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Biomedical subjects

M Usami

Publications and source records attributed to M Usami.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Giant hydronephrosis of bilateral duplex systems associated with ureteral ectopia: a case report.

Giant hydronephrosis is an uncommon clinical entity. Even more uncommon is the association of giant hydronephrosis with a double collecting system and ectopic ureter. Here, we report a case of giant hydronephrosis of the bilateral duplex systems associated with ureteral ectopia. The patient underwent upper pole nephrectomy and upper ureterectomy. To our knowledge, only four similar cases have been reported previously.

Adult↗

[Diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer].

Use of modern technology, especially the introduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing, has led us to the new era of diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. Early diagnosis of prostate cancer has become increasingly possible and the chance of finding a localized disease has dramatically increased even in our country. Studies on a large series of patients diagnosed with the use of the PSA test, revealed that the proportion of locally confined disease can be increased to 60% or more. Modern imaging technology including transrectal ultrasound makes it possible to do more accurate disease staging. With recent understanding of the periprostatic anatomy and increasing number of localized disease patients, radical prostatectomy has gained popularity. On the other hand, the indications for radical prostatectomy are still controversial, especially for locally advanced prostate cancer. Conventional endocrine therapy still plays an important role in the subgroup of localized disease patients. We here discuss the current status and controversies in the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Humans↗

[Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer].

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of preoperative endocrine therapy prior to radical prostatectomy. The main purpose of this treatment modality is to enhance surgical curability and increase survival. Endocrine therapy was performed before radical prostatectomy on 40 patients between 1986 and 1993; 15 had stage B2 and 25 had stage C disease. The median duration of preoperative endocrine therapy was 3.8 months. All patients subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy and castration. There was on average a 25.5% (0-71.8%) decrease in maximal cross-sectional area of prostate gland as determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Treatment-related histological effects, divided into three grades were as follows; excellent in 17, moderate in 11 and poor or no regression in 12. Pathological downstaging of disease status from the diagnosis made at the initial clinical examination was seen in 13 of the 40 patients (33%). At a median follow-up of 50 months (19-118 months), 36 of the 40 patients are disease-free and two died of cancer 43 and 50 months postoperatively. These findings suggest that preoperative endocrine therapy plays an important role in the management of locally advanced prostatic cancer.

Aged↗

The relationship of IL-6 to hormonal mediators, fuel utilization, and systemic hypermetabolism after surgical trauma.

OBJECTIVES: To define the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, hormonal mediators, alteration of energy substrate and hypermetabolism during the early phase after surgical trauma. DESIGN: A prospective case-control study of 13 patients underwent elective surgery for carcinoma between November 1993 and January 1995. MATERIALS AND METHODS: They received parenteral supply of adequate glucose and amino acids through central venous catheter after surgery equally. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- alpha, IL-1 and IL-6, stress hormones such as norepinephrine, glucagon and insulin, and fuel utilization and hypermetabolism variables such as resting energy expenditure (REE), CRP, free fatty acid, respiratory quotient, the calculated rates of glucose and fat oxidation using indirect calorimetry were measured serially (the day before operation, the end of surgery, and postoperative day (POD) 1, 2 and 5). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: TNF- alpha and IL-1 were not detected during the study period. Initial elevation and steady decline of IL-6 concentrations were seen after surgical injury, and this response related significantly to post-operative norepinephrine and glucagon levels throughout the study period, and to insulin levels only at the end of surgery. %REE (REE/BEEHB; basal energy expenditure according to the Harris-Benedict equation) on POD 2 and 5, and all CRP levels after surgery were significantly related to IL-6 levels more than hormone levels. Fuel utilization variables on POD 2 were related to both IL-6 and hormone levels. CONCLUSIONS: Initial elevation of IL-6 concentration might induce stress hormones such as norepinephrine and glucagon, but not insulin after surgical trauma. Moreover not only hormonal mediators but also cytokine such as IL-6 are responsible for the development of the stress response of the alteration of energy substrate and hypermetabolism.

Aged↗

[Prostatic cancer with cystic formation: a case report].

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaints of dysuria and sense of abdominal fullness. On digital rectal examination, an enlarged prostate with a smooth surface and elasticity was palpated. The concentration of prostate specific antigen (PSA) was elevated to 78 ng/ml. Pelvic computed tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large prostate, 8 cm in diameter, with a cystic mass, and extra-iliac lymph node swelling. On needle biopsy of the prostate and cyst, the histology was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the aspirate comprised bloody fluid with a negative test for cytology. He was diagnosed with prostatic cancer of T4N3M0. This is the 19th case of prostatic cancer with cystic formation reported in Japan.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Teratogenicity study of magnesium chloride hexahydrate in rats].

Teratogenicity of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl2.6H2O) was examined in rats. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate dissolved in distilled water was given to pregnant Wistar rats by gavage once a day from day 6 through 15 of pregnancy at doses of 0, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day. The pregnant rats were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and their fetuses were examined for malformation. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate caused no increased incidences of fetal malformation, and no toxic signs in the pregnant rats and the fetuses. It was concluded that magnesium chloride hexahydrate has no teratogenicity in rats when given by gavage. The no observed adverse effect level was estimated to be over 800 mg/kg/day for both pregnant rats and rat fetuses.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Tau in cerebrospinal fluids: establishment of the sandwich ELISA with antibody specific to the repeat sequence in tau.

Clinical diagnosis for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is provided by the criteria of DSMIV and clinical progress in addition to imaging analysis with MRI after negative screening. The final exclusive diagnosis is confirmed by the neuropathological findings of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in autopsy brains. We developed a new ELISA system to measure the amount of tau in cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) using phosphorylation-independent and sequence-specific antibodies. The present ELISA was sensitive enough to detect tau in CSF of normal subjects. The amount of tau was significantly elevated in CSF of AD subjects compared with those of normal subjects and subjects with dementia of cerebrovascular disease, suggesting that tau in CSF reflects the massive and continuous neuronal cell death in the AD brain. In conclusion, we established an ELISA system which enabled us to detect tau in CSF and demonstrated that tau was significantly and specifically elevated in CSF of AD subjects. This assay system can provide us with a potent diagnostic tool for clinical AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of bilirubin removal in postoperative hyperbilirubinemia patients.

The effect of plasma adsorption (PA) on bilirubin removal by a porous type anion exchange resin (Medisorba BL, Kuraray) was evaluated in vitro PA and in vivo PA and plasma exchange (PE) in postoperative hyperbilirubinemia patients. Serum and plasma bilirubin were measured by routine biochemical tests, fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography, and its reduction and rebound were compared. In vitro and in vivo PA indicated the selectivity in bilirubin removal against measured molecules. Changes in bilirubin fractions after PA showed higher adsorbance of conjugated bilirubin (21.4-30.8%) and less adsorbance of delta (85.7%) and unconjugated bilirubin (73.7%). These differences were not observed after PE. But rebound of serum total bilirubin levels after PA was more than that after PE. It is suggested that PA by the resin is selective and has a different metabolic effect on bilirubin during and after PA as compared with PE.

Adsorption↗

Effect of senegin-II on blood glucose in normal and NIDDM mice.

The hypoglycemic effect of senegin-II, the main component of Polygala senega (Polygalaceae), was examined in normal and KK-Ay mice, one of the model animals of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Senegin-II (2.5 mg/kg) reduced the level of blood glucose in normal mice from 220 +/- 8 to 131 +/- 5 mg/dl 4 hours after intraperitoneal administration (P < 0.001), and also significantly lowered the blood glucose of KK-Ay mice from 434 +/- 9 to 142 +/- 6 mg/dl under similar conditions (P < 0.001).

Animals↗

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of chitosan in normal and neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of chitosan was investigated in normal and neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic (NSZ) mice, one of the animal models of lean type non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) with hypoinsulinaemia. Chitosan (5% food admixture) reduced the blood glucose (P < 0.01), cholesterol (P < 0.01) and triglyceride (P < 0.01) of normal mice after 4 weeks, and also significantly lowered the blood glucose (P < 0.05) and cholesterol (P < 0.05) of NSZ mice under the same conditions. But these parameters of KK-Ay mice, which exhibit obese type NIDDM with hyperinsulinaemia, were not affected by chitosan administration. It is concluded that chitosan would be useful for the treatment of lean type NIDDM with hypoinsulinaemia.

Animals↗

Effect of polygonati rhizoma on blood glucose and facilitative glucose transporter isoform 2 (GLUT2) mRNA expression in Wistar fatty rats.

The intraperitoneal administration of the methanol extract of Polygonati Rhizoma (OM) to Wistar fatty rats caused a significant decrease in the blood glucose level 4h after its administration at 800 mg/kg (p < 0.01). The hepatic content of facilitative glucose transporter isoform 2, liver type glucose transporter (GLUT2) mRNA content from rat liver significantly decreased in the intraperitoneally OM-treated rats compared to that in the controls (p < 0.01). These results suggest that the hypoglycemic effect of OM is presumably due, at least in part, to the reduction of GLUT2 mRNA expression. Because of this unique therapeutic mechanism, OM could be a new category of therapeutic agent for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Animals↗

Hypoglycemic effect of the rhizomes of ophiopogonis tuber in normal and diabetic mice.

The hypoglycemic effect of the rhizomes of Ophiopogonis Tuber (Liliaceae) was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The n-butanol extract of rhizomes of Ophiopogonis Tuber (BM) (100 mg/kg) reduced the blood glucose of normal mice from 201 +/- 13 to 151 +/- 7 mg/100 ml 4h after intraperitoneal administration (p < 0.054), and also significantly lowered the blood glucose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice from 590 +/- 28 to 470 +/- 37 mg/100 ml under similar conditions (p < 0.05). BM also tended to suppress epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia in mice. We concluded that the hypoglycemic effect of BM does not alter the insulin concentration.

Animals↗

Studies on the establishment of appropriate spermatogenic endpoints for male fertility disturbance in rodent induced by drugs and chemicals. I. Nitrobenzene.

The effect of nitrobenzene on several spermatogenic endpoints was examined to determine which endpoints were affected by chemicals, how changes in spermatogenic endpoints are related to decreases in the rate of male fertility, and how long a treatment period is needed before damage can be detected. An experimental group of male Sprague-Dawley rats was given nitrobenzene (60 mg/kg, per os), a known inhibitor of male fertility, and a control group was given a diet of sesame oil (1 ml/kg, per os) alone. The rats were mated with normal proestrus females on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56 and 70 of treatment. Male rats were sacrificed on the day after mating, and sperm motility, progressive motility of sperm, sperm count and sperm morphology were examined. After 7 days of treatment, no changes were observed in the endpoints examined. However, the testicular and epididymal weights, sperm count, sperm motility and progressive motility decreased significantly by day 14. By day 21 sperm viability and the fertility index decreased, while increases were observed in the abnormal sperm rate and instances in which no motile sperm existed. However, even after 70 days of treatment, the copulation index was not affected. The most sensitive spermatogenic endpoints were determined to be sperm count and sperm motility, followed by progressive motility, viability, abnormal sperm rate and fertility index. The copulation index is not a meaningful endpoint for male fertility. Furthermore, a period of at least 14 days is necessary for evaluation of the effect of nitrobenzene on male fertility.

Animals↗

[Multicentricity and concomitant tumors in renal cell carcinoma: analysis by serial section of resected kidneys].

Nephron-sparing surgery was initially limited to the patients with localized renal cancer (RCC) present bilaterally or in a solitary kidney. Recently there is controversy in the indication for partial nephrectomy or enucleation to incidentally defined small RCC with normal opposite kidney. We examined the incidence of multicentricity in 43 kidneys removed for RCC with a diameter of less than 80 mm. The mean diameter of the predominant tumors was 45 mm (range 12 to 80 mm). The kidneys were serially sectioned at 5 mm intervals. Three of 43 kidneys (7%) had multiple RCC. The size of the concomitant tumors ranged from 2 to 15 mm. The multicentricity had no relation to pathological grade, stage, vascular invasion or infiltration pattern. In addition, the other 4 kidneys had 2 adenomas, 1 angiomyolipoma and 1 fibroma. Therefore we observed a 16% incidence of small renal nodules and a 7% multicentricity of RCC in the nephrectomized kidneys with normal opposite kidney.

Adenoma↗

Preoperative endocrine therapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the application of preoperative endocrine therapy prior to radical prostatectomy for locally advanced cancer in order to enhance surgical curability and increase survival. Between 1986 and 1993, 40 patients with prostate cancer were given endocrine therapy before radical prostatectomy. Fifteen patients had stage B2 disease and 25 stage C. The median duration of preoperative endocrine therapy was 3.8 months, and all the patients subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy and castration. There was an average 25.5% (0-71.8%) decreases in the maximal cross-sectional area of the prostate gland as determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Twenty-four of 25 patients with elevated levels of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) showed normal values after preoperative endocrine therapy. Evaluation of treatment-related histological effects, divided into three grades, revealed that 17 patients had pronounced, 11 moderate and 12 poor or no regression. Thirteen of the 40 patients (33%) demonstrated pathological downstaging of disease status from the diagnosis made at the initial clinical examination. After a median follow-up period of 36 months (3-100 months), 36 of the 40 patients are disease-free; two died of cancer 43 and 50 months after surgery, respectively. These results suggest that preoperative endocrine therapy may play an important role in the management of locally advanced prostatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Effect of 5-FU on the utilization of purine and pyrimidine by human gastric cancer cells (KATO III)].

Effect of utilization of purine and pyrimidine in the culture medium by human gastric cancer cells (KATO III) was evaluated. Nucleosides mixture solution (OG-VI), consisting of inosine, guanosine 5' monophosphate (5'GMP), cytidine, uridine and thymidine (4: 4: 4: 3: 1 in molar ratio) was used and their levels in the culture medium was measured by HPLC after 3 day culture. Purine, inosine and 5' GMP, in the medium almost decreased and purine base, xanthine and hypoxanthine levels increased, but changes in pyrimidine level were minimal. 5-FU decreased purine and increased pyrimidine consumption. Addition of nucleosides mixture did not enhance the cellular proliferation, but inhibited growth when given in higher concentrations. Nucleoside mixture solution enhanced growth inhibition by 5-FU and it is a potential biochemical modulator of 5-FU metabolism in human cancer cells.

Cell Division↗