Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Y Tsuji.
A rare case of arteriovenous malformation associated with moyamoya disease is reported. In this case, an interesting angiographic change was obtained during the follow-up period. The feeding artery from the internal carotid artery gradually disappeared as the moyamoya disease progressed, and a new feeding artery appeared from the external carotid artery.
A monoclonal antibody, MAb 1G1, possessing a strong fertilization-blocking activity was prepared by immunizing a BALB/c mouse with capacitated human sperm in order to study the molecular nature of sperm antigens relevant to fertilization. MAb 1G1 inhibited human sperm penetration into zona-free hamster eggs. It reacted to the apical portion of acrosome-reacted human sperm, but did not react to live sperm before the acrosome reaction as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining. In paraffin-embedded testis sections, the round spermatids, spermatocytes and spermatozoa were stained with MAb 1G1, but the spermatogonia were not stained. Neither Sertoli cells, Leydig cells nor other somatic tissues were stained. The sperm of Japanese monkey, bull, boar, hamster and mouse were not stained. Therefore, the staining of sperm was species specific. The antigen corresponding to MAb 1G1 showed a band at 27 kDa by immunoblotting. The reactivity of the antigenic component was not destroyed by periodic acid treatment. From the results obtained, it was postulated that the antigenic molecule might be a polypeptide. These results indicated that this MAb might be a useful tool for studying the mechanism of human sperm-egg fertilization and the development of a contraceptive vaccine.
Several methods for the evaluation of hair growth have been reported; however, none of the hitherto reported methods are satisfactory as unbiased double blind studies to evaluate the efficacy of hair growth agents. In the present paper, we describe quantitative evaluation methods for hair growth by measuring the anagen ratio and hair diameters in 56 Japanese subjects aged 23-56 for 3 years. The average anagen ratio decreased by 3.8% in 3 years. The average hair diameters showed a statistically significant decrease each year totalling 3.4 microns. Subjects were sorted according to their anagen ratio into 4 groups. Each group showed different distribution patterns of hair diameters. The higher anagen ratio group has a high frequency peak at thicker hair diameters and the lower anagen ratio group has a high frequency peak at thinner hair diameters. The number of thicker hairs decreased and the high frequency peak shifted to thinner hair diameters in 3 years. These methods are useful to evaluate both the progression of male pattern baldness and the effects of hair growth agents with double blind studies in an unbiased quantitative fashion.
Ileal ureteral replacement has been accepted as treatment for extensive ureteral loss. To our knowledge we report the first case of localized pelviureteral amyloidosis to be managed by surgical construction of an ileal ureter.
Myonephropathic metabolic syndrome (MNMS) is a serious muscle reperfusion injury associated with acute renal failure. The exact pathogenesis of MNMS has not been fully elucidated, nor effective treatment, through the renal failure is thought to be a consequence of rhabdomyolysis. In the present study, the possible involvement of calpain in the lysis was investigated in a MNMS animal model employing a cell permeable calpain antagonist calpeptin. Male rabbits were subjected to bilateral hind leg ischaemia for 5 hours by clamping the distal aorta, followed by reperfusion for 3 hours. Blood pressure, plasma N-acethyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and the presence of myoglobinuria were serially determined. Blood pressure remained constant during the ischemic period but dropped by about 25% immediately after reperfusion. This was significantly attenuated by intraaortic administration of calpeptin. NAG gradually increased during ischemia and during reperfusion and this was also significantly reduced by calpeptin. Myoglobinuria appeared immediately after reperfusion, and was also attenuated by calpeptin. Calpeptin prevented lytic and degenerative changes of the hind leg muscles, determined by light and electron microscopy. Thus it is concluded that activation of calpain in skeletal muscle is an important etiologic factor of MNMS and that the occurrence of MNMS may be prevented by administration of a calpain antagonist.
An outbreak of sepsis and meningitis caused by group B streptococcus occurred in three very low birthweight infants. To prevent further nosocomial transmission, immune globulin and ampicillin sodium were administered intravenously to other very low birthweight infants. After this prophylaxis, no other infants were involved in this outbreak. Immuno- and chemoprophylaxis may be considered as procedures to prevent nosocomial infection for very low birthweight infants.
In order to study the interspecies cross-reactivity of sperm-immobilizing antibodies found in sera of women who were infertile for unknown reasons, we used the sperm-immobilization test to examine the effects of patients' sera with or without sperm-immobilizing antibodies on the sperm of the Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata). Fourteen of 17 antibody-positive sera and 7 of 14 antibody-negative sera showed sperm-immobilizing activity with regard to monkey sperm. The sperm-immobilizing antibody that was active against both human and monkey sperm could be absorbed only by sperm from each corresponding species. The periodate treatment of human or monkey sperm markedly diminished their antibody-absorbing capabilities. Human and mouse monoclonal antibodies having sperm-immobilizing activity with regard to human sperm showed no sperm-immobilizing activity with regard to monkey sperm. These results indicate that the sperm-immobilizing activity of the sera of infertile women against human and monkey sperm might be due to antibodies with different specificities, which recognize a unique carbohydrate antigen epitope expressed in the sperm of each species.
A total of 1,272 patients with gastric cancer were admitted to our institute for surgery during 12 years (1975-1986). Of these, 1,059 (83.4%) underwent gastrectomy. Among these, 252 (23.8%) were total gastrectomy (TG), involving 160 (63.5%) cases of cancer mainly located in the upper third of the stomach, 81 (32.1%) in the middle third and 11 (4.4%) in the lower third. Radical TG was performed in 65.9% and palliative TG in 34.1%. Roux-en-Y reconstruction was selected in 80%, jejunal interposition in 17.6% and double tract in 2.4%. The survival rate was improved by introducing extended lymph node dissection, especially in the cases of stage III & IV cancer in which a combined pancreatico-splenectomy could lead to cure when associated with lymphadenectomy. In cases of a positive serosal exposure, the 5-year survival rate was increased by extended lymphadenectomy from 21% to 46% (p < 0.02). Anastomotic leakage occurred in 4.2%. The postoperative mortality rate was 1.6%, occurring in only 4 patients.
From 1966 to 1992, a total of 3,118 gastric cancer (GC) patients were referred to the First Department of Surgery, Kurume University Hospital. Fifty-six (0.02%) of these patients also had liver cirrhosis (LC). Forty-nine (87.5%) of these patients with LC underwent GC resection. Postoperative complications occurred in 32.7%, but the operative mortality rate was zero using our preoperative assessment of liver function to decide the operation. The 5-year survival rate following curative resection was 69% in early cancer and 17% in advanced cancer. Deaths were mainly cirrhosis-related in the early cancer cases, while cancer recurrence and hepatic failure were the main causes of mortality in the advanced cancer cases.
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Fifty-six patients with gastric cancer who were at least 80 years of age (range 80-88) (Group 1) were retrospectively investigated and compared with younger patients. The resectability rate was 80% (45/56) in Group 1, 88% (331/373) in Group 2 (patients aged between 70 and 79) and 91% (992/1,087) in Group 3 (patients aged under 70 years). Of the cases resected, 73% had advanced cancer in Group 1, 61% in Group 2 and 55% in Group 3. Total gastrectomy was performed in only 11% of the resected cases in Group 1, in 25% of those in Group 2 and in 33% in Group 3. Of these, combined resections were employed in none of the patients in Group 1, in 38% of those in Group 2 and in 47% of those in Group 3. Pathologically, 78% of Group 1 cancers were of the differentiated type, 68% of Group 2 and 49% of Group 3 cancers (Group 1: Group 3, p < 0.001). R3 gastrectomy was performed for advanced cancer in none of the patients in Group 1, in 21% in Group 2, and in 39% of those in Group 3. In resected early cancers, the lymph node metastasis (n) rate was 0% for Group 1, 10% for Group 2, and 9% for Group 3. In the advanced cases, n(+) was 67% for Group 1, 65% for Group 2, and 73% for Group 3. Postoperative complications occurred in 25% of Group 1 and in 12% of Group 2 patients. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 4% of Group 1 and in 5% of Group 2 patients. The 5-year-survival rate was 47% for all resected cases in Group 1, and 68% for Groups 2 and 3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, and quality of life (QOL) of outpatient chemotherapy with 5-FU and LV in advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Treatment consisted of CI 5-FU 450-500 mg/body/day, days 1-28, IVB LV 30 mg/body q wk. 5-FU was administered with the Baxter infusor (0.5 ml/hr). LV was not administered if Grade 2 mucositis occurred. Seven patients (pts) with advanced gastrointestinal cancer (esophageal -2, gastric -1, colorectal -4) have been treated to maintain the efficacy of prior inpatient chemotherapy, and two pts with colorectal cancer instead of oral UFT. And to evaluate toxicity and QOL, six pts (bile duct -1, gastric -2, colorectal -3) treated as adjuvant chemotherapy were added. The median duration of response of the nine pts was 3.03 months. Because of mucositis, the administration of LV was restricted. The mean administration of it was 2.1 times (62 mg). Grade 3 or 4 toxicities of mucositis were seen in 40% of the cases. Grade 1 or 2 skin toxicities were seen in all pts. Mean score of QOL in these outpatients chemotherapy was 78.0 +/- 11.5, ranked between inpatient chemotherapy (5-FU+CDDP 59.0 +/- 13.8) and oral UFT (91.8 +/- 6.1). In conclusion, this schedule of 5-FU and LV combination offers a high patient QOL and is suitable for advanced gastrointestinal cancer treatment.
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The experimental system to scrutinize the in vitro proliferation of thymus epithelial cells (TECs) was established on the basis of enhancing their mitotic index and DNA synthetic activity. The TEC line, TAD3 derived from lymphocyte-dominant thymoma, was used as the cell material. Growth hormone (GH) induced a significant proliferation of the cultured cell line in the preconfluent state. The optimal concentration of and the duration of the incubation with GH, in this system, were 50 ng/ml and 18 hrs., respectively. Furthermore, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), the mediator of somatotropic action of GH, also enhanced the DNA synthetic activity of the cultured cells in the preconfluent state. The authors recently found that the TECs, stimulated with GH, released significantly more IGF-I than the cells without GH. It is possible that there are two systems in the TEC proliferation, namely, direct induction by GH itself and indirect induction by IGF-I released from the GH-stimulated TECs. The data showing that GH could directly or indirectly induce proliferation of TECs might possibly be related to the formation of epithelial thymic rudiment in the fetal stage.