PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Kunihisa Kozawa

Publications and source records attributed to Kunihisa Kozawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in new residential buildings and VOCs behavior over time.

For the purpose of the investigation of characteristics of VOCs found indoors in recently constructed residential buildings, we measured the behavior of VOCs which were sampled at one-month intervals over a period of one year from the, initial occupancy date in both a detached house and an apartment in a multiple' dwelling. At the first passive sampling from the wooden detached residential building, n-hexane, n-undecane, toluene, ethylacetate, methylethylketone, alpha-pinene and (+)-limonene were present in relatively high concentrations of 10 ppb or higher in the living room. Then these VOCs showed a declining trend with time. p-Dichlorobenzene showed an extremely high concentration (approx. 320 ppb) in June, which subsequently declined with each passing month. There is a high possibility that the cause was the use of a pesticide containing p-dichlorobenzene during the period of changeover from winter to summer clothes in June. On the other hand, from the multiple dwelling, four VOCs showed values of 10 ppb or more (toluene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, methylethylketone and alpha-pinene). Of these VOCs, methylethylketone concentration was in excess of 100 ppb, and then also showed a declining trend with time. Even for new residential buildings completed during the same time frame, it was shown that the types of VOC contaminants and their concentrations varied significantly.

Air↗
PubMed2006

Phylogenetic analysis of envelope glycoprotein (E1) gene of rubella viruses prevalent in Japan in 2004.

We performed a molecular epidemiological study on the envelope glycoprotein gene (E1 gene) obtained by PCR amplification from specimens of 17 rubella patients in certain areas (Gunma, Saitama, and Kagoshima prefectures, and Tokyo metropolitan area) in Japan in 2004. In these sequences of partially amplified DNAs (283 bases) within the E1 gene, no nucleotide substitution was observed. They were classified into genotype 1D of clade 1 in the constructed phylogenetic tree. One amino acid substitution was found between the amino acid sequence predicted from these DNAs and those of Japanese strains [To-336 vaccine strain (To-336 vac) and its wild progenitor (To-336 wt)]. The results suggest that the rubella viruses (RV) prevalent in certain areas of Japan in 2004 were highly homologous and were closely related with Japanese vaccine strain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Elevation of cytokine concentrations in asphyxiated neonates.

BACKGROUND: Various cytokines are reportedly associated with many neonatal diseases. Asphyxia is considered to result in ischemia-reperfusion injuries and induces abnormal inflammatory responses involving excessive cytokine production. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate alteration in sera levels of various cytokines/chemokines in case of perinatal asphyxia at birth. METHODS: In order to determine the concentrations of various cytokines/chemokines in sera, we used a highly sensitive fluorescence microsphere method. We measured the concentration of 8 types of cytokines/chemokines in sera obtained from 17 cases of asphyxia, 10 normal neonates, and 6 healthy adults. RESULTS: The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the sera of asphyxiated neonates were higher than those in the normal neonates. Irrespective of the presence or absence of asphyxia, sera concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were higher in the neonates than those in the adults. The concentration of IFN-gamma in the asphyxiated neonates was lower than that in the normal neonates. Sera levels of IL-10 were higher in the asphyxiated cases than those in the normal neonates. The sera levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in asphyxiated neonates with either a poor outcome or death were higher than those without poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of various types of cytokines/chemokines were different in neonatal sera and some of them increased drastically during asphyxia. The concentration of an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was elevated in asphyxiated neonates immediately after birth, thereby suggesting that IL-10 might be associated with neuroprotective functions.

Asphyxia Neonatorum↗
PubMed2005

Detection and sequence analysis of DNA polymerase and major envelope protein genes in koi herpesviruses derived from Cyprinus carpio in Gunma prefecture, Japan.

Koi herpesvirus (KHV), which is believed to be an emerging virus, causes fatal diseases in carps. Since the 1990s, the presence of KHV has been confirmed in several countries. In Japan, from 2003 to 2004, large outbreaks of KHV infection in farmed carps resulted in the death of numerous fishes. From April to May 2004, we collected 43 dead or dying carps exhibiting typical symptoms of KHV infection in Gunma prefecture. To conduct a molecular epidemiologic study of KHV in our prefecture, we amplified DNA polymerase and the major envelope protein genes of KHV derived from carp gills using newly designed primers. We also performed sequence analysis of both genes of KHV. Sensitivity of our PCR method for amplification of DNA polymerase and the major envelope protein genes of KHV was 3 x 10(2) (100 fg) and 3 x 10(3) (1000 fg) copies of KHV genome, respectively. We detected both DNA polymerase and major envelope protein genes in 37 of 43 carps (86%). No mutation was found in both the genes sequenced from 11 strains, which included two foreign strains and one domestic strain. The results suggested that KHV strains derived from carps in our prefecture were closely related genetically to the other KHV strains.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Serum procalcitonin concentration in patients with Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a new parameter of inflammation, the clinical usefulness of which is currently being evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined simultaneously the serum concentrations of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) as well as the white blood cell (WBC) count in 25 patients with Kawasaki disease (KD), 17 with bacterial infections, 10 with systemic autoimmune diseases, 17 with viral infections and 18 healthy children. The optimal cut-off value of each parameter for predicting coronary aneurysms was determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Significantly higher serum concentrations of PCT were observed in patients with KD (2.3 +/- 3.0 ng/ml) and bacterial infections (2.2 +/- 2.9 ng/ml) than in patients with autoimmune diseases (0.4 +/- 0.4 ng/ml) or viral infections (0.4 +/- 0.3 ng/ml), or in healthy children (0.2 +/- 0.1 ng/ml). The serum PCT but not the WBC count or CRP, differentiated the KD patients from the patients with autoimmune diseases. The optimal cut-off value of 3.0 ng/ml of PCT increased the prediction rate of coronary aneurysms that subsequently occurred in 4 (16%) patients with KD. CONCLUSIONS: The serum PCT may be clinically useful for determining the severity of KD and for narrowing the differential diagnosis of patients with inflammatory diseases.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2004

Genetic diversity of the dnaJ gene in the Mycobacterium avium complex.

The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is associated with various diseases in humans as a zoonosis. The dnaJ gene was partially sequenced in Schaefer's 28 reference strains of MAC, 14 human MAC isolates and 22 veterinary isolates. From substitutions affecting 21-32 nucleotides, all strains could be classified into 14 groups. Most nucleotide substitutions did not alter amino acid sequences. Approximately 8 % genetic diversity was seen in these strains, which divided into two clusters: cluster I (0.8 % genetic diversity), comprising the reference strain serotypes 1-6, 8-11 and 21 and all isolates; and cluster II (7 % genetic diversity), comprising the remaining reference strains. Analysis of the dnaJ gene in MAC may be useful in epidemiological studies.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Isolation and phylogenetic analysis of arcobacter spp. in ground chicken meat and environmental water in Japan and Thailand.

Prevalence of Arcobacter spp. in chicken meat samples and environmental water samples in Japan and Thailand was investigated. Arcobacter was isolated from 48% of chicken meat samples (20/41) and 23% of river water samples (4/17) from Japan, and 100% of chicken meat samples (10/10) and 100% of canal water samples (7/7) from Thailand. A. butzleri was among the species isolated from all positive samples. About 10% genetic diversity was seen in the rpoB-rpoC in Arcobacters, and phylogenetic trees were divided into two clusters. In both countries, the results suggested that chicken and environmental water were highly contaminated with a genetically diverse population of Arcobacter.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Proinflammatory cytokinemia associated with transient myeloproliferative disorder in down syndrome.

A transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) occurs in 10% of the infants with Down syndrome. While most cases resolve within a few months, in 20% of them TMDs are life-threatening or fatal. We encountered 4 patients with TMD, including 1 patient who died of liver failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Suspecting involvement of proinflammatory cytokines, we serially assayed them in patients' sera. Cytokines were significantly more abundant in patients than in controls. Interleukins 1 and 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor were greatly increased, especially in the infant who died. Sustained cytokinemia is likely to participate in TMD pathophysiology, and very high serum concentrations might predict a poor outcome.

Cytokines↗
PubMed2003

Superoxide radical generation and Mn- and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutases activities in human leukemic cells.

Mn- and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and generation of superoxide radicals (O(2) (-)) were assessed in leukemic cells from 10 patients with acute myeloid or monocytic leukemia (AML) and 10 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), using a sensitive, specific chemiluminescence method. Leukemic cells were classified according to the French-American-British classification. M4 AML cells from two patients produced some O(2) (-) upon stimulation with opsonized zymosan (OZ), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), but less than normal granulocytes or monocytes. M5b AML cells from one patient produced as much O(2) (-) in response to these stimulants as normal monocytes. No O(2) (-) generation was induced in other types of leukemic cells. Total SOD activity in AML cells was significantly greater in normal granulocytes, but was only half of the activity in ALL cells. Mn-SOD in AML cells was very low or undetectable. These results suggest that except in M5b cells, decreased O(2) (-) production may contribute to susceptibility to infections in AML patients. Decreased Mn-SOD activity in AML cells may predispose them to oxidative stress.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Sulfonated human immunoglobulin enhances CD16-linked CD11b expression on human neutrophils.

Intravenous human immunoglobulin therapy infrequently results in excessive inflammatory responses in vivo; these effects are not fully understood. We assessed whether sulfonated human immunoglobulin (SHIG) or polyethylene glycol-treated human immunoglobulin (PHIG) enhanced expression of inflammatory receptors on peripheral blood neutrophils in vitro, such as alphaMbeta2 (CD11b/CD18) and Fc gamma receptor type III (FcgammaRIII). CD11b and CD16 expression on neutrophils was measured by fluorescence flow cytometry. Various cytokines were assessed using a highly sensitive fluorescence microsphere system. SHIG enhanced/induced CD11b expression and partial aggregations on neutrophils, but PHIG did not. No detection of aggregation IgG was observed in SHIG and PHIG. SHIG-induced CD11b expression was inhibited by treatment of corticosteroid (dexamethasone) and by anti-CD16 monoclonal antibody. Concentrations of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, RANTES, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (INF)-gamma in culture supernatant were not significantly changed by SHIG or PHIG. SHIG and PHIG did not enhance CD16 on neutrophils. SHIG enhanced CD16-linked CD11b expression on neutrophils in vitro. CD11b induction was inhibited by dexamethasone and by anti-CD16 antibody. These in vitro results suggest that aggregations and enhancement of CD11b on neutrophils by SHIG may induce excessive inflammatory responses in vivo.

Antibodies↗
PubMed2003

Detection, quantitation, and phylogenetic analysis of noroviruses in Japanese oysters.

Noroviruses (NVs) cause many cases of oyster- or clam-associated gastroenteritis in various countries. We collected 191 samples from Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption that had been harvested from the sea in two different areas between December 2001 and February 2002. To detect, quantitate, and phylogenetically analyze the NV genome in purified concentrates from the stomachs and digestive diverticula of these oysters, we amplified the NV capsid gene by reverse transcription-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by using the neighbor-joining method. We detected the NV genome in 17 of 191 oysters (9%). Phylogenetic analysis indicated genogroup I (Norwalk virus type) in 3 of the 17 oysters and genogroup II (Snow Mountain virus type) in the other 14. Both genogroups showed wide genetic diversity. To quantify the NV capsid gene in these oysters, we performed real-time PCR using genogroup-specific probes. More than 10(2) copies of the NV genome were detected in 11 of 17 oysters. The results suggested that about 10% of Japanese oysters intended for raw consumption harbored NVs, and more than 50% of those oysters in which NVs were detected had a large amount.

Animals↗