Estimation of the genome size of five strains of Taylorella equigenitalis isolated in Japan.
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Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field↗
Biomedical subjects
M Honda
Publications and source records attributed to M Honda.
Serum C-reactive protein and immune responses in dogs inoculated with Bordetella bronchiseptica (phase I cells).
Eight Beagle dogs were inoculated intrabronchially with 5 x 10(9) live, avirulent cells of Bordetella bronchiseptica L-414 strain (phase I cells) (B. bronchiseptica) to investigate the serum levels of their C-reactive protein, the white blood cell counts, the antibody responses to B. bronchiseptica in the sera and tracheal secretions, and the effects of prednisolone given to four of the dogs on C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and immune responses. In two Beagle dogs inoculated intrabronchially with sterile physiological saline, the concentrations of CRP and the WBC counts did not increase. CRP was markedly increased one day after inoculation in the dogs inoculated with B. bronchiseptica to 385.0-720.0 micrograms/ml (mean 498 +/- 132 micrograms/ml) in the group given the B. bronchiseptica inoculation only, and to 372.0-649.0 micrograms/ml (mean 551 +/- 106 micrograms/ml) in the group treated with prednisolone following inoculation of B. bronchiseptica, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The CRP levels were 23-95 times the pre-inoculation values, which indicated that prednisolone had no effect on the production of CRP. In the prednisolone-treated group, the WBC count increased and stayed at an increased level for approximately 12 days. An indirect fluorescent antibody test led to the detection of anti-B. bronchiseptica IgM and IgG antibodies in the sera from 5 days after B. bronchiseptica inoculation and S-IgA and IgG anti-B. bronchiseptica antibodies in the tracheal secretions on the day after the challenge exposure to B. bronchiseptica. The increase in CRP after challenge exposure to B. bronchiseptica was significantly (p < 0.05) smaller than that found after the first inoculation of B. bronchiseptica.
Animals↗
The favourable effect of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in the treatment of massive pulmonary haemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) is a rare but very serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the treatment is still controversial. Some authors showed the effectiveness of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for PH, although its effect was often transient. A 12-year-old Japanese girl with lupus nephritis and recurrent massive PH in SLE was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The effect on PH was transient and she needed three cycles within a month and side-effects developed. Pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide, synchronized with plasmapheresis, was tried. Thereafter she did not experience PH for 7 months, whereas lupus nephritis did not improve. Pulse cyclophosphamide would be effective for life threatening massive PH in SLE patients.
Child↗
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome occurring after an emergency operation for traumatic duodenal perforation: report of a case.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal complication which may develop in psychiatric patients taking neuroleptic drugs. We report herein the successful treatment of a 33-year-old schizophrenic man, prescribed neuroleptic drugs, who underwent an emergency operation for traumatic duodenal perforation with a retroperitoneal infection. Five days after the operation, he began to demonstrate clinical features consistent with NMS such as high fever, abnormalities in vital signs, leukocytosis, and an elevated serum level of creatine phosphokinase; however, these findings were first presumed to be secondary to either the preexisting tissue injuries or to postoperative complications. A definite diagnosis of NMS was thus delayed until muscle rigidity and autonomic instability became evident. After a tentative diagnosis of NMS had been made, sodium dantrolene, a drug used specifically for the treatment of NMS, was administered and the patient's condition remarkably improved. Since NMS can be induced by either interrupting the course of neuroleptic drugs or by the additional administration of sedative drugs, and since its mortality rate is high if prompt and appropriate treatment is not carried out, surgeons should bear in mind the possibility of NMS developing postoperatively in psychiatric patients.
Adult↗
Prominent inhibitory effects of tranilast on migration and proliferation of and collagen synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells.
To obtain some ideas about prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we examined the effects of transilast (anti-allergic agent) on migration and proliferation of, and collagen synthesis by, cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the thoracic aorta of WKY rats. Tranilast was added to culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). The cultures were pulse-labeled with 3H-thymidine (TdR) or 3H-proline (Pro). TdR and Pro uptake into VSMC were measured. The effect of tranilast on migration of VSMC was examined by using culture dishes of an original design. We also examined the inhibitory effects of various drugs, such as a Ca antagonist, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, elastase, colchicine, and mitomycin C, on proliferation and migration of VSMC. Our data showed that the inhibitory effects of tranilast on migration and proliferation of, and collagen synthesis by, VSMC were prominent. Maximal percentage inhibition of proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis was 60.8 +/- 2.3%, 52.7 +/- 14.7% and 62.1 +/- 8.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of other drugs, with the exception of colchicine and mitomycin C, on proliferation and/or migration of VSMC were not very strong. Although the inhibitory effects of colchicine and mitomycin C were strong in vitro, their clinical usefulness may be limited by systemic side-effects. These results indicate the potential usefulness of tranilast for prevention of restenosis of coronary arteries after PTCA.
Animals↗
Automatic detection method of P300 waveform in the single sweep records by using a neural network.
Event-related potentials (ERPs) are responses related to the recognition of certain stimuli. P300 is the most important positive component in the ERP and appears around 300 ms after the target stimulus in the oddball paradigm. In our previous work, we proposed a method for the automatic detection of the P300 waveform in single-sweep records by using a correlation technique. However, determination of the threshold values of the P300 waveform for the correlation study was not an easy task. In skirting this problem, we developed an automatic method of detecting a single-sweep P300 waveform by using an artificial neural network. We selected appropriate characteristic parameters of positive peaks as input signals for the input layer units, and the weights between the layers were determined by using the back-propagation algorithm. The neural network for P300 detection was obtained automatically, based on the data of ERPs obtained from 11 healthy males, and gave substantial accuracy for P300 detection. Furthermore, by using this neural network we clarified the way in which the P300 waveform is judged visually by each inspector.
Acoustic Stimulation↗
Minimal increase in serum interleukin-6 levels during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
The chronologic changes in the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a mediator for acute-phase inflammation, were compared between laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC), since these two types of operations were considered to be a unique model for examining the role of local tissue injury in postoperative inflammatory reactions. The increase in the serum IL-6 level during LC was found to be significantly smaller than that during OC and resulted in a smaller extent of postoperative elevations for C-reactive protein. These results suggest that laparoscopic surgery associated with minimal tissue injury can help limit an increase in the serum IL-6 level during surgery, thus contributing to a reduction in surgical stress.
Biomarkers↗
Clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma in the elderly: a study of 91 patients older than 70 years.
In order to determine the clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma in the elderly, a total of 622 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, including 91 patients 70 years or older, were retrospectively analysed with reference to their ages at the time of diagnosis. The proportion of females increased and that of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive cases decreased as age increased. Tumour sizes at the time of diagnosis were somewhat smaller in the elderly than in younger patients, whereas clinical stage taking liver function into consideration was similar in the two age groups. The prognosis in the elderly patients was similar to that in the younger ones in a clinical stage-matched comparison. Furthermore, by a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model with inclusion of age and other clinical parameters, age was not selected in the final model as an independent predictor for survival. These results indicate that elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have certain clinical features different from those in younger patients and that their prognosis is not necessarily poorer than in the latter.
Adolescent↗
Determination of C-reactive protein in serum and plasma from healthy dogs and dogs with pneumonia by ELISA and slide reversed passive latex agglutination test.
The concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum from dogs diagnosed as normal by clinical, haematological, and biochemical examination were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and slide reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA), using IgG antibody isolated from rabbit anti-canine CRP serum. The mean value of CRP in 66 normal dogs kept in private households was 8.4 +/- 4.9 micrograms/ml by ELISA and 8.5 +/- 6.3 micrograms/ml by RPLA. Thus, no significant difference was demonstrated between the values obtained by ELISA and RPLA. No significant age and sex-related differences were found in the CRP values. The mean concentration of CRP in 84 6-month-old Beagle dogs kept in kennels by breeders was 6.2 +/- 3.9 micrograms/ml by ELISA and 8.0 +/- 4.0 micrograms/ml by RPLA. Again no significant difference was found. The CRP values determined by ELISA and RPLA were closely correlated (r = 0.913). The serum and plasma concentrations of CRP measured by RPLA were also closely correlated (r = 0.994). This indicates that plasma can be used as well as serum to determine CRP concentrations by RPLA.
Animals↗
Contrasting effects of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and a calcium antagonist on calcium transients in isolated rat cardiac myocytes.
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the effects of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a calcium antagonist on intracellular calcium transients in isolated cardiac myocytes from a monocrotaline induced right ventricular hypertrophy model. METHODS: One week after monocrotaline injection, Sprague-Dawley rats were given either an ACE inhibitor (delapril-HCl) or a calcium antagonist (nilvadipine) for two weeks. Using fura-2/AM, calcium transients were measured in single myocytes separated from the right ventricle. RESULTS: The severe right ventricular hypertrophy observed in untreated rats was significantly reduced in drug treated animals. The inhibitory effects of delapril were more prominent than those of nilvadipine, although both drugs reduced right ventricular pressure to the same extent. Calcium transients in delapril treated rats were similar to those in control rats. On the other hand, the calcium transient in nilvadipine treated rats was decreased and its time course was prolonged. The changes were similar to those found in monocrotaline treated rats. The responsiveness of calcium transients to isoprenaline in delapril treated rats was similar to that in control rats. The responsiveness in nilvadipine treated rats was decreased, and was similar to that in monocrotaline treated rats. Delapril improved developed tension and the beta adrenoreceptor responsiveness of developed tension to isoprenaline. CONCLUSIONS: Although delapril and nilvadipine inhibited cardiac hypertrophy in monocrotaline treated rats, significant improvement of contractile function and beta adrenoreceptor responsiveness was observed only in the delapril treated rats. This improvement was partially due to the improvement in calcium transients and the restoration of the beta adrenoreceptor responsiveness of the calcium transient to beta adrenergic stimulation.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
Generator mechanism of pain-related evoked potentials following CO2 laser stimulation of the hand: scalp topography and effect of predictive warning signal.
In order to clarify the generator mechanism of pain-related evoked potentials (pain EPs), we studied the scalp topography of the pain EPs following CO2 laser stimulation of hand dorsum by using balanced sternovertebral electrodes as the noncephalic reference in 11 normal volunteers. We also examined the effects of predictive warning signal (light-emitting diode) on the pain EPs. In both the warned and unwarned conditions, all of the 22 hand stimulations showed a large negative component (N2) at the peak latency of about 213 ms followed by a large positive component (P2) at the peak latency of about 329 ms. A preceding small negative component (N1) at the peak latency of about 148 ms was detected in 12 of the 22 hand stimulations in the warned condition and in 13 of the 22 hand stimulations in the unwarned condition. P2 was significantly larger and occurred earlier in the warned condition than in the unwarned condition, whereas other components did not differ between the two conditions, suggesting that an increased attention of the subject to the stimulus influenced the generator mechanism of the P2 component. With regards to the scalp topography, N2 was maximal at Cz and widespread transversely to both sides, whereas P2 was maximal at Cz or Pz and spread more posteriorly than N2. These findings suggest that P2 is generated by a different mechanism from N2 and is most likely associated with pain-related cognitive function. N1 was localized to the contralateral central and midtemporal areas, confirming that the nociceptive inputs are perceived in the sensory cortex in humans. The question as to whether the N1 component is generated in the hand area of the primary somatosensory cortex or in the secondary somatosensory cortex, or in both areas, remains to be solved.
Adult↗
Automatic detection of P300 in single sweep records of auditory event-related potential.
In the conventional recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) by the "oddball" paradigm, the subject may employ different strategies for processing one stimulus from the other even within the same session because of variable psychological state. Hence, "averaging" may not necessarily be suitable for recording ERP. We have therefore established a method for single trial recording of auditory ERPs by processing the EEG data through discrete Fourier transform followed by inverse discrete Fourier transform with the low pass filter of 8 Hz (digital filter). Each single sweep response of the processed data was visually evaluated as to whether it contained P300 or not by three investigators who were made completely blind with respect to the category of each response. As the result, a positive peak at a latency of 200-500 ms was recognized in the single sweep responses to target stimuli at a significantly greater frequency (40-60%) than in those to nontarget stimuli (0-18%). Then a new method for the automatic detection of P300 was established based on the data of 11 subjects belonging to the training group, by taking into account, in addition to the correlation coefficient analysis in which the template was computed specifically for each subject, other criteria with respect to the amplitude and waveforms, so that a good agreement with the results of visual inspection as to the presence or absence of P300 could be achieved for both target and nontarget responses. This automatic analysis method was successfully applied to five other subjects of the test group. The peak latency and amplitude of the detected positive peaks significantly varied among single target responses even within the same session. The reaction time significantly correlated positively with the peak latency of the detected positive peaks and negatively with the amplitude of those peaks, supporting the usefulness of the present method.
Adult↗
Differences in IL-2 receptor levels between mycosis fungoides and cutaneous type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in the early stages of the disease.
Skin lesions in mycosis fungoides (MF) and cutaneous-type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (c-ATL) are sometimes difficult to differentiate. Our previous investigations showed that the alpha-chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R alpha) secretion is enhanced in both acute and chronic type ATL. This finding suggested increased levels of IL-2R alpha in c-ATL that might differentiate it from MF. In this study, we report several observations on IL-2R alpha levels in MF and c-ATL. 1) Plasma levels of IL-2R alpha determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were higher in patients with c-ATL (tumor group, 17,571 +/- 5,919 U/ml; non-tumor group, 4,546 +/- 1,788 U/ml) than those of patients with MF (tumor group, 2,352 +/- 861 U/ml; plaque group, 530 +/- 174 U/ml). 2) The percentages of IL-2R alpha-positive cells in skin lesions of c-ATL were 30.5 +/- 13.4% in the non-tumor group and 62.7 +/- 12.0% in the tumor group, which were significantly higher than those of MF, plaque group (12.7 +/- 5.9%), and tumor group (3.4 +/- 2.3%). 3) Further, there was a significant correlation between plasma IL-2R alpha levels and the number of IL-2R alpha-positive cells in skin lesions in patients with c-ATL (r = 0.654, p < 0.0001) and MF (r = 0.537, p < 0.01) on an individual basis; whereas no increased IL-2R alpha levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were observed in patients with either MF or c-ATL. 4) Skin lesions of c-ATL had much higher levels of IL-2R alpha genomic RNA than those of MF in their initial stages when measured by DNase/reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction and liquid hybridization analysis. These findings suggest that increased plasma IL-2R alpha levels in patients with either MF or c-ATL may be linked to cellular IL-2R alpha levels in the skin lesions, and thus reflect the difference between MF and c-ATL.
Adult↗
Molecular genetic analysis of the von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF1) gene using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method.
Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the embryonic neural crest. The NF1 gene has been mapped to the pericentromeric region of the long arm of chromosome 17. Chromosome walking and sequencing of the NF1 gene have extended it's open reading frame; to date 49 exons have been identified. To investigate the mutation of the NF1 gene, the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method was applied to 4 exons of NF1 genes. We examined the DNAs from 49 samples, including those of 23 Japanese patients with NF1 (4 of these patients developed malignant schwannoma), a patient with segmental neurofibromatosis, and 14 clinically normal controls. A mutational band was detected in an exon of a tumor DNA extracted from a malignant schwannoma of a female NF1 patient. However, the mutation was not found in the germ line DNA of this patient. No mutations were detected in the other samples.
Adolescent↗
Detection of human papillomavirus type 60 in plantar cysts and verruca plantaris by the in situ hybridization method using digoxigenin labeled probes.
BACKGROUND: Since 1987, many cases have been reported in which human papillomavirus (HPV) could be associated with epidermoid cysts of the palms and soles. In 1989, the HPV found in an induced epidermoid cyst was cloned and named HPV 60. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the relationship of HPV 60 to plantar cysts. METHODS: Ten cases of plantar cysts and two cases of verruca plantaris containing single inclusion bodies were obtained by biopsy and examined by the in situ hybridization (ISH) method with a digoxigenin labeled HPV 60 DNA probe. RESULTS: Six of ten cases were found to have cytopathic effect (CPE) in the cyst wall and inner contents of the cyst. HPV 60 was detected in these cases by ISH. Two cases of verruca plantaris showing CPE also demonstrated the presence of HPV 60. Of the six HPV type 60 positive cases, four cases also showed CPE in the overlying epidermis. CONCLUSION: At first, punctate keratotic lesions are induced by HPV 60. HPV 60 induces irregular elongation of the rete ridges into the dermis. Plantar cysts probably form as a result of the traumatic implantation of HPV 60 infected epidermis with irregularly long and narrow rete ridges into the dermis.
Adult↗
Contrasting effects of isoproterenol and phosphodiesterase III inhibitor on intracellular calcium transients in cardiac myocytes from failing hearts.
1. Effects of a newly developed phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor, E-1020, on intracellular calcium transients were compared with those of isoproterenol (ISO) in isolated single myocytes from failing hearts secondary to pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline injection. Myocytes were isolated by enzyme digestion using a Langendorff apparatus. Changes in intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were recorded using a fura-2 fluorescence microscopic technique. Cyclic AMP contents of the hearts were measured by radio-immunoassay. 2. Myocytes from failing hearts showed Ca2+ transients with a low peak (low amplitude) and delayed decline of Ca2+ transients. Both ISO and E-1020 increased peak [Ca2+]i, max + d[Ca2+]i/dt, and max - d[Ca2+]i/dt in a concentration-dependent manner while both agents decreased T80L (time to 80% decline of amplitude from peak light). The concentrations which increased peak [Ca2+]i by 50% were 1.6 x 10(-9) mol/L of ISO and 2 x 10(-6) mol/L of E-1020. These concentrations increased cAMP in the heart to the same levels. Analysis of the effects of both agents on peak [Ca2+]i versus max - d[Ca2+]i/dt showed that ISO is much more effective on peak [Ca2+]i while E-1020 is more effective on max - d[Ca2+]i/dt. 3. These results showed that the effects of ISO and E-1020 on the parameters of intracellular Ca2+ transients of single myocytes from failing hearts are slightly different, and suggest that E-1020 may improve diastolic function as well as systolic function in failing hearts.
3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
Calcium transients in single myocytes and membranous ultrastructures during the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in rats.
1. We examined changes in intracellular calcium transients of separated single myocytes from the right ventricle (RV) of the rat heart during the change from adaptation to maladaptation in response to a pressure overload. 2. Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) secondary to pulmonary hypertension was induced by a subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline. Developed tensions of the RV-free wall were decreased as RVH progressed. Single myocytes were separated from the RV during different stages of RVH. Fura-2/AM-loaded cells were field stimulated, and changes in calcium transients were measured by Olympus OSP-3 system. We also examined membranous ultrastructures (sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, surface caveolae) involved in calcium metabolism in the hearts using scanning electron microscopy. 3. We observed characteristic changes in calcium transients during the change from adaptation to maladaptation, and also found that one parameter (amplitude) of calcium transients appeared to be correlated with the changes in the number of sarcoplasmic reticulum. 4. These results provided some insights into the mechanism of calcium handling of hypertrophied heart in response to a pressure overload from adaptation to maladaptation especially when stimulatory frequency was high, and suggested that heart rate control is a very important factor for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure.
Animals↗
The peritoneal equilibration test variables in pediatric CAPD patients.
The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) is generally accepted as a valuable tool in individualizing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment schedules in adults. However, the classification of peritoneal permeability as described by Twardowski is not available for children due to differences in peritoneal transport abilities. In this paper, we report the results of the PET for 20 patients aged from 1.5 to 24 years (mean 10.3 years), who started CAPD therapy at age 0-15 years, using Twardowski's standardized technique. D/P creatinine (dialysate to plasma ratio of creatinine at 4 h), D/D0 glucose (the ratio of dialysate glucose at 4 h dwell time to dialysate glucose at 0 dwell time), and the residual volume (RV) in the abdominal cavity were calculated. The mean and standard deviation values for D/P creatinine and D/D0 glucose were of a higher permeability level than those reported in Twardowski's data. Furthermore, a significant correlation of creatinine and glucose with fluid drainage ability of the peritoneum were observed. A large amount of RV (425 +/- 125 mL/m2) was detected in the patients' peritoneal cavity and this had a significant correlation with dialysate leak occurrences. The authors suggest that the RV would be an indicator for leaks and especially latent leaks. The cause of a large RV is unknown, but there is a probability that drainage volume and transport rates of metabolites decrease because the concentration of the instilled dialysate is immediately diluted by a large RV within the peritoneum.
Adolescent↗