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Biomedical subjects

K Eguchi

Publications and source records attributed to K Eguchi.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Effect of surgery on gonadal function of premenopausal women with pituitary adenomas other than prolactinomas.

The effects of surgery on pituitary-gonadal function were investigated in women with pituitary adenomas other than prolactinomas. The subjects were 46 women of premenopausal age with a pituitary adenoma. Twenty tumors were GH producing, 19 were nonfunctioning, and 7 were adrenocorticotropin producing adenomas. The surgery was performed mainly via the transsphenoidal route, with the aim of eradicating the tumor and preserving pituitary function. The menstrual cycle was preserved postoperatively in 9 out of 10 (90%) patients with regular preoperative menstruation. Menstrual disturbance was seen in 36 (78.3%) cases preoperatively. The causative factors for menstrual disturbance were gonadotropin impairment and hyperprolactinemia in GH producing and nonfunctioning adenoma. Excessive hormonal secretion itself is a major causative factor for menstrual disturbance in GH and ACTH producing adenoma. Regular menstruation was restored following surgery in 20 out of 36 (55.6%) patients with menstrual problems. The predicting factors for postoperative recovery of menstruation are: size of adenoma less than 40 mm, period of amenorrhea less than 5 years, and preoperatively preserved gonadotropin secretion. In addition, preoperative hyperprolactinemia was also a predicting factor in women with nonfunctioning adenoma. Thus, even in patients with pituitary adenomas other than prolactinoma, the restoration of menstruation is highly achievable when surgery is performed with attention to preserving pituitary function.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

Effects of surgery on testosterone secretion in male patients with pituitary adenomas.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of surgery on gonadal function in 42 male patients with pituitary adenomas Gonadal functions were evaluated by measuring total serum testosterone concentrations pre- and postoperatively. The subjects of the study were 20 patients with GH secreting adenoma, 7 patients with prolactinoma and 15 patients with nonfunctioning (NF) adenoma. Their ages ranged from 18 to 60 years (mean +/- SEM, 41 +/- 1.9). The serum testosterone concentration was low at less than 300 ng/dl preoperatively in 14 of 20 patients (70%) with GH producing adenoma, 6 of 7 patients (86%) with prolactinoma, and 7 of 15 patients (47%) with NF adenoma. Postoperatively, the total serum testosterone concentration was normalized in 9 of 14 patients (64%) with GH producing adenoma, one of 6 patients (17%) with prolactinoma, and 5 of 7 patients (71%) with NF adenoma. The normalization of serum GH and prolactin concentrations is indispensable for the restoration of gonadal function. It is very important to preserve the normal preoperative gonadotropin secretion by means of gentle surgery.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of plasma concentrations of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

The study was undertaken to measure both plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies to elucidate the mechanisms of plasma volume regulation during pregnancy. The mean plasma AVP concentration in healthy pregnant women was much lower than nonpregnant controls; however, the concentration in preeclamptic patients was similar to that in the comparative period of normal pregnancy. Despite volume expansion, the mean plasma concentration of ANP in normal pregnancy showed no changes compared to nonpregnant controls. The concentration of plasma ANP in patients complicated by mild preeclampsia was higher than that in normal pregnant women. The concentration of plasma ANP in those with severe preeclampsia was much higher roughly in proportion to the severity of the disease. It is inferable that the lowered concentration of plasma AVP is involved in plasma volume expansion in normal pregnancy, largely but not in a depletion of plasma volume in preeclampsia. The elevated concentration of plasma ANP appears to be closely related to impaired plasma volume expansion in preeclampsia.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Texture analysis of sonographic features of the parotid gland in Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for quantitative analysis of the sonographic features of parotid glands as a noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sonographic texture analyses were performed on the parotid glands of 44 patients with Sjögren's syndrome, 83 healthy volunteers, and 17 patients with chronic parotitis, using a fast Fourier transform program. RESULTS: Texture analysis of sonographic studies of the parotid gland using a Fourier transform showed that the sum of the normalized radial power spectrum in the low-spatial-frequency region (S value) of the parotid gland was significantly higher (p < .0001) in the patients with definite Sjögren's syndrome [6.70 +/- 2.13 (x10(5))] than in the 72 age-matched normal volunteers [3.25 +/- 1.08 (x10(5))]. However, patients with probable Sjögren's syndrome showed S values [3.92 +/- 1.88 (x10(5))] similar to those of the controls. On the other hand, SDs of the echo levels in the parotid gland showed significantly greater (p < .0001) values in patients with definite (4.63 1.07) and probable (4.53 1.47) Sjögren's syndrome than in the normal controls (3.30 0.76). Discriminant analysis showed that a combination of these two distinctive values increased diagnostic accuracy to 96.9%. Furthermore, S values and SDs correlated well with the qualitative grading of sonographic features and with the gradings of sialography. CONCLUSION: The system we describe for texture analysis of sonographic images is useful in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

MR imaging of the parotid gland in Sjögren's syndrome: a proposal for new diagnostic criteria.

OBJECTIVE: Because classic diagnostic techniques for sjögren's syndrome (SS) are invasive and require radiation exposure, a noninvasive diagnostic method might benefit patients with SS. The purpose of this study was to determine whether quantitative analysis of MR images of the parotid gland can differentiate patients with SS from normal subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed quantitative analysis of MR images of the parotid gland for 40 patients with definite and probable SS, for 30 normal subjects matched by age and sex to the SS patients, and for 10 patients with parotid inflammation. MR images of teh parotid gland were assessed by calculating standard deviations (SD) of signal intensity. RESULTS: SD of signal intensity exclusively (p < .0001) separated MR images of the parotid glands of patients with definite SS from those of normal subjects. SD of signal intensity for the parotid glands of patients with probable SS also were significantly higher (p < .001) than those of normal subjects. Changes in signal intensity were specific for SS and did not occur with parotid inflammation. Tentative categorization on the basis of signal intensity patterns on MR images of the parotid glands of SS patients showed a high correlation with the results of labial gland biopsy (r = .834) and sialography (r = .936). CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results conclusively indicate that quantitative analysis of MR images for SD of signal intensity is useful method for diagnosing SS and can replace classic methods, which are invasive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Quantitation of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A1/2, 2B11, 2C21 and 3A12) in dog liver microsomes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

1. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using specific antisera has been developed to quantify individual cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes (1A1/2, 2B11, 2C21 and 3A12) in dog liver microsomes. 2. The specific contents of CYP1A1/2, 2B11, 2C21 and 3A12 in untreated male dog liver microsomes determined by the ELISA were 17, 48, 160 and 69 pmol/mg protein respectively, corresponding to 4, 10, 34 and 15% of total optically determined P450 respectively. These P450 enzymes in untreated female dog liver microsomes showed almost similar amounts and relative proportions to those observed in male dog liver microsomes. 3. The oral treatment of male dogs with phenobarbital (PB), rifampicin (Rif) or beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF) induced significant increases in the contents of CYP1A1/2 (12-fold by beta-NF), 2B11 (16-fold by PB), 2C21 (2-fold by PB) and 3A12 (5-fold by PB and Rif), resulting in marked proportional alterations of the P450 enzymes in dog liver microsomes. 4. This ELISA method will be a useful tool for investigating possible influences (induct on/suppression) of xenobiotics on the expression of P450 enzymes in dog liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Reconstruction of chest wall defects with autogenous ribs grafts].

Three methods of chest wall reconstruction using autogenous rib grafts were reported. Fresh non-vascularized autogenous rib graft, vascularized autogenous ribs with muscle-flap, and pasteurized autogenous rib grafts were the materials used in these techniques. They are less convenient than those with artificial materials but afterwards physiologically more natural chest wall will be reconstructed. The third method (pasteurized rib graft) was applied to 22-year-old female with large recurrent desmoid tumor. Six resected ribs were heated in the saline at 60 degrees C for 30 min. and three of them were returned to the former position. Though tumor cells and bacteria are killed under this condition, these heated bone can be revascularized and replaced by normal bone as early as fresh non-vascularized rib graft.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[A case of cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis with intracranial hemorrhage].

A case of cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis of unknown etiology in a patient with 15-year history of headaches, cranial nerve palsies, and gait disturbance is reported. A 77-year-old woman was brought to our institute in a coma. CT revealed intracerebral hemorrhage in the right temporal lobe and thickening of the falx and tentorium. Fifteen years previously the patient had undergone CT scanning because of headaches, cranial nerve palsies, and progressive gait disturbance and a thickened tentorium, mild hydrocephalus and edematous change in the right temporal lobe had been reported. Since the etiology of her symptoms was unclear at the time, she did not receive adequate treatment. Her symptoms gradually progressed thereafter, and her visual acuity and hearing deteriorated. MR imaging in 1994 showed the thickened tentorium as a hypointense area with hyperintense edges on Gd-DTPA enhanced images. Angiography revealed narrowing of posterior portion of the superior sagittal sinus. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated due to the intracranial hypertension and she subsequently died. Autopsy revealed a thickened tentorium with xanthochromic surface. This hypertrophic change was also seen in the dura mater of the posterior and middle cranial fossa. Microscopic examination of the thickened tentorium revealed extensive fibrous tissue with a chronic inflammatory infiltrate, predominantly of lymphocytes. No specific lesions were revealed by staining with hematoxylin-eosin, PAS, Gram's or Ziehl-Neelsen stains. The patient had no inflammatory or infectious diseases of other organs, and a diagnosis of idiopathic cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis of unknown etiology was made. Considering the above findings, the thickened tentorium depicted as a hypointense area on the T1- and T2-weighted images and the Gd-enhanced edges of the tentorium are thought to be represent fibrous tissue and inflammatory regions, respectively.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Prognostic factors of colorectal cancer concerning metastases].

Four prognostics factors were investigated for colorectal cancer metastases. 1) There were statistically more venous invasions using Victoria blue elastic staining in patients with liver or lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis. 2) The immunohistochemical expression rate of c-erbB-2 in liver metastasis cases was 27%, which was significantly higher than 3% in no metastasis cases. 3) Sialyl Lewis x (SLex) is related with cell adhesion. SLex positive rates in vessel invasion cancer cells were 71.4% with metastasis and 31.0% without metastasis. 4) Matrilysin is one of MMPs and it was significantly increased with Dukes stage by fluorescence intensity.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

[Adult-onset aqueductal stenosis caused by membranous occlusion in the aqueduct: a case report].

The authors report a case of adult-onset aqueductal stenosis caused by membranous occlusion of the aqueduct. The patient was a 35-year-old man, who suffered from progressive headache. On admission, computed tomography (CT) scan showed marked dilatations of the lateral and third ventricles. Midsagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a membranous occlusion at the lower end of the aqueduct, with dilatation of the proximal aqueduct and elevation of the tectum. Midsagittal cine-MRI demonstrated the cerebrospinal fluid flow in the aqueduct. The patient was diagnosed as having hydrocephalus resulting from membranous stenosis of the aqueduct by MRI. A ventriculo-peritoneal shunt operation was performed and his symptoms improved markedly. The membranous occlusion of the aqueduct is a rare cause of hydrocephalus. The etiology and therapy of aqueductal stenosis are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Untoward effects of low dose methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis].

Sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were administered weekly low dose methotrexate (MTX) were retrospectively analyzed for their untoward effects of MTX by interviewing to the patients and by the medical records. Cough and sputa were the most frequent symptoms (23.3%) and gastrointestinal symptoms were the next (20%). Five of 60 patients (8.2%) showed liver function test abnormalities, and four (6.7%) exhibited transient exacerbation of arthralgia for several hours to a few days after MTX administration. Three patients (5%) suffered from interstitial pneumonitis. Hair loss was seen in 3 patients (5%), and headache, leucocytepenia, fever, skin eruption, abnormal taste, hemorrhagic cystitis, and flashing were experienced in a patient, respectively. Three (5%) suffered from fungal infection, and herpes zoster, sepsis, and osteomyelitis were experienced in each one patient, respectively. MTX was withdrawn in three patients (5%) because of cough and sputa the drug was withdrawn in other three patients because of the interstitial pneumonia, and was drawn in another three patients because of transient exacerbation of arthralgia. The drug was withdrawn in each one patient, because of nausea and vomiting, skin eruption, osteomyelitis, and sepsis, respectively. Overall, MTX were withdrawn in 21 patients (35%), and, of those, 13 patients (21.7%) because of untoward effects and 8 patients (13.3%) because of the lack of efficacy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased circulating serum amyloid A protein derivatives in rheumatoid arthritis patients with secondary amyloidosis.

Secondary amyloidosis, a serious complication of chronic inflammatory diseases, is caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils in various organs. The major component of amyloid fibrils is derived from serum amyloid A protein (SAA) by proteolysis. To explore the mechanisms of amyloidogenesis, we measured SAA concentrations in the sera of 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without secondary amyloidosis and in the sera of 18 RA patients with secondary amyloidosis, using the latex agglutination immunoassay. We also determined whether SAA was present as a full-length protein in the sera of RA patients by immunoblotting. Although SAA concentrations were elevated in the sera, there were no significant differences in these concentrations between RA patients without amyloidosis (128.2 +/- 145.4 micrograms/ml) and RA patients with amyloidosis (165.0 +/- 162.9 micrograms/ml). To test for qualitative abnormalities of SAA, the isolated SAA proteins from individual RA patients were analyzed by anti-SAA immunoblot. In addition to full-length SAA protein, 6-kd and 4.5-kd SAA-derived fragments were detected in the sera of RA patients, and the ratio of these fragments to total SAA proteins was significantly higher in RA patients with amyloidosis (37.0% +/- 0.7%) compared with that of RA patients without amyloidosis (15.0% +/- 5.5%). Although a high serum level of SAA is a predisposing condition for amyloid formation in RA patients, our data suggest that the increased circulating proteolytic cleavage of SAA may potentially contribute to the development of AA-amyloid deposition.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased nitric oxide levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: We determined whether serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) correlate with disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory cytokines by measuring the serum and synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of NO in patients with RA and patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy subjects. METHODS: The concentration of NO in each sample was determined by chemiluminescence. Cytokine levels were determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassays. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of NO was significantly higher in patients with RA (293.4 +/- 108.5 nM) compared with that of patients with OA (33.4 +/- 4.0, p < 0.01) and healthy subjects (35.9 +/- 4.5, p < 0.01). The mean SF concentration of NO (3218 +/- 73.7, p < 0.01) was significantly higher than that of serum in patients with RA. Furthermore, levels of serum NO, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were significantly higher in patients with RA with active disease compared to patients with inactive disease. Serum NO levels correlated significantly with the morning joint stiffness, the number of tender or swollen joints, and CRP. Furthermore, NO levels correlated significantly with serum TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that increased endogenous NO synthesis reflects abnormalities of immunoregulation in the joints of patients with RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Increased population of high fluorescence 1F7 (CD26) antigen on T cells in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the activation of T cells in peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The expression of CD26 (Ta1 and 1F7) antigen on T cells was analyzed in 7 women with RA and 7 healthy control subjects by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The percentage of CD3+ CD26+ cells was significantly higher in PB of patients with RA compared with healthy subjects. The IF7+ cell population was divided into high (1F7+high cells) and low fluorescence populations (1F7+low cells), based on 1F7 antigen density. The percentage of 1F7+high cells in SF of RA was markedly increased compared with PB of patients and healthy subjects. However, RA SF contained lower percentages of whole 1F7+ cells compared with PB. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that SF of patients with RA contains activated T cells, and suggest that T cells with high levels of CD26 antigen may preferentially migrate into the rheumatoid synovium to induce inflammation and tissue destruction.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Serum levels of cytokines in patients with untreated primary lung cancer.

To evaluate the relationships between serum endogenous cytokine levels and their clinical implications in cancer patients, we measured the serum levels of endogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with untreated primary lung cancer. The serum G-CSF level was measured using a chemiluminescent ELISA, and the other cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. Fifty healthy adults and 183 patients with primary lung cancer were studied. The mean M-CSF level in the lung cancer patients (1106.4 units/ml) was significantly higher than that in the healthy adults (836 units/ml, P = 0.0001). In patients with large cell carcinoma, endogenous G-CSF, M-CSF, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher than those in patients with carcinomas of other cell types (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that survival of 159 non-small cell lung cancer patients with high (more than cutoff level) G-CSF, M-CSF, and IL-6 levels was significantly poorer than that of patients with low levels (Wilcoxon's test, P = 0.018, P < 0. 0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). Survival of patients with high levels of two or more cytokines was poorer than that of those with high levels of one cytokine or normal cytokine levels (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model showed that high M-CSF and C-reactive protein levels correlated significantly with poor survival (P = 0.037 and 0.037, respectively). Our preliminary data suggest that high M-CSF levels in non-small cell lung cancer may be of poor prognostic value.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Defective TCR-mediated signaling in anergic T cells.

Extrathymic T cell tolerance to Ags can be achieved through clonal deletion by activation-induced programmed cell death as well as by functional unresponsiveness (anergy) of Ag reactive-T cells. Previous studies demonstrated that in vivo administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induces SEB-specific T cell anergy. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of T cell anergy, we analyzed the TCR-mediated signal transduction in normal and anergic T cells. Anergic T cells exhibited impaired protein tyrosine phosphorylation on TCR-mediated stimulation. The altered tyrosine phosphorylation in anergic T cells may be caused by a defect in tyrosine phosphorylation of TCR zeta-chain and its subsequent association with ZAP-70 tyrosine kinase. Our data demonstrated that TCR zeta-chain phosphorylation and its sequential interaction with ZAP-70 are essential for the initiation of TCR-mediated signal transduction.

Animals↗