Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Honda

Publications and source records attributed to J Honda.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[In vitro and clinical studies of MRSA infections in compromised hosts].

From January to December 1991, 47 clinical cases in when methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains were isolate were investigated at our internal medicine ward. The MRSA infection rate was 57.4% (27/47). The mortality due to MRSA bacteremia was 75.0% (9/12) and that due to MRSA pneumonia was 57.1% (4/7). We think that MRSA infections must be treated by multiple antibiotics. At out institution, most of the patients were given a combination therapy of imipenem + fosfomycin or imipenemt + mynocycline. Although in vitro the MICs of imipenem did not show excellent activity against MRSA strains, in vivo these combination therapy including imipenem showed excellent activity against MRSA infections. We think that this result was due to the additive effect of the two drug combination. We determined the MICs of single antibiotics against MRSA strains. Most of the MRSA strains were sensitive to minocycline and arbekacin. All MRSA strains were sensitive to vancomycin we think that vancomycin is a highly useful drug to combat MRSA infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Immunohistochemical and morphometric studies on the development of the thyroid, parathyroid and ultimobranchial body in Xenopus laevis Daudin].

The development of the thyroid, parathyroid and ultimobranchial body was examined by immunohistochemistry and morphometric analysis in the larvae of Xenopus laevis Daudin from the time immediately after hatch to the end of metamorphosis. The thyroid appeared at stage 43 and began to secrete thyroglobulin from stage 47/48. Both the volume of the thyroid and the height of the follicular epithelium reached the peak at stage 61 and decreased thereafter towards the end of metamorphosis at stage 66. The parathyroid first appeared at stage 43 as the thickening of the wall of the third and fourth visceral pouch. The volume of the parathyroid gradually increased with the progress of development until the end of metamorphosis. The ultimobranchial body appeared at stage 45 as a recess of the epithelium lining the floor of the pharynx. It became follicular in the structure at stage 53. Its volume reached the peak at stage 61 and decreased thereafter towards the end of metamorphosis. Calcitonin-immunoreactive cells first appeared in the ultimobranchial body at stage 47/48, showed the most intense reaction at stage 59, and rapidly decreased in number thereafter towards the end of metamorphosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in making early diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus and Pneumocystis carinii-pneumonia in patients with hematological neoplasms].

Recently, the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients with hematological neoplasms has been markedly increasing. However, early and definitive diagnosis and treatment of these infections remain difficult. In this study, we report three patients, a 47-year-old female with ATL, a 54-year-old female with CML and a 65-year-old female with ATL. All these cases were complicated with pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) or cytomegalovirus (CMV). They were successfully treated with sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim or ganciclovir after detection of the respective microorganisms from sputum samples in the early stage of the infections by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The above clinical evidence demonstrated the PCR technique to be a rapid and sensitive diagnostic procedure for the detection of Pc or CMV and to be helpful for the early initiation of appropriate treatment of the infections in patients with hematological neoplasms.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Growth of the pulmonary arteries and morphological assessment after Blalock-Taussig shunts].

Clinical and angiographic results were studied after 121 classic Blalock-Taussig shunts (CBT) and 74 modified Blalock-Taussig shunts (MBT) with polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. 1. The actuarial shunt patency rate in all 195 patients showed a significant difference in patency between CBT and MBT at six months after operation. (CBT = 91.6%, MBT = 98.6%, p < 0.05). The patency rate of 4-mm MBT grafts was lower than that of CBT of grafts. 2. The 109 patients who underwent postoperative angiography were evaluated for morphological features of anastomosis. The incidence of pulmonary arterial stenosis caused by anastomosis was 15.3% with CBT and 18.9% with MBT; these values were not significantly different. The primary characteristic of CBT anastomosis was a funnel-shaped stenosis at the side of shunt vessel, but this feature did not disturb pulmonary artery growth. In contrast, MBT grafts sometimes narrowed along their entire length, causing deterioration of pulmonary artery growth. 3. The 60 patients in whom pre- and post-operative pulmonary artery sizes were able to be evaluated were studied for pulmonary artery growth. The development ratio (DR) was calculated as the ratio of postoperative to preoperative pulmonary artery index (post-PAI/pre-PAI). a) DR in patients with lower preoperative PAI was greater than that in patients with higher preoperative PAI. b) DR in patients under the age of 6 months was greater than that in older patients. c) There were no significant differences in DR between CBT and MBT or between pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary atresia. d) Relative to the BT shunt, the ipsilateral pulmonary artery grew to the same degree as the contralateral artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1992

Light-induced oxidation of iron atoms in a photosensitive nitrile hydratase.

The photoactivation process of a photosensitive nitrile hydratase (NHase) from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 has been investigated by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements in order to clarify the behavior of iron atoms in the enzyme. Mössbauer spectra of inactive NHase gave two symmetric-doublet components indicating the presence of two iron species, while that of the active NHase gave a single symmetric doublet indicating the presence of a single iron species. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of the inactive and active HNase both showed small effective magnetic moments. These results led us to conclude that one of the two iron atoms incorporated in the NHase is oxidized during photoactivation, namely from a low spin ferrous to a low spin ferric state. This is the first observation of an intramolecular photooxidation phenomena involving iron in a single protein molecule.

Enzyme Activation↗
PubMed1992

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP): a study of ANP and its mRNA in cardiocytes, and of plasma ANP levels in non-obese diabetic mice.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels in cardiocytes and plasma were examined by using immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and radioimmunoassay in non-obese diabetic mice (NOD). Cardiocyte ANP mRNA expression was measured by the polymerase chain reaction method. ANP immunoreactivity in the auricular cardiocytes was more prominent in hyperglycemic mice (NOD-h) than in normoglycemic mice (NOD-n). Ultrastructural examination showed that auricular cardiocytes of the NOD-h group contained more cytoplasmic granules than cells of the NOD-n group. Ultrastructural morphometry indicated that the number of granules per auricular cardiocyte was significantly larger in the NOD-h group than in the NOD-n group (P less than 0.01), whereas the granule diameter was significantly smaller in the NOD-h group (P less than 0.01). Radioimmunoassay showed that ANP levels in the NOD-h auricular cardiocytes were significantly higher than those in the NOD-n cardiocytes (P less than 0.01); the opposite was true in plasma. Cardiocyte ANP mRNA expression was lower in the NOD-h group than in the NOD-n group.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by using polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification].

We attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA (CMV-DNA) and Pneumocystis carinii DNA (carinii-DNA) in urine, blood and sputum samples of 16 leukemia patients with pneumonia, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Synthetic oligonucleotide primer pair were used to amplify DNA from the major immediately genes of CMV and genes for the large subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA of P. carinii. Amplified products were detected by gel electrophoresis. In two cases, CMV-DNA was detected at about the time the pneumonia occurred, and in one of the two cases, CMV-DNA was detected in the sputum sample. This patient was treated immediately with ganciclovir. After ganciclovir treatment, clinical and biochemical signs of CMV pneumonia disappeared. In three cases, carinii-DNA was detected in their sputum samples. In their blood and urine samples, carinii-DNA were not detected. This three cases were treated with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and successfully treated episodes of P. carinii pneumonia. We conclude that PCR amplification may be a valuable tool for rapid diagnosing CMV pneumonia and P. carinii pneumonia.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[A case of pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae accompanying high adenosine deaminase activity in pleural effusion].

We experienced a 5-year-old male case of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia accompanying Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural effusion. Chest roentgenograms revealed the infiltration in the left upper lung field and the left pleural effusion. In serum, the M. pneumoniae CF titer increased to 1:512. The pleural effusion was yellowish in color, with a specific gravity of 1.030, protein 3.7 g/dl, glucose 101 g/dl, and ADA 50 IU/l. Pleural effusion accompanying M. pneumoniae pneumonia is rare, and the high ADA activity in this case has been reported only in one other case. This is a report of a high activity of ADA in the pleural fluid by M. pneumoniae pneumonia.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1992

[Autogenous pericardial patch augmentation of the anastomotic orifice of Blalock-Taussig shunt].

Our recent experiences of the autogenous pericardial patch augmentation of Blalock-Taussig anastomotic orifice are reported. In Case 1, the direct suture between the left subclavian artery and the left pulmonary artery was difficult on the anterior wall because of the shortness of the left subclavian artery. Therefore, a piece of the patient's own pericardium was excised and sutured anteriorly between the two vessels by interrupted 7-0 polypropylene sutures. A 19 months postoperative angiogram showed so-called parrot-beaking of the subclavian artery probably due to tension, but there was no distortion or stenosis of the pulmonary artery. In Case 2, the right subclavian artery distal to the bifurcation of the vertebral artery was longitudinally split measuring approximately 2.5 cm in length, and widened by a piece of the autogenous pericardium in a wedge shape. Then, it was anastomosed to the right pulmonary artery without undue tension. Seven months postoperatively the patient died from severe AV valve regurgitation. The autopsy showed widely patent anastomosis and good healing as well as slight expansion of the pericardial patch but without aneurysm formation. In Case 3, the same operation as in Case 2 was performed. A 6 months postoperative angiogram showed no stenosis or distortion of either the subclavian or the pulmonary artery. Although it is premature to draw any conclusion, the use of the autogenous pericardium may be indicated to widen the anastomotic orifice of Blalock-Taussig shunt without sacrificing the length of the subclavian artery even in small infants or neonates.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed1991

Crystallization of a photosensitive nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771.

A photosensitive nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 has been crystallized in two different crystal forms in its inactive form. One crystal form belongs to an orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with unit cell dimensions of a = 117.4 A, b = 145.7 A and c = 52.1 A, and the other form belongs to a hexagonal space group P6(3)22 with unit cell dimensions of a = 110.2 A and c = 412.1 A.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1991

Flow cytometric measurement of NK cell cytotoxicity.

A simple and fast method to measure the natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity has been established. In our novel assay, following the incubation of K562 target and effector cells, the cells were stained with FITC-conjugated anti-transferrin receptor (CD71) mAb. The K562 targets alone were labeled with anti-CD71 mAb, since CD71 is highly expressed on K562 cells but not on mononuclear cells. The fluorescence intensity of CD71 on K562 cells were analyzed using flow cytometry, and the cytotoxicity was evaluated. In our assay, designated as a "CD71 assay", no spontaneous release of anti-CD71 mAb was observed from labeled K562 cells and living K562 cells were able to be divided from dead K562 cells. The data obtained by this assay was well correlated with that by the standard 51Cr-release assay as well as the C-FDA assay. In addition, the CD71 assay is a safe and simple analytic procedure since no isotope is required.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1990

Purification of inactivated photoresponsive nitrile hydratase.

Photoresponsive nitrile hydratase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771 was purified in its inactivated form. The enzyme had a molecular weight of approximately 60 kDa and consisted of 2 subunits each having molecular weight of 27.5 and 28 kDa. The enzyme also contained 2 iron atoms/enzyme as a cofactor. The enzyme was more stable in its inactivated form, rather than the activated during storage in the dark. The enzyme was most stable in the temperature region of 0-35 degrees C, and lost its activity above 40 degrees C. The enzyme was most stable in the pH region of 6-8. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme activity was 30 degrees C and 7.8, respectively. The enzyme showed wide substrate specificity, and most of the metal ions did not affect enzyme activity significantly. The absorption spectrum revealed the presence of some cofactor which changed form after photoirradiation.

Enzyme Activation↗
PubMed1990

[A serological inquiry for the detection of antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in children in a general ward].

The results of a serum inquiry for detection of antibodies against the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus in a non selected group of children, patients of a general pediatric ward, are reported. Of the 441 cases, the ELISA test gave a positive result for 1.1% of them. This result was confirmed by the Western-Blot or ImmunoBlot test. None of the five children who tested positive had a previous history of blood transfusion. These children's mothers showed positive results to the ELISA test. Of four cases, at least one of the parents was IV drug addicted. In every case the transmission was vertical. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that hospital staff should take the necessary precautions when manipulating blood and secretions and it is recommended that serum inquiries be made on the wards of general hospitals in the attempt to establish reliable data on the prevalence of HIV.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

[Relapsing polychondritis in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome].

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare disorder of uncertain origin characterized by recurrent inflammation of cartilage. A case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) associated with relapsing polychondritis is reported. A 60-year-old man who had been diagnosed as MDS was admitted because of pain and swelling in the bilateral preauricular regions and cheek. A diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis was made by coexistence of auricular chondritis, arthropathy, ocular inflammation and audio-vestibular disturbance. He also developed ocular palsies and optic neuritis. He was treated with prednisolone, azathioprine, dapsone, and then with steroid pulse therapy. Moreover, plasmapheresis and high dose gamma-globulin therapy were undertaken. However, all these treatments were unsuccessful and he died of respiratory failure.

Azathioprine↗