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Biomedical subjects

S Fujimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujimura.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Prognostic value of nucleolar protein p120 in patients with resected lung adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: In this study we investigated the prognostic significance of proliferation-associated nucleolar protein p120 in primary resected lung adenocarcinoma because it reflects tumor growth fractions in vitro. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expression levels of p120 in tumors were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 74 patients who underwent radical resection. With clinical follow-up data, the prognostic significance of p120 calculated by labeling indices was evaluated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: p120 protein was clearly detected in nucleoli of adenocarcinoma cells. Its expression levels widely varied in each sample from 8.5% to 67. 2%, with a mean +/- SD of 35.2% +/- 15.1%. No significant correlation was found between expression levels of p120 and clinicopathologic factors. However, the expression levels of p120 were negatively correlated with the tumor doubling time calculated with retrospective chest roentgenograms. Using a cutoff value of 35% in the labeling index of p120, patients with high expression of p120 experienced early recurrence and shorter survival compared with those who had low expression of p120. Multivariate analysis showed that p120 served as an independent, as well as the strongest, prognostic factor for resected lung adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: This report provides the first evidence that expression levels of p120 in tumor tissues can be used as an independent and powerful prognostic marker for resected lung adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Alpha-adrenergic blockade in preventing posttransplant edema of lung allograft.

Effect of alpha-adrenergic blockers on pulmonary edema in lung transplantation was studied with a rat model of syngeneic left lung transplantation. Prior to harvesting, 0.1 mg of Prazosin or 0.4 mg of Yohimbine was given to the donor. Pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics were measured under the right pulmonary arterial occlusion (RPAO) at different time points after grafting. Wet to dry weight ratio (W/D) of all transplants was also calculated. Same procedure was conducted in rats with normal and ischemic lung and in transplanted animals without any treatments. While RPAO did not increase W/D in normal lung with a significant elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), both these values significantly increased in transplanted lung. Transplanted animals could not tolerate RPAO 24 hours after grafting, but were tolerable later than 48 hours with elevated W/D and PAP. On the contrary, animals given Prazosin or Yohimbine were all tolerable at 24 hours postsurgery. Yohimbine significantly improved W/D. Consequently, it was demonstrated that pulmonary edema of the graft reached its peak during first 24 to 48 hours after transplantation and was alleviated by the blockade of alpha-adrenergic receptor in the graft vessel.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1999

Stimulated neutrophils evoke signal transduction to increase vascular permeability in rat lungs.

The mechanisms by which stimulated neutrophils (PMNs) damage pulmonary vascular endothelium were investigated using twenty-four perfused lung preparations isolated from rats. We tested the ability of unstimulated and mechanically stimulated PMNs to adhere to pulmonary endothelial cells and, thereby, alter pulmonary vascular permeability (measured as the pulmonary filtration coefficient) and hemodynamics. To stimulate PMNs, they were gently agitated in a glass vial for 10 seconds. Perfusing lungs with the stimulated PMNs (stimulated group) elicited a 3-fold increase in the filtration coefficient as compared to lungs perfused with unstimulated cells (unstimulated group). This increase in filtration was completely blocked by preincubation of stimulated PMNs with CD18 monoclonal antibody (MoAb group). This increase in filtration coefficient was also completely blocked by GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor (GF group). Pulmonary vascular resistance increased when the stimulated PMNs were injected to the isolated lungs. Although, preincubation of stimulated PMNs with CD18 MoAb successfully blocked and GF109203X partly blocked this increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. The accumulation of stimulated PMNs within the lungs, as assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, was blocked by preincubation of stimulated PMNs with CD18 MoAb. However, GF109203X did not decrease MPO levels. These findings suggest that stimulated PMN-induced increases in pulmonary vascular filtration, resulted from endothelial cell injury caused by adhesion to the endothelial cells, evoke intracellular signaling within the endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The significance of NSE and CEA as a differentiation marker for the cellular heterogeneity of small cell lung cancer.

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the culture supernatant of the 65 pulmonary carcinoma cell lines: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) 18, large cell carcinoma 14, squamous cell carcinoma 14, adenocarcinoma 14 and adenosquamous cell carcinoma 5, were measured by a radioimmunoassay (RIA). The mean value of NSE was 30.8+/-22.4 ng/ml and 9.2+/-8.7 ng/ml in SCLC and non-SCLC, respectively. The mean value of CEA was 15.1+/-20.9 ng/ml and 26.6+/-72.3 ng/ml in SCLC and non-SCLC, respectively. A significant difference in NSE levels was obtained between SCLC cell lines and non-SCLC cell lines. In SCLC cell lines, a significant inverse proportional correlation was observed between NSE and CEA levels. The CEA production tended to be higher in cells with low levels of NSE than in those with high NSE production. With respect to correlation between marker production and growth characteristics of SCLC cells in vitro, significantly higher NSE and lower CEA levels were found in cells growing with floating colony or neurite like characteristics (classic cell type) than those in cells with epithelial or intermediate growth characteristics (variant cell type). A significant positive correlation between NSE levels and the survival periods was found in follow-up studies of 10 patients who underwent surgery with complete resection of the primary tumor. All of 4 long term survivors over 3 years after surgery had significantly high NSE and relatively low CEA producing tumors. The relationship of these markers to clinical status of the patient suggests that an analysis for correlation of NSE and CEA levels in SCLC patients may be useful to discriminate between a pure neuroendocrine SCLC tumor and a mixed small cell/large cell tumor, and in monitoring therapeutic effect and prognosis of each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Adenovirus-mediated delivery of the PTEN gene inhibits cell growth by induction of apoptosis in endometrial cancer.

PTEN, a gene encoding a dual specificity phosphatase, is frequently altered in endometrial carcinoma. Moreover, these alterations are observed even in atypical hyperplasia of the endometrium. This evidence suggests that mutation of PTEN is an early genetic alteration involved in endometrial carcinogenesis. Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer was carried out using Ishikawa 3 H 12 and RL95-2, the endometrial cancer cell lines with completely inactivated PTEN, together with endometrial cancer cell lines HEC1-A and KLE expressing wild-type PTEN as the control. The PTEN transgene significantly suppressed cell growth in vitro through induction of apoptosis in cells lacking wild-type PTEN. Furthermore, the ex vivo tumor formation by Ishikawa 3 H 12 cells was completely inhibited by the introduction of wild-type PTEN. However, neither regression nor progression was observed in inoculated tumors of either cell line by in vivo introduction of the PTEN gene. These results suggest that PTEN may be a good candidate for gene therapy in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1999

[Experience with surgery for congenital esophago-bronchial fistula with esophageal diverticulum in adult].

A 65-year-old female was admitted into our department with complaint of bloody sputum. An upper G-I series examinations and thoracic CT demonstrated an esophago-bronchial fistula with diverticulum located between the mid-esophagus and right B6. Following postero-lateral thoracostomy, the fistula was surgically removed and right lower lobectomy was carried out. No inflammatory changes were found in the surrounding tissues of the fistula and the diverticulum. Histological examination revealed that the fistula wall contained squamous epithelium and muscularis mucosa. These results suggested that this case was congenital esophago-bronchial fistula categorized as Braimbridge type I.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Management of mycobacteriosis in general hospital without isolation ward for tuberculosis patients. Clinical study on pulmonary tuberculosis associated with lung cancer patients].

Sixteen of 758 lung cancer in patients (2.1%) were found to have coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis. Of the above 16 of 758 patients (fifteen men and one woman), 4 of 214 patients (1.9%) were found from 1988 to 1989, and 12 of 544 patients (2.2%) from 1991 to 1994. In six patients, pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer were found at the same time by clinical work up. In five cases each, pulmonary tuberculosis preceded lung cancer, and lung cancer preceded pulmonary tuberculosis, respectively. Ten patients had adenocarcinoma, 4 had squamous cell carcinoma, and one each had large cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, respectively. Five patients were in stage "II", one in "IIIa", two in "IIIb", and eight in "IV" of clinical stage of lung cancer. As regards extent of pulmonary tuberculosis, one patient was in category "II" of the classification of the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis, 13 were in "III", and two were in "IV". Among 544 lung cancer patients from 1991 to 1994, 9 of 151 patients (6.0%) with a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis, had active pulmonary tuberculosis, and 3 of 393 patients (0.8%) with no history of pulmonary tuberculosis, had active pulmonary tuberculosis (statistically significant; p < 0.005). Five smear-positive patients were transferred to a tuberculosis hospital or a tuberculosis ward, and the remaining 11 patients were treated in isolation in the ward where they were. The efficacy of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy was almost comparable to that in patients without lung cancer. However, prognosis was poor, in line with that of lung cancer. Main discussion was devoted to the reason why the incidence (in association with tuberculosis) of adenocarcinoma exceeded that of squamous cell carcinoma in our present study at variance with the studies of other investigators.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[Investigation of postoperative death after lung resection for lung cancer caused by interstitial pneumonia].

We investigated interstitial pneumonia, one of the most severe postoperative acute complications of respiratory surgery. In sixteen years, from 1982 through 1997, 2,453 cases underwent thoracotomies caused by lung cancers, in our institute. There were 20 cases (0.79%) who died within 30 days after surgery (operative death). Six out of 20 cases died of interstitial pneumonia, one of the most frequent postoperative complications. We examined these six patients and 2 patients with postoperative interstitial pneumonia who died within 32 days. Preoperative lung function tests, laboratory data, chest CT and/or chest X-ray films cannot predict development of postoperative interstitial pneumonia. Those who acquired postoperative interstitial pneumonia had continuous high fever after surgery following reticular shadows on their chest X-ray and increase in LDH levels. We could not detect any characteristic viral infections. Although, they were treated by steroid, elastase inhibitor and/or immune suppressant, they died within 32 days. In conclusion, development of postoperative of interstitial pneumonia cannot be predicted from preoperative laboratory data and/or lung function tests.

Female↗
PubMed1999

Comparative analysis of HPLC profile of cytosolic thymidine kinase activity between hepatoma and regenerating liver in rat with reference to phosphorylation.

Thymidine kinase (TK) activity in rat hepatoma JB1 and AH136B was mainly due to cytosolic TK and was much higher than that in rat regenerating liver. Two forms of cytosolic TK, designated as TK-I and TK-II, were revealed in addition to mitochondrial TK in anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the enzyme extract from hepatoma JB1. During incubation of the enzyme extract at 20 degrees C in the presence of phosphatase inhibitor NaF, TK-II activity remained while TK-I activity almost disappeared. Thus, TK-II appeared to be more stable than TK-I. In Western blot analysis, TK-II was much more phosphorylated and exhibiting higher specific activity than TK-I. Meanwhile, regenerating liver derived from the rat 24 h after partial hepatectomy showed only TK-I activity, which completely disappeared after incubation at 20 degrees C even in the presence of NaF. Consequently, the presence of TK-II might account for the higher TK activity in hepatomas than in regenerating liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[A case report of double roentgenographically occult lung cancer revealed by postsurgical pathological study].

A 66-year-old man admitted to our hospital as a roentgenographically occult lung cancer (ROLC) detected by sputum cytology of class IV. A differential brushing of all branches of the bronchi was performed and squamous cell carcinoma was detected only from the right B8 segmental bronchus. Right lower lobectomy was performed and the microscopic findings of surgical specimen revealed the squamous cell carcinomas were seen at not only B8 bronchus but also B7 bronchus. The frequency of multicentricity of ROLC is reported to be high, and a differential bronchial brushing of all bronchi is a very powerful method to diagnose synchronous multiple lung cancer. However, we failed to detect a cancer lesion of B7 segmental bronchus in this case. Since, the outcomes of surgical treatments for either synchronous or metachronous multiple primary lung cancer are satisfactory, limited surgical treatments might be appropriate as an initial treatment for a ROLC.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[The pattern of mediastinal nodal involvement in lung cancer according to tumor-located lobe].

To clarify the pathway of the metastases from each pulmonary lobe to mediastinal nodes, we examined the pattern of mediastinal nodal involvement in 462 resected pN2 non-small cell lung cancer. Carcinomas of the right upper lobe frequently involved #3 (78/133) and #4 (70/133) nodes, whereas those of the right middle or lower lobe frequently metastasized to #7 nodes (18/23 and 86/113, respectively). On the other hand, carcinoma of left upper lobe frequently involved #5 nodes (81/118), whereas those of the left lower lobe most frequently metastasized to #7 nodes (50/75). Of 462 pN2 patients, 95 (20.6%) had skip metastases to the mediastinal nodes. Skip metastasis was observed more frequently in carcinomas of right upper and middle lobe. One of the reasons of skip metastasis may be the direct lymph drainage through subpleural space to mediastinum.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMed1999

Intact alveolar epithelial permeability and transalveolar fluid absorption after thoracic irradiation in rats.

We have addressed the question of how the alveolar space stays relatively free of fluid when thoracic irradiation injures the pulmonary capillary endothelium and plasma fluid leaks into the interstitium. A single dose of 15 Gy to the thorax of rats significantly increased the pulmonary capillary filtration coefficient and the lung wet/dry weight ratio 2 h after irradiation. However, there was no significant increase in the release of lactose dehydrogenase or leaking of Evans blue dye into the alveolar space, indicating that alveolar epithelial permeability remained intact. We found no significant difference in the basal alveolar fluid clearance between control and irradiated animals. There was also no significant difference in blockage of alveolar fluid clearance by amiloride. This indicates that the function of the alveolar epithelial Na(+) channels is not impaired and that alveolar epithelium absorbs fluid normally. Examination of lung tissue by light microscopy demonstrated accumulation of fluid in the perivascular region but not in the alveolar space. Our data appear to indicate that the alveolar epithelial barrier function is more resistant to radiation than that of the pulmonary capillary endothelium. We conclude that intact alveolar epithelial permeability and normal transalveolar epithelial fluid absorption ability are of critical importance in keeping the alveolar space relatively free of fluid during acute radiation lung injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Vocal fold injection of collagen for unilateral vocal fold paralysis caused by chest diseases.

BACKGROUND: Patients having malignant chest diseases sometimes suffer from vocal fold paralysis. Treatment for vocal fold paralysis is important for such patients, because vocal fold paralysis causes lack of the versatility of the human voice which is essential for our communication. METHODS: Seventeen patients suffering from unilateral vocal fold paralysis were treated with vocal fold injections of collagen. Three patients received twice, and 20 treatments were conducted. A flexible bronchofiberscope was used under local anesthesia in order to observe the whole procedure of vocal fold injection. Using an injector and a long needle, collagen was injected with transcutaneous technique mainly through the cricothyroid membrane. The amount of collagen was determined with bronchoscopic findings. RESULTS: During and after treatment, no complication was observed. Of 20 treatments, a marked improvement was observed in 8, and moderate improvement was observed in 9 treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Vocal fold injection of collagen is a very useful and safe treatment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis caused by chest diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[In vitro activity of biapenem (BIPM) against clinically isolated respiratory pathogens in 1996-1998].

The in vitro antibacterial activity of biapenem (BIPM), a new carbapenem antibiotic, was compared with those of imipenem (IPM), panipenem (PAPM), meropenem (MEPM), ceftazidime (CAZ) and piperacillin (PIPC) against 280 isolates of 9 respiratory pathogens. The MIC90s of biapenem (BIPM) for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Haemophilus influenzae were 0.12, 32, 0.25, 0.06, 4 and 8 micrograms/ml, respectively. In comparison with other antibiotics, the activity of biapenem (BIPM) for P. aeruginosa was as potent as meropenem (MEPM), but for H. influenzae it was slightly less than those of other antibiotics, and for other respiratory pathogens it was as potent as those of other antibiotics. The MIC90s of biapenem (BIPM) for Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens were 0.06, 1, 1, 0.5 microgram/ml, respectively, and which were equal to or somewhat lower than those of other antibiotics. Biapenem (BIPM) showed strong activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, especially P. aeruginosa in general. Based on these results, biapenem (BIPM) is seemed to be highly useful antibiotic for the treatment of respiratory infections with several organism.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1998

Comparative properties of envelope-associated arginine-gingipains and lysine-gingipain of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Two arginine specific proteinases (Arg-gingipain [RGP-A, RGP-B]) and a lysine specific proteinase (Lys-gingipain [KGP]) were purified from materials of the envelope of Porphyromonas gingivalis solubilized by a detergent by the sequential procedures of ion-exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and isoelectric focusing. Each purified enzyme showed a single stained band on SDS-PAGE. The three enzymes were commonly activated by reducing reagents such as mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol and cysteine. RGP-B was activated markedly by glycyl-glycine and KGP was activated significantly by EDTA. Both RGP-A and RGP-B were inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), N-ethylmaleimide, EDTA, leupeptin, L-trans-epoxy-succinylleucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane and antipain. KGP was inhibited by p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide and TLCK. The molecular masses of RGP-A and RGP-B were the same (43 kDa), and that of KGP was 48 kDa. The hydrolytic activities of RGPs and KGP to chromogenic synthetic substrates were limited to the compounds with arginine and lysine in the P-1 positions, respectively. When IgG was treated with the three enzymes separately, it was demonstrated that two new fragments of 34 kDa and 15 kDa were generated in each reaction product. Hemoglobin was almost exhaustively digested by RGP-B, but substantial degradation could not be induced by RGP-A or KGP treatment.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗