Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Higaki

Publications and source records attributed to S Higaki.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

An ultrastructural study of lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis, with special reference to fibrous long-spacing collagen.

Lipodystrophia centrifugalis abdominalis infantilis (LCAI) in a 2.5-year-old Japanese girl is reported. Clinically she had a curved cutaneous depression with a slightly elevated erythematous border on the left abdomen beyond the left groin. The regional lymph node was palpable. Histologic examination showed a decrease of the fat, an inflammatory infiltrate mainly composed of lymphocytes, and septal fibrosis in the subcutaneous tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis found that infiltrating lymphocytes were mainly positive against CD4. Ultrastructurally nuclei in the adipocytes were crescent shaped and located toward the periphery of the cell. Some banded structures with a periodicity of 150 nm, and with intraperiodic bands, referred to as fibrous long-spacing collagen (FLSC), were observed in the septal area of the fatty tissue. These results indicated that FLSC was correlated with the breakdown of fibrillar collagens in LCAI.

Abdomen↗

Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis to 10 Kampo formulations.

We examined the in vitro sensitivities of three bacteria: Propionibacterium acnes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, commonly detected in acne lesions, and Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of skin infections, to 10 Kampo formulations (Chinese herbal medicines; combinations of powdered extracts of crude drugs). Both Staphylococcus species showed similar sensitivities to all 10 formulations, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 25 to 400 mg/ml. P. acnes, however, was particularly sensitive to one formulation, keigai-rengyo-to (MIC, 0.78-25 mg/ml), prompting speculation that it might contain components with strong antibacterial activity to P. acnes. P. acnes showed similar sensitivities to all the other formulations (MIC 6.25-200 mg/ml). The ranges of MICs and the MIC50S (concentrations that inhibit 50% of isolates) were very similar to those previously recorded in 1990 for the two Staphylococcus species.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Staphylococcus species on the skin surface of infant atopic dermatitis patients.

The Staphylococcus species present in microbiological samples from the facial skin of 10 infants with atopic dermatitis and eight healthy infants were studied. S. aureus colonization was detected on the cheek and nose skin of most of the infants with atopic dermatitis (9/10 and 7/10, respectively). Among the coagulase-negative staphylococci found, S. epidermidis was detected commonly on the skin of healthy infants; several other species of coagulase-negative staphylococci were found on the skin of infants with atopic dermatitis and of healthy infants.

Child↗

Efficacy of Shiunko for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Shiunko is a typical Kampo drug made from herbal extracts and used to treat a range of conditions including atopic dermatitis. Shiunko, white petrolatum and 3.5% salt water were applied to the skin of atopic dermatitis patients, and their clinical effectiveness, and the changes in bacterial species and cell numbers on the skin were studied. Staphylococcus aureus was the main species seen but several other coagulase-negative staphylococci were also identified on some patients. Shiunko was clinically effective in four of seven patients (57%) compared with no patients for petrolatum and one of seven (14%) for salt water. Bacterial counts were reduced with Shiunko in four of seven patients compared with one of seven patients (14%) for both petrolatum and salt water. The results suggest that Shiunko may have antibacterial effects on staphylococci, and may be an effective treatment for atopic dermatitis and other skin infections caused mainly by Staphylococcus species.

Adolescent↗

Distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci from skin lesions.

The distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase-negative staphylococci from skin lesions were investigated. Staphylococcus epidermidis was found on all areas of the body, whereas S. capitis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis were mainly found on the face/head or arm/leg. The distribution of coagulase-negative staphylococci in skin lesions and at the same location on normal skin was similar. Staphylococcus lugdunensis was the most susceptible to the nine tested antimicrobials (benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin, cefazolin, erythromycin, minocycline, gentamicin, vancomycin and ofloxacin) and S. epidermidis the least susceptible. S. haemolyticus also showed low susceptibility to all nine antimicrobials. Low susceptibility to penicillins may be explained by beta-lactamase production. The existence of coagulase-negative staphylococci, especially concerning their potential pathogenicity and multiple drug resistance, should not be neglected.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of Peptostreptococcus species in skin infections.

We examined the characteristics of Peptostreptococcus species in infectious skin diseases. P. magnus was the species identified most frequently, followed by P. asaccharolyticus. Peptostreptococcus species were mainly isolated from infected atheroma and secondary infections due to ulcers; their resistance to five antimicrobial agents was generally low. The resistance of the three predominant Peptostreptococcus species to the antimicrobials was similar to that of all of the Peptostreptococcus species. The predominant Peptostreptococcus species isolated from infected atheroma might be pathogenic. It was considered that the presence of anaerobes as well as aerobes was important to induce the infectious condition.

Adolescent↗

Predominant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various skin diseases.

We examined predominant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from lesions of various skin diseases, and during the past 3 years, 113 methicillin-sensitive and 31 methicillin-resistant S. aureus have been isolated. The predominant species isolated from almost all of the primary bacteriological cultures was S. aureus. The skin diseases from which cultures were most frequently prepared were atopic dermatitis, followed by ulcers. S. aureus was the predominant species in two-thirds or more of cases of all of the different skin diseases examined. The predominant species identified, other than S. aureus, included Streptococcus species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Evaluation of the predominance of S. aureus is important to the determination of the severity of skin lesions and, if needed, appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Dermatitis, Atopic↗

Smooth tubular aggregates associated with plasmalemmal invagination in alveolar soft part sarcoma.

The ultrastructure of four alveolar soft part sarcomas was examined to search for ultrastructural signs of myogenic or neural origin. A new ultrastructural structure, an unusual tubular structure, was found in two of four cases. The structure appeared as a large, smooth, tubular aggregate in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells but did not show a honeycomb arrangement of tubules. The aggregate was composed of long, serpentine, branching, smooth, irregularly arranged tubules without ribosomes that ran in various directions. The aggregates intermingled with small amounts of cytoplasmic organelles. Because the aggregated tubules were at times continuous with cell membranes, it was shown that they were the complex extensions or invaginations of cell membranes. Neither myelin-axon complexes nor myofilaments, including Z band material, were seen in any case. There was a possibility that the smooth tubular aggregate was a T-tubule-like structure, suggesting that the tumors were derived from skeletal muscle cells.

Cell Membrane↗

Viral behavior of paracrystalline inclusions in osteoclasts of Paget's disease of bone.

Fresh tissues from six patients with Paget's disease of bone were examined ultrastructurally to investigate whether the characteristic paracrystalline inclusions in pagetic osteoclasts revealed viral behavior. These inclusions appeared as microfilamentous aggregates in both nuclei and cytoplasm of the osteoclasts in all six cases. The filamentous elements of the inclusions with a diameter of 11-15 nm showed tubular structures with a central electron-lucent zone measuring 5-7 nm in diameter. Viral budding-like structures containing these inclusions were found at the peripheral cytoplasm or cell processes in the ruffled border of some pagetic osteoclasts in two cases. The inclusions in the budding-like structures were often arrayed in a parallel fashion on the cytoplasmic side of the cell membranes of extruded cytoplasm or cell processes. Virion-like particles were also found in the extracellular spaces of the ruffled border. Marked nuclear degeneration was often seen in pagetic osteoclasts of three cases, although other nuclei in the same osteoclasts appeared normal. The degenerated nuclei showed nuclear ring formation where destroyed nuclear membranes were seen and disappearance of nuclear matrices was noted. Since the modifications were always associated with the accumulation of abundant inclusions, they were probably caused by the inclusions. These findings suggested that the inclusions showed viral behavior in pagetic osteoclasts, and that the nuclear modifications were caused by virus infection.

Crystallization↗

Bleeding Meckel's diverticulum in an adult.

Bleeding Meckel's diverticulum tends to be a complication of ectopic gastric mucosa. It has been known that the gastric acid and digestive fluid produced from the ectopic gastric mucosa cause peptic ulcer, which leads to bleeding. When the ectopic gastric mucosa is entirely formed by the pyloric gland, however, ulcer formation may result from factors other than gastric acid and digestive fluid. This is a report of an adult case of bleeding Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa in whom mechanical stimulation was suggested as a cause of the erosion and ulceration, resulting in bleeding.

Adult↗

The efficacy of hyperthermia combined with radiation therapy for high-grade soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: We have investigated the efficacy of preoperative hyperthermia combined with radiation therapy (HIRP) in cases of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) that could be consequently treated with limb salvage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with STS in an extremity received HIRP at our institution. Local hyperthermia for 1 hour was administered eight to ten times. Radiation therapy (40-60 Gy) was administered at 2 Gy per session. The operation was performed at 2 or 3 weeks after HIRP. RESULTS: Limb salvage surgery was achieved in 12 patients. No local recurrence was observed during a mean follow-up of 27 months. 7 patients had shown only a partial response to the HIRP. There was no correlation between the histological response and the observed reduction in tumor volume. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that HIRP was an effective local treatment for limb salvage in limb-threatening STS.

Adult↗