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Biomedical subjects

Y Kanai

Publications and source records attributed to Y Kanai.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Japanese Late-Onset Breast Cancer Families: Their Clincopathological Characteristics and Absence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Germline Mutations.

BACKGROUND: The causes and pathologic and prognostic phenotypes of late-onsetfamilial breast cancers are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to document the clinicopathological features of late-onset familial breast cancers using genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2. METHODS: We analyzed 11 breast cancers from 10 patients from 8 Japanese late-onset Breast cancer families. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 55 years (range 43 to 89). Bilateral occurrence was noted in 2 patients (8%). All the tumors were invasive ductal carcinomas, except for 1 case of invasive lobular carcinoma. Tumor size rangedfrom 0.8 cm to 7.8 cm (median 2.3 cm) and lymph node metastasis occurred in 6 of the 11 patients (55%). Six (55%) of the 11 tumors were histologically grade 2 and 5 (45%) were histologically grade 3. Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was 80% (8/10). Overexpression of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein was detected in 18% (2/11)and 9% (1/11) of the tumors, respectively. Five patients from 4 families received genetic testing but all were negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations.All the patients were alive after a median follow-up period of 32 months, except for 1 patient. CONCLUSION: In this study, no germline mutations of BRCA1 or BRCA2 were detected. However, there was a tendency towards ER-positive tumors, but the positivity of p53 protein was considered to be lower then that of sporadic tumors.

Journal Article↗

Targeted disruption of mouse conventional kinesin heavy chain, kif5B, results in abnormal perinuclear clustering of mitochondria.

Mouse kif5B gene was disrupted by homologous recombination. kif5B-/- mice were embryonic lethal with a severe growth retardation at 9.5-11.5 days postcoitum. To analyze the significance of this conventional kinesin heavy chain in organelle transport, we studied the distribution of major organelles in the extraembryonic cells. The null mutant cells impaired lysosomal dispersion, while brefeldin A could normally induce the breakdown of their Golgi apparatus. More prominently, their mitochondria abnormally clustered in the perinuclear region. This mitochondrial phenotype was reversed by an exogenous expression of KIF5B, and a subcellular fractionation revealed that KIF5B is associated with mitochondria. These data collectively indicate that kinesin is essential for mitochondrial and lysosomal dispersion rather than for the Golgi-to-ER traffic in these cells.

Animals↗

Identification of multispecific organic anion transporter 2 expressed predominantly in the liver.

In the present study, we demonstrate that NLT (novel liver-specific transport protein) is a multispecific organic anion transporter of the liver. The amino acid sequence of NLT shows 42% identity to that of the renal multispecific organic anion transporter, OAT1. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, NLT mediated uptake of organic anions, such as salicylate, acetylsalicylate, PGE2, dicarboxylates and p-aminohippurate. [14C]Salicylate uptake via NLT was saturable (Km = 88.8 +/- 23.4 microM) and sodium-independent. Expression of the mRNA of NLT was detected in the liver and kidney (liver >> kidney). We propose that NLT be renamed OAT2.

Animals↗

Local Recurrence after Conservative Surgery without Postoperative Radiation for Pure Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast:A Case Report with Reference to Multifocality of Tubular Carcinoma.

A 49-year-old premenopausal woman with stage I breast carcinoma underwent left quadrantectomy with axillary dissection in 1992. The tumor was 0.7x0.5 cm Histopathologically, this was a pure tubular carcinoma without lymph node metastasis or lymphatic or vascular invasion. Although the surgical margin was pathologically negative, atypical ductal hyperplasia was present close to the cut margin's edge. Neither adjuvant chemotherapy nor radiotherapy had been given after the operation. Approximately 5 years after the first surgery, she had a local recurrence in the vicinity of the operative wound. There was no clinical evidence of distant metastasis. A salvage mastectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed that the second tumor was an invasive ductal carcinoma, histological grade 2, with extensive intraductal component. It was difficult to determine whether this was a true in-breast recurrence or a second primary cancer. Overexpression of p53 and c-erbB-2 was observed in the second tumor. Estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor were both negative. No postoperative chemotherapy was given. Multifocality and atypical ductal hyperplasia were observed in 7(87.5%)and 6(75%) of 8 patients, respectively, with tubular carcinoma between 1991and 1997 at the National Cancer Center Hospital. Coexisting disease associated with tubular carcinoma suggests that radiotherapy may be an important component of breast conservation treatment to prevent local recurrence in this type of tumor.

Journal Article↗

Defect in synaptic vesicle precursor transport and neuronal cell death in KIF1A motor protein-deficient mice.

The nerve axon is a good model system for studying the molecular mechanism of organelle transport in cells. Recently, the new kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) have been identified as candidate motor proteins involved in organelle transport. Among them KIF1A, a murine homologue of unc-104 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans, is a unique monomeric neuron- specific microtubule plus end-directed motor and has been proposed as a transporter of synaptic vesicle precursors (Okada, Y., H. Yamazaki, Y. Sekine-Aizawa, and N. Hirokawa. 1995. Cell. 81:769-780). To elucidate the function of KIF1A in vivo, we disrupted the KIF1A gene in mice. KIF1A mutants died mostly within a day after birth showing motor and sensory disturbances. In the nervous systems of these mutants, the transport of synaptic vesicle precursors showed a specific and significant decrease. Consequently, synaptic vesicle density decreased dramatically, and clusters of clear small vesicles accumulated in the cell bodies. Furthermore, marked neuronal degeneration and death occurred both in KIF1A mutant mice and in cultures of mutant neurons. The neuronal death in cultures was blocked by coculture with wild-type neurons or exposure to a low concentration of glutamate. These results in cultures suggested that the mutant neurons might not sufficiently receive afferent stimulation, such as neuronal contacts or neurotransmission, resulting in cell death. Thus, our results demonstrate that KIF1A transports a synaptic vesicle precursor and that KIF1A-mediated axonal transport plays a critical role in viability, maintenance, and function of neurons, particularly mature neurons.

Animals↗

Golgi vesiculation and lysosome dispersion in cells lacking cytoplasmic dynein.

Cytoplasmic dynein, a minus end-directed, microtubule-based motor protein, is thought to drive the movement of membranous organelles and chromosomes. It is a massive complex that consists of multiple polypeptides. Among these polypeptides, the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (cDHC) constitutes the major part of this complex. To elucidate the function of cytoplasmic dynein, we have produced mice lacking cDHC by gene targeting. cDHC-/- embryos were indistinguishable from cDHC+/-or cDHC+/+ littermates at the blastocyst stage. However, no cDHC-/- embryos were found at 8.5 d postcoitum. When cDHC-/- blastocysts were cultured in vitro, they showed interesting phenotypes. First, the Golgi complex became highly vesiculated and distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Second, endosomes and lysosomes were not concentrated near the nucleus but were distributed evenly throughout the cytoplasm. Interestingly, the Golgi "fragments" and lysosomes were still found to be attached to microtubules. These results show that cDHC is essential for the formation and positioning of the Golgi complex. Moreover, cDHC is required for cell proliferation and proper distribution of endosomes and lysosomes. However, molecules other than cDHC might mediate attachment of the Golgi complex and endosomes/lysosomes to microtubules.

Animals↗

DNA hypermethylation at the D17S5 locus is associated with gastric carcinogenesis.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the significance of aberrant DNA methylation in gastric carcinogenesis. The DNA methylation status at the D17S5 locus, at which a candidate tumor suppressor gene, HIC-1, was identified, of gastric cancers and non-cancerous gastric mucosae from 42 gastric cancer patients was examined by Southern blotting using a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme. DNA hypermethylation was observed in 15, 13, 25 and 45% of the tissues showing no remarkable histological findings, chronic gastritis without intestinal metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer, respectively. The incidence of DNA hypermethylation was significantly higher in gastric cancers than in non-cancerous gastric mucosae (P < 0.05). DNA hypermethylation was often accompanied by allelic loss at the same locus in gastric cancers. DNA hypermethylation at the D17S5 locus, which was even detected in precancerous conditions, including intestinal metaplasia, may play a role in gastric carcinogenesis.

Adult↗

Helical computed tomography in the diagnosis of portal vein invasion by pancreatic head carcinoma: usefulness for selecting surgical procedures and predicting the outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of helical computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing portal vein (PV) invasion by pancreatic head carcinoma and its usefulness in predicting outcome. DESIGN: Validation cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care public hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-seven patients with carcinoma involving the pancreatic head were preoperatively studied with helical CT. All patients underwent resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: By quantifying the contact between the tumor and PV on helical CT, the relationship between them was classified into 1 of 4 types: type 1, visible fat layer between PV and the tumor; type 2, with the total PV circumference defined as 360 degrees, contact between the tumor and PV was considered to be 90 degrees or less; type 3, contact ranged between 91 degrees and 180 degrees; and type 4, contact greater than 180 degrees. Helical CT results were compared with intraoperative observation, histological findings of the resected specimen, and postoperative course. RESULTS: When helical CT showed type 3 or 4, the case was diagnosed as positive for PV invasion. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 83%, 100%, and 89% when compared with the intraoperative assessment, and 92%, 79%, and 85% with the histological assessment, respectively. One- and 2-year survival rates were 86% and 69% for type 1, 100% and 75% for type 2, and 33% and 12% for type 3, respectively. The survival rates of patients with types 1 and 2 were significantly higher than that of those with type 3 (P<.05). All 3 patients with type 4 died within 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Helical CT facilitates detection of PV invasion by pancreatic head carcinoma. The extent of PV involvement reflected the outcome after pancreatectomy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Small polypoid lesions of the gallbladder: differential diagnosis and surgical indications by helical computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the helical computed tomographic (CT) features of small polypoid lesions of the gallbladder and to establish a clinical strategy based on CT findings for the treatment of such lesions. DESIGN: Validation cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care public hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-one patients with polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (< or = 3 cm) underwent CT followed by resection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The detectability of the lesions on both unenhanced and enhanced CT and the configuration of the lesions on enhanced CT were prospectively evaluated in comparison with the histopathological findings. RESULTS: Unenhanced CT detected 14 (45%) of the 31 lesions, whereas enhanced CT detected all of the lesions. The detection rates of the neoplastic lesions (adenoma, adenocarcinoma, and metastatic tumor) and cholesterol polyps were 81% (13/16) and 7% (1/15), respectively (P<.001). Among the 20 lesions demonstrated as pedunculated, 6 (30%) were neoplastic, whereas 10 (91%) of the 11 lesions demonstrated as sessile were neoplastic (P<.001). When a lesion was demonstrated on unenhanced CT or its shape was sessile on enhanced CT, the case was diagnosed as a neoplastic lesion. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of the CT diagnosis of the neoplastic lesions were 88% (14/16), 87% (13/15), 88% (14/16), 87% (13/15), and 87% (27/31), respectively. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography can differentiate neoplastic and nonneoplastic small polypoid lesions of the gallbladder and reliably identify the presence of neoplastic lesions that should be resected.

Adult↗

Breast cancer in Cowden's disease: a case report with review of the literature.

We report a case of invasive breast cancer in a 62-year-old female patient with Cowden's disease. A left modified radical mastectomy was performed and histopathology of the tumor showed invasive ductal carcinoma, histological grade 3, without lymph node metastasis. The patient had a past history of endometrial cancer at 55 but did not have a family history of malignant disease. Goiter was palpable but aspiration cytology revealed no malignancy. There were several papillomas on the oral mucosa and multiple papillomatous lesions on the right femur. Barium X-ray and endoscopic examination revealed multiple, small, hyperplastic polypoid lesions on the esophagus, stomach and rectum. Histopathology of the biopsy specimens from the esophagus and stomach showed acanthotic squamous epithelium and foveolar hyperplastic polyps. The patient was followed up closely to monitor the thyroid lesions and polyposis of the digestive tract. A total of 12 breast cancer patients who also had Cowden's disease have been reported in Japan and these cases are reviewed in this report.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Microinvasive breast carcinoma with extensive involvement of level III axillary lymph nodes: a case report.

A 44-year-old woman presented with a right huge axillary mass. Both mammography and ultrasonography revealed a primary cancer of 2.8 cm maximum diameter in the right breast and metastases in the axillary lymph nodes, both being confirmed by aspiration cytology as ductal carcinoma. Right standard radical mastectomy with level III axillary lymph node dissection was carried out. Pathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM), histologic grade 3. The area of stromal invasion measured 1 mm at its widest point. Sixteen of the 17 resected axillary lymph nodes contained metastases, including six level III lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical studies of the tumor revealed overexpression of p53 protein, but not that of c-erbB-2 protein. The frequency of lymph node metastases from DCISM is reported to be very low. Therefore, the present case with extensive involvement of level III lymph nodes was unusual.

Adult↗

Nonfunctioning islet cell tumors of the pancreas: clinical, imaging and pathological aspects in 16 patients.

BACKGROUND: Nonfunctioning islet cell tumors (NFICTs) usually reach a large size prior to detection, at which stage patients have some symptoms or signs. Recently, NFICTs have been discovered in asymptomatic patients with increasing frequency owing to advances in diagnostic imaging techniques. This study investigated clinical, imaging and pathological features in recent cases of NFICT. METHODS: The medical records, radiographs and pathological specimens of 16 patients with NFICT who were evaluated between April 1991 and March 1996 were reviewed. RESULTS: Tumor sizes ranged from 0.8 to 17 cm (average, 5.2 cm). Five patients (31%) had some symptoms or signs at the time of diagnosis; however, the other 11 (69%) had no symptoms. Of 10 patients with a tumor of size 5 cm or less, nine were asymptomatic and all tumors were histologically benign. In contrast, in six patients with a tumor larger than 5 cm, four had some symptoms and five tumors were malignant. The detection rates of pancreatic tumor mass on ultrasonography and computed tomography were 94% (15/16) each. All 14 patients in whom the tumor was completely resected survived without recurrence; however, the remaining two patients with liver metastases died following recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: US and CT are useful in detecting NFICTs even if the tumor is small and the patient is asymptomatic. The detection of NFICTs of small size and their complete removal are essential for a successful cure.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Graded, irreversible changes in crayfish giant axon as manifestations of lidocaine neurotoxicity in vitro.

UNLABELLED: High concentrations of lidocaine induce irreversible conduction block with little effect on resting membrane potential (Em). We assumed the mechanism of persistent neurologic deficit caused by local anesthetics may result from neural death, as represented by the loss of Em. We investigated the effects of lidocaine on Em and action potential (AP) in single crayfish giant axons in vitro. Axons were perfused with two doses of lidocaine for either 15 or 30 min, and they were continuously washed. No axons exposed to 80 mM lidocaine for 30 min showed recovery of AP and Em. Those exposed to 40 mM for 30 min and 80 mM for 15 min showed a return to baseline for Em, but no recovery of AP. Those exposed to 40 mM lidocaine for 15 min showed full recovery of Em and AP immediately after washing. The membrane depolarization was significantly greater during exposure to 80 mM lidocaine for 30 min than in other groups. We conclude that lidocaine has a direct neurotoxic effect on crayfish giant axons and that the generation of AP is more vulnerable than the maintenance of Em. The irreversibility of AP and Em is dose- and time-dependent. IMPLICATIONS: Highly concentrated lidocaine induced an irreversible conduction block and a complete loss of resting membrane potential in crayfish giant axons in vitro. Our results may represent a possible explanation for various grades of local anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity in clinical cases if the same toxicity occurs in mammalian nerves in vivo.

Action Potentials↗

Expression of CD44 variants and its association with survival in pancreatic cancer.

Since the CD44 variant 6(v6) molecule has been noted as a marker for tumor metastasis and prognosis in several tumors, we examined whether or not v6 is a useful marker for evaluating the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. In addition, we attempted to assess the clinicopathological implications for pancreatic cancer of the variant 2 (v2) isoform using a recently developed monoclonal antibody against a v2 epitope. The expression of CD44 variants was evaluated immunohistochemically in paraffin-embedded pancreatic cancer tissues from 42 patients who were confirmed surgically and histologically to have received curative resection. An indirect immunoperoxidase method was used with monoclonal antibodies against epitopes of the standard (CD44s) portion, v6 and v2. Protein expression data were evaluated statistically for any correlations with the length of survival or with histological parameters. The expression of CD44v6 and v2 was observed only in tumor cells, if at all. On the other hand, expression of total CD44 (including CD44v, as well as CD44s) was observed in both tumors and adjacent normal sites. Tumor tissue from 21 (50%) and 16 (38%) patients showed positive immunoreactivity with mAb 2F10 (anti-CD44v6) and mAb M23.6.1 (anti-CD44v2), respectively. The expression of CD44v6 and v2 was correlated with decreased overall survival (P = 0.0160 and P = 0.0125, respectively). A significant correlation was obtained between CD44v2 peptide expression and vessel invasion (P = 0.026). These results suggest that CD44v2 and CD44v6 may be useful markers for poor prognosis in curatively resected primary pancreatic cancer.

Antigens, CD↗

Upregulation of nucleobindin expression in human-activated lymphocytes and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Nucleobindin (Nuc) was originally found to be an enhancement factor of anti-DNA antibody production secreted by a lymphoid cell line derived from a lymphoproliferative MRL/lpr mouse. It has been shown that Nuc has a unique structure containing a DNA- and two calcium-binding domains, and a leucine zipper motif, but its biological roles have not yet been fully elucidated. Expression of Nuc was first studied in human lymphocytes. Expression of Nuc mRNA in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly increased upon mitogen stimulation. Anti-human Nuc monoclonal antibody H-1D8 immunoprecipitated Nuc protein in the nuclear extract of Molt-4 cells. Furthermore, in the immunohistochemical staining of tumor specimens from 108 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with H-1D8, H-1D8-positive cells were observed in nearly all cases in varying frequency. According to the Working Formulation, the percentage of cases in which more than 90% of the tumor cells were stained with H-1D8 was 65% in the high grade of the histological malignancy, 54% in the intermediate grade, and 22% in the low grade; however, normal cells surrounding the tumor cells were virtually negative for H-1D8. These results showed that the level of Nuc expression in human lymphocytes reflects the status of activation or proliferation of the cells, thus providing a clue for the further investigation into biological roles of Nuc. In addition, it might be applicable to the clinicopathological estimation of NHL as a novel indicator.

Adolescent↗

Cloning, functional characterization, and localization of a rat renal Na+-dicarboxylate transporter.

We report here the isolation, functional characterization, tissue distribution, and membrane localization of rat renal Na+-dicarboxylate transporter (rNaDC-1). rNaDC-1 consists of 2,245 nucleotides, and the deduced amino acid sequence showed 73% and 75% identity to rabbit and human NaDC-1, respectively. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, rNaDC-1 mediated sodium-dependent uptake of di- and tricarboxylates. Substrates of rNaDC-1 evoked inward currents in oocytes expressed with rNaDC-1; succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and glutarate were relatively high-affinity substrates, and citrate was a low-affinity substrate of rNaDC-1. The coupling ratio of citrate to charge was determined to be 1:1 at pH 7.4; influx of one positive charge per citrate molecule suggests a symport of three Na+ with a divalent citrate. Expression of rNaDC-1 mRNA was detected in the kidney and the small and large intestines. Immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antibodies raised against the 14 amino acids at the COOH terminus of rNaDC-1 revealed that rNaDC-1 is localized exclusively in the luminal membrane of S2 and S3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhancement of hydroxyl radical DNA cleavage by serum anti-dsDNA antibodies in SLE.

Autoantibodies reactive with double-stranded (ds) DNA are a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but it is not fully elucidated how these antibodies contribute to the various pathological changes observed in lupus patients. In a previous study, we have found a significant enhancement effect of two murine monoclonal anti-dsDNA antibodies on DNA cleavage by the hydroxyl radical. We have extended this study and have found that purified polyclonal anti-dsDNA antibodies from sera of lupus patients and an MRL/lpr mouse, but not anti-ssDNA antibodies, also enhanced radical cleavage of DNA. The cleavage was inhibited by EDTA, DMSO and thiourea. The antibody preparations per se did not cleave DNA. These results suggest that such an enhancement effect on DNA cleavage is a feature of a significant part of anti-dsDNA antibody population and a possible clue in understanding the roles of anti-dsDNA antibodies in the pathophysiology of SLE under certain circumstances.

Administration, Topical↗