Biomedical subjects

Y Toh

Publications and source records attributed to Y Toh.

116 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Heparanase gene expression and metastatic potential in human gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Heparanase has been reported to play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. We examined the relationship between heparanase mRNA expression and biological factors regarding invasion and metastasis of human gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 63 human gastric carcinomas, 42 adjacent normal gastric tissues and four gastric cancer cell lines, heparanase mRNA expression was evaluated using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Total RNA obtained from human peripheral blood (PB) leucocyte and placenta were used as positive controls. The relationship between heparanase mRNA expression and various clinicopathological factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The heparanase mRNA expression evaluated with RT-PCR revealed that 31 out of 63 gastric cancer tissues (49%), 11 out of 42 normal gastric tissues (26%) and 4 gastric cancer cell lines were positive. The positive rate in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (p<0.05). In the heparanase mRNA-positive cancer tissues, venous invasion was frequent (p<0.05) and the histological differential grade was significantly poorer than in negative cases (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: We propose that heparanase mRNA expression is involved in invasion and development of human gastric cancer and detection of this expression may be a factor related to metastasis and prognosis of such patients.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of immunological parameters in patients with esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The role of immunosurveillance in the fight against cancer is well known. In addition, cancer patients have been reported to have an impaired immune function. In patients with esophageal cancer, however, the relationship between the immunological parameters of the host and their survival has not yet been evaluated fully. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 103 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy, lymphocyte subsets (CD4+ and CD8+), the PHA response, and natural killer cell (NK) activity were all assessed in relation to clinicopathological features and the prognostic significance was evaluated using both a univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The CD4+/CD8+ ratio in 58 (56%) patients was higher than the mean of the control, while the PHA response and NK activity in 74 (72%) and 70 (68%) patients, respectively, were lower than 1 SD below the mean of the control. None of these three parameters demonstrated a low value in 5 patients, while 1, 2 and 3 parameters showed a low value in 28, 49 and 21 patients, respectively. The survival rate of the patients with low values in all of three of these parameters was significantly worse than that for the patients in whom the number of low parameters was less than two. A multivariate analysis revealed that tumor invasion and the number of low values in these parameters were independently significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This survival analysis revealed that low values in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, the PHA response, and the NK activity will help predict a poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer.

CD4-CD8 Ratio↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transcolonic approach for a stapled end-to-end colorectal anastomosis in low anterior resection.

We designed the transcolonic approach for a stapled end-to-end colorectal anastomosis using a premium curved EEA in low anterior resection. The advantage of this repair is the elimination of transanal introduction of the stapler by a second assistant from below, which make the stapled anastomosis technically easier and safer. The fact that the anvil can be removed from the center shaft by pressing on the anvil release button allows the anvil to be released from anus, which theoretically prevents suture break down. This procedure can be considered for selected patients who have anal structure and where it is impossible to insert the instrument.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of p53 protein in glandular differentiation admixed with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: Glandular differentiation in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is occasionally recognized by serial histologic investigations. We previously performed histopathologic investigations of such tumors and suggested the possibility of field carcinogenesis in esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we performed an immunohistochemistry analysis for p53 protein in such cases to investigate the mode of carcinogenesis from the view point of genetic changes. p53 protein expression in both ordinary squamous cell carcinoma and glandular differentiation of nine cases to demonstrate the coexistence of these components. RESULTS: The expression of p53 in the areas of squamous cell carcinoma was diffusely detected in three and focally in two (five in all, 55.6%) and, in these five cases, p53 was also positive in the areas of glandular differentiation in four cases. On the other hand, the expression of p53 in the glandular components was negative in all four tumors with p53 negative squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The process of carcinogenesis within the tumor was thought to be similar in almost all cases even in the different histopathologic components.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The clinical and histopathological contributing factors influencing the effectiveness of preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy for the patients with esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The effectiveness of hyperthermic treatment combined with irradiation and chemotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer on local response as well as on long-time survival has been reported. In order to investigate the contributing factors influencing the effectiveness of preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy (HCR therapy), this study was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred nineteen patients with esophageal cancer who underwent preoperative HCR therapy followed by esophagectomy were reviewed in this retrospective study. The rate of effectiveness of preoperative HCR therapy was then compared in resected tissue specimens with regard to such factors as age, sex, the location of the tumor, the longitudinal diameter of the esophagogram, the radiographic type of tumor, the histological type and the histological depth of invasion using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the clinical and histopathological factors which had the greatest effect on preoperative HCR therapy were well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma regarding the histological type and tumorous type regarding the radiographic types. CONCLUSION: We thus conclude that preoperative HCR therapy shows great promise for the treatment of patients with esophageal cancer, especially in instances of well differentiated and radiographic tumorous type squamous cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Simultaneous combination therapy of carboplatin and radiation for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Carboplatin is a less nephrotoxic analog of cisplatin with a significant effect against a variety of malignancies including carcinoma of the esophagus. Furthermore, the supra-additive effect between carboplatin and radiation has been reported in both clinical and experimental studies. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven patients with carcinoma of the esophagus underwent a combined therapy of carboplatin (30 mg/m2, total 1500-2000 mg) and radiation (1.6 Gy/day, five days/week, total 50-70 Gy). RESULTS: Six patients had a complete tumor remission while in the remaining patient a partial response was observed. In five of these six cases, no evidence of recurrence has been recognized at 9-13 months after the treatment. Two patients survived without any evidence of recurrent disease 43 and 57 months after the initiation of the treatment. The major side effects were leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, which were grade II to IV but not fatal. However, no significant renal toxicity, gastrointestinal disorders nor liver toxicity were recognized. CONCLUSIONS: These data thus indicate the clinical utility of the combined therapy of radiation and carboplatin for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessing the permeability of the gastrointestinal mucosa after oral administration of phenolsulfonphthalein.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In this study, the oral phenolsufonphthalein (PSP) absorption test as a simple and non-invasive method for the assessment of either the extent of the permeability of or damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa was evaluated. METHODOLOGY: The permeability of the gastrointestinal mucosa of patients with liver cirrhosis and those who underwent gastrointestinal surgery was assessed by the oral administration of 30 mg of PSP and the measurement of its urinary recovery rate. RESULTS: The urinary PSP excretion in patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 8; 28.8 +/- 6.0%) was significantly higher than that of patients who underwent vascular surgery (n = 8; 10.0 +/- 1.7%) (p < 0.01), which thus suggested an increased permeability of the gastrointestinal mucosa in patients with liver cirrhosis. The urinary PSP excretion rate in patients who underwent a total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (n = 5) was 17.3 +/- 1.7% which was significantly higher than that observed in the control (p < 0.05), while the same rates in patients who underwent a partial gastrectomy (n = 10) or colectomy (n = 10) were 10.2 +/- 1.8% or 10.6 +/- 0.7%, respectively, which suggested that the intestinal mucosa is damaged by a total resection of the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: The oral PSP absorption test, which is non-invasive, simple and inexpensive, is thus considered to be useful for assessing the degree of damage to or the permeability of the gastrointestinal mucosa under various conditions.

Absorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intra-operative measurement of the tissue blood flow for evaluating blood supply to the gastric tube for esophageal reconstruction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Anastomotic leakage after esophageal surgery is still the main reason for post-operative morbidity and mortality. We developed a reliable procedure for evaluating blood supply to the gastric tube after esophageal reconstruction. METHODOLOGY: After construction of the gastric tube, tissue blood flow was measured intra-operatively at the anastomotic sites using laser Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: There was a distinct difference in tissue blood flow at the distal portion of the gastric tube. The tissue blood flow at the sites of attempted anastomosis was considerably decreased compared to the value of the gastric body (control site). CONCLUSIONS: By measuring tissue blood flow at the attempted anastomotic site intra-operatively using laser Doppler flowmetry, a sufficiently nourished gastric tube could be prepared. It was our hypothesis that total elimination of the ischemic portion would make esophagogastric anastomosis safer and more reliable.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗