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Biomedical subjects

F Ito

Publications and source records attributed to F Ito.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Fluoride concentrations and distribution in premolars of children from low and optimal fluoride areas.

We have compared the fluoride (F) concentrations from the enamel surface to the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ), and through dentine to the dentino-pulpal junction (DPJ) in premolars extracted from school children in Chemnitz (former Karl-Marx-Stadt), Germany (F: 1.0 ppm in the water supply), Erfurt, Germany (F: 0.2 ppm in the water supply) and Nagoya, Japan (F: 0.1 ppm in the water supply). In teeth from children in Cheminitz, Erfurt and Nagoya, the profiles of F distribution using an abrasive microsampling technique revealed high F concentrations in the enamel surface, with a substantial decrease towards a plateau in the interior. In dentine the F concentrations were higher than in enamel, and also decreased to a plateau from the DEJ, thereafter increasing considerably towards the DPJ. F concentrations at any depth in the enamel and dentine of teeth from Chemnitz were 2-3 times higher than those in Erfurt and Nagoya. There was no significant difference in F concentrations or distributions between Erfurt and Nagoya. Close to the DEJ in both enamel and dentine as well as the enamel surface and the DPJ side of dentine, higher F concentrations were observed in Chemnitz compared with Erfurt and Nagoya.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Serum from endometriosis patients impairs the development of mouse embryos in vitro--comparison with serum from tubal obstruction patient and plasmanate.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of serum from endometriosis. To determine the effects of serum obtained from patients with endometriosis on mouse embryo development, we compared the fertilization and cleavage rates of mouse embryo in a standard mouse embryo culture system. METHODS: Sera were collected from 13 individuals who were diagnosed endometriosis and ten individuals who were diagnosed as having tubal obstruction. Mouse embryos were fertilized and cultured in vitro with serum supplement obtained from patients with endometriosis (n = 13) and tubal obstruction (n = 10), and plasmanate (n = 10). RESULTS: The fertilization rate was 26.6 +/- 14.9% in patients serum with endometriosis, and the cleavage rate was 21.2 +/- 9.1%, respectively. However, the fertilization rates were 60.9 +/- 12.5% (tubal obstruction group), and 77.3 +/- 14.7% (plasmanate group), the cleavage rates were 32.2 +/- 16.4% and 36.2 +/- 9.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum from patients with endometriosis revealed toxic effects on mouse embryos in vitro. The use of plasmanate instead of whole serum from patients with endometriosis will hopefully bring a better understanding of embryo development.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Beta-catenin expression in human cancers.

Cell-cell adhesion in tissue is mainly regulated by homotypic interaction of cadherin molecules, which are anchored to the cytoskeleton via cytoplasmic proteins, including alpha- and beta-catenin. Although we previously demonstrated that alpha-catenin is crucial for cadherin function in vivo, little is known about the role of beta-catenin. We examined the expression of beta-catenin in human carcinoma samples along with normal tissue (esophagus, stomach, and colon) by immunostaining using our antibody for beta-catenin. Normal epithelium strongly expressed beta-catenin. However, beta-catenin expression was frequently reduced in primary tumors of the esophagus (10 of 15, 67%), stomach (9 of 19, 47%), and colon (11 of 22, 50%). From an immunoprecipitation study, we found that beta-catenin forms a complex with E-cadherin not only in the normal epithelium but also in cancerous tissues. In coexpression patterns of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, 43 (77%) of the 56 tumors showed a similar expression of both molecules, whereas the other 13 tumors (23%) showed positive staining for E-cadherin and reduced expression of beta-catenin. These findings suggest that beta-catenin forms a complex with E-cadherin in vivo and down-regulation of beta-catenin expression is associated with malignant transformation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Intrahepatic bile duct stenosis causing intrahepatic calculi formation following excision of a choledochal cyst.

BACKGROUND: Formation of intrahepatic calculi is one of the major late complications after excision of a choledochal cyst. There are few studies, however, that have examined this complication. Generally, an anastomotic stricture is believed to be the main cause of intrahepatic calculi. We report our experience with eight patients who had intrahepatic calculi after excision of a choledochal cyst. STUDY DESIGN: To determine what caused the intrahepatic calculi to form, seven patients underwent cholangioscopy and direct visual inspection during the operation, and one patient underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. Intrahepatic bile was cultured, and calculi were analyzed. RESULTS: Two types of stenoses (membranous and septal) were demonstrated near the hepatic hilum in all patients. Calculi were always located on the hepatic side of the stenoses. No anastomotic strictures were found in the region of the hepaticojejunostomy. The calculi contained mainly calcium bilirubinate. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were cultured from the bile in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Stenoses of the intrahepatic bile ducts were demonstrated in all eight patients. The stenoses were considered to be the primary cause of intrahepatic calculi formation after excision of the choledochal cysts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Renal cell carcinoma with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis].

We report 3 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis. Case 1; A 43-year-old female was diagnosed with ipsilateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy of RCC (T2, N0, M0). She is alive with no evidence of disease five years after adrenalectomy. Case 2; A 53-year-old female had contralateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). She died with distant metastasis fourteen months post-operatively. Case 3; A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with contralateral adrenal metastasis 3 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). He is alive with no evidence of disease twenty months postoperatively. Two of our three cases are alive and tumor-free. However, adrenal metastasis was found in case 1 and case 2, even though more than ten years had passed after nephrectomy. Therefore we should observe the patients periodically after radical nephrectomy for a long time.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Complete excision of the intrapancreatic portion of choledochal cysts.

BACKGROUND: Cyst excision is the treatment for patients with choledochal cysts. In general, many authors recommend intramural dissection between the outer and inner layers of the cyst or partial excision leaving part of the cyst in the pancreas to avoid pancreatic injury. However, because there are few large series with long-term follow-up periods, it remains unclear how much of the intrapancreatic portion of the cyst should be resected and what resection technique should be used. STUDY DESIGN: During an 18-year period, 104 patients underwent excision of choledochal cysts at our hospitals. Twelve patients had partial excision of the cyst above the pancreas, and 17 had intramural dissection of the intrapancreatic portion. Seventy-five patients underwent complete excision of the intrapancreatic portion of the cyst by our new technique, in which the outer plane of the epicholedochal plexus is dissected, exposing the narrow distal segment connecting the cyst to the pancreatic duct. Our new technique was compared retrospectively with the other two techniques. RESULTS: With our technique, the intrapancreatic cyst could be excised completely in 75 patients without any complications. Blood loss was significantly decreased when our technique was used compared to intramural excision. A pancreatic fistula occurred after intramural excision in one patient, and pancreatic stones formed several years after partial excision and intramural excision in three patients who proved to have residual cystic material in the pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: Our operative technique is safe and effective for the complete excision of the intrapancreatic portion of a choledochal cyst.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Anatomy and etiology of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in children leading to bleeding esophageal varices.

BACKGROUND: The cause of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction in childhood is unknown. We investigated the anatomical features of extra hepatic portal vein obstruction to clarify its cause. STUDY DESIGN: We studied portal venous anatomy in 10 patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction without hepatic disturbances ranging in age from 1 to 7 years (mean age, 4.2 years) using ultrasonography, portal venography, cholangio-computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The extrahepatic portal vein was not obliterated, but it crossed over the common bile duct from the left to the right side at the cranial level of the pancreas and ran in a cranial direction along the right side of the common bile duct or coiled itself around the bile duct. Thus, the extrahepatic portal vein formed a tortuous eta-shape. CONCLUSIONS: The portal vein was not obstructed in patients with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction but formed a characteristic eta-shape by coiling itself around the common bile duct, suggesting that extrahepatic portal vein obstruction has an embryological cause.

Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic↗
PubMed1995

Effect of FR145237, a novel ACAT inhibitor, on atherogenesis in cholesterol-fed and WHHL rabbits. Evidence for a direct effect on the arterial wall.

The hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic activities of FR145237, a novel acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor, were evaluated in cholesterol-fed and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. In the first experiment, rabbits were fed a high cholesterol (1% cholesterol) diet for 2 weeks and further fed a high cholesterol diet containing FR145237 for 8 weeks. FR145237 (0.1, 0.32 and 1.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently lowered the plasma total cholestrol levels by 80%, 96% and 97%, respectively. and reduced aortic atherosclerosis by 44%, 90% and 90%, respectively. To clarify a direct effect of FR145237 at the aortic wall, a second experiment was performed. Rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks to establish aortic atherosclerosis and then fed a normal diet with or without FR145237 for 8 weeks. Cholesterol content in the aorta and the liver was significantly reduced in the FR145237 group (10 mg/kg) by 50% and 43%, respectively, though plasma total cholesterol level did not differ from that in the control group. In the WHHL rabbits, FR145237 (10 mg/kg) did not affect plasma cholesterol level but significantly reduced the atherosclerotic lesion in the coronary arteries by 61%. These results suggest that FR145237 potently lowers the plasma cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemia induced by dietary cholesterol but not that by LDL receptor deficiency, and that FR145237 has a direct antiatherosclerotic activity on the arterial wall independent of its hypocholesterolemic activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Serum bilirubin fractions in cholestatic pediatric patients: determination with Micronex high-performance liquid chromatography.

Bilirubin conjugates in the serum of cholestatic pediatric patients were investigated with Micronex high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum bilirubin was resolved into four fractions: delta bilirubin (Bd), bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG), bilirubin monoglucuronide (BMG), and unconjugated bilirubin (Bu). The conjugated bilirubin (BDG+BMG) fraction in preoperative patients with biliary atresia (BA) was 48.8 +/- 5.1%, which was significantly higher than that in patients with infantile hepatitis (P < .01). Among postoperative BA patients who recovered from jaundice, the Bd fraction increased during the first month, remained elevated (60% to 80%) for a while, and then gradually decreased. After 6 months, the Bd fraction decreased to 30% in the jaundice-free survivors, but was still higher than that in controls (7%). Even after the total serum bilirubin had normalized (< or = 1.0 mg/dL), distribution of bilirubin fractions remained abnormal, possibly reflecting impaired hepatic excretion of bilirubin. In conclusion, measurement of the conjugated bilirubin fraction enabled BA to be differentiated from infantile hepatitis, and the delta bilirubin fraction proved to be an important indicator of cholestasis in postoperative BA patients with normal serum bilirubin.

Biliary Atresia↗
PubMed1995

Hurler syndrome with severe complication in post-bone marrow transplantation course: life threatening interstitial pneumonitis and hypertension.

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed in a 3 year old patient with Hurler syndrome. The post-BMT course was complicated by interstitial pneumonitis and severe hypertension, which were life threatening. The patient responded well to therapy and recovered. BMT in this patient resulted in significant clinical improvement in the signs and symptoms of Hurler syndrome. Biochemical improvement, including elevated alpha-L-iduronidase activity in white blood cells and decreased urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion was significant. However, skeletal and neurological impairment were not improved. We conclude that BMT for Hurler syndrome should be performed at an earlier stage, before severe neuronal damage has occurred. Moreover, BMT is a high risk procedure and there will always be a possibility that life threatening complications will occur, as in our case.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1995

Development of an isolated perfusion circuit with double bypass using automatic blood pumps.

Isolated perfusion of the liver is a useful and promising therapeutic method for various hepatic diseases. However, conventional techniques using a roller pump require a large priming volume and cannot run at the low flow rate without complications. These disadvantages do not allow the use of conventional techniques in smaller pediatric patients. The authors solved these problems successfully for the first time by using unique sac-type air-driven automatic blood pumps with an oxygenator primed with a blood volume of 65 ml in the total circuit. The usefulness of these blood pumps for liver perfusion was evaluated in small animals weighing 3.5-6.0 kg. A hepatic perfusion circuit was established between the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. The blood pumps worked well without any trouble, and stable flow could be maintained. No hepatocellular damage or anaerobiosis of the liver was observed at a hepatic perfusion flow rate of 20 ml/min/kg. Isolated liver perfusion using these blood pumps can be applied in infants and young children.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

A case of massive adrenal malignant pheochromocytoma: management of a large pheochromocytoma.

A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital for a left abdominal tumor measuring about 30 cm in diameter. Laboratory examination revealed an elevation of norepinephrine in plasma and of its metabolites in urine. CT scan disclosed a huge cystic tumor in the retroperitoneal space and an enlarged aortocaval lymph node, suggesting a diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma. The hemodynamic studies showed low blood volume and high vascular resistance, and therefore, he was treated with vasodilators and volume expansion. His hemodynamic status normalized and a complete excision was performed. Pathological examination revealed that the patient had a pheochromocytoma with metastasis to a lymph node. The total weight of the tumor was 5,930 g. Since pheochromocytomas can become a large with a risk of malignancy, they should be surgically excised as completely as possible with further treatment after making a definite diagnosis.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of sperm preparation methods. Wash and concentration, swim-up, migration-gravity sedimentation, 80% Percoll and semen filtration column.

The removal of all debris and background, as well as antifertility factors present in seminal fluid, may increase the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. A number of semen manipulative techniques are currently available to remove the undesirable spermatozoa, debris and other factors and to increase sperm quality before performance of the various assisted reproductive technologies. We compared the impact of the wash and concentration method, swim-up method, 80% Percoll method, migration-gravity sedimentation method and SpermPrep method on postmanipulation sperm quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A clinico-pathological study of renal cell carcinoma with a diameter of less than 5 cm].

To examine the indication of nephron sparing operations, we searched 31 nephrectomized kidneys with renal cell carcinoma for small associated lesions in the normal-appearing portion of these kidneys. The diameter of the predominant tumors was between 15 and 50 mm. The kidneys were serially sectioned at 5-mm intervals, and all sections were examined microscopically. Two of the 31 kidneys had a small renal cell carcinoma, and four had a small adenoma in the normal-appearing portion. We recommend that the nephron-sparing operation should be is performed limitedly and that radical nephrectomy is yet a standard operation in the presence of a normal contralateral kidney.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1994

A truncated beta-catenin disrupts the interaction between E-cadherin and alpha-catenin: a cause of loss of intercellular adhesiveness in human cancer cell lines.

Cadherin cell adhesion molecules play an essential role in creating tight intercellular association and are considered to work as an invasion suppressor system of cancer cells. They form a molecular complex with catenins, a group of cytoplasmic proteins including alpha- and beta-catenins. While alpha-catenin has been demonstrated to be crucial for cadherin function, the role of beta-catenin is not yet fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the cadherin-catenin system in two human cell lines, HSC-39 and its putative subline HSC-40A, derived from a signet ring cell carcinoma of stomach. These cells grow as loose aggregates or single cells, suggesting that their cadherin system is not functional. In these cell lines, an identical 321-base pair in-frame mRNA deletion of beta-catenin was identified; this led to a 107-amino-acid deletion in the NH2-terminal region of the protein. Southern blot analysis disclosed a homozygous deletion in part of the beta-catenin gene. On the other hand, these cells expressed E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and plakoglobin of normal size. Immunoprecipitation analyses showed that E-cadherin was coprecipitated with the mutated beta-catenin but not with alpha-catenin, and antibodies against beta-catenin did not copurify alpha-catenin. However, the recombinant fusion protein containing wild-type beta-catenin precipitated alpha-catenin from these cells. These results suggest that the dysfunction of E-cadherin in these cell lines is due primarily to its failure to interact with alpha-catenin, and that this defect results from the mutation in beta-catenin. Thus, it is most likely that the association between E-cadherin and alpha-catenin is mediated by beta-catenin, and that this process is blocked by NH2-terminal deletion in beta-catenin. These findings indicate that genetic abnormality of beta-catenin is one of the mechanisms responsible for loosening of cell-cell contact, and may be involved in enhancement of tumor invasion in human cancers.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

The alpha subunit of GTP-binding protein G0 in neuroblastoma: correlation with advanced disease stage.

Tissue levels of the alpha subunit of G protein G0 (G0 alpha) were measured in solid tumors from pediatric patients by immunoassay. G0 alpha concentrations were determined in the supernatant obtained by centrifugation of tissue homogenates prepared in the presence (total G0 alpha) or absence of 2% sodium cholate (soluble G0 alpha). Mean G0 alpha concentrations (total G0 alpha and soluble G0 alpha) in neuroblastomas (7 ganglioneuromas, 13 ganglioneuroblastomas, and 50 neuroblastomas) were over 50-fold higher than those in other solid tumors from pediatric patients (n = 13). Mean total G0 alpha and soluble G0 alpha concentrations were 207.0 +/- 166.0 (SD) ng/mg of cholate-extractable protein and 58.6 +/- 47.0 ng/mg of soluble protein, respectively, in the neuroblastoma group (n = 70). Total G0 alpha concentration decreased with disease stage and was strongly correlated with outcome in patients with neuroblastoma. The mean total G0 alpha concentration in tumors from younger patients (< 1 year old) was 297.0 +/- 137.0 ng/mg of cholate-extractable protein, significantly higher than in tumors from older patients (140.0 +/- 155.0 ng/mg cholate-extractable protein, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that total G0 alpha levels in neuroblastoma may indicate the degree of malignancy.

Age Factors↗