Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Fukaya

Publications and source records attributed to T Fukaya.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Silent severe tricuspid regurgitation: a study by Doppler echocardiography].

Sixty-eight patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation proven by right ventriculography were examined using pulsed and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography and color Doppler flow imaging. Among the 68 patients, there was no tricuspid regurgitant murmur in 16 (24%) in whom laminar regurgitant flow signals were demonstrated by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The area in which laminar flow was detected ranged from 8 to 46 mm2 (mean 19.5 +/- 9.8 mm2). The peak velocities in patients without regurgitant murmurs as measured by continuous wave Doppler echocardiography ranged from 1.1 to 1.9 m/sec (mean: 1.61 +/- 0.21 m/sec). Laminar regurgitant flow signals were obtained in six; and turbulent regurgitant flow signals in 46 of 52 patients with tricuspid regurgitant murmurs, and their peak velocities ranged from 1.7 to 5.1 m/sec (2.80 +/- 0.78 m/sec). The peak velocities of the regurgitant flow signals in patients without tricuspid regurgitant murmurs were significantly lower than those in patients with regurgitant murmurs (p less than 0.01). In six patients with laminar regurgitant flow signals and regurgitant murmurs, the areas of laminar flow signals ranged from 3 to 12 mm2 (mean 7.0 +/- 3.5 mm2) and were smaller than those of patients without regurgitant murmurs (p less than 0.001). A characteristic candle flame pattern of regurgitant flow signals was observed in all patients without murmurs. Thus, the absence of a tricuspid regurgitant murmur results from laminar regurgitant flow signals of low velocity and this is characterized by a candle flame pattern using color Doppler flow imaging.

Adolescent↗

Expression of Schwann cell characteristics in pigmented nevus. Immunohistochemical study using monoclonal antibody to Schwann cell associated antigen.

A monoclonal antibody to the Schwann cell associated antigen (AHMY1) and a monoclonal antibody to neurofilament proteins (NFP) (AHNF1) each were produced. Using AHMY1, AHNF1, and anti-S-100 antibody, 90 pigmented nevi were examined immunohistochemically to clarify the relationship between nevus cells and Schwann cells. All nevus cells had S-100 protein, but did not have neurofilament proteins. The nevic corpuscle and Type C nevus cell were positively stained with AHMY1 indicating the presence of the Schwann cell associated antigen, while Type A and B nevus cells were entirely negative. This suggests that the nevic corpuscle and Type C nevus cell are closely related to the Schwann cell and differ from Type A and B nevus cells in their development.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Monoclonal antibody (AFH1) immunoreactive on morphologically abnormal basal melanocytes within dysplastic nevi, nevocellular nevus nests, and melanoma.

The mouse monoclonal antibody AFH1 was produced using formalin-fixed, sham paraffin-embedded human melanoma cell culture line A375 as immunogen. Reactivity of this antibody was assessed by immunohistochemical techniques against formalin- or acid alcohol-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue as well as formalin- or acid alcohol-fixed unembedded lesions. Ninety-seven nevomelanocytic lesions, neurofibromas, epithelial lesions, and a plasmacellular infiltrate were evaluated. AFH1 was immunoreactive on 54 of 55 nevocytic lesions (98.2%), 15 of 16 primary melanomas (93.7%), a lentigo maligna, and nests in 21 of 21 dysplastic nevi (100%). Of 100 consecutive basal melanocytes of intraepidermal melanoma cells counted in each lesion, mean AFH1 immunoreactivity for nonnested basal melanocytes in nevocellular nevi was 3.8%; for dysplastic nevi, 13.8%; and for intraepidermal melanoma cells, 78.0%. When nonnested basal melanocytes were subdivided into cytologically normal and abnormal cell groups, AFH1 immunoreactivity was 9.4% and 72.6%, respectively. AFH1 recognition of the lentiginous portion of dysplastic nevi corresponds statistically to the appearance of abnormal melanocyte cytology, nest formation, or both. Using 50% immunoreactive nonnested melanocytes as the criterion, AFH1 seems to distinguish primary melanoma from dysplastic nevi with a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 95.8%.

Animals↗

Anomalies of the middle ear.

Malformations of the ossicles in 52 ears of 48 patients were analyzed on the basis of surgical findings. The external meatus of each of these ears was patent. The long process of the incus and the stapes are frequently involved in this series of observations. There are distinct groups of ossicular anomalies, in each of which patients show similar degrees of hearing loss and ossicular findings. These include spindle handle, malleus bar, and dislocated annulus. Spindle handle gets its name from the shape of the malleus handle. There is disconnection between the long process of the incus and the capitulum of the stapes. Malleus bar is a kind of malleus fixation, in which a small bony bar connects the tip of the malleus handle to the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity. In the dislocated annulus, the annulus is dislocated cranially in relation to the middle-ear structures. Anomalies of the ossicle are usually present. Surgical repairs for these conditions are discussed.

Adult↗

Effects of androgen on 17 beta-estradiol production by cultured human granulosa cells.

In order to determine whether androgen acts solely as a substrate for aromatization or whether it also influences on the activity of aromatase enzyme, human granulosa cells were incubated in vitro with or without androgen. Although basal production of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) in cultured granulosa cells obtained from follicles about 26 hr after the initiation of the LH surge was restricted in small quantities, a marked increase in E2 production occurred in the presence of testosterone (T) (10(-6) M) as aromatizable substrate. The non-aromatizable androgen, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (10(-7) M, 10(-6) M), slightly enhanced E2 production and it did not inhibit T aromatization in these cells. By contrast, DHT did not increase E2 production in granulosa cells obtained from follicles 2-5 days before the LH surge. The results indicate that androgen can enhance the estrogen biosynthesis of granulosa cells obtained from follicles during the LH surge not only by acting as a substrate for aromatization but also by participating in some process of the estrogen synthesis. This effect of androgen was not clearly seen in granulosa cells obtained before the LH surge, suggesting that the response of granulosa cells to exogenous androgen varies with the stage of the cell differentiation.

Cells, Cultured↗

Improvement of mouse embryo development in vitro by prolactin.

Prolactin in the amniotic fluid is known to have an osmoregulatory function in the fetus, but little is known of the effects prolactin in the exudate from the endometrium acting directly on the early embryo. ICR female mice were stimulated with 6 IU of PMSG (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin) and 8 IU of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and mated with ICR males. Two-cell embryos through blastocysts were obtained for in vitro culture, to which prolactin was added at doses of 0, 10, 30, 100, 300 or 1000 ng/ml. The effects of different doses of prolactin were compared for the rates of blastocyst formation and hatching, and for the development of the embryo with regards to the stage of embryo from which the culture was launched. The results show that prolactin promotes development of the two-cell embryo at concentrations of 300 ng/ml and above, improving the rate of formation of the blastocyst and hatching stages. It also has positive effects on post-hatching blastocyst cultures, in terms of acceleration in development.

Animals↗

Audiological aspects of idiopathic perilymphatic fistula.

Audiological findings in 40 patients with surgically confirmed idiopathic perilymphatic fistula were investigated. Most patients complained of roaring tinnitus, hearing impairment, ear fullness, and hyperacusis. However, a popping sound and a streaming water-like sound were noticed only in 8. Pure-tone sensitivity included every kind of hearing impairment, from sudden profound, to normal sensitivity. Development of hearing impairment was sudden, and deteriorated further, fluctuating in order of frequency. In the early stage of perilymphatic fistula patients had low-frequency hearing impairment and evidenced dominant-negative SP in the electrocochleogram. These findings suggest that a fistula of the inner ear window is not solely responsible for the wide variety of signs and symptoms, and that there must be simultaneous lesions in the membranous labyrinth.

Adolescent↗

[Late complications of valve replacement: the benefits of non-invasive assessment].

Non-invasive techniques were assessed for their capabilities of detecting prosthetic valve malfunctions in 70 consecutive patients with angiographically-documented or surgically-proven prosthetic valve dysfunction. Their 74 dysfunctioning valves were studied using phonocardiography, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler methods, including pulsed and continuous wave (CW) Doppler echocardiography and two-dimensional Doppler color flow mapping (2DD). These results were compared among the examinations, and also compared between 43 patients with 44 dysfunctioning mechanical valves and 27 patients with 30 dysfunctioning bioprosthetic valves. Symptoms related to valve malfunction were recognized in all patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis and in all patients but one with stenotic condition. In patients with valvular regurgitation, however, symptoms were observed in only six of the 21 patients with mechanical prostheses and in 12 of the 25 patients with bioprosthetic valves (p less than 0.01). Among 43 patients with 44 mechanical valve dysfunctions, the sensitivities of phonocardiography, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler techniques were 85, 65 and 86 percent, respectively, in 20 patients with stenosis; 100, 57 and 80 percent in seven patients with transvalvular regurgitation; and 100, 50 and 100 percent in 14 patients with paravalvular regurgitation. Similarly, among 27 patients with bioprosthetic valve dysfunctions, the sensitivities of phonocardiography, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler methods were 67, 100 and 100 percent, respectively, in three patients with stenotic condition; 85, 65 and 100 percent in 20 patients with transvalvular regurgitation; and 60, 40 and 100 percent in five patients with paravalvular regurgitation. Furthermore, 26 of the 27 patients with malfunctioning mechanical valves and 20 of the 24 patients with malfunctioning bioprostheses had abnormal findings using more than two techniques. In addition, each patient had at least one abnormal finding. In conclusion, malfunctioning mechanical or bioprosthetic prostheses could be detected using non-invasive techniques. The combined use of phonocardiography, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler techniques is most helpful in detecting malfunctioning prostheses.

Adult↗

[Time analysis of mitral regurgitation in patients with mitral valve prolapse: a study by phonocardiography and Doppler techniques].

To assess the timing and duration of mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), 20 subjects with mid-systolic click(s) and/or a late systolic murmur were studied using phonocardiography, two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and Doppler techniques including pulsed Doppler (PD), high pulse repetition frequency Doppler (HPRF), continuous wave Doppler (CW) and M-mode color Doppler (MD) methods and two-dimensional Doppler color flow mapping (2DD). The results were compared with those of 16 patients with a pansystolic murmur having late systolic accentuation. MVP with MR was observed in 15 of the 20 patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur and in all of the 16 patients with a pansystolic murmur. Using MD, MR signals were seen throughout systole and isovolumic relaxation period in all but one of these patients, and they were not related to the patterns of the systolic murmur. In only one, an MR signal was recorded just after the click. Five patients with a mid-systolic click lacked the findings of MVP, but two of them had MR signal only in early systole. Using PD and HPRF techniques, the timing and duration of MR signals in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur were varied by changing the sites of the sample volume. Similarly, the timing and duration of MR signals in these patients were dependent on the ultrasonic beam direction by the CW method. In most patients with a pansystolic murmur having late systolic accentuation, however, MR signals throughout systole and the isovolumic relaxation period were demonstrated by each Doppler method. Therefore, PD, HPRF, and CW were not so efficiently sensitive or adequate techniques for investigating the timing and duration of MR, especially in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur, who had mild or eccentric MR jets. In conclusion, 1) MR in MVP involves the entire systole and isovolumic relaxation period, 2) PD, HPRF and CW methods are not adequate for detecting mild or eccentric MR jets in patients with mid-systolic clicks and/or a late systolic murmur, and 3) MD is useful for the time analysis of MR in these patients.

Adolescent↗

[Effects of androgen on 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone secretion by cultured human granulosa cells].

Human granulosa-luteal cells obtained from dominant preovulatory follicles at the time of oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (about 10 h after the peak of the endogenous LH surge) produced large quantities of progesterone (P) (8.7 pg/cell/first 2 days) in a monolayer culture. Although basal production of estradiol (E2) in these granulosa-luteal cells was restricted to small quantities, a marked increase in E2 production occurred in the presence of testosterone (T) (10(-6) M) as aromatizable substrate. The non-aromatizable androgen, 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (10(-7) M, 10(-6) M) slightly enhanced E2 production in these granulosa-luteal cells and it did not inhibit T aromatization. In contrast, DHT did not increase E2 production in cultured granulosa cells obtained from follicles 2 approximately 5 days before the LH surge. Thus, the response of granulosa cells to exogenous androgen seems to vary at different stages of cell differentiation. Neither T nor DHT elicited significant changes in the production of P by granulosa-luteal cells obtained from preovulatory follicles during the LH surge. However, T (10(-6) M) suppressed hCG-stimulated P production in these cells. The results suggest that androgen enhances the estrogen biosynthesis of granulosa-luteal cells obtained from preovulatory follicles during the LH surge not only by acting as substrate for aromatization but also by participating in some process of estrogen synthesis. Further, it is suggested that androgen has a negative effect on P biosynthesis in these cells.

Androgens↗

Monitoring follicular maturation through measurement of urinary estrogen excretion by latex agglutination inhibition reaction.

We evaluated the clinical utility of the MS 8601 kit, which is a new method of measurement of estrogens in urine. Changes in daily urinary estrogen excretion measured with the kit were highly correlated with that in daily serum E2. This kit was sensitive enough to detect the rises in estrogens in the follicular phase not only in women with normal menstrual cycle, but also in hMG-hCG treated patients.

Adult↗

A novel synthetic vitamin A-like compound (a polyprenoic acid derivative, E-5166) inhibits the release of arachidonic acid stimulated by epidermal growth factor.

Little is known about the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity of retinoids. A new synthetic vitamin A-like compound (polyprenoic acid derivative, E-5166) has a strong in vitro binding affinity to intracellular binding proteins for acidic retinoids. In order to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of E-5166, we studied the effect of E-5166 on the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated arachidonic acid (AA) release of pig epidermis. E-5166 significantly inhibited the EGF-stimulated AA release and this inhibitory effect of E-5166 required a longer incubation than hydrocortisone did. Furthermore, E-5166 inhibited the EGF-stimulated phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover of pig epidermis. These results indicate that E-5166 inhibited the EGF-stimulated AA release through the inhibition of the EGF-stimulated PI turnover.

Animals↗

Serum unconjugated estriol levels during spontaneous labor.

We measured maternal serum unconjugated estriol (SUE3) levels in 244 cases (218 cases with labor and 26 without labor) and investigated the relationships among several obstetrical factors and SUE3 levels. There was no significant difference in the SUE3 level between the group with labor and the group without labor. However, the SUE3 level decreased gradually with prolonged duration of labor in multipara. There were significant positive correlations between the SUE3 levels and birth weights (n = 82, r = 0.375, p less than 0.01) or placental weights (n = 82, r = 0.381, p less than 0.01) in the multipara with labor. The SUE3 levels of fetal distress cases (n = 30, 20.0 +/- 8.6 ng/ml) were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower than those without fetal distress (n = 188, 24.5 +/- 9.7 ng/ml). These data suggest that maternal SUE3 might have been affected with feto-placental function, even after the onset of labor SUE3 levels decrease with prolonged duration of labor.

Cesarean Section↗

Serum cortisol levels in pregnancy induced hypertension patients.

We measured the serum cortisol levels in 15 normal and 8 pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) primigravidas. The normal pregnancy had a significant (p less than 0.05) higher cortisol level than that of PIH patient. Especially, 4 severe PIH patients had a significantly (p less than 0.05) lower cortisol level. The lower maternal cortisol level of PIH patients became more significant with the severity of clinical symptoms of PIH. After the onset of labor, the cortisol levels of PIH patients did not elevate compared with normal pregnancy. These data suggest that in the PIH patient the reactivity of the adrenal cortex to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) may be blunted or the cortisol production in the adrenal cortex may be decreased by the tissue circulation insufficiency due to PIH.

Female↗

Human beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin levels in maternal and fetal plasma and amniotic fluid.

We measured beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) levels in human maternal and fetal plasma and amniotic fluid, simultaneously. It appeared evident that maternal circulating levels of beta-EP (n = 11, 163.9 +/- 12.9 pg/ml, mean +/- S.E.) and beta-LPH (n = 11, 413.0 +/- 25.9 pg/ml) at delivery were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than those of maternal plasma at term (beta-EP; n = 4, 18.3 +/- 2.1 pg/ml, beta-LPH; 213.4 +/- 24.3 pg/ml) and those of amniotic fluid (beta-EP; n = 5, 8.5 +/- 1.2 pg/ml, beta-LPH; 215.1 +/- 44.9 pg/ml). Fetal beta-EP levels (n = 11, 79.1 +/- 5.8 pg/ml) were significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than those of amniotic fluid. These data suggest that the origin of amniotic fluid beta-EP may be an increased synthesis in the maternal and fetal pituitary gland but not in the placenta.

Amniotic Fluid↗