PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to M Nishimura.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Prognostic value of hypercapnia in patients with chronic respiratory failure during long-term oxygen therapy.

Hypercapnia observed in patients with chronic respiratory failure may not be an ominous sign for prognosis when they are receiving long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). In this study, we selected 4,552 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 3,028 with sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis (TBsq) receiving LTOT from 1985 to 1993 throughout Japan and prospectively analyzed their prognoses. The hypercapnic patients (PaCO2 >= 45 mm Hg) had a better prognosis than the normocapnic patients (35 <= PaCO2 < 45 mm Hg) for TBsq, but no difference was found between the two groups with COPD. Furthermore, Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that in TBsq hypercapnia was an independent factor for favorable prognosis, and that the relative risk for mortality was 0.76 in patients with 45 <= PaCO2 < 55 mm Hg, 0.64 for those with 55 <= PaCO2 < 65 mm Hg, and 0. 49 for patients with PaCO2 >= 65 mm Hg against normocapnic patients. This favorable effect of hypercapnia in TBsq was particularly apparent in the patients without severe airway obstruction. Even a rise of 5 mm Hg or more in PaCO2 over the initial 6- to 18-mo follow-up period was not associated with poor prognosis in TBsq, although it was in COPD. From these findings, we conclude that hypercapnia should not be generally considered an ominous sign for prognosis in those patients who receive LTOT.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Effect of anti-macrophage migration inhibitory factor antibody on lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary neutrophil accumulation.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a recently rediscovered pro-inflammatory cytokine that has the unique potential to override the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids. Since recent reports suggest the pivotal role of MIF in acute lung injury, we examined the protective effect of anti-MIF antibody on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury in rats. Rats were injected with LPS (7 mg/kg) intraperitoneally with or without pretreatment with anti-MIF antibody. The anti-MIF antibody significantly attenuated LPS-induced migration of neutrophils to the lungs at 4 and 24 h as demonstrated by observation of the number of neutrophils per alveolus, the activity of myeloperoxidase of the lung tissue, and cell differentiation of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The increased level of macrophage inflammatory protein-2, a powerful neutrophil chemokine, in BAL fluid was also significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the anti-MIF antibody as compared with the control group. Additionally, positive immunostaining for MIF was observed in bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages, and Northern blot analysis of lung tissues demonstrated increased MIF mRNA 24 h after LPS injection. These data suggest that the anti-MIF antibody has therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute lung injury by suppressing the level of neutrophil chemokine in the lungs.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Cysteine proteinases and cystatin C in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from subjects with subclinical emphysema.

This study examined the role of cysteine proteinases and their inhibitor in the development of emphysema in comparison with neutrophil elastase (NE) complexed with alpha1-protease inhibitor (NE-alpha1-PI), which was previously demonstrated to be increased in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from subjects with subclinical emphysema. Eight nonsmokers and 31 current smokers with (n=17) and without (n=14) emphysema, as evidenced by lung computed tomographic scans, were studied. The concentrations of immunologically detected cathepsin L and cystatin C, but not cathepsin B, were significantly increased in BAL fluid from the smokers with emphysema compared with those without emphysema, although the activity of cathepsin L, measured using a synthetic substrate and cathepsin L, released from cultured alveolar macrophages at 24 h, did not show any significant difference between the two groups. When comparison was made only for the subjects aged <60 yrs, the difference between the two groups disappeared for cathepsin L, but remained for NE-alpha1-PI. There was no significant correlation between the level of cathepsin L and that of NE-alpha1-PI in BAL fluid from the subjects with emphysema. In conclusion, increased levels of cathepsin L and cystatin C were demonstrated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from subjects with subclinical emphysema. However, the roles of cathepsin L and neutrophil elastase in the development of emphysema may vary between subjects and between the young and the old.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Increased serum concentrations of human hepatocyte growth factor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) is a powerful inducer of angiogenesis. We investigated the relationship between serum hHGF concentrations and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the major characteristic of which is retinal neovascularization. Serum hHGF concentrations were measured in diabetic (n = 135) and nondiabetic subjects (n = 80). The mean serum hHGF concentration in diabetic subjects without retinopathy was lower than that in nondiabetic subjects [0.041 +/- 0.003 ng/mL (n = 62) vs. 0.080 +/- 0.010 ng/mL (n = 80); P < 0.05], but was not different from that in diabetic subjects with background retinopathy (0.058 +/- 0.007 ng/mL; n = 26) or preproliferative retinopathy (0.048 +/- 0.010 ng/mL; n = 10). The mean serum hHGF concentration was increased in subjects with proliferative retinopathy who had not undergone photocoagulation (0.213 +/- 0.025 ng/mL; n = 24), but not in those who had undergone photocoagulation (0.040 +/- 0.008 ng/mL; n = 13). Circulating hHGF may be involved in the mechanism of neovascularization in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and measurement of serum hHGF may be helpful in predicting the presence of proliferative retinopathy in diabetic subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

HLA and T-cell receptor gene polymorphisms in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: We examined a possible involvement of genetic factors influencing the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). METHODS: We studied T-cell receptor (TCR), alpha-chain constant (AC), and beta-chain variable (BV) gene polymorphisms using microsatellite markers and serologic HLA class I antigens, HLA-DRB1, and HLA-DQB1 alleles in 81 Japanese patients with GBS and 87 controls. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in these genetic markers between GBS patients and controls. Subgrouping of GBS patients according to recent Campylobacter jejuni infection, the presence of anti-GM1 antibody in the sera, or their combinations also failed to reveal significant associations with these genetic markers. There was, however, a tendency for an increased frequency of HLA-DRB1*0803 in the C. jejuni + GM1 + GBS group, when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the roles of TCRAC, T-cell receptor beta-chain variable (TCRBV), HLA class I or class II in the development of GBS are not critical, and further research is necessary to clarify other genes encoded within the HLA region for genetic susceptibility to GBS.

Campylobacter Infections↗
PubMed1998

Clinical study of the effectiveness of a dual amplified immunoassay (IDEIA PCE Chlamydia) for the diagnosis of male urethritis.

A clinical study of patients with male urethritis (n=316) was undertaken to determine the sensitivity potential for a new dual amplified immunoassay (IDEIA PCE Chlamydia). Increased sensitivity (98.8%, 84/85) was obtained for IDEIA PCE Chlamydia compared to a conventional antigen detection test (IDEIA Chlamydia, 81.2%, 69/85) when testing urine samples. In a smaller patient population (n=104) the positivity rate for the first-void urine tested with IDEIA PCE Chlamydia of 30.8% (32/104) was similar to the 27.9% (29/104) obtained from urethral swabs tested with a DNA probe assay (PACE 2). The increased sensitivity of the test was confirmed with a commercial PCR kit (Amplicor) and nested PCR. The IDEIA PCE Chlamydia kit has the sensitivity potential to be a clinically reliable alternative for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis.

Chlamydia Infections↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of tumorigenesis between accelerated heavy ion and X-ray in B6C3F1 mice.

The effects of heavy ion and X-ray irradiation on tumorigenesis in B6C3F1 mice were compared. Six-week-old animals were divided into 6 groups and exposed to 0.426 Gy heavy ion irradiation of 290 MeV/u carbon-ion beam (LET 60-210 KeV/micron) at the dose rate of 0.4 +/- 0.2 Gy/min; 0.5 Gy of X-ray irradiation at 0.1 Gy/min or 5 Gy of X-ray irradiation at 1 Gy/min. The mice were killed and an autopsy performed 13.5 months after the whole body irradiation. Body weights were heaviest for both sexes in the 0.5 Gy group and lightest in the 5 Gy one. Total tumor incidences in the males were 30, 56 and 13% respectively in the heavy ion, 5 Gy and 0.5 Gy X-irradiated groups, stomach tumors, lymphomas and adrenal tumors being the most common outcome of the high dose X-rays. Liver tumor induction did not differ significantly among the groups. In the females tumorigenicity was significantly lower for heavy ion than for 0.5 Gy and 5 Gy X-ray irradiation (P < 0.05), the respective incidences, mainly ovary one, being 73%, 17% and 41%. Non-cancerous lesions, such as graying of the hair, glomerular sclerosis and amyloidosis appeared in the 5 Gy group. These findings indicate that 0.426 Gy of heavy ion irradiation induced lower carcinogenicity than 5 Gy of X-irradiation and higher carcinogenicity than that of 0.5 Gy X-irradiation in male mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Construction of a BAC library of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea and finding specific genome regions in which its transposons tend to cluster.

We have constructed a BAC library of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea consisting of 5760 clones. The insert size ranged from 35 to 175 kbp, with an average of 120 kbp. The library is about 18 genomes equivalent, therefore covering more than 99.999% of the genome. This library is the first to be constructed using a rice pathogenic wild type isolate. Improved high molecular weight DNA size fractionating helped to construct the library with high efficiency. Total library clones were arranged onto two nylon membranes for efficient screening. Test hybridization with a single-copy RFLP marker showed ten positive clones, of which restriction patterns indicated no chimerality or deletions. As a model case of application of this library, the distribution of the well-studied fungal retrotransposons MGSR1, MGR583, and MAGGY and DNA transposons MGR586 and Pot2 was analyzed. Of all the BAC clones, 10%, 13%, 18%, 12%, and 23% contained MGSR1, MGR583, MAGGY, MGR586 and Pot2, respectively. The percentage of clones possessing more than five kinds of transposons was 1.4%, 215 times greater than the expected number. The results show that these transposons were distributed in clusters in the M. grisea genome.

Ascomycota↗
PubMed1998

Primary peripheral lung carcinoma smaller than 1 cm in diameter.

BACKGROUND: Several investigators have reported on the risk of limited resection in patients with small peripheral lung cancer. Primary peripheral lung carcinomas 1 cm or less in maximum dimension were reviewed to study the feasibility of limited surgery. METHODS: Among 1,051 lung cancer patients who underwent surgical resection of the lung in the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, from January 1986 through March 1997, there were 13 patients who had untreated peripheral cN0M0 tumors 1 cm or less in maximum dimension on the resected specimens who underwent systematic mediastinal dissection. Their specimens were histopathologically reviewed. RESULTS: There were ten adenocarcinomas, one small cell carcinoma, one poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and one typical carcinoid tumor. One adenocarcinoma showed lymphatic vessel invasion, venous invasion, and a subcarinal node metastasis. The small cell carcinoma was accompanied by a lymph node metastasis in a segmental node. The small cell carcinoma and another adenocarcinoma showed lymphatic vessel invasion. Of the ten adenocarcinomas, six were Noguchi's type B and four were type C. CONCLUSION: Even among the pulmonary peripheral cancers smaller than 1 cm in diameter, more than one third showed an invasive nature. This fact must be considered in selecting limited resection in these patients. It is evident that tumor size alone cannot be an indicator for limited resection in lung cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nucleotide sequence of endothelin-B receptor gene reveals origin of piebald mutation in laboratory mouse.

Piebald (Ednrbs) is a coat color mutation of laboratory mice caused by a decreased expression of endothelin-B receptor gene (Ednrb). The IITES and JF1 mouse strains, whose origins are believed to be different from those of the common laboratory inbred strains, also show a phenotype similar to Ednrbs. In the present study, we found that the nucleotide sequence of the Ednrb gene of the IITES and JF1 mice is identical to that of the Ednrbs allele, Ednrbs allele has an RFLP of the Ednrb gene identical with that of M. m. molossinus but different from other subspecies, and at least particular regions of chromosome 14 proximal to the Ednrb locus of the IITES and JF1 strains are derived from M. m. molossinus. These findings clearly indicate that the Ednrbs allele of the laboratory mice has its origin in M. m. molossinus.

Alleles↗
PubMed1998

Wider distribution of salivary-type isoamylase activity as compared with pancreatic-type isoamylase activity in serum: a study on young female adults.

The clinical implications of a wider distribution of salivary type (S-type) isoamylase activity, as compared with that of pancreatic type (P-type) isoamylase activity in the serum of young female adults of 18-23 years old was studied. A high correlation existed between the S-type isoamylase levels in the initial determination and those in the second determination one year after on the same subjects, indicating that the wider distribution of S-type isoamylase level reflects an individual variation. The serum level of S-type isoamylase was highly correlated with the S-type isoamylase activity in saliva. Among the additional factors studied, a weak positive correlation was present between energy intake and the total and S-type isoamylase activities in serum. However, there was no negative correlation between the S-type isoamylase level and body mass index (BMI), which was reported for young male adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

High-dose immunoglobulin therapy for a patient with dermatomyositis.

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our department complaining of dermal eruption and weakness of muscles. She was diagnosed as having dermatomyositis and was initially treated with prednisolone. Since her condition rapidly deteriorated, high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (i.v.IG) therapy (0.4 g/kg/day i.v. for 5 days) was administered. Marked improvement in muscle strength was observed the following day after the first administration. She unfortunately died of pneumocystis carinii pneumonitis 2 weeks after the i.v.IG therapy. Autopsy revealed no inflammatory cells in the muscles, suggesting that i.v.IG therapy has an important clinical application for refractory dermatomyositis.

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of platelet abnormalities of Tester Moriyama (TM) rats with storage pool deficiency.

Platelet abnormalities of Tester Moriyama (TM) rats, which have prolonged bleeding time with normal platelet count, were characterized by comparison with those of fawn-hooded (FH) rats with platelet storage pool deficiency (SPD). Morphologically, the dense granules were virtually lacking in platelets from TM and FH rats. Platelets from TM and FH rats aggregated in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), but failed to have secondary aggregation. In contrast, platelet aggregation was completely absent in response to 1 to 20 micrograms of collagen/ml, although partial aggregation was observed at the higher dosage of 50 micrograms/ml. Normal amounts of platelet membrane glycoproteins IIb/IIIa were expressed in TM and FH rats, but platelet adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ADP contents were lower than those in platelets from control Wistar rats. Platelet ATP-to-ADP ratio of TM and FH rats was significantly higher than that of Wistar rats. Serotonin content in platelets from TM and FH rats was 20 to 25% that of Wistar rat platelets. These results suggested that platelet abnormalities of TM rats are a typical characteristic of platelet SPD and are similar to those of FH rats, which are genetically different from TM rats. Therefore, TM rats may serve as a useful animal model for the study of platelet SPD.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Morphologic and hematologic characteristics of storage pool deficiency in beige rats (Chédiak-Higashi syndrome of rats).

Characterization of beige rats as having a platelet storage pool deficiency (SPD) was undertaken. Platelets from beige rats, an animal model of Chédiak-Higashi syndrome (CHS), completely lacked the ability to aggregate when stimulated with high dosages of collagen (50 micrograms/ml), and lacked secondary aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Concentrations of ADP, ATP, and serotonin in the platelets of beige rats were significantly lower than those of control rats. However, platelet count remained within normal values. Electron microscopy revealed that platelets had fewer dense granules, whereas other organelles had normal structure. This morphologic and functional evidence confirms that platelets of beige rats have the typical characteristics of SPD.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Effects of shaking on the sensitivity of neuromuscular transmission in vitro to d-tubocurarine and neomycin in mice.

The effects of continuous shaking after birth were examined on the sensitivity of neuromuscular transmission to d-tubocurarine (dTc) and neomycin (NMC) in various nerve-muscle preparations from male mice of the ddY strain. Newborn mice were subjected to continuous reciprocal shaking with an amplitude of 2.5 cm at a frequency of 2 cycles per second until they reached 13 weeks of age. Some of them were returned to conventional breeding conditions for 4 weeks at 13 weeks of age. Nerve-muscle preparations were made from the left phrenic nerve and the diaphragm muscle (DPH), the sciatic nerve and the soleus muscle (SOL), and the sciatic nerve and the extensor digitorum lungus muscle (EDL) of 13- or 17-week-old male mice. The results revealed that the shaking augmented the sensitivity of SOL and DPH to dTc, it reduced the sensitivity of all the preparations to NMC, it reduced the rate of spontaneous release of transmitter in SOL and it increased the rate of evoked release of transmitter in DPH. Furthermore, these alterations disappeared upon cessation of shaking. These results suggest diversity in the plasticity of neuromuscular transmission and, moreover, that some changes might be reversible.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effects of trifluoperazine and promethazine on the release of transmitter quanta at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

The present experiments examined the effects of phenothiazine derivatives, such as trifluoperazine and promethazine, on the release of transmitter quanta in preparations of the mouse diaphragm. The frequency (F, s-1) of miniature end-plate potentials and the quantal content (m) of endplate potentials were measured intracellularly at the same endplate in a bathing solution that contained 0.5-0.8 mM Ca2+ ions and 5 mM Mg2+ ions. Trifluoperazine (4 microM) significantly reduced both F and m. The inhibitory effect on m, but not on F, was subject to competition by Ca2+ ions. Promethazine at 48 microM, but not at 16 microM, reduced the quantal release. It was apparent that the effect of trifluoperazine was competitively antagonized by Ca2+ ions at motor nerve terminals.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[WBN/Kob rat].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗