Regression of liver metastases after high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral-blood progenitor-cell support in Stage IV ovarian cancer.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
T Hata
Publications and source records attributed to T Hata.
Lactacystin activates FLICE (caspase 8) protease and induces apoptosis in Fas-resistant adult T-cell leukemia cell lines.
Lactacystin (LC) is a specific inhibitor of the proteasome, and has recently been shown to induce apoptosis in certain cell lines. In the present study, we established Fas-resistant adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell subclones RSO4 and RST1 from their parental Fas-sensitive cell lines SO4 and ST1, and examined whether LC can overcome Fas resistance. LC completely inhibited proteasome function as determined by a peptidyl-MCA substrate (LLVY-MCA and LLE-MCA), and induced apoptosis in these cell lines irrespective of Fas sensitivity at low concentrations (approximately 10 microM). LC induced the activation of caspase 3 (CPP32/Yama) and caspase 6 proteases in an identical manner to Fas-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, LC induced the activation of caspase 8 (FLICE) protease, which is the initiator of the Fas-mediated apoptotic cascade. Synthesized proteasome inhibitory peptide MG-115 (ZLLnV-CHO) also induced apoptosis in these cell lines. These results indicated that proteasome inhibitors overcome Fas-resistance by bypassing the proximal part of the Fas signal. Inhibition of the proteasome function may be a new strategy for the treatment of ATL.
Acetylcysteine↗
Immunohistochemical adrenomedullin expression is decreased in the placenta from pregnancies with pre-eclampsia.
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether placental immunohistochemical adrenomedullin expression in normal normotensive pregnancies is different from that in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia. Placental tissues were obtained from seven normal normotensive pregnancies and 12 pregnancies with pre-eclampsia. The intensity of adrenomedullin staining in syncytiotrophoblasts was evaluated by means of immunohistochemistry and the ratio of the number of intact tertiary villi to that of total tertiary villi (intact/total villi ratio) was determined. The intensity of adrenomedullin expression in the placenta obtained from pregnancies with pre-eclampsia was significantly decreased compared with expression in placentas from uncomplicated normotensive pregnancies (P < 0.005). The intact/total villi ratio in placentas obtained from pregnancies with pre-eclampsia was significantly lower than that in placentas from normal normotensive pregnancies (P < 0.0001). In the amnion and extravillous trophoblast cells in both groups, no difference for the intensity of adrenomedullin expression was noted. These results suggest that adrenomedullin synthesis in the villous syncytiotrophoblasts is decreased in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia.
Adrenomedullin↗
Identification of Gaucher cells in the chorionic villi associated with recurrent hydrops fetalis.
Recurrent non-immune hydrops fetalis has rarely been reported. In order to detect the risk of recurrence in a subsequent pregnancy, one should carefully consider the possibility of an inborn error of metabolism. In such cases, placental examination may be useful in detecting such metabolic storage disorders in the fetus, which usually present as vacuolization of placental cells. We describe a rare case of recurrent hydrops that was detected by placental examination. Through light microscopy, electron microscope (EM) studies and beta-glucocerebrosidase activity the disease was identified as Gaucher's disease.
Adult↗
Visualization of metastatic lymph nodes in oral cancer by angiograms.
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Adult↗
First symptom of multifocal skeletal tuberculosis in children.
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Bone and Bones↗
Maternal ophthalmic artery doppler velocimetry in type 1 diabetes during pregnancy.
Our purpose was to evaluate whether maternal ophthalmic artery pulsatility index (PI) in normotensive pregnancies with type 1 diabetes is different from that in normal normotensive pregnancies. The ophthalmic artery in 15 normal normotensive pregnant women, and 13 normotensive pregnant women with type 1 diabetes was studied once with colour Doppler flow imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography after 16 weeks gestation. The heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and ophthalmic artery PI were calculated in each group. The PI (1.94 +/- 0.45) in normotensive pregnant women with type 1 diabetes was significantly lower than that (2.73 +/- 0.32) in normal normotensive pregnant women (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in maternal heart rate or mean arterial blood pressure between the two groups. These results suggest that vascular resistance in the maternal orbital circulation is reduced in pregnancies with type 1 diabetes that are normotensive. The lower PI in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes should be interpreted as orbital vascular vasodilatation, indicating orbital hyperperfusion or hyperaemia.
Adult↗
Three-dimensional qualitative sonographic evaluation of fetal soft tissue.
Even though fetal growth restriction and macrosomia remain as major problems currently facing obstetricians, there is still no modality for the assessment of fetal soft tissue deposition and muscle mass in utero. A total of 52 fetuses from 29 to 41 weeks gestation were studied within 1 week before delivery using a transabdominal three-dimensional (3D) transducer (3.5 MHz). Their birth weights varied from 1016 to 4018 g, and their crown-heel length from 37 to 54 cm. The amount of subcutaneous tissue was estimated using the fetal nutrition score. The fetal nutrition score values were determined from a qualitative assessment of the amount of subcutaneous tissue present at three locations (face, ribs and buttocks) on the antenatal 3D ultrasonograms. Fetal nutritional status, using fetal nutrition score, was compared with that found by modified neonatal nutrition score and ponderal index respectively. There was a significant linear correlation between fetal nutrition score and modified neonatal nutrition score. Fetal or neonatal nutrition score were strongly correlated with birth weight and neonatal crown-heel length. However, no significant correlation was found between ponderal index, fetal nutrition score, or modified neonatal nutrition score. Ponderal index also was not correlated with birth weight and neonatal crown-heel length. Moreover, fetal nutrition score was correlated with Apgar score, but not with umbilical cord arterial blood pH. Therefore, doubt is cast on the usefulness of the ponderal index for measurement of neonatal soft tissue and muscle mass. Fetal nutrition score using 3D ultrasonography provides a novel means of evaluating the nutritional status of the fetus in utero, and should be useful for predicting the extremes in fetal growth (fetal growth restriction and macrosomia) at an earlier stage than hitherto achieved.
Birth Weight↗
Is there a human fetal gallbladder contractility during pregnancy?
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether human fetal gallbladder contractility exists in the second half of pregnancy. Ultrasound examinations were performed on 54 normal pregnant women from 20 to 40 weeks of gestation. Fetal gallbladder volume was monitored every 30 min from 08:00 to 18:00 h in each patient. Maximum gallbladder volume was related linearly with gestational age between 20 and 32-35 weeks of gestation, after which a plateau was observed. Minimum gallbladder volume was unchanged throughout gestation. Functional capacity (maximum volume - minimum volume) of the fetal gallbladder increased linearly with advancing gestation until 32-35 weeks gestation, and thereafter was constant. Contractility rate [(maximum volume - minimum volume/maximum volume)x100] increased curvilinearly with advancing gestation (R(2) = 30.7%, P < 0.0001). The daily change in fetal gallbladder volume showed a typical sinusoidal pattern, and the contractility cycle of gallbladder volume was unchanged during pregnancy (3.1 +/- 0.6 h). These results suggest that there is an apparent gallbladder contractility in human fetuses in utero, and that maternal meals seem not to affect the volume of the fetal gallbladder. Further study is needed to clarify the physiological role of fetal gallbladder contractility during pregnancy.
Female↗
Intrauterine sonographic measurement of embryonic brain vesicle.
Our purpose was to evaluate embryonic brain vesicle measurements using intrauterine sonography in early first-trimester pregnancy. Fifty-one women about to undergo therapeutic abortion from 7-9.9 weeks gestational age were studied with a specially developed flexible catheter-based high-resolution real-time miniature (2.4 mm in outer diameter) ultrasound transducer (20 MHz). Length, width and height of telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhombencephalon were measured. The normal range of embryonic brain vesicle measurements for each day of pregnancy was determined. Curvilinear relationships were found between the menstrual age and telencephalon height (r(2) = 71.2%), diencephalon length (r(2) = 39. 6%), width (r(2) = 39.4%) and height (r(2) = 48.3%) and mesencephalon length (r(2) = 59.0%) respectively. Linear relationships were found between the menstrual age and telencephalon width (r(2) = 41.4%), mesencephalon height (r(2) = 58.7%) and rhombencephalon length (r(2) = 44.9%), width (r(2) = 56.8%) and height (r(2) = 35.5%) respectively. Telencephalon length and mesencephalon width were constant throughout menstrual age. These results suggest that intrauterine sonography provides accurate embryonic brain measurements in utero. Moreover, intrauterine sonography may become an important modality in future embryological research and in detection of embryonic brain developmental disorders in early first-trimester pregnancy.
Brain↗
Three-dimensional sonographic visualization of fetal skeleton in the second trimester of pregnancy.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the potential of using three-dimensional (3D) sonography to reveal anomalies of fetal skeleton. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two normal fetuses and 3 anencephalic fetuses from 14 to 27 weeks' gestation were studied with a specially developed abdominal 3D transducer (3.5 MHz). This imaging system provided conventional two-dimensional (2D) sonographic images and also generated within seconds high-quality 3D images in the surface and transparent mode with no need for an external workstation. RESULTS: Using this imaging system, we obtained 2D and 3D images of fetal skeleton (skull, scapula, spine, rib, humerus, ulna/radius, pelvis, femur, and tibia/fibula) at two gestational ages. The percentages of fetal skeletal visualization at less than 20 weeks of gestation using 3D sonography were 78-100%, whereas those with 2D sonography were all 100%. The percentages of skeletal structures revealed after 20 weeks' gestation using 3D sonography were 82-100%, whereas those with 2D sonography were all 100%. We found no significant differences in detection rates of the fetal skeleton between 2D and 3D sonography. However, 3D sonographic images generally provided a more comprehensive view of the fetal skeleton than did conventional 2D sonography. In 2 cases with anencephaly, 3D sonography clearly revealed the defect of cranium. CONCLUSION: The new 3D sonographic technology can generate within seconds high-quality 3D images of the fetal skeleton. The 3D technology seems to perform at least as well as conventional 2D sonography. Our results suggest that 3D sonography has the potential to supplement 2D sonography and might be useful in identifying malformations of the fetal skeleton and chromosomal abnormalities in utero.
Anencephaly↗
Maternal and fetal circulating angiogenin levels in pregnancies with small-for-gestational-Age and appropriate-for-gestational-Age infants.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether maternal and fetal circulating angiogenin levels in pregnancies with small-for-gestational- age (SGA) infants are different from those in pregnancies with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. METHODS: Maternal and fetal circulating angiogenin concentrations were compared at birth between 16 pregnancies with SGA (7 delivered vaginally and 9 delivered by elective cesarean section) and 46 pregnancies with AGA (27 delivered vaginally and 19 delivered by cesarean section). Serum angiogenin level was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal and fetal serum angiogenin levels between the two groups. However, maternal serum angiogenin levels were significantly higher than those in fetal serum within both SGA and AGA infant pregnancies. There were no significant differences in maternal and fetal serum angiogenin levels between vaginal and cesarean delivered pregnancies in both SGA and AGA groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there is no difference in angiogenin synthesis between SGA and AGA pregnancies.
Adult↗
Subclassification of small-for-gestational-age fetus using fetal Doppler velocimetry.
Our purpose was to determine whether small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus can be divided to subclassified groups using fetal Doppler velocimetry. Fifty-four pregnant women with SGA infant delivered after 37 weeks of gestation were studied. After 24 weeks of gestation, fetal middle cerebral artery puslatility index (MCAPI) and umbilical artery pulsatility index (UAPI) were measured at 2- to 3-week intervals using Doppler ultrasound. Perinatal outcomes [operative delivery due to fetal distress, abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern, meconium staining, low Apgar score (<7), neonatal acidosis (umbilical artery blood pH <7.15), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission due to neonatal asphyxia, and decreased amniotic fluid] were compared in subclassified SGA groups using fetal Doppler velocimetry. The number of SGA fetuses with normal MCAPI and UAPI (normal SGA group) was 39, and those with significantly low MCAPI but normal UAPI (eventful SGA group) 15, respectively. Birth age and birth weights in the eventful SGA group were significantly earlier and lower than those in the normal SGA group, respectively (p < 0.05, and p < 0.005). There were significant increases in operative deliveries, abnormal FHR patterns and decreased amniotic fluid in eventful SGA group, when compared with events related to normal SGA group. However, there were no significant differences in meconium staining of amniotic fluid, low Apgar score, neonatal acidosis, and NICU admission between the two groups. These results suggest that SGA fetus with abnormally low MCAPI but normal UAPI has more poor perinatal outcomes, compared with that with normal MCAPI and UAPI.
Adult↗
Serum angiogenin levels during menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate alterations in maternal circulating angiogenin levels with advancing gestation and to assess the effect of labor stress on serum angiogenin levels in neonates delivered vaginally and by cesarean section. METHODS: The maternal circulating angiogenin concentrations were compared in 37 normotensive nonpregnant women, in 60 normotensive pregnant women from 7 to 41 weeks of gestation, and in 12 normotensive postpartum women on the 3rd puerperal day. The serum angiogenin concentrations were also measured in 12 patients with threatened premature labor. Moreover, maternal and fetal serum angiogenin samples before and after delivery were used to determine differences in 12 neonates delivered vaginally and in 11 neonates delivered by elective cesarean section. The serum angiogenin level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in serum angiogenin levels during each phase of the menstrual cycle. The serum angiogenin levels were decreasing until 15 weeks of gestation and increasing thereafter. There was no significant difference in serum angiogenin levels between normal pregnant women and in patients with threatened premature labor. Labor stress did not affect either maternal or fetal serum angiogenin concentrations. The serum angiogenin levels of the neonates were significantly lower than those in maternal serum after both vaginal delivery and delivery by cesarean section. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that regulatory mechanisms of angiogenin may exist during pregnancy.
Cesarean Section↗
Serum group II phospholipase A(2) levels during menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the circulating group II phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)-II) levels during normal menstrual cycle and to assess alterations in maternal circulating PLA(2)-II concentrations during pregnancy and at puerperium. Circulating serum PLA(2)-II concentrations were compared between 38 nonpregnant women with normal menstrual cycle (15 at menstrual phase, 11 at follicular phase, and 12 at luteal phase), 61 normal pregnant women (13 in the first trimester, 12 in the second trimester, and 36 in the third trimester), and 14 normal postpartum women at 5th puerperal day. Serum PLA(2)-II concentrations were also measured in 11 patients with threatened premature labor. Maternal and fetal serum PLA(2)-II levels before and after delivery were made to determine differences in 11 neonates delivered vaginally and 11 neonates delivered by elective cesarean section. Serum PLA(2)-II level was measured with an immunoradiometric assay. Serum PLA(2)-II concentrations at luteal phase were significantly lower than those at menstrual or follicular phase (p< 0.05). There was no significant difference for PLA(2)-II levels between first trimester and menstrual phase or follicular phase. There were no significant differences among three trimesters during pregnancy. There was no significant difference in serum PLA(2)-II levels between normal pregnant women and patients with threatened premature labor. Labor stress did not affect both maternal and fetal serum PLA(2)-II concentrations. There was also no significant difference for circulating PLA(2)-II levels between maternal and fetal serum. Interestingly, serum PLA(2)-II concentrations in postpartum women were significantly higher than those in normal pregnant women (p<0.05). These results suggest that a regulatory mechanism of PLA(2)-II may exist during the normal menstrual cycle and at puerperium.
Cesarean Section↗
Difference spatial distribution function analysis of aqueous solutions. II. Hydration structures of dimethyl ether, 180 degrees ethyl methyl ether and 0 degree ethyl methyl ether solutions.
Monte Carlo simulations are systematically presented to demonstrate the influence of the hydrophobic group's steric bulk on hydration structure. We have simulated a dimethyl ether (DME), two conformations for ethyl methyl ether (0 degree EME and 180 degrees EME), and 0 degree ethanol solutions. Spatial distribution function (SDF), goo(x,y,z) and difference SDF (DSDF), delta goo(x,y,z), obtained from MC simulation in an infinitely dilute aqueous solution of ether show the three-dimensional probability of an atom-atom pair distribution between solute and solvent atoms. Based on the results of SDF in an infinitely dilute aqueous solution of ether, the distribution of hydration water molecules can be divided into hydrogen acceptor (HA) and hydrophobic hydration (HH), regions, and the spatial orientation of the hydrogen-bonded water in the HA region is found to form a triple-layer structure, as it does in alcohol solutions. From the results of an analysis of the DSDF delta goo(x,y,z) between the SDFs of EME and DME, it is apparent that the distribution changes of hydration water molecules in ether solutions are essentially similar to those in the alcohol solutions. Further, we show that the hydration water molecules are distributed mainly in the stable area in the binding energy's (BE) contour maps for each region.
Algorithms↗
Difference spatial distribution function analysis of aqueous solutions. IV. Hydration structure changes of ethylene glycol solutions throughout conformational change process from gGg' to tGg' conformers.
Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were carried out for an infinitely dilute aqueous solution of two stable conformers (gGg' and tGg') and of three conformations between gGg' and tGg' conformers of ethylene glycol (EG) at 298K. Based on the spatial distribution function (SDF) goo(x,y,z), obtained from the MC simulation in the above conformations in liquid water, the high distribution of hydration water molecules could be divided into hydrogen acceptor (HA), hydrogen donor (HD), MIX (overlapped distribution of HA and HD), and hydrophobic hydration (HH) regions. The spatial orientations of hydrogen-bonded water molecules were found to be of a linear type with a triple-layer structure in the HA region and HA part (in the MIX region), and double-layer structures in the HD region and HD part (in the MIX region). In addition, it was apparent that the spatial orientations of these water molecules were of the linear type throughout the conformational change process from gGg' to tGg' conformers in liquid water. From the difference SDF (DSDF), deltagoo(x,y, z), between the SDFs of two conformations, we concluded that the distribution of hydration water molecules in the HA and HD parts of the MIX region are governed by the competition of internal hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen atom and two lone-pair electrons on the oxygen atom of an EG molecule.
Algorithms↗
Difference spatial distribution function analysis of aqueous solutions. III. Hydration structures of alcohol and ether solutions having straight chain and branched alkyl groups.
Spatial distribution functions (SDFs), gOO(x,y,z) and gOH(x,y,z), obtained from Monte Carlo simulations at 298 K were applied to characterize the anisotropic structure of infinitely dilute aqueous solutions of alcohols and ethers having straight chain and branched alkyl groups. In spite of the different size and shape of the hydrophobic groups, the spatial orientation of the hydrogen-bonded water molecules was found to be of linear type with a triple layer structure in the hydrogen acceptor (HA) region and a double layer structure in the hydrogen donor (HD) region. The volumes and the coordination number (CN) in the HA region were essentially identical for all alcohol and ether solutions, but the volumes for the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and isopropyl methyl ether (IPE) solutions were greater than those for the other solutions. In the hydrophobic hydration (HH) region, these values increased with increasing size and shape of hydrophobic groups, except in the case of IPA and IPE solutions. These results indicated that the hydration structures around the isopropyl group in alcohol and ether solutions differed from those in other solutions. From the results of the difference SDF (DSDF), AgOO(x,y,z), between SDFs gOO(x,y,z) for the two states, it was apparent that the distribution of hydration water molecules in the HA region for ether solution was characterized by the increase of the distribution in the direction of lone pair electrons on the oxygen atom of the solute molecule with increasing hydrophobicity.
Alcohols↗