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H Nakajima

Publications and source records attributed to H Nakajima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The presence of a common channel and associated pancreaticobiliary diseases: a prospective ERCP study.

BACKGROUND: There are few endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic studies dealing with the relationship between the presence of a common channel and associated pancreaticobiliary diseases. AIMS: To endoscopically determine the incidence of common channels and assess whether the anatomy of the pancreaticobiliary ductal drainage into the duodenum has any bearing on pancreaticobiliary diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively examined a common channel formation in 354 endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic cases. Cases with a common channel were divided into three groups: pancreaticobiliary maljunction, high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts with a common channel > or =6 mm in which the communication was occluded with the sphincter contraction, and common channel < or =5 mm in length. RESULTS: A common channel was observed in 131 cases (37.0%) including 11 with pancreaticobiliary maljunction and 13 with high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts. In cases with a common channel, the incidences of associated gallbladder carcinoma and acute pancreatitis were both 11.5%, which were significantly higher than 1.8% and 4.9% seen in cases without a common channel. In pancreaticobiliary maljunction cases, incidence of associated gallbladder carcinoma was 72.7%. CONCLUSION: The presence of an obvious common channel was observed in 37.0%. A close relationship is suggested between the presence of a common channel and development of gallbladder carcinoma and acute pancreatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Progression rate of ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis predicts survival time in ALS.

The authors calculated the progression rate (DeltaFS) using the total revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and symptom duration at diagnosis in 82 Japanese patients with ALS. Survival (death or tracheostomy) differed significantly with the DeltaFS and postdiagnostic period according to log-rank testing, but Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed no strong association between total ALSFRS-R and mortality, suggesting that the DeltaFS provides an additional predictive index beyond ALSFRS-R alone.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Botcinins E and F and Botcinolide from Botrytis cinerea and structural revision of botcinolides.

Botcinins E and F were isolated together with the known botcinolide. The structures of botcinins E and F were determined to be 3-O-deacetylbotcinin A (5) and 3-O-deacetyl-2-epi-botcinin A (6), respectively, by spectroscopic methods and chemical conversion. The structure of botcinolide was revised on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical conversion. Botcinolide was originally reported as a nine-membered lactone (7), but the revised structure is the seco acid of botcinin E (13). Thus botcinolide is renamed botcinic acid, and homobotcinolide is renamed botcineric acid. Reinvestigation of the spectroscopic data reported for all botcinolide analogues indicates that 4-O-methylbotcinolide and 3-O-acetyl-2-epibotcinolide are the same as a methyl ester of botcinic acid (13a) and botcinin A (1), respectively, and that 2-epibotcinolide may be the same as botcinin E (5). Compounds 5, 6, and 13 showed weak antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea, a pathogen of rice blast disease.

Botrytis↗
PubMed2006

Involvement of M(2) muscarinic receptors in relaxant response of circular muscle of mouse gastric antrum.

Our previous study showed that atropine significantly inhibited the sustained relaxation induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the circular muscle strips prepared from the mouse antrum, and that pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) partially mediated the sustained relaxation. The muscarinic receptor subtype associated with the sustained relaxation was examined in the present study by using each muscarinic receptor subtype of knockout (KO) mice. EFS-induced sustained relaxation in the antrum prepared from M(2) receptor KO mice was significantly less than that of wild-type mice. Atropine failed to inhibit this relaxation. On the other hand, similar sustained relaxation and inhibitory effects of atropine to those of wild-type mice were observed in M(1), M(3) and M(4) receptor KO mice. Exogenously added PACAP-27 relaxed the antral strips of wild-type and M(2) receptor KO mice to a similar extent. Immunohistochemical study revealed that M(2) receptor immunoreactivity was localized with PACAP-immunoreactivity in enteric neurons within the antrum of wild-type mice. In contrast, atropine did not affect the EFS-induced sustained relaxation in the gastric fundus. These results suggest that M(2) receptors modulate the sustained relaxation, probably through the regulation of PACAP release, in the mouse antrum.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Close correlation between chronic sclerosing sialadenitis and immunoglobulin G4.

In four patients with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis, serum immunoglobulin G4 concentration was markedly increased and abundant infiltration of immunoglobulin G4-positive plasma cells was observed in the salivary glands. Autoimmune pancreatitis occurred in the two patients during follow up. Chronic sclerosing sialadenitis and autoimmune pancreatitis would appear to show essentially the same pathophysiological mechanism. Measurement of serum immunoglobulin G4 concentration is useful in differentiating chronic sclerosing sialadenitis from neoplasia.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Development of WT1 peptide cancer vaccine against hematopoietic malignancies and solid cancers.

Wild-type Wilms' tumor gene WT1 is highly expressed not only in hematopoietic malignancies, including leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but also in various kinds of solid tumors. Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which could specifically lyse WT1-expressing tumor cells with HLA class I restriction were generated in vitro. We have also demonstrated that mice immunized with the WT1 peptide or WT1 cDNA rejected challenges by WT1-expressing tumor cells and survived with no signs of auto-aggression to normal organs which physiologically expressed WT1 in prophylactic and therapeutic models. Furthermore, we and others detected IgM and IgG WT1 antibodies in the patients with hematopoietic malignancies, indicating that WT1 protein was highly immunogenic, and that immunoglobulin class-switch-inducing WT1-specific cellular immune responses were elicited in the patients. CD8+ WT1-specific CTLs were also detected in peripheral blood or tumor-draining lymph nodes of cancer patients. These results provided us with the rationale for elicitation of CTL responses targeting the WT1 product for cancer immunotherapy. On the basis of the findings mentioned above, we performed a phase I clinical trial of WT1 peptide cancer vaccine for the patients with malignant neoplasms. These results strongly suggested that WT1 peptide cancer vaccine had efficacy in the clinical setting, because clinical responses, including reduction of leukemic blast cells or regression of tumor masses, were observed after the WT1 vaccination in patients with hematopoietic malignancies or solid cancers. The power of TAA-derived cancer vaccine may be enhanced by combination with stronger adjuvants, helper peptide, or conventional treatments such as molecular-target-based drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Airway injuries due to blunt chest trauma].

Although the incidence of blunt chest trauma is very high, the mediastinal tracheobronchial injuries are quite rare. The airway injuries are thought to be one of the most urgent clinical conditions in thoracic surgery, and we are requested to make not only a rapid and sharp diagnosis but also an appropriate treatment plan considering combined injuries. We present 9 cases of tracheobronchial injuries due to blunt chest trauma in recent years. The average age of these patients is 26.1 years, and they are consisted of 6 male and 3 female. The cause of trauma is traffic accident in 7, and occupational crane accident in 2. Bronchoplasty were done in 5 cases (right main bronchus in 2, left main bronchus in 1, trunks intermediate bronchus in 1, and the spur between middle and lower lobe in 1), membranous-tracheoplasty with right pneumonectomy in 1, left pneumonectomy in 1, conservative treatment in 2. Postoperative mortality is occurred in 1 case who was suffering from multiple injuries including severe head injury and contralateral lung contusion. Tracheobronchial plasties should be chosen if possible to preserve lung function for the patient suffering from airway injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Cervical angina: a seemingly still neglected symptom of cervical spine disorder?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, case series. DESIGN: A review of 10 surgical cases with symptoms of cervical angina. OBJECTIVE: To stress the importance of symptoms of cervical angina in patients with cervical spine disorders. SETTING: Fukui University Hospital, Japan. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients complaining of symptoms of cervical angina were admitted with a tentative diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Pain relief was achieved by anterior surgical decompression in all patients. CONCLUSION: We stress that physicians should be aware of the symptoms of cervical angina and that surgical intervention often leads to complete relief of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

IgG4-related sclerosing disease incorporating sclerosing pancreatitis, cholangitis, sialadenitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis with lymphadenopathy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Autoimmune pancreatitis is usually associated with elevated serum IgG4 concentrations, and sometimes with sclerosing cholangitis and Sjögren's syndrome. This study aimed to elucidate the proposed entity of IgG4-related sclerosing disease. METHODS: Subjects were patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (n = 26), sclerosing sialadenitis (n = 5), chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (n = 20), sialolithiasis (n = 34), Sjögren's syndrome (n = 50), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 3). Sections of various organs and tissues of these patients were examined immunohistochemically using antibodies to CD4-T, CD8-T, and CD20-B cell subsets and IgG4, and serum IgG4 concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Patients with autoimmune pancreatitis were associated with sclerosing cholangitis (n = 23), sclerosing sialadenitis (n = 2), retroperitoneal fibrosis (n = 2), and abdominal (n = 5) and cervical (n = 4) lymphadenopathy. They demonstrated infiltrations of more abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells in the pancreas, peripancreatic retroperitoneal tissues, extrahepatic bile duct, gallbladder, stomach, minor salivary gland, and abdominal lymph nodes compared with those of other diseases (p < 0.01). Such infiltrations were also observed in the minor salivary gland and submandibular gland of patients with sclerosing sialadenitis (p < 0.01). Serum IgG4 concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and sclerosing sialadenitis (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We propose a new clinicopathological entity of IgG4-related sclerosing disease incorporating sclerosing pancreatitis, cholangitis, sialadenitis and retroperitoneal fibrosis with lymphadenopathy.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata: report of three cases.

STUDY DESIGN: Report of three cases of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata. OBJECTIVE: To stress the importance of upper cervical spine lesions causing neurological symptoms and signs. SETTING: Neuro-orthopedic service, Fukui University Hospital, Japan. RESULTS: Three patients (all females; one with congenital anomaly at the occiput-atlas level, one with assimilation of the atlas, and one with rheumatoid arthritis-related proliferative synovium) had clinical features of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata. All three cases underwent decompressive surgeries. CONCLUSION: Neurological symptoms and signs of cruciate paralysis and hemiplegia cruciata should be carefully assessed, and surgical therapy should be based on the pathological condition.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

SspA, an outer membrane protein, is highly induced under salt-stressed conditions and is essential for growth under salt-stressed aerobic conditions in Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans.

We have previously shown that an outer membrane protein, SspA, is prominently induced by salt stress in a photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides f. sp. denitrificans IL106 (R. sphaeroides). In this study, we investigated the physiological role of SspA under various stress conditions. Using recombinant SspA expressed in Escherichia coli as an antigen, the polyclonal antiserum of SspA was prepared. Western blot analysis demonstrated that SspA was highly induced by salt stress under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. SspA was also induced, but to a lesser extent, by osmotic and acid stress. It is reduced under heat and cold compared to non-stressed conditions. While sspA-disrupted R. sphaeroides grew normally under anaerobic conditions in either the presence or absence of stress, it displayed significantly retarded growth under aerobic conditions in the dark, especially when osmotic or salt stress were imposed. In addition, the sspA disruptant, but not the wild type, formed cell aggregates when grown under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions, and this phenotype was significantly enhanced under salt-stressed aerobic conditions. Together, our findings suggest that SspA is critical under salt-stressed, aerobic growth conditions.

Acids↗
PubMed2005

Nuclear localisation of glutathione S-transferase pi is an evaluation factor for drug resistance in gynaecological cancers.

AIMS: Nuclear glutathione S-transferase pi (GST7pi) has been reported to protect cancer cells against anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of nuclear GSTpi in gynaecological cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out an immunohistochemical analysis of GSTpi, and examined the correlation between nuclear GSTpi: expression and prognosis in 43 epithelial ovarian cancers. We compared expression levels before and after chemotherapy in uterine cervical cancers and endometrial cancers. RESULTS: The 5-year progression-free survival rate of the nuclear GSTpi-positive group was lower than that of the cytoplasmic GSTpi-positive group, and was significantly lower than that of the negative group (14.3% vs 34.8% vs 66.7%; P = 0.041). The expression of nuclear GSTpi was compared before and after chemotherapy in uterine cervical and endometrial cancers. In eight out of 12 cases (66.7%), the expression turned positive after the chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that nuclear localisation of GSTpi is associated with drug resistance. The nuclear localisation of GSTpi in tumour cells is a useful prognosticator, and may contribute to the selection of anticancer drugs for gynaecological cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Origin of the long common channel based on pancreatographic findings in pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The origin of a long common channel in pancreaticobiliary maljunction was suggested to be the ventral pancreatic duct. Pathogenesis of long common channels was investigated by anatomically analysing the arrangement of pancreatic ducts in pancreaticobiliary maljunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cholangiopancreatography was performed for 66 cases of pancreaticobiliary maljunction and 200 controls. The accessory pancreatic duct was classified according to course and shape. In cases with long- or short-type accessory pancreatic duct, lengths of the main pancreatic duct from orifice to first inferior branch and junction with the accessory pancreatic duct, and the common channel were measured. RESULTS: Lengths of the main pancreatic duct from orifice to first inferior branch or junction with the accessory pancreatic duct were significantly longer in cases of pancreaticobiliary maljunction cases with the long- or short-type accessory pancreatic duct than in controls (p<0.01). Lengths of the main pancreatic duct from first inferior branch to junction with the accessory pancreatic duct were roughly equivalent in pancreaticobiliary maljunction and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Long common channels in pancreaticobiliary maljunction might be formed embryologically with adhesion of the right ventral pancreatic duct and the terminal portion of the bile duct.

Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic↗
PubMed2005

Gabexate mesilate hastens recovery from vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that gabexate mesilate, a protease inihibitor, hastens recovery from neuromuscular blockade, we examined the effect of gabexate mesilate on the recovery of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in anaesthetized patients in a double-blind, randomized fashion. METHODS: Thirty adult patients were divided into two groups of 15. In the gabexate mesilate group, immediately after administration of vecuronium 0.1 mg kg(-1), a continuous infusion of gabexate mesilate was started at a speed of 1.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1). In the control group, normal saline was administered instead of gabexate mesilate. Times to the return of T1, T2, T3 or T4 (first, second, third and fourth response of train-of-four (TOF)), times to the recovery of T1/control to 0.25 (T25) or 0.5 (T50), recovery of T1/control or TOF ratio (T4/T1) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Times to the returns of T1, T2, T3 and T4 in the gabexate mesilate group were significantly shorter than in the control group (19.4 +/- 6.8 vs. 25.7 +/- 7.2 min for T1; mean +/- SD, P = 0.020). Times to T25 and T50 were significantly shorter in the gabexate mesilate group than in the control group (34.0 +/- 9.9 vs. 51.3 +/- 10.2 min for T25, P < 0.001). T1/control and TOF ratio in the gabexate mesilate group were significantly higher than in the control group 40-80 min and 40-120 min after administration of vecuronium, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gabexate mesilate hastens recovery from neuromuscular block in anaesthetized patients receiving vecuronium.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Botcinins A, B, C, and D, metabolites produced by Botrytis cinerea, and their antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea, a pathogen of rice blast disease.

Four new metabolites, botcinins A-D, were isolated from the culture filtrate of a strain of Botrytis cinerea. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly NMR techniques, molecular modeling, and the modified Mosher's method. They exhibited antifungal activities against Magnaporthegrisea, a pathogen of rice blast disease. Botcinins B and C have a MIC of 12.5 microM, and botcinins A and D are not active below 100 microM.

Antifungal Agents↗