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Biomedical subjects

K Tashiro

Publications and source records attributed to K Tashiro.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Malignant melanotic neuroectodermal tumor arising from the pineal body.

A case of a melanotic neuroectodermal tumor arising from pineal region of a 4-year-old girl is presented. The tumor had spread diffusely to the meninges, consistent with malignant behavior. Histologically, the tumor consisted primarily of epithelial elements arranged in tubules, cords and nests separated by fibrous vascular tissue in addition to a small neuroblastomatous focus. Melanin pigment was frequently observed in the epithelial tumor cells, and melanin-laden macrophages were also often observed. No teratoid elements were found. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for neuron-specific enolase but were nonreactive for S-100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen, glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin. Ultrastructurally, the epithelial nature of the tumor cells could be easily demonstrated. In addition, melanosomes in various stages in maturation were observed, indicating melanogenesis of the tumor. On the basis of the tumor location and the histological similarities previously observed for the fetal pineal body, it is very likely that this melanotic epithelial tumor could have originated from the fetal pineal gland.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

A laminin-pepsin fragment with cell attachment and neurite outgrowth activity at distinct sites.

Laminin is a large basement membrane glycoprotein which influences the behavior and morphology of a variety of cells. We have found that laminin and a pepsin fragment of laminin (P-lam) contain distinct sites for HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma cell attachment and for neurite outgrowth activity of PC12 and NG108-15 cell lines. Reduction and alkylation of laminin and P-lam fragment disulfide bonds, in the absence of denaturing agents, markedly reduced the cell attachment activity without reducing the neurite outgrowth response. The P-lam fragment (approximately 375 kDa) was found to contain part of the cross region of laminin and a portion of the long arm, on the basis of recognition by antisera against laminin synthetic peptides and fusion proteins. Modification of arginine residues by cyclohexanedione also had no effect on neurite outgrowth but reduced HT-1080 cell adhesion. Modification of lysine residues by succinic and citraconic anhydride, however, abolished laminin neurite outgrowth but not cell attachment activity. Neurite outgrowth activity was recovered by reversing the lysine modification. These data support the existence on laminin of separate sites for cell attachment and for neurite outgrowth.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1989

Changes in the patterns of RNA synthesis in early embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis.

We analyzed the accumulation of newly-synthesized heterogeneous mRNA-like RNA, 4 S RNA, 5 S RNA, snRNAs and rRNA before and after the midblastula transition (MBT) in Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. Based on the kinetics of the labeling, we concluded that the pattern of RNA synthesis in Xenopus embryogenesis changes following at least three characteristically different phases. The first phase is the pre-MBT stage, which is characterized by the synthesis of heterogeneous mRNA-like RNA, accompanied by the synthesis of small amounts of 4 S RNA, 5 S RNA and snRNAs. The second phase is the MBT stage which is characterized by a large activation (about 50-fold increase on a per cell basis) of 4 S RNA synthesis. The third phase is the post-MBT stage which is characterized by the commencement and increase in rRNA synthesis. We assume that RNA polymerases II, III and I are activated in this order in early Xenopus embryogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Clinicopathological study of Ki-1-positive lymphomas.

We examined an antibody against Ki-1 antigen in 161 cases of malignant lymphoma, four of histiocytic sarcoma, and six of nonspecific lymphadenitis, using monoclonal antibody Ki-1, which is known to react selectively with activated lymphocytes, Reed-Sternberg cells, and Hodgkin's cells. Among them, 12 cases of malignant lymphoma demonstrated a diffuse positive cell membrane and/or cytoplasmic reaction of tumor cells and were categorized as Ki-1-positive lymphoma. Nine of these cases exhibited large cells with indented nuclei, distinct nucleoli, and abundant basophilic or amphophilic cytoplasm. Of the remaining three cases, two were of medium-sized and one of small-cell type. Immunologically, the 12 cases of malignant lymphoma demonstrated T-helper/inducer phenotype in six cases, B-cell in two case, and non-T, non-B in four cases. Tac and HLADR were positive in 9/12 and 4/5, respectively, and markers for histiocytes (lysozyme, alpha-1 anti-chymotrypsin, and OK-M1) were usually negative. Clinically, T-cell Ki-1-positive lymphoma was most likely to occur in the elderly, at extranodal sites, and had a rather poor prognosis (mean survival 35.5 months) as compared with B-cell and non-T, non-B lymphoma (7-52 months survival).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Experimental study of reflectance spectrophotometric analysis of the dog's dural sac--in the open decompressed state and after the application of external dural pressure.

Haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation were studied by tissue reflection spectra on the dural sac of dogs, Experimentally, decompression laminectomy and external pressure on the dural sac were carried out. Haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation were investigated in the open state, and after an external pressure was applied. After the application of external pressure, paraplegia occurred. The tissue Spectrum Analyser 'TS-200' (Sumitomo Electric Industries Co. Ltd, Japan) was used for the measurement of haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation. With this apparatus, an optical fibre probe is applied to irradiate tissue with white light, and the absorption spectrum of the reflected light from tissue is analysed. It has been confirmed that oxygen saturation was not changed in either state, however, haemoperfusion was decreased when external pressure was applied.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

An interleukin-4-dependent precursor clone is an intermediate of the differentiation pathway from an interleukin-3-dependent precursor clone into myeloid cells as well as B lymphocytes.

An interleukin-3-dependent progenitor clone LyD9 and its interleukin-4-dependent derivative clone K-4 were shown to differentiate into myeloid cells as well as B lymphocytes by coculture with bone marrow stroma cells. The K-4 clone is an intermediate between myeloid/lymphoid cells and the LyD9 clone that requires interleukin-4 for differentiation into B lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor-dependent derivatives (LS-1 and K-GM) were also established from induced LyD9 cells. LS-1 and K-GM were myeloid-committed cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The faecal flora of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

The faecal floras of two adult (male and female) and one infant (male) giant panda kept at the Ueno Zoo, Tokyo, Japan were examined and shown to be quite different from those of other animals. The predominant bacteria in the adults were Streptococcus (including Enterococcus) and Enterobacteriaceae, while obligate anaerobes had minor populations. Fastidious anaerobes were not detected. The predominant bacteria in the suckling infant were Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, followed by Bifidobacterium. After the infant began to eat bamboo leaves the number of Lactobacillus decreased and Bifidobacterium became undetectable, whereas Enterobacteriaceae became one of the most predominant flora. The most dominant streptococcus isolated from the female panda was identified as Streptococcus bovis, but those from the male adult and the weaned infant were not identified as any known species.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Persistence and expression of circular DNAs encoding Drosophila amylase, bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and others in Xenopus laevis embryos.

We injected circular forms of several different DNAs into fertilized eggs of Xenopus laevis, and studied the persistence and expression of the injected DNAs during early embryonic development. When we injected plasmids which contained Drosophila amylase genes, the copy number of the injected DNA increased only slightly during cleavage, started to decrease at the blastula stage, then became very small at the tadpole stage. In such embryos, Drosophila amylase activity was detected at and after the gastrula stage. When we injected other kinds of circular DNAs (pX1r101A, cDm2055, pII25.1, pBR322, and pSP-64-L14), their copy number did not increase throughout the early stages. When circular plasmids that contained bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) genes were injected, their copy number usually did not increase, but sometimes, for unknown reasons, it increased extensively throughout the blastula to gastrula stages. In both cases, CAT enzyme activity started to be expressed during the blastula to gastrula stages and disappeared at the 2 day-old tadpole stage. The level of CAT enzyme activity was roughly proportional to the amount of CAT mRNA formed, and also to the copy number of injected genes. From these results, we concluded that in Xenopus embryos, exogenously-injected circular DNAs are preserved for the most part as circular DNAs, and that the increase in their copy number within the embryos is not prerequisite for the expression of their genetic information.

Amylases↗
PubMed1989

[Carpal tunnel syndrome in acromegaly--4-case report and review of literature].

Four cases of carpal tunnel syndrome in acromegaly were reported. These 4 cases were found in 21 acromegalies (19%). Besides change of features, they complained bilateral sensory disturbances of their hands. After transsphenoidal removal of pituitary adenoma, GH levels returned to the normal range and sensory disturbances were improved in all cases. Mechanism of carpal tunnel syndrome in acromegaly is that edematous synovial tissues compress the median nerve because oversecretion of growth hormone causes increase of sodium and water retention in the extracellular fluid. The patient who showes high basal level of growth hormone and/or acromegalic pattern by various tolerance tests does not always have the carpal tunnel syndrome. But this syndrome is apt to be found in active acromegaly. So the detection of the symptom showed by this activity such as hypersudation in our cases leads to the early diagnosis of acromegaly.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1989

[Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor in urothelial cancer].

Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) levels are known to increase in some kinds of cancer. We determined the PSTI levels in patients with urothelial cancer to evaluate its usefulness as a tumor marker. The subjects were 101 patients who had bladder cancer (n = 81) or renal pelvis and ureter cancer (n = 20). Twenty-six healthy volunteers were used as controls. PSTI was measured by an RI kit using the double antibody method, and levels above 20 ng/ml were taken as positive. Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) levels were also measured in 32 cases. None of the controls, 65% of the patients with renal pelvis and ureter cancer, and 30.9% of bladder cancer had positive levels of PSTI. The positive rate for each stage was 22.3% for Tis, Taand T1, 38.5% for T2, 73.3% for T3 and 100% for T4. The rate tended to increase with the progress of tumor infiltration. All subjects with positive readings above 30 ng/ml had progressive cancer. The usefulness of PSTI as a tumor marker was similar to that of TPA. PSTI is not a specific marker of urothelial cancer, but it showed an association with the progression of cancer. Therefore, it is considered to be a useful marker to determine postoperative metastasis, recurrence, and disease progression.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Two cases of familial spastic paraparesis with amyotrophy of the hands].

Familial spastic paraparesis with amyotrophy of the hands was reported, and its significance in the literature was reviewed. Case 1: An 18 year-old boy, who had been suffering from spastic gait since 12 years old, noticed his hand muscle wasting distributed bilateral first interosseous muscle, thenar and hypothenar muscle at age 17. Case 2: A 20 year-old man, elder brother of case 1, who also walked in spastic manner from his childhood, developed bilateral hand muscle atrophy similar to case 1 at age 19. Clinical features of these two cases could be summarized as familial spastic paraparesis with amyotrophy characterized by hand muscle atrophy, spasticity of lower extremities with hyperreflexia and bilateral positive pathological reflexes and spastic gait. Their younger sister was also examined, who showed only minimal spastic paraparesis. The electrophysiological examination including EMG and SEP suggested the pathological process could involve not only lateral column, but also posterior column and anterior horn. Slight but generalized spinal cord atrophy was demonstrated on metrizamide CT myelography. The muscle biopsy performed from left gastrocnemius in case 2, confirmed neurogenic changes. Although the association of retinal degeneration, cataracta, mental retardation, pes cavus or even generalized amyotrophy has been reported in familial spastic paraparesis, only limited cases are available, dealing with the amyotrophy of limbs. As far the cases with amyotrophy localized to the hands are concerned, it is absolutely rare and only the cases reported by Silver could be regarded as similar or same clinical entities to our cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[A case report of sacral chordoma].

Sacrococcygeal chordoma is one of the retrorectal tumors. Relative rarity and anatomical location of this may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and surgical treatment. We report a case of sacrococcygeal chordoma successfully treated by high sacral resection by a posterior approach, in which the co-operative efforts of gastroenterological surgeons and an orthopedic surgeon were employed. A 64-year-old man with a long term continued vague anal pain was referred to our hospital. Digital rectal examination revealed an elastic hard mass presacrally. Plain sagittal radiograph, CT, barium enema showed a retrorectal mass and sacral destruction. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically by the specimen taken by open biopsy. Surgical resection was carried out in prone position with the buttocks elevated. The skin incision was upward arched transverse. The lower sacral vertebrae, including S3, were removed en block with the tumor. Bilateral S3 sacral nerve roots were preserved. Postoperative disturbances of the urination and defecation were not seen. High dose radiation therapy, 80 Gray, was done after surgery. Radiation ulcer of the skin was treated by free skin graft, but radiation proctocolitis was not seen. Now he is free from the disease.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1989

[The successful surgery of lung abscess formed from pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia during remission induction therapy].

This is a case report of a successful case of surgical treatment of a lung abscess formed from pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with a recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia during remission induction therapy. A 39 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for remission induction therapy of a recurrence of acute promyelocytic leukemia. We were successful in bringing her to a state of complete remission by a therapy of a intermediate-dose of Ara-C. Pulmonary aspergilloma was formed in the right lung during therapy. We performed transbronchial infusions to Amphotericin B which dissipated the fungus ball. However, a lung abscess was formed. We needed radical therapy, and there were no complications in the following surgical treatment. Recently, along with the tendency for the use of stronger chemotherapy treatment regimes for acute leukemia, there has been an increase of the number of mycosis cases such as the pulmonary aspergilloma case reported here. Accordingly, surgical treatment is becoming more and more a matter of necessity in the clinical course of leukemia patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Electrophysiological study on the atrophied pectoralis major muscle after modified radical mastectomy].

In order to clarify the cause of the atrophy of the pectoral muscles after modified radical mastectomy, twenty patients who had had the operation at Nagasaki Chuo National Hospital 40 days to 2 years prior to this study, were investigated by electromyography. Of 20 subjects, 11 had the operation to preserve the pectoralis major muscle and 9 had the operation to preserve both the pectoralis major and minor muscles. The results were as follows: 1) Electromyography revealed some damages to the pectoral nerves in 16 cases of 20 (80%). In 12 cases, development of fibrillation potentials was observed at rest, while motor unit potentials disappeared during voluntary contraction. These findings suggest the damage to the nerves including neutrotomy. 2) The regions with macroscopic muscular atrophy remarkably coincided with those with neurogenic changes on electromyography. This suggests that the atrophy of the pectoralis major after modified radical mastectomy might be mainly caused by the damage to the pectoral nerves. 3) The mastectomy preserving only the pectoralis major tends to cause damage to nerves innervating the sternocostal part of the pectoralis major more frequently than the mastectomy preserving both the pectoralis major and minor muscles. The abdominal part was frequently damaged irrespective of the types of the operation.

Action Potentials↗