[Angiogenesis related factors: angiopoietin-2].
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Angiopoietin-2↗
Biomedical subjects
T Etoh
Publications and source records attributed to T Etoh.
A matrix metalloproteinase induction/activation system exists in the human left ventricular myocardium and is upregulated in heart failure.
BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to matrix remodeling in disease states such as tumor metastases. Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) has been reported to increase MMP expression, and membrane-type MMP or MT1-MMP has been implicated to activate MMPs. The present study examined whether and to what degree EMMPRIN and MT1-MMP were expressed in human left ventricular (LV) myocardium as well as the association with MMP activity and expression in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS AND RESULTS: LV myocardial zymographic MMP activity increased by >2-fold with both nonischemic DCM (n=21) and ischemic DCM (n=16) compared with normal (n=13). LV myocardial abundance of MMP-9 was increased with both forms of DCM. MMP-2 and MMP-3 were increased with nonischemic DCM. MMP-1 levels were decreased with both forms of DCM. EMMPRIN increased by >250% and MT1-MMP increased by >1000% with both forms of DCM. CONCLUSIONS: Increased LV myocardial MMP activity and selective upregulation of MMPs with nonischemic and ischemic forms of DCM occurred. Moreover, a local MMP induction/activation system was identified in isolated normal human LV myocytes that was upregulated with DCM. The control of MMP activation and expression in the failing human LV myocardium represents a new and potentially significant therapeutic target for this disease process.
Adolescent↗
Tumor invasion is inhibited by phosphorylated ascorbate via enrichment of intracellular vitamin C and decreasing of oxidative stress.
Tumor metastasis and invasion were shown to be inhibited by the 2-O-phosphorylated form (Asc2P) of L-ascorbic acid (Asc); intact Asc did not inhibit tumor invasion when added once, but appreciably inhibited it upon repeated addition. The anti-metastatic effect is attributable to a marked enrichment of intracellular Asc by Asc2P, subsequently dephosphorylated. Asc2P scavenged most of the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROSin), and notably inhibited production of matrix metalloproteases and cell motility. ROSin was decreased by Asc2P more markedly than by Asc added once. Thus, involvement of ROSin in tumor invasion and a potent anti-metastatic therapy by ROSin-decreasing agents are suggested.
Animals↗
Enhanced invasion of Tax-expressing fibroblasts into the basement membrane is repressed by phosphorylated ascorbate with simultaneous decreases in intracellular oxidative stress and NF-kappa B activation.
Invasion of rat fibroblastic cells Rat-1 through Matrigel was shown to be promoted by transfection with tax gene of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1. We found that an oxidation-resistant type of vitamin C (Asc), Asc-2-O-phosphate (Asc2P), inhibited the invasion of the tax-transfected Rat-1 cells (W4 cells). Intracellular Asc (Ascin), after enzymatic dephosphorylation of administered Asc2P, was more abundant in W4 cells than in Rat-1 cells, and the ratio of dehydroascorbic acid versus Asc was increased in W4 cells but scarcely in Rat-1 cells, according to the enhanced level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROSin) in W4 cells. Asc2P notably repressed the increases in both ROSin and secretion of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), but did not affect Tax protein expression in tax-transfectants. NF-kappa B activation, as evidenced by its translocation to the nucleus in W4 cells, was also repressed by Asc2P. Thus, the tax-promoted invasion together with the enhanced production of MMPs occurred with NF-kappa B activation and the increase in ROSin, both of which were effectively reduced by Asc2P. These findings indicate the therapeutic efficacy of Ascin-enriching agents for the prevention against tumor invasion in which ROSin plays a major role.
Animals↗
Increased expression of collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and MT1-MMP in oesophageal cancer is related to cancer aggressiveness.
BACKGROUND: Collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13, MMP-13) is a recently identified human MMP with broad substrate specificity which can be activated by membrane type 1 (MT1) matrix metalloproteinase in vitro. These may play a critical role in cancer aggressiveness. AIMS: To examine the clinical significance of collagenase-3 expression and the cooperative role of MT1-MMP in human oesophageal carcinomas. PATIENTS: Forty five individuals with oesophageal carcinoma who underwent surgery without preoperative treatment. METHODS: The tumour/normal (T/N) ratios of collagenase-3 and MT1-MMP mRNA expression in 45 human oesophageal carcinomas were determined by northern blot analysis. The production and localisation of collagenase-3 and MT1-MMP proteins were investigated by immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, and zymography. RESULTS: The mean T/N ratio of collagenase-3 mRNA was 3.5 and that of MT1-MMP 2.1. There was a significant correlation between collagenase-3 and MT1-MMP mRNA expression (p<0.001). Twenty two cases with a collagenase-3 T/N ratio >3.5 showed a significantly higher frequency of vascular involvement and lymph node metastasis, and tended to be at a more advanced stage than 23 cases with a T/N ratio < or =3.5 (p<0.05). Western blot analysis and zymography demonstrated production of collagenase-3 protein in tumour tissues but not in normal tissues. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that collagenase-3 was localised predominantly in tumour cells and MT1-MMP was detected in the same collagenase-3 positive cells; there was a significant association between collagenase-3 and MT1-MMP protein expression (p<0.05). With regard to prognosis, the survival time for subjects in the high collagenase-3 group (T/N ratio >3.5) was significantly worse (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that production of collagenase-3 together with MT1-MMP is implicated in tumour aggressiveness and prognosis in human oesophageal carcinomas.
Adult↗
Chronic sulfonylurea treatment and hyperglycemia aggravate disproportionately elevated plasma proinsulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
It is established that disproportionately elevated plasma proinsulin levels occur in patients with Type 2 diabetes. In the present study, multivariate analysis was performed to determine what factors contributed to the disproportionately elevated plasma proinsulin levels in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes (n=276). Results from univariate analysis showed that both fasting proinsulin/C-peptide ratio and proinsulin/IRI ratio were approximately 2-fold higher in patients with Type 2 diabetes than those in healthy nondiabetic subjects (n=45). In patients with Type 2 diabetes, both proinsulin/C-peptide ratio and proinsulin/IRI ratio were significantly positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose level (FPG) and HbA1c. Neither proinsulin/C-peptide ratio nor proinsulin/IRI ratio was significantly correlated with BMI. Sulfonylurea-treated subjects had a significant elevation in both proinsulin/C-peptide ratio and proinsulin/IRI ratio compared with diet-treated subjects, whereas nonsulfonylurea hypoglycemic agent-treated subjects did not. Multivariate analysis confirmed that sulfonylurea treatment and FPG were significant determinants of both fasting proinsulin/C-peptide ratio (P=0.006 and P=0.030, respectively) and proinsulin/IRI ratio (P=0.003 and P=0.016, respectively) in patients with Type 2 diabetes. These results imply that disproportionate hyperproinsulinemia may reflect an excessive overwork of beta cells under chronic sulfonylurea treatment as well as hyperglycemia.
Body Mass Index↗
High glucose level and free fatty acid stimulate reactive oxygen species production through protein kinase C--dependent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase in cultured vascular cells.
Recent studies have revealed that vascular cells can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) through NAD(P)H oxidase, which may be involved in vascular injury. However, the pathological role of vascular NAD(P)H oxidase in diabetes or in the insulin-resistant state remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of high glucose level and free fatty acid (FFA) (palmitate) on ROS production in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) using electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Exposure of cultured SMCs or ECs to a high glucose level (400 mg/dl) for 72 h significantly increased the free radical production compared with low glucose level exposure (100 mg/dl). Treatment of the cells for 3 h with phorbol myristic acid (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, also increased free radical production. This increase was restored to the control value by diphenylene iodonium, a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, suggesting ROS production through PKC-dependent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. The increase in free radical production by high glucose level exposure was completely restored by both diphenylene iodonium and GF109203X, a PKC-specific inhibitor. Exposure to palmitate (200 micromol/l) also increased free radical production, which was concomitant with increases in diacylglycerol level and PKC activity. Again, this increase was restored to the control value by both diphenylene iodonium and GF109203X. The present results suggest that both high glucose level and palmitate may stimulate ROS production through PKC-dependent activation of NAD(P)H oxidase in both vascular SMCs and ECs. This finding may be involved in the excessive acceleration of atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome.
Animals↗
Enhanced expression of N-myc messenger RNA in neuroblastomas found by mass screening.
A substantial fraction of neuroblastomas found by mass screening have been suggested to regress spontaneously because of the high incidence of infantile neuroblastomas in the screening population. In this study, 70 neuroblastomas were analyzed for expression of proto-oncogenes related to neuronal differentiation to clarify the biological significance of proto-oncogene expression in the screening-positive and -negative tumors. The tumors consisted of 39 neuroblastomas found by screening (group 1), 16 non-N-myc-amplified neuroblastomas found by clinical symptom(s) (group 2), and 15 N-myc-amplified neuroblastomas found by clinical symptom(s) (group 3). The expression of c-src, trk A, and N-myc in tumor tissues was analyzed by quantitative RNA PCR. Neuronal c-srcN2 expression varied significantly in the following order: group 1 > group 2 > group 3. The level of expression of trk A was markedly reduced in group 3 but did not differ in groups 1 and 2. Most tumors in group 3 overexpressed N-myc. However, N-myc expression in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 2. Thus, the characteristics of proto-oncogene expression in screening-positive tumors included enhanced expression of c-srcN2 and N-myc mRNA, regardless of nonamplification of N-myc. Our results suggest that the role of N-myc differs in neuroblastomas detected by screening and in N-myc-amplified tumors.
Disease-Free Survival↗
Angiogenin expression in human colorectal cancer: the role of focal macrophage infiltration.
Tumor angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and tumor metastasis, and it depends on angiogenic factors produced by tumor cells and/or infiltrating cells in tumor tissue. In this study, we evaluated the clinical significance of the expression of angiogenin, which is a potent angiogenic protein, and the relationship between its mRNA expression and focal macrophage infiltration in colorectal cancer. Furthermore, we investigated the induction of angiogenin mRNA expression by proinflammatory cytokines mainly produced by inflammatory cells in tumor tissues. When we examined the relationship between the mRNA expression of angiogenin, by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and clinicopathological features in 65 patients with colorectal cancer, there was a significant difference in the vascular involvement, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, and advanced stage in patients with high-expression of angiogenin compared with low expression (P < 0.05). With regard to prognosis, the survival time for subjects in the high angiogenin mRNA group (tumor:normal ratio >1.9) was significantly worse (P < 0.05). When we examined the localization of angiogenin in colorectal cancer, immunohistochemical analysis in 65 patients with colorectal cancer revealed that angiogenin was predominantly expressed in cancer cells compared with stromal cells or normal tissues. The intensity of staining of angiogenin was significantly correlated with microvessel counts and focal macrophage infiltration counts (P < 0.05). In an in vitro study, interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced angiogenin mRNA expression in colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and these cytokines significantly upregulated the expression of angiogenin mRNA, especially in colon cancer cells rather than in other cells in the stroma of tumor tissues (fibroblasts, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, macrophages). These results suggest that tumor angiogenesis in colorectal cancer may be advanced, at least in part, by angiogenin induced by proinflammatory cytokines derived from infiltrating macrophages.
Colorectal Neoplasms↗
Differential hormonal profiles of adrenomedullin and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide in patients with heart failure and effect of treatment on their plasma levels.
BACKGROUND: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilatory peptide discovered in human pheochromocytoma tissue. Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) processed from an AM precursor is also a novel hypotensive peptide which inhibits catecholamine secretion from sympathetic nerve endings. HYPOTHESIS: The present study sought to examine the relationships between the two peptides and other clinical parameters by measuring the plasma AM and PAMP concentrations in 98 patients with heart failure. METHODS: In all, 98 patients [65 men and 33 women, aged 58.2 +/- 11.0 years, mean +/- standard deviation (SD)] with heart failure and 26 healthy volunteers (12 men and 14 women, aged 54.1 +/- 8.6 years) were examined in this study. Heart failure was secondary to previous myocardial infarction in 58 patients, valvular disease in 28, cardiomyopathy in 9, and congenital heart disease in 3. All patients were classified into two groups of class I or II (Group 1) and class III or IV (Group 2) according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. RESULTS: Both plasma AM and PAMP concentrations in the patients were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers. In addition, plasma AM and PAMP concentrations in patients in class III or IV of New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification were significantly higher than those in NYHA class I or II. The elevated plasma concentrations of these peptides in patients in NYHA class III or IV significantly decreased in response to the treatment for 7 days. There was a significant correlation between plasma AM and PAMP, though the plasma concentration of PAMP was one-fifth to one-seventh of that of AM in patients and controls. The plasma AM concentration correlated significantly with the plasma concentrations of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides, epinephrine, and right atrial pressure, whereas such a relationship was not noted for the plasma PAMP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Judging from the difference in not only the biological actions but also the hormonal profiles between AM and PAMP, they may differentially modulate the cardiovascular system in patients with heart failure, although they are processed from the same precursor.
Adrenomedullin↗
Pseudolymphoma syndrome due to carbamazepine.
We described a 29-year-old Japanese woman with a pseudolymphoma syndrome due to carbamazepine. Physical examination revealed a diffuse erythematous papular eruption over almost all of her body with generalized lymphadenopathy. Histopathologic examination disclosed histology compatible with the nodular pattern of pseudo-T-cell lymphoma. The Southern blot analysis did not disclose the monoclonality of the gamma T cell recepter gene. We consider that it is very important to recognize this pseudolymphoma syndrome due to carbamazepine to avoid possibly subjecting the patient to unnecessary chemotherapy.
Adult↗
Long-term survivors of advanced neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification: A report of 19 patients surviving disease-free for more than 66 months.
PURPOSE: According to initial reports, stage 4 neuroblastoma patients with amplification of the MYCN proto-oncogene developed progressive disease within 8 months. The prognosis for such patients, however, should now be reevaluated in light of recent results achieved with up-to-date combination chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage 3, 4, and 4S neuroblastoma and more than 10 copies of MYCN received induction chemotherapy, which from January 1985 to February 1991 consisted of regimen A(1 )(cyclophosphamide 1,200 mg/m(2) on day 1, vincristine 1.5 mg/m(2) on day 1, pirarubicin 40 mg/m(2) on day 3, and cisplatin 90 mg/m(2) on day 5) and from March 1991 to September 1993 consisted of regimen A(3 )(cyclophosphamide 1,200 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 2, pirarubicin 40 mg/m(2) on day 3, etoposide 100 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 5, and continuous infusion cisplatin 25 mg/m(2) on days 1 through 5). Most of these patients underwent radical surgery to remove the original tumor and local metastases, irradiation, and supralethal preconditioning regimens, followed by blood stem-cell transplantation (SCT). Data on the patients were collected in December 1998, and the factors contributing to disease-free survival were analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, 66 patients with more than 10 copies of MYCN were treated. Five of nine patients with stage 3 disease, 13 of 55 with stage 4, and one of two with stage 4S survived for at least 66 months. It is interesting that all but one patient who survived for more than 66 months underwent SCT, in contrast with only five of 45 patients who died. CONCLUSION: Not all patients with advanced neuroblastoma who have more than 10 copies of MYCN will die. The requisites for survival in such patients seem to be intensive induction chemotherapy, effective surgery, irradiation, and the use of SCT.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
Marginal benefit/disadvantage of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy after autologous blood stem cell transplantation in children: results of a prospective randomized trial. The Japanese Cooperative Study Group of PBSCT.
In this prospective trial, a total of 74 children who were scheduled to undergo high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) were prospectively randomized at diagnosis to evaluate the effectiveness of exogenous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment in accelerating hematopoietic recovery after PBSCT. The diagnosis included acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (n = 27), neuroblastoma (n = 29), and miscellaneous solid tumors (n = 18). Eligibility criteria included (1) primary PBSCT, (2) chemotherapy-responsive disease, and (3) collected cell number >1 x 10(5) colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM)/kg and >1 x 10(6) CD34(+) cells/kg patient's body weight. After applying the above criteria, 11 patients were excluded due to disease progression before PBSCT (n = 6) or a low number of harvested cells (n = 5), leaving 63 patients for analysis; 32 patients in the treatment group (300 microg/m2 of G-CSF intravenously over 1 hour from day 1 of PBSCT) and 31 in the control group without treatment. Two distinct disease-oriented high-dose regimens without total body irradiation consisted of the MCVAC regimen using ranimustine (MCNU, 450 mg/m2), cytosine arabinoside (16 g/m2), etoposide (1.6 g/m2), and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) for patients with ALL, and the Hi-MEC regimen using melphalan (180 mg/m2), etoposide (1.6 g/m2), and carboplatinum (1.6 g/m2) for those with solid tumors. Five patients (two in the treatment group and three in the control group) were subsequently removed due to protocol violations. All patients survived PBSCT. The median numbers of transfused mononuclear cells (MNC), CD34(+) cells, and CFU-GM were, respectively, 4.5 (range, 1 to 19) x 10(8)/kg, 8.0 (1.1 to 25) x 10(6)/kg, and 3.7 (1.2 to 23) x 10(5)/kg in the treatment group (n = 30) and 2.9 (0.8 to 21) x 10(8)/kg, 6.3 (1.1 to 34) x 10(6)/kg, and 5.5 (1.3 to 37) x 10(5)/kg, respectively, in the control group (n = 28), with no significant difference. After PBSCT, the time to achieve an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of >0.5 x 10(9)/L in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (median, 11 v 12 days; the log-rank test, P =.046), although the last day of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion (day 11 v day 10) and the duration of febrile days (>38 degrees C) after PBSCT (4 v 4 days) were identical in both groups. However, platelet recovery to >20 x 10(9)/L was significantly longer in treatment group than control group (26 v 16 days; P =.009) and >50 x 10(9)/L tended to take longer in the treatment group (29 v 26 days; P =.126), with significantly more platelet transfusion-dependent days (27 v 13 days; t-test, P =.037). When patients were divided into two different disease cohorts, ALL patients showed no difference in engraftment kinetics between the G-CSF treatment and control groups, while differences were seen in those with solid tumors. We concluded that the marginal clinical benefit of 1 day earlier recovery of granulocytes could be offset by the delayed recovery of platelets. We recommend that the routine application of costly G-CSF therapy in children undergoing PBSCT should be seriously reconsidered.
Adolescent↗
Neuronal src and trk a protooncogene expression in neuroblastomas and patient prognosis.
Neuroblastomas present a wide variety of clinical and biological behaviors, which are reflected by the heterogeneous expressions of protooncogenes related to the neuronal differentiation and amplification of the N-myc gene. High expression of trk A and Ha-ras in neuroblastomas has been shown to be associated with an excellent patient outcome. We have previously reported that neuron-specific src mRNA was increased in chemically differentiated neuroblastoma cell lines and in clinically observed neuroblastomas without N-myc amplification. In the present study, to clarify both the value of neuronal c-srcN2 expression as a prognostic indicator and the significance of the coexpression of these protooncogenes, we examined the expression of 3 alternatively spliced src, trk A and Ha-ras in neuroblastoma tissues from 60 patients by competitive RNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results indicate that protooncogene expression in neuroblastomas correlated with a favorable outcome for c-srcN2 and trk A. N-myc gene was amplified exclusively in tumors with low levels of trk A. Low expression of c-srcN2 and trk A might thus characterize different aggressive phenotypes due to different signal transduction pathways of neural differentiation in neuroblastoma. The combined analyses for c-srcN2 and trk A expression by RNA-PCR should provide information about the biological phenotype of a neuroblastoma within a short period of time after obtaining tumor material.
Genes, myc↗
Expression of MRP and cMOAT in childhood neuroblastomas and malignant liver tumors and its relevance to clinical behavior.
Advanced neuroblastoma and malignant liver tumor are representative childhood cancers for which combined chemotherapy including cisplatin and doxorubicin is routinely performed. The prognosis of patients with tumors which develop multiple drug resistance (MDR) is unfavorable. To elucidate the role of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) and canalicular multispecific organic anion transporter (cMOAT) in the clinical behavior of the tumors, we examined 42 neuroblastomas and 10 malignant liver tumors for the expressions of MRP and cMOAT by quantitative RNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplification and expression of N-myc oncogene in the neuroblastomas were also investigated. We found a close association between MRP and N-myc expression in each neuroblastoma sample but no significant relationship between MRP expression and the patients' outcome. The forced expression of N-myc failed to enhance the expression of MRP in N-myc transfected neuroblastoma cell lines. cMOAT was rarely expressed in the neuroblastomas, but was frequently expressed in the malignant liver tumors. The expression of MRP and cMOAT in the childhood liver tumors was more common and higher, especially in advanced cases with a poor outcome, than that observed in normal liver or in 9 hepatocellular carcinomas from adult patients. The enhanced expression of these genes might be characteristic of childhood malignant liver tumors and related to their clinical chemoresistance.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
[An operative case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor in the posterior mediastinum].
A primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is very rare and the prognosis of this tumor is poor. A 32-year-old woman complaining of dysphagia and back pain was admitted to our hospital for the posterior mediastinal tumor. The tumor originated from the muscle layer of esophagus and en bloc resection of the tumor combined with the affected part of esophagus was performed. Histopathological diagnosis of the resected tumor was PNET. She received adjuvant chemotherapy. Eight months after the surgery, recurrent tumors in the right mediastinum and the retrooperitoneal space was resected completely. But after the second surgery, dissemination occurred recurrently. These recurrent tumors revealed high sensitivity for radio-therapy. However, she died of rapid recurrence 22 months after the first surgery. In Japan, our case is the second case of PNET in the posterior mediastinum and the first case of PNET arising from the muscle layer of esophagus.
Adult↗
[A case of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula beneath the surface of the lung].
A 19-year-old woman complaining of exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital with an abnormal shadow on the left side of the chest. Laboratory examination revealed polycythemia and hypoxemia. Pulmonary angiogram demonstrated a pulmonary arteriovenous fistula beneath the surface of the left S10. Partial resection of the left S10 was performed. The wall of the arteriovenous fistula was flimsy and seemed to rupture easily. The sister of this patient also had a peripheral pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and suffered from repeating epistaxis. Rendu-Osler-Weber disease was diagnosed in both, and the sister underwent partial resection of the right S7, which contained the fistula. Their postoperative courses were uneventful. Hemothorax and hemoptysis are lethal complications of arteriovenous fistulae. In order to avoid the rupture of fistulae, surgical resection is the most reliable treatment. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae beneath the surface of the lung should be resected.
Adolescent↗
[Two cases of solitary peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm].
We report two very rare cases of solitary peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm. Case 1: An 83-year-old man treated for myocardial infarction died of multiple organ failure and hemoptysis. Autopsy disclosed rupture of a pulmonary arterial aneurysm 1.5 cm in diameter in the right A3. Case 2: A 75-year-old man was found to have a pulmonary arterial aneurysm, 3 cm in diameter of the right A1. Surgical treatment was not indicated, because of severe pulmonary emphysema. The aneurysms in these two cases were idiopathic: (1) there were no histologic findings that would implicate specific chronic inflammation. (2) the period from the occurrence of secondary pulmonary hypertension to hemoptysis was short, and there was no (3) history of trauma.
Aged↗