Biomedical subjects

S Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Noguchi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Intracranial electroencephalographic changes in deep anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that electroencephalograms (EEGs) show electrical silence in deep anesthesia as well as brain death. This is the first report on intracranial EEG changes in deep anesthesia. METHODS: We developed a new direct brain monitoring system capable of recording intracranial EEGs. This study included 13 patients with head trauma or cerebrovascular accident under deep anesthesia. RESULTS: The intracranial EEGs showed different patterns of wave activity in depth compared with the cortical surface. In 3 of the cases, the scalp EEG showed a flat tracing at 2.0-2.5% of isoflurane. In two of the cases, the intracranial EEGs showed electrical silence when the scalp EEG was flat. Decreasing the concentration of isoflurane to 1.5%, the intracranial EEG showed single paroxysmal appearance of 'revival' theta waves on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) or electroventriculogram (EVG). The intracranial 'revival' wave was followed by high-voltage burst-waves. In another case, at 2.0-2.5% of isoflurane, the amplitude of the waves was greatest on the EVG. CONCLUSION: There is wave activity difference in the brain depth, which the scalp EEG is unable to show. Intracranial EEGs are able to show the first signs of revival after a nearly flat tracing in deep anesthesia.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Fas ligand expression in BRCA1-associated hereditary breast carcinoma clearly differs from that in sporadic breast carcinoma.

BRCA1-associated hereditary breast carcinomas (HBCs) are diagnosed at a younger age and are known to show biological aggressiveness such as a high histological grade, frequent aneuploidy, compared to sporadic breast carcinomas. However, results of studies on their prognosis have been controversial. We hypothesized that some factors such as a high incidence of cell death could offset the aggressiveness of BRCA1-associated HBCs, and therefore investigated Fas and Fas ligand (Fas L) expression in 19 BRCA1-associated HBCs and 56 age-adjusted control cases. Glandepithelial and myoepithelial cells in the mammary glands expressed Fas in high incidence, but all were negative for Fas L. Fas was expressed in 89.5% of BRCA1-associated HBCs and 94.4% of the controls and no significant differences could be established between the two groups. However, in 73.7% of BRCA1-associated HBCs, Fas L was clearly expressed in the infiltrating mononuclear cells, whereas this was observed in only 14.3% of the control cases and statistical significance was established between the two groups (p < 0.0001). These results strongly suggest that carcinoma cells in BRCA1-associated HBCs are more likely to be attacked by mononuclear cells via Fas L, and this may explain, at least in part, the discrepancy with respect to the prognosis. On the other hand, carcinoma cells also expressed Fas L significantly more often (p < 0.0001) in BRCA1-associated HBCs (52.6%) than in sporadic cases (3.6%). This can be considered a kind of counterattack against the mononuclear cells or, alternatively, may enhance the Fas-Fas L pathway in an autocrine/paracrine fashion. The clinical significance of Fas L expressing carcinoma cells remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Bone marrow micrometastases detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin can be an alternative prognostic factor of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a new prognostic factor of breast cancer, bone marrow micrometastases which was detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin, a sensitive molecular marker of breast cancer, was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eleven samples from stage I-III breast cancer patients were examined. Bone marrow micrometastases and clinicopathological parameters, which were age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and status of the estrogen receptor, were evaluated for the prognostic factor by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 21.1 months. Thirty-three (29.7%) out of 111 samples were RT-PCR positive. Eight cases (24.2%) in this group showed recurrent lesions in the distant organs. Whereas six (7.7%) out of 78 RT-PCR negative patients had distant recurrences. In the premenoposal patients, and in the patients with axillary lymph node metastases, RT-PCR positive cases showed significantly higher distant recurrent rate. Bone marrow micrometastases, axillary nodal status, and estrogen receptor were independent prognostic factors for breast cancer by both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow micrometastases detected by RT-PCR for mammaglobin can be a useful predictive marker for early distant recurrence of breast cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor in breast carcinoma.

The expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) was investigated for 76 cases of breast carcinoma. HB-EGF was expressed in 71.8% of the carcinoma cases but only slightly in normal mammary glands. Interestingly, its expression was inversely related to biological aggressiveness of the breast carcinoma. These results suggest that HB-EGF may play a crucial role in the early stage of this carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Identification of myogenesis-dependent transcriptional enhancers in promoter region of mouse gamma-sarcoglycan gene.

Four sarcoglycan subunit proteins, alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-sarcoglycans, form a complex on the skeletal muscle cell surface membrane and a gene defect in any one of them causes the loss or marked decrease of whole sarcoglycan complex, resulting in an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy, sarcoglycanopathy. To characterize the regulation of sarcoglycan transcription during myocyte differentiation, we isolated the promoter regions for all sarcoglycan transcripts and measured the level of transcriptional activity of these promoter regions in the C2C12 skeletal muscle cell line. The promoters of gamma-sarcoglycan and one of two promoters of alpha-sarcoglycan exhibited marked transcriptional activation following differentiation to myotubes. Then, we characterized the 1.5-kb region of the gamma-sarcoglycan promoter by generating reporter-constructs having various deletions and measuring their transcriptional activities. In this promoter, we identified a basal promoter region and two enhancer regions dependent on differentiation. We also showed that A/T-rich and E box elements in the upstream enhancer region are essential for the activation of gamma-sarcoglycan transcription following myotube formation. Furthermore, from the identification of binding proteins to these elements together with the cotransfection experiments with the gamma-sarcoglycan promoter reporter construct and cDNAs encoding these binding factors to 10T1/2 fibroblast cell line, it was suggested that MyoD directs the transcription of gamma-sarcoglycan gene as one of the trans activators.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A novel putative transmembrane protein, IZP6, is expressed in neural cells during embryogenesis.

Gene trapping in mouse embryonic stem cells is an efficient method for identifying new genes and examining their functions. This method has been used in an effort to identify some novel genes involved in mouse development. In the present paper, one such gene named IZP6 is reported. Expression of the IZP6 gene, as monitored by beta-galactosidase expression in heterozygous mice, was detected in a developmentally regulated fashion: the expression pattern has two phases during the embryogenesis. In the first phase, from embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) until E14.5, the reporter gene is mainly expressed in the forebrain. In the second phase, from E15.5 until birth, expression in the forebrain becomes weaker but is still observed in the olfactory bulb and the skin around the eyes, nose, limbs and tail. Thus, IZP6 gene expression changes from the central nervous system (the first phase) to the peripheral tissues (the second phase) during development. The IZP6 gene encodes a protein of 228 amino acids. Analysis of the secondary structure of the IZP6 protein revealed four hydrophobic regions, indicating that the IZP6 protein is a four transmembrane region protein. These results suggest that IZP6 is a transmembrane protein related to neurogenesis in the mouse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Gamma probe and ultrasonographically-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of gamma probe and ultrasonographically-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the pre-operative detection of sentinel node (SN) metastasis in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was performed in patients with stage I or II breast cancer with clinically negative nodes using dye and radio-isotope. Axillas of 60 patients in whom a hot spot was detected by gamma probe were examined by ultrasonography. Pre-operative diagnosis of SN metastasis by gamma probe and ultrasonographically-guided FNAB was compared with the histological results of SN. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of SN metastasis were 50.0%, 92.1% and 76.7%, respectively. SNs were visualized by ultrasonography in 29 of 60 patients. Of 14 patients with positive results by ultrasonography, four had positive and two had negative cytology. The combination of ultrasonography and ultrasonographically-guided FNAB for visualized nodes had a sensitivity of 78.5%, specificity of 93.3% and overall accuracy of 86.2%. Blind FNAB in the hot spot was not useful in the detection of SN metastasis in patients whose SNs failed to be detected by ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: Gamma probe and ultrasonographically-guided FNAB is a potentially useful method for pre-operative detection of SN metastasis. In patients with positive SNs, SNB is not indicated and complete axillary lymph-node dissection can be performed as a primary procedure.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2001

Disease recurrence after living liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis: a clinical and histological follow-up study.

We describe the recurrence of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in recipients of living liver transplants. We are not aware of similar previous reports. Because most donors for living liver transplantation (LLT) are blood relatives with close HLA matches, the recurrence of PBC in transplant recipients might offer additional insights in the pathogenesis of the condition. We studied 6 women (age, 29 to 61 years) with PBC who survived LLT for at least 1 year. Tests for antimitochondrial autoantibody (AMA), antipyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2, immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-M2, and IgM anti-M2 had confirmed the diagnosis. Donors were blood relatives in 5 instances, and one donor who was not a blood relative still had multiple HLA matches with the recipient. After LLT, we observed a decrease in AMA titers, but within 1 year, these titers increased again in 5 of the 6 patients to pre-LLT levels or greater. Immunoblotting analysis of the anti-M2 protein profile failed to show loss of bands and showed new bands in 3 of 6 patients. Histologically, strong evidence of recurrent PBC was found in 2 patients, and findings compatible with PBC were present in 1 additional patient. All 6 patients are doing well, without symptoms of recurrent PBC (median time post-LLT, 35.5 months; range, 12 to 50 months).

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Effect of combining ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of ultrasonography and cytology in predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules. DESIGN: Prospective open study. SETTING: Thyroid centre, Japan. SUBJECTS: 329 nodules in 309 patients examined by a new ultrasound scanner and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. INTERVENTIONS: Comparison of ultrasonographic, cytological, and combined diagnosis with the histological diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each diagnostic method. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 84%, 87%, 85% for cytological diagnosis, and 82%, 91%, and 87% for ultrasonographic diagnosis. By using ultrasonographic diagnosis when cytological specimens were inadequate or gave false negative results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy went up to 89%, 91%, and 90%, respectively. We could not diagnose follicular carcinomas accurately by combined cytology and ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: The combination of ultrasonography and cytology improves the accuracy of diagnosis of thyroid nodules, but is less effective with follicular tumours.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Conformational change of dimerization initiation site of HIV-1 genomic RNA by NCp7 or heat treatment.

Dimerization initiation site (DIS) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome has been identified as a primary sequence that can form a stem-loop structure with a self-complementary sequence in the loop and a bulge in the stem. A DIS RNA fragment spontaneously forms a kissing dimer and is converted into an extended-duplex dimer by supplement of nucleocapsid protein NCp7. This two-step dimerization reaction can be also executed by a heat treatment instead of the binding proteins. However, it has not identified whether mechanisms of the conformational conversion by two different treatments are identical or not. In the present study, we used a series of DIS RNA oligonucleotides and the conformations of two extended-duplex dimers produced by the two different treatments were compared by the analysis of NMR spectra in the imino proton region. It was found that the effects of the two kinds of treatments are quite similar and the conformations of the two extended-duplex dimers are identical. These findings suggest that the conversion mechanisms DIS RNA by NCp7 and heat treatments are similar.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Transareolar endoscopy-assisted partial mastectomy: a preliminary report of six cases.

Six patients with breast cancer in the upper inner quadrant underwent endoscopy-assisted partial mastectomy. The tumor was removed with a 2-cm-wide surgical margin through a periareolar semicircular incision using a special retractor and endoscope system for plastic surgery. Another small incision was made in the axilla for total lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy. The average of total operation time in five patients who underwent partial mastectomy was 241 minutes (range, 190-315 minutes), and the average time for the procedure of partial mastectomy in six cases was 84 minutes (range, 69-113 minutes). The cosmetic outcome was excellent. Transareolar endoscopic partial mastectomy can be considered as an alternative surgery option and can offer great cosmetic advantage for patients with small cancers in the inner quadrants of the breast.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Clinicopathological characteristics of estrogen receptor-beta-positive human breast cancers.

Recent studies have identified the presence of estrogen receptor (ER)-beta in addition to ER-alpha in human breast cancers, but the clinicopathological characteristics of ER-beta-positive tumors remain to be established. In this study, we have conducted an immunohistochemical analysis of ER-alpha and ER-beta expression in human breast cancers. In addition, we investigated the correlation of ER-alpha and ER-beta expression with progesterone receptor (PR) status, determined by enzyme immunoassay, and with various clinicopathological factors. Of 79 tumors, 49 (62%) were positive for ER-alpha and 24 (30%) were positive for ER-beta, and there was no significant association between ER-alpha and ER-beta expression. ER-alpha-positive tumors were significantly more likely to be PR-positive than were ER-alpha-negative tumors (P < 0.0001), but there was no significant association between ER-beta expression and PR status. However, the PR values of ER-alpha-positive and ER-beta-positive tumors (65 +/- 17 fmol / mg protein, mean +/- SE) were marginally significantly lower than those of ER-alpha-positive and ER-beta-negative tumors (340 +/- 109) (P = 0.08). ER-beta positivity was significantly associated with small tumor size ( < or = 2 cm) and high histological grade (P < 0.05), and this association was also observed when only ER-alpha-positive tumors were considered. These results suggest that determination of ER-beta status might be clinically useful for further defining the characteristics of ER-alpha-positive tumors.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2001

Quantitative analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mRNA expression in sporadic breast carcinomas and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mRNA expression in sporadic breast cancers was quantified by a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the relationship of their expression with various clinicopathological factors was studied. BRCA2 mRNA levels (0.993 +/- 1.395, mean +/- SD (BRCA2 / beta-glucuronidase mRNA ratios)) were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than BRCA1 mRNA levels (0.519 +/- 0.570 (BRCA1 / beta-glucuronidase mRNA ratios)), and a weak but significant (r = 0.390, P < 0.01) correlation was observed between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mRNA expression levels. There was no significant association between BRCA1 mRNA expression and clinicopathological factors such as menstrual status, tumor size, lymph node status, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, and histological grade. On the other hand, there was a significant association between higher BRCA2 mRNA expression and estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (P < 0.01) or progesterone receptor (PR) negativity (P < 0.01) or high histological grade (P < 0.01). These results suggest a differential contribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the pathogenesis of sporadic breast cancers. BRCA2 mRNA is speculated to be up-regulated in response to proliferation and genomic instability in high histological grade tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Extrahepatic synthesis of FVII in human atheroma and smooth muscle cells in vitro.

The present series of experiments provide evidence that FVII is synthesized outside of the liver and is found in a variety of cells in normal and atherosclerotic vessels. In normal vessels FVII was localized to the endothelial cell layer and in adventitial fibroblasts at sites where tissue factor (TF) is also found. In early and advanced atherosclerotic lesions, FVII was mostly found in macrophage- rich regions colocalized with TF. Foam cells and macrophages in the necrotic core adjacent to the cholesterol clefts and foamy macrophages in early intimal thickenings all showed strong cytoplasmic staining with FVII antibodies. Although it is possible that FVII protein staining found in normal and atherosclerotic vessels originated from the blood, the finding of FVII mRNA by both in situ hybridization and RT-PCR suggests that these tissues are sites of FVII synthesis. Additional work demonstrated synthesis of FVII in a variety of tissues and smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts in vitro. The distribution of FVII synthesis in extrahepatic tissues and more recent data regarding thrombin-independent signaling as a consequence of FVII/TF binding may suggest the possibility of other cellular functions for this coagulation factor.

Aorta↗

PubMed2001

Quantitative analysis of estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta messenger RNA expression in normal and malignant thyroid tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVES: We have conducted a quantitative analysis of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and -beta (ER-beta) mRNA expression in normal thyroid and tumor tissues. METHODS: Normal thyroid tissues (n = 10) and tumor tissues [(follicular adenoma (n = 14), follicular carcinoma (n = 8), papillary carcinoma (n = 14), anaplastic carcinoma (n = 3) and medullary carcinoma (n = 6)] were obtained at surgery from 45 female patients. ER-alpha and ER-beta mRNA expression has been studied by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: ER-alpha mRNA levels in the normal thyroid were not significantly different from those in follicular adenomas, papillary carcinomas and medullary carcinomas but were marginally (p = 0.08) higher than those in follicular and anaplastic carcinomas. ER-beta mRNA levels in the normal thyroid tissues were not significantly different from those in any other tumor tissues. ER-beta to ER-alpha mRNA ratios were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the normal thyroid tissues than in follicular adenomas. Proportions of ER-beta mRNA variants (ER-beta 1, 2, 5, and 5') did not significantly differ among the normal and tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS: A downregulation of ER-alpha mRNA in follicular and anaplastic carcinomas seems to suggest that estrogens are unlikely to play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of these carcinomas. On the other hand, a significant decrease in ER-beta to ER-alpha mRNA ratios in follicular adenomas suggests a possible involvement of estrogens in the pathogenesis of this disease since the same phenomenon has been reported on estrogen-dependent breast cancers.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

PubMed2001

Thio-sugars. IV. Synthesis of carbohydrate 1,3-glycol (six-membered) thionocarbonates and their attempted O-S rearrangement.

Four six-membered cyclic thionocarbonates (two sec-sec and two prim-sec) were prepared and their radical-promoted O-S rearrangement reaction was examined. The results revealed that the reaction in six-membered rings is difficult compared with the simple rearrangement in five-membered rings. In the course of syntheses of the substrates, interesting acyl migration during the stannylation process occurred.

Acylation↗

PubMed2001

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Japanese female patients with Graves' disease.

We reported previously that vitamin D deficiency is a causal mechanism of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves' disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency by reviewing serum 25(OH)D levels in 208 patients with Graves' disease (146 women, 62 men) during a 1 year period. Serum 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in female Graves' patients (31.8 +/- 13.3 nmol/l) than in male patients (41.3 +/- 15.0 nmol/l). Vitamin D deficiency (defined as a serum 25(OH)D value below 25 nmol/l) was found in 40% of female patients and in 18% of male patients (p < 0.005). There was a significant seasonal variation in the 25(OH)D concentrations in female patients [amplitude 6.38 (95% CI, 5.42-7.56)], with values below 25 nmol/l found in 58% of female patients during the winter months. There were significant (p < 0.001) differences in serum 25(OH)D levels between age groups in the female patients. The concentrations were lowest in patients in their twenties (25.1 +/- 8.2 nmol/l) and highest in patients in their fifties and sixties (43.2 +/- 13.7 nmol/l). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations might be monitored in patients with Graves' disease during antithyroid drug therapy, and vitamin D and/or calcium supplements are recommended for patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Evaluation of recurrence in 36 subacute thyroiditis patients managed with prednisolone.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is low and there are a few reports of recurrence of subacute thyroiditis. Current treatment protocols for SAT are not uniform. Prednisolone (PSL) is chosen more often for treatment than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study was undertaken to confirm the recurrence rate of SAT managed by PSL, and to compare the initial laboratory data between the recurrent and the non-recurrent groups. METHODS: After diagnosis, all patients were treated with PSL (starting at 30 mg or 25 mg per day, tapered by 5 mg per week) for 5 or 6 weeks. We evaluated data and symptoms at the first visit and during the therapy. PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients who received only PSL for SAT at our hospital between January 1997 and December 1998 were referred. These patients asked to visit every 2 weeks for the monitoring of symptoms and laboratory data. RESULTS: SAT symptoms recurred in eight patients (22%), most upon cessation of PSL. There was no difference in initial serum sialic acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, thyroglobulin, serum free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine before PSL treatment between the recurrent and non-recurrent patient populations. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence rate of SAT with treated PSL is about 20%. There was no difference in the laboratory data before starting the therapy between recurrent and non-recurrent groups. Therefore, a modified protocol of PSL administration may be needed to decrease the early recurrent rate of SAT.

Adult↗