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Biomedical subjects

K Kurashima

Publications and source records attributed to K Kurashima.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effect of inhaled procaterol on cough receptor sensitivity to capsaicin in patients with asthma or chronic bronchitis and in normal subjects.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of inhaled beta 2 adrenergic agonists on the sensitivity of airway cough receptors, the effect of inhaled procaterol on cough induced by aerosolised capsaicin, a stimulant of C fibres, was studied in patients with asthma or chronic bronchitis and in normal subjects. METHOD: Eleven patients with asthma and 10 with chronic bronchitis and 14 normal subjects participated. Increasing concentrations of capsaicin solution were inhaled for 15 seconds by tidal breathing through the mouth at one minute intervals until five or more coughs were elicited, before and 30 minutes after inhalation of 20 micrograms procaterol or placebo (freon gas alone) through a metered dose inhaler. Cough threshold was defined as the lowest concentration of capsaicin that elicited five or more coughs. To evaluate the bronchodilator effect of procaterol and the bronchoconstrictor effect of inhaled capsaicin, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was measured before and one minute after a capsaicin provocation test. This test was carried out both before and 30 minutes after treatment with procaterol or placebo. RESULTS: The geometric mean value of cough threshold to capsaicin was significantly increased by procaterol and placebo in both groups of patients but not in the control subjects. The increment in the cough threshold was not significantly different between the treatments with procaterol and placebo in each group. FEV1 was significantly increased by procaterol but not by placebo in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled procaterol has no effect on airway cough receptor sensitivity to capsaicin. The attenuation of the cough sensitivity seen after inhalation of procaterol in patients with asthma and bronchitis may result from tachyphylaxis to capsaicin.

Administration, Inhalation↗

[Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients before and after bone marrow transplantation].

We analysed BALF cell findings in 9 patients (group A: 5 patients without lung disease after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), group B: 4 patients with lung disease after BMT) before and after BMT. Before BMT, BALF cell findings in group A were almost normal, whereas a relative increase of lymphocytes was seen in group B. Although total cell counts and cell composition in group A changed little after BMT, CD4/CD8 ratios in BALF lymphocytes decreased. In contrast, a relative increase of lymphocytes and neutrophils was seen in group B and there was variation of CD4/CD8 ratios in BALF lymphocytes after BMT. We there studied the BALF lymphocytes of 3 patients in group A and 4 patients in group B after BMT by means of 2-color analysis. Among CD4+ cell populations, CDw 29+ cells were decreased in both groups after BMT. A relative increase of BALF-CD4+ HLA-DR+ cells and CD8+ HLA-DR+ cells was seen in group A, but was not seen in group B. These findings suggest that there is abnormality of local immunity in the lung after BMT.

Adult↗

Thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) improves abnormal mucociliary transport in asthmatic patients.

The effect of a thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046, 400 mg po/day) on mucociliary transport was investigated in 19 asthmatic patients. The nasal clearance time, as measured by the saccharin test, was prolonged in asthmatics (60.2 +/- 8.4 SE min) compared with normal controls (15.1 +/- 3.4 SE min). Within 4 weeks after OKY-046 administration, the nasal clearance time had improved (27.4 +/- 4.4 SE min, P less than .01) and the amount of sputum had decreased 30% (P less than .01). These results indicate that thromboxane A2 plays an important role in mucociliary transport in patients with asthma.

Aged↗

Activity of pulmonary surfactant after blocking the associated proteins SP-A and SP-B.

To investigate the role of the pulmonary surfactant-associated proteins SP-A and SP-B, the respective monoclonal antibody (anti-A or anti-B) was added to porcine pulmonary surfactant at a weight ratio of 1:2, and the mixtures were tested on surfactant-deficient immature newborn rabbits (gestational age 26 days). Under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia and mechanical ventilation with a 25-cmH2O peak insufflation pressure, the tidal volumes of the animals given surfactant alone and of those given surfactant containing anti-A were 27.9 +/- 5.1 and 25.1 +/- 9.6 (SD) ml/kg, respectively, whereas that of those given surfactant with anti-B was 5.8 +/- 3.6 ml/kg (P less than 0.05). The surface adsorption times of surfactant alone and of anti-A-containing surfactant were less than 0.8 s compared with greater than 120 s (P less than 0.01) for anti-B-containing surfactant. The anti-B suppressed the surfactant activity until the weight ratio was decreased to 2:100. The role of SP-A could not be clarified, but it was concluded that SP-B is an essential factor for surfactant activity.

Animals↗

[Inhibitory effects of rhIL-1 beta pretreatment on bleomycin-induced pneumonitis in mice].

We studied the effects of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) pretreatment on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pneumonitis in mice. Lung injury was dose-dependently induced by BLM (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg i.v.). The mice were pretreated with IL-1 (1 microgram/mouse i.p.) at 0.5, 6, 12 or 24 hours before the administration of BLM. Wet lung weight, lung weight-to-body weight ratio and bronchoalveolar lavage cell findings were analyzed with respect to time, and lung specimens on day 28 after administration of BLM were histopathologically examined. When mice were pretreated with IL-1 at 0.5 hr or 6 hr before the administration of BLM, changes in all the parameters were significantly suppressed. The results indicate that IL-1 pretreatment protects mice from BLM-induced pneumonitis and its effects are time-dependent.

Animals↗

[A case of congenital bronchial atresia with obstructive pneumonia accompanied with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage].

A 25-year-old male was admitted with productive cough and an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film which showed a cylindrical shadow near the left hilum and consolidation in the markedly hyperlucent left upper lung field. The cylindrical shadow appeared to be located in left S1+2 but bronchographic examination showed independence of the branches of B1+2. Furthermore, pulmonary venography by DSA showed that the left upper pulmonary vein entered the left brachiocephalic vein. The patient underwent left partial lobectomy under a diagnosis of congenital bronchial atresia with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Pathological examination of the resected lung revealed obstructive pneumonia in the over-inflated lung zone, probably induced through collateral airways.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

[Late asthmatic response by recruitment of homocytotropic antibody from circulating blood to the airway wall in guinea pig].

Many reports have been published about the late asthmatic response (LAR) of animal model. But most of the animals used were sensitized actively and it is considered generally that it is impossible to generate LAR in passively sensitized animals, especially in guinea pig. About the mechanism of LAR, most discussion are focused on airway hyperreactivity, inflammation and chemical mediators. But little is known about the direct initiator of the late phase bronchoconstriction. Instead of the circulating antibody which is generated by antibody producing cells in actively sensitized animals, anti-serum was administered to guinea pigs intravenously as passive sensitization fifteen minutes prior to antigen inhalation. Four to eight hours after antigen inhalation, we investigated bronchoconstriction. Eight hours after antigen challenge, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed. In the BAL fluid, macrophages decreased and neutrophils increased significantly. These results suggest that LAR can occur without airway inflammation and the inflammation might be the result of antigen-antibody reaction at the airway wall, and that the direct initiator of late phase bronchoconstriction might be the recruitment of homocytotropic antibody from circulating blood to the airway wall.

Animals↗

A pilot study of surfactant inhalation in the treatment of asthmatic attack.

The pulmonary surfactant is thought to be important in the stability of the small airways. In this study, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine whether surfactant inhalation has a therapeutic effect in asthmatic attack. Eleven patients with asthmatic attack whose conditions were stable for at least six hours before the study were randomly assigned to placebo or surfactant inhalation. Respiratory function tests and blood gas analysis were performed before and 20 minutes after the treatment. After placebo administration, no significant change was observed from baseline in pulmonary functions. After surfactant administration (1 ml; 10 mg per milliliter), respiratory functions were markedly improved in all patients. The mean (+/- SE) change in the FVC, FEV1.0, MMF, delta N2 and PaO2 was, respectively, an increase of 11.7 +/- 1.3% (p less than 0.001), an increase of 27.3 +/- 4.4% (p less than 0.05), an increase of 33.3 +/- 4.7% (p less than 0.05), a decrease of 31 +/- 8.4% (p less than 0.05) and an increase of 13.4 +/- 0.8% (p less than 0.05). No difference was detected in PaCO2 after surfactant inhalation. This study indicates that airway surfactant is involved in the pathogenesis of bronchoobstruction of the patients with asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Inhibitory effect of aerosol WP871 on SRS-A mediated bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig in vivo.

Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) is an important factor mediating bronchoconstriction in asthma. We developed a guinea pig model for SRS-A mediated bronchoconstriction induced by antigen inhalation. Using this model, we investigated the effect of inhaled WP871, a new anti-allergic drug, on bronchoconstriction. Aerosol WP871 (0.01 and 0.033%) to some extent inhibited the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent fashion, but high-dose WP871 (0.1%) inhalation itself produced a non-specific bronchoconstriction. However, aerosol WP871 (0.033%) showed no inhibitory effect on bronchoconstriction caused by direct inhalation of leukotriene C4, a component of SRS-A. These findings indicate that aerosol WP871 does not antagonize SRS-A, but inhibits synthesis and/or release of SRS-A and has some non-specific bronchoconstrictive effect in high concentration.

Aerosols↗

[Mucociliary transport disturbance after an asthmatic attack].

The influence of asthmatic attack on the mucociliary transport system was studied by saccharin test in 8 asthmatic patients. In stable asthmatics, the mean nasal clearance time (NCT) was 44.9 +/- 6.1 (SE) min, which was greater than in normal controls (15.1 +/- 3.4 (SE) min). Nasal clearance time in stable asthmatics correlated fairly well with the duration of asthma. There is, however, no relationship between NCT and ages, blood eosinophil counts, blood IgE, or the respiratory functions. Mean NCT during asthmatic attack was 16.9 min, but 1 week later, mean NCT was prolonged to 58.6 min and 101.1 min after 2 weeks. These results indicate that there is mucociliary transport disturbance after asthmatic attack.

Adolescent↗

An autopsy case of malignant histiocytosis with Reed-Sternberg-like cells.

We report an autopsy case of malignant histiocytosis. The clinical course was rapidly progressive and terminated with jaundice and respiratory failure. Histologically, there was diffuse infiltration of large atypical cells in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. It was of interest that these tumor cells contained a number of bizarre multinucleated cells histologically indistinguishable from Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin's disease, and that these atypical cells expressed DAKO M1 (identical to Leu M1) and Ki-1 antigens and also showed binding to peanut agglutinin (PNA), representative markers of Reed-Sternberg cell. An absence of epithelial membrane antigen and presence of Leu M1 antigen in the tumor cells made a diagnosis of Ki-1 lymphoma unlikely. This case study showed that giant or pleomorphic cells indistinguishable histologically and phenotypically from Reed-Sternberg cells occur in malignant histiocytosis.

Adult↗

Bronchoconstrictive properties and potentiating effect on bronchial responsiveness of inhaled thromboxane A2 analogue (STA2) in guinea pigs.

Effect of subthreshold concentration of inhaled STA2, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) analogue, on bronchial responsiveness to histamine was investigated in anesthetized and artificially ventilated guinea pigs. Percent increase in pressure of the airway opening (Pao) by aerosol histamine (50, 100 micrograms/ml) was significantly potentiated by subthreshold dose of aerosol STA2 (0.10 micrograms/ml) which was determined by dose-response curve of % increase in Pao by inhaled STA2 (0.033, 0.10, 0.33, 1.0 micrograms/ml). These results demonstrated that thromboxane A2 could contribute to bronchial hyperresponsiveness which is one of the major clinical features of bronchial asthma.

Aerosols↗

[The role of cyclooxygenase products on bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in patients with sino-bronchial syndrome].

The role of cyclooxygenase products on bronchial responsiveness to methacholine was studies in 9 patients with sino-bronchial syndrome. Provocative concentrations of methacholine, producing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)(PC20-FEV1) and a 35% fall in inverse respiratory resistance (Grs) (PC35-Grs), were measured before and after oral administration of a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) and a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin). Baseline values of FEV1 and respiratory resistance (Rrs) were not altered by OKY-046 or indomethacin. Geometric mean values of PC20-FEV1 and PC35-Grs were significantly (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.05) increased from 2.19 mg/ml (GSEM, 1.58) and 0.79 mg/ml (GSEM, 1.70) to 8.13 mg/ml (GSEM, 1.92) and 1.55 mg/ml (GSEM, 1.38) by indomethacin, whereas these values were not significantly increased by OKY-046. These findings indicate that not thromboxane A2 but bronchoconstricting prostaglandins may play a role in bronchial hyperresponsiveness in sino-bronchial syndrome.

Bronchi↗

[Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings and lung function in psittacosis].

Three familial cases of psittacosis presented with fever and arthralgia. The first case was a 54-year-old man whose chest X ray film showed ground glass appearance in left S6. Ga scintigraphy revealed stronger accumulation in left lower lobe. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was examined in 2 of the cases and activated helper T cells were increased in both of the cases. Lung function was studied in all 3 cases in different phases. Their basic lung functions were different, but there was a similar change in courses, i.e. decrease of small airway flow and the increase of RV. These findings suggest that lung lesion of psittacosis may be related to allergic reaction and diffuse lung disease.

Adult↗

[Inhibitory effect of procaterol (beta 2 agonist) on the release of cyclooxygenase products during antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig in vivo].

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether procaterol (beta 2 agonist) inhibits the release of cyclooxygenase products in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) during in vivo allergic bronchoconstriction in passively sensitized guinea pigs. Antigen-induced bronchoconstriction was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with procaterol. The concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha and TXB2 in BALF significantly decreased in guinea pigs pretreated with inhaled procaterol. The concentration of TXB2, which is the stable metabolite of TXA2, a strong bronchoconstrictor, was especially markedly decreased compared with that in the control animals. These data indicate that procaterol (beta 2 agonist) may inhibit the release of chemical mediators during allergic reactions as well as directly decrease the contractility of airway smooth muscle. Consequently, regular inhalation of procaterol may be clinically useful for prophylaxis of bronchial asthma.

Administration, Inhalation↗