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Biomedical subjects

K Baba

Publications and source records attributed to K Baba.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Identification of testicular atypical germ cells by an immunohistochemical technique for placental alkaline phosphatase.

The identification of atypical testicular germ cells is often difficult by by routine histologic examination. By immunohistochemical detection of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and by periodic acid Schiff staining of glycogen, atypical germ cells were easily identified in testicular samples. Forty-one fetal and adult testes were used for a preliminary study, and 121 testes from infants and adults with either cryptorchidism or germ cell tumors were studied for the presence of atypical germ cells. Two types of clear germ cells were differentiated histochemically, and one with PLAP-positive cell surfaces and glycogen-rich cytoplasm was considered to be atypical. The alkaline phosphatase of atypical germ cells appeared to be similar to that found in a few germ cells of early fetal testes. The atypical germ cells seemed to be multi-potential malignant cells capable of developing not only into seminoma but also into other germ cell tumors. Only in yolk sac tumor of infants were the atypical germ cells absent from tumor-adjacent seminiferous tubules.

Adult↗

Effect of current Japanese encephalitis vaccine on different strains of Japanese encephalitis virus.

Inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine was given to healthy children and their neutralizing antibody titres against nine JE virus strains were measured. After two shots of the vaccine in the first year, most of the children showed seroconversion, but their neutralizing antibody titres were not high, and one year after vaccination their titres had decreased to low levels. However, a booster dose of vaccine in the second year had a marked effect on the antibody response. The neutralizing antibodies induced by the vaccine reacted to almost the same extent with nine different JE virus strains, though significantly higher titres against the Nakayama strain, the vaccine strain, were observed after vaccination in the second year.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of transmissible gastroenteritis virus antibodies.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a detergent-solubilized antigen of purified virus was developed for detection of antibody against porcine transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus in swine serum. The ELISA demonstrated antibody responses in pigs immunized intramuscularly with the attenuated TO-163 strain of TGE virus and in pigs orally infected with the virulent Shizuoka strain of the virus. The results of the ELISA were well correlated with those of the neutralization test. These results indicate the usefulness of the ELISA as a serological tool for TGE virus antibody.

Animals↗

Immunoglobulin therapy in the West syndrome.

An examination was made of high dose non-treated immunoglobulin (NTIG) therapy at an early stage of the West syndrome (WS). Six patients with cryptogenic WS who suffered attacks ranging from 15 days to 6 months (mean 70 days) and 5 patients with symptomatic WS who suffered attacks ranging from 14 days to 4 months (mean 32 days), were administered NTIG 6-10 times intravenously at 100-200 mg/kg of body weight at intervals of 2 or 3 weeks. All patients with cryptogenic WS showed complete remission in accordance with normalized electroencephalogram (EEG) without following anticonvulsants medication. Of the 5 patients with symptomatic WS one patient showed cessation of clinical seizures in agreement with EEG improvement and 2 other patients revealed transient cessation of clinical seizures with recurrence. In cases of complete remission, the energy percentage of the power spectrum for each frequency band displayed a tendency toward gradual decrease of delta wave band in correspondence with the increase of theta wave band percentage after NTIG therapy, suggesting that high dose NTIG may be useful for early treatment of cryptogenic WS and for inhibiting brain deterioration owing to epileptic encephalopathy.

Anticonvulsants↗

Purification of sarcotoxin III, a new antibacterial protein of Sarcophaga peregrina.

A glycine-rich antibacterial protein with a molecular mass of 7,000 termed sarcotoxin III, was purified to homogeneity from the hemolymph of third instar larvae of Sarcophaga peregrina. When the hemolymph was fractionated, this protein was recovered in the same fraction as sarcotoxin I, a group of potent antibacterial proteins that have been purified. But, it was clearly different from sarcotoxin I in amino acid composition and molecular mass. Sarcotoxin III was shown to be induced in the hemolymph in response to injury of the larval body wall.

Amino Acids↗

Development of extrauterine fetal incubation system using extracorporeal membrane oxygenator.

Despite the recent progress in perinatal medicine, it is still difficult to manage the extremely immature newborn. A new extrauterine incubation system has been developed using 14 goat fetuses. The goat fetus is surrounded by artificial amniotic fluid and is connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator. The blood is drained from the umbilical arteries and returned to the umbilical vein. The perfused blood is recirculated and ventilated with a mixture of O2, N2, and CO2 gases to obtain a PO2 of 30-35 mm Hg and a PCO2 of 30-35 mm Hg in the umbilical venous blood. Fetal heart rate, blood pressure, electroencephalogram, and several movement parameters are continuously recorded by the polygraph. With this system, the fetuses can be kept under fairly stable physiological conditions for periods up to 165 h. This improved system might therefore become a useful method to manage the ill fetuses and newborns.

Animals↗

Specificity of skin test with varicella-zoster virus antigen in varicella-zoster and herpes simplex virus infections.

Specificity of the skin test with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen was examined in guinea pigs infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or VZV and in children with a history of HSV infection who developed varicella. Infected guinea pigs responded positively only to homologous virus. No cross-reaction between HSV and VZV was detected in the skin test, as well as in the neutralization test in infected guinea pigs, suggesting that the VZV skin test is specific for immunity to VZV infection. Twelve children were infected with HSV during an HSV epidemic and subsequently developed varicella in institutional settings. During the 2.5-month period between the HSV and VZV infections, the immune status of the children to VZV was negative both in the skin test and in the antibody test, although antibody to HSV was detected by an immune adherence hemagglutination test. After VZV infection, all responded positively both in the skin test and in the antibody test (immune adherence hemagglutination test) to VZV. These results suggest that the VZV skin test is specific for immunity to VZV infection, not cross-reactive to HSV infection in humans. This specificity will be of value in screening susceptibility or immunity to VZV, irrespective of prior HSV infection.

Animals↗

Effect of propranolol and indomethacin on the depressor action of captopril in patients with essential hypertension.

The contribution of the renin-angiotensin system (RA) and of prostaglandins (PG) to the acute depressor effect of captopril (Capt) was studied in 13 hypertensive patients suppressing either RA by propranolol (Prop) or PG by indomethacin (Indo). Four patients showed abolition of the depressor effect of Capt by pretreatment with both Prop and Indo (Group 1). Indo, but not Prop, cancelled the depressor effect in another 4 patients (Group 2). In the remaining 5 patients, either Prop or Indo did not alter the depressor response to Capt (Group 3). Patients in Group 3 were older than patients in Group 1 and 2 and showed lower plasma volume value. Several mechanisms might contribute to the acute depressor effect of Cap, including not only the suppression of RA and the enhancement of PG, but perhaps other undetermined factor(s), especially in older patients.

Adult↗