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K Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishimura.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[A case of retroperitoneal teratoma in an adult resembling adrenal tumors].

A retroperitoneal teratoma arising from the vicinity of the upper pole of the right kidney in a 61-year-old woman is described. Computed tomographic (CT) scan showed well marginated fat density mass with calcification. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on T1 weighted image and T2 weighted image showed a high-intensity mass above the upper pole of the right kidney. Needle biopsy under computed tomography was performed, but no specimen was obtained. The preoperative diagnosis was retroperitoneal teratoma or right adrenal myelolipoma. The tumor was resected and the histological diagnosis was benign retroperitoneal cystic teratoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Fungistatic and fungicidal activities of murine polymorphonuclear leucocytes against yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Recently, a novel culture medium for detecting live yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was developed by Kurita et al. Using this culture medium, murine peritoneal polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were examined for fungistatic and fungicidal activities against P. brasiliensis yeast cells. The magnitude of the antifungal effect of PMN varied depending upon the fungal isolates used. PMN exhibited a killing effect on P. brasiliensis isolate Bt-4 in 2 h of coculture. In contrast, the other three fungal isolates employed were resistant to killing by PMN. However, PMN considerably suppressed the growth of isolates Tatu and Recife in a long-term assay (approximately 72 h). The growth of isolate Bt-9 was also suppressed by PMN during the first 24 h, but was found to be considerably promoted at 72 h of coculture. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), but not tumour-necrosis factor-alpha, significantly augmented the antifungal activity of PMN. IFN-gamma-treated PMN exhibited a killing effect on isolates Tatu, Recife and Bt-9 after 24 h of coculture, and showed an enhanced killing effect on isolate Bt-4. Contact between PMN and fungal cells was required for PMN to exert the antifungal effect. Our results suggest that PMN, whether activated with cytokines or not, might play a critical role in host resistance in early infection with this fungus by buying time for development of more effective immunologic responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Long-term immunological study on postoperative adjuvant treatment with interferon-gamma in patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent nephrectomy].

Previously, we reported the short-term immunological effects of postoperative adjuvant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) administration to renal cell carcinoma patients as determined by three-color flow cytometry. We now report the results of a long-term study on a larger number of subjects. Thirty-three patients with renal cell carcinoma received a prophylactic intramuscular injection of IFN-gamma (300 x 10(4) units per week) after nephrectomy. We evaluated immunological changes by measuring peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets including activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (ACTL), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), activated suppressor T lymphocytes (ASTL), helper T lymphocytes (HTL), activated suppressor-inducer T lymphocytes (AITL), and suppressor-inducer T lymphocytes (SITL). We also estimated the natural killer (NK) activity by a cytolytic test. All 33 patients were examined for at least 12 months after the start of IFN-gamma injection, and 18 patients were examined for 30 months including the 6-month period following discontinuation of IFN-gamma injection. We found significant enhancement of the ACTL subset from the second week to the sixth month after the start of IFN-gamma injection. On the other hand, we found a significant decrease in the percentage of the HTL and SITL subsets for a long time after the start of injection. NK activity significantly increased throughout the period of administration, and it continued to increase for six months after discontinuation of IFN-gamma injection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Panipenem, a carbapenem antibiotic, enhances the glucuronidation of intravenously administered valproic acid in rats.

Previously, a significant decrease in the trough plasma-concentration of valproic acid (VPA) owing to the concomitant administration of panipenem (PAPM)/betamipron, a carbapenem antibiotic, in epileptic patients was reported. To determine the site and mechanism of the drug interaction between VPA and PAPM, we performed in vivo and in vitro experiments using rats. A 30 mg/kg bolus dose of VPA was given i.v. to normal Sprague-Dawley rats, nephrectomized rats, and hepatectomized rats, with and without prior treatment of PAPM. PAPM treatment resulted in a significant reduction of biological half-life and a significant increase of total body clearance in normal rats. The effects of PAPM on the disposition kinetics of VPA were also observed in nephrectomized rats, whereas hepatectomy abolished the interaction completely. Thus, the site of interaction was identified as the liver. At steady state, PAPM treatment significantly increased total body clearance, the biliary excretion rate of VPA glucuronide, and the apparent metabolic clearance of VPA by glucuronidation, but did not affect the biliary excretion clearance of VPA glucuronide. Initial uptake velocity of VPA into rat hepatocytes proportionally increased as a function of VPA concentration added and was not affected by PAPM. The plasma-unbound fraction of VPA in vitro was not altered by PAPM. These data demonstrate that PAPM does not affect the uptake of VPA into the liver, the plasma-unbound fraction, and the excretion process of VPA glucuronide. Consequently, PAPM appears to enhance the rate of metabolism of VPA to VPA glucuronide in the liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Open heart surgery without the use of homologous blood in infants and young children: effectiveness of the intraoperative autologous blood donation from arterial monitoring line].

Open heart surgery without the use of homologous blood transfusion was attempted in 81 pediatric patients weighing 5.5-14.9 kg. Autologous blood was donated from arterial monitoring line after induction of anesthesia. This donated blood, actual volume of 9.2 +/- 1.7 ml/kg, was reinfused following the cessation of extracorporeal circulation. Hemodilution resulting from autologous blood donation was well tolerated by all patients. Sixty-eight patients (84%) were operated on successfully without the need for homologous blood. These data suggest that autologous blood donation from arterial monitoring line is a safe and effective method to avoid homologous blood transfusion especially in infants and young children undergoing open heart surgery.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1999

[A case of pheochromocytoma detected by hypertensive crisis immediately after drip infusion urography].

We report a rare case of a 60-year-old man with a pheochromocytoma detected by a hypertensive crisis immediately after drip infusion urography. The patient initially consulted our hospital complaining of dysuria. He underwent a drip infusion urography and experienced a hypertensive crisis. The next day he was diagnosed with paralytic ileus. An endocrinological examination, abdominal computed tomography and 123I-metaiodobenzyl-guanidine scintigraphy revealed a pheochromocytoma. The tumor mass was removed, and immediately his blood pressure became normal and the paralytic ileus improved; however, temporary postoperative hypoglycemia was seen. Frequent monitoring of his blood glucose and the administration of an appropriate solution of dextrose, both during and after the operation, were recommended.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

[Detection size dependence of field factor for narrow beam].

An absorbed dose in the narrow beam is calculated based on the depth dose distribution and a field factor. The field factor has to be measured with especially high accuracy because it is highly variable. The field factor was calculated when detection size was changed, by using Monte Carlo simulation, which had no energy dependency or geometrical error. Then the relation between field factor and detection size in the narrow beam was investigated. An absorbed dose in peak depth and reference depth according to detection size was calculated for each field size. Detection size dependency was recognized in the case of measuring a field factor, because the absorbed dose tended to decrease as detection size increased. The absorbed dose in the narrow beam has to be calculated within a change of +/- 2%. The change in peak depth according to detection size was eliminated, and then the relation between an absorbed dose at the ideal detection size of 0 mm phi by extrapolation and detection size which has a deference of 2% from it, were acquired. In addition, the maximum usable detection size was estimated in the case of measuring the field factor.

Models, Theoretical↗
PubMed1999

[Spontaneous rupture of a renal angiomyolipoma in pregnancy: a case report].

A 32-year-old woman in the 36th week of pregnancy was admitted to obstetrics with a complaint of left flank pain. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a left perinephric hematoma before the cesarean section. Spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma was suspected by computed tomographic scan and renal angiography after the cesarean section. We attempted partial nephrectomy, but performed nephrectomy because of perinephric adhesion. This is the 11th case of spontaneous rupture of renal angiomyolipoma during pregnancy in the Japanese literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Species differences in the transport activity for organic anions across the bile canalicular membrane.

Species differences in the transport activity mediated by canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) were examined using temocaprilat, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor whose biliary excretion is mediated predominantly by cMOAT, and 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione, a typical substrate for cMOAT, in a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments. Temocaprilat was infused to examine the biliary excretion rate at steady-state. The in vivo transport clearance values across the bile canalicular membrane, defined as the biliary excretion rate divided by the hepatic unbound concentrations, were 9.8, 39.2, 9.2, 1.1, and 0.8 ml/min/kg for mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and dog, respectively. The K(m) and V(max) values for ATP-dependent uptake of 2, 4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione into canalicular membrane vesicles were 15.0, 29.6, 16.1, 55.8, and 30.0 microM and 0.38, 1.90, 0.15, 0. 47, and 0.23 nmol/min/mg protein, yielding the in vitro transport clearance across the bile canalicular membrane (V(max)/K(m)) of 25.5, 64.2, 9.4, 8.4, and 7.7 for mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and dog, respectively. A close in vivo and in vitro correlation was observed among animal species for the transport clearance across the bile canalicular membrane. These results suggest that the uptake experiments with canalicular membrane vesicles can be used to quantitatively predict in vivo excretion across the bile canalicular membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[International guidelines for the assessment and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Western countries, and is the fourth leading cause of death in North America. A number of the guidelines regarding the management and treatment of COPD have been published in recent years. These guidelines were generated in response to the fact that COPD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, and remains an important social problem. In the guidelines, COPD is defined as a disorder characterized by airflow limitation due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema; the airflow limitation progresses slowly, and does not change markedly over several months.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

[Molecular staging of testicular cancer using polymerase chain reaction of the testicular cancer-specific genes].

Most testicular germ cell tumors have serological tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin beta-subunit (beta-HCG). On the other hand, molecular staging of these tumors has not been well established compared to other urogenital malignancies like prostate cancer. Recently, melanoma antigen (MAGE) which is one of the tumor-associated antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been found to be present in a variety of malignant tumor types and normal testis. In addition, Wilms' tumor-associated gene WT1 has been found to be expressed in some testicular cancers. Thus, we examined the expression of these genes in testicular cancer tissues and peripheral blood of cancer-bearing patients using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of the MAGE1-3 genes was examined in 34 testicular germ cell tumors (24 seminomas and 10 nonseminomas). Of the seminomas and nonseminomas, 87.5% and 40% were positive for MAGE1, 91.7% and 60% for MAGE2, and 83.3% and 30% for MAGE3, respectively. The expression of the MAGE genes was not correlated with the tumor stage. The expression of the WT1 gene was quantified in 26 testicular germ cell tumors. WT1 was highly expressed in 5 of the 7 high stage cases, but in only 4 of the 19 low stage cases (p < 0.01). The mRNA of these genes could not be detected from the peripheral blood of patients with high stage tumors. These results suggest that MAGE genes may be useful tumor markers for molecular staging of testicular cancer, especially seminoma, and that the WT1 gene may be a tumor marker for high stage testicular germ cell tumors. However, these genes cannot yet be used for molecular staging of testicular germ cell tumors.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1999

Modified expansive open-door laminoplasty in cervical myelopathy.

The authors modified the technique of open-door cervical laminoplasty with a patency maintenance method that relies only on soft tissue reconstruction. Thirty-five patients who underwent this procedure were evaluated at more than 2 years' follow-up. The expanded open-door lamina and excellent alignment on the lateral view of the cervical spine were well maintained after surgery. Atrophy of the posterior cervical muscles was not seen. Clinical outcomes were rated satisfactory. Nuchal pain seen in the series of patients who underwent the original expansive open-door laminoplasty or a suspension laminotomy from 1983 to 1993 was decreased in the patients with the modified expansive open-door laminoplasty.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Simultaneous assessment of myocardial free fatty acid utilization and left ventricular function using 123I-BMIPP-gated SPECT.

UNLABELLED: This study was designed to evaluate the methodological feasibility of 123I-labeled beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP)-gated SPECT to assess regional and global left ventricular (LV) function in comparison with 99mTc-sestamibi (methoxyisobutyl isonitrile [MIBI])-gated SPECT and first-pass radionuclide angiography (FPRNA). METHODS: Forty-four patients with stable coronary artery disease underwent rest BMIPP-gated SPECT (111 MBq, 60 s/step) and rest MIBI-gated SPECT (600 MBq, 40 s/step) within a week. From both gated SPECT studies, regional defect scores (DS), wall motion scores (WMS) and wall-thickening scores (WTS) were evaluated visually using 4-point scales for nine segments, and LV ejection fraction (EF) (%) was automatically calculated using Quantitative Gated SPECT (QGS) software. FPRNA was also performed on injection of MIBI. RESULTS: Exact agreement between the two gated SPECT studies was 84.1% (kappa = 0.706, r = 0.907, P < 0.0001) in WMS and 87.1% (kappa = 0.662, r = 0.884, P < 0.0001) in WTS. LVEF obtained from BMIPP-gated SPECT linearly correlated with those from MIBI-gated SPECT (y = -0.27 + 0.944x, r = 0.948, SEE = 5.00, P < 0.0001) and FPRNA (y = -7.32 + 1.042x, r = 0.919, SEE = 6.19, P < 0.0001). Even in 21 patients with mismatch segments (BMIPP DS > MIBI DS), agreement was considered to be acceptable in WMS (81.5%, kappa = 0.707, r = 0.853, P < 0.0001) and in WTS (76.7%, kappa = 0.526, r = 0.754, P < 0.0001), and correlation in LVEF remained good between BMIPP-gated SPECT and MIBI-gated SPECT (y = -1.24 + 0.955x, r = 0.938, SEE = 6.25, P < 0.0001) or FPRNA (y = -6.03 + 1.024x, r = 0.913, SEE = 7.38, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: BMIPP-gated SPECT can evaluate regional and global LV function with the QGS software. Therefore, BMIPP-gated SPECT offers the opportunity for simultaneous assessment of myocardial free fatty acid utilization and LV function.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Molecular epidemiology of Fonsecaea pedrosoi using mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 49 clinical Fonsecaea pedrosoi isolates (18 isolates from Japan, 17 from Madagascar, 7 from Argentina, 5 from Venezuela, 1 from Costa Rica and 1 unknown) was studied. The 49 isolates were composed of 20 isolates of Type 1, 16 of Type 2, 12 of Type 4 and 1 of a new mtDNA type, Type 7, which was closely related to Type 2. On the bases of the results of 120 isolates of the present (49 isolates) and previous (71 isolates) studies, F. pedrosoi was classified into seven mtDNA types and according to the relationship between mtDNA types and geographic origins: in Japan and probably in China, Type 1 isolates; in Zaire and Madagascar, Type 2; in Central and South America, Type 4 and Type 1. These results indicated that the geographical origin of F. pedrosoi isolate could be roughly inferred from its mtDNA type.

Chromoblastomycosis↗
PubMed1999

WT1 Gene Expression in Human Testicular Germ-Cell Tumors.

The Wilms' tumor 1 gene (WT1) is a tumor suppressor gene whose alterations are linked to the genesis of Wilms¹ tumor. The gene is expressed in the urogenital organs and plays a key role in their development. Recent studies have shown that the WT1 gene product acts as a growth promoter of human leukemic cells. Because WT1 has been reported to be important in testicular development, we have investigated WT1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in testicular germ-cell tumors. Quantitative reverse transcription­polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the levels of WT1 mRNA in 34 patients with testicular germ-cell tumor, including 25 low-stage and 9 high-stage tumors. There were 23 seminomas and 11 nonseminomas. The WT1 mRNA was highly expressed in 6 of 9 high-stage lesions (67%) but only 5 of 25 low-stage cases (20%). A significant correlation was observed between the extent of WT1 mRNA expression and tumor stage (P = 0.017). There was no significant difference in WT1 mRNA expression between seminomas and nonseminomatous tumors. These results suggest that WT1 may be causal for the progression of testicular germ-cell tumors.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Retinoblastoma, a tumor suppressor, is a coactivator for the androgen receptor in human prostate cancer DU145 cells.

The retinoblastoma protein may function as a tumor suppressor by controlling the progression of the normal cell cycle. Inactivation of Rb has been regarded as an important event in prostate carcinogenesis. However, the detailed mechanism of how Rb is linked to androgen-androgen receptor (A-AR), the major factor in promotion of prostate tumor growth, remains unclear. Using GST-Rb pull down assay and mammalian two-hybrid system, we report here that Rb can bind specifically to AR in an androgen-independent manner. Transient transfection assay demonstrates that cotransfection of AR and Rb can further induce AR transcriptional activity 4-fold in the presence of 1 nM dihydrotestosterone in DU145 cells. Interestingly, cotransfection of Rb and ARA70, the first identified AR coactivator, with AR can additively induce AR transcriptional activity 13-fold (from 5-fold to 64-fold). In conclusion, our discovery that Rb can function as a coactivator to induce AR transcriptional activity in prostate cells may represent the first data to link a negative growth regulatory protein function in a positive manner, by inducing the transcriptional activity of AR.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1998

Measurement of early pregnancy factor activity for monitoring the viability of the equine embryo.

The viability of embryos before flushing from donor mares (n = 5) and after transfer to recipient mares (n = 7) was monitored in mare serum by detecting early pregnancy factor (EPF) using the rosette inhibition test (RIT). The EPF activity was measured in donor mares before and after natural mating at natural estrus; after ovulation on Days 2, 5 and 8; and after embryo flushing (Day 8) on Days 8, 9, 10 and 13 after ovulation. The collected embryos were transferred immediately after flushing. The EPF activity in recipient mares were measured on the day of transfer and after embryo transfer on Days 1, 2, 3 and 5. Pregnancy was confirmed on Day 12 to 14 after embryo transfer. The mean EPF activity of donor mares was increased to the pregnant level (> an RI titer score of 10) on Day 2 after ovulation. Two days after flushing the embryos, the EPF activity of donor mares had decreased to the nonpregnant level. Among the 7 recipient mares, 3 mares were diagnosed pregnant on Day 12 after embryo transfer with ultrasound. The EPF activity of the pregnant recipient mares was increased above the minimum level observed in pregnant mares on Days 2 to 3 after transfer. However, among the nonpregnant recipient mares after embryo transfer, the EPF activity of 3 mares remained at the pregnant level only 2 to 3 d and then declined to the nonpregnant level. In one recipient mare, EPF activity did not reach the pregnant level throughout the sample collection. The results of this study indicated that equine EPF can be detected in serum of pregnant mares as early as Day 2 after ovulation. From our observation, we conclude that the measurement of EPF activity is useful for monitoring the in vivo viability of equine embryos and early detection of embryonic death.

Animals↗