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Biomedical subjects

K Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to K Nishimura.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

A case of small cell lung cancer metastasizing to prostatic cancer.

Although the fact that the presence of two or more malignancies in a single patient is not a rare occurrence, metastasis of cancer to cancer is rare. Generally the most frequent donor tumor is a lung cancer, and the most common recipient tumor is a renal cell carcinoma. A rare case of lung cancer with metastasis to prostatic cancer is described. To our knowledge, this report represents the first case of a small cell lung cancer metastasizing to a prostatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma.

Chromophobe cell renal carcinoma is a recently established subtype of renal cell carcinoma. Herein we report a case of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma in a 67-year-old male patient who occasionally underwent computed tomography. In a microscopic study with hematoxylin and eosin stain, clear eosinophilic cytoplasm, and a moderately atypical nucleus were observed. And it was stained positively by Hale's colloidal iron. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm was filled with numerous microvesicles. From these results, this tumor was pathologically diagnosed as chromophobe cell renal carcinoma.

Aged↗

Comparison of discriminative properties among disease-specific questionnaires for measuring health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Three disease-specific, health-related quality of life (HRQL) questionnaires have been introduced to assess patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Breathing Problems Questionnaire (BPQ), and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). The purpose of the present study was to make comparisons between the SGRQ, the BPQ, and the CRQ in their discriminative properties, and to clarify the characteristics of each questionnaire. One hundred forty-three patients with mild to severe COPD completed pulmonary function tests, progressive cycle ergometer testing for exercise capacity, assessment of dyspnea, anxiety, and depression, and assessment of HRQL. The frequency distributions of the questionnaire scores showed that the SGRQ and the CRQ were normally distributed and that the BPQ was skewed toward low scores. Relationships between all dimensions of the three questionnaires were significant (correlation coefficients [Rs] = 0.74 to 0.86). The three questionnaires had significant but weak correlations (Rs = -0.24 to -0.36) with some physiologic variables (VC, FEV1, and DL(CO)/VA) and mild to moderate correlations with exercise capacity and assessment of dyspnea, anxiety, and depression. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) score, anxiety by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HAD), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) accounted for 61% of the variance in the SGRQ and that the BDI and anxiety of the HAD accounted for 53 and 49% of the variance in the BPQ and the CRQ, respectively. Dyspnea and psychologic status impacted the HRQL in patients with COPD. Although no substantial differences between the SGRQ, the BPQ, and the CRQ were evident in the correlations with physiologic parameters and the influential factors, the BPQ was found to be less discriminatory than the SGRQ and the CRQ in evaluating HRQL cross-sectionally.

Aged↗

Analysis of clinical methods used to evaluate dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

When dyspnea must be assessed clinically, there are three methods of assessment: the measurement of dyspnea with activities of daily living using clinical dyspnea ratings such as the modified Medical Research Council (MRC), the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI), and the Oxygen Cost Diagram (OCD); the measurement of dyspnea during exercise using the Borg scale; to assess the influence of dyspnea on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using disease-specific questionnaires such as the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to clarify relationships between dyspnea ratings and HRQoL questionnaires by applying factor analysis. One hundred sixty-one patients with mild to severe COPD completed pulmonary function tests, progressive cycle ergometer testing for exercise capacity, assessment of dyspnea, HRQoL, anxiety, and depression. Factor analysis demonstrated that the MRC, BDI, OCD, and Activity of the SGRQ, and Dyspnea of the CRQ, were grouped into the same factor, and the frequency distribution histograms of these five measures showed virtually the same distribution. The Borg scale at the end of maximum exercise was found to be a different factor. The MRC, BDI, OCD, and Activity in the SGRQ, and Dyspnea in the CRQ demonstrated the same pattern of correlation with physiologic data, and they had significant relationships with FEV1 (correlation coefficients [Rs] = 0.31 to 0. 48) and maximal oxygen uptake (Rs = 0.46 to 0.60). Disease-specific HRQoL questionnaires, the SGRQ and the CRQ, which contain a specific dimension for evaluating dyspnea, may be substituted for clinical dyspnea ratings in a cross-sectional assessment. Dyspnea rating at the end of exercise may provide further information regarding dyspnea.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Pulmonary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma in 21 patients, including three with partial spontaneous regression.

This investigation studied the general conditions and prognostic factors of pulmonary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (PEH), which is a rare disease. Twenty-one patients were collected throughout Asia by a questionnaire. Age at the detection or onset of symptoms of PEH was 14-64 yrs (mean 44 yrs). Males were more likely to be detected by symptoms (4/8, 50%) than were females (1/13, 8%). Fifteen showed bilateral multiple nodular opacities. Partial spontaneous regression occurred in three asymptomatic patients (one male and two females, all with bilateral multiple nodular opacities) 5, 13 and 15 yrs after detection. Two of the three patients with pleural effusion died within 1 yr, while the 16 patients with no effusion were alive more than 1 yr later (p<0.05). Histologically, two patients with fibrinofibrous pleuritis and extrapleural proliferation of tumour cells died within 2 yrs, while only one of 14 patients lacking such manifestations died within the same period (p<0.05). All three patients without spindle tumour cells survived for 12 yrs after the diagnosis, while all four patients with such cells died during the same period (p<0.05). In conclusion, 21 patients with pulmonary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma were reported, of whom three demonstrated partial spontaneous regression, and adverse prognostic features were identified.

Adolescent↗

Deep breathing and awake apnoea in a patient who had recurrent hypoxaemia and hypercapnia without sleep apnoea.

A 21 yr old with deep breathing and awake apnoea, who had recurrent hypoxaemia and hypercapnia without sleep apnoea, was presented. Although the organic abnormality responsible for the breathing disturbance was not found, administration of acetazolamide facilitated several breaths between sighs, and the patient's hypoxaemia with hypercapnia improved. Some patients who have abnormalities in the cortical control of breathing that cannot be detected by present methods of examination may experience some improvement in breathing with the administration of chemical stimulants such as acetazolamide.

Acetazolamide↗

Polypoid bronchial lesions due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a patient with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

A 69 yr old female was hospitalized for further examination of abnormal shadows on chest radiographs. She had a history of tuberculous pleurisy, rheumatoid arthritis and gold-induced interstitial pneumonia. On admission she still suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. A chest computed tomography scan on admission showed clusters of small nodules in subpleural regions of both lungs combined with bronchiectasis. Mycobacterium avium complex was cultured repeatedly from the sputum. Bronchoscopic examination disclosed white-yellow polypoid lesions in the orifice of the left B4 bronchus. Cultures of the brushing specimen of the polypoid lesions and bronchial aspirates from the B4 bronchus yielded smoky-grey mycelial colonies that were later identified as Scedosporium apiospermum. It was concluded that the polypoid bronchial lesions due to Scedosporium apiospermum were formed in the preexisting dilated bronchus caused by Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Aged↗

Idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis: comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and BOOP.

Based on past difficulties in clinically differentiating patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NSIP), which all manifest clinically as interstitial lung disease, experience with pathologically confirmed examples of the three diseases was reviewed to compare clinical profiles and prognosis and to define NSIP more clearly. Thirty-one patients (15 males and 16 females) were pathologically identified as NSIP and subclassified into either the cellular (n=16) or fibrotic group (n=15). All 31 patients were clinically considered to be idiopathic NSIP cases. Patients with idiopathic BOOP (n=16) and IPF (n=64) were compared with the NSIP patients. Subacute presentation of interstitial lung disease characterized both idiopathic NSIP and idiopathic BOOP. NSIP patients showed volume loss on a chest radiograph (29.0%) and honeycombing on a computed tomography scan (25.8%); these features were not found in BOOP patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytosis was characteristic of both BOOP and NSIP. Two subgroups of NSIP can be recognized histologically: patients in the fibrotic group had a less favourable outcome than those in the cellular group. BOOP and NSIP had a more favourable outcome than IPF. In conclusion, idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia can be differentiated from other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, both pathologically and clinically.

Adult↗

Suppression by water extracts of Sophora plants of sucrose-induced hyperglycemia in rats and inhibition of intestinal disaccharidases in vitro.

Partially purified hot-water extracts of the roots of plants of the Sophora family suppressed the increase in blood glucose concentration of rats in the oral sugar tolerance test. The extracts also inhibited rat intestinal sucrase and maltase. The most potent sample was about 15 times more active than catechin, a positive control, in these experiments.

Animals↗

The chondrogenic potential of human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells.

Mesenchymal progenitor cells provide a source of cells for the repair of musculoskeletal tissue. However, in vitro models are needed to study the mechanisms of differentiation of progenitor cells. This study demonstrated the successful induction of in vitro chondrogenesis with human bone-marrow-derived osteochondral progenitor cells in a reliable and reproducible culture system. Human bone marrow was removed and fractionated, and adherent cell cultures were established. The cells were then passaged into an aggregate culture system in a serum-free medium. Initially, the cell aggregates contained type-I collagen and neither type-II nor type-X collagen was detected. Type-II collagen was typically detected in the matrix by the fifth day, with the immunoreactivity localized in the region of metachromatic staining. By the fourteenth day, type-II and type-X collagen were detected throughout the cell aggregates, except for an outer region of flattened, perichondrial-like cells in a matrix rich in type-I collagen. Aggrecan and link protein were detected in extracts of the cell aggregates, providing evidence that large aggregating proteoglycans of the type found in cartilaginous tissues had been synthesized by the newly differentiating chondrocytic cells; the small proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin, were also detected in extracts. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies specific for chondroitin 4-sulfate and keratan sulfate demonstrated a uniform distribution of proteoglycans throughout the extracellular matrix of the cell aggregates. When the bone-marrow-derived cell preparations were passaged in monolayer culture as many as twenty times, with cells allowed to grow to confluence at each passage, the chondrogenic potential of the cells was maintained after each passage.

Adult↗

Pharmacological treatment in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are usually treated with bronchodilator therapy, glucocorticoids and antibiotics. However, there are few experimental data on the effects of these agents in patients with acute COPD. A beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist is usually given first because it can be expected to produce a rapid response. An anticholinergic agent should also be given when the patient is severely ill or responds inadequately to the beta(2) agonist. These agents can be administered via a nebuliser or using a metered-dose inhaler in conjunction with a spacer device. Glucocorticoids can accelerate recovery if the standard empirical regimens for acute exacerbations of asthma are used, although a longer treatment duration appears to be required. Theophylline provides little additional benefit in patients who receive frequent doses of inhaled bronchodilators and an adequate dosage of a glucocorticoid. Although the role of bacterial infections is not completely understood, the use of antibiotics is justified in patients with severe airflow limitation who have febrile tracheobronchitis.

Acetylcysteine↗

Human substance P receptor expressed in Sf9 cells couples with multiple endogenous G proteins.

To identify the G proteins involved in the function of human substance P receptor (hSPR), the receptor was expressed in Sf9 cells using the baculovirus expression system. Maximal hSPR expression was up to 65 pmol/mg membrane protein. The following data indicated that hSPR in Sf9 membranes is coupled to endogenous G proteins: 1) binding of agonist radioligand [125I]BHSP to the receptor was sensitive to guanine nucleotides; and 2) stimulation of the receptor increased [35S]GTPgammaS binding. The hSPR-associated G proteins were identified by photoaffinity labeling with [alpha-32P]-azidoanilido GTP ([alpha-32P]AAGTP), followed by immunoprecipitation of the labeled G proteins with antibodies specific for various Galpha-subunits. These experiments showed that stimulation of hSPR in Sf9 membranes activated multiple endogenous G proteins including Galpha(o), Galpha(q/11), and Galpha(s). While hSPR's ability to associate with Gq/11 is well-documented, the present study provides the first evidence of hSPR's potential to activate Galpha(o) and Galpha(s).

Animals↗

[Direct effects of Chinese herbal medicine "hochuekkito" on sperm movement].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chinese herbal medicine, "Hochuekkito" is widely used for male infertility in Japan. There have been many reports concerning its clinical usefulness but very few reports of in vitro experiments studying the mechanism of its effects. In addition to stimulating germ cells, we analyzed its direct effects on sperm using computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Motile sperm were prepared using swim up technique from semen collected from ten healthy volunteers. Sperm movements (motility, velocity, linearity) were analyzed by CASA after adding either serum containing anti-sperm antibody (ASA) or normal serum with or without Hochuekkito. RESULTS: Two hours after adding serum with ASA, the decrease of sperm motility was significantly reduced from 25.1% (92.8%-->67.7%) to 12.5% (92.9%-->80.6%) by adding Hochuekkito. No significant difference in velocity and linearity was observed between two groups. By adding normal serum, any of three parameters differed significantly with or without Hochuekkito. CONCLUSION: Protective effects of Hochuekkito on sperm was suggested. Although normal sperm with ASA was used in this report, since the sperm of infertile patients are said to be more fragile, this results imply that direct protective effect is one of the mechanism of Hochuekkito for male infertility.

Adult↗

[Clinical analysis of foreign patients with tuberculosis found in Chugoku-Shikoku area].

In this study, we investigated 45 foreign patients who had been diagnosed as having tuberculosis in Chugoku-Shikoku area during the past 12 years. Regarding regional characteristics, in Hiroshima prefecture an epidemic of tuberculosis was experienced among patients coming from South America, but antituberculous therapy was performed for 87% of the patients because of the high coverage of the health insurance scheme. But in Okayama prefecture, most of the patients were female and came from Asian countries, such as, the Philippines. Antituberculous therapy was not performed for nine patients because of no coverage of the health insurance scheme. In the other prefectures, only a few cases of tuberculosis were experienced, but in Yamaguchi prefecture two of three foreign patients were multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Adolescent↗

[A successful case of minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) followed by PTCA].

A 70-year-old man who developed angina pectoris underwent cardiac catheterization, which showed total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), associated with 75% stenosis of the right coronary artery (RCA) and 90% stenosis of the small circumflex coronary artery (CX). The LAD received good collateral flow from the RCA. The patient was scheduled to undergo the MIDCAB for the LAD using the internal thoracic artery (ITA), combined with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for the RCA subsequently. A left anterior submammarian skin incision of 10 cm in length was made. The fifth costal cartilage was removed. The left ITA was directly harvested from the chest wall from the 4th to 7th intercostal space, and was anastomosed to the midportion of the LAD without cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient was quickly recovered after the operation. On the 8th postoperative day, the patient successfully underwent the PTCA for the RCA after the ITA-LAD graft had been verified to be patent. The MIDCAB could be indicated for multivessel coronary disease in conjunction with the PTCA.

Aged↗

[Analysis of postoperative shivering following the deliberate mild hypothermia during neurosurgery].

We induced deliberate mild hypothermia in 96 patients who underwent intracranial operations using a water blanket and a convective device blanket. The lowest temperature measured at the tympanic membrane during mild hypothermia was adjusted to 34.5 degrees C. The patients were divided into two groups in respect to the occurrence of postoperative shivering, and the relationship between the perioperative parameters and the occurrence of postoperative shivering was evaluated. Shivering was observed postoperatively in 29 to 96 patients (30.2%). In the group with shivering (SV), age was significantly lower and body weight and body surface area were significantly larger than the group without shivering (NSV). Urinary output was significantly larger in SV than in NSV. Tympanic membrane, nasopharyngeal, and rectal temperatures at the end of surgery and nasopharyngeal, rectal, and peripheral temperatures just after the extubation were significantly lower in SV than in NSV. These results suggest that sufficient rewarming of both the core and peripheral temperatures is important to prevent the postoperative shivering following the mild hypothermic therapy in neurosurgical patients, especially in young patients.

Adult↗