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Biomedical subjects

M Kuroda

Publications and source records attributed to M Kuroda.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Pregnane glycosides from Sansevieria trifasciata.

Phytochemical analysis of the whole plant of Sansevieria trifasciata, one of the most common Agavaceae plants, has resulted in the isolation of four new pregnane glycosides. Their structures have been determined by spectroscopic analysis and acid- and alkaline-catalysed hydrolysis to be 1 beta,3 beta-dihydroxypregna-5,16-dien-20-one glycosides. This is believed to be the first report of the isolation of the pregnane glycosides from a plant of the family Agavaceae.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1997

Steroidal glycosides from the underground parts of Hosta plantaginea var. japonica and their cytostatic activity on leukaemia HL-60 cells.

A new C22-steroid glycoside was isolated from the underground parts of Hosta plantaginea var. japonica, together with a known furostanol saponin and three known spirostanol saponins. The structure of the new steroid glycoside was characterized by spectroscopic analysis and acid-catalysed hydrolysis as 2 alpha, 3 beta, 16 beta-trihydroxy-5 alpha-pregn-20(21)-ene-carboxylic acid gamma-lactone 3-O-¿O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside¿. The isolated compounds were assayed for their cytostatic activity on leukaemia HL-60 cells. The spirostanol saponins showed cytostatic activity in a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values ranging between 1 and 3 micrograms ml-1.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1997

Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiogenesis is critical for the development and progression of solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible role of vascular endothelial growth factor (which is considered to be one of the most important factors involved in tumor-associated angiogenesis), in human hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Vascular endothelial growth factor gene and protein expression were analyzed by means of Northern hybridization and immunohistochemical methods in 5 hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor was evaluated by immunoblotting of conditioned medium of these hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Further, we compared the level of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues along with that in surrounding tumor-free tissues obtained from 20 patients. We also analyzed mRNA expression of Flt-1, one of the vascular endothelial growth factor specific high-affinity receptors, in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. RESULTS: Northern hybridization analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed that all cultured hepatocellular carcinoma cells exhibited a high level of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA. In addition, vascular endothelial growth factor secretion by Hep G2, one of the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, was shown by Western blot. In vivo, we observed vascular endothelial growth factor expression in both hepatocellular carcinoma and non-hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. However, in 12 of 20 cases, vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA levels were significantly up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. In the majority of cases (10 out of 12 cases) with abundant tumor vascularity, vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA up-regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues was observed. We failed to detect Flt-1 mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the possibility that hepatocellular carcinoma cells overexpress the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and protein. These findings support the hypothesis that vascular endothelial growth factor is one of the important factors involved in the angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, and may even be involved in the development and/or progression of hepatocellular carcinoma itself.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

An algorithm for real-time, continuous evaluation of left ventricular mechanics by single-beat estimation of arterial and ventricular elastance.

We describe a computer algorithm that allows continuous, real-time evaluation of ventricular elastance (Ees), arterial elastance (Ea), and their coupling ratio in a clinical setting. In the conventional pressure-volume analysis of left ventricular (LV) contractility, invasive methods of volume determination and a significant, rapid preload reduction are required to generate Ees. With the help of automated border detection by transesophageal echocardiography, and a technique of estimating peak LV isovolumic pressure, Ea and Ees were determined from a single cardiac beat without the need for preload reduction. A comparison of results obtained by a conventional approach and the new algorithm technique, showed good correlation for Ea (r = 0.86, p < 0.001) and Ees (r = 0.74, p = 0.001). Bias analysis showed a bias (d) of 1.47 mmHg/cm2 for Ea with a standard deviation (SD) of 7.03 mmHg/cm2, and upper (d+2SD) and lower(d-2SD) limits of agreement of 15.24 mmHg/cm2 and -12.31 mmHg/cm2, respectively. Bias analysis showed a bias of -1.42 mmHg/cm2 for Ees with a SD of 4.88 mmHg/cm2, and limits of agreement of 8.15 mmHg/cm2 and -10.98 mmHg/cm2. The algorithm's stability to artifacts was also analyzed by comparing magnitudes of residuals of Ea and Ees from source signals with and without noise. With Ea differing by an average of 1.036 mmHg/cm2 and Ees differing by an average of 0.836 mmHg/cm2, the algorithm was found to be stable to artifacts in the source signals.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

Clinical study of 16 fully grown cerebral aneurysms.

The mechanismus of recurrence and enlargement of 16 cerebral aneurysms have been analyzed: 2 dissecting aneurysms, 6 fully grown aneurysms after neck clipping, 1 case after treatment with dome clip, 3 ruptured aneurysms that developed at the same sites and 4 cases that developed at other sites. From our investigation we concluded it was fundamentally important that the factor of the elastic lamina interna must attach in whole around the neck with precise neck clipping or adequate tight embolization involving positioning of the remaining elastica lamina interna in coil embolization.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMed1997

Epstein-Barr virus-related Hodgkin's disease showing B cell lineage in an immunosuppressive patient seropositive for HTLV-I.

A case of Hodgkin's disease (HD), lymphocyte depression (LD) type in an immunosuppressive patient is described. The patient was a 48-year-old male and his parents were born in the Kyushu area, which is an endemic area for adult T cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATL). He was seropositive for ATL virus (ATLV, also referred to as HTLV-I) and showed a marked immunosuppressive condition. He developed LD-HD and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and died due to respiratory failure. The immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses revealed that the Reed-Sternberg-like cells in the lymph node biopsy sample were positive for Ber-H2 (CD30), Leu-M1 (CD15), L-26 (CD20), Bcl-2, p53 and EBER, the viral genome of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Antigens, CD20↗
PubMed1997

Biphasic synovial sarcoma of the peritoneal cavity with t(X;18) demonstrated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

A case of a biphasic synovial sarcoma, arising on the inner surface of the anterior abdominal wall of a 13-year-old girl, is reported. Although the tumor showed rather typical histological and immunohistochemical features for synovial sarcoma, its unusual clinical presentation and anatomical location caused diagnostic difficulty, especially with regard to differentiation from a malignant mesothelioma. Applying reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, the SYT-SSX2 chimeric gene transcripts that result from the translocation, t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2), found in most synovial sarcomas could be demonstrated. Thus, this RT-PCR approach is a reliable method for confirming the diagnosis of synovial sarcomas in unusual locations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Significance of the BTA test in bladder cancer: a multicenter trial. BTA Study Group Japan.

BACKGROUND: The BTA test is a latex agglutination assay for the qualitative detection in the urine of analytes that are associated with bladder tumor. We compared the results of the BTA test with those of voided urine cytology (VUC) in patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: A multicenter trial was performed at 6 institutions. A total of 132 patients with histologically diagnosed bladder cancer were enrolled. Urine samples were split for BTA and VUC testing. RESULTS: The sensitivities of the BTA test and VUC were 57.6% and 37.9%, respectively; this difference was significant (P < 0.001). The BTA test had much higher sensitivity for small, solitary, superficial tumors than did VUC. CONCLUSION: The BTA test is simple to perform, gives rapid results, and is far more sensitive than VUC for detection of bladder cancer. The BTA test has the potential to become an additional tool for detecting bladder cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Antimonite is accumulated by the glycerol facilitator GlpF in Escherichia coli.

In a search for genes responsible for the accumulation of antimonite in Escherichia coli, TnphoA was used to create a pool of random insertional mutants, from which one antimonite-resistant mutant was isolated. Sequence analysis showed that the TnphoA insertion was located in the glpF gene, coding for the glycerol facilitator GlpF. The mutant was shown to be defective in polyol transport by GlpF. These results suggest that in solution Sb(III) is recognized as a polyol by the glycerol facilitator.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1997

A melibiose transporter and an operon containing its gene in Enterobacter cloacae.

We detected inducible melibiose transport activity in cells of Enterobacter cloacae IID977. H+, but not Na+, was found to be the coupling cation for this transporter. We cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the melibiose transporter. A homology search of a protein sequence database revealed that this melibiose transporter has high sequence similarity with the lactose transporter (LacY) and the raffinose transporter (RafB) and has some similarity with the melibiose transporter (MelB) of Escherichia coli.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Enhanced interleukin-8 production by cultured Chang liver cells subjected to ethanol exposure and subsequent stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

We investigated the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and chemotactic activity released from Chang liver cells subjected to long-term treatment with ethanol (Et) and subsequent stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Chang liver cells were cultured in the presence of 5, 50 or 100 mmol/l Et for 4 weeks and then treated with recombinant TNF-alpha (1, 10, 100 U/ml). The culture supernatants were assayed for IL-8 using a sandwich ELISA and chemotactic activity was measured using a chemotactic chamber. Total RNA was also extracted from these cells and IL-8 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR. In addition, TNF-receptor expression on the Et-treated cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-8 levels in supernatants of cells stimulated with 100 U/ml of TNF-alpha for 48 h rose significantly with increasing concentrations of Et and values obtained were as follows: 4,918 +/- 244.4 pg/ml at 0 mmol/l Et, 5,335 +/- 266.2 pg/ml at 5 mmol/l Et, 8,726 +/- 873.4 pg/ml at 50 mmol/l Et and 9,134 +/- 866.0 pg/ml at 100 mmol/l Et. The chemotactic activity also increased with increasing concentrations of Et and was almost completely suppressed by anti-IL-8 antibody. Using semiquantitative analysis of radioactivity of IL-8 mRNA using a 32P gamma ATP-labeled primer for IL-8 mRNA, Et-treated cells were shown to have markedly higher levels of radioactivity than untreated cells. In addition, TNF-receptor expression was significantly higher in cells treated with 100 mmol/l Et. These data suggest that long-term Et treatment of Chang liver cells stimulated with TNF-alpha may enhance transcription of the IL-8 gene with up-regulation of the TNF receptor.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1997

New polyhydroxylated steroidal saponins from the tubers of Brodiaea californica.

New polyhydroxylated steroidal saponins (1, 2) were isolated from the tubers of Brodiaea californica. The structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis and acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The bisdesmosidic saponin (2) is unique in structure, and is the first representative of a steroidal saponin bearing 6-deoxy-D-gulopyranose among both the steroidal and triterpene saponins reported up to the present.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1997

Preoperative multidisciplinary treatment with hyperthermia for soft tissue sarcoma.

We report the results of phase I/II studies of preoperative multidisciplinary treatment of 14 patients with soft tissue sarcoma using hyperthermia from November 1990 to April 1995. The preoperative treatment was conducted with thermo-radio-chemotherapy in 11 cases of stage III, and with thermo-radiotherapy as well as thermo-chemotherapy in three cases of stages I and II. Hyperthermia was carried out twice a week with totals ranging from 4 to 14 times (average: 8.4 times); each session lasted 60 min. Radiotherapy was administered four or five times per week, and the dose was 1.8 2Gy/fraction, with a total of 30-40 Gy in a four week period. Chemotherapy was mainly in the form of MAID regimen (2-mercaptoethanesulphonic acid (mesna), adriamycin, ifosfamide and dacarbazine). The tumors were surgically resected in all patients after completing the preoperative treatment. The efficacy rate, as expressed by the percentage of either tumors in which reduction rate was 50% or more, or tumors for which post-treatment contrast enhanced CT image revealed low density volumes occupying 50% or more of the total mass, was 71% (ten of the 14 tumors). The mean tumor necrosis rate in the resected specimens was 78%. The tumor necrosis rate was significantly high (P < 0.05) in patients whose Time > or = 42 degrees C was of long duration. Postoperative complications were observed in six patients; among these, two patients developed wound infection that required surgical treatment as a complication of surgery performed in the early stage following the preoperative treatment. After a mean postoperative follow-up of 27 months, distant metastasis occurred in four patients resulting in three fatalities. The three-year cumulative survival rate was 64.3%. No local recurrence was observed in any patient during the follow-up, thus confirming our hypothesis that preoperative multidisciplinary treatment has an excellent local efficacy. We think that it would be valuable to conduct, at many facilities, phase III studies on the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma by a combination of surgery and preoperative multidisciplinary treatment using hyperthermia, paying close attention to the interval between these two modalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Urethral recurrence of bladder cancer 16 years after total cystectomy. A case report].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital. Diagnosis of invasive bladder cancer was made and a total cystectomy was performed on January, 30, 1980. Histological examination showed transitional cell carcinoma, grade 2, pT1 is N0M0. After 16 years, when he suffered left femur, he had right inguinal lymphnode swelling. On the biopsy of the inguinal mass, histology was transitional cell carcinoma. The urethral washing cytology was positive. Lung CT scan dem onstrated multiple lesions. He was diagnosed of the urethral recurrence, right inguinal lymphnode metastasis and lung metastasis of bladder cancer. This case is the 5th case of urethral recurrence of bladder cancer following cystectomy in our hospital.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Coexistence of renal cell carcinoma and renal angiomyolipoma developing in a kidney: a case report.

Coexistence of renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma in the same kidney is rare. A 54-year-old woman without tuberous sclerosis was admitted for further examination of incidental renal masses on ultrasonography. Computerized tomography revealed a 17-mm high density mass in the mediolateral portion of the right kidney and a 5-mm low density mass near the right lower pole. Because the former mass showed a typical tumor pattern on selective renal angiography and the latter mass was strongly hyperechoic on ultrasonography, a clinical diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma was made. A right radical nephrectomy confirmed the preoperative diagnosis. She has been followed for 61 months with no recurrence.

Angiomyolipoma↗
PubMed1997

Treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma with a combination of human lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha and cimetidine.

PURPOSE: We examined whether cimetidine could augment the efficacy of interferon-alpha therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 31 male and 6 female patients treated with interferon-alpha and cimetidine 21 had metastases at diagnosis and 15 had a recurrence after nephrectomy. One patient had a primary tumor with thrombus in the inferior vena cava. Lymphoblastoid interferon-alpha was administered at 5 megaunits daily intramuscularly 5 to 7 days a week for at least 8 weeks, and cimetidine was administered orally at 800 mg. daily in 4 divided doses. The evaluable tumors included 30 in the lung, 6 lymph nodes, 5 bone, 4 kidney and 1 inferior vena cava. RESULTS: Combined therapy with interferon-alpha and cimetidine resulted in a complete response in 7 patients, a partial response in 8, stable disease in 12 and progression in 10. The objective response rate was 41%. The lung metastasis showed the best response to combined therapy. The 5-year survival rates for patients with and without response, and overall were 74, 20 and 41%, respectively. Histopathologically, high grade tumors had a better response to combined therapy than did low grade tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy with interferon-alpha and cimetidine for advanced renal cell carcinoma resulted in a definitively good response. A prospective randomized trial should be performed to elucidate the efficacy of the combined therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical outcome of radical prostatectomy for stage C prostate cancer: comparison with other treatment modalities].

Of the 69 patients with clinical stage C prostate cancer under 75 years old and with good performance status between 1986 and 1995, 29 underwent radical prostatectomy combined with endocrine therapy, 21 underwent radiation therapy combined with endocrine therapy and remaining 19 patients were treated by endocrine therapy alone. The median followup was 44 months (range 4 to 122). Radical prostatectomy resulted in progression-free rates of 79% and 61% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Progression-free rates were lower in patients with lymph node metastasis or positive surgical margins. In patients with clinical stage T3a-c and well or moderately differentiated tumor, radical prostatectomy resulted in a progression-free rate of 100% at 5 years. However, in patients with clinical stage T4a or poorly differentiated tumor, radiation therapy resulted in a better progression-free rate than radical prostatectomy. These findings suggest that patients with clinical stage T3a-c and well or moderately differentiated tumor will benefit from radical prostatectomy combined with endocrine therapy and that radiation therapy well be effective for advanced diseases.

Aged↗