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Biomedical subjects

N Usui

Publications and source records attributed to N Usui.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Breakdown of starfish ovarian follicle induced by maturation-promoting factor.

Immature starfish oocytes are surrounded by envelopes consisting of follicular cells. These cells adhere to each other and to the oocyte, immobilizing the latter within the ovary. When isolated oocytes in their follicles are treated with 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and follicular envelope breakdown (FEBD) occur simultaneously. The 1-MeAde acts on the oocyte surface to produce a maturation-promoting factor (MPF) in the cytoplasm, which brings about GVBD. In the present study, MPF was found to induce FEBD as well as GVBD when injected into immature oocytes with their follicles in Asterina pectinifera. Although GVBD was induced by MPF in the presence of cytochalasin D, this drug prevented MPF-induced FEBD, and each follicular cell remained in situ on the surface of the oocyte. However, desmosomes connecting the processes of the follicle cell with the oocyte surface were disrupted following MPF injection even in the presence of cytochalasin D, and the processes became detached from the oocyte. FEBD occurred in these oocytes when cytochalasin D was removed, resulting in the formation of a small follicular clump by microfilament-mediated contraction of the follicle cells. These results show that FEBD is not brought about by the direct action of 1-MeAde but by the action of MPF. Therefore, in starfish, spawning as well as oocyte maturation is directly triggered by MPF produced under the influence of 1-MeAde.

Adenine↗
PubMed1984

[A combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (VEC) for small cell carcinoma of the lung].

Twenty-nine patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with a combination therapy consisting of vincristine 1 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, etoposide 200 mg/body p.o day 1-5 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 i.v. day 1 (VEC) in 3 week interval. After 2 courses of VEC, four out of 10 patients with limited disease (LD) showed a complete response (CR), while 7 out of 19 patients with extensive disease (ED) obtained a CR. Six patients with LD and 6 patients with ED received subsequent radiotherapy to primary tumors and to regional lymph nodes, and 5 with LD and 3 with ED attained a CR. Overall complete response was observed in 9 patients (90%) in LD and 10 patients (53%) in ED. The median duration of survival was 17 months in complete responders with LD and that was 12 months in those with ED. Dose limiting toxicity of the VEC regimen was leukopenia which occurred in most patients and thrombocytopenia was less frequent. Non-hematologic toxicities containing alopecia, numbness, nausea and others were acceptable and well tolerated.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A randomized trial of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ftorafur (ACF) and adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ftorafur, methotrexate (ACFM) in patients with advanced breast cancer.

A prospective randomized trial was conducted comparing the clinical response of 60 patients with advanced breast cancer to a combination of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and oral ftorafur (ACF), or to a combination of ACF plus methotrexate (ACFM). The response rate was 12 of 28 (43%) in ACF and 18 of 30 (60%) in ACFM. Responses were seen more frequently in patients in whom fewer than two organs were involved, and responses at dominant metastatic sites were equal for the two arms. The response duration was 21 + (3.5-49.5+) months with ACF, as against 6.9 (1.9-30.8+) months with ACFM (P less than 0.05). The median survival time from start of therapy was 20.8+ months for ACF, while that for ACFM was 13+ months (statistically not significant). The major toxicities were hair loss, GI toxicity, and leukopenia. The response rate with ACFM was higher than that with ACF, but the addition of methotrexate to ACF did not increase the complete response rate or prolong response duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[A randomized trial of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ftorafur (ACF) and adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ftorafur, methotrexate (ACFM) in patients with advanced breast cancer].

A prospective randomized trial was conducted to compare the clinical responses of sixty patients with advanced breast cancer to a combination of adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and oral ftorafur (ACF), or to a combination of ACF plus methotrexate (ACFM). The response rate was 12/28 (43%) for ACF compared with 18/30 (60%) for ACFM. Responses were seen more frequently in the cases which had less than 2 organs involved and responses of dominant metastatic sites were equal for the two arms. The duration of response for ACF was 21+ (3.5-49.5+) months as compared to 6.9 (1.9-30.8) months for ACFM (p less than 0.05). The median survival time from the start of chemotherapy for ACF was 20.8+ months, while that for ACFM was 13+ months. The major non-hematological toxicities were hair loss and GI symptoms. Hematological toxicity was similar in the two arms and manageable. No serious cardiac, renal and liver damage was seen in either arm. The response rate for ACFM was higher than that in ACF, but the addition of methotrexate to the ACF regimen did not increase complete response and prolong response duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[A phase II clinical trial of oral VP 16-213 in advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

A phase II clinical trial of oral VP 16-213, a semisynthetic podophyllotoxin, was undertaken in twenty nine patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. All patients had received extensive prior chemotherapies including adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vinka alkaloids and/or bleomycin and has become refractory to these drugs. The dosage of VP 16-213 was 200 mg/day p.o. bid for 5 days at 3 to 4-week intervals. There were 3 CRs (10.3%) and 6 PRs (20.7%) with a median duration of remission of 16 weeks ranging from 7 to 185+ weeks. Leukopenia less than 4 X 10(3)/cm3 and thrombocytopenia less than 100 X 10(3)/cm3 were seen in 80% and 26.7% of cases, respectively. Alopecia (100%), anorexia (44%) and nausea (26%) were observed but these were well tolerated. We conclude that the oral administration of VP 16-213 has considerable antitumor activity with no cross-resistance to vinka alkaloids, anthracyclines and alkylating agents.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

[Phase II study of mitoxantrone].

A phase II clinical trial of an anthraquinone, mitoxantrone was performed in a total of 31 patients with various advanced solid tumors and 2 patients with malignant lymphomas refractory to extensive prior chemotherapies. Mitoxantrone was administered at dosages of 2 to 4 mg/m2 with a 5-day schedule or 6 to 12 mg/m2 with a one day schedule, repeating at 4-week intervals. Of 18 evaluable patients with breast cancer, one out of 2 patients who had not been exposed to regimens containing adriamycin achieved partial response lasting 3.6 months, while the remaining 16 patients exposed to adriamycin did not respond. Leukopenia less than 4 X 10(3)/cm3 and thrombocytopenia less than 100 X 10(3)/cm3 were observed in 100% and 55% of cases, respectively. Nausea and vomiting were observed in 36% of cases. Diarrhea, pyrexia, liver damage, mucositis and palpitation were observed in one case each. No ECG abnormality was recorded.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[A phase I trial of 4'-epiadriamycin].

A phase I study of a new anthracycline, 4'-epiadriamycin was conducted in a total of 28 patients with various advanced cancers refractory to standard chemotherapies and 26 were evaluable. A dose limiting factor was leukopenia reaching a nadir approximately 2 weeks later and about one week needed for the recovery. Thrombocytopenia was milder and less frequent than leukopenia but dose-related. Nausea and alopecia were observed in the majority of patients but vomiting was relatively rare and therefore non-hematologic toxicities were judged to be milder than adriamycin. A recommended dose for patients having prior extensive chemotherapies was determined to be 60 mg/m2 in 3 weeks intervals.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Phase II study of 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin(THP-ADM)].

A phase II clinical trial of a new anthracycline, 4'-O-tetrahydropyranyladriamycin (THP-ADM), was performed in thirty-one patients with advanced malignant tumors refractory to standard chemotherapies. The dosage of THP-ADM was 40 mg/m2 by iv bolus injection repeated every 3 weeks. Of 3 evaluable patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one achieved partial remission. A minor response was noted in one out of 7 patients with gastric cancer and one out of 5 patients with ovarian cancer. Leukopenia less than 4 X 10(3)/cmm and thrombocytopenia less than 100 X 10(3)/cmm were seen in 81% and 19% of cases, respectively. Mild gastrointestinal toxicities including nausea and vomiting and anorexia were observed in about one third of the patients. Mild hair loss occurred in 2 patients (6%). No ECG abnormalities on clinical sign of cardiotoxicity were seen.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[A combination chemotherapy with adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and DTIC (ACD) for advanced adult soft part sarcoma].

Eighteen patients with advanced adult soft part sarcoma were treated with a combination chemotherapy (ACD) consisting of adriamycin 40 mg/m2 iv day 1, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 iv day 1, and DTIC 200 mg/m2 iv days 1 to 5. The regimen was repeated in 3-weeks intervals. Of 16 patients with measurable metastatic diseases, there were one complete response, 4 partial responses, 7 no changes and 4 progressive diseases. The response rate (CR + PR) was 31% (5/16). A median duration of responses was 7 weeks ranging 6 to 106 + weeks. A median survival time from initiation of the chemotherapy was 42 weeks in responders, and 36 weeks in non-responders, respectively. Patients with no prior chemotherapy had a 71% (5/7) response rate while none responded in 9 patients who had prior chemotherapy; furthermore, metastatic lesions in soft tissue were well responded. Leukopenia less than 4,000/cmm occurred in 16/18 (89%) and the median nadir was 2,500/cmm (800-3900). Thrombocytopenia less than 10 X 10(4)/cmm occurred in 2/18 (11%) and the median nadir was 13.4 X 10(4)/cmm (7.5-20.1 X 10(4). Alopecia and gastrointestinal toxicity were moderate to severe but clinically manageable. The result indicated that ACD combination is a useful regimen in remission induction for advanced adult soft part sarcoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Hypercalcemia in breast cancer].

In a total of 277 patients with advanced breast cancer treated between July 1977 and November 1983 at Cancer Institute Hospital, there were 26 cases (9.4%) showing hypercalcemia (Ca greater than or equal to 11.0 mg/dl). All these patients had bone metastasis examined by either X-ray films or bone scintigram during clinical course of the disease and confirmed at the time of autopsy, thus an overall incidence of hypercalcemia in 149 patients with bone metastasis was 17.4%. Major clinical signs due to hypercalcemia were gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea and vomiting, renal dysfunction and neurological symptoms but there was no definitive correlation in between clinical signs and values of serum calcium. Among various treatments performed, a combination of hydration, steroids and calcitonin was the most effective. Mean survival time from the diagnosis of hypercalcemia was 288 + days for responders, and 28.8 days for non-responders (p less than 0.001). Seven patients expired due to hypercalcemia and were died suddenly, while others died of renal failures.

Adult↗