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Biomedical subjects

I Kurokawa

Publications and source records attributed to I Kurokawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Inhibition of neutrophil chemotactic factor production in comedonal bacteria by subminimal inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin.

The effect of 1/10 minimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC) of erythromycin (EM) on human neutrophil chemotactic factor production in comedonal bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes strains, Propionibacterium granulosum strains and coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CNS) strains was assayed using the Boyden chamber method. Sub-MIC of EM significantly suppressed neutrophil chemotactic factor production in all strains of P. acnes, P. granulosum and CNS. Our results suggest that sub-MIC of EM may have an anti-inflammatory action by reducing the inflammatory capacity of comedonal bacteria in inflammatory acne.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1992

[Systemic plasmacytosis with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and numerous plasma cells in the blood].

We report a patient with systemic plasmacytosis with polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia who at presentation showed a blood and bone marrow picture suggestive of plasma cell leukemia. A 78-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of marked hepatosplenomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathy. She had leukocytosis with 42% plasmacytes, and plasma cells were increased also in her bone marrow (32.6%). She had marked polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia with increased IgG, IgA and IgE. IgM and IgD were normal. She complained of cough and dyspnea. Her general condition was too poor to remove a lymph node for pathological examination. After treatment with daunorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (DVP), her lymphadenopathy diminished rapidly, the immunoglobulins decreased and the plasma cells in her blood disappeared. She achieved a complete remission and has been in good condition without further treatment for 24 months.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of minocycline on neutrophil chemotactic factor production in comedonal bacteria, neutrophil phagocytosis and oxygen metabolism.

Comedonal bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, P. granulosum and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) seem to play an important initiating role in the inflammatory process by producing neutrophil chemotactic factors. The attracted neutrophils, after phagocytosis, release inflammatory factors such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). We investigated the effects of minocycline at subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MIC), i.e. one-tenth MIC, on the production of human neutrophil chemotactic factors in comedonal bacteria, and on several inflammatory parameters of neutrophils, including neutrophil phagocytosis and generation of ROS (O2-, H2O2, OH.). ROS generation in a cell-free, xanthine-xanthine oxidase system was also assessed. Production of neutrophil chemotactic factors in all strains of P. acnes, P. granulosum and CNS were significantly suppressed by sub-MIC minocycline. Sub-MIC minocycline effectively reduced three kinds of neutrophil-generated ROS (O2-, H2O2, OH.). However, neutrophil phagocytosis and the ROS generated in a cell-free system were not markedly changed in the presence of sub-MIC minocycline. The results suggest that sub-MIC minocycline has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the production of neutrophil chemotactic factors in comedonal bacteria as well as ROS generated by neutrophils in the inflammatory process of acne.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1991

Successful treatment of chronic idiopathic neutropenia using recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

A patient with chronic idiopathic neutropenia, who had been suffering from repeated infections, was successfully treated with recombinant granulocyte stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). Subcutaneous injection of 30 micrograms/m2 rhG-CSF every two days was sufficient to maintain the neutrophil count at approximately 1,000/microliter. The patient has lived without any evidence of infection for the last 10 months using that treatment. There were no side effect caused by rhG-CSF and antibodies against G-CSF were not detected in the patient's plasma.

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor↗
PubMed1991

Clinical and bacteriologic evaluation of OPC-7251 in patients with acne: a double-blind group comparison study versus cream base.

Twenty-eight patients with acne were assigned to 4 weeks of treatment with OPC-7251 (a new fluoroquinolone derivative) 1% cream or the cream base in a double-blind manner to evaluate the antibacterial effect of the drug on resident bacteria in the hair follicles and to evaluate clinical response. Propionibacterium acnes was isolated from 21 of the 28 acne patients. When the number of P. acnes was compared before and after treatment, the posttreatment P. acnes count in the OPC-7251 1% cream group was significantly (p = 0.000) reduced compared with that in the cream base group. OPC-7251 1% cream was also significantly (p = 0.019) superior to the cream base in terms of clinical response. P. acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from the acne lesions were selected for their susceptibility to various antibacterial agents. The minimal inhibitory concentration of OPC-7251 against P. acnes and S. epidermidis was 0.10 to 0.20 and 0.024 to 0.10 micrograms/ml, respectively, which indicates that the drug has a potent antibacterial effect.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1991

Abnormal granulopoiesis of leukemic cells with basophil/mast cell features. Cytochemical and ultrastructural observations.

We have carried out cytochemical and ultrastructural examination of human leukemic cells showing basophil/mast cell features derived from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or basophilic crisis in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Leukemic cells in each case initially showed metachromasia with toluidine blue and various degrees of positivity for astra blue. Other cytochemical results showed considerable variety among cases. The number of granules increased in short-term culture in every case. Ultrastructurally, small membrane-bound granules with or without myelinoid bodies or glycogen particles were present in immature blasts, followed by production of other granule types. In some cases, leukemic cells before and after liquid culture contained the typical basophil granules with or without myelinoid bodies, but the matrix was more loose than normal. Granules showing whorl or scroll matrix profiles, which were typical for mast cells, were present in two cases. In one case, immature leukemic cells contained theta granules, and some mature forms after short-term culture contained typical basophil/mast cell granules as well as theta granules. Leukemic cells occasionally contained multivesicular granules predominantly. These results indicate that leukemic cells with basophil/mast cell features show a heterogeneous configuration and contain abnormal granules differing from normal ones. This abnormal granulopoiesis may be attributable to the results of leukemic events and may be a hallmark for recognition of leukemic basophils/mast cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Developments of automated cell counter and its clinical laboratory application].

A rapid development has taken place in recent years in the field of automatic cell counting and automatic differential machine for miscellaneous blood cells. In the present paper we concisely summarized the history on the development of these machines, then reported the results obtained using STKS-VCS (automatic blood cell counter and cell analyzer based on flow system). 1. The precision of the STKS was established as follows using the coefficient of variation, 0.39-3.96% for 5 CBC parameters. WBC differentials; under 1% for neutrophils and lymphocytes, 6 to 9% for monocytes and eosinophils, approximately 18% for basophils. 2. Time profile of CBC and WBC differential data by same machine, was almost unchanged until 24 hours from blood taking using both glass and plastic vials. 3. Good correlation was obtained as for white cell differential between data from VCS and by manual ones with 4 skilled technicians according to NCCLS method. 4. Predictive value of tests applied to normal and abnormal population, high true positive and negative ratio and low false positive and negative ratio, which results helped us, to share more times to observe abnormal samples more carefully. 5. So called "flags" which predicts presence of abnormal cells (e.g. immature granulocytes, atypical lymphocytes) was useful to screen abnormal cell population in VCS system.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

[The analysis of national examination for the license of medical practice in Japan (reference to the hematological clinical laboratory data)].

It seems to us an important task to analyze the problems appeared in the national examinations of the license of medical practice in respect of clinical laboratory data. The national examination of medical license in Japan begun from 1946, about 45 years ago. In those days, clinical examination is not so developed, a pastoral era, so clinical pathology was not clearly distinguished from internal medicine. Recently it is widely emphasized that national examination for the practical medical practice should be focused on the primary care medicine, so on, which has evidently influenced the appearance rate and number of miscellaneous kinds of clinical laboratory data in the examination problems. On the other hand, We have studied the tendency and mode of appearance of clinical laboratory data in the question of above mentioned examination for several years, in general, and especially in the areas of hematology. The cardinal questions of hematological field were blood cell count (RBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, WBC, white cell differential, PLATELET), blood sedimentation rate, coagulation and fibrinolysis factor, bone marrow findings in miscellaneous diseases, classification and staging of malignant lymphomas, so on. In conclusion, the rate of appearance and significance of clinical laboratory data in the examination mentioned is more and more increased. However, comprehensive education of clinical pathology now is improved but not accomplished, which reflects tendency and styles of the problems of the examination. So more efforts will be needed to those who continuously study clinical pathology and educate them to the medical students.

Educational Measurement↗
PubMed1990

[An immunohistochemical study on cell differentiation in the outer root sheath of the normal human anagen hair follicles with antikeratin monoclonal antibodies].

The expressions of several cytokeratins (CKs) in the outer root sheath (ORS) of the human anagen hair follicles were immunohistochemically studied using 11 antikeratin monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) and 10 specimens from scalp. CKs 1, 10, 11, which are markers for differentiating keratinocytes, were exclusively found in the intermediate cells and the granular cells at the infundibulum. In cytokeratin expression, a distinct linear demarcation between the infundibulum and the isthmus was observed. Trichilemmal keratinization appeared to go in an inner-upward direction toward the hair canal. CK 19, a marker of undifferentiated stem cells, was found in outermost cells of the ORS at the isthmus and in some cells of the lower ORS. CK 16, a marker of hyperproliferative keratin, was detected in the outermost cells of the infundibulum and all the cells of the ORS below the isthmus. Therefore, the keratinocytes at the infundibulum may show a differentiation similar to that of the interfollicular epidermal keratinocytes. The ORS cells below the isthmus seem to move up to inner-upward direction along the hair axis with differentiation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

[Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with complex chromosomal aberrations].

A case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with complex chromosomal aberrations is reported. A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of pancytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration resulted in a dry tap and biopsy showed hypoplastic marrow with fibrosis. Blast cells in the peripheral blood were identified as megakaryoblasts because they were positive for electron microscopic platelet peroxidase (PPO). In addition, monoclonal antibody, TP80, to platelet glycoprotein II b-III a reacted with in about 26% of the blast cells. Chromosomal analysis of the peripheral blood revealed a mosaic pattern of a normal karyotype and abnormal ones, including 44, XY, -5, -7, -18, 10q-, +marker.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed1989

[Research for our special patients center. Relation to the developmental screening table and the first training check list of B-1, B-2 group].

We have adopted a behavior-modifying method in the medical care system for children with psychosomatic disorder, using the developmental screening table and the first training check list to make the method effective. Also in order to know the effect of training, patients were classified into 4 groups (A, B-1, B-2, C). We have recently made a comparative examination of both the developmental screening table and the first training check list between B-1 and B-2 groups out of these 4 groups. [Method] Subject for investigation are 32 patients belonging to B-1 and B-2 groups out of those patients who have received medical examination in the Dental Center for the Handicapped Children in our Hospital. Developmental ages and proportions permitting each behavior were determined from the table for the developmental screening table and the first training check list, respectively. On the basis of the about the developmental screening table and the first training check list, behaviors between at the consultation room and at home were compared for 2 items of greeting and gargling and the condition of applying these items was also examined. [Results] 1) The B-1 group had well-matched 5 items compared with the developmental age for the B-2 group and was easier in communication with the operator because of its high cognitive ability. 2) The B-2 group, whose speaking and sociality were low, was more difficult in communication with the operator in the practice of dental treatment, and was evident from the first training check list. 3) Lack of patient's adaptability and communication with the operator often represented patient's capability of greeting and gargling at home but not at the consultation room. 4) Some need for improvement occurred in non-answering the developmental screening table and non-entering some items of the first training check list.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1988

Monoclonal antibody labeling for cytokeratins and filaggrin in the human pilosebaceous unit of normal, seborrhoeic and acne skin.

The distribution of cytokeratins and filaggrin in human pilosebaceous unit was investigated in specimens obtained from normal (n = 15), seborrhoeic (n = 6), and acne skin (n = 6), using the monoclonal antibodies CK8.12, CK8.13, CK4.62, CK8.60, KL1, PKK2, RPN 1160, and an antibody for filaggrin. The type and amount of cytokeratin content was correlated with the stage of cell differentiation in these three skin types. In all specimens studied the sebocytes. The sebaceous duct cells, and the infundibular cells contained cytokeratins, no clear differences were found between normal, seborrhoeic, and acne skin. During sebocytic maturation the amount and type of cytokeratin content changed gradually and the labeling pattern was partly different compared to the interfollicular epidermal pattern. In the sebaceous duct and the infundibulum, the labeling pattern using KL1, CK8.12, and CK8.13 was similar to that seen in interfollicular epidermis, whereas labeling with CK8.60 and PKK2 was different. These findings indicate that sebaceous duct and infundibular cells express transitional patterns of differentiation between epidermal keratinocytes and sebocytes. Filaggrin was expressed only in some sebaceous duct cells and in infundibular cells. In seborrhoeic and in acne skin, however, the reactivity of antibody to filaggrin was more intense and was already observed in the lower parts of the sebaceous duct and the infundibulum. Although no filaggrin was found in the intermediate cells of the sebaceous duct and the infundibulum in normal skin, these cell types clearly contained filaggrin in seborrhoeic and acne skin.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1987

Chromatographic analysis of human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase from five patients with pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency.

Human erythrocyte pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N) was separated into two subclasses. P5N-I and P5N-II, by DEAE Bio-Gel A column chromatography. Their enzymological properties were studied using five normal subjects and five patients with different P5N deficiencies. Study of the normal subjects showed that P5N-I and P5N-II have distinctive properties, and P5N-II is similar to the 5'-nucleotidase in rat liver cytosol. The P5N-II from the five subjects with this deficiency had normal activity and other normal enzymological properties. However, the P5N-I from these patients had abnormal properties, including reduced activity. These variant enzymes had a high Michaelis constant for substrate cytidine 5'-monophosphate and were heat stable. The optimum pH was shifted towards the acidic side in two patients, towards the basic side in one, and was unchanged in the other two. These results strongly suggest that the main cause of P5N deficiency is an abnormality of P5N-I, probably arising from a structural gene mutation.

5'-Nucleotidase↗