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Biomedical subjects

Y Aso

Publications and source records attributed to Y Aso.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Two-color flow cytometric analysis of lymphocytic subsets in renal cell carcinoma].

The subsets of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 17 patients with renal cell carcinoma were studied by two-color flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. In grade 1 tumors, CD4-positive cells were significantly increased compared to grade 2 and 3 tumors (35 +/- 7% vs 25 +/- 10%) (p < 0.05). In 10 of 14 patients, CD8-positive cells were predominant over CD4-positive cells, resulting in less than one in CD4/CD8-ratio. Regarding CD4 cells in all 17 cases, the helper T-cells (CD4-positive and CD45RA-negative) were statistically predominant over the inducer T-cells (CD4-positive and CD45RA-positive) (p < 0.01). When CD8 cells were investigated in 16 out of the 17 cases, the cytotoxic T-cells (CD8-positive and CD11b-negative) were found also significantly predominant over the suppressor T-cells (CD8-positive and CD11b-positive) (p < 0.01). Immunohistochemically, the infiltrating pattern of TILs in the 17 patients was classified into cluster (N = 4), separate (N = 6), and mixed types (N = 7). The tumor in the cluster and mixed type had a tendency to be dominant in low grade tumors, and had the prominent CD8-positive cells (more than 90% were cytotoxic T-cells) over CD4-positive cells. However, no statistical significance was noted in this finding. The advanced tumor tended to show the single type of TIL infiltration. These results suggest that cytotoxic T-cells consisted of most of TILs in cluster and mixed types play an immunoreactive role against renal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Objective and subjective response in stage D2 prostate cancer patients with cancer pain].

Fourty-eight patients with stage D2 prostate cancer, initially treated with endocrine therapy at the University of Tokyo between 1981 and 1990, were followed up and analysed. For the assessment of a subjective response, pain score, narcotic score, and performance stages (PS) were used. Of the fourty-eight patients, twenty-one suffered from cancer pain due to bone metastases. These patients showed significantly (p < 0.01) more lesions of bone metastases and higher PS, compared with patients without cancer pain. The progression free survival of these patients was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of patients without cancer pain, although the actuarial survival was not significant. In twenty-one patients with cancer pain, the objective and subjective response rates to endocrine therapy were 75% and 86%, respectively. The duration of pain relief was 1.25-54 (median 19) months. Those rates to anti-cancer chemotherapy in refractory patients (8 patients) previously treated with endocrine therapy were both 25% and those to additional administration of flutamide (FUL) or diethylstilbestrol (DES) in refractory patients (6 patients) were 33% and 100%, respectively. Although the duration of pain relief was 0.78-8 (median 2) months, the additional administration of DES or FLU led to pain relief and improved quality of life (QOL) in all 6 patients. Endocrine therapy such as LH-RH agonist and non-steroidal pure anti-androgen, which has no severe side effects, would be of great usefulness in stage D2 prostatic cancer patients with pain on the basis of efficacy and safety.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Influence of Lactobacillus casei on rat bladder carcinogenesis].

The inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) in superficial bladder tumors was investigated in an experimental study using N-butyl-N (4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced rat bladder cancer as an experimental system. The study consisted of two experiments; in a short-term experiment, the inhibitory effect of 6-week treatment with L. casei was assessed in vitro in terms of the capacity for agglutination by concanavalin A (Con A) of bladder epithelial cells in their incipient stage of malignant transformation induced by 1-week exposure to BBN. As a result, the number of bladder epithelial cell aggregates caused by Con A was significantly smaller in the L. casei-treated group than in the non-L. casei-treated group (p < 0.001). In a long-term experiment, treatment with L. casei of varying duration was investigated for effectiveness against bladder tumors induced by 7-weeks exposure to BBN that arose 22 weeks. The results indicate that both bladder weight and tumor volume per organ were significantly lower in the L. casei-treated than non-L. casei-treated group (p < 0.05). The inhibitory effect on these parameters was more pronounced with treatment with L. casei of longer duration. While there was no significant difference among the treatment groups in the degree of extension of induced malignancy, tumors with a high degree of extension (T1b, T2) developed only in the non-L. casei-treated group. The degree of malignancy of induced tumors was significantly lower in those groups receiving L. casei while BBN was being administered as compared to the non-L. casei-treated group (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Urinary symptoms and urodynamics in a normal elderly population.

Age-related changes in the lower urinary tract function were investigated by means of symptomatology and urodynamics. In the symptom study subjectively normal 168 males and 101 females aged over 30 were administered a questionnaire regarding urinary symptoms. The prevalence of symptoms gradually advanced with age and nocturia more than 2 times was dramatically increased up to a half in those aged over 70. In the urodynamic study involving 65 males and 51 females with low symptom scores, significant reduction with advancing age was noted for maximum flow rate in both sexes (males: r = -0.295, p < 0.05, females: r = -0.591, p < 0.01) and maximum detrusor pressure in females (r = -0.513, p < 0.01). There was a significant increase in residual urine in males (r = 0.473, p < 0.05); otherwise no consistent changes in cystometry and urethral pressure profile related to aging were detected. These results indicate that urinary symptoms and urodynamic variables may change with age even in "normal" subjects, and warrant a careful interpretation of them in the elderly subjects.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of prophenoloxidase-activating enzyme from Bombyx mori by endogenous chymotrypsin inhibitors.

Inhibitory activities for the activation of prophenoloxidase with its activating enzyme were detected in the gel-filtration fractions of hemolymph from Bombyx mori. The fractions with the highest activity contained chymotrypsin inhibitors; CI-13a, 13b, and 13c. They inhibited the activation of prophenoloxidase. The activating enzyme affected a synthetic substrate for trypsin, Boc-Gln-Ala-Arg-MCA: Km = 0.62 mM. CI-13c partially suppressed the peptidase activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Clinical and flow cytometric analyses of renal cell carcinomas with reference to incidental or non-incidental detection.

In recent years renal cell carcinomas have been diagnosed as incidental findings. The tumors are usually associated with low stage and good prognosis. To find out if they might have a different malignant potential from suspected tumors, we retrospectively compared 56 cases of incidentally detected tumors with 84 cases of suspected tumors, with regard to tumor stage, nuclear grade, tumor size and DNA ploidy pattern as evaluated by flow cytometry. The incidentally detected tumors were lower in stage (P < 0.01), smaller in size (P < 0.01) and higher in probability of survival (P < 0.02) than the suspected tumors, as other studies have reported. Meanwhile, there was no difference in nuclear grade, DNA ploidy pattern and survival in stage I tumors between the two groups of renal cancers. The results suggest that the better prognosis in incidental renal cancer might be due to early detection rather than lower malignant potential of this specific type of renal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Origin of JC polyomavirus variants associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

JC polyomavirus (JCV) DNAs from the urine of nonimmunocompromised individuals (designated archetypal isolates) regularly contain a regulatory sequence that may have generated various regulatory sequences of JCV isolates derived from the brain of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). In this report, we constructed a phylogenetic tree for 14 isolates (7 archetypes and 7 PML types) from DNA sequence data on the VP1 (major capsid protein) gene. According to the phylogenetic tree, the 14 isolates diverged into types A and B, each of which contained archetypal and PML-type isolates. Each type further diverged into several groups containing archetypal and PML-type isolates. We conclude that PML-type isolates are polyphyletic in their origin and do not constitute a unique lineage. This conclusion suggests that PML-type JCV isolates are generated from archetypal strains during persistence in the hosts. Furthermore, the present phylogenetic analysis indicates that an ancestral JCV carried the archetypal regulatory sequence and that this structure has been conserved in the course of JCV evolution.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: clinical experience with 12 cases.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a new procedure for the treatment of adrenal tumors. The clinical experience with this operation in 12 patients is reported. While adrenal tumors are relatively small and seem to be good candidates for laparoscopic surgery, this procedure is difficult because of the anatomical location. In our study laparoscopic adrenalectomy appeared to be successful, although massive bleeding occurred in 3 patients. These problems should be overcome as the technique is improved and new laparoscopic instruments are introduced.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1993

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy: the initial 3 cases.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed on 3 patients with primary aldosteronism. Traction with 2 steel skewers placed subcutaneously over the costal arch was combined with conventional intraperitoneal carbon dioxide gas insufflation. This combination provided a good operative field at 8 mm. Hg insufflation pressure. The laparoscopic approach to the adrenal gland requires neither a large skin and muscle incision nor resection of rib(s), and offers lower morbidity and rapid convalescence. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a new minimally invasive operation for the treatment of adrenal adenoma.

Adrenalectomy↗
PubMed1993

The effect of salts on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution, as related to the water mobility.

The effect of salts (KI, KBr, NaCl, KCl, KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution was studied from the aspect of changes in water mobility. At salt concentrations up to 200 mM, the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase in all the salt solutions studied increased with increasing salt concentration. At higher concentrations, those salts which had little effect on the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, of water (KI, KBr, and KCl) continued to increase the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase with increasing concentration, while those salts which decreased the T1 of water (KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) decreased the inactivation rate. It appeared that the decrease in water mobility caused by KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4 resulted in stabilization of beta-galactosidase. The results indicate that water mobility is an important factor in the denaturation rate of proteins.

Bromides↗
PubMed1993

Stability of beta-galactosidase, a model protein drug, is related to water mobility as measured by 17O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

The inactivation of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase during storage was studied, focusing on the effect of water mobility as measured by the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, of water using 17O NMR. Inactivation of beta-galactosidase lyophilized from phosphate buffer solution was studied as a function of water content, which in turn affected the T1 of water. An increase in the water content of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase brought about an increase in the T1 of water, as well as a rise in pH. For the freeze-dried enzyme with sufficient water content to be dissolved, the inactivation rate was related to the T1 of water rather than to the pH change. It is suggested that as the water content increases, the mobility of water around the enzyme increases, resulting in enhanced enzyme inactivation. The freeze-dried samples with limited moisture showed inactivation rates faster than those expected from the pH and water mobility, suggesting that the inactivation mechanism is different from that for the freeze-dried enzyme with a larger amount of water. Inactivation of beta-galactosidase in solutions was also studied as a function of phosphate buffer and sodium chloride concentrations, which in turn affected the T1 of water. Because the inactivation rate increased with increasing salt concentrations and the rate extrapolated to zero concentration was negligible, inactivation of the freeze-dried enzyme was apparently induced by the salts used as additives for lyophilization. The enhancing effect of phosphate buffer components, however, was reduced at higher concentrations, an effect related to the decrease in the T1 of water. This result may be ascribed to the decrease in water mobility caused by phosphate buffer components and is consistent with the observation that the inactivation rate of the freeze-dried enzyme with a relatively large amount of water decreased with decreasing T1 of water.

Aspergillus oryzae↗
PubMed1993

Aggregates formed during storage of beta-galactosidase in solution and in the freeze-dried state.

Aggregates formed during storage of freeze-dried beta-galactosidase were compared with those formed in solutions. Freeze-dried beta-galactosidase aggregated during storage in the presence of moisture, producing a protein precipitate which was soluble in guanidine hydrochloride solution but not in buffer solution. The protein precipitate dissolved in guanidine solution exhibited a large molecular size by high-performance size exclusion chromatography and converted to proteins of original size in the presence of dithiothreitol. It is suggested that the aggregation involves chemical interaction via covalent disulfide bonding. In contrast, beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution aggregated without formation of protein precipitates. Soluble aggregates were converted to proteins of original size in guanidine solution without dithiothreitol, suggesting noncovalent bonding. The difference in aggregation behavior may be ascribed to the difference in the water:protein ratio. We propose that inactivation of beta-galactosidase is due to formation of thermally denatured (unfolded) protein, which aggregates dependent on the water:protein ratio, either via noncovalent interactions at a high water:protein ratio in solution or via covalent interaction at a low water:protein ratio in the freeze-dried state.

Buffers↗
PubMed1993

Transurethral microwave thermotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 2-year follow-up study.

The authors studied the long-term effect of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) using the Prostratron device on 30 patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The maximum power output was 45 W, and the temperature within the prostate was expected to rise above 45 degrees C. The efficacy was evaluated using a specially designed scoring system based on both subjective symptoms and objective findings. Assuming that more than a 25% reduction of the total score indicates "effective," 80%, 70%, 63%, and 57% of the treatments remained effective at 8 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after TUMT, respectively. There were no major complications associated with TUMT during the follow-up period. Our results indicate that TUMT is an effective and long-lasting (at least 2 years) nonsurgical treatment in approximately 60% of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on superoxide production by neutrophil in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy].

The in vivo effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on the number and function of peripheral neutrophils were studied in time sequence in 9 cancer patients receiving anticancer cytotoxic chemotherapy; 6 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of urothelium treated with CAP (the combination of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and cisplatin) and the other 3 with testicular tumor treated with PEB (the combination of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin). The neutrophil function was evaluated by superoxide production, measuring chemiluminescence of the neutrophil suspension by a photometer. In the 1st course, when no rhG-CSF was administered, the neutrophil function declined significantly (p < 0.01) as the peripheral neutrophil count (PNC) decreased, reached the minimum almost at the same day as PNC reached the nadir, and returned to the normal level at the beginning of the next course. In the 2nd course, when rhG-CSF (75 micrograms/body) was administered subcutaneously daily for 14 consecutive days beginning at 72 hours after the chemotherapy, the nadir of neutropenia was elevated (p < 0.01), the period of neutropenia (< 1,000/mm3) was shortened (p < 0.01), the recovery from neutropenia (> 1,500/mm3) was accelerated (p < 0.01) as compared to the 1st course, and an marked increase of PNC (p < 0.01) to the peak on the next day of the last administration of rhG-CSF was observed. In addition, deterioration of neutrophil function was alleviated (p < 0.05) and the neutrophil function was enhanced (p < 0.01-0.05) during rhG-CSF administration, even at the nadir of neutropenia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Clinical observations of advanced renal cell carcinomas--the chronological change between 1975 and 1991].

An analysis has been undertaken to determine chronological changes that have occurred in the clinical features and treatments of advanced renal cell carcinomas. To accomplish this, 96 renal cell carcinoma cases, handled by the authors' department and at the branch hospital, were divided into two groups: 48 patients treated between 1975 and 1983 (group 1) and 48 patients treated between 1984 and 1991 (group 2). Between the two groups, no differences were seen in the sex ratio, the mean age, and the ratio of those who were found to be advanced cases at the time of diagnosis and those whose cancers had advanced after undergoing a nephrectomy. Concerning treatment, interferon (IFN) and UFT were more frequently used in treating group 2 than group 1, and chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrine therapy less frequently used. No differences were seen in the prognosis between the two groups; however, in those who had advanced after nephrectomy, group 2 cases survived for a significantly longer period than did group 1 cases. Patients who survived for 5 years or longer accounted for two cases in group 1 and 5 cases in group 2 and combination therapies involving surgery, IFN, UFT, or similar medications were used for their treatments. These results suggest that adjuvant therapies, such as surgery, IFN, and UFT, have possibly contributed to prolonging survival, especially for cases that advanced after nephrectomy.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1993

[A clinical study on renal pelvic and ureteral tumor associated with bladder tumor].

Of 65 cases of renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumor treated at Department of Urology, The University of Tokyo, during the period from January 1975 through December 1991, 26 had bladder tumors as well. These cases were divided into three groups; 1) bladder tumor preceding upper urinary tract tumor, 2) bladder tumor found simultaneously with upper urinary tract tumor, and 3) bladder tumor following upper urinary tract tumor. In group 1 (nine cases), the last bladder tumor preceded renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumors by 3 to 42 months (mean 14.6 months), and in seven cases, bladder tumor recurred 3 to 29 months (mean 9.0 months) after nephroureterectomy. The interval between the diagnosis of preceding bladder tumor and upper urinary tract tumor was highly correlated with the latent period of postoperative recurrence of bladder tumor (r = 0.948). Highly malignant pathological grade of bladder tumor featured seven cases of group 2, with the survival rate being significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of other groups. In the group 3 consisting of ten cases, bladder tumors subsequently developed 6 to 37 months (mean 15.0 months). The latent period of bladder tumor was significantly (p < 0.01) longer than that in group 1. These results indicated that the bladder tumors associated with renal pelvic and/or ureteral tumors have distinct characteristics depending on the sequence of association.

Adult↗