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Biomedical subjects

K Murai

Publications and source records attributed to K Murai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Effects of apple pectin on fecal bacterial enzymes in azoxymethane-induced rat colon carcinogenesis.

Because of the potential significance of colonic bacteria in colon carcinogenesis, we investigated the effect of pectin of different types on fecal bacterial enzymes (beta-glucuronidase, beta-glucosidase and tryptophanase) at various periods of time after feeding rats with pectin-containing diets during azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis. The diet supplemented with 20% apple pectin or 20% citrus pectin decreased the multiplicity of colon tumors, and the number of tumors was significantly decreased in the group fed apple pectin. The incidence of colon tumors in the apple pectin group was lower than that in the control group. The mean tumor size was similar among the three groups. Apple pectin feeding decreased fecal beta-glucosidase and tryptophanase levels. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the activity of beta-glucuronidase was observed in the apple pectin group during the initiation phase. These findings suggest that the protective effect of pectin on colon carcinogenesis may be dependent on the type of pectin and be related to the decrease of beta-glucuronidase activity in the initiation stage of carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Eradication of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi from patients' blood by chemotherapy, as assessed by the polymerase chain reaction.

The presence of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of eight patients with tsutsugamushi disease was determined by the polymerase chain reaction during antibiotic treatment with minocycline or doxycycline. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi DNA was detectable in all samples from these patients collected the day before treatment began. After the initiation of chemotherapy, all samples tested positive on the third or fourth day, and one sample tested positive on the eighth day, showing a slow action of the drugs against the rickettsia within cells. Immune responses against R. tsutsugamushi also seemed to be important for eradication of the pathogens, as suggested by patients' high antibody titers.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Effects of combined aprotinin and prostagrandin E1 therapy on aortic arch replacement].

This study was undertaken to compare the effects of combined aprotinin and prostaglandin E1 therapy on aortic arch replacement. Twenty patients were divided into 2 groups with (group A; n = 10) or without (group B; n = 10) the treatment (200 KIU of aprotinin and 0.01-0.02 microgram/kg/min of prostaglandin E1 during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and the first postoperative day. Preoperative evaluation of respiratory function and all parameters related to CPB procedure were revealed to be equal between the groups. Postoperative A-a DO2 and respiratory index (RI) as functional parameters of oxygenation capacity, dosage of dopamine were monitored at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr after termination of CPB and at extubation period. Serum creatinine, platelet numbers and blood coagulation function (PT, APTT) were also assayed postoperatively. The recovery of respiratory and cardiac function were superior in group A with treatment, but renal and blood coagulation function showed no difference in the groups. We suggest the combined therapy with aprotinin and prostaglandin E1 for aortic arch replacement may emerge as a valuable treatment to save postoperative respiratory and cardiac function.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1995

[A case of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula failed in transcatheter embolization and followed by emergency operation].

We reported a 55-year-old male case with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. The lesion existed in right S9b and was about 6 cm in diameter. The afferent artery and the efferent vein, both were more than 10 mm in diameter, were shown on the chest CT and DSA film. At first transcatheter embolization with steel coils and Histoacryl was tried. Though we succeeded in embolization of the afferent artery, embolization of the fistula was failed because of reflux from the drainage vein. And a coil, a fragment of Histoacryl dropped and floated in the fistula. With concerning about the risk of embolization of the other organ with these materials, we performed the enucleation of the fistula at the next day. Although transcatheter embolization is useful in treating pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, in the case of wide communication with large drainage vein such as our case, it seems to be risky.

Arteriovenous Fistula↗
PubMed1995

[Initiation of hematopoietic recovery by recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in a case of severe aplastic anemia induced by gold salt].

A 65-year-old female with severe aplastic anemia induced by gold salt, whose hematopoietic recovery was initiated by rhGM-CSF therapy, was reported. The patient has been given a total of 500 mg of gold-sodium thiomalate for treatment of her rheumatoid arthritis. Two months after the final administration of it, she was admitted to our hospital with complaints of palpitation and shortness of breath. The hemogulobin was 5.9 g/dl, the platelet count was 0.5 x 10(4)/microliter, and the leukocyte count was 800/microliters with 19% neutrophils. Her bone marrow showed aplasia, and both of Ham and sugar-water tests were positive. Three times of bolus-methylprednisolone treatment, with or without methenolone acetate, resulted in no definite improvement of peripheral pancytopenia and marrow aplasia. Subsequent subcutaneous rhGM-CSF, 300 micrograms daily for 28 days with oral prednisolone 5 mg and methenolone acetate 40 mg daily, initiated hematopoietic recovery of all three cell lineages in both peripheral blood and bone marrow. The same doses of prednisolone and methenolone acetate were continued after rhGM-CSF administration, and three months later peripheral cytopenia and positive Ham and sugar-water tests disappeared completely.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Association of cell cycle and protein kinase C with the expression of cytoskeletal protein in cultured rat mesangial cells].

We conducted a study to investigate whether expression of the contractile proteins in cultured rat mesangial cells (MC) was associated with the cell cycle and protein kinase C (PKC). When growth-arrested MC were stimulated with 100 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 24 hours, an increased expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin and vimentin was detected by immunocytochemistry. A proportion of the S- and G2/M-phase in MC was increased in accordance with the enhanced expression of contractile proteins on flow cytometry. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 100 nM PMA stimulated expression of alpha-actin and vimentin as a single band. These results indicate that expression of contractile proteins, such as alpha-actin and vimentin, is dependent on the cell cycle and PKC, suggesting a phenotypic change in which MC assume smooth muscle cell characteristics.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Indications of G-CSF in patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis].

Bone marrow findings at the onset of disease were analyzed in five patients with drug-induced agranulocytosis to detect simple indices for a determination of the indications G-CSF therapy. Two patients showed severe marrow hypoplasia, extremely low ME ratio and complete absence of myelocytes or more mature neutrophils in their bone marrow. In these cases, the periods for recovery to 500 or more peripheral neutrophils per microliter were 5 and 9 days in a G-CSF-treated patient and a non-treated patient, respectively. On the other hand, the bone marrow of other three patients revealed normal or slightly high cellularity, moderately low ME ratio and appearance of myelocytes and more mature neutrophils. In the latter cases, the periods for recovery to 500 or more peripheral neutrophils were 3 days in all cases, regardless of whether G-CSF was administered or not. These findings suggest that G-CSF should be administered to drug-induced agranulocytic patients with severe marrow hypoplasia, extremely low ME ratio and absence of marrow neutrophilic cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

High HTLV-I proviral DNA level associated with abnormal lymphocytes in peripheral blood from asymptomatic carriers.

The level of proviral DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a representative group of asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers in Miyazaki district, an HTLV-I endemic area in Japan, was determined by a single-cycle polymerase chain reaction method (PCR). Of 217 subjects, 26% had a high level of proviral DNA, 43% a medium level, 18% a low level, and 13% an undetectable level. In the high-DNA group, 60% had at least 0.6% abnormal lymphocytes on peripheral blood smears, significantly higher than in those with low DNA levels (19%). This association was present for men of all ages and for women under 55. Men were more than twice as likely to have abnormal lymphocytes as well as high levels of proviral DNA. These differences may reflect different host responses to the virus by sex or by the time or route of infection. This study supports the utility of PCR for molecular screening in epidemiologic studies of the natural history of HTLV-I, and may lead to the identification of those carriers who are at greatest risk of developing HTLV-I-induced malignancy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Familial primary biliary cirrhosis associated with impaired concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte transformation in relatives. Two family studies.

The familial occurrences of biochemical and immunological abnormalities and histocompatibility antigens were studied in 18 healthy first-degree relatives of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in two families. In each of these two families, there were two members who suffered from PBC. All relatives had normal serum aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, total cholesterol, and immunoglobulins except the two, who had a mild elevation of alkaline phosphatase without cholestasis. Autoantibodies were present in some relatives; five (28%) for antithyroglobulin antibody and antithyroid microsomal antibody, one (6%) for antimitochondrial and antinuclear antibody, and one (6%) for rheumatoid factor. Abnormalities of T or B lymphocytes in peripheral blood were detected in two (11%) relatives. Impairment of concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte transformation determined by ethidium bromide fluoroassay was found in seven (39%) relatives, although an abnormal response for phytohemagglutinin was detected in none of the relatives. The HLA haplotypes were not necessarily associated with positive autoantibodies or impaired concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte transformation in these families. These findings suggest that impairment of concanavalin A-inducible lymphocytes (mainly suppressor T cells) is one of the contributing factors in the development of PBC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction assay for Rickettsia tsutsugamushi in patients' blood samples.

We developed a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect Rickettsia tsutsugamushi (R. tsutsugamushi) DNA and determined its sensitivity. Primers were selected from the DNA sequence of the 58-kDa group-specific antigen gene of the Karp strain. The target sequence of rickettsial DNA was detectable as the band corresponding to 88 bp in 1.0 microgram of the DNA extracted from BS-C-1 cells infected with R. tsutsugamushi. Rickettsia-specific bands were observed not only for the homologous Karp strain, but also for four heterologous strains: two other reference strains (Gilliam and Kato) and two prototype strains prevalent in Miyazaki district (Irie and Hirano). The minimum copy number detectable by this method was estimated to be five rickettsiae. All of nine peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from patients with tsutsugamushi disease who were seen 2-11 days after disease onset tested positive for rickettsial DNA. The PCR assay method presented here could be a specific diagnostic tool for tsutsugamushi disease, especially in its early acute stage.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Successful graft of HTLV-I-transformed human T-cells (MT-2) in severe combined immunodeficiency mice treated with anti-asialo GM-1 antibody.

To develop an experimental model of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in small animals, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice treated with anti-asialo GM-1 antibody were inoculated with MT-2 cells, a cell line transformed by the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I). Three mice injected with 4 x 10(7) cells subcutaneously or intramuscularly developed tumors at or near inoculation sites. Immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) staining for HTLV-I structural protein, p19, revealed the specific antigen in the cytoplasm of most cells from tumors and the DNA signals of HTLV-I proviral DNA were also positive in cellular DNA by polymerase chain reaction assay with HTLV-I tax gene primers, SK43/SK44. The MT-2 cells did not invade in mouse organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Progressing cases from low tone sudden deafness to Menière's disease--cochlear impairment in the so-called pre-Menière's disease period].

Among 80 patients with low tone sudden deafness (LTSD) who visited our department over the past 15 years, there were 6 cases (7.5%) who subsequently progressed to Menière's disease. The clinical and audiological processes of the 6 patients were studied in detail and the following results were obtained. (1) In these 6 patients, the time between onset of LTSD and the diagnosis of Menière's disease ranged from 4 months at the shortest to 6 years and 8 months at the longest, 2 years and 9 months on average. (2) Two pattern types were seen in the change from LTSD to Menière's disease: changing within a short period of time after recurrence of an LTSD-like attack, and changing after more than one year without recurrent attack. (3) The monoattack-nonrecovered type of LTSD and the recurrent type of LTSD within three months after the onset (short-term prognosis) frequently progressed to Menière's disease. (4) There were no close relationships between subjective symptoms and audiological features in the pre-Menière's disease period (from the onset of LTSD to the recurrence of vertigo with cochlear symptoms). (5) The 6 patients showed various audiogram shapes at the time of progression to Meniere's disease; 3 cases with the slightly rising type, 1 with the high frequency-impaired type, and 2 with the moderate, gradual and flat type. (6) Of the 6 patients, 3 had good hearing during long term observation. At least 2 patients seemed to have the mild type of Menière's disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Review of the evaluation criteria for low tone sudden deafness].

Low tone sudden deafness (LTSD) has the three following features; obscure origin, acute or sudden onset and sensorineural hearing loss limited to low frequencies without vertigo. Twenty LTSD patients with total hearing levels at low frequencies (125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz) from 70 dB to 95 dB (Group A) and 19 LTSD patients (typical LTSD) with levels above 100 dB (Group B) were studied. All patients visited our department within one week after onset. All presented over the past 3 years and were followed up for two years or more after initial examination. The clinical parameters such as incidence, subjective symptoms, the configuration of the audiogram and the prognoses of patients in the two groups were investigated comparatively. The following results were obtained. (1) Patients in their twenties were more frequently affected in group A, but patients aged 20 to 50 were equally affected in group B. (2) Females were more frequently affected in both groups, remarkably so in group B. (3) Hearing disorders frequently occurred after an upper respiratory tract infection and stress in both groups. (4) Fullness of the ear, tinnitus and hearing disturbance were common chief complaint and subjective symptoms in both groups. (5) The configuration of the audiogram seemed to be variable within each group and between the two groups. (6) The ratios of recurrent type to monoattack type were almost the same and the patients had good prognoses in both groups. From the results mentioned above, both groups were considered to belong to the same category of LTSD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Study of tinnitus masking by self-recording audiometer].

The tinnitus masking test, in which the minimum masking levels of tinnitus by various pure tones and band noises are measured and used to produce tinnitus masking curves, is one of the methods for evaluating the character of tinnitus. At present, the tinnitus masking test is usually performed using a pure tone audiometer. In this study, tinnitus masking curves were produced using a self-recording audiometer (Bekesy audiometer) in 22 cases of tinnitus, and the basic nature of the tinnitus masking curves from the self-recording audiometer was investigated and compared with those from a pure tone audiometer. The results showed no changes in the masking level, and the amplitudes of the tinnitus masking curves from the self-recording audiometer were observed to be at the tinnitus pitches. The amplitude of the tinnitus masking curve showed a negative correlation with tinnitus loudness as measured by the loudness balance test for tinnitus, that is, the amplitude tended to decrease as the tinnitus became louder. This suggests that the loudness of the masking tone influences the tinnitus masking phenomenon.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗
PubMed1992

Review of pharmacologic treatment of tinnitus.

Recent research on the pharmacologic treatment of tinnitus is reviewed, emphasizing studies in which controls have been used. Several double-blind cross-over studies have found that lidocaine can reduce tinnitus in about 50 to 75 percent of subjects. Unfortunately, it cannot be used clinically because it must be administered intravenously and its effects are very brief. Other drugs have been much less successful. A few controlled studies have found success rates between 33 and 56 percent using oxazepam, clonazepam, sodium amylobarbitone, flunarizine, and eperisone hydrochloride. None of these studies have been replicated, however. Closely controlled studies using specified etiologic subgroups with subjective and objective psychophysical measurements are needed.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of the properties of ribonucleases in human liver tissue and serum.

Two ribonucleases (RNases) with acidic pH optima were partially purified, one from normal human liver tissue and the other from serum. The properties of the two enzymes were studied and compared. Liver RNase was partially purified about 700-fold by acid fractionation, phosphocellulose column chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and polyguanylate affinity column chromatography. Serum RNase was purified about 1200-fold by phosphocellulose column chromatography and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. The two RNases showed a similar optimal pH and molecular mass, and similar behaviour towards metal ions, but they differed in their substrate specificity. Liver RNase displayed a higher activity towards polyuridylate (poly(U)) than towards polycytidylate (poly(C)), while serum RNase hydrolysed poly(C) more rapidly than poly(U). These findings suggest that liver RNase is not the primary source of the serum RNase with an acidic pH optimum.

Cations↗
PubMed1992

Exposure to hepatitis B virus in the general population of Hisayama, Japan: significance of isolated antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in general population.

Cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of hepatitis B serological markers was performed in 2,411 residents who accounted for 74.4% of the population aged 40 and over and living in Hisayama Town, Japan, in 1983. Overall prevalences were 40.7% for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc, 6.1% for isolated anti-HBs and 5.4% for isolated anti-HBc. The condition with isolated anti-HBs was different from those with isolated anti-HBc and both anti-HBc and anti-HBs as follows. The titer of anti-HBs in isolated anti-HBs positive samples was significantly lower than that in both anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive ones (46.2 +/- 5.4 vs. 83.2 +/- 2.8, mean +/- SE, p less than 0.001). The presence of isolated anti-HBs was neither significantly more frequent in males nor related to the risk of liver damages in contrast with that of anti-HBc with or without anti-HBs. These findings suggest that isolated anti-HBs pattern with the absence of anti-HBc in general population was not due to prior HBV infection, but due to natural immunization with HBsAg.

Adult↗