Masakazu Abe

Pilot study of self-measurement of blood glucose using the Dextrostix-Eyetone system for juvenile-onset diabetes.

SummarySelf-measurement of blood glucose was performed by eight insulin-dependent juvenile-onset diabetics. The patients were well motivated and improved control of diabetes was obtained. The method would seem to be useful for juvenile-onset diabetics, especially of the unstable type and for pregnant diabetics.

Cell-mediated cytotoxic islet cell surface antibodies to human pancreatic beta cells

SummarySera containing islet cell surface antibodies show a complement-dependent cytotoxic reaction against islet cells, but it has not yet been clarified whether islet cell surface antibodies exhibit cell-mediated cytotoxicity to these cells. By 51Cr release assay we investigated whether islet cell surface antibodies showed a cytotoxic reaction to human pancreatic B cells (JHPI-1 clone) in the presence of normal human lymphocytes. The sera from 14 islet cell surface antibody-positive, 16 islet cell surface antibody-negative Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and 18 islet cell surface antibody-negative healthy subjects were studied. Four sera containing islet cell surface antibodies showed specific cytotoxicity above the mean +3SD value of healthy subjects, and the mean specific cytotoxicity of islet cell surface antibody-positive sera differed significantly from that of both islet cell surface antibody-negative groups. These results suggest that this cell-mediated cytotoxic mechanism may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Type 1 diabetes.

Viscosity of Blood and Plasma in Various Diseases

It is presumed that increased blood viscosity gives rise to disturbances in the microcirculation, resulting in disorder of tissue metabolism, changes in the wall of microvascularure and thrombus formation. Thus, investigation of the influence of blood high viscosity on the cause and development of a disease seems of great importance from a clinical standpoint. The present paper deals with whole blood and plasma viscosity in various diseases.

Efficacy and Feasibility of Combination Chemotherapy with S-1 and Cisplatin (2 Weeks Regimen) for Advanced Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE Although combination chemotherapy with 3 weeks of S-1 and cisplatin is effective for advanced gastric cancer, the toxicities of S-1 which mostly occur during the third week of administration are a major problem. To achieve fewer adverse effects with S-1 and higher dose intensity of cisplatin, we performed combination chemotherapy with 2 weeks of S-1 and cisplatin as first line. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse the efficacy and feasibility of this regimen. METHODS S-1 (40-60 mg depending on patients body surface area) was given orally twice daily for 2 consecutive weeks, and 70 mg/m(2) cisplatin was given intravenously on day 8, followed by a 2-week rest period. RESULTS Forty-eight patients received a total of 184 courses of chemotherapy. Overall response rate was 40.6% and median survival time was 411 days. Dose intensities were 257.6 mg/m(2)/week for S-1 and 16.4 mg/m(2)/week for cisplatin. The incidences of grade 3/4 haematological toxicities were leucopenia (19%), neutropenia (29%) and anaemia (17%), and those of grade 3 non-haematological toxicities were anorexia (31%) and nausea (21%). The rate of treatment discontinuation owing to toxicity was 10%. CONCLUSIONS This regimen may be effective as an alternative therapy to 3 weeks of S-1 and cisplatin to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

Study protocol for J-SUPPORT 1604 (J-FORCE): a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study evaluating olanzapine (5 mg) plus standard triple antiemetic therapy for prevention of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy

The Guidelines of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology recommend standard triple antiemetic therapy with aprepitant, a 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone for patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Recently, a Phase III study demonstrated the significance of adding of olanzapine (10 mg) to standard triple antiemetic therapy. Olanzapine is associated with somnolence, and we have previously conducted a randomized Phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 10 mg and 5 mg olanzapine. Lower dose of olanzapine reduced the incidence of somnolence. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III study to evaluate the efficacy of olanzapine (5 mg) combined with standard triple antiemetic therapy for cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy. This study initiated in Feb 2017. A total of 690 patients are planned to be enrolled over a period of 2 years. This study has been registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000024676.

The effect of methyleneblue on insulin and glucagon release stimulated by glucose and arginine in the isolated perfused rat pancreas

To examine the role of NADPH in the release of insulin and glucagon, isolated rat pancreata were perfused with methyleneblue, which is known to oxidize NADPH. Hormonal release was stimulated by changes in arginine or glucose concentrations as follows. After establishing the basal secretion state during perfusion at various glucose levels for 10 min., pancreata were stimulated by the addition of arginine or a change in glucose concentration of the perfusate for 15 min. Conditions for the stimulation were: (A) addition of 10 mM arginine at constant 4 mM glucose concentration; (B) increase in glucose concentration from 2.8 mM to 11.1 mM, or (C) decrease in glucose concentration from 11.1 mM to 2.8 mM. In some experiments, methyleneblue was added throughout the perfusion period at 1 or 3 micrograms/ml. The effluent from the portal vein was collected over 1 minute intervals: Insulin and glucagon concentrations in the effluent were determined by radioimmunoassay. Insulin release. Stimulation by the addition of arginine and increased glucose concentration produced a typical biphasic insulin response. In both cases, 1 microgram/ml methyleneblue reduced the second phase, and 3 micrograms/ml methyleneblue inhibited both phases almost completely. Glucagon release: Stimulation by arginine and inhibition by increasing glucose concentration were not influenced by methyleneblue; however, glucagon release induced by lowering of glucose concentration was suppressed by 3 micrograms/ml of methyleneblue. Thus, methyleneblue specifically inhibits glucose- and arginine-induced insulin release while it has no effect on arginine-induced glucagon release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

On the Relation between Blood Viscosity and Dynamic Viscoelasticity in the Clotting Process or the Blood

The cause of abnormalities in the flow property of the blood in the microcirculation is thought to be mainly due to changes in blood viscosity. It is known that thrombosis is often encountered in diseases accompanied by increased blood viscosity, such as in diabetes and malignant tumor. This being the case, a study of the dynamic viscoelasticity in the process of blood coagulation was made in diseases which accompany increased blood viscosity. As a preliminary report, measurement of dynamic viscoelasticity in the coagulation process of blood and plasma was made in 17 subjects.