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Biomedical subjects

H Uda

Publications and source records attributed to H Uda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A case of acquired smooth muscle hamartoma of the scrotum.

We report a case of acquired smooth muscle hamartoma (ASMH) of tunica dartos, believed to be only the fifth so far reported. A 24-year-old man had a 6-month history of an asymptomatic tight and thickened scrotum. The skin was difficult to pinch. A biopsy specimen from the skin showed increased and proliferated smooth-muscle bundles composed of well-differentiated and uniform spindle cells that showed typical features of acquired smooth muscle hamartoma. Interestingly, dilatations of the lymph vessels were noted in the upper dermis above the proliferated smooth muscles. It has been reported recently that long-standing severe lymphoedema may cause histological features mimicking ASMH. As the present case was not preceded by oedema of the scrotum, we consider this case to be true ASMH.

Adult↗

Early detection of lung cancer with laser-induced fluorescence endoscopy and spectrofluorometry.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We performed a clinical trial of laser-induced fluorescence endoscopy (LIFE) for detection of precancerous lesions and cancer including carcinoma in situ (CIS), which are difficult to detect by white-light bronchoscopy. DESIGN: Results with LIFE were compared with the criterion standard, white-light bronchoscopy. The evaluation of these endoscopic results spectrofluorometrically was examined, and pixels of LIFE images composed of digital signals for the intensities of red and green were analyzed. SETTING: Tertiary-level hospital treating referrals and subjects with suspicious results in mass screening. PATIENTS: We examined 65 subjects with suspected lung cancer by both methods, and performed biopsy on 216 lesions. RESULTS: The accuracy of diagnosis by white-light bronchoscopy, with histopathologic results as the standard, was 48.6%. The accuracy by LIFE was 72.7%. The sensitivity of conventional bronchoscopy for detection of severe dysplasia (21 biopsy specimens) or cancer (28 biopsy specimens) was 61.2% and specificity was 85.0%. With results by LIFE added, these values were 89.8% and 78.4%, respectively. Of nine patients with CIS, only LIFE showed one lesion, and only LIFE showed the extent of seven of the lesions. The autofluorescence of eight lesions was measured spectrofluorometrically; normal bronchial tissue, severe dysplasia, and cancerous tissue had spectral differences. The red/green intensity of cancers on histograms of LIFE images generally was greater than the ratios for metaplasia or normal bronchial wall. CONCLUSIONS: Use of both methods should facilitate early detection. Evaluation by spectrofluorometry and analysis of digital signal intensity of results by LIFE make results more objective.

Adult↗

Relationship between breast milk feeding and atopic dermatitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not the breast milk feeding has a role in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among children. METHODS: The target population of the study was all children participating in health check-up program for 3-year-old children in 60 municipalities locating 10 selected prefectures during designated 2 months between October and December 1997. Using a questionnaire, information on nutrition in infants (breast milk only, bottled milk only, or mixed), parity, mothers' age at birth, and a history of atopic dermatitis was obtained. Besides, data on potential confounding factors were obtained. RESULTS: Questionnaires from 3856 children (81.6% of those who were to participate in the programs, and 96.4% of children who participated them) were analyzed. After the adjustment for all potential confounding factors using unconditional logistic models, the risk of atopic dermatitis was slightly higher among children with breast milk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16 with 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-1.40). Mothers' age at birth (OR for those who were more than 30 years or older in comparison with those who were younger than 30 years = 1.15; 95% CI, 0.96-1.37) and those with second or later parity orders (OR = 1.14, 95% CI; 0.95-1.35) showed odds ratios that were higher than unity without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Breast milk elevates the risk of atopic dermatitis slightly without statistical significance; the risk may be, however, higher in children in second or later parity orders.

Adult↗

Solution structure of the transactivation domain of ATF-2 comprising a zinc finger-like subdomain and a flexible subdomain.

Activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) is a transcription factor that binds to cAMP response element (CRE). ATF-2 contains two functional domains, an N-terminal transactivation domain and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain. The DNA-binding domain contains the basic leucine zipper (bZip) motif. Here, the three-dimensional structure of the transactivation domain of ATF-2 has been determined by NMR. The transactivation domain consists of two subdomains: the structure of an N-terminal half (N-subdomain) is well determined, while a C-terminal half (C-subdomain) takes a highly flexible and disordered structure. The architecture of the N-subdomain is very similar to that of the well-known zinc finger motif found in DNA-binding domains, consisting of an antiparallel beta-sheet and an alpha-helix. The zinc atom is tetrahedrally coordinated to two cysteine residues and two histidine residues. Amino acids that form the hydrophobic core in all of the DNA-binding zinc fingers are well conserved in the N-subdomain of the transactivation domain, whereas some amino acids that are responsible for binding to the phosphate backbone of DNA in the DNA-binding zinc fingers are substituted with other amino acids. The flexible C-subdomain, which contains two threonine residues that the stress-activated protein kinases phosphorylate, is likely to undergo a conformational change by specific binding to a target protein.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗

Percutaneous brachytherapy for small-sized non-small cell lung cancer.

A patient with a small-sized pulmonary adenocarcinoma was successfully treated by percutaneous high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy alone. The patient, who had an adenocarcinoma with 12-mm diameter in the lingular lobe of left lung, was judged to be inoperable because of poor pulmonary function due to emphysema and extensive pleural adhesion. The tumor was punctured with a 21-gauge fine applicator needle followed by the introduction of an iridium 192 (192Ir) radioactive source through the applicator needle using a remote afterloader. The tumor was irradiated for 225.1 s in one fraction. The tumor was in the inside of the iso-dose line of 40 Gy. The delivered doses calculated at nine reference points, which were 12.5 mm distant from the center of the tumor, distributed between 19.225 and 32.169 Gy, with a mean of 24.8 Gy. No apparent side effect including pneumothorax and hemoptysis was observed. The tumor shrank and showed no increment of the size for about 2 years.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Asthma-like disease in the children living in the neighborhood of Mt. Sakurajima.

We conducted self-administered questionnaire surveys of school children living in the vicinity of Mt. Sakurajima using ATS-DLD questionnaire. In this paper, we report the results of analysis comparing the proportion of children with asthma-like disease in the area exposed to the volcanic ash and gases released by Mt. Sakurajima and control areas. Asthma-like disease was ascertained using ATS-DLD questionnaire and the definition proposed by the study group established by Environmental Protection Agency in Japan. The proportion of children with asthma-like disease was not different between the exposed and control groups. The odds ratio of asthma-like disease comparing the exposed and control groups was 1.1 and its 95% confidence interval was 0.7-1.8 (P = 0.583). When the exposed area was divided into Tarumizu city. Sakurajima town and Kagoshima city, none of them showed an elevated proportion of children with asthma-like disease when compared with the control area. In the entire study population including both the exposed and control groups, the proportion of children with asthma-like disease was 6 and 3% in boys and girls, respectively. These values were quite similar to those obtained from a survey of 45,674 school children in western districts in Japan in 1992. In conclusion, the present study indicates that the proportion of children with asthma-like disease is not elevated in the exposed area. Further investigations are necessary to confirm our conclusions.

Air Pollutants↗

Small cell carcinoma of the gall-bladder with intestinal metaplastic epithelium.

A case of small cell carcinoma of the gall-bladder is described. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for chromogranin A, synaptophysin and neuronspecific enolase, which suggests that they derived from neuroendocrine cells. The overlying and surrounding epithelium of the tumor showed intestinal metaplasia including goblet cells, pseudopyloric glands, Paneth's cells, and chromogranin A and synaptophysin-positive endocrine cells. Definite adenocarcinoma was absent. The endocrine cells in the epithelium were more numerous in the vicinity of the tumor. The present case supports the supposition that endocrine cell tumor (including small cell carcinoma) of the gall-bladder may develop from endocrine cells of the intestinal metaplastic lesion.

Aged↗

Prolonged release of drug from O/w emulsion and residence in rat nasal cavity.

The present study evaluated the usefulness of an o/w emulsion for slowing the release of chlorpheniramine maleate (CM) and prolonging drug residence in the nasal cavity. O/w emulsion formulations of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) were prepared, and their physicochemical properties and drug release kinetics were evaluated using the in vitro dialysis tube method. Drug disappearance from the rat nasal cavity was determined in in situ nasal experiments. CM partitioned in oil droplets by pH, as predicted by pH partition theory. With higher MCT concentration and pH, slower release of CM was observed. CM disappearance (kapp) from the rat nasal cavity was influenced by the amount of drug partitioned in the oil droplets with both the perfusion and deposit methods, and the kapp of CM decreased with increase in MCT concentration and pH. Moreover, with the deposit method, CM remaining in the nasal cavity exhibited a biphasic profile of disappearance, which complied with a saturated process. Because a very small portion of MCT might be adsorbed and formed a pseudooily layer on the mucous membranes, prolongation of CM residence on the mucous membrane was attained. These findings suggest that emulsion containing 30% MCT at pH 8 may be useful for inclusion in controlled-release formulations of CM for intranasal drug delivery in the treatment of allergy.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Evaluation of drug disappearance from nasal cavity by the deposit method.

In order to evaluate antiallergic intranasal formulations, the rates of drug disappearance from rat nasal cavity were estimated by the deposit and perfusion methods. The deposit method, which estimates changes in the amount of residual drug in the nasal cavity following washout of the deposited drug over time after application, yielded a good correlation between apparent disappearance rate constant and the combination of lipophilicity and molecular weight. Since the deposit method can be used only with delivery of small amounts of drug to the nasal cavity, the physiological characteristics of the nasal membrane readily affect drug disposition in tests performed with it, and adsorptive drugs such as parabens exhibited rapid disappearance. Doses used clinically for intranasal administration are usually small, and in the case of antiallergic formulations, it is important to maintain the drug concentration in the nasal mucous membrane. The deposit method should be useful for evaluating intranasal antiallergic drug formulations.

Administration, Intranasal↗

In vivo but not in vitro stimulations rescue of the defective class switching to IgG or IgA in B-cells of immunodeficiency with hyper IgM.

In an X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper IgM (X-HIM), several mutations of genes coding for CD40 ligand are responsible for B-cell defects. However, it is controversial whether the defective class switching from IgM to IgG or IgA but not IgE is rescued by in vitro stimulations or not. In six X-HIM patients, signaling through CD40 induced IgE but not IgG or IgA secretion in vitro. When transferred into SCID mice, however, B-cells of X-HIM patients secreted as much IgG and IgA as those of healthy controls. Moreover, sIgG and sIgA expressions were also induced by the in vivo stimulation. These results support that B-cells of X-HIM patients are defective of in vitro class switching from IgM to IgG or IgA and show that the in vivo stimulations rescue the defective class switching and suggest that the class switching of IgE and that of IgG or IgA might be regulated quite differently.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical detection of sialosyl-Tn antigen in carcinoma of the prostate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of sialosyl-Tn antigen (STn) in human benign and malignant prostate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of STn was investigated immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from 56 patients with primary prostatic adenocarcinoma (median age 74.3 years, range 47-89) and 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (median age 73.4 years, range 60-87). RESULTS: STn was expressed in only three (4%) of the 20 hyperplastic glands and the benign areas adjacent to the 54 carcinomas; by contrast, STn was expressed in 34 (61%) of the 56 carcinomas. The frequency of STn positivity was much higher in well-differentiated carcinomas than in those poorly differentiated. CONCLUSION: STn is expressed with malignant transformation of the prostatic epithelial cells and immunohistochemical methods using commercially available STn monoclonal antibody may be useful as an adjunct for distinguishing carcinoma from benign tissue.

Aged↗

Clear cell mammary malignant myoepithelioma with abundant glycogens.

Malignant myoepithelioma (myoepithelial carcinoma) of the breast is extremely rare. A case is reported of a 46 year old female with clear cell mammary malignant myoepithelioma that, on histological examination, was glycogen abundant clear cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the clear cells showed myoepithelial differentiation--that is, they were a smooth muscle actin and S100 protein positive. This case shows that glycogen abundant clear cell carcinoma is a variant of malignant myoepithelioma of the breast.

Breast Neoplasms↗

The sex differences in cord-blood cholesterol and fatty-acid levels among Japanese fetuses.

We examined serum cholesterol and fatty-acid levels of cord blood and maternal blood samples collected from 193 Japanese fetuses and their mothers. Our study, which is the largest study of this kind ever conducted in Japan, is the first Japanese study reporting that total, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and non-HDL cholesterol levels in females were statistically significantly higher than those in males; the sex differences of total, HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels were 8.5 mg/dl (P = 0.002), 4.5 mg/dl (P = 0.004) and 4.1 mg/dl (P = 0.045), respectively. The sex difference of total cholesterol was attributable to both HDL and non-HDL cholesterol. The sex of fetuses didn't show evident differences in cholesterol levels in maternal sera. Fatty-acid levels in cord blood were also higher in female fetuses than in male fetuses. However, none of the differences except for monoene fatty acids were statistically significant. Further investigations seem warranted to elucidate the mechanisms involved in our results.

Adult↗

Antibody mediated ligation of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) on neutrophils enhances adhesion to cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial cells.

We investigated the effects on leukocyte adhesion to cultured human dermal microvascular endothelial (DMvE) cell by antibody mediated ligation of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) on neutrophils. Preincubation of neutrophils with anti-PECAM-1 antibody markedly enhanced their adhesion to DMvE cells, while the adhesion-increasing action was cancelled out by anti-CR3 or anti-LFA-1 beta (CD18) antibody. These findings suggest that ligation of PECAM-1 on neutrophils increases their adhesion to cultured DMvE cells depending on the beta 2 integrin family, and PECAM-1 may have a crucial role in dermal inflammation.

Adult↗

Adult T cell leukemia presenting as multiple submucosal tumors of the intestine: detection of HTLV-I DNA by polymerase chain reaction.

We discuss a 45-year-old man who presented with ileus due to multiple submucosal tumors of the small and large intestines. Emergency operation was performed and histological examination of the tumors revealed pleomorphic cells with helper/inducer T-cell phenotype. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using DNA extracted from the paraffin-embedded material showed that the intestinal, jejunal and femoral lymphoma samples contained human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-I) DNA. Although no atypical lymphocytes were found in the peripheral blood, a diagnosis of adult T-cell leukemia was made. The PCR analysis of HTLV-I infection using paraffin-embedded materials seems to be useful when we encountered patients with T-cell lymphoma in the gastrointestinal tract.

DNA, Viral↗

Signaling through CD40 rescues IgE but not IgG or IgA secretion in X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM.

The ligand for CD40 (CD40L) is a membrane protein on activated T cells that induces B cell proliferation and differentiation. Several mutations of the CD40L gene were reported responsible for defective class switching of B cells in an X-linked immunodeficiency with hyper IgM (X-HIM). We studied four affected males from three families and found three independent mutations including new mutations of CD40L gene. In every X-HIM patient tested, however, anti-CD40 plus IL-10 did not induce class switching from IgM to IgG or IgA, even in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain (SAC). CD4+ T cell clones, expressing CD40L on their surface, also did not rescue IgG or IgA induction by X-HIM peripheral blood B cells in vitro. But signaling through CD40 induced both B cell proliferation and IgE secretion when IL-4 was added to the culture. Taken together, these results show that in vitro signaling through CD40 rescues IgE but not IgG or IgA secretion by peripheral blood X-HIM B cells and suggest that in vivo CD40 and CD40L interaction might be necessary for IgG and IgA differentiation in X-HIM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗