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Biomedical subjects

S Inuzuka

Publications and source records attributed to S Inuzuka.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Endosonographic features of Brunner's gland hamartomas which were subsequently resected endoscopically.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Brunner's gland hamartomas are uncommon duodenal submucosal tumors. We aim to describe their morphological characteristics, with particular attention to the endosonographic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the radiological, endoscopic, endosonographic, and histological findings from six Brunner's gland hamartomas which were completely removed by endoscopic resection. RESULTS: The lesions appeared as broad-based, sessile, or pedunculated submucosal tumors, measuring 0.7 to 2 cm in maximal diameter. Three lesions contained tiny dimple-like depressions on the surface; in one lesion these were only recognized following the use of an endoscopic dye-spraying technique. All the lesions could be safely removed by endoscopic resection after endosonographic confirmation of the layer origin within the submucosa. The internal echo structure of the tumors appeared to be solid echogenic in two, simple cystic in two, and multicystic in the remaining two lesions. In three lesions with an indistinct boundary, some stromal proliferation and solid Brunner's glands were recognized in an area extending from the mucosa to the submucosa. These endosonographic features corresponded to histological findings comprising stromal proliferation and various degrees of solid and cystic glandular Brunner's glands. CONCLUSIONS: Brunner's gland hamartoma is characterized endosonographically by a heterogeneous solid and/or cystic mass within the submucosa.

Adult↗

[A case of bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma treated with left partial nephrectomy and laparoscopic right nephrectomy].

We describe a case of bilateral synchronous renal cell carcinoma. A 70-year-old female was admitted to our department because of further examination for bilateral renal masses. Computed tomographic scanning and ultrasound examinations revealed bilateral solid enhanced renal masses, and bilateral renal cell carcinomas were suspected. First, partial left nephrectomy was performed. On the 21th day after the first operation, we confirmed the recovery of the left kidney, and performed right nephrectomy laparoscopically. The histopathological diagnosis revealed bilateral renal cell carcinomas. The patient is alive with no metastatic lesions and no recurrence at 16 months after the operations.

Aged↗

An evaluation of Bosniak's radiological classification of cystic renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical usefulness of Bosniak's classification of cystic renal masses, the differentiation of which remains difficult despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The computed tomography (CT) findings of all histopathologically examined cystic renal masses diagnosed at our institution were analysed retrospectively; 35 patients with cystic renal masses were treated between 1986 and 1998. Tissues surgically removed were examined pathologically and the final diagnosis compared with the preoperative CT category of Bosniak's classification. RESULTS: The histopathological examined showed cystic renal cell carcinoma in 21 patients, a benign renal cyst in 12, haemangiosarcoma in one and transitional cell carcinoma in one. Most of the 35 masses (26, 74%) were found incidentally during evaluation for an unrelated disease or a routine health check. All 11 masses of Bosniak category I were benign and one category II mass was malignant. All 10 masses of category III and 12 of category IV were malignant. CONCLUSIONS: Bosniak's classification is useful for differentiating category I, III and IV cystic renal masses. There were too few samples to allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn for category II renal masses. It is critical to differentiate between complicated cysts of category II and III because of the major implications for prognosis and clinical management.

Adult↗

[Subcutaneous sarcoidosis of the extremities].

A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to abnormal chest roentgenograms showing bilateral hilar enlargement with diffuse micronodular opacities. He presented with uveitis and elevated serum ACE and tested negative for tuberculin response. Transbronchial lung biopsies as well as bronchoalveolar lavage were performed and yielded a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Several months later, the patient showed multiple subcutaneous nodules around the knee joints and elbow joints with exacerbation of intrapulmonary lesions. A skin biopsy revealed multiple foci of typical non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomata. These pulmonary and subcutaneous lesions rapidly resolved in response to the systemic administration of corticosteroids. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis may be a subacute variant of sarcoidosis associated with systemic involvement.

Aged↗

Integrin alpha6beta1 plays a significant role in the attachment of hepatoma cells to laminin.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tumor invasion and metastasis consist of a series of complex events. During this process, the ability of tumor cells to adhere to laminin, a major component of basement membranes, is required at various steps. The expression of laminin-binding integrins and the extent of tumor metastasis and progression appear to be related. In hepatocellular carcinoma, increased expression of laminin-binding integrins is observed. However, little is known concerning the possible functional interactions between laminin-binding integrins and laminin. Therefore, we investigated the participation of laminin-binding integrins in the attachment of hepatoma cells to laminin. METHODS: Human hepatoma cell lines (KIM-1, KYN-1, 2) were used. We investigated the expression of integrin alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha6, beta1, and beta4 subunits on hepatoma cells by immunocytochemical and flow cytometric analysis. Participation of these integrin subunits in the attachment of hepatoma cells to laminin was evaluated by an inhibition of cell adhesion assay. RESULTS: Integrin alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha6 and beta1 subunits were expressed at the marginal areas of hepatoma cells, while the integrin beta4 subunit was scarcely detected. Laminin promoted the attachment of hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Although anti-integrin alpha1, alpha2, beta3 and beta4 subunit antibodies did not inhibit cell attachment to laminin, anti-integrin alpha6 and beta1 subunit antibodies inhibited the attachment by 50% or more. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that integrin alpha6beta1 is very important in the attachment of hepatoma cells to laminin, suggesting the participation of this integrin in metastasis and invasion of hepatoma cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

[Change in prevalence of allergic diseases in primary school children in Fukuoka City for the last fifteen years].

We have been investigating the yearly change of prevalence rate of childhood allergic diseases using same method and in same region in five primary schools in Fukuoka City for the last fifteen years. From 1981 to 1995, revised ATS-DLD questionnaire had been administered yearly to the first graders of primary school children (6-7 yrs). The total number of subjects for fifteen years were 8000. The average number of children in each year was 533. 1. The cumulative prevalence of bronchial asthma statistically increased from 5.7% (average of 1981 to 1983) to 7.7% (1993 to 1995). It was 1.7 times higher on boys. 2. The cumulative prevalence of atopic dermatitis did not change yearly and its average was 36.3%. The boys/girls ratio was 1.2. Remission rate of atopic dermatitis statistically increased from 14.3% (average of 1987 and 1988) to 19.6% (1994 and 1995). 3. The cumulative prevalence of allergic rhinitis did not change yearly and its average was 17.6%. It was 1.5 times higher on boys. 4. The cumulative prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis statistically increased from 8.4% (average of 1987 and 1988) to 11.1% (1994 and 1995).

Child↗

Analysis of environmental carcinogens associated with the incidence of lung cancer.

It is presumed that carcinogens present in human lungs contribute to the incidence of lung cancer. Most of the carcinogens are inhaled in lung alveoli with particulate matter through the respiratory tract. On the basis of chemical analysis of 256 lung specimens with carcinomas resected in the period 1991 1996, the concentration of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) was 19.7+/-10.5 pg/g of dry weight, and that of the dinitropyrenes (DNP) was 3.50+/-0.14-6.26+/-1.76. In addition, 2-nitrofluoranthene (NF) and 3-NF were detected at a higher level of 38.6+/-17.2 and 39.1+/-14.2, respectively, pg/g of dry weight. Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[ghi]perylene in 37 specimens collected in the period 1991 1996, were in the range of 138+/-82-399+/-220 pg/g of dry weight. No difference was found in the concentration of chemicals deposited in lung specimens from patients with lung cancer and tuberculosis as a control. By following the prognosis of 112 patients with carcinomas, we found that the deposition of 1-NP, 1,3-DNP, and 3-NF in lung tissues influenced their 5-year-survival after determination of chemicals. Lung specimens were divided into two groups of higher and lower chemical concentrations at the levels of 18 pg/g for 1-NP, 15 for 1,3-DNP, and 35 for 3-NF, and the findings were statistically analyzed by adjusting for age, gender, smoking status and cell type. The 5-year-survival of patients was markedly lower in the higher concentration group than the lower group.

Adult↗

A second p53-related protein, p73L, with high homology to p73.

The p53 protein, which regulates the rate of cell division and death, is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor to be identified so far in human cancers. Recently, a gene with significant homology to p53, termed p73, has been identified in a chromosomal region that is implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of neuroblastoma. We have cloned a second human p53-related gene, termed p73L, which shows strong amino-acid similarity to p73. The p73L gene is mapped to human chromosome 3q27-28 using in situ hybridization technique. p73L encodes a protein of 586 amino acids and its putative DNA binding domain (DBD) has high identities to those of p53 (60.6%) and to p73 (87.8%). Northern blot analysis, which demonstrated that the expression profiles of p73L and p73 mRNAs are distinct in some tissues, implies that p73 and p73L may have separate, distinct roles in different tissues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibitory effect of OPC-15161, a component of fungus Thielavia minor, on proliferation and extracellular matrix production of rat cultured hepatic stellate cells.

A component of fungus Thielavia minor, OPC-15161, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and extracellular matrix production of extracellular matrix-producing mesangial cells in the kidney in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of OPC-15161 on the proliferation and extracellular matrix production of rat cultured hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). To determine the effect of OPC-15161 on proliferation of HSCs, the cell number and the uptake of [3H]thymidine were investigated in the presence and absence of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). IL-1beta significantly increased the uptake of [3H]thymidine in the HSCs, and the addition of OPC-15161 inhibited the uptake in a dose-dependent manner. The cell number of HSCs was also increased by IL-1beta, which was inhibited by OPC-15161. Production of extracellular matrix by OPC-15161 was studied by the production of [3H]-hydroxyproline in the presence and absence of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). TGF-beta1 significantly increased the production of [3H]-hydroxyproline in the cells, whereas the addition of OPC-15161 inhibited this effect dose dependently. We also investigated the effects of OPC-15161 on Ca2+ mobilization and measured D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) in the HSCs. IL-1beta induced the increase of intracellular Ca2+ and IP3 concentrations in the HSCs, which were decreased by OPC-15161. Based on these results, we conclude that OPC-1 5161 inhibited the proliferation and production of hydroxyproline in cultured rat HSCs, and thus, it may have a role in prevention of liver fibrosis in vivo.

Animals↗

Biological monitoring of metabolites of sarin and its by-products in human urine samples.

More than 20,000 passengers of Tokyo underground trains were intoxicated with warfare toxic chemicals. Most of the patients examined had marked miosis and decreased serum cholinesterase activity. Transient increase of serum CPK activity after 3 days of the exposure was the another sign. We intensively analyzed the metabolites in the urine of 4 patients. The following analytic results indicated the exposure to sarin as well as contaminated compounds such as diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), ethyl methylphosphonate fluoridate (EMPF, or ethylsarin), diethyl methylphosphonate (DEMP), and ethyl isopropyl methylphosphonate (EIMP). (1) Isopropanol (IPA) and ethanol (EtOH) were detected of large quantities in the urine samples, and were thought to be derived from sarin and the sarin counterpart, EMPF, DIMP, DEMP and EIMP. (2) Monoalkyl methylphosphonic acids (isopropyl methylphosphonic acid (IMPA) and ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA) also were excreted in large amounts with taking the similar excretion pattern of IPA and EtOH. (3) The metabolite only derived from sarin and ethylsarin is F anions whose integral output in the urine was less than the equimolar level of the excreted (IMPA + EMPA + IPA + EtOH). (4) Other corroborative findings were low lethality: of more than 5,510 patients treated, 11 were acutely dead. (5) Nine exposed males had higher sister chromatid exchange (SCE) rate (5.00 +/- 1.48/cell) than the control (3.81 +/- 0.697/cell), because dialkyl methylphosphonates seemed to have alkylating activity and producing DNA adducts. The SCE rate also increased after the in vitro exposure of lymphocytes to dialkyl methylphosphonates.

Chemical Warfare Agents↗

[Cough variant asthma among patients with chronic persistent cough and its clinical outcome].

Thirty-nine patients with chronic persistent cough continuing more than eight weeks were examined regarding to their airway responsiveness to methacholine challenge using the Astograph (TCK-6100H, Chest Corp. Japan). Of these, twenty-three individuals (59%) had airway hyperresponsiveness, leading to diagnose as having cough variant asthma (CVA). Patients with CVA had a higher percentage of eosinophils in peripheral blood and a lower forced expiratory volume in one second than those in non-CVA group. Furthermore, four patients (17%) developed the classic signs and symptoms of asthma, whereas 7 cases (30%) resolved their cough without further treatment and 12 cases (52%) continued to have CVA. These data suggested that a significant proportion of patients with chronic persistent cough had CVA and some of them may develop to classic wheezing asthma.

Asthma↗

[Sarcoidosis presenting as a diffuse micronodular shadow on a chest radiograph].

A 36-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chest-radiographic findings of diffuse ground-glass shadows in both lungs. A chest CT scan revealed disseminated micronodules with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Histological examination of a transbronchial lung-biopsy specimen showed non-caseous epithelioid cell granulomata. Marked lymphocytosis and an abnormally high CD 4/CD 8 ratio was found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. These findings suggested a diagnosis of sarcoidosis despite the atypical radiographic findings.

Adult↗

[Long-term effects of bicycle-ergometry training on exercise endurance and dyspnea in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema].

Exercise reconditioning has long been considered an essential component of the pulmonary rehabilitation regime. To investigate the long-term effects of exercise training on exercise endurance and dyspnea in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema (CPE), we developed a supervised exercise program using bicycle ergometers. Nineteen patients (mean age: 67) with moderate to severe airflow limitation (average FEV1/FVC, 39.8%) were enrolled in a predominantly outpatient rehabilitation program. After their lactate thresholds were measured by an incremental symptom-limited maximum test, patients engaged in exercise training 15 to 30 minutes per day in an arbitrary frequency and at a work rate at or below their lactate threshold (average: 20.1 w). No significant improvements were observed in resting pulmonary function, blood gas, nutrition, or systemic muscle volume. After long-term exercise training (average period: 33 months; average frequency: 6.5 times per month, individually), the patients demonstrated significantly improved exercise endurance and relief of their dyspnea during exercise. These findings provide a physiologic rationale for long-term exercise training by patients with CPE.

Aged↗

Clonal selection of HIV type 1 variants associated with resistance to foscarnet in vitro: confirmation by molecular evolutionary analysis.

Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate, PFA) is an effective inhibitor of retroviral reverse transcriptase (RT) and is known to block the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In this article we analyzed the evolutionary process in generating HIV-1 strains related to drug resistance, using PFA as a selective pressure. PFA inhibited virus replication and protected the virus-induced cell killing, but it did not completely eliminate HIV-1 during the course of 7 weeks of treatment. The nucleotide sequence of the 859-bp DNA fragment spanning the core region of the HIV-1 pol gene was determined for 51 clones obtained from genomic DNA of the HIV-1-infected cells at different time points during PFA treatment. The nucleotide sequence analysis documented the presence of a minor HIV-1 variant prior to the PFA treatment. Molecular evolutionary techniques were utilized to analyze how the minor HIV-1 clones became predominant during this evolutionary process under the selective pressure of PFA. A phylogenetic tree analysis divided these 51 HIV-1 clones into 3 groups. One of the groups consisted of the clones associated with the resistance to PFA. The clones belonging to this group became predominant over time during the course of PFA treatment. Thus, the acquisition of PFA resistance by HIV-1 was considered to be due to clonal selection. Furthermore, among the various amino acid substitutions observed, the substitution of arginine at position 172 by lysine (Arg172Lys) clearly distinguished this group from the others. Since the consistent amino acid substitution observed here has not been identified in the HIV-1 strains resistant to other RT inhibitors, PFA in combination with other RT inhibitors is considered to be a feasible candidate for a convergent combined chemotherapy against HIV-1 in the treatment of patients with AIDS and related conditions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coordinated expression of integrin alpha6beta1 and laminin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The interaction between tumor cells and laminin mediated by laminin-binding integrins is critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to clarify the altered expression of laminin-binding integrins with the change of laminin deposition in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison with cirrhotic or normal liver by immunohistochemistry. In HCC, hepatoma cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells expressed integrins alpha1beta1, alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, and alpha6beta1. Integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha6beta1 were detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids in accordance with laminin assembly. Integrins alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 were detected in a discontinuous pattern at these sites. Integrin alpha6beta4 was not detected. In cirrhotic liver, although integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha6beta1 as well as laminin were detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids, integrins alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, and alpha6beta4 were not detected. In normal liver, although integrin alpha1beta1 was detected in a continuous pattern along the sinusoids, neither integrins alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha6beta1, alpha6beta4, nor laminin were detected. We have clarified that, of laminin-binding integrins, the localization of integrin alpha6beta1 shows the best correspondence with the localization of laminin. These results suggest that of laminin-binding integrins, integrin alpha6beta1 is very important for cell-laminin interactions in HCC.

Adult↗