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K Morii

Publications and source records attributed to K Morii.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Expression of telomerase RNA, telomerase activity, and telomere length in human gliomas.

To understand the mechanisms of telomere maintenance in human gliomas, telomerase activity, telomerase RNA expression and telomere length of surgically excised glioma samples were analyzed. Sixty-five percent of gliomas exhibited telomerase activity, the occurrence of which was not related to their histological malignancy scale. Not only the telomerase-positive gliomas, but also the telomerase-negative gliomas and normal brain expressed telomerase RNA, suggesting that the presence of telomerase RNA component does not indicate the presence of telomerase activity. Compared with telomerase-positive gliomas, telomerase-negative gliomas had long heterogeneous telomeric terminal restriction fragments. These data suggest that in addition to the telomerase-dependent mechanism, a telomerase-independent mechanism for telomere maintenance may be present in human gliomas.

Astrocytoma↗

Intra-mesenteric artery steroid administration relieved severe refractory gastro-intestinal graft-vs.-host disease in an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation patient.

We report a case of severe gastro-intestinal (G-I) graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) successfully treated with intra-mesenteric artery steroid administration. A 29-year-old man with severe aplastic anemia (SAA) was submitted to HLA-identical unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and was found to be suffering from grade IV G-I GVHD. Although cyclosporine, steroid pulse therapy, and FK506 proved ineffective, 30 mg of water-soluble prednisolone as administered into each the superior and inferior mesenteric artery with remarkable effects. This treatment was repeated two times, and the symptoms of G-I GVHD disappeared completely.

Adult↗

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression analysis of the human neuronatin. High level expression in human pituitary gland and pituitary adenomas.

The authors cloned the nearly complete cDNA of human neuronatin with the aid of an expressed sequence tag (EST) database, and analyzed its expression in various human tissues by Northern blot analysis. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the human neuronatin showed a high similarity to those of rodents. The Northern blot analysis revealed that the human neuronatin message was expressed predominantly in the fetal brain in the brain-specific manner, but only faintly in the adult brain. Among the various adult human tissues examined, the anterior pituitary gland was shown to be the only place where the neuronatin mRNA was strongly expressed. Intense neuronatin expression was also observed in several human pituitary adenomas, including ACTH-producing, GH-producing, and nonfunctioning adenomas, but hardly detected in other brain tumors.

Adenoma↗

[Clinical study of the application of the concepts of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in liver cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage--a retrospective study].

The retrospective study was aimed at assessing the usefulness of the application of the criteria of SIRS for identifying a subset of patients with higher mortality in 22 cases (21 patients) of liver cirrhosis with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH) and 16 cases (14 patients) of liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma with upper GIH. The following results were obtained; (1) The incidence of SIRS on upper GIH was 66%. (2) The mortality rate in patients with SIRS on GIH was significantly higher than in patients with non-SIRS on GIH in 60 days after GIH was significantly higher than in patients with non-SIRS on GIH in 60 days after GIH (50% vs. 8%; p < 0.01). (3) The rate of patients who met four criteria of SIRS on GIH or during admission and of patients whose durations of SIRS was over 5 days was significantly higher in the died patients with SIRS on GIH than in the survived patients with SIRS on GIH (67% vs. 0%; p < 0.01, 67% vs. 0%; p < 0.01, respectively). These results suggested that the application of the criteria of SIRS was useful for identifying a subset of patients with higher mortality in chronic liver disease with GIH.

Adult↗

T-cell mediated polyclonal B-cell activation in a case of B-cell lymphoma associated with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia.

The mechanism of abnormal immunoglobulin production in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is still poorly understood. We report a case of B-cell type non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with marked elevated polyclonal hyper-gammaglobulinemia (serum IgG was 7598 mg/dl; IgM, 455 mg/dl). We conducted a mixed lymphocyte culture test using peripheral lymphocytes obtained from the patient and a healthy volunteer. After co-culture with the patient's CD3+ cells, not only the patient's CD3- cells but also control CD3- cells produced greater amounts of IgG and IgM. Elevated IL-6 was also detected from the patient's CD3+ cells. This strongly suggests that B-lymphoma cells stimulate CD3+ cells to produce IL-6 and hence activate normal CD3- cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Molecular cloning and RARE cleavage mapping of human 2p, 6q, 8q, 12q, and 18q telomeres.

Large terminal fragments of human chromosomes 2p, 6p, 8q, 12q, and 18q were cloned using yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs). RecA-assisted restriction endonuclease (RARE) cleavage analysis of genomic DNA samples from II unrelated individuals using YAC-derived probes confirmed the telomeric localizations of the half-YACs studied. The cloned fragments provide telomeric closure of maps for the respective chromosome arms and will supply the reagents needed for analyzing and sequencing these distal subtelomeric regions.

Base Sequence↗

[Uveitis in leprosy patients].

We examined 24 dermatologically cured leprosy patients with ongoing uveitis (UV+) and 22 age and type matched controls (UV-) to study the late phase leprous UV. All patients have been skin smear negative for more than 10 years. The history of chemotherapy, 5 years before and after a accomplishing bacterial negativity, was evaluated and represented by "SCORE". It was found that anti-PGL-I and anti-LAM-B antibodies were significantly higher in UV+ group compared to the controls. The mean SCORE of chemotherapy in UV+ group was significantly lower than in the controls. Iris pearls were seen in 10 cases or 42% out of 24 UV+ patients. No iris pearls were seen in control group. These results suggest that insufficient chemotherapy and consequent incomplete elimination of bacilli are the risk factors for leprous UV in the quiescent stage of the disease.

Aged↗

Evaluation of mixed chimaerism and origin of bone marrow derived fibroblastoid cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We assessed the origin of bone marrow derived fibroblastoid cells (BMF) in long-term cultures of 13 samples obtained from nine patients after allo-BMT by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of MCT118, one of the variable number of tandem repeats regions (VNTR). BMF showed a complete recipient pattern in nine samples obtained from seven patients; however, a recipient-predominant mixed chimaeric pattern was detected in BMF from four patients. Also, two of the four patients died with bone marrow hypoplasia. These data suggest that mixed chimaeric pattern of BMF may be correlated with bone marrow hypoplasia.

Adult↗

G-CSF mobilization in steady state for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Peripheral blood stem cells were collected by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization in normal volunteers and patients with hematological malignancy in complete remission without anti-cancer drug synchronization. The yields of PBSC and the possibility of G-CSF mobilization in steady state for PBSC transplantation (PBSCT) were studied. For collecting PBSC, G-CSF was subcutaneously injected at the dose of 100 micrograms/m2 on 5 consecutive days. PBSC collection was performed on day 4 and/or 5 by using cell separator, CS-3000. In normal volunteers, the yields of colony forming unit in granulocyte and macrophage (CFU-GM) was 1.9 x 10(4) kg by processing the plasma of 1.5L, and CD34 positive cell was 1.4% on the average. In patients with hematological malignancy in complete remission, the processing volume ranges from 10 to 18L/1-2 cycles, the average CFU-GM number was 2.2 x 10(5)/kg, and the average CD34 positive cell was 2.2%. In acute leukemia case, PBSCT was performed by using G-CSF mobilized PBSC, engraftment was achieved earlier. In conclusion, the yields of G-CSF mobilized PBSC from normal volunteers suggested the possibility of PBSCT and the yields of PBSC from patients in complete remission proved that G-CSF mobilization method in complete remission status could take the place of drug synchronized G-CSF mobilization for which the timing of collection and the drug choice for synchronization are intricate.

Adult↗

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as a therapeutic modality for hematological disorders: a report based on 39 cases.

The outcomes of 39 patients with hematological disorders who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from September 1986 to March 1992 were reported. The length of follow-up was six to 50 months. Twenty patients with acute leukemia, eight patients with aplastic anemia, seven patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and two patients with myelodysplastic syndrome were included. Major complications were acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (17 cases out of 36 evaluable cases; 47 percent), chronic GVHD (13/25; 52 percent), sepsis (20/41; 49 percent), interstitial pneumonitis (IP) (10/30; 33 percent), and veno-occlusive disease (VOD) of the liver (5/41; 12 percent). Acute and chronic GVHD were well managed with cyclosporin, methotrexate, and steroids. VOD of the liver seemed to be associated with the pretransplant regimen including busulfan and cyclophosphamide. The overall probability of disease free survival of 39 patients who had undergone allogeneic BMT was 0.56. This includes nine high risk cases such as HLA antigen mismatch between the donor and the recipient, and as in the second or subsequent remission or in relapsed cases. The probability of disease free survival in patients with acute leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and aplastic anemia including high risk cases was 0.55 (n = 20), 0.71 (n = 7), and 0.50 (n = 8) respectively. These results indicate that allogeneic BMT is the major therapeutic strategy for patients whose survival could not be expected by conventional chemotherapy and that drug intensification for conditioning regimen is also important.

Adolescent↗

15-Deoxyspergualin controls cyclosporin- and steroid-resistant intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We report a case of cyclosporin- and methylprednisolone-resistant intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation which responded to a new immunosuppressant, 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG). Endoscopy showed lymphoid hyperplasia with CD3+, CD4+, CD8- lymphocyte infiltration into the submucosa of the jejunum and colon. DSG effectively suppressed this intestinal acute GVHD.

Acute Disease↗

[TGF-beta and platelet].

In the present paper, we investigated the pathophysiological implication of TGF-beta from megakaryocytes or megakaryoblasts in the development of myelofibrosis. In the bone marrow of myelofibrosis, proliferation of megakaryocytes is often noticed. We therefore investigated the TGF-beta expression in the bone marrow megakaryocytes from 12 chronic myeloproliferative disorder patients with myelofibrosis by immunohistochemical analysis. About all the specimen showed strong positivity for TGF-beta. In order to examine whether megakaryoblasts produce TGF-beta, we then measured TGF-beta activity in the conditioned medium (CM) of megakaryoblasts from a patient with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia who had profound myelofibrosis. The CM showed strong collagen synthesis stimulating activity which was nullified by addition of anti TGF-beta antibody. Since TGF-beta exists as latent form in platelets, TGF-beta was considered to be altered from active to latent form during megakaryocytes differentiation. In this context, MEG-01, a megakaryoblastic cell line which produces active TGF-beta was underwent differentiation to produce platelet-like bleb with TPA treatment. During the differentiation, MEG-01 showed the decrease of active TGF-beta production and increase of latent TGF-beta together with the production of LTBP. These results suggest that megakaryoblasts produce active TGF-beta and may may cause myelofibrosis, while more differentiated megakaryocytes produce latent TGF-beta. Mechanism by which megakaryoblast escape from negative autocrine of active TGF-beta was also investigated. MEG-01 was found to express mutated p53 which is considered to be responsible for impaired signal transduction of TGF-beta.

Blood Platelets↗

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in capillary hemangioblastoma.

The gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell-specific mitogen, was examined in capillary hemangioblastomas which are composed of abundant microvasculature and primitive angiogenic elements represented by stromal cells. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses showed that the VEGF mRNA was highly expressed in the stromal cells, but not in the endothelial cells. Reverse transcription/PCR analysis revealed that the VEGF mRNA species expressed in the stromal cells were the shorter splicing forms, VEGF121 and VEGF165, which are potent to be secreted from cells and the longer splicing form, VEGF189, which is predominantly cell-associated. Our findings suggest that VEGF secreted from the stromal cells plays an important role in the endothelial cell proliferation in capillary hemangioblastomas.

Base Sequence↗

Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Cytokine gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo BMT) was analysed using a semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA was increased during the development of GVHD and the degree of this increment depended on the severity of the disease. IL-2 expression was not detected at all and interferon-gamma expression was not much changed during GVHD. In patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), another transplantation-related complication, the expression of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha mRNA was increased but IL-6 mRNA expression showed little increase. These findings suggest that IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells play an important role in the development of GVHD. Furthermore, liver dysfunction due to GVHD or VOD may be distinguishable by this type of cytokine analysis. Analysis of cytokine mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may provide important information concerning the immune response and the cytokine network system in marrow transplant patients.

Adolescent↗

[Initial anthracycline-based chemotherapy without radiotherapy in patients older than 70 years with localized lymphoma arising from Waldeyer's ring].

Between July 1982 and November 1992 twenty-six patients older than 70 years with localized stage of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) arising from Waldeyer's ring were treated with initial chemotherapy consisting of anthracycline-based combination chemotherapies without regional radiotherapy in Saitama Cancer Center and Chiba Cancer Center. Patients with stage I-II were eligible for this study. There were 9 men and 17 women, ranging in age from 70 to 86 years with a median age of 77. Eight patients were aged over 80. The initial chemotherapy consisted of 400 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide iv on day 1, either 40 mg/m2 of adriamycin or 40 mg/m2 of epirubicin iv on day 1, 2.0 mg/m2 of vindesine iv on day 1 and 40 mg/m2 of prednisolone po for 5 days. This combination chemotherapy was repeated every 4 weeks and given 6-10 cycles. There were 4 cass of stage I disease and 22 cases of stage II disease. Histologic subtypes were follicular large (1 case), diffuse large (16 cases), diffuse mixed (4 cases), and diffuse medium (4 cases). A complete response was obtained in 23 (88%) of the 26 patients. The median courses of chemotherapies in complete responders were 6 (range, 2-10). There were 7 recurrences among the 23 responders. The complete response was well sustained with an actuarial relapse-free survival of 59% at 5 years. To date 9 patients expired, four after a recurrence, four under complete remission and the remaining one without attaining CR. The survival curve of all patients became flat at 56 months and was well sustained with an actuarial survival of 34%.

Aged↗