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Biomedical subjects

T Honda

Publications and source records attributed to T Honda.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Characteristics of small lung cancers invisible on conventional chest radiography and detected by population based screening using spiral CT.

Conventional chest radiography (CXR) is a poor diagnostic tool for detecting lung cancers at a surgically curable stage. To determine the visibility of peripheral small lung cancers on CXR, we retrospectively examined the usefulness of CXR using a consecutive series of 44 cases detected on CT screening and later confirmed by histopathology. All cases had been detected by low dose CT during a population based screening trial for lung cancer. The control group consisted of 48 chest radiographs of normal subjects. Tumour diameters ranged from 6 mm to 45 mm, with 95% (42/44) < or = 20 mm, and 5% (2/44) > 20 mm. CXR failed to detect 77% (34/44) of all cancers, including 79% (33/42) < or = 20 mm and 50% (1/2) > 20 mm. Of the 42 lung cancers < or = 20 mm, 74% (31/42) were located in the well penetrated lung zones and 71% (22/31) of these were missed on CXR. 26% (11/42) were concealed by hilar vessels, mediastinum, heart or diaphragm, and all (11/11) of these were missed on CXR. 93% (39/42) of the lung cancers < or = 20 mm were adenocarcinomas and 79% (31/39) of these were missed on CXR. 7% (3/42) were epidermoid carcinomas or small cell carcinomas and 66% (2/3) of these were missed on CXR. The overall accuracy of interpretation on CXR for lung cancers was 61%, sensitivity was 23% and specificity 96%. Although there was an association between presence of lung cancer and positive reading of CXR (chi 2 test of association, p < 0.05), the percentage of positive readings was only 23%. Thus, CXR was poor at visualizing CT detectable lung cancers of < or = 20 mm diameter, which are usually of very low density, and cannot be relied upon for detection of surgically curable small lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Rapidly growing small peripheral lung cancers detected by screening CT: correlation between radiological appearance and pathological features.

12 peripheral small lung cancers (< 20 mm) of rapid growth (volume doubling time < 150 days), detected by repeated low dose CT screening, were evaluated to examine their CT features and to correlate such features with histopathological findings. Each patient's CT images, including follow-up and thin section CT images, were studied retrospectively to determine tumour growth rate and CT morphological features. Nine of the tumours exhibited a solid tumour growth pattern: seven of these showed a well defined, homogeneous, soft tissue density with spicular or lobulated margin. These seven tumours included small cell lung cancer (n = 3), moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma (n = 2), poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (n = 1) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 1). The other two tumours, a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and a well differentiated adenocarcinoma, appeared as irregular, soft tissue density nodules with poorly defined margins. The latter exhibited an air bronchogram pattern and a small cavity. The remaining three tumours exhibited a lepidic tumour growth pattern. They showed ground glass opacity or ground glass opacity with a higher density central zone on CT images and were well differentiated adenocarcinomas. In conclusion, most peripheral small lung cancers of rapid growth were adenocarcinomas. They also included small cell lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma. The majority showed solid tumour growth pattern and lacked an air bronchogram and/or small air spaces in the nodule. Some well differentiated adenocarcinomas with lepidic tumour growth pattern also showed rapid growth.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

New anthocyanins from purple pods of pea (Pisum spp.).

Two new anthocyanins were isolated from purple pods of pea (Pisum spp.). Their structures were identified as delphinidin 3-xylosylgalactoside-5-acetylglucoside and its deacetylated derivative by the usual chemical degradation methods and by spectroscopic methods such as UV-VIS, MS and NMR. Both pigments showed moderate stability and antioxidative activity in a neutral aqueous solution.

Anthocyanins↗
PubMed2000

Improvement of mannitol lysine crystal violet brilliant green agar for the selective isolation of H2S-positive Salmonella.

Mannitol lysine crystal violet brilliant green agar (MLCB) is widely used in Japan for Salmonella isolation because the medium has been commercially available. Colonies of Salmonella on MLCB appear colorless with black centers due to H2S gas production; however, most Citrobacter freundii also produce H2S gas. In order to distinguish H2S-positive Salmonella from C. freundii we have improved MLCB. To MLCB was added 1% lactose (L-MLCB). The relation for pH and black center colony formation was examined. The pH of MLCB and L-MLCB inoculated with Salmonella species was slightly acid after 7 h, but the pH of L-MLCB inoculated with C. freundii did not become acid for 24 h. The colony of C. freundii did not have a black center because the production of acid from lactose lowers the pH below 10 where it is needed for H2S to react with iron to produce black pigments. Of 99 Salmonella strains including 13 serotypes tested, all strains had the same colony morphologies on MLCB and L-MLCB. When MLCB and L-MLCB were evaluated with 36 C. freundii strains isolated from foods, only colonies on MLCB had black centers. We conclude that L-MLCB is useful for detection of nonlactose-fermenting, H2S-positive Salmonella in food samples.

Agar↗
PubMed2000

[Molecular diagnostic tests and chromosome analyses].

Molecular diagnostic tests and chromosomal analyses are often used to diagnose infectious, neoplastic and genetic diseases. However, there are only a few genetic laboratories in university hospitals in Japan because of the high cost and additional staff required for their management. In 1992, we started a genetic laboratory with one technologist in Shinshu University Hospital, and mainly performed polymerase chain reactions(PCR) for the diagnosis of several mycobacterial species, Hepatitis C virus and cytomegalovirus. Infectious diseases diagnosed by PCR have gradually increased over recent years. Chromosome analyses were available in 1996 and spectral karyotyping started from April 1999. Our genetic laboratory was staffed by 4 technologists and 3 faculty members in 1999, and they can provide informative tests with high quality. Molecular diagnostic tests were performed for 855 infectious diseases, 25 hematopoietic tumors and 8 solid tumors, while chromosome analyses were performed for 51 hereditary diseases and 29 hematopoietic tumors in 1998. Establishment of a genetic laboratory in a university hospital may not result in cost savings, but it produces a favorable influence on other laboratories. All staff can use molecular biology techniques to clarify limitations of routine tests and research.

Chromosomes↗
PubMed2000

The novel triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid induces apoptosis of human myeloid leukemia cells by a caspase-8-dependent mechanism.

The oleanane triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxoolean-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) is a multifunctional molecule that induces growth inhibition and differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells. The present studies demonstrate that CDDO treatment results in apoptosis of U-937 and HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells. Similar to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), another agent that inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of these cells, CDDO induced the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3. Overexpression of Bcl-X(L) blocked cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis in ara-C-treated cells. By contrast, CDDO-induced release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3 were diminished only in part by Bcl-X(L). In concert with these findings, we demonstrate that CDDO, but not ara-C, activates caspase-8 and thereby caspase-3 by a cytochrome c-independent mechanism. The results also show that CDDO-induced cytochrome c release is mediated by caspase-8-dependent cleavage of Bid. These findings demonstrate that CDDO induces apoptosis of myeloid leukemia cells and that this novel agent activates an apoptotic signaling cascade distinct from that induced by the cytotoxic agent ara-C.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2000

[A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Strophariaceae].

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to the Iiyama Red Cross Hospital with a non-productive cough. She had been working with Strophariaceae cultures for 4 years, and in January 1999 a cough had developed. On admission, hypoxemia was noted. The serum level of lactate dehydrogenase was slightly elevated. Chest radiography and CT scanning showed diffuse ground glass opacity and small centrilobular nodules in both lower lobes. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the total cell count was normal, the CD4/CD8 ratio was reduced, and the lymphocyte fraction was very high. A transbronchial lung biopsy revealed alveolitis with lymphocytic infiltration and organizing changes like Masson bodies. The lymphocyte stimulation test was positive for Strophariaceae. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Strophariaceae was diagnosed. Prednisolone was administered because of persistent symptoms and prolonged abnormal chest radiography findings. These abnormalities disappeared 2 weeks after prednisolone treatment was initiated. There is one previous report of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Strophariaceae. The symptoms are coughing and sputum production as in the common cold. The occupational history must be carefully considered in making a diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Siblings with age-related macular degeneration in a pedigree].

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration remains unknown. Environmental and genetic factors have been shown to be associated with in this disease. We report siblings with age-related macular degeneration. CASES: The proband (the third of 6 siblings) was found to have retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities and drusen of the right macula, and serous retinal detachment, drusen, and choroidal neovascularization of the left macula. Examination of the eldest siblings showed choroidal neovascularization, subretinal hemorrhage, and serous retinal detachment of the right macula. The left eye of the proband and the right eye of the eldest siblings were treated with laser photocoagulation. The fourth sibling was examined, and findings included retinal pigment epithelial abnormalities of both maculas and drusen of the right eye. The sixth sibling had drusen of the left macula. CONCLUSION: We report a family in which two siblings had age-related macular degeneration and two other siblings had abnormalities of the maculas.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Lyophyllum aggregatum in two sisters].

We encountered two sisters with hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Lyophyllum aggregatum. In Case 1, the patient was a 47-year-old woman who consulted Iiyama Red Cross Hospital because of a non-productive cough. She had worked with Lyophyllum aggregatum cultures for 7 years. In 1996, she complained of a dry cough, and had had a severe cough in November 1998. She was admitted to Iiyama Red Cross Hospital because of dyspnea on effort. Laboratory data revealed a high level of C-reactive protein. Chest radiography and CT scanning showed ground glass opacities in both lower lobes, and centrilobular nodules. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid revealed a decrease in the CD4/CD8 ratio, and the lymphocyte fraction was very high. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed lymphocytic granuloma and interstitial thickening, and the lymphocyte stimulation test was positive for Lyophyllum aggregatum. Case 2 occurred in the 51-year-old sister of Patient 1. She had worked with Lyophyllum aggregatum cultures for 10 years. In 1994, she had experienced dyspnea and a dry cough while working. In January 1999, she was admitted to Iiyama Red Cross Hospital because of a dry cough, sputum and chest oppression. Chest radiography and CT scanning revealed ground glass opacities in both lower lobes and centrilobular nodules. The CD4/CD8 ratio in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was low, and the lymphocyte fraction conspicuously high. The transbronchial lung biopsy revealed lymphocytic granuloma and interstitial thickening. The lymphocyte stimulation test was negative for Lyophyllum aggregatum. She was discharged and returned to work, but the dry cough and low-grade fever recurred. However, the occupational provocation test is not regarded as positive because chest radiography, laboratory examinations, and a pulmonary function test were not performed. The symptoms of both cases were eliminated only on isolation of the antigen. There has not been any previous report of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by Lyophyllum aggregatum.

Agaricales↗
PubMed2000

[Laboratory system to support liver transplantation].

It is beyond doubt that clinical examination is one of the essential issues in(living-related) liver transplantation as well as other clinical cases. To support liver transplantation, our laboratory has prepared efficient systems and has been trying to improve these systems as follows. 1) We need to construct a system to be able to comply with clinical requests. Thus, we need to know what kinds of laboratory examinations are likely to be required before, during, and after transplant surgery. In general, common laboratory examinations are sufficient to support liver transplantation. The most important thing is whether all the clinical examinations required can be assayed anytime. However, only general biochemical tests and complete blood count are provided outside standard laboratory hours by the medical technologist on duty because of staffing limitation and differences in each specialty. Therefore, we recently introduced a 24-hour on-call system in addition to the system described above. Actually, five persons in charge from each of the five groups divided by each specialty carry the pocket-bells in turns. 2) We supply a report to support the diagnosis and treatment. The report should include opinions and suggestions. A supplementary examination would be recommended if considered necessary. 3) To supply effective comments, we must improve our abilities to understand pathologic findings obtained from laboratory data. Especially, timely biopsy for the diagnosis of rejection depends on a proper interpretation of laboratory tests. Therefore, we need to investigate past cases after liver transplantation using statistical estimations and advanced examinations.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗
PubMed1999

BAS1: A gene regulating brassinosteroid levels and light responsiveness in Arabidopsis.

The Arabidopsis bas1-D mutation suppresses the long hypocotyl phenotype caused by mutations in the photoreceptor phytochrome B (phyB). The adult phenotype of bas1-D phyB-4 double mutants mimics that of brassinosteroid biosynthetic and response mutants. bas1-D phyB-4 has reduced levels of brassinosteroids and accumulates 26-hydroxybrassinolide in feeding experiments. The basis for the mutant phenotype is the enhanced expression of a cytochrome P450 (CYP72B1). bas1-D suppresses a phyB-null allele, but not a phyA-null mutation, and partially suppresses a cryptochrome-null mutation. Seedlings with reduced BAS1 expression are hyperresponsive to brassinosteroids in a light-dependent manner and display reduced sensitivity to light under a variety of conditions. Thus, BAS1 represents one of the control points between multiple photoreceptor systems and brassinosteroid signal transduction.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed1999

Novel synthetic oleanane triterpenoids: a series of highly active inhibitors of nitric oxide production in mouse macrophages.

Novel oleanane triterpenoids with modified rings A and C were designed and synthesized. Among them, methyl 2-carboxy-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oate showed similar high inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.8 nM) to 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO), which we have synthesized previously, against production of nitric oxide induced by interferon-gamma in mouse macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Prediction of progression or regression of type A aortic intramural hematoma by computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that early surgery should be required for patients with type A aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) because it tends to develop classic aortic dissection or rupture. However, the anatomic features of type A IMH that develops dissection or rupture are unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of progression or regression of type A IMH by computed tomography (CT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with type A IMH were studied by serial CT images. Aortic diameter and aortic wall thickness of the ascending aorta were estimated in CT images at 3 levels on admission and at follow-up (mean 37 days). We defined patients who showed increased maximum aortic wall thickness in the follow-up CT (n=9) or died of rupture (n=1) as the progression group (n=10). The other 12 patients, who all showed decreased maximum wall thickness, were categorized as the regression group. In the progression group, the maximum aortic diameter in the initial CT was significantly greater than that in the regression group (55+/-6 vs 47+/-3 mm, P=0.001). A Cox regression analysis revealed that the maximum aortic diameter was the strongest predictor for progression of type A IMH. We considered the optimal cutoff value to be 50 mm for the maximum aortic diameter to predict progression (positive predictive value 83%, negative predictive value 100%). CONCLUSIONS: Maximum aortic diameter estimated by the initial CT images is predictive for progression of type A IMH.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Co-localization of the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor and its functional receptor c-RET in a subpopulation of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Co-localization of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its functional receptor c-RET was examined immunohistochemically in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of the 5th lumbar nerve in rats. The total 1728 DRG neurons were observed in three female rats (Wistar) with ca. 200 g body weight, 46.6% of small neurons, 41.4% of medium-sized neurons, and 8.4% of large neurons showed GDNF-immunoreactivity. C-RET immunoreactivity was more intense in small and medium-sized DRG neurons than in large ones; it was detected in 43.8% of small neurons, 52.0% of medium-sized neurons and 14.5% of large neurons. On examination of alternate serial sections, each of which was immunostained for GDNF and c-RET, 16.1% of small neurons, 16.9% of medium-sized neurons, and 2.4% of large neurons showed both GDNF- and c-RET-immunoreactivities. Ligation of the sciatic nerve caused an accumulation of GDNF immunoreactive products more prominently in the ganglion side rather than the peripheral side of ligation. Our present results suggested that GDNF was always expressed in DRG neurons and was transported to spinal dorsal horn via the primary afferent neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Reactive oxygen species as a risk factor in verotoxin-1-exposed rats.

It has been suggested the the interaction of Escherichia coli O157-derived verotoxins (VTs) with the vascular endothelium plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the thrombotic microangiopathy and ischemic lesions characteristic of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and E. coli O157-associated hemorrhagic colitis. Intravenous administration of both E. coli O157-derived VT1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rat induced a synergistic increase in thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values in those animal's plasma, as compared with that injected with VT1 or LPS alone. We then hypothesized that an increase in lipid peroxidation in the rat plasma was due to an enhanced production of endothelial cell-derived reactive oxidant. Based on determination of rat sera and cultured human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), VT1 had little if any effect on LPS-stimulated increase of nitric oxide and the resultant peroxynitrite generations. Both RT-PCR and Western blot studies of reactive oxygen species-related enzymes showed that VT1 markedly decreased the expression of catalase mRNA and protein in HAECs, but caused less alteration in the levels of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, and NADPH oxidase mRNA. Further studies by spin trapping analysis using 5, 5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) revealed a time-dependent increase in hydroxyl radicals by VT1 in HAECs. The accumulated data thus suggest that bacterial VT1 reduces mainly catalase levels in endothelial cells, which is synergistically potentiated by LPS, and that the resulting hydroxyl radical participates in endothelium injury through a marked enhancement of lipid peroxidation, leading to HUS.

Animals↗