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Biomedical subjects

Y Nakagami

Publications and source records attributed to Y Nakagami.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Effects of opioid peptides on immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor release from the rat hypothalamus in vitro.

Effects of opioid peptides on immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (I-CRF) release from the rat hypothalamus were examined using a rat hypothalamic perifusion system and a rat CRF RIA in vitro. beta-Endorphin (0.3 - 30 nM), dynorphin (0.3 - 30 nM) and FK 33-824 (1 - 10 microM) suppressed basal I-CRF release in a dose-dependent fashion. At 2.2 nM concentrations of these peptides, mean percent inhibition was 56% for beta-endorphin; less than 5% for alpha-endorphin; 44% for dynorphin; 23% for leucine-enkephalin; 6% for methionine-enkephalin; less than 5% for FK 33-824; and less than 5% for D-ala2, D-leu5-enkephalin. The inhibitory effects of beta-endorphin and enkephalins were completely blocked by naloxone, but those of dynorphin were only partially blocked. These results suggest that opioid peptides act through opioid receptors and inhibit I-CRF release from the hypothalamus under our conditions. Therefore, endogenious opioid peptides may have a physiological role in the CRF-releasing mechanism of the hypothalamus.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibitory effect of adrenocorticotropin on corticotropin- releasing factor release from rat hypothalamus in vitro.

Effects of ACTH and ACTH fragments on immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (I-CRF) release were examined by utilizing rat hypothalamic perifusion system and a rat CRF RIA. ACTH-(1-39) had a dose-related inhibitory effect on I-CRF release. Mean percent inhibition of I-CRF release was 52, 55, 49, 30 and less than 5 percent by ACTH-(1-39), ACTH-(1-24), alpha-MSH and ACTH-(18-39) at 2.2 nM concentrations, respectively. These results suggest the presence of a negative short-loop feedback mechanism, and also that the active core is contained within the ACTH-(1-17) structure.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1986

DNA amplification of the c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes in a human stomach cancer.

High-molecular-weight DNAs from 43 human primary tumor tissues were examined by Southern blot hybridization for possible rearrangement and/or amplification of the following protooncogenes: the c-myc, c-erbB-1, N-myc, c-mos and c-fos genes. In an adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the stomach, the c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes were found to be simultaneously amplified 5- and 30-fold, respectively. Cooperative expression of the amplified c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes might be involved in the genesis or progression of the gastric cancer.

DNA, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1986

[Cooperative phase II study of epirubicin (EPI) in bladder cancer, renal pelvic and ureteral tumors--Urological Cooperative Study Group of EPI].

A phase II study of a new anthracycline anti-cancer antibiotics, epirubicin (EPI), was undertaken in 71 patients with urothelial malignancies; 40 with advanced urothelial malignancies and 31 with superficial bladder cancer. Out of them 32 patients with advanced stage of urothelial cancer were evaluated for the systemic use of EPI, while 30 patients with superficial bladder cancer for intravesical use. Intravenous administration of this new anticancer antibiotic, at a dosage of 60 mg/m2 every three weeks, showed the response rate of 20.0% for advanced bladder cancer and 14.3% for renal pelvic and ureteral tumors. In cases of superficial bladder cancer, at a dosage of 60 mg/30 ml X 3 day every week in principal, the response rate was 66.7%. Eight out of 30 patients showed complete disappearance of the tumor. Twelve patients also showed more than 50% tumor regression. As for adverse effects no serious cardiotoxicity was demonstrated. Anorexia and other gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, were also seen. Alopecia and myelosuppression were the major adverse effects among patients with systemic EPI administration. With intravesical use of EPI, cystitis syndrome was the major toxicity. However, no systemic side effects were noted in these cases. In conclusion, EPI was assumed to be effective for the treatment of advanced urothelial tumors and superficial bladder cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor in human plasma.

Plasma immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing factor (I-CRF) levels were determined by using a human CRF radioimmunoassay and an immunoaffinity procedure. The basal plasma I-CRF level in normal subjects was 6 +/- 0.5 pg/ml (mean +/- SD). We found that most plasma I-CRF levels were affected by stress, negative feedback, and circadian rhythm. Basal I-CRF levels were high in patients with Addison's disease, Nelson's syndrome, hypopituitarism stemming from pituitary macroadenoma, and CRF- and adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing tumors. A very low, but significant, amount of I-CRF was detected (1-3 pg/ml) in patients with Cushing's syndrome, in corticosteroid-treated patients, and in a patient with hypothalamic hypopituitarism. These results suggest that a major component of plasma I-CRF is of hypothalamic origin, however, other extrahypothalamic tissues cannot be ruled out as a minor source of plasma I-CRF.

Adrenal Gland Diseases↗
PubMed1985

[Experimental study on immunochemotherapy (PSK, CQ) in rat bladder cancer (BC-47)].

Cancer of the urinary bladder is a tumor with the highest frequency among urogenital cancers, and more-over, its recurrence rate is high. It is considered important and urgently necessary to conduct studies into the prevention of recurrence of this cancer. We have started a Study Group on Postoperative Maintenance Therapy for Bladder Tumor (Tokyo), and conducted group studies on the prevention of recurrence. Fundamental experiments have been performed, and the following results obtained. Antitumor effects of PSK in combination with CQ for bladder carcinoma were studied using male ACI rats. An established bladder carcinoma cell line, BC47 was transplanted into the backs of rats subcutaneously prior to the administration of PSK and CQ. Inhibitory effect on tumor growth and prolongation of survival period were examined. Although single-agent PSK or CQ both had inhibitory effects on transplanted tumors as well as on metastatic tumors in the lung, more remarkable effects were noticed as a result of combination treatment. Prolongation of lifespan using combination therapy was superior to that using single treatment and the rats of decrease in body weight was also lower. These results do not necessarily clarify the antitumor mechanisms, but the immune system, probably non-specifically, may take part in the mechanism judged from the accumulated results obtained from in vivo systems. We think that the combinational effects of these two drugs on general condition are probably originated from inhibition of tumor growth since the inhibition, prolongation of lifespan, change of body weight and so on were closely correlated with each other. However, the direct effect of these drugs may also be counted. The combination therapy of PSK and CQ seemed to be useful against rat bladder carcinoma, BC47. We therefore intend to proceed with group study trials of Postoperative Maintenance Therapy for Bladder Tumor.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[A case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma].

A 69-year-old man visited our clinic with the chief complaint of macroscopic hematuria. On CT scanning and renal arteriography, a round tumor about 3 cm in diameter on the frontlateral phase of the left kidney and another tumor ranging from the upper pole to the center of the right kidney were recognized. Under the diagnosis of bilateral renal tumor, first in November 1980 left partial nephrectomy was performed to extirpate the tumor. Then, upon recovery from postoperative transient renal hypofunction, right nephrectomy was performed in January 1981. After the operation renal hypofunction was noted again, but in March of the same year he was discharged as his creatinine value was stabilized to 3 approximately 4 mg/dl. Histopathologically the tumor of the left kidney was clear cell subtype and that of the right kidney was granular cell subtype of renal cell carcinoma. He has been followed up under administration of PSK and CQ in the outpatient clinic. As of January, 1985 he is well without recurrence or metastasis.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

[Evaluation of serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in patients with urogenital cancer].

The level of serum TPA was determined by radio-immunoassay in 19 healthy subjects and 90 patients with urogenital cancer. The normal level of serum TPA was 86 +/- 24 U/l, and the level of more than 134 U/l was determined positive. The positive rate of TPA was 38.9% in 90 patients, while that of CEA was 25.6%. In 19 patients with bladder tumor and 7 with testicular tumor, the positive rates of TPA were 52.6% and 71.4%, respectively, and the level of serum TPA was high in these positive patients. Considering the low positive rate of CEA, TPA may be a more useful marker than CEA in patients with bladder tumor and testicular tumor. Serial determinations of serum TPA and CEA showed the considerable variation of serum TPA compared with serum CEA and a temporary elevation of serum TPA following radical nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. However, the level of serum TPA fell significantly after the successful treatment in 8 patients (2 with renal cell cancer, 3 with bladder tumor, 1 with prostate cancer, 2 with testicular tumor) and rose sharply with recurrent or metastatic disease in 4 patients (2 with bladder tumor, 2 with testicular tumor). Although there was no correlation between the levels of serum TPA and serum PAP, the level of serum TPA tended to change in parallel with the level of serum AFP or HCG in 3 patients with testicular tumor.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of multidisciplinary treatment of bladder cancer, especially in chemoimmunotherapy (ADM and OK-432) as a consolidation therapy.

The relapse rate of bladder cancer (transitional cell Ca) is said to be about 45%-80% even after tumor resection. Multidisciplinary treatment was designed and studied to prevent such recurrence. This treatment was designed to have three steps: induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy. Following surgical tumor removal, OK-432 and Adriamycin (ADM) were administered as consolidation therapy, followed by administration of PSK and carboquone (CQ) in small amounts as maintenance therapy continuously for about 3 years, and the course was observed. In both consolidation and maintenance groups various non-specific immunoparameters were superior in groups receiving combined immunotherapeutic agents. Thus, the use of immunotherapeutic agents in combination with chemotherapeutic agents was considered to be effective. The 3-year recurrence rate was only 8% in the multidisciplinary treatment group, while that in the non-multidisciplinary treatment group was 61%. This approach, especially with chemoimmunotherapy (ADM and OK-432) as a consolidation therapeutic mode, is therefore considered to be useful for the prevention of recurrence.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗