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Biomedical subjects

T Fujinaga

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujinaga.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein from horses, and its evaluation as an acute-phase reactive protein in horses.

Equine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1AG) was isolated from equine serum by successive ammonium precipitation, anion- and cation-exchange chromatographies, and gel filtration. Purified equine alpha 1AG had a molecular weight of 46,000 +/- 1,000, and contained 31.4% carbohydrate. Gel isoelectric focusing revealed an isoelectric point range of 2.8 to 3.7. With immunoelectrophoresis, it was found that alpha 1AG migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region. Single radial immunodiffusion was used for quantitative measurement of alpha 1AG in equine serum. In clinically normal foals, serum alpha 1AG was undetectable (less than or equal to 20 micrograms/ml) in less than or equal to 7-day-old foals, but was detected by 14 days. The alpha 1AG concentration (mean +/- SD) increased to reach mean adult values of 99.23 +/- 26.90 micrograms/ml by 1 year of age. The alpha 1AG concentration in pregnant mares decreased at 2 to 3 months before parturition, then gradually increased until 1 day after parturition, when a brief decrease was observed. The concentration increased again at 2 weeks after foaling, then a decrease was observed, after which the alpha 1AG concentration increased again by 2 to 4 months after parturition. The concentration of serum alpha 1AG quickly rose to peak values 2 to 3 days after castration and jejunojejunostomy in adult horses, returning to baseline values by 14 to 28 days after surgery. The alpha 1AG was concluded to be an acute-phase reactive protein in horses.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1991

Isolation and characterization of bovine haptoglobin from acute phase sera.

A macromolecular hemoglobin-binding protein, which was not detectable in normal bovine sera but appeared during acute phase inflammation, was purified, characterized, and designated as bovine haptoglobin (Hp). The purified protein had a molecular mass of 1,000-2,000 kDa, and was composed of two kinds of peptides, a 20-kDa peptide (alpha chain) and a 35-kDa glycopeptide (beta chain) linked by disulfide bonds. Amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence analyses revealed that both peptides were homologous to each counterpart of human Hp. Studies using some reducing reagents proved that highly polymerized Hp in serum was composed of 2-20 polymerized forms of alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer. Hp could bind one molecule of hemoglobin/alpha 2 beta 2 unit. Hp with smaller sizes obtained from native Hp by partial reduction with cysteine showed almost the same Hb-binding capacity.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1991

Clinical study on urothelial tumors of dye workers in Wakayama City.

Between January 1951 and December 31, 1990 urothelial tumors were detected in 112 of 1,085 male dye workers (10.3%) in Wakayama City who were formerly engaged in manufacturing of benzidine and/or beta-naphthylamine. The period from exposure to the chemicals to development of the tumor was a mean of 24.1 +/- 9.4 years. A peak incidence of urothelial tumors was observed also approximately 25 years after the peak period of manufacturing these intermediate products of dyes. The mean period from exposure to such carcinogenic chemicals to the onset of the disease was estimated to be 25 years. Of the 78 patients with primary bladder cancer diagnosed since 1969, 43 (55.1%) had tumors diagnosed mostly as a result of a positive urinary cytology test obtained as part of a screening program and 35 (44.9%) had tumors diagnosed as the result of symptoms. Ten patients (24.4%) in the screened group had been treated with total cystectomy by the last followup examination compared with 17 (50.0%) in the symptomatic group. The 10-year cumulative survival rates were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in the screened patients (75.1%) than in the symptomatic patients (55.1%). Our results indicate that screening of high risk populations with urinary cytology tests is effective for early diagnosis and treatment of urothelial tumors, and it improves patient prognosis. Furthermore, the biological behavior of occupational urothelial tumors may be different from that of urothelial tumors in the general population.

2-Naphthylamine↗
PubMed1991

Elevation of bovine serum C-reactive protein and serum amyloid P component levels by lactation.

C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component (SAP), which are known to increase in sera from humans and many other animals with acute inflammation caused by infection, toxic drug administration or injury, were previously purified from bovine serum. These serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specific antiserum to bovine CRP or SAP which was prepared by immunizing rabbits and goats with each purified protein. Among 68 healthy Holstein cows, 45 non-lactating cows had levels of CRP and SAP of 20.6 +/- 1.4 and 27.6 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml respectively; 23 lactating cows had higher levels of CRP and SAP (76.0 +/- 13.6 and 38.3 +/- 5.5 micrograms/ml respectively). In the latter group, there was a high correlation between milk yield and serum CRP levels (P less than 0.001). From these observations, it was assumed that lactation might stimulate CRP synthesis rather than SAP synthesis in bovine liver as an acute phase reaction, and that CRP might be called a lactation-associated protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A prefecture-wide survey of mumps meningitis associated with measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

A survey of untoward reactions, especially central nervous system reactions, after the administration of a newly introduced measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, was initiated soon after 4 patients were hospitalized for aseptic meningitis. Thirty-five, 6 and 2 children developed meningitis, convulsive disorders and parotitis, respectively, within 2 months after MMR vaccination during the 8-month period extending from April to November, 1989. The time lag between MMR vaccination and meningitis ranged from 14 to 28 days in the 35 cases of meningitis. Mumps virus, isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid in 13 patients with aseptic meningitis, was characterized by determination of the nucleotide sequences of the P gene as mumps vaccine strain. The incidence of aseptic meningitis with positive mumps vaccine virus was estimated to be 0.11% (0.3% as a whole) during the 8 months from April to November and increased to 0.3% (0.7% as a whole) in September and October. We conclude that the incidence of aseptic meningitis after MMR vaccination seems to be higher than that reported previously.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in horses: the effect of aging, sex, delivery and inflammations on its concentration.

The serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) in horses was measured by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) using rabbit anti-equine CRP serum to evaluate the significance of CRP as an acute-phase reactive protein. In serum samples of clinically normal newborn thoroughbred foals before being given colostrum, serum CRP was not detectable (less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml). The serum CRP concentration was found to increase quickly and reach a peak level of approximately 14.1 micrograms/ml in 12-month-old horses. Then, it decreased gradually to reach a low value of 5.4 micrograms/ml in the 4-year-old. In horses over 5-year-old, serum CRP concentration was stable at values of 7 to 8 micrograms/ml. In mares during the peri-natal period, serum CRP concentration decreased at 2 months before delivery, showed moderate changes just before and after delivery, and then increased to relatively high level by 2 months after delivery. The concentration of serum CRP was found to be increased at 24 hours after experimentally inflammatory stimuli in adult horses, and reached peak values of 3 to 6 times as high as the base line values at 3 to 5 days. Serum CRP concentration returned to base line values by 2 to 3 weeks after treatments. It is clear from these data that CRP is one of the acute-phase reactive proteins in horses.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

[Nemaline myopathy with type 2 fiber predominance; a case report].

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and muscle-weakness. His developmental milestones were delayed. His face was long with opened mouth. He spoke with nasal voice. He had proximally dominant muscle weakness and his deep tendon reflexes were absent. Laboratory examination revealed normal serum creatine kinase level and a myopathic EMG pattern. Blood gas analysis revealed metabolic acidosis with PH 7.35, PCO2 55.4 mmHg, PO2 62.4 mmHg, BE 3.0, probably from the metabolic acidosis by respiratory muscle weakness. In the biopsied left biceps brachii muscle, there were scattered fibers with nemaline bodies and abnormal fiber type distribution; type 1, 2 A, 2 B and 2 C fibers comprised 7%, 70%, 21% and 2% respectively. Small type 1 fibers and type 1 fiber predominance are the characteristic and common histochemical findings in nemaline myopathy. Accordingly, type 2 fiber predominance in the present patient is a unique, rare phenomenon. The finding might result from a preferential loss of type 1 motoneurons or muscle fiber type transformation from type 1 to type 2 fibers due to a certain abnormal neuronal influence on developing muscles.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

Isolation, characterization, and quantitative analysis of ceruloplasmin from horses.

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) was isolated from fresh equine plasma by precipitation, cellulose chromatography, and improved ion-exchange chromatography. Purified equine Cp is a glycoprotein having a molecular weight of approximately 115,000. In electrophoresis, equine Cp migrated to the alpha 1-globulin region, its isoelectric point was about 4.15 and consisted of about 890 amino acid residues. Serum Cp concentration was measured by use of the single radial immunodiffusion method. In clinically normal horses, the mean (+/- SD) serum Cp concentration of newborn foals was 2.87 +/- 0.40 mg/ml and that of 3-month-old foals was 5.02 +/- 0.92 mg/ml, which was similar to the adult value. It reached a peak of 6.06 +/- 0.74 mg/ml in 2-year-old horses. The Cp concentration in mares was not statistically different for the perinatal period, but it decreased immediately before and after delivery. Concentration of Cp increased at 6 days after IM administration of turpentine oil, castration, or jejunojejunostomy in adult horses, and increased to peak values twice as high as baseline values at 7 to 14 days, returning to baseline values at 28 days after treatment. We concluded that equine serum Cp is an acute-phase reactive protein increased in the intermediary or later phase of acute inflammation.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

[Experimental and clinical studies on anal submucosal injection of methotrexate for bladder cancer].

The experimental and clinical studies were performed to investigate the efficacy of the anal submucosal injection (ASI) of methotrexate (MTX) for bladder cancer. In the experimental study, MTX was administered to male Wistar rats each weighing from 200 to 250 gm in a dosage of 2 mg/kg body weight through two different routes, one of which was intravenous injection (IV group) and the other of which was anal submucosal injection (ASI group). The concentrations of MTX in serum and bladder tissue after injection were estimated in both groups. Serum MTX levels in ASI group were significantly higher than those in the IV group from 30 minutes through 120 minutes after injection, while the IV group was higher than the ASI group at 5 minutes after injection. Tissue MTX levels in ASI group were significantly higher than those in the IV group from 60 minutes through 120 minutes after injection. However, tissue MTX levels in IV group were significantly higher than those in ASI group from 5 minutes through 15 minutes after injection. We started clinically to use ASI for bladder cancer as a preliminary random trial in November, 1988. Between November, 1988 and September, 1989 ASI was performed in 9 patients with various bladder cancer. The dose of MTX was 50 mg every week for 5 consecutive doses. The course was repeated at 3-week intervals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Administration, Rectal↗
PubMed1990

The distributions of phytohemagglutinin-P and concanavalin A binding sites on equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The distributions of phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) binding sites were investigated for equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Non-B lymphocytes were collected from each PBL using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), and the numbers of PHA and ConA binding sites on their surfaces were counted. Most PHA binding sites on PBL of the three species were shown on the surfaces of non-B lymphocytes. On the other hand, the ConA binding sites on equine and canine PBL existed mainly on the surfaces of non-B lymphocytes, but B lymphocytes of these two species had many ConA binding sites. These results were confirmed by the results of two-parameter fluorescence analysis using FACS. It is, therefore, concluded that the different optimum concentrations of PHA and ConA in PBL blastogenic responses of each animal depended on the different distributions of their binding sites.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[A case of carcinosarcoma originating from the renal pelvis].

The first case of carcinosarcoma originating from the renal pelvis in Japan is reported. A fifty-five year old woman was admitted to the hospital on July 13, 1987, complaining of a one-year history of lumbago. On physical examination, a mass of child's head size was palpable in the right loin. There were other palpable masses in the posterior head (8 x 8 cm), left anterior chest (3 x 3 cm) and sacral region (3 x 3 cm). A chest X-ray showed multiple pulmonary metastases and an excretory urogram revealed a non-visualizing right kidney. Computed tomogram and renal angiogram suggested right renal tumor. Right renal arterial embolization with ethanol sclerosing was performed. She had previously undergone biopsy of the sacral lesion at another hospital, histological examinations of which pointed to suspected carcinosarcoma. She was treated by a combination chemotherapy with vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide. Despite one course of chemotherapy, her general condition deteriorated with progression of metastatic lesions in the regions other than the lungs. She died of the disease on december 9, 1987. Autopsy was performed. Sections of the right kidney showed a transitional cell carcinoma in-situ with squamous and glandular differentiation in addition to the chondrosarcoma. The metastases were found in the liver, lung and bone, all of which consisted of chondrosarcoma. On the other hand skin metastases consisted of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. The pathological specimens were reviewed at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell↗
PubMed1990

Isolation, characterization, and quantitative analysis of C-reactive protein from horses.

C-reactive protein (CRP) was isolated from equine serum by use of calcium-dependent affinity chromatography conjugated pneumococcal C-polysaccharide, anion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. It was identified as genuine CRP by its immunochemical cross-reactivity with anti-human CRP, its homology with human CRP in amino acid composition, and its pentameric structure as revealed by electron microscopy. Purified equine CRP had a molecular weight of approximately 118,000 and was composed of 5 identical, nonglycosylated and noncovalently associated subunits with molecular weight of approximately 23,000 each. Equine CRP migrated in the region between beta- and gamma-globulin by results of immunoelectrophoresis, and its isoelectric point was about 7.0. In horses, increased CRP concentration was associated with clinical pneumonitis, enteritis, and arthritis, compared with values obtained in clinically normal horses by use of single radial immunodiffusion method. After IM administration of turpentine oil or castration, serum CRP concentration increased to 6 times higher than baseline values. Results indicate that CRP may be an acute-phase reactant protein in horses.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Relationship between mitogen receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes and blastogenic responses to mitogen.

The relationship between the optimum concentration of mitogen which induces lymphocyte blastogenic response and the receptor occupancy by mitogen was investigated. The receptor occupancies which induced maximal blastogenic activity in equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were 31.1 per cent, 26.5 per cent and 38.4 per cent with phytohaemagglutinin-P, and 48.2 per cent, 17.9 per cent and 24.5 per cent with concanavalin A, respectively. The data clearly show that each animal species had its own optimum concentration of mitogen for stimulation of PBL. Optimum concentration for blastogenesis and number of binding sites of each mitogen had a good correlation with each other for all three species.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Long-term follow-up study of children developmentally retarded by early environmental deprivation.

In 1972, two children representing a case of severe developmental retardation were discovered and taken into custody. The children, an older sister (referred to as F) and a younger brother (referred to as G), were found to have achieved no more than the physical and mental age level normal to children 1 year of age or less, in spite of their actual respective chronological ages of 6 and 5. Investigation revealed that the children's developmental retardation was due both to extreme social isolation and to complex deprivation. By following their sensorimotor, linguistic, cognitive, and socio-emotional development from the time of discovery to the date of this writing, we have found that their physical and motor development or recovery has proceeded smoothly, whereas their linguistic and cognitive development has continued to show such weaknesses as defective functioning of internal speech (Vygotsky, 1962) and poor ability to deal with abstract, linguistic subjects. F and G have continued to exhibit a tendency toward undersocialization, but this has at times been rather a positive factor in the process of attaining ego identity during adolescence, especially for G, serving to protect him from unreasonable social pressures to conform to group behavior. In combination with other cases of severe deprivation, the case of F and G holds some interesting implications for theories of human development, particularly the notion of critical periods.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Chromosome analysis of canine transmissible sarcoma cells.

The chromosomal banding patterns of canine transmissible sarcoma (CTS) cells were analyzed and compared to those of normal canine cells with four banding techniques. In addition, N-myc and N-ras oncogenes on the chromosomes of the CTS cells were investigated by the in situ hybridization method. The modal chromosome number of the CTS cells was 58:17 metacentrics and 41 acrocentrics. Based on their G- and Q-banding patterns most of the chromosomes of the CTS cells were present in normal cells except for the second largest metacentric chromosomes. It was considered that the metacentric chromosomes of the CTS cells results from Robertsonian translocation of normal chromosomes. The long arm of the second largest metacentric element of the CTS cells was stained negatively by the Q-banding technique. The C-band was found on the long arm of the second largest metacentric element and three pairs of N-bands were recognized in the same region. It was suggested that this amplification of N-bands enhanced tumorigenic properties in the CTS. No N-myc or N-ras oncogenes were detected on chromosomes of the CTS cells by the in situ hybridization method.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The banding patterns of normal canine chromosomes.

The chromosomal banding patterns of canine normal chromosome were analyzed by G-, Q-, C- and N-banding techniques. The chromosomes of canine normal lymphocytes consisted of 38 acrocentric autosome pairs and X-, Y-metacentric sex chromosomes. Their G- and Q-banding patterns corresponded to the those reported by Manolache et al. in 1976. C-bands of chromosomes were found on the centromeric regions of the 7th, 26th, 34th, 35th, 37th and 38th pairs of chromosomes. In addition, N-bands whose location had not been confirmed until now were recognized on the telomitic regions of the 7th, 9th and 22nd pairs of chromosomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The inhibitory effects of colchicine, vinblastine and cytochalasin D on lymphocyte blastogenic responses.

The inhibitory effects of colchicine, vinblastine and cytochalasin D on blastogenic responses of equine, bovine and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were investigated. These drugs inhibited blastogenic responses of each PBL. The concentrations for 50% recovery in PBL blastogenic response of colchicine and vinblastine were lower in equine and canine PBL than in bovine PBL. This suggested that microtubules may be more concerned in blastogenic response of equine and canine PBL than of bovine PBL. On the other hand, the concentration for 50% recovery in PBL blastogenic response of cytochalasin D was almost the same in the PBL of each animal. This meant that microfilaments made only a small contribution to the lymphocyte blastogenic response.

Animals↗