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Biomedical subjects

T Fujinaga

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujinaga.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent lymphangioleiomyomatosis after living-donor lobar lung transplantation.

Living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) has been applied to patients with various end-stage lung diseases. The recurrence of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) after lung transplantation has been rarely reported. Herein, we report a case of recurrent pulmonary LAM after LDLLT. A 24-year-old woman presented with pneumothorax and infiltrates in the left lung 1 year after bilateral LDLLT for LAM. These symptoms and radiologic findings occurred repeatedly and then improved quickly. Thereafter, computed tomography of the chest revealed a tiny emphysematous change of the subpleural region in the left lung, which was exacerbated gradually and was finally diagnosed as LAM recurrence by transbronchial lung biopsy. In previous reports of LAM recurrence, the diagnosis was made at the time of autopsy. This is also the first reported case diagnosed early, that is, when the patient was alive and her allograft had not deteriorated badly.

Adult↗

Clinical pharmacokinetics of anti-angiogenic photodynamic therapy with benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring-A in dogs having naturally occurring neoplasms.

The aim of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics of clinically applied benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring-A (BPD-MA; Verteporfin), a second-generation photosensitizer, during a trial of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in nine dogs having naturally occurring neoplasms. After injecting BPD-MA at 0.5 mg/kg intravenously, its mean half-life (t1/2) was found to be 8.14 +/- 5.34 h, mean clearance (Cl) 35.13 +/- 9.62 ml/(h kg), the mean value of the volume of distribution (Vc) 0.08 +/- 0.01 l/kg and the mean steady state volume of distribution (Vss) 0.38 +/- 0.31 l/kg respectively. With the exception of a transitional increase in serum alkaline phosphatase activity, no other clinical abnormalities were observed. The t1/2 in dogs with naturally occurring tumours was longer than that in humans, but similar to that in rats. The values of Cl and Vss in dogs having naturally occurring neoplasms were lower than those in humans. It is suggested that the pharmacokinetics of BPD-MA in tumour-bearing dogs would be helpful in determining the protocol of a short drug-light interval PDT with BPD-MA that mainly targets the tumour vasculature.

Animals↗

Urethral transitional cell carcinoma in a cat.

A 15-year-old, male neutered cat was referred for investigation of dysuria. A retrograde urethrography was performed which showed two space-occupying masses within the lumen of the mid-to-proximal urethra. Exploratory coeliotomy revealed two urethral masses. Segmental urethrectomy was performed to resect the mass, and the lower urinary tract was reconstructed by vesico-urethral anastomosis. Histopathology showed the mass to be a transitional cell carcinoma with incomplete surgical margins. Tumour regrowth was suspected when dysuria was found approximately 318 days after surgery. Clinical signs were palliated by radiation using weekly fractions of 6 Gy for three weeks. The cat died of unknown causes 386 days postoperatively.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Effective application of ET-Kyoto solution for clinical lung transplantation.

The shortage of lung donors and ischemia-reperfusion injury following transplantation have been grave problems in lung transplantation (LTx). One of the most important strategies to solve these problems is the development of effective and highly reliable methods for lung preservation. Therefore, we developed a new organ preservation solution, namely, the extracellular-type trehalose-containing Kyoto (ET-Kyoto) solution. Here we report the first experience of clinical application of ET-Kyoto solution for cadaveric LTx. The recipient was a 38-year-old man with pulmonary emphysema. The donor was a 51-year-old male current smoker with a smoking history of 62 pack-years. The ventilated donor's PaO(2) was 340 Torr (FiO(2) = 1.0). The pulmonary vasculature was flushed with ET-Kyoto solution supplemented with nitroglycerine and dibutyryl cAMP. The recipient underwent bilateral sequential LTx on cardiopulmonary bypass. The ischemic time was 544 and 613 minutes for the left and right lung, respectively. PaO(2) (FiO(2) = 1.0) was 385 Torr immediately after reperfusion. The donor lung was so large that bilateral partial resections were performed at 413 minutes (right) and 348 minutes (left) after reperfusion. On histopathologic examination of the resected transplanted lungs the structure was almost normal. Postoperatively, PaO(2) (FiO(2) = 1.0) was over 400 Torr with or maximum of 526 Torr. The clinical course was almost uneventful. In conclusion, ET-Kyoto solution may be safely applied in clinical cadaveric LTx with extended donor lungs and relatively long ischemic times. Functional and histopathological efficiency of ET-Kyoto solution was confirmed. Longer preservation times with preserved quality using ET-Kyoto solution would increase the donor pool and enable semielective LTx.

Adult↗

Biological properties of allogenic articular chondrocytes on the surface of bovine cartilage explants in vitro.

Bovine cartilage explants were co-cultured with or without allogenic chondrocytes for 4 weeks. The attachment of the applied chondrocytes to cartilage after labelling with fluorescence was assessed using a confocal laser microscope. Morphological changes and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) of co-cultured chondrocytes on intact and damaged surfaces of cartilage were evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical methods. Co-cultured chondrocytes attached to and proliferated on the intact and damaged areas of cartilage, and a new layer was created there. The defects were also filled with ECM produced by the co-cultured chondrocytes. Glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II were detected in the newly formed ECM, and large numbers of rounded chondrocytes were observed at primitive lacunae in this matrix at 4 weeks of culture. The results suggest that chondrocytes have the ability to attach to, to proliferate on and to establish a new matrix on the intact and damaged surfaces of cartilage explants.

Animals↗

[Postoperative recurrence and medical economics of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax].

We analyzed 96 patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for pneumothorax of our institute (Otsu Red Cross Hospital) to determine the recurrence rate and to analyse various factors relating to recurrence and cost performance. From January 1997 to November 2000, we encountered 96 cases (78 male, 18 female, 14-72-year-old mean age 31.1). In 6 cases, pneumothorax had recurred (recurrent rate 6.3%), including 5 mals and 1 female (mean age 28.0). The relationship between recurrence and various factors including age, preoperative procedure, radiological bulla diagnosis, operation time, number of bulla or blebs, location of bulla, intraoperative treatment, post-operative air leakage, duration of postoperative drainage and duration of hospitalization was calculated. Preoperative diagnosis of bulla on chest X-ray film and computed tomography (CT) was significantly calculated a higher recurrence rate after VATS operation. Cost, age and operation time were significantly correlated, r = 0.514, r = 0.436, respectively, but length of hospitalization was not significant. To analyze cost performance, we investigated the correlation between cost/day and various factors. A negative correlation was noted between cost/day and the length of hospitalization (r = -0.739). In summary, recurrence rate of postoperative pneummothorax was 6.3% in our institute. When bulla was radiologically diagnosed preoperatively, recurrence tended to occur postoperatively. The negative correlation between cost/day and length of hospital stay suggests that the length of hospital stay should be reduced to as short as possible in terms of cost reduction.

Adolescent↗

Serum keratan sulphate as a cartilage metabolic marker in horses: the effect of exercise.

Keratan sulphate (KS) concentration in sera from resting horses and horses training daily on a racetrack was measured by an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using anti-equine KS antibody 1/14/16H9. For the in-training horses, serum KS concentrations in 2-year-old-horses was significantly higher than 3- or 4-year-old-horses. A higher concentration of serum KS was found in the in-training group than in the long-term resting group in 2-year-old-horses. Serum KS concentration increased remarkably immediately after training in healthy horses, and at 1, 5, 9 and 24 h after training remained at similar levels to the pre-training concentration. The results suggest that serum KS concentration could represent the situation of joint loading, induced by daily racetrack training, affecting the metabolic activities in joint cartilage.

Age Factors↗

Perianal rhabdomyosarcoma in a dog.

A perianal rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed in an 11-year-old neutered male Labrador retriever. Following two incomplete surgical excisions of the tumour, the dog was treated by means of surgery combined with local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy using one cycle of vincristine sulphate, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (VAC protocol). The dog died 252 days after the first combined therapy. Radiography at this time demonstrated enlargement of the iliac lymph nodes, suggesting metastasis of the tumour. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of treatment of canine perianal rhabdomyosarcoma.

Animals↗

Topical formulations and wound healing applications of chitosan.

Chitosan is being used as a wound-healing accelerator in veterinary medicine. To our knowledge, chitosan enhances the functions of inflammatory cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) (phagocytosis, production of osteopontin and leukotriene B4), macrophages (phagocytosis, production of interleukin (IL)-1, transforming growth factor beta 1 and platelet derived growth factor), and fibroblasts (production of IL-8). As a result, chitosan promotes granulation and organization, therefore chitosan is beneficial for the large open wounds of animals. However, there are some reported complications of chitosan application. Firstly, chitosan causes lethal pneumonia in dogs which are given a high dose of chitosan. In spite of application of chitosan to various species, this finding is observed only in dogs. Secondly, intratumor injection of chitosan on mice bearing tumor increases the rate of metastasis and tumor growth. Therefore, it is important to consider these effects of chitosan, prior to drug delivery.

Administration, Topical↗

Chitosan accelerates the production of osteopontin from polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Chitosan is a copolymer of beta(1 --> 4) glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, which accelerates the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the early phase of wound healing. In the granulation tissue treated with chitosan in canine experimental wound, osteopontin (OPN) was strongly positive in PMN immunohistochemically. OPN is a glycosylated phosphoprotein and promotes the attachment or spread of a variety of cell types. In addition, OPN may play a role in granulomatous inflammation. Production of OPN in PMN was therefore investigated in vitro using human PMN in this study. PMN stimulated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and chitosan accumulated OPN mRNA, and released OPN into their culture supernatants. These findings suggest that OPN is synthesized by migrating PMN which plays the novel role of regulating the evolution of wound healing with chitosan treatment at the early phase of healing.

Animals↗

Schinzel-Giedion syndrome.

A 2-month-old girl was brought to the Department of Pediatrics at Wakayama Rosai Hospital because of poor feeding since 1 month of age. She was the third child of young healthy non-consanguineous parents whose first son was healthy but whose second son had died of 18 trisomy. Physical examination showed midfacial hypoplasia with coarse dysmorphic features, choanal stenosis, remarkable abdominal distention and bilateral talipes equivarus. Abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and drip infusion pyelogram showed left severe hydronephrosis and right moderate hydronephrosis. Having diagnosed Schinzel-Giedion syndrome, a left ureteroneocystostomy with tailoring was performed to preserve renal functions and to eliminate the urinary tract infection at the age of 3 months.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Acute respiratory failure caused by leukaemic infiltration of the lung of a dog.

A seven-year-old crossbred male dog with a suspected leukaemic condition was referred for investigation and treatment. A bone marrow aspirate revealed an acute myeloid leukaemia. Combination chemotherapy was administered and the dog initially improved, but 18 days after the initiation of therapy its body condition deteriorated and the animal developed acute respiratory distress. On postmortem examination, extensive leukaemic pulmonary infiltrates were evident.

Animals↗

Establishment and characterization of a new canine mast cell tumor cell line.

A new cell line (CoMS) was established from a 3-year-old male mongrel dog with mast cell tumor of the oral mucosa. CoMS cells grow in suspension with a doubling time of 27.0 +/- 0.7 hr. The cytoplasmic granules were formalin-sensitive, showed diverse appearances in their ultrastructural findings and contained heparin proteoglycan and neutral protease chymase. Calcium ionophore A23187, substance P and concanavalin A caused significant histamine release from CoMS cells, while compound 48/80 failed to release histamine. This cell line will make an available source for studies on canine mast cell tumors.

Animals↗

Association between exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide and hemodynamics in dogs with congestive heart failure produced by experimental mitral regurgitation.

Association between exogenous atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and hemodynamic changes was ascertained in 3 dogs with overt congestive heart failure (CHF(+)) and 3 dogs without congestive heart failure (CHF(-)) caused by experimental mitral regurgitation (MR). The hemodynamic measurements were recorded in all dogs during and after 1 hr infusion of ANP at the rate of 0.1 (low dose), 0.5 (medium dose) and 1.0 (high dose) microg/kg/min, respectively. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and systemic vascular resistance decreased significantly during and after ANP infusion even with low dose in the CHF(+). Stroke volume, stroke volume index and cardiac output in the CHF(+) during and after ANP infusion showed an increasing trend as compared with the CHF(-). Double product, an indicator of myocardial oxygen consumption, significantly decreased during and after ANP administration at all doses in the CHF(+). These findings indicate that even at low dose, exogenous ANP improves cardiac performance and reduces myocardial oxygen consumption in the CHF(+), and suggest that ANP has beneficial effects in the treatment of dogs with overt congestive heart failure resulting from MR.

Animals↗

The formation of apical delta of the permanent teeth in dogs.

To determine the process of formation of apical delta, a histological study on the permanent teeth was carried out in dogs. A litter of 7 clinically healthy beagle dogs and 33 adult dogs (4- to 15- year-old) of 12 breeds with periodontal disease were used for the experiments. Teeth extracted from 6-,7-,8- and 9-month-old beagles were sectioned and stained with HE solution. Tooth roots obtained from adult dogs with periodontal disease were ground. Each tooth was classified into the following root types under a light microscope: Type I (no apical delta = no apical closure), II (few apical delta), IIIA (low apical delta) and IIIB (high apical delta). In the 6-month-old beagles, more than half the tooth roots were classified as type I. In the 7-month-old beagles, type IIIB apical delta was the most predominant and types I, II and IIIA apical delta were occassionally seen. Apical closure and delta were observed in all beagles at 8 months of age histologically. In the 8- and 9-month-old beagles, all root apexes observed were type IIIB. Most of the 314 tooth roots extracted from 33 adult dogs were type IIIB, but a few were type IIIA.

Animals↗

Efficacy of enamel matrix proteins on apical periodontal regeneration after experimental apicoectomy in dogs.

Adult dogs have a complex apical delta structure in all root apexes of teeth. This complex structure may affect the formation of apical lesions in the teeth such as apical abscesses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of enamel matrix protein (EMP) which was used for periodontal regeneration therapy after an experimental apicoectomy for an assumed apical lesions of the teeth in dogs. The maxillar canine roots and maxillar fourth premolar buccal mesial roots in five beagles were experimentally apicoectomized under general inhalation anesthesia. After the root apex was exposed and excised, EMP was applied on the surface of the exposed dentin. After 12 weeks, dogs were euthanized. and the experimental teeth together with the surrounding soft and hard periodontal tissues were collected for histological evaluation under a light microscope. In the EMP group, the size of the defect where the root apex was removed was smaller than that of the control group. New cementum was dominantly achieved in the EMP group compared to the control group. Furthermore, new collagen fibers that bridged area between the new cementum and new alveolar bone were detected only in the EMP group. The present results demonstrated marked apical periodontal regeneration after apicoectomy in the EMP group. These results, therefore, suggest that the application of EMP can effectively induce the regeneration of periodontal strUctures in apicoectomized dogs.

Animals↗

[Two cases of Chlamydia psittaci infection occurring in employees of the same pet shop].

We report here 2 cases of psittacosis in a pet shop. In the first case, a 44-year-old male was admitted with fever, and a chest radiograph showed an infiltration shadow in the right lower lung. One day later, a colleague of the first patient, a 42-year-old man, developed fever and was admitted. In this patient, chest radiography revealed an infiltration shadow in the left lower lung. Both patients had mild liver dysfunction. The serum titer of a complement fixation (CF) test against Chlamydia psittaci was elevated fourfold in the first case and sixteen-fold in the second on the analysis of paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens. Clinical symptoms and abnormal laboratory data were attenuated by the administration of minocycline for 2 weeks. Since both patients worked in same pet shop and since some parakeets at the shop had died, we speculated that the psittacosis had originated from these birds.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the role of keratan sulphate as a molecular marker to monitor cartilage metabolism in horses.

The role of keratan sulphate (KS) as a metabolic marker of cartilage was evaluated using an in vitro model of equine articular cartilage. Articular cartilage was harvested from clinically healthy 6-month-old foals (n = 3). Chondrocytes were centrifuged and cultured as pellets. Chondrocyte pellets were stimulated by insulin-like growth factor-I alpha (IGF-I alpha) or interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) for 2 weeks. The concentrations of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and KS in the culture media were measured by a 1,9-dimethyl-methylene blue (DMMB) colorimetric assay and an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a 1/20/5D4 antibody, respectively. The concentration of GAG was significantly increased both in the media of pellets stimulated by IGF-I alpha and in those stimulated by IL-1 alpha. KS concentration was significantly increased in those stimulated by IL-1 alpha, while no significant change was found in those stimulated by IGF-I alpha. A high correlation between GAG and KS concentrations was found in the media of pellets stimulated by IL-1 alpha (r = 0.84), but not in those stimulated by IGF-I alpha (r = 0.59). The results suggest that the concentration of KS reacting to 1/20/5D4 mirrors the GAG concentration during the stage of cartilage catabolism, but not during the cartilage anabolic stage. The KS concentration in biological fluids could therefore be a useful marker to understand further the cartilage catabolic process. It may also represent some aspects of the cartilage anabolic process.

Animals↗