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Biomedical subjects

M Fujita

Publications and source records attributed to M Fujita.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Histogenetic analysis of ovarian germ cell tumors by DNA fingerprinting.

The histogenesis of ovarian germ cell tumors (11 mature teratomas, three malignant transformations of mature teratomas, two immature teratomas, and four dysgerminomas) was investigated genetically using minisatellite DNA probes 33.15 and 33.6 for person-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (DNA fingerprint) analysis. The DNA fingerprints of six ovarian teratomas were identical with those of mononuclear cells from each host, while some polymorphic bands observed in the host mononuclear cells were lost in the DNA fingerprints of the other five cases. The cases of malignant transformation of mature teratoma and immature teratoma showed that some polymorphic bands of DNA fingerprints from the host mononuclear cells were absent in the tumor tissues. In four cases with dysgerminomas, the DNA fingerprints of tumors were completely identical with those of the respective host mononuclear cells. The present results suggest that mature cystic teratomas of the ovary arise from germ cells arrested at various stages of meiosis, while immature teratomas are derived from postmeiotic germ cells. Malignant transformation may occur exclusively in the mature teratomas arising from postmeiotic germ cells. Dysgerminomas develop from premeiotic oogonia (primordial germ cells). Thus, DNA fingerprints are a useful and sensitive tool for identifying the pathogenesis of germ cell tumours.

Adolescent

[Assessment of a coaxial system accommodated to a 0.035 inch guide wire in superselective hepatic angiography and embolization].

A special coaxial catheter system accommodated to a 0.035 inch guide wire was recently developed. The four-part coaxial system is composed of a central 0.035 inch flexible guide wire, a 4-French inner catheter (straight, 90 cm in length), a 6-French outer catheter (fork-shaped, 60 cm in length), and a hemostatic valve. The 4 French inner catheter is large enough in diameter to allow a larger volume of contrast medium and greater amount of embolic material than the earlier coaxial system. Using this coaxial catheter system, we performed successful superselective hepatic arteriography and embolization in 44 patients with malignant hepatic tumors. Catheterization of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries with the 6 French outer catheter was easy, and the angiogram obtained was very distinct. The 4 French inner catheter was easily and safely advanced into the segmental hepatic artery, and even common hepatic arteriography with this catheter provided clear images on conventional cut films. Therefore, in most cases, both angiography and embolization can be accomplished using this coaxial system alone.

Aged

Alterations of the p53 gene in human primary cervical carcinoma with and without human papillomavirus infection.

A previous report using cervical carcinoma cell lines suggests that the inactivation of two tumor suppressor gene products, p53 and pRB, either by complex formation with the E6 and E7 proteins of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) or by mutation, may be an important step in cervical carcinogenesis (M. Scheffner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 5523-5527, 1991). The present study was designed to clarify the association between p53 inactivation and infection with oncogenic HPVs in primary carcinomas of human uterine cervix. We examined 36 primary cervical carcinomas for the presence of HPV DNAs by Southern blot analysis with probes specific for HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -52, -56, and -58. HPV DNA sequences were detected in 19 of 36 tumors: 10 cases with HPV-16; 3 cases with -18; 3 cases with -58; 2 cases with -56; and one case with -52. The presence of HPV-16 and -18 in cervical carcinomas was further reexamined using polymerase chain reaction. HPV DNA sequences were detected in an additional 10 cases: 9 cases with -16 and one case with -18. The inactivation of the p53 gene by allelic loss or by point mutation was also examined. No allelic loss at the polymorphic site in codon 72 of the p53 gene was detected in any of 10 informative cases. Missense point mutations in the highly conserved regions of the p53 gene were demonstrable as single-stranded conformational polymorphisms of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments and subsequently identified by direct DNA sequencing. Point mutations were detected in only two cases: one with an ATG----CTG transversion in codon 133 of exon 5, resulting in a Met----Leu substitution, and another with a CGG----TGG transition in codon 248 of exon 7, resulting in an Arg----Trp substitution. Both tumors with point mutations in p53 genes were among 10 tumors which contained a small copy number of HPV-16 DNA sequences (1 copy of HPV/10(1) to 10(5) cells) detectable by polymerase chain reaction amplification but not by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNAs derived from the tumors. None of 19 tumors with a large copy number of HPV DNA sequences detectable by Southern blot analysis (more than 1 copy of HPV/2 to 10 cells) nor any of 7 tumors with undetectable HPV DNA sequences contained p53 gene mutations in the regions examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma

[Endobronchial intraluminal brachytherapy for patients with tracheobronchial carcinoma with high dose-rate 192-Iridium remote afterloading method].

Endobronchial intraluminal brachytherapy was conducted for 5 patients with tracheobronchial carcinoma using 192Iridium high dose-rate afterloading machine (microSelectron HDR) and guide tubes of 1.9 mm in outer diameter. Four patients with bronchial non-small cell carcinoma and one with tracheal adenocarcinoma were applied, and a dose of 6 Gy/Fr. at points 1 cm from the source once a week, and a cumulative dose of 18 Gy/3 Fr. was delivered. Guide tubes could be placed up to 3 tubes via the vocal airway, and new computer planning system could afford to calculate dose from independent lining of the source into optimization. This could be done with safety, and no remarkable acute side effects were observed attributable to this method.

Brachytherapy

Blood serotonergic mechanisms in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) is believed to play a role in vasospasm and increased platelet aggregability that in turn could contribute to atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to evaluate a possible participation of serotonin in the development of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus. Whole blood and plasma serotonin, the platelet uptake and release of the amine and serotonin- induced platelet aggregation were studied in 32 patients with Type 2 diabetes. The patients were divided into three groups according to the presence and advancement of retinopathy. Mean levels of blood serotonin content were significantly lower in diabetic patients. The concentration of the amine in the plasma was markedly increased in diabetes. It was correlated with vascular changes of the retina. We established that platelets from diabetic patients took up less serotonin when compared to the control group. Concomitantly enhanced spontaneous release of 5HT from platelets was observed. The platelets of diabetic patients showed increased response to serotonin. There was a relation between serotonin-induced aggregation and the presence of retinopathy. These results suggest that serotonin may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic vasculopathy.

Adult

[A clinical trial of whole liver simultaneous dynamic MR imaging and its usefulness].

A clinical trial of whole liver simultaneous dynamic MRI was done. In 23 second whole liver was able to be scanned using parameters of filed echo method as follows: TR = 315 msec, TE = 7 msec, Flip angle = 70 degrees or 90 degrees, MAT = 50%, ECD = 60%, FOV 40 cm and no presaturation. Even 2-3 mm nodules of metastatic tumors and small daughter nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma such as 5 mm were demonstrated in the arterial phase clearly.

Adult

[Evaluation of multislice dynamic MR imaging of the whole liver by inversion recovery snap shot FLASH method].

We acquired dynamic images over the whole liver by inversion recovery snap shot FLASH method after a bolus intravenous injection of Gadolinium-DTPA. Each nodule of hepatoma in the liver showed early enhancement and gradually turned to show low intensity. In two cases of hepatoma, small intrahepatic metastases, which were not detected by US, CT and spin-echo image of MRI, were suspected as high intensity nodules on early phase. Also recurrent areas after TAE were enhanced on early phase. This method is practical for improving the detection of lesions and is useful for evaluating the recurrence after TAE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular

IFN-gamma-producing ability as a possible marker for the protective T cells against Mycobacterium bovis BCG in mice.

We searched for a functional marker with which T cells mediating acquired cellular resistance (ACR) can be discriminated from those mediating delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice immunized with Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Four wk after injection of the mice with 10(5) viable BCG (vBCG) cells emulsified in IFA, a passive transfer experiment revealed that T cells mediating DTH as well as ACR, which we designated TACR, were generated in the spleen. In contrast, T cells mediating only DTH (TDTH) were generated by immunization with 10(7) killed BCG cells along with IFA. The transferring ability of both TACR and TDTH was substantially reduced by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 or anti-CD4 mAb plus complement, whereas anti-CD8 treatment had no effect. To determine the functional differences between TACR and TDTH, we assessed IL-2 and IFN-gamma production from TACR and TDTH after stimulation with PPD in vitro. Similar levels of enhanced IL-2 activity were detected in the culture supernatants of both groups of T cells. However, augmented production of IFN-gamma was observed only in TACR. This finding was confirmed by Northern blot analysis for detection of IFN-gamma-specific mRNA. In addition, a significant increase in the number of IFN-gamma-producing cells was observed only in T cells from mice immunized with vBCG. The production of IFN-gamma was also totally abolished by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 and anti-CD4 mAb plus complement in vitro, whereas anti-CD8 mAb treatment had no effect. These results suggest that CD4+ protective T cells generated by immunization with vBCG are characterized by the ability to produce IFN-gamma after stimulation with specific Ag.

Animals

Calmodulin-binding proteins of calcium-independent type in rat brain synaptosomal membranes: their localization and properties.

Some properties of calmodulin(CaM)-binding proteins (CaMBPs) of the Ca(2+)-independent type were investigated in the synaptosomal membrane (SM) from rat brain using the [125I]CaM gel overlay method. When SM was prepared in the presence of Ca2+, Ca(2+)-independent CaM binding was decreased, whereas the Ca(2+)-dependent type was not altered. All Ca(2+)-independent-type CaMBPs were membrane-bound and scarcely present in the soluble fractions. When SM was heat-denatured, the 24/22.5-kDa CaMBPs could no longer be detected by [125]CaM binding and a new component with higher molecular mass (greater than 200 kDa) was shown to bind CaM in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. A possible effect of cAMP- and Ca2+/CaM-dependent phosphorylation on CaM binding was also examined.

Animals

[Treatment results of radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the cheek mucosa].

The results of radiotherapeutic treatment in 71 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cheek mucosa were reviewed. The actuarial 5-year local control rate was 100% for T1 (8 patients), 62% for T2 (43), 65% for T3 (17) and 0% for T4 (3). The patients were divided into four groups according to treatment modality; group 1 was treated by radiotherapy alone (R), group 2 by radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy of BLM or PEP (R + C), group 3 by external radiotherapy followed by surgery (R + S) and group 4 by a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery (R + C + S). The 5-year local control rate was 44% for R (11 patients), 61% for R + C (39), 63% for R + S (6) and 80% for R + C + S (15). Nine of 14 cases or 64% of the surgical specimens in the R + C + S group showed no tumor cells microscopically, a rate comparable with the 5-year local control rate of the R + C group. Including the results of secondary treatment by surgery for recurrent cases, the ultimate local control rate was 83% in both the R and R + C groups. The local control rate was 88% for carcinoma located in the anterior half of the cheek and 53% for that in the posterior cheek. The results suggested that tumors extending to the bucco-alveolar sulci would be more difficult to control by radiotherapy alone, with or without chemotherapy.

Adult

[Multi-directional stereo viewing of MR angiography].

A new method was developed to display MR angiographic images. Nine MR angiographic images rotated along the cranio-caudal axis with ten incremental degree were constructed. These images were printed from left-anterior-oblique view to give a stereoscopic effect. With the stereoscopic viewing of these images, multiple stereoscopic images with different viewing directions were observed at once. Anatomical relationships of the vessels were more clearly understood than usual stereoscopic viewing. This multi-directional stereo viewing method is useful to display not only the MR angiographic images but also other multi-viewing techniques.

Blood Vessels

Characterization of EGTA-washed synaptosomal membrane with emphasis on its calmodulin-binding proteins. Demonstration of possible reconstitution with added calcium/calmodulin.

Endogenous calmodulin (CaM) in the EGTA-washed cerebral-cortical synaptosomal membrane (SM) preparation was estimated below 3 micrograms/ml protein by the semiquantitative immunoblot analysis (Natsukari, N., Ohta, H. and Fujita, M. (1989) J. Immunol. Methods 125, 159-166). Membrane-bound CaM was immunoelectron-microscopically demonstrated in EGTA-washed, non-treated (control), and Ca(2+)-treated cerebral-cortical synaptosomal membranes (SM) as well as for the SM enriched with added CaM. The density of CaM increased in the above order. CaM-dependent adenylate cyclase and CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II) activities were restored, whereas the phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was not affected by exogenous CaM over all the Ca2+ concentrations tested. Adenylate cyclase at pCa 6.2 was synergistically activated either by GTP and CaM or by CaM and beta-adrenergic agonist, (+/-)-isoproterenol, reflecting the intactness of signal transduction pathway in the SM. Also demonstrated were the presence of protein kinase A, CaM-kinase II, and their endogenous substrates in the SM. Based on 32P-autoradiography and 125I-CaM overlay data certain CaM-binding proteins such as CaM-kinase II and synapsin I were identified on SDS-PAGE. Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent CaMBPs were distinguished by 125I-CaM gel overlay with and without Ca2+. The former had bigger molecular size (greater than or equal to 49 kDa) than the latter (less than or equal to 34 kDa). Yield of Ca(2+)-dependent CaMBPs was not affected by Ca2+ concentration during preparation of the SM while that of Ca(2+)-independent CaMBPs was reduced by exposure to 100 microM Ca2+. In contrast with the CaMBPs of brain SM, those of enterocyte and eyrthrocyte plasma membranes especially, microvillous membrane of the enterocyte, showed quite distinct CaMBP profiles. The present findings suggested that the EGTA-washed SM preparation made a useful system for studying the role of CaM in the brain SM.

Adenylyl Cyclases

Intrahepatic venous and portal venous aneurysms examined by color Doppler flow imaging.

Thirteen cases with liver cystic lesions, which were suspected to communicate with intrahepatic vessels on the basis of ordinary sonography, were examined by color Doppler flow imaging. By this method, blood flow within the cystic lesion was detected in 5 of these cases, and the communication to the intrahepatic vessel confirmed. Information about the hemodynamics of aneurysms was obtained. Two of these lesions were diagnosed as an aneurysmal porta-hepatic venous fistula, another 2 as a portal venous aneurysm, and the remaining 1 as a hepatic venous aneurysm.

Aneurysm

Expression of cadherin cell adhesion molecules during human skin development: morphogenesis of epidermis, hair follicles and eccrine sweat ducts.

Expression of E (epithelia) and P (placental) cadherin cell adhesion molecules was examined immunohistochemically using human developing skin. In adult skin, E-cadherin was expressed on cell surfaces of whole epidermal layers including skin appendages, whereas P-cadherin was expressed only on those of basal layers and the outer layers of skin appendages, which was consistent with the compartment of proliferating cells. In fetal skin, while the patterns of E- and P-cadherin expression were generally similar to those in the adult, P-cadherin temporarily showed a unique spatiotemporal expression pattern in developing sweat ducts. During this stage, the expression of P-cadherin accumulated in the epidermal ridges and showed a discrepancy with the compartment of proliferating cells. These results suggest that the expression of P-cadherin is spatiotemporally controlled, and may be closely related to the segregation of basal layers as well as to the arrangement of epidermal cells into eccrine sweat ducts, but is not closely related to cell proliferation.

Adult

Immunohistochemical localization of proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin in human skin.

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin (PCNA/cyclin) in skin tissue specimens and cultured keratinocytes was studied using a monospecific antibody, obtained from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, and a monoclonal antibody. Indirect immunofluorescent staining revealed that cultured keratinocytes obtained from human foreskins expressed PCNA/cyclin as variable nuclear patterns in 15-30% of the cells. In normal human skin tissue specimens, PCNA/cyclin was demonstrated in only a few basal cells. Interestingly, PCNA/cyclin was expressed strongly in almost all the cells of the lowest layer of the epidermis adjacent to squamous cell carcinomas, whereas the tumor aggregates themselves had no positive staining. In contrast, no such characteristic staining was demonstrated in specimens of basal cell carcinoma. The staining pattern of PCNA/cyclin was different from that of Ki-67 in the skin tissue specimens. Our results suggest that PCNA/cyclin could be a useful marker of cell proliferation.

Antigens, Neoplasm

Effectiveness of Lipiodol in transcatheter arterial embolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The effectiveness of Lipiodol (iodized oil) in transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was retrospectively evaluated using statistical analysis. A total of 343 HCC patients who underwent TAE at 5 institutions between 1984 and 1989 were divided into 2 groups: the GS-TAE group underwent TAE with Gelfoam sponge alone, whereas the LP-TAE group was given Lipiodol (LP) immediately before GS-TAE. The statistical T value calculated for the LP-TAE group showed that the administration of LP, the tumor size, intrahepatic metastasis, portal vein infiltration, and serum total bilirubin and alpha-fetoprotein levels significantly (P < 0.01) affected the patients' survival. Both the cumulative survival determined using the Kaplan-Meier model and the cumulative hazard calculated using Cox's proportional hazard model differed significantly (P < 0.01) between the GS-TAE group and the LP-TAE group (log-rank test). These results confirmed the effectiveness of LP used in combination with Gelfoam sponge for TAE of HCC.

Aged