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K Fukui

Publications and source records attributed to K Fukui.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning and chromosomal localization of a human gene encoding D-amino-acid oxidase.

Genomic clones covering the entire sequence of the gene encoding human D-amino-acid oxidase (DAO) (EC 1.4.3.3), one of the principal and characteristic flavoenzymes of peroxisomes, were isolated from human placental genomic libraries with the aid of a previously cloned cDNA for human DAO as a probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the gene, present as a single copy in the human genome, comprises 11 exons and spans 20 kilobase pairs. The protein sequences containing the catalytically important residues, Tyr-228 and His-307, are coded for by separate exons. Heterologous transcription initiation sites were identified by primer extension analysis, and the sequence of the 5'-flanking region of the DAO gene was found to show some features common to other mammalian genes, such as those of glucocorticoid and the cAMP-responsive element. An additional noteworthy feature is the presence of promoter-like sequences in the first intron of the gene. In addition, two sequences of alternating pyrimidine and purine nucleotides, (CA)20 and (CA)17, are also present in the first intron. Such sequences may play some role in the expression of the DAO gene in human tissues. With the use of genomic DNAs prepared from human and Chinese hamster somatic hybrid cells as templates for the polymerase chain reaction, the gene for DAO was localized to human chromosome 12.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Angiogenic factor.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1992

Substrate adhesiveness and experimental metastatic potential of rat ascites hepatoma AH7974-derived variant sublines.

Cells of an adherent subline (74AD, adhesion greater than 95%) and a floating subline (74FL, adhesion less than 1%) of rat ascites hepatoma AH7974 produced substrates containing fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN) and type IV collagen (CL-IV), with 74AD cells producing higher levels of each component. 74AD cells possessed high adhesion affinities to LN and CL-IV substrates. By contrast, 74FL cells hardly adhered to these purified attachment proteins. The difference in adhesion between the two lines in vitro tended to increase on incubation of the cells in medium containing fetal bovine serum. However, 74FL and 74AD cells adhered avidly to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of vascular endothelial cells. Although the cell-ECM adhesion apparently was not inhibited by pretreatment of the ECM with anti-FN, anti-LN and anti-CL-IV antibodies, the 74FL cell-ECM adhesion was inhibited considerably by pretreatment of the ECM with a mixture of these antibodies, especially with a combination of anti-FN and anti-LN antibodies. The lung-colonizing potential of 74FL cells was greater than that of 74AD cells, but the liver-colonizing potential of 74FL cells was less than that of 74AD cells. These results suggest that rat ascites hepatoma cells with extremely reduced substrate adhesiveness retain an adhesion mechanism that binds to FN and LN in the ECM of vascular endothelial cells. This mechanism may be a minimum essential unit of tumor cell-ECM adhesion in lung colonization, but the unit is insufficient for liver colonization of these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Intracerebral leukemic mass in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Leukemic intracranial space occupying lesions are rare. A 69 year old man with acute myelogenous leukemia was found to have an intracranial leukemic mass at the time of his remission period. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging study demonstrated a large irregular mass in the right temporal lobe. After total removal of the tumor, the patient was treated with whole brain irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. After surviving for 7 months, the patient expired of hematologic relapse.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

A prostacyclin analogue reduces free radical generation in heart-lung transplantation.

The mechanism by which prostacyclin acts to prevent in vivo reperfusion injury is still uncertain. This study was therefore undertaken to assess the effect of a stable prostacyclin analogue (OP 41483-alpha-CD [OP]) on oxygen-derived free radicals after heart-lung transplantation. OP was administered to the heart-lung graft through the pulmonary artery for 25 minutes encompassing the reperfusion process. Free radicals were directly measured by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The radical intensities of pulmonary venous blood were significantly lower in the OP group than in the control group, suggesting that fewer free radicals were generated in the lungs of the OP group. The cardiac and respiratory function were better in the OP group than in the control group. The lung is the primary source of oxygen free radical attack, and the beneficial action of OP on free radical generation is almost exclusively restricted to the lung and does not apply to the heart. This result suggested that OP probably is effective in inhibiting free radical generation from the endothelium.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Cranial fasciitis of childhood: a case report.

Cranial fasciitis of childhood is very rare, only 17 cases having been reported in the literature. We report an additional case of this rare disease. The patient was a 5-year-old boy who complained of left exophthalmos and double vision. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large epidural mass in the left frontal region that had invaded into the underlying anterior skull base. The tumor showed homogeneous, low density with nonhomogeneous contrast enhancement on the CT scans, and low intensity on the T1-weighted and high intensity on the T2-weighted MRI images. A whitish-pink, elastic, hard tumor was revealed in the epidural space in the left anterior cranial fossa, which was totally excised with curettage of the affected anterior skull base. The origin of the tumor was suspected to be the fibrous connective tissue of the sphenofrontal suture. The histological diagnosis was that of cranial fasciitis. There was no evidence of recurrence 1 year postoperatively.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1992

An autopsy case of Kawasaki disease with reference to occurrence of acute coronary thrombosis in the convalescent stage.

A one-year, four month-old boy who had suffered from Kawasaki disease died suddenly during convalescence despite intensive gamma-globulin treatment. Autopsy revealed a) sausage-like aneurysms of the left and right coronary arteries and fresh thrombosis in the right coronary aneurysm, b) fresh transmural myocardial necrosis in the whole wall of the left ventricle and the anterior part of the wall of the right ventricle, and c) swelling of the cervical lymph nodes and thymus (60 g). Histologically, fibrocellular thickening of the intima and destruction of the media and internal elastic lamina were conspicuous in the area of the aneurysm, but those of the intima and media in the areas adjacent to the aneurysm were mild. Abrupt narrowing of the lumen at the border between the aneurysm and periphery of the right coronary artery was detected, and this may have been responsible for formation of the thrombus in the right coronary aneurysm. In the systemic arteries, perivascular fibrosis was very noticeable despite less severe injury to the intima and media. These findings suggest that severe inflammation of the periarterial regions was present in the acute phase. The lymph system still showed inflammation, supporting the infectious or toxic nature of Kawasaki disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Effects of protein intake on immune parameters in mice surviving streptococcal infection.

Groups of mice were fed for 2 weeks on isocaloric diets containing 5, 7, 20 and 40% (w/w) casein, respectively, then injected intraperitoneally with group B streptococci, and observed for their survival rates. The mice fed 7% or 20% casein had lower mortalities than those fed 5% or 40% casein. In order to explain the different survival rates, other groups of mice were fed on the experimental diets and examined for the number of leukocytes in the blood, of spleen cells and thymocytes, for IgG and IgM antibody titres to the streptococci, for haemolytic titres of sera, the amount of complement component 3 (C3), for chemiluminescence and opsonic activity of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and spleen cells (SP), production of superoxide anion from PEC and SP, and production of immunoglobulins from cultured SP. After 2 weeks on a 7 or 20% casein diet mice showed increased serum levels of IgM antibodies reactive with the whole bacterial cells on days 3-5 when they were immunised with a sublethal dose of group B streptococci. The mice fed on the 7% casein diet also showed a higher C3 titre than the other diet groups when assayed by enzyme immunoassay. Furthermore, opsonophagocytic activity was highest when PEC or SP taken from mice on the 20% case in diet were incubated with radiolabelled microorganisms in the presence of fresh serum taken from the 7% casein group. The production of superoxide anions from PEC and SP was lowest in the mice fed on 5% casein when activity was expressed as nano-mol per animal. It is suggested from these results that the greater activity of phagocytic cells in the presence of increased amounts of C3 and IgM explains the heightened resistance in the mice fed on a 7% casein diet, and that suppressed opsonophagocytic activity resulting from the decreased number of leukocytes in the blood and other phagocytic cells explains the lowest resistance in the 5% casein group. However, mice fed on a 40% casein diet showed all these immunological parameters untouched, and their lowered resistance could not be explained. Different factors seem to be operative in them.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Six new triterpenoidal glycosides including two new sapogenols from Albizziae Cortex. V.

Six new triterpenoid glycosides called julibrosides A1-A4, B1 and C1 were isolated from Albizziae Cortex, the dried stem bark of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. Their structures were determined based on spectral and chemical evidence. Julibrosides B1 and C1 had new sapogenols, designated julibrogenin B and C, respectively, while julibrosides A3 included N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as a sugar component.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in an adult.

We report a rare adult case of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with intermittent fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia and liver disturbance. In serological tests for EBV, anti-virus capsid antigen (VCA)-IgG antibody and anti-early antigen (EA)-IgG antibody were markedly elevated and anti-EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) antibody was negative. EBV genome was detected in the bone marrow nucleated cells and peripheral lymphocytes by Southern blot hybridization. The patient developed left facial edema, bilateral breast tumor and pneumonia. She died one year after admission in spite of the administration of prednisolone, interferon and acyclovir.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1992

Application of a shape memory alloy to hand splinting.

This paper describes new passive splints which have been developed using a shape memory alloy. The peculiar feature of the splints is that the way in which they change shape in use conforms to the stretching motion which it would be desirable to apply in certain conditions of deformity. The alloy consists of 55.66% by weight Nickel and 44.34% Titanium. The heat treatment of the alloy for memorising shape was implemented at 500 degrees C for one hour. This alloy was easily bent when cool, but the original shape was recovered on heating. It was used as the supporting structure of the reverse knuckle bender splint and the cock-up splint. The new splints could be easily attached to the deformed limb after cooling. The splints avoided the development of spasticity, because they gradually recovered their original shapes and corrected the deformities when the heat of the room or body heat warmed the splints. Since the shape memory alloy has the dual function of thermal sensor and kinetic power source it was a simple device. The splint was, as a result, small and smart. It was apparent from clinical use that the splint was easy to wear and could be worn with comfort for an extended period. The design of the splints and the fabrication process are described and their application is indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[A case of malignant melanoma with orbital metastasis which caused the first symptoms].

A thirty-four-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of the disturbed visual acuity and pain on the eye movement of the right eye. He had prominent right eye and CT-scan and MRI of the brain disclosed a tumor which could be obviously distinguished from the extraocular muscles, optic nerve and the bulb of eye in the retrobulbar region. On operation we identified dark-red solid tumor which was 3.0cm in diameter, and diagnosed it malignant melanoma pathologically. Because postoperative study detected amelanotic melanoma in the white patch on the right upper extremity, this right orbital tumor was considered to be the metastasis of it from the right upper extremity. Metastatic malignant melanoma of the skin to the orbit is very rare, while most of the eye-associated malignant melanoma originates from uveal tract, special choroid, and conjunctiva. This case was the 26th case of these in the world and the first case in Japan, furthermore the 4th case in the world whose first symptoms were caused by the orbital metastasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[In situ hybridization: a principle and method].

We describe the principle and method of in situ hybridization (ISH), detecting neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and their related enzyme or receptor. Furthermore, we overview recent research reports focused on the gene expression of dopamine receptors. ISH technique has been applied and is one of the most powerful strategies in the biological research field of psychiatry.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Adhesion of bacteria to the cecal mucosal surface of conventional and germ-free chickens infected with Eimeria tenella.

When Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens were tested in conventional chickens, larger numbers of S typhimurium and C perfringens adhered to Eimeria tenella-infected ceca than to uninfected ceca. In germ-free chickens, S typhimurium and C perfringens adhered to the E tenella-infected cecal mucosa more than to the uninfected cecal mucosa, but fewer Bacteroides vulgatus and Bifidobacterium thermophilum adhered to the E tenella-infected ceca than to the uninfected ceca. Many bacteria adhered to the lesions caused by E tenella as observed by scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that infection with E tenella upsets the balance of competitive adherence of bacteria, allowing more colonization of S typhimurium and C perfringens.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[A case report of a massive pulmonary tumor embolism occurring during surgery for renal cell carcinoma].

A 59-year-old man, who suffered a massive pulmonary tumor embolism during surgery for renal cell carcinoma with vena caval invasion, was treated by emergency pulmonary embolectomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Renal cell carcinoma occasionally extends into the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a tumor thrombus. In such patients, removal of the tumor thrombus from the IVC has to be performed in addition to radical nephrectomy. However, the massive pulmonary tumor embolism is a major potential hazard during radical surgical resection. To prevent intraoperative pulmonary embolisms from occurring, scheduled use of cardiopulmonary bypass with the cooperation of cardiovascular surgeons is recommended.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1991

Leucine zipper motif in porcine renin-binding protein (RnBP) and its relationship to the formation of an RnBP-renin heterodimer and an RnBP homodimer.

An apparent leucine zipper motif was recognized in the predicted amino acid sequence of porcine kidney renin-binding protein (RnBP) by analysis of the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding the protein (Inoue, H., Fukui, K., Takahashi, S., and Miyake, Y. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 6556-6561). To evaluate the role of this motif in the formation of an RnBP-renin heterodimer and an RnBP homodimer, a porcine mutant cDNA involving Leu185----Asp and Leu192----Asp substitutions was constructed and expressed in vitro and in Xenopus oocytes. The mutant protein neither binds to renin nor forms the homodimer. The results strongly suggest that the leucine zipper motif in the RnBP molecule mediates the formation of both the RnBP-renin heterodimer and the RnBP homodimer observed previously. The existence of the motif should facilitate elucidation of the role of RnBP in renin metabolism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

A diurnal variation of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mRNA under a daily light-dark cycle in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.

We detected a diurnal change of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) messenger RNA (mRNA) in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) using the in situ hybridization technique combined with computed image analysis. The amount of VIP mRNA was greatest at 02.00 h, the next largest level was seen at 20.00 h during the dark phase and smallest at 14.00 h during the light phase. We also confirmed that the onset of the fluctuation of mRNA occurred 2-6 h prior to the diurnal variation of the content of VIP-like immunoreactivity by semiquantitative immunocytochemistry. These findings suggest that light stimulus from the retina is a primarily influence on the transcription of VIP mRNA and induces a diurnal variation of VIP synthesis.

Animals↗