Biomedical subjects

Yoshinosuke Fukuchi

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshinosuke Fukuchi.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

CD4+ T cells in lung tissue predict responsiveness to cyclosporin A in interstitial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: A limited number of case studies have demonstrated the steroid-sparing and disease stabilization effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) combined with corticosteroid in patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia (IP). Although CsA is known to inhibit the proliferation and function of CD4+ T cells, it is not clear what type of IP is responsive to CsA administration. METHODOLOGY: In order to evaluate whether any lymphocyte subsets in alveolar tissue predict the responsiveness to CsA, morphometric analysis was performed on lung tissue obtained from six IP patients who were treated with a combination of CsA and steroid because the therapeutic effect of steroid alone had been limited. RESULTS: Cell densities of CD4+ T cells were significantly decreased in the alveolar tissues obtained from CsA responders (n = 3) compared to non-responders (n = 3) (120 +/- 86/mm2 vs 503 +/- 172/mm2, P=0.0495). CD4/CD8 ratios of CsA responders were also significantly lower than those of non-responders (0.315 +/- 0.070 vs 1.975 +/- 0.965, P=0.0463). However, cell densities of CD8+ T cell and areas of B cells aggregates were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present observations, contrary to expectation, reveal that lower cell densities of CD4+ T cells and lower CD4/CD8 ratios are associated with responsiveness to CsA in combination therapy, suggesting that pharmacological actions other than suppression of CD4+ T cells explain the efficacy of CsA in patients with chronic IP.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Coadministration of an interleukin-12 gene and a Trypanosoma cruzi gene improves vaccine efficacy.

We tested the immunogenicity of two Trypanosoma cruzi antigens injected into mice in the form of DNA vaccine. Immunization with DNA encoding dihydroorotate dehydrogenase did not confer protective immunity in all mouse strains tested. Immunization with DNA encoding trans-sialidase surface antigen (TSSA) protected C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice but not BALB/c (H-2(d)) or C3H/Hej (H-2(k)) mice against lethal T. cruzi infection. In vivo depletion of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells abolished the protective immunity elicited by TSSA gene in C57BL/6 mice. Enzyme-linked immunospot assay with splenocytes from T. cruzi-infected mice or TSSA gene-vaccinated mice identified an H-2K(b)-restricted antigenic peptide, ANYNFTLV. The CD8(+)-T-cell line specific for this peptide could recognize T. cruzi-infected cells in vitro and could protect naive mice from lethal infection when adoptively transferred. Coadministration of the interleukin-12 (IL-12) gene with the TSSA gene facilitated the induction of ANYNFTLV-specific CD8(+) T cells and improved the vaccine efficacy against lethal T. cruzi infection. These results reinforced the utility of immunomodulatory adjuvants such as IL-12 gene for eliciting protective immunity against intracellular parasites by DNA vaccination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia following ingestion of liquid paraffin.

An asymptomatic patient with exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) due to silent aspiration of liquid paraffin ingested as a lubricant was diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). BAL fluid separated into oily upper phase and lower aqueous phase spontaneously. Microscopic analysis of BAL cells revealed the presence of lipid-laden alveolar macrophages. Classic histochemical staining and electron microscope examination indicated that neutral lipid was dominant but phospholipid was also present in the lipid-laden macrophages. Together with the history of ingestion of liquid paraffin, we identified that the ingested liquid paraffin was the origin of the neutral lipid in the lipid-laden macrophages observed in the BAL fluid.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Questionnaire on the attitude of the physicians in educating the elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease about smoking cessation].

Smoking status, the extent of recognition of the relationship between smoking and COPD, and actual nature of education for smoking cessation by physicians have not yet been fully elucidated. To investigate perceptions about education for smoking cessation in the elderly by physicians who work in the clinic, questionnaires were sent to the 1,012 physicians who belong to the Yokohama City Medical Association. Of these, 311 respond and their data (31%) were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included questions on the importance of smoking cessation in the elderly, on the perception about the relationship between smoking and various diseases, and actual education for smoking cessation. The smoking status of the physicians themselves was also investigated. The distribution of current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers among the physicians was 13%, 33%, and 54%, respectively. Seventy-five percent of ex-smokers answered that their experience of smoking cessation influenced their patient education for smoking cessation, and 39% of smokers answered that their smoking status did not influence it. Only 53% of the physicians replied that they actually performed education for smoking cessation to the elderly, and 8% of them replied that they hardly perform any or do not perform it. Smoking cessation is thought to be the only way to prevent the development of COPD. However, only a half of physicians recognized the importance of smoking cessation for the treatment and control of COPD in the elderly. In addition, less than one third of physicians perform nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Enlightenment for physicians should be needed to make them perform education for smoking cessation more aggressively.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the elderly: analysis from questionnaire about attitudes to the COPD guideline of the Japanese Respiratory Society and actual therapy for COPD used by physicians].

We have conducted a survey of attitudes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the elderly, a survey of attitudes to the COPD guideline prepared by the Japanese Respiratory Society, and a survey of the therapies actually used for this disease among physicians belonging to the Yokohama Medical Association. The results showed that most respondents thought that physicians, mainly except for respiratory physicians, miss the COPD patients because of failure to recognize COPD. The spread of the COPD guideline among physicians and the amount of therapy conducted according to this guideline were also insufficient. However, most physicians who know this guideline have used it well, and have also appreciated the contents. Thus, the results of our surveys suggested that this COPD guideline, with its step-by-step pharmacologic therapy, should be more widely disseminated, mainly among clinics and physicians that are not respiratory specialists. This would enable them to follow the guideline and improve their treatment of COPD. In addition, it was also supposed that the comprehensive respiratory rehabilitation should be more executed in the hospitals.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

[Role of biochemical markers in sarcoidosis].

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that affects various organs. However, its pathogenesis has not yet been fully understood. Biochemical markers in sarcoidosis appears to be closely related to the immunological events and the activity of inflammatory effector cells at sites of granuloma. These markers, therefore, have been expected to reflect the disease activity and/or to predict prognosis. Although some markers are helpful tools as diagnostic aids and disease activity markers, no single marker allows definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis or may accurately predict the disease prognosis. Among numerous biochemical markers reported previously, only angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) serum level has gained a proven value in the clinical field. Further studies are required to identify more useful biochemical markers, which allow definitive diagnosis or predict the disease activity and prognosis in sarcoidosis.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2002

[A case of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma coexisting with pulmonary actinomycosis].

A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of cough. Chest radiography revealed a mass opacity in the right upper lung field. A transbronchial biopsy specimen revealed non-specific inflammatory changes. Percutaneous lung aspiration biopsy under ultrasound guidance demonstrated gram-positive rods, suggesting actinomyces. On the diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycosis, the patient was treated with penicillin-G and his symptoms were relieved. In a three-month follow-up, the mass shadow in the right upper lung field was found to have increased in size. Squamous cell lung cancer was diagnosed on the basis of repeated transbronchial tumor biopsies, and right upper lobectomy was performed. Most cases of pulmonary actinomycosis have been diagnosed from post-surgical tumor specimens taken on suspicion of the presence of lung cancer. However, the lung cancer in this case was difficult to diagnose because the lung cancer was co-existent with pulmonary actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serum tenascin-C as a potential predictive marker of angiogenesis in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tenascin (Tn)-C is an extracellular matrix protein that is involved in tissue interactions during fetal development and oncogenesis. However, the role of serum Tn-C in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been clarified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we determined the serum levels of Tn-C among NSCLC patients who underwent surgery, as well as other factors implicated for angiogenesis, to address the clinical implications in NSCLC. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The median concentration of serum Tn-C in NSCLC patients was slightly higher than that of normal controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. There was a positive correlation between serum Tn-C levels and microvessel density (MVD), serum osteopontin (OPN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In contrast, there was no correlation between serum Tn-C levels and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and sialyl lewis-X (SLX) levels. The overall survival of patients with low Tn-C levels (<96 ng/ml) was significantly greater than that of patients with high Tn-C levels (> or =96 ng/ml). Intratumoral Tn-C expression was co-localized with expression of microvessels in the stroma of the cancer cells by immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, enhanced in vitro migration of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was induced by recombinant Tn-C. Collectively, Tn-C may play an important role in angiogenesis of patients with NSCLC, and the determination of serum Tn-C may be useful in predicting intratumoral vasculature and patients' prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗