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Biomedical subjects

T Higashino

Publications and source records attributed to T Higashino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Temporary placement of inferior vena cava filter prior to transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hepatocellular carcinoma with IVC tumor thrombus--prevention of pulmonary tumor emboli after TAE].

A 66-year-old-man with a right huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) extending into both the right portal vein and the right atrium underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) via the right hepatic artery. Prior to the TAE, a temporary inferior vena cava (IVC) filter was placed suprarenally for prevention of pulmonary tumor emboli. When we replaced the temporary IVC filter with a new one 7 days after the TAE, the filter which was pulled out of the IVC captured a fragment of the tumor thrombus. A histopathological specimen demonstrated only ghost cells. The patient has been followed at our outpatient clinic without any tumor thrombus or pulmonary infarction for 13 months after this procedure.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Rearrangement of allyl homoallyl ethers to gamma,delta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by iridium complexes

Iridium complexes were found to promote the conversion of allyl homoallyl ethers to gamma,delta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. For example, treatment of 1-allyl-1-allyloxycyclohexane in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Ir(cod)Cl](2), PCy(3), and Cs(2)CO(3) in toluene at 100 degrees C afforded 4-cyclohexyliden-2, 3-dimethylbutanal in 74% yield. The reaction presumably proceeds through double bond migration to allyl vinyl ethers, which then undergo the Claisen rearrangement.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Plasma endotoxin and serum cytokine levels in patients with alcoholic hepatitis: relation to severity of liver disturbance.

BACKGROUND: Endotoxin plays an important role in the initiation and aggravation of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we evaluated plasma endotoxin levels and serum concentrations of cytokines and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) during the acute and recovery phase of patients with alcoholic hepatitis; we also explored the prognostic factors associated with a fatal outcome. METHODS: Fourteen patients, consisting of eight patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH), five cirrhotics with superimposed AH (LC+AH), and one patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH), were studied. Among these, two with LC+AH died of hepatic failure. RESULTS: Plasma endotoxin levels in the acute phase were higher in patients with AH (184.4 +/- 159.4 pg/ml) and LC+AH (206.9 +/- 174.9 pg/ml) than in healthy subjects (10.4 +/- 5.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001). In particular, in one patient with SAH and one of two nonsurvivors, plasma endotoxin levels were markedly high relative to the other cases. In most survivors, plasma endotoxin levels decreased in the recovery phase, whereas they further increased at the terminal stage in one of two nonsurvivors. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in the acute phase were significantly higher in patients with AH and LC+AH as compared with healthy subjects. These levels were especially high in nonsurvivors and in one patient with SAH. IL-10 increased in two nonsurvivors, one patient with SAH, and one with LC+AH. In the recovery phase, these cytokine levels in survivors tended to decrease, but in nonsurvivors, IL-6 remained high, and IL-8 and IL-10 further increased. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were below the detection limit throughout the course in all patients. Serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) generally was elevated in the acute phase and decreased in the recovery phase in all survivors, but in one of the nonsurvivors, LBP was elevated markedly at the terminal stage. In the acute phase, plasma endotoxin levels were correlated positively with white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, and serum IL-8. IL-8 was correlated positively with neutrophil counts and negatively with serum cholinesterase, hepaplastin test, and serum albumin levels. IL-6 was correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts, C-reactive protein, and serum total bilirubin and negatively with hepaplastin test and serum total protein levels. Serum LBP was correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts. CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxemia and related elevation of IL-8 may play an important role in the activation and migration of neutrophils in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Marked elevation of inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, are related to severity and poor prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis. Serum LBP may serve as an index of inflammatory reaction in alcoholics.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed2000

[A patient with limb-girdle type myasthenia gravis and atopic dermatitis, both of which improved after thymectomy].

We herein report a patient with myasthenia gravis (MG) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Heretofore, there have been no reports of patients with MG and AD. Nine years ago, a 25-year-old man noted muscle weakness of upper and lower extremities on physical labor, and the muscle weakness was gradually exacerbated. Two years ago, he noted acute skin eczema with itching on his hands and feet. Neurological examination revealed mild left ptosis, facial muscle weakness and proximal muscle weakness of upper and lower extremities, but no diplopia, ophthalmoplegia or dysphagia. Although anti-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibody was negative, edrophonium test was positive and 54% waning in the thenar muscles was observed on Harvey-Masland test. Thus, he was diagnosed as limb-girdle type MG. IgE level in his serum elevated (1,818 U/ml). After thymectomy, the muscle weakness markedly improved as well as waning in the thenar muscles (11%). Simultaneously, AD markedly improved and serum IgE level was decreased (1,245 U/ml). Thus, MG and AD in this case may be derived from some common immunological aberrancy in the thymus.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Small epidermoid induced trigeminal neuralgia unrecognized by conventional CT and MRI for over 25 years].

A 65-year-old woman had been conservatively treated as idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia for over 25 years, because conventional computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed no abnormality in the cerebello-pontine(CP) angle cistern. She received a detailed MRI by constructive interference in steady state and diffusion weighted image(DWI) sequences. Those sequences on MRI well demonstrated a epidermoid tumor in the CP angle cistern, and the removal of the tumor completely resolved the neuralgia. Since a small epidermoid in the CP angle cistern seems to be unrecognized by conventional CT and MRI, detailed evaluation by DWI sequence, which has been widespread recently, is required for patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Prognostic factors in severe alcoholic liver injury. Nara Liver Study Group.

Severe alcoholic liver injury has been relatively rare, but is gradually increasing in Japan. The clinical features and prognostic factors in severe alcoholic liver injury were retrospectively investigated in 105 patients, consisting of 3 with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH), 43 with cirrhosis with superimposed alcoholic hepatitis [liver cirrhosis (LC)+alcoholic hepatitis (AH)], 38 with AH, and 21 with alcoholic cirrhosis. Seven of the 105 patients (6.7%, 2 with SAH and 5 with LC+AH) died of hepatic failure. Patients with SAH showed severe hyperbilirubinemia, reduced hepatic biosynthetic capacity, and marked acute inflammatory reactions, and developed multiple organ failure, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), renal failure, acute pancreatitis, or pneumonia. Two SAH patients died within 1 month, whereas five with LC+AH died within 77 days during the second episode of AH. In these nonsurvivors, the serum total bilirubin (T.Bil) level was not normalized, and the hepaplastin test (HPT), serum albumin, cholesterol, and platelet count were not markedly improved after the first episode of AH. In the survivors, elevation of AST lasted longer, and the improvement of T.Bil, hepatic biosynthetic capacity, and the platelet count were much less in patients with LC+AH than in those with AH. Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and DIC as significant independent prognostic factors among SAH, LC+AH, and AH groups. When factors related to multiple organ failure, such as DIC and renal failure, were excluded, T.Bil and CRP were selected as independent prognostic factors. In patients with LC+AH and AH, CRP, and HPT were shown to be significant independent prognostic factors. These results suggest that SAH with multiple organ failure, and another episode of AH in advanced LC with hyperbilirubinemia and reduced hepatic biosynthetic capacity, are indicative of an extremely poor prognosis in chronic alcoholics.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.

A seventy-six-year-old woman with plasmacytoma presenting as a renal mass died three months after diagnosis. Bone surveys disclosed no lytic lesions. Gallium-67 scan showed an avid uptake of the radionuclide in the renal mass. Histologic and immunofluorescence studies of resected specimens demonstrated that the renal parenchyma was destroyed by sheets of immature plasma cells producing IgM-lambda and by massive deposits of amorphous, eosinophilic substance stained with anti-mu and anti-lambda antisera. The literature is reviewed. We believe this case is the first one of well-documented IgM-producing renal plasmacytoma.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Changes of plasma concentrations of steroid hormones, prostaglandin F2 alpha-metabolite and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin during pregnancy in thoroughbred mares.

Plasma concentrations of estrogens, gestagens, cortisol (F), 13, 14-dihydro, 15-keto PGF2 alpha (PGFM) and pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) in 10 Thoroughbred mares were measured for a 11-month pregnancy period. Estrone (E1) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) levels gradually increased as the pregnancy advanced, showing a peak around Month 8 and decreased thereafter. Progesterone (P) levels increased on Months 3 and 11, and 17 alpha-OH-progesterone (17 alpha-OHP) levels peaked on Month 3, whereas 20 alpha-OH-progesterone (20 alpha-OHP) levels increased sharply after Month 6. PGFM indicated peaks on Months 2 and 11. F and PMSG levels peaked on Months 2 and 3. From factor analysis, Month, E1, E2 and 20 alpha-OHP were discriminated as Factor 1, increasing with the progress of pregnancy, PMSG, 17 alpha-OHP and P as Factor 2, showing a relation with the secondary corpus luteum, and PGFM and F as Factor 3, affecting PGFM change on Month 2 by F. P also related to both Factors 1 and 3, showing an inverse relation against PGFM. In conclusion E1, E2 and 20 alpha-OHP contained in Factor 1 were suggested to be important especially as parameters of placental function after Month 6.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of acetate on the immune system of mice.

The effects of acetate on antibody production and cell-mediated immunity in mice were investigated. Polyclonal antibody responses could be enhanced in vivo by single intraperitoneal administration of acetate (5 mg/mouse) in C57BL/6 mice but not in DBA/2 mice. No enhancement of antibody production by acetate was also induced in athymic C57BL/6 nude mice and carrageenan-pretreated, macrophage-depleted mice. The inoculation of acetate-nonresponder BDF1 mice with T-cells and peritoneal adherent cells derived from acetate-treated C57BL/6 mice resulted in an enhanced antibody response. These results suggest that acetate increases polyclonal antibody responses in vivo by activating indirectly T-cells and macrophages. Acetate administration increased delayed hypersensitivity to pircryl chloride in C57BL/6 mice but not in DBA/2 mice. Allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) of T-lymphocytes derived from the spleen of acetate-treated C57BL/6 mice was also enhanced. The natural killer (NK) activity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) were also increased in C57BL/6 mice that were administered acetate. The possible mechanism of the immunopotentiating effect of this chemical is discussed.

Acetates↗
PubMed1989

Participation of food antigens in increased polyclonal antibody production induced by alcohol.

In order to obtain a better understanding of hyperglobulinemia in chronic alcoholism, we investigated whether food antigens participated in the effects of long-term oral alcohol (AL) administration on serum immunoglobulin levels and polyclonal antibody production in spleen, Peyer's patch and bone marrow of C57BL/6 mice in specific pathogen free (SPF) circumstances. In animals fed antigen food (AF), three weeks of oral AL administration elicited an increase in polyclonal IgA antibody production in Peyer's patch. Moreover, seven weeks of oral AL administration elicited increases in both polyclonal IgA antibody production and serum IgA level. However, in animals fed antigen free food (AFF), oral AL administration failed to elicite increases in serum IgA level and polyclonal antibody production in spleen, Peyer's patch and bone marrow. Furthermore, in animals fed AF or AFF, oral AL administration failed to elicite increases in polyclonal IgM and IgG antibody production in any organ and serum IgM and IgG level. It is suggested that food antigens participated greatly in the elevation of serum IgA level in chronic alcoholism and that Peyer's patch is the major site of polyclonal IgA antibody production.

Animals↗