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Biomedical subjects

K Kanai

Publications and source records attributed to K Kanai.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Therapeutic efficacy of lanoconazole ointment in guinea pig model of tinea corporis, a comparative study with ointment and cream preparations].

The therapeutic efficacy of ointment and cream preparations of lanoconazole in a guinea pig model of tinea corporis was compared on the basis of degrees of improvement in local symptoms and negative culture rates. When infected animals were treated once daily with 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% lanoconazole ointments, significant improvement of the symptoms and mycological curative effects were observed as compared to those of non-treated control and vehicle-treated control groups of animals. Particularly, in animals treated with 0.5 or 1% lanoconazole ointment, no fungus was recovered from any infected loci. Comparing these results with those obtained with comparable concentrations of lanoconazole cream, no significant difference was found. These studies, therefore, suggested that ointment and cream preparations of lanoconazole on topical application would show basically equivalent therapeutic efficacy in the tinea corporis model.

Animals↗

[A clinical study of non-tuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis].

We studied the clinical features of sixty-one patients with non-tuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis (NTM), who were newly diagnosed at five national hospitals in Kinki area during 1993. The study subjects were composed of 31 patients with M. avium complex (MAC) disease (20 males and 15 females), 21 with M. kansasii (MK) disease (19 males and 3 females), 2 males with M. szulgai (MS) disease and 2 females with M. chelonae (MC) disease. The rate of NTM to all culture proven mycobacteriosis was 20.2% and the rate of NTM to all culture proven, newly discovered mycobacteriosis was 18.2% and the rates were higher than Sakatani's report in 1994 (14% in 1991). The ratio of MK to MAC was 22:35, and the ratio of MK was higher than the report of Sakatani. The mean age of patients with MK was 57.9 in male and 76.7 in female, that with MAC was 71.0 in male and 70.1 in female, that with MS was 57.0 in male and that 72.5 with MC in female. The proportion of elderly patients was higher than the former reports in Japan, especially in female with MK. The main lesions on chest X-ray was found in bilateral S1, 2(S1+2), particularly in the cases with cavitary lesions, but right middle lobe and left lingular lobe were mainly affected in some patients with MAC and S6 was often affected in elderly patients with MK. The chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and/or streptomycin (or kanamycin) w as highly effective in case with MK and MS disease, the efficacy was similar to pulmonary tuberculosis. Some patients with MAC were treated with combination of anti-tuberculosis drugs and new quinolons and/or clarythromycin, but the efficacy was not yet revealed.

4-Quinolones↗

Release of bile canalicular membrane antigen into blood in experimental extrahepatic cholestasis of the rat.

The level of a bile canalicular membrane antigen in serum during extrahepatic cholestasis was serially analyzed using HAM.4, a monoclonal antibody against a bile canalicular membrane glycoprotein of normal rat hepatocytes. After bile duct ligation, the level of HAM.4 antigen in serum promptly increased within 1 hr, reached a maximum at 3 hr, and declined somewhat until 48 hr, where it plateaued. Elevated levels of HAM.4 antigen in serum preceded those of well-known biliary marker enzymes activities. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the expression of HAM.4 antigen in hepatocytes and bile duct cells was not altered appreciably after bile duct ligation even when HAM.4 antigen in serum reached a maximal level. The serum and hepatic HAM.4 antigen had a molecular weight of 110 kDa. These results suggest that HAM.4 antigen may be regarded as a potential marker of the early stage of cholestasis, with release occurring before apparent histological changes.

Animals↗

Therapeutic efficacy of lanoconazole, a new imidazole antimycotic agent, for experimental cutaneous candidiasis in guinea pigs.

The therapeutic efficacy of 1% cream and 1% solution of lanoconazole, a new imidazole antimycotic agent, in the model of cutaneous candidiasis in prednisolone-treated guinea pigs was evaluated in comparison with that of comparable formulations of bifonazole. Each preparation was topically applied once a day for 3 consecutive days, starting on the fifth day postinfection, and quantitative culture study wsa conducted on the ninth day postinfection. Both formulations of lanoconazole were much more highly effective in terms of eradication of fungi than the bifonazole formulations.

Administration, Topical↗

[HCV-serotype and IFN response].

The relation between HCV-serotypes and response to interferon (IFN) in 114 cases with chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha were studied. HCV-serotypes; two distinct subgroups (serotype 1 and 2) of hepatitis C virus defined by antibodies directed to the putative core protein, were examined by ELISA developed by Machida et al. 1) Of 33 cases with serotype 2, 20 were responders, whereas, only 5 of 35 cases with serotype 1 responded to IFN therapy. 2) Of 23 cases with HCV-genotype III, 18 (78.3%) responded to IFN. Moreover, 12 (85.7%) of 14 cases who had serotype 2 were responders. On the other hand, only 17 (21.0%) cases with genotype II and 4 (12.1%) cases with serotype 1 responded to IFN. HCV-serotyping as well as HCV-genotyping in cases with chronic hepatitis C seems to be important in predicting the response to IFN therapy.

Adult↗

Effects of tunicamycin on the pH-activity pattern of acid phosphatase in Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

The liquid culture of Pseudomonas pseudomallei shows a complex feature in in the pH-activity pattern of acid phosphatase, not a single peak curve. There was an evident tendency that the higher activity shifted to the higher pH range with the growth of culture. The culture in the presence of tunicamycin (20 micrograms/ml) showed a decreased activity selectively in the higher pH range, while the activity in the lower pH was more heat-labile. The bacterial cells grown on agar plates containing tunicamycin were more heat-labile than the untreated control cells. The glucosidase-treatment reduced the enzymatic activity (of the phosphatase-active fractions from the living cells) with the shift of the optimum pH to lower pH. These observations together with some collateral findings suggest that the pH-activity pattern of acid phosphatase in P. pseudomallei is associated with the development of precursor enzyme proteins to mature glycoproteins.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Separation of antigenic glycoprotein fractions from cell-free homogenate of Pseudomonas pseudomallei and characterization as tyrosine phosphatase.

Cell-free extracts were prepared from Pseudomonas pseudomallei cells by freezing-thawing, sonication, and differential ultracentrifugation. The extracts were subjected to column chromatography with DEAE-sepharose to obtain glycoprotein fractions. The fractions showed acid phosphatase activity to p-nitrophenyl phosphate, tyrosine phosphate, serine phosphate, but not to threonine phosphate. They were highly antigenic when tested by immunofluorescence assay with the sera of melioidosis patients.

Animals↗

[Complete eradication by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy reduces the recurrence of esophageal varices].

Endoscopic intravariceal injection sclerotherapy (EIS) using sclerosant mixed with contrast medium was done in 100 patients without hepatocellular carcinoma. They were followed longer than 12 months (mean; 58 +/- 29 months) after EIS. The recurrence rate of esophageal varices in cases with complete eradication (n = 79) and cases with incomplete eradication of (n = 21) was 8.9% and 85.7%, respectively (p < 0.01). In 21 cases, complete eradication was achieved by intravariceal injection and additional therapy using paravariceal injection was not performed. The recurrence rate of this group was only 4.8%. Endoscopic varicealography during injection sclerotherapy were evaluated in 91 cases. At final session of EIS, narrowing of diameter (less than 1 mm) and irregularity of vessel walls were observed in small vessels (devastated vessels). Appearance rate of devastated vessel in 75 cases with completely eradicated esophageal varices was 65.3%. In contrast, among 16 cases with incomplete eradication of varices, devastated vessels were seen only in 6.3% (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the important point in preventing the recurrence of esophageal varices after EIS was the complete eradication of esophageal varices by intravariceal injection sclerotherapy resulting in the eradication of the routes to esophageal varices from port-splenic venous system. For the sake of accomplishment of this treatment, appearance of devastated vessel is very useful.

Adult↗

[Therapeutic efficacy of lanoconazole ointment in guinea pig model of tinea pedis, in comparison with that of cream preparations].

The therapeutic efficacy of ointment and cream preparations of lanoconazole in a guinea pig model of tinea pedis was compared. When infected animals were treated once daily with 0.25% and 0.5% lanoconazole ointments, 7 of 10 and 8 of 10 infected feet became culture-negative, respectively. In animals treated with 1% lanoconazole ointment, fungus was not recovered from any infected foot. Comparing these results with those of culture study in animals which were treated with comparable concentrations of lanoconazole cream, no significant differences were found. These studies, therefore, suggested that ointment and cream preparations of lanoconazole on topical application in the tinea pedis model would show basically equivalent therapeutic efficacy.

Administration, Topical↗

[Deterioration of liver function following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy of esophageal varices--significance of the new liver function test "intravariceal injection (I.I.) index"].

Changes of liver functions associated with endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) were investigated in 143 patients with remarkable esophageal varices. The index used for evaluating hepatic reserve was the ratio between the increase of total bilirubin and the increase of LDH after EIS [I.I. index = (delta T.Bil./delta LDH) x 100] in cases treated by intravariceal injection of 5% ethanolamine oleate. I.I. index value caused by hemolysis was stable and always below 0.2, while the elevation of I.I. index above 0.2 was regarded as the reflection of the deterioration of liver function. After the entire sessions of EIS, the changes of liver function tests before and after EIS were estimated in 104 cases using 3 factors as follows; (1) delta T.Bil.; increase of total bilirubin more than 0.5 mg/dl (2) delta PT; decrease of prothrombin time more than 5% (3) delta ICG R15; increase of ICG R15 more than 5%. I.I. index of group I (without any changes of 3 factors mentioned above; n = 66) was 0.22 +/- 0.16, approximately within normal range. However, in group II (with 1 factor; n = 29), group III (with 2 factors; n = 5), group IV (with all factors; n = 4), I.I. index was elevated according to the severity of their liver dysfunction. The cases whose I.I. index value increased gradually during the course of EIS, were apt to deteriorate the liver functions and therefore, should be carefully observed. Also, I.I. index seems to reflect the prognosis of the patients treated by EIS for some extent, since the survival period of the cases treated by EIS were correlative with the value of I.I. index (r = -0.542, p < 0.01), and I.I. index of 32 cases who survived for longer than 5 years after EIS was almost normal (0.22 +/- 0.15).

Adult↗

Quantitative analysis of smooth endoplasmic reticulum proliferation in periportal, midzonal and perivenular hepatocytes of mice after administration of phenobarbital.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) proliferation after phenobarbital (PB) administration has been described to occur predominantly in perivenular hepatocytes. We analyzed by quantitative electron microscopy changes in ER amounts in periportal, midzonal and perivenular hepatocytes from mice injected with 35, 50, 100 or 150 mg/kg of PB once a day for 3 days. The SER proliferated in midzonal hepatocytes in addition to perivenular hepatocytes even when low doses (35 or 50 mg/kg) were administered, and in hepatocytes of all three zones in case of high doses (100 or 150 mg/kg). Moreover, net proliferation of SER after administration of an amount of PB was not different in hepatocytes of any zones where the proliferation occurred, except animals injected with 100 mg/kg. The results suggest that there is no difference in SER producing capacity in hepatocytes of three zones when the cells have recognized the stimulation of PB.

Animals↗

H-Gly-His psi (NHCO)Lys-OH, partially modified retro-inverso analogue of the growth factor glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine with enhanced enzymatic stability.

A partially retro-inverso analogue of the natural growth factor GHK was synthesized, in which the -CONH- bond between histidine and lysine was modified as -NHCO-. This modification is not expected to perturb the spatial distribution of the side-chains, and therefore the binding processes, compared to the native peptide. In the synthesis of the analogue two possible systems for deblocking of N pi-Bom group of histidine have been applied and compared. An alternative method is also described for the incorporation of malonyllysine into the peptide chain. When evaluated with respect to resistance toward degradation by human plasma in vitro, the new peptide analogue showed approximately a ten-fold increase in stability versus the parent peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two cases of recurrent hepatic injury associated with early pregnancy: hCG on hepatocytes is a suspected target antigen for lymphocyte attack.

Two cases of recurrent hepatic injury which appeared in the first trimester of pregnancy were studied. Case 1 was a 35 year old woman, gravida 4, para 0, who suffered repeatedly from hepatic injury requiring induced abortions. The patient was healthy before the pregnancies and the plasma aminotransferases increased after 8 weeks gestation and promptly returned to normal after the abortions. No fluctuation of aminotransferases was observed in the menstrual cycle. A liver biopsy immediately after abortion showed spotty necrosis of hepatocytes with mononuclear cell infiltration. Most of the infiltrating cells were cytotoxic T cells that were directly in contact with hepatocytes. Numerous lymphocytic infiltrations were also found in the decidua of the uterine curettage material. The patient's lymphocytes showed conspicuous blast transformation in culture with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG was detected in close vicinity to the injured hepatocytes by immunostaining. Case 2 was a 23 year old woman, gravida 2, para 0, who underwent an induced abortion due to hepatic dysfunction in the first pregnancy. Although hepatic dysfunction reappeared from 10 weeks gestation during the second pregnancy, her health gradually improved with conservative therapy and resulted in a full-term delivery. She lacked allergies to drugs or foods and was healthy when she was not pregnant. These two cases suggest that some hepatotoxic materials appeared transiently in the first trimester. The results of Case 1 suggest strongly that hCG on the hepatocytes was recognized as an antigen and evoked lymphocytic attack.

Adult↗

Application of indirect immunofluorescence microscopy to colony identification of Pseudomonas pseudomallei.

Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was used as a colony identification method of Pseudomonas pseudomallei isolates. The antisera against lipopolysaccharide and protein fractions of P. pseudomallei were prepared in guinea pigs and rabbits. With these antisera and fluorescence-labelled anti-guinea pig IgG and anti-rabbit IgG prepared in sheep (goat), indirect immunofluorescence microscopy was conducted on the colonies of P. pseudomallei and other species of bacteria. The overall results indicated that this method is efficient, rapid and specific for identification of P. pseudomallei colonies from clinical specimens.

Animals↗

Athletes as health testing examinees.

Health-testing examination data of 91 male and 54 female athletes were studied, together with age-matched controls, on serum biochemistry, ECG findings, hematology, and some data on gynecological physiology. Analysis of serum biochemical values revealed statistically significant differences in 14 of 18 routine test items as compared with the age-matched controls. In ECG findings, the combination of bradycardia and left ventricular hypertrophy was most frequently found in male athletes, whereas that of bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia was observed predominantly in female athletes. The incidence of anemia and menstrual dysfunction was higher in female athletes than in controls, especially in the basketball team. In the same team, a high rate of deviant ECG records and a different distribution of the age at menarche were also observed.

Adult↗

Purification and characterization of a novel growth factor (FF-GF) synthesized by a rat hepatoma cell line, FF101.

A rat hepatoma cell line, FF101, established in serum-free, protein-free medium, synthesizes a growth factor(FF-GF). FF-GF was purified by gel filtration chromatography, cation-exchange chromatography and isoelectric focusing. Purified FF-GF was revealed as a single band on SDS-gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated to be 70 KDa. FF-GF stimulated DNA synthesis of various cells from different origins. The growth-promoting activities of FF-GF were abolished by treating with protease, dithiothreitol, acid and heating, whereas its activity was not inhibited by antibodies against acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors. These results indicate that FF-GF is a novel growth factor.

Animals↗