Biomedical subjects

S Sawada

Publications and source records attributed to S Sawada.

At least 649 records · Page 36Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Budd-Chiari syndrome treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Report of a case.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed in a patient with an incomplete obstruction of the inferior vena cava producing the Budd-Chiari syndrome. The web was successfully dilated percutaneously by three simultaneously inflated 9 mm balloon catheters. Symptoms and signs of obstruction of the inferior vena cava improved without any complications. This method is recommended because of its safety, low procedure related risk, and the possibility of recurrent use.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Routes of infection of acute suppurative thyroiditis diagnosed by barium examination.

A fistula between the left pyriform sinus and the left thyroid gland region has been reported to be the route of infection in several cases of acute suppurative thyroiditis. Another four patients with acute suppurative thyroiditis have been encountered in whom a fistula from the hypopharynx was demonstrated radiographically. In three patients the fistulous tract was situated on the right side, and in one of these cases the fistula originated from the epiglottic vallecula rather than the pyriform sinus. These locations have not been reported earlier. Endoscopic examination was valuable for confirming the diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased soluble CD4 molecules and the role of soluble CD4 production in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We investigated the concentration of soluble CD4 molecules (sCD4) in serum, and the mechanism of sCD4 production from T lymphocytes, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The concentration of sCD4 molecules was determined using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques, we studied the presence of alternatively spliced mRNA encoding the transmembrane site of CD4, and the mRNA encoding a conservative region of the CD4 binding site of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in the serum of RA patients. Levels of sCD4 found in RA patients were higher than in normal controls (199 U/ml compared with 8.4 U/ml, respectively), and correlated with additional medical parameters. The results of RT-PCR suggested that the higher sCD4 levels may be due to shedding from the cell membrane after protease digestion, not to alternative splicing or a reaction to viral binding to sCD4.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new tactile skin sensor for measuring skin hardness in patients with systemic sclerosis and autoimmune Raynaud's phenomenon.

We used a new tactile sensor to measure the elastic properties of skin in patients with systemic sclerosis or Raynaud's phenomenon. The sensor consists of a piezoelectric vibrator with vibration pickup to measure frequency changes when the sensor is placed on the skin. The mean frequency change at the skin surface of the proximol third phalanx in patients with systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than in age- and sex-matched controls. The results in systemic sclerosis patients were statistically correlated to the Modified Rodnan Skin Thickness Score. This technique was also used to measure the therapeutic efficacy of salpogrelate, a new specific serotonin receptor antagonist. A greater mean frequency change was seen after treatment. We conclude that this new tactile sensor is useful for quantitatively measuring skin sclerosis and may help determine the efficacy of therapeutic treatments.

Benzene Derivatives↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of Grb-2-related adaptor protein gene (GRAP) and peptide molecule in salivary glands of MRL/lpr mice and patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is poorly understood. In this study we used an in-house mouse spleen cDNA microarray to analyse genes in spleens from MRL/lpr (an SS mouse model) mice. We have previously demonstrated that GRAP genes were up-regulated in salivary glands of the same mice. The microarray analysis showed that seven out of 2304 genes were highly expressed in spleens from the MRL/lpr mice, one of which was the GRAP gene. In other words, the GRAP gene is highly expressed in the salivary glands and spleen of MRL/lpr mice. We also carried out immunohistochemical studies. Mouse and human Grb-2-related adaptor protein (GRAP) antigens were expressed on ductal cells and infiltrating lymphocytes in salivary glands of MRL/lpr mice and SS patients, but only weakly in controls (MRL/+ mice and individuals with salivary cysts). These results suggest that the GRAP gene might have a role in the pathogenesis of SS.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Huge IgD plasmacytoma in the abdomen presenting coagulation necrosis.

A 65-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed in 1996 with a pathological fracture of the left femur caused by immunoglobulin D-type myeloma (IgD myeloma). She responded well to combination chemotherapy followed by irradiation. The patient experienced renal failure and became dependent on haemodialysis. In 1999, large plasmacytomas developed in the abdomen and left humerus. The abdominal tumour appeared to induce gastroduodenal ulcers and jejunal obstruction. We initiated irradiation therapy without chemotherapy to prevent further growth of the plasmacytoma, although treatment-resistant gastroduodenal ulcers developed. Continued blood loss from the gastroduodenal ulcers resulted in a deterioration in the patient's health, which prevented successful haemodialysis. An autopsy showed that the plasmacytoma had undergone coagulation necrosis. We conclude that the use of combination chemotherapy with topical irradiation was an acceptable treatment measure against IgD plasmacytoma; irradiation without chemotherapy was the most likely cause of the coagulation necrosis seen in the plasmacytoma at autopsy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Placement of two types of spiral Z-stents at the bronchial carina for the treatment of terminal lung cancer--a new method.

Dumon Y-stents and Dynamic stents are used to treat carinal stenosis, but their placement severely impairs the expectoration of secretions, making frequent bronchoscopic aspiration necessary. We report here five patients with terminal lung cancer who had stenosis of the lower trachea and main bronchi treated using spiral Z-stents. A long tapered spiral Z-stent was placed in the lower trachea and one main bronchus, and a short straight spiral Z-stent in the contralateral main bronchus. No patients required bronchoscopic aspiration of secretions after stenting. Before stenting, all of the patients were severely dyspnoeic, requiring oxygen and having to sit in the orthopnoeic position. After stenting, the patients' dyspnoea improved, with one patient becoming ambulant without the need for oxygen support. These results suggest that the use of spiral Z-stents in stenosis of the tracheal carina in advanced lung cancer is effective in reducing the need for bronchoscopic aspiration and enhancing quality of life.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of Hochu-ekki-to, Yoku-kan-san and Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to on behavioral despair and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.

Effects of the Kampo (Chinese herbal) medicines Hochu-ekki-to Yoku-kan-san and Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to, on behavioral despair and acetic acid-induced writhing were studied in mice. The Kampo medicines were administered for 14 consecutive days in the drinking water. In a behavioral despair study, mice were placed in a water tank containing a water wheel from which there was no escape for 15 min and the number of wheel rotations was counted as escape attempts. In accord with previous studies, imipramine (10 mg/kg i.p.) given daily for 3 days 10 min before testing markedly increased the number of wheel rotations. Hochu-ekki-to (60, 150 and 300 mg/kg/day) similarly increased the number of wheel rotations but the effect was not dose-dependent. Yoku-kan-san markedly increased the number of wheel rotations at lower doses (60 and 150 mg/kg/day), but decreased the number at the highest dose (300 mg/kg/day). Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to also increased the number of wheel rotations at the lowest does (60 mg/kg/day) but decreased the number at higher doses (150 and 300 mg/kg/day). In an antinociception study, all these Kampo medicines reduced the number of acetic acid-induced writhings, although the effect of Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to were not dose-dependent. These results suggests that these Kampo medicines may have antidepressive and antinociceptive properties.

Analgesics, Non-Narcotic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Variation in heat sensitivity through the cell cycle of M10 and Burkitt P3HR-1 cells.

The cell-cycle age response to 44 or 45 degrees C hyperthermic treatment was studied in M10, a mutant of mouse L5178Y cells, and human Burkitt P3HR-1 cells synchronized by centrifugal elutriation. Survival response to 44 degrees C hyperthermia or radiation showed that Burkitt cells were relatively hyperthermic resistant and average in radiosensitivity, while M10 cells were relatively hyperthermic sensitive and substantially radiosensitive. A typical age-response to hyperthermia through the cell-cycle was observed in M10 cells, although no significant variation in the response to hyperthermia was demonstrated in Burkitt P3HR-1 cells. Combined effect of procaine with 44 degrees C 20-min treatment for Burkitt P3HR-1 cells showed a substantial enhancement of cytotoxicity in S phase cells. The probable implication of membrane composition, membrane changes due to heat and its modifying agents are discussed. Furthermore, when hyperthermia was combined with radiation in Burkitt P3HR-1 cells, cytotoxic enhancement was observed in G1/S boundary phase, not in S phase.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multidetector-row CT analysis of time-dependent changes in lung fields after chest irradiation: usefulness of precision scans.

Time-dependent changes in lung fields after chest irradiation were analyzed using multidetector-row CT. Routine scans at 3-mm raw thickness and 8-mm recon thickness and precision scans at 0.5-mm raw thickness and 0.5-mm recon thickness were compared with respect to the number of each finding and the time-dependent changes in the rate of each finding. Among the findings visualized by these scans, ground-glass opacity (GGO) showed the highest overall appearance rate. Precision scans exceeded routine scans in the rates of all findings except GGO and confluent shadows, and the two types of scans showed the greatest difference in the rate of GGO. Since we found that GGO tended to be overestimated on routine scans, we confirmed it by a phantom experiment. Precision scans were similar or superior to routine scans in the rates of findings except 3 months after irradiation. We consider that the concomitant use of precision scans is useful in that it allows more accurate evaluation of various post-irradiation changes in lung fields including GGO, in which the lesion is in a reversible stage.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhancement of antitumor effect of hyperthermia with glucose administration in murine mammary carcinoma.

Antitumor effects of hyperthermia are enhanced by lowering the pH in the tumor tissue with administration of glucose. This decreased pH in the tumor tissue with glucose administration was determined using mouse experimental tumors. 31P-MRS microelectrodes were used for the measurement of pH. By using these two measurement methods, time course change in the tumor tissue was determined in the controls and the groups treated with 6 g/kg of intraperitoneal glucose. The determination of pH with 31P-MRS was calculated from the chemical shift of the peak of creatine phosphate (Pcr) and that of inorganic phosphate (Pi). Following glucose administration, the tumor tissue showed a decrease of 0.3 pH units with the microelectrode method, but did not show any significant decrease in pH with the MRS determination. This finding suggested that 31P-MRS showed intracellular pH (pHi) due to the localization of Pi and that the microelectrode indicated interstitial or extracellular pH (pHe). The ATP/Pi ratio obtained in tumor tissue 24 h after heat treatment (with, without glucose) was correlated with tumor inhibition.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A patient with improvement in short-term memory disturbance brought about by radiation therapy for germinoma involving Papez circuit.

A 27-year-old male presented with memory loss. With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), enhanced masses on the right side of hypothalamus, right side of anterior basal ganglia, and left side of hypothalamus were found. Histological analysis of the tumor by stereotactic biopsy proved it to be a germinoma. When related to the map of the thalamic nuclei, the tumor involved anterior column of the fornix and anterior nuclei of the thalamus. Neuropsychological tests prior to radiation therapy disclosed only short-term memory disturbance. The patient received radiation therapy to a total dose of 55 Gy to the primary lesion. After the completion of radiation therapy, the enhanced effect disappeared on gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted MRI. Single photon emission computed tomography indicated improvement in blood flow in the anterior portion of the bilateral thalami. Neuropsychological tests after radiation therapy showed improvement in short-term memory compared with baseline. Test results have remained stable for two and half years. This case indicates the possibility of improvement in memory function by treatment for tumor when it involves part of Papez circuit. Nevertheless, a decrease in intellectual ability by irradiation remains the major problem. Better approaches not only for cure but also to reduce the late effects should be undertaken when radiation therapy is the treatment of choice.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endoscopic pericardial fenestration for a patient with sustained lupus pericarditis.

A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed in January 1982 with SLE based on ANA 1:640, positive LE cell preparation, proteinuria (3+), and pericarditis. In 1984, 1994, and 1997, the pericardial effusion was noted to have increased without signs of disease exacerbation or cardiac tamponade, and pericardial drainage was repeated to control the effusion. A massive pericardial effusion developed in August 1997. After tuberculosis, hypothyroidism, neoplasm, and progression of SLE were ruled out, we decided to perform pericardial fenestration. A safe and minimally invasive pericardial fenestration was successfully completed endoscopically. Pathologic study of the specimen revealed chronic pericarditis. We consider endoscopic pericardial fenestration to be useful for at risk patients with pericarditis to control the effusion and establish a differential diagnosis.

Endoscopy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of cellular sensitization with cisplatin-induced apoptosis by glucose-starved stress in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant A431 cell line.

BACKGROUND: Most solid tumors show resistance to current chemotherapy. This drug resistance can be associated with stress conditions, such as glucose starvation, low pH and hypoxia. These conditions are not observed in normal tissues. These tumor specific conditions commonly cause the glucose-regulated stress response of cancer cells. This stress response leads to induction of resistance to multiple anticancer drugs, such as etoposide, doxorubicin, camptothecin and vincristine. An examination was made of the effect of the glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-inducing conditions on cellular sensitivity to cisplatin (CDDP), which is a widely used drug against solid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used CDDP resistant subline A431/CDDP2 from human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 as previously established. Glucose-starved response showed GRP78 protein by Western blotting. We generated the glucose-starved condition by exposing cells to 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) and examined cellular sensitivity to CDDP. We next examined CDDP induced apoptosis in glucose-starved condition. Furthermore, we determined the JNK1/SAPK and caspase-3 protein levels by Western blotting. RESULTS: The glucose-starved condition was up-regulate GRP78 in the parent A431 cell (A431/P). On the other hand, in A431/CDDP2, GRP78 levels were not changed. The GRP78 inducing stress condition led to cellular sensitization to CDDP in A431/P cells only. DNA fragmentation of A431/P treated with 2-DG increased CDDP-induced apoptosis. A431/CDDP2 was not different with CDDP induced apoptosis in glucose-starved stress condition. The reduction of CDDP-induced apoptosis under glucose-starved stress condition was influenced by JNK1/SAPK and caspase-3 proteins. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the glucose-starved stress condition was associated with increased sensitivity to CDDP in the up-regulated GRP78 cells. Furthermore, the reduction of CDDP-induced apoptosis can be considered as one of the CDDP resistant mechanisms in a glucose-starvation condition.

Antimetabolites↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Percutaneous transfemoral arterial infusion chemotherapy for metastatic liver tumors--placement of 3 Fr balloon catheters.

A 3 Fr single lumen balloon catheter was successfully introduced for arterial infusion chemotherapy by percutaneous transfemoral arterial insertion. This balloon catheter was combined with a 6.3 Fr outer catheter coaxially. After placing the catheter into the target artery, the balloon was ruptured by injecting 1 ml of contrast medium. Alternatively, the balloon was made into a leaky balloon catheter by a small needle puncture before use. In 34 patients with liver tumors, we used this method combined with the continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil for three to five weeks and once-a-week intra-arterial administration of mitomycin C and adriamycin. The result of this therapy was as follows: CR, 8.8%; PR, 29.4%; NC, 50.0%; and PD, 11.8%. No serious complications were encountered in our series except for some minor arterial problems caused by the catheter tip.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disappearance of tumor staining in balloon-occluded proper hepatic angiography.

Intrahepatic tumor staining, which was clearly visualized by common hepatic arteriography, disappeared in balloon-occluded proper hepatic angiography. This finding is interesting in terms of changes in hemodynamics in normal and tumor-bearing livers following hepatic arterial occlusion with balloon catheters.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study of the physical properties of expandable metallic stents.

The expansile force of self-expanding metallic stents is currently estimated only by wall-distending pressure (P). We estimated the expansile force of the stent not only by P but also by F, the degree of embedding into the vessel wall defined as force per unit length of wire. P and F were thought to be useful in selecting the best stent.

Elasticity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Renal venography following renal arterial occlusion by balloon catheter.

Eight patients with renal cancer underwent renal venography after renal arterial occlusion with a balloon catheter. Clear renal venograms were obtained easily. This method is strongly recommended, particularly if a balloon catheter is used for renal artery embolization.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗