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Biomedical subjects

T Tajima

Publications and source records attributed to T Tajima.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[Effect of intraperitoneal therapy in gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination].

Eighty gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination were analyzed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal chemo- and/or immunotherapy on abdominal ascites. Among them, 19 were treated with intraperitoneal chemo- and/or immunotherapy, and 21.1% of them showed decreased ascites and better QOL. Patients treated with intraperitoneal administration with OK-432 showed good survival. Among patients with OK-432 administration, those receiving postoperative chemotherapy showed better survival than those given immunochemotherapy. Conversely, among patients with chemotherapy, those given postoperative immunochemotherapy showed better survival than those on chemotherapy. Patients with HLA-type I and III, and those with preoperative normal immune status showed good response when they received intraperitoneal therapy.

Adult↗

[Pharmacokinetic, bacteriological and clinical studies on cefozopran in neonates].

Cefozopran (CZOP) was administered to nine newborn patients with infections at a dose of 20 mg/kg twice or three times daily for 5 to 6 days to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of cefozopran. 1. Blood concentrations CZOP was intravenously given to 6 newborn patients by drip infusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg over 30 minutes. The maximum blood concentrations (Cmax) were 38.4 micrograms/ml in a patient aged 0 day, 37.7 and 54.3 micrograms/ml in two patients aged 1 day, 51.3 and 64.1 micrograms/ml in two patients aged 3 days and 51.0 micrograms/ml in a patient aged 5 days. Cmax was lower in the patient aged 0 day. The elimination half life (T 1/2) was 9.2 hours in the patient aged 0 day, 4.9 and 3.7 hours in the patients aged 1 day, 3.1 and 2.4 hours in the patients aged 3 days and 2.9 in the patient aged 5 days, showing a prolongation of T 1/2 in patients of lower age. 2. Urinary excretion Of the 6 patients given CZOP at a dose of 20 mg/kg by intravenous drip infusion over 30 minutes, urine was collected in 5 patients. The cumulative excretion rate within 6 hours after infusion was as low as 19.8% of dose in the patient aged 0 day. The rates were elevated as high as 46.3 and 57.0% of dose in the patients aged 1 day. In the patient aged 3 days, the recovery within 4 hours after infusion was 47.3%. It was 70.6% of dose within 6 hours after dosing in the patient aged 5 days. The urinary recovery within 6 hours after dosing increased with the advance of age. 3. Clinical results Efficacy was evaluable in 7 patients. Of them, 3 had suspected septicemia, 2 pneumonia, 1 intrauterine infection and 1 urinary tract infection. The clinical efficacy was judged "excellent" in all the evaluable patients. Neither adverse drug reactions of signs and symptoms nor abnormal alterations of the laboratory test values were recognized in the 9 patients evaluable for safety. These results suggest that CZOP is an effective and safe drug for treatment of infections in the newborns. As for the dosage and method of administration from the view of the pharmacokinetic data obtained, intravenous drip infusion of 20 mg/kg once or twice daily was considered to be sufficient for patients aged 0 day. For patients aged 1 to 7 days and those aged 8 days or elder, the administration of twice to 3 times daily and 3 to 4 times daily were considered to be sufficient, respectively.

Bacterial Infections↗

A study of 46 cumulative breast cancer autopsy cases.

Forty-six cases of breast cancer, autopsied at the Tokai University Hospital, between 1975 and 1993, were studied. Forty of the patients had undergone surgery, and 27 of them had been surgically treated in the Tokai University Hospital. The major causes of death were respiratory failure, cancer-related complications, and hepatic failure. Frequently involved organs were lymph node, lung, liver, and bone. The survival time after surgery ranged from 1 day to 137 months, with the patients being divided into two groups based on survival of more or less than three years after surgery. Frequently observed in individuals surviving less than 3 years were larger tumor sizes, extensive lymph node metastases, advanced stages, and negative reactions for estrogen and progesterone receptors, as compared to individuals surviving for more than 3 years. The patterns of tumor metastasis were also different in two groups. Local recurrences were more frequently observed in short-term survivors whereas disseminated spreading was encountered in the long-term survivors. These findings seem to indicate that not only survival time but also pattern of recurrence are related to the status of the original tumor.

Autopsy↗

Informed consent for patients with advanced cancer.

In order to maintain a desirable patient-physician relationship, we need to continue our efforts to cultivate the idea of informed consent and to promote better communication. This seems to be particularly important for Japanese physicians. Disclosure of information needs to be individualized, and social and cultural background has to be taken into consideration. We also need to refine our efforts to develop and refine therapeutic strategies against cancer, so that we, both patients with advanced cancer and treating physicians, can expand our mutual hopes for cure or extended life. The benefit which might ensue from the idea of informed consent is the promotion of human rights and dignity, which is the title of this symposium.

Culture↗

[Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies with cefluprenam in the pediatric field. Pediatric Study Group of Gefluprenam].

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of cefluprenam (code number: E1077, abbreviation: CFLP), a newly developed injectable cephem antibiotics was conducted on adult patients with various infections, and followed by the study group organized from 39 institutions in pediatric field, as the drug showed no toxicity problems in suckling animals. Informed consents from legal representatives were obtained prior to the study. 1. Clinical efficacy. Two-hundred eighty one cases were included for analysis of clinical efficacy after 40 cases of exclusion or drop-out were subtracted from a total of 321 cases. However, the cumulative number of cases evaluable for analysis was considered to be 289, because 8 cases that had 2 different diseases at the same time were counted in each category of disease. In the cases in which causative organisms were identified (group A), 148 of 154 cases were rated as good or excellent, with an efficacy rate of 96.1%. As for clinical efficacies by disease, efficacy rates were 6/6 for purulent meningitis, 4/5 for sepsis, 95.7% (62/65) for pneumonia, 100.0% (29/29) for urinary tract infections, and 94.1% (16/17) for skin and soft tissue infections. The rate of excellent responses among excellent and good responses was 73.6% (109/148), showing a higher value than any of recent injectable beta-lactams. On 32 cases with S. pneumoniae infection, the efficacy rate of CFLP was 100.0%. In the cases where causative organisms were not identified (group B), 128 of 135 cases were rated as good or excellent, with an efficacy rate of 94.8%. In the all cases including both the group A and the group B, the efficacy rate was 95.2% (276/289) and the rate of excellent responses among excellent and good response was 70.7% (195/276). Against severe infections, CFLP exhibited excellent clinical efficacy, showing an efficacy rate of 8/8 for meningitis, 3/5 for sepsis and 100.0% (22/22) for severe pneumonia. As for bacteriological responses, eradication rates were 95.2% (177/186) in total. Against Gram-positive cocci, the eradication rate was 92.7% (76/82), with eradication rates of 94.3% (33/35) for Staphylococcus aureus, and 93.3% (28/30) for Streptococcus pneumoniae. Against Gram-negative rods, the eradication rate was 97.1% (101/104), and eradication rates were 100.0% (22/22) for Escherichia coli, 97.5% (39/40) for Haemophilus influenzae and 100.0% (19/19) for Molaxella catarrhalis. In cases in which more than 3 days of treatment with previous chemotherapy resulted in no response, the efficacy rate of CFLP was 94.2% (98/104), rated excellent in 68 cases and good in 30 cases. In these cases, the eradication rate was 98.1% (52/53). 2. Pharmacokinetics. CFLP was intravenously administerrd to 12 subjects at doses of 20 to 40 mg (potency)/kg. In 9 subjects aged more than 12 months, maximum serum levels (Cmax), T 1/2 beta and AUC of CFLP were 155.3 +/- 9.8 micrograms/ml, 1.43 +/- 0.18 hours and 111.7 +/- 15.0 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively, when a dose of 20 mg (potency)/kg was used. In 2 subjects aged not more than 12 months, the mean Cmax, T 1/2 beta and AUC were 153 micrograms/ml, 1.6 hour and 81 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively, at a dose of 20 mg(potency)/kg. The mean Cmax, T 1/2 beta and AUC were 332 micrograms/ml, 0.93 hours and 157.3 micrograms.hr/ml, respectively, in 1 subject at a dose of 40 mg (potency)/kg. In 10 subjects dosed 20 mg (potency)/kg, urinary levels were 2413 +/- 512, 1471 +/- 524, and 470 +/- 115 micrograms/ml in 0-2, 2-4, and 4-6 hours after dosing, respectively, showing a cumulative urinary excretion rate of 61.4 +/- 6.3%. In 1 subject dosed 40 mg (potency)/kg, urinary levels were 5700 and 4770 micrograms/ml in 0-2 p3d 2-4 hours after dosing, respectively, showing a cumulative urinary excretion rate of 42.1%. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of CFLP, on 10 subjects with purulent meningitis dosed 40-103 mg (potency)/kg were 3.2-32.9 micrograms/ml at 0.5-2 hours after administration within 4 days after the onset of

Bacteria↗

Immobilization stress-induced increase of hippocampal acetylcholine and of plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine and glucose in rats.

We investigated the role of the hippocampal cholinergic neurons during immobilization stress in rats using a microdialysis technique. Blood levels of glucose, epinephrine and norepinephrine during immobilization stress were also determined. Acetylcholine release was initially increased by immobilization stress, then gradually decreased. Plasma level of epinephrine increased gradually and reached significance at 30 min after the start of immobilization and remained at the elevated level during immobilization. Plasma level of norepinephrine initially increased and reached significance at 30 min after the start of immobilization and remained at the elevated level during immobilization. Plasma level of glucose increased gradually and reached maximum and significance 45 min after the start of immobilization, then decreased. Fifteen min after immobilization, acetylcholine release increased again, while concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were still elevated. Thus the response of acetylcholine and the other responses to immobilization stress were not parallel.

Acetylcholine↗

Starvation reduces norepinephrine activities in both hypothalamus and heart in rats.

Norepinephrine (NE) activities in both hypothalamus and heart were simultaneously assessed in rats after food-deprivation for 2 days. The technique of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was employed for the analysis of NE and its primary neuronal metabolite, 3,4-dehydroxyphenylethylene glycol (DHPG), and the ratio of DHPG to NE was used as an index of NE activity. Hypothalamic DHPG/NE ratio was significantly decreased by fasting and was completely reversed by a single day of refeeding. These changes in hypothalamic DHPG/NE ratio were parallel to those in cardiac DHPG/NE ratio. Supporting the concept in which hypothalamic NE neurons play an important role in modulating the sympathetic outflow, it is suggested the decrease in hypothalamic NE activity contributes to the reduction in cardiac NE activity during fasting.

Analysis of Variance↗

HLA antigens are candidate markers for prediction of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

We investigated the association between human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antigens and lymph node metastasis in 724 gastric cancer patients. Among patients who had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with or without HLA-DR4 antigen, lymph node metastasis was detected in 80.8 and 54.9%, respectively (relative risk (RR) = 3.5, P = 0.0005, corrected P = 0.0285). It was more common in patients with a family history of cancer death (RR = 7.7). Among signet ring cell carcinoma patients with or without HLA-B52 antigen, lymph node metastasis was detected in 57.7 and 19.7%, respectively (RR = 5.6, P = 0.0001, corrected P = 0.0086). It was more common in patients who were smokers (RR= 8.3). Our findings suggest that HLA-DR4 and HLA-B52 antigens are associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Adult↗

Metabolites of 5-fluorouracil, alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine and fluoroacetic acid, directly injure myelinated fibers in tissue culture.

The neurotoxicity of two 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) derivatives, tegafur (FT) and carmofur (HCFU), which selectively induce leukoencephalopathy involving the cerebral white matter in humans and vacuolation of myelinated fibers in dogs and cats, was examined in vitro. The common metabolites of these drugs, alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) and fluoroacetic acid (FA), were added to the medium of cultured murine cerebellar myelinated fibers. On day 1 of exposure to 7 microM FBAL and FA, which corresponds to their blood concentrations 2 h after oral administration of 10 mg.kg-1 HCFU to dogs that induced central nervous system vacuolation after 30 days, partial splits of the myelinic intraperiod line were observed by electron microscopy. On days 4-7, phase contrast microscopy revealed spindle-shaped swelling and granulation of myelin and electron microscopy demonstrated prominent dissociation of the myelinic intraperiod line with monolocular and multilocular vacuolation. More severe changes, such as myelin loss, were found in cultures exposed to a higher concentration (70 microM) of FBAL and FA, but no remarkable neuronal, astrocytic or oligodendrocytic changes occurred. Quantitative evaluation of myelin injury by electron microscopy revealed significant toxicity of FBAL and FA, at concentrations of 7 and 70 microM, on day 4. However, groups treated with 0.7 microM FBAL and FA, 5-FU (7 microM) and controls exposed to beta-alanine and acetic acid concentrations of 0.7, 7 and 70 microM showed no marked injury. We concluded that these anticancer drug metabolites injure myelin fibers directly, resulting in vacuolation due to myelin splitting and destruction.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumour effects of a humanised monoclonal antibody against c-erbB-2 product.

The c-erbB-2 product is thought to be a unique and useful target for antibody therapy of cancers overexpressing the c-erbB-2 gene. In vitro and in vivo anti-tumour effects of a humanised antibody against the extracellular domain of the c-erbB-2 gene product, rhu4D5, were examined. Rhu4D5 was less effective than its murine counterpart, mu4D5, for the direct antiproliferative activity against the c-erbB-2-overexpressing SK-BR-3 cell line. In vivo treatment of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice carrying the c-erbB-2-overexpressing 4-1ST human gastric carcinoma xenograft with 4hu4D5 revealed that the recombinant protein had potent anti-tumour activity. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells against 4-1ST was significantly augmented with rhu4D5, but not with mu4D5. These results indicate that rhu4D5 might perform better in patients than predicted from preclinical studies.

Animals↗

The selectivity of regenerating motor and sensory axons.

Functional results of peripheral nerve repair have been hampered by misdirection of regenerating axons. The purpose of this study was to determine in a rat femoral nerve model whether regenerating motor and sensory axons from a proximal nerve stump select the appropriate distal motor or sensory branch. In two experiments, the proximal stump of the motor or sensory branches was sutured to the distal motor sensory stumps, so that the three branches were parallel and the three transected ends faced in the same direction. More regenerated axons from both the proximal motor and sensory stumps entered the distal sensory stump. The number of misdirected axons did not decrease over time. The selective regeneration of motor axons toward the distal motor stump could not be validated. In this study, neurotropism appeared to play a measurable role in sensory axon regeneration, but not in motor axon regeneration. Pruning of the misdirected axons was not demonstrated.

Animals↗

The selectivity of motor axons during regeneration with sensory axons.

This study investigated the influence of selective sensory regeneration on less selective motor regeneration in a rat femoral nerve model. The proximal stump of the motor branch to the quadriceps muscle was sutured to the distal stumps of one motor and one sensory branch. Regenerated sensory axons were degenerated secondarily, and motor regeneration was later evaluated. The distal sensory stump attracted both regenerating sensory and motor axons. Misdirected motor axons in the distal branches were not pruned over time. The authors hypothesized that motor regeneration may be been influenced by selective sensory regeneration or non-selective neurotropic attraction.

Animals↗

Use of metronidazole gel to control malodor in advanced and recurrent breast cancer.

Intolerable malodor emanating from ulcerated tumors as a result of anaerobic infection is a serious problem in the management of advanced and recurrent breast cancer. Metronidazole can control this malodor, but its oral use may cause adverse reactions. We therefore formulated a metronidazole gel, since no equivalent preparation is commercially available in Japan, and used it in five female patients (four with advanced cancer and one with recurrent cancer) admitted to our hospital between March 1994 and July 1995. The patients were aged between 47 and 71 (median: 59) years, and the duration of morbidity in the four patients with advanced cancer ranged from 10 months to four years. In three patients, the tumors were larger than 10 cm x 10 cm. Metronidazole gel was applied to the surface of ulcerated tumors once or twice daily. Independent assessments by the patient, doctor and nurse were unanimous, and revealed that the malodor was alleviated in one patient after three days, and removed in four patients after two to five (median: four) days of metronidazole gel treatment. Culture of swabs showed a decrease or disappearance of anaerobic colonies. Adverse reactions characteristic of metronidazole did not occur. The topical use of metronidazole in a gel form will improve the quality of life for patients with malodorous ulcerated tumors and facilitate intensive treatment of the underlying disease.

Administration, Topical↗