31 results on '"Asakura, H."'
Search Results
2. EXPRESSION OF CYCLOOXYGENASE‐2 PROTEIN IN SERRATED ADENOMAS OF THE LARGE INTESTINE
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Takeuchi, M, primary, Kobayashi, M, additional, Suzuki, Y, additional, Honma, T, additional, Azumaya, M, additional, Shioji, K, additional, Narisawa, R, additional, Hayashi, S, additional, Ajioka, Y, additional, and Asakura, H, additional
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- 2001
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3. Nutritional support through percutaneous transhepatic internal drainage route in common bile duct cancer
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SUDA, T., primary, OZAWA, T., additional, AOYAGI, Y., additional, MORI, S., additional, WATANABE, M., additional, TSUKADA, Y., additional, KAMIMURA, T., additional, and ASAKURA, H., additional
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- 1994
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4. Is there a link between food and intestinal microbes and the occurrence of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
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Asakura H, Suzuki K, Kitahora T, and Morizane T
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- Animals, Colitis, Ulcerative ethnology, Colitis, Ulcerative microbiology, Crohn Disease ethnology, Crohn Disease microbiology, Dairy Products adverse effects, Dietary Carbohydrates adverse effects, Dietary Fats adverse effects, Europe epidemiology, Humans, Incidence, Japan epidemiology, Life Style, Meat adverse effects, Metabolic Syndrome complications, Odds Ratio, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Smoking adverse effects, Time Factors, United States epidemiology, Colitis, Ulcerative etiology, Crohn Disease etiology, Diet adverse effects, Intestines microbiology
- Abstract
The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is not fully understood. The interaction between intestinal environmental factors of food and intestinal microbes and the immunological system of hosts seems to be an important aspect. We have reviewed the relationship of the daily consumption of dietary animal meat and fats, dairy products, sugar, and other factors that may be linked to the occurrence of CD and UC from the literature and Japanese epidemiological data. In the present study, we reviewed the association between food and intestinal microbes and other factors contributing to the occurence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from epidemiological data and case-control studies of IBD in the literature that appeared on Medline, and assessed the reports of intestinal microbes involved in the occurrence of IBD. We found several papers describing the positive association of animal meat and sweets and sugar with the occurrence of CD and UC. An analysis of Japanese epidemiological data suggested that the registered number of patients with CD or UC started to increase more than 20 years after an increased daily consumption of dietary animal meat and fats, and milk and dairy products, and after a decreased consumption of rice. Many studies implied a positive role of intestinal microbes in the occurrence of IBD. Intestinal environmental factors, such as Westernized food and intestinal microbes, seem to be involved in the increased occurrence of IBD.
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- 2008
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5. Hepatic natural killer and natural killer T cells markedly decreased in two cases of drug-induced fulminant hepatic failure rescued by living donor liver transplantation.
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Miyakawa R, Ichida T, Yamagiwa S, Miyaji C, Watanabe H, Sato Y, Yokoyama H, Tsukada C, Ishimoto Y, Sugahara S, Yang XH, Abo T, and Asakura H
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- Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents poisoning, Cefmenoxime analogs & derivatives, Cefmenoxime poisoning, Clarithromycin poisoning, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Killer Cells, Natural immunology, Killer Cells, Natural metabolism, Liver drug effects, Liver metabolism, Liver Failure, Acute chemically induced, Liver Failure, Acute surgery, Male, Middle Aged, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell metabolism, Receptors, Immunologic metabolism, Receptors, KIR, T-Lymphocytes immunology, T-Lymphocytes metabolism, Killer Cells, Natural pathology, Liver pathology, Liver Failure, Acute pathology, Liver Transplantation, Living Donors, T-Lymphocytes pathology
- Abstract
The human liver contains significant numbers of innate immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells, which express both T-cell receptors and NK-cell receptors simultaneously. It has been suggested that the innate immune system plays a crucial role in the liver. In this report, the distribution of NK and NKT cells in the liver and peripheral blood of two patients with drug-induced fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) who had undergone living donor liver transplantation was examined. In both the liver and peripheral blood, the proportions of NK and NKT cells markedly decreased compared with those in healthy donors. It was also revealed that, unlike murine NKT cells, human CD56(+) T cells and CD57(+) T cells did not constitutively express CD28, which is one of the important costimulatory molecules on T cells. Additionally, the residual CD56(+) T cells and CD57(+) T cells in the patients expressed more CD28 than in controls. This result suggests that NKT cells might be more activated in FHF. Although the accumulation of further cases is required, it is suggested that both NK and NKT cells might be involved in hepatic injury in FHF.
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- 2005
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6. Complete disappearance of pulmonary metastases in a case of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy.
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Ishikawa T, Ichida T, Yokoyama J, Matsuda Y, Watanabe T, and Asakura H
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- Docetaxel, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Remission Induction, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic therapeutic use, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular drug therapy, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular secondary, Liver Neoplasms pathology, Lung Neoplasms drug therapy, Lung Neoplasms secondary, Taxoids therapeutic use
- Abstract
A case of the complete shrinkage of pulmonary metastases from multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) after administration of docetaxel, cisplatin and enteric-coated tegafur/uracil is reported. A 54-year-old Japanese man was diagnosed with recurrent multiple HCC associated with pulmonary metastases and compensated liver cirrhosis. Docetaxel, cisplatin and enteric-coated tegafur/uracil were given to this patient. After 2 months of treatment, there was a decrease in tumor markers and a shrinkage of the pulmonary metastases. Image analyses such as chest X-rays and chest computed tomography scans showed a disappearance of the pulmonary metastases, although the multiple HCC did not disappear completely. This was evaluated as a complete remission of metastatic lesions or a partial remission of primary lesions according to the World Health Organization criteria. No recurrence of pulmonary metastasis was seen for 10 months. This combination therapy was well-tolerated for lung cancer and could represent an effective treatment for pulmonary metastases from HCC.
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- 2004
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7. Gross appearance of hepatocellular carcinoma reflects E-cadherin expression and risk of early recurrence after surgical treatment.
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Inayoshi J, Ichida T, Sugitani S, Tsuboi Y, Genda T, Honma N, and Asakura H
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- Aged, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular classification, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular diagnosis, Cytoskeletal Proteins biosynthesis, Disease-Free Survival, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hepatocytes metabolism, Hepatocytes pathology, Humans, Immunoblotting, Immunohistochemistry, Japan, Liver Neoplasms classification, Liver Neoplasms diagnosis, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Weight, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local mortality, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local pathology, Neoplasm Staging, Prognosis, Risk Factors, Statistics as Topic, Time Factors, Trans-Activators biosynthesis, alpha Catenin, beta Catenin, Biomarkers, Tumor biosynthesis, Cadherins biosynthesis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular metabolism, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular surgery, Digestive System Surgical Procedures, Liver Neoplasms metabolism, Liver Neoplasms surgery, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local classification, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local metabolism
- Abstract
Background and Aims: Correlation between the gross classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its vascular invasion or intrahepatic metastasis has been reported previously. Because E-cadherin-mediated epithelial cell-to-cell adhesion is thought to suppress cancer cell invasion, the present study was performed to analyze the correlation between E-cadherin expression and the gross classification of HCC., Methods: Thirty-six resected solitary HCC <6 cm in diameter were each classified as single nodular type (type 1), single nodular with extranodular growth type (type 2) or contiguous multinodular type (type 3), and the clinicopathological and prognostic differences between type 1 HCC and the other types were analyzed. The expression of E-cadherin in each tumor was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical analysis., Results: Vascular invasion and microscopic intrahepatic metastasis were observed more frequently in types 2 and 3 (61%) than in type 1 (13%) HCC. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the relative level of E-cadherin expression in cancerous tissue was significantly lower in type 2 and 3 (0.75 +/- 0.49) than in type 1 (1.46 +/- 0.79) HCC. Immunohistochemical examination revealed decreased and partially absent E-cadherin expression in the tumorous area of type 2 and 3 HCC. The recurrence-free survival rate was higher for patients with type 1 HCC than for those with the other types., Conclusions: Types 2 and 3 HCC have marked metastatic and invasive potential and reduced expression of E-cadherin, predicting a high risk of recurrence after surgical treatment.
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- 2003
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8. Systemic administration of liposome-encapsulated OK-432 prolongs the survival of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma through the induction of IFN-gamma-producing hepatic lymphocytes.
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Uehara K, Ichida T, Sugahara S, Ishikawa T, Yamagiwa S, Yoshida Y, Nomoto M, Katoh M, Satoh H, Watanabe H, Abo T, and Asakura H
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- Animals, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular mortality, Disease Models, Animal, Interferon-gamma metabolism, Killer Cells, Natural drug effects, Killer Cells, Natural immunology, Liver immunology, Liver pathology, Liver Neoplasms, Experimental mortality, Lymphocyte Subsets drug effects, Lymphocyte Subsets immunology, Male, Picibanil therapeutic use, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Survival Analysis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular drug therapy, Interferon-gamma drug effects, Liver drug effects, Liver Neoplasms, Experimental drug therapy, Picibanil pharmacology
- Abstract
Background: OK-432 is known to increase the host antitumor response. We previously reported that systemic administration of OK-432 (OK-Lipo) specifically induced hepatic lymphocytes in mice. Here we aimed to investigate the antitumor effect of OK-Lipo on hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in experimental rats., Methods: Diethylnitrosamine was administered for 12 weeks to all rats (n = 36). Rats were divided into three groups of 12 rats each. One group was injected with OK-Lipo from week 5 (OK-5w group) and another from week 9 (OK-9w group). A control group was injected with saline from week 5 (Non-OK group). At week 13, five rats from each group were used for histological analysis and immunofluorescence assays (surface phenotypic and intracellular cytokine analysis of the mononuclear cells in the liver, spleen and peripheral blood). The remaining rats were observed for the remainder of their survival period., Results: The mean survival times of Non-OK, OK-5w, and OK-9w groups differed significantly (98.0 +/- 5.3 days, 116.0 +/- 5.8 days, and 106.0 +/- 5.4 days, respectively, P < 0.01). Histological examination revealed many apoptotic tumor cells, infiltration of lymphocytes and macrophages in the OK-5w group. The two-color immunofluorescence assay showed that the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells and IFN-gamma-producing cells in the liver were significantly higher in the OK-5w group., Conclusions: These findings showed that systemic administration of OK-Lipo contributed to prolonging the survival of rats with HCC. OK-Lipo induced NK cells and IFN-gamma-producing cells specifically in the liver and these cells seemed to reduce hepatocarcinogenesis and tumor growth.
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- 2002
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9. A female with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis associated with pernicious anemia.
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Takahashi T, Honma T, Ishizuka K, Fuse I, and Asakura H
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- Anemia, Pernicious drug therapy, Anemia, Pernicious immunology, Autoantibodies analysis, Biopsy methods, Cholagogues and Choleretics therapeutic use, Female, Gastritis, Atrophic complications, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary drug therapy, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary immunology, Middle Aged, Transaminases blood, Ursodeoxycholic Acid therapeutic use, Vitamin B 12 therapeutic use, Vitamin B Complex therapeutic use, Anemia, Pernicious etiology, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary complications
- Abstract
We experienced a female case with asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis that was associated with pernicious anemia after 16 years from the onset. She was 52 years old when she first visited a clinic in 1981 for liver dysfunction treatment. Antimitochondrial antibody was negative and antipyruvate dehydrogenase complex antibody was positive in a low titer in its immunoglobulin (Ig)M type. Histological examination of her liver revealed a presence of definite chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis with numerous epithelioid cell granuloma. She had been given 600 mg of the oral daily dose of ursodeoxycholic acid since 1992. Macrocytic anemia incidiously appeared in September 1999. An immunological examination detected negative antiparietal cell antibodies and positive anti-intrinsic factor antibodies. Her bone marrow smear showed numerous megaloblasts and serum vitamin B12 in her blood was low at 99 pg/mL. Severe reversed atrophic-type gastritis (type A gastritis) was demonstrated by the use of dye-endoscopy with Congo red. Her macrocytic anemia dramatically improved after intramuscular administration of vitamin B12. In conclusion, attention should be given to the association of pernicious anemia during the follow up of primary biliary cirrhosis.
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- 2001
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10. High viral loads, serum alanine aminotransferase and gender are predictive factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma from viral compensated liver cirrhosis.
- Author
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Ishikawa T, Ichida T, Yamagiwa S, Sugahara S, Uehara K, Okoshi S, and Asakura H
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- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular blood, Female, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis blood, Liver Neoplasms blood, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Alanine Transaminase blood, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular etiology, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular virology, Liver Cirrhosis complications, Liver Cirrhosis virology, Liver Neoplasms etiology, Liver Neoplasms virology, Viral Load
- Abstract
Background and Aims: The aims of the present study were to determine the occurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to assess the risk factors for the development of HCC in compensated viral liver cirrhosis., Methods: Two hundred and thirty-nine cirrhotic patients (65 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive, 165 hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive (anti-HCV), and nine with both HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity) were studied. The Kaplan-Meier method evaluated by a log-rank test was used to estimate the cumulative probability of HCC development. Independent predictors of HCC development were estimated by using the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis., Results: Dual infection manifested as HBsAg and anti-HCV positive was the highest risk of HCC. Multivariate analysis indicated that anti-HCV positive, HBsAg positive, and lactate dehydrogenase were independent predictors of the development of HCC among individuals with viral cirrhosis. In the HBsAg-positive group, a high-titer of HBV-DNA (more than 3.7 log genome equivalents (LGE)/mL) was most predictive of HCC development. In the anti-HCV-positive group, male gender and a high-titer of HCV-RNA (more than 1.0 Meq/mL) were predictive factors for the development of HCC., Conclusions: Individuals with high viral loads should be monitored for the development of HCC. Clinical efforts at eradicating or reducing the viral load may reduce the risk for HCC.
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- 2001
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11. N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase V as a possible aid for the evaluation of tumor invasiveness in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Yanagi M, Aoyagi Y, Suda T, Mita Y, and Asakura H
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- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular chemistry, Female, Humans, Liver Neoplasms chemistry, Male, Middle Aged, N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases genetics, Neoplasm Invasiveness, RNA, Messenger analysis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular enzymology, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular pathology, Liver Neoplasms enzymology, Liver Neoplasms pathology, N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases metabolism
- Abstract
Background: A close relationship has been shown to exist between the metastatic potential and beta1-6 branched oligosaccharides in human and rodent cells. N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V) catalyzes this process. Although this phenomenon has been reported, little is known about the clinical usefulness of the determination of GnT-V in the evaluations of tumor invasiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we measured the GnT-V activity in serum of patients with HCC, together with its activity and gene expression in HCC tissues, and elucidated the clinical usefulness of the GnT-V level in evaluating tumor invasiveness., Methods: Seventy-three serum samples from 38 patients with HCC, 11 with chronic hepatitis, eight with hepatic cirrhosis and 16 healthy controls were used. Twenty-one liver tissues were obtained by surgical resection from 17 patients with HCC, three with colorectal cancers and one with gallbladder cancer metastatic to the liver. The GnT-V activity was determined by using high performance liquid chromatography. The GnT-V mRNA was quantified by using competitive RT-PCR., Results: There were statistically significant correlations between GnT-V activity in sera of HCC, and GnT-V activity and GnT-V mRNA expression in tumor tissue. The mean GnT-V activity in the sera of patients with HCC increased in accordance with the degree of tumor invasion. The HCC group with intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastases showed the highest serum GnT-V-value., Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that there was a close association between tumor invasiveness and GnT-V activity in sera, and that the measurement of GnT-V may improve prognostic estimates and therapeutic outcomes for patients with HCC.
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- 2001
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12. Efficacy of treatment with chimeric monoclonal antibody (Infliximab) to tumor necrosis factor-alpha for Crohn's disease in Japan: evaluation by rapid turnover proteins, and radiologic and endoscopic findings.
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Asakura H, Yao T, Matsui T, Koganei K, Fukushima T, Takazoe M, Hobara R, Nakano H, Okamura S, Matsueda K, Kashida H, Makiyama K, Hiwatashi N, Kashiwagi K, and Hibi T
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- Adult, Antibodies, Monoclonal administration & dosage, C-Reactive Protein analysis, Crohn Disease diagnostic imaging, Crohn Disease pathology, Female, Gastrointestinal Agents administration & dosage, Humans, Infliximab, Japan, Male, Middle Aged, Radiography, Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use, Crohn Disease drug therapy, Gastrointestinal Agents therapeutic use, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha immunology
- Abstract
Background: Several studies have reported that the chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (Infliximab) is extremely valuable in the treatment of Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of this treatment in Japanese patients with Crohn's disease., Methods: A 12-week multicenter, open trial of Infliximab was carried out and involved 25 patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who were resistant to conventional treatment. Patients received a single 2-h intravenous infusion of Infliximab at a dose of 1, 3, 5 or 10 mg/kg bodyweight. Clinical evaluation of this treatment response was defined as a reduction in the index of the inflammatory bowel disease (IOIBD) and of the Crohn's disease activity index scores (CDAI), and in serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks, and as an increase in serum levels of rapid turnover proteins as well as improvement of radiologic and endoscopic findings at 4 weeks., Results: The IOIBD score was reduced after 4 weeks in 66.7% of the group receiving 1 mg/kg Infliximab, 71.4% in the group receiving 3 mg/kg, 80.0% in the group receiving 5 mg/kg, and 85.7% in the group receiving 10 mg/kg. Improvement was better maintained over 12 weeks in the 5 and 10 mg/kg groups compared with the 1 and 3 mg/kg groups. Similar results were obtained for the CDAI scores. Serum levels of rapid turnover proteins significantly increased to within the normal ranges after infusion in all groups. Seven of the 11 (63.6%) patients evaluated showed improvement of radiologic and endoscopic findings., Conclusions: A single infusion of Infliximab was effective for the treatment of Japanese patients with Crohn's disease. Serum rapid turnover proteins reflected the clinical response to antibody for TNF-alpha well.
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- 2001
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13. Improved survival with oral administration of enteric-coated tegafur/uracil for advanced stage IV-A hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Ishikawa T, Ichida T, Sugitani S, Tsuboi Y, Genda T, Sugahara S, Uehara K, Inayoshi J, Yokoyama J, Ishimoto Y, and Asakura H
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- Administration, Oral, Aged, Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic adverse effects, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular mortality, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular pathology, Drug Combinations, Female, Humans, Liver Neoplasms mortality, Liver Neoplasms pathology, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Staging, Prospective Studies, Survival Analysis, Tablets, Enteric-Coated, Tegafur adverse effects, Uracil adverse effects, Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic therapeutic use, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular drug therapy, Liver Neoplasms drug therapy, Tegafur therapeutic use, Uracil therapeutic use
- Abstract
Background and Aims: There is currently no proven chemotherapy regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The principal chemotherapeutic approach in most cases is infusion therapy into the hepatic arteries feeding the tumors. However, the clinical effects of chemotherapy are extremely poor. Therefore, in the present study, we conducted a prospective randomized trial of the efficacy of oral administration of enteric-coated tegafur/uracil for advanced HCC., Methods: From 1994 to 1999, a total of 56 consecutive patients with unresectable stage IV-A HCC were studied prospectively to examine the efficacy of enteric-coated tegafur/uracil in HCC and to determine the significant prognostic factors. Twenty-eight patients were treated only with enteric-coated tegafur/uracil without other anticancer treatment. Another 20 patients were given conservative management only. The remaining eight patients withdrew from the study., Results: In the group treated only with enteric-coated tegafur/uracil, the median survival time and 1 and 2 year survival rates were 12.13 months and 55.3 and 36.9%, respectively. In the control group, the median survival time and 1 year survival rate were 6.20 months and 5.5%, respectively. By both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model, treatment with enteric-coated tegafur/uracil was shown to be the factor most significantly favoring a better prognosis., Conclusions: Although the prognosis of most patients with stage IV-A HCC is poor, administration of enteric-coated tegafur/uracil induces long-term survival and is an effective treatment for stage IV-A HCC.
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- 2001
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14. Difference in quasispecies of the hypervariable region 1 of hepatitis C virus between alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients.
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Takahashi K, Takahashi T, Takahashi S, Watanabe K, Boku S, Matsui S, Arai F, and Asakura H
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- Aged, Amino Acid Sequence genetics, Chronic Disease, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational, Reference Values, Alcoholism complications, Alcoholism genetics, Hepacivirus genetics, Hepatitis C complications, Immunoglobulin Variable Region, Liver Diseases genetics, Liver Diseases virology
- Abstract
Background: Habitual alcohol intake is known to aggravate the clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver diseases and to increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma., Methods: To investigate the possible mechanism of these effects by alcohol, we examined 31 cases of HCV-related chronic liver diseases of which 17 cases were drinking just before admission and the remaining 14 cases were non-drinkers. The studied cases included 18 patients with chronic hepatitis, six with liver cirrhosis and seven with hepatocellular carcinoma. The quasispecies of the hypervariable region 1 of the HCV genome were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). Hepatitis C virus viral load was quantitated by using multicyclic PCR after reverse transcription of the 5' non-coding region of the genome., Results: The mean PCR-SSCP band number that reflected the quasispecies complexity in hypervariable region 1 was more significantly increased in alcoholics than in non-alcoholics (5.5 +/- 1.4 vs 3.9 +/- 1.1, P< 0.01). The significant increase in alcoholics remained, even if the cases were restricted to males (P < 0.01), to HCV genotype 1b (P < 0.05) or to chronic hepatitis (P < 0.05). The HCV viral load was not statistically different between alcoholic and non-alcoholic HCV-related chronic liver diseases (5.02 x 10(6) +/- 5.16 x 10(6) copies/mL vs 9.00 x 10(7) +/- 2.75 x 10(8) copies/mL, P = 0.28). Mutation events seemed to occur randomly when amino acid sequences of hypervariable region 1 were compared between four drinkers and four non-drinkers., Conclusions: The enhanced quasispecies complexity in hypervariable region 1 of HCV in alcoholics may be the main cause of more progressive HCV-related chronic liver diseases, and may provide the disease the resistance against any therapeutic modalities including interferon.
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- 2001
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15. Clinical features and etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma arising in patients with membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava: in reference to hepatitis viral infection.
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Matsui S, Ichida T, Watanabe M, Sugitani S, Suda T, Takahashi T, and Asakura H
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- Adult, Aged, Biomarkers, Biomarkers, Tumor, Blotting, Southern, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular diagnosis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular pathology, DNA, Viral analysis, Female, Flaviviridae genetics, Flaviviridae immunology, Hepacivirus genetics, Hepatitis B Antibodies analysis, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens analysis, Hepatitis B virus genetics, Hepatitis C Antibodies analysis, Hepatitis, Viral, Human diagnosis, Hepatitis, Viral, Human immunology, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Liver pathology, Liver Neoplasms diagnosis, Liver Neoplasms pathology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Protein Precursors blood, Prothrombin metabolism, RNA, Viral analysis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, alpha-Fetoproteins analysis, Budd-Chiari Syndrome complications, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular etiology, Hepatitis, Viral, Human complications, Liver Neoplasms etiology, Vena Cava, Inferior, Venous Thrombosis complications
- Abstract
Background and Aims: Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) comprises hepatic vein thrombosis and inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction known as membranous obstruction of the IVC (MOVC). The latter is frequently complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The etiology of MOVC-associated HCC in relation to hepatitis viral infection is not known. In this study, we investigated the clinical features and etiology of HCC in MOVC., Methods: Membranous obstruction of IVC and HCC were diagnosed and studied by using imaging techniques. Sera from patients with MOVC, complicated by HCC, were examined for hepatitis viral antigens and antibodies (hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and third generation antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)) and for hepatitis viral nucleic acids (hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA, hepatitis G virus (HGV)-RNA and TT virus DNA)., Results: We studied 12 patients with BCS who were seen between April 1968 and February 1999. All of them had MOVC. Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in three (25%) of them. There were no obvious differences in the clinical features and imaging findings concerning MOVC between patients with and without HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma in these three patients showed no clear trend in clinical features and imaging findings. Of the hepatitis viral markers examined, HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBV-DNA were positive in only one of three patients with HCC and all of the viral markers were negative in the other two patients., Conclusions: Chronic congestion in the liver, caused by an outflow block of hepatic veins and subsequent histopathologic change, must have led to HCC in two patients without any hepatitis viral markers. Patients with MOVC should be followed closely as a high-risk group for HCC.
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- 2000
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16. Detection of intracellular interleukin-2 production in peripheral T lymphocytes by flow cytometry in patients with pancreatobiliary malignancies.
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Uchida M, Ichida T, Sato K, Yonekura K, Yamagiwa S, Sugahara S, and Asakura H
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- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Cells, Cultured immunology, Cholelithiasis immunology, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Interferon-gamma blood, Interleukin-4 blood, Male, Middle Aged, Bile Duct Neoplasms immunology, Gallbladder Neoplasms immunology, Interleukin-2 blood, Pancreatic Neoplasms immunology, T-Lymphocytes immunology
- Abstract
Background and Aims: To date, it has been reported that cellular immunity is decreased in patients with cancer and investigations into cytokine production has been insufficient. Therefore, we examined intracellular cytokine production by using flow cytometry in patients with cancer and discussed the reasons for the impairment of their immune system., Methods: Eleven patients with hepatobiliary malignancies (68.5+/-11.8 years of age), eight age-matched controls (70.0+/-12.0 years of age) and 10 young volunteers (31.9+/-3.1 years of age) were used in the present study. Stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these patients were stained with fluorescence-labeled anticytokine monoclonal antibodies and analyzed with a Fluorescence activated cell sorter (FAC)Scan., Results: The percentage of positively stained T cells was calculated and compared with controls. Repeated measured ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. Interleukin (IL)-2 production was significantly decreased in patients with cancer compared to controls (P=0.0122), and it may suggest decreased cellular immune activity of the patients. Simultaneously, spontaneous intracellular IL-4 production was observed in patients and age-matched controls, but levels were significantly increased when compared with the young volunteers (P=0.0052, P=0.031, respectively)., Conclusions: It was of interest that spontaneous intracellular IL-4 production was detected in elderly subjects.
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- 2000
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17. Elevation of TFF1 gene expression during healing of gastric ulcer at non-ulcerated sites in the stomach: semiquantification using the single tube method of polymerase chain reaction.
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Saitoh T, Mochizuki T, Suda T, Aoyagi Y, Tsukada Y, Narisawa R, and Asakura H
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- Actins metabolism, Adult, Aged, Blotting, Southern, Female, Gastric Mucosa metabolism, Gastritis microbiology, Gastritis pathology, Growth Substances metabolism, Helicobacter pylori isolation & purification, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Male, Middle Aged, Proteins metabolism, RNA, Messenger analysis, Stomach Ulcer metabolism, Stomach Ulcer microbiology, Stomach Ulcer pathology, Trefoil Factor-1, Tumor Suppressor Proteins, Gene Expression, Growth Substances genetics, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Proteins genetics, Stomach Ulcer genetics, Wound Healing
- Abstract
Background: The Trefoil factor family 1 (TFF1), one of the trefoil peptides, has been considered to play protective and reparative roles of experimentally induced ulcers in the stomach. However, the alteration of the TFF1 mRNA in the non-ulcerated areas of living human gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer is not well known. We examined TFF1 gene expression at non-ulcerated sites during the healing of a gastric ulcer by semiquantitative determination of the TFF1 mRNA., Methods: Gastric mucosal biopsy specimens were taken before and after the healing of the gastric ulcer from seven consecutive patients and from seven patients diagnosed with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD). The relative value of TFF1 mRNA (RTFF1) was calculated by the single tube method of polymerase chain reaction (ST-PCR) and Southern hybridization. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies was performed to confirm the presence of the TFF1 peptide. The status of Helicobacter pylori and the severity of gastritis were investigated simultaneously., Results: The mean relative values of TFF1 mRNA at both the gastric angle (RTFF1AS) and the gastric body (RTFF1BS) of patients with gastric ulcers at the healed stage were significantly higher than those at the open stage (P< 0.05). The mean RTFF1AS at both the open and healed stages were lower than those of RTFF1BS at the open and healed stages, respectively, The mean RTFF1B at the open stage was lower than that in NUD (not significant), but the mean of RTFF1B at the healed stage was significantly higher than that in NUD. The RTFF1AS and RTFF1BS of all patients did not correlate with H. pylori status nor with the severity of gastritis. The induction of TFF1 mRNA at the non-ulcerated background sites seemed not to be related to the status of H. pylori or to the severity of gastritis., Conclusions: These results suggest that the increased levels TFF1 mRNA during the healing of gastric ulcers might be closely related to the protection and the cell differentiation at the non-ulcerated areas of living human gastric mucosa.
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- 2000
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18. Expression of hepatic thrombopoietin mRNA in primary cultured hepatocytes and in rats with acute liver injury or bone marrow suppression with or without cirrhosis.
- Author
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Ishikawa T, Ichida T, Matsuda Y, Sugitani S, Sugiyama M, Kato T, Miyazaki H, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Acute Disease, Animals, Blotting, Northern, Bone Marrow radiation effects, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cells, Cultured, Cytokines pharmacology, Galactosamine pharmacology, Hepatocytes drug effects, Male, RNA, Messenger analysis, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Thrombopoietin genetics, Bone Marrow physiology, Hepatocytes metabolism, Liver Cirrhosis metabolism, Thrombopoietin metabolism
- Abstract
Background and Aims: The main causes of thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis are thought to be platelet destruction and the reduction of thrombopoietin (TPO) expression in the liver. The mechanisms by which levels of TPO mRNA are regulated in cirrhosis have not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated some possible mechanisms., Methods: We used three experimental models: bone marrow suppression, acute liver injury and primary cultured hepatocytes. We used northern blots to assess the kinetics of TPO mRNA expression in the livers of irradiated rats (with and without cirrhosis) in acute liver injury and in primary cultured hepatocytes treated with hepatotoxin or cytokines., Results: Although the bone marrow was hypocellular, there was no apparent enhancement of TPO mRNA expression in the irradiated rats with cirrhotic livers compared with the unirradiated rats with cirrhotic livers. There were no conspicuous changes in hepatic TPO mRNA expression between the livers of the control rats and the three models of acute liver injury. There were no conspicuous changes in the levels of TPO mRNA between control hepatocytes and hepatocytes treated with hepatotoxin or cytokines., Conclusions: Our results suggest that bone marrow is not a regulator of hepatic TPO production in cirrhosis. The reduced TPO mRNA expression found in cirrhotic rats may not result merely from serious cellular damage; it may be associated with cirrhosis-specific regulatory mechanisms for the expression of the TPO gene. Further studies are needed to search for other factors that may induce reduced TPO expression.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
19. Liposome-encapsulated OK-432 specifically and sustainedly induces hepatic natural killer cells and intermediate T cell receptor cells.
- Author
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Yamagiwa S, Ichida T, Sato K, Sugahara S, Yonekura K, Uchida M, Uehara K, Katoh M, Satoh H, Abo T, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Animals, Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology, Cells, Cultured, Drug Carriers, Killer Cells, Natural immunology, Liposomes, Liver Neoplasms drug therapy, Mice, Phenotype, Picibanil pharmacology, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell immunology, Streptococcus pyogenes, Antineoplastic Agents administration & dosage, Killer Cells, Natural drug effects, Liver immunology, Picibanil administration & dosage, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell drug effects
- Abstract
Background: OK-432 is a biological response modifier used in Japan to augment host immunity and is known to increase the host antitumour response. By using liposomes, which are vesicles made from phospholipids that have a structure resembling the cell membrane, we encapsulated OK-432., Methods and Results: Encapsulated OK-432 was injected into the tail veins of mice, and its effect was compared with that of unencapsulated OK-432 given intravenously. In mice that received either form of OK-432, both the number of natural killer (NK) and intermediate T cell receptor (intTCR) cells (intrahepatic T cells generated by extrathymic differentiation) increased markedly in the liver, with the peak level occurring 3 days after administration. Both forms of OK-432 also increased cytotoxic activity against Yac-1 cells. The increase in numbers of cells and in cytotoxic activity in the liver persisted for longer in mice that received encapsulated OK-432 than in animals that received unencapsulated OK-432., Conclusions: Because it has been shown that both NK and intTCR cells play an important role in tumour immunity, an increase in the number of such cells can be considered likely to have an increased antitumour effect. Encapsulated OK-432 elicited liver-specific augmentation of cytotoxic activity and the effect was more persistent than that produced by OK-432 given in the conventional form; therefore, it may be useful for the treatment of tumours, particularly those arising in the liver.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. Interaction between hyaluronan and CD44 in the development of dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis.
- Author
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Satoh T, Ichida T, Matsuda Y, Sugiyama M, Yonekura K, Ishikawa T, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Animals, Biomarkers, Blotting, Northern, DNA Probes chemistry, Endothelium, Vascular drug effects, Endothelium, Vascular metabolism, Endothelium, Vascular ultrastructure, Hyaluronan Receptors genetics, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 metabolism, Kupffer Cells drug effects, Kupffer Cells metabolism, Kupffer Cells ultrastructure, Liver blood supply, Liver drug effects, Liver ultrastructure, Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental chemically induced, Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental pathology, Lymphocytes drug effects, Lymphocytes metabolism, Male, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Messenger analysis, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, von Willebrand Factor metabolism, Dimethylnitrosamine toxicity, Hyaluronan Receptors metabolism, Hyaluronic Acid metabolism, Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental metabolism
- Abstract
Background: A significant increase in serum hyaluronan (HA) levels has been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis. This mechanism is not yet clear, and receptors for HA have not been characterized. In this study, we examined the expression of both HA and its receptors, CD44 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), in dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver cirrhosis., Methods and Results: Using biotinylated HA binding protein, HA was detected in the area of periportal fibrosis and around the sinusoidal wall where hepatic fibrosis was developing. Electron microscopy revealed that HA was localized on Ito cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC). Conversely, CD44, which was only expressed weakly in normal liver, was present in large amounts in cirrhotic liver. The distribution pattern of CD44 was similar to that of HA, however, CD44 was mainly localized on the infiltrating lymphocytes and Kupffer cells. Moreover, CD44 was detected on part of factor VIII-positive SEC. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1, another receptor for HA, was detected on the surface of hepatocytes and around the sinusoidal wall in cirrhotic liver, but its distribution was not accompanied by expression of HA. With respect to CD44 isoforms, the standard form m-RNA predominated in both normal and cirrhotic liver. Variant pMeta-1 mRNA was detected at low levels., Conclusions: An interaction between HA and CD44 may play a role in the recruitment of numerous infiltrating cells and HA accumulation in hepatic sinusoids. Together with phenotypic changes in the SEC, these results may lead to a disturbance in the elimination of HA during the progression of liver cirrhosis.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Highly enhanced fucosylation of serum glycoproteins in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author
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Naitoh A, Aoyagi Y, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular blood, Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid, Female, Glycoproteins blood, Humans, Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional, Lectins metabolism, Liver Cirrhosis blood, Liver Cirrhosis metabolism, Liver Neoplasms blood, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, ROC Curve, Sensitivity and Specificity, Transferrin metabolism, alpha 1-Antitrypsin metabolism, alpha-Fetoproteins metabolism, Blood Proteins metabolism, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular metabolism, Fucose metabolism, Glycoproteins metabolism, Liver Neoplasms metabolism, Plant Lectins
- Abstract
Background: We recently reported that the measurement of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive species of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) and transferrin (TF) is useful for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and that the molecular basis for this reactivity is fucosylation at the innermost N-acetylglucosamine residue of a biantennary sugar chain. However, the precise relationship of the fucosylation of AFP, AAT and TF in patients with HCC and liver cirrhosis is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to delineate the relationship of the fucosylation between these three glycoproteins in HCC., Methods: Three hundred and thirty-four patients with HCC were referred to our university hospital from 1987 to 1997. An increase in serum AFP (> 20 ng/mL) was observed in 233 (69.8%) patients with HCC. From these 233 patients with AFP-producing HCC, 60 serum samples were randomly selected and used in the present study. As a reference, samples from 60 patients with liver cirrhosis, in which 30 had increased AFP, were used. Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA)-reactive species were determined by crossed immunoaffinoelectrophoresis (CIAE). The contents of the fucosylated biantennary chain of purified AAT and TF samples were determined as pyridylamino derivatives of each oligosaccharide with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., Results: There was a highly significant correlation between LCA-reactive species by CIAE and pyridyl-amino-fucosylated biantennary sugar chain by HPLC in both AAT and TF. Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive species of AFP, AAT and TF in HCC were significantly higher than those in liver cirrhosis. A highly statistically significant positive correlation of fucosylated glycans was observed between AAT and TF in both HCC and liver cirrhosis, but not between AFP and AAT or between AFP and TF. Accordingly, the present results indicate that highly enhanced fucosylation of serum glycoproteins was found in HCC compared with liver cirrhosis and that the combination of measurements of fucosylated AFP with AAT or TF were useful for the diagnosis of HCC.
- Published
- 1999
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22. Fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis after living related-donor renal transplantation.
- Author
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Waguri N, Ichida T, Fujimaki R, Ishikawa T, Nomoto M, Asakura H, Nakamaru T, Saitoh A, Arakawa M, Saitoh K, and Takahashi K
- Subjects
- Adult, Cholestasis immunology, Fatal Outcome, Fibrosis, Hepatitis B immunology, Hepatitis B Antigens analysis, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use, Kidney Failure, Chronic surgery, Male, Cholestasis pathology, Hepatitis B pathology, Kidney Transplantation pathology, Postoperative Complications pathology
- Abstract
A 43-year-old man underwent living related-donor renal transplantation because of chronic renal failure in 1991. During the transplant period, both donor and recipient were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The donor was seropositive for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. After transplantation, FK506 and methylprednisolone had been administered to the patient as immunosuppressants. In 1993, HBsAg appeared in his serum. His alanine aminotransferase level elevated gradually during 1995 and then in 1996, general fatigue, ascites and jaundice developed. At this time his serum was positive for hepatitis B e antibody, contained more than 100000 Meq/mL HBV-DNA and 100% precore mutant. Despite subsequent intensive therapy, liver dysfunction progressed and this patient died of hepatic failure 2 months following admission. At autopsy, the liver exhibited cholestasis, fibrosis extending from the portal tracts, mild inflammation and hepatocytes with a ground-glass appearance. In addition, HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigens had accumulated in the hepatocytes. Consequently, the final diagnosis was fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis (FCH) due to precore mutant HBV infection contracted after renal transplantation. It is unclear when and where the recipient liver became HBV infected. Nevertheless, after renal transplantation, while receiving immunosuppressive drugs, HBV appeared to have the potential to cause hepatic failure and FCH may have been a fatal complication for the recipient.
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Reduced expression of thrombopoietin is involved in thrombocytopenia in human and rat liver cirrhosis.
- Author
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Ishikawa T, Ichida T, Matsuda Y, Sugitani S, Sugiyama M, Kato T, Miyazaki H, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Animals, Female, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis metabolism, Male, Middle Aged, Platelet Count, RNA, Messenger analysis, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Splenectomy, Thrombopoietin blood, Thrombopoietin genetics, Liver Cirrhosis complications, Thrombocytopenia etiology, Thrombopoietin biosynthesis
- Abstract
It is widely accepted that thrombocytopenia associated with liver cirrhosis is caused by increased platelet destruction in the enlarged spleen, but this issue has not yet been analysed sufficiently in terms of platelet production. Thrombopoietin is produced mainly in the liver and strongly promotes platelet production. We studied serum thrombopoietin and the levels of its mRNA in liver tissue of cirrhotic patients and also in a rat model of liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, to clarify the influence of the spleen, we investigated thrombopoietin mRNA in splenectomized rats. The serum thrombopoietin level in humans with liver cirrhosis was not significantly reduced instead of thrombocytopenia. The expression of thrombopoietin mRNA in liver tissue decreased with the progression of liver cirrhosis in both patients and the rat model and no compensatory expression was observed in other organs or non-parenchymal cells. The level of thrombopoietin mRNA did not differ significantly in splenectomized cirrhotic rats before or after administration of dimethylnitrosamine, but was lower than that in splenectomized rats without cirrhosis. We conclude that thrombocytopenia in liver cirrhosis is caused not only by platelet destruction but also by decreased platelet production, perhaps due to reduction of thrombopoietin mRNA in the liver.
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Serum N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activities in hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author
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Mori S, Aoyagi Y, Yanagi M, Suzuki Y, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular diagnosis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular therapy, Clinical Enzyme Tests, Concanavalin A analysis, Female, Humans, Liver Neoplasms diagnosis, Liver Neoplasms therapy, Male, Middle Aged, Prothrombin analogs & derivatives, Prothrombin analysis, Transferrin analysis, alpha-Fetoproteins analysis, Biomarkers, Biomarkers, Tumor analysis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular enzymology, Liver Neoplasms enzymology, N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases analysis, Protein Precursors
- Abstract
N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT III) catalyses the addition of N-acetylglucosamine through a beta 1-4 linkage to the mannose of the trimannosyl core, resulting in conversion of the concanavalin A (Con A)-reactive glycan into a non-reactive state. In this study, we measured GnT III activity to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy and its therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Concanavalin A-non-reactive fraction of serum transferrin (Tf) was also determined since the sugar chains of Tf are one of the possible candidates for the product of GnT III. Serum samples (159) were used from patients with HCC (89), liver cirrhosis (30), chronic hepatitis (19), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producing gastric carcinoma metastatic to the liver (five) and healthy controls (16). N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The reactivity of serum Tf to Con A was also analysed in 21 paired HCC samples before and after treatment by crossed immuno-affinoelectrophoresis. N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity from the HCC group (153 +/- 72pmol/mL/h) was significantly higher than that from liver cirrhosis (99 +/- 67 pmol/mL per h), chronic hepatitis (84 +/- 39 pmol/mL per h) and the normal controls (62 +/- 16 pmol/mL per h). N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase III activity of 21 patients with HCC was significantly reduced after treatment such as transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and/or percutaneous ethanol infection therapy, (123 +/- 77 to 100 +/- 60 pmol/mL per h). Commensurate decreases of AFP and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin with GnT III activity were also observed after treatment. The Con A-non-reactive fraction (n = 21; 6.4 +/- 2.3%) in patients with HCC after treatment was significantly lower than before (8.2 +/- 2.4%). The present study suggests that GnT III activity is a possible aid in the diagnosis and evaluation of HCC, especially when other tumour markers are negative.
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Autoantibodies against a 210 kDa glycoprotein of the nuclear pore complex as a prognostic marker in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
- Author
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Itoh S, Ichida T, Yoshida T, Hayakawa A, Uchida M, Tashiro-Itoh T, Matsuda Y, Ishihara K, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect, Humans, Immunoblotting, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary diagnosis, Male, Middle Aged, Mitochondria immunology, Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins, Prognosis, Retrospective Studies, Autoantibodies blood, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary immunology, Membrane Glycoproteins immunology, Nuclear Envelope immunology, Nuclear Proteins immunology
- Abstract
It has been reported that the presence of anti-nuclear antibody against a 210 kDa glycoprotein of nuclear pore complex (anti-gp210) is highly specific for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The aim of the present study was to investigate the significance of anti-gp210, especially as a prognostic marker. The presence of anti-gp210 was ascertained in 113 patients with PBC and 162 controls by indirect immunofluorescence assay using HepG2 cells and immunoblotting analysis using nuclear extracts from HeLa cells. Anti-gp210 was detected in 25 of the 113 (22.1%) patients. None of the 162 controls was positive for anti-gp210. The appearance and titre of anti-gp210 in the patients with PBC did not vary from the time of diagnosis and through their clinical course. Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA), including antibodies against pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, were not detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in five of the 113 (4.4%) patients with PBC. However, anti-gp210 alone was positive in one of these five patients. The difference in prognosis was statistically significant; patients with PBC positive for anti-gp210 died from hepatic failure more frequently than those who were negative (P < 0.01), although there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of jaundice and the histological stage at the time of diagnosis between the two groups. We suggest that the presence of anti-gp210 is one of the independent prognostic markers able to predict, at the time of diagnosis, a poor outcome in patients with PBC.
- Published
- 1998
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Selective depletion of neutrophils by a monoclonal antibody, RP-3, suppresses dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis in rats.
- Author
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Natsui M, Kawasaki K, Takizawa H, Hayashi SI, Matsuda Y, Sugimura K, Seki K, Narisawa R, Sendo F, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Animals, Antibodies, Monoclonal pharmacology, Blood Cell Count drug effects, Colitis pathology, Eosinophils pathology, Indicators and Reagents, Leukocyte Count drug effects, Luminescent Measurements, Luminol, Male, Neutrophils drug effects, Peroxidase antagonists & inhibitors, Peroxidase metabolism, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Taurine pharmacology, Colitis chemically induced, Dextran Sulfate, Neutrophils physiology
- Abstract
Administration of dextran sulphate sodium to animals induces acute colitis characterized by infiltration of large numbers of neutrophils into the colonic mucosa, which histologically resembles human active ulcerative colitis. It has been reported that neutrophils and the reactive oxygen metabolites produced by them are involved in the progress of ulcerative colitis. This study was intended to clarify their roles by using this animal model. First, possible sources and species of reactive oxygen metabolites were determined using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence with addition of enzyme inhibitors and reactive oxygen metabolite scavengers. Next, to examine whether neutrophils and hypochlorous acid derived from them contribute to tissue injury, we administered RP-3, a monoclonal antibody capable of selectively depleting neutrophils, and taurine, a hypochlorous acid scavenger, to rats treated with dextran sulphate sodium. Addition of azide, taurine, catalase, superoxide dismutase and dimethyl sulphoxide into colonic mucosal scrapings significantly inhibited chemiluminescence production, but allopurinol and indomethacin had no effects. These results suggest that excessive hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical are generated by the inflamed colonic mucosa. Intraperitoneal injections of RP-3 significantly suppressed bleeding, tissue myeloperoxidase activity, chemiluminescence production and erosion formation. On the other hand, administration of taurine tended to inhibit bleeding and erosion formation to some extent, although it could not significantly suppress them. These data suggest that neutrophils play an important role in the development of this colitis and that hypochlorous acid might be one of the causes of tissue injury induced by neutrophils.
- Published
- 1997
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Risk factors and the effect of interferon therapy in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma: a multivariate analysis in 343 patients.
- Author
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Kuwana K, Ichida T, Kamimura T, Ohkoshi S, Ogata N, Harada T, Endoh K, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Aged, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular epidemiology, Chronic Disease, Female, Genotype, Hepacivirus genetics, Hepatitis C etiology, Humans, Incidence, Liver Neoplasms epidemiology, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, RNA, Viral analysis, Risk Factors, Transfusion Reaction, Treatment Outcome, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular prevention & control, Hepatitis C therapy, Interferons therapeutic use, Liver Neoplasms prevention & control
- Abstract
The aims of the present study were to clarify the risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to investigate the effectiveness of interferon (IFN) therapy. We retrospectively studied 343 patients who had been admitted to our hospital; 161 with chronic hepatitis, 49 with liver cirrhosis, 42 with chronic hepatitis bearing HCC and 91 with liver cirrhosis bearing HCC. The mean (+/- SD) observation period was 41.6 +/- 31.1 months. The mean age of HCC and non-HCC patients was 63.5 +/- 7.6 and 56.9 +/- 12.5 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The HCV genotype II (1b) was the most prevalent genotype (92.5%) in HCC patients and the mean age was higher among patients with this genotype (63.6 +/- 7.7 years). Multivariate analysis identified age (P < 0.001), the male gender (P < 0.01), HCV genotype II (1b) (P < 0.05) and excessive alcohol intake (P < 0.05) as independent factors associated with the development of HCC. There was no relationship between the development of HCC and serum HCV levels as quantified by branched DNA assay or competitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The incidence of HCC in patients who had not received IFN therapy was 10.4/100 person-year, while that of patients who had received IFN therapy was 1.2/100 person-year (P < 0.01) by the person-year method. The low incidence of HCC in patients treated with IFN suggests that IFN may prevent the development of HCC.
- Published
- 1997
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Microheterogeneity of serum transferrin in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Author
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Suzuki Y, Aoyagi Y, Mori S, Suda T, Naitoh A, Isokawa O, Yanagi M, Igarashi H, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Aged, C-Reactive Protein metabolism, Concanavalin A metabolism, Concanavalin A pharmacology, Electrophoresis, Female, Humans, Lectins pharmacology, Liver Cirrhosis blood, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Transferrin metabolism, alpha-Fetoproteins analysis, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular blood, Carcinoma, Hepatocellular diagnosis, Liver Neoplasms blood, Liver Neoplasms diagnosis, Plant Lectins, Transferrin analysis
- Abstract
Heterogeneous reactivity of human serum transferrin (Tf) with lectins was analysed using patient sera to determine whether it can be used to distinguish patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from those with liver cirrhosis (LC). Microheterogeneity of Tf was analysed by crossed immunoaffinity electrophoresis (CIAE) with concanavalin A (Con A) and Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA). Sample sera from 58 patients with HCC, 43 patients with LC and 10 normal controls were used in this study and the results were evaluated statistically. The increments of Con A-non-reactive (C1) and -weakly reactive (C2) species of Tf were observed in HCC compared with those of LC and Norm. Significant increase in the combined percentage of Con A- C1 + C2 species was also revealed in HCC (35.5 +/- 8.5%, mean+/-s.d.) compared with those of LC (29.1 +/- 6.8%; P < 0.001) and normal controls (17.1 +/- 2.3%; P < 0.001). The elevation of LCA-reactive (L2) species of Tf was recognized in HCC (8.2 +/- 3.8%) in comparison with those of LC (4.8 +/- 3.1%; P < 0.001) and normal controls (1.3 +/- 1.7%; P < 0.001). The increment of C1 + C2 species and/or L2 species of Tf was observed in 78% (sensitivity) of patients with HCC. The specificity, the positive predictive value and the overall accuracy were 81, 88 and 72%, respectively. Positive ratio of C1 + C2 and/or L2 species was 77 and 70% in alpha-fetoprotein low and -high producing HCC patients, respectively. These results indicate that the microheterogeneity analysis of human serum Tf is useful for distinguishing patients with HCC from those with LC and normal controls.
- Published
- 1996
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Cholera toxin and diarrhoea.
- Author
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Asakura H and Yoshioka M
- Subjects
- Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Cholera complications, Cholera physiopathology, Cholera therapy, Diarrhea physiopathology, Fluid Therapy, Humans, Intestinal Mucosa metabolism, Cholera Toxin adverse effects, Diarrhea etiology
- Published
- 1994
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Faecal clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin reflects disease activity and correlates with rapid turnover proteins in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
- Author
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Miura S, Yoshioka M, Tanaka S, Serizawa H, Tashiro H, Asakura H, and Tsuchiya M
- Subjects
- Adult, Colitis, Ulcerative diagnosis, Crohn Disease diagnosis, Female, Humans, Male, Protein-Energy Malnutrition diagnosis, Retinol-Binding Proteins analysis, Transferrin analysis, Colitis, Ulcerative metabolism, Crohn Disease metabolism, Feces chemistry, alpha 1-Antitrypsin analysis
- Abstract
Faecal clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin was measured in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and compared with disease activity and markers of protein-calorie malnutrition. Patients with active ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease showed elevated clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin and clearance declined in most patients with induction of remission. However, even with inactive disease, elevated protein loss persisted in some patients, presumably reflecting residual inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. There was a significant correlation between clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin and serum levels of retinol-binding protein and transferrin in patients with ulcerative colitis and with retinol-binding protein in patients with Crohn's disease. Clearance of alpha 1-antitrypsin reflects disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease and correlates with serum levels of rapid-turnover proteins such as retinol-binding protein and transferrin, which are markers for the presence of protein-calorie malnutrition.
- Published
- 1991
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Immunological response and oesophageal varices in PBC.
- Author
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Tsukada Y, Akiyama N, Suda Y, Saitou T, Uchikoshi Y, Ishihara K, Shimizu T, and Asakura H
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Antibody Formation, Esophageal and Gastric Varices etiology, Female, Humans, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary complications, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary mortality, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary immunology
- Abstract
A retrospective study was made of the clinical features, especially oesophageal varices, of 93 patients with PBC. The 5 year survival rate of asymptomatic PBC patients was 88.7% and that of symptomatic PBC was 43.7%. The 5 year survival rate of the group with oesophageal varices was 44.0% and that of the group without varices was 68.8%. The 5 year survival rate of the patients with high-risk varices was 39.1% and of those without high-risk varices was 67.9%. Management of variceal bleeding in PBC patients was considered very difficult. In prognostic study, the patients with the prophylactic therapy were better than the patients with emergency or elective therapy. The antiM8 (a subtype of antimitochondrial antibody) positive patients had poor prognosis compared with antiM8 negative patients. Therefore, it was concluded from these data that some kind of treatment was necessary for patients with high-risk varices. In particular, it was considered necessary to monitor closely the patients whose serum alkaline phosphatase levels had remained high.
- Published
- 1989
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