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Biomedical subjects

K Kudo

Publications and source records attributed to K Kudo.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[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↗

[A case of primary macroglobulinemia with acute pulmonary edema].

A 54-year-old man with acute respiratory failure underwent emergency admission to our hospital. Acute pulmonary edema combined with severe pneumonia was strongly suspected, and treatment with diuretics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids was effective. The diagnosis, primary macroglobulinemia, was made from the following findings: a high level of the lgM 1 type monoclonal protein, and an elevated serum viscosity with characteristic "linked sausage effects" seen in the retinal veins. Lymphoplasmacytoid cells, plasma cells, and small lymphocytes were seen in the bone marrow and lymphoplasmacytoid cells were also seen in the smear of the patient's peripheral blood. The types of malignant cells found in his bone marrow were also seen in both infiltrative lesions in the lung parenchyma and the pleural effusion. We concluded that this was a case of primary macroglobulinemia with acute pulmonary edema, which was caused partly by the hyperviscosity syndrome. The antitumor effect of the corticosteroid might have some effect on the recovery from acute respiratory failure and primary macroglobulinemia. He was transferred to the Department of Hematology to receive suitable chemotherapy.

Acute Disease↗

Determination of enantiomeric purity of hyoscyamine from scopolia extract using HPLC-CD system without chiral separation.

Enantiomeric ratio of hyoscyamine from Scopolia extract was determined by chiral HPLC-CD analysis. It was found that circular dichroism (CD) detection allowed the analysis of the sample without any special pretreatment whereas UV detection required an ammonia-ether extraction. To obtain a shorter analysis time for the determination, reversed-phase HPLC-CD analysis was applied by using a g-factor calibration curve (EE% vs. CD/UV). The analysis time was shortened from 35 to 18 min. EE% values obtained were consistent with those by chiral HPLC analysis.

Atropine↗

[Diagnostic efficacy of 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose-positron emission tomography in multiple solitary pulmonary nodules].

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of abnormal lung shadows in the left lung. Chest computed tomography revealed a cavitary lesion with irregular edges in the right S10 and a nodular lesion with well-defined margins in the left S6. Histological examination of a specimen obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma in the right S10 but no significant findings in the left S6. Thirdly, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) demonstrated that the nodular shadow in the left S6 was a low-uptake structure and that the cavitary lesion in the right S10 was a high-uptake lesion. We therefore considered that the nodular shadow in the left S6 was not one of neoplastic disease. Partial lung resection of the left S6 was carried out by videoassisted thoracoscopic surgery. The pathological diagnosis of the left S6 was epithelial granuloma with caseation. A culture of the same resected specimen was positive for Mycobacterium avium. The eventual clinical staging for the squamous cell carcinoma in the right S10 was cT2N0M0 (IB). Radical surgical treatment and right lower lobectomy were performed for the S10 lesion. We considered that 18F-FDG-PET was an effective noninvasive procedure for diagnosis of solitary or multiple solitary nodular shadows in the lung.

Aged↗

[Clinical features of essential thrombocythemia in three children].

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is one of the quite rare myeloproliferative disorders in children. The natural course and outcome of this disease have been reported to vary. We report three children (two boys and one girl, mean age at diagnosis 12 yr) with ET who showed different clinical courses. The girl was asymptomatic, but the boys had ankle pain and priapism, respectively. The platelet count ranged between 2300 and 2900 x 10(9)/L, and the diagnoses were made according to the criteria of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. The serum thrombopoietin level reached 0.33 and 0.47 fmol/ml in two patients. All three children were administered aspirin or dipyridamole orally. Normalization of the platelet count was observed in two patients, and stable disease persisted in one. The 12 pediatric patients with ET reported previously in Japan demonstrated a low incidence of serious thrombohemorrhagic complications and a favorable outcome, none developing acute leukemia. Careful continuous observation and conservative treatment may be preferable in pediatric patients who do not have cardiovascular symptoms, avoiding the use of potential leukemogens such as alkylating agents and hydroxyurea.

Aspirin↗

Clinical significance of numerical aberrations on chromosome 17 in uterine cervical and endometrial neoplasias.

In order to determine the clinical significance of numerical aberrations on chromosome 17 in uterine cervical and endometrial neoplasias, we investigated 140 cell specimens obtained from the uterine cervix and endometrium using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method. These specimens consisted of ten normal cervical epithelium (NCE), 16 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CIN 1), 15 CIN 2, 35 CIN 3, 11 early invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (early invasive SCC), 11 invasive SCC, 13 normal endometrium (NE), 17 endometrial hyperplasias (EH), and 12 endometrial ademocarcinomas (EA). After Papanicolaou staining on these specimens was decolorized, FISH was performed using chromosome 17 specific repetitive DNA probes. Signals of centromere of chromosome 17 in marked atypical cells were counted using a fluorescence microscope. There was a significant difference in the rate of cells with one signal on chromosome 17 between CIN 1 (7.1+/-0.7%) or 2 (7.0+/-0.5%) and CIN 3 (12.6+/-0.9%) (p<0.01), and also between CIN 3 and early invasive SCC (19.6+/-1.0%) (p<0.01). The rate of cells with three signals was significantly increased when the uterine cervical lesions were progressive to CIN 3 (p<0.01). Cells with five or more signals occurred only in early invasive SCC and invasive SCC. There was a significant difference in the rate of cells with three signals between EH (4.8+/-0.6%) and EA (11.4+/-2.1%) (p<0.05). Cells with five or more signals occurred only in EA. Examination of the numerical aberrations on chromosome 17 in uterine cervical and endometrial neoplasias has been suggested to be useful as an additional method for the differential diagnosis of these lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Liquid chromatography-fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for detection and determination of pentazocine in human tissues.

A reliable and sensitive method was developed for the detection and determination of pentazocine in human solid tissues using liquid chromatography-dynamic fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry, combined with a three-step liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Levallorphan tartrate served as an internal standard. The extract was evaporated to dryness and dissolved in the mobile phase, acetonitrile-10 mM ammonium acetate solution (20:80, pH 4.0) containing 0.5% glycerol as FAB matrix. The eluent was pumped at a flow rate of 25 microl/min and split before introduction to FAB mass spectrometer. Quantitative analysis was carried out by means of monitoring quasi-molecular ions with m/z 286 for pentazocine and m/z 284 for levallorphan. The lower limit of detection of pentazocine in each tissue tested was 1 ng/g with scan mode and 0.1 ng/g with SIM mode. Using this method, the concentrations of pentazocine were determined in the tissues of an autopsied individual to perform toxicological evaluation.

Aged↗

Relation between lymphatic vessel diameter and clinicopathologic parameters in squamous cell carcinomas of the oral region.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to determine the mechanism of cervical lymph node metastases, the authors studied the relation between lymphatic vessels in or around tumor tissue and lymph node metastases in patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral region by enzyme histochemistry using 5'nucleotidase-alkaline phosphatase. METHODS: The subjects were 23 patients who had biopsy proven oral SCC. After enzyme histochemical staining, the cross-sectional dimension (referred to as diameter) of the lymphatic vessels were measured and analyzed in relation to the T classification of the tumor, degree of tumor differentiation, and mode of invasion. RESULTS: The average diameter of the lymphatic vessels in or around tumor tissue was significantly greater than that in tumor free tissue (P < 0.01). The mode of invasion correlated significantly with the lymphatic vessel diameter (P < 0.01). The diameter did not correlate significantly with the T classification (P range, 0.135-0.254) or tumor differentiation (P = 0.274). The following relation was found between the incidence of cervical lymph node metastases and the mode of invasion: 40.0% of Grade 2 tumors were positive for metastases, 71.4% of Grade 3 tumors were positive, and 75.0% of Grade 4 tumors were positive (grading was according to Jakobsson's classification). CONCLUSIONS: Of the factors evaluated in this study, only the mode of invasion correlated significantly with the diameter of the lymphatic vessels. Although other studies have shown that tumor thickness and perhaps even perineural and blood vessel invasion may be equally important, the findings of the current study suggest that both lymphatic vessel diameter and the mode of invasion may be important factors in the prediction of cervical lymph node metastases.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Distribution of prolactin-releasing peptide-immunoreactive neurons in the rat hypothalamus.

A newly identified hypothalamic peptide whose specific receptors are present in the anterior pituitary gland is a selective and potent stimulator of prolactin secretion and is therefore termed prolactin-releasing peptide (PRP). We investigated the distribution of PRP-containing neurons in the hypothalamus of female rats by immunocytochemical techniques. Immunocytochemistry using a specific antibody raised to PRP revealed that PRP-immunoreactive perikarya were located in the posteroventral part of the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. PRP-immunoreactive nerve terminals were present in high concentrations in a region ventral to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but scarcely observed in the external layer of the median eminence in which well known hypothalamic hormones such as growth hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin were abundantly detected. This specific distribution in the hypothalamus suggests a novel route of the hypophysiotropic action of PRP.

Animals↗

Effects of ginseng saponins on responses induced by various receptor stimuli.

We investigated the effects of four ginseng saponins, ginsenoside-Rb1, -Rg2, -Rg3 and -Ro, on the responses induced by receptor stimulation of various stimuli. Ginsenoside-Rg2 (1-100 microM) reduced the secretions of catecholamines from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated by acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid but not by angiotensin II, bradykinin, histamine and neurotensin. In guinea-pig, the ginsenoside also diminished the nicotine-induced secretion of catecholamines from the adrenal chromaffin cells, but it did not affect the muscarine- and the histamine-induced ileum contractions. On the other hand, ginsenoside-Rg3 (1-100 microM) reduced not only the acetylcholine-, the gamma-aminobutyric acid- and the neurotensin-induced secretions but also, at a higher concentration (100 microM), the angiotensin II-, the bradykinin- and the histamine-induced secretions from the bovine chromaffin cells. Furthermore, the saponin (3-100 microM) significantly inhibited the muscarine- and the histamine-induced ileum contractions of the guinea-pig. Ginsenoside-Rb1 and -Ro had no marked effect on their responses. These results strongly suggest that ginsenoside-Rg2 is a potent selective blocker of nicotinic acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (ionotropic receptors) and ginsenoside-Rg3 is not only a blocker of ionotropic receptors but also an antagonist of muscarinic or histamine receptors.

Adrenal Glands↗

A novel mutation of the erythroid-specific gamma-Aminolevulinate synthase gene in a patient with non-inherited pyridoxine-responsive sideroblastic anemia.

A novel missense mutation, G663A, in exon 5 of the erythroid-specific delta-aminolevulinate synthase gene (ALAS2) was identified in a Japanese male with pyridoxine-responsive sideroblastic anemia. Activity of the mutant delta-aminolevulinate synthase protein expressed in vitro was 15.1% compared with the normal control, but was increased up to 34.5% by the addition of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, consistent with the clinical response of the patient to pyridoxine treatment. The same mutation was also detected in genomic DNa from the oral mucosal membrane of the patiet; however, it was not detected in other family member. These findings suggest that this G663A mutation is responsible for sideroblastic anemia in the proband, and may be an index mutation in this pedigree.

5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase↗

Cloning and expression of yellowtail ascites virus segment A.

cDNA of yellowtail ascites virus (YAV) segment A encoding a polyprotein of VP2, NS, and VP3 has been cloned. Comparison of the nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequences showed very high homology between YAV and other aquatic birnaviruses. The two small open reading frames (VP5) besides the 5' terminus of the VP2 gene were found on segment A of YAV. Proteins encoded by cDNAs from segment A and the serotype-specific epitope region on VP2 were expressed using a baculovirus vector. Western blot analysis confirmed that a polyprotein was expressed and processed into VP2 and VP3 in insect cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus containing the complete polyprotein coding region. In the case of expression in silkworm larvae, only VP3 was detected in hemocytes and fat body of silkworm larvae infected with the recombinant virus. The recombinant fusion protein consisting of VP2 epitope region and polyhedrin was expressed in insect cells and cross-reacted with a mouse monoclonal antibody against VP2 which had a neutralizing activity to YAV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of an alcoholic beverage in which methamphetamine was dissolved.

A man was arrested for violating the Stimulant Control Law. Twelve small plastic containers each containing 1-3 ml of reddish purple alcoholic beverage in which methamphetamine had been dissolved, and a bottle of blueberry liquor of a similar colour, were found in his house. He admitted that the blueberry liquor belonged to him, but strongly insisted that he had been asked to keep the containers by another person and that he had no knowledge of their contents. The alcoholic beverage and the blueberry liquor were analyzed in order to test whether he had dissolved methamphetamine in the blueberry liquor. The aroma components found in the alcoholic beverage in each of the plastic containers were identical, but differed from those found in the blueberry liquor. Based on these results and further police investigations, the suspect's allegation was supported and he was not prosecuted.

Journal Article↗