Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Hayashi

Publications and source records attributed to H Hayashi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Variable manifestation in natural killer cell leukaemia.

Natural killer (NK) cell leukaemias are a relatively rare group of haematological disorders, now entitled in the T/NK lymphoproliferative disorders in the new WHO classification. Recent studies have clarified their biological and clinical manifestation gradually. However, some cases with NK malignancies still remain difficult to diagnose and differentiate into their subtypes in the absence of a distinct diagnostic hallmark, especially at initial presentation. We describe herein five patients with NK leukaemias with respect to the clinical, cytological, immunological and cytogenetic characteristics, varied among each case. Cytologically, two aggressive NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ANKL/L) cases were a morphologically hypogranular variant form. Clinically, one with ANKL/L was presented as haemophagocytic syndrome without leukaemic infiltration. Systemic chemotherapy resulted in complete remission in one ANKL/L and two blastic NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma (BNKL/L) patients; however, a good long-term outcome was achieved in only one CD4-positive BNKL/L patient with allogenic bone marrow transplantation. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that recurrent chromosomal aberration was rare; however, two had aberrations at 10p11 and 11q13. From these findings, we conclude that comprehensive individual studies should be carried out in these patients to obtain a correct diagnosis and to design an optimal therapeutic approach.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of preoperative serum immunosuppressive acidic protein in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) is a potent biological marker of immunological surveillance in patients with malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathologic significance of IAP in patients with esophageal carcinoma. Preoperative serum IAP concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 115 patients with primary esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. The associations between clinicopathologic factors, C-reactive protein (CRP) values and IAP concentration were determined. Prognostic values were determined by multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. The IAP concentration is significantly higher in patients with stage II-IV cancers than in those with stage I cancer. Significant differences in IAP concentration were observed depending upon tumor size, tumor depth, lymph node status and CRP values. A high IAP concentration, more than 500 micro g/mL, was an independent prognostic factor. Thus, a high IAP concentration is associated with tumor progression and poor survival in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

Invasive colorectal cancer detected up to 3 years after a colonoscopy negative for cancer.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Colonoscopy has replaced barium enema as the primary method for direct diagnosis of colorectal cancer, but detection may fail, and the reasons for this are not completely understood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to analyze the accuracy of colonoscopy for detecting invasive colorectal cancer, 7365 colonoscopic examinations were matched with the most accurate local government population-based cancer registry in Japan. RESULTS: In 15 colonoscopic examinations, patients were not diagnosed as having invasive colorectal cancer, but disease of this type was detected within 3 years of the examinations (false-negative examinations). During the same period, 233 colonoscopies were identified as true-positive examinations. The false-negative rate for detecting invasive colorectal cancer with colonoscopy was 6% at 3 years. The false-negative rate was significantly higher in individuals between 60 and 69 years of age and in invasive cancers located to the right of the splenic flexure. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopists should receive adequate training in achieving easy cecal intubation, detecting small or flat lesions, and carrying out adequate biopsies.

Colonoscopy↗

Prospective randomized pilot trial of selective biliary cannulation using pancreatic guide-wire placement.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: In difficult cases of selective bile duct cannulation, several expanded techniques are available which have only been partially evaluated in randomized studies. This study describes a prospective, randomized trial investigating a further technique for obtaining selective biliary access--pancreatic duct wire placement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a six-month study period, 107 consecutive patients required deep selective biliary cannulation. Accessing the bile duct using a catheter failed within 10 min in 53 of the patients, who were randomly assigned to either pre-insertion of a guide wire into the pancreatic duct or persistence with a conventional catheter. The success rate and complication rate were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: In the pancreatic duct-guide wire group (n=27), the success rate was significantly greater than in the conventional group (93% vs 58%). No pancreatitis complications occurred within either group. CONCLUSIONS: Inserting a guide wire into the pancreatic duct to facilitate deep selective bile duct cannulation is better than persisting with a conventional catheter. Further studies will be needed to confirm these results and to compare this method with other sophisticated techniques for obtaining selective access to the bile duct.

Adult↗

Sonographic features of hepatic artery calcification in chronic renal failure.

PURPOSE: Little is known about radiological aspects of hepatic artery calcification. For this reason, the sonographic features of calcified hepatic arteries were studied in patients with chronic renal failure who frequently develop tissue calcification due to hyperparathyroidism. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ultrasound was performed in 314 patients on dialysis who underwent examination of the liver, spleen and kidney twice in the past 4 years and were reevaluated with particular attention to acoustic shadowing. Abdominal CT was carried out in 219 of these 314 patients, and ultrasound findings were reevaluated with reference to CT findings. RESULTS: A large acoustic shadow was seen in the hilum that corresponded to the calcified hepatic artery on CT in 8 patients, and in another 9, a similar large shadow was seen in the hilum without CT confirmation. Acoustic shadows of various sizes were definitely or most likely due to arterial calcification within the liver in 36 patients. The strength of shadow depended on the angle at which the ultrasound beam hit the artery. Probable calcification of small arteries accompanying portal veins was seen in 70 patients. These changes are different from those due to pneumobilia and biliary tract diseases. CONCLUSION: Calcification of the hepatic artery can be identified by its acoustic shadow.

Aged↗

Frizzled 4 gene (FZD4) mutations in patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy with variable expressivity.

AIMS: To search for mutations in the frizzled 4 (FZD4) gene in patients with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and to delineate the defective gene associated clinical features. METHODS: Direct sequencing following polymerase chain reaction of exons of FZD4 was performed for 24 probands with FEVR (18 familial and six sporadic), and some of their families. Clinical symptoms among individuals with mutations were assessed. RESULTS: Four novel mutations were identified in four patients with familial and one with sporadic FEVR. Three of these mutations were missense (M105V, R417Q, and G488D) and one was a nonsense change (W319X). M105V, R417Q, and G488D co-segregated with the disease. None of these sequence changes was found among 300 chromosomes from 150 healthy volunteers. The severity of vitreoretinopathy in the individuals involved in this study varied, but no patient with mutations in FZD4 exhibited rhegmatogenous retinal detachment although this pathology is thought to be the most common type of retinal detachment in FEVR. CONCLUSION: FZD4 gene mutations were found in some cases of autosomal dominant and sporadic FEVR. FZD4 mutations were responsible for FEVR with variable clinical manifestations.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes in early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of the number of metastatic lymph nodes in early gastric cancer has not been evaluated much, although the significance of metastatic lymph nodes is defined by the location of positive nodes, according to the JRSGC for gastric cancer. METHODS: The postoperative courses of 305 early gastric cancer patients who had undergone D2-extended lymphadenectomy were followed up for a median of 108 months to evaluate the significance of the number of metastatic lymph nodes on recurrence of the disease. RESULTS: Recurrence of gastric cancer was more frequently observed in submucosal cancer than in mucosal cancer. All patients but one who revealed recurrence had nodal metastasis at the time of surgery. In cases with 1-3 metastatic lymph nodes, no patient had revealed any sign of recurrence; however, in cases with 4 or more metastatic lymph nodes, 6 of 7 patients died of recurrent disease. There were 3 cases of bone metastases, 2 of peritoneal dissemination, and 1 each of both recurrent diseases. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that in n-positive cases, in which there are 4 or more metastatic lymph nodes, there is a high probability of recurrence of early gastric cancer, and especially of hematogenic metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Candida septic arthritis of the hip in a young patient without predisposing factors.

We present a case of septic arthritis of the hip caused by Candida albicans in a 24-year-old woman. This is the first report of a Candida infection of the hip in a patient without any predisposing factors. She underwent a two-stage total hip arthroplasty three years after the onset of the infection. An elevated plasma level of beta-D-glucan suggested Candida as the infecting organism and the diagnosis might have been made earlier if this test had been undertaken at presentation.

Adult↗

A rifampicin resistance mutation in the rpoB gene confers ppGpp-independent antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

In Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), deletion of relA or a specific mutation in rplK ( relC) results in an inability to synthesize ppGpp (guanosine 5'-diphosphate 3'-diphosphate) and impairs production of actinorhodin. We have found that certain rifampicin-resistant ( rif) mutants isolated from either relA or relC strains regain the ability to produce actinorhodin at the same level as the wild-type strain, although their capacity to synthesize ppGpp is unchanged. These rif mutants were found to have a missense mutation in the rpoB gene that encodes the RNA polymerase beta-subunit. This rpoB mutation was shown to be responsible for the observed changes in phenotype, as demonstrated by gene replacement experiments. Gene expression analysis revealed that the restoration of actinorhodin production in both relA and relC strains is accompanied by increased expression of the pathway-specific regulator gene actII-ORF4, which is normally decreased in the rel mutants. In addition to the restoration of antibiotic production, the rif mutants also exhibited a lower rate of RNA synthesis compared to the parental strain when grown in a rich medium, suggesting that these mutant RNA polymerases behave like "stringent" RNA polymerases. These results indicate that rif mutations can alter gene expression patterns independently of ppGpp. We propose that RNA polymerases carrying particular rif mutations in the beta-subunit can functionally mimic the modification induced by binding of ppGpp.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of angiogenic factors predicts response to chemoradiotherapy and prognosis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The ability to predict patients' responses to chemoradiotherapy by analyzing pre-treatment biopsy specimens would be valuable for managing oesophageal squamous-cell cancer. To this end, the expression of p53, thymidine phosphorylase and vascular endothelial cell growth factor was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 52 patients with oesophageal squamous-cell cancer prior to chemoradiotherapy. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy (40 Gy) and 5 day-infusion of 5-Fluorouracil (500 mg m(-2) per day) combined with cisplatin (10 mg m(-2) per day). Following treatment, imaging and endoscopic reassessment was performed to establish treatment response. Thirty-one patients underwent radical surgery and 21 patients were treated with an additional 20 Gy of radiotherapy. Of the tumours studied, 58% were p53-positive, 40% thymidine phosphorylase-positive and 44% vascular endothelial cell growth factor-positive. A clinical response was observed in 36 patients (69%) and was negatively associated with thymidine phosphorylase expression (P=0.02) and vascular endothelial cell growth factor expression (P<0.001). However, the 5-year survival rate was significantly lower only in patients with vascular endothelial cell growth factor-positive tumours (P=0.037). Multivariate analysis identified vascular endothelial cell growth factor as a significant independent prognostic factor (P=0.0147). These results suggest that expression of angiogenic factors has predictive value for the treatment response and outcome of patients with oesophageal cancer.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

Physiological properties of periodontal mechanosensitive neurones in the posteromedial ventral nucleus of rat thalamus.

Unitary discharges of periodontal mechanosensitive (PM) neurones responding to mechanical tooth stimulation were recorded from the posteromedial ventral nucleus (VPM) of rat thalamus. PM neurones are distributed in the ventromedial area in the rostral two-thirds of the VPM nucleus. Maxillary and mandibular tooth-sensitive neurones are arranged in dorsoventral sequence. Of the PM neurones, 36% were slowly adapting to pressure applied to the tooth and 67% were rapidly adapting. The majority of PM units were sensitive to the contralateral incisor tooth. Response magnitudes of the slowly adapting neurones varied with stimulus direction and were directionally selective to mechanical tooth stimulation. The optimal stimulus direction was labiolingual or linguolabial. Rapidly adapting neurones were directionally non-selective to tooth stimulation. The threshold for mechanical stimulation was <0.05 N. Mean response latencies evoked by electrical stimulation of the peripheral receptive fields were 4.6 ms in the slowly adapting neurones and 5.8 ms in the rapidly adapting neurones.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Protective and curative effects of topically applied CX-659S, a novel diaminouracil derivative, on chronic picryl chloride-induced contact hypersensitivity responses.

BACKGROUND: CX-659S, a newly discovered anti-inflammatory compound, exerts inhibitory effects against acute contact hypersensitivity responses (CHRs) induced by picryl chloride (PC), oxazolone and dinitrochlorobenzene. The murine model of chronic CHR induced by repeated application of PC is known to mimic many, if not all, events occurring within the lesional skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ability of CX-659S to inhibit PC-induced chronic CHR in mice. METHODS: The protective and curative effects of CX-659S were tested on PC-treated ears of BALB/c mice, and were compared with those of prednisolone. Effects were quantified by measurements of ear thickness, serum IgE and cytokine mRNA expression. RESULTS: Both protectively applied and curatively applied CX-659S significantly inhibited increases in ear thickness and total serum IgE. Inhibition was dose-dependent. Although protectively applied prednisolone showed similar activities to CX-659S against chronic CHR, curatively applied prednisolone did not affect the serum IgE level despite inhibiting increases in ear thickness and inflammatory cell infiltration. Consistent with these results, CX-659S reduced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 but not of interferon (IFN)-gamma, whereas prednisolone inhibited not only mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10 but also that of IFN-gamma in the ear lesion. In contrast to prednisolone, CX-659S did not show any side-effect such as atrophy, alopecia or telangiectasia. CONCLUSIONS: CX-659S is the first promising compound having inhibitory activities against chronic CHR accompanied by a diminishing effect on elevated serum IgE, without any other side-effect. Therefore, CX-659S may be a promising candidate for management of patients with recurring AD who require long-term therapy.

Administration, Topical↗

Endoscopic surveillance for gastric remnant cancer after early cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aims of this article were to clarify the incidence of gastric remnant cancer after surgery for early gastric cancer, and to develop surveillance programs for patients who have undergone partial gastrectomy in order to detect such lesions at an early stage. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 642 patients with partial gastrectomy for early gastric cancer were enrolled in a surveillance program for gastric remnant cancer between 1985 and 1996. In 509 patients, the interval between endoscopic examinations was no more than 2 years. RESULTS: Among the 509 patients examined periodically, 15 patients were diagnosed as having gastric remnant cancer; in 12 patients, the cancers were detected at an early stage. All gastric remnant cancers were found distant from the site of the anastomosis, and in eight patients the cancers were located on the lesser curvature. The cumulative 5-year prevalence rate was estimated as 2.4 % and the 10-year prevalence rate as 6.1 %. The initial tumors in the patients with gastric remnant cancer were of the microscopically intestinal type, without exception. The interval between the preceding examination and diagnosis was shorter in the patients with early cancer than in those with advanced cancer ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Periodical surveillance endoscopy for gastric remnant cancer is recommended after surgery for early gastric cancer, particularly in patients whose cancers are of the intestinal type. The examinations can be repeated at 2 - 3-year intervals, and special attention should be given to the lesser curvature away from the anastomotic site.

Aged↗

Plasma endothelin, nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic peptide levels in humans after abdominal angiography.

PURPOSE: To clarify the effect of the contrast medium iopamidol on endothelial function and response of vasoactive peptide, as measured by changes in the levels of plasma endothelin, nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic peptide. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen patients received iopamidol 300 mg I/ml intra-arterially during routine abdominal angiography. The mean volume of contrast medium administered was 208.1+/-32.5 ml. Endothelin, nitric oxide and atrial natriuretic peptide were measured before and after angiography. RESULTS: Endothelin levels increased significantly (from 1.45+/-0.12 pg/ml to 1.90+/-0.10 pg/ml) after exposure to contrast medium. Nitric oxide levels decreased significantly (from 34.56+/-2.23 micromol/ to 25.43+/-1.83 micromol/l). Atrial natriuretic peptide levels increased significantly (from 11.43+/-1.68 pg/ml to 21.28+/-2.89 pg/ml). CONCLUSION: Exposure to contrast medium in humans is associated with an increase in plasma endothelin levels and a decrease in nitric oxide levels, and atrial natriuretic peptide levels also increase following CM injection.

Abdomen↗

Frequency of ciliary body or retinal breaks and retinal detachment in eyes with atopic cataract.

AIM: To determine the frequency of ciliary body or retinal breaks and retinal detachment in eyes with atopic cataract. METHODS: The records of 106 eyes (74 patients) with atopic cataract that underwent cataract extraction were reviewed. The frequency of ciliary body or retinal breaks and retinal detachment was classified by their presence preoperatively and postoperatively, and by cataract type. RESULTS: Breaks were detected preoperatively in 27 eyes (25.5%) of 17 patients in the ciliary body (20 eyes, 18.9%), near the ora serrata (five eyes, 4.7%), and in undefined locations (two eyes, 1.9%). Among these, 16 eyes (15.1%) had already developed retinal detachment. After surgery, a ciliary body break occurred in one eye (0.9%) and retinal detachment in four eyes (3.8%) of three patients. The breaks that caused postoperative retinal detachment were in the ciliary body. When classified by cataract type, the highest frequency of breaks was associated with mature cataracts (35.0%), and all eyes with breaks developed retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: One fourth of eyes with atopic cataract had breaks in the ciliary body or ora serrata, or retinal detachment preoperatively. The highest frequency of either breaks or retinal detachment was associated with mature cataract. The frequency of breaks or detachment that occurred postoperatively (approximately 5%) was lower than that present preoperatively.

Adolescent↗

Modulation of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

In order to reveal modulation of the number of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNEC) in interstitial lung diseases and to clarify significance of cell proliferation activity in occurrence of PNEC, we counted airway PNEC of the patients of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, secondary interstitial pneumonia and control lungs, and compared the number of PNEC with airway Ki-67 labeling. The lung tissue samples were obtained by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery from 22 patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), 7 with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), 8 with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonia (CHP), 13 with collagen vascular disease (CVD), and were compared with age-matched control lungs. The tissues were immunostained for chromogranin A and for Ki-67. Average incidence of bronchiolar PNEC in normal, UIP, NSIP, CHP, CVD lungs was 0.169%, 0.348%, 0.326%, 0.175% and 0.201%, respectively, and average Ki-67 labeling index in them was 0.241%, 1.186%, 1.605%, 1.058%, and 2.353%, respectively. And, in UIP lungs, PNEC incidence or Ki-67 labeling index was different according to pathological lesions. Thus, PNEC increase in the bronchiole of UIP, and the incidence of PNEC varies according to degree of activity of epithelial cell proliferation probably related to epithelial cell injury. Moreover, enhanced expression of human homolog of achaete-scute complex (hASH1) mRNA in UIP lungs suggests that hASH1 could play roles in the regulation of PNEC.

Aged↗

Effect of artificial carbon dioxide foot bathing on critical limb ischemia (Fontaine IV) in peripheral arterial disease patients.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that artificial carbon dioxide (CO(2)) foot bathing improves subcutaneous microcirculation in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. However, the effect for critical limb ischemia (CLI) with ulceration or gangrene (Fontaine stage IV) is not identified. The physiological effects of CO(2) bathing and the outcome of limb salvage in such patients were studied. METHODS: In 18 healthy volunteers (Study I), the dorsal pedis peripheral blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler flow-meter during CO(2) foot bathing (1000 ppm, 37 degrees C) for 10 min. A Holter electrocardiogram was also recording in the same period. Blood flow and cell volume significantly increased during bathing. Eighty-three CLI limbs (Fontaine IV) in 68 PAD patients (Study II) underwent artificial CO(2) foot bathing (for 10 minutes twice daily >2 months) were followed up >6 months. RESULTS: In Study I, analysis of heart rate variability showed that high frequency amplitude (HFA) considerably increased and the ratio of low frequency amplitude to HFA (LF/HF) noticeably decreased during bathing. In Study II, 69 limbs (83.1%) could be salvaged. Twenty-seven of 28 limbs (96.4%) which have ulcer and gangrene in only one toe, 13/16 limbs (81.2%) in multiple toes and 29/39 limbs (74.4%) in all toes and/or heel respectively were saved. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of CO(2) enriched water on the subcutaneous microcirculation might be brought about by peripheral vasodilation reflected by increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic activity, and the artificial CO(2) foot bathing is clinically effective on salvage of CLI (Fontaine stage IV) limbs.

Adult↗