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Biomedical subjects

M Sawamura

Publications and source records attributed to M Sawamura.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Prognostic relevance of morphological classification in multiple myeloma.

One hundred and twenty-two patients with multiple myeloma were classified as mature, intermediate, immature, or plasmablastic subtype according to Greipp's criteria. Contrary to Greipp's report, the survival time of plasmablastic myeloma was not significantly shorter than other subtypes, nor was the plasmablastic subtype identified as a poor prognostic factor. The survival time of mature plus intermediate myeloma was significantly longer than that of immature plus plasmablastic myeloma. Between the former and latter, significant differences were found for sex, clinical stage, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow plasmacytosis, renal insufficiency, bone destruction, and response rate to treatment. Therefore, it was suspected that the immature and plasmablastic subtypes were unfavorable prognostic factors in patients with multiple myeloma.

Aged↗

International cooperative study on the relationship between dietary factors and blood pressure: a preliminary report from the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study. The CARDIAC Cooperative Study Research Group.

1. To investigate the epidemiological relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure (BP) and major cardiovascular diseases, we carried out the international cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study, which so far involves 48 centers in 20 countries as of August 1991. From each population, 100 men and 100 women aged 50-54 years were randomly selected for BP measurement, 24-h urine collection, blood tests, and medical interview. Various biological markers of diets from urine and blood were analyzed centrally in the Izumo CARDIAC center. 2. Cross center analysis using simple linear regression revealed strong significant correlations of body mass index (BMI) to systolic BP (SBP; p < 0.01) and diastolic BP (DBP; p < 0.001) in men. 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion in men also showed significant correlations with SBP (p < 0.05) and DBP p < 0.05) even after controlling for the effect of BMI (SBP; p < 0.05, DBP; p < 0.05). 3. Within center analysis using multiple linear regression implied that BMI and Na strongly adversely affect BP, whereas magnesium may have beneficial influence on BP. 4. Multicolinearities among 24h urinary sodium, calcium, and urea nitrogen were noted in men.

Body Mass Index↗

Agranulocytosis during treatment with fluconazole.

Fluconazole, a new effective triazole antifungal agent, has been reported to cause fewer adverse reactions than amphotericin B. A patient who was diagnosed as having agranulocytosis and thrombocytopenia after treatment with fluconazole was investigated and recovered after withdrawal of the antifungal therapy. This case suggests the need for careful haematological observation during the treatment with fluconazole.

Adult↗

[Growth inhibitory effect of a new anticancer antibiotics, kazusamycin A, on human transitional cancer cell lines in vitro].

Kazusamycin A (KZMA) is a new anticancer antibiotic, which has been proven to have strong anticancer effect and several characteristic features different from currently available anticancer antibiotics. However, there has as yet been no report which had concerned itself with the effect of KZMA on urological cancer. This study was undertaken to determine the inhibitory effects of KZMA on transitional cancer cells in vitro, the augmentation of the inhibitory effect by combining thermal treatment and the effect of KZMA upon DNA distribution. Human transitional cancer cells, KU-1, and T-24 were used as targets. Fifty % inhibitory concentration of KZMA was determined after these cells were exposed to graded concentrations of KZMA for 2 to 48 hours, and to the concentration of KZMA for 2 hours at the temperature of 42 degrees C. Viable cells were counted by dye exclusion assay (DEA) and by tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT-assay) exposure. KZMA inhibited the growth of the three transitional cancer cells strongly and this inhibitory effect appeared to be depend upon the exposure time and the concentration of KZMA. IC50s after 2-hour exposure at the temperature of 42 degrees C was shown to be decreased to 23 to 87% of that at the temperature of 37 degrees, indicating an augmentation of the inhibitory effect of KZMA by combining thermal treatment. MGH-U1 was the most sensitive to the combination of KZMA and hyperthermia. The cell cycle analysis showed that KZMA had G2-arresting and M-retarding effects, which were different compared with currently available anticancer antibiotics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

[Immunological study of interferon-gamma therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma].

Immunologic and anti-tumor effects of interferon-gamma were studied in six patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. A daily dose of 10 x 10(6) JRU/m2 of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was given consecutively for five days and the treatment reiterated nine days later. Then the same dose was given every two days for three times and this regimen was also reiterated nine days later. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed before and one, three, five and eight weeks after the initial administration of IFN-gamma. Although the total number of lymphocytes and monocytes were not changed, CD8 (23.4 to 31.2%, p < 0.05), CD16 (12.4 to 19.3%, p < 0.01) and LeuHLA-DR (29.0 to 39.5%, p < 0.01) positive lymphocytes were significantly increased after the therapy. Non-induced LAK activity (0.6 to 10.8%, p < 0.05) and serum neopterin (3.5 to 10.8 nmol/L, p < 0.01) were also increased. These immunological parameters drastically changed during the consecutive administration of IFN-gamma, and tended to return to the previous value after this period. However, tumor regression was not clinically obtained. Our findings indicate that interferon-gamma stimulated the anti-tumor activity of the host, and administration of IFN-gamma is thought to be of immunological significance even in the advanced high stage cases.

Aged↗

Gene-environment interaction in hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis in experimental models and supportive findings from a world-wide cross-sectional epidemiological survey: a WHO-cardiac study.

1. Genetic rat models of hypertension, such as spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in particular, stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP) are useful models for research on the genetic pathogenesis, gene-environment interaction and control of environmental factors for the prevention of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases (CVD). 2. Since recent genetic analysis of hypertension in SHRSP indicated that one of the hypertensive genes related to salt-induced blood pressure (BP) rise was linked with the gene of the angiotensin-converting enzyme, gene-environment interaction is important in the humoral, neural, vascular and nutritional mechanisms of hypertension and CVD. 3. Extensive experimental studies in SHRSP by the authors have demonstrated nutritional factors counteracting directly or indirectly against the adverse effect of excess salt intake, such as K, Mg, Ca, dietary fibres, protein, some amino acids and fatty acids, etc.; they are therefore effective in preventing stroke, the typical complication of hypertension. 4. Experimental atherosclerotic models were established in SHRSP, which indicated also a gene-environment interaction in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis at the cellular level of vascular smooth muscle cells. Excess salt intake accelerated cholesterol absorption from the intestine to induce arterial fat deposition as well as to active platelet aggregation by the mechanism of increased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. 5. Based on such experimental findings on the hypertension and related CVD prevention, a cross-sectional multicentre epidemiological 'CVD and Alimentary Comparison' Study (WHO-CARDIAC Study) was designed to assess the relationship of biological markers of dietary factors with BP ('core' study) and major CVD mortalities ('complete' study) and has been successfully undertaken for the past 8 years in co-operation with 54 centres in 23 countries. 6. The results of 'core' study so far obtained by cross-centre simple linear regression analysis demonstrated adverse effects of body mass index and salt intake on BP in men and possible beneficial effects of Mg by within-centre multiple linear regression analysis. 7. Preliminary cross-centre simple linear regression analysis of the 'complete' study indicated a positive correlation of serum cholesterol levels and negative correlation of serum phospholipid poly-unsaturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratios and 24 h urinary taurine excretion with coronary heart diseases mortality; a positive correlation of 24 h urinary Na and Na/K ratios and a negative correlation of serum cholesterol levels with stroke mortalities was indicated. 8. These epidemiological data confirmed mostly the applicability of experimental findings to the nutritional prevention of hypertension and CVD prevention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

A long-term survivor with malignant thymoma accompanied with pure red cell aplasia.

A 56-year-old woman with malignant thymoma lived for 19 years after diagnosis and died of superior vena cava syndrome. An autopsy showed invasion of the thymoma to the right lung and metastasis to the left lung. The pathologic diagnosis was epithelial thymoma (spindle cell dominant) accompanied with pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). However, this was well controlled with steroid therapy. She was the longest survivor with malignant thymoma at this time. Her long-term survival may be the result of good control of the PRCA.

Female↗

Blood pressure cosegregates with a microsatellite of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in F2 generation from a cross between original normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP).

We investigated the linkage between high blood pressure and the ACE gene in the F2 generation between SHRSP/Izm and WKY/Izm. The male F2 rats were categorized into 3 genotypes according to a microsatellite polymorphism in the ACE gene. Significantly high blood pressure was observed in the SHRSP homozygotes when it was compared to the blood pressure of the heterozygotes. Further, after 2 or 3 months salt-loading, the blood pressure was significantly higher in the SHRSP homozygotes than in the heterozygotes and the WKY homozygotes. The heterozygotes had a blood pressure similar to that in the WKY homozygotes, indicating that the effect of the ACE gene genotype was recessive. Salt appetite was neither correlated with the salt-sensitivity nor cosegregated with the ACE genotype. The results indicate that the locus of ACE gene associates with the development of hypertension, especially salt-sensitive hypertension.

Animals↗

Aggravating effects of isolated caging on the development of hypertension and its complications in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were maintained in isolation or in group to analyze the effect of isolation, one type of emotional stress, on the development of hypertension and its complications. SHRSP kept isolated during the whole or a half of the experimental period developed severer hypertension within a shorter period than those kept together with other animals throughout the experiment, and showed significantly higher incidences of cerebral stroke (40 or 33%) than the latter (8.3%). Histological and pathophysiological studies revealed pituitary-adrenal and cardiac hypertrophy accompanying more accelerated urinary epinephrine (E) excretion which indicated emotional stress caused by isolation might aggravate pathological lesions in hypertension. Neither WKY in isolation nor in groups developed hypertension, although isolated WKY had significantly heavier pituitary and adrenal glands accompanied with more accelerated urinary E and calcium excretions than WKY kept in groups.

Animals↗

Three cases of multiple myeloma developing into melphalan-related chronic myelomonocytic leukemia.

From 1980 to 1987, three cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) were encountered among 68 cases of multiple myeloma who survived more than three years from the diagnosis. The incidence (4.8%) of secondary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is almost identical to previous reports, but case reports of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia were rare. In Japan, there are few reports of multiple myeloma patients who later developed secondary MDS or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In our cases, none of the 31 patients treated with cyclophosphamide developed secondary MDS, while three of 37 patients treated with melphalan developed CMML. This difference is not statistically significant.

Aged↗

A patient with primary plasma cell leukemia accompanied by an extensive polypoid infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract.

A 37-year-old male presented with primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) with kappa-type Bence Jones proteinuria (BJP) and polyposis of the stomach and colon. His plasma cell leukemia was not preceded by a pre-existing multiple myeloma, and presented the complication of polyposis in both stomach and colon. Biopsy of mucosal lesions revealed marked accumulation of atypical plasma cells with positive cytoplasmic kappa-chain. No amyloidosis was present. His disease responded remarkably well to intermittent melphalan and prednisolone. This case represents an uncommon combination of primary plasma cell leukemia and polypoid gastrointestinal lesions with plasma cell infiltration.

Adult↗

Characterization of 5B12.1, a monoclonal antibody specific for IL-6.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for interleukin-6 (IL-6) was generated by fusing SP2/0 cells with spleen cells from a mouse immunized with rat spleen cell derived plasmacytoma growth factor (rat PCT-GF). This MAb inhibited the growth of an IL-6-sensitive murine plasmacytoma clone, MD90, in the presence of the immunogen, rat PCT-GF. More interesting, however, this MAb demonstrated species cross-reactivity by neutralizing murine (recombinant and P388D1 cell line-derived) and human (recombinant) IL-6. IL-6 neutralization activity was also established in other IL-6 bioassays, such as the proliferation of spleen cells, plasmacytoma T1165, and a B-cell hybridoma 7TD1. IL-6 neutralization was overcome partially by increasing the concentration of PCT-GF. The MAb had no effect on PCT-GF-independent plasmacytoma KI81 proliferation. Plastic petri dish-bound MAb removed rmIL-6 activity. These results suggest that this MAb specifically binds IL-6 and neutralizes bioactivity of various PCT-GF, rmIL-6, and rhIL-6.

Animals↗

Alcohol consumption as a risk factor for high blood pressure from the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison Study. CARDIAC Cooperative Research Group).

The relationship between alcohol consumption and blood pressure (BP) was studied in 29 centers in 12 countries as part of the International Cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study. From each population, 100 men and 100 women aged 50-54 were randomly selected for BP measurement by automated system and for a standardized interview to complete the questionnaire relating to alcohol consumption. In cross-center simple linear regression analysis, mean alcohol consumption calculated from a previous week's drinking did not show a linear association to BP. In within-center multiple linear regression analysis, relationships between high alcohol intake (much greater than 300 g/week) and BP were assessed among 26 centers with high alcohol drinkers after being adjusted for other confounding variables. Positive associations of high alcohol intake with systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were noted in 17 and 16 centers, respectively. Thus, high alcohol intake was positively and independently associated with BP in individual subjects.

Alcohol Drinking↗

International cooperative study on the relationship between dietary factors and blood pressure: a report from the Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study.

To investigate the epidemiological relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure (BP) and major cardiovascular diseases, we carried out the International Cooperative Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) Study, which so far involves 45 centers in 20 countries. From each population, 100 men and 100 women aged 50-54 years were randomly selected for BP measurement, 24-h urine collection, and blood test. Various biological markers of diets from urine and blood were analyzed centrally in the Izumo CARDIAC center. In within-center multiple regression analyses, body mass index (BMI) was strongly positively and independently associated with BP. Urine magnesium (Mg) excretion was negatively and independently associated with BP. In cross-center simple regression analyses, systolic and diastolic BP showed significant correlations with BMI (p less than 0.01) and 24-h urinary sodium (Na) excretion (p less than 0.005) in men and significant inverse correlations with urinary 3-methylhistidine (3-MH) divided by creatinine (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.005, respectively) in men, and were inversely correlated with urinary Mg in women (p less than 0.05). Therefore, Na and BMI adversely affect BP, whereas animal protein and Mg intakes may have beneficial influence on BP.

Amino Acids↗

Blood pressure levels in the elderly with or without nutritional intervention.

Blood pressure (BP) examination and urine analyses for the assessment of dietary Na, K, and protein intakes were carried out according to the standardized methods for the World Health Organization Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison Study in aged people with or without a longlasting nutritional intervention. Nutritional intervention to reduce salt intake and increase K and protein intakes was effective for BP reduction even in aged people over 65 years.

Aged↗