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T Utsunomiya

Publications and source records attributed to T Utsunomiya.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The role of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin levels in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver tissues.

We aimed to clarify the clinical significance of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels in both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver tissues with a special reference to the relationship between DCP level in non-cancerous parts of the liver and the multicentric occurrence of HCC. Twenty-eight patients with HCC, who underwent hepatectomy, were studied. Surgical specimens were obtained from both HCC and non-cancerous liver of each patient. After the preparation of the liver tissues, including tissues with HCC, the DCP levels both in HCC and non-cancerous liver tissue were measured using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. The correlation was investigated between DCP levels and other clinicopathological factors. The DCP level of HCC ranged from 55 to 77735 U/0.1 g tissue weight, with a median of 2801, while the DCP level of non-cancerous parts of the liver ranged from 24 to 721 U/0.1 g tissue weight, with a median of 86. The DCP level in the liver tissue in patients having a multicentric occurrence of HCC was significantly higher than that in patients without multicentric occurrence of HCC. The logarithm of the plasma DCP level correlated with that of the DCP level in HCC (correlation coefficient =0.46; P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between the DCP level in HCC and other clinicopathological parameters. The DCP level in non-cancerous parts of the liver with simultaneous multicentric occurrence of HCC was significantly higher than that in the liver without multicentric HCC. Furthermore, the DCP level in non-cancerous parts of the liver was one of the most important predictable factors of the multicentric occurrence of HCCs among various clinicopathological factors. Therefore, the DCP level may have an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Aged↗

Glycyrrhizin improves the resistance of MAIDS mice to opportunistic infection of Candida albicans through the modulation of MAIDS-associated type 2 T cell responses.

Compared with normal mice, MAIDS mice (mice infected with LP-BM5 murine leukemia virus) exhibited an increase up to 100 times greater in susceptibility to infection with Candida albicans. The impaired resistance of MAIDS mice to the infection was recovered to levels observed in normal mice by the administration of glycyrrhizin (GR), an active component of licorice roots. MAIDS mice inoculated with CD4(+) T cells from GR-treated mice were also resistant to C. albicans infection. Normal mice inoculated with CD4(+) T helper type 2 cells (Th2 cells) from MAIDS mice were susceptible to C. albicans infection at the same levels shown in MAIDS mice. The susceptibility of normal mice inoculated with type 2 T cells was reversible by (i) administration of GR and (ii) inoculation of CD4(+) T cells from GR-treated mice and injection of a mixture of mAbs targeted against type 2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Type 2 cytokines were not detected in sera of MAIDS mice inoculated with CD4(+) T cells from GR-treated mice, while they were present in sera of MAIDS mice treated with saline. These results suggest that, by inducing CD4(+) T cells which suppress type 2 cytokine production by MAIDS-associated Th2 cells, GR improves the resistance of MAIDS mice to C. albicans infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Hepatic sclerosing hemangioma mimicking a metastatic liver tumor: report of a case.

We present herein the case of a sclerosing hemangioma of the liver which was extremely difficult to differentiate from liver metastasis of rectal cancer, in a 67-year-old woman. All the radiological findings were compatible with liver metastasis; however, marginal pooling of the tumor revealed by computed tomographic angiography and magnetic resonance imaging scans was inconsistent with a diagnosis of liver metastasis. At laparotomy, the tumor was macroscopically unusual in that it was yellowish elastic-hard with a very clear margin, and thus, it did not have the appearance of a metastatic tumor. Mile's operation and a partial hepatectomy were performed, followed by an uneventful postoperative course and no signs of recurrence. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in the peripheral blood was not elevated at any time. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was a rare hepatic tumor, namely, a "sclerosing hemangioma," based on the findings of cellular fibrous stroma containing vascular channels with flattened endothelial cells. Preoperatively differentiating between sclerosing hemangioma and a metastatic liver tumor from colorectal cancer may be very difficult; however, this case demonstrated some interesting characteristics, namely, the serum CEA level was not elevated, marginal pooling of the tumor was found in the enhanced radiological findings, and the tumor was macroscopically unusual. Therefore, the possibility of sclerosing hemangioma should be borne in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of patients suspected of having colorectal liver metastasis. A preoperative biopsy should be carried out and when a laparotomy is performed under the misdiagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis, it is advisable that either an intraoperative needle biopsy or a frozen histological analysis be undertaken to avoid unnecessary extended hepatic resection of this rare benign hepatic tumor.

Aged↗

Clinicopathologic features and postoperative prognosis of multicentric small hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of clinicopathologic characteristics and postoperative prognoses for patients with multicentric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is important to determine not only a need to operate, but also an appropriate treatment after hepatic resection. STUDY DESIGN: Between May 1990 and April 1998, among 116 patients with an initial hepatectomy for HCC measuring 3 cm or less in maximum diameter, 34 patients had multicentric HCC (MC group), and 82 patients had single nodular HCC (SN group). To clarify the clinicopathologic features of patients in the MC group versus the SN group, we compared both the clinicopathologic parameters and the postoperative prognosis after curative hepatectomy between the two groups. RESULTS: The percentages of patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibody were not significantly different between the two groups. No differences were noted in pathologic characteristics of the main tumor or tumor markers. On the other hand, in the MC group, the percentage of patients evaluated in a Child's classification as either B or C was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of patients in the SN group, indicating that patients with multicentric HCC have a poor hepatic functional reserve. Both survival and disease-free survival of patients in the MC group who underwent a curative hepatectomy did not differ statistically from those in the SN group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that hepatic resection is useful, even for patients with multicentric HCC, if a curative hepatectomy can be performed and liver function can be saved, despite their poor hepatic functional reserve.

Aged↗

Effects of sesamin-supplemented dietary fat emulsions on the ex vivo production of lipopolysaccharide-induced prostanoids and tumor necrosis factor alpha in rats.

BACKGROUND: Sesamin, a nonfat constituent of sesame oil, inhibits Delta(5)-desaturase activity, resulting in accumulation of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which displaces arachidonic acid (AA) and consequently decreases the formation of proinflammatory 2-series prostaglandins. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether dietary supplementation with sesamin augments the antiinflammatory effects of dietary linseed oil in rats. DESIGN: We investigated the effects of continuous tube feedings of emulsions containing safflower oil or linseed oil with sesamin (SO+ and LO+) or without sesamin (SO and LO) on liver fatty acid composition and on endotoxin-induced production of prostaglandin E(2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by whole blood from rats (n = 6 per diet group). RESULTS: We found a significant accumulation of DGLA only in the liver phospholipids of animals fed SO+ and LO+ (1.8 +/- 0.2 and 1.4 +/- 0.3 mol%, respectively), which suggests that sesamin inhibited Delta(5)-desaturation of n-6 fatty acids. These changes were associated with significant reductions in plasma prostaglandin E(2) concentrations in animals fed SO+ compared with those fed SO (P: < 0. 05). Despite a significant reduction in tissue AA content in the LO group, the prostaglandin E(2) concentrations did not differ significantly from those of the SO group. Plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha were significantly lower (P: < 0.05) in the animals fed LO+ than in those fed SO (199 +/- 48 and 488 +/- 121 ng/L, respectively). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that in rats, tube feedings of diets containing sesamin exerted antiinflammatory effects that were augmented by concurrent consumption of linseed oil.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in human spermatozoa using multi-colour fluorescence in-situ hybridization.

There is concern that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may lead to offspring with a high frequency of chromosomal abnormalities. Accordingly, we studied spermatozoa sampled from eight infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) by multi-colour fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), using DNA probes for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. Results were compared with those of spermatozoa sampled from 10 healthy men with normal semen profiles. Analysis of the diploidy values was repeated twice in each of the 18 men. There was no significant difference in the two diploidy estimates; thus the FISH technique appeared to be accurate and reliable for determining aneuploidy in human spermatozoa. We found the average frequencies of disomy for chromosomes 13, 18, 21 and X or Y to be 0.13, 0.12, 0.24 and 0.59% respectively for the OAT group and 0.09, 0.13, 0.19 and 0.38% respectively for the control group. The diploidy rate was 0.29% in the OAT group, and 0.16% in the control group. Thus, the OAT group showed a significantly higher frequency of disomy for chromosomes 13 (P < 0.001), 21 (P < 0.05), sex (P < 0.001), and diploidy (P < 0.005) than the control group. This finding suggests there may be some risk of aneuploidy in the offspring conceived by the ICSI technique.

Adult↗

The role of telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to clarify the role of telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Specimens from both HCC and noncancerous liver were obtained from 39 patients with HCC using a 14-gauge biopsy needle immediately after laparotomy. Telomerase activity was determined using a telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The 3+ of telomerase activity in HCC was defined as a high telomerase group, and 2+ or less of HCC telomerase activity was defined as a low telomerase group. In noncancerous liver, 2+ or more of telomerase activity was defined as an increased telomerase group, and 1+ or less of telomerase activity was defined as a nonincreased telomerase group. The correlation between telomerase activity in HCC or noncancerous liver and clinicopathological factors, including prognosis, was investigated. RESULTS: Telomerase activities in HCCs were 0 in one patient, 1+ in two, 2+ in seven, and 3+ in 29 patients. The disease-free survival rate in the high telomerase group was significantly worse than that in the low telomerase group. The des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level in a high telomerase group (median, 330 mAU/ml) was significantly higher than that in the low telomerase group (median, 150 mAU/ml). A multivariate analysis revealed that higher TNM stage, high telomerase activity in HCC, female gender, and high alpha-fetoprotein value were independent significant factors related to be early recurrence. The incidence of multicentric HCC occurrence in the increased telomerase group (53.3%) tended to be higher than that in the nonincreased telomerase group (27.3%). CONCLUSION: A high telomerase activity in HCC correlated with the potential of HCC to be more malignant, which was expressed as both a high level of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and an earlier recurrence after hepatectomy than that of HCC with a low telomerase activity.

Adult↗

Intraoperative localization of right-sided small colonic lesions: a novel use of the cholangioscope.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We describe a novel use of the cholangioscope to help in the intraoperative localization of small colonic malignancies on the right side of the colon. METHODS: A small incision was made at the base of the appendix and a cholangioscope was inserted into the ascending colon through the incised hole of the appendix. RESULTS: The site of the lesion was precisely determined by palpating the distal end of the cholangioscope while observing the area right under it. CONCLUSION: Our procedure therefore appears to be worthy of consideration in patients with small colonic lesions on the right side of the colon in whom preoperative endoscopic marking techniques might otherwise be required.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

Correlation between loss of E-cadherin expression and overexpression of autocrine motility factor receptor in association with progression of human gastric cancers.

Loss of intercellular adhesion and increased cell motility synergistically facilitate tumor cell invasion. We studied these factors in 90 patients with gastric cancers by using an immunohistochemical technique to detect strong or weak expression of E-cadherin (ECD) and autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR). Normal gastric mucosa (control) reacted strongly for ECD and weakly for AMFR. In study cases, ECD was weak in 47 cases, and AMFR was strong in 39 cases. Weak ECD and strong AMFR expression were associated with tumor dedifferentiation. AMFR expression correlated positively with depth of invasion but not with lymph node metastasis. ECD expression correlated negatively with lymph node metastasis but not with depth of invasion. A strong inverse correlation was found between ECD and AMFR expression. Tumors with weak ECD and strong AMFR expression displayed a more aggressive phenotype than tumors with strong ECD and weak AMFR expression. The postoperative survival of patients with tumors with weak ECD and strong AMFR expression was significantly shorter than that of other groups. Since they are involved in the pathway to development of tumors with a more aggressive phenotype, ECD and AMFR should be examined to evaluate the biologic potential of gastric cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Myoepithelioma arising from the buccal gland: histopathological and immunohistochemical studies.

A rare case of myoepithelioma of the buccal gland in a 54-year-old Japanese woman is reported. As the swelling exhibited a normal mucosal color and was relatively well defined, showing no ulcers, a benign salivary gland tumor was suspected upon clinical inspection. Microscopically, the parenchyma of the present case mainly consisted of plasmacytoid cells with round nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, and partial spindle cells with eccentric nuclei. The stroma was composed of fibro-hyalinized or myxoid connective tissue that separated from the parenchyma. Immunohistochemically, the cytoplasm of the plasmacytoid and spindle cells was moderately positive for vimentin and GFAP, whereas the buccal gland adjacent to the tumor was negative for these antibodies. S-100 protein reactivity is strong for both types tumor cells. Actin reactivity was negative for both types of tumor cells, notwithstanding the fact that myoepithelial cells of the buccal gland were positively stained. Anti-cytokeratin reactivity was weak for both types of tumor cells in portions of the plexiform and solid areas; nevertheless, the buccal glands were moderately positive. These results suggest that neoplasmic myoepithelial cells exhibit abnormal differentiation and modification. There have been only two published reports of myoepithelioma arising from the buccal gland in the literature to date.

Cheek↗

Mental stress test is an effective inducer of vasospastic angina pectoris: comparison with cold pressor, hyperventilation and master two-step exercise test.

BACKGROUND: Cold pressor, hyperventilation and exercise stress tests were usually used for inducing an angina attack in patients with vasospastic angina pectoris. We induced vasospastic angina attack using the mental calculation stress test, and compared the results with those using other stress tests. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 29 patients with vasospastic angina pectoris. Their ages were 60.8+/-8.4 years. Coronary vasospasm was induced by an acetylcholine infusion test during coronary angiography. The mental stress test was performed as follows; after memorizing six digits numbers, they repeated these numbers in reverse for 5 min, and performed serial subtraction of 17 from 1000 for 5 min. Blood pressure, heart rate and ECG were recorded every 1-5 min during the mental stress test. The serum concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured before and during the mental stress test. We compared these results with those obtained using cold pressor, hyperventilation and the Master two-step exercise stress test. RESULTS: (1) Eight of the 29 patients (28%) showed ischemic ST-T change, which was caused by the mental stress test. (2) The increase in norepinephrine was greater in patients with an ST-T change than without an ST-T change (0.11+/-0.06 vs. 0.04+/-0.04 ng/ml, P<0.01). (3) The incidence of the ST-T change caused by the mental stress test (28%) was similar to the cold pressor test (27%) and greater than that caused by the hyperventilation test (13%). The incidence of ST-T change caused by the Master two-step test was 55%. CONCLUSIONS: The mental stress test is an effective inducer of vasospastic angina attack, and attack may be induced by neurohumoral vasoconstrictive reflex and/or increased left ventricular afterload.

Acetylcholine↗

Therapeutic protective effects of IL-12 combined with soluble IL-4 receptor against established infections of herpes simplex virus type 1 in thermally injured mice.

The effect of combination therapy between IL-12 and soluble IL-4R (sIL-4R) on the established infection of HSV-1 in thermally injured mice (TI mice) was investigated. All of the TI mice infected with lethal amounts of HSV-1 died when IL-12 was given therapeutically at a dose of 500 U/mouse. However, 80% of these mice treated prophylactically with IL-12 survived compared with 0% survival of the same mice treated with saline. The therapeutic administration of IL-12 to TI mice currently infected with HSV-1 caused an 80% survival of these mice when the treatment was combined with sIL-4R. Although IL-12 did not stimulate IFN-gamma production in cultures of splenic T cells from TI mice, IFN-gamma was produced by stimulation with IL-12 when the producer cells were prepared from TI mice that had been treated previously with sIL-4R. After stimulation with anti-CD3 mAb, splenic T cells from TI mice with the established infection of HSV-1 produced IL-4 into their culture fluids. However, IL-4 was not produced by splenic T cells that were prepared from the same infected mice treated with IL-12 and sIL-4R in combination. The results obtained herein indicate that the efficacies of the combination therapy against the established infection of HSV-1 may result from the IFN-gamma production stimulated by IL-12 in TI mice that are treated with sIL-4R for reducing burn-associated type 2 T cell responses.

Animals↗

Cytoplasmic beta-catenin in esophageal cancers.

beta-Catenin has 2 distinct roles in E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion and carcinogenesis through APC gene mutation. One occurs at cell-adhesion sites, where cadherins become linked to the actin-based cytoskeleton. The others occur in the cytoplasm and nuclei and are thought to regulate cell transformation. We studied these different beta-catenins and evaluated their significance in carcinogenesis. Fresh surgical specimens were obtained from 22 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. beta-Catenin in the free soluble fraction and the insoluble fraction was immunoblotted separately. At the same time, its localization was observed by immuno-histochemical techniques. In the normal esophageal epithelium, 91% of beta-catenin was detected in the insoluble fraction and beta-catenin staining occurred at the cell membrane, in co-existence with E-cadherin. In cancerous tissues, the amount of soluble beta-catenin was significantly (about 4-fold) higher than in normal tissues. Also, in cancerous tissues with higher amounts of soluble beta-catenin, immuno-histochemical techniques revealed the presence of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei, as well as in the cell membrane. However, in samples with lower amounts of beta-catenin, expression was found only at the cell boundaries. The amount of soluble beta-catenin was not associated with the clinico-pathological grading of the tumors. Our results show that the accumulation of free soluble beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei frequently occurs during carcinogenesis of the squamous epithelium of the esophagus.

Animals↗

Acinic cell carcinoma of the palate: case report and immunohistochemical observation.

We report a rare case of acinic cell carcinoma of the palate in a 63-year-old Japanese woman. Clinical examination demonstrated a firm, mobile mass without regional lymph-adenopathy. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of large, polyhedral or round cells with basophilic granular cytoplasm (serous acinar-like cells) and reticular or clear cytoplasmic cells. These tumor cells were positive for the periodic acid-Schiff reaction, but negative for alcian blue. The tumor nests were separated by thin vascular tissue and incompletely encapsulated. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells exhibited positive reactivity for alpha-amylase, lactoferrin, secretory component, S100 protein, and epithelial membrane antigen, but were negative for actin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, keratin, and carcinoembryonic antigen. These results suggest that this tumor is well differentiated into serous acinar cells and that the reticular and clear cytoplasmic cells are a modified form of these cells.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Rare occurrence of colorectal cancer metastasis in livers infected with hepatitis B or C virus.

BACKGROUND: The rarity of the occurrence of metastatic malignancy in injured liver has been noted by many observers. However, since the clinicopathological features of primary carcinoma and the etiology of liver disease of these patients vary greatly, this phenomenon may not be universal. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between either hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the incidence of colorectal liver metastasis in 438 patients undergoing surgical treatment for advanced colorectal carcinoma. RESULTS: The liver function of the patients in the infection group (n = 37) was significantly worse than that of those in the noninfection group (n = 401). The incidences of tumor recurrence in the lung or peritoneum were comparable between the two groups. However, the percentage of patients with liver metastases in the infection group (3 of 37, 8.1%) was significantly lower (P <0.05) than that of those in the noninfection group (85 of 401, 21.2%). The patients in the infection group tended to survive longer than the patients in the noninfection group. CONCLUSIONS: We herein report an initial finding that colorectal carcinoma rarely metastasizes to livers infected with HBV or HCV.

Aged↗

Postoperative liver failure after major hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in the modern era with special reference to remnant liver volume.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative liver failure is a life-threatening complication after hepatic resection. Because of recent advances in liver surgery technique and a more stringent patient selection, mortality after hepatic resection has steadily decreased, but its incidence still ranges from 10% to 20%. The factors linked to postoperative liver failure in major hepatic resection in the modern era should be reevaluated. STUDY DESIGN: Of 80 patients with viral markers (hepatitis C viral antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen) who underwent major hepatic resections (no less than bisegmentectomies) for hepatocellular carcinoma between 1990 and 1996, 7 patients (8.8%) died of postoperative liver failure within 6 months after hepatectomy. The cause of liver failure was analyzed based on both the preoperative data and the intraoperative findings. In addition, since all the patients who died of liver failure underwent a right hepatic lobectomy, a further data analysis was also done in 47 patients who underwent a right lobectomy of the liver. A volumetric analysis by CT was then done to evaluate the remnant liver volume. RESULTS: Between the patients with liver failure and those without liver failure who underwent a right lobectomy, there were no significant differences in preoperative data or intraoperative findings. Volumetric analysis revealed that the remnant liver volume of patients who died of liver failure was significantly smaller than that of patients who lived (p = 0.008). The incidence of liver failure in patients with a remnant liver volume of less than 250 mL/m2 was 7 of 20 (38%), while it was 0 of 27 in patients with a liver volume of no less than 250 mL/m2 (p = 0.0012). The only significant risk factor for liver failure in patients with a remnant liver volume of less than 250 mL/m2 was diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0072). CONCLUSIONS: The expected remnant liver volume appears to be a good predictor for liver failure in patients who undergo a right lobectomy of the liver. In patients with diabetes mellitus and an expected remnant liver volume of less than 250 mL/m2, a major hepatectomy should be avoided. Careful patient selection based on volumetric analysis in major hepatectomy cases could help prevent the occurrence of postoperative liver failure.

Aged↗

Effects of glycyrrhizin, an active component of licorice roots, on Candida albicans infection in thermally injured mice.

Due to the generation of burn-associated CD8+ CD11b+ TCR gamma/delta+ type 2 T cells (burn-associated type 2 T cells), the susceptibility of thermally injured mice to infection with C. albicans has been shown to be increased by up to 50-fold when compared with normal mice. Glycyrrhizin (GR), an active component of licorice roots, reduced the susceptibility of thermally injured mice to C. albicans infection to levels observed in normal mice. Thermally injured mice inoculated with CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice were also resistant to C. albicans infection. The following demonstrated that susceptibility to fungal infection was similar in thermally injured mice and normal mice inoculated with T6S cells (a clone of burn-associated type 2 T cells). This susceptibility of T6S mice (normal mice inoculated with T6S cells) was reversible by (i) administration of GR, (ii) inoculation of CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice, and (iii) injection of a mixture of MoAbs targeted against type 2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). After stimulation with anti-CD3 MoAb, splenic T cells from thermally injured and T6S mice, treated with GR or inoculated with CD4+ T cells from GR-treated mice, did not have type 2 cytokines in culture supernatants. They were present in splenic T cell cultures from thermally injured and T6S mice that were treated with saline or inoculated with naive T cells. These results suggest that GR, by inducing CD4+ T cells which suppress type 2 cytokines produced by burn-associated type 2 T cells, improves the resistance of thermally injured mice to C. albicans. An anti-type 2 T cell action of the CD4+ T cells derived from GR-treated mice was previously described.

Amphotericin B↗