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Biomedical subjects

A Kawashima

Publications and source records attributed to A Kawashima.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

A new assay for lipiodol in a tumor using a combination of m-chloroperbenzoic acid-mediated oxidation and the iodo-starch reaction.

Lipiodol, an iodine adduct lipid, has been used as a targeting carrier of anticancer drugs in experimental animals and humans. In most studies, the concentrations of the anticancer drugs in tissues and organs have been monitored, but not of the carrier because a simple method for measuring lipiodol in biological organs did not exist. Here we present an analytical method for the quantitative determination of lipiodol in tissue. This method is based on the measurement of iodine released from lipiodol by an oxidative reaction. The released iodine was measured spectrophotometrically by monitoring the iodo-starch reaction. Using this method, we were able to demonstrate the tumor specificity of lipiodol using rabbits bearing VX2 tumors in the liver. The present method is also expected to be applicable to human cancers, such as hepatic and colon cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Initial and 6-month results of biodegradable poly-l-lactic acid coronary stents in humans.

BACKGROUND: Although metallic stents are effective in preventing acute occlusion and reducing late restenosis after coronary angioplasty, many concerns still remain. Compared with metallic stents, poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) stents are biodegradable and can deliver drugs locally. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the PLLA stent. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifteen patients electively underwent PLLA Igaki-Tamai stent implantation for coronary artery stenoses. The Igaki-Tamai stent is made of a PLLA monopolymer, has a thickness of 0.17 mm, and has a zigzag helical coil pattern. A balloon-expandable covered sheath system was used, and the stent expanded by itself to its original size with an adequate temperature. A total of 25 stents were successfully implanted in 19 lesions in 15 patients, and angiographic success was achieved in all procedures. No stent thrombosis and no major cardiac event occurred within 30 days. Coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound were serially performed 1 day, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Angiographically, both the restenosis rate and target lesion revascularization rate per lesion were 10.5%; the rates per patient were 6.7% at 6 months. Intravascular ultrasound findings revealed no significant stent recoil at 1 day, and they revealed stent expansion at follow-up. No major cardiac event, except for repeat angioplasty, developed within 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary experience suggests that coronary PLLA biodegradable stents are feasible, safe, and effective in humans. Long-term follow-up with more patients will be required to validate the long-term efficacy of PLLA stents.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Double cancer (lung and colon cancer) that showed complete remission with irinotecan and cisplatin combined chemotherapy.

We report a rare case of double (colon and lung) cancer which showed complete remission with chemotherapy with irinotecan (CPT-11) and cisplatin (CDDP). The patient was a 67-year-old man who was diagnosed as having double cancer (stage IIIb pulmonary adenocarcinoma and stage 0 [or 1] well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon). Two courses of chemotherapy (CPT-11, 60 mg/m2, days 1 and 8; CDDP, 30 mg/m2, days 1 and 8) were performed. The combination therapy of CPT-11 and CDDP was very effective. In Japan, there have been few published reports describing the use of CPT-11 for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. We think that the use of CPT-11 in gastrointestinal cancer is promising.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Constrictive pericarditis from an embolized hypodermic needle: radiographic, CT and MR imaging findings.

We present the radiographic, computed tomographic (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) findings in a woman with constrictive pericarditis due to an embolized hypodermic needle. The chest films revealed pleural effusions but no foreign body. The CT showed pericardial thickening and a linear foreign body of metallic attenuation in the right ventricular apex, and MR imaging revealed a signal void with magnetic susceptibility artifact. This case illustrates the capabilities and limitations of CT and MR imaging in hypodermic needle-induced constrictive pericarditis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm by nicardipine prolonged-release implants in dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of nicardipine prolonged-release implants for preventing vasospasm in a canine SAH model in a dose-escalating placebo-controlled blind fashion. Drug-release kinetics of copoly(lactic/glycolic acid) pellet containing nicardipine were evaluated in vitro. In vivo, 18 dogs were randomly assigned to one of three groups, i.e. placebo, low-dose (0.8 mg), or high-dose (8 mg) nicardipine. Angiography was performed, followed by right craniectomy, the induction of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the placement of the pellets in the Sylvian fissure. On Day 7 and Day 14, the angiography was repeated. In the first four days, 61.9% of the actual nicardipine loaded was released and within 10 days, 96%. The average percent reductions of vessel diameters in the middle cerebral artery on Day 7 were 43%, 14% and 7% in the placebo, low-dose, and high-dose groups, respectively (p = 0.0319). The mean concentration of nicardipine in the clots on Day 14 was 9.7 x 10(-7) mol-1 l-1 and 5.1 x 10(-6) mol-1 l-1 in the low-dose and high-dose group, respectively. This drug delivery system prevented vasospasm in dogs significantly even at low dose, while maintaining an appropriate concentration of nicardipine in the clot adjacent to the arteries.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas with high serum CEA & CA19-9, K-ras codon 12 mutation, and microsatellite instability.

A 55-year-old man with nonfunctioning islet cell carcinoma showing elevation of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels is described with genetic analyses. Pathological examination of the resected specimen revealed two independent islet cell carcinomas, one in the body and the other in the tail of the pancreas. It was proved immunohistochemically that the tumor cells, particularly those in the tail, were immunoreactive to CEA and CA 19-9 and had the property of duct cells, as well as endocrine cells. Gastrin was demonstrated immunohistochemically in these tumor cells, although its level in serum was not elevated. Genetic analyses of the fresh specimens from the tumor in the body revealed K-ras codon 12 mutation and microsatellite instability. These findings are consistent with its progressive clinical course and strongly suggest that these tumors originate, not from the islet cells of Langerhans, but from protodifferentiated cells, capable of giving rise to all the pancreatic cell types.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2000

Does the depth of gastric ulceration influence a modified dual therapy with amoxicillin and lansoprazole for Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric ulcer?

PURPOSE: To clarify whether the depth of ulceration evaluated by endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) influences a modified dual therapy with amoxicillin and lansoprazole for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive cases of gastric ulcer (nine superficial ulcers and 13 deep ulcers) in H pylori-positive patients were studied. Ten of 22 patients received a two-week eradication therapy with amoxicillin 1500 mg/day, lansoprazole 30 mg/day and a new antiulcer agent with features in common with sucralfate, ecabet sodium, 2.0 g/day. They continued to receive the same doses of lansoprazole and ecabet sodium for the next six weeks. The other 12 patients received the same therapy except for those who underwent the four-week amoxicillin treatment. All patients underwent EUS both at the start of the study and eight weeks later. They then received ecabet sodium alone for the next six months as a maintenance therapy, followed by a six-month interval with no treatment. The final endoscopy was done one year after H pylori eradication therapy was completed to evaluate H pylori status and ulcer recurrence. RESULTS: The rates of endoscopic healing and H pylori eradication in the nine patients with superficial ulcer were 100%, irrespective of the period of amoxicillin treatment. In contrast, the rates of endoscopic evidence of healing and H pylori eradication in the 13 patients with deep ulcer were different for each period of amoxicillin treatment; that is, the rates of reduction in ulcer determined by echo and H pylori eradication in the four patients treated with the two-week amoxicillin course were significantly lower (P=0.03) than those in the nine patients treated with the four-week course. CONCLUSION: Ulcer depth is likely to influence the success of amoxicillin treatment for H pylori-positive patients with gastric ulcer.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in 33 patients: yield of chest computed tomography for the diagnosis of the mild type.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) usually occurs in young people without an apparent precipitating factor or disease. Although there have been many studies focused on the clinical features and standard chest X-ray (CXR) findings of SPM, few have reviewed the chest computed-tomographic (CT) findings. OBJECTIVES: We assessed SPM using CXR and CT, and the relation between them. METHODS: We evaluated 33 patients (26 males) diagnosed with SPM on the basis of symptoms and chest radiological findings. RESULTS: Three patients showed normal CXR but a diagnostic CT scan. Seven showed mild pneumomediastinum on CXR. In these 10 patients, pneumomediastinum was easily detected by chest CT. Moderate and severe SPM were easily detected by both CXR and CT. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that CXR alone poorly detected approximately 30% of SPM and that chest CT scan was needed to make the diagnosis in these cases. It seems likely that SPM is underdiagnosed by 30% or more in clinical practice.

Adolescent↗