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Biomedical subjects

T Honda

Publications and source records attributed to T Honda.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Magnetic resonance imaging of neurogenic tumors of the thoracic inlet: determination of the parent nerve.

To investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining the parent nerves of neurogenic tumors in the thoracic inlet, analysis of MR images was performed in nine patients with surgically resected neurogenic tumors in the thoracic inlet (two neurofibromas and one schwannoma of the vagus nerve, three schwannomas of the brachial plexus, and two schwannomas and one ganglioneuroma of the sympathetic nerves). These MR images were compared with surgical and pathologic findings. The multidirectional capability and excellent tissue contrast of MRI facilitated recognition of the location, shape, and extent of the tumors. MRI, which permitted an easy understanding of the spatial relation between the tumors and the subclavian vessels, scalenus muscles, and brachial plexus, was useful in determining the nerves of origin. Two neurofibromas, four of six schwannomas, and one ganglioneuroma were recognized to extend along the axes of the parent nerves on MR images. MRI is useful in determining the parent nerve of neurogenic tumors in the thoracic inlet and is helpful in planning surgical treatment of these tumors.

Brachial Plexus↗
PubMed1996

Detection of the gene for toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 in Staphylococcus aureus by enzyme-labelled oligonucleotide probes.

A colony hybridisation method with enzyme-labelled oligonucleotide probes was developed to detect the gene for toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tst). For rapid identification, bacterial colonies were transferred from agar plates directly on to nylon membranes. These procedures took only 3 h. Results obtained by this test correlated well with those obtained by the reverse passive latex agglutination test. Thus, this method is convenient and reliable for the detection of tst in staphylococci, which could be useful for both research and clinical purposes. This method demonstrated that tst was more prevalent in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (56%) than in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (4%).

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed1996

Lymphedema due to chronic penile strangulation: a case report.

A 62-year-old man was admitted with swelling of the penis caused by long term use of a penis enlarging ring. For the previous 20 years, he had noticed small pruritic nodules on his penis. He had no micturitional or ejaculatory impairment. The penis had a diameter of 6 cm, a length of 10 cm, and was covered with thickened skin. The penis and the scrotal skin were covered with scattered, small, hemispheric nodules and papules ranging in size from 2 mm to 1 cm. Pathologic examination of the biopsied specimen from a nodule revealed enlargement of the lymphatic vessels of the dermis and fibrosis. This was compatible with lymphedema due to chronic strangulation by the ring. Scar resection and full thickness skin grafting was performed to prevent malignant changes in the lesions.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1996

Lysophospholipase L2 of Vibrio cholerae O1 affects cholera toxin production.

The implication in cholera toxin (CT) production of the newly identified gene, lypA, that encodes the lysophospholipase L2 of Vibrio cholerae, was investigated. Introduction of lypA into the V. cholerae O1 mutant (NF404), which has a Tn5-insertion in lypA and has lost CT as well as haemolysin production, restored the lysophospholipase activity and CT production but not the haemolytic activity. Inactivation of the lypA gene of the wild-type strain by chromosomal integration of a plasmid containing a portion of the lypA gene decreased the lysophospholipase L2 activity and the production of CT but not the haemolytic activity. Furthermore, constructed mutants of E1 Tor-biotype and Classical-biotype strains which have a defective lypA failed to produce CT and exhibited decreased enterotoxicity in the ligated rabbit ileal loop test. These results suggest that lypA is possibly required for the expression of CT and may play a role in pathogenicity of V. cholerae.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparative study of regional cerebral blood flow values measured by Xe CT and Xe SPECT.

The regional cerebral blood flow (rBCF) values measured by stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography (Xe XT) and by radioactive xenon-133 single photon emission computed tomography (Xe SPECT) were compared in 16 patients with cerebral infarct. On the non-lesion side Xe SPECT recorded 10.7% higher rCBF values than Xe CT in the anterior cerebral artery territory, while Xe CT recorded 9.6% higher values than Xe SPECT in the middle cerebral artery territory. These differences were not statistically significant. Although the rCBF values were almost the same, no correlation was found between the two methods in the posterior cerebral artery territory and the basal ganglia. Only hemispheric CBF on the non-lesion side showed the same value and a good correlation between the Xe CT and the Xe SPECT. There was a good correlation in the hemispheric CBF values on the lesion side, too. The difference of rCBF between the non-lesion side and the lesion side was expressed smaller in the Xe SPECT than in the Xe CT. This is in agreement with the previous reports that Xe SPECT overestimates the flow in the low flow areas. The higher rCBF values in the anterior cerebral artery territory measured by the Xe SPECT was ascribed to the artifact from the radioactivities in the inhalation mask and the air passages as reported previously. In conclusion, there is no good correlation between the rCBF values measured by the Xe CT and by the Xe SPECT. Only hemispheric CBF shows a good correlation between the two methods.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Isolation of Vibrio cholerae in imported frozen seafood and their cholera-enterotoxin production].

A survey study for Vibrio cholerae in imported seafood was conducted during January 1991 to December 1994. A total of 7,439 specimens (approximately 20% of all imported food) were randomly picked up and examined for contamination of V. cholerae. Among these, V. cholerae O1 were isolated from 9 specimens, but they were all cholerae enterotoxin (CT)-negative. In terms of V. cholerae non-O1, a total of 2,803 specimens (37.4%) were contaminated with this vibrio. Shrimp, especially the ones still in their shells and imported from Asian countries such as India and Indonesia, were highly contaminated with V. cholerae. Although no strains of V. cholerae O1 isolated in this study produced CT, 2 strains of V. cholerae non-O1 were proved to be CT-producers. Taking together the high contamination of V. cholerae in imported seafood and a part of those strains producing CT, we believe that careful survey for the possible contamination of V. choleare in imported seafood is necessary.

Cholera Toxin↗
PubMed1996

[Bacteriological studies of travellar's diarrhoea. 5) Analysis of enteropathogenic bacteria at Osaka Airport Quarantine Station from January 1992 through September 3rd, 1994].

During the last 2 years and 8 months before the closure of Osaka Airport Quarantine Station (from Jan. 1992 to Sep. 3, 1994), a total of 7,421,909 overseas travellers were quarantined. 15,919 reported themselves of suffering from diarrhoea. Bacteriological examination of a total of 6,031 individuals' stools were performed. 1) Various enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from 31.2% of the stools examined. Isolated species were as follows: Plesiomonas shigelloides, 1,127 cases (59.9%); Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 293 cases (15.6%); Salmonella spp., 262 cases (13.9%); Shigella spp., 235 cases (12.5%); Aeromonas sobria, 93 cases (4.9%); V. cholerae non-O1, 69 cases (3.7%). 2) The enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated through out the year without any seasonal variation. 3) The major regions where the travellers were infected with the pathogens are as follows: V. cholerae non-O1 (NAG Vibrio) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, South-East and South-West Asia; Vibrio other than NAG, South-East and East Asia; Shigella, widely distributed but especially in India; P. shigelloides and Salmonella, widely distributed. 4) 2 strains of toxigenic (cholera toxin-producing) V. cholerae O139 were isolated from patients who had visited Indonesia and Thailand, respectively. 5) In 320 cases (17%), plural enteropathogenic bacteria were isolated from single patients, suggesting a high frequency of the mixed infections. 6) Among Shigella strains, S. sonnei were isolated the most, followed by S. flexneri (24.7%), S. boydii (8.8%) and S. dysenteriae (2.9%). 7) Among Salmonella serovers, Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated the most frequently (39 cases, 14.1%). 8) 218 (91.6%) of 238 Shigella strains and 103 (37.6%) of 276 Salmonella strains were resistant to one or more drugs tested (SM.CP.TC.KM.ABPC.NA.OFLX). 9) All of the 22 V. cholerae O1 strains were Ogawa, E1 Tor. Among them, 19 were toxigenic strains and 3 were non-toxigenic. 10) O4:K8 was the most frequently isolated serover of V. paraemolyticus. 87.4% of all V. parahaemolyticus strains were positive with thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) gene, and 12.6% of them were positive with TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) gene by DNA-probe methods.

Diarrhea↗
PubMed1996

In vitro proteolytic processing and activation of the recombinant precursor of El Tor cytolysin/hemolysin (pro-HlyA) of Vibrio cholerae by soluble hemagglutinin/protease of V. cholerae, trypsin, and other proteases.

Vibrio cholerae produces a cytolytic toxin named El Tor cytolysin/hemolysin which is encoded by the hlyA gene. This cytolysin is produced as a 79-kDa precursor form (pro-HlyA) into the culture supernatant after cleavage of the signal peptide of the hlyA product (prepro-HlyA). The pro-HlyA is then processed to a 65-kDa mature cytolysin (mature HlyA) after cleavage of the 15-kDa N-terminal peptide (pro region) of the 79-kDa precursor, usually at the bond between Ala-157 and Asn-158. We investigated whether proteases could process the recombinant 79-kDa pro-HlyA to the 65-kDa mature HlyA. We observed that the soluble hemagglutinin/ protease (HA/protease; a major protease of V. cholerae), trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, subtilisin BPN', papain, and thermolysin all processed the pro-HlyA to the 65-kDa mature form of the protein. Along with this, the protease-processed HlyA showed drastically increased hemolytic activity. The N-terminal amino acid of the mature form of cytolysin generated by HA/protease was Phe-151, and that due to trypsin was Ser-149. Other proteases also cleaved the pro-HlyA at a nearby site, between Leu-146 and Ser-153, and all the processed cytolysins showed increased hemolytic activity. These data suggest that the active El Tor cytolysin of V. cholerae could be derived from the C-terminal region of a pro-HlyA following proteolytic cleavage of the bonds in the vicinity of Leu-146 to Asn-158 by any of a wide variety of proteases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Use of an alkaline phosphatase-conjugated oligonucleotide probe for the gene encoding the bundle-forming pilus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli.

An alkaline phosphatase-conjugated 29-base oligonucleotide probe was developed to detect the gene encoding the bundle-forming pilus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The sensitivity and specificity of the probe versus the results of localized adherence in the HEp-2 cell assay and fluorescent actin staining assay positivity were 95.7 and 100%, respectively.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the tdh and trh genes in clinical Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains.

The restriction fragment length polymorphism of the genes encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) was analyzed for 137 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from specimens from diarrheal patients in Thailand. The HindIII restriction fragment patterns of tdh and trh were grouped into five and four types, respectively. A strong association between the restriction fragment patterns of tdh and trh was observed with V. parahaemolyticus strains.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has recently been incriminated as an aetiological agent in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This study was performed to determine the cellularity and lymphocyte phenotypes of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in patients with chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: BAL fluid and lavage lymphocyte subsets from 13 patients (10 men) with active chronic hepatitis C, diagnosed by sustained elevated serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and typical histological findings in the liver, were analysed. Lavage findings in these patients were compared with those from 13 healthy volunteers (eight men) as controls. RESULTS: There was no difference in total cell counts in lavage fluid between the two groups. Lavage lymphocyte and eosinophil numbers were increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Surface marker analysis of the lymphocyte populations showed increases in CD2, CD3, CD4, and HLA-DR. CD4/CD8 ratios were not different. CONCLUSIONS: The numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils in BAL fluid are increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C. These findings suggest that HCV infection may trigger alveolitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with high altitude pulmonary oedema at moderate altitude in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The precise mechanism of high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of cytokines and P-selectin in the development of HAPE which occurred at moderate altitude in Japan. METHODS: The following cellular and biochemical markers and chemotactic cytokines were measured in the bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid from four patients with HAPE at 2857-3180 m in the Japanese Alps: total proteins, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (ra), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and the soluble form of P-selectin. RESULTS: At admission there were significant increases in the levels of total cells, especially macrophages and neutrophils, total protein, albumin and LDH when compared with 13 healthy individuals. Furthermore, the levels of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were also considerably increased but returned quickly to the normal ranges or were not detected after recovery. The levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-10, and P-selectin did not change. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an inflammatory process almost identical with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) may occur in HAPE, but that these changes are transient and are not associated with any increase in P-selectin levels in the BAL fluid.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Granulosa cells express integrin alpha 6: possible involvement of integrin alpha 6 in folliculogenesis.

To identify differentiation antigens of granulosa cells, we have raised two monoclonal antibodies against porcine granulosa cells (POG-2 antibody) and human granulosa cells (OG-1 antibody). Analysis of N-terminal amino acid sequences of purified OG-1 and POG-2 antigens revealed that they were identical to human integrin alpha 6 and its porcine homolog, respectively. An immunohistochemical study showed that integrin alpha 6 was highly expressed on granulosa cells in preovulatory follicles in the human ovary, whereas it was highly expressed on granulosa cells in small follicles in the porcine ovary. As a common characteristic of integrin alpha 6 expression in both ovaries, granulosa cells located in inner layers, which are not in contact with the basal lamina, expressed integrin alpha 6 on the cell surface. This expression profile suggests that the interaction between integrin and extracellular matrices occurs in the granulosa cells located in inner layers. This cell surface interaction is reported to modulate soluble signals to the cells. Since the expression of integrin alpha 6 on inner-layer granulosa cells is related to stages of differentiation, this interaction may be involved in folliculogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Fucoidin, a potent inhibitor of leukocyte rolling, prevents neutrophil influx into phorbol-ester-induced inflammatory sites in rabbit lungs.

The polysaccharide fucoidin, a homopolymer of sulfated L-fucose, is known, by interfering with the function of L-selectin, to inhibit leukocyte rolling, which is an early and essential step in the process of leukocyte extravasation into inflamed sites. We tested the inhibitory effect of fucoidin on neutrophil accumulation in lung inflammation induced by phorbol myristate acetate and peritoneal inflammation induced by thioglycollate in rabbits. Pretreatment (10 mg/kg) followed by continuous administration (10 mg/kg/h) of fucoidin dramatically reduced the number of neutrophils recruited into the lungs (determined by neutrophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; 97.7 +/- 0.52% reduction) and peritoneal cavity (determined by neutrophil counts in peritoneal lavage fluid; 98.4 +/- 1.29% reduction). Fucoidin treatment also increased the systemic neutrophil count. These results suggest that the inhibition of leukocyte rolling, which may be a primary function of fucoidin, leads to a reduction of neutrophil accumulation at inflammatory sites, which may be beneficial for attenuating neutrophil-mediated tissue injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of aortic distensibility in patients with coronary artery disease by use of cine magnetic resonance.

To evaluate the aortic wall sclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the authors measured the aortic distensibility (AD) at the ascending and descending aorta by using cine magnetic resonance (MR). Cine MR was performed in 15 patients with CAD and 15 normal controls (NCs). Patients with CAD had angiographically significant coronary arterial stenosis and almost normal left ventricular function. Age and sex were matched in the patients with CAD and the NCs. Ascending and descending aortic areas of transverse image were measured in the maximum and minimum frames. AD was calculated from the following formula: (max area - min area)/(min area x pulse pressure). Although systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed no significant differences between patients with CAD and NC, AD was significantly lower in patients with CAD than in the NCs in each transverse section (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it is indicated that aortic wall sclerosis is advanced in patients with CAD.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Estimation of aortic wall sclerosis in hypertension by use of carotid pulse tracing and cine magnetic resonance.

In order to evaluate aortic wall sclerosis in hypertension, the authors studied the following two parameters of carotid pulse tracing and ascending aortic wall distensibility by using cine magnetic resonance (MR) in 15 age- and sex-matched normal volunteers (NC) (mean age, fifty-four years old) and 15 hypertensive patients (HT) (mean age, fifty-four years old). As the parameters of carotid pulse tracing, they measured the interval from aortic second heart sound to dicrotic notch (A2-DN), and the height from dicrotic notch to top/total height of carotid pulse tracing (b/a ratio). Ascending aortic distensibility was calculated from the following formula: (max area - min area)/(min area x pulse pressure). A2-DN interval was lower in HT than in NC (18.4 +/- 7.9 vs 31.5 +/- 9.2 ms, P < 0.01). The b/a ratio was lower in HT than in NC (0.34 +/- 0.07 vs 0.44 +/- 0.09, P < 0.01). Ascending aortic distensibility was lower in HT than in NC (2.08 +/- 1.37 vs 7.26 +/- 2.51 x 10(-3) mmHg(-1), P < 0.01). In conclusion, ascending aortic wall sclerosis is advanced in hypertension. A2-DN interval and b/a ratio measured by carotid pulse tracing are useful indicators in evaluating the ascending aortic wall distensibility in hypertension.

Aorta↗
PubMed1996

Morphologic and histologic characterization of cardiac myxomas by magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of ECG-gated spin-echo (SE) magnetic resonance (MR) images, cine MR images, and gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-enhanced MR images for the morphologic and histologic diagnosis of atrial myxomas. Four patients with left atrial myxoma were imaged with a 1.5-T MR imager. The T1-weighted images and the cine MR images were obtained before injection of Gd-DTPA. After the injection of Gd-DTPA, the T1-weighted images were obtained again. Gd-DTPA-enhanced images of the myxomas were histologically compared with the extracted specimens. The tumors were represented more clearly on the cine MR images as low-intensity areas than on the SE images as high-intensity areas. On post-Gd-DTPA images, the 2 tumors were homogeneously enhanced and the other 2 were inhomogeneously enhanced. The locus of enhancement on post-Gd-DTPA images fitted with histologic myxoma or inflammation, and the unenhanced region reflected the necrosis or cystic changes in the specimens, respectively. The morphologic diagnosis of cardiac myxomas by MRI first should be done with SE images, and when the images are unclear, the cine MR images must be supplemented to depict the tumor clearly. Moreover, Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI could elucidate histologic characteristics in myxomas.

Adult↗