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Biomedical subjects

K Wakasugi

Publications and source records attributed to K Wakasugi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Direct hypogastric artery reconstruction for threatened lower limb ischemia: report of a case.

The hypogastric artery is one of the major collateral arteries in aortoiliac occlusive disease. This report describes a case of limb-threatening ischemia caused by acute arterial thrombosis of the right hypogastric artery. The external iliac and distal arteries were obstructed and the hypogastric artery was a major collateral artery. A diagnostic arteriogram taken after intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy revealed a stenotic lesion in the orifice of the hypogastric artery. Open thromboendarterectomy of the hypogastric artery and patch angioplasty, using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft, were performed to salvage the limb. The hypogastric artery was successfully revascularized and ischemic rest pain was relieved.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Synthesis and stereostructure-activity relationship of three asymmetric center pyrethroids: 2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether and cyanohydrin ester.

2-Methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether 2 and cyanohydrin ester 3, a couple of pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers, were synthesized. Of each of the four diastereomers of 2 and 3, only the (1R*,2R*,3R*)-2a and 3a showed significant insecticidal activities. Dual sets of enantiomers [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-2a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a] and [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-3a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-3a] were synthesized through the asymmetric cyclopropanation using the Aratani catalyst. Significant separations of insecticidal activities were observed between both the enantiomers against the tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and the common mosquito (Culex pipiens pallens); (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a and (+)-3a showed higher activities than their antipodes (1R,2R,3R)(-)-2a and (-)-3a. This result is the second example of such synthetic pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Efficacy of UFT in the treatment of para-aortic lymph node metastasis following gastric cancer surgery: case report].

The patient was a 68-year-old man who underwent pyloric gastrectomy for advanced stomach cancer on December 6, 1996. The histopathological diagnosis was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, ss, ly3, v1, n2 (+), and stage IIIa. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of short-term intravenous infusion of 5-FU, 320 mg/m2/day (= 480 mg/body) for 5 days beginning on postoperative day (POD) 1, and oral 5-FU, 200 mg/day, for 1 year beginning on POD 14. The preoperative CEA value was 316.2 ng, but it fluctuated below 10 ng postoperatively. About one year after the operation, the patient began to complain of epigastric pain, loss of appetite, and general malaise. CT of the upper abdomen revealed a 1.5-cm para-aortic lymph node, and the CEA value of 319.0 ng was abnormally high. 5-FU was stopped, oral UFT at 300 mg/day was started, and the patient's course was followed. Three months after the start of UFT, the lymph node had shrunk on CT (shrinkage rate: 66.7%), and the CEA value had decreased to 14.3 ng. As though corresponding to these changes there was a gradual decrease in the epigastric pain, general malaise, etc., and the patient's appetite also returned. There were no subsequent elevations in the CEA values or increases in the size of the para-aortic lymph nodes, and the patient's general condition was favorably maintained. UFT appeared to be effective against the lymph node metastasis around the aorta in this case.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Superior mesenteric vein thrombosis due to diverticulitis and spontaneous thrombolysis after ilio-cecal resection. A case report.

Inflammation or infection is one of the major causes of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. A case of secondary superior mesenteric vein thrombosis is presented, which was identified with enhanced CT. The mesenteric venous thrombosis was due to diverticulitis of the ileum, and ilio-cecal resection was performed. Because no findings of intestinal ischemia were present, thrombectomy was not attempted. After surgery, the patient was followed up by repeated CT scan, and spontaneous thrombolysis without thrombectomy or thrombolytic therapy was exhibited. The present case indicated abdominal inflammation or infection strongly related to the development and regression of mesenteric venous thrombosis.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1999

Highly differentiated motifs responsible for two cytokine activities of a split human tRNA synthetase.

While native human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) is inactive as a cell-signaling molecule, it can be split into two distinct cytokines. The enzyme is secreted under apoptotic conditions in culture where it is cleaved into an N-terminal fragment that harbors the catalytic site and into a C-domain fragment found only in the mammalian enzymes. The N-terminal fragment is an interleukin-8 (IL-8)-like cytokine, whereas the released C-domain is an endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAP II)-like cytokine. Although the IL-8-like activity of the N-fragment depends on an ELR motif found in alpha-chemokines and conserved among mammalian TyrRSs, here we show that a similar (NYR) motif in the context of a lower eukaryote TyrRS does not confer the IL8-like activity. We also show that a heptapeptide from the C-domain has EMAP II-like chemotaxis activity for mononuclear phagocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Eukaryote proteins other than human TyrRS that have EMAP II-like domains have variants of the heptapeptide motif. Peptides based on these sequences are inactive as cytokines. Thus, the cytokine activities of split human TyrRS depend on highly differentiated motifs that are idiosyncratic to the mammalian system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Two distinct cytokines released from a human aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze aminoacylation of transfer RNAs (tRNAs). It is shown that human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase can be split into two fragments with distinct cytokine activities. The endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II-like carboxy-terminal domain has potent leukocyte and monocyte chemotaxis activity and stimulates production of myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and tissue factor. The catalytic amino-terminal domain binds to the interleukin-8 type A receptor and functions as an interleukin-8-like cytokine. Under apoptotic conditions in cell culture, the full-length enzyme is secreted, and the two cytokine activities can be generated by leukocyte elastase, an extracellular protease. Secretion of this tRNA synthetase may contribute to apoptosis both by arresting translation and producing needed cytokines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Malignant Adenomyoepithelioma of the Breast:A Case with Distant Metastases.

Adenomyoepithelioma is thought to be a low-grade malignancy, and cases showing malignant behavior are rare. A massive breast tumor with skin invasion in a 60-year-old woman was diagnosed as malignant adenomyoepithelioma. Despite the tumor size and skin invasion, noaxillary lymph node metastases were detected. Light microscopy showed proliferation of tubular structures composed of atypical epithelial and myoepithelial cells and occasional anaplastic cells with mitotic figures extending to the epidermis of the skin. Twenty-four months after the surgery the patient complained of dull pain in the right thigh, and was found to have bone, lung and mediastinal lymph node metastases. There was neither local recurrence nor axillary lymph node metastasis. Subsequent femur fracture was treated by osteotomy. Despite additional chemoradiotherapy, the patient died 43 months after the first operation. Our case and literature review indicated that this tumor tends to show hematogenous metastasis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Duodenal metastasis from large cell carcinoma of the lung: report of a case.

Duodenal metastasis from primary lung cancer is extremely rare. It rarely shows any symptoms, and the prognosis for this condition is poor. We herein describe the case of a 46-year-old woman with primary lung cancer who underwent a left upper lobectomy. Severe anemia was observed about 20 days after lobectomy. Gastroduodenoscopy showed duodenal metastasis. Simultaneously, brain metastasis was also detected using magnetic resonance imaging. The patient underwent a local resection of the duodenum and a tumor resection of the brain. Postoperative irradiation of the brain metastases and systemic chemotherapy of the lung metastases were performed, and complete remission occurred. However, abdominal lymph node metastasis recurred, and the patient died 1 year after the lobectomy.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Laparoscopic splenectomy using a wall-lifting procedure.

A laparoscopic splenectomy using a hanger wall-lifting procedure is herein described. The patient is placed in the right lateral position. The left lower chest and left abdominal wall are then lifted by three wires in two directions, left laterally and vertical to the abdominal wall. The view of the operative field thus obtained is excellent. The lifting wires and bars do not hinder the movement of the forceps, since the angles of the instruments to approach the spleen are different from those of the wires. A laparoscopic splenectomy using this wall-lifting procedure avoids the usual complications associated with pneumoperitoneum while still being technically comparable to a procedure with pneumoperitoneum.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

[Pathology and treatment of anemia in the elderly].

An important background characteristic of anemia in the elderly is decrease in hematopoiesis due to aging. Factors influencing hematopoiesis in the elderly include changes in the distribution of hematopoietic tissue, changes in hematopoietic stem cell density and changes in the hematopoietic inductive microenvironment. In the present study, in order to assess changes in the bone marrow with aging, the fat tissue area, uncleated cell-count and cellularity in the bone marrow, in addition to changes in the diameter of the vascular lumen which result primarily from sclerotic changes in the dorsomedial artery of the bone marrow were determined in different age groups. The results revealed that all of the aforementioned factors changed significantly with aging. We also describe on the results of assays of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha), lactoferrin and transferrin receptors in cases of anemia of chronic disorders (ACD) which own secondary to chronic inflammatory diseases and is known to frequently afflict the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Changes of bone marrow arteries with aging].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of so-called senile anemia. Using bone marrow tissue specimens prepared from 168 patients autopsied at the Second Department of Pathology of Tokyo Medical University, we measured the area of fatty marrow tissue and the luminal cross-sectional area of feeding arteries for the marrow to assess the relationship of these parameters with aging. Conversion to fatty marrow progressed with aging, and fatty marrow made up more than 50% of the overall bone marrow area in patients aged over 60 years. The nucleated cell count decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in patients aged over 60 years. Furthermore, the luminal cross-sectional area of bone marrow feeding arteries also decreased gradually with aging, declining by 18% to 26% in patients aged over 50 years compared with patients in their third decade. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.228; p < 0.001) was found between the area of fatty marrow and the luminal cross-sectional area of the bone marrow feeding arteries. In conclusion, we suggest that artherosclerotic changes associated with aging in the bone marrow have an impact on hematopoietic function and may be one of the factors involved in the development of senile anemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Clinical effects of combination therapy with cefozopran and tobramycin for severe infections in patients with hematologic diseases].

We studied clinical effect of a combination therapy with cefozopran (CZOP) and tobramycin (TOB) for infections in 80 patients with hematologic diseases in 15 institutes. Combined doses with CZOP 2 g and TOB 60-90 mg twice a day had been given intravenously. Of the 80 patients, 61 patients (42 with acute leukemia, 10 with malignant lymphoma, 3 with aplastic anemia, 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia, 2 with multiple myeloma, and 2 with myelodysplastic syndrome) were evaluable. Those consisted of 6 patients with septicemia, 49 with suspected septicemia, 3 with pneumonia, and 3 with other infections. Clinical efficacy by the treatment was excellent in 24, good in 17, fair in 9, and poor in 11 patients, and the overall efficacy rate including excellent and good was 67.2%. Microbiologically, 5 of the 6 patients with septicemia (1 coagulase negative Staphylococcus, 2 S. pneumoniae, 1 S. oralis, and 1 E. coli) were responded. The efficacy rate in patients with severe granulocytopenia showing 100/microliter or lesser neutrophil counts during the drug administration was 57.1% (12/21). Side effects and abnormal changes of clinical laboratory findings were observed in 5 patients, and 16 patients, respectively, but most of them were mild. The findings above suggested that the combination therapy with CZOP and TOB is useful as an empiric therapy for severe infections in patients with hematologic diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Effects of DAC (doxifluridine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer patients].

Effects of DAC (doxifluridine (5'-DFUR), adriamycin (ADM), cyclophosphamide (CPA)) chemotherapy were evaluated in seven patients with advanced breast cancer. 5'-DFUR of 600 mg was orally daily, ADM of 40 mg/m2 was administered intravenously (bolus) at day 1 and CPA of 400 mg/m2 was administered intravenously (one shot) at day 1 and day 8. These were repeated as one cycle of 21 days. Two complete responses, three partial responses and two progressive diseases were obtained, and the response rate was 71% (95% confidence interval: 29-96%). The side-effects of more than grade 3 were observed in leucocytopenia (4/7), neutrocytopenia (6/7), anorexia (2/7), nausea or vomiting (2/7) and alopecia (6/7). These results suggest that DAC chemotherapy is a novel, attractive regimen for treatment of advanced breast cancer. The randomized clinical trial is required to elucidate the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or its analogues and the significance of methods for their administration in management of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Primary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Breast: A Report of Two Cases.

BACKGROUND: Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast (PBNHL) is a rare neoplasm and PBNHL occuring in a man is extremely rare. METHODS: We report herein two cases of PBNHL and discuss methods of diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: The first patient was a 35-year-old woman who presented with an elastic-hard mass in her left breast and adenopathy in her left axillary fossa. Mammography and ultrasonography suggested left breast cancer. Frozen sections demonstrated PBNHL histologically. Quadrantectomy of the breast was performed followed by chemotherapy. The second patient was a 65-year-old man with an elastic-hard mass in his left breast and left axillary lymphadenopathy. Mammography and ultrasonography suggested breast cancer or a soft tissue tumor. Intraoperative histological examination revealed a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A simple mastectomy and postoperative chemotherapy were performed and the patient had a good prognosis. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary approach including surgery, chemotherapy, andradiotherapy is indispensable in treating PBNHL, after diagnosis by excisional biopsy or aspiration cytology.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Genetic code in evolution: switching species-specific aminoacylation with a peptide transplant.

The genetic code is established in aminoacylation reactions whereby amino acids are joined to tRNAs bearing the anticodons of the genetic code. Paradoxically, while the code is universal there are many examples of species-specific aminoacylations, where a tRNA from one taxonomic domain cannot be acylated by a synthetase from another. Here we consider an example where a human, but not a bacterial, tRNA synthetase charges its cognate eukaryotic tRNA and where the bacterial, but not the human, enzyme charges the cognate bacterial tRNA. While the bacterial enzyme has less than 10% sequence identity with the human enzyme, transplantation of a 39 amino acid peptide from the human into the bacterial enzyme enabled the latter to charge its eukaryotic tRNA counterpart in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, substitution of the corresponding peptide of the bacterial enzyme for that of the human enabled the human enzyme to charge bacterial tRNA. This peptide element discriminates a base pair difference in the respective tRNA acceptor stems. Thus, functionally important co-adaptations of a synthetase to its tRNA act as small modular units that can be moved across taxonomic domains and thereby preserve the universality of the code.

Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases↗
PubMed1998

Stimulatory effects of neopterin on hematopoiesis in vitro are mediated by activation of stromal cell function.

The pteridine neopterin (NP) was shown to be produced by monocytes and is known to be a useful marker of immunological activation, although, its biological activity is still unclear. Recently, we found that intravenous administration of NP increased the numbers of blood leukocytes, and granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) in the bone marrow and spleens of mice. In order to elucidate the mechanism whereby NP stimulates hematopoiesis, the effects of NP on hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro were studied using a long-term bone marrow culture (LTMC) system with cloned stromal cell line, MS-5. Adding NP to the LTMC increased the numbers of cells in total, CFU-GM and colony-forming unit in spleen (CFU-S). NP also increased the number of CFU-GM in a soft agar culture system, but it did not enhance CFU-GM colony formation when target bone marrow cells were semi-purified (T, B and adherent cell-depleted bone marrow cells) and cultured in this system, suggesting that NP did not directly affect the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitors. Conditioned medium obtained from NP-treated stromal cells had much greater colony-stimulating activity than that obtained from untreated stromal cells. Furthermore, NP treatment stimulated the production of IL-6 and GM-CSF by stromal cells. All these findings suggest that NP stimulates hematopoietic cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro by activating stromal cell function.

Animals↗