Expression of endothelin-converting enzyme, endothelin-1 and endothelin receptors at the site of percutaneous coronary intervention in humans.

Objective: The repair process at the site of injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is dominated by neointimal formation composed mainly of smooth muscle cells (SMC). Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a powerful vasoconstrictor and SMC mitogen. Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) is the final key enzyme of endothelin processing.

[Temporary effective treatment with L-asparaginase for a patient with refractory nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma].

A 48-year-old man was referred to Sakai Municipal Hospital with nasal discharge and right facial swelling. The pathological findings of a nasal cavity tumor revealed stage IIB NK/T-cell lymphoma. He was admitted to our hospital and received CHOP therapy, resulting in progressive disease.

Immunohistochemical expression of multidrug resistance proteins as a predictor of poor response to chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug-resistance-related protein 1 (MRP1), and lung resistance protein (LRP) was related to the response to induction chemotherapy and prognosis in untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods: We assessed immunohistochemical expression of P-gp, MRP1 and LRP, using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of lymph node in 41 patients with DLBCL. Association between expression of these three proteins and their impact on clinical outcome and prognosis was statistically evaluated.

Expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in human cirrhotic livers: Its relation to fibrosis and portal hypertension.

Angiotensin II (ANG-II) and its receptor (AT1) have been potential targets of therapy for liver cirrhosis. However, AT1 expression in human cirrhotic livers has not been clarified. We studied AT1 and ANG-II generating enzymes in human autopsy (20 cirrhotics and 20 normal controls) and biopsy (10 cirrhotics) livers.

Expression of the hepatic endothelin system in human cirrhotic livers.

It is considered that endothelin-1 participates in the development of liver cirrhosis and it has been recognized that every component of the endothelin system is upregulated in cirrhotic livers. However, the expression pattern of this system, including interaction between its components, is not fully understood in human livers. In this study, the expression pattern of the endothelin system was examined.