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Biomedical subjects

M Furukawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Furukawa.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Protective effects of gabexate mesilate on acute pancreatitis induced by tacrolimus (FK-506) in rats in which the pancreas was stimulated by caerulein.

We investigated the acute effects of the immunosuppressive agent, tacrolimus (FK-506), on the exocrine pancreas, in rats with or without stimulation of the pancreas, and evaluated the protective effects exerted by gabexate mesilate (FOY). While an intravenous injection of FK-506 did not change serum amylase levels during the 5-h observation period, this agent increased pancreatic amylase and protein content, and decreased the content of pancreatic DNA. Histologically, we observed intra-acinar vacuolization and individual cell necrosis. When the pancreas was stimulated by two intraperitoneal injections of caerulein (5 micrograms/kg) at 1-h intervals, however, which treatment did not induce any evident pancreatic change, FK-506 significantly increased serum amylase, pancreatic wet weight, and pancreatic amylase and protein, and decreased pancreatic DNA. Histologically, there were significant dose-related differences in the severity of intra-acinar vacuolization, interstitial edema, neutrophil infiltration, individual cell necrosis, and hemorrhage. Levels of intrapancreatic elastase were elevated and local pancreatic blood flow was reduced. Treatment with FOY improved the FK-506-induced acute pancreatitis, but did not increase the pancreatic blood flow. These findings indicate that FK-506 enhances abnormal pancreatic enzyme secretion and suggest that therapeutic doses of this agent can induce acute pancreatitis when the pancreas is stimulated. A protease inhibitor may protect the exocrine pancreas in patients who receive FK-506 after organ transplantation.

Amylases↗
PubMed1994

Primary anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of the skin. A case report suggesting that regressing atypical histiocytosis and lymphomatoid papulosis are subsets.

A patient with primary anaplastic large-cell lymphoma of the skin with characteristic clinical findings is described. The diagnosis was made on the basis of histologic and immunohistochemical findings. The phenotype of the tumor cells was not determined, but rearrangement of the T-cell receptor beta gene indicated that the tumor was of T-cell lineage. Despite high-grade malignancy of the tumor cells, the patient unexpectedly had a benign clinical course. The findings in this case suggest that regressing atypical histiocytosis and lymphomatoid papulosis type A are subsets of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Thyroid allograft after total thyroidectomy in a rat model.

The fact that in vitro culture of murine organ allografts prior to transplantation enhances graft survival is commonly accepted. In this study, we examined the possibility of thyroid allotransplantation for the therapy of total thyroidectomy in the rat model. Transplanted thyroid function was determined by 125I uptake ratio and evaluated by immunohistochemical and microautoradiographical assessments. Fully allogeneic thyroid glands cultured for 8-24 hr in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) at pH 6.3 or 7.2 were transplanted to rats under the kidney capsule. Five weeks after allotransplantation, thyroid glands cultured for 16 hr in HBSS at pH 6.3 presented prolonged survival. This procedure could be used as an initial therapy not only for total thyroidectomized patients but also for patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Importance of pre-operative recognition of the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve.

The nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve is vulnerable during thyroid surgery. Pre-operative recognition of this nerve allows surgeons to avoid injuring the nerve. This anomaly depends upon the aortic arch anomaly and, therefore, in some cases, surgeons are able to predict the presence of this nerve pre-operatively by chest X-ray or barium swallow. Two patients with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve are reported, one of whom, a 48-year-old man, had an abnormal shadow of the aortic arch, which led to confirmation of a right aberrant subclavian artery. Barium swallow plays a decisive role in the diagnosis of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve, and this test is mandatory in patients who complain of difficulty in swallowing.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1994

Pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland with cystic degeneration.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common tumour to arise in the parotid gland. Diagnosis becomes difficult when such a tumour undergoes degeneration and presents with unusual findings. This can lead to erroneous decisions concerning treatment. We present two patients with pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland with cystic degeneration, describe the pathological findings and discuss some pitfalls in diagnosis and treatment. Both patients recovered uneventfully after surgery.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗
PubMed1994

Prevention of insulitis and diabetes in beta 2-microglobulin-deficient non-obese diabetic mice.

beta 2-Microglobulin (beta 2m)-deficient non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were established by crossing beta 2m-deficient 129/Sv mice with NOD mice, and used to examine the possible involvement of MHC class I molecules and CD8+ T cells in the development of insulitis and diabetes. In these mice, MHC class I molecules were not expressed, resulting in no generation of CD8+ T cells. None of eight lines of beta 2m-deficient NOD mice (-/-) established developed overt diabetes by 32 weeks, while control littermates (+/+) became diabetic by 22 weeks. histological studies showed no significant lymphocyte infiltration of the islets (insulitis score: 0.03 +/- 0.03) in any of the beta 2m-deficient NOD mice (-/-) compared with littermate NOD mice (+/+) with overt insulitis (1.42 +/- 0.28). These findings support the notion that the expression of MHC class I molecules and/or CD8+ T cells plays an essential role in the infiltration of CD4+ T cells in islets as well as the development of diabetes in NOD mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase in term and preterm human milk: a preliminary report.

Human milk may protect against necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Since platelet-activating factor (PAF) may participate in the pathophysiology of NEC, we measured PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), which metabolizes PAF, in term and preterm human milk. The activity of PAF-AH in term milk collected 2-4 days after delivery (n = 17) was 2.7 +/- 1.2 nmol x min-1 x ml-1. A higher activity was found in milk collected at similar times from mothers who delivered between 33 and 36 weeks of gestation (n = 6, 5.6 +/- 2.1 nmol x min-1 x ml-1, p < 0.01). However, milk from mothers who delivered between 26 and 32 weeks of gestation had a PAF-AH activity similar to that of term milk (n = 6, 3.0 +/- 0.7 nmol x min-1 x ml-1). With advancing lactational age, PAF-AH activity in term milk decreased, whereas the activity of this enzyme in preterm milk remained unchanged. In milk samples collected beyond 14 days after delivery from women who gave birth between 33 and 36 weeks or 26 and 32 weeks of gestation, PAF-AH activity was fivefold higher than that found in milk for women delivering at term (3.7 +/- 1.3 and 3.6 +/- 3.6 nmol x min-1 x ml-1 serum 0.7 +/- 0.4 nmol x min-1 x ml-1, respectively, p < 0.05). We speculate that the presence of PAF-AH in human milk may protect against NEC in preterm newborns.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMed1994

Role of oxygen-derived free radicals in hemorrhagic pancreatitis induced by stress and cerulein in rats.

The role of oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis was studied in a new model of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis and cerulein-induced edematous pancreatitis in rats. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis was produced by administering two intraperitoneal doses of cerulein [40 micrograms/kg body weight (BW)] at 1-h intervals following water immersion stress applied for 5 h. Edematous pancreatitis was induced by injecting cerulein as described but without water immersion. Five hours after the first injection of cerulein, pancreatic edema and elevation of serum amylase level were more marked in the animals with hemorrhagic than with edematous pancreatitis. Five hours after the first injection of cerulein, marked hemorrhage and venous dilatation were observed only in those with hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Local pancreatic blood flow decreased to approximately 60% of control values in the animals with edematous pancreatitis, and to approximately 30% of control values in those with hemorrhagic pancreatitis. To evaluate the involvement of oxygen radicals, some rats received three intraperitoneal injections of superoxide dismutase (SOD 10,700 U/kg BW) and catalase (132,000 U/kg BW) beginning 15 min before the first injection of cerulein and repeated at 1-h intervals. No significant effect of free radical scavengers was observed on the edematous pancreatitis. However, in hemorrhagic pancreatitis, treatment with SOD and catalase completely suppressed the hemorrhage and venous dilatation of the pancreas, significantly reduced the pancreatic wet weight and the serum amylase level, and reduced the histologic alterations. However, after treatment with SOD and catalase, no differences were observed in local pancreatic blood flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amylases↗
PubMed1994

Rhinophyma in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Rhinophyma is an end stage of acne rosacea. It results in a large nose due to a proliferation of sebaceous glands and fibrous tissue. Many cases of rhinophyma have been reported in the Western world; however, in Japan, rhinophyma has been an uncommon disease. METHODS: We present two patients associated with rhinophyma who were treated by cross-shaped full-thickness excision followed by direct closure and compare the rhinophyma in Japan with that in the West. RESULTS: To date, only 20 rhinophyma cases including our 2 cases have been reported in Japan. Epidemiologic factors of rhinophyma between the West and Japan do not differ except for location, malignancy and surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, almost all cases are located on the lower half of the nose, treated by full-thickness excision followed by application of either skin grafts or direct closure. None have been malignant.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Absorption of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase by rat intestine.

Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a 43-kDa protein that catalyzes the degradation and inactivation of this potent phospholipid mediator. PAF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and the elevation of the plasma PAF-AH activity may be beneficial in the prevention of this disease. The activity of PAF-AH was transferred from the mucosal to the serosal fluid in intestinal sacs from neonatal rats. Translocation was highest on day 15, decreased by day 21, and disappeared by day 24. Greater transport of the enzyme was noted in the neonatal jejunum compared with duodenum or ileum. PAF-AH absorption in 15-day-old rats was decreased by the addition of inhibitors of energy production and by low temperature. We have, therefore, concluded that the enzyme transport is an energy-dependent process. It is suggested that PAF-AH found in milk may prove to be beneficial in the prevention of NEC by its translocation across the intestinal mucosa. The absorption of macromolecules in the neonate, in addition to providing a passive immunity, may also serve a protective role by inactivating certain proinflammatory agents, such as PAF.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗
PubMed1994

Epstein-Barr virus lytic cycle spreads via cell fusion in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line.

NPC-KT cl.S61, a subclone derived from an epithelial-nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line NPC-KT, showed extensive Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) production and cell fusion when the EBV replicative cycle was induced by 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine. On the contrary, parental NPC-KT cells produced virus at a lower level and did not show cell fusion. Cell fusion in cl.S61 cells was blocked by 2-deoxyglucose and acyclovir, inhibitors of glycosylation and EBV DNA polymerase, respectively, with a concomitant decrease in the number of cells expressing EBV growth-associated antigens. However, the frequency of virus antigen expression in parental NPC-KT cells was not significantly affected by these drugs. This result suggests that efficient production of EBV from cl.S61 cells is due to the spreading of viral replicative cycle via cell fusion. It was also demonstrated by in situ autoradiography that cl.S61 cells producing virus fused to not only EBV receptor/CR2 positive Raji and BJAB cells, but also to receptor-negative Jurkat cells. The possible mechanism of EBV entry into cells devoid of virus receptor by cell fusion is discussed.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1994

Effects of early manual instruction on the oral-language development of two deaf children.

The speech and language training provided to deaf children at our clinic is done by the Kanazawa Method, which consists of reception and expression training in sign communication and auditory/oral language, as well as written-language training. In our investigation, we analyzed the acquisition of passive and active vocabulary in sign and oral language. The subjects were two children congenitally deaf at the 105 dB level or greater. Recorded-language samples through the age of 54 months were analyzed. Acquisition of sign occurred more quickly than oral-language acquisition. The children's production of active nouns, function words, and "wh-" question words in sign was equivalent to that of hearing peers, and later this proficiency transferred to oral language. These results suggest that early presentation of sign is effective in the acquisition of function words and interrogative sentences, both of which are especially challenging for the Deaf.

Child Development↗
PubMed1994

Effectiveness of chemotherapy for advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in combined modality therapy.

Because it is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, pancreatic carcinoma is usually well advanced by the time it is diagnosed. The combined use of intraoperative radiotherapy, gastrointestinal and/or biliary tract bypass operation, celiac plexus nerve block, and chemotherapy is widely applied in treatment, with favorable results reported in some patients with advanced disease. To evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy in such combinations, we compared the effect of 5-fluorouracil, its analogues, and mitomycin C on the survival of patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer. We found no significant difference between the patients treated or not treated with these drugs. Clearly, there is a need for new agents having greater efficacy against pancreatic carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

Goblet cell carcinoid of the appendix.

A 47-year-old man was admitted with appendicitis, and appendectomy was performed. On microscopic examination of the resected specimen, the presence of goblet cell carcinoid in the tip of appendix was revealed. This tumor showed an aggressive nature with perineural and vascular invasion around the appendiceal serosa. The tumor was composed of two main cell populations: mucin-producing (goblet cell type) and silver-positive cells (endocrine differentiation). Additionally, a few cells were also positive for serotonin and lysozyme, but negative for gastrin and ACTH. These findings suggest that goblet cell carcinoid share some functional and histologic characteristics with carcinoid tumors and adenocarcinomas, although it is a distinct entity.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed1994

[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for sialolithiasis].

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was undertaken on 11 patients with sialolithiasis. In three patients, fragmented calculi were excreted via the duct of the gland. In four patients, though fragmented calculi were excreted from the gland to the duct, complete disappearance was not achieved. It was therefore necessary to remove the fragmented calculi by intraoral ductotomy. However, without ESWL, submandibular glandectomy would have been unavoidable. As for the two patients who had an intraducted stone and the one patient who had a 20 mm stone in his submandibular gland, ESWL was not effective. No severe complications occurred either during or after ESWL. ESWL is beneficial for the treatment of salivary stones, especially of the intraglandular and transitional zone type, and for stones smaller than 10 mm.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1994

[Cochlear implant in a child with congenital severely impaired hearing].

A 6-year 9-month-old child with congenital severely hearing impaired received a Nucleus 22 channel implant. Twenty-two CG electrodes are now in use. In the 5 months since the cochlear implant, the patient has made good progress. Her vowel discrimination score has reached 100%. However, her consonant discrimination has remained at the chance level. On the other hand, auditory reception of environmental sounds has shown relative improvement. Problems encountered in pediatric use of the cochlear implant are also discussed herein.

Child↗