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S Maesaki

Publications and source records attributed to S Maesaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

(1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in culture fluid of fungi activates factor G, a limulus coagulation factor.

Two well-known polysaccharides, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and mannan, are major structural components of the fungus cell wall. The G test is a direct method to measure (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan using a (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component, factor G, fractionated from the limulus lysate. The concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in culture supernatants of Candida albicans increased to 1,390.0 pg/ml at 24 hours. The concentration of mannan also increased parallel with fungal growth. However, after digestion of supernatants with endo-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase, the reactivity to factor G disappeared, although titers of antimannan monoclonal antibody-based latex agglutination were unchanged. Our study demonstrated that cell suspensions of both C. albicans and Cryptoccocus neoformans activated the limulus factor G, and that not only the conidia form but also the filamentous form of Aspergillus fumigatus reacted with factor G. Various Candida spp. (C. paraspilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei), Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhodotorula rubra, Trichosporon beigelii, and A. fumigatus released soluble (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan into their culture supernatants, but C. neoformans and Cunninghamella bertholletiae showed only a small reaction to the G test during their culture. Our results indicate that the G test is a good method for serodiagnosis of deep mycosis and also as a screening tool for contamination of medical devices, drugs, and experimental materials with (1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucan.

Agglutination↗
PubMed1995

Plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan and fungal antigenemia in patients with candidemia, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis.

(1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan is one of the major structural components of fungi, and it seems that it can be detected by the fractionated (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component from a Limulus lysate, factor G. We evaluated the concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan by using factor G and other fungal antigens in 24 patients with clinical evidence of mycosis and 36 healthy subjects. The mean concentration of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in the plasma of the healthy subjects was found to be 2.7 +/- 1.9 pg/ml (range, < 6.9 pg/ml), and it was found to be substantially higher in all 11 patients with candidemia (mean, 2,207.4 pg/ml; range, 325.4 to 8,449.0 pg/ml). Eight of those 11 patients with candidemia (73%) were positive for the Cand-Tec heat-labile candida antigen and only 3 patients (27%) were positive for mannan antigen. Three patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis were positive for galactomannan and had, in addition, high concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan (mean, 323.3 pg/ml; range, 27.0 to 894.0 pg/ml). All 10 patients with cryptococcosis (including 2 patients with probable cryptococcosis) were positive for cryptococcal antigen by the Eiken latex test; however, (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels were not elevated in these patients (mean, 7.0 pg/ml; range, < 16.5 pg/ml). Our results indicated that (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels are elevated in patients with candidiasis and aspergillosis but not in those with cryptococcosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bronchial lavage cytology: report of four cases.

Four cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were diagnosed by cytological detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in bronchial lavage. Three patients had underlying diseases, but not HIV infection. The chest X-rays showed 2 patients with nodular lesions and 2 with cavitary lesions. The cryptococcal antigen in the serum was positive in all four patients. In the cytology of bronchial lavage, Cryptococcus neoformans was detected after period-acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and was cultured in Sabouraud-dextrose agar. The cytology of bronchial lavage is useful for the rapid diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Detection of Candida enolase antibody in patients with candidiasis.

The serodiagnostic value of candida enolase antibody was evaluated in 27 patients with systemic candidiasis. The glycolytic enzyme enolase was prepared from Candida albicans IFM 40009 and used as the antigen for immunoblot assays. IgG class antibody was found in the sera of 17 of 27 patients (62.9%) obtained during the early course of the infection. Serial sampling of sera increased the number of patients with positive Candida enolase antibody, which was detected in 25 of 27 patients (92.5%). None of the patients with localized candidiasis showed a positive IgG titer more than 1:100. The specificity of Candida enolase IgG antibody was 95%. This antibody was observed in various candida species: Candida albicans (6/7, 85.7%); C. parapsilosis (7/9, 77.9%); C. tropicalis (5/5, 100%); C. guilliermondii (4/4, 100%); and C. glabrata (1/3, 33.3%).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The Eiken Latex test for detection of a cryptococcal antigen in cryptococcosis. Comparison with a monoclonal antibody-based latex agglutination test, Pastorex Cryptococcus.

A latex agglutination test for cryptococcal antigen, the Eiken Latex test (Eiken, Tokyo, Japan), was compared with a monoclonal antibody-based agglutination assay, Pastorex Cryptococcus (Diagnostics Pasteur, Marneur-la-Coquette, France). In a murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis, the kinetics of the antigen titers by the Eiken Latex were similar to those by the Pastorex Cryptococcus, but sensitivity was much higher. In HIV-negative patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, a cryptococcal antigen was detected in 6 of 10 patients by the Eiken Latex test and in only 3 of those patients by the Pastorex Cryptococcus. The results indicate that the Eiken Latex is more sensitive for the detection of the cryptococcal antigen, even in non-disseminated cryptococcosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the Eiken Latex were examined using 195 sera from 25 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and 170 patients with non-cryptococcosis. The cutoff value of > or = 1:8 showed a sensitivity of 76% (19/25) and a specificity of 98.9% (168/170).

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1994

[A case of MRSA sepsis treated by the sequential combination therapy netilmycin and minocycline].

A sixteen year old female was feverish from June 12, 1993. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the blood, the diagnosis of MRSA sepsis was established. Vancomycin (2 g/day) was administered for eighteen days, but MRSA was not eradicated in the blood culture. Then she was administered a combination therapy of arbekacin (200 mg/day) and imipenem/cilastain (1 g/day) for seven days, but MRSA in the blood was cultured continuously. The sequential combination therapy of netilmycin (200 mg/day) and minocycline (200 mg/day) was started, MRSA was eradicated from the blood culture after four days. The sequential combination therapy netilmycin and minocycline was seemed to be effective for MRSA infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[A case of brain abscess associated with enterococcal endocarditis].

Enterococcal infections involving the central nervous system are uncommon clinical entities. A 74-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on November 3, 1991 for high fever. Nuchal rigidity was observed at neurological examination. All four blood cultures yielded E. faecalis. The MIC value of ABPC against the isolated E. faecalis was 0.25 microgram/ml. Vegetation on the mitral valve and mitral regurgitation were revealed by an echocardiogram. Enhanced CT scan showed low density area with ring enhancement in the right basal ganglia and a CSF examination suggested bacterial meningitis. He became better after ABPC 8 g/day was intravenously administered. Then the vegetation on the mitral valve and the brain abscess disappeared. He was discharged with no complications. We reported a rare case of brain abscess associated with enterococcal endocarditis.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Anaerobic respiratory infection--evaluation of methods of obtaining specimens].

Anaerobic cultures were performed on various kinds of specimens obtained from 67 patients with respiratory infections. The infections consisted of 33 cases of pneumonia, 14 cases of lung abscess, 6 cases of pyothorax, 9 cases of chronic lower respiratory tract infection, and 5 cases of infection of pulmonary cyst. Specimens included bronchoscopic specimens obtained using a single tube or protected catheter brush (PCB), transtracheal aspirate, percutaneous lung aspirate, aspirate using a suction tube through the tracheostomy or intubation tube, and pleural fluid. Anaerobes were isolated in 80% of pyothorax, 43% of lung abscess, and 15% of pneumonia (42% of aspiration pneumonia), respectively. Anaerobes isolated frequently in respiratory infections included Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Peptostreptococcus spp. In regard to the type of specimen, bronchial aspirate obtained by bronchoscopy was useful in examination of pneumonia, and was useful as percutaneous lung aspirate in examination of lung abscess. But there was discrepancy of culture results between specimens obtained by different methods in the same patient. To confirm anaerobes as pathogens in respiratory infections, it is necessary to select an appropriate method to obtain specimens and to interpret the culture results comprehensively.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of antifungal agent combinations administered simultaneously and sequentially against Aspergillus fumigatus.

The in vitro effects of antifungal agent combinations administered simultaneously and sequentially against 15 strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were tested by the yeast-malt broth method. The synergistic effect of the combination of amphotericin B (AMPH) and miconazole was observed in nine strains (60%). However, the combinations of AMPH and fluconazole, AMPH and ketoconazole, and AMPH and itraconazole administered simultaneously showed antagonistic effects against three (20%), five (34%), and four (26%) strains, respectively. The effects of combinations of azole antifungal agents administered simultaneously were indifferent or antagonistic against A. fumigatus. In experiments measuring the effects of sequentially administered antifungal agents, however, pretreatment with AMPH and then azole antifungal agents exhibited better in vitro efficacy than that found in experiments measuring the effects of simultaneously administered AMPH and azole compounds.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1994

[Clinical studies on the time-difference combination therapy with netilmicin and minocycline in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections].

Twenty-eight patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections were clinically studied for the effectiveness of the time-difference combination use of netilmicin (NTL) and minocycline (MINO). The patients were treated with NTL 100 mg and two hours later, with MINO 100 mg intravenously, twice daily, in the morning and evening for 14 days. Of 26 patients, MRSA was eradicated in 16 (61.5%), decreased in one, and unchanged in nine. Superinfections occurred with Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in two patients. The clinical efficacies were assessed in two patients with septicemia, 16 with pneumonia, and eight with chronic bronchitis. The obtained results were excellent in four patients, good in 15, fair in six, and poor in one patient. The rate of effectiveness was 73.1% (19/26). The overall clinical effectiveness judged by the committee was good in 19, fair in five, and poor in two patients. The efficacy rate was also 73.1% (19/26). Coagulase type II of MRSA was found in 23 patients, and coagulase type III in three patients, with overall clinical efficacy rates of 73.9% (17/23) and 66.7% (2/3), respectively. A side effect of eruption was observed in one patient, and its incidence was 3.6% (1/28). Abnormal laboratory test results were observed in 16 patients (57.1%), including abnormal liver function in 14 patients, abnormal kidney function in three, and increased eosinophils in three. Laboratory abnormalities occurred twelve of 16 bedridden patients, and this rate was higher than that in non bedridden patients. However, these abnormalities were all mild, transient, and immediately recovered after the treatment. In conclusion, the time-difference combination therapy using NTL and MINO was effective in the treatment of MRSA infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[A comparison of pathohistological findings of transbronchial lung biopsy specimens between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections].

The pathohistological findings of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) were compared between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (group A) and Mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MOTT) infections (group B). The number of positive pathological findings in TBLB were 14 (70%) in group A and 2 (16%) in group B, respectively. Eleven cases (55%) in group A were positive for acid-fast bacilli in TBLB by Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and 3 cases of group A showed granulomatous lesion in TBLB. In pathohistological findings of group B, 2 cases (16%) were granulomatous lesion, 4 cases (33%) were fibrosis, and 3 cases (25%) were inflammatory changes. The pathohistological examination of TBLB was more useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis than for MOTT infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Thymic cyst].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1994

[Evaluation of (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in aspergillosis and cryptococcosis].

(1-3)-beta-D-Glucan (beta-glucan) is a major structural component of fungi. The G test is a direct method to detect beta-glucan using fractionated (1-3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive component, factor G, eluted from the limulus lysate. Previously, we reported that the G test is a more sensitive method than the mannan detection assay for the serological diagnosis of Candida infection. In this study, we discuss beta-glucanemia in patients with pulmonary aspergillosis and cryptococcosis. The concentration of beta-glucan was less than 10 pg/ml in 9 of 10 cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis, except for one case receiving hemodialysis (16.5 pg/ml). beta-Glucan increased in 3 cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (27-937 pg/ml). Galactomannan antigen was positive in all of those cases. In 8 cases of aspergilloma, which showed fungus ball on roentgenogram, the mean concentration of beta-glucan was 67.1 +/- 92.7 pg/ml. Two of 8 cases were positive for galactomannan antigen. One of three cases of PAIC (productive aspergilloma on the inner wall of a cavity) and one case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis showed slightly increased levels of beta-glucan and positive results of galactomannan antigen test.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

High detection rates of cryptococcal antigen in pulmonary cryptococcosis by Eiken latex agglutination test with pronase pretreatment.

Two different kits for the detection of serum cryptococcal antigen in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were evaluated. The Eiken test (the Eiken Co., Tokyo), which uses pronase for pretreatment of serum, was compared with the Crypto-LA test (International Biological Laboratories, Cranbury, NJ), which did not use pronase prior to testing. Cryptococcal antigen was detected in 21 of 23 patients (91%) with the Eiken test and in only 10 of 23 patients (43%) with the Crypto-LA test (p < 0.01 by McNemar test). However, the sensitivity of two tests was identical without use of pronase, as both tests could detect as little as 10(4) cells/ml of Cryptococcus neoformans and 10 ng/ml of capsular polysaccharide of C. neoformans. In those serum specimens for which both tests were positive, titers were much higher for the Eiken test, but there was a statistically significant correlation between the two tests (coefficient correlation 0.79, p < 0.01). Cryptococcal antigen titer levels measured by the Eiken test correlated well with clinical courses. There was one false-positive reaction among 82 sera of non-cryptococcal patients. Pronase enhanced the sensitivity of the Eiken test, which appeared to be useful in patients with pulmonary cryptococcal disease, and its use may prevent unneeded lung biopsies.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

An evaluation of serodiagnostic tests in patients with candidemia: beta-glucan, mannan, candida antigen by Cand-Tec and D-arabinitol.

The serodiagnostic tests, beta-glucan, mannan, candida antigen by Cand-Tec, and D-arabinitol were evaluated in 10 patients with candidemia, 14 patients with suspected fungemia, and 10 healthy persons. By blood culture or lysis centrifugation, C. albicans was isolated from 5 patients, C. parapsilosis from 4, and C. tropicalis from 1 patient; no organisms were isolated from the 14 patients with suspected fungemia or the 10 healthy subjects. Beta-glucan was measured by the difference between two chromogenic limulus tests (Endotoxin test-D and Endospecy), which was more than 60 pg/ml in 7 of 9 (78%) candidemic patients and 1 of 12 (8%) patients with suspected fungemia. Mannan was positive in 6 of 10 (60%) candidemic patients and 1 of 13 (8%) patients with suspected fungemia. Both antigens were very sensitive and highly specific for candidemia. However, the Cand-Tec assay was less specific, because titers of more than 4 were observed in 5 of 14 (34%) patients with suspected fungemia. D-Arabinitol was the least sensitive, because a D-arabinitol/creatinine ratio greater than 2.0 mumol/mg was observed in only 2 of 7 (29%) candidemic patients. The titers of serodiagnostic tests decreased after successful treatment with an anti-fungal agent. Our results show that the combined use of the assays in necessary for accurate serological diagnosis of candidemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Treatment of experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in rats with liposomal amphotericin B].

Liposomal amphotericin B was evaluated for toxicity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in Sprague-Dawley rats. The protective effect of liposomes against the toxicity induced by repeated amphotericin B infusions was observed in a survival study of rats, thereby allowing higher dosages to be administered. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that liposomes led to high levels of amphotericin B in the spleen and liver. Drug levels in the lung were higher at ten minutes after intravenous injection of liposomal amphotericin B at 20 mg/kg than of free amphotericin B at 1.5 mg/kg. Efficacy was assessed in rats treated with cortisone acetate, fed a low-protein diet and infected transtracheally with 8 x 10(4) Aspergillus fumigatus spores to cause fetal pneumonia and pulmonary bleeding. Dosages of 20 or 4 mg/kg of liposomal amphotericin B, or 1.5 mg/kg of free amphotericin B were administered intravenously to rats once daily for 8 days. Control rats received saline. Twenty mg/kg of liposomal amphotericin B was as effective on survival rate as 1.5 mg/kg of free amphotericin B. However, 4 mg/kg of liposomal amphotericin B was less effective than 1.5 mg/kg of free amphotericin B, prolonging the mean survival time of rats treated with saline, which showed elevation of galactomannan antigen titers of Aspergillus fumigatus in sera and invasive proliferation or mycelia with bleeding in histopathological sections of the lung. We conclude that liposomal amphotericin B reduces toxicity of the drug, thereby increasing the concentration of the drug in the lung by high-dose administration, but decreases the efficacy of the drug in experimental pulmonary aspergillosis.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1993

[Detection of mecA gene of methicillin resistant staphylococci from oral swabs by polymerase chain reaction].

We evaluated the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR) for the rapid detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and compared it with the conventional culture method. Primers for amplification of mecA gene were synthesized by DNA synthesizer according to the published sequences of mecA gene. The results were as follows: Specificity of PCR was excellent, as there was no cross-reaction with any organism other than MRSA. Fifty colony forming units of MRSA were detected, indicating good sensitivity. We examined oral swabs from 13 bed-ridden patients (age range: 65-82 yrs) by PCR and the conventional culture method. The PCR elicited positive results in 6 out of 13 cases. MRSA or coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) in Mueller-Hinton agar containing 12.5 micrograms/ml methicillin were obtained from all of these PCR-positive specimens. Two of 7 PCR-negative specimens raised MRSA or CNS colonies, but the number of colonies from these specimens was below the sensitivity threshold of the PCR. The good specificity and sensitivity of the PCR method for the detection of mecA gene obtained in this study suggest the possibility of application of this method for detection of MRSA in clinical specimens.

Aged↗