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Biomedical subjects

M Suga

Publications and source records attributed to M Suga.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

The epidemiology and infection route of asymptomatic HCV carriers detected through blood donations.

The Japan Red Cross started screening donated blood for anti-HCV in Nov. 1989. Approximately 0.9% of donors were found to be positive by the 1st generation antibody test. The authors started a carrier clinic for the medical care of apparently healthy HCV carriers. Donors whose antibodies were strongly positive both by 1st EIA and 2nd PHA were informed, and were confirmed by RIBA 2 and RT-PCR. A total of 262 carriers (150 males and 112 females) with mean age of 46.8 +/- 11.2 yrs have visited the clinic. Of these carriers 149 were diagnosed to be asymptomatic clinically, biochemically and echographically. Eighty-seven carriers had received blood transfusions 22.7 +/- 10.9 yrs previously, while 106 had had acupuncture. Sixty had a family history of liver disease. Fifty-four had a history of heavy alcohol intake. Tattoos and/or iv drug abuse were found in 11, and nosocomial needle accidents in 4. HBV antibodies were found in 145 cases (55%). In conclusion, approximately 60% of HCV carriers found at the time of blood donation were apparently asymptomatic, suggesting the need of longer follow-up. Main routes of infection were estimated to be blood transfusion (33%), other parenteral exposure routes (6%), household (10% or less), and acupuncture (20% or less), considering duplication and priority.

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1993

Resistance to nitric oxide in Mycobacterium avium complex and its implication in pathogenesis.

Susceptibility of three different strains of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), i.e., one strain of M. avium (Mino) and two strains of M. intracellulare (31F093T and KUMS 9007), to nitric oxide (NO) generated by rat alveolar macrophages (M phi) or NO generated chemically by acidification of NO2- was examined in vitro. We also investigated the effects of NO on phagocytosis and superoxide anion (O2-) generation by M phi. The intracellular growth of M. avium Mino was significantly suppressed by NO generated by gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-stimulated M phi, whereas that of two strains of M. intracellulare (31F093T and KUMS 9007) was not. M. avium Mino was also more susceptible to NO generated chemically by acidification of NO2- than the two M. intracellulare strains. In L-arginine (1 mM)-containing medium, NO release from the M phi assessed by measuring NO2- increased as the concentration of IFN-gamma increased. The enhancing potential of IFN-gamma for NO release became more pronounced when M phi were infected with 31F093T, an NO-resistant strain. A large amount of NO generated by IFN-gamma-stimulated M phi suppressed both phagocytosis and O2- generation by the M phi, especially after infection of the M phi with strain 31F093T. These results indicate that the intracellular growth of MAC is not always inhibited by NO generated by immunologically activated M phi; rather, NO generation induced by infection with an NO-resistant MAC strain suppresses phagocytosis of the M phi, which may allow extracellular spreading of such NO-resistant mycobacteria. Therefore, the pathogenic potential of MAC may be partly attributed to its resistance to NO.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Pronounced enhancement of .NO-dependent antimicrobial action by an .NO-oxidizing agent, imidazolineoxyl N-oxide.

The antimicrobial action of .NO against Cryptococcus neoformans was investigated by using imidazolineoxyl N-oxide, which we recently reported removes .NO via oxidation (T. Akaike, M. Yoshida, Y. Miyamoto, K. Sato, M. Kohno, K. Sasamoto, K. Miyazaki, S. Ueda, and H. Maeda, Biochemistry 32:827-832, 1993). No appreciable fungicidal activity was observed in neutral .NO solutions. Imidazolineoxyl N-oxide induced or enhanced fungicidal action in neutral or acidic .NO solutions, respectively. Our results provide convincing evidence that .NO is not a microbicidal molecular species.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1993

Rigid spine syndrome and nocturnal alveolar hypoventilation.

A 17-year-old Japanese woman with rigid spine syndrome (RSS) presented with respiratory failure leading to CO2 narcosis. The clinical symptoms were drowsiness, asterixis and cardiac arrhythmias. Tracheostomy and temporary ventilatory support abolished these symptoms. However, polygraphic sleep studies without a ventilator revealed Cheyne-Stokes respiration and profound arterial oxygen desaturation during rapid eye movement sleep. Nocturnal ventilatory support improved not only nocturnal hypoxemia, but daytime blood gas values during spontaneous breathing. These findings indicate that the onset of respiratory failure is preceded by severe nocturnal hypoxemia and that the evaluation and control of nocturnal respiratory insufficiency is essential for RSS patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Rhabdomyolysis associated with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib--a case report].

An 18-year-old Japanese female with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) type Ib presented with rhabdomyolysis. The patient, who had been tired after long-distance hiking, experienced paresthesiae and subsequent muscle cramps of the four extremities after drinking a small quantity of alcohol. An occurrence of rhabdomyolysis was confirmed by marked elevation of serum CK activities and muscle necrosis revealed by both CT scanning and biopsy. The exertion and alcohol intake probably induced the initial muscle injury. Subsequently, the muscle necrosis might have worsened the asymptomatic hypocalcemia and decreased 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D synthesis in PHP type Ib, which resulted in severe muscle cramps and further muscle destruction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[A case of Listeria rhombencephalitis with a secondary vasculitis suggested by MRI].

We reported a rare case of Listeria rhombencephalitis with meningitis. A 48-year-old healthy man suddenly experienced high fever and headache, then he had lower cranial nerve's palsies and mental dysfunction developed during one week period. On admission, his temperature was 38 degrees C. He was slightly delirious and euphoric. He had nuchal rigidity, mild paresthesia over his left cheek to left upper lip, a right sixth nerve palsy, dysphagia, hiccup, nasal voice and left cerebellar ataxia. His tongue deviated toward the right side on protrusion. A CSF culture grew Listeria monocytogenes. Intravenous antibiotic therapy (PIPC, minocycline hydrochloride) produced improvement in one month except for mild paresthesia and dysphagia. He almost recovered after 7 months of illness. Brain MRI on T2 weighted image demonstrated multiple small ischemic lesions in the left lateral medulla, upper pontine tegmentum in the right side, and pontine tegmentum in the left side. These lesions enhanced by Gd. were assumed to be due to the secondary vasculitis. Listeria rhombencephalitis is extremely rare in human beings. To our knowledge only thirteen cases have been reported. In seven cases, post-mortem pathological findings confirmed necrotizing angitis in brainstem. Clinical aspects of Listeria rhombencephalitis were discussed, and the entity of this disease should be considered as a treatable cause of acute progressive brainstem meningoencephalitis.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

[A case report of combined aortic and mitral regurgitation associated with ankylosing spondylitis].

We reported a case of ankylosing spondylitis which successfully underwent aortic valve replacement for combined aortic and mitral regurgitation. A 42-year-old man was admitted with symptoms of shortness of breath and anginal pain. He was previously diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis by an orthopedician A grade III/VI to and fro murmur was audible at the left sternal border. Retrograde aortography revealed severe aortic regurgitation and mild mitral regurgitation. Cardiac catheterization showed moderately pulmonary hypertension and high pulmonary artery wedge pressure. He underwent aortic valve replacement with SJM prosthetic valve. His postoperative course was uneventful. In Japan, ankylosing spondylitis is rare disease, and cardiac lesions associated with these conditions is seldom met to us. The surgical problems and management of these lesions are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Changes in the plasma abnormal prothrombin level following treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Hokkaido Liver Cancer Study Group focused on the changes in PIVKA-II levels observed in 61 HCC patients after several regimens of treatment in comparison with the AFP levels and the pathophysiological characteristics of HCC. The overall positivity rate for PIVKA-II was 47%, and there was no correlation between the PIVKA-II values and the AFP levels. Accordingly, the HCC detection rate was increased by about 20% by the measurement of both markers. In all, 13 patients underwent hepatic resection, and nonsurgical therapy was carried out in the other 48 subjects. Of the 6 surgically treated patients, 5 (83%) showed a fall in PIVKA-II levels to the normal range immediately after surgery, whereas 14/29 (48%) subjects receiving nonsurgical treatment showed a decrease in PIVKA-II values. Although inconsistency between these tumor markers was detected in four treated cases, we concluded that assay for both of these two parameters may expand their clinical utility for the diagnosis of HCC and monitoring of patients after treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with congophilic kuru plaques: CT and pathological findings of the cerebral white matter.

In a patient whose Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with congophilic kuru plaques that was proved at necropsy, the early brain CT showed low-density areas in the cerebral white matter before cortical atrophy and ventricular enlargement became apparent. Subsequently, there occurred diffuse white matter lucency and severe brain atrophy. At necropsy, there was severe white matter destruction which was more prominent than cortical neuronal loss. Serial CT scans were of great value for demonstrating the early and predominant changes in the cerebral white matter.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[A case of progressive supranuclear palsy presenting mouth opening difficulty with tonic contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle].

A 72-year-old man developed supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, bradykinesia, rigidity, unsteady gait, dementia, dysphagia, retrocollis, grasp reflex and apraxia of eyelid opening. These findings were compatible with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). At the age of 66, he presented a peculiar phenomenon characterized by simultaneous tonic contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle (OOM) and the palatal muscles elicited by pronouncing "pa", which resulted in difficulty of voluntary opening of the mouth and the rhinopharynx. Therefore, the respiration air reciprocated between the lung and the closed mouth. The expiratory pressure puffed out the cheeks, while the lips remained tightly closed. While the respiratory movements and the pressure increased by degree, the OOM contracted more strongly in proportion to the pressure. Sixty to ninety seconds after the elicitation, the pressure overcame the contraction of the OOM and the course of the phenomenon was completed. The electromyograms showed that the OOM activity was prolonged after initial voluntary contraction, remaining thus after a tracheostomy for pneumonia at the age of 72, and that it increased in response to the pressure. Apraxia of eyelid opening, one of the other symptoms, resembled this phenomenon in terms of the aspect of difficulty of voluntary mouth opening. The "holding" phase of grasp reflex, yet another symptom, resembled it in the recruitment of the OOM activity. The phenomenon is not common in patients with PSP. However, we concluded that it may be included among the symptoms of PSP because it has similar characteristics to apraxia of eyelid opening and grasp reflex, which are not uncommon in patients with PSP.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

[Mechanisms of clearance of foreign bodies by macrophages].

Macrophages have specific functions related to the sites where they are found. Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) may play an important role the clearance of invading and degenerative substances from the alveolar spaces. To clarify the mechanisms of the clearance by macrophages, we studied the role of scavenger receptors (SR) and Fc receptors (FcR) of PAM. 1) SR: Expression and localization of SR in human PAM. Type I and II SRs were expressed in human PAM, and the two SRs were confirmed in the same cells by double staining method using polyclonal antibodies to the SRs. These SRs were localized on the cell membrane and the endosome in part. The expression of SR in PAM from normal nonsmokers, smokers and patients with pneumoconiosis was studied, but there were no differences among these groups. Kinetics of SR and acetylated low density lipoprotein (acLDL) in PAM. SR recognized acLDL, and SR and acLDL-Au conjugates were concentrated in a coated pit 2 min after incubation. The conjugates were then internalized in the endosome 5 min after incubation. A few acLDL-Au conjugates were present in the endosome near the nucleus, but most of them were found in the lysosome 10 min after incubation. SR was found in the Golgi apparatus 15 min after incubation. These results suggest that SR in PAM may play an important role in the removal of alveolar surfactant. 2) FcR: Effects of FcR mediated phagocytosis on O2-release and phagosome-lysosome fusion in the phagosome of PAM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Intracellular killing mechanisms of alveolar macrophages against Mycobacterium avium complex].

To clarify the intracellular killing mechanisms of alveolar macrophages against Mycobacterium avium complex, effects of cytokines on O2- and NO2- production from normal and BCG-induced alveolar macrophages were studied. Intracellular growth of M. avium complex was inhibited in the alveolar macrophages stimulated by TNF, but not IFN. Enhancement of O2- production by normal alveolar macrophages stimulated by cytokines, was associated with the inhibition of intracellular growth of M. avium complex. However, when NO2- production by the alveolar macrophages was enhanced by the stimulating of IFN or IFN+TNF, in the presence L-arginine in the culture medium, their defense activity against M. avium complex decreased.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[An autopsy case of four primary cancers including malignant meningioma].

The authors describe an autopsy case of a 68-year-old man with four primary cancers diagnosed at autopsy including malignant meningioma, early esophageal cancer, early gastric cancer and lung cancer. Recently, the number of patients with four and five primary cancers has been increasing. According to the Annual of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, 156 cases were reported during 16 years from 1974 to 1989. In this series, cancers were detected most frequently in stomach, colon, lung, prostate, liver and esophagus. However, only two cases with four and five primary cancers including malignant meningioma were reported. Because occult cancers like prostatic cancers are unexpectedly diagnosed at autopsy, the incidence of four and five primary cancers including malignant meningioma seems to be higher when the central nervous system is examined more frequently at autopsy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

[Isolated angiitis of the CNS associated with Hashimoto's disease].

In 1987, a 69-year-old female suffering from epilepsy and right hemiparesis was admitted to the hospital and given conservative therapy. During the next three weeks she became a stuporous state. Steroids were then prescribed, and she made a complete recovery. Following hormonal and immunological investigations, a diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease with hypothyroidism was made. Following her discharge, thyroxin and anticonvulsant treatments continued. On May 30, 1989, at the age of seventy-one, the patient was found lying unconscious at home, and taken to our hospital. She had signs of a confused state, and seizures of her right arm on admission. Cranial computed tomography (CT) revealed a low density area in the left parieto-occipital lobe, which was heterogeneously enhanced by contrast medium. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a lesion of low signal intensity in T1-weighted images and high signal intensity in T2-weighted images, which was homogeneously enhanced by Gd DTPA. Cerebral angiography disclosed no abnormality. Two weeks later, follow-up CT showed that the lesion had become larger and markedly enhanced. A brain tumor, probably malignant lymphoma, was suspected. On June 14, stereotaxic biopsy of the enhanced lesion was performed. Histopathological examination disclosed dense infiltration of the entire walls of many small parenchymal vessels, both arterioles and venules, by lymphocytes. Treatment for angiitis (betamethasone 16 mg daily) was started on June 20, then gradually tapered, and the lesion diminished on CT. Our case has some features of both isolated angiitis of the central nervous system and encephalopathy in compensated Hashimoto's disease. It is suggested that some common base of the autoimmune diseases exists in this case.

Aged↗