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Background: Bovine Mx2 gene sequences were already reported, but further information about the gene properties is not yet available. The objective of the current study was to elucidate the structural properties of the bovine Mx2 gene mainly the promoter region and its possible functional role. If available, such information would help in assessing the functional properties of the gene, which was reported to confer antiviral action against recombinant VSV. Results: Examinations on the bovine genomic BAC clone-confirmed to contain the Mx2 gene-revealed 883-bp sequences. A computer scan unequivocally identified a 788-bp promoter region containing a typical TATA box, three ISREs and other promoter-specific motifs. Comparative analysis of nine bovine genomic DNA samples showed 19 nucleotide substitutions suggesting the existence of five different genotypes in the promoter region. The water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was determined by using primers based on the bovine Mx2 promoter region disclosing 893-bp, with 56 substitutions, two insertions, 9 and 1 nt at two different sites. A functional analysis of the putative ISRE indicated that ISRE played a synergetic role in the activation of bovine Mx2 gene transcription. Conclusion: Bovine and water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was identified disclosing, the conserved ISRE, located in the proximal end of the promoter region like other members of the antiviral family, suggesting functional activity under interferon stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) has been available in Japan since 2008, but there is concern about its association with postoperative hemorrhage. The efficacy and safety of rTM were examined in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by a septic condition after gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: Forty-two patients were emergently admitted to the intensive care unit after emergent gastrointestinal surgery in Kyushu University Hospital from May 2008 to April 2013. Of these patients, 22 had DIC (defined as an acute DIC score ≥4). All but three patients received treatment with gabexate mesylate (GM) ( n = 9) or rTM ( n = 10). The causes of sepsis were peritonitis with colorectal perforation, anastomotic leakage, and intestinal necrosis. Acute DIC score, sepsis-related organ failure assessment score, platelet count, and a variety of biochemical parameters were compared between rTM and GM recipients after treatment administration. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups for any parameter except C-reactive protein levels. The CRP level tended to be lower in the rTM group than in the GM group. Acute DIC score in the rTM group resolved significantly earlier than that in the GM group. No patient stopped the administration of rTM because of postoperative bleeding. Conclusion: rTM may be an effective therapeutic drug for the treatment of septic patients with DIC following emergent gastrointestinal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Assessments of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 1,683 Japanese from a population-based cohort revealed prevalences of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were 81.3 and 1.2 %, respectively. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with female sex, examined month, current smoking, lack of regular walking, higher intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and poor daily vitamin D intake. Introduction: To clarify the characteristics of subjects with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among men and women in the general Japanese population. Methods: We initiated research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability (ROAD), a large-scale population-based cohort study, in 2005–2007. Blood examination was performed to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) and iPTH levels and biochemical markers of bone turnover in 1,683 participants (595 men, 1,088 women). Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire, measurements of bone mineral density, and x-ray examination. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were defined by serum 25D levels <10 and ≥10 but <30 ng/mL, respectively. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was 81.3 and 1.2 %, respectively. Multinominal logistic regression analyses using potentially confounding variables revealed vitamin D insufficiency was significantly associated with age (+1 year, relative risk ratio, 0.98; 95 % confidence interval, 0.96–0.99), gender (women vs. men, 2.28; 1.59–3.30), residing areas (coastal area vs. mountainous area, 0.58; 0.41–0.81), examined month (October, November, December vs. January, 0.51; 0.34–0.76), and serum levels of iPTH (+1 pg/mL, 1.02; 1.01–1.03). Vitamin D deficiency was significantly characterised by female sex (20.5; 3.1–136.7), examined month (0.28; 0.09–0.95), current smoking habit (6.39; 1.78–23.0), lack of regular outside walking (3.96; 1.34–11.7), higher iPTH (1.02; 1.01–1.03) and poor daily vitamin D intake (+10 μg/day, 0.48; 0.24–0.93). Conclusions: A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and a low prevalence of vitamin D deficiency were found in Japanese men and women, and the characteristics of vitamin D status were clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-β plays a causative role in Alzheimer's disease. Occlusal disharmony causes chronic psychological stress, and psychological stress increases amyloid-β accumulation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether occlusal disharmony-induced psychological stress affects the accumulation of amyloid-β and its related gene expressions in the rat hippocampus. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats ( n = 18) were divided into three groups of six rats each: (1) a control group that received no treatment for 8 weeks; (2) an occlusal disharmony group that underwent cutoff maxillary molar cusps for 8 weeks; and (3) a recovered group that underwent cutoff maxillary molar cusps for 4 weeks followed by recovery for 4 weeks. Occlusal disharmony increased plasma corticosterone levels in a time-dependent manner. Levels of amyloid-β 40 and 42, glucocorticoid receptor (Gr) protein, and cleaved caspase 3 (Casp3) as well as gene expressions of amyloid precursor protein, beta-secretase, Casp3, and Gr in the hippocampus in the occlusal disharmony group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P < 0.016). These findings were significantly improved by recovery of occlusion ( P < 0.016). These results indicate that psychological stress induced by occlusal disharmony reversibly induces amyloid-β 40 and 42 in the rat hippocampus through the glucocorticoid signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was conducted for the analysis of extractable organohalogens (EOX) in the blubber samples of harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena) and whole body samples of Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) from the Baltic Sea. The concentration order of EOX was: extractable organochlorine (EOCl) > extractable organobromine (EOBr) > extractable organoiodine (EOI). As the results of investigation into the biomagnification properties of EOX, EOBr in low molecular weight fraction was the highest among the organic halogens investigated, suggesting the presence of high persistent organic bromine compounds in the marine environment, and accumulation through food chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-foil targets emit most transition radiation (TR) power in storage ring synchrotrons. Such one-foil TR emitting targets (OFTRTs) are optimized, with respect to the foil material and the foil thickness, for use as X-ray lithography (XRL) sources. The best possible elemental material and the foil thickness of OFTRTs for XRL are determined for our storage ring synchrotrons MIRROIRCLE-20SX and MIRRORCLE-6X, which operate with electrons accelerated to 20 MeV and 6 MeV, respectively. It is shown that the XRL efficiency of a OFTRT, with an optimum thickness, increases when the elemental foil material has a lower atomic number Z. The best elemental OFTRT, for performing XRL by MIRRORCLE-20SX, should contain one Be foil with a thickness of d≅240 nm, while the second best OFTRT should be made of one C foil with d≅220 nm. The best elemental OFTRT, for performing XRL by MIRRORCLE-6X, should contain one C foil with d≅35 nm, while the second best OFTRT should be made of one Be foil with d≅100 nm, because there are no thinner Be foils. The XRL efficiency of a C-foil OFTRT increases when a higher-density foil is used. A OFTRT containing one foil of a given material with optimum thickness, in MIRRORCLE-20SX, has approximately 100 times larger XRL efficiency in comparison with such a target in MIRRORCLE-6X. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatically acquired mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in lung cancer are associated with significant clinical responses to gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets EGFR. We screened the EGFR in 469 resected tumours of patients with lung cancer, which included 322 adenocarcinomas, 102 squamous cell carcinomas, 27 large cell carcinomas, 13 small cell carcinomas, and five other cell types. PCR with a specific condition was performed to identify any deletion in exon 19, while mutant-allele-specific amplification was performed to identify a mutation in codon 858 of exon 21. EGFR mutations were found in 136 cases (42.2%) with adenocarcinoma, in one case with large cell carcinoma, and in one case with pleomorphic carcinoma. An in-frame deletion in exon 19 was found in 62 cases while an L858R mutation was found in 77 cases. In the 322 cases with adenocarcinoma, these mutations were more frequently found in women than in men (P=0.0004), in well differentiated tumours than in poorly differentiated tumours (P=0.0014), and in patients who were never smokers than in patients who were current/former smokers (P<0.0001). The mutation was more frequently observed in patients who smoked

No abstract available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study designs a method to trap free organochloride compounds (OC) and the OC adsorbed on suspended solids for collecting OC from quantities of lake water. The method is based on the combination between polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and octadecyl silica (ODS) powder. The extraction efficiencies of different four methods including the standard C18 disk method were compared under various conditions. Without cleanup, it was impossible to analyze directly the extracts of lake water samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The study indicates the possibility of the flocculation process to the OC analysis of lake water. The PAC method was not a major method for OC collection but a method to assist other methods. However, the recovery efficiencies of the established ODS-PAC method were acceptable enough.

This article presents a study to measure the overall organochlorine compound (OC) concentrations in three fish species and to compare this data with that for the major OC contaminants found in other regions. Fish species inhabiting Lake Mashu in Japan have considerable accumulation of hexachlorcyclohexanes (HCHs) and DDTs, similar to those of Arctic fishes. The human body burden of DDTs and of HCH is not a serious situation for human consumption. It is concluded that atmospheric deposition causes OC contamination in Lake Mashu.

The article reports on the impact of persistent organic pollutants of organochlorine compound (OC) groups on wildlife and human beings. Avian species tend to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of these compounds. Chlorinated pesticides have been shown to give rise to estrogen-dependent reproductive effects in several avian species. Anas acuta is a migratory bird that commonly winters in Japan, arriving here from Siberia. In January 2003, a sampling survey of pintails at Lake Hyoko, Niigata, Japan was carried out. Concentrations of nineteen OCs containing their metabolites were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based on negative ion chemical ionization.

The article presents a study on the discovery of fenthion poisoning in two Japanese cranes that were found dead in Hokkaido, Japan. The Japanese crane is the biggest bird in Japan, lives only in eastern Hokkaido, and is known to breed on wetlands in the summer. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operating in scan mode notably revealed the agricultural chemical fenthion in the crane stomachs. Determination of three compounds namely pendimethalin, trifluralin, and fenthion was carried out by the absolute calibration method. Fenthion, a pesticide, tends to have a strong toxicity for birds.

The saturated nonlinear absorption and Kerr nonlinearities of an aqueous pseudoisocyanine solution are investigated at the wavelengths of 532 and 529 nm with the use of pulsed laser radiation of different duration (8 ns and 475 fs). The measured values of the nonlinear refractive indices amount to –6×10–12(t=8ns) and –8×10–14cm2W–1(t=475fs). The change in self-action effects in pseudoisocyanine from self-defocusing to self-focusing revealed in the case of increasing intensity of femtosecond laser pulses is attributed to the effect of a fifth-order nonlinear optical process. The nonlinear refractive index responsible for this process amounts to 4×10–24cm4W–2. The imaginary part of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility, responsible for the induced transparency of the pseudoisocyanine solution, is Im χ(3) = –2×10–12 esu. Temporal changes in the shape of nanosecond laser pulses due to the nonlinear refraction induced by a thermal process are analyzed. © 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear refractive indices γ and nonlinear absorption coefficients of ZrO2 films doped with CdS or ZnS nanoparticles, as well as with various metals, are measured. The effects of semiconductor and metal nanoparticles and annealing on the nonlinear optical properties of films are studied. The structural parameters of films, determined by electron microscopy and x-ray dispersion spectroscopy, are compared to the optical and nonlinear optical characteristics of these media. The high magnitude of γ of the films ((3 ± 0.6) × 10–11cm2W–1) is attributed to the surface enhancement effect in semiconductor nanoparticles. On the basis of Z-scan data obtained at different intensities of radiation, it is shown that the variations in γ of the ZrO2:CdS(Cr) and ZrO2:ZnS(Mn) films are related to the generation of free carriers. © 2004 MAIK “Nauka / Interperiodica”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies current levels of dioxins in surface soils from Santiago, Chile. Geographical location of Santiago; Major emission source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF); Concentrations of total PCDD and PCDF; Relative composition ratio of homologues to the PCDD/PCDF.

Morphogenetic processes in sequentially growing leaves and tiller buds are highly synchronized in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Consequently, the appearance of successive leaves in the main tiller acts as the ‘pacemaker’ for the whole shoot system development. The time interval between the appearance of successive leaves (days/leaf) in the main tiller is called the ‘phyllochron’. The objectives of the investigation reported here were: (1) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control rice phyllochron and (2) to understand the roles of phyllochron QTLs as an underlying developmental factor for rice tillering. For this purpose we developed a set of recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between IR36 (indica) and Genjah Wangkal (tropical japonica). Composite interval mapping detected three phyllochron QTLs located on chromosomes 4, 10 and 11, where the presence of a Genjah Wangkal allele increased phyllochron. The largest QTL (on chromosome 4) was located on the genomic region syntenic to the vicinity of the maize Teopod 2 mutation, while the QTL on chromosome 10 was close to the rice plastochron 1 mutation. These three phyllochron QTLs failed to coincide with major tiller number QTLs. However, one tiller number QTL was associated with small LOD peaks for phyllochron and tiller-bud dormancy that were linked in coupling phase, suggesting that linked small effects of phyllochron and tiller-bud dormancy might result in a multiplicative effect on tiller number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the function of the C-terminal region of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens phage endolysin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa lysis, the permeabilization of the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa was analyzed. Glu-15 to His (E15H) and Thr-32 to Glu (T32E) substitutions were introduced into the Bacillus phage endolysin. Neither E15H nor T32E substitution induced enzymatic and antibacterial activities. These two, Glu-15 and Thr-32, were considered to be the active center of the enzyme. The addition of purified E15H and T32E proteins to P. aeruginosa cells induced the release of periplasmic β-lactamase from the cells, indicating that both proteins enhance permeabilization of the outer membrane. However, the addition of E15H and T32E proteins to P. aeruginosa cells did not induce the release of cytoplasmic ATP from the cells. These results indicate that the antibacterial activity of the endolysin requires both the C-terminal enhancement of the permeabilization of the P. aeruginosa outer membrane and N-terminal enzymatic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In floating rice, stem elongation begins much earlier than in non-floating rice, which is the major survival mechanism for flooding. Inheritance of this early elongation ability was studied using diallel and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses. The diallel analysis was undertaken using a set of 6×6 half-diallel crosses involving four floating (‘Goai’, ‘Habiganj Aman VIII’, ‘Badal 106’, and Oryza rufipogon strain W120) and two non-floating (‘Latisail’ and ‘Patnai 23’) parents. The additive gene effects were higher than the dominant effects. The dominant alleles were concentrated in the cultivated floating parents (‘Goai’, ‘Habiganj ‘Aman VIII’, and ‘Badal 106’), whereas the recessive alleles were in the wild floating parent (W120). A QTL analysis using a ‘Patnai 23’ × ‘Goai’ F2 population detected two putative QTLs. Of these QTLs, the one on chromosome 12 behaved as a partially dominant major gene that explained more than half of the total genetic variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short fibrous hollow activated carbons with a high aspect ratio were prepared by carbonization and carbon dioxide activation of softwood and hardwood fibers. The softwood activated carbon consisted mostly of micropores even though the degree of burn-off during the activation became higher. In the case of the hardwood fiber, on the other hand, meso- and macropores as well as micropores were formed and the ratio of these large pores increased with an increasing degree of burn-off. The adsorbed amount of water and toluene vapor on these fibrous activated carbons was compared with that of the commercial activated carbon fibers (ACFs). These fibrous activated carbons showed a high adsorption capacity comparable to that of the ACFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tocopheryl succinate (TS), a succinyl ester of α-tocopherol (α-T), has been reported to have various biological activities. In this communication, we review the current findings about TS including our recent studies of its effects on nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2–) generations implicated in cancer and atherosclerosis. First, we investigated the effect of TS on NO production in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) under atherosclerosis-like conditions using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN). TS enhanced LPS/IFN-dependent NO production, but α-T itself did not. The enhancement by TS of NO production was inhibited by α-T but not by antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and 2[3]-t-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA). TS enhanced the amount of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in VSMC, and PKC inhibitors inhibited TS-enhanced NO production, suggesting that the enhancing effect of TS on NO production is caused by up-regulation of PKC. Second, we found that TS induced apoptosis in VSMC associated with increase in O2– generation via NADPH-dependent oxidase. We further observed that a mouse breast cancer cell line C127I was more susceptible for TS-induced apoptosis than a mouse breast normal cell line NmuMG, and that superoxide dismutase, α-T, and BHA inhibited TS-caused morphological cell damage in C127I. From these results, O2– itself and/or other reactive oxygen species are assumed to associate with TS-induced cell toxicity, and antioxidative defense systems are supposed to be lowered in cancer cells. Finally, we found that intravenous injection of TS vesicles completely inhibited the growth of melanoma cells B16-F1 inoculated on the back of hairless mice and enhanced their survival time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of fibrillation of aramid fiber for a fiber-dispersion type of composite and evaluation of the degree of fibrillation were investigated. Continuous fibrillation of aramid fiber was carried out using a vibrating ball mill. The morphology of the fiber surface was controlled by adjusting the processing time of the fiber in the mill. An index based on image analysis was proposed to represent the morphological changes of treated fiber. The interaction between powder bed and fiber was determined by measuring the force required to pull a single fiber out of a compacted powder bed. The interaction between powder and fiber increased with the degree of fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantitatively compares the inhibition of calcium phosphate (CaP) precipitation by the salivary acidic proline-rich proteins (PRPs) statherin and histatin-1. Saliva and CaCl2 in 125 mM imidazole buffer (pH 7.0) were incubated with potassium phosphate and a hydroxyapatite (HAP) suspension, for 30 min at 25°C, then filtered through nitrocellulose. The calcium (Ca) concentration in the filtrate was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, then deducted from that in the initial solution to determine the amount of CaP precipitation after 30 min. The values of the inhibitory activities on CaP precipitation relative to crude parotid saliva were 4.7, 4.9, 6.9, and 65.8 for histatin-1, large PRPs, small PRPs, and statherin, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

lodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake was reported to be reduced compared to Tl-201 (Tl) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Within such an area, degrees of both sympathetic neural function and ischemic myocardial cell damage are considered to be greatly dispersed. These kinds of damage were reported to effect reporalization time in myocardial cells, and we evaluated our hypothesis that extension of the discordant MIBG uptake area correlates with recovery time (RT) dispersion and relate ventricular arrhythmias in AMI. MIBG and Tl images were obtained in AMI patients. Regional Tl or MIBG uptake was estimated in 9 segments of SPECT by using four-point scoring. The total score was the sum of scores in 9 SPECT segments. ATI-MIBG was calculated by subtracting the total MIBG score from the total Tl score. Corrected RT (RTc) was measured as a signal-averaged ECG. RTc dispersion was defined as the difference between maximal and minimal RTc. The patients were assigned to two groups (group A; < or = Lown 4a, group B; > or = Lown 4b) according to the results of 24-hour Holter monitoring. A positive correlation between RTc dispersion and ATI-MIBG was found. ATI-MIBG and RTc dispersion in group B were greater than those in group A. These results suggested that ATI-MIBG could be used to predict the development of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the factors responsible for the complexation of chitosan with iodine and to gain insight into the structures and spectroscopic properties of chitosan-iodine (CI) complexes, extensive studies were performed on the effects of iodine/chitosan concentrations and temperature on CI complexation and its physicochemical properties in acidic solutions containing excess KI by means of various spectroscopic (absorption, CD, etc.) and structural-analysis (SAXS, etc.) measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The CI complex exhibited absorption spectra with a peak at around 500 nm, regardless of the iodine/chitosan concentrations and temperature. Correspondingly, the CI complexes exhibited mutually split CD bands with opposite signs (+, −) at around 500 nm. The CI complex showed thermal hysteresis, i.e., an irreversible reaction process involved in complexation and color formation. Resonance Raman spectra measurements revealed that the iodine species responsible for the purple coloring of the complexes is primarily I− 3 ions. Moreover, 13C-NMR spectra measurements inferred that the interaction sites in the D-glucosamine moiety in chitosan chains with bound iodine are the hydroxyl groups on C-1, C-3, and C-4. Structural studies based on analytical ultracentrifugation, and SAXS and SANS measurements indicated that the molecular assembly of extended chitosan chains plays a vital role in CI complexation. MD calculations predicted that the irreversibility and thermal hysteresis behavior of the CI complexes are due to a crystalline-like extended→compact folded conformational transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal moments analysis of solute breakthrough curves is used to investigate the preferential leaching of chloride, nitrate and phosphate through an Australian soil. Recent studies have shown that current models and methods do not adequately describe the leaching of nutrients through soil, often underestimating the risk of groundwater contamination by surface-applied chemicals, and overestimating the concentration of resident solutes. This inaccuracy results primarily from ignoring soil structure and non-equilibrium between soil constituents, water and solutes. Therefore simple models are required to accurately characterise solute transport in natural and agricultural soils under non-equilibrium conditions. A multiple sample percolation system, consisting of 25 individual collection wells was constructed to study the effects of localised soil heterogeneities on the transport of nutrients (NO3 −, Cl−, PO4 3 −) in the vadose zone of an agricultural soil predominantly dominated by clay. Using data collected from the multiple sample percolation experiments, this paper compares and contrasts the performance of temporal moments analysis with two mathematical models for predicting solute transport, the advective-dispersion model with a reaction term (ADR) and a two-region preferential flow model (TRM) suitable for modelling preferential transport. The values for solute transport parameters predicted by temporal moments analysis were in excellent agreement with experimental data and results from ADR and TRM. It is concluded that temporal moments analysis when applied with other physical models such as the ADR and TRM, provide an excellent means of obtaining values for important solute transport parameters and gaining insight of preferential flow. These results have significant ramifications for modelling solute transport and predicting nutrient loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronan (HA) in the synovial fluid of the hip joint were determined in 13 patients (aged 62.8 +/- 9.4 years) who had undergone prior total hip arthroplasty(THA), 23 patients (aged 65.0 +/- 8.2 years) with osteoarthritis of the hip joint (OA), and 13 patients (aged 40.2 +/- 2.7 years) with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ION). A sample of synovial fluid was obtained during revision THA because of loosening of the total hip prosthesis for the THA group, and during the first replacement surgery or osteotomy for the OA and ION groups. The concentration of HA in the synovial fluid was 0.64 +/- 0.42 mg/ml in the THA group, 1.07 +/- 0.28 mg/ml in the OA group, and 1.30 +/- 0.56 mg/ml in the ION group. The concentration of HA in the synovial fluid of the THA patients was significantly lower than that of the OA and ION patients (P = 0.0156 vs OA, P = 0.003 vs ION). The molecular weight of HA was 309 +/- 88.3 x 10(4) Da in the THA group, 377 +/- 201 x 10(4) Da in the OA group, and 240 +/- 148 x 10(4) Da in the ION group; these values do not differ significantly (P = 0.259 vs OA, P = 0.174 vs ION). Among the THA patients, there was no relation between the concentration of HA and the age of the patient, length of time since the first operation, or type of prosthesis fixation; there was also no relation between the molecular weight of HA and each of these factors. These results suggest that a pseudosynovial membrane is regenerated after THA, and that it produces HA of the same molecular weight as that in patients with OA and ION, although in smaller quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The β-ray angular distributions from purely spin aligned 12B and 12N were precisely remeasured using a further refined spin-manipulation technique. We determined the amount of a g-parity violating induced tensor form factor in a weak axial vector current as 2M fT/fA= +0.22 ± 0.05\ (stat.) ± 0.15\ (syst.) ± 0.05\ (theor.). The result is consistent with the theoretical prediction in the framework of which induced tensor form factor is proportional to u- and d-quark mass difference. To study the g-parity violation in weak nucleon current systematically, we have started to measure the alignment correlation terms of 8Li, 8B, 20F and 41Sc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a plasmid carrying the tnpA gene and one inverted repeat sequence (IR) of transposon Tn 3, plasmids containing a structure characteristic of transposons, i.e., two IRs flanking a tnpA gene, were generated spontaneously in vivo. They appear to have arisen either through the formation of a “staggered” head-to-head dimer or by so-called one-ended transposition. These putative transposons could indeed transpose to, or form cointegrates with, a recipient plasmid. Based on these findings it is proposed that a primeval transposase gene and its target site evolved first, and subsequently gave rise to a “fully-fledged” transposon by head-to-head dimerization or one-ended transposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlN and SiC can react and form a solid solution at temperatures above 1800 °C, a result that may be beneficial for sintering silicon carbide ceramics. The pressureless sintered AlN–SiC multiphase ceramics have reached high density at a temperature of 2100 °C for 1 hr in Ar. Analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy was then used to determine the grain boundary, fracture surface, and the local compositions. Because AlN has a higher solid vaporization pressure than SiC, the vaporization rate of the AlN solid would far exceed that of SiC at a sintering temperature. The vaporizing AlN was deposited on the surface of SiC powder; SiC grains then elongated in a random arrangement. The form of elongated rod crystals of 4H SiC is 5 to 8 μm in length and 1 μm in width. It resulted in the sample fracture section producing pulling-out and a strong tearing-open effect. The bending strength and the fracture toughness of the material obtained are 420 MPa and 4.40 MPa × m1/2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aimed to establish conditions for synchronized plantlet regeneration from rice callus based on a quantitative analysis of the relationship between intracellular 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentration and shoot regeneration rate. To prepare the rice calli with different intracellular 2,4-D concentrations prior to regeneration, callus precultures were carried out in medium containing 4 mg/l 2,4-D and in 2,4-D-free medium for predetermined periods. As the critical intracellular 2,4-D concentration of the calli precultured in 2,4-D-free medium was too low to analyze precisely by conventional analytical methods, it was estimated using a kinetic model which described the behavior of 2,4-D by taking its uptake, metabolism and/or inactivation rates during the callus preculture into consideration. An experimental relationship between intracellular 2,4-D concentration and regeneration rate of rice calli revealed that the intracellular 2,4-D concentration should be controlled as low as 2.6×10–2μg/g fresh weight to reach the same synchronization in shoot regeneration as seen with rice seed germination. This condition was realized by feeding sugar into the 2,4-D-free medium after 4 days preculture when the carbon source was exhausted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis has been suggested as a causative organism of Crohn's disease. Despite a long-term debate to prove this possibility, the role of this bacteria in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease is still a subject of controversy. In the present study, serum antibodies (IgG, IgA, and IgM) to the protoplasmic antigen of M. paratuberculosis were quantified in patients with Crohn's disease and in control subjects by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay whose specificity was increased by preabsorbing the sera with cell extracts of Mycobacterium phlei. As compared to normal controls (1/20; 0.062+/-0.022), a significant difference was seen in the antibody-positive prevalence rate and mean values of the serum IgG titer in patients with Crohn's disease (5/13; 0.102+/-0.039) (P < 0.05), but not in patients with ulcerative colitis (2/20; 0.065+/-0.035) and tuberculosis (0/4; 0.053+/-0.008). No significant differences were seen in the antibody-positive prevalence rate and mean values of the serum IgA and IgM titers among the four study groups. These results indicate the unique immune response to M. paratuberculosis in patients with Crohn's disease, suggesting that this organism may play some role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify the clinicopathological features of periosteal ganglion.Design: Three patients with periosteal ganglion were studied clinicopathologically.Patients: One patient was selected from the files of our institute and two from a consultation file.Results and Conclusion: All three lesions were located over the medial aspect of the tibia. Plain radiographs showed cortical erosions of varying degrees and mild periosteal reaction of the medial side of the tibia. MR images demonstrated well-circumscribed lesions overlying the cortical bone of the tibia, shown as low-intensity areas on T1-weighted images. On T2-weighted images, lesions were homogeneous, lobulated, and showed a characteristic markedly increased signal intensity. These findings are helpful in making a diagnosis of periosteal ganglion. Each patient had an uneventful clinical course after an excision involving the wall of the ganglion, the adjoining periosteum, and the underlying sclerotic cortical bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoreceptors of the planarian Dugesia dorotocephala were studied by light microscopy and electron microscopy. The eye was found to be rhabdomeric; it is composed of approximately 25 visual cells and a monolayered cup of pigment cells enclosing the light sensitive rhabdome. The pigment cell gave the appearance of having a phagocytic function in addition to regulating the light entering the rhabdome. Extensions of these pigment cells were shown to be the 'membranous structure' seen by light microscopy in the open area of the eye. The bipolar visual cell consisted of a perikaryon, axon and a dendritic extension comprised of a stalk, conical body and microvillous rhabdomere. Efferent nerve fibers formed synapses with dendritic spines protruding from receptor stalks. A specialized structure at the transition area between neurotubules and neurofilaments was observed in the conical body. A dense intercellular space occurred between all regions of adjoining visual cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asexual planarians of the species Dugesia dorotocephala exhibit a distinct circadian rhythm of fissoning (asexual reproduction) under the influence of normal photoperiod; fissioning occurs only at night. This rhythm is broken down by continuous illumination, continuous darkness or by decapitation. The fissioning rate increases when planarians are exposed to light for less than 1 hour/day or when they are decapitated. Fissioning of decapitated planarians is suppressed by continuous treatment with melatonin, whereas fissioning resumes when these are returned to normal culture water. Interestingly, fissioning occurs at night when decapitates are treated with melatonin in the daytime, while it is observed in the daytime with night-time melatonin treatment. Endogenous melatonin was detected by HPLC and RIA. The endogenous melatonin level is always higher in those heads collected in the scotophase than in those collected in the photophase. A type of neurosecretory cell, which may synthesize melatonin, is found in the assembly of photoreceptor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of a section of an otolith from a teleost fish by fast atom bombardment-secondary ion mass spectrometry (FAB-SIMS) revealed seasonal periodicity in Sr, Na, and K concentrations that corresponded with visually observed annual banding. Strontium maxima also corresponded with Na and K minima and vice versa. In addition there was a general, apparently age-related, trend in Sr levels, with concentrations at the edge of the otolith being higher than in the core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urinary excretion of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol, a pyranoid polyol, in humans was studied. The plasma of nondiabetic human subjects contained high concentrations of this polyol (>110 μmol/l), and there was a tendency for the 24-h excretion of it to become more variable in direct proportion to its plasma concentration. In contrast, diabetic patients showed lower plasma concentrations of this polyol, and the variation in the 24-h excretion of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol was especially notable among the patients with an extremely low plasma concentration of the polyol. This diabetic group showed a statistically significant correlation ( p<0.01), between the urinary 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol and urinary glucose. This correlation was more markedly demonstrated during a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test: parallel changes were observed in the concentrations of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol and glucose in the urine collected every hour after the glucose load. These observations led to the proposal that low plasma concentration of this polyol, which is observed in diabetes mellitus, may be the result of a frequent and/or prolonged high blood glucose concentration beyond the renal threshold for glucose excretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iodine 123-labeled 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) has recently been developed, since normal myocardium metabolizes free fatty acids. This study investigated the clinical usefulness of BMIPP imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), particularly in the detection of stunned myocardium in patients who underwent acute coronary revascularization.Methods: The subjects were 41 patients with acute MI who had undergone emergency coronary revascularization. Both BMIPP and thallium-201 images at rest were obtained during the subacute phase. The myocardial distribution of radiotracers was quantified by generating circumferential count-distribution profile analysis. Initial 201Tl imaging, delayed 201Tl imaging, and BMIPP imaging were performed, and the mean count densities in the infarct region (initial 201Tl images [TL1], delayed 201Tl images [TL2], and BMIPP images in the infarct region [BM], respectively) were obtained. The differences between mean count densities (TL1-BM: BM subtracted from TL1; TL2-BM: BM subtracted from TL2) were also calculated.Results: BM showed a higher correlation with wall motion data by echocardiography (WM) in the acute phase than other nuclear imaging tests, whereas TL2 showed the highest correlation with WM in the chronic phase. Acute to chronic WM improvement showed a good correlation with TL2-BM.Conclusion: Single photon emission computed tomography imaging with BMIPP is a candidate for providing the "memory image" of ischemic damage, whereas TL2 reflects all viable tissue. The mismatch between the tracers can serve as an indicator of myocardial stunning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charge and discharge behaviour of LiNiO2 positive electrode has been examined in organic electrolytes with different compositions. The discharge capacity of the oxide electrode at a moderate cycling rate varied with the electrolyte composition. Redox responses in potential sweep voltammetry also depended on the kind of lithium salt and solvent of the electrolyte. Electrolyte solutions of relatively low ionic conductivity generally gave lower voltammetric responses and rate capability. A.c. impedance analysis of the LiNiO2 electrode before and after the charge and discharge demonstrated that the surface chemistry of the oxide, depending on the electrolyte composition, has an important influence on the rate capability of the oxide electrode in organic electrolyte solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Lyman-α excitation spectrum has been observed using synchrotron radiation in the energy region corresponding to the double electron excitation of H. There exist in the spectrum three thresholds at 26.6±0.5 eV, 29.2±0.7 eV and 30.9±0.6 eV, and a dip at 34.1±0.5 eV. A Lyman-α excitation spectrum in the energy region corresponding to the single electron excitation has been also observed using a detection system which works as a band pass filter for detecting of Lyman-α fluorescence. The cross section of Lyman-α fluorescence in the photodissociation of the doubly excited states is very small, e.g., in the order of 10 cm at 30 eV, in comparison with that from the single electron excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The replication in RL-33 cells (rabbit lung cell line) of herpesvirus tamarinus isolated from cotton-topped marmosets (Saguinus oedipus) was investigated by electron microscopy. In the early stages of infection, ring-shaped and granular structures, and fibrillar materials were recognized in the nucleus. Immature particles were often found in such nuclei. The envelope of the virus was formed by budding through intracytoplasmic membranes, the inner nuclear membrane or the membrane of intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Virus particles which appeared to be budding through the plasma membrane were also observed. Aberrant viral forms were produced by independent budding of both the inner and outer nuclear membranes. The mature particles once enveloped acquired a second envelope by budding through intracytoplasmic double membranes or the outer nuclear membrane. Unusual virus-associated structures were observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Virus particles appeared to be released by the process of reverse phagocytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the comparative studies of the virulence of several vaccinia virus strains by intrathalamic inoculation into cynomolgus monkeys, the following results were observed. The CV1 virus was most virulent, the New York City Board of Health, Ikeda, EM63, and Lister viruses were slightly less virulent, and DIs and LC 16 viruses least virulent. The characteristic findings were widespread inflammatory lesions in the meninges and choroid plexus which were closely associated with the replication of vaccinia virus, and parenchymal lesions which might be referred to as encephalopathy in the deceased monkeys. Meningoencephalitis was, however, often recognized in the monkeys sacrificed at 14 days postinoculation and those dying late. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of an inherited type of D/G translocation D-trisomy syndrome was described. A female proposita who had the clinical signs of D-trisomy syndrome was found to have a chromosome complement of 46,XX,-G,+t(DqGq). Examination of Q- and G-stained karyotypes revealed that the chromosomes involved in the translocation were members of Nos. 13 and 22, or t(13q22q) with breaks at p12 of both chromosomes. C-stained figures also showed a large heterochromatin block in its centromeric region. The t(13q22q) chromosome was transmitted from the paternal grandmother of the proposita through at least three generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign lymphoepithelial lesions of the salivary glands associated with Sjbgren's syndrome are characterized by extensive infiltration of lymphoid cells, atrophy of acini and the presence of so-called epimyoepithelial islands. This report describes ultrastructural and three-dimensional reconstructive studies of epimyoepithelial islands performed at Tokyo Women's Medical College. Ultrastructural examination showed that these islands are composed mainly of epithelial cells containing intermediate filaments and/or tonofilament bundles, scattered lymphocytes and plasma cells. Myoepithelium-like cells containing myofilaments were sometimes found in the peripheral portion of the myoepithelial islands. Also, mitotic figures were rarely found in these islands. Three-dimensional reconstructive study revealed that the epimyoepithelial islands are not isolated cell clusters but are continuous hypertrophic duct-like structures. These results suggest that the epimyoepithelial islands are derived from proliferating duct epithelial cells, especially those of large peripheral ducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor discussing the evidence on the presence and expression of disrupted-in-schizophrenia (DISC) isoforms in C57BK/6J mice and 129S6/SvEv mice is presented.

We report a case of infant death due to scurvy, which is very rare in Japan. We initially had little knowledge of the disease and suspected that the bleeding in the body was caused by domestic violence. The case did not fall under the category of the battered child syndrome but the death was caused by ignorance with respect to child care. In addition the parents usually locked the child alone in a room during the day and this is probably a case of neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated levels of p53 protein expression in Japanese patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. A significantly larger proportion of heavy alcohol drinkers and cigarette smokers was evident in the p53-positive group. The combination of drinking and smoking was associated with a high frequency of p53 protein accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]