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Biomedical subjects

M Muto

Publications and source records attributed to M Muto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Intranuclear paracrystals observed in striated muscle specific LIM protein-deficient mouse cardiomyocytes.

A paracrystalline structure was observed within left ventricular cardiomyocyte nuclei of MLP(-/-) mice. The paracrystal possessed cross lines, approximately 8.0 micro m long and 0.3 micro m wide, with a slender spindle shape and a periodicity of 13 nm. Paracrystals were best observed along the longitudinal orientation of myofibrils and were detected in less than 10% of the nuclei observed. One dimension of the protein unit forming the paracrystal was 8.5 nm long. The electron density of the paracrystal appeared to be slightly higher than that of heterochromatin, suggesting that RNA-associated proteins are constituents of the paracrystal. This is the first report of intranuclear paracrystals in cardiomyocytes, which appear to be unique to MLP(-/-) mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Estrogen-receptor-alpha-positive extramammary Paget's disease treated with hormonal therapy.

The patient was an 80-year-old man with scrotal and penile extramammary Paget's disease and prostate cancer. Both diseases were in advanced stages. Tumor cells of extramammary Paget's disease strongly expressed estrogen receptor alpha. The patient was concurrently treated with two kinds of hormonal therapy: the anti-estrogen tamoxifen (20 mg/day orally) for extramammary Paget's disease and the anti-androgen bicalutamide (80 mg/day orally) for prostate cancer. The toxicity of the therapy was mild. All of the metastatic lesions remained stable for 2 months after initiation of dual hormonal therapy. During a follow-up period of 22 months, performance status was well maintained for 17 months. Hormonal therapy may be an alternative for selected cases of advanced extramammary Paget's disease.

Aged, 80 and over↗
PubMed2005

Percutaneous vertebroplasty: indications, contraindications, technique, and complications.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is emerging as one of the most promising new interventional procedures for relieving (or reducing) painful vertebra, with the injection of surgical polymethylmethacrylate or cement into vertebral bodies. This imaged-guided technique, originally used to treat vertebral hemangioma, has recently been extended to the treatment of metastases, osteoporotic compression fractures, and vertebral myeloma. It is increasingly being accepted as a main treatment of choice in the management of resistant back pain due to vertebral compression fractures, especially in the elderly individual who is not a candidate for surgery. In this article, we review indications, contraindications, technique, and complications of percutaneous vertebroplasty.

Bone Cements↗
PubMed2005

A rare case of the cutaneous form of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma: assessment of remission by PCR for clonal T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements in an electron beam-irradiated cutaneous lesion.

Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma is a lymphoproliferative disorder aetiologically associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection. A cutaneous lesion often develops in the disease, and in rare cases, is even the only manifestation. Here we report a rare case of 'cutaneous' adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma with neither atypical cells in the peripheral blood nor lymph node involvement. All nodular lesions were completely eliminated after local electron beam irradiation (20 Gy/nodule in total). To evaluate whether or not there were residual lymphoma cells in the skin, we performed PCR to detect clonal T cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements. The sample from the nodule before irradiation showed evidence of a rearranged band, which was not detected at the same site after treatment nor in any peripheral blood. The findings suggest that this procedure is useful for the evaluation of therapeutic effects and the early detection of lymphoma recurrence.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Enhanced electron-capture decay rate of 7Be encapsulated in C60 cages.

The decay rate of 7Be electron capture was measured in C60 and Be metal with a reference method. The half-life of 7Be endohedral C60 ((7)Be@C(60)) and 7Be in Be metal (Be metal (7Be)) is found to be 52.68+/-0.05 and 53.12+/-0.05 days, respectively. This amounts to a 0.83% difference in electron-capture decay half-life between (7)Be@C(60) and Be metal (7Be). Our result is a reflection of the different electron wave functions for (7)Be@C(60) inside C60 compared to the situation when 7Be is in a Be metal.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Treatment of herniated lumbar disc by intradiscal and intraforaminal oxygen-ozone (O2-O3) injection.

MATERIAL: We report our experience between May 1996 and May 2003 with 2200 patients affected by low back pain or sciatica due to herniated disk treated by intradiscal and intraforaminal oxygen-ozone injection. The patients received medical and physical therapy before treatment for at least 2 months; the patients with conus-cauda syndrome and hyperalgesic sciatica were excluded. We never performed discography before the treatment that was performed under CT guidance or fluoroscopy. CT provided monitoring of gas distribution in the disk and epidural space. RESULTS: No side effects were recorded at short and long-term follow-up. Clinical results were evaluated with the modified McNab method showing an 80% success rate and 20% failure rate in 1750 patients followed up to 6 months while the success rate dropped down at 75% and failure increased at 25% in 1400 followed up to 18 months. CT showed reduction in the size of the herniated disk in only 63% of the followed patients (420 patients). The failure has been mostly related to: calcified herniated disk; spinal canal stenosis; recurrent herniated disk with epidural fibrosis; small descending herniated disk at the level of the lateral recess.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Narrow-band imaging in the diagnosis of colorectal mucosal lesions: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: A newly developed narrow-band imaging (NBI) technique, in which modified optical filters were used in the light source of a video endoscope system, was applied during colonoscopy in a clinical setting. This pilot study evaluated the clinical feasibility of the NBI system for evaluating colorectal lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 43 colorectal lesions in 34 patients were included in the study. The quality of visualization of colorectal lesions and the accuracy of differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions using the NBI system were evaluated in comparison with results from conventional colonoscopy and with chromoendoscopy. RESULTS: For pit pattern delineation, NBI was superior to conventional endoscopy (P < 0.001), but inferior to chromoendoscopy (P < 0.05). NBI achieved better visualization of the mucosal vascular network and of the hue of lesions than conventional endoscopy (P < 0.05). However there was no significant difference between NBI and chromoendoscopy in differentiating neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions (both techniques had a sensitivity of 100 % and a specificity 75 %). This was better than the results of conventional colonoscopy (sensitivity 83 %, specificity 44 %; P < 0.05 for specificity). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in the examination of colonic lesions the NBI system provides imaging features additional to those of both conventional endoscopy and chromoendoscopy. For distinguishing neoplasms from non-neoplastic lesions, NBI was equivalent to chromoendoscopy.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Clinical and mycological study of occult tinea pedis and tinea unguium in dermatological patients from Tokyo.

An epidemiological investigation was conducted to determine the prevalence and circumstances of untreated, unsuspected tinea pedis and tinea unguium, morbid conditions that could be termed occult athlete's foot, in patients visiting a dermatology clinic in Tokyo, Japan, for the first time, for other complaints. All subjects completed a questionnaire covering comprehensive anamnestic details, and were examined for disposition of toes, presence of signs suggestive of tinea pedis, other diseases of the foot, score of clinical signs and symptoms, potassium hydroxide (KOH) test, severity score, and mycological culture. The results showed that the prevalence of occult athlete's foot was 25%, and that 59% of those cases were complicated by tinea unguium. The characteristics of patients with occult athlete's foot included a higher proportion of men and a tendency toward a low clinical score together with a high severity score. In the patient background, a strong correlation was observed between a positive KOH test result and characteristics such as age, disposition of toes, and predisposing disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Dynamic changes in subnuclear NP95 location during the cell cycle and its spatial relationship with DNA replication foci.

We determined the expression and subcellular localization of nuclear protein NP95 during the cell cycle in mouse 3T3 cells. The levels of NP95 mRNA and protein were extremely low in quiescent cells; however, stimulation with 10% serum increased their expressions in a time course similar to that of the late growth-regulated gene proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Subnuclear location of NP95 dynamically changed during the cell cycle. Double immunostaining for NP95 and chromatin-bound PCNA, a marker of DNA replication sites, revealed that NP95 was almost exclusively colocalized with chromatin-bound PCNA throughout the nucleus in early S phase and partly in mid-S phase. Distinct localization of the two proteins, however, became evident in mid-S phase, and thereafter, many chromatin-bound PCNA foci not carrying NP95 foci could be detected. In G2 phase, nodular NP95 foci were still identified without any chromatin-bound PCNA foci. Chromatin-bound PCNA was observed as a pre-DNA replication complex at the G1/S boundary synchronized by hydroxyurea treatment, while NP95 was detected in nucleolar regions as unique large foci. There was no significant redistribution of NP95 foci shortly after DNA damage by gamma-irradiation. Nodular NP95 foci characteristically seen in G2 phase were also detected in G2-arrested cells following gamma-irradiation. Taken together, our results indicate that NP95 is assigned to a late growth-regulated gene and suggest that NP95 does not take a direct part in DNA replication as part of the DNA synthesizing machinery, like PCNA, but is presumably involved in other DNA replication-linked nuclear events.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Cancer therapies: basic and clinical perspectives in brain, prostate, and lung tumors: Naples, September, 24-27, 2000.

A continuous flow of theoretical and practical information among basic research, diagnosis, and therapeutic innovation is a crucial process to achieve a timely and effective progress in defeating human cancer. According to this essential concept, the main objective of the Fourth Joint International Cancer Conference "Cancer Therapies: Basic and Clinical Perspectives in Brain, Prostate and Lung Cancer" has been of gathering together basic scientists and clinicians who represent scientific opinion leaders in their field, to present and discuss the most recent scientific achievements in basic and clinical perspectives, advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and molecular and cellular therapeutic approaches in brain, prostate, and lung cancer.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Combination chemotherapy of irinotecan plus cisplatin for advanced gastric cancer: efficacy and feasibility in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: A previous phase II study showed that a combination of irinotecan (CPT-11) with cisplatin (CDDP) was effective for advanced gastric cancers, but was associated with substantial neutropenia and diarrhea. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of the combination in clinical practice. METHODS: The subjects comprised 65 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated with CPT-11 (70mg/m2, day 1, day 15) and CDDP (80mg/m2, day 1) as first-line chemotherapy between April 1993 and March 1999. Patient backgrounds, response rates, response durations, times to progression, and survival rates were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: The overall response rate and the response rates for measurable metastatic lesions and primary sites were 43% (28/65), 48% (31/64), and 24% (10/42). Leucopenia of grade 4 and diarrhea of grade 3 or 4 were observed in 6 (9%) and 5 (8%) patients, respectively. Among the 19 patients with peritoneal metastasis, leucopenia of grade 4 and diarrhea of grade 3 or 4 were observed in only 1 of the 18 patients who received sufficient oral intake (6%). There were no treatment-related or early deaths within 30 days from the last treatment day. The median survival times of all patients, patients with an intestinal type of adenocarcinoma, and patients with a diffuse type were 365, 472, and 291 days, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the histological type of cancer was a significant independent prognostic factor (P = 0.0169). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study confirmed the efficacy and feasibility of this combination therapy in clinical practice.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Tubular aggregates observed in spindle muscle fiber of horse lumbrical muscle.

Tubular aggregates (TAs) originate from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and form polymorphic double (or single) -walled structures in cross section. TAs are involved in various human skeletal muscle disorders including periodic paralysis, congenital myasthenic syndromes, inflammatory myopathies, and malignant hyperthermias. Horse lumbrical muscle (LM) is a slender fusiform muscle that shows varying degrees of regression due to its limited activity in the limb. Double-walled TAs were found in degenerating spindle fibers and with a range of 80-116 nm (average 92 nm, n=135) for outer layer and 50-78 nm (average 59 nm, n=135) for the inner layer. TAs exhibit degradation of myofibrillar proteins, disruption of mitochondria with cristae lost, glycogen accumulation, electron-dense metabolic products, blebbing appearance of sarcolemma, and presence of various vacuoles. LM fibers also show a similarly degenerative state. The disassembly of the SR structure probably produces a large accumulation of SR proteins which remain as molecules without being further degraded and which could aggregate to form the orderly structure of TAs. We believe that TA formation may be an adaptation to store unbalanced extra proteins by forming ordered aggregates in degeneration caused by stress in cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Sequential methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil therapy for gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Most gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination have been excluded from clinical studies because they usually have no measurable lesions. They also have a high risk of toxicity because of complications such as intestinal obstruction and ascites. We conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of sequential methotrexate (MTX) and 5-flurorouracil (5FU) therapy for this population. METHODS: This analysis was based on 56 consecutive chemotherapy-naive patients with confirmed peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer who were being treated with sequential MTX/5FU. The therapy comprised a weekly schedule of MTX 100 mg/m2, given as a bolus infusion 3 h prior to a bolus infusion of 5FU 600 mg/m2. Leucovorin 10mg/m2 was administered six times, every 6h, starting 24h after MTX administration. RESULTS: Evidence of peritoneal dissemination was confirmed by laparotomy in 16 patients, by cytologic examination of ascites in 11 patients, and by clinical imaging in 29 patients (15 with ascites, 13 with intestinal obstruction; in 10 of the 29 patients, detection was by barium enema or computed tomography [CT] scan). Neutropenia of grade 3 or worse and anemia were observed in 8 (14%) and 10 (18%) of the 56 patients, respectively. There was one treatment-related death due to neutropenic sepsis. Of the 26 patients with measurable lesions, 9 showed a response (36%). The median survival time and median time to treatment failure were 259 days and 167 days, respectively. Objective improvement of ascites was seen in 13 of 26 patients (50%), including 5 with showed complete disappearance of ascites. Seven of the 15 patients (47%) with intestinal obstruction showed resolution, and 8 of the 21 patients (38%) who needed nutritional support before the treatment were free of that support for a median duration of 220 days after the completion of the treatment. Forty-seven of the 56 patients (84%) could be treated at outpatient clinics. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen may be of clinical benefit for patients with peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A semi-immobilization of a partial auricle induces hypertrophy and ultrastructural alteration of cardiomyocytes.

Semi-immobilization of a partial area of the ventral edge, lateral epicardium of the left auricle (ventrolateral of left auricle), by using quick adhesion glue induces moderate hypertrophy of myocytes with an average increase of 34% in cross-sectional area. Intercellular connective tissues increased, and cellular sizes varied markedly. The ultrastructure of immobilized (semi-immobilized) myocytes commonly exhibited degenerating features in myofibrils, various cytoplasmic organelles including mitochondrial cristae and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) were disrupted, and T-tubules disappeared. Z-line streaming and widening (hypertrophic Z-line, rod bodies) and increase of metabolic particle deposition are typical phenomena in addition to intercalated disc (Id) disorganization. The results suggest that semi-immobilization of the auricle induces hypertrophy of myocytes in association with degeneration and disruption of myofibrils and other cytoplasmic organelles, and an increase of intercellular connective tissues, rather than increase of myofibril mass. This is the first study to immobilize only a part of the heart rather than the whole animal. Our results using artificial immobilization of cardiac myocytes were extremely significant since the structural alterations obtained were similar to that observed in cardiomyopathies. This suggests that myocytes progressing to heart failure are also subjected to inhibition of movement. Therefore, this experiment may prove very useful as a model for studying the functional effect of heart failure observed in cardiomyopathy.

Anatomy, Cross-Sectional↗
PubMed2001

Multiple endothelial injury in epicardial coronary artery induces downstream microvascular spasm as well as remodeling partly via thromboxane A2.

OBJECTIVES: The study was undertaken to develop a coronary microvascular spasm model in pigs by repeated epicardial coronary artery endothelial injury. BACKGROUND: The pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for coronary microvascular spasm remain unclear, in large part because a suitable animal model has yet to be found. METHODS: Balloon endothelial denudation was done just distal to the site of an implanted Doppler flowmeter in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) every two weeks for a total of four times. Changes in LAD blood flow by intracoronary administration of vasoactive agents were assessed before each denudation. RESULTS: In the epicardial LAD endothelial denudation pigs, decreases in LAD blood flow caused by acetylcholine were augmented. Before denudation, it was - 15 +/- 4%, and at week 8 (i.e., two weeks after the fourth denudation) it was -100% (i.e., zero flow [p < 0.01]). The LAD flow changes in response to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) changed from an increase to a decrease, accompanied by medial thickening of microvessels in the LAD perfusion area. These flow responses were observed without significant changes in LAD diameter. In contrast, the LAD blood flow responses to acetylcholine and 5-HT did not change throughout the experiment in pigs given aspirin and a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthase inhibitor orally. CONCLUSIONS: This microvascular spasm model indicates that hypersensitivity to vasoactive substances in the microvascular beds as well as microvascular remodeling are brought about partly through TXA2. This model should be useful for examining the pathophysiology and treatment of microvascular angina.

Animals↗