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Biomedical subjects

H Okamura

Publications and source records attributed to H Okamura.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma with high levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen. Response to combination chemotherapy.

A case of metastatic uterine papillary carcinoma with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is reported. The patient presented with ascites and pleural effusions and with a high level of CEA (258 ng/ml) 3 months after primary surgical resection and postoperative irradiation had been performed. Her complete response, although temporary, to two kinds of combination chemotherapy was evaluated using serial estimations of the serum CEA.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the uterus.

A primary, malignant pleomorphic giant cell tumor of the uterus was studied by light and electron microscopy. The tumor was characterized by spindle cells, plump epithelioid cells, pleomorphic giant cells, osteoclast-like giant cells, and foamy xanthomatous cells. Histochemically, tumor cells did not show either myogenic or epithelial characteristics. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were devoid of evidence of desmin, cytokeratin, myoglobin, and lysozyme (muramidase), but vimentin was weakly positive, and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was weakly positive in the cytoplasm of pleomorphic giant cells. Ultrastructurally, tumor cells did not show either myogenic or epithelial features, but they resembled a variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The present case was classified as a storiform-pleomorphic and giant cell type of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the soft tissues. The uterus is considered to be an additional possible site of malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Peritoneal tuberculosis with elevated serum CA 125 levels: a case report.

Laparotomy in a 62-year-old woman with elevated serum CA 125 antigen levels with the provisional diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma revealed peritoneal tuberculosis. After treatment with the bacteriocidal chemotherapeutic agents, the antigen level returned to the normal, and she has been well for 24 months postoperatively.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1987

Immunocytochemical distribution of [Met]enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu immunoreactivity in the rat diencephalon.

Recently, [Met]Enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu (MEAGL) was isolated from bovine adrenal glands, and it was found to be derived exclusively from proenkephalin. Therefore, we investigated the distribution of MEAGL-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and fibers in the rat diencephalon pretreated with colchicine by PAP immunocytochemistry. In the thalamus MEAGL immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were distributed in the paraventricular nucleus and the ventral part of the lateral geniculate nucleus. Immunoreactive fibers were found in the paraventricular, paracentral, anteroventral, reuniens and rhomboid nuclei. In addition, immunoreactive fibers were also noted in the anterior pretectal nucleus. In the hypothalamus, immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were observed in the medial preoptic area, anterior and lateral hypothalamic nuclei, perifornical region, parvocellular and postero-magnocellular regions of paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, arcuate nucleus, premammillary, medial mammillary and lateral mammillary nuclei. The distribution of immunoreactive fibers was similar to that of neuronal perikarya. However, immunoreactive fibers were also observed in the supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei where no immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were detected. Numerous immunoreactive fibers were detected in the external layer of the median eminence, but there were few in the internal layer. The similarity and difference in the distribution between MEAGL and other proenkephalin peptides such as [Met]enkephalin were also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Multiple facial suspensions in protracted facial palsy.

Primary objective of multidirectional tractions of the facial muscles for protracted facial paralysis is to restore the facial symmetry. The facial suspension by multiple fascial strips in conjunction with other complemental minor surgical procedures realizes these complex tractions. Deformities requiring surgical procedures, regionally classified, are indicated for surgery as follows: 1) drooping of the eyebrow and upper eyelid, and loss of frontal creases, 2) lagophthalmos and ptosis of the lower eyelid, and 3) drooping of the cheeks and lips, and loss of the nasolabial fold. The multifascial suspension is a valuable adjunct to facial nerve surgery. It is capable of alleviating facial asymmetry due to paralysis and suppresses abnormal associated movements subsequent to surgical repair of facial nerves.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Induction of histidine decarboxylase in non-mast cells in the spleen of mice by injection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A.

Injection of Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) into WBB6F1-W/WV mice genetically deficient in mast cells resulted in a 10-fold increase in the histidine decarboxylase [HDC, L-histidine carboxylase, EC 4.1.1.22] activity of their spleen. The nature of the spleen cells responsible for this increased HDC activity was studied. The HDC induction by SEA was abolished on day 1 after X-ray irradiation of the mice at 400 rad and restored by transplantation of bone marrow cells from normal WBB6F1-+/+ littermates into the X-ray irradiated WBB6F1-W/WV mice. Transplantation of cells from other organs of the normal mice, such as the thymus, mesenteric lymph node and spleen, did not restore the HDC increase significantly. Transplantation of cultured mast cells also did not restore the increase. Moreover, the high HDC activity of spleen cells induced by SEA was not affected by their treatment with anti-Thy-1,2 antibody and complement. Depletion of phagocytes from the spleen by treatment with carbonyl iron resulted in decrease in HDC activity. These results suggested that phagocytic cells derived from haemopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow were responsible for the increase in HDC activity induced by SEA.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Induction of murine gamma interferon production by lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-2 in Propionibacterium acnes-induced peritoneal exudate cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) in the circulation of mice pretreated with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes. The following results were obtained in the present study. LPS, as well as interleukin-2 (IL-2), was also able to induce IFN-gamma in vitro in peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from such mice. Splenocytes and lymph node cells from these mice or resident peritoneal cells from control mice produced trace or undetectable amount of IFN-gamma upon exposure to LPS. A synergistic effect on IFN-gamma induction was observed when LPS was added to a culture of PEC together with IL-2. Indomethacin augmented the induction of IFN-gamma by LPS or IL-2, and prostaglandin E2 reversed its effect. Deprivation of plastic-adherent or nylon wool-adherent cells abolished the induction by LPS or IL-2, whereas it did not affect that by concanavalin A. Culture supernatant of plastic-adherent cells incubated with LPS stimulated the nylon wool-nonadherent cells to produce IFN-gamma in the presence of IL-2, but interleukin-1 or phorbol myristic acetate did not replace the LPS-stimulated supernatant. The ability of PEC to produce IFN-gamma measured as a function of time after P. acnes injection increased in proportion to their natural killer (NK)-like activity against YAC-1 cells. Moreover, treatment of PEC with monoclonal anti-Thy-1 antibody or with anti-asialo GM1 antiserum plus complement eliminated the production of IFN-gamma and the NK-like activity simultaneously, whereas treatment with monoclonal anti-Lyt-2 antibody plus complement did not. These results suggest that IL-2 and some unidentified factor released from plastic-adherent cells by LPS stimulation cooperatively induce IFN-gamma production in activated, Thy-1- and asialo GM1-positive NK-like cells appearing in inflammatory reactions and that prostaglandin E2 regulates IFN-gamma production in these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Evidence for a digitalis-like substance in the hypothalamopituitary axis in rats: implications in the central cardiovascular regulation associated with an excess intake of sodium.

The origin and the physiological role of an endogenous digitalis-like substance were investigated by measuring both the digoxin-like substance by a digoxin radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the inhibitory activity on the ouabain sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase in rats. The digitalis-like substance was in high concentration in the pituitary, and in decreasing concentration in the hypothalamus, adrenal and the other organs as measured by RIA using an antibody raised from a goat. However, the adrenal showed the highest content of digitalis-like substance as measured by the antibody raised from a rabbit. The plasma level markedly decreased during a 2-week sodium-loading, and the adrenal content decreased markedly on hypophysectomy as measured with the rabbit-antibody. Therefore, the substance measured with the rabbit-antibody must be one of ACTH-dependent adrenal steroids. The inhibitory activity on the Na+,K+-ATPase was high in the pituitary gland, and was decreased in order of the adrenal, hypothalamus and other organs. The 2-week sodium-loading increased both the content in the pituitary gland and the output in the urine, and decreased the hypothalamic content. Immunohistochemical staining of the hypothalamus with the antibody revealed that the immunoreactivity is restricted to the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, magnocellular accessory nuclei and extended their fibers reaching to the inner layer of the median eminence. To determine the role of the substance in the brain, the crude extract dissolved in artificial cerebrospinal fluid was injected into the lateral ventricle; vasopressor responses, tachycardia and hyperactivity of the splanchnic nerve lasting for more than 30 min were recorded, which resembled the responses to ouabain injected similarly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibition of human chorionic gonadotropin-induced ovulation and steroidogenesis by short-term hyperprolactinemia in female rabbits.

To clarify the possible direct effects of hyperprolactinemia on the ovulatory process, we experimentally established hyperprolactinemia in female rabbits with 4 daily injections of sulpiride (SLP) at different doses and induced ovulation with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma levels of prolactin (PRL) were increased significantly before hCG injection in each SLP-treated group compared with the corresponding values for the controls. The ovulation rates at 14 h after hCG were significantly reduced in the 16 and 24 mg/kg/day SLP-treated groups. An inverse correlation (r = -0.74, P less than 0.001) was found between the ovulation rate and the increasing in plasma PRL measured just prior to hCG injection. The increase in peripheral as well as ovarian venous progesterone and 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one(20 alpha-OHP) at 4 and 14 h after hCG injection in inhibited ovulation groups was much less than in the control group. However, the estradiol, androstenedione and testosterone concentrations were comparable with the control values. These results indicate that hypersecretion of PRL induced by SLP has a direct effect on ovary by inhibiting follicular rupture induced by hCG and this inhibitory effect was partly due to the suppression of progesterone secretion during the course of ovulation. This may be one of the causes leading to hypogonadism during hyperprolactinemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibition of ovulation in PMSG/hCG-treated immature rats by rotenone, a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial oxidation.

Immature Wistar rats were induced to ovulate by treatment with PMSG and hCG. Control animals ovulated 43.5 +/- 0.36 ova/rat. Intraperitoneal injection of rotenone doses of 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg reduced the ovulation rate to 24.0 +/- 3.08, 8.0 +/- 0.88 and 1.5 +/- 0.44 ova/rat, respectively. The rotenone significantly reduced ovarian cytochrome oxidase activity and progesterone production, but not production of oestradiol or testosterone. Thyroxine treatment at a dose of 5 mg/kg s.c. reversed the rotenone inhibition of ovulation. The results suggest that an increase in mitochondrial respiration is an essential feature of the ovulation process in mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Theca lutein cysts with maternal virilization and elevated serum testosterone in pregnancy.

A clinicopathological study was performed on a pregnant patient with bilateral multiple ovarian cysts, who presented with pre-eclampsia, marked virilization and exceedingly high levels of serum testosterone. The female fetus showed no evidence of virilization. Microscopic examination of the ovaries revealed theca lutein cysts with granulosa cells which showed the existence of testosterone by immunoperoxidase staining.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Successful treatment with bromocriptine of hypertension associated with polycystic ovarian disease.

The use of bromocriptine, 5 mg per day, markedly improved the severe hypertension (up to 180/120 mmHg) of a patient suffering from polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD). The response was rapid, with decreasing concentrations of serum testosterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC). Bromocriptine induced further renewal of the ovulatory cycle. Bromocriptine may thus be of considerable value in the treatment hypertensive patients with PCOD.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid on plasma beta thromboglobulin level and vascular reactivity to angiotensin II.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the precursor fatty acid of three series of prostaglandins, has been reported to have an antiatherothrombotic potential. We gave highly purified EPA in a soft capsule (90% ethylester form of EPA; EPA-E) to 6 healthy male volunteers for 4 weeks. After the administration of 900 mg/day of EPA-E for two weeks or longer, a significant reduction in plasma beta thromboglobulin level was observed, and after 4 weeks' administration, significantly blunted pressor responsiveness to infused angiotensin II was observed. These changes were not observed 4 weeks after EPA-E had been discontinued. After 4 weeks' ingestion of EPA-E, the platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet aggregation with adenosine diphosphate or collagen, plasma recalcification time, prothrombin time, plasma antithrombin III, fibrinogen or plasmin concentrations, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, total phospholipid, nonesterified fatty acid or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were unchanged. From the data presented it can be said that EPA-E causes a mild depression of vascular contractility and of platelet aggregability in vivo and exerts a beneficial influence on several cardiovascular factors.

Administration, Oral↗