Search

Changes to promoter regions probably have been responsible for many morphological evolutionary transitions, especially in animals. This idea is becoming testable, as data from genome projects amass and enable bioinformaticians to conduct comparative sequence analyses and test for correlations between genotypic similarities or differences and phenotypic likeness or disparity. Although such practical pursuits have initiated some theoretical considerations, a conceptual framework for understanding promoter region evolution, potentially effecting morphological evolution, is only starting to emerge, predominantly resulting from computational research. We contribute to this framework by specifying three big problems for promoter region research; reviewing computational research on promoter region evolution; and exemplifying a topic for future promoter region research — module evolution.

Skeletons of contemporary reef-building scleractinian corals are formed of aragonite, a polymorph of the calcium carbonate (CaCO3), notwithstanding calcite being a more stable phase under the condition of coral habitats. Circumstances developing aragonite in coral calcification have been addressed currently. Considering that the symbiotic relationship between the coral host and dinoflagellate algae (zooxanthellae) is perhaps relevant to coral calcification, we studied the impact of these symbiotic relationships on CaCO3 polymorph selection. Juvenile scleractinian corals (Acropora tenuis and Acropora digitifera) absent symbionts were cultured in seawaters with varied Mg/Ca molar ratios (mMg/Ca), and the mineral phases of the skeletons were detected employing X-ray diffraction. The findings revealed that diminutive quantities of calcite precipitated as coral skeleton in Acropora digitifera surprisingly in pseudo-present seawater (mMg/Ca similar to 5). Additionally, coral developed skeletons from only calcite in seawater with an mMg/Ca < 1. The evidence gathered in this investigation suggests that the symbiotic relationship affects the establishment of aragonite skeletons in the course of coral calcification.

Background Airway disease (AD) has drawn attention both clinically and etiologically in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but is still poorly understood. Objectives We aimed to elucidate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of AD in patients with RA. Methods We retrospectively reviewed high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images and clinical data of 131 consecutive RA patients in whom HRCT were scanned for clinical purposes and screening. Overlap patients with other collagen tissue diseases and patients complicated with active infection or lung cancer were excluded. Patients who had a history of drug-induced lung disease, thoracic radiation, or exposure to dust were also excluded. HRCT images were reviewed independently by a pulmonologist and a radiologist in blind fashions, and cases of disagreement were discussed to reach a final consensus. AD was radiographically sub-categorised into 3 sub-groups: central AD, small AD, and middle lobe and lingular bronchiectasis. The associations between AD and interstitial lung disease (ILD) and each pair of the subtypes of AD were analysed by Fisher’s exact test. The risk factors for AD and subtypes of AD were identified by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results The mean age of the patients was 65 years old, the mean disease duration of the patients was 123 months, 69% of the patients were women, and 42% of the patients had past/current histories of smoking. The mean Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) value was 2.87. AD and ILD were observed in 53 (40%) and 36 (27%) patients, respectively, and both in 19 (15%) patients. AD and ILD were not significantly associated (p=0.11). By multivariate logistic regression analyses, rheumatoid factor (RF) was identified as risk factors for whole AD (odds ratio [OR] 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 6.9; p=0.04). Central AD, small AD, and middle lobe and lingular bronchiectasis were observed in 45 (34%), 31 (24%), and 17 (13%) patients, respectively. Each pair of these 3 subtypes were significantly associated with each other (p Conclusions Radiologically defined AD was frequent comorbidity in RA patients, and multiple subtypes of AD were observed and coexisted. Furthermore, AD may be related to the pathology of RA, and different AD subtypes may have distinct risk factors. Prospective studies with early RA patients were warranted to further clarify these findings and clinical impact of AD. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Aims: To identify genes cluster for thermophilin 1277 produced by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277. Methods and Results: To identify genes for thermophilin 1277 production, the chromosomal DNA region surrounding the structural gene, tepA, was sequenced using a primer-walking method. The thermophilin 1277 biosynthesis gene locus (tep )i s a9 AE9-kb region, which consists of at least ten open reading frames (ORFs) in the following order: tepAMTFEGKRI and ORF4. Homology analysis showed high similarity to genes involved in bovicin HJ50 production by Streptococcus bovis HJ50. tepI encodes a novel, small, positively charged hydrophobic peptide of 52 amino acids, which contains a putative transmembrane segment. By heterologous expression in Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris MG1363, the TepI-expressing strain exhibited at least 1AE3 times higher resis

Aims: To identify the chemical structure of a bacteriocin, thermophilin 1277, produced by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277. Methods and Results: Thermophilin 1277 was purified and partial N-terminal sequence analysis revealed 6 unidentified amino acids amongst 31 amino acids residues. A 2·7-kbp region containing the thermophilin 1277 structural gene (tepA) encoding 58 amino acids was cloned and sequenced. Mature thermophilin 1277 (33 amino acids) was preceded by a 25-amino acid putative leader peptide containing a double glycine cleavage motif. Peptide sequence analysis following chemical modification of thermophilin 1277 revealed that the Cys21 and Cys29 residues form a disulfide bridge and that Thr8 or Thr10 forms two 3-methyllanthionines with Cys13 or Cys32 via thioether bridges. Antimicrobial activity was disrupted by ethanethiol or reductive agent treatments, indicating that the internal amino acid modifications are crucial for the activity. Conclusions: Thermophilin 1277 from Strep. thermophilus SBT1277 belongs to the class of AII-type lantibiotics that has a disulfide and two thioether bridges. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of a lantibiotic produced by a GRAS species of Strep. thermophilus; thermophilin 1277 has a unique structure containing both a disulfide bridge and two thioether bridges that are crucial for its activity.

Aims The adhesion ability of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 was investigated in vitro by searching for its adhesion molecules. Methods and Results Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 showed adherence to host components, including two commercially available mucins, Caco-2 epithelial-like cells and the extracellular matrix molecule fibronectin (Fn). Its adhesion rates to host components were generally higher than those of other Lactobacillus strains. We examined sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs) anchored by a sortase enzyme encoded by srtA1. The adhesion rates of an srtA1 disruptant were lower than those of Lact. gasseri SBT2055, and the relative adherences were as follows: two mucins, 43 and 40%; Caco-2, 66% and Fn, 28%. Seven additional gene disruptants were generated to determine the precise SDPs that contribute to adhesion to each component. Conclusions The adhesion ability of Lact. gasseri SBT2055 was superior to those of other Lactobacillus strains. Additionally, four adhesion molecules were newly identified from candidate SDPs. Significance and Impact of the Study Although the contribution of SDPs to adhesion has been reported using sortase gene disruptants, this is the first report to identify the precise SDPs that act as adhesion molecules. Our results will contribute to achieving better understanding of probiotic bacterial adherence.

On-site monitoring and detection are necessary in the crisis and consequence management of wars and terrorism involving chemical warfare agents (CWAs) such as sarin. The analytical performance required for on-site detection is mainly determined by the fatal vapor concentration and volatility of the CWAs involved. The analytical performance for presently available on-site technologies and commercially available on-site equipment for detecting CWAs interpreted and compared in this review include: classical manual methods, photometric methods, ion mobile spectrometry, vibrational spectrometry, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, sensors, and other methods. Some of the data evaluated were obtained from our experiments using authentic CWAs. We concluded that (a) no technologies perfectly fulfill all of the on-site detection requirements and (b) adequate on-site detection requires (i) a combination of the monitoring-tape method and ion-mobility spectrometry for point detection and (ii) a combination of the monitoring-tape method, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry with counterflow introduction, and gas chromatography with a trap and special detectors for continuous monitoring. The basic properties of CWAs, the concept of on-site detection, and the sarin gas attacks in Japan as well as the forensic investigations thereof, are also explicated in this article.

The hCDC4 gene (also known as Fbw7 or Archipelago) encodes an F-box protein that is responsible for targeting cyclin E for Skp1-cullin-F box protein (SCF) ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation. Disruption of this pathway has been associated with chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in several cancer cell lines and primary tumors. This study aimed to examine whether hCDC4 mutations contribute to aneuploidy in osteosarcoma. We analyzed 147 primary high-grade osteosarcoma specimens and 6 osteosarcoma cell lines. The protein truncation test (PTT) and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis with subsequent sequencing were performed to detect alterations of the hCDC4 gene. All specimens exhibited the same PTT pattern of normal bands with less intense common bands. Two shifts were detected by SSCP, and subsequent DNA analysis identified one in-frame three-base GAG (424-426) deletion and one silent nucleotide substitution (C1261T). We conclude that somatic hCDC4 mutations are infrequent in osteosarcoma, and are unlikely to play an important role in aneuploidy of this tumor.

In this paper, the authors investigate the iron loss of interior permanent magnet motors driven by pulsewidth modulation (PWM) inverters from both results of the experiments and the finite-element analysis. In the analysis, the iron loss of the motor is decomposed into several components due to their origins, for instance, the fundamental field, carrier of the PWM inverter, slot ripples, and harmonic magnetomotive forces of the permanent magnet in order to clarify the main loss factors. The Fourier transformation and the finite-element method considering the carrier harmonics are applied to this calculation. The calculated iron loss is compared with the measurement at each driving condition. The measured and the calculated results agree well. It is clarified that the iron loss caused by the carrier of the PWM inverter is the largest component at low-speed condition under the maximum torque control, whereas the loss caused by the harmonic magnetomotive forces of the permanent magnet remarkably increase at high-speed condition under the flux-weakening control

The goal of the present study was to assess risk factors for perinatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission and the natural history of infection among HCV-infected infants.In a cohort study, 244 infants born to HCV-positive mothers were followed from birth until ageor =12 months. Maternal serum was collected at enrollment and delivery; infant serum was collected at birth and at 8 well-child visits. Testing included detection of antibody to HCV, detection of HCV RNA (qualitative and quantitative), and genotyping. HCV-infected infants were followed annually until age 5 years.Overall, 9 of 190 (4.7% [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3%-9.1%]) infants born to mothers who were HCV RNA positive at delivery became infected, compared with 0 of 54 infants born to HCV RNA-negative mothers (P=.10). Among HCV RNA-positive mothers, the rate of transmission was 3.8% (95% CI, 1.7%-8.1%) from the 182 who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative, compared with 25.0% (95% CI, 4.5%-64.4%) from the 8 who were HIV positive (P.05). Three infected infants resolved their infection (i.e., became HCV RNA negative). In multivariate analysis restricted to HCV RNA-positive mothers, membrane ruptureor =6 h (odds ratio [OR], 9.3 [95% CI, 1.5-179.7]) and internal fetal monitoring (OR, 6.7 [95% CI, 1.1-35.9]) were associated with transmission of HCV to infants.If duration of membrane rupture and internal fetal monitoring are confirmed to be associated with transmission, interventions may be possible to decrease the risk of transmission.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch synthase II, which is also known as starch granule protein 1 (SGP-1), plays a major role in endosperm starch synthesis. The three SGP-1 proteins, SGP-A1, B1 and D1, are produced by three homoeologous SSII genes, wSSII-A, B, and D. Lines carrying null alleles for each SGP-1 protein have previously been identified. In this report, the mutations occurring in each wSSII gene were characterized, and PCR-based DNA markers capable of detecting the mutations were developed. In the null wSSII-A allele, a 289 bp deletion accompanied by 8 bp of filler DNA was present near the initiation codon. A 175 bp insertion occurred in exon 8 of the null wSSII-B allele. The insertion represented a recently discovered miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) named Hikkoshi that was first found in a wheat waxy gene. A 63 bp deletion was found at the region surrounding the junction of the fifth exon and intron of the null wSSII-D allele. Based on this information, we designed primer sets to enable us to conduct allele-specific amplifications for each locus. The applicability of these primer sets for breeding programs was demonstrated by reconstructing a line lacking all three SGP-1 proteins using marker-assisted selection. These markers will also be useful in breeding programs aimed at obtaining partial mutants missing one or two SGP-1 proteins.

Most pandalid shrimps show protandric hermaphroditism, and male sexual differentiation is considered to be controlled by the androgenic gland. In the present study, we examined the histology of gonadal development during the male phase and sex change and the involvement of the androgenic gland in regulating male reproduction in laboratory-maintained Pandalus hypsinotus. Juvenile shrimps developed testicular tissues in the peripheral part of gonads during the age of 16–31 months and produced spermatozoa between 34 and 36 months. After reaching sexual maturity, male shrimps exhibited seasonal testicular development: active production of spermatozoa (February–May), disappearance of spermatozoa (spent, April–June), increase of spermatocytes (May–November), appearance of spermatids and spermatozoa in the gonads (November–February). The androgenic gland cells became larger and the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cytoplasm developed at male sexual maturity. The cell structure shows that the androgenic gland hormone is a peptide. Furthermore, bilateral eyestalk ablation on immature male shrimps induced hypertrophy of the androgenic gland and acceleration of male sexual maturation. These results indicate the involvement of androgenic gland hormone and some eyestalk factor in regulating male sexual maturation. Over a 1-year laboratory-rearing period, some male shrimps (16.7%) changed sex. In transitional shrimps, testicular tissues in the gonads and androgenic glands degenerated; on the other hand, oocytes started yolk protein accumulation and hemolymph vitellogenin levels became high. These results suggest that androgenic gland degeneration is a trigger for sex change and that the vitellogenin level is a useful marker for sex change.

The structural transition of the l- and dl forms of poly(N-(1- hydroxymethyl)propylmethacrylamide (PHMPMA) in aqueous solution was studied by measuring the pressure dependence of the apparent scattering intensity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and circular dichroism (CD). The thermodynamic implications of the results are discussed in relation to the chiral structure of the side chain, and differences in the thermal and barometric transitions. T-P diagrams of the transition showed characteristic ellipsoid features. Antagonism of the temperature and pressure effects was observed only for P(dl-HMPMA). For P(l-HMPMA), the transition temperature (T tr) decreased with increasing pressure, and the highest T tr was observed at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa). For both polymers, the highest P trs were observed at the lowest temperatures. The l polymer showed a specific negative peak in its CD spectrum at around 220 nm in the lower temperature region and the temperature dependence was reproduced by a single-step transition, with the midpoint corresponding to the T tr obtained from the scattering measurements. Coupled with the results from the DSC, the different behavior between the P(l-HMPMA) and P(dl-HMPMA) could be explained in terms of the chain states before and after the transition. The cooperative factors derived from the DSC measurement revealed that about 4 to 5 polymers of the present size were necessary to perform a thermal transition for P(l-HMPMA), and that P(dl-HMPMA) underwent its transition as an almost single molecular event.

A series of lanthanide hexacyanochromate(III) n-hydrates, Ln[Cr(CN)6]·nH2O (Ln=La-Lu; n=3, 4) were synthesized as the precursors to obtain the homogeneous perovskite-type oxides, LnCrO3. In the series of the hydrate complexes, Nd[Cr(CN)6]·4H2O was the boundary between tetrahydrates and trihydrates, i.e. La, Ce, Pr and Nd formed tetrahydrates, and the other lanthanides formed trihydrates. The crystal structures of La[Cr(CN)6]·4H2O and Sm[Cr(CN)6]·3H2O were determined by means of the Rietveld analysis of their powder X-ray diffraction profiles. La[Cr(CN)6]·4H2O was orthorhombic system, Cmcm, and Sm[Cr(CN)6]·3H2O was monoclinic system, P21/m. The thermal decomposition of the series complex, Ln[Cr(CN)6]·nH2O was followed by means of thermal analyses, powder X-ray diffraction of the solid residue and the mass spectrum of the gaseous products. The homogeneous perovskite-type oxides, LnCrO3 except of CeCrO3 were obtained as the final products of the thermal decompositions. The perovskite oxides for La, Pr, Nd and Sm were formed at 800°C, for Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy at 1000°C, and for the other lanthanides at 1100°C. The final product of the thermal decomposition of Ce[Cr(CN)6]·4H2O was the mixture of CeO2 and Cr2O3.

The effects of pressure on the temperature-induced coacervation of copoly(N-vinylformamide–vinylacetate) and copoly(N-vinylacetylamide–vinylacetate) in aqueous solution were investigated by measuring the apparent light scattering, and the effects of the concentrations of polymer and inert salt were also studied. At lower pressures, the apparent temperature of transition, Tc, increased with an increase in the pressure, but further increases in pressure decreased Tc. In contrast, the apparent pressure of transition, Pc, monotonously increased with decreasing fixed temperature. The T–P diagram was elliptical, but the curvature was not large and extrema were not observed in the low-temperature and high-pressure range. Anions with low lyotropic numbers induced an almost linear decrease in the Tc and Pc, whereas anions with a high number increased the Tc and Pc. In both polymers, the Tc and Pc depended on the concentrations of the polymers, reflecting the association/aggregation mechanism of coacervation. This is in contrast to typical thermoresponsive polymers such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N-vinylisobutyramide), which show the coil-collapse transition as a single molecular event.

On dehydration of La[Co(CN)6]·5H2O, the color of the complex, changes from white to pale blue at around 230°C. Heating the pale blue specimen, the color changes to deep blue at around 290°C. This deep blue specimen is easily rehydrated to a pink one. As reported previously, in the pale blue specimen, Co3+ ions are situated in the center of the D4h crystal field formed by six CN- ions. The deep blue specimen is due to the presence of [Co(CN)4]2- ions in which Co2+ was situated in a Td coordination field formed by four CN- ions and the Co-C bond length is 1.67 Ĺ. The pink species corresponded to trans-[Co(CN)4(H2O)2]2- and the bond lengths of Co-C and Co-O are 1.89 and 1.85 Ĺ, respectively. The Raman spectra of the complex observed at 25°C displays two bands at 2157 and 2176 cm-1 associated with the vibration of C-N bond, and the band of 2157 cm-1 was split into two bands, 2150 and 2156 cm-1, at around 100°C. When the complex was heated to around 230°C, three new bands were observed at 2103, 2116 and 2141 cm-1. The bands of 2103 and 2116 cm-1 were assigned to the stretching vibration of C=N bonding to Co2+. The band of 2141 cm-1 was assigned to the stretching vibration of the inverted CN- as follows: Co-C=N-La→Co-N=C-La. The activation energy for the inversion of CN- was estimated as 67 kJ mol-1.

We examined the effects of IGF-I (1–1000 ng/ml) on cell proliferation in LM2d6 mouse fibroblast cells at 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0% fetal bovine serum (FBS). In medium containing 0.1% FBS, treatment of LM2d6 cells with IGF-I significantly reduced the cell number in a dose- and time-dependent manner, whereas no effects were seen at 1 or 5% FBS. Treatment of the cells with 0.1% FBS for 72 h caused DNA laddering and nuclear condensation. However, Scatchard analysis for IGF-I binding sites on the cells revealed that both the number and the affinity of IGF-I receptors were not greater than that of Balb/3T3 cells. Furthermore, the apoptotic action of Long (R3)-IGF-I, an analogue of IGF-I that has a reduced affinity for IGF binding proteins, was not greater than that of IGF-I. Taken together, we conclude that IGF-I reduces cell proliferation at low levels of FBS due to the induction of apoptosis. This effect is probably not caused by an excess production of IGF binding proteins in LM2d6 cells.

The thermal dehydration of La[Co(CN)6]⋅5H2O proceeded through at least three stages from the temperature range of30~230°C, and an abrupt mass loss occurred around 350°C and the perovskite type oxide,LaCoO3 was obtained at 1000°C.

S. FUJIWARA, Y. SETO, A. KIMURA AND H. HASHIBA. 2001. Aims: The objectives of this study are to investigate the fate of a streptomycin–rifampicin-resistant variant of Bifidobacterium longum SBT2928 (BL2928SR) and the influence of its oral administration on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora. Methods and Results: Intestinal passage of BL2928SR was monitored by a combination of selection with antibiotics and identification by a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)–PCR method. Intestinal microflora was analysed by the method developed by Mitsuoka et al. (1965, 1974). Long-term survival of orally administered BL2928SR in the human intestine was confirmed. BL2928SR ingestion specifically lowered faecal populations of Enterobacteriaceae and clostridia, including lecithinase-positive Clostridium spp. Conclusions: BL2928SR and its parent strain, BL2928, are considered to be appropriate candidates for probiotics. Significance and Impact of the Study: It is clarified that BL2928SR has the ability for long-term survival in the human gastrointestinal tract, and alters the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora.

High resolution A-X emission data involving vibrational levels of the ground X 1Σg+ electronic state up to v″=113, spanning 99.8% of the potential well, have been acquired for three isotopomers of Rb2. While a good fit (σf=1.03) to the 12 148 transition frequencies (with uncertainties ±0.001 cm−1) is obtained from an unconstrained combined-isotopomer Dunham-type analysis, it requires a large number (62) of expansion parameters, and the resulting empirical centrifugal distortion constants (CDCs) are unreliable for extrapolation to higher-J. Moreover, Dunham expansion fits using constrained theoretical values of the first six CDCs (up to Ov) fail to properly represent the data, as even higher-order CDCs are required. However, a direct fit of these data to an analytical “modified Lennard-Jones” potential energy function involving only 16 fitted parameters yields essentially the same quality of fit as did the unconstrained Dunham fit, and should be reliable for extrapolation to arbitrarily high J. This poten...

Thermal and structural changes of lanthanum hexacyanocobaltate(III) pentahydrate, La[Co(CN)6]⋅5H2O were investigated by means of thermal analysis, visible electronic spectra, IR, powder X-ray diffraction, EXAFS and TG-MS. The dehydration of La[Co(CN)6]⋅5H2O proceeded reversibly through three steps and steps corresponded to the losses of H2O, 3H2O and H2O, and the enthalpy changes for these steps were 51.3, 211.0 and 38.7 kJ mol−1, respectively. After the dehydration, the colour of the anhydride changed from white to blue around 290C and an abrupt mass loss occurred at 350C. The colour change seems to be attributable to the change of coordination geometry around the Co ions from an octahedral structure to a tetrahedral one. LnCoO3 was obtained as a final product by heating the sample to 1000C.

High resolution infrared emission spectra have been measured for AuH and AuD and for two isotopomers of each of CuH, CuD, AgH, and AgD. The molecules were made in a carbon tube furnace (King furnace), and in spite of intense background thermal emission from the furnace (at >2000 °C), vibration–rotation emission data could be recorded. Together with high resolution measurements taken from the literature, the data for each species were treated using two types of combined-isotopomer analysis: One based on fits to empirical molecular parameters, and the other based on direct fits to the underlying potential energy functions, both of which take account of mass-dependent Born–Oppenheimer breakdown correction terms. Accurate isotopically related Dunham parameters and Born–Oppenheimer breakdown parameters are obtained for each species, as well as accurate analytic potential functions and adiabatic and nonadiabatic radial correction functions.

Measurements of anthropogenic radionuclides in seawater samples near dumping sites of the East Sea/Japan Sea were conducted, as the first-stage Japanese–Korean–Russian Joint Expedition, in March–April 1994, to assess radioactive contamination of the East Sea/Japan Sea after the dumping of radioactive wastes by the former Soviet Union and Russian Federation. Concentrations of 137 Cs, 90 Sr and 239,240 Pu in surface waters of the East Sea/Japan Sea near dumping sites were in the ranges of 2.8–3.6,1.6–2.0, and 8–25 Bq kg -1 , respectively. Surface 137 Cs and 90 Sr concentrations were the same order of magnitude as those observed in the North Pacific, whereas surface 239,240 Pu concentration was significantly higher than those observed in the North Pacific. Vertical profiles of 137 Cs and 90 Sr, with surface maxima and decreasing with depth, showed higher depth gradients than those observed in the North Pacific, reflecting deep convection in the north central East Sea/Japan Sea. The higher 239,240 Pu concentration in the surface waters of the north central East Sea/Japan Sea may reflect rapid recycling of deep Pu. The results revealed that most of the recent radioactivity observed in the north central East Sea/Japan Sea was of global fallout origin from atmospheric nuclear testing and partly the Chernobyl fallout. In this survey, there was no clear evidence of an increase in radionuclide concentrations due to the dumping of radioactive wastes by the former Soviet Union and Russian Federation.

We analysed the incidence of avascular necrosis in 101 hips of 90 infants with congenital dislocation treated with the Pavlik harness and followed up for more than one year. Using ultrasonography in the flexed-abducted position the hips were classified as type A when the femoral head was displaced posteriorly, but within the socket and making contact with the posterior inner wall of the acetabulum; type B when it was in contact with the posterior margin of the acetabulum, with its centre at this level or anterior to it; and type C when it was displaced out of the socket, with its centre posterior to the posterior rim of the acetabulum. Eighty-seven hips were reduced by the harness (86%), and seven of these developed avascular necrosis (8%). All 69 hips with type-A dislocation were reduced, and only one (1.4%) showed slight avascular necrosis. Eighteen (78.3%) of 23 hips with type-B dislocation were reduced, and six developed avascular necrosis (33.3%). In one hip, the femoral head was severely damaged. None of the nine hips with type-C dislocation was reduced in the harness. We conclude that the Pavlik harness is indicated for type-A, but not for type-B or type-C dislocations.

Background Indirect costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to losses such as reduced productivity are an important social issue in addition to rapidly increasing direct costs; however, work disability in patients with RA have not been thoroughly assessed in Japan. With the recent changes in socioeconomic structure, the number of female paid workers has been increasing; thus, the impact of RA on the work impairment of Japanese patients has been rapidly increasing. In addition, work status is strongly influenced by cultural differences among races. Furthermore, with the recent improvement of RA treatment strategy, it has not been evaluated whether work disability in patients with RA improved or not in a real world settings. Hence, we evaluated longitudinally work impairment in patients with RA in daily practice using a large cohort database. Objectives To study how the magnitude of work impairment in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed over the past 3 years in routine clinical practice. Methods Patients with RA who participated in both of the IORRA studies conducted in April 2012 and April 2013 and those who worked for pay on both surveys and were aged 55 years or younger at baseline were identified. Changes over the 3 years in the absenteeism (AB), presenteeism (PR) and overall work impairment (OWI) scores as determined by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) were evaluated in those patients. In addition, patients with work impairment, defined as AB >0% or PR ≥30%, at baseline were classified according to whether or not they still had work impairment at 3 years to identify differences in their characteristics. Results Among 4,214 patients with RA who participated in both of the IORRA studies, 1,310 patients were selected in this study cohort (mean age, 51.5 years; females, 80.1%; Japanese version of the HAQ [J-HAQ], 0.37). The AB, PR, OWI scores in the 1310 patients were 1.8%, 16.4% and 17.3%, respectively, at baseline, which remained unchanged at 3 years (2.1%, 16.4% and 17.6%, respectively). At baseline, 206 patients (15.7%) had work impairment, of whom 117 patients (56.8%) (mean age, 43.8 years; females, 85.5%; DAS28, 3.1 [2.8 at 3 years]; J-HAQ, 0.80 [0.75 at 3 years]; 73.5% [76.9% at 3 years] of patients received methotrexate; 36.8% [38.5% at 3 years] received biologics) continued to have it at 3 years, and 89 patients (43.2%) (mean age, 44.2 years; females, 84.3%; DAS28, 3.2 [2.1 at 3 years]; J-HAQ, 0.54 [0.25 at 3 years]; 77.5% [82.0% at 3 years] of patients received methotrexate; 24.7% [39.3% at 3 years] received biologics) were free from work impairment. Conclusions In the overall population of Japanese patients with RA, work impairment has not been improved over the past 3 years; however, as many as 43.2% of patients with work impairment at baseline have experienced improved work productivity. In these patients, more intensive RA therapy has resulted in a greater reduction in disease activity or functional impairment. Disclosure of Interest E. Tanaka Speakers bureau: ET has received speaker fees or consulting fees from Abbvie, Eisai Pharmaceutical, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Bristol Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, and Santen Pharmaceutical., E. Inoue: None declared, R. Yamaguchi: None declared, Y. Shimizu: None declared, N. Sugimoto: None declared, D. Hoshi: None declared, K. Shidara: None declared, E. Sato: None declared, Y. Seto: None declared, A. Nakajima: None declared, S. Momohara Speakers bureau: SM has received speaker fees from Abbott, AbbVie, Astellas, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Pfizer, Takeda, and Teijin., A. Taniguchi: None declared, H. Yamanaka Speakers bureau: HY has received speaker fees from Abbott, AbbVie, Asahikasei, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, MSD, Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer, Santen, Taishotoyama, Takeda, and Teijin.

Aminium radicals have been proposed as intermediates in amine N-dealkylations and N-oxygenations catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (P450) and some other enzymes. P450s can form some N-oxides and hydroxylamines but these are not favored whenever N-dealkylation is possible. However, if a paradigm involving 1-electron oxidation is valid, then some finite level of partitioning of aminium radicals between N-oxygenation and N-dealkylation might be expected in all cases. Methods were developed for the selective and sensitive measurement of N,N-dialkylaniline N-oxides using high performance liquid chromatography, radiochromatography, and TiCl3 reduction. These N-oxides were relatively stable in the presence of P450 2B1. In the presence of NADPH and NADPH-P450 reductase some reduction to N,N-dialkylamines occurred, along with N-dealkylation (to monoalkylanilines); there was also slow N-dealkylation in the absence of NADPH, which is interpreted in terms of homolytic scission of the N-O bond; N,N-dialkylanilines were not formed nor did the N-oxides support other oxygenation reactions. P450 2B1 (with its reductase and NADPH) formed N-oxides at low rates from several N,N-dialkylaniline derivatives, including N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-diethylaniline, N-ethyl-N-methylaniline, 4-methyl-N,N-dimethylaniline, 4-cyano-N,N-dimethylaniline, N-phenylpyrrolidine, and N,N-dimethyl-2-aminofluorene. The ratio of N-dealkylation:N-oxygenation varied from 1020 to 6 in this series. These results are consistent with the view that aminium radicals are a branch point in N-oxygenation and N-dealkylation reactions catalyzed by metalloproteins, although some alternate explanations cannot be ruled out. While N-dealkylation is the dominant process in all of the P450-catalyzed amine oxidations, there should be a finite partition ratio between these reactions depending upon the particular enzyme and substrate. The N-oxygenation reaction is probably more complex than a direct radical recombination event and is postulated to involve one or more intermediates.

To identify genes cluster for thermophilin 1277 produced by Streptococcus thermophilus SBT1277.To identify genes for thermophilin 1277 production, the chromosomal DNA region surrounding the structural gene, tepA, was sequenced using a primer-walking method. The thermophilin 1277 biosynthesis gene locus (tep) is a 9·9-kb region, which consists of at least ten open reading frames (ORFs) in the following order: tepAMTFEGKRI and ORF4. Homology analysis showed high similarity to genes involved in bovicin HJ50 production by Streptococcus bovis HJ50. tepI encodes a novel, small, positively charged hydrophobic peptide of 52 amino acids, which contains a putative transmembrane segment. By heterologous expression in Lactococcus lactis ssp. cremoris MG1363, the TepI-expressing strain exhibited at least 1·3 times higher resistance to thermophilin 1277.Thermophilin 1277 biosynthesis genes were encoded by a 9·9-kbp region containing at least ten ORFs. TepI is a novel immunity peptide, which protected Strep. thermophilus SBT1277 against thermophilin 1277 in addition to TepFEG, a putative ABC transporter.This is the first report regarding a lantibiotic gene cluster produced by Strep. thermophilus strain.

In 1989, a case report and extensive review on the subject of juvenile hyaline fibromatosis, a rare entity, was published. Because patients who have this condition often have contractures at the knee, we thought it worth while to report the case of another patient in whom operative treatment of these contractures enhanced the life-style of the patient considerably

The hemagglutinin titers of 10 influenza A(H1N1) viruses were examined using the erythrocytes of several species. Human O erythrocytes showed the highest agglutination titer to the viruses, whereas chicken erythrocytes showed a low titer. These findings were noted for at least 10 passages by serial dilutions of the viruses in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. All influenza A(H1N1) viruses, plaque-cloned directly from throat-washing specimens of patients, also agglutinated human O but not chicken erythrocytes. The results of a hemadsorption test indicated that chicken erythrocytes possess less affinity to MDCK cells infected with the A/Osaka City/2/88(HlNl) strain than to those infected with the A/Yamagata/120/86(H1N1) strain which is used as an inactivated influenza vaccine in Japan. However, there were no significant differences between the A/Osaka City/2/88 and the A/Yamagata/120/86 strains in the hemagglutination inhibition test. Since human O erythrocytes have high agglutination activity to influenza A(H1N1) and also to A(H3N2) and B viruses in MDCK cells, these erythrocytes may be useful for the serological diagnosis of influenza.

A 37-year-old Chinese man with chronic hepatitis B, who frequently defaulted past follow-up appointments, was admitted for acute abdomen and shock. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma involving the left lobe. After fluid resuscitation, gelfoam embolisation was performed to arrest the bleeding, followed by segmental resection of the hepatic lesion. There was aggressive recurrence following left segmental hepatectomy, and despite two courses of transarterial chemoembolisation, the patient died of local and pulmonary recurrences five months after his initial presentation. The management of hepatocellular carcinoma rupture is discussed.