Coating of Chlorophylls a and b Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Capacitor Reaction of TiO2/MnO2 Composite Electrode.

We prepared composite electrodes using TiO2 coated with chlorophylls a and b as photoelectric conversion material and MnO2 as energy storage material and investigated their photoelectrochemical capacitor properties. The coating with the combination of chlorophylls a and b improved the photoelectric conversion function of TiO2, compared with the coating with each alone. Na+ adsorption on MnO2 was enhanced with increasing the chlorophyll coating amount. The reason is that more chlorophylls a and b absorb visible light in different wavelengths to promote an easier photoexcited electron transfer to MnO2, just as they improve the efficiency of photosynthesis reactions in nature.

Autoantibody to scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB): A novel connective tissue disease-related autoantibody associated with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize a novel connective tissue disease (CTD)-related autoantibody (autoAb) directed against scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB). METHODS: AutoAb specificity was analyzed using RNA and protein-immunoprecipitation assays. Autoimmune targets were affinity purified using patients' sera and subjected to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS: By immunoprecipitation assay, 10 sera reacted with a protein with a molecular weight of approximately 160 kDa. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry of the partially purified autoantigen and additional immunoblot-based analyses revealed that the Ab specifically recognized SAFB. Anti-SAFB Abs were detected in 2 of 646 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) (0.3%), 1 of 1570 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (0.06%), 4 of 270 patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (1.5%), 1 of 43 patients with overlap syndrome (2.3%) and 2 patients with other diseases including primary Raynaud's disease and eosinophilic pneumonia. Five patients with anti-SAFB Abs had Raynaud's phenomenon and 3 had nail fold punctate hemorrhage. Of note, 8 of the 10 patients (80%) suffered from ILD. None of the patients with anti-SAFB Abs had pulmonary arterial hypertension, heart disease, or renal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-SAFB Ab is a novel CTD-related autoAb possibly associated with ILD.

Evaluation of functional groups on amino acids in cyclic tetrapeptides in histone deacetylase inhibition.

The naturally occurring cyclic tetrapeptide, chlamydocin, originally isolated from fungus Diheterospora chlamydosphoria, consists of α-aminoisobutyric acid, L-phenylalanine, D-proline and an unusual amino acid (S)-2-amino-8-((S)-oxiran-2-yl)-8-oxooctanoic acid (Aoe) and inhibits the histone deacetylases (HDACs), a class of regulatory enzymes. The epoxyketone moiety of Aoe is the key functional group for inhibition. The cyclic tetrapeptide scaffold is supposed to play important role for effective binding to the surface of enzymes. In place of the epoxyketone group, hydroxamic acid and sulfhydryl group have been applied to design inhibitor ligands to zinc atom in catalytic site of HDACs. In the research for more potent HDAC inhibitors, we replaced the epoxyketone moiety of Aoe with different functional groups and synthesized a series of chlamydocin analogs as HDAC inhibitors. Among the functional groups, methoxymethylketone moiety showed as potent inhibition as the hydroxamic acid. On the contrary, we confirmed that borate, trifruoromethylketone, and 2-aminoanilide are almost inactive in HDAC inhibition.

Drug eruption due to intravesical instillations of both epirubicin and mitomycin C.

We present the first patient to develop drug eruption due to intravesical instillations of both epirubicin and mitomycin C. A 58-year-old-man underwent transurethral resection (TUR) for superficial bladder carcinoma followed by instillations of intravesical chemotherapy. Immediately after TUR, the first instillation of epirubicin was performed. Two days after the first instillation, the patient developed generalized erythema of the face, trunk, upper and lower limbs. Two days after the second instillation, the patient developed severe generalized erythema and was diagnosed as having drug eruption due to intravesical instillations of epirubicin by the dermatologist. Instead of epirubicin, mitomycin C was instilled 2 weeks postoperatively. Two days after the first instillation of mitomycin C, the patient again developed severe generalized erythema and was diagnosed as having drug eruption due to intravesical instillation of mitomycin C. Drug eruption after the first instillation of epirubicin might have been due to drug toxicity of the agent. However, drug eruptions after the second instillation of epirubicin and the first instillation of mitomycin C might have been due to allergic reactions to the drugs. The patient has not received any further intravesical chemotherapy and has not demonstrated any such a drug eruption again.

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with polyarteritis nodosa associated with Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.

A 73-year-old woman with erythematous nodules was admitted to our hospital in December 2003. She was diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) from skin biopsy and laboratory data. Following the treatment with oral prednisolone (40 mg/day), her condition improved. Four days after the reduction of prednisolone, she became febrile. Bone marrow aspiration revealed an increase in the number of marrow macrophages, and phagocytosis of blood cells. The Epstein-Barr virus genome was detected in her peripheral blood. A diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was made. Moreover, intestinal bleeding developed and the patient was given medical treatment consisting of methylprednisolone pulse therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin, weekly intravenous VP-16, and several blood transfusions. In addition, embolization of a branch of the ileal artery was performed. Despite the above treatments, the patient died. Autopsy revealed hemophagocytosis in bone marrow and perforation of ileocecal region. This case suggests that risks for hemophagocytic syndrome in PAN patients should be recognized.

Successful treatment with sildenafil in systemic sclerosis patients with isolated pulmonary arterial hypertension: two case reports.

We describe two systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with isolated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who were given treatment with 50 mg oral sildenafil per day. We evaluated the efficacy of oral sildenafil for isolated PAH in SSc patients by direct assessment with cardiac catheterization before and 6 months after the initiation of sildenafil. Right-heart catheterization demonstrated decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure, decreased pulmonary vascular resistance, and increased cardiac output after treatment with sildenafil. Brain natriuretic peptide levels were gradually decreased. The 6-min walking distance was greatly extended. Moreover, the physical conditions of both patients were much improved. We recognized no adverse events. We propose that oral sildenafil may be beneficial as a selective pulmonary vasodilator and as long-term treatment in SSc patients with isolated PAH.