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Biomedical subjects

H Taniguchi

Publications and source records attributed to H Taniguchi.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Errors in the spleen-blood partition coefficient for water in C15O2 steady-state PET.

The aim of this study was to clarify if the value of 0.93, determined for patients with normal livers, is useful as a pathological spleen-blood partition coefficient for water when the splenic blood flow is quantified by the C15O2 steady-state method. A steady-state PET scan with continuous inhalation of C15O2 and a dynamic PET scan with a H(2)15O bolus injection were performed. From 157 patients, 392 slices were chosen as having planes that encompassed the spleen and provided regions of interest with full signal imaging. A comparison of the results of the steady-state and dynamic methods was performed. When 0.93 was adopted as the spleen-blood partition coefficient for water, an error of about 25% was seen in the splenic blood flow of patients with cirrhosis. When measuring splenic blood flow, the H(2)15O dynamic method is necessary. However, a rough estimate of splenic blood flow is possible by the C15O2 PET steady-state method, if this error is known.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cataract and retinal detachment in patients with severe atopic dermatitis who were withdrawn from the use of topical corticosteroid.

Many patients with severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japan are afflicted with persistent erythema of the face (atopic red face) that is not only resistant to topical corticosteroid, but often becomes worse with its use. During a three-year period (1991-1993), we treated 79 inpatients with severe AD by a combination of careful daily skin care, use of emollients, and exclusion of exacerbating factors. Occular complications before and after treatment were examined in these cases. After withdrawal of topical corticosteroid, almost all of the patients showed a temporary worsening of their skin condition. Immediately thereafter, their occular symptoms did not change. Cataract was found in 20 cases (25.3%), and retinal detachment in 9 (11.4%). After 2 months, 11 cases of cataract and 5 cases of retinal detachment in the peripheral retina were observed. However, these incidences were similar to the numbers reported in Japan during conventional treatment with topical corticosteroid. The development of cataract or retinal detachment had no relationship to serum IgE levels, personal history of respiratory atopy, the duration of topical corticosteroid use on the face, or treatment with systemic corticosteroid. Our observations suggest that patients who habitually tap or rub their faces strongly tend to develop cataract or retinal detachment at a statistically significant higher frequency. Patients with AD should have ophthalmologic examinations every one to two months for at least one year after a facial oozing attack or withdrawal of corticosteroid.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1999

A case report: rare case of primary transitional cell carcinoma of the fallopian tube.

Carcinomas other than adenocarcinomas are extremely rare in the fallopian tube. A 42-year-old woman with watery, intermittent vaginal discharge was found to have a left adnexal tumor. This case was diagnosed as primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube, FIGO Stage Ia. She underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, a pelvic and periaortic lymphoadenectomy, and an omentectomy, followed by cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Four years after the initial diagnosis of the disease, she remains in a disease-free state. Histologically, the tumor revealed a primary transitional cell carcinoma of the left fallopian tube. The findings on an immunohistochemical test for an epithelial membrane antigen, the CA125 antigen, were positive, whereas findings on a test for CEA were negative. We report a case of a malignant neoplasm of the fallopian tube with histological features of transitional cell carcinoma that arose from the tubal epithelium.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Early discharge: its impact on low-income mothers and newborns in the state of Hawaii.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this survey were to investigate whether, in the state of Hawaii, early discharge had a negative effect on the health of new mothers and their infants, especially those at high sociodemographic risk, and whether early discharge was implemented in compliance with the early-discharge guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). METHODS: This statewide survey was conducted from June 17 through July 12, 1996. The data was collected and recorded by perinatal providers at 14 PSS (Perinatal Support Services) sites through interviews of mothers using questionnaires. This report is based on the 108 questionnaires that were returned from the PSS sites. A descriptive analysis was performed, using the statistical/epidemiologic program EPI INFO 6. RESULTS: The survey reveals that the practice of early discharge had been implemented extensively but not in compliance with AAP/ACOG early discharge guidelines. The neonatal readmission rate for this survey group was 6.5% among low-income mothers and infants. This was found to be among the highest rates reported in the United States and Canada; in the United States, reported neonatal readmission rates vary from 1 to 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Early discharge greatly contributes to negative outcomes among low-income mothers and infants. This paper reports on the results of this survey in Hawaii and recommends a comprehensive approach for promoting the health and well-being of low-income mothers and infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Grouping of 20 reference strains of Legionella species by the growth ability within mouse and guinea pig macrophages.

20 Reference strains of Legionella species, isolated from human, were classified according to their ability to grow within thioglycolate-induced peritoneal macrophages of mice and guinea pigs. Inbred and congenic mice were used to study the effect of the natural resistance genes Lgn1 and Bcg that are expressed phenotypically in the mouse macrophages. The Lgn1 gene controlled the intracellular growth of Legionella pneumophila Philadelphia-1 and Legionella jordanis GIFU 12657, but the Bcg gene did not affect the intracellular growth of any organism examined. Based on these results and the growth ability in guinea pig macrophages, the 20 reference strains were divided into four groups. This grouping will help us to understand a variety of modes of interaction between Legionella species and macrophages.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Chemotherapy for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H infection in a mouse model.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the antimicrobial agents, fosfomycin (FOM), minocycline (MINO), kanamycin (KM) and norfloxacin (NFLX) in the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infected mouse model which we established previously (Infect. Immun. 62 (1994) 3447-3453). Each of the antimicrobial agents, 1/16 LD(50), was given to the mice per os (p.o. ) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 3 days after bacterial inoculation and then we observed their mortality rate for 2 weeks. The mortality rates of mice administered with MINO (p.o./i.p.), KM (p.o.), NFLX (p. o./i.p.) were significantly lower than those of the control group. Both the bacterial number and VT2c level in the feces of the FOM group were lower than those of the NFLX group on day 1, but reversed on day 3. In an in vitro experiment, each of the four drugs in combination with mitomycin C (MMC) caused a more significant decrease in the bacterial number than sole MMC, and they consequently indicated the suppressive effect on the release of VT2c.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

T-Cell hyporesponsiveness induced by activated macrophages through nitric oxide production in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

In active tuberculosis, T-cell response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to be reduced. In the course of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice, we observed that T-cell proliferation in response to M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) reached the maximum level on day 7, then declined to the minimal level on day 14, and persisted at a low level through day 28 postinfection. The frequency of PPD-specific CD4 T cells in the spleen on day 28 decreased to one-sixth on day 7. To further investigate the mechanism of this T-cell hyporesponsiveness, we next analyzed the suppressive activity of spleen macrophages on T-cell function. The nonspecific proliferative response of naive T cells and the PPD-specific proliferative response of T cells were suppressed by day 28 macrophages, but not by day 7 macrophages or naive macrophages. This reduction of proliferative response was restored by addition of nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, NG-monoethyl-L-arginine monoacetate, but not by monoclonal antibody against interleukin 10 or transforming growth factor beta. These data indicate that the macrophages from mice chronically infected with M. tuberculosis suppress T-cell response through production of nitric oxide, suggesting that nitric oxide-induced elimination mediated by activated macrophages may reduce the T-cell response and the number of mycobacterium-specific CD4 T cells in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known as a potent neutrophil chemotactic glycoprotein in vitro but its contribution to chemotactic activity in neutrophil mediated lung diseases is not yet known. The aims of this study were to determine whether G-CSF is present in high concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF, also called cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis), a neutrophil mediated lung disease, and to what extent G-CSF in BAL fluid contributes to neutrophil accumulation in the lung of patients with IPF. METHODS: G-CSF concentrations in BAL fluid samples from 16 healthy volunteers, 24 patients with IPF, and 73 patients with non-IPF lung disease were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between G-CSF concentrations and neutrophil count in BAL fluid was also examined. Neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) was measured in BAL fluid in healthy volunteers and patients with IPF. The contribution of G-CSF to overall NCA in lungs with IPF was assessed by repeating the measurement of NCA after a complete neutralisation of G-CSF bioactivity by anti-human G-CSF antiserum. RESULTS: Detectable levels of G-CSF were found in BAL fluid of 83% of patients with IPF while the levels in all healthy volunteers were below the detection limit. In patients with IPF a significant correlation was observed between the BAL fluid neutrophil count and the concentration of G-CSF in the BAL fluid. The neutrophil count also correlated significantly with percentage forced vital capacity. In BAL fluid samples from patients with IPF the mean NCA value was reduced by 35% after neutralisation with an anti-human G-CSF antiserum. CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF may be involved in enhancing neutrophil accumulation in the lungs of patients with IPF.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Acute interstitial pneumonia: thin-section CT findings in 36 patients.

PURPOSE: To characterize the computed tomographic (CT) findings of acute interstitial pneumonia and to correlate the pattern and the extent of abnormalities with the time between symptom onset and CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 36 patients (20 men, 16 women; age range, 22-83 years; mean age, 61 years) with histopathologically proved acute interstitial pneumonia who were identified retrospectively. The time between symptom onset and CT was 2-90 days (mean, 22 days; median, 17 days). The presence, extent, and distribution of various CT findings were evaluated. Disease duration and extent of each finding were compared by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Areas with ground-glass attenuation, traction bronchiectasis, and architectural distortion were present in all 36 patients. Airspace consolidation was present in 33 patients (92%). The extent of areas of ground-glass attenuation (r = 0.45, P < .01) and the extent of traction bronchiectasis (r = 0.35, P < .05) correlated with disease duration. No other significant correlation was found between the CT findings and disease duration. CONCLUSION: A combination of ground-glass attenuation, airspace consolidation, traction bronchiectasis, and architectural distortion is seen in the majority of patients with acute interstitial pneumonia. The extent of ground-glass attenuation and traction bronchiectasis increases with disease duration.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Suplatast tosilate inhibits late response and airway inflammation in sensitized guinea pigs.

The effect of suplatast tosilate, which has been proven to inhibit T-cell synthesis of IL-4 and IL-5, on the response to antigen inhalation challenge was investigated in sensitized guinea pigs. The animals were given an oral dose of 30 or 100 mg/kg of suplatast or vehicle (distilled water) daily for 1 wk before antigen challenge. Measurement of pulmonary resistance for 6 h was followed by bronchoalveolar lavage and lung fixation. After antigen challenge, all guinea pigs in the vehicle group displayed dual-phase airway obstruction and accumulation of eosinophils and lymphocytes in the airways. After 1 wk of treatment with the high dose of suplatast, the late asthmatic response and the recruitment of eosinophils and lymphocytes into the airways were significantly inhibited, but the early asthmatic response was not affected. In situ hybridization revealed that challenge-induced increases in IL-5 mRNA-positive cells in lung tissue were significantly inhibited after treatment. Thus, suplatast inhibited airway obstruction in the late phase by specifically inhibiting the inflammatory process after mast cell degranulation.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1999

Possible involvement of Ca2+ entry and its pharmacological characteristics responsible for endothelium-dependent, NO-mediated relaxation induced by thapsigargin in guinea-pig aorta.

Thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of Ca(2+)-pump Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER), produces an endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation. In the present study, pharmacological features of thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation were functionally characterized in the isolated guinea-pig aorta especially focusing on the Ca2+ mobilization mechanisms in endothelial cells. Thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was markedly suppressed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and calmidazolium, suggesting that the vascular relaxation to thapsigargin is largely attributable to endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) produced as a result of the activation of Ca2+, calmodulin-dependent NO synthase (NOS). Removal of Ca2+ from the external solution abolished the endothelium-dependent relaxation of guinea-pig aorta in response to thapsigargin. Thapsigargin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was inhibited more strongly compared with the endothelium-independent relaxation to an NO donor, SIN-1 (3-(4-morpholinyl)-sydnonimine), when the artery preparation was preconstricted with a high concentration (80 mM) of KCl instead of agonistic stimulation. Endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by thapsigargin was not affected by diltiazem, a blocker of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. SK&F96365 (1-[beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl]-1 H-imidazole) and Ni2+, both of which block capacitative Ca(2+) entry, did not show any appreciable inhibitory effects on the endothelium-dependent relaxation to thapsigargin. These findings suggest that in guinea-pig aorta, endothelium-dependent NO-mediated relaxation induced by thapsigargin is preceded by the increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]cyt) following the depletion of stored Ca2+ in thapsigargin-sensitive store sites in endothelial cells. Although the increase in [Ca2+]cyt responsible for the activation of endothelium NOS leading to thapsigargin-induced vascular relaxation may be ascribed to the capacitative Ca2+ entry from extracellular space, the Ca2+ entry mechanism stimulated with thapsigargin is deficient in sensitivity to SK&F96365 and Ni2+ in the endothelium of guinea-pig aorta.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Generation of free radicals during the death of Saccharomyces cerevisiae caused by lipid hydroperoxide.

The exposure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to 13-L-hydroperoxylinoleic acid (LOOH) caused their death, the degree of which was dependent on the growth phase of the cells. Pre-application of ethanol, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and LOOH to S. cerevisiae cells reduced the effect of LOOH on the cells, showing the transient cross adaptation to LOOH. Antioxidants such as N,N',-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), melatonin and vitamin E, and inhibitors of permeability transition of mitochondria, cyclosporin A and trifluoperazine, inhibited the LOOH-triggered cell death, while an inhibitor of glutathione synthetase, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), enhanced the cell death by LOOH. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry, using the ROS-specific fluorescent indicator. A ferric iron chelator, deferoxamine, inhibited the LOOH-triggered cell death, and peroxyl radicals (LOO.) were detected by a spin trapping method. These reactive radicals possibly induced the death of S. cerevisiae cells. However, the DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis was not observed in S. cerevisiae cells after exposure to LOOH, staurosporine, dexamethasone or etoposide, which have been reported to cause apoptosis in mammalian cells.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed1999

[Development of cancer treatment practice guidelines in Japan: advantages and disadvantages].

The development of clinical practice guidelines for the systematic treatment of cancer is being promoted as a way to assist clinicians and patients. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of developing clinical practice guidelines for both clinicians and patients are discussed. Physicians may regard guidelines to be unrealistic, and some may even consider guidelines to be a challenge to their autonomy. However, the advantages of guidelines for the patients and clinicians exceed any disadvantages. The development of guidelines should therefore be promoted, although with consideration of both the many advantages and disadvantages for clinicians and patients.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1999

[Treatment of postoperative recurrence of digestive cancers: peritonitis carcinomatosa].

Carcinomatous peritonitis is the most frequent type of recurrence observed after surgery for cancer of the digestive tract. Most patients with carcinomatous peritonitis present with bowel obstruction and/or ascites. Surgical treatment including colostomy and intestinal anastomosis and chemotherapy have been attempted in patients with carcinomatous peritonitis, although the results have not been satisfactory. New drug delivery systems, such as mitomycin C-adsorbed charcoal, anticancer drugs entrapped in microspheres, and immunoconjugates composed of anticancer drugs and antibodies, will be powerful new tools for the treatment of metastatic cancer.

Digestive System Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

[Antidiuretic hormone in severe cases of atopic dermatitis].

32 out of 83 in patients with atopic dermatitis showed a decrease of urine excretion during acute exacerbation and elevated levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH 23 of 29 cases), renin (18 of 32 cases), angiotensin (22 of 29 cases) and aldosterone (16 of 37 cases). Six cases with high ADH showed severe pitting edema of lower legs with hypoalbuminemia. ADH, volume of urine and edema were improved when their skin symptoms subsided. There was no statistically significant relationship between the dose of steroid ointment and ADH. Also there was no correlation between low 17-OHCS or 17-KS and high ADH or renin.

Adult↗