PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Naoki Itoh

Publications and source records attributed to Naoki Itoh.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Removal of more lymph nodes may provide better outcome, as well as more accurate pathologic findings, in patients with bladder cancer--analysis of role of pelvic lymph node dissection.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) in patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. The diagnostic and therapeutic role of PLND is still controversial in bladder cancer. The extent of PLND and the necessary number of lymph nodes to remove have not been defined. METHODS: This retrospective review included 146 patients with refractory superficial and muscle-invasive disease treated with radical cystectomy, regional PLND (internal iliac, external iliac, and obturator nodes) and urinary diversion from January 1990 to December 2002. RESULTS: Lymph node metastases were detected in 25 patients (17.1%). The average number of nodes removed in the node-positive and node-negative patients was 13.9 and 14.2, respectively. Although no difference was found in disease-specific survival in the node-negative patients when stratified by the number of nodes removed (13 or more versus less than 13), a significant survival advantage was found in the node-positive patients with 13 or more nodes removed versus less than 13 nodes removed. The patients with four or more positive nodes had a worse outcome than those with less than four positive nodes. However, even if the patients had less than four positive nodes, the survival of patients with less than 13 nodes removed was as poor as that of the patients with four or more positive nodes. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the removal of 13 or more pelvic lymph nodes was essential for more accurate pathologic examination to predict patient outcome and contributed to an increased chance of survival.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[XYY syndrome].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Chromosome Segregation↗
PubMed2006

Modified and bilateral retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer: peri- and postoperative complications and therapeutic outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize surgical invasiveness and morbidity and to verify therapeutic efficacy, we reviewed perioperative and postoperative courses and therapeutic outcomes of patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for testicular germ cell cancers. METHODS: The study included 31 patients who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. A modified template was used if retroperitoneal metastasis was limited to the areas below the level of the renal hilus and above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Perioperative and postoperative courses and complications were reviewed as well as therapeutic outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 27 perioperative and postoperative complications were observed in 15 patients (48.4%). Superficial surgical site infection and paralytic ileus were seen most frequently. All of them were resolved without special additional treatments; however, patients who underwent retrocrural dissection had a tendency to have severe symptomatic complications such as chylothorax, phrenic nerve palsy and orthostatic hypotension. Antegrade ejaculation was preserved in 94.1% of patients with modified template dissection, whereas no patients with additional dissection below the level of the IMA had the function preserved. One patient (3.2%) developed a postoperative recurrent disease in the retroperitoneum, which was outside the dissection field, as well as in the mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: Although RLND had high morbidity, most peri- and postoperative complications were manageable conservatively. Modified template dissection enabled patients to preserve antegrade ejaculation without compromising its therapeutic efficacy, if the disease extension allowed us to use the template.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

A novel slow-tight binding serine protease inhibitor from eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) plasma inhibits perkinsin, the major extracellular protease of the oyster protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus.

A serine protease inhibitor was purified from plasma of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. The inhibitor is a 7609.6 Da protein consisting of 71 amino acids with 12 cysteine residues that are postulated to form 6 intra-chain disulfide bridges. Sequencing of the cloned cDNA identified an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 90 amino acids, with the 19 N-terminal amino acids forming a signal peptide. No sequence similarity with known proteins was found in sequence databases. The protein inhibited the serine proteases subtilisin A, trypsin and perkinsin, the major extracellular protease of the oyster protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus, in a slow binding manner. The mechanism of inhibition involves a rapid binding of inhibitor to the enzyme to form a weak enzyme-inhibitor complex followed by a slow isomerization to form a very tight binding enzyme-inhibitor complex. The overall dissociation constants K(i) with subtilisin A, perkinsin and trypsin were 0.29 nM, 13.7 nM and 17.7 nM, respectively. No inhibition of representatives of the other protease classes was detected. This is the first protein inhibitor of proteases identified from a bivalve mollusk and it represents a new protease inhibitor family. Its tight binding to subtilisin and perkinsin suggests it plays a role in the oyster host defense against P. marinus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Murine androgen-independent neuroendocrine carcinoma promotes metastasis of human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP.

BACKGROUND: Although neuroendocrine (NE) cells in prostate cancer have been speculated to accelerate the growth and progression of surrounding cancer cells, the evidence is as yet inconclusive. We investigated the effect of an NE allograft (NE-10) and its cell line, NE-CS, which were established from the prostate of the LPB-Tag 12T-10 transgenic mouse, on human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. METHODS: The proliferation and pulmonary metastasis of LNCaP xenografts in athymic mice with and without NE-10 allografts were evaluated. Boyden chamber assay and microarray analysis were performed to investigate changes in invasion/migration and mRNA of LNCaP cells under the influence of the NE cells, respectively. RESULTS: NE-10 did not influence the proliferation of LNCaP. The pulmonary metastasis of LNCaP with NE-10 significantly increased compared to mice without it. The NE-CS cells accelerated the in vitro invasion/migration of adenocarcinoma cells. Increased expression of mRNA of gelsolin was observed in LNCaP cells incubated with the supernatant of NE-CS cells. CONCLUSIONS: The NE-10 allograft promotes pulmonary metastasis of subcutaneously inoculated LNCaP cells by facilitating cell invasion. Secretions from NE cells upregulate the expression of gelsolin, which is an actin-binding protein, resulting in acceleration of the migration of LNCaP cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Aging Males' Symptoms scale in Japanese men attending a multiphasic health screening clinic.

OBJECTIVES: The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale is a health-related quality-of-life scale. The AMS scale has been used worldwide for the evaluation of andropause symptoms, but its standardized values have only been published for Germany. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of andropause symptoms in the male Japanese population using the AMS scale. METHODS: Of a consecutive series of 2833 men who underwent multiphasic health screening at Kurashiki Central Hospital, we analyzed the results for 2211 men who responded to all questions on the AMS scale. RESULTS: The severity of the total score and the sexual subscore of the AMS scale increased significantly with age, but no significant age relationships were observed in the psychological and somatic subscores. Approximately 50% of men in their 40s had moderate or severe symptoms in the sexual subscore. The total scores and all subscores for the Japanese population were significantly greater than those for the German population. CONCLUSIONS: A decline in sexual function with age was demonstrated in healthy Japanese men, but the somatic and psychological subscores were not influenced by age. The present study has provided standardized values for the AMS scale for the Japanese population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma is frequently underexpressed in renal cell carcinoma.

AIM: To examine peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) mRNA expression quantitatively in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines and RCC tissue, as well as in corresponding normal kidney tissue. METHODS: We examined PPARgamma mRNA expression quantitatively in six human RCC cell lines by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between cell growth inhibition by PPARgamma ligands and the level of PPARgamma mRNA expression. We compared the expression of PPARgamma mRNA in 47 RCC tissues with that in corresponding normal kidney tissue, and investigated the relationship between clinicopathological features and the level of PPARgamma mRNA expression. RESULTS: Among the six RCC cell lines, five showed decreased PPARgamma mRNA expression. There was no relationship between the inhibitory effects of PPARgamma ligands and PPARgamma mRNA expression levels. Of the tissues from 47 RCC patients, 25 (53%) showed decreased expression of PPARgamma mRNA compared to corresponding normal kidney tissue, and one was equivalent to normal tissue. These patients had distant metastasis at diagnosis more frequently than the remaining patients with high expression. There was also a trend for these patients to have a higher stage. CONCLUSIONS: Most RCC cell lines showed decreased expression of PPARgamma mRNA. However, the level of PPARgamma mRNA expression did not affect cell growth inhibition by PPARgamma ligands. More than half of the tissues from RCC patients had low expression of PPARgamma mRNA, and such carcinomas might have more aggressive behavior.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed2006

Ejaculatory disorder caused by alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonists is not retrograde ejaculation but a loss of seminal emission.

AIM: The etiology of the ejaculatory disorder induced by alpha-1 blockers is still controversial, although it has been suggested to be retrograde ejaculation. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtype mRNA in human seminal vesicles, and to analyze the prevalence and etiology of the disorder in healthy men. METHODS: Experimental Study. Seminal vesicles from 10 surgical specimens (eight radical prostatectomy, two radical cystectomy) were dissected. Real-time PCR was conducted for quantification of mRNA expression of each alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtype. Clinical Study. Ejaculatory disorder was investigated using 17 healthy male volunteers. Tamsulosin (0.2 mg and 0.4 mg) and naftopidil (50 mg and 100 mg) were administered in a crossover manner for 3 days. The ejaculatory volume, sperm count in midstream urine after ejaculation, and fructose concentration in seminal plasma were investigated. RESULTS: Real-time PCR revealed that alpha-1a mRNA was significantly predominant in seminal vesicles (P < 0.001; 1a, 75.0%; 1b, 11.7%; 1d, 13.3%). Ejaculatory volume (baseline 2.72 +/- 0.28 mL) significantly decreased in the tamsulosin group (0.2 mg, 1.75 +/- 0.31 mL; 0.4 mg, 1.51 +/- 0.39 mL; P < 0.05), but not in the naftopidil group (50 mg, 2.70 +/- 0.24 mL; 100 mg, 2.48 +/- 0.26 mL; P = NS). There was no sperm in midstream urine after any ejaculation. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates that alpha-1a mRNA is predominant among the adrenoceptor subtypes in human seminal vesicles. Decreased capacity of contraction of the seminal vesicles is proposed as the cause of the ejaculatory disorder induced by alpha-1 blockers.

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Is the short-term outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate affected by preoperative degree of bladder outlet obstruction, status of detrusor contractility or detrusor overactivity?

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the preoperative degree of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), detrusor underactivity (DUA) or detrusor overactivity (DO) affected the short-term outcome of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). METHODS: Ninety-two patients with LUTS/BPH aged 50 years or older who were considered to be appropriate candidates for TURP were included in this study. Pressure-flow study and filling cystometry were performed to determine BOO, DUA and DO before TURP. The efficacy of TURP was determined at 3 months after surgery using the efficacy criteria for treatment of BPH assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score, QOL index, maximum flow rate and postvoid residual urine volume. RESULTS: On preoperative urodynamics, 60%, 40% and 48% of patients showed BOO, DUA and DO, respectively. After TURP, 76% showed 'excellent' or 'good' overall efficacy, whereas only 13% fell into the 'poor/worse' category. The efficacy was higher as the preoperative degree of BOO worsened. In contrast, neither DO nor DUA influenced the outcome of TURP. However, the surgery likely provided unfavorable efficacy for patients having DO but not BOO. Only 20% of the patients who had both DO and DUA but did not have BOO achieved efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral resection of the prostate is an effective surgical procedure for treatment of LUTS/BPH, especially for patients with BOO. DUA may not be a contraindication for TURP. The surgical indication should be circumspect for patients who do not have BOO but have DO.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Inter/intra investigator variation in orchidometric measurements of testicular volume by ten investigators from five institutions.

AIM: To perform quality control studies on testicular volume measurements for a multi-center epidemiological study of male reproductive function. METHODS: We constructed a data matrix with a balanced assignment for 2 consecutive days by ten investigators (andrological career: 4-21 years) from five institutions and 12 male volunteers aged 20-26 years. Testicular volume was measured by Prader's orchidometer. A skilled technician also performed an ultrasound estimate of testicular volume. RESULTS: A statistically significant inter-investigator variation was found for both testes (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant investigator-by-volunteer interaction in testicular volume measurement (P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the two measurements performed on consecutive days for either testis. The testicular volumes for both the right and left testes as estimated by ultrasonography were smaller than results using the orchidometer. However, there was no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The difference in experiences of the investigators did not significantly correlate with accuracy of measurements in either testis. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed significant differences in the results of estimation of testicular volume among the ten investigators, but intra-investigator variation was not considerable. Improved training and proper standardization of the measurement will be necessary before starting a multi-center study based on an andrological examination.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in male hypogonadism].

Sex steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen are involved in bone metabolism. In addition, various growth factors and cytokines also participate in the metabolism. However, their involvement remained to be determined. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has a potential to induce osteoporosis and bone fracture. Their incidences clearly increase over time after the therapy. Bisphosphonate treatment is clinically expected for improvement of bone lesion induced by ADT, which will be determined by future clinical studies. Androgen replacement therapy (ART) has not been established for bone-related symptoms and findings in partial androgen deficiency of the aging male. Although evidence that ART may have favorable clinical effects on bone pathology has been accumulated, further studies including those for drug preparations should be needed.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

[Clinical course of patients with negative initial prostate biopsy].

Of 227 men with a negative initial biopsy, the clinical course of 99 men who could be regularly followed using prostate specific antigen (PSA) determination was retrospectively analyzed. A repeat biopsy was recommended if the men showed persistent elevation of PSA > 10 ng/ml, PSA velocity (PSAV) > 0.75 ng/ml/year, or persistent abnormality on digital rectal examination and/or transrectal ultrasonography. A repeat biopsy was performed on 43 men. Because of the indication for a repeat biopsy, the PSAV of the 43 men who received a repeat biopsy was higher than that of the 56 men who did not. Clinically organ-confined cancer was detected in 18 patients (detection rate 41.9%). The patients having cancer had a higher PSAV (median 1.950) than those without the disease (median 0.900). Of 19 men aged 75 years and older at the initial biopsy, a repeat biopsy revealed organ-confined cancers in 4 out of 10 men. During follow-up of the 19 elderly men, 11 developed co-morbid illnesses such as cerebral infarction, ischemic heart diseases and other malignancies, and 4 died of the diseases. Thus, PSAV seems to be the best parameter for a repeat biopsy. Elderly men may not benefit from a repeat biopsy because they are unlikely to have lethal prostate cancer and highly likely to develop co-morbid illness that would affect their life-span.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[The Aging Male's Symptoms (AMS) scale in Japanese men attending an infertility clinic].

There is a gradual decline in testosterone and free testosterone with age. Physical and psychological changes can occur due to this decline of androgens--a syndrome known as "partial androgen decline in the aging male" (PADAM). Male infertility and erectile dysfunction (ED) can also be caused by androgen deficiency. Thus, male infertility, ED and PADAM are interrelated. We evaluated the prevalence of PADAM symptoms in 215 infertile patients in an infertility clinic using the Aging Males Symptom (AMS) scale. Results of the evaluation of 301 men, (30-39 years old) using the same scale, who were part of a multiphasic health screening program, served as controls. The total score of the infertile patients was lower than that of the controls. Especially, the scores of the psychological and somatic subscales were significantly lower in infertile patients (P=0.009, P=0.012, respectively). Thirty three (15.3%) of the 215 infertile patients had ED. Although the score of sexual subscale was higher in the ED patients than in the controls, the scores of the psychological and somatic subscales were not significantly different from those in the controls. In conclusion, PADAM symptoms in Japanese infertile patients were not severe. Moreover, general function was better preserved in the infertile patients than in the controls. The psychological and somatic functions of ED patients were also well preserved.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the retroperitoneum--review of clinical course and histopathology].

The definition of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) was modified and simplified in the new WHO-Soft Tissue and Bone Tumor Classification published in 2002. We reviewed the clinical courses of 7 patients with MFH of the retroperitoneum treated in our hospital from 1985 to 2005 and reexamined their pathological diagnoses according to the new classification. All pathological specimens were reviewed again by an expert pathologist (TH) and were confirmed as MFH. Median follow-up was 5 months (0.5 to 44 months). Five patients were diagnosed as having the pleomorphic type, and 2, the inflammatory type. The tumor was located in the retroperitoneal space in 6 patients and around the left spermatic cord in 1. Radical surgery was the primary treatment for 6 patients. The disease recurred locally in 5 patients and distant metastasis developed in 3. The lung and liver were the principal locations of distant metastases. The 2-year disease-specific survival rate was 30% and 2 patients have been alive for more than 3 years. Our experience and those of others reported in the literature suggested that the factors for long-term survival in MFH are pleomorphic-type histology, superficial location, small tumor size and intensive wide excision, although most patients with MFH might have a poor prognosis. Because the tumor size of MFH tended to be large, especially that in the retroperitoneal cavity, wide excision with sufficient tumor-free margin is hard to guarantee.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Age-related alteration of neurturin receptor GFRa2 and nNOS in pelvic ganglia.

Neurturin is a neurotrophic factor that is widely expressed in cavernous tissue and retrogradely transported to penis-projecting neurons via its receptor, glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor family receptor alpha-2 (GFRa2). To investigate the influence of aging on neural function on the penis, we examined the expression of GFRa2 mRNA in the major pelvic ganglion and its relationship to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)- and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons. GFRa2 and nNOS mRNA expression levels in RT-PCR showed age-related decreases in 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month-old rats. In situ hybridization also revealed that the number of GFRa2-positive neurons in pelvic ganglia decreased with aging. A double-labeling study revealed the co-expression of GFRa2 and nNOS, which simultaneously decreased in old adult (24 months) and young castrated rats compared with young adult rats (3 months). These results suggest that aging and castration influence the numbers of nNOS- and GFRa2-positive neurons. Higher age might affect not only cavernous tissue but also the neural plasticity of the cavernous nerve related to erectile function.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Spinal curvature of cultured Japanese mackerel Scomber japonicus associated with a brain myxosporean, Myxobolus acanthogobii.

Skeletal deformities were found in the cultured Japanese mackerel Scomber japonicus. External and radiographical observations showed the deformed fish to exhibit a dorso-ventral spinal curvature (kyphosis) without fracture or dislocation of the vertebrae. Numerous myxosporean cysts, ca. 0.3 to 1.0 mm in diameter, formed in the 4th ventricle, the cavity of the optic tectum, the surface of the olfactory lobe and bulb, the optic lobe and the inferior lobe of the brain. Spore morphology and molecular analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence identified the myxosporean parasite as Myxobolus acanthogobii, a parasite which also causes scoliosis in yellowtail Seriola quinqeradiata. Histopathological observation showed that the myxosporean cysts were encapsulated within the host's collagenous layer although some had disintegrated to disperse mature spores into the cranial cavity. Occasionally, lymphocytic infiltration and local granulomatous inflammation were found to be associated with spore dispersion.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Long-term functional outcome and late complications of Studer's ileal neobladder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term functional outcome and late complications of Studer's ileal neobladder. METHODS: The study included 57 patients who underwent radical cystectomy and bladder reconstruction with Studer's ileal neobladder, and were followed-up for at least 3 months after surgery. The voiding and storage function, and late complications were evaluated. The times of evaluation after surgery were categorized into periods I (3-23 months), II (24-59 months), III (60-95 months) and IV (> or =96 months). RESULTS: Daytime and night-time continence rates were 95.6 and 88.6%, respectively. The averages of functional capacity (439 ml), maximum flow rate (15.7 ml/s) and residual urine (35 ml) evaluated in period I were maintained in period IV. Of the 57 patients, intermittent self-catheterization was needed in five (8.8%) due to incomplete emptying or urinary retention. Urethroileal anastomotic stricture was found in two patients (3.5%), who were successfully treated by transurethral intervention. Inguinal hernia was found in seven patients (12.8%), five of whom developed it within 2 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that Studer's ileal neobladder had a favorable long-term functional outcome. Although late complication rates were low, the incidence of inguinal hernia was relatively high, and this was considered as a definite late complication in our study.

Adult↗