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Biomedical subjects

A Kataoka

Publications and source records attributed to A Kataoka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diagnosis of bone metastasis in men with prostate cancer by measurement of serum ICTP in combination with alkali phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen.

AIMS: Carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) is a parameter of bone absorption, and has recently been introduced to monitor bone metastases. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the potential of ICTP as a candidate serum marker of bone metastasis in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum markers in 155 men pathologically diagnosed with prostate cancer were measured. The serum levels of ICTP, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and alkali phosphatase (ALP) were compared to assess the extent of disease (EOD) scores from bone scans and then analysed statistically. RESULTS: The serum ICTP levels were not well correlated with the EOD scores in the total group of men, men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, or men previously diagnosed with prostate cancer who were followed up. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of ICTP (cut-off value, 5.0 ng/ ml) of the men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer were 78.6%, 88.0%, 78.6%, and 88.0%, respectively. In these men, the specificity and PPV of ALP (cut-off value, 335 IU/l) were 100%, whereas the sensitivity and NPV of PSA (cut-off value, 40 ng/ml) were 100% in this study. The serum levels of ICTP in the men with low ALP (< 335 IU/l) and high PSA (> or = 40 ng/ ml) clearly separated the men with or without bone metastasis, as judged by bone scans. CONCLUSION: We found that the ICTP is not a superior serum marker for bone metastases compared with ALP or PSA. Our study suggests, however, that the ICTP measurement is useful in a certain subset of men with the combination of PSA and ALP in distinguishing men with bone metastasis from those without.

Aged↗

Modulation of thymidine phosphorylase by neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer.

The combination effect of docetaxel and capecitabine on tumour response rate and survival was demonstrated recently in metastatic breast cancer patients. This combination was based on an experimental hypothesis that taxane can increase tumour sensitivity to the effect of capecitabine through the upregulation of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), which is responsible for the metabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its derivatives, including capecitabine. To examine the alteration in TP expression before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 92 patients with primary breast cancer (T2-4N0-1M0) were enrolled in this study; 14 were treated with adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) or epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC); 58 with 5-FU, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) or 5-FU, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC); and 20 with FEC followed by docetaxel/taxotere (TXT-containing regimen). Thymidine phosphorylase upregulation was seen in 54.4% and 32.6% of patients in tumour cells and stromal cells, respectively. Increases in TP expression were found only in the AC/EC and TXT-containing regimen groups. In conclusion, it was strongly suggested that unlike 5-FU-containing regimens, the taxane and AC combination therapies upregulate TP expression in primary breast cancer. Thymidine phosphorylase upregulation by several anticancer drugs implies the importance of individualised strategies for sensitisation of tumour tissues to 5-FU and its derivatives.

Adult↗

Simple techniques for atraumatic peritoneal dissection from the abdominal wall and for preventing peritoneal injury during trocar placement under retroperitoneoscopy.

PURPOSE: Inadvertent peritoneal tearing causes pneumoperitoneum and makes retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedures technically more difficult. We describe some simple techniques of atraumatic peritoneal dissection and the prevention of peritoneal injury during trocar placement under retroperitoneoscopic guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After balloon dilation and the establishment of pneumoretroperitoneum a laparoscopic swab stick was used for peritoneal dissection from the abdominal wall under retroperitoneoscopic guidance. Exploratory puncture using a Cathelin (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) needle was performed before trocar placement in close proximity to the lateral peritoneal reflection. RESULTS: We applied this technique in our last 10 consecutive retroperitoneal laparoscopic procedures. No peritoneal rents occurred during dissection of the lateral peritoneal reflection or trocar insertion. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic swab stick technique described facilitates atraumatic peritoneal dissection as well as creation of an adequate working space. Exploratory puncture using a Cathelin needle is useful for preventing inadvertent peritoneal injury during trocar placement.

Abdominal Wall↗

EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein in the primary lesions and paired metastatic regional lymph nodes in breast cancer.

AIMS: Various biological parameters are now being evaluated as predictors for the response of chemohormonal therapy for breast cancer. Few studies compare these parameters between the primary lesions and metastatic regional lymph nodes of breast cancer. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analyses for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB2 and p53 protein were performed on the primary lesions and matching metastatic regional lymph nodes of 107 breast cancers. The intensity of the immunoreactivity was graded for heterogeneous or 10-50% staining, and diffuse or >50% staining. RESULTS: EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein showed a concordance between the primary lesions and matching regional lymph nodes in terms of a negative or positive finding (+ and ++) in 98 (92%) of 106 cases, 76 (100%) of 76 cases and 79 (93%) of 85 cases respectively, while EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein also showed a concordance in the intensity of the immunoreactivity in 24 (89%) of 27 cases 14 (74%) of 19 cases and 30 (94%) of 32 cases respectively. In 21 of 24 cases which showed a disconcordance in the positivity or the intensity of the positivity of EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein, one of the primary lesions and matching regional lymph nodes showed heterogeneous or 10-50% immunostaining. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoreactivity of EGFR, c-erbB2 and p53 protein shows a concordance between the primary lesions and matching metastatic regional lymph nodes in a majority of breast cancers.

Adult↗

Development of a yeast stop codon assay readily and generally applicable to human genes.

We established a yeast-based method to screen chain-terminating mutations that is readily applicable to any gene of interest. Based on the finding that 18- to 24-base-long homologous sequences are sufficient for gap repair in vivo in yeast, we used a strategy to amplify a test-gene fragment with addition of 24-bp sequences homologous to both cut-ends of a yeast expression vector, pMT18. After co-transformation with the amplified fragment and the linearized pMT18, each yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cell automatically forms a single-copy circular plasmid (because of CEN/ARS), which expresses a test-gene::ADE2 chimera protein. When the reading frame of the test-gene contains a nonsense or frameshift mutation, truncation of the chimera protein results in lack of ADE2 activity, leading to formation of a red colony. By using a nested polymerase chain reaction using proofreading Pfu polymerase to ensure specificity of the product, the assay achieved a low background (false positivity). We applied the assay to BRCA1, APC, hMSH6, and E-cadherin genes, and successfully detected mutations in mRNA and genomic DNA. Because this method--universal stop codon assay--requires only 4 to 5 days to screen a number of samples for any target gene, it may serve as a high-throughput screening system of general utility for chain-terminating mutations that are most prevalent in human genetic diseases.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein↗

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma invading into the liver: radical nephrectomy en bloc with right hepatic lateral sector.

Renal cell carcinoma demonstrates expansive growth and invasion of adjacent structures. Direct liver extension, although uncommon, is a dismal prognostic sign. We propose radical nephrectomy en bloc with right lateral sector (segments 6 and 7) of the liver. The operative procedure was performed in 2 male patients, 61 and 81 years of age, both with renal cell carcinoma and direct hepatic extension. The patients had no evidence of disease at 100 and 57 months after resection. This procedure may help cure selected patients with renal cell carcinoma invading the liver.

Aged↗

The clinical significance of MMP-1 expression in oesophageal carcinoma.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is involved in the degradation of interstitial collagen and thus thought to play a role in invasion of carcinoma. We investigated 51 oesophageal carcinoma patients to clarify the significance of MMP-1. MMP-1 mRNA was demonstrated to be expressed exclusively in almost all carcinoma tissue specimens (T) (94.1%) by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, but not found in normal mucosal tissue specimens (N). The mean T/N ratio of MMP-1 was 42.5 and cases with T/N > or = 10 had a higher incidence of cases involving muscularis propria than those with T/N < 10 which included all the cases involving the submucosa (P< 0.05). MMP-1 mRNA was significantly associated with both 40 kD (putative active MMP-1) and 50 kD (putative latent MMP-1) gelatinolytic bands (n = 17). These findings indicated that MMP-1 mRNA reflected the net function of MMP-1 and suggested MMP-1 to be involved in carcinoma invasive process. On the other hand, MMP-1 mRNA was inversely correlated with the patient prognosis (P< 0.01). These results indicated that MMP-1 might therefore play a crucial role in local invasion, but not in systemic dissemination. As a result, MMP-1 might be a novel prognostic factor independent from those previously reported in oesophageal carcinoma.

Aged↗

Oral administration of soybean lecithin transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine improves memory impairment in aged rats.

Soybean lecithin transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine (SB-tPS) was prepared from soybean lecithin and L-serine by a transphosphatidylation reaction, and its effect on age-related memory impairment was evaluated in rats by the Morris water maze test. Continuous oral administration of SB-tPS (60 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 60 d) to male aged rats (24-25 mo) significantly improved performance in the water maze escape test (P < 0.01 vs. control aged rats) similar to bovine brain cortex-derived phosphatidylserine, which restores cognitive function in patients with senile dementia. SB-tPS also increased acetylcholine release and the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity of the synaptosomes prepared from these aged rats to the level in young rats. The nootropic actions of SB-tPS in the present study can be partly explained by the changes in these biochemical activities.

Acetylcholine↗

Genetic polymorphism of N-acetyltransferase 2 in patients with esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: N-Acetylation polymorphism is a representative genetic trait related to an individual's susceptibility to several cancers. However, there remains a controversy and no consensus concerning whether there is a true association between esophageal cancer and N-acetylation polymorphism. METHODS: To analyze the distribution of N-acetyltransferase 2 polymorphism in Japanese patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer, a molecular genotyping method using a polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism was used. RESULTS: Based on an analysis of 71 Japanese patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer and 329 healthy control subjects, the distribution of the slow acetylator phenotype was significantly higher in esophageal cancer patients than in the controls (19.7% and 9.4%, respectively, p = 0.040). The odds ratio of esophageal cancer for the slow phenotype was 2.55 (95% CI = 1.15-5.65, p = 0.023) compared with the rapid type. Furthermore, a significant difference between the distribution of acetylator phenotype and the incidence of lymph node metastasis and lymphatic involvement was found based on the clinicopathological features of these cancers. Esophageal cancer patients with a higher smoking exposure history tended to have the rapid acetylator phenotype. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that N-acetylation polymorphism may be implicated as a genetic trait affecting an individual's susceptibility and biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Aged↗

[Childhood t(8;21) acute myelocytic leukemia: a comparison of clinical features and risk factors with adult cases].

Despite the abundance of reports describing adult cases of t(8;21) acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), childhood cases have received little attention. We retrospectively investigated 14 childhood cases of t(8;21) AML, and compared their clinical characteristics with those of adult cases, focusing on the risk factors for poor prognosis. Seventy-one percent of the patients had fever. Their mean leukocyte count was 12,700/microliter, and they showed decreased NAP activity. The cell surface showed positivity for CD13, 33, 19, 34, and HLA-DR. The complete remission rate was 100%, and relapse was observed in three of the patients. Bone marrow eosinophilia was present in a smaller proportion of the childhood cases than in the adult cases. Although an increased leukocyte count, tumor formation, and other risk factors have been reported in adults, there was no correlation between these factors and prognosis in our childhood cases. As children who showed AML relapse had TdT-positive blasts, detectable blast TdT activity may be a risk factor for relapse in childhood cases of t(8;21) AML. However, to confirm this, a study with a larger subject base should be conducted.

Adolescent↗

[The clinical significance of detecting small numbers of carcinoma].

The clinical significance of detecting small numbers of carcinoma cells has been emphasized. The techniques for detecting micrometastasis in the bone marrow, lymph node, and peripheral blood have progressed remarkably in recent years with the advance of molecular biology. We use molecular biological techniques, such as reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene, and magnetic-activated cell separation system (Miltenyi Biotec Inc., CA) plus modified MASA targeting for K-ras mutation in practical clinical diagnosis and treatment. We herein, we describe how to obtain samples, such as bone marrow, lymph node, and peripheral blood, and how to prepare these samples. We then discuss the pros and cons of tumor specificity and detectability in several methodologies. Thereafter, we describe our strategies with regard to RT-PCR for CEA mRNA and MACS plus MASA method for K-ras mutations. At present, however, we have no consensus for anyone method, and therefore, stress the need to establish an appropriate methodology through a cooperative study.

Cytological Techniques↗

Overexpression of HRad17 mRNA in human breast cancer: correlation with lymph node metastasis.

PURPOSE: A novel human gene, designated HRad17, was identified as the human homologue of the Rad17 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Rad24 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In yeast, these genes play a critical role in maintaining genomic stability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HRad17 in human breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated HRad17 mRNA expression in 64 cases of human breast cancer by means of reverse-transcription-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The HRad17 mRNA was overexpressed in 35 cases (54.7%). Twenty-four (68.6%) of 35 cases with HRad17 overexpression in cancer tissues were node-positive, whereas only 8 (27.6%) of 29 cases without HRad17 overexpressions were node-positive. The expression of HRad17 mRNA correlated with both lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001) and high Ki67 labeling index (P = 0.006). Although not significantly different, expression of HRad17 mRNA tended to correlate with tumor size (P = 0.06) and expression of mutant p53 protein (P = 0.10). Furthermore, expression of HRad17 mRNA was an independent predictor of axillary lymph node metastasis as well as of lymphatic permeation by multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that HRad17 might be related to the development of lymph node metastasis in human breast cancers. Although its function still remains unclear, the expression of HRad17 mRNA could open up a new window for the diagnostic staging and treatment of human breast cancers.

Adult↗

[Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinomas; report on two initial cases].

We recently performed a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) on two patients with a renal cell carcinoma. Case 1, a 72-year-old man, was diagnosed as having a renal cell carcinoma 2.5 cm in diameter in the right kidney, and also a submucosal tumor of the cecum. LRN and laparoscopically assisted ileocecal resection were performed using a transperitoneal approach on September 28, 1999. Total operation time and blood loss during the operation were 308 minutes and 320 ml, respectively. The operation time needed for LRN, which was calculated as the total operation time minus the time spent on ileocecal resection, was 199 minutes. There were no complications after surgery, and the patient was recommended for discharge on the 7th postoperative day, but was actually discharged on the 10th postoperative day. Case 2, an 81-year-old man, was diagnosed as having a renal cell carcinoma 3.0 cm in diameter in the right kidney. He had been undergone a total gastrectomy for a gastric carcinoma at age 77, and a sigmoidectomy for a sigmoid colon carcinoma at age 79. A transperitoneal approach was applied for LRN to detect any recurrence of previous carcinomas on September 30, 1999. During adhesiolytic procedures, the colon was injured due to an inappropriate maneuver of the grasping forceps. A small laparotomy (5 cm) was required for repair of the colon. The total operation time and blood loss during surgery were 370 minutes and 850 ml. The operation time calculated from the video of LRN was 274 minutes. Two additional surgical procedures were required in this case. The first was for a postoperative intraperitoneal hemorrhage due to the hemoclip dropping out of the small vein. The second was for hemorrhage in the abdominal wall. Fortunately, the clinical course after surgery was good and the patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day. There were no complications in case 1. Omitting ileocecal resection was considered to speed up oral intake, leading to earlier discharge. However, major complications occurred in case 2. It is important to clarify the cause of postoperative hemorrhage by careful observation of the video recording, in order to suggest safer procedures in laparoscopic surgery. Although these are only two LRN experiences, we are convinced that LRN can improve postoperative QOL (Quality of life) and is an acceptable alternative for the treatment of renal cell carcinomas.

Aged↗

Somatic mutations of the APC gene in primary breast cancers.

APC gene mutations play an important role in the initiation step of colorectal carcinogenesis in both familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients and non-FAP patients. Although the APC gene is expressed in most tissues, including the lung, liver, kidney, and mammary gland, its somatic mutations have rarely been found in primary tumors affecting these organs. We have developed a sensitive yeast-based assay for screening almost the entire coding region of the APC gene. By this method, we have been able to detect somatic mutations of the APC gene in 57% of colorectal cancers and none in non-small cell lung cancers. Interestingly, the assay detected somatic APC gene mutations in 18% of breast cancers, in which APC gene mutation was previously considered rare. In the breast cancers, most of the APC mutations were distributed outside the mutation cluster region that has been advocated for colorectal cancers. We also noted a difference in the mutation pattern of the APC between colorectal and breast cancers. In colorectal cancers, all base substitutions were observed at C residues (5 of 5), whereas in breast cancers the majority of them were found at G residues (4 of 5). Furthermore, APC mutations were observed at a significantly high frequency in advanced stages of primary breast cancers (TNM classification, P < 0.05; T category, P < 0.01). Our data suggest that the etiology of the APC mutations and their biological role in carcinogenesis may differ between colorectal and breast cancers.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

NorM of vibrio parahaemolyticus is an Na(+)-driven multidrug efflux pump.

NorM of Vibrio parahaemolyticus apparently is a new type of multidrug efflux protein, with no significant sequence similarity to any known transport proteins. Based on the following experimental results, we conclude that NorM is an Na(+)-driven Na(+)/drug antiporter. (i) Energy-dependent ethidium efflux from cells possessing NorM was observed in the presence of Na(+) but not of K(+). (ii) An artificially imposed, inwardly directed Na(+) gradient elicited ethidium efflux from cells. (iii) The addition of ethidium to cells loaded with Na(+) elicited Na(+) efflux. Thus, NorM is an Na(+)/drug antiporting multidrug efflux pump, the first to be found in the biological world. Judging from the similarity of the NorM sequence to those of putative proteins in sequence databases, it seems that Na(+)/drug antiporters are present not only in V. parahaemolyticus but also in a wide range of other organisms.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Frequency of microsatellite instability inBreast cancer determined by high-resolution fluorescent microsatellite analysis.

In breast cancer, the rates of positivity for microsatellite instability (MSI), vary greatly in the literature. Using high-resolution fluorescent microsatellite analysis (HFRMA), we studied microsatellite alterations in 75 patients with sporadic breast cancer. In this system, several devices were prepared to improve reproducibility of polymerase chain reaction products, migration accuracy of electrophoresis, and characteristics of the detection system. Precise and objective analyses of microsatellite alterations are made feasible using HRFMA. Seven of the 75 cases were judged to be positive for MSI, the rate of positivity being 9. 3%. This rate is relatively low compared to the data in the literature. All the microsatellite changes observed in this system can be classified into two types: type A with relatively small changes in microsatellite sequences observed in limited loci and type B with drastic and widely dispersed changes. The former was thought to be connected to abnormal activity in DNA mismatch repair (MMR). Among the 7 cases, 6 (8.0%) had type A alterations, which means that the tumors may have an abnormal MMR activity. Application of precise and objective systems for microsatellite analysis is expected to be clinically useful to detect patients at high risk for cancers.

Adult↗

Effect of intracerebroventricular administration of soybean lecithin transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine on scopolamine-induced amnesic mice.

The effect of intracerebroventricularly administered soybean lecithin transphosphatidylated phosphatidylserine (SB-tPS) on memory impairment was evaluated by a passive avoidance task. SB-tPS significantly prolonged the step-through latency induced by scopolamine treatment as in our previous report where SB-tPS was orally administered. The same doses of soybean phosphatidylcholine were ineffective. This result indicates that SB-tPS can act on the brain without any peripheral modification.

Amnesia↗