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Biomedical subjects

H Suda

Publications and source records attributed to H Suda.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Low-dose weekly methotrexate therapy for progressive neuro-Behçet's disease].

Among a variety of central nervous system (CNS) manifestations of Behçet's disease, the most serious one is progressive dementia. However, there has been no effective treatment to prevent the progression of dementia. The present studies have examined the efficacy of low-dose weekly methotrexate therapy for the progressive dementia in Behçet's disease. Six patients with the progressive type of neuro-Behçet's disease were treated with low-dose weekly methotrexate (7.5-15 mg/week). Neurological findings, psychological findings, brain MRI and IL-6 in cerebrospinal fluid were evaluated at the start and one year after the initiation of the therapy. All the 6 patients were refractory to the conventional therapy for neuro-Behçet's disease. The progression of neuropsychological abnormalities such as dementia was not recognized after one year from the initiation of methotrexate therapy. Consistently, IL-6 levels in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly decreased after one year from the initiation of therapy. Six months after the discontinuation of low-dose weekly methotrexate, progression of neuropsychological abnormalities such as dementia was recognized, and IL-6 levels in cerebrospinal fluid were significantly increased. These findings may suggest the suppression of the ongoing inflammatory process in the intracranial lesions by methotrexate. These results suggest that low-dose weekly methotrexate therapy may be a new promising method for the treatment of the progressive type of neuro-Behçet's disease.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

[Hyperosmolality in central nervous system lupus as a possible complication that results in prolonged consciousness disturbance].

We describe a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with lupus psychosis, who showed prolonged consciousness disturbance due to hyperosmolality. A 51-year-old Japanese woman with SLE was admitted to our hospital for the evaluation and treatment of consciousness disturbance on March 5, 1994. She had not been given prednisolone since 1984, and had been depressive since January 1994. She was diagnosed as active SLE with lupus psychosis due to the presence of thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, positive anti-nuclear antibody (x10,240) as well as the elevation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 level. A treatment with methylprednisolone (mPL) 100 mg/day was started along with 2 courses of steroid pulse therapy (mPL 1 g/day for 3 consecutive days). She recovered partially from the central nervous system manifestations with a decrease in CSF IL-6 level 2 weeks after this treatment. However, her consciousness level was exacerbated again thereafter. Blood examination disclosed the elevation of plasma osmolality (319 mOsm/kg) with poor responses of plasma antidiuretic hormone (4.6 pg/ml). She died from systemic aspergillosis on April 26, 1994. Pathological examination on autopsy showed no abnormality in hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It is suggested that this patient was complicated with lupus psychosis as well as hyporesponsiveness of osmoreceptor. Rheumatologists should be aware of this complication in patients with CNS lupus as a possible cause for intractable CNS manifestations.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

[Dental treatment and oral health care on Tokashiki Island, Okinawa].

Okinawa Prefecture has been promoting dental treatment and oral health care in places where there are no dentists. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has been cooperating with eight dental colleges, including Tokyo Medical and Dental University, for promotion thereof since 1961. The 155th promotion was held on Tokashiki Island. The caries prevalence rate of the students on Tokashiki Island was relatively high compared with the average caries prevalence rate of the same age group throughout Japan, and most of the caries were thought to be due to too many soft drinks. Resin filling was the most popular treatment during this promotion. Severe periodontal disease was observed in middle-aged persons, but we could only perform initial periodontal treatment because of the limited treatment period. Complete or partial dentures were made or repaired for many elderly. The questionnaire study showed most of the denture wearers on Tokashiki Island were satisfied with their dentures, although many dentures did not fit, and the prescription was improved. The period of this promotion was too short to perform complete dental treatment and to prevent caries and periodontal disease, and primary prevention and higher dental hygiene education should be strengthened in no dentist areas like Tokashiki Island.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Nutritional therapy for ulcerative colitis].

Despite its supplementary role for a remedy of the Ulcerative Colitis, nutritional therapy performs the important role as well as medicine. In the active state, the aim of nutrition therapy is to reduce the activity of the disease. In the remission state, the aim is to keep the condition and to supply elements of nutrition which the disease causes these deficiency such as vitamins or minerals. Needless to say, it is required to consider a few points; patient's condition, lesion's digestion disorder and leakage, or side effects of caused by medicines. High calorie, low fat and rich protein is ideal for the nutrition therapy for this disease, however it is suggested to satisfy patient's mental health at the same time. Nutrition therapy for Ulcerative Colitis should be regarded as the long-term treatment that requires the co-operation and comprehension between patients and medical supporting staffs.

Colitis, Ulcerative↗
PubMed1999

The first report on human cases serologically diagnosed as Japanese encephalitis in Indonesia.

Although Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus was isolated from mosquitos in 1974, human JE cases have never been reported in Indonesia in spite of the prevalence of anti-JE antibodies among human and pig populations as well as abundant JE vector mosquitos. In this report, we describe serological diagnosis of JE cases in Bali. Indonesia. using IgM-capture ELISA both on serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patients. In the first series of our investigation (Series 1), we examined serum specimens from 12 patients with clinical diagnosis of viral encephalitis, meningitis or dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and found 2 possible JE cases. In the next series (Series 2), we examined both serum and CSF from encephalitis patients and gave laboratory diagnosis of JE. One of them was suspected to have concomitant or recent infection with dengue virus, probably type 3. These results strongly indicated that JE has been prevalent in Bali, Indonesia.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1998

Low-dose weekly methotrexate for progressive neuropsychiatric manifestations in Behcet's disease.

The most serious central nervous system (CNS) manifestation in Behcet's disease is a slowly progressive dementia (progressive NB), which may ultimately lead to the deterioration of the personality of patients. An open trial was designed to investigate the efficacy of low dose weekly methotrexate (MTX) therapy for progressive NB. Six patients with Behcet's disease, whose neuropsychiatric manifestations were judged to be progressive (4 females and 2 males, aged 55.0+/-8.2 years), were given oral MTX (7.5-12.5 mg/week) until the end of the 12-month trial. The clinical responses of the patients to MTX were judged by neuropsychiatric findings, intelligence test, brain MRI scans and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-6 levels. After the 12-month trial, CSF IL-6 levels were found to be significantly decreased. Accordingly, the neuropsychological manifestations as well as the findings on MRI scans and intelligence quotients were not significantly worsened after the trial. Three patients presented with mild liver dysfunction, which returned to normal by decreasing the dose of MTX. However, 6 months after discontinuation of MTX, all the six patients showed significant exacerbation of the manifestations as evidenced by a decrease in verbal intelligence quotients along with the marked elevation of CSF IL-6. These results suggest that low dose weekly MTX therapy might have a beneficial effect in the treatment of progressive NB, although a trial for a longer period would be necessary.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Vacuolation induced by cytotoxin from Helicobacter pylori is mediated by the EGF receptor in HeLa cells.

The bacterial toxin VacA produced by H. pylori induces large vacuoles in several types of cultured cells such as HeLa cells or gastric cells. To determine the mechanism of vacuolation induced by this toxin we employed several inhibitors of membrane trafficking and endocytosis. The development of vacuolation induced by VacA in HeLa cells were prevented by bafilomycin A1 and low temperature conditions that inhibited vesicle transport or endocytosis. Formation of large vacuoles was also inhibited by an antibody against EGF receptor, which was previously shown to be internalized by endocytosis, but not by an anti-transferrin receptor antibody. Moreover, proteins of 58 and 37 kDa, corresponding to fragments of VacA, were recognized by an anti-H. pylori antibody after immunoprecipitation with anti-EGF receptor of cell extracts from HeLa cells treated with VacA, but not from untreated HeLa cells. We suggest that VacA may enter cells by endocytosis mediated by the EGF receptor. These are the first data indicating that the EGF receptor may be significant in the development of vacuolation caused by VacA.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Sequence-selective DNA cleavage by a topoisomerase I poison, NB-506.

An indolocarbazole compound, NB-506, inhibits the activity of topoisomerase I by stabilizing the DNA-topoisomerase I complex (cleavable complex). NB-506 inhibited the religation step of topoisomerase I activity more potently than camptothecin or its derivative, topotecan. A cleavage assay using an end-labeled fragment of DNA revealed that the pattern of cleavage induced by NB-506 was different from that induced by camptothecin. The preferred cleavage sites of NB-506 were found to be not only T but also A or C at the 3'-terminus of the cleaved DNA (position -1), while the DNA cleavage sites of camptothecin always had T at position -1. At the 5'-terminus of the cleaved DNA (position +1), NB-506 showed a preference for G, which is a feature shared in common with camptothecin. Therefore, the difference in cleavage patterns was most likely due mainly to the preferred base at position -1. Moreover, the re-ligation rate was significantly slower at NB-506-selective sites, which had C at position-1, than at camptothecin-selective sites or at sites cleaved by both NB-506 and camptothecin. Our data suggest that NB-506 is an unique topoisomerase I poison and that its potent inhibition of topoisomerase I is partly dependent on retardation of re-ligation at sites selectively induced by NB-506.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Responses of macrophage-associated antigen-expressing cells in the dental pulp of rat molars to experimental tooth replantation.

Bacterial infection of the dental pulp is a major hindrance to successful pulp regeneration after tooth replantation. This study examined how macrophages and class II molecule-expressing cells of the pulp respond to tooth replantation, on the hypothesis that they contribute to the defence and repair of the traumatized pulp. Upper right first molars of 5-week-old male Wistar rats were replanted immediately after extraction; contralateral untreated teeth served as controls. Pulpal cells expressing macrophage-associated antigens were immunohistochemically demonstrated at 0 h (immediately after the replantation) to 84 days postoperatively using antirat monoclonal antibodies OX6 (anti-class II molecules), ED1 (pan-macrophage antibody, reactive also with dendritic cells) and ED2 (anti-resident macrophages). Between 3 and 7 days postoperatively, ED1+ and OX6+ cells, but not ED2+ cells, were concentrated in areas of degeneration formed in the coronal pulp, and frequently showed a marked accumulation along the pulp-dentine border of the cuspal area. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that some of the OX6+ cells with a dendritic profile extended several cytoplasmic processes into the dentinal tubules communicating with the enamel-free area at the tip of the cusp. From 14-84 days, approx. two-thirds of specimens exhibited pulp-tissue regeneration with increasing formation of reparative dentine. Following the formation of sound reparative dentine, cells positive to each antibody were distributed more centrally in the pulp than in the controls, and thus did not show any accumulation along the pulp-dentine border. However, in the other specimens where a bone-like hard tissue had formed in the pulp chamber, many ED1+ and OX6+ cells were still concentrated in the remaining pulp tissue and showed a marked accumulation along the pulp dentine border. Few ED2+ cells were observed in these specimens. These findings suggest that, following tooth replantation, exudative macrophages are actively engaged in eliminating dentinal tubule-derived infectious stimuli and that class II molecule-expressing cells, most probably containing dendritic cells, are positioned strategically at the outermost portion of the injured pulp to monitor incoming antigens. The intensity of the pulpal defence reaction may be dependent on the status of hard-tissue formation, which influences the amount of incoming antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Subjective sensation and objective neural discharges recorded from clinically nonvital and intact teeth.

The aim of this study was to compare subjective sensation with objective neural discharges recorded by microneurography. We examined human teeth that did not respond to pulp vitality testing, but that responded to cavity preparation for endodontic treatment (pathophysiological). Intact teeth and endodontically obturated teeth were used as controls. Pulpal blood flow in the clinical crown and histological examination were also used. Most teeth, both in normal and pathophysiological conditions, did not respond to all pulp vitality tests. Even when teeth in the pathophysiological group showed spike discharges evoked by pulp vitality tests or from spontaneous activity no sensation was elicited. These results confirmed the usefulness of microneurography for research on pulpal sensation and the significance of summation in the perception of sensation in chronically inflamed tooth pulp.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1998

Effect of calcium hydroxide on the dissolution of soft tissue on the root canal wall.

Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] paste can aid in the cleaning of a root canal because of its soft tissue-dissolving potential. In this study, we examined with a scanning electron microscope the dissolution by Ca(OH)2 paste of pulpal tissue attached to uninstrumented bovine root canal walls. Extracted bovine anterior teeth were divided into small specimens at the middle portion of the roots. The experimental groups were treated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), Ca(OH)2, or a combination of Ca(OH)2 + NaOCl. The control group was given no treatment. The root canal walls were observed with a scanning electron microscope, and the amount of remaining pulp tissue was compared. The amount of debris was reduced remarkably in the groups treated with NaOCl for > 30 s, or Ca(OH)2 for 7 days. The combination of Ca(OH)2 + NaOCl was more effective than the separate treatments. The results suggest that Ca(OH)2 as a root canal medicine serves as an effective agent in removing tissue debris remaining on the root canal walls.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Transcriptional and translational regulation of phosphodiesterase type IV isozymes in rat brain by electroconvulsive seizure and antidepressant drug treatment.

We examined the influence of electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) and imipramine (IMI) treatment on the transcription and translation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE IV) isozymes in the rat brain. Our in situ hybridization studies revealed an increase of PDE IV-B mRNA level in various brain regions after acute ECS. However, the increase of PDE IV activity was produced not by acute but by chronic ECS treatment in the frontal cortex. Increased PDE IV-B mRNA expression in frontal but not in hippocampal subfields was induced also after chronic ECS treatment. Although an increase in PDE IV-A mRNA expression of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus was observed, no change of PDE IV activity was produced in the hippocampus by acute or chronic ECS treatment. These results suggest that the repeated increases of PDE IV-B mRNA expression are attributable to the increase of PDE IV translation. Increased PDE IV-B transcription and PDE IV translation in the frontal cortex were also produced after chronic IMI treatment. This is the first report demonstrating an expressional regulation of Drosophila melanogaster dunce (dnc) gene homologue PDE IV isozymes in the brain. Although no pathophysiological conditions with reduced PDE IV activity in the nervous system are known except for a learning deficit in the mutant fly dnc-, our results suggest possible treatments to cope with reduced PDE IV activity.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1998

A study of ring 20 chromosome karyotype with epilepsy.

We reported a 24-year-old woman with moderate mental retardation and partial epilepsy. She developed complex partial seizures at 3 years of age and generalized tonic convulsions at 9 years. Chromosome analysis revealed that she had mosaicism (87%) of 46, XX, and r(20) (p13,q13.3). Her electroencephalogram showed bilateral 2-3 Hz sharp and wave complex over the bilateral frontopolar, and centro-parieto-occipital areas. Computed tomographic and magnetic resonance image examinations were normal. Twenty-five cases of ring 20 chromosome karyotypes (including this case) have been reported in the literature; 19 showed epilepsy, and 18 showed moderate mental retardation. Many of the patients showed growth retardation and minor malformations. The ring 20 syndrome is associated with a high incidence of epilepsy, particularly partial epilepsy. Our findings indicate that the main features of the ring 20 syndrome are partial epilepsy and mental retardation.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1998

Tooth replantation in germ-free and conventional rats.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of bacterial infection on the pulpal and periodontal tissues in replanted teeth using germ-free and conventional rats. Forty maxillary and mandibular first molars from ten 6-week-old germ-free male Wistar rats were used. The animals and all materials were maintained in a germ-free environment inside vinyl isolators throughout the experimental periods. Twenty conventional male Wistar rats served as controls. The first molars were intentionally replanted immediately after extraction. At 3 days, and 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after replantation, animals were sacrificed and the replanted teeth were histopathologically evaluated. Diversity of pulp tissue response was notable in conventional rats, which initially showed various degrees of neutrophil infiltration and then displayed different types of response, including revascularization with reparative dentin formation and complete necrosis. Pulpal responses of germ-free rats were less variable, being characterized by an almost complete lack of neutrophil infiltration and a high frequency of bone-like tissue ingrowth. Typical inflammatory resorption was detected only in conventional rats, whereas a higher incidence of ankylosis was notable in germ-free rats. The present results may corroborate the concept that bacterial infection is a major cause of serious healing complications following tooth replantation, such as pulp necrosis and inflammatory root resorption. The difficulty in optimally controlling bacterial infection seems to be highly relevant to the complexity and unpredictability of the outcome of this procedure. It should also be emphasized that extensive mechanical damage to the periodontal tissues may trigger the development of unfavorable healing complications as ankylosis, even under strictly aseptic conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

BE-31405, a new antifungal antibiotic produced by Penicillium minioluteum. I. Description of producing organism, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical and biological properties.

A new antifungal antibiotic, BE-31405, was isolated from the culture broth of a fungal strain, Penicillium minioluteum F31405. BE-31405 was isolated by adsorption on high porous polymer resin (Diaion HP-20), followed by solvent extraction, precipitation and crystallization. BE-31405 showed potent growth inhibitory activity against pathogenic fungal strains such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Cryptococcus neoformans, but did not show cytotoxic activity against mammalian cells such as P388 mouse leukemia. The mechanism studies indicated that BE-31405 inhibited the protein synthesis of C. albicans but not of mammalian cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A new antitumor antibiotic, BE-19412A, produced by a streptomycete.

A new antitumor substance, designated BE-19412A, was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. A19412. The active principle was extracted from the mycelium by methanol and purified by Silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. BE-19412B was prepared by methylation of BE-19412A. BE-19412A and B exhibited cytotoxic activity against murine and human tumor cell lines. BE-19412A prolonged the survival of CDF1 mice bearing i.p. implanted Ehrlich carcinoma cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[A case report of mycotic aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta].

A rare case of mycotic aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta is presented. A 63-year-old man was admitted with history of persistent high fever and loss of consciousness to our hospital. On admission, there were elevated WBC and CRP. Blood and spinal fluid cultures revealed growth of Streptococcus pneumonia. Despite of antibiotic therapy for meningitis and bacteremia, inflammatory sign continued, and new abnormal shadow appeared on chest X-ray. Chest CT and aortography showed two aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta. In an emergency operation, there was no abscess formation around the aneurysms. Aneurysms were excised en bloc without opening aneurysms followed by in situ Dacron tube graft replacement. The patient has been doing well without infection.

Aneurysm, Infected↗