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Biomedical subjects

T Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujii.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Exacerbation of renal failure due to hypothyroidism in a patient with ischemic nephropathy.

A case of acute-on-chronic renal failure in a 70-year-old woman with ischemic nephropathy and primary hypothyroidism is presented. Her renal function became progressively worse as the level of serum creatinine increased from 283 to 628 micromol/l (3.2-7.1 mg/dl) within 8 months. Her thyroid function had been normal before the exacerbation of renal failure, but it was markedly reduced with a marked elevation of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy resulted in rapid improvement of the renal function to 159 micromol/l (1.8 mg/dl) of serum creatinine. The development of primary hypothyroidism seemed to worsen the already impaired renal function in this case. We suggest the assessment of thyroid function in patients with unexplained deterioration of renal failure.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of renal artery stenosis in autopsy patients with stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis commonly exists as one manifestation of more generalized atherosclerosis. It is a progressive but potentially curable disorder. Thus, information on renal artery involvement in atherosclerotic diseases could be important. We investigated the prevalence of renal artery stenosis in autopsied patients with stroke over 40 years of age. METHODS: From 2167 consecutive autopsy patients who died between 1980 and 1997, we studied 346 cases of mean age of 69+/-11 years with clinical evidence of stroke. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (>/=75% luminal area narrowing) was found in 36 patients (10.4%). Patients with renal artery stenosis were older and had worse renal function. Renal artery stenosis was found in 14.7%, 28.6%, and 23.9% of patients with hypertension, renal insufficiency, and aortic aneurysm, respectively. Extracranial carotid artery stenosis (>50% luminal area narrowing) was found in 101 patients (29.2%). Of the 346 stroke patients, 256 had a history of brain infarction. In patients with brain infarction, renal artery stenosis was found in 31 (12.1%) and carotid stenosis was found in 81 (33.6%). Patients with carotid artery stenosis were more likely to have renal artery stenosis than patients without carotid artery stenosis (24.4% versus 5.9%, P<0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified renal insufficiency, hypertension, female gender, and presence of carotid artery stenosis as independent predictors of renal artery stenosis in patients with brain infarction. CONCLUSIONS: These data reveal that atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis is common in patients with stroke, especially in those with brain infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Subacute tuberculous pericarditis with fibroelastic constriction diagnosed upon pericardiectomy.

A patient with subacute pericarditis showed no evidence suggesting tuberculosis until pericardiectomy was performed because of hemodynamic deterioration. The excised pericardium had a rubbery fibroelastic consistency; histologically, there were granulomatous changes characteristic of tuberculosis. Although tuberculous pericarditis is a difficult diagnosis, this case illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of early pericardiectomy before myocardial inflammatory infiltration occurs together with end-stage pericardial fibrosis and calcification.

Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular↗
PubMed2000

Dexamethasone-induced cardiogenic shock rescued by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) in a patient with pheochromocytoma.

A 52-year-old man with pheochromocytoma had cardiogenic shock and was rescued using a percutaneous cardio pulmonary supporting system. After recovery, diagnostic tests including metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and computed tomography, revealed the pheochromocytoma which was confirmed by histology. It was postulated that the acute episode was induced by intra-joint dexamethasone, which increased the production of epinephrine and augmented the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes for catecholamine, thereby inducing the cardiomyopathy.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed2000

Calcium signaling and c-Fos gene expression via M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in human T- and B-cells.

We previously showed that blood acetylcholine (ACh) originates mainly from T-lymphocytes, and that stimulation of muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs) induces Ca2+ oscillations and up-regulates c-fos gene expression in both T- and B-lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated which mAChR subtypes are involved in Ca2+ signaling and c-fos gene expression in human T- (CEM) and B- (Daudi) cells. Stimulation of mAChRs with 100 microM oxotremorine-M, an M1/M3 agonist, increased levels of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and c-fos mRNA expression in both cell lines. 4-DAMP, an M3 antagonist, more effectively blocked the oxotremorine-M-induced increase in [Ca2+]i than pirenzepine and telenzepine, M1-receptor antagonists; AF-DX 116, an M2 antagonist; hexahydrosiladifenidol, a weak M3 antagonist; or hexamethonium and d-tubocurarine, nicotinic receptor antagonists. McN-A-343 (100 microM), a partial M1-receptor agonist, had no apparent effect on [Ca2+]i in either cell line. The oxotremorine-M-induced up-regulation of c-fos transcription was inhibited by 4-DAMP, but not by pirenzepine or AF-DX 116. Our findings thus suggest that ACh released from T-lymphocytes acts as an autocrine/paracrine factor, transmitting a Ca2+-dependent signal to the nuclei of T- and B-lymphocytes via M3 receptors.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

A beta-rutinosidase from Penicillium rugulosum IFO 7242 that is a peculiar flavonoid glycosidase.

A beta-rutinosidase, which was specific for releasing the disaccharide rutinose from the flavonoid glycoside rutin, was purified from Penicillium rugulosum IFO 7242. This enzyme had the molecular weight of 245,000, a very low optimum pH of 2.2, and the remarkable specificity that the glycosidase did not hydrolyze any other substrates like 4-nitrophenyl beta-glucoside and cellobiose, but only rutin and isoquercitrin.

Glycoside Hydrolases↗
PubMed2000

Scaling analysis of the concentration dependence on elasticity of agarose gel.

Since the critical exponent of the elastic modulus is related to the spatial dimension and the critical exponent of the correlation length, depending on the characteristics of elasticity, we experimentally evaluated both the elastic modulus of a sol-gel transition system and also the correlation length. We could determine the correlation length of agarose gel by the dynamic light scattering method; it was well described by the power law as a function of the deviation from the sol-gel transition point. Three scaling laws between the critical exponent of the correlation length (v) and that of the elastic shear modulus (t) were compared, and the critical exponent of the elastic modulus was described by the equation of de Gennes expression (t=1+v(d-2), where d is the spatial dimension). This result suggests that agarose fibers are stiff enough to show scalar elasticity.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMed2000

Cloning and characterization of a gene complementing the mutation of an ethanol-sensitive mutant of sake yeast.

Ethanol-sensitive mutants (esl to es10) were isolated from sake yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae SY-32. These mutants were unable to grow at 7% ethanol at which the wild type strain SY-32 does grow. The mutants had a variety of fermentation rates and viabilities in the presence of ethanol. The gene ERG6, complementing the ethanol-sensitive mutation of es5, was cloned from an SY-32 gene library. ERG6 encodes S-adenosylmethionine: delta 24-sterol-C-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.41) in the ergosterol synthetic pathway. Mutant es5 had a reduced ability to synthesize ergosterol. An erg6 disruptant was also ethanol-sensitive. These results suggested that ERG6 plays an important role in the ethanol tolerance of S. cerevisiae.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed2000

Induction and repression of a Streptomyces lividans chitinase gene promoter in response to various carbon sources.

Induction and repression of a gene for chitinase (chiA) in Streptomyces lividans was investigated using a catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene (xylE) as the reporter gene. Of various substrates examined, expression of the promoter (PchiA) was observed after a delay when colloidal chitin or small chitin-oligosaccharides were added to the medium. N-acetylglucosamine completely repressed the chiA promoter. The duration of the delay in expression of PchiA differed with the inducer used, with chitobiose inducing the activity most rapidly. The minimum concentration of chitobiose needed for induction was 1 microM. It appears, therefore, that an efficient inducer of the gene for chitinase in S. lividans is chitobiose.

Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase↗
PubMed2000

Transport of pyruvate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and cloning of the gene encoded pyruvate permease.

Pyruvate uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was not observed at 0 degrees C and was prevented by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). The initial uptake rate of S. cerevisiae kyokai No. 901 was maximum at pH 6 and Km = 4.1 mM. It seemed that lactate inhibited the pyruvate uptake competitively from the results of the Lineweaver-Burk plots. The inhibition constant (Ki) in the presence of 3 mM lactate was 1.6 mM. The pyruvate uptake was inhibited by D-glucose and deoxyglucose, but not by L-glucose, acetate or ethanol. Mutants of laboratory strain No. 5022 ((a) his(2,6), ura3) deficient in pyruvate uptake were isolated from fluoropyruvate resistant mutants. Transformation of the mutant with a yeast genomic library allowed the isolation of the gene JEN1 (YKL217w), which restored pyruvate uptake. Disruption of JEN1 abolished the uptake of pyruvate and gained the resistance against fluoropyruvate. The results indicate that no other monocarboxylate permease is able to efficiently transport pyruvate in S. cerevisiae.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed2000

Potential interaction between ritonavir and carbamazepine.

Ritonavir (RTV), a protease inhibitor, and carbamazepine (CBZ), an anticonvulsant, were administered concurrently to a patient who had human immunodeficiency virus infection and epilepsy. The combination resulted in elevated serum concentrations of CBZ, with accompanying vomiting, vertigo, and transient liver dysfunction. After discontinuing RTV and reducing the dosage of CBZ, the serum concentration of CBZ returned to the optimal range, symptoms subsided, and liver function returned to baseline. Carbamazepine is metabolized in the liver to a large extent by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, especially CYP3A4, 2C8, and 1A2, whereas RTV is metabolized primarily by CYP3A and is a potent inhibitor of this enzyme. Careful clinical monitoring may help prevent adverse drug interactions when these drugs are administered concurrently.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Comparative study of mandibular stability after sagittal split osteotomies: biocortical versus monocortical osteosynthesis.

OBJECTIVE: A comparative study of clinical mandibular stability following bilateral sagittal split osteotomies by means of monocortical versus bicortical osteosynthesis was undertaken. DESIGN: This retrospective study utilized cephalometric radiographs, which were taken at 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. SETTING: The research was carried out at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Nagasaki University School of Medicine. PATIENTS: A total of 32 patients who underwent only sagittal split osteotomies and mandibular set back in our unit was included in this study. Of these patients, 17 patients were osteosynthesized monocortically, and 15 patients were osteosynthesized bicortically. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Four measurements--gonial angle (GA), mandibular plane (MP), SNB, and percentage of upper face to total face height (percent upper to total face)--were completed to evaluate postoperative mandibular movement. RESULT: Statistical analyses of cephalometric measurements (GA, MP, SNB, and percent upper face to total face height) showed that monocortical fixed mandibles were more changeable postoperatively on the GA and percent upper face to total face height, but MP and SNB showed no significant differences among the groups. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the postoperative excessive shear force stress, produced by the compressive action of the masseter muscle, transformed the mandibular shape as the distal segment rotated clockwise and proximal segment rotated counterclockwise. Consequently, the mandible was bent at the miniplate. It was concluded that bicortical osteosynthesis was more rigid against this shearing stress than monocortical osteosynthesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium szulgai.

We describe a rare case of pulmonary mycobacteriosis infected with rifampicin (RFP)-resistant Mycobacterium szulgai that was successfully eradicated with clarithromycin (CAM) treatment. An 80-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a 4-week history of high fever, productive cough and malaise. Chest roentgenogram showed an infiltrative shadow in the left lower lung field. Isolated bacteria from sputum were acid-fast bacilli and identified as M. szulgai by the DNA-DNA hybridization method. Drug susceptibility tests showed resistance to RFP (MIC>100 microg/ml). Combined treatment with ethionamide, streptomycin and isoniazid based on the results of drug susceptibility tests resulted in clinical and radiologic improvement within two years. Additional treatment with CAM for another year resulted in complete eradication of the mycobacterium.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Coordinate regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) by human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) was monitored as a function of the phenotypic modulation in vitro. Cell phenotype was manipulated by varying serum concentration and cell density. Synthetic phenotype was characterized by a minimum expression of the contractile proteins and a maximal proliferation rate. Contractile phenotype was quiescent and expressed a maximal level of contractile proteins. Synthetic cells expressed the highest levels of both MMP-1 and TIMP-1 and displayed maximal collagenolytic activity. No significant change was detected in MMP-2 expression or catalytic activity. Enzyme immunoassays revealed that MMP-1 expression fell by 77+/-2.4-95+/-0.5%, and that of TIMP-1 by 34+/-0.5-59+/-1.9%, as the cells acquired a contractile phenotype. The level of the MMP-1/TIMP-1 complex was similarly reduced by 78+/-2.9-85+/-1.6%. These data demonstrate that the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 are coordinately regulated with SMC phenotype.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Cecal environment and TBARS level in mice fed corn oil, beef tallow and menhaden fish oil.

To examine the dietary effects of three lipids from different sources on intestinal conditions, diets containing 10% corn oil (CO), 1% corn oil +9% beef tallow (BT) or 1% corn oil + 9% menhaden fish oil (MO) were administered to male mice for 4 wk. Levels of total cholesterol (TC), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose in plasma were lower in mice fed on MO than in mice fed on CO or BT. The plasma phospholipid (PL) level was lower for mice fed MO than in mice fed BT. Levels of the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), soluble saccharides and soluble proteins in the cecum were significantly higher in mice fed on MO than in mice fed on CO or BT. The number of fecal bacteroidaceae was lower in mice fed on MO than in mice fed on BT. On the other hand, the number of fecal bifidobacteria was greater in mice fed on MO than in mice fed on CO. These results suggest the possibility that menhaden oil affects lower intestinal microflora through the increase of not only oxide products but also saccharides and proteins in the intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Effect of number of syllables in word repetition].

We report a case of non-fluent conduction aphasia. The patient was a 59-year-old right-handed male. He suffered from aphasia after a left internal carotid artery occlusion. MRI study revealed subcortical lesions in the left inferior frontal gyrus and cortical lesion in the anterior part of the left insular gyrus and the left postcentral gyrus. The patient showed good comprehension of words and daily conversation but had a common difficulty in the following tasks; naming of pictures, repetition of words, reading of kanji and kana letters. In these tasks, the phonological output of the patient contained many literal paraphasias and there was a tendency that errors appeared more in the posterior portion of a target word. We analyzed the position of errors in the target word on word repetition tasks. The result confirmed the above observation. We speculate that the length of a target word may have played a critical rote in this patient's repetition capability.

Aphasia, Conduction↗
PubMed2000

[Evaluation of Tl-20 lung uptake and impairment of pulmonary perfusion on scintigraphies in pulmonary tuberculosis].

Tl-201 lung uptake in 74 patients (85 lesions) and pulmonary perfusion in 105 patients were studied to evaluate clinical usefulness of Tl-201 lung uptake and perfusion lung scintigraphy in pulmonary tuberculosis, using a scintillation camera with a mini-computer system. As indices of Tl-201 lung uptake, lung (lesion) to upper mediastinum uptake ratio (L/M) and visual grading were used. L/M in pulmonary tuberculosis was 1.96 +/- 0.66, which was significantly larger than 1.04 +/- 0.24 in healthy controls and lower than that in heart diseases with left heart failure and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and showed no significant differences with that in acute pneumonia, pyothorax, primary lung cancer and malignant mediastinal tumor. L/M in pulmonary tuberculosis did not correlate with CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Gaffky number of sputum and body temperature. It correlated with the type of pulmonary tuberculosis according to the Gakken Classification reflecting the disease activity. It was larger in the exudative type, caseo-infiltrative one, disseminated one, one with cavity in infiltrative lesion than the fibro-caseous one. On perfusion lung scintigram, impairment of pulmonary perfusion larger than area of the entire unilateral lung was observed in 68 cases (64.8%). Area of hypoperfused lung field, which correlated with % vital capacity (r = 0.60, p = 0.0002) and PaO2 (r = 0.39, p = 0.0024), was significantly larger in patients with silicosis and those with bilateral pleural involvements such as pleural callosity than in those with type III according to the Gakkai Classification. Most of the patients showed decreased pulmonary perfusion and Tl-201 accumulation of which grade reflects the disease activity in active tuberculous lesion. Patients with miliary tuberculosis and those with silicotuberculosis showed diffuse Tl-201, accumulation in the both lungs. Tl-201 lung scintigraphy seems to be useful for visualizing active tuberculous lesions, particularly the ones that could not be detected by the chest radiograph in patients with destroyed lung and with pleural callosity. Joint use of Tl-201 and perfusion lung scintigraphies provides useful informations about the pathophysiology and disease process in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Aged↗