Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Ichikawa

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ichikawa.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Erythromycin reduces neutrophils and neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in the lower respiratory tract of bronchiolitis patients.

Diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) is a disease of adults characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory bronchioles and the infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells. The clinical efficacy of erythromycin therapy has been demonstrated in DPB patients, but the mechanism of action of this drug is unknown. We investigated the localization of neutrophils in lung biopsy specimens, as well as the cell population and elastolytic-like and chemotactic activity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, before and after treatment with erythromycin or ampicillin in 11 DPB patients (six biopsy-proven and five clinically diagnosed) and one follicular bronchiolitis patient. These bronchiolitis patients had a high percentage of neutrophil and a high neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in BAL fluid compared with chronic bronchitis patients and normal control subjects. The number of neutrophils and the neutrophil-derived elastolytic-like activity in BAL fluid decreased significantly after treatment with erythromycin along with a significant improvement in pulmonary function studies, although there was no significant change in the chemotactic activity of BAL fluid. No significant reduction in BAL fluid neutrophilia was found in the ampicillin-treated patients. These results suggest an important role for the neutrophil in the pathogenesis or development of bronchiolitis, and also suggest that erythromycin may be useful for the treatment of bronchiolitis through its direct action upon host phagocytic cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Serum apolipoprotein H levels in systemic lupus erythematosus are not influenced by antiphospholipid antibodies.

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were recently discovered to recognize a complex consisting of phospholipids and apolipoprotein H (apo H). In this study, we determined the serum apo H levels in 36 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with or without antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), including aCL and lupus anticoagulants, to clarify the possible effects of aPL on apo H levels in vivo. The apo H levels were low in SLE patients as compared with 22 healthy controls. However, no associations were found between apo H levels and circulating aPL or clinical features of the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. A secondary hyperlipidemic state, which probably related to lupus nephritis (proteinuria) and/or prednisolone treatment, increased apo H levels in SLE patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the measured gamma ray dose and the DS86 estimate at 2.05 km ground distance in Hiroshima.

The gamma ray dose at 2.05 km ground distance from the Hiroshima atomic bomb hypocenter was measured from roof tile samples by a thermoluminescence technique. Two tile samples collected at 2.45 km also were analyzed to check the reliability of the background estimates. The result for the 2.05 km distance was 129 +/- 23 mGy for five-tile sample average. This value is 2.2 times larger than the corresponding DS86 estimate. These results and those in the literature show the DS86 estimate is 50% or less of the measured value 2.05 km from the Hiroshima hypocenter.

Gamma Rays↗
PubMed1992

Glucocorticoid receptor and inhibition of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose uptake by glucocorticoids in peripheral blood leukocytes from normal humans: correlation between receptor level and hormone effect in vitro.

We have measured the glucocorticoid receptor concentration in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, both of which were isolated from peripheral blood from ten healthy male volunteers. In parallel, the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on 3-O-methyl-D-glucose uptake was assayed in the corresponding mononuclear leukocytes. The glucocorticoid receptor levels in mononuclear leukocytes correlated with those in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and there was a linear relationship between the cellular glucocorticoid receptor levels and glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of the uptake of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose in mononuclear leukocytes. When mononuclear leukocytes were incubated in the presence of 8-bromo-cAMP, cellular glucocorticoid receptor levels increased and a more pronounced inhibitory effect of dexamethasone was observed on the transport of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. We conclude that the cellular glucocorticoid receptor levels in peripheral blood leukocytes reflect in vitro responsiveness to glucocorticoids in mononuclear leukocytes from healthy males, and that the individual responsiveness may alter upon changes in the cellular levels of glucocorticoid receptor.

3-O-Methylglucose↗
PubMed1992

Acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia successfully treated with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy.

A 65-year-old male patient developed acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) associated with hypergammaglobulinemia and positive Coombs' test during the treatment of eosinophilic pneumonia with prednisolone (PSL). His PRCA was treated with oral PSL at a dose of 60 mg/day for 3 weeks, but anemia further progressed. Immediately after high-dose intravenous pulse methylprednisolone therapy (1 g/day for 3 days) however, reticulocyte crisis occurred and his anemia rapidly improved. He has been in complete remission under a maintenance dose of PSL for more than 2 years. This patient indicates that high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy is one of the useful treatments, not only for constitutional PRCA, but also for acquired chronic PRCA.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Cushing's syndrome due to primary adrenocortical nodular dysplasia, cardiac myxomas, and spotty pigmentation, complicated by sarcoidosis.

A 23-year-old male patient revealed hypercortisolism with stigmata of Cushing's syndrome, and post-operative pathological examination demonstrated primary adrenal nodular dysplasia. Because of the presence of cardiac myxomas and skin pigmentation, the diagnosis of Carney's complex was given. After the control of hypercortisolism by adrenalectomy, the patient experienced iridocyclitis and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy with elevated levels of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme and lysozyme, all of which indicated the presence of sarcoidosis. Despite the numerous recent descriptions concerning Carney's complex, an association with sarcoidosis has not yet been documented. Moreover, the sequential occurrence of sarcoidosis after adrenalectomy suggests an etiological link between these two rare disorders.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1992

A 72-year-old female with adult Still's disease.

We treated a 72-year-old woman with adult Still's disease. The diagnosis was made on the basis of a prolonged, high grade, quotidian fever, polyarthritis, maculopapular skin rashes and exclusion of other possible diseases. A high serum ferritin value was a key factor both in making the diagnosis and in the follow-up. The patient responded to the administration of oral prednisolone at 30 mg/day, which was tapered to 10 mg/day, with no recurrence of symptoms. This disorder can be an important cause of prolonged fever in the elderly as well as in the younger population.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

A case of Cushing's syndrome associated with chronic respiratory failure due to metabolic alkalosis.

A case of Cushing's syndrome associated with chronic respiratory failure is presented. Although arterial blood gas analysis showed severe metabolic alkalosis, hypoxemia and mild hypercapnia, the patient had no evidence of pulmonary disease or neuromuscular disorder. Voluntary hyperventilation and inhalation of 100% oxygen (O2) revealed normalized arterial oxygen tension (PaO2). Following the recovery from metabolic alkalosis by the treatment with potassium chloride, PaO2 was elevated and arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) was lowered. Therefore, it was strongly suggested that the main cause of chronic respiratory failure was compensatory alveolar hypoventilation as a response to metabolic alkalosis.

Alkalosis↗
PubMed1992

Follicular bronchiolitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Follicular bronchiolitis is a rare disorder, though it has been recognized as a pulmonary involvement of rheumatoid arthritis in recent years. A 57-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was admitted to the hospital with persistent productive cough and breathlessness on exertion. An open lung biopsy was performed to establish a definite pathologic diagnosis of her disease, and she was diagnosed as having follicular bronchiolitis on the basis of the histopathological findings. It is essential to differentiate this disease from other bronchiolar or lymphoproliferative disorders of the lung.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1992

Idiopathic granulomatous bronchitis. An unusual form of known granulomatous lung diseases or an unknown disease?

We describe two patients demonstrating a granulomatous inflammation of bronchial mucosa characterized clinically by a persistent dry cough, lack of manifestations of bronchial asthma, normal level of serum IgE and serum ACE, inflamed bronchial mucosal appearance consisting of edema, erythema, bleeding and narrowing and recovering without specific treatment. Histopathological findings of the bronchial inflammation of our patients were characterized by noncaseating granuloma formation consisting of epithelioid cells and multinucleated giant cells with infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. The bronchial granulomatous inflammation of our patients was thought to differ from that of diseases which have been known, to our knowledge, as diseases demonstrating a granulomatous inflammation of bronchial mucosa. Although the pathogenesis of the disease could not be clarified by a careful search of special staining and culturing for the infective agent, it was most suggestive of non-specific inflammation with a granulomatous response to some sort of inhaled agents.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1992

Lack of deletion of complement C4 and steroid 21-hydroxylase genes in Japanese patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

A null allele at C4A (C4AQO) is associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in Japanese. Since a deletion of the C4A and CyP21A genes is reported to account for C4AQO in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Caucasians, we studied the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of genomic DNA to determine whether similar deletions of the C4A and CyP21A genes occur in Japanese patients with SS. Patients with C4AQO did not show the extensive deletion of C4A and CyP21A, which would be recognized by the appearance of 8.5 kb/HindIII and 6.4 kb/TaqI fragments hybridizing with a C4 probe. It is yet to be shown whether the lack of expression of C4A genes in Japanese patients with primary SS is due to point mutations, or to small deletions or insertions that were not detected by the RFLP approach.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Glucocorticoid receptor in patients with lupus nephritis: relationship between receptor levels in mononuclear leukocytes and effect of glucocorticoid therapy.

We investigated the clinical significance of glucocorticoid receptor determination in 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who afterwards developed nephrotic syndrome. Glucocorticoid receptor concentrations in mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) in these patients were comparable with those in both other patients with SLE and healthy persons. Improvement in urinary protein excretion and in disease activity, which was scored according to the SLE Disease Activity Index system of the University of Toronto, closely related to the glucocorticoid receptor concentrations in MNL isolated from the corresponding patients. In summary, glucocorticoid receptor determination in patients with lupus nephritis may be a predictive clue for assessing responsiveness to glucocorticoid therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical statistics on inpatients admitted to the Department of Urology, Hyogo Prefectural Hospital Nishinomiya during 20 years from 1972 to 1991].

A statistic analysis was carried out on the 4,956 inpatients admitted to our Department of Urology from April 1972 to December 1991. The patients included 3,399 males and 1,557 females. A total of 4,105 operations including 255 renal allotransplantations were performed on 3,590 patients. Open surgery for upper urinary tract stones has been replaced by extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the last three years.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[A case of bronchocentric granulomatosis associated with uveitis].

A 32-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of abnormal pulmonary shadows and a decrease in visual acuity. Analysis of peripheral blood revealed eosinophilia, and chest roentgenogram demonstrated multiple infiltrates in the right upper lung field. Pathological examination of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens revealed necrotizing granulomatous lesions in the walls of bronchioles, and a definitive diagnosis of bronchocentric granulomatosis was made. The cause of bronchocentric granulomatosis in this patient was suggested to be an allergic reaction to Aspergillus because of positive response to skin test for Aspergillus. Although it is reported that extrapulmonary involvement is rare in bronchocentric granulomatosis, the present case was associated with uveitis, and to our knowledge is the first reported case.

Adult↗