PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Tomoda

Publications and source records attributed to Y Tomoda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cardiac fibroblasts are major production and target cells of adrenomedullin in the heart in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent vasodilator peptide. Plasma AM concentration is increased in patients with various heart diseases, and both myocytes (MCs) and non-myocytes (NMCs) secrete AM and express its receptors. These facts suggest that cardiac cells possess an autocrine/paracrine capability mediated by AM. METHODS: MCs and NMCs were prepared from cardiac ventricles of neonatal rats. AM and endothelin-1 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassays, and interleukin-6 level by a specific bioassay. Total nitrite/nitrate contents were measured with a fluorescence assay kit. RESULTS: A basal secretion rate of AM from NMCs was 2.8-fold higher than that from MCs. Interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and lipopolysaccharide stimulated AM secretion from NMCs but not from MCs. AM stimulated interleukin-6 production in the presence of these cytokines or lipopolysaccharide, which was more prominent in NMCs. In the presence of interleukin-1beta, AM augmented nitric oxide synthesis 2.7-fold in NMCs, but slightly in MCs. NMCs secreted endothelin-1 at a rate nine times higher than MCs, and AM inhibited endothelin-1 secretion from NMCs. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study suggests that AM in the heart is mainly produced in NMCs and exerts its effects through NMCs, especially under inflammatory conditions.

Adrenomedullin↗

Regulation of adrenomedullin secretion from cultured cells.

Characterization of immunoreactive adrenomedullin (AM) secreted from cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells and 7 other cells indicates that AM is synthesized and secreted from all cultured cells we surveyed. The secretion rate of AM measured ranges from 0.001-6.83 fmol/10(5) cells/h, and endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts generally secrete AM at high rates. Based on the results of regulation of AM secretion from vascular wall cells, fibroblasts, macrophages and other cells measured in this and previous studies, AM secretion is found to be generally stimulated by inflammatory cytokines, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and hormones. Especially, vascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts elicited uniform and strong stimulatory responses of AM secretion to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), LPS and glucocorticoid, but endothelial cells did not elicit such prominent responses. AM secretion of monocyte-macrophage was mainly regulated by the degree of differentiation into macrophage and activation by LPS and inflammatory cytokines including interferon-gamma. The other examined cells showed weaker responses to LPS and IL-1. Although cultured cells may have been transformed as compared with those in the tissue, these data indicate that AM is widely synthesized and secreted from most of the cells in the body and functions as a local factor regulating inflammation and related reactions in addition to as a potent vasodilator. The responses of AM secretion to LPS and inflammatory cytokines suggest that fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophage are the major sources of AM in the septic shock.

Adrenomedullin↗

C-type natriuretic peptide is synthesized and secreted from leukemia cell lines, peripheral blood cells, and peritoneal macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is the third member of the natriuretic peptide family. Cultured endothelial cells secrete CNP, and its secretion rate from the endothelial cells is augmented by lipopolysaccharide, interleukin-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which participate in the pathophysiology of inflammation. In this study, we investigated the regulation of CNP secretion from monocytes and macrophages to estimate its contribution to the progression of inflammation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CNP secretion rates from two human leukemia cell lines (THP-1 and HL-60), human peripheral blood lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, and mouse peritoneal macrophages were measured under conditions with or without stimulation. Immunoreactive CNP levels in the culture media of these cells were measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The secretion rates of CNP from THP-1 and HL-60 cells were augmented according to the degree of their differentiation into macrophage-like cells under the stimulation with phorbol ester. Peripheral blood monocytes also increased the CNP secretion rate after their differentiation into macrophages. Retinoic acid elicited synergistic effects on the CNP secretion rate from HL-60 cells when administered with lipopolysaccharide, interferon-gamma, interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or phorbol ester. In contrast, the phorbol ester-stimulated CNP secretion rate from THP-1 cells was suppressed with dexamethasone, which inhibits monocyte differentiation into macrophage. CONCLUSIONS: The secretion rate of CNP from monocytes was shown to be regulated based on the degree of their differentiation. This study provides evidence that the monocyte/macrophage system is one of the sources of CNP, especially under inflammatory conditions.

Animals↗

Peripheral lung adenocarcinoma: correlation of thin-section CT findings with histologic prognostic factors and survival.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic importance of thin-section computed tomographic (CT) findings of peripheral lung adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 127 patients with adenocarcinomas smaller than 3 cm in largest diameter who underwent at least a lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. The margin characteristics of nodules and the extent of ground-glass opacity (GGO) within the nodules at preoperative thin-section CT were analyzed retrospectively. Regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) and vessel invasion (VI) were histologically examined in surgical specimens. Survival curves were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The frequencies of LNM (4% [1 of 24]) and VI (13% [three of 24]) in adenocarcinomas with GGO components of more than 50% were significantly lower than those with GGO components of less than 10% (LNM, P <.05; VI, P <.01). The patients with GGO components of more than 50% showed a significantly better prognosis than those with GGO components less than 50% (P <.05). All 17 adenocarcinomas smaller than 2 cm with GGO components of more than 50% were free of LNM and VI, and all these patients are alive without recurrence. Coarse spiculation and thickening of bronchovascular bundles around the tumors were observed more frequently in tumors with LNM or VI than in those without LNM or VI (P <.01). CONCLUSION: Thin-section CT findings of peripheral lung adenocarcinomas correlate well with histologic prognostic factors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Interleukin-6 in the cerebrospinal fluid of two patients with herpes zoster meningitis].

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were measured in two immuno-competent children with herpes zoster meningitis, who had vesicles, fever, headache and vomiting before admission. The causative agent was identified as varicella zoster virus (VZV) by detecting an increased antibody index in the serum and specific DNA (by polymerase chain reaction) in the CSF. Both patients fully recovered after treatment with acyclovir. The CSF IL-6 levels were high (260.1 pg/ml, 106.1 pg/ml) at the acute stage and thereafter showed a rapid recovery. The serum IL-6 levels were normal. The increased IL-6 level in the CSF may reflect intrathecal inflammatory response following invasion of VZV into the central nervous system.

Adolescent↗

[Assessment of solitary hot spots of bone scintigraphy in patients with extraskeletal malignancies].

Bone scintigraphy is widely used to detect bone metastasis owing to its high sensitivity, but solitary focus of increased uptake often causes diagnostic problem because of its low specificity. The purpose of this study was to assess the significance of solitary hot spot detected in patients with extraskeletal malignancies. We reviewed 1,167 consecutive bone scintigraphies of patients with history of lung, breast or prostatic cancer. There was 185 bone scans showing solitary hot spot (lung; 121, breast; 36, prostate; 28). Of the solitary hot spots, 30 (24.8%) in lung cancer, 8 (22.2%) in breast cancer, and 4 (14.3%) in prostatic cancer were a result of metastatic disease. There was no significant difference in the frequency of bone metastasis according to the site of primary tumor. It was relatively higher in the location of pelvis, scapula and thoracic spine. Clinical symptoms, particularly local bone pain, were helpful to diagnose the solitary hot spot.

Aged↗

Hydatidiform mole coexistent with a twin live fetus: a national collaborative study in Japan.

A national collaborative study was conducted in Japan to evaluate the clinical course and the sequelae of patients with hydatidiform mole coexistent with twin live fetus (HMTF). Seventy-two cases of HMTF were diagnosed based on gross appearance and histopathological criteria. In 18 cases, the molar parts were cytogenetically confirmed to be of androgenetic origin (complete mole). The overall incidence of persistent trophoblastic tumour (PTT) in patients with HMTF was 30.6%, and it increased to 50.0% in the 18 patients with proven androgenetic complete mole coexistent with twin live fetus (CHMTF). Among these patients, the mean gestational age at termination of pregnancy or delivery in those who developed PTT (n = 9) and those who did not (n = 9) were 20.6 and 19.4 weeks respectively. The incidence of severe maternal complications was significantly higher in patients who subsequently developed PTT (P < 0.05). The rate of subsequent development of PTT in patients with CHMTF was found to be considerably higher than in a previous study of patients with single complete mole (50 and 12.5% respectively). However, since the risk of malignancy is unchanged with advancement of gestational age, continued pregnancy may be allowed in patients with HMTF provided that severe maternal complications are controlled and fetal karyotype and development are normal.

Abortion, Induced↗

Phase II study of irinotecan and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) and cisplatin are singly active against cervical cancer. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of CPT-11 plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. Twenty-nine chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer were treated with CPT-11 (60 mg/m(2)) on days 1, 8, and 15 by intravenous infusion over 90 min, followed by cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) i.v.) on day 1 over 90 min. The patients' median age was 57 years (range 35-75). Nineteen patients (66%) had advanced primary disease. Six patients with recurrent disease (21%) had been treated with prior radiotherapy. The remaining 4 patients (14%) had residual or recurrent disease after radical surgery. The histologic diagnoses were squamous cell carcinoma in 25 patients (87%), adenocarcinoma in 3, and adenosquamous cell carcinoma in 1. All eligible patients were included in the toxicity and response analysis based on the intent to treat. Two patients (7%) achieved a complete response and 15 (52%) a partial response (overall response rate: 59%, 95% confidence interval; 41-74%). Stable disease was recorded in 6 patients (21%) and progressive disease in 3 patients (10%). In 3 patients, image-guided evaluation of response was judged to be unfeasible at the time of independent extramural review (10%). The median time to response was 32 days (range 16-62 days). The median survival was 27. 7+ months (range, 6.4-52.8+ months). Two dose-limiting side effects were observed: grade 3 (28%) or 4 (45%) neutropenia and grade 3 (7%) or 4 (7%) diarrhea. Other severe toxicities included anemia (45%), thrombocytopenia (3%), nausea/vomiting (31%), and alopecia (7%). The combination of CPT-11 with cisplatin is an active regimen for treatment of advanced or recurrent cervical cancer albeit with a significant degree of myelosuppression.

Adult↗

Chromatic sensitive epilepsy: a variant of photosensitive epilepsy.

We herein report 4 Japanese children who suffered epileptic seizures while watching a popular animated TV program. They showed a photoparoxysmal response that is more frequently observed in response to rapid color (blue/red) frame changes than monochromatic ones. These patients were all considered to have photosensitive epilepsy; however, chromatic sensitivity also plays an important role in the generation of such seizures.

Adolescent↗

Visual evoked potentials in school children: a comparative study of transient and steady-state methods with pattern reversal and flash stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Flash visual evoked potentials (VEPs) are commonly used in pediatrics, because children are sometimes uncooperative. We performed a comparative study of transient and steady-state VEPs with pattern reversal (PR) and flash (light-emitting diode, LED) stimulation. METHODS: We recorded VEPs in 15 boys and 17 girls (aged 6-12 years) using 4 different stimulus conditions. The latency and amplitude of transient VEPs (T-VEPs) were measured. Steady-state VEPs (S-VEPs) were Fourier analyzed, and both the phase and amplitude of the major components were obtained. RESULTS: The mean P100 latency of LED T-VEPs was longer and had a greater variability than that of PR T-VEPs. The LED T-VEPs had an amplitude of about double that of PR T-VEPs. The first harmonic response in the LED and second harmonic in PR were the major components of S-VEPs. The phases of PR and LED S-VEPs had narrow angular dispersions and amplitudes showed marked intersubject variability. Sex and age had no significant effect on both T-VEPs and S-VEPs. CONCLUSIONS: Reproducible VEPs with 4 stimulus conditions can be obtained in school children. T-VEPs and S-VEPs are clinically useful because these methods provide complementary information.

Brain↗

Effects of exercise training on the heart rate variability and QT dispersion of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the autonomic tone of the heart, and QT dispersion reflects the regional inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of early exercise training on HRV and QT dispersion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Forty patients (mean age: 59 years) with AMI were randomized to training rehabilitation (group Tr, n=20) or conventional rehabilitation (group C, n=20). Two weeks after AMI, group Tr underwent 10 min of exercise using a bicycle ergometer (80% of anaerobic threshold) twice a day. At the end of the second and fourth weeks, 12-lead and 24-h Holter ECGs were recorded. QT intervals were measured and corrected using Bazett's formula (QTc), and QTc dispersion (QTcd) was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QTc. HRV was accessed by the high-frequency component (HF: 0.15-0.40 Hz) of the HRV power spectrum (parasympathetic activity) and the ratio of low frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz) to HF (L/H ratio: sympathetic activity). In group Tr, HF increased (82.5 to 131.1 ms2), the L/H ratio decreased (3.9 to 2.6), and QTcd decreased (77.2 to 57.2 ms). In group C, none of the indices changed. It was concluded that early exercise training improves sympathovagal balance and decreases QTcd, and may reduce the arrhythmogenic substrate following AMI.

Aged↗

Hepatocyte growth factor in human amniotic fluid promotes the migration of fetal small intestinal epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Previously we reported on the abundant existence of hepatocyte growth factor in amniotic fluid. This study was conducted to clarify the effects of hepatocyte growth factor in amniotic fluid on fetal intestinal epithelial cells. STUDY DESIGN: Amniotic fluid samples were obtained from 22 cases at various gestational ages. The effects of amniotic fluid and recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor on proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis of intestine 407 cells (a cell line derived from fetal intestinal epithelial cells) were investigated. RESULTS: The mobility of intestine 407 cells was stimulated by amniotic fluid in proportion to the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor in amniotic fluid with the same effect observed with recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor. This activity was neutralized by addition of antihuman hepatocyte growth factor antibody. Neither increased deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis nor morphogenesis in response to amniotic fluid was identified under the conditions used. CONCLUSION: Amniotic fluid stimulates intestinal epithelial cell migration by way of hepatocyte growth factor in amniotic fluid during development of the fetal intestine.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Inductions of immediate early genes (IEGS) and ref-1 by human chorionic gonadotropin in murine Leydig cell line (MA-10).

The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) including all members of fos and jun family, and c-myc was studied using mouse Leydig cell line (MA-10 cells) by Northern blot analyses. In addition, the induction of ref-1 which enhances DNA binding of fos/jun proteins was also analyzed. HCG induced a rapid and transient expression of c-fos, fosB, c-jun, junB, junD and c-myc with a peak at 30 min to 1 h. In contrast, induction of fra-1 mRNA was delayed with a peak at 3 hr. However, fra-2 mRNA was immediately increased by hCG with a peak at 1 h. The ref-1 mRNA was expressed before the stimulation and its level was not altered by hCG at least for 8 hr. The differential induction of IEGs and continuous expression of ref-1 mRNA suggest an important role of their gene products on the regulation of Leydig cell function by hCG.

Animals↗

Valproate therapy does not deplete carnitine levels in otherwise healthy children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether children with epilepsy undergoing valproate (VPA) antiepileptic therapy and who are otherwise healthy have a lower serum level of carnitine (CAR) and a higher plasma level of plasma ammonia than do normal children. METHODOLOGY: A total of 45 children with epilepsy, 6.3 to 21.7 years of age, who were treated solely with VPA and were free of abnormal neurologic findings or nutritional problems were randomly selected (VPA-treated group). An age-matched control group (n = 45) was selected from subjects without epilepsy (control group). Total (T) and free (F) serum CAR, serum VPA concentration, and the plasma ammonia level were measured and analyzed. RESULTS: Serum VPA concentration exhibited a weak negative correlation with both T- (r = -0.34) and F-CAR (r = -0.41). The T-CAR levels were 55.7 +/- 12.4 and 57.6 +/- 12.1 mM, and the F-CAR levels 42.7 +/- 9.9 and 44.4 +/- 9.9 mM in the VPA-treated and control groups, respectively. Thus, there was no significant difference in T- or F-CAR levels between the VPA-treated and control groups. Plasma ammonia levels were the same in the two groups: 26 +/- 9.2 and 29.4 +/- 11.8 mM in the VPA-treated and control groups, respectively. There was no significant correlation between blood ammonia and either T- (r = +0.024) or F-CAR (r = -0. 026). CONCLUSION: Children on a regular diet ingest a sufficient amount of CAR that more than meets their daily CAR requirement. The level of neither T- nor F-CAR in patients with epilepsy and without severe neurologic or nutritional problems being treated with VPA appeared to be affected by VPA therapy. Because the blood CAR level depends on nutritional condition rather than on blood VPA concentration, CAR deficiency caused by VPA is not likely to occur in this population. The usefulness of supplementation of CAR for this type of patient with epilepsy, therefore, must be reevaluated carefully.

Adolescent↗

[Assessment of autonomic nervous activity before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation].

Autonomic nervous activity is involved in the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but it is not clear how the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems interact before the onset of atrial fibrillation. Twelve lone atrial fibrillation patients and 10 healthy volunteers were studied using 24-hour Holter electrocardiography monitoring. A total of 17 episodes were analyzed. Autonomic nervous activity was assessed based on the high frequency power (HF) spectrum (HF represents parasympathetic nervous activity) and the ratio to the low frequency power (LF) spectrum (L/H represents sympathetic nervous activity) of heart rate variability during sinus rhythm, and the 24-hour averaged autonomic indices were compared between atrial fibrillation patients and healthy volunteers. Comparative data were obtained 30, 20, 10, and 2 min before the onset of atrial fibrillation for each episode. There were no significant differences in the HF and L/H ratio between the patients and healthy volunteers. There were no significant differences in the HF values before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, but the L/H ratio before the onset of atrial fibrillation at 30, 20 and 10 min was 1.03 +/- 0.42, 0.95 +/- 0.50, and 1.32 +/- 0.46, respectively, and just before the episode was 1.73 +/- 0.73, so the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.43. Basal autonomic nervous activity in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation showed no changes compared with healthy volunteers. Sympathetic nervous activity increased progressively from about 30 min before the onset of atrial fibrillation, but parasympathetic nervous activity showed no significant changes. Therefore, a transient augmentation of sympathetic tone may be important in the onset of atrial fibrillation.

Adult↗

[Early phase II trial of oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer. ETP 21 Study Group--Cervical-Ovarian Cancer Group].

We conducted multi-site early phase II trial or oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days in patients with cervical or ovarian cancer in cooperation with 19 institutes. Fifty mg/body of oral etoposide was administered daily for 21 consecutive days. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. In cervical cancer, 24 patients were enrolled and 17 of them were evaluated. The overall response rate including CR and PR was 23.5% (4/17). In ovarian cancer, 18 patients out of 21 enrolled were evaluated. The overall response rate was 16.7% (3/18). The primary toxicity observed was myelosuppression such as leukopenia, neutropenia, hemoglobin decrease and thrombocytopenia. Other adverse effects were anorexia, nausea, vomitting, fatigue, alopecia and stomatitis. From these results we concluded that oral etoposide administered for 21 consecutive days was effective against cervical cancer.

Administration, Oral↗

c-Ras is required for the activation of the matrix metalloproteinases by concanavalin A in 3Y1 cells.

Concanavalin A (Con A) is known to trigger augmented secretion and proteolytic activation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in fibroblasts. To study the signaling pathway critical for the activation of MMPs in fibroblasts, we examined the effects of dominant negative ras (S17N ras) expression under the control of conditionally inducible promoter in Con A-activated 3Y1 cells. We found that augmented secretion and proteolytic activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 together with expression of MT1-MMP in Con A-activated 3Y1 were dramatically suppressed by S17N ras expression. These results strongly suggest that c-Ras plays a critical role in the augmented expression and proteolytic activation of MMPs in fibroblasts.

Animals↗