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Biomedical subjects

I Sasagawa

Publications and source records attributed to I Sasagawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Elevated levels of telomerase activity in malignant pheochromocytoma.

BACKGROUND: Although malignant pheochromocytoma is a life-threatening illness, there is no excretory profile that is predictive of malignancy. Reliable prediction of malignant behavior on the basis of histopathology is also notoriously difficult. Although DNA ploidy can be a helpful indicator, aneuploidy per se is not considered to be a specific marker of malignancy. Mutations in p53 have been reported to occur frequently in cases of benign pheochromocytoma. Thus, molecular analysis of this protein is not a useful diagnostic tool. The authors analyzed telomerase activity in benign and malignant pheochromocytomas and assessed its utility as a prognostic marker. METHODS: Telomerase activity was estimated in 16 benign pheochromocytomas, 3 malignant pheochromocytomas, and 16 normal adrenal medullae by the fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol. The telomerase activities of each group of samples were compared. RESULTS: No telomerase activity was detected in any of the normal adrenal medullae or the benign pheochromocytomas. By contrast, all of the three malignant pheochromocytomas had elevated telomerase activity. The telomerase activity in each tumor was determined to be 87.6 units, 71.2 units, and 180.3 units, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of telomerase activity in pheochromocytoma clearly suggests the malignant behavior of the component cells. Analysis of telomerase activity appears to be a powerful tool for the diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

Successful removal of large adrenal pheochromocytoma on the right side with liver mobilization.

We report a case of a large adrenal pheochromocytoma on the right side successfully removed with liver mobilization. Bilateral anterior subcostal incision with a ventral midline incision extending from the xiphoid and subsequent use of self-retraction system provided satisfactory exposure of liver and diaphragm. This incision is useful for easy mobilization of the liver and manipulation of the inferior caval vein in patients with large adrenal tumour on the right side.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
PubMed1998

Renal cell carcinoma with renal artery aneurysm.

We describe a patient who was diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma with renal artery aneurysm in the contralateral kidney. Right aneurysmectomy followed by simple arteriorrhaphy with termino-lateral anastomosis, and then left radical nephrectomy were performed in one session. The patient did well postoperatively. Generally, surgical indication of renal artery aneurysm itself has been yet a matter of debate. In such case like this, however, it seems better to resect any kind of aneurysm of the opposite side, taken into consideration the haemodynamic changes after nephrectomy. Surgical indications are commented on.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1998

Serum level of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen in haemodialysis patients.

Serum concentrations of carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) and carboxyterminal parathyroid hormone (C-PTH) were measured in 33 haemodialysis patients. Serum levels of PICP and C-PTH in the haemodialysis group were significantly higher than those in the controls. Although there was no correlation between serum C-PTH and creatinine, a positive correlation was found between PICP and creatinine. This indicates that the measurement of PICP in serum is useful for monitoring metabolic bone diseases in haemodialysis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Endocrinological and pathological entities of the pre-Cushing's syndrome.

The purpose of the study was to clarify the disease entity of pre-Cushing's syndrome. The authors report on the pathological findings and contents of various steroids in the adenomas of three cases of pre-Cushing's syndrome. Oncocytes were found in one adenoma and others were pure clear cell dominant adenomas. All the adenomas contained higher concentrations of precursor steroids than those of five cases of Cushing's syndrome. However, the patterns of increased precursors were quite different among the three cases. Pre-Cushing's syndrome appeared to include several different kinds of disease entities.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1998

Pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 in infertile men.

Reproductive condition was studied in 6 infertile men with pericentric inversion of chromosome 9. Semen analyses revealed one azoospermia, one oligozoospermia, three asthenozoospermias and one normozoospermia. Four cases showed normal levels of plasma gonadotropins and testosterone. The response of plasma testosterone to human chorionic gonadotropin was within the normal range in all cases. However, the administration of LH-RH resulted in abnormal response of plasma gonadotropin in all patients. These results indicate that infertile males with pericentric inversion of chromosome 9 have an abnormality in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Assessment of testicular function in experimental varicocele rats by phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

To assess testicular function in experimental varicocele rats, we used 31P magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy and compared MR spectroscopic parameters with flow cytometric DNA analysis. In vivo 31P MR spectroscopy and flow cytometric DNA analysis of testes were performed in 10 sham-operated and 9 induced varicocele rats. Although the testicular phosphomonoester (PM)/ATP ratio did not differ between sham-operated and induced varicocele rats, the phosphodiester (PD)/ATP ratio was significantly reduced and the inorganic phosphate (Pi)/ATP ratio was significantly increased in induced varicocele rats. There was no difference between the right and left sides. DNA flow cytometry showed a decrease in the percentage of haploid cells in induced varicocele rats, regardless of the side. This study indicates that in vivo 31P MR spectroscopy provides valuable information for assessment of testicular function.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Down's syndrome associated with seminoma in undescended testis.

In patients with Down's syndrome, the coincidence of testicular cancer with the syndrome has recently been emphasized. We present a case of Down's syndrome associated with seminoma in undescended testis and discuss the relationship between testicular cancer and Down's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Correlations between urethral elastance and histological architecture in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

To investigate whether the properties of the flow-controlling zone (FCZ) in obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) would be affected by differences in the histological architecture of the prostate, we evaluated relationships between morphometric and urodynamic data. BPH specimens from 14 patients undergoing transurethral surgery were analysed by quantitative morphometry. The cross-sectional area and mean elastance of FCZ, together with other parameters, were calculated on a preoperative pressure-flow study. Correlations between these parameters and tissue composition were determined. Our study group comprised men with clinical and urodynamic evidence of infravesical obstruction secondary to BPH. No correlations were found between the area density or total volume of each histological element and the cross-sectional area of FCZ at peak flow rate. Neither area density nor total volume of each element correlated with the mean urethral elastance. Our results indicate that the histological architecture of the prostate in patients with obstructive BPH cannot predict the urethral elastance.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor without hypertension.

Juxtaglomerular cell tumors are rare. This report presents a case of juxtaglomerular cell tumor without hypertension. All previously reported cases showed marked hypertension, whereas this is the first case of juxtaglomerular cell tumor without hypertension. The immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure of this case are discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Round spermatids from hybrid sterile mice can initiate normal embryo development.

Fertilization and embryo development following intracytoplasmic injection of round spermatids collected from hybrid sterile mice (BALB/c) were investigated. The rates of oocyte activation, blastocyst formation and development into live offspring were compared with those after intracytoplasmic injection of round spermatids from fertile mice (B6D2F1). The injection of oocytes with round spermatids from hybrid sterile or sterile males resulted in similar rates of normal fertilization and embryo development. The rates of development to term of 2-cell embryos were also similar, regardless of the origin of the round spermatids injected. This finding suggested that round spermatids from hybrid sterile mice have the ability to fertilize normally and to allow normal embryo development.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Mouse primary spermatocytes can complete two meiotic divisions within the oocyte cytoplasm.

This study was undertaken to determine whether primary spermatocyte nuclei can complete meiosis after transfer into maturing or mature oocytes and can participate in normal embryogenesis. When injected into maturing mouse oocytes at prometaphase of the first meiotic division, spermatocyte chromosomes became arranged on a first meiotic metaphase (Met-I) spindle. Thus, oocytes contained two sets of Met-I chromosomes. When these oocytes were matured in vitro and artificially activated, pronuclei and polar bodies of both maternal and paternal origin were formed, and zygotes began development. When single spermatocyte nuclei were injected into fully mature oocytes at metaphase of the second meiosis (Met-II), the spermatocyte nuclei transformed into a Met-I configuration, resulting in the formation of oocytes with both maternal (Met-II) and paternal (Met-I) chromosome complements. After activation of these oocytes, half of each chromosome set was separated into polar bodies. Transfer of nuclei from polar bodies of "paternal" origin into other Met-II oocytes resulted in the formation of oocytes with two sets of Met-II chromosomes, one maternal and one paternal in origin. When activated, two pronuclei and two polar bodies were formed and zygotes began development. It is concluded that nuclei of primary spermatocytes are able to undergo two successive meiotic divisions within oocyte cytoplasm. Thus, factors that drive chromosome condensation, organization of metaphase, and chromosome separation at anaphase in oocytes can drive these same maturation processes in primary spermatocyte nuclei. When a total of 258 two-cell embryos were transferred to foster mothers, only two live pups were born to two mothers. One died shortly after birth and the other 3 wk after birth. The reasons for poor embryonic and neonatal development remain to be determined.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Activity of alkaline and acid phosphatases in dental epithelial cells and enameloid during odontogenesis in two teleost fish, Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia buttikoferi.

The dental epithelial cells and enameloid at the stages of enameloid matrix formation, mineralization and maturation in the teleosts Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia buttikoferi were investigated by means of enzyme histochemistry in order to identify their functions associated with the structural modification. No marked enzyme activities were found in the inner dental epithelial cells in the stage of enameloid matrix formation, although the outer dental epithelial cells often exhibited moderate alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity. In the stages of enameloid mineralization and maturation, the inner dental epithelial cells, which possessed a ruffled border at the distal ends, showed intense ALPase activity at their lateral and proximal cell membranes. At the same time, many acid phosphatase (ACPase)-positive vesicles and granules were localized at the distal cytoplasm of the inner dental epithelial cells. The outer dental epithelial cells, which contained well-developed labyrinthine canalicular spaces, showed neither marked ALPase nor ACPase activity. It is postulated that the dental epithelial cells in these two teleosts are mainly involved in the removal of the organic matrix from the enameloid, and in material transport to the enameloid during the later half of odontogenesis.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

Histological evaluation of the effects of electropermeabilization after administration of bleomycin on bladder cancer in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of an electropermeabilization method in the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent in bladder cancer in the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine was used to induce bladder tumors in Wistar rats. Rats in group 1 were given a sham treatment. Rats in group 2 received an injection of bleomycin (BLM). Rats in group 3 received a series of eight 100- micros square-wave pulses at an electric field intensity of 1,000 V/cm (electropermeabilization) applied to the bladder. Rats in group 4 were treated with square-wave pulses after the injection of BLM. Nine days after the various treatments, all the bladders were removed and examined histopathologically. RESULTS: Histopathological examination revealed severe damage to tumors in group 4 exclusively. CONCLUSION: The cytotoxic effect of BLM on bladder cancer tissue was enhanced by electropermeabilization.

Animals↗