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Biomedical subjects

M Onda

Publications and source records attributed to M Onda.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Ret/PTC3 is the most frequent form of gene rearrangement in papillary thyroid carcinomas in Japan.

Rearrangements of the RET and TRK proto-oncogenes, which generate fusion oncogenes, are frequent in papillary thyroid carcinomas in Caucasian populations. To determine the spectrum of gene rearrangements in Japanese patients, we systematically examined 40 papillary thyroid carcinomas for all possible types of gene fusion events involving RET or TRK genes. RET rearrangements were found in ten tumors (25%): ret/PTC1 had occurred in two tumors, ret/PTC2 in one, ret/PTC3 in six, and a novel RET rearrangement in the remaining patient. In this last patient, the 5' novel sequence was fused in-frame to the RET amino acid sequence; thus, the fusion gene may encode a protein with a RET kinase domain at the carboxy terminus. The RET gene was fused to 5' donor sequences at the beginning of exon 12 in all ten tumors. No rearrangements involving the TRK gene were found in this panel of carcinomas. Our results indicated that constitutive activation of the RET by gene rearrangement is a frequent mechanism of papillary thyroid carcinogenesis in Japanese adults.

Adult↗

Sclerotherapy plus ligation versus ligation for the treatment of esophageal varices: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: We devised a new combined method of endoscopic variceal ligation and injection sclerotherapy, namely, endoscopic scleroligation, for the treatment of esophageal varices. The aim of this prospective randomized trial was to compare endoscopic scleroligation with endoscopic variceal ligation alone with regard to efficacy, complications, variceal recurrence, and survival. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices were randomly assigned to be treated by endoscopic scleroligation (n = 25) or endoscopic variceal ligation (n = 26). In the initial session in the endoscopic scleroligation group, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy was performed with injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate around the lower esophagus to obliterate the feeding veins. This was followed by endoscopic variceal ligation from the injection site to the most orad varix. In subsequent sessions, endoscopic injection sclerotherapy was performed with 1% polidocanol. In the endoscopic variceal ligation group, that procedure was performed in all treatment sessions. RESULTS: Both methods were equally effective in achieving complete eradication of esophageal varices. Among the cases in which complete eradication was achieved, the 1- and 3-year cumulative recurrence rates in the endoscopic scleroligation group (9.5%, 22.1%) were significantly lower than those in the endoscopic variceal ligation group (61.9%, 72.2%) (p < 0.01). The survival rates and incidences of treatment-related complications have been similar among patients treated by both methods. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic scleroligation is superior to endoscopic variceal ligation in preventing variceal recurrence.

Aged↗

Activity and stability of glucose oxidase in molecular films assembled alternately with polyions.

Anionic glucose oxidase (GOD) was assembled alternately with polycations, namely, poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly(dimethyldiallyl-ammonium chloride) (PDDA), in the preparation of molecular films. Enzymatic activity of the films was investigated by sequential redox reaction with glucose, peroxidase (POD) and DA67 dye. The apparent activity was not influenced by substrate diffusion at up to 5 microg of immobilized GOD (at the area of 5 x 5 mm(2) x 2 faces). This is ascribed to the less dense packing of the alternate molecular film compared with Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Immobilized GOD could be released into solution, and its activity was about 80% of native GOD, indicating that the immobilization did not cause significant denaturation. The enzyme activity of the GOD film was maintained for 14 weeks when stored in buffer and in air at 4 degrees C. Activity measurement after incubation at elevated temperatures showed that significant deactivation was not observed up to 50 degrees C. This shows that GOD in the film has higher thermostability than native GOD. The pH profile of the GOD activity in the film became broad and shifted towards higher pH than that of native GOD. The GOD film was also prepared by the premixing method, in which a GOD-polyion complex was assembled alternately with another oppositely-charged polyion. The enzyme activity of the alternate film obtained by premixing was much higher (maximal enhancement, 67-fold) than that of the conventionally assembled films. Better dispersion of GOD in the premixed film appears to enhance the enzyme activity.

Journal Article↗

Detection of T cell apoptosis after major operations.

OBJECTIVE: To detect T cell apoptosis in reduced peripheral lymphocyte counts in patients having major operations. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Japan. SUBJECTS: 11 patients having oesophagectomy and 5 having laparoscopic cholecystectomy. INTERVENTIONS: To investigate T cell apoptosis we detected DNA fragmentation using electrophoresis, and T-cell receptor-gamma (TCR-gamma) gene amplification using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in serum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peripheral lymphocyte count and DNA extracted from the serum preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, and 7. RESULTS: The lymphocyte count decreased significantly until day 5 and then increased in the patients who had had oesophagectomy. DNA fragmentation and PCR products for the TCRgamma variable region gene were found in the serum DNA of 10 patients until day 5. No DNA fragmentation or PCR products were found in the serum of patients who had had laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that transient T cell apoptosis occurs after major operations.

Adult↗

Escherichia coli mutM suppresses illegitimate recombination induced by oxidative stress.

DNA damage by oxidative stress is one of the causes of mutagenesis. However, whether or not DNA damage induces illegitimate recombination has not been determined. To study the effect of oxidative stress on illegitimate recombination, we examined the frequency of lambdabio transducing phage in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and found that this reagent enhances illegitimate recombination. To clarify the types of illegitimate recombination, we examined the effect of mutations in mutM and related genes on the process. The frequency of lambdabio transducing phage was 5- to 12-fold higher in the mutM mutant than in the wild type, while the frequency in the mutY and mutT mutants was comparable to that of the wild type. Because 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) and formamido pyrimidine (Fapy) lesions can be removed from DNA by MutM protein, these lesions are thought to induce illegitimate recombination. Analysis of recombination junctions showed that the recombination at Hotspot I accounts for 22 or 4% of total lambdabio transducing phages in the wild type or in the mutM mutant, respectively. The preferential increase of recombination at nonhotspot sites with hydrogen peroxide in the mutM mutant was discussed on the basis of a new model, in which 8-oxoG and/or Fapy residues may introduce double-strand breaks into DNA.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Analysis of K-ras codon 12 point mutations using duodenal lavage fluid for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.

We evaluated the diagnostic significance of the K-ras point mutations at codon 12 in duodenal lavage fluid (DLF) compared with pure pancreatic juice (PPJ). The DLF was easily and safely collected by injecting distilled water into the duodenum and then aspirating through the working channel of the endoscope during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Two types of DLF are collected this way: DLF 1 is collected just after insertion of the endoscope into the duodenum and DLF 2 is collected after cholangiopancreatography and/or collection of the PPJ using secretin. Analysis of K-ras mutations was performed using enriched polymerase chain reaction. In patients with pancreatic carcinoma (PC), K-ras mutations were detected in 14 of 23 (60.9%) in DLF 1, 16 of 21 (76.2%) in DLF 2, 14 of 20 (70.0%) in PPJ, and 19 of 21 (90.5%) in either DLF 1 or DLF 2. In patients with noncancerous pancreatic diseases consisting of pancreatic cystic diseases and chronic pancreatitis, the incidence of K-ras mutations was 2 of 21 (9.5%) in DLF 1 and 7 of 19 (36.8%) in DLF 2. These values were lower than that in PPJ, and there was significant difference between the incidence in DLF 1 and PPJ. These results suggested that DLF may provide a new and useful material for analysis of K-ras codon 12 point mutations in the diagnosis of PC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PTEN/MMAC1 mutations in hepatocellular carcinomas: somatic inactivation of both alleles in tumors.

Allelic loss of loci on chromosome 10q occurs frequently in hepatocellular carcinomas. Somatic mutations of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene on this chromosome at 10q23 were recently identified in sporadic cancers of the uterus, brain, prostate and breast. To investigate the potential role of PTEN/MMAC1 gene in the genesis of hepatocellular carcinomas, we examined 96 tumors for allelic loss on 10q and also for subtle mutations anywhere within the coding region of PTEN/MMAC1 gene. Allelic loss was identified in 25 of the 89 (27%) tumors that were informative for polymorphic markers in the region. Somatic mutations were identified in five of those tumors: three frameshift mutations, a 1-bp insertion at codon 83-84 in exon 4 and two 4-bp deletions, both at codon 318-319 in exon 8; two C-to-G transversion mutation, both at -9 bp from the initiation codon in the 5' non-coding region of exon 1. No missense mutation was observed in this panel of tumors. In most of the informative tumors carrying intragenic mutations of one allele, we were able to detect loss of heterozygosity as well. These findings suggest that two alleles of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene may be inactivated by a combination of intragenic point mutation on one allele and loss of chromosomal material on the other allele in some of these tumors.

Alleles↗

In situ gene transfer and suicide gene therapy of gastric cancer induced by N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in dogs.

Gene therapy could potentially revolutionize the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancer. The aim of this study was to establish a practical method of gene transfer which would be applicable to human gastric cancer. Retrovirus or/and adenovirus vectors carrying the lacZ marker gene were transferred in situ by needle through an endoscopic biopsy channel into primary gastric cancer in six male beagle dogs that had been treated with N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG). In addition, an adenovirus vector carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Ad.CAGHSV-TK) gene was introduced in situ into cancer tissues in the stomach of three dogs, and the animals were treated with intravenous ganciclovir (GCV). Retrovirus-producing cells which expressed the lacZ gene were specifically localized to the injection site in the stomach. The lacZ gene was more widely transferred into the tumor by the adenovirus vector than by retrovirus-producing cells. Improvement of the needle used for gene transfer and the use of multiple injections per tumor led to more diffuse transfer of the vector into the tumor. The Ad.CAGlacZ gene was also transferred into regional lymph nodes of the stomach. Moderate to diffuse degeneration of the primary cancer tissues of the stomach was found after Ad.CAGHSV-TK/GCV gene therapy. Moreover, almost complete tissue degeneration was observed in the regional lymph nodes of the stomach. An adverse effect of HSV-TK/GCV gene therapy was acute hepatotoxicity, which was not found after Ad.CAGlacZ gene transfer, but was found after high-titer Ad.CAGHSV-TK gene transfer followed by GCV. These findings suggest that in situ gene transfer of a suicide gene followed by prodrug treatment may be applicable not only to primary tumors, but also to lymph node metastases of gastric cancer, though further study of both beneficial and adverse effects is required before clinical usage.

Adenoviridae↗

Ultrastructural changes and immunohistochemical localization of nitric oxide synthase, advanced glycation end products and NF-kappa B in aorta of streptozotocin treated Mongolian gerbils.

To evaluate the relationship among the induction of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and NF-kappa B for vascular damage in hyperglycemia, we injected Mongolian gerbils intravenously with 150 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) and observed over the next one year the resulting aortic changes by immunohistochemical and electron microscopical techniques. After STZ treatment, hyperglycemia was confirmed and body weight transiently decreased. Morphological observation revealed no remarkable changs in vascular endothelial cells or vascular smooth muscle cells in the aorta at one week after STZ administration. After 4 weeks increased collagen fibrils were observed in the pericellular spaces of media. At one year after STZ administration, increased collagen fibrils and thickened elastic fibers were found around the vascular smooth muscle cells with vacuolization and increased cytoplasmic organellae compared with non-treated animals of the same age. Immunohistochemically endothelial constitutive NOS (ecNOS) was localized in the endothelium of the aorta of Mongolian gerbils. At one year after STZ administration, the reaction products of iNOS, AGEs and NF-kappa B in vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells were much more greatly increased than at one week and 4 weeks. After STZ administration, the localization of NOS, AGEs and NF-kappa B was observed in the aorta, which suggests these factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of vasculopathy in diabetes mellitus.

Animals↗

Two types of peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic cancer cells in a hamster model.

Peritoneal dissemination has an unfavorable impact on the prognosis of pancreatic cancer, and a peritoneal dissemination model was created in hamsters by using an experimental pancreatic cancer to clarify its pathological characteristics. PGHAM-1, a cancer cell line we established from BOP induced pancreatic cancer in Syrian golden hamsters, was inoculated into the abdominal cavity of Syrian golden hamsters. After inoculation, sequential changes in the diaphragm, omentum, and parietal peritoneum, and the metastatic patterns of the PGHAM-1 cells were morphologically investigated by macroscopical, microscopical, and ultrastructural observation. The cancer cells were easily absorbed at the stomata in the diaphragm and milky spots in the omentum, which were absorptive lymphatic structures, and lymphatic metastasis occurred 4 days after inoculation. In the parietal peritoneum, however, the cancer cells attached to and proliferated on the parietal peritoneum where mesothelial cells had exfoliated and the basement membrane was exposed. This process was comparatively time-consuming, and metastasis occurred in the parietal peritoneum at 7 days after inoculation. This study suggested that there might be two patterns of peritoneal dissemination of hamster pancreatic cancer. One route is lymphatic metastasis via stomata in the diaphragm and milky spots in the omentum, and the other is direct metastasis on the parietal peritoneum; each metastasis forms independently.

Animals↗

Spontaneous gastrointestinal perforation in patients with lymphoma receiving chemotherapy and steroids. Report of three cases.

Spontaneous gastrointestinal perforations in three patients with lymphoma were considered to be treatment-related conditions. All three were diagnosed as having malignant lymphoma by histological examination, and treated with chemotherapy and steroids. Four to 14 days after the start of chemotherapy, they complained of abdominal pain and plain roentgenograms revealed pneumoperitoneum. The interval between the onset of peritonitis and operation was almost 24 h. Emergency operations were carried out; one patient with a jejunal perforation underwent resection of the jejunum, another with a gastric perforation received a simple closure with omental patch, and the third with a gastric perforation underwent gastrectomy. Two patients recovered from the surgery, while the gastrectomy patient died due to sepsis. The favorable outcome of the surgical intervention is attributed to early diagnosis, prompt exploration, and selective operative procedures. We recommended a simple closure with omental patch for gastroduodenal perforation. Resection and primary anastomosis are possible only in the small bowel.

Adult↗

Identification of a 1-cM region of common deletion on 4q35 associated with progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

To identify the location of one or more of the putative tumor suppressor genes (TSG) on chromosome arm 4q that may be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we examined 96 primary HCCs for their patterns of allelic loss at 39 microsatellite marker loci distributed along this chromosome arm. Allelic loss at one or more loci was observed in 71 (74%) HCCs. Detailed deletion mapping identified two distinct commonly deleted regions; one was located within a 1-cM interval flanked by D4S1534 and D4S2929 at 4q21-22, the other in the 1-cM interval flanked by D4S2921 and D4S2930 at 4q35. Of the tumors for which clinical data were available, allelic loss at 4q35 was more frequent in poorly or moderately differentiated tumors than in well-differentiated tumors (3/15, 20%, vs. 14/21, 67%, P = 0.008); in tumors larger than 2 cm in size (2/11, 18%, vs. 34/62, 55%, P = 0.046); and in tumors that arose from liver cirrhosis as opposed to HCCs arising from chronic hepatitis (25/42, 60%, vs. 9/27, 33%, P = 0.048). The association of allelic losses on 4q35 with larger tumor size and aggressive histological type implies that loss or inactivation of TSG located within the 1-cM interval of 4q35 identified here contribute to progression of HCCs.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells relates to down-regulation of bcl-2, but not bax and bcl-X(L), without alteration of p53 protein levels.

Tamoxifen (TAM) has been shown to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells. bcl-2 family genes, which can interact with each other, have been shown to interfere with apoptosis after various stimuli. In this study, we investigated the effects of TAM on bcl-2 family gene products bcl-2, bax, and bcl-X(L) and on p53 levels in estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We found that TAM induced time- and concentration-dependent down-regulation of bcl-2 at both the mRNA and protein level. Down-regulation of bcl-2 correlated with TAM-induced apoptosis. In addition, estradiol treatment significantly increased bcl-2 protein expression and blocked the reduction of bcl-2 by TAM. TAM did not, however, affect bax, bcl-X(L), or p53 expression at the mRNA or protein level. Our results demonstrate that TAM can induce apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner by modulating bcl-2 levels in breast cancer cells, and down-regulation of bcl-2 induced by TAM was not accompanied by alterations in p53 levels.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗