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Biomedical subjects

T Kawarabayashi

Publications and source records attributed to T Kawarabayashi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

A case of large placental chorioangioma with non-immunological hydrops fetalis.

A 34-year-old Japanese woman (gravida 2, para 2) with polyhydramnios and non-immunological hydrops fetalis was referred to our department at 32 weeks of gestation. On admission, the blood pressure was 120/60 mmHg and there was no pitting edema of the lower extremities. An ultrasound examination disclosed a large placental tumor 5.8 cm x 4.4 cm x 4.8 cm. Fetal lung compression was suspected because the lung-thorax transverse area ratio was 0.13. The preload index of the inferior vena cava was 0.74, suggesting fetal cardiac failure. After fetal pleural effusion was aspirated, lung compression developed. Cordocentesis was performed at 33 weeks of gestation, and the fetal karyotype was confirmed to be 46, XY from an umbilical blood cultivation. The patient underwent a cesarean section at 33 weeks of gestation due to severe uterine contraction after preterm PROM. The baby was a 3,840 g male with a distended abdomen. Apgar score at 1 minute was 1. A chest X-ray demonstrated respiratory distress syndrome. The baby was discharged on the 69th day after birth and he is now 2 years and 9 months old and healthy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Establishment and characterization of a serous papillary adenocarcinoma cell line of the human ovary in a serum-free culture.

In order to clarify the biologic characteristics of serous papillary adenocarcinoma of the human ovary, we tried to establish a continuous cell line using four primary tumor specimens derived from four patients with such tumors. We also evaluated c-myc, MYCN and c-erbB2 gene amplification in the cultured cells, and the xenografts, as well as in these four primary tissue specimens by a Southern blot analysis. One continuous cell line, named as FU-OV-1, was established in a serum-free culture system and this line propagated continuously for 96 serial passages over a 2-year-period in vitro. FU-OV-1 reproduced and still maintained the characteristics of the original tumor. C-myc gene amplification was found in the FU-OV-1 cells, and the xenografts, as well as in only the primary tumor of FU-OV-1 out of the four primary serous papillary adenocarcinomas. However, neither MYCN amplification nor c-erbB2 amplification was observed in any tumor specimens including FU-OV-1 cells. In conclusion, FU-OV-1 is thus considered to be a useful system for studying the biological behavior of serous papillary adenocarcinoma in the human ovary. The results of this study suggest that c-myc gene amplification might thus be associated with the progression of this tumor both in vitro and in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Combination assay of CSF tau, A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42(43) as a biochemical marker of Alzheimer's disease.

Cerebrospinal fluid samples from a total of 157 subjects consisting of 55 patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), 34 normal controls, 23 patients with non-AD dementia, and 45 with other neurological diseases were examined by ELISA of tau, A beta 1-40, and A beta 1-42(43). The AD group had a significantly higher level of tau than the normal control group (P < 0.001), and the diagnostic sensitivity was 31% and specificity was 94%. CSF A beta 1-40 levels did not show any significant differences. Although the level of A beta 1-42(43) was decreased significantly in the AD group compared to the control group (P < 0.005), the overlap of A beta 1-42(43) levels among all groups meant that none of the AD samples exceeded the cut-off value, the mean 2SD of normal control subjects. Reduction of A beta 1-42(43) levels in AD resulted in a significant increase in the ratio of A beta 1-40 to A beta 1-42(43) (A beta ratio) as an improved marker. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of A beta ratio were 51% and 82% respectively. The three indexes, using the tau level and A beta ratio (tau or A beta ratio, deviation score and tau x A beta ratio), showed better sensitivity (58%, 67%, 69%) and specificity (82%, 86%, 88%) than previously reported methods. Combination assay for CSF tau, A beta 1-40 and A beta 1-42(43) in CSF is a biological marker of AD and may be useful to biochemically monitor subjects under treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Metabolic mapping of the brain in pregnant, parturient and lactating rats using fos immunohistochemistry.

The present study was designed to investigate Fos-positive neurons of the female rat brain at various reproductive states in order to analyze the metabolic map connected with pregnancy, parturition and lactation. The number of Fos-positive neurons in each brain nucleus was analyzed with a quantitative immunohistochemical method in virgin, pregnant, parturient, lactating and arrested lactating rats. In parturient rats, a significant number of Fos-positive neurons was observed as compared to virgin or pregnant females in the following brain regions; the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), lateral septal nucleus (LS), medial preoptic area (MPA), periventricular hypothalamic nucleus (Pe), parvocellular paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PaPVN), magnocellular paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (MaPVN), supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PV), anterior hypothalamic area (AHA), lateral hypothalamic area (LH), amygdaloid nucleus (AM), supramammillary nucleus (SuM), substantia nigra (SN), central grey (CG), microcellular tegmental nucleus (MiTg), subparafascicular thalamic nucleus (SPF), posterior hypothalamic area (PH), dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), locus coeruleus (LC), dorsal parabrachial nucleus (DPB), nucleus of solitary tract (Sol), and ventrolateral medulla (VLM). Significant differences were found in the number of Fos-positive neurons between parturient and lactating females, although localization of Fos-positive neurons in lactating females was quite similar to parturient ones. Between parturient and lactating rats: (1) In the MPA, PaPVN, AHA, arcuate hypothalamic nucleus (Arc), ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), MLT, and Ge, the number of Fos-positive neurons of lactating females were significantly higher than those of parturient ones; (2) In the LS, Pe, PV, LH, AM, SuM, CG, MiTg, SPF, PH, DR, LC, and VLM, there was no significant differences in the number of Fos-positive neurons; (3) In the BST, MaPVN, SON, SN, DPB and Sol, the number of Fos-positive neurons of lactating rats were significantly lower than those of parturient ones. These different patterns of Fos expression among many brain regions may be owing to the functional differences in each region. Fos expression in lactating rats was apparently induced by suckling stimulation because the removal of their litters immediately after parturition completely eliminated expression of Fos protein in each nucleus. These results suggest that the localization of Fos-positive neurons in a number of neural populations throughout the brain may be revealing the neural circuits in response to parturition or lactation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Efficacy and safety of early coronary stenting for unstable angina.

To determine the efficacy and safety of early coronary stenting for unstable angina, we studied 91 consecutive patients with unstable angina. Thirty-one patients underwent stenting 72 h or more after admission, and another 60 patients underwent stenting within 72 h of admission. The clinical and angiographic follow-up had been done for 6 mo. There were no differences between the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics of both groups. The maximum balloon pressure was higher (14.1 +/- 1.2 vs. 12.6 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01) and the hospital stay was shorter (9.7 +/- 2.7 vs. 18.7 +/- 5.8 d, P < 0.0001) in the early stenting group. These two groups were similar in the clinical success rate (90.0% vs. 93.5%), without any abrupt closure, subacute thrombosis, death, myocardial infarction, or coronary bypass surgery. These findings indicate that early stenting can be useful in patients with unstable angina.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Longitudinal study of cerebrospinal fluid levels of tau, A beta1-40, and A beta1-42(43) in Alzheimer's disease: a study in Japan.

To clarify the alterations of tau, amyloid beta protein (A beta) 1-40 and A beta1-42(43) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that accompany normal aging and the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), CSF samples of 93 AD patients, 32 longitudinal subjects among these 93 AD patients, 33 patients with non-AD dementia, 56 with other neurological diseases, and 54 normal control subjects from three independent institutes were analyzed by sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Although the tau levels increased with aging, a significant elevation of tau and a correlation between the tau levels and the clinical progression were observed in the AD patients. A significant decrease of the A beta1-42(43) levels and a significant increase of the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) were observed in the AD patients. The longitudinal AD study showed continuous low A beta1-42(43) levels and an increase of the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) before the onset of AD. These findings suggest that CSF tau may increase with the clinical progression of dementia and that the alteration of the CSF level of A beta1-42(43) and the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43) may start at early stages in AD. The assays of CSF tau, A beta1-40, and A beta1-42(43) provided efficient diagnostic sensitivity (71%) and specificity (83%) by using the production of tau levels and the ratio of A beta1-40 to A beta1-42(43), and an improvement in sensitivity (to 91%) was obtained in the longitudinal evaluation.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The blood flow characteristics in borderline ovarian tumors based on both color Doppler ultrasound and histopathological analyses.

To clarify the tumor behavior in borderline ovarian tumors, we examined the characteristics of neovascularization in these tumors by using a transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound (TV-CDU). Twelve patients with borderline ovarian tumors were preoperatively evaluated for the characteristics of intratumoral blood flow by TV-CDU, using both the resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). As a control group, 100 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 31 patients with malignant ovarian tumors were also examined by TV-CDU. An intratumoral blood flow was significantly detected in both borderline (91.6%; 11/12) and malignant ovarian tumors (90.3%; 28/31), but not in benign ovarian tumors (53%; 53/100) (P < 0.01). In addition, both the mean RI and mean PI values were significantly lower in the borderline (RI; 0.45, PI; 0.67) and malignant ovarian tumors (RI; 0.39, PI; 0.58) than those in the benign ovarian tumors (RI; 0.61, PI; 1.05) (P < 0.01). In mucinous tumors, the borderline tumors showed a significantly high intratumoral vascularity (P < 0. 01) and both borderline and malignant tumors significantly demonstrated a low-resistance blood flow (P < 0.01), in comparison to those of the benign tumors. Mucinous borderline tumors of the intestinal type also tended to have a lower RI as well as a lower PI value than müllerian type. Regarding neovascularization as represented by intratumoral blood flow characteristics, this study thus suggests that a close relationship exists in the tumor behavior between borderline and malignant ovarian tumors, especially in mucinous epithelial tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Peri-ovarian adhesions interfere with the diffusion of gonadotrophin into the follicular fluid.

In previous studies, patients with severe peri-ovarian adhesions have been found to show low pregnancy rates and a poor response to gonadotrophin stimulation during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. The purpose of this retrospective pharmacokinetic study was to assess the diffusion of exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in patients with peri-ovarian adhesions by examining the concentration of exogenous HCG in the follicular fluid in patients undergoing down-regulation and IVF due to infertility. The patients underwent laparoscopic examination for the scoring of peri-ovarian adhesions (using the classification of adnexal adhesions adopted by the American Fertility Society, a score of 0 means no adhesions, and a score of 32 represents bilateral expanded dense adhesions). Oocytes were recovered after human menopausal gonadotrophin-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HMG-HCG) stimulation with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist. Serum and follicular fluid were collected at the time of oocyte recovery for measuring the HCG ratio (the follicular HCG concentration to the serum HCG concentration; a reflection of the diffusion of exogenous gonadotrophin) by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay. A negative correlation was found between the number of oocytes recovered and the peri-ovarian adhesion score (r = -0.62, P < 0.01). In a given patient, the follicular HCG concentration was always lower than the serum HCG at the time of oocyte recovery. The HCG ratio in all samples was 0.9 or less (0.51 +/- 0.20; range, 0.09-0.90). Significant negative correlations were found between the peri-ovarian adhesion score and both the follicular HCG concentration (r = -0.80, P < 0.01) and the HCG ratio (r = -0.75, P < 0.01). In conclusion, severe peri-ovarian adhesions interfered with the diffusion of exogenous gonadotrophin into the follicular fluid during IVF treatment. Thus, the diffusion of exogenous gonadotrophin into the follicular fluid may represent a new parameter in the assessment of ovarian blood flow and IVF outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Use of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of ovarian bleeding: a report of 10 cases.

Ten patients with ovarian bleeding, who were surgically treated, had been preoperatively evaluated using transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound. The blood-flow velocity waveforms of the bleeding also were analyzed. The bleeding artery of the ovary was clearly detected in 9 of 10 (90%) patients by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound and was later confirmed by either a laparotomy or laparoscopic surgery. Either a corpus luteum cyst or a ruptured corpus luteum was associated with the bleeding in the 9 of the 10 patients. The resistance-index value in each bleeding artery examined in the 9 cases was relatively low, ranging from 0.46 to 0.59 (mean: 0.51). Based on our findings, transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound is useful for preoperatively detecting bleeding arteries in clinically severe cases of ovarian bleeding.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Differences in the angiogenesis of benign and malignant ovarian tumors, demonstrated by analyses of color Doppler ultrasound, immunohistochemistry, and microvessel density.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the differences in angiogenesis between benign and malignant ovarian tumors, the authors examined the immunohistochemical characteristics and the density of tumor vessels in both tumor groups. Intratumoral vascularization was observed preoperatively by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound. METHODS: The authors examined 106 patients with ovarian tumors preoperatively for the presence or absence of intratumoral blood flow and evaluated the blood flow waveforms of tumor vessels in patients showing intratumoral vascularization, using a resistance index (RI). The characteristics of both smooth muscle and endothelial cells in the vessels of each tumor were immunohistochemically assessed, using monoclonal antibodies against smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD34 (an endothelial cell marker). The microvessel density (MVD) identified by CD34 was also evaluated in each tumor. RESULTS: Intratumoral blood flow was found in 64 of 106 patients (60.4%). The tumors in 44 of these 64 patients were histopathologically benign, and the tumors in 20 were malignant. The malignant tumors showed a low RI (mean, 0.39 +/- 0.09) compared with benign tumors (mean, 0.62 +/- 0.12) (P < 0.001). The vessels of malignant tumors significantly demonstrated poor SMA expression and intense CD34 expression compared with the vessels of benign tumors. However, no significant differences were observed in MVD between the benign and malignant tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that low resistance to blood flow in vessels within malignant ovarian tumors may be associated with a poorly developed muscular coat in the tumor vessels, compared with that observed in benign tumors. The difference in the angiogenic natures of benign and malignant ovarian tumors showing intratumoral blood flow may thus be correlated with the endothelial cell activity of the tumor vessels and not the MVD.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Lysosomal generation of amyloid beta protein species in transgenic mice.

Soluble amyloid beta protein (A beta)1-40 and highly amyloidogenic A beta 1-42/43 were immunocytochemically labeled in lysosomes of acinar cells and macrophages in the pancreas of transgenic mice systemically expressing a C-terminal fragment of the A beta precursor. A beta 1-42/43 and long A beta species extending their C-termini were detected in the detergent-insoluble fraction. Immunoreactivity of cathepsin D was markedly increased in lysosomes filled with A beta fibrils. These findings indicated that A beta 1-40, A beta 1-42, A beta 1-43 and longer A beta species were generated in the lysosomes of the transgenic pancreas, and suggested that the activation of cathepsin D, a candidate gamma-secretase, leads to acceleration of A beta amyloid formation.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗
PubMed1997

Changes in responsiveness of freshly isolated longitudinal muscle cells from rat uterus towards oxytocin during gestation: contractility and calcium signaling.

Changes in responsiveness of freshly isolated longitudinal muscle cells from rat uterus to oxytocin during gestation were investigated through measuring contractility as well as intracellular free calcium concentration. We have demonstrated the pregnant stage-dependent contraction of freshly isolated myometrial cells in response to an extracellular hormone, oxytocin, in Ca2+-containing medium. The oxytocin effect appeared to be through oxytocin receptor since the effect could be blocked by a specific oxytocin antagonist. The magnitude of the contraction of the isolated cells in response to extracellular oxytocin was in the order of 21 day >> 18 day > 15 day pregnant rat longitudinal muscle cells. In a concentration dependent manner, oxytocin elicited a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i of longitudinal muscle cells isolated from different stages of the pregnant rat uterus, especially at the term of pregnancy. The time (4-5 s) required to reach a maximum increase in [Ca2+]i of the isolated longitudinal muscle cells in response to oxytocin was the shortest among all previously reported studies. The results also indicated that the freshly prepared longitudinal muscle cells maintained their functional calcium signaling system. The order of the responsiveness of the isolated longitudinal muscle cells to oxytocin was 21 day >> 18 day > 15 day pregnant rats in terms of rate, affinity and magnitude. Oxytocin appears to transmit its signal mainly through stimulating a voltage-dependent and/or receptor operated nonselective calcium channel. However, the possibility that a part of the oxytocin action occurs through stimulating the release of calcium from intracellular store sites of longitudinal muscle still remains.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The prognostic value of semiquantitative nuclear grading in endometrial carcinomas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of a convenient nuclear grading system based on only the proportion of nuclei measuring more than 10 microm in length at the shortest axis in endometrial carcinomas. Of the 235 cases reviewed, 9 serous and 5 clear cell adenocarcinomas and 2 small cell carcinomas were eliminated, resulting in a study population of 219 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma. The architectural grade was determined by the FIGO system. The criteria for nuclear grade were as follows: grade 1, no nucleus measuring more than 10 microm in length at the shortest axis; grade 2, nuclei measuring more than 10 microm in length at the shortest axis seen in percentages ranging between 0 and 10% of tumor cells in active areas; and grade 3, more than 10% of tumor cells in active areas with nuclei measuring more than 10 microm in length at the shortest axis. The criteria for combined grades were as follows: the tumors were graded according to the architectural grade, but high-grade nuclear abnormalities increased the grade by one for architectural grade 1 and 2 tumors. The cumulative 10-year survival rates for architectural grades 1, 2, and 3 were 92.4, 82.6, and 65.2%, respectively (chi2 = 17.9, P = 0.001). The survival rates for nuclear grades 1, 2, and 3 were 96.2, 76.1, and 70.1%, respectively (chi2 = 21.6, P < 0.001), while for combined grades 1, 2, and 3 the survival rates were 98.3, 83.2, and 65.2%, respectively (chi2 = 26.9, P < 0.001). Even when the cases were limited to the 147 stage I endometrial carcinomas examined, the prognostic value of the combined grading system was still found to be superior to that of the architectural grading system. Our observations therefore supported the FIGO recommendation for nuclear grade not only in stage I endometrial carcinomas, but also in all stages of endometrial carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1997

Characteristics of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines derived from uterine carcinosarcomas.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is occasionally found in the female genital tract, and mostly appears as one of the heterologous mesenchymal components in uterine carcinosarcoma designated as malignant mixed mullerian tumour (MMMT). We examined the biological properties of a pure rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell line designated FU-MMT-3, which was newly established from a surgical specimen taken from a patient with uterine MMMT. We also evaluated c-myc and MYCN gene amplification in three RMS cell lines (including FU-MMT-3) derived from three MMMTs by Southern blot analysis. FU-MMT-3 cells were propagated continuously for 57 serial passages over a 2-year period in vitro. FU-MMT-3 was able to produce tumours demonstrating pure RMS in athymic nude mice. Cytogenetically, FU-MMT-3 showed a triploidy pattern, with complex karyotypic abnormalities including trisomy of chromosome 8. All three RMS cell lines, including FU-MMT-3, showed amplification of the c-myc gene (approximately fourfold to eightfold), while no cell lines demonstrated MYCN gene amplification. FU-MMT-3 is considered to provide a useful system for the study of the biological behaviour of RMS in MMMTs. Extra copies of chromosome 8 and c-myc gene amplification may be associated with the rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in MMMT.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Oxytocin enhances action potentials in pregnant human myometrium--a study with microelectrodes.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to quantitatively assess the effects of oxytocin on membrane properties in the pregnant human myometrium. STUDY DESIGN: Specimens were obtained from the lower uterine segment during cesarean section at term. Electrical activity was recorded from individual cells by a conventional microelectrode method and the membrane functions were analyzed. RESULTS: Two types of spontaneous action potentials were seen: a long plateau potential and a spike-like action potential. With no change in the resting membrane potential, low concentrations of oxytocin either evoked an action potential with a plateau phase, increased the amplitude and duration of the plateau potential, or increased the frequency of generation of action potentials. Oxytocin also lowered the threshold for evoking an action potential. Higher concentrations depolarized the membrane with an associated reduction in membrane resistance. CONCLUSION: Oxytocin augments the excitability of pregnant human myometrial cells by multiple actions on the membrane, affecting both frequency and amplitude of action potentials.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1997

Sonodynamic changes after transcatheter arterial embolization in a vaginal hemangioma: case report.

A 36-year-old pregnant woman with a rapidly growing hemangioma in the vagina was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization after delivery. Blood flow characteristics within the tumor were evaluated using transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound both before and after the embolization. The vascular resistance in the tumor vessels within the vaginal hemangioma was observed to be significantly decreased; the tumor reduced in volume following this non-surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Apolipoprotein E accumulates with the progression of A beta deposition in transgenic mice.

To study the role of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in vivo in deposits of amyloid beta protein (A beta), a major component of senile plaque amyloid in the brain of patients with Alzheimer disease, the transgenic mice were examined by apoE immunostaining. The mice were systemically overexpressing signal peptide and 99 amino acid residues of the carboxy-terminal fragment of human amyloid beta protein precursor (betaAPP) under control of the powerful cytomegalovirus enhancer/chicken beta-actin promotor. A beta deposits appeared at 4 months and increased with aging in the acinar cells of the transgenic pancreas. Similarly, apoE deposits appeared in the pancreatic acinar cells at 4 months old. The number and size of apoE deposits increased with aging and correlated with the progression of A beta deposits. Interstitial macrophages labeled by apoE immunostaining appeared at 8 months after birth and their number increased with aging. On serial section of the pancreata of 24-month-old mice, approximately 70% of A beta deposits were labeled with the apoE antiserum. ApoE was detected in the highly insoluble formic acid fraction of the transgenic pancreas by an immunoblot study. The Northern blot study revealed no increase in synthesis of endogenous apoE mRNA. These findings indicate that apoE is closely related to progression of A beta deposits with aging and suggest that A beta deposition in the transgenic pancreas is similar to that in the senile plaque of Alzheimer brains. Therefore, our experimental system using transgenic mice will provide a useful tool to analyze the molecular mechanism of A beta deposition in association with apoE in vivo.

Aging↗