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S Furui

Publications and source records attributed to S Furui.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding alpha-glucosidase from spinach.

A cDNA encoding spinach alpha-glucosidase was cloned and sequenced by the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The cDNA comprised 2867 bp, and included an open reading frame which encodes a polypeptide of 903 amino acid residues. The calculated molecular mass of 101 kDa was larger than those of native alpha-glucosidases in spinach seeds, which are 78, 78, 82, and 82 kDa by SDS-PAGE for alpha-glucosidase I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence included those of tryptic peptides from native enzymes. Southern blot analysis suggested that the alpha-glucosidase gene was a single-copy gene. These results indicate the possibility that the multiplicity of alpha-glucosidase in spinach occurs via post-translational modification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding putative phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase from spinach.

A cDNA encoding spinach putative phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) was cloned and sequenced. The cDNA included an open reading frame that encoded a polypeptide of 171 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence showed about 77 and 50% similarity to plant putative PHGPXs and mammalian PHGPXs, respectively. PCR product with the same size as that of the spinach putative PHGPX were obtained from maize, soybeans, and Arabidopsis, suggesting the expression of putative PHGPX genes in other plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of 99mTc-ECD SPECT for the detection of brain tumor: comparison with 201TI SPECT].

For the evaluation of brain tumor (n = 15), we performed both dynamic and static 99mTc-ECD (ECD) SPECT studies 201Tl SPECT was also used for comparison with the results of ECD SPECT. Dynamic ECD SPECT was obtained following the injection of 600 MBq of ECD. Five min after the injection of ECD, static ECD SPECT was performed. 201Tl SPECT was obtained 10 min after the injection of 74MBq. Abnormal uptake was recognized in 7 of 15 tumors with dynamic ECD: 5 of 7 meningiomas, 1 of 1 glioblastoma and 1 of 1 astrocytoma. However, no abnormal uptake was seen in 3 of 3 benign tumors (1 low grade astrocytoma, 1 hemangioma, 1 cranio-pharyngioma) and in 2 of 2 brain metastases. In contrast abnormal uptake was seen in 11 of 15 tumors with 201Tl:7 of 7 meningiomas; 2 of 2 brain metastases, 1 of 1 glioblastoma and 1 of 1 craniopharyngioma. No abnormal uptake was seen in 3 of 3 benign tumors (1 hemangioma and 2 low grade astrocytomas). Equivocal uptake was seen in 1 low grade astrocytoma with dynamic ECD and 201Tl. The mechanism of the accumulation of dynamic ECD to brain tumor is unclear. However, it may reflect not only blood flow, but also metabolism.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Evaluation of neuro-Behçet disease with 99mTc-HMPAO brain SPECT: comparison with MR imaging].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the brain perfusion of neuro-Behçet disease using 99mTc-HMPAO. In total, nine patients (7 men and 2 women) were evaluated. Seven were in the chronic phase, one was acute and the other was subacute. The results of perfusion study were compared with the MRI findings. The findings of chronic-phase neuro-Behçet disease were as follows: 99mTc-HMPAO showed hypoperfusion of the cerebellum in 3, brain stem in 5, and cerebral cortex in 4 patients. Moreover, asymmetry of the basal ganglia and thalamus was seen in 4 cases with 99mTc-HMPAO. MRI showed atrophy of the cerebellum in 4, brain stem in 5 and cerebral cortex in 2 patients. One acute patient showed a perfusion defect with 99mTc-HMPAO that was consistent with the vasculitis shown with MRI. In the remaining subacute patient, perfusion defect was demonstrated with 99mTc-HMPAO, consistent with the infarction shown with MRI. It is concluded that brain perfusion scintigraphy is useful to evaluate the brain blood flow of neuro-Behçet disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Autoradiographic study of myocardial fatty acid metabolism in diabetic mouse using 125I-BMIPP].

The existence of diabetic cardiomyopathy has been substantiated in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study we evaluated two mice with diabetes mellites (DM) and two control mice to determine whether the fatty acid metabolism of the myocardium is abnormal when 125I-BMIPP is used. 125I-BMIPP of 0.74 MBq (20 microCi) was injected, and 30 min later, the mice were slaughtered. Heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys were removed. After freezing the heart, myocardium was sliced into 20 micron sections using a cryostat. Each slice was placed in contact with an imaging plate for autoradiography. A bioimaging analyzer was used to analyze the data. The percent injected dose/g of heart was lower in the DM group than in the control group (11.6 +/- 0.49 vs 18.3 +/- 1.27). Each slice of the DM group also had fewer counts than slices in the control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). These results indicated that fatty acid metabolism in the myocardium was less in the DM group than in the control group.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Three-dimensional images of hepatic tumors and hepatic vessels obtained by helical computed tomography].

Helical computed tomography was performed with intravenous contrast material administration in ten patients with hepatic tumors (metastatic tumor, n = 6; hepatocellular carcinoma, n = 4). Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of intrahepatic portal venous branches and hepatic veins, and shaded surface display (SSD) images of the hepatic tumors were reconstructed for each patient. The MIP image and SSD image were fitted to overlap on a single display to obtain three-dimensional (3-D) images showing both the hepatic vessels and hepatic tumors. Subsegmental localization of the tumors determined from the 3-D images proved to be correct in all of the six patients who received hepatic resection after examination. 3-D images seem to be useful for preoperative assessment of hepatic tumors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1995

Toward the ultimate synthesis/recognition system.

This paper predicts speech synthesis, speech recognition, and speaker recognition technology for the year 2001, and it describes the most important research problems to be solved in order to arrive at these ultimate synthesis and recognition systems. The problems for speech synthesis include natural and intelligible voice production, prosody control based on meaning, capability of controlling synthesized voice quality and choosing individual speaking style, multilingual and multidialectal synthesis, choice of application-oriented speaking styles, capability of adding emotion, and synthesis from concepts. The problems for speech recognition include robust recognition against speech variations, adaptation/normalization to variations due to environmental conditions and speakers, automatic knowledge acquisition for acoustic and linguistic modeling, spontaneous speech recognition, naturalness and ease of human-machine interaction, and recognition of emotion. The problems for speaker recognition are similar to those for speech recognition. The research topics related to all these techniques include the use of articulatory and perceptual constraints and evaluation methods for measuring the quality of technology and systems.

Communication↗
PubMed1995

Gianturco stent placement in malignant caval obstruction: analysis of factors for predicting the outcome.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors that may be used to predict outcome of stent placement in patients with malignancies obstructing the superior or inferior vena cava. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gianturco stents were placed in 39 patients with malignant obstruction of the superior (n = 16) or inferior (n = 23) vena cava. Thirteen patients with obstruction of the superior vena cava received radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy at some time in their course of treatment. Computed tomographic (CT) scans were obtained in all patients. The authors analyzed treatment outcome with the location, length, and CT appearance of obstruction. RESULTS: Venous congestive symptoms disappeared after stent placement in 35 patients and remained in four. Symptoms did not recur during 1-13-month follow-up in 32 of the 35 patients in whom the symptoms disappeared. Nonfatal complications were observed in nine patients. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the outcome of stent placement is best predicted by the appearance of obstructions on CT scans irrespective of the location and length of the lesions. CONCLUSION: Good results can be expected from placement of Gianturco stents except when CT shows the obstruction to be totally enveloped by tumor.

Constriction, Pathologic↗
PubMed1994

Moyamoya disease: diagnosis with three-dimensional CT angiography.

Our purpose was to assess the value of three-dimensional (3D) CT angiography in the diagnosis of moyamoya disease. We studied seven patients with moyamoya disease proved by conventional angiography. Three-dimensional (3D) CT angiography was performed using rapid sequence or helical (spiral) scanning in conjunction with a bolus injection of intravenous contrast medium. All seven patients could be diagnosed as having moyamoya disease on the basis of the following 3D CT angiographic findings: poor visualisation of the main trunks and/or major branches of anterior and middle cerebral arteries (7 patients); dilated leptomeningeal anastomotic channels from the posterior cerebral arteries (4); and demonstration of "moyamoya vessels" in the basal ganglia (2). Although conventional angiography remains the principal imaging technique for demonstrating anatomical changes in detail, less invasive 3D CT angiography provides a solid means of diagnosing moyamoya disease when it is suspected on CT, MRI, or clinical grounds.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Massive intestinal bleeding caused by an ileal arteriovenous malformation: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 43-year-old man in whom gastrointestinal bleeding was found to be caused by a large arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the ileum. Emergency angiography proved invaluable in disclosing the AVM as the bleeding source, after which the patient was successfully treated by surgery. Although the number of reports of AVM has recently been increasing, ileal AVMs are still relatively rare. Moreover, according to the Japanese literature, no other patient has had such marked and large feeding arteries and draining veins as those in the patient described in this report.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Successful treatment by surgical removal of bone metastasis producing PTH: new approach to the management of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma.

A 62-year-old woman had primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid carcinoma. In spite of surgical removal of the enlarged parathyroid gland, intractable hypercalcemia persisted. 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile scanning revealed bone metastatic lesions, although conventional 201T1-chloride scanning failed to demonstrate those lesions. Octreotide inhibited parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, although various means such as bisphosphonates, calcitonin and hydration were effective to reduce serum calcium level to some extent but failed to reduce PTH secretion at all. The CT-guided transcutaneous tumor marking facilitated the subsequent orthopedic surgery for successful removal of the metastatic focus of PTH secretion from the iliac bone.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Partial splenic embolization with Y-shaped silicone particles.

We have developed an embolizing material consisting of Y-shaped silicone particles for partial splenic embolization. Wide spaces for blood flow are left around the particles when these are lodged in arterial branches. We embolized one kidney in each of 3 dogs with the particles and observed a slowly induced occlusion of renal arterial branches during one month. The particles were also used for partial splenic embolization in 14 patients. The average portion of infarcted spleen tissue 7 days after embolization was 51% calculated from CT images. In 6 patients who had CT both 2 and 7 days after embolization, the average rate of splenic infarction increased from 29% at 2 days to 60% at 7 days. Our patients required analgesics for only 2.3 days on average. The Y-shaped silicone particles by slowly occluding splenic arterial branches produce ischemia in a gradual fashion which may minimize the pain after embolization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

MRI appearances of calcified regions within intracranial tumours.

The MRI appearances of calcification within intracranial tumours was assessed by reviewing MR images of 11 calcified tumours documented by CT. The signal intensity of the calcified regions was varied and nonspecific on both T1- and T2-weighted images. They were seen as signal void exclusively on T2-weighted images in only 2 patients. Gadolinium enhancement of the calcified portion occurred in 7 of 10 patients. These findings reflect the presence of tumour parenchyma within the calcified region, as proved in 5 lesions examined histologically.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Malignant tracheobronchial obstructive lesions: treatment with Gianturco expandable metallic stents.

Gianturco expandable metallic stents were placed in 14 patients with 19 malignant lesions who had tracheobronchial stenosis and/or obstruction together with dyspnea. In all 14 patients, stenotic and/or obstructive changes disappeared immediately after the procedure, and the dyspnea improved. Lumina at the sites of tracheal lesions expanded from a mean of 3.9 mm in diameter before stent placement to a mean of 13.9 mm after stent placement. Lumina at the sites of bronchial lesions expanded from a mean of 2.1 mm to a mean of 10.3 mm. Lumina at the sites of lesions caused by extrinsic compression expanded to a mean of 89.7% of normal, while lumina at the sites of lesions caused by intraluminal tumor growth expanded to a mean of 63.2% of normal. There was improvement of at least one grade of the Hugh-Jones classification in 12 patients. Ten of the patients died; in two of these patients, restenosis developed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Treatment of tuberculous bronchial stenosis with expandable metallic stents.

Gianturco expandable metallic stents were placed in 5 patients with dyspnea on exercise due to tuberculous bronchial stenosis. The stents were placed after dilatation with a 10-mm diameter high pressure balloon catheter. In all 5 patients, obstructive changes disappeared following the procedure, and dyspnea on exercise improved markedly. No complications related to the procedure were encountered. At follow-up during a period of up to 38 months, 2 patients showed bronchial restenosis at 11 and 17 months, respectively, after stent placement. Restenosis by granulomatous tissue was successfully treated by laser ablation. One patient showed slight one-day hemoptysis 26 months after stent placement.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical evaluation of stent placement for tracheal and bronchial stenosis].

Expandable metallic stents were successfully introduced in 7 patients, including 4 with left main bronchial stenosis caused by bronchopulmonary tuberculosis, 2 with main bronchial stenosis caused by lung cancer and one with tracheal stenosis caused by adenoid cystic carcinoma. The length of stenosis was 1.5-5 cm. The stents were 1.5-2.5 cm long with barbs, and their full expanded diameter was 1.5 cm. Balloon dilatation was performed before stenting in all cases. The stents were inserted by using a 10-12 Fr catheter. In all patients except the one with tracheal stenosis, stents were introduced under local anesthesia without any difficulties. No migration of stents occurred. After stent placement, there were no respiratory difficulties, and radionuclide lung perfusion scan and chest radiographic findings such as lung atelectasis showed marked improvement in three cases. Combined therapy of stent placement and bronchial arterial infusion chemotherapy showed marked effectiveness in one case with lung cancer. Expandable metallic stents were very useful in eliminating tracheobronchial stenosis symptoms.

Adult↗