[A case of double pylorus on the lesser curvature of the gastric angle].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Nakazawa.
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To understand the clinical implications of transcription factors and their biologic roles during cellular differentiation in the hematopoietic system, we examined the expression of GATA-1, GATA-2, and stem cell leukemia (SCL) gene in human leukemia cell lines and various leukemia patients using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Cell lines exhibiting megakaryocytic or erythrocytic phenotypes had GATA-1, GATA-2, and SCL gene transcripts, while monocytic cell lines had no detectable GATA-1, GATA-2, or SCL gene mRNA. In some myeloid cell lines, GATA-1 expression, but not SCL gene expression, was detected; GATA-1 expression in HL-60 cells was downregulated during the process of monocytic differentiation. We next examined GATA-1, GATA-2, and SCL gene expression in 110 leukemia samples obtained from 76 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 19 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 15 with chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis (CML-BC). SCL gene expression was usually accompanied by GATA-1 expression and was preferentially detected in patients with leukemia exhibiting megakaryocytic or erythrocytic phenotypes, while patients with monocytic leukemia were clustered in the group with no detectable GATA-1 expression. None of the patients with ALL or CML-lymphoid-BC expressed SCL. De novo AML patients with SCL gene expression had a lower complete remission (CR) rate and had a significantly poorer prognosis. Among the patients with AML not expressing SCL, a high percentage of patients with CD7+ AML and CD19+ AML had detectable GATA-1, while patients with GATA-1-negative AML had the best CR rate (87.5%). Our results suggest that the expression pattern of transcription factors reflects the lineage potential of leukemia cells, and GATA-1 and SCL gene expression may have prognostic value for the outcome of patients with AML.
We investigated expression of the human ecotropic virus integration site-1 (EVI1) gene in patients with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The EVI1 transcripts were detected in 5 (10.0%) of 50 patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including two AML patients with trilineage myelodysplasia, and in 8 (34.8%) of 23 patients with post-myelodysplastic syndrome AML (post-MDS AML). EVI1 expression was also detected in 6 (35.3%) of 17 MDS patients and three of six patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in myelomegakaryoblast crisis. No EVI1 transcripts were detected in patients with acute lymphoid leukemia (n = 15) or CML in lymphoid blast crisis (n = 4). Chromosomal abnormalities at the 3q26 region, where the EVI1 gene is located, were found in one patient with MDS and two patients with CML myelomegakaryoblast crisis who had EVI1 expression. Our results showed that EVI1 expression was frequent in patients with post-MDS AML and AML with trilineage myelodysplasia, regardless of the presence or absence of 3q26 abnormalities. EVI1 expression was accompanied by expression of GATA-1 and GATA-2, and often by stem cell leukemia (SCL) gene expression. In patients with post-MDS AML, EVI1 expression was not always associated with a 3q26 abnormality, whereas EVI1 expression in CML myelomegakaryoblast crisis was often linked to a 3q26 abnormality. Our results suggest that the leukemogenic role of EVI1 expression may differ between post-MDS AML and leukemia, with EVI1 expression associated with a 3q26 abnormality.
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The basis of recrudescence, the reappearance of malaria parasites after chemotherapy or after failure of immune suppressions of the parasites, was studied in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum. When the cultured parasites were exposed eight times over a 4-day period to 5% D-sorbitol, which destroyed infected RBCs containing trophozoites or schizonts, they showed recrudescence several days after cessation of treatment. Pyrimethamine-sensitive parasites were cleared by 10(-6) M pyrimethamine; pyrimethamine-resistant parasites also were cleared by 10(-4) M pyrimethamine. Both groups of parasites underwent recrudescence in the same manner as those exposed to 5% D-sorbitol. These recrudescent parasites were found to be as susceptible to these treatments as were the parasites before treatment. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that a subpopulation of the parasites escapes the effect of drugs by a mechanism other than drug resistance.
We report a case of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome with spastic diplegia and conduction aphasia. MRI demonstrated the white matter changes deep in the cerebral hemispheres. We analyse the MRI findings and compare the results with neuropsychological signs.
We report a very rare case of tuberculous colitis that showed relatively long-segment involvement of the colon near the hepatic flexure with coloduodenal fistula that caused severe malnutrition. The formation of fistula in abdominal tuberculosis is very rare. This is the eighth reported case of abdominal tuberculosis with fistula and the first reported case with a coloduodenal fistula.
The use of bile acid dissolution therapy in extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy of gallstones, remains controversial. Our study examined whether chemolitholysis after sufficient disintegration enhanced stone clearance within 6 months of the first lithotripsy. A total of 143 patients who developed one to three radiolucent stones measuring < or = 30 mm in diameter were randomly separated into two treatment groups: 47% were given lithotripsy alone, and 53% lithotripsy plus ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Repeated piezoelectric lithotripsy was given, with no limit on the total number of treatment sessions, to pulverize or disintegrate stones into fragments < 3 mm. Stones were disintegrated in 97% of all patients, and the fragments were < or = 2 mm in 50% of these patients. According to an intention-to-treat analysis, 52% in the lithotripsy alone group and 58% in the UDCA group were free of stones 6 months after the first lithotripsy (P = 0.61). Of the patients with fragments < or = 2 mm, 71% in the former and 86% in the latter group were free of stones 6 months after the first lithotripsy, with no significant difference between the groups. Biliary pain occurred in 25% of all patients, including 3 with acute cholecystitis. We concluded that the sufficient disintegration of gallstones achieved with repeated lithotripsy enhanced the early clearance of fragments, regardless of whether chemolitholysis was employed.
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BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The principle of endoscopic ultrasonography--introducing the transducer of an external imaging method, such as ultrasonography, in combination with an endoscope into the gastrointestinal tract for higher-resolution imaging--has also been applied to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report here on our preliminary experience with a new method of endoscopic MRI in the upper gastrointestinal tract. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Endoscopic MRI was performed in 32 patients with esophageal (n = 8) or gastric diseases (n = 24), mostly tumors (n = 26). Most cancers were at an advanced stage (T3/T4). A prototype MRI endoscope connected to a 1.5 tesla MRI scanner was used. The accuracy of endoscopic MRI in visualizing and staging gastrointestinal lesions was assessed. RESULTS: The normal gastrointestinal wall consisted of three layers, and tumors were visualized as having a low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Destruction of the wall layers was found to be characteristic of malignancy. Sufficient images were obtained in seven of eight esophageal cases (88%), but in only 14 of 24 gastric cases (58%). In patients in whom adequate visualization was achieved, the endoscopic MRI results of local and regional staging were consistent with surgical, histopathological, CT and/or EUS results in all six esophageal cancer cases and in 89% (T stage) and 56% (N stage) of the nine patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results of endoscopic MRI are the first to be reported in the English literature. They show the potential of the method for local and regional staging, three-dimensional visualization of lesions being a potential advantage. Further technical improvements are expected.
We examined the expression of CD10 and G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR) on the lymphoid population of mononuclear cells obtained from bone marrow (BM) using two-colour analysis. In the BM of children with ALL in remission, the CD10+ population was significantly increased (20.6 +/- 5.1% compared with that of controls (2.5 +/- 0.5%). More than half (61.3 +/- 2.9%) of the CD10+ cells co-expressed G-CSFR, but not CD13. These results indicate G-CSFR+ B-cell precursors are markedly increased in BM of ALL in remission, suggesting the probable involvement of G-CSF in the human early B-cell ontogeny.
A protease inhibitor, gabexate (ethyl-p-6-guanidinohexanoyloxy benzoate), was found to have an antimuscarinic action in muscle strips of the guinea-pig gastric fundus. Gabexate reversibly inhibited carbachol-induced contractions in the presence of prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors (indomethacin or meclofenamate) with a pA2 of 5.66 for the circular and 5.25 for the longitudinal muscle. The effect was not affected by tetrodotoxin. Gabexate also inhibited contractions produced by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (21.7 +/- 7.3% with 30 microM, n = 12). The inhibition was markedly potentiated by anticholinesterase, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, but converted to contraction by atropine. In the absence of PGE2, gabexate produced no mechanical response on its own even after atropine application. Treatment with hemicholinium, an acetylcholine synthesis inhibitor, also converted the relaxant effect of gabexate, applied during PGE2-induced contraction, to contraction. Gabexate also inhibited contracture induced by 30 mM K+ weakly (13 +/- 2% with 30 microM, n = 5). This relaxation was abolished by atropine, without converting to contraction. PGE2 and excess K+ are likely to release acetylcholine from nerve fibres. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of gabexate is mainly due to the muscarinic receptor blocking action. In addition, gabexate has a potentiating action on the prostaglandin-induced contraction.
To investigate the effects of copper (Cu)-depletion diet and D-penicillamine treatment (CDPT) on both tumor growth and angiogenesis, we studied Fischer-344 rats in which 9L gliosarcoma cells had been subcutaneously implanted. We focused primarily on the alteration of Cu contents and the vascular density. Compared with the normal diet group, the CDPT group showed a significant reduction of tumor weight and a decrease in Cu concentration. Furthermore, the CDPT group demonstrated smaller blood vessels with significantly lower vascular density. This decrease of tumor growth was achieved by angiosuppression. Our study indicated that CDPT selectively caused Cu chelation from the tumor tissue; the normal brain tissue did not show lower Cu concentration after the treatment. The prevention of tumor angiogenesis by this method may be very useful in cancer therapy and may help elucidate the microenvironmental mechanisms for cancer cells.
Present study was planned to clarify the effects of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on testosterone secretion using premature male rats. Forty rats were divided four groups. GH, IGF-I, both of them or normal saline solution as control were subcutaneously administered to the rats of each group for seven days from 3-week to 4-week of age. After the treatment, six of each group were used to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) loading and four to Leydig cell preparation. Serum testosterone responses to hCG loading were significantly higher in 4-week-old rats treated with GH and/or IGF-I for 1 week than in control rats. However, the responses were similar among three treated groups (GH, IGF-I and both). After one-week treatment with GH and/or IGF-I, isolated Leydig cells were prepared from testes of 4-week-old rats and testosterone production by the stimulation of hCG was examined. Amounts of testosterone production stimulated by hCG were significantly greater in the treated rats than in control rats. These findings suggest that GH mediated by IGF-I promotes the testicular responsiveness to gonadotropin on testosterone production in premature rats.
The effect of copper (Cu) depletion on the growth of tumors was investigated in a rat brain tumor model. 9L gliosarcoma cells were injected subcutaneously in 5-week-old male Fischer-344 rats. The control group (n = 18) received a normal diet throughout the experiment and the depletion group (n = 18) received a Cu-deficient diet starting 3 weeks prior to tumor implantation, and 2 mg of D-penicillamine orally, once daily, on the 3 days before and after implantation. Six animals from each group were killed at 1, 2, and 3 weeks following the implantation to measure the tumor weights and determine the tissue Cu concentration by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The tumor weights increased much more rapidly in the control than in the depletion group. The Cu concentrations in tumor tissue of the depletion group were significantly lower than in the control group. There was no statistical significance in Cu concentration in the brain tissues of the control and depletion groups. Our study indicated that a Cu-deficient diet and D-penicillamine treatment can inhibit subcutaneous glioma growth in this rat model.
Multidrug resistance is a major clinical problem in chemotherapy of malignant disease. Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) is a rare form of childhood leukemia, and is often more resistant to many anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs compared to other types of childhood leukemia. There have been reports of the increased expression in hematologic malignancy of multidrug resistant (mdr-1) gene, which encodes for a transmembrane glycoprotein P-glycoprotein that acts as an efflux pump for structurally unrelated chemotherapeutic drugs. We investigated the malignant cells of 15 newly diagnosed childhood AMKL patients by immunocytochemical analysis and found P-glycoprotein expression in all samples from these patients. RNA prepared from five patients at the time of presentation confirmed the expression of mdr-1 specific message in all cases by Northern blot analysis. These results imply that malignant cells from all childhood AMKL might express the mdr-1/P-glycoprotein.
Sequestered parasitized erythrocytes were found in microvessels of subcutaneous tissues in a comatose patient with cerebral malaria even though the blood smears were negative after quinine treatment. This situation reflects the continued presence of sequestered parasites in the brain and suggests that negative parasitemia in peripheral blood does not necessarily mean the end point of malarial treatment has been reached. Our findings suggest that biopsy of subcutaneous tissue from severe malaria patients may be useful for determining the severity and prognosis of malaria patients.