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Setting The number of patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) worldwide has been increasing. Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD) accounts for 90% of NTM-LD. MAC-LD necessitates long-term treatment, but adverse reactions with long-term administration of drugs are poorly understood. Objective To evaluate adverse reactions with long-term administration of drugs for MAC-LD. Design We conducted a retrospective single-centre medical chart review of 364 patients administered two or more drugs between July 2010 and June 2015. Results The prevalence and median time to onset of adverse reactions were as follows: hepatotoxicity 19.5%, 55 days; leucocytopaenia 20.0%, 41 days; thrombocytopaenia 28.6%, 61.5 days; cutaneous reactions 9.3%, 30 days; ocular toxicity 7.7%, 278 days; and increase in serum creatinine 12.4%, 430.5 days. Multivariate analysis showed that rifampicin use was independently associated with thrombocytopaenia, and ethambutol use was independently associated with increases in serum creatinine. Conclusion The main adverse reactions appeared within 3 months after start of treatment. Most patients were able to continue treatment with liver-supporting therapy, antihistamine agents or desensitisation therapy; however, ocular toxicity must be monitored for up to 1 year after start of treatment.

The number of patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) worldwide has been increasing.To evaluate adverse reactions with long-term administration of drugs for MAC-LD.We conducted a retrospective single-centre medical chart review of 364 patients administered two or more drugs between July 2010 and June 2015.The prevalence and median time to onset of adverse reactions were as follows: hepatotoxicity 19.5%, 55 days; leucocytopaenia 20.0%, 41 days; thrombocytopaenia 28.6%, 61.5 days; cutaneous reactions 9.3%, 30 days; ocular toxicity 7.7%, 278 days; and increase in serum creatinine 12.4%, 430.5 days. Multivariate analysis showed that rifampicin use was independently associated with thrombocytopaenia, and ethambutol use was independently associated with increases in serum creatinine.The main adverse reactions appeared within 3 months after start of treatment. Most patients were able to continue treatment with liver-supporting therapy, antihistamine agents or desensitisation therapy; however, ocular toxicity must be monitored for up to 1 year after start of treatment.

Changes in masticatory function should be augmented especially for elderly, because not enough blushing causes periodontal disease, temporomandibular disorders, and further sometimes links to dementia. Moreover, unilateral chewing could enlarge masticatory trouble. Since denture wearers are subject to mild cognitive impairment, clenching properly is required everyday life. To achieve this strategy, we have tried to develop an onsite feedback of masticatory function at a reasonable price.

With the recent discovery of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) in humans, there is a renewed interest in harnessing this thermogenic organ for the therapeutic treatment of diabetes and obesity. BAT activation increases energy expenditure and BAT mitochondria, through the actions of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), are integral to this energy wasting process. In response to adrenergic stimulation, UCP1 uncouples the proton pumping actions of the electron transport chain from ATP synthesis releasing the stored chemical energy as heat. While this phenomenon has been intensely investigated, surprisingly little is known about how BAT mitochondria distinctively adapt to the expression and activation of UCP1, which makes up a large percentage of BAT mitochondrial proteome. By taking advantage of UCP1-null animals in combination with bioenergetic profiling and transmission electron microscopy, we provide clear evidence that UCP1 is necessary to maintain mitochondrial structure and function in brown fat. Furthermore, using novel ‘complexomic’ and proteomic profiling we demonstrate that mitochondrial supercomplex formation and stability in BAT requires UCP1. Finally, we show that the loss of UCP1 induces cellular stress, mitochondrial structural alterations and mitochondrial autophagy in an activation dependent manner. Taken together these data suggest that UCP1 is necessary for optimal mitochondrial function and health in brown adipose tissue and call into question any direct mitochondrial mechanism for heat generation in brown fat lacking UCP1.

Oral administration of probiotics has been known to improve inflammatory responses against infectious diseases. Here, we describe the inhibitory effect of oral intake of heat-killed Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) on pneumococcal pneumonia in a murine experimental model., Letters in Applied Microbiology, 53(1), pp.35-43; 2011

The phylogenetically-conserved vertebrate transcription factor, NFIB, is an orchestrator of glial differentiation in the developing mammalian central nervous system. We found NFIB expression to be reduced in glioblastoma (GBM), the commonest and most lethal primary adult brain cancer, so investigated what effect increased expression of NFIB had on GBM. Increased expression of NFIB in primary GBM cell lines induced expression of markers of glial differentiation, inhibited cell proliferation, reduced stem/progenitor cell growth, altered cell cycle progression and inhibited tumor growth in murine models of GBM. We thus identified NFIB to be a novel tumor suppressor gene in GBM.

For the purpose of a nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial respiratory pathogens in patients in Japan, the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy conducted their second year survey, during the period from January to August, 2007. A total of 1178 strains were collected from clinical specimens obtained from adult patients with well-diagnosed respiratory tract infections. Susceptibility testing was evaluable for 1108 strains (226 Staphylococcus aureus, 257 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 6 Streptococcus pyogenes, 206 Haemophilus influenzae, 120 Moraxella catarrhalis, 122 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 171 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). A total of 44 antibacterial agents, including 26 beta-lactams (four penicillins, three penicillins in combination with beta-lactamase inhibitors, four oral cephems, eight parenteral cephems, one monobactam, five carbapenems, and one penem), three aminoglycosides, four macrolides (including ketolide), one lincosamide, one tetracycline, two glycopeptides, six fluoroquinolones, and one oxazolidinone were used for the study. Analysis was conducted at the central reference laboratory according to the method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The incidence of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was high, at 59.7%, and the incidences of penicillin-intermediateresistant and -resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PISP and PRSP) were 30.4% and 5.1%, respectively. Among Haemophilus influenzae strains, 19.9% of them were found to be beta-lactamase-non-producing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately-resistant (BLNAI), 29.1% to be beta-lactamasenon-producing ABPC-resistant (BLNAR), and 6.7% to be beta-lactamase-producing ABPC-resistant (BLPAR) strains. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was not isolated. Two isolates (1.2%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to be metallo-beta-lactamase-producing strains, including one (0.6%) suspected multidrug-resistant strain showing resistance to imipenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. These data will be a useful reference for future periodic surveillance studies and for investigations to control resistant infections as well. Continued surveillance is required to prevent the further spread of these antimicrobial resistances.

We simulate the current-driven vortex motion in a two-dimensional square sample of type-II superconductors, by using a logarithmically interacting point vortex model involving effect of temperature, transport current, random pinning centers, magnetic field, and Magnus force. We also take into account both the vortex pair nucleation and the vortex pair annihilation processes in the model. Simulation results show that the negative Hall effect is observed for a certain range of the model parameters. Such an anomalous behavior is thought to originate from freely moving antivortices with the long life-time due to the collective dynamics of this vortex system on the background of weakly pinned vortex lattice.

The Japanese Society of Chemotherapy (JSC) conducted the first nationwide surveillance of bacterial respiratory pathogens during the period from January to August 2006. With the cooperation of 32 medical institutions throughout Japan, a total of 924 strains belonging to seven clinically relevant bacterial species were collected from adult patients with well-diagnosed respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the 887 evaluable strains (205 Staphylococcus aureus, 200 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 9 Streptococcus pyogenes, 165 Haemophilus influenzae, 91 Moraxella catarrhalis, 74 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 143 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to 42 antibacterial agents was conducted at the Central Laboratory of the Research Center for Anti-infective Drugs of the Kitasato Institute, according to recommendations issued by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The antibacterial agents employed were 25 beta-lactams, three aminoglycosides, four macrolides (including one azalide and one ketolide), one lincosamide, one tetracycline, two glycopeptides, five fluoroquinolones, and one oxazolidinone. The incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 63.4%, and the incidences of penicillin-intermediately resistant S. pneumoniae (PISP) and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) were 35.0% and 4.0%, respectively. Among H. influenzae, 21.2% of the strains were found to be beta-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately resistant (BLNAI), 29.1% to be beta-lactamase-nonproducing ABPC-resistant (BLNAR), and 4.8% to be beta-lactamaseproducing ABPC-resistant (BLPAR) strains. The incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae was 2.7% (2 of 74 strains). Three (2.1%) of the 143 P. aeruginosa strains were found to be metallo-beta-lactamaseproducing, including 1 (0.7%) multidrug-resistant strain. Through the nationwide surveillance, we obtained fundamental antimicrobial susceptibility data of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens in adult RTI to various antibacterial agents. These data will be a useful reference for future periodic surveillance studies, as well as for investigations to control antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

Aims: Lymphomatous polyposis (LP) is considered to represent mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, a few reports have suggested that some are follicular lymphoma (FL) or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. In this study, we analysed 35 patients and clarified the clinicopathological features of LP. Methods and results: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were stained immunohistochemically and analysed by tissue-fluorescence in situ hybridization (T-FISH) for IGH/CCND1 (cyclin D1) and IGH/BCL2. The average age of the patients was 58.3 years. Over half of the cases showed gastric, duodenal, small intestinal, ileocaecal and sigmoid colonic lesions (15, 19, 15, 16 and 16 cases, respectively). Phenotypically, cases were classified into three types of MCL (cyclin D1+ CD5+ CD10–) (n = 12), FL (cyclin D1– CD5– CD10+) (n = 14) and MALT (cyclin D1– CD5– CD10–) (n = 9). T-FISH identified 11 of the 11 examined cases with MCLs to have IGH/CCND1, while seven of 10 cases with FL had IGH/BCL2, and none of the MALT cases were positive for IGH/CCND1 or IGH/BCL2. At the study endpoint, five of 12 patients with MCL were dead, two of 14 with FL and one of nine with MALT were dead of other disease. Event-free survival analysis showed significantly poorest outcome in MCL, followed by FL, while MALT was associated with a favourable outcome (P = 0.0040). Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the importance of differentiating MCL, FL and MALT of LP in evaluating prognosis and hence the most suitable therapeutic regimen.

Background: The efficacy of oral telithromycin was assessed in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to penicillin and/or erythromycin. Methods: Patients with CAP who had received telithromycin 800 mg once daily for 5 or 7–10 days (n = 2,289) in eight phase III clinical trials, or telithromycin 800 mg once daily for 7 days (n = 50) in a phase II study were included in this pooled analysis. Patients with S. pneumoniae as the cause of infection were identified, with particular focus on those infected with strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin (intermediate, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.12–1.0 mg/l; resistant, MIC ≧2.0 mg/l) and/or resistance to erythromycin (MIC ≧1.0 mg/l). Per-protocol clinical and bacteriological outcomes were assessed 7–14 days post-therapy in the phase III studies, and at 7–21 days post-therapy or at the end of therapy in the phase II study. Results: Of the 327 telithromycin-treated patients with S. pneumoniae infection, 61 (19%) were infected with strains with reduced susceptibility to penicillin and/or erythromycin. Clinical cure and bacterial eradication rates in these patients were 91.8% (56/61) and 93.4% (57/61), respectively. Corresponding clinical cure and bacterial eradication rates overall for all isolates of pneumococci were 94.5% (309/327) and 96.0% (314/327), respectively. All isolates with reduced susceptibility to penicillin and/or erythromycin were susceptible to telithromycin (MIC ≤1.0 mg/l). Conclusion: These results indicate that telithromycin is an effective oral antibacterial for the treatment of CAP caused by pneumococci with reduced susceptibility to penicillin and/or erythromycin.

Aim: To study the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features of 143 cases of primary small and large intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in Japanese patients who presented between 1981 and 2000. Methods and results: The new World Health Organization (WHO) classification was used to classify NHL. The patients included 109 males and 34 females, with an average age of 54.1 years. Tumour sites were as follows: ileocaecal (n = 51, 35.7%), ileum (n = 29, 20.3%), rectum (n = 13, 9.1%), and duodenum (n = 11, 7.7%). Macroscopically, 124 cases (86.7%) were classified as tumorous type, 12 (8.4%) as diffuse infiltration type (erosion, superficial ulceration), five (3.5%) as polyposis type, and only two cases (1.4%) as ulceration type. Immunohistochemically, 122 lesions (85.3%) were of B-cell phenotype and 21 lesions (14.7%) were of T-cell phenotype. According to the WHO classification, of the B-cell lymphomas, 84 cases (68.9%) were large cell, 16 (13.1%) were Burkitt, 10 (8.2%) were marginal zone B-cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), and seven (5.7%) were mantle cell tumours. Among the T-cell lymphomas, 15 (71.4%) were of unspecified type, two (9.5%) were natural killer type, two were anaplastic large-cell lymphomas, one was lymphoblastic, and one was an adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma. The survival rate for T-cell lymphomas was poorer than for B-cell lymphomas. Among the B-cell lymphomas, mantle cell lymphoma tended to have a poorer prognosis, whereas MALT lymphomas had a better prognosis than other B-cell tumour types. Conclusions: Our retrospective study of patients with primary malignant lymphomas in the small and large intestines has illustrated the clinical features and outcomes of patients with this disease.

This paper proposes a novel control strategy of a permanent-magnet motor drive without a rotor position sensor. The strategy is based on use of relative phase information of harmonic currents caused by frequency-modulated three-phase pulsewidth-modulation (PWM) carriers. In this system, the PWM carrier source is placed on an estimated rotor reference frame, and coordinate transformation is applied to the carrier source to generate the frequency-modulated three-phase PWM carriers on a stator reference frame. By modulating voltage references with the transformed carriers, a locus of the corresponding harmonic currents on the estimated rotor reference frame is observed as a stationary ellipse because of a rotor saliency. Since a long-diameter direction of the harmonic-current ellipse indicates a true d-axis direction, orienting the estimated d axis to the long-diameter direction makes the sensorless operation possible. The paper describes a theoretical aspect of the proposed method and, then, presents experimental results as well as computer simulation results. Consequently, not only excellent controllability over a wide speed range including zero speed has been verified, but also robustness to the motor parameter variations has been confirmed.

The in vitro activity of telithromycin, a new ketolide, was compared with beta-lactam antimicrobials against pathogens commonly associated with community-acquired respiratory tract infections. These pathogens were collected during 1999-2000 as part of the ongoing PROTEKT surveillance study. Globally, penicillin nonsusceptibility among Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 3362) was 36.3%, ranging from 21.5% (Australasia) to 68.0% (Far East). Telithromycin showed higher potency (MIC90 0.12 mg/L) than beta-lactams against S. pneumoniae; 99.9% of all and 99.6% of multi-resistant isolates were susceptible to telithromycin. Among Streptococcus pyogenes isolates (n = 1485), 100% were susceptible to beta-lactams, and the telithromycin MIC50 and MIC90 were both 0.015 mg/L. Among Haemophilus influenzae (n = 2948), 16.6% produced beta-lactamase, which reduced the activity of ampicillin, cefaclor and cefprozil. 99.9% of H. influenzae were susceptible to telithromycin and the MIC range for M. catarrhalis was 0.004-0.5 mg/L. The first year results of PROTEKT confirmed high potency for telithromycin against common respiratory tract pathogens, including beta-lactam-resistant strains.

Summary form only given, as follows. A coaxial plasma opening switch is used with the inductive-voltage-adder generator to realize pulse sharpening by an inductive energy storage scheme. The POS has the conduction time over 1 /spl mu/s and provides 200 kA with less than 50 ns of rise time of the load current into Z-pinch load. In the present experiment, two cable guns mounted symmetrically on the outer electrode were used as a plasma source. The diameter of the inner cathode, outer anode, and the distance between the electrodes were 80 mm, 140 mm and 30 mm, respectively. Electron density was measured by a He-Ne laser interferometer with chordal lines-of-sight. In order to observe the motion of the POS plasma, the electron density was measured at many measurement locations in all over the POS region. From the result, the contours of the electron density at conduction, opening and post-opening phase were drawn. In the early time of the conduction phase, the plasma density became higher with time and stayed in the initial position. As conduction phase progressed, the high-density plasma spread downstream near the cathode and anode. The distance of plasma motion was larger near the cathode and smaller near the anode. At 800 ns, low-density region is seen at 10 mm from the cathode. After opening completed, the low-density gap disappeared and the shape of the corn-shape-like plasma was distorted. The plasma density after opening became higher with time. Through the experiment, the motion of POS plasma was understood and the low-density region was observed at the time of opening.

We conducted a phase I study of irinotecan (CPT-11) and cisplatin with concurrent split-course radiotherapy in locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of this therapy. Two chemotherapy cycles of CPT-11 (days 1, 8 and 15) and cisplatin (day 1) were repeated with a 28-day interval. Radiotherapy of 2 Gy/day commenced on day 2 of each chemotherapy cycle, with 24 Gy and 36 Gy administered for the first and second cycle, respectively. 24 eligible patients were enrolled at five dose levels (CPT-11/cisplatin: 40/60, 50/60, 60/60, 60/70 and 60/80 mg/m 2 ), and 23 patients were evaluated for toxicity and clinical outcome. Only 1 patient experienced a DLT with neutropenia and diarrhoea at 60/60 mg/m 2 . Dose escalation was limited to 60/80 mg/m 2 which was the recommended dose for CPT-11/cisplatin alone in NSCLC. Tumour responses included one complete response (CR), 15 partial response (PR), and 7 no change (NC), and the overall response rate was 69.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 47.1–86.8%). This combined modality is tolerable, and CPT-11/cisplatin of 60/80 mg/m 2 in this modality is recommended for phase II study.

The current in a wire array during its exploding phase has been studied. The wire array consisting of many thin wires is used as a plasma source in a z-pinch X-ray radiation system. The current distribution in the exploding wire array plays an important role in producing an initial symmetrical plasma. In the present experiment, four tungsten wires of 0.1 mm in diameter were exploded in a vacuum. The experiment was carried out with an inductive voltage adder pulsed power generator providing a current of 160 kA at quarter period of 1.8 /spl mu/s The currents through and the voltage across the wires were measured simultaneously. It was found that the currents in the wires were inhomogeneous, especially after the wires became plasma. Once the currents became inhomogeneous, the inhomogeneity remained throughout the discharge. It was also studied how the dimensions of the wires affected the homogeneity of the currents. Wires of different lengths or different cross sectional areas resulted in strong inhomogeneities of the currents. The wires with shorter length or smaller cross-sectional area became plasmas earlier than other wires. Thus, the resistances of the wires were not equal. These differences in the resistance caused the inhomogeneity of the currents.

Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) is widespread all over the world, including countries previously free of PRSP. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, the common serotypes and the clonality of PRSP isolated over a period of 1 year, from various clinical samples from three major hospitals in Kuwait. Strains were identified by standard methods and their antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the agar dilution method. The clonality of the isolates was determined by repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence–polymerase chain reaction (REP–PCR) genomic profiling and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Serotyping was done by Quellung reaction using specific antisera. We found that 55% of the S. pneumoniae were resistant to penicillin (46% and 9% exhibited intermediate and full resistance, respectively). Nearly 41% were resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, 9% to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone, 15% to amoxycillin-clavulanate, 17% to cefuroxime, 77% to cefaclor, and 14% to clindamycin. The commonest serotypes among the PRSPs were 6A, 6B, 14, 19F, 23F and nontypable. PFGE and REP–PCR patterns showed a large diversity of genetic clones of the PRSP. Serotypes 6B, 14, 19F and 23F were more clonally related than the others. Our data showed that the prevalence of PRSP was high, the serotypes were diversified and different genetic clones make up the population of circulating PRSP in Kuwait.

Initial analysis of Pseudohynobius flavomaculatus chromosomes determined the chromosome number of this species to be 2n = 52. A re-examination of Ranodon shihi chromosomes detected 2n = 66 chromosomes, in contrast with a previous finding of 2n = 64. The C-banding patterns of these two species and that ofBatrachuperus pinchonii were compared with each other. Regions of homoeology in the C-banding pattern among these three species represented 33.51–48.30% of the total length of their chromosomes. We also detected two types of chromosome rearrangement in hynobiid species based on the results of the present and previous cytogenetic studies.

The characteristics of a microsecond plasma opening switch have been improved by the modification of the plasma source. Conventional cable plasma guns have been used in the experiments, producing different directions of the plasma flow by changing the guns’ nozzles. The nozzles were arranged to provide the plasma flow, which is not exactly radial, but has an angle to the gun axis. The experiments with the modified plasma guns were carried out with the upstream, downstream, and azimuthally slanted plasma flow directions. The results are compared to a conventional radial flow plasma source. The plasma flow slanted in an angle of 30° downstream resulted in 50% improvement of the load current rise time and switch impedance. The obtained dependencies are explained in the frame of the snowplow model. Radial component of the plasma velocity at the end of the conduction phase is higher for downstream plasma flow. This results in a faster opening of the switch and is in good agreement with experimental data.

We investigated the drug efflux mechanism in azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans using rhodamine 6G (R6G). No significant differences in R6G uptake were observed between azole-sensitive B2630 (9.02 +/- 0.02 nmol/10(8) cells) and azole-resistant B67081 (8.86 +/- 0.03 nmol/10(8) cells) strains incubated in glucose-free phosphate buffered saline. A significantly higher R6G efflux (2.0 +/- 0.21 nmol/10(8) cells) was noted in the azole-resistant strain (B67081) when glucose was added, compared with that in the sensitive strain B2630 (0.23 < or = 0.14 nmol/10(8) cells). A fluconazole-resistant strain C40 that expressed the benomyl resistance gene (CaMDR) also showed a low R6G efflux (0.16 +/- 0.06 nmol/10(8) cells) as did the sensitive strains. Accumulation of R6G in growing C. albicans cells was inversely correlated with the level of CDR1 mRNA expression. Our data also suggest that measurement of intracellular accumulation of R6G is a useful method for identification of azole-resistant strains due to CDR1-expressed drug efflux pump.

The characteristics of a plasma generated by cable plasma guns have been studied by a laser interferometer. Cable plasma guns are frequently used as a plasma source in plasma opening switches. In our experiments, the plasma source consists of eight coaxial cable guns mounted on the outer electrode of concentric coaxial electrodes. The reproducibility of the gun in subsequent shots is found to be better than 10%, and the gun-to-gun difference is less than 15%. Assuming a symmetry of eight guns, the contour maps of the electron plasma density are plotted as functions of time. The plasma density becomes maximum near the gun nozzle and near the inner coaxial electrode. The plasma density is low in the area between the coaxial electrodes during the early time of the discharge. At a later time, the plasma fills the space between the two guns more uniformly. Still photographs of the plasma luminosity show a good correspondence with the plasma density plots which were taken 10 /spl mu/s after the discharge initiation. The plasma gun system is designed for use in a 400-kA inductive voltage adder with the inductive energy storage system.

Previous studies established that variable degrees and types of glycosylation can account for differences in the ability of CD44 to function as a receptor for hyaluronic acid. We have now used neuraminidase treatment to conclude that sialylation negatively regulates CD44 on the human monocytic cell line THP-1 and peripheral blood monocytes. Both of these cell types displayed increased receptor activity after overnight culture with LPS. Of particular interest, the sialidase inhibitor 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid completely blocked the LPS induced recognition of hyaluronic acid by THP-1 cells. Furthermore, acquisition of this characteristic paralleled induction of one type of sialidase activity. Monocytes may be capable of enzymaticly remodeling cell surface CD44, altering their ability to interact with the extracellular matrix.

The plasma opening switch operation (POS) was studied by optical diagnostics, such as laser interferometry and spectroscopy. The characterization of the plasma source (cable plasma gun) allowed us to determine initial plasma conditions for the switch. The process of the vacuum gap formation in a microsecond plasma opening switch was also investigated. Time- and spatially-resolved density measurements are performed in the POS, showing the density drop during switch-opening almost in the whole interelectrode gap. The density diagrams are compared to major switch characteristics, such as conduction time and load current dI/dt. The study of spectral line intensities from the cable gun plasma showed that CII line intensity corresponds in time with plasma density measured by an interferometer. The intensities of carbon spectral lines tend to drop during switch-opening that substantiates interferometry measurements.

The chromosome number of a Chinese salamander, Batrachuperus pinchonii, was re-examined. Adults and embryonic specimens had a diploid number of 66, with 33 bivalents during meiosis, in contrast to previous reported results. Furthermore, when C-banding analysis was performed with embryos, chromosomes with banding patterns homoeologous to those of Salamandrella keyserlingii and Hynobius species were found. It appears, therefore, that Batrachuperus, Salamandrella and Hynobius might be derived from a common ancestral species in eastern Asia.

A novel scheme combining interferometer and refractometer for simultaneous plasma density and plasma density gradient measurements is described. The scheme employs a ribbon laser beam obtained from one-dimensional laser beam expansion by a pair of cylindrical lenses. This beam shape allows measurements at several spatial locations simultaneously. The beam deflection measurements give additional important information on the spatial distribution of plasma density gradient in the direction perpendicular to the major axis of the expanded beam. Fast pin photodiodes are used as light detectors for temporal resolution better than 1 ns. The high power (700 mW) of the argon ion laser allows 0.1° phase resolution and simultaneously 0.1 mrad refractional deflection angle resolution.

To develop a model of chronic experimental asthma in guinea pigs, the animal was forced to inhale the mist of a low dose of ovalbumin (OA) adsorbed on fine Al(OH)3 for sensitization once every 4 weeks. The animal was challenged by inhalation with the mist of OA on day 14 after the respective sensitizations. Either the first or the second antigen challenge markedly induced an early asthmatic response (EAR), whereas there was hardly any late asthmatic response (LAR). At the 3rd challenge, LAR also emerged with some severity. These dual responses were consistently observed until the 10th challenge. On the other hand, repeated inhalation/challenge, once every 2 weeks, with OA alone at the same dose tended to lead to the desensitization of the EAR. In addition, LAR was hardly observed throughout the experiments. In both groups, gamma 1 and IgE levels in the serum were elevated by the repetitive antigen inhalations, yet no obvious relationship between these antibody levels and the intensity of either EAR or LAR was recognized. The present results indicate that the asthmatic model with reproducible EAR and LAR developed in this study appears to be very beneficial for the investigation of bronchial asthma and for the assessment of anti-asthma drugs.

Summary The expression and prognostic significance of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-MET (MET proto-oncogene) was analysed in 96 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Tissue sections were immunohistochemically stained for HGF and c-Met. The prognosis of HGF-positive and c-Met-positive cases was significantly worse than negative cases (HGF: P = 0·0036; c-Met: P = 0·0002). In addition, in the low-risk international prognostic index group, HGF-negative and c-Met-negative cases had a significantly better prognosis than positive cases (HGF: P = 0·0009; c-Met: P

Genetic relationships between body measurements and growth traits at performance testing of bull calves and field carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle were estimated using a two-trait sire and maternal grandsire model with REML procedure. Covariances between performance test and carcass traits were obtained from across environment analyses. Performance test traits included wither height, chest girth, chest depth, thurl width, body weight, and daily gain. For field carcass traits carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, rib thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, yield estimate, and beef marbling score were measured on 8329 steers and heifers. Heritabilities for performance test traits ranged from 0.13 to 0.36, and for carcass traits from 0.39 to 0.55. The basis of selection at performance testing, daily gain, did not correlate well with carcass beef marbling score, the breeding goal, indicating that genetically superior bull calves in marbling may be culled at the end of testing. Chest girth at the middle and the end of testing correlated well in the desired directions with all carcass traits. It is possible to improve total merit of the carcass by introducing chest girth into performance testing.

We report the case of a 31-year-old male with enlarged kidneys and glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD). The patient had no family history of renal disease or other diseases. On initial presentation he complained of poor eyesight, and hypertensive retinopathy and elevated serum creatinine (5.0 mg/dl) were found at that time. Renal biopsy showed cystic dilatation of Bowman's capsule and atrophy of the glomerular tuft. Thus, an adult case of sporadic GCKD was diagnosed. Based on previous reports, kidney size in patients with adult type GCKD varies from small to large. Our patient's kidneys are the largest ever reported (right kidney was 22 cm×10 cm, left kidney was 19 cm×10 cm). A review of the literature dealing with sporadic adult GCKD suggested that it is difficult to diagnose this disease early in its course.

The role in allergic asthma development of the immune response against fungi with concomitant exposure to other common aeroallergens has yet to be determined. In particular, there is little understanding of how inhaled fungi affect the host response to mite allergens.To characterize the in vitro and in vivo effects of concurrent exposure of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf) on dendritic cells (DCs) in the development of allergic asthma.Murine bone marrow-derived DCs were pulsed with Derf and/or live or heat-inactivated Af. Cytokine production and the expression of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) were determined in vitro. Subsequently, these DCs were inoculated into the airway of naïve mice to assess the development of allergic airway inflammation in vivo. The effect of antibodies against PRRs was also evaluated.Live Af significantly enhanced IL-10 production and the expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and Dectin-1 in Derf-pulsed DCs. Live Af infection significantly attenuated Derf-pulsed DC-induced allergic airway inflammation in vivo. Antibodies against either TLR2 or Dectin-1 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of live Af in the development of Derf-pulsed DC-induced allergic airway inflammation.Concurrent exposure of DCs to fungal antigens has profound influences on the subsequent mite allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation. Live Af could regulate the functions of airway DCs in the development of mite allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation via regulation of their PRRs. Our results suggest that concurrent exposure to pathogens such as fungi and mite allergens has profound influences on the subsequent allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation. Furthermore, modulating PRR signalling could provide a therapeutic regimen for the development of asthma.

Variations in repetitive DNA were examined in nine salamander species of the genera Hynobius and Onychodactylus. The data from Southern blot hybridization were processed by Manhattan distance analysis, and unrooted trees were drawn. The resulting trees suggest that the genus Hynobius can be divided into three groups: group 1 contains only H. retardatus with 40 chromosomes; group 2 contains H. kimurae, which has 58 chromosomes and is a mountain-brook type of Hynobius (this group probably contains all mountain-brook types of Hynobius with 58 chromosomes); and group 3 contains the other six pond-type species examined here, each with 56 chromosomes. Group 3 probably contains all species of Hynobius with 56 chromosomes. Furthermore, group 3 can be further separated into two groups: the first group includes H. leechii, H. tsuensis, H. nebulosus, H. nigrescens, and H. tokyoensis from Chita; and the second group includes H. tokyoensis (except the population from Chita) and H. lichenatus. According to this analysis and other information, it seems that the population from Aichi Prefecture, which belongs to H. tokyoensis, should be identified as H. nebulosus. Furthermore, it appears that the genus Onychodactylus is phylogenetically distant from Hynobius and Salamandrella.Key words: Hynobius, repetitive DNA, Southern blot hybridization, phylogenetics, neighbor-joining method.

We studied the electronic structure of the ${\text{SrVO}}_{3}$ compound using an extended cluster model. The calculation is compared to the photoemission and x-ray absorption/bremsstrahlung isochromat spectra. The calculated spectral weight correctly describes the experimental features in the ${\text{SrVO}}_{3}$ material. The results indicate that the $\text{O}\text{ }2p$ states are essential to explain the data and must be included explicitly in any minimal model of this compound.

We studied the Mott-Hubbard series ${\text{SrVO}}_{3}{\text{-CaVO}}_{3}{\text{-LaVO}}_{3}{\text{-YVO}}_{3}$ with high-energy photoemission. The features in the experimental spectra were interpreted using cluster model calculations. The valence-band photoemission results show very interesting trends across the Mott-Hubbard series: (i) From ${\text{SrVO}}_{3}$ to ${\text{CaVO}}_{3}$, the spectral weight is transferred from the coherent to the incoherent feature. (ii) From ${\text{CaVO}}_{3}$ to ${\text{LaVO}}_{3}$, the coherent structure disappears, opening the insulating band gap. (iii) Finally, from ${\text{LaVO}}_{3}$ to ${\text{YVO}}_{3}$, the bandwidth of the remaining incoherent feature further decreases. There is also a considerable $\text{V}\text{ }3d$ spectral weight contribution mixed in the $\text{O}\text{ }2p$ band region in all cases. These results suggest that the $\text{O}\text{ }2p$ states play an important role in the Mott-Hubbard transition. Some of the changes in the spectra are unexpected and cannot be explained by the current Mott-Hubbard theories. The calculation reproduces not only the coherent and incoherent structures in the $\text{V}\text{ }3d$ band but also the main features in the $\text{O}\text{ }2p$ band. In addition, the same model explains the charge-transfer satellites observed in the $\text{V}\text{ }2p$ core-level spectra.

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of an abnormal lung shadow. Chest X-ray and computed tomographic (CT) films showed a mass shadow in the left lower lobe. The shadow decreased in size after the administration of imipenem/cirastatin and clindamycine. Although a transbronchial lung biopsy failed to confirm the diagnosis, histologic examination of percutaneous aspiration biopsy specimens revealed sulfur granules. Actinomycosis was diagnosed but we did not rule out the possibility of coexistent carcinoma. A left lower lobectomy was performed, and the patient has been well without any complaints or recurrence of actinomycosis for 6 months after surgery. We concluded that pulmonary actinomycosis should be considered another candidate for the differential diagnosis of mass shadows from lung cancer.

We measured the plasma concentration of itraconazole (ITCZ) in 18 patients who received ITCZ for the treatment of pulmonary aspergilloma. Abnormal laboratory values were observed in 4 out of 10 patients who received 200 mg/day, 1 out of 3 patients who received 300 mg/day, and 2 out of 5 patients who received 400 mg/day. Four patients discontinued ITCZ therapy because of adverse effects following the administration of 200 mg/day or 400 mg/day. The mean plasma ITCZ concentration was 622 ng/ml in patients treated with less than 4 mg/kg, and 1,352 ng/ml in patients treated with more than 4 mg/kg of ITCZ. The sensitivity of Aspergillus species to ITCZ was measured with the NCCLS microdilution method, using alamar blue indicator. The MIC50 of ITCZ was 0.5 microg/ ml for 25 strains of A. fumigatus, 4 microg/ml for 15 strains of A. niger, and 0.25 microg/ml for 10 strains of A. flavus. In conclusion, this study underscored the necessity of monitoring the plasma concentration of ITCZ for effective treatment of patients with pulmonary aspergilloma.

A temperature-sensitive mutant (ts3) of Newcastle disease virus was physiologically characterized. All major viral structural proteins were synthesized at the permissive (37 degrees C) and nonpermissive (42 degrees C) temperatures, but the fusion (F) glycoprotein was not cleaved at 42 degrees C. In immunocytochemical electron microscopy, the F protein was abundant in the rough endoplasmic reticulum but not in cytoplasmic membrane at 42 degrees C. Noninfectious hemagglutinating virus particles containing all major structural proteins except the F protein were released at 42 degrees C from infected cells. We concluded that the defect in ts3 resides in the intracellular processing of the F protein.

The folded differential cross sections {ital d}{sigma}/{ital d}{Omega}({theta}{sup *})+d{sigma}/d{Omega}({pi}{minus}{theta}{sup *}), where {theta}{sup *} is the center-of-mass angle of the negatively charged outgoing particle, have been measured for the reactions {ital {bar p}p}{r arrow}{pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +} and {ital K}{sup {minus}}{ital K}{sup +} at 15 incident beam momenta between 360 and 760 MeV/{ital c} with much better statistics than previous experiments. The total cross sections for these reactions, {sigma}{sub {pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}} and {sigma}{sub {ital K}{sup {minus}}{ital K}{sup +}}, have also been obtained by integrating the folded differential cross sections. The folded differential cross sections of both reactions show a similar behavior at all measured beam momenta, characterized by a prominent peak at {vert bar}cos{theta}{sup *}{vert bar}=1. The cross section {sigma}{sub {pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}} shows a smooth but rapidly decreasing behavior as the beam momentum increases up to 550 MeV/{ital c}, whereas {sigma}{sub {ital K}{sup {minus}}{ital K}{sup +}} shows a smooth and flat momentum dependence. These results are compared with some theoretical calculations based on nonrelativistic quark models. Although the shape of the folded differential cross section of the {ital {bar p}p}{r arrow}{pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +} reaction is rather well reproduced by these models, that of the {ital {bar p}p}{r arrow}{ital K}{sup {minus}}K{supmore » +} reaction, and, in particular, the prominent peak at {vert bar}cos{theta}{sup *}{vert bar}=1 cannot be explained at all. The information from other experiments indicates that this discrepancy is most pronounced at the backward angles. Moreover, the momentum dependence of both {sigma}{sub {pi}{sup {minus}}{pi}{sup +}} and {sigma}{sub {ital K}{sup {minus}}{ital K}{sup +}} is not satisfactorily reproduced by these models.« less

The laser interferometry is a frequently used diagnostics for plasma density measurements. The measurements in plasmas with no density gradients allow direct correspondence of the fringe shift and plasma density along the laser line of sight. The change of the interferometer contrast due to scene beam deflection in plasmas with density gradients reduces the fidelity of interferometer measurements due to the change in the contrast of the fringe. The analytic expression for the maximum acceptable deflection angle is derived, analyzed, and compared to the experiment. Ways to improve the accuracy of interferometer measurements are proposed.

Systemic idiopathic fibrosis is characterized by non-suppurative inflammatory diseases of connective tissue, mainly adipose tissue. Although, in this condition, fibrosis may develop in several organs, there have been few reports of fibrosis involving the lung or pleura. We present a case of systemic idiopathic fibrosis associated with inflammatory pulmonary lesions, mimicking lung cancer with multiple pulmonary metastases. Chest CT and MRI showed a spiculated mass around the aortic arch with localized aortic wall thickening and nodules in the lungs. Abdominal CT showed a homogeneous mass around the abdominal aorta, consistent with retroperitoneal fibrosis. Transbronchial lung biopsy of the lesion in the right mid-lung field showed only a few scattered histiocytes accompanying inflammatory and fibrotic change. There was no evidence of malignancy, necrosis, angitis or mycobacterial infection. The lesions almost completely disappeared following prednisone treatment.

A plasma opening switch using laser produced plasma is successfully operated at repetition rates up to 3.3 pulses per second. It is shown that the switch performance has good reproducibility without any maintenance. Reliability tests indicate that the switch lifetime is limited by the volume of the target material and the lifetime of the energy storage capacitor.