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Biomedical subjects

S Minami

Publications and source records attributed to S Minami.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

Application of mizoribine after keratoplasty and in the treatment of uveitis.

Mizoribine, an immunosuppressive agent developed and marketed in Japan, was tested in experimental keratoplasty and in Behçet's disease. The drug, 2 to 4 mg/kg of body weight, administered systemically or as 10% eyedrops five times daily, suppressed immune reaction after keratoplasty in rabbits. It seemed effective in 18 cases including 12 regrafted eyes. In 29 cases of Behçet's disease, the average recurrence rate dropped from once per month to once every three months in one year. Mizoribine is safe, easy to use, and may be of some value by itself or in combination with other drugs in the treatment of uveitis and in the prevention of corneal graft reaction.

Adult↗

Treatment of plasma cell neoplasm with recombinant leukocyte A interferon and human lymphoblastoid interferon.

Thirty cases of plasma cell neoplasms (24 multiple myeloma, one plasma cell leukemia, and three primary macroglobulinemia) were treated with two kinds of highly purified alpha-interferons, recombinant human leukocyte interferon (rIFN-alpha A) (16 cases) and human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI) (14 cases). Partial remission (PR) was obtained in two of 16 evaluable cases treated with rIFN-alpha A and in two of 12 evaluable cases treated with HLBI. If minor response (MR) was included, responses were observed in seven (31.3%) and six (50%), respectively. Response (PR + MR) was noted in 38% of 21 previously treated patients and 71% of seven previously untreated patients. Side-effects were noted in more than two-thirds of the patients. They included fever, malaise, nausea/anorexia and myelosuppression. Thus, these two kinds of highly purified alpha-interferon were effective in plasma cell neoplasm, producing unequivocal response in 14.3% of the cases without unacceptable side-effects.

Aged↗

Effects of Ca2+ antagonist, nicardipine, on experimental asthma with special reference to slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

Slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) is an important chemical mediator of bronchial asthma. Leukotriene C4 is a component of SRS-A and is synthesized from arachidonic acid. Its synthesizing and releasing processes are found to be Ca2+-dependent. We developed an in vivo inhalation asthma model, mainly mediated by SRS-A, and elucidated the relationship between a Ca2+-antagonist, nicardipine, and SRS-A. In the asthmatic model, mediated by endogenous SRS-A induced by antigen inhalation, continuous intravenous infusion of nicardipine 7 micrograms/kg/min depressed the open airway pressure by about 60% compared with the saline-treated group. Inhibition of mean pulmonary resistance (RL) was about 50% and that of the inverted value of dynamic compliance (1/Cdyn) about 36%. However, the same concentration of nicardipine did not significantly effect the airway response in the asthmatic model induced by the inhalation of leukotriene C4. These results suggest that nicardipine, at the concentration used in the present study. did not block the direct effect of SRS-A on the smooth muscle, but blocked the Ca2+ influx required for the synthesis of SRS-A and its release.

Airway Resistance↗

Inhibitory effect of N-(3', 4'-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (N-5') on SRS-A mediated bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig in vivo.

Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) is an important factor mediating bronchoconstriction in asthma. We developed a guinea pig model for SRS-A-mediated bronchoconstriction induced by antigen inhalation. Using this model, we investigated the effect of N-(3', 4'-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (N-5'), a new anti-allergic drug, on the bronchoconstriction. FPL 55712 inhibited most of the bronchoconstriction induced by antigen inhalation. N-5' inhibited the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent fashion. Intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg N-5' was effective for 40 min after antigen inhalation, while the effect of 60 mg/kg lasted only 7 min. On the other hand, 200 mg/kg N-5' showed no inhibitory effect on the bronchoconstriction caused by direct inhalation of leukotriene C4, a component of SRS-A. These findings indicate that one of the anti-allergic actions of N-5' is due to inhibition of synthesis and/or release of SRS-A.

Animals↗

Cephamycin inactivation due to enzymatic hydrolysis by beta-lactamase from Bacteroides fragilis.

The susceptibility of 53 clinical isolates of Bacteroides fragilis to cephamycins was examined. Judging from the MICs for 50% of the strains tested, moxalactam was the most active, however, judging from the MICs for 90% of the strains tested, cefbuperazone was more effective than moxalactam. A correlation was observed between in vitro activity of benzylpenicillin and cephaloridine and beta-lactamase production. Inactivation due to enzymatic hydrolysis of cephamycins over a short time was not observed; however, inactivation was detected by a double disk diffusion test, and moxalactam was most easily inactivated. We conclude that inactivation due to enzymatic hydrolysis of cephamycins over a long time may play an important role in resistance to some cephamycins in strains of B. fragilis.

Bacteroides fragilis↗

Production of antisera to growth hormone-releasing factor: usefulness in radioimmunoassay and passive immunization.

We have produced two antisera (R-1 & R-2) to human growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) [1-44] NH2. Both antisera can be used for human GRF radioimmunoassay (RIA) at a final dilution of 1:50000. The antiserum R-2 was specific for the C-terminal amidated sequence of human GRF-44 and selectively recognized GRF [1-44] NH2 but not GRF [1-44] OH or GRF [1-40] OH. The antiserum R-1 also significantly bound 125I-rat GRF [1-43] OH at a final dilution of 1:5000 and enabled us to establish RIA for rat GRF. In both RIA systems, intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation at 50% inhibition were 8 and 12%, respectively. A median effective dose was 90-120 pg in human GRF RIA and 250-300 pg in rat GRF RIA. Utilizing the RIA, we demonstrated that the hypothalamic GRF content in rats which received monosodium glutamate during the neonatal period was less than 20% of that of controls. However, the hypothalamic GRF content was not altered in rats made hypothyroid by methimazole administration, another condition known to greatly impair GH secretion. An iv administration of the antiserum R-1 significantly suppressed GH release following the injection of antisomatostatin serum. Thus, these antisera can be a useful tool in examining the physiological and/or pathophysiological roles of GRF in human and rat.

Animals↗

Effect of a Ca2+ antagonist, nifedipine, on the experimental asthma mediated mainly by slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis.

In the asthmatic model mainly mediated by the endogenous slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) induced by the antigen inhalation to passively sensitized guinea pigs, continuous intravenous infusion of nifedipine (Adalat) at a speed of 7 micrograms/kg/min depressed the airway open pressure by about 68% compared to the saline-treated group and produced a delay in the time to peak response. Moreover, nifedipine inhibited the response of the peripheral airway more strongly than that of the central airway. The same concentration of nifedipine inhibited the airway open pressure by about 43% compared to the saline-treated group in the asthmatic model induced by the inhalation of leukotriene C4. The effect of nifedipine on the central airway was shorter in duration than that on the peripheral airway. The inhibitory effect of nifedipine on the airway response was greater in the asthmatic model mediated mainly by the endogenous SRS-A induced by the antigen inhalation than in the asthmatic model produced by the inhalation of leukotriene C4.

Airway Resistance↗

[The metastatic patterns of gastric cancer from its histopathological characteristics in the primary lesion--particularly in relation to peritoneal dissemination and liver metastases].

The purpose of this study was to catagorize the metastatic patterns of advanced gastric cancer into liver and peritoneal metastases from the stromal behavior of the primary lesion in 278 patients. According to our data, peritoneal disseminations were encountered 5.0% of the medullary type, 30.0% of the intermediate type and 38.0% of the scirrhous type, while the corresponding figures for liver metastases were 28.8%, 6.0% and 1.9%, respectively. The differences among the three types were significant with both patterns of metastasis. From the present data, we assume that the histological pattern in the stroma of primary gastric cancer shows the biological behavior of cancer growth and metastatic patterns, particularly in close relation to peritoneal dissemination and liver metastases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Clinico pathological study on prognostic factors of sarcoma].

A clinicopathologic study of 48 patients of sarcoma was performed. This malignant neoplasm principally of middle and late adults occurred most often in the body surface (58%). Forty-six patients were treated by surgery with wide or marginal or palliative resection. In two only biopsy was done. Adjuvant chemotherapy was added in 27 patients. Histological grading of surgical specimens was Stage I in 9, II in 16, III in 18 and IV in 5. The evaluation of prognosis showed that wide resection with lymph node dissection was most excellent procedure as the operative methods. Regarding histological grading, significant difference between Stage I + II and III + IV could be detected in the survival rates (p less than 0.05). The adjuvant chemotherapy used did not affect the prognosis.

Adolescent↗

Inactivation of cephamycins by various beta-lactamases from gram-negative bacteria.

The enzymic inactivation of cephamycins, i.e. cefoxitin, cefmetazole, cefotetan and cefbuperazone, was investigated by means of bioassay, high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometric analysis using three types of cephalosporinase (CSase, RICHMOND type Ia, Ib and Ic) and one penicillinase (PCase, TEM type). These four cephamycins were not inactivated by Ic CSase and TEM type PCase or producers of these enzymes. However, the inactivation of cefmetazole and cefoxitin was noted when they were incubated in the cultures of CSase (Ia and Ib)-producers or incubated with a large amount of these purified enzymes although the inactivation of cefbuperazone was not noted. HPLC of culture fluid or enzyme solution which contained cefmetazole or cefoxitin and were incubated at 37 degrees C showed that metabolites of cefmetazole or cefoxitin appeared as the drug disappeared. In addition, the appearance of metabolites corresponded to the loss of the drug's bioactivities and the absorption of iodine. UV and IR spectra of cefmetazole which were taken after incubation with the purified CSase showed the cleavage of the beta-lactam ring.

Bacteria↗

Sixteen adult patients with acute leukemia treated by chemotherapy, total body irradiation and allogeneic marrow transplantation.

Since 1976, 16 adult patients with acute leukemia have been treated by chemotherapy, total body irradiation (TBI) and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in the medical school hospital and the satellite hospitals of Nagoya University. The first group of 10 patients were given marrow grafts at the time of leukemic relapse and the second group of six patients were given the grafts in the period of remission of their disease. For the first group (ALL/ANLL 2:8, age (median) 33, M/F 8:2), HLA-identical donor cells (25 x 10(7)/kg [median]) were infused after the patients were conditioned with NSC D 245382 (ACNU) or daunorubicin, cyclophosphamide (CY) and a single shot of 1000 rad of TBI. For the second group (ALL/ANLL 4:2, age (median) 20, M/F 5:1), HLA-identical donor cells (22 x 10(7)/kg [median]) were infused after the patients were conditioned with CY and fractionated (250 rad x 4) TBI. All the patients were isolated in a laminar air flow room (LAF) after gut and skin decontamination. Engraftment of donor cells was confirmed in 15 out of the 16 patients. Febrile periods in LAF and the days required for platelet transfusion were prolonged in the first group. All the patients in the first group died within 12-214 days after BMT because of interstitial pneumonitis (7 patients) or bacterial infection (3 patients). On the other hand, five out of six patients in the second group are alive 84-540 days after BMT. For the surviving patients, the complications of chronic graft versus host disease, viral infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis, hemorrhagic cystitis and recurrence of leukemia are now the problems. It can be stated that the patient's clinical condition at the time of BMT is one of the most essential factors for the success of BMT although the effects of other variables, such a change in the conditioning regimens of the supportive care, must also be carefully analyzed.

Acute Disease↗