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Biomedical subjects

M Niimura

Publications and source records attributed to M Niimura.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

[Diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection by using FITC-labeled monoclonal antibodies].

Anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) mouse monoclonal antibodies conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate were evaluated for their usefulness as a practical diagnostic tool in the clinical field by examining cells infected with isolated herpes viruses and 431 clinical samples. The kit stained clearly the cells infected with 14 isolated VZV strains without cross reaction to 15 isolated herpes simplex virus type-1 strains (HSV-1) and 14 type-2 (HSV-2) strains. In clinical specimens, viral antigens of VZV were detected in 92/105 (87.6%) cases of varicella and in 176/190 (92.6%) cases of herpes zoster. Specific fluorescence of VZV was also observed in 5 out of 96 cases diagnosed as HSV infections, although these samples had no specific reaction to HSV when tested by the commercially available diagnostic kit. In 24 cases which could not be clinically diagnosed as herpes zoster or herpes simplex, the VZV antigen was demonstrated in 9 cases. All 109 VZV-positive cases in virus isolation by culture were also judged VZV-antigen positive by the kit, while all 69 HSV-positive cases in virus isolation were VZV-antigen negative. Furthermore, the VZV antigen was detected by the kit in 53/60 clinical diagnoses of varicella or herpes zoster without successful virus isolation. These results clearly indicate the usefulness of the kit as a practical VZV diagnostic reagent, especially in terms of specific sensitivity and easy technical manipulation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

A case of temporal arteritis successfully treated with recombinant interleukin-2.

An 80-year-old Japanese woman with temporal arteritis was treated with systemic recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) (1 x 10(6) unit/day for six weeks). The presenting symptoms of headache and skin necrosis and abnormal laboratory findings, such as an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP, promptly improved without any serious side effects. Although the pathogenesis of temporal arteritis and the mechanism(s) of the beneficial effect of IL-2 on it still remain unknown, this preliminary study highly encourages further investigations.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of eczema herpeticum with oral acyclovir.

Clinical efficacy and safety of oral acyclovir for the treatment of eczema herpeticum were evaluated in 69 patients in a multicenter, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either acyclovir, 200 mg five times per day for five days, or placebo. There were 32 evaluable patients in the acyclovir group and 28 in the placebo group. Clinical efficacy was assessed as very effective, effective, moderately effective, or not effective by using a numerical scoring for various parameters, such as lesion stage, pain, and general improvement. The efficacy rate was 81.3 percent in the acyclovir group and 42.9 percent in the placebo group (p less than 0.01), and significant differences were observed in general improvement and disappearance of ulcer. Results for duration of pain and erosion favored the acyclovir group, but did not reach statistical significance. Mild adverse reactions were documented in two patients receiving acyclovir and in six patients receiving placebo. Oral acyclovir seems to be a well-tolerated and effective therapy for eczema herpeticum.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1988

A mouse monoclonal antibody that binds to an alpha-stichocyte of Trichinella spiralis.

Monoclonal antibodies were generated for the isolation of specific antigens from Trichinella spiralis. A monoclonal antibody (TS32D12) of the IgG1 class was selected according to its reactivity and specificity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescent technique. The TS32D12 antibody was purified from ascites by fast protein liquid chromatography. The purified antibody showed a sensitive reaction to the T. spiralis antigen, but not to any other heterologous parasite antigens so far examined. Western blot analysis showed that the monoclonal antibody bound to epitopes present on the 160-kDa molecule. The antigen molecule was fragmented into 56-kDa molecules by heat treatment. The epitopes seemed to be destroyed since the antibody could not bind to the 56-kDa molecule. Staining with the periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reagent suggested that the two molecules of 160 kDa and 56 kDa were glycoproteins. The 160-kDa molecule was detected only in the alpha-stichocyte of T. spiralis muscle larvae.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Epidemiologic studies on schistosomiasis japonica in a newly found habitat of Oncomelania snails in Japan.

Epidemiologic studies' on schistosomiasis japonica were carried out in the Obitsu River basin of central Boso Peninsula, a newly found habitat of Oncomelania snails in Japan. Forty-five (4.1%) of 1,102 schoolchildren and 64 (10.4%) of 618 junior high school students were positive for the skin test with veronal buffered saline-extracted Schistosoma japonicum antigen. None was positive by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, complement fixation test, double diffusion test in agar, and circumoval precipitin test. About one fifth of 356 adult inhabitants showed positive reactions in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and complement fixation test as well as in the skin test, although only 25 individuals (7%) were positive for the circumoval precipitin test. All of 70 individuals who had shown positive reactions in at least two of the immunological tests were negative for a series of 5 stool examinations with the AMS III method. Release of S.japonicum cercariae was not observed in 15,000 O. hupensis nosophora collected in this area. Repeated examinations by dipping mice into irrigation ditches were negative. These observations, with the fact that all of 15 patients reported from nearby hospitals to have schistosome eggs in their tissues were over 45 years old, suggest that schistosomiasis has become a disease of the past in this area.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Production and properties of a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody to Schistosoma japonicum.

A monoclonal IgE antibody was prepared by fusion of NS-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells of C3H/He mice immunized with an extract of adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj). The antibody was able to elicit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the rat skin against Sj with the highest titer of 1/256,000 in an ascitic form but did not cross-react with any of antigens extracted from S. mansoni, Fasciola hepatica, Paragoniumus westermani, or Trichinella spiralis. Western blot analysis indicated that the monoclonal IgE antibody recognized epitopes on molecules of 82 kDa, 97 kDa, 160 kDa, and 200 kDa, at least some of which were recognized by IgG antibodies of patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica. The IgE antibody also recognized a 97-kDa antigen expressed on the surface of mechanically transformed schistosomula. Passive transfer of the antibody into mice in an early stage of challenge infection resulted in a partial but significant reduction of recovery of adult worms. However, similar treatment was not effective for the protection if the antibody was given in the postlung stage of the infection. Moreover, eosinophil-mediated damage to schistosomula was observed in vitro in the presence of the monoclonal anti-Sj IgE antibody, whereas the damage was not observed in the presence of another monoclonal IgE antibody with dinitrophenyl specificity.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Role of a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody in passive transfer of immunity to Schistosoma japonicum infection.

We have been able to produce a mouse monoclonal IgE antibody specific to an adult worm antigen extracted from Schistosoma japonicum (Sj). The antibody was able to elicit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the rat skin against Sj with the highest titer of 1:256,000 but did not cross-react with S. mansoni antigen. The antibody recognized a 97-kDa molecule expressed on the surface of mechanically transformed schistosoma of S. japonicum. Passive transfer of the antibody into mice in the early stage of challenge infection resulted in a partial but significant reduction of recovery of adult worms. Induction of eosinophilia by an oral administration of embryonated eggs of Toxocara canis prior to challenge infection enhanced the reduction.

Animals↗