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Biomedical subjects

H Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to H Kondo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A multicenter study on laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic colectomy for malignant disease technically is feasible but not widely accepted because there are no large-series studies or data on long-term outcomes. A retrospective, multicenter study investigating a large series of patients was conducted in Japan to evaluate preliminary long-term results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. METHODS: The study group comprised 2,036 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal resection April 1993 to August 2002 in 12 participating surgical units (Japanese Laparoscopic Surgery Study Group). RESULTS: Of the 1,495 patients with colon cancer, 781 (59%) had International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage I, 248 (19%) had stage II, and 284 (22%) had stage III disease. Cancer recurred for 61 (4.1%) of 1,367 curatively treated patients (median follow-up period, 32 months; range, 6-125 months). The 5-year survival rate was 96.7% for stage I, 94.8% for stage II, and 79.6% for stage III disease. Of the 541 patients with rectal cancer, 220 (56%) had stage I, 62 had (16%) stage II, and 108 (28%) had stage III disease. Cancer recurred for 30 (5.6%) of 476 curatively treated patients (median follow-up period, 25 months; range 6-102 months). The 5-year survival rate was 95.2% for stage I, 85.2% for stage II, and 80.8% for stage III disease. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer yields an oncological outcome as good as that reported for conventional open surgery in the Japanese Registry for all disease stages.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

Use of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in an emergency situation after the flood disaster in Mozambique.

OBJECTIVES: To determine how diagnosis of malaria may be improved by combining the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for Plasmodium falciparum malaria with clinical diagnosis by the presence or history of fever compared with clinical diagnosis alone in emergency situations with flood-affected displaced populations in Mozambique. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study conducted at the emergency outpatient clinic in a village in the Chòkwè district of Gaza Province, 3 weeks after Cyclone Eline hit Mozambique in February 2000. METHODS: A hundred and thirty children aged less than 15 years with clinical malaria were selected for examination by RDT and fluorescent microscopy using acridine orange as a reference test. The diagnosis of clinical malaria was made by a history of fever in the last three days or axillary temperature above 37.0 degrees C at the time of attending the emergency outpatient clinic. Two positive predictive values were calculated; RDTs combined with clinical diagnosis and clinical diagnosis alone. RESULTS: Positive predictive values of RDTs combined with clinical diagnosis by the presence of fever or history of fever were 87.6% (92/105) (95% confidence interval (CI) 80.8-92.8) compared with 74.6% (97/130) (95% CI 66.2-81.8) for clinical diagnosis alone. Five patients were diagnosed false negative. CONCLUSION: RDTs combined with clinical diagnosis has sufficient positive predictive value to be used in emergency situations, while RDTs could result in increasing failure to treat when they are used for decisions of treatment compared with clinical diagnosis alone.

Adolescent↗

Cutaneous plasmacytoma in three golden hamsters (Mesocrietus auratus).

Spontaneously occurring cutaneous tumours in three golden hamsters were characterized using histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural methods. Histologically, the tumours were composed of sheets of round to oval plasmacytoid cells with eccentrically placed nuclei. Tissue sections were weakly positive for anti-B lymphocyte antigen (BLA) staining. Ultrastructurally, large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm were observed. BLA positivity and characteristics of ultrastructure showed the plasma cell origin.

Animals↗

Regulatory expression of lipoxin A4 receptor in physiologically estrus cycle and pathologically endometriosis.

Expression of receptors for prostaglandin (PG) and leukotriene (LT) has been reported to detect in endometrium and smooth muscle of uterus, suggesting involvement of these arachidonic metabolites in endometrial pathology and reproductive biology. Lipoxin (LX), which is produced by lipoxygenases from arachidonic acid, has been characterized as an anti-inflammatory lipid mediator. Biological actions of Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) are mediated through the specific receptor. In order to know roles of LXA4 in female genitalia, expression of LXA4 receptor mRNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Significantly higher expression of the receptor was detected in endometrium and myometrium than ovary in normal rats. Expression of the receptor in endometrium was increased at stage of proestrus cycle under physiological condition. Exogenous administration of progesterone into female rats significantly reduced the expression, while administration of estradiol or pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) did not. Both, endometrium in experimental endometriosis induced in rats and the tissues from patients with ectopic endometriosis showed a higher expression of LXA4 receptor compared to the normal tissues. In contrast, expressions of BLT1 and BLT2, receptors for leukotriene B4, did not change in the endometriosis. These observations suggest a possible role of LXA4 and the receptor under physiological estrus cycle and pathological condition as endometriosis.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

Cyclin D1 overexpression in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma: its association with tumour size and aberrant beta-catenin expression.

AIMS: Cyclin D1 is a target molecule transcriptionally activated by aberrant beta-catenin in Wnt signalling. Thyroid papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) may be considered a precursor of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Ki67 is widely used as a proliferation marker. The aim of this study was to determine whether cyclin D1 overexpression is involved in early thyroid carcinogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of PMC were examined immunohistochemically, including 11 cases less than 5 mm (PMC < 5) and 24 cases more than 5 mm (PMC > 5), and 18 PTC cases (size 11-15 mm). Cyclin D1 expression was significantly lower in PMC < 5 than in PMC > 5, while there was no significant difference between PMC > 5 and PTC. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlations between cyclin D1 labelling index (LI) and Ki67 LI (P = 0.0272)/cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression (P < 0.001) in PMC and PTC. Four of five PMC > 5 cases with lymph node (LN) metastases displayed a high cyclin D1 LI and strong cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclin D1 overexpression and correlation with aberrant beta-catenin expression were demonstrated in PMC. Cyclin D1 expression was significantly associated with tumour size and LN metastases in PMC. Cyclin D1 may be up-regulated at an early stage of thyroid carcinogenesis and promote tumour growth and metastatic potency in PMC through activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.

Adult↗

Subcutaneous Angiolipoma of Abdomen in a Golden Hamster (Mesocrietus auratus).

This is a single case report of an angiolipoma located in the subcutis of a 2-year-old golden hamster. The histological appearance of the tumour resembled that described in other species. The hamster died 1 month following removal of tumour and a necropsy was not performed. This is apparently the first recorded case of angiolipoma in a hamster.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Progressive myopathy with circulating autoantibody against giantin in the Golgi apparatus.

A woman aged 59 years with adult-onset progressive myopathy had anti-Golgi (giantin) autoantibody in the serum. Limb-muscle biopsy revealed chronic myopathy with paucity of cellular reactions and reduced immunostaining for alpha-dystroglycan. The similarity of the current patient with cases of hereditary alpha-dystroglycanopathies (Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy, Walker-Warburg syndrome, muscle-eye-brain disease, congenital muscular dystrophy type 1C, and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I) suggests that the Golgi apparatus is the target organelle in a subset of myopathies.

Antibody Specificity↗

Temperature-dependent enhancement of cell proliferation and mRNA expression for type I collagen and HSP70 in primary cultured goldfish cells.

Goldfish (Carasius auratus) primary culture cells derived from caudal fin were incubated over a temperature range of 20-35 degrees C. The population doubling time of cells cultured at 20, 25, 30 and 35 degrees C were 34, 29, 17 and 14 h, respectively. Interestingly, cDNA-representational difference analysis revealed type I collagen alpha chain (colalpha(I)) as a candidate for a warm temperature-specific gene. mRNA levels of colalpha(I) increased with an increase of incubation temperature and days of culture. Furthermore, the cell growth rate and colalpha(I) mRNA levels were rapidly changed following temperature shifts. To examine the effects of culture temperature shift on the cellular physiological states, mRNA levels of HSP70 were additionally investigated. HSP70 mRNA levels in the cells cultured at 30 and 35 degrees C were again 2-3 times higher than those at 20 and 25 degrees C. When the culture temperature was shifted from 20 to 35 degrees C, HSP70 mRNA levels were rapidly increased within 1 h. Subsequently, mRNA levels of the 35 degrees C-treated cells decreased, but remained doubled compared with those of the 20 degrees C-treated cells, even 4 h following the temperature shift. When the culture temperature was lowered from 35 to 20 degrees C, HSP70 mRNA levels decreased to about 70% of the original levels in 4 h. These results indicate that goldfish cells cultured at different temperatures easily develop temperature-associated steady physiological states within 4 h of temperature shifts.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Characterization of a novel human protein C inhibitor (PCI) gene transgenic mouse useful for studying the role of PCI in physiological and pathological conditions.

In humans, protein C inhibitor (PCI) is expressed in various tissues and present in many body fluids including plasma and seminal fluid. In rodents, PCI is expressed in reproductive organs only and is absent in plasma. In this study, we characterized the tissue expression and physiological role of PCI in novel human PCI gene transgenic (TG) mice. Northern blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that human PCI is expressed in liver hepatocytes, renal epithelial cells as well as heart, brain and reproductive organs of the TG mice. This PCI tissue distribution is similar to that found in humans. PCI in plasma of TG mice showed the same immunological and functional properties as human plasma PCI. Next, we evaluated the effect of PCI on coagulation, inflammation and tissue damage in lipopolysaccharide-treated TG mice. The results suggested that PCI efficiently inhibits not only the anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities of exogenously injected human activated protein C (APC) but also that of endogenously produced APC in mice with endotoxemia. These findings suggest that PCI exerts a procoagulant and proinflammatory effect by inhibiting APC. We believe our results also show how useful these TG mice may be for assessing the therapeutic effect of human APC in vivo and for evaluating the role of PCI in human physiological and pathological conditions.

Animals↗

Immediate hemodialysis after percutaneous transvenous angioplasty increases patency rates of arterio-venous fistula.

BACKGROUND: It was reported that pathogenesis of access failure of hemodialysis patients through progressive stenosis was followed by thrombosis. Nonionic contrast media increase platelet degranulation within an angioplasty-damaged vessel by releasing procoagulant molecules, which might contribute to acute thrombosis and restenosis. An adequate level of heparin provides satisfactory thrombin inhibition during routine angioplasty. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of immediate hemodialysis after percutaneous transvenous angioplasty (PTA) to remove nonionic contrast media or other factors while injecting heparin continuously. METHODS: From September 9, 1998 - May 15, 2002, successful PTAs were performed in 66 patients with arteriovenous fistula who were not given any inhibitors of platelet aggregation. Hemodialysis was performed in 31 cases immediately after PTA, and in the remainder, hemodialysis was performed the next day. Patients were randomized and fistula patency rates were compared in these 2 groups on March 20, 2004. RESULTS: The patency rates after PTA in patients who were dialyzed immediately, were significantly higher than those who were dialyzed the next day (p = 0.0120). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate hemodialysis after PTA is an effective way of increasing the patency of arteriovenous fistula for reasons which are not clear. This observation will need to be corroborated in subsequent studies using a larger sample size.

Aged↗

Early-enhancing non-neoplastic lesions on gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the liver.

AIM: To assess the frequency, cause, and significance of early-enhancing, non-neoplastic (EN) lesions on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver performed for the detection of malignant hepatic tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1997 to September 2000, we reviewed the images of 125 patients, suspected of having hepatic tumours, in whom (1) gadolinium-enhanced triphasic dynamic gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) imaging in addition to unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted MRI was performed, (2) conventional angiography and combination computed tomography (CT) hepatic arteriography and CT during arterial portography were performed within 2 weeks of the MRI, and (3) definitive surgery within 2 weeks of the MRI or follow-up study by means of intravenously contrast-enhanced CT or MRI in 10 months or more was performed. Angiographic studies were correlated to determine the underlying causes of the EN lesions. RESULTS: We found 78 EN lesions in 36 patients (29%), ranging in size from 4 and 50 mm (mean, 12.2 mm). From the MR reports, our radiologists had prospectively diagnosed EN lesions as probable malignant tumours in eight (10%), possible malignant tumours in 36 (46%), and probable non-neoplastic lesion in 34 (44%). EN lesions were found in 27 of 81 (33%) cirrhotic patients and in nine of 44 (20%) non-cirrhotic patients. Fifty-one EN lesions (65%) were located along the liver edge. The shape was circular in 42 (54%), oval in 14 (18%), irregular in 12 (15%), wedge-shaped in seven (9%), and fan-shaped in three (4%). Twenty EN lesions (26%) appeared slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted images. The causes were non-neoplastic arterio-portal shunting in 48 (62%), cystic venous drainage in four (5%), rib compression in four (5%), aberrant right gastric venous drainage in two (3%), and unknown in 20 (26%). CONCLUSION: Over half the number of EN lesions were caused by non-neoplastic arterio-portal shunting, occasionally showing slight hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. On MR images the non-neoplastic nature of the EN lesion was often ascertained. Radiologists should not overcall EN lesions as malignant as the patients involved would be inappropriately considered inoperable. In problematic cases, further investigation with angiographic CT or follow-up imaging studies should be performed.

Aged↗

Prostaglandin E2 downregulates interleukin-12 production through EP4 receptors in human monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and interferon-gamma.

In the present study, we examined the effect of prostaglandin (PG) E2 on interleukin (IL) -12 production in monocytes stimulated with a combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and interferon-gamma (A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma). Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, enhanced IL-12 production, but inhibited PGE2 generation in A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma-stimulated monocytes. Exogenous PGE2 inhibited IL-12 release in the cells. EP2, EP3 and EP4 receptor mRNA expression was detected in monocytes by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. 11-deoxy-PGE1 (an EP2/EP4 agonist) inhibited IL-12 production in A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma-challenged monocytes, whereas butaprost (an EP2 agonist) or ONO-AP-324 (an EP3 agonist) had no effect on IL-12 production. Dibutyryl cAMP, a cAMP analogue, and forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, mimicked depression of IL-12 production by PGE2. From these results, we suggest that PGE2 inhibits IL-12 production via EP4 receptors by cAMP-dependent pathways in A. actinomycetemcomitans-LPS/IFN-gamma-challenged monocytes.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗

Bone mineral density of the mandible in ovariectomized rats: analyses using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Although previous studies have shown that maxillary molar extraction in ovariectomized (OVX) animals causes mandibular loss of bone, it is still questionable as to whether estrogen deficiency affects mandibles with functional occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To answer this question, 13-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally OVX or sham-operated. After 109 days, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the femurs and mandibles was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). RESULTS: In DEXA analysis, although the BMD of the total mandible of the OVX rats was similar to that of the sham-operated rats, the BMD of the condylar region in the OVX rats had decreased by 12.5%. In pQCT analysis, decrease in trabecular BMD of the mandibular bone was detectable but low in the molar region (maximal 13%), whereas no difference was seen in cortical BMD. In the femurs, the trabecular bone prominently decreased in OVX rats (30% decrease in pQCT analysis) as previously reported. CONCLUSION: This study revealed regional differences in the mandibular bone decrease in OVX rats. Although the mechanism of low susceptibility of the mandible to estrogen-deficient conditions remains unknown, it is likely that mechanical stress derived from functional occlusion is preventing bone loss in this pathological condition. Furthermore, this study demonstrated the advantage of pQCT in analyzing rat mandibular bone.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Distant failure after treatment of postoperative locoregional recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for patients with locoregional recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after complete resection has not been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics, type of locoregional recurrence, pattern of subsequent failure, and survival after the recurrence. METHODS: Of 743 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for NSCLC in the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1990 and 1995, we retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of the 43 patients (5.8 %) found to have locoregional recurrence without distant metastasis or pleural or pericardial involvement. RESULTS: The median time to locoregional recurrence was 13.6 months (range: 1.6 - 85.8 months). The most frequent site of recurrence was the mediastinal nodes in 21 of 43 patients (49 %). 33 patients (77 %) received further treatment for the recurrence: thoracic irradiation in 26, surgery in two, systemic chemotherapy in two, and a combination of the above in 3 patients. Subsequent distant failure was detected in 26 (68 %) of the 38 patients assessable for the analysis of failure pattern: lung in 11, brain in 6, bone in 5, and others in 13. The median interval from the recurrence to distant failure was 8.4 months (range: 1.7-56.4 months). The median survival time after diagnosis of the locoregional recurrence was 10.5 months (range: 0-74.0 months). A multivariate analysis showed that local therapy for the locoregional recurrence had no significant impact on postrecurrent survival or distant failure-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence developed distant metastases early after the first recurrence. Systemic chemotherapy in addition to local therapy may be of benefit in this population.

Adult↗

Anti-U1RNP antibody and aseptic meningitis in connective tissue diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between aseptic meningitis and anti-U1RNP antibody in patients diagnosed with CTD. METHODS: Fourteen patients with aseptic meningitis were selected from among patients with CTDs who had visited our hospital. We analyzed their medical records to clarify the clinical and immunological features of aseptic meningitis. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients with aseptic meningitis were subsequently diagnosed as having either SLE (seven cases), MCTD (four), UCTD (one), overlap syndrome (one), or Sjögren's syndrome (one). Eight of the 14 patients had received NSAIDs, such as sulindac, naproxen, or loxoprofen, before the onset of aseptic meningitis. CRP levels were increased (mean +/- SD: 7.1 +/- 7.1 mg/dL) and CRP levels (10.4 +/- 7.7) in the drug-induced group were significantly increased (p < 0.01). The anti-U1RNP antibody was found in 13 of the 14 patients. There were no significant differences in cerebrospinal fluid findings between the drug-induced group and the non-drug-induced group. CONCLUSIONS: SLE or MCTD patients with aseptic meningitis tend to have anti-U1RNP antibody.

Adolescent↗