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T Kurasawa

Publications and source records attributed to T Kurasawa.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[The coexistence of pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cancer].

To summarize the clinical features of the coexistence of lung cancer (LC) and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) from the reports in Japan. The frequency is about 2-4% of LC and about 1-2% of TB and elderly men are frequent. Lung cancer is mainly from periphery origin and squamous cell carcinoma, histopathologically. Cavitary lesions are few of pulmonary tuberculous lesions and those are not occasionally detectable in the pictures. The lesions of LC and TB are mainly located in same lung, and sometimes in same lobe. By the interval of diagnosis of LC and TB, the patients are divided to three groups; TB proceeding type, LC proceeding type and coexistence type. Because of the very high TB infected rate of elder people in Japan, who have also high incidence rate of LC, the rate of coexistence of LC and TB is high, so the patients suffered from either disease are necessary to follow up carefully as the high-risk group of other disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Pulmonary infection with Mycobacterium kansasii presenting as solitary nodule shadow in the left anterior basal segment].

A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of a solitary pulmonary nodule in the left lower lung field. He had been treated for Parkinson's disease for two years, and had no respiratory symptoms on admission. No abnormal findings were detected in laboratory tests on admission, and Mantoux's skin test was negative. A postero-anterior chest roentgenogram, a conventional tomogram, and a computed tomogram showed that the nodule was located in the left anterior basal segment (S8). The nodule was not calcified, the contour was clear but irregular, and pleural indentation could be seen, so the nodule was strongly suspected to be a primary malignant lung tumor. Because two attempts at transbronchial lung biopsy and bronchial brushing and washing were of no diagnostic value, a thoracotomy was done. The lesion was found in the subpleural region of the left S8 with pleural indentation, and it was partially resected. The nodule was elastic, soft, and filled with suppurative fluid. Histopathologic examination of the nodule revealed epithelioid cell granuloma. A smear test of the fluid was negative but a culture was positive for mycobacteria; which were identified as Mycobacterium kansasii. Rifampicin and isoniazid were administrated to the patient for 1 year. Two years after the operation, the patient was asymptomatic.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Effects of murine lysozyme on lipopolysaccharide-induced biological activities.

We have demonstrated that egg-white lysozyme (EW-LZM) bound to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), reduced the lethal toxicity and the biological activity of LPS. In this study, the interaction of LPS with murine lysozyme (M-LZM) and the modulation of biological activities were investigated. M-LZM was prepared from the culture supernatant of the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 by ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies and dialysis. Two types of M-LZM, murine M lysozyme (MM-LZM) and murine P lysozyme (MP-LZM), were purified from the supernatant. The enzymatic activities of both MM-LZM and MP-LZM were inhibited by LPS and their effects were affected by the temperature and the ionic strength. TNF-alpha production from RAW264.7 by LPS was inhibited by mixing with MM-LZM and MP-LZM. MP-LZM inhibited TNF-alpha production stronger than MM-LZM. Considering these facts, we suggested that M-LZM, like EW-LZM, make a complex with LPS to reduce the toxicity of LPS together with inhibiting the enzymatic activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

[The characteristics of clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis in female].

We studied the clinical features of culture-positive, previously untreated patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (77 in females and 200 in males), with special reference on the gender differences in clinical features. The mean age was 50.8 y.o. for female and 54.4 y.o. for male, and the age distribution was almost similar to that of newly-registered patients of whole Japan in 1993, namely, small peak in 20s decade and large peaks in the age group over 50 in female, and gradual increase up to 50 years and get to plateau in male. Thirty-nine % in female and fifty-four % in male had various past histories and/or complications which might affect to the deterioration of tuberculosis, such as diabetes mellitus, liver function distress, respiratory failure, malignancy, stomach resection and so on. The rates with each complication were, in general, higher in male than in female. The positive rate to Mantoux reaction was higher in female than in male, and stronger reactions were observed in female than in male. According to the classification of pulmonary tuberculosis designed by the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis (GAKKAI classification), the site(s) of affected lung, the stage and the extent of lesions were more advanced in male than in female, and the positive rate and the amount of bacilli on smear were higher in male than in female. The most marked difference was the location of the main lesions, 80% in the apical and posterior segments of upper lobe (S1,2) and 8% in the superior segments of lower lobe (S6) in male, while 60% in S1,2 and 25% in S6 in female. The rate of complete resistance against to anti-tuberculosis agents was higher in male than in female, but the combination chemotherapy of isoniasid and refampicin with streptomycin or ethambutol was almost equally effective both in males and females, and almost all patients converted to bacilli negative within three months after the initiation of the chemotherapy, except in a few male patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[A case of tuberculous infection of emphysematous bulla in the superior segment of left lower lobe].

We report a case of tuberculous infection of emphysematous bulla, who is a 71-years-old male and ex-smoker. He had no past-history and had been treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. At the periodical consultation on Sept 28 '95, abnormal shadow was found in left middle lung field on plain chest X-ray without any exacerbation of symptoms. Nearly alllaboratory tests on admission were within normal limit, except of slight elevation of inflammatory markers and slight hypoxemia. The Mantoux's skin test was positive. Roentogenologically, the air-fluid level was detected in the bulla of superior segment of left lower lobe. By percutaneous thoracentesis of the bulla under fluoloscopy and ultrasonic echo-guide, the fluid in the bulla was obtained. The fluid was exudate, the activities of ADA and LDH were elevated, but neutrophils were more dominant than lymphocytes in the fluid. The MTD test was positive, which amplifies rRNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), and MTB were cultered after four weeks from the fluid. However, MTB was not cultured from sputum and bronchial washing of left S6 via bronchoscope. After the administration of RFP, INH and EB, the fluid gradually disappeared with reduction of the size of bulla. We discussed the usefulness of the examination of the fluid in the bulla, especially the measurement of the activity of ADA and the MTD test for the confirmation of diagnosis as tuberculosis.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1995

[Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis treated with itraconazole and inhaled amphotericin B].

A 52-year-old man with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis complicated by a residual tuberculous cavity was admitted to the hospital because of fever and a new infiltration shadow in the right lower lobe. Aspergillus was isolated repeatedly from his sputum, though he had been treated with itraconazol for 9 months. Combination therapy with itraconazol (200 mg) and inhaled amphotericin B (AMPC, 10 mg, 4 times a day) was begun. The infiltration shadow gradually resolved. The concentration of AMPC in serum was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and was found to be 0.09 micrograms/ml, which is equal to the AMPC concentration obtained with daily oral administration of 2400 mg. This case shows that, contrary to previous opinion, AMPC can be effectively administered by inhalation. We know of no previous reports of similar cases. In addition, itraconazol and inhaled AMPC may have had a synergistic effect in this case.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1995

[A clinical study of non-tuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis].

We studied the clinical features of sixty-one patients with non-tuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis (NTM), who were newly diagnosed at five national hospitals in Kinki area during 1993. The study subjects were composed of 31 patients with M. avium complex (MAC) disease (20 males and 15 females), 21 with M. kansasii (MK) disease (19 males and 3 females), 2 males with M. szulgai (MS) disease and 2 females with M. chelonae (MC) disease. The rate of NTM to all culture proven mycobacteriosis was 20.2% and the rate of NTM to all culture proven, newly discovered mycobacteriosis was 18.2% and the rates were higher than Sakatani's report in 1994 (14% in 1991). The ratio of MK to MAC was 22:35, and the ratio of MK was higher than the report of Sakatani. The mean age of patients with MK was 57.9 in male and 76.7 in female, that with MAC was 71.0 in male and 70.1 in female, that with MS was 57.0 in male and that 72.5 with MC in female. The proportion of elderly patients was higher than the former reports in Japan, especially in female with MK. The main lesions on chest X-ray was found in bilateral S1, 2(S1+2), particularly in the cases with cavitary lesions, but right middle lobe and left lingular lobe were mainly affected in some patients with MAC and S6 was often affected in elderly patients with MK. The chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and/or streptomycin (or kanamycin) w as highly effective in case with MK and MS disease, the efficacy was similar to pulmonary tuberculosis. Some patients with MAC were treated with combination of anti-tuberculosis drugs and new quinolons and/or clarythromycin, but the efficacy was not yet revealed.

4-Quinolones↗
PubMed1994

Purification and properties of a new exo-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase from Bacillus circulans YK9 capable of hydrolysing resistant curdlan with formation of only laminari-biose.

A (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan glucanohydrolase (EC 3.2.1.6), capable of hydrolysing resistant curdlan, was purified chromatographically from the culture supernatant of Bacillus circulans complex YK9 on Toyopearl HW-55F and butyl-Toyopearl 650M columns. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 190 units mg-1 on regenerated curdlan. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 70 kDa as judged by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme had a pH optimum of approximately pH 6.0. It hydrolysed regenerated and resistant curdlans yielding predominantly laminari-biose, although the rate of hydrolysis of the former was much higher than the latter. This enzyme rapidly hydrolysed laminaran, curdlan and carboxymethyl-curdlan, but did not cleave schizophyllan and screloglucan, which have glucosyl side chains. The enzyme hydrolysed low molecular mass (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans-(mean degree of polymerization, DPn = 131, 49 and 14) and laminari-heptaose more efficiently than curdlan. It also hydrolysed laminari-hexaose and -pentaose effectively, but laminari-tetraose only slightly and it did not hydrolyse laminari-triose or -biose. The enzyme is an exo-hydrolase of curdlan and various oligomers composed of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucosidic linkages, liberating laminari-biose from their non-reducing terminals. The laminari-biose generated was in the alpha-form.

Bacillus↗
PubMed1994

[Two cases of elderly people diagnosed with acute tuberculous pneumonia possibly succeeded by the perforation of lymph nodes in the bronchus].

The report is a study of the cases in which elderly people (83 years-old male and 81 years-old female) diagnosed has having acute tuberculous pneumonia possibly suffered from subsequent perforation of lymph nodes in the bronchus. Neither of the patients had a prior history of tuberculosis treatment. Both patients were admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia. After the administration of antibiotics, the symptoms of illness improved, but chest roentgenograms were taken failed to show improvement. The patients were then transferred to our hospital, because sputa smear tests for Mycobacteria (Ziehl-Neelsen stain) were performed, and the results were positive. Case I (male) was suspected of having endobronchial tuberculosis, since rhonchi was audible in the left-front upper chest during expiration when performing auscultation. A bronchoscopy was conducted at which time ulcer lesions on the left upper lobe of the bronchus and perforated lymph node of the upper bronchus were detected. Case II (female) was suspected of having lung cancer and a bronchoscopy was performed due to the findings of a chest roentgenogram taken after one month of chemotherapy. A perforated lymph node in right truncus intermedius was detected. In this report, we discussed the early diagnosis of tuberculous pneumonia and the perforation of caseous lymph nodes in the bronchus, which was the main cause of tuberculous pneumonia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies on the trypsin inhibitor I-2 from wheat germ and its complex with trypsin.

A Bowman-Birk type trypsin inhibitor I-2, M(r) = 14 000, 123 amino-acid residues, isolated from wheat germ, and its complex with trypsin have been crystallized. For I-2 two morphologically different crystal forms were obtained. Crystal form 1 is tetragonal, P4(1)22 or P4(3)22, with a = 55.45 (2), c = 129.1 (2) A and V = 3.97 (2) x 10(5) A(3). The crystals diffract X-rays very anisotropically, to less than 6 A resolution normal to the c* direction, but up to 3 A resolution in the other directions. Crystal form 2 is monoclinic, space group C2. The cell parameters show significant variation even for crystals in the same batch. The median parameters are: a = 83.9, b = 41.5, c = 45.7 A, beta = 95.9 degrees and V = 1.58 x 10(5) A(3). The diffraction pattern is isotropic and reflections up to 2.2 A resolution were observed. The crystals of the complex between bovine trypsin and I-2 (2:1) belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with a = 73.49 (2), b = 120.56 (3), c = 70.04 (2) A and V = 6.206 (5) x 10(5) A(3). The crystals diffract up to 2.3 A resolution, and contain one complex of 60 100 Da in an asymmetric unit.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

[Clinical features of pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection: comparison with M. tuberculosis and M. avium complex infection].

Six cases of pulmonary M. kansasii infection were studied. The ages of the patients ranged from 26 to 51, with a mean of 39.6 years. All the patients were male. None had any underlying systemic or lung diseases. On chest X-ray and CT scan, the majority of cases showed a solitary thin-walled cavitary lesion with little satellite or scattered lesions, which were predominantly located in S1 or S2. The strains of M. kansasii isolated from the 6 patients showed a certain pattern of antibiotic sensitivity being highly sensitive to TH, CS, EB and RFP. In 5 out of the 6 patients, chemotherapy with RFP combined with 2 or 3 other antituberculous drugs for 12 months was successful. In another patient, chemotherapy with RFP, EB and INH for 12 months was unsuccessful and surgical resection was required. Comparison of patients with M. kansasii (n = 6), M. tuberculosis (n = 112) and M. avium complex infection (n = 51) revealed that the former two had some common clinical features: predominance in males, younger age than the patients with M. avium complex infection, predominant involvement of S1, S2 and S6, and involving a single rather than multiple lung lobes. Even in cases clinically suspected of having M. tuberculosis infection, bacteriological examination should be carried out routinely to rule out M. kansasii infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Induction of Cellulase by Gentiobiose and Its Sulfur-Containing Analog in Penicillium purpurogenum.

Cellulase induction by beta-glucodisaccharides was investigated by using non-cellulase-induced mycelia of Penicillium purpurogenum P-26, a highly-cellulase-producing fungus. Gentiobiose induced significant amounts of cellulase compared with cellobiose when nojirimycin was added to the induction medium to inhibit extracellular beta-glucosidase activity. Thiogentiobiose (6-S-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-6-thio-d-glucose), a sulfur-containing analog of gentiobiose, was more effective for cellulase induction than gentiobiose even in the absence of nojirimycin. Thiogentiobiose appeared to be a gratuitous inducer since it was not metabolized during cellulase induction. Gentiobiose was formed from cellobiose by the intracellular beta-glucosidase of P. purpurogenum. These findings indicate that gentiobiose is an active inducer of cellulase for this fungus and may possibly be formed by intracellular beta-glucosidase from cellobiose.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

[Risk factors of cerebro-cardiovascular events in treated hypertensive male workers in the fifth decade].

The relationship between cerebro-cardiovascular events (CCE) and work-related factors was examined in a cohort of 899 treated hypertensive men who were aged 50-59 yr and working more than 7 portal to portal hours (PPH). During the follow-up of 2.8 yr (2,513 person-years), 27 cases of CCEs occurred, which were classified into 18 cases of stroke, 7 cases of acute myocardial infarction, and 2 cases of others. Using univariate analysis, it was found that managerial position and long PPH (more than 11 h) were significantly related to CCE (relative risk of 3.0 and 2.2, respectively) as well as risk factors such as emaciation, left ventricular hypertrophy, excessive sleeping hours, obesity, cigarette smoking, and inadequate control of systolic blood pressure. Using Cox proportional hazards general model, both managerial position and long PPH remained independently related to the risk of CCE (hazards ratio and 95% confidence interval, 4.1; 1.7-10.0 and 2.7; 1.1-6.2, respectively), after adjustment for other risk factors. These findings suggested that work-related factors, such as managerial position and long PPH, are independent risk factors of CCE among treated hypertensive male workers in the fifth decade.

Antihypertensive Agents↗
PubMed1992

Four Japanese cases of episodic angioedema with eosinophilia.

Here we describe four young Japanese women aged 25-33 years, whose clinical findings are characterized by episodic angioedema, marked leukocytosis with eosinophilia, benign course with spontaneous remission or low-dose prednisolone treatment. The recognized causes of eosinophilia, such as allergy, parasite, and collagen diseases, and the causes of edema, such as heart, kidney, and liver diseases, were ruled out. The findings in these patients are very similar to those reported as episodic angioedema with eosinophilia, which is clearly distinct from the so-called hypereosinophilic syndrome. We suggest that this syndrome is not rare, and should be widely recognized as a new clinical entity for accurate and prompt diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Diagnosis and management of endobronchial tuberculosis.

We examined the records of sixty-one patients (17 males and 44 females) with endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB). Smear tests of acid-fast bacilli were positive in 42 cases and cultures of tubercle bacilli (TB) were positive in 57. The main findings of chest roentgenogram on admission were as follows: no abnormal findings in 8, atelectasis in 30, infiltration in 25, and cavitary lesions in 6. The localization and cross-sectional extension of lesions confirmed bronchoscopically were as follows: trachea in 15, with 3 circular lesions (CLs). Right (R-) main bronchus in 19 with 11 CLs, left (L-) main bronchus in 18 with 11 of CLs, R-truncus intermedius in 14 with 6 of CLs, R-upper lobar bronchus (UB) in 17 with 12 CLs, R-middle lobar bronchus in 14 with 11 of CLs, R-lower lobar bronchus (LB) in 6 with 2 CLs, L-UB in 10 with 7 CLs and L-LB in 3 with 2 CLs. All cases were treated by combination chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin and/or ethambutol and the rate of negative conversion of TB was good, but most of circular lesions resulted in severe bronchial stenosis or complete obstruction during and after chemotherapy, and no improvement was seen in any of the atelectasis cases at the cessation of chemotherapy. We discuss the points of early diagnosis and management of EBTB.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis presenting with copious sputum and marked obstructive impairment of lung function].

A 44-year-old male was hospitalized due to dyspnea and persistent cough with copious sputum (about 100 ml/day). Chest radiograph on admission showed hyperinflation and fine nodular shadows throughout both lungs, as well as a tram line appearance in the right lower lung field which suggested thickening of bronchial walls. Pulmonary function tests demonstrated moderate to severe reduction of %VC, FEV1.0 and PaO2. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed inflammatory change in the walls of proximal bronchi. Although his dyspnea resolved rapidly, productive cough and impaired lung function were persistent and improved very slowly over the one-month-period following admission. After resolution, similar symptoms were provoked again 5 to 6 hours after returning to his home, suggesting the recurrence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Open lung biopsy was performed for the differential diagnosis of hypersensitivity, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and bronchial asthma, because neither transbronchial lung biopsy nor broncho-alveolar lavage was diagnostic. Histopathology of the open lung biopsy specimens revealed marked desquamation of bronchiolar epithelium in addition to bronchiolo-alveolitis with epithelial granulomas, consistent with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Copious sputum is a very uncommon clinical feature in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. We consider that the large volume of airway fluid was caused by epithelial ulceration of bronchioles and catarrhal bronchitis associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Adult↗