Biomedical subjects

S Fujimura

Publications and source records attributed to S Fujimura.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Increased hepatic nicotinamide N-methyltransferase activity as a marker of cancer cachexia in mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma.

When a cachexigenic subclone (clone 20) of murine colon 26 adenocarcinoma was transplanted into female BALB/c mice, hepatic NNMT activity continued to increase until death in proportion to progressive carcass weight loss, a marker of cancer cachexia. On the other hand, noncachexigenic subclone (clone 5)-transplanted mice showed neither increase of NNMT activity nor carcass weight loss. Among cytostatic fluorinated pyrimidines, 5'-dFUrd could inhibit the increase of NNMT activity and prevent weight loss in mice bearing clone 20. On the other hand, 2'-dFUrd did not show these effects. 5-FUra and Tegafur inhibited the increase of NNMT activity at higher concentrations. These findings suggest that the levels of hepatic NNMT activity are closely associated with the degree of weight loss, and they appear to be a useful marker of cancer cachexia.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

Purification and properties of a bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque.

An extracellular bacteriocin of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from dental plaque was purified and characterized. Its molecular mass was 3500 Da and pI was 10.5. This bacteriocin inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus mitis, but Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and other oral indigenous bacterial species examined were not inhibited. The mode of inhibition was found to be bacteriostatic.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1998

Expression of inhibin alpha-subunit in horse testis.

Inhibin is believed to play roles in the pituitary secretion of FSH and in the paracrine regulation of testicular function. Although it has been generally accepted that inhibin is produced in Sertoli cells, there was a recent evidence for the localization of inhibin in Leydig cells of primates, rat and sheep. However, there is no report on the expression of inhibin in the adult horse testis. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and in situ hybridization techniques, the present study examined inhibin alpha-subunit (Ih-alpha) expression in the adult horse testis. For the detection of Ih-alpha protein, we used anti-porcine Ih-alpha antibody in immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Furthermore, digoxigenin-labeled complementary RNA probes were prepared to detect intracellular messenger RNA (mRNA) of Ih-alpha. Immunostainings for Ih-alpha were found not only in Leydig cells but also in Sertoli cells. The intensity in Leydig cells was stronger than in Sertoli cells. Immunoreactivities for Ih-alpha were found at approximately 46 kDa, 56 kDa and 90 kDa in the homogenates from testicular interstitial tissues. The bands at 56 kDa and 90 kDa agree with previous report, but not at 46 kDa. Signals for mRNA of Ih-alpha by in situ hybridization were detected in Leydig cells and in the basal region of seminiferous epithelium including Sertoli cells. These results suggest that Ih-alpha is expressed in Leydig cells and Sertoli cells of horse testis, and the expression level should be higher in Leydig cells than Sertoli cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Modulating activity of indomethacin to vincristine cytotoxicity in various human carcinoma cells.

The modulating activity of indomethacin to vincristine (VCR) was investigated in thirty human pulmonary carcinoma cell lines (adenocarcinoma 9, large cell carcinoma 9, squamous cell carcinoma 6, small cell carcinoma 6) and five other cell lines (colon carcinoma 2, melanoma 1, teratocarcinoma 1, thymoma 1). The survival of these cell lines treated with VCR with or without indomethacin (2 microg/ml) for 72 hours were examined using MTT assay, and IC50 values were calculated. When the cutoff level of potent combined effect in clinical use was set at 2-fold increase of sensitivity, the positive rate was 100% for adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas, 25% for squamous cell carcinomas, 33% for small cell carcinomas. Mean modulating index was 2.91 in adenocarcinomas, 1.92 in squamous cell carcinomas, 3.06 in large cell carcinomas and 1.67 in small cell carcinomas. Of the cell lines of other tumors, three cell lines (colon carcinoma 1, melanoma 1, teratocarcinoma 1) showed the potent combined effect of VCR and indomethacin, while indomethacin was not effective in modulating activity to VCR in a thymoma cell line and fibroblast cells. In conclusion, it is considered that modulating activity of indomethacin for VCR is a general effect for various human cancer cells, and combined use with VCR and indomethacin may be a useful modulation therapy for the advanced lung cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Specificity of 4'''-acetylation by an aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme in arbekacin-resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Four arbekacin (ABK)-resistant clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were studied regarding their mechanism of aminoglycoside-resistance. Metabolites of amikacin (AMK) and gentamicin(GM) were obtained by reaction with excess amounts of crude enzyme preparation extracted from the ABK-resistant MRSA strains. Then the metabolites were then isolated and analyzed by means of 1H, 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance. The AMK-modification was 4'''-N-acetylation. However, the site of GM-acetylation may be 6'-N-position by these strains.

Acetylation↗

PubMed1998

Effects of troglitazone on the growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cell lines.

Troglitazone (Tro), one of the thiazolidinediones, is a novel antidiabetic agent for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tro is a specific ligand of PPARgamma, the nuclear receptor that regulates the growth and differentiation of cells at the transcriptional level. We attempted to investigate the effect of Tro on HL-60 and other hematopoietic cell lines and thus found HL-60 cells to be arrested at the G1 phase and to differentiate into monocytes. In addition, apoptosis was also induced by Tro at higher concentrations. The G1 arrest was induced in all the hematopoietic cell lines examined while differentiation into the monocytic lineage was observed not only in the myelogenous and promonocytic cell lines but also in an erythroleukemia cell line.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Lung transplantation: present international status and basic approach].

Lung transplantation has been established as an optional treatment for irreversible diffuse lung disease. To date, more than 8,000 patients have undergone lung transplantation, while heart-lung transplantation is confined to a very limited number of cases due to the severe shortage of donors. There are various problems in clinical lung transplantation, including limited preservation time, post-transplantation edema, acute and chronic rejection, and a shortage of donor organs. Several solutions to these problems have been found in recent experimental studies. For example, potential therapies for posttransplantation edema have been proposed, and the possibility of long-term preservation has been suggested. Research on xenotransplantation and cadaveric lung transplantation is ongoing, and this may result in options to solve the problem of the shortage of donor organs. In particular, we believe that cadaveric lung transplantation has the potential to become a clinically useful therapy in the near future.

Child↗

PubMed1998

[Preoperative endovascular ultrasonography in lung cancer patient for detecting aortic wall invasion: a case report].

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of left primary lung cancer. As tumor invasion to the descending artery was suspected, preoperative endovascular ultrasonography was performed. Part of the wall lacked respiratory movement. However, the wall of the descending artery was visualized as three layers, i.e., hyper-, hypo- and hyperechoic layers by sonography, so tumor invasion to the descending artery was diagnosed as negative. Although inflammatory tumor adhesion to the descending artery was found, left upper lobectomy was safely performed. Endovascular ultrasonography was considered to be useful in marking an accurate diagnosis of tumor invasion to the descending artery.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Identification of a 910-kb region of common allelic loss in chromosome bands 16q24.1-q24.2 in human lung cancer.

To understand the molecular pathogenesis of human lung cancer, we analyzed allelic deletions on the long arm of chromosome 16 by PCR amplification of microsatellite markers. A total of 203 lung cancer specimens (78 squamous cell carcinomas and 125 adenocarcinomas) were analyzed. In both cell types, a common region of allelic loss was identified in 16q24.1-q24.2; it is flanked by the two markers D16S534 and D16S422 that spanned at most 910 kb. These results were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. There was no correlation between allelic loss and histopathologic diagnosis or clinical stage. These results suggest the existence of a tumor-suppressor gene that plays an important role in the course of carcinogenesis in both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lungs.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Increase in pulmonary vascular permeability caused by increased adhesiveness of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and superoxide].

We report that mechanical stimulation of human neutrophils results in their accumulation in isolated rat lungs and in an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. To determine whether reactive oxygen species were involved in this increase and, if so, whether it is mediate by xanthine oxidase metabolites, we assessed the effect of stimulated and unstimulated neutrophils, and of a superoxide scavenger, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, allopurinol (ALLO) on pulmonary vascular permeability in isolated perfused lungs from Sprague-Dawley rats. Pulmonary vascular permeability in isolated rat lungs was assessed using a filtration coefficient determined by gravimetry. To quantify neutrophil accumulation in the lung, we measured myeloperoxydase (MPO). Neutrophils were stimulated by gentle agitation in a glass container for 10 s and Mac-1 was subsequently upregulated on the surface of the neutrophils. In lungs that received stimulated neutrophils, the pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient was about 5 times higher than in lungs that received unstimulated neutrophils. An increase in filtration coefficient was almost completely blocked by pretreatment with SOD or ALLO. However, the accumulation of stimulated neutrophils was not, or only partly, blocked by SOD or ALLO, respectively. We conclude that the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability caused by mechanically stimulated neutrophils was partly mediated by reactive oxygen species generated via the xanthine oxidase system.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Surgical treatment for multiple bilateral pulmonary metastatic tumors].

To date, 162 patients with metastatic pulmonary tumors have undergone surgical treatment in our institute (93 carcinomas, 51 sarcomas, 17 germ cell tumors, 1 melanoma). Of these, 57 and 105 had solitary and multiple lesions, respectively, at their first surgery. Five of 57 patients developed additional lesions later. The incidence of multiple pulmonary metastases was higher in sarcoma than in cancer patients, and the prognosis after surgical treatment was found to be significantly better in cancer than in sarcoma for patients with multiple lesions. However, no significant difference was observed between the survival of those with solitary and multiple lesions. The number of lesions found at surgery was greater than that calculated based on preoperative chest CT scans, and the discrepancy was greater when lesions exceeded 10 in number. However, the increase in the number of metastatic lesions found did not affect the surgical results. There was also no statistical difference in survival between patients with bilateral and unilateral lesions. In contrast, those who underwent complete had a significantly better prognosis than those who underwent incomplete resection at surgery.

Carcinoma↗

PubMed1998

[An experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for an intrapulmonary needle under CT-guided marking].

A 46-year-old female visited a near hospital, complaining of repeating skin eruption with spontaneous remission. A chest X-ray and CT examinations revealed a needle in the left S6, about 5 mm in length, which was suspected of causing the eruption. She was admitted to our hospital for operation. After CT-guided marking, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed. Because the needle was too small to be palpable, we decided to respect of it with the lung surrounding the marker and clamped the lung, followed by finding the needle finally. The analysis of the removed needle showed that it contained lead and tin besides iron, nickel and chromium, which are components of stainless steel. Although dermatological examination could not reveal the relation between the needle and the eruption, it has never recurred since the operation. It is thought that CT-guided marking is very useful for resection of an intrapulmonary needle and that a foreign body should be removed for the possibility of being harmful.

Endoscopy↗

PubMed1998

[Gamma-knife radiosurgery for metastatic brain tumors from primary lung cancer].

Forty patients with metastatic brain tumors from primary lung cancer underwent radiosurgery (gamma-knife). We retrospectively compared their prior treatment history number of metastatic foci, and performance status, to evaluate the effects of, and indications for, gamma-knife therapy. After both the primary and the metastatic tumors were controlled, performance status could be used as an index in the choice of gamma-knife therapy. Our results demonstrate that repeated gamma-knife radiosurgeries prolonged survival time. Gamma-knife radiosurgery improves quality of life and prognosis of patients with metastatic brain tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Value of transtracheobronchial ultrasonography in the assessment of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with lung cancer].

In patients with lung cancer, decisions regarding treatment can depend on the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal nodal involvement. We prospectively compared the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) with that of transtracheobronchial ultrasonography (TUS) in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy. Five patients with resectable lung cancer were studied. TUS was done with EU-M 20 or M 30 and lymph nodes located at #3, #4, #7, ipsilateral #10, and #11 were observed and measured. TUS findings, CT findings, and histological findings were evaluated and compared. The sizes of lymph nodes as measured by TUS were similar to or slightly smaller than their sizes as measured by CT. Hilar lymph nodes and lymph nodes located at right #4 were clearly observed with TUS, but were sometimes unclear with CT. Diagnosis of model involvement by TUS needs further study.

Bronchoscopy↗

PubMed1998

[Prognosis of T3 patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer according to the invaded organs].

We investigated the prognosis of completely resected 119 non-small cell lung cancer patients according to the invaded organs. There was no significant difference in prognosis between T3N0M0 and T3N1M0 patients (5-year survival rate: 34% vs. 38%). However, the prognosis of T3N2M0 patients (5-year survival rate: 11%) was too poor to be regarded as the same category. Therefore, we investigated only T3N0M0 and T3N1M0 patients to assess the contribution of the invaded organs to prognosis. Of the 5 patients with diaphragm invasion, there was no 3-year survivor, and the prognosis of patients with diaphragm invasion was very poor. The chest wall invasion was divided into three parts: parietal pleural invasion, subpleural tissue invasion and intercostal muscular invasion. The 5-year survival rates of patients with such invasion was 35%, 29% and 27%, respectively. The patients with Pancoast tumor had very poor prognosis. T3 factor was heterogeneous, and the prognosis of the patients with T3 tumor was various according to invaded organs.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Endoscopic treatment with laryngeal masks for the removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies].

We studied the endoscopic removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies from 13 patients. Eight patients were treated under local anesthesia and 5 under general anesthesia. Complications included mild bleeding during endoscopic treatment of 3 patients. One patient was placed under general anesthesia because the patient was irritable and because hemorrhage made observation difficult. Laryngeal masks were used in 4 cases, and resulted in no complications. The follow-up courses ranged from 4 months to 12 years and were uneventful for all patients. Use of a fiberoptic bronchoscope in combination with laryngeal masks facilitated the management and removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies by providing a secure airway and by minimizing the effect on the cardiorespiratory system.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Chromosome bands 3p14.2, 9p21, and 13q14 are frequently deleted in roentgenographically occult bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Roentgenographically occult bronchogenic squamous cell carcinomas are early lung cancers that localize mainly within the bronchial wall and are thought to be a good model for elucidating chromosomal alterations during lung cancer progression. In this study, we analyzed allelic losses on chromosome regions 1p36, 3p14.2, 9p21, 10q25.3-q26.1, 13q14.12-q14.2, and 16q24.1-q24.2, in which there are putative tumor suppressor genes that may play roles in lung carcinogenesis. Forty-five cases with roentgenographically occult bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma (ROC) and 47 cases of bronchogenic carcinoma with abnormal shadows (roentgenographically nonoccult bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma [RNOC]) were examined. Highly frequent LOHs in both ROCs and RNOCs were observed in chromosome regions 3p14.2, 9p21, and 13q14.1-q14.2. LOHs were more frequently observed in RNOCs than in ROCs at two loci: 10q25.3-q26.1 and 16q24.1-q24.2. These results suggested that (1) putative tumor suppressor genes exist on 3p14.2, 9p21, 10q25.3-q26.1, 13q14.12-q14.2, and 16q24.1-q24.2, which may play important roles in lung carcinogenesis; (2) mutations in genes at 3p14.2, 9p21, and 13q14.12-q14.2 represent rather early events in lung carcinogenesis; and (3) mutations in genes on 10q25.3-q26.1 and 16q24.1-q24.2 represent rather late events.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

[Ultrasonographic findings of diseases in peripheral lung fields using transtracheobronchial endoscopic ultrasonography (TUS)].

Nineteen patients with diseases in peripheral lung fields, including 14 with lung cancer, 1 brochiectasis, 1 with pleural effusion, 1 with sclerosing haemangioma and 2 with inflammatory lung diseases were examined with transtracheobronchial endoscopic ultrasonography (TUS) using an Olympus EU-M 20 and UM-2 R (12 MHz) or UM-3 R (30 MHz). The internal structures of the lesions, including necrosis and bronchial tissues, were readily observable, as were the intrapulmonary lymph nodes, including the swollen and heterogenous internal structures of metastatic lymph nodes. TUS is useful for diagnosis of peripheral lung diseases.

Endosonography↗