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Biomedical subjects

F Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to F Kondo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Parenchymal echo patterns of cirrhotic liver analysed with a neural network for risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To objectively evaluate the parenchymal echo patterns of the liver in cirrhosis, an image analysing system in which a neural network is used has been found capable of numerically calculating coarse score (CS). Using this system, we analysed whether or not CS can serve as a predictive factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The risk factors for HCC were evaluated in 95 patients with liver cirrhosis with an average follow-up period of 2041 +/- 823 days. We used a three-layer feed-forward neural network and a back-propagation algorithm to calculate CS. RESULTS: There were strong correlations between CS, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and the average cumulative incidence rate of HCC evaluated by the Cox's proportional hazards model. The adjusted rate ratios were estimated to be 3.00, 2.80 and 2.01, respectively. The cumulative risks of HCC were significantly higher with an initial CS > or = 1.5 than with an initial CS < 1.5, with ALT > or = 80 IU/L than with initial ALT < 80 IU/L and with AFP > or = 20 ng/mL than with initial AFP < 20 ng/mL, all analysed by the log-rank test. CONCLUSIONS: Coarse score is a useful predictor for development of HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Antiemetic efficacy of granisetron: a randomized crossover study in patients receiving cisplatin-containing intraarterial chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most active chemotherapeutic agents but is among the most emetogenic drugs. The emetic side-effects of CDDP-containing intraarterial chemotherapy have not been evaluated in a prospective randomized trial and the efficacy of serotonin antagonists in preventing the emesis associated with this method of CDDP administration has not been assessed. METHODS: CDDP 50 mg/m2 and methotrexate 30 mg/m2 were administered every 3 weeks through intraarterial catheters placed in the bilateral internal iliac arteries. Patients were classified into two groups: granisetron treatment group (group G) and no treatment group (group NG) with the first course of chemotherapy, crossing over with the second course. The patients in group G received granisetron 40 micrograms/kg by intravenous infusion. RESULTS: Although intraarterial CDDP administration produced less emesis than intravenous CDDP administration, at the same concentration, gastrointestinal toxicity is still the most unpleasant side-effect for patients. Granisetron administration significantly reduced nausea and vomiting during the acute emetic phase (an evaluation of treatment as very effective and effective was made in 89% in group G and 33% in group NG (P < 0.001). Complete control of emesis was achieved in 68 and 18% of patients in groups G and NG, respectively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A single prophylactic infusion of granisetron was effective in preventing the nausea and vomiting associated with intraarterial CDDP-containing therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Small hepatocellular carcinoma: relationship of signal intensity to histopathologic findings and metal content of the tumor and surrounding hepatic parenchyma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the metal content of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the signal intensity pattern on magnetic resonance images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The signal intensity patterns of 59 HCCs 3 cm in diameter or smaller were correlated with histologic findings and metal content. RESULTS: HCCs with high signal intensity on T1-weighted images demonstrated more steatosis (P = .035) and higher copper content (P = .008) than did surrounding hepatic parenchyma. HCCs with high signal intensity on T2-weighted images demonstrated more clear cells (P = .001) than did surrounding hepatic parenchyma. The higher signal intensities on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images were related to a higher and a lower degree of histologic differentiation, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the contrast-to-noise ratio between the HCC and surrounding hepatic parenchyma was affected by intratumoral copper content (P = .0338), zinc content of surrounding hepatic parenchyma (P = .0379), and the degree of histologic differentiation on T1-weighted (P = .0031) and T2-weighted (P = .0062) images. CONCLUSION: The signal intensity of HCC on T1-weighted images is related to the degree of histologic differentiation, intratumoral copper content, and zinc content of surrounding hepatic parenchyma, whereas the signal intensity on T2-weighted images is related to the degree of histologic differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[IgM-lambda type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance showing non-specific anti-streptolysin O activity by a latex immumoaggregation method].

We report a case of IgM-lambda type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance showing non-specific anti-streptolysin O activity of extremely high level. An 83-year-old man developed high grade fever, cough and sputum. He was admitted to our hospital under a diagnosis of acute pneumonia by chest X-ray. He showed anti-streptolysin O (ASO) activity in extremely high level measured by a latex immunoaggregation method (LA-method). Although antibiotics cured the acute pneumonia, the ASO activity had remained in high level. Serum protein electrophoresis disclosed existence of M-protein and the M-protein was found to be IgM, lambda class by immunoelectrophoresis. The ASO activity measured by the LA method was ascribed to the M-protein because the level of M-component shown by the electrophoresis was decreased by absorption of the serum with streptolysin O-coated latex beads that were used in the LA-method. However, ASO activity measured by Rantzs-Randall method was in normal level. The ASO activity measured by the LA-method was absorbed with bovine serum albumin coated latex beads without streptolysin O. Therefore, it was concluded that the M-protein was not reacted with streptplysin O itself but was reacted with bovine serum albumin coated latex beads. The ASO activity of extremely high level in our case was non-specific reaction caused by the M-protein.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Loss of tumorigenicity of human pancreatic carcinoma cells engineered to produce interleukin-2 or interleukin-4 in nude mice: a potentiality for cancer gene therapy.

To examine the possibility of cytokine gene therapy in relation to pancreatic cancer, we evaluated the antitumor effect of human pancreatic carcinoma cells (AsPC-1) which were retrovirally-transduced with several kinds of cytokine genes. These cells were inoculated into BALB/c nude mice and their tumor volumes were assessed. The in vitro growth rate of the transduced cells was not different from that of a parental cell line. Among the transduced cells, human interleukin (IL)-6-transduced AsPC-1 and mouse granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-transduced AsPC-1 cells showed a significant retardation of tumor growth compared with a parental cell line. In the cases of AsPC-1 cells transduced with the human IL-2 or mouse IL-4 gene, small tumors were generated but thereafter they regressed completely. Histological examinations showed monocytic cell infiltration around the tumors of IL-2- or IL-4-producing cells. These data suggest that secretion of IL-2 or IL-4 from tumor cells can induce an antitumor effect even in the defective condition of mature T cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Indomethacin inhibits delayed DNA fragmentation of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

Recent studies have shown a close association between reactive oxygen species and DNA fragmentation and that delayed neuronal death after transient forebrain ischemia manifests as DNA fragmentation-like apoptosis. We examined the effect of indomethacin on ischemic-induced delayed hippocampal neuronal death in gerbils using the TUNEL staining method, since indomethacin is neuroprotective in a variety of degenerative processes, such as Alzheimer's disease. Indomethacin (5 mg/kg, i.p.), administered 5 min before the ischemic insult, significantly decreased the number of TUNEL-positive hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons and delayed the appearance of TUNEL-positive neurons. Our results indicate that indomethacin is effective in inhibiting DNA fragmentation after transient forebrain ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Etiological analysis of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver, with emphasis on similar abnormal vasculatures to nodular regenerative hyperplasia and idiopathic portal hypertension.

Pathological studies were performed on 23 cases of focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) under the hypothesis that FNH is a hyperplastic lesion caused by abnormal vasculatures of portal tracts within the nodule. For a comparison of the histological features of portal tracts, nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH), chronic hepatitis and so-called normal liver were used as control tissues. Extranodular areas of FNH nodules were also examined. Clinical data were briefly summarized. Most of the portal tracts within FNH nodules showed various abnormal findings, such as dilatation and/or stenosis of portal vein, muscular thickening of arterial wall with dilated or stenotic lumina, lymphocyte infiltration, and bile ductule proliferation. However, portal vein thrombi were not found. These findings were not thought to represent compensatory reaction to portal vein thrombosis. Similar abnormal features were also observed in extranodular areas of FNH although to a milder degree. These abnormal features resembled those of NRH and IPH. Moreover, the characteristic scar-like tissues within FNH nodules were proved to be abnormally large portal tracts including large feeding arteries, portal veins and bile ducts. It has been believed that septa and scar-like tissue within FNH nodules are not portal tracts and that arterial malformation independent of portal tracts are related to the development of FNH. In addition, venous structures within FNH modules have until now not been considered to be portal veins. However, this study revealed that severe anomaly of portal tracts including portal veins and hepatic arterial branches existed in FNH nodules. Moreover, portal tracts in extranodular areas were also abnormal. Clinically, only one patient had a history of oral contraceptives. Based on these findings, congenital anomaly of the portal tracts histologically resembling the abnormal portal tracts of NRH and IPH may be related to the pathogenesis of FNH.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Immunohistochemical study of transforming growth factor-beta 1, matrix metalloproteinase-2,9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1,2, and basement membrane components at pancreatic ducts in chronic pancreatitis.

Little is known about the pathogenesis of fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis. To reach a better understanding of this problem, we investigated the immunolocalizations of type IV collagen (Col-IV) and laminin around pancreatic ducts, and those of matrix metalloproteinase-2,9 (MMP-2,9), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1,2), and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1) at the ductal epithelia in chronic pancreatitis. This study included 20 surgical specimens of fibrotic pancreas from patients with chronic pancreatitis and five normal samples from autopsy cases. Immunostaining was performed by the streptavidin-biotin method after antigen retrieval. We evaluated the staining patterns and the percentage of positive cells of each antigen. In chronic pancreatitis, the immunostainings of Col-IV and laminin along the basement membrane (BM) of pancreatic ducts were disrupted in 11 (55%) of 20 and eight (40%) of 20, respectively, whereas no disruption was detected in normal pancreas. Positive immunostainings for MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMF-2 in ductal epithelia were 15 (75%) of 20, five (25%) of 20, four (20%) of 20, and 10 (50%) of 20, respectively, whereas no immunostaining was seen in normal pancreas. The staining intensity of MMP-2 in ductal epithelia was associated with the staining intensity of Col-IV around the pancreatic ducts. Also, the staining intensity of MMP-2 was progressively increased in proportion to the staining intensity of TGF beta 1. These findings suggest that TGF beta 1 induced in pancreatic duct cells also induced MMP-2 in an autocrine or paracrine manner, and that this MMP-2 decomposed Col-IV of the BM of pancreatic ducts in chronic pancreatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

An image analyzing system using an artificial neural network for evaluating the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronic hepatitis.

To objectively evaluate the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronic hepatitis, we applied an image analyzing system (IAS) using a neural network. Autopsy specimens in a water tank (n = 13) were used to examine the relationship between the diameter of the regenerative nodule and the coarse score (CS) calculated by IAS. CS was significantly correlated with the diameter of the regenerative nodule (p < 0.0001, r = 0.966). CS is considered to be useful for evaluating the coarseness of the parenchymal echo pattern.

Hepatitis, Chronic↗
PubMed1998

Expression of cellular adhesion regulatory molecule in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cellular adhesion regulatory molecule (CMAR) enhances the adhesiveness of cells to collagen and laminin and is considered to be a candidate anti-oncogene. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of CMAR and clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small amounts of liver tissue were obtained from HCC and non-cancerous portions of the liver in 29 patients and from normal liver in seven patients with metastatic liver tumour by biopsy under ultrasound guidance. RNA was extracted with acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform. Expression of CMAR was assessed by quantitative PCR using beta-actin as an internal standard. A 4 b.p. insertion polymorphism at nucleotide 241 of the CMAR coding region was then investigated using extracted RNA to assess the relationship between the expression of variant mRNA of CMAR and HCC carcinogenesis. The relative expression of CMAR was significantly reduced in HCC compared with non-cancerous and normal livers and had a relationship with certain clinical background factors. The reduced expression of CMAR was thought to be closely associated with the progression of HCC. However, the 4 b.p. insertion polymorphism pattern of CMAR was the same between HCC and non-cancerous liver in all cases in which it was found. These results suggest that progression of HCC may be predicted based on the relative expression of CMAR.

ATPases Associated with Diverse Cellular Activitie↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of UFT on treatment of urological cancer--effect of UFT on treatment of invasive bladder cancer and advanced prostate cancer. Ibaraki Urological Cancer Chemotherapy Study Group].

A prospective randomized joint study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of UFT 1) as a postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with invasive bladder cancer who had undergone curative combination therapy with operation and/or chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, 2) as an endocrine chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed stage C/D prostate cancer, for a period of 3 years from January, 1992. For bladder cancer, of 36 patients with invasive bladder cancer, clinically cured by combination therapy, 20 patients were treated with UFT as an adjuvant chemotherapy over 12 months, and they were compared to 16 patients with no adjuvant therapy. After excluding 10 inappropriate patients, 12 patients in the UFT treatment group and 14 patients with no adjuvant treatment group were observed. For prostate cancer, of 29 patients with clinically stage C/D prostate cancer, 13 were treated with endocrine therapy in combination with UFT, and 16 patients were treated with endocrine therapy alone. After excluding 7 inappropriate patients, 10 patients with endocrine chemotherapy and 12 patients with hormonal therapy were observed. The non-recurrence rate, survival rate and side effects of UFT were evaluated. In the study of bladder cancer, neither a significant difference of non-recurrent rate nor of survival rate was seen between the two groups. In the study of prostate cancer, neither a significant difference of non-recurrent rate nor of survival rate was seen between the two groups. These findings suggest UFT is less useful as an adjuvant therapy for the invasive bladder cancer and as an endocrine chemotherapy for newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Identification and estimation of microcystins in freshwater mussels.

Accumulation of microcystins mainly produced by cyanobacteria Microcystis was investigated for freshwater mussels and fishes collected from a lake where heavy blooms of Microcystis occurred every year. The identification of microcystins was performed by HPLC equipped with a frit FAB mass spectrometer. Microcystins LR and RR were identified in the mussels Unio douglasiae and Anadonta woodiana, whereas no microcystin was identified by the present method in fishes, such as Cyprinus carpio, Carassius carassius, and Hypomesius transpacificus.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of microcystins derivatized with a highly fluorescent dienophile.

Microcystins are potent hepatotoxins produced by cyanobacteria, and are also tumor promoters as well as potent inhibitors of the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. In order to establish a physicochemical method for individual detection and determination of trace amounts of microcystins, we developed a derivatization method for fluorescence (FL) and chemiluminescence (CL) detection, in which a highly fluorescent dienophile, DMEQ-TAD (4-[2-(6,7-dimethoxy-4-methyl-3-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinoxalinyl) ethyl]-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione), was used as the labeling reagent. DMEQ-TAD reacted smoothly with the conjugated diene of the Adda moiety to give 2 stereoisomers of the adducts. As a result of the extensive experiments, the following reaction conditions were optimized for the labeling: sample amount, 10 micrograms; reaction solvent, DMF:acetonitrile (1:1); reaction time, 15 minutes; reaction temperature, 70 degrees C; amount of DMEQ-TAD used relative to that of microcystin, 80 equivalent. The resulting 6 adducts from microcystins-LR, -YR, and -RR can be separated from one another using the following reversed phase HPLC conditions in combination with a clean-up using ODS silica gel: column, Cosmosil 5C18-AR (150 x 4.6 I.D. mm); mobile phase, methanol:0.05M phosphate buffer (pH 3) (1:1); flow rate, 1.0 ml/min; detection, FL lambda ex 370 nm, lambda em 440 nm. The detection limits of the DMEQ-TAD derivatives were estimated to be 100 and 500 pg for LR, and 65 and 2,500 pg for RR using FL and CL detections, respectively; and the detection behavior was different from that of the Dns-Cys derivatives, which were more sensitive to CL than FL.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed1997

Hepatic necrosis in aged mice by oral administration of microcystin-LR.

Aged mice (32 weeks) were orally administered microcystin-LR at 500 micrograms/kg, and injuries of the liver were estimated by microscopy 2 hr after treatment. Sixty-two per cent of aged mice proved to be sensitive to microcystin-LR, whereas such changes in the liver were not found in young mice (5 weeks). Uptake of the toxin into the liver was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography and frit-fast atom bombardment liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometry after clean-up with an immunoaffinity column. To verify the difference in sensitivity to microcystin-LR between aged and young mice, non-treated mice were examined, and among them aged mice were confirmed to have a rough surface of the stomach and small intestinal mucosa. These results suggested that the hepatotoxicity by oral administration of microcystin-LR is deeply related to aging, and particularly to conditions in the small intestine such as the permeability of capillaries in the villi.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Stability of microcystins from cyanobacteria--IV. Effect of chlorination on decomposition.

Microcystins, the cyclic heptapeptide toxins produced by cyanobacteria such as Microcystis, show tumor-promoting activity through inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. They potentially threaten human health, and are increasing the world-wide interest in the health risk associated with cyanobacterial toxins. In this study, the effect of chlorination on the decomposition of microcystins-LR and -RR was examined. The toxins were easily decomposed by chlorination with sodium hypochlorite, and the decomposition depended on the free chlorine dose. In this operation, many reaction products were formed, one of which was determined to be dihydroxymicrocystin formed through the chloronium ion at the conjugated diene of Adda [3-amino-9-methoxy-10-phenyl-2,6,8-trimethyl-deca-4(E), 6(E)-dienoic acid], followed by hydrolysis. Other products may be its stereoisomers and/or regioismers. No noxious products were detected from the chlorination process of microcystin-LR. Although these results suggested that chlorination at an adequate chlorine dose is very effective for the removal of microcystin in raw water, preoxidation of the cell itself with chlorine must be avoided, because it frequently causes toxin release from algae and produce trihalomethanes during water treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Neoplastic nodular formation in mouse liver induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of microcystin-LR.

Neoplastic nodules were observed in mice liver treated with microcystin-LR (MCLR) by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route over 28 weeks. After 100 i.p. injections of a sublethal dose (20 micrograms/kg) of MCLR, neoplastic nodules were observed without the use of an initiator. Multiple neoplastic nodules up to 5 mm in diameter were observed in the liver of mice in both groups, i.e. those injected 100 times i.p. and those injected 100 times with a 2 month withdrawal. The cysteine conjugate of MCLR was detected mainly in the affected livers. In contrast, when 80 micrograms/kg was orally administered 100 times, characteristic chronic injuries such as fibrous changes and nodule formation were not observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Case report: congenital absence of the portal vein associated with nodular hyperplasia in the liver.

Congenital absence of the terminal portion of the portal vein with visceral venous return to the suprahepatic inferior vena cava, a rare malformation, was demonstrated in an 18-year-old Japanese woman. She had nodular hyperplasia in the liver and a non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumour. It is generally believed that reduction of portal venous flow causes atrophic changes and, subsequently, nodular hyperplasia occurs in a well-perfused area in the liver. However, the liver was not perfused by the portal vein in this case. It is suggested that nodular hyperplasia can occur without portal blood flow.

Adolescent↗