Biomedical subjects

M Ishii

Publications and source records attributed to M Ishii.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

The effects of Hochu-ekki-to in patients with atopic dermatitis resistant to conventional treatment.

Hochu-ekki-to is one of Kampo formulas containing Astragalus root, liquorice, jujube, ginseng, white Atractylodes rhizome, fresh ginger and Chinese angelica root. This formula has been identified as an effective drug to improve the function of digestive systems and to strengthen defensive systems against many kinds of infections. We examined serum IgE levels and eosinophils before and after the administration of Hochu-ekki-to in patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. The increased numbers of eosinophils was statistically decreased after 3 months' use of this formula. Serum IgE levels showed a tendency to decrease after the administration of this substance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Diet and Japanese herbal medicine for recalcitrant atopic dermatitis: efficacy and safety.

We have been utilizing Kampo, a Japanese herbal medicine, together with lifestyle advice, for recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. To estimate the safety and efficacy of the treatment, we administered Kampo formulas to patients in whom conventional treatment failed to improve symptoms, along with dietary advice recommending traditional Japanese food. The therapeutic effects of Kampo formulas were assessed in 95 patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis who consulted our clinic from January to June, 2000. The overall result was 'markedly effective" in 19 patients (20%), "moderately effective" in 33 (35%), "slightly effective" in 36 (38%) and "ineffective" in four (4%). Three patients dropped out of the study. No adverse reactions in laboratory data were noted in examined patients. The most commonly used formula was Hochu-ekki-to containing Astragalus root, liquorice, jujube, ginseng, white Atractylodes rhizome, fresh ginger and Chinese Angelica root. Diet and Japanese herbal medicine are thought to be useful as an alternative therapy of intractable atopic dermatitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Autoimmune hepatitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report a female patient with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), hyperbilirubinemia and high serum value of ALT. International autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) score showed definite AIH before treatment, but autoantibodies could not make a differential diagnosis of AIH and SLE-associated hepatitis. Liver biopsy showed periportal hepatitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, but neither parenchymal collapse nor rosette formation could be found. Pericarditis, pleuritis and nephritis were improved as well as liver injury after administration of prednisolone, and no repeated attack has been present these 4 years. Our case suggested invalidity of AIH score among patients of SLE, and liver histology should be inferred most important at present to make a differential diagnosis of lupus hepatitis or AIH in patients with SLE.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed2003

Association of SPINK5 gene polymorphisms with atopic dermatitis in the Japanese population.

BACKGROUND: Netherton's syndrome (NS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by trichorrhexis invaginata ('bamboo hair'), congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma and an atopic diathesis. NS has recently been shown to be due to a defect in the SPINK5 gene, encoding LEKTI, a 15-domain serine protease inhibitor. SPINK5 maps to chromosome 5q31-q32, and has been suggested to be a locus predisposing to atopy in general. Recently, coding polymorphisms in SPINK5 exons 13 and 14 have been reported to be associated with atopy, asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVES: To examine whether these polymorphisms are also associated with AD in Japan. METHODS: We characterized eight polymorphisms in SPINK5 exons 13 and 14 in 124 Japanese patients with AD and 110 healthy controls. The polymorphisms we examined were IVS12-26C-->T, IVS12-10A-->G, 1103A-->G (Asn368Ser, in exon 13), 1156G-->A (Asp386Asn, in exon 13), 1188T-->C (His396His, in exon 13), IVS13-50G-->A, 1258G-->A (Glu420Lys, in exon 14) and IVS14+19G-->A. RESULTS: We found significant associations between seven of these polymorphisms and AD in Japanese patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the previous suggestion of an association between SPINK5 and AD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Induction of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions in mice sensitized with intragastrically administered hapten: activation of Langerhans cells in the sensitization and elicitation phases.

BACKGROUND: As seen in atopic dermatitis, allergic diseases often produce lesions both in the gastrointestinal tract and the skin, suggesting the involvement of an immunological relationship between the two organs in the pathogenesis. OBJECTIVES: To study the role of gastric and epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) in the sensitization and elicitation phases, respectively, of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions to intragastrically administered hapten. METHODS: BALB/c mice, which were subjected to intragastric administration of trinitrochlorobenzene 5 days previously, received an elicitative challenge of the same hapten to the ear skin. Sections of the ear were immunostained for CD4 and CD8. Epidermal sheets of the ear and epithelial sheets of the forestomach were immunostained for I-A and observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: Cutaneous DTH reactions were induced in mice, as demonstrated by an increase in ear thickness and a prominent infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes at 24-36 h after the elicitative challenge. In the elicitation phase, epidermal LCs showed a significant increase in size, indicating in vivo activation, at 24 h. In the sensitization phase, gastric LCs increased in size at 2 h, became round at 6 h, and decreased in number at 24 h, possibly representing the sequential events of LC activation and migration from the epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that gastric LCs and epidermal LCs were activated in vivo in the sensitization and elicitation phases, respectively, of cutaneous DTH reactions in orally sensitized mice.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Guttate morphoea in human T-cell lymphoma/lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) infection.

A 62-year-old Japanese man presented with multiple small atrophic macules on the trunk and extremities. The lesions were discrete, oval in shape and enclosed by lilac ring. They were distributed in a Christmas tree distribution, reminiscent of pityriasis rosea. Skin biopsy showed increased collagen fibres in the dermis and invading subcutaneous tissue. The clinico-pathological features were consistent with guttate morphoea, a rare variant of localized scleroderma. Serological tests revealed a positive reaction to human T-cell lymphoma/lymphotropic virus type-1 infection.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2003

Pharmacokinetic analysis of factors determining elimination pathways for sulfate and glucuronide metabolites of xenobiotics II: Studies with isolated perfused rat liver.

1. To elucidate the determining factors for elimination pathways of sulfate and glucuronide metabolites of xenobiotics, a single-pass perfusion of 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) or p-nitrophenol (pNP) was performed with an isolated rat liver preparation. 2. Without bovine serum albumin in the perfusion system, clearance calculated based on the unbound concentration in the liver clearly showed that the net efflux clearances (CLeff) of sulfates from the sinusoidal membrane were much higher than those of glucuronides and that the biliary excretion clearances (CLb) of glucuronides were approximately two times larger than those of sulfates. 3. The ratios of CLeff to CLb were much higher for sulfates than those for glucuronides. The bile-oriented elimination of glucuronides or sinusoidal efflux-oriented elimination of sulfates was observed even using the perfusate including 3% bovine serum albumin, but the sinusoidal efflux of sulfates was extensively enhanced by bovine serum albumin in the perfusate. The mechanisms behind this stimulatory effect remain to be elucidated. 4. For both compounds, CLb of glucuronide was comparable with CLb of sulfate, meaning that CLb is not responsible for the biliary excretion of glucuronides at extensively higher rate than sulfates. 5. Higher concentration of glucuronides in the liver, partly caused by much lower CLeff of glucuronides than that of sulfates, is likely responsible for the bile-oriented excretion of glucuronides. The extensive sinusoidal efflux of sulfates, leading to the urine-oriented excretion, is attributed to the substantially higher CLeff than CLb. 6. In conclusion, the sinusoidal efflux is an important factor for determining elimination pathways of both sulfates and glucuronides, although further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of the sinusoidal efflux.

Acetaminophen↗

PubMed2003

Influencing medication adherence among women with AIDS.

This study examined the effects of a ten-session cognitive-behavioural stress management/expressive supportive therapy (CBSM+) intervention on adherence to antiretroviral medication. Although the intervention was not designed to influence adherence, it was theorized that improved coping and social support could enhance adherence. Women with AIDS (N = 174) in Miami, New York and New Jersey, USA, were randomized to a group CBSM+ intervention or individual control condition. Participants were African American (55%), Latina (18%) and Caribbean (18%) with drug (55%) and/or alcohol (32%) histories. Participants were assessed on self-reported medication adherence over seven days, HIV-related coping strategies and beliefs regarding HIV medication. Baseline overall self-reported adherence rates were moderate and related to coping strategies and HIV medication beliefs. Low adherent (80%) participants in the intervention condition increased their mean self-reported medication adherence (30.4% increase, t44 = 3.1, p < 0.01), whereas low adherent women in the control condition showed a non-significant trend (19.6% increase, t44 = 2.0, p > 0.05). The intervention did not improve adherence in this population; conditions did not differ significantly on self-reported adherence. Low adhering intervention participants significantly decreased levels of denial-based coping (F1,88 = 5.97, p < 0.05). Results suggest that future interventions should utilize group formats and address adherence using coping and medication-knowledge focused strategies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2003

Hochu-ekki-to suppresses development of dermatitis and elevation of serum IgE level in NC/Nga mice.

The Japanese herbal medicine Hochu-ekki-to (Chinese name: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-tang) is composed of ten species of medical plants and is used for many therapeutic purposes such as recovery from weakness, dysfunction of the digestive system and fatigue. In certain groups of patients with intractable atopic dermatitis this prescription has shown clinical effectiveness. We examined the ability of Hochu-ekki-to to inhibit dermatitis and IgE production in atopic NC/Nga mice. Oral administration of Hochu-ekki-to suppressed spontaneous dermatitis and serum IgE levels in NC/Nga mice. This finding provides evidence that Hochu-ekki-to may have immunological effects in atopic dermatitis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Size-selective extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy of free selenium clusters.

In a recent paper [M. Yao et al., J. Synchrotron Radiat. 8, 542 (2001)]], we proposed a new method for the size-selective EXAFS (extended x-ray absorption fine structure) of neutral-free clusters, in which not only the x-ray absorption process but also the deexcitation processes are utilized as the structural information. In order to verify this method experimentally, we have developed the synchronous measurements of EXAFS and photoelectron photoion coincidence and carried them out for a Se cluster beam by utilizing the third-generation intense x-ray source. The EXAFS spectra for Se small clusters have been obtained and compared critically with theoretical predictions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Increased angiogenic growth factor in cyanotic congenital heart disease.

To examine the relationship between the plasma levels of angiogenic growth factors and the severity of cyanosis, 80 patients with cyanotic heart disease (CHD) and 81 healthy controls were studied. Median age and mean arterial blood oxygen saturation respectively were 4.2 years and 81% in CHD subjects and 4.8 years and 98% in controls. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were measured in plasma using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Plasma VEGF levels in controls depended negatively on age (p < 0.0001) until 3 months, when VEGF was no longer elevated. No such age dependence was found for HGF. Although VEGF levels did not differ between CHD and control subjects up to the age of 3 months, VEGF was significantly elevated in CHD patients older than 3 months compared to controls of similar age (149 +/- 106 vs 65 +/- 23 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). Moreover, the VEGF levels were negatively correlated with oxygen saturation (p = 0.03) and positively correlated with hemoglobin (p = 0.004) in CHD patients aged between 3 months and 10 years. Although the physiologic elevation of VEGF in the neonatal period decreases rapidly if oxygen saturation is normal, VEGF elevations persist if systemic hypoxia is present.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Microbial community changes during organic solid waste treatment analyzed by double gradient-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The bacterial community present during semicontinuous treatment of organic solid waste under alkaline and high-temperature conditions was studied. PCR-amplified 16S rDNA fragments were analyzed by double gradient-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The band pattern was stable during the steady state of the treatment phase, and the major bands resulting from individual treatments had the same DNA sequence with good reproducibility. No sequence in the DNA database of isolated bacteria showed close similarity to this sequence, the closest relative being Bacillus licheniformis with less than 97% similarity. The conditions for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were determined without the need to obtain extracts of the bacterial cells. An oligonucleotide probe was designed to detect the microorganisms found in the DGGE analysis. FISH analysis showed that the bacterium corresponding to the major bands accounted for 30% of the total eubacterial cell count at the steady state. These results indicate that this bacterium is a key microorganism in the biodegradation process.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2002

Construction of a stable microbial community with high cellulose-degradation ability.

We bred a microbial community capable of degrading rice straw with high efficiency. The microbial community degraded more than 60% of rice straw within 4 days at 50 degrees C. The high stability of the community's degradation ability was demonstrated by its tolerance of being subcultured several times in medium with/without cellulosic material, being heated to 95 degrees C, and freezing at -80 degrees C. The community degraded both nonsterilized and sterilized substrate; and its degradation ability was not affected by pH changes in the medium (initial pH 5-9). PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses based on 16S rDNA fragments showed that the community structure remained constant after multiple subcultures extending over 2 years. DNA sequence analyses of DGGE bands indicated the coexistence of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in the community.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2002

Assessment of the ability of myocardial contrast echocardiography with harmonic power Doppler imaging to identify perfusion abnormalities in patients with Kawasaki disease at rest and during dipyridamole stress.

The aim of our study was to assess the ability of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) with harmonic power Doppler imaging (HPDI) to identify perfusion abnormalities in patients with Kawasaki disease at rest and during pharmacological stress imaging with dipyridamole. Results were compared with those of 99mTc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging as the clinical reference standard. MCE with HPDI was performed on 20 patients with a history of Kawasaki disease. Images were obtained at baseline and during dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg x kg(-1)) in the apical two- and four-chamber views. Myocardial opacification suitable for the analysis was obtained in all patients. Nine patients with stenotic lesions had a reversible defect after dipyridamole infusion detected by both MCE with HPDI and SPECT, and 3 patients with a history of myocardial infarction had a partially or completely irreversible defect detected by both methods. Three patients with coronary aneurysm without stenotic lesion, 4 patients with regressed coronary aneurysm, and 2 patients with normal coronary artery in acute phase also had normal perfusion at rest and after pharmacological stress by both methods. A 96% concordance (kappa = 0.87) was obtained when comparing the respective segmental perfusion scores using the two methods at baseline, and an 86% concordance (kappa = 0.81) was obtained at postdipyridamole infusion. After combining baseline and postdipyridamole images, each segment was labeled as having normal perfusion, irreversible defects, or reversible defects. Using these classifications, concordance for the two methods was 92% (kappa = 0.87). MCE with HPDI is a safe and feasible method by which to detect asymptomatic ischemia due to severe stenotic lesion, and it may be an important addition to the modalities used to identify patients at risk for myocardial infarction as a complication of Kawasaki disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

IgG/IgA pemphigus with IgG and IgA antidesmoglein 1 antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disease characterized by autoantibodies against the cell surfaces of epidermal keratinocytes. Six cases with deposition of both IgG and IgA on keratinocyte cell surfaces have been reported in the recent literature. We provisionally termed these cases IgG/IgA pemphigus. We describe a 42-year-old Japanese woman with clinical and histopathological features resembling herpetiform pemphigus who demonstrated in vivo bound and circulating anticell surface autoantibodies of both IgG and IgA classes on immunofluorescence examination. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using baculovirus-expressed recombinant desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg 3 showed that both IgG and IgA antibodies reacted with Dsg1. The reactivity was completely adsorbed with preincubation of serum with Dsg1 baculoprotein, further confirming the exclusive reactivity of both IgG and IgA antibodies with Dsg1. This is the second case of IgG/IgA pemphigus in which the human target antigens for both IgG and IgA antibodies have been unequivocally identified. This study provides further evidence that IgG/IgA pemphigus is a distinct disease entity.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) polymorphism is associated with diabetic retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Leucocyte adhesion to the diabetic retinal vasculature has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. We evaluated the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in leucocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules and diabetic retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We determined ICAM-1, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), and leucocyte endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (LECAM-1) genotypes in 81 patients with and 50 without diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: The frequency of ICAM-1 469KK genotype and K allele were significantly higher in the patients with diabetic retinopathy than in those without retinopathy (genotype 42% vs. 20%, chi2 = 6.70, P = 0.035; allele 66% vs. 50%, chi2 = 6.49, P = 0.011). With regard to the PECAM-1 V125L and LECAM-1 P213S polymorphisms, there were no significant associations between the distribution of genotypes or allele frequencies and the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Independent of other risk factors, the ICAM-1 469KK genotype was associated with a 3.51-fold increased risk for retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the ICAM-1 469KK genotype could be a genetic risk factor for retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Age of Onset↗

PubMed2002

Interleukin-6 polymorphism (-634C/G) in the promotor region and the progression of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by many different cell types, including glomerular mesangial cells. Recently, a novel C/G polymorphism at position -634 in the promotor region of the IL-6 gene has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the -634C/G polymorphism is associated with an increased risk for progression to diabetic nephropathy as well as elevated levels of IL-6 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: The frequency of the -634C/G polymorphism was determined in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes and either normoalbuminuria (n = 162), microalbuminuria (n = 138), or macroalbuminuria (n = 154) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The level of IL-6 secretion in relation to genotype was assessed in lipopolysaccharide or advanced glycation end products-stimulated IL-6 secretion by peripheral mononuclear cells. RESULTS: The frequency of the -634G/G genotype and -634*G allele was significantly increased in the patients with macroalbuminuria compared with patients with normoalbuminuria (genotype: chi2 = 6.787, Pc = 0.0368; allele: chi2 = 9.080, Pc = 0.0104). Stepwise multiple regression analysis in these patients showed that hypertension (F = 40.48) and IL-6-634 gene polymorphism (F = 5.48) were the relevant variables for the progression of Type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Analysis of the IL-6 secretion data revealed that individuals carrying the -634*G allele had a higher IL-6 secretion capacity than those without the *G allele (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the IL-6-634C/G polymorphism may be a possible genetic susceptibility factor for the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2↗

PubMed2002

Pharmacokinetic analysis of factors determining elimination pathways for sulfate and glucuronide metabolites of drugs. I: studies by in vivo constant infusion.

1. The hepatic and renal handling of glucuronides and sulphates of three phenolic compounds, 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), p-nitrophenol (pNP) and acetaminophen (APAP), were evaluated pharmacokinetically by in vivo constant infusion experiments in rat. It was shown that the urinary excretion rate at steady-state was larger than the biliary excretion rate for both glucuronides and sulfates, and sulfates, in particular, were extensively excreted into the urine. 2. For each glucuronide, however, biliary excretion clearances (CL(b)) calculated based on the total concentration and unbound concentration in the liver were much larger than the corresponding renal excretion clearances (CL(r)). Even in the case of sulfates, there was not any large difference between CL(r) and CL(b) based on the total and unbound concentration in tissues, which could not explain their extensive urinary excretion. From these results, these excretion clearances were recognized not to reflect necessarily the actual excretion rate obtained. 3. On the other hand, the tissue-to-plasma concentration ratio (K(p)) of both glucuronides and sulfates for every phenolic compound was much higher in the kidney than that in the liver. The results suggested that one of the most important determinants for the preferential excretion of these conjugates into the bile or urine is the extent of disposition of each compound to the liver or kidney. 4. In addition, K(p) of both glucuronides and sulfates in the liver, where these conjugates are mainly formed, was small. The K(p) of sulfates was quite low, suggesting that sulfates generated in the liver were subject to extensive sinusoidal efflux.

Acetaminophen↗