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Biomedical subjects

N Shigematsu

Publications and source records attributed to N Shigematsu.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[The CT diagnosis of emphysema and correlation with pathologic findings].

It is difficult to diagnose clinically silent or mild emphysema. The efficacy of CT scans for the diagnosis of emphysema has attracted attention and comparisons have been made between CT images and the pathological grade of emphysema in resected lungs. With a view to determine to what extent high resolution CT images are accurate concerning the diagnosis of mild emphysema, we conducted an extensive comparative study on CT scores of emphysema, based on high resolution CT, the pathology score derived from the cut surface of the lung identical in its plane with that of the CT and destructive index (DI) which is said to be instrumental in representing the degree of deterioration of alveolar walls in the same regions of the lungs. In this study, 42 patients who underwent thoracotomy and their lung specimens including a solitary nodule of considerable size have been employed. The CT scores and pathology scores depend on the picture grading system developed by Thurlbeck and coworkers for the basis of counting. The findings were such that with 1 mm collimation, the CT scores ranged between 12 and 57 with a mean +/- SD of 22.1 +/- 9.6 (n = 35) while with 5 mm collimation, the CT scores ranged between 7 and 46 with a mean +/- SD of 16.5 +/- 8.3 (n = 33). The pathology scores stood at 10 to 57 with a mean +/- SD of 23.2 +/- 9.8 (n = 42).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Evaluation of pulmonary emphysema with high resolution computed tomography and the effect of smoking].

Cigarette smoking is thought to play an important part in the development of pulmonary emphysema. The authors previously reported on the correlation of high resolution computed tomography (CT) with the pathology grade of emphysema and the destructive index of lung specimens from 42 patients undergoing thoracotomy for a solitary pulmonary nodule. High resolution CT was effective to identify the presence and grade of mild emphysema. The mean per cent predicted FEV1 was 97 per cent. There were 28 smokers and 14 nonsmokers. In this report, the correlation of smoking history with pathology score and high resolution CT was analyzed. There was significant correlation among these indices. These results further support the relationship between smoking and pulmonary emphysema. High resolution CT scan may help in the understanding of the role of cigarette smoking in the development of early pulmonary emphysema.

Adult↗

[Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring: the treatment results of the past 22 years and the significance of CHOP].

From 1966 through 1988, 124 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring were treated. Seventy patients were male, and 54 were female. Age ranged from 5 to 81 years with a median value of 53 years. Pathological slides were reviewed and reclassified according to the Working Formulation. Diffuse large cell type was most common (53%). Since 1981, CHOP has been incorporated into the treatment including stage I and II patients. During these 22 years, new imaging modalities have developed, and an upstage rate by using those modalities has increased from 5% to 9%. In order to make the comparison meaningful, we used clinical stage determined at the day of the first visit. Fifty-one patients were clinical stage I, 64 were stage II, seven were stage III, and two were stage IV. B symptom was seen in 8 patients. Relapse developed in 45 patients (41%) out of 111 who achieved complete remission, and distant relapse was most frequent (89%). Salvage therapy was successful in only three patients of the 45 relapsed patients. Overall 5-year freedom from relapse (FFR) were 38% for the patients treated until 1980, and 69% for the patients treated thereafter (p less than 0.01). Addition of CHOP to radiotherapy has increased 5-year FFR of the stage II patients from 31% to 81% (p less than 0.01). In stage I, 5-year FFR was 71% in the patients treated with CHOP and radiotherapy, and it was 27% treated without CHOP. But the difference has no statistical significance, and we can not rule out the presence of selection bias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Enhanced leukotriene C4 synthase activity in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages.

The utilization of LTA4 by peritoneal macrophages (MO) obtained from untreated rats (control) as well as by those elicited from rats was investigated at designated intervals (on days 3, 7, and 14) following the intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate (TG). On day 7 following the injection the elicited MO converted LTA4 to LTC4 at the highest rate while the resident MO showed the lowest rate. The conversion of LTA4 to LTC4 and LTB4 was next examined by using each MO lysate. The apparent LTC4 synthase activity was significantly higher in the MO lysate both on day 3 and day 7, with the latter being the highest value obtained. The GSH S-transferase activity in each lysate using as the substrate, DNCB was significantly lower on day 3 but significantly higher on day 7 as compared to control values. However, this elevated activity was less variable than that observed with LTC4 synthase. The possible implication for these observations is discussed.

Animals↗

[Modification of spontaneous lung metastasis by local radiation combined with or without immunomodifier].

This study was carried out to determine the effect of local irradiation of the NFSa tumors on the incidence of lung metastases. The spontaneous lung metastases were found in those animals whose tumors had grown in size bigger than 10 mm in diameter. The incidence of metastases and the number of lung nodules were increased in those animals of irradiated group when compared to those of control group with the same size. This is probably because the irradiation of tumors resulted some retardation in their growth and thus, the irradiated tumors took a longer time to reach a given size than those unirradiated control tumors. The incidence of spontaneous lung metastases was significantly reduced by subcutaneous administration of OK-432 (2.5KE/mouse) locally into the surroundings of the tumor immediately after irradiation. The administration of OK-432 after the metastasis development was no longer effective. Both of intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administrations of OK-432 into opposite side of unirradiated thigh showed no suppression of metastasis. These results suggest that an appropriate immunostimulation combined with radiotherapy may be important for the suppression of tumor metastases.

Animals↗

Enhanced superoxide anion generation but reduced leukotriene B4 productivity in thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages.

Lipoxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid was compared between peritoneal macrophages from untreated rats and those from rats on day 7 after intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate broth (TG). Resident macrophages (M phi) from untreated rats produced mainly LTB4 (303 +/- 25 pmol/5 x 10(6) cells) and 5-HETE (431 +/- 56 pmol/5 x 10(6) cells) when stimulated with 5 micrograms/ml calcium ionophore A23187 for 20 min at 37 degrees C. On the other hand, TG-elicited M phi generated less amounts of lipoxygenase metabolites (157 +/- 10 pmol LTB4 and 319 +/- 19 pmol 5-HETE/5 x 10(6) cells) with the same stimulus. Then, leukotriene productivity was examined by using subcellular fractions of each M phi lysate and an unstable epoxide intermediate, leukotriene A4. LTA4 hydrolase activity was mainly contained in soluble fractions from the both groups of M phi. The cytosol fraction from the resident M phi exhibited the following specific and total activity; 2.2 +/- 0.1 nmol LTB4/mg protein/5 min and 12.2 +/- 0.5 nmol LTB4/5 min per 10(8) cells. On the contrary, the cytosol fraction from the TG-elicited M phi showed 1.9 +/- 0.1 nmol LTB4/mg protein/5 min and 9.6 +/- 0.3 nmol LTB4/5 min per 10(8) cells. The resident M phi, however, generated 0.14 +/- 0.04 nmol O2-/min/4 x 10(5) cells whereas the TG-elicited M phi did 0.49 +/- 0.13 nmol O2-/min/4 x 10(5) cells when stimulated with wheat germ lectin. These results suggest that the TG-elicited macrophages show enhanced superoxide production but generate less lipoxygenase metabolites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Effects of azelastine on vagal neuroeffector transmission in canine and human airway smooth muscle.

Azelastine is a newly developed antiallergic drug that is reported to antagonize histamine and leukotrienes in addition to its inhibitory action on release of chemical mediators. In the present study, the effects of azelastine on neuroeffector transmission in the airway smooth muscles with double sucrose gap and isometric tension-recording methods were evaluated. Azelastine (10(-8) to 10(-6) mol/L) markedly decreased the contractile response of human bronchial and dog tracheal muscle strips to electrical field stimulation (10 pulses at 20 V, 20 Hz, 800 microseconds) in a dose-dependent manner. In parallel with actions on twitch contractions, azelastine suppressed the amplitude of excitatory junction potentials of dog trachea without changing the resting membrane potential and input resistance of smooth muscle cells. However, azelastine did not alter acetylcholine sensitivity of the smooth muscle cells. These results indicate that azelastine possesses an inhibitory action on the release of acetylcholine by vagal nerve terminals. This inhibitory effect of azelastine may contribute to the treatment of asthma in addition to its antiallergic actions.

Acetylcholine↗

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis and disseminated atypical mycobacteriosis in a patient with busulfan lung.

A 32-year-old Japanese man with chronic granulocytic leukemia died of respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed alveolar proteinosis and pulmonary fibrosis, complicated by disseminated atypical mycobacteriosis. Epithelial hyperplasia caused by busulfan therapy was probably responsible for the induction of excessive surfactant production, resulting in alveolar proteinosis, and the immunosuppressive state due to chronic granulocytic leukemia was probably related to the induction of disseminated atypical mycobacteriosis.

Adult↗

Effect of endogenous tachykinins on neuro-effector transmission of vagal nerve in guinea-pig tracheal tissue.

To elucidate the effect of endogenous tachykinins on neuro-effector transmission of vagal nerves, we performed in vitro experiments using guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle. The subthreshold dose (the highest dose which did not induce any smooth muscle contraction) of capsaicin (10(-8) to 10(-7) M) increased the amplitudes of contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) significantly, but not those by acetylcholine (ACh). The inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase, phosphoramidon (10(-7) to 10(-6) M), increased the contractions evoked by EFS significantly. The inhibitor of cholinesterase, physostigmine (10(-6) to 10(-5) M), induced smooth muscle contractions, but such contractions were inhibited by atropine, suggesting the spontaneous release of ACh from the vagal nerve terminals. The subthreshold dose of substance P or capsaicin increased the contractions evoked by physostigmine. These results indicated that endogenous tachykinins increase the spontaneous ACh release as well as the ACh release in response to vagal stimulation from the nerve terminals. Furthermore, it is suggested that the excitatory effects of the tachykinins on the vagal neuro-effector transmission may be modulated by neutral endopeptidase in the guinea pig.

Acetylcholine↗

The diagnosis of mild emphysema. Correlation of computed tomography and pathology scores.

Early and accurate diagnosis of emphysema is said to be invaluable for identification of clinically silent and mild emphysema. Recently, computed tomography (CT) has been much advocated for its efficacy in detailed diagnosis of emphysema, and the results have been compared with the pathology grade of emphysema in resected lung specimens. To assess the ability of high resolution CT scan in detecting and grading mild emphysema, we correlated the high resolution CT scan with the pathology grade of emphysema and the destructive index (DI) of lung specimens from 42 patients undergoing thoracotomy for a solitary pulmonary nodule. The high resolution CT scan and the cut surface of the lung, corresponding exactly to the same plane of the CT scan image, were assessed using the picture-grading system of Thurlbeck and coworkers on a scale of zero to 100. The CT scores for all patients ranged from 12 to 57, with a mean +/- SD of 22.1 +/- 9.6 using 1-mm collimation (n = 35), and from 7 to 46 with a mean +/- SD of 16.5 +/- 8.3 using 5-mm collimation (n = 33). The pathology scores ranged from 10 to 57, with a mean +/- SD of 23.2 +/- 9.8 (n = 42). The DI ranged from 15.4 to 67.1, with a mean +/- SD of 31.4 +/- 10.8 (n = 42). The CT scores using 1-mm and 5-mm collimation correlated significantly with the pathology scores (r = 0.68 and 0.76, respectively, p less than 0.001), and with the DI (r = 0.62 and 0.74, respectively, p less than 0.001). The pathology scores correlated significantly with the DI (r = 0.72, p less than 0.001). We therefore concluded that high resolution CT can help to identify the presence and grading of mild emphysema.

Adult↗

Subpleural mononuclear cell infiltration. Significance in the differential diagnosis of pleuritis showing nonspecific histologic findings.

To determine if patients who had lymphocyte-rich pleural effusion and a pleural biopsy without any specific findings could be histopathologically differentiated between those with tuberculous and nontuberculous pleuritis, we histologically re-evaluated the pleural biopsies of all patients whose pleural effusion was predominant with lymphocytes and contained no malignant cells. A total of 40 patients with a nonspecific histologic findings of pleural biopsy specimen were categorized based on their ultimate diagnosis as having tuberculous (n = 15), carcinomatous (n = 10) or nontuberculous, benign pleuritis (n = 15). The pleural biopsy specimen of patients with nontuberculous, benign pleuritis frequently showed a band-like infiltration of mononuclear cells in the subpleural adipose tissue with minimal pleural inflammatory infiltrate (10 out of 15 patients), while the same finding was infrequent in those with tuberculous pleuritis (0 out of 15, p = 0.0001) and pleuritis associated with carcinoma (three out of 10, p = 0.082). Based on these results, the presence of band-like infiltration of mononuclear cells in the subpleural adipose tissue with minimal pleural inflammatory infiltrate in pleural biopsy specimens of patients with lymphocyte-rich pleural effusion suggests that the pleuritis is nontuberculous in its nature.

Adipose Tissue↗

FR112123, a new oligopeptide antibiotic from Streptomyces viridochromogenes. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties, structure and biological activity.

FR112123 is a new oligopeptide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces viridochromogenes No. 7587. The structure of FR112123 is elucidated as N-(N6-(N2-glycyl-L-glutaminyl)-D-lysyl)-D-alanine (1) by spectroscopic and chemical evidence. It resembles a partial structure of peptidoglycan in bacteria. The compound has a superior activity against an Escherichia coli mutant sensitive to inhibitors of cell wall synthesis, although it has a weak activity against the parent strain. These suggest that FR112123 might act on the biosynthesis of bacterial cell wall.

Animals↗

A novel antifungal antibiotic, FR-900848. I. Production, isolation, physico-chemical and biological properties.

Streptoverticillium fervens produced a new antibiotic, FR-900848, which has a high specific activity against filamentous fungi. Purified by solvent extraction and column chromatography, the compound appears as colorless crystals. Its structure is C32H43N3O6, which consists of 5'-amino-5'-deoxy-5,6-dihydrouridine with an unsaturated fatty acid having unprecedented four serial and one isolated cyclopropane rings.

Animals↗

[Membranous and respiratory bronchiole disease in patients with normal air-flow and mild air-flow limitation].

In order to evaluate the role of membranous (MB) and respiratory bronchioles (RB) in patients with normal and mild airflow limitation, we quantitatively assessed the pathological change of MB, RB and alveoli in the pathological specimens of 42 patients who required surgery for removal of a solitary pulmonary nodule. We also measured the destructive index (DI), to evaluate the destruction of alveolar walls. High resolution CT scan and pulmonary function tests were performed within 1 month of resection. Results of the pulmonary function tests correlated with pathological changes of RB better than with MB. Significant correlation between the emphysema score of resected lung and the pathological change of MB and RB was observed. There was also significant correlations between the CT score or DI and RB changes. However, there was no significant correlation between the CT score or DI and the change of MB. There were significant differences between smokers and nonsmokers in the results of pulmonary function test, pathological changes of RB and severity of emphysema. We postulate that RB is responsible for subtle functional abnormalities in the early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Adult↗

[The significance of subpleural mononuclear cell infiltration in the differential diagnosis of pleurisy showing nonspecific histological findings].

To determine whether or not patients who showed abundant lymphocytes in pleural effusion without any specific findings by pleural biopsy could be histopathologically differentiated between those with tuberculous and nontuberculous origin, we reexamined histology of pleural biopsies of all patients whose pleural effusion showed predominantly lymphocytes and did not contain malignant cells from January, 1984 to March, 1989. A total of 45 patients with a nonspecific histology of pleural biopsy were categorized based on their final diagnosis into three groups; tuberculous (n = 20), carcinomatous (n = 10) and nontuberculous, benign pleurisy (n = 15). Pleural biopsy of patients with nontuberculous, benign pleurisy frequently showed band-like infiltration of mononuclear cells in the subpleural adipose tissue (11 out of 15 patients), while the finding was significantly less frequent in those with tuberculous pleurisy (1 out of 20, p less than 0.01) and pleurisy associated with carcinoma (3 out of 10, p less than 0.05). Based on these findings, the presence of band-like infiltration of mononuclear cells in the subpleural adipose tissue in pleural biopsy of patients with abundant lymphocytes in pleural effusion strongly suggests that the pleurisy is nontuberculous origin.

Adipose Tissue↗