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Biomedical subjects

T Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to T Fujii.

At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in early recurrent spontaneous abortion.

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical significance of autoimmune anticardiolipin antibody that can react with cardiolipin only in the presence of beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody) in the pathogenesis of early recurrent abortion. A total of 72 early recurrent spontaneous aborters and 175 normal healthy women were analysed for the occurrence of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in serum samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for the detection of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody. The incidence of beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody in the early recurrent spontaneous aborters was essentially the same as that of normal women. Thus, the beta2-glycoprotein I-dependent anticardiolipin antibody seemed to have little, if any, implication in the pathogenesis of early recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed1997

A case of pregnancy in a woman with cloacal dysgenesis and a rudimentary uterine horn.

Cloacal dysgenesis is frequently associated with uterine anomalies. We report a case of pregnancy which resulted in an abortion in a woman with a persistent cloaca. Presumptive diagnosis before operation was ectopic pregnancy of the left tube. Postoperatively, the site of implantation of the conceptus was found to be the cavity of a unicornuate uterus in association with a rudimentary horn, the presence of which misled us to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1997

Differential clinical courses of pregnancies complicated by diabetes insipidus which does, or does not, pre-date the pregnancy.

We present six cases of diabetes insipidus (DI) complicating pregnancy. In three cases, DI was manifested during pregnancy and required the administration of desmopressin acetate (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, DDAVP). All these cases exhibited abnormal laboratory data such as an elevation of liver enzymes or a decrease in serum antithrombin III. The remaining three cases had suffered from DI before pregnancy which was well controlled on DDAVP. The clinical courses of these pregnancies were all uneventful subsequent to therapy. If DI is first recognized during pregnancy, attention should be paid to the possibility of abnormal liver function and eclampsia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Binding mode of CA074, a specific irreversible inhibitor, to bovine cathepsin B as determined by X-ray crystal analysis of the complex.

The binding mode of CA074 [N-(L-3-trans-propylcarbamoyl-oxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-isoleucyl-L-pr oline], a specific irreversible inhibitor, to bovine spleen cathepsin B was elucidated by X-ray crystal structure analysis of the complex at 2.2 A resolution (conventional R=0.185). Inconsistently with our model used for the development of CA074, the L-isoleucyl-L-proline and propylcarbamoyl moieties are located at the S' and S subsites, respectively. This unexpected binding is primarily due to (i) similar extended chain conformations (due to the same S configurations) at the oxirane C2 and C3 atoms of CA074 and (ii) the just fit formation of double hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl oxygens of L-proline and the imidazole nitrogens of His-110 and His-111 residues (these residues are missing in papain, the tertiary structure of which was used for the design of CA074). The oxirane C3 atom possessing the P' substituent is covalently bound to the Cys-29 Sgamma atom (C3-Sgamma=1.79 A) and the S configuration is maintained. The present result will provide useful information for characterizing the substrate-specificity of cathepsin B.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Interaction of chicken gizzard smooth muscle calponin with brain microtubules.

Calponin, a major actin-, tropomyosin-, and calmodulin-binding protein in smooth muscle, interacted with tubulin, a main constituent of microtubules, in a concentration-dependent fashion in vitro. The apparent K(d) value of calponin to tubulin was calculated to be 5.2 microM with 2 mol of calponin maximally bound per 1 mol of tubulin. At low ionic strength, tubulin bound to calponin immobilized on Sepharose 4B, and the bound protein was released at about 270 mM NaCl. Chemical cross-linking experiments showed that a 1:1 molar covalent complex of calponin and tubulin was produced. The amount of calponin bound to microtubules decreased with increasing ionic strength or Ca2+ concentration. The addition of calmodulin or S100 to the mixture of calponin and microtubule proteins caused the removal of calponin from microtubules in the presence of Ca2+, but not in the presence of EGTA. Calponin-related proteins including tropomyosin, SM22, and caldesmon had little effect on the calponin binding to microtubules, whereas MAP2 inhibited the binding. Interestingly, there was little, if any, effect of mycalolide B-treated actin on the binding of calponin to microtubules. Furthermore, only about 20% of calponin-F-actin interaction was inhibited in the presence of an excess amount of tubulin (4 mol per mol of calponin), indicating that tubulin binds to calponin at a different site from that of actin. Compared with MAP2, calponin had little effect on microtubule polymerization.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

The effects of tissue expansion on the hemodynamic and survival characteristics of reverse-flow island flaps: an experimental study in rabbits.

The effects of tissue expansion on the hemodynamic and survival characteristics of reverse-flow island skin flaps were investigated in New Zealand White rabbits. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 15: group I (control) had no surgery prior to flap elevation, group II (nonexpansion) had a noninflated expander, and group III (expansion) had an inflated expander of 80 ml. After 3 weeks of expansion, a reverse-flow island flap based on the distal saphenous pedicle was elevated. A series of hemodynamic studies was performed to test reverse venous flow--in particular, valve competence. Besides observing the reverse flow under an operating microscope, the changes in the intravenous pressure were measured at 0, 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after flap elevation. Moreover, reverse-flow resistance (RFR) was measured in each group to test the competence of venous valves. At each time interval, the values of intravenous pressure were significantly lower (p < 0.01) in group III than in the groups I and II. However there was no statistically significant difference between group I and group II. The RFR was measured as 126.7 +/- 33.52 mmHg in group I, 59.3 +/- 29.86 mmHg in group II (p < 0.01), and 25.1 +/- 7.68 mmHg in group III (p < 0.01). Ten days after flap elevation the mean survival of group III (100%) was statistically higher than that of group I (57.4 +/- 18.3%; p < 0.01) and group II (81.6 +/- 12.8%; p < 0.05). These findings simply suggest that controlled tissue expansion improves retrograde venous drainage and increases the survival of reverse-flow island flaps in rabbits. Abnormal dilatation of the venous tree and incompetence of the venous valves seem to be the main factors in explaining the decrease in the values of RFR and intravenous pressure in the expanded flaps. The potential mechanisms to explain the effects of tissue expansion, and the clinical implications are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Radiographic analysis of hallux valgus in women on weightbearing and nonweightbearing.

To investigate changes in the radiographic appearance during weightbearing in hallux valgus and to examine the importance of a weightbearing view, a comparative study was performed of accurate dorsoplantar radiographs of 108 symptomatic hallux valgus feet in 73 female patients and 100 normal feet in 69 females, which were taken weightbearing and nonweightbearing. The hallux valgus angle in the hallux valgus group increased on weightbearing, whereas that in the normal group decreased. The intermetatarsal angle between the first and second metatarsals increased on weightbearing in both groups. The degree of the changes of the angles was closely related with the degree of the hallux valgus deformity. The intermetatarsal angle between the fourth and fifth metatarsals decreased on weightbearing in the both groups. A weightbearing view is necessary to evaluate the structural configuration of hallux valgus, because muscle imbalance around the first metatarsophalangeal joint in hallux valgus causes an increase of a hallux valgus angle on weightbearing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Monochloramine-induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in a rat gastric mucosal cell line.

Recent studies have indicated that monochloramine (NH2Cl), a reaction product of NH3 and hypochlorous acid, is involved in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric mucosal damage, but how NH2Cl contributes to lesions is unclear. In the present study, the effects of NH2Cl on mucosal cell growth and the cell cycle were evaluated in vitro using a normal rat gastric mucosal cell line RGM-1. Cell viability was assessed by the Trypan Blue dye exclusion test and cell cycle patterns were determined by DNA labeling with propidium iodide and flow cytometric quantification. NH2Cl inhibited the growth of RGM-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Exposure of cells to NH2Cl caused a time- and dose-dependent loss of G1-phase cells with accumulation of G2/M-phase cells, and produced a fraction of subdiploid cells with oligonucleosomal DNA degradation characteristic of apoptosis. NH2Cl-induced apoptosis was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy with Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide. These results suggest that NH2Cl inhibits gastric mucosal cell growth and induces apoptosis in RGM-1 cells, events that may be important in gastric mucosal damage or atrophy induced by H. pylori infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Migration of hydroxyapatite onlays into the mandible and nasal bone and local bone turnover in growing rabbits.

To determine the effects of local bone turnover on the migration of macroporous hydroxyapatite onlays in the nasal bone and mandibular ramus, we performed histomorphometric analyses of the underlying bone area in 41 New Zealand White rabbits from the age of 4 weeks. The hydroxyapatite implants were placed under the periosteum of the right nasal bone (a depository bone onto its periosteal surface and endosteal resorptive) and the mandibular ramus (resorptive onto its outer surface). The corresponding left sides were sham operated. Following fluorescence bone labeling, composite specimens of the hydroxyapatite block including both sides of the nasal bone and mandible were removed at 0 (n = 1), 3, 6, 9, 12, and 16 weeks postoperatively (n = 8, respectively) and processed to yield undecalcified sections. Bone-bone marrow interfaces in the entire area within 200 microns beneath the base of the hydroxyapatite and in the counter-area on the sham-operated side were measured under a light microscope. In all grafted specimens, the hydroxyapatite matrix was directly united with the underlying tissue by bone ingrowth. However, the sinking of the hydroxyapatite graft in the nasal bone was significant at 3 weeks postoperatively and gradually increased thereafter. In the mandible, the sinking became significant at 6 weeks. In the nasal bone, the bone area density beneath the graft showed a time-dependent decrease during the experimental period, but in the mandibular bone, the value was initially decreased at 3 weeks and then recovered to baseline level. In both bones, parameters of bone resorption, such as osteoclast number and osteoclast surface, were significantly increased from 3 weeks. While the parameters of bone formation, such as osteoblast surface and mineralizing surface, were significantly decreased from 3 weeks in the nasal bone, they were significantly increased in the mandible. Mineral apposition rate showed a significant decrease in both bones. Our data indicate that while the bone area density beneath the hydroxyapatite seemed to depend on bone formation, increased bone resorption would be more critical for the remodeling of underlying bony architecture in the migration of the hydroxyapatite graft.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Tetragenococcus muriaticus sp. nov., a new moderately halophilic lactic acid bacterium isolated from fermented squid liver sauce.

A total of 11 strains of moderately halophilic histamine-producing bacteria isolated from fermented squid liver sauce were studied phenotypically, genotypically, and phylogenetically. These strains are considered members of the genus Tetragenococcus based on their physiological, morphological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that these strains clustered with, but were separate from, Tetragenococcus halophilus. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments indicated that the new isolates represent a new Tetragenococcus species, for which we propose the name Tetragenococcus muriaticus; strain X-1 (= JCM 10006) is the type strain of this species.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Induction of aberrant crypt foci and flat-type adenocarcinoma in the colons of dogs by N-ethyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine and their sequential changes.

Sequential endoscopic observation of dog colons was performed during colon carcinogenesis. Two beagle dogs were given suppositories containing N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) every day for five months. In month 3, aberrant crypt foci (ACF), a putative preneoplastic lesion, were found in the colons of both dogs, but not in an untreated dog. The frequency of ACF increased until month 10, and then decreased. In month 9, very small lesions, less than 1 mm in diameter, which were similar to human early flat tumors, were first noticed. One of these lesions grew to about 7 mm in size without a change in its shape for 10 months. There were more than ten flat-type tumors in the two dogs, but such lesions were not found in the untreated dog. By biopsy, two of the lesions were proved to be well-differentiated adenocarcinomas histologically. Four polypoid lesions were found in one of the carcinogen-treated dogs. Thus, flat-type adenocarcinomas were induced in the dog colon by ENNG, and their development was followed by magnifying endoscopy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Phenotypic characterization of T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis; the importance of cytotoxic T cells.

We investigated the contribution of T cells in diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) by identifying T cell subsets in BALF of 36 patients with DPB, before and after long-term treatment with macrolide antibiotics, and 16 healthy control subjects. The percentages of lymphocytes and CD3+ gammadelta+ cells in BALF of DPB patients and control subjects were similar, but the absolute number of these cells was higher in DPB patients. Treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the absolute number of these cells. A further two-colour analysis of T cell subsets in BALF showed a significantly higher ratio and number of CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells in DPB patients. Treatment resulted in a significant reduction of activated T cells. Most BALF CD8+ cells were CD8+ CD11b- cytotoxic T cells. The number of these cells in BALF of DPB patients (26.69 +/- 5.86 x 10(3)/ml) was higher than the control (2.02 +/- 0.38 x 10(3)/ml; P < 0.001), and a significant reduction was observed after treatment (7.69 +/- 2.59 x 10(3)/ml; P < 0.01). The number of CD4+ cells was also higher in DPB patients than in controls, and most were CD4+ CD29+ memory T cells. However, treatment did not influence the number of these cells. The number of lymphocytes, CD3+ gammadelta+, CD8+ CD11b-, CD8+ HLA-DR+, and CD4+ CD29+ cells was higher in patients with bacterial infection than in those without bacterial infection, and interestingly, macrolide therapy reduced the number of lymphocytes, CD3+ gammadelta+, CD8+ CD11b- and CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells, irrespective of bacterial infection. In peripheral blood, the percentage of CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells was also higher in DPB patients than in healthy subjects, and significantly decreased after treatment. The percentage of CD8+ CD11b- cells in peripheral blood was similar in DPB patients and normal subjects, and treatment significantly reduced the percentage of these cells. Finally, the expression of the adhesion molecules CD11a/CD18 (alpha/beta-chains of LFA-1) on lung CD3+ cells and CD49d (alpha-chain of VLA) on lung CD4+ cells was enhanced compared with that on peripheral blood in DPB patients. Our results suggest that elevation of memory T cells and activation of CD8+ cells, mainly cytotoxic T cells, in the airway lumen of DPB patients may contribute to chronic bronchial inflammation, possibly through up-regulation of adhesion molecules. Our findings also indicate that macrolide antibiotics may have a direct or indirect suppressive effect on cytotoxic T cells, and as such, reduce inflammation and improve clinical condition.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effect of exercise training and detraining on gas exchange kinetics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Symptom-limited incremental exercise tests are used to estimate the training effect on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is a need for objective parameters for measurement on submaximal exercise testing. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of measurement of oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics during a constant work rate exercise test of patients with COPD after exercise training. Eleven patients with COPD performed exercise tests before and after cycle ergometer training on 3 days per week for 8 weeks; they then went without training for 5 months and performed the same tests. They performed an incremental exercise test to symptom-limited maximum and a constant work rate exercise test for 6 min on a cycle ergometer. The time constant of VO2 during the onset of constant work rate exercise was significantly decreased (from 63.5 +/- 7.8 s to 53.2 +/- 8.0 s) after exercise training (P = 0.021), but was significantly increased (to 73.4 +/- 14.9 s) after 5 months without training (P = 0.001). The oxygen pulse at steady state during constant work rate exercise testing was significantly increased after exercise training but decreased 5 months later. The change in blood lactate from rest to steady state during constant work rate exercise was significantly decreased after exercise training, but increased 5 months later. Measurement of the time constant of VO2 and oxygen pulse during constant work rate exercise are useful for the objective evaluation of the training effect of patients with COPD.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Presence of HLA-G-expressing cells modulates the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to release cytokines.

PROBLEM: Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is thought to be at play in maternal-fetal immune interplay during pregnancy. Whether the expression of HLA-G protein on the target cells altered the release of cytokines from effector mononuclear cells was questioned. METHOD OF STUDY: The amounts of cytokines released from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cocultured with or without HLA-G-expressing target cells were compared. RESULTS: When cocultured with HLA-G-expressing target cell lines, the amounts of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) released from PBMC were increased, whereas the amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Mononuclear cells, if cultured with HLA-G-expressing cells, modulate their ability to release cytokines, suggesting a role of HLA-G in triggering maternal-fetal immune interplay and thereby maintaining pregnancy.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1997

Pathogenetic implication of interleukin-2 expressed in preeclamptic decidual tissues: a possible mechanism of deranged vasculature of the placenta associated with preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study is to clarify whether IL-2 expressed in the decidua in preeclampsia affects the angiogenesis of the placenta. METHOD OF STUDY: We investigated the angiogenic substances released from human trophoblasts obtained from early pregnancy that had been pretreated with either IL-2, non-activated lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), decidual lymphocytes, or these lymphocytes activated by lymphokine (LAK cells). Angiogenic activity was determined by evaluating the ability of growth-promotion of cultured human microvascular endothelial cells (HMvECs) using MTT assay. RESULTS: Trophoblasts pretreated with IL-2 or non-activated lymphocytes, irrespective of their origin, released angiogenic factor similar to those without pretreatment. However, trophoblasts pretreated with LAK cells released less angiogenic factor compared with those without pretreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) expressed in preeclamptic decidua might reduce the angiogenic substances arising from trophoblasts by inducing LAK-cells from decidual lymphocytes, which might be relevant to deranged vasculature of the placenta, a characteristic histology in preeclampsia.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗
PubMed1997

Evidence for an elevation in serum interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels before the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia.

PROBLEM: The purpose of this study is to clarify whether the disruption of immune regulation occurs in early pregnancy before the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia. METHOD OF STUDY: The serum concentrations of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by using enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in the first trimester of pregnancy in women who had preeclampsia develop after 28 weeks of pregnancy (preeclamptic group) and in women who completed pregnancy uneventfully (control group). RESULTS: Serum concentrations of both IL-2 and TNF-alpha in the first trimester of the preeclamptic group were significantly higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: That the perturbation of feto-maternal immune regulation may precede the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia, which may be of relevance in the development of preeclampsia, is suggested.

Adult↗