Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Kitahashi

Publications and source records attributed to T Kitahashi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Detection of HAV, SRSV and astrovirus genomes from native oysters in Chiba City, Japan].

SRSV, astrovirus in tvirus and HAV genomes were detected by RT-PCR in naturally grown oysters (total 112) collected in Chiba City bay, Japan, through a year from April, 1997 to March, 1998 and genogroup was typed by sequencing. SRSV positive products were detected by RT-PCR from 28 out of 112 oysters and all of them were grouped into G-II by sequencing. The highest incidence was observed in February, 1998. Furthermore, astrovirus positive products were detected sporadically from 15 out of 112 samples and the highest incidence was observed in January, 1998. On the other hand, HAV was detected from only 2 out of 112 and no adenovirus positive product was detected. The results indicated that both SRSV and astrovirus were predominantly distributed into naturally grown oysters in the winter season. SRSV and astrovirus seem to contribute mainly to the food-born outbreaks of gastroenteritis occurred by eating contaminated oysters as causative agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Changes in the levels of mRNAs for GH/prolactin/somatolactin family and Pit-1/GHF-1 in the pituitaries of pre-spawning chum salmon.

Changes in the levels of pituitary mRNAs encoding GH, prolactin (PRL) and somatolactin (SL) were determined in pre-spawning chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) caught at a few key points along their homing pathway in 1994 and 1995. Furthermore, we analyzed relationships between expression of pituitary-specific POU homeodomain transcription factor (Pit-1/GHF-1) and GH/PRL/SL family genes. In 1994, seawater (SW) fish and matured fresh-water (FW) fish were sequentially captured at two points along their homing pathway, the coast and the hatchery. In addition to these two points, maturing FW fish were captured at the intermediate of the two points in 1995. The levels of hormonal mRNAs were determined by a quantitative dot blot analysis using single-stranded sense DNA as the standard. Relative levels of Pit-1/GHF-1 mRNAs were estimated by Northern blot analysis. In 1994, the levels of GH/PRL/SL family mRNAs except for PRL mRNA in the male FW fish were 1.8-4 times higher than those in the SW fish. In 1995, the level of PRL mRNA was somewhat sharply elevated in the maturing FW fish soon after entry into the FW environment, while that of SL mRNA was gradually increased during upstream migration from the coast to the hatchery. The levels of 3 kb Pit-1/GHF-1 mRNA in the FW fish were higher than those in the SW fish in both 1994 and 1995. The present results indicate that expression of genes for the GH/PRL/SL family and Pit-1/GHF-1 is coincidentally enhanced in homing chum salmon. Moreover, the present study suggests that expression of the SL gene is elevated with sexual maturation, whereas that of PRL gene is elevated with osmotic change during the final stages of spawning migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Studies on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Due to Laboratory Medical Analysis.

We encountered 64 patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia between April 1993 and March 1994. Mean patient age was 54 years. There were 46 males and 18 females. Underlying diseases mainly consisted of traffic accident (10 patients), valvular heart disease (5 patients), chronic renal failure (5 patients), leukemia (5 patients), pneumonia (3 patients), and malignant lymphoma (3 patients). The common clinical laboratory findings of MRSA bacteremia included decreses in total protein, albumin and hemoglobin as well as increases in white blood cells (neutrophils) and C reactive protein. In particular, an increase in C reactive protein by 10 mg/dl or more may be useful for diagnosing bacteremia. Laboratory findings were compared between surviving and non-surviving patients. There were significant differences in albumin, cholesterol, bilirubin, creatinine, and CRP. In 18 patients (28.1%), bacteremia was caused by infection due to contamination of central venous catheters. Since medical treatment with intra-vascular devices may cause bacteremia, sufficient caution is needed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

[An outbreak caused by hepatitis A virus in an institution for the mentally handicapped--detection of hepatitis A virus RNA using CTAB method].

The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody in people has decreased from year to year in Japan. A sequential outbreak occurred in an institution for the mentally handicapped people in Chiba City in the summer of 1995. Eight people were infected including 7 residents and one staff member. We tested to detect antigen in fecal samples by ELISA and PCR for early diagnosis for hepatitis A infection. Four sera and 5 feces were obtained from 5 patients between 2 and 8 days after the onset of symptoms. The anti-HAV IgM was found to be positive in 4 sera examined. The HAV antigen was detected in 3 out of 5 feces using ELISA. An existence of inhibitor in 2 negative specimens against the ELISA was suggested by the recovery test of added antigen. HAV RNA was extracted by CTAB method from feces and detected in 4 our of 5 specimens in PCR amplification and in all of 5 specimens in nested PCR amplification. The sequence of PCR products in the P1/P2 junction of the HAV genome revealed that the virus associated with the outbreak belongs to HAV subgenotype IA. HAV RNA was detected in ELISA negative specimens and in the specimen from a patient 2 days after the onset of symptoms using PCR amplification by CTAB method. These results indicate that PCR amplification was useful for the early diagnosis of hepatitis A infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1997

Distinct promoter sequences of two precursor genes for salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone in masu salmon.

Two types of genes encode salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH), which is thought to act on both sexual maturation and reproductive behavior, in salmonids. We characterized the two sGnRH genes (sGnRH-I and -II) and their upstream regions in masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, since such information is a prerequisite for molecular approaches to salmon reproduction. The two genes have similar exon-intron structures composed of four exons and three introns. Sequence analyses of the two genes showed that coding regions are highly conserved, but upstream regions are distinctively divergent. In the upstream regions, only the sGnRH-II gene has a large palindromic sequence, which has been proposed to be involved in control of transcription via estrogen receptors. In contrast, the sGnRH-I gene is missing the large palindromic sequence, but has three distinct palindromes in the upstream region. These results may suggest divergent transcription regulatory mechanisms between the two sGnRH genes in masu salmon. The differences in the upstream regions of sGnRH genes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and masu salmon are discussed with respect to the evolution of sGnRH genes in salmonid fish.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

A self-setting TTCP-DCPD apatite cement for release of vancomycin.

Vancomycin (VCM), a methiciline-cefem resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-specific antibiotic, was incorporated in a self-setting tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP)-dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) apatite cement that hardened isothermally into a hydroxyapatite (HAP) phase with crystallinity similar to that of host bone. Effective release of VCM into PBS lasted for 2 weeks from cements containing 1% VCM and for longer than 9 weeks from cements containing 5% VCM. The rate of release of VCM differed between cements with different crystallinities as well as between the two dissolution media, PBS and simulated body fluid. Mean concentration of VCM in the bone marrow tissue released from cements containing 5% VCM was 20 times the minimum inhibitory concentration 3 weeks after implantation in bone. Direct contact with new bone was observed with the cements containing 1% VCM. Slow delivery of VCM from a self-setting TTCP-DCPD apatite cement with low crystallinity could be used to treat MRSA osteomyelitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Vancomycin].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗