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Objectives: A quality indicator (QI) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during pregnancy and childbirth that is useful for sharing standard treatment policies has not yet been developed. This study aimed to develop a QI for SLE associated with pregnancy and childbirth., Methods: To identify candidate QIs, we conducted a systematic literature review on the development of QIs for SLE related to pregnancy and childbirth and on clinical practice guidelines. Candidate QI items were extracted from the final selected articles, and a first evaluation, panel meeting, and second evaluation were conducted to determine whether the candidate items were appropriate as QIs. Items for which all panel members reached a consensus were designated pregnancy and childbirth-related SLE QIs., Results: Four articles on SLE QI development and 28 practice guidelines were listed through abstract/text screening. Based on these studies, 52 candidate QIs were extracted that were limited to items related to pregnancy and childbirth and 41 items were selected on which all panel members agreed., Conclusion: We developed pregnancy-related SLE QIs using the RAND/UCLA method and selected 41 items, which could be used clinically., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

We report here a case of postoperative recurrent adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) treated with S-1 therapy. A 79-year-old woman was diagnosed with carcinoma of the EGJ. Thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy was performed, and pathological examination revealed advanced ASC with lymph node metastasis. Five months after surgery, multiple lung metastases and multiple lymph node metastases were observed, and the patient was treated with S-1 monotherapy, which showed partial response and may be effective for advanced ASC of the EGJ. On the other hand, immunohistological analysis of the tumors showed a relatively wide range of areas that could differentiate into both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting that tumor cells with multidifferentiation potential, or at least the ability to differentiate into both adeno-epithelial and squamous epithelial cells, were the likely source of the tumors., Competing Interests: None declared., (Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. © The Author(s) 2024.)

Electron microscopes can observe samples with a spatial resolution of 10 nm or higher; however, they cannot observe samples in solutions due to the vacuum conditions inside the sample chamber. Recently, we developed a scanning electron-assisted dielectric microscope (SE-ADM), based on scanning electron microscope, which enables the observation of various specimens in solution. Until now, the SE-ADM system used a custom-made SE-ADM stage with a built-in amplifier and could not be linked to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) operation system. Therefore, it was necessary to manually acquire images from the SE-ADM system after setting the EB focus, astigmatism, and observation field-of-view from the SEM operating console. In this study, we developed a general-purpose dielectric constant imaging unit attached to commercially available SEMs. The new SE-ADM unit can be directly attached to the standard stage of an SEM, and the dielectric signal detected from this unit can be input to the external input terminal of the SEM, enabling simultaneous observation yielding SEM and SE-ADM images. Furthermore, 4.5 nm spatial resolution was achieved using a 10 nm thick silicon nitride film in the sample holder in the observation of aggregated PM2.5. We carried out the observation of cultured cells, PM2.5, and clay samples in solution., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Microscopy Society of America.)

Presurgical identification of the epileptogenic zone is a critical determinant of seizure control following surgical resection in epilepsy. Excitatory glutamate α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor is a major component of neurotransmission. Although elevated α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor levels are observed in surgically resected brain areas of patients with epilepsy, it remains unclear whether increased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor-mediated currents initiate epileptic discharges. We have recently developed the first PET tracer for α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor, [ 11 C]K-2, to visualize and quantify the density of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors in living human brains. Here, we detected elevated [ 11 C]K-2 uptake in the epileptogenic temporal lobe of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Brain areas with high [ 11 C]K-2 uptake are closely colocalized with the location of equivalent current dipoles estimated by magnetoencephalography or with seizure onset zones detected by intracranial electroencephalogram. These results suggest that epileptic discharges initiate from brain areas with increased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors, providing a biological basis for epileptic discharges and an additional non-invasive option to identify the epileptogenic zone in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.)

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is osteoporosis arising due to long-term use of glucocorticoids. Despite decades of intense research, the effects of long-term use of glucocorticoids in humans on bone cells and bone structural changes remain unclear. We performed post-mortem histomorphometric analysis of bone from two female patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged 64 and 85 years. Our two patients had been treated with glucocorticoids for 19 and 14 years, respectively. In Case 1, all markers of cancellous bone volume were markedly decreased compared with the age-matched reference range. Connectivity of cancellous bone trabecula was absent. Only a few island bones were noted. There was prominent thinning of the cortical bone and extension of the bone marrow cavity into the cortical bone with prominent cortical porosis. Cortical nodes between the endocortical surface and the trabecula disappeared due to endocortical resorption. Stoppage of lamellar structure was observed because the bone resorption by osteoclasts surpassed bone formation by osteoblasts. Empty lacunae characterised by disappearance of osteocytes were visible. In Case 2, all volume markers of cancellous bone were decreased to the same extent as Case 1. However, cortical porosis was more prominent than Case 1. These two cases suggest that use of glucocorticoid therapy >10 years can induce severe osteoporosis in elderly rheumatoid arthritis women with higher disease activity and that the disappearance of cancellous bone is the common characteristic. The 85-year-old woman was characterised by cortical porosis., (© Japan College of Rheumatology 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The acrosome reaction is a multi-step event essential for physiological fertilization. During the acrosome reaction, gamete fusion-related factor IZUMO1 translocates from the anterior acrosome to the equatorial segment and assembles the gamete fusion machinery. The morphological changes in the acrosome reaction process have been well studied, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms of acrosome reorganization essential for physiological gamete membrane fusion. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of IZUMO1 translocation, the steps of the acrosome reaction during that process must be clarified. In this study, we established a method to detect the early steps of the acrosome reaction and subdivided the process into seven populations through the use of two epitope-defined antibodies, anti-IZUMO1 and anti-SPACA1, a fertilization-inhibiting antibody. We found that part of the SPACA1 C-terminus in the periacrosomal space was cleaved and had begun to disappear when the vesiculation of the anterior acrosome occurred. The IZUMO1 epitope externalized from the acrosomal lumen before acrosomal vesiculation and phosphorylation of IZUMO1 occurred during the translocation to the equatorial segment. IZUMO1 circumvented the area of the equatorial segment where the SPACA1C-terminus was still localized. We therefore propose an IZUMO1 translocation model and involvement of SPACA1., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) is a perennial plant native to Japan that is used as a spice because it contains isothiocyanates. It also contains an isosaponarin, 4'-O-glucosyl-6-C-glucosyl apigenin, in its leaves, which has received increasing attention in recent years for its bioactivity, such as its promotion of type-I collagen production. However, its biosynthetic enzymes have not been clarified. In this study, we partially purified a C-glucosyltransferase (CGT) involved in isosaponarin biosynthesis from wasabi leaves and identified the gene coding for it (WjGT1). The encoded protein was similar to UGT84 enzymes and was named UGT84A57. The recombinant enzyme of WjGT1 expressed in Escherichia coli showed C-glucosylation activity toward the 6-position of flavones such as apigenin and luteolin. The enzyme also showed significant activity toward flavonols, but trace or no activity toward flavone 4'-O-glucosides, suggesting that isosaponarin biosynthesis in wasabi plants would proceed by 6-C-glucosylation of apigenin, followed by its 4'-O-glucosylation. Interestingly, the enzyme showed no activity against sinapic acid or p-coumaric acid, which are usually the main substrates of UGT84 enzymes. The accumulation of WjGT1 transcripts was observed mainly in the leaves and flowers of wasabi, in which C-glucosylflavones were accumulated. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that WjGT1 acquired C-glycosylation activity independently from other reported CGTs after the differentiation of the family Brassicaceae., (� The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: To date, the management of pregnancy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and the associated risk of maternal mortality have not been established. Although balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) in patients with CTEPH is still an emerging procedure, this approach represents a promising alternative to pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), especially in patients with inoperable CTEPH., Case Summary: We present a case of a 34-year-old woman with CTEPH who desired to have a child. Right heart catheterization showed a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 54 mmHg. Since the lesions were observed in the distal part of subsegmental pulmonary arteries, there was no indication for PEA. After improvement in her haemodynamic status by BPA, she became pregnant. At 40 weeks of gestation, a normal baby was delivered vaginally. Both mother and baby have made satisfactory progress., Discussion: In cases in which the haemodynamic status is improved by effective BPA, pregnancy and childbirth may be possible, even in patients with CTEPH., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

It is commonly observed that freshwater fish contain lower amounts of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3), than marine fish species. In this study, we performed a detailed comparative analysis of phospholipids (PLs) and triacylglycerols (TAGs) from Gymnogobius isaza, a freshwater goby endemic to Lake Biwa inhabiting the lake bottom, and Gymnogobius urotaenia, a related goby that inhabits the shore of Lake Biwa. We found that tissues from G. isaza contain remarkably high amounts of omega-3 LC-PUFAs in both PLs and TAGs. Mass spectrometry analysis of TAGs demonstrated that the most abundant TAG molecular species were TAG (16:0/18:1/20:5), followed by TAG (14:0/18:1/20:5), in which EPA is incorporated into TAG at either the sn-1 or sn-3 positions. We isolated cDNAs encoding acyl-CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase designated as GiDGAT1 and GiDGAT2, from G. isaza. Expression studies using a neutral lipid-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant strain demonstrated that both GiDGAT1 and GiDGAT2 possessed diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity, and preferential incorporation of LC-PUFA into TAG was observed in the presence of GiDGAT1. This study revealed the novel lipid profiles of G. isaza and identified the enzymes that were involved in the production of PUFA-containing TAGs.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by disturbed blood circulation. The effect of ambrisentan, an endothelin-A receptor-selective antagonist, on impaired peripheral circulation in SSc remains largely elusive. Here we show SSc patients, whose clinical symptoms such as cyanosis and Raynaud's phenomenon, were ameliorated by the treatment with ambrisentan. Additionally, objective evaluations with thermography showed improvement of hand coldness in steady-state and cold challenge tests. Ambrisentan might have a potential to improve peripheral circulation in SSc.

Since the publication of Intergroup Study 0099, representing a superiority of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin followed by adjuvant chemotherapy to radiotherapy alone for the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, an efficacy of concurrent setting of cisplatin-based chemotherapy with radiotherapy has been repeatedly validated. In meanwhile, the role of adjuvant part of the protocol has been controversial. There is an increasing evidence for the positive role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with following concurrent chemoradiotherapy whereas favorable contribution was not proven in the last century. This article reviews the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc)., Methods: Thirty-three SSc patients and 12 healthy controls were studied. Ultrasound assessment of the brachial artery FMD was performed on all subjects. The results were expressed as the percentage of increase in brachial artery diameter following hyperemia., Results: Limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) patients had significantly lower FMD values than healthy controls (5.3 ± 2.7 versus 7.7 ± 2.0 %, p < 0.05), while the values in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) patients (6.7 ± 4.0 %) were comparable to those in lcSSc patients and healthy controls. Although FMD values did not correlate with any clinical features in dcSSc patients, there was an inverse correlation between FMD values and disease duration in lcSSc patients (r = -0.64, p < 0.05). Furthermore, lcSSc patients with decreased FMD values showed significantly higher prevalence of digital ulcers and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure than those with normal values (for each; 75 versus 10 %, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: The FMD values represent the severity of vascular damages, which progress along with disease duration and lead to digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension, in lcSSc patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Thirty-three SSc patients and 12 healthy controls were studied. Ultrasound assessment of the brachial artery FMD was performed on all subjects. The results were expressed as the percentage of increase in brachial artery diameter following hyperemia. RESULTS: Limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) patients had significantly lower FMD values than healthy controls (5.3 ± 2.7 versus 7.7 ± 2.0 %, p < 0.05), while the values in diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) patients (6.7 ± 4.0 %) were comparable to those in lcSSc patients and healthy controls. Although FMD values did not correlate with any clinical features in dcSSc patients, there was an inverse correlation between FMD values and disease duration in lcSSc patients (r = -0.64, p < 0.05). Furthermore, lcSSc patients with decreased FMD values showed significantly higher prevalence of digital ulcers and elevated right ventricular systolic pressure than those with normal values (for each; 75 versus 10 %, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The FMD values represent the severity of vascular damages, which progress along with disease duration and lead to digital ulcers and pulmonary arterial hypertension, in lcSSc patients.

Intravenous cyclophosphamide pulse therapy (IVCY) exerts its efficacy against interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) by restoring vascular injuries as well as aberrant immune activation. We recently experienced two patients with SSc-ILD in whom the values of brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) reflected the efficacy of IVCY. We herein report the details of these cases and discuss the potential of FMD to predict and evaluate the effect of IVCY on SSc-ILD.

In this pilot study, the effect of low-dose imatinib mesylate (100 mg/day) on cutaneous involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) was analyzed. Three patients with SSc were treated with 100 mg/day of imatinib mesylate for 6 months because of pulmonary arterial hypertension refractory to conventional treatments, including beraprost, bosentan, sildenafil, and epoprostenol. Changes in cutaneous involvement were evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months. During the treatment, the total skin score gradually improved in all of the patients. Contracture of phalanges was attenuated in two patients, one of whom also experienced the partial restoration of large-joint mobility. Nailfold bleeding, initially seen in two patients, was gradually attenuated and had completely disappeared at 6 months. In all patients, Raynaud's phenomenon was attenuated at around 3 months and had completely disappeared at 6 months. Although transient renal dysfunction was observed in one patient, none of the patients experienced common adverse effects of imatinib, such as edema, nausea, rash, and musculoskeletal pain. These clinical data indicate the tolerability and efficacy of low-dose imatinib in SSc, especially against cutaneous vascular involvement, including Raynaud's phenomenon and nailfold bleeding.

Background: Bosentan is an oral dual endothelin receptor antagonist, which has been shown to be efficacious for preventing new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in two high-quality randomized controlled trials. However, its efficacy for nondigital ulcers in SSc remains unknown., Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of bosentan on nondigital ulcers in patients with SSc., Methods: Bosentan was administered to five patients with SSc with pulmonary arterial hypertension, who also had nondigital ulcers refractory to conventional treatments. The efficacy of bosentan on nondigital ulcers and its association with clinical features of ulcers were analysed., Results: The nondigital ulcers refractory to conventional treatments were significantly improved by the administration of bosentan in cases surrounded with severe cyanosis. In contrast, nondigital ulcers without cyanosis were still refractory to bosentan therapy., Conclusions: Bosentan may be efficacious for accelerating the healing of nondigital ulcers with severe cyanosis, suggesting that nondigital ulcers caused by severely impaired peripheral circulation are highly responsive to this treatment., (© 2011 The Authors. BJD © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by vascular injuries, and bosentan has recently been proved to be efficacious for the prevention of new digital ulcers in SSc. We herein report a case of SSc in a patient with refractory digital ulcers and gangrene treated with bosentan. Stenosis of the ulnar artery, evaluated by magnetic resonance angiography, was attenuated by the bosentan treatment, suggesting that bosentan exerts a reverse remodeling effect against the pathological organic changes of arteries in SSc.

Background and Aims: Assessing the health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with a disease specific scale is essential. The purpose of this study was to develop the Japanese version of the coronary revascularisation outcome questionnaire (CROQ), a disease-specific scale to measure HRQOL before and after coronary revascularisation., Methods: The English version of the questionnaire was translated into Japanese; some terms were revised, and some items were eliminated to suit the Japanese medical environment. Eight patients filled out the questionnaire, which was then analyzed for face validity. In the field study, subjects were recruited from a university hospital in Tokyo, and questionnaires were given to fill out. In terms of statistical analysis, factor analysis, internal consistency, known-groups validity, concurrent validity with using Short-Form36 (SF-36) and Seattle Angina Questionnaire-Japanese version (SAQ-J), and test-retest reliability were assessed., Results: Informed consents were obtained from 356 patients, and out of 325 patients responded in the field study (91.3%). The factor structure of CROQ-Japanese version (CROQ-J) was similar to that of the original version. Cronbach's α ranged from 0.78 to 0.92. The concurrent validity was mostly supported by the pattern of association between CROQ-J, SAQ-J, and SF-36. Patients without chest symptoms had significantly higher scores of CROQ-J than those with chest symptoms. On the basis of analysis of the test-retest reliability, intra-class correlation coefficients were close to 0.70., Conclusions: The Japanese translation of CROQ is a valid and reliable scale for assessing the patient's HRQOL in CAD., (Copyright © 2010 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Twenty-seven elderly subjects (mean age 86.7+/-6.6 years) were pre-administered a test food containing 1x10(11) cfu of BB536 daily for 5 weeks (P1), during which they also received influenza vaccination at week 3. The subjects were then randomized to a BB536 group and a placebo group for 14 weeks (P2). The proportion of subjects who contracted influenza was significantly lower in BB536 group than in the to placebo group. The proportion of subjects with fever was also significantly lower in the BB536 group than in the placebo group. In the P1 period, the NK cell activity and the bactericidal activity of the neutrophils were significantly higher at week 5 than to before BB536 administration. In the P2 period, although NK cell activity and neutrophilic activities declined at the end of the study in both the placebo and the BB536 group, neutrophil phagocytic activity and NK cell activity tended to maintain slightly higher levels in the BB536 group than in the placebo group. These results suggest that continuous ingestion of BB536 reduces the incidence of influenza and fever, probably by potentiating innate immunity.

Three protease inhibitors (OTI-1-3) have been purified from onion (Allium cepa L.) bulbs. Molecular masses of these inhibitors were found to be 7,370.2, 7,472.2, and 7,642.6 Da by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), respectively. Based on amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence, OTI-1 and -2 are the N-terminal truncated proteins of OTI-3. All the inhibitors are stable to heat and extreme pH. OTI-3 inhibited trypsin, chymotrypsin, and plasmin with dissociation constants of 1.3 x 10(-9) M, 2.3 x 10(-7) M, and 3.1 x 10(-7) M, respectively. The complete amino acid sequence of OTI-3 showed a significant homology to Bowman-Birk family inhibitors, and the first reactive site (P1) was found to be Arg17 by limited proteolysis by trypsin. The second reactive site (P1) was estimated to be Leu46, that may inhibit chymotrypsin. OTI-3 lacks an S-S bond near the second reactive site, resulting in a low affinity for the enzyme. The sequence of OTI-3 was also ascertained by the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding a 101-residue precursor of the onion inhibitor.

Abstract Antigen-reactive B cells in the spleen of mice immunized with T cell-dependent antigens generate antibody-producing foci in periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS) or migrate into follicles to form germinal centers. Germinal center B cells clonally expand, have somatic hypermutation in IgV-region genes, are selected by apoptosis on the basis of antigen-specific signals, and differentiate to memory B cells. Two transcription factors (Bcl6 and c-Fos) in B cells play a critical role in the development of germinal centers. (1) Bcl6 is highly expressed in germinal center B cells, and defects in B cells perturb the formation of germinal centers but not that of PALS-associated foci, indicating the essential role of Bcl6 in the differentiation. (2) Overexpression of c-Fos in germinal center B cells induces apoptosis and perturbs the formation of memory B cells. Overexpression of Bcl-2 cannot rescue c-Fos-induced apoptosis in germinal center B cells. Since c-Fos is induced in mature B cells which have reacted with antigens, and clonal deletion of self-reactive B cells is insensitive to overexpression of Bcl-2, c-Fos may play a causal role in the clonal deletion of germinal center B cells. Thus, these factors provide a unique opportunity to investigate the molecular mechanisms of memory B cell development.

Digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) suppressed the inhibition by sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) of an alpha-glucosidase reaction. Suppressing was considered to be an apparent decrease in inhibitory activity of SQDG ascribed to direct interaction between SQDG and DGDG. This suppression was presumed to be caused by less access of SQDG to the enzyme because SQDG and DGDG formed mixed micelles.

Bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl)-protein complexes containing light-harvesting Bchls were isolated from Rhodopseudomonas palustris, and the CD spectra of these complexes were measured in the near-infrared region. These isolated Bchl-protein complexes retained the CD signals of light-harvesting Bchls that were observed in intracytoplasmic membrane preparation. Comparison of the CD spectrum of B870-reaction center complexes with that of the isolated reaction centers revealed that the peak at 860 nm and the trough at 890 nm were attributable to the B870 spectral form, and that the peak at 790 nm and the trough at 810 nm were not all attributable to the reaction center. The CD spectra of spectrally different types of B800--850 complex revealed that the magnitudes of the peak at 840--850 nm and the trough at 860--870 nm were correlated with the magnitude of the absorption peak at around 850 nm. Therefore, these positive and negative CD bands were attributable to the B850 spectral form. In a similar manner, the peak at 810--820 nm and trough at 790 nm were attributable to the B800 spectral form.

The biologic activities of Epstein-Barr (EB) virus from an epithelioid-nasopharyngeal carcinoma hybrid cell line (NPC-KT) and three subclones from the NPC-KT cells were examined. Much infectious virus was released by treatment with 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine. All virus preparations from NPC-KT cells and the subclones were found to possess both transforming and EB virus-induced early antigen (EA)-inducing activities. The lymphoblastoid cell lines, which were established by infection of human cord-blood lymphocytes with the virus, were diploid with normal karyotypes. The cell lines were positive for EB virus-associated nuclear antigen but negative for EA and EB viral capsid antigen.

Bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl) protein complexes containing light harvesting (LH) Bchls were isolated from Chromatium vinosum, and their CD spectra were measured in the near-infrared region. These isolated Bchl protein complexes retained the CD signals of LH Bchls that were observed in situ in chromatophores. The CD spectrum of fraction A (containing B890) consisted of paired positive and negative bands (a double CD) having a zero-crossing at 800 nm and a single negative band at around 900 nm attributed to the B890. For low 850 fraction B (B800 and B850), a double CD having a zero-crossing at 795 nm and a single negative band at around 850 nm attributed to the B850 were found. High 850 fraction B exhibited a double CD having a zero-crossing at 795 nm, a negative band at around 860 nm and a positive band at around 840 nm. For fraction C (B800 and B820), a double CD having a zero-crossing at 795 nm and a single negative band at around 830 nm, which was attributed to the B820, were found. The double CD was attributed to the B800 in fractions A, B, and C. There was no additional CD besides the CD of the isolated Bchl protein complexes in the CD spectra of chromatophores.

The first application of deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2H NMR) to fully deuterated pyridine (d5-pyridine)-iron(III) porphyrin complexes is described. (1) d5-Pyridine gives very broad 2H NMR signals in the presence of hemin or horseradish peroxidase to which pyridine is hardly (or not) bound, probably due to relatively long electronic relaxation times of the high-spin ferric ions. d5-Pyridine in the presence of horse-heart metmyoglobin gives resolved and less broadened 2H NMR signals, probably due to the relatively short electronic relaxation times of the ferric ion and/or to slow chemical exchange of the ligand. (2) The three resonances of free d5-pyridine coalesce into a single or a double resonance in the presence of a heme octapeptide prepared by trypsin digestion of Candida krusei cytochrome c. Nuclear spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times of the d5-pyridine-heme octapeptide complex are markedly shorter than those of free d5-pyridine. These findings are interpreted by the chemical exchange mechanism from the temperature dependences of the relaxation times. Thus, on certain assumptions the residence time of pyridine in the bound state and the exchange rate are estimated as approximately 10(-3) s and approximately 400 s-1, respectively, at 25 degrees C. Since 1H NMR signals of axial ligands of paramagnetic hemoproteins are hard to observe, the usefulness of deuterium magnetic resonance for investigating ligand exchange in the paramagnetic hemoproteins is emphasized.

Comparison of absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the near infrared region was made with chromatophore and subchromatophore preparations obtained from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. The 850 nm absorption band had a positive correlation with the 850 nm and 870 nm CD bands. The 800 nm and 870 nm absorption bands seemed not to correlate with any CD bands. Lipid contents in chromatophores and subchromatophores were measured. Lipids in membranes seemed to contribute to the appearance of the 870 nm absorption band, but not to that of the 800 nm and 850 nm absorption bands. The time courses of absorbance changes were compared at 800, 850, and 870 nm in detergent-treated chromatophores. Relative changes of absorbances differed from one another. The present results suggest that the three absorption bands are due to three different bacteriochlorophyll a-types and the 850 nm absorption band originates from exciton-coupling of bacteriochlorophyll a.

The biological activities of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from a human epithelial hybrid cell line derived from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC-KT) were studied. Low concentrations of virus from the NPC-KT cell line stimulated DNA synthesis of human cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) and induced CBL to form EBV nuclear antigen-positive continuous cell lines. The CBL exposed to higher doses of virus showed stimulated DNA synthesis 2 days after infection, followed by cell lysis. Virus from the NPC-KT cell line induced EBV-specific antigens in nonproducer Raji cells and reduced the colony-forming ability of the super-infected cells. The ratio of transforming activity to early antigen-inducing ability was not constant during cell passage. The data obtained suggest that NPC-KT clone 1 cells are producing virus with cytotoxic and transforming properties.

Both C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) and C4 nephritic factor (C4NeF) were found in the serum of two patients with hypocomplementaemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type 1 (H-MPGN type 1). Both stabilizing activities were associated with the IgG fraction. The serum levels of C3 and C5 were quite low, whereas the levels of early components and control proteins were in the normal range.

The spontaneous production of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and tumorigenicity in the BALB/c mutant nude mouse were studied with the use of the following 4 cell lines derived from the human nasopharynx: a) Ad-AH, an 8-azahypoxanthine-resistant epithelioid cell line; b) A2L, an EBV-carrying lymphoblastoid cell line; c) A2L/AH, an EBV-carrying epithelioid hybrid cell line established by fusion of Ad-AH cells with A2L cells; and d) NPC-KT, an EBV-carrying epithelioid hybrid cell line established by fusion of Ad-AH cells with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) primary culture cells. The NPC-KT hybrid cell line was the only cell line to produce EBV antigens of the lytic cycle and virus particles. Cloning efficiency in agarose was clearly related to tumorigenicity in nude mice. Especially high, frequent tumor formation was observed in the heterotransplantation of NPC-KT hybrid cells that presented poorly differentiated carcinoma, and the tumor cells were positive for EBV-associated nuclear antigen. These NPC-KT hybrid cells maintained the characteristics of a histologic type of NPC tumor cells. Thus experimental systems of NPC were established in vitro and in vivo by the application of NPC-KT hybrid cells to NPC model cells.

The magnetic circular dichroism and circular dichroism spectra of cytidine, isocytidine, 2,5'-O-cyclo-2',3'-O-isopropylidine uridine, and 2,2'-O-cyclouridine were measured in the wavenumber region of 30000 -50000 cm-1. On the basis of the experimental results, the tautomerism of cytidine and isocytidine was discussed. The transition energies, the oscillator strengths, and the Faraday parameters were calculated within the framework of the INDO approximation. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. And then the spectral assignment of the pyrimidin nucleosides, together with those of cytosine and isocytosine, were discussed on the basis of the experimental and theoretical results.

To investigate the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of experimental glomerulonephritis (GN), we examined interleukin 1 (IL-1) activity in isolated glomeruli of rats with an accelerated autologous form of nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTSN). Glomeruli were isolated and explanted in tissue culture. The prominent feature of the glomerular outgrowth of the glomeruli in the NTSN was the presence of large numbers of type III cells (macrophages). In addition, there were significantly greater numbers of type II (mesangial) cells in culture from the NTSN rats as compared with glomeruli from normal rats, though the numbers of type I (epithelial) cells were the same. IL-1 bioactivity was significantly higher in culture supernatants generated by glomeruli isolated from NTSN animals versus normal animals early in the course of the disease. When glomerular culture supernatants and purified IL-1 were pre-incubated with an anti-IL-1 beta antibody, a parallel decrease of the biological activity was found, suggesting that the biologically active binding sites of the culture supernatants and monocyte-produced IL-1 share some common structure. The administration of a rabbit anti-rat macrophage serum (AMS) prevented the outgrowths of type III cells (macrophages) and type II (mesangial) cells and reduced the production of IL-1 activity in the NTSN rats. In this experimental model IL-1 synthesis, probably by multiple cell types, is present early in the disease process and perhaps may be an important mediator of glomerular immune injury.

In April 1988 a large outbreak of group C rotavirus infection associated with acute gastroenteritis occurred among schoolchildren and their teachers simultaneously at seven elementary schools in Fukui city, Japan. Of 3,102, 675 (21.8%) became ill. Clinical symptoms were mild, predominantly abdominal pain and vomiting, with diarrhea reported in only 27.6%. The outbreak subsided within 2 d. No pathogenic bacteria were found in fecal specimens; the virus particles detected by electron microscopy were morphologically indistinguishable from conventional infantile rotavirus. Immune electron microscopy showed that these virions formed large aggregates with convalescent serum and with the reference serum specific to group C rotavirus. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed similar RNA patterns for virus from this outbreak and typical group C rotavirus.