min. The animal was exposed to MNNG 6 times in total while young (under 80 divisions from the start of a clonal life cycle) or 4 times during the senescent stage. MNNG shortened the clonal lifespan as expressed by the decrease in fission number from 186 +/- 55 (4 cell lines) to 136 +/- 21 (6 cell lines) with the first two treatments but with further exposures the lifespan increased to 182 +/- 15 (5 cell lines). MNNG had no effect when administered at the older age. Exposure of P. tetraurelia to 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide at 0.021 mg/ml twice for 12 and 15 min at the younger age reduced the mean clonal lifespan from 143 +/- 28 to 125 +/- 21 and the maximum lifespan from 263 +/- 33 to 175 +/- 25.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Relationship between calculus formation and carcinogenesis in the urinary bladder of rats administered the non-genotoxic agents thymine or melamine.

Urinary bladder lesions induced by administration of thymine or melamine were investigated in male F344 rats. Animals, 6 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment, received either 3.0 or 1.0% thymine or 3.0, 1.0 or 0.3% melamine in the diet for 36 weeks followed by a 4 week period without chemicals, the total observation time being 40 weeks. Carcinomas of the urinary bladder were observed in 1/20 (5%) rats in each of the 3.0% thymine and 1.0% melamine groups, and in 15/19 (79%) animals given the 3.0% melamine treatment. Papillomas were induced in 9/20 (45%), 12/19 (63%) and 1/20 (5%) among rats receiving the 3.0% thymine, 3.0% and 1.0% melamine treatments respectively. Exploratory laparotomy at the end of week 36 revealed calculus formation in 9/10 (90%), 10/10 (100%) and 7/10 (70%) rats in these groups. In the ureter of the 3.0% melamine treated group, a carcinoma and papillomas were induced in 1/19 (5%) and 3/19 (16%) animals respectively. However, no tumors were observed in the renal pelvis in any of the other treated groups. Thus, administration of 3.0% thymine in the diet results in calculus formation in the urinary bladder of F344 rats, and is associated with development of tumors. It was also confirmed that a 3.0% dose level of melamine in the diet induces tumors in both the urinary bladder and the ureter.

Animals↗

Enhancing effects of diallyl sulfide on hepatocarcinogenesis and inhibitory actions of the related diallyl disulfide on colon and renal carcinogenesis in rats.

It has been reported that diallyl sulfide (DS) and diallyl disulfide (DDS), major volatile compounds in garlic (Allium sativum), exert anticarcinogenic activity in several organs in rodents. The modifying effects of these two chemicals were therefore assessed using two-step liver and multi-organ carcinogenesis models. In experiment 1, male F344 rats were given a single i.p. injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg body wt) and then received DS or DDS by intragastric intubation at doses of 200 and 50 mg/kg body wt, respectively, three times a week for 6 weeks. All rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at experimental week 3. In experiment 2, male F344 rats were sequentially treated with five carcinogens with different organ target sites for 4 weeks, and then administered DS or DDS as in experiment 1 for 24 weeks. DS demonstrated clear enhancing effects on the development of glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci in both experiments. On the other hand, an inhibitory potential in colon and renal carcinogenesis was observed in rats treated with DDS. Therefore, while DDS may act as a chemopreventive agent, DS may promote hepatocarcinogenesis.

Allyl Compounds↗