Proof-of-Principle Experiment for Testing Strong-Field Quantum Electrodynamics with Exotic Atoms: High Precision X-Ray Spectroscopy of Muonic Neon.

To test bound-state quantum electrodynamics (BSQED) in the strong-field regime, we have performed high precision x-ray spectroscopy of the 5g-4f and 5f- 4d transitions (BSQED contribution of 2.4 and 5.2 eV, respectively) of muonic neon atoms in the low-pressure gas phase without bound electrons. Muonic atoms have been recently proposed as an alternative to few-electron high-Z ions for BSQED tests by focusing on circular Rydberg states where nuclear contributions are negligibly small. We determined the 5g_{9/2}- 4f_{7/2} transition energy to be 6297.08±0.04(stat)±0.13(syst) eV using superconducting transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters (5.2-5.5 eV FWHM resolution), which agrees well with the most advanced BSQED theoretical prediction of 6297.26 eV.

Deexcitation Dynamics of Muonic Atoms Revealed by High-Precision Spectroscopy of Electronic K X Rays.

We observed electronic K x rays emitted from muonic iron atoms using superconducting transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters. The energy resolution of 5.2 eV in FWHM allowed us to observe the asymmetric broad profile of the electronic characteristic Kα and Kß x rays together with the hypersatellite K^{h}α x rays around 6 keV. This signature reflects the time-dependent screening of the nuclear charge by the negative muon and the L-shell electrons, accompanied by electron side feeding. Assisted by a simulation, these data clearly reveal the electronic K- and L-shell hole production and their temporal evolution on the 10-20 fs scale during the muon cascade process.

Antibody responses of Macaca fascicularis against a new inactivated polio vaccine derived from Sabin strains (sIPV) in DTaP-sIPV vaccine.

Antibody responses of Macaca fascicularis against a new tetravalent vaccine composed of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis antigens, and inactivated poliovirus derived from Sabin strains (sIPV) was investigated to predict an optimal dose of sIPV in a new tetravalent vaccine (DTaP-sIPV) prior to conducting a dose-defined clinical study. Monkeys were inoculated with DTaP-sIPVs containing three different antigen units of sIPVs: Vaccine A (types 1:2:3 = 3:100:100 DU), Vaccine B (types 1:2:3 = 1.5:50:50 DU), and Vaccine C (types 1:2:3 = 0.75:25:25 DU). There was no difference in the average titers of neutralizing antibody against the attenuated or virulent polioviruses between Vaccines A and B. The average neutralizing antibody titers of Vaccine C tended to be lower than those of Vaccines A and B. The sIPV antigens did not affect the anti-diphtheria or anti-tetanus antibody titers of DTaP-sIPV. Furthermore, the average neutralizing antibody titers of Vaccine A against the attenuated and virulent polioviruses were comparable between M. fascicularis and humans. These results suggest that M. fascicularis may be a useful animal model for predicting the antibody responses to sIPVs in humans, and that it may be likely to reduce the amount of sIPVs contained in DTaP-sIPVs, even for humans.

Regulation of splicing by MBNL and CELF family of RNA-binding protein.

Myotonic Dystrophy (DM), the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy, comprises at least 2 subtypes, DM1 and DM2. DM1 is caused by the expansion of a CTG repeat located in the 3' untranslated region of the DM protein kinase (DMPK) gene. Recently, the expansion of a CCTG tetranucleotide repeat located in the first intron of the ZNF9 gene was identified as the mutation responsible for DM2. Since both DM1 and DM2 are caused by the expansion of repetitive sequences, some common factors that interact with these sequences might be involved in the pathogenesis of DM. MBNL1 is a candidate for such factors and is thought to be sequestered by the expanded forms of DM transcripts.

Clinical manifestations of primary herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in a closed community.

The clinical features and the molecular epidemiology of primary herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection among children younger than 3 years of age were investigated in day-care nursery. Serial sera were assayed for anti-HSV-1 glycoprotein B antibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serologic examinations revealed 55 cases of primary HSV infection during the observation period. Fifty-one of them (93%) had typical herpetic gingivostomatitis, showing a high rate of clinically overt infection. Four outbreaks of herpetic gingivostomatitis were observed during the observation period. Forty-one children were infected with HSV-1 in the outbreaks. The rates of infection in the susceptible children were 81%, 73%, 78%, and 100%, respectively, in the four outbreaks. Restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA of isolated HSV revealed that only one strain of HSV-1 had been transmitted among children for a long period.

Expression of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein B gene in yeast.

The DNA sequence coding for herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein B was placed under control of the acid phosphatase promoter of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a plasmid capable of replicating in both yeast and Escherichia coli. Yeast transformed by the plasmid synthesized immunologically active glycoprotein B polypeptide.

Ability of monoclonal antibody to herpes simplex virus glycoprotein gB to promote healing of herpetic skin lesions in nude mice.

The effect of monoclonal antibody (MCA) to glycoprotein gB of herpes simplex virus (HSV) was studied in athymic nude mice inoculated with HSV intracutaneously in the midflank. HS1, the MCA used in the study, had a high neutralizing titer (1:2048) and had antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. HS1 was injected intraperitoneally at various intervals after HSV infection. HS1 injected 3 h after infection inhibited the development of skin lesions and most mice survived. Administration of HS1 at the time the local skin erosions appeared at the inoculated site (4-7 days after infection) was also effective, and in four of eight mice skin lesions completely healed. Furthermore, in three of four mice that survived, latent infections in the ganglia were also prevented as evidenced by the failure to detect HSV by co-cultivation with Vero cells. Administration of HS1 after the development of zosteriform skin lesions (5-9 days after infection) reduced virus in the ganglia and prolonged the survival time, though the disease was not completely arrested and all the mice died eventually.

Coexpression of the CUG-binding protein reduces DM protein kinase expression in COS cells.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is the most common form of adult onset muscular dystrophy. Patients have a large CTG repeat expansion in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene, which encodes DM protein kinase. RNA trans-dominant models, which hypothesize that the expanded CUG trinucleotide repeat on DMPK mRNA sequesters a factor or disrupts the RNA metabolism of the DMPK mRNA itself and other mRNAs in a trans dominant manner, have been proposed. A candidate for the sequestered factor, termed CUG-binding protein (CUG-BP), exists in several alternatively spliced isoforms. We found a human isoform with a twelve base insertion (deduced amino acids Leu-Tyr-Leu-Gln) and an isoform with a three base insertion (deduced amino acid Ala) insertion. In order to elucidate the effects of CUG-BP on DMPK expression, we introduced CUG-BP and DMPK cDNA transiently into COS-7 cells. Cotransfection of CUG-BP did not significantly affect the expression of either wild type or mutant DMPK at the mRNA level. On the other hand, cotransfection of CUG-BP significantly affected the expression of both the wild type and mutant DMPKs at the protein level. This reduction was remarkable when the mutant DMPK construct was used.

Immobilization of rat hepatocytes on multiporous microcarriers with larger pores and their metabolic activity.

We have investigated the availability of multiporous microcarriers (MCs) for immobilizing isolated rat hepatocytes, but the pore size of MCs was too small (35 microns) for hepatocyte immobilization. In this study, we immobilized isolated rat hepatocytes on MCs with larger pores, and evaluated their metabolic activity. Isolated hepatocytes were immobilized on MCs precoated with collagen by the intermittent stirring method and by aspiration, and the cell-protein content per 100 mg MCs was determined for comparison of these methods. Metabolic activity was evaluated by analyzing NH3 metabolism, urea nitrogen synthesis and glucose synthesis. The aspiration method immobilized significantly more of hepatocytes on MCs than the intermittent stirring method (p < 0.05). A stationary culture of hepatocytes immobilized on MCs showed a similar NH3 metabolism to monolayer cultured hepatocytes, and hepatocytes immobilized on MCs in a floating culture showed significantly higher NH3 metabolism than those in a stationary culture (p < 0.01). However, monolayer cultured hepatocytes showed higher glucose synthesis than hepatocytes immobilized on MCs in a stationary culture (p < 0.01). In conclusion, hepatocytes immobilized on MCs proved to be useful as a bioreactor in a hybrid artificial liver.

Multilocational hepatocyte transplantation for treatment of congenital ascorbic acid deficiency rats.

We attempted multilocational hepatocyte transplantation (HCTx) including hepatocyte-bearing polyurethane foam (PUF) to treat congenitally ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthetic enzyme-deficient (ODS-od/od) rats. Hepatocytes isolated from the liver of congeneic rats were transplanted into the portal vein (Pv), spleen (Sp), omentum (Om), and mesentery (Ms). Hepatocyte-bearing PUF was transplanted into the Om and Ms. Experimental groups were divided into four groups (group I; Pv + Sp, group II; Pv + Sp + Om + Ms, group III; Pv + Sp + hepatocyte-bearing PUF, group IV; control). The average serum AsA level of the surviving rats in group II and III was significantly higher than that in group I 3 mo after HCTx. Histological examination showed small foci of surviving hepatocytes in the Om and Ms tissues and in the connective tissue in the PUF. ODS-od/od rats survived for a long time by multilocational HCTx.

Developmental expression of cytochrome P450S within intrasplenically transplanted fetal hepatocytes.

Fetal hepatocytes were harvested at day 20 of gestation from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and then transplanted into recipient adult SHR spleens. Morphological examination of the recipient spleens revealed that, after 4 and 10 wk, large masses of hepatocytes were present in the red pulp with apparent cord-like structures. Larger batches of hepatocytes were observed in the spleens at 10 wk after than at 4 wk after transplantation. Of major significance was the fact that hepatocyte transplanted spleens were able to express several families of cytochrome P450 (cyto P450) proteins 2-10 wk after transplantation. Immunochemical determinations revealed that cytos P450 IA1, P450 IIB1, P450 p, P450 HLp, and P450 LA omega could be detected without any prior induction. All were intensely expressed 6 wk after transplantation; however, P450 IA1 and P450 IIB1 did not appear to be expressed by 2 wk after transplantation. Although cytos P450 p and P450 HLp did not appear to be expressed by 10 wk after transplantation, they were induced with dexamethasone at that time. Cyto P450 LA omega and peroxisomal acyl CoA oxidase were expressed 6 wk after transplantation in a 70% hepatectomized host. These results demonstrate that fetal hepatocytes can be successfully transplanted into the spleens of recipients and that the fetal hepatocytes appear to grow and develop cyto P450 metabolizing systems.

Gene analysis of reassortant influenza virus by RT-PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion.

An amplification system for nearly full length cDNA coding the eight influenza virus segments of A type (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2) and B type influenza viruses is described. Each of the segments of PB1, PB2, PA, NP, M, and NS can be amplified using one 5' primer and one 3' primer for A-type influenza viruses. The RT-PCR amplification system was applied to define the gene composition of three subtype cold-recombinant, live attenuated influenza viruses. Each segment of the attenuated influenza virus could be identified as deriving from segments of the Ca donor or wild virus by comparing the representative restriction enzyme digestion patterns of the three PCR products obtained from the Ca donor, the cold-live attenuated influenza viruses and the wild virus. This RT-PCR method, using RT-PCR followed by digestion of PCR products with restriction enzymes, was very beneficial for analyzing the genome of reassortant influenza viruses.

Clinical and experimental studies of the congenital constriction band syndrome, with an emphasis on its etiology.

The findings in fifty-nine patients with congenital constriction band syndrome and in experiments in which limb malformations resembling those of the human constriction band syndrome were successfully reproduced in rat fetuses by amniocentesis indicated that these malformations arise from excessive contraction of the uterine muscle during pregnancy, with resulting hemorrhages from the marginal blood sinuses of the digital rays. Such malformations in humans may arise during the fifth and sixth weeks counted from ovulation. It therefore was concluded that this syndrome is not hereditary but is produced by prenatal environmental factors.

Simultaneous dorsal dislocation of both interphalangeal joints in a finger.

This paper has described three cases of simultaneous dorsal dislocation of both interphalangeal joints of a finger. Although two of three patients had minimal limitation of the active range of motion of the PIP and DIP joint, none had complaints of functional disability in their finger.

[Recent progress in live influenza vaccine development].

As live influenza vaccine, cold-adapted influenza virus vaccines (ca vaccine) have been extensively investigated in both the U.S and Russia. In Russia it has been licensed since 1988 and it is going to be licensed in the U.S. within a year or two. In general, the ca vaccine is more effective in seronegative population than the inactivated vaccine. In seropositive adult population, both are equally effective. In the elderly, inactivated vaccine is better than the live vaccine. In Japan, clinical trials were also conducted with the American ca vaccines. Although the efficacy was confirmed in limited locations, the vaccine could not be evaluated from the point of license approval because big epidemic did not occur during the studies.

[Influenza live attenuated vaccine].

Inactivated influenza vaccine has been widely used; however, its effectiveness is not always perfect. To create a much better vaccine, live vaccines have been extensively investigated. Among several candidate live vaccines, cold-adapted(Ca) vaccine is the only promising candidate. According to clinical studies recently conducted in the U.S., Ca vaccine was proven to be highly effective against laboratory confirmed influenza, both in adults and children. Furthermore, Ca vaccines for the H5N1 pandemic strains were generated and their attenuation and efficacy were confirmed in experimental animals.