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Kenji Ohnishi

Publications and source records attributed to Kenji Ohnishi.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Strongyloidiasis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Rhabditiform larvae, transforming larvae from rhabditiform to filariform, and eggs of Strongyloides stercoralis were identified in the sputum of a Thai woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and stool microscopy also showed a heavy load of rhabditiform larvae of S. stercoralis. She was treated with 12 mg ivermectin once a day for 2 days for the strongyloidiasis, with good therapeutic results being obtained. Strongyloidiasis may be a curable disease through the use of an appropriate therapy, even in a patient with AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2003

New dimeric naphthopyrones from Aspergillus niger.

Three new dimeric naphthopyrones, asperpyrones A (1), B (2), and C (3), together with two known compounds, fonsecinone A (4) and aurasperone A (5), have been isolated from okara that was fermented with Aspergillus niger JV-33-48. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 showed inhibitory activity on Taq DNA polymerase.

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed2003

Telomerase activity in renal cell carcinoma by modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay.

BACKGROUND: Previous assessments by the conventional telomeric repeat amplification protocol have not been reliable for the quantitation of telomerase activity. We, therefore, determined telomerase activity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissue by the modified sensitive telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. METHODS: Telomerase activity was examined in 23 cases of RCC and in the adjacent normal kidney tissue, and assessed for associations with clinical and pathological variables of the disease. RESULTS: The linearity and quantitation of the modified method was confirmed. Mean telomerase activity of RCC (1987.889 +/- 1232.801 units) was significantly greater than that of normal renal tissue (173.467 +/- 241.893 units) (P = 0.0001). Telomerase activity in RCC was, however, not associated with clinical or pathological variables such as clinical stage (P = 0.8941), grade (P = 0.8043) or pathological subtype (P = 0.9739). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that telomerase might play a crucial role in an initial step of the development of RCC, but not in the progression of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Identification of species of Cyclospora isolates from patients by the PCR-based diagnostic methods].

Cyclospora cayetanensis is an intestinal coccidian parasite and known as a human pathogen causing watery diarrhea. Recently, Cyclospora organisms, morphologically indistinguishable from C. cayetanensis, were detected from the several species of primates, and three new species named, C. cercopitheci, C. colobi, and C. papionis, have been proposed to the isolates on the basis of the genetic differences. The infectivity of these species to humans is strictly unknown, and there is a possibility of infection with not only C. cayetanensis but also the species from primates among patients. Therefore, it is necessary for the accurate diagnosis of Cyclospora infection to distinguish among the Cyclospora species. In the present study, we identified species of Cyclospora isolates from patients by the PCR-based diagnostic method. Since the sequence of Cyclospora 18S ribosomal RNA gene generated with the primary pair CYC1 FE and CYC4RB is found to be variable among Cyclospora species, we applied the PCR-direct sequencing using above primers to identify species of the isolates. Consequently, the diagnostic fragment was amplified by the PCR in all isolates, and the sequence of the PCR product obtained from each isolate was completely identical to that of C. cayetanensis. Therefore, we identified the isolates from patients as C. cayetanensis. On the basis of the results obtained in the present study, it is supposed that the PCR-direct sequencing using the primer pair CYC1FE and CYC4RB is a useful tool for the distinction among Cyclospora species.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Single low-dose treatment with praziquantel for Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense infections.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether praziquantel is effective against diphyllobothriasis nihonkaiense at doses less than the conventional dose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen Japanese men with diphyllobopthriasis nihonkaiense were treated with a single administration of praziquantel at 5-10 mg/kg. RESULTS: Twelve patients expelled a complete integrated Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense with its scolex. One patient expelled an integrated D. nihonkaiense without its scolex, and one patient expelled 2 complete integrated D. nihonkaiense with their scolex, and an integrated D. nihonkaiense without its scolex. The lack of eggs in stool samples was confirmed in these 2 patients after the end of therapy. All patients had not expelled proglottides after the end of therapy for more than 1 year. No side effects were identified in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: All patients were considered to be cured. Our results indicate that the oral administration of a single dose of praziquantel at 5-10 mg/kg is effective and safe against D. nihonkaiense infections.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2002

The results of total arch graft implantation with open stent-graft placement for type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: One problem that conventional ascending treatment for type A aortic dissection has not satisfactorily resolved is chronic enlargement of residual dissection in the aortic arch and descending aorta. To address this problem, we have developed a new method for type A aortic dissection: total arch graft implantation with open-style stent-graft placement. METHODS: From October 1994 through October 1999, 19 patients with type A aortic dissection (13 acute and 6 chronic dissections) underwent total arch graft implantation with open-style stent-graft placement. After achievement of general anesthesia and hypothermic extracorporeal circulation, we replaced the dissected ascending aorta and neck vessels with a 4-branched graft and repaired the descending aorta with a stent graft to close the entry site completely and to obtain better peripheral perfusion. We then examined the acute-phase and chronic-phase results and the outcomes of the false lumen and dissected aorta. RESULTS: There were 1 (5.3%) hospital death and 2 late deaths. The survivals at 1 and 3 years were 89.5% and 82.6%, respectively. The following complications occurred in the perioperative period: 1 stroke, 2 cases of temporary paraparesis, 2 cases of temporary hemodialysis, and 3 cases of mediastinitis. No pulmonary complications were observed. Six months postoperatively, the targeted entry sites were completely closed in all cases, 80% (8/10) of preoperatively patent false lumina were clotted at the level of the end of the stent graft, and 60% (9/15) of the false lumina and 40% (6/15) of the dissected aorta had shrunk significantly. Two (13.3%) of 15 cases of postoperative dilatation in the dissected aorta were observed, and reoperation related to residual dissected aorta was performed in only 1 (1/17 [5.9%]) patient during the mean follow-up period of 2.4 +/- 1.6 years. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary review of the total arch graft implantation with a stent graft suggests that this new procedure for type A aortic dissection might provide better results in both the acute and the chronic phase, especially with regard to the outcome for the false lumen and dissected aorta.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Dihydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. hominis in Japan.

This study examined polymorphisms in the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene of Pneumocystis carinii isolates from 27 patients with P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) in Japan. Four substitution sites with two synonymous and two non-synonymous changes were found. Two synonymous substitutions at nucleotide positions 540 and 312 were identified in one and 13 patients, respectively. Two amino acid substitutions (Ala67Val, Cysl66Tyr) were found in two different patients. No linkage of amino acid substitutions in DHFR to those in dihydropteroate synthase was observed. The two patients whose isolates showed non-synonymous DHFR mutations were not exposed to DHFR inhibitors before they developed PCP and were treated successfully with co-trimoxazole.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Levels of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in measles.

While the levels of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) have been investigated in many diseases, they have not, to our knowledge, been studied in patients with measles. Serum VCAM-1 and creatinine levels were determined in six adolescent and adult Japanese patients with measles in the acute febrile phase and defervescent afebrile phase. Serum VCAM-1 levels were significantly higher in the acute febrile phase than in the convalescent afebrile phase, but no significant difference between the serum creatinine levels was shown in the two phases. Our study revealed that the high serum VCAM-1 level in the acute febrile phase later decreased in the afebrile convalescent phase. The measurement of circulating VCAM-1 may be useful for the assessment of convalescence in patients with measles.

Acute Disease↗