Kouzou Ashida

Telomerase as a tool for the differential diagnosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Telomerase activation is thought to be essential for the immortality of cancer cells. We measured telomerase activity in human liver samples, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluated this assay as a tool for the diagnosis of HCC using 21‐gauge (21‐G)‐needle biopsy specimens.

Vertebral Fracture and Cortical Bone Changes in Corticosteroid-Induced Osteoporosis

Abstract: Despite an intriguing understanding of trabecular bone dynamics, little is known about corticosteroid-induced cortical bone loss and fractures. Recently, we verified a steroid-induced decrease in cortical bone volume and density using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in adult asthmatic patients given oral corticosteroids. Subsequently, the pQCT parameters and presence of vertebral fractures were investigated to further clarify the role of cortical bone quality in fractures in 86 postmenopausal (>5 years after menopause) asthmatic patients on high-dose oral steroid (>10 g cumulative oral prednisolone) (steroid group) and 194 age-matched controls (control group). Cortical and trabecular bone was subjected to measurement of various parameters using pQCT (Stratec XCT960). Relative Cortical Volume (RCV) was calculated by dividing the cortical area by the total bone area. Strength Strain Index (SSI) was determined in the radius based on the density distribution around the axis. Spinal fracture was assessed on lateral radiographs. Patients treated with high doses of oral steroid (>10 g cumulative oral prednisolone) were found to have an increased risk of fracture compared with control women receiving no steroid medication (odds ratio, 8.85; 95% CI, 4.21–18.60) after adjustment was made for years since menopause, body mass index and RCV. In both groups, the diagnostic and predictive ability of the pQCT parameters for vertebral fracture was assessed by the areas under their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. All parameters were found to be significant predictors (p<0.0001) in the control group. In the steroid group, however, the cortical bone mineral density (BMD) (p= 0.001), RCV (p<0.0001) and SSI (p= 0.001) were found to be significant predictors, but not trabecular BMD (p= 0.176). For comparison between the two groups, thresholds of all parameters for vertebral fracture were also calculated by the point of coincidence of sensitivity with specificity in ROC testing and the 90th percentile value. Although a rise in fracture threshold in the steroid group was suggested, considerable difference in the values obtained by the two methods of calculation precluded any conclusion. High-dose oral steroid administration was associated with an increased risk of fracture. Cortical bone parameters obtained by pQCT could play a role as good predictors of future corticosteroid-induced vertebral fractures.

Oral Glucocorticoid-Induced Fall in Cortical Bone Volume and Density in Postmenopausal Asthmatic Patients

Abstract: Despite a deepening understanding of the influence of glucocorticoids (GC) on trabecular bone, little is known about GC-induced cortical bone loss. To elucidate the mechanism of GC-induced loss of cortical bone strength with particular reference to cortical bone loss, changes in cortical density, relative cortical volume, and the Strength Strain Index (SSI) based on biomechanical analyses of the geographic distribution of cortical bone material were measured. These parameters were compared, using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), among the following age-matched groups: 68 postmenopausal asthmatic patients receiving high-dose oral GC in addition to inhaled GC (oral GC group), 68 postmenopausal asthmatic patients receiving only inhaled GC (inhaled GC group) and 69 postmenopausal controls without asthma or GC therapy (control group). Cortical bone mineral density (BMD) was measured, relative cortical volume was obtained by dividing the cortical area by the total bone area using pQCT (Stratec XCT960), and the Strength Strain Index (SSI) was calculated in the radius based on the density distribution around the axis. Spinal fracture was assessed on lateral radiographs. The number of vertebral fractures per patient correlated highly with cortical BMD, relative cortical volume and SSI values at the radius. The number of vertebral fractures per patient and the number of patients with fracture were similar between the control and inhaled GC group, both being significantly lower than those in the oral GC group. Total BMD, trabecular BMD, cortical BMD, relative cortical volume and SSI were similar between the first two, being significantly higher than in the last group. The slopes of cortical volume–density relationship, however, were identical among the three groups, indicating the persistence of cortical bone remodeling and a similar degree of calcification regardless of GC administration.

Different Roles of Histamine and Leukotriene C4 in the Airways Between Patients with Atopic and Nonatopic Asthma

The release of histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and peripheral blood stimulated with Ca ionophore A23187 was compared between atopic and nonatopic asthma. The proportion of basophilic cells in BAL fluid was significantly higher in atopic than in nonatopic asthma (p < 0.01); however, no significant differences were present in the other BAL cells between the two asthma types. The concentration of histamine in BAL fluid was significantly higher in younger patients (20-59 years) with atopic than in nonatopic asthma (p < 0.01). In contrast, the concentration of LTC4 was significantly higher in nonatopic than in younger patients with atopic asthma (p < 0.01). The release of histamine from BAL cells (p < 0.001) and peripheral blood (p < 0.01) was significantly larger in younger patients with atopic than in nonatopic asthma. The generation of LTC4 by BAL cells was significantly larger in nonatopic than in younger (p < 0.01) and older patients with atopic asthma (60+ years) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that both histamine and LTC4 participate in the onset mechanism of atopic asthma, and only LTC4 participates in that of nonatopic asthma.

A case report of liver cystadenocarcinoma producing .ALPHA.-fetoprotein.

根治手術した肝嚢胞腺癌で,その組織内にCEA, CA19-9のみならず,AFPを証明した一例を経験した.AFPの産生は稀なので報告する.症例は上腹部腫瘤を主訴に入院した53歳女性.心窩部に手拳大の腫瘤を触知し,一般検査はChEが低値である以外著変なかったが,血清CA19-9が101U/mlと高値であった.腹部超音波検査で肝左葉に15×10cm大の一部に乳頭状部分のある多胞性嚢胞を認めた.腹腔動脈造影でS4に腫瘍濃染像を認め,超音波下嚢胞穿刺液のAFP, CEA, CA19-9は高値で,肝嚢胞腺癌と診断し,手術を施行した.病理組織で確認し,免疫学的組織染色にてCEA, AFP, CA19-9が陽性であった.