Biomedical subjects

Toru Takano

Publications and source records attributed to Toru Takano.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Quantitative analysis of osteonectin mRNA in thyroid carcinomas.

Our recent study of the gene expression profile in thyroid carcinoma showed an overexpression of osteonectin mRNA, an extracellular matrix protein, in an anaplastic carcinoma. To confirm this, we measured the expression levels of osteonectin mRNA in 84 thyroid normal and tumor tissues, including five anaplastic carcinomas by realtime quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Increased expression of osteonectin mRNA was observed in anaplastic carcinoma tissue. However, in five anaplastic carcinoma cell lines, no increase was observed in the expression levels of osteonectin mRNA. These findings suggest the possibility that increased expression of osteonectin mRNA in anaplastic carcinoma tissue may be due to its overexpression in stromal cells, but not in anaplastic carcinoma cells.

Carcinoma↗

PubMed2002

Cancer-specific mRNAs in thyroid carcinomas: detection, use, and their implication in thyroid carcinogenesis.

Molecular-based diagnosis ofthyroid carcinomas can be more easily establishedby utilizing specific mRNAs that are expressed in a restricted manner in cancer tissues. Accordingly, several cancer-specific mRNAs in thyroid carcinomas have been identified by means of sequence specific-differential display (SS-DD), serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and other new techniques. By using these cancer-specific mRNAs, some new methods of preoperative diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas have been developed. In one such method, Aspiration Biopsy-Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ABRP), RNA is extracted from leftover cells within the needle used for fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs), thereby allowing cytological and molecular-based diagnoses to be performed simultaneously. ABRP provides both RNA information and a cytological diagnosis without further invasion to the patient. By ABRP detection of cancer-specific mRNAs, papillary, anaplastic and medullary carcinomas and a part of malignant lymphomas can be accurately diagnosed preoperatively. It remains to be clarified why cancer-specific mRNAs, especially those that are overexpressed in fetal tissues, can clearly distinguish benign tissues from carcinomas, while genomic alternations, such as mutations in the RAS or P53 gene cannot. Further, the widely accepted hypothesis of multi-step carcinogenesis cannot explain some of the clinical and experimental findings of thyroid carcinomas. Considering these facts, we propose a novel hypothesis of thyroid carcinogenesis, the "germ-cell carcinogenesis" hypothesis, in which cancer cells derive from the remnants of fetal thyroid germ cells (thyroblasts) instead of normal thyroid follicular cells.

Carcinoma↗

PubMed2002

Detection of autoantibodies against the pituitary-specific proteins in patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis.

OBJECTIVE: Several reports have described antipituitary antibodies by immunofluorescent or immunoblotting methods in patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis. However, with the exception of the pituitary hormones, individual antigens specific for the pituitary gland have not been studied. To understand the pathogenesis of lymphocytic hypophysitis and to diagnose this disease efficiently, we studied the presence of autoantibodies against three pituitary-specific proteins, GH and two novel pituitary-specific proteins, namely, pituitary gland specific factor 1a (PGSF1a) and PGSF2. DESIGN: Seventeen patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis, all of whom had pituitary enlargement (5 with lymphocytic adenohypophysitis and 12 with lymphocytic infundibuloneurohypophysitis, including 3 of the latter group proven by biopsy), and 14 patients with hypopituitarism without pituitary enlargement (10 with isolated ACTH deficiency and 4 with idiopathic TSH deficiency) were studied, and compared with 11 patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma, 31 patients with other autoimmune diseases, and 36 healthy controls. METHODS: The presence of each antibody was studied by radioligand assay using recombinant human (35)S-labeled protein. RESULTS: Three (18%) patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis having pituitary enlargement, five (36%) patients with hypopituitarism without pituitary enlargement and three (9.7%) patients with other autoimmune diseases were positive for one or more of the antibodies studied. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-human GH, anti-PGSF1a, and anti-PGSF2 antibodies were detected in patients with lymphocytic hypophysitis and other hypopituitarism, but were not detected in patients with non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma. Detection of these antibodies may be useful for the diagnosis of lymphocytic hypophysitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[Aspiration biopsy RNA diagnosis].

Molecular-based diagnosis of carcinomas can be more easily established by utilizing specific mRNAs that are restrictively expressed in cancer tissues. Recently a new method of preoperative molecular-based diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas was established. This technique, Aspiration Biopsy RNA Diagnosis, ABRD, allows us to perform preoperative RNA analyses by extracting RNAs from tumor cells obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsies(FNABs). By ABRD detecting of oncofetal fibronectin or calcitonin mRNA in FNABs, papillary, anaplastic and medullary carcinomas are accurately diagnosed preoperatively. Further, by real-time monitoring RT-PCR, a fully automated system was established.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endovascular treatment of spontaneous isolated dissecting aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery using stent-assisted coil embolization.

Spontaneous isolated dissecting aneurysm of the main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery is a rare condition. We treated a patient with this condition successfully by stent-assisted coil embolization. Intravascular stent placement may widen the indications for endovascular coiling of the aneurysmal false lumen to avoid perforation.

Aortic Dissection↗