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H Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to H Watanabe.

At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma of the pancreas showing sarcomatous change and neoplastic cyst formation.

CONCLUSION: Pancreatic undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma contained two components: sarcomatous change of spindle-cell type and a neoplastic cyst. Immunohistochemical analysis suggested that both the sarcomatous and the cystic portions were of epithelial origin. This case showed a "dual" differentiation both into the sarcomatous change and into the cystic lesion. BACKGROUND: Pancreatic sarcoma or sarcomatous change is very rare. The origin of sarcomatous change is unknown. On the other hand, pancreatic adenocarcinoma sometimes shows necrosis and forms a cystic lesion during its growth, but a neoplastic cyst formation is very rare except for cystadenomas. METHODS: We report a case of pancreatic undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma associated with sarcomatous change and neoplastic cyst formation. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. RESULTS: A 75-yr-old male was admitted because of low back pain and body weight loss. He died 7 d after admission presenting obstructive jaundice. Autopsy disclosed that the large mass was a poorly differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma, which mostly consisted of sarcomatous components of spindle-cell type. The cystic lesion was a neoplastic cysts with the wall composed of epithelial tumor cells. There was no necrosis or hemorrhage in the cystic cavity. Immunohistochemical analyses suggested that both the tumor and the cystic lesion were of epithelial origin. Sarcomatous changes were recognized also in the metastatic lesions in the liver and lymph nodes. The tumor is considered to be labeled undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma of the pancreas.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Macroscopic and stereomicroscopic diagnosis of superficial flat-type early carcinomas of the gallbladder.

Superficial flat early carcinomas of the gallbladder are rarely detected clinically. We previously reported that these carcinomas display granular, flat, or gastric area-like surface mucosal patterns. However, these patterns are also seen in some non-neoplastic conditions. To more definitively differentiate carcinomas from non-neoplastic lesions, we analyzed the stereomicroscopic structure of macroscopically granular, flat, or gastric area-like mucosal lesions with a methylene-blue contrast technique. Sixteen superficial flat early carcinomas and 65 non-neoplastic flat lesions from surgically resected gallbladders were studied by stereomicroscopy. The fine mucosal structures were classified into three patterns: grooved, pitted, or papillary, each of which was further subdivided into regular and irregular. The frequency of the grooved (52.2%) and papillary (52.2%) patterns was significantly higher in the carcinomas than in the non-neoplastic lesions (24.7% and 1.3%, respectively). The pitted pattern was present in 69.6% of the carcinomas and in 53.2% of the non-neoplastic lesions (the difference was not significant). In the grooved and pitted patterns, the irregular subtypes predominated in the carcinomas (100% and 81.3%, respectively), while the regular subtypes were more frequent in the non-neoplastic lesions (84.2% and 97.6%, respectively). Stereomicroscopic examination of the fine mucosal structures of flat lesions of the gallbladder is very useful in differentiating carcinomas from non-neoplastic lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Strain differences in the induction of intestinal metaplasia by X-irradiation in rats.

Strain differences in the susceptibility of rats to induction of intestinal metaplasia by X-irradiation were examined. The gastric regions of 5-week-old males of five inbred strains of rats (F344/NSlc, Copenhagen, Buffalo/NacJcl, and ACI/NHos) and three strains of randomly bred rats (HOS:Donryu, Slc:Wistar, Slc:SD) were irradiated with a total dose of 20 Gy X-ray given in two equal fractions at 3-day interrals. When examined after the rats were killed, 6 months after the last irradiation, the number of intestinal metaplastic crypts positive for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was highest in the Donryu and lowest in the Copenhagen rats. Morphologically, the number of crypts with intestinal metaplasia in the glandular stomachs of Donryu, Wistar, SD, and Buffalo rats was higher than the number in ACI, F344, and Copenhagen rats. Intestinal metaplasia was more frequently observed in the pyloric than in the fundic glands. These results demonstrate that the induction of intestinal metaplasia by X-irradiation in rats is greatly influenced by the rat strain.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Prolonged intrahepatic cholestasis in acute-onset, severe autoimmune hepatitis.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted because of jaundice and hepatocellular dysfunction. She was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis from laboratory test results showing high titers of antinuclear antibodies and negativity for hepatitis viral markers. Steroid i.v. pulse therapy and oral administration of prednisolone were effective in improving the liver function test results, except for hyperbilirubinemia. Elevated serum bilirubin levels, of approximately 20 mg/dl persisted for more than 6 months, despite the administration of ursodeoxycholic acid. Insulin-glucagon therapy was given for normalization of transaminases and then withdrawn 3 weeks after admission, but it was resumed at 3 months, resulting in a dramatic decrease in serum bilirubin levels, which then normalized in 2.5 months. Liver biopsy 6 months after onset showed chronic active hepatitis with bile plugs. Insulin-glucagon therapy, because of its choleretic effect, may be worth continuing even after recovery of acute hepatic failure.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Occult lymph node metastases detected by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry predict recurrence in "node-negative" colorectal cancer.

There is controversy about the prognostic significance of occult lymph node metastases detected by immunohistochemistry with the anti-cytokeratin antibody CAM 5.2. The aim of this study was to characterize occult lymph node metastases in colorectal carcinomas that might be associated with a higher risk of recurrence. Three hundred fifty-eight lymph nodes from 10 recurrent and 9 nonrecurrent cases of colorectal carcinoma were examined. All these patients had been reported originally as having no lymph node metastases by routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Three 10-micron sections or ten 3-micron sections (30-micron total thickness) from each lymph node were stained with CAM 5.2 and examined for the presence of occult lymph node metastases. Occult metastases were detected in 67 of 175 lymph nodes from the recurrent cases, and in 23 of 183 lymph nodes from the nonrecurrent cases. The frequency of positive nodes was significantly higher in the recurrent cases. The recurrent cases had metastases in nodes more distant from the main tumor than did the nonrecurrent cases. Detection of occult lymph node metastases with cytokeratin immunohistochemistry may make it possible to identify patients with a higher risk of recurrence after the removal of a primary colorectal tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Genome plasticity as a paradigm of eubacteria evolution.

To test the hypotheses that eubacterial genomes leave evolutionarily stable structures and that the variety of genome size is brought about through genome doubling during evolution, the genome structures of Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma genitalium, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis were compared using the DNA sequences of the entire genome or substantial portions of genome. In these comparisons, the locations of orthologous genes were examined among different genomes. Using orthologous genes for the comparisons guaranteed that differences revealed in physical location would reflect changes in genome structure after speciation. We found that dynamic rearrangements have so frequently occurred in eubacterial genomes as to break operon structures during evolution, even after the relatively recent divergence between E. coli and H. influenzae. Interestingly, in such eubacterial genomes of high plasticity, we could find several highly conservative regions with the longest conserved region comprising the S10, spc, and alpha operons. This suggests that such exceptional conservative regions have undergone strong structural constraints during evolution.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1997

Evolutionary motif and its biological and structural significance.

We developed a method for multiple alignment of protein sequences. The main feature of this method is that it takes the evolutionary relationships of the proteins in question into account repeatedly for execution, until the relationships and alignment results are in agreement. We then applied this method to the data of the international DNA sequence databases, which are the most comprehensive and updated DNA databases in the world, in order to estimate the "evolutionary motif" by extensive use of a supercomputer. Though a few problems needed to be solved, we could estimate the length of the motifs in the range of 20 to 200 amino acids, with about 60 the most frequent length. We then discussed their biological and structural significance. We believe that we are now in a position to analyze DNA and protein not only in vivo and in vitro but also in silico.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Effects of enalapril during continuous nitrate therapy: analysis of diameter of coronary arteries and platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

To investigate the effects of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on nitrate tolerance during continuous nitrate therapy, coronary artery diameters and platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were measured before and 2 minutes after intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin 200 microg in 60 patients with coronary artery disease and were compared among 20 patients treated with nitrates (nitrate group), 20 patients treated with both nitrates and enalapril (enalapril group), and 20 untreated patients (control group). The percent increase in platelet cGMP and coronary dilatation in the nitrate group was significantly less than in the control group, but the percent increase in the enalapril group was significantly greater than that in the nitrate group. These results indicate that enalapril may be helpful as concomitant therapy to maintain the effect of nitrates during continuous nitrate therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Bcl-2 and Fas expression in eutopic and ectopic human endometrium during the menstrual cycle in relation to endometrial cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate Bcl-2 and Fas expression in human eutopic and ectopic endometrium during the menstrual cycle in relation to endometrial cell apoptosis. STUDY DESIGN: Eutopic and ectopic endometrial samples were obtained from 29 patients with endometriosis, and eutopic endometrial tissue samples were obtained from 9 patients with uterine myoma. Bcl-2 and Fas expression were examined by immunohistochemical staining with specific monoclonal antibodies; Bcl-2 expression in eutopic endometrium was also examined by Western blotting and apoptotic cells were detected by the labeling of deoxyribonucleic acid fragments. RESULTS: In eutopic endometrium Bcl-2 was strongly expressed during the proliferative phase. Endometrial glandular cells showed evidence of cyclic changes in Bcl-2 expression, but cyclic changes were not apparent in peritoneal and ovarian endometriotic tissue. Fas expression was observed on glandular cells but not on stromal cells, and no cyclic changes in expression occurred in either ectopic or eutopic endometrium. Apoptotic cells were observed primarily in the glandular cells of the basal layer in eutopic endometrium during the late secretory and menstrual phases. CONCLUSION: The current study indicated that there was no apparent correlation between Bcl-2 or Fas expression with endometrial cell apoptosis. The absence of cyclic changes in Bcl-2 expression in ectopic endometrium implied a difference in the mechanisms of proliferation or differentiation between eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Expression of a mucin-like glycoprotein produced by ocular surface epithelium in normal and keratinized cells.

PURPOSE: We previously characterized a monoclonal antibody (H185) to a mucin-like glycoprotein produced by human ocular surface epithelium. In the current study, we used H185 to investigate the pattern of the mucin-like glycoprotein in normal and keratinized apical cells of the ocular surface epithelium. METHODS: We compared the cell characteristics and the pattern of H185 binding in cytologically and immunohistochemically stained samples of apical cells of conjunctival surface epithelium from 20 normal subjects and six patients before and after treatment for superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis. RESULTS: In the superior bulbar conjunctiva of normal subjects, the intensity with which H185 antibody bound to apical surface epithelial cells varied, with areas of high-, medium-, and low-intensity binding occurring in a mosaic pattern. This mosaic pattern, and presumably expression of the mucin-like glycoprotein, was absent or remarkably reduced in keratinized cells obtained from patients with superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis before treatment. However, the pattern of H185 binding was normal in samples obtained 2 months after the start of treatment for superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, and cells had recovered their normal small, round appearance. CONCLUSION: When they are keratinized, apical cells of the ocular surface epithelium are altered in appearance and lack the normal mosaic pattern of expression of a mucin-like glycoprotein.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of empyema by transposition of contralateral lower trapezius flap.

We report the successful treatment of bronchopleural fistula and empyema using transposition of a contralateral lower trapezius musclocutaneous flap, which provided immediate obliteration of the middle-back empyema cavity. This technique is easy to perform without any intraoperative change of position and with little postoperative impairment of the back and shoulder movement.

Bronchial Fistula↗
PubMed1997

Treatment strategy for patients with surgically discovered N2 stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The treatment strategy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and clinically negative, but surgically detected mediastinal lymph node metastasis (surgically discovered N2 disease) is controversial. METHODS: From August 1979 through December 1994, 53 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were found to have surgically discovered N2 disease. We retrospectively studied the clinical characteristics and the factors that influenced the prognosis in these patients. RESULTS: The 3-year and 5-year survival rates and the median survival for the 53 patients with surgically discovered N2 disease were 44%, 21%, and 26 months. Two thirds of the patients had adenocarcinoma. Only complete resection affected long-term survival; adjuvant therapy had no effect on survival. In regard to lymph node status, a single metastatic focus in the aortic area was associated with long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with adenocarcinoma may require histologic determination of N2 disease. Complete resection, including extensive and complete mediastinal lymph node dissection, is warranted in patients with surgically discovered N2 disease. In particular, when the aortic lymph node (including stations 5 and 6) alone is involved, the patients should undergo as complete a resection as possible.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Incidence of apoptotic bodies in membrana granulosa of the patients participating in an in vitro fertilization program.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of apoptotic bodies in mural granulosa cell masses and cumulus cell masses. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, prospective study. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan. PATIENT(S): One hundred twenty-nine normally ovulating women underwent ovulation induction for IVF-ET with GnRH analogue (GnRH-a) and gonadotropins. INTERVENTION(S): Patients underwent follicle aspiration after the administration of hCG. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The nuclei of recovered granulosa cells were examined by fluorescence microscopy and the incidence of apoptotic bodies was tabulated. RESULT(S): The incidence of apoptotic bodies was significantly higher in mural granulosa cell masses than in cumulus cell masses in the entire group of 129 patients. Both incidence of apoptotic bodies of mural granulosa cell masses and cumulus cell masses were significantly higher in patients with less than six follicular oocytes compared with patients with six or more oocytes. Nonpregnant patients showed significantly higher incidence of apoptotic bodies in mural granulosa cell masses compared with pregnant patients. CONCLUSION(S): These results indicate that mural granulosa cell masses and cumulus cell masses may have different functions in follicular maturation. The incidence of apoptotic bodies in mural granulosa cell masses can be used as an indicator of success of IVF.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Diet and carbohydrate digestion in the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle Psacothea hilaris.

Larval and adult Psacothea hilaris feed on mulberry wood and leaves, respectively. High levels of endogenous activity against the major dietary carbohydrates, cellulose, hemicellulose, starch and soluble sugars were secreted in the gut of larvae and adults. Activity against pectin was also high and multiple polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) components were secreted in the gut of larvae. One glycanase component, beta-EG1, which was primarily an endo-beta-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4) and another, beta-EG2, which was mostly an endo-beta-1,4-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8), were also secreted, while at least four additional components hydrolysed laminarin, lichenin and crystalline cellulose. The beta-glycosidase component beta-GD1 was associated with most of the beta-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.25) and beta-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37) activity secreted in the gut of larvae, while another, beta-GD2, was a beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21), the activity of which was directed against cellobiose and other beta-linked disaccharides, and a beta-fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.38). A beta-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23), which did not hydrolyse lactose, was also secreted, as were distinct beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (EC 3.2.1.52), trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28), alpha-L-arabinosidase (EC 3.2.1.55), alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) and a minimum of four alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) components, one of which was also likely to be associated with a peak of alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24) activity. The alpha-glucosidase components varied in their specificity for alpha-linked disaccharides, but none was active against sucrose, which was hydrolysed by a beta-fructofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.26) component. Overall average levels of activity in larvae were twice those of adults, but the secretion of individual carbohydrases in both was not regulated in response to the relative abundance of particular carbohydrate components in their respective diets.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

A randomized trial of surgery with and without chemotherapy for localized squamous carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus: the Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy confers a survival benefit on patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical surgery, we undertook a cooperative, prospective randomized controlled trial. METHODS: A total of 205 patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy at eleven institutions between December 1988 and July 1991. These patients were prospectively randomized into two groups (100 patients underwent surgery alone and 105 patients had additional two courses of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin (70 mg/m2) and vindesine (3 mg/m2). The two groups did not differ with respect to sex, age, location of tumor, and distributions of pT, pN, pM, or p stage. RESULTS: The 5-year survival was 44.9% in the surgery alone group and 48.1% in the surgery plus chemotherapy group. The relative risk was estimated to be 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.61 to 1.31) in the surgery plus chemotherapy group compared with the surgery alone group. No significant differences in survival were detected between the two groups, even with lymph node stratification. CONCLUSION: Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and vindesine has no additive effect on survival in patients with esophageal cancer compared with surgery alone.

Adult↗