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Biomedical subjects

K Hara

Publications and source records attributed to K Hara.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 coated beta-tricalcium phosphate pellets stimulate healing of experimental bone defects of rat calvariae.

OBJECTIVE: TGF-beta 1-coated beta-TCP pellets were grafted in experimental defects of rat calvariae to study the effects on new bone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The grafted sites were evaluated by light microscopy using hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) staining for histology and detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACPase) activities to demonstrate osteoblastic and osteoclastic cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was performed for morphometry of newly formed bone. RESULTS: H-E sections showed more new bone formation in sites grafted with TGF-beta 1-coated beta-TCP pellets (experimental sites) than those with beta-TCP pellets only (control sites). TRACPase-positive and ALPase-positive cells at experimental sites were more frequent than at control sites. The bone formation rate calculated by computerized CLSM pixel image analysis showed more new bone formation at the experimental sites than at control sites (3.4 +/- 0.8% vs 9.3 +/- 1.7% on week 2 and 11.8 +/- 2.1% vs 39.8 +/- 10.9% on week 4). CONCLUSION: TGF-beta 1-coated beta-TCP pellets promote new bone formation and may be a useful modality in synthetic bone grafting.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1995

[A report to 2 cases where Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with a mucoid phenotype was isolated from the sputum].

Mucoid Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from the sputum of 2 women. Case 1 which we reported recently was primary pneumonia caused by S. maltophilia. However, in Case 2, mucoid S. maltophilia represented part of the transient flora. Interestingly, colonization of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa on respiratory tract occurred in both cases after mucoid S. maltophilia was isolated from their sputum.

Female↗
PubMed1995

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy in infection compared with that in malignant neoplasia.

The organic symptoms and results of coagulation tests of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) in 17 patients with infection were compared with those in 12 patients with malignancy. The infectious diseases were mainly sepsis and pneumonia, and the malignancy was mainly lung cancer. The mean antithrombin III (AT III) before treatment was 54% in infection and 68% in malignancy, and the AT III values improved after administration of 1500 U of AT III concentrates per day. The mean thrombin-antithrombin complex level decreased from 22 ng/ml to 9 ng/ml after the treatment in infection, but it increased in malignancy. There were no differences in DIC scores between infection and malignancy before treatment; however, the scores were significantly more improved in infection than in malignancy after treatment (p < 0.05). The fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product level, platelet count, and fibronectin level were also significantly more improved in infection than in malignancy. This better response to treatment in infection than in malignancy is probably due to eradication of the causative organisms by antibiotics in infection. These data suggest that therapy against both DIC and the underlying disease is crucial for successful treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and fungal antigenemia in patients with candidemia, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis.

(1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan is one of the major structural components of fungi, and it seems that it can be detected by the fractionated (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component from a Limulus lysate, factor G. We evaluated the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan by using factor G and other fungal antigens in 24 patients with clinical evidence of mycosis and 36 healthy subjects. The mean concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in the plasma of the healthy subjects was found to be 2.7 +/- 1.9 pg/ml (range, < 6.9 pg/ml), and it was found to be substantially higher in all 11 patients with candidemia (mean, 2,207.4 pg/ml; range, 325.4 to 8,449.0 pg/ml). Eight of those 11 patients with candidemia (73%) were positive for the Cand-Tec heat-labile candida antigen and only 3 patients (27%) were positive for mannan antigen. Three patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis were positive for galactomannan and had, in addition, high concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (mean, 323.3 pg/ml; range, 27.0 to 894.0 pg/ml). All 10 patients with cryptococcosis (including 2 patients with probable cryptococcosis) were positive for cryptococcal antigen by the Eiken latex test; however, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels were not elevated in these patients (mean, 7.0 pg/ml; range, < 16.5 pg/ml). Our results indicated that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels are elevated in patients with candidiasis and aspergillosis but not in those with cryptococcosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of clinically and environmentally isolated Cryptococcus neoformans in Nagasaki.

We examined clinical (pulmonary cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis) and environmental (pigeon excreta) isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (serotype A) in the southern Japanese prefecture of Nagasaki. The random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles obtained by using three primers revealed six patterns among 21 clinical isolates and three patterns among 8 environmental isolates. Pattern I was the most common (18 of 29 isolates) and was found among isolates obtained throughout the entire Nagasaki Prefecture. Patterns I, III, and IV were found among both clinical and environmental isolates. Patterns I and IV had a characteristic distribution, and in particular, pattern IV was isolated exclusively (five of six isolates) from isolates from Nagasaki City. Two environmental isolates from two locations associated strongly with two patients revealed identical random amplified polymorphic DNA patterns (patterns I and IV) for isolates from each patient. Our results suggest that clinical and environmental isolates belong to the same pool of C. neoformans isolates and that these isolates have certain geographic locations, although the number of isolated strains was limited.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Reductions in muscle sympathetic nerve activity after long-term metoprolol for dilated cardiomyopathy: preliminary observations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether efferent muscle sympathetic nerve activity diminishes in subjects with dilated cardiomyopathy who improve after long term treatment with metoprolol. METHODS: Microneurographic, echocardiographic, plethysmographic, and neurohumoral data were obtained immediately before and 20 months after the addition of beta blockade in seven subjects with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with clinical deterioration despite conventional treatment. RESULTS: Six subjects (three men, three women, aged 24-62 years) were restudied after a mean (SEM) of 20 (2.4) months treatment with metoprolol (45.8 (2.6) mg/d). Long term treatment was associated with decreases in left ventricular end diastolic and end systolic diameter (P < 0.005), left ventricular mass index (P < 0.05), and atrial natriuretic factor (P < 0.05), and increases in fractional shortening (P < 0.05) and mean blood pressure (P < 0.05). There was a 50% reduction in peroneal muscle sympathetic nerve activity (from 49.2 (10.1) to 24.5 (4.7) bursts/min; (P < 0.005) and a 62% decrease in calf vascular resistance (from 56.2 (4.4) to 21.2 (5.7) units; P < 0.005). This reduction in pulse synchronous nerve activity was not simply a function of bradycardia (heart rate fell from 94.2 (4.6) to 62.8 (5.7) beats/min; P < 0.005) since muscle sympathetic burst incidence also decreased (from 51 (8.7) to 37.5 (5.2) bursts/100 heart beats; P < 0.05). Similar haemodynamic improvement was observed in the seventh subject, who was switched to sotalol 200 mg/d and restudied after 20 months, but burst frequency was 50% higher and calf vascular resistance 93% higher. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle sympathetic nerve activity and calf vascular resistance decrease in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who improve after long term treatment with metoprolol. Inhibition of central sympathetic outflow may be one mechanism by which metoprolol benefits such subjects.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1995

Changes in circulating immune complex and charge distribution with upper respiratory tract inflammation in IgA nephropathy.

The circulating IgA class immune complex (IgA-IC) and its charge distribution, at the appearance of macroscopic hematuria and after tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy, were investigated in the present study. 3.5% polyethylene glycol precipitate (3.5% PEG-IgA) was used for IgA-IC detection and isoelectric focusing for its charge distribution. The level of IgA in 3.5% PEG-IgA, principally IgA1, and the proportion of anionic 3.5% PEG-IgA (isoelectric point, pl, 4.8-5.6) were significantly elevated in episodes of macroscopic hematuria with upper respiratory tract inflammation and with the appearance of macroscopic hematuria 1 day after tonsillectomy. Therefore, an increase in anionic IgA-IC (pl 4.8-5.6), principally IgA1, and the tonsils were considered to be concerned with the mechanism involved in the appearance of macroscopic hematuria.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of roxithromycin on peripheral neutrophil adhesion molecules in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract disease.

To evaluate the effects of roxithromycin in patients with chronic lower respiratory tract disease including diffuse panbronchiolitis, we studied lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and Mac-1, neutrophil adhesion molecules, using peripheral neutrophils from healthy volunteers and from patients with chronic lower respiratory tract disease. The number of Mac-1 expressed on neutrophils of the patients was significantly greater (0.68 +/- 0.16) than in the healthy subjects (0.45 +/- 0.14), while the number of LFA-1 expressed on neutrophils of the patients was nearly similar to that in the healthy volunteers (0.95 +/- 0.10 vs 0.89 +/- 0.11). The neutrophil numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the number of Mac-1 expressed on peripheral neutrophils significantly decreased in all patients who responded clinically to a low dose of roxithromycin for a long period of time (56.0 +/- 25.2 vs. 22.7 +/- 19.7%, p < 0.05 and 0.70 +/- 0.16 vs. 0.59 +/- 0.08, p < 0.05, respectively), whereas roxithromycin had no effect on the quantitative expression of LFA-1 (0.96 +/- 0.14 to 1.00 +/- 0.09, not significant) in all responders.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increase in activated CD8+ cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis.

To study the role of T cells in diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB), we investigated T-cell subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or 33 patients with DPB, nine patients with bronchiectasis, and 20 healthy volunteers. BALF from DPB patients contained a higher percentage of neutrophils than that from patients with bronchiectasis or healthy volunteers, whereas the percentage of lymphocytes was similar in the three groups. DPB patients, however, had a higher number of lymphocytes and a reduced CD4/CD8 ratio compared with the other subjects. A two-color analysis of T-cell subsets in peripheral blood and BALF revealed a significant increase in the percentage and number of CD8+HLA-DR+ cells and in the number of CD4+HLA-DR+ cells in BALF of DPB patients. The expression of the adhesion molecules CD 11a and CD18 on lung CD3+ cells was enhanced over that on blood CD3+ cells in DPB patients. However, there was no significant difference in the expression of these antigens in peripheral blood or BALF among the groups. There was no significant relationship between BALF interleukin (IL)-8 and lymphocyte accumulation in the lungs of the DPB patients, whereas a significant correlation between the percentage of neutrophils and IL-8 levels in BALF of DPB patients was observed. After treatment with macrolide antibiotics, a significant reduction in the number of lymphocytes and activated CD8+ cells and an elevation in the CD4/CD8 ratio in BALF of DPB patients was observed. Our findings suggest an activation of CD8+ cells in the airway lumen of DPB patients, supporting the hypothesis that lymphocytes are important cellular components of bronchial inflammation in DPB.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1995

Short-term outcome and long-term follow-up of percutaneous coronary intervention in patients aged 40 years or younger.

Forty five patients aged 40 years or younger were treated with coronary intervention in our institution between 1983 and 1994. This young Japanese population had a strong predisposition to risk factors but did not have extensive disease. These patients underwent 50 elective interventional procedures for angina pectoris or old myocardial infarction and 6 direct balloon angioplasty procedures for acute myocardial infarction. The initial successful result was obtained in 41 of the 45 patients (91%). The mean follow-up was 43 +/- 35 months. Angiographic follow-up was available in 31 of the 41 eligible patients (76%). Angiographic restenosis was seen in 9 of these 31 patients (29%), and in 12 of the 38 lesions (32%) with initial successful intervention. There were no deaths among the successfully treated patients. Event-free survival rate without death, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery bypass surgery was 94%; however, event-free survival rate without death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or repeat intervention was 66% at 43 months. Ninety three percent of the eligible patients were free from angina at follow-up. These short- and long-term results suggest that young Japanese patients can be treated safely and effectively with coronary interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Synthesis of 2-deoxy-glucooligosaccharides through condensation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose by glucoamylase and alpha-glucosidase.

Glucoamylases from Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus niveus catalyzed condensation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (dGlc) to yield deoxy-glucooligosaccharides with polymerization degrees of 2-5. The enzymes also gave a small amount of products from 3-deoxy-D-glucose, but no products from 6-deoxy-D-glucose. A. niger alpha-glucosidase also catalyzed condensation of dGlc, while Torula and Saccharomyces alpha-glucosidases had low activity. alpha-1,4-, 1,6-, and 1,3-linked deoxy-glucobioses were isolated and identified as the products of A. niger glucoamylase and A. niger alpha-glucosidase. In the reaction of the glucoamylase, 1,4- and 1,3-linked saccharides decreased with an increase of 1,6-linked one. A. niger alpha-glucosidase produced alpha-1,6-linked disaccharide predominantly during the whole course of the reaction.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1995

Mechanism of hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of nitric oxide in rats.

In order to clarify the mechanism of hypertension induced by a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, L-NG-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA), metabolites of NO, catecholamines, and hemodynamic parameters were measured during 7 days of oral administration of LNNA in rats. Control rats received either L-arginine (L-Arg) or the vehicle. systolic blood pressure, measured by the tall-cuff method was elevated throughout the period of LNNA administration, but that in the two control groups was not influenced by treatment. Heart rate decreased on the second day only in LNNA-treated rats. Although L-Arg treatment had no influence, LNNA markedly decreased the plasma level and the urinary excretion of nitrate ions (NO-3). Urinary excretion of noradrenaline was significantly decreased on the second day of LNNA administration and returned to the control level thereafter. When hemodynamic changes were measured by using radioactive microspheres, LNNA was found to increase blood pressure by markedly increasing total peripheral resistance. Cardiac output was decreased by LNNA. L-Arg, again, did not influence the hemodynamic variables as compared with the vehicle control group. The regional vascular resistance index was increased by LNNA in many tissues and organs, except the brain and the heart. Regional blood flow, on the other hand, was significantly decreased only in the liver and skin by LNNA. The marked reduction in NO3- in urine by LNNA-treatments may indicate that the measured NO3- is exclusively of endogenous origin, and that inhibition of NO production causes elevation of blood pressure by constricting peripheral arteries. Sympatholytic responses by the baroreceptor reflex were thereby evident only on the second and the third days, which was indicated by bradycardia and suppression of noradrenaline excretion into urine. These results indicate that the inhibition of NO synthase actually decreases production of endogenous NO, and that the hypertension caused by decreases in NO production is due to elevation of total peripheral vascular resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Leukotriene B4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis.

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent proinflammatory mediator that may be of particular relevance to the pathology of several respiratory diseases. We have previously reported that neutrophil chemotactic mediators in the lavage fluid of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) consist of many components. In this study, we evaluated the effect of erythromycin (EM) on the pathogenesis of DPB, by examining the level of LTB4 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and determining the relationship between the level and neutrophil accumulation into the respiratory tract. Pre-EM treatment neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in the patients with DPB was significantly increased compared with that in five healthy nonsmoking volunteers (HVs) (p < 0.001), and the level was markedly reduced after EM treatment (p < 0.001). The amounts of LTB4, detected in the BAL fluid from the patients, was also significantly higher than those in control subjects (3.5 +/- 1.1 ng/mL vs 0.1 +/- 0.0 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and the level was significantly reduced after EM treatment (0.6 +/- 0.3 ng/mL, p < 0.01). In addition, the percent reduction of the level of LTB4 was significantly correlated with NCA (r = 0.832, p < 0.01); the reduction was also significantly correlated with neutrophil percentage before and after EM treatment (r = 0.778, p < 0.05). These findings provide evidence for the potent role of LTB4 in the respiratory tracts of patients with DPB and suggest that this lipoxygenase metabolite is involved in the recruitment of neutrophils into the airways of the patients. Our findings suggest that LTB4 is one of the most important chemotactic mediators that has a pathogenetic role in the airway damage of DPB. Erythromycin might inhibit the production of this mediator, restrict the neutrophil accumulation, modulate the excessive inflammation in the respiratory tract, and ultimately improve the pathogenesis of DPB.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Increase of activated T-cells in BAL fluid of Japanese patients with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia.

To study the role of T cells in bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) and to examine the influence of differing racial background, T-cell subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (BALF) and in peripheral blood of 8 Japanese patients with idiopathic BOOP and 5 with CEP were compared with those of 15 normal subjects. The BALF pattern in BOOP was characterized by a significantly high number and percentage of lymphocyte and by a low CD4 to CD8 ratio compared with patients with CEP and healthy volunteers. Patients with CEP showed a significantly higher percentage of BALF eosinophils compared with other groups. There was no significant difference in BALF CD4 to CD8 ratio between patients with CEP and volunteers. Two-color analysis of T-cell subsets revealed that CD3+HLA-DR+ cells (activated T cell) in BALF of patients with BOOP and CEP increased significantly compared with volunteers, while BALF CD3+CD25+ cells (interleukin 2 receptor+ T-cell) did not. In addition, BALF CD8+HLA-DR+ cells (activated suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) in patients with BOOP and CD4+HLA-DR+ cells (activated helper T cell) in patients with CEP were significantly higher than levels detected in healthy subjects. The percentage of CD8+CD57+ cells and the number of CD8+CD11b- cells (cytotoxic T cell) in BALF were significantly higher in patients with BOOP compared with patients with CEP and healthy volunteers. There were no significant differences in the expression of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte surface antigens among the groups. These findings indicate that cytotoxic T cells in Japanese patients with idiopathic BOOP and helper T cells in CEP appear in the lungs is consistent with a previous report in Caucasians, supporting the hypothesis that T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Potential parameters of male reproductive toxicity: reproductive performance, histopathology and sperm evaluation in SD rats given nitrazepam.

The present study was designed to elucidate the correlation between findings from reproductive performance testing and those from histopathological examination of the testis and sperm analysis in rats given a benzodiazepine derivative, nitrazepam, for 2 and 4 weeks. The mechanisms of toxicological action of nitrazepam on the male reproductive organs were also investigated. Nitrazepam was given orally to Sprague-Dawley male rats (6-week-old) at a daily dose of 80 mg/kg for 2 weeks or at daily doses of 20, 40 or 80 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Treated males were mated to examine reproductive performance with untreated females after each dosing period, and after 4 and 9 week of recovery periods. Necropsy was performed for histopathological examination of the testis and epididymis and for sperm analysis after each dosing period and the final mating trial (total of 11 weeks recovery). In the findings from reproductive performance testing, significant decrease in the fertility index was observed in the 80 mg/kg group even after 2 weeks dosing and thereafter until 4 weeks recovery, though the mating index did not significantly differ from that of controls through the experiment. In the histopathological examination and sperm analysis, testicular signs of toxicity, decrease in number of sperm heads in the testis and increase in number of sperm with abnormal heads in the seminiferous tubules were noted in the 80 mg/kg group after 2 weeks dosing and in the 40 and 80 mg/kg groups after 4 weeks dosing. Concentrations of plasma testosterone and content of testis testosterone in nitrazepam-treated groups were not significantly different from those of controls. Plasma FSH concentration was significantly elevated in the 80 mg/kg group through the experiment, although significant elevation of plasma LH was observed only after 2 weeks dosing. These results indicate that histopathological examination is the most reliable approach to detect male reproductive adverse effects induced by nitrazepam rather than using parameters from mating trials. The four-week-dosing period is appropriate for their detection. Hypospermatogenesis induced by nitrazepam is suggested to be caused by direct action of nitrazepam on germ cells and/or Sertoli cells rather than by indirect action through inhibition of testosterone secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Clinical evaluation of catheter-related fungemia and bacteremia.

Forty-four patients with catheter-related infection admitted to Hokusho Central Hospital between 1985 and 1991 were studied retrospectively. The rate of catheter-related fungemia or bacteremia to all corresponding cases of fungemia and bacteremia increased from 7.7% in 1985 to 28.8% in 1991. The isolated pathogens were Candida parapsilosis (8 strains), Candida tropicalis (6 strains), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (6 strains), methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) (5 strains) and Streptococcus epidermidis (3 strains). Bacteremia occurred after catheterization of the femoral vein for a mean duration of 37 days. The period was significantly shorter than that after catheterization of the subclavian vein (56 days). The major isolates from the subclavian vein were Candida spp. (14/17, 82.4%), followed by MRSA (1/17, 5.9%) and MSSA (1/17, 5.9%), while isolates from the femoral vein were Candida spp. (6/16, 37.5%), MRSA (5/16, 31.3%) and MSSA (3/16, 20.8%). Catheter removal alone did not improve the clinical condition, particularly in MRSA bacteremia; the combination of antimicrobial therapy and removal of the catheter was necessary for a better prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Infections in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Infections in immunocompromised hosts have been an important clinical problem. Patients with liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma are at a high risk of infection due to multiple factors. Five hundred and two patients admitted with liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma were evaluated for infection. The infection rate was not influenced by the etiology of hepatic diseases or the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma, however, it increased with the advance of clinical stages of liver cirrhosis and hepatoma. The respiratory tract and urinary tract were the most common sites of infection, being involved in 50% and 28% of cases, respectively. The major pathogens of respiratory tract infection were S. aureus, H. influenzae, and P. aeruginosa. Gram-negative bacteria was the common isolate from sputum and urine, and S. aureus was also common in gram-positive bacteria. The infection rate was high in patients who died although infections could rarely be implicated as the direct cause of death. These findings should be a guide for the clinicians in treating patients with liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma who exhibit signs of infection.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗