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Biomedical subjects

K Eguchi

Publications and source records attributed to K Eguchi.

663 records · Page 37Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the relationship between serum carcinoembryonic antigen level and treatment outcome in surgically resected clinical-stage I patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

The relationship between preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and treatment outcome for 39 clinical-stage I patients with surgically resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was retrospectively studied. Serum CEA levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, with the upper limit of normal defined as 6.7 ng/mL based on the 95% specificity level for benign lung disease in our hospital. Patients with serum CEA > or = 6.7 ng/mL (n = 9) were more likely to have advanced disease at surgery than those with serum CEA < 6.7 ng/mL (n = 30) (77.8% vs 16.7%, p = 0.0049). This increase in disease stage at surgery was mainly due to mediastinal lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CEA in the detection of pathological N2 disease were 62.5% and 87.1%, respectively. Survival for the high CEA group was significantly worse than that for the low CEA group (median survival time, 40.2 vs 75.8 months, p = 0.0125). Relapse-free survival for the high CEA group was also poorer than that of the low CEA group (p = 0.0032). In a multivariate analysis, serum CEA level was the most dominant factor affecting relapse-free survival (hazard ratio = 6.68, p = 0.0053). These findings suggest that preoperative serum CEA level is useful not only in detection of mediastinal lymph node metastasis, but also in prediction of survival for clinical-stage I patients with NSCLC.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical effects of actarit in rheumatoid arthritis: improvement of early disease activity mediated by reduction of serum concentrations of nitric oxide.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported the presence of high serum concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we evaluated the effect of actarit on patients with early and advanced stages of RA and the relationship between RA activity and serum NO levels. METHODS: Thirty-seven RA patients who were undergoing care at Sasebo Chuo Hospital were entered into the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the severity of their disease: group I (stages I and II) and group II (stages III and IV). NO concentrations in serum samples were measured by the chemiluminescence method. RESULTS: Morning stiffness, the number of tender and swollen joints, grip strength, pain score, modified Health Assessment Questionnaire score (mHAQ), ESR, CRP and the Lansbury index significantly improved during 24 weeks of treatment in group I. Patients in group II did not show improvement in morning stiffness, pain score, ESR or CRP during treatment. The concentrations of NO in group I were significantly reduced at 8 weeks after administration of actarit. Those in group II showed a delayed response; a significant decrease in NO occurred at 20 weeks. The improvement in the number of tender and swollen joints, grip strength, pain score, mHAQ and Lansbury index noted in group I preceded the fall in NO concentrations. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that actarit improves disease activity in early phase RA by suppressing serum NO levels. The results suggest that NO is a useful marker for monitoring improvement in the early stages of RA.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High serum and synovial fluid granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) concentrations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between serum G-CSF, RA disease activity and the levels of inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: Sixty-one patients (5 men and 56 women; mean age; 56.1 +/- 11.4 [+/- SD] years, range, 22-70 years) who were selected at random and met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA were examined. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels in sera and synovial fluid were measured by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). We also measured various indices of RA disease activity and serum levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha by ELISA. RESULTS: The morning stiffness, number of tender or swollen joints, ESR, Lansbury index and serum G-CSF levels in patients with active RA were significantly higher than the corresponding levels in patients with inactive RA. Serum G-CSF levels correlated significantly with morning stiffness, the number of tender or swollen joints and the Lansbury index. However, there was no correlation between serum G-CSF and ESR. High levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were detected in RA patients. The number of tender or swollen joints, ESR, Lansbury index, and IL-1 beta were significantly higher in G-CSF-positive RA patients than in G-CSF-negative RA patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that G-CSF produced by synovial cells stimulated by inflammatory cytokines might contribute to inflammatory arthritis in RA patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adenovirus-mediated p16 gene transfer changes the sensitivity to taxanes and Vinca alkaloids of human ovarian cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Deletions and point mutations of the p16 gene are detectable in more than 50% of ovarian cancer cells. In this study, we examined the effect of p16 gene transduction on the growth of ovarian cancer cells and on the effect of anti-cancer agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: p16-null human ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV-3 and OVCAR-5, were used in this study. We transduced the full-length human p16 gene using recombinant adenovirus (AxCA-hp16). RESULTS: The spontaneous growth of these cells was significantly inhibited by hp16 transduction. MTT assay revealed that AxCA-hp16 infection induced chemoresistance in both cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that only hp16 -transduced SKOV-3, were arrested at the G1-phase for 3 days whereas those infected with AxCA-mock and OVCAR-5 infected with both recombinant viruses did not. Western blot analysis showed increased microtubule-associated proteins 4 (MAP4) in both cell lines. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in SKOV-3 cells, G1-arrest induced by p16-transduction prevents paclitaxel- and vindesine-induced cell death, and in OVCAR-5 cells, the other unknown mechanisms play a role of chemoresistance.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of peroxynitrite in cyclooxygenase-2 expression of rheumatoid synovium.

OBJECTIVE: Reactive oxygen intermediates play an important role in the inflammatory processes of rheumatoid arthritis. Cyclooxygenase-2 is an inducible form of an enzyme involved in prostanoid biosynthesis. This study linked peroxynitrite (ONOO-) to the signaling pathways that induce COX-2. RESULTS: Exposure of rheumatoid synovial cells to peroxynitrite resulted in COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis also demonstrated that COX-2 mRNA was induced in peroxynitrite-treated rheumatoid synovial cells. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited this peroxynitrite-mediated COX-2 expression at therapeutic concentrations. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that oxidant stress is an important inducer of COX-2 in rheumatoid synovium. This induction may contribute to the amplification of prostanoids in the rheumatoid inflammatory process.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical outcome and survival of secondary (AA) amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: In order to predict the clinical outcome of secondary (AA) amyloidosis patients with rheumatic diseases, we studied the clinical features at presentation of AA amyloidosis. METHODS: We investigated the clinical characteristics and survival of 42 patients with biopsy-proven AA amyloidosis who were followed up in our department from 1983 to 2001. RESULTS: A presenting factor which adversely influenced clinical outcome was a raised serum creatinine concentration at the time AA amyloidosis was diagnosed. Eight of 42 patients survived for 10 years or more after the presentation of AA amyloidosis, while 24 patients had died within 10 years. At the diagnosis of AA amyloidosis, cardiac involvement was detected in 11 of 24 non-survivors, whereas it was not detected in any of the 8 long-term survivors. Estimated survival at 5 years was 31.3% in those who had cardiac involvement, and was 63.3% in those who had no cardiac involvement at the presentation of AA amyloidosis. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that clinical outcome is related to renal function and cardiac involvement at the time AA amyloidosis is diagnosed. Amyloid-related cardiac involvement is one of the unfavorable predictive factors in AA amyloidosis patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytomegalovirus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with adult onset Still's disease.

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is characterized by hemophagocytosis by activated histiocytes, resulting in pancytopenia and liver dysfunction. We describe a patient with adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) in whom HPS developed. An 80-year-old Japanese woman with high fever, arthralgia, skin rash, and pleuritis was admitted to our hospital for further examination. She was diagnosed with AOSD and steroid therapy was initiated. During the course of steroid therapy, a re-elevation of serum ferritin levels and a marked increase in serum transaminase were observed. Bone marrow aspiration revealed an increase in the number of histiocytes with hemophagocytosis and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-positive leukocytes were detected. At this time we diagnosed the patient as having virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) and elevated levels of trasaminase and ferritin were normalized by ganciclovir treatment. Reactive HPS occurs in cases of active AOSD. However, it should be noted that HPS may be accompanied by opportunistic infections during immunosuppressive therapy requiring prompt antibiotic therapy.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The serum levels of resistin in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Adipocyte-derived resistin is a circulating protein implicated in insulin resistance, but the role of human resistin is uncertain because it is produced largely by macrophages. The aim of this study was to analyze serum resistin concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to determine the role of resistin in human inflammatory diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Resistin concentrations were assessed by ELISA in serum samples from 42 patients with RA. Serum samples from 38 healthy subjects acted as controls. We also evaluated the circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-alpha) and disease activity markers in RA patients. RESULTS: In RA patients, serum resistin levels were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects. Serum resistin levels in RA patients were correlated with the RA disease activity markers, CRP and ESR. Furthermore, resistin levels in RA patients were significantly correlated with circulating levels of TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: Serum resistin levels were significantly increased in RA patients and correlated with inflammatory markers and TNF-alpha, suggesting that resistin may play a role in the rheumatoid inflammatory process.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography of anterior mediastinal tumors. Differentiation between thymoma and germ cell tumor.

Computed tomographic (CT) features in 10 patients with germ cell tumor of the mediastinum and 15 with thymoma were compared with surgically resected specimens. The CT findings of the internal structure of tumors were the most important factor for specific diagnosis. Germ cell tumors showed a round mass without distinct lobulation, frequently with calcification appearing as a globular shape, and especially in benign tumors as an arched shape along the wall. Homogeneous low density masses (near-water) with a thick wall were benign and non-homogeneous density masses (a mixture of near-water and soft tissue) were malignant. Thymoma usually showed a solid mass with lobulation and sometimes had an eggshell type of calcification in the tumor. Therefore, CT is of importance in the diagnosis of anterior mediastinal masses.

Calcinosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chronopharmacology of etoposide given by low dose prolonged infusion in lung cancer patients.

We examined the chronopharmacology of prolonged etoposide administration by intravenous infusion over 14 days in 9 patients with lung cancer. Blood samples were obtained every 4 hours between 24 hours and 48 hours after initiation of the infusion. Using the unpaired t-test, the percentage plasma etoposide concentration at 09:00 hours calculated from the 24 hour average value, was significantly higher than that at 21:00 hours (p = 0.024). However, neither ANOVA nor cosinor analysis revealed any significant effect of sampling time (ANOVA: p = 0.29, cosinor analysis: p = 0.46).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor levels in sera of patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression has been observed in several malignant tumors, and VEGF level in serum appears to be correlated with tumor burden in cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum VEGF levels were measured in 70 patients with lung cancer including 23 with adenocarcinoma, 19 with squamous cell carcinoma, 3 with large cell carcinoma, and 25 with small cell carcinoma, and in 30 patients with benign lung disease and 13 healthy subjects with an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: VEGF levels (mean +/- SD; pg/ml) were 834 +/- 699 and 732 +/- 529 in patients with lung cancer and benign lung disease, respectively, and were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (264 +/- 129) (P < 0.01). There were no differences between VEGF levels categorized by histology, disease stage, or distant metastasis for lung cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although serum VEGF levels were increased in lung cancer patients, this increase might not have been related to tumor burden.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Suppression of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene expression by butyrolactone I, a selective inhibitor of the cdk family, in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells.

Butyrolactone I is a selective inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) family, cdk2 and cdc2 kinase. In the present study, the effect of butyrolactone I on expression of the albumin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) genes was investigated in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells. Butyrolactone I inhibited cell growth and arrested cells predominantly in G2/M phase. By Northern blot analysis, the levels of both albumin and AFP mRNA were suppressed dose-dependently by butyrolactone I. In transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection experiments, the albumin promoter activity and the AFP promoter and enhancer activities were suppressed by butyrolactone I. Consistent with this, the transcripts of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1), a liver-specific transcription factor which transactivates these promoter and enhancer regions were reduced by butyrolactone I in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that butyrolactone I down-regulates both the albumin and the AFP gene transcription through the reduction of HNF-1 expression.

4-Butyrolactone↗