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Biomedical subjects

M Kitagawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Kitagawa.

719 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Asbestos body formation in the human lung: distinctions, by type and size.

The fraction of fibers coated in a total of 3,800 asbestos fibers from 38 patients with disease related to asbestos (100 fibers per patient) was determined, according to asbestos fiber type and size parameters. Among the 3,800 fibers, 638 (16.8%) were coated and 3,162 were uncoated. All fibers were analyzed at 2,000 x magnification (lower limit of detection: 2 microns for length and 0.06 microns for diameter). The diameter of the totally coated fibers (28.4% of total bodies; 181/638) was not measured. The percentage of coated fibers varied with the asbestos type; it was 27.1% (335/1235) for amosite fibers, 16.0% (228/1423) for crocidolite, 6.6% (60/908) for tremolite or actinolite, 6.5% (14/214) for anthophyllite, and 5% (1/20) for chrysotile fibers. Most coated fibers were longer than 10 microns and had an aspect ratio (length/diameter) of more than 20. Approximately 60% of coated fibers had an aspect ratio of more than 100. The longer the fiber, the greater the percentage of coated fibers, regardless of diameter. The increase in the percentage associated with length was more marked in fibers with a smaller diameter; the percentage of coated fibers was, therefore, greater in fibers 30 microns or less in diameter. However, in fibers longer than 30 microns, the relationship to percentage of coated fibers was not as clear, and the diameter was less important. Accordingly, the fibers with high aspect ratios, particularly long fibers, tended to show asbestos body formation. The percentage of long fibers was highest in amosite, and the percentage of fibers with an aspect ratio of more than 100 was highest in amosite and crocidolite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fiber analysis in lungs of residents of a Japanese town with endemic pleural plaques.

The authors analyzed various types of fibers in lung-tissue samples, which were obtained from 50 cases (46 surgical resections and 4 autopsies) at Kumamoto-Minami Hospital in Matsubase, where the occurrence of pleural plaques is endemic. Lung cancer necessitated surgical resection in 44 cases. Eleven of the 50 cases were residents of Matsubase; 15 resided in the region around the town, where the frequency of pleural plaques was slightly higher; and 24 cases lived in a region with normal plaque frequency. The number of anthophyllite fibers in the lungs of town residents was significantly higher than in residents of the region with normal plaque frequency. In 6 cases, the authors found accompanying pleural plaques, and the anthophyllite fiber count in the lungs in these cases was significantly higher than in cases without plaques. In addition, the anthophyllite fiber counts in 2 cases with severe plaques were significantly higher in 4 cases with only mild plaques. These results suggested that anthophyllite fiber might be responsible for the increased prevalence of pleural plaques in Matsubase. Even though the anthophyllite fibers were quite long (mean length = 25.1 microm), the width of most anthophyllite fibers were thick (mean diameter = 0.84 microm). Therefore, the aspect ratio of anthophyllite (mean = 38.7) was lower than that of amosite (mean = 81.8), which, in a previous report, was found predominantly in cases of pleural mesothelioma. Perhaps these differences in fiber size are related to the strength of the carcinogenicity to the pleura.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma disappearance of homologous and heterologous pancreatic enzymes in dogs.

Homologous and heterologous (human) pure pancreatic juice was infused into dogs to compare the behaviour of pancreatic enzymes in the circulation. This was achieved by estimating the magnitude of elevation and speed of disappearance of pancreatic enzymes in plasma. The half-lives of the plasma enzymes did not differ significantly between dogs and humans. However the half-lives of other enzymes (longest for amylase and shortest for trypsinogen) did differ. The magnitude of elevation expressed as a ratio of peak (5 min) to basal level was greatest for trypsinogen (28 times) and least for amylase (1.4 times). However, 289% and 410% of the initial lipase enzyme activity was recovered 5 min after infusion of dog and human pure pancreatic juice, respectively (44% when measured by immunoreactive human lipase activity). The excess recovery requires re-evaluation of diagnostic value of turbidimetric activity of plasma pancreatic lipase.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Protective effects of a prostaglandin E1 oligomer on taurocholate-induced rat pancreatitis.

Effects of prostaglandin E (PGE) on acute pancreatitis have been controversial. This study shows the effects of PGE1 oligomer, MR-356, on trypsin-taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Divided intraperitoneal doses of 0.6 mg/rat were administered, which increased 24 h survival rates when the oligomer was given both at 1 h before and after (group A) and immediately and 3 h after (group B) induction of pancreatitis. In group A MR-356 significantly improved the survival rates at 18 h (94 vs 61%, P < 0.05) and 24 h (68 vs 33%, P < 0.05) when compared with controls. MR-356 improved the survival rates dose-dependently up to 0.6 mg/rat when given by the same protocol of group A. In group B MR-356 also improved the survival rate (72 vs 39%, P < 0.05) only at 24 h, while other parameters failed to improve. The present results suggest that the PGE1 oligomer may play a beneficial role in bile-induced pancreatitis, probably through its proposed effects of stabilization of lysosomal membranes, maintenance of microcirculation and inhibition of protease in the pancreas.

Alprostadil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complex and early recognition of severe acute pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde pancreatography.

Serum alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complex (alpha 2M-T) was measured to differentiate the elevation of serum pancreatic enzymes caused by severe acute pancreatitis from simple elevation after endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP). A patient with severe acute pancreatitis demonstrated marked elevation of serum alpha 2M-T. In patients without severe acute pancreatitis, serum alpha 2M-T did not rise in spite of elevated serum pancreatic enzymes. In conclusion, abdominal pain with elevated serum alpha 2M-T can be an early diagnostic clue to severe acute pancreatitis after ERP.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on clinicopathological features of lung cancer patients with K-ras/p53 gene alterations: comparison between younger and older groups.

In order to define the roles of the K-ras and p53 genes in the development of lung cancer, especially in young adults, we compared the clinicopathological features of the patients between younger (< or = 45 years, n = 47) and older (< 55 years, n = 50) groups. The gene alterations were examined by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method. The K-ras gene alterations were detected only in adenocarcinomas, and the p53 gene alterations in all histologic types of lung cancer. There were no significant differences in the frequency of both K-ras and p53 gene alterations between the younger and older groups (9 vs. 11%, 36 vs. 32%). In the younger group, but not in the older one, the percentage for smokers was significantly higher in the p53 gene alteration-positive group than for the negative group (65 vs. 30%). As to the prognosis, there were no significant differences between the p53 gene alteration-positive and -negative cases in both the younger and older groups as well as in all subjects, while a tendency of poorer prognosis was observed in K-ras gene alteration-positive cases than for the -negative ones with adenocarcinomas. These results suggest that (1) the K-ras and p53 gene alterations would have no special roles in terms of the lung carcinogenesis in young adults; (2) a positive relationship between smoking and p53 gene alteration would exist in young adults with lung cancer, and (3) K-ras gene alteration would become a prognostic factor in lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polyurethane-covered Wallstents to recanalize Wallstents obstructed by tumor ingrowth from malignant common bile duct obstruction.

Four patients with malignant obstruction of the common bile duct had been treated with uncovered Wallstents and suffered from a reobstruction after 2-13 months (mean 5.3 months). Repeat cholangiography revealed severe stenosis of the stent lumen caused by tumor ingrowth through the mesh. A Wallstent with a self-made polyurethane-cover was inserted through the uncovered stent in these patients. The four patients were followed for 3-13 months (mean 6.3 months) until death. There was good drainage with no evidence of recurrent obstruction in all patients. We conclude that a covered Wallstent may extend patency of stented bile ducts, preventing tumor ingrowth in patients with neoplastic obstruction. Further observations are needed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tumor size and extension of lymph node metastases in N2 lung cancer.

In all patients with NSCLC, systematic nodal dissection was performed. Since 1981, 218 stage IIIA-N2 cases were resected. We registered 2 operative mortalities. Overall survival was 23% while, in completely resected cases, survival amounted to 30%. For long-term survival, favourable prognostic factors were cN2 T1-2 N2M0, single mediastinal node involvement and a tumor 20 mm or less in maximum size. The 5 yr survival rates of stage IIIA N2 patients was, respectively 48.1% with tumor diameter < 20 mm, 27.7% with diameter between 21-30 mm, 31.2% with diameter between 31-50 mm and, finally, 16.7% with tumors larger than 51 mm. When micrometastases to lymph nodes in p-stage I (stained with H-E) were examined with immunohistochemical staining, 27% (36 patients of 132) showed micrometastases.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Progression of esophageal carcinoma by loss of EGF-STAT1 pathway.

PURPOSE: In only a very limited number of cultured cell lines, epidermal growth factor (EGF), a potent mitogen for many kinds of cells, was shown to activate STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) protein, which can transmit signals that cause cell growth arrest and apoptosis. The purpose of this work is to elucidate the physiologic and/or pathological significance of this EGF-STAT1 pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of cultured cell lines that had been established from surgical specimens of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was studied for the existence of the EGF-STAT1 pathway. Normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells either explanted from non-neoplastic portions of surgically removed human esophageal tissue or in bovine esophageal epithelium in situ were examined as well. RESULTS: EGF treatment leads to a strong growth arrest in three of the 30 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. STAT1 was found to be activated by EGF in the three cell lines but not in the others. EGF can also activate STAT1 in cultured normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells. STAT1 is at the activated state in the basal cell layer of the bovine esophageal epithelium. Notably, patients who had harbored the cancer cells with the EGF-STAT1 pathway had a dramatically better prognosis. DISCUSSION: The EGF-STAT1 pathway may be intrinsic to esophageal epithelial lineage of cells and is lost in a considerable fraction of the carcinomas. This loss appears to cause a significantly more malignant clinical course. These findings may point out a critical step in the progression of esophageal cancer and could lead to the development of useful clinical applications.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The suppressive effect of antibodies on cellular cooperation.

1) The primary and secondary anti-carrier antibody responses were markedly suppressed by the passively administered anti-carrier antibody but not by the anti-hapten antibody. 2) The primary and secondary anti-hapten antibody responses were suppressed not only by the passively administered anti-hapten antibody but also by the anti-carrier antibody. 3) Passively administered 3.5S fragments of the anti-carrier antibody selectively suppressed the anti-carrier antibody response but had no effect on the capacity of carrier-specific helper T cells to facilitate the anti-hapten antibody response. 4) Passively administered anti-carrier antibodies did not suppress the development of carrier-specific helper T cells but suppressed B memory cells specific for the haptenic group as well as the carrier determinant.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of DNA flow cytometric analysis of body cavity fluids with conventional cytology.

The potential utility of flow cytometric (FCM) analysis in routine diagnostic cytology for effusions was assessed with 104 samples from body cavity fluids. Conventional cytology showed no positivity (0/33) for effusions from patients with non-malignant diseases, and 45% positivity (38/71) for effusions from patients with malignant diseases. Conversely, FCM showed no positivity (aneuploid) (0/33) for effusions from patients with non-malignant diseases, and 18% positivity (13/71) with malignant diseases. In 13 cases examined, 8 cases (62%) showed an identical DNA ploidy pattern between effusion site and primary site. FCM showed positivity in four cytologically negative samples (3 malignant lymphomas and 1 clear cell carcinoma). In cases with malignant lymphoma, conventional cytology showed 40% positivity (4/10) and FCM 60% (6/10) positivity. These results indicate that DNA analysis of cells in malignant effusions does not have a diagnostic value as a routine test, but it may have in cases of malignant lymphoma.

Body Fluids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sex differences in clinicopathological features of peripheral T1 adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Clinicopathological features of surgically-treated peripheral T1 adenocarcinoma of the lung were compared between 30 females and 26 males, and the following sex differences were observed; 1) Females were younger than males, 2) There was a higher percentage of smokers among males, 3) The acinar histologic subtype was less frequently found in females, 4) Well differentiated tumors were more frequently found in females, 5) K-ras gene mutations were observed only in males, 6) Prognosis was slightly better in females. As to other factors such as N-factor, tumor ploidy or central fibrosis, there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Although we were not able to explain the causes for the above sex differences, it was speculated that smoking was mainly responsible for them.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary splenic lymphoma presenting as a large cyst.

An atypical case of splenic lymphoma is presented. A large cystic mass lesion in the splenic area was found in an 80-year-old man. He was involved in a traffic accident, and subsequently the cyst ruptured. The histological diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was made at emergency splenectomy. No other lesions were identified, and there were no signs of tumor recurrence four months after the operation.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A case of small cell carcinoma of the lung associated with hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy.

A 73-year-old man had complained of painful swelling in the upper and lower extremities for several months before detection of small cell lung carcinoma. A bone scan showed abnormal symmetrical accumulations in the extremities, but periosteal proliferation was not demonstrated by X-ray. When a complete remission was obtained by chemoradiotherapy, the joint manifestation also subsided completely. In almost all reported cases, hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy was observed in all patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy associated with small cell lung carcinoma published in the English literature.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia accompanied by Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A 74-year-old man presented with chest pain, dry cough, progressive respiratory distress and infiltrative lung shadow. Diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia was confirmed by histological examination as well as clinical features. On the 8th day post-admission, he developed progressive generalised muscle weakness that required mechanical ventilation. Clinical investigations revealed features concurring with the accepted diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although precise aetiologies for the disorders suffered by this case were unknown, a common cause of allergic nature was speculated. This is the first report of acute eosinophilic pneumonia accompanied by Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Aged↗