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Biomedical subjects

H Yagyu

Publications and source records attributed to H Yagyu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[A case of Morgagni's foramen hernia difficult to differentiate from lipoma].

A 61-year-old woman was admitted for chest discomfort. She had been admitted before, in March 1995, because of a lesion detected on chest roentgenograms. At that time, she was given a diagnosis of mediastinal lipoma based on the findings of chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but was discharged without active intervention due to lack of subjective symptoms. During follow-up, the patient again reported chest discomfort beginning in March 1998. Because chest radiography disclosed. The tumor had enlarged, the patient was admitted to the hospital by our department. Chest MRI disclosed a mass with a signal intensity equal to that of subcutaneous fat in the pericardial space on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images. Although sagittal images demonstrated continuity of the mass into intraperitoneal fat, a conclusive diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia could not be made at that time. On April 30, 1998, a thoracotomy was performed on the basis of a preoperative diagnosis of mediastinal lipoma. During surgery, a hernial ring was observed slightly to the right and behind the sternum. The hernia consisted only of greater omentum, and was diagnosed as Morgagni's foramen hernia.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1999

[Motor neuron disease with respiratory insufficiency as primary manifestation].

A 66-year-old man with dyspnea on exertion suffered a cardiac arrest and was referred to our hospital after emergency room intubation. Chest X-ray films detected no abnormalities. Blood gas analysis showed hypoxemia with normal A-aDO 2, and pulmonary function tests revealed combined ventilatory impairment. Chest fluoroscopy revealed weakness of diaphragmatic motion. No other abnormalities were found on initial examination. It was difficult to wean the patient off mechanical ventilation and identify the cause of alveolar hypoventilation. On the 60th hospital day, a neurological examination and electromyography disclosed fasciculation and denervation of the left biceps and pectoralis major muscle. These findings supported the diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND). Although respiratory insufficiency as an initial symptom of MND is unusual, physicians should be aware of the possibility of MND in cases of alveolar hypoventilation of unknown etiology.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Sarcoidosis synchronously detected in identical twins].

We report on the synchronous detection of sarcoidosis in identical 22-year-old male twins. The patients visited a nearby physician because of fever and cough, were found to have abnormal chest shadows and thus admitted to our hospital. Both had swollen cervical and hilar nodes and lesions in both left and right lung fields, and also presented similar clinical symptoms. However, bilateral uveitis was observed only in the elder twin. Because epithelioid cell granulomas without caseous necrosis were histopathologically observed in tissue specimens from their cervical lymph nodes, the patients were given a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Although they were positive for the HLA-D antigens DR 2 and DR 12, they were negative for DRw 52. an antigen that is considered to be quite common in Japanese sarcoidosis patients. Genetic factors were thought to be involved in the onset of sarcoidosis in these twins.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Three cases of semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis occurring in healthy or diabetic individuals].

We encountered three cases of suspected semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, occurring in healthy or diabetic patients. Radiographic findings disclosed cavity formation in 2 of the patients, but only nodular lesions in 1. The beta-D glucan level was elevated in 1 patient, but was within the normal range in the other 2. Morphological findings indicated that all 3 patients had pulmonary aspergillosis. Following the oral administration of FLCZ to 1 patient and ITCZ to the other 2 for about 2 months, the radiographic lesions resolved and hematologic inflammatory reactions cleared up. Gefter et al and Sider et al have defined 2 types of aspergillosis that occur in mildly immuno-compromised or healthy individuals: the semi-invasive type, which destroys pulmonary tissue without vascular invasion and leads to cavity formation; and the locally invasive type, which is characterized by nodular or massive radiographic lesions without cavity formation. Semi-invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed in all 3 of the cases we reported.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Overexpressed lipoprotein lipase protects against atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is known to play a crucial role in lipoprotein metabolism by hydrolyzing triglycerides; however its role in atherogenesis has yet to be determined. We have previously shown that low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice overexpressing LPL are resistant to diet-induced atherosclerosis due to the suppression of remnant lipoproteins. Plasma lipoproteins and atherosclerosis of apolipoprotein (apo) E knockout mice which overexpress the human LPL transgene (LPL/APOEKO) were compared with those of control apoE knockout mice (APOEKO). On a normal chow diet, LPL/APOEKO mice showed marked suppression of the plasma triglyceride levels compared with APOEKO mice (54 vs. 182 mg/dl), but no significant changes in plasma cholesterol and apoB levels. Non-high density lipoproteins (HDL) from LPL/APOEKO mice had lower triglyceride content, a smaller size, and a more positive charge compared with those from APOEKO mice. Cholesterol, apoA-I, and apoA-IV were increased in HDL. Although both groups developed hypercholesterolemia to a comparable degree in response to an atherogenic diet, the LPL/APOEKO mice developed 2-fold smaller fatty streak lesions in the aortic sinus compared to the APOEKO mice. In conclusion, overproduction of LPL is protective against atherosclerosis even in the absence of apoE.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Increased neuron-specific enolase levels in patients with long-standing pyothorax-associated lymphoma].

A 78-year-old man was admitted for the evaluation of chest pain and a subcutaneous giant mass in the left chest, which had been growing for 3 months. A computed tomogram of the chest revealed a giant tumor attached to the parietal pleura with calcification of long-standing pyothorax. Pathological findings of a specimen obtained from this tumor showed diffuse proliferation of large atypical lymphocytes with 1-2 nucleoli and abundant cytoplasm. In immunohistochemical studies, tumor cells stained positive for CD20 but not for CD45 RO. The diagnosis was long-standing pyothorax-associated lymphoma (diffuse large-cell lymphoma, B-cell type). The patient's serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level was 101 ng/ml on admission, and declined in tandem with a chemotherapy-induced decrease in tumor size. In addition, immunohistochemical studies showed staining of tumor cells by anti-NSE polyclonal antibody. Although rarely observed in patients with malignant lymphoma, increased serum NSE levels may serve as an index of chemotherapeutic effectiveness.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Cholesterol lowering in low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice overexpressing apolipoprotein E.

Apo E is a key molecule in the lipoprotein metabolism; thus, genetic manipulation of apo E may prove useful in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. To test the feasibility of this idea, we have generated low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice that overexpress the rat apo E transgene (ETg+/+:LDLRKO), and compared their plasma lipoprotein profiles with those of nonexpressing LDLR knockout mice (ETg-/-:LDLRKO). On a normal chow diet, the mean plasma cholesterol level of ETg+/+:LDLRKO mice was significantly lower than that of ETg-/-:LDLRKO mice (189 versus 240 mg/dl, P < 0. 01). The LDL fraction was selectively reduced in the ETg+/+:LDLRKO mice. Despite the challenge with an atherogenic diet, cholesterol lowering was persistently observed and fatty streak lesions in the aortic sinus were significantly suppressed in the mice overexpressing apo E. These results imply that stimulation of hepatic production of apo E may be used as a promising adjunctive therapy for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Increased secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator by human lung microvascular endothelial cells.

Human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMECs) secreted 1.5-15 times more urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) antigen than human hepatic microvascular endothelial cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), angioma endothelial cells, and lung fibroblasts. All of these cells also secreted a 100-fold greater amount of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 than of uPA antigen, and uPA activities were not detected in the culture medium. The expression of uPA mRNA in HLMECs was higher (100-fold) compared with HUVECs, angioma endothelial cells, and lung fibroblasts. HLMECs secreted uPA antigen on both the luminal and basal sides of the cells. On the other hand, HLMECs secreted a 10- to 15-fold lower amount of tissue-type plasminogen activator than HUVECs, mostly on the luminal side. After stimulation with interleukin (IL)-1beta, HLMECs secreted a six- to ninefold amount of uPA antigen. In contrast, no stimulatory effect was observed in HUVECs even under high IL-1beta concentrations. The secretion of uPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 from HLMECs was also enhanced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-2. These results suggest that HLMECs may contribute not only to the patency of lung vessels but also to the maintenance of alveolar functions through the production and secretion of uPA, especially in the presence of inflammatory cytokines.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1998

Mechanism of increased serum cytokeratin 19 fragment levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy as a model of chronic renal failure.

We examined serum and urinary cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy as a model of chronic renal failure, to investigate the mechanism of increased serum CYFRA 21-1 levels in chronic renal failure. Serum and urinary CYFRA 21-1 levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients with abnormal urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (>1.1 mg/g x Cr, n=126) were higher than those with normal urinary IgG levels. In NIDDM patients with normal urinary IgG levels (n=81); the urinary albumin or transferrin levels were not related to serum or urinary CYFRA 21-1 levels. We speculate that the increased serum CYFRA 21-1 levels contribute to metabolic abnormality in the kidney itself rather than the decreased urinary excretion per se, and that increased urinary CYFRA 21-1 levels are found in advanced cases of diabetic nephropathy with destruction of the size barrier.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1998

[The relationship of carcinoembryonic antigen and neutrophils to pulmonary function in healthy smokers].

We evaluated the relationship of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and neutrophils to pulmonary function in healthy smokers. Smokers in whom levels of CEA were greater than 5.0 ng/ml (n = 70) and in whom CEA levels were 5.0 ng/ml or less (n = 693) had significantly higher mean concentrations of leukocytes and neutrophils than non-smokers (n = 651) (leukocytes: 6,883 +/- 1,889/mm3 or 5,581 +/- 1,457/mm3 vs. 4,507 +/- 1,111/mm3, p < 0.01; neutrophils: 4,389 +/- 1,542/mm3 or 3,343 +/- 1,164/mm3 vs. 2,700 +/- 884/mm3, p < 0.01). Differences in the ratio of vital capacity to the predicted vital capacity (%VC) were not significant. In addition, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity (FEV 1.0%) in smokers with CEA levels greater than 5.0 ng/ml was decreased compared with smokers with CEA levels of 5.0 ng/ml or less and in non-smokers (90.2 +/- 8.4% vs. 93.3 +/- 6.7% or 92.9 +/- 6.5%, p < 0.01). These results suggest that in healthy smokers high serum CEA levels are related to a decreased FEV 1.0%.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension associated with initial pulmonary involvement in Takayasu arteritis].

A 37-year-old non-smoking woman was admitted to our hospital because of nocturnal coughing and exertional dyspnea after using an ultrasonic humidifier. Chest roentgenograms and computed tomography showed many ground-glass opacities in the right upper lobe and left upper lung field. Her symptoms were alleviated and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels returned to normal following the administration of prednisolone (40 mg/day). The same symptoms subsequently recurred, and ESR and CRP levels increased proportionately to a decreased dosage of prednisolone. In addition, chest computed tomography showed new opacities in the left lower lobe. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed multiple stenotic or obstructive changes in the small pulmonary arteries by organizing thromboemboli, with no vasculitis. The diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension was made on the basis of multiple defects from lung perfusion scintigraphy, irregular or tapering of the pulmonary arteries detected by pulmonary arteriograms, and increased pulmonary pressure measured by echocardiography. We propose that the pulmonary thromboembolism observed in this case was related to the initial pulmonary involvement of Takayasu arteritis, since the patient's symptoms, ESR and CRP levels all improved markedly following the administration of prednisolone.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Correlation between serum cytokeratin 19 fragment and tissue polypeptide antigen levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

We evaluated the correlation between serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) levels in 57 non-small cell lung cancer patients. There was a significant correlation between serum CYFRA 21-1 and TPA levels for each clinical stage and TNM (T, primary tumor; N, regional lymph node involvement; M, occurrence of distant metastasis) subcategory (range of r-value = 0.809-0.998, P < 0.01). High correlations between serum CYFRA 21-1 and TPA levels were found in eight patients both before and after the surgery, in 22 patients before and after chemotherapy and in another 27 patients who could not complete the scheduled chemotherapy (range of r-value = 0.856-0.998, P < 0.0001). However the positive rate of CYFRA 21-1 was higher than that of TPA (61% vs. 53%, P < 0.05). CYFRA 21-1 would yield better diagnostic results for non-small cell lung cancers than TPA, though these tumor markers are both cytokeratin-associated tumor markers.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Effects of apo E deficiency on plasma lipid levels in mice lacking APOBEC-1.

Apolipoprotein (apo) B100 mRNA undergoes site specific C to U editing, generating a stop-translation codon of apo B48 in the small intestine. This reaction is catalyzed in an editosome which contains APOBEC-1, a catalytic subunit. To clarify the functional significance of the apo B mRNA editing in lipoprotein metabolism, we have generated APOBEC-1 knockout mice and double knockout mice which are deficient in both APOBEC-1 and apo E. The apo B mRNA editing activity was markedly reduced and complete elimination of apo B48 from the plasma was observed in APOBEC-1(-/-) mice. Plasma triglyceride levels significantly increased in the double knockout mice (APOBEC-1(-/-);apo E(-/-)) as compared to apo E(-/-) mice. These results suggest that APOBEC-1(-/-) mice are a valuable model for experiments designed to understand a role of apo B mRNA editing.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed1997

Bcl-2 protein inhibits oxysterol-induced apoptosis through suppressing CPP32-mediated pathway.

Oxysterols are presumed to mediate cytotoxicity of oxidized LDL in atherosclerotic lesions. To elucidate its molecular mechanism, we established murine macrophage-like P388-D1 cells which over-express Bcl-2 protein by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Oxysterols (7-ketocholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol) induced nuclear condensation and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which were partially inhibited by Bcl-2 over-expression. Though CPP32 inhibitor suppressed the cell death in control cells, it showed no additive protection in the cells over-expressing Bcl-2. These findings indicate that oxysterols induce apoptosis via Bcl-2-inhibitable and -uninhibitable pathways, and the former depends on CPP32 activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Apoptotic cell death in atherosclerotic plaques of hyperlipidemic knockout mice.

In an attempt to understand the roles of apoptosis in the development of atherosclerosis, we classified lesions developed in the aortas of apo E- and LDL receptor-deficient mice, murine models of atherosclerosis, and determined frequency, spatial distribution and cell types of apoptotic cells in each lesion. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and nuclear staining with propidium iodide were used to demonstrate apoptotic cells. Mean frequencies of TUNEL-positive cells were as follows: 0%, in Type I, 0.3% in Type II, 0.05% in Type III, 0.06% in Type IV and 0.06% in Type V lesions. Most of the TUNEL-positive cells were filled with fat and distributed in close proximity to lipid pools. The TUNEL-positive cells in the intimal side of the lipid cores were macrophages, while some of those in the adventitial side were smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, apoptosis is involved in the active turn-over of foam cells of both macrophage- and smooth muscle cell-lineage especially in the early atherosclerotic lesions of the hyperlipidemic mice.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising in the right buttock associated with metastatic parietal pleural and intrapulmonary tumors in addition to pleural effusion.

A malignant solitary fibrous tumor arising in the right buttock associated with metastatic parietal pleural and intrapulmonary tumors and pleural effusion was found in a 59-year-old man. A chest computed tomogram revealed three tumors attached to the parietal pleura with rib destruction, and a tumor in the left lower lung field. Histologically, the tumors of the buttock and parietal pleura were characterized by proliferation of bundles of spindle-shaped or oval cells separated by wavy hyalinized collagen tissue with no expression of cytokeratin, S-100 protein, muscle actin or epithelial membrane antigen, but these cells weakly expressed CD34 and strongly expressed vimentin.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1997

[Carcinoembryonic antigen and neutrophils in healthy smokers].

We measured the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the concentrations of neutrophils in serum from healthy smokers. The smokers (n = 1396) had more leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes than did non-smokers (n = 1123) (leukocytes: 5853 +/- 1627/mm3 vs 4564 +/- 1118/mm3, p < 0.0001; neutrophils: 3533 +/- 1280/mm3 vs 2718 +/- 883/mm3, p < 0.0001; lymphocytes; 1843 +/- 502/mm3 vs 1513 +/- 406/mm3, p < 0.0001). Subjects in whom the levels of CEA was greater than 5.0 ng/ml had significantly higher concentrations of leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes than did those in whom it was 5.0 ng/ml or less (p < 0.0001). Weak correlations were found between serum CEA levels and both the duration of smoking and the Brinkman index. The CEA levels also correlated with daily cigarette consumption (rho = 0.53, p < 0.0001). The concentration of neutrophils in subjects who smoked no more than 20 cigarettes per day or had a CEA level greater than 5.0 ng/ml, or both, was higher than that in subjects who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day or had a CEA level less than or equal to 5.0 ng/ml, or both (4097 +/- 1325/mm3 vs 3791 +/- 1278/mm3, p < 0.05). These results suggest that in healthy smokers, high serum CEA levels are related to high neutrophil levels.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗