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Biomedical subjects

M Higashi

Publications and source records attributed to M Higashi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Prognostic value of cervical size and pelvic lymph node status assessed by computed tomography for patients with uterine cervical cancer treated by radical radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the prognostic impact of cervical size and pelvic lymph node status assessed by computed tomography (CT) in uterine cervical carcinoma treated with irradiation alone. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seventy patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage IIB and IIIB uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with a combination of external and high dose-rate intracavitary irradiation were entered into analyses. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox regression model were performed to determine statistical significance of some tumor-related factors. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in pelvic control rate (PC), distant metastases-free rate (DMF), cause-specific disease-free survival rate (CSDFS) among subgroups with cervix < 60 mm in diameter. However, PC (p = 0.023), DMF (p = 0.000025), and CSDFS (p = 0.0023) were significantly lower for patients with cervix > or = 60 mm than < 60 mm. The 5-year CSDFS was 77.5% for < 60 mm, and 28.6% for > or = 60 mm. Pelvic node status assessed by CT scans had significant prognostic impact on outcome. the 5-year CSDFS rate was 84.9% for patients with no enlarged nodes, and 58.9% for those with enlarged nodes greater than 1 cm in minimum diameter (p = 0.023). Whereas PC was not significantly affected, the DMF was strongly correlated with nodal status (p = 0.00027). Pelvic node status was taken as an independent predictor for DMF (p = 0.019) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Although cervical size assessed by CT had limited prognostic value, pelvic node status assessed by CT is the significant prognostic factor for patients with uterine cervical carcinoma treated with radical irradiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Anesthetic management of cesarean section in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy].

We report the anesthetic management of Cesarean section in a pregnant (31 weeks) woman with dilated cardiomyopathy. She had dyspnea and chest pain which were signs of congestive heart failure. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 38%. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with fentanyl, midazolam and vecuronium. There was no significant cardiovascular changes in the mother during the operation. The baby was apneic and showed no movement at birth, but he was immediately intubated and his condition became almost normal on the following day. In the anesthesiological management of Cesarean sections with cardiac disease, general anesthesia with fentanyl can be used to minimize cardiovascular changes in the mother as long as the baby is immediately resuscitated after delivery.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Activin induces the expression of the Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog during mesoderm formation in Xenopus explants.

The Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog (Xhh) was detected in Xenopus embryos at stages 13 and 31 by RT-PCR, but it was not expressed in explants isolated from the animal hemisphere of Xenopus embryos at stage 8-9. Treatment of the animal cap with activin (1-100 ng/ml) induced the expression of Xhh. However, it was not induced by 100 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Whole mount in situ hybridization confirmed the expression of Xhh in the animal cap treated with activin. The expression of Xhh induced by activin was not inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that Xhh is an early response gene induced by activin.

Activins↗
PubMed1994

[Role of postoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the uterine cervix: multivariate analysis of prognostic factors and patterns of failure].

We retrospectively analyzed the patterns of recurrence in 48 patients who underwent postoperative irradiation following surgery for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The end points of pelvic control, distant metastases and disease-free survival were analyzed for parameters including FIGO stage, nodal status, degree of stromal invasion, histology and tumor size. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that some prognostic parameters had little influence on pelvic control rate, but had a marked impact on the incidence of distant metastases and disease-free survival rate. These results suggest that postoperative irradiation improves pelvic control rate, but has little therapeutic benefit in preventing distant metastases or improving survival rate. In conclusion, we should give more consideration to adjuvant systemic therapy in addition to postoperative irradiation for high-risk patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Radical radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

PURPOSE: Analysis of the therapeutic value of radical irradiation for patients with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma with special reference to pelvic disease control. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 20 patients with uterine cervical adenocarcinoma were treated with a combination of external beam and intracavitary irradiation (four patients stage IB, one stage IIA, three stage IIB and twelve patients stage IIIB). Seven patients were treated with high dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary irradiation, eleven with low dose-rate (LDR) intracavitary irradiation and two with HDR and LDR. RESULTS: Six out of the 20 patients experienced pelvic recurrence (all stage IIIB patients). Analysis of the relation between pelvic recurrence and dose rate of intracavitary irradiation revealed that LDR showed a higher pelvic disease control rate than HDR (6/7 vs. 0/4) in stage IIIB patients. Intracavitary irradiation doses of LDR were 1.2 to 1.5 times higher than those of HDR. Three out of the 20 patients developed rectal complication grade 2 (two patients treated with HDR, one with LDR). The five-year cumulative survival rate was 67.2% for all, 100% for stage I and II, and 43.3% for stage IIIB patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that locally advanced uterine cervical adenocarcinoma should be treated with a higher dose using LDR intracavitary irradiation. If adequate total doses can be delivered, pelvic disease control of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma is comparable with that achieved for squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Why don't all termite species have a sterile worker caste?

No general theory explains why a sterile worker caste is not found in all species of both Hymenoptera and Isoptera (Insecta). Recent empirical finding show that, in the termites (Isoptera), feeding outside the nest correlates well with the evolution of the sterile (true) worker caste from the non-sterile (false) worker caste. Here we explain the connection between food-nest separation and true worker evolution in termites, providing a general theory on the restricted distribution of the sterile worker caste in the Isoptera. A cost-benefit model suggests that there is a critical level of nest stability above which natural selection favours true workers over false workers, irrespective of genetical relatedness. Because food-nest separation tends to increase nest stability, this theoretical result implies that the less a termite species consumes its nest as food, the more likely is its nest stability to fall above the critical level and a true worker caste will evolve.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Influence of hepatitis B virus infection and age on mode of growth of hepatocellular carcinoma.

According to the extent of hepatic involvement of the tumor and that of portal vein invasion at the time of initial diagnosis, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were grouped into three or four groups. Correlations among the extent of hepatic involvement, extent of portal vein invasion, and prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and age distribution were examined. The extent of hepatic involvement of the tumor and that of portal vein invasion were significantly greater in patients with positive HBsAg compared with findings in the negative patients (P less than 0.001). For cases of both positive and negative HBsAg, patients with a more extensive HCC were significantly younger. Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hepatitis B antigenemia and younger age were statistically significant and independent positive predictors of extensive HCC. These results strongly suggest that hepatitis B surface antigenemia and age play an important role in the growth mode and the kinetics of HCC in Japanese patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The pharmacokinetics of pranoprofen in humans].

The pharmacokinetics of pranoprofen, 2-(5H-[1]benzopyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-7-yl) propionic acid (I) in humans were examined. 1-O-Acylglucuronide of I (II) and its isomer (III) were isolated from the human urine after oral administration of I. The stability of II was tested in order to establish the suitable conditions for the storage and handling of biological samples. Maximum stability of II was found at pH 3-4. Unchanged drugs, II and III were detected in the human plasma after oral administration of I. Plasma concentrations of these compounds reached the maximum at 1-2 h after the administration and thereafter decreased biphasically. From the urinary sample, 1-O-acylglucoside of I (IV) was detected in addition to unchanged drugs, II and III. Within 24 h after dosing, 1.3, 84.0, 7.0 and 0.6% of the dose were excreted as I, II, III and IV, respectively and the total urinary excretion amounted to 92.9% in term of unchanged drug.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1990

[A case of the Hallermann-Streiff syndrome].

The Hallermann-Streiff Syndrome has been characterized and established according to 7 positive and 5 negative signs, which were described by François. We encountered an 11 year, 5 months old boy who had 7 positive symptoms of this syndrome in our clinic. In this study, we reported on this typical patient focusing on his dental view. 1) Prolonged retention of the primary teeth which involved microdontia were noted. Congenitally missing teeth were also seen. 2) The occlusal relationship indicated open bite, and also the mandibular function was impaired. 3) The measurements of the length and width of the dental arch were smaller than that of a normal subject, and the dental arch of the maxilla was V-shaped. 4) According to X-ray cephalometric analysis, (a) the dental calculus and the alveolar bone absorption were very evident. (b) abnormal morphologic of the glenoid fossa, mandibulars condyle and the neck of mandibula were seen. These conditions were very evident on the left side. 5) The growth obstade of the maxilla and mandibla and the left shift of the mandible were found. 6) According to histological study, enamel hypoplasia was noted.

Child↗
PubMed1990

[Experimental studies of retinal glial cell proliferation on retinal surface].

Our previous reports described the formation processes of epiretinal membranes composed of retinal glial cells in the experimental vitreous hemorrhage. This report presents the pathological changes of retinal glial cells, inner limiting membranes and vitreous body in the early stage of experimental vitreous hemorrhage. Using an operating microscope, 0.3 ml of autologous whole blood was injected through the pars plana into the vitreous cavity of albino rabbits. The eyes were enucleated at 3, 7, 10, 14 and 28 days after injection. Three days after injection, normal vitreous structure disappeared and vitreous fibers condensed. Seven days after injection, red blood cells were found on the retinal surface. The inner limiting membrane, composed of lamina rara and lamina densa, had a normal appearance. Where the red blood cell were present on the retinal surface, the lamina rara of the inner limiting membrane became thin. Fourteen days after injection, where glial cells showed upheaval, lamina rara disappeared and lamina densa became thin. Afterward, glial cells extruded their cytoplasmic processes onto the retinal surface. Twenty-eight days after injection, the inner limiting membranes were normal in appearance except for the area of glial cells penetrating the inner limiting membranes. The results suggested that, in vitreous hemorrhage, glial cell proliferation onto the retinal surface is an active reaction in order to engulf the debris of the red blood cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

HTLV-1 rex and HIV-1 rev act through similar mechanisms to relieve suppression of unspliced RNA expression.

Human retroviruses, human T cell leukemia viruses (HTLV) and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), express two classes of mRNAs; fully spliced mRNA in the early phase and intron-containing mRNA in a later phase. The expressions of HTLV-1 rex and HIV rev by early mRNAs are essential for the later phase of expression of intron-containing gag and env mRNAs. Each two cis-acting sequences seem to be involved in these regulations: HTLV-1 rex depends on a splice donor (SD) and a responsible element (RXE) at the 3' end, whereas HIV rev depends on a specific repressive sequence (CRS) and a responsible element (RRE) in the intron, but does not require an SD. For analyses of these cis-acting sequences, we inserted an HIV element RRE into an HTLV-1 construct and tested the responses to HTLV-1 rex and HIV rev regulations. The results indicated that both rex and rev could regulate RNA expression of these chimeric constructs responding to an HIV RRE. A repressive element (CRS) was dispensable, and the intronic or exonic location of RRE was not important. These observations suggest that rex and rev could be functionally equivalent to induce cytoplasmic expression of unspliced RNA which expression is suppressed either by an SD or CRS depending on the construction.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1988

Anisakiasis confirmed by radiography of the large intestine.

As yet, there has been no report of acute anisakiasis of the large intestine diagnosed by radiographic demonstration of the larvae. We present such a case, in which roentgenologic examination revealed Anisakis larvae in the ascending colon.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Mechanism of systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in dogs].

The mechanism of systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve remains somewhat controversial. We previously reported that SAM can be produced in dogs using dobutamine infusion. In the present study, dobutamine infusion, dextran infusion and venesection were performed in 13 anesthetized closed-chest dogs to study the mechanism of SAM. The degree of SAM was determined by M-mode echocardiography. End-systolic and end-diastolic short-axis areas of the left ventricle at the level of the chordae tendineae and the fractional area changes were measured by two-dimensional echocardiography. SAM was produced in six of the 13 dogs during dobutamine infusions (Group 1), but not in the other seven dogs (Group 2). During dobutamine infusions, % fractional area changes were greater in Group 1 (85 +/- 5; mean +/- standard deviation) than in Group 2 (65 +/- 15) (p less than 0.01), and the end-systolic short-axis area of the left ventricle was smaller in Group 1 (0.7 +/- 0.4 cm2) than in Group 2 (1.9 +/- 0.3 cm2) (p less than 0.01), although no significant change was observed between Groups 1 and 2 in the end-diastolic short-axis area of the left ventricle. Subsequent injections of dextran (mean 340 ml) in Group 1, decreased the degree of SAM and increased the end-diastolic and end-systolic short-axis areas of the left ventricle. Subsequently, venesections (mean 400 ml) in Group 1 resulted in increases in the degrees of SAM and decreases in the end-diastolic and end-systolic short-axis areas of the left ventricle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗