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A cross-sectional study of Japanese female commercial sex workers (FCSWs) working in massage parlors with cell baths (MPCBs) was conducted between July 1999 and December 2001. The study subjects were 171 FCSWs aged from 19 to 36 years. A questionnaire included sexual characteristics in addition to working name and date of birth. We serologically or bacteriologically confirmed the prevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics of FCSWs working in standard-class MPCBs (group A) and those working in expensive-class MPCBs (group B). With respect to sexual characteristics, HIV-1 and HIV-2 were not confirmed in any subjects, but N. gonorrhoeae was detected in 1.2%. Use of condoms was 98.4% in group A and 83.3% in group B ( P < 0.01). No HIV infection and an extremely low prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were recognized in Japanese FCSWs working in standard- and expensive-class MPCBs.

The structure of a glyoxalase I inhibitor (I), isolated from a cultured broth of Streptomyces griseosporeus, was found to be 2-crotonyloxymethyl-4,5,6-trihydroxy-cyclohex-2-enone by chemical studies. Stereochemistry and absolute configuration were determined to be 4R, 5R and 6R by X-ray crystallographic analysis of a bromine-containing crystalline derivative. The crotonyloxy group of I shows a surprising proclivity to be displaced by SH-compounds. This property is shown to be the basis for its biological activity.

Many streptomyces strains produced an inhibitor of crude glyoxalase prepared from rat liver which did not inhibit glyoxalase I prepared from yeast. Another inhibitor, C11H14O6, which inhibited glyoxalases prepared from both rat liver and yeast was obtained from a cultured broth of Streptomyces griseosproeus and crystallized. Preincubation of this inhibitor with reuduced glutathione increased its inhibitory activity, which suggested its reaction with reduced glutathione. It showed a strong inhibition of growth of HeLa cells and inhibition of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma by daily injection. It also showed weak inhibition of the solid type of Ehrlich carcinoma and prolonged the survival period of mice inoculated with L-1210 cells.

In the screening of catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors in streptomyces culture filtrates, three new isoflavones were isolated. Their structures were shown to be 3',5,7-trihydroxy-4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone (I), 3',5,7-trihydroxy-4',8-dimethoxyisoflavone (II), 3',8-dihydroxy-4',6,7-trimethoxyisoflavone (III). I and II inhibited both catechol-O-methyltransferase and dopa decarboxylase, and showed hypotensive action. III was a specific inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, and showed no hypotensive action.