Biomedical subjects

Akihisa Sutani

Publications and source records attributed to Akihisa Sutani.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Lung carcinoma].

Chemotherapy for patients with advanced lung carcinoma at an early period of diseases contributes to prolonged survival. However, since survivals are limited to around 1 year, it is critical for patients to stay at home and continue their social activities under chemotherapy. As active agents such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine, vinorelbine and irinotecan were introduced into clinical practice, and new techniques for preventing side effects such as emesis and neutropenia were developed, chemotherapy for outpatients become feasible also in Japan. In addition, the outpatient chemotherapy, preventing oncologic emergency and early starting of palliative care are also very important for patients'quality of life (QOL) at home. This review summarizes the present status of taking care for outpatients with lung cancer.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed2004

[Treatment of pulmonary amyloidosis with dimethyl sulfoxide--a case report].

Metastatic lung tumor was suspected in a 52-year-old woman who showed multiple nodules on her chest radiographs. Conventional examinations did not define the diagnosis, and so a biopsy was performed using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Pathological examination demonstrated deposits of amorphous materials which were stained red by Congo red staining, even after potassium permanganate treatment. Green birefringence was also observed in the deposits under a polarized light microscope. A diagnosis of localized pulmonary amyloidosis with AL type amyloid protein was made, and therapy with dimethyl sulfoxide (10 ml/day) was started. During the two-year therapy, little exacerbation on pulmonary nodules was observed. It was suggested that dimethyl sulfoxide inhibited the progression of the disease.

Amyloidosis↗

PubMed2003

Theophylline attenuates the adhesion of eosinophils to endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils and other inflammatory cells into the airways. Binding to adhesion molecules expressed on endothelial cells is an initial step of eosinophil accumulation in the airways of asthmatic patients. Theophylline has been widely used in the treatment of bronchial asthma mainly due to its bronchodilating effect. It has recently been suggested that theophylline induces modulating effects on the survival or functional status of eosinophils. The objective of this study was to determine whether theophylline modifies the adhesive interaction between eosinophils and endothelial cells. METHODS: Eosinophils were isolated from blood of patients with mild asthma. The effects of theophylline on eosinophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) or recombinant adhesion proteins were evaluated. The effect of theophylline on the expression of adhesion molecules on HUVEC was also examined. RESULTS: Theophylline significantly inhibited the eosinophil adhesion induced by formyl-methionyl-leucil-phenylalanine (FMLP) or interleukine-5 (IL-5) at a concentration within the therapeutic range. The effect of theophylline on eosinophil adhesion was mimicked by rolipram, a selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and N6,2'-O-dibutyladenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (Db-cAMP; cAMP analogue). Finally, theophylline inhibited the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on HUVEC stimulated with IL-4 plus TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: Theophylline showed inhibitory effects on both the adhesive property of eosinophils and the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, thus suggesting that theophylline attenuates the adhesive interaction between eosinophils and endothelial cells.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Superior sensitivity of MGIT method in identification of specimens culture-positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and individuals with positive AFB cultures].

To investigate the superiority of the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) over Ogawa medium in the detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB), we surveyed all specimens for AFB culture using Ogawa medium in 1999 and MGIT in 2000. The MGIT method increased the culture-positive rate from 23.1% (Ogawa medium) to 34.5% (p < 0.01). The culture-positive rate in smear-negative specimens was greatly increased (from 9.5% to 16.9%) (p < 0.01). The culture-negative rate in smear-positive specimens was decreased to 19.5% from 27.7% (p < 0.01). More individuals with positive M. tuberculosis cultures were found by the MGIT method than with Ogawa medium. Many more individuals with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), notably those with NTM other than M. avium complex, were detected by the MGIT method than with Ogawa medium. The use of the MGIT method in the clinical laboratory will improve sensitivity in the detection of AFB.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

PubMed2002

[Study on the effect of cysteinyl leukotriene antagonist, pranlukast hydrate, on adhesive interaction between eosinophils and pulmonary endothelial cells].

It has been reported that cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) antagonists reduce the accumulation of eosinophils in the asthmatic airway. However, the exact mechanism of this action remains to be established. In the present study, we examined whether a CysLT antagonist modifies the adhesive interaction between blood eosinophils and endothelial cells. Pranlukast hydrate, a CysLT antagonist, blocked the chemotactic response and adhesion of eosinophils induced by LTD4. On the other hand, pranlukast did not modify the eosinophil spontaneous adhesion to the resting or IL-4 plus TNF-alpha-stimulated pulmonary endothelial cells. Similarly, pranlukast did not modulate IL-5- or FMLP-activated eosinophil adhesion to the resting endothelial cells. Finally, pranlukast did not modify the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells stimulated with endothelial activating cytokines. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of CysLT antagonist on eosinophil accumulation in the asthmatic airways involves mechanisms other than the adhesive interaction between eosinophils and endothelial cells.

Cell Adhesion↗