Biomedical subjects

T Hirai

Publications and source records attributed to T Hirai.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen-expressing free tumor cells in peritoneal washes from patients with gastric carcinoma by polymerase chain reaction.

Cytological examination of peritoneal washes is a useful predictor of peritoneal recurrence in gastric carcinoma patients. In the present study, even more sensitive detection of free cancer cells could be achieved through amplification of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA by means of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CEA was first confirmed to be present in all the gastric cancer cell lines examined, irrespective of the differentiation degree, and absent in blood and mesothelium, indicating the specificity of this approach for detection of carcinoma cells in peritoneal lavage fluid. In sensitivity tests, CEA RT-PCR proved to be capable of detecting 10 carcinoma cells per sample. Peritoneal washes of 15 of 48 gastric carcinoma patients, including all 10 patients with positive cytology results, proved positive for CEA mRNA. None of the 5 patients with benign disease was positive. Moreover, a close association with the depth of cancer invasion was established. The results indicate that the assay is more sensitive for detection of free carcinoma cells in the peritoneal cavity than conventional cytology. This is the first study to suggest the feasibility of the RT-PCR method for prediction of peritoneal recurrence in gastric cancer patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Screening for depression among first-visit psychiatric patients: comparison of different scoring methods for the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale using receiver operating characteristic analyses.

The present paper aims to compare the ability of eight scoring methods for the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), one of the most widely used self-report inventories for depression, to screen for a major depressive episode. The subjects were 591 patients who constituted representative samples of the first-visit patients to 23 psychiatric hospitals and clinics all over Japan. The criterion diagnoses were given by a semi-structured interview with established inter-rater reliability. The eight alternative scoring methods included the conventional Likert method, which gives the weights 0, 1, 2 and 3 to the four anchor points of the CES-D; the presence method, which gives the weights 0, 1, 1 and 1, respectively; the GHQ method, which gives the weights 0, 0, 1 and 1, respectively; the persistence method, which gives the weights 0, 0, 0 and 1, respectively; 10-item version, 5-item version, single-item version and the algorithmic method. On the basis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, it was found that the traditional Likert scoring method of the full CES-D performed best in detecting major depressive episodes among first-visit psychiatric patients. The presence method, the GHQ method and the 10-item version appeared to have a similar ability. The persistence method, the 5-item version and the single-item version resulted in significantly worse performance.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Mucin-producing adenocarcinoma of the lung, with special reference to goblet cell type adenocarcinoma: immunohistochemical observation and Ki-ras gene mutation.

To clarify its biological nature, 10 samples of goblet cell-type adenocarcinoma of the lung were collected and compared with 10 other pulmonary mucin-producing adenocarcinomas with respect to immunohistochemical features and the presence of Ki-ras gene mutation in codons 12 and 13. Goblet cell-type adenocarcinomas lacked immunoreactivity for surfactant apoprotein and S-100 protein-positive Langerhans cells, which was in marked contrast to other mucin-producing adenocarcinomas. In addition, the mucin gene products, MUC-1 and MUC-2 glycoproteins were immunohistochemically stained. The results showed that MUC-1 glycoprotein is frequently expressed by mucin-producing adenocarcinomas except the goblet cell-type. Ki-ras gene mutation was detected in 12 of 20 (60%) mucin-producing adenocarcinomas. These mutations were exclusively found in codon 12 and G to A transitions were the most frequent type of alteration in the Ki-ras gene. In goblet cell-type adenocarcinomas, the frequency of Ki-ras gene mutation was 80% consisting of G to A transitions and G to T transversions in six and two tumors, respectively. Therefore, goblet cell-type adenocarcinomas differed from other mucin-producing adenocarcinomas in terms of immunohistochemical and molecular biological features, suggesting that goblet cell-type adenocarcinomas are distinctly different from other subtypes of adenocarcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

PubMed1997

Simple, speedy, sensitive, and specific serodiagnosis of pertussis by using a particle agglutination test.

We developed a particle agglutination test (KPA) with poly(gamma-methyl L-glutamate) as the solid particle for measurement of pertussis toxin (PT) antibody. In this study, KPA was assessed as a means of serodiagnosing pertussis, and the results were compared with those of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA) and the microagglutination test. First, four serum samples were collected from each of 21 healthy children: before and 4 weeks after receiving three primary doses of acellular pertussis vaccines and before and 4 weeks after receiving a booster dose. In all 21 vaccinees, a significant rise in PT antibody titers was observed by KPA after each vaccination, and among all 84 serum samples collected, an excellent correlation was demonstrated between the values obtained by indirect ELISA and those obtained by KPA (r = 0.92). Second, paired serum samples were collected at intervals of approximately 2 weeks from 51 patients with culture-confirmed pertussis. A significant increase in titer (fourfold or more) was observed in 39 (76%) patients by KPA, 34 (67%) patients by indirect ELISA, and 23 (45%) patients by the microagglutination test. In acute- and convalescent-phase sera collected from 20 nonpertussis patients, there were no changes in titers by KPA. The KPA procedure was as simple as that of the microagglutination test, and the reaction time was only 2 h (or overnight). In this study, KPA was demonstrated to be a simple, speedy, sensitive, and specific serodiagnostic method for pertussis.

Agglutination Tests↗

PubMed1997

Surgical treatment of early cancer of the proximal third of the stomach.

A retrospective study was conducted in search of an optimal surgical procedure for early cancer of the proximal stomach. The clinicopathological findings and survival data of 128 patients operated on during a recent period of 16 years were analyzed. Nodal metastasis was found in 12% of the patients and had a significant influence on the survival. It was more frequently observed in the undifferentiated type, regardless of the tumor size. Most metastases were found in the proximal paragastric nodes, and no metastasis was observed in the pyloric region or at the splenic hilum. These facts suggest that while the resection of paragastric nodes is advocated, neither total gastrectomy nor splenectomy is required simply for the purpose of lymphadenectomy.

Humans↗

PubMed1997

Apocrine gland tumor of the eyelid in a dog.

A 13-year-old male Shetland Sheepdog with progressive exophthalmos had a neoplastic mass in the ocular adnexa. Histologically, this neoplasm was composed of duct-forming epithelial cells with decapitation secretion. Tumor cells invaded the globe through the tunica conjunctiva and replaced the vitreous body. The cornea, iris, ciliary body, and retina were extensively destroyed. Both the epithelial and spindle-shaped myoepithelial cells showed nuclear atypia and mitotic activity in the globe. The primary tumor was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, probably originating from apocrine sweat glands of the eyelid, and the infiltrating intraocular neoplasm was diagnosed as a malignant mixed tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1997

Enhancement of passive immunity with maternal vaccine against newborn calf diarrhea.

The effects of a maternal vaccine against newborn calf diarrhea associated with group A bovine rotavirus (BRV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), bovine parvovirus and K99 Escherichia coli (E. coli) were examined on a beef cow-calf herd. After vaccination, serum or colostrum antibody titers to BRV, BCV and E. coli K99 in the vaccinated cows were significantly higher than those in unvaccinated control cows. Serum antibody titers to BRV, BCV and E. coli K99 in calves from the vaccinated cows were also significantly higher than those in calves from the control cows for 3-4 weeks after birth. These results suggested that the immunization of cows with the maternal vaccine enhanced the passive immunity levels in calves against BRV, BCV and K99 E. coli.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Nucleotide sequences of reptile calcitonins: their high homology to chicken calcitonin.

The calcitonin genes of four species of reptiles (Reeve's turtle, rat snake, grass lizard, and spectacled caiman) were amplified from the genomic DNA, as well as from the mRNA of the ultimobranchial glands of the former three species, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and were sequenced. Among several primer sets, only one primer set synthesized from the chicken calcitonin gene was compatible with those of the reptiles. The nucleotide sequences of the reptile calcitonin genes were highly homologous with that of chicken calcitonin (100% for turtle, 99% for caiman, 96% for lizard and 93% for snake). The products amplified from mRNA by the RT-PCR method matched completely those from genomic DNA in the turtle, snake and lizard.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of HASTE and segmented-HASTE sequences with a T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence in the screening evaluation of the brain.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroradiologic application of half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) and segmented-HASTE (s-HASTE) sequences in comparison with a T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, HASTE, s-HASTE, and fast spin-echo sequences were evaluated for blurring artifacts with a stationary phantom and for motion artifacts with a moving phantom, which repeated constant or intermittent to-and-fro motions at variable intervals. Second, 30 consecutive patients with various intracranial diseases were prospectively examined with the three sequences. Lesions were classified into four groups according to size and signal intensity on fast spin-echo MR images as follows: large hyperintense, small hyperintense, small markedly hyperintense, and hypointense lesions. Signal intensities of the lesion, putamen, and gray matter were compared with the signal intensity of white matter, and contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated. Overall image quality, conspicuity of lesions, delineation of the junction between gray matter and white matter, conspicuity of the putamen, and certain types of artifacts were evaluated qualitatively. RESULTS: In the phantom study, the HASTE sequence was least affected by motion artifacts and the fast spin-echo sequence was most affected although the images of the HASTE sequence were most degraded by blurring artifacts. In the clinical study, we found no significant differences among the three sequences for contrast-to-noise ratios or conspicuity of large hyperintense and small markedly hyperintense lesions. However, the contrast-to-noise ratios of hypointense lesions and gray matter, and the conspicuity of hypointense lesions were significantly poorer for the HASTE sequence than for the fast spin-echo sequence. The contrast-to-noise ratios of small hyperintense lesions and the putamen, conspicuity of small hyperintense lesions and putamen, and delineation of the junction between gray matter and white matter were significantly poorer for HASTE and s-HASTE sequences than for the fast spin-echo sequence. Ghost artifacts, which were observed during the s-HASTE sequence, were sometimes superimposed on the image. CONCLUSION: The HASTE and s-HASTE sequences afford substantial time reduction and also decrease motion artifacts and thus have potential advantages for neuroradiologic application, especially in uncooperative or unsedated children. The s-HASTE sequence may be preferable to the HASTE sequence because of fewer blurring artifacts and higher T2 contrast. However, small hyperintense and hypointense lesions may be overlooked when HASTE and s-HASTE sequences are used.

Artifacts↗

PubMed1997

[T4 lung cancer: surgical indications based on results of surgical treatment].

During the period of 1981 and 1995, 54 patients with T4 lung cancer underwent pulmonary resection in our institutes. The actuarial survival rate of them was 30% at three years and 12% at five years. The five-year survival rate of 12 patients with complete resection was 33%. On the other hand, the five-year survival rate of 30 patients with incomplete resection was 9%. The five-year survival rates of 17 patients with N0 disease, 9 patients with N1 disease, and 22 patients with N2 disease were 13%, 40%, and 5%, respectively. There was a significant difference in survival between patients with N1 and N2 disease. Four patients survived for more than five years after the operation : two patients had invasion to the left atrium and two had a slight degree of pleural dissemination. Radical pulmonary resection may yield long-term survival in T4 lung cancer patients having invasion to the left atrium.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1997

Plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) was investigated in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Plasma was obtained from 138 healthy individuals and 70 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at Aichi Cancer Centre between August 1994 and July 1995. Plasma concentrations of MMP-9 were measured using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay employing monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: Patients with gastric cancer had plasma higher concentrations of MMP-9 than normal subjects. Postoperative concentrations of MMP-9 were lower than preoperative levels. In addition to patients with advanced cancer, those with early gastric cancer also exhibited higher mean values of and positivity rates for MMP-9 than healthy individuals. Preoperative plasma MMP-9 concentration correlated closely with Union Internacional Contra la Cancrum tumour node metastasis (pTNM) stage, severity of T, N and M classification, and tumour size. CONCLUSION: Plasma MMP-9 concentration can be used for detection of primary or recurrent gastric cancer, and for estimation of tumour extent.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Effects of resistive load on the phase difference between chest and mouth flow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The influence of the resistive load on the phase difference (PD) between chest wall and mouth flow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was investigated, and the factors that induce an enlargement of the PD were assessed. After a resistance tube (R = 2.8 hPa/l/s) was applied to the mouth of the subjects, the PDs increased significantly both in normal (pre: 2.20 +/- 0.89, post: 5.60 +/- 2.04, P < 0.01) and in COPD (pre: 10.86 +/- 3.81; post: 13.12 +/- 3.64, P < 0.01). A significant correlation between the airway resistance and PD was noted (r = 0.730, P < 0.001). These results suggest that airway resistance is an important determinant for the PD. The predicted phase difference (PD') was then calculated by the Runge-Kutta method, using the measured chest flow, the time domain functions of airway resistance and the thoracic gas volume during a respiratory cycle, assuming that the respiratory system was a single compartment. The PD/PD' at pre-resistive load was significantly larger in COPD than in normal subjects (normal: 1.03 +/- 0.11; COPD, 1.45 +/- 0.19, P < 0.01), whereas the PD/PD' at a post-resistive load was significantly smaller than at the pre-resistive load in COPD patients. These results agree well with the two parallel or serial compartment model with inhomogeneous airway resistance, where the mechanical property of the partitioning tissue between the two compartments was taken into account. The pattern of the increase in the work energy consumed within the airway lumen calculated from this model was almost the same as for PD. Thus, we conclude that the PD may be a good index of the overload of the respiratory movement and available to predict muscle fatigue in COPD patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Quantitative assessment of the spatial distribution of low attenuation areas on X-ray CT using texture analysis in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema.

An automated and quantitative assessment of the spatial distribution of low attenuation areas (LAA) on X-ray CT was performed using texture analysis in chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE) patients. LAA was defined as those areas having a density less than the mean minus one SD of the control (-960 HU). The probability of change from non-LAA to LAA between a given pair of pixels with horizontal intervals of i pixels (RNi) was evaluated, because this reflects the interaction between LAA and non-LAA regions with different resolutions. The relationship between the percentage area of the LAA over the total area of the entire lung field (LAA%) was subsequently estimated. The RNi increased sharply as the i value increased from 1 to 5, but then almost became a plateau for i values larger than 5. This suggests that the fundamental structures in the LAA areas ranged from 1 x 1 to 5 x 5 pixels in size. RN1-LAA% and RN5-LAA% plots produced curves which were convex, with peak values at approximately 50 LAA% of 0.09 and 0.18, respectively. In the RN5/RN1-LAA% plot, the RN5/RN1 ratio remained constant at 2.0 regardless of the LAA%. A random process simulation was performed to determine the patterns of LAA proliferation if the spatial distribution of the LAA units was random. When the unit size was kept constant, the results of the simulation did not fit the empirical relationship between the LAA% and the three parameters (RN1, RN5 and RN5/RN1). The simulation provided the best-fitting curves when the unit size of the LAA increased in proportion with the LAA%, starting from a 1 x 1 pixel size increasing at a ratio 1 x 1/(5 LAA%). This suggested that the LAA units do not proliferate randomly in spatial orientation at a fixed unit size, but rather spread throughout the whole lung field in a congregated form whilst increasing their unit size. Thus, it may be concluded that healthy lung tissues near emphysematous lesions have a high probability of suffering from emphysema in the future. This may be due to a direct effect of the neighboring emphysematous lesion or due to a pathologic change in the larger bronchii which dominate both the healthy tissues and the emphysematous lesions.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

[Significance and problem of post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer].

This paper outlines the progress in recently reported trials of post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. In American study, MeCCNU/VCR/5-FU therapy given following surgery has been reported to improve survival. More recently, regimens of 5-FU plus levamisole in Dukes C colon cancer can reduce mortality. But 5-FU/levamisole therapy did not have no effect on survival in Japanese trial. Recent two Japanese trials have demonstrated that regimens of mitomycin C plus 5-FU or regimens of mitomycin C puls UFT reduce pelvic recurrence rates and improve survival. Peri-operative portal vein infusion of 5-FU seems to demonstrate improved relapse-free and overall survival. Combined postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy for patients with rectal cancer seems to be effective. The most important problem is to establish an effective postopetative adjuvant chemotherapy for Japanese colorectal surgery.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1997

Laparoscopic surgery by abdominal wall lifting using original lifting bars.

Laparoscopic surgery by abdominal wall lifting may be less invasive than by pneumoperitoneum, because the influence of the pneumoperitoneum can be avoided. We have performed laparoscopic surgery without pneumoperitoneum by lifting the full layer of the abdominal wall using two unique kinds of lifting bars that we developed. We have used this method on a total of 154 patients and obtained favorable results. Laparotomy was performed in three of the 104 patients undergoing cholecystectomy. All of them had previously undergone gastrectomy, and laparotomy was performed because of severe intraperitoneal adhesions. There were no severe complications, but insufficient suturing was experienced in one patient who underwent resection of the large intestine. In this article we describe the procedures and results of the lifting method.

Abdominal Muscles↗

PubMed1997

[Pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer: a case report with 19-year disease-free interval].

We report pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer in a 59-year-old female with 19-year disease-free interval. The patient had undergone a radical mastectomy for left breast cancer 19 years ago. Chest X-ray films revealed on abnormal shadow in left upper lung field. Further examinations including bronchoscopic lung biopsy suggested primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. A left upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. The histological diagnosis of resected specimen was mucinous adenocarcinoma, suggesting pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer with 19-year disease-free interval. We reported our patient because of a rare case with distant metastasis after a long-term interval.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1997

T2 shortening in the visual cortex: effect of aging and cerebrovascular disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of aging and cerebrovascular disease on T2 shortening in the visual cortex at MR imaging. METHODS: MR images of 72 neurologically normal subjects (45 men and 27 women, 35 to 92 years old) and 32 (13 men and 19 women, 54 to 92 years old) with cerebrovascular disease were evaluated retrospectively. On T2-weighted spin-echo images, the signal intensity of the visual, motor, and sensory cortices was divided into three grades and compared with the signal intensity of the frontal subcortical white matter. RESULTS: Decreased signal intensity (grade III) was rarely seen in the visual and sensory cortices of the neurologically normal subjects who were less than 60 years old. The signal intensity of the motor cortex decreased rapidly after the age of 50 years. At 61 to 70 years of age, 53% of these subjects had grade III intensity, and at age 71 years or older, 94% had reached grade III. The frequency of progression from grade I to grade III was lower in the visual cortex than in the motor cortex; 22% of these subjects had grade III appearance at age 61 to 70 years, and at age 71 years older, 56% had reached grade III. In patients with cerebrovascular disease who were older than 60 years of age, the frequency of grade III signal intensity in the visual cortex was almost equal to that in the neurologically normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: T2 shortening in the visual cortex is frequently seen in neurologically normal older persons. These findings are compatible with a previously reported histochemical study of normal iron deposition in the visual cortex. Cerebrovascular disease has no effect on T2 shortening in the visual cortex.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Primary solitary neurofibroma of the chest wall: report of a case resected with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery].

Primary solitary neurofibroma of the chest wall is rare. We present a 38-year-old man with this disease. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of an abnormal shadow of the left lung in chest roentgenograms. Chest CT scanning showed an extrapleural tumor, 4 x 5 cm in size, which was homogenous and sharply demarcated. The tumor was resected with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The pathohistological diagnosis was neurofibroma originating from the 5th intercostal nerve. His postoperative course was uneventful. Neurofibroma commonly occurs in posterior mediastinum but rarely in the chest wall.

Adult↗