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Biomedical subjects

F Konishi

Publications and source records attributed to F Konishi.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Augmentation of host defense by a unicellular green alga, Chlorella vulgaris, to Escherichia coli infection.

Protection against Escherichia coli inoculated intraperitoneally into mice was enhanced by intraperitoneal, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration of a water-soluble, high-molecular-weight fraction extracted from a dialyzed hot-water extract from a strain of Chlorella vulgaris (CVE-A). The enhancing effect was detected with doses over 2.0 mg/kg and when doses were administered 1, 4, or 7 days before the infection. The elimination of bacteria from the spleen of CVE-A-treated mice was increased, and this enhanced elimination may have been related to the acceleration of superoxide generation and chemokinesis in polymorphonuclear leucocytes by CVE-A treatment. A cyclophosphamide-induced decrease in protection against E. coli could be prevented by subcutaneous administration of CVE-A.

Animals↗

Effects of angiotensin II, adrenocorticotropin, and potassium on aldosterone production in adrenal zona glomerulosa cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism has been shown to occur in streptozotocin-induced chronic diabetic rats with normokalemia. To test the nature of the aldosterone deficiency, we investigated the responses of aldosterone production to angiotensin II (AII), ACTH, and potassium in adrenal zona glomerulosa cells from diabetic rats at 6 weeks after an injection of streptozotocin compared with those in the cells from control rats. In diabetic rats, plasma glucose was high and plasma immunoreactive insulin was low. Diabetic rats also had low levels of PRA and plasma AII, low levels of plasma aldosterone, and normal levels of plasma corticosterone and plasma potassium. The zona glomerulosa width was narrower in diabetic rats than in control rats. Basal aldosterone production, when corrected to an uniform number of cells per group, was similar in the cells from control and diabetic rats. Cells from diabetic rats showed a less sensitive and lower response of aldosterone production to AII, increases in the threshold and the ED50, and a decrease in the maximal AII-stimulated aldosterone level. ACTH, however, caused a similar effect on aldosterone production in the cells from control and diabetic rats. Cells from diabetic rats exhibited a less sensitive response of aldosterone production to potassium and a tendency to be low in the maximal potassium-stimulated aldosterone level, presumably attributable to the impairment of adrenal zona glomerulosa cells to AII. We conclude that the hypoaldosteronism observed in our diabetic rats may be secondary to the deficiency of AII.

Adrenal Glands↗

[Transrectal ultrasonography for the assessment of invasion in rectal carcinoma].

Transrectal ultrasonography is an effective method in visualizing the tomographical view of rectal tumors. The advantage of this method over computed tomography is that with this method it is possible to visualize the layered structure of the bowel wall. The invasion was assessed as whether or not the tumor has penetrated the muscularis propria which was visualized in low echoic layer. With 5.0 MHz linear array scanner, it was possible to make relatively accurate diagnosis of depth of cancer invasion. The new 7.5 MHz linear probe visualized the rectal wall in five to seven layers, and the resolution with this probe was far better than that with the 5.0 MHz linear probe.

Humans↗

[Endoscopic diagnosis and management of colonic polyps].

Colonoscopic diagnosis of colonic polyps is a rather easy task, although some small polyps might be missed when they are situated around the steep angulation or behind the fold. A correct diagnosis of mucosal carcinoma is difficult not only by colonoscopy but also by biopsy because the cancer focus may be small or not exposed on the polyp surface. Therefore, colonoscopic polypectomy is the best procedure of choice for correct histologic diagnosis of mucosal and invasive carcinoma. Only by polypectomy can correct diagnosis of invasive carcinoma be made, although there are various endoscopic signs such as irregularity of the surface configuration and white spots on the surrounding mucosa suggesting invasive carcinoma. Over the course of several years experience of colonoscopy we have encountered small flat elevations under 1 cm in diameter of which 58% were benign adenomas and 42% contained minute foci of carcinoma. These small flat lesions might have been missed quite easily during routine examination in the past and they might play an important role in the pathogenesis of colonic carcinoma. Benign polyp and mucosal carcinoma can be adequately treated by polypectomy only, whereas invasive carcinoma needs further treatment as it has a risk of node metastasis. Risk factors influencing metastasis are lymphatic permeation, poorly differentiated carcinoma, massive invasion close to the cut end. Only when one of these findings is seen in the removed polyp, further surgical treatment must be considered. However, the patient's general condition, age and site of the polyp should be carefully taken into account in order to choose the appropriate treatment in each individual case as the risk of metastasis under such situations mentioned above is not so high. Management of invasive carcinoma is still a controversial issue and a long-term, clinicopathologic study will be needed to solve this question.

Biopsy↗

Antitumor effect induced by a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris (CE): resistance to Meth-A tumor growth mediated by CE-induced polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

When a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris (CE) was injected into the peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice inoculated with syngeneic Meth-A tumor cells, the survival times were strikingly prolonged. Furthermore, peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) rich in polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) obtained from normal mice 24 h after CE injection exhibited an antitumor effect in a Winn-type assay using normal recipients. Such an activity of PEC remained almost intact after T cell or macrophage depletion. However, such PEC did not express an antitumor effect in a Winn-type assay using irradiated recipients. It was suggested that CE-induced PEC, presumably PMN, expressed an antitumor effect in cooperation with a host- or recipient-derived element(s) sensitive to irradiation. The antitumor mechanism of CE may be different from that of OK-432, one of the biological response modifiers.

Animals↗

Transrectal ultrasonography for the assessment of invasion of rectal carcinoma.

To make objective and accurate assessment of depth of invasion in rectal carcinoma, transrectal ultrasonography was performed on 49 patients with rectal carcinoma. Two types of scanners were available for use; i.e., 5.0 MHz linear array scanner and 3.5 MHz radial scanner. An experimental study using fresh specimen revealed that the middle low echoic layer of the rectal wall corresponded to the muscularis propria. Depth of cancer invasion was assessed as to whether or not invasion had reached the muscularis propria, or whether invasion had gone through the muscularis propria. The result of 5.0 MHz linear array scan was superior to 3.5 MHz radial scan, and was fairly satisfactory. Future studies, using a sonographic probe with higher frequency and better resolution, are expected to produce valuable benefits in deciding indications for local excision of rectal carcinomas.

Adenoma↗

Small "flat adenoma" of the large bowel with special reference to its clinicopathologic features.

Thirty-three small "flat adenomas," not more than 1 cm in diameter, were collected from surgically and colonoscopically removed specimens, and their colonoscopic and histologic characteristics were described. There were 14 adenomas with mild atypia, five with moderate atypia, 14 with severe atypia (or focal carcinoma limited to the mucosa). The grade of atypia seems to increase with the size of lesions, and these lesions were assumed to play an important role in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. The importance of recognizing the presence of these small "flat adenomas" in everyday practice is stressed.

Adenoma↗

B cell malignant lymphoma in a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis and Sjögren's syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) who developed B cell malignant lymphoma 11 and 10 years after the onset of signs of PSS and SS, respectively. As her lymphoma developed, autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody disappeared from the serum, the lupus erythematosus test yielded negative results and her immunoglobulin levels declined. A good response to chemotherapy was obtained but she died of acute interstitial pneumonitis. Postmortem examination revealed marked diffuse interstitial fibrosis of the lungs.

B-Lymphocytes↗

[Surgical indication and outcome of Crohn's disease with special reference to management of anal lesions].

A total of 31 cases of Crohn's disease; 23 males and 8 females; 8 small bowel, 11 colon, 8 both small and large bowels involvement and 4 unknown, were collected and analysed. Twelve cases were treated medically and 19 were operated with 61% of operative and 37% of reoperative rate. There was no death due to Crohn's disease. IVH was successful as non-surgical treatment. Indications for surgery were stricture, fistula formation and unsuccessful medical treatment. Limited resection of the diseased segment was performed and in 4 cases diseased segment was left behind without significant postoperative symptoms. Quality of life of the surgically and medically treated patients was satisfactory except one who had many operations during 20 years and still suffers from Crohn's disease. In 15 (48.4%) periproctal abscess or fistula was associated. There were 2 types of anal lesions, the one being ordinary type of low intersphincteric abscess or fistula and the other complex or Crohn's disease related high abscess or fistula. The former was successfully treated by laying-open whereas the latter was treated rather conservatively by drainage not to damage external sphincter muscles. Outcome of medical and surgical treatment of Crohn's disease was quite satisfactory and operation should not be hesitated in patients with serious complications. Type of anal lesion is to be identified and proper surgical treatment should be performed in feasible cases.

Anal Canal↗

Augmentation of antitumor resistance by a strain of unicellular green algae, Chlorella vulgaris.

Growth of Meth-A tumor in CDF1 mice was inhibited significantly by injection of a hot water extract of a strain of Chlorella vulgaris (CE) into the tumor or into the subcutaneous tissue near the tumor. The augmentation of resistance by CE may require the participation of T cells and macrophages, since it was abolished or reduced in athymic nude mice or mice treated with carrageenan, a macrophage blocker. Mice treated with CE exhibited antigen-specific augmented resistance against rechallenge with tumor. Moreover, the antitumor effect of CE was comparable with that of Corynebacterium parvum, but its mechanism of effect might be different.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Histopathologic comparison of colorectal adenomas in English and Japanese patients.

Histopathologic comparison of colorectal adenomas removed at St. Mark's Hospital, London, England, and those removed at the University of Tokyo, Japan was performed. There were 1242 lesions in the St. Mark's series and 310 in the University of Tokyo series. All adenomas were removed either by colonoscopic polypectomy or hot biopsy. The indications and methods of colonoscopic removal were similar in the two series. Age distribution of the patients showed a younger peak incidence in the University of Tokyo series compared with the St. Mark's patients. The percentage of adenomas larger than 1 cm, of tubulovillous or villous type, and with moderate or severe dysplasia were greater in the St. Mark's series than in the University of Tokyo series. Percentages of adenomas with mild, moderate, or severe dysplasia in each category of size did not differ between the two series. In view of the fact that there is a high colorectal cancer risk in England and medium cancer risk in Japan, our results give further epidemiologic support to the concept of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Adenoma↗

Hypertrophic effect of unavailable carbohydrate on cecum and colon in rats.

The effects of unavailable carbohydrate on the cecum and colon were investigated in rats raised on diets containing 20% of glucomannan or cellulose for 8 weeks. Glucomannan ingestion caused the increase of cecum and colon weights, and the effect was greater in the cecum than in the colon. However, on ingestion of cellulose, a remarkable increase in tissue weight was observed in the colon rather than in the cecum. Measurement of DNA, RNA and protein in cecal and colonic mucosa demonstrated that the cecal enlargement caused by glucomannan was dependent on the increases in both number and size of mucosal cells, and that the cecal and colonic enlargements caused by cellulose and the colonic enlargement caused by glucomannan resulted from an increase in the number of mucosal cells; i.e., hyperplasia. (Na + K)ATPase activity of the cecal and colonic mucosa in the cellulose and glucomannan groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. Thus, (Na + K)ATPase activity was increased proportionally to the intensity of the process of tissue enlargement.

Animals↗

Mode of rat cecal enlargement induced by a short-term feeding on glucomannan.

The increase in wet weight of rat cecum was evident at 16 hr of glucomannan ingestion and continued until 184 hr (the longest period observed in this experiment), reaching about 2.5-fold. The ratios of total protein/DNA and RNA/DNA were both always higher in cecum of rats fed glucomannan than the control group (0 hr). During the initial 40 hr, no significant change in total DNA content was observed with the increase in total protein and RNA. Furthermore, the incorporation rate of [3H]thymidine in cecal DNA was even lower in the glucomannan feeding than the control (0 hr) during the initial 40 hr. After 88 hr of the experiment, however, a significant increase in the synthetic rate of DNA was found as well as [14C]leucine incorporation into total protein. It was discussed that a hypertrophic change in rat cecum was initially induced by glucomannan ingestion and was followed by hyperplastic growth under continuous exposure of glucomannan.

Animals↗

Macroscopic lesions in dysplasia and carcinoma complicating ulcerative colitis.

Visible changes associated with dysplasia or carcinoma have been assessed in 62 colectomy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis. In 34 colectomy specimens with one or more carcinomas, there were 51 visible carcinomas and 65 macroscopic dysplastic lesions; only one carcinoma was found in flat mucosa. Among 28 specimens with microscopic dysplasia but no carcinoma, eight contained no visible dysplastic lesion, and the remaining 20 contained a total of 40 polypoid or elevated dysplastic areas. In 32 operative specimens removed for long-standing chronic colitis without dysplasia or carcinoma, nine contained visible inflammatory polypoid lesions. On radiological or endoscopic examination of the colon in long-standing colitis close attention should be given to the identification and biopsy of polyps, elevated nodular areas or plaques, strictures, and isolated ulcers. It is likely that colectomy specimens with visible polypoid or elevated dysplastic lesions will contain a carcinoma more often than those removed for dysplasia in flat mucosa.

Carcinoma↗