Halo Structure of the Neutron-Dripline Nucleus ^{19}B

The heaviest bound isotope of boron ^{19}B has been investigated using exclusive measurements of its Coulomb dissociation, into ^{17}B and two neutrons, in collisions with Pb at 220  MeV/nucleon. Enhanced electric dipole (E1) strength is observed just above the two-neutron decay threshold with an integrated E1 strength of B(E1)=1.64±0.06(stat)±0.12(sys)  e^{2} fm^{2} for relative energies below 6 MeV. This feature, known as a soft E1 excitation, provides the first firm evidence that ^{19}B has a prominent two-neutron halo. Three-body calculations that reproduce the energy spectrum indicate that the valence neutrons have a significant s-wave configuration and exhibit a dineutronlike correlation.

First Observation of ^{20}B and ^{21}B

The most neutron-rich boron isotopes ^{20}B and ^{21}B have been observed for the first time following proton removal from ^{22}N and ^{22}C at energies around 230  MeV/nucleon. Both nuclei were found to exist as resonances which were detected through their decay into ^{19}B and one or two neutrons. Two-proton removal from ^{22}N populated a prominent resonancelike structure in ^{20}B at around 2.5 MeV above the one-neutron decay threshold, which is interpreted as arising from the closely spaced 1^{-},2^{-} ground-state doublet predicted by the shell model. In the case of proton removal from ^{22}C, the ^{19}B plus one- and two-neutron channels were consistent with the population of a resonance in ^{21}B 2.47±0.19  MeV above the two-neutron decay threshold, which is found to exhibit direct two-neutron decay. The ground-state mass excesses determined for ^{20,21}B are found to be in agreement with mass surface extrapolations derived within the latest atomic-mass evaluations.

Nucleus ^{26}O: A Barely Unbound System beyond the Drip Line

The unbound nucleus ^{26}O has been investigated using invariant-mass spectroscopy following one-proton removal reaction from a ^{27}F beam at 201  MeV/nucleon. The decay products, ^{24}O and two neutrons, were detected in coincidence using the newly commissioned SAMURAI spectrometer at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The ^{26}O ground-state resonance was found to lie only 18±3(stat)±4(syst)  keV above threshold. In addition, a higher lying level, which is most likely the first 2^{+} state, was observed for the first time at 1.28_{-0.08}^{+0.11}  MeV above threshold. Comparison with theoretical predictions suggests that three-nucleon forces, pf-shell intruder configurations, and the continuum are key elements to understanding the structure of the most neutron-rich oxygen isotopes beyond the drip line.

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project

Twelve high schools in Japan (of which six are in Fukushima Prefecture), four in France, eight in Poland and two in Belarus cooperated in the measurement and comparison of individual external doses in 2014. In total 216 high-school students and teachers participated in the study. Each participant wore an electronic personal dosimeter 'D-shuttle' for two weeks, and kept a journal of his/her whereabouts and activities. The distributions of annual external doses estimated for each region overlap with each other, demonstrating that the personal external individual doses in locations where residence is currently allowed in Fukushima Prefecture and in Belarus are well within the range of estimated annual doses due to the terrestrial background radiation level of other regions/countries.

Observation of low- and high-energy Gamow-Teller phonon excitations in nuclei

Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in atomic nuclei are sensitive to both nuclear shell structure and effective residual interactions. The nuclear GT excitations were studied for the mass number A = 42, 46, 50, and 54 "f-shell" nuclei in ((3)He, t) charge-exchange reactions. In the (42)Ca → (42)Sc reaction, most of the GT strength is concentrated in the lowest excited state at 0.6 MeV, suggesting the existence of a low-energy GT phonon excitation. As A increases, a high-energy GT phonon excitation develops in the 6-11 MeV region. In the (54)Fe → (54)Co reaction, the high-energy GT phonon excitation mainly carries the GT strength. The existence of these two GT phonon excitations are attributed to the 2 fermionic degrees of freedom in nuclei.

Problems in the regulation of genetic tests in Japan: what can we learn from direct-to-consumer genetic tests?

As one of the countries that have invested greatly in the field of bioscience, Japan is facing difficulties introducing human genetic research to the market. A key issue is how to regulate the quality of genetic testing. Since genetic testing is a part of clinical laboratory tests, the regulatory framework for these tests should cover the regulation of genetic testing. Nevertheless, the quality of clinical laboratory tests has been regulated largely by the authority of medical professionals. The fact that genetic testing can be provided without supervision of medical professionals reveals the necessity for the regulation of quality of genetic testing. While medical geneticists have publicly criticized direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, a group of industries related to DTC genetic testing have established self-regulatory guidelines on the quality control of genetic analysis, based on the OECD guidelines. This article describes the regulatory framework for clinical laboratory tests including genetic tests, and the gaps in regulation, which are particularly highlighted by the appearance of DTC genetic testing. Furthermore the current initiatives taken by different organizations, especially the self-regulatory initiatives by related industries, will be discussed. To conclude the article, recommendations to improve the situation will be made.

Gamow-Teller strength distributions in 48Sc by the 48Ca(p,n) and 48Ti(n,p) reactions and two-neutrino double-beta decay nuclear matrix elements

The double-differential cross sections for the 48Ca(p,n) and 48Ti(n,p) reactions were measured at 300 MeV. A multipole decomposition technique was applied to the spectra to extract the Gamow-Teller (GT) components. The integrated GT strengths up to an excitation energy of 30 MeV in 48Sc are 15.3+/-2.2 and 2.8+/-0.3 in the (p,n) and (n,p) spectra, respectively. In the (n,p) spectra additional GT strengths were found above 8 MeV where shell models within the fp shell-model space predict almost no GT strengths, suggesting that the present shell-model description of the nuclear matrix element of the two-neutrino double-beta decay is incomplete.

Correlations between bone mineral density and demographic, lifestyle, and biochemical variables in community-dwelling Japanese women 69 years of age and over

INTRODUCTION

A few epidemiologic studies have comprehensively attempted to identify risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly Asian women. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic, lifestyle, and biochemical factors correlated with BMD in elderly Japanese women 69 years of age and over.

METHODS

The study design was cross-sectional. The subjects were 583 ambulatory women aged 69 years and over, and their average age was 74.3 (SD 4.4) years. Predictor variables were age, reproductive history, anthropometric indices, grip strength, calcium intake, lifestyle information, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D), osteocalcin (OC), and undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) values. The outcome variable was forearm BMD measured with a DTX-200 osteometer.

RESULTS

Simple linear regression analyses showed that BMD was significantly positively associated with body height, weight, body mass index, grip strength, serum albumin concentration, and "housework," and negatively associated with age, years since menopause, age at menarche, number of children, serum 1,25(OH)(2)D concentration, serum OC concentration, and ucOC concentration. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that weight (beta=0.00316, SE=0.00028, R(2)=0.180), age (beta=-0.00321, SE=0.00050, R(2)=0.108), log-transformed serum OC (beta=-0.0445, SE=0.0064, R(2)=0.053), log-transformed serum 1,25(OH)(2)D (beta=-0.0401, SE=0.0074, R(2)=0.050), "farmwork" (beta=0.00904, SE=0.00426, R(2)=0.005), and serum 25(OH)D concentration (beta=0.000281, SE=0.000120, R(2)=0.003) were significantly associated with BMD.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that body weight is a major predictor of forearm BMD among the factors measured in this study in independent Japanese women 69 years of age and over and that serum 1,25(OH)(2)D concentration may be associated with cortical BMD. Maintenance of body weight is very important for maintaining BMD in this population, unless a large weight aggravates obesity-related diseases. A follow-up study is needed to confirm these findings.

Crystal structure-reactivity correlation in single-crystalline photochromism of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene

Single-crystalline photochromism of 1,2-bis(2-methyl-5-phenyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene 1a was followed in situ by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The crystal of 1a has two molecules with different conformations in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The X-ray analysis of the photoirradiated crystal showed that the photocyclization reaction of the molecule with the shorter distance between the reactive carbons prevails over the reaction of the other molecule. The mechanism has been discussed based on the calculation of the electronic transitions of the two molecules in the different conformations. The photocyclization quantum yield was determined to be 1 (100%) in the crystal.

Prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in a geographically defined area in Japan

OBJECTIVE

Little has been understood regarding the frequency of eating disorders in Japan. This study was designed to identify the prevalence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in Japan.

METHOD

We asked doctors in all of the relevant medical facilities (130 hospitals and 1,326 clinics) in Niigata Prefecture to report patients with DSM-IV-diagnosed eating disorders who appeared or were admitted between 20-24 October 1997. The response rate was 94.4%.

RESULTS

The estimated point prevalences of AN and BN were 4.79 and 1.02, respectively, per 100,000 females. Specifically for the age group of 15-29 years, the prevalence of AN was 17.10 and that of BN 5.79.

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of AN and BN in Japan is lower than that for European Caucasian populations. This result may be due to cultural and ethnic differences and/or it may be a transient phenomenon.

Higher incidence of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 than in type 1 diabetes in early-onset diabetes in Japan

BACKGROUND

Whether the type of diabetes, race, and year and age of diagnosis affect the incidence of diabetic vascular complications is unknown. That both type 1 and type 2 diabetes occur in the young Japanese population prompted us to investigate whether the type of diabetes and the year of diagnosis are related to the incidence of nephropathy.

METHODS

Of the 17,256 diabetic patients who visited the outpatient clinic at our diabetes center between 1965 and 1990, 1578 (9.1%) had early-onset diabetes (diagnosed before the age of 30); of these, 620 (39%) had type 1, and 958 (61%) had type 2 diabetes. The incidence of nephropathy was analyzed in the patients according to postpubertal duration and year of diagnosis.

RESULTS

The cumulative incidence of nephropathy after 30 years of postpubertal diabetes was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in type 2 diabetic patients (44.4%, 95% CI, 37.0 to 51.8%) than in type 1 diabetic patients (20.2%, 95% CI, 14.9 to 25.8%). The incidence of nephropathy among type 1 diabetic patients has declined during the past two decades, whereas it has not among type 2 diabetic patients. The rate ratio for type 2 diabetic patients diagnosed between 1980 and 1984 relative to type 1 diabetic patients diagnosed in the same period was 2.74 (95% CI, 1. 17 to 6.41).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of nephropathy has declined in Japanese patients with type 1 but not in those with type 2 diabetes. In young Japanese patients, because of the higher incidence of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes and the higher prevalence of type 2 than type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is likely the major cause of diabetic nephropathy.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in active women of middle and advanced age in a rural community in Japan

There have been few epidemiologic studies on vitamin D status in Asians. The purpose of this study was to investigate the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in active women of middle and advanced age in Japan. We targeted 236 women who participated in an annual health check-up program in September 1997. Among them, 160 women were examined. Serum 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 levels were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. In addition, the study included survey questions regarding age, body weight and height, occupation, use of skin protection, clinical and reproductive histories, and lifestyles. The average age was 65.6 y (SD = 8.3). The mean concentrations of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 were 0.5 (SD = 3.2) nmol/L and 78.3 (SD = 17.8) nmol/L, respectively. None of the subjects showed hypovitaminosis D (25[OH]D < 37.0 nmol/L). Concentrations of 25(OH)D3 did not change with age (r = -0.079, P = 0.32), nor did other variables associated with 25(OH)D3 concentrations except for "engaging in farming" (P = 0.03) in the occupational category. These findings indicate that 25(OH)D levels in active middle- and advanced-aged women in Japan have appropriate vitamin-D status. Studies to elucidate and assess the dietary intake of vitamin D in Japanese women can be of further benefit.

Donor cell induced CD69 expression and intracellular IL-2 and IL-4 production by peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from kidney transplant recipients

Flow cytometry assays, which measure CD69 activation and intracellular cytokine production, have been used to measure peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) responses to in vitro antigen exposure. In the present study, we show that, in healthy individuals and immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients, CD69 expression and intracellular cytokine production by peripheral blood T cells compare favorably to thymidine uptake as a measure of PBL response to alloantigen in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC). Heparinized whole blood from 23 healthy individuals was incubated for 24-48 h with 3rd party allogeneic monocytes; blood from twelve kidney transplant recipients was incubated with monocytes from their kidney donor and with monocytes from unrelated individuals. The percentage of T cells expressing surface CD69 or intracellular IL-2 or IL-4 was determined by 3-color flow cytometry. We identified 5 donor-specific response patterns in our kidney transplant group. One transplant recipient was hyporesponsive; his cells did not express CD69 or produce IL-2 in response to either donor or 3rd party allogeneic cells. All other transplant recipients expressed CD69 and IL-2 in response to 3rd party allogeneic cells. Two had no response to donor cells (donor-specific hyporesponsiveness), three had donor-specific anergy (CD69 expression without cytokine production in response to donor cells), five had a donor-specific Thl response (CD69 expression and IL-2 production in response to donor cells), and one had a donor-specific Th2 response (CD69 expression and IL-4 but not IL-2 production in response to donor cells). Rapid measures of donor-specific hyporesponsiveness such as CD69 activation antigen expression and intracellular cytokine production may prove valuable in monitoring lymphocyte function and aid in the long-term management of kidney transplant recipients.

Assessment of insulin resistance in acromegaly associated with diabetes mellitus before and after transsphenoidal adenomectomy

With a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp method, whole-body insulin resistance was assessed in 6 cases with acromegaly associated with diabetes mellitus before and after transsphenoidal adenomectomy. The glucose infusion rate (GIR) correlated well with the plasma IGF-I level but poorly with that of GH. Further improvement in insulin sensitivity occurred 3-4 months after operation without substantial changes in plasma levels of both GH and IGF-I or glycemic control. These results indicate that GH excess can induce insulin resistance in association with plasma IGF-I and also through undefined secondary effect.

Polymorphism at codons 114, 116, 145, and 163 muddle the typing of HLA-B*1304

Genetic exchanges often muddle the typing of HLA class I molecules, this is also the case for HLA-B*1304. Serologic and molecular DNA class I typing report a B15/B55 type for cell 847, whereas DNA sequencing finds B*5501/B*1304. HLA-B*1304 differs by no more than four amino acids from other HLA-B13 molecules, a comparative analysis of the B13 and B15 families was therefore performed to determine why serologic and molecular DNA approaches report a B15 type for B*1304. Comparisons demonstrate that limited differences individuate the B15 and B13 molecules such that the genetic recombination of codons 145 and 163 in the class I heavy chain's alpha 2 alpha helix prompt B*1304 to exhibit a B15X21 pattern of serologic cross-reactivity. Molecular DNA class I typing approaches are also swayed by genetic recombinations to type B*1304 as a B15 molecule: B15-like nucleotide sequences encoding residues 114, 116, and 145, lead B*1304 to exhibit a B15 PCR amplification pattern. Thus, genetic exchanges encoding key amino acids in the class I heavy chain lead molecular and serologic typing approaches to categorize HLA-B*1304 as a member of the B15 family.

Abnormalities of T waves in effort angina pectoris patients at rest evaluated by spatial velocity electrocardiogram

The normal shape of the T wave on the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is asymmetrical. The spatial velocity electrocardiogram (SVECG) is a method of recording the slope of the wave of the ECG and makes it possible to quantify the symmetry of the ECG-T wave. The aim of this study was to diagnose resting effort angina pectoris not detectable by conventional resting ECG using SVECG. We studied SVECG-T waves in effort angina pectoris patients with significant coronary artery stenosis but with normal resting ECG (AP group: 50 subjects) and in an age- and sex-matched normal controls (N group: 30 subjects). The SVECG is depicted as a simple differential wave, and all SVECG-T waves had two peaks. The first peak of the SVECG-T wave was designated as the 'a' wave and the second peak as the 'c' wave. The heights (a wave-mag, c wave-mag) and c wave-mag/a wave-mag ratio (c/a ratio) were calculated. The c/a ratio was significantly decreased in the AP group (1.52 +/- 0.29 vs 1.87 +/- 0.27, p < 0.0001). In cases below the cut off c/a ratio of 1.7, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for effort angina pectoris were retrospectively evaluated to be 82%, 70% and 78%, respectively. The heights of the 'a' and 'c' waves correspond to the maximum slope of the ascending and descending limbs of the T wave on ECG. The symmetrization of the T wave on ECG is considered to occur when the c/a ratio decreases and approaches 1.0. In conclusion, the c/a ratio of the SVECG-T wave is a useful index to diagnose effort angina pectoris at rest when the resting ECG is normal.

Different ratios in 20 S proteasomes and regulatory subunit complexes in two isoforms of the 26 S proteasome purified from rabbit skeletal muscle

A ubiquitin/ATP-dependent proteinase complex (26 S proteasome) was highly purified from rabbit skeletal muscle. The purified 26 S proteasome easily dissociated into a 20 S proteasome and a regulatory subunit complex on non-denaturing PAGE. By using cleavable and non-cleavable cross-linkers, it was revealed that the 26 S proteasome exists in two isoforms: one (D complex) consists of the 20 S proteasome and the regulatory subunit complex in the ratio of one to two, while the other (C complex) exists in an equal molar ratio. Molecular masses of the former and the latter isoforms were estimated to be 1,700 kDa and 1,400 kDa, respectively, by gel filtration, and 2,400 kDa and 1,400 kDa, respectively, by Ferguson plot analysis. Furthermore, both isoforms efficiently hydrolyzed Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-MCA and ubiquitin-conjugated [125I]lysozyme. These results suggest that the D and C complexes are active proteinase complexes, most probably corresponding to the dumbbell-like and mushroom-like (or space capsule-like) molecules, respectively.

Involvement of retinoic acid and its receptor beta in differentiation of motoneurons in chick spinal cord

Retinoic acid is known to play an important role during development of central nervous system. In order to clarify function of retinoic acid during the development, we investigated expression pattern of the chick retinoic acid receptor subtype beta gene by an in situ hybridization method. We found that expression of the beta gene is localized in neural tube at stages 16-20, then is turned to be restricted to developing motoneurons at stages 23-29. These results suggested that retinoic acid and its receptor beta are involved in differentiation of the motoneurons in spinal cord.

Isoforms of retinoic acid receptor beta expressed in the chicken embryo

The cDNA sequences of isoforms of retinoic acid receptor beta from the chick have been determined. The sequence is different from that reported previously only in the 5' region, suggesting a product of alternative splicing and differential usage of promoters. One of them, the novel RAR-beta 4 isoform, is presumed to encode an amino-terminal truncated region A of retinoic acid receptor beta.

Retinoic acid induces polarizing activity but is unlikely to be a morphogen in the chick limb bud

Retinoic acid is a putative morphogen in limb formation in the chick and other vertebrates. In chick limb formation, it is thought that retinoic acid is released from the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) and the concentration gradient of retinoic acid formed from the posterior to the anterior provides positional cues for digit formation. Implantation of a bead containing retinoic acid at the anterior margin of the limb bud induces a mirror-image symmetrical duplication of the digit pattern similar to that observed when the ZPA is grafted into the anterior margin of the host limb bud. Also, the level of endogenous retinoic acid (25 nM on average) is higher in the posterior one third of the limb bud. We found that when the bead containing either retinoic acid or an analogue but not the ZPA, was implanted in the anterior margin of the chick limb bud, expression of the retinoic acid receptor type-beta gene was induced around the bead within 4 h. These results indicate that exogenous retinoic acid is not identical with the ZPA morphogen. As the anterior tissue exposed to retinoic acid has polarizing activity, we conclude that the primary function of exogenous retinoic acid is to induce polarizing activity in the limb bud.

Functional modes of retinoic acid in mouse osteoblastic clone MC3T3-E1, proved as a target cell for retinoic acid

Mouse osteoblastic clone MC3T3-E1 was proved as a target cell for retinoic acid (RA) in bone tissues through the demonstration of RA-receptor gene expression by the northern blot analysis. The effect of RA on the cell growth of MC3T3-E1 was repressive for both subconfluent and confluent growth, whereas RA enhancement of alkaline phosphatase expression was observed at the confluent stage. This implies that RA is a regulatory factor leading osteogenesis of the cells after the confluent stage. RA exhibited simultaneously the stage-dependent effects on EGF-dependent mitogenesis: promotive at the subconfluent, but repressive at the confluent stage.

[Detection of papillomavirus common antigens in plantar epidermoid cysts]

A total of 23 cases of human papillomavirus-associated epidermoid cysts, including one presented here, have been reported in Japan. A review of the literature revealed that the appearance of eosinophilic intracellular substances and that of vacuolar substances in the horny layer of cysts characterize these cases. High detection of human papillomavirus, the pathological features in these cases, and the observation of our case from the onset in which verrucous lesions had preceded a cyst may favor the possibility that HPV would directly produce cysts in these cases.

[Surgical treatment of ventricular septal rupture following myocardial infarction in an aged patient with bronchial asthma]

Urgent surgery for ventricular septal rupture following myocardial infarction in a 75-year-old female with bronchial asthma was successfully performed. On Feb 28, 1988, she had chest pain, and was admitted 5 days later because of the appearance of heart murmur. Pansytolic murmur (Levine 4/VI) on 3 LSB and piping sound on both lung fields was heard, ECG showed acute anteroseptal infarction. Right heart Swan-Ganz catheterization revealed left to right shunt, and the diagnosis was ventricular septal rupture following acute anteroseptal infarction with bronchial asthma. The initial hemodynamic condition was not serious, but soon after the diagnosis was confirmed, IABP was inserted and operation was indicated because of the advanced age, high shunt ratio (70%) and complication of bronchial asthma. The operation was performed a day after septal rupture. The perforation in the ventricular septum of the apex was sutured with a xenopericardium patch by mattres sutures through a left ventricle approach, and the ventricular wall was closed with this patch together. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 43rd day after the operation.

[Plasma and tissue concentration of tegafur by a new soft capsule type suppository in colorectal carcinoma]

Plasma, tissue, and Lymph-node concentrations of tegafur and 5-FU were examined in 19 patients with colonic and rectal carcinoma after administration of tegafur by a new soft capsule type suppository: Plasma levels of tegafur and 5-FU after administration by soft capsule were much higher than those seen using supp. type suppositories. Tissue levels of 5-FU were high in tumor tissue compared to levels found in adjacent normal tissue. Lymph node levels of 5-FU were higher than plasma levels. Lymph node levels of 5-FU in the first-group lymph nodes were higher than in the second-group. These results suggest the clinical usefulness of administration of tegafur by soft-capsule suppository.

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of stereoisomers of 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid methyl 1-(phenylmethyl)-3-piperidinyl ester

1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic++ + acid methyl 1-(phenylmethyl)-3-piperidinyl ester 1, a highly potent calcium antagonist, was separated into stereo- and optical isomers to investigate the differences of antihypertensive activities between them. Fractional crystallization of the hydrochlorides of 1 gave alpha- and beta-diastereoisomers. The alpha-isomer (benidipine hydrochloride, KW-3049) showed very strong hypotensive effect, but little activity was observed in the beta-isomer. From optically resolved 1,4-dihydro-5-methoxycarbonyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3- pyridinecarboxylic acids 2, and 1-benzyl-3-piperidinols 3, four optical isomers of 1 were synthesized, and their absolute configurations were deduced. The hypotensive activity of (+)-alpha, namely (S)-(S)-1, was 30 to 100 times stronger than that of (-)-alpha in intravenously administered spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Synthesis of expected metabolites of benidipine hydrochloride

(+/-)-(R*)-2,6-Dimethyl-4-(m-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3, 5-dicarboxylic acid (R*)-1-benzyl-3-piperidinyl ester, methyl ester hydrochloride (benidipine hydrochloride, KW-3049, 1), a highly potent and long-acting calcium antagonistic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, is now under clinical study as an antihypertensive and as an antianginal agent. In order to confirm the structures of the metabolites of KW-3049, 19 compounds were prepared. Among them 11 compounds were found to be metabolites (the compounds 2, 3, 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 28, 31, 32 and 34) of KW-3049 in rats and/or dogs.

Increased serum IgE antibodies in institutionalized asthmatic children after a transient return home. The role of house dust mite allergens in the home as a trigger of asthmatic attacks in mite-sensitive patients

Increased serum IgE antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, a house dust mite, were observed in 12 of 13 institutionalized mite-sensitive asthmatic children after returning for four days to their own homes. These results implicate the house dust mite as a trigger of asthmatic attacks in these patients.

Tay-Sachs disease with conspicuous cranial computerized tomographic appearances

An autopsy case of a 3-year-old female infant with Tay-Sachs disease was presented. A cherry red spot in the fundus and a deficiency of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase A in the white blood cells were revealed soon after admission at the age of one year. Her parents and sister were found to be healthy carriers. The patient showed a typical clinical course with marked cranial swelling. In addition to the marked ballooning of neurons on light microscope, membranous cytoplasmic body (MCB) on electron microscope and abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in the cerebral cortex by thin layer chromatography were confirmed in the autopsy specimens. In the late stage of her clinical course, the cranial computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated symmetric and deep-wavy hyperdense cerebral cortical zones, diffuse hypodensity and diminished volume of cerebral white matter, mild to moderate ventricular dilatation, and a small cerebellum and brainstem. These conspicuous appearances of the cranial CT seem to be characteristic of Tay-Sachs disease in the late stage, and they are derived from abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in the cerebral cortex, and diffuse intense demyelination (dysmyelinating demyelination) of the cerebral white matter.