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Biomedical subjects

H Nanno

Publications and source records attributed to H Nanno.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent clear cell carcinoma of the ovary changing into producing parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) with hypercalcemia.

We experienced the case of a clear cell carcinoma of the ovary arising from an endometrial cyst, which started to produce parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTH-rP) in a recurrent tumor, thus inducing hypercalcemia. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we demonstrated that the primary carcinoma was immunonegative for PTH-rP, but that the recurrent carcinoma was strongly immunopositive for PTH-rP.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

Expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein in endometrial carcinomas: correlation with clinicopathology and prognosis.

The objective of the study reported here was to investigate the expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) in endometrial carcinomas and to evaluate the relationship between its expression and clinical data. Using immunohistochemistry, we examined MRP expression in 15 normal endometria, 10 cases of endometrial hyperplasia, and 64 cases of endometrial carcinoma. The normal endometrial glands were weakly immunopositive throughout the menstrual cycle. In addition, we found a progressive increase in the MRP expression of the endometrial hyperplasias. Of the 64 cases of endometrial carcinoma, 62 (97%) expressed MRP. Of these 62 cases, 34 (55%) showed strong immunostaining (>/=50%) and 28 (45%) showed weak immunostaining (<50%). In particular, the intensity of the immunostaining was very strong in 25 (71%) of the 35 grade 1 carcinomas. There was a significant difference in MRP expression between the grade 1 carcinomas and the more poorly differentiated carcinomas (grade 2 or grade 3) (P <.01), especially at stages 1a and 1b (P <.001). However, beyond stage 1c, there was no significant difference in MRP immunoreactivity between the histologic differentiations. Furthermore, beyond stage 1c, those patients with strongly MRP-positive carcinomas had a relatively poorer survival rate than those with weakly MRP-positive carcinomas (P <.05). We concluded that MRP immunoreactivity was already present in normal endometrium and showed a progressive increase from endometrial hyperplasia to well-differentiated carcinoma. Beyond stage 1c, strongly MRP-positive carcinoma indicated a poorer survival rate.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Activity of platelet-activating-factor-acetylhydrolase and the nitric oxide metabolite level in the plasma of pregnant women who develop transient hypertension during later pregnancy.

It is reported that plasma platelet-activating-factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is elevated in patients with essential hypertension. In this study, plasma PAF-AH activity was measured during pregnancy and after delivery to examine the relationship between plasma PAF-AH activity and the development of transient hypertension (TH) during pregnancy. Moreover, in order to examine the involvement of endothelial injury in TH, the plasma level of nitric oxide metabolite (NOx; NO2+NO3) was measured. The plasma PAF-AH activity in 51 pregnant women was consecutively measured in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation, and after delivery. Forty-one cases were normal pregnancies and 10 cases were complicated by TH later during pregnancy. The PAF-AH activity in the normal pregnancy group decreased in the 2nd trimester of gestation compared with the 1st trimester, but was elevated in the TH group. The incidence of elevation of PAF-AH in the TH group was significantly (7/10; 70.0%; P<0.01, Chi-squared test) higher than in the normal pregnancy group (9/41; 22.0%). The plasma NOx levels in the 2nd trimester were higher than those in the 1st trimester in both the normotensive and TH group (P<0.05 for both comparisons). The 51 patients were classified into two groups according to the change in the PAF-AH in the 2nd trimester: group A consisted of 35 patients whose PAF-AH activity did not increase, and group B consisted of 16 patients whose PAF-AH activity increased. The incidence of development of TH during later pregnancy in group B was significantly (7/16; 43.8%; P<0.01, Chi-squared test) higher than in group A (3/35; 8.6%). Hypertension developed after 36 weeks' gestation in all patients in the TH group. The results of the present study suggest that changes in PAF metabolism may relate to regulation of blood pressure in pregnant women whose pregnancy is complicated with TH, whereas NO metabolism does not differ between women with TH and those having a normal pregnancy.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase↗

Ovarian dysgerminoma showing high serum levels and positive immunostaining of placental alkaline phosphatase and neuron-specific enolase associated with elevation of serum prolactin level.

We report a 35-year-old Japanese female patient with ovarian dysgerminoma showing elevated serum levels of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and prolactin (PRL). All elevated tumor markers improved dramatically after the removal of the tumor. Immunohistochemically examined, the tumor was stained positive for PLAP and NSE and negative for PRL. Our present case is the first report of dysgerminoma showing positive immunostaining for PLAP and NSE, and the association of high serum level of PRL followed by decrease accompanied by the tumor debulking.

Adult↗

Nitric oxide metabolite concentrations in maternal plasma decrease during parturition: possible transient down-regulation of nitric oxide synthesis.

To elucidate the possible involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in parturition, we measured the maternal plasma concentrations of the NO metabolites, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (cGMP) in pregnant women at various gestational ages including those at vaginal and elective Caesarean deliveries. The plasma cGMP and NO metabolite concentrations at vaginal delivery were significantly lower than those of the pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. These concentrations remained low until 4 h after delivery but returned 24 h after delivery to values similar to those of the non-pregnant women. Such suppressions of plasma cGMP and NO metabolite concentrations were not observed in the women who underwent elective Caesarean section before the onset of labour. Moreover, no significant changes were observed in the plasma ANP and BNP concentrations at the time of vaginal and Caesarean deliveries, except that a slight but significant elevation of the plasma ANP concentration was observed 1 h after Caesarean delivery. In conclusion, the plasma concentrations of cGMP and NO metabolites significantly decreased at vaginal delivery but not at Caesarean delivery. These changes were independent of the plasma ANP and BNP concentrations, suggesting the possible down-regulation of maternal NO synthesis during parturition.

Adult↗

Augmented placental production of leptin in preeclampsia: possible involvement of placental hypoxia.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder, which develops in late pregnancy and is usually associated with placental hypoxia and dysfunction. We have recently demonstrated that leptin is a novel placenta-derived hormone in humans and suggested its significance in human pregnancy (see Ref. 19). To explore the changes in the leptin production in placenta in PE, we measured the plasma leptin level and placental leptin messenger RNA expression in pregnant women with PE. Plasma leptin levels in preeclamptic women were elevated significantly, compared with gestational age- and body mass index-matched normal pregnant women (P < 0.0001). Plasma leptin levels in the severe PE group were significantly higher than those in the mild PE group (P < 0.0001). Plasma leptin levels in preeclamptic women were reduced, soon after the placental delivery, to those expected for their body mass indices. Northern blot analysis revealed that leptin messenger RNA levels are increased in the placentas from preeclamptic women, compared with normal pregnant women. Leptin secretion was increased significantly in a human trophoblastic cell line (BeWo cells) cultured under hypoxic conditions (5% O2), compared with those cultured under standard conditions (20% O2; P < 0.01). The present study demonstrated that placental production of leptin is augmented in severe PE, probably because of placental hypoxia, thereby suggesting the possible significance of leptin as a marker of placental hypoxia in severe PE.

Adult↗

Impaired guanosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate production in severe pregnancy-induced hypertension with high plasma levels of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides.

To investigate the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase in pregnant women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (cGMP) were measured by radioimmunoassays specific to each substance. Ten normal nonpregnant women, and 30 normal pregnant women, 17 pregnant women with mild PIH and 11 pregnant women with severe PIH in the third trimester were included in this retrospective observational study. The diagnosis and classification of hypertension were carried out according to the technical bulletin (No. 91) of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In the pregnant women with mild PIH, plasma cGMP levels as well as ANP and BNP levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in gestational age-matched normal pregnant or nonpregnant women. But in the pregnant women with severe PIH, plasma cGMP levels were significantly lower than those in pregnant women with mild PIH (P < 0.05), although plasma ANP and BNP levels were higher than those in pregnant women with mild PIH.

Adult↗

Endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity and endothelin receptors in the human placenta from normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies.

The levels of endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) and characteristics of endothelin receptors in the chorionic villous tissue of human placenta were determined. The ET-1-LI level in chorionic villous tissue obtained from normal term placenta was 2,450 +/- 940 pg/g wet weight (mean +/- SD, n = 4). Further analysis using gel permeation chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography showed that the main ET-1-LI constituent of ET-1-LI in this tissue was ET-1. Scatchard analysis of [125I]ET-1 binding to the membrane fraction of chorionic villous tissue obtained from term placenta showed high affinity receptor sites with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 23.6 +/- 11.1 pM and a Bmax value of 388 +/- 238 fmol/mg protein (n = 5). The same binding study with [125I]ET 3 showed a Kd of 13.9 +/- 3.8 pM and a Bmax value of 176 +/- 78 fmol/mg protein (n = 5). These results suggest that both ET-A and ET-B receptors (ET-AR and ET-BR) are expressed in chorionic villous tissue. This finding was further confirmed by Northern blot analysis showing the expression of both ET-AR and ET-BR mRNAs in this tissue. ET-1-LI in the umbilical venous plasma of the newborns from women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) (38.3 +/- 10.4 pg/mL, n = 5) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the normal newborns from normotensive pregnant women (26.3 +/- 5.2 pg/mL, n = 12). However, in placental chorionic villous tissue obtained from PIH women, both ET-1-LI level and ET binding profile were not different from those in chorionic villous tissue from normotensive pregnant women. These results suggest that the abundant ET-ET receptor system is present in the placental chorionic villous tissue and that this system is not the major factor of the pathogenesis of placental dysfunction occurring in PIH because these systems are similar in normotensive and hypertensive pregnancies.

Chorionic Villi↗

Expression of biologically active receptors for natriuretic peptides in the human uterus during pregnancy.

Human amnion cells secrete a large amount of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). In the present study, to elucidate the possible roles of amniotic BNP during the course of human pregnancy, the tissue distributions of biologically active receptors of natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)-A receptor and ANP-B receptor in the human uterus during pregnancy were investigated by Northern blot analysis and an in vitro guanosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (cGMP) generation assay, the second messenger of natriuretic peptides, using crude membrane preparations. Both ANP-A and ANP-B receptor mRNAs were detected in the tissues of decidua vera, chorion laeve, myometrium and placenta. The in vitro cGMP generation assay revealed that the expression of ANP-A receptor was more prominent than that of ANP-B receptor in these tissues. On the other hand, in amniotic tissue only ANP-B receptor mRNA was weakly expressed but ANP-A receptor mRNA was not detected.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗

Current topic: the role of amniotic endothelin in human pregnancy.

Endothelin (ET), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, was originally isolated from culture medium of porcine aortic endothelial cells. Subsequently, ET was also reported to be produced by non-vascular tissues, and to be involved in various biological phenomena in these tissues. Recently, a high concentration of ET-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) was detected in human amniotic fluid. Amnion tissue also contained a large amount of ET-1-LI, and cultured amnion cells secreted large amounts of ET-1-LI. The major component of ET-1-LI in these samples was ET-1. Moreover, the expression of prepro-ET-1 mRNA was detected in both amnion tissue and cultured amnion cells, indicating that ET-1 in the amniotic fluid originated from amnion cells. In addition, specific receptors for ET were detected in myometrium, decidua vera, chorion laeve and placenta, by both ligand binding analysis and Northern blot analysis. These findings suggest that ET-1 secreted from amnion cells plays a physiological role in human pregnancy. In this paper, the regulation of ET-1 production and expression of ET-receptors in avascular human amnion tissue are reviewed. The possible importance of amniotic ET in human pregnancy is also discussed.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Transforming growth factor-beta stimulates, and glucocorticoids and epidermal growth factor inhibit brain natriuretic peptide secretion from cultured human amnion cells.

We previously reported the massive secretion of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) from human amnion cells and suggested the possible role of BNP in the maintenance of human pregnancy. In this study, to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of BNP secretion from amnion cells, we measured the BNP level in the culture medium of amnion cells by RIA after incubation in the presence of various substances. Among the agents examined, cortisol (1 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-6) mol/L), dexamethasone (1 x 10(-8) to 1 x 10(-6) mol/L), and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 2 x 10(-11) to 2 x 10(-8) mol/L) inhibited BNP secretion from the cultured amnion cells in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta; 4 x 10(-11) to 4 x 10(-9) mol/L) caused a 3- to 5-fold increase in BNP secretion. TGF beta-augmented BNP secretion was abolished by the addition of cortisol or EGF to the culture medium. Moreover, in this study, we revealed the presence of bioactive TGF beta in human amniotic fluid (approximately 4 x 10(-10) mol/L). The present finding of tight regulation of BNP secretion from amnion cells by cortisol, EGF and TGF beta, all at the concentrations physiologically present in human amniotic fluid, implies a physiological role of BNP secretion from amnion cells in the pregnant uterus.

Amnion↗