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Biomedical subjects

N Okada

Publications and source records attributed to N Okada.

623 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Elevated serum c-erbB-2 protein levels in patients with pancreatic cancer: correlation to metastasis and shorter survival.

Overexpression of the c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene has been shown to correlate with relapse and poor prognosis in adenocarcinomas of the breast and stomach. In pancreatic cancer, c-erbB-2 overexpression has been demonstrated using immunohistochemistry, but the relationship between serum c-erbB-2 level and clinical data has not been fully evaluated. In this study, serum c-erbB-2 protein levels were measured in 100 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas and in 9 patients with mucin-producing tumors. Immunohistochemical studies for c-erbB-2 protein were performed in 36 patients and 4.0 U/ml in healthy controls (p < 0.001). The positive rate for serum c-erbB-2 was 34% (37/109) in patients with pancreatic cancer and 0% (0/66) in patients with gallstones and in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemical study disclosed that the positive staining rate was 28% (8/29) in common ductal adenocarcinoma specimens, 43% (3/7) in metastasis specimens, and 75% (3/4) in mucin-producing tumor specimens. Clinical evaluation revealed that 59% (22/37) of serum c-erbB-2-positive patients and 33% (24/72) of negative patients had liver or peritoneal metastases (p < 0.01). The mean survival time was 154 days in the c-erbB-2-positive group and 220 days in the negative group (p < 0.05). We suppose that c-erbB-2 is related to metastasis and progression of the disease in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radical modulating activity and cytotoxic activity of synthesized eugenol-related compounds.

The ability of nine synthetic eugenol-related compounds to scavenge O2- (generated by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction) was compared with their radical generation and cytotoxic activity. ESR spectroscopy showed that eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol), 2-allyl-4-methoxyphenol, 2-allyl-4-t-butylphenol and 2,4-dimethoxyphenol efficiently scavenged O2- and produced radicals under alkaline conditions. 2-allyl-4-t-butylphenol showed the highest cytotoxic activity and DNA-synthesis inhibitory activity, possibly due to the hydrophobic radical reactivity. 2-allyl-4-methoxyphenol and 2,4-dimethoxyphenol showed higher antioxidant activity than 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisol (BHA), but all these compounds showed comparable cytotoxic activity with each other. These findings suggest a possible link between the cytotoxic activity and radical generation/scavenging activity in eugenol-related compounds.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors of lymphocytes in patients with varying degrees of congestive heart failure.

This study was designed to determine changes in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors of circulating lymphocytes in patients with varying degrees of congestive heart failure. Thirty-seven patients with congestive heart failure were classified into four groups according to the functional classifications of the New York Heart Association (class I, 12 patients; class II, 12 patients; class III, eight patients; class IV, five patients). The control group consisted of 24 healthy volunteers. Binding assays of beta-adrenergic receptors in circulating lymphocytes and plasma norepinephrine concentrations were determined in each group. Compared with the control group, the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in patients of the class-III and class-IV groups was reduced by 37% and 36%, respectively, and plasma norepinephrine concentrations of class-III and class-IV patients were increased by 3.5 times and 5.9 times, respectively. No significant changes in the numbers of beta-adrenergic receptors or in plasma norepinephrine concentrations were observed in patients of the class-I and class-II groups. These findings show a decrease in the number of beta-adrenergic receptors in patients with high plasma norepinephrine concentrations. It is suggested that the chronically high concentration of norepinephrine, resulting from activation of the sympathetic nervous system associated with severe congestive heart failure, is linked with the down regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors. The action of sympathomimetic amines may therefore be altered in patients with congestive heart failure.

Heart Failure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin in severe chronic renal failure.

The pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin were studied in patients with severe renal impairment. In five healthy subjects and nine patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) (creatinine clearance [CCR] less than 20 ml/min) receiving 100 mg of ofloxacin orally in the fasted state, the serum concentration was measured over the subsequent 48 hours. Intracorporeal dynamics were examined, employing a one-compartment open model. Ofloxacin levels were measured using the paper disk method. The half-life of ofloxacin was markedly prolonged, to 23.1 +/- 7.0 hr in the CRF group versus 2.9 +/- 0.5 hr for healthy subjects. In the CRF group, the maximum concentration and area under the curve were greater than in healthy subjects. There were no significant differences in volume of distribution between the two groups. The renal clearance of ofloxacin decreased from 261.0 +/- 46.6 ml/min in healthy subjects to 8.0 +/- 4.7 ml/min in the CRF group and correlated significantly with CCR in the CRF group (r = .88, P less than 0.01). There were no significant differences in nonrenal clearance between the two groups. The 24-hour renal excretion of ofloxacin averaged 91.9 +/- 5.4% and 14.1 +/- 5.5% of the dose in the healthy and CRF groups, respectively. In three hemodialysis patients on the regular hollow-fiber dialyser, the dialysance of ofloxacin was about 50% that of creatinine. Based on these findings, a reduction in the dose of ofloxacin is necessary in patients with CRF. In the hemodialyzed patients, its high dialyzability should be considered when deciding dose regimens.

Creatinine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastric carcinoma associated with dermatomyositis. Case report.

A case of gastric carcinoma associated with dermatomyositis is reported. Total gastrectomy was performed and subsequently excision of hepatic metastasis. Although the cause-effect relationship between dermatomyositis and internal malignancy remains controversial, the obvious dependence of the clinical course of dermatomyositis on that of the gastric carcinoma in this case suggests a causal involvement.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case report: MR findings of a retained surgical sponge.

We describe here a case in which a retained surgical sponge progressed into the perirenal space and posterior pararenal space from the pelvic cavity. Sonography, CT, and T1-weighted MR image analyses could not show clearly the characteristic structure of the surgical sponge, but T2-weighted MR imaging showed a folded fabric appearance within the cystic mass. Surgical findings confirmed a lobulated cystic mass containing yellowish fluid and a surgical sponge.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Case report: MR findings of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is characterized as an acute, symmetrically progressive, inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. We report a case of GBS in which gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed marked enhancement of nerve roots of the conus medullaris and cauda equina. On enhanced MR imaging, the spinal cord and nerve roots in the thecal sac generally do not take up much gadolinium because of the blood-nerve barrier or blood-brain barrier. Therefore, in our case, marked enhancement of nerve roots indicates a breakdown of the blood-nerve barrier. It is thought to correlate with the inflammatory infiltration of GBS.

Cauda Equina↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intracellular Ca2+ response of pancreatic acini in cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To approach the mechanism of impaired signal transduction in cerulein-induced pancreatitis, in vitro acinar cell responses including the intracellular Ca2+ dynamics were evaluated. METHODOLOGY: Rats were infused with 10 micrograms/kg/h of cerulein for 4 hours, and the pancreas was dispersed. A binding study for 125I-CCK, intracellular Ca2+ measurement, and an amylase secretion analysis were performed in dispersed pancreatic acini. RESULTS: The binding study for 125I-CCK revealed that the CCK-binding capacity (Bmax) was decreased, although the binding affinities (Kd high and Kd low) were not altered. An in vitro amylase secretion analysis evoked higher basal secretion but little response. In the control acini, the in vitro application of a physiological dose of CCK (10 pM) evoked intracellular Ca2+ oscillations, and a higher dose of CCK (100 pM, 1 nM) evoked a large transient rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In cerulein-treated acini, 10 pM CCK evoked no intracellular Ca2+ release, and 100 pM CCK evoked only oscillated Ca2+ concentrations. A higher dose (1 nM) of CCK evoked a transient rise, but the peak Ca2+ level was significantly lower than that in the control (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that both CCK receptors and intracellular Ca2+ mobilizations are similarly desensitized. The attenuation of amylase secretion is partly due to impaired signal transduction, including impaired intracellular Ca2+ release.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An adult case of retropharyngeal cellulitis; diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging.

We experienced an adult case of cellulitis in the prevertebral space with retropharyngeal and danger space, and, which was suspected to be due to a fish bone stuck in the throat. Its lesion could not be demonstrated on plain radiograph, postcontrast computed tomography, or laryngoscopy, but noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the lesion and was useful in assessing the efficacy of medication.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ectopic ureter draining into seminal vesicle cyst: usefulness of MRI.

Ectopic ureter draining into seminal vesicle cyst is very rare congenital anomaly, which is thought to be caused by ectopic ureteral bud arising on the mesonephric duct. It is often associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. We experienced a case of ectopic ureter draining into seminal vesicle cyst that is associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis. Generally, an invasive modality, that is, cyst puncture, cystography, or seminal vesiculography, is essential in the confirmative diagnosis of ectopic ureter. However, we could establish a definitive diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging.

Adult↗