Clinical usefulness of transcription-mediated amplification and hybridization protection assay in imatinib-treated chronic myelogenous leukemia patients.
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Benzamides↗
Biomedical subjects
N Shoji
Publications and source records attributed to N Shoji.
A simple, yet accurate method for detecting and quantifying secretions from human minor salivary glands using the iodine-starch reaction.
The lack of published information about the minor salivary glands is due in part to the difficulties experienced in collecting and quantifying their secretions. In fact, no method exists for measuring their secretions that is both simple and accurate. This investigation examined the accuracy of our newly developed method (which simply employs the iodine-starch reaction) in 10 healthy non-medicated adults. A strip painted with a solution of iodine in absolute alcohol then with a fine starch powder mixed with castor oil was placed at a designated location on the lower-lip mucosa for 2 min to collect saliva. Black-stained spots of various sizes corresponding to the individual glands could be accurately visualized. After removal of the strip, the total stained area (mm2) was calculated by digitizing the spot areas using a computer system. The correlation coefficient (r) between known volumes of saliva and stain size was 0.995, indicating a close correlation. The correlation coefficient (r) between area values obtained in the first trial in each subject (Y) and the second (X; 10 min later) was 0.963, and the simple regression equation was close to Y=X, indicating good reproducibility. The mean flow rate microl/cm2 per min) obtained by converting mean total area to volume and thence to flow rate was 0.49+/-0.26, in good agreement with published values obtained by others. These results suggest that our newly developed method allows both the distribution and secretion rate of the minor salivary glands to be observed, and that it should be of practical value due to its simplicity, accuracy, and reproducibility.
Adult↗
Centrally mediated reflex vasodilation in the gingiva induced by painful tooth-pulp stimulation in sympathectomized human subjects.
This study was designed to determine whether painful electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp induces centrally mediated reflex vasomotor changes in human gingiva and whether the sympathetic nervous system is involved in the vasomotor responses. Dynamic changes in maxillary gingival blood flow (GBF) following painful electrical stimulation of the mandibular lateral incisor were investigated, by means of laser-Doppler flowmetry, in both healthy volunteers and patients undergoing sympathetic blockade for hyperhidrosis. Increases in GBF were observed in both healthy volunteers and patients on the ipsilateral side without an increase in systemic blood pressure, but the evoked GBF increase disappeared when pain sensation was abolished by local anesthetization with 2% xylocaine solution. The vasodilator responses did not differ in amplitude between before and after the sympathectomy. These results suggest that painful tooth stimulation evokes centrally mediated reflex vasodilation, presumably via parasympathetic efferent fibers, in the human gingiva and that sympathetic vasomotor mechanisms are not involved in these responses.
Adult↗
Dependence of pulpal blood-flow responses on baseline blood-flow in the cat.
It has been shown earlier that electrical stimulation of the distal cut end of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in the cat evokes three different patterns of pulpal blood-flow (PBF) response in the ipsilateral mandibular canine tooth (a decrease, a biphasic response, or an increase). The response to a given stimulus sometimes changed to another pattern even in one and the same experimental animal during the course of the experiment. It is known that the evoked decrease is due to activation of the sympathetics and that the increase is due to antidromic activation of sensory fibres; but, it is unknown why the response varies so much. It is hypothesised that the baseline blood-flow (BBF) modulates vasomotor responses in the dental pulp. To test this hypothesis, the effects of BBF on PBF responses elicited by the IAN stimulation mentioned above were investigated. Dynamic changes in PBF in cat mandibular canine teeth were elicited by electrical stimulation of the distal cut end of the IAN, at various BBF, with blood-flow monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry. The amplitude of the PBF vasodilator response increased as BBF was adjusted downwards (by cooling the tooth). In contrast, the amplitude of the PBF vasoconstrictor response increased as the BBF rose. Vasodilator responses could be transformed into vasoconstrictor responses, and vice versa, by alterations in the BBF. No systemic blood-pressure changes were elicited throughout the experiment. These results indicate that a consideration of baseline vascular tone is important, whenever the size of PBF responses to various stimuli is discussed or calculated.
Animals↗
Early onset Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
Pneumocystis carinii (P. carinii) is one of the major opportunistic pathogens responsible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)-related pneumonias. Although trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis has been shown to prevent almost all P. carinii infections, 1%-2% of patients may still experience this complication. P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) is usually a late complication in patients receiving TMP/SMX prophylaxis, with most cases occurring later than 2 months post-transplant. We report a patient who developed early onset PCP after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor. On day 12, the patient complained of dyspnea and cough. A chest X ray showed infiltrates in right upper lobe with bilateral pleural effusion. By the findings of Grocott stain on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained on day 14, he was diagnosed as having PCP. Intravenous TMP/SMX failed to improve the lesion. This is the earliest onset PCP in the literature after HSCT despite the prophylactic administration of TMP/SMX before transplant.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
Re-evaluation of refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation.
The category 'refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEBt)' consists of two sub-sets; one group is categorized based on the percentage of blasts in the marrow (> or =20%) and other is based on the percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood (> or =5%). We separated RAEBt patients based on these two criteria and compared hematologic and clinical relevance to assess the reasonable basis for the new classification. All RAEBt patients showing peripheral blood (PB) blasts of > or =5% were re-classified as RAEB by the WHO classification. This subset of RAEBt patients had lower percentages of bone marrow (BM) blasts, and notably they showed frequent complex cytogenetic abnormalities, including -5/5q- and/or -7/7q-. Moreover, the RAEBt patients of this group had shorter survivals compared to RAEBt patients with BM blasts between 20 and 30%. We next assessed hematologic and clinical relevance between refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) and RAEBt patients with PB blasts of > or =5%. Except for the percentage of blasts in the PB (P=0.0037) and BM (P=0.0073), there was no significant difference in hematologic or clinical features between RAEB patients with BM blasts of > or =11% and RAEBt patients with PB blasts of > or =5%. When MDS patients with PB blasts of > or =5% (RAEBt by the FAB classification) were included as RAEB-II based on the "MDS 2000 classification', there was a high frequency of patients with complex chromosome changes, involving 5q and 7q, with significant poorer outcome compared to those with RAEB-I. Although it is still controversial whether MDS patients with BM blasts 20% or more should be considered as acute leukemia, the utilization of the 'MDS 2000 classification' might be useful to designate MDS patients diagnosed based on the percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood.
Adult↗
Pre-emptive therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease guided by CMV antigenemia assay after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a single-center experience in Japan.
From April 1998 to March 2000, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia-guided pre-emptive approach for CMV disease was evaluated in 77 adult patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the National Cancer Center Hospital. A CMV antigenemia assay was performed at least once a week after engraftment. High-level antigenemia was defined as a positive result with 10 or more positive cells per 50 000 cells and low-level antigenemia was defined as less than 10 positive cells. Among the 74 patients with initial engraftment, 51 developed positive antigenemia. Transplantation from alternative donors and the development of grade II-IV GVHD were independent risk factors for positive antigenemia. Ganciclovir was administered as pre-emptive therapy in 39 patients in a risk-adapted manner. None of the nine low-risk patients with low-level antigenemia as their initial positive result developed high-level antigenemia even though ganciclovir was withheld. Only one patient developed early CMV disease (hepatitis) during the study period. CMV antigenemia resolved in all but two cases, in whom ganciclovir was replaced with foscarnet. In eight patients, however, the neutrophil count decreased to 0.5 x 10(9)/l or less after starting ganciclovir, including three with documented infections and two with subsequent secondary graft failure. The total amount of ganciclovir and possibly the duration of high-dose ganciclovir might affect the incidence of neutropenia. We concluded that antigenemia-guided pre-emptive therapy with a decreased dose of ganciclovir and response-oriented dose adjustment might be appropriate to decrease the toxicity of ganciclovir without increasing the risk of CMV disease.
Adolescent↗
Evaluation of pulse sequences used for magnetic resonance sialography.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the most appropriate sequences for the visualization of small parotid ducts in MR sialography. METHODS: MR images of a phantom consisting of distilled water in polyethylene tubes were obtained with turbo-spin echo (TSE), single-shot turbo-spin echo (SSTSE), half-fourier acquisition, single-shot turbo-spin echo (HASTE) and turbo gradient-spin echo (TGSE) pulse sequences and compared visually and quantitatively. MR sialograms obtained from healthy volunteers and patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were obtained using the same four sequences. RESULTS: In the phantom, TSE images were best and the contrast-noise ratio (CNR) highest. In the volunteers, the main ducts were especially clearly visualized with TSE and in SSTSE; however, the majority of secondary and/or tertiary parotid ducts were not depicted by any of the sequences used. In SS patients, images of small main ducts and small pseudocysts were clearer using TSE. However, TSE could not depict the narrow main ducts or peripheral ducts or very small pseudocysts. CONCLUSIONS: TSE is considered the most suitable MR sequence for assessing small parotid gland ducts. However, further improvement is needed since it does not always visualize them sufficiently.
Adult↗
[Underestimation of intraocular pressure after laser in situ keratomileusis].
PURPOSE: We reviewed 115 eyes of 65 patients regarding the intraocular pressure(IOP) following laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ages averaged 31.2 +/- 10.5(mean +/- standard deviation) years. The preoperative spherical equivalent averaged -6.85 +/- 2.54 (mean +/- standard deviation) D. A noncontact pneumatic tonometer and Goldmann applanation tonometer were used in measuring the IOP. RESULTS: The IOP difference before and after surgery was statistically significant(Mann-Whitney U test). The IOP was significantly corrected with the corrected diopter value, corneal thickness, and corneal curvature(Spearman coefficient by rank). CONCLUSION: The findings show that postoperative IOP may be underestimated due to decreased corneal thickness and curvature. Due attention has to be paid to this feature in evaluating IOP after LASIK.
Adult↗
[Donor leukocyte transfusion in early relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogenic bone marrow transplantation].
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Adult↗
Comparative multi-color flow cytometric analysis of cell surface antigens in bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors between refractory anemia and aplastic anemia.
Refractory anemia (RA) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without prominent dysplasia closely resemble the mild type of aplastic anemia (AA) in their hematological features. This sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish clearly between the two diseases. Using the multi-color flow cytometric technique, we compared cell surface antigen expression patterns on bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells which were isolated as a CD34 positive- CD45 dull positive with low side scatter intensity (CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low)) population in flow cytogram between RA (n=12) and AA (n=11). The antigens analyzed in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) mononuclear cells were: CD38 and CD71 for cell growth-related antigens, CD 33 and CD13 for myeloid and monocytoid lineage-associated antigens, CD7 and CD19 for lymphoid lineage, and CD14 for a monocytic lineage specific antigen. The percentages of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) cells in bone marrow non-erythroid mononuclear cells, and the expression frequencies of CD38, CD71, CD33 and CD13 antigens in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) progenitors were all significantly decreased in AA compared to normal bone marrows (n=7) (P<0.005). In contrast, in RA bone marrows the percentages of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) cells showed wide distribution and the cell surface antigen expression patterns varied among each case: some cases showed low frequencies of CD38 and CD71 expression as well as AA, whereas the others showed high expression frequency of specific antigen(s) which may reflect the clonal expansion of an abnormal clone in bone marrow. An MDS patient who had progressed from RA to RAEB showed further projecting pattern of expression of CD38 and CD33 in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) population in accordance with the disease progression. These data suggest that analysis of cell surface antigen expression patterns of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) progenitor cells by multi-color flow cytometry appears to be a useful method for qualitative and quantitative assessment of marrow progenitor states in AA and RA, therefore this method could be helpful for early detection of clonal evolution in MDS.
ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
Somatosensory afferents mediating the bilateral reflex vasodilatation in cat palate induced by noxious tooth-pulp stimulation.
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Afferent Pathways↗
Decline in antibiotic enzyme activity of neutrophils is a prognostic factor for infections in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.
We used flow cytometry to measure the activities of cathepsin G and elastase. The activity of elastase in neutrophils from patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was significantly lower than that in neutrophils from the control group (P<.001). Patients with low elastase activity were significantly susceptible to infection (P<. 05). Our study suggests that analyzing antibacterial enzymes is useful in evaluating the prognosis of patients with MDS.
Acute Disease↗
Use of real-time PCR to monitor human herpesvirus 6 reactivation after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is common following allogeneic marrow transplantation, however, little is known about the immune control and pathogenic potential of HHV-6 infection after transplantation. In order to determine whether reactivation of HHV-6 plays an important role in the development of complications in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or not, we developed a very rapid quantification of viral DNA using a LightCycler. The amount of viral DNA was determined using a supernatant of a chronically infected cell line [TaY(OK)] which contains a known amount of viral DNA. Peripheral blood cells were collected from 5 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation once before transplant and once per week after transplant for 8-24 weeks. The real-time PCR system revealed that there was a linear correlation in the range of 101 to 105 molecules of reference. Using this system, we have found the presence of non-diagnosed HHV-6 reactivation as well as symptomatic infection, indicating the potential for routine implementation of this technology for laboratory diagnosis of HHV-6 infection. Our study shows that this method of rapid quantification of HHV-6 genomes by the real-time PCR using a LightCycler may be useful not only to understand the reconstitution of the immune system following marrow transplantation but also to manage the care of patients.
Adolescent↗
[Non-myeloablative stem cell transplant].
Myeloablation and immunosuppression were considered to be the two major roles of the conditioning regimens for allogeneic stem cell transplantation to facilitate engraftment. It has turned out, however, that immunosuppression is more important and myeloablation is not necessary for engraftment. At the same time, it is considered that the major anti-tumor effect of allogeneic stem cell transplantation depends on the graft-versus-leukemia effect, not on the conditioning regimen itself. In patients with CML who relapsed after allogeneic transplantation, for example, infusion of donor lymphocytes can induce a second complete remission. Non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) was developed in the late 90s based on these theories. Low-dose, less toxic, so-called "non-myeloablative" preparative regimens have been designed not to eradicate the malignancies, but to provide sufficient immunosuppression to allow donor cells to engraft, while the graft-versus-malignancy effects eradicate the tumor. This strategy permits allogeneic transplantation to be used in patients who are not eligible for conventional, often myeloablative, transplantation because of advanced age or organ dysfunction. Non-myeloablative preparative regimens contain purine analogs, such as fludarabine or cladribine. The NST regimen being used at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, consists of cladribine (0.11 mg/kg x 6 days), busulfan (4 mg/kg x 2 days) and rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (2.5 mg/kg x 4 days). We enrolled 6 patients in this NST protocol so far: 1 with severe aplastic anemia (sibling-PBSCT), 2 with MDS-RA (1 for sibling-PBSCT and 1 for matched uBMT), 1 with AML-CR2 (matched uBMT), 1 with AML-CR3 (sibling-PBSCT), and 1 with relapsed AML (mismatched related PBSCT). All patients achieved engraftment within 14 days with complete donor chimerism. In addition to leukemias, a graft-versus-malignancy effect was also reported in allogeneic NST of solid tumors, such as renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. The long-term efficacy of NST remains to be determined, and further clinical trials are warranted.
Animals↗
Effects of endothelin receptor antagonists on anterior chamber inflammation induced by intravitreal injection of endothelin-1.
To investigate the role of endothelin receptors (ET(A) and ET(B)) in the inflammatory reaction induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1), the time course of changes in aqueous protein concentration (APC) after the intravitreal injection of ET-1 (10(-4), 10(-5) M) was measured using a laser flare-cell meter in pigmented rabbit eyes. The effects of pre-treatment with specific ET(A) receptor antagonist (97-139) (10(-1), 10(-2), 10(-3), 10(-4) M), specific ET(B) receptor antagonist (BQ-788) (1.6 x 10(-3) M), and vehicle solution were assessed. The influence of ET(A)receptor antagonist pre-treatment on aqueous prostaglandin E(2) and leukotriene B(4) concentrations was also evaluated. As a result, pre-treatment with ET(A) receptor antagonist blocked the APC increase induced by 10(-4) M ET-1 in a dose dependent fashion, while BQ-788 did not suppress the inflammatory reaction. The injection of ET-1 increased aqueous prostaglandin E(2) concentration, which was inhibited by pre-treatment with ET(A) receptor antagonist. Aqueous leukotriene B(4) concentration was not affected by ET-1 nor ET(A) receptor antagonist. In conclusion, ET(A) receptor mediates the increases in aqueous protein and prostaglandin E(2) concentration induced by ET-1 injection, and this inflammatory reaction occurs via the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid cascade.
Animals↗
Influence of carbon dioxide on respiratory function during posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in prone position.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influences of CO(2) insufflation on changes in blood gas analysis and end tidal CO(2) tension (PetCO(2)) during posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in the prone position. METHODS: Arterial blood gas analysis and measurements of PetCO(2) were carried out during CO(2) insufflation in 16 patients who underwent posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in the prone position (PRA group). The results were compared to 10 patients who underwent open posterior adrenalectomy (OPA group). Ventilation was artificially controlled during the study period in all cases. RESULTS: Arterial pH, PaCO(2), PetCO(2) and PaO(2) were not significantly different between the PRA and OPA groups. However, the PaCO(2)-PetCO(2) gradient in the PRA group was significantly higher than that in the OPA group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Transperitoneal absorption of CO(2) occurs in patients undergoing retroperitoneoscopy in the prone position. The alveolo-arterial CO(2) gradient may be the only parameter which indicates the absorption of CO(2) during PRA.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
Microtubule and microfilament dynamics in rat embryos during the two-cell block in vitro.
Developmental block of rat embryo is induced by phosphate at the late two-cell stage. The present study uses immunocytochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy to examine microtubule and microfilament dynamics in blocked and nonblocked two-cell-stage rat embryos. Thin fibrous microtubules were distributed homogeneously in the cytoplasm in nonblocked embryos during the interphase of the two-cell stage and then translocated into mitotic spindles at the M-phase. In embryos blocked at the two-cell stage, much thicker fibrous microtubules were formed and distributed as rude meshwork structures in the cytoplasm. Microfilaments were distributed adjacent to nuclei and along the inside of the plasma membrane in nonblocked embryos during the two-cell stage, at M-phase, and at cleavage to the four-cell stage. In embryos blocked at the two-cell stage, however, microfilaments formed granules and dispersed in the cytoplasm. The distribution of microtubules and microfilaments changed relative to the occurrence of two-cell block. In summary, these results indicate that both microtubules and microfilaments are closely involved in the developmental block in two-cell rat embryos.
Actin Cytoskeleton↗