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Biomedical subjects

K Tamura

Publications and source records attributed to K Tamura.

1,503 records · Page 84Linked to original sources

Relationship between activity levels and circadian blood pressure variations.

In 17 healthy Japanese students (14 males and 3 females) an ambulatory activity level monitoring instrument (Actigraph) was attached to the wrist for 48-hour measurement of wrist movement (with 0.01G or higher acceleration). At the same time, an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring apparatus was attached to these subjects to monitor blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) every 30 minutes. Sleeping hours were calculated from the activity levels. The sleeping hours obtained by the Actigraph correlated with those judged from the diary. The correlation was better for the go-to-sleep time than for the awakening time. Activity level, HR and BP showed a similar circadian variation. Activity level differed significantly between the active daytime (4500 counts/hour) and during sleep at night (720 counts/hour). The acrophase of activity level, obtained by the cosinor method, was 235 degrees which did not significantly differ from that of BP and HR. Hourly activity levels correlated with HR and BP at corresponding hours. These results suggest that BP is affected by activity levels even if this rhythm continues to recur in bedrest.

Adult↗

Beneficial effect of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) on 24-hr simple hypothermic preservation of the canine pancreas graft.

This study was performed to investigate the potential protective effect of OKY-046, an inhibitor of thromboxane A2 synthetase, on the viability of 24-hr preserved canine segmental pancreas graft. Each graft was preserved in either cold Euro-Collins (E-C) solution (control group; n = 5) or E C+OKY-046(10(-4)M) solution (OKY-046 group; n = 5). In both groups, grafts were preserved for 24 hr and calculated the total levels of 6keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6ket-PGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2(TxB2) in the preservation solution per pancreas graft weight at the time point of 0,3,7,12,24 hr after preservation. The efficacy of OKY-046 in protecting ischemically stressed grafts was examined by histological findings of the grafts before transplantation and blood flow of the transplanted pancreas graft. During 24-hr preservation time, increased production of 6ket-PGF1 alpha and decreased production of TxB2 were found in OKY-046 group. Histologically ischemic damage of the acinar cells was observed in the control group, but it was milder in the OKY-046 group. The blood flow of the transplanted pancreas in the OKY-046 group were higher than that in control group. In the OKY-046 group, all dogs survived with functioning grafts, although some grafts were lost in the control group. These results suggest that there is a possibility that OKY-046 may contribute to the improvement of the survival rate in segmental pancreas transplantation.

Animals↗

Local multicystic encephalopathy: case report.

A case of local multicystic encephalopathy is presented. CT scan showed a low-density area with a string-like structure of iso-density in the left frontal lobe. Angiogram demonstrated no abnormality. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multiple cystic lesions, and we diagnosed the case as local multicystic encephalopathy. This disease generally occurs diffusely, and local occurrence is very rare. MRI was very useful for diagnosis and delineating the details.

Adult↗

p53 protein expression as prognostic factor in human pancreatic cancer.

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are considered to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of pancreatic cancer. The present study was designed to assess the clinicopathological significance of the expression of p53 protein in human pancreatic cancer. A total of 64 specimens of pancreatic cancer (44 primary and 20 metastatic lesions) were obtained by surgery in our department between 1982 and 1995, and p53 protein was stained using an immunohistochemical staining method (strepto-avidin-biotin complex method) with 2 kinds of anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies (DO-1 and PAb240). DO-1-p53 was usually stained in the nucleus of cancer cells and was positively expressed in 35 out of 64 specimens (54.7%): 21 out of 44 primary lesions (47.7%), and 14 out of 20 metastatic lesions (70.0%). On the other hand, PAb240-p53 was stained in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in 45 out of 64 specimens (70.3%): 33 out of 44 primary lesions (75.0%) and 12 out of 20 metastatic lesions (60.0%). The survival rate of the patients with DO-1-p53 (+) pancreatic cancer after pancreatectomy was significantly lower than that of patients with DO-1-p53 (-) pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, there were no significant implications of PAb240-p53 protein expression on survival after pancreatectomy. With regard to the clinicopathological characteristics, the rate of DO-1-p53 protein expression was significantly higher in elderly patients (> or = 65 y.o.). As a result, DO-1-p53 protein expression may be a beneficial prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer, and it is a factor independent of the stage and other clinicopathological factors.

Adenoma↗

A splenic-inferior mesenteric venous anastomosis prevents gastric congestion following pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy with extensive portal vein resection for cancer of the head of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: In order to prevent gastric congestion after both of the splenic and coronary veins were taken as part of extensive portal vein resection in pylorus preserving (PP) pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), we made a splenic-inferior mesenteric venous (SpIMV) anastomosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients underwent PP subtotal PD with such extensive portal vein resection under the diagnosis of pancreas head cancer. The portal vein was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis, and the coronary vein was ligated. Since the stump of the splenic vein could not be approximated to the portal or superior mesenteric vein, shunting the splenic venous flow to the inferior mesenteric vein was attempted by making a SpIMV anastomosis in 3 patients and by preserving the SpIMV confluence in a patient. Postoperative celiac angiography showed that venous outflow from the stomach, spleen and remnant pancreas collected into the splenic vein and passed through the SpIMV anastomosis or confluence, and finally drained into the portal vein by inferior mesenteric to superior mesenteric collateral. RESULTS: No remarkable congestion of the stomach was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion making a SpIMV anastomosis or preserving the SKpIMV confluence is beneficial for preventing gastric congestion following PP PD with extensive portal vein resection for cancer of the head of the pancreas.

Aged↗

Clinicopathological significance of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in human pancreatic cancer.

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGF-R) was examined immunohistochemically in 60 primary and 26 metastatic lesions of pancreatic carcinoma. EGF was stained mainly in the cytoplasm of tumor cells, and EGF-R was stained mainly on the surface of cells. The expression rates of EGF and EGF-R were 28% and 43% for primary lesions, and 46% and 46% for metastatic lesions, respectively. The expression of EGF and EGF-R alone did not correlate with any clinicopathological factors such as clinical stage, tumor size, nodal involvement, histology, etc. The median survival period after pancreatectomy was 21.4 months for patients with EGF(+) cancers and 25.1 months for those with EGF (-) ones. On the other hand, the median survival period was 22.7 months for patients with EGF-R (+) cancers and 25.0 months for those with EGF-R (-) cancers. There were no significant differences in survival between groups of patients differing in EGF or EGF-R expression. When the expression of EGF and EGF-R was analysed in combination, the survival curve of patients with EGF(+) and EGF-R(+) cancers was found to be lower than that of the rest of the patients (p = 0.07), and especially the survival curve of patients with EGF(+)EGF-R(+) cancers was significantly lower than that of patients with EGF(+)EGF-R(-) cancers (p = 0.02), and EGF(-)EGF-R(+) cancers (p = 0.06). These results indicate that the expression of EGF or EGF-R alone in pancreatic cancer does not reflect the prognosis of patients; however the coexpression of EGF and EGF-R may be a beneficial prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of gastric cancer with oral UFT (a mixture of uracil and fturafur) during the waiting period for surgery.

Our previous experience has demonstrated that growth of gastric cancer during the waiting period for surgery cannot be neglected, and some patients hope to receive prophylactic treatment to inhibit the growth of tumor until surgery. The present study was designed to assess the clinical benefits of preoperative chemotherapy with oral UFT for gastric cancer during the waiting period for surgery. Fifty patients with gastric cancer (24 early, 25 advanced and 1 recurrent cancers) were treated with oral UFT at 300-600 mg/day for 7-36 days before surgery and the objective responses and the postsurgical survivals were evaluated. In 42 of 50 patients objective responses of primary lesions were assessed by endoscopy or upper gastrointestinal series examination, and 2 CRs, 15 PRs and 25 NCs were seen (40% response). The histological effect was evaluated in 50 patients and the following classifications were made: grade 3 (complete disappearance or necrosis of tumor cells), 2; grade 2 (necrotic changes > 2/3 area), 4; grade 1b (> 1/3 area), 7; grade 1a (< 1/3 area), 15; and grade 0 (no histological changes), 22. A longer period of UFT administration was associated with CR or PR. All the patients underwent gastrectomy (38 curative and 12 palliative gastrectomies): all patients with Stage I-III primary gastric cancer are alive after surgery, and the 50% survival period of the patients with Stage IV cancer was 20 months. The side effects were not serious, including slight myelotoxicity, liver dysfunction and anorexia. It is concluded that preoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer with oral UFT on outpatient basis may result in down-staging as well as the prevention of tumor growth during the waiting period for surgery without serious side effects.

Administration, Oral↗

p53 expression affects the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas.

p53 tumor suppressor gene has a dual role as a trigger of apoptosis and as an initiator of DNA repair, suggesting its involvement in the mechanisms of drug resistance or chemosensitivity. The present study assessed the implication of p53 expression in the prognosis of patients and the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. A total of 58 patients with primary IDC of the pancreas underwent pancreatectomy between 1982 and 1996: 28 patients received surgery alone and 30 patients received postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy. p53 protein was stained immunohistochemically with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody. p53 was positively expressed in 29 out of 58 primary lesions (50%), and the survival curve of the patients with p53 (+) pancreatic cancer is lower than that of those with p53 (-) cancer. On the other hand, the survival curve of adjuvant chemotherapy group was also higher than that of surgery alone group, and furthermore, in patients with p53 (+) cancer, the survival curve of adjuvant chemotherapy group was significantly better than that of the surgery alone group. A multivariate analysis showed that p53 expression or adjuvant chemotherapy is not a significant risk-factor for prognosis, but that adjuvant chemotherapy is a significant risk factor for the patients with p53 (+) pancreatic cancer, which suggests that p53 expression affects the efficacy of chemotherapy. p53 expression may be beneficial as an indicator for introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

Adult↗

Epidermal growth factor and its receptor as prognostic indicators in Chinese patients with pancreatic cancer.

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) was studied immunohistochemically in fifty-seven Chinese patients with primary invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. The frequency of expression of EGF and EGFR was 73.7% and 68.4%, respectively. The frequency of their co-expression was 61.4%. No significant relationships were seen between the expression of EGF and its receptor and the patients' age, gender, site of the tumor, stage, and grade. Positive co-expression of EGF and EGFR was significantly associated with the poor prognosis. The median survival of the EGF(-)EGFR(-) group for 17.2 months was longer than that of the EGF(+)EGFR(+) group for 9.7 months (p = 0.02), as well as that of the other groups of EGR(+)EGFR(-), EGF(-)EGFR(+), and EGF(+)EGFR(+) for 9.9 month (p = 0.03). These results suggested that EGF and EGFR were frequently expressed in Chinese patients with IDC of the pancreas. Their co-expression may be a useful prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer.

Adult↗