A simple and sensitive quantitative method for determining xenoreactive antibody titers in the mouse-to-rat cardiac transplantation model.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Tsuchida.
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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risks associated with pulmonary resection for primary non-small cell lung cancer in octogenarians to help better management in these patients. METHODS: We reviewed the outcome in our 35 patients aged 80 years and older who underwent pulmonary resection between 1981 and 1998. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate was 39.8%. The operative mortality rate was 0% and the morbidity 60%. There were ten major pulmonary complications, including respiratory insufficiency following bacterial pneumonia and sputum retention. Preoperative arterial pO(2) was significantly lower, A-aDO(2) was significantly higher, and operation time were significantly longer in patients with pulmonary complications after surgical treatment than in patients without complications (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment was not contraindicated for octogenarians with lung cancer. However, a relatively preoperative low arterial pO(2), high A-aDO(2), and long operation time may be risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications in such patients. Surgeons must assess the preoperative data prudently to determine appropriate surgical strategy.
The objectives were as follows: Firstly, to estimate the overall probability of event-free survival (EFS) and isolated CNS relapse in the studies for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Secondly, to report the EFS according to presenting features and lineage. Thirdly, to evaluate the treatment results re-classified by the risks of NCI criteria. Four consecutive protocol studies were performed in the Tokyo Children's Cancer Study Group: L81-10 protocol (1981-1984, 189 patients), L84-11 (1984-1989, 484 patents), L89-12 (1989-1992, 418 patients) and L92-13 (1992-1995, 347 patients). Overall EFS at 5 years in each protocol was 56.5 +/- 3.8(1 s.e.)%, 71.0 +/- 2.1%, 67.8 +/- 2.3%, and 63.4 +/- 2.7%, respectively. The cumulative isolated CNS relapse rate at 5 years was 8.1 +/- 2.1%, 3.5 +/- 0.9%, 3.6 +/- 1.0%, 1.0 +/- 0.6. The EFS in SR/HR (standard risk/high risk) according to the NCI criteria in B-precursor ALL at 5 years was 61.9 +/- 4.3%/41.4 +/- 7.4% (lineage was not confirmed.), 72.5 +/- 2.6%/63.4 +/- 5.0%, 77.4 +/- 2.7%/56.3 +/- 4.7%, and 67.8 +/- 3.4%/56.7 +/- 5.4% in each protocol. Also EFSs according to NCI SR/HR at 5 years of T-ALL in protocols L84-11, L89-12 and L92-13 were 55.6 +/- 16.6%/60.9 +/- 10.1%, 72.7 +/- 13.4%/51.6 +/- 9.1%, and 77.1 +/- 14.4%/53.6/10.1%, respectively. The truncation of maintenance therapy to 6 months resulted in a decreased EFS in L92-13, particularly due to an increase of bone marrow relapse after cessation of therapy in SR and HR. The NCI risk criteria work properly even in the patients treated by different intensities, so that it makes the comparison possible among the patients in various groups. The overall EFSs in childhood ALL improved in 1980s, but it seemed stable or decreased in 1990s. The short maintenance therapy resulted in poor outcome in SR on the L92-13 protocol. Many of these late relapsers were effectively rescued and overall survival remained at a high level. The proportion of patients who received cranial irradiation reduced without any increase of the CNS events.
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PURPOSE: We postulated that intensification of chemotherapy immediately after remission induction might reduce the leukemic cell burden sufficiently to allow an abbreviated period of antimetabolite therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-seven children (ages 1 to 15 years) with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were enrolled onto the Tokyo L92-13 study, which excluded patients with mature B-cell ALL and patients less than 1 year old. One hundred twenty-four patients were classified as standard risk, 122 as high risk, and 101 as extremely high risk, according to age, peripheral-blood leukocyte count, selected genetic abnormalities, and immunophenotype. All subjects received four drugs for remission induction, followed by a risk-directed multidrug intensification phase and therapy for presymptomatic leukemia in the CNS. Maintenance chemotherapy with oral mercaptopurine and methotrexate was administered for 6 months, with all treatment stopped by 1 year after diagnosis. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival rates for all patients were 59.5% +/- 3.4% and 81.5% +/- 2.2%, respectively, at 5. 5 years after diagnosis. EFS rates by risk category were similar (60. 2% +/- 6.0% for standard risk, 57.7% +/- 5.6% for high risk, and 62. 5% +/- 5.7% for extremely high risk), whereas overall survival rates differed significantly (91.2% +/- 2.7%, 80.0% +/- 4.1%, and 72.1% +/- 4.5%, respectively, P <.0001 by the log-rank test). There were 107 relapses. Eighty-five (79.4%) of these 107 patients achieved second complete remissions, with subsequent EFS rates of 61.5% +/- 7. 9% (standard risk), 42.6% +/- 8.1% (high risk), and 9.6% +/- 6.4% (extremely high risk). Of the five risk factors analyzed, only the response to prednisolone monotherapy among extremely high-risk patients proved important. CONCLUSION: Early treatment intensification did not compensate for a truncated phase of maintenance chemotherapy in children with standard- or high-risk ALL. However, 6 months of antimetabolite treatment seemed adequate for extremely high-risk patients who were good responders to prednisolone and received intensified chemotherapy that included high-dose cytarabine early in the clinical course.
Lung cancer often metastasizes to organs outside the thorax, and consequently radiological evaluation of distant metastasis has become standard procedure prior to surgery. Although positive radiological findings generally suggest distant metastasis, the possibility of the co-existence of a benign tumor and primary malignancies must be considered. Herein we report a case of surgical resection of histologically confirmed lung cancer associated with renal cell cancer and benign histiocytoma of the humerus.
We conducted an anesthetic management to perform tracheostomy and tracheolysis in a 33 year-old female with severe stenosis extending to the lower trachea and right main bronchus. The minimal diameter of the stenotic lesion of the trachea was 3 mm according to the preoperative examinations including tomography, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Since there was a high risk of airway collapse during anesthetic induction that could have made ventilation impossible, we decided to apply VV-ECMO to support gas-exchange prior to anesthetic induction. Blood gas analysis showed good results, and sufficient oxygenation and stable circulation were achieved during surgical procedures. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl could provide adequate depth of anesthesia during surgery and rapid recovery with good spontaneous respiration after the termination of the infusion. VV-ECMO was a useful method to support gas-exchange in a case not requiring circulatory assistance without uneven oxygenation sometimes observed in VA-ECMO.
T cell activation initiates signals that control gene expression of molecules important for T cell function. The focal adhesion kinase Pyk2 has been implicated in T cell signaling. To further analyze the involvement of Pyk2 in T cell processes, we examined the effect of T cell stimulation on the expression of Pyk2. We found that TCR ligation or PMA increased Pyk2 expression in Jurkat T cells and in normal T cells. In contrast, TCR ligation and PMA failed to induce any detectable increase in the expression of the other member of the focal adhesion kinase family, Fak, in Jurkat T cells and induced only a weak increase in Fak expression in normal T cells. The serine/threonine kinases, protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-related kinase kinase (MEK), regulated Pyk2 expression, as inhibitors of these kinases blocked stimulus-induced Pyk2 expression. Cyclosporin A, FK506, and KN-62 did not block Pyk2 expression; thus, calcineurin and Ca2+/calmodulin-activated kinases are not critical for augmenting Pyk2 expression. TCR ligation increased Pyk2 mRNA, and the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D blocked Pyk2 expression. Strikingly, Ca2+ ionophores, at concentrations that in combination with other stimuli induced IL-2 expression, blocked TCR- and PMA-induced up-regulation of Pyk2 expression. Thus, the increase in Ca2+ has opposing effects on IL-2 and Pyk2 expression. Cyclosporin A and FK506, but not KN-62, blocked Ca2+ ionophore-mediated inhibition of Pyk2 expression, implicating calcineurin in down-regulating Pyk2 expression. These results show that TCR-triggered intracellular signals increase Pyk2 expression and shed light on the molecular mechanisms that regulate Pyk2 expression in T cells.
BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive drugs that target T cells are useful for prolonging allograft survival. The anti-CD3 immunotoxin FN18-CRM9 has been shown to effectively prolong renal allograft survival in a rhesus monkey model of transplantation. However, immunotoxin-treated monkeys showed increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and produced antibodies to donor proteins. To better understand the role of FN18-CRM9 in the production of cytokines and anti-donor antibodies in the monkey model, we examined whether this immunotoxin elicits functional responses in T cells. METHODS: Purified normal rhesus monkey T cells (>98% purity) were incubated with immunotoxin FN18-CRM9 or the unconjugated anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies and then examined for changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation, adhesion to fibronectin, gene expression, and proliferation in the presence or absence of anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and interleukin-2. RESULTS: Immunotoxin treatment of T cells in vitro increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation, cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix, and expression of the inflammatory cytokines interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. These immunotoxin effects were similar in magnitude to those induced by the unconjugated mAb. In contrast, immunotoxin-induced T cell proliferation was markedly less than that induced by the unconjugated mAb. Interestingly, the mitogenic molecules IL-2 and anti-CD28 mAb did not prevent immunotoxin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: The activation of T cells for protein phosphorylation, adhesion, and cytokine expression strongly suggests that the actions of FN18-CRM9 in vivo are not limited to the inhibition of protein synthesis.
Protein tyrosine kinases are critical for the function of CD28 in T cells. We examined whether the tyrosine kinases Pyk2 and Fak (members of the focal adhesion kinase family) are involved in CD28 signaling. We found that ligating CD28 in Jurkat T cells rapidly increases the tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 but not of Fak. Paxillin, a substrate for Pyk2 and Fak, was not tyrosine-phosphorylated after CD28 ligation. CD28-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 was markedly reduced in the absence of external Ca2+. Previous studies have shown that the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. In this report, the concurrent ligation of CD28 and TCR increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2; however, the extent of phosphorylation by both receptors was equivalent to the sum of that induced by each receptor alone. The Syk/Zap inhibitor piceatannol blocked CD28, and TCR induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2, suggesting that Syk/Zap is involved in Pyk2 phosphorylation. In contrast, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin blocked TCR- but not CD28-induced phosphorylation of Pyk2, suggesting that CD28 and TCR activate distinct pathways to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. Notably, depleting phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-sensitive protein kinase C did not block CD28- and CD3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. These data provide evidence for the involvement of Pyk2 in the CD28 signaling cascade and suggest that neither Fak nor paxillin is involved in the signaling pathways of CD28.
The natural course and the clinical significance of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection were investigated in 106 pediatric patients who received chemotherapy for hematological malignancy or underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using HGV-RNA and antibodies to the HGV-E2 protein (anti-E2). HGV markers were detected in 21 patients (19.8%; HGV-RNA in 19 and anti-E2 in 2). Longitudinal analysis of these HGV-infected patients showed that 1 had anti-E2 before the initial blood transfusion, 14 had persistent viremia, and 6 became clear of circulating HGV-RNA after completion of therapy, although 5 of the 6 HGV-cleared patients never developed anti-E2. Reactivation of HGV infection during chemotherapy was observed in two anti-E2-positive, HGV-RNA-negative patients; the reappearance of the same HGV strain was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Among BMT survivors without other known causes of liver dysfunction, HGV-RNA-positive patients had a higher peak serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) value than negative patients. Contrary to previous reports, immunosuppressed patients can apparently recover from HGV infection without detectable anti-E2 and some patients who supposedly recovered from HGV infection can nonetheless suffer exacerbation when subsequently immunosuppressed.
CD28 is a T cell surface molecule that is important for T cell activation. CD28-triggered T cell stimulation involves protein tyrosine phosphorylation, a process that is critical for CD28 function. Recently, a linker molecule has been identified as LAT (Linker for Activation of T cells). Studies involving LAT mutants and reconstitution experiments strongly implicate LAT in playing a critical role in T cell activation. We show in the present report that CD28 ligation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT. CD28-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT was rapid, as it was apparent within 1 min of CD28 ligation, reached a peak by 5 min, and declined thereafter. Previous studies implicated the protein tyrosine kinases ZAP-70 and Syk in the TCR-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT. Here, tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk and ZAP-70 was detected after TCR but not after CD28 ligation. Thus, CD28 ligation appears to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT by mechanisms that are independent of ZAP-70 and Syk. The concurrent ligation of CD28 and TCR increased tyrosine phosphorylation of LAT. These results implicate LAT in CD28 signal transduction pathways and in the co-stimulatory process in T cells.
Chemical meningitis developed in a boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed pleocytosis and a high protein level. There were no malignant cytological findings. Calculated permeability of albumin across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was more elevated than that of immunoglobulin or alfa2-macroglobulin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement without any intracerebral lesion. Subsequent CNS prophylaxis was postponed. CSF findings and BBB permeability returned to normal, correlating well with the decrease of MRI abnormality.
BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients who are diagnosed as myasthenia gravis (MG) is increasing in Japan. Although several factors affecting thymectomy have been well documented, few studies have focused on the efficacy and safety of thymectomy for elderly patients older than 60 years. METHODS: We evaluated 94 patients with MG who underwent extended thymectomy, and divided them into two groups: patients younger than 59 years and patients older than 60 years. Preoperative patient data, pathology of the thymus, complications, and clinical outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: In 69 young patients and 25 elderly patients, we observed no significant differences between the two groups with regard to preoperative data. Thymic hyperplasia was present in 45% of the young group and 16% of the elderly group. Remission and improvement rate were 40% and 57% in the young group and 8% and 75% in the elderly group, respectively. There were no serious complications, except one early death due to gastrointestinal bleeding in the elderly group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that thymectomy is a safe and effective alternative for elderly patients with MG.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate cryopreservation period of tracheal allografts based on morphological and immunological findings and to test the possibility of tracheal transplantation in rats using cryopreserved allografts without immunosuppression. METHODS: Morphological and immunological studies were performed to compare the differences between non-cryopreserved grafts and cryopreserved grafts. Orthotopic tracheal transplantation using cryopreserved allografts, non-cryopreserved allografts, and non-cryopreserved autografts was performed and the rejection score of each group was evaluated. RESULTS: Epithelial cells were lost when the grafts were cryopreserved for more than 20 days. Immunohistochemical staining of the trachea revealed that the MHC classII antigen was expressed on normal epithelium. These findings suggest that cryopreservation for more than 20 days decreased the antigeneicity of allografts because of epithelial desquamation. All rats that received allografts cryopreserved for more than 20 days survived until the scheduled sacrifice day. Microscopically, cryopreserved allografts that had been preserved for more than 20 days had a significantly lower rejection score than that of non-cryopreserved allografts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the appropriate period for cryopreservation of allografts would be 20 days or more, because cryopreservation for more than 20 days depleted epithelium, which possessed the MHC classII antigen. Therefore, a longer period of cryopreservation decreases the antigeneicity of allografts. Rat tracheal transplantations using cryopreserved allografts is possible without immunosuppression when the grafts have been cryopreserved for more than 20 days.
In December 1991, the Japan Marrow Donor Program (JMDP) was established with the cooperation of the Japanese Red Cross and Japan Marrow Donor Foundation under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan. By December 1998, 122365 HLA-A,B typed volunteer marrow donors and 7207 patients had been cumulatively registered in the JMDP. The results of HLA-matching between donors and patients revealed that 5684 out of 7207 (78.9%) patients could have at least one HLA-A,B,DR serologically matched donor. Among these matched pairs, 1829 unrelated bone marrow transplants (UR-BMT) were performed. The initial 500 UR-BMT transplanted from January 1993 to October 1995 were analyzed as of July 1998. Engraftment was achieved in 95% of cases. Probability of the occurrence of grade III and IV acute GVHD was 18.4%. The rate of disease-free survival (DFS) of the patients who had standard-risk leukemia and did not suffer from grade III or IV acute GVHD (n = 154) was 60-71% and the rate of survival of patients with aplastic anemia was 56%. It can be stated that UR-BMT is a modality of treatment which is as effective as related BMT if the occurrence of grade III or IV acute GVHD is predicted and prevented.
BACKGROUND: Small pulmonary lesions with ground-glass opacity (GGO) are increasingly detected by CT; however, intraoperative localization of such lesions is difficult because these lesions are often invisible and nonpalpable. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To localize and resect nonpalpable and invisible small pulmonary lesions, a new marking technique that we call "agar marking" was developed. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Powdered agar was dissolved in distilled water at a concentration of 5% and kept at > 50 degrees C to maintain its liquid form. Agar was injected through an 18-gauge needle and placed near the target lesion with CT. After animal experiments, agar marking was applied to the nine patients who had lesions < 20 mm in diameter and lesions with GGO. The mean diameter of these lesions was 11 mm, with a mean depth of 19 mm from the pleural surface on CT. RESULTS: Agar could be detected as a hard nodule by manual palpation, and the lesion was resected during thoracotomy in all cases. There were no complications associated with the agar injection, aside from one case of slight pneumothorax. CONCLUSIONS: Agar marking may represent a feasible alternative technique for localizing nonpalpable occult lesions located away from the pleural surface.