Biomedical subjects

T Tsuji

Publications and source records attributed to T Tsuji.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Predictive assay of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in management of oral cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for oral squamous cell carcinoma has a positive impact on organ preservation and/or survival only in patients who achieve an excellent anti-tumour effect with this therapy. Predictive assay for NAC can play an important role in establishing tailor-made treatments for oral squamous cell carcinoma. In this retrospective study, the anti-tumour effects of cisplatin-based NAC in 70 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed in relation to biological markers of tumour cell proliferation activity: tumour grade, cellular DNA content, mitotic index, apoptotic index, ki-67 positive rate, and p53 and Bax expression. Tumour grade, Bax expression, apoptotic index and cellular DNA content were significantly correlated with the anti-tumour effects of NAC in univariate analysis. Tumour grade, Bax expression and apoptotic index were selected as independent predictive factors by means of multiple logistic analysis. Using the regression equation from these results, the prediction rate for anti-tumour effects was 70%. For patients in whom NAC is predicted to be ineffective, it may be necessary to choose another treatment option in order to improve their survival and quality of life.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed2006

Severe scoliosis associated with Costello syndrome: a case report.

Costello syndrome is characterised by dwarfism, unique cutaneous lesions, a distinct facial gestalt, and mental retardation. There have been no detailed reports of severe spinal deformities requiring surgical treatment as a complication of Costello syndrome. We report a case of a 10-year-old girl with progressive scoliosis associated with Costello syndrome. She underwent anterior release and posterior surgical correction and fusion from T5 to L2 using a third generation hook and rod system plus spinous process wiring. Congenital portal vein deficiency and coagulopathy were other major complications. At 15-month follow-up, the patient had good balance and no evidence of instrumentation failure.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2006

Parry-Romberg syndrome with a clinically silent white matter lesion.

We performed a detailed neuroimaging study in a patient with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Proton MR spectroscopy demonstrated normal spectral patterns, though conventional MR imaging revealed high-intensity areas in the entire white matter in the left hemisphere. Single-photon emission tomography showed increased perfusion in the cortex of the affected hemisphere. Pyramidal tracts and optic radiations were preserved on diffusion tensor tractography. We will correlate these neuroimaging findings with normal psychomotor development in our patient.

Brain Diseases↗

PubMed2005

Functional assessment of microencapsulated porcine islets with agarose polystyrene sulfonic acid in vitro and in xenotransplantation.

We evaluated the functional efficacy of microencapsulated porcine islet xenografts transplanted into nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Islets were isolated from the pancreata of CSK miniature swine by manual collagenase digestion and Ficoll purification. Purified porcine islets were immediately encapsulated into microbeads of agarose polystyrene sulfonic acid (Ag-PSSa). They remained morphologically intact by dithizone staining after 7 days in culture. Insulin secretion from encapsulated islets was determined in response to glucose challenge during perifusion. When encapsulated islets were exposed to 200 mg/dL glucose, within 5 minutes, insulin release became 5-fold greater than that at 80 mg/dL. However, a second phase insulin secretion appeared in response to 250 mg/dL glucose challenge. In xenotransplantation, microencapsulated porcine islets (1000 to 1800 MC islets) were transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of diabetic NOD mice (n = 4) without immunosuppression. The survival times after the onset of diabetes were observed after both MC islets transplanted NOD mice and nontransplanted NOD mice (n = 4). MC islets transplant recipients had significantly (P < .05) longer survival (47.5 +/- 18.6; mean +/- SD) than nontransplanted NOD mice (21.0 +/- 9.31), although random blood glucose levels were not normalized.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Sensitivity of adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma cells to tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in many transformed cells, but not in normal cells, and hence TRAIL has recently emerged as a novel anti-cancer agent. Adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma (ATLL) is a neoplasm of T-lymphocyte origin aetiologically associated with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I), and is resistant to standard anti-cancer therapy. We thus characterized the sensitivity of ATLL cells to TRAIL in this study. Although most primary ATLL cells and cell lines expressed TRAIL death receptors on their surface, they showed only restricted sensitivity to TRAIL. Among the 10 ATLL cell lines examined, one was sensitive, but two had insufficient death-receptor expression, two had an unknown resistant mechanism with abrogation of the death signal upstream of caspase-8, and the remaining five showed attenuation of the signal in both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways by X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis and Bcl-2/Bcl-xL respectively. Furthermore, the level of HTLV-I tax expression was significantly correlated to TRAIL resistance. Interestingly, ATLL cells themselves expressed TRAIL on the cell surface. Constitutive production of TRAIL may offer resistance, thus allowing the development of TRAIL-resistant ATLL cells. Consequently, the resistant mechanism in ATLL cells against TRAIL was assigned to multiple factors and was not explained by a definitive single agent.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2004

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor expression is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients after curative surgery.

AIMS: Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that undergoes increased expression in colorectal carcinomas, but its prognostic value is a topic of debate. The aim of this study is to clarify the prognostic value of PD-ECGF expression in colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: PD-ECGF expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in frozen materials from 134 colorectal cancer patients who had received curative resections. Patients were divided into high expression and low expression groups based upon selected cut-off value. Correlations among PD-ECGF expression, clinicopathologic features, and disease-free interval were studied by univariate and multivariate analysis. To evaluate the origin of PD-ECGF, serial sections of the 134 tumours were stained for PD-ECGF and CD68. RESULTS: PD-ECGF expression in the normal mucosa was 34.4+/-15.5 (Units/mg protein) and the cut-off value was 65.4 (mean+2SD). There were no significant correlations between clinicopathological features and PD-ECGF expression. The disease-free interval for the high PD-ECGF expression group was significantly longer than that of the low expression group (P=0.05). A multivariate Cox's regression analysis revealed that high PD-ECGF expression is an independent factor for better outcome. In immunohistochemical study, almost all tumour cells were negative for PD-ECGF, but stromal macrophages were predominantly positive for PD-ECGF. CONCLUSIONS: The PD-ECGF expression originated from stromal macrophages was a predictor for favorable outcome after curative resections for colorectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Long-term outcomes of radical surgery after gasless video endoscopic transanal excision of T1/T2 rectal cancers.

AIMS: We aim to clarify the long-term outcomes after an additional radical operation following gasless video endoscopic transanal rectal tumour excision (gasless VTEM) of 'high-risk' T1 and T2 rectal cancer. METHODS: Gasless VTEM involves modification of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) by incorporating a standard laparoscopic video camera without a CO(2) insufflation system. This study between 1993 and 2003 included six men and five women with a median age of 64 years (range, 36-79). Specimens resected by gasless VTEM revealed (1) high-risk T1 carcinomas with one of the following histological types: poorly differentiated, lymphovascular invasion, and massive invasion of the submucosa (submucosal invasion greater than 200-300 microm from the muscularis mucosa) and (2) T2 carcinomas. RESULTS: Eight patients had a high-risk T1 carcinoma and three patients had a T2 carcinoma. In two patients with a high-risk T1 carcinoma, a residual tumour was found in the specimen resected by the additional radical surgery. At a median follow-up of 86.5 months (range, 63.2-110.5), none of the patients developed tumour recurrence. Although one patient died with cancer at another organ site (hilar cholangiocarcinoma of the liver) 87 months after the additional radical surgery, the other 10 patients are alive and disease free. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed favorable long-term outcomes after additional radical surgery following gasless VTEM in patients with high-risk T1 and T2 carcinomas.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Immunohistochemical staining of cutaneous tumours with G-81, a monoclonal antibody to dermcidin.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the novel antimicrobial peptide named dermcidin (DCD) was reported in human eccrine sweat glands. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the expression of DCD in a variety of cutaneous tumours in order to assess the usefulness of the monoclonal antibody (G-81), which recognizes a fragment of DCD. PATIENTS/METHODS: We studied the immunoreactivity of the G-81 antibody on 197 cutaneous tumours. RESULTS: A total of 13 of 26 cutaneous mixed tumours showed substantial immunoreactivity. In contrast all the following cases were completely unreactive: (i) epithelial tumours (seborrhoeic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, actinic keratosis, genital Paget's disease); (ii) follicular tumours (basal cell carcinoma, trichilemmoma, trichoepithelioma, trichoblastoma, keratoacanthoma, proliferating trichilemmal tumour, pilomatricoma); (iii) melanocytic tumours (malignant melanoma, naevus cell naevus, Spitz naevus, blue naevus); (iv) neural tumours (schwannoma, neurofibroma, Merkel cell neoplasm); (v) mesenchymal tumours (soft fibroma, dermatofibroma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, vascular leiomyoma, leiomyosarcoma, lipoma, juvenile xanthogranuloma, angiomyoma); and (vi) other sweat gland tumours (poroid neoplasms, syringoma, cylindroma, clear cell hidradenoma, spiradenoma, syringoid eccrine carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, apocrine cystadenoma, syringocystadenoma papilliferum, apocrine adenocarcinoma). Twenty-six cutaneous mixed tumours were considered from histopathological findings to be the apocrine type, but 13 of 26 mixed tumours contained some DCD-immunopositive cells that possibly differentiate into eccrine secretory glands. CONCLUSIONS: We found the expression of DCD in tubular structures of 50% of cutaneous mixed tumours with apocrine differentiation. These results suggest that a number of cutaneous mixed tumours show both eccrine and apocrine differentiation in the same neoplasm.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed2003

Gasless, video endoscopic transanal excision for carcinoid and laterally spreading tumors of the rectum.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine whether gasless, video endoscopic transanal-rectal tumor excision (gasless VTEM) is a valid treatment for rectal carcinoid and laterally spreading tumors (LST). METHODS: Eighty-four patients with an adenoma, adenocarcinoma (Tis/T1), or carcinoid tumor of the rectum were divided into three groups: (i) LST ( n = 17 patients), (ii) carcinoid ( n = 11), and (iii) control with other types of tumors ( n = 56). RESULTS: The LST group had a longer median operating time than in the control group, whereas the carcinoid group had a shorter operating time. Two patients (11.7%) in LST group developed peritoneal entry during the operation, while 2 patients (3.6%) in the control group experienced postoperative complications. During a median follow-up length of 55.2 months, one patient in the LST group developed a recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Gasless VTEM is a simple, minimally invasive procedure used to treat LST and carcinoid tumors of the rectum. However, resection for the LST group had a high risk of peritoneal entry during operation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Vasogenic edema and VEGF expression in a rat two-vein occlusion model.

Vasogenic edema plays an important etiologic role in the pathogenesis of cerebral venous circulation disturbances (CVCDs). Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator in angiogenesis and vascular permeability, including induction of vasogenic edema, the present study was undertaken to investigate whether it has any relevance to CVCDs. Male Wistar rats (n = 15) were used. Two adjacent cortical veins were occluded photochemically using rose bengal dye and fiberoptic illumination, with evaluation 24 hours thereafter by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each brain was removed from the skull immediately after MRI and processed for hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E staining) of sections for histopathology and comparison with MRI data. VEGF expression as demonstrated immunohistochemically appeared to coincide with vasogenic edema, diagnosed as high intensity areas on apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADCw) maps. On the basis of these data, we conclude that VEGF is related to formation of vasogenic edema in the acute stage of CVCD.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Rehabilitation technique facilitates association cortices in hemiparetic patients: functional MRI study.

We used fMRI to study brain activation with facilitative rehabilitation techniques (passive hand movements and visual feedback) in two patients with subcortical lesions. Two tasks were given in a sequence. The first task (trial 1) was repetitive hand grasping by the paretic hand at a rate of 0.5 Hz with the eyes closed. The second task (trial 2), the facilitative rehabilitation technique, included task 1 plus support by a trainer to move the paretic hand with the eyes open to get visual feedback of the movement. The data were analyzed by a subtractive method. When task 1 was subtracted from task 2, it was found that the bilateral visual cortex, contralateral premotor cortex and posterior parietal cortex were involved with the passive hand movement and visual feedback. These facilitative rehabilitation techniques may integrate networks between sensory information and motor commands, and lead to functional reorganization.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Modified CLIP using PIVKA-II for evaluating prognosis after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS: The new staging system proposed by the Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for both liver dysfunction and tumour characteristics. The present study was designed to analyze UICC TNM stage, CLIP and modified CLIP in 91 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC. METHODS: In the modified CLIP, scoring of AFP was replaced by that of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II; predictive value, > or = 400 mAU/ml). RESULTS: After hepatic resection, 54 patients developed recurrent tumours. High PIVKA-II was a significant determinant of recurrence (p<0.05). However, a high score of the modified CLIP as well as those other staging systems did not correlate with tumour-recurrence rate. Univariate analysis showed that high TNM score, CLIP score and our modified CLIP score were significant predictors of poor prognosis. Multivariate Cox's analysis revealed that high PIVKA-II and high modified CLIP score were associated with higher risk for disease-free and overall survival as well as high TNM stage. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the original CLIP, our modified CLIP was a better predictor of prognosis of HCC patients who underwent hepatic resection.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Chromosomal imbalances associated with acquired resistance to fluoropyrimidines in human colorectal cancer cells.

The chromosomal aberrations underlying the development of resistance to fluoropyrimidines have not yet been identified. To characterise the genomic changes that induce the development of resistance to fluoropyrimidines, we used comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) to analyse and compare the parent DLD-1 human colorectal cancer cell line and two cell lines, DLD-1/5-FU and DLD-1/FdUrd, which were resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), respectively. Both resistant cell lines showed a genetic aberration derived from the parental cell line DLD-1. Losses of 3p and 3q were also detected as additional genetic changes in the two resistant cell lines. Both resistant cell lines showed decreased orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) activity, which is associated with the activity of the uridine monophosphate (UMP) synthase gene (3q13). These results suggested that the loss of 3q might be a genetic change responsible for the decreased OPRT activity and fluoropyrimidine cytotoxic response in cancer cells. Amplification of 18p11.2-p11.3 containing the thymidine synthase (TS) gene (18p11.32) was observed only in the DLD-1/FdUrd-resistant cell line, which overexpresses TS. These findings suggested that 18p amplification represents a genetic change associated with the overexpression of the TS protein. Our results indicate that chromosomal aberrations identified by CGH could explain, at least in part, acquired fluoropyrimidine resistance.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2003

Self-reported rate of eating correlates with body mass index in 18-y-old Japanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between rate of eating and macronutrient and dietary fiber intake, and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 1695 18-y-old female Japanese dietetic students. MEASUREMENTS: Macronutrient intake (protein, carbohydrate, and fat) and dietary fiber intake were assessed over a 1-month period with a validated, self-administered, diet history questionnaire. Body height and weight and rate of eating (according to five categories) were self-reported. RESULTS: Among the nutrients examined, only dietary fiber intake weakly, but significantly, and negatively correlated with BMI in a multiple regression analysis. The rate of eating showed a significant and positive correlation with BMI. The mean BMI was higher by 2.2, 1.5, 1.0, and 0.5 kg/m(2) in the 'very fast', 'relatively fast', 'medium', and 'relatively slow' groups, respectively, compared with the 'very slow' rate of eating group. This correlation remained evident after adjustment for nutrient intake. CONCLUSIONS: Rate of eating showed a significant and positive correlation with BMI, whereas only dietary fiber intake showed a weak correlation with BMI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Development and clinical application of nucleated red blood cell counting and staging on the automated haematology analyser XE-2100.

We initially developed a new flow cytometric (FCM) reference method for the enumeration and staging of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) in 1997 [Wang et al., 1998 (XIth International Symposium on Technological Innovations in Laboratory Haematology, Banff, Canada, 1998); Tsuji et al., 1999 (Cytometry, 1999)]. The method used CD45 antibody and propidium iodide staining to separate NRBCs from other cells. Accuracy and precision were enhanced because larger numbers of cells were counted than was possible with the manual method. We also developed a method for automated NRBC counting on a haematology analyser, the XE-2100 (Wang, 1988). NRBC were separated from other cells using a special lysing buffer and a fluorescent dye. The XE-2100 was found to detect peripheral and cord blood NRBC accurately and precisely when compared with cell morphology or FCM control methods. The FCM NRBC staging method was established through the identification of different NRBC populations following the novel staining and lysing method. To evaluate the method further, we sorted samples containing NRBCs using a FACSort and investigated NRBC staging on the Sysmex XE-2100 based on the cell sorting results. Data were analysed using special software (ida). First, we used the data in various parameter combinations. We then established gates to classify the NRBC populations. Finally, we analysed blood specimens from patients with different types of diseases to explore possible clinical applications.

Blood Cells↗

PubMed2003

Long-term outcomes of intragastric endoscopic mucosal resection using a modified buess technique for early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to clarify long-term outcomes of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) using a modified Buess technique for mucosal gastric cancer. METHODS: The procedure included en bloc mucosal resection using a Buess-type rectoscope into the gastric lumen via a temporary gastrostomy under video camera guidance. We reviewed 5 patients who underwent this procedure between 1995 and 1997 with a single mucosal cancer of the stomach that was unsuitable for en bloc excision by endoscopic snare diathermy. RESULTS: All tumors were superficial elevated types (type 0-IIa) located in the middle third and posterior wall of the stomach. Median maximum tumor diameter was 2.2 (range 1.1-3.5) cm. There was no operative mortality. One patient developed a hemorrhagic gastric ulcer postoperatively. All tumors histologically showed curative potential of the mucosal resection without margin involvement. During a median follow-up period of 64 (50-77) months, none of the patients developed local recurrence. One patient had an early gastric cancer that metachronously developed at another stomach site. CONCLUSION: Intragastric EMR using a modified Buess technique appears to be a useful treatment for cure of mucosal gastric cancer for a limited group of patients unsuitable for complete en bloc excision by endoscopic snare diathermy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

"All in one" cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for aortic surgery.

We devised an "all in one" cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for aortic surgery, and evaluated its efficacy and safety. The circuit consisted of a venous line, reservoir, single centrifugal pump, membrane oxygenator and arterial line bifurcated into two lines for systemic perfusion and selective branch perfusion. The perfusion volume was regulated by an occluder and measured by a flow sensor. A closed partial bypass was established using a shunt line bypassing the reservoir. We applied this circuit to 25 patients with aortic disease. Regulation of both the selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) and the selective branch perfusion was easily performed. There was neither stroke nor organ dysfunction postoperatively. There are some cases in which it is difficult to decide the necessity for SCP preoperatively; the use of this circuit may resolve this problem. This circuit can be easily and safely applied to any type of aortic surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Bleomycin induces cellular senescence in alveolar epithelial cells.

Cellular senescence is a state of irreversible growth arrest. In this paper the authors examined whether bleomycin, an agent that causes pulmonary fibrosis, induces the senescence of alveolar epithelial cells. Type II-like alveolar epithelial (A549) cells or rat primary type II cells were exposed to bleomycin and then evaluated for markers of cellular senescence. Bleomycin was also administered intratracheally in C57BL/6 mice. The authors found that exposure to bleomycin induced cellular senescence in A549 cells and rat primary type II cells. The senescence was characterised by a dose- and time-dependent increase in senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, senescence-associated changes in cell morphology, an increase in cell size and lysosomal mass, the overexpression of p21 protein, and irreversible growth arrest. The intratracheal injection of bleomycin in mice induced an increase in senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity in type II epithelial cells, reaching a maximum at day 7. These results suggest that bleomycin induces a phenotype that is indistinguishable from that of senescence in alveolar epithelial cells. The induction of epithelial senescence by bleomycin may contribute to the pathway of impaired re-epithelialisation leading to pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals↗