Efficacy of prolonged large-dose dantrolene for severe neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
K Maeda
Publications and source records attributed to K Maeda.
Expansion of CD8alpha+beta- cells in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.
CD8+ lymphocytes have been subdivided into CD8alphabeta and CD8alpha alpha populations in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of humans and in several animal species but have not yet been investigated in cats. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes progressive immunological disorders similar to human AIDS. In this study, we analysed CD8+ cells in PBL of FIV-infected or uninfected cats by two-colour flow cytometric analysis. In specific pathogen-free adult cats, feline CD8alpha+beta(high) cells were observed but CD8alpha+beta- cells were not found in significant numbers. On the other hand, not only CD8alpha+beta(high) but also CD8alpha+beta- and CD8alpha+beta(low) cell populations were observed in cats chronically infected with FIV. The expansion of the CD8beta(low) or CD8beta- subpopulations resulted in the apparent differences in CD4/CD8 ratios depending on the anti-CD8 MAb used. These findings suggest a need to reconsider the CD4/CD8 ratio in studies of FIV infection. Furthermore, we found that the CD8alpha+beta- cell population expressed CD5 at a low level.
Animals↗
Protein-binding properties of the putative AP-1 and ATF sequences in the feline immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.
Electrophoresis-mobility-shift assays with nuclear extracts from a feline renal cell line and a T-lymphoblastoid cell line revealed that the AP-1 and ATF sites of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) TM2 strain had similar protein-binding properties to those of FIV Petaluma strain and consensus sequences of AP-1 and ATF sites, and that nuclear factors binding to these sites differed between the two cell lines. Cross-competition and gel-supershift assays demonstrated that the AP-1 and ATF sites had similar protein-binding properties. The effects of internal deletions of AP-1 and/or ATF sites on the basal promoter activity were also examined. Although deletion of either site moderately reduced activity, a mutant deleted in both sites had dramatically reduced activity. Therefore, we suggest that these two sites co-operatively regulate transcriptional activity of the promoter.
Activating Transcription Factors↗
Multiple early gastric stump carcinomas after gastrectomy for peptic ulcer.
The remnant stomach after partial gastrectomy is considered to have a predilection for the development of primary gastric carcinoma. However, early gastric stump carcinomas are uncommon because the diagnosis of gastric stump carcinoma is more difficult than that of carcinoma in the intact stomach. Triple early gastric stump carcinomas, as in the present case, are exceedingly rare and may provide some clues for further investigation of carcinogenesis in the gastric stump. We studied about the histological appearance, genetic alterations (P-53 gene, c-erbB-2 gene and K-ras gene), and expression of tumor-associated antigens (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and sialyl-Tn) in this rare case. The three carcinomas differed from each other histologically. With respect to genetic alterations, c-erbB-2 was amplified in one lesion, but no mutations of K-ras and P-53 gene were detected. The three carcinomas also differed from each other on the expression of tumor-associated antigens. In noncancerous mucosal epithelium at the anastomosis showing hyperplasia and cystic formation of glandular epithelial cells, no genetic alterations were detected, but sialyl-Tn and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were expressed. These results suggest that there may be different processes of carcinogenesis of the three carcinomas even though they occurred under identical environmental conditions to those that have increased cancer risk.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Correlation between endoscopic severity and the clinical activity index in ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between a new activity index and the endoscopic severity assessed by sigmoidoscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis. METHODS: We evaluated the sigmoidoscopic severity and Activity Index (AI) in 37 patients with distal colitis, 23 with left-sided colitis, and 36 with total colitis, in which the severity was divided into three categories: grade 1 = mildly active, grade 2 = moderately active, and grade 3 = severely active. We examined the relationship between the AI or clinical parameters and the endoscopic severity in all 96 cases. RESULTS: The AI was found to be significantly correlated with the degree of sigmoidoscopic activity in all cases, as well as in those with distal colitis, left-sided colitis, or total colitis. When patients with both grade 1 sigmoidoscopic activity and AI values of less than 150 were regarded to have mild colitis and patients with either grade 2 or grade 3 sigmoidoscopic activity and AI values of more than 150 were regarded to have moderate or severe colitis, 10 of 37 (27%) in the distal colitis, one of 23 (4.3%) in the left-sided colitis, and four of 36 (11.1%) in the total colitis groups were thus misclassified regarding the distinction between mild colitis and moderate or severe colitis. Three of four patients with severity of grade 1, indicating AI values of more than 150, had total colitis, whereas the remaining one had left-sided colitis. On the other hand, 10 of 11 patients with severity of grades 2 or 3 with AI values of less than 150 had distal colonic involvement. When the endoscopic activity was equivalent, the highest mean AI values occurred in total colitis whereas the lowest mean AI values were found in distal colitis. CONCLUSIONS: The AI well reflects the sigmoidoscopic activity. High AI values with a low sigmoidoscopic severity are thus considered to reflect extensive involvement, whereas a high sigmoidoscopic severity with low AI values is thought to indicate the involvement of the distal colon.
Adolescent↗
Interferon-gamma-producing cells and inducible nitric oxide synthase-producing cells in periapical granulomas.
Periapical granulomas contain a large number of T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages and a small number of B lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Sections from eight periapical granulomas were stained by a variety of immunohistochemical methods. The vascular endothelial cells stained positively for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. Helper T cells were identified by immunostaining for CD4 and stained positively for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). However, CD4-positive T cells did not stain for interleukin-4 (IL-4). Monocytes/macrophages were identified by immunostaining for CD68 and stained positively for IL-1alpha or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). IL-1beta could not be detected in the same samples. No cytokine expression was observed in B cells identified by immunostaining for CD20. IFN-gamma- and iNOS-positive cells could not be detected in clinically healthy periodontal ligament being used as a negative control. These results suggest that the IFN-gamma-producing T cells and iNOS-positive cells may modulate the progress of disease in local inflammation sites such as in periapical granulomas.
Adult↗
[Two cases of Achromobacter xylosoxidans sepsis].
Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a gram-negative bacterium whose natural habitat has not been clearly defined. It has been isolated from ear discharge and the large intestine of humans and from various hospital or environmental water sources. Infection with A. xylosoxidans in humans has been documented, and resulting illnesses include meningitis, pneumonia, cholecystitis, peritonitis and urinary tract infection. Bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans is rare, and little information on treatment is available. Two cases of bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans in patients with hemapoietic malignancies are reported herein. Case 1 involved a 70-yr. male whose clinical diagnosis was IgA lambda-type plasmacytoma. Case 2 involved 72-yr. male whose clinical diagnosis was acute lymphatic leukemia (L2). Both patients had been catheterized. Neutropenia was noted and the white blood cell counts were 20/microliter in case 1 and 35/microliter in case 2 when A. xylosoxidans was isolated from the blood culture. We suggest that bacteremia due to A. xylosoxidans may have been related to the presence of the catheter and neutropenia.
Aged↗
[A clinical study of respiratory infection isolating non-pathogenic Neisseria by transtracheal aspiration].
Neisseria species other than N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae are generally regarded as commensal bacterial flora of the oropharynx, and little is known regarding cases of these non-pathogenic Neisseria species in the lower respiratory tract. We clinically examined respiratory tract infections from which non-pathogenic Neisseria species were isolated by transtracheal aspiration (TTA). The incidence of non-pathogenic Neisseria isolated was 54 (15.7%) out of 344 episodes of respiratory tract infections with isolated microorganisms from TTA, and was 17.6%, 15.8%, 14.3% for pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and chronic lower respiratory tract infection, respectively. All 54 episodes were isolated with other microorganisms such as alpha-Streptococcus spp. (75.9%), Haemophilus influenzae (25.9%) and anaerobics (22.2%). The isolation ratio according to the age group increased at 45 years of age or more, but did not increase with the advance of age. Predisposing factors were identified such as overt aspiration, iatrogenic procedure and heavy smoking. Cases without overt aspiration that had fevers of 38 degrees C or more or hypoxemia of less than PaO2 70 torr when detecting non-pathogenic Neisseria were observed more frequently in the aged than the non-aged. The findings suggest the detection of non-pathogenic Neisseria by TTA is influenced by the host state that the fall of microorganisms from the upper to lower respiratory tract cannot be defended or excluded by mucociliary transportation disorder due to underlying disease and smoking, or deterioration of physical status other than overt or silent aspiration.
Age Factors↗
[Clinical evaluation of lung abscess diagnosed by transtracheal aspiration].
We have diagnosed lung abscess according to findings of infiltration with cavity formation on chest X-ray and/or CT-scan and pathogens isolated from transtracheal aspirates. We evaluated the clinical features of 20 patients with lung abscess (18 males and 2 females, mean age; 54.3 years). Diabetus mellitus and periodontal diseases were prominent underlying diseases in patients with lung abscess. Cough was complained in 13 patients, chest or back pain in 9, purulent sputum in 8 and hemosputum in 5 when the patients admitted to our hospital. A temperature higher than 38 degrees C was present in 12 patients but temperature les than 37 degrees C in 2. Multiple microorganisms were cultured from TTA in 15 patients. A mean of 2.7 bacterial species per patient was isolated, aerobes alone being isolated in 2 patients, anaerobes alone in 3, and mixed aerobic and anaerobic isolates in 10. Seventeen strains of aerobes and 35 of anaerobes were isolated. Major pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus intermedius and other in aerobes, and Peptostreptococcus micros, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella melaninogenica and others in anaerobes. Abnormality of chest X-ray was located on the right upper lobe in 6 patients, the right lower lobe in 6, the left upper lobe in 6, the left lower lobe in 4 and the right middle lobe in 1. All patients were cured only by treatment of antimicrobial agents, but cavity formation on chest X-ray remained in 4 patients after the treatment.
Adult↗
[Bacillus cereus septicemia in a patient with severe aplastic anemia].
A 78-year-old female was admitted with complaints of malaise and fatigue in the legs. The patient was diagnosed as severe aplastic anemia and treatment was started with metenolone and steroid pulse therapy. Administration of antibiotics and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor which led to a resolution of the high fever. About four months after admission, the patient developed vomiting and abdominal pain with a spiking fever. The next day after suddenly losing consciousness, she died. B. cereus was isolated from blood cultures. Autopsy specimens of the liver, cardiac muscle and lung showed changes due to B. cereus. This pathogen is widely distributed in nature. We should not overlook B. cereus as a contamination, but rather should consider it a potential pathogen in immunocompromised hosts, when it is isolated from blood cultures.
Aged↗
[Clinical analysis of patients with sepsis--comparison between underlying diseases].
We evaluated the clinical data in 83 patients with sepsis, which was diagnosed by both Bone's definition of sepsis and positive isolates from blood culture, according to their underlying diseases. This study enrolled a total of 117 septic episodes in 83 patients (57 males and 26 females, mean age: 52.0 years). We classified 3 groups, including hematological malignancies (46 patients, 72 episodes), solid malignant tumors (23 patients, 25 episodes) and non-malignancies (14 patients, 20 episodes), by the underlying diseases. Of the total number of isolates from blood culture, 53.0% were single gram-positive bacteria, 33.3% were single gram-negative bacteria, 7.7% were single fungus and 6.0% were polymicrobial organisms. In addition, coagulase negative staphylococci was isolated most often in patients with hematological malignancies. Sepsis was often caused by infectious focuses of hemorrhoid, stomatitis or intravenous catheter in patients with hematological malignancies, by pneumonia in patients with solid malignant tumors and by urinary tract infection in patients with non-malignancies. Mortality of sepsis in patients with solid malignant tumors (48%) was highest in 3 groups. Septic patients, who were complicated with shock and/or DIC, has poor prognosis in all groups. Serum albumin level was significantly lower in dead patients than patients who survived. These results suggest that clinical features may be different according to the underlying diseases of patients with sepsis.
Aged↗
[An epidemiological investigation for MRSA and PRSP in Kinki area. Kinki Infection Working Group].
Recent trends in the development of resistance of the Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae to antibiotics were investigated, using a questionnaire delivered to participants at a meeting of the Kinki District Society of Infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 55.4% of all isolated S. aureus, and more than 80% of MRSA was detected within hospitals. In outpatients, MRSA was often detected in pus, while in hospitalized patients, MRSA was often detected in sputum. Further, MRSA was accompanied by some other organisms (most frequently Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in 64.7% of MRSA positive patients. The sensitivity of MRSA to vancomycin (VCM) was 100%, to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (ST) 99.2%, and to arbekacin, 98.6%. In contrast, Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) accounted for 42.4% of all isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae. About 50% of PRSP was detected in out-patients. For both hospitalized patients and outpatients, PRSP was most frequently detected in sputum. PRSP was accompanied by some other organisms (most frequently Haemophilus influenzae) in 49.3% of PRSP positive patients, PRSP had high sensitivity to cephems, carbapenems and VCM.
Aminoglycosides↗
Increased soluble CD4 and CD8 in chronic renal failure.
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CD4 Antigens↗
Upregulation of retinal vascular endothelial growth factor mRNAs in spontaneously diabetic rats without ophthalmoscopic retinopathy. A possible participation of advanced glycation end products in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has recently been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, its involvement in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy is not fully understood. In this study we investigated the retinal VEGF mRNA level in spontaneously diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes, without overt retinopathy, using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The retinal VEGF mRNA level was 2.2 times higher (p < 0.0005) in OLETF rats than in control rats at the age of 60 weeks. Moreover, their retinal mRNA level was positively correlated with serum concentration of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) but not to serum glucose concentration. Furthermore, the peak latency of the oscillatory potentials in the electroretinogram, one of the most sensitive markers for the early phase of diabetic retinopathy, was significantly prolonged in OLETF rats (p < 0.05), being also correlated with the serum AGE concentration. The results thus suggest that AGEs, which are formed acceleratedly in diabetic conditions, are involved in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy probably through the induction of retinal VEGF mRNAs.
Animals↗
Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele and whole brain atrophy in late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE: Diffuse brain atrophy is one of the gross pathological features of Alzheimer's disease and is a result of degenerative changes. The epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a risk factor or susceptibility gene in late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease and may influence the pathological changes associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and whole brain atrophy. METHOD: Whole brain volume was quantified by using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and the computerized brain segmentation technique in 178 patients with late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease who carried no APOE epsilon 4 alleles (N = 62), one epsilon 4 allele (N = 93), or two (N = 23) and had comparable clinical severity of dementia. RESULTS: An apparent positive correlation was found between normalized whole brain volume (relative to total intracranial volume) and number of APOE epsilon 4 alleles; i.e., patients carrying two APOE epsilon 4 alleles had the least brain atrophy. This association between the APOE epsilon 4 allele and brain volume was similar in women and men and was independent of age, level of education, duration of illness since symptom onset, and severity of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that cognitive dysfunction progresses before severe brain atrophy develops in patients carrying the APOE epsilon 4 allele and suggest that an APOE epsilon 4-allele-related mechanism that affects neuronal function before a decrement in brain matter is involved in the development of dementia.
Aged↗
Serum or growth factor deprivation induces the expression of alkaline phosphatase in human gingival fibroblasts.
We have previously reported that the increased expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is a phenotypic characteristic of gingival fibroblasts present in chronic inflammatory periodontal lesions. We hypothesized that ALP might be induced in gingival fibroblasts by environmental factors. In the present study, we investigated the factors influencing the induction of ALP expression in fibroblasts derived from healthy human gingiva. The withdrawal of serum from confluent cultures of fibroblasts increased the number of cells positive for ALP activity and protein, without their proliferation. Suramin, a growth factor antagonist, induced ALP expression in cells cultured with serum. Serum re-addition or exposure to platelet-derived growth factor-AB and/or insulin-like growth factor I suppressed ALP induction and caused cell growth. ALP-positive cells could survive for up to 6 weeks after serum deprivation, a condition inducing cell death via apoptosis. These results demonstrate that serum or growth factor deprivation induces the expression of ALP in gingival fibroblasts. ALP expression is negatively correlated with cell growth and accompanied by a change into serum-growth-factor-independent survival.
Adult↗
Diagnosis and sero-epizootiology of equine herpesvirus type 1 and type 4 infections in Japan using a type-specific ELISA.
Recently, a type-specific ELISA using equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and type 4 (EHV-4) glycoprotein Gs (gGs) was developed by Crabb and Studdert [1993]. To investigate the dissemination of EHV-1 and -4 among horses in Japan, we applied their ELISA as suitable for discriminating between EHV-1 and -4 infections serologically. Type-specificity of the ELISA was confirmed by using paired sera of infected horses with either EHV-1 or -4. Application of the ELISA to sera collected before and after the winter season of 1995-1996 from 80 racehorses revealed that 30 horses showed significant antibody responses against EHV-1 and 9 against EHV-4, respectively. The results indicated that this ELISA using paired sera is useful for a diagnosis and an epizootiological study on EHV-1 and -4 infections.
Animals↗
Seroepidemiological survey of feline retrovirus infections in domestic and leopard cats in northern Vietnam in 1997.
The prevalence of infections with three feline retroviruses (feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline syncytial virus (FSV)) was examined in northern Vietnam in 1997. We collected a total of 77 blood samples from 69 domestic and 8 leopard cats, and examined the presence of anti-FIV and FSV antibodies and FeLV p27 antigen in the plasma samples by the indirect immunofluorescence and/or two commercial kits. None of the samples was positive for FIV and FeLV. The overall positive rate of FSV was 31% and the positive rates among the domestic and leopard cats were 29 and 50%, respectively. We isolated FSV from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 6 domestic and one leopard cats.
Animals↗