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Biomedical subjects

S Tominaga

Publications and source records attributed to S Tominaga.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Nucleotide sequence of a complementary DNA for human ST2.

Human ST2 cDNA, a homologue of murine ST2 that is only expressed in growth-stimulated BALB/c-3T3 cells and a member of the primary response gene family induced by growth factors, was isolated from the cDNA library of an activated human helper T cell line, 5C10. Human ST2 has 67.6% identity in a 327 amino acid overlap to murine ST2. Furthermore, as in the case of murine ST2, human ST2 encodes a protein remarkably similar in sequence to the extracellular portion of human interleukin 1 receptor, both types 1 and 2. The expression of ST2 in human lymphocytes could trigger further investigations into its physiological role in humans.

3T3 Cells

Murine ST2 gene is a member of the primary response gene family induced by growth factors.

The murine ST2 gene, which encodes a protein remarkably similar to the extracellular portion of murine interleukin 1 receptor types 1 and 2, is expressed in growth-stimulated BALB/c-3T3 cells in the presence of 50 micrograms/ml of cycloheximide. The treatment with 1,000 U/ml of purified native murine beta-interferon superinduced, rather than suppressed, the ST2 mRNA expression as in the cases of c-myc and JE mRNAs. These results suggested that the murine ST2 gene belongs to the family of primary response genes induced by growth factors. Furthermore, a longer ST2-related mRNA was found in BALB/c-3T3 cells that were stimulated to proliferate in the presence of cycloheximide.

3T3 Cells

Effectivity and safety of mannitol treatment for acute hepatic failure in rats.

In rats with D-galactosamine-induced hepatic failure, 14C-D-mannitol transport into the brain was accelerated through an increase of vesicular transport via the blood-brain barrier and thus brain mannitol contents increased. However, the osmolarity of the brain tissue changed little and the mortality was decreased by mannitol infusion to acute hepatic-failure rats. Experimental data indicate the effectivity and safety of hypertonic mannitol therapy for cerebral edema in acute hepatic failure.

Animals

Unusual rapidly growing gastric myxoid neurofibroma: a case report.

A 62-year-old man was first found to have a gastric tumor in the fornix during a routine health examination 16 months previously. The case was not associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. Initially, the tumor was approximately 4 mm in diameter, but grew very rapidly to 20 mm in 13 months, and to 30 mm in the following month, without manifesting clinical symptoms. Malignancy was suspected because of the rapid growth and the endoscopic findings: a rough-granular elevated lesion with a wide stalk, and with erosions and mucus on its surface. Although endoscopic biopsy was done several times, the routine histological examinations were inconclusive. Endoscopic resection was therefore carried out. Examination of the resected specimen showed that the main elements consisted of wavy, long-spindled cells, which crossed irregularly, and whose interstitium was myxomatous. Immunohistochemically the specimen showed strongly positive reaction for S-100 protein and positive reaction for neuron specific enolase (NSE). Based on these immunohistochemical findings, a final diagnosis of gastric myxoid neurofibroma was made, which showed rapid growth due to myxomatous change. The patient showed a good postoperative course and no recurrence has been recognized by follow-up endoscopy.

Humans

The effect of breast self-examination on early detection and survival.

To investigate the effect of breast self-examination (BSE), we compared the stages, survival, and the risk of death for 355 patients with breast cancer detected by BSE with those for 1,327 patients with breast cancer detected by chance. The early stages of the disease were found to be more common among the symptomatic breast cancer patients detected by BSE than those by chance. The 5-year overall survival rate was 94.4% for the symptomatic patients detected by BSE, and was significantly higher by 8.7% than that (85.7%) for patients detected by chance (P less than 0.001). The 10-year survival rate was 81.6% for patients detected by BSE, and 76.6% for cases detected by chance (the difference was not significant). The overall difference between the two survival curves was statistically significant by the logrank test (P less than 0.01). A multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed that the risk of death for patients detected by BSE was smaller by 0.570 times than that for patients detected by chance, which was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The effect of biases inherent to BSE in the survival analysis cannot be controlled completely even after conducting multivariate analysis. These results suggest that BSE may contribute to the reduction of the risk of death through early detection of breast cancer. However, further examination should be conducted by other methods to obtain conclusive evidence.

Breast Neoplasms

A prospective study of stomach cancer among a rural Japanese population: a 6-year survey.

Stomach cancer mortality was prospectively studied among 9753 Japanese men and women who first responded to a mailed questionnaire in 1985 and were then followed through May 31, 1991. During this follow-up period, 57 stomach cancer deaths were identified. Current smokers had an increased risk of deaths from stomach cancer compared with never smokers (relative risk (RR) = 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-4.56), but there was no dose-response to amount of cigarettes smoked. Daily alcohol drinkers who consumed 50 ml or more of alcohol per day also had a greater risk than nondrinkers (RR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.35-6.91). There was no association between stomach cancer mortality and individual food consumption except a positive association with fruit intake. However, frequent use (greater than or equal to 3-4/week) of broiling of meats and traditional style Japanese salad preparation in their cooking procedures were positively associated with stomach cancer mortality. The RR values compared with infrequent use (less than or equal to 1-2/month) were 2.27 (95% CI: 1.06-4.85) and 3.10 (95% CI: 1.40-6.85), respectively. A positive family history of cancer, especially stomach cancer, significantly increased the risk of stomach cancer deaths (RR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.12-3.63). The effects of these variables remained after adjustment for other variables.

Age Factors

Atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk: cross-sectional analyses.

The relationship between atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk was investigated in case-control analyses involving 387 cases with stomach cancer and 5,422 control subjects who received gastroscopic examination at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital from April, 1985 to March, 1989. The presence of atrophic gastritis, the degree and extension of the atrophy and the presence of granularity and erosion were diagnosed endoscopically by six gastroenterologists. The prevalence of atrophic gastritis increased with age and was higher in males than in females. The relative risk (RR) of stomach cancer was 5.13 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.79-9.42) if a subject had any type of atrophic gastritis. The risk further increased with advancing degree of atrophy and increasing extension on the greater and lesser curvatures. The RR associated with severe atrophy was 7.73 (95% CI: 3.95-15.12). These associations remained significant when analyzed by sex and age. The presence of granularity and erosion did not much affect the estimated risks. A clear difference in risk appeared in the analyses by histological type of cancer. The RR associated with atrophic gastritis was 24.71 (95% CI: 3.46-176.68) for the intestinal type and 3.49 (95% CI: 1.77-6.87) for the diffuse type. These findings may suggest a need for intensive follow-up of patients with severe atrophic gastritis.

Adult

A prospective study of atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer risk.

The relation of atrophic gastritis, other gastric lesions and lifestyle factors to stomach cancer risk was prospectively studied among 3,914 subjects who underwent gastroscopic examination and responded to a questionnaire survey at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. During 4.4 years of follow-up on average, 45 incident cases of stomach cancer were identified at least three months after the initial examination. If the baseline endoscopic findings indicated the presence of atrophic gastritis, the risk of developing stomach cancer was increased 5.73-fold, compared with no indication at the baseline. The risk further increased with advancing degree of atrophy and increasing extension of atrophy on the lesser curvature. These trends in the relative risks were statistically significant (P = 0.027 and P = 0.041, respectively). The risk of developing stomach cancer was statistically significantly increased among subjects with gastric polyps, but not among those with gastric ulcer. Stomach cancer cases tended to consume more cigarettes, alcohol, rice, pickles and salted fish gut/cod roe and less fruits and vegetables and to have more family histories of stomach cancer than noncases, although these differences were not statistically significant. The results of the present study provide additional evidence on the relation between atrophic gastritis and stomach cancer and suggest a need for intensive follow-up of patients with atrophic gastritis and gastric polyps.

Adult

Diet, nutrition and cancer in Japan.

A number of epidemiological and experimental studies have revealed that dietary habits and nutrition are one of the major risk factors for cancer. Dietary habits and nutrition are related to cancer in various ways and many factors are involved in the development of cancer. These include large intakes of salted foods and pickled vegetables, and too low intakes of fresh vegetables and fruits which are known to be major risk factors for stomach cancer. A large intake of green-yellow vegetables is known to be a protective factor against cancer of the stomach, lung and some other sites. In Japan the westernization of dietary habits and nutrition may have contributed to the changes in the mortality of several kinds of cancers which have been observed in Japan in recent years. Further improvements of dietary habits and nutrition intake are important and will be effective for primary prevention of cancer.

Cause of Death

Two phosphorylation reactions induced by murine beta interferon in BALB/c-3T3 cells.

Treatment with 1000 units/ml of murine beta-interferon enhanced an adenylate kinaselike activity and markedly increased the level of L-alpha-phosphatidyl inositol 4-monophosphate in quiescent BALB/c-3T3 cells. The addition of platelet-derived growth factor (22 units/ml) or poly(I).poly(C) (0.3-1 microgram/ml) to the phosphorylation reaction mixture did not alter this interferon action.

3T3 Cells

The risk and predictive factors for developing liver cancer among patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (n 1441) and those with post-transfusion hepatitis (n 343), whose medical expenses were subsidized by the Aichi Prefectural Government, were followed up for three years by record linkage with the Aichi Cancer Registry. During the follow-up period, 122 incident cases of liver cancer were identified. Compared with the general population, patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were at a 64.9 times greater risk (50.5 times in males and 100.4 times in females) and those with post-transfusion hepatitis were at a 9.4 times greater risk (8.9 times in males and 13.7 times in females) of developing liver cancer. Information on prognostic factors for 1,068 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis was also collected in a questionnaire survey by the physicians in charge. Patients positive to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and those positive to HBe Ag had a significantly increased risk of subsequent liver cancer. The risk of developing liver cancer was positively associated with base-line levels of GPT and AFP and age and, inversely associated with total alcohol intake and female sex. In multivariate analyses, the associations with HBe Ag, AFP, sex and age remained statistically significant, whereas the associations with GPT, total alcohol intake and HBs Ag were of borderline significance.

Age Factors

[Factors associated with the improvement of lifestyle among a middle and advanced aged male population].

Factors associated with improvement of lifestyle (diet, smoking, drinking, exercise and health check-up) were studied among 3,503 males aged 40 or more, based on data obtained by two questionnaire surveys which were conducted at about a five year interval in a mountainous area of Aichi Prefecture. Age was positively associated with the improvement of every habit except for health check-up. Developing diseases was associated with the improvement of every habit except for exercise, with strong associations existing between liver diseases and improvement in drinking habits and between diabetes and improved nutritional balance. Improved dietary habits was inversely associated with frequent use of instant foods and irregular eating habits. Moderation in eating was associated with a balanced diet, frequent intake of yellow/green vegetables, fats & oils, and non-smoking at the time of the initial survey. Cessation of smoking was positively associated with fruit intake and inversely associated with irregular meal times, number of cigarettes per day and alcohol intake at baseline. An increase in frequency of exercise was positively associated with consumptions of fruits and dairy products and inversely associated with frequent use of instant foods at time of the initial survey, while an increase in frequency of health check-up was observed among men who had a balanced diet. The improvement of each habit was associated with the improvement of one or more other habits. These results suggest that likelihood for improving lifestyle is higher among men who have a health consciousness and that improvements in these habits are independent.

Adult

[Pulmonary distribution of 99mTc-technegas--a comparative study of radioactive inert gases].

99mTc-technegas (99mTc-gas), which consists of fine particles, is produced in carbon crucibles burned at 2500 degrees C. On this study, the particle size of 99mTc-gas was measured and the pulmonary distribution of 99mTc-gas was assessed in 28 patients with various pulmonary diseases. Most particles were 5-30 nm in diameter as determined by electron microscopy. In a clinical study, about 37 MBq of 99mTc-gas was inhaled three times during deep breathing in a sitting position. In a comparative study with radioactive inert gases (133Xe, 81mKr), 99mTc-gas showed a similar distribution to the inert gas in most patients, although some with obstructive disease showed hot spots in the lung fields. In patients with severe obstructive change, marked deposits of 99mTc-gas was noted in the central airways, but 99mTc-gas penetrated to the peripheral lung field. This result suggests that 99mTc-gas can be used to evaluate ventilatory function even in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Gases

The role of socioeconomic factors in the survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

The relations between type of occupation, marital status and residential area and survival from gastrointestinal cancers were examined among 4485 cases of stomach cancer and 2618 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1983 and 1988 and recorded in the Aichi Cancer Registry. In univariate analyses, the cumulative five-year survival rates of both cancers were highest among professionals and managers and lowest among service workers, in males. They were highest among professionals, managers and clerical workers and lowest among housewives, in females. For both men and women, single people had a lower survival rate than married, and patients living in a metropolis had a higher survival rate than those living in other areas. Multivariate analyses, based on Cox's proportional hazards model, revealed occupation to have a statistically significant effect on prognosis for both sexes, although the effect of extent of disease was definitive. The analyses also confirmed the unfavorable effect of a single marital status and the favorable effect of residing in a metropolis, in women. The results suggest that socioeconomic factors may have a role to play in the survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Adult

[Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer].

Pancreatic cancer has been increasing in recent years in Japan. The number of pancreatic cancer deaths in 1990 was 13,318, accounting for 6.1% of all cancer deaths in Japan. The increasing trend of pancreatic cancer mortality is observed more markedly in the elderly population over 60 years of age, and especially in persons over 80. Possible reasons for the increase of pancreatic cancer were discussed. The geographic distributions of pancreatic cancer mortality in Japan and around the world indicate that the mortality is higher in northern Japan and even higher as the latitude increases. Some possible reasons for the inverse relationship between the pancreatic cancer mortality and the latitude were discussed. From epidemiological studies several risk factors for pancreatic cancer were reported; smoking, drinking, excess intake of meat and cholesterol, coffee, radiation, cholecystectomy, etc. However, more epidemiological studies are needed to identify and confirm risk factors for pancreatic cancer and to promote primary prevention of pancreatic cancer.

Aged

[An epidemiological evaluation of the efficacy of mass screening for uterine cancer in Japan. The relationship between coverage rate of mass screening and reduction in death rate from uterine cancer].

To evaluate the efficacy of mass screening for uterine cancer, the relationship between the coverage rate of mass screening and the reduction in mortality rate from uterine cancer was analyzed. The percent change in the AADR (Age-adjusted death rate) from 1979-1983 to 1984-1988 were compared between the high coverage rate areas and the control areas with relatively lower coverage rates, and among the high coverage rate areas with varied coverage rates. The main results were: (a) the decreases of AADR from uterine cancer were greater in three groups of high coverage rate areas than in control areas with low coverage rates. (b) Among three groups of high coverage rate areas with variation in coverage rates (> or = 20%, > or = 30%, > or = 40%), the higher the coverage rate was, the greater was the percent reduction (-45.9%, -52.3%, -63.5%) of AADR. These results suggest that systematic mass screening may be effective in reducing mortality from uterine cancer.

Adult

[Factors associated with levels of physical activity at work and during leisure time].

Factors associated with levels of physical activity at work and during leisure time were analyzed among 577 subjects who had been selected as population controls for a case-control study by random selection from telephone directories. The intensity of physical activity at work was inversely associated with body mass index, the proportion of professionals & managers, consumption of western style breakfast, coffee, butter/margarine, and whisky; and positively associated with rice intake. Frequency of physical activities during leisure time was positively associated with consumption of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, milk, cheese and coffee, and moderation in eating; and inversely associated with rice intake and the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and medication. The association of physical activity with these factors should be considered in studying its relationship to disease risk.

Adult