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Kimitoshi Kato

Publications and source records attributed to Kimitoshi Kato.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 overexpression is observed in various neoplasms and COX-2 inhibition has been attempted as prevention and/or therapy in these neoplasms. Carcinoid tumors are thought to arise from neuroendocrine cells and originate mainly in the gastrointestinal tract. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 is reportedly expressed in neuroendocrine cells of normal colorectal mucosa. The role of COX in carcinoids has not previously been investigated. The aim of the present paper was to clarify the expression of COX-1 and -2, and their role in human gastrointestinal carcinoids. METHODS: Expression of COX-1 and -2 was studied immunohistochemically in 38 gastrointestinal carcinoids. Five bronchopulmonary and seven metastatic carcinoids were also examined, for comparison with gastrointestinal carcinoids. The immunohistochemical score (IHS) was calculated from staining intensity and immunoreactive cell population, and ranked according to four grades (negative to strong). RESULTS: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 was expressed in all gastrointestinal carcinoids (weak, 1; moderate, 13; strong, 24) and bronchopulmonary carcinoids (weak, 1; moderate, 4), as well as their metastases (moderate, 3; strong, 4). The IHS of COX-2 in larger tumors was significantly lower than that in smaller tumors. However, the IHS of COX-2 at the advancing tumor edge was significantly higher than that at the centers of tumors >or=10 mm in size. Faint COX-1 expression was detected in only one duodenal, one rectal and four bronchopulmonary carcinoids. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced COX-2 expression was observed in gastrointestinal as well as bronchopulmonary carcinoids and their metastases, especially at the advancing edges of the tumors. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 may play a role in carcinoid progression.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Oral peppermint oil is a useful antispasmodic for double-contrast barium meal examination.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intraluminally administered peppermint oil (PO) is reportedly a safe and useful antispasmodic for gastroscopy, colonoscopy and double-contrast barium enema. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of oral PO for double-contrast barium meal examination (DCBM) without other antispasmodics. METHODS: Two hundred and five randomly chosen subjects (PO group) and 215 sex- and age-matched controls were enrolled. All participants underwent DCBM. The PO group was orally administered PO and a barium suspension mixture at the start of DCBM. Radiographs were blindly evaluated for spasm and overlapping with barium-filled duodenal loops (scored 0-3, indicating none to severe). The quality of barium coating of the mucosa and overall diagnostic quality (scored 0-3, indicating not acceptable to excellent) were also evaluated. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in subject acceptance between PO group and controls, and no adverse effects in either group. Scores for spasm at the esophagus, lower stomach and duodenal bulb were significantly lower in the PO than in the control group (P < 0.001). Scores for overlapping at the lower stomach and duodenal bulb were significantly lower in the PO than in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively). Scores for overall diagnostic quality at the esophagus, lower stomach and duodenal bulb were significantly higher in the PO than in the control group (P < 0.001). Oral PO reduces spasm of the esophagus, lower stomach and duodenal bulb, inhibits barium flow to the distal duodenum, and improves diagnostic quality without other antispasmodics. CONCLUSIONS: Oral PO is a safe, easy to use and effective antispasmodic for DCBM.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome with antibiotics: pilot study assessing the involvement of Coxiella burnetii infection.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is involved in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we administered tetracycline antibiotics to subjects with CFS, and followed changes in clinical symptoms, PCR findings, and C. burnetii antibody titers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 8 patients with CFS and 213 with nonspecific complaints such as chronic fatigue and low-grade fever for several months or longer but not meeting the diagnostic criteria for CFS. All were examined for C. burnetii infection by nested PCR and the indirect immunofluorescence test (IF). RESULTS: Four CFS patients (the CFS group) and 54 controls [the post-Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) group] positive for C. burnetii were treated mainly with minocycline or doxycycline (100 mg/day) for 3 months. After treatment, all 58 patients tested negative for C. burnetii infection. In the CFS group, no significant difference was noted between the mean pre- and post-treatment temperatures or headache scores. Similarly, there was no significant improvement in performance status (PS) scores. In the QFS group, however, mean temperatures and headache scores were significantly decreased after treatment (p<0.001). PS scores were also improved. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the possibility of direct involvement of C. burnetii in the pathological state of CFS to be low, despite the C. burnetii infection rate being high in CFS patients. This is a pilot study and further larger investigations are necessary to confirm our preliminary results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Abnormal gastroesophageal flap valve is highly associated with endoscopic reflux esophagitis after Helicobacter pylori eradication.

BACKGROUND: Whether or not eradicating Helicobacter pylori worsens reflux esophagitis remains controversial. We investigated the relationship between gastroesophageal flap valve grading and endoscopic reflux esophagitis (in patients with peptic ulcer and gastritis) before and after H. pylori eradication in a case controlled study. Whether endoscopic assessment of the gastroesophageal flap valve allows prediction of endoscopic reflux esophagitis development or exacerbation was also assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 220 patients with peptic ulcer or chronic gastritis, who received H. pylori eradication therapy, were followed for at least 6 months (range, 6-34 months) for endoscopic changes. Another 88 age- and disease-matched H. pylori-positive controls, without eradication therapy, were also enrolled. Gastroesophageal flap valve grade (I-IV) was assessed using the Hill classification. RESULTS: Endoscopic reflux esophagitis incidence was significantly (p < .01) higher in abnormal gastroesophageal flap valve (grades III and IV) than in normal gastroesophageal flap valve (grades I and II) cases in both H. pylori eradication and control groups. The rate of new endoscopic reflux esophagitis after eradication was significantly (p < .01) higher in the abnormal than in the normal gastroesophageal flap valve group (54.5% vs. 9.1%). By contrast, the endoscopic reflux esophagitis exacerbation rate in patients with endoscopic reflux esophagitis before eradication was low (4.5%) and endoscopic reflux esophagitis improvement was observed in 40.9% of these patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest gastroesophageal flap valve grading by endoscopy to be useful for predicting the risk of newly developing endoscopic reflux esophagitis after H. pylori eradication, in addition to predicting the presence of endoscopic reflux esophagitis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Gene expression analysis in the stomachs of water immersion-restraint stress rats using high-density oligonucleotide array.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Research on gastric lesions developing in response to stress is essential to elucidating the pathogenesis of these lesions as well as the interplay with other factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Genes expressed individually or in sets, such as heat shock proteins, growth factors, proto-oncogenes and cyclooxygenases, have been investigated in the stomach. However, gene expression in the stomach after stress exposure have not yet been comprehensively examined. We investigated the gastric gene expression profile in response to stress. METHODS: A high-density oligonucleotide array, representing approximately 850 genes, was used to determine gene expression changes in the stomachs of water immersion-restraint stress (WIRS) rats. RESULTS: Fifty-eight genes including expressed sequence tag (EST) genes were upregulated more than twofold in the 30 min-WIRS rat stomach as compared with the control. Concomitantly, five genes were downregulated. Numbers of up- or downregulated genes decreased rapidly at 1 and 2 h of WIRS. Altered gene expression of heat shock proteins, cell cycle regulators, proto-oncogenes and metabolic enzymes were recognized. Several of these genes, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, did not reportedly show gastric expression changes in response to stress. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in addition to the previously identified stress-induced genes, expression of a number of other genes in the stomach is also involved in stress response.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Improvement of chronic nonspecific symptoms by long-term minocycline treatment in Japanese patients with Coxiella burnetii infection considered to have post-Q fever fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To address the presence of post-Q fever fatigue syndrome (post-QFS) in Japan, and to evaluate the efficacy of minocycline for this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 20 Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) seropositive patients with persistent nonspecific symptoms including general fatigue, low-grade fever, myalgia and arthralgia, changes in subjective symptoms, C. burnetii antibody titers and C. burnetii DNA were evaluated after antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: After treatment mainly with minocycline (100 mg/day for 3 months), the clinical picture improved in all 20 patients as evidenced by decreases in body temperature (13/17), general fatigue (20/20) and headache (9/12). The mean performance status (PS) score improved from 5.0 to 1.8 (p<0.01). All 7 who had been positive for C. burnetii DNA, became negative together with an improvement in subjective symptoms. Indirect immunofluorescence tests demonstrated 6 of the 20 patients to be positive for C. burnetii IgM antibody to phase II antigen (1:32), and 18 to be positive for IgG antibody (1:128, 1:256). Antibody titers of both IgM (6/6, 1:16) and IgG (18/18, 1:16) decreased markedly after treatment. CONCLUSION: These results of an open label study in Japan suggest that minocycline administration is useful for improving chronic nonspecific symptoms considered to be post-Q fever fatigue syndrome caused by C. burnetii infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Epidemiological survey on the route of Coxiella burnetii infection in an animal hospital.

The source of Q fever infection, was investigated by serological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of specimens from humans and pets in an animal hospital. Two animal health technicians showed a positive serological reaction against Coxiella burnetiiat the start. One of the two positive subjects remained PCR-positive for about 1 year and the other converted to PCR-negative, but the IgG antibody titer remained at 1 : 128 after minocycline treatment. Among animals housed in the hospital, two dogs were PCR-positive at the start, and the infection was transmitted to three cats about 5 months later. All these animals became negative for C. burnetii DNA after minocycline treatment. Furthermore, C. burnetii was isolated from the sera of the two humans and two dogs. C. burnetiiisolates from the humans and dogs were analyzed, and it was found that the sequence homology of the com1 region was high, 99.9%, and the QpH1 plasmid was detected. These results suggest that these isolates were the same type, and it was considered that the infection was derived from the dogs, though the time of infection could not be confirmed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Stress ulcer].

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Acute Disease↗