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Biomedical subjects

T Fujino

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujino.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Radioimmunoassay and metabolic clearance rate of catecholestrogens, 2-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxyestradiol in man.

Plasma levels of 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) and 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) were determined by a new radioimmunoassay which employed a short Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography for the purification of samples and the antiserum to 2-hydroxyestrone-17-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-BSA conjugate for assay. The plasma value was below the detection limit for the assay (approximately 15 pg/ml) in men and non-pregnant women, but rose 20-200 pg/ml during pregnancy in 2-OHE1 and around 15 pg/ml in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in 2-OHE2. There was no significant difference of plasma 2-OHE1 level between normal pregnancy and toxemic pregnancy with hypertension, in the 3rd trimester. The plasma level was very low in all of three subjects with the placental dysfunction in toxemic pregnancy. The plasma metabolic clearance rate (MRCp) of 2-OHE1 and 2-OHE2 were determined in normal adults by two methods; infusion of unlabeled 2-OHE1 and 2-OHE2 to equilibrium with radioimmunoassay of their plasma levels, and infusion of [3H]-2-OHE1 and [3H]-2-OHE2 to equilibrium with measurement of chromatographically purified their tritium. The MCRs by the former and latter methods was 40-70 X 10(3) and 15-50 X 10(3) in 2-OHE1, and 18-29 X 10(3) and 12-14 X 10(3) l/day in 2-OHE2, respectively. The major plasma metabolite comigrated with 2-methoxy compounds to each catecholestrogen. The t1/2 of disappearance rate by the method of infusion of unlabeled compounds was approx. 45 s in 2-OHE1 and 90 s in 2-OHE2. When [3H]-2-OHE1 and [3H]-2-OHE2 were incubated with blood samples of adults, 2-methoxy compounds also rapidly formed. From these results it is concluded that the extremely high MCRp of 2-OHE1 and 2-OHE2 make it unlikely these compounds circulate peripherally except in pregnancy in levels sufficient to produce the physiological effects on estrogen receptors or catecholamines.

Adult↗

Histochemical studies of glycosidase activity in juveniles and adults of the lung fluke Paragonimus.

Glycosidase activities in the adults and juveniles of the lung fluke Paragonimus ohirai and P. westermani adults were demonstrated histochemically. For comparative studies, histochemical examination was also made on the adults of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. The enzymes examined were N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.30), beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31), beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) and beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21). The distribution of beta-glucosaminidase was similar in juveniles and adults. Strong reaction sites for the enzyme were the caecal brush border, tegument, subtegumental cells and tests. In contrast, no staining reaction occurred in the caeca of F. hepatica, although the tegument and parenchymal cells were weakly stained. beta-glucuronidase activity was associated only with the luminal surface of the caeca in the juveniles. However, luminal contents also appeared stained and this might suggest that the activity in the caeca is not endogenous. beta-galactosidase was localized in the caeca, sub-tegmental cells and tegument in both juveniles and adults. No reaction occurred for the other two enzymes, alpha- and beta-glucosidase.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Human infection with the pancreas fluke, Eurytrema pancreaticum.

A 70-year-old Japanese woman with gastric cancer in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, was found at autopsy to have about 15 adult flukes, Eurytrema pancreaticum, in the dilated pancreatic ducts. The number of eosinophils in the blood was within normal limits. The two worms which were least damaged when removed from the gland were used for stained specimens, and another two were macerated to collect the eggs. The parasites (10 X 5, 11 X 7 mm in size) were broad, flattened, oval to fusiform. The suckers were large, the oral (2.1 X 2.0, 2.0 X 1.9 mm) being larger than the ventral (1.6 X 1.6, 1.4 X 1.5 mm). The eggs (47.06 +/- 3.88 X 30.35 +/- 2.74 microns) were embryonated in the uterus. These findings led to the identification of E. pancreaticum. This is the second documented case of eurytremiasis in man.

Aged↗

Amaurosis fugax for a long duration.

A 31-year-old Japanese male with unilateral bouts of transient visual loss lasting for variable periods of time has been observed. In spite of the prolonged duration of some of these attacks (the longest attack lasted 7 1/2 hours), the patient sustained a relatively small amount of functional damage to the retina. Although the exact mechanism underlying these bouts of transient visual loss remains unknown, a discussion of the possible causes of such episodes, as well as the reasons for the relative preservation of vision in spite of the length of these attacks, is included.

Adult↗

[Serum unconjugated 2-hydroxyestrone and erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in pregnancy toxemia].

To clarify the significance of catecholestrogens in toxemia of pregnancy, plasma unconjugated 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. In addition, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes was compared between normal and toxemic pregnancies. The following results were obtained. There was no significant difference in the plasma 2-OHE1 level between normal and toxemic pregnancies in the 3rd trimester, these being 220 +/- 53(SD,n = 7), 162 +/- 138(n = 9) pg/ml, respectively. However, the plasma 2-OHE1, level was quite low in all three subjects in toxemic pregnancy with placental dysfunctions. Liver dysfunction was found in only one case of toxemic pregnancy, whose plasma 2-OHE1 was within the normal range. In two cases of mild toxemia and one case of severe toxemia with placental dysfunctions there was no significant difference in COMT activity as compared with normal pregnancy. The COMT activity of a diabetic woman with pregnancy toxemia without placental dysfunctions was slightly higher than that of a normal pregnant woman. From these results it is suggested that the lower plasma 2-OHE1 level in toxemic pregnancy may be caused by placental dysfunctions.

Catechol O-Methyltransferase↗

[Hypertensive basal ganglionic hemorrhage with hemianopsia as the sole symptom--report of 2 cases].

The majority of patients with sudden onset of homonymous hemianopia are caused by occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery. Apart from a subcortical hemorrhage in the occipital lobe, no previous cases of the hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage presenting isolated homonymous hemianopia have been reported. Since the introduction of computed tomography (CT), the authors have experienced two cases of hypertensive basal ganglionic hemorrhage (including a thalamic hemorrhage) showing homonymous hemianopia alone as the neurological manifestation. Both patients (age 40 and 45) are right-handed male with known hypertension. The CT scans demonstrated a hematoma laterally and posteriorly along the thalamus on the left side. The cerebral angiography were unremarkable. The authors discussed the mechanism presenting homonymous hemianopia without association of pyramidal signs. These two cases described above are unique, hypertensive basal ganglionic hemorrhage, presenting a localized damage in the optic peduncle with sparing the pyramidal tract. In addition, they are worthwhile to be paid attention, because of showing homonymous hemianopia as a single, neurological manifestation, as well as being able to be diagnosed only by CT.

Basal Ganglia↗

The reapplication of microvascular clamps after venous anastomosis: an experimental study.

Albino rats were used to determine the effects of the reapplication of microvascular clamps in veins after anastomosis. The results demonstrate that, if necessary, microvascular clamps can be reapplied either proximal, or both proximal and distal to a venous anastomosis for up to 30 minutes, thus allowing a suture to be redone or the lumen to be explored with no loss of patency.

Animals↗

Phenotyping of cytochromes P-450 in human tissues with monoclonal antibodies.

Cytochrome P-450 (P-450)-dependent aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHHase) and 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase (ECDEtase) in human tissues were differentially inhibited by monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that were prepared to inhibit and completely inhibited the activity of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver P-450. The AHHase and ECDEtase of placentas from individual women who smoked were inhibited by the MAbs by 83-90% and by 34-74%, respectively. Benz[a]anthracene (BaA)-induced AHHase and ECDEtase in lymphocytes were inhibited 18-65% and 30-78%, respectively. The enzymes in both control and BaA-induced human cells in culture were inhibited to different extents. Both the AHHase and ECDEtase in control and BaA-induced monocytes and in normal liver were largely unaffected by the MAb. Thus, we have with the MAbs: (i) identified P-450s with a common antigenic site in placenta, lymphocytes, and human cells in culture; (ii) identified two forms of hydrocarbon-induced P-450s in lymphocytes, at least one of which is common with the induced P-450s of placenta and with a P-450 form present in uninduced lymphocytes; (iii) identified two forms of P-450 responsible for smoking-induced ECDEtase activity in placenta, one of which is also responsible for AHHase activity; (iv) shown that the P-450s of liver, basal, and BaA-induced monocytes are different from the MAb-sensitive P-450s of placenta and lymphocytes; (v) quantitated in several human tissues the percentages of control and inducible AHHase and ECDEtase that are dependent on the MAb-sensitive P-450; and (vi) defined by HPLC the contribution of the MAb-sensitive P-450 to the formation of specific benzo[a]-pyrene metabolites. The results demonstrate the value of MAbs for defining antigenic site relatedness for different enzymatic functions of P-450s and for identifying and quantifying the amount of a specific enzyme activity in a tissue dependent on specific P-450s. This study may be a prototype for the use of MAbs for phenotyping and mapping of P-450s responsible for specific metabolic reactions and, thus, may be useful in determining the relationship of P-450 phenotype to individual differences in drug metabolism and carcinogen susceptibility.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗

Ultrastructural studies on spermatogenesis in a parthenogenetic type of Paragonimus westermani (Kerbert 1878) proposed as P. pulmonalis (Baelz 1880).

Spermatogenesis in a parthenogenetic type of P. westermani (Kerbert 1878) called P. pulmonalis (Baelz 1880) throughout this study, was observed by light microscopy (LM), scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. During spermatogenesis, most of the cells became degenerated or malformed as a result of aberrations during spermatogenesis. Vacuolated cells were often found in the testicular lumen. In some nuclei of spermatocytes, synaptonemal complexes were formed and this indicated that some pairing of homologous chromosomes did occur, but only rarely. Cytophores in some rosettes were broken down into small fragments and the cells separated from each other. Norman spermatozoa were very rarely found in the testis and never in the seminal receptacle, where egg and vitelline cells were present instead. Throughout spermatogenesis, Golgi complexes, mitochondria, ribosomes, and endoplasmic reticulum were not abundant, and this suggested that cell activities and protein synthesis were greatly reduced.

Animals↗