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Hitoshi Hara

Publications and source records attributed to Hitoshi Hara.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Soft plaque detected on intravascular ultrasound is the strongest predictor of in-stent restenosis: an intravascular ultrasound study.

AIMS: Although various predictors of in-stent restenosis (ISR) have been reported, the subject of parameters relating to ISR on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) still leaves room for discussion. The aim of this study was to clarify the strongest predictors of ISR using IVUS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-two native coronary lesions undergoing single bare-metallic stent implantation were investigated retrospectively. We classified them into the ISR (n=46) and non-ISR (n=46) groups using quantitative coronary angiography. On serial IVUS studies, plaque morphology, and areas and volumes of each component in vessel were evaluated. Among all parameters, diabetes mellitus and soft plaque appearing hypoechoic on IVUS were associated with ISR. By multivariate analysis, soft plaque was the only independent predictor of ISR (p=0.0057). Compared with non-soft plaque, soft plaque had a larger plaque reduction rate (-7.1% vs. -1.6%, p=0.0613) and smaller percent plaque volume (53.0% vs. 55.5%, p=0.0273) after stenting. Conversely, soft plaque had a larger neointimal area (4.39 vs. 3.33 mm2, p=0.0437) and percent plaque area (80.5% vs. 75.1%, p=0.0503) at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Soft plaque detected on IVUS was the strongest predictor of ISR. Soft plaque was compressed more easily by stenting, however, causing more proliferation of neointima subsequently and resulted in a worse prognosis.

Aged↗

Elevated white blood cell count in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) differ in their risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but previous cross-sectional studies have suggested little difference in their levels of lipids or blood pressure. We compared the white blood cell (WBC) count between subjects with IFG and IGT. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The subjects were 4,720 nondiabetic Japanese men aged 24-84 years. Based on the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, the subjects were classified into the following four groups: normal fasting glucose/normal glucose tolerance (n = 3,753), isolated IFG (n = 290), isolated IGT (n = 476), and IFG/IGT (n = 201). We compared the WBC count among the four groups and investigated variables that showed a significant association with the WBC count. RESULTS: The isolated IGT group had a significantly higher WBC count than the isolated IFG group (6,530 vs. 6,210/mm(3), P < 0.05). By stepwise analyses, age, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, fasting insulin, and 2-h postchallenge plasma glucose (PG) showed an independent association with the WBC count (adjusted R(2) = 0.057). In the analysis stratified by smoking status, the WBC count was independently associated with 2-h PG and triglycerides, irrespective of smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with isolated IGT had a significantly higher WBC count than those with isolated IFG. The WBC count was associated with 2-h PG and various components of the metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

[Sex differences in coronary atherosclerosis: coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasonography].

OBJECTIVES: Women have higher mortality and frequency of complications compared with men after coronary intervention. Possible differences in coronary atherosclerosis between men and women were investigated. METHODS: The left anterior descending arteries of 214 patients (164 men, mean age 62.3 +/- 9.10 years; 50 women, mean age 67.8 +/- 7.76 years) were examined. Lesion length, reference diameter, percentage diameter stenosis and minimal lumen diameter were measured by quantitative coronary angiography. Vessel area, lumen area, percentage area stenosis, and remodeling index were measured by intravascular ultrasonography, and presence of calcification in the lesion was classified. These parameters were compared between men and women. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in quantitative coronary angiography, but intravascular ultrasonography showed calcification was more severe in women, vessel area was significantly smaller in women (13.25 +/- 4.21 vs 15.91 +/- 4.35 mm2, p = 0.004), and remodeling index was significantly lower in women (0.95 +/- 0.13 vs 1.04 +/- 0.18, p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Vessel area measured by intravascular ultrasonography was significantly smaller in women, and calcification was more severe in women. Such factors may be involved in the higher mortality in women.

Aged↗

Arterial remodeling patterns before intervention predict diffuse in-stent restenosis: an intravascular ultrasound study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the predictors of diffuse in-stent restenosis (ISR) among the lesions causing the first ISR by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies. BACKGROUND: Although some predictors of diffuse ISR have been reported, parameters on IVUS relating to diffuse ISR are not well characterized. METHODS: We classified 52 ISR lesions that had undergone successful stent implantation and led to restenosis into two types--focal and diffuse ISR--using quantitative coronary angiography. Restenosis was defined as > or =50% diameter stenosis, and diffuse ISR as lesion length > or =10 mm at follow-up. The remodeling index (RI) was defined as the vessel area at the target lesion divided by that of averaged reference segments. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient, angiographic, and procedural characteristics between the focal (n = 25) and diffuse (n = 27) ISR groups. Baseline RI was significantly greater in the diffuse ISR group (1.03 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.88 +/- 0.24, p = 0.0159). Negative remodeling, defined as RI <0.9, was detected in 60% of the focal ISR group and in only 26% of the diffuse ISR group. By logistic regression analysis, baseline RI was the only independent predictor of diffuse ISR (p = 0.0341). Moreover, volumetric analyses revealed that lesions developing into diffuse ISR had less capacity to compensate for further plaque growth. CONCLUSIONS: Among the first ISR lesions, baseline positive remodeling was the most powerful predictor of diffuse ISR. Measuring pre-interventional arterial remodeling patterns by IVUS may be helpful to stratify lesions at higher risk.

Aged↗

Genetic susceptibility for emphysematous changes of the lung in Japanese.

Risk of chronic pulmonary emphysema from exposure to tobacco smoke varies widely from person to person, depending in part on the status of particular genes and acquired susceptibilities. Certain genes determine how cells activate and/or detoxify tobacco smoke products. We aimed to determine whether any genetic susceptibility exists in the development of emphysematous changes confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT). Genotypes of various enzymes involved in the activation or detoxification of tobacco smoke, epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1), cytochrome P450s (CYP1A1 and CYP2E1), glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1/P1/T1), and hemoxygenase-1 (HMOX1), were determined by PCR-based assays in a total of 235 heavy smokers (Brinkman index >/=400). They were divided into two groups according to the CT findings: 63 and 172 subjects with and without emphysematous changes, respectively. Although the allele frequency of any genetic polymorphism was not statistically different between the two groups, the frequency of the individuals having combination of the genotype representing very slow activity for epoxide hydrolase and at least one allele with large size of (GT)n repeats in the HMOX1 gene promoter region was higher in the subjects with emphysematous changes (p=0.03; odds ratio 2.8; 95% CI = 1.07-7.5) among the stratified individuals (age >/=51 years). These findings suggest that combination of several polymorphisms in the enzymes that activate or detoxify the tobacco smoke, such as EPHX1 and HMOX1, might be associated with its affects on the development of emphysematous changes of the lung.

Age of Onset↗

Mechanisms of acute gain and late lumen loss after atherectomy in different preintervention arterial remodeling patterns.

The main mechanism of restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) remains obscure. We investigated mechanisms of restenosis after DCA in different coronary artery remodeling patterns. DCA was performed in 51 de novo lesions. The lesions were evaluated by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) before, immediately after, and 6 months after the procedure. According to the IVUS findings before DCA, we classified the lesions into the following 3 groups: (1) positive (n = 10), (2) intermediate (n = 25), and (3) negative (n = 16) remodeling. We measured lumen area, vessel area, and plaque area using IVUS before DCA, immediately after DCA, and at follow-up. Lumen area increase after DCA was mainly due to plaque area reduction in the positive and intermediate remodeling groups (90 plus minus 15% and 80 plus minus 25% increase in lumen area, respectively), whereas that in the negative remodeling group was due to both plaque area reduction (57 plus minus 22% increase in lumen area) and vessel area enlargement (43 plus minus 33% increase in lumen area). The plaque area increase correlated strongly with late lumen area loss in the positive and intermediate remodeling groups (r = 0.884, p <0.001; r = 0.626, p <0.001, respectively), but the decrease in vessel area was not correlated with lumen area loss. In contrast, both an increase in plaque area and a decrease in vessel area were correlated with late lumen area loss (r = 0.632, p = 0.009; r = 0.515, p = 0.041) in the negative remodeling group. Coronary artery restenosis after atherectomy was primarily due to an increase in plaque in the positive and/or intermediate remodeling groups. However, in the negative remodeling group, late lumen loss might have been caused by both an increase in plaque and vessel shrinkage.

Adult↗

Decreased insulin secretion and dyslipidemia coexist in subjects with impaired fasting glucose.

We examined the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels at which the compensatory mechanism of pancreatic beta cells could act and dyslipidemia would occur in Japanese subjects. A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed on 8923 subjects. The relationship between FPG and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) was analyzed. The mean Sigma IRI (sum of IRI during OGTT) level formed an inverted U-shaped curve with a peak level at FPG of 110-130 mg/dl. The mean IRI level 30 min after glucose administration (as a marker of initial insulin secretion) began to decrease at an FPG level of approximately 100 mg/dl. The mean triglyceride level increased linearly with the elevation of the FPG level at FPG levels of 80-120 mg/dl. The mean high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level decreased linearly with increasing FPG at FPG levels of 80-110 mg/dl. In Japanese, total insulin secretion during OGTT was affected at FPG levels >110-130 mg/dl. Moreover, subjects with FPG levels >110 mg/dl showed decreased initial insulin secretion and dyslipidemia. These results may indicate the necessity of intervention in individuals with impaired fasting glucose.

Adult↗

[A case of recurrent rectal cancer responding to weekly low-dose CPT-11/isovorin/5-fluorouracil].

We report the case of 66-year-old male with recurrent rectal cancer which responded to chemotherapy using CPT-11, Isovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). CPT-11 was administered at 40 mg (90 min i.v.) x 3 day/week, and Isovorin and 5-FU were administered at 25 mg (bolus) and 250 mg (continuous) x 5 day/week by intraarterial infusion. Three cycles of this weekly regimen resulted in regression of tumors in the iliac region with remission of the lameness caused by iliac pain. The serum CEA level decreased from 13.1 ng/ml to 0.5 ng/ml. The patient has undergone 13 cycles of the regimen modified for outpatients (CPT-11 at 40 mg x 3 day/week plus Isovorin at 25 mg and 5-FU at 250 mg 1 day/week) with inhibitions of tumor regrowth and improved serum CEA level for more than 12 months. The current case suggests that weekly low-dose CPT-11/Isovorin/5-FU may have a potent therapeutic effect against recurrent rectal cancer.

Aged↗

New criterial for cytologic diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To formulate new criteria for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC). STUDY DESIGN: The usefulness of 17 items for a cytologically definitive diagnosis of ADCC was examined. The frequency (- - +++) of the 17 items in 18 cases of ADCC and 10 non-ADCC cases (pleomorphic adenoma, basal cell adenoma, myoepithelioma and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma) that displayed mimicking cytology was examined cytologically. The total score for cases of ADCC was compared with that for non-ADCC cases. RESULTS: The 17 items included broad intercellular spaces with adhesion; green, granular/cobwebby cytoplasm with translucent intercellular matrix with Papanicolaou staining; coarse hyperchromatin with little nuclear clearing; indistinct and partially distinct nucleoli; small nuclei; broad, smooth margin (SM) space; and translucent M/HG/SM. All cases with a total score of > 21 were ADCC (93.8%). All cases with a total score of < 12 were non-ADCC (87.5%). CONCLUSION: The 17 items appear to be useful as new criteria for ADCC.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Two cytologic patterns in invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify 2 cytologic patterns: severe ductal dysplasia (SD)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive components of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (IDAP). STUDY DESIGN: Tumor samples from 12 patients with IDAP were examined cytologically and histologically. Cytologic specimens were obtained by fine needle aspiration (ENA) and imprint smears from resected pancreases. RESULTS: In the 12 IDAP cases, roughly 2 cell populations, SD/CIS-type cells and invasive component-type cells, were detected cytologically. The former composed a small portion of the tumor cells, exhibited a small nuclei without anisonucleosis and had a decreased total quantity of chromatin as compared with invasive component-type cells. SD/CIS-type cells were found in small papillary-cohesive and compactly packed clusters and had clearly defined cytoplasmic borders, a nucleus individually enveloped in well-preserved cytoplasm and small amount of cytoplasm (< 15 microm in short diameter) without prominent anisocytosis. The latter comprised mostly of the tumor cells, were present characteristically as a loose and discohesive population and contained a combination of hyperchromatin, large nuclei (> 15 microm) and abundant cytoplasm (>21 microm). Histologically, these 12 cases exhibited IDAP with SD/CIS. Hence, the invasive component-type cells appeared to originate with ordinary invasive spread of IDAP, and the SD/CIS type cells appeared to originate with noninvasive intraductal spread. CONCLUSION: Two cytologic patterns originating with SD/CIS and invasive components of IDAP could be differentiated.

Aged↗

Cytologic study of noninvasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma of the pancreas.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cytologic features of noninvasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma (IPMC) in an attempt to differentiate it cytologically from hyperplasia, invasive IPMC and invasive ductal adenocarcinoma (IDA). STUDY DESIGN: Tumor samples from 23 patients clinically diagnosed with a mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas, including 10 cases of hyperplasia, 10 noninvasive IPMCs and 3 invasive IPMCs, and tumor samples from 21 patients with IDA, were examined cytologically. Cytologic specimens were obtained in various ways, such as by fine needle aspiration, imprint, brushing, vinyl tube aspiration and aspiration from a cannula at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. RESULTS: Cytologically, all 10 noninvasive IPMCs exhibited clearly defined cytoplasmic boundaries (+1, ++4, ++ and mainly small nuclei (++7, +++3), with nuclear size and cytoplasm similar to those of hyperplastic cells, and irregular chromatin distribution (+2, ++8) and prominent nucleoli (-2, +4, ++3, +++1), all atypical nuclear features similar to those of invasive IPMC or IDA. There also were small papillary cohesive clusters (-1, +2, ++4, +++3) and euchromatin (+1, ++1, +++8), which were found only in IPMCs. CONCLUSION: The cytologic features of small, malignant nuclei and small papillary cohesive clusters are suggestive of noninvasive IPMC. Furthermore, the addition of clearly defined cell borders and euchromatin and the presence of some goblet cells are more strongly suggestive of noninvasive IPMC.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Studies on biliary tract carcinoma in the case with pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological features of pancreaticobiliary maljunction and to determine the appropriate surgical approach for biliary tract with pancreaticobiliary maljunction. METHODOLOGY: The data of 77 patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction including 13, who had been treated for biliary tract cancer, were reviewed retrospectively. We assessed the clinical features, biological characteristics of the cancer, methods of surgical treatment, postoperative outcome and cell proliferating activity of the biliary epithelium, evaluated by the PCNALI (proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index). RESULTS: The incidence of cancer development in the case with pancreaticobiliary maljunction was 13.4% in the bile duct dilatation group (n = 67) and 40.0% in the non-dilatation group (n = 10). Dissection of lymphadenectomy was performed in 10 (76.9%) of 13 patients, and curative resection was feasible in 9 of the 10 patients. Two (20.0%) of the 10 patients had lymph node involvement noted at surgery and died of recurrence. In the other eight patients without lymph node involvement at surgery, six patients underwent curative resection and are alive at 7 months to 11 years and 6 months after surgery. PCNALI of the biliary epithelium of the patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction was significantly higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, it should be stressed that the extrahepatic bile duct be prophylactically removed, even when there are no neoplasmatic changes because of high prevalence of cancer development, presumably predicted by the increase of cell proliferative activity in the biliary epithelium. For patients with biliary cancer, early detection at the stage with no lymph node involvement is essential to secure for long-term survival.

Adult↗

Relationship between types of common channel and development of biliary tract cancer in pancreaticobiliary maljunction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of biliary tract cancer development is high among patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction. However, there have been no reports published evaluating the incidence of development of biliary tract cancers in pancreaticobiliary maljunction based on the morphology of the common channel at the junction of the bile and pancreatic ducts. We evaluated between types of common channel and development of biliary tract cancers in pancreaticobiliary maljunction. METHODOLOGY: During the last 21 years, we have experienced 78 patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Of those patients, 44 adult patients, whose morphologic types of common channel were identified by cholangiography, were enrolled in this study. The dilatation patterns of the common channel were classified into 3 types: A type (moderately dilated type), B type (markedly dilated type), and C type (non-dilated type). Evaluated items included the length and dilation patterns of the common channel, incidence of development of biliary tract cancers and proliferative activity in the biliary tract epithelium. RESULTS: Seventeen patients had a common channel shorter than 20 mm, while 27 had a common channel of 20 mm or longer. Eleven patients with a common channel of 20 mm or longer had development of bile tract cancers. The dilation patterns of the common channel were classified as A (11 patients), B (16 patients) and C type (17 patients). Amylase levels in the biliary tract were higher in patients with A and B type than in patients with the C type. Development of gallbladder cancer was observed in 6 patients with A, 2 patients with B and one patient with C, while development of bile duct cancer was observed in 2 patients with C and one patient with B. The PCNAL.I. of the biliary epithelium was higher in patients with A, B and C type in descending order. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of development of biliary tract cancer was higher in patients with common channel of 20 mm or longer. The proliferative activity in the biliary epithelium was accelerated in patients with A type, together with a high incidence of development of gallbladder cancer.

Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic↗

[A case of CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and lekoencephalopathy) with Notch 3 (Arg169Cys) mutation and typical granular osmiophilic materials in peripheral small arteries].

We report a 64-year-old Japanese woman with recurrent ischemic strokes and progressive dementia without any cardiovascular risk factors. Her first stroke was at 45 years old, and she has a family history of ischemic strokes compatible with an autosomal dominant trait. Marked leukoaraiosis and multiple lacunar infarcts were shown on brain MR images, and no atherosclerotic changes were observed in her extra- and intra-cranial arteries by cervical arterial echography and intracranial MR angiography. Excluded other inherited or metabolic diseases causing leukodystrophy by examination of her blood samples, her disease was diagnosed as CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and lekoencephalopathy). We demonstrated granular osmiophilic materials (GOM) on the wall of small arteries from a biopsied peripheral nerve tissue specimen and detected a mutation Arg169Cys of Notch 3 gene. Many CADASIL patients have been reported and over 28 kinds of mutations of the Notch 3 were identified in western countries, while few CADASIL patients have been reported in Japanese people. Among them, eleven CADASIL families have been reported and only five mutations (Arg133Cys, Cys174Phe, Arg213Lys, Arg90Cys and Arg141Cys) have been determined so far. The mutation of Notch 3 in our patient was determined as Arg169Cys, and this is the first report on a Japanese patient with CADASIL due to this mutation.

Arteries↗