Biomedical subjects

On Fukui

Publications and source records attributed to On Fukui.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Post-ischemic hypothermia reduced IL-18 expression and suppressed microglial activation in the immature brain.

Inflammation is an important factor for hypoxia-ischemia (HI) brain injury. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine which may be a contributor to injury in the immature brain after HI. To investigate the effects of post-HI hypothermia on IL-18 in the developing brain, 7-day-old rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by 8% oxygen for 60 min and divided into a hypothermia group (rectal temperature 32 degrees C for 24 h) and a normothermia group (36 degrees C for 24 h). The IL-18 mRNA was analyzed with real-time RT-PCR, and the protein level was analyzed by Western blot, and the location and source of IL-18 were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The significant increase of the IL-18 mRNA was observed in the ipsilateral hemispheres of the normothermia group at 24 h and 72 h after HI compared with controls, but the level in the ipsilateral hemispheres of the hypothermia group was significantly reduced at both time points, compared with the normothermia group, respectively. The IL-18 protein level in the ipsilateral hemispheres of the normothermia group significantly increased at 72 h after HI compared with controls, however, the protein level of the hypothermia group was significantly decreased, compared with the normothermia group. IL-18-positive cells were observed throughout the entire cortex, corpus callosum (CC) and striatum in the ipsilateral hemispheres of normothermia group at 72 h after HI, however, little positive cells were observed in the hypothermia group. Double labeling immunostaining found that most of the IL-18-positive cells were colocalized with lectin, which is a marker of microglia. The number of ameboid microglia (AM) in the normothermia group was significantly increased in cortex and CC, compared with the number in controls, but there were very few ramified microglia (RM) in these areas. In contrast, the number of AM in the hypothermia group was significantly decreased in cortex and CC, compared with the number in the normothermia group, and there were no significant differences in the number of AM and RM between the hypothermia group and controls. In conclusion, we found that IL-18 mRNA and the protein level were attenuated by post-HI hypothermia and that post-HI hypothermia may decrease microglia activation in the developing brain.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

A decrease of cell proliferation by hypothermia in the hippocampus of the neonatal rat.

Hypothermia is a potential therapy for cerebral hypoxic ischemic injury of not only adults but also neonates. However, the side effects of hypothermia in the developing brain, where a massive amount of neurogenesis occurs, remain unclear. We investigated the proliferation of neural progenitor cells by systemic application of the thymidine analog 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in neonatal rats in a severe hypothermic environment. The rat pups were divided into two groups, a hypothermia group (30 degrees C: n=10) and a normothermia group (37 degrees C: n=10). After the pups were placed for 21 h in each environment, 100 mg/kg/day of BrdU was injected intraperitoneally to label dividing cells, and then the pups were sacrificed at 24 h. We examined the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the subventricular zone of the periventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. In the hypothermic environment, BrdU-labeled cells significantly decreased in number in the dentate gyrus, but not in the periventricular region. Thus, the severe hypothermic environment induced a decrease of neurogenesis in the neonatal rat. These observations are noteworthy regarding clinical hypothermia therapy following cerebral hypoxic ischemic injury during the perinatal period.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

Counterclockwise barber-pole sign on prenatal three-dimensional power Doppler sonography in a case of duodenal obstruction without intestinal malrotation.

Three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler sonographic imaging provides a 3D view of the blood vessels. This technique reportedly has advantages over other forms of sonography in visualizing normal and abnormal fetal vascular anatomy. We report the case of a 36-year-old pregnant woman in whom 3D power Doppler sonography with simultaneous gray-scale imaging was performed at 32 weeks' gestational age to investigate an intestinal obstruction in the fetus that was suspected on the basis of 2-dimensional sonographic findings. The 3D sonograms revealed that the superior mesenteric artery and vein of the fetus were wound counterclockwise, forming the "barber-pole" sign. At 38 weeks' menstrual age, the female infant was delivered vaginally. Only duodenal atresia and annular pancreas, but not intestinal malrotation, were found postnatally. Surgical reconstruction of the duodenum was performed, with no major complications. Previous research suggests that the counterclockwise barber-pole sign is a normal finding. On the basis of our case, we believe that this "negative finding" might be used to exclude the diagnosis of midgut volvulus, a condition that would be expected to cause these vessels to wrap around in a clockwise direction.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Expression of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube and of CX3CR1 in sperm.

BACKGROUND: Fractalkine is a CX(3)C chemokine that has chemoattractant activity for T cells, monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. The objective of this study was 2-fold: to evaluate (i) the presence of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube and (ii) the existence of CX(3)CR1 (fractalkine receptor) in ejaculated sperm. METHODS AND RESULTS: Western blot analysis revealed that fractalkine protein was detected as a 95 kDa band in the isthmus, the ampulla and the infundibulum of the Fallopian tube. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive staining of epithelial cells in the Fallopian tube. RT-PCR demonstrated that fractalkine transcripts were expressed in all parts of the Fallopian tube. RT-PCR also revealed that CX(3)CR1-positive cells were present in the Fallopian tube. CX(3)CR1-positive cells were present in the stroma of the Fallopian tube. The villi of the ciliated cells were positively stained. To determine the function of fractalkine in the Fallopian tube, we examined whether CX(3)CR1 was present in ejaculated sperm. RT-PCR demonstrated that CX(3)CR1 transcripts were expressed in the ejaculated sperm. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positive staining of the tail of the spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that fractalkine in the Fallopian tube contributes to the immunodefence mechanism during fertilization and to the sperm motion in the oviduct.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Low-density lipoprotein particle diameter in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

We investigated the changes of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) size and serum lipids during pregnancy and postpartum not only in normal pregnant women but also in preeclampsia. Serum triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol levels as well as serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, apolipoprotein (Apo) A1, B, E and remnant-like particle (RLP)-cholesterol levels were increased in normal pregnant women. The LDL peak particle diameter (PPD) in normal pregnant women was decreased during pregnancy and that at 37 weeks of gestation showed significant decrease compared with the women at 4 weeks after delivery (25.8 +/- 1.0 vs.26.8 +/- 0.7 nm, p < 0.05). The LDL-PPD in the preeclamptic women at admission (mean gestational age: 36 +/- 2.4 weeks) was significantly lower than that in normal pregnancy at 37 weeks of gestation (24.7 +/- 1.2 vs. 25.8 +/- 1.0 nm, p < 0.05). Moreover, the LDL-PPD in the preeclamptic women was significantly higher after delivery compared with the level at admission (27. +/- 0.7 vs. 24.7 +/- 1.2 nm, p < 0.05) accompanied by an improvement in plasma lipids profile. These findings suggest that the predominance of small, dense LDL, a potential contributor to endothelial dysfunction, may be a possible predictor of preeclampsia.

Female↗