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Biomedical subjects

K Tanikawa

Publications and source records attributed to K Tanikawa.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

GB virus infection in patients with oral cancer and oral lichen planus.

We studied the incidence of GBV-C infection in patients with oral cancer or oral lichen planus (OLP). Subjects included 38 patients with oral cancer and 34 patients with OLP from whom serum was collected to detect GBV-C-RNA using reverse transcription (RT) "nested" PCR. GBV-C-RNA was positive in 1 (2.6%) oral cancer patient and 3 (8.8%) OLP patients. All 4 GBV-C-positive patients were also positive both for the antibody for hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) and HCV-RNA, indicating simultaneous infection with GBV-C and HCV. In conclusion, GBV-C infection was found in 5.5% (4/72) of oral cancer or OLP patients and all patients infected with GBV-C also had HCV infection. This suggests that GBV-C infection is unlikely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer and OLP.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in health care personnel.

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in health care personnel in an HCV endemic area, we conducted a seroprevalence study of 1638 Kurume University Hospital physicians, nurses, laboratory staff, and clerical staff (560 men, 1078 women). Antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was found in 2.8% (46) of subjects and hepatitis B surface antigen was found in 1.1% (18). The anti-HCV positive rate in health care personnel was no higher than reported in the general population of Fukuoka prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. There were no significant differences in anti-HCV positive rate by occupation. However, the prevalence of anti-HCV positive individuals increased significantly as age and length of time in an occupation increased. Anti-HCV positive rate in health care personnel was probably not related to length of time in an occupation. The data suggest that HCV infection is not easily transmitted to health care personnel in an HCV endemic area.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[A case of cat scratch disease identified by an elevated Bartonella henselae antibody level using enzyme immunoassay].

A 68-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of fever and a 2-week history of inguinal adenomegaly. Since he owned a cat, cat scratch disease was suspected. But it was necessary to distinguish cat scratch disease from lymphoma type adult T-cell leukemia because he showed a high level of antibody against HTLV-1. An excisional biopsy of the inguinal node was performed. Histopathologic examination revealed abscess-forming granulomatous lymphadenitis compatible with cat scratch disease. A Warthin-Starry silver stain showed pleomorphic bacilli in the lymph node. So we confirmed a serological response to Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The IgG antibody level to B. henselae was positive at 42 EIA Unit before treatment. After treatment with intravenous cefepime and oral tosufloxacin, his physical symptoms improved and the antibody level decreased to less than 12 EIA Unit. EIA was very useful for diagnosis of this case. Serology to B. henselae may replace traditional diagnostic criteria for cat scratch disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Duration of chronic HCV infection and efficacy of interferon in chronic hepatitis C patients with a history of blood transfusion. The Study Group for Treatment of Hepatitis in the Kyushu Area.

To investigate correlations between the interval between blood transfusion and the start of IFN therapy, and IFN efficacy, we studied chronic hepatitis C patients with a history of blood transfusion. The subjects were 122 patients with chronic hepatitis C and a history of blood transfusion at 64 institutions. The patients were treated with high or low-dose IFN. High-dose therapy consisted of intramuscular injection of human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI), 6 x 10(6) IU daily for 2 weeks, then 3 times a week for 22 weeks, and low-dose interferon therapy of intramuscular injection of HLBI, 6 x 10(6) IU daily for 2 weeks, then 3 x 10(6) IU 3 times a week for 22 weeks. Normal serum ALT levels for 6 months or more after completing IFN (complete response) were found in 44/122 (36.2%) patients and HCV RNA was no longer detectable after completing IFN therapy in 19/68 (27.9%). Patients in whom the interval between blood transfusion and the start of IFN therapy was less than 20 years had significantly higher rates of HCV RNA-negative complete response than those in whom the interval was 20 years or more (p < 0.039). When chronic HCV infection is caused by blood transfusion, the efficacy of IFN depends on the duration of chronic HCV infection. Since the duration of HCV infection is a factor in predicting efficacy, early IFN therapy may be more effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Role of cytokines in experimental colitis: relation to intestinal permeability.

There is now clear evidence supporting the role of cytokines in the clinical and immunopathological manifestations of human inflammotory bowel disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the possible role of a cytokine network in a rat model of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis and to examine its relation to intestinal permeability. After a rapid increase in the intestinal permeability of Evans blue in the colon, tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased transiently, and interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 followed thereafter. The majority of tumor necrosis factor-alpha- and interleukin-1-producing cells observed by immunofluorescent staining was revealed to be macrophages. Repeated injections of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist led to a modest decrease in myeloperoxidase activity and colon weight. These findings suggest that enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production from intestinal macrophages accompanied by increased intestinal permeability may contribute to intestinal and systemic features of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis. Pharmacologic blockade of pro-inflammatory cytokines may help reduce intestinal inflammation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Reduced contractility and histological changes in the gallbladder due to portal hypertension in a hamster cirrhosis model.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about the relationship of portal venous pressure to contractility and histological changes in the gallbladder. In this study, we investigated the relationship between portal hypertension and contractility and histological changes in the gallbladder in a hamster cirrhosis model. METHODS: Liver cirrhosis was induced in the hamsters (n = 20) by thioacetamide (TAA). Portal venous pressure was directly measured using a pressure-measuring instrument. The contractility of the gallbladder was appraised by the diameter before and after caerulein treatment. Gallbladder wall thickness and vessel areas in tissues were evaluated in relation to the portal venous pressure. RESULTS: The portal venous pressure, gallbladder wall thickness with submucosal edema and area of vessels in the gallbladder wall in the cirrhosis group were significantly increased compared with those in the control group (n = 20, receiving saline instead of TAA). The gallbladder contraction rate in the cirrhosis group was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group. In the cirrhosis group, there were positive correlations between the portal venous pressure and the gallbladder contraction rate, gallbladder wall thickness, and area of vessels. CONCLUSIONS: In the gallbladders of experimental cirrhotic hamsters, portal hypertension caused dilatation of the vessels as well as submucosal edema, and was an important factor in the increased thickness and reduced contractility of the gallbladder wall.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Three cases of renal angiomyolipoma.

We report three non-typical cases of renal angiomyolipoma including clinical features, imaging examinations (with ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and angiography) and histological findings. Microaneurysms observed by angiography were common to the three cases and were considered to be an important finding in the diagnosis of renal angiomyolipoma. Moreover, the short tau inversion recovery (STIR) method of MRI, which suppresses photon signals of fat, was considered to be useful for the diagnosis. Case 1 was accompanied by spontaneous rupture, Case 2 was difficult to diagnose because of little fat tissue and Case 3 revealed a very small tumor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Systemic sclerosis associated with diabetes insipidus.

A rare case of systemic sclerosis that preceded the development of diabetes insipidus is reported. This 25-year-old man presented with Raynaud's phenomenon and ulceration of the tip of the right thumb. The diagnosis of systemic sclerosis was based on findings of proximal scleroderma, sclerodactyly, serological abnormalities, and skin abnormalities verified histologically. Partial central diabetes insipidus was later diagnosed after the sudden appearance of polyuria and polydipsia. Coexistence of systemic sclerosis with diabetes insipidus suggests that diabetes insipidus in this patient might have occurred via an autoimmune mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of interferon alpha 2a on incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis. Hepatitis Treatment Study Group.

To determine the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with chronic hepatitis C who received interferon (IFN) therapy, 63 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent IFN therapy (IFN alpha 2a 9 x 10(6) IU daily for 2 weeks and followed 9 x 10(6) IU three times weekly for 14 weeks) from January to December 1992, were studied. Selection criteria were as follows: within six months before IFN therapy patients were diagnosed with chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis by hepatic histological examination, and were hepatitis C virus antibody positive. Furthermore, patients had records of follow-up liver function tests (once a month) for more than six months after IFN therapy completion, and of ultrasound scanning (once in three to four months) before and for at least more than six months after the therapy completion. An average period of observation was 2.7 years (0.6 to 3.8 years). Twenty five of 63 patients (39.7%) returned to normal values of serum ALT, whereas 38 of 63 (60.3%) still showed abnormal values at six months after IFN therapy completion. Nine of 63 (14.2%) and 6/63 (9.5%) developed cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. All patients who developed cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were from those (n = 38) that showed abnormal ALT values after therapy completion. The five of six patients that progressed to hepatocellular carcinoma were associated with cirrhosis. No patients who returned to normal ALT values developed hepatocellular carcinoma during the period of observation. These results suggest that IFN therapy is effective to prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver--MR imaging findings.

Using retrospective studies, we have investigated the possibility of obtaining characteristic findings of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We examined 8 patients (involving 8 masses) who had been histologically diagnosed as having an inflammatory pseudotumor in the liver. The histological studies were performed on an excised specimen of 1 mass, and on aspiration needle biopsy specimens and the clinical courses of the other 7 masses. T1 weighted images (T1WI) and T2 weighted images (T2WI) were obtained on MR imaging. MR imagings were analyzed for visualized patterns, patterns of internal structure and patterns of contrast enhancement of dynamic MR imaging. The 8 masses were visualized as hypointense on T1WI and hyperintense on T2WI by MR imaging. Dynamic MR imaging revealed that 1 mass was markedly enhanced peripherally while another mass was homogeneously enhanced, and that enhancement was most marked immediately after injection of contrast medium and then gradually disappeared. Vessels were observed in 4 masses (the portal vein in 2 masses, the hepatic vein in 1 mass, and portal and hepatic veins in 1 mass), and these vessels were clearly visualized on T1WI. The MR imaging findings from the early stage of an inflammatory pseudotumor showed a pattern similar to that of hepatic tumors with rich blood flow. The portal vein or hepatic vein was found in the tumor in half the patients, suggesting that this characteristic was useful for diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumor in the liver.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

A case of malignant lymphoma with hemophagocytic syndrome presenting as hepatic failure.

We report the case of a 50-year-old female with malignant lymphoma presenting hemophagocytic syndrome and liver failure. She developed high fever, marked jaundice, and progressive liver failure, followed by evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The course was complicated by severe hepatitis and the patient died six days after admission. Pathological diagnosis on autopsy specimens of the lung hilar lymph nodes was non-Hodgkin's T cell lymphoma, of the diffuse small cell type. Histopathologic examination of the liver demonstrated diffuse liver cell destruction with prominent T lymphocyte infiltration in the portal and periportal area. In addition to marked lymphoma cell infiltration, hemophagocytosis by prominent infiltrative macrophages was observed in various organs, such as the liver and bone marrow, indicating the hemophagocytic syndrome. The hemophagocytic syndrome characterized in the present case may have been responsible for the extremely rapid and fulminant course.

Fatal Outcome↗
PubMed1997

The significance of colocalization of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vitronectin in hepatic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: We examined the relationships among vitronectin (VN), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in liver diseases to evaluate the presence of plasmin cascade in human hepatic fibrosis. METHODS: Blood and liver tissues were obtained from 57 patients with liver disease. Plasma VN, PAI-1 antigen, and PAI-1 activity levels were evaluated. Biopsied liver specimens were observed by light and electron microscopy after immunohistochemical staining. Morphometric analysis was performed on these specimens. RESULTS: Plasma VN and PAI-1 activity levels decreased significantly with the progression of hepatic fibrosis and were particularly marked in the liver cirrhosis group. Plasma PAI-1 antigen level increased significantly. The immunolocalization of the active form of TGF-beta became more intense with the progression of hepatic fibrosis, whereas that of the dual-stained positive areas of PAI-1 and VN (PAI-1.VN) decreased. There was a positive correlation between TGF-beta and PAI-1, whereas there was a negative correlation between TGF-beta and PAI-1.VN. Immunoelectron microscopy showed the localization of PAI-1-VN in the extracellular space around the sinusoidal cells or surface of aggregating platelets, TGF-beta mainly in Ito cells, and VN in hepatocytes near the focal necrotic area or fibrous septa. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that VN and PAI-1 are related to the active form of TGF-beta and that it is possible that the plasmin cascade is present in the human liver.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Routes of transmission of hepatitis C virus in an endemic rural area of Japan. Molecular epidemiologic study of hepatitis C virus infection.

We conducted an epidemiological study to investigate the routes of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in an area endemic for HCV. Subjects were the 857 adult inhabitants of K area, Japan. The prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was 26.3%. The HCV genotype 1b was the most prevalent (89.3%) among the anti-HCV positive subjects. Molecular evolutionary analysis, based on the nucleotide sequences of the HCV core region from 23 participants with type 1b, showed that the isolates were distributed into more than 1 group. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that an age over 40 years, a history of blood transfusion, the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), or a history of surgery were each independently associated with the presence of anti-HCV. No significant differences in the presence of anti-HCV prevalence were observed between the wives of men positive for anti-HCV (33.3%) and age-matched women (36.4%), or between the husbands of women positive for anti-HCV (36.4%) and age-matched men (38.3%), from the same area. Findings suggest that the various strains of HCV type 1b were transmitted via medical procedures, not by the intrafamilial route.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Hepatitis C virus seroconversion rate in a hyperendemic area of HCV in Japan: a prospective study.

We have studied the prevalence, seroconversion rate of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the transmission of HCV in a cohort of individuals living in a hyperendemic area of HCV in Japan. We investigated 509 subjects, of which 375 could be studied again after 5 years. A remarkable high prevalence of anti-HCV (23.4-24.0%) was observed. Of 287 subjects negative at the first examination in 1990, 4 became positive until the second in 1995 (seroconversion rate: 0.28% per year). Furthermore, we investigated the route of transmission in HCV seroconverted subjects through a detailed interview. All of the HCV seroconverted subjects had past histories of medical treatment. Seroconversion rates of HCV in a hyperendemic area of HCV, were extremely high. Medical treatment was considered to be a causative route of HCV transmission.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Uptake of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mRNA by isolated rat intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the uptake of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mRNA in isolated intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells. METHODS: Fluorescent immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques and observations with a confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: Positive reactions to LPS were found in the cytoplasm of isolated intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells after incubation with S type LPS (S-LPS) for 15 minutes, and the FITC fluorescent intensity against LPS was significantly higher than that of controls. After incubation with S-LPS for 3 hours, FITC fluorescent intensities to the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-mRNA by flurescent in situ hybridization in the cytoplasm and nuclei of cultured bile duct epithelial cells were significantly higher than that of controls. The increase of FITC fluorescent intensity to TNF-alpha-mRNA expression showed a peak at 6 hours after incubation and at various time points after incubation with LPS, the increase of fluorescent intensities in the cytoplasm were much higher than that in the nuclei. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that LPS could act on and enter into isolated intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells and stimulate the expression of TNF-alpha-mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Value of Doppler ultrasound parameters of portal vein and hepatic artery in the diagnosis of cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study was designed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of Doppler ultrasound parameters in the diagnosis of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. METHODS: Portal and hepatic arterial Doppler ultrasound was performed on 76 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices and on 73 age- and sex-matched controls. The parameters evaluated were portal venous velocity and hepatic arterial pulsatility index. The liver vascular index was calculated as the ratio of portal venous velocity to hepatic arterial pulsatility index. RESULTS: Portal venous velocity was significantly lower (11.0 +/- 2.4 vs 15.9 +/- 2.8 cm/s, p < 0.001) and hepatic arterial pulsatility index was significantly higher (1.28 +/- 0.18 vs 0.95 +/- 0.17,p < 0.001) in patients than in controls. Thus, the liver vascular index was significantly lower in patients than in controls (8.7 +/- 2.1 vs 17.2 +/- 4.3 cm/s, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of these parameters in the detection of cirrhosis and portal hypertension was then analyzed with the receiver operating characteristic curve. The best cut-off values were considered to be 13 cm/se of portal venous velocity and 1.1 of hepatic arterial pulsatility index, showing a sensitivity and specificity of 83, 85, 84, and 81%, respectively. The best cut-off value of the liver vascular index was 12 cm/s with a sensitivity and specificity of 97 and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The liver vascular index is a high sensitive and specific Doppler ultrasound parameter in the diagnosis of cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Biopsy↗