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Biomedical subjects

N Yuki

Publications and source records attributed to N Yuki.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Improved serodiagnosis of chronic hepatitis C in Japan by a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

To clarify the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in chronic liver disease, sera from Japanese patients which were negative by the original anti-HCV assay (Ortho) were subjected to a second-generation anti-HCV assay based on a combination of structural (C22) and nonstructural (C200) recombinant HCV proteins. Of 29 patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, 20 (69%) were anti-HCV-positive by the second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and also positive by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) which detects the HCV genome. Of 41 chronic hepatitis B virus carriers, 3 (7%) were positive by the second-generation ELISA; 1 of 3 was positive by RT-PCR. The HCV genome was detected in all cases positive for anti-HCV with high titers. Of 59 healthy subjects negative by the second-generation ELISA, none were positive by RT-PCR. These findings indicate that HCV is a major causative agent of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis in Japan and that second-generation ELISA is specific and a more sensitive diagnostic assay for chronic hepatitis C.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Antibodies to a putative hepatitis C virus polyprotein in Japanese patients with chronic liver disease.

To investigate the frequency of exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic liver disease, sera from Japanese patients were tested with the original anti-HCV assay (Ortho) and an anti-HCV assay based on synthetic peptides corresponding to a variety of regions in the HCV genome. Thirty-one (67%) of 46 patients with chronic non-A,non-B hepatitis were anti-HCV-positive by the Ortho ELISA, 20 of whom were also positive by ELISA based on synthetic HCV peptides. Eight (53%) of the 15 patients negative by the Ortho ELISA tested positive for anti-HCV by ELISA based on HCV peptides. Serum HCV RNA was detected in all cases positive for antibody to the HCV peptide and in 14 (78%) of 18 cases without antibody. Thirty-seven hepatitis B virus carriers were without anti-HCV by the Ortho ELISA and were negative for serum HCV RNA, six (16%) of whom were positive by ELISA based on HCV peptides. Antibody responses were directed against each synthetic HCV peptide used, with a considerable difference in incidence, indicating possible expression of the corresponding region in the course of HCV propagation. These findings indicate that exposure to HCV may be more common than expected based on the results of the Ortho ELISA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Severe acute axonal form of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with IgG anti-GD1a antibodies.

We report cases of 2 patients with pure motor Guillain-Barré syndrome of explosive onset who required mechanical ventilation for more than 2 months. Their electrophysiologic findings and poor clinical recoveries suggested severe axonal degeneration involving the motor nerves. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and thin-layer chromatogram-immunostaining showed the sera of both patients had high IgG antibody titer against GD1a ganglioside. Their titers decreased with the clinical course of the illness. GD1a as well as GM1, appears to be the target pathogenic antigen in motor axon disorders. Elevated IgG anti-GD1a antibody titer may prove useful for predicting severe GBS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

HCV RNA and antibody to HCV core protein in Japanese patients with chronic liver disease.

We evaluated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and antibody (anti-HCVcore) to the putative HCV core protein in Japanese patients with chronic liver disease. Sera were screened by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay with a recombinant HCV core protein and by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test which directly detects the HCV genome. Anti-HCV core was detected with high titers in 95% (69/73) of chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis, and 94% (65/69) of anti-HCVcore-positive patients had the genome. Anti-HCVcore was also found with lower titers in 24% (10/41) of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers, and three of them had the genome. Only one (3%) of the 35 patients negative for anti-HCVcore tested positive to RT-PCR. These findings indicate the overwhelming prevalence of HCV infection in Japanese patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis and a close relationship between the presence of anti-HCVcore and chronic hepatitis C in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Hepatitis B virus markers and antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Japanese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sera from Japanese patients with chronic liver disease were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), and the results were correlated to the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. In chronic non-A, non-B liver disease, anti-HCV prevalence was high both in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (78/89, 88%) and without it (66/84, 79%), while previous HBV infection was more common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (65/89, 73%) than in those without it (46/84, 55%) (P less than 0.05). Coexistence of anti-HCV and antibodies to HBV was observed frequently in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (56/89, 63%) compared with patients without it (39/84, 46%) (P less than 0.05). In chronic HBV carriers, anti-HCV was more common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (12/38, 32%) than in those without it (3/62, 5%) (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that infection with the two viruses may be a risk factor for more serious liver disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in chronic non-A, non-B liver disease.

Serum samples were tested for detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA from 156 patients with chronic non-A, non-B liver disease. HCV RNA was detected in 121 (93.8%) of 129 patients positive for anti-C100-3 but was also found in 15 (55.6%) of 27 patients negative for anti-C100-3. The rate of positivity for HCV RNA was not significantly different among various stages of liver diseases. These results showed that HCV continues to replicate even in advanced liver disease and that it seems to be related to half of the cases of chronic non-A, non-B liver disease negative for anti-C100-3.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Acute relapsing sensory neuropathy associated with IgM antibody against B-series gangliosides containing a GalNAc beta 1-4(Gal3-2 alpha NeuAc8-2 alpha NeuAc)beta 1 configuration.

We report a patient with a relapsing form of the acute sensory neuropathy syndrome associated with IgM-kappa type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. He rapidly developed marked sensory ataxia without weakness following an upper respiratory tract infection at age 44. The symptoms reached their maximum in a few days, followed by subsequent gradual improvement over a few weeks. However, unsteady gait remained as a chronic deficit. Stepwise progression of his symptoms occurred over 15 years with 10 similar relapses. Sensory nerve conduction studies showed the absence of action potentials, and sural nerve biopsy revealed the marked loss of large myelinated fibers. The patient's serum had an extremely high titer of an IgM monoclonal antibody directed against gangliosides GD2, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Serum pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens as prognostic markers in interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

We investigated the changes of serum pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens before and after interferon therapy in 35 carriers with HBeAg, to examine their clinical significance in the therapy. Both antigens were measured quantitatively by solid-phase enzyme immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies specific to each antigen. The titers of these antigens of responders before therapy were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than those of non-responders (6.23 +/- 1.09 versus 8.65 +/- 2.09 and 4.46 +/- 1.27 versus 6.50 +/- 1.50, respectively). The titers decreased significantly 6 months after interferon therapy in the responders (p less than 0.05), whereas they did not change in the non-responders. Our findings indicate that pre-S1 and pre-S2 antigens have a close correlation with hepatitis B virus replication and are valuable markers for predicting the responsiveness to interferon therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Acute relapsing sensory neuropathy following upper respiratory infections--a case report].

A 44-year-old man developed numbness in his hands and feet and an unsteady gait following an upper respiratory symptoms. The symptoms progressed rapidly and reached maximum in a few days, followed by a gradual improvement over a few weeks, but his gait remained unsteady. His symptoms progressively increased over 14 years, with 11 relapses of similar episodes. Neurologic examination showed normal limb strength. Deep tendon reflexes were absent. Touch, cold, and pinprick sensation were impaired in his hands and feet. There was a profound loss of position and vibration sense in all extremities. He demonstrated an unsteady and broad-based gait. Electrophysiologic and histologic examination on the peripheral nerves revealed evidences of axonal degeneration without demyelination involving the sensory nerves.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Jejunal varices as a cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding.

Jejunal varices are not a common manifestation of portal hypertension. This report describes a 46-yr-old man with recurrent massive gastrointestinal bleeding from jejunal varices arising in an area of adhesions between the intestine and the omentum. The bleeding site was identified by exploratory laparotomy. Medical therapy, including vasopressin infusion via the superior mesenteric artery, was of limited success for controlling acute variceal bleeding. However, jejunal resection and anastomosis resulted in complete resolution of the bleeding, and the patient has experienced no recurrent bleeding over a 3-yr follow-up period. A review of the literature shows that this syndrome is characterized by portal hypertension, generally due to liver cirrhosis; frequently, there is a history of abdominal surgery, and the syndrome presents with hematochezia but without hematemesis. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. We propose that bleeding from jejunal varices, though uncommon, should be considered under such clinical conditions.

Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage↗
PubMed1992

[Acute relapsing Guillain-Barré syndrome after 5 and 7 years asymptomatic intervals].

A 26-year-old man who recovered from an initial episode of Guillain-Barré syndrome had two relapses after 5 years and then again after 7 years of asymptomatic intervals. The antecedent illnesses, distribution of weakness and clinical courses of each relapse were similar to each other, and each episode reached its peak within 10 days. He received different types of therapy on each time; gammaglobulin and steroid treatment, steroid monotherapy and plasma exchanges. Plasma exchanges were thought to be the most effective. Serum testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that the patient contained high titer of IgG antibodies against GD1a and GT1b gangliosides and low titer of those against GM1 and GD1b, which were reduced during his clinical improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[An acute axonal polyneuropathy affecting intrinsic hand muscles following Campylobacter infection--a case report].

A 24-year-old carpenter had the shakes and fever on March 13, 1990. He suffered from watery diarrhea on March 14 and 15. He left muscle weakness in his thumbs and fingers when he drove nails with a hammer on March 24. The weakness reached maximum by the 3rd day of illness. He was admitted to our hospital on day 4. Neurological examination revealed symmetrical weakness localized in the intrinsic hand muscles (MRC grade 2-4). The deep tendon reflexes were preserved. Sensation was intact except for mild disturbance of superficial sense on both plantar areas. Campylobacter jejuni was cultured from his stool. A complement fixation test indicated serologically preceding C. jejuni infection. Whereas maximum motor nerve conduction velocities were not reduced and distal latencies were not prolonged, compound muscle action potential recorded in the thenar and hypothenar muscles were remarkably reduced on day 5. Needle EMG showed neuropathic changes in four limbs. Sensory nerve conduction velocities and action potentials were normal. The weakness gradually improved in association with increased compound muscle action potentials in the thenar and hypothenar muscles. His muscle symptom fully resolved 2 months after the onset of his illness. Thin-layer chromatogram with immunostaining revealed that serum IgG from this patient reacted with GM1, GD1a, GD1b, but did not react with GM2 and GT1b. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that anti-GM1, GD1a, GD1b antibodies titer (IgG) decreased concurrently with the clinical improvement.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

HLA-B35 and acute axonal polyneuropathy following Campylobacter infection.

We performed HLA typing for class I antigens on five Japanese patients with acute polyneuropathy following Campylobacter infection, all of whom showed axonopathy causing pure motor dysfunction associated with IgG anti-GM1 antibodies. We demonstrated a statistically significant association between the disease and the HLA-B35 antigen.

Acute Disease↗