Biomedical subjects

M Iinuma

Publications and source records attributed to M Iinuma.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Circulating prostate-specific antigen mRNA during radical prostatectomy in patients with localized prostate cancer: with special reference to neoadjuvant hormonal therapy.

To determine the potential risk of hematogenous dissemination of prostate cancer cells during radical prostatectomy (RP), we investigated the pre- and intraoperative circulating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, with special reference to neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT). Using a nested reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase reaction (PCR) assay, PSA mRNA in the peripheral blood was evaluated pre- and postoperatively in a total of 23 patients, 10 of whom received NHT with antiandrogens. The RT-PCR assay employed detected one LNCaP cell in 10(7) mononuclear blood cells, and showed no positive signal in the blood samples from all 15 healthy controls. Pre- and intraoperative circulating PSA mRNA was positive in 11 (48%) and 18 patients (78%), respectively. All 11 patients with positive preoperative PSA mRNA continued to be positive during RP, and seven (58%) of 12 patients with negative preoperative PSA mRNA had a positive conversion. Although the patients' ages, preoperative serum PSA values and clinical or pathological stages were not associated with the pre- and intraoperative PSA mRNA results, the NHT group showed a significantly lower incidence of preoperative PSA mRNA positivity (2/10) than the group receiving RP alone (9/13) (20% vs 69%, P = 0.036). NHT, however, showed no suppressive effect on either intraoperative positivity or positive conversion of circulating PSA mRNA. The present study suggests that a substantial number of patients receiving RP are at risk of hematogenous dissemination, and NHT with antiandrogens has a minimal or no suppressive effect on the circulating PSA mRNA during surgical manipulation of the prostate. Because the clinical significance of circulating cancer cells remains to be determined, long-term follow-up in association with the circulating cancer cells assessed by the RT-PCR is essential in order to establish the role of molecular staging as well as NHT.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

[Detection of prostate-specific antigen mRNA in preoperative peripheral blood of patients with prostate cancer: relationship to pathological parameters of the surgical specimens].

PURPOSE: Up to 40% of surgically treated prostate cancers are bound to be understaged by using current diagnostic modalities. To improve on current staging methods for prostate cancer, we evaluated whether nested reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA can improve preoperative staging of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 1996 through November 1997, 30 patients with prostate cancer (T1-T3) were evaluated for PSAmRNA in their peripheral blood by nested RT-PCR before radical retropubic prostatectomy. RESULTS: A highly sensitive RT-PCR assay employed detected one PSA-expressing cell (LNCaP) diluted into ten million mononuclear cells. All 15 controls, including 9 women, showed negative PSAmRNA in their peripheral blood, whereas 16 of 30 (53%) patients with prostate cancer showed positive PSAmRNA in their preoperative peripheral blood. Interestingly, 7 patients with positive PSAmRNA had pathologically organ-confined prostate cancer. No significant relationship was demonstrated between positive PSA-PCR results and clinico-pathological parameters such as clinical stage, pretherapeutic serum PSA, pathological stage, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, or Gleason sum. CONCLUSION: Our present study showed that the results of PCR-based PSAmRNA assay had no significant association with clinico-pathological parameters. However, the prognostic significance of detecting the circulating prostate-specific signals requires a longer follow-up, which is currently under study.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of limonin isolated from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa var. bodinieri.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of limonin isolated from the dried fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa var. bodinieri were investigated. Oral administration of 30 or 100 mg/kg limonin significantly decreased the frequency of licking and biting behavior within a unit of time at the late phase without affecting that of the early phase in the formalin test. Limonin inhibited the rise of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and the increase of paw edema induced by carrageenin. Limonin also showed inhibitory effects on bradykinin-induced paw edema and arachidonic acid-induced ear swelling. These results suggest that limonin possesses an antinociceptive effect and the effect may be accompanied by an anti-inflammatory action, and that the antinociceptive activity in Evodiae Fructus is partially attributable to limonin.

Analgesics↗

PubMed1998

Anthraquinones from Neonauclea calycina and their inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerase II.

In a series of searches for DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors from naturally occurring compounds, a wood extract of Neonauclea calycina MERR. (Rubiaceae) showed a moderate effect in vitro. Purification of the extract resulted in the isolation of seven known anthraquinones. The structures were characterized as damnacanthal, rubiadin 1-methyl ether, nordamnacanthal, morindone, damnacanthol, lucidin 3-O-primeveroside and morindone 6-O-primeveroside by spectral analysis, respectively. Damnacanthal and morindone showed an intensive inhibitory effect against topoisomerase II (IC50: 20 micrograms/ml and 21 micrograms/ml).

Anthraquinones↗

PubMed1997

Hepatic actinomycosis: case report and review of the literature in Japan.

Hepatic actinomycosis is rare. We report an 86-year-old Japanese man with a 3-day history of high fever and anorexia who had an actinomycotic liver abscess complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). A definitive diagnosis was made when an Actinomyces species was cultured from aspirated pus. The clinical course was satisfactory. Treatment included prompt percutaneous drainage coupled with long-term intravenous administration of high-dose minocycline and piperacillin, combined with therapy for DIC. We reviewed 11 cases in Japan of Actinomyces involving the liver, including the case reported here. In most patients, there were no predisposing factors. Common symptoms and laboratory findings included fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, and elevated C-reactive protein. In 6 of the 11 patients a partial hepatectomy was performed because hepatic tumor was suspected. Five patients presented with a liver abscess. Hepatic actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of pyogenic liver abscess and space-occupying lesions of the liver.

Actinomyces↗

PubMed1997

Effects of a GnRH analogue on human smooth muscle cells cultured from normal myometrial and from uterine leiomyomal tissues.

Leiomyomas are tumours of uterine smooth muscle tissue that are oestrogen and progesterone dependent. When explants of these tumours were grown in culture, the proliferating tissue formed characteristic ball-like aggregates (BLA), rather than the usual hill and valley (HV) pattern of growth of normal myometrial tissue in culture. Immunocytochemical staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) revealed that both myometrial and leiomyomal cells have membrane receptors for this hypothalamic releasing hormone. Furthermore, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with primer sets that were specific for GnRH receptor mRNA, as well as GnRH mRNA, showed that transcripts for both of these nucleic acids are present in myometrial and leiomyomal tissues. The treatment of cultured explants of leiomyomal tissue with a GnRH analogue (buserelin, HOE766) diminished the formation of BLA, but this synthetic hormone had only a moderate effect on the HV topography of normal myometrial tissue. A colorimetric assay indicated that GnRHa inhibited cell proliferation in leiomyomal tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Western blotting, to detect the expression of G1 phase cell cycle-related gene products, showed that cyclin E and p33cdk2 formation in leiomyomas were inhibited by high concentrations of GnRHa. In conclusion, GnRHa might suppress leiomyomal growth by interfering with the expression of cell cycle factors.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Growth inhibition of oral bacteria related to denture stomatitis by anti-candidal chalcones.

In the antimicrobial therapy of denture stomatitis, it is desirable to inhibit the growth of not only the primary causative organism, Candida albicans, but also other oral bacteria closely associated with the condition. Three synthetic anti-candidal chalcones were characterized and compared for their additional activity in inhibiting these causative bacteria. Among the tested chalcones, 2,4,2'-trihydroxy-5'-methylchalcone showed the highest activity for different Gram-positive bacteria. It inhibited the growth of streptococci, staphylococci and lactobacilli at 25.0-50.0 micrograms/mL which was lower than or comparable to its minimum inhibitory concentration for candida. It functioned with a bactericidal action and leaked 260 nm-absorbing substances from the streptococcal cells. The antimicrobial activity of 2,4,2'-trihydroxy-5'-methylchalcone against both primary and secondary causative agents suggests it could be useful as a potent therapeutic agent in denture stomatitis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1997

Antinociceptive activities of 70% methanol extract of evodiae fructus (fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa var. bodinieri) and its alkaloidal components.

The effects of 70% methanol extract (EA-ext) from Evodiae Fructus (EA) consisting of dried fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa var. bodinieri (Rutaceae) on nociceptive responses were investigated. Oral administration of 50 or 200 mg/kg EA-ext had the same antinociceptive effect on writhing responses as induced by acetic acid. Its major alkaloidal constituents, evodiamine and rutaecarpine also had the antinociceptive effect. EA-ext significantly decreased the frequency of licking behavior within a unit of time at the late phase without affecting that of the early phase in the formalin test. EA-ext also increased nociceptive threshold of the inflamed paw without increasing that in the non-inflamed paw in the Randall-Selitto test. Although EA-ext inhibited the rise of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and the increase of paw edema induced by carrageenin, it was ineffective on nociceptive response in the hot plate test and on locomotor activity. These results suggest that EA possesses antinociceptive effects and its mode of action may be mediated by anti-inflammatory action, and that the antinociceptive constituents are only partially attributable to alkaloidal components mentioned above.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1997

[Treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia in patients more than 80 years old].

We studied fifteen patients older than 80 years of age with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) treated between 1984 and 1996. Among 15 cases of AML including 7 de novo cases and 8 from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or hypoplastic leukemia, 14 patients had complications, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus or other malignancies. Although patients with de novo AML showed high peripheral WBC counts and higher cellularity of bone marrow than those from MDS or hypoplastic leukemia, it was difficult in some cases to distinguish these types of AML from hematological findings. Of the 6 AML cases, three had entered complete remission (CR) by a standard dose of combination chemotherapy (BHAC-DMP). One CR patient has had CR for more than 9 years now with good QOL. Among the 3 patients treated by low-dose Ara-C, one attained CR but only for a short period. Four other patients received BRM, such as G-CSF or Ubenimex, and 2 patients died without chemotherapy. Since AML at more than 80 years of age is a highly heterogenous disease, it would be reasonable to give antileukemic agents according to the individual patient's condition.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Comparative study on the antibacterial activity of phytochemical flavanones against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Differently substituted flavanones were isolated from Leguminosae and their antibacterial activity was comparatively studied against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of phytochemical flavanones to clinical isolates of MRSA were determined by a serial agar dilution method. The structure-activity relationship has indicated that 2',4'- or 2',6'-dihydroxylation of the B ring and 5,7-dihydroxylation of the A ring in the flavanone structure are important for significant anti-MRSA activity and that substitution with a certain aliphatic group at the 6- or 8-position also enhances the activity. Among the thirteen flavanones tested, tetrahydroxyflavanones with these structural characteristics isolated from Sophora exigua and Echinosophora koreensis showed intensive activity to inhibit the growth of all MRSA strains at 3.13-6.25 micrograms/ml. The present hydroxyflavanones would be useful in the phytotherapeutic strategy against MRSA infections.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1996

Flavones with antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria.

Methanolic extracts obtained from 13 plants were studied for their antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria. Among them, the extract from Artocarpus heterophyllus showed the most intensive activity. Serial chromatographic purifications offered two active compounds which were identified as 6-(3-methyl-1-butenyl)-5,2',4'-trihydroxy-3-isoprenyl-7-methoxy flavone and 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6-isoprenylflavone. Both isolates completely inhibited the growth of primary cariogenic bacteria at 3.13-12.5 micrograms/ml. They also exhibited the growth inhibitory effects on plaque-forming streptococci. These phytochemical isoprenylflavones would be potent compounds for the prevention of dental caries.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1996

In-vitro model of uterine leiomyomas: formation of ball-like aggregates.

To clarify the biological characteristics of uterine leiomyomas, cells explanted and cultured from uterine leiomyomas and from normal myometrial tissue were observed by time-lapse cinemicrography and phase-contrast microscopy. The histological characteristics were evaluated by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy, and these observations revealed significant differences. By time-lapse cinemicrography, the cells cultured from leiomyomas and myometrium differed in their behaviour. Cells from the myometrium started to grow in parallel with the cell's major axis and formed topographically uniform hills and valleys by day 21 of culture. In contrast, the cells from leiomyomas started to grow irregularly, as if having no contact inhibition, and formed ball-like aggregates of cells by day 21 of culture. The aggregates resembled the nodules of leiomyoma in vivo. Ultrastructurally, cells from both leiomyomas and myometrium had typical features of smooth muscle. Immunofluorescently, a different distribution of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive filaments and different staining of cellular fibronectin and N-cadherin between the cells from leiomyomas and myometrium were observed, which may contribute in part of the different behaviour of the cells. Given that the explant cell culture system resembles the features of uterine leiomyomas in vivo, this suggests that it can be used as an in-vitro model.

Antibodies↗

PubMed1996

Antibacterial activity of xanthones from guttiferaeous plants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Extracts of Garcinia mangostana (Guttiferae) showing inhibitory effects against the growth of S. aureus NIHJ 209p were fractionated according to guidance obtained from bioassay and some of the components with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were characterized. One active isolate, alpha-mangostin, a xanthone derivative, had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.57-12.5 micrograms mL-1. Other related xanthones were also examined to determine their anti-MRSA activity. Rubraxanthone, which was isolated from Garcinia dioica and has a structure similar to that of alpha-mangostin, had the highest activity against staphylococcal strains (MIC = 0.31-1.25 micrograms mL-1), an activity which was greater than that of the antibiotic vancomycin (3.13-6.25 micrograms mL-1). The inhibitory effect against strains of MRSA of two of the compounds when used in conjunction with other antibiotics was also studied. The anti-MRSA activity of alpha-mangostin was clearly increased by the presence of vancomycin; this behaviour was not observed for rubraxanthone. The strong in-vitro antibacterial activity of xanthone derivatives against both methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus suggests the compounds might find wide pharmaceutical use.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1996

Studies of cuticle drugs from natural sources. IV. Inhibitory effects of some Arctostaphylos plants on melanin biosynthesis.

The inhibitory effect of 50% ethanol extracts obtained from the leaves of six Arctostaphylos plants (A. patula, A. viscida, A. canescens, A. columbiana, A. nevadensis and A. uva-ursi) (Ericaceae) was tested on melanin biosynthesis. Among them, the extracts of A. patula and A. viscida showed potent inhibition against tyrosinase. The two extracts not only inhibited the production of melanin from dopachrome by autoxidation, but exhibited SOD (superoxide dismutase)-like activity and had a moderate absorbance in the UV-B area. These results suggest that the leaves of Arctostaphylos plants, especially A. patula and A. viscida can be applied to a whitening agent for the skin.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed1996

Antibacterial activity of some Garcinia benzophenone derivatives against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Benzophenone derivatives, garcinol (1) and isogarcinol (2) isolated from the pericarps of Garcinia purpurea (Guttiferae), and xanthochymol (3) and a mixture of isoxanthochymol (4) cycloxanthochymol (5) from the pericarps of G. subelliptica were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Among them, 3 showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration at 3.1-12.5 micrograms/ml. This concentration is nearly equal to that of the antibiotic, vancomycin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1996

Studies on 13C-phenacetin metabolism. II. A combination of breath test and urine test of in vivo metabolites in the diagnosis of liver disease.

We determined the optimum 13C-labeling position in phenacetin for use in a breath test to diagnose liver disease based on infrared spectroscopy detection of 13CO2 in exhaled air. ([1-13C]Ethoxy)phenacetin gave the best result. This compound was also employed in a urine test using 13C-NMR spectroscopy. In the urine test, healthy subjects gave a higher signal of phenacetin than of its metabolite, phenetidine, whereas in patients with liver disease the situation was the reverse. The combination of the breath and urine tests may be a valuable new tool for the diagnosis of liver disease.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Budd-Chiari syndrome attributed to protein C deficiency.

The protein C anticoagulant pathway is an important downregulating mechanism of the blood coagulation cascade. We report a 47-yr-old male with Budd-Chiari syndrome and occlusion of the inferior vena cava. His plasma protein C antigen level was decreased to 42%, and its activity was 34%. Other coagulable factors were normal. Protein C deficiency should be considered a possible etiological factor of the Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Alcoholism↗

PubMed1995

Antibacterial activity of flavanostilbenes against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Three phytochemical compounds (alopecurone A-C), flavanostilbenes which are produced by condensation between a hydroxyflavanone and a hydroxystilbene, were isolated as major components from the root of Sophora alopecuroides. They uniformly inhibited the growth of 21 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 3.13-6.25 micrograms ml-1.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗