Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Saitoh.
We report a case of left renal cell carcinoma with bilateral ovarian metastasis which was demonstrated 3 years after radical nephrectomy. The patient is alive without any evidence of disease 36 months after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
This study was performed to investigate the effects of clonidine on regional myocardial function in a canine model of regional myocardial ischemia. Myocardial systolic shortening (%SS) was used as an index of regional myocardial function. In eight dogs after thoracotomy, the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was occluded by screw clamp until regional myocardial function became impaired. After partial occlusion of the LCX, cumulative doses of clonidine (1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 micrograms/kg) were administered intravenously. After administration of clonidine, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and norepinephrine concentration decreased in a dose-dependent manner. At a dose of 5.0 micrograms/kg of clonidine, the LCX flow and systolic shortening of the LCX area decreased to 76% and 81% of the poststenotic values (P < 0.05, respectively), whereas no significant changes were observed at a dose of 1.25 and 2.5 micrograms/kg. These results suggest that clonidine administration and an associated decrease in arterial blood pressure deteriorates regional myocardial function of the ischemic myocardium.
Percutaneous biopsy for adrenal tumors was performed on 12 patients using ultrasonically guided puncture. Of the 12 tumors, 11 were detected incidentally by ultrasonography or computed tomography. In 11 cases, cytological or pathological diagnosis was obtained without any complication. Among these, surgical operation was carried out in 4 cases, in which biopsy findings were confirmed by the examination of the surgical specimens. The other 7 cases were being followed up without surgery. The rate of correct discrimination between benign and malignant adrenal tumors by biopsy was 91% (10/11 cases) in this series. It is accordingly considered that adrenal biopsy is the choice to confirm the diagnosis of nonfunctioning adrenal tumors because of its efficacy and ease of use.
General toxicity studies on 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) (MBMBP) were conducted using male and female Wistar rats. LD50 values were greater than 5 g/kg BW by oral administration for both sexes. Diarrhea was observed until 5 days. In the subchronic test, rats were fed diet containing MBMBP at 0, 0.12, 0.6 or 3.0% for 12 weeks. Severe suppression of body weight gain was observed in both sexes of 0.6 and 3.0% groups. Death accompanied by hemorrhage from nasal cavity was observed in 0.6 and 3.0% males and 3.0% females. Dose-dependent toxicity to the liver in both sexes was observed in blood chemical analysis. Histopathologically, testicular atrophy and decrease of spermatogenesis were dose- and time-dependently observed in all treated males. Atrophy of ovaries was evident in 0.6 and 3.0% females. Thymus atrophy and bone marrow hypoplasia were observed in both sexes of 0.6 and 3.0% groups. In the chronic test, rats were fed diet containing MBMBP at 0, 0.01, 0.03 and 0.1% for 18 months. Body weight gain was only suppressed in both sexes receiving 0.1%. Histopathologically, testicular atrophy and decrease of spermatogenesis were apparent in 0.1% males. No neoplastic response by MBMBP administration was noted. NOAEL was concluded to be 0.03% in the diet (12.7 mg/kg BW/day for male rats and 15.1 mg/kg BW/day for female rats).
We investigated the mechanism of polyclonal B cell differentiation in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a patient with MCL in leukemic stage presenting polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Patient T cells not only responded to autologous non-T cells but induced polyclonal production of IgG in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis of PBMC showed the increased conversion of CD4+ T cells from the naive to the memory state. We propose the possible mechanism that autoreactive T cells may be involved in polyclonal B cell differentiation in this monoclonal B cell disorder.
The characteristics of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in normal Japanese men were studied in 1480 subjects examined by mass screening (MS) for prostate cancer (Pca) in Gunma Prefecture in 1992. The serum PSA concentration was correlated with patient age. The average serum PSA level increased by 0.04 ng/ml/year. The upper normal limits (95 percentiles) of age specific PSA for normal men are 1.33 ng/ml for those aged 39-49 years, 3.65 ng/ml for those aged 50-59 years, 4.06 ng/ml for those aged 60-69 years, 5.09 ng/ml for those aged 70-79 years and 5.66 ng/ml for those aged 80-89 years. Among 227 normal men examined by our MS in 1991 and 1992, the PSA velocity (PSAV) was calculated to be 0.05 ng/ml/year. Among 10 Pca patients with normal PSA levels (< 6 ng/ml) detected previously by our MS, three had an abnormal PSAV. We demonstrated the possibility that PSA density could distinguish between Pca and benign prostate hypertrophy. The significance of PSA as a Pca screening modality should be evaluated across multiple age ranges and in combination with previous PSA data and/or prostate volume estimated by sonography.
Cancer nodules in early prostate cancer are mostly visualized as hypoechoic lesions on ultrasonogram. In a small number of prostate cancers, the cancer nodule is isoechoic and difficult to visualize. In advanced prostate cancer, the prostate is enlarged asymmetrically and deformed. The internal echo pattern of the prostate with advanced prostate cancer has usually been demonstrated as a mixed or mosaic architecture including both hypoechoic and hyperechoic lesions. According to several reporters, the sensitivity and specificity of transrectal sonography were approximately 80% and 90%, respectively. Doppler color flow imaging was applied to transrectal sonography in the present study. The detection rate of blood flow image was higher in the cases of prostate cancer than in other cases with normal or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The detection rate became higher according to the stage of the disease, but no difference was noticed among cases with different tumor grades. Blood flow rapidly became lower after castration and was undetectable 4 weeks after the treatment. CT scan was not useful for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. MRI seemed promising because it can visualize the internal architecture and cancer lesion of the prostate.
The outcomes of 39 patients with hematological disorders who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from September 1986 to March 1992 were reported. The length of follow-up was six to 50 months. Twenty patients with acute leukemia, eight patients with aplastic anemia, seven patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and two patients with myelodysplastic syndrome were included. Major complications were acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (17 cases out of 36 evaluable cases; 47 percent), chronic GVHD (13/25; 52 percent), sepsis (20/41; 49 percent), interstitial pneumonitis (IP) (10/30; 33 percent), and veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver (5/41; 12 percent). Acute and chronic GVHD were well managed with cyclosporin, methotrexate, and steroids. VOD of the liver seemed to be associated with the pretransplant regimen including busulfan and cyclophosphamide. The overall probability of disease free survival of 39 patients who had undergone allogeneic BMT was 0.56. This includes nine high risk cases such as HLA antigen mismatch between the donor and the recipient, and as in the second or subsequent remission or in relapsed cases. The probability of disease free survival in patients with acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and aplastic anemia including high risk cases was 0.55 (n = 20), 0.71 (n = 7), and 0.50 (n = 8) respectively. These results indicate that allogeneic BMT is the major therapeutic strategy for patients whose survival could not be expected by conventional chemotherapy and that drug intensification for conditioning regimen is also important.
The purpose of this study was to examine laminin localization in epithelial rests of Malassez grown on titanium and their gelatinase activity. Laminin localization was confirmed by immunocytochemistry in all epithelial cells grown on titanium. The conditioned medium from the epithelial cells grown on titanium exhibited 72kD- and 92 kD-gelatinase activities by gelatin zymography. Those results suggest that laminin contributes to the epithelial cell attachment to titanium and that gelatinases may be mobilized for epithelial cell movement on titanium.
The authors report a rare case of acute cervical epidural hematoma caused by the hemorrhage from extradural arterio-venous malformation. The patient was a 74-year-old Japanese man with a past history of total gastrectomy after being diagnosed as having gastric cancer 12 years before. Six hours prior to admission, the patient had experienced a sudden episode of severe nuchal pain radiating to both scapular areas, followed by rapid development of left-side Brown-Sequard Syndrome below the C4 cord level, and urinary incontinence. Plain cervical X-ray films did not show any destructive lesion suggesting a metastatic tumor. T1 and T2 weighted images of MRI demonstrated a high intensity mass lesion, suggesting an acute epidural hematoma, extending from C3 to C6 and compressing severely the left side spinal cord posteriorly. Twelve hours after the onset of symptoms, emergency laminectomy from C3 to C6 was performed and a fresh epidural clot with small vascular tissue was totally removed. Histological examination of the small vascular tissue in the hematoma revealed arterio-venous malformation. The postoperative recovery of the patient was dramatic. He regained full muscle strength and there was complete disappearance of sensory deficits 2 weeks after the operation. Although acute spinal epidural hematoma caused by extradural arterio-venous malformation is a rare clinical entity, MRI is the most helpful diagnostic tool for this condition. It should be stressed that accurate neuroradiological diagnosis and prompt surgical decompression of the spinal cord are essential to obtain an excellent surgical outcome.
In an attempt to evaluate the risks and benefits of human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) therapy for patients with unexplained infertility, the response and outcome of hMG therapy for anovulatory patients and ovulatory patients with unexplained infertility were analyzed in a group of successful cases of pregnancy. The number of follicles grown and the total doses of hMG were not significantly different in the two groups. The rate of spontaneous abortion in unexplained cases was twice as high (13.2%) as in anovulatory cases. However, the rate of multiple pregnancy was 8.8% for unexplained cases which was significantly lower than that for anovulatory cases (39.0%). In addition, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurred in 11.8% of unexplained cases and that was much lower than that for anovulatory cases (25.8%). This study justifies the application of gonadotrophin therapy to ovulatory patients with unexplained infertility in terms of the risks and benefits of the therapy in achieving pregnancy.
From January 1984 to April 1988, we treated 20 patients with adult lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 2 patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma with a protocol which we modified L-10M of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Since the median follow up time is now over 5 years, we report the most recent outcome. Thirteen patients were male and 9 were female. The median age was 31, ranging from 15 to 71 years of age, and there were no Ph1 positive patients. The complete remission (CR) rate was 81.8%. Median CR duration was 32 months and the 5-year continuous CR rate was 33.3%. No significant prognostic factor for CR rate was found. Age at achievement CR and duration were significant prognostic factors. The 5-year continuous CR rate of patients below 35 years old was 54.5%. In this group the leukocyte count was a significant prognostic factor. All patients with a leukocyte count above 1 x 10(4)/microliters relapsed. However, in patients with a WBC below 1 x 10(4)/microliters, the 5-year continuous CR rate was 75%. Based on these results, it seems reasonable to treat patients with ALL by different therapeutic strategies according to the risk factors.
To investigate the effects of shift work on circadian BP variation, ambulatory 24h BP monitoring was performed during the day shift and night shift on 17 normotensive nurses. On both shifts, BP and heart rate increased in the working phase and decreased during sleep. The mean 24h BP and heart rate were identical in the two shifts. During sleep, BP was lower and the heart rate was slower in the day shift (night sleep) perhaps because of deeper sleep than during daytime sleep associated with the night shift. During work, BP was identical but the heart rate was significantly slower during the night shift. These data suggest that the circadian BP variation is determined largely by the sleep-wakefulness cycle and that the heart rate is also influenced by the internal body clock.
Carcinoid tumor is regarded as a tumor with low grade malignancy, mostly originating from the gastrointestinal tract with little danger of metastasis. The authors encountered a very rare case of bronchial carcinoid tumor that had multiple metastasis to the intracranial space. The characteristics of radiological and hormonal examinations of this tumor are reported and discussed. The patient was a 73-year-old woman who gradually developed unsteadiness in walking and somnolence in daytime one month prior to admission. Those symptoms were aggravated and she began to vomit. On admission, neurological examination showed slight ataxia of left upper and lower extremities and dominant truncal ataxia. Chemical and hormonal examinations of blood and urine showed, gastrin was 230 pg/ml (37-172), ACTH was 67 pg/ml (< 60), serotonin was 565 ng/ml (53-200), and urinary 5-HIAA was 9.9 mg/day (0.8-4.8). Tumor markers (CEA, AFP, HGG, NSE) were all negative. Radiological examinations (chest X-P, CT scan) of her lung demonstrated a 3 x 3 cm tumor mass adjacent to the hilum of the left lower lobe. CT-scan of the head demonstrated cystic tumor in the vermis of the cerebellum (3 x 3 cm), the right posterior parietal lobe and the right temporal lobe. The wall of each tumor was enhanced by contrast medium. T1 weighted MRI demonstrated the walls of cystic tumors as iso intensity and the contents as low and high intensity with niveau formation. Little edema was recognized around the tumors. The wall of each cystic tumor was enhanced by Gd-DTPA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP) is widely used in household materials such as plasticizer, floor polish and flame retardant in plastic resins and synthetic rubbers. This compound has been detected at ppb level in underground water. In order to elucidate the toxicity of TBEP, a 14-week oral toxicity study was conducted. Wistar rats (5-weeks old, male & female, 15 rats/group) were given diet containing 0, 0.03, 0.3 or 3.0% TBEP. Suppression of body weight gain was observed in both sexes of the 3.0% group. Serum cholinesterase activity was significantly decreased in both sexes of the 0.3 and 3.0% groups and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase activity was significantly increased in both sexes of the 3.0% group after 5 and 14 weeks exposure. Amylase in serum was also increased in 0.3 and 3.0% group males and 3.0% group females. Absolute and relative liver weights in both sexes were significantly increased in the 3.0% group after 5 and 14 weeks of exposure. Histopathological examination revealed moderate periportal hepatocyte swelling in male rats of the 3.0% group after 14 weeks exposure but this change was not found in male rats given 0.3% or less of TBEP in the diet or in any of the females. These findings indicated that the liver is a target organ for TBEP toxicity. We concluded a no-observed effect level (NOEL) of TBEP in the diet of 0.03% (male: 20 mg/kg/day, female: 22 mg/kg/day) under the conditions of this toxicity study.
Cochineal (C), a scarlet material extracted from the powdered pregnant insect, Dactylopius Coceus Costa, is used as a color food additive in the form of aluminum lakes. A 13 week subchronic toxicity study was conducted to investigate the effects of simultaneous administration of C and aluminum potassium sulfate (A). Male and female Wistar rats (5-weeks-old, 15 rats/group) were given diets containing 0.75%A and 0.75%C (1.5%AC), 1.5%A and 1.5%C (3%AC), 3%C alone or 3%A alone. The following results were obtained. 1) No toxic symptoms or death occurred in any treated group. Body weight gain in male rats of the 3%A group decreased significantly. 2) Serum levels of phospholipids, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol in male rats and TG in female rats fed 3%C, 3%A or 3%AC were significantly decreased at the 13th week. The serum level of glutamate dehydrogenase (GIDH) in male rats treated with 1.5% or 3%AC was increased at the 4th week but no difference from control was observed at the 13th week. 3) No histopathological changes attributable to A and/or C administration were observed. In this 13-week oral toxicity study, no dose-dependent synergistic effects of simultaneous administration of C and A were found except for an increase in serum GIDH.
Several subfamilies of the salmonid Hpa I short interspersed element (SINE) family were isolated from salmonid genomes and were sequenced. For each genomic locus that represented the subfamily, amplification by PCR of the orthologous loci in the 12 fish allowed us to determine the order of branching of the Pacific salmonid species. The deduced phylogeny suggests three evolutionary lines, namely, a line of chum salmon, pink salmon, and kokanee; a line of coho salmon and chinook salmon; and a line of steelhead trout. Our data also support a change in the phylogenetic assignment of steelhead trout from Salmo to Oncorhynchus. We present here an extensive phylogenetic tree constructed from an analysis of differential insertion of SINEs, and we propose that SINE insertion analysis is one of the best available methods for clarifying the order of divergence of closely related species.
Roles of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Ca/CaM kinase II) and myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) in insulin release from rat pancreatic islets were investigated. Western blotting using polyclonal antibody to Ca/CaM kinase II suggested the presence of this kinase in the pancreatic islets. Extracts of pancreatic islets phosphorylated exogenous myosin light chain, which was inhibited by ML-9, an inhibitor of MLCK. KN-62 and KN-93, inhibitors of Ca/CaM kinase II, and ML-9 at microM concentrations inhibited insulin release stimulated by glucose or high K+. KN-62 and KN-93, but not ML-9, inhibited insulin release increased by glucose and forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase. These inhibitors had no effect on insulin release evoked by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, an activator of Ca(2+)-sensitive, diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase. These results suggest that Ca/CaM kinase II and MLCK may participate in the control of insulin release.