Biomedical subjects

K Kumai

Publications and source records attributed to K Kumai.

95 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Docetaxel enhances the cytotoxicity of tetrahydropyranyladriamycin in a sequence-dependent manner.

BACKGROUND: Taxanes and anthracyclines are active against breast cancer. In this study we investigated the combined antitumor activity of these drugs, with particular regard to sequence-dependency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The combined antitumor activity of docetaxel and tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP) against two human breast cancer xenografts was assessed using an in vitro histoculture drug-response assay. The sequence-dependency of the combined cytotoxicity was evaluated by isobologram. RESULTS: A synergistic antitumor activity of combined docetaxel + THP was exhibited against the R-27 xenograft when docetaxel was given first or simultaneously with THP. However, this synergism was diminished when THP was used before docetaxel. While an additive effect of combined docetaxel + THP was observed against MX-1 xenograft when docetaxel was given first or simultaneously with THP, this effect was not marked using the THP/docetaxel sequence. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel increased the antitumor activity of THP, but only when administered before or simultaneously with THP.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transmission and scanning electron microscopic study of the same cytologic material.

The same cytologic material was successively examined by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). After the SEM examination, the specimens were rehydrated for a long period of time to allow the penetration of Epon 812 into the cells. The TEM examination showed the cell organelles to be comparatively well preserved. These consecutively performed LM-SEM-TEM examinations provided useful information on cytologic subjects, especially concerning the origin of the cells.

Cell Nucleus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of fecal alpha-1-antitrypsin for detection of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with gastric cancer.

Hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) were measured in 87 fecal samples from 29 normal volunteers and 68 fecal samples from 33 patients with gastric cancer before surgery to evaluate the usefulness of fecal AAT as an indicator of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with gastric cancer. Mean values and standard deviation of fecal Hb, Alb, IgG and AAT in normal volunteers were 0.13 +/- 1.19 micrograms/g, 6.96 +/- 20.48 micrograms/g, 17.52 +/- 10.16 micrograms/g, and 0.483 +/- 0.315 mg/g, respectively. These parameters in the patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in the normal volunteers. No statistically significant correlations were observed between these fecal parameters, except between fecal Alb and IgG. Data obtained from peripheral blood also showed no significant correlation with these fecal parameters. When the cut-off levels of fecal Hb, Alb, IgG and AAT were set at M + 2SD of the values obtained from the normal volunteers, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 80.0%, 86.2% and 84.1% for fecal AAT, and 66.7%, 96.6% and 86.4% for fecal Hb in the patients with advanced gastric cancer in a cohort consisting of patients with advanced gastric carcinoma and normal volunteers. Since fecal AAT showed higher sensitivity in patients with advanced gastric cancer with a low number of false negative cases, we concluded that measurement of fecal AAT could be a promising method for assessment of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma instead of immunological detection of fecal Hb.

Feces↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Further evidence for the value of the chemosensitivity test in deciding appropriate chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The chemosensitivity test using the MTT endpoint is useful in predicting chemosensitivity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-eight patients with advanced gastric cancer were enrolled in the study, which mitomycin C (MMC), doxorubicin (DXR), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and cisplatin (DDP) were used. RESULTS: The corresponding efficacy rates were 12.5% for MMC, 6.3% for DXR, 5.4% for 5-FU and 13.4% for DDP. The overall predictive accuracy was 78% in the patients with measurable lesions. Among the patients without measurable lesions, 21 were treated with a curative operation, and 33 with a non-curative operation. In those patients undergoing curative surgery, the "adapted" group detected by MTT assay survived longer than "non-adapted" cases (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides further evidence that the chemosensitivity test may be useful for evaluating appropriate chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Management of primary gastric lymphomas from a surgeon's viewpoint.

Primary gastric lymphoma is a relatively uncommon disease and controversy still exists over its management. In order to assess prognostic factors of lymphomas, we carried out a retrospective study of 28 surgically treated gastric lymphoma patients. The overall survival rate for all the patients in the study was 33% at 10 years. On univariate analysis, lymph node metastasis and depth of tumor infiltration proved to be a significant prognostic factor while size and location of tumor, sex, and method of resection was not. From our results we believe that gastric lymphoma can be regarded as a localized disease in the early stages and a curative resection can be attained when aggressive surgery is possible.

Aged↗