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Biomedical subjects

M Asakawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Asakawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Poisoning by the red alga 'ogonori' (Gracilaria verrucosa) on the Nojima Coast, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

A food poisoning case due to the ingestion of 'ogonori', an edible red alga, occurred at Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, in late October 1993, resulting in two victims, including one death (female). No causative agent present in the ogonori was found from a routine bioassay for marine toxins. From the production of increased amounts of prostaglandins (PGs), mainly PGE2, by the alga on stimulation by cutting or soaking in fresh water, and further increase of PGE2 by addition of arachidonic acid, it appeared that an enzyme, probably fatty acid cyclooxygenase, in the ogonori and the body of the victim, was acting on the highly unsaturated fatty acids in the oil of the ingested seafood and in the blood hemorrhaged from the stomach of the victim. This resulted in the production of over 30 mg of PGE2 and small amounts of other PGs in a comparatively short time. With this dosage the victim suffered from nausea, vomiting, and hypotension, and died of hypotensive shock. PGE2 seems to work more selectively on females. This type of poisoning is very unusual, and differs from the more familiar forms of poisoning occurring after ingestion of marine organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy of a new 5-fluorouracil derivative, BOF-A2, in advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A multi-center phase II study.

Oral BOF-A2 (Emitefur), a new derivative of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) containing both 1-ethoxymethyl-5-FU (EMFU), a masked form of 5-FU, and 3-cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP), an inhibitor of 5-FU degradation, was administered to 71 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in a multi-center phase II study. The patients were scheduled to receive at least 2 courses of treatment, each consisting of 200 mg twice daily for 2 weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Out of 62 evaluable patients, 11 (18%) responded (8 of 44 adeno- and 3 of 15 squamous cell carcinomas). Thirty-four patients showed no change and 17 progressive disease. The incidences of grade > or = 2 hematologic toxicity were 5-8% for leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. The incidences of non-hematologic toxicity of grade > or = 2, such as anorexia, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhea, were close to 20% or lower.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

[Present status of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia--from epidemiology to etiology].

The present status of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) was evaluated from data collected as part of the Financial Support Program for patients with IIP, conducted in Hokkaido since 1979. The prevalence of IIP in 1992 was 4.08/100,000, and the yearly incidence was 1.23/100,000. The ratio of men to women was 1.85/1.0. Under age 55, women were more numerous than men, and over age 55, men were more numerous than women. Clinical and epidemiological analyses of the patients with IIP, with collagen vascular disease-interstitial pneumonia suggested possible contribution of dust inhalation to the etiology IIP. A prospective study revealed that about 20% of the subjects had systemic signs and symptoms of collagen diseases from 2 months to 10 years after the diagnosis of IIP. In addition, about 15% of the subjects with IIP developed lung cancer during the follow-up period. This incidence was significantly higher than that in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and the same smoking history, which suggests that IIP itself is a risk factor for lung cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 antigen in tuberculosis].

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in inflammatory diseases. We investigated levels of circulating soluble ICAM-1 in patients with miliary tuberculosis (n = 8) and pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 49). We also attempted to compare ICAM-1 levels among pulmonary tuberculosis patients according to chest X ray classification of the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis. Significantly increased levels of circulating ICAM-1 were found in patients with miliary tuberculosis and extensive (extent 3) pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 9) compared to those of controls (n = 48), but not in patients with extent 1 (n = 24) or extent 2 pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 16). Immunohistochemical examination of the tuberculous lung tissues from the patients showed intensive cellular ICAM-1 on epithelioid cells and giant cells as well as on vascular endothelial cells. These results suggest that ICAM-1 is an important adhesion molecule in tuberculosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Morphological studies on the renal papillae of the kidney in Japanese adults].

In the present study, 55 kidneys were obtained from 29 Japanese adults, sectioned frontally to expose their renal papillae, and were macroscopically observed. The average number of papillae per kidney was 12.87 +/- 3.09 (7 to 22); no differences by sex or laterality were found. The number of papillae was positively correlated with the number of minor calices (p < 0.01) and renal weight (p < 0.05). However, there was no correlation with the number of papillae and age. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between renal weight and the number of minor calices (p < 0.05). Based upon the number of the renal papillae in each renal calyx, the papillae were divided into "simple" and "complex" groups. The number of papillae in the complex group was 2 (bifid), 3 (trifid), or 4 (cruciate). These papillae were further grouped into two types, "separate" or "fused." Therefore, the papillae were classified into 7 types such as simple, bifid separate, bifid fused, trifid separate, trifid fused, cruciate separate, and cruciate fused. The appearance ratio of the above 7 types of papillae were as follow: simple (51.7%), bifid fused (23.4%), trifid fused (14.3%), bifid separate (6.0%), cruciate fused (4.1%), trifid separate (0.2%), and cruciate separate (0.2%). The number of simple papillae (214, 51.7%) was approximately the same as that of total complex papillae (200, 48.3%). In the complex group, the number of separate papillae (27, 13.5%) was quite fewer than that of fused papillae (173, 86.5%). The original papillae had the shape of a flat cone. The average long length of the bases of papillae were 6.7 mm in simple papilla, 10.3 mm in bifid fused papilla, 11.0 mm in bifid separate papilla, 11.9 mm in trifid fused papilla, and 13.7 mm in cruciate fused papilla. The more the number of papilla increases, the more the length of the bases of papilla becomes long. However, the short length of the bases and height in each papillae were not different. Simple and bifid papillae were mostly observed in the hilus, whereas trifid and cruciate were frequently found in the cranial part of the kidneys.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Clinical study of immunotherapy with interferon alpha and gamma in metastatic renal cell carcinoma].

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy with interferon (IFN) alpha and gamma in 16 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma whom we observed between August 1986 and June 1992. Eight patients had already had stage IV disease when they were seen first and five of them underwent nephrectomy. The other eight patients developed metastases after nephrectomy. The time to occurrence of the metastasis was 4-110 months. The dosage of the regimen was IFN alpha, 3 x 10(6) U, intramuscularly for 7 consecutive days at weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7 and IFN gamma, 6 x 10(6) JRU by intravenous drip on days 2, 4 and 6 of weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8. At and after week 9, the combined use of IFN alpha, 3 x 10(6) U, and IFN gamma, 1-6 x 10(6) JRU, was continued at least on a once-a-week basis as maintenance therapy as long as possible. The effect was evaluated as PR in 2 patients, MR in 2, NC in 3 and PD in 9. The response rate was 12.5% and the efficacy rate including MR was 25%. The time to onset of the effect was 8-24 weeks. Of the four patients showing MR or better responses, three had stage IV disease and one had metastatic disease after the operation. The duration of effect was 2-8 months. Side effects were fever, general malaise, anorexia, leukocytopenia and impaired liver function, and were noted frequently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[A case of tuberculosis of the thyroid gland].

A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our university hospital for examination of a neck mass. Computed tomography and ultrasonography revealed a nodule in her thyroid gland and a swollen cervical lymph node. They were removed surgically; a subsequent histological study revealed an epithelioid cell granuloma. A diagnosis of localized tuberculosis of the thyroid gland and a cervical lymph node was thus confirmed. The data of the present case were discussed with reference to the characteristics of thyroid tuberculosis described in the literature.

Female↗
PubMed1993

[Morphometric studies on the cortex and medulla of frontally sectioned kidneys in the Japanese adult].

The cortex and medulla areas, sectioned frontally, of 50 kidneys from 25 dissecting cadavers were measured to determine the correlation between differences in sex, laterality, and age. The average parenchyma (cortex + medulla) area was 33.45 +/- 9.16 cm2 and was larger in men than women; there was no significant laterality, but the parenchyma area was negatively correlated with age. The average cortex area was 20.39 +/- 5.80 cm2 and was also larger in men than women; laterality was not significant, and the cortex area was negatively correlated with age. The average medulla area was 13.05 +/- 4.40 cm2, and no significant difference in sex or laterality was found. The medulla area was negatively correlated with age. Additionally, the average number of renal pyramids (medulla) was 6.24 +/- 1.45 on these sections. Difference in the average areas of cortex and medulla was significant. The medulla was exceptionally larger in two cases (4%). The ratio between the average area of the cortex and medulla (C/M ratio) was 1.67 +/- 0.56. No sex difference or laterality was found, nor was there a correlation between the C/M ratio and age or kidney size. The sectioned area of cortex was approximately 1.5 to 2 times larger than medulla. These results suggest that senile atrophy may occur at the same rate in the renal cortex as in the medulla.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[A case of small-sized lung adenocarcinoma, 4 mm in diameter, detected by CT].

A 67-year-old woman presented to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray film. The film showed a well-circumscribed nodule, 15 mm in diameter, in her left lower lung field. Compared with her prior film of 1.5 years ago, the size of the nodule had not changed, suggesting the possibility of a benign lung tumor. Chest CT with 10 mm-thick collimation demonstrated another small round opacity near the nodule in the left lower lobe; this small opacity was not detectable on plain chest films. For further analysis of the small opacity, high resolution CT was carried out. High resolution CT with 1.5 mm collimation showed a 4 mm nodule with an ill-defined margin and relatively low internal density, and probable involvement of a peripheral branch of the pulmonary vein. These features suggested the possibility of malignant characteristics of this small opacity. The patient underwent thoracotomy and pathologic examination revealed that the large well-circumscribed nodule was a hamartoma and the small nodule was a papillary adenocarcinoma lesion. High resolution CT is prerequisite to diagnosing the characteristics of small pulmonary nodules.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1993

[A case of idiopathic chylothorax].

A 29-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of right pleural effusion. Chyle was obtained by thoracocentesis. She received conservative therapy, however, the pleural effusion did not decrease. Thoracic duct ligation was performed, and improvement of the chylothorax was observed. Because there was no underlying disease to cause chylothorax, the diagnosis of idiopathic chylothorax was made. Idiopathic chylothorax is a rare disease and only 24 cases have been reported in Japan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin in middle mediastinum.

We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma located in the middle mediastinum as a solitary mass. Histologically, lymphatic tissues remained together with nests of squamous cell carcinoma which were occupying the greater part of the mass. Examinations of the whole body failed to detect a primary site of the squamous cell carcinoma. It is considered that the carcinoma cells reflect metastasis from a primary-unknown carcinoma (most likely TO lung squamous cell carcinoma) or that they originated from benign epithelial inclusions in a mediastinal lymph node.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1992

A phase III comparison of etoposide/cisplatin with or without added ifosfamide in small-cell lung cancer.

A total of 92 patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were randomized to receive cisplatin (80 mg/m2, day 1)/etoposide (100 mg/m2, days 1, 3, 5) (PE) or cisplatin (80 mg/m2, day 1)/etoposide (100 mg/m2, days 1, 3, 5)/ifosfamide (2 g/m2, days 1, 2, 3) (PEI) combination chemotherapy. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, patients with limited disease (LD) received chest irradiation of 40-50 Gy. Of the 89 patients who could be wholly evaluated, the overall response rate was 78% for PE and 74% for PEI therapy (NS). For all patients the complete response (CR) rates were 14 versus 21%, respectively, and 22 versus 30% for LD. However, the median survival times for all patients were 55 weeks for PE therapy versus 56 weeks for PEI therapy (NS). The 2-year survival rates were 15 and 17%, respectively, for all patients (NS). There was no difference in the duration of response between PE and PEI therapy in cases with CR or partial response. However, severe leukopenia (< 2,000/mm3) occurred more often after PEI (73%) than after PE (44%) therapy (p < 0.05). These results suggest that PEI is not superior to PE chemotherapy in SCLC. The use of ifosfamide in multimodality treatment regimens needs to be studied further.

Adult↗