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Biomedical subjects

Y Yasunaga

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yasunaga.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Low doses of oral dexamethasone for hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although glucocorticoids have been used to treat patients with hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma (HRPC), reports have varied regarding the types and doses of glucocorticoids used as well as their clinical benefits. In the current study, low doses of dexamethasone were investigated for their specific beneficial effects and the feasibility of long term treatment. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients diagnosed with HRPC were treated with oral dexamethasone (0.5-2 mg/day). The patients ranged in age from 53-89 years (median, 74 years). Thirty-two patients, including 6 with lymph node metastases, had bone involvement whereas only 5 patients were found to have elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (62%) who received no other concomitant therapy demonstrated a decline in their serum PSA level of > or = 50%, which was confirmed by a second PSA value obtained > or = 4 weeks later. The median time to PSA progression was 9 months. Among 18 patients with bone pain, 11 (61%) had improvement and in 5 patients (28%) the pain became stable. Among 21 patients with interpretable bone scans, 4 (19%) showed improvement and 8 (38%) achieved stable disease. Both symptomatic and objective responses of bone metastases were correlated with declines in the serum PSA level of > or = 50%. Ten patients achieved an increase in their hemoglobin level of at least 2 g/dL. Patients whose PSA level declined by > or = 50% with therapy had significantly prolonged survival (median, 22 months). As pretreatment markers, a longer interval before the initial evidence of disease progression appeared was found to correlate significantly with posttherapy PSA declines of > or = 75%. All side effects of the glucocorticoids were reported to be mild. CONCLUSIONS: Low doses of dexamethasone were found to be beneficial in the treatment of HRPC, decreasing the severity of anemia and osseous disease as well as reducing serum PSA levels. A posttherapy serum PSA decline of > or = 50% appears to be a reliable marker of improved survival with this therapy.

Administration, Oral↗

Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and c-met in ulcerative colitis.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: This study was designed to determine if the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-Met system is involved in the repair process of inflamed mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) and in the development of UC-associated colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HGF and c-met gene expressions were quantified in colonic mucosal specimens from healthy control subjects, patients with UC and patients with UC-associated colorectal cancer, using the competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of HGF protein was determined by immunoblot analysis. Expression of c-Met protein was analyzed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: HGF and c-met gene expressions were increased in inflamed mucosa of UC, compared with control subjects. Gene expression of HGF was also increased in the surrounding inflamed mucosa of UC-associated cancers. In cases in which the HGF gene expression was increased, an apparent increase in protein levels of HGF in inflamed mucosa of UC were observed by immunoblot analysis. The c-met gene was overexpressed in UC-associated cancers and a high level of immunoreactivity of the c-Met protein was immunohistochemically detected within the cancer cells. CONCLUSION: We showed that HGF and c-met expression is increased in the inflamed mucosa of UC and that c-met is overexpressed in UC-associated colorectal cancers. These observations suggest HGF-Met system is involved in the repair process of the inflamed mucosa of UC and provide further support for the view that the inappropriate expressions of both HGF and c-met genes predispose to the development of colorectal cancer in patients with UC.

Adult↗

Transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head with preoperative superselective angiography.

A prospective radiologic and scintigraphic study was made of 15 joints in 12 patients who underwent transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy of the femoral head after identifying by preoperative superselective angiography which arteries should be preserved during surgery. The preoperative superselective angiography revealed that the blood supply to the femoral head was provided by the medial femoral circumflex artery in 12 joints and a branch of the internal iliac artery in 3 joints. These nutrient arteries were preserved during surgery. At the follow-up examination made after at least 2 years, there were no cases of collapse of the new femoral head weight-bearing site, and also there were no cases with a large cold area in the femoral head on the scintigram obtained 2 months postoperatively. For this operative procedure, the nutrient arteries of the femoral head should be confirmed by preoperative superselective angiography, and it is essential that these arteries be preserved during surgery.

Adolescent↗

Transition zone biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: About 25% of all prostate cancers occur in the transition zone (TZ). We analyzed the impact of 4 systematic TZ and 2 systematic apex (AP) biopsies in addition to systematic sextant biopsies in an effort to establish the diagnostic importance of early prostate cancer. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients underwent systematic transperineal multipoint prostate biopsy (biopsy of 12 sites, including 4 TZ and 2 AP biopsies). RESULTS: Forty-one of 130 men (31.5%) had biopsy specimens positive for cancer, and cancer originated in the TZ alone in 4 of these 41 patients (9.8%). Fourteen patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. We compare the pathological findings of radical prostatectomy specimens and biopsy results. Prostate cancers predicted to be stage T(2c) by TZ biopsy were all classified as pT(2c) or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Routine TZ biopsy does not substantially increase the prostate cancer detection rate; however, it can be useful in patients who require repeat biopsy.

Aged↗

[Renocolic fistula: a case report].

A 78-year-old woman had disregarded pneumaturia since April 1998. In March 1999, computed tomography and barium enema were done to examine anemia and positive fecal occult blood, revealing a left renocolic fistula and bilateral renal stones. Intravenous pyelography revealed a left staghorn calculus, non-functioning kidney, and right partial staghorn calculus. Urinalysis showed pyuria and the culture grew Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella oxytoca. Smear and culture of the urine were negative for acid-fast bacilli. In consideration of the patient's age and conservation of right renal function, right pyelolithotomy was performed first. Three weeks later, left nephrectomy and partial colectomy were done. The postoperative course was uneventful. A renocolic fistula is relatively rare and to our knowledge there have been 37 cases reported in Japan, including our case. Surgery is the main therapy and was performed in 31 patients. Among them, surgery was not curative in 1 and 5 died of postoperative complications. Thus, surgery is not safe in all cases. However, despite her age and bilateral renal dysfunction, our patient was successfully operated on.

Aged↗

Rotational acetabular osteotomy for advanced osteoarthrosis secondary to dysplasia of the hip. Results at 6-11 years postoperatively.

Clinical and radiological studies were done on the results of rotational acetabular osteotomy for advanced osteoarthrosis secondary to dysplasia of 29 adult hips followed up for 6 to 11 years postoperatively (mean 8 years). Clinical evaluation by Merle d'Aubigne and Postel's system showed improvement from a preoperative mean of 12.8 to a follow-up mean of 14.8, with aggravation being observed in 8 joints. Radiologically, this procedure produced adequated improvement regarding femoral head coverage, but improvement in joint congruency could not necessarily be obtained due to joint deformity and progression of arthrosis, with aggravation of joint congruency being observed in 6 joints. The most important factor influencing the postoperative results of this procedure was postoperative joint congruency. If the postoperative joint congruency is satisfactory, with the joint congruent index being more than 6.0, progression of arthrosis can be prevented in the long term by this procedure, even in advanced cases.

Acetabulum↗

Morphological and functional restoration of parietal cells in helicobacter pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis after eradication.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Helicobacter pylori infections are associated with hypochlorhydria in patients with pangastritis. It has previously been shown that eradication of H pylori leads to an increase in acid secretion in H pylori associated enlarged fold gastritis, suggesting that H pylori infection affects parietal cell function in the gastric body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of H pylori infection on parietal cell morphology and function in hypochlorhydric patients. PATIENTS/METHODS: The presence of H pylori infection, mucosal length, and inflammatory infiltration were investigated in six patients with enlarged fold gastritis and 12 patients without enlarged folds. Parietal cell morphology was examined by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against the alpha subunit of H(+),K(+)-ATPase and electron microscopy. In addition, gastric acid secretion and fasting serum gastrin concentration were determined before and after the eradication of H pylori. RESULTS: In the H pylori positive patients with enlarged fold gastritis, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltration were increased. In addition, the immunostaining pattern of H(+), K(+)-ATPase was less uniform, and the percentage of altered parietal cells showing dilated canaliculi with vacuole-like structures and few short microvilli was greatly increased compared with that in H pylori positive patients without enlarged folds. After eradication, fold width, foveolar length, and inflammatory infiltrates decreased and nearly all parietal cells were restored to normal morphology. On the other hand, altered parietal cells were negligible in H pylori negative patients. In addition, the basal acid output and tetragastrin stimulated maximal acid output increased significantly from 0.5 (0.5) to 4.1 (1.5) mmol/h and from 2.5 (1.2) to 13.8 (0.7) mmol/h (p<0.01), and fasting serum gastrin concentrations decreased significantly from 213.5 (31.6) to 70.2 (7.5) pg/ml (p<0.01) after eradication in patients with enlarged fold gastritis. CONCLUSION: The morphological changes in parietal cells associated with H pylori infection may be functionally associated with the inhibition of acid secretion seen in patients with enlarged fold gastritis.

Adult↗

[A case of crossed fused kidney with simple ureterocele].

A 32-year-old man consulted Osaka National hospital with chief complaints of dysuria and macrohematuria. DIP and CT revealed that the right kidney deviated to the lower pole of the left kidney and they fused together. The right ureter crossed over the supine. The calcified shadow existed in the lower end of the left ureter with cobra head image. He had no external anomalies. Under diagnosing crossed fused kidney (inverted L shaped) complicated the left ureterocele with a stone, transurethral incision of ureterocele (TUI) was performed. We made transverse incision and extracted stone, 7 mm in size (calcium oxalate 96% and calcium phosphate 4%). Three months later after the operation, IVP, CG and VCG revealed the down-sized ureterocele and no VUR. Crossed renal ectopia complicated many anomalies about 50%. Among them anomalies of the urinary tract was most frequent about 30%. But crossed renal ectopia with ureterocele wasn't reported so far in Japanese literature.

Adult↗

Prognostic factors of renal cell carcinoma: a multivariate analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To establish appropriate therapeutic modalities for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), informations on the factors affecting prognosis of patients are essential. For this purpose, multivariate analysis including a large set of variables is necessary. METHODS: Prognostic significance of 14 clinical factors and 19 histologic factors including counting of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were evaluated in 96 patients. Age of patients ranged from 41 to 85 (median 59) yr with a male to female ratio of 4:1. The tumors were staged based on the TNM classification as follows: 7 in stage I, 58 in stage II, 15 in stage III, and 11 in stage IV. RESULTS: The overall and metastasis-free survival rates in all patients were 80.1% and 72.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model performed on the factors proved to be significant at the univariate analysis. Univariate analysis revealed four clinical factors including presence of macroscopic hematuria, symptoms such as pain and palpable abdominal mass, anemia, and adjuvant therapy, and nine histologic factors, including AgNOR count, to be significant for survival. Multivariate analysis showed that anemia, pathological stage, and AgNOR count were independent factors for overall survival of patients. The AgNOR count, in particular, is the only predictive factor for metastasis-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Among various clinicopathological factors, anemia, pathological stage, and AgNOR count are significant prognosticators of RCC. The AgNOR count is also predictive factor for metastasis-free survival.

Adult↗

Analgesic effect of mofezolac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, against phenylquinone-induced acute pain in mice.

The oral administration of mofezolac, [3,4-di(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-isoxazolyl]acetic acid, resulted in the suppression of writhing induced by the intraperitoneal injection of phenyl-p-benzoquinone (phenylquinone, PQ) in mice. The analgesic activity of mofezolac was almost as potent as that of indomethacin, and more potent than that of sodium diclofenac, zaltoprofen, NS-398, and etodolac when their 50% effective doses were compared. The in vitro inhibitory activity of mofezolac against ovine cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 was also more potent than that of any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) tested, whereas the activity of mofezolac against COX-2 was relatively weak. A Western analysis revealed COX-1 to be constitutively expressed, whereas COX-2 was hardly expressed until 30 min after the PQ-injection in the peritoneal cells. Because the writhing terminated within 30 min after PQ-injection, the prostaglandins involved in the induction of writhing seem to be derived from COX-1. These data thus indicate that potent analgesic activity of mofezolac against the present model to be more closely related to its potent inhibitory activity against COX-1 but not against COX-2.

Analgesics↗

Utility of immunohistochemical detection of high molecular weight cytokeratin for differential diagnosis of proliferative conditions of the prostate.

BACKGROUND: Differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma from other proliferative conditions in the prostate is often problematic. Immunohistochemistry using an antibody (34 beta E12) to high molecular weight cytokeratin, specifically present in basal cells of the prostate, could clearly demonstrate the presence or absence of these cells in the proliferating glands and thus provide an important clue in cancer diagnosis. METHODS: To examine the utility of immunostaining using 34 beta E12, we examined 88 equivocal lesions. Twenty lesions with apparently benign and malignant features were added as controls. We compared the morphologic features of these lesions with their immunoreactivities toward 34 beta E12 on a personal computer display following storage on the MICROPHOT-FXA system. RESULTS: Proliferating glands in all 20 benign lesions had 34 beta E12-reactive basal cells, but none of the malignant lesions did. The equivocal lesions were categorized on morphologic grounds into 2 groups: possibly benign and possibly malignant. Forty-five (51.1%) of the 88 equivocal lesions, were positive for 34 beta E12. These included 35 of the 45 (77.8%) possibly benign lesions and 10 of the 43 (23.3%) possibly malignant lesions. Among the equivocal lesions, 10 considered possibly benign on morphologic grounds showed negative reactivities, and 10 considered possibly malignant showed positive reactivities. Even through comparison on the computer display, no difference in morphology could be discovered between the negative and positive lesions in either group. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical procedures using 34 beta E12 are indispensable in the diagnosis of equivocal prostate lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Different patterns of p53 mutations in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and concurrent carcinoma: analysis of microdissected specimens.

Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) is characterized by intraluminal proliferation of epithelial cells and can be divided into high-grade (HGPIN) and low-grade (LGPIN) lesions. HGPIN is regarded as the most likely precursor of prostatic carcinoma (PCA). Microdissected DNA selectively extracted from paraffin-embedded sections of 29 cases of PCA and 1 benign prostatic hypertrophy were analyzed for p53 mutation by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA fragments followed by direct sequencing. These patients had received total prostatectomy (27 cases) or transurethral resection (3 cases). Under direct microscopic observation, DNA was microdissected from 108 lesions: 67 lesions from 22 cases of PIN (55 HGPIN and 12 LGPIN), 29 from 22 cases of PCA, and 12 from 11 cases of adjoining benign glands. Analysis revealed 13 mutations in 10 lesions from six cases. All 13 were point mutations: 7 missense, 5 silent, and 1 nonsense. Mutations were detected in 3 cases (14%) of PIN and 5 cases (25%) of PCA. PIN lesions with p53 mutations were all categorized as HGPIN. Neither LGPIN nor benign glands adjoining PIN and/or PCA had mutations. Two PIN and one PCA lesion in each of two cases had mutations that were different from each other. G-to-A transition was the commonest mutation pattern. The current findings showed that HGPIN, but not LGPIN, and PCA are similar with regard to p53 mutation. The diverse patterns of p53 mutation among HGPIN and PCA lesions suggested multiclonal development of prostatic precancerous lesions.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Incidence of prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia in Osaka, Japan.

High-grade prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is the most likely precancerous lesion for prostatic carcinoma. A high incidence of its association with cancer has been reported in Western countries. On the other hand, information regarding its incidence is limited in Japan, where the mortality due to prostate cancer is much lower. We reviewed 53 clinical stage T2 or T3 prostatic cancers of Japanese patients living in Osaka, Japan (mean age, 67.2 years). These cases were subdivided into a pre-operatively non-castrated group (34 cases) and a medically or surgically castrated group (19 cases). HGPIN was found in 27 cases. The incidence of HGPIN was significantly lower in the castrated group (21.0%) compared with the non-castrated group (67.6%). In the non-castrated group, patient age, pathological stage, Gleason score, tumor size and serum prostate-specific antigen showed no significant correlation with HGPIN. Advanced pathological stage and tumor size tended to decrease the incidence of HGPIN, although this was not statistically significant. When the study group was limited to stage T2 tumors of the non-castrated group, the incidence of HGPIN was 81.0%. HGPIN in Japan may also be clinically and etiologically significant as a precursor of clinical cancer.

Aged↗

Cancer risk after renal transplantation in Japan.

Excess of cancer in patients receiving renal transplantation is well-known in Western countries, but information in Japan remains limited. Our study examined whether excess risk is found in patients receiving renal transplantation in Japan. Between 1970 and 1995, 1155 males and 589 females underwent renal transplantation in 6 hospitals, and a total of 12,982 person-years of observation was accumulated. Malignancies developed in 2.6% of patients; O/E ratio was 2.78. Median interval from renal transplantation to tumor development was 58 months. The interval in the patients receiving medication with cyclosporine-A (CyA) (median, 42.5 months) was significantly shorter than that with non-CyA (median, 95.5 months). Median age at the diagnosis of malignancy was 40 years, which is much younger than that in the general population. Relative risk was highest in renal cancer, followed by thyroid cancer, malignant lymphoma and uterine cancer. A distribution of malignancies was different from that reported from Western countries. These findings showed the excess risk of malignancies in Japan with renal transplants, especially in male patients, similar to that observed in Western countries, though the types of malignancy were different.

Adolescent↗

Malignant lymphoma of the kidney.

BACKGROUND: Primary renal lymphoma (PRL) is a rare disease, making information including etiologic factors for PRL extremely limited. METHODS: Clinical and pathologic findings of PRL in Japan are presented and compared with those from Western countries. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes in the tumor was also evaluated. Eight cases of PRL were collected from a review of the "Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan (1976-1992)". These cases fulfilled the following criteria: (1) presence of renal mass without extrarenal lymphomatous involvement at admission and (2) absence of a leukemic blood picture. For histologic and immunohistochemical studies, 10% formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded histologic specimens were used. Presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: There were five males and three females; age at admission ranged from 15 to 79 years (median 57 yr). Abdominal and/or flank pain were the most common presenting symptoms. No particular past history was present in any of the patients. Histologically, tumor cells in all cases showed a diffuse pattern of proliferation: large cell type in six cases, mixed cell type and small lymphocytic type in 1 each. Immunohistochemistry revealed B-cell nature of lymphoma cells in all cases. Neither PCR nor ISH showed the presence of EBV genome in any cases. CONCLUSIONS: PRL is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of predominantly large cell type with a B-cell immunophenotype. EBV etiology is unlikely in PRL.

Adolescent↗

Rotational acetabular osteotomies: a rabbit model.

We investigated the morphological changes in the articular cartilage after rotational acetabular osteotomy in 16 adolescent rabbits. Radiological and histological studies were conducted at 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively. The radiological evaluations at 12 and 24 weeks showed significantly increased femoral head coverage. No cases of osteonecrosis of the acetabulum or femoral head nor narrowing of the joint space was observed. The histology of the articular cartilage at 12 weeks postoperatively showed cloning and hypercellularity of the chondrocytes in the medial portion of the acetabular roof, indicating remodelling due to the increased weight-bearing stress caused by the osteotomy. The histology at 24 weeks postoperatively showed less cloning of the chondrocytes, indicating that the remodelling process in the articular cartilage induced by this procedure was almost complete at 24 weeks. Degeneration of the articular cartilage was not observed within 24 weeks of the operation.

Acetabulum↗

Mucosal interleukin-1 beta production and acid secretion in enlarged fold gastritis.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that eradication of Helicobacter pylori increases acid secretion in H. pylori-associated enlarged fold gastritis. AIM: To investigate whether locally produced interleukin-1 beta is possibly involved in the inhibition of acid secretion in H. pylori gastritis. METHODS: IL-1 beta release from the gastric body mucosa was determined by short-term culture of biopsy specimens in 13 patients with enlarged fold gastritis (all H. pylori-positive), five H. pylori-positive and 10 H. pylori-negative patients without enlarged folds. The acid-inhibitory effect of locally produced IL-1 beta was examined by [14C]-aminopyrine uptake assay using isolated rabbit gastric glands. RESULTS: IL-1 beta release was significantly greater in patients with enlarged fold gastritis, significantly correlated with both basal and tetragastrin-stimulated acid outputs in the H. pylori-positive patients (r = -0.591 and r = -0.641, respectively; P < 0.01), and significantly decreased with concomitant increases in acid secretions after eradication of H. pylori. [14C]-aminopyrine uptake was inhibited by IL-1 beta in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: Increased production of IL-1 beta caused by H. pylori infection is possibly involved in the inhibition of acid secretion in enlarged fold gastritis.

Adult↗