Biomedical subjects

M Miyaji

Publications and source records attributed to M Miyaji.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Milrinone, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, suppresses intimal thickening after photochemically induced endothelial injury in the mouse femoral artery.

The effect of milrinone, a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, on intimal thickening after endothelial denudation was investigated. Intimal thickening was induced in the femoral arteries of mice by a photochemical reaction between rose bengal and transluminal green light which caused endothelial injury followed by platelet adhesion, aggregation, and formation of an occlusive thrombus in the irradiated segment of the mouse femoral artery. In this model, intimal thickening occurred following spontaneous thrombolysis. The intima/media ratio at 21 days after irradiation was 0.556+/-0.104 in the untreated group. Oral administration of milrinone (0.3-3.0 mg/kg) for 3-21 days suppressed intimal thickening by up to 56% in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In an in vivo experiment using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, milrinone suppressed cell proliferation at 1.0 mg/kg p.o. On the other hand, the minimum doses of milrinone for suppression of ex vivo platelet aggregation induced by collagen (0.8 microg/ml) or ADP (0.5 microM) were 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicate that milrinone may not suppress intimal thickening by inhibiting platelet function but by preventing vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, probably through a mechanism mediated via 3', 5'-adenosine cyclic monophosphate (cAMP).

Animals↗

PubMed1999

New PCR primer pairs specific for Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A or B prepared on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprint pattern analyses.

Thirty-three strains of Cryptococcus neoformans were isolated from clinical specimens, including specimens from AIDS patients in Brazil, and were classified into two serotypes; we detected 31 and 2 strains of serotypes A and B, respectively. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprint pattern analyses of these strains of serotypes A and B showed that the patterns were similar for strains of each serotype when three 10-mer primers were used as the RAPD primers. Comparative studies of the fingerprint patterns of the study isolates with those of the reference strains also showed that the RAPD patterns for strains of each serotype were related and that most of the fingerprint bands existed commonly for all strains of each serotype tested. The common RAPD bands (an approximately 700-bp band for serotype A and an approximately 450-bp band for serotype B) were extracted and the DNA sequences were determined. Using this information, we prepared two and one PCR primer pairs which were expected to be specific for C. neoformans serotypes A and B, respectively. Use of each PCR primer combination thus prepared for serotype A or B was 100% successful in identifying the respective C. neoformans serotypes, including the 33 clinical isolates tested in the present study. Among these combinations, one for serotype A was found to amplify DNA from C. neoformans serotype B as well as serotype A. Serotype B-specific PCR primer pairs amplified DNA from not only serotype B strains but also from serotype C strains. The usefulness of other serotype-specific PCR primers for clinical C. neoformans isolates is discussed.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed1999

[The Research Encouragement Award. Effects of sex hormones on sexual difference of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis].

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a deep mycosis in Latin America. The causative agent is Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermal dimorphic fungus. The incidence of the disease is much higher in men than in women. Although one explanation is the inhibitive effect of estradiol on fungal growth, its effect on the yeast form growth of P. brasiliensis is still unclear. There is limited information on progesterone and testosterone, which shows weak or no effects. On the other hand, numerous studies on sexual differences between male and female animals have been made with experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. The conclusions however, remain unclear. The present study shows the effects of estradiol (17 beta-estradiol), progesterone and testosterone on the yeast form growth of P. brasiliensis, and the sexual difference of the susceptibility in adult BALB/c mice at the initial stages of infection with view of their estrous cycles and body weight. The inhibitive effects of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on the yeast form growth of P. brasiliensis were examined using a brain heart infusion broth with different doses of these hormones. The inhibition by estradiol was dose-dependent within the range of physiological concentrations. While the inhibitive effect of progesterone and testosterone was very weak. The phenomenon that estradiol inhibited the yeast form growth of P. brasiliensis may be one important reason for the sexual differences of paracoccidioidomycosis. The initial stages of the yeast form cells of P. brasiliensis infection were evaluated by three inoculation routes: intravenous, intraperitoneal and intratracheal. The mice were divided into 6 groups, including male and female at proestrus, estrus, metestrus- I, metestrus- II and diestrus. Four hours after inoculation, blood samples, peritoneal lavage and pulmonary homogenates were collected and their colony forming units were examined on brain heart infusion agar plates with 1 % of dextrose and 50 mg per liter of chloramphenicol. In all inoculation routes, the clearance of the yeast cells was influenced by the estrous cycles. In particular, female mice at estrus, thought to have high blood estradiol levels, showed a marked clearance of the yeast cells from the blood, peritoneal cavity and lung. All female groups inoculated by any of the three different routes, showed much higher clearance than the male groups. These results suggest that non-specific host resistance to the yeast form cells of P. brasiliensis in females was much higher than in males. There are two explanations for the tendency of higher occurrence of paracoccidioidomycosis in men. One is the inhibitive effect of estradiol on the growth of P. brasiliensis and the other is the superior tendency of non-specific host resistance in females than in males. These two factors seem to have synergistic actions in the sexual difference of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Epidemiological survey of the imported mycoses in Japan.

The authors surveyed the present situation for imported (introduced) mycoses from papers published in Japan as of the end of October, 1998. There were 16 cases of coccidioidomycosis, 22 of histoplasmosis, 13 of paracoccidioidomycosis and one of penicilliosis marneffei. In coccidioidomycosis the ages ranged from 17 to 55, for 14 males and two females. There were eight cases of primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and the remaining eight were of the disseminated type, of which two were fatal. For histoplasmosis, the ages ranged from 17 to 74 of which five cases were female and 17 male. They consisted of 13 pulmonary histoplasmosis, seven disseminated type and two cutaneous type. All cases of the disseminated type died. All of the patients with paracoccidioidomycosis were infected in Latin American countries. They consisted of 12 males and one female, and the ages ranged from 34 to 68. The clinical types were dominated by mucocutaneous-lymphangitic paracoccidioidomycoses (10 cases). A single case of penicilliosis marneffei (38 years old, male) was reported very recently. The case was complicated by AIDS and became critical. Blastomycosis has not yet been reported. This survey indicates that the number of the imported mycoses in Japan is increasing. It is necessary for the responsible authorities to take counter measures to cope with this situation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[Analysis of the cases in which Schizophyllum commune was isolated].

Infections caused by Schizophyllum commune have recently been on the increase. We analyzed cases in which this fungus was isolated from clinical samples from 1991 to 1995. Regular morphological methods were first employed in the identification of S. commune, and when necessary, mating was made with a known S. commune isolate. IgG antibodies against S. commune in the patients' serum were determined by the ELISA method. Profiles of the cases were analyzed and the English-language medical literature was reviewed. S. commune was isolated from 12 patients. Eighty three percent of the patients were female, most of which presented with allergy-related pulmonary diseases, i. e. allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis or mucoid impaction of bronchi. IgG antibodies were detectable in nine of eleven patients examined (82%). Fifty eight percent of the isolates were monokaryotic, and therefore, unidentifiable by regular morphological methods. In contrast, analysis of the English literature disclosed that sinusitis is the most common form of infection, and that hyphal invasion into the tissue was seen in 50% of reported cases. Our study shows that S. commune should be regarded as a pathogenic fungus, and is infecting humans much more frequently than previously assumed. Further investigation is warranted.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Ploidy of serotype AD strains of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Twenty-four serotype AD strains of Cryptococcus neoformans were tested for ploidy and mating type. These included 13 natural isolates (1 from a patient, 1 from peach juice, 11 from pigeon droppings), 2 single clones from one of these natural isolates, 7 F1 progeny from a self-fertile strain and 2 F1 progeny of a cross between a strain from a patient (serotype A, alfa-mating type: MATalfa) and a tester strain (serotype D, a-mating type: MATa). Six strains (2 of natural isolates, 1 of single clone and 3 of F1 progeny) were MATalfa, 1 of F1 progeny was MATa, 4 (1 of natural isolate, 1 of single clone and 2 of F1 progeny) were a-alfa-mating type (MATa-alfa) and 13 (10 of natural isolates and 3 of F1 progeny) were untypable. Most strains, regardless of mating type, were diploid.

Cryptococcus neoformans↗

PubMed1999

[Relation between voice quality and pathological vibratory patterns using high-speed digital imaging].

We analysed the vocal fold vibrations of 22 pathological larynges using a computer-assisted high-speed digital imaging technique. The parameters observed included symmetry, regularity, phase difference, glottal closure, amplitude, mucosal wave and periodicity difference. Voice quality was evaluated by a GRBAS system, and we examined the relation between vocal fold vibration patterns and voice quality. The intraexaminer correlation coefficient was high for the G, R and B scales. Vibratory patterns were classified according to the location of the lesion, severity of the disease, expiratory pressure and laryngeal modulation. Although there were no matches between a vocal fold vibratory pattern for one psychoacoustic impression of hoarseness, the characteristic vibratory patterns of these cases of R > or = 2.5 or diplophonia exhibited irregular glottal closure and periodicity differences. The characteristic vibratory pattern of vocal fry is a double or triple opening/closing phase, followed by a long closed phase.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Fungistatic and fungicidal activities of murine polymorphonuclear leucocytes against yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Recently, a novel culture medium for detecting live yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was developed by Kurita et al. Using this culture medium, murine peritoneal polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were examined for fungistatic and fungicidal activities against P. brasiliensis yeast cells. The magnitude of the antifungal effect of PMN varied depending upon the fungal isolates used. PMN exhibited a killing effect on P. brasiliensis isolate Bt-4 in 2 h of coculture. In contrast, the other three fungal isolates employed were resistant to killing by PMN. However, PMN considerably suppressed the growth of isolates Tatu and Recife in a long-term assay (approximately 72 h). The growth of isolate Bt-9 was also suppressed by PMN during the first 24 h, but was found to be considerably promoted at 72 h of coculture. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), but not tumour-necrosis factor-alpha, significantly augmented the antifungal activity of PMN. IFN-gamma-treated PMN exhibited a killing effect on isolates Tatu, Recife and Bt-9 after 24 h of coculture, and showed an enhanced killing effect on isolate Bt-4. Contact between PMN and fungal cells was required for PMN to exert the antifungal effect. Our results suggest that PMN, whether activated with cytokines or not, might play a critical role in host resistance in early infection with this fungus by buying time for development of more effective immunologic responses.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Small mucosal carcinoma of the stomach with para-aortic lymph node metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.

A 38-year-old woman presented with a mucosal gastric carcinoma measuring 0.7 x 0.5 cm and para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Radiographic and endoscopic studies showed a small depressed lesion on the anterior border of the gastric angle, which was classified as a type II c + III lesion. Histological examination of the biopsy specimen revealed a signet-ring cell carcinoma. Distal gastrectomy with wide lymph node excision was performed. Detailed study of the resected specimen revealed that the tumour was limited to the mucosa, but metastasized to both the perigastric and para-aortic lymph nodes. The patient received adjuvant immunochemotherapy postoperatively. However, multiple bone metastases developed at 3 years and she died 4 years after the operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Antifungal activity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes against yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) were examined in vitro for antifungal activity against yeast cells of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The yeast cell of this fungus was resistant to killing by PMN. However, PMN exhibited a fungistatic effect on the fungal isolates employed in a long-term ( approximately 72 h) assay. Lysates of PMN did not show a fungistatic or fungicidal effect, indicating that live PMN are necessary for the antifungal effect. Interferon-Gamma (IFN-Gamma) enhanced the antifungal activity of PMN. IFN-Gamma-treated PMN killed isolate Bt-4 within 2 h of coculture, and after 24 h a still greater killing effect was observed. By contrast, IFN-Gamma-treated PMN did not show a significant killing effect on isolate Tatu, but did exhibit an enhanced fungistatic effect on this isolate. In contrast, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 8 had no effect on the antifungal activity of PMN. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the surface structure of the fungal cell was apparently damaged by PMN within 24 h of cocultures. Based on these novel findings, we speculate that human PMN might play a role in host resistance in early infection with this fungus due to their antifungal activity.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1998

Immunotherapy and combined assay of serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and acute-phase reactants.

Our previous studies have revealed that gastric and esophageal cancer patients with abnormal sialic acid levels had a better response than those with normal levels if they received polysaccharide K (PSK), a nonspecific immunomodulator. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and acute-phase reactants (APR) such as immunosuppressive acidic protein, acid-soluble glycoproteins, alpha1-antichymotrypsin, and sialic acid were analyzed in 872 gastric cancer patients who had undergone resection from March 1979 to September 1993 at the Department of Surgery of Tokai University. The patients were categorized into four groups according to the preoperative serum levels: group A had normal levels of both CEA and APR, group B had abnormal CEA and normal APR levels, group C had a normal CEA level and normal levels of one or more APR, and group D had abnormal levels of both CEA and of one or more APR. Patients in group D who received PSK showed significantly better survival than those without PSK (29.3% versus 6.9%; log-rank test, P = 0.0015; Breslow test, P = 0.0042). CEA-positive patients receiving PSK therapy exhibited a significantly better survival rate than those without PSK (38.1 % versus 18.6%; log-rank test, P = 0.0136; Breslow test, P = 0.0125). Cox's regression analysis showed that PSK therapy was significantly related to survival in group D, but not in the other groups. We conclude that the combined assay of tumor-associated factors (such as CEA) and various nonspecific reactants to the presence of cancer (such as immunosuppressive acidic protein, alpha1-antichymotrypsin, acid-soluble glycoproteins and sialic acid) provides a good set of preoperative indicators on which to base the selection of treatment for individual gastric cancer patients.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1998

Anticryptococcal activity of voriconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans var. gatti vs var. neoformans: comparison with fluconazole and effect of human serum.

Voriconazole (VCZ), a new wide-spectrum antifungal triazole currently in development, was tested for activity against Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) var. gattii and var. neoformans in RPMI-1640 (RPMI) or RPMI plus human serum. In RPMI VCZ was 10-fold more inhibitory than FCZ for both varieties of CN. In the presence of human serum neither VCZ nor FCZ had enhanced activity against CN var. gattii. By contrast, both VCZ and FCZ had significantly increased activity in the presence of serum against CN var. neoformans. The lack of serum-enhancing activity for VCZ or FCZ against CN var. gattii may reflect the in vivo situation and predict less efficacy in CN var. gattii infections.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed1998

Colorimetric MTT assessment of antifungal activity of D0870 against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans.

The in vitro antifungal activity of D0870 against eight isolates of fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans was compared with that of itraconazole, ketoconazole and miconazole. The colorimetric MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide] assay was used to assess the antifungal activities. The 50% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) of D0870 was below 0.031 microgram ml-1 for seven isolates and 0.25 microgram ml-1 for one isolate. The activity of D0870 was superior to that of the other azoles. Ketoconazole was the most effective azole next to D0870. Therefore, the new bis-triazole, D0870, is expected to be promising for the therapy of fluconazole-resistant candidosis. The present data also confirmed that the MTT assay may be useful for evaluation of resistance and detection of resistant C. albicans.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed1998

Imidazole-induced morphological abnormalities of mitochondria of Candida albicans.

The mitochondrial morphology of live Candida albicans samples treated with several imidazoles (miconazole, econazole and clotrimazole) was observed with a fluorescent carbocyanine probe, 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine [diO-C6-(3)], under a fluorescence microscope. Nearly all non-treated C. albicans cells carried only long tubular mitochondria. Treatment with antimycotics at half the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC100) rapidly induced mitochondrial cleavage or fragmentation, which was followed by recovery to the normal tubular morphology within 1 h. Exposing the yeast to drugs at concentrations higher than the MICs resulted in the development of swollen mitochondria or amorphous bodies. These phenomena were concentration dependent. The fluorescence images were also compared with ultrastructural images obtained by transmission electron microscopy.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed1998

Variant angina in isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency, inappropriate vasopressin secretion and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

We report a 62-year-old male patient who had variant angina and isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. His serum sodium concentration was low and vasopressin was inappropriately high for the low plasma osmolality. Serum free thyroxine (FT4) was low and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was high with positive anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies, compatible with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Treatment with Amrodipine and hydrocortisone relieved chest symptoms and hyponatremia, and hypothyroidism was also normalized. It is suggested that coronary artery spasm may be related to cortisol deficiency and/or inappropriately high vasopressin secretion and that hypothyroidism was ameliorated because the reduced responsiveness to TSH returned to normal due to hydrocortisone supplement.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed1998

[Analysis of pathological vocal fold vibrations using high-speed digital imaging].

There have been various methods devised to monitor vocal fold vibration. Stroboscopy provides clinically-celevant information concerning pathology of the vocal folds. However, slow motion observation is based on the regularity of the vibration, and this ignores the role of irregularity of the vocal fold vibration in pathological cases. In order to know more about the nature of the vocal fold vibratory pattern, it is essential to monitor the vibration on a cycle by cycle basis. We analysed vocal fold vibrations of 22 pathological larynges using a computer-assisted high-speed digital imaging technique. Observed items included symmetry, regularity, phase difference, glottal closure, amplitude, mucosal wave and periodicity difference. Vibratory patterns were classified by location of lesion, severity of disease, expiratory pressure and laryngeal modulation. Analyses of pathological vocal fold vibrations using high-speed digital imaging techniques are providing the theoretical support for voice therapy and elucidating the causes of hoarseness.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from armadillos (Dasypus noveminctus) captured in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), was first isolated from armadillos from the Amazonian region where the mycosis is uncommon. In the present study, we report on the high incidence of PCM infection in armadillos from a hyperendemic region of the disease. Four nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were captured in the endemic area of Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, killed by manual cervical dislocation and autopsied under sterile conditions. Fragments of lung, spleen, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes were processed for histology, cultured on Mycosel agar at 37 degrees C, and homogenized for inoculation into the testis and peritoneum of hamsters. The animals were killed from week 6 to week 20 postinoculation and fragments of liver, lung, spleen, testis, and lymph nodes were cultured on brain heart infusion agar at 37 degrees C. Paracoccidioides brasiliensis was isolated from three armadillos both by direct organ culture and from the liver, spleen, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes of hamsters. In addition, one positive armadillo presented histologically proven PCM disease in a mesenteric lymph node. The three armadillos isolates (Pb-A1, Pb-A2, and Pb-A4) presented thermodependent dimorphism, urease activity, and casein assimilation, showed amplification of the gp43 gene, and were highly virulent in intratesticularly inoculated hamsters. The isolates expressed the gp43 glycoprotein, the immunodominant antigen of the fungus, and reacted with a pool of sera from PCM patients. Taken together, the present data confirm that armadillos are a natural reservoir of P. brasiliensis and demonstrate that the animal is a sylvan host to the fungus.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Cure by THP-COP therapy in patients with perforated T-cell type malignant lymphoma of the jejunum].

A 52-year-old man had suffered abdominal pain from Dec. 15, 1992. On Jan. 1993, he was admitted to our hospital for a diagnosis of T-cell malignant lymphoma of stomach of diffuse large cell type by gastroendoscopical biopsy. On the following day, he underwent emergency an operation with a diagnosis of panperitonitis. A perforation site had been found at the jejunum 60 cm distant from the Treitz ligament. It was resected and sutured concomitant with omental patch. The pathological diagnosis was the same. After the operation, we started THP-COP therapy on Jan. 25, 1993. During the admission, he was given THP-COP therapy 6 times, and had a complete remission. He was discharged Feb. 26, 1994, and shows no evidence of disease at this writing.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗