[Characterization of unusual macro CK1 of IgG3kappa-cK-MM type detected in the serum of a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

An unusual creatine kinase (CK) band detected in the serum of a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was studied. The number of platelets of the patient decreased to 2.3 x 10(4)/microL, and serum CK and CK-MB activities increased to 899 and 62.

QuantiFERON TB-2G test for patients with active tuberculosis stratified by age groups.

We evaluated the usefulness of the QuantiFERON TB-2G (QFT-2G) test and the tuberculin skin test (TST) in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease stratified by age in 10-year increments. Although the positive rate on TST was over 80% in younger patients aged < or =9 years, it decreased to 55% in patients of aged 70-79 years and 33% in patients aged over 80 years. However, the positive rate on QFT-2G test was over 80% for the age groups between 10-19 and 60-69 years, excluding younger patients aged < or =9 years.

Clinical evaluation for diagnosing active TB disease and transitional change of two commercial blood tests.

We compared the usefulness of TST, QFT-TB and T-SPOT.TB for the identification of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease and investigated transitional change in both tests during anti-tuberculous treatment. The subjects were 50 healthy volunteers and 48 patients with active TB disease between October 2005 and December 2006.

Clinical utility of the QuantiFERON TB-2G test for elderly patients with active tuberculosis.

Objective: To evaluate the response to the QuantiFERON-TB-2 Gold (QFT-2G) test (Cellestis Ltd; Carnegie, VIC, Australia) in elderly patients with active tuberculosis (TB) to determine whether the QFT-2G test might be a feasible method for diagnosing TB infection in this group of patients.

Methods: The subjects were 30 elderly patients with active TB and 100 younger patients with active TB. The QFT-2G test results were analyzed in relation to combined and separate responses to early secretory antigenic target 6-kD (ESAT-6) protein and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10) antigens.

[In-vitro susceptibilites to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 18,639 clinical isolates obtained from 77 centers in 2004].

A total of 18,639 clinical isolates in 19 species collected from 77 centers during 2004 in Japan were tested for their susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and other selected antibiotics. The common respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae showed a high susceptible rate against FQs. The isolation rate of beta lactamase non-producing ampicillin-resistant H.

[In vitro susceptibilites to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 11,475 clinical isolates obtained from 52 centers in 2002].

The susceptibilities of bacteria to fluoroquinolones (FQs), especially levofloxacin, and other antimicrobial agents were investigated using 11,475 clinical isolates collected in Japan during 2002. Methicillin susceptible staphylococci, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, the family of Enterobactericeae, Haemophilus influenzae and Acinetobacter spp. exhibited stable and high susceptibilities to FQs.

Heterogeneity of mitochondrial creatine kinase.

The heterogeneity of cardiac sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (creatine N-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.

[Activities of antimicrobial agents against 8,474 clinical isolates obtained from 37 medical institutions during 2000 in Japan].

A survey was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobial agents against 8,474 clinical isolates obtained from 37 Japanese medical institutions in 2000. A total of 25 antimicrobial agents were used, comprising 4 fluoroquinolones, 13 beta-lactams, minocycline, chloramphenicol, clarithromycin, azithromycin, gentamicin, amikacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and vancomycin. A high resistance rate of over 85% against fluoroquinolones was exhibited by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecium.

Mitochondrial creatine kinase with atypical pI values detected in serum of a patient with ovarian hepatoid yolk sac tumor.

Atypical mitochondrial creatine kinase (creatine N-phosphotransferase, CK, EC 2.7.3.