PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Kodama

Publications and source records attributed to J Kodama.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Serum C-reactive protein as a prognostic factor in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that the serum level of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) correlates with the level of C-reactive protein (CRP). The purpose of this study is to determine the significance of CRP as a prognostic factor in epithelial ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: The present study is comprised of 120 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer from 1985 to 1992. In this study, CRP levels above 50 mg/l were considered high CRP. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinicopathological variables associated with poor survival. RESULTS: The serum CRP value was significantly associated with the volume of ascites (P = 0.000004). Univariate analysis showed that the FIGO stage, primary tumour diameter, size of residual tumour, histologic grade, volume of ascites and high serum level of CRP were significant prognostic factors. Cox's multivariate proportional hazard model showed that histologic grade was the most important prognostic factor (P = 0.0026). FIGO stage and volume of ascites were also independent factors for 5-year survival (P = 0.0310 and P = 0.0216, respectively). However, the serum CRP value was not an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: CRP is an adverse prognostic factor in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1999

Vascular endothelial growth factor is implicated in early invasion in cervical cancer.

The association between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and clinicopathological factors has scarcely been examined in cervical cancer. This study examines the level of VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in invasive cervical cancer and its association with clinicopathological features including microvessel density. The level of VEGF mRNA was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using beta-actin as an internal control in 66 patients with stages Ia-IVb invasive cervical cancer. In 42 patients who underwent surgery, the microvessel count was also assessed by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen in the most neovascularised area of the specimen. The highest level of VEGF mRNA expression was observed in early invasive cervical cancers. Except for stage IVb, the stage of the disease inversely correlated with the level of VEGF mRNA (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of VEGF mRNA with respect to histological cell types. 38 patients with stages Ib-IIb cervical cancer underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. There was no significant difference in the level of VEGF mRNA with respect to lymph node metastasis, depth of stromal invasion, tumour size, parametrial involvement or vaginal involvement among these patients. A significant relationship was found between the microvessel density and the level of VEGF mRNA (P < 0.01). These findings provide evidence that the expression of VEGF is involved in the promotion of angiogenesis in cervical cancer and plays an important role in early invasion.

Endothelial Growth Factors↗
PubMed1999

Assessment of myometrial invasion at the invasion site of an endometrial carcinoma by ultrasonography along with an intrauterine catheter.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU) the thickness of the intact myometrium at the presumed tumor-origin site and to establish criteria for a half myometrial invasion. METHODS: A total of 19 successive patients with endometrial cancer who were treated between January 1, 1997, and January 31, 1998, participated in this study. TVU mode B with and without the use of an intrauterine silicon catheter was performed. RESULTS: Using a catheter, the origin site was correctly detected in 15 cases (79%). The best criterion for half myometrial invasion was a 6-mm thickness of the intact myometrium at the origin site. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of TVU with the use of a catheter in cases with the correct estimated origin site, were 1.00/0.67/0.86 for myometrial invasion < 1/2, and 0.67/1.00/0.86 for myometrial invasion > or = 1/2. CONCLUSION: It is of value to use 6-mm as the criterion for the thickness of the intact myometrium at the estimated tumor-origin site in connection with TVU with the use of a catheter for preoperatively assessing half myometrial invasion.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Angiogenesis and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase expression in cervical cancer.

The object of this study was to clarify the association of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF)/thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase), separately assessed in cancer cells and in stroma cells, with clinicopathological factors including tumor angiogenesis and prognosis in cervical cancer. The expression of PD-ECGF was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in 92 patients with stage Ib-II cervical cancer. The microvessel count was assessed by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen in the most neovascularized area. Microvessel count was significantly higher in tumors with non-squamous cell carcinoma. PD-ECGF expression in cancer cells was significantly higher in tumors with pelvic node metastasis and squamous cell carcinoma. Immunopositivity for PD-ECGF in stroma cells was significantly higher in tumors with large size and deep stromal invasion. The microvessel counts in cases with positive PD-ECGF expression in stroma cells were significantly higher than those in cases with negative PD-ECGF expression in stroma cells (p=0.048). Disease-free survival and overall survival were significantly worse in patients with deep stromal invasion, parametrial involvement, vaginal involvement, lymph-vascular space involvement, pelvic lymph node metastasis and high microvessel count. A multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model showed that high microvessel count independently predicted disease-free and overall survival. The expression of PD-ECGF in stroma cells may play a crucial role in the promotion of angiogenesis and tumor angiogenesis can be used as a useful prognostic marker for cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Angiogenesis and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor/thymidine phosphorylase expression in endometrial cancer.

The object of this study was to clarify the association of angiogenic factor, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF)/thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) with clinicopathological factors including tumor angiogenesis and patient outcome in endometrial cancer. There was no correlation between the expression of PD-ECGF in cancer cells and any of the clinicopathological variables. Immunopositivity for PD-ECGF in stroma cells was significantly higher in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. The microvessel counts correlated with PD-ECGF positive stroma cells (p<0.0001). Disease-free survival was significantly worse in patients with marked PD-ECGF expression in stromal cells and high microvessel count. A multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model showed that high microvessel counts independently predicted disease-free survival as well as stage and myometrial invasion. The expression of PD-ECGF in stroma cells may play a crucial role in the promotion of angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis can be used to predict prognosis in patients with endometrial cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced cervical cancer].

Twenty-five patients with advanced cervical cancer (IIb-IVa) were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy or radiotherapy. According to the evaluation by MRI, complete response was achieved in 2 cases and partial response in 17 cases. Eventually the response rate was 76%. The response rate was higher in squamous cell carcinomas (85%) than adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous carcinomas (67%). The histological effect is superior in squamous cell carcinomas than adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous carcinomas. Radical hysterectomy was performed in 5 cases of 11 (45%) stage III-IVa cervical cancers. There was no correlation between tumor size and response to NAC. NAC therapy may be useful therapy in advanced cervical cancers, especially squamous cell carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

CD44 exon v6 is not implicated in the progression and metastasis of endometrial cancer.

We examined the presence of mRNA for CD44v6 and assessed the association with clinicopathological features in 42 patients with endometrial cancer by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern blot hybridization with oligonucleotide probe specific for v6. The standard form of CD44 was expressed in all specimens and 20 out of 42 endometrial cancers expressed an isoform containing exon v6 in combination with other variant exons. However, there was no correlation between the expression of CD44v6 and any clinicopathological factors. These findings suggested that the expression of CD44v6 is not implicated in the progression and metastasis of endometrial cancer.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗
PubMed1998

Different angiogenic pathways in human cervical cancers.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to clarify the association between the expression of two types angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF)/thymidine phosphorylase(dThdPase) and clinicopathological features, including tumor angiogenesis, in cervical cancers. METHODS: The expression of VEGF and PD-ECGF was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of tumor specimens from 73 patients with stage Ib-IIb cervical cancer (51, squamous cell carcinoma; 19, adenocarcinoma; 3, adenosquamous carcinoma) who underwent radical hysterectomy. The microvessel density was assessed by immunostaining for factor VIII-related antigen in the most neovascularized area. RESULTS: The microvessel density in adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than that in squamous cell carcinomas (P < 0.01). The intensity of VEGF expression in adenocarcinomas was significantly stronger than that in squamous cell carcinomas (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of PD-ECGF in squamous cell carcinomas was significantly higher than that in adenocarcinomas (P < 0.0001) and adenosquamous carcinomas (P < 0.01). There was an inverse relationship between VEGF expression and PD-ECGF expression among all patients studied (P < 0.001). The microvessel density was significantly correlated with the intensity of VEGF expression (P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no correlation between the microvessel density and the expression of PD-ECGF. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of VEGF appears to be involved in the promotion of angiogenesis in cervical cancers. Furthermore, we propose that angiogenic pathways may be different in different types of cervical cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

CD44 exon v6 correlates with cellular differentiation but not with progression and metastasis of cervical cancer.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CD44v6 expression correlates with progression or metastasis of cervical cancer. The presence of mRNA for CD44v6 was examined, the association with clinicopathological features was assessed in 80 patients with cervical cancer by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subsequent Southern blot hybridisation with an oligonucleotide probe specific for v6. The standard form of CD44 was expressed in all specimens and 53 of 80 cervical cancers expressed an isoform containing exon v6 in combination with other variant exons. In addition, longer size transcripts of more than 1350 bp (long form) were identified in 22 of the 53 CD44v6 positive patients. The expression of CD44v6 and CD44v6 long form in squamous cell carcinomas was significantly higher than that in non-squamous cell carcinomas (P < 0.001). The expression of CD44v6 long form in histological grade 1 and 2 was significantly higher than that in grade 3 (P < 0.05). 47 patients in stage Ib-IIb cervical cancers were treated by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. We did not find any association between the expression of the long form or the short form of CD44v6 and any pathological features, except for histological cell type. These findings suggest that the regulation of CD44v6 seems to be different between different histological cell types and different tumour grades, and the expression of CD44v6 might not be implicated in the progression and metastasis of cervical cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Hereditary angioneurotic edema and thromboembolic diseases: I: How symptoms of acute attacks change with aging.

Localized edema of the larynx and pharynx leading to death from asphyxia has long been recognized as a characteristic symptom of hereditary angioneurotic edema (HANE). Long-term follow-up of younger HANE patients has revealed that transient localized acute attacks of edema affect tissues where the microcirculation maintains the blood supply. However, with aging, HANE attacks precipitate disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) or multiple organ failure (MOF). Substitution with a C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) has resulted in a fulminant lethal end with a rapid and profound decrease in antithrombin-III (AT-III) activity. A possible mechanism is as follows: Exogenous stimuli activate plasma proteinase systems with the generation of plasma kallikrein that activates the tissue factor pathway (TF) and liberates bradykinin (BK). In younger patients, BK enhances vascular permeability. In the elderly, activated TF is controlled by tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and generates thrombin, which is the target enzyme of AT-III and precipitates DIC or MOF. In elderly patients, the characteristic symptom of HANE is hypercoagulation by age-related changes in the biosynthesis of AT-III or TFPI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

A close correlation between c-erbB-2 gene amplification and local progression in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

The c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene is a gene that encodes a growth factor receptor-like molecule with tyrosine kinase activity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether c-erbB-2 gene amplification measured by the simple and sensitive differential polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method correlates with clinicopathological factors in endometrial adenocarcinomas. Overall, 7 out of the 38 endometrial adenocarcinomas (18.4%) displayed amplified c-erbB-2 oncogene. No correlation between c-erbB-2 gene amplification and FIGO stage, histologic grade or existence of metastatic disease was found. There was a significant association between c-erbB-2 gene amplification and deep myometrial invasion. In the current study, it has been suggested that c-erbB-2 gene amplification is possibly involved in local progression but is not closely related to the loss of cell differentiation and metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Presence of human papilloma virus DNA in pelvic lymph nodes can predict unexpected recurrence of cervical cancer in patients with histologically negative lymph nodes.

Patients without any evidence of lymph node metastases are supposed to have a fair prognosis, but some of these patients develop recurrent disease unexpectedly after surgery. The object of this study is to examine whether the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA could be used as a diagnostic marker to predict such recurrences. Two hundred and thirty-six patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage Ib and II cervical cancer at Okayama University Hospital (Japan) from 1988-1994 were reviewed, and only those cases positive for HPV-16 or HPV-18 in primary sites were included in this survey. The E6-E7 region of the HPV genome was amplified by a sensitive nested PCR from archival pelvic lymph node specimens. HPV sequences identical to those of the primary sites were detected in histologically confirmed negative lymph nodes, regardless of histological type or HPV type of the primary lesion, in 9 of 10 patients who recurred within 4 years of surgery. In contrast, histologically confirmed negative lymph nodes from 12 patients with stage IIb disease without evidence of recurrent disease were all negative for the presence of HPV, except for 1 lymph node. The presence of HPV DNA in histologically negative nodes implies the possibility of early nodal involvement or coexistence of undetectable hematogenic dissemination and could therefore be used as a diagnostic marker to predict the unexpected recurrence of these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

The developmental role of type III and type IV cells in the rat submandibular gland.

In addition to seromucous cells and a few mucous cells (Type II cells), submandibular glands of 2-8 month old rats contain two additional cell types: type III and type IV. Type III cells contain serous-type secretory granules that sometimes have a complex substructure; type IV cells appear to be seromucous, but their granules clearly are different from those in conventional endpiece seromucous cells. Both type III and IV cells are involved in histogenesis of new endpieces in a process that differs markedly from that occurring in perinatal glands. In this process, intercalated ducts bud and give rise to immature endpieces that consist entirely of type III cells. These differentiate into type IV cells, which in turn differentiate into standard seromucous cells. Concurrently, the intercalated ducts become shorter as their most distal cells differentiate into granular duct cells. This type of developmental process begins approximately 2 months postnatally, when histogenesis of endpieces by means of terminal tubules has ended, and continues until 6 months, when its frequency sharply declines.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A polypeptide derived from mitochondrial dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase is located on the plasma membrane in skeletal muscle.

Dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (DLST) is the core-enzyme of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex which is located in mitochondria. In this study, several tissues from rat and human were immunostained with an affinity-purified anti-DLST antibody. Of the tissues examined, the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle was immunostained with the antibody besides mitochondria. Furthermore, subcellular fractionation analysis coupled with Western blotting demonstrated that the antigen of the anti-DLST antibody is distributed on the plasma membrane fraction in addition to the mitochondria fraction in skeletal muscle and that it is free from the complex. The molecular weight of the polypeptide bound to the plasma membrane was about 20 kilodaltons (kDa). The polypeptide was purified by immunoprecipitation and its N-terminal amino-acid sequence was determined. The amino-acid sequence exactly corresponded to a part of DLST. Northern blots revealed the presence of mRNA corresponding to the 20 kDa protein. We are the first to report that a mitochondrial protein is also present on the plasma membrane in skeletal muscle as well as in mitochondria.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1997

Amplification of the mdm-2 gene and p53 abnormalities in uterine sarcomas.

The aim of this study is to address the role of mdm-2-gene amplification in the tumorigenesis of uterine sarcomas. Differential PCR with DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens was employed in 12 patients with uterine sarcomas. We detected mdm-2-gene amplification in 4 out of 12 uterine sarcomas. The estimated copy number of the mdm-2 gene ranged from 4 to 13. Positive cases included 1 leiomyosarcoma and 3 carcinosarcomas, however, there was no correlation between mdm-2-gene amplification and clinicopathological characteristics. Over-expression of p53 protein was also immunohistochemically studied in the same series of patients: 4 out of 8 carcinosarcomas displayed p53 immunoreactivity. Taking these results together, only one carcinosarcoma was found to have both mdm-2-gene amplification and p53 over-expression. In contrast, half of the patients were found to have alterations either of mdm-2 or of p53. These findings support the notion that mdm-2-gene amplification might be an alternative mechanism for escaping from the regulatory pathway of p53 to suppress cell growth.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Advanced endometrial cancer detected at 7 months after childbirth.

It is very rare to find endometrial cancers arising within a short period following childbirth, presumably because pregnancy has a protective effect against endometrial cancer mediated by elevated secretion of progesterone. We present the case of a 30-year-old Japanese woman with stage IIIC endometrial cancer that was found 7 months after childbirth. The patient was treated with surgery followed by 6 cycles of intravenous combination chemotherapy and oral administration of medroxyprogesterone acetate. Histopathological examination of surgical specimen revealed poorly differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma of the endometrium with deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases. The disease progressed rapidly and the patient died of the disease.

Adult↗