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Biomedical subjects

A Murata

Publications and source records attributed to A Murata.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[A case of peritoneal metastasis of breast cancer successfully treated by multidisciplinary therapy with hyperthermia therapy].

A 53-year-old female with peritoneal metastasis of breast cancer was treated with hyperthermia with chemotherapy. One course consisted of THP 60 mg and FT 400 mg/iv (day 1), CPM 100 mg and MPA 800 mg/daily/po) with RF heating of hyperthermia monthly. After completion of 10 courses of this regimen, ascites completely disappeared and peritoneal metastases were not found observed in any peritoneal cavity with abdominal CT and ultrasound. Peritoneal metastasis of breast cancer was one of the worst reactions with any therapy. The patient has been living for about four years without any signs of recurrence, with the tumor markers within the normal range after surgery. Thermochemotherapy seems a very promising treatment modality for peritoneal metastasis of breast cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Study of cardiac function in first stage examination of RA-700. RA-700 Clinical Study Group].

There are many studies in the literature on the subject of anti-neoplastic drugs for acute and chronic cardiac toxic function. It is important to check previously the cardiac toxicity of the new anti-neoplastic drugs. Now we have had a chance to study the first stage examination of RA-700, isolated from Rubia akane or Rubia cordifolia. Then we tried to study several kinds of parameters, for instance ECG, ultrasonic cardiograms and arterio-grams on cardiac toxicities of RA-700. We injected the first group of neoplastic patients only once with RA-700, while in the second group, we injected them with RA-700 for 5 consecutive days (see our previous report.) In the present study, we made some conclusions about the administration of RA-700. 1) Changes in cardiac function were noted in both groups. 2) Changes in blood pressure, sigma QRS, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening of the second group tended to be more extreme than those of the first group. Care for continuity is a concern with long-term and high doses of RA-700. 3) Because of the small sample, we could find no relationship between the changes in cardiac function and the injection doses of RA-700. 4) Therefore, the cardiac function must be checked by giving anti-neoplastic drugs to neoplastic patients.

Adult↗

Specific expression of the pancreatic-secretory-trypsin-inhibitor (PSTI) gene in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Twenty hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were analyzed by Northern blotting to test the expression of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI). This gene was expressed in all HCCs, but not in other tumors, including mammary, thyroid, pulmonary and ovarian cancers. Some gastric and colonic cancers weakly expressed PSTI. Among cell lines examined in a similar manner, PSTI was expressed in all of 4 derived from hepatoma. On the other hand, among 15 cell lines derived from cancers other than hepatoma, only 3, derived from pancreatic, colonic and gastric cancers, weakly expressed PSTI. A CAT assay using a deletion set of the 5' region from the cloned PSTI gene has shown that in hepatoma cell lines, the expression of this gene is dependent on the presence of 2 regulatory regions that include an IL-6 responsive elements and an AP-I-binding site. However, in non-hepatoma cell lines, the 2 regulatory regions are not necessary for expression. The blood level of PSTI in 27 patients with HCC was significantly increased, and it was positively correlated with tumor size, suggesting that specific expression of PSTI in HCC causes this effect and that elevated blood level of PSTI without inflammation indicates the presence of HCC.

Adult↗

Identification of the IL-6-responsive element in an acute-phase-responsive human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor-encoding gene.

Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) has been suggested to be an acute-phase reactant in humans and to be induced by inflammatory cytokines such as the interleukins IL-1 and IL-6. We report that PSTI is synthesized in hepatoma cells and that the gene expression is augmented by IL-6. The start points (tsp) for basal and augmented transcription are exactly the same as the tsp in normal pancreas. Analysis of the PSTI gene revealed that a 40-bp DNA fragment located between kb -3.84 and -3.80 carries the element responsible for both transcriptional activity and IL-6-induced gene expression. This 40-bp fragment contains TTGNNGNAATG, the consensus sequence for the NF-IL6-binding site, which is also known as the IL-6-responsive element that is conserved among various acute-phase genes. The basal activity was augmented by another sequence that lies between kb -4.0 and -3.9.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Therapeutic efficacy of granulocyte colony stimulating factor against rat cecal ligation and puncture model.

To identify the therapeutic efficacy of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in severe sepsis, we examined its effect on the mortality and pathological changes in vital organs using the rat lethal sepsis model. Rats were given 15 micrograms of recombinant human (rh)G-CSF after the onset of peritonitis brought about by cecal ligation and puncture. The mortality rate after 72 h was significantly decreased by administration of 15 micrograms of rhG-CSF (p < 0.001). In addition, the administration of rhG-CSF induced an improvement in liver and renal functions. It also produced marked pathological improvement in the lungs. These results strongly indicated that administration of rhG-CSF, even after the onset of sepsis, was effective in decreasing the mortality from peritonitis-induced multiple organ failure, and this finding was clearly useful in the clinical treatment of such sepsis-induced critical illness.

Animals↗

The mechanism of hepatic cellular injury in sepsis: an in vitro study of the implications of cytokines and neutrophils in its pathogenesis.

Neutrophil-mediated injury to hepatocytes was evaluated in vitro. A new in vitro coculture system of neutrophils and a human hepatoblastoma cell line (HuH-6), instead of normal hepatocytes, was established. Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activated neutrophils to release neutrophil elastase and showed the significant cytotoxicity for HuH-6 cells, which was determined by measuring the release of the cytoplasmic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), from HuH-6 cells. The concentration of neutrophil elastase from zymosan-primed/TNF (1.0 ng/ml)-stimulated neutrophils cocultured with HuH-6 cells reached to the level of 1.59 +/- 0.18 micrograms/10(6) cells in 24 hr. The release of LDH from HuH-6 cells in this coculture system was 84.8 +/- 17.8 units/liter after 24 hr incubation. Purified human neutrophil elastase also increased LDH release from HuH-6 cells. When HuH-6 cells were cocultured with zymosan-primed/TNF (1.0 ng/ml)-stimulated neutrophils, the secretion of the negative acute phase reactant (APR), alpha-fetoprotein, from HuH-6 cells was significantly decreased, and the production of the positive APR, pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, was decreased in response to the stimulation of interleukin 6. Urinary trypsin inhibitor, the inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, decreased the release of LDH from HuH-6 cells cocultured with stimulated neutrophils, while superoxide scavenger did not. These results show that human neutrophils activated by TNF injure hepatocytes, thus causing hepatic dysfunction, through the release of neutrophil elastase.

Culture Media, Conditioned↗

Establishment of a human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line secreting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in response to cytokines.

A human anaplastic thyroid cancer cell line K-119, derived from a 77-yr-old woman who had developed marked neutrophilia and underwent surgery for anaplastic thyroid cancer, has been established. The spindlelike and polygonal cells in shape are stably proliferating since the beginning of its culture 2 yr ago. The cells grow rapidly and the population doubling time is 26 h. The chromosomes show many abnormalities and many marker chromosomes have been observed. Heterotransplantation of the cells into nude mice has resulted in the formation of tumors that are histologically interpreted as anaplastic cancer. The most noteworthy characteristics of the cell line are the many Ki-67-positive cells (86.3%) and that the cell line spontaneously secretes granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and releases increased amounts of G-CSF in response to the stimulation of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 1 alpha, and interleukin 1 beta. The conditioned medium obtained from K-119 cells contains an autocrine factor stimulating the proliferation of themselves.

Aged↗

Isolation and characterization of a trisialyllactosylceramide, GT3, containing an O-acetylated sialic acid in cod fish brain.

An O-acetylated ganglioside that generated a trisialyllactosylceramide or GT3 by base treatment was found for the first time in cod fish brain. This ganglioside was isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography, and characterized by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in addition to chemical analysis. The structure was identified as a modified GT3 in which the external sialic acid is O-acetylated at the C-9 position. The chemical structure is as follows: II3(9-O-Ac-NeuAc2-8NeuAc2-8NeuAc2-3)Lac Cer.

Acetylation↗

Differential activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from peripheral blood and exudate in surgical patients.

We examined the effects of surgical trauma on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis, production of phagocytosis-dependent intracellular chemiluminescence (CL) and production of phagocytosis-independent total CL in two groups: group A with esophageal cancer, and group B with gastric cancer. The scale of surgical trauma was quantified by measuring interleukin-6 in plasma and exudate from drainage tubes. We found a significant augmentation of chemotaxis, total CL and intracellular CL in both groups during the post-operative week. In group A, the increments in both chemotaxis and total CL of circulating cells were smaller than those in group B, but there was no significant difference in intracellular CL between the two groups. Exudate PMNs were more chemotactic, but produced smaller amounts of total CL than circulating cells. No significant difference in intracellular CL between exudate and circulating PMNs was detected, indicating that phagocytic activity was not affected. We conclude that severe surgical trauma causes circulating PMNs with high chemotactic activity to migrate to sites of injury, but that preactivated PMNs in exudate examined in vitro produce lower amounts of reactive oxygen metabolites in response to soluble chemoattractants in vitro than cells circulating in plasma.

Adult↗

[A familial case of DRPLA diagnosed by an autopsy associated with hemoglobinopathy (Hb Takamatsu)].

The patient first noticed general muscle stiffness at the age of 36. Two years later, she suffered from a tonic-clonic seizure which brought her to a hospital for the first time. Choreoathetoid movement, ataxia and cognitive deficit were apparent. At the age of 44, tonic-clonic seizures became more frequent and she was admitted to our hospital as being status epilepticus. After the cessation of clinical seizures, she became appllic. Gradual increase of atrophic changes in cerebrum, cerebellum and brain stem were observed by MRI and CT. Hematological study showed that she had abnormal hemoglobin, Hb Takamatsu. Four of her five children were clinically examined; all of them showed abnormal EEG findings; three being mentally retarded and had clinical generalized convulsive seizures; two had hemoglobinopathy (Hb Takamatsu). The patient died from sepsis at the age of 50 and the autopsy was carried out. The brain weighed 930 gram. Histological findings confirmed the diagnosis of dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy; neuronal loss accompanied by gliosis in dentate nuclei, red nuclei, lateral part of globus pallidus, and subthalamic nuclei. The coincidence of the hereditary traits of two independent diseases, DRPLA and familial hemoglobinopathy (Hb Takamatsu) suggests closeness of their genetic loci.

Atrophy↗

[Phase I Study of RA-700. RA-700 Clinical Study Group].

An antitumor substance, RA-700, isolated from Rubia akane or Rubia cordifolia has the novel structure. Phase I clinical study was conducted by the RA-700 clinical study group consisting of 6 institutions. A single dose administration and 5-day schedule administration were evaluated with 14 patients respectively. RA-700 was given from 0.2 to 1.4 mg/m2 in single i.v. dose study, from 0.4 to 2.0 mg/m2 in 5-day i.v. schedule study. Nausea and vomiting, fever, stomachache, mild hypotension and slight abnormality of electric-cardiogram were observed as the toxicities. In pharmacokinetic study, the elimination half-lives (t1/2) of RA-700 in plasma were 55 min, of alpha-phase and 3.9 hrs. of beta-phase by single dose study, and 23-25 min. of alpha-phase and 6-14 hrs. of beta-phase by 5-day schedule study. Accumulation was not found by 5-day schedule administration, and metabolite were not observed in plasma and urine. It seems that RA-700 is metabolized by the liver and excreted in the feces. In conclusion, the maximum tolerated dose was 1.4 mg/m2 for 5-day schedule administration.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Protease inhibitors (gebexate mesylate and ulinastatin) stimulate intracellular chemiluminescence in human neutrophils.

The effect of protease inhibitors on the intracellular production of free radicals was investigated by measuring chemiluminescence (CL) elicited from phagocytosed luminol-bound microspheres (Lumispheres) in human neutrophils stimulated with formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or diacylglycerol. Both gabexate mesylate (Foy) and ulinastatin (Miraclid), urinary trypsin inhibitor, increased intracellular CL in a dose dependent manner. Compared to control buffer without protease inhibitor, gabexate mesylate (322 micrograms/ml) caused about a 10-fold increase in intracellular CL in stimulated neutrophils, and ulinastatin (3100 U/ml) a twofold increase in neutrophils stimulated with fMLP or IL-8. When the protease inhibitors were added to the cell suspension after the phagocytosis of lumispheres, CL responses rapidly increased again to the level which was observed when both protease inhibitors and neutrophil stimulants were incubated simultaneously. In contrast, extracellular release of oxygen metabolites from stimulated neutrophils, assayed by a conventional measurement of luminol-dependent CL, was reduced by the protease inhibitors in a dose dependent fashion. When luminol-unbound microspheres were incubated with neutrophils stimulated by fMLP in luminol solution, extracellular CL was almost completely inhibited by gabexate mesylate. These results indicate that the protease inhibitors enhance the generation of intracellular CL and suppress the extracellular release of free radicals.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗

Circulating interleukin 6 as a useful marker for predicting postoperative complications.

We examined postoperative serial changes in the levels of serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), serum acute phase reactants (APRs) and plasma neutrophil elastase (NE) in patients with various cancers and reviewed these changes in patients who did, and did not, show postoperative complications. Serum IL-6 level was elevated after surgery, peaking on the first postoperative day. Elevation of serum APRs and plasma NE levels also followed. There was a significant correlation between the serum peak level of IL-6 and those of APRs and NE (P less than 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant difference in the serum IL-6 level in patients with and without complications. The relationship between the serum IL-6 greater than 400 pg/ml and the incidence of postoperative complications was also marked. These results suggest that circulating IL-6 is a clinically useful marker for the earliest detection and prediction of postoperative complications.

Adult↗

Growth hormone-binding protein in patients with anorexia nervosa determined in two assay systems.

To learn the mechanism of low plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) despite high growth hormone (GH) secretion in patients with anorexia nervosa, we assessed human serum GH-binding protein (BP) (GH-BP), which has been shown to be identical to the extracellular domain of GH receptor, and therefore might reflect peripheral GH receptor expression (i.e. there is a significant linear correlation between GH-BP and IGF-I at less than 2.0 U/ml in healthy children). The serum GH-BP level was determined by gel filtration and confirmed by immunoassay using GH receptor monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, we analyzed serum IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) by the affinity cross-linking method to determine the GH-IGF-I axis in this condition. Measurement of GH-BP by the two assays gave identical results, suggesting that serum GH-BP corresponds to the extracellular domain of GH receptor. The low GH-BP and high IGFBP levels in patients with anorexia nervosa shown in this study, which were normalized by an improved nutritional state, would indicate resistance to GH as well as to IGFs in this condition, in which the former is in part compensated by high GH levels while the latter is not.

Adolescent↗

Breast carcinoma in patients receiving neuroleptic therapy. Morphologic and clinicopathologic features of thirteen cases.

We report 13 cases of breast carcinoma in patients treated with neuroleptics (prolactin-releasing drugs). Twelve of the patients were female and one was male. Nine patients had unicentric carcinoma, one had multicentric tumors arising synchronously, and three had bilateral tumors (synchronous in one case and metachronous in two cases). Thirteen tumors in ten patients were invasive ductal carcinomas, two tumors in one patient were mucinous carcinomas, and the two other patients had lipid-secreting carcinomas. Immunohistochemical staining showed alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) in the lipid-secreting carcinomas at sites exhibiting active lipid secretion. A precise cause-effect relationship is difficult to elucidate, since the patients ranged in age from 40 to 64 years (mean: 51 years) when cancer was first diagnosed. However, the relatively high incidence of multiple tumors and the production of lipid and alpha-LA by the cancer cells were unusual features suggesting an association with neuroleptic therapy.

Adult↗

Secretion of beta-2-microglobulin from human hepatoblastoma and hepatoma cells on stimulation with interleukin-6.

beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-M) was secreted in a dose- and time-dependent manner after interleukin-6 (IL-6) treatment of human hepatoblastoma (HuH-6) and hepatoma cells (HuH-7). Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, which is one of the acute phase proteins secreted in these cells, was also secreted dose- and time-dependently in HuH-6 cells and dose-dependently in HuH-7 cells. It is conceivable that IL-6 induces the production of beta 2-M as an acute phase protein in the liver.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗