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J Igari

Publications and source records attributed to J Igari.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1998)].

The bacteria isolated from the patients with lower respiratory tract infections were collected by institutions located throughout Japan, since 1981. Ikemoto et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of these isolates to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and analyzed some characteristics of the patients and isolates from them each year. Results obtained from these investigations are discussed. In these 18 institutions around the entire Japan, 532 strains of presumably etiological bacteria were isolated mainly from the sputa of 438 patients with lower respiratory tract infections during the period from October in 1998 to September in 1999. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 85 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 100 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 96 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 75 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains), 6 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid strains), 38 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 26 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the susceptibilities of 517 strains were assessed except for those strains that died during transportation. S. aureus strains for which MICs of oxacillin (MPIPC) were higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus: MRSA) accounted for 60.0%. Vancomycin (VCM) and arbekacin (ABK) showed the most potent activities against MRSA. But one of MRSA showed resistance to ABK with the MIC of 64 micrograms/ml. The sensitive strains of MRSA to VCM have decreased. The frequency of penicillin (PC)-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP) + PC-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) have increased in 46.0% for 1998 comparatively from 30.9% of 1997's. But PRSP decreased, and PISP increased into 39.0% of 1998 years from 19.8% of 1997's. Panipenem (PAPM), imipenem (IPM) and faropenem (FRPM) showed the most potent activities against S. pneumoniae with MIC80s of 0.125 microgram/ml or below. Against H. influenzae and M. (B.) catarrhalis, almost all the drugs showed good activities. The sensitive strains of them against ceftazidime (CAZ) decreased in 1997, but those have increased in 1998. Inversely, the susceptibility of them against cefotiam (CTM) had been higher in 1997, but those have been lower in 1998. Tobramycin (TOB) showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and nonmucoid strains). All drugs except ampicillin (ABPC) were active against K. pneumoniae. A quite few of K. pneumoniae showed low susceptibilities. Also, we investigated year to year changes in the characteristics of patients, their respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiology. The examination of age distribution indicated that the proportion of patients with ages over 70 years was 48.6% of all the patients showing a slight increase in every year. About the proportion of diagnosed diseases as follows: Bacterial pneumonia was the most frequent with 40.2%. The ratio of it has increased slightly, and the increased rate was 10% in patients with ages over 70 years compared with the results in 1997. Chronic bronchitis have decreased slightly with 27.6% in 1998. Number of strains isolated from patients before administration of antibiotics were more than those after administration of them in chronic bronchitis, but these were almost same number in bacterial pneumonia. Administration of antibiotics has changed the results of the frequency of isolation of bacterial species. Bacterial isolations before administration of antibiotics were as follows: S. pneumoniae 26.7%, H. influenzae 23.8%, S. aureus 13.3% and M. (B.) catarrhalis 10.8%. The frequencies of S. aureus decreased after antibiotics administration over 15 days, but the frequencies of P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and non-mucoid) was not affected. The frequencies of P. aeruginosa was 45.5% after administration over 15 days. The frequencies of S. pneumoniae decreased upon administration of antibiotics, these were only 4.5% over 15 days. The frequencies of H. (

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1998). III. Secular changes in susceptibility].

Susceptibilities to various antimicrobial agents were examined for Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Echerichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 hospitals during June 1998 to May 1999, and the results were compared with those obtained during the same period from 1990 to 1997 in uncomplicated UTIs and complicated UTIs. Among E. faecalis strains, those with low susceptibilities to almost drugs have increased in the latest period. All 5 S. aureus strains isolated from uncomplicated UTIs were the most susceptible to gentamicin (GM). Over 50% of S. aureus strains isolated from complicated UTIs were susceptible to GM, and on the contrary the resistant strains have increased with the MIC90 of 256 micrograms/ml or above. Among S. aureus strains isolated from complicated UTIs, those with low susceptibilities to arbekacin (ABK) have increased in the latest period compared to those during period of 1996-1997, and the MIC90s of them have changed into the lower state from 1 microgram/ml in 1996-1997 to 4 micrograms/ml in 1998. S. aureus strains have continued high susceptibilities to vancomycin (VCM). The susceptibilities to minocycline (MINO) of E. coli showed MIC90: 4 micrograms/ml in 1997, but those have returned in the latest period in uncomplicated UTIs. The MIC90s of ofloxacin (OFLX) to E. coli isolated from uncomplicated and complicated UTIs have been lower 2-3 classes in the latest period than those in 1997. Among Klebsiella spp. strains isolated from uncomplicated UTIs, those with low susceptibilities to almost cephems had increased in 1997, but few of them were detected in the latest study. The sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa to almost drugs have increased during the latest period. The MIC50s of cefozopran (CZOP) and OFLX against P. aeruginosa were the best in our history. The sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa to ceftazidime (CAZ) have increased and its percentage was 30%. Piperacilline (PIPC), cefoperazone (CPZ), GM and OFLX resistant P. aeruginosa strains have increased in the latest period.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

[Activities of antimicrobial agents against 5,180 clinical isolates obtained from 26 medical institutions during 1998 in Japan. Levofloxacin--Surveillance Group].

The surveillance study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of fluoroquinolones (ofloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tosufloxacin) and other 20 antimicrobial agents against 5,180 clinical isolates obtained from 26 medical institutions during 1998 in Japan. The resistance to fluoroquinolones was remarkable in Enterococci, methicillin-resistant staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from UTI. However, many of the common pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae including penicillin-resistant isolates, methicillin-susceptible Stahylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, the family of Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus influenzae including ampicillin-resistant isolates have been kept to be susceptible to fluoroquinolones. About 90% of P. aeruginosa isolates from RTI were susceptible to fluoroquinolones. In conclusion, the results from this surveillance study suggest that fluoroquinolones are useful in the treatment of various bacterial infections including respiratory infections.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of infection due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types of high and intermediate oncogenic risk, which was most frequently associated with uterine cervical neoplasia. The subjects were 236 prostitutes who visited a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in a metropolitan area in 1998. Another 95 women who visited a university hospital were selected as a normal control group. A swab sample collected from the uterine cervix and external os was subjected to hybrid capture assays for low-oncogenic-risk HPV types (HPV A; including types 6, 11, 42, 43 and 44) and high- and intermediate-oncogenic-risk HPV types (HPV B; including 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68). Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analyses. Among the microorganisms tested, the positive rate for HPV B was the highest both in the women attending the STD clinic (STD group) and in the control group. The positive rate for HPV B in the STD group was 47.5% (112 of 236), and this was significantly higher than the 5.3% (5 of 95) in the control group (p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that HPV examination is recommended for women who visit an STD clinic to assess the future risk of cervical neoplasia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[In vitro activities of 23 antimicrobial agents against 4,993 gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from multicenter of Japan during 1994--in vitro susceptibility surveillance.Levofloxacin-Surveillance Group].

In a surveillance study conducted during 1994 at 24 medical institutes from different geographical areas of Japan, the susceptibility of clinical isolates to twenty three comparative agents, such as ofloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, tosufloxacin, ampicillin, clavulanic acid/amoxicillin, oxacillin, piperacillin, cefaclor, cefotiam, cefdinir, cefclidin, ceftazidime, cefpirome, imipenem, aztreonam, vancomycin, minocycline, chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, amikacin, and gentamicin, were tested by the standard broth micro-dilution method. A total of 4,993 isolates tested in this study included Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), coagllase negative streptococci (CNS), Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterobactericeae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with urinary tract infections or respiratory tract infections, and Haemophilus influenzae. For MSSA, S. pneumoniae, Enterobacteriaceae, and H. influenzae, more than 70% of the isolates was susceptible to fluoloquinolones. However, resistance occurred in more than 50% of MRSA and P. aeruginosa isolated from UTI. Fluoroquinolones were found to be effective against high level penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae, the third generation cephem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1997). I. Susceptibility distribution].

The frequencies of isolation and susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents were investigated on 560 bacterial strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 hospitals during the period of June 1997 to May 1998. Of the above bacterial isolates, Gram-positive bacteria accounted for 29.3% and a majority of them were Enterococcus faecalis. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 70.7% and most of them were Escherichia coli. Susceptibilities of several isolated bacteria to antimicrobial agents were as followed; 1. Enterococcus faecalis Ampicillin (ABPC) showed the highest activity against E. faecalis isolated from patients with UTIs. Its MIC90 was 1 microgram/ml. Imipenem (IPM) and vancomycin (VCM) were also active with the MIC90s of 2 micrograms/ml. The others had low activities with the MIC90s of 16 micrograms/ml or above. 2. Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA VCM and arbekacin (ABK) showed the highest activities against both S. aureus and MRSA isolated from patients with UTIs. The MIC90s of them were 1 microgram/ml. The others except minocycline (MINO) had low activities with the MIC90s of 32 micrograms/ml or above. More than a half of S. aureus strains (including MRSA) showed high susceptibilities to gentamicin (GM) and MINO, the MIC50s of 0.25 microgram/ml or 0.5 microgram/ml. 3. Enterobacter cloacae IPM showed the highest activity against E. cloacae. The MICs for all strains were equal to or lower than 1 microgram/ml. The MIC90s of ciprofloxacin (CPFX) and tosufloxacin (TFLX) were 1 microgram/ml, the MIC90s of amikacin (AMK) and ofloxacin (OFLX) were 4 micrograms/ml, the MIC90 of GM was 16 micrograms/ml. Among E. cloacae strains, those with low susceptibilities to quinolones have decreased in 1997, compared with those in 1996. But the other drugs were not so active in 1997 as 1996. 4. Escherichia coli All drugs except penicillins were active against E. coli with the MIC90s of 8 micrograms/ml or below. Particularly, flomoxef (FMOX), cefmenoxime (CMX), cefpirome (CPR), cefozopran (CZOP), IPM, CPFX and TFLX showed the highest activities against E. coli with the MIC90s of 0.125 microgram/ml or below. 5. Klebsiella pneumoniae K. pneumoniae was susceptible to almost all the drugs except penicillins. Carumonam (CRMN) had the strongest activity with the MICs for all strains equal to or lower than 0.125 microgram/ml. FMOX, CPR, CZOP, CPFX and TFLX were also active with the MIC90s of 0.125 microgram/ml or below. The MIC90s of quinolones had changed into a better state in 1997, compared with those in 1996. 6. Proteus mirabilis Almost all the drugs except ABPC and MINO showed high activities against P. mirabilis. CMX, ceftazidime (CAZ), latamoxef (LMOX), CPR, cefixime (CFIX), cefpodoxime (CPDX) and CRMN showed the highest activities against P. mirabilis. The MICs of them for all strains were equal to or lower than 0.125 microgram/ml. CPFX and TFLX were also active with the MIC90s of 0.125 microgram/ml or below. 7. Pseudomonas aeruginosa The MIC90 of GM was 8 micrograms/ml, the MIC90s of AMK, IPM and meropenem (MEPM) were 16 micrograms/ml. The others were not so active against P. aeruginosa with the MIC90s of 32 micrograms/ml or above. The MIC90s of quinolones had changed into a lower state in 1997, compared with those in 1996. 8. Serratia marcescens IPM showed the highest activity against S. marcescens. Its MIC90 was 2 micrograms/ml. GM was also active with the MIC90 of 4 micrograms/ml. The MIC90s of the others were 16 micrograms/ml or above. The MIC50s of CRMN was 0.125 microgram/ml or below, the MIC50s of CPR and CZOP were 0.25 microgram/ml.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1997). II. Background of patients].

Clinical background was investigated on patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) from whom 603 bacterial strains were isolated in 9 hospitals during the period from June, 1997 through May, 1998. 1. Distribution of age and sex of patients and type of infections Among males, those with ages less than 50 years were only 12.5%, and those in the 70's were most frequent (33.3%). Among females, those with ages less than 20 years were only 3.4%, and those in the 60's were the most frequent (22.9%). With regard to type of infections, more than a half of infections among males with ages 50 years or older were of complicated types, but most of infections among females were of uncomplicated types, especially those of ages less than 50 years. 2. Ages of patients and types of pathogens Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated in uncomplicated and complicated UTIs without indwelling catheters. In complicated UTIs with indwelling catheters, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis had mainly detected, they had no relationship with ages. 3. Effect of antibiotic use on isolation frequencies of pathogens Use of antibiotics decreased pathogens isolated from patients with uncomplicated UTIs drastically (183 isolates before antibiotics compared to 13 after). Even isolated pathogens from patients with complicated UTIs decreased drastically with the use of antibiotics when indwelling catheters were not in use (175 isolates before antibiotics compared to 53 after), but when indwelling catheters were in use, antibiotics slightly decreased (109 isolates before antibiotics compared to 70 after). 4. Surgical procedures and types of causative organisms for UTIs E. faecalis were more isolated when a surgical procedures were used, and E. coli were more isolated when, they were not used in uncomplicated and complicated UTIs without indwelling catheters. In complicated UTIs with indwelling catheters, E. coli and E. faecalis were more isolated when a surgical procedures were used, and P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were more isolated when they were not used.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Comparative studies on activities of antimicrobial agents against causative organisms isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (1997). III Secular changes in susceptibility].

Susceptibilities to various antimicrobial agents were examined for Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Echerichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were isolated from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 9 hospitals during June 1997 to May 1998, and the results were compared with those obtained during the same period in earlier years. 1. E. faecalis The MIC90s of quinolones for E. faecalis isolated from uncomplicated UTIs have changed better state during the latest period. Among E. faecalis strains, those with high susceptibilities to ampicillin (ABPC) and minocycline (MINO) appeared to had decreased during period of 1995-1997, which recovered during the latest period. 2. S. aureus The sensitive strains of S. aureus to imipenem (IPM) and clindamycin (CLDM) had increased during the period of 1996-1997, but those have decreased again during the latest period. 3. E. coli The susceptibilities of E. coli to MINO have been better in the latest period with the MIC90 was ranged from 2 to 4 micrograms/ml. The susceptibilities to quinolones of E. coli isolated from complicated UTIs had decreased during the period of 1995-1997, but those have recovered during the latest period. 4. Klebsiella spp. Among Klebsiella spp. strains isolated from uncomplicated UTIs, those with low susceptibilities to almost cephems have increased in the latest period. To other antimicrobial agents, the susceptibilities of Klebsiella spp. did not show any changes during the latest period. 5. P. aeruginosa The susceptibilities to most agents of P. aeruginosa did not show any changes, the decreased susceptibilities to cefozopran (CZOP), carbapenems and monobactams of P. aeruginosa observed in 1996 appeared to have been retrieved in 1997. These susceptibility changes should be utilized in determining clinical treatments.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Survey of the sensitivities of clinical isolates to antibacterial agents (annual report)].

Research groups were formed in 21 institutions nationwide to investigate carbapenem resistance. The activities of various antibacterial agents, principally carbapenems, were tested against clinical isolates collected from these institutions. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 17 antibacterial agents for 1,241 strains of 11 bacterial species isolated at all institutions between October and December 1996. The results were as follows: Carbapenems exhibited strong antibacterial activities against MSSA and Streptococcus pneumoniae and showed low activities against MRSA. Their activities against Enterococcus faecalis were comparable to that of ampicillin and piperacillin. The carbapenems showed high activities against Haemophilis influenzae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae. Enterobacter cloacae. Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides fragilis group. Their activities were greater than that exhibited by other beta-lactam antibacterial agents, but some resistant strains of Serratia marcescens were detected. The antibacterial activity of carbapenems against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable to that of CAZ, and there were some resistant strains.

Carbapenems↗
PubMed1999

[Susceptibilities of Enterococcus faecium, PRSP and MRSA to RP59500 and their correlations with those to other drugs].

Investigations on emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) which has recently been attracting attention, especially in the Western countries, have been conducted in Japan. A total of 1,239 isolates of E. faecium were collected from 19 institutions during the period of April 1995 and June 1996, in the purpose of evaluating susceptibilities to variety of antimicrobial agents, including RP59500 and vancomycin (VCM), and detecting vancomycin-resistant genes (van genes). Susceptibilities of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were also studied. As a result, 2 isolates of E. faecium were found to be moderately resistant to VCM showing MIC of 8 micrograms/ml though the final identification in species level and the detection of van genes by PCR method have not been completed. On the other hand there detected no MRSA nor PRSP showing moderately resistant or resistant to VCM. It was concluded that RP59500 and VCM possessed favorable activity against clinically isolated E. faecium, PRSP and MRSA. Among other species of enterococci, moderately resistant strains to VCM showing MIC of 8 micrograms/ml were detected; 10 isolates of E. gallinarum, 4 of E. casseliflavus and 2 of E. flavescens. In those isolates, vanC1 and vanC2 were detected by PCR, and vanB was also detected in a isolates of E. gallinarum simultaneously.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

[Susceptibilities of bacteria isolated from patients with lower respiratory infectious diseases to antibiotics (1997)].

The bacteria isolated from the patients with lower respiratory tract infections were collected by institutions located throughout Japan, since 1981. Ikemoto et al. have been investigating susceptibilities of these isolates to various antibacterial agents and antibiotics, and analyzed some characteristics of the patients and isolates from them each year. Results obtained from these investigations are discussed. In these 17 institutions around the entire Japan, 512 strains of presumably etiological bacteria were isolated mainly from the sputa of 440 patients with lower respiratory tract infections during the period from October in 1997 to September in 1998. MICs of various antibacterial agents and antibiotics were determined against 100 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 81 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 85 strains of Haemophilus influenzae. 71 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains), 27 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid strains), 33 strains of Moraxella subgenus Branhamella catarrhalis, 17 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae etc., and the susceptibilities of these strains were assessed except for those strains that died during transportation. S. aureus strains for which MICs of oxacillin (MPIPC) were higher than 4 micrograms/ml (methicillin-resistant S. aureus: MRSA) accounted for 55.0%. The frequency of the drug resistant bacteria decreased comparing to the previous year's 67.3%. Arbekacin (ABK) and vancomycin (VCM) showed the most potent activities against MRSA. Imipenem (IPM) and panipenem (PAPM) of carbapenems showed the most potent activities with MIC80S of 0.063 microgram/ml against S. pneumoniae. The frequency of penicillin (PC)-intermediate S. pneumoniae (PISP)+PC-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) had decreased gradually, that is, in 1995 the frequency of it was 40.3%, but that was 30.9% in 1997. Against H. influenzae and M.(B.) catarrhalis, all the drugs showed good activities. But the sensitive strains of them against ceftazidime (CAZ) had decreased in 1997, compared those in 1995 and 1996. Meropenem (MEPM), IPM and tobramycin (TOB) showed the most potent activity against P. aeruginosa (mucoid strains). And TOB and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) showed the most potent activities against P. aeruginosa (non-mucoid strains). All drugs except ampicillin (ABPC) were more active against K. pneumoniae in 1997 than that in 1996. Also, we investigated year to year changes in the characteristics of patients, their respiratory infectious diseases, and the etiology. The examination of age distribution indicated that the proportion of patients with ages over 70 years was 45.5% of all the patients showing a slight increase year by year. About the proportion of diagnosed diseases, not so particular changes were recognized as follows: Bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis were the most frequent with 33.6% and 29.1%, respectively. Number of strains isolated from patients before administration of antibiotics were more than those after administration of them in chronic bronchitis, but these had reversed in bacterial pneumonia. The tendency in bacterial pneumonia had been acknowledged since 1995. The increase of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa (both mucoid and non-mucoid strains) isolated after administration of antibiotics, has suggested the decrease of the susceptibility of these strains against antibiotics. Administration of antibiotics has changed the results of the frequency of isolation of bacterial species. Bacterial isolations before administration of antibiotics were as follows: S. pneumoniae 24.5%, H. influenzae 21.4%, S. aureus 18.4% and P. aeruginosa 12.2%. The frequencies of S. aureus decreased after antibiotics administration over 15 days, but the frequencies of P. aeruginosa was not affected. The frequencies of P. aeruginosa was 47.8% after administration over 15 days. From patients administered antibiotics of penicillins and cephems. S. aureus was mainly detected with 31.7-58.3%, and from patients administere

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[In vitro antimicrobial activity of carbapenem antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, measured using a low-concentration Mueller-Hinton Agar culture medium].

Ohya et al. noted that the antibacterial activity of carbapenem-family antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly enhanced through lowering the basic amino acid concentration in the culture medium. They reported that there was a marked difference in antimicrobial activity of panipenem (PAPM) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa between the culture medium with Mueller-Hinton Agar (MHA) diluted with distilled water and the non-diluted culture medium. We used 2,312 strains of fresh Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from clinical materials, to examine the antibacterial activity of PAPM in non-diluted and diluted culture media. For testing the susceptibility, we employed the Showa disc method and agar plate dilution method. In the Showa disc method, the inhibition diameters of the tested microbial strains showed a larger distribution for both 16-fold and 40-fold diluted MHA, compared to the non-diluted MHA. The MIC values in the agar plate dilution method were also smaller in distribution for the 16-fold as well as the 40-fold diluted MHA, compared to the non-diluted culture media. Approximately 90% of the strains showed decreased MIC values, 2-8 times in the 16-fold diluted MHA and 2-16 times in the 40-fold diluted MHA. From the above results, we confirmed that the in vitro antibacterial activity of PAPM against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was enhanced through lowering the MHA concentration.

Agar↗
PubMed1998

Evidence of association of the ecNOS gene polymorphism with plasma NO metabolite levels in humans.

Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by the vascular endothelium regulates mammalian blood vessels and other systems in humans. Recently, an endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene polymorphism, the 27-bp repeat in intron 4 (ecNOS4), was reported to be related to the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and terminal renal failure. We analyzed this polymorphism in a group of 413 healthy subjects, and measured their plasma nitrite and nitrate (NOx) levels. The frequency of the b allele was 89.8% , and the frequency of the a allele was 10.2%. The frequency of ecNOS4 b/b, ecNOS4 b/a, and ecNOS4 a/a in the healthy subjects in this study was 0.814 (n=336), 0.169 (n=70) and 0.017 (n=7), respectively. Using this polymorphism as a DNA marker, we found a strong association between the alleles of the ecNOS gene polymorphism and the plasma NOx levels. The basal NO metabolite levels were 28.8 micromol/L in subjects with ecNOS4 a/a, 31.4 micromol/L in those with ecNOS4 b/a, and 35.5 micromol/L in those with ecNOS4 b/b. The mean plasma NOx level of the subjects who were homozygous for the a allele was nearly 20% lower than in the subjects with the b allele. The plasma NOx level of the subjects with the a allele was 31.2+/-2.00 micromol/L, and significantly lower than the 35.5+/-0.93 micromol/L in those without the a allele (P <0.05). The results of this study indicate that the ecNOS4 gene locus may be responsible for variations in the genetic control of plasma NOx and that analysis of ecNOS4 gene polymorphism may be a useful tool for studying the relation between NO and diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Evaluation of the expression of human CAP18 gene during neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow.

To understand the gene expression of CAP18 (18-kDa cationic antibacterial protein), a member of cathelicidins, we evaluated mRNA and protein expression of CAP18 using human bone marrow cells and mature neutrophils. Northern blot analysis revealed that CAP18 mRNA was expressed more abundantly in bone marrow cells than mature neutrophils, whereas Western blot analysis indicated that CAP18 protein was more abundant in mature neutrophils than bone marrow cells. Consistent with this, in situ hybridization using bone marrow cells demonstrated that the expression of CAP18 mRNA was neutrophil lineage-specific and was observed primarily in myelocytes (>95%) with limited expression in more immature cells (promyelocytes) and mature cells (metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils). Furthermore, immunohistochemical study indicated that, coincident with the increase of CAP18 mRNA levels, CAP18-positive cells increased markedly at myelocyte stage, and the increased levels remained almost constant (>95%) in metamyelocytes, band cells, and segmented neutrophils, although the mRNA levels were remarkably reduced in these cells. Together these observations indicate that CAP18 gene transcription likely occurs lineage- and stage-specifically at the myelocyte stage of neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow and results in the synthesis and cytoplasmic accumulation of CAP18, which is present in the subsequent stages of neutrophil maturation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Molecular characterization of epidemic multiresistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates.

Fifty-five Staphylococcus haemolyticus specimens isolated from patients and neonatal intensive care unit staff were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents. There were 34 multidrug-resistant isolates which were resistant to oxacillin, ampicillin, cefazolin, cefmetazole, imipenem, and gentamicin. These isolates had a higher frequency of resistance to tobramicin and ofloxacin, and relatively high MICs (2 to 4 micrograms/mL) for vancomycin, although none of the isolates were vancomycin resistant. To investigate hospital-acquired colonization and infection by multiresistant S. haemolyticus, we examined all isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after SmaI and SstII digestion, and detected an endemic PFGE pattern in multiresistant isolates. The results suggested that local spread of multiresistant S. haemolyticus was hospital acquired, and that the hospital staffs functioned as a reservoir.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1998

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration increases serum concentrations of soluble selectins.

In order to explore the possible role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the inflammatory process, we examined the serum concentrations of soluble selectins (sL-selectin, sE-selectin and sP-selectin) following in vivo administration of G-CSF to five healthy volunteers and 12 neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies. The serum concentrations of both sL-selectin and sE-selectin were slightly but significantly increased after G-CSF administration in the healthy volunteers. The serum concentrations of all three selectins were significantly increased after G-CSF administration in the neutropenic patients concomitant with an increase in their neutrophil counts. These findings suggest that G-CSF may participate in the leucocyte-endothelial cell interactions in vivo.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Usefulness of hybrid capture HPV DNA assay as a diagnostic tool for human papillomavirus infection.

The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of the hybrid capture HPV DNA assay, a new nonradioactive solution hybridization assay, as a diagnostic tool for human papillomavirus infection. In a total of 234 women, samples for the hybrid capture assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were obtained by wiping a swab across the cervix and external os (either a Dacron swab or a cotton swab was used). The papanicolaou smear test (Pap smear) was carried out on all 234 women. Tissue samples for biopsy were obtained by colposcopy from 118 of the women. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analyses. Using the hybrid capture assay, HPV DNA of high- and intermediate-oncogenic-risk type was detected in 23 (13.9%) of 166 samples from women with Pap smear Class I or II, and 48 (70.6%) of 68 with Pap smear Class III, IV or V (p < 0.0001). The HPV DNA type was detected in 18 (29.0%) of 62 samples from those with no evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and 44 (78.6%) of 56 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.0001). Correlation of the test results between the hybrid capture test and PCR was determined by using the 217 samples in which both test results were available (PCR test results were not obtainable in 17 samples. When PCR is set as a gold standard, the hybrid capture test has high sensitivity (74.6%) and specificity (92.7%). These findings suggest that the hybrid capture HPV DNA assay is a useful method for diagnosing HPV infection in the clinic.

Adolescent↗