Biomedical subjects

Junko Yamagishi

Publications and source records attributed to Junko Yamagishi.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Splenic autotransplantation for a congested and enlarged wandering spleen with torsion: report of a case.

In children with diseases of the spleen, every effort should be made to preserve the organ, to prevent severe infections postsplenectomy. We report the case of a 7-year-old girl with torsion of a wandering spleen who we treated by autotransplantation of splenic tissues following splenectomy, when fixation of the enlarged spleen seemed impossible. Spleen scintigraphy showed uptake in the regenerating splenic tissues 9 months after surgery, and evidence of an increase in the size of the tissues 23 months after surgery. Howell-Jolly bodies had disappeared by 16 months after surgery. These findings suggested that the transplanted splenic tissues were resuming splenic functions. Based on our experience with this case, we conclude that autotransplantation after splenectomy is a treatment option for wandering spleen with torsion when fixation seems difficult because of splenic congestion and enlargement.

Angiography↗

PubMed2006

Visceral coverage with absorbable mesh followed by split-thickness skin graft in the treatment of ruptured giant omphalocele.

We report a case of ruptured giant omphalocele in whom herniated organs were successfully covered by an absorbable mesh and a subsequent skin graft. A 2,200 g male baby was born at 35 weeks of gestation. An abdominal wall abnormality was detected by prenatal ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation. At birth, the entire liver, stomach, and small and large bowel had herniated from the defect of the abdominal wall. The thorax and abdomen were highly underdeveloped, and attempts to reduce the organs into the abdomen were unsuccessful due to the extremely small abdominal cavity and associated pulmonary hypoplasia. To protect the herniated organs and prevent abdominal infections, the organs were covered by a polyglycan mesh and subsequently a meshed split-thickness skin graft. Ten weeks later, it was confirmed that the organs were completely covered by epithelialized tissue. However, the patient suffered from frequent respiratory infections and finally died of respiratory insufficiency. Based on the experience of the patient, we conclude that coverage of the herniated organs with an absorbable mesh and a skin graft is a recommendable treatment in ruptured giant omphalocele.

Fatal Outcome↗

PubMed2006

Efficacy of granulocyte apheresis in pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Granulocyte apheresis (GCAP), involving the removal of granulocytes from the blood, may improve clinical symptoms and facilitate a reduction in the dose of steroids in adult patients with ulcerative colitis. As a preliminary trial, GCAP was used to taper the dose of steroids in 4 pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis. METHODS: Three males and 1 female ranging from 11 to 17 years old were treated with GCAP once per week for 5 consecutive weeks/course. The ages of patients at clinical onset ranged from 8 to 12 years and the length of time from the clinical onset to GCAP treatment ranged from 28 to 58 months (median, 38.5 months). RESULTS: In 2 patients, symptoms and signs indicating disease activity improved after 2 courses of GCAP. Laboratory data and endoscopic findings also improved after treatment and the clinical efficacy was judged to be excellent in these patients. In 1 patient, GCAP improved laboratory and endoscopic hallmarks, but bloody stools persisted. Finally, the treatment was ineffective in the fourth patient who eventually underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: GCAP is effective in improving clinical symptoms and may play an important role in converting steroid therapy to other treatments in children with steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent ulcerative colitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcoma: analysis of Japanese patients and comparison with IRSG reports.

Rhabdomyosarcomas of the perianal and perineal regions are uncommon. This study was performed to clarify the clinical characteristics and guidelines of surgical treatment of patients with perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas younger than 20 years of age. Twenty-nine patients, 26 patients identified in the Japanese literature and three of our own, were analyzed and the results were compared with the data reported from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG). Female predominance and a twin-peak age distribution in infancy and adolescence were characteristic findings of the Japanese patients that were not observed in the IRSG studies. The demographic differences between the two groups were attributed to the differences in demographics of patients younger than 10 years of age. Of the 29 patients, 17 were categorized into clinical groups III/IV and 21 patients into stages 3/4. Alveolar histology was diagnosed in 18 patients. In patients more than 10 years of age, the female predominance was more prominent and the incidences of advanced clinical groups/stages and alveolar histology were significantly higher than those in patients younger than 10 years of age. Inguinal lymph nodes were always involved in patients with lymph node metastases and three patients developed metastases to the breast. Information regarding the survival time was available for 18 patients and the 5-year overall survival was 20%. Two patients with a group I/stage 2 tumor and one with a group II/stage 3 tumor survived for more than 2 years with no evidence of the disease. In these patients, the tumors were excised by primary surgery or primary reexcision and they were not accompanied by lymph node metastasis. Based on these data, complete tumor resection prior to chemotherapy should be pursued and the inguinal lymph nodes should be at least sampled because nodal involvement is closely associated with the patient's prognosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Secretion and expression of epithelial markers supports the biliary origin of solitary nonparasitic cyst of the liver in infancy.

Solitary nonparasitic cyst of the liver (SNPCL) is rare in children. Although there are several hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis, the true origin of SNPCL remains unknown. The authors present an infant with a huge SNPCL in whom the epithelial markers, CA19-9, DU-PAN-2, and SPan-1, were elevated in the serum and cystic fluid. The presence of CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 was shown by immunohistochemistry in the cystic epithelia. These indicate that the classical idea of biliary origin of SNPCL is supported.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2004

Expression pattern of the coparyl diphosphate synthase gene in developing rice anthers.

Rice anthers contain high concentrations of gibberellins A(4) and A(7). To understand their physiological roles, we examined the site of their biosynthesis by analyzing the expression pattern of a gene (OsCPS) encoding coparyl diphosphate synthase in developing rice flowers. Expression was apparent in the anthers 1-2 days before flowering, and CPS mRNA accumulated in the maturing pollen.

Flowers↗