Biomedical subjects

Mika Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to Mika Watanabe.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Comparison of implantation and cytotoxicity testing for initially toxic biomaterials.

To evaluate the predictive value of cytotoxicity testing, the present study compares the in vivo tissue responses to in vitro cytotoxicity before and after implantation. Material toxicity was caused by addition of the toxic substance Zincdiethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC) that is used as a standard for in vitro cytotoxicity testing. Polyurethane discs with the addition of 0.5% or 1% ZDEC as well as nontoxic discs were inserted in the abdominal wall of rats for 1 day up to 6 weeks. After explantation the foreign body response was analyzed immunohistochemically. An in vitro reanalysis of the explanted reference materials (RMs) revealed remaining high concentrations of toxic compounds after 1-week implantation, whereas no toxicity was seen after 6 weeks implantation. This was reflected in the foreign body response where a significantly thicker capsule and more inflammatory cells were seen at 1 week for the toxic implants. Over time, with decreasing toxicity, these differences disappeared. Test samples that only were subjected to in vitro extraction with water did not elute toxic compounds to the same extent as the in vivo conditions. It is concluded that many clinically useful implant materials may be unnecessarily rejected due to the results of in vitro tests.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMed2005

Urocortin 1, urocortin 3/stresscopin, and corticotropin-releasing factor receptors in human adrenal and its disorders.

CONTEXT: Urocortin 1 (Ucn1) and urocortin 3 (Ucn3)/stresscopin are new members of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neuropeptide family. Ucn1 binds to both CRF type 1 (CRF1) and type 2 receptors (CRF2), whereas Ucn3 is a specific agonist for CRF2. Recently, direct involvement of the locally synthesized CRF family in adrenocortical function has been proposed. OBJECTIVE, DESIGN, AND SETTING: We examined in situ expression of Ucn and CRF receptors in nonpathological human adrenal gland and its disorders using immunohistochemistry and mRNA in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Ucn immunoreactivity was localized in the cortex and medulla of nonpathological adrenal glands. Ucn1 immunoreactivity was marked in the medulla, whereas Ucn3 was immunostained mostly in the cortex. Both CRF type 1 and CRF2 were expressed in the cortex, particularly in the zonae fasciculata and reticularis but very weakly or undetectably in the medulla. Immunohistochemistry in serial tissue sections with mirror images revealed that both Ucn3 and CRF2 were colocalized in more than 85% of the adrenocortical cells. mRNA in situ hybridization confirmed these findings above. In fetal adrenals, Ucn and CRF receptors were expressed in both fetal and definitive zones of the cortex. Ucn and CRF receptors were all expressed in the tumor cells of pheochromocytomas, adrenocortical adenomas, and carcinomas, but its positivity was less than that in nonpathological adrenal glands, suggesting that Ucn1, Ucn3, and CRF receptors were down-regulated in these adrenal neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: Ucn1, Ucn3, and CRF receptors are all expressed in human adrenal cortex and medulla and may play important roles in physiological adrenal functions.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

Ectopic recurrence of craniopharyngioma.

A 50-year-old woman first presented with recurrent craniopharyngioma in the suprasellar region. The recurrent tumor was removed via the frontobasal interhemispheric approach. Two years later, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a further recurrence in the primary suprasellar region and a cystic mass with ring enhancement on the surface of the left frontal lobe. Both lesions were removed via the frontobasal interhemispheric approach. Histological examination showed the left frontal lesion was an ectopic recurrence of craniopharyngioma. Ectopic recurrence of craniopharyngioma is extremely rare.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed2005

Anticoagulant therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of anticoagulant therapy on the survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Five hospitals located in the Miyagi prefecture in Japan, including a university hospital, a Red Cross hospital, two public general hospitals, and a municipal hospital. PATIENTS: Fifty-six patients with IPF (mean age, 69.4 years; range, 47 to 89) admitted to the hospitals from April 2001 to April 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were assigned to receive prednisolone alone or prednisolone plus anticoagulant therapy. The anticoagulants included oral warfarin in an outpatient setting and low-molecular-weight heparin for rehospitalized patients with severely progressive respiratory failure. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: There was no difference in baseline characteristics, including age, gender, clinical condition, pulmonary function, and plasma d-dimer level between the non-anticoagulant group and the anticoagulant group. The overall survival and hospitalization-free periods were assessed. There was a significant difference between survival curves of the non-anticoagulant group and the anticoagulant group, with a 2.9 hazard ratio (p = 0.04, Cox regression model). There was no significant difference in the probability of a hospitalization-free period between groups. The major cause of clinical deterioration was acute exacerbation during follow-up in the present study. Therefore, the mortality and plasma d-dimer levels in patients with an acute exacerbation were also assessed. The mortality associated with acute exacerbations of IPF in the anticoagulant group was significantly reduced compared to that in the non-anticoagulant group (18% vs 71%, respectively; p = 0.008, Fisher Exact Test). Furthermore, the plasma d-dimer levels in patients who died were significantly higher than those in survivors during acute exacerbation of IPF (3.3 +/- 2.3 microg/mL vs 0.9 +/- 0.7 microg/mL, p < 0.0001). Histologic analysis performed in three patients who died due to an exacerbation of IPF in the non-anticoagulant group demonstrated the features of usual interstitial pneumonia and acute lung injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that plasma d-dimer levels are associated with mortality in patients with an acute exacerbation of IPF, and that anticoagulant therapy has a beneficial effect on survival in patients with IPF.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Sex steroid hormone receptors in human skin appendage and its neoplasms.

Sex steroids have been postulated to influence pathophysiology of human skin through various skin appendages. The presence of sex steroid receptors has been also reported in adnexal tumors but its details still remained unknown. Therefore, in this study, we immunolocalized sex steroid receptor protein (estrogen receptor (ER)alpha, ERbeta, progesterone receptor (PR)A, PRB and androgen receptor (AR)) in 23 cases of non-pathological skin (male: 10, female: 13) and in 50 cases of skin adnexal tumors (male 24, female 26; 38 benign and 12 malignant). ERalpha immunoreactivity was detected exclusively in basal cells of sebaceous glands of non-pathological skin. AR and PRB immunoreactivity was detected in both differentiated and basal cells of sebaceous gland. AR and ERbeta immunoreactivity was also detected in sebaceous and eccrine sweat glands but not in outer root sheath of hair follicles. In sebaceous gland neoplasms, the number of ERalpha positive cases was significantly lower in skin appendage neoplasms than non-pathological skin. ERbeta immunoreactivity was not detected in any of sebaceous gland neoplasms examined. There were no significant differences in PRA, PRB and AR immunoreactivity between non-pathological sebaceous gland and its neoplasm. In sweat gland neoplasms, the number of AR positive cases was significantly lower in benign neoplasms than their non-pathological counterpart. Therefore sex steroids are considered to play important roles in regulation of non-pathological skin appendage function and pathogenesis and/or development of its neoplasm. In addition, the status of the great majority of sex steroid hormone receptors was maintained throughout the process of neoplastic transformation of skin appendages, except for AR and ERalpha in sweat and sebaceous gland neoplasms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Minute glioma identified by 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy--case report.

A 33-year-old man presented with a minute tumor incidentally detected by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging screening. 1.5 Tesla MR spectroscopy indicated normal brain tissue whereas 3.0 Tesla MR spectroscopy indicated neoplasm. The tumor was completely resected. The histological diagnosis was fibrillary astrocytoma. Minute glioma, measuring less than 15 mm in diameter on MR imaging, can be completely resected, resulting in a good prognosis. 3.0 Tesla MR spectroscopy can establish the diagnosis in the early stage of glioma.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Angiomyolipoma in the knee--a case report.

Extrarenal angiomyolipoma is an uncommon disease and this may be the first report of angiomyolipoma in the knee, mimicking a malignant sarcoma. A 38-year-old man without tuberous sclerosis presented with a history of increased mass in the knee joint. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a CS x CS x CR cm subcutaneous tumor in the knee joint. The tumor was widely excised. Histologically, the tumor was, well circumscribed, and composed of smooth muscle, vascular spaces, connective tissue, and mature fat. There were no signs of recurrence at one year and eight months after surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Desmoplastic melanoma arising in the ankle.

Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is an uncommon but potentially devastating malignancy that can be cured with early recognition and surgery. DM often occurs in elderly men and develops on sun-exposed areas with the head and neck being the most common site of origin followed by the extremities and trunk. We report a rare case of DM occurring in the ankle in an 85-year-old woman. Magnetic resonance imaging of the affected ankle showed a 4.3 x 4.3 x 2.5 cm sized mass which was located in the subcutaneous region, attached to lower leg muscles, the fibula, and the calcaneus. No metastasis to the lung, liver, bones or abdominal lymph nodes was found. In spite of below knee amputation, the patient died of lung metastases 10 months after surgery. Among several factors causing early death of the patient, a large size, a deep location and rapid growth of the tumor seem to be most important.

Aged, 80 and over↗

PubMed2005

Lipofibromatosis arising in a pediatric forearm--a case report.

Lipofibromatosis is a rare pediatric tumour described by Fetsch et al. in 2000. There have been few reports about this tumour and few descriptions of its imaging features. We report a case of this tumour forming a slowly growing, painless mass arising in the forearm of a ten-month-old boy. This is the first report of lipofibromatosis to present the radiological findings before surgery. Plain radiography and computed tomography demonstrated a tumour located just beneath the fascia. Ultrasonic study showed a hyperechoic tumour of 33 x 30 x 7 mm in size. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a multilobular mass with high signal intensities on both T1/T2 weighted images. Macroscopically, the tumour was poorly marginated. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of abundant adipose tissues transversed by fibroblastic bands. The adipose tissue occupied over 70% of the tumour. Adipocytes and fibroblastic element infiltrated into the normal skeletal muscle tissues. Recognition of this clinical entity is needed, especially in cases of lipomatous tumours arising in pediatric hands and feet.

Fibroma↗

PubMed2005

Infantile fibrosarcoma of thigh--a case report.

Infantile fibrosarcoma is a rare soft tissue malignant tumor, when it occurs, it is usually seen in the first year of life. The clinical course of infantile fibrosarcoma is more favorable and metastasis is rare compared with that in adulthood. While adult fibrosarcoma are common in the thigh, infantile fibrosarcoma affect chiefly the distal portions of the extremities. Standard treatment is primarily wide surgical excision. In this case report, we present our experience of an infantile fibrosarcoma of thigh with good clinical course 36 months after tumor resection and the usefulness of detecting the ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion in differential diagnosis.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Spindle cell lipoma showing biphasic pattern--a case report.

This is a case report of a rare spindle cell lipoma (SCL) showing an unusual biphasic pattern with radiological findings and histological features. SCL is most common in men between the ages of 45 and 65 and it is reported that the tumor has a tendency to occur in the posterior neck area. This case was a 75-year old man with a 7 x 5 cm subcutaneous tumor in the posterior neck. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination demonstrated an unusual biphasic pattern. The signal intensities on T1 and T2 weighted images of the outer layer of the mass were high, and were suppressed on fat suppression views and showed no enhancement after gadolinium (Gd) injection. There was a low signal intensity area of 15 mm in diameter on both T1 and T2 weighted images, in the central part of the mass. This area was well enhanced with the Gd compound. Also macroscopically it could be seen that the excised tumor consisted of two different tissue components. Microscopically, the outer yellowish portion was mainly composed of mature adipose tissue. The inner whitish fibrous portion contained a mixture of small and uniform spindle-shaped cells, collagen fibers, and scattered mature adipose cells. No malignancy was observed. The diagnosis of spindle cell lipoma was made. No recurrence was seen seven months after marginal excision.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

201Tl-SPECT and 1H-MRS study of benign lateral ventricle tumors: differential diagnosis of subependymoma.

The introduction of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has resulted in the detection of increasing numbers of asymptomatic intraventricular tumors. Establishing the correct preoperative diagnosis is important to prevent unnecessary surgical intervention. Our study includes nine cases of benign lateral ventricle tumors including two cases of central neurocytoma, two of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, two of pilocytic astrocytoma and three of subependymoma treated surgically between 1996 and 2003. MR imaging, proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography ((201)Tl-SPECT) were performed in all patients. All three types of tumor demonstrated heterogeneous enhancement on MR imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) and increased choline (Cho) peak and decreased N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and creatine (Cre) peaks on (1)H-MRS. (201)Tl-SPECT showed high uptake of (201)Tl without wash out in all cases of central neurocytoma, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma and pilocytic astrocytoma, but no uptake in cases of subependymoma. Absence of (201)Tl uptake in contrast with enhancement on MR imaging and the (1)H-MRS features of modest elevation of the Cho/Cre ratio, reduction of the NAA peak and presence of lactate/lipid peaks are characteristic features of subependymomas and useful to establish a preoperative diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Lipomatous meningioma of the brain harboring metastatic renal-cell carcinoma: a case report.

A 70-year-old woman presented with mild left hemiparesis and intermittent global headache. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 6 x 6 x 6-cm tumor in the right frontal lobe, and abdominal computed tomography revealed a 8 x 8 x 7-cm mass lesion in the left kidney. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the brain tumor consisted of a central hyperintense cystic component and an outer hypointense component. The patient underwent total surgical excision of the intracranial mass. Histological and immunohistochemical examination showed that the lesion was a lipomatous meningioma harboring metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. Both of these tumors are rare. The magnetic resonance imaging findings are indicative of but not specific to meningioma harboring metastatic tumor.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Acute renal failure due to leukemic cell infiltration followed by relapse at multiple extramedullary sites in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute renal failure due to leukemic infiltration into the kidney is rare in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report here a five year-old boy with ALL who presented acute renal failure caused by leukemic infiltration at onset. Treatment with predonisolone and hemodialysis was effective. However, he showed persistent or repeated relapses at extramedullary sites, such as central nervous system, testis, and pancreas, suggesting that leukemic cells of this patient may have had a high affinity to extramedullary organs. On the basis of previous reports and the experience of this patient, intensive treatment may be needed in ALL children with renal involvement.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed2004

CA125 expression in epithelioid sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: There has been no report on useful immunohistological markers for epithelioid sarcoma (ES) so far. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the positivity and specificity of CA125 as a marker for the correct diagnosis of ES. METHODS: This study was performed in 11 patients with ES (nine men and two women; distal type: 10 cases; proximal type: one case), 78 patients with other soft tissue tumors and nine with benign granulomas. The other soft tissue tumors consisted of six synovial sarcomas, six clear cell sarcomas, eight leiomyosarcomas, six rhabdomyosarcomas, five malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, ten malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 17 desmoid tumors, 14 liposarcomas, six squamous cell carcinomas (cutaneous SCC of the distal extremities), two rheumatoid nodules and seven foreign body granulomas. Immunohistochemical analysis for CA125 was performed for these 89 soft tissue tumors and nine granulomas using a labeled streptavidin biotin method. Immunohistochemical analysis of epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, carcinoembrionic antigen, vimentin and CD34 was performed only for the 11 ES patients. RESULTS: CA125 was strongly expressed in 10 out of the 11 ES patients. EMA, cytokeratin and vimentin were also positive in all the cases. CEA was positive in two of the 11 patients. Immunohistochemical study in six ES patients showed expression of CD 34. The other 78 soft tissue tumors and nine granulomas did not express CA125. CONCLUSION: This study clearly revealed the specificity and positivity of CA125 in ES. These data indicate that CA125 may be a useful tumor marker for diagnosing ES.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPCa) of the breast refers to a unique variant of invasive ductal carcinoma, but its biological behavior has not been elucidated well. We analyzed 16 IMPCa cases (10 pure type, six mixed type). The incidence of IMPCa was 1.0% of all primary breast carcinoma. High nuclear grade (75.0%), as well as poorly differentiated histological grade (81.3%), was frequently seen. Lymph node metastases were evident in 92.9% of the examined cases, and about half of them showed more than 10 positive nodes. Comparison between serially experienced invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS), revealed that both high nuclear grade and poor histological grade were significantly more frequent (P < 0001), there was a lower frequency of positive estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), a higher frequency of HER-2 overexpression (P < 0.025), and more frequent lymph node metastases (P < 0.05) in IMPCa. The comparison between lymph node positive IDC-NOS did not show any statistically significant differences in frequency for positive p53, matrix metalloproteinase protein-2 (MMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or E-cadherin. However, IMPCa showed a significantly increased number of blood vessels counted by CD34 immunostains (P < 0.05). These results suggest that IMPCa is, at least, the same or more aggressive than lymph node positive cases of IDC-NOS. Hence, not only the high incidence of lymph node metastases but also distant, blood-borne metastases may be important.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed2004

Panniculitis of the descending colon caused by enterocolic phlebitis: a case report.

A 73-year-old male was referred to our hospital for abdominal pain, diarrhea and general fatigue lasting for 3 weeks. Physical examination of the abdomen revealed a firm mass in the left abdominal region. Computed tomography revealed a mass around the descending colon. Colonoscopy and barium enema revealed poor extensibility of the lumen with edematous mucosa, and narrowing of the descending colon with rugged mucosal surface. Because of the clinical symptoms and findings, the patient was diagnosed clinically as suffering from panniculitis of the descending colon. He underwent the left hemi-colectomy with side-to-side colo-colostomy after making of a loop ileostomy. Histological analysis of the resected colon showed an infiltration of inflammatory cells, predominantly lymphocytes, into veins and venules of the submucosa, muscularis propria and fat tissue of the colonic mesentery, with an involvement of all layers of the vessel wall. Arteries were escaped from inflammatory changes. The histopathological diagnosis of enterocolic phlebitis and venulitis was made because of these findings.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma--case report.

A healthy 33-year-old man presented with an intramedullary tuberculoma of the thoracic spinal cord manifesting as a 2-month history of progressive paraparesis and sphincter dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ring enhancement of the intramedullary thoracic lesion with perifocal edema. General physical examination was unremarkable with no signs of inflammation except for a positive finding by the tuberculin skin test. Total resection of the intramedullary mass was performed through a posterior myelotomy following T11-12 laminectomy. Histological examination revealed a granulomatous lesion that contained Langhans giant cells, inflammatory cells, and caseating necrosis. Acid-fast bacilli staining of the specimens was positive, and cultures grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Postoperatively, the paraparesis and sphincter dysfunction improved sufficiently for the patient to return to his ordinary activities. Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma is rare, but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression.

Adult↗