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A Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to A Nishimura.

300 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Serotonin 2A receptor gene polymorphism is not associated with completed suicide.

Several lines of evidence indicate that a serotonergic dysfunction is involved in the biological susceptibility to suicide. Recently, the A-1438G polymorphism of the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor gene has been suggested to be associated with suicide, but the results are inconsistent. We examined whether the A-1438G polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene was associated with suicide itself using 151 Japanese completed suicides. No significant difference in genotype distribution or allele frequencies of the polymorphism was found between the completed suicides and the comparison group. We conclude that the A-1438G polymorphism of the 5-HT2A receptor gene is not likely to have a major effect on the biological susceptibility of suicide.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful treatment of two brothers with congenital afibrinogenemia for splenic rupture using heat- and solvent detergent-treated fibrinogen concentrates.

PURPOSE: This report describes life-threatening spontaneous splenic rupture in two brothers with congenital afibrinogenemia. PATIENTS: Two brothers, aged 11 and 14 years, had intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture confirmed by ECHO ultrasonography and computed tomography scans. RESULTS: Splenectomy was performed after administration of heat- and solvent-detergent treated fibrinogen concentrates. CONCLUSIONS: Hemostatic treatment for splenic rupture using heat- and solvent detergent-treated fibrinogen concentrates was effective. Careful attention must be paid to the risk of splenic rupture during the growth spurt in physically active children with this rare coagulation disorder.

Adolescent↗
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Genetics of allergic disease: evidence for organ-specific susceptibility genes.

BACKGROUND: While previous studies have probed the genetics of asthma and serum IgE levels, there have been no studies on the genetics of allergic conjunctivitis. This paper describes the initial phase of a genetic study of allergic conjunctivitis. METHODS: Approximately 117 families with probands with allergic conjunctivitis were recruited generating 245 affected sib pairs. Each family member completed a detailed questionnaire on atopic symptoms, and results from skin testing were obtained. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped using thirty-five polymorphic markers spanning human chromosomes 5, 6, 11, 12, 16 and 17. Heritability was assessed using the POINTER program, and nonparametric linkage analysis using the BETA program. RESULTS: Evidence for genetic linkage of allergic conjunctivitis was obtained for chromosomes 5, 16 and 17. Weak linkage was detected for chromosome 6 when studies were restricted to specific allergens. No evidence for linkage was detected for chromosomes 11 and 12. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with heritability analysis discussed in this paper, genetic linkage for allergic conjunctivitis is shown to differ from that reported for atopic asthma. This indicates that there are likely to be organ-specific disease susceptibility genes, which together with general atopy genes target the allergic response to specific mucosal tissues.

Asthma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radioprotective and radiosensitizing effects of sulfur-containing amino acid derivatives on mice.

Both protection and sensitization of Mice C57Bl against 60Co gamma-rays by sulfur-containing amino acid derivatives--S-alkyl-L-cysteines, S-alkyl-2-methyl-DL-cysteines and their hydantoin derivatives, and sulfoxides of these compounds--were examined. DL-5 Allylthiomethyl-5-methylhydantoin (150 mg/kg body weight) had a remarkable radioprotective effect. The survival ratio was 4.3 or above two times as much as that of L-cysteine. On the other hand, its sulfoxide had a radiosensitizing effects; survival ratio, 0.333.

Amino Acids↗
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Computed tomography in the assessment of pancreatic tumor response after intraoperative radiation therapy.

Computed tomography was used in 7 patients given intraoperative electron beam therapy for advanced carcinoma of the pancreas. The local tumor response was studied quantitatively by defining the tumor contour in consecutive CT scans and then estimating the tumor volume. The maximum diameters of the tumor in 3 planes (X, Y and Z) were also estimated. There was evidence of initial tumor regression in all patients during the first few months after the treatment. No specific behaviour of the diameters in the X, Y and Z planes could be detected. Later on, regrowth of the tumor could sometimes be observed, preferably in one of the 3 planes. On the whole, CT was found to be a useful tool for assessing tumor response to this form of therapy.

Aged↗
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Change of temperature in mouse tumour tissue immersed in a water bath at 44 degrees C.

We investigated the change in temperature in tumour and normal tissues of mice when immersed in a water bath at 44.0 degrees C as part of a series of studies of hyperthermia. The right hind legs of the mice bearing the experimental tumour sarcoma 180 were immersed in the water bath, and measurements were performed using the multi-thermocouple thermosensor from a radiofrequency (RF) generator every 24 sec with a precision of 0.1 degrees C. The temperature in all tumour tissues exceeded 43.0 degrees C only at 1 min 24 sec after immersion of the limbs. The rise in temperature then reached a plateau phase, and was maintained around 44.0 degrees C. However, we found that the temperature of the normal tissue was about 0.6 degrees C lower than that of the tumour tissue or the tissue around the tumour at the plateau phase.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of Lens culinaris agglutinin A-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) as a marker of distant metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

The objective of this study was to clarify the relationship between the serum level of the Lens culinaris agglutinin A-reactive fraction of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) and the clinical features including sex, age, Child's classification, virus markers, tumour size, tumour stage, distant metastasis, histopathologic findings, portal thrombus and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We measured the AFP-L3 levels in 170 HCC cases at the time of diagnosis using lectin-affinity electrophoresis followed by antibody-affinity blotting. The patients were divided into two groups, those who were AFP-L3 positive (n=56; AFP-L3 >/=15% relative to the total alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentration) and those who were AFP-L3 negative (n=114; AFP-L3 <15%). Then we examined the association between the serum AFP-L3 level and the clinical features of HCC. No significant differences were found in age, sex, and virus markers between the AFP-L3-positive and -negative groups. However, patients in the positive group had worse liver function and larger tumours compared to the negative group. They also had more advanced cancer with poor tumour histology compared to the negative group. Distant metastasis was diagnosed significantly more often in the positive group than that in the negative group. There was no significant correlation between the AFP-L3 level and portal thrombus. Although the follow-up period was brief the prognosis for the positive group clearly was poor. These results suggest that AFP-L3 is a useful indicator of distant metastasis and a poor prognosis for HCC.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of lymphatic drainage of the liver in gallbladder cancer: a case report.

We report a case of a patient with a unique lymph node relapse after right hepatectomy and aggressive lymph node dissection for gallbladder cancer. There was extensive involvement of the hepatic parenchyma from the primary tumor, but no extension to the lymph nodes or other adjacent organs. Seventeen months later, the patient underwent re-dissection of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes with right nephrectomy and partial resection of the vena cava because of lymph node recurrence at the hilum of the right kidney. This pattern of lymph node metastasis to the right side of the vena cava from gallbladder cancer invading the liver is probably due to the distinct lymphatic drainage of the liver.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous injection of a low-concentration alkaline solution targeting hepatocellular carcinoma.

We developed a percutaneous low-concentration alkali injection therapy (PLAIT) targeting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and compared the necrotic areas in the livers of rats that had received PLAIT [an alkaline solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH)] with those that had received percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) and percutaneous acetic acid injection therapy (PAIT). The necrotic area increased with increasing concentrations of NaOH solution. The survival rate of rats was 100% up to a concentration of 4 N; however, the rate dropped below 80% with concentrations over 5 N. Also, at a concentration of 2 N, the necrotic area increased with increasing quantities from 0.01 ml to 0.1 ml. PLAIT using 0.05 ml of 2 N NaOH was 1.56 times more effective than PEIT using 0.05 ml of 99.5% ethanol, and 63.33% less effective than PAIT using 0.05 ml of 50% acetic acid. However, the survival rate after PAIT was 50%, while that after PLAIT was 100%. Histopathological observation of normal rat livers after injection of 2 N NaOH at a volume of 0.05 ml showed that the tissue necrosis spread radially from the site immediately after injection by PLAIT, but necroses were not found in other organs. We conclude that PLAIT has promise as a new form of local therapy for HCC.

Animals↗
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Evaluation of intraoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the pancreas: prognostic factors and survival analyses.

Among 145 patients with carcinoma of the pancreas who had been admitted to three institutions between 1976 and 1985, 117 were entered into a prognostic factor analysis system according to Cox's proportional hazards model. The treatment was classified into four modalities: bypass surgery, single-dose intraoperative radiotherapy (IOR), IOR combined with external irradiation, and resection with or without various radiations. The most important prognostic factors for treatment were identified as location of tumor, TNM stage, and relief of back pain. Adjusting the imbalances among the treatment groups using Cox's model, the superiority of IOR with external irradiation was confirmed for both bypass and single-dose IOR. With this adjustment, the survival rates proved to be more meaningful than the simple Kaplan-Meier estimates.

Adenocarcinoma↗
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Intraoperative radiotherapy for abdominal malignancies: new prospects in multimodality treatment.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IOR) using a high-dose electron beam was first attempted in Japan about 20 years ago. Since then a continuing effort to effectively apply this innovative treatment has been underway. Radiotherapy promises to be a useful technique, since information regarding improved survival, alleviation of symptoms, and reduced radiation injury has become widely available. This report focuses on a general historical review of IOR, its advantages and disadvantages, complications, and indications in the treatment of abdominal neoplasms by comparing Japanese and Western experience.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗