Biomedical subjects

K Nemoto

Publications and source records attributed to K Nemoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Intracellular signal transduction for interleukin-1 beta-induced endothelin production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The authors investigated the intracellular signal transduction for interleukin (IL)-1 beta-induced endothelin (ET) production by endothelial cells from cultured human umbilical vein (HUVEC). Cultured HUVEC released immunoreactive (iR)-ET into the media in a time-dependent manner and a significant increase of iR-ET production was observed by the addition of IL-1 beta. The stimulating effect of IL-1 beta on iR-ET production was respectively inhibited by protein kinase C (C kinase) inhibitor (H-7), Ca-calmodulin inhibitor (W-7), cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A kinase) inhibitor (H-8) and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistain) in a dose-dependent fashion. The data suggested that intracellular signal transduction for IL-1 beta-induced iR-ET production were via such pathways as C kinase, A kinase, Ca-calmodulin and tyrosine kinase in combination or independently, though possible mediation by other pathways cannot be ruled out.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

PubMed1992

Low-dose rate telecobalt therapy as a boost against esophageal carcinomas.

The results of treating 54 esophageal carcinomas with low-dose rate telecobalt therapy (LDRT) as a boost were compared with those of treating 97 esophageal carcinomas with conventionally fractionated irradiation alone (CFI). The LDRT (100 cGy/hr, 500 to 700 cGy/day, a total dose of 1400 to 2000 cGy) was boosted at 10 days after 6000 cGy of the CFI dose. Although the LDRT group included more advanced cases than the CFI group, local effects and survival rates in the former group were slightly better than in the latter group. Late complications were more severe in the LDRT group. However, they were acceptable when the total dose administered to this group was less than 8000 cGy. Using LDRT as a boost against esophageal carcinomas was found to be satisfactory therapeutically.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Deoxyspergualin, a novel immunosuppressant, markedly inhibits human mixed lymphocyte reaction and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity in vitro.

Deoxyspergualin (DSG) has demonstrated potent immunosuppressive activities in vivo. However, because of its lability in culture medium, the mechanism of activity has not yet been identified in vitro. In this study, a more stable analogue, deoxymethylspergualin (MeDSG), was used to investigate the in vitro immunosuppressive activity of DSG. MeDSG suppressed both human mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity at doses greater than 0.1 micrograms/ml in vitro. In kinetics studies, MeDSG was found to suppress a MLR when added on day 3 of a 7 day MLR incubation but cyclosporin A (CYA) suppressed a MLR only when added during the initial stage of a MLR (i.e. on day 1). In studies of cell surface phenotype in the MLR, MeDSG treatment decreased the numbers of CD8+ lymphocytes but those of CD4+ lymphocytes were not affected. In addition, MeDSG had no significant effect on interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor expression or IL-2 production. These results suggest that MeDSG suppresses the T-cells which are proliferating competent cells such as cytotoxic T-cells (CD8+), but has a different mode of immunosuppressive action compared with CYA.

Cyclosporine↗

PubMed1992

Myeloprotective activity of deoxyspergualin: influence on splenic colony-forming cell injury and antitumor activity of mitomycin C in mice.

We have examined the efficacy of deoxyspergualin (DSG) in protecting splenic colony-forming cells (CFU-S) from mitomycin C (MMC)-induced damage. The main findings of the study are as follows. (1) When DSG was administered at doses of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg for 7 days before the MMC injection, the decrease of the femoral CFU-S caused by MMC was diminished on the day after the MMC injection. The optimal dose was found to be 3 mg/kg. (2) In animals receiving 3 mg/kg DSG for at least 3 days preceding the MMC injection, the femoral CFU-S was more than 200% of that in the MMC alone group one day after the MMC injection. (3) The number of femoral CFU-S in the mice which received 3 mg/kg DSG for 3 days prior to MMC was significantly restored day by day and reached 70% of normal at 5 days after the MMC injection, while it was only 13% of normal in the MMC alone group. Moreover, the prior DSG administration significantly diminished the MMC toxicity to circulating platelets. (4) DSG administration (3 mg/kg) 3 days prior to MMC did not weaken the antitumor activity against colon 26 adenocarcinoma or P388 leukemia when compared with MMC alone. These findings have shown the ability of DSG specifically to protect the animals against bone marrow toxicity caused by MMC without interfering with the antitumor activity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Ten-year survivors with multiple myeloma.

Of 130 Japanese patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma who were treated between 1970 and 1989, nine (6.9%) patients survived for more than 10 years. Younger age, low and intermediate tumour mass, chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, the disappearance of myeloma protein, and a positive response to retreatment were correlated with long-term survival.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with histological features of neoplastic angioendotheliosis.

Three cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, B-cell type, identical histologically to so-called neoplastic angioendotheliosis (NAE), are reported. All showed a rapidly progressive clinical course and were not properly diagnosed before death. The lymphoma cells were distributed in many vessels of systemic organs with a tendency to form aggregates. The primary sites in the three cases were probably the adrenal gland, lymph node, and spleen, respectively. In particular, in one case it was suggested that the lymphoma cells had spread from the adrenal tumor to other organs, showing the histological features of NAE. In the literature, the primary sites of NAE have been scarcely mentioned. However, gross tumors were present in some cases. In such cases, it is possible that the tumors could be the primary sites of NAE. We conclude that some non-Hodgkin's lymphomas can exhibit the features of NAE during their course, particularly in the terminal stages.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

PubMed1992

Prognostic relevance of morphological classification in multiple myeloma.

One hundred and twenty-two patients with multiple myeloma were classified as mature, intermediate, immature, or plasmablastic subtype according to Greipp's criteria. Contrary to Greipp's report, the survival time of plasmablastic myeloma was not significantly shorter than other subtypes, nor was the plasmablastic subtype identified as a poor prognostic factor. The survival time of mature plus intermediate myeloma was significantly longer than that of immature plus plasmablastic myeloma. Between the former and latter, significant differences were found for sex, clinical stage, thrombocytopenia, bone marrow plasmacytosis, renal insufficiency, bone destruction, and response rate to treatment. Therefore, it was suspected that the immature and plasmablastic subtypes were unfavorable prognostic factors in patients with multiple myeloma.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Intraoperative radiation therapy combined with hyperthermia against pancreatic carcinoma.

Fourteen patients with pancreatic carcinoma were treated by intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) combined with hyperthermia (hyperthermia group). Their treatment results were compared with those of fifty five patients treated by IORT without hyperthermia (control group). Most of patients underwent some kind of chemotherapy for the carcinoma and some of them received post-operative irradiation. Although there was no significant difference in pain relief between hyperthermia group and control group, the local tumor control rate of the former group was a little better. The survival rate of all patients was 14.5% at one year, 2.9% at two years, 2.9% at three years and 0% at four years after surgery. The survival rate of the hyperthermia group was 21.4% at one year and 7.1% at two years and that of the control group was 12.7% at one year and 1.8% at two years. The survival of the hyperthermia group was a little better than that of control group, but the difference was not significant. Only 36% of patients of hyperthermia group were successfully heated, and if hyperthermia were given successfully to all patients, their prognoses would be possibly improved.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Treatment results by uneven fractionated irradiation, low-dose rate telecobalt therapy as a boost, and intraoperative irradiation for malignant glioma.

The prognosis of malignant glioma is extremely poor. We applied conventionally fractionated irradiation combined with 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea (ACNU), uneven fractionated irradiation with ACNU, low dose rate telecobalt therapy as a boost, and intraoperative irradiation against 110 malignant gliomas to investigate the efficacy of these methods as alternative treatments for malignant glioma. Although local tumor control by uneven fractionated irradiation was better than that by the other methods, no significant improvement was obtained in survival rates. As a result of multiple regression analysis, age and histology were major factors for survival rates, and the difference of treatment methods was not important. Both low-dose rate telecobalt therapy as a boost and intraoperative irradiation showed little advantage because of the high risk of brain necrosis associated with them.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Radioresponse and prognosis of malignant glioma.

Radioresponse and prognosis of 91 malignant gliomas were studied to examine the efficacy of radiotherapy. There was no case of complete response. No statistically significant difference was observed among the prognoses of patients with various radiation methods. General survival rate was significantly higher than relapse-free survival rate both in astrocytoma grade III and in glioblastoma. This means that the retreatment after relapse is exceedingly important in any malignant glioma. In comparison with reported resection alone data, the efficiency of radiotherapy was evident in astrocytoma grade III and a part of glioblastoma; cases with minimal or no contrast enhanced area (CEA) in CT scans prior to irradiation. Poor radioresponders of glioblastoma with CEA should be reoperated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Prognostic factors in radiation-treated esophageal carcinoma.

Prognostic factors in esophageal carcinoma treated with irradiation were examined. The prognosis of 111 patients without metastasis who had received more than 60 Gy was analyzed. Significant associations were found between survival rates and tumor length, stage, radioresponse of the primary tumor and the s.c. X-P classification based on barium contrast radiography; superficial type (tumor limited to the surface of the esophageal wall), tumorous type (solid mass without ulceration), Ul-A type (tumor with shallow ulceration with regular margin), Ul-B type (tumor with deep ulceration or irregular ulcer margin), and funneled type (tumor invading the esophageal wall in a scirrhous pattern). In multiple regression analysis, the X-P classification had the strongest correlation with survival and the survival rates of patients with the superficial type, the tumorous type and the s.c. Ul-A type were significantly higher than those of patients with the other tumor types (p < 0.001).

Aged↗

PubMed1992

Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the small intestine.

We report a case of primary extramedullary plasmacytoma (PEMP), IgA kappa type, with a long clinical history, in a 64-year-old Japanese woman. In this case, PEMP occurred primarily in the jejunum and then recurred in several organs, specifically the spleen and stomach, and in the subcutaneous tissue, over a period of about 16 years. However, examination of bone marrow aspirates on several occasions continued to show no plasmacytoma involvement. The patient is still living. Immunohistochemical examinations revealed monoclonal IgA kappa immunoglobulin in the cytoplasm of infiltrating plasma cells in all surgical specimens examined. Immunoelectrophoresis revealed serum M-component only when the patient had a splenic tumor. Soon after splenectomy, the serum M-component disappeared. PEMP of the small intestine is rare.

Female↗

PubMed1992

Therapeutic activity of deoxyspergualin in comparison with cyclosporin A, and its combined use with cyclosporin A and prednisolone in highly allogeneic skin transplantation in the rat.

The present paper demonstrates the efficacy of a novel immunosuppressive agent, deoxyspergualin (DSG), in rat skin transplantation despite major histocompatible antigen differences, both by itself and in combination with cyclosporin A (CyA) and prednisolone (PD). DSG significantly prolonged the median survival time (MST) of WKAH skin on F344 rats, when given at daily doses of 1.5-12 mg/kg i.p. for 10 days starting from day one after grafting. A significant increase of the MST has been observed also in the rats orally receiving CyA at daily doses of 12.5-50 mg/kg according to the same dosing protocol. DSG was as effective as CyA in prolonging the MST. In contrast, when treatment started 4 days after grafting (at the time of the rejection crisis), DSG (6 mg/kg) was able to reverse the rejection, whereas CyA (50 mg/kg) was not. When DSG (1.5 mg/kg) and CyA (6.25 or 12.5 mg/kg) were given together from day one after grafting, the combined therapy was superior to each monotherapy. Similarly, when DSG (1.5 mg/kg) and PD (10 mg/kg) were given simultaneously from the rejection crisis, the combined therapy was demonstrated to have stronger activity than any of the monotherapies. Moreover, the skin-allografted rats could be switched successfully either from CyA to DSG treatment or from DSG to CyA treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Intracellular signals in IgG-mediated anaphylactic contraction of single smooth muscle cells.

Single smooth muscle cells from the taenia coli of guinea pigs passively sensitized with anti-egg albumin IgG fraction were used to evaluate the intracellular signal transduction system during anaphylactic contraction. 125I-IgG was bound to single smooth muscle cells, and sensitized smooth muscle cells contracted in response to antigen treatment. In response to neuraminidase treatment, 125I-IgG binding to the cells was decreased, along with an inhibition of anaphylactic contraction. Pretreatment with islet-activating protein (IAP), neomycin, quercetin and H-7 inhibited anaphylactic contraction, whereas pretreatment with phorbol 12,13-dibutylate augmented the contraction. The signal produced by the interaction between IgG bound to the smooth muscle cells and antigen appears to be transmitted to the intracellular contractile element via the signal transduction system involving G protein. Phospholipase-C and -A2 appear to be the effectors in the signal transduction system for anaphylactic contractions. Protein kinase C, activated with reference to phospholipase-C, also may be involved in anaphylactic contraction.

Anaphylaxis↗

PubMed1991

[Low-dose rate telecobalt therapy as a boost against esophageal carcinomas].

The results of treatment of 54 esophageal carcinomas managed with low-dose-rate telecobalt therapy (LDRT) as a boost were compared with those of 89 esophageal carcinomas treated with conventionally fractionated irradiation alone (CFI). The LDRT (1 Gy/hr, 5-7 Gy/day, to a total dose of 14-20 Gy) was boosted about 10 days after the CFI dose of 60 Gy. Although the LDRT group included more advanced cases than the CFI group, local effects and survival rate of the LDRT group, especially those with tumorous X-P and serrated types, were better than those of the CFI group. Late complications were more severe in the LDRT group. However, they were acceptable when the total dose in the LDRT group was brought under 80 Gy.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Elevation of nerve growth factor synthesis by constitutive expression of v-src oncogene in cultured rat fibroblasts.

Rat fibroblast 3Y1 cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) or transfected with the v-src gene showed a highly constitutive v-src gene expression. Simultaneously, marked increases in the cellular level of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA and NGF content in the culture medium were observed. The levels of NGF mRNA and NGF secreted into the medium were correlated with the expression level of v-src mRNA gene in both transformants and control 3Y1 cells. These results suggest that v-src gene expression is relevant to regulation of NGF synthesis in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Glycolipid changes in murine myelogenous leukemias: neutral glycolipids as markers for specific populations of leukemias.

We have studied the glycolipid composition of six different murine myelogenous leukemias as well as that of T-cell leukemias and normal spleen cells. Neutral and acidic lipid fractions were isolated by column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and an HPTLC overlay method. Murine myelogenous leukemias were found to contain globo- and ganglio-series neutral glycolipids, e.g., glucosylceramide (Glc-cer), lactosylceramide (Lac-cer), globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), globoside (Gb4), Forssman glycolipid (Gb5), and asialo-GM1 (GA1). Monoblastic leukemia cells contained increased proportions of Gb3, Gb4, Gb5, and GA1. Monocytic and myelomonocytic leukemia cells contained increased proportions of Glc-cer and Lac-cer. Especially, Glc-cer accounted for approximately 60% of the total neutral glycolipids in monocytic leukemia cells. Gb3 was the major neutral glycolipid in reticulum cell neoplasm type A, and it accounted for approximately 75% of the neutral glycolipids. GA1 was the major neutral glycolipid in myeloblastic and granulocytic leukemia cells as well as T-cell leukemias. Especially, granulocytic leukemia cells contained predominantly GA1, and it accounted for approximately 80% of the total neutral glycolipids. The pattern of gangliosides in myelogenous leukemias was more complex when compared with that of the neutral glycolipids; murine myelogenous leukemias contained at least 13 gangliosides, including such major gangliosides as GM1, GM1b containing N-acetyl neuraminic acid and N-glycolyl neuraminic acid, and Ga1NAc-GM1b. Alterations of glycolipid composition in murine myeloid leukemias may be associated with cellular differentiation and maturation, and therefore these characteristic glycolipid species may be regarded as markers for specific populations of leukemia cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

[Radiotherapy of intracranial germinomas].

Between 1978 and 1988, 28 patients with intracranial germinoma, verified or presumed, were treated with radiation. The diagnosis was made based on histology in 6 cases, on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology in 2 cases and on clinical (response to radiation) and radiological findings in the remaining 20 cases. The target volume was the primary site plus whole brain in 23 cases, whole brain in 4 cases and the primary site only in 1 case. Whole spinal irradiation was undertaken for 14 patients, including 9 patients of high risk group, i.e., with positive findings in CSF cytology, suspected subarachnoid space seeding, multifocal tumors, infiltration to the ventricular wall or previous surgery for the tumor. The average dose was 52.8 Gy to the tumor, 28.7 Gy to the whole brain and 21 Gy to the spinal axis. Five and ten-years survival rate were 100% and 96%, respectively. No intracranial recurrence or spinal metastasis has been found so far. Therefore no spinal irradiation seems to be unnecessary for non-high risk group of patients. Approximately 20 Gy should be sufficient, if spinal irradiation is to be indicated for high risk group. The dose for the primary tumor and whole brain could have been diminished to 40 Gy and 20 Gy, respectively.

Brain Neoplasms↗