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Biomedical subjects

M Nishi

Publications and source records attributed to M Nishi.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Surgical treatment of cancer of the thoracic esophagus in association with a major pulmonary operation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications have been a major cause of mortality after operations for cancer of the thoracic esophagus. Although the risk involved in esophagectomy associated with a major pulmonary operation is expected to be high, it has seldom been evaluated on the basis of clinical experience. STUDY DESIGN: Of 408 patients who underwent esophagectomy, 8 had previously undergone major pulmonary operation (7 for tuberculosis and 1 for pulmonary cancer) and 10 underwent concurrent major pulmonary resection (7 for pulmonary invasion of esophageal cancer, 2 for synchronous pulmonary cancer, 1 for extensive bronchiectasia). All patients underwent systematic lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer, except one patient with mucosal cancer. To prevent postoperative complications, the operative approach and dissection procedures for esophageal cancer were modified according to the associated pulmonary operation and the extent of cancer invasion. All thoracotomies for esophagectomy were performed on the same side as the major pulmonary operation. Additional median sternotomy was performed when necessary. In the most recent 8 patients who underwent major pulmonary resection concurrent with esophagectomy, the bronchial stump was covered with a pedicle flap. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients who underwent pulmonary operation, postoperative complications developed in 13 of the 18 object patients, but none was fatal. The 3-year survival rate was 45%. All deaths were caused by esophageal cancer or another cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive esophagectomy associated with major pulmonary operation is not contraindicated in patients with fair risk conditions. The operative procedures for esophagectomy should be appropriately modified to minimize the effect of the associated pulmonary operation. Special care should be taken with respect to the approach for mediastinal dissection and closure of the bronchial stump.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1997

Mass-screening of neuroblastoma using urine from infants by high-performance liquid chromatographic method: results of first (6th month) and second (14th month) screening.

To detect neuroblastoma in early stages, mass-screening of this tumor was carried out by HPLC method using the urine of six-month-old infants. Screening began in April, 1981, and a total of 42 cases were detected by December, 1994. The incidence of detection was about 1:5,000 babies tested. All of these patients have survived without relapses except one, who died of surgical complications. Nevertheless, tumors developed at later stages in 14 cases from the group which resulted negative at the 6-month screening. To determine whether such tumors could be detected by a second check, a 14-month screening was carried out, beginning in April, 1991. By December, 1994, 3 patients with neuroblastoma were found among 41,809 babies tested, and were subsequently treated. While one of these three patients was not screened at 6 months, the other two had shown approximate cut-off values in urinary VMA as well as HVA at their 6-month screening. Therefore, if the tumors had already existed at the 6-month screening, and had grown gradually until the second check at 14 months, at least some of these tumors were of the late-onset variety and could have been detected at an earlier stage.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1997

Constituents of a fern, Diplazium subsinuatum. II. Structure elucidation of five new hopane-triterpene glycosides.

From whole fern, Diplazium subsinuatum (Wall. ex Hook. et Grev.) Tagawa, two new hopane-triterpene glycosides named diplaziosides III and IV were isolated, together with three new hopane glycosides with acetylated sugars. The structures of diplaziosides III and IV were established as (22S)-24-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 2)- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20 alpha-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-30-hydroxyhopan-28-oic acid (1) and (22R)-24-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-30-carboxy-17-hydroxy-hopano-28,22-lacto ne (2), respectively, on the basis of spectral evidence. Diplazioside III (1) is novel not only in its glycoside structure, but also in its triterpene structure and moreover, 1 provides the first instance of a naturally occurring bisdesmoside with a hopane aglycone. The structures (3a, 3b, and 4a) of the acetylated glycosides were also elucidated, and this is the first report of naturally occurring acetates of hopane glycosides.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Cloning of mouse islet amyloid polypeptide gene and characterization of its promoter.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) was isolated from islet amyloid deposits in patients with insulinoma and pancreatic islets of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and several reports suggested that it may contribute to the development of NIDDM. IAPP is mainly expressed and synthesized in pancreatic B cells and cosecreted with insulin, so analysis of the transcriptional regulation of the IAPP gene would be helpful for the elucidation of pancreatic B cell specific gene expression. The mouse IAPP gene spans about 5.8 kb and, like the human and rat genes, it consists of three exons, and analysis of the promoter/enhancer activity of mouse IAPP gene reveals the region from -171 to -87 bp to be essential. Within this region, an E-box like sequence, CACCTG (-122 to -117 bp), and a TAAT-box like sequence, TTAATG (-139 to -134 bp), are thought to be important. The disruption of each sequence resulted in a severe decrease in promoter activity, although the decrease was less in the disruption of the E-box than that of TAAT-box like sequence, suggesting the latter is more important for IAPP gene transcription. Like the rat IAPP gene, the CCAAT-box, which does not exist in the human gene, was identified in the mouse gene, indicating the possibility of species difference in the IAPP gene transcriptional mechanism. An enhancer-like activity was also identified within intron 1, although further elucidation is necessary.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Mental depression and death in elderly persons.

To investigate the relationship between mental depression and death among elderly persons, a prospective study was conducted. 2,166 inhabitants aged from 60 to 74 years in the Hidaka district of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan were employed. From December 1990 to January 1991 we estimated the degree of depression of the subjects, using the self-rating depression scale (SDS) developed by Zung. The subjects were classified into 3 groups according to the average SDS score (Group A, < 2.00; Group B, 2.00-2.39 and Group C, > or = 2.40), and were followed up periodically until February 1995 to confirm whether they were still alive. The highest mortality was noted in Group C which consisted of those who had severe depression. Their mortalities for cancer, pneumonia and suicide were significantly high. After the adjustment of age, number of current diseases, smoking state and sex, a similar tendency was noted. Mental depression increased mortality of the aged. Part of this mechanism might be explained by the suppression of immunological resistance.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Isolation and structure elucidation of longshengensin A from Peucedanum longshengense].

Two compounds were isolated from Peucedanum longshengense Shan et Sheh for the first time. Their structures were identified as longshengensin A (I) and mannitol (II) by physico-chemical constants and spectral analyses (UV, IR, MS, NMR and 2D-NMR). I is a new compound with the structure of (-)-3' (s)-acetyloxy-4' (s)-angeloyloxy-3', 4'-dihydroseselin and named longshengensin A. Its absolute configurations were determined by chemical correlation with khellactone.

Apiaceae↗
PubMed1997

[Triterpene acids from the barks of Illicium difengpi].

Four compounds were isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine "Difengpi", barks of Illicium difengpi K.I.B. et K.I.M. They were identified as 3 beta-O-acetyl-mangiferolic acid (I), mangiferonic acid (II), mangiferolic acid (III) and butulinic acid (IV) by physico-chemical constants and spectral analyses (UV, IR, EIMS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, NOEDE and 2D NMR). Compound I is a new compound. These triterpene acids (I-IV) were isolated from Illicium genus for the first time.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗
PubMed1997

[Sudden onset of bronchospasm and persistent hypotension during spinal anesthesia in a patient on long-term psychotropic therapy].

We experienced perioperative management of a patient on long-term psychotropic therapy. The patient was a 65-year-old man who underwent TUR of the prostate under spinal anesthesia. Bronchospasm and persistent hypotension occurred immediately after the beginning of TUR. Aminophylline improved bronchospasm, but it was difficult to keep blood pressure with continuous infusion of norepinephrine or epinephrine. The patient recovered from anesthesia safely. We should pay attention to bronchospasm as well as hypotension in a patient on long-term psychotropic therapy during perioperative period.

Aminophylline↗
PubMed1997

The effects of idazoxan combined with 30% nitrous oxide on the jaw-opening reflex in the rat.

In rats, the jaw-opening reflex is elicited by activation of a nociceptive receptor by the electric stimulation of the tooth pulp. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of 30% nitrous oxide and 30% nitrous oxide with idazoxan, an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist, on this reflex. Each rat received electric stimulation for the jaw-opening reflex at 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 min after both the start of inhalation and the withdrawal of 100% oxygen or 30% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Idazoxan, 400 micrograms/ kg, was administered intravenously at the start of the inhalation period. Amplitudes significantly decreased during inhalation of nitrous oxide, but they returned gradually to control levels after cessation of nitrous oxide inhalation. In the cases of 100% oxygen, 100% oxygen with idazoxan, and 30% nitrous oxide in oxygen with idazoxan, amplitudes did not change from controls during and after 30% nitrous oxide inhalation. The latency remained unchanged irrespective of the treatment. Since in rats the degree of inhibition by 30% nitrous oxide in oxygen is partially diminished by administration of idazoxan, we conclude that nitrous oxide affects an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor in the central nervous system.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

Hydrophobic effect of alkyl substituents on DNA intercalation of a dye.

Naphthalene imides carrying alkyl chains of different length were synthesized to evaluate the hydrophobic effect on DNA interaction with small molecules. These dyes bind to DNA with moderately high affinity of 10(4)-10(5) M-1 and raise the melting temperature of the DNA duplex by 8-18 degrees C at a 0.2 molar ratio of dye to DNA-p (phosphate unit). However, both the DNA binding affinity and DNA duplex stability decrease with an increase in the hydrophobicity (logP) of the dye. These results demonstrate that the interaction of the hydrophobic alkyl chain of the dye with the DNA groove destabilizes the DNA structure, presumably by removing the structure-stabilizing water from the DNA groove.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1996

Identification and characterization of an endogenous ligand for opioid receptor homologue ROR-C: its involvement in allodynic response to innocuous stimulus.

We reported here purification and characterization of a novel heptadecapeptide in bovine brain as an endogenous ligand for ROR-C, an opioid receptor homologue cloned from rat cerebrum. The amino acid sequence of the peptide that we purified is identical to those recently identified as nociceptin in rat brain and orphanin FQ in porcine brain. The peptide inhibited the forskolin-induced cyclic AMP accumulation in ROR-C expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells. Studies on inhibitory activity of cyclic AMP accumulation and Northern blot analysis showed that the peptide and its precursor mRNA are present in a number of brain regions, less abundant in the spina cord, and negligible in the cerebellum. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that hybridization-positive neurons were distributed in the superficial layer (lamina I) of the dorsal horn and were also interspersed between the tract of Lissauer in the spinal cord. Intrathecal administration of the peptide into conscious mice induced allodynia, a pain response to innocuous tactile stimuli, in a beli-shaped manner. These results demonstrate that the peptide exists in the brain and spinal cord and plays an important role in pain transmission.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Altered p16INK4 and retinoblastoma protein status in non-small cell lung cancer: potential synergistic effect with altered p53 protein on proliferative activity.

p16INK4 protein (p16) and retinoblastoma protein (pRB), like p53 protein, are important tumor suppressors that regulate the cell cycle. We immunohistochemically examined fresh-frozen specimens of 114 resected non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) for loss of p16 and pRB expression, together with aberrant accumulation of p53 protein and the proliferative activity determined by the Ki-67 index. Three pRB-positive tumors were uninterpretable for p16 status. Of the remaining 111 tumors, 30 (27%) lacked p16 expression, and 10 (9%) lost pRB expression. No tumors showed coincident loss of both proteins, supporting the hypothesis that they function in a single pathway. Of 25 tumors, including 4 p16-negative tumors, examined by Southern blot analysis, only 2 p16-negative tumors were considered to have reduced gene dosage consistent with possible homozygous deletion of the CDKN2 gene encoding p16, suggesting that immunohistochemistry is a sensitive and suitable method to screen for p16 alteration. Loss of p16 expression did not correlate with any clinical factors or p53 status, whereas loss of pRB expression correlated with heavy smoking (P = 0.03 by Fisher's exact test and P = 0.01 by the multivariate logistic regression analysis). Proliferative activity was considerably higher in p53-positive tumors than in p53-negative tumors (P < 0.001). Loss of p16 or pRB expression was associated with a further increase in proliferative activity in the p53-positive tumors (P = 0.009) but not with proliferative activity in the p53-negative tumors. These results suggest that alteration of the p16/pRB pathway is relatively frequently involved in the development and progression of NSCLCs and that its effect on the proliferative activity is potentially synergistic with altered p53 protein.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Generation and characterization of mutant mice lacking ryanodine receptor type 3.

The ryanodine receptor type 3 (RyR-3) functions as a Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) channel and is distributed in a wide variety of cell types including skeletal muscle and smooth muscle cells, neurons, and certain non-excitable cells. However, the physiological roles of RyR-3 are totally unclear. To gain an insight into the function of RyR-3 in vivo, we have generated mice lacking RyR-3 by means of the gene targeting technique. The mutant mice thus obtained showed apparently normal growth and reproduction. Although Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores of the mutant skeletal muscle differed in Ca2+ sensitivity from that of wild-type muscle, excitation-contraction coupling of the mutant muscle seemed to be normal. Moreover, we could not find any significant disturbance in the smooth muscle and lymphocytes from the mutant mice. On the other hand, the mutant mice showed increased locomotor activity, which was about 2-fold greater than that of the control mice. These results indicate that the loss of RyR-3 causes no gross abnormalities and suggest that the lack of RyR-3-mediated Ca2+ signaling results in abnormalities of certain neurons in the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Epidemiology of childhood leukemia in Hokkaido, Japan.

The population-based epidemiological indices (crude incidence, survival rate, mortality, etc.) of childhood leukemia (0-14 years of age) from 1969 to 1993 in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, were calculated, using data obtained from the Registry of Childhood Malignancies in Hokkaido Prefecture. A total of 1,084 cases of leukemia were diagnosed in the 1969-93 period. The annual incidence of all types of leukemia from 1984 to 1993 was about 4 per 100,000 children aged 0-14 years, with the incidence of ANLL decreasing slightly and that of ALL increasing. The ratio of ALL/ANLL could similarly be seen to be increasing in all age groups. Out of a cohort of 100,000 live births, about 65 children developed leukemia by 14 years of age, and in this longitudinal observation the ratio of ALL/ANLL was increasing. The incidence of ALL and ANLL and the ratio of ALL/ANLL in Japanese children are approaching those of Caucasians. Approximately 80% of the ALL cases were of the LI type (FAB classification), and about 65% of these could be immunologically classified as "common" ALL. The 5-year survival rate of T- and B-cell ALL cases was 50% or less, while that of "common" ALL cases was about 80%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

5-HT1A receptor expression is modulated by corticosteroid receptor agonists in primary rat hippocampal culture.

The effects of corticosteroid receptor agonists on the expression of 5-HT1A receptor mRNA were measured in rat hippocampal cultures using in situ hybridization histochemistry. In our normal culture system, grown in serum and steroid-free media, moderate to heavy signal for 5-HT1A mRNA transcripts were detected in hippocampal neurons and glial cells. Aldosterone, a type I corticosteroid receptor agonist (10(-9) M), significantly reduced the expression of 5-HT1A mRNA both in neurons and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive (IR) cells. The type II corticosteroid receptor agonist, Ru28362 (10(-8) M), also significantly decreased neuronal 5-HT1A mRNA expression. However, it was not as effective as aldosterone in reducing the label over GFAP-IR cells. These data indicate that corticosteroids may directly regulate the expression of hippocampal 5-HT1A receptors at the mRNA level in cultured hippocampal cells.

Aldosterone↗