Biomedical subjects

T Nishimaki

Publications and source records attributed to T Nishimaki.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: report of a case.

A case of esophageal small cell carcinoma successfully treated with combination therapy consisting of both pre- and postoperative chemotherapy as well as surgical resection is presented. A 74-year-old man presented with a small cell carcinoma measuring 11 cm in diameter in the lower half of his thoracic esophagus. After undergoing preoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin (25 mg, iv, days 1 through 5), the gross tumor completely regressed. However, a microscopic focus of residual cancer showing squamous cell carcinoma was found in the resected esophageal specimen. The patient received an additional two courses of postoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin (75 mg, iv monthly). He has since survived more than 9 years with no evidence of recurrent disease. We herein report a rare case of a patient with esophageal small cell carcinoma who demonstrated a complete cure.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Complement-activating properties of IgM rheumatoid factors reacting with IgG subclasses.

To estimate the complement-activating property (CAP) of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF), which was purified from synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in a reaction with each IgG subclass, the activation and binding of C4 in the classical pathway of complement by IgM RF was measured in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using biotinylated F(ab')2 antibody to human C4. The CAP of IgM RF reacting with IgG3 was significantly higher than that of IgM RFs bound to the other IgG subclasses (P < 0.01). These results suggest that IgM RF reacting with IgG3 in synovial fluid could induce a greater degree of complement-dependent inflammation in RA synovium than IgM RF reacting with other IgG subclasses.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

PubMed1995

A case of Werner's syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The case of a 40-year-old woman with Werner's syndrome associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is reported. The patient exhibited short stature, slender extremities, thinned hair, high-pitched voice, cataracts, ulceration of the fingers, and mental retardation. Malar erythema, photosensitivity, and proteinuria had been noted since age 34. The serum contained high titers of antibodies to dsDNA, Sm, nRNP, and SS-A/Ro. The simultaneous presence of Werner's syndrome and SLE could be a coincidental occurrence of the two diseases, although it might be due to an abnormality in replication or degeneration of DNA leading to the development of both diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Primary sclerosing cholangitis with marked eosinophilic infiltration in the liver.

A 16-year-old boy was diagnosed as having primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), based on retrograde cholangiography showing mixed features of narrowing and dilatation of the common hepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts. However, periductal fibrosis was not observed in the needle biopsy liver specimen. The liver biopsy specimen obtained 11 years previously, at the onset of the disease had disclosed a marked infiltration of eosinophils in the portal tract with eosinophilic catinonic protein immunostaining, with marked eosinophilia (54%) being noted. In Japanese reports, eosinophilia of more than 7% was reported in 13 of 32 (40.6%) PSC patients. However, the early stage of PSC, with marked eosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltration in the liver, such as in the present case, has rarely been reported. The findings in this case suggest that eosinocytes are related to the pathogenesis of PSC.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Chemotherapy of human small-cell gastrointestinal carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

We established two xenografts of small-cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in the oesophagus or the stomach, designated TEG13 and TSG15, and investigated the responses to experimental chemotherapy on these strains. Both tumours were classified as the intermediate cell type of SCC composed of small cells having neuroendocrine features in terms of morphology, argyrophil property, and immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase. Mitomycin C, cisplatin, and cyclophosphamide were judged to be effective against both strains. Particularly, cisplatin produced almost complete regression of tumour growth of the TEG13 strain. Etoposide proved effective only against the TSG15 strain. Moreover, the combined treatment with etoposide and cisplatin produced the most pronounced antitumour effect against the TSG15 strain. These studies suggest that cisplatin may be a key drug for chemotherapy of oesophageal SCC, and etoposide plus cisplatin treatment may be especially recommended in the treatment of gastric SCC. Mitomycin C should be re-evaluated in gastrointestinal SCC.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Association of primary sclerosing cholangitis, thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia.

A 64-year-old Japanese woman with thymoma has been suffering from diarrhea and increased alkaline phosphatase levels without jaundice. Her serum immunoglobulin levels of IgM and IgG were less than half of the normal levels, with an increase in CD8 (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cell percentage and a decrease in CD4 (helper) T cell percentage, resulting in a lower CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.31. These immunological features are in accordance with those of hypogammaglobulinemia complicating thymoma. Cholangiography and a liver biopsy specimen disclosed the presence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). PSC has been recognized in various immunodeficiency syndromes and this case shows that thymoma complicated by hypogammaglobulinemia is associated with PSC.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

PubMed1995

Pulmonary hypertension in rats. 1. Role of bromodeoxyuridine-positive mononuclear cells and alveolar macrophages.

The role of activated cells determined by staining with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and the role of alveolar macrophages as a source of cytokines were investigated in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats. BrdU was mainly incorporated by mononuclear cells; their number increased strikingly prior to the development of PH. Cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor were produced during the development of PH. The amount of IL-6 showed significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the number of BrdU-positive cells, which, in turn, correlated with the extent of PH. These results indicate that BrdU-positive cells and cytokines produced by alveolar macrophages may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MCT-induced PH in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Pulmonary hypertension in rats. 2. Role of interleukin-6.

We administered human interleukin (IL)-6 to rats to examine whether it is implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The rats injected with IL-6 developed PH as determined by the weight ratio of the right ventricle to the left ventricle+septum. This ratio decreased with the appearance of IgG anti-human IL-6 antibody. Histologically we observed in the lungs, luminal occlusion of small muscular arteries, capillaries filled with fibrin thrombi, and localized hemorrhage. IL-6 increased the number of platelets, and the number of platelets correlated with the extent of PH. Thus, it seems likely that (IL-6) is involved in the formation of PH in this model.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

[A successful 5'-DFUR and CDDP combination therapy for an advanced gastric cancer complicated with multiple liver metastases].

A 71-year-old man with Borrmann type 3 gastric cancer with multiple liver metastases had been treated with 5'-DFUR 1400 mg/m2/day, p.o. day 1-day 4/2w and CDDP 80 mg/m2 i.v. day 5/4w, which was repeated for 4 cycles. After 2 cycle treatment, all metastatic lesions in the liver disappeared on the computed tomography scan, indicating a complete response. The primary gastric lesion was reduced, indicating a partial response. There was no significant side effect during the 4 cycles of this therapy. He is alive 6 months after the therapy with a partial response. This 5'-DFUR and CDDP combination therapy seemed to be effective for advanced gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

Effect of ethanol on DNA synthesis and c-met induction in Chang liver cells with long-term culture.

This investigation was performed to determine whether ethanol affects induction on Chang liver cells of the c-met protooncogene product (c-met), a cell-surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). These cells were cultured for 4 weeks with 5, 50, or 100 mmol/L ethanol, or 10, 100, or 200 mumol/L acetaldehyde. Ethanol was found to inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation by cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, acetaldehyde at 100 mumol/L also inhibited [3H]thymidine uptake. Treatment with recombinant HGF led to enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation by cells treated with ethanol or acetaldehyde as well as by those left untreated, with no significant differences in the rates of increase among these three cell groups. The amount of c-met messenger RNA, however, was unaffected by treatment with ethanol or acetaldehyde. Expression of c-met as measured by cell ELISA was also unchanged by both treatments. These results suggest that ethanol has no effect on c-met induction on Chang liver cells and that HGF may not be involved in the ethanol induced inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1994

Clonotype analysis of peripheral blood T cells and autoantigen-reactive T cells from patients with mixed connective tissue disease.

T cells that recognize autoantigens may play a central role in the autoimmune response. We have previously shown that autoantigen-reactive T cells (CD4+) to U1-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein A were found in the PBMC of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or mixed connective tissue disease. To reveal clonotypes of such T cells that spread to the periphery, T cell clonal accumulations and their TCR-beta chain variable gene usages in fresh PBMC from eight patients with mixed connective tissue disease were analyzed by a new method of single strand conformation polymorphism applying to TCR gene detection. The results revealed that the numbers of accumulated T cell clones (mean: 24.3 clones) were greater than the numbers of clones detected in healthy donors (mean: 4.0 clones). Frequently used V beta genes in these accumulated T cell clones were V beta 1, 3, 4, 5.2, 14, and 16. After the stimulation for these samples with the soluble recombinant U1-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein A protein, proliferative T cell responses were observed. We found that T cell clones expressing more restricted TCR V beta genes (1, 3, 5.2, and 14 families) accumulated in vitro. These results suggest that autoantigen-reactive oligoclonal T cell accumulations are present in the peripheral blood from systemic autoimmune disease patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Patterns of lymphatic spread in thoracic esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The cervical nodes have been excluded from the category of regional nodes in cases of thoracic esophageal cancer in the present TNM classifications. METHODS: One hundred and forty-one patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who had undergone extensive radical lymphadenectomy were included in the study. The patterns of early lymph node metastasis from the disease, in terms of lymph node metastases from the intramural tumors or those found in patients with a single metastatic node, were studied. Prognostic significance of the removal of the positive nodes also was examined in relation to the metastatic sites. RESULTS: Of the 47 patients with intramural cancer, only 21% had nodal metastases confined to the mediastinum, 11% had positive cervical nodes, and 23% had jumping metastases to the extramediastinal nodes. Of the 31 patients with a single metastatic node, 61% showed metastasis in a jumping fashion, and 19% had a positive node in the neck. Seventy-four (79.6%) of the 93 patients with vessel invasion also had lymph node metastases, whereas 20 (41.7%) of the 48 patients without vessel invasion had metastases to the lymph nodes (P < 0.001). The 5-year projected survival rate for patients with positive cervical nodes was 27%, with no significant difference in survival rate compared with that for patients with metastatic nodes in the mediastinum or the abdomen. The number of involved nodes was related significantly to outcome: The 5-year survival rates for the 45 patients with negative nodes the 66 patients with one to four positive nodes were 71.8 and 34.2%, respectively (P < 0.01), whereas none of the 27 patients with five or more positive nodes survived more than 3 years after the operation (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The cervical nodes should be included in the category of regional nodes in cases of thoracic esophageal cancer on the basis of the patterns of early lymph node metastases and the prognostic significance of a lymphadenectomy for metastases to these nodes.

Abdomen↗

PubMed1994

Chronic esophagitis and subsequent morphological changes of the esophageal mucosa in Barrett's esophagus: a histological study of esophagectomy specimens.

Chronic esophagitis and the subsequent morphological changes of the esophageal mucosa were histologically studied in esophagectomy specimens from 15 patients with Barrett's esophagus. Basal layer hyperplasia with papillary elongation, intraepithelial eosinophils, and intraepithelial neutrophils were found in the squamous epithelium of all (100%), 7 (46.7%), and 14 (93.3%) of the 15 specimens, respectively. Moreover, a specialized type of Barrett's mucosa was found in the metaplastic columnar lining of all the specimens. The muscularis mucosae appeared intact beneath the squamous epithelium lining the proximal esophagus in 13 specimens (86.7%), while it became thick and "dual" beneath the metaplastic columnar epithelium lining the distal esophagus in 14 specimens (93.3%). This dual muscularis mucosae, as well as the metaplastic columnar epithelium, particularly the specialized type, may be part of the specific histological changes characteristic of Barrett's esophagus.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Antibodies to 65Kd heat-shock protein were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis.

Antibodies to 65Kd heat-shock protein (hsp) of mycobacterium leprae were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the three immunoglobulin classes in paired sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Titers of anti-hsp antibody were expressed by optical density (OD) values for sera or indexes (OD values divided by amounts of immunoglobulin in each class) for synovial fluids and for their paired sera. Indexes of anti-hsp antibody were higher in synovial fluids than those in sera at 15/18 for IgG, 17/18 for IgA and 16/18 for IgM class. These results suggest the participation of anti-hsp antibodies to synovitis in RA.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1994

A case of Behçet's disease with occlusion of both caval veins and "downhill" esophageal varices.

A case of Behçet's disease (BD) with occlusion of both caval veins and "downhill" esophageal varices is reported. A 59-year-old male patient had esophageal varices, established as the "downhill" type by endoscopy, venography, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) scan. Venography via both jugular veins did not lead to the visualization of the superior vena cava (SVC), but revealed numerous collateral veins, which formed esophageal varices en route. Venography via both femoral veins did not lead to the visualization of the inferior vena cava (IVC), but revealed numerous collateral veins, which flowed into the portal vein together with the jugular flow. CE-CT scan revealed the disappearance of the SVC and the lower part of the IVC, below the hepatic vein. The patient was diagnosed as having BD, based on his history of recurrent oral and skin lesions over the past 26 years.

Behcet Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

Clinical implications of cervical lymph node metastasis patterns in thoracic esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The authors attempt to clarify the clinical implications of cervical lymph node metastases from thoracic esophageal cancers. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Cervical lymph node metastases from thoracic esophageal cancer have been considered to be incompatible with curative resection. However, recent studies have demonstrated that cure is achievable in patients with such metastases. METHODS: Patterns of esophageal cancer metastasis to the cervical nodes and long-term results after tumor resection were investigated in 23 patients undergoing bilateral cervical lymphadenectomy for treatment of thoracic esophageal cancer. RESULTS: The number of positive nodes per patient was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in lower esophageal cancers (median: 15) than in upper or mid esophageal cancers (median: 2.5). Simultaneous metastases to three nodal regions (the neck, mediastinum, and abdomen) were significantly more common (p < 0.001) in lower esophageal tumors (88.9%) than in upper and mid esophageal lesions (7.1%). Although the overall 5-year survival rate was 16.5%, long-term survival was achieved only in patients with upper or mid esophageal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Soluble P-selectin in the plasma of patients with connective tissue diseases.

We measured the soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) in plasma of 54 patients with connective tissue diseases and 12 normal controls by a 2-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Our purpose was 2-fold: to determine (1) whether the level of sP-selectin of such patients is higher than normal, and (2), if it is, whether it correlates with any of the laboratory data currently available. The mean levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were 306, 1,048 and 844 ng/ml, respectively, compared with 220 ng/ml for controls. The mean levels in patients with SLE and nephropathy, MCTD and either nephropathy or thrombosis, and malignant RA were 351, 1,116 and 1,721 ng/ml, respectively. No correlation was found between the levels of sP-selectin and other laboratory data (WBC, CRP, ESR, antinuclear antibody, RF, aCL) except the number of platelets (y = 0.057, r = 0.37). In the clinical course of patients with lupus nephritis and MCTD with nephropathy, sP-selectin became a sensitive parameter. Thus, the level of sP-selectin is higher than normal in patients with connective tissue diseases, especially when complications exist, and it does not correlate with any of the laboratory data currently available except the number of platelets. Measurement of sP-selectin levels should be included in the laboratory tests of patients with connective tissue diseases, especially when complicated by nephropathy or thrombosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Ulcerative colitis associated with Takayasu's disease.

A 25-year-old Japanese woman had both ulcerative colitis and Takayasu's disease and was positive for HLA-A24, BW52, and DR2. She was found to have thickening of the wall of the carotid artery on contrast-enhanced computerized tomography of the neck and chest. Prednisolone, beraprost, and sulfapyridine achieved rapid remission of both diseases.

Adult↗