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Biomedical subjects

M Fujisawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujisawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bowel preparation for the total colonoscopy by 2,000 ml of balanced lavage solution (Golytely) and sennoside.

One of disadvantages of the Golytely preparation is that examinees have to drink as much as 4,000 ml of Golytely. To overcome this disadvantage, we designed a modified preparation regimen in which examinees have to drink only 2,000 ml of Golytely by taking sennoside orally. Bowel preparation was carried out in 297 examinees by this modified method. Examinees ate their usual diet and took 36 mg of sennoside orally on the night before the examination. On the day of the examination, the examinees drank a total of 2,000 ml of Golytely. No severe complications were noted and 97% of the examinees were able to drink the dose of 2,000 ml. Subjects who had also experienced bowel preparation by the modified method of Brown were asked to compare the two regimens, and only 1% preferred Brown's method while 73% preferred bowel preparation by our Golytely method. The result of bowel preparation by this method was excellent or good in 90 to 97% of the subjects at all sites in the colon and rectum. We conclude that bowel preparation for total colonoscopy using 2,000 ml of Golytely and sennoside is superior because it is highly acceptable to the examinees and provides excellent gut irrigation.

Adolescent

A germ cell factor(s) modulates preproenkephalin gene expression in rat Sertoli cells.

Within the seminiferous tubule, both Sertoli and specific germ cells express opioid genes. Little is known about the paracrine regulation or role of opioid gene expression in the tubule. The present study shows that interactions among cells within the tubule may play a role in regulating preproenkephalin (PPenk) gene expression. Rat pachytene spermatocytes (PS) and round spermatids (RSd) were purified by centrifugal elutriation and established as primary cultures or co-cultured with Sertoli cells. The effects of germ cells or germ cell-conditioned media were studied to determine the expression of one of the opioid precursor genes in rat Sertoli cells, the PPenk gene. Following a 24 h co-culture with either PS or RSd, the expression of PPenk gene in Sertoli cells was increased 6.4- and 1.9-fold, respectively. Conditioned media obtained from either PS or RSd cultured for 20 h stimulated PPenk mRNA levels in Sertoli cells from as early as 2 h after exposure; maximum increases of 3.5- and 7.6-fold were observed at 12 h, respectively. The molecular weight of the germ cell factor(s) is greater than 30 kDa. 2 h after the addition of either PS- or RSd-conditioned media to Sertoli cells, small (2- to 2.6-fold, respectively) but significant (p less than 0.02) increases in extracellular cAMP levels were observed. Although both FSH and forskolin activated c-fos and PPenk gene expression in Sertoli cells, the germ cell factor(s) that stimulated PPenk mRNA levels did not affect the expression of this oncogene. These results indicate that germ cells interact with Sertoli cells, possibly by a protein(s) that acts as a short-loop paracrine factor, which regulates the expression of PPenk gene in Sertoli cells. These data suggest that stage-specific regulation of PPenk levels in Sertoli cells may occur in vivo.

Animals

Androgenic regulation of enzymes involved in DNA synthesis in epididymis of young rats.

In the epididymis of young rats, activities of DNA polymerases alpha, beta and gamma and DNA topoisomerase I decreased after castration. DNA polymerase alpha and gamma increased with androgen administration and activity reached 81.3% and 78.0%, respectively, of the activity in the sham-operated group on day 21. Activity of DNA polymerase beta remained at the activity of day 7 during androgen administration and was almost the same as that in the sham-operated group on day 21. DNA topoisomerase I activity showed a slight increase with androgen administration and reached 50.3% of that in the sham-operated group. The activities of these enzymes were not fully restored to those in the sham-operated group. These results indicate that in young rats activities of epididymal DNA polymerase alpha and gamma and DNA topoisomerase I are partially, and that of DNA polymerase beta wholly, dependent on androgens and may provide a means of investigating the regulation of epididymal cell proliferation.

Androgens

Ruptured aneurysm arising from the anomalous anterior cerebral artery--case report.

A 64-year-old male presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage had a saccular aneurysm arising from the anomalous anterior cerebral artery. The aneurysm was located on the curved mid-portion of the anomalous artery and extended underneath the right optic nerve. The aneurysm was clipped without unroofing the right optic canal. Postoperatively, he suffered from temporary mild deterioration of the right visual acuity. Hemodynamic stress may be important in the development of such aneurysms.

Aneurysm, Ruptured

[Evaluation of subjective happiness in the elderly using a visual analogue scale of happiness in correlation with depression scale].

A Visual analogue scale of happiness (VAS-H) was applied to elderly population in a community to evaluate their subjective quality of life. The study population consisted of 313 elderly people aged over 75. Using a 20 cm visual analogue scale (VAS), VAS-H was measured by asking subjects to place a single vertical mark on a horizontal line at a point corresponding to their current subjective degree of happiness judged from health condition and psycho-social background as a whole; The VAS-H was anchored on the left and with the words "-100%; unhappiest" and on the right end with the words "+100%; happiest". The scores of VAS-H (%) were obtained by multiplying the distance (cm) from the zero point to the vertical line by 10. To determine the characteristics of VAS from the standpoint of the quality of life, we compared VAS with scores of two kinds of established depression scale, because the mood which was assessed by these scale was supposed to be an important factor of the quality of life. The results of the simultaneously assessed Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Zung's depression scale (SDS) which was obtained 1 year before for the same subjects were compared with that of VAS-H. The score of VAS-H had a significantly negative correlation with both GDS and SDS. In conclusion, VAS-H was a simple and useful method to evaluate degree of subjective happiness which was one factor of quality of life in the elderly people.

Aged

[Evaluation of subjective happiness in the elderly using a visual analogue scale of happiness to analyze the effect of life style and neurobehavioral function on subjective happiness].

The effects of activity of daily living (ADL), physical conditions, social environmental factors and neurobehavioral functions on subjective happiness were investigated in 313 elderly subjects. The degree of subjective happiness was measured using visual analogue scale of happiness (VAS-H). There was significant relationship between VAS-H and ADL. The VAS-H score had weak but significant correlation with physical conditions and neurobehavioral functions. The social environmental factors, especially economical conditions, family relationships and group behavior had a significant correlation with VAS-H. In conclusion, in apparent healthy elderly people, the subjective degree of happiness was not related to ADLs, but to social environment and information physical conditions.

Activities of Daily Living

[Application of visual analogue scale of happiness to elderly Himalayan highlanders].

Visual analogue scale of happiness (VAS-H) was applied to elderly Himalayan highlanders to investigate the influence of life-style and socio-cultural background on subjective happiness. The score of "VAS-H" and neuropsychological function tests in 733 Himalayan highlanders who belonged to 5 separate villages were compared with those in 313 Japanese elderly subjects. The places of study consisted of 4 villages (Khalimabad; K, Gulmit; G, Pasu; P, Shimshal; S) in Hunza area in Pakistan, and Namche Bazar; N in Nepal. Degree of modern civilization was highest in K, followed by N, G, P and lowest was that in S by historical and sociological aspects. The mean VAS-H sore in Himalayan highlanders and the degree of modern civilization in the area was in inverse proportion. Himalayan elderly women showed a significant lower score on VAS-H compared with elderly Himalayan men or elderly Japanese subjects. The VAS-H score in the Japanese elderly correlated significantly with the stability of posture and walk, and that of Himalayan highlanders correlated significantly with manual skill. In conclusion, the life style or socio-cultural background strongly affected subjective happiness in the elderly. The VAS-H was useful in comparing subjective happiness in different cultures.

Adult

[A study of inhibitory effect of chondroitin polysulfate on stone formation of calcium oxalate].

Chondroitin polysulfate (CPS) have inhibitory activity on stone formation of calcium oxalate. This study compared the inhibitory effect of three CPS (CPS S-I, CPS S-II, CPS S-III) with sodium pentosan polysulfate (SPP) and chondroitin sulfate (CS). Crystal growth inhibition was measured in a seeded crystal growth system with 14C-oxalate, and CPS S-I and CPS S-II were the most active substances inhibiting crystal growth. Since CPS S-II and CPS S-III had remarkable hemorrhagic adverse effect, these two substances were excluded from the following study. The study of administration of the rest of the substances (CPS S-I, SPP, CS) to rats revealed that CPS S-I highly inhibited formation of stone in kidney. About 65 percent of CPS S-I administered subcutaneously was excreted in 24 hours urine. Therefore it may be of value to study clinical usefulness of CPS S-I for treatment of patient with urolithiasis.

Animals

Testosterone dependent regulation of the enzymes involved in DNA synthesis in the rat ventral prostate.

The effects of testosterone on the activities of DNA polymerase alpha, beta, and gamma as well as topoisomerase I (all enzymes involved in DNA synthesis) were examined in the rat ventral prostate. The activities of these four enzymes decreased gradually after castration in comparison with normal controls, and continued to decrease until the 14th day. Enzyme activities were almost restored to normal within 48 to 72 hr. of the commencement of daily testosterone injections (0.3 mg./0.2 ml.), and increased successively until the 14th day. The wet weight, protein content, and DNA content of the rat ventral prostate decreased after castration, while following testosterone therapy all these parameters increased to equal or exceed the control levels. These results suggested that the activities of DNA polymerase alpha, beta, and gamma and topoisomerase I are at least partially regulated by testosterone, and that these enzymes play an important role in the regulation of prostatic cellular proliferation.

Animals

[Percutaneous management of benign ureteroileal anastomotic strictures after ileal conduit urinary diversion].

We report our experience with the endourological treatment of 4 patients with 5 benign ureteroileal anastomotic strictures after ileal conduit urinary diversion. The treatment was successful in 4 of the 5 renal units without restenosis with a mean follow up of 10 months. The strictures were dilated by ureteral dilators and/or balloon dilation catheters using guide wires through percutaneous nephrostomies in an antegrade fashion. A 9 or 12 Fr. percutaneous splint catheter or a 12 Fr. double pig tail catheter was placed for 3-8 weeks after a successful dilation. Two renal units underwent repeated dilations. In 1 renal unit, a guide wire was hardly passed through the stricture and the treatment was unsuccessful. No serious complications were encountered. Percutaneous endourological managements of ureteroileal anastomotic strictures seemed to be quite versatile techniques which should be tried as the initial approach in many cases.

Anastomosis, Surgical

[Continent urinary diversion using the appendix as a catheterizable stoma].

Two patients with bladder cancer underwent construction of continent urinary reservoir using the in situ appendix as a catheterizable stoma after total cystectomy. Urodynamic study revealed that the reservoir had a large capacity of 500-800 ml and low pressure without the involuntary pressure spikes was maintained. X-rays of the reservoir showed no reflux. The patients achieved complete day and night-time continence.

Aged

A computer-aided analyzing system to examine the masticatory muscle EMG during mastication.

We developed a computerized analyzing system for masticatory muscle electromyograms (EMGs), parameters of which were burst-duration time, muscle activity and electromyographic power-spectrum density during mastication. The system was tested with healthy subjects to evaluate the fatiguing process and found to work satisfactorily. It may find applications in other neuromuscular systems where control mechanisms and/or coordination is of interest.

Adult

Surface electromyographic electrode pair with built-in buffer-amplifiers.

By means of a surface electrode with an operational amplifier, a new electrode unit suitable for an electromyographic-biofeedback apparatus and for portable electromyography used outside a Faraday cage was developed. The operational amplifier, which has an output impedance lower than 10 ohms, functions as an efficient buffer amplifier and is able to protect the EMG signals from background noises. This new electrode unit is small (32 x 12 x 5 mm), waterproof, and inexpensive. Because its structure is simple, it can be built in any laboratory.

Amplifiers, Electronic

Spontaneous release of angiotensin converting enzyme and interleukin 1 beta from peripheral blood monocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis under a serum free condition.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and interleukin 1 activities were assayed simultaneously in the serum free medium from the unstimulated peripheral blood monocytes from 32 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 11 patients with osteoarthritis, and 25 normal controls matched for age and sex. Angiotensin converting enzyme activity was raised in most (29/32) patients with RA and interleukin 1 activity (most of which was interleukin 1 beta) was enhanced in 11/32 patients with RA, while monocytes from only two patients with osteoarthritis, but from none of the controls, secreted a small amount of ACE alone in the culture condition. Monocytes from patients with early RA (disease duration less than 3 years) released significantly more ACE and interleukin 1 than those from late stage RA (disease duration greater than or equal to 3 years).

Adult

Corticosteroid- and furosemide-induced increase in proteinuria in nephrosis.

A corticosteroid- and furosemide-induced excessive increase in proteinuria developed in a 34-year-old nephrotic patient with focal glomerulosclerosis. The concentration of urinary protein increased almost in parallel with that of urinary glucose. This finding indicates that corticosteroids and/or furosemide can promote the disturbance of the tubular reabsorption mechanism together with increases in glomerular permeability and glomerular filtration rate.

Adult

[The changes of population and distribution of S-phase cells in precancerous lesions of rat bladder revealed by the method of bromodeoxyuridine labeling].

We studied whether bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeling method showing the population and/or distribution of S-phase cells in tumor tissues is useful to detect the precancerous lesions of bladder. The bladder lesions were induced by 0.05% N-butyl-N (4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water for ten weeks in five male rats (Wistar-Imamichi). BrdU (50 mg/kg) was injected to intraperitoneal space two hours before the resection of the bladder. The detection of positive cells (S-phase cells taking BrdU) was performed by peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. From five bladder specimens 144 lesions (simple hyperplasia (S)-73, papillary or nodular hyperplasia (PN)-57, papilloma (Pa)-14) were analysed. The labeling index (the ratio of positive cells to all epithelial cells in one lesion) showed no significant difference among the lesions (S, PN, and Pa). For analyses of the distribution patterns of S-phase cells, we investigated whether positive cells aside from basal layers and/or the serial positive cells in basal layers were seen or not in each lesion. The ratios of lesions containing positive cells aside from basal layers were 11% (8/73), 60% (34/57) and 100% (14/14) in S, PN and Pa lesions. The serial positive cells in basal layers were observed in 6% (4/73), 25% (14/57) and 50% (7/14) of S, PN and Pa lesions. Those differences were statistically significant. Above mentioned results suggest that the appearance of S-phase cells aside from basal layers and/or the serial S-phase cells in basal layers is characteristic change in precancerous lesions, which is useful for sooner detection of bladder carcinogenesis.

Animals

[Renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma in tuberous sclerosis. Case report].

The association of angiomyolipoma with renal cell carcinoma in tuberous sclerosis is extremely rare, although the relation between tuberous sclerosis and angiomyolipoma of the kidney is widely recognized. We report here a case of bilateral angiomyolipoma and renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney with tuberous sclerosis and demonstrate the diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing between these tumors.

Adult

[Danazol therapy of endometriosis of the bladder and ureter: a case report].

Endometriosis of the urinary tract is uncommon. A thirty-year-old woman was referred to our hospital, complaining of macrohematuria. Intravenous pyelography (IVP) showed bilateral hydro nephrosis. Cystoscopic examination revealed a mass around the bilateral ureteral orifice. Danazol therapy was commenced. After 6 months of therapy, IVP showed the improvement of hydronephrosis of left kidney and cystoscopy revealed the resolution of most of the mass in the bladder. For definite diagnosis and treatment, danazol therapy is considered to be effective for endometriosis, but if secondary fibrosis has occurred, surgical treatment may be necessary.

Adult