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Biomedical subjects

H Niitani

Publications and source records attributed to H Niitani.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Effect of medical treatment of acute myocardial infarction in coronary care unit--study on its effect mainly on the cases with complication.

Four hundred sixty-five patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated in our coronary care unit in the past 14 years were classified into three stages (Stage I, II and III) for the purpose to study the effect of the treatment at CCU in each stage. The mortality in acute phase were 25.8%, 16.1% and 18.8% in Stages I, II and III, respectively. The mortality of cases admitted within 24 hours was 32.2% in Stage I, 27.1% in Stage II and 15.6% in Stage III, decreasing significantly (p less than 0.01) in Stage III. In cases of early hospitalization within 3 hours after the attack, the mortality in Stages I, II and III were 36.6%, 17.2% and 11.4%, decreasing in Stages II and III, specifically significant in Stage III compared with Stage I (p less than 0.01). The mortality in Class III of Killip's classification in each stage was 100% in Stage I, 33.3% in Stage II, and 16.7% in Stage III, and decreased significantly in Stages II and III (p less than 0.01). The mortality in Class IV are still high, although a decreasing tendency is observed as shown in figures such as 87.5% in Stage I, 62.5% in Stage II and 60% in Stage III. Thus, the mortality was markedly improved in cases which were hospitalized in early phase. Therefore, this result implies the importance of measures to promote early hospitalization including educational activity to appeal it. Early hospitalization in CCU is expected to minimize the death of acute myocardial infarction.

Aged↗

Analysis of structural proteins from biopsied human myocardium with special emphasis on methodology.

An analytical procedure for the quantitative determination of the structural proteins from a biopsied human cardiac muscle weighing approximately 1 mg was described to be applicable in clinical studies in 20 patients with various heart diseases. The principle of the method is glycerinization of heart muscle and analysis by SDS gel electrophoresis. In 6 control heart muscles obtained from patients having almost normal hearts, the pattern of the structural proteins was similar to that of the normal canine heart. Myosin heavy chain-actin ratio ranged 1.26 +/- 0.44. In 5 cases with secondary cardiac hypertrophy, the pattern of the structural proteins was the same as that of the control heart. In 4 cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an increase in myosin heavy chain was observed in 2 cases, while myosin heavy chain and alpha-actinin decreased in another 2 cases. Hypertrophy and severe disarray of myofibrils were noted in the former, and atrophy and degradation were done in the latter in electron microscopy. In 5 cases with dilated cardiomyopathies, the relative contents of myosin heavy chain and alpha-actinin was reduced in all cases together with atrophy and degradation of myofibrils.

Actinin↗

[Platelet aggregation and coenzyme Q10 content in platelets in cancer patients].

Platelet aggregation, plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) concentration and coenzyme Q10 content in serum and platelets were measured in 45 patients with unresectable carcinoma of the lung and in 7 patients with metastatic pulmonary tumor before and after receiving chemotherapy. A significant increase in the plasma beta-TG concentration in cancer patients (47.4 +/- 18.7 ng/ml) was observed (p less than 0.001) compared to the controls (30.3 +/- 9.2 ng/ml). Serum coenzyme Q10 content was lower in cancer patients (0.42 +/- 0.19 micrograms/ml) (p less than 0.05) compared to the controls (0.57 +/- 0.24 micrograms/ml). The reason of decrease in serum coenzyme Q10 content in cancer patients was difficult to explain. No significant difference of the coenzyme Q10 content in platelets (1 X 10(8) cells) was observed either cancer patients (12.5 +/- 2.8 ng) or the controls (12.6 +/- 2.1 ng). No significant correlation was noted among platelet aggregation, plasma beta-TG concentration and coenzyme Q10 content in serum and platelets. Administration of either vindesine or KW2083 did not influence the coenzyme Q10 content in platelets. These results suggest that ATP synthetic pathway by oxidative phosphorylation in platelet be maintained in cancer patients, although a significant increase of plasma beta-TG concentration appears to be associated with an acceleration in the metabolic turnover of platelet.

Adult↗

[Randomized systemic chemotherapy using two or three drug combination for small cell lung cancer (SCLC)].

Randomized trials were sequentially performed in SCLC patients using a two-drug combination (ACNU . VCR, ADM . VCR) and a three-drug combination (ACNU . CPA . VCR, ACNU . ADM . VCR). The response rate for the two-drug regimen was 36.4% (8/22 cases) and that for the three-drug combination was 60.0% (15/25 cases). The median survival time of the two groups was 7 and 9 months, respectively. The group with PS. 0-1 showed a better prognosis than that with PS. 2-3 (p = 0.03). No fatal side effects were experienced in this protocol. These data suggest that the three-drug combination (ACNU . VCR . CPA) represents an active regimen for SCLC.

Adult↗

[A phase I study of 4'-epi-adriamycin, a new anthracycline anticancer agent].

A phase I study of 4'-Epi-Adriamycin, a new derivative of Adriamycin, was carried out in 36 cases with various malignant tumors, among which 30 cases were evaluable. Starting dose was 10 mg/m2 and this was increased up to 80 mg/m2. The dose limiting factor was leukopenia. Leukocyte nadir was reached about two weeks after administration and about nine days (mean) were needed for recovery. Other main side effects were anorexia, nausea vomiting, and alopecia. These side effects were mainly observed in cases given doses of over of 60 mg/m2. However, there were only a few serious cases suggesting that the clinical toxicities of 4'-Epi-Adriamycin were milder than those of Adriamycin. From the result of this study, it appeared that maximum tolerated dose of the drug is 80 mg/m2, and the dose recommended for the phase II study is 60 mg/m2 every three weeks.

Anorexia↗

Acid hydrolases in the initiation of ischemic myocardial necrosis.

Alterations in myocardial acid hydrolases in acute ischemia were studied in relation to the evolution of cardiac cellular necrosis by the determination of cathepsin D, acid phosphatase (AcPase), and beta-glucuronidase activities of the myocardial fractions and by electron microscopic cytochemical studies on AcPase in the canine heart. In the normal myocardium, the same level of activity of acid hydrolases was found in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) as in the lysosome fraction. In electron microscopy, AcPase reaction products were observed markedly in SR and moderately in lysosomes, in residual bodies, and in Golgi apparatus. In the ischemic myocardium, at 20 to 30 min after coronary ligation, activation of these enzymes was observed in both SR and lysosomes, and at 60 to 90 min they were decreased in the particles and, in turn, increased in the cytoplasm accompanying the ischemic fine structural changes. At 2 to 3 hr those acid hydrolase activities in the cytosol were decreased, indicating the loss of enzymes from necrotic myocardial cells. Acid hydrolases are the most important factor for the evolution of ischemic myocardial necrosis by being activated not only in lysosomes but also in SR and by being released to the cytoplasm to disintegrate the cellular structures.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Study of the rehabilitation, prognosis and capacity to resume work of patients with myocardial infarction--comparison of 4-week and 8-week rehabilitation programs.

The relative benefits of 4- and 8-week rehabilitation programs were compared in inpatients with myocardial infarction. In the 8-week program, complete bed rest was instituted for the initial 3 days, followed by walking around the bed from the 14th day; exercise was gradually increased to target levels such as walking for distances of 500m per time up to a total of 2 to 3 km and climbing up and down several sets of 20 stairs daily. In the 4-week program, complete bed rest was provided for the initial 3 days, and exercise was more rapidly increased for 4 weeks to reach the same exercise level as that of the 8-week program. The duration of hospitalization, and the clinical progress, prognosis and the ability to return to work after discharge of the patients were compared in each program. The percentage of patients who were hospitalized for 40 days or less increased from 0% in the 8-week program to 15.9% in the 4-week program, while the percentage of patients who were hospitalized from 41 to 60 days increased from 13.3 to 37.0%. Shortening of the program did not cause significant differences in the incidence of serious complications such as heart failure, arrhythmia and infarction. The 2-year mortality was 15.9% in the 8-week program and 7.9% in the 4-week program. The state of work after discharge was comparable in both programs. Exercise tolerance, measured by bicycle ergometer, tended to improve remarkably 6 months after infarction. Based on the above results, the 4-week program is considered to be more practical than the 8-week program.

Bed Rest↗

Effect of peplomycin plus carbazilquinone and mitomycin on non-small cell carcinoma of the lung.

The effects of two chemotherapeutic regimens, peplomycin (PLM) plus carbazilquinone and PLM plus mitomycin, on non-small cell carcinoma of the lung were evaluated by a randomized controlled trial. Seven partial responses were observed in 53 evaluable patients, for an overall response rate of 13.2%. There was no difference in response rate or in median survival time between PLM plus carbazilquinone (11.5% and 32 weeks) and PLM plus mitomycin (14.8% and 25 weeks). Seven patients developed interstitial pneumonitis, and four died of pulmonary fibrosis. It was concluded that the chemotherapeutic regimens that include PLM are only marginally effective against non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, with relatively frequent pulmonary fibrosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pulmonary toxicity induced by pepleomycin 3-[(S)-1'-phenylethylamino] propylamino-bleomycin.

Chemotherapy regimens containing pepleomycin, a derivative of bleomycin, were used for 81 patients with advanced primary lung cancer and 32 patients with metastatic pulmonary tumors. Among the patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, partial responses were observed in three of 27 patients treated with pepleomycin + carbazilquinone and four of 26 patients treated with pepleomycin + mitomycin C (published in Cancer Treatment Reports, 1983). Five partial responses (primary organ: larynx, esophagus, lung, pancreas and uterus; one patient each) in 23 evaluable patients with metastatic pulmonary tumors were observed during treatment, for an overall response rate of 21.7%. In patients with primary lung cancer, no correlation between the incidence of the decrease in partial arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) during treatment and age was observed. Decrease in PaO2 during treatment was found more frequently in patients with abnormal pulmonary function before treatment than in patients with normal pulmonary function, but the mean lowest values of PaO2 in the two groups were the same. Intravenous weekly injection of pepleomycin is less likely to result in a decrease in PaO2 than two daily intramuscular injections. Definite pulmonary toxicity occurred in seven of the 113 patients (6.2%). Each of the seven received a total dose of over 60 mg and their ages were over 60 yr, although no correlation between the incidence of pulmonary fibrosis and total cumulative dose of pepleomycin was observed. Six of the seven patients died of pulmonary fibrosis in spite of prednisone treatment. Clinical, radiologic and histopathologic findings associated with pepleomycin were the same as those of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. Further studies are needed to determine the appropriate dose schedule and route of administration of pepleomycin with regard to its benefit and toxicity.

Age Factors↗

[Respiratory emergency].

The clinical features of respiratory emergency in the cancer patient are those related to pericardial effusion, superior vena caval syndrome, restrictive ventilatory disturbance, obstruction of airway, and functionally obstructive disease. They may be the result of the primary tumor, per se, or may occur during or after treatment of the malignancy. This section will briefly discuss the diagnosis and management of these respiratory emergencies in the cancer patient.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

[Effect of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton against pleuritis carcinomatosa in adenocarcinoma of the lung].

Forty-one cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung with pleuritis carcinomatosa were randomly assigned to either chemotherapy alone or chemoimmunotherapy using Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton as immunopotentiator. In 34 evaluable patients, the rates of volume decrease and the disappearance of tumor cells in pleural effusion were higher in chemoimmunotherapy group than in chemotherapy alone group, and median survival times from the beginning of treatment in chemotherapy alone and chemoimmunotherapy groups were 189 and 266 days, respectively. The survival times in patients with stage III and P.S. 0+1+2 were better than those in patients with stage IV and P.S. 3, respectively. Transient fever and mild elevation of GPT and GOT were tolerated without any treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Analysis of natural killer activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in healthy volunteers and in patients with primary lung cancer and metastatic pulmonary tumors.

To clarify the contribution of ADCC and NK activities to host immune response against cancer, the characteristics of cells mediating these activities were examined in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of normal volunteers, and the changes of these activities were also evaluated in patients with lung cancer and metastatic pulmonary tumors before and after chemotherapy. OAT cells derived from small cell carcinoma of the lung and K-562 cells derived from erythroleukemia were used as target cells of ADCC and/or NK assay. ADCC and NK activities were not changed according to age, sex, and blood type. Mild and marked personal difference were observed in ADCC and NK activity, respectively. These activities were also influenced by environment. ADCC and NK activities of normal adult volunteers were diversely correlated at the coefficient of gamma-0.426. NK activities were high against K-562 and CCRF-CEM cells, and low against BALL and OAT cells. NK activity against K-562 cells was strongly inhibited by K-562 or CCRF-CEM cells with high NK sensitivity, on the other hand, it was slightly inhibited by OAT and BALL cells with low NK sensitivity. NK activity against OAT cells was strongly inhibited by OAT, K-562 and CCRF-CEM cells, but not inhibited by BALL cells. The effector cells mediating NK activity were identified as non-adherent, E-receptor-positive, Fc-receptor-positive small lymphocytes. NK activity was not decreased before chemotherapy in patients with stage III primary lung cancer and metastatic pulmonary tumors. It was decreased only in patients of bad performance status, and it was significantly decreased in all patients after chemotherapy. ADCC also exhibited the tendency to decrease after chemotherapy in tumor-bearing patients. The recovery of NK-activity after chemotherapy well correlated with the effect of chemotherapy.

Adult↗