Biomedical subjects

Y Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to Y Fujimoto.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors and their relationship to sonographic appearance of the endometrium.

The rapid development of ultrasonographic equipment now permits instantaneous assessment of follicles and endometrium. The sonographic appearance of the endometrium has been discussed in relation to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. However, a generally agreed view of the relationship of the sonographic appearance to fecundity in IVF cycles has not emerged. We have studied the relationship between steroid receptors and the sonographic appearance of the preovulatory endometrium in natural cycles and ovulation induction cycles. Preovulatory endometrial thickness was not found to be indicative of fecundity, although a preovulatory endometrial thickness of <9 mm related to an elevated miscarriage rate. The preovulatory endometrial echo pattern did not predict fecundity. No relationships were found among endometrial appearance, endometrial steroid receptors and steroid hormone concentrations in serum. Oestrogen or progesterone receptor concentrations were not related to endometrial thickness or to concentrations of serum oestradiol, the only significant correlation being found between the endometrial concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. The ratio of progesterone:oestrogen receptor concentration was somewhat less in echo pattern B (not triple line) endometrium compared with pattern A (triple line) endometrium. Oestrogen and progesterone receptor concentrations appeared stable on gonadotrophin induction, though fewer numbers were found during clomiphene cycles than in natural cycles. With regard to the distribution of receptor concentration between clomiphene and natural cycles, most women using clomiphene had very low oestrogen receptor populations. Pregnancy rates were low, in spite of high ovulatory rates during clomiphene treatment and were mainly related to low oestrogen receptor concentrations in preovulatory endometrium.

Clomiphene↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Three monoclonal antibodies specific for human class II antigens detect RT1B-linked polymorphisms in rat B cells.

Three monoclonal antibodies HU-11, HU-32, and HU-33, which recognize two distinct polymorphic determinants of human class II antigens, were found to cross-react with rat B cells carrying an RT1B region-associated specificity Ba-2.6. This is the first report demonstrating that xenoimmune antibodies raised against polymorphic determinants of human class II antigens are able to detect polymorphic determinants of class II antigens in a third party species.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Responses of plasma catecholamines, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and atrial natriuretic peptide to exercise in patients with essential hypertension.

Neurohormonal responses to exercise have not been studied fully in patients with essential hypertension (HT). This study determined if neurohormonal responses to exercise are altered between three subgroups of HT categorized by basal plasma renin activity (PRA). Plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), PRA, angiotensin II (AII), and aldosterone were measured at rest and after submaximal treadmill exercise in 39 patients with essential HT (WHO classes I-II) and 13 controls. Patients with HT were divided into three subgroups based on the PRA level [low-renin (< 0.5) HT (n = 14), normal-renin (0.5-2.0) HT (n = 13), and high-renin (> 2.0) HT (n = 12)]. Patients with HT had higher blood pressure during exercise compared to controls, but blood pressure responses were similar among low-, normal-, and high-renin HT. Neurohormonal factors were comparable between all hypertensives and controls, except for higher plasma AII at rest in patients with HT. When neurohormones were compared among three subgroups of HT, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine responses were similar. Patients with high-renin HT had higher PRA and AII, and lower ANP levels at rest and after exercise. In all hypertensives, negative correlations were observed between resting PRA and resting ANP (r = -0.41, p < 0.01), as well as peak PRA and peak ANP (r = -0.33, p < 0.05). Thus, neurohormonal responses to exercise varied with similar cardiac responses among subgroups of essential HT stratified according to renin levels. Patients with high-renin HT had augmented renin-angiotensin system activity with a decrease in ANP levels both at rest and after exercise. A reciprocal relationship between renin-angiotensin system activity and ANP was observed both at rest and after exercise in HT.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship of shape of tumor invasion to depth of invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Several investigators have suggested that there is a strong correlation between tumor depth and lymph node involvement in tongue carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the shape of tumor, tumor depth, and lymph node metastasis in tongue carcinoma. Fifty-four patients with T1 abd T2 tongue carcinomas who underwent surgical treatment were included in this study. Tumors were divided into four categories according to their shape of invasion: superficial, exophytic, endophytic, and a combination of endophytic and exophytic. Forty cases of endophytic and combination types were divided into two groups according to the shape of invasion: (1) reductive bottom of invasion (n = 17) and (2) expansive bottom of invasion (n = 23). Tumors with a reductive bottom of invasion showed a variety of tumor depths and had low lymph node involvement (4/17, 23.5%). However, tumors with an expansive bottom of invasion showed deeper invasion and a high incidence of lymph node metastasis (16/23, 69.6%). These results suggested that the macroscopic shape of invasion is a feature that may provide important information about the prognosis of the primary tumor especially in relation to cervical lymph node involvement.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human acrosin: purification and some properties.

Human sperm with normal morphology and good viability were obtained by centrifugation using a discontinuous Percoll density gradient with an inner column. Acrosin (E.C.3.4.21.10) was rapidly purified from sperm by ion exchange adsorption and elution and was purified by affinity adsorption on a lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) Cellulofine column. The final preparation was found to be homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and to have a molecular weight of about 4 x 10(4) daltons. The enzyme had an esterolytic activity of 3.5 mumol/min/A280 with N-alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester as the substrate. Human acrosin showed a broad substrate specificity for arginine and lysine derivatives and it seemed to have a somewhat different specificity from trypsin. The optimal pH of this enzyme with amidolytic activity was 9.0. Enzyme activity was stimulated by a high concentration of calcium chloride. LBTI and aprotinin strongly suppressed the amidolytic activity with the D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide (Val-Leu-Arg-pNA) as the substrate, but alpha 1-antitrypsin and soybean trypsin inhibitor were less effective.

Acrosin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Basic arginine esterase from human seminal plasma: purification and some properties.

Basic arginine esterase (amidase) with a specific activity of 3.2 mumol N-alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (Tos-Arg-Me) esterolysis per A280 was purified about 230-fold from a CM-cellulose absorbed preparation of human seminal plasma. The purified enzyme was a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 3.4-4.1 x 10(4). The amidolytic activity of this enzyme was suppressed by aprotinin, soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI), leupeptin, and antipain, while alpha 1-antitrypsin, ovomucoid trypsin inhibitor (OTI), EDTA, and chymostatin had no or weak effect. This enzyme hydrolyzed synthetic basic amino acid derivatives and N-alpha-tosyl-glycyl-L-prolyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-pNA) and N-alpha-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-leucyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilid e (Boc-Leu-Pro-Arg-pNA) were the best substrates. The enzymatic characteristics of present enzyme were clearly different from tissue kallikrein, acrosin, and seminin in human semen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Trypsin-like arginine amidases including plasminogen and plasmin in human seminal plasma by affinity adsorption and elution.

An enzyme preparation with affinity to a lysine column was detected from a DEAE-cellulose-adsorbed preparation of human seminal plasma containing plasminogen and plasmin. Two kinds of trypsin-like acidic arginine amidase activity with different affinity to lima bean trypsin inhibitor (LBTI) and aprotinin affinity column were detected from the DEAE-cellulose-adsorbed preparation after treatment of the lysine column. Two kinds of trypsin-like basic arginine amidase activity were also separated by the above-mentioned affinity adsorptions from a CM-cellulose-adsorbed preparation of human seminal plasma. The effect of calcium chloride on these two enzymes was different from human acrosin.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Activation of progelatinase B in synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with reference to stromelysin-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether stromelysin-1 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) are involved in the modulation of activation of progelatinase B in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Gelatinases in the synovial fluid of patients with RA were analyzed by gelatin zymography. Concentrations of stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 were measured using a specific sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Forty-three rheumatoid synovial fluids containing progelatinase B were examined to clarify whether the enzyme was activated by incubation. Incubation at 37 degrees C caused the conversion of progelatinase B to the active form in 22 of the 43 synovial fluids. The levels of both stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 were determined for each group and the concentration ratio of stromelysin-1/TIMP-1 in the synovial fluids of each group was highly correlated to the activation of progelatinase B. CONCLUSION: The balance between the concentrations of stromelysin-1 and of TIMP-1 in the synovial fluid appears to determine whether the progelatinase B molecule causes conversion into the active form.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in a patient with chronic hepatitis C after the disappearance of hepatitis C virus due to interferon therapy.

A 62 year-old man was admitted to Asahikawa Medical College Hospital. Injection therapy of natural interferon-alpha was performed against chronic active hepatitis with hepatitis C virus infection. He successfully responded to interferon therapy with normalization of serum transaminases and disappearance of serum hepatitis C virus RNA. The liver function test remained within normal limits and serum hepatitis C virus RNA was not detected throughout the observation period. Three years later, CT examination demonstrated 2 small hepatic masses. Ultrasound-guided biopsy of the hepatic mass demonstrated well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma histologically. Laparoscopic examination revealed chronic hepatitis, but neither active inflammation nor cirrhotic changes were noted as an underlying liver disease. In the liver specimen, hepatitis C virus RNA was not detected by RT-PCR. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided ethanol injection therapy achieved complete necrosis of the hepatocellular carcinoma and there was no recurrence of hepatic cancer during the follow-up period. This case suggests that patients with chronic hepatitis C infection, who have complete disappearance of serum hepatitis C virus RNA by interferon therapy, should be followed-up carefully for the potential development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metallothionein immunoreactivity in head and neck carcinomas; special reference to clinical behaviors and chemotherapy responses.

Metallothionein (MT), has selectively binding affinity for heavy metal ions and over expression of MT has a potential against resistance for CDDP anticancer agents and radiation treatment. The role of MT immunoreactivity of squamous cell carcinoma in oral and pharyngeal regions (n = 28) and in the maxillary sinus region (n = 3) was evaluated for distribution patterns of MT and clinicopathologic behaviors. All the sections were examined in 400x and counted for MT positive cells over 5 fields of tumor growing foci. MT immunoreactivity was expressed in both tumor cell cytoplasm and nuclei, and showed heterogeneous localization in tumor epithelial cells and in the stroma. Immunohistochemical localizations showed mosaic patterns as the highest MT staining tumor cells intermingled with negative or low staining cells in neoplastic foci, and in stromal cells. Histiocytic and fibrocytic cells in both peripheral and interstitial stromas were also not stained homogeneously. In oral and pharyngeal carcinomas (n = 28), MT positive cell index in treated cases (n = 11) was 17.85% and that in non treated tumors (n = 17) was 25.19%. In maxillary sinus carcinomas (n = 3), MT positive index was 4.56% and showed lowers levels as compacted to other SCC sites. Among histological grading in oral and pharyngeal SCCs, MT index of well differentiated SCC (n = 9) was 17.04%, of moderately differentiated SCC (n = 13) 21.92% and poorly differentiated SCC (n = 6) was 31.06%. There is no significant correlation of positive index of metallothionein between treated and untreated samples taken in oral and pharyngeal SCCs.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Tetrahydrobiopterin inhibits copper-induced oxidation of low density lipoprotein.

The effect of tetrahydrobiopterin (BPH4) on Cu2+-induced oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) prepared from rabbit plasma was examined. BPH4 (0.5-10 microM) inhibited the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in LDL induced by 5 microM Cu2+ in a dose-dependent manner. BPH4 also suppressed the increase in relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of LDL in the presence of 5 microM Cu2+. The potency of inhibitions of BPH4 on TBARS formation and REM was the same as or stronger than that of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol, which are known as endogenous inhibitors of LDL oxidation. These results suggest that BPH4 could act as an efficacious endogenous inhibitor of atherogenic LDL modification.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bronchial responses to enalapril in asthmatic, hypertensive patients.

The subjects, six asthmatic patients with mild essential hypertension, were aged 48 to 63 years and each was being treated with theophylline. Five patients received 10 mg of enalapril daily for two weeks and one received 5 mg for four weeks. Their bronchial responses to inhaled methacholine were measured with a modification of the 3-Hz oscillation method before and after the enalapril treatment. The patients' mean blood pressures decreased significantly from 180.7/100.3 to 152.0/93.3 mmHg after treatment. No treatment-associated changes in the frequency of coughing, the number of asthmatic attacks, or use of antiasthmatic drugs were noted. The results of the bronchial provocation tests revealed no changes in bronchial sensitivity or reactivity during treatment. Serum substance P levels were 61.3 pg/ml before treatment and 60.2 pg/ml after treatment. It is concluded that therapeutic doses of enalapril did not exacerbate asthmatic attacks or increase bronchial hypersensitivity in these asthmatic, hypertensive patients.

Asthma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gastric carcinoma associated with dermatomyositis. Case report.

A case of gastric carcinoma associated with dermatomyositis is reported. Total gastrectomy was performed and subsequently excision of hepatic metastasis. Although the cause-effect relationship between dermatomyositis and internal malignancy remains controversial, the obvious dependence of the clinical course of dermatomyositis on that of the gastric carcinoma in this case suggests a causal involvement.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chronological observations of Marek's disease-associated feather-pulp lesions in field chickens.

Fourteen test groups consisting of a total of 541 field chickens in six rearing farms, all of which were vaccinated with turkey herpesvirus at one day old, were investigated for chronological changes in Marek's disease (MD)-associated feather-pulp lesions (FPL) and their association with nuclear-inclusion (NI) formation in the feather-follicle epithelium (FFE) and with incidence of MD. The FPL observed were categorized into R1-type (non-tumorous lymphoid lesion), R2-type (inflammatory lesion consisting of plasma cellular infiltration, edema or collagenosis of the pulp, and germinal-center formation) and T-type (tumorous lymphoproliferative lesion). In every test group, the incidence of R1-type lesions was highest at 2-4 weeks of age, in spite of the low incidence of NI formation in the FFE. The initial R1-type lesions were generally transitory and were followed occasionally by R2-type lesions. In each test group, incidence of NI formation in the FFE peaked between 9 and 16 weeks of age. The second peak of incidence of R1-type lesions coincided with the period of peak NI formation. Subsequent skin samples revealed that the incidences of R1-, R2-, and T-type lesions in individual chickens or test groups were closely related to the incidence of NI in the FFE and to the incidence of MD.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Feather-pulp lesions in chickens with naturally occurring Marek's disease lymphomas.

Feather pulps of 15-to-35-week-old chickens with Marek's disease (MD) lymphomas were examined histopathologically. Of the 64 chickens, 59 (92.2%) had lymphoproliferative (T-type) lesions in the feather pulp. The T-type feather-pulp lesion (FPL) occurred in all regions, but more frequently in the upper column of the pulp. Severe lesions were distributed throughout the feather pulp. Some of the T-type FPLs regressed to inflammatory lesions consisting of necrosis or loss of constituent cells, edema, and infiltration by small lymphocytes, heterophils, and plasma cells. The regressive T-type FPL was usually diffuse throughout the tumorous lesions, but proliferative foci were often seen concomitantly with regressive lesions. The grade and histologic picture of T-type FPLs in chickens correlated well with those of the visceral lymphomas. These findings suggest that the severity of MD lymphoma is predictable without autopsy by examining feather-pulp samples.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Marek's disease in field chickens: correlation between incidence of Marek's disease and nuclear-inclusion formation in the feather-follicle epithelium.

The present study confirmed that Marek's disease (MD)-associated nuclear-inclusion (NI) formation in the feather-follicle epithelium (FFE) is related to mortality from MD; it also presented useful data on the epidemiology of MD in HVT-vaccinated field chickens. Incidence of NI formation in the FFE of chickens on six rearing farms varied greatly by age and flock, but most of the field flocks showed biphasic peaks of incidence of NI in chickens consisting of a small peak at an early age (usually at 2-4 weeks of age) and a large peak between 13 and 16 weeks of age. MD tended to occur in chickens over 20 weeks old, and almost all MD-affected chickens showed NI formation persistently in the FFE, usually between 13 and 20 weeks of age. Chickens that were healthy at the end of observation showed either transient NI formation, usually between 13 and 16 weeks of age, or no detectable NI formation. Incidence of NI formation in the FFE of chickens at 19-20 weeks of age was related to mortality from MD: chickens with NI formation had a MD mortality rate of 66.7%, whereas chickens without NI formation had MD mortality of only 0.8%.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Two histologic types of early gastric carcinoma and their cytologic presentation.

A study was made of 119 case of early gastric carcinomas as to age, sex, histologic cell types, depth of penetration of the cancer, metastasis to the regional lymph nodes and cellular changes of the mucosa near the foci of center. Two distinctly different cellular types were identified. One was the intestinal type, and the other was a diffusely infiltrated, mixed-cell type that was termed the "gastric" type. In both sexes, the intestinal type occurred in the older age group while the gastric type was noted in the younger age group. Once the cancer had penetrated through the muscularis mucosae, there was a sudden, increased incidence of metastasis to the regional lymph nodes regardless of the cellular type. While still confined to the mucosae, only one case of early gastric carcinoma, one of the gastric type, had metastasized to the regional lymph nodes. On this histologic basis, cytologic characteristics of two types of gastric carcinoma are summarized, and the importance of their recognition is emphasized.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chronological observations of feather pulp lesions in chickens inoculated with Marek's disease virus.

Observations of the feather pulp from chickens inoculated with Marek's disease (MD) virus revealed diverse lesions similar to those in the peripheral nerves of chickens infected with MD. These lesions were categorized as follows: R1-type lesions = from minimal perivascular to diffuse infiltration of small lymphocytes mixed with a few medium lymphocytes or blast cells; R2-type lesion = edema and cellular infiltration consisting of plasma cells and small lymphocytes; and T-type lesion = tumorous proliferation of lymphoid cells predominantly composed of medium lymphocytes or blast cells. Chronological observations of the feather pulp biopsies taken at 2-week intervals from individual chickens revealed the lesion progression R1-type leads to T-type, or R1-type leads to R2-type. The former progression was usually seen in birds showing evidence of both persistent nuclear-inclusion (NI) formation in the feather-follicle epithelium (FFE) and development of lymphoid tumors in the viscera. The latter progression was seen exclusively in chickens that showed transient NI formation in the FFE, regardless of the incidence of MD.

Animals↗