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Biomedical subjects

T Fukui

Publications and source records attributed to T Fukui.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Multilingual bracket treatment combined with orthognathic surgery in a skeletal class III patient with facial asymmetry.

A case report is presented on a female adult with a Class III mandibular protrusion. Resolution of her dentoskeletal problem required a combination of comprehensive multibonded orthodontic mechanotherapy and orthognathic surgery. The patient preferred a multilingual bracket appliance because of esthetics. Both surgical and orthodontic treatment were quite successful in the correction of the facial profile and occlusion. Both psychological and esthetic satisfaction were achieved.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Determination of members of a Borrelia afzelii-related group isolated from Ixodes nipponensis in Korea as Borrelia valaisiana.

The 16S rRNA sequences of the Korean Borrelia strains 5MT and 9MT, isolated from Ixodes nipponensis, showed identities of 99.0-99.1% to that of B. afzelii. The strains were tentatively classified as belonging to the B. afzelii-related group. In this study, Korean isolates, including these strains, were characterized further and compared with recently described new species. These strains generated a RFLP pattern that has not been found previously in RFLP analysis of the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and the flagellin gene. When phylogenetic trees were constructed, based on the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer, flagellin gene and 16S rRNA sequences, these Korean isolates formed a cluster with the Borrelia strain Am501 isolated from Ixodes columnae in Japan and Borrelia valaisiana strains VS116T and UK isolated from Ixodes ricinus in Europe and were distinguishable from the other species. However, these three groups of strains were divergent from each other in the molecular masses of the putative outer surface protein A (OspA) and in the sequences of the ospA gene. These findings suggest that these Korean isolates and one Japanese isolate are members of B. valaisiana and that OspA of this species is divergent, as is that of Borrelia garinii. This led to the speculation that B. valaisiana strains are adapted to the vector ticks found in each locality.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detection of three genetic polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region and intron 1 of human CYP1A2 in the Japanese population.

Interindividual variability of the activity of CYP1A2 may be expected to affect cancer susceptibility, since the enzyme is capable of activating several carcinogens. In the present study, we found three new polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region (CYPIA2/B) and intron 1 (CYPIA2/C and CYP1A2/D) of CYP1A2 in Japanese by using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism. We developed methods to detect these polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and performed a population study (159 subjects) to estimate the frequencies of the alleles. The frequencies of the CYP1A2/A (adenine), CYP1A2/B (thymine-deleted), CYP1A2/C (guanine) and CYP1A2/D (adenine) variants were 21.1, 42.0, 8.2 and 61.3%, respectively. The results of family study supported the idea that these CYP1A2 genotypes are inherited with an autosomal codominant transmission.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2↗
PubMed1999

[An analysis of fever of unknown origin defined by newly proposed practical criteria. A prospective study of 56 cases].

The criteria proposed by Petersdorf has been in use internationally to define the fever of unknown origin (FUO) since 1961 and the research of FUO has progressed with this criteria. Mean-while, new diagnostic methods have been developed and illness behavior of febrile patients has changed considerablly. Accordingly, the definition by Petersdorf is becoming less matched to current clinical situation. Therefore, we have developed a new practical criteria of FUO; i.e., out-patients who are febrile more than 2 weeks, documented temperature higher than 37.5 degrees C at least on one occasion and undetermined diagnosis and in-patients who are febrile more than 1 week with documented temperature higher than 37.5 degrees C, and undetermined diagnosis. Between October 1, 1993, and October 31, 1996, we prospectively collected a series of febrile patients who fulfilled our new criteria. We identified 56 patients by our criteria (23 male and 33 female, age: 49.7 +/- 20.6. range 15 to 88). Of this 56 patients, 19 (32%) were found to have infections, 18 (31%) had collagen disorders, 5 (9%) had malignancy and 6 (10%) had died. Of 56 patients, 38 (68%) were in the newly added group. Of these 38 patients, 4 patients had subacute necrotizing lymphoadenitis, 4 cytomegalovirus infection, 3 polymyalgia rheumatica, 3 tuberculosis. Four patients (10%) died. With our criteria, febrile patients who previously had not been included were found to have as poor a prognosis as with the Petersdorf group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A unique chitinase with dual active sites and triple substrate binding sites from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus kodakaraensis KOD1.

We have found that the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus kodakaraensis KOD1 produces an extracellular chitinase. The gene encoding the chitinase (chiA) was cloned and sequenced. The chiA gene was found to be composed of 3,645 nucleotides, encoding a protein (1,215 amino acids) with a molecular mass of 134,259 Da, which is the largest among known chitinases. Sequence analysis indicates that ChiA is divided into two distinct regions with respective active sites. The N-terminal and C-terminal regions show sequence similarity with chitinase A1 from Bacillus circulans WL-12 and chitinase from Streptomyces erythraeus (ATCC 11635), respectively. Furthermore, ChiA possesses unique chitin binding domains (CBDs) (CBD1, CBD2, and CBD3) which show sequence similarity with cellulose binding domains of various cellulases. CBD1 was classified into the group of family V type cellulose binding domains. In contrast, CBD2 and CBD3 were classified into that of the family II type. chiA was expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. The optimal temperature and pH for chitinase activity were found to be 85 degrees C and 5.0, respectively. Results of thin-layer chromatography analysis and activity measurements with fluorescent substrates suggest that the enzyme is an endo-type enzyme which produces a chitobiose as a major end product. Various deletion mutants were constructed, and analyses of their enzyme characteristics revealed that both the N-terminal and C-terminal halves are independently functional as chitinases and that CBDs play an important role in insoluble chitin binding and hydrolysis. Deletion mutants which contain the C-terminal half showed higher thermostability than did N-terminal-half mutants and wild-type ChiA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Survey of Japanese physicians' attitudes towards the care of adult patients in persistent vegetative state.

OBJECTIVES: Ethical issues have recently been raised regarding the appropriate care of patients in persistent vegetative state (PVS) in Japan. The purpose of our study is to study the attitudes and beliefs of Japanese physicians who have experience caring for patients in PVS. DESIGN AND SETTING: A postal questionnaire was sent to all 317 representative members of the Japan Society of Apoplexy working at university hospitals or designated teaching hospitals by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The questionnaire asked subjects what they would recommend for three hypothetical vignettes that varied with respect to a PVS patient's previous wishes and the wishes of the family. RESULTS: The response rate was 65%. In the case of a PVS patient who had no previous expressed wishes and no family, 3% of the respondents would withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) when the patient did not require any other life-sustaining treatments, 4% would discontinue ANH, and 30% would withhold antibiotics when the patient developed pneumonia. Significantly more respondents (17%) would withdraw ANH in the case of a PVS patient whose previous wishes and family agreed that all life support be discontinued. Most respondents thought that a patient's written advance directives would influence their decisions. Forty per cent of the respondents would want to have ANH stopped and 31% would not want antibiotics administered if they were in PVS. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese physicians tend not to withdraw ANH from PVS patients. Patients' written advance directives, however, would affect their decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Effects of development on acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase biosynthesis in rat liver.

In order to investigate the physiological role of acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase (acetoacetate-CoA ligase, EC 6.2.1.16), a cytosolic acetoacetate-activating enzyme, the effects of animal development on the activity and content of the enzyme were examined in rat liver. In male rats, the enzyme specific activity increased 21-fold at 4 weeks of age from that at 2 weeks of age, and then gradually decreased, while in female rats, it increased similarly to that of male rats, but further increased, reaching a maximum about 3-fold higher than that of male rats, at 6 weeks of age. The developmental patterns of the enzyme content correlated with that of the enzyme specific activity. These results indicate that changes in this enzyme activity and content during the developmental process might influence the rate of ketone body utilization for the formation of physiologically important lipidic substances in rat liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Determinants of exercise-induced ST-segment displacement in the aVL lead in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.

Although the aVL lead in exercise electrocardiography is reported to be helpful in identifying a significant narrowing of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), its role in exercise testing has not been fully evaluated. Accordingly, 821 patients who underwent both standard exercise testing and coronary angiography were evaluated. In patients with aVL lead ST elevation, the incidence of a significant narrowing of the LAD (124/165 vs 348/656; p<0.001) was higher than in those without. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the 2 most important variables that correlated with aVL lead ST elevation were a greater number of leads with ST depression in the inferior leads and a smaller amplitude of R wave in the aVL lead. In contrast, variables correlating with aVL lead ST depression in the majority of cases were a greater number of leads with ST depression in all leads and the presence of inferior lead ST elevation. The results of this study indicate that although aVL lead ST elevation could be a marker for LAD narrowing, more important factors such as inferior lead ST-segment depression and the R-wave amplitude of the aVL lead should be taken into consideration. In contrast, ST depression in the aVL lead mostly represents exercise-induced myocardial ischemia of greater extent and severity.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A novel mutation in the vasopressin V2 receptor gene in a woman with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

A 56-year-old Japanese woman with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI) is reported. She was diagnosed with CNDI accompanied by advanced gastric cancer. After total gastrectomy, approximately 500 ml fluid per hour was necessary to prevent dehydration. Urinary volume was decreased by administration of hydrochlorothiazide. We detected a novel mutation in the vasopressin V2 receptor gene of her chromosomal DNA. A substitution from G to A was found at the 631 nucleotide position, altering codon 12 from glycine (GGG) to glutamic acid (GAG) in the first extracellular domain. This missense mutation appeared to be the cause of her resistance to arginine vasopressin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Health related research in Bangladesh: MEDLINE based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Health research is not a priority sector in Bangladesh. By and large, physicians and academicians are neither interested nor are they properly trained to conduct quality research. The objective of this study is to quantify the volume of researches related to health in Bangladesh with a view to propose remedial measures. METHODS: Data regarding health research, originating from Bangladesh during the period of 1990-1996, were extracted from MEDLINE database using certain inclusion criteria. Data on name of the institution, main author (Bangladeshi or foreigner), country of publication, and research topics were abstracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 580 (on average 83 per year) articles met the inclusion criteria. About two-third (64.0%) of the researches were from International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, followed by Institute of Post Graduate Medicine & Research with 5.7%. Seven medical colleges and one dental college collectively contributed 5.8%. Infectious diseases was the single largest (54.8%) topic dealt with, followed by non-infectious diseases (7.7%), and nutrition and nutrition-related diseases (6.9%). CONCLUSION: The number of research articles from Bangladesh is very small possibly owing to the lack of proper training and funding shortage. Incorporating research methodology in both graduate and postgraduate medical education, appointing researchers in clinical and academic departments and allocating more funding towards research activities are necessary to boost health related research activities in Bangladesh.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1999

The clinical epidemiological investigation of diagnostic modalities in breast cancer detection--a comparison of ultrasonography and mammography.

We reviewed the medical records and images of 39 women with palpable breast masses, including 18 cases with breast cancer and 21 cases with benign breast mass, to compare diagnostic accuracy and clinical agreement between ultrasonography and mammography in breast cancer detection. We showed that the operating characteristics of ultrasonography, including sensitivity, specificity and positive likelihood ratio, were superior to that of mammography. We also confirmed that the established malignant criteria for malignancy, including lobulated shape, irregular contour and non-uniform internal echo in ultrasonography, and stellate mass in mammography, were statistically significant in distinguishing breast cancer from benign breast lesion. Moreover, the interobserver agreement kappa of ultrasonography and mammography were 0.64 and 0.59, respectively. Ultrasonography was also superior to mammography in attaining clinical agreement between the different observers in breast cancer detection.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

[Choroid plexus metastasis of renal cell carcinoma causing intraventricular hemorrhage: a case report].

We report a rare case of choroid plexus metastasis of renal cell carcinoma causing intraventricular hemorrhage. A 75-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for SAH. Preoperative examination evoked suspicion of an anterior communicating aneurysm as a cause of SAH. Furthermore, there were lesions on the tuberculum sellae and in the left trigone of the lateral ventricle, which were enhanced by Gd-DTPA on MRI. The patient was operated on via the pterional approach on December 3, 1996, but no aneurysm was found. She underwent total removal of the tuberculum sellae mass, which was postoperatively proved to be a meningioma by histological examination. The intraventricular tumor was supposed to be a meningioma, but it was not treated surgically. Two months later, the patient presented hematuria and was diagnosed as having a right renal cancer and underwent right nephrectomy on March 18, 1997. However, postoperatively, disturbance of consciousness continued. A CT scan revealed intraventricular hemorrhage around the tumor in the trigone of the lateral ventricle on March 21. An emergency operation for tumor and clot removal succeeded in improving the patient's condition. Histological examination of the tumor revealed clear-cell type renal cell carcinoma. Solitary choroidal plexus metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is quite rare: only 5 cases have been reported. But only our case was accompanied by intraventricular hemorrhage. Renal cell carcinomas are divided into two types: a slowly progressive type and a rapidly progressive type. Four cases among the reported 5 cases were the slowly progressive type, and our case was regarded as being of the same type.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Effect of freeze-dried soybean curd (tofu) on various bodily functions.

The present study was designed to examine the effect of freeze-dried soybean curd (tofu) on various bodily functions. The dietary experiment consisted of 4 days of a non-prescribed ordinary diet, 10 days of an experimental diet that contained 190 g of meat contributing about 38 g of protein (hereinafter referred to as the "meat period"), and 39 days of an experimental diet that contributed vegetable protein, i.e., freeze-dried tofu, corresponding to the protein that 190 g of meat would provide (hereinafter referred to as the "freeze-dried tofu period"). Three eggs (about 150 g) and 180 ml of cow's milk were prescribed for the daily diet, and staple and other foods were dispensed freely during both the meat and the freeze-dried tofu periods. The results showed that serum cholesterol levels and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased in the freeze-dried tofu period as compared with the meat period. Freeze-dried tofu was found to be a valuable food for preventing lifestyle-related chronic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Molecular staging of testicular cancer using polymerase chain reaction of the testicular cancer-specific genes].

Most testicular germ cell tumors have serological tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-HCG). On the other hand, molecular staging of these tumors has not been well established compared to other urogenital malignancies like prostate cancer. Recently, melanoma antigen (MAGE) which is one of the tumor-associated antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been found to be present in a variety of malignant tumor types and normal testis. In addition, Wilms' tumor-associated gene WT1 has been found to be expressed in some testicular cancers. Thus, we examined the expression of these genes in testicular cancer tissues and peripheral blood of cancer-bearing patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of the MAGE1-3 genes was examined in 34 testicular germ cell tumors (24 seminomas and 10 nonseminomas). Of the seminomas and nonseminomas, 87.5% and 40% were positive for MAGE1, 91.7% and 60% for MAGE2, and 83.3% and 30% for MAGE3, respectively. The expression of the MAGE genes was not correlated with the tumor stage. The expression of the WT1 gene was quantified in 26 testicular germ cell tumors. WT1 was highly expressed in 5 of the 7 high stage cases, but in only 4 of the 19 low stage cases (p < 0.01). The mRNA of these genes could not be detected from the peripheral blood of patients with high stage tumors. These results suggest that MAGE genes may be useful tumor markers for molecular staging of testicular cancer, especially seminoma, and that the WT1 gene may be a tumor marker for high stage testicular germ cell tumors. However, these genes cannot yet be used for molecular staging of testicular germ cell tumors.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1999

[Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subdural abscess in an elderly patient with dementia].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a fever of 38.2 degrees C and drowsiness. Two months before admission, he was admitted to another hospital with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. One week before admission, he had a fever which was judged to be due to pyelonephritis. Because imipenem cilastatin and minocycline were not effective in relieving symptoms, he was transferred to our hospital. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured from the blood, and vancomycin was started on the 5th hospital day. Because of the persistent fever and signs of inflammation, Gallium-scintigraphy was performed, showing abnormal accumulation in the left fronto-parietal region of the brain and the sacral region. Enhanced brain CT revealed a crescentic low density area and a fine, intense line of enhancement in the left fronto-parietal region. An emergency drainage of abscess was performed via single left fronto-parietal burr hole. A slightly yellowish, bloody, purulent fluid was obtained. The subdural space was irrigated with saline containing antibiotics and a drain was inserted. MRSA was cultured from the obtained fluid. The fever gradually subsided and drowsiness disappeared. He had had decubitus ulcer, stage I on the surface, in the sacral region, which later turned out to have unexpectedly deep undermining lesion reaching to periosteum. MRSA was cultured from this decubitus lesion. MRSA which entered into blood stream from the decubitus site might have been implanted in the subdural hematoma. Thus, subdural abscess should be kept in mind as an active differential diagnosis in elderly patients with fever and drowsiness.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[An effective case of arterial infusion therapy of low-dose CDDP and continuous 5-FU for isolated hepatic recurrence of gastric carcinoma].

We report an effective case of arterial infusion therapy of low-dose CDDP and continuous 5-FU for isolated hepatic recurrence of gastric carcinoma. An 83-year-old man was admitted for epigastric pain and vomiting due to a huge liver metastasis of gastric carcinoma in May, 1997. Nineteen months earlier, in October of 1995, he had undergone distal gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection with Billroth I reconstruction. His conclusive stage and pathological findings were as follows. The conclusive stage was stage II: t3, n0, P0, H0. Histological typing was tub 2. Lymph node involvement was not detected, but venous invasion was found in the surrounding regional lymph nodes. CEA had been getting elevated from November, 1996. But he had been well until March, 1997, when CT scans revealed huge hepatic recurrence. The artery-side port was placed for hepatic arterial infusion therapy for liver metastasis. Intra-arterial bolus injection of low-dose CDDP (5 mg) and continuous intra-arterial infusion of 5-FU (250 mg/day for 7 days) were started. Through 4 courses of this arterial infusion therapy, the patient improved. CT scans revealed shrinking of liver metastasis after 3 months of this therapy. The patient was followed in an outpatient clinic and continued to receive this arterial infusion therapy once every 4 weeks. New lung metastasis was detected 9 months after the start, but liver metastasis continued to be responded. The patient died from bleeding into the bile duct from the liver metastasis 16 months after the start of arterial infusion therapy, when metastatic lesions of liver continued to shrink. Arterial infusion therapy of low-dose CDDP and continuous 5-FU may be effective for isolated hepatic recurrence of gastric carcinoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist KW-3902 prevents hypoxia-induced renal vasoconstriction.

Studies were carried out to determine the intrarenal adenosine production during hypoxia, and the protective effects of a selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 8-(noradamantan-3-yl)-1, 3-dipropylxanthine (KW-3902) on hypoxia-induced renal hemodynamic changes. We used an in vivo microdialysis method and measured the renal interstitial concentration of adenosine in response to hypoxic exposure in anesthetized mechanically ventilated rabbits. Normocapnic systemic hypoxia (PaO(2) = 32 +/- 6 mm Hg) caused a significant decrease in renal blood flow and increase in renal vascular resistance, indicating a renal vasoconstriction. The basal interstitial concentration of adenosine in the cortex was 293 +/- 70 nM, which was significantly higher than that in the medulla (170 +/- 23 nM). Five minutes after beginning hypoxia, the renal interstitial concentration of adenosine approximately tripled in the cortex and doubled in the medulla. During treatment with KW-3902, hypoxemia caused a similar increase in the adenosine concentration compared with that in the absence of KW-3902. The administration of KW-3902, however, significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced reduction in renal blood flow. These results suggest that adenosine was involved in hypoxia-induced renal vasoconstriction via its effects on adenosine A(1) receptors, and that KW-3902 had a partial protective effect against renal vasoconstriction during hypoxemia.

Adenosine↗