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Biomedical subjects

Y Ban

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ban.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Change in serum G-CSF levels in patients with Graves' disease by treatment with methimazole].

We evaluated the determination of serum G-CSF in the diagnosis of granulocytopenia due to methimazole (MMI) in 54 patients with Graves' disease, while they were being treated with MMI, by way of measuring WBC counts and serum levels of G-CSF, thyroid hormones, IgE, and interleukin-2. Serum TSH was measured by immunoradiometric assay, serum G-CSF was done by enzyme immunoassay, thyroid hormones and IgE were done by radioimmunoassay, and serum Interleukin-2 was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The population whose G-CSF levels were higher than the minimum detectable level (30pg/ml) was 6 (30%) in normal subjects, 4 (22%) in patients with untreated Graves' disease, 2 (12%) in patients with treated euthyroid Graves' disease, 3 (23%) in patients with Graves' disease who had gone through agranulocytosis, and 2 (33%) in patients with Graves' disease complicated with granulocytopenia. There was no significant change in WBC counts for 4 weeks, but there was a significant difference between WBC counts before treatment and those at 8 weeks after treatment. We observed no significant change of serum G-CSF levels in patients with Graves' disease under treatment. However, there were significantly high levels of serum G-CSF and significantly low counts of WBC in patients with Graves' disease complicated with granulocytopenia induced by MMI, compared with those in normal subjects, patients with untreated Graves' disease, patients with treated euthyroid Graves' disease, and patients with euthyroid Graves' disease who had gone through agranulocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

The problem of the number of tarsomeres in the regenerated cockroach leg.

There are 5 tarsomeres in the normal cockroach leg, but this number is often reduced in regenerated legs. In order to examine this complicated situation, fore-, mid-, and hindlegs of German cockroaches were amputated at 11 different tarsal levels and at 18 different times during the last instar. When tarsi were amputated at or proximal to the 3rd tarsomere, 4-segmented tarsi regenerated. When legs were amputated distal to the 3rd tarsomere, the regenerated tarsi had 5 segments. Three-segmented tarsi rarely regenerated when legs were amputated proximal to 3rd tarsomere and in the latter half of the instar period. The lengths of all tarsomeres of regenerated tarsi were measured together with those of unoperated contralateral tarsomeres, and the ratios of the former to the latter were calculated. The ratios ranged from 28 to 138% for the various tarsomeres and levels of amputation. From a comparison of the ratios and morphological observations, it was suggested that the 3rd tarsomere of the normal 5-segmented tarsus has disappeared in the regenerated 4-segmented tarsus. Pads and disto-lateral spines of tarsomeres were observed on unoperated and regenerated tarsi. It was of interest that double spines were often found on the 4-segmented tarsi, mostly on the 2nd tarsomere, just proximal to the position of the missing 3rd tarsomere. This observation supported the idea that the 3rd tarsomere has not simply disappeared, but has probably fused with the 2nd tarsomere.

Animals

[Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in first-voided urine sediments from male urethritis patients by polymerase chain reaction].

Neisseria gonorrhoeae was detected from first-voided urine sediments of male patients with urethritis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Urine and urinary sediment were treated with proteinase K, and DNA was further purified by phenol extraction. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within a ribosomal RNA gene from N. gonorrhoeae were used as primers for the PCR. A DNA fragment of 206 bp specific for N. gonorrhoeae was amplified by PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. In 19 specimens of urine sediments collected from 21 patients in whom N. gonorrhoeae was isolated from urethral swab by culture, 206 bp DNA fragment was amplified by PCR. In all specimens of urine sediments from 24 patients in whom cultures for N. gonorrhoeae were negative, no DNA was amplified by the PCR. The overall coincidence rate between the PCR for detecting N. gonorrhoeae in first-voided urine sediments and culture in urethral swab was 95.6% (43/45). PCR procedure for detection of pathogens from first-voided urine sediments would be noninvasive and would be applied for the diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis and chlamydial urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

[Clinical evaluation of SD-8828 (antibody coated bacteria assay kit) in urinary tract infection].

Clinical usefulness of a newly developed assay kit for ACB (SD-8828) which detects urinary bacteria coating IgG was evaluated and compared to the enzyme antibody plate method. A total of 48 patients including 20 patients with acute simple cystitis and 28 patients with acute or chronic pyelonephritis, who were shown to have pyuria of at least 5 cells/HPF, bacteriuria of at least 10(4) CFU/ml were enrolled in this study. By enzyme antibody method. ABC was positive in 92.9% of patients with upper urinary tract infection and negative in 100% of patients with lower UTI, this difference being statistically significant (p < 0.02). By SD-8828, 85% of positive coincidence rate and 100% of negative coincidence rate, compared to the enzyme antibody technique, was obtained. The overall coincidence rate was high (91.7%). This SD-8828, a new simple assay for ACB, which detects IgG alternating the plate method, may be used as a convenient method in clinical practice.

Acute Disease

[Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and IDEIA Chlamydia in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from first-voided urine of male urethritis patients].

We have reported a method for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane protein gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2. In the previous report, in addition to treatment of the mixture of first-voided urine (FVU) sediment and 1 ml of urine with proteinase K. DNA purification by phenol extraction was necessary for preparation of template DNA for PCR. In this study, FVU sediment was suspended in 1 ml of Chlamydiazyme dilution buffer and a part of the suspension was treated with proteinase K for DNA extraction. The DNA extraction solution could be used as template for PCR without purification of DNA by phenol extraction. One hundred FVU specimens obtained from male urethritis patients were examined with the two methods (PCR and IDEIA) for detection of C. trachomatis. In 33 of 100 specimens, the DNA fragments of C. trachomatis was amplified by the PCR and in 32 of 100, the chlamydial antigen was detected by IDEIA. The positive and negative coincidence rate of the PCR to IDEIA were 93.8% (30.32) and 95.6% (65/68) respectively, resulting in a high overall coincidence rate at 95%. Thus, the improved method with PCR using FVU as a specimen is proved to be a useful, non-invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of chlamydial urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

[Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum by polymerase chain reaction].

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum was developed. A set of oligonucreotides based on sequences within the 16S ribosomal RNA gene from U. urealyticum were used as extension primers for the PCR. A DNA fragment of 397 bp was amplified by the PCR, when U. urealyticum DNA was template for the PCR. No amplified product was detected from other bacterial DNA including those of Mycoplasma genus. The amplified DNA fragment of 397 bp was detected on agarose gel electrophoresis, when DNA of > or = 10(2) cells of U. urealyticum per PCR was used as template for the PCR. Thus, the PCR procedure was shown to be a simple, rapid and specific method for detection of U. urealyticum and could be applied to detection of U. urealyticum from clinical specimens.

Base Sequence

[Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme) in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from male urethritis].

A method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was compared to an enzyme immunoassay (Chlamydiazyme) for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by testing a reference strain and clinical specimens. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane protein gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2 were used as primers for the PCR. A DNA fragment of 242 bp specific for C. trachomatis was amplified by the PCR, when DNA of greater than or equal to 10(2) C. trachomatis was used as template for the PCR. A chlamydial antigen was detected by Chlamydiazyme, when greater than or equal to 2.6 x 10(3) C. trachomatis were applied for the enzyme immunoassay. The PCR method was 26 times more sensitive than Chlamydiazyme in detection of C. trachomatis. The PCR method and Chlamydiazyme were carried out to examine 74 urethral swabs obtained from male patients with urethritis for detection of C. trachomatis. In 45 of 74 specimens, the DNA fragment of C. trachomatis was amplified by the PCR, and in 41 of 74, the chlamydial antigen was detected by Chlamydiazyme. The detection rate of the PCR method (60.8%) was higher than that of Chlamydiazyme (55.4%). The positive coincidence rate of the PCR method to Chlamydiazyme was 100% (41/41) and negative coincidence rate was 87.9% (29/33). The overall coincidence rate between the two methods was high (94.6%). Thus, the PCR method was more sensitive than Chlamydiazyme for detection of C. trachomatis and specific for diagnosis of chlamydial urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

[Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male patients with urethritis by polymerase chain reaction].

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure was developed for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within a 16S ribosomal RNA gene from N. gonorrhoeae were used as extension primers for the PCR. A single DNA fragment of 206 bp was amplified, when N. gonorrhoeae DNA was template for the PCR. No amplified product was detected in Chlamydia trachomatis DNA, Ureaplasma urealyticum DNA or other bacterial DNAs. The DNA fragment of 206 bp was detected on agarose gel electrophoresis, when DNA of greater than or equal to 6.5 N. gonorrhoeae per PCR was used as template DNA for the PCR. The culture and the PCR were carried out for detection of N. gonorrhoeae in 67 urethral swabs obtained from male patients with urethritis. In 27 of 28 specimens in which N. gonorrhoeae was isolated and identified by the culture, 206 bp DNA fragment was amplified by the PCR, but in one specimen no DNA fragment was detected. In 2 of 39 culture-negative specimens, 206 pb DNA fragment was detected and in the remaining specimens, PCR was negative for N. gonorrhoeae. The overall detection coincidence rate between the culture and the PCR was 95.5% (64/67). Thus, the PCR procedure developed in this study was sensitive and specific for detection of N. gonorrhoeae and could be applied for diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis.

Gonorrhea

[Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in first-voided urine sediments from male urethritis by polymerase chain reaction].

Chlamydia trachomatis was detected from first-voided urine sediments of 97 male patients with urethritis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since urine and urinary sediments only treated with proteinase K inhibited DNA amplification by PCR, DNA was further purified by phenol extraction and concentrated. Two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2 were used as primers. A DNA fragment of 242 bp specific for C. trachomatis was amplified by PCR and detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. The DNA fragment was amplified by PCR in all specimens of urine sediments from 50 patients with Chlamydiazyme-positive urethral swab. In 38 specimens of urine sediments from 47 patients with Chlamydiazyme-negative urethral swab, PCR was negative. The overall coincidence rate between the PCR for detecting C. trachomatis in first-voided urine sediments and Clamydiazyme in urethral swab was 90.7% (88/97). Detection of C. trachomatis from first-voided urine sediments by PCR was considered to be noninvasive and useful for the diagnosis of male urethritis due to C. trachomatis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

Thyroid function before and after induced abortion in normal pregnant women.

We assessed thyroid function before and after induced abortion in 25 normal pregnant women. Serum TSH was significantly increased (P less than 0.02), and serum hCG-beta was significantly reduced (P less than 0.001) 1 week after induced abortion, compared with the levels before induced abortion. There was a significant negative correlation between hCG-beta and TSH, and a positive one between hCG-beta and FT4 before induced abortion (P less than 0.02). No difference was observed in thyroid hormones before and 1 week after induced abortion. The results suggest that hCG stimulates the thyroid gland, gaining an advantage over TSH, in normal pregnant women.

Abortion, Induced

Usefulness of ophthalmic examination in postnatal observation in teratology studies.

Pregnant rats were irradiated with soft x-ray at a dose of 635 r or 1270 r on Day 9 or 11 of gestation. The eyes of F1 offspring were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy in postnatal weeks 3 to 7. Ophthalmoscopic examination of offspring irradiated at a dose of 635r or 1270r on Gestational Day 9 revealed iris and choroidal coloboma together with microphthalmia and anophthalmia at Postnatal Week 3 or later. Choroidal coloboma, an anomaly that cannot be detected by the common external observation method, was found ophthalmoscopically in one rat without any external ocular abnormalities. This fact suggests that ophthalmoscopy in postnatal observation can be useful to detect ocular teratogenic potential of test compounds in preclinical safety studies.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced

[Diagnosis of gonococcal urethritis and chlamydial urethritis by polymerase chain reaction].

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was compared to standard methods (cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis and an enzyme-immunoassay for C. trachomatis) in diagnosis of gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis in 40 male patients with urethritis. Gonococcal urethritis was diagnosed by detection of a 206 bp DNA fragment amplified by PCR with N. gonorrhoeae-specific primers. Chlamydial urethritis was diagnosed by detection of a 242 bp DNA fragment amplified by PCR with C. trachomatis-specific primers. Gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis, gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis, non-gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis, and non-gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis were diagnosed in 8, 10, 14 and 8 patients, respectively, by the PCR method. In 9 patients with gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis, 10 with gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis, 12 with non-gonococcal and chlamydial urethritis, and 9 with non-gonococcal and non-chlamydial urethritis, diagnosed by the standard methods, the coincidence rates of the PCR to the standard methods were 78% (7/9), 90% (9/10), 100% (12/12), and 89% (8/9), respectively. The overall coincidence rate between the PCR and the standard methods in diagnosis of urethritis were high (90%). In addition, N.gonorrhoeae and C.trachomatis could be simultaneously detected from one urethral sample in approximately 6 hours by means of the PCR. Thus, the PCR method could clinically be applied and would offer several advantages to diagnosis of urethritis, compared to the standard methods.

Chlamydia Infections

[Successful management of choriocarcinoma of the testis with brain metastasis: a case report].

A 32-year-old Japanese male consulted a clinic complaining of gynecomastia. Right painless scrotal swelling was also detected. Right high orchiectomy was performed, then the surgical specimen was histopathologically confirmed as choriocarcinoma and mature teratoma. The imaging revealed cerebral, pulmonary, retroperitoneal metastases. After 3 courses of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and peplomycin (PEP therapy), the brain metastasis completely disappeared and the serum titer of the tumor markers such as beta-HCG became normal. The regression rates of lung and retroperitoneal metastases were 68% and 27%, respectively. Therefore, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed. After the 5th course of PEP therapy, lung metastases disappeared completely. Until the present, no evidence of disease has persisted. The PEP therapy, which is a salvage therapy for refractory testicular cancer, was performed as first-line chemotherapy in this case. It was an excellent modality against choriocarcinoma, along with the surgical treatment.

Adult

[Solitary infected renal cyst: a case report].

A 48-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of high fever and left flank pain. Laboratory findings revealed a high white blood cell count, high C-reactive protein level, and severe pyuria. Sonographic examination revealed an enlargement of the cyst at the upper pole of the left kidney that had already been detected. Percutaneous drainage was performed for the cyst and 60 ml of purulent fluid was obtained. Bacterial culture of the fluid was positive for Propionibacterium acnes and gamma-Streptococcus. The drainage and administration of povidone-iodine was continued for 7 days. The size of the cyst was reduced with disappearance of symptoms.

C-Reactive Protein

[A case of Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal black adenoma].

Functional black adenoma of the adrenal gland is rare, and there are few reports. We report a case of functional black adenoma of the adrenal gland associated with Cushing's syndrome. The case was in a 59-year-old female, whose chief complaints were weight gain and general fatigue for 7 years. Clinical and laboratory findings were characteristic to those of Cushing's syndrome. With computed tomography and ultrasonography, a round tumor about 18 x 12 mm was detected at the left suprarenal region. Left adrenalectomy was done and a black tumor, 5.0 g in weight, was obtained. Most of the adenoma cells contained numerous pigmented granules which were considered as lipofuscin. The patient is alive without any symptoms of Cushing's syndrome 8 months after the operation. The Japanese literature of the functional black adenoma was also reviewed.

Adenoma

Evidence for the in vivo formation of ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside in guinea pigs and rats.

In vivo formation of ascorbic acid 2-O-alpha-glucoside (AA-2G) in guinea pigs and rats given ascorbic acid (AA) orally in combination with maltose was examined. A metabolite of AA which has the same HPLC retention characteristics as authentic AA-2G was detected in the blood, urine and liver of guinea pigs 1-2 hr after their administration. The metabolite was isolated from the urine by chromatographic procedures and identified as AA-2G by its UV spectrum, non-reducibility, susceptibility to alpha-glucosidase hydrolysis, HPLC profile and elementary analysis. The same glucoside was also synthesized by rats and found in the urine, although it could not be determined qualitatively in the blood. AA-2G-forming activities of tissue homogenates from both animals were apparently correlated with their alpha-glucosidase activities and, moreover, both activities were completely inhibited by a specific neutral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Thus, we conclude that AA-2G is a possible metabolite produced by enzymatic alpha-glucosidation after a combined administration of AA and maltose to guinea pigs and rats.

Animals

Immunological comparison between prostate-specific antigen and gamma-seminoprotein.

Prostate-specific antigen (PA) and gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-Sm) were compared by immunocytochemical, immunodiffusion and immunoblotting methods using rabbit anti-PA antibody and rabbit anti-gamma-Sm antibody. Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) were developed for measurements of PA and gamma-Sm to determine a correlation between serum PA and gamma-Sm levels in patients with prostate cancer. The patterns of localization and distribution of PA and gamma-Sm were identical in prostate tissue sections, including benign and cancerous human prostates. The immunodiffusion study showed that the antigens with which anti-PA antibody and anti-gamma-Sm antibody reacted in seminal plasma and prostate tissue homogenates were identical to each other. In the immunoblotting study, anti-PA antibody and anti-gamma-Sm antibody recognized a single antigen corresponding to a molecular weight of approximately 33,000 both in seminal plasma and prostate tissue homogenates. The EIAs developed in this study were sensitive, specific, and reproducible, and the correlation between serum PA and gamma-Sm values determined by these EIAs was highly significant (r = 0.99, P less than 0.001). These results indicated that PA and gamma-Sm were immunologically identical and that serum PA and gamma-Sm determined by immunoassays using anti-PA antibody and anti-gamma-Sm antibody should be evaluated as identical tumor markers for serodiagnosis of prostate cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm