PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Iijima

Publications and source records attributed to N Iijima.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Randomized, controlled study on adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK in curatively resected colorectal cancer. The Cooperative Study Group of Surgical Adjuvant Immunochemotherapy for Cancer of Colon and Rectum (Kanagawa).

A randomized, controlled trial of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK (Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Tokyo, Japan) in curatively resected colorectal cancer was studied in 35 institutions in the Kanagawa prefecture. From March 1985 to February 1987, 462 patients were registered. Four hundred forty-eight of those patients (97.0 percent) satisfied the eligibility criteria. The control group received mitomycin C intravenously on the day of and the day after surgery, followed by oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration for over six months. The PSK group received PSK orally for over three years, in addition to mitomycin C and 5-FU as in the control group. At the end of February 1990, the median follow-up time for this study was four years (range, three to five years). The disease-free survival curve and the survival curve of the PSK group were better than those of the control group, and differences between the two groups were statistically significant (disease-free survival, P = 0.013; survival, P = 0.013). These results indicate that adjuvant immunochemotherapy with PSK was beneficial for curatively resected colorectal cancer.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Expression of a human multidrug resistance gene in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

To investigate the possible role of the multidrug resistance phenotype to chemoresistance in human ovarian carcinoma, we have analyzed human multidrug resistance gene (mdr 1) expression in 8 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines. An increase in P-glycoprotein level specific to multidrug-resistant tumor cells was not apparently associated with the increase in resistance to vincristine (VCR) or doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Mdr 1 transcripts (4.5 kilobases) were observed in the RNA preparation obtained from only one cell line (SHIN-3) that showed the highest resistance to both drugs in vitro and in vivo. No cell lines showed mdr 1 DNA amplification. These results suggest that the insensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma to chemotherapy could be partly explained by the expression of mdr 1.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1992

De novo production of alpha 2-macroglobulin in cultured astroglia from rat brain.

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is one of the neurite-promoting factors in the conditioned medium of astroglia. In the present study, we further examined the de novo production of alpha 2M in cultured astroglia by determining the expression of alpha 2M mRNA, and the biosynthesis of [35S]methionine-labeled alpha 2M protein. We analyzed the mRNA of cultured astroglia by differential hybridization using specific probes to alpha 2M and its homologous protein, alpha 1-inhibitor 3 (alpha 1I3), after amplification of reverse-transcribed cDNA with the polymerase chain reaction. The result clearly showed that only alpha 2M mRNA is expressed in cultured astroglia. Northern blotting analysis revealed that alpha 2M mRNA is expressed mainly in the astroglia and is not detected in neurons, microglia and meningeal fibroblasts. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of alpha 2M protein in the astroglia was confirmed by an immunoprecipitation experiment after labeling of each type of cell with [35S]methionine. It was concluded that alpha 2M is produced in the cultured astroglia which is the major source of alpha 2M production among various types of cells in rat brain.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Occupational skin hazards in hairdressers and their etiologic factors--results of mass health examination at health centers].

From 1986 to '88, mass health examinations for skin disorders among hairdressers were performed in 4 Health Centers in Osaka Prefecture. Among 306 female hairdressers examined, the prevalence of skin lesions was 49.0%, consisting of skin lesions of hands and arms alone 22.9%, nail lesion alone 13.7%, and both 12.4%. Characteristic features of the skin lesions were dryness, roughness, thickening of epidermis, redness, hyperkeratinization, scales, desquamation, etc. In the case of nails, thinning, onycholysis, onychoschisis, pitting, transverse grooves and onychorexis were characteristic. The relationship between prevalence of skin disorders and site of lesions to history or category of work was studied. For the prevention of these skin hazards, improved chemicals, equipment, and hygienic education are necessary. Periodical health-checks including participation by a dermatologist, and health supervision should be continued with cooperation between Health Centers and beauty salons, because these businesses are principally small-size enterprises.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[A follow-up study by MRI and enhanced-MRI in a case of cerebral tuberculosis].

We report a case of cerebral tuberculosis following miliary tuberculosis. A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in October 1990 because of fever and general fatigue. Chest x-ray film on admission showed diffuse granular shadows in both lungs. Tubercle bacilli were seen in the sputum (Gaffky 5) by the Ziehl Neelsen's staining, and anti-tuberculous therapy was quickly started. But a few days after admission, the disturbance of consciousness, neck stiffness, and headache appeared. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid disclosed that leucocytes was increased in number, and that ADA was elevated to 14.6 IU/l. Tubercle bacilli were detected from cerebrospinal fluid by culture. Although CT scan of the brain was normal at first week of admission, brain CT at eighth week of admission showed several nodulus enhanced with contrast medium. The findings were confirmed by T2 weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) as high intense areas. Although T1 weighted MRI showed isointensity of the gray matter, T1 weighted MRI enhanced by Gd-DTPA revealed abnormal enhancement. At twenty-ninth week of admission CT showed no abnormality even by contrast enhancement, but enhanced T1 weighted MRI revealed a small lesion with enhancement which was not shown by CT. MRI enhanced by Gd-DTPA was more useful for evaluating cerebral tuberculosis than brain CT.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Dissociation of neurite-promoting activity and protease-inhibiting function of alpha 2-macroglobulin in culture.

The relationship between the neurite-promoting effect and the protease-inhibiting function of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) was examined in a culture of dissociated neurons from embryonic rat neocortical tissue. The neurite-promoting effect of various protease inhibitors (soybean trypsin inhibitor, alpha 1-antitrypsin, aprotinin, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, leupeptin, antipain, human alpha 2M and purified rat alpha 2M) was investigated. At lower concentrations, only alpha 2M significantly promoted neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, alpha 2M-trypsin complexes, which had lost their protease-inhibiting function and exposed their receptor-recognition site, promoted neurite outgrowth more efficiently than native alpha 2M. These results indicate the possibility that the neurite-promoting effect of alpha 2M is mediated by its receptor-binding activity but is not directly related to its protease-inhibiting function.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1991

A newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test (nuclear damage assay): application to ovarian cancer.

With a newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test based on the morphological changes of nuclear damage (nuclear damage assay) described here, we were able to screen currently available anticancer drugs within 24 hr with a 100% success rate. In preclinical chemotherapy using four human ovarian epithelial tumor cell lines and their xenografts in nude mice, the in vitro/in vivo response (sensitive/sensitive and resistant/resistant) rate was 94%. The nuclear damage assay was used to determine the chemosensitivity in 49 patients (60 assays) with ovarian cancer. The response rate of the 13 patients with measurable tumors, 9 of whom showed resistance to CAP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and cisplatin) therapy, was 46% when the patients were given various combination chemotherapy protocols consisting of more than one active agent selected from group A and B agents by the nuclear damage assay. The newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test proved to be useful when selecting a second-line combination chemotherapy for patients with CAP-resistant ovarian cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Core protein of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan promotes neurite outgrowth from cultured neocortical neurons.

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CS-PG) was purified from rat brain and examined for its effect on neurite outgrowth in primary cultures of embryonic rat neocortical neurons. Neurite outgrowth was increased in culture wells coated with CS-PG. The core protein and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) prepared from the CS-PG were also examined for neurite-promoting activity. The activity was observed in culture wells coated with the core protein but not with GAG. These results suggest that CS-PG stimulates neurite outgrowth from the cultured neurons via its core protein.

Aggrecans↗
PubMed1991

[Interleukin-2 receptor expression in pulmonary granulomatous diseases].

Interleukin-2 receptor expression (IL-2R) on monocytes and alveolar macrophages (AM) was determined in patients with sarcoidosis and pulmonary tuberculosis. In sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, IL-2R on monocytes was detectable, while it was undetectable in healthy controls. IL-2R on AM in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis was significantly increased as compared to healthy controls. IFN-gamma, which has been shown to be increased in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis as compared to healthy controls, induced IL-2R on monocytes in healthy controls, suggesting that IFN-gamma is at least in part responsible for the induction or enhancement of IL-2R on monocytes or AM in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. Phorbol myristate acetate which is known to be protein kinase C (PKC) activator induced IL-2R on monocytes, and PKC inhibitor, H7, inhibited IFN-gamma-induced IL-2R on monocytes in healthy controls. Calcium ionophore, A23187, induced IL-2R on monocytes and calmodulin antagonist, W7, inhibited IFN-gamma-induced IL-2R on monocytes. Based on these results, it seems that not only the PKC pathway but also the calcium-calmodulin pathway is involved in IFN-gamma-induced IL-2R.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Result of individualized chemotherapy with a newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity testing in ovarian cancer].

By means of a newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test based on the morphological changes in the nucleus (nuclear damage assay) as previously described, we were able to screen currently available anticancer drugs within 24 hr with a 100% success rate. The nuclear damage assay was used to determine the chemosensitivity in 50 patients (66 assays) with ovarian cancer. The response rate for the 13 patients with measurable tumors, 8 of whom showed resistance to CAP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and cisplatin) therapy, was 46 percent when they were given various combination chemotherapy protocols consisting of more than one active agent selected from group A and B agents by the nuclear damage assay. The newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test proved to be useful when selecting a second line combination for patients with CAP-resistant ovarian cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1991

[Basic study on in vitro chemosensitivity tests].

By means of 3 different kinds of in vitro chemosensitivity testings--(1) a nuclear damage assay developed by us, (2) MTT assay, and (3) colony formation inhibition assay--we examined the sensitivity of 8 kinds of human ovarian cancer cell lines to various anticancer drugs. The sensitivity of in vivo xenografts of the cell lines in nude mice to anticancer drugs was also examined by inhibition of the tumor growth. The in vitro--in vivo correlation of sensitivity was studied in respect to both sensitivity and specificity rates. 1. Different active anticancer drugs were screened among the 3 in vitro chemosensitivity testings in the same human ovarian cancer cell line. 2. The in vitro--in vivo correlation of the nuclear damage assay (sensitivity 50%, specificity 94%) was the highest among the 3 testings. The nuclear damage assay which we developed therefore seemed to be the most useful assay method for clinical use.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Serum soluble IL-2 receptor level in patients with sarcoidosis].

Serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptors (sIL-2R) by an ELISA method in 28 patients with sarcoidosis and 16 healthy controls were studied, and the source of sIL-2R was further examined. sIL-2R in serum was significantly higher in sarcoidosis than in controls. In sarcoidosis sIL-2R in serum significantly correlated with serum ACE level, and was significantly higher in stage II or III patients than in stage O patients. sIL-2R in supernatants of cultured monocytes (Mo) and alveolar macrophages (AM) was significantly higher in sarcoidosis than in controls. sIL-2R in supernatants of cultured T lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood or BALF was barely detectable in sarcoidosis, while it was undetectable in controls. Furthermore, sIL-2R in serum was significantly correlated with sIL-2R in supernatants of cultured Mo and AM. These results indicate that sIL-2R in serum is an useful index of the disease activity of sarcoidosis, and may be mainly derived from IL-2R on Mo and AM.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Alpha 2-macroglobulin is an astroglia-derived neurite-promoting factor for cultured neurons from rat central nervous system.

The neurite promoting factors in the astroglial conditioned medium (As-CM) were characterized by using primary cultures of embryonic rat neocortical neurons. The factors in the As-CM bind to lectins such as wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), suggesting that they contain sugar moieties. When the WGA-bound fractions were applied on a Superose 6 column, the activity was recovered mainly in two fractions, peak I and peak II. The peak II fraction was further purified by Mono Q anion exchange chromatography. A single protein band of 180 kDa was detected in the final Mono Q fraction by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight coincided with that of alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M). Western blotting showed that the single protein band was reacted with anti-alpha 2M antibody but not with anti-fibronectin and anti-laminin antisera. The neurite-promoting activity of the Mono Q fraction was inhibited by anti-alpha 2M antibody. Furthermore, commercially available alpha 2M also promotes neurite outgrowth in our assay system. These results strongly suggested that alpha 2M is one of the neurite-promoting factors in the As-CM.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Longitudinal observation of condylar position in anterior crossbite at the mixed dentition during orthodontic treatment].

We investigated the condylar position by transcranial radiography which can be put daily clinical use easily. The patients are 8 anterior crossbite at the mixed dentition (4 functional crossbite and 4 skeletal crossbite). We observed their condylar positions before treatment (average age is 9.3 years old), after correction of overbite (average age is 10.0 years old) and 3-4 years after correction of overbite (average age is 14.0 years old). The results were as follows: 1. Condylar position of 7 cases changed after correction of overbite. The differences between right and left condylar position of six in seven cases had been recognized before treatment decreased after correction of overbite. Their condylar position were stable during the observation period of 3-4 years after correction of overbite. The condylar position of the other one case closed to fossa and then relapsed 3-4 years later. 2. Condylar position of only one case hasn't changed during the observation. 3. In functional crossbite cases, there were some differences between right and left condylar position before treatment, but no differences after crossbite correction. In skeletal crossbite cases, there was no tendency of the changing on their condylar position through treatment. 4. The changing to same direction was observed in the decrease of differences on condylar position and in the result of frontal cephalogram analysis. 5. There wasn't special relationship between changing of condylar position and orthodontic appliances. 6. TMJ dysfunction was observed in the case which has significant difference in its condylar positions before treatment and in the other case in which difference was not corrected after treatment. We recognized the usefulness of transcranial radiography for orthodontic treatment.

Child↗
PubMed1990

[A case of miliary tuberculosis with prolonged high fever for more than 2 months under antituberculous therapy].

A 28 year-old male was admitted to our hospital with persistent cough and high fever. He was diagnosed to have miliary tuberculosis by the transbronchial lung biopsy specimen and tuberculous choroidal lesions in the ocular fundus. Antituberculosis therapy was immediately started. In spite of the fact that the bacilli were sensitive to the antituberculosis drugs used and he had no other complications, high fever persisted and lasted for more than 2 months. When tuberculosis is suspected, and antituberculosis treatment is tried to observe its clinical response, the presence of similar cases mentioned above should be taken into consideration.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The prostaglandin synthesis in marine fish thrombocyte.

1. Prostaglandin (PG) syntheses from labelled highly unsaturated fatty acids were investigated in washed thrombocyte suspensions of four species of marine fish, flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli), black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), and red seabream (Pagrus major). 2. Synthesized PGs were analyzed by thin-layer radiochromatogram scanner and high-performance liquid chromatography. 3. When [1-(14)C]arachidonic acid (AA) was incubated with washer thrombocyte suspension, AA was mainly converted to PGF(2alpha), PGE2, and PGD2 in all species. 4. It was suggested that [1-(14)C]eicosapentaenoic acid was mainly converted in PGs only in black rockfish thrombocytes, and the metabolites were mainly PGE3 and PGD3. 5 However, [1-(14)C]docosahexaenoic acid was not cyclized into PGs in all the species.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Regulation of neuronal development by astroglia].

Accumulating lines of evidence indicated that glial cells play important roles in regulating the neuronal development. It has been reported by a number of authors that astroglia promote the survival of neurons and the neurite outgrowth by several diffusible factors and membrane-associated factors. In the present article, we have reviewed the astroglia-derived bioactive substances which possibly affect the neuronal development in the central nervous system.

Animals↗