An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) colony in Japan

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A novel adenovirus outbreak occurred in a colony of African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs).

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An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) infection was confirmed in 13 APHs.

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AhAdV-1 was isolated from one APH.

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Five APHs died during the outbreak and AhAdV-1 can cause fatal pneumonia in a case.

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AhAdV-1 should be monitored as a potential cause of emerging infections in APHs.

An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in a colony of 24 African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs) with a case of fatal pneumonia occurred in Japan. Thirteen out of a colony of 15 APHs with respiratory symptoms were diagnosed with AhAdV-1 infection based on the detection of AhAdV-1 genome in throat/nasal swabs and further one APH was diagnosed on isolation of the virus. Five infected APHs died during the outbreak and AhAdV-1 caused severe pneumonia and death in one case. After the outbreak, persistent AhAdV-1 infection was suggested in one surviving APH. AhAdV-1 is a novel adenovirus and is suspected to be an emerging pathogen.

Influence of eating quickly and eating until full on anthropometric gains in girls: A population-based, longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

In examining childhood overweight/obesity, there is a need to consider both eating quickly and eating until full. This longitudinal study investigated the influence of eating quickly and/or eating until full on anthropometric variables and becoming overweight/obese among Japanese schoolgirls.

METHODS

Study participants were fourth-grade schoolgirls (aged 9 or 10 years) in Ina Town, Japan. Physical examinations and a questionnaire survey were performed at baseline (fourth grade) and after 3 years (seventh grade). Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured in the physical examinations, while the data on eating quickly and eating until full were collected in the questionnaire survey. Analysis of variance and analysis of covariance were used to compare the differences in each anthropometric variable between fourth and seventh grade among groups.

RESULTS

Data on 425 non-overweight/obese schoolgirls in fourth grade were analyzed. Gains in anthropometric variables (body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio) from fourth to seventh grade were significantly larger in the "eating quickly and eating until full" group than in the "not eating quickly and not eating until full" group. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the gains between the "eating quickly or eating until full" group and the "not eating quickly and not eating until full" group. The proportion of overweight/obese girls in seventh grade was higher in the "eating quickly and eating until full" group than in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Eating quickly and eating until full had a substantial impact on excess gains in anthropometric variables among schoolgirls, suggesting that modifying these eating behaviors may help prevent non-overweight/obese girls from the excess gains. Accordingly, school health programs need to focus on not eating quickly and/or not eating until full to prevent overweight/obesity; it is necessary to emphasize "the risk of overweight/obesity associated with these eating behaviors" in schools.

Rapid weight gain during infancy and early childhood is related to higher anthropometric measurements in preadolescence

BACKGROUND

This study examined the relationship between rapid weight gain during infancy and/or early childhood and anthropometric measurements [body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (%BF), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] in preadolescence by sex.

METHODS

Subjects were fourth-grade school children (aged 9 to 10 years) from elementary schools in Ina-town, Japan, in 2010. Measurements of height, weight, %BF and WC were conducted for each subject. We obtained data on height and weight of subjects at birth, age 1.5 years and age 3 years from the Maternal and Child Health handbook. Rapid weight gain was defined as a change in weight-for-age standard deviation score greater than 0.67 from birth to age 1.5 years (infancy) or from age 1.5 to 3 years (early childhood).

RESULTS

All anthropometric variables (BMI, %BF, WC and WHtR) at age 9 to 10 years were significantly higher in the rapid weight gain during both infancy and early childhood period group than in the no rapid weight gain group, regardless of sex. When compared with the no rapid weight gain group, rapid weight gain during early childhood period had significantly higher BMI and WC in boys and BMI, %BF and WC in girls. Compared with the no rapid weight gain group, the rapid weight gain during infancy group had a significantly higher WC in boys and significantly higher BMI and WC in girls.

CONCLUSION

Rapid weight gain during both infancy and early childhood was related to higher anthropometric measurements, including WHtR, among Japanese preadolescents, regardless of sex. This study suggests that rapid weight gain during infancy and early childhood may be a risk factor for general/abdominal obesity later in life.

Analysis of individual differences in radiosensitivity using genome editing

Current standards for radiological protection of the public have been uniformly established. However, individual differences in radiosensitivity are suggested to exist in human populations, which could be caused by nucleotide variants of DNA repair genes. In order to verify if such genetic variants are responsible for individual differences in radiosensitivity, they could be introduced into cultured human cells for evaluation. This strategy would make it possible to analyse the effect of candidate nucleotide variants on individual radiosensitivity, independent of the diverse genetic background. However, efficient gene targeting in cultured human cells is difficult due to the low frequency of homologous recombination (HR) repair. The development of artificial nucleases has enabled efficient HR-mediated genome editing to be performed in cultured human cells. A novel genome editing strategy, 'transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated two-step single base pair editing', has been developed, and this was used to introduce a nucleotide variant associated with a chromosomal instability syndrome bi-allelically into cultured human cells to demonstrate that it is the causative mutation. It is proposed that this editing technique will be useful to investigate individual radiosensitivity.

Rapid weight gain during early childhood is associated with overweight in preadolescence: a longitudinal study in Japan

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between rapid weight gain during early childhood and overweight in preadolescence by sex.

METHOD

Study subjects were 676 boys and 620 girls in fourth grade (aged 9 or 10 years) from elementary schools in Ina-town, Japan, during 2010-2012. Height and weight of subjects at birth, age 1.5 and 3 years, were collected from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, while values at 9-10 years were measured. Rapid weight gain was defined as a change in weight-for-age standard deviation score greater than 0.67 from birth to age 1.5 years (0-1.5 years) or from age 1.5 to 3 years (1.5-3 years).

RESULTS

After adjustment for confounding factors, compared with no rapid weight gain, rapid weight gain during 0-1.5 years and 1.5-3 years or rapid weight gain during 1.5-3 years but not during 0-1.5 years significantly increased the odds ratio (OR) for overweight at age 9-10 years in boys (OR, 6.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.84-13.58 and OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.67-6.54, respectively) and girls (OR, 7.55; 95% CI, 2.99-19.07 and OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 1.38-8.49, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that rapid weight gain during early childhood was associated with being overweight in preadolescence, regardless of sex.

Development and Validation of LC-MS/MS Assay for the Quantification of Progesterone in Rat Plasma and its Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of progesterone levels in rat plasma. Progesterone-d9 was used as an internal standard (IS). Samples were prepared using salting-out assisted liquid/liquid extraction (SALLE), and the extracts were injected directly onto the LC-MS/MS system. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a CAPCELL PAK C18 MGIII column (100 mm × 2.0 mm, i.d. 5 µm) using methanol and aqueous 0.1% formic acid solution gradient as the mobile phase with a constant flow rate of 0.45 mL/min. Electrospray ionization in the positive-ion mode was employed. Multiple reaction monitoring of the precursor to product ion pairs, from m/z 315.20 to m/z 109.10 for progesterone and from m/z 324.26 to m/z 113.07 for the IS, was used for quantification. Good linearity was observed over the concentration range of 0.05-20.00 ng/mL with a weighted (1/x(2)) linear regression. The intra- and inter-day precision (% relative standard deviation [RSD]) across 3 validation days over the entire concentration range was lower than 6.7%. Accuracy (% nominal) determined at 5 quality control concentrations was between 94.0 and 103.7%. The validation method was applied in a pharmacokinetic study evaluating progesterone levels after intramuscular or vaginal administration to ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) calculated after intramuscular administration was more than 4 times higher than the AUC measured following vaginal administration of a comparable dose.

"Living electrode" as a long-lived photoconverter for biophotolysis of water

Living blue-green algae (Mastigocladus laminosus), immobilized on an SnO(2) optically transparent electrode with calcium alginate, functioned as an anodic photoelectrode on continuous illumination for periods of time adequate for use in a conventional electrochemical cell. This "living electrode" shows promise of use as a long-lived photoconverter of solar radiant energy to electric energy and as a suitable replacement for unstable chloroplast systems.

Medium-term results of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy using irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy using irinotecan, 5-FU, and leucovorin (LV) for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer, which was a powerful ploychemotherapy in those days in Japan.

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2004, 26 patients with T3 or T4 and N0-2 non-metastatic resectable rectal cancer were selectively enrolled in this study. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of irinotecan (80 mg/m²), 5-FU (500 mg/m²), and LV (250 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15 for 4 weeks. Surgical resection was performed in all the patients 2-4 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

Overall down-staging was observed in 15 patients. T level and N level down-staging were observed in 12 and 13 patients, respectively. A pathological complete response was observed in one patients. The median follow-up period was 75 months (range, 8-97 months). Recurrences occurred in 5 patients including pelvic relapses in 3 and distant metastases in 2. The 5-year relapse-free and overall survival rates were 74% and 84%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy comprised of a combination of multi-drugs as irinotecan, 5-FU, and LV may be beneficial to the prognoses of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Link between obstructive sleep apnea and increased bone resorption in men

The bone metabolic abnormalities in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were examined. Severity-dependent increases in the serum/urinary levels of bone resorption markers and their attenuation following continuous positive airway pressure therapy in subjects with OSA provide the first evidence of a link between OSA and abnormal bone metabolism.

INTRODUCTION

Hypoxia, microinflammation and oxidative stress, well-known pathophysiological features of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are also known to affect bone metabolism. We examined the bone metabolic abnormalities in patients with OSA and also the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on these abnormalities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted in 50 consecutive male subjects visiting a sleep clinic and 15 age-matched control subjects without OSA. Plasma concentrations of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alfa, 3-nitrotyrosine, osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and urinary concentrations of cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) were examined before and after 3 months' CPAP in subjects with OSA.

RESULTS

The plasma levels of the cytokines as well as the urinary CTX levels were higher in subjects with severe OSA than in those with mild OSA or control subjects. Significant decrease of the urinary excretion of CTX (before: 211+/-107 vs. after: 128+/-59 microg/mmol/creatinine; p<0.01) as well as of the plasma levels of the cytokines was observed following 3 months' CPAP.

CONCLUSIONS

Severity-dependent increases in the serum/urinary levels of bone resorption markers and their reversal following CPAP in subjects with OSA provide the first evidence of a link between OSA and abnormal bone metabolism.

Transient activation of transgene expression by hydrodynamics-based injection may cause rapid decrease in plasmid DNA expression

The intranuclear disposition of exogenous DNA is quite important for the therapeutic effects of the administered DNA. The expression efficiency from one copy of exogenous DNA delivered by hydrodynamics-based injection dramatically decreases over time, and this 'silencing' occurs without CpG methylation. In this study, naked luciferase-plasmid DNA was delivered into mouse liver by hydrodynamics-based injection, and modifications of the histones bound to the plasmid DNA were analyzed by a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. In addition, the effects of a second hydrodynamics-based injection on the expression from the plasmid DNA were examined. The ChIP analysis revealed that the modification status of histone H3 remained constant from 4 h to 4 weeks. Surprisingly, the injection of saline without DNA enhanced the luciferase expression from the preexisting DNA administered 4 and 14 days previously. Our results suggest that histone modification plays no role in the silencing. Instead, our data suggest that the transgene expression is activated by the hydrodynamics-based injection manipulation, and that the return from the activated status causes the silencing.

Inhibitory effect of cinnamaldehyde, derived from Cinnamomi cortex, on the growth of influenza A/PR/8 virus in vitro and in vivo

We have investigated the inhibitory effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde (CA), one of the principal constituents of essential oil derived from Cinnamomi cortex, on the growth of influenza A/PR/8 virus in vitro and in vivo. When 1-h drug treatment was initiated at various times post-infection (p.i.) in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells using a fixed dose of CA (40 microM), the maximum inhibitory effect (29.7% virus yield of control) was obtained when drug treatment was started at 3h p.i. Under the same treatment schedule, CA inhibited the virus growth in a dose-dependent manner (20-200 microM), and, at 200 microM, the virus yield was reduced to an undetectable level. RT-PCR and SDS-PAGE analyses showed that CA inhibited viral protein synthesis at the post-transcriptional level. In mice infected with the lung-adapted PR-8 virus, inhalation (50mg/cage/day) and nasal inoculation (250 microg/mouse/day) of CA significantly increased survival rates on the 8 days to 100% and 70%, respectively, in contrast to a survival rate of 20% in the untreated control group. Importantly, inhalation of CA caused virus yield reduction by 1 log in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid on day 6 after infection, compared with that of the untreated control group. These findings might provide further support to the empirical indication of Cinnamomi cortex-containing Kampo medicines for acute respiratory infectious diseases.

Characterization of several amino acid transports and glutamine metabolism in MOLT4 human T4 leukemia cells

The transport system responsible for glutamine, alanine and glutamate in MOLT4 human T4 leukemia cell line were characterized. Kinetic studies of sodium-dependent glutamine and alanine transport exhibited a single saturable high-affinity carrier with a Michaelis constant of 152 +/- 26 microm and 203 +/- 36 microm and a maximal transport velocity of 960 +/- 165 and 1096 +/- 208 nmol/10(9)cells/min, respectively. Glutamate uptake was less than one-tenth of glutamine and alanine, and linearly increased with glutamate concentration which was mediated by diffusion. 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), known as anion channel blockers, inhibited the sodium-dependent glutamine and alanine transport by 40% at 10 microm. Cellular contents of these amino acids in MOLT4 cells revealed glutamate to be the highest among them despite low glutamate influx. A glutamine metabolism study using whole cells indicated this high conversion rate from glutamine to glutamate, but no conversion to another amino acid. Based on these results, the high glutamate concentration in MOLT4 was speculated to be synthesized from transported glutamine by active glutaminase.

Finasteride 1 mg has no inhibitory effect on omeprazole metabolism in extensive and poor metabolizers for CYP2C19 in Japanese

OBJECTIVE

To examine the inhibitory effect of finasteride 1 mg on the metabolism of omeprazole in genetically determined extensive (EMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs) for CYP2C19 in young healthy Japanese male subjects.

METHODS

Twenty-four volunteers participated in this study, among whom 12 were homozygous EMs and 12 were PMs for CYP2C19. A single center, controlled, randomized, open, crossover study with a 5 day washout between the two study periods was performed. Each of the six EMs and PMs received a single oral 20 mg dose of omeprazole on day 1 (treatment I). After a 5 day washout period, these subjects received 1 mg of finasteride once a day for three consecutive days, and a single oral 20 mg dose of omeprazole was co-administered on day 3 (treatment II). The 12 other EMs and PMs received treatments I and II in reverse. Plasma samples were collected for up to a 12 hours postdose of omeprazole, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of omeprazole were determined.

RESULTS

The geometric mean ratio (GMR) for the AUC((0-12 hr)) of omeprazole when co-administered with finasteride/omeprazole alone is 1.13 (90%CI, 1.03, 1.25) and 0.96 (0.88, 1.05) in EMs and PMs, respectively. Finasteride did not significantly alter C(max), T(max) and t(1/2) in both genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Finasteride 1 mg, widely used for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men, did not meaningfully increase omeprazole exposure (20 mg) in both EMs and PMs for CYP2C19. These results indicate that finasteride does not meaningfully inhibit CYP2C19 activity in vivo at the dose of 1 mg.

Blood-pressure-lowering effect of a novel fermented milk containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in mild hypertensives

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of a new fermented milk product containing GABA (FMG) on the blood pressure (BP) of patients with mild hypertension.

DESIGN

A randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial.

SETTING

The study was carried out at the outpatient clinic of the Cardiovascular Disease Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, Japan.

SUBJECTS

The study population comprised 39 mildly hypertensive patients (16 women and 23 men) aged 28-81 y (mean, 54.2 y).

INTERVENTIONS

The study consisted of a 12-week period of daily intake of FMG or placebo (weeks 1-12) followed by 2 weeks of no intake (weeks 13 and 14). We measured the peripheral BP and heart rate of seated patients at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 14. Routine blood study and urinalysis were performed before and after the intake.

RESULTS

There was a significant decrease of BP within 2 or 4 weeks, and it remained decreased throughout the 12-week intake period. For the FMG recipients, the mean decrease after 12 weeks was 17.4+/-4.3 mmHg in the systolic BP (SBP) and 7.2+/-5.7 mmHg in the diastolic BP (DBP). Both of these values differed statistically from baseline levels (P<0.01), and the SBP of the FMG group differed from the placebo group (P<0.05). Heart rate, body weight, hematological and blood chemistry variables, and urinalysis results (glucosuria and proteinuria) did not vary both groups throughout the study.

CONCLUSION

FMG may contribute to lowering BP in mildly hypertensive people.

Clinical implications of cardiac (123)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy and cardiac natriuretic peptides in patients with heart disease

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether or not cardiac sympathetic nerve activity, using (123)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-MIBG) imaging, and cardiac natriuretic peptides (atrial and brain, ANP and BNP) were independent predictors of cardiac events, and, if so, which was the stronger predictor. Planar (123)I-MIBG images were obtained from 62 patients with heart disease. Plasma ANP and BNP levels, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by echocardiography, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were measured. (123)I-MIBG was assessed as the heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio of the delayed image and the washout rate (WoR) from the early to the delayed image. Patients were followed up for an average of 16.2 months, and 12 of 62 patients had cardiac events. Patients with events had significantly lower LVEF and H/M ratio compared with those without events. They had significantly higher WoR, ANP and BNP. By multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, (123)I-MIBG (H/M or WoR), ANP and BNP were independent predictors for cardiac events. Event-free survival using a Kaplan-Meier model, with a threshold value of 2.0 for H/M and 45% for WoR, showed that patients with H/M<2.0 and/or WoR>45% had a significantly poorer prognosis. These results suggest that (123)I-MIBG imaging and cardiac natriuretic peptides are useful tools for the evaluation of patients with heart disease, and that cardiac sympathetic nerve activity is a stronger predictor of cardiac events.

Enhanced resistance to seed-transmitted bacterial diseases in transgenic rice plants overproducing an oat cell-wall-bound thionin

Bacterial attack is a serious agricultural problem for growth of rice seedlings in the nursery and field. The thionins purified from seed and etiolated seedlings of barley are known to have antimicrobial activity against necrotrophic pathogens; however, we found that no endogenous rice thionin genes alone are enough for resistance to two major seed-transmitted phytopathogenic bacteria, Burkholderia plantarii and B. glumae, although rice thionin genes constitutively expressed in coleoptile, the target organ of the bacteria. Thus, we isolated thionin genes from oat, one of which was overexpressed in rice. When wild-type rice seed were germinated with these bacteria, all seedlings were wilted with severe blight. In the seedling infected with B. plantarii, bacterial staining was intensively marked around stomata and intercellular spaces. However, transgenic rice seedlings accumulating a high level of oat thionin in cell walls grew almost normally with bacterial staining only on the surface of stomata. These results indicate that the oat thionin effectively works in rice plants against bacterial attack.

Continuous lumbar drainage for the preoperative management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Continuous drainage of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analyzed for the preoperative management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in 50 consecutive cases of surgically treated aneurysmal SAH. Patients were divided into a lumbar drainage group, in whom continuous lumbar CSF drainage was established for preoperative management, and a non-lumbar drainage group. Rebleeding from the aneurysm during the insertion of the lumbar drainage tube and during continuous lumbar drainage, effect on the control of the systolic blood pressure, and effect on the sedation of the patient were examined. Continuous lumbar CSF drainage significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure. Seven of 17 patients in the non-lumbar drainage group had systolic blood pressure uncontrollable to below 150 mmHg even when a large amount of nicardipine was used, whereas only two of 33 patients had the same problem in the lumbar drainage group. Sedation was better in the patients in the lumbar drainage group with a smaller amount of analgesics. The rebleeding rate was 11.7% among patients in the non-lumbar drainage group, and 9.09% among patients in the lumbar drainage group. No rebleeding occurred during insertion of the lumbar drainage catheter. Continuous lumbar CSF drainage improved control of systolic pressure and sedation, and is a useful method of preoperative management for patients with aneurysmal SAH.

Nitric oxide-mediated antitumor activity induced by the extract from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) in a macrophage cell line, RAW264.7

We have investigated D-fraction (MDF) extracted from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom) on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-mediated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 (RAW) cells, a murine monocyte/macrophage cell line, with special reference to antitumor activity of MDF against human hepatoma-derived huH-1 cells. MDF could induce iNOS mRNA expression in RAW cells in a dose range of more than 30 microg/ml, but the effect of 10 microg/ml of MDF was negligible. The iNOS mRNA expression induced by 100 microg/ml of MDF was 6 hrs later, but lasted for a longer time than that of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a representative iNOS inducer. Although iNOS mRNA levels in MDF-stimulated cells were almost equal to LPS-stimulated cells at the peak time, the cumulative amount of nitrite was only about 50% compared with that of LPS-treated cells. When huH-I cells were cultured in MDF containing media in a 24-well plate with inserted porous bottom in the presence or absence of RAW cells, the viability of huH-1 cells decreased significantly only in the presence of RAW cells in MDF dose-dependent manner. This antitumor activity of RAW cells in the presence of MDF was abolished or attenuated by the addition of L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor, confirming that this phenomenon is due to iNOS-mediated NO production by RAW cells, but not direct cytotoxic activity of MDF against huH-1 cells. These data suggest that MDF is a novel inducer for iNOS which contributes at least in part to antitumor activity of MDF.

Immunoglobulin treatment prevents congestive heart failure in murine encephalomyocarditis viral myocarditis associated with reduction of inflammatory cytokines

We have previously shown that immunoglobulin therapy suppressed murine coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis. In the present study, we examined the effects of immunoglobulin upon murine myocarditis induced by encephalomyocarditis virus, which is not pathogenic to humans. Antiviral activity of immunoglobulin (Venilon) against encephalomyocarditis virus could not be detected in vitro. The production of cytokines was decreased in virus-infected macrophages by the treatment of immunoglobulin in vitro. Immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally to the virus-infected C3H/He mice daily for 2 weeks, beginning simultaneously with virus inoculation in experiment I and on day 14 after virus inoculation in experiment II. In experiment I, survival rate did not differ significantly between immunoglobulin-treated and untreated groups. In experiment II, survival rate was higher in immunoglobulin compared with control groups. Immunoglobulin administration suppressed the development of myocardial necrosis with T-lymphocyte infiltrates in mice not only in the acute viremic but in the chronic aviremic stages concomitantly associated with the reduction of inflammatory cytokines, i.e., tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and interleukin-6. Taken together, immunoglobulin therapy could have the potential to prevent congestive heart failure.

Doppler index and plasma level of atrial natriuretic hormone are improved by optimizing atrioventricular delay in atrioventricular block patients with implanted DDD pacemakers

Doppler index is the sum of isovolumetric contraction time and isovolumetric relaxation time divided by ejection time and has clinical value as an index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial performance. This crossover study compared the Doppler index and atrial natriuretic hormone (atrial natriuretic peptide) [ANP] between optimal (AV) delay and prolonged AV delay in patients with DDD pacemakers. The study included 14 patients (6 men, 8 women, age 78.4+/-9.3 [SD] years) with AV block with an implanted DDD pacemaker. AV delay was prolonged in a 25-ms, stepwise fashion starting from 125 ms to 250 ms. Pacing rate was set at 70 beats/min. Cardiac output (CO) was assessed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography, and optimal AV delay was defined as the AV delay at which CO was maximum, and an AV delay setting of 250 ms as prolonged AV delay. Plasma level of ANP and Doppler index determined by echocardiography were measured 1 week after programming. AV delay was switched to another AV delay and measurements were repeated after 1 week. Optimal AV delay was 159+/-19 ms. Doppler index was significantly lower at optimal AV delay than at prolonged AV delay (0.68+/-0.26 vs 0.92+/-0.30, P < 0.05). The plasma ANP level was significantly lower at optimal AV delay than at prolonged AV delay (29.0+/-30.7 vs 52.6+/-44.9 pg/mL, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the Doppler index and the plasma ANP level were significantly lower at optimal AV delay than at prolonged AV delay. This study shows the importance of the optimal AV delay setting in patients with an implanted DDD pacemaker, the Doppler index and plasma ANP levels are good indicators for optimizing AV delay.

Deformation of the ventrolateral medulla oblongata by subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured vertebral artery aneurysms causes neurogenic pulmonary edema

The occurrence of neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured aneurysm was analyzed in 48 consecutive patients. Correlations of the location of the aneurysm, clinical grade, amount of subarachnoid clot, and severity of NPE were examined. NPE was observed in 29.4% of all SAH cases, but the incidence was significantly higher in cases of ruptured vertebral artery (VA) aneurysm. Clinical grade, severity of NPE, and deformation of the medulla oblongata were studied in the five cases of ruptured VA aneurysm. Deformation of the ventrolateral medulla oblongata was observed in all patients. Asymmetry index of the medulla oblongata measured on the axial computed tomography scan was correlated with the severity of NPE. Severity of NPE tended to correlate with deformation of the medulla oblongata. NPE associated with ruptured VA aneurysm is caused by deformation of the ventrolateral site of the medulla oblongata by the localized hemorrhage.

Validation of an analytical method for a potent antitumor agent, TZT-1027, in plasma using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific analytical method for a potent antitumor agent, TZT-1027, in plasma has been developed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with [2H4]TZT-1027 as an internal standard (I.S.). A plasma sample was purified by solid-phase extraction on a C18 cartridge, followed by solvent extraction with diethyl ether. The extract was then injected into the LC-MS system. Chromatography was carried out on a C18 reversed-phase column using acetonitrile-0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (55:45) as a mobile phase. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed in atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mode with positive ion detection, and the protonated molecular ions ([M+H]+) of TZT-1027 and I.S. were monitored to allow quantitation. The method was applied to the determination of TZT-1027 in human, monkey, dog, rat and mouse plasma. As far as the sample preparation was concerned, good recoveries (73.5-99.1%) were obtained. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.25-100 ng per 1 ml of human, dog and rat plasma, per 0.5 ml of monkey plasma, and per 0.1 ml of mouse plasma. From the intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision, the present method satisfies the accepted criteria for bioanalytical method validation. TZT-1027 was stable when stored below -15 degrees C for 6 months in human plasma and for 3 weeks in plasma from other species. TZT-1027 was also stable in plasma through at least three freeze-thaw cycles.

Tranilast inhibits TGF- A1 secretion without affecting its mRNA levels in conjunctival cells

The present study was conducted to assess the effect of Tranilast, a drug developed as anti-keloid and anti-hypertrophic scar agent, on the level of transforming growth factor- A1 (TGF- A1) mRNA, and on TGF- A1 secretion in Chang Conjunctiva cells. TGF- A1 mRNA was not detected in Chang Conjunctiva cells by Northern blot analysis, but reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis confirmed the presence of TGF- A1 mRNA. Tranilast, whereas the drug had no effect on the levels of TGF- A1 mRNA and cellular protein, time- and dose-dependently inhibited TGF- A1 secretion from Chang Conjunctiva cells in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. TGF- A1 is suggested to cause fibroblast proliferation, that obstructs aqueous humor filtration route after glaucoma filtration surgery. Tranilast, potentially inhibiting TGF- A1 secretion, therefore, could be a promising drug to prevent from scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery.

Construction and characterization of a Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae bacterial artificial chromosome library

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is an important plant pathogen which causes bacterial blight of rice. To facilitate genome studies of this bacterium, we have constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of strain MAFF 311018. It consisted of 750 clones representing 16 genome equivalents, and had an insert size ranging from 20 to 220 kb with an average size of 107 kb. This library is the first to be constructed from a X. oryzae pv. oryzae strain. The usefulness of this library was demonstrated through polymerase chain reaction screening of 11 genes and the 16S--23S rDNA spacer region in a 192-clone subset, representing five genome equivalents. The results obtained showed an average of 5.9 BAC clones per screening. This result is in good agreement with the estimated size of the test library, indicating that the constructed BAC library can be used to facilitate genome analysis of X. oryzae pv. oryzae.

Spatial expression patterns of genes involved in cyclic AMP responses in Dictyostelium discoideum development

The spatial expression patterns of genes involved in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responses during morphogenesis in Dictyostelium discoideum were analyzed by in situ hybridization. Genes encoding adenylyl cyclase A (ACA), cAMP receptor 1, G-protein alpha2 and beta subunits, cytosolic activator of ACA (CRAC and Aimless), catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA-C) and cAMP phosphodiesterases (PDE and REG-A) were preferentially expressed in the anterior prestalk (tip) region of slugs, which acts as an organizing center. MAP kinase ERK2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2) mRNA, however, was enriched in the posterior prespore region. At the culmination stage, the expression of ACA, CRAC and PKA-C mRNA increased in prespore cells in contrast with the previous stage. However, no alteration in the site of expression was observed for the other mRNA analyzed. Based on these findings, two and four classes of expression patterns were catalogued for these genes during the slug and culmination stages, respectively. Promoter analyses of genes in particular classes should enhance understanding of the regulation of dynamic and coordinated gene expression during morphogenesis.

FebA: a gene for eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP) in Dictyostelium discoideum

We have identified a gene encoding a eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4E-BP) in the EST database of the Dictyostelium cDNA project. The Dictyostelium 4E-BP, designated febA (four e-binding), showed significant similarity to mammalian 4E-BPs. Northern blot analysis revealed that febA was expressed at a high level in the vegetative growth phase but the level of expression decreased during late development. The gene was shown to be non-essential since disruption of the gene had no severe effect; the null mutant proliferated normally and formed normal fruiting bodies. However, strains overexpressing the gene could not be established, suggesting that an excess of FebA protein may have a lethal effect on the cells.

Large cholesterol granuloma arising from the frontal sinus--case report

A 59-year-old male presented with a large cholesterol granuloma arising from the frontal sinus manifesting as a large, fluctuated, soft mass in his brow, compressing left eye. Skull radiography showed dilation of the frontal sinus. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cystic mass extending into the left orbit and anterior cranial fossa. Gross inspection at the frontal craniotomy showed mucinous, dark green fluid intermingled with shining material. The histological diagnosis was cholesterol granuloma with epithelial lining. Large cholesterol granuloma with facial deformity is always associated with bone and cosmetic problems. Wide opening of the frontal sinus followed by cyst wall removal and plastic repair of the skull is necessary.

Inhibitory effect of (+)-catechin on the growth of influenza A/PR/8 virus in MDCK cells

We investigated whether (+)-catechin, a building block of tannins contained in the extract of Ephedrae herba (EHext), exerts an inhibitory effect on the acidification of intracellular compartments such as endosomes and lysosomes (referred to as ELS), and thereby inhibits the growth of influenza A PR/8/34 (PR8) virus (H1N1 subtype) in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. The vital fluorescence microscopic study with acridine orange showed that 1-h treatment with (+)-catechin inhibited the acidification of ELS in a concentration-dependent manner (1.0-10.0 mM). Moreover, the growth of PR8 virus was inhibited markedly when the cells were treated with (+)-catechin (1.25-10.0 mM) for 1 h immediately after infection, or treated within as little as 5 to 10 min after infection. Conversely, virus growth resumed within 3 h concomitantly with the reappearance of acidified ELS after removal of (+)-catechin. Similar to EHext, (+)-catechin inhibited both the acidification of ELS and the influenza virus growth. It suggests that (+)-catechin is one of the active components in EHext.

Administration of isoferulic acid improved the survival rate of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice

BACKGROUND

Isoferulic acid (IFA) is a main active ingredient of the rhizoma of Cimicifuga beracleifolia, which is used frequently in Japanese traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory drug. It has been revealed that IFA inhibits the production of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), which is a murine counterpart of the chemokine family that may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases through the chemotactic activity for inflammatory and immune effector cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of IFA on the progression of lethal influenza virus pneumonia in mice by comparison with that of dexamethasone (DX), a potent inhibitor for various inflammatory cytokines including MIP-2.

METHODS

Mice were infected by intranasal inoculation of influenza virus under ether anesthesia. The IFA or DX was given by oral administration once daily for 4 days after infection. After infection, the survival rate and the change in body weight were daily monitored.

RESULTS

IFA administration markedly improved the survival rate and body weight loss of influenza virus-infected mice in a suitable dose range (0.5 mg/day). However, DX administration did not show a beneficial effect at any dose.

CONCLUSION

These data suggested that IFA is a novel tool not only for the intervention therapy, but also for the studies on the pathogenesis of influenza virus-induced pneumonia.

Enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by Juzen-taiho-to in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line

We have investigated the effect of Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48) on inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. TJ-48-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combination induced iNOS mRNA expression earlier, stronger and remained longer that paralleled but with a higher NO production compared to LPS stimulation. TJ-48 itself showed no inducible effect either on NO production or iNOS mRNA expression. This phenomenon could be considered to contribute, at least in part, to the beneficial effects of TJ-48 through the iNOS-mediated activation of biodefense mechanism.

Effect of interleukin 2 on killer cell inhibitory receptors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

The genes for killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIRs) have been cloned and their functions and responses to other molecules, including cytokines, have been partially clarified. However, the expression of KIRs has not been analysed in patients with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who are highly susceptible to microbial infection. Therefore, KIR expression on lymphocytes in patients with RA, and the regulation of KIR expression by interleukin 2 (IL2) in RA was investigated.

METHODS

CD158a/b expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) obtained from 25 patients with RA and 14 healthy subjects was analysed by flow cytometry. Additionally, PBMC from the two groups of subjects were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium with or without IL2 for 48 hours, and then their CD158a/b expression was analysed.

RESULTS

The rate of CD158a expression on the CD8+ cells was lower in patients with RA than in healthy subjects, though there was no significant difference in the CD158a/b expression on the CD16+ cells between the two groups. The upregulation of CD16+CD158a/b+ cells in response to IL2 was significantly reduced in patients with RA compared with healthy subjects.

CONCLUSION

The reduced induction of KIR expression in response to IL2 may provide insight into the reason for the high susceptibility of patients with RA to microbial infection.

[Ruptured dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery concurrent with contralateral intracerebellar hemorrhage]

A case of a dissecting vertebral aneurysm concurrent with contralateral cerebellar hemorrhage is reported. A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). On admission, CT scanning showed SAH and left cerebellar hematoma. Angiography was performed and it revealed a dissecting aneurysm of the right vertebral artery. Proximal clipping of the right vertebral dissecting artery was performed through right suboccipital craniotomy. During the operation, the cerebellar hemisphere gradually became firm, but the operation was finished without any complications. After the operation, the patient's consciousness level decreased from somnolence to semicomatose for a period of 2 hours 30 min. CT scanning showed the left cerebellar hematoma expanding. The cerebellar hematoma was evacuated immediately by midline suboccipital craniectomy, and the patient's consciousness level improved. In such a case, care must be taken to discover the cause of the expansion and to prevent concurrent hematoma during the operation. Through this case, discussion was held concerning the pitfalls of treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage concurrent with intracerebral hematoma in the remote region.

Enhanced production of macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) by in vitro and in vivo infections with encephalomyocarditis virus and modulation of myocarditis with an antibody against MIP-2

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemotactic cytokine for neutrophils and lymphocytes. Macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) is a murine counterpart of IL-8. The present study was performed to determine whether MIP-2 aggravates murine myocarditis. We examined (i) the MIP-2-producing activity of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-infected cultured macrophages, (ii) serial plasma MIP-2 levels in EMC virus-induced mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and (iii) the effects of antimouse MIP-2 monoclonal antibody (MAb) in vivo upon myocarditis. The production of MIP-2 increased in an infection dose- and time-dependent manner in virus-infected RAW 264. 7 macrophages. Five-week-old C(3)H/He mice were inoculated with EMC virus. Plasma MIP-2 levels were significantly elevated in mice on days 7 and 14 postinfection. Mice were injected subcutaneously with anti-MIP-2 MAb at 10 microg/day (group 2) or 100 microg/day (group 3) on days 0 to 5 and were observed until day 21. Uninfected control mice (group 1) were prepared. The survival rate was higher in the anti-MIP-2-treated group (group 3), but not in group 2, than in the control group. Histopathological analysis revealed that cellular infiltration and myocardial necrosis with macrophage and T-cell accumulation were less prominent in the anti-MIP-2 MAb-treated group, but not in group 2, compared to the level in the controls. MIP-2 is an important naturally occurring inflammatory cytokine in myocarditis, and anti-MIP-2 MAb treatment may prevent the inflammatory response.

Brain surface ependymoma

A case of brain surface ependymoma is reported here. A 41-year-old woman presented with weakness of the right upper limb. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left fronto-parietal cystic tumor with a calcified mural nodule. Total removal of the tumor was performed. This tumor was located within the surface portion of the fronto-parietal parenchyma and was sharply demarcated from the surrounding brain tissue, and there was no continuity with the ventricles. Histological examination of this tumor showed monotonous proliferation of tumor cells with moderate cellularity and occasional mitoses, forming true ependymal rosettes and perivascular pseudorosettes with fibrillary background. A clear cell component resembling oligodendroglioma was partly noted. The tumor cells showed positive immunoreaction for glial fibrillary acid protein and vimentin.

Immunoglobulin treatment ameliorates murine myocarditis associated with reduction of neurohumoral activity and improvement of extracellular matrix change

OBJECTIVES

We examined effects of immunoglobulin on murine myocarditis induced by encephalomyocarditis virus, not pathogenic to humans, and analyzed the plasma cytokine and catecholamine levels and the changes of the extracellular matrix with or without the treatment.

BACKGROUND

We have previously shown that immunoglobulin therapy suppressed murine coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis by an antiviral effect. However, it is not yet determined whether beneficial effects of immunoglobulin for myocarditis are due to antiviral effects or to other unknown effects.

METHODS

Antiviral activity of human immunoglobulin (Polyglobin-N) against encephalomyocarditis virus was determined in vitro. Immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally to the virus-infected mice daily for two weeks, beginning simultaneously with virus inoculation in experiment I and on day 14 after virus inoculation in experiment II.

RESULTS

Antiviral activity of immunoglobulin could not be detected in the assay of a plaque-reduction method in vitro. The in vivo study showed that immunoglobulin administration ameliorated both myocardial necrosis with interstitial fibrin deposition in experiment I and interstitial fibrosis with the improvement of ventricular remodeling in experiment II by the reduction of plasma catecholamines, interferon-alpha, and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunoglobulin therapy could suppress myocarditis associated with the improvement of extracellular matrix changes by the reduction of neurohumoral activity.

Single genotype of measles virus is dominant whereas several genotypes of mumps virus are co-circulating

We have reported that in Japan measles virus strains have been classified into three distinct different genotypes (C1, D3 and D5) under the new international genotype classification since 1984. Similarly, mumps virus strains have been divided into two genotypes with three subtypes (B1, B2, B3, and D) under the proposed international classification since 1976. To differentiate these genotypes we developed a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay in the hemagglutinin (H) region for measles virus and in the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) region for mumps virus to facilitate the expanded molecular epidemiology. In the Sapporo 1995/1996 measles outbreak, all 26 strains were classified as D5. Among 32 samples from patients with measles from 1994 to 1997 in Tokyo, 28 were identified as D5 and four were D3; these D3 strains were ascertained as a same hospital acquired infection. Among 45 strains obtained in the Tokyo 1999 outbreak, 38 were D3 and the remaining seven were D5. The dominant genotype of measles in Tokyo has replaced from D5 to D3 similar to the Chicago1/89 strain. We obtained 220 samples from patients with mumps from 1993 to 1997 and they were classified into one strain of B1, 14 strains of B2, 151 strains of B3, and 54 strains of D. Therefore, we suggest that two or three subtypes of mumps virus are co-circulating with a different geographic pattern in genotype distribution, whereas a single measles virus genotype is dominantly observed, showing different epidemiological patterns.

Acute eosinophilic myocarditis in a young woman

The first stage of eosinophilic myocarditis is called the necrotizing phase. This stage of eosinophilic myocarditis of unknown cause is often fulminant and rapidly fatal, occurring predominantly in males. Here, we report a case of eosinophilic myocarditis in the acute necrotizing phase occurred without known cause in a 23-year-old Japanese female. Severe diffuse hypokinesis of the left ventricular wall motion (ejection fraction 19.3%), significant concentric edematous thickening of the left ventricular wall (20.1 mm in diastole) and a moderate amount of pericardial effusion (10 mm wide echo free space posteriorly) were revealed by echocardiography. Eosinophils were observed and degranulated eosinophilic cationic proteins were stained with antibody against eosinophilic cationic proteins (EG2) in the myocardial specimens obtained by myocardial biopsy. In spite of its severity, the disease resolved promptly with steroid therapy.