Biomedical subjects

S Noguchi

Publications and source records attributed to S Noguchi.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Lung cancer in a child with a substantial family history of cancer.

The occurrence of primary lung cancer is rare in childhood. The case of an 11-year-old boy with primary lung cancer is presented in this report. He had a substantial family history of cancer. His chief complaint was coughing with right chest pain. A chest radiograph showed a coin lesion in the right lower lung. A right lower lobectomy revealed a squamous cell carcinoma (stage IIIA at Japanese TNM classification). Systemic chemotherapy using cisplatin, vindesine, THP-adriamycin and cyclophosphamide was performed. Six months after surgery, a recurrent tumor occurred. An analysis of the familial cancer related genes (p53 gene and mismatch repair gene) showed no abnormality.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed1999

Measurement of the expression of oncofetal fibronectin mRNA in thyroid carcinomas by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Abundant expression of oncofetal fibronectin mRNA has been observed in thyroid papillary and anaplastic carcinomas. In this study, we measured relative expression levels of oncofetal fibronectin mRNA in thyroid cancer tissues by competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using thyroglobulin mRNA as an internal control. By this method, all papillary and anaplastic carcinomas and 3 of 6 follicular carcinomas were distinguished from benign tissues, such as normal thyroid tissues, follicular adenomas, and adenomatous goiters. Furthermore, 2 anaplastic carcinomas were clearly distinguished from differentiated carcinomas. These results suggest the possibility of establishing a more accurate preoperative or postoperative diagnosis of papillary and anaplastic carcinomas by measuring the relative expression level of oncofetal fibronectin to thyroglobulin in thyroid tumors.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1999

Mutations of p53 in thyroid carcinoma with an insular component.

Thyroid carcinoma with an insular component (TCIC) is considered noteworthy in view of its peculiar histopathological features and clinicopathological behavior. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the rate of mutation in the p53 gene in TCIC as compared with rates in papillary and follicular carcinomas of the thyroid. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks of tissue from 46 cases of TCIC were analyzed. DNA was extracted from tissues and exons 5 through 8 of the p53 gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Mutations were detected by analysis of single-strand conformation polymorphism. Of the 46 cases of TCIC, 6 had a mutation in exon 5, 2 in exon 7, and 5 in exon 8, while 1 case had mutations in all exons examined. The mutation rate of the p53 gene in TCIC was 38%. Immunostaining revealed overexpression of p53 in nuclei that were mainly in areas of the insular component rather than in surrounding areas of well-differentiated carcinoma. The frequency of positive immunostaining in TCIC was 53%. Considering that TCIC is intermediate between papillary plus follicular carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma in terms of survival and the rate of mutation of the p53 gene, we can speculate that mutation in the p53 gene might be associated with the insular component and might play an important role in the clinicopathological behavior of thyroid carcinoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Loss of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan leads to muscular dystrophy in beta-sarcoglycan-deficient mice.

beta-Sarcoglycan, one of the subunits of the sarcoglycan complex, is a transmembranous glycoprotein which associates with dystrophin and is the molecule responsible for beta-sarcoglycanopathy, a Duchenne-like autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy. To develop an animal model of beta-sarcoglycanopathy and to clarify the role of beta-sarcoglycan in the pathogenesis of the muscle degeneration in vivo, we developed beta-sarcoglycan-deficient mice using a gene targeting technique. beta-Sarcoglycan-deficient mice (BSG(-)(/-)mice) exhibited progressive muscular dystrophy with extensive degeneration and regeneration. The BSG(-)(/-)mice also exhibited muscular hypertrophy characteristic of beta-sarcoglycanopathy. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses of BSG(-)(/-)mice demonstrated that deficiency of beta-sarcoglycan also caused loss of all of the other sarcoglycans as well as of sarcospan in the sarcolemma. On the other hand, laminin-alpha2, alpha- and beta-dystroglycan and dystrophin were still present in the sarcolemma. However, the dystrophin-dystroglycan complex in BSG(-)(/-)mice was unstable compared with that in the wild-type mice. Our data suggest that loss of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan alone is sufficient to cause muscular dystrophy, that beta-sarcoglycan is an important protein for formation of the sarcoglycan complex associated with sarcospan and that the role of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan may be to strengthen the dystrophin axis connecting the basement membrane with the cytoskeleton.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Sentinel node biopsy guided by indocyanine green dye in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate whether dye-guided sentinel node biopsy is a useful indicator of axillary node involvement in breast cancer patients and whether clinicopathological features affect its success in identifying sentinel nodes. METHODS: Sentinel node biopsy was performed in patients with stage I or II breast cancer using an indocyanin green dye-guided method. RESULTS: We could identify sentinel nodes in 127 (73.8%) of 172 patients. The mean number of sentinel nodes per patient was 1.7 (range, 1-8) and the mean node size was 9.3 mm (range, 3.0-28.0 mm). Of the 127 patients, 40 (31.5%) also had axillary node involvement. In 16 (40.0%) of these, the sentinel node was the only node involved. There was concordance between sentinel node and axillary node status in 122 (96.1%) of the 127 patients. Success in identifying sentinel nodes was not affected by tumor size, operative procedure, histological type of tumor or tumor location; however, the success rate was significantly lower in patients with axillary node involvement (65.7 vs 79.0% in axillary node-negative patients, p = 0.039) and the presence or absence of lymphatic or vascular invasion in the tumor (63.8 vs 78.9% in patients without lymphatic or vascular invasion, p = 0.043). Sentinel nodes could also be identified significantly more frequently in patients under 50 years old (83.3%) than in those over 50 years old (64.8%, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy guided by indocyanin green dye is an easy technique with an acceptable success rate in detecting sentinel nodes and predicting axillary nodal status. Axillary node status, the presence or absence of lymphatic or vascular invasion in the tumor and patient age affect its success in identifying sentinel nodes.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Defining the structural domain of subunit II of the heme-copper terminal oxidase using chimeric enzymes constructed from the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase and the thermophilic Bacillus caa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase.

To probe the location of the quinol oxidation site and physical interactions for inter-subunit electron transfer, we constructed and characterized two chimeric oxidases in which subunit II (CyoA) of cytochrome bo-type ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli was replaced with the counterpart (CaaA) of caa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase from thermophilic Bacillus PS3. In pHNchi5, the C-terminal hydrophilic domain except a connecting region as to transmembrane helix II of CyoA was replaced with the counterpart of CaaA, which carries the Cu(A) site and cytochrome c domain. The resultant chimeric oxidase was detected immunochemically and spectroscopically, and the turnover numbers for Q(1)H(2) (ubiquinol-1) and TMPD (N,N, N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) oxidation were 28 and 8.5 s(-1), respectively. In pHNchi6, the chimeric oxidase was designed to carry a minimal region of the cupredoxin fold containing all the Cu(A) ligands, and showed enzymatic activities of 65 and 5.1 s(-1), and an expression level better than that of pHNchi5. Kinetic analyses proved that the apparent lower turnover of the chimeric enzyme by pHNchi6 was due to the higher K(m) of the enzyme for Q(1)H(2) (220 microM) than that of cytochrome bo (48 microM), while in the enzyme by pHNchi5, both substrate-binding and internal electron transfer were perturbed. These results suggest that the connecting region and the C-terminal alpha(1)-alpha(2)-beta(11)-alpha(3) domain of CyoA are involved in the quinol oxidation and/or physical interactions for inter-subunit electron transfer, supporting our previous proposal [Sato-Watanabe, M., Mogi, T., Miyoshi, H., and Anraku, Y. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 12744-12752]. The close relationship of E. coli quinol oxidases to cytochrome c oxidase of Gram-positive bacteria like Bacillus was also indicated.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Postoperative tetany in Graves disease: important role of vitamin D metabolites.

OBJECTIVE: To test the authors' hypothesis of the causal mechanism(s) of postoperative tetany in patients with Graves disease. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies by the authors suggested that postoperative tetany in patients with Graves disease occurs during the period of bone restoration and resulted from continuation of a calcium flux into bone concomitant with transient hypoparathyroidism induced by surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out to investigate sequential changes in serum levels of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium and other electrolytes, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and bone metabolic markers in 109 consecutive patients with Graves disease who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Preoperative serum iPTH levels negatively correlated with ionized calcium levels and positively correlated with 1,25(OH)2D or 1,25(OH)2D/25OHD. After the operation, there was a significant decline in levels of ionized calcium, magnesium, and iPTH. Serum iPTH was not detected in 15 patients after surgery. Four of these 15 patients, and 1 patient whose iPTH level was below normal, developed tetany. Preoperative serum ionized calcium levels were significantly lower, and iPTH levels were higher, in the 5 patients with tetany than in the 11 patients who did not develop tetany despite undetectable iPTH levels. The tetany group had significantly lower serum 25OHD levels and higher 1,25(OH)2D levels, and had increased 1,25(OH)2D/25OHD as an index of the renal 25OHD-1-hydroxylase activity than those in the nontetany group. These results suggest that patients with a high serum level of iPTH as a result of low serum calcium levels (secondary hyperparathyroidism) are susceptible to tetany under conditions of hypoparathyroid function after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative tetany occurs in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by a relative deficiency in calcium and vitamin D because of their increased demand for bone restoration after preoperative medical therapy concomitant with transient hypoparathyroidism after surgery. Calcium and vitamin D supplements may be recommended before and/or after surgery for patients in whom postoperative tetany is expected to develop.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Somatic mutations in RET exons 12 and 15 in sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas: different spectrum of mutations in sporadic type from hereditary type.

Germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2A and 2B) and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Point mutations or in-frame deletions of exons 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16 are associated with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). To understand further the role of the RET gene in sporadic MTC, we examined mutations in exons 12 and 15 of RET in patients with sporadic MTC. DNAs were extracted from 39 formalin-fixed tumor tissues and corresponding normal thyroid tissues or peripheral blood leukocytes. DNA sequencing was used to identify mutations in exons 12 and 15 of RET. In this study, one novel somatic mutation was found in exon 12 and five novel mutations or deletions were found in exon 15. Of the patients with mutations, one had an in-frame 12-bp deletion (nt. 2625-2636), one had point mutations in both codons 884 and 908, and the remaining three had point mutations in codons 748, 876 and 901, respectively. Together with our previous identification of somatic mutations in exons 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16, somatic alterations were found in 10 out of 39 (25.6%) sporadic MTCs. There was no association of RET gene mutations with tumor recurrence or prognosis. These results suggest that mutations occur frequently in the RET coding region in addition to the previously reported mutation hot spots, and there is a different spectrum of mutations between sporadic and hereditary MTC.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Intraspousal transmission of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus in an hepatitis C virus hyperendemic area in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: An immunoassay for antibodies against an hepatitis G virus (HGV) protein (anti-E2) was recently developed that might serve as a useful marker for diagnosing recovery from HGV infection. METHODS: We investigated the intraspousal transmission of GB virus C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) using both reverse transcription hemipolymerase chain reaction (RT-hemi-PCR for the 5' untranslated region) and a recently developed anti-E2. RESULTS: Thirty-two GBV-C/HGV-infected index subjects were selected from an hepatitis C virus hyperendemic area in Japan. Of the 32 subjects, seven (6.4%) were GBV-C/HGV RNA-positive, 24 (21.8%) were anti-E2-positive, and one (0.9%) was both GBV-C/HGV RNA- and anti-E2-positive. Among the 32 spouses of these subjects, GBV-C/HGV RNA, anti-E2, and both GBV-C/HGV RNA and anti-E2 positivity were detected in 0, 6, (18.8%), and one (3.1%) spouses, respectively (the total prevalence of GBV-C/HGV was 7 spouses [21.9%]). Thus, the intraspousal transmission of GBV-C/HGV was undeniable in these seven couples. The respective positive rates of 175 sex- and age-matched controls were 7 (4.0%), 26 (14.9%), and 0 (the total prevalence of GBV-C/HGV was 34 [19.4%]). No significant difference in positive rates was observed between the subjects/spouses and the controls. Five spouses among the seven couples who were positive for any of GBV-C/HGV markers had parenteral risk factors such as blood transfusion, acupuncture, and major surgery. CONCLUSION: Based on these observations, we cannot draw a definitive conclusion that intraspousal transmission of GBV-C/HGV had occurred among these seven couples.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Risk of complications and uterine malignancies in women undergoing hysterectomy for presumed benign leiomyomas.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidences of complications and uterine malignancies among women undergoing hysterectomies for presumed benign leiomyomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 923 women who underwent total hysterectomies between January 1983 and December 1997 at our hospital due to presumed benign leiomyomas. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of the patients was 44. 5 +/- 5.2 years, 105 +/- 35 minutes was required for the procedure, and 405 +/- 312 ml of blood was lost during the procedure. Forty-one (4.4%) women demonstrated complications of intraoperative hemorrhages and required transfused blood. Urinary tract and bowel injuries occurred in 10 (1.1%) and 2 (0.2%) women, respectively. One woman (0.1%) died from pulmonary embolism that occurred on postoperative day 1. One woman (0.1%) required relaparotomy to control intraabdominal hemorrhage. Uterine malignancies were discovered postoperatively in 4 (0.4%) women, including 2 endometrial carcinoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma, and 1 endometrial stromal sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of complications and unrecognized uterine malignancies were similar to the results of previous studies. Of patients undergoing hysterectomy for presumed benign leiomyomas, the risk of major complications was 6.0% (55/923) and the risk of preoperatively undiagnosed uterine malignancies was 0.4%.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Malignant seeding of the lumpectomy cavity upon breast-conserving surgery.

One of the etiologic factors involved in local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery may be malignant seeding of the wound during the lumpectomy procedure. A total of 340 patients with stage I and II breast cancer were entered into the study. Of these, 270 patients received breast-conserving surgery (BCS group), and the other 70 patients underwent mastectomy (control group). After resection, lavage cytology was performed at the surgical wound. There were 55 patients (20.4%) who showed positive lavage cytology in the BCS group. In the control group, there were only 3 patients (4.3%) with positive cytology. Positivity was significantly higher in the former group (p = 0.00064). Patients with evidence of cutting across cancer lesions showed significantly higher positive rates in lavage cytology (p < 0.00001). Positivity in lavage cytology was significantly higher in patients with positive surgical margins evaluated by frozen sections (p = 0.0017), touch cytology (p < 0.0001) and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections (lateral or medial margin; p = 0.0036, anterior and posterior margin: p = 0.0210). The positivity was also significantly higher in patients with an extensive intraductal component (p < 0.0001), and less than or equal to 50 (p = 0.0061) years of age. Multivariate analysis revealed that the highest relative risk factor for positive cytology was evidence of cutting across cancer lesions (relative risk = 8. 166; p < 0.00001).

Adult↗

PubMed1999

The worst histologic elements predict prognosis in moderately-differentiated prostate cancer patients with androgen-withdrawal endocrine therapy.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the prognostic value of the worst histologic elements in 155 patients with moderately-differentiated prostate cancer (Gleason sum 5-7) treated with androgen-withdrawal endocrine therapy. METHODS: In individual cases, the proportion (%) of medullary/solid combined with columns-and-cords/trabecular (MED & C-C), regarded as the worst histologic elements, determined according to WHO-Mostofi's classification of histologic patterns, within the total adenocarcinoma area obtained from needle specimens was estimated. RESULTS: Patients with proportion of MED & C-C >5% had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with <5% (p < 0.05). A significant difference was also found in the survival curves of patients grouped by stage (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference among the patients with Gleason sum of 5, 6 and 7. Multivariate analysis showed that stage and MED & C-C had independent prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: Proportion of MED & C-C may provide useful prognostic information about patients with moderately-differentiated, Gleason sum 5-7, prostate cancer treated with androgen-withdrawal endocrine therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

[Population pharmacokinetic analysis of theophylline: relationship between serum concentrations and clinical effects in therapeutic drug monitoring].

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of theophylline is essential duties at hospital pharmacy in Japan. The relationship between serum concentrations and clinical effects of theophylline has been investigated. The pharmacokinetics of theophylline was determined from the concentration of theophylline in the serum which were calculated on the basis of TDM for patients administered theophylline. The one-compartment model as a pharmacokinetic model was assumed. The relationship between clinical effects of theophylline and the predicted concentrations calculated using population parameters was evaluated. The obtained parameters are ka(h-1) = 0.223, ke(h-1) = 0.047 (1-0.0025.age(y) (p.o.) and 0.076(1-0.0025.age(y)) (d.i.v.), Vd(1/kg) = 0.733 (p.o.) and 0.830 (d.i.v.). The bioavailability is 0.732, and theophylline/aminophylline is 0.846. The model including no serum creatinine as a variational factor was considered to be best. The following three groups were used as a clinical evaluation; effective as theophylline therapy was 43%, no change of the clinical status after administration of theophylline was 42%, and aggravation after administration of theophylline was 15%. There is no relationship between the predicted concentration using parameters of the final model and these three groups. These results suggest that TDM of theophylline should be assessed in terms of clinical effects and also suggests that in should be kept monitoring from the viewpoint of the prevention of toxic effects in the theophylline therapy.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1999

Cloning of Bacillus stearothermophilus ctaA and heme A synthesis with the CtaA protein produced in Escherichia coli.

The Bacillus stearothermophilus ctaA gene, which is required for heme A synthesis, was found upstream of the ctaBCDEF/caaEABCD gene cluster as in B. subtilis and B. firmus. The deduced protein sequence indicate that CtaA is a 35-kDa intrinsic membrane protein with seven hydrophobic segments. Alignment of CtaA sequences showed conserved residues including histidines that may be involved in heme B binding and substrate binding. Expression of ctaA in E. coli resulted in increased formation of a membrane-bound b-type cytochrome, heme A production, and severe growth inhibition. Furthermore, B. stearothermophilus CtaA produced in E. coli was found to catalyze the conversion of heme O to heme A in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Disulfide formation in bovine zona pellucida glycoproteins during fertilization: evidence for the involvement of cystine cross-linkages in hardening of the zona pellucida.

The time for solubilization of the bovine zona pellucida in a hypotonic buffer containing 5% (v/v) beta-mercaptoethanol and 7 mol urea l-1 increased by 10% after fertilization. Coupling with a specific fluorescent thiol probe, monobromobimane (mBBr), was markedly greater in the zona pellucida of ovarian eggs compared with fertilized eggs, indicating that the cysteine residues in the zona pellucida of unfertilized eggs are oxidized to cystines during fertilization. After endo-beta-galactosidase digestion to remove N-acetyllactosamine repeats of the carbohydrate chains, three zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZPA, ZPB and ZPC) coupled with the fluorescent bimane groups were fractionated efficiently by reverse-phase HPLC. Estimation of bimane groups in the three components and SDS-PAGE revealed that intramolecular disulfide bonds in ZPA and intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds in ZPB were formed during fertilization, but oxidation of cysteine residues in ZPC was low. Specific proteolysis of ZPA during fertilization was also observed. These results indicate that the formation of disulfide linkages together with specific proteolysis result in the construction of a rigid zona pellucida structure, which is responsible for hardening of the zona pellucida.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

External carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty using internal jugular vein--two case reports.

A 59-year-old male and a 74-year-old male presented with occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and stenosis at the origin of the ipsilateral external carotid artery manifesting as cerebral ischemia. External carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty using the internal jugular vein was performed. Special care was taken to obliterate the stump of the carotid artery using a Weck clip in one case and plication with non-absorbable sutures in the other. Cerebral blood flow in the affected hemisphere was increased after surgery and the patients remained asymptomatic. External carotid endarterectomy has several special aspects such as patch angioplasty and elimination of the stump which must be understood.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Various extrahepatic manifestations caused by hepatitis C virus infection.

It has been reported that hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes not only liver disease but also disorders of other organs and tissues. Previously, many HCV-related extrahepatic manifestations have been reported. In this study, we report 2 patients in whom tongue cancer was detected during the treatment of HCV-related liver disease. In one patient, tongue cancer was detected during the treatment of HCV-related liver cirrhosis, and articular rheumatism developed thereafter. The duration of HCV-related liver disease was 10 years. In the other patient, tongue cancer was detected during the treatment of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. This patient had a past history of thyroid disease. The duration of HCV-related liver disease was 6 years. In these patients, the possibility that several conditions incidentally and concurrently developed cannot be denied. However, the conditions described above may be regarded as HCV-related extra-hepatic manifestations. In patients with HCV infection, it is important to examine conditions in organs other than the liver. Careful follow-up is needed.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Expression and prognostic value of CD44 isoforms in transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter.

PURPOSE: We retrospectively evaluated the expression and prognostic value of CD44 isoforms in transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a labeled streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method we performed immunohistochemical staining of archival tissue specimens from 62 men and 26 women with a mean age of 66.5 years who had transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter. RESULTS: The expression of CD44 standard (CD44s) and splice variant 6 (CD44v6) proteins was significantly decreased in relation to histological grade and pathological stage, while expression of the CD44 splice variant 3 (CD44v3) protein was decreased in relation to histological grade. The prognosis was more favorable in patients with greater versus less than 25% CD44s positive cells. CD44v3 and CD44v6 proteins had no prognostic value. Multivariate analysis indicated that only pathological stage has an independent prognostic value. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of CD44 isoforms is closely associated with tumor differentiation and progression. However, it is not an independent marker and has no statistical significance greater than that of stage.

Adult↗