[Hyper-endemic areas for hepatitis C].
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
E Tanaka
Publications and source records attributed to E Tanaka.
Anti-c100 antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with interferon.
To assess the role of anti-c100 antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-c100 HCV) in the response to interferon (IFN) administered to patients for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, we assayed serum anti-c100 HCV serially by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and titrated anti-c100 HCV level by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit in 28 IFN-treated and 20 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C. IFN-alpha or -beta was administered for 4 to 12 weeks, and the patients were observed for over 24 months. The IFN-treated patients were divided into 3 groups (4 sustained responders, 18 transient responders, and 6 non-responders) in accordance with their responses on the basis of the serum alanine aminotransferase levels. In three of the four sustained responders whose HCV-RNA decreased, anti-c100 HCV became negative at 13, 15, and 17 months after beginning the IFN therapy. The 18 transient responders and 6 non-responders remained positive for anti-c100 HCV throughout the observation period. In all four sustained responders the anti-c100 HCV titer decreased significantly with time after initiation of the therapy, whereas the titer fluctuated in the other groups. These findings suggest that monitoring the serum anti-c100 HCV level is useful in assessing the effects of IFN therapy on chronic hepatitis C.
Adult↗
Mixed infection of an acid-fast bacterium and an imperfect fungus in a Napoleon fish (Cheilinus undulatus).
A Napoleon fish (Cheilinus undulatus) was infected with both an acid-fast bacterium and an imperfect fungus. This is the first report of an acid-fast bacterial infection in Cheilinus undulatus, and the first observation of an imperfect fungus in the swim bladder of a tropical marine fish.
Air Sacs↗
Association of primary biliary cirrhosis with human leukocyte antigen DPB1*0501 in Japanese patients.
To investigate the relationship between distribution of human leukocyte antigen alleles and susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis among Japanese, we performed serological typing and human leukocyte antigen DP genotyping in 47 Japanese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Serologically, the frequency of human leukocyte antigen DQ3 was significantly higher in the patients than in healthy controls, whereas frequency of DR52 was significantly lower in the patients. Human leukocyte antigen DP genotyping using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction-fragment-length polymorphism method showed that the frequency of human leukocyte antigen DPB1*0501 (85.1%) was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls but that the frequency of DPB1*0402 was significantly lower in patients. The positive association of human leukocyte antigen DPB1*0501 with primary biliary cirrhosis was stronger than that of serological human leukocyte antigen DQ3, which can be explained by its linkage to DPB1*0501. In addition, three of seven DPB1*0501-negative patients had DPB1*0202, suggesting that the human leukocyte antigen DPB1 amino-acid chain plays an important role in the immunogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis among Japanese patients. Comparative analysis of amino acid sequences from DPB1 alleles indicated that a Leu at position 35 of the DPB1 chain likely contributes to the susceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis among the Japanese.
Adult↗
[Clinical features of pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection: comparison with M. tuberculosis and M. avium complex infection].
Six cases of pulmonary M. kansasii infection were studied. The ages of the patients ranged from 26 to 51, with a mean of 39.6 years. All the patients were male. None had any underlying systemic or lung diseases. On chest X-ray and CT scan, the majority of cases showed a solitary thin-walled cavitary lesion with little satellite or scattered lesions, which were predominantly located in S1 or S2. The strains of M. kansasii isolated from the 6 patients showed a certain pattern of antibiotic sensitivity being highly sensitive to TH, CS, EB and RFP. In 5 out of the 6 patients, chemotherapy with RFP combined with 2 or 3 other antituberculous drugs for 12 months was successful. In another patient, chemotherapy with RFP, EB and INH for 12 months was unsuccessful and surgical resection was required. Comparison of patients with M. kansasii (n = 6), M. tuberculosis (n = 112) and M. avium complex infection (n = 51) revealed that the former two had some common clinical features: predominance in males, younger age than the patients with M. avium complex infection, predominant involvement of S1, S2 and S6, and involving a single rather than multiple lung lobes. Even in cases clinically suspected of having M. tuberculosis infection, bacteriological examination should be carried out routinely to rule out M. kansasii infection.
Adult↗
[A case of chronic aspiration pneumonia after total gastrectomy caused by gastroesophageal reflux revealed by a "modified-salivagram"].
A 76-year-old male patient suffered from recurrent bacterial pneumonia of the right upper lobe and both lower lobes since 2 years after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. He was treated with antibiotics repeatedly without complete remission. Meanwhile, chronic cough, purulent sputum, and persistent bilateral pulmonary infiltration developed gradually. Upper digestive tract endoscopy showed moderate reflux esophagitis. For diagnosis, we performed upper digestive tract scintigraphy, a "modified-salivagram", to detect aspiration and GER. Although aspiration was not detected, GER reaching to the upper portion of the esophagus was observed 46 min after taking radio-labeled albumin, and chronic aspiration pneumonia with GER was thus diagnosed. Bed blocks and gragling with ponvidone-iodine after meals and before sleep greatly improved the symptoms of cough and sputum. The bilateral infiltrative shadows disappeared with resolution of symptoms. Chronic aspiration resulting from GER is an important cause of chronic airway infection. Even if a patient with reflux esophagitis is asymptomatic, chronic aspiration pneumonia should be suspected in cases of recurrent or persistent pneumonia in both lower lobes. The "modified-salivagram" is a sensitive test to detect aspiration and GER in hypoacidic states, such as in total gastrectomy and elderly patients.
Aged↗
Association between malocclusion and temporomandibular disorders in orthodontic patients before treatment.
The association between malocclusion and the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was studied in an orthodontic patient population before orthodontic treatment was started. A total of 305 patients, 232 with general malocclusion and 73 who also had cleft lip or palate, were given a questionnaire about the subjective symptoms of TMD. Clinical examinations for type of malocclusion and TMD signs were also conducted. No significant differences in the prevalence of TMD were observed between the sexes or between the two patient groups. Temporomandibular joint sounds and difficulty of jaw movement were the most common of the TMD signs and symptoms. Open bite, posterior crossbite, and deep bite were the most prevalent types of malocclusion in both groups. Thus, some specific types of malocclusion were significantly associated with the occurrence of TMD.
Adolescent↗
[Coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in patients with various angiopathies--analysis in cerebral thrombosis, diabetic and vasculitic neuropathies].
We measured the coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in patients with various angiopathies to clarify the usefulness of the parameters for the evaluation of vascular involvement. The study included 65 patients with cerebral thrombosis at the chronic stage, 47 diabetics with neuropathy associated with diabetic microangiopathy, 15 diabetics without neuropathy, and 16 patients with vasculitic neuropathy associated with collagen diseases. Control subjects were 45 patients with other neurological disorders without symptomatic angiopathies. In cerebral thrombosis at the chronic stage, the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and platelet factor IV were elevated significantly as compared with age-matched controls. Diabetics with neuropathy showed significantly elevated FVIII and vWF in comparison with diabetics without neuropathy and controls. No significant difference in parameters concerning glucose metabolism was observed between the two groups of diabetics. These findings suggest that elevated activities of the coagulation parameters reflect not merely the abnormalities in glucose metabolism but also the presence of microangiopathy which causes diabetic neuropathy. The patients with vasculitic neuropathy exhibited significantly elevated FVIII, vWF and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). The present study demonstrated that FVIII and vWF are useful parameters for the evaluation of the extent of vascular involvement in angiopathies of different etiologies. It is important for the treatment of patients with the angiopathies, to monitor the coagulation parameters which reflect vascular involvement in addition to parameters for the disease activity.
Aged↗
[Clinical features of the patients with "secondary infection" of Mycobacterium avium complex--Radiographic pattern of progressions in the patients with and without underlying pulmonary conditions].
We reviewed the radiographic features of 42 patients with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. Six cases were definite "primary", 20 were "secondary", and 15 were indeterminate (probably "primary"). In the definite and probable "primary" cases, and some of the "secondary" cases, pulmonary lesions slowly progressed following a common and characteristic sequence from a cluster of small nodules or fibro-productive nodules to those with subpleural thickening, or with thickening of the draining bronchi, or with both subpleural and bronchial thickening, and to cystic bronchiectatic changes associated with collapse of the segment or the lobe, in the final stage. Cases of airspace pneumonia appeared rarely. In these cases, neither apical-subapical region prevalence, pleural effusion, nor mediastinal lymphadenopathy were found. On the contrary, in five cases of "secondary" infection, MAC lesions located at the same place with the predisposing lung disease and did not progress during more than five years of observation. In the progressive cases of "secondary" infection, however, the appearance of new lesions and the progressions thereafter showed the same pattern as in "primary" infection. These features would suggest that MAC infection would occur and progress slowly among patients who had unknown pathogenetical factor, whether they had underlying predisposing lung conditions or not.
Aged↗
Improved method for the determination of trimethadione and its demethylated metabolite, dimethadione, in human serum by gas chromatography.
An improved gas chromatographic method, involving the use of a wide-bore capillary column, for the determination of trimethadione and its only demethylated metabolite, dimethadione, in human serum is described. The results indicate that both substances and the internal standard (maleinimide) were well separated with no tailing peak. The detection limit was 10 ng/ml for trimethadione and 50 ng/ml for dimethadione. This improved method is reliable in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility for the simultaneous determination of both compounds in human serum.
Adult↗
Mitogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of 41 kDa and 43 kDa proteins. Potential role in integrating multiple mitogenic signalling pathways.
We have examined the possible involvement of pertussis toxin (PT)-sensitive GTP-binding protein and protein kinase C (PKC) in mitogen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the 41 kDa and 43 kDa cytosol proteins using PT-pretreated (inactivation of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-pretreated (depletion of PKC) mouse fibroblasts. The effects of the inactivation of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein and the depletion of PKC on mitogen-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins were similar and varied significantly and systematically in response to growth factors. The important finding was that such inhibitory effects of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein inactivation and PKC depletion on protein tyrosine phosphorylation induced by each mitogen always correlated well with their inhibitory effects on each mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis. Although the extent of platelet-derived-growth-factor-induced phosphorylation of the proteins was decreased to approx. 50% in PT- and PMA-pretreated cells compared with native cells, protein phosphorylation itself was not affected and occurred at identical sites on each protein in native, PT- and PMA-pretreated cells. These results suggest that: (1) 41 kDa and 43 kDa proteins are located downstream of PT-sensitive GTP-binding protein and PKC in the mitogenic signalling pathways of growth factors, (2) protein phosphorylation occurs via a cascade of events which includes the activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases, PKC and other unidentified kinase(s) which directly participate(s) in the phosphorylation of the 41 kDa and 43 kDa proteins, and (3) their phosphorylation may play an important role in integrating multiple mitogenic signalling pathways.
3T3 Cells↗
[A case of sinus-bronchi syndrome repeatedly detected Bordetella bronchiseptica from sputum].
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Adolescent↗
Hepatocyte growth factor rapidly induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of 41-kDa and 43-kDa proteins in mouse keratinocytes.
We have examined the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-mediated changes in protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in mouse keratinocytes (PAM-212) and canine kidney epithelial cells (MDCK). In PAM-212 cells HGF and epidermal growth factor, both of which stimulated the DNA synthesis, rapidly induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of two 41-kDa and two 43-kDa proteins: increased tyrosine phosphorylation of those proteins has been commonly observed when quiescent fibroblasts are stimulated with a variety of mitogenic agents. In contrast, HGF did not stimulate the DNA synthesis but induced cell dissociation in MDCK cells; under this condition, increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the 41-kDa and 43-kDa protein was not observed. A possible role of the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of 41-kDa and 43-kDa protein in the signaling pathway of HGF is discussed.
Amino Acids↗
[A case of von Recklinghausen's disease followed by intra-hepatic neurofibroma].
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Adult↗
Mitogen-induced tyrosine-phosphorylated 41- and 43-kDa proteins are family members of extracellular signal-regulated kinases/microtubule-associated protein 2 kinases.
Two antipeptide antibodies, one against the peptide corresponding to residues 307-327 (alpha Y91) and one against the peptide corresponding to the C-terminal portion (alpha C92) of the deduced amino acid sequence of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1), precipitated two 41-kDa and/or two 43-kDa phospho-proteins from mitogen-stimulated Swiss 3T3 cells. Electrophoretic mobilities on two-dimensional gels of the immunoprecipitated 41- and 43-kDa phosphoproteins were similar to those of the 41- and 43-kDa cytosol proteins, whose increased tyrosine phosphorylation we and others had originally identified in various mitogen-stimulated cells (Cooper, J. A., Sefton, B. M., and Hunter, T. (1984) Mol. Cell. Biol. 4, 30-37; Kohno, M. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 1771-1779); phosphopeptide map analysis revealed that they were respectively identical molecules. All those phosphoproteins contained phosphotyrosine, and the more acidic forms contained additional phosphothreonine. Immunoprecipitated 41- and 43-kDa phosphoproteins had serine/threonine kinase activity toward myelin basic protein (MBP) and microtuble-associated protein 2 (MAP2). With the combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the kinase assay in MBP-containing polyacrylamide gels of the alpha Y91 immunoprecipitates, with or without phosphatase 2A treatment, we showed that only their acidic forms were active. These results clearly indicate that 41- and 43-kDa proteins, the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of which is rapidly and commonly induced by mitogen stimulation of fibroblasts, are family members of ERKs/MAP2 kinases and that phosphorylation both on tyrosine and threonine residues is necessary for their activation.
3T3 Cells↗
Simultaneous determination of caffeine and its primary demethylated metabolites in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.
An improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of caffeine and its three primary metabolites (theophylline, theobromine and paraxanthine) in human plasma is described. The four substances were separated on a reversed-phase column (5 microns TSK gel ODS-80TM, 150 mm x 4.6 mm I.D.) by use of the mobile phase methanol-0.1 M NaH2PO4 (30:70, v/v) with a flow-rate of 0.8 ml/min. Absorbance was monitored at 274 nm. The detection limit was 5 ng/ml for theobromine and caffeine and 10 ng/ml for paraxanthine and theophylline. The linearity and reproducibility were sufficient for drug monitoring of caffeine and its primary methylxanthines.
Adult↗
A simplified approach for evaluation of hepatic drug-oxidizing activity with a simultaneous determination of caffeine and trimethadione and their demethylated metabolites in rats with a selective cytochrome P-450 inducer.
We determined the blood concentrations of caffeine (CA) and its three primary dimethylxanthine metabolites: theobromine (TB), paraxanthine (PX), and theophylline (TP), and trimethadione (TMO) and its demethylated metabolite dimethadione (DMO) after the simultaneous administration of CA (10 mg kg-1) and TMO (4 mg kg-1) to rats pretreated with phenobarbital (PB:40 and 80 mg kg-1 i.p. daily for 3 days) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC: 10 and 20 mg kg-1 i.p. daily for 2 days). After the oral administration of CA and TMO, the PB-pretreated rats showed a significant increase in TMO metabolism, whereas the CA metabolism was greatly accelerated in rats pretreated with MC. In five pretreated groups, there were correlations which were determined 1 h after the administration of CA and TMO, between the plasma half-life (t1/2) of CA and the TB/CA, PX/CA, and TP/CA ratios. The coefficients of correlation (r) ranged from -0.881 to -0.908, and the coefficients of correlation between the CL of CA and the TB/CA, PX/CA, and TP/CA ratios ranged from 0.959 to 0.989. There were high correlations between the t1/2 of TMO and the DMO/TMO ratio at 1 h after administration with r = -0.966, and between the CL of TMO and the DMO/TMO ratio with r = 0.971. The above results suggest that one blood sampling after the simultaneous administration of CA and TMO enables prediction of the degree of each hepatic drug-oxidizing activity because the P-450 isozymes involved in metabolism of CA and TMO are different.
Animals↗
Detection of chronic hepatitis C virus infection by four diagnostic systems: first-generation and second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay and nested polymerase chain reaction analysis.
Serum samples from 100 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis-related chronic liver disease and 100 patients with hepatitis B-related chronic liver disease were tested by first-generation and second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, a second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay and the nested polymerase chain reaction. In non-A, non-B hepatitis-related chronic liver disease, second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (anti-c22 and/or c200) and second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay showed 98% positivity, whereas first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (anti-c100-3) showed 89% positivity. The two second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-negative samples were positive by nested polymerase chain reaction, but one second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive sample was polymerase chain reaction negative. However, when this second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay-positive sample was tested by polymerase chain reaction using another set of primers, it was polymerase chain reaction positive. Therefore, 100% of the non-A, non-B hepatitis-related chronic liver disease serum samples were hepatitis C virus RNA positive by polymerase chain reaction. Nine hepatitis B-related chronic liver disease samples were first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive. Of the eight second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-positive hepatitis B-related chronic liver disease samples, six were first-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive and five were second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay positive and polymerase chain reaction positive. One indeterminate second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay sample was polymerase chain reaction negative. Therefore, second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay appears to be as useful as polymerase chain reaction for detecting a chronic hepatitis C virus infection, although some discrepancies were noted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗