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Biomedical subjects

M Kaneko

Publications and source records attributed to M Kaneko.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Expression of angiogenic factors and tumor progression in human neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: The growth and metastasis of malignant tumors is largely dependent on angiogenesis. Angiogenic factors produced by tumor cells are known to promote tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate which angiogenic factor is the most important in the progression of neuroblastoma (NB). PROCEDURE: The relative expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), VEGF-C, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and platelet-derived endothelial growth factor (PD-ECGF/TP) were studied in 28 NB tumor specimens by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The relationships between the expression of these four angiogenic factors and stage, patient age, primary site, MYCN copy number, and lymph node metastasis were analyzed. RESULTS: High VEGF-A expression was correlated with stage 4 disease (blood-borne metastasis). No relationship between VEGF-A expression and age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis was found. The expression of VEGF-C, bFGF, or PD-ECGF/TP showed no correlation with stage, age, primary site, MYCN copy number, or lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that VEGF-A, but not VEGF-C, bFGF, or PD-ECGF/TP, may be associated with progression of NB. VEGF-A could be a target for antiangiogenic therapy for disseminated NB.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗
PubMed2001

Pleural dissemination as a complication of preoperative percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: report of a case.

One potential risk of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is tumor seeding along the catheter tract. A 57-year-old woman with obstructive jaundice due to hilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent an extended left hepatic lobectomy, a regional lymph node dissection, and a right hepaticojejunostomy 2 weeks after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Multiple right pleural masses were found on a chest radiogram 14 months after the operation. No recurrent lesions were detected in the abdominal cavity. A right panpleuropneumonectomy was performed; however, the patient died of respiratory failure due to tumor recurrence 9 months after the second operation. Preoperative percutaneous transhepatich biliary drainage was considered to have resulted in pleural implantation.

Cholangiocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking.

BACKGROUND: Small lesions of the peripheral lung have been detected more frequently with the recent prevalence of computed tomography (CT). Identification of these lesions is indispensable for wedge resection performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Previous reports of marking techniques showed some failure and complications. We have developed a new marking technique and herein describe the efficacy of this technique: fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopic surgery after computed tomography-guided bronchoscopic barium marking. METHODS: Twenty patients underwent this procedure for 21 small peripheral pulmonary lesions approximately 10 mm in size. RESULTS: All the lesions were successfully marked and identified during fluoroscopy-assisted thoracoscopy. They were resected with sufficient margins. There were no complications related to this procedure. The pathologic examination of these 21 lesions revealed primary lung cancer in 14, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia in four, a metastatic tumor in one, and a benign tumor in two. CONCLUSIONS: This procedure is both a reliable and minimally invasive technique in thoracoscopic wedge resection for small peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of itch-associated responses of NC mice with mite-induced chronic dermatitis.

To clarify the behavioral and pathological features of spontaneous scratching of NC mice with mite-induced chronic dermatitis, we investigated the spontaneous and pruritogen-evoked scratching of NC mice. Although the frequency of scratching of NC mouse did not increase under specific pathogen-free environment, it gradually and markedly increased from 3 to 6 weeks after transfer to conventional environment. The onset of increase in spontaneous scratching was similar to that of dermatitis development and the elevation of plasma concentration of immunoglobulin E. At chronic stage (16 weeks after environment change), the frequency of spontaneous scratching was roughly parallel to the degree of dermatitis, but not to the plasma concentration of immunoglobulin E. The spontaneous scratching of NC mice with dermatitis was inhibited by distraction and the opioid antagonist naltrexone, suggesting that the scratching is itch-associated response. An intradermal injection of serotonin, but not histamine and substance P, elicited scratching of the injected site. Methysergide and cyproheptadine inhibited the serotonin-induced scratching but not spontaneous scratching. The results suggest that marked elevation of plasma immunoglobulin E is not always the cause of spontaneous itch-associated response of NC mice with dermatitis. Serotonin, histamine and substance P may not play an important role in spontaneous itch-scratch response at a chronic stage.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Clinicopathological features of serum TTV DNA-positive non-A-G liver diseases in Japan.

This study was undertaken to detect TTV DNA in serum samples from patients with non-A, non-B, non-C, non-E, and non-G (non-A-G) liver diseases and from blood donors, and to investigate the clinicopathological features of TTV infection including its prevalence and influence on liver disease. The study population consisted of 20 patients with non-A-G liver diseases (nine with chronic hepatitis (CH), six with liver cirrhosis (LC), and five with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as 47 blood donors. Detection of TTV DNA was conducted with 200 &mgr;l of serum by the nested polymerase chain reaction. The detection rate of TTV DNA by subject category was CH 55.9; LC 66.7; HCC 60%; and blood donors 28%. Regarding blood biochemistry, TTV DNA-positive patients tended to show higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as lower levels of platelet counts. Long-term follow-up revealed that TTV DNA-positive patients exhibited characteristic, multiple peaks of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. The histologic findings in the livers of TTV DNA-positive patients with CH consisted of moderate necro-inflammatory reactions. In conclusion, it is possible that the TTV genotype 1b infection caused liver injury.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Development of the susceptibility to oral tolerance induction in infant mice administered a herbal drug, Hochu-ekki-to (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang).

The susceptibility to oral tolerance in post-neonatal infant mice and the effect of a herbal drug, Hochu-ekki-to (HOT), on the susceptibility were investigated. To induce oral tolerance induction, infant and adult mice at 4 and 8 weeks of age, respectively, were orally administered a single high dose of OVA before an intraperitoneal immunization with OVA adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide. HOT (1000 mg/kg) was administered orally for 7 days before the induction. HOT significantly decreased the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 and the antigen-specific proliferation of spleen cells in infant mice, both of which were greatly enhanced compared to in adult mice. HOT increased the number of both CD4+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells expressing MHC class II as well as costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80 and/or CD86) in the Peyer's patch (PP) of infant mice, which had fewer cells than adult mice. In the PP, moreover, HOT augmented the IL-12p40 mRNA expression and spontaneous or CD40-stimulated IL-12 production, and increased the number of CD4+ cells expressing CD40 ligand, which is up regulated by IL-12. These results suggest that HOT increases the number and improves the function of PP cells that are fully susceptible to the induction of oral tolerance.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2001

CREB antisense oligonucleotides induce non-apoptotic cell death in proliferating leukemia cells, but not normal hematopoietic cells, by a bizarre non-antisense mechanism.

We report that antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides (PS-ODNs) against cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) induce the death of human leukemia cell lines including HL-60, Kasumi-1 and K562, OCI-AML1a and also primary leukemia cells isolated from patients with acute myelocytic leukemia and chronic myelocytic leukemia in blastic crisis. In contrast, normal human bone marrow CD34+ cells and normal peripheral blood lymphocytes were resistant to the antisense-mediated cell death. We found that antisense-treated HL-60 cells had prominent nuclear fragmentations but lacked apoptotic features including internucleosomal DNA cleavage and TUNEL positivity. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated a remarkable reduction in G1 phase population along with a mild accumulation of S phase and good preservation of G2/M phase, indicating cells died at G2/M without cycling into G1 phase. None of the sense-sequenced PS-ODNs induced cell death. Further, neither the expression nor the message of CREB protein was reduced by antisense treatment, indicating that cell death was mediated by a non-antisense mechanism. On the other hand, no consensus oligonucleotide sequence for cell death induction was detected. Rather, we found a good correlation between the melting temperatures and the anti-proliferative activities of the oligonucleotides. Thus, CREB antisense PS-ODNs selectively induce a non-apoptotic cell death in leukemic cells by an unknown hybridization-dependent mechanism.

Antigens, CD34↗
PubMed2001

The clinical importance of the trimethadione tolerance test as a method for quantitative assessment of hepatic functional reserve in patients with biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND: The trimethadione (TMO) tolerance test was performed to evaluate its usefulness in the assessment of hepatic functional reserve in patients with biliary atresia. METHOD: Nineteen patients with biliary atresia after hepatic portoenterostomy (age range: 2 months to 25 years; sex: 6 males and 13 females) were studied. The study was performed in the morning after a 12-h fast. TMO was given orally, at a dose of 4 mg/kg, with 5 mL of 5% glucose 2 h before breakfast. Blood samples (0.5 mL) were collected to determine serum TMO and dimethadione (DMO), a metabolite of TMO, levels 4 h after the administration of TMO. TMO and DMO were measured by a gas-liquid chromatographic method. RESULTS: A higher total bilirubin level (over 1 mg/dL) in patients with jaundice was reflected in the smaller serum DMO/TMO ratio 4 h after the oral administration of TMO. In addition, these patients with total bilirubin levels of 1 mg/dL or less had a significantly lower DMO/TMO ratio than the control group (healthy subjects). The serum DMO/TMO ratio showed a close correlation with the Child-Pugh score, which is used for overall evaluation of severity of cirrhosis and Mayo risk scores for primary biliary cirrhosis in adults (0.856, P < 0.01 and 0.788, P < 0.01, respectively). The TMO tolerance test shows the benefit of performing a relatively early test of dynamic liver function to evaluate hepatic functional reserve in pre- and post-operative biliary atresia patients.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infection in children.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory tract infection that can be a life-threatening disease in infants and children. This study was conducted to look for independent risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRI) that required oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Medical records of patients younger than 4 years hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1999 were reviewed. The patients were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients were hospitalized with RSV-LRI at Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital from the study time period. Of these, 20 patients (12.7%) were diagnosed with severe RSV-LRI. Subjects younger than 3 months of age had an odds ratio (OR) of 59.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.7_244.0) for the dependent variable of severe RSV-LRI (P<0.0001). Subjects with a history of congenital heart disease also had an OR of 99.2 (95% C1 8.5-1160.1) (P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Infants younger than 3 months without any underlying diseases may be at high risk for severe RSV-LRI. Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis is needed not only for high-risk patients, but for healthy early infants.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

Haplotype analysis of the human alpha2-HS glycoprotein (fetuin) gene.

Alpha2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG), which is equivalent to fetuin in other species, is a protein found in human plasma. AHSG is polymorphic with two common alleles and many variants. To examine the intragenic haplotypes and their diversity at this locus, a contiguous genomic DNA sequence (10.3 kb) was analyzed in 20 samples (40 chromosomes), and haplotypes were determined for 309 subjects. Judging from the aligned nucleotide sequences and the conserved amino acid residues comparing human and chimpanzee AHSG, it was concluded that the type 1 allele is probably older and has evolved into four major suballeles. The type 2 allele was generated from one branch of the type 1 allele. AHSG*3 and *5 variants were each found to have a single nucleotide change in exon 7, resulting in the change of an amino acid residue from Arg299 to Cys and from Asp258 to Asn, respectively. It was noted that the AHSG*3 mutation gives rise to an additional cysteine residue, which possibly affects the conformation of the protein. The AHSG gene was found to have a low mutation rate and no apparent recombination events. Furthermore, the detected substitutions were nonhomogeneously distributed at this locus. In particular, four nonsynonymous substitutions were concentrated in the carboxyl-terminal domain.

Alleles↗
PubMed2001

Multicellular gastric cancer spheroids recapitulate growth pattern and differentiation phenotype of human gastric carcinomas.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Advanced gastric cancer has a poor prognosis and is largely unresponsive to currently available chemotherapeutic drugs. The development of more effective therapies would be aided by better preclinical models. METHODS: An in vitro multicellular gastric cancer spheroid model was established using the liquid overlay technique and compared with the corresponding xenografts in immunodeficient mice. RESULTS: Twelve of 17 (71%) gastric cancer cell lines reflected growth characteristics of their parental gastric carcinomas in three-dimensional culture. Thus, cell lines derived from peritoneal and pleural carcinomatosis grew as single cells (HSC-39, KATO-II, KATO-III) and cell aggregates (SNU-5, SNU-16). Cell lines representing adenosquamous (MKN-1) and tubular differentiation (MKN-28, MKN-74, N87) formed partly compact multicellular spheroids recapitulating the tumor architecture of the respective original tumor. The differentiated phenotype was lost after subcutaneous implantation of the in vitro spheroids in mice. The degree of morphologic differentiation was reflected by the levels of mucin and constitutive E-cadherin expression. Heterogeneous changes of other adhesion molecules (EpCAM, alpha2beta1, CD44s, Le(x), sLe(x)) were observed. In contrast, cell lines derived from poorly differentiated gastric carcinomas (Hs-746T, RF-1, RF-48) formed fully compact spheroids mimicking the poorly differentiated phenotype, were E-cadherin negative, and showed only CD44s up-regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Recapitulating some complexity of their in vivo counterparts, multicellular gastric cancer spheroids may represent a physiologically valid model for studying the biology of this cancer, and testing new therapeutic strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Minimizing displacement of the proximal segment after bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy in asymmetric cases.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated a modified sagittal split ramus osteotomy designed to minimize displacement of the proximal segmentation asymmetric cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine patients with facial asymmetry were corrected with modified bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy from November 1992 to February 1999. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative anteroposterior (AP) radiographs were traced and compared. The angle of mandibular rotation of the proximal segments was obtained by measuring the intersection of lines passing through the upper rim of the orbit and the lateral border of the proximal segment. The condition of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was evaluated clinically by measuring the interincisal distance and looking for any untoward symptoms. RESULTS: The data showed an average 1.94 degrees +/- 1.18 degrees difference between the preoperative and postoperative condition and no clinical signs of TMJ symptoms. These findings support the use of this procedure for treating asymmetric mandibles.

Bone Plates↗
PubMed2001

Pulmonary amyloidosis diagnosed by CT-guided transbronchial biopsy: a case report.

During a medical check-up, a nodular shadow was detected by chest X-ray in the right lower lung field of a 59-year-old man. On computed tomography (CT), the nodular lesion had a relatively well-defined, irregular margin. A fluoroscopy-guided bronchoscopic biopsy did not uncover any malignancy. Specimens from a subsequent CT-guided bronchoscopic biopsy revealed a pulmonary amyloid deposit. As a rule, it is difficult to exclude malignancy or confirm benign disease in cases of truly benign lesions, particularly if the lesions are difficult to biopsy. Amyloidosis is one of such conditions and requires reliable diagnostic methods to avoid unnecessary surgical resection. From our experience, we consider CT-guided bronchoscopic biopsy to be a safe and accurate procedure, even when applied to truly benign lesions.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed2001

2'-O,4'-C-ethylene-bridged nucleic acids (ENA) with nuclease-resistance and high affinity for RNA.

Novel nucleosides, 2'-O,4'-C-ethylene nucleosides and their corresponding phosphoramidites, were synthesized as building blocks for antisense oligonucleotides. The 2'-O,4'-C-ethylene linkage of these nucleosides, as well as the linkage of 2'-O,4'-C-methylene nucleosides which are known as bridged nucleic acids (BNA) or locked nucleic acids (LNA), restricts the sugar puckering to the N-conformation. The ethylene-bridged nucleic acids (ENA) showed a high binding affinity for the complementary RNA strand (delta Tm = degrees C/modification) and were approximately 400 and 80 times more nuclease-resistant than natural DNA and BNA/LNA, respectively. These results indicate that ENA have better antisense activity than BNA/LNA.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Expression of proteinases and inflammatory cytokines in subchondral bone regions in the destructive joint of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: We previously described abnormalities in the bone marrow of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but were able to shed little light on the pathogenic roles of inflammatory cytokines and proteinases in joint destruction in the subchondral region in RA. This is the first report to describe the co-localization of cytokines and proteinases in this area. METHODS: Decalcified paraffin-embedded sections from 10 patients with RA and five patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were examined for the immunolocalization of cathepsins B, K and L and the localization of messenger RNAs for interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). The cells were double-stained with anti-CD68 or anti-prolyl 4-hydroxylase (PH) antibody. RESULTS: An immunohistochemical study confirmed the expression of cathepsins B and L by CD68-positive mononuclear cells at the sites of significant cartilage and bone erosion from the subchondral region in all RA specimens. Osteoclast-like cells showed intense staining for cathepsin K and MMP-9. Osteoblast-like cells strongly expressed MMP-9. Analysis of serial sections revealed that expression of the IL-1beta and TNF-alpha genes occurred near that of the cathepsins and MMP-9 in the subchondral region. CONCLUSION: We conclude that inflammatory cytokines and tissue-damaging proteinases play important roles in joint destruction in the subchondral region in RA.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Effect of ascites on tacrolimus disposition in a liver transplant recipient.

To examine the effects of ascites on tacrolimus disposition, the authors measured tacrolimus concentration in blood and ascitic fluid from a patient with a living related liver transplant recipient who required removal of 500 to 2400 mL ascitic fluid daily. Tacrolimus levels in ascitic fluid ranged from 0.07 to 0.29 ng/mL and in whole blood from 7.5 to 20.3 ng/mL. The tacrolimus concentration in ascitic fluid positively correlated with that in whole blood ( r = 0.878, P <0.0001). Because the amounts of tacrolimus excreted into the ascitic fluid corresponded to only 0.01% to 0.09% of the dose administered, the authors concluded that the effects of ascites on tacrolimus disposition were negligible even though large amounts of ascitic fluid were drained regularly.

Ascites↗
PubMed2001

Post-resuscitative hypothermic bypass reduces ischemic brain injury in swine.

OBJECTIVES: Increasing human and laboratory evidence suggests that post-resuscitative brain hypothermia reduces the pathologic consequences of brain ischemia. Using a swine model of prolonged cardiac arrest, this investigation sought to determine whether unilateral hypothermic carotid bypass was capable of inducing selective brain hypothermia and reducing neurohistologic damage. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation was induced in common swine (n = 12). After 20 minutes of cardiopulmonary arrest (without ventilatory support or cardiopulmonary resuscitation), systemic extracorporeal bypass was instituted to restore coronary and cerebral perfusion, followed by restoration of normal sinus rhythm. Animals randomized to the normal brain temperature (NBT) cohort received mechanical ventilation and intravenous fluids for 24 hours. The selective brain hypothermia (SBH) cohort received 12 hours of femoral/carotid bypass at 32 degrees C. The bypass temperature was then increased one degree per hour until reaching 37 degrees C and continued at this temperature until completion of the protocol (24 hours). Histopathologic damage was evaluated in two areas of the hippocampus. RESULTS: Normal sinus rhythm was restored in all animals after the systemic (femoral/femoral) bypass was initiated. Nasal temperature (surrogate measure of brain temperature) remained higher than 37.0 degrees C throughout the 24-hour recovery period in the NBT animals. In the SBH cohort, right nasal temperature dropped to the mild hypothermic range (<34 degrees C) two hours after institution of femoral/carotid bypass. This was maintained throughout the 12-hour cooling period without hemodynamic compromise. There was a significant improvement in the neurohistology scores in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of the SBH treated animals as compared with those of the NBT cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Post-resuscitative selective brain hypothermia reduced regional ischemic brain damage in swine with prolonged ventricular fibrillation.

Animals↗