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Biomedical subjects

J Kobayashi

Publications and source records attributed to J Kobayashi.

619 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Serodiagnosis of strongyloidiasis. The application and significance.

Parasitological diagnosis based on the faecal examination is frequently difficult in cases of chronic, low-level S. stercoralis infection. Even when a newly developed sensitive method (an agar plate culture) is applied, it is essential to examine faecal samples repeatedly to achieve a correct diagnosis. Additionally, it is important to note that a negative result does not necessarily indicate the unequivocal absence of the infection. On the other hand, several serological tests which have recently been developed for strongyloidiasis have proven reliable when used to complement parasitological examination. We have developed two serological tests, ELISA and GPAT, to demonstrate Strongyloides infection and possible applications of the serological tests for diagnosis, mass-screening, epidemiological study and postchemotherapy evaluation of strongyloidiasis were reviewed based on our recent studies.

Animals↗

Studies on prevalence of Strongyloides infection in Holambra and Maceió, Brazil, by the agar plate faecal culture method.

Prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in three areas of Brazil was surveyed by a recently developed faecal culture method (an agar plate culture). The Strongyloides infection was confirmed in 11.3% of 432 subjects examined. The diagnostic efficacy of the agar plate culture was as high as 93.9% compared to only 28.5% and 26.5% by the Harada-Mori filter paper culture and faecal concentration methods, when faecal samples were examined simultaneously by these three methods. Among the 49 positive samples, about 60% were confirmed to be positive only by the agar plate culture. These results indicate that the agar plate culture is a sensitive new tool for the correct diagnosis of chronic Strongyloides infection.

Adolescent↗

A field study on malaria prevalence in southeastern Laos by polymerase chain reaction assay.

A detection survey for malaria infection by routine microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was conducted on 336 inhabitants of two villages in Khammouane Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), in July 1997. Malaria infection was demonstrated in 58 (17.3%) subjects by microscopy and in 117 (34.8%) by PCR assay. Specimens positive by both methods were frequent in young villagers, suggesting the presence of many subclinical infections in older persons. The most common species of malaria parasite was Plasmodium falciparum (82.9%). Polymerase chain reaction assay detected mixed infections with 2-4 species in 27 specimens (23.1%). The results demonstrate that there are many subclinical malaria infections with low parasite level and infection with all four human malaria species in Lao PDR.

Adolescent↗

Successful resection of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombi extending into the right atrium: a case report.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is often associated with an extension of tumor thrombi into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and occasionally up to the right atrium. RCC with IVC involvement has a relatively favorable prognosis when it is completely resected. We present a successfully resected case of RCC with tumor thrombi extending into the right atrium. We performed radical right nephrectomy with lymph node dissection and removed the tumor thrombi en bloc under total hepatic vascular exclusion with the veno-venous bypass between the IVC and the right atrium using an active centrifugal force pump. The patient has been in good condition for 3 years since surgery with no evidence of recurrence.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Effects of pindolol on serum lipoproteins and postheparin lipolytic activities in hypertensive patients.

Thirty-four hyperlipoproteinemic, hypertensive patients received 5 mg of pindolol twice daily for 12 weeks. During pindolol administration, there were significant decreases in serum triglyceride levels and increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, while total cholesterol levels did not change. Serum levels of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol decreased over time as HDL-C increased. There was a significant increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 12. Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, A-II, and B levels did not change during pindolol administration, but apo C-II, C-III, and E levels decreased significantly. Lipoprotein lipase activity in heparin-treated plasma was significantly higher after pindolol administration. The results suggest that the reduction in triglyceride levels and increase in HDL-C after pindolol are partly a response to an increase in the hydrolysis of VLDL resulting from an increase in lipoprotein lipase activity.

Apolipoproteins↗

A new rat infection-heart transplant model: effect of infection on graft survival studies.

Considerable progress has been made in survival rates of heart transplant recipients; however, infections continue to be a major cause of death after transplantation. Although infection itself appears to cause immunologic suppression in some nontransplantation studies, the lack of an infection-transplant animal model has limited further investigation of this observation. We evaluated the utility of a heterotopic rat infection heart-transplant model by studying the effect of infection and limited administration of two immunosuppressive agents, cyclosporine and FK506, on allograft rejection and survival. Lewis rats received ACI heart allografts, and intraperitoneal infection was induced by cecal ligation. Infection was confirmed by blood and ascitic fluid cultures. Results showed that graft survival was slightly, but significantly, higher (p < 0.05) in group II (transplantation with infection) when compared to the control group I (transplantation only). Histologic rejection scores were less (p < 0.05) in group II 6 days after transplantation. The second phase of the study compared the effect of infection after transplantation in rats given a 1-week course of cyclosporine or FK506, which were discontinued after the induction of infection. Although the cyclosporine group had prolonged survival when compared to the FK506 group (p < 0.05), the respective infection groups receiving immunosuppression revealed no significant difference in allograft survival or histologic rejection scores when compared to the control groups. In this preliminary study, infection without immunosuppression resulted in a slight, but statistically significant, increase in allograft survival and reduced acute cellular rejection. In those groups receiving immunosuppressive agents, no additive immunosuppressive effect was attributable to bacterial infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Asymptomatic extrahepatic portal obstruction without portal hypertensive findings detected in ultrasonic mass screening.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We report three adult cases of extrahepatic portal obstruction (EHPO) detected by ultrasonic (US) mass screening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All these cases were asymptomatic with no abnormalities on hematological or biochemical tests. Only indocynanine green clearance test revealed a slight abnormality. By imaging modalities, the portal trunk could not be visualized and cavernous transformation could be visualized. RESULTS: There were no findings of portal hypertension, such as splenomegaly, esophageal varices and hepatofugal collaterals, in any of these cases. CONCLUSIONS: As many EHPOs without symptoms can be detected on US mass survey, US is considered to be the best modality for screening for this disease.

Adult↗