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Biomedical subjects

Shoji Kubo

Publications and source records attributed to Shoji Kubo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Influence of interferon therapy on outcome after surgery for hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Influence of interferon (IFN) therapy on postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still inconclusive. Of 518 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCV-related HCC, 312 patients with Japan integrated staging score 0-2 were included in this study. Of 50 patients underwent IFN therapy, 29 patients who obtained a normalized alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity irrespective of disappearance of serum HCV RNA were classified as the response group, while 21 patients were classified as the non-response group because their ALT activities were not normalized and serum HCV RNA persisted. The non-IFN group included 262 patients who had not received IFN therapy. The tumor-free and the overall survival rates for patients in the response group were significantly higher than those in other groups. Only one patient in the response group died of HCC recurrence, and the proportion of deaths associated with liver disease (HCC recurrence or cirrhosis) was significantly lower in the response group than other two groups. IFN therapy can improve postoperative outcomes in patients with HCV-related HCC because of suppression of recurrence and preventing progress of cirrhosis, especially when IFN therapy has controlled their active hepatitis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Recovery of hepatic function determined by cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism lags after compensatory hepatic volume changes after portal vein ligation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, portal vein embolization has been proven to be useful as a preoperative treatment for major hepatic surgeries with impaired liver function. However, its effects on the metabolism and elimination of various drugs after portal vein embolization or ligation remain to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A portal vein branch that perfuses the central and left lobes of the liver of male Wistar rat was ligated, and changes in the weights of ligated and nonligated lobules as well as hepatic levels and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, such as CYP3A2 and CYP2C11, were determined. To evaluate in vivo the effect of PVL on hepatic drug metabolism, the narcotic activity (sleep time) of midazolam, a specific substrate for CYP3A2, was measured. RESULTS: Although plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and hepatic weight returned to basal levels at day 7 after the portal vein ligation, hepatic activities of CYP3A2 and CYP2C11 still remained low (53% and 54% of control levels, respectively), and returned to their initial levels after about day 14. The metabolism of midazolam was prolonged by approximately three times at day 7 after ligation and returned to basal levels at day 14. CONCLUSIONS: Because hepatic CYP-dependent drug metabolism by CYP isoforms recovered more slowly than the apparent recovery of hepatic volume and plasma alanine aminotransferase levels, the therapeutics of drugs metabolized by the CYP isoforms should be used carefully in patients who receive major hepatectomy with portal vein branch embolization.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed2006

Clinicopathologic characteristics of hepatitis C virus-associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a possible pathogenetic factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), clinicopathologic features of ICC patients with HCV infection remain unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 50 patients with ICC treated, 19 were infected with HCV (HCV-positive group) and 38 underwent surgical treatment. Clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcome were compared between patients with and without HCV infection. RESULTS: In 15 patients in the HCV-positive group, ICC was detected during follow-up for chronic hepatitis C. The proportion of patients who underwent curative resection was significantly higher in the HCV-positive than in the HCV-negative group, and tumors were significantly smaller in the HCV-positive than in the HCV-negative group. In the HCV-positive group, tumors were significantly smaller in patients who were followed up for chronic hepatitis C than in patients who were not followed up. Although cumulative survival rates did not differ significantly between groups, prognoses of patients with small ICC were significantly better than those with large ICC. CONCLUSION: Follow-up for patients with chronic hepatitis C by imaging series at regular intervals is important and provides the possibility to detect a small ICC as well as a hepatocellular carcinoma. Resection should be guided by liver function and the tumor stage in patients with HCV-associated ICC.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Clinical significance of serum cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: CYFRA 21-1, a soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19, is increased in serum in some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, but the clinical significance of this increase is still unknown. METHODS: Serum concentrations of CYFRA 21-1 were measured in 240 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma prior to hepatic resection. The relationships between serum CYFRA 21-1 concentrations and clinicopathologic features were analyzed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of CYFRA 21-1 as a test for hepatocellular carcinoma was 18.8%. Serum CYFRA 21-1 was significantly higher in patients with portal vein tumor thrombus, and serum CYFRA 21-1 increased with the progression of portal vein tumor thrombus. Tumor size was related to serum CYFRA 21-1, but there were no significant correlations between serum CYFRA 21-1 concentrations and tumor differentiation or number of tumors. Although patients with stage IV tumor had significantly higher CYFRA 21-1 concentrations than those with stages I, II, and III, CYFRA 21-1 was not associated with postoperative prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although high concentrations of CYFRA 21-1 were often detected in patients with a tumor diameter greater than 5 cm or tumor thrombus in the major portal vein, CYFRA 21-1 is not a useful diagnostic tool for hepatocellular carcinoma because of its low sensitivity.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Clinicopathological implications of immunohistochemically demonstrated mucin core protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS: We examined the expression of mucin core protein 1 (MUC1) immunohistochemically in 186 surgical specimens of histopathologically nonmucinous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and compared the clinicopathological features in patients with MUC1-positive HCC (MUC1-positive group) with those in patients with MUC1-negative HCC (MUC1-negative group). RESULTS: MUC1 immunoreactively was present in 85 of the 186 HCCs. Of the clinicopathological variables examined, the serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein, tumor differentiation, bile duct invasion, lymph node metastasis, and cytokeratin 19 expression exhibited significant associations with MUC1 expression. Although cumulative and tumor-free survival rates were not different between the two groups, the percentage of patients with first recurrence of HCC in distant organs (distant metastasis) within 2 years after surgery was significantly higher in the MUC1-positive group than in the MUC1-negative group (P = 0.0104). The risk ratio of MUC1 positivity for this type of distant metastasis was 3.156 (95% confidence interval, 1.064-9.358). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MUC1-positive HCC, careful follow-up is necessary, not only for intrahepatic recurrence but also for distant metastasis, after the resection of primary HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Immunohistochemical demonstration of c-Kit protooncogene product in gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although some gallbladder carcinomas are immunoreactive for c-Kit, the reasons for the c-Kit expression and its clinicopathologic implications are unknown. METHODS: We investigated the prevalence of c-Kit immunoreactivity, its clinicopathologic correlates (including microvessel density and postoperative outcome), and the possible mechanisms of c-Kit expression. We reviewed retrospectively, the clinicopathologic records of 47 patients who had undergone macroscopically complete gallbladder carcinoma resection. The numbers of patients at pathologic stages I to IV, according to current TNM-based staging, were 10, 5, 18, and 14, respectively. For immunohistochemical examination, we used monoclonal antibodies against c-Kit and CD 34 (progenitor cell markers), cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 19 (cholangiocyte markers), and OCH1E5 (a hepatocyte marker). Control tissue samples were from five gallbladder specimens each with chronic cholecystitis, polyp, and adenoma. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic immunostaining for c-Kit was detected in 21 of the 47 gallbladder carcinomas (45%), and in 1 of the 15 control specimens (diagnosis, chronic cholecystitis). Young age was significantly associated with c-Kit positivity; however, there were no significant differences in the incidence of c-Kit positivity among other variables, including tumor stage and outcome. However, microvessel density was significantly higher in c-Kit-positive gallbladder carcinoma compared with c-Kit-negative gallbladder carcinoma. None of the 47 cancer specimens or the 15 control specimens were stained for CD34 and OCH1E5, but all 47 cancer specimens were stained for cytokeratins 7 and 19. CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder carcinomas positive for c-Kit are unlikely to arise from immature cells, but may be associated with neovascularization. Angiogenesis inhibitors, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, therefore, may suppress the growth of some gallbladder cancers.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Hepatocellular carcinoma arising from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: report of two cases.

Sporadic cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originating from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have recently been reported. Thus, we investigated the prevalence of NASH in patients with HCC. A review of the clinical records of 481 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC in our department between January 1991 and December 2003 revealed only two (0.4%) patients with HCC associated with NASH. Both of these patients had noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and neither had a history of alcohol consumption or blood transfusion. All serologic markers for hepatitis B and C viruses were negative. Histological examination of the noncancerous hepatic tissue revealed NASH with moderate hepatic fibrosis in one patient and cirrhosis in the other. Thus, clinical follow-up and screening for HCC should be done for patients with hepatic fibrosis caused by NASH, even though this form of hepatitis is an uncommon cause of HCC.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Bacteria isolated from surgical infections and its susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents--special references to bacteria isolated between April 2003 and March 2004].

Tendency of isolated bacteria from infections in general surgery during the period from April 2004 to March 2005 were investigated in a multicenter study in Japan, and the following results were obtained. In this series, 645 strains including 17 strains of Candida spp. were isolated from 226 (79.0%) of 286 patients with surgical infections. Three hundred and seventeen strains were isolated from primary infections, and 345 strains were isolated from postoperative infections. From primary infections, anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria and anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria were predominant, while aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were predominant from postoperative infections. The isolation rate of aerobic Gram-positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were higher from both types of infections. Among anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, the isolation rate of Peptostreptococcus spp. was the highest from both types of infections. Among aerobic Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was the most predominantly isolated from primary infections, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter freundii in this order, and from postoperative infections, P. aeruginosa was the most predominantly isolated, followed by E. coli, E. cloacae, and K. pneumoniae. Among anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, the isolation rate of Bacteroides fragilis group was the highest from both primary infections followed by Bilophila wadsworthia. While the isolation rate of B. fragilis group was also the highest from postoperative infections, the following bacteria were Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and B. wadsworthia in this order. In this series, we noticed no vancomycin-resistant Gram-positive cocci, but a few strains of moderately arbekacin-resistant MRSA. Carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa but not multidrug-resistant was seen in 13.3 per cents. Also cefazolin-resistant E. coli probably producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase was seen in 7.0 per cents. We should be carefully followed up the facts that an increasing isolation rates of B. fragilis group and B. wadsworthia which were resistant to both penicillins and cephems.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Immunohistologic attempt to find carcinogenesis from hepatic progenitor cell in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To clarify whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originates from hepatic progenitor cells and whether there is any correlation with the clinicopathologic factors of HCC, we reviewed 217 resected HCC specimens. METHODS: Immunohistochemical examination of cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK19, CD34, and CD117 (c-KIT) was performed. Overexpression of CK7 and CK19 indicates differentiation from cholangiocellular and hepatic progenitor cells, while overexpression of CD34 and CD117 indicates hepatic stem cells. Fresh specimens were obtained from 20 HCC patients for mutation of the c-KIT gene. RESULTS: CK7, CK19, and CD117 were positive in 41, 9.7, and 0.9% of the HCC specimens, respectively, and CD34 was never positive. None of the fresh HCC specimens demonstrated a c-KIT mutation. CK19 positivity was significantly correlated with a positive hepatitis B core antibody, and with poor survival outcome, and tended to correlate with poor histologic differentiation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that: (i) about 10% of HCCs with typical histologic features originate from an intermediate hepatic progenitor cell, such as the canal of Hering and oval cells in the rat, or acquire the characteristics of cholangiocellular epithelium by metaplasia; (ii) HCC with typical histologic features rarely originates from hepatic stem cells, and (iii) patients with CK19-positive HCC have a poor prognosis.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Alteration of gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma with integrated hepatitis B virus DNA.

PURPOSE: Integration of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA into the human genome is one of the most important steps in HBV-related carcinogenesis. This study attempted to find the link between HBV DNA, the adjoining cellular sequence, and altered gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with integrated HBV DNA. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We examined 15 cases of HCC infected with HBV by cassette ligation-mediated PCR. The human DNA adjacent to the integrated HBV DNA was sequenced. Protein coding sequences were searched for in the human sequence. In five cases with HBV DNA integration, from which good quality RNA was extracted, gene expression was examined by cDNA microarray analysis. RESULTS: The human DNA sequence successive to integrated HBV DNA was determined in the 15 HCCs. Eight protein-coding regions were involved: ras-responsive element binding protein 1, calmodulin 1, mixed lineage leukemia 2 (MLL2), FLJ333655, LOC220272, LOC255345, LOC220220, and LOC168991. The MLL2 gene was expressed in three cases with HBV DNA integrated into exon 3 of MLL2 and in one case with HBV DNA integrated into intron 3 of MLL2. Gene expression analysis suggested that two HCCs with HBV integrated into MLL2 had similar patterns of gene expression compared with three HCCs with HBV integrated into other loci of human chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS: HBV DNA was integrated at random sites of human DNA, and the MLL2 gene was one of the targets for integration. Our results suggest that HBV DNA might modulate human genes near integration sites, followed by integration site-specific expression of such genes during hepatocarcinogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Alcohol abuse as an etiologic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan.

The etiologic role of alcoholic liver disease for hepatocellular carcinoma is uncertain. To assess the role of alcoholic liver disease on the development of carcinoma, we examined history of alcohol abuse and viral markers in the sera and/or resected specimens in 454 patients who underwent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. Sera from 20 of the 454 patients were negative for hepatitis B, C, and D viruses. Of the 20 patients, one patient had autoimmune hepatitis, one had primary biliary cirrhosis, two had non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Of the remaining 16 patients, 8 patients were alcohol abusers and 5 of the 8 patients were heavy alcohol abusers. Hepatitis G virus was not detected in sera form the 16 patients. Although hepatitis B x gene was detected in the cancerous and/or non-cancerous tissues in all three alcohol abusers but not heavy abusers and in 5 of 6 non-alcohol abusers whose surgical specimens were available, the gene was detected in only one of the five heavy alcohol abusers. The five heavy alcohol abusers had advanced hepatic fibrosis and active hepatitis. Alcoholic liver disease with advanced hepatic fibrosis and active hepatitis is a possible cause for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Serosal invasion in TNM staging of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan established a tumor-nodule-metastasis (TNM) staging system for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, with T determined by tumor number and size and vascular or serosal invasion. Serosal invasion is not considered in the designation established by the International Union Against Cancer. METHODS: Sixty-three patients who underwent hepatic resection for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were investigated retrospectively, with the investigation including univariate and multivariate analyses of potential prognostic factors. RESULTS: By log-rank test, tumor size more than 3.0 cm, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, intrahepatic metastasis, and involved resection margin, but not serosal invasion, were associated significantly with poor prognosis. Even in patients with serosal invasion, the postoperative outcome was much better in those without than in those with vascular invasion. Multivariate analysis identified vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and an involved resection margin as independent prognostic factors. When serosal invasion was excluded from tumor staging, the 5-year survival rates became more clearly stratified: 100% in those with stage I disease, 62% in those with stage II, 25% in those with stage III, and 7% for patients with stage IV. CONCLUSIONS: Serosal invasion showed no survival impact after hepatic resection for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. When serosal invasion was omitted from the TNM staging proposed by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan, stratification of postoperative survival between stages was more effective.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Prognostic effects of causative virus in hepatocellular carcinoma according to the Japan integrated staging (JIS) score.

BACKGROUND: The Japan integrated staging (JIS) score is recognized to be useful in managing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the effects of the causative virus in patients stratified by this system. METHODS: We compared clinicopathologic features, cumulative and tumor-free survival rates, and causes of death between 301 hepatitis C virus-positive patients (HCV group) and 60 hepatitis B virus-positive patients (HBV group). RESULTS: Among patients with low JIS scores (0 or 1), the proportions of patients with high aspartate and alanine aminotranferase activities, moderate-to-severe active hepatitis, and with cirrhosis were significantly higher in the HCV than in the HBV group. Among patients with high JIS scores (2 to 4), the proportion with moderate-to-severe active hepatitis was also significantly higher in the HCV group. In patients with low JIS scores, those in the HCV group had significantly lower tumor-free and cumulative survival rates than those in the HBV group. Although no patient in the HBV group died of causes other than liver disease (HCC or hepatic failure), some patients in the HCV group died of causes other than liver disease. The proportion of patients who died because of HCC recurrence tended to be higher among patients with high JIS scores than among patients with a low JIS score. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of viral status on survival outcomes are greatest in patients with JIS scores of 0 or 1.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2005

Type IV collagen 7s domain as a predictor of poor efficacy of portal vein embolization before major hepatectomy.

PURPOSE: We investigated the correlation between serum concentrations of type IV collagen 7s domain (7s collagen) and changes in the volume of the nonembolized liver lobe after subsequent portal vein embolization (PVE). METHODS: The relationship between the pre-embolization results of laboratory tests and the increase in the left lobe volume was evaluated in 32 patients who underwent preoperative PVE via the right portal vein. RESULTS: By 2 weeks after PVE, the mean volume of the left lobe had increased significantly (P < 0.001). The percent increase in the left lobe volume correlated negatively with the pre-embolization serum concentration of 7s collagen (r = -0.472, P = 0.0063). In three of four patients with high serum concentrations (>8 ng/ml), the percent increase was less than 100% and right lobectomy was not performed. The serum 7s collagen concentration correlated with the histologic activity score (r = 0.469, P = 0.0061) and the histologic fibrosis score (r = 0.425, P = 0.0145). CONCLUSION: The serum concentration of 7s collagen may predict the efficacy of PVE. Performing PVE before right lobectomy may not be indicated in patients with high serum concentrations of 7s collagen because the increases in left lobe volume may be insufficient.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Clinicopathologic features and outcome after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with concurrent versus previous chronic hepatitis B.

PURPOSE: We compared the clinicopathologic features affecting outcome after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) between patients with concurrent and previous chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Group A consisted of 58 patients with concurrent chronic hepatitis B, defined by seropositivity for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and group B consisted of 18 patients whose HCC was detected after disappearance of the HBsAg. We assessed the influence of various characteristics on outcome. RESULTS: The mean age and percentage of patients suffering from alcohol abuse or diabetes mellitus were significantly greater in group B than in group A, whereas histologic hepatitis activity, hepatic fibrosis, and alanine aminotransferase activity were significantly lower in group B than in group A. The tumor-free survival rates were similar between the two groups, but the risk factors of recurrence differed. In group A, relative youth, high aspartate aminotransferase activity, low platelet count, multiple tumors, large tumor size, portal invasion, cirrhosis, nonanatomic resection, and positive surgical margin were risk factors. In group B, large tumor size and poor differentiation were risk factors. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B status, tumor factors, and the type of operation affected cancer recurrence after surgery for HCC in patients with concurrent chronic HBV, as opposed to only tumor factors in patients with previous chronic hepatitis B.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

Pseudoaneurysm of the dorsal pancreatic artery with obstruction of the celiac axis after pancreatoduodenectomy: report of a case.

Pancreatoduodenectomy can be difficult in patients with obstruction of the celiac axis because of the development of collateral arteries around the head of the pancreas. Bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm is a rare and serious complication of pancreatoduodenectomy. We report a case of a pseudoaneurysm of an enlarged dorsal pancreatic artery, which formed as a result of obstruction of the celiac axis after pancreatoduodenectomy. We assumed that a weakness in the wall of this dorsal pancreatic artery caused by the dissection led to the formation of the aneurysm. Although transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) could not treat the aneurysm or stop bleeding from the aneurysm completely, it achieved transient hemostasis, whereby the patient's condition improved, making laparotomy safe. This case demonstrates that the dissection of arteries that have developed around the head of the pancreas must be considered in patients with obstruction of the celiac axis.

Aneurysm, False↗
PubMed2005

Potentiality of combined hepatocellular and intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma originating from a hepatic precursor cell: Immunohistochemical evidence.

Hypothesizing that combined hepatocellular and intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma originates from hepatic stem cells, we conducted a series of immunohistochemical studies using hepatic stem cell markers to better understand the origin of the tumor. Specially, we investigated 15 combined tumors confirmed to be immunoreactive to anti-hepatocyte paraffin 1, and anti-cytokeratin 7 and 19 antibodies. Macroscopic investigation revealed cancer cells morphologically intermediate between neoplastic hepatocytes and cholangiocytes (combined tumor with intermediate morphology) in 11 of 15 tumors. The remaining four tumors lacking these cells were considered ordinary combined tumors. We used 20 hepatocellular carcinomas and 10 cholangiocarcinomas as controls. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using stem cell markers (c-kit and CD34). Of the 15 combined tumors, 8 stained for c-kit (2 of the 4 ordinary tumors and 6 of the 11 intermediate morphologic tumors). Both of the tumor cell types in both of the ordinary combined tumors stained for c-kit. The c-kit staining was present in cells of all three morphologic types, including the intermediate cells, in all six of the intermediate combined tumors. None of the cells in the combined tumors showed immunoreactivity for CD34. None of the 30 control tumors expressed CD 34 or c-kit. The present study suggests that combined hepatocellular and intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas originate not from a hepatic stem cell, but from a hepatic precursor cell, such as the canal of Hering cell. Alternatively, these tumors might show up-regulation of c-kit in relation to angiogenesis.

Journal Article↗