Biomedical subjects

H Tamura

Publications and source records attributed to H Tamura.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Pelvic exenteration for the treatment of gynecological malignancies.

Twenty-three patients undergoing pelvic exenteration for primary and recurrent gynecological malignancies from 1976 to 1994 are reported. Fifteen patients underwent total pelvic exenteration, 3 underwent anterior exenteration, and 5 underwent a posterior procedure. Eight patients had exenteration as their primary treatment (primary group), and 15 underwent exenteration as secondary treatment (recurrent group). In the primary group, two patients developed recurrence and died of it at 6 and 20 months after operation. Five patients are still being followed up and are alive without disease. Four of these 5 patients have survived more than 5 years. In the recurrent group, 12 patients were followed up and three died of complications during the early years. Seven patients died of cancer with the mean survival time of 16.6 months. The mean age, average operating time, and mean blood loss in the primary and recurrent groups were 57 vs. 53 years, 8 hours and 20 min vs. 8 hours and 10 min, and 4,120 vs. 4,190 ml, respectively. The overall cumulative 5-year survival rate was 34.7%, being 68.6% in the primary group and 16.7% in the recurrent group. It is noteworthy that the 5-year survival rate was 51.3% in the patients who had surgical margins free of disease. In conclusion, pelvic exenteration should be considered an acceptable therapeutic option when appropriately selected.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

(1-->3)-beta-D-glucan determination in rat organs with limulus coagulation factor G.

One cause of a false positive limulus test after surgery or hemodialysis has been identified as extrinsic (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan which was derived from surgical gauze or cellulose dialyzer. However, there have been no investigations concerning intrinsic factors and the presence of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in mammalian organs. In this study, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in homogenate of various rat organs and stool was measured by a Gluspecy test (G test) using factor G, which specifically reacts with (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan. In small intestine and lung, large amounts of factor G-activating substance were observed and identified as (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan by a digestion study using end-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase. However, only very small amounts of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan were found in the kidney, spleen, vena cava, aorta, thymus, heart and liver. In serum and plasma, no (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan was observed. On the other hand, extremely large amounts of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan were found in stool. Minute amounts of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan were observed in a variety organs except for the small intestine and lung. High levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan found in the small intestine might be traced to contamination by stool in the small intestine, and such levels in the lung might derive from macrophages which have trapped (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in the air.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Endotoxin contamination in fetal bovine serum and its influence on tumor necrosis factor production by macrophage-like cells J774.1 cultured in the presence of the serum.

Trace amounts of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS) are assumed to contaminate commercially available fetal bovine serum (FBS) for tissue or cell culture during the manufacturing process. We examined how cultured cells were affected by the endotoxin and how much endotoxin was in the FBS. Macrophage-like J774.1 cells maintained in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with FBS containing low doses of LPS for 15 or 21 days showed less TNF production in response to LPS than the cells maintained under LPS-free conditions, and the affected responses of the cells were not recovered by an additional 21 day culture in medium with LPS-free FBS. Concentrations of LPS in 40 lots of FBS obtained from 13 international manufacturers were measured by a highly sensitive and LPS-specific chromogenic limulus assay. The median of endotoxin levels in these lots was 46 ng/ml and the maximum was 38.8 ng/ml. Relatively higher concentrations of LPS (> 1 ng/ml) or lower levels (< 10 pg/ml) were found in 9 and 6 lots, respectively. The majority of the FBS lots contained various levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, and all lots contained high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, no correlation was found between LPS and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan or HDL level in the lots. Each FBS was added to macrophage-like J774.1 cells which had been maintained in LPS-free medium. Five lots of FBS induced significant TNF production by the cells without addition of any stimulant. These active 5 FBS contained relatively higher levels of LPS and pretreatment of the FBS with polymyxin B eliminated their ability to induce TNF production. No correlation was found between (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels in FBS and the TNF-inducing capability of FBS. These results show that considerable lots of FBS contain significant levels of LPS, which must affect cell culture.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with end-stage renal disease under dialysis treatment.

The efficacy and safety of combination therapy with amoxicillin, lansoprazole, and plaunotol for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients on dialysis were evaluated. The study subjects comprised 15 dialysis patients in whom H pylori had been found in the gastric mucosa. The patients were given 500 mg amoxicillin once a day for 3 weeks, 30 mg lansoprazole once a day for 8 weeks, and 80 mg plaunotol three times a day for 24 weeks. Endoscopy was performed on entry and at 4 and 24 weeks after cessation of amoxicillin. The concentrations of serum gastrin and gastric juice ammonia also were measured. Fourteen patients completed the treatment protocol, one having dropped out because of nausea and diarrhea. H pylori was eradicated in 11 of the 14 patients 4 weeks after the end of amoxicillin therapy (eradication rate, 78.6%). All but one patient was free of H pylori 24 weeks after the amoxicillin was discontinued. Patients who became negative for H pylori had significantly decreased serum gastrin and gastric juice ammonia concentrations. Our findings indicate that a combination of amoxicillin, lansoprazole, and plaunotol can be used to eradicate H pylori in patients on dialysis.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

PubMed1997

Rationale and hematologic target points in response-oriented individualized induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Response-oriented individualized induction chemotherapy (ROIIC) has been reported to achieve a high complete remission (CR) rate in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In ROIIC, drug dose is modified for each patient to achieve hematologic target points, based on the concept that this achievement, not a preset drug dose, increases the likelihood of attaining CR. However, the existing target points lack objectivity, therefore prohibiting worldwide use of ROIIC. In addition, the achievement of these target points does not statistically relate to CR, which contradicts the concept of ROIIC. To solve these problems, we evaluated various parameters of 117 AML cases treated by ROIIC to identify the factors relating to CR. Of 117 AML subjects, 75 achieved CR with ROIIC and most cases achieving CR did so with one ROIIC course. Not the administered dose of drugs but several hematologic parameters at the end of ROIIC correlated significantly with CR. A total of four parameters, all related to the leukemic cell mass, were independent predictive factors of CR. A formula consisting of these parameters predicted CR cases with high sensitivity (98%) and non-CR cases with high specificity (96%). Based on this formula, an objective target point (a bone marrow blast mass ratio between before and after ROIIC of below 0.15), valid for dose modification during ROIIC, was established. These results validate the concept of ROIIC and enable objective dose modification in ROIIC and universal application of this therapy. Further, the formula predicting non-CR cases at the end of ROIIC is useful for deciding early therapeutic intervention for such cases.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Decreased hepatocyte growth factor level by Wy-14,643, non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogen in F-344 rats.

We examined the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the hepatocarcinogenesis caused by [4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinylthio] acetic acid (Wy-14,643), a peroxisome proliferator. Wy-14,643 (100 mg/kg body wt or 0.1% (w/w) in diet) was given orally to male F-344 rats for up to 78 weeks. At 78 weeks the hepatocarcinomas or adenomas in the livers of Wy-14,643-treated rats were observed. Markedly decreased amounts of hepatic HGF mRNA were observed in rats fed Wy-14,643 for 78 weeks. The degree of reduction was higher in the tumour portions of the liver than in the normal portions. After 7 days of treatment with Wy-14,643 (100 mg/kg body wt), the expression of hepatic HGF mRNA was slightly decreased. Wy-14,643 treatment resulted in a time-dependent decrease in hepatic HGF mRNA levels to 63% of the control level after 14 days of treatment. In long-term treatment (18-40 weeks), hepatic HGF mRNA levels were reduced further, reaching 44% of the control level at the 40-week stage. As shown by ELISA, the amounts of hepatic and plasma HGF were significantly decreased by 60 and 50%, respectively, compared with controls. The degree of the reduction correlated with the level of hepatic HGF mRNA. In the lung and kidney, also HGF secretory organs, Wy-14,643 slightly reduced the amount of HGF mRNA. In the colony assay using preneoplastic or neoplastic cells from Wy-14,643-treated livers, 5-15 ng/ml of HGF, which induces proliferation in normal hepatocytes, inhibited the colony formation of neoplastic or preneoplastic cells. The inhibitory effect was dependent on HGF concentration. In the presence of 300 ng/ml HGF, the growth of colonies was suppressed to 36% of the control level. These findings indicate that reductions in hepatic HGF levels, induced by Wy-14,643, may play an important role in the promotion of neoplastic or preneoplastic cell growth.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

A novel component different from endotoxin extracted from Prevotella intermedia ATCC 25611 activates lymphoid cells from C3H/HeJ mice and gingival fibroblasts from humans.

A novel immunobiologically active fraction was prepared from a phenol-water extract of Prevotella intermedia ATCC 25611 by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. The fraction consisted mainly of carbohydrate and protein and was devoid of fatty acid. The fraction showed high-molecular-weight bands (10,000 to 12,000) on deoxycholate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (DOC-PAGE) and was scarcely active in a Limulus test. We designated the fraction Prevotella glycoprotein (PGP). The PGP fraction showed strong mitogenicity on splenocytes and cytokine-inducing activities on peritoneal macrophages from both C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice, and it stimulated human gingival fibroblasts to produce cytokines. The activities of the PGP fraction were resistant to heat inactivation (100 degrees C for 1 h) and protease treatments and were scarcely inhibited by polymyxin B. In contrast, the purified lipopolysaccharide fraction (LPS-PCP) extracted from the same bacterium with a phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether mixture, which showed strong Limulus activity and a single low-molecular-weight band (approximately 3,000) on DOC-PAGE, lacked the activities on splenocytes and macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice and human gingival fibroblasts. The activities of the LPS-PCP fraction on cells from C3H/HeN mice were completely inhibited by polymyxin B. The LPS extracted from the same bacterium with hot phenol-water (LPS-PW) exhibited the properties of both the PGP fraction and the LPS-PCP fraction. These findings suggest that the unique bioactivities of the LPS-PW fraction of oral black-pigmented bacteria reported to date, which differed from those of the classical endotoxin, were derived from the PGP fraction and not from the LPS itself.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1997

Role of interleukin-1beta in superovulation in rats.

In this study, the changes in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mRNA expression and its localization in the ovary were studied in pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG)-human CG (hCG) injected immature rats. Moreover, to study the in vivo role of IL-1 during ovulation, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) was injected into the bilateral bursae (100 microg/15 microl/bursa) immediately or at the 3rd, 5th, 10th h after hCG injection. IL-1beta mRNA expression in the ovary had significantly (P<0.05) increased at the 6th h after hCG injection, and its level depended on the time interval between PMSG and hCG injections; the maximal IL-1beta mRNA expression was observed when hCG was injected 48 h after the PMSG injection. The signals of IL-1beta mRNA localized in the thecal layer, particularly in the large preovulatory follicles. Intrabursal IL-1ra injection at the 3rd h after hCG injection showed a trend toward lowering the number of ova shed, and the injection at the 5th h significantly (P<0.01) decreased the number of ova shed compared with the saline injected control group. At the 24th h after hCG injection, there were a few large preovulatory follicles with distinguishable theca and granulosa layers in the IL-1ra treated ovary, although these two layers were indistinguishable in the control ovary. These results indicated that IL-1beta mRNA expression was definitely induced by hCG stimulation, and, moreover, this expression was dependent on the stage of follicular maturation. IL-1 may be important for the ovulation in the superovulatory cycle by PMSG in rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Microinjection of rat GH but not human IGF-I into a defined area of the hypothalamus inhibits endogenous GH secretion in rats.

It has been surmised that GH exerts feedback action on the hypothalamus and thereby regulates its own secretion. Our previous studies suggested that GH acts on somatostatin neurons in the hypothalamic periventricular nucleus (PeV) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC). However, there remains uncertainty whether GH acts directly or indirectly through the generation of IGFs on the hypothalamus to regulate its own secretion. To examine this, rat GH (rGH) or human IGF-I was injected directly into a defined area of the hypothalamus, and the blood GH profile was observed in conscious male rats. In the rats given 0.5 microgram rGH into the ARC or PeV bilaterally, GH secretion was inhibited, and the inhibition lasted for 12 h. During the period of inhibition, the duration and amplitude of GH pulses were significantly decreased and the episodic secretion of GH appeared irregularly compared with the vehicle-injected control rats. In control rats given the vehicle or those given rGH into the lateral hypothalamus, the blood GH profile did not change and pulsatile GH secretion was produced every 3 h. When 0.1 microgram IGF-I was injected into the ARC or PeV bilaterally, the blood GH secretory pattern was not affected. Together with the results of our previous studies showing that c-fos gene expression was induced by systemic administration of GH and that GH receptor mRNA was contained in somatostatin neurons in the PeV and NPY neurons in the ARC, the data of the present study indicate that GH, but not IGF-I, acts on the cells in the ARC and the PeV or in their vicinity to inhibit its own secretion, presumably by activating the somatostatin and NPY neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[The mechanism of increased thyroidal function caused by (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate(NS-21), a novel drug for urinary frequency and incontinence, administration in rats].

A study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of the increased thyroidal function caused by oral administration of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1, 1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), a new drug for the treatment of urinary frequency and incontinence, in rats. Rats were given 500 mg/kg of NS-21 orally for 13 weeks. Rats were also given 500 mg/kg of the drug and 15 micrograms/animal of thyroxine (T4) in order to assess the influence of T4 treatment. NS-21 caused decreases in both total and free T4 and increases in TSH and thyroxine uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransferase (T4UDP-GT). Morphological examination of thyroid gland revealed stimulated follicles indicating heightened thyroidal function. The treatment of T4 inhibited the stimulating effect of NS-21 on thyroid gland. These results show that the administration of NS-21 caused induction of T4UDP-GT, which resulted in a compensatory stimulation of the thyroidal function by the increased secretion of pituitary TSH in response to increased blood thyroid hormone metabolism.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Mutagenicity studies of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1,-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), a novel drug for urinary frequency and incontinence].

The mutagenicity of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), a new drug for the treatment of urinary frequency and incontinence, was investigated by the reverse mutation test in bacteria, the chromosome aberration test in vitro, and the micronucleus test in mice. The reverse mutation test was performed at a dose from 31.3 to 4000 micrograms/plate, at which dose cell killing was observed, using Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA. NS-21 did not increase revertant colonies significantly in any of the test strains with or without metabolic activation system (S9 mix). The chromosome aberration test was carried out at a dose from 3.75 to 140 micrograms/ml, at which dose more than 50% cell proliferation was inhibited, using cultured Chinese hamster lung cells (CHL/IU). No significant increases of the frequencies of cells with chromosome aberrations were observed with or without S9 mix. The micronucleus test was conducted in the bone marrow cells of Slc : ddY male mice. Mice were given NS-21 by a single oral administration at doses of 0, 43.8, 87.5, 175, and 350 mg/kg, the geometric mean dose between the maximum tolerated dose and the minimum lethal dose. There were no significant increases in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes at any dose levels. These results show that NS-21 has no mutagenic activity in vitro or in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Mutagenicity studies of RCC-36, the active metabolite of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), a novel drug for urinary frequency and incontinence].

The mutagenicity of (+/-)-4-ethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride (RCC-36), an active metabolite of (+/-)-4-diethylamino-1,1-dimethylbut-2-yn-1-yl 2-cyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetate monohydrochloride monohydrate (NS-21), was investigated by the reverse mutation test in bacteria, the chromosome aberration test in vitro, and the micronucleus test in mice. The reverse mutation test was performed at a dose range of 6.25-400 micrograms/plate using Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA. RCC-36 did not increase revertant colonies significantly in any of the test strains with or without metabolic activation system (S9 mix). The chromosome aberration test was carried out at a dose range of 2.5-20 micrograms/ml without S9 mix and 10-80 micrograms/ml with S9 mix using cultured Chinese hamster lung cells (CHL/IU). No significant increases of the frequencies of cells with chromosome aberrations were observed with or without S9 mix. The micronucleus test was conducted in the bone marrow cells of Slc:ddY male mice. Mice were given RCC-36 by a single intraperitoneal administration at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg. There were no significant increases in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes at any dose levels. These results show that RCC-36 has no mutagenic activity in vitro or in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral adrenocortical adenomas with different pathological features.

A 48-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome due to bilateral adrenocortical adenomas is reported. The patient presented with a typical Cushingoid appearance. The serum cortisol level was elevated with loss of the diurnal rhythm and the plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level was undetectable. Dynamic testing showed no suppression of urinary 17-OHCS by high-dose dexamethasone and no stimulation by metyrapone. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral adrenal tumors. Bilateral adrenalectomy was performed. The right adrenal gland contained a tumor that was encapsulated and consisted mainly of compact cells. The surrounding cortex was atrophic. The left adrenal gland contained an encapsulated tumor composed predominantly of clear cells. There were numerous small adrenocortical nodules in the surrounding cortex. Immunohistochemical analysis of steroidogenic enzymes (P450scc, 3beta-HSD, P450c21, P450c17 and P450c11) was performed. Immunoreactivity of all the enzymes was intense in the compact cells of the right adrenocortical adenoma, while the adjacent non-neoplastic cortex was negative for the enzymes. In the left adrenal tumor, the immunoreactivity of 3beta-HSD was intense, while that of P450c17 was weak. In the adrenocortical nodules, 3beta-HSD activity was sporadically observed. G protein genes encoding Gs alpha and Gi2 were examined for activating mutations at codons 201 and 227 (Gs alpha) and codons 179 and 205 (Gi2 alpha) in the bilateral adrenal tumors, but no mutations were found. The bilateral adenomas of this patient showed marked differences in microscopic and immunohistochemical studies, suggesting that the capacity of steroidogenesis differs between the right and left tumors.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

PubMed1997

Pharmacokinetic analysis of free radicals by in vivo BCM (Blood Circulation Monitoring)-ESR method.

In pharmacokinetic studies, a variety of analytical method including radioisotopic detection and HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) has been used. In the present investigation, we developed in vivo BCM (Blood Circulation Monitoring)-ESR method, which is a new technique with a conventional X-band ESR spectrometer for observing stable free radicals in the circulating blood of living rats under anaesthesia. Both 5-(PROXYL derivatives) and 6-(TEMPO d derivatives) membered nitroxide spin probes with various types of substituent functional group were used. After physico-chemical properties of the spin probes such as hyperfine coupling constant (A-value), g-value and partition coefficient as well as chemical stability of the compounds in the fresh blood were obtained, the in vivo BCM-ESR method was performed in normal rats. Several pharmacokinetic parameters such as half-life of the probes, distribution volume, total body clearance and mean residence time were obtained and discussed in terms of their chemical structures. In addition, clearance of a spin probe was related to the urine concentration. The BCM-ESR method was found to be very useful to observe free radicals at the real time. By time-dependent ESR signal decay of spin probes, pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Cell cycle modulation by hematopoietic growth factors in myelodysplastic syndromes: analysis by three-color flow cytometry.

Investigations of the effects of hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) on the cell cycle of cells from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) have been hampered by technical difficulties. In this study, using a recently established flow cytometric method that enables detailed analysis of the cell cycle (Gzero-, G1-, S-, and G2/M-phases) of target cells in a heterogeneous cell population, we examined the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and other HGFs on the cell cycle of CD13-positive cells (blasts and other malignant myelocytic and monocytic cells) in MDS. The cell cycle response to G-CSF (decrease in Gzero-phase cells and increase in S-phase cells) was heterogeneous among MDS cases. When the data for 13 MDS cases and 15 de novo AML cases were compared statistically, the magnitude of cell cycle activation by G-CSF was weaker for the cells from the MDS cases. Stem cell factor, interleukin-3, or a combination of these HGFs with G-CSF reduced the Gzero-phase cell percentage in all examined MDS cases whose cell cycle was unresponsive to G-CSF alone. When cytosine arabinoside was added to cells with or without stimulation by HGFs, the viable G0-phase cell count was reduced in HGF-stimulated cells compared with unstimulated cells in seven of eight cases. The present results suggest that G-CSF-induced cell cycle stimulation of malignant cells can be expected in a fraction of MDS patients and that even in MDS patients whose cells do not respond to G-CSF, employment of other HGFs and their combination with G-CSF is worth consideration. The results also suggest that a well-designed therapy using HGFs and chemotherapeutic drugs may reduce the quiescent (Gzero) cell count in MDS, which is assumed to be responsible for drug resistance derived from cell kinetics.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed1997

[Aprotinin 2 million KIU reduces perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing primary total hip replacement].

We investigated consecutive patients undergoing primary total hip replacement surgery who were randomly assigned into two groups; those who received a blinded solution of aprotinin 2 million KIU (kallikrein inactivation units) (n = 11) and those who received an equivalent volume of normal saline placebo (n = 10) throughout the surgical procedure. Anesthesia and surgical techniques were standardized. All patients received spinal anesthesia combined with general anesthesia. There was no significant difference in blood loss during operation between the two groups. However, postoperative blood loss in the aprotinin group (284 +/- 155g, mean +/- SD) was significantly less compared with that in the control group (723 +/- 334g). Total blood loss in the aprotinin group (820 +/- 255g) was also significantly less than in control group (1265 +/- 389g). We conclude that the use of aprotinin 2 million KIU during total hip replacement results in significantly less perioperative blood loss, especially during the postoperative period.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan assay and immunohistochemical staining of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in the fungal cell walls using a novel horseshoe crab protein (T-GBP) that specifically binds to (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan.

A highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific to (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans (GBP-ELISA) has been developed using a novel (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-binding protein (T-GBP), which was purified from the amebocyte lysate of the Japanese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus. This method allowed quantitation of the glucans in a concentration range of 0.1-1,000 ng/ml, regardless of linear and branched structures, and was applied to determine the amounts of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in human and animal plasmas for diagnosis of fungemia. High levels of plasma glucan contents in clinical samples were found to be correlated closely with the severity of fungal infection. T-GBP was successfully utilized for indirect immunofluorescence staining of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in Candida albicans cell walls.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Postoperative epidural fentanyl administration in patients for hysterectomy with para-aortic lymph node resection].

In our experience, continuous epidural administration of fentanyl in doses of 12.5 micrograms.h-1, has not been sufficient to relieve postoperative pain in patients after hysterectomy with para-aortic lymph node resection. Thus, a prospective, randomized, single-blind study was performed to compare the analgesic efficacy of fentanyl 25 micrograms.h-1 with 12.5 micrograms.h-1 in these patients for 48 hours after surgery. Twenty-one women undergoing hysterectomy with para-aortic lymph node resection were allocated into three groups; Group C (control, n = 7): fentanyl 12.5 micrograms.h-1, infusion rate 2 ml.h-1, Group S2 (double speed, n = 7): fentanyl 25 micrograms.h-1, infusion rate 4 ml.h-1, and Group C2 (double concentration, n = 7): fentanyl 25 micrograms.h-1, infusion rate 2 ml.h-1. At postoperative 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours, the degree of analgesia was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal pain scores at both rest and movement. Groups S2 and C2 showed significantly lower VAS scores than group C at the postoperative 6- and 24-hour points. At movement, the analgesic efficacy was not sufficient in any groups, but, at rest, groups S2 and C2 experienced significantly less pain than the group C. The degree of pain relief was not different between groups S2 and C2. In conclusion, epidural fentanyl 25 micrograms.h-1 provided significantly superior analgesia compared with epidural fentanyl 12.5 micrograms.h-1.

Analgesia, Epidural↗