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Biomedical subjects

T Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujii.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Free groin flap for reconstruction of the tongue and oral floor.

The authors report the use of free groin flaps to close intraoral defects in 24 patients following ablative tongue cancer surgery. The lateral thin portion of the flap was used for tongue reconstruction, and the deepithelialized medial thick portion for filling the mandibular defect and for covering the important vessels in the neck. In lean patients, if the medial deepithelialized portion was too thin for adequate coverage, the proximal sartorius muscle was included to prevent postoperative orocervical fistula. The advantages of the groin flap in reconstructing the tongue and oral floor after hemiglossectomy include the following: (1) a suitable amount of tissue is available for both the tongue and oral floor; (2) the important vessels in the neck may be protected with the flap; (3) the proximal sartorius muscle can be included with the flap, if necessary; (4) donor-site morbidity is less than with other flaps; and (5) flap elevation can be done concurrently with the hemiglossectomy and radical neck dissection.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Pure somaesthetic alexia: somaesthetic-verbal disconnection for letters.

We studied a patient who manifested a bilateral reading disorder through the somaesthetic modality, without deficit of elementary tactile sensation or tactile object naming, due to a left parietal infarct. Detailed investigation established the following points. (i) The patient showed normal function on elementary somaesthetic examination, normal function on high level tactile perception, except for minimal impairment of the right hand on the two-point discrimination test, and normal latencies on the somatosensory evoked potential in both hands. (ii) The patient had difficulty in reading letters using any somaesthetic strategy (graphaesthesia, directional joint kinaesthesia and active touch) with either hand. (iii) On a same-different judgement task, the patient's performance with the right hand was slightly defective on graphaesthesia and active touch, but performance with the left hand was within the normal range for all of the strategies. The patient's disorder was highly category specific and modality specific, indicating that somaesthetic letter reading can be disrupted not only independent of other high level somaesthetic functions, like object recognition, but also independent of other modes of reading functions, such as visual reading. A lesion involving the intraparietal sulcus, the upper part of the inferior parietal lobule and the adjacent white matter in the left hemisphere may be capable of compromising the pathways for somaesthetic letter reading with both hands.

Agraphia↗
PubMed1998

Prenatal diagnosis of Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy by microsatellite analysis.

We applied microsatellite analysis to prenatal diagnosis of Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), an autosomal recessive severe muscular dystrophy associated with brain malformations. Recent identification of the FCMD gene locus at 9q31-q33 provided the basis for prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection. We recently developed new microsatellite markers which are closer to the FCMD gene and improved the phenotype probability. Nine fetuses in eight unrelated FCMD families, including a twin pregnancy, were analysed using the newly developed markers. Four fetuses showed over 99% probability of being healthy either as normal homozygote (n = 1) or heterozygote carrier (n = 3) and were born without signs of FCMD. The other five fetuses were diagnosed with a probability of FCMD of 99% or greater; all of the latter parents decided to terminate the pregnancies. Brain malformations characteristic of FCMD in one of the aborted fetuses confirmed the diagnosis of FCMD at 19 weeks of gestation.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Growth patterns and genetic changes of colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Recent Japanese studies have shown that histogenesis of small colorectal carcinomas can be divided into two groups: polypoid growth arising from polypoid neoplasia, and nonpolypoid growth arising from flat or depressed neoplasia. This classification should be verified with genetic as well as morphologic characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In order to classify our subject into polypoid growth and nonpolypoid growth types both histologically and endoscopically, we selected 42 colorectal carcinomas < 2 cm in size (35 submucosal and seven more advanced). Clinicopathological findings, presence or absence of Ki-ras gene mutation and overexpression of p53 protein were compared between the two types. RESULTS: Histologically, the cases were divided into 27 of the polypoid growth type and 15 of the nonpolypoid growth type. None of the nonpolypoid growth cases contained adenomatous remnant, wheras this was found in 75% of the polypoid growth cases. No Ki-ras mutation was observed in any of the nonpolypoid growth cases, although it appeared in 44% of the polypoid growth cases. Regarding the overexpression of p53 protein, no significant difference was observed between the two types. The histological and the colonoscopic polypoid growth-nonpolypoid growth classifications correlated well with each other (agreement rate 98%), except for one lesion, which was classified as polypoid growth type endoscopically but as nonpolypoid growth type histologically. CONCLUSIONS: The histologically defined polypoid growth-nonpolypoid growth classification may indicate a difference in pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis. Also, colonoscopic polypoid growth-nonpolypoid growth classification is available for preoperative estimation of the genetic characteristics of small carcinomas.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer associated with duodenal carcinoma: a case report.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is an autosomal, dominantly inherited disease, characterized by an early age of onset, right colon predominance and an association with various extracolorectal malignancies. We present a case of a 47-year-old woman who met the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer from her past and family histories. She had undergone operations for uterine cancer (histology not confirmed) at age 35 and for advanced cancer of the ascending colon at age 45. Gastroendoscopy revealed a flat elevated lesion, 20 mm in size, with a protrusion (type IIa + Is) in the second portion of the duodenum in March 1996. Additionally, colonoscopy showed a flat elevated lesion, 30 mm in size, with an irregular and nodular surface (type IIa, laterally spreading tumor) in the descending colon. After the operation, the resected specimen of the duodenum histologically showed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma associated with a tubulo-villous adenoma which had invaded the submucosal layer. The tumor of the colon was histologically confirmed to be a moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma with submucosal invasion. A high frequency of replication error positivity (4/5 loci) was detected in both of the tumors. Reports of early cancer of the duodenum, associated with extracolorectal malignancies in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, are very rare in the literature. Although it is difficult to determine which extracolorectal tumor sites should be taken into consideration by screening programs, we believe that careful observation by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which includes the duodenum, is necessary for patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Colonoscopy↗
PubMed1998

Diagnostic findings in endoscopic screening of superficial colorectal neoplasia: results from a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was carried out to clarify the efficacy of an endoscopic screening program for detecting superficial colorectal neoplasias by color changes such as faint redness or discoloration, which have been described as a key finding of these lesions in the literature. METHODS: We enrolled 716 consecutive cases in this study, but more than half of them did not reveal any abnormalities colonoscopically. RESULTS: Of the 716 cases, 48 (7%) were examined by magnifying colonoscopy with a dye spraying technique, following the detection of superficial color changes. Sixteen neoplastic lesions (in 16 cases) were detected among the 48 cases and the detection rate was calculated as 2.2% (16/716) in the total number of cases and 33% (16/48) in those showing color abnormalities. Histologically, all of the 16 were adenomas. These neoplastic lesions were most frequent (52%; 11/21) in those showing faint redness in an oval shape, whereas 14 (94%) of the 15 lesions were non-specific in those showing faint redness with unclear margin. CONCLUSIONS: These results may confirm the diagnostic utility of color abnormality, particularly faint redness in an oval shape, for endoscopic screening of superficial colorectal neoplasias.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1998

X-ray structure of a reaction intermediate of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase with L-2-chloropropionamide.

The crystal structure of a complex prepared by soaking a single crystal of the S175A mutant of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. YL in a solution containing a poor substrate, L-2-chloropropionamide, has been determined by X-ray analysis at 2. 15 A resolution with a crystallographic R factor of 19.8%. The present analysis has revealed the structure of the reaction intermediate trapped in the crystal. In the intermediate, the substrate moiety lacking chlorine is covalently bound to the carboxyl group of D10, and adopts the pro-D-configuration at the C2 atom. The amide group of the substrate is hydrogen-bonded with the hydroxy group of S118. The methyl group bound to the C2 atom exists in a hydrophobic pocket which is important for recognition of the alkyl group of the substrate. The guanidino group of R41 has reasonable orientation for halogen-abstraction.

Amides↗
PubMed1998

Control of the unidirectional topological orientation of a cross-linked complex composed of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center and horse heart cytochrome c reconstituted into proteoliposomes.

Control of the unidirectional topological orientation was achieved for a cross-linked complex composed of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center and horse heart cytochrome c (RC/cyt c) reconstituted into proteoliposomes. Using the method of Ueno et al. [Ueno et al. (1995) Mater. Sci. Eng. C3, 1-6], we prepared RC/cyt c by conjugating cyt c to the H-subunit of RC of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 using a bifunctional cross-linking reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), as previously reported. The freeze-thaw method was used to incorporate RC/cyt c into liposomes that contained dipalmitoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylglycerol (1:9). The topological orientation of RC/cyt c in the proteoliposomes was determined using three methods: (i) release of the cyt c moiety from the proteoliposomes by cleaving the disulfide bond in the linker residue, (ii) electron transfer from free cyt c outside the proteoliposomes to the RC moiety, and (iii) photo-induced membrane potential of RC- and RC/cyt c-reconstituted proteoliposomes. The results indicated that about 90% of the RC/cyt c in proteoliposomes was oriented with the H-subunit exposed on the outside of the liposomes, whereas only about 60% of the RC in proteoliposomes had this orientation. Thus, we successfully controlled the unidirectional topological orientation of the RC moiety in liposomes using the RC/cyt c complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning of a novel sex pheromone responsible for the release of a different sex pheromone in Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex.

A sex pheromone, protoplast-release-inducing protein (PR-IP) inducer, of the Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex is known to induce the release of PR-IP, from mating-type plus (mt+) cells during sexual reproduction. The purified PR-IP inducer was treated with trypsin to obtain internal peptides for determination of partial amino acid sequences. Using these sequences, oligonucleotides were synthesized and used as primers for the combined reverse transcription-PCR. A 296 bp cDNA fragment was amplified, permitting the cloning of corresponding full length cDNA (CpPI; Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex PR-IP inducer). The deduced amino acid sequence of CpPI encodes a protein of 212 amino acid residues of M(r) 23,071 whereas portion of the peptide secreted is predicted to have 142 amino acid residues of M(r) 15,717 and shows no significant similarity with known proteins. The predicted protein has three possible consensus sequences for asparagine-linked glycosylation site. The CpPI gene was expressed when mating-type minus (mt-) cells were incubated at a low cell density in the light. Nitrogen deprivation from the medium enhances expression of the CpPI gene. An analysis by genomic Southern hybridization revealed that the cDNA probe hybridized to several DNA fragments obtained from both the genome of mt- and mt+ cells. However, in mt- cells, transcripts for the PR-IP inducer could not be detected by Northern hybridization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Changes in the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in primary aldosteronism in response to dietary sodium restriction and adrenalectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, we found that sodium restriction restored the circadian rhythm of blood pressure from non-dippers to dippers in patients with a sodium-sensitive type of essential hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the effects of sodium restriction on the circadian blood pressure rhythm in patients with primary aldosteronism, a typical sodium-sensitive form of secondary hypertension. DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed 24 h blood pressure monitoring in eight patients with primary aldosteronism due to unilateral adenoma (Conn's syndrome) during normal-sodium (7-12 g/day of NaCl) and low-sodium (1-3 g/day) diets, and after adrenalectomy. RESULTS: Sodium restriction lowered the 24 h mean arterial pressure from 116+/-14 to 109+/-12 mmHg (P< 0.01). During a normal-sodium diet, there was no change in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures during the night-time compared with the daytime. In contrast, during a low-sodium diet, all night-time pressure values were significantly lower than those in the daytime. After adrenalectomy, the night-time pressures in patients on a normal-sodium diet were lower than those of the daytime. The nocturnal mean arterial pressure fall was increased by sodium restriction and adrenalectomy. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the circadian rhythm of blood pressure was disturbed in patients with primary aldosteronism who maintained a relatively high sodium intake. Both adrenalectomy and sodium restriction restored a nocturnal dip in blood pressure in primary aldosteronism. Therefore, sodium restriction affects the circadian blood pressure rhythm in sodium-sensitive types of hypertension, not only in primary hypertension, but also in secondary hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Comparative study of inferior alveolar disturbance restoration after sagittal split osteotomy by means of bicortical versus monocortical osteosynthesis.

The comparative study of neurosensory disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve after bilateral sagittal split osteotomies was carried out. The 112 patients who underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomies were divided into two groups: one group consisted of 62 patients (124 osteotomy sites) who received bicortical osteosynthesis using the lag screw principle (bicortical fixation group), and the other group consisted of 52 patients (104 osteotomy sites) who underwent monocortical osteosynthesis using miniplates (monocortical fixation group). The incidence of neurosensory disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve as well as its recovery course was compared by patients' interview and Semmes-Weinstein pressure esthesiometer. Mean follow-up period was 12 months (minimum 3 months, maximum 36 months). The incidences of sensory disturbance of both groups were not significantly different at 2 weeks postoperatively. During the period 6 to 12 months postoperatively, the number of patients having light touch sensory disturbance was significantly less in the monocortical fixation group than in the bicortical fixation group. Moreover, the number of patients complaining of numbness during 6 to 18 months postoperatively was significantly less in the monocortical fixation group. These findings suggested that the monocortical osteosynthesis had less damage on the inferior alveolar nerve, leading to the better restoration of neurosensory disturbance in patients in whom the nerve damage was moderate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Increased proliferative activity of osteoblasts in congenital hemifacial hypertrophy.

Congenital hemifacial hypertrophy is expressed in facial asymmetry resulting from unilateral overgrowth. We examined proliferative activity of primary cultured osteoblasts taken from the hemifacial hypertrophic side of an 18-year-old woman compared with the normal side. Both fetal calf serum and basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated osteoblast DNA synthesis, and cultured osteoblast proliferation was markedly increased in the hypertrophic side. Neutralizing antibody against basic fibroblast growth factor was effective to partially block fetal calf serum-induced DNA synthesis. These results suggest that fibroblast growth factor and its receptor signal transduction axis may be selectively involved in affected osteoblasts, leading to progression of congenital hemifacial hypertrophy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Marinospirillum gen. nov., with descriptions of Marinospirillum megaterium sp. nov., isolated from kusaya gravy, and transfer of Oceanospirillum minutulum to Marinospirillum minutulum comb. nov.

Two strains of helical, halophilic, Gram-negative, heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from kusaya gravy which is a traditional Japanese fermented brine. These strains were motile by means of a single polar or bipolar tuft flagellum. They had a large cell size, were helical, formed coccoid bodies, were microaerophilic and had quinone type Q-8. The DNA G + C content of the strains was 44-45 mol %. A detailed investigation of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics of the strains revealed that they represent a new species of halophilic helical bacteria. The sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of strain H7T, designated the type strain of the new isolates, and all of the Oceanospirillum species except for Oceanospirillum linum were determined. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these strains were closely related to Oceanospirillum minutulum, with enough distance to separate the O. minutulum/new isolate H7T cluster from Oceanospirillum sensu stricto on the genus level. It is proposed that a new genus, Marinospirillum, be created; this genus should include Marinospirillum minutulum ATCC 19193T (formerly Oceanospirillum minutulum) as the type species, as well as Marinospirillum megaterium JCM 10129T (= H7T).

DNA, Bacterial↗
PubMed1998

Association between anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union and adenomyomatosis of the gall-bladder.

A frequent association of biliary tract carcinoma and anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union (APBD) is well recognized, especially gall-bladder carcinoma in undilated type APBD. However, little is known about the presence and incidence of adenomyomatosis (AMT) of the gall-bladder, a presumed premalignant lesion, in patients with APBD. This retrospective study was conducted to elucidate the clinical features and incidence of AMT in APBD patients with relation to undilated type and dilated type APBD. We reviewed the clinicopathological records of 30 patients with APBD (28 women and two men) encountered during the past 10 years. Among them, 22 patients underwent cholecystectomy and the resected specimens were subjected to histopathological examinations. Eleven cases of APBD patients were undilated type and 11 cases were dilated type. Adenomyomatosis was found in six (55%) of 11 undilated type and one (9%) of 11 dilated type, and fundal type was predominantly observed in six (86%) of seven AMT. An overall incidence of AMT in APBD patients was 32%. An undilated type of APBD is frequently associated with AMT and we believe, therefore, that clinicians should be aware of a possible coexistence of APBD and AMT.

Adenomyoma↗
PubMed1998

Solitary true cyst of the pancreas in two adults: analysis of cyst fluid and review of the literature.

Solitary true cyst of the pancreas in adults is extremely rare. We report two adult cases of solitary true cyst of the pancreas. In a 53-yr-old woman there was discovered, incidentally, a unilocular cyst of 7.0 x 6.5 cm in size in the tail of the pancreas that was noted on abdominal US and CT scan. A 16-yr-old boy presented with abdominal pain, and an abdominal US and CT scan revealed a 6.5 cm cystic mass located in the tail of the pancreas. Both patients underwent distal pancreatectomy. Histologically, the cyst was lined with flattened cuboidal and squamous epithelium without morphological alterations. Analysis of the cyst fluid revealed high CA 19-9 (>100,000 U/L) and Span-1 levels (>60,000 U/L) in both cases. Immunohistochemically, the lining epithelial cells of true cyst were positive for CA 19-9 staining. The clinicopathological features of solitary true cyst of the pancreas in adults are briefly reviewed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

The association of physical activity level characteristics and other lifestyles with obesity in Nagoya University alumni, Japan.

Improving daily-life habits is considered to be effective in treating obesity. We have examined obesity in regular physical examinations in university students since 1974. In this study, the subjects were 199 students regarded as obese (Broca's index: more than 120%) and 326 non-obese students randomly selected (525 subjects in total) among students who underwent regular physical examinations at Nagoya University, Japan, between 1974 and 1978. Here we report our follow-up survey of obese university students and non-obese individuals who were students of the same university during the same period. This study was carried out for the purpose of clarifying the relationship between changes in lifestyle and body weight 20 years after graduation. Concerning eating behavior, a higher proportion of subjects cared about diet intake in the current non-obese group than in the current obese group (P<0.05). The meal-time in the obese was shorter than that in the non-obese group (P<0.01). Ten percent of subjects in the obese group and 24.4% of subjects in the non-obese group selected class II (moderate) or higher as indicative of the intensity of their daily physical activity. There was a significant difference in distribution between the groups (P<0.05). In the group showing improvement in obesity over time, a higher proportion of subjects cared about diet intake than in the group with continued obesity (P<0.05). Concerning intensity of physical activity, 11.8% of subjects in the group with continued obesity selected class II (moderate) or higher, while 45.5% of subjects in the group showing improvement in obesity chose class II (moderate) or higher. A significant difference in distribution existed between the groups (P<0.01). These findings suggest that the eating behavior of ending meals before feeling satiety and a lifestyle change to enhance the intensity of daily physical activity including walking, even if not having any special sports habits, are effective in decreasing body weight.

Adult↗