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Biomedical subjects

T Fukunaga

Publications and source records attributed to T Fukunaga.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Statistical studies on suicides in Shiga Prefecture during the 15-year period, 1974 to 1988].

The authors examined 3,335 cases of suicides among the unnatural deaths in Shiga Prefecture during the 15-year period, 1974 to 1988. The results obtained were as follows: The number of suicides in a year amounted to 200 during the period from 1974 to 1982, and increased to 280 in 1983 at maximum. The cases of suicide were more in male than in female. The incidence of suicide was higher in March to July and the peak of incidence was observed in April. The highest frequency of suicides was in 40-49 year age group in male, and 70-79 year group in female. Among various procedures of suicide, hanging was most frequent during the past 15 years in both sexes, and the following procedure was carbon monoxide poisoning in male and drowning in female. As to the occupation, housewives and person without a regular occupation constituted 53.1% of the total suicidal cases, and products makers and laborers were found in 11.1%. With regarded to the causative factors, "suffering from illness" was the most frequent factor, and followed by "insanity or mental disorder", "problems of economic distress", "disagreement with family" and others.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Assay of activated form of progesterone receptor with ATP-sepharose column chromatography].

Biological actions of progesterone are correlated with the ability of the progesterone receptor(PR) to bind to nuclear acceptor sites. Measurement of not only the presence of PR in a tissue but also the amount of that receptor which is able to bind to nuclear acceptor sites is important in predicting tissue response to progesterone. Activation of PR is required for effective binding to chromatin. Since the dextrancoated charcoal assay does not distinguish between an activated and a non-activated receptor, a rapid, relatively simple assay is needed which can account for an activated form of PR. Therefore, ATP-Sepharose column chromatography was tested to identify an activated form of PR. PR in crude uterine cytosol from estrogen-primed immature rabbits was labeled with 3H-progesterone at 0 degree C. The labeled PR was then incubated at 4 degrees C with uterine chromatin from ovariectomized mature rabbits. The freshly prepared PR had little capacity to bind to the chromatin. After activation manipulation at low temperature, low ionic strength and neutral pH, this PR was able to bind to chromatin approximately fourfold more than that activated by heating at 25 degrees C. The affinity of the activated and the non-activated PR for ATP was evaluated on ATP-Sepharose column chromatography. The activated PR was selectively adsorbed onto columns of ATP-Sepharose, and the binding ability of the activated PR to ATP paralleled that of the rabbit uterine chromatin. These results suggest that ATP-Sepharose column chromatography could be useful to identify an activated PR as a substitute for chromatin binding assay.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Detection of dengue 4 virus core protein in the nucleus. I. A monoclonal antibody to dengue 4 virus reacts with the antigen in the nucleus and cytoplasm.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) to dengue 4 (DEN-4) virus reacted with the antigen in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm of DEN-4-infected mammalian and mosquito cells, as demonstrated by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining method. The intranuclear antigen appeared to accumulate at the nucleoli, forming spots, whereas the cytoplasmic antigen appeared to be localized mainly in large perinuclear foci in the infected cells. The MAb-reactive antigen was produced in the presence of actinomycin D, which caused the accumulation in the nucleus to be altered to a dispersed pattern. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis of [35S]methionine-labelled purified virions and Western blot analysis of the antigens prepared from the infected mammalian and mosquito cells showed that the MAb was directed against the DEN-4 virus core protein (Mr 15.5K). These results indicated that the DEN-4 virus core protein was partially transported, soon after its synthesis in the cytoplasm, into the nucleus and accumulated at the nucleoli.

Aedes↗
PubMed1989

Detection of dengue 4 virus core protein in the nucleus. II. Antibody against dengue 4 core protein produced by a recombinant baculovirus reacts with the antigen in the nucleus.

The dengue 4 virus (DEN-4) core gene and part of the PreM genes were inserted into the baculovirus polyhedrin gene region. The recombinant baculovirus directed the synthesis of the DEN-4 core protein fused to a part of the polyhedrin protein (Mr 25K), as determined by Western blot analysis using DEN-4 core monoclonal antibody. A mouse polyclonal antibody prepared against the DEN-4 core fusion protein showed antigenic reactivity with the authentic DEN-4 core protein (Mr 15.5K) present in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm of DEN-4-infected Vero cells as demonstrated by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining method. This antibody did not react with cells infected with DEN-1, -2, -3 or Japanese encephalitis virus, or mock-infected cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Comparative study on ethanol elimination and blood acetaldehyde between alcoholics and control subjects.

Factors influencing ethanol elimination rate and blood acetaldehyde concentration with regard to age, blood ethanol concentration, and degrees of alcoholic liver disorder were studied in alcoholic patients vis-à-vis healthy subjects. Ninety-four male alcoholic patients were divided into five groups according to age and into three groups according to blood ethanol concentration which ranged between 4.21 and 0.29 mg/ml. It was noted that as age increased, blood ethanol concentration decreased. Groups A, B, and C consisted of subjects whose ethanol levels were more than 2.5, between 1.0 and 2.5, and less than 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. Average values of ethanol elimination rate in Groups A, B, and C were 0.26, 0.23, and 0.18 mg/ml/hr, respectively. The rate increased as blood ethanol concentration elevated. The rate in Group B was significantly higher than that in the healthy control subjects who had blood ethanol levels between 1.0 and 2.5 mg/ml. The rate of ethanol elimination was independent of liver disorder judged by liver function test values. Blood acetaldehyde concentrations in the patients were less than 1.48 micrograms/ml, with an average value of 0.58 microgram/ml, and were significantly correlated with blood ethanol levels in both alcoholics and healthy subjects.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

Mouth pressure curve on abrupt interruption of airflow during forced expiration.

An attempt was made to investigate how the mouth pressure curve represents the process of air flowing into the collapsed segment downstream to the choke point when the airflow is abruptly interrupted at the mouth during forced expiration. Immediately after the interruption of airflow, the mouth pressure suddenly increased (phase 1), followed by a slower rise in pressure (phase 2) within approximately 100 ms until the pressure reached the alveolar pressure. The pleural and alveolar pressures remained constant during this process. The first phase of the abrupt rise represented the pressure induced by the instantaneous interruption of the airflow itself. Analysis of the supramaximal flow (Vsupramax) observed after resumption of the airflow suggested that the choke point remained constant during the second phase of the mouth pressure after interruption of maximal flow (Vmax). From these results, examination of the second phase of the mouth pressure curve may provide useful information about the downstream segment of the airway.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Airway pressure-volume curve estimated by flow interruption during forced expiration.

We attempted to estimate the pressure-volume characteristics of airways downstream from the choke point when the airflow was abruptly interrupted during forced expiration. The change of gas volume of the downstream segment after interruption could be estimated by multiplying the maximum flow (Vmax) immediately before interruption by the interruption time because the Vmax is maintained for a short period after airflow interruption at the mouth, as described in our previous report (J. Appl. Physiol. 66: 509-517, 1989). For the pressure of the downstream segment, we used the mouth pressure itself. Airway compliance, a slope of the pressure-volume curve, was measured in an airway model in eight normal subjects, in six patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and in one patient with tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica. Airway compliance was 0.96 ml/cmH2O in normal subjects and 2.49 ml/cmH2O in COPD patients. This difference of airway compliance was believed to be caused by the longitudinal expansion of the downstream segment and changes in the properties of the airway wall.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

High-frequency ventilation by bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation in dogs.

We succeeded in achieving good gas exchange by oscillatory phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) in dogs. In 7 out of 14 dogs, adequate gas exchange was attained by PNS at 3, 4 and 5 pulses per sec (pps). VE increased with stimulation frequency up to 4 or 5 pps, but decreased above 6 pps. We also applied sinusoidal oscillation using a piston pump at the trachea in the same dogs to analyze the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. The V/P ratio, oscillatory volume divided by driving pressure, decreased markedly at 6 Hz while the pleural pressure remained constant up to 10 Hz. These facts indicate that the fall in VE is due to mechanical properties of the airway and lung, and not due to failure of the ventilatory pump system. We conclude that frequencies of 3-5 pps in high-frequency ventilation are optimal for maintaining effective gas transport when the diaphragma is used as the oscillatory generator.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Studies on the constituents of Japanese mistletoes from different host trees, and their antimicrobial and hypotensive properties.

The chemical constituents of Japanese mistletoes, Taxillus yadoriki Danser, Taxillus kaempferi Danser, and Korthalsella japonica Engler, epiphyting to different host trees were compared, and the antimicrobial and hypotensive properties of some isolated flavonoids were examined. Two known flavonoid glycosides, hyperin and quercitrin, were isolated from Taxillus yadoriki Danser, together with fatty acids, phytosterol, and phytosterol-glucoside. There was remarkable variation of contents of quercitrin among the plants on different host trees. From Taxillus kaempferi Danser, fatty acids, phytosterol, phytosterol-glucoside, quercetin, avicularin, and taxillusin were isolated, and quercitrin and hyperin were also identified. There was no remarkable variation of compositions of flavonoid glycosides among the plants on different host trees. A known flavone glycoside, chrysoeriol-4'-O-glucoside, was isolated from Korthalsella japonica Engler, together with fatty acids, phytosterol, oleanolic acid, and phytosterol-glucoside. Chrysoeriol-4'-O-glucoside is contained in this plant irrespective of the host trees.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Studies on pharmacological activity of the Japanese and European mistletoe].

The pharmacological actions such as analgesic effect, diuretic action, hypoglycemic activity and hypotensive action were studied on the methanol extract of the Japanese mistletoe and the European mistletoe. The both extracts showed the hypotensive action when administered intravenously to cat. The methanol extract of the Japanese mistletoe also showed a increase of K+ value in the urine when administered orally to rat.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1989

[Limitation of RI imaging in evaluating lung function test--development of new methods].

We developed two methods for determining the regional distribution of (1) RV/TLC and air trapping during forced expiration and (2) the ratio or pulmonary blood volume to blood flow. 1) The regional distributions of RV/TLC and air trapping ratio: A.T.R. (air trapping caused by forced expiration) were measured in respiratory disease cases and normal subjects using Xe-133 gas. In normal subjects, RV/TLC gradually decreased from the apex to the base of the lung. A.T.R. was very low in all lung fields. In chronic emphysema (CPE), both RV/TLC and A.T.R. were much higher than the value in normal subjects at the highly diseased areas. In contrast, in case of diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), RV/TLC remained within the normal range and A.T.R. was increased considerably in the diseased regions. These results suggest that airway obstruction occurs only during the forced expiration in DPB. 2) The regional distribution of the ratio of pulmonary blood volume to blood flow (tau p) were measured in a normal subject and a case of mitral regurgitation. In both subjects, the distribution of 1/tau p consisted of three zones: upper, middle and lower. The distribution of 1/tau p was constant in the middle zone, but, in the upper and lower zones, it decreased in proportion to the distance from the middle zone. In the case of mitral regurgitation, the middle zone shifted to the apex. Applying the results to the lung perfusion model proposed by West, it was suggested that these phenomena might reflect the increase of the pulmonary venous pressure and the perfusion disorder in the lower lung.

Blood Volume↗
PubMed1989

Partition ratio of acetaldehyde between blood and breath after ethanol consumption.

Breath samples which were collected into Alcomille Breath Bags (Etzlinger Electronics, Geneve, Switzerland) were assessed for their acetaldehyde and ethanol levels by gas chromatography. Simultaneously, their levels in the venous blood were determined with the PCA method. A good correlation fit for acetaldehyde and ethanol levels was obtained in both blood and breath samples, respectively. The blood/breath partition ratio for acetaldehyde was 109 +/- 10 and that for ethanol was 2,300 +/- 100. The water/air, saline/air, and plasma/air partition ratios of acetaldehyde in vitro were 119, 120, and 155, respectively. Conversely, the water/air, saline/air, plasma/air, and blood/air partition ratios of ethanol were 2,160, 2,040, 1,920 and 1,720, respectively. The acetaldehyde in the bag was well preserved. In analyzing breath acetaldehyde, it is very important that only the end expiratory air is collected. Determination of acetaldehyde level with Alcomille Breath Bag is very useful to investigate alcohol metabolism, when some problems exist in the collection of blood samples and in the treatment for the analysis of blood acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde↗
PubMed1989

[Impedance analysis using the random noise oscillation method and a body box].

The frequency characteristics (at 10-40 Hz) of airway (Za) and tissue (Zt) impedances in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE) and interstitial pneumonitis (IP) were examined using the random noise oscillation method and a body box. Compared with normal subjects, Zar (r:real part) was elevated in cases of CB, but not in those with CPE. Zai (i:imaginary part) was decreased in cases of CB and CPE. Applying an electromechanical analogy to these results, it was inferred that CB increases both central and peripheral airway resistance, while CPE only increases peripheral resistance. In CPE, but not in CB, Ztr fell; only Zti decreased in IP, which suggests a decrease in mass per unit of lung tissue in CPE and a loss of pulmonary compliance in IP. We also measured the impedance of a dog with acute pulmonary edema induced by oleic acid. Zar an Ztr were increased but Zti was decreased, which corresponded with the increase of airway resistance due to hypersecretion and the decrease of lung compliance. We conclude that this method is useful in differentiating interstitial disorders from COLD, and also CB from CPE, because it can detect lung stiffness and can identify sites of airway narrowing.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy--examination findings, family histories and results of close examinations of a family in two autopsied cases].

A 55-year-old woman, who died immediately after getting an intramuscular injection of lincomycin for treatment of a cold, and a 14-year-old boy, who died suddenly while practicing soccer, were autopsied respectively and their disease was diagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by characteristic pathological findings. Each family history was investigated. Especially, the latter case showed clearly a family line of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. At the request of the family, his elder brother and mother were examined closely at the University Hospital. Their illness was diagnosed accurately as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from their findings of electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and endomyocardial biopsies. They are now taking medications and guidances of a doctor as to physical activity and way of life as outpatients at the University Hospital.

Adolescent↗