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Biomedical subjects

S Konno

Publications and source records attributed to S Konno.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Fibroblast growth factor stimulates the gene expression and production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in bovine granulosa cells.

The hormonal control of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) gene expression and production by growth factors, gonadotrophins, and serum factors in cultured bovine granulosa cells (BGC) were investigated. Confluent cultures of BGC were exposed to various factors in a defined medium and levels of TIMP-1 in the conditioned medium were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) showed potent stimulation of cell proliferation and TIMP-1 production by BGC, while insulin stimulated growth but not TIMP-1 production. Basic FGF stimulated TIMP-1 production and BGC cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. A time course of TIMP-1 production showed substantially increased levels between 18 and 24 h in both control and bFGF-stimulated BGC cultures with bFGF-stimulated cultures having markedly higher TIMP-1 production at all time points. Consistent with the TIMP-1 production data, bFGF and aFGF increased the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA as determined by northern blot analysis, while insulin, inhibited TIMP-1 mRNA levels. These results indicate that FGF-induced TIMP-1 production by BGC may support bovine embryo development in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mesenteric cyst: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric cyst (MC) is a relatively rare disease, and its sonographic characteristics have not been sufficiently analyzed. METHODS: We studied the sonographic findings of eight patients with MC, with attention paid to its size, shape, internal echoes, and especially the presence or absence of lateral shadowing and the mode of back echoes. In four cases, the sound velocity and acoustic impedance of cystic fluid were also measured. The mode of blood flow was evaluated by color Doppler sonography. RESULTS: Six cases showed an oval or comma-shaped mass. Internal echoes were present in six cases, and two of them showed a pseudosolid pattern. In these cases, M-mode sonography confirmed the movement of these internal echoes. Only one case showed a posterior echo enhancement, and no case showed lateral shadowing. Sound velocity measured in four cases was 1,515-1,537 m/s, with an acoustic impedance of 1.550-1.576 kg/m2/s. No blood flow signals were obtained from the lesion. CONCLUSION: MC exhibits so many patterns on ultrasound that we should consider the possibility of MC when encountering an avascular oval mesenteric mass.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma: sonographic findings.

This study, based on sonographic (US) results of 10 cases with histologically proven retroperitoneal liposarcoma (eight well-differentiated and two pleomorphic types), shows that the presence of fine echogenic lines within the tumor is a useful sign for diagnosing a well-differentiated liposarcoma. Presence of numerous fine fibrous septa in the lipomatous tumor tissue is thought to be responsible for this interesting phenomenon. Of interest is the fact that the direction of these lines changed according to the probe format used: parallel horizontal lines when using a linear probe and concentric lines converging toward the probe when using a sector or curved linear probe. In contrast, pleomorphic liposarcoma does not show this US sign. Knowledge of these US findings is useful for the diagnosis of retroperitoneal liposarcoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Efficacy and complications of the Gianturco-Z tracheobronchial stent for malignant airway stenosis.

PURPOSE: To describe our experience using the Gianturco Z-stent (G-Z stent) for the management of malignant tracheobronchial stenosis, with special reference to complications. METHODS: Thirty-six stents were used in 22 patients with 28 lesions. Thirteen patients were grade 5 according to the Hugh-Jones classification. The technical success rates, follow-up results, and complications were reviewed on the basis of the patients' charts and radiographs. RESULTS: All stents were successfully placed in the ideal position without procedure-related complications. After the procedure, respiratory status improved in 95% (21/22) of patients, and performance status improved in 77% (17/22). Mean survival after stent placement was 15 weeks. Four patients suffered from increased thick secretions requiring multiple suctioning and aspiration by bronchoscopy. One of these patients died from asphyxiation 2 weeks after placement. Stent disruption and/or migration was observed in six patients. Of these six, four experienced life-threatening hemoptysis; all four had received aggressive anticancer treatment. CONCLUSION: G-Z stents are useful for palliation of malignant tracheobronchial obstruction. However, complications of stent strut fracture and migration give cause for concern.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accommodation and pupilloconstriction areas in the cat midbrain.

The results of our previous studies suggest that the rostral superior colliculus (SC) is involved in the control of accommodation in the cat. The accommodation-related area in the rostral SC projects into the pretectum and the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF), indicating that these areas may also be involved in the control of accommodation. In this study, we tried to identify cat midbrain areas of accommodation and pupilloconstriction control by systematically mapping microstimulation responses. Three regions were found to evoke the accommodation response: the posterolateral pretectum, including the nucleus of the optic tract and the posterior pretectal nucleus; the posteromedial pretectum, including the nucleus of the posterior commissure (NPC) and adjacent commissural fibers; and the MRF area dorsolateral to the oculomotor nucleus. Pupilloconstriction was evoked by microstimulation of the posteromedial pretectum around the NPC and the anterior pretectum around the olivary pretectal nucleus.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lectin cytochemistry of the lacrimal sac epithelium in experimental dacryocystitis.

PURPOSE: To study the glycoconjugates in the lacrimal sac epithelium of Japanese white rabbits with experimentally induced chronic dacryocystitis. METHODS: Chronic dacryocystitis was induced by a subcutaneous injection of albumin followed by an injection of Staphylococcus aureus into the lacrimal sac. The histological appearance of the lacrimal sac was studied using the alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff sequence. In addition, the specific binding to the lacrimal sac epithelium of Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1, Ricinus communis agglutinin 1, peanut agglutinin, and soybean agglutinin was also studied. RESULTS: Staining with alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff sequence showed hyperplasia of the goblet cells in the inflamed lacrimal sac epithelium. Lectin cytochemistry revealed specific binding of Ulex europaeus agglutinin 1, Ricinus communis agglutinin 1, peanut agglutinin, and soybean agglutinin to the lacrimal sac epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the composition of glycoconjugates in the lacrimal sac epithelium is markedly changed in dacryocystitis. There seems to be a fundamental abnormality in glycoconjugate synthesis in the chronically inflamed lacrimal sac epithelium.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Initial experience with helical CT and 3D reconstruction in therapeutic planning of cerebral AVMs: comparison with 3D time-of-flight MRA and digital subtraction angiography.

PURPOSE: We report our initial experience with helical CT and CT angiography (CTA) in evaluating cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in comparison with time-of-flight MR angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHOD: Twelve AVMs were studied with CTA, non-gadolinium-enhanced MRA, and DSA. Reconstructed images were obtained in three display methods (maximum intensity projection, shaded surface black and white, shaded surface color). Shaded surface color display was obtained by assigning different colors to vessels and "presumed" nidus. The number of feeding arteries and draining veins associated with each AVM was independently counted in each modality. The relative ease of depicting the nidus and vessels was also determined in each display method. AVM nidus dimensions were measured on CTA and MRA source images and interobserver differences were compared. RESULTS: CTA-reconstructed images depicted more veins but fewer arteries than MRA. Shaded-surface color displays best delineated vessels and nidus. Nidus dimension measurement was possible on CTA in all AVMs but impossible on MRA in four AVMs due to interference by methemoglobin (three AVMs) and phase artifact (one AVM). The interobserver difference in nidus dimension as measured on CTA was significantly smaller than that on MRA. CONCLUSION: Reconstructed CTA images and CTA source images seem to be valuable adjuncts or alternatives to MRA.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental study on enzyme distribution and its relation to myocardial ischemic changes following coronary circulatory disturbances.

Coronary artery ligation of canine heart was performed to investigate the relationship between the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) pattern in myocardium and the distribution of coronary flow, especially in the early stage of ligation and after reperfusion. In the myocardium of normal dogs, the LDH pattern was similar in the left ventricle, the interventricular septum, and the right ventricle; the average LD5:LD4 ratio was 1.1, 1.2, and 1.2, respectively, and consisted mainly of heart type. In the left and right auricles, however, the ratios were 0.3 and 0.2, respectively, lacking heart type. In the left ventricle, LD5:LD4 ratio in the subendocardium was different from that in the subepicardial layer. Blood flow distribution in canine myocardium was investigated by the fluorescent pattern on the cut surface of heart, in which 10% fluorescein sodium was injected into the cavity. By this method the evolution of the ischemic area from the endocardial layer to the epicardial side following coronary artery ligation and the effect of reperfusion on the ischemic area were clarified. Electron microscopic studies indicated that loss of mitochondrial function may account for the irreversibility of myocardial cell alteration. A new method for studying enzyme localization in tissues was introduced for studying LDH isoenzyme distribution in normal and injured myocardium.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of thymidine phosphorylase expression in gastric carcinoma.

Tumor growth depends on angiogenesis. Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), and has angiogenic activity. We investigated the expression of dThdPase in 116 gastric carcinoma tissue samples by immunohistochemical staining, and assessed whether its expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors or with the prognosis. dThdPase expression was correlated with clinicopathological factors and may be a good prognostic indicator for gastric carcinoma. To determine whether dThdPase expression was a prognostic factor that was independent of the depth of invasion or lymph node metastasis, we conducted a survival analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model. This analysis revealed that dThdPase expression was the most significant prognostic indicator and was useful for predicting the outcome of gastric carcinoma.

Female↗