Search

Background: Miyazaki Prefecture is one of the hotspots of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) cases and related deaths in Japan since 2013 and other pathogens of tick‐borne diseases (TBDs). Japanese spotted fever and scrub typhus are also endemic in this region. Objectives: A total of 105 wild boars, hunted in 2009, were serologically examined as sentinels for TBDs to indirectly demonstrate the potential hazard of ticks transmitting pathogens to humans in the studied area. Methods: The collected blood and spleens of the wild boars underwent serological and molecular tests for SFTSV, Rickettsia japonica (Rj) [antibody to spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) were tested by using species‐common antigen], and Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot). Results: Seroprevalences of SFTSV, SFGR, and Ot were 41.9%, 29.5%, and 33.3%, respectively. SFTS viral RNA was identified in 7.6% of the sera, whereas DNA of Rj or Ot was not detected in any sample. In total, 43.8% of the boars possessed an infection history with SFTSV (viral gene and/or antibody). Of these, 23.8% had multiple‐infection history with SFGR and/or Ot. Conclusions: The high prevalence of SFTSV in wild boars might reflect the high risk of exposure to the virus in the studied areas. In addition, SFTSV infection was significantly correlated with Ot infection, and so were SFGR infection and Ot infection, indicating that these pathogens have common factors for infection or transmission. These data caution of the higher risk of SFTSV infection in areas with reported cases of other TBDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) poses a diagnostic challenge because of its rarity and histological overlap with glandular odontogenic cyst (GOC). In MEC of both salivary glands and jaws, MAML2 arrangement has been well known as the specific gene alteration. We report a case of central MEC arising from GOC diagnosed by MAML2 fusion gene. A 57-year-old male presented a multilocular cystic lesion in left molar region of the mandible. Histopathologically, multiple cysts lined by thin cuboidal or non-keratinized squamous epithelium with small duct-like structures, mucous cells and ciliated cells were present. It was diagnosed as GOC. The recurrent lesion after nine years showed the proliferation of many cystic and solid nests composed of epidermoid, mucous and intermediated cells. Nested PCR revealed CRTC3-MAML2 fusion gene in the recurrent lesion, but not in the primary one. Similarly, MAML-2 rearrangement by FISH analysis was positive in the recurrent lesion, while negative for the primary one, thus confirming the diagnosis of central MEC arising from GOC. Analysis of MAML2 rearrangement can be used as a supportive evidence to distinguish central MEC from GOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bongkrekic acid (BKA), isolated from the bacterium Burkholderia cocovenenans, is an inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocator, which inhibits apoptosis, and is thus an important tool for the mechanistic investigation of apoptosis. An efficient total synthesis of BKA has been achieved by employing a three-component convergent strategy based on Kocienski-Julia olefination and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. It is noteworthy that segment B has been prepared as a new doubly functionalized coupling partner, which contributes to shortening of the number of steps. Torquoselective olefination with an ynolate has also been applied for the efficient construction of an unsaturated ester. Furthermore, it is revealed that 1-methyl-2-azaadamantane N-oxyl is an excellent reagent for final oxidation to afford BKA in high yield. Based on the total synthesis, several BKA analogues were prepared for structure-activity relationship studies, which indicated that the carboxylic acid moieties were essential for the apoptosis inhibitory activity of BKA. More easily available BKA analogues with potent apoptosis inhibitory activity were also developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of l-leucine ( l-Leu) and d-leucine ( d-Leu) was incorporated into α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) peptide segments. The dominant conformations of four hexapeptides, Boc- l-Leu-Aib-Aib-Aib-Aib- l-Leu-OMe (1a), Boc- d-Leu-Aib-Aib-Aib-Aib- l-Leu-OMe (1b), Boc-Aib-Aib- l-Leu- l-Leu-Aib-Aib-OMe (2a), and Boc-Aib-Aib- d-Leu- l-Leu-Aib-Aib-OMe (2b), were investigated by IR, 1H NMR, CD spectra, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. All peptides 1a,b and 2a,b formed 310-helical structures in solution. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that right-handed ( P) 310-helices were present in 1a and 1b and a mixture of right-handed ( P) and left-handed ( M) 310-helices was present in 2b in their crystalline states. Copyright © 2012 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One chiral L-valine ( L-Val) was inserted into the C-terminal position of achiral peptide segments constructed from α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and α,β-dehydrophenylalanine (ΔZPhe) residues. The IR, 1H NMR and CD spectra indicated that the dominant conformations of the pentapeptide Boc-Aib-ΔPhe-(Aib)2- L-Val-NH-Bn (3) and the hexapeptide Boc-Aib-ΔPhe-(Aib)3- L-Val-NH-Bn (4) in solution were both right-handed ( P) 310-helical structures. X-ray crystallographic analyses of 3 and 4 revealed that only a right-handed ( P) 310-helical structure was present in their crystalline states. The conformation of 4 was also studied by molecular-mechanics calculations. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splenopancreatic field abnormalities were carefully examined macroscopically and microscopically in 21 trisomy 13 (TR13) subjects, and the results were compared with those of non-TR13 control cases. Of the 21 TR13 subjects, 12 had intrapancreatic splenic tissue (IPST) and 17 had fusion of the pancreatic tail and splenic hilus and/or accessory spleen (FPS/FPAS). All 21 had IPST and/or FPS/FPAS. Five of 1060 controls (non-TR13) had IPST, while two had FPS/FPAS. On histology the pancreata of TR13 subjects had intralobular ducts, with goblet cells (ILDGC) and microcysts (MC) in 17 and 18 subjects, respectively. All 21 TR13 subjects had ILDGC and/or MC. Two of 360 age-matched controls (stillbirths and neonates) had ILDGC and nine had MC. IPST, FPS/FPAS, ILDGC, and MC were considered to be highly specific for TR13, and could therefore be useful in differentiating TR13 from other malformation diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study the significance of nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin (CTNNB1) and mutation of the CTNNB1 gene ( CTNNB1) in odontogenic tumors was examined. Six ameloblastomas (five follicular ameloblastomas and one plexiform ameloblastoma) and three malignant odontogenic tumors (one metastasizing ameloblastoma, one ameloblastic carcinoma, and one primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma) were investigated for CTNNB1 expression and CTNNB1 mutation. Immunohistochemically, all follicular ameloblastomas and one primary intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma exhibited focal and moderate nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of CTNNB1, whereas the plexiform ameloblastoma and the remaining two malignant odontogenic tumors had entirely membranous expression. CTNNB1 mutation at codon 40 of exon 3 was found in one of the six follicular ameloblastomas. The other five follicular ameloblastomas, the plexiform ameloblastoma, and the three malignant odontogenic tumors did not show mutation in exon 3 of CTNNB1. These findings further confirmed that CTNNB1 mutation is not frequent in ameloblastoma and malignant odontogenic tumors, although the abnormality of Wnt signaling may be associated with some of these tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inbreeding of the sexualized planarian,Dugesia ryukyuensis, produces eye-defective worms,menashi, in theF1 population. To study the effects of this mutation on the eye, we observed the eye-region ofmenashiusing electron microscopy and compared it with the regenerating eye in wild-type worms. The intact eye of wild-type planarians consisted of a few pigment cells and a number of visual cells. Pigment cells containing spherically-shaped electron-dense melanosomes contacted each other and enclosed rhabdomes of visual cells. Rhabdomes had numerous tubular microvilli extending radially and touching the pigment cells. However, inmenashi, various lengths of tubular microvilli were irregularly distributed near the pigment cells, which contained numerous electron-lucent premelanosomes, and no adhesive structures were found between the pigment cells. The premelanosomes ofmenashiwere equal in size to those seen after 2 days of regeneration in wild-type planarians and were similar in maturation to those found after 3 days of regeneration in wild-type planarian. These results suggest thatmenashiis defective in the mechanism(s) of developing pigment granules and constructing visual cells. These findings also suggest that pigment cells inmenashiare defective in the mechanism(s) involved with cell adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Owing to increased awareness and use of narrow-band imaging, there are more opportunities to treat superficial pharyngeal cancer (SPC). The present study aimed to describe the short- and long-term outcomes of endoscopic resection (ER) for SPC. Methods This study included 166 consecutive SPC in 113 patients treated during 2006 to 2013 at one referral cancer center. In the first period, we treated patients using endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), in the second period using conventional ESD (cESD) and in the recent period using double-scope ESD (dsESD), which involves a second thin endoscope for assistance to produce traction. Median follow-up period was 30 months. Results All lesions were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. Complete resection rate of cESD and dsESD procedures was 56.4% and 82.3% ( P < 0.01), and local recurrence rate was 2.6% and 0.0%, respectively. Procedure duration was significantly shorter for dsESD than for cESD ( P < 0.05). Four cases of recurrent lymph node (LN) metastasis were observed; however, all patients with LN metastases survived to a 48-month median interval after neck dissection. Risk factors for LN metastasis included subepithelium invasion, tumor thickness >1000 μm, droplet infiltration, and lymphovascular invasion. Overall survival rate after 5 years was 79.5%; no patients died of SPC. Cumulative rate of metachronous SPC after 5 years was 46.5%. Conclusion ER for SPC is a feasible and effective treatment, although metachronous SPC occurred frequently. For the technique of ER, dsESD was effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]