Biomedical subjects

R Abe

Publications and source records attributed to R Abe.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

[A dose-comparative study on TAP-144-SR, an LH-RH agonist depot formulation, in premenopausal patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. TAP-144-SR Breast Cancer Study Group].

A comparative phase II study was performed with different doses of TAP-144-SR in ER-positive or ER-unknown premenopausal patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. One hundred and six patients were randomly allocated to either 3.75 mg or 7.5 mg treatment by a centralized telephone registration system. TAP-144-SR was administered sc at 4-week intervals for 12 weeks (a total of 3 injections). Ninety-five cases were evaluated with the response rate of 30.4% (14/46) in the 3.75 mg group and 24.5% (12/49) in the 7.5 mg group, respectively. Serum estradiol was decreased to postmenopausal level (< 30 pg/ml) within 3-4 weeks after the first dose in the both dose groups, and this suppression was maintained throughout the treatment period. The adverse reactions most frequently observed were climacteric disturbances like hot flashes which was likely to be due to the hypoestrogen status. In conclusion, there was no significant difference between both dose groups in terms of response rates, adverse effects, and hormonal suppression. Therefore, the lower dose is recommended for the further study.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Long-term clinical study on TAP-144-SR, an LH-RH agonist depot formulation, in premenopausal patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. TAP-144-SR Breast Cancer Study Group].

Efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with an LH-RH agonist, TAP-144-SR were studied in premenopausal patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer. The drug was given sc every 4 week at the dose of 3.75 or 7.5mg. The best objective response rates were 37.0% (17/46) in 3.75mg group, 30.6% (15/49) in 7.5mg group, respectively. The median duration of 12 PR patients in 3.75mg group was 280 (range: 84-830+) days. Serum estradiol level was maintained at < 30pg/ml in most patients given 3.75mg or 7.5mg as scheduled. There was no adverse reactions specific to the longterm administration subsequent to the foregoing 12-week administration study in both dose groups. In conclusion, TAP-144-SR is expected to be one of the first line therapies for patients with premenopausal breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

[Saphenous vein to saphenous vein bypass grafting in four redo CABG patients].

In four redo CABG patients, new saphenous vein grafts were anastomosed to the angiographically normal part of the old, and partially narrowed or occluded saphenous vein grafts in an end-to-side fashion. Inner surface of the old saphenous vein was confirmed to be smooth and free of atherosclerotic change during anastomosis. Postoperative course was uneventful and angiography demonstrated the good patency of new saphenous vein grafts in all patients. Although this technique is not acceptable if the old saphenous vein graft shows extensive atherosclerotic change, this method may be a useful alternative in case of limited saphenous vein graft disease in terms of less difficulty and operation time.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

[Assessment of the myocardial functional reserve in patients with left ventricular aneurysm by radionuclide ventriculography. Response to isotonic exercise].

PURPOSE: To evaluate global and regional left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions (EF) by radionuclide ventriculography in patients with LV aneurysm at rest and during isotonic exercise. METHODS: Twenty patients were studied by radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during exercise. All patients had been submitted to cineangiography and showed LV aneurysm post myocardial infarction. RESULTS: Patients were divided according to LV EF in two groups: one with EF > or = 40% and the other with < 40% EF. Both groups showed normal response of global EF to exercise: mean rest EF was 40 +/- 14% and mean exercise EF was 45 +/- 14% (p < 0.01). When groups were considered separately, EF values showed the same behavior. Half of the patients showed normal response to exercise and the other half showed abnormal response. These changes were not associated with resting EF values, but were due to regional EF of lateral wall, that changed from 44 +/- 7 to 48 +/- 7% in the group of patients with normal LV EF response to stress and from 50 +/- 5 to 46 +/- 5% in those with abnormal response (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The evaluation of regional ventricular EF by radionuclide ventriculography during exercise better discriminates functional reserve in patients with LV aneurysm than resting global EF. These findings could help the decision making of the therapeutic approach in this specific group of patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Correlation between c-myc protein expression and phases of the cell cycle in human colorectal carcinomas.

There is a direct correlation between the overexpression of the c-myc product and the clinicopathological state of patients with colorectal carcinomas. This study was carried out to understand the reasons for this. In vitro, S-phase synchronous culture was performed using the human colon carcinoma cell lines, COLO201 and SW480; and thymidine-hydroxyurea blockage was carried out. The proportion of c-myc protein-positive cells decreased gradually with progressive stage of the cell cycle, as determined by flow cytometry (FCM) and Western blot analysis. A rapid decrease in the number of c-myc protein-positive cells in the GO G1-phase was the main reason for the complete loss of c-myc protein expression in the S-phase of synchronous culture, although the percentage of these cells was higher in the S and G2M-phases than in the GOG1-phase after each initiation of synchronous culture. These findings suggest that the c-myc protein-positive cells which were arrested in the G1-phase could play an important role in cell proliferation. In another study, 46 paraffin-embedded specimens of human colorectal carcinomas were examined for c-myc protein expression by flow cytometry (FCM). Patients with higher expression in the GOG1-phase (% positive cells > or = mean) showed significantly lower rates of survival (p = 0.004), as determined using the generalized Wilcoxon's method, and this higher expression correlated with aneuploid carcinoma (p = 0.005), with metastasis to the lymph nodes (p = 0.003), with the degree of regional lymph node metastasis (p = 0.02), and with the depth of wall-infiltration by the carcinoma (p = 0.006), as determined using the chi square test. Liver metastases and peritoneal dissemination did not correlate with c-myc protein expression. Analyses of all phases were carried out, however, similar results were obtained by analyzing only the GOG1-phase of the cell cycle. Therefore, it would seem that determination of c-myc protein expression in a carcinoma, especially in the G1-phase of the cell cycle, would be useful as a marker of tumor progression and for evaluation of the clinical prognosis of patients with colorectal carcinomas.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon.

A case of primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon in a 73-year old woman is reported. Primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon is rare, and follows more highly aggressive course. But this case was successfully resected with prolonged survival. The pertinent literature is reviewed.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Mice expressing both B7-1 and viral glycoprotein on pancreatic beta cells along with glycoprotein-specific transgenic T cells develop diabetes due to a breakdown of T-lymphocyte unresponsiveness.

T lymphocytes have been implicated in the onset of many autoimmune diseases; however, the mechanisms underlying T-cell activation toward self antigens are poorly understood. To study whether T-lymphocyte costimulation can overcome the immunologic unresponsiveness observed in an in vivo model, we have created transgenic mice expressing the costimulatory mouse molecule B7-1, a ligand for the CD28 receptor, on pancreatic beta cells. We now report that triple-transgenic mice expressing both B7-1 and a viral glycoprotein on their beta cells, along with T cells expressing the viral-glycoprotein-specific transgenic T-cell receptor, all develop insulitis (lymphocytic infiltration of the pancreatic islets) and diabetes. In striking contrast, the T cells in double-transgenic mice expressing the same viral glycoprotein (but no B7) on their pancreatic beta cells and the transgenic T-cell receptor on their T cells, reported earlier, remain indifferent to the glycoprotein-expressing beta cells. In fact, all three transgenes are required to initiate immune-mediated destruction of the beta cells. Mice expressing any of the transgenes alone, or any two in combination, maintain normal islet architecture and never spontaneously develop insulitis or diabetes. Our results show that aberrant B7 expression on peripheral tissues may play an important role in the activation of self-reactive T cells and further suggest that abnormal expression of costimulatory receptors may be involved in various T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Antigen-specific cell conjugate formation and long-lasting calcium responses in recognition of Mls cellular superantigen by cloned murine T lymphocytes.

T lymphocyte recognition of cell-associated minor lymphocyte stimulation (Mls) superantigen was studied by simultaneous flow cytometric measurement of T cell free ionized intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) with the fluorescent probe indo-1 and T cell binding to antigen-presenting cells stained with a long-chained, membrane-fixed cyanine dye. Cloned T cell-B lymphocyte antigen-presenting cell conjugate formation and increased T cell [Ca2+]i were antigen specific and tightly linked in four Mls-reactive T cell clones. The T cell-antigen-presenting cell conjugates were extremely stable and, like T cell [Ca2+]i elevation, were maintained for more than 2 hr. Three ligand-receptor pairs, (i) T cell receptor/antigen+class II, (ii) CD4/class II, and (iii) LFA-1/ICAM-1, were obligatory participants in T cell recognition of cell-bound superantigen since monoclonal antibodies to any of them blocked formation of cell conjugates. Despite previous reports, Mls recognition occurred by the conventional T cell recognition pathway with easily detected phosphoinositide hydrolysis. B cell activation greatly enhances their recognition by Mls-specific T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastric stump developing 9 years after a distal gastrectomy for a peptic ulcer: a case report and review of the literature.

We report herein the case of a 65-year-old man who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastric stump 9 years after undergoing a distal gastrectomy for a gastric ulcer. The patient presented with epigastric discomfort, and an upper gastrointestinal series and gastroscopy revealed a lymphoma lesion located close to the site of his gastroduodenal anastomosis. A total gastrectomy was performed, followed by combination chemotherapy, comprised of vincristine, Endoxan, prednisone and Adriamycin (VEPA). Histologically, the resected specimen was diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient has remained well without any signs of recurrence for 18 months since his operation. Although there have been a number of reports of adenocarcinoma developing in the gastric stump following surgery for peptic ulcers, the development of malignant lymphoma under such conditions is rare. Following the presentation of this case, we review the available literature and discuss the possibility of malignant lymphoma developing in the gastric stump.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Patient education and educational activity in the general public.

In Japan, about 97% of diabetic patients suffer from non-insulin dependent diabetes. Because of its insidious onset, public education with regard to diabetes is very important. According to a survey in 1989, approximately 87% of diabetic patients were treated at hospitals. Considering the difficulty of organizing an educational team targetting small clinics, diabetes education should be provided with close cooperation between hospitals and local clinics. Since 1967, National Diabetes Week is annually held in the second week of November; in more than 150 cities and towns, lecture meetings, screening tests and consultation by physicians and health professionals are performed under the sponsorship of the Japan Diabetes Society and the Japan Association of Diabetes Care and Education. The Japan Diabetes Society has edited 'Diabetes Treatment Guide' and 'Meal Exchange List' since 1961 to provide the minimum requirement of knowledge and skill in the diabetes treatment regimen. More than 850 hospitals and clinics now have a particular educational program. Admission for the education of diabetic patients is provided by 366 hospitals. In 1991, summer camps for children were held at 37 sites, where about 1200 patients participated. For the training of the educators, the Japan Diabetes Society and several other organizations offer many lecture meetings and courses with experiential format; the curriculum for diabetes educators is expected to be much improved in the near future.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

PubMed1994

Comparison of chemotherapy with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate for advanced or recurrent breast cancer.

The usefulness of CAF [cyclophosphamide (CPA)/doxorubicin (ADR)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU)] + medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy for advanced/recurrent breast cancer was studied in a randomised trial at 56 institutions. Patients received CAF therapy [CPA: 100 mg, orally, days 1-14; ADR: 30 mg/m2, intravenously (i.v.), days 1 and 8; 5-FU: 500 mg/m2, i.v., days 1 and 8) in arm I, or CAF + MPA therapy (CAF + MPA 1200 mg, daily) in arm II. The response rate was significantly higher (P = 0.041) in arm II (53.5%, 46/86) than arm I (36.6%, 30/82). The response rate by tumour site was significantly higher for lymph node and bone lesions in arm II. Partial response duration and overall response duration were significantly longer in arm II. Incidences of anorexia and nausea/vomiting were significantly higher in arm I but in arm II, moon face, oedema and vaginal bleeding were significantly higher. Many patients in arm II demonstrated improvement in performance status and weight loss, suggesting a beneficial effect of MPA. The chemoendocrine therapy with CAF + MPA appears to be more beneficial than CAF alone in the treatment of advanced/recurrent breast cancer.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1994

Cloning and characterization of the ribosomal protein genes in the spc operon of a prokaryotic endosymbiont of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi.

To correlate a prokaryotic endosymbiont in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, with the endosymbionts in related aphid species as well as with free-living bacteria and subcellular organelles, and to study the mode of its gene expression within aphid cells, we have cloned and characterized the genes encoding ribosomal proteins S3, L16, L29, S17, L14, L24, L5, S14, S8, L6, L18, S5, L30, L15 and secretion protein Y (Sec Y) from the S10 and spc ribosomal protein gene operons of this endosymbiont. The organization of these genes is identical to that in Escherichia coli, and their nucleotide sequences are highly similar (87% identity) to the corresponding E. coli genes. They are much less similar to the corresponding chloroplast and mitochondrial genes. The guanine plus cytosine G+C content of the genes of the A. kondoi endosymbiont is much higher than those of the endosymbionts in related aphid species reported so far. It appears either that the A. kondoi endosymbiont is derived from an ancestral bacterium different from those in other aphids or that its G+C content increased in a relatively short time after the evolutionary divergence of its host.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Tissue-specific expression of the gene encoding a mouse RNA binding protein homologous to human HuD antigen.

We have cloned and sequenced cDNAs encoding a mouse RNA-binding protein that is homologous to human HuD antigen. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence has revealed that the mouse HuD protein is identical to the human counterpart except for two amino-acid substitutions outside the three RNA recognition motifs (RRMs) and a difference in the N-terminus. The mouse HuD gene produces two major brain-specific mRNAs (3.7 kb and 4.4 kb) and a minor testis-specific mRNA (1.3 kb), which is indicative of alternative RNA processing. These results suggest that the mouse HuD homolog is a member of the tissue-specific RNA-binding protein family, possibly involved in RNA metabolism in the nervous system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

A cooperative randomized controlled study of adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy for breast cancer in Japan.

A randomized trial was carried out in 55 Japanese institutions to examine the significance of postoperative adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy in Stages II and IIIA breast cancer patients after radical mastectomy. A total of 619 patients were entered from November 1982 to November 1984, of whom 554 were eligible. Patients were administered MMC (13 mg/m2) after surgery, and were randomized by the envelope method into either group A (ftorafur, 400 mg/m2/day; 275 patients), or group B (ftorafur, 400 mg/m2/day, and tamoxifen, 20 mg/day; 279 patients). Treatment was continued for 1 year from postoperative day 7. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, menopausal status, ER status, method of operation, stage, or number of positive lymph nodes. There was also no significant difference between the two groups in the 5-year survival and disease-free survival (DFS) rates (Kaplan-Meier method). Stratification by ER status, nodal status, or menopausal status produced no significant differences between the groups. However, postmenopausal patients and lymph node-positive patients who were also ER-positive showed a significantly higher DFS in group B. Furthermore, group B in ER-positive patients with four or more positive lymph nodes also had a higher survival rate.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Role of nitric oxide in the pancreatic blood flow response to caerulein.

To clarify the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pancreas, blood flow in the rat pancreas (pancreatic blood flow: PBF) was investigated by the hydrogen clearance technique using a specific NO synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). Continuous infusion of caerulein at doses of 5 and 20 micrograms/kg/h caused a significant increase in PBF in the early phase of caerulein infusion. The caerulein-induced increase in PBF was not affected significantly by atropine sulfate (100 micrograms/kg), nor by phenoxybenzamine (5 mg/kg) plus propranolol (50 micrograms/kg). Administration of L-NNA (0.5, 5, or 30 mg/kg) did not affect the basal PBF, but at 5 mg/kg it inhibited completely the caerulein-induced increase in PBF. The inhibitory action of L-NNA was reversed by a large dose of L-arginine (100 mg/kg bolus, i.v., followed by a continuous infusion at 400 mg/kg/h), but not by its enantiomer D-arginine. These results strongly suggest that NO has a mediator role in the early phase vascular response of the pancreas to superphysiologic doses of caerulein.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed1994

Autologous blood donation elective surgery in children.

Studies were made on 59 children (cardiac 42, orthopaedic 13, miscellaneous 4) scheduled for autologous blood donation before elective surgery. The donor-patients' ages ranged from 3 to 15 years (mean 9.9 years) and their weights from 13 to 70 kg (mean 34 kg). All patients received 50-100 mg of oral iron sulphate per day. As a rule, about 10% of intravascular blood volume was drawn once a week. Before surgery, an average of 720 ml of autologous blood per patient was prepared. Two patients failed to donate autologous blood because of anxiety about the procedure; however, none of the donors was deferred due anaemia associated with the phlebotomy. Of the 53 patients undergoing surgery and participating in autologous predonation, 50 (94%) were able to avoid homologous blood transfusion. 600 ml of homologous blood were transfused to each of 2 orthopaedic patients and 400 ml to 1 cardiac patient. We conclude that a predeposit autologous transfusion programme is logistically possible in small children when the patients are cooperative.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Relation between the size of lesions and arrhythmias produced by microwave catheter ablation with a special electrode device.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of microwave catheter ablation of ventricular myocardium. Microwave energy with a frequency of 2450 MHz was delivered via a coaxial catheter with an electrode ball tip. Microwave energy was applied to canine isolated left ventricular endocardium in vitro and to 6 anesthetized dogs in vivo at 50 watts for 15-150 sec. Ventricular arrhythmia was not observed during ablation in any of the dogs when microwave energy was applied for less than 45 sec. When the duration of microwave ablation was greater than 45 sec, ventricular premature contractions were observed in all of the dogs. Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia developed when the duration of microwave delivery was greater than 90 sec. After the cessation of ablation, ventricular arrhythmias did not occur and ventricular programmed stimulation did not induce ventricular tachycardia in any of the dogs. Except for ventricular arrhythmia, no declines in the hemodynamic status were observed in any of the 6 dogs. The size of the ablated lesion was significantly greater as the duration of ablation was increased (p < 0.05). When ablation lasted for more than 120 sec, the coagulation layer was extended to the epicardium in all 6 dogs. The results of this study suggest that microwave ablation is feasible for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias from deep focus of ventricular myocardium with relatively small proarrhythmic effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Laboratory correlates of chemoimmunotherapy with low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 and mitomycin C in patients with advanced carcinoma.

Based on our clinical findings that the ability of cancer patients to generate lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells was remarkably augmented after mitomycin C (MMC) administration, we designed a treatment regimen that consisted of MMC 12 mg/m2, i.v. on day 1 and recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) 700 U/m2, i.v. every 12 hr from day 4 through day 8. Of 29 patients with advanced carcinoma treated with this regimen, 10 had a partial response (PR) and 4 had a minor response. The correlation of hematological and immunological changes associated with this treatment with the antitumor response to this therapy was investigated. Pretreatment values of total white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, and the level of increase of eosinophil counts in responder patients who showed a PR, were significantly greater than those in nonresponder patients. However, there was no correlation between clinical response and cytotoxic activities of peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells, including NK and LAK activity, and the ability to generate LAK cells after the treatment. The capacity of adherent cells in PBM to produce IL-1-beta was increased after the treatment in both responders and nonresponders, whereas IL-1-alpha production was not increased. In addition, a significant increase in the ability to produce TNF-alpha was observed only in responders, indicating the correlation of TNF-alpha production with clinical response to this therapy. Since these correlations had been reported in the previous studies using IL-2, the present results suggested that the therapeutic effectiveness of this therapy against advanced carcinoma, is due to IL-2 probably augmented by its combination with MMC. In addition, these parameters might be predictive of therapeutic efficacy of this treatment.

Adult↗