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Hirobumi Kondo

Publications and source records attributed to Hirobumi Kondo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Coexistence of nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver and pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with connective tissue diseases: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver (NRH) is known to be a rare condition in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD). In this report, we document three patients with CTD who had both NRH and pulmonary hypertension (PH). All three patients developed PH during their course and thereafter developed NRH. The clinical course of these patients suggests that circulatory disturbance caused by PH might be a trigger for NRH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of tacrolimus and mizoribine in a randomized, double-blind controlled study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and mizoribine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Adult patients with RA with an insufficient response to at least one disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) were randomized to receive 28 weeks of double-blind treatment with tacrolimus 3 mg once daily or mizoribine 50 mg three times daily. The primary efficacy endpoint was the American College of Rheumatology 20% (ACR20) response. Safety was evaluated by adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were enrolled for study (103 in the tacrolimus group, 101 in the mizoribine group). Significantly more patients receiving tacrolimus achieved an ACR20 response compared with mizoribine (48.5 vs 10.0%, respectively; p = 0.001). Tacrolimus was also superior to mizoribine in ACR50 and ACR70 response rate, tender and painful joint counts, swollen joint counts and patient and physician assessments of pain, disease activity, and patient's physical function assessment based on the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (p < 0.001). Adverse events were more frequent in the tacrolimus group than the mizoribine group (65.0 vs 59.4%); however, there were no statistically significant differences between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus improves RA symptoms to a significantly greater extent than mizoribine in patients with RA inadequately controlled with at least one prior DMARD. Tacrolimus has the potential to be a useful and highly effective treatment for RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed2006

Induction of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 in murine resident peritoneal macrophages by monosodium urate monohydrate crystals.

OBJECTIVE: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) is a cell surface molecule that was recently identified on monocytes and neutrophils. TREM-1 has been implicated in the early inflammatory responses induced by microbes, but its pathophysiologic role in nonmicrobial inflammation remains unknown. In the present study, we investigated the role of TREM-1 in acute inflammation induced by monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals. Induction of TREM-1 expression by MSU crystal-stimulated murine resident peritoneal macrophages and infiltrating leukocytes in a murine air-pouch model of crystal-induced acute inflammation was determined. The biologic role of TREM-1 in crystal-induced cytokine production by resident peritoneal macrophages was also investigated. METHODS: TREM-1 expression by resident peritoneal macrophages and infiltrating leukocytes in a murine air-pouch model was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and flow cytometry. Cytokine production by resident peritoneal macrophages after incubation with MSU crystals in the presence or absence of an anti-TREM-1 agonist antibody was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: TREM-1 expression by resident peritoneal macrophages was significantly induced after stimulation with the crystals. Maximum expression of TREM-1 transcripts and protein occurred at 1 and 4 hours after exposure to the crystals, respectively. Costimulation of resident peritoneal macrophages with MSU crystals and an anti-TREM-1 agonist antibody synergistically increased the production of both interleukin-1beta and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 compared with stimulation with the crystals alone. MSU crystals also induced TREM-1 expression in infiltrating leukocytes in a murine air-pouch model of crystal-induced acute inflammation. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that rapid induction of TREM-1 expression on resident peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils by MSU crystals may contribute to the development of acute gout through enhancement of inflammatory responses.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Recurrent paralytic ileus associated with strongyloidiasis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We present an interesting case of recurrent paralytic ileus due to strongyloidiasis in a woman who was being treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She was also a carrier of human T-cell leukemia virus type I. She had a history of strongyloidiasis 8 years earlier. Recurrent episodes of paralytic ileus due to strongyloidiasis occurred during treatment of her SLE with corticosteroids. Ivermectin was given and improved the symptoms. This case shows that symptomatic strongyloidiasis can be induced in immunocompromised hosts by immunosuppressive therapy. It is important to rule out strongyloidiasis prior to starting immunosuppressive therapy in patients from endemic areas.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Proteomic surveillance of autoantigens in relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a systemic inflammatory disease, in which autoimmunity to cartilage-related components is thought to be involved in its pathogenesis. However, the autoimmune profile in RP has not been studied fully. We therefore investigated autoantibodies/autoantigens in RP comprehensively, by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE), subsequent western blotting (WB) and mass spectrometry, using cell-extracted proteins as the antigen source. As a result, we detected 15 autoantigens on 2DE-WB, and further identified five of them. On average, one RP serum recognized approximately 8 out of the 15 autoantigens. Frequencies of the autoantibodies to the 5 identified antigens of tubulin alpha ubiquitous/6, vimentin, alpha enolase, calreticulin, and colligin-1/-2 were 91%, 46%, 36%, 82%, and 36%, respectively. ELISA using recombinant proteins for them revealed that frequencies of the autoantibodies to tubulin alpha ubiquitous, vimentin, alpha enolase, calreticulin, and colligin-1 were 36%, 64%, 46%, 27%, and 18%, respectively. Our data demonstrated that the autoimmune reaction was not restricted to cartilagerelated components, rather a variety of autoimmune responses occurred in patients with RP, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of RP. In addition, the proteomic approach using cell-extracted proteins would be a powerful way to investigate autoantigens.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2006

NOS2 polymorphisms associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary arterial hypertension with systemic sclerosis: contribution to the transcriptional activity.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by tissue fibrosis. One of several complications of SSc, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can be refractory to treatment, both novel and established. In the present study we investigated the ratio of circulating nitric oxide to endothelin-1 in patients with both SSc and PAH, and determined whether polymorphisms in NOS2 (the nitric oxide synthase 2 gene) are associated with susceptibility to PAH. Endothelin-1 in plasma and nitric oxide metabolites (nitrate and nitrite) in serum were measured. The nitric oxide/endothelin-1 ratio was significantly lower in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. We confirmed the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -1,026 and -277 and a pentanucleotide repeat (CCTTT) at -2.5 kilobases. There were significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms between patients with SSc who had PAH and those who did not, and between patients with both SSc and PAH and healthy control individuals. The CCTTT repeat was significantly shorter in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. Transcriptional activity were analyzed using the luciferase reporter assay. The transcriptional activity of NOS2 was much greater in fibroblasts transfected by a vector with a long allele of the CCTTT repeat than in those transfected by a vector with a short allele. Polymorphisms in the NOS2 gene are associated with transcriptional activity of the NOS2 gene and with susceptibility to SSc-related PAH.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Combined effect of micafangin and itraconazole on severe aspergillosis of the bilateral pleural cavities in a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis].

Visceral fungal infections are difficult to manage in patients with collagen diseases and immunocompromised hosts. In particular aspergillosis can be a life-threatening complication in these patients. Here we report that combined use of two antifungal agents (micafangin and itraconazole) was effective against severe aspergillosis of the bilateral pleural cavities in a 48-year old male patient diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis. Immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamides improved his nasal and pulmonary symptoms, but inflammation of the bilateral pleural cavities caused bronchial fistulas. Aspergillus fumigatus then infected the bilateral pulmonary cavities through these fistulas. This patient was treated with combined therapy of ITCZ and MCFG was given to this patient because of the risk of renal dysfunction associated with AMPH-B. After 5 weeks of treatment his clinical findings had improved and the fungus was suppressed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of infliximab combined with low dose methotrexate in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: A placebo controlled, double-blind trial (DBT) was conducted for Japanese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite treatment with low dose methotrexate (MTX) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab. Extended treatment with infliximab was conducted in an open-label trial (OLT). METHODS: In the DBT, 147 patients were randomly assigned and treated with a placebo or 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg infliximab at Weeks 0, 2 and 6, combined with MTX. In the OLT, 129 patients from the DBT received 3 mg/kg infliximab every 8 weeks. RESULTS: The mean dose of MTX was 7.2 +/- 2.0 mg/week. Significantly more patients receiving 3 mg/kg (61.2%) and 10 mg/kg (52.9%)infliximab achieved a 20% improvement according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria at Week 14, compared to placebo (23.4%) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in incidence of adverse events among the treatment groups. In patients receiving infliximab in the DBT, 11.6% of patients with serum infliximab just before the OLT developed antibodies to infliximab (ATI) in the OLT, whereas 62.2% of patients without serum infliximab did. In patients receiving placebo in the DBT, 43.9% developed ATI. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of infliximab combined with low dose MTX were similar to those of the ATTRACT study. The data from the DBT and OLT also supported the importance of an induction treatment of infliximab, followed by a maintenance treatment without a long interval, giving stable serum concentrations in order to prevent formation of ATI.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2005

Inhibition of skin sclerosis by 15deoxy delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 and retrovirally transfected prostaglandin D synthase in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced scleroderma.

Hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) is a key enzyme involved in production of the PGD and J series, which have various role in inflammation and immunity. We evaluated the effect of treatment with 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) or the injection of prostaglandin D(2) synthase (PGDS) cDNA expressing-retrovirally transfected fibroblasts on bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma-like skin sclerosis. Daily injection of BLM (30 microg) for 4 weeks induced histological evidence of dermal sclerosis in C3H mice. We examined the effect of injection of 15d-PGJ(2) (30 ng twice a day) or PGDS expressing-retrovirally transfected fibroblast on BLM-induced dermal sclerosis. Administration of 15d-PGJ(2) (a nonenzymatic metabolite of PGD(2)) injection of PGDS cDNA-expressing fibroblasts significantly reduced dermal sclerosis, the hydroxyproline content, and dermal thickness. Moreover, 15-d PGJ2 down-regulation of the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) and connective tissue growth factor which had been induced by BLM. Mast cells were also increased in the skin by BLM injection and there was prominent degranulation of these mast cells along with elevated plasma histamine levels. 15-d PGJ(2) and PGDS-expressing cells also suppressed degranulation of cultured mast cells and histamine release by these cells. These results show that 15-d PGJ(2) and PGDS-expressing cells can prevent experimental skin sclerosis induced by BLM and raise the possibility of therapeutic approaches targeting of PPARgamma for the skin lesion of scleroderma.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Therapeutic effects of the combination of methotrexate and bucillamine in early rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapies are used widely, but there have been few reports clearly demonstrating that combination therapy is more effective than DMARD monotherapy. We conducted a multicenter, double-blind controlled trial in order to clarify that the combination of methotrexate and bucillamine is more effective than either alone. The subjects of this study were 71 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis within 2 years of onset. Dosages were 8 mg methotrexate with 5 mg folic acid per week (MTX group), 200 mg bucillamine per day (BUC group), or both MTX and BUC (combination group). Clinical effects and adverse reactions were observed for 96 weeks. The ACR 20 response rate was 79.2% in the combination group, significantly higher than the rates of 43.5% for the MTX group (P = 0.008) and 45.8% for the BUC group (P = 0.0178). The cumulative survival curve of maintaining the ACR 20 response was significantly higher in the combination group than in the MTX and BUC groups (P = 0.0123 and P = 0.0088, respectively). The mean increase in the total Sharp score over 96 weeks was 12.6 +/- 9.0 in the combination group, significantly lower (P = 0.0468) than the value of 28.0 +/- 28.3 for the single DMARD (combined MTX and BUC) group. The incidence of adverse reactions did not differ significantly between the three groups. It was concluded that the combination therapy with MTX and BUC showed significantly higher clinical efficacy than either of the single DMARD therapies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

[Mizoribine].

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Animals↗
PubMed2005

Novel autoantibodies against 7SL RNA in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVE: Autoantibodies against signal recognition particle (SRP) are detected in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). The SRP consists of 7SL RNA and 6 protein components. We examined autoantibodies against deproteinized 7SL RNA in PM/DM patients with anti-SRP antibodies and evaluated the association of anti-7SL RNA antibodies with PM/DM clinically and serologically. METHODS: Sera from 10 Japanese and 22 North American PM/DM patients with anti-SRP antibodies were tested for the presence of anti-7SL RNA antibodies, using the sera to immunoprecipitate deproteinized RNA extracts derived from HeLa cells. RESULTS: The immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that 5 Japanese (50%) and one North American (5%) patient with anti-SRP antibodies had novel autoantibodies against deproteinized 7SL RNA. The frequency of anti-7SL RNA antibodies was significantly higher in Japanese than North American patients (p = 0.006). The presence of anti-7SL RNA antibodies appeared to be associated with DM (2 patients) and finger swelling (2 PM patients). The seasonal onset of the disease was different (p = 0.008) for Japanese PM/DM patients with anti-7SL RNA antibodies, who developed the disease between October and January (mean month November; p = 0.01) from that of patients without these antibodies, who developed it between June and August (mean month July; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Novel autoantibodies against 7SL RNA were identified in patients with PM/DM, and the presence of these antibodies was correlated to ethnic background, clinical features, and season of disease onset. These findings indicated that autoantibodies against 7SL RNA are a novel serological marker for a subset of PM/DM cases.

Adult↗