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Shingo Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to Shingo Fujii.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Kinematics of the uterus: cine mode MR imaging.

Cine mode magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has allowed evaluation of kinematics of the pelvis. Visualization of dynamic changes under strain facilitates evaluation of prolapses and adhesions between organs. The uterus, an organ of smooth muscle, has an inherent contractility that characterizes it as different from other visceral organs. This sustained contraction has occasionally been shown on static images as a finding masquerading as a leiomyoma or as adenomyosis. Cine mode MR imaging clearly shows the configuration of the myometrium during these dynamic changes, as well as its signal intensity during contractions. Uterine peristalsis, the subtle and rhythmic contractions of the inner myometrium, is also clearly identifiable on cine mode images as a wavy movement of the endometrium and/or inner myometrium. The direction and frequency of uterine peristalsis are different in each of the menstrual cycle phases and are thought to have important roles in uterine function, such as in fertility and menstrual blood discharge. Elucidation of these kinematics of the uterus will help in the evaluation of static MR images and study of the physiology of the uterus. Cine MR imaging is a novel technique for diagnosis and evaluation of the pelvic organs, especially the uterus.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

In vivo anti-tumor effect through the controlled release of cisplatin from biodegradable gelatin hydrogel.

This paper is an investigation to achieve the in vivo controlled release of cisplatin (CDDP) from a biodegradable hydrogel. Hydrogels with different water contents were prepared through the chemical crosslinking of gelatin by various concentrations of glutaraldehyde. The gelatin hydrogel incorporating CDDP (CDDP-hydrogel) was prepared by allowing CDDP aqueous solution to sorb into the freeze-dried hydrogel. Irrespective of the hydrogel water content, approximately 10-30% of incorporated CDDP was released from the hydrogel in phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS) at 37 degrees C within the initial 6 h, while little release was observed thereafter. The amount of CDDP released initially decreased with an increase in the time period of CDDP sorption. When intratumorally applied into Meth-AR-1 tumor-bearing mice, CDDP-hydrogel suppressed in vivo tumor growth to a significantly higher extent than free CDDP at the same dose. The survival rate was significantly higher by the application of CDDP-hydrogel of 40 microg CDDP. The CDDP concentration in the tumor tissue was maintained at a higher level for a longer time period than that of free CDDP. However, no problematic change in the mouse body and blood biochemical parameters was observed on the application of the CDDP-hydrogel. The time course of in vivo CDDP retention was in a good accordance with that of hydrogel remaining. Larger CDDP release was observed from the front surface of hydrogel onto which free CDDP was sorbed, than the back surface of hydrogel. These findings demonstrate that the controlled release of CDDP was based on biodegradation of the hydrogel carrier, but not simple diffusion of CDDP. It is possible that the CDDP molecules immobilized in the gelatin hydrogel were released from the hydrogel only when the hydrogel was degraded to generate some water-soluble gelatin fragments.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Uterine peristalsis shown on cine MR imaging using ultrafast sequence.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate and evaluate uterine peristalsis on cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using ultrafast imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial MR uterine images (300) were obtained from 15 normal volunteers over four menstrual phases using true fast imaging with steady-state precession (true FISP) technique over 117 seconds and videotaped. Three radiologists independently evaluated videotapes of 59 studies. Uterine peristalsis was defined as wavy movements of subendometrial myometrium or endometrium. Interobserver reliability was evaluated using a Kappa coefficient. Fifty-four studies obtained in appropriate phases were analyzed. RESULTS: Cine MRI displayed uterine peristalsis in 30 of 59 studies; consensus reading showed direction in 23 studies. Reliability between the final consensus of the recognition of uterine peristalsis and those of the three readers was extremely concordant, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.908. Wave direction was cervico-fundal in follicular and periovulatory phases, with frequency of contraction waves being 1.2-2.3 per minute in positive studies. CONCLUSION: Uterine peristalsis was demonstrated on cine MR using ultrafast MRI. Direction and frequency of peristaltic waves are closely related to menstrual cycle phases. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the JMRI website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1053-1807/suppmat/index.html.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Clinical value of FDG-PET in the follow up of post-operative patients with endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical usefulness of FDG-PET in the follow up of post-operative patients with endometrial cancer was retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-one post-operative patients with endometrial cancer received 30 FDG-PET examinations to evaluate recurrence or response to treatment. The findings of FDG-PET were compared with their serum levels of tumor markers, CT and/or MRI findings, and the final outcome. Results of FDG-PET were also correlated with the clinical course of each patient. RESULTS: In detecting recurrent lesions and evaluating treatment responses, FDG-PET, with the help in anatomic information by CT/MRI, showed better diagnostic ability (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 88.2%, accuracy 93.3%) compared with combined conventional imaging (sensitivity 84.6%, specificity 85.7%, accuracy 85.0%) and tumor markers (sensitivity 100.0%, specificity 70.6%, accuracy 83.3%). FDG-PET had no false-negative results, suggesting the possibility of its use as the first-line examination in a patient's follow-up. FDG-PET could detect unknown lesions in 4 cases, and, as reported for other malignancies, FDG-PET affected the patient management in one-third of the cases. Furthermore, the results of FDG-PET correlated well with the clinical outcome of the patients, with patients with negative PET results tending to show disease-free courses. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that, despite the limited number of patients studied, FDG-PET was accurate in detecting recurrence and evaluating therapeutic response, and could afford important information in the management of post-operative patients with endometrial cancer. FDG-PET also appeared to have a possibility to predict the outcome of each patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells enhance cell-cell interaction between human endometrial epithelial cells and BeWo-cell spheroids.

BACKGROUND: Previously, it was reported that T-lymphocytes derived from non-pregnant mice promote murine embryo implantation. In order to examine the immunological regulation of endometrial receptivity in humans, the effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on endometrial epithelial cell (EEC) function were monitored by a newly developed attachment assay using primary human EEC culture and BeWo cell-derived spheroids. METHODS AND RESULTS: EECs isolated from 25 women in the mid- and late proliferative and early, mid- and late secretory phases were subjected to monolayer culturing. Spheroids were constructed from BeWo cells, a human choriocarcinoma cell line, by incubation with continuous rolling, after which their interaction with cultured EECs was studied. The mean (+/- SEM) number of attached spheroids was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the EEC culture derived from women in the mid-secretory phase (90 +/- 2.9%) than the other groups (ranging from 0 to 5.8 +/- 3.7%), which is in agreement with the existence of a so-called 'implantation window'. After 72 h co-culture of EECs with PBMCs, the number of attached spheroids significantly increased in the EEC cultures derived from the late proliferative and early secretory phases [65.0 +/- 21.7 versus 5.0 +/- 2.0% (P < 0.05) and 83.1 +/- 4.1 versus 4.4 +/- 1.9% (P < 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: This attachment assay appears to be a useful method with which to assess endometrial receptivity. Functional change of EECs induced by PBMCs suggests possible regulation of endometrial receptivity by immune cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Acute elevation of plasma D-dimer levels associated with rupture of an ovarian endometriotic cyst: Case report.

A clinical case that suggested the involvement of blood coagulation cascades in the inflammation reaction induced by leakage of ovarian endometriotic cysts was encountered. Here, a rapid elevation in plasma D-dimer level (119.6 micro g/ml) was observed within 5 h after onset of ovarian cyst rupture. By contrast, the plasma fibrinogen level fell below normal range (105 mg/dl). During the following few days, the plasma D-dimer level fell acutely to approximately normal, while the fibrinogen level gradually increased to a high value (590 mg/dl). In addition, the anti-thrombin III level was slightly reduced on the day after rupture, though the concentration of blood platelets remained unchanged. Three days later, laparoscopic surgery showed the surface of the posterior wall of the uterus and peritoneum of the pelvic wall to be extensively covered with the leaked content of a right ovarian endometriotic cyst. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of endometriotic cyst. In the endometrial stromal region, deposit of D-dimer was detected by immunohistochemical staining. These findings suggest that fibrin-derived degradation products in endometriotic cysts can affect coagulation cascades when they leak into the peritoneal cavity; they may also induce local inflammatory reactions, causing pelvic pain and/or extension of the endometriotic lesion.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM/CD146) is expressed on human luteinizing granulosa cells: enhancement of its expression by hCG, interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha.

Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) was originally reported to be involved in the invasion and progression of melanoma. It was also shown to be responsible for the attachment of cells to endothelial cells. In this study, we demonstrated by immunohistochemistry that immunoreactive MCAM was not expressed on granulosa cells in the pre-ovulatory follicle, but it was clearly detected in large luteal cells in corpora lutea from the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Northern blotting analysis confirmed the expression of MCAM mRNA in corpus luteum. MCAM was weakly detected by immunocytochemical staining in human luteinizing granulosa cells isolated from patients undergoing IVF treatment. Its expression was found to be increased during time in culture of these cells. Flow cytometry and Northern blot analysis revealed that MCAM expression on luteinizing granulosa cells was enhanced when the cells were cultured for 5 days in the presence of hCG (1 IU/ml) or cytokines such as interleukin-1alpha (10 ng/ml) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (10 ng/ml). No significant difference of MCAM expression was observed between the cultures under normoxic (20% oxygen) and hypoxic (1% oxygen) conditions. These results indicate that luteinizing granulosa cells express MCAM and that MCAM expression is regulated by LH/hCG and cytokines during luteinization. Since MCAM has been reported to mediate cellular interaction with endothelial cells, this molecule may play a role in neovascularization during corpus luteum formation in the human ovary.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2003

Cyclic AMP enhances the expression of an extravillous trophoblast marker, melanoma cell adhesion molecule, in choriocarcinoma cell JEG3 and human chorionic villous explant cultures.

Human trophoblasts consist of two main cell lineages, villous trophoblasts (VT) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVT). To identify the molecules which are involved in EVT differentiation, we have raised a monoclonal antibody (mAb) designated CHL1, by immunizing a mouse against human chorion laeve which is composed of EVT. By immunohistochemical analysis, the CHL1 antigen was found to be expressed on the majority of EVT but not on VT in addition to its expression on endothelial and myometrial cells. A subsequent cDNA panning method revealed that the CHL1 antigen was identical to melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM, Mel-CAM, S-endo 1 or MUC18/CD146), which has been previously reported as one of the EVT markers. MCAM expression on JEG3 cells, a human choriocarcinoma-derived cell line, was significantly enhanced when they were co-cultured with isolated human decidual tissue. Various cytokines and growth factors that were reportedly present in decidual tissue failed to increase MCAM expression in JEG3 cells, but decidua-induced MCAM expression in JEG3 cells was attenuated by the addition of protein kinase A inhibitor H89. In addition, cAMP, which is known to stimulate differentiation of VT, enhanced MCAM expression in JEG3 cells. Its promoting effect on MCAM expression was also observed in human chorionic villous explant cultures. These findings suggest that a cAMP-dependent intracytoplasmic signalling pathway is involved in the differentiation mechanism of human EVT.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

PEP-19 overexpression in human uterine leiomyoma.

Although uterine leiomyomas represent one of the most common neoplasms in adult women, their pathogenesis remains poorly understood. A cDNA microarray analysis was performed to search for candidate genes expressed to a greater degree in leiomyoma compared with matched myometrium. A total of 15 candidate genes was obtained; neuron-specific protein PEP-19 (Purkinje cell protein 4; PCP 4) exhibited a striking difference in expression between leiomyoma and myometrium. Although PEP-19 expression has been reported exclusively in the central nervous system, the present study demonstrated that PEP-19 is also expressed in other human organs, including prostate, kidney and uterus. To clarify the role of PEP-19 in the pathogenesis of leiomyomas, PEP-19 expression was investigated for a series of human leiomyoma, as well as normal myometrium and leiomyosarcoma. PEP-19 mRNA and protein expression were much stronger in leiomyomas compared with normal myometrium, suggesting that PEP-19 might be involved in leiomyoma pathogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Human migrating extravillous trophoblasts express a cell surface peptidase, carboxypeptidase-M.

We previously reported that a cell-surface aminopeptidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, is expressed on extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) and suggested the involvement of its enzyme activity in EVT migration. In this study, we examined the expression of another cell-surface peptidase, carboxypeptidase-M (CP-M), at human embryo implantation sites, which catalyses biologically active peptides at extracellular sites. CP-M was immunohistochemically detected on syncytiotrophoblast, but not on cytotrophoblasts in floating chorionic villi (9-12 weeks of gestation). At villus-anchoring sites, CP-M was weakly detected on some EVT in the distal part of the cell column. CP-M was clearly expressed on EVT in the trophoblastic shells and in the maternal vessels. In the decidua, almost all interstitial trophoblasts expressed CP-M. Flow cytometry and RT-PCR showed that CP-M expression was induced on the outgrown EVT in primary villous explant culture. The CP-M induction on cultured EVT under 20% O(2) concentration was significantly higher than that under 1% O(2) concentration. In invasion assays, migration of JEG-3 cells, a CP-M-bearing human choriocarcinoma cell line, was significantly enhanced by an inhibitor of CP-M, DL-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidino-ethyltiopropanoic acid (MGTA). These findings indicate that CP-M is a differentiation-related molecule for human EVT and suggest that CP-M expression on EVT is partially regulated by tissue oxygen concentration.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Mutations in the STK11 gene characterize minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) is a well-differentiated variant of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and is found relatively infrequently in the general population. However, MDA is strongly associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), a rare hereditary autosomal disorder characterized by benign hamartomatous polyposis in the gastrointestinal tract and mucocutaneous pigmentation. A serine threonine kinase gene, STK11, has been identified as the tumor suppressor gene responsible for the PJS. In this study we investigated the possible direct role of STK11 in the development of MDA of the uterine cervix. Eleven rare cases of mucinous MDA, not known to be associated with PJS, were screened for the presence of mutations in the STK11 gene by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified DNA fragments. Subsequently our findings were confirmed with cloning and sequencing. As a control, 24 cases of endocervical adenocarcinomas of other histologic subtypes, with no family history of PJS (19 mucinous adenocarcinomas, 4 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, and 1 clear cell adenocarcinoma), 15 cases of squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix, 5 cases of endocervical glands with pyloric gland metaplasia, and 2 deeply situated nabothian cysts were investigated. Somatic mutations of the STK11 gene were confirmed in 6 (55%) of the 11 mucinous MDAs and 1 (5%) of the 19 mucinous adenocarcinomas, but not in the 5 nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, the 15 squamous cell carcinomas, nor the 5 endocervical glands with gastric metaplasia. MDAs with the STK11 mutation had a significantly poorer prognosis than MDAs without the STK11 mutation (p = 0.039). A germline mutation of STK11 was detected in one PJS patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. These results suggest that mutations in the STK11 gene may play an important role in the etiology of MDA of the uterine cervix and may distinguish this rare tumor from other common types of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases↗
PubMed2003

Expression of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein in the normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP), an 18-kD protein in the mouse and human, is induced by lowering the temperature of cultured cells. CIRP is possibly a cell cycle regulator because its overexpression results in prolongation of G1 phase in vitro. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of CIRP in 39 endometrial carcinomas, 12 endometrial hyperplasias, and 27 normal endometria using polyclonal antibody against CIRP and confirmed by Western blot analysis. CIRP was localized in the nuclei of glandular, stromal, and endothelial cells. The intensity of CIRP expression in glandular cells during the menstrual cycle was inversely proportional to its proliferative (Ki-67) activity, whereas it remained unchanged in stromal and vascular endothelial cells. The intensity of CIRP expression in hyperplastic glands was variable, whereas CIRP expression was absent or markedly reduced in most of the endometrial carcinomas. These results suggest that CIRP may participate in the cell cycle regulation of normal endometrium and the loss of its expression may be involved in endometrial carcinogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Expression of replication-licensing factors MCM2 and MCM3 in normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous endometrium: correlation with expression of Ki-67 and estrogen and progesterone receptors.

Minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins are essential for cell cycling due to their function as replication-licensing factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathologic implications of the MCM2 and MCM3 in endometrial carcinogenesis. The authors investigated the immunohistochemical expression of MCM2 and MCM3, Ki-67, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor in 23 normal endometria, 9 endometrial hyperplasias, and 60 endometrial carcinomas. In the normal endometrial glands, the expression of MCM2 and MCM3 was significantly higher in the proliferative phase than in the secretory phase and was strongly correlated with Ki-67 expression. Similar correlation between the expression of MCMs and Ki-67 was also found in endometrial hyperplasia. In endometrial carcinomas, however, the expression of MCM2 and MCM3 was significantly lower than that in the normal proliferative endometrium. There was only a weak correlation between MCM2 and Ki-67, and no significant correlation between MCM3 and Ki-67 expression. These findings suggest that the expression of MCM2 and MCM3 directly reflects cell proliferation in normal and hyperplastic endometria. In endometrial carcinomas, however, there is a discrepancy between the expression of MCMs and cell proliferation, suggesting that the replication-licensing system may be aberrant in endometrial carcinomas.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Uterine arterial embolization for the treatment of diffuse leiomyomatosis.

Diffuse leiomyomatosis of the uterus is an extremely rare condition and presents as a diffuse involvement of the myometrium by numerous leiomyomata. Despite patients being in only the third or fourth decades of life, all previously reported patients with this condition have undergone hysterectomy because myomectomy is impossible for this condition. Uterine arterial embolization (UAE) successfully reduced the uterine volume of diffuse leiomyomatosis without major complications in the case presented herein, and the symptoms improved remarkably. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging after intravenous injection of gadolinium demonstrated global infarction of the vast majority of nodules.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Resistin is expressed in the human placenta.

The mechanism for decreased insulin sensitivity in pregnant women is not fully clarified. Resistin, a novel peptide hormone, is specifically expressed in the adipose tissue and decreases insulin sensitivity in rodents. In the present study, we demonstrate resistin gene expression in the human placental tissue, mainly in trophoblastic cells. The resistin gene expression in term placental tissue was more prominent than was seen in the first trimester chorionic tissue. In contrast resistin gene expression in adipose tissue was rather weak and remained unchanged by pregnancy. Thus, resistin is a newly isolated placental hormone in humans which may modulate insulin sensitivity during pregnancy.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed2003

Human blastocysts and endometrial epithelial cells express activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM/CD166).

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM)/cluster of differentiation (CD166) is a type I transmembrane cell adhesion molecule belonging to the Ig superfamily and a ligand for CD6 that is expressed on T lymphocytes. Recently, homophilic (ALCAM-ALCAM) adhesion was shown to play important roles in tight cell-to-cell interaction and regulation of stem cell differentiation. To investigate the involvement of ALCAM in embryo implantation, the expression of ALCAM was examined in human blastocysts and endometrium. Immunohistochemical study showed that ALCAM was expressed on endometrial luminal and glandular epithelial cells but not on the endometrial stromal cells in either the proliferative or secretory phase. Northern blot analysis of isolated endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells showed that ALCAM mRNA was expressed in endometrial epithelial cells. Flow cytometry confirmed cell surface expression of ALCAM on endometrial epithelial cells. On the other hand, nested RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that ALCAM mRNA was expressed in human blastocysts but not in the embryos in the 8-cell or morula stages, which were obtained from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. These findings indicate that ALCAM is expressed on human endometrial epithelial cells and blastocysts. The developing stage-specific expression on the embryo suggests that the ALCAM-ALCAM cell adhesion system is involved in an initial interaction of the embryo with maternal endometrium.

Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule↗
PubMed2003

Ephrin B1 is expressed on human luteinizing granulosa cells in corpora lutea of the early luteal phase: the possible involvement of the B class Eph-ephrin system during corpus luteum formation.

Ephrins and their Eph receptors are both membrane-bound proteins that function in various cell-cell recognition processes, such as morphogenesis and angiogenesis. In this study we examined the expression of B class ephrins-Ephs in the human ovary during corpus luteum formation, a process of tissue remodeling accompanied by angiogenesis. RT-PCR analysis detected mRNAs for Eph B1, B2, and B4 and ephrin B1 and B2, but not Eph B3 and B6 or ephrin B3, in human corpora lutea of the early luteal phase. By immunohistochemistry, ephrin B1 was moderately expressed on theca interna cells, but was expressed at a low level on granulosa cells in the preovulatory follicles. After ovulation, a rapid increase in ephrin B1 expression was observed on luteinizing granulosa cells, whereas its expression on luteinizing theca interna cells decreased. The mRNA expression of ephrin B1 in luteinizing granulosa cells was confirmed by Northern blotting. Flow cytometry showed that ephrin B1 was expressed on the surface of isolated luteinizing granulosa cells. Moreover, these cells had the ability to bind to recombinant Eph B2-Fc fusion protein. These findings suggest that ephrin B1-expressing granulosa cells can directly interact with Eph-bearing cells during corpus luteum formation in vivo, suggesting that Eph-ephrin system is involved in this process.

Adult↗