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Biomedical subjects

T Fukunaga

Publications and source records attributed to T Fukunaga.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Potential use of a baculovirus-expressed dengue-4 E protein as a diagnostic antigen in regions endemic for dengue and Japanese encephalitis.

Truncated dengue-4 E protein was produced as a fusion protein in insect cells using a baculovirus expression vector to examine its usefulness as a diagnostic antigen. A peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) staining method was used to examine the immunoreactivity of the antigenic determinants in recombinant virus-infected Sf-9 cells with human sera obtained from dengue (DEN) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) endemic areas (41 sera from DEN patients and 39 sera from JE patients or individuals with high JE-antibody titers). The expressed E protein, in which one-third of the carboxy-terminal end was deleted, reacted with sera from DEN patients, but it failed to react or responded only faintly with sera from JE patients. The antibody titers obtained by the staining method correlated with those obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (r = 0.64, P less than 0.01). Calculation of the ratio (R) of the titer obtained by the PAP staining method to the ELISA titer can clearly differentiate DEN antibody from JE antibody (high R values in DEN sera and low R values in JE sera). The recombinant protein would be especially useful for diagnostic purposes in regions where DEN and JE viruses co-circulate.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1991

[Can fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography evaluate the functional differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Tumor uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) was studied by dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) in 23 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The metabolic rate constants, K1 to K4, were generated by non-linear least square fitting method. We confirmed that K3 from the PET study significantly correlated with directly measured hexokinase activity of the cancer tissue. The region of HCC always had higher K3 values, which represents the hexokinase activity compared with the non-cancerous region. By FDG images, however, in 50% of cases the cancer region could not be clearly defined from the surrounding noncancerous hepatic tissue. These HCC cases without accumulation of FDG had a high ratio of K4/K3 (K4 represents glucose-6-phosphatase activity), which correlated well with the inverse ratio of FDG accumulating images on PET. According to the PET images which is represented by K4/K3 and the hexokinase activity which is represented by K3, we divided these 23 cases into three groups and retrospectively compared their survival rates. The groups with high K4/K3 (greater than or equal to 0.40) had longer survival than other groups. From the view point of glucose metabolism, the value of K4/K3 calculated from dynamic studies of FDG-PET may represent the functional differentiation of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1991

[Phase difference between chest flow and mouth flow during rest breathing in cases of pulmonary diseases].

The phase difference between mouth flow and chest flow in cases of pulmonary diseases measured using a body box was compared with those in normal subjects. Phase differences in chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE) and diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) patients increased compared to normal subjects, but remained normal in interstitial pneumonitis patients (Normal: 3.76 +/- 1.71, CPE: 10.70 +/- 4.93, DPB: 10.81 +/- 3.15, IP: 3.83 +/- 0.15 degrees). In addition, there was a good correlation with FEV1.0, FEV1.0% and RV/TLC (r: -0.634, -0.610 and 0.803). The analysis of phase differences during rest breathing is clinically useful because it is non-effort dependent and can evaluate the degree of airway disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effect of posture on pharyngeal area measured by acoustic reflection technique].

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a smaller pharyngeal area (PA) and higher compliance than normal subjects. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in OSA patients determined by polysomnographic study was greater in the supine than lateral position. Recently there have been reports of reduction in the PA by the acoustic reflection technique (ART) in the supine position. However, there has been no report on the PA measured by ART in the lateral position which is important in the treatment of OSA. To evaluate differences in the PA with posture changes, we measured the PA in 41 normal subjects (11 males and 30 females) in the sitting, lateral and supine positions by ART. The average PA in the sitting position in the males and females was 3.8 +/- 0.6 cm2, and 3.3 +/- 0.5 cm2, respectively. The average PA in the lateral position in the males and females was 3.5 +/- 0.6 cm2, and 3.1 +/- 0.5 cm2, respectively. The average PA in the supine position in the males and females was 2.9 +/- 0.5 cm2, and 2.7 +/- 0.4 cm2, respectively. PA in the sitting position correlated well with body surface area (BSA). The average PA in both the males and females was significantly smaller in the supine than in the sitting position. The average PA in the lateral position in both males and females was significantly smaller than that in the sitting position and was significantly larger than that in the supine position. Decrease in PA with posture (from sitting to lateral) in the males (9.2 +/- 5.5%) was similar to that in the female (5.7 +/- 5.4%). Decrease in PA with posture (from sitting to supine) was significantly larger in male (24.4 +/- 9.5%) than in female (16.6 +/- 6.8%). We conclude that the decrease of PA in the supine position is ameliorated in the lateral position in normal subjects. Lateral position may be the preferred sleeping position in snoring or OSA patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Demonstration of hemoglobin in the kidney of battered children.

We examined specimens of renal tissue taken from 40 cadavers of children (18 battered and 22 non-battered children) by an immuno-peroxidase technique using anti-human hemoglobin (Hb) or anti-human myoglobin (Mb) antiserum. Hb was detected in the proximal tubular cells of the kidney of six battered children who had sustained severe or moderate external injuries, whereas Mb was not found. In contrast, Mb was detected and Hb was not found in the renal tubules of one child who had died from a traffic accident. In other cases including 13 cases of children who died from a sudden bout of physical violence or some other impulsive act and 4 cases of children who had died from malnutrition, neither Hb nor Mb was found in the kidney. Our findings appear to indicate that large quantities of Hb were released from the multiple lesions of the battered children, entered the circulation and were deposited in the kidneys. It thus seems that the immunohistochemical detection of Hb in the kidney may be useful for evidencing the extensive antemortem bruises which are often found in battered children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Phenotyping of erythrocyte acid phosphatase and esterase D by high field strength isoelectric focusing on cellulose acetate membrane.

Phenotyping of erythrocyte acid phosphatase (EAP) and esterase D (ESD) by cellulose acetate membrane isoelectric focusing (CAM-IEF) under a nonequilibrium condition is described. In an attempt to improve the method of CAM-IEF, we shortened the electrode distance to provide a higher field strength at a given (low) voltage. Various carrier ampholytes for EAP typing and various chemical separators for ESD typing were also tested. Good separations were obtained after 30 min IEF for EAP typing and 25 min for ESD typing. When applied to blood stains and stored for various periods at room temperature, the stains up to 8 months old could still be phenotyped for EAP and those up to 4 weeks old for ESD. CAM-IEF is suitable for routine forensic work of EAP and ESD phenotyping.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

The influence of motor unit composition and stature on fractionated patellar reflex times in untrained men.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of muscle fibre composition and stature on fractionated patellar reflex times in ten healthy untrained men (mean age: 23.3 years, SD 3.1; mass: 65.9 kg, SD 8.5; height: 172.3 cm, SD 5.3). Biopsies were taken from the right vastus lateralis muscle. Using staining for myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase after pre-incubation at pH 4.3 and 4.6, muscle fibres were classified into slow twitch (ST), fast twitch, oxidative-glycolytic (FTa) and fast twitch, glycolytic (FTb) fibres. Total patellar reflex time (TRT) and its fractionated components--reflex latency (LAT) and reflex motor time (MT)--were obtained from the mean of ten trials in each subject whilst performing Jendrassik's maneuvre. The TRT, LAT and MT were 77.7 ms, SD 16.5, 23.4 ms, SD 1.3 and 54.2 ms, SD 16.3, respectively. The LAT was significantly correlated to the percentage number of ST (r = 0.758, P less than 0.05) and FTa fibres (r = -0.657, P less than 0.05), fast twitch:slow twitch ratio (r = -0.799, P less than 0.01) and to the height of the subjects (r = 0.901, P less than 0.001), whereas TRT and MT were not significantly correlated with either fibre types or the height of the subjects. From these results it can be concluded that the LAT during the patellar reflex is influenced by muscle fibre composition and the length of the sensory and/or motor nerve.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Purification and characterization of soluble human IL-6 receptor expressed in CHO cells.

An immunosorbent assay system to detect genetically engineered IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) was established, whereby soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) was detected in the culture medium when sIL-6R cDNA was transfected into COS1 cells. A stably transformed Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line constitutively expressing sIL-6R has been established. The recombinant sIL-6R was purified to homogeneity by sequential filtration and chromatography of the culture medium. The recombinant sIL-6R augmented the sensitivity of M1 cells to IL-6 in growth inhibition assay in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a radioisotope immunosorbent assay (RIA) utilizing recombinant sIL-6R was established which could detect IL-6 in a quantity as low as 10 ng/ml.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Hemoglobin-acetaldehyde adducts in human volunteers following acute ethanol ingestion.

Rabbit antibodies against albumin-acetaldehyde adduct were used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect acetaldehyde-hemoglobin condensates from the blood of 12 volunteers following ingestion of 1.3 to 2.9 g of ethanol per kg body weight during 8 hr. Blood samples were drawn before drinking and between 2 to 46 hr after starting the drinking session. While there were no significant increases in blood acetaldehyde levels in these samples, acetaldehyde-hemoglobin adducts were significantly increased in the samples drawn after ethanol had been eliminated from the body. Administration of ethanol (0.1 g/kg) to an Oriental flusher resulted in an increase both in blood acetaldehyde and the hemoglobin-acetaldehyde adduct levels. These results suggest that acetaldehyde-hemoglobin condensates are formed in vivo following acute ethanol ingestion. Such condensates may be of value to mark alcohol consumption.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1990

[Pharyngeal area measured by acoustic reflection technique while breathing room-air].

Although there have been many reports on the airway area measured by breathing 80% He-20% O2 (He-O2) using the acoustic reflection technique (ART), there have been no reports on that by breathing room-air (Air) because of the lack of accuracy in evaluating the trachea. When measuring with He-O2, accidental introduction of Air into the airway makes the measurement inaccurate. Moreover, it is a time-consuming method and is hardly applicable to dyspneic patients. Therefore, we tried to assess whether the airway area, especially the upper airway, can be measured while breathing Air. In order to compare the areas determined by the two methods, area-distance functions from the pharynx to the trachea were arbitrarily divided into 9 divisions at interval of 2.8 cm. Each of these divisions was respectively compared. We took averages of the pharyngeal, tracheal areas in 8 normal subjects. We found no significant difference between the oropharyngeal area measured by breathing Air and that measured by breathing He-O2, and found a significant correlation between them. There was a significant correlation between the hypopharyngeal areas when using the two methods. The average tracheal area by breathing Air is 4.96 +/- 0.50 cm2, which is 40% above that when measured using He-O2 (3.55 +/- 0.32 cm2). In contrast, the average pharyngeal area when breathing Air is 4.13 +/- 0.93 cm2, which overestimates that by breathing He-O2, namely 3.54 %/- 0.84 cm2 by only 17%. In conclusion, it is possible and useful to estimate the pharyngeal area by breathing Air.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1990

[Tuberculosis sequelae: pathophysiological aspect (ventilation)].

The percentage of the patients with PaCO2 more than 60 Torr and PaO2 more than 50 Torr were 13% in the patients with tuberculosis sequela (N = 502) and 4% in the patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD, N = 727), who were treated with home oxygen therapy in the western region of Japan. Patients with chronic respiratory failure caused by tuberculosis sequela have higher PaCO2 than patients with COLD. Although the prognosis of patients with hypercapnia and moderate hypoxemia is not necessarily poor, some patients may need treatment for severe hypoventilation to prevent respiratory muscle fatigue and abnormal breathing during sleep. In this study, nine patients with hypercapnic chronic respiratory failure caused by tuberculosis sequela were ventilated by Chest Negative Pressure Ventilation (CNPV). The patients were monitored as in polysomnography by transcutaneous PCO2 (PtcCO2) electrode and Respiratory Inductance Plethysmography (RIP). Tidal volume induced by CNPV was larger during mouth breathing (504 +/- 128 ml, mean +/- s.d.) than during nose breathing (438 +/- 109 ml) calculated from RIP in awake state (N = 7). Oxygen saturation measured by ear oximeter and PtcCO2 were 94.4 +/- 2.9% and 57.8 +/- 12.2 Torr in awake state. Following CNPV SaO2 and PtcCO2 were 95.7 +/- 3.0%, 42.7 +/- 12.1 Torr in awake state (N = 9) and 93.0 +/- 4.4%, 57.0 +/- 15.7 Torr in Non-REM sleep (N = 5), respectively. CNPV is effective in these patients in awake state. During Non-REM sleep, CNPV maintains the PtcCO2 level only in awake state.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Huge splenic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma; a case report].

A 62-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of a left upper quadrant mass. He had undergone treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma for 1 year and 7 months. Dynamic CT and angiography revealed a huge hypovascular mass in the spleen. An autopsy confirmed a splenic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma with a massive hemorrhage.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1990

[A study on the psychological status of perioperative patients].

To evaluate the causes of psychic disturbances after operation, three different psychological tests, Spielberger's rating scale "The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)", Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) and Baum test, were performed during perioperative periods in 25 patients who received simple total hysterectomy. The score of the A-Trait analyzed from STAI that is trait anxiety, did not change significantly, while the score of the A-State analyzed from that, that is state anxiety, decreased significantly in postoperative period. Especially, the score of the A-State showed gradual decreasing tendency during perioperative period in the patients, who were classified as N+ group in MPI, showing the tendency of nervousness. On the contrary, in the patients of N- group, showing no tendency of nervousness, the score of the A-State increased significantly immediately before operation. In Baum test, most of the patients showed some psychological disturbances even during the postoperative period. From the Baum test, it was shown that they had psychologic fragility and lability even postoperatively, in spite of stabilization of general status.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Injuries caused by automobile dragging: a report of three cases].

Three cases of victims who were dragged a long distance by automobiles are reported. Injuries caused by such dragging are discussed. [Case 1] A 50-year-old man was found dead under an automobile after having been dragged for a distance of 530 m. Deep abrasions were found in the right temporal region, both scapular regions, the buttocks, and the heels. There were excoriations toward upper side in the right hypochondriac region along the rib arch, and multiple rib fractures with and without severe hemorrhaging. Alcohol levels were 3.54 mg/ml in the femoral venous blood, and 4.54 mg/ml in the urine. It seemed that the victim was drunk and had been lying on his back and that the automobile's underbody had caught him in his right hypochondriac region and had compressed the thoraco-abdominal regions. [Case 2] A 50-year-old drunken man, who had been lying on his back on the side of a road, was dragged by a car for a distance of 2 km. The victim showed marked and deep abrasions of the back, the buttocks, the lateral surface of both ankles, and on the ulnar surface of the left forearm. In the left forearm, the ulna and soft tissues had been rubbed flat and were blackened. The alcohol levels in the femoral venous blood and in the urine were 3.31 and 4.19 mg/ml, respectively. [Case 3] An 83-year-old woman was found dead on the side of a road. In the right temporal region, the skull had been rubbed flat and the right cerebral hemisphere was exposed and flattened. Severe abrasions were observed on both shoulders, the buttocks, and on the back surfaces of the lower extremities. Her sandals and a broken cane were found on the road 2 km from the scene. The offender has not yet been arrested. Injuries caused by the road surface in traffic accidents usually take the form of excoriations or abrasions, and the three victims of this report showed severe and characteristic injuries. Excoriations or abrasions develop into abrasive injuries, defects of the skin or soft tissue, and to the exposure of the internal organs from continuous, prolonged dragging. Some of these accumulated injuries might have been caused by frictional heat.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1990

A pharmacokinetic study of ethanol elimination--first pass metabolism and elimination rate.

In this study two pharmacokinetic dispositions of ethanol metabolism were investigated. To determine the existence of first pass metabolism (FPM), Japanese male volunteers with and without a low Km isozyme of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) received 0.1 and/or 0.4 g/kg dose of ethanol either perorally or intravenously. Blood ethanol level was lower and the area under the blood ethanol concentration-time curve (AUC) was smaller under peroral than under intravenous administration, although tantamount doses of ethanol were administered. The difference in AUC between peroral and intravenous administrations was apparent when a lower dose of ethanol was given. These findings were taken to indicate that a significant fraction of ethanol administered perorally was metabolized during absorption before reaching the systemic circulation and that this FPM of ethanol became clearer in smaller ethanol doses. In order to compare the parameters of Widmark's zero-order kinetics and Michaelis-Menten kinetics, sixty-one male volunteers, i.e. 30 subjects with normal ALDH and 31 with a deficiency of it, ingested 0.4 g/kg of ethanol perorally. The elimination phase of blood ethanol-time curve was fitted to a two-compartment open model with Michaelis-Menten elimination kinetics. A significant difference was seen in beta 60 between the normal ALDH group and the deficient one. Vmax in the normal ALDH group was relatively higher than that in the deficient one and Vmax was significantly correlated to beta 60. Km varied widely among the individual subjects. In the case in which high or moderate dose of ethanol is administered, the Widmark's method is sufficient for ethanol elimination studies in clinical and medicolegal practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Forensic neuropathological and immunohistochemical studies on Alzheimer-type dementia (AD/SDAT).

Alzheimer-type dementia (ATD) was discussed not only from the aspects of forensic neuropathology by using various techniques for general stains and silver-impregnation, but also immunohistochemically by using antiserum against glial fibrillary acidic protein which is a specific marker for astrocytes. There were marked differences in microscopic findings of ATD group and control group of elderly subjects whose intellectual have been maintained. The main histological features of ATD were presence of numerous senile plaques and neurofibrillary changes, and both of them were thought to be helpful diagnosis markers. Double stains by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) stain using avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) method and Congo red stain were performed. By the former stain, typical senile plaques, encircled by reactive astrocytes and penetrated interior by their processes, were demonstrated. By the latter stain, amyloid core was well detected. Another method which is particularly sensitive to amyloid, such as amyloid core or amyloid angiopathy, is the thioflavin S stain. Immunohistochemical stains for glial fibrillary acidic protein demonstrated an intense participation within the plaques by processes of reactive astrocytes. Using the autopsy criteria for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease reported by Khachaturian, senile plaques were counted on microscopic magnification x200 field. Numerous plaques satisfying thoroughly the criteria were detected. The report by Blessed et al. that there is a highly significant correlation between mean plaque counts in sections of cerebral cortex of elderly subjects and degrees of dementia is very helpful for forensic pathologists and is highly evaluated.

Aged↗