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Biomedical subjects

M Yamaguchi

Publications and source records attributed to M Yamaguchi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Eribulin versus taxane as first-line chemotherapy combined with dual HER2 blockade in patients with HER2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer: final survival outcomes of the JBCRG-M06/EMERALD study.

BACKGROUND: The phase III JBCRG-M06/EMERALD study was the first to show noninferior progression-free survival (PFS) of eribulin to taxane, combined with dual human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) blockade (trastuzumab plus pertuzumab), as a first-line treatment for HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer (LABC/MBC). We report final survival outcomes and biomarker analyses of the EMERALD trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HER2-positive LABC/MBC were randomly assigned 1:1 to either eribulin or physician-choice taxane (docetaxel or paclitaxel), both combined with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab, as first-line chemotherapy. PFS and overall survival (OS) were assessed through 30 June 2023 for PFS and 31 December 2024 for OS. Survival outcomes were compared between the eribulin and taxane groups and according to circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection of PIK3CA mutations (PIK3CAm+; E542K, E545K, H1047R, and N345K single nucleotide variants) or HER2 amplification (HER2 amp+; ERBB2 copy number >2.5). RESULTS: Median OS was 78.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 64.3-not reached (NR)] for eribulin and was NR for taxane, with a hazard ratio of 1.25 (95% CI 0.92-1.71, log-rank P = 0.19). The 60-month OS rates were 59.7% and 65.2% for eribulin and taxane, respectively. Median OS and 60-month OS rates were numerically lower in ctDNA PIK3CAm+ patients, and greater in ctDNA HER2 amp+ patients for all patients and with stratification by treatment group. There were no statistical interactions between treatment group with either ctDNA PIK3CAm or ctDNA HER2 amp status. Similar patterns were observed for PFS. CONCLUSION: Final survival analysis revealed that median OS exceeded 6 years with eribulin or physician-choice taxane, combined with trastuzumab plus pertuzumab, as first-line chemotherapy for HER2-positive LABC/MBC, with no significant differences between the two groups. ctDNA PIK3CAm+ status was a poor prognostic factor. ctDNA HER2 amp+ was associated with longer survival.

Aged

Preparation of a fluorescent derivative of benzoylecgonine, and preliminary studies of its application to the analysis of urine.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method using 3-bromomethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinoxalinone (Br-DMEQ) as a fluorescent labeling reagent is described for the determination of benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine (EC). The Br-DMEQ derivatives of BE and EC were separated on a C18 column and detected at 455 nm with excitation at 370 nm. The detection limits of the proposed method were 18.7 fmol for BE and 12.5 pmol for EC at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. Relative standard deviations of five replicate measurements were 1.94% (10 pmol) and 2.98% (50 pmol) for BE and 6.3% (250 pmol) and 5.62% (1.25 pmol) for EC. This method was applied to the determination of BE in human urine. BE was extracted from urine by solvent extraction with chloroform-isopropyl alcohol (9:1, v/v) solution. Levels of 2.5.10(-8) M BE in urine (25 pmol/ml) could be determined.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid

[A case of insulinoma with frequent hypoglycemic attacks not showing evident hyperinsulinemia].

Confirmation of inappropriate hyperinsulinemia is an indispensable requisite for the diagnosis of insulinoma. We report here a case of insulinoma without evident hyperinsulinemia at an early stage. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, had been admitted to our hospital for the evaluation of frequent hypoglycemic attacks. At that time, plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) after an overnight fast ranged from 7 to 16 microU/ml. The ratio of IRI/fasting blood sugar (FBS) (Fajans index; normal range, below 0.3) was always between 0.13 and 0.28 even at hypoglycemic states. In addition, because computed tomography and arteriography of the abdomen failed to settle the diagnosis of insulinoma, the patient was discharged and followed up at our outpatient clinic for 2 years. She was admitted to our hospital at 51 years of age for the re-evaluation of hypoglycemic attacks. Laboratory examinations revealed high fasting plasma levels of IRI ranging from 20 to 29 microU/ml. Fajans index also increased to 0.47-0.89. Celiac arteriography was able to confirm the existence of insulinoma. We suggest that insulinoma should be considered in the presence of unexplained hypoglycemic attacks even when there is no evident hyperinsulinemia.

Blood Glucose

Epidermal growth factor stimulates mouse placental lactogen I but inhibits mouse placental lactogen II secretion in vitro.

This study was undertaken to determine whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates the secretion of mouse placental lactogen (mPL)-I and mPL-II. Primary cell cultures were prepared from placentas from days 7, 9, and 11 of pregnancy and cultured for up to 5 days. Addition of EGF (20 ng/ml) to the medium resulted in significant stimulation of mPL-I secretion by the second day of culture in cells from days 7 and 9 of pregnancy and significant inhibition of mPL-II secretion by the third or fourth day of culture in cells from days 7, 9, and 11. Dose-response studies carried out with cells from day 7 of pregnancy demonstrated that the minimum concentration of EGF that stimulated mPL-I secretion and inhibited mPL-II secretion was 1.0 ng/ml. EGF did not affect the DNA content of the cells or cell viability, assessed by trypan blue exclusion, nor did it have a general effect on protein synthesis. There are three types of PL-containing giant cells in mouse placental cell cultures: cells that contain either mPL-I or mPL-II and cells that contain both hormones. Immunocytochemical analysis and the reverse hemolytic plaque assay indicated that EGF treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of cells that produce mPL-I, but among the PL cells that contained mPL-I, there was no change in the fraction of cells that contained only mPL-I or the fraction that contained both mPL-I and mPL-II. In contrast, EGF treatment did affect the distribution of mPL-II among PL cells. In control cultures, about 75% of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I, but in EGF-treated cultures, all of the cells that contained mPL-II also contained mPL-I. These data suggest that EGF regulates mPL-I and mPL-II secretion at least partly by regulating PL cell differentiation.

Animals

Characterization of bone protein components with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: effects of zinc and hormones in tissue culture.

An attempt was made to clarify the molecular characterization of zinc-induced bone protein synthesis in tissue culture. Calvaria were removed from weanling rat (3-week-old male) and cultured for periods up to 48 hr in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (high Glucose, 4500 mg/dl) supplemented with antibiotics and bovine serum albumin. When calvaria cultured in the presence of 10(-5) to 10(-4) M zinc were pulsed with [3H] leucine, zinc caused a significant increase in the incorporation of [3H] leucine into the acid-insoluble residues of bone tissue. The soluble fraction obtained from cultured bone was analyzed with SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The major components in the fraction obtained from control bone were 68 killo-dalton (kDa) and 45 kDa proteins. These components were clearly increased by the presence of zinc (10(-4) M). The effect of zinc was completely abolished by the coexistence of 10(-6) M cycloheximide. Meanwhile, 10(-9) M estrogen or 10(-8) M insulin, which can stimulate bone formation, did not enhance the effect of zinc to increase bone 68 and 45 kDa proteins. The present findings suggest that zinc increases many bone protein components, especially 68 and 45 kDa proteins.

Animals

Down-regulation of interleukin 6 receptors of mouse myelomonocytic leukemic cells by leukemia inhibitory factor.

We examined the effect of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on the expression of interleukin 6 receptors (IL-6R) on mouse myelomonocytic leukemic M1 cells. Binding studies using 125I-labeled human and murine IL-6 revealed that LIF caused a decrease in IL-6 binding to M1 cells. The decrease became evident within 1 h, and the maximum decrease was observed at 3-6 h. Scatchard plot analysis revealed that M1 cells had a single class of high affinity receptors for IL-6 and that LIF-induced decrease in IL-6 binding was due to a decrease in the number of IL-6R on the cell surface and not to changes in their affinity. The affinity of IL-6R on M1 cells to human IL-6 (Kd = 2.25 nM) was about 10-fold lower than that to murine IL-6 (Kd = 200 pM). The amount of IL-6 secreted into culture media by M1 cells that were treated with LIF for up to 12 h was not enough to cause receptor down-regulation. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that IL-6R mRNA was down-regulated by LIF treatment, and similar regulation was also observed when the cells were treated with IL-6. The time course of the IL-6R mRNA level was similar to that of IL-6R expression on the cell surface, suggesting that the main mechanism responsible for the loss of high affinity IL-6R was the regulation of IL-6R mRNA. Although the half-life of IL-6R on the cell surface was about 30 min, the addition of LIF reduced it to 16 min, suggesting the existence of an additional mechanism responsible for the loss of high affinity IL-6R on the cell surface.

Animals

Activation of human CD4+CD45RA+ T cells by chrysotile asbestos in vitro.

Chrysotile asbestos stimulates T lymphocyte subsets. Cell surface CD4 or CD45RA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was downregulated after incubation with chrysotile asbestos in vitro temporarily. The percentage of CD4+CD45RA+ cells and mean fluorescence intensity in CD4 or CD45RA decreased after incubation with asbestos and returned to the original level after 24 h of incubation, which suggests that chrysotile asbestos activates CD4+CD45RA+ cells. No change was observed in CD29 expression. An increased percentage of IL-2R positive cells and an elevated intracellular Ca++ level were also indicative of the activation of PBMC by chrysotile asbestos.

Antigens, CD

Interleukin 6/B cell stimulatory factor-II is expressed and released by normal and transformed human bronchial epithelial cells.

Airway epithelial cells have a potential to participate in local immune and inflammatory responses via releasing biologically active compounds. We studied the expression and release of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine possibly involved in tissue immune responses. Primary culture of normal human bronchial epithelial cells and its transformed cell line BEAS-2B released significant amount of biologically and immunologically intact IL-6 into media. A protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide abolished the IL-6 release, suggesting a de novo synthesis. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the expression of the specific IL-6 mRNA. Human bronchial epithelial cells can produce IL-6 and contribute to the local activity of IL-6, suggesting that these cells may play a role in the regulation of airway immune responses.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on Ca2+ transport system in rat liver nuclei: stimulation of Ca2+ release.

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on Ca2+ transport in rat liver nuclei was investigated. Ca2+ uptake and release were determined with a Ca2+ electrode. Ca2+ uptake increased dependent on adenosine triphosphate (ATP; 0.5-2.0 mM), while the uptake was negligible in the presence of 2 mM ADP or AMP. Regucalcin (0.5-2.0 microM) had no effect on Ca2+ uptake following addition of 2.0 mM ATP. Meanwhile, Ca2+, which accumulated in the nuclei during 10 min after ATP addition, was significantly released by the addition of regucalcin. This release was dose-dependent (0.1-2.0 microM). Vanadate (100 microM) and guanosine triphosphate (100 microM) did not cause a significant release of Ca2+ from the nuclei. Trifluoroperazine (TFP; 50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, significantly increased Ca2+ release from the nuclei. The presence of regucalcin (0.5 microM) further enhanced the TFP effect. These results indicate that regucalcin stimulates Ca2+ release from liver nuclei, and that the effect is not influenced by calmodulin antagonist. The finding suggests that regucalcin can regulate the Ca2+ transport system in rat liver nuclei.

Animals

Calcium administration stimulates the expression of calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in rat liver.

The distribution and expression of mRNA encoding the Ca(2+)-binding protein regucalcin in rats were investigated by Northern blot analyses. Liver regucalcin cDNA (0.6 kb) was used as a probe. The analyses of total RNAs extracted from various tissues of rat indicated that regucalcin mRNA was mainly present in liver but only slightly in kidney with a size of 1.8 kb. The expression level decreased with increasing age (3, 10 and 25 weeks). A single intraperitoneal administration of calcium chloride (15 mg Ca/100 g body weight) induced a remarkable increase in regucalcin mRNA in liver; the level was about 200% of control at 30 min after the administration. Subsequently, the expression level began to decrease with time and was about 40% of control level at 120 min after the administration. The increase in regucalcin mRNA levels at 30 min after calcium administration was dose-dependent. These observations show that the expression of regucalcin mRNA is specific in liver of various tissues, and that it is regulated by Ca2+ administration. Regucalcin may have a role as regulatory protein for calcium homeostasis in liver cells.

Animals

Interferon-gamma gene expression in unstimulated bone marrow mononuclear cells predicts a good response to cyclosporine therapy in aplastic anemia.

Cyclosporine (CyA) therapy has been shown to be effective in some patients with aplastic anemia. In an attempt to characterize aplastic patients likely to benefit from CyA therapy, we examined bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) obtained before therapy from 23 patients with aplastic anemia, who were treated with CyA alone. Expression of four myelosuppressive cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lymphotoxin, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-assisted messenger RNA (mRNA) amplification. mRNA for TNF, lymphotoxin, and MIP-1 alpha was readily detectable at variable levels in BMMC from normal and transfused controls as well as in BMMC from aplastic patients. In contrast, IFN-gamma mRNA was only demonstrable in BMMC from some patients with aplastic anemia, irrespective of a history of transfusions. Of 13 patients who responded to CyA therapy and achieved transfusion-independence, IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in 12 patients, whereas the mRNA was only detectable in 3 of 10 patients refractory to CyA therapy (P = .003, Fisher's exact test). Follow-up examination of BMMC obtained from seven CyA-responding patients after hematologic remission showed disappearance of IFN-gamma mRNA in four patients. These results suggest that detection of IFN-gamma gene expression in pretreatment BMMC from aplastic patients using PCR may be helpful in predicting a good response to CyA therapy.

Adolescent

Calcium-binding protein regucalcin increases calcium-independent proteolytic activity in rat liver cytosol.

The effect of regucalcin, isolated from rat liver cytosol, on neutral proteolytic activity in the hepatic cytosol was investigated. The Ca(2+)-requiring proteinase required 5-10 microM Ca2+ for maximal activity in the presence of a protein substrate (globin). The proteinase activity was markedly elevated by the addition of regucalcin (0.25-2.0 microM) in the absence or presence of Ca2+ (5.0 microM) added. The effect of regucalcin, however, was the greater in the absence of Ca2+ than that in the presence. The pronounced effect of regucalcin on the proteinase activity was also seen in the presence of 1.0 mM EGTA with or without Ca2+ (5.0 microM). In the absence of Ca2+, the regucalcin-increased proteinase activity was clearly inhibited by the presence of anti-regucalcin antiserum (diluted to 240-fold), leupeptin (20 and 200 micrograms/ml), and heavy metals (25 microM cadmium or 25 microM zinc), although the inhibition was not complete at the concentration used. The present findings suggest that regucalcin increases proteolytic activity in rat liver cytosol, and that regucalcin may activate Ca(2+)-independent neutral cysteinyl-proteinase.

Animals

Activation of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene promoter by adenovirus type 12 E1A proteins.

A plasmid carrying the 5'-flanking region (-1852 to +33 with respect to the transcription initiation site) of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene fused with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene was cotransfected into mouse N18TG2 cells with adenovirus type 12 E1 genes-expressing plasmids. Expression of E1A gene products resulted in the elevation of the CAT expression by 3 to 7 folds, but that of E1B gene product was much less effective. RNase protection analysis revealed that the activation by E1A was at the transcription process. Both the 13S E1A and the 12S E1A activated the DNA polymerase beta gene promoter, indicating that the activation domain of E1A is in a common region(s) of 13S and 12S E1A products. The major target sequence of E1A was mapped within the 10 base pair-region (-30 to -20) of the DNA polymerase beta gene promoter, which overlapped with the palindromic sequence known as the ATF(CREB)/E4F-binding consensus. The results suggest that the palindromic sequence is essential for E1A-induced transcriptional activation of the mouse DNA polymerase beta gene.

Adenoviridae

Stem cell factor has histamine releasing activity in rat connective tissue-type mast cells.

Stem cell factor (SCF) was documented to be involved in the growth of mast cells controlled by fibroblasts. We tested the effect of recombinant rat SCF on degranulation from rat peritoneal mast cells (connective tissue-type mast cells: CTMC). SCF induced histamine release (approximately 20% of total histamine content) in a dose-dependent fashion. The release response was relatively rapid and reached a maximum within 5 min. The release showed total dependence on the presence of extracellular phosphatidylserine (PTS). These results reveal that SCF has histamine releasing activity in CTMC.

Animals

Determination of manidipine enantiomers in human serum using chiral chromatography and column-switching liquid chromatography.

A stereoselective and highly sensitive method using chiral chromatography and successive column-switching liquid chromatography is described for the determination of manidipine enantiomers in human serum. A human serum sample obtained after ingestion of manidipine was extracted twice with a mixture of n-hexane-diethyl ether under alkaline conditions. The enantiomers in the extract were separated on a chiral stationary phase column (Chiralcel OJ), and the effluents containing the respective enantiomers were collected. Each fraction was then analysed by column-switching liquid chromatography. The proposed stereoselective method offered high sensitivity: detection limits for both isomers were 0.2 ng/ml in human serum, both at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The method is suitable for the pharmacokinetic studies of manidipine enantiomers.

Administration, Oral

Reversible effect of calcium-binding protein regucalcin on the Ca(2+)-induced inhibition of deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphatase activity in rat liver cytosol.

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphatase (dUTPase) in the cytosol of rat liver was investigated. Addition of Ca2+ up to 5.0 microM to the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant decrease of dUTPase activity, while Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Al3+, Mn2+ and Ni2+ (10 microM) did not have an appreciable effect. The Ca(2+)-induced decrease of dUTPase activity was reversed by the presence of regucalcin; the effect was complete at 1.0 microM of the protein. Regucalcin had no effect on the basal activity of the enzyme. Meanwhile, the reversible effect of regucalcin on the Ca2+ (10 microM)-induced decrease of dUTPase activity was not altered by the coexistence of Cd2+ or Zn2+ (10 microM). The present data suggest that liver cytosolic dUTPase is uniquely regulated by Ca2+ of various metals, and that the Ca2+ effect is reversed by regucalcin.

Animals