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Biomedical subjects

O Masamune

Publications and source records attributed to O Masamune.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Induction of a 72-kDa heat shock protein and cytoprotection against thioacetamide-induced liver injury in rats.

Heat shock proteins are ubiquitous intracellular proteins induced by various physiological stress-related events. A 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) has been reported to be an endogenous cytoprotectant in variety of cells in vitro. In order to study the cytoprotective function of HSP72 in the liver, the effect of preinduction of HSP72 in rat liver by systemic hyperthermia on thioacetamide-induced hepatic injury was investigated in this study. Expression of HSP72 in the liver was investigated by immunoblot and densitometric analysis. Rats were injected with thioacetamide (100 mg/kg, subcutaneously) with or without preinduction of HSP72 by hyperthermia. Serum AST and ALT concentrations were measured before and after thioacetamide injection in both group. Histologic alteration of the liver was evaluated also. Systemic hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C, 20 min) significantly induced HSP72 in the liver. Thioacetamide-induced hepatic injury was clearly prevented by preinduction of HSP72 by hyperthermia. Prevention of hepatocyte damage was more clear in the area around central veins where HSP72 induction was apparent. Our findings might suggest that HSP72 has an important function in the liver with respect to cytoprotection. These results might be important for understanding the mechanism of "adaptive cytoprotection" in the liver mediated by the function of heat shock proteins as "molecular chaperons" as reported in vitro.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Disseminated intra-abdominal cystic lymphangiomatosis with severe intestinal bleeding. A case report.

We describe cystic lymphangiomatosis with intestinal bleeding developing multiple lymphangiomas in the small intestine, mesentery, mesocolon, omentum, retroperitoneum, and spleen. Small intestinal fluorography showed multiple polypoid lesions, mainly in the jejunum. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse cystic tumors in the mesentery and spleen. Cystic lymphangiomatosis was proved by histologic findings of the biopsied specimen at laparotomy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1997

Utility of hepatitis C virus RNA levels for predicting the therapeutic efficacy of interferon.

We studied the levels of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, the HCV genotype before interferon therapy, and the kinetics of serum HCV-RNA at the initial stages of therapy to determine their utility in predicting the therapeutic efficacy of interferon in 44 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. We also looked at the efficacy of repeated interferon treatment in relation to the kinetics of serum HCV-RNA. The level of serum HCV-RNA determined by a branched DNA probe assay before interferon treatment and that by a reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction assay during the initial stages of interferon administration were useful for predicting the efficacy of treatment. Furthermore, detection of serum HCV-RNA by the reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction assay after the completion of interferon therapy indicated relapse at its earliest stage. In patients who experience relapse, repeated treatment with an appropriate dose of interferon before an increase in viral levels may increase the proportion of complete responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Three major alleles of rotavirus NSP4 proteins identified by sequence analysis.

Comparison of nonstructural glycoprotein NSP4 gene sequences from 22 rotavirus strains originating from six host species and of 14 different combinations of G and P types revealed the presence of three distinct NSP4 alleles, represented by strains Wa, KUN and AU-1. Genetic distances between any of these alleles (18.0%) were significantly greater than those within each allele (5.5%) and phylogenetic analysis suggested that divergence into three distinct alleles had occurred at about the same time during evolution. While amino acid variation among strains was minimal in the amino-terminal two-thirds of the protein (aa 1-130), variability increased toward the carboxy terminus of the enterotoxic peptide region (aa 114-135) and was greatest between residues 135 and 141. Comparison of the amino acid sequences corresponding to the enterotoxic peptide region between strains isolated from asymptomatic neonates and those from children with diarrhoea failed to identify any conserved changes that correlated with the capacity of the virus to cause disease. Amino acids were relatively conserved in the domains important for viral morphogenesis.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

A multicentre randomized controlled trial of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Sixty-one chronic hepatitis C patients were randomly assigned to receive either 6 x 10(6) or 9 x 10(6) U of recombinant interferon-alpha-2a (IFN alpha-2a) six days a week for the first two weeks of treatment, followed in both cases by 6 x 10(6) U three days a week for the next 22 weeks. In the low dose group, 11 patients showed a complete response maintained for at least six months, 12 responded but then relapsed and nine did not respond; the corresponding figures in the high dose group were 10, 15 and five patients, respectively. The differences between groups are not statistically significant. Thus, this study provides no evidence of therapeutic benefit from increasing the initial dose of IFN alpha-2a. In both treatment groups, complete responders had significantly lower pretreatment viral titres than nonresponders and were significantly more likely to be infected by type 2a versus type 1b virus.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1997

Pilot study of ofloxacin and interferon-alpha combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C without sustained response to initial interferon administration.

A controlled trial comparing combination therapy with ofloxacin (OFLX) and interferon (IFN) versus IFN monotherapy was conducted in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed IFN therapy. Twenty patients were assigned randomly to two groups. Equal doses of recombinant IFN alpha-2b were administered to each group for 24 weeks. For the IFN plus OFLX group, OFLX was administered for 12 weeks at a daily dose of 600 mg. Levels of hepatitis C virus RNA declined significantly from the first month after the start of IFN treatment compared with those before administration in both groups. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly lower in the IFN plus OFLX group at two and six months after the start of treatment than levels in the IFN group. The fraction of subjects whose levels of serum ALT normalized was also higher in the IFN plus OFLX group. Larger clinical trials should be undertaken.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effect of interferon-gamma on lymphocyte cell subsets in human large bowel: a study using organ culture method.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of interferon (IFN)-gamma on normal colonic lamina propria lymphocyte subsets in humans using organ culture method. Lamina propria lymphocyte subsets in normal colonic biopsy tissues receiving 1 x 10(5) u/ml of IFN-gamma (IFN-gamma-treated group) were investigated in comparison with those cultured in medium only (IFN-gamma-non-treated group) for 24 hr. CD8-positive cells and IgG, IgA1 and IgM-containing cells were elevated in the IFN-gamma-treated group compared with those in the IFN-gamma-non-treated group, which was similar to immunological changes in mucosal lesions of inflammatory bowel disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1997

Isolated splenic metastases.

We analyzed the primary tumors, sonographic findings, clinical manifestations, and prognosis in five cases of isolated splenic metastases to determine in what situations these rare metastases should be suspected. The metastases were detected by ultrasonography in all five patients, and the primary tumors were colonic cancer in four patients and renal cancer in one patient. Splenectomy was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful in all patients. We conclude that preoperative and follow-up examinations must be performed with special attention given to the spleen in colonic or renal cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Fulminant hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus during treatment for multiple sclerosis.

A 55-year-old woman was treated at our hospital for multiple sclerosis. Therapy consisted of glucocorticosteroids and cyclosporin. In the 7th week after these drugs were discontinued the patient developed acute liver failure due to fulminant hepatitis (FH) and died. Post-mortem examination showed massive liver necrosis. Serologic examination was negative for hepatitis B virus-related markers. Antihepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibody and serum HCV RNA were negative on admission, but HCV RNA appeared concurrently with the onset of FH. Although HCV infection rarely causes FH, it was considered to be the cause of FH in this patient, since there were no other causes of acute liver injury. We suspect that underlying immunologic abnormalities in conjunction with HCV infection may have precipitated the FH.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed1996

Alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9-producing gallbladder cancer.

We report a rare case of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9-producing gallbladder cancer with high levels of CA125 and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA II). A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer with metastases to the liver, based on ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showing multiple tumorous lesions in the liver and a thickened gallbladder wall. Laboratory data showed high levels of tumor markers: 4647.4 ng/ml AFP, 9987.1 ng/ml CEA, 11,704.0 U/ml CA19-9, 847.6 U/ml CA125, and 0.2 AU/ ml PIVKA II. AFP in the present case showed an increase in Concanavalin A-nonbinding fraction and an increase in Lens culinaris lectin-binding fraction by affinity column chromatography. The patient died of hepatic failure. Autopsy revealed gallbladder cancer consisting of papillary adenocarcinoma and moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. By immunohistochemical staining, AFP was detected in the papillary adenocarcinoma portion of the primary focus and metastatic tumor cells in the liver, but was not detected in noncancerous liver tissue. CEA and CA19-9 were detected mainly in the tubular adenocarcinoma portion.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗
PubMed1996

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis successfully treated with combination chemotherapy using UFT, CDDP and etoposide].

We reported a 66-year-old male patient with advanced gastric cancer accompanied by multiple liver metastasis, who responded to combination chemotherapy using UFT, CDDP and etoposide. The patient was administered three courses of 600 mg/body UFT po daily, 50 mg/body CDDP iv and 50 mg/body etoposide iv on days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks. As a result, both the primary and metastatic tumors decreased remarkably in size. Adverse reactions were leukocytopenia (Grade 2), thrombocytopenia (Grade 1) and nausea (Grade 1). he is alive 16 months after the beginning of therapy in a condition of partial response (PR). This combination therapy seemed to be effective for advanced gastric cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗