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Biomedical subjects

N Wada

Publications and source records attributed to N Wada.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Clinical studies on pediatric purulent meningitis--clinical symptoms and prognosis].

In 149 patients with purulent meningitis we encountered in the period of 20 years from 1970 to 1990, their clinical symptoms and prognosis were investigated. Death or sequela was noted in many of the patients having loss of consciousness, stiffness of the members and/or cyanosis as primary clinical symptoms, or having hypoalbuminemia (less than 2.5 g/dl) and/or thrombocytopenia as abnormal laboratory findings, or having excessive protein levels and/or excessively low sugar levels in cerebro-spinal fluid. Early initiation of adequate antibiotic therapy, as well as symptomatic treatment using transfusion, steroids and anticonvulsants, are important.

Female↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical studies on pediatric purulent meningitis--statistical analysis of etiology and therapy].

In a total of 149 children with purulent meningitis we encountered in our institute in the last 20 years, the causatives, the changes in therapeutic management and the prognosis were investigated. The causatives could be detected in 109 patients (73%): H. influenzae; 30 patients (20%), S. pneumoniae; 18 patients (12%), E. coli; 13 patients (9%), GBS; 7 patients (5%) and S. aureus; 6 patients (4%). These five causatives were detected in 49% of the total patients, or 67% of the patients in whom causatives could be detected. Of these five causatives, E. coli were detected the most frequently in the first half of 1970's, but, in recent years, the detection of GBS, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae has been remarkably increasing. In spite of progress in antibiotics, the prognosis of the disease due to S. pneumoniae, GBS and S. aureus was poor. In the majority of the patients who died, the death came within five days after hospitalization due to loss of consciousness, convulsion etc. It is therefore necessary not only to initiate strong antibiotic treatment as soon as possible after early diagnosis, but also to take symptomatic measures such as steroidal treatment, treatment of shock etc.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical study of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (Still)].

Thirty-seven patients with systemic JRA were analyzed. Fifty four per cent of patients had mono-cyclic systemic type. Age at onset ranged from 6.0-6.8 years (median 6.4). Boys were more affected than girls (24/11). Cardiac involvement occurred in 10 patients (27%). Patients with cardiac troubles showed significantly much number of the white blood cell counts at admission and the max white blood cell count than those without cardiac troubles. Duration of positive CRP was shorter in patients with cardiac involvement who were all given cortico-steroid hormone those without cardiac involvement. This means that it is better to use steroid hormone early for patients with cardiac involvement. Patients with chronic arthritis type had higher elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum C3 level at admission and longer duration of positive CRP. We speculated that these date showed inflammation of joints. The onset subtype, which was determined by manifestations during the first 6 months of disease, was important for predicting clinical course and outcome.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1991

Mutation of a single amino acid converts germ cell alkaline phosphatase to placental alkaline phosphatase.

Human placental and germ cell alkaline phosphatases (PLAP and GCAP, respectively), are characterized by their differential sensitivities to inhibition by L-leucine, EDTA, and heat. Yet, they differ by only 7 amino acids at positions 15, 67, 68, 84, 241, 254, and 429 within their respective 484 residues. To determine the structural basis and the amino acid(s) involved in these physicochemical differences, we constructed three GCAP mutants by site-directed mutagenesis and six GCAP/PLAP chimeras and then expressed these alkaline phosphatase mutants in COS-1 cells. We report that the differential reactivity of PLAP and GCAP depends critically on a single amino acid at position 429. GCAP with Gly-429 is strongly inhibited by L-leucine, EDTA, and heat, whereas PLAP with Glu-429 is resistant. By substituting Gly-429 of GCAP with a series of amino acids, we demonstrate that the relative sensitivities of these mutants to L-leucine, EDTA, and heat inhibition are, in general, parallel. Mutants in the order of resistance to these treatments are: Glu (most resistant), Asp/Ile/Leu, Gln/Val/Lys, Ser/His, and Arg/Thr/Met/Cys/Phe/Trp/Tyr/Pro/Asn/Ala/Gly (least resistant). However, the Ser-429 and His-429 mutants were more resistant to EDTA and heat inhibition than the wild-type GCAP, but were equally sensitive to L-leucine inhibition. Structural analysis of mammalian alkaline phosphatase modeled on the refined crystal structure of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase indicates that the negative charge of Glu-429 of PLAP, which simultaneously stabilizes the protein as a whole and the metal binding specifically, probably acts through interactions with the metal ligand His-320 (His-331 in E. coli alkaline phosphatase). Replacement of codon 429 with Gly in GCAP leads to destabilization and loosening of the metal binding. The data suggest that the natural binding site for L-leucine may be near position 429, with the amino and carboxyl groups of L-leucine interacting with bound phosphate and His-432 (His-412 in E. coli alkaline phosphatase), respectively.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1991

[The respiratory function in children with collagen disease].

Respiratory function tests were performed on 60 children with collagen disease. Twenty-seven cases (45%) showed abnormalities in the respiratory function. These abnormalities were restrictive in 14 cases (52%), obstructive in 6 cases (22%), and mixed type in 7 cases (26%). Eight out of 14 SLE patients (57%) showed abnormalities of various types. Abnormalities were seen in 9 out of 25 JRA patients (36%) including 6 cases (67%) with restrictive type changes. Four out of 6 MCTD (67%) and 3 out of 9 DM (33%) patient showed functional abnormalities. Most of patients with these two types of collagen disease showed restrictive changes. Investigations performed by a research group of the Ministry of Health and Welfare showed the incidence of restrictive type changes (% VC less than 80) in adult patients of collagen disease to be in the following descending order: PM/DM greater than PSS greater than MCTD greater than SLE. Though small in number, our investigation revealed that a considerable proportion of MCTD and SLE patients showed restrictive changes in respiratory function. In evaluating the clinical course of the disease, it was thus considered to be important to follow up the progress of respiratory functions in children with collagen disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effects of peripheral inputs from hindlimb on the monosynaptic reflex of motoneurons innervating tail muscles.

The effects of group II muscle (PBSt, GS) and cutaneous afferent (Sur, SPc, Tib) inputs from the hindlimb on the monosynaptic reflexes of motoneurons innervating tail muscles were studied in lower spinalized cats. Stimulation of the cutaneous nerves at the conditioning-test stimulus interval of about 10-20 ms facilitated and inhibited the monosynaptic reflexes of ipsilateral and contralateral tail muscles, respectively. The effects of the muscle nerve stimulation were not so prominent as those elicited by cutaneous nerve stimulation. The monosynaptic reflex was also inhibited by muscle nerve stimulation at 10-50 ms intervals. The effects of conditioning stimulation of the hindlimb peripheral nerves at short intervals were depressed or blocked by section of the ipsilateral lateral funiculus at S1 spinal segment. These findings show that the neuronal pathway from hindlimb afferents to tail muscle motoneurons passed the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord and modulates the motoneuronal activity of tail muscles.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1991

Decreased anionic sites in different portions of the basement membrane in aminonucleoside nephrosis.

We induced aminonucleoside (AN) nephrosis in male Sprague-Dawley rats and evaluated the decreases in negative charge in the peripheral and proximal portions of the loop basement membrane and the basement membrane in the paramesangial area. Following intravenous injection of polyethyleneimine (PEI), the number of PEI granules per 0.1 micron 2 of the basement membrane, and those per 1 micron length of the lamina rara externa (LRE) and lamina rara interna (LRI) were counted in each portion under an electron microscope and compared with those in the control group. In the rats with AN nephrosis, the number of PEI granules per 0.1 micron 2 was significantly decreased in each portion of the basement membrane. However, the degree of decrease was similar among the 3 portions. The ratio of the numbers of granules in the proximal and paramesangial portions to that in the peripheral portion (peripheral:proximal:paramesangial) was 1:0.89:0.64 in the control group and 1:0.88:0.62 in the AN nephrosis group. Similar results were obtained for the numbers of PEI granules per 1 micron length of the LRE and LRI. These findings suggest that the negative charge is decreased in the loop basement membrane and paramesangial basement membrane in AN nephrosis, but the degree of decrease appears to be uniform.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Rat liver arginase suppresses mixed lymphocyte reaction.

An inhibitory factor to mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was purified from the supernatant of rat liver homogenate by procedures including chloroform treatment, ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange column chromatography, and gel filtration. The molecular weight of the purified inhibitor was 34,000 on SDS-PAGE. We determined the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal region of the purified inhibitor to be Glu-Glu-Pro-Trp-Met-Ser-Met-Ser-Ser-Lys-Pro-Lys-Pro-Ile-Glu-. This sequence shows a high homology to a rat arginase, the amino acid sequence of which was predicted from the nucleic acid sequence of cloned rat arginase cDNA. The amino acid sequence of the purified arginase is 6 amino acid residues longer than the predicted one. The purified MLR inhibitor showed a high arginase activity. The inhibition mechanism was studied and it was discovered that L-arginine was depleted in the culture medium, and that the supply of L-arginine to the cell culture caused recovery of the incorporation of tritium thymidine. Here we present evidence that the MLR inhibitor from rat liver homogenate is the liver arginase. It is noteworthy that immune response may be controlled by a liver factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

[Two cases of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection in children].

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y. pseudotuberculosis) infection is an intestinal infectious disease comparable in importance as those with Campylobacter or Salmonella. Clinical symptoms of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection vary. In this report, we will describe the clinical symptoms and immunological conditions of the patients with Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, including 2 or our own cases. Case 1 was a 4 years old male infant admitted to the hospital with major complaints of fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Kawasaki disease was the most suspected diagnosis from the clinical viewpoint. These symptoms improved by symptomatic treatments. Serum examination during hospitalisation revealed the infection of Y. pseudotuberculosis 4a. Case 2 was a 7 months old male baby with psychomotor developmental delay. The patient was admitted to hospital with major complaints of fever and eruptions. The patient was diagnosed to have a severe infectious disorder based on the clinical symptoms and findings of laboratory tests. Treatments with antibiotics improved the conditions. Serum examination during hospitalisation also revealed the Y. pseudotuberculosis 5a infection. Both of these cases showed decreased cellular immunity during the acute phase of the infection which was normalized with the improvement in clinical conditions. It was thus suggested that Y. pseudotuberculosis had a possibility to influence the cellular immunity of hosts transiently but significantly.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

[Therapeutic evaluation of combination therapy using C-425, human native immunoglobulin liquid preparation for i.v. administration, and antibiotics in severe and/or refractory infections in pediatrics].

A newly developed human immunoglobulin liquid preparation for intravenous injection was studied for efficacy, safety, and usefulness in treating severe and/or refractory infections in children receiving antibiotic treatment. It is suggested that C-425 is a useful intravenous preparation of human immunoglobulin for the treatment of severe and/or refractory infections in pediatrics. C-425 was administered to 87 inpatients with severe and/or refractory infections at 23 institutions nationwide. The Committee selected 61 cases for the present analysis. Physicians in charge judged clinical efficacy of C-425 to be "excellent" in 23 cases (40.4%), "good" in 24 (42.1%), "fair" in 7 (12.3%), "poor" in 3 (5.3%), and "unknown" in 4. The efficacy rate was calculated at 82.5% when the "excellent" and "good" cases were combined, and 94.7% when the "fair" cases were also included. According to the Committee's judgement, the efficacy of C-425 was "excellent" in 27 cases (44.3%), "good" in 18 (29.5%), "fair" in 7 (11.5%), and "poor" in 9 (14.8%). The efficacy rate was 73.8% when the "excellent" and "good" cases were combined. The rate increased to 85.2% when the "fair" cases were added. Organisms were identified in 31 cases, and the time course was followed in 19 instances. Organisms were eliminated in 12 cases (63.2%), decreased in number in 2 (10.5%), and persisted in 5 (26.3%). Eradication rate was 63.2%. One of the 87 patients died of fulminant hepatitis 2 days after the end of the treatment. The remaining 86 cases were analyzed for the safety of C-425. A skin rash was observed in one case. Laboratory examination revealed increase in transaminase levels in a total of 8 cases; both in GOT and GPT in 5, in GOT alone in 2, and in GPT alone in 1. These findings were not clinically important.

Anemia, Aplastic↗
PubMed1990

[Acute toxicity study of cefpirome sulfate in mice and rats].

Acute toxicity of cefpirome sulfate (CPR) was examined in 6-week-old mice and rats and immature (5-day-old) rats. The LD50 values of CPR (mg/kg) were as follows: (1) mice: intravenous, 2420 (95% confidence limits, 2122-2758) for males and 2400 (2181-2640) for females; intraperitoneal, 3850 (3407-4351) for males and 4200 (3889-4536) for females; and oral, 16200 (14781-17755) for males and 18500 (17290-19795) for females. (2) 6-week-old rats: intravenous, 1900 (1784-2023) for males and 2080 (1953-2215) for females; intraperitoneal, 6550 (6179-6943) for males and 5800 (5311-6334) for females; subcutaneous, more than 10000 for both sexes; and oral, more than 8000 for both sexes. (3) 5-day-old rats: subcutaneous, between 1750 and 2500 for males and 2080 (1651-2621) for females. Major changes in general health conditions observed in 6-week-old mice and rats were decreased spontaneous activity, lying prone, tremor, respiratory changes (slow or deep respiration, gasping), clonic or clonic-tonic convulsions. In the 6-week-old rats dosed subcutaneously, vocalization, writhing and cutaneous changes at the injection site (dark reddening or blackening, swelling, exfoliation, depilation, induration) were also observed. In the 5-day-old rats dosed subcutaneously, the changes noted were slow respiration, writhing, cyanosis, and dark reddening and swelling of the skin at the injection site. After administration, transient depression of body weight gain or loss of body weight was observed in the mice and rats except the rats dosed orally. These changes disappeared at 7 days after administration at latest, and all surviving animals showed favorable body weight gain thereafter. Necropsies revealed hemorrhage under meninges in the brain in many of the mice and rats which died. Other findings included subcutaneous changes at the injection site in the 6-week-old and 5-day-old rats dosed subcutaneously (dark reddening, retention of dark red fluid, retention of red, white or dark red gelatinous material) and changes in the peritoneal cavity in the 6-week-old rats dosed intraperitoneally (red or dark red spots on the serous membrane, reddening of adipose tissues).

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Spinal cord location of the motoneurons innervating the tail muscles of the cat.

The localisation of the motoneuronal pool of the individual tail muscles of the cat was studied by using intramuscular injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to retrogradely label motoneurons innervating tail muscles. The motoneurons innervating muscles located on the medial side, extensor caudae medialis (ECM) and flexor caudae brevis (FCB), were placed in the mediodorsal area of the ventral horn, while those of extensor caudae lateralis (ECL) and flexor caudae longus (FCL) muscles were located in the ventral part of the ventral horn in S2 and 3 segments. The distribution of these motoneurons was shifted to the lateral side in coccygeal segments, but the motoneurons of lateral muscles (ECL, FCL) were located lateral to those of medial muscles (ECM, FCB). The motoneurons of abductor caudae externus (ACE), abductor caudae internus (ACI) and iliocaudalis and levator ani (IC) were distributed in the intermediate area of the ventral horn. The minimum and maximum diameters of motoneurons innervating the tail muscles were measured and shown in histograms. The histograms were unimodal and the motoneurons of ECM, ECL, FCL and FCB were bigger than those of ACE and ACI.

Animals↗