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Biomedical subjects

Y Minami

Publications and source records attributed to Y Minami.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

[A case of hepatocellular carcinoma with bone metastasis which responded to oral administration of UFT].

A 61-year-old male was referred to our hospital for evaluation of right upper arm pain. He was diagnosed as having primary hepatocellular carcinoma with bone metastasis by his high titer (111,683 ng/ml) of serum alpha-fetoprotein, computed tomography and abdominal angiography, and so UFT therapy, 400 mg daily, was instituted. After 2 months of this therapy, the titer of serum alpha-fetoprotein gradually decreased. Seven months later, the titer was 3,997 ng/ml and reduction of the hepatic tumor size was shown by computed tomography and ultrasonography. Furthermore, the right upper arm pain diminished and X-ray examination revealed remarkable improvement. During chemotherapy, there was no severe side effect apart from mild anemia and the patient is presently still alive. This case suggests the efficacy of UFT for the treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Clinico-pathological study on prostatic cancer, stage A using step section technic].

Of 52 male bladder cancer cases treated with radical cystectomy, 12 cases (23.9%) were incidentally diagnosed as stage A prostatic cancer. Histological analysis was done according to the "general rules for clinical and pathological studies on prostatic cancer." The average age of the prostatic cancer cases was 62.0 years with a range of 50 to 78 years. Three cases were of well differentiated adenocarcinoma, and 9 cases were of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Six cases were at pT1, 3 at pT2, and 3 at pT3. One case was stage A1, and 11 were stage A2 cases. Perineural and capsular invasions were found in 3 cases each. Neither lymphatic nor vascular invasion was found in any case, and no evidence of seminal vesicular, urethral, bladder and rectal invasion was found in any case. Lymph node metastasis was not found in any of the 3 pelvic lymph node dissected cases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Morphological study of lipoprotein particles in the livers of ventromedial hypothalamus lesioned rats.

Ultrastructure of the liver in ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) lesioned rats was studied in parallel with biochemical examination. Ten weeks after the operation, VMH lesioned rats became markedly obese. Electron microscopic examination of the liver revealed lipid droplets in the cytoplasm and a high load of lipoprotein particles in the Golgi elements. Lipoprotein particles, 40-50 nm in diameter, in the Golgi elements, were scattered throughout the cytoplasm. Concentrations of triglyceride and esterified cholesterol markedly increased in the liver, while those of free cholesterol and phospholipids did not increase. Serum concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in VMH lesioned rats were higher than control ones. These data suggest that lipoprotein synthesis was markedly increased in the livers of VMH lesioned rats.

Animals↗

Reciprocal translocation involving the short arms of chromosomes 7 and 11, t(7p-;11p+), associated with myeloid leukemia with maturation.

A reciprocal translocation involving the short arms of chromosomes 7 and 11, t(7;11)(p15;p15), was found in nine patients including eight with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and one with Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blastic crisis. Although a similar chromosome rearrangement has previously been reported in five patients, including three with AML and two with CML, the 7p breakpoint in some of these cases was slightly different from that detected in our patients. Notable cytogenetic and clinicohematologic findings in our patients and those reported in the literature were as follows: (a) t(7;11) occurred in myeloid leukemia, predominantly AML with subtype M2, and occasionally in other AML subtypes and in CML with or without Ph1 chromosome; (b) t(7;11) frequently occurred as the sole chromosome abnormality; (c) most patients showed a low neutrophil alkaline phosphatase score; and (d) Auer rods were present in leukemic cells of most cases including Ph1-positive CML. Our findings suggest that a t(7;11)-associated leukemia constitutes a subgroup of myeloid malignancy involving maturing leukemic cells.

Blast Crisis↗

The dependence of maximal expiratory flow on vital capacity: a theoretical analysis.

The decrease of maximal expiratory flow rates (Vmax) at the 50 or 25 per cent level of vital capacity (V50, V25) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been reported by several investigators, and most of them simply concluded that small airway obstruction was associated with IPF. However, Jayamanne et al. (1978) stressed that the reduced airflow in this disease was due to the reduction of lung volume than to abnormally elevated resistance to airflow in small airways. Theoretical analysis on the influence of lung volume on Vmax using a mathematical model supported the opinion of Jayamanne et al.

Forced Expiratory Flow Rates↗

Binding of microtubule-associated protein 2 and tau to the intermediate filament reassembled from neurofilament 70-kDa subunit protein. Its regulation by calmodulin.

Two major brain microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), MAP2 and tau, were found to bind to the intermediate filaments reassembled from neurofilament 70-kDa subunit protein (= 70-kDa filaments). The binding was saturable. The apparent dissociation constant (KD) for the binding of MAP2 to the 70-kDa filaments was estimated to be 4.8 X 10(-7) M, and the maximum binding reached 1 mol of MAP2/approximately 30 mol of 70-kDa protein. The apparent KD for the tau binding was 1.6 X 10(-6) M, and the maximum binding was 1 mol of tau/approximately 3 mol of 70-kDa protein. It was also found that MAP2 and tau did not compete with each other for binding to the 70-kDa filaments. Most interestingly, calmodulin, a ubiquitous Ca2+-binding protein in eukaryotic cells, was found to inhibit the binding of MAP2 and tau to the 70-kDa filaments. The inhibition by calmodulin was regulated by changes in Ca2+ concentration around 10(-6) M, and was canceled by trifluoperazine, a calmodulin inhibitor.

Animals↗

Effects of microtubule-associated proteins on network formation by neurofilament-induced polymerization of tubulin.

It has been revealed that neurofilaments stimulate polymerization of tubulin and thereby cause gelation. Addition of a very small amount of MAPs to the reaction mixture of tubulin and neurofilaments resulted in promotion of gelation. This could not be ascribed to MAP-induced cross-linking between microtubules and neurofilaments because further increases in the MAP concentration (still substoichiometric amount) resulted in total suppression of gelation. It is concluded that MAPs promote microtubule assembly independently of neurofilaments, and lower the concentration of tubulin available for neurofilament-induced polymerization, then preventing network formation.

Animals↗

Interaction of famotidine with rat liver microsomes, a study showing less inhibition of drug metabolism than with cimetidine.

Interaction of famotidine with rat liver microsomes and its effect on drug metabolism in vitro were studied. Famotidine interacted with liver microsomes obtained from untreated, phenobarbital-pretreated and 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats to produce characteristic type II spectral changes with peaks at 423-426 nm and troughs at 387-390 nm. The spectral dissociation constants were in the range of 0.84-0.94 mM. Famotidine inhibited aminopyrine N-demethylase activity to a much lesser extent than did cimetidine. The extent of inhibition at a concentration of 5 mM of famotidine was from 12 to 18% for the microsomes from the rats with different pretreatments. In contrast, 5 mM of cimetidine inhibited the activity 80, 59 and 80% in the microsomes from untreated, phenobarbital-pretreated and 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats, respectively. Both famotidine and cimetidine inhibited aminopyrine N-demethylase in a mixed-type manner for the microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats, with inhibition constants of 4.7 and 0.7 mM, respectively. These results demonstrate that famotidine is an in vitro inhibitor of microsomal drug metabolism in rats but is much less inhibitory than cimetidine.

Aminopyrine N-Demethylase↗

Elevated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and its inhibition by nicotinamide in the diabetic NOD mouse.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by splenic mononuclear cells was measured in female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and age-matched ICR mice. No significant difference in ADCC activities was observed between the two groups when all the NOD mice were pre-diabetic. ADCC activities in diabetic NOD mice were significantly higher than those in age-matched ICR mice (P less than 0.001). Nicotinamide, known to prevent the diabetes of the NOD mouse, strongly inhibited ADCC by the mononuclear cells from diabetic NOD mice. Kinetic studies revealed that the inhibition was non-competitive.

Animals↗

Analysis of debromination of 1,2-dibromoethane by cytochrome P-450-linked hydroxylation systems as observed by bromide electrode.

Debromination of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) by a rabbit liver microsomal preparation and a reconstituted cytochrome P-450 enzyme system was investigated. The reaction was performed in our newly constructed reaction vessel, in which a bromide electrode was installed. During the reaction, the liberated bromide ion was continuously measured by the bromide electrode, and the amount was recorded. In the microsomal preparation, the DBE-debromination rate per nmol cytochrome P-450 was enhanced by phenobarbital-pretreatment of rabbits compared with the untreated microsomes, whereas it was diminished by 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreatment. The debromination reaction was reconstituted in a purified enzyme system containing phenobarbital-inducible rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450PB), NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and NADPH. The optimum conditions required the presence of dilauroylphosphatidylcholine and cytochrome b5. Cytochrome b5 was found not to be an obligatory component for the DBE-debromination in the reconstituted system, but it stimulated the activity about 3.4-fold. Preincubation of the reconstituted mixture with guinea pig anti-cytochrome P-450PB antiserum markedly inhibited the debromination reaction.

Animals↗

Successful combination chemotherapy (cisplatinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin) against peritoneal dissemination of intracranial germ cell tumor.

We found combination chemotherapy with cisplatinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin (PVB therapy) effective in the treatment of a patient with a pineal germ cell tumor with peritoneal dissemination. The metastatic complication may have been attributable to the ventriculoperitoneal shunt tube. After the first course of PVB therapy, the disseminated tumors were decreased in size; no residual tumors were detected after the third course by laparoscopic examination, computed tomographic scanning, or echogram. Our results suggest that combined PVB therapy is effective in the treatment of extraneural metastasis from intracranial germ cell tumors.

Adult↗

Idiopathic portal hypertension associated with Hashimoto's disease: report of three cases.

Three cases of idiopathic portal hypertension associated with Hashimoto's disease are described. All of the cases were middle-aged Japanese women showing splenomegaly, esophageal varices and pancytopenia in the absence of extrahepatic portal obstruction, and cirrhosis of the liver. Two patients were euthyroid with goiter, one of which revealed diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, obliteration of thyroid follicles, and fibrosis on histological examination of the thyroid; the third suffered from myxedema without goiter. Antithyroid microsomal antibody was positive in all patients and antithyroglobulin antibody was positive in none. These findings might imply an immunological role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic portal hypertension.

Female↗

Dephosphorylation suppresses the activity of neurofilament to promote tubulin polymerization.

The phosphate content of neurofilament was diminished by half, from 49.4 to 22.9 nmol/mg, by treatment with alkaline phosphatase. Dephosphorylation decreased the activity of neurofilament to promote tubulin assembly. This suppression was supposed to be mainly due to dephosphorylation of the 200 kDa subunit of neurofilament. Dephosphorylation of the isolated 200 kDa subunit caused suppression of its activity to promote tubulin polymerization. These results suggest that changes in the phosphate content modulate interaction of neurofilament with tubulin.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗