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Biomedical subjects

Y Maeda

Publications and source records attributed to Y Maeda.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Expression of a bifunctional chimeric protein A-Vargula hilgendorfii luciferase in mammalian cells.

We have designed and constructed a novel chimeric protein that consisted of a single domain of protein A and luciferase derived from sea-firefly Vargula hilgendorfii with the goal of obtaining a heterofunctional immunological tool. The structural gene of luciferase was fused to the 3' terminus of the D domain gene of protein A with/without a short linker of five amino acids. The resulting constructs under the transcriptional regulation of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter, were expressed transiently in simian COS-1 and stably in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The properties of the resultant chimeric protein were characterized. The results indicated that the dual properties of the chimeric protein could be retained only after the introduction of a linker of (Gly)4 Ser between the two conjugated moieties. Moreover, the chimeric protein was found to retain at least 50% of the specific activity as compared with the non-fused luciferase. The future prospect of the usage of this chimeric protein in the field of diagnostics was further evaluated by performing bioluminescent immunoassays.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea effectively treated with the endoscopic Nd-YAG laser followed by radiation.

We present a case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea. The tumor could not be resected due to extensive progression but it was effectively treated endoscopically with a Nd-YAG Laser followed by 70 Gy of conventional radiotherapy. Histologically-confirmed complete remission was achieved, and the patient has lived for nearly 9 years without recurrence of disease.

Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic↗
PubMed1996

13-cis retinoic acid inhibits growth of adult T cell leukemia cells and causes apoptosis; possible new indication for retinoid therapy.

We evaluated the effects of 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA) on the growth of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 12 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL). In general, 13-cis RA potently inhibited the growth of PBMC from ATL patients. However, the sensitivity of the cells to 13-cis RA-induced growth inhibition varied among the patients. The ATL patients fell into three groups (hypersensitive, sensitive and resistant to 13-cis RA) according to the percent reduction of 3H-thymidine incorporation before and after treatment with 13-cis RA. Agarose gel electrophoresis of total genomic DNA from a patient sensitive to 13-cis RA provided evidence of the DNA fragmentation indicative of apoptosis. The ability of 13-cis RA to induce apoptosis in PBMC from ATL patients suggests that retinoids may be useful in the treatment of ATL.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A fibrous histiocytoma with a polypoid pattern of growth in a major bronchus.

A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for abrupt onset of hemoptysis and dyspnea. Chest roentgenography revealed a left lower mass shadow with obstruction of the left main bronchus. However, on the third hospital day, he expectorated a coagulum-like substance which resembled bronchial tree, and his symptoms then dramatically subsided. Except for small amounts of bleeding from left B10a, the endobronchus was intact on bronchoscopic examination, and the pathologic diagnosis of the tumor using resected material was fibrous histiocytoma of low-grade malignancy. In addition, given the similarity in histologic findings between the expectorated substance and resected tumor, the expectorated substance was considered to be a part of the tumor which had grown along the endobronchial tree.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1996

Primary lung cancer associated with diffuse granulomatous lesions in the pulmonary parenchyma.

A 60-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for productive cough. Chest roentgenography and CT scan disclosed a left hilar tumor invading the mediastinum, with mediastinal lymphadenopathy and diffuse micronodular shadows in both lung fields. A biopsied sample of the tumor revealed squamous cell carcinoma, while noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas were observed in the samples obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy. The granulomas in the pulmonary parenchyma were determined to be sarcoid reactions secondary to lung cancer, since there was no evidence of sarcoidosis. Combination chemotherapy was effective for the tumor, and the granulomas disappeared after completion of the chemotherapy. These findings suggest the presence of a relationship between sarcoid reactions and lung cancer in this case.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1996

Clinical usefulness of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment as a tumor marker for lung cancer.

Serum soluble cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA) levels were measured in 251 patients with lung cancer and 139 patients with benign lung diseases to determine the clinical usefulness of CYFRA level determination in the diagnosis and monitoring of lung cancer. Serum levels of CYFRA were measured by a 2-step sandwich ELISA method. When the cut-off value was defined as 3.5 ng/ml, which was associated with a specificity of 95% for benign lung diseases, CYFRA had a high sensitivity (53%) in all patients with lung cancer. Both the serum level of CYFRA and its sensitivity increased significantly with the increase in clinical stage. A comparison of areas under receiver operating characteristic curves showed that CYFRA had the most power of discrimination in the diagnosis of lung cancer among markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and neuron-specific enolase. A good correlation was found between serial changes in serum CYFRA levels during therapy and clinical responses for 18 patients who underwent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Our findings suggest that CYFRA may be a marker of choice for screening and monitoring of lung cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

[Inhibition of proliferation by retinoic acid on adult T cell leukemia cells].

We observed the effects of the retinoic acid (13-cis retinoic acid; 13-cis RA, and all-trans retinoic acid; ATRA) for the cell growth and the expression of CD 25 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 17 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL). Fourteen had acute type, 1 had chronic type, and 2 had smoldering type of ATL. We divided those patient into 3 groups (hyper-sensitive, sensitive and resistant group) by determined with reduction rate of [3H]-thymidine incorporation obtained before and after treatment with 13 -cis RA or ATRA respectively. Growth inhibition was not observed in normal PBMC by 13 -cis RA or ATRA. However, no down-regulation of CD 25 expression was observed on PBMC in all patients and normal individuals after treatment with 13-cis RA or ATRA. In the aspect of growth inhibition on PBMC in ATL patients, we tried to clarify the mechanism of the phenomenon. In agarose gel electrophoresis, extracted genomic DNA from retinoic acid treated PBMC in hyper-sensitive and sensitive ATL patients showed multimer DNA fragmentation pattern. On the other hand, genomic DNA from PBMC after treatment with retinoic acid in resistant ATL patients and normal individuals showed high molecular DNA pattern without fragmentation. Taken together, it is suggested that retinoic acid could induce growth inhibition of PBMC in some ATL patients resulting in DNA fragmentation, apoptosis. We deeply consider that retinoic acid may be an useful agent for ATL patients in clinical aspect.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Renal cell carcinoma with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis].

We report 3 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with solitary asynchronous adrenal metastasis. Case 1; A 43-year-old female was diagnosed with ipsilateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy of RCC (T2, N0, M0). She is alive with no evidence of disease five years after adrenalectomy. Case 2; A 53-year-old female had contralateral adrenal metastasis 10 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). She died with distant metastasis fourteen months post-operatively. Case 3; A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with contralateral adrenal metastasis 3 years after nephrectomy (T3, N0, M0). He is alive with no evidence of disease twenty months postoperatively. Two of our three cases are alive and tumor-free. However, adrenal metastasis was found in case 1 and case 2, even though more than ten years had passed after nephrectomy. Therefore we should observe the patients periodically after radical nephrectomy for a long time.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1996

Sonochemical formation of gold particles in aqueous solution.

Gold(III) ions in aqueous solutions of NaAuCl4 were reduced to form gold particles by ultrasonic irradiation. The rate of formation of gold particles was accelerated in the presence of certain organic additives such as surfactants, water-soluble polymers and aliphatic alcohols and ketones. The rates of formation of gold particles from 1 mM Au(III) ions in pure water were 3 microM min-1 under argon atmosphere and approximately zero under air, and in solutions containing additive the rates were 9-133 microM min-1 under argon and 8-40 microM min-1 under air. Surfactants stabilized the particles as colloidal state for more than several months. The rates of formation of both hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl radicals were estimated to be equal to 25 microM min-1 in the sonolysis of pure water under argon. Three reaction pathways leading to the reduction of metal ions were proposed: (1) reduction by hydrogen atoms; (2) reduction by reducing radicals formed via reactions of hydroxyl radicals or hydrogen atoms with the additives; (3) reduction by radicals formed from thermal reaction of the additives at the interfacial region between cavitation bubbles and bulk solution and/or in the cavities. The order of the contribution of these three pathways to the reduction of gold ions was (3) > (2) > (1) in most cases. The number averages of the size of gold particles formed in surfactant solutions under argon atmosphere were about 10 nm with a fairly narrow size distribution.

Argon↗
PubMed1996

Role of mast cells, eosinophils and IL-5 in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness in sensitized mice.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In order to study the role of mast cells and IL-5 in allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice, airway responsiveness in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice (mast cell deficient) and the effects of anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody (NC-17) and three anti-allergic drugs (N-556, ketotifen and amlexanox) on airway hyperreactivity in Balb/c mice were studied. METHODS: Mice were immunized with an antigen (ovalbumin; OA) at intervals of 12 days. OA was inhaled 10 days after the secondary immunization. Twenty-four hours after the last inhalation, airway reactivity to acetylcholine was measured and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained. RESULTS: Three inhalations of OA caused an increase in leucocytes (including eosinophils), accompanied by increases in IL-5 in BALF, and airway hyperreactivity to acetylcholine in Balb/c and WBB6F1- +/+ mice. In WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, antigen inhalation resulted in increases in leucocytes and IL-5 in BALF but did not result in airway hyperreactivity. NC-17 at doses between 10 and 20 micrograms (intratracheal injection) inhibited the antigen-induced eosinophilia but did not affect airway hyperreactivity in Balb/c mice. Three 'anti-allergic' drugs clearly inhibited antigen-induced increases in IL-5 levels and the number of eosinophils in BALF, but did not affect airway hyperreactivity in Balb/c mice. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that mast cells play an important role in the onset of airway hyperreactivity but do not play a role in the production of IL-5 and eosinophilia. Furthermore, indicate that the inhibition of IL-5 is not always associated with a reduction in antigen-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice.

Aminopyridines↗
PubMed1996

[Effects of intra-hepatic arterial injection of mitoxantrone for hepatocellular carcinoma].

Twenty patients with unresectable hepatoma, recurrent hepatoma or metastatic liver cancer were treated by intra-hepatic arterial injection of mitoxantrone, and its effectiveness and side effects were studied. In 35.5% of the patients, complete or partial responses were seen. The survival intervals after the beginning of therapy were from one to 21 months (mean, 9.4 months) and one-year survival ratio was 56.3%. Red blood cell, leukocyte, and platelet counts diminished significantly one week later after administration of mitoxantrone compared with the pre-administration levels. Severe hepatic dysfunction has not been experienced.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Gliomatosis cerebri: a case report.

Gliomatosis cerebri is a rare disease that thus far was usually diagnosed at the time of autopsy. In this communication we report the case of a young woman with gliomatosis cerebri. Diagnosis was established on the basis of characteristic imaging findings and typical histopathological features of surgical specimens obtained by craniotomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Optimal administration in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin for gastric cancer].

To investigate an optimal administration method in combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP), the clinical results of this combination therapy are reviewed. The overall response rate of this combination is 30-50%, and these results are equivalent to those of conventional combination therapy for gastric cancer. It is expected that this combination will become the standard chemotherapy for gastric cancer. Although there are several schedules of 5-FU/ CDDP combination based on the biochemical modulation theory, there are no significant differences among the individual response rates. Therefore, the schedule of this combination should change depending on the clinical condition of the patient and so on. Low-dose CDDP administration is useful, because of fewer side effects. Bolus administration of 5-FU should be considered especially for gastric cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1996

[A case of endodermal cyst in front of the pontomedullary junction].

We reported a rare case of an endodermal cyst on the posterior fossa. The patient was a 51-year-old woman with tinnitus, ear blockage and a mild swallowing disturbance. MR images revealed a cystic mass 5 cm in diameter in front of the pontomedullary junction. Gadolinium-enhanced images showed some spotty lesions in the cystic mass. The brain stem was compressed strongly by the mass. The left vertebral artery was involved in the mass. Total removal of the tumor was performed via the transcondylar approach. During the operation the lower cranial nerves, the bilateral vertebral artery and the vertebral union were recognized. The cystic mass consisted of a yellow colored thin wall and a watery fluid which contained some small hard lesions. Histopathological examination of the cyst wall revealed a single layer of ciliated columnar epithelium, and that of the small lesions showed histiocytes and granulation. Immunohistochemically, the cyst wall was stained by an epithelial membrane antigen and a carcinoembryonic antigen. From these histopathological findings, the final diagnosis of the cystic lesion was an endodermal cyst. Twenty such cases have been reported to date since Afshar reported a case of an endodermal cyst on the posterior fossa in 1981. There are many types of cystic lesions in the intracranial region, and immunohistochemical studies are necessary for diagnosis of these intracranial cysts.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1995

Angiotensin II augments cytokine-stimulated nitric oxide synthesis in rat cardiac myocytes.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to modulate cardiac function. We investigated the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on NO synthase activity in cardiac myocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the Griess reagent, we measured the production of nitrite, a stable metabolite of NO, by cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. The expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA was assayed by Northern blotting. Incubation of cardiac myocytes for 24 hours with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) caused a significant increase in NO production. Ang II significantly augmented NO synthesis in IL-1 beta-stimulated but not in unstimulated cells in a dose-dependent manner. The angiotensin type I receptor antagonist CV 11974 inhibited the effect of Ang II dose-dependently. Simultaneous incubation of Ang II with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or actinomycin D also completely inhibited the effect of Ang II. The Ang II-induced NO production by IL-1 beta-stimulated cells was accompanied by increased iNOS mRNA accumulation. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also augmented NO synthesis in IL-1 beta-stimulated but not in unstimulated cells in a dose-dependent manner. The protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C dose-dependently blocked the effect of Ang II. After protein kinase C activity was functionally depleted by treatment of cells with PMA for 24 hours, Ang II did not augment IL-1 beta-induced NO production. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that Ang II upregulates IL-1 beta-induced iNOS expression in cardiac myocytes, which is mediated at least partially via activation of protein kinase C.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic value of plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endothelin-1 concentration in patients with chronic congestive heart failure.

We tested the hypothesis that plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are related to subsequent survival, and assessed whether the measurements of these substances provide additional prognostic information to that obtained from clinical and biochemical variables previously known to be associated with high mortality. Plasma levels of sICAM-1 and ET-1 were measured in 102 patients with CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 0.45), and patients were followed up for > 18 months. The plasma level of sICAM-1 increased with the severity of CHF (normal, 149 +/- 10 ng/ml, mild CHF [New York Heart Association functional class II], 207 +/- 9.4 ng/ml, severe CHF [functional class III or IV], 293 +/- 18 ng/ml). The plasma level of ET-1 also increased with the severity of CHF (normal, 1.5 +/- 0.2 pg/ml, mild CHF, 2.1 +/- 0.1 pg/ml, severe CHF, 4.0 +/- 0.4 pg/ml). Plasma levels of both sICAM-1 and ET-1 decreased after treatment in 14 patients, with improvements in symptoms (from functional class IV to II) during the follow-up period. There was a significant positive correlation between the plasma level of ET-1 and plasma sICAM-1 (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between LVEF and plasma ET-1 (r = -0.34, p < 0.001), and plasma sICAM-1 (r = -0.36, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗