Rice bodies in ischiogluteal bursitis.
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
Biomedical subjects
S Yoshida
Publications and source records attributed to S Yoshida.
Three channelled aortic dissection.
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Adult↗
High magnification bronchovideoscopy combined with narrow band imaging could detect capillary loops of angiogenic squamous dysplasia in heavy smokers at high risk for lung cancer.
BACKGROUND: We investigated the use of high magnification bronchovideoscopy combined with narrow band imaging (NBI) for the detailed examination of angiogenic squamous dysplasia (ASD). This was carried out in relation to bronchial vascular patterns with abnormal mucosal fluorescence in heavy smokers at high risk for lung cancer. METHODS: Forty eight patients with sputum cytology specimens suspicious or positive for malignancy were entered into the study. Conventional white light and fluorescence bronchoscopic examination was first performed. Observations by high magnification bronchovideoscopy with conventional white light were made primarily at sites of abnormal fluorescence, and then repeated with NBI light to examine microvascular networks in the bronchial mucosa. Spectral features on the RGB (Red/Green/Blue) sequential videoscope system were changed from the conventional RGB broadband filter to the new NBI filter. The wavelength ranges of the new NBI filter were B1: 400-430 nm, B2: 420-470 nm, and G: 560-590 nm. ASD tissues were also examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with argon-krypton (488 nm) and argon (514 nm) laser sources. RESULTS: The microvessels, vascular networks of various grades, and dotted vessels in ASD tissues were clearly observed in NBI-B1 images. Diameters of the dotted vessels visible on NBI-B1 images agreed with the diameters of ASD capillary blood vessels diagnosed by pathological examination. Capillary blood vessels were also clearly visualised by green fluorescence by confocal laser scanning microscopy. There was a significant association between the frequency of dotted vessels by NBI-B1 imaging and tissues confirmed as ASD pathologically (p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: High magnification bronchovideoscopy combined with NBI was useful in the detection of capillary blood vessels in ASD lesions at sites of abnormal fluorescence. This may enable the discrimination between ASD and another pre-invasive bronchial lesion.
Adult↗
Production of colony-stimulating factor in human dental pulp fibroblasts.
Class II major histocompatilibity complex (MHC)-expressing cells are usually distributed in dental pulp, and it was postulated that the colony-stimulating factor (CSF) derived from dental pulp fibroblasts contributes to the migration of class II MHC-expressing cells into pulp tissue. This study aimed to investigate the CSF production of human dental pulp fibroblasts. In pulp tissue sections, granulocyte (G)-CSF was detected from normal teeth, while G-CSF, macrophage (M)-CSF, and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF were detected from teeth with dentinal caries. In cultured dental pulp fibroblasts, G-CSF was detected by immunostaining, immunoprecipitation, and ELISA, and mRNAs of G-CSF, M-CSF, and GM-CSF were detected by RT-PCR. The dental pulp fibroblasts cultured with TNF-alpha were found to increase the G-CSF expression and to produce M-CSF and GM-CSF. These findings suggest that dental pulp fibroblasts usually produce G-CSF. In the presence of TNF-alpha, dental pulp fibroblast express M-CSF and GM-CSF.
Adolescent↗
Loss of PTEN expression followed by Akt phosphorylation is a poor prognostic factor for patients with endometrial cancer.
To clarify whether and how PTEN and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway relates to endometrial cancer we examined the expression of these pathway-related proteins in patients with endometrial cancer. Of 103 endometrial cancers, 37 (36%) showed negative immunohistochemical staining for PTEN. Western blotting revealed that the level of phosphorylated Akt expression in PTEN-negative cases was significantly higher compared with that in positive cases. We found a significant inverse correlation between PTEN and phosphorylated Akt. The present study indicates the phosphorylation of Akt accompanied by the loss of PTEN in clinical specimens of endometrial cancers. In order to investigate the relationship between PTEN expression and prognosis in endometrial cancer, 98 patients with advanced endometrial cancer were newly enrolled. The survival rate for PTEN-positive patients was significantly higher than that for PTEN-negative or -heterogeneous staining patients. Of the 98 patients, 25 underwent radiation therapy, 62 received chemotherapy after surgery, and the remaining 11 did not have any postoperative treatment. When patients underwent chemotherapy, the survival rate for PTEN-positive cases was clearly higher than that for PTEN-negative or -heterogeneous cases (62.4 vs 11.8%). Subsequent multivariate analysis revealed that PTEN staining was an independent prognostic factor for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The current study demonstrates that PTEN-positive staining is a significant prognostic indicator of favorable survival for patients with advanced endometrial cancer who undergo postoperative chemotherapy.
Adult↗
[Total arch replacement for right aortic arch with Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant left subclavian artery].
A 57-year-old man suspected of having angina pectoris underwent coronary angiography and comprehensive examination, which revealed a right-side aortic arch accompanying Kommerell diverticulum and a aberrant left subclavian artery. Esophagography indicated that the esophagus was compressed on its right posterior side and the computed tomography (CT) revealed that the posterior side of the tracheal was compressed, however, the patient experienced no difficulty in breathing, hoarseness of voice or dysphasia. The size of the aortic diverticulum was less than 5 cm and the patient showed no symptom, however, if it was left untreated, there was a risk of rupture in the future. Also the esophagus and tracheal may develop complications due to prolonged compression. Therefore, we decided that the case required surgical operation. Total arch replacement was performed through mediastinotomy and right posterolateral in the 4th intercostal. The postoperative condition was good, and the patient was discharged without any complications.
Aorta, Thoracic↗
[Coronary vasospasm during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting; report of two cases].
Coronary vasospasm is one of the most dangerous and fatal complications of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation. Our experiences in recent 2 cases happened during off-pump CABG (OPCAB) are presented. Case 1: A 63-year-old male who had 3 vessels disease underwent OPCAB using left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and the radial artery. When the sternotomy was going to be closed, ST elevation of electrocardiogram (ECG) occurred and was followed by ventricular fibrillation. Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) were applied immediately and an additional grafting to first diagonal artery (D 1) was carried out using a saphenous vein. Case 2: A 67-year-old male underwent OPCAB using LITA and the radial artery. ST elevation of ECG suddenly occurred and was followed by complete atrio-ventricular (AV) block when the sternum was closed. IABP and the ventricular pacing were applied immediately. While OPCAB may be less invasive operating method than conventional CABG, we should pay more attention to the coronary vasospasm.
Aged↗
Estradiol/progesterone-releasing vaginal rings for hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women.
In order to investigate whether vaginal rings delivering estradiol and progesterone could prevent endometrial hyperplasia and relieve climacteric symptoms, two variants of rings were used in 20 postmenopausal women with intact uteri for 4 months. One ring designated as PI-002 (n = 8) delivered in vitro estradiol 160 microg/day and progesterone 20 mg/day, while the other (PI-003; n = 12) delivered the same dosage of estradiol but only half the progesterone (10 mg/day). Serum estrone, estradiol and progesterone were measured at pretreatment, weekly for 4 weeks, and then monthly for 4 months. The incidence of hot flushes, frequency of night sweats, mood scores, vaginal discharge and bleeding profiles were recorded. Endometrial thickness was monitored by ultrasonography. The mean estrone level was 50 pg/ml for 16 weeks. The mean serum estradiol level was 75 pg/ml for the first 4 weeks and gradually decreased to 50 pg/ml at 16 weeks. The mean progesterone level with the PI-002 ring was 5 ng/ml for the first 4 weeks and decreased to 3.5 ng/ml at 16 weeks. With the PI-003 ring, the mean progesterone level was initially 3.5 ng/ml and then decreased to 2.5 ng/ml thereafter. Significant decreases in the incidence of hot flushes and night sweats as well as a striking improvement in mood scores were noted as early as 2 weeks after insertion. Three of the 20 women discontinued the treatment, owing to ring expulsion. Increased vaginal discharge was observed with both rings in the first 6 weeks. Vaginal bleeding was more frequently apparent among users of the PI-002 ring, although bleeding and spotting were confined to the first 6 weeks. Ultrasonographic monitoring of the endometrium constantly revealed a thickness of < 3 mm for both variants throughout use for 16 weeks. An estradiol/progesterone-releasing vaginal ring is a potential alternative to long-term hormone replacement therapy with minimum attention required. It provides effective protection against endometrial hyperplasia.
Administration, Intravaginal↗
del11(p11-13) with overexpression of Wilms' tumor gene during leukemic transformation of myelodysplastic syndrome.
We report a case of leukemic transformation from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a sole chromosome abnormality of del11(p11-13). The patient had been diagnosed as having MDS (refractory anemia with excess of blast cells, RAEB) in May 1998. At that time, cytogenetic analysis of bone marrow cells showed a normal karyotype. The patient received sequential chemotherapy with low-dose cytosine arabinoside (AraC) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Complete remission was obtained with this treatment, but the disease gradually progressed after June 1999. Cytogenetical analysis showed del11(p11-13) in 6 of 40 cells analyzed at that time, and the disease had evoluted to overt leukemia in December 1999 with a gradual increase in the abnormal clone. Furthermore, mRNA of the WT1 gene located at chromosome 11p13 was overexpressed during leukemic transformation, whereas it was not detected at the time of the initial diagnosis of MDS (RAEB) in May 1998. It was thought that this chromosome deletion and overexpression of WT1 resulted in the leukemic transformation in this patient. This is the first case report of del11(p11-13) being considered to be the primary cause of leukemic transformation from MDS.
Blast Crisis↗
Dalitz plot analysis of the decay D(+)-->K(-)pi(+)pi(+) and indication of a low-mass scalar Kpi resonance.
We study the Dalitz plot of the decay D(+)-->K(-)pi(+)pi(+) with a sample of 15090 events from Fermilab experiment E791. Modeling the decay amplitude as the coherent sum of known Kpi resonances and a uniform nonresonant term, we do not obtain an acceptable fit. If we allow the mass and width of the K(*)(0)(1430) to float, we obtain values consistent with those from PDG but the chi(2) per degree of freedom of the fit is still unsatisfactory. A good fit is found when we allow for the presence of an additional scalar resonance, with mass 797+/-19+/-43 MeV/c(2) and width 410+/-43+/-87 MeV/c(2). The mass and width of the K(*)(0)(1430) become 1459+/-7+/-5 MeV/c(2) and 175+/-12+/-12 MeV/c(2), respectively. Our results provide new information on the scalar sector in hadron spectroscopy.
Journal Article↗
A transcriptionally active maize MuDR-like transposable element in rice and its relatives.
Two Mu-like transposable elements were cloned from a rice genomic library using a partial cDNA clone that exhibits high homology to the mudrA gene of the maize element MuDR. Database searches led to the identification of six other sequences that carried highly homologous terminal inverted repeats (TIRs). All the rice elements possessed approximately 200-bp TIRs, and four were flanked by 9-bp target-site duplications (TSDs). The longer of the two cloned elements, OsMu4-2, could potentially encode a protein colinear with a MURA-like transposase, but it had stop codons in the coding region indicating that it is a pseudogene. All the other elements had large internal deletions. Direct dinucleotide repeats were found in two elements at positions flanking the deleted regions, suggesting that the deletions arose via the interrupted-gap-repair mechanism. Sequences related to empty sites of insertion were found in OsMu4-2 and one of the elements identified in the databases. These results provide evidence that the rice OsMu element was active and transposed in the past. Analysis of OsMu4-2 cDNAs revealed two types of transcripts produced by alternative splicing. Genomic Southern analysis suggested that OsMu4-2 was conserved in rice species with the A genome, but a deleted version was unique to japonica subspecies. Some wild rice species harbored paralogous copies of the OsMu element.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
A phosphodiesterase inhibitor, cilostazol, prevents the onset of silent brain infarction in Japanese subjects with Type II diabetes.
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, cilostazol, on the prevention of silent brain infarction in diabetic patients without symptoms of vascular events. METHODS: A total of 89 subjects were allocated at random to the cilostazol group ( n = 43) or the control group ( n = 46). RESULTS: After the study period (3.2 +/- 0.5 years), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) (means +/- SD) had increased ( p < 0.01) by 0.18 +/- 0.19 mm in the control group. In the cilostazol group, intima-media thickness showed almost no change (-0.00 +/- 0.16 mm). In the control group, 2 out of 46 subjects showed symptomatic brain infarctions and 10 out of 34 subjects without infarct-like region assessed by standard brain MRI examination showed silent brain infarctions after the observation period. On the other hand, no subjects in the cilostazol group showed silent brain infarction or strokes during the study period. Both at the beginning and end of the study period, the number of infarct-like regions positively correlated with IMT ( r = 0.335, p < 0.001 or r = 0.347, p < 0.001 respectively). The progression of infarct-like regions was directly related to the increase in IMT during the study period ( r = 0.299, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: These data demonstrated that cilostazol could prevent the onset of silent brain infarction in Japanese subjects with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Also, an increase in intima-media thickness of the carotid artery wall could be able to predict the onset of silent brain infarction.
Aged↗
An assessment of histopathological criteria for infection in joint arthroplasty in rheumatoid synovium.
Intraoperative frozen section is reported to be a reliable means of identifying occult infection for preoperative evaluation of arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to determine whether the reported histopathological criteria--the existence of more than 10 polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) per high-power field--is valuable for determination of infection during the arthroplasty of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The permanent histological sections of RA synovium were analysed to study the degree of infiltration of PMNs. Furthermore, in order to examine the penetrative distribution of PMNs within the synovial tissues, immunohistochemical staining of PMNs was performed. In addition, the clinical history, from the postoperative period to the present, was investigated in 46 patients (60 joints). The presence of early- and/or late-stage postoperative infection, the development of postoperative fever, the progression of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (more than 30 mm per hour) and the changes in CRP (more than 10 mg per litre) were further examined and compared with the histopathological tissue analyses and findings. The results demonstrated the presence of more than five PMNs per high-power field, excluding surface fibrin and inflammatory exudate in at least five separate microscopic fields in 10 joints (16.7%) of nine patients, out of 60 joints of 46 patients, in which no postoperative infection was evident. As to the magnitude of penetrative distribution of PMNs in 10 joints, there was a trend of deepening infiltration among the patients with intensive PMN infiltration. In addition, no development of postoperative fever, CRP or continuous indications of high ESR values were evident in this group. As the existence of more than 10 PMN per high-power field was not absolutely indicative of occult infection, investigation of frozen section during arthroplasty should be carefully managed.
Adult↗
Different expressions of connexin 43 and 32 in the fibroblasts of human dental pulp.
The expression and localization of gap junctional proteins connexin (Cx) 26, 32, and 43 was examined in human dental pulp. Dental pulp tissues were obtained from human third molars immediately after extraction. Some pulp tissues were used for cell culture, and the rest for histological observations. Immunostaining for cultured dental pulp fibroblasts (DPFs) showed that Cx32 and 43 were expressed in human DPFs, and proteins corresponding to 27 (Cx32) and 43kDa (Cx43) were identified by Western blot analysis. Immunostaining for tissue sections showed that the expression of Cx32 and 43 was observed in the entire region of the pulp and further strong expression of Cx32 was established beneath the cell-rich zone. Considering the close relationship between Cx types and cell functions, the results indicate that DPFs beneath the cell-rich zone may have specific, Cx32-related functions. The cell rich zone is thought to contain progenitor odontoblasts that can be induced to differentiate into mature odontoblasts in response to wounding. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that DPFs just beneath the cell-rich zone produce proteins and induce odontoblast differentiation from the cells in the cell-rich zone.
Adult↗
The role of fungi in the transfer and cycling of radionuclides in forest ecosystems.
Fungi are one of the most important components of forest ecosystems, since they determine to a large extent the fate and transport processes of radionuclides in forests. They play a key role in the mobilization, uptake and translocation of nutrients and are likely to contribute substantially to the long-term retention of radiocesium in organic horizons of forest soil. This paper gives an overview of the role of fungi regarding the transfer and cycling of nutrients and radionuclides, with special emphasis on mycorrhizal symbiosis. Common definitions of transfer factors, soil-fungus and soil-green plant, including their advantages and limitations. are reviewed. Experimental approaches to quantify the bioavailability of radionuclides in soil and potential long-term change are discussed.
Biological Availability↗
Analysis of brain activity during clenching by fMRI.
It has been considered difficult to obtain satisfactory functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) during jaw movements because the head motion during jaw movements makes artefacts on the images. To avoid these artefacts, we chose clenching task and larger pixels to allow some head motion of the subjects. Further the study discarded all data from subjects whom the head was evaluated to move more than 0.3 mm. The study examined 10 healthy right-handed volunteers with echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and functional MR signal intensity changes could be obtained in all subjects. However, in the analysis of each pixel of individuals, three different types of pixels were established. It was determined that the pixels that synchronized positively with the task on/off and where signal intensity increase was below 10% expressed the real brain activity. Pixels showing the real brain activity were found in the sensory, motor and pre-motor cortexes in both hemispheres in all subjects, and also in the insula region of two subjects. No pixels were found in the striatum and supplementary motor areas. From the above careful consideration and individual analysis of each pixel, it was concluded that brain activity during the clenching task could be obtained by fMRI.
Adult↗
Atrial fibrillation threshold predicted long-term efficacy of pharmacological treatment of patients without structural heart disease.
AIMS: To ascertain if an electrophysiological study could predict long-term efficacy of anti-arrhythmic drugs in the treatment of lone atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-four patients (36 males, 8 females, age 55.5 +/- 10.6) with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were enrolled to undergo serial electrophysiological studies at the bedside. Two quadripolar catheters were inserted via the subclavian vein. Disopyramide (D: 2 mg/kg iv), cibenzoline (C: 1.4 mg/kg iv), aprindine (A: 2 mg/kg iv), pilsicainide (P: 2 mg/kg po) and flecainide (F: 3 mg/kg po) were tested. Atrial fibrillation threshold (AFT) was measured as the lowest current amplitude of rapid pacing (50 Hz for 1 s) to induce atrial fibrillation lasting more than 30 s. Before drug treatment, AFT was 3.9 +/- 0.3 mA. Pharmacological treatment raised AFT as follows: D 5.9 +/- 0.9 mA, C 7.6 +/- 1.2 mA, A 8.1 +/-1.1 mA, P 6.0 +/- 0.8 mA, F 7.3 +/- 1.1 mA. Recurrence of atrial fibrillation was observed during 1-year follow-up in 12% of cases when they were treated with a drug that raised AFT by 5 mA or more. On the other hand, the recurrence rate was 87% when patients were treated with a drug that raised AFT by less than 5 mA (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: AFT was a good predictor of long-term efficacy of pharmacological treatment against atrial fibrillation.
Aged↗
Treatment of asthma patients with herbal medicine TJ-96: a randomized controlled trial.
Alternative medicine use has increased at a remarkable pace all over the world in recent years. Although herbal medicine for the treatment of asthma is becoming the focus of public attention, randomized studies had not been performed, even in Eastern countries including Japan. This study was designed to investigate whether one of the Japanese government approved herbal complexes Saiboku-to (TJ-96) is effective for the treatment of atopic asthma, and to investigate whether this protective activity is associated with a reduction in eosinophilic inflammation. A double-blind, randomized, crossover design was used. Subjects received 2.5 g of TJ-96 or placebo orally 3 times daily for 4 weeks and then, after a washout period of at least 4 weeks, crossed over to receive the alternative treatment. We assessed the effects of pretreatment with TJ-96 on bronchoconstriction precipitated by inhalation of methacholine. Furthermore, eosinophil counts and measurement of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) were performed. After 4 weeks of treatment with TJ-96, values of PC20 -methacholine significantly improved in the treatment with TJ-96. Also, patients' symptoms, blood eosinophils, serum ECP, sputum eosinophils, and sputum ECP were significantly decreased. Our results suggest that TJ-96 has an antiinflammatory effect on bronchial eosinophilic infiltration. This study raises further interesting therapeutic possibilities and argues for further trials of new approaches to the treatment of asthma.
Adult↗