Usefulness of medication instruction sheets for sharing information on cancer chemotherapy within the health care team.

Patients receiving cancer chemotherapy may experience a number of potentially severe adverse drug reactions. It is crucial for all members of the health care team to monitor the effect of medicines on the patient to ensure the safety and efficacy of the chemotherapy. The present study prepared medication instruction sheets (MISs) on hematological malignancy and conducted a questionnaire survey to verify their usefulness among physicians, dentists, and nurses. MISs were prepared for 103 chemotherapy and 44 pretreatment regimens for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the Department of Hematology at Kyushu University Hospital. Eight questions were prepared to investigate whether MISs could help physicians, dentists, and nurses manage cancer chemotherapy more safely, effectively, and efficiently, as well as in the sharing of information. A total of 35 medical staff working in inpatient wards, including 8 physicians, 3 dentists, and 24 nurses, participated in the questionnaire survey. All of the staff responded to the questionnaire survey, which showed that the MISs were favorably accepted by the participants. There was no negative opinion on the management of chemotherapy using the MISs. The MIS was a useful tool for sharing information on cancer chemotherapy between patients and medical staff and for enabling efficient management, thereby improving the safety and efficacy of treatment.

Increased serum PCSK9, a potential biomarker to screen for periodontitis, and decreased total bilirubin associated with probing depth in a Japanese community survey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous reports suggest that several serum biomarkers play roles in the pathogenesis, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in periodontitis caused by bacterial infections, linking chronic periodontitis to atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD). The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate, in a Japanese cross-sectional community survey, potential serum biomarkers of periodontitis that are associated with ASVD and chronic periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study cohort included a total of 108 male subjects who underwent annual health examinations. Serum biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9], interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble CD14, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase-3, adiponectin, total bilirubin [TBIL], and serum lipids) were analyzed to determine their association (if any) with periodontal parameters. Aortic stiffness was evaluated using the brachial-ankle aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) index and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). RESULTS: The concentrations of PCSK9 and hs-CRP were increased (P = .001 and .042, respectively), and the concentration of TBIL was decreased (P = .046), in subjects with periodontal disease (determined as a probing depth of ≥4 mm in at least one site) compared with periodontally healthy subjects. The ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the concentrations of triglycerides, remnant-like particles-cholesterol, and oxidized LDL were elevated in subjects with periodontal disease compared with periodontally healthy subjects (P = .038, .007, .002, and .049, respectively). Multivariate regression analyses indicated that the number of sites with a pocket depth of ≥4 mm was associated with the concentration of PCSK9 and inversely associated with the concentration of TBIL independently (standardized ß = .243, P = .040; standardized ß = -.443, P = .0002; respectively). Analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves of PCSK9 indicated moderate accuracy for predicting the presence of disease sites (probing depth ≥ 4 mm) (area under the curve = 0.740). No significance in the values of PWV and CAVI was observed between subjects with periodontal disease and periodontally healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: In Japanese male subjects, the concentrations of serum PCSK9 and TBIL were correlated with periodontal parameters. Moreover, PCSK9 could be a candidate biomarker for diagnosing chronic periodontitis, and may also have potential to evaluate the risk for periodontitis to cause ASVD. Longitudinal studies of larger populations are necessary to confirm the exact association of periodontitis with increased serum PCSK9 and decreased TBIL.

Cosmetic side effects of antiepileptic drugs in adults with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVE: Cosmetic side effects (CSEs) such as weight gain and alopecia are common, undesirable effects associated with several AEDs. The objective of the study was to compare the CSE profiles in a large specialty practice-based sample of patients taking both older and newer AEDs. METHODS: As part of the Columbia and Yale AED Database Project, we reviewed patient records including demographics, medical history, AED use, and side effects for 1903 adult patients (≥16years of age) newly started on an AED. Cosmetic side effects were determined by patient or physician report in the medical record and included acne, gingival hyperplasia, hair loss, hirsutism, and weight gain. We compared the overall rate of CSEs and intolerable CSEs (ICSEs-CSEs that led to dosage reduction or discontinuation) between different AEDs in both monotherapy and polytherapy. RESULTS: Overall, CSEs occurred in 110/1903 (5.8%) patients and led to intolerability in 70/1903 (3.7%) patients. Weight gain was the most commonly reported CSE (68/1903, 3.6%) and led to intolerability in 63 (3.3%) patients. Alopecia was the second most common patient-reported CSE (36/1903, 1.9%) and was intolerable in 33/1903 (1.7%) patients. Risk factors for CSEs included female sex (7.0% vs. 4.3% in males; p<0.05) and any prior CSE (37% vs. 2.9% in patients without prior CSE; p<0.001). Significantly more CSEs were attributed to valproic acid (59/270; 21.9%; p<0.001) and pregabalin (14/143; 9.8%; p<0.001) than to all other AEDs. Significantly less CSEs were attributed to levetiracetam (7/524; 1.3%; p=0.002). Weight gain was most frequently associated with valproic acid (35/270; 13.0%; p<0.001) and pregabalin (12/143; 8.4%; p<0.001). Hair loss was most commonly reported among patients taking valproic acid (24/270; 8.9%; p<0.001). Finally, gingival hyperplasia was most commonly reported in patients taking phenytoin (10/404; 2.5%; p<0.001). Cosmetic side effects leading to dosage change or discontinuation occurred most frequently with pregabalin and valproic acid compared with all other AEDs (13.3 and 5.6% vs. 2.3%; p<0.001). For patients who had been on an AED in monotherapy (n=677), CSEs and ICSEs were still more likely to be attributed to valproic acid (30.2% and 17.1%, respectively) than to any other AED (both p<0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: Weight gain and alopecia were the most common patient-reported CSEs in this study, and weight gain was the most likely cosmetic side effect to result in dosage adjustment or medication discontinuation. Particular attention should be paid to pregabalin, phenytoin, and valproic acid when considering cosmetic side effects. Female patients and patients who have had prior CSE(s) to AED(s) were more likely to report CSEs. Knowledge of specific CSE rates for each AED found in this study may be useful in clinical practice.

Intracellular trafficking mechanism of cationic phospholipids including cationic liposomes in HeLa cells.

The development of gene delivery methods is essential for the achievement of effective gene therapy. Elucidation of the intracellular transfer mechanism for cationic carriers is in progress, but there are few reports regarding the intracellular trafficking processes of the cationic phospholipids taken up into cells. In the present work, the trafficking processes of a cationic phospholipid (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane, DOTAP) were investigated from intracellular uptake to extracellular efflux using cationic liposomes in vitro. Following intracellular transport of liposomes via endocytosis, DOTAP was localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and mitochondria. Moreover, the proteins involved in DOTAP intracellular trafficking and extracellular efflux were identified. In addition, helper lipids of cationic liposomes were found to partially affect this intracellulartrafficking. These findings might provide valuable information for designing cationic carriers and avoiding unexpected toxic side effects derived from cationic liposomal components.

Quantification of hepatitis C virus in patients treated with peginterferon-alfa 2a plus ribavirin treatment by COBAS TaqMan HCV test.

Extremely low levels of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA can be detected by COBAS TaqMan HCV test. To investigate whether the COBAS TaqMan HCV test is useful for measuring rapid virological response (RVR) and early virological response (EVR) to predict sustained virological response (SVR), we compared the virological response to PEG-IFN-alfa 2a plus RBV in 76 patients infected with HCV genotype 1 when undetectable HCV RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test was used, with those when below 1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test was used, which corresponded to the use of traditional methods. Among the 76 patients, 28 (36.8%) had SVR, 13 (17.1%) relapsed, 19 (25.0%) did not respond, and 16 (21.0%) discontinued the treatment due to side effects. The positive predictive values for SVR based on undetectable HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test at 24 weeks after the end of treatment [10/10 (100%) at week 4, 21/23 (91.3%) at week 8 and 26/33 (78.7%) at week 12] were superior to those based on <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA [17/19 (89.4%) at week 4, 27/38 (71.0%) at week 8, and 27/43 (62.7%) at week 12]. The negative predictive values for SVR based on <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test [46/57 (80.7%) at week 4, 37/38 (97.3%) at week 8, and 32/33 (96.9%) at week 12] were superior to those based on undetectable HCV RNA [48/66 (72.7%) at week 4, 46/53 (86.7%) at week 8, and 41/43 (95.3%) at week 12]. The utilization of both undetectable RNA and <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test is useful and could predict SVR and non-SVR patients with greater accuracy.

Insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and to identify the correlates of insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women. METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 1451 peri- and postmenopausal women enrolled in the Systematic Health and Nutrition Education Program, conducted at the Menopause Clinic of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, between 1995 and 2009. RESULTS: The prevalence of insomnia was 50.8%. The severity of insomnia correlated negatively with health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) scores on all the four domains assessed: physical health, mental health, life satisfaction and social involvement. With regard to other menopausal symptoms, insomnia correlated more strongly with depressed mood than with vasomotor symptoms, and one-third of insomniac women were seriously depressed. On categorizing the participants into four groups--not insomniac or depressed, N; insomniac but not depressed, I; not insomniac but depressed, D; insomniac and depressed, ID--the HR-QOL scores were observed to worsen in order N > I > D > ID. No significant difference was detected between groups I and ID with regard to their sleep quality measures. The number of heavy smokers was high in groups I and ID. With regard to the effect of the combination of medication and health/nutrition education, hormone therapy and nightly hypnotics significantly improved the insomnia symptoms, but hypnotics administered 'as needed' did not. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia in Japanese peri- and postmenopausal women correlates more strongly with depressed mood than with vasomotor symptoms. Cessation of smoking may improve the women's sleep quality, and hormone therapy and nightly hypnotics are both effective treatments.

Palliative effect of lafutidine on oral burning sensation.

UNLABELLED: Lafutidine is a unique histamine H(2)-receptor antagonist (H2RA) that has a sensitizing effect on capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons (CSAN). This effect may make lafutidine useful for the treatment of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lafutidine in patients with oral burning sensation, a randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients who had been receiving other H2RAs with no sensitizing effect on CSAN were randomly assigned to receive lafutidine 10 mg twice daily for 12 weeks, instead of the previous H2RAs, plus gargling with azulene sulfonate sodium (ASS) (lafutidine group, n = 36) or to continue to receive the previous H2RAs plus ASS gargling (control group, n = 35). The intensity of burning sensation was scored by means of a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients in the lafutidine group and 30 in the control group completed the study. In the lafutidine group, the rate of improvement in the VAS score as compared with the baseline value was significant after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The improvement rate was consistently higher in the lafutidine group than in the control group; the differences between the groups were significant (P < 0.05) after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Only two mild abdominal adverse events occurred in the lafutidine group, but neither required the termination of treatment. CONCLUSION: Oral lafutidine is very safe and effective for reducing the intensity of oral burning sensation and may therefore be a viable option for the treatment of BMS.

Surgical strategy for long-standing dislocation of the temporomandibular joint: experience with 16 medically compromised patients.

We evaluated the surgical outcomes in 16 patients with long-standing dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ): eight men and eight women, mean (range) age 72 (21-94) years. They all had multiple underlying diseases, either dementia or a mental disorder, and the joint had been dislocated for four weeks or longer. Manual reduction had been ineffective. They were operated on after assessments by the Department of Geriatric Medicine. The procedures were successful in 14 of the 16 patients: eminectomy (n = 5), eminectomy and discectomy or condylectomy (n = 2), eminectomy, discectomy, and condylectomy (n = 3), release of the lateral pterygoid muscle (n = 3), and curettage of a fibrotic scar in the mandibular fossa (n = 1). Reduction was "easy" (n = 4), "moderately difficult" (n = 3), or "very difficult" (n = 9). Complete reduction could not be achieved for two of the "very difficult" patients. After reduction, three patients had the mandibular condyle tethered to the mandibular fossa. Operation was successful in 12 of the 16 patients. Two patients died, one of cardiopulmonary arrest, and one of chronic pulmonary insufficiency, while reduction was incomplete in two. There were no recurrences. The difficulty of reducing the joint in most of our patients suggests that detailed preoperative surgical planning is essential, patients at risk should be carefully selected, and indications for techniques to prevent recurrence should be carefully evaluated.

Antimicrobial alumina nanobiostructures of disulfide- and triazole-linked peptides: Synthesis, characterization, membrane interactions and biological activity.

Due to the its physical-chemical properties, alumina nanoparticles have potential applications in several areas, such as nanobiomaterials for medicinal or orthodontic implants, although the introduction of these devices poses a serious risk of microbial infection. One convenient strategy to circumvent this problem is to associate the nanomaterials to antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum of activities. In this study we present two novel synthesis approaches to obtain fibrous type alumina nanoparticles covalently bound to antimicrobial peptides. In the first strategy, thiol functionalized alumina nanoparticles were linked via disulfide bond formation to a cysteine residue of an analog of the peptide BP100 containing a four amino acid spacer (Cys-Ala-Ala-Ala). In the second strategy, alumina nanoparticles were functionalized with azide groups and then bound to alkyne-decorated analogs of the peptides BP100 and DD K through a triazole linkage obtained via a copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction. The complete physical-chemical characterization of the intermediates and final materials is presented along with in vitro biological assays and membrane interaction studies, which confirmed the activity of the obtained nanobiostructures against both bacteria and fungi. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aluminum nanoparticles covalently bound to triazole-peptides and to a disulfide bound antimicrobial peptide with high potential for biotechnological applications.

Isolation and characterization of addition products of alpha-tocopherol with peroxyl radicals of dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine in liposomes.

alpha-Tocopherol was reacted with peroxyl radicals of phosphatidylcholine at 37 degrees C in liposomes. The phospholipid-peroxyl radicals were generated by the reaction of 1,2-dilinoleoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine with a free radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-di-methylvaleronitrile), under air. One peak corresponding to the reaction products of alpha-tocopherol with phosphatidylcholine-peroxyl radicals was isolated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Its structure was identified as a mixture of 8a-(phosphatidylcholine-peroxy)-alpha-tocopherones: 1-[9-(8a-peroxy-alpha-tocopherone)-10,12-octadecadienoyl]-2- linoleoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine,1-[13-(8a-peroxy-alpha-tocopherone )-9,11-octadecadienoyl]-2-linoleoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine, 1-linoleoyl-2-[9-(8a, peroxy-alpha-tocopherone)-10,12-octadecadienoyl]-3-sn-pho sph atidylcholine and 1-linoleoyl-2-[13-(8a-peroxy-alpha-tocopherone)-9,11-octadecadi enoyl]-3-sn- phosphatidylcholine. The results indicate that each alpha-tocopherol can trap two peroxyl radicals during the peroxidation of unsaturated phospholipid in liposomes.

Physicochemical characterization of PEG-PPG conjugated human urokinase.

Human urokinase (UK) was conjugated with polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol (PEG-PPG) and its physicochemical properties were examined. PEG-PPG modification decreased the activity for plasminogen activation, but increased the half-life of this protein when injected intravenously in rabbits. Kinetic analysis of PEG-PPG conjugated UK (PEG-PPG-UK) revealed that the kcat for plasminogen activation decreased 1/5-fold with the increase of Km in comparison with that of UK, although these parameters for cleavage of synthetic substrate (S-2444) did not change. However, the inhibitor constant of PEG-PPG-UK for plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI 1) was equal to that of UK. Peptide mapping analysis revealed that PEG-PPG binding sites were mainly determined to be Lys 35, 46, 61, 98, 120 and 135 in A-chain and Lys 211, 300, 318, 338, 348, 383 and 404 in B-chain. In addition, the modification rates of A and B-chain were 37.8% and 19.8% on average, respectively.

Use of the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-liposome method for analysis of infiltrating lymphocytes induced by hepatitis B virus gene expression in liver tissue.

We previously developed a method for introducing foreign genes into liver tissue using liposomes with incorporated hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ, Sendai virus), and found that liver cells transfected with the E. coli beta-galactosidase gene or the gene for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface protein (HBsAg) expressed these proteins in vivo. Here, we analyzed cellular reactions leading to hepatitis in the liver by expressing the genes of HBV in vivo. Lymphocytes were eluted directly from liver transfected with the HBsAg genes and shown to be cytotoxic only to cells expressing HBsAg in vitro. These lymphocytes were identified as cytotoxic T lymphocytes with the CD4- CD8+ phenotype. Transfer of these lymphocytes to transgenic mice with the whole HBV genome led to elevation of the serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) level, indicating the induction of hepatitis due to the cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vivo. Similarly, direct transfer of the gene for the HBV secretory core protein (HBeAg) induced expression of HBeAg in hepatocytes and the appearance of antibody against HBeAg in the serum. However, using this system, we found that the lymphocytes infiltrating the transfected liver showed no cytotoxicity specific for HBeAg. These results indicate that expression of HBsAg, one of the components of virions, in animal liver induced hepatitis efficiently through generation of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) without any expression of the other viral components. This in vivo experimental system should be useful for evaluating how expression of a given gene induces cellular reactions and intrinsic functions in the living body.

Comparative 1H-NMR studies on the physical state of water in soft contact lens and mouse lens.

The physical state of water in mouse lenses (2-, 4- or 8-wk-old) and soft contact lenses (SCLs, water content from 18.4 to 79.2%) were studied by measuring spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) and apparent intermolecular cross-relaxation times (TIS) from irradiated protein or polymer protons to water protons, using 360 MHz 1H-NMR spectrometer at 25 degrees C. (1) 1/T1 values of SCLs increased gradually with increasing dry weight (W(%)). 1/TIS values of SCLs were approximately zero at W of 20.8 and 26.8%, increased gradually from 26.8% and then steeply above approximately 50%. (2) A plot of 1/T1 vs. W(%) of mouse lenses was almost equal to that of SCLs. However, a plot of 1/TIS vs. W(%) was an approximately straight line with the intercept at W of 23% and with the slope which is almost equal to that of SCLs above W of approximately 50%. The plot of 1/TIS vs. W(%) of mouse lenses might indicate the significant change in the physical state of water and/or protein-water interactions above W of 23%.

Intraoral minor salivary gland tumors: a clinicopathological study of 82 cases.

We present a retrospective study of 82 patients with intraoral minor salivary gland tumors which were diagnosed from 1979 to 2003 in Gifu University Hospital. The histological diagnoses were reevaluated according to the 1991 WHO classification. A total of 82 tumors, consisting of 55 benign and 27 malignant tumors, were found in 28 male and 54 female Japanese patients; the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.9. The mean age of the patients was 51.4+/-18.1 years. The tumors affected the palate (n = 64), the buccal region (n = 10), the upper lip (n = 6), the floor of the mouth (n = 1), and the retromolar region (n = 1). Histologically, the tumors were classified as pleomorphic adenoma (n = 54), papillary cystadenoma (n = 1), adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 10), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 8), acinic cell carcinoma (n = 3), adenocarcinoma (n = 2), basal cell adenocarcinoma (n = 1), papillary cystadenocarcinoma (n = 1), and carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma (n = 2). From the results of the present study and review of the literature, it is suggested that the minor salivary gland tumors in Japan may be characterized by a higher incidence of benign tumors, especially of pleomorphic adenoma; a more marked tendency for female predominance; a higher incidence of palatal involvement; and a rarer occurrence of polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma, in comparison with those reported in the literature from outside of Japan.

Expression of neuropsin in the keratinizing epithelial tissue-immunohistochemical analysis of wild-type and nude mice.

Neuropsin is a trypsin-type serine protease that was first cloned from the mouse brain as a factor related to neural plasticity. Subsequent in situ hybridization histochemical analysis indicated a broad localization of its mRNA throughout the whole body, although the details remain obscure. In this study, we showed that neuropsin immunoreactivity is localized in the keratinized stratified epithelia of the mouse epidermis, hair, tongue, palate, nasal cavity, pharynges, esophagus, and forestomach. In the skin and mucous membranes, neuropsin immunoreactivity was found in the stratum spinosum and the stratum granulosum. The immunoreactivity in the former sublayer was mainly present in the cytoplasm, but that in the latter sublayer was exclusively present in the intercellular space or on the outer surface of the cell membrane and thus exhibited a lamellar-like peripheral distribution. During development, the appearance of neuropsin immunoreactivity in the various epithelia was found at embryonic days 14.5-15.5, prior to formation of the stratum corneum. More extensive expression of neuropsin immunoreactivity was found in the nude mouse skin and mucous membranes than in wild-type mice. Because the nude mouse is characterized by genetic impairment of keratinization, such abnormal neuropsin expression might be caused or affected by this impairment. Therefore, neuropsin, an extracellular serine protease, is suggested to be involved in keratinization in the stratified epithelia.

Purification of small polydisperse circular DNA of eukaryotic cells by use of ATP-dependent deoxyribonuclease.

Small polydisperse circular (spc) DNAs of mouse thymocytes were purified by a procedure involving nitrocellulose column chromatography and the treatment of ATP-dependent DNase, which acts only upon linear DNA molecules. Nitrocellulose column chromatography prior to the enzyme treatment was essential because digestion of linear DNA duplexes by the enzyme was inhibited by the presence of concomitant single-stranded DNAs. Mitochondrial DNAs were eliminated by linearization with XhoI and digestion with ATP-dependent DNase. The size distribution of the purified spc DNA molecules ranged from 0.2 micron to more than 28 micron, with a mean length of 5.4 micron. Circular molecules of more than 0.4 micron long (or 1.2 kb) were free from the contamination of linear DNA fragments and pure enough to be cloned into plasmids.

Antioxidant activity of a novel vitamin E derivative, 2-(alpha-D glucopyranosyl)methyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-6-ol.

A novel vitamin E derivative, 2-(alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)methyl-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-6-ol (TMG), has excellent water-solubility (> 1 x 10[3] mg/ml). The antioxidant activity of TMG was investigated. Kinetic studies of the inhibition of radical-chain reaction of methyl linoleate in solution demonstrated that the peroxyl radical-scavenging activity was not changed by the replacement of phytiyl side chain of vitamin E to glucosyl group. TMG acted as an effective inhibitor on lipid peroxidation of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC)-liposomal suspension induced by a water-soluble and a lipid-soluble radical generator, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (AMVN). Its effectiveness was higher than that of ascorbic acid (AsA) when liposomal suspension was exposed to a lipid-soluble radical generator, AMVN. TMG also showed an excellent antioxidant activity on cupric ion-induced lipid peroxidation of PC-liposomal suspension, and suppressed the oxidation of rat brain homogenate which contained trace level of iron ion. On the other hand, AsA acted as a prooxidant on both the cupric ion-induced liposomal peroxidation and the oxidation of rat brain homogenate. When human plasma was exposed to either AAPH or AMVN, the accumulation of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides was retarded by the addition of TMG.

Specific quantitation of secretory immunoglobulin A with enzyme immunoassay using activated thiol--Sepharose for separation method.

A specific and sensitive enzyme immunoassay system for human secretory IgA was developed using anti-alpha-chain antibodies coupled to activated thiol-Sepharose, and anti-secretory component antibodies labeled with beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli. The dose response of the enzyme activity in eluate was observed between 3 and 1000 ng of secretory IgA with little cross-reactions with IgA, IgG, IgM and secretory component. The assay method could be employed for the measurement of secretory IgA in saliva, urine, feces, intestine and serum without interferences by the abundant IgA in the same samples.

Pigmented intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma of the maxilla: a pediatric case report and differential diagnosis.

We report a pigmented intraosseous odontogenic carcinoma of the maxilla occurring in a 6-year-old Japanese boy. Grossly, the tumor showed solid, gray-yellow, and markedly pigmented appearance. Histology showed neoplastic growths of atypical epithelial cells that occasionally contained melanin pigments. Melanocytes with dendritic processes were often found in the tumor cell clusters, and solitary or aggregated melanophages were scattered within the dense fibrovascular stroma. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for cytokeratins and epithelial membrane antigen, and focally positive for vimentin, neuron specific enolase, neurofilament protein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and amelogenin. Ultrastructural studies showed well-developed intercellular junctions, mainly desmosomes, and glycogen particles. In addition, some tumor cells contained melanosomes and/or a few neurosecretory granules. We consider that the present tumor suggests a close association of ectoderm, mesenchyma, and neuroectoderm in embryogenesis of the tooth, and can raise a diagnostic confusion with melanotic neuroectodermal tumor.

Gene transfer and the expression of a foreign gene in vivo in post-mitotic neurons of the adult rat brain using the hemagglutinating virus of the Japan-liposome method.

Neurons in the adult rat brain were transfected in vivo with a simple plasmid that harbored the gene for beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli under control of a chicken beta-actin promoter by use of the hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) and liposomes. Cells that expressed beta-galactosidase were detected only in the target area of the central nervous system for 10 days by light microscopic analysis. Since electron microscopic analysis revealed that the products of the histochemical reaction were predominantly associated with the nuclear membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum of positive cells, it appeared that the products were translated endogenously and had not been entrapped by endocytosis. Furthermore, the products were observed in typical neuronal cells with a large, round, and pale nuclei, and with direct axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synaptic contacts. This report suggests the possibility of introducing functionally significant genes into neurons in targeted areas of the adult central nervous system.