Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Kuwabara

Publications and source records attributed to H Kuwabara.

139 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Change of adrenomedullin concentrations in plasma and amniotic fluid, and human placental adrenomedullin expression with advancing gestation.

In order to characterize the expression of adrenomedullin during pregnancy, we measured the mature and total concentrations in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid, and examined its expression in fetoplacental tissues. Plasma samples were obtained from 13 normal normotensive non-pregnant women and 14 normal normotensive post partum women. Maternal plasma and amniotic fluid samples were obtained from 37 normal pregnant women (10 in the first trimester, 13 in the second trimester and 14 in the third trimester). Fetoplacental tissues were obtained from first and third-trimester pregnancies. Mature and total adrenomedullin concentrations in plasma and amniotic fluid were determined by using specific radioimmunoassay. The distribution and expression of adrenomedullin were determined using immunohistochemistry, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and in situ hybridization. Plasma total adrenomedullin concentrations were increasing with advancing gestation. The mature/total adrenomedullin ratio in the second trimester was the highest during pregnancy. Mature and total adrenomedullin concentrations in the amniotic fluid were significantly higher than those in the maternal plasma throughout gestation (P< 0.05). Mature adrenomedullin concentrations and the mature/total adrenomedullin ratio in the amniotic fluid increased with advancing gestation. There was a significant linear correlation between amniotic fluid and maternal plasma mature/total adrenomedullin ratio in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. Adrenomedullin mRNA was identified in the amniotic membrane and chorionic villi, and within the endothelial layers of villous blood vessels. These results suggest that the mature/total adrenomedullin ratio is modified in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid with advancing gestation.

Adrenomedullin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nucleolar organizer regions in human maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma.

A silver colloid technique for nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR) was applied to paraffin sections of maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinomas (MSSCC) of 25 patients. The patients were divided into two groups, one with MSSCC recurring in the primary lesion after treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or surgery and one without recurrence. Notable differences between the numbers of NOR in neoplastic epithelia and the normal mucosa were observed (P = 0.0001), but there were no differences between the numbers of NOR in the recurrent and non-recurrent carcinomas. This investigation found no prognostic importance in the number of AgNOR in MSSCC.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biological defence mechanism in the pathogenesis of prolonged cerebral vasospasm in the patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

We examined the relationship between the biological protective mechanisms of scavengers and free radicals that are elicited by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the pathogenesis of prolonged vasospasm following ruptured intracranial aneurysm. The study included 25 patients treated by early surgery (within 72 hours after SAH). Lipid peroxides concentrations and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured. The concentration of lipid peroxides increased significantly more (p less than 0.05) during the first 4 days after SAH in patients with symptomatic vasospasm than in those without. Patients with symptomatic vasospasm had a marked decrease in SOD activity on Days 3 and 4 followed by a gradual decrease, whereas the patients without spasm showed little change (difference between the groups, p less than 0.05). There was a significant difference in catalase activity reversal to SOD activity, but no difference in GSH-px activity. Thus, correlation was close between the increased lipid peroxides concentration and the decrease in SOD activity in CSF (p less than 0.05), suggesting an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of vasospasm.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Inhaled corticosteroid use and asthma hospitalization rates in Japan.

This epidemiological study assessed whether the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular inhaled corticosteroids, affected hospitalization rates for asthma in Japan between 1990 and 2002. Asthma hospitalization rates were calculated from the number of asthma in-patients recorded in governmental surveys. Information concerning use of anti-inflammatory drugs was extracted from the IMS prescription database. Patients were stratified into four age groups: < or = 4 years, 5 - 19 years, 20 - 39 years and 40 - 64 years. Over the study period, the number of prescriptions for inhaled corticosteroids per year increased dramatically and hospitalizations for asthma decreased in all groups except those < or = 4 years of age. Increased use of leukotriene receptor antagonists was also noted in all age groups. The use of anti-inflammatory drugs may have contributed to the observed decrease in asthma hospitalizations. Increased use of inhaled corticosteroids in infants and very young children may help prevent hospitalization in this age group.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Malignant plasmacytoid myoepithelioma of the palate: histological observations compared to benign predominant plasmacytoid myoepithelial cells in pleomorphic adenoma of the palate.

Predominant benign plasmacytoid myoepithelial cells in pleomorphic adenoma and malignant plasmacytoid myoepithelioma cells were investigated morphologically. The cells of both tumors were plasmacytoid in appearance and sheet-like. Immunohistochemically, they were positive for keratin, vimentin, and S-100 protein, and negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin. In the malignant cells, large nuclei with irregular nuclear membranes and distinct nucleoi and occasional intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves were seen. Ultrastructural findings showed that the benign cells were richer in intermediate filaments and had fewer mitochondria. The intranuclear inclusions and nuclear grooves of the malignant cells were caused by invagination of the irregular nuclear membranes. Taken in their entirety, the above light microscopical nuclear findings may be useful as an adjunct for distinguishing malignant from benign plasmacytoid neoplastic myoepithelial cells of the salivary gland.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Recurrent mesenteric desmoid tumors with multiple peritoneal dissemination: a case report and review of desmoid in Japan.

We report, herein, on the first case of a mesenteric desmoid tumor with multiple peritoneal dissemination. A 73 year-old Japanese woman, who had a history of uterine cancer that was treated with hysterectomy followed by a high dose of irradiation 25 years ago, had an unknown stenosis of the sigmoid colon, which was treated with partial resection of the stenosed colon 6 years ago, and then resulted in multiple small bowel obstructions due to the recurrence of mesenteric desmoids. The clinical behavior of this tumor is considered to be unpredictable. We emphasize that mesenteric desmoid tumors should be considered as one of the causes of stenosis of the colon and small bowel, and patients should receive careful follow-up after unknown stenosis.

Aged↗