Biomedical subjects

M Takemura

Publications and source records attributed to M Takemura.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Case of spontaneous regression of metastatic lesions of leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus.

A rare case of spontaneous regression of esophageal leiomyosarcoma is reported. A 63-year-old woman underwent esophagectomy and reconstruction at our hospital after diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. Nineteen months after esophagectomy, a coin lesion was detected in the right lung and right thoracotomy revealed pleural dissemination. The lesion in the right lung was resected and was confirmed histologically as recurrence of leiomyosarcoma. During further surgery, metastatic lesions were found in the spleen and pleura. However, all metastatic lesions were found to decrease without any anti-cancer therapy.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed1999

Immunopathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver injury induced by repeatedly administered concanavalin A.

Liver fibrosis is commonly observed in chronic liver disease. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrosis due to chronic inflammation are not well defined, mainly because suitable experimental models have not been established. We have found that weekly i.v. administration of concanavalin A (Con A) in BALB/c mice brought about a striking alanine aminotransferase increase, resulting in piecemeal necrosis with bridging fibrosis in the parenchyma. Using this fibrosis model, we demonstrated the kinetics of cytokine mRNA expression in liver. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, TGF-alpha, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor mRNAs were up-regulated after each Con A administration. Furthermore, either anti-IFN-gamma, anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha or anti-TGF-beta mAb given together with Con A markedly inhibited the development of hepatic fibrosis. Treatment with either anti-IFN-gamma or anti-TNF-alpha mAb also completely prevented hepatic injury; in contrast, treatment with anti-TGF-beta mAb did not. The treatment with anti-TGF-beta mAb did not affect the levels of hepatic mRNAs for either IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha after Con A injection. Treatment with either anti-IFN-gamma or anti-TNF-alpha did not affect the expression levels of TGF-beta in the liver. In conclusion, the continuous presence of both severe liver damage and up-regulation of TGF-beta synthesis is necessary to induce hepatic fibrosis in this model.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed1999

Nucleolar protein B23.1 binds to retinoblastoma protein and synergistically stimulates DNA polymerase alpha activity.

Phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein and nucleolar protein B23 are putative stimulatory factors for DNA polymerase alpha. We showed that these two factors interacted with each other and stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase alpha synergistically. B23 exists in two isoforms designated as B23.1 and B23.2. While B23.1 bound to a retinoblastoma protein-conjugated column, B23.2 did not. These results indicate that B23.1 can directly bind to retinoblastoma protein. It was also shown that B23 was co-immunoprecipitated with both retinoblastoma protein and DNA polymerase alpha from a HeLa cell extract by monoclonal antibodies raised against these components. These results suggest that these three proteins exist as a complex in cells, at least in part. The simultaneous addition of both B23.1 and retinoblastoma protein caused stimulation of DNA polymerase alpha activity that is much higher than the sum of the stimulation by retinoblastoma protein and B23.1 alone. The maximal stimulation was attained at the molar ratio of DNA polymerase alpha/retinoblastoma protein/B23.1 = 1:1:12. Since B23 exists as a hexamer in solution, it may act as a stimulator of DNA polymerase alpha in a form of double-hexamer, in concert with the phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Connective tissue growth factor induces the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro, and angiogenesis in vivo.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a novel cysteine-rich, secreted protein. Recently, we found that inhibition of the endogenous expression of CTGF by its antisense oligonucleotide and antisense RNA suppresses the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. In the present study, the following observations demonstrated the angiogenic function of CTGF in vitro and in vivo: (i) purified recombinant CTGF (rCTGF) promoted the adhesion, proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner under serum-free conditions, and these effects were inhibited by anti-CTGF antibodies; (ii) rCTGF markedly induced the tube formation of vascular endothelial cells, and this effect was stronger than that of basic fibroblast growth factor or vascular endothelial growth factor; (iii) application of rCTGF to the chicken chorioallantoic membrane resulted in a gross angiogenic response, and this effect was also inhibited by anti-CTGF antibodies. (iv) rCTGF injected with collagen gel into the backs of mice induced strong angiogenesis in vivo. These findings indicate that CTGF is a novel, potent angiogenesis factor which functions in multi-stages in this process.

Allantois↗

PubMed1999

The cyanogenic glucoside, prunasin (D-mandelonitrile-beta-D-glucoside), is a novel inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta.

A DNA polymerase beta (pol. beta) inhibitor has been isolated independently from two organisms; a red perilla, Perilla frutescens, and a mugwort, Artemisia vulgaris. These molecules were determined by spectroscopic analyses to be the cyanogenic glucoside, D-mandelonitrile-beta-D-glucoside, prunasin. The compound inhibited the activity of rat pol. beta at 150 microM, but did not influence the activities of calf DNA polymerase alpha and plant DNA polymerases, human immunodefficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase, calf terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, or any prokaryotic DNA polymerases, or DNA and RNA metabolic enzymes examined. The compound dose-dependently inhibited pol. beta activity, the IC(50) value being 98 microM with poly dA/oligo dT(12-18) and dTTP as the DNA template and substrate, respectively. Inhibition of pol. beta by the compound was competitive with the substrate, dTTP. The inhibition was enhanced in the presence of fatty acid, and the IC(50) value decreased to approximately 40 microM. In the presence of C(10)-decanoic acid, the K(i) value for substrate dTTP decreased by 28-fold, suggesting that the fatty acid allowed easier access of the compound to the substrate-binding site.

Amygdalin↗

PubMed1999

Action of a new mammalian DNA polymerase inhibitor, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol.

We found and previously reported a new mammalian DNA polymerase inhibitor from a sea alga, Gigartina tenella, (Ohta K., et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull., 46, 684-686, 1998). It was a new sulfolipid compound that belonged in the class of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol. The biochemical properties have been investigated here. The compound, temporarily designated KM043, potently inhibited the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha(pol. alpha) and DNA polymerase beta(pol. beta) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), and moderately, human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). KM043 dose-dependently inhibited their activities, and each of their IC50 values was 0.25 microM for pol. alpha, 0.38 microM for TdT, 3.6 microM for pol. beta, or 11.2 microM for HIV-RT, and almost complete inhibition of each was achieved at 1.0 to 2.0 microM for pol. alpha and TdT, 7.5 microM for pol. beta and about 30 microM for HIV-RT. However, the compound did not influence the activities of prokaryotic DNA polymerases such as E. coli DNA polymerase I, and DNA metabolic enzymes like DNase 1. Inhibition of pol. alpha or beta by KM043 was non-competitive with both the DNA template and the substrate deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (dTTP). KM043 was weakly cytotoxic to cultured HeLa-S3 cells, and the IC50 value was 80 microM. KM043 could synergistically enhance the cytocidal effect of an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent, bleomycin. In the presence of 50 microM KM043, the effect ratio of (bleomycin plus KM043)/(bleomysin only) decreased from 0.76 to 0.22.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subdural abscess in an elderly patient with dementia].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of a fever of 38.2 degrees C and drowsiness. Two months before admission, he was admitted to another hospital with the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. One week before admission, he had a fever which was judged to be due to pyelonephritis. Because imipenem cilastatin and minocycline were not effective in relieving symptoms, he was transferred to our hospital. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured from the blood, and vancomycin was started on the 5th hospital day. Because of the persistent fever and signs of inflammation, Gallium-scintigraphy was performed, showing abnormal accumulation in the left fronto-parietal region of the brain and the sacral region. Enhanced brain CT revealed a crescentic low density area and a fine, intense line of enhancement in the left fronto-parietal region. An emergency drainage of abscess was performed via single left fronto-parietal burr hole. A slightly yellowish, bloody, purulent fluid was obtained. The subdural space was irrigated with saline containing antibiotics and a drain was inserted. MRSA was cultured from the obtained fluid. The fever gradually subsided and drowsiness disappeared. He had had decubitus ulcer, stage I on the surface, in the sacral region, which later turned out to have unexpectedly deep undermining lesion reaching to periosteum. MRSA was cultured from this decubitus lesion. MRSA which entered into blood stream from the decubitus site might have been implanted in the subdural hematoma. Thus, subdural abscess should be kept in mind as an active differential diagnosis in elderly patients with fever and drowsiness.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Species differences in L-tryptophan-kynurenine pathway metabolism: quantification of anthranilic acid and its related enzymes.

Anthranilic acid (AA) has attracted considerable attention as one of the L-tryptophan-kynurenine pathway metabolites in the central nervous system. In this study, a highly sensitive and accurate method for the quantification of AA has been developed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AA concentrations in different animal species were measured. CSF AA concentrations in rabbits were 1.1 +/- 0.1 nmol/liter, which were 5. 7-33.0 times lower than those in other species studied. Serum AA concentrations, however, were slightly higher in rabbits than in other species. In contrast, the concentrations of L-kynurenine (L-KYN) in both serum and CSF were substantially higher in rabbits than in other species. Tissue kynurenine pathway enzymes, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, kynurenine 3-hydroxylase, and kynureninase were determined in rabbits, rats, gerbils, and mice. These enzymes varied among species, especially lung IDO activities in rabbits were 146-516 times higher than those found in other species, but rabbit liver kynurenine 3-hydroxylase activities were lower by one order of magnitude than those of the other species tested. Furthermore, brain kynurenine 3-hydroxylasae activities were 12.3-23.2 times higher in gerbils than those in the other species tested. In addition, AA concentrations in serum following intravenous administration of L-KYN (5 mg/kg) were also measured in rabbits. AA levels peaked sharply within 5 min after administration and decreased in a time-dependent manner. At 5 min after administration, CSF L-KYN and AA concentrations were also increased by 1.76- and 2.56-fold, respectively, compared with basal levels. Increased AA concentrations in CSF following L-KYN administration may reflect the entry of AA into the CSF after conversion to AA in systemic tissue and/or the local synthesis of AA from L-KYN in the CNS.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

4-Hydroxy-17-methylincisterol, an inhibitor of DNA polymerase-alpha activity and the growth of human cancer cells in vitro.

An ergosterol derivative, 4-hydroxy-17-methylincisterol (HMI), was found to be an inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerases in vitro. HMI inhibited the activity of calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha (pol. alpha). Among the polymerases tested, pol. alpha was the most sensitive to inhibition by HMI, and the inhibition was concentration dependent. The inhibitory effect of HMI on pol. alpha was almost the same as that shown by aphidicolin, a well-known potent pol. alpha inhibitor. HMI had relatively less effect on rat DNA pol. beta, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT), and calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in vitro, and did not influence the activities of prokaryotic DNA polymerases such as Klenow Fragment of DNA polymerase I, or the DNA-metabolic enzyme DNase I. HMI was found to be able to prevent the growth of human cancer cell lines originating from patients with leukemia or various solid tumors; its IC50 values ranged from 7.5 to 12 microM. We also synthesized other ergosterol derivatives and tested them, and found that two compounds, 17-methylincisterol and 4-acetyl-17-methylincisterol, have similar inhibitory effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

A mushroom fruiting body-inducing substance inhibits activities of replicative DNA polymerases.

We found and isolated two natural products in the extract from a basidiomycete, Ganoderma lucidum, as eukaryotic DNA polymerase inhibitors. The compounds were identified as cerebrosides, (4E,8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxypalmitoyl- 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine and (4E,8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxystearoyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranos yl-9-methyl- 4,8-sphingadienine and were found to be identical to the mushroom fruiting body-inducing substances (FIS) reported. These cerebrosides selectively inhibited the activities of replicative DNA polymerases, especially the alpha-type, from phylogenetically broad eukaryotic species, whereas they hardly influenced the activities of DNA polymerase beta, prokaryotic DNA polymerases, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, HIV reverse transcriptase, RNA polymerase, deoxyribonuclease I, and ATPase. The inhibition of another replicative polymerase, the delta-type, was moderate. The inhibitions of the replicative polymerases were dose-dependent, and the IC50 for animal or mushroom DNA polymerase alpha was achieved at approximately 12 micrograms/ml (16.2 microM) and for animal DNA polymerase delta at 57 micrograms/ml (77.2 microM). FIS is possibly a DNA polymerase inhibitor specific to the replicative enzyme group, and the fruiting body formation may be required for the suppression of the DNA replication or the vegetative growth of the mycelium.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Morphological differences between fast and slowly adapting lingual afferent terminations in the principal and oral nuclei in the cat.

Previous studies indicated that fast-adapting (FA) and slowly adapting (SA) mechanoreceptive afferents innervating the facial or intraoral structures give rise to morphologically distinct terminal arbors in the individual subdivisions of the trigeminal sensory nuclear complex. The present study examined the collateral morphologies of lingual afferents in the nuclei principalis (Vp) and oralis (Vo) of the cat. Seven FA and six SA lingual afferents were physiologically characterized and stained by the intra-axonal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection technique. The two types of afferents established terminal arbors in the dorsomedial subdivision (Vpd) of the Vp, and the rostrodorsomedial (Vo.r) and dorsomedial subdivisions (Vo.dm) of the Vo, but the collateral morphologies are different between the two types. The FA afferents gave rise to mediolaterally extended oblong arbors in each subdivision, but the arbors were better developed in the Vo.r than in the Vpd and Vo.dm. The number of collaterals, intercollateral distance, number of boutons per collateral, and bouton size were also different among the subdivisions. The SA afferents were divided into two subtypes; one had a preferential projection into the Vpd or the Vo.r and Vo.dm, and others lacked a selected projection. Although the shape of their arbors varied from a stringy form to a roundish form, the general profile was denser, better developed, and rounder than that of FA afferents in each subdivision. The intercollateral distance and bouton size were different among the subdivisions. The number of boutons per collateral, bouton density, and bouton size were larger in SA than FA afferents in each subdivision. The present study demonstrated that two functionally distinct lingual afferents manifest unique morphological differences in the Vpd and Vo.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1998

Sulfated glycoglycerolipid from archaebacterium inhibits eukaryotic DNA polymerase alpha, beta and retroviral reverse transcriptase and affects methyl methanesulfonate cytotoxicity.

A sulfated glycoglycerolipid, 1-O-(6'-sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-2,3-di-O-phytanyl- sn-glycerol (KN-208), a derivative of the polar lipid isolated from an archaebacterium, strongly inhibited DNA polymerase (pol) alpha and pol beta in vitro among 5 eukaryotic DNA polymerases (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon). It also inhibited Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment (E. coli pol I) and human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV RT). The mode of inhibition of these polymerases was competitive with the DNA template primer and was non-competitive with the substrate dTTP. KN-208 inhibited pol beta most strongly, with a Ki value of 0.05 microM, 10-fold lower than that for pol alpha (0.5 microM) and 60- or 140-fold lower than that for HIV RT (3 microM) or for E. coli pol I (7 microM), respectively. The loss of sulfate on the 6'-position of glucopyranoside of this compound completely abrogated inhibition. However, the hydrophilic part of KN-208, glucose 6-sulfate alone, showed no inhibition. Other sulfated compounds containing different hydrophobic structures, such as dodecyl sulfate and cholesterol sulfate, exhibited a much weaker inhibition. Our results suggest that the whole molecular structure of KN-208 is required for inhibition. KN-208 was shown to be modestly cytotoxic for the human leukemic cell line K562. Interestingly, a subcytotoxic dose of KN-208 increased the sensitivity of the human leukemic cells to an alkylating agent, methyl methanesulfonate, while it did not potentiate the effects of ultraviolet light or of cisplatin.

Archaea↗

PubMed1998

Structure and chromosomal localization of a murine LIM/homeobox gene, Lhx8.

Lhx8 is a LIM-homeodomain protein, containing two tandemly repeated LIM motifs and a hemeodomain. The expression of Lhx8 is limited spatially to the medical ganglionic eminence and the mesenchyme surrounding the oral cavity and temporally from middle embryonic to early postnatal development, suggesting a role for Lhx8 in differentiation of certain neurons and mesenchymal cells, just as the other LIM-homeodomain proteins are implicated in determining the fates of certain cell types. Here we report the structure and the chromosomal localization of the Lhx8 gene. The gene is composed of nine exons and eight introns. The first LIM domain is coded by two exons, exons 2 and 3, and the second by a single exon, exon 4. The homeodomain is encoded by three exons, exons 6, 7, and 8. In situ chromosomal hybridization demonstrated that the Lhx8 gene was localized in the distal region of mouse chromosome 3.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The inhibitory effect of novel triterpenoid compounds, fomitellic acids, on DNA polymerase beta.

We previously found new triterpenoid compounds, designated fomitellic acid A and B, which selectively inhibit the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and beta in vitro. On DNA polymerase beta, the fomitellic acids acted by competing with both the substrate and the template primer, but on DNA polymerase alpha, they acted non-competitively. At least on DNA polymerase beta, the evidence suggests that each of the fomitellic acids bind to the active region competing with the substrate and/or template primer, and subsequently inhibits the catalytic activity. We therefore further investigated the enzyme-binding properties by using DNA polymerase beta and its proteolytic fragments. The 39 kDa enzyme was proteolytically separated into two fragments of the template-primer-binding domain (8 kDa) and the catalytic domain (31 kDa). The fomitellic acids bound tightly to the 8 kDa fragment, but not to the 31 kDa fragment. The immuno-precipitation by antibodies against the enzyme or each of the fragments also proved the binding. These results suggest that the fomitellic acid molecule competes with the template-primer molecule on its 8 kDa binding site, binds to the site, and the fomitellic acid molecule simultaneously disturbs the substrate incorporation into the template primer.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Studies on inhibitors of mammalian DNA polymerase alpha and beta: sulfolipids from a pteridophyte, Athyrium niponicum.

Three sulfolipid compounds, 1, 2, and 3, have been isolated from a higher plant, a pteridophyte, Athyrium niponicum, as potent inhibitors of the activities of calf DNA polymerase alpha and rat DNA polymerase beta. The inhibition by the sulfolipids was concentration dependent, and almost complete inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha and DNA polymerase beta was achieved at 6 and 8 microg/mL, respectively. The compounds did not influence the activities of calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, prokaryotic DNA polymerases such as the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, T4 DNA polymerase and Taq polymerase, the DNA metabolic enzyme DNase I, and even a DNA polymerase from a higher plant, cauliflower. Similarly, the compounds did not inhibit the activity of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. The kinetic studies of the compounds showed that DNA polymerase alpha was inhibited non-competitively with respect to the DNA template and substrate, whereas DNA polymerase beta was inhibited competitively with both the DNA template and substrate. The binding to DNA polymerase beta could be stopped with non-ionic detergent, but the binding to DNA polymerase alpha could not.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Central distribution of synaptic contacts of primary and secondary jaw muscle spindle afferents in the trigeminal motor nucleus of the cat.

Little is known about the differences of the terminations of group Ia and group II afferents within the brainstem or spinal cord. The present study was performed to classify cat jaw muscle spindle afferents by the use of succinylcholine (SCh) and to examine the morphological characteristics of the physiologically classified afferents at the light and electron microscopic levels through the use of the intra-axonal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injection technique. The effects of SCh on stretch responses of 119 jaw muscle spindle afferents from the masseter were examined. The SCh converted the single skew distribution of the values for dynamic index (DI) into a bimodal one. Fifty-eight and 61 afferents were classified as group Ia and group II afferents, respectively. The central projections of 17 intra-axonally stained afferents (10 group Ia and 7 group II afferents) were examined. The spindle afferents terminated mainly in the supratrigeminal nucleus (Vsup), region h, and the dorsolateral subdivision of trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo.dl) but differed in the pattern of projections of group Ia and group II afferents. The proportion of group Ia afferent terminals was higher in Vmo.dl but lower in Vsup than that of group II afferents. In Vmo.dl, the proportion of group Ia afferent terminals was higher in the central region but lower in the more outer regions than that of group II afferents. The ultrastructure of serially sectioned afferent boutons (63 group Ia and 72 group II boutons) also was examined. The boutons from the two groups were distributed widely from the soma to small-diameter dendrites, but the frequency of synaptic contacts on proximal dendrites was higher in group Ia than group II afferents. The present study provides evidence that the two groups of jaw muscle spindle afferents differ in their central projection and the spatial distribution of their synaptic contacts on Vmo.dl neurons.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1998

Central terminals of orofacial primary afferents and NADPH-diaphorase activity in the trigemino-solitary complex of rats.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity and the central terminal fields of branches of the mandibular and chorda tympani nerves were visualized histochemically at the same time using transganglionic transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. The blue NADPH-d-positive neurons comprised a sparse network in the dorsomedial spinal trigeminal subnucleus oralis and a dense one in the rostral lateral division of the nucleus of the solitary tract. In the subnucleus caudalis, most labeled neurons were in the superficial zone, and smaller numbers were in the magnocellular zone. The NADPH-d-positive neurons in the subnucleus oralis and the nucleus of the solitary tract overlapped mostly with the transganglionically labeled terminal field from the lingual nerve, partly with the terminal field from the inferior alveolar and chorda tympani nerves, and rarely with the terminal field from the mental nerve. The NADPH-d-positive neurons in the dorsomedial paratrigeminal nucleus and subnucleus caudalis overlapped mostly with the terminal field from the lingual nerve, partly with the terminal field from the inferior alveolar and mental nerves and never with the terminal field from the chorda tympani. A statistically significant reduction in the number of NADPH-d-positive neurons was seen bilaterally in subnucleus oralis and the nucleus of the solitary tract when the lingual nerve was transected. Inflammatory insults to the lingual nerve or tooth pulps significantly increased the number of NADPH-d-positive neurons in subnucleus oralis, the nucleus of the solitary tract, and subnucleus caudalis. These results show that the NO/cyclic GMP system in the trigeminal and solitary nuclei is differentially regulated trans-synaptically by trigeminal afferents depending on the nucleus and sensory modality.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1998

[Changes of serum cytokine levels after thoracoscopic esophagectomy].

We introduced thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy for reduction of respiratory dysfunction and less surgical intervention in July 1995. In this study, we investigated the changes in serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) levels in 8 patients (TS Group) who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymphadenectomy and compared them with the changes in patients who underwent conventional thoracotomy (CT Group). The duration of the operation and intrathoracic procedure in the TS group were significantly longer than in the CT group. However, the amount of blood loss and intrathoracic blood loss of the TS group were not significantly higher than in the CT group. The number of dissected lymph nodes was not significantly larger. The serum IL-6 levels reached maximum levels 3 hours from the end of operation. In the TS group, the changes in IL-6 levels were significantly larger (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the changes in CRP levels were also significantly larger (p < 0.01). Significant correlation was observed between the duration of the intrathoracic procedure and the maximum levels of IL-6. On the other hand, serum IL-1ra levels were not significantly. At present, these results suggest that the surgical intervention of thoracoscopic esophagectomy are more larger than that of conventional thoracotomy. We think that the length of intrathoracic procedure of thoracoscopic esophagectomy may make more large surgical stress.

Endoscopy↗