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Biomedical subjects

T Urabe

Publications and source records attributed to T Urabe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A non-radioisotopic reverse transcriptase assay using biotin-11-deoxyuridinetriphosphate on primer-immobilized microtiter plates.

We developed a non-radioisotopic (non-RI) reverse transcriptase assay (RTA). The reverse transcriptase (RT) incorporates biotin-11-deoxyuridine-triphosphate (bio-dUTP) using a poly(rA) template hybridized with oligo(dT) primer that is immobilized on the surface of a 96-well microtiter plate. This assay is thus semi-automated by adapting it to an ELISA testing format. The incorporation of bio-dUTP was enhanced by adding cold dTTP to the reaction mixture, optimally in a molar ratio 4:1 (dTTP:bio-dUTP). This non-RI RTA is more sensitive than the conventional RI assay for the detection of purified Rous-associated virus 2 (RAV-2) and of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) lysate. Because of its simple procedure, higher sensitivity and non-use of RI materials, the assay can be utilized not only for virological studies but also for routine safety screening of biological products for retroviral contamination.

Avian Leukosis Virus

Electrophysiological properties of membrane currents in single myometrial cells isolated from pregnant rats.

The whole-cell voltage-clamp method was applied to single smooth muscle cells prepared from the longitudinal layer of the pregnant rat myometrium (17-20 days of gestation). It was found that the transient inward current mainly consists of Ca2+ current, because the removal of Ca2+ ions from the external medium and 10 microM nifedipine eliminated this inward current. Its steady-state inactivation curve was obtained by the standard method, in which the membrane potential of half inactivation and the slope factor were estimated to be -58.0 +/- 4.9 mV (n = 11) and 8.9 +/- 1.4 mV (n = 11), respectively. In a small number of preparations (in 2 out of 30 preparations), there remained a very fast inward current in Ca(2+)-free medium containing Mg2+. Tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10 microM) can can abolish this current, suggesting that the channel for this current is equivalent to the Na+ channel in nerve cells. Two major phases of outward currents were identified by voltage jumps from negative holding levels to more positive levels. The first phase was a fast transient outward current. This current remained intact after external tetraethylammonium (TEA, 20 mM) was added. Following the transient current, a large delayed rectified outward current reached its peak over a period of 50 ms and then decayed. The reversal potential for this outward current was determined by observing the change of polarity of the tail currents with the change in extracellular K+ concentration [( K+]o). The slope for the change of reversal potential per ten-fold change in [K+]o is 57.7 mV at more than 23.2 mM [K+]o, indicating that this current is mostly carried by K+ ions. Voltage-dependent inactivation of the delayed rectified outward current was determined by the standard method. The membrane potential for half inactivation and the slope factor were estimated to be -42.8 +/- 3.9 mV (n = 3) and 10.1 +/- 1.5 mV (n = 3), respectively. External TEA (20 mM) effectively eliminated the delayed rectified outward currents. Nifedipine (10 microM) suppressed not only Ca2+ current but also outward K+ currents.

Animals

[Clinical course of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after surgical resection, with emphasis on the occurrence of hepatic failure].

Postoperative course including serial changes in values of liver function tests and occurrence of hepatic failure was investigated in 59 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eleven cases out of 59 patients were associated with chronic hepatitis (CH group), while remained 48 cases were with liver cirrhosis (25 cases of group A and 23 of group B in Child's classification). There was no significant difference in survival rate or recurrence rate after operation among these three groups. Hepatic failure within one year after hepatectomy was observed in 9%, 28% and 91% of patients in groups CH, Child's A and Child's B, respectively, and the frequency of occurrence of hepatic failure in Child's B group was significantly higher than those of groups CH and Child's A. Hepaplastin test and serum albumin levels recovered from the decline after hepatectomy in groups CH and Child's A. On the other hand, no recovery was found in Child's B group as well as lower levels before operation and that was thought to be the major reason for the frequent occurrence of hepatic failure in Child's B group.

Adult

[A case of brainstem vascular malformation with isolated trochlear nerve palsy as the initial symptom].

We report a 46-year-old, non-hypertensive man who suddenly developed isolated right trochlear nerve palsy. His diplopia was most prominent in the left lower gaze, and partially alleviated by head tilt to the left or by anteflexion of the neck. His CT scans showed a small high density area consistent with a hemorrhage in the lateral side of the right mesencephalic tectum. His MRI (T2-weighted images) showed a lesion consisting of mixed high- and iso-intensity areas with linear low intensity areas. The margin of the lesion was irregular and nodular. Cerebral angiography (prolonged injection) showed small feeding arteries (or capillaries) in the late arterial phase and dilated draining veins in the venous phase. No tumor stain, early draining veins, or capillary brushes were present. We thought he had an angioma (vascular malformation). AVM seemed unlikely. Review of the literature revealed that trochlear nerve palsy caused by a mesencephalic angioma is extremely rare. MRI and cerebral angiography (prolonged injection) seemed useful for the diagnosis of angiomas (Vascular malformations).

Brain Neoplasms

[Effect of LAK cells on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy].

Lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells can destroy not only tumor cells but also syngeneic regenerating liver cells. This study was started to determine the effect of passive transfer of LAK cells on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. C3H mice were received 70% hepatectomy and LAK cells were injected intravenously at a dose of 5 X 10(7) cells/body. After 36 hours, 3H-thymidine uptake into the residual liver was measured. LAK cells transferred group showed 31% suppression compared with control group. In vitro, 24 hours addition of LAK cells to the primary culture of regenerating liver cells caused 97% suppression of 3H-thymidine uptake at effector to target ratio, 50/1. Then we examined the effects of IL-2 administration on liver regeneration. Though IL-2 showed no effect on cultured liver cells, intraperitoneal administration of IL-2 after hepatectomy at a dose of 1 X 10(4)u/body 5 times every 8 hours brought 38% suppression of 3H-thymidine uptake of the residual liver. Cyclosporine A, which can suppress the IL-2 production of lymphocytes, promoted liver regeneration 45% over the control at a dose of 10 mg/kg. These results suggest that LAK cells could regulate liver regeneration.

Animals

Stage I epithelial ovarian tumors of low malignant potential.

Clinical and pathological details of 10 patients with stage I low malignant potential tumors of the ovary, between September, 1969, and February, 1988, have been reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 46.6 years. Six patients had serous and four had mucinous tumors. Of the 10 patients, five had a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, one had a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and four a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.8 years. All patients have remained alive and disease-free. A recurrence occurred in one patient who has been managed well by additional surgery. Stage I ovarian tumor of low malignant potential appears to carry a favorable prognosis.

Adult

[Analysis of the characteristics of responders to chemotherapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

To evaluate characteristics of the responders to chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, clinicopathological findings of the responders (9 cases) and those of the non-responders (58 cases) have been compared. As for clinical characteristics, no difference was found in age and sex between the two groups. The responders were, however, restricted to the good cases in respect to performance status (PS) and hepatic reserve based on Child's classification. Concerning characteristics of tumors, no significant difference between the two groups was observed in size and number of tumors, or in the frequency of portal vein thrombosis and that of remote metastasis. There was no difference between them in chemotherapy regimen, either. It was concluded that PS and hepatic reserve might be the most important factors determining the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult

A case of ovarian cystadenocarcinoma associated with pregnancy.

A case of ovarian cystadenocarcinoma associated with pregnancy is reported. The semicystic left ovarian tumor was found in a 28-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1 at 33 weeks' gestation. A primary Cesarean section, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by chemotherapy were performed. The histological examination revealed the tumor to be a serous cystadenocarcinoma. The patient and infant have both remained well and free of disease for the eight years which have elapsed since the therapy started.

Adult

Comparative study of combination chemotherapy of ovarian cancer: cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin versus 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and mitomycin C.

CAP, a multiple-drug combination therapy using cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m2), adriamycin (20-30 mg/m2) and cisplatin (50-75 mg/m2), was applied to 69 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer. The results of this therapy were compared with those of FAM (involving 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and mitomycin C) in 47 cases of the same cancer, retrospectively. The 5-year survival rate was 61.6% for cases treated with CAP and 56.3% for cases treated with FAM. All 9 patients at stage Ia treated with CAP are free of disease, however, 3 patients out of 13 at stage Ia treated with FAM experienced a recurrence of the disease and died. In stage III and IV cases with detectable lesions, a response was observed in 61.3% (19/31) treated with CAP and in 10.5% (2/19) treated with FAM.

Adolescent

[An assessment of therapeutic effect of hepatocellular carcinoma by the serial changes in serum AFP value].

The therapeutic effect of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was assessed by the serial change of serum AFP value before and after treatment. Subjects were 56 therapies for HCCs in 48 cases, who were diagnosed as inoperative HCCs, and were performed chemotherapy, transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE) and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT). As the indicator of therapeutic effect, the angle (supplement) alpha was used, that was formed by the cross of two lines based on several points of serum AFP value on the hemilogarithm graph before and after treatment respectively. The alpha were distributed from -34 degrees to 118 degrees, and its mean value was 32 +/- 38 degrees (+/-SD). The angle alpha value of cases evaluated as CR or PR was high, and that of PD was low. We could quantitatively assess the effects evaluated as NC by tumor size. The survival curve of group with high alpha value was significantly longer than that of group with low value. It was concluded that this method using angle alpha based on the serial change of serum AFP value was useful for clinical assessment of HCCs treatment.

Aged

[Serological and immunohistochemical evaluation of new carbohydrate antigen CA-50 in several liver diseases].

We examined serologically and immunohistochemically the new carbohydrate antigen CA-50 to clarify the mechanism of its high serum value and clinical significance in several liver diseases. The subjects included 145 patients with benign liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The serum CA-50 value was high in chronic active hepatitis with lobular disorganization, liver cirrhosis and HCC. It was not correlated with serum levels of GPT nor gamma-GTP. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that proliferated bile ductules showed mainly positive staining in all subjects, whereas hepatoma cells were negative. The proliferated bile ductules with positive staining for CA-50 were quantified by an original method. The number of the proliferated bile ductules with positive staining for CA-50 was significantly correlated with the serum CA-50 value (r = 0.62, P less than 0.05). In the FPLC analysis, there was no significant difference between the expression pattern and molecular weight of CA-50 in liver diseases and pancreatic cancer. Also no difference in the carbohydrate structure that coexisted with CA-50 was detected in the ConA or LCA affinity column study. It was suggested that the increase of carbohydrate antigen CA-50 in several liver diseases might reflect the proliferation of bile ductules, and that the structure of CA-50 in benign liver diseases does not differ from that of CA-50 from patients with pancreatic cancer.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate

[Prediction of the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation in myasthenia gravis patients].

The prediction of the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation in 23 myasthenia gravis patients, who had undergone thymectomy from January 1983 to December 1989, was evaluated. Five patients who had needed postoperative mechanical ventilation over 24 hours were compared with the patients in whom the tracheal tubes had been uneventfully extubated within 24 hours postoperatively. In this study, 47.8%, 78.3%, 91.3% of the patients were correctly predicted using the scoring systems proposed by Leventhal et al., Makii et al. and Kimura et al., respectively. The product of %VC by FEV1.0% was proposed in this study for the prediction of the need of postoperative mechanical ventilation in patients with myasthenia gravis. If the product is less than 8,300, the patient is expected to need postoperative mechanical ventilation. Nineteen patients out of 23 cases (82.6%) were predicted correctly by this value. Only one patient, who had been predicted to be in no need, was actually ventilated for 3 days. In conclusion, the product of %VC by FEV1.0% is a simple and practical method of predicting whether a patient with myasthenia gravis undergoing thymectomy requires postoperative mechanical ventilation or not.

Adolescent

[A case with hepatocellular carcinoma with complete remission due to gamma-IFN therapy].

A 65-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with the aim of closer examination of SOL in cirrhotic liver. By abdominal echography, CT and angiography etc., he was diagnosed as LC with multiple HCC, one in S5 about 2.0 cm, another in S1 about 5.0 cm in diameter, and other four small nodules in right lobe. We treated him with recombinant gamma-IFN at dose of 1.6 X 10(7) units/day for 5 consecutive days biweekly. Although until two months the tumours were gradually enlarged in size, then they became smaller, and at five months later after the beginning of gamma-IFN therapy the tumor stains in angiogram disappeared. Then we performed the surgical treatment. Both macro and microscopical findings of tumor specimens in S5, 2. 2 X 2.0 X 1.9 cm in size, showed complete necrotic tissue. Additionally the yellowish small tumor was found on surface of S8, and it was adenomatous hyperplasia histologically.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular