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The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of a MeOH extract of the dried stems and roots of Capsicum annum gave 10 new sesquiterpenoids (1−10) and nine known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The isolated new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities.

A careful investigation of the subterranean part of Vitex rotundifolia has shown that this plant contains five novel lignans having a 1-phenylnaphthalene-type skeleton together with four known lignans. These structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Furthermore, some of the isolated compounds showed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The mechanisms of hypertriglyceridaemia and changes in plasma lipoprotein subfractions by β‐interferon treatment were studied in a hepatitis C patient with apo E phenotype E3/2. Plasma levels of triglyceride (TG) were increased by treatment with 6 × 106β‐interferon and reached 8.06 mmol/l at 4 weeks of treatment. Low energy and low fat diet reduced them to half the maximal level. Plasma levels of LDL1(1.019

Four new prenylated benzoic acid derivatives, kuhistanols A−D (1−4), along with one known compound, 3-farnesyl-p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5), have been isolated from the roots of the Uzbekistan medicinal plant, Ferula kuhistanica. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. Compound 4 showed a significant inhibitory effect on cytokine production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells.

Long-term results after the modified Cox/Maze III procedure combined with other cardiac procedure for the treatment of organic heart disease and chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been clarified. This report describes our medium-term results after such operation.

The aim of this study is to describe the bacterial flora of women in preterm labor with or without premature rupture of membranes. Retrospective studies of 239 patients with preterm labor were performed. One hundred and twenty‐three of 239 patients with preterm labor (51.5%) had bacterial vaginosis. Seventy of the 239 patients with preterm labor (29.3 %) developed premature rupture of the membranes (preterm PROM). Of the 70 patients with preterm PROM, 51 (72.9%) had bacterial vaginosis. Therefore, 51 of the 123 patients with bacterial vaginosis (41.5%) developed preterm PROM. An increased number of organisms detected from the vaginal discharge in patients with preterm labor was associated with preterm PROM by Cochran‐Armitage test. An increased number of organisms detected from the vaginal discharge in patients with preterm labor complicated with bacterial vaginosis was significantly associated with preterm PROM by Cochran‐Armitage test. In preterm labor, the number of different species detected in the vagina provide sensitive and specific prediction of preterm PROM in patients with preterm labor. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 7:190–194, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

In this study, a new shell-type dynamic vibration absorber is presented for suppressing several modes of vibration of the shallow shell (main shell) under harmonic load. It consists of a shallow shell (the dynamic absorbing shell), under the same boundary condition and with the same shape as those of the main shell, with connecting springs and dampers in the vertical direction between the main and dynamic absorbing shells. Formulae for an approximate tuning method for the shell-type dynamic absorber are also presented using the optimum tuning method for a dynamic absorber in the two-degree-of-freedom system, obtained by the Den Hartog method. Subsequently, numerical calculations are presented which demonstrate the usefulness of the shell-type dynamic vibration absorbers.

In this paper, a new plate-type dynamic vibration absorber is presented for controlling the several predominant modes of vibration of plate (mainplate) under harmonic excitation, which consists of a plate (dynamic absorbing plate) under the same boundary condition as the main plate and with uniformly distributed connecting springs and dampers between the main and dynamic absorbing plates. Equations of motion of the system in the modal coordinates of the main plate become equal to those of the two-degrees-of-freedom system with two masses and three springs. Formulas for optimum design of the plate-type dynamic vibration absorber are presented using the optimum tuning method of a dynamic absorber in two-degrees-of-freedom system, obtained by the Den Hartog method. Moreover, for practical problems regarding large-scale plates, an approximate tuning method of the plate-type dynamic absorbers with several sets of concentrated connecting springs and dampers is also presented. The numerical calculations demonstrate the effectiveness of the plate-type dynamic absorbers.

ObjectiveTo characterise heart rate variability and high frequency components of restored sinus rhythm after the maze procedure. The maze procedure for chronic atrial fibrillation may prevent thrombotic events and improve the quality of life. However, the electrocardiographic nature of restored sinus rhythm after the maze procedure has not been fully elucidated.Patients and methodsBetween March 1993 and August 1995, 104 consecutive patients undergoing the maze procedure in combination with other cardiac surgery were studied. There were 100 long-term survivors (78 with mitral valve disease, 9 with aortic valve disease, 8 with congenital heart disease, and 5 others). Twenty age-matched patients with mitral valve disease who were in normal sinus rhythm preoperatively were enrolled as a control group. 30 days after surgery, the presence of arrhythmias and the circadian changes of heart rate variability were estimated by ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and the filtered P duration was evaluated by signal-averaged electrocardiogram.ResultsRestoration of sinus rhythm was observed in 73 of 100 cases. Subjects were classified into three groups according to their postoperative ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring findings: patients in group 1 (n = 73) (1a: 58 regular sinus rhythm; 1b: 15 sinus rhythm with frequent premature atrial contractions (> 1000/day)); patients in group 2 (n = 21) still had persistent atrial fibrillation; and patients in group 3 (n = 6) required permanent pacemaker implantation because of sick sinus syndrome. The success rate of restoration of sinus rhythm was 88·3% if left atrial diameter was small (< 65 mm). Circadian changes in the low frequency to high frequency power ratio in group 1a were significantly diminished compared with control group (P < 0·01). Furthermore, the filtered P durations in group 1a (150 (20) ms) and group 1b (158 (23) ms) were longer than in the control group (122 (11) ms) (P < 0·01).ConclusionsThe maze procedure may result in a decreased sinus response and non-uniform transmission of impulses in the atrium.

Prevotella bivia is one of the anaerobic bacteria that resides in the flora of the female genital tract. We studied the pathogenicity of P. bivia in a rat pyometra model. The experimental animal (rat) model of pyometra was developed to investigate the pathogenicity of P. bivia in a rat pyometra model. In the groups inoculated with aerobes alone, the infection rate was 10% (1/10) in the Staphylococcus aureus- or Staphylococcus agalactiae -inoculated group and 20% (2/10) in the Escherichia coli-inoculated group. Infection was not established in the groups inoculated with anaerobes alone. High infection rates were observed in all the mixed-infection groups. In the S. agalactiae- and Bacteroides fragilis-, S. agalactiae- and P. bivia -, E. coli- and B. fragilis-, and E. coli- and P. bivia-inoculated groups, an infection rate of 100% (10/10) was demonstrated. The efficacy of antibiotics such as flomoxef (FMOX) could be determined using a rat pyometra model. In relation to the alteration of vaginal microbial flora during the menstrual cycle, estrogen increased the growth of P. bivia. Mixture of aerobic bacteria and P. bivia increased the pathogenicity of P. bivia. Estrogen would be useful for raising up the inflammatory change of the uterus in experimental models of genital tract infection due to P. bivia. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 6:61–65, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of a residual dissection on coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet function after surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection. Methods: Between 1987 and 1995, 48 consecutive patients underwent emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Thirty-five of 41 survivors were followed-up for periods ranging from 6 to 112 months (median, 30.3 months). These survivors were classified into three groups by computed tomographic scanning and angiography. Fifteen patients had no residual dissection (group I). Of the 20 patients who had residual dissection, nine had an enlarged aorta greater than 45 mm in maximal diameter (group II), and 11 had an aorta less than 45 mm in maximal diameter (group III). For all patients, blood samples were collected for coagulation, fibrinolysis, and platelet function studies on the same day that the computed tomographic scanning had been performed. Results: @b-thromboglobulin, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, D-dimer, and @a2 plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex concentrations were significantly higher in group II than in the other two groups. Strong correlations between the maximal diameter of the dissected aorta and @b-thromboglobulin, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, D-dimer, and plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex concentrations were evident. In contrast, correlations between the length of the dissected aorta and coagulation/fibrinolysis measurements were weak. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the coagulopathy worsened in proportion to the degree of dilatation of the dissected aorta. (J Vasc Surg 1997;26:609-15.)

To establish guidelines for the surgical treatment of patients with infective endocarditis who have cerebrovascular complications, we conducted a detailed retrospective study of 181 of 244 patients with cerebral complications among 2523 surgical cases of infective endocarditis of the Japanese Association of Thoracic Surgery. The results showed that 9.7% of all patients with infective endocarditis had associated cerebral complications: 108 (44.3%) had active native valve endocarditis, 96 (39.3%) had healed native valve endocarditis, and 40 (16.4%) had prosthetic valve endocarditis. The hospital mortality of the patients with cerebral complications was 11.0% in the group as a whole: 13.9% in active native valve endocarditis, 3.1% in healed native valve endocarditis, and 37.5% in prosthetic valve endocarditis. Diseased valves included the following: aortic valve in 55.5%, mitral valve in 49.8%, tricuspid valve in 1.3%, and pulmonary valve in 1.3%. In 181 patients with cerebral complications, organisms were detected as follows: gram-positive cocci in 133 (73.5% [ Streptococcus in 85, Staphylococcus in 32]), gram-negative in 18 (9.9%), fungus in 11 (6.1%), and unknown in 19 (10.5%). Types of cerebral complications included cerebral infarction in 64.6%, cerebral bleeding in 31.5%, cerebral abscess in 2.8%, and meningitis in 1.1%. Hospital mortality rate and an exacerbation rate of cerebral complications, including related death, according to the interval from onset of cerebral infarction to cardiac surgery, were as follows: 66.3% and 45.5% within 24 hours, 31.3% and 43.8% between 2 and 7 days, 16.7% and 16.7% between 8 and 14 days, 10.0% and 10.0% between 15 and 21 days, 26.3% and 10.5% between 22 and 28 days, and 7.0% and 2.3% over 4 weeks later, respectively. A significant correlation existed between the interval and the exacerbation of cerebral complications (tied p = 0.008). Preoperative risk factors affecting exacerbation of cerebral complications were as follows: (1) severity of cerebral complication ( p = 0.006), (2) intervals ( p = 0.012), and (3) uncontrolled congestive heart failure as indications for cardiac surgery ( p = 0.014). One patient underwent a cardiac operation within 24 hours of the onset of cerebral hemorrhage and died of cerebral damage. No exacerbations occurred in 10 patients who underwent their operation between 2 and 28 days. Nevertheless, exacerbations occurred in 19.0% of patients whose operation was done more than 4 weeks later. These data suggest that cardiac operations can be done safely 4 weeks after cerebral infarction, and if the delay is more than 2 weeks, the exacerbation rate will be around 10%. The risk of progression of cerebral damage is still significant 15 days and even 4 weeks after cerebral hemorrhage. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1995;110:1745-55)

In this paper, a new plate-type dynamic vibration absorber is presented for controlling the several predominant modes of vibration of plate (mainplate) under harmonic excitation, which consists of a plate (dynamic absorbing plate) under the same boundary condition as the main plate and with uniformly distributed connecting springs and dampers between the main and dynamic absorbing plates. Equations of motion of the system in the modal coordinates of the main plate become equal to those of the two-degrees-of-freedom system with two masses and three springs. Formulas for optimum design of the plate-type dynamic vibration absorber are presented using the optimum tuning method of a dynamic absorber in two-degrees-of-freedom system, obtained by the Den Hartog method. Moreover, for practical problems regarding large-scale plates, an approximate tuning method of the plate-type dynamic absorbers with several sets of concentrated connecting springs and dampers is also presented. The numerical calculations demonstrate the effectiveness of the plate-type dynamic absorbers.

The B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) proto-oncogene is peculiar, as its product appears to provide survival advantage to B cells by blocking apoptosis. Expression of bcl-2 protein was analyzed in 54 cases of primary non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas of the oral cavity by immunohistologic staining of paraffin-embedded tissue. The immunophenotype of each tumor was established with the use of a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to lymphoid cell differentiation antigens. The cases in the present study were 42 B-cell lymphomas, 7 T-cell lymphomas and 5 lymphomas revealing histiocytic markers. Sixteen of the 42 B-cell lymphomas were positive for bcl-2 protein, and were composed of 7 low-grade B-cell lymphomas and 9 highgrade B-cell lymphomas. Seven low-grade B-cell lymphomas were composed of one mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type, three centrocytic types and three centroblastic-centrocytic types. Nine high-grade B-cell lymphomas comprised four centroblastic types, one immunoblastic type and four lymphoblastic types. Enhanced expression of the bcl-2 oncogenic protein was detectable in lymphoma cells in 2 cases for the T-cell lymphoma, and one case for the true histiocytic lymphoma. In contrast to the previous reports of American node-based lymphomas, Japanese primary oral lymphomas in our series expressed a lower frequency of bcl-2 protein. Furthermore, the present study indicated that bcl-2 protein was expressed on a wide variety of Bcell lymphomas, T-cell lymphomas and true histiocytic lymphoma, and that differences in bcl-2 protein expression may be useful in the diagnostic separation of lymphoblastic lymphoma with B-cell marker from Burkitt's lymphoma.

Two new C-21 steroidal glycoside epimers, paniculatumosides A and B (1 and 2), based on a 13,14:14,15-disecopregnane-type skeleton, with neocynapanogenin B (3) and neocynapanogenin C (4) as two new aglycons, were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum paniculatum. Their structures were determined by spectral data interpretation.

Abstract: Genital fulminant tuberculosis is rarely a primary site of infection. We report a case of juvenile adnexal tuberculosis possibly related to tuberculosis immediately after cystectomy in the ileocecal region in a virginal girl. A 13-year-old virginal girl visited our clinic because of a huge ovarian tumor, which was resected by cystectomy. On postoperative day 39, fever episodes were noted, and she received antibiotics, which were not effective. An abscess developed in the region of the cecum and the right adnexa. Laparotomy revealed chronic abscess formation, especially in the right adnexa. Resection of the abscess was done. The pathological diagnosis was tuberculosis with caseation, although bacterial culture and molecular biological diagnosis for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative in sputum, vaginal discharge, urine, and stool of the patient and her family. She was placed on anti-tuberculosis drugs, including isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol, and this regimen was effective. This patient represents a rare case of fulminant adnexal tuberculosis without pulmonary disease.

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian endometrioma has been applied and emphasized as a safe and simple procedure. Two 27-year-old infertile women, both gravida 0, para 0, underwent medical follow-up examinations for cases of ovarian endometrioma. Both had undergone transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian endometrioma. Because both were continuously febrile and had abdominal pain and cysts with tenderness in spite of antibiotic therapies, both underwent laparotomies for treatment. In both cases, enucleation of the ovarian abscess revealed purulent and malodorous fluid that demonstrated Peptostreptococcus magnus in culture. We theorize that following transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian endometrioma and fixation with pure ethanol, anaerobic infection by P. magnus occurred, and a cyst formed in the abscess. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 6:66–68, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We evaluated the efficacy of a new quinolone, DU-6859a, using a new model of rat uterine endometritis. Rats were infected with mixed inocula of Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis. The MICs of DU-6859a and levofloxacin against E. coli were 0.025 and 0.05 mg/L, respectively; those against B. fragilis were 0.20 and 0.39 mg/L, respectively. Immediately after inoculating 10(5) cfu/rat of each organism, DU-6859a or levofloxacin (20 mg/kg po bid or tid, respectively, for 3 days) was administered and compared with the untreated group. The viable cell counts of E. coli and B. fragilis in the DU-6859a- and levofloxacin-treated groups were significantly lower than those in the untreated group. These results suggest that DU-6859a would be useful for treating polymicrobial infections in uterine endometritis.

A new secoguaianolide sesquiterpene (1) was isolated along with its three stereoisomers (2−4) from the nonmedicinal plant Artemisia gilvescens. The structure of 1 was elucidated to be (4S*,5S*)-dihydro-5-[(1R*,2S*)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-oxo-3-cyclopenten-1-yl]-3-methylene-4-(3-oxobutyl)-2(3H)-furanone on the basis of 2D NMR and other spectroscopic evidence. Five known sesquiterpenoids were also isolated from this plant, and one of them (5) showed activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

An unusual new sesquiterpene derivative, kuhistaferone (1), was isolated from the fruits of the Uzbekistan medicinal plant Ferula kuhistanica. The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against the human colon tumor cell line HCT116.