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Biomedical subjects

Toshiro Ito

Publications and source records attributed to Toshiro Ito.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Idiopathic myelofibrosis with refractory massive ascites.

A 55-year-old woman presented with massive refractory ascites in the course of idiopathic myelofibrosis. The ascites was exudative, and a cytological examination revealed granulocytes of varying maturity, erythroblasts, and megakaryocytes with trisomy 8. The ascites was assumed to have developed from peritoneal extramedullary hematopoiesis. An abnormal karyotype in the cells in the ascitic fluid, which was the same abnormality as in peripheral blood, helped to prove extramedulary hematopoiesis in this case, which can be an aid in making a differential diagnosis in cases of ascites associated with myelofibrosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Two cases of Swyer-James syndrome].

Two cases of Swyer-James syndrome are reported. Case 1; A 25-year-old man was admitted to our hospital to be treated for Mycobacterium avium infection. Chest X-ray film revealed hyperlucency in the right lower lung. High-resolution CT showed a low attenuation area and bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe. He had had two episodes of pneumonia in his childhood. 3D CT scan showed a narrowing of right lower pulmonary arteries. Case 2; A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea on effort. Chest X-ray film revealed hyperlucency in the right lung. Chest CT scan on inspiration and expiration detected air-trapping, which is characteristic of this syndrome. In both cases, the volume of the hyper lucent lung was normal. From these clinical findings, we diagnosed these two cases as Swyer-James syndrome and in this paper described the clinical features and treatment.

Adult↗

Replacement of a thrombosed valve after the Bentall procedure.

A 50-year-old man developed thrombosis in the valve of a Björk-Shiley prosthesis that had been used for composite graft replacement of the aortic valve and ascending aorta 8 years previously. The thrombosed valve was removed, and because of the narrow aortic valve ring, it was replaced using patch enlargement of the aortic annulus without replacement of the conduit.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation↗

DNA microarray analysis of T cell-type lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes.

Lymphoproliferative disease of granular lymphocytes (LDGL) is characterized by the clonal proliferation of large granular lymphocytes of either T- or natural killer cell origin. To better understand the nature of T cell-type LDGL, we purified the CD4-CD8+ proliferative fractions from LDGL patients (n=4) and the surface marker-matched T cells isolated from healthy volunteers (n=4), and compared the expression profiles of 3456 genes using DNA microarray. Through this analysis, we identified a total of six genes whose expression was active in the LDGL T cells, but silent in the normal ones. Interestingly, expression of the gene for interleukin (IL) 1beta was specific to LDGL T cells, which was further confirmed by the examination of the serum level of IL-1beta protein. Given its important role in inflammatory reactions, the disease-specific expression of IL-1beta may have a causative relationship with the LDGL-associated rheumatoid arthritis. Spectratyping analysis of the T-cell receptor repertoire also proved the monoclonal or oligoclonal nature of LDGL cells. These data have shown that microarray analysis with a purified T-cell subset is an efficient approach to investigate the pathological condition of Tcell-type LDGL.

Adult↗

Genistein attenuates postischemic depressed myocardial function by increasing myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity in rat myocardium.

The present study investigated whether genistein, a broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could increase the myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity and partially reverse postischemic depressed myocardial function. Left ventricular papillary muscles were isolated from adult Wistar rats and loaded with the Ca2+ indicator, aequorin. The use of fluorocarbon immersion with hypoxia simulated a model of ischemia. Myofilament responsiveness to Ca2+ was evaluated from force-[Ca2+]i relationship recorded during tetani in papillary muscles. Protein levels of troponin I (TnI) were measured in postischemic papillary muscles with the Western blot technique. Isometric contraction was depressed during the period of ischemia and remained low after 60 min of reoxygenation without a corresponding significant change of peak [Ca2+]i in the control group (n = 7). In contrast, the depression of isometric contraction was ameliorated during ischemia in muscle preparations in the presence of genistein (2 micro M; n = 8), and postischemic depressed myocardial contractility partially recovered after a 60-min reperfusion. The myofilament Ca2+ responsiveness was significantly increased in papillary muscles in the presence of genistein. Protein levels of TnI were reduced in postischemic papillary muscles, whereas genistein partially restored decreased protein levels of TnI. Our results reveal that genistein produces an effective attenuation of postischemic depressed myocardial function and improves myofibrillar Ca2+ responsiveness in rat myocardium.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Welder's pneumoconiosis: diagnostic usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography and ferritin determinations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the usefulness of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and ferritin determinations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid for diagnosis of welder's pneumoconiosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated 11 patients with welder's pneumoconiosis who were 34 to 67 years old and had been welding for 17 to 45 years. Ten patients were current smokers. We performed chest radiography and HRCT, and measured serum ferritin on all 11 patients. We obtained BAL fluid in 9 cases and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) specimens in 7. Ferritin concentrations in BAL fluid were compared with those in welders without pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconiosis cases. RESULTS: HRCT revealed small centrilobular nodules in 9 cases, mild fibrotic changes in 3, and emphysematous changes in 3. Serum ferritin concentrations were elevated (>240 ng/ml) in 10 cases. Ferritin concentrations in BAL fluid were higher in welder's pneumoconiosis than in the occupational control group. CONCLUSION: In welder's pneumoconiosis, small centrilobular nodules are frequently seen on HRCT, and ferritin shows elevations in serum and/or BAL fluid. Such ferritin determinations are of value in diagnosis.

Aged↗

[Measurement of anti-type II collagen antibody diagnosis and follow-up useful in a case of relapsing polychondritis].

A 68-year-old man had been suffering from swelling and deformation of both auricles, hoarseness, hearing loss, and a productive cough since November, 1999. Elevation of the inflammatory reaction was noted, together with swelling of the glottis and inflammation of the bronchial mucosa on bronchoscopy. Relapsing polychondritis was diagnosed when an auricle biopsy specimen demonstrated auricle chondritis. The laboratory findings revealed high titers of anti-type II collagen antibody. After steroid treatment, the symptoms improved and the titer of anti-type II collagen antibody decreased. The measurement of this antibody was useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of this disease. To prevent the impairment of organs and sudden death, early diagnosis involving the use of anti-type II collagen antibody and the commencement of therapy are important in this disease.

Aged↗

[Pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma in a woman of 72].

We report a case of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma with the latest onset ever reported in Japan. A 72-year-old woman, a current smoker, developed dyspnea and dry cough in late January 2001. Chest radiography and CT examinations revealed numerous small nodular lesions and multiple cysts in both upper lung fields. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed a granulomatous lesion composed of eosinophils and large histiocytic cells with pale eosinophilic cytoplasms and large cleaved nuclei. These cells gave a positive reaction for S-100 protein. These findings led to a diagnosis of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma. This disease is generally reported in much younger subjects, and few cases are known in those over 60-years old. No Japanese report of histologically confirmed pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma in an older patient has previously appeared, but it may now be prudent to take this disease into consideration when diagnosing pulmonary disease in older subjects.

Aged↗