Molecular cloning of ring finger protein 21 (RNF21)/interferon-responsive finger protein (ifp1), which possesses two RING-B box-coiled coil domains in tandem.

We have cloned the full length of a novel cDNA, named ring finger protein 21 (RNF21), composed of the RING finger-B box-coiled coil (RBCC) domain and the B30.2 domain, which are characteristic of the RBCC-B30.2 family. As a structural feature, the RNF21 cDNA possessed at least three kinds of isoforms, due to alternative splicing, consisting of the long form with the RBCC-RBCC-B30.2 domain, the medium form with the RBCC-B30.2 domain, and the short form with only the RBCC domain. Moreover, respective transcripts corresponding to the three isoforms were detected in various human organs by reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot analyses. Interestingly, the medium form of the RNF21 mRNA expressed most predominantly was dramatically up-regulated within 8-16 h by interferon stimulation of HeLa cells. These findings suggest that RNF21 is a downstream gene that may mediate interferon's biological action.

[Drug Compliance Scale. I. Development of the Drug Compliance Scale].

The failure of patients to comply with treatment regimens recommended by their physicians is a significant clinical problem. Researches on the assessment of compliance have, however, been precluded by methodological difficulties such as lack of adequate measures. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-administered questionnaire to evaluate drug compliance. First, questionnaire containing a 52-items complied by two doctors, a pharmacist and a nurse, was tested on 81 outpatients, all volunteers, attending the departments of psychosomatic medicine and internal medicine. Four items were temporarily removed for later analysis because they directly inquired about drug compliance (drug compliance items). The other 48 items were analyzed and three factors consisting of 26 items were further studied: expectation on taking medicine, rejection to taking medicine and seeking knowledge of drugs. Chronback's alpha coefficients representing internal consistency of the three factors were sufficiently high (ranging from .75 to .84). Furthermore, we preformed a simplified pill count to validate the 4 drug compliance items. There was a weak to moderate correlation between the result of pill count and each of 4 drug compliance items. A new self-administered questionnaire of 30 items was thus developed and named the Drug Compliance Scale.

[Drug Compliance Scale. II. Psychological factors affecting drug compliance in the department of psychosomatic medicine].

The purpose of this study was to investigate psychological factors affecting drug compliance in the department of psychosomatic medicine. Seventy-four outpatients were asked to answer a battery of self-administered questionnaire including the Drug Compliance Scale (DCS) that we had recently developed and other questionnaire evaluating psychological and vegetative symptoms, self-efficacy and attributional styles on the promotion of health and personality closely related to interpersonal relationships. Results of path analysis indicated that attributional styles and self-efficacy mainly affected three factors of DCS such as expectation on taking medicine, rejection to taking medicine and seeking knowledge of drugs, through which they influenced drug compliance, and also indicated that personality and self-efficacy mainly affected the stability of mood state, suggesting a further influence on drug compliance.

Electrocardiographic characteristics of left ventricular outflow tract tachycardia.

Catheter ablation of idiopathic left ventricular outflow tract tachycardia (LVOT-VT) is rare because a safe ablation technique at this site has not been described, and serious complications may occur. This study compared the QRS morphology of LVOT-VT with that of idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia. A comparison was made between the electrocardiographic characteristics of LVOT-VT originating from the supravalvular region of a coronary cusp (Supra-Ao group) with those of LVOT-VT originating from the infravalvular endocardial region of a coronary cusp of the aortic valve within the LV (Infra-Ao group). After precise mapping of the right ventricle, left ventricle, pulmonary artery, coronary cusps, and proximal portion of the anterior interventricular vein, there were 17 patients in whom VT was thought to be located at the LVOT by both activation and pace mapping. They were divided between a Supra-Ao group (n = 8), and an Infra-Ao group (n = 9). Analysis of the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed an S wave in lead I in all 17 patients. A precordial R wave transition was also observed at V1 or V2 in 16 patients (94%). In 7 of 8 patients (88%) with Supra-Ao LVOT-VT, no S wave was observed in either V5 or V6. In contrast, an Rs pattern was observed in both V5 and V6, or in V6 only, in 100% of the patients with Infra-Ao LVOT-VT. A LVOT-VT should be suspected when the ECG shows an S wave in lead I and an R/S ratio greater than 1 in lead V1 or V2, versus a coronary cusp location if there is no S wave in either lead V5 or V6.

Phenolic antioxidants from the leaves of Corchorus olitorius L.

Six phenolic antioxidative compounds [5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin 3-(6-malonylglucoside), and quercetin 3-(6-malonylgalactoside) (tentative)] were identified from the leaves of Corchorus olitorius L. (moroheiya) by NMR and FAB-MS. The contents of these phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol in C. olitorius leaves were determined, and their antioxidative activities were measured using the radical generator-initiated peroxidation of linoleic acid. The results obtained showed that 5-caffeoylquinic acid was a predominant phenolic antioxidant in C. olitorius leaves.

Rapid analysis of methylated xanthines in teas by an improved high-performance liquid chromatographic method using a polyvinylpolypyrroridone pre-column.

We have developed a new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the analysis of methylated xanthines in tea by removing polyphenols using a polyvinylpolypyrroridone (PVPP) pre-column. The PVPP pre-column was connected with the upstream of analytical column to remove catechins in tea extract. Using this pre-column, caffeine and theobromine in tea, which belong to methylated xanthines, could be rapidly determined in less than 10 min with an isocratic solvent system. RSDs of standard solutions of caffeine and theobromine were about 0.3 and 0.3% for the retention time, and were about 1.6 and 2.5% for the peak area. The quantitation curves of caffeine and theobromine were linear from 5 to over 1000 ng.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel developmentally regulated gene, Bdm1, showing predominant expression in postnatal rat brain.

Postnatal development, such as synapse refinement, is necessary for the establishment of a mature and functional central nervous system (CNS). Using differential display analysis, we identified a novel gene, termed Bdm1, that is more abundantly expressed in the adult brain than in the embryonic brain. The full-length Bdm1 cDNA is 2718 base pairs long and contains an open reading frame of 1059 base pairs encoding a 38-kDa protein. Northern blot analysis revealed that expression of Bdm1 mRNA in the brain was weak on embryonic days and increased in the early postnatal period. Bdm1 mRNA was significantly expressed in the brain and heart, but there was no or little expression in other tissues. During the differentiation of mouse carcinoma cells P19 to neuron-like cells by retinoic acid, Bdm1 mRNA was up-regulated almost parallel to neurofilament mRNA. Expression of Bdm1 mRNA was observed appreciably in PC12 cells after neuronal differentiation but not in the nonneural cell lines examined. In situ hybridization demonstrated that Bdm1 was expressed widely in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, thalamus, and medulla oblongata. Taken together, these data suggest that Bdm1 gene plays a role in the early postnatal development and function of neuronal cells.

[A simultaneous determination of various main components in oriental pharmaceutical decoction "heii-san" by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography].

A simple and precise method was established for the simultaneous determination of five selected marker components in oriental pharmaceutical decoction "Heii-San" by means of high-performance liquid chromatography using tetra-n-amylammonium bromide (TAA) as an ion-pair reagent. For the separation of these five components, such as hesperidin (1), 6-gingerol (2), honokiol (3), glycyrrhizin (4) and magnolol (5), an ODS column was used with multi-step gradient elution with 10 mM TAA (H3PO4, pH 4.0)-acetonitrile. The acetonitrile content linearly increased from 25 to 90%. This method was compared with other three methods, i.e. a water-acetonitrile method, a phosphate buffer method and an ion-suppression method. Five main components were eluted within 50 min without interference from co-existing components.

Suppressive effects of a herbal formula, TBL-1, on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice.

1. The effects of a formula of traditional Chinese medicine, TBL-1, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were investigated in DBA/1J mice. 2. From 4 weeks after the first immunization with bovine type II collagen (CII), TBL-1 or indomethacin was administered orally for 13 weeks. 3. Clinical scores of CIA were decreased by both TBL-1 and indomethacin intervention compared with the control CII-immunized group. 4. Radiographic scores of phalangeal destruction were markedly improved by TBL-1 intervention (P < 0.001), but indomethacin failed. 5. The suppressive effects of TBL-1, but not indomethacin, were manifested in reduced serum anti-CII antibody titres (P < 0.001). 6. These findings suggest that TBL-1 may play a role in regulating some immune responses in the present arthritis model.

[A simultaneous determination of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in oriental pharmaceutical decoctions containing Evodia fruit by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography].

A simple and precise method was established for the simultaneous determination of evodiamine and rutaecarpine in oriental pharmaceutical decoctions containing Evodia Fruit using high-performance liquid chromatography with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as an ion-pair reagent. Evodiamine and rutaecarpine were eluted within 60 min without interference from co-existing components using an ODS column and a mixture of water-methanol-acetonitrile-SDS-phosphoric acid (600:330:70:5:0.01, v/v/v/w/v, pH 5.0) as a mobile phase.

Initial response of serum bilirubin levels to phototherapy.

We demonstrated the phenomenon of transiently increasing total serum bilirubin within 4 h of phototherapy. We attempted to resolve the mechanism of this phenomenon in 29 hyperbilirubinemic full-term newborn infants who received continuous phototherapy for 24 h. Our present study suggests that this phenomenon may in part be bilirubin load (photobilirubin, photoisomers) from skin and subcutaneous bilirubin and/or peripheral capillary wall bilirubin into the blood stream pool, rather than delayed clearance of bilirubin and photoisomers from the blood stream to bile or urine. Further study is needed to determine these bilirubin compounds for safe and more effective phototherapy.

The relationship between rooming-in/not rooming-in and breast-feeding variables.

We studied the relationship between rooming-in/not rooming-in and breast-feeding variables such as breast feeding frequency, breast milk intake, supplements of other human milk or 5% glucose solution, cumulative weight loss, weight recovery and hyperbilirubinemia. We found that the breast feeding frequency was significantly higher in infants rooming-in than in those not rooming-in. Intake of breast milk on days 3 and 5 was significantly lower and maximum weight loss was significantly higher in infants rooming-in than in those not rooming-in. Infants rooming-in also had less supplement of other human milk compared with non-rooming-in infants (p less than 0.01). However, the weight increase per day from minimum to weight on day seven was higher in infants rooming-in than in non-rooming-in infants (39.3 +/- 21.4 g/day vs. 31.4 +/- 15.3 g/day, p less than 0.01). The frequent suckling by rooming-in infants may explain, in part, the better weight gain, since frequent suckling may decrease energy consumption by reducing movement and crying during the early days of life, thus contributing to better weight gain. Our study suggests that some of the neonatal feeding problems related to breast feeding could be eliminated by education of mothers and nurses and by changes in hospital policies and practices in breast feeding.

Is it necessary to change the babies' position during phototherapy?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether position changes might affect the efficacy of phototherapy in decreasing total serum bilirubin concentrations. Forty-four full-term newborn infants with hyperbilirubinemia [greater than or equal to 256 mumol/l (15 mg/dl)] were divided into two groups. Position changes were made every 6 h during phototherapy on infants in the study group (N = 22), while no change in position was made in the control group (N = 22). No significant difference between groups was found in serum bilirubin concentration during or within 24 h after phototherapy. Poland's statement advocating position change every 6 h during phototherapy was not supported by a greater decrease of serum bilirubin in our study.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: bilirubin kinetics of the skin and serum during and after phototherapy.

Skin bilirubin (transcutaneous bilirubinometry, TcB, reading) and serum bilirubin kinetics were studied in 20 full-term hyperbilirubinemic infants during and after phototherapy. TcB readings at the chest site decreased after 2 h of phototherapy from 28.0 to 21.3 (25% of initial TcB reading, p less than 0.001) and thereafter continued to decrease in a nonlinear fashion through the first 24 h of phototherapy. However, TcB readings after 12 h of phototherapy were about 50% of the initial readings (p less than 0.001), declining minimally during the second 12 h of phototherapy, suggesting saturation kinetics. While serum bilirubin levels remained unchanged during the first 4 h of phototherapy, thereafter they showed a rapid decline to 12 h of phototherapy. The rate of decline decreased during the second 12 h of phototherapy, but serum bilirubin levels still decreased significantly from 16.9 to 14.9 mg/dl. Although TcB readings showed saturation kinetics during the second 12 h of phototherapy, the serum bilirubin levels were shown to decrease significantly. This suggests that the main site of action of phototherapy may be intravascular at this stage, rather than the skin and subcutaneous capillary bed as in the early stage of phototherapy.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry. Effect of irradiation on the skin bilirubin index.

We studied the relation between irradiation and the percent decrease of skin and serum bilirubin during phototherapy. There was a significant positive correlation between the percent decrease of transcutaneous bilirubinometry readings at the sites exposed directly to light (chest) and irradiation (r = 0.593, p less than 0.001, n = 32). A significant positive correlation was also found between the percent decrease of serum bilirubin concentration and irradiation (r = 0.587, p less than 0.001, n = 32), and the percent decrease of skin bilirubin at exposed sites (chest) and the percent decrease of serum bilirubin concentration (r = 0.481, p less than 0.001, n = 32). Thus, light energy quantitatively affects skin and serum bilirubin. In order to determine the optimal effective wavelength and irradiation energy for phototherapy, it is necessary to examine skin bilirubin kinetics in detail during phototherapy.

Elevation of blood lipid peroxide (TBA-reacting substance) level in developing chick embryos after glucocorticoid administration.

When 15-day-old chick embryos were administered 0.25 mumol of hydrocortisone hemisuccinate sodium (HC) the lipid peroxides (LPO) level increased after a lag time and reached about 9-fold of control level at 48 h after the treatment. Thereafter, the amount of LPO decreased to near control level by 72 h. Data obtained by using various steroids indicated that the marked elevation of LPO in blood was related to glucocorticoid effects caused by a high dose administration. The elevation of LPO level in blood was prevented by triple administration of ascorbic acid (20 mumol/egg) at 3, 10 and 20 h after HC treatment.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: preliminary studies of noninvasive transcutaneous bilirubin meter in the Okayama National Hospital.

A new noninvasive bilirubinometer (Tc BM), which measures transcutaneous bilirubin level of the newborn, was developed as a joint effort by the present authors and the Minolta Camera Company, Ltd. A series of linear relationships were found to exist between total serum bilirubin concentration and yellowish skin color intensity in both term and low-birth-weight infants of Japanese ancestry. The instrument was examined for precision, accuracy, and technique-dependence. From these resulting relationships, it can be concluded that the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement is precise and accurate, and will become an alternative to the routine procedures used to measure serum bilirubin concentration in the near future. Although the values obtained during phototherapy or postexchange stage do not correlate well with serum bilirubin measurement, transcutaneous bilirubin will be accepted by the general nursery staffs because of its potential screening value.