Effects of tea catechin inhalation on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in elderly patients in a hospital ward.

We investigated the effects of inhalation of tea catechin on MRSA in the 24 elderly in patients, who were known to carry MRSA in sputum. The patients in the catechin group (N=12) were administered an inhalation of tea catechin extracts (in saline/bromhexine) (3.7 g/L catechins, 43% of them are composed of epigallocatechin gallate), three times daily with hand nebulizer for four weeks. The clinical effects were compared with the control group (N=12) who were given an inhalation of saline/bromhexine alone. After a week of the course, the numbers of the patients with decreased or disappearance of MRSA in their sputum was significantly higher in the catechin group, compared with that in the control group (seven vs. no patients; P<0.05). The number of patients discharged during the study was significantly increased, and the days of hospital stay were significantly decreased in the catechin group compared with those in the control group (six vs. one patient; P<0.05, 51+/-22 vs. 85+/-50 days, mean+/-S.D.;P <0.05, respectively). No adverse effects were observed in any patients during the study. Catechin inhalation seemed to be safe, and at least temporarily effective in the reduction of MRSA and shortening of hospitalization.

Studies on the constituents of Ailanthus integrifolia.

A new phenolic glycoside, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol-1-(6-xylopyranosyl)glucopyranoside, was isolated together with twenty known compounds identified as koaburaside, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol, 5,7-dihydroxychromone-7-neohesperidoside, naringin, neoeriocitrin, p-coumaric acid, vanillin, vanillic acid, coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid, trans-triacontyl-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamate, p-methoxycinnamic acid, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, 2-acetylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-6-methoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, 2-acetyl-6-methoxynaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione, specioside, jioglutin C and rehmaglutin D from the bark of Ailanthus integrifolia Lamk (Simaroubaceae).

Demonstration of mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus by means of polymerase chain reaction.

To investigate the failure of vaccines to prevent mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), serum, cord blood, and colostrum samples from eleven mothers, known to be carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen, and their infants were examined by means of a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. HBV-specific DNA was detected in ten maternal serum samples, eight samples of colostral whey, eight samples of colostral cells, and one cord blood sample. Four infants of mothers with HBV-DNA-positive colostrum showed low responsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine. The infant whose cord blood was positive for HBV DNA showed low responsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine and subsequently became an HBV carrier. These results suggest the need for further study to evaluate whether breastfeeding is advisable for HBV carriers.