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Three new dimeric naphthopyrones, asperpyrones A (1), B (2), and C (3), together with two known compounds, fonsecinone A (4) and aurasperone A (5), have been isolated from okara that was fermented with Aspergillus niger JV-33-48. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 showed inhibitory activity on Taq DNA polymerase.

Abstract: This study aimed to find a method to distinguish between bacterial and viral infection by measuring inflammatory markers in the early phase of the illness. We examined the activity of acute phase proteins, including C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5A synthetase), in sera obtained from children with bacterial and viral infections that were diagnosed by isolation of the pathogen or by positive serology. Increases in levels of CRP and SAA generally paralleled each other. In the acute stage of bacterial infections, CRP levels were moderately or highly increased and 2-5A synthetase levels were normal, whereas in viral infections, CRP levels were normal or slightly increased and 2-5A synthetase levels were increased. To better distinguish between bacterial and viral infection we used the ratio of CRP (mg/l) to 2-5A synthetase (pmol/dl) ×10 as the differential index. The values for this index in bacterial infections ranged from 3.9 to 50, and were higher than the values in viral infections, which ranged from 0 to 0.9. We propose that the measurement of both CRP and 2-5A synthetase during the acute phase of illness (within 5 days of onset) is of value to determine whether the infection is caused by a bacteria or virus.

A specific and sensitive assay was performed to detect both anti-SS-A/Ro, and anti-SS-B/La antibodies in sera of patients with autoimmune disease, including systemic lupus erythematosus, (SLE), progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), Sjögren's syndrome (SS), discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), generalized morphea (GM), and dermatomyositis (DM). The SS-A/Ro and SS-B/La antigens were prepared from human spleen (HSE) and cultured human cell line (KB cells, KBE), while rabbit thymus extract (RTE) was used as the SS-B/La antigen marker. The antigens were partially purified by DEAE cellulose column chromatography. Immunoblotting showed that the SS-A/Ro antibody reacts mainly with the 58-kDa peptide of the partially purified antigen. Sera containing both the SS-A/Ro and SS-B/La antibodies reacted with the 40-kDa peptide of RTE, and the 58-kDA, 42-kDa, and 40-kDa peptides of HSE and KBE. We found that some of the SS-A/Ro antisera could further react with the 64-kDa peptide of HSE and KBE. The 58-kDa peptide is rich in its cytoplasmic fraction of KB cells, and the 40-kDa peptide in nucleoplasmic fraction. The KB cell line is a better source of the antigens than human spleen extract. The immunoblotting method clearly showed that the positivity rates of SS-A/Ro and/or SS-B/La auto-antibodies were higher in sera from Japanese patients with SLE compared with titers reported for Caucasians but not in sera from healthy volunteers.

An optical fiber sensor for measuring high electric field intensity and voltage, which utilizes the electro-optic effect of bismuth silicone oxide single crystal, has been developed successfully, and the fundamental characteristics have been evaluated. The electric field intensity distribution inside the coaxial electrodes has been measured with this sensor. The measured results are in agreement with the theoretical values.

Previous studies from our laboratory suggested that phorbol 12-myrisate 13-acetate (TPA) stimulates prostglandin E2(PGE2) production by inducing de novosynthesis of prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) in a rat tracheal cell line. We report here an extension of this work to further elucidate the mechanisms by which TPA (and epidermal growth factor) stimulates PGE2production. We used the rat tracheal cell line EGV6, which has a lower basal level of PGE2production and responds to TPA and EGF stimulation with a much greater increase in PGE2synthesis than the previously used cell line. Incubation of EGV6 cultures with TPA or EGF resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in PGE2synthesis up to 40-fold and 6-fold, respectively. Serum also stimulated PGE2synthesis, while bombesin, retinoic acid, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide did not. PHS protein levels in microsomal preparations from the cells were estimated by Western analysis. Antibodies raised against murine PHS-2 cross reacted with the EGV-6 PHS while several antibody preparations that react with PHS-1 from ram or mouse reacted poorly with the cellular preparation. TPA treatment increased the de novosynthesis of PHS-2 while dexamethasone treatment reduced the response to TPA. Northern blot analysis of mRNA from EGV6 cultures using a ram PHS cDNA revealed a 2.8- and a 4.5- to 4.9-kb (designated 4.9 kb) transcript. Treatment with TPA or EGF increased the expression of both transcripts and this effect was further enhanced by cyclohexamide. To further define the PHS mRNA species of EGV6 cells, two well-characterized murine PHS cDNA probes were used. The constitutive murine PHS cDNA probe hybridized only with the 2.8-kb transcript, and the inducible murine PHS cDNA hybridized only withthe 4.9-kb transcript. The rates of induction as well as degradation of the 4.9-kb PHS mUNA were much more rapid than those of the 2.8-kb mRNA species. Dexamethasone partially inhibited the induction of both PHS transcripts by TPA. Southern analysis of genomic EGV6 DNA indicated the presence of two distinct PHS genes in these cells. Taken together these findings indicate that two PHS genes are expressed in rat tracheal epithelial cells. In contrast to the PHS genes expressed in murine (and chicken) fibroblasts in which only the gene coding for the larger mRNA species is transcriptionally regulated, in the rat tracheal cells both genes are positively regulated by TPA and EGF and downregulated by glucocorticoids.

A child with severe atopic dermatitis had marked improvement with oral cyclosporin A (CyA) therapy. The function of activated T lymphocytes and serum interleukin-5 concentrations were reduced. The expression and production of interleukin-5 were high, but were suppressed during CyA therapy and by CyA in vitro. Oral CyA therapy may be useful for severe atopic dermatitis. (J PEDIATR 1996;128:152-5)

Some 908 cases of malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses treated from 1957 through 1974 were statistically analysed. The most common tumor site was the maxillary sinus (91.4%) and the most common histological figure was carcinoma (92.4%).The crude and relative survival rates for each treatment mode were calculated in January 1975. The number of cases and the 5 year relative survival rates of the main groups were as follows:I. Primary cases of malignant tumors (761 cases) 29.2%A. Carcinoma (709 cases) 29.3%B. Sarcoma (45 cases) 27.4% II. Primary cases of maxillary sinus carcinoma(561 cases) 26.1%A. Period 1957-66 (282 cases) 22.8%1. Combination of irradiation and surgery (114 cases) 36.9%2. Irradiation alone (168 cases) 12.7%B. Period 1967-69 (130 cases) 34.5%1. Irradiation with 5-FU intra-arterial infusion (25 cases) 36.1%2. Irradiation with intra-arterial infusion of other radiosensitizers (35 cases) 35.7%3. Irradiation only without infusion (45 cases) 35.2%C. Period 1970-71, Linac X-ray irradiation (61 cases) 15.9%D. Period 1972-73, Irradiation with 5-FU in-fusion (80 cases), 3 year relative survival rate 39.3% The stage-grouping of maxillary sinus carcinoma based on the classification of tumor spread in the TNM system was recommended for the comparison of survival rates. The best mode of treatment in our experience is the combination of Co-60 -γ-ray irradiation and continuous intra-arterial infusion of 5-FU. A curettage during irradiation is recommended. A maxillectomy should be performed only for irradiation failure cases.

226 patients with carcinoma of the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses who were treated in our hospital during the period 1957-64 were classified with regard to the clinical stages and the modes of treatment, and the crude survival rates were reviewed. When treated with our routine combined method, three-year crude survival rates for Stages I - II and Stage III were 47% (17/36) and 29% (10/34), respectively. The former, when treated with radiation alone, showed a three-year crude survival rate of 38% (10/26). When Stage III was treated with radiation alone, the rate of 6% (3/50) was obtained and the rate was as poor as 7% (1/14) for Stage IV. The results suggest the rationality of our classification and our treatment method with the preoperative irradiation combined with the radical operation.

AbstractWe report on an 11‐year‐old girl with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) complaining of severe pain in her right upper extremity. Oral administration of narcotics or non‐steroid anti‐inflammatory drugs gave no relief in pain. Thoracoscopic electrocauterization of the thoracic sympathetic ganglion at the level of T3 was performed 3 months after the start of symptoms, and brought complete resolution of pain.

A new BSO/fibre-optic voltmeter for measurement of AC voltage from 0 to 500 V has been successfully developed for practical use in various fields. This voltmeter has been given outstanding temperature stability of within ± 0.2% from −10°C to 85°C by using the electro-optic effect of a 4.7 mm-thick Bi12SiO20.

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