Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kitahara

Publications and source records attributed to T Kitahara.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Scintigraphic detection of recurrence of medullary thyroid cancer.

A case of recurrent medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) was evaluated with 123I-MIBG, 99mTc(V)-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and 201Tl scintigraphy. This patient had been operated on for MTC in the right thyroid. Recently a left neck mass was noticed, and was suspected of being a recurrence of MTC based on increased plasma calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). He was operated on for the neck mass which revealed MTC, and papillary thyroid cancer was incidentally found in the left thyroid, but the CT and CEA levels remained high, and remaining MTC tumor was suspected. But the location of the tumor was unknown. Although 99mTc(V)-DMSA scintigraphy is generally believed to be superior in sensitivity to 123I-MIBG scintigraphy, it did not demonstrate the tumor site but 201Tl and 123I-MIBG did. Furthermore, 123I-MIBG scintigraphy has greater specificity for tumors which arise in the neural crest. Judging from the results of this case and cases reported in the literatures, both 123I-MIBG and 99mTc(V)-DMSA should be performed in the detection of recurrent MTC.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1995

Up-regulation of ferritin heavy chain mRNA expression in the rat skeletal muscle after denervation: detected by means of differential display.

The differential display method was applied to identify gene expression, which is especially up-regulated in denervated skeletal muscle. Total RNA from normal and denervated rat facial muscles (muscles zygomaticus, levator nasolabialis and caninus) was isolated, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using certain primers and separated by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel. PCR products, the amounts of which were significantly higher in the operated side than in the control side, were cut out from the gel and sequenced. One of the cDNA fragments obtained in the present study showed 100% identity in nucleotide sequence to the rat ferritin heavy chain (FHC) mRNA. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry confirmed that FHC mRNA expression was up-regulated after denervation and was distributed throughout whole muscle cell bodies. The biological damage attributed to superoxide and hydrogen peroxide is dependent on the presence of intracellular free iron. Intracellularly, most of the iron that is not metabolized is sequestered in ferritin as a crystalline core of ferric irons (Fe3+). These findings suggest that alterations in the ferritin subunit composition after denervation play an important role in iron metabolism in skeletal muscle cells, resulting in restriction of the biological tissue damage caused by reactive oxygen species.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Simultaneous carboplatin and radiotherapy for all stages of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The study investigated the toxicity and efficiency of the concomitant administration of radiotherapy and carboplatin to patients with head and neck carcinomas. Sixty-three patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, other than nasopharyngeal cancer and Stage I (UICC) laryngeal cancers, were treated by external radiotherapy and four courses of carboplatin at a dose of 100 mg/m2 per week. In two patients, only three courses were possible due to renal toxicity. In the other 61 patients, toxicities were self-limiting and no patient required interruption of carboplatin administration. No patient required discontinuation of radiotherapy because of acute toxicity. Of 61 evaluable patients, a complete response (CR) was obtained in 11.5% and a partial response (PR) in 60.7% at 40 Gy. In 41 patients treated to 65 Gy (including two patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma, who were treated by debulking surgery), CR was obtained in 76.9% and CR+PR was 100% at the end of treatment. The actuarial survival rate of the 63 patients at 2 years was 69.2%, with a median follow-up period of 24.4 months. One of 12 patients who received salvage surgery after radical radiotherapy has died due to poor wound healing after the surgery. The schedule was safe, providing a weekly check of serum samples was possible. It is likely that the rate of local control and vocal cord preservation in laryngeal tumours might improve if concurrent carboplatin is used. Careful follow-up is required to determine the long-term effect of concomitant carboplatin administration.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Synthesis of both the enantiomers of aseanostatin P5 (sarcinic acid), an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase release, and four diastereomers of aggreceride A, a platelet aggregation inhibitor.

Both the enantiomers of aseanostatin P5 (sarcinic acid), an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase (MPO) release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), with high optical purity were synthesized by starting from (S)-2-methylbutanol and methyl (S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate. They were converted to four diastereomers of aggreceride A, a platelet aggregation inhibitor.

Fatty Acids↗
PubMed1995

Changes in Fos and Jun expression in the rat brainstem in the process of vestibular compensation.

By means of immunohistochemical technique, we examined the changes in Fos and Jun expression after unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL) in the rat brainstem. We observed Fos-like immunoreactivity (-LIR) in the ipsilateral medial vestibular nucleus (ipsi-MVe), the contralateral prepositus hypoglossal nucleus (contra-PrH) and the contralateral inferior olive beta subnucleus (contra-IOb) 1 h after UL. Then, Fos expression in the contra-PrH and the contra-IOb disappeared 3 days after surgery. However, we still found the residual expression in the ipsi-MVe, which disappeared within 7 days. On the other hand, no Jun-LIR was detected in the vestibular or vestibular-related nuclei before or after the operation. Fos expression in the MVe, PrH and IOb was induced immediately after UL. Then, the Fos expression disappeared in accordance with the development of the vestibular compensation. These findings suggest that the transient Fos expression in the vestibular and vestibular related nuclei is a trigger of vestibular compensation.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical analysis of 14 patients with anti-myeloperoxidase antibody positive rapid progressive glomerulonephritic syndrome].

We investigated the clinical features and outcome of 14 patients with anti-myeloperoxidase antibody (MPO-ANCA) positive rapidly progressive glomerulonephritic syndrome. Underlying diseases included microscopic polyarteritis in 6 patients, idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis with lung hemorrhage in 2 patients, idiopathic glomerulonephritis in 3 patients, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritic syndrome without renal biopsy in 1 patient, crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with Sjögren syndrome and progressive systemic sclerosis in 1 patient and crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with sarcoidosis in 1 patient. Five patients were male (mean age, 59.2 years) and 9 were female (mean age, 54.0 years). On admission, most patients had anemia, leukocytophilia, and marked elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP). Average hemoglobin, white blood cell count and CRP levels on admission were 8.1 mg/dl, 11,500/mm3 and 14.7 mg/dl, respectively. Average serum creatinine was 4.0 mg/dl. All patients were treated with steroids either with or without cyclophosphamide. As the patients recovered clinically, the MPO-ANCA titers declined. Although most patients responded well to immunosuppressive therapy, some died of serious complications (such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, fungal infection, and pneumocystis pneumonia). The prognosis of patients with severe renal failure was especially poor. We conclude that early diagnosis, treatment and intensive care during immunosuppressive therapy are very important in the management of MPO-ANCA-positive rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[A case of infantile ganglioglioma].

Gangliogliomas are common in childhood, but rare in infancy. The authors report a rare case of ganglioglioma who had an initial episode of complex partial seizure in infancy. A two-year-old girl was admitted for the surgical treatment of intractable seizures. She presented with an annual episode of seizure at two months old. The CT scan at 2 months old showed a light high-density tumor in the left medial temporal lobe. However, she had no treatment because she had no seizure since then and her psychomotor development was normal. She was treated with anticonvulsants from 1 year and 10 months old since seizures recurred. She was admitted to our ward at 2 years old because the frequency of seizures increased. Plain CT on admission showed an enlarged high density mass in left medial temporal lobe. The T1 weighted images of MRI demonstrated the mass to be isointense compared with the cortex, with homogeneously contrast enhancement. Total removal of the tumor was performed and histological diagnosis was ganglioglioma. She is seizure-free after surgery and synaptophysin was useful for the histological diagnosis. This case may indicate that gangliogliomas can be a congenital brain tumor which slowly enlarges.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1994

[Prognostic factors of radiation therapy for patients with non-operative stage III non-small cell lung cancer].

Records of patients with non-operative stage III non-small cell lung cancer registered at the Department of Radiotherapy, Cancer Institute Hospital, from January 1978 to June 1980 were examined in order to present prognostic information on survival. The data were derived from 100 carefully staged patients and include results from the patients' history, physical examination, pretreatment laboratory tests, radiological findings, nature of radiotherapy and response to treatment. Serum albumin, tumor site, performance status (PS), hemoglobin, TDF and response were identified as important prognostic factors in the univariate analyses. On the other hand, tumor site, PS and serum albumin were significantly related with survival in the multivariate analyses. However it was found that TDF and response significantly affected survival when posttreatment variables were taken into account. These patients were classified into low, intermediate and high risk groups according to those three pretreatment factors (tumor site, PS and serum albumin), and the median survival times for the groups were 10.3 months, 10.4 months and 2.5 months, respectively. These results suggest that high risk patients with stage III non-small cell cancer generally might be treated palliatively.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Expression of GABAA receptor gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunits in the peripheral vestibular system of the rat.

The distribution of GABAA receptor gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunits in the rat vestibular ganglion cells and end-organs was examined by using immunohistochemical techniques. Both gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunit-like immunoreactivities were observed in most vestibular ganglion cell bodies and peripheral terminal endings in the vestibular sensory epithelia. These results indicate that GABAA receptors are expressed in the vestibular afferent terminal endings and therefore suggest that GABA in addition to glutamate is a neurotransmitter which effects on vestibular afferents.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1994

The effects of a carotid-jugular fistula on cerebral blood flow in the cat: an experimental study in the acute period.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of feline carotid-jugular (CJ) fistula (Spetzler's model) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the acute period after creation of the fistula. Using laser-Doppler flowmetry, cortical CBF was measured on the fistula side of 11 cats. Temporary occlusion and opening of the fistula led to an immediate increase and decrease, respectively, in cortical CBF. However, CBF returned to baseline within 1 minute, on average. CO2 reactivity in the closed fistula was preserved. It is suggested that cerebral hemodynamic changes due to Spetzler's CJ fistula model are minimal in the acute period after fistulization.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Precise positioning of intracranial small tumors to the linear accelerator's isocenter, using a stereotactic radiotherapy computed tomography system (SRT-CT).

RT-CT was developed as a simulator using CT scan for radiotherapy. Following three-dimensional treatment planning using CT images, the treatment center and treatment fields are projected to the patients' surface by laser beam on the C arm. The prototype had an accuracy of 3 mm which was equivalent to conventional X-ray simulators but was not adequate for use in stereotactic radiotherapy. A new RT-CT system was developed to have a precise localization capability for stereotactic radiotherapy. Using this stereotactic RT-CT (SRT-CT) after three-dimensional planning, the treatment center is projected to the stereotactic frame automatically. In this study, the values of the x, y and z coordinates of the target center determined by SRT-CT are compared with those determined by the traditional method using CT localizing plates. The discrepancies were within 1.0 mm in 90% and 1.5 mm in 100% of 30 measurements in 16 patients. The disadvantages of SRT-CT may be that the accuracy of localization depends on the quality of calibration of laser beams. The traditional CT localizing method has superiority over SRT-CT because of its solid coordinates but its accuracy is vulnerable to alignment of CT fiducial marker plates. Therefore, the SRT-CT and traditional CT localizing methods would be complementary to each other for precise localization.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

Up-regulation of ERK (MAP kinase) and MEK (MAP kinase kinase) transcription after rat facial nerve transection.

Up-regulation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase or MAP kinase) and MEK (ERK kinase or MAPK kinase) expression after rat facial nerve injury was demonstrated by in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. These two enzymes play roles in one of the major intracellular signal cascade pathways involving receptor tyrosine kinase common to growth factor receptors, and transcription factors. Significant increases in ERK1 mRNA levels were observed from day 3 after facial nerve transection, with the highest level of expression from 1 to 2 weeks after the operation. This high level of mRNA expression then decreased gradually to the normal level. ERK1-like immunoreactivity showed a similar time course to that of its mRNA expression; however, the decay profile was more prolonged. The up-regulation of MEK, the ERK kinase/MAPK kinase, was also detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression profiles were almost equivalent, but the MEK expression was slightly advanced, suggesting that the observed up-regulation of MEK was not due to that of ERK. The receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathway via MEK-ERK located downstream of growth factor receptors seems vital as a regulator of the synthesis of molecules that play important roles in the recovery process following injury or/and regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Gene regulation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunits (C alpha, beta; RI alpha, beta and RII alpha, beta) in rat facial motoneurons after nerve transection.

In this study we investigated the changes in gene expressions of catalytic (C alpha, beta) and regulatory (RI alpha, beta and RII alpha, beta) subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in axotomized facial motoneurons of the rat. Nerve transection induced changes in the expression of C subunit messenger RNAs and RII subunit messenger RNAs. Control facial motoneurons had a high expression of both C alpha and C beta subunit messenger RNAs, but their expression declined after axotomy. The decrease was most pronounced at postoperative week 2 and returned to basal level within postoperative week 4. In contrast, the expression of both RII alpha and beta subunit messenger RNAs, which were low in control facial motoneurons, was increased after axotomy. Enhancement of RII subunits messenger RNAs was apparent during postoperative weeks 1 and 3, and then returned to the basal level. RI alpha, beta subunits messenger RNAs were strongly expressed in normal facial motoneurons, but were not clearly influenced by axotomy. These results indicate an attenuation of total PKA activity in axotomized facial motoneurons. Furthermore, such gene regulation may imply a change of the targets for PKA in facial motoneurons during the process of neurite regeneration.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Variation of differentiation in nail and bovine hoof cells.

Human nail plate contains two distinct types of keratins, skin-type and hair-type keratins. To elucidate that nature of the differentiation pathway of nail, we examined the expression of these keratins in human nail as well as in cultured cells taken from bovine hoof matrix. In this study we succeeded in showing that human nail matrix is characterized by the segregated localization of skin- and hair-type keratins except for the apical matrix in which both types of keratins are co-expressed. These results allow us to infer that some of the nail cells possibly divert the pattern of keratin expression during differentiation in vivo. Cultured cells taken from the ventral matrix of bovine hoof, which undergo the pathway of hair-type differentiation in vivo, expressed skin-type keratins together with hair-type keratins, thereby indicating that these cells develop into another pathway of differentiation (skin-type differentiation) from hair-type differentiation developed in vivo. These results provide us with a further insight into nail differentiation under which nail cells develop into multiple patterns of differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cyclic haemopoiesis at 7- or 8-day intervals.

We report a patient with severe anaemia and cyclic oscillations of reticulocyte and leucocyte counts, as well as serum iron (Fe), unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and temperature, at regular intervals of 7 or 8 d. After treatment with prednisolone, anaemia was corrected and the cyclic oscillations of these parameters ceased; whereas treatment with indomethacin, recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and erythropoietin (Epo) were unsuccessful.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Acute childhood leukemia in a patient with hemophilia: first report in Japan.

This study reports an unusual case of acute leukemia which was diagnosed as hemophilia A on initial admission for leukemia. A 3 year old boy was admitted to Kagoshima University Hospital with anemia. He was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. At the same time he was revealed to have severe hemophilia A- without any previous episodes of severe bleeding tendency or family history of this disease. The laboratory investigation showed his mother to be a carrier of hemophilia A. Although there are many cases of hemophilia which have developed malignant tumors, most of them were caused by association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Only five cases with coexistence of leukemia and hemophilia without HIV infection have been reported and the present case is the first one in Japan. At this stage, hemophiliacs are not necessarily regarded to be a population at risk for the development of leukemia. Furthermore, no particular subtype of leukemia was characterized among these patients in the literature.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

What are parents of obese children concerned about in their children?

We retrospectively examined the issues that concern parents of obese children to determine the most effective means of motivating them to seek treatment for obesity in their children. Children with an obesity index > or = 40%, aged six to 12 years, were screened in Kagoshima City in 1992. Parents were notified if their children needed an evaluation that included a family history and measurements of the blood pressure, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, atherogenic index (ASI), triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Parents were informed of the results of the evaluation and invited to attend a lecture on the treatment of obesity in children. A total of 378 obese children were evaluated. However, the parents of only 39 children attended the lecture. Children whose parents attended had higher mean total levels of cholesterol (190 +/- 25 vs 175 +/- 28, P < 0.01) and ASI values (3.2 +/- 0.9 vs 2.7 +/- 0.9, P < 0.02) than those whose parents did not attend. There were no significant differences in other factors. Only 4.2% of parents whose children showed no abnormal values, except for obesity, attended the lecture, compared with 20.3% (P < 0.01) or 16.9% (P < 0.05) of parents whose children had abnormal levels of cholesterol or abnormal ASI. Parents may be more concerned about hypercholesterolemia or arteriosclerosis than obesity per se. We should perhaps use the total cholesterol or ASI values, not just the severity of obesity, to motivate parents to enter their children into treatment programs for obesity.

Adult↗