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Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is crucial, particularly for preventing cervical cancer. This study aimed to assess the perceptions of HPV vaccination among healthcare university students in Okayama City, Japan, with the goal of promoting HPV vaccination in the future., Methods: The study enrolled 168 students (94 male students and 74 female students, median age: 20 (minimum: 18, maximum: 27)) from a healthcare university in Okayama, Japan. Data collected included sex, age, year, HPV vaccination status, knowledge about HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening status (for female students). Participants completed self-administered questionnaires on their perceptions of HPV vaccination. The responses were analyzed using text mining., Results: The HPV vaccination rate among female participants was 16.2% (12 out of 74). Of the respondents, 43.6% of male respondents and 52.7% of female respondents knew that HPV causes cervical cancer. Text mining revealed that among the female respondents, the most frequently used words were "think", followed by "vaccine", "side effects", "vaccination", and "frightening". Distinctive words among female respondents, especially those who haven't been vaccinated, include knowing the term "HPV," understanding that HPV causes cervical cancer, and for those who haven't had screenings, terms like "side effects" and " frightening" were common., Conclusion: Among female students at the healthcare university, the HPV vaccination rate was thought to be comparatively low. Among those who had not received the HPV vaccine, it was particularly noted that they knew the term "HPV," were aware that HPV caused cervical cancer, and for those who had not undergone screenings, providing accurate information about "side effects" and " frightening" seemed necessary., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Experimental Research on Human Subjects at Okayama Healthcare Professional University issued approval 0091. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Yokoyama et al.)

Objectives: Sarcopenia has been reported as a prognostic risk factor in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary pancreatic (HBP) cancers. This study aimed to investigate whether the loss of muscle mass or strength is a stronger prognostic factor, and explore the cutoff values of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and handgrip strength (HGS) based on the survival outcome in patients with GI and HBP cancers., Methods: A total of 480 elderly patients with primary GI and HBP cancers who underwent their first resection surgery were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into four groups: Appropriate SMI and HGS, low SMI alone, low HGS alone, and low SMI and HGS. Low SMI was derived from a bioelectrical impedance analysis, and low HGS was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria., Results: The multivariate analysis showed that low SMI was a significant risk factor for mortality in men only, but low HGS was significant in both sexes. From the multivariate analysis of the four groups, low HGS alone and low SMI and HGS showed a significantly higher hazard ratio than appropriate SMI and HGS in both sexes. An SMI of 7.21 kg/m 2 and HGS of 28 kg were obtained as cutoff values based on the 3-y survival outcomes in men., Conclusions: Low muscle strength was a stronger prognostic factor than low muscle mass. Therefore, measuring muscle strength in all patients is essential., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria recommends using race- and sex-adjusted cutoff values for reduced muscle mass (RMM), but the only cutoff values available for Asians are the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) established by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). This retrospective study aimed to develop and validate cutoff values for the fat-free mass index (FFMI) and arm circumference (AC) of Asians, and to investigate the association between GLIM malnutrition and prognosis. A total of 660 patients with primary gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary-pancreatic (HBP) cancers who underwent their first resection surgery were recruited and randomly divided into development and validation groups. The FFMI and AC cutoff values were calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for the AWGS SMI as the gold standard. The cutoff values for each RMM were used to diagnose malnutrition on the basis of GLIM criteria, and the survival rates were compared. The optimal FFMI cutoff values for RMM were 17 kg/m 2 for men and 15 kg/m 2 for women, and for AC were 27 cm for men and 25 cm for women. In the validation group, the accuracy of the FFMI and AC cutoff values to discriminate RMM were 85.2% and 68.8%, respectively. Using any of the three measures of RMM, overall survival rates were significantly lower in the GLIM malnutrition group. In conclusion, the cutoff values for the FFMI and AC in this study could discriminate RMM, and GLIM malnutrition using these cutoff values was associated with decreased survival.

C-S bond formation reactions are widely distributed in the biosynthesis of biologically active molecules, and thus have received much attention over the past decades. Herein, we report intramolecular C-S bond formation by a P450 monooxygenase, TleB, which normally catalyzes a C-N bond formation in teleocidin biosynthesis. Based on the proposed reaction mechanism of TleB, a thiol-substituted substrate analogue was synthesized and tested in the enzyme reaction, which afforded the unprecedented sulfur-containing thio-indolactam V, in addition to an unusual indole-fused 6/5/8-tricyclic product whose structure was determined by the crystalline sponge method. Interestingly, conformational analysis revealed that the SOFA conformation is stable in thio-indolactam V, in sharp contrast to the major TWIST form in indolactam V, resulting in differences in their biological activities., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The isolation and structure elucidation of collimonins A-D (1-4) from the fungus-feeding bacterium Collimonas fungivorans Ter331 are reported. Collimonins are new derivatives of polyoxygenated hexadecanoic acid, including an ene-triyne moiety. Their absolute configurations were fully determined by combining spectroscopic, chemical, and crystalline sponge methods. Collimonins showed antifungal or pigmentation activities against the fungus Aspergillus niger ATCC 9029.

Mushroom bodies (MBs) are insect brain centers involved in multimodal sensory integration and memory formation. Advanced Hymenoptera, such as ants and bees, have particularly large and elaborately organized MBs, which are repeatedly implicated in complex behaviors. In this study, to address the developmental aspects of their MBs, gliogenesis of mushroom body neuroblasts (MB Nbs) was examined in the carpenter ant Camponotus japonicus. Reversed Polarity (REPO) is a paired-like homeodomain protein located exclusively in the nucleus of differentiating glial cells in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. First, the molecular aspects of C. japonicus REPO (CjREPO) were identified. Then, the antibody (CjREPO-antibody) was raised against a peptide of CjREPO. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the strong labeling was located in the nucleus of glial cells in the developing brains, whereas no immunoreactivity was detectable in progeny derived from MB Nbs. These findings suggest that MB Nb in the ant is a neuronal precursor that does not produce glial cells.

We present an unusual case of a delayed right ventricular perforation by a single standard-caliber implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead, which manifested 14 days after implantation. Multidetector computed tomography could clearly display the lead perforation, and allow for identification of the associated sequelae such as pericardial effusion and planning the lead extraction strategy.

Purpose: Currently, there are only three punctum plugs available for use in Japan [EaglePlug (EP), Eagle Flex Plug (FP), and Punctal Plug (PP)]. This study investigated the effectiveness of the newly marketed Super Flex Plug (SFP)., Subjects and Methods: This study involved 291 eyes of 224 severe dry eye patients treated at the dry eye clinic of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. For the SFP, EP, FP, and PP, this study compared the extrusion rate of each plug and other complications, including enlargement of the size of the punctum after extrusion, granulation, and the accumulation of soft whitish material around the plugs., Results: During the evaluation periods, the elapsed times until extrusion were significantly longer for SFP than for EP and FP(p<0.001). In all cases, there was a significant enlargement of the size of the punctum (mm) after extrusion of the SFP [0.74 +/- 0.13 (mean +/- SD)] as compared to that before insertion [0.62 +/- 0.14 (p < 0.0001)]. Granulation formed in 1.7% of the SFP cases, but the frequency was lower than that in PP cases (19%). No soft whitish material around the plug was seen in SFP-inserted eyes., Conclusion: The SFP was harder to extrude, and was found to cause granulation. After extrusion of the SFP, the punctum was likely to be enlarged.

Flavonoids are ubiquitous components in vegetables, fruits, tea, and wine. Therefore, they are often consumed in large quantities in our daily diet. Several flavonoids have been shown to have potential as antidiabetic agents. In the present study, we focused on inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) by flavonoids. 6-Hydroxyluteolin, hypolaetin, and quercetagetin were identified as good inhibitors of dephosphorylated GP (GPb), with IC 50 values of 11.6, 15.7, and 9.7 microM, respectively. Furthermore, a structure-activity relationship study revealed that the presence of the 3' and 4' OH groups in the B-ring and double bonds between C2 and C3 in flavones and flavonols are important factors for enzyme recognition and binding. Quercetagetin inhibited GPb in a noncompetitive manner, with a K i value of 3.5 microM. Multiple inhibition studies by Dixon plots suggested that quercetagetin binds to the allosteric site. In primary cultured rat hepatocytes, quercetagetin and quercetin suppressed glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis, with IC 50 values of 66.2 and 68.7 microM, respectively. These results suggested that as a group of novel GP inhibitors, flavonoids have potential to contribute to the protection or improvement of control of diabetes type II.

Background: Adrenomedullin (AM) has pluripotent activities and is involved in the regulation of vasomotor tone, cell differentiation and embryogenesis. However, the expression and pathophysiological role of AM has not been determined in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC)., Methods: Twenty-six RCC specimens and three cultured human RCC cell lines (A498, SN12C and KPK-13) were analyzed. Expression of AM was determined by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. The correlation between AM expression and microvessel count (MVC) in RCC specimens was examined to determine if AM plays a role in tumor angiogenesis. The correlation between the expression of AM and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was also investigated. Lastly, the effect of hypoxia upon the mRNA expression of AM, VEGF and hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) by RCC cell lines was determined., Results: Immunohistochemistry indicated that AM and VEGF were primarily localized in the cytosol of RCC cells. AM and VEGF mRNA were detected in all RCC specimens and cultured RCC cell lines analyzed by RT-PCR. There was a positive correlation between AM mRNA expression and MVC (r = 0.516, P = 0.0062), and between VEGF mRNA expression and MVC (r = 0.485, P = 0.0111). We also observed a positive correlation between AM mRNA expression and VEGF mRNA expression (r = 0.552, P = 0.0029). Hypoxia significantly induced AM and VEGF mRNA expression, although the increase of the AM mRNA level (10.6-26.7 fold) was markedly greater than that of the VEGF mRNA level (1.5-1.9 fold)., Conclusion: These results suggest that hypoxia-induced AM plays a part in tumor angiogenesis in conjunction with VEGF and facilitates human RCC growth under hypoxic conditions.

An 82-year old man received total androgen blockade therapy (bilateral orchiectomy and 375 mg/day flutamide) for the treatment of stage C prostate cancer. Serum PSA levels were undetectable for 13 months and thereafter increased gradually. We administered estramustine phosphate sodium (EPS) instead of flutamide under the diagnosis of hormone refractory prostate cancer. EPS therapy was discontinued after 9 months because serum PSA levels increased again. Then, the patient complained of bilateral breast nodules and pain. Bilateral mammectomies were performed due to bilateral breast cancers which had been diagnosed by aspiration biopsies and radiographic examinations, but he died four months after the operations. Final pathological diagnosis was ductal adenocarcinoma of the breasts. Immunohistochemical study revealed expressions of PSA in the breast cancers. We diagnosed double cancers of the prostate and the breast because of the different expression patterns of progesterone receptor between them. We review the literatures and discuss the differential diagnosis of prostate cancer and PSA-producing breast cancer.

Purpose: The usefulness of laparoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy for patients with renal pelvic and lower ureteral cancer is evaluated., Material: Seven patients with renal pelvic cancer and four with lower ureteral cancer performed laparoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy from May 1997 to December 2000 (Ten males and one female, mean age 68.5 year-old)., Method: Of the 11 patients, the initial one received preoperative embolization of the renal artery. Under general anesthesia laparoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy underwent via transperitoneal approach in three patients and retroperitoneal approach in eight. After the kidney was completely dissected under laparoscopic procedure, it was delivered en bloc with ureter from the skin incision in the lower abdomen., Result: Two patients needed conversion to open surgery. The mean operating time of nine patients except for conversion cases was 272 minutes and the mean blood loss was 313 ml. There was no major complication associated with laparoscopic procedure. There was no significant difference in both complication and recurrence rate between laparoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy and open surgery., Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted total nephroureterectomy is an useful procedure for the treatment of patients with renal pelvic and lower ureteral cancer because it enables us to remove out the kidney and ureter from one small lower abdominal incision.

Background: We determined the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) count to investigate its importance in predicting clinical outcome or prognosis in patients with bladder cancer., Methods: The TAM count and microvessel count (MVC) were determined immunohistochemically in 63 patients with bladder cancer, including 40 superficial bladder cancers and 23 invasive bladder cancers. To examine the relationship between TAM count and clinical outcome or prognosis in bladder cancer, cystectomy rates, distant metastasis rates, vascular invasion rates and 5 year survival rates were compared between patients with low (< 67) and high (> or = 67) TAM counts., Results: The TAM count in invasive bladder cancers (154.22+/-11.98) was significantly higher than in superficial bladder cancers (49.05+/-7.76; P<0.0001). The MVC in invasive bladder cancers (71.55+/-10.44) was also significantly higher than in superficial bladder cancers (47.02+/-5.57; P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between TAM count and MVC (r=0.30; P=0.02). Immunohistochemical staining using CD68/horseradish peroxidase monoclonal antibody showed more infiltrating cells in invasive than superficial bladder cancers. Patients with a high TAM count (> or =67) showed significantly higher rates of cystectomy, distant metastasis and vascular invasion than those with a lower TAM count (<67). The 5 year survival rate estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method was significantly lower in patients with a high TAM count than in those with a low TAM count (P<0.0001)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that determination of TAM count in bladder cancer tissues is of value to predict the clinical outcome or prognosis and to select appropriate treatment strategies in patients with bladder cancer.

Background: Prediction of the extent of calcium supplement will facilitate safe and efficient management of hypocalcemia in the early postoperative stage of total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation (PTXa) in patients with renal osteodystrophy., Methods: The correlation between the extent of calcium deficiency, estimated by the amount of calcium supplement over 48 h after PTXa and using various parameters such as carboxy terminal parathyroid hormone (c-PTH), intact PTH (i-PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum calcium, serum phosphorus, duration of hemodialysis, total weight of resected parathyroid glands and degree of subperiosteal resorption of the middle phalanx was examined in 49 patients who underwent PTX with subcutaneous autotransplantation. Bone mineral density (BMD) was also determined before, 3 months and 1 year after PTXa with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 13 patients., Results: There was a positive correlation between pre-operative i-PTH level (r=0.56, P<0.0005) or ALP level (r=0.50, P<0.0005) and the amount of calcium supplement over 48 h after PTXa in these patients. Furthermore, the degree of subperiosteal resorption, determined by Jensen's classification, was significantly correlated with the amount of calcium supplement after PTX (P<0.05). Bone mineral density 3 months after (P<0.0005) and 1 year after PTXa (P<0.001) significantly increased compared with BMD before PTXa in all patients examined., Conclusion: These findings suggest that the pre-operative determination of i-PTH, ALP levels and degree of subperiosteal resorption allow the management of hypocalcemia safely and efficiently in renal osteodystrophy patients after PTXa.

A case of renal actinomycosis is reported. A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further examinations of a right renal mass, complaining of dull pain in his right loin and progressive weight loss. Laboratory findings showed an anemia with a grossly raised ESR, CT, MRI and ultrasonography revealed a solid mass of the right kidney. Chest CT films revealed several infiltrates in the bilateral lobes. A diagnosis of neoplasm or inflammatory mass of the right kidney was considered, and the right nephrectomy was performed. Microscopically, characteristic colonies of actinomyces were seen, and histological diagnosis was renal actinomycosis. The patient made good progress after operation and was subsequently treated with penicillin.

A 49-year-old woman had been on hemodialysis for 18 years. She presented with left back pain and macrohematuria. Radiologic studies demonstrated a left renal tumor with acquired cystic disease of the kidney. Her serum erythropoietin (EPO) level was 78.4 U/L despite no history of EPO supplementation. Left radical nephrectomy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed EPO-producing renal cell carcinoma. After surgery, the patient's serum EPO level decreased markedly to 15.1 U/L. The measurement of serum EPO levels may be useful for detecting and monitoring a recurrence of renal cell carcinoma with acquired cystic disease of the kidney in patients on long-term hemodialysis.

The Biopty-gun is a useful tool in conducting percutaneous renal biopsies, but bleeding is still a significant complication. To reduce the rate of severe bleeding complications, we attempted a new method of renal needle biopsy using a retrograde access technique. Retrograde puncture of the renal calyx was performed using the Lawson nephrostomy kit. The 18-gauge needle of the Bioptygun was inserted along the puncture wire and fired. A 7-french pigtail catheter was retained in the renal pelvis for a few days following the procedure. This biopsy is a promising and safe technique.

Purpose: The clinical significance of multi-drug resistant proteins, such as multi-drug resistance associated protein and P-glycoprotein, in terms of prognostic value was determined in patients with bladder cancer., Materials and Methods: The expression of multi-drug resistance associated protein and P-glycoprotein was investigated immunohistochemically before and after chemotherapy. The relationship between expression of these multi-drug resistant proteins and clinical outcome assessed by tumor recurrence rate, cystectomy rate and 5-year survival rate was also investigated in 33 patients with bladder cancer., Results: Before chemotherapy multi-drug resistance associated protein expression was observed in 1 of 28 patients (4%) while P-glycoprotein expression was observed in 22 of 33 (67%). Multi-drug resistance associated protein induction by chemotherapy was observed in 6 of 28 patients (21%), whereas P-glycoprotein induction was noted in 4 (14%). Multi-drug resistance associated protein in this disease is induced more frequently by high dose (more than 300 mg.) than low dose (less than 300 mg.) anthracyclines (p < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis also revealed co-expression of multi-drug resistance associated protein and P-glycoprotein in 5 of 28 patients (18%) after chemotherapy. However, there was no significant correlation between positive P-glycoprotein expression before chemotherapy and clinical outcome., Conclusions: Multi-drug resistance associated protein as well as P-glycoprotein mediated multi-drug resistance may be induced after chemotherapy for bladder tumors. However, the presence of P-glycoprotein before chemotherapy does not predict clinical outcome in patients with bladder cancer.

A rare case of urogenital sinus cyst in a child is reported. A 10-month-old boy was referred to our hospital under the diagnosis of acute epididymitis. IVP showed left hydronephrosis and round filling defect in the bladder. Ultrasonography and CT scan demonstrated a retrovesical cystic lesion. Right vesiculography under general anesthesia revealed a midline cystic lesion. Fenestration between the prostatic urethra and cystic lesion was performed by TUR-velmontanum. However, that cystic lesion did not disappeared. Our case seems to be the youngest case of urogenital sinus cyst reported in the Japanese literature.

Negative pressure is a problem in pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). To avoid this, the authors designed a pulsatile CPB system containing a Sarns centrifugal pump (CP) and a Univox membrane oxygenator, in which the inertial flow is not obstructed by the CP. In both an in vitro study and a clinical study, negative pressure was not observed in the arterial line of the CPB circuit when this system was used. When a roller pump (RP) was used, however, instead of a CP, negative pressure did occur. In a clinical study using this system, mean pulse pressure was 36 mmHg and hemolysis, expressed as the rate of rise in plasma free hemoglobin from 10 to 70 min of CPB, was 26.2 mg/dl/hr, which did not exceed that seen with a pulsatile CPB using an RP instead of a CP. The hemolysis seen in the study caused no clinical problems. Thus, pulsatile CPB using a CP and Univox membrane oxygenator should be considered for clinical use to prevent the occurrence of negative pressure.

We developed a new inferior vena caval filter to prevent pulmonary embolism for a patient with IVC thrombus. This filter made by covering top half of Dotter Intravascular Retriever catheter with Dacron mesh sheet, was placed in IVC through a 10 F sheath from right jugular vein. In one case, after anticoagulant therapy and thrombectomy using balloon catheter, many free-floating thrombus were trapped in this filter and were taken out from the IVC. This filter was useful for preventing pulmonary embolism when removing thrombus in IVC, iliac and lower extremity veins. We propose to call this device "Hino's filter".

Clinical studies were performed on 7 renovascular hypertensive patients (3 male and 4 female, mean age 50.6 +/- 18.6) with bilateral renal artery stenosis. Duration of hypertension ranged from 2 months to 24 years (mean 6.1 +/- 8.2 years) before evaluation. All had stenosis or occlusion of both main renal arteries or these branches shown by arteriography. In 4 of the 7 patients atheromatous stenosis or occlusion was present; the remaining two had aortitis syndrome and one had fibromuscular hyperplasia. Of the 7 patients operated, two who had both negative renal renin study and ureteric catheterization study; one was failure after bilateral percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and another one was improved after axillo-femoral bypass operation. In one patient with positive results of both studies an area of focal cortical atrophy was present in upper part of the left kidney. The patient, therefore, underwent partial nephrectomy the left kidney but failed to have decrease of blood pressure and was subsequently treated with antihypertensive medications. In the remaining four patients operated, two who had both positive renin and catheterization studies preoperatively were cured or improved after PTA in negative side and nephrectomy of positive side kidney. Other two patients with contradictory results of renin and catheterization studies underwent, PTA of the renal artery of the kidney with the highest renin levels. But their hypertension was maintained despite sufficient dilatation of the renal artery and PRA from the contralateral kidney was noted to be markedly increased after PTA. Therefore, nephrectomy of the contralateral nonfunctioning contracted kidney was performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Parainfluenza virus uncommonly causes fatal giant cell pneumonia in immunocompromised infants and children. To our knowledge, this is the first adult case of parainfluenza virus pneumonia. A 77-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having small-cell carcinoma of the lung underwent chemotherapy. She died of lung edema. Analysis of her serum showed antibodies to parainfluenza virus types 2 and 3 at titers of 1:64 and 1:128, respectively. The postmortem examination revealed giant cell pneumonia, in which giant cells and detached alveolar lining cells had intracytoplasmic inclusions. On electron microscopic examination, the intracytoplasmic inclusions contained fuzzy-form nucleocapsids.

We have previously cloned the murine homolog of cDNA for the human myelomonocytic differentiation antigen, CD14. We synthesized three hydrophilic peptides derived from the predicted amino acid sequence of murine CD14 (mCD14), designated MS7.1, MS7.2, and MS7.3, respectively, and raised antisera against them. Each antiserum showed specific reactivity to the same peptide used for immunization. One of the anti-mCD14 antisera directed against MS7.3 peptide (AMS7.3) demonstrated the highest titer and definitively reacted with monocytic cell lines, inflammatory polymorphonuclear cells, and macrophages. Significant cross-reactivity of AMS7.3 was observed in the human monocytic cell line, THP-1. COS-1 cells transfected with MS7 cDNA expressed an antigen recognized by AMS7.3. Resident peritoneal and alveolar macrophages both expressed mCD14. mCD14 expression in peritoneal but not alveolar macrophages increased after treatment with lipopolysaccharide. Expression of mCD14 varied among monocytic cell lines and roughly paralleled the mRNA levels except in MI cells. SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing analysis of immunoprecipitated mCD14 showed that mCD14 was a 53 kd disulfide-linked protein with a pI of 4.5-5.1. Reduction of molecular weight by endo F treatment demonstrated that mCD14 was an N-linked glycoprotein. Since mCD14 is shed from the cell surface membrane by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C treatment, the indication is that mCD14 is a phosphatidylinositol-linked protein. The soluble form of mCD14 was detectable. Treatment with anti-mCD14 before interferon gamma (IFN gamma) stimulation significantly enhanced IFN gamma-induced H-2 antigen expression in the macrophage cell line.

A 47-year-old man with ventricular septal perforation (VSP) was repaired successfully. His preoperative examinations revealed Hegglin like syndrome with fixed and split second heart sound due to early closure of aortic valve (QT-Q II A = 58 ms), and bidirectional shunt through the VSP. These abnormal phenomena occurred due to shortening of left ventricular ejection time and prolongation of right ventricular ejection time, and were completely abolished after the operation.