PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Hiroshi Fujishima

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroshi Fujishima.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

The relation of conjunctival and corneal findings in severe ocular allergies.

OBJECTIVE: Corneal lesions such as ulcers and erosions are major complications observed in patients with severe ocular allergic diseases. We aimed to look into the relationship between specific clinical conjunctival findings and the severity of corneal complications. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 6 patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and 13 patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) were evaluated in this study. Slit-lamp photographs of upper tarsal conjunctiva and cornea were used to evaluate the clinical findings objectively. The corneal findings and clinical findings of upper tarsal conjunctiva such as conjunctival injection, edema, the height of papillae, and mucous discharge were evaluated and graded. Statistical correlations between conjunctival findings and the severity of corneal damage were analyzed. RESULTS: Conjunctival injection and edema significantly correlated with the severity of corneal complications. The height of the papillae and the amount of mucous discharge did not correlate with the severity of corneal complications. CONCLUSION: Direct signs of inflammation such as injection and edema correlated with corneal damage. The height of papillae did not show a significant correlation with the corneal findings. Our results suggest that inflammation of the conjunctiva rather than mechanical factors may play a greater role in the formation of corneal damage in severe ocular allergies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Quantitative evaluation of eyelid elasticity using the cutometer SEM575 and its clinical application in assessing the efficacy of tacrolimus ointment treatment in eyelid atopic dermatitis.

PURPOSE: To study the clinical efficacy of a noninvasive suction device that measures eyelid skin elasticity in the treatment of eyelid atopic dermatitis using tacrolimus (FK-506) ointment. METHODS: Ten patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis treated with tacrolimus ointment and 10 normal volunteers participated in this study. The cutometer SEM575 was used to quantitatively evaluate eyelid skin elasticity. Severity of the eyelid atopic dermatitis was scored, and comparisons were made before and after treatment. RESULTS: Skin elasticity of patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis was significantly lower than that of normal volunteers (31.3 +/- 5.2% vs 40.2 +/- 7.8%, respectively). Skin elasticity of patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis improved significantly to 37.5 +/- 6.3% after treatment with tacrolimus ointment. The total severity score for eyelid atopic dermatitis also improved from 2.77 +/- 1.11 to 1.77 +/- 1.15. CONCLUSION: Measurement of skin elasticity using the cutometer SEM575 is a useful and reliable method for objective and quantitative evaluation of eyelid skin condition in patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis. The efficacy of short-term tacrolimus ointment treatment in patients with eyelid atopic dermatitis was confirmed quantitatively using this apparatus.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Dramatic healing of an allergic corneal ulcer persistent for 6 months by amniotic membrane patching in a patient with atopic keratoconjunctivitis: a case report.

PURPOSE: To present a case of allergic corneal ulcer in a patient with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) that was persistent for 6 months and healed by amniotic membrane patching. CASE REPORT: A 27-year-old male patient with a corneal ulcer associated with AKC persistent for 6 months despite conventional treatment underwent amniotic membrane patching. On removal of the amniotic membrane patch after 1 week, the corneal ulcer that had been persistent for 6 months had healed completely. CONCLUSION: We experienced a case with corneal ulcer that was persistent for 6 months and healed dramatically within 1 week with improved vision and corneal clarity. In such severe and persistent cases requiring rapid epithelialization, amniotic membrane should be considered as an adjunct to conventional therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Regulation of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 and IL-6 expression in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells by exogenous but not endogenous prostanoids.

Mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC), stimulated with stem cell factor, IL-1beta, and IL-10, secrete IL-6 and demonstrate a delayed phase of PGD(2) generation that is dependent upon the induced expression of PG endoperoxide synthase (PGHS)-2. We have examined the potential for exogenous prostanoids, acting in a paracrine fashion, and endogenous prostanoids, acting in an autocrine fashion, to regulate PGHS-2 induction and IL-6 secretion in mouse BMMC. Exogenous PGE(2), which acts through G protein-coupled receptors, and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2), which is a ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma, elicited a 2- to 3-fold amplification of PGHS-2 induction, delayed-phase PGD(2) generation, and IL-6 secretion in response to stem cell factor, IL-1beta, and IL-10. The effect of PGE(2) was reproduced by the E prostanoid (EP)1 receptor agonist 17-trinor-PGE(2), and the EP1/EP3 agonist, sulprostone, but not the EP2 receptor agonist, butaprost. Although BMMC express PPARgamma, the effects of 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-PGJ(2) were not reproduced by the PPARgamma agonists, troglitazone and ciglitazone. PGHS-2 induction, but not IL-6 secretion, was impaired in cPLA(2)-deficient BMMC. However, there was no impairment of PGHS-2 induction in BMMC deficient in hematopoietic PGD synthase or PGHS-1 in the presence or absence of the PGHS-2 inhibitor, NS-398. Thus, although exogenous prostanoids may contribute to amplification of the inflammatory response by augmenting PGD(2) generation and IL-6 secretion from mast cells, endogenous prostanoids do not play a role.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

Respiratory syncytial virus may be a pathogen in allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: The host response to allergens appears to be regulated by T helper type 2 cell patterns of local cytokine production. We hypothesized that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects the normal conjunctival epithelium and produces interleukin (IL)-4, causing a local allergic reaction. METHODS: Giemsa staining, immunocytochemical study, flow cytometric analysis, and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed on tear and cytology samples from individuals with allergic and postoperative conjunctivitis. Histamine was assayed by radioimmunoassay, and IL-4 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The total number of cells collected by brush cytology did not differ between allergic and postoperative conjunctivitis. The levels of IL-4 and histamine in the specimens and mean IL-4 tear level were significantly increased in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Cytocentrifuge preparations contained conjunctival epithelial cells with lymphocytes (a few CD3- and CD4-bearing cells), mast cells, eosinophils, and higher human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression in allergic patients. RT-PCR analysis showed that samples from allergic conjunctivitis expressed increased transcripts of IL-4 and IL-13. A higher percentage of RSV sequences were detected in allergic patient samples. Immunocytochemical study and RT-PCR showed that epithelial cells were infected with RSV. Average concentrations of IL-4 in culture supernatants were higher than levels in uninfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the clinical features of human allergic conjunctivitis are associated with T helper type 2 cytokine expression. RSV in conjunctival epithelial cells may be an environmental pathogen in allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

CC-chemokine receptor 3: a possible target in treatment of allergy-related corneal ulcer.

PURPOSE: To determine the suppressive effects of antibodies (Abs) against CC-chemokine receptor (CCR)-1 and CCR-3 on eosinophil chemotaxis induced by culture supernatant from corneal keratocytes and by tears from severely allergic patients with corneal ulcer. METHODS: Primary cultures of human corneal keratocytes were incubated with interleukin (IL)-4 (33.3 ng/mL) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (33.3 ng/mL) for 48 hours. In tear samples collected from five severely allergic patients and three nonallergic control subjects, eosinophils were immunostained for CCR. Next, eosinophils purified from peripheral blood were preincubated with or without anti-CCR-1 and anti-CCR-3 Abs before a Boyden chamber assay was conducted. Recombinant human (rh) eotaxin, rh-regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (rh-RANTES), culture supernatant from human corneal keratocytes, and tear samples were used as chemoattractants. RESULTS: Eosinophils in tears from allergic patients expressed CCR-1 and -3 on their surfaces. Anti-CCR-1 and -3 Abs each inhibited eosinophil chemotaxis induced by rh-RANTES. Anti-CCR-3 Ab (but not anti-CCR-1 Ab) also inhibited eosinophil chemotaxis induced by rh-eotaxin. Anti-CCR-1 and -3 Abs, respectively, inhibited up to 75.2% and 94.6% of eosinophil chemotaxis induced by culture supernatant, as well as 27.8% and 74.5% of chemotaxis induced by tear samples. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-CCR-1 and -3 Abs inhibited eosinophil chemotaxis induced by culture supernatant from corneal keratocytes and tear samples from severely allergic patients. Anti-CCR-3 Ab was more effective than anti-CCR-1 Ab. Inhibition of CCR-3 on eosinophils may be a treatment for corneal ulcer in patients with ocular allergy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of 0.1% bromfenac sodium and 0.1% pemirolast potassium for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy of a new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) eye drop, 0.1% bromfenac sodium (Bromfenac), with that of an antiallergic agent, 0.1% pemirolast potassium (Pemirolast), in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Japanese patients. METHODS: Twenty-two subjects with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis were enrolled in the study. One eye was treated with Bromfenac eye drops and the contralateral eye was treated with Pemirolast eye drops for 1 week. Subjective ocular symptoms and objective ocular signs evaluated by slit-lamp examination were scored and recorded before and after treatment. RESULTS: Both drugs significantly decreased ocular signs after 1 week, but not symptoms. No significant differences in subjective symptoms or objective signs were observed between the two drugs. Ten patients (45.5%) selected Bromfenac as more effective, nine patients (40.9%) selected Pemirolast, and three patients found no difference in efficacy between the two drugs. CONCLUSION: Bromfenac sodium is as safe and effective for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis as pemirolast potassium.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunological characteristics of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: Previously, we have reported that local excision and immunosuppressive treatment are useful in treating patients with very severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS: We measured serum levels of immunoglobulins, cytokines, and interleukin-2 receptors (IL-2R) and the concentration of IL-4 in tears of 10 patients with severe VKC, and made a comparison with data from 10 healthy controls. Brush cytology specimens were examined to determine the number of inflammatory cells and the human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression in conjunctiva. RESULTS: The mean serum level of total immunoglobulin (Ig)E, but not IgG, was higher in severe VKC patients compared with healthy controls. Specific IgE positivity to housedust, dust mites, and cat antigens was observed in 60-80% of patients. The level of IL-4 and IL-2R in serum and IL-4 in tears before treatment was higher in patients with VKC compared with controls. Serum levels of IL-2 and interferon-gamma did not increase. Brush cytology specimens from patients expressed HLA-DR. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that VKC could be a combination of type I allergic disease and an inflammatory cell disease including activated T cells, especially Th2 cells. Therefore, the surgical removal of inflammatory cells combined with immunosuppressive therapy could be advocated as a method of treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Disposable eyelid-warming device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficacy of a newly developed disposable eyelid-warming device (Eye Warmer) for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: The Eye Warmer was applied for 5 minutes to 44 eyes of 22 patients who exhibited decreased tear break-up time (BUT) and dry-eye symptoms. Its efficacy was assessed on the basis of BUT and dry-eye symptoms in the short-term study. In the therapeutic study, the Eye Warmer was applied to 34 eyes of 17 MGD patients with decreased BUT and dry-eye symptoms for 5 minutes once a day for 2 weeks. The 16 eyes of 8 patients served as untreated controls. We examined tear film lipid layer interference patterns, BUT, meibomian gland secretion, and dry-eye symptoms in both groups before and after the treatment. RESULTS: BUT and dry-eye symptoms significantly improved after the treatment in both the short-term and the therapeutic study (P<.01). The incidence of normal tear lipid layer in the treated group was significantly higher after treatment (28 eyes [82.4%]) than before (19 eyes [55.9%]) (P=.036). The incidence of meibomian gland obstruction was significantly decreased after treatment (14 eyes [41.2%]) compared to before treatment (26 eyes [76.5%]) (P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: Warming the eyelids with the Eye Warmer improved the stability and uniformity of the tear lipid layer in MGD patients by melting the meibomian gland lipid. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of the Eye Warmer for the treatment of MGD.

Adult↗