Poly-phenylene jacketed tailor-made dendritic phenylazomethine ligand for nanoparticle synthesis.

Synthesizing metal clusters with a specific number of atoms on a preparative scale for studying advanced properties is still a challenge. The dendrimer templated method is powerful for synthesizing size or atomicity controlled nanoparticles. However, not all atomicity is accessible with conventional dendrimers. A new tailor-made phenylazomethine dendrimer (DPA) with a limited number of coordination sites (n = 16) and a non-coordinating large poly-phenylene shell was designed to tackle this problem. The asymmetric dendron and adamantane core four substituted dendrimer (PPDPA16) were successfully synthesized. The coordination behavior confirmed the accumulation of 16 metal Lewis acids (RhCl3, RuCl3, and SnBr2) to PPDPA16. After the reduction of the complex, low valent metal nanoparticles with controlled size were obtained. The tailor-made dendrimer is a promising approach to synthesize a variety of metal clusters with desired atomicity.

Highly Accurate Synthesis of Quasi-sub-nanoparticles by Dendron-assembled Supramolecular Templates.

Quasi-sub-nanomaterials (1-3 nm) have been predicted to exhibit unique properties originating from the gray structures considered both bulk solids and molecules, while their synthesis is extremely difficult. The present study describes a new template synthesis method for quasi-sub-nanosized materials using a combination of coordination chemistry and polymer chemistry. Utilizing self-assembly of guest basic phenylazomethine dendron units onto host acidic core units with six tritylium cations, the dendron-assembled supramolecules were constructed easily and quantitatively without costly techniques. This huge supramolecular capsule accumulating multiple acidic rhodium salts in its basic ligands enabled a precise synthesis of rhodium particles via formation of multinuclear complexes. The obtained particles (Rh84 , ≈1.5 nm) have particle sizes within 1-3 nm range and were larger than conventional sub-nanoparticles (Rh14 , ≈0.85 nm), therefore the precise template synthesis of quasi-sub-nanoparticles was successfully demonstrated.

Biosynthesis of unnatural glycolipids possessing diyne moiety in the acyl chain in the green sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum grown by supplementation of 10,12-heptadecadiynic acid.

Unnatural glycolipids possessing the diyne moiety in their acyl groups were successfully biosynthesized in the green sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobaculum (Cba.) tepidum by cultivation with supplementation of 10,12-heptadecadiynic acid. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and rhamnosylgalactosyldiacylglycerol (RGDG) esterified with one 10,12-heptadecadiynic acid were primarily formed in the cells, and small amounts of glycolipids esterified with the two unnatural fatty acids can also be detected. The relative ratio of these unnatural glycolipids occupied in the total glycolipids was estimated to be 49% based on HPLC analysis using a evaporative light scattering detector. These results indicate that the acyl groups in glycolipids, which play important roles in the formation of extramembranous antenna complexes called chlorosomes, can be modified in vivo by cultivation of green sulfur photosynthetic bacteria with exogenous synthetic fatty acids. Visible absorption and circular dichroism spectra of Cba. tepidum containing the unnatural glycolipids demonstrated the formation of chlorosomes, indicating that the unnatural glycolipids in this study did not interfere with the biogenesis of chlorosomes.

Long-term durability of preserved aortic root after repair of acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Optimal management of aortic root in type A aortic dissection (AAD) is controversial. To determine the most appropriate strategy, we studied the late outcomes after conservative repair of aortic root. METHODS: 234 AAD patients (mean age 68 ± 12 years) underwent surgical repair using supracommissural replacement (SCR) for aortic root reconstruction from 1989 to 2014. Ascending aortic replacement or hemi-arch replacement was performed in 180 patients (non-arch group), whereas total arch replacement (TAR) was performed in 54 patients. In both groups, proper and firm reapproximation of proximal edge was performed exactly at the sinotubular junction (STJ). The long-term durability of preserved aortic root (mean follow-up 89 months) was evaluated. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in 25 of 234 patients (10.6%). Aorta-related deaths occurred in five patients (four in non-arch; one in TAR), with over 90% 10-year actuarial survival rate in each group. Among 19 aorta-related events, there were only four proximal events (three in non-arch; one in TAR). The 10-year freedom rate from proximal aorta-related events exceeded 90%, with no significant difference in both groups. Freedom rate from moderate aortic regurgitation at 10 years was statistically similar between non-arch (86.3%) and TAR (85.7%) groups. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term durability of SCR with proximal aortic reapproximation exactly at the STJ was acceptable with low rates of proximal aortic events. This technique can be the standard technique for aortic root reconstruction in AAD patients, except those with aortic root pathology.

[Treatment of Right Atrial Myxoma Complicated with Pulmonary Embolism;Report of a Case].

Myxomas are account for approximately half of primary cardiac tumors, 75% of which originate in the left atrium. We report a case of a right atrial myxoma complicated with bilateral pulmonary embolism. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of dyspnea. Echocardiography and computed tomography angiography showed a right atrial tumor and bilateral pulmonary embolism. We performed an emergency surgery to remove both the right atrial tumor and the pulmonary emboli. Histopathologically, the tumor was revealed to be myxoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. She is now doing well without any symptoms.

Inflammatory pseudotumors in multiple organs associated with elevated serum IgG4 level: recovery by only a small replacement dose of steroid.

A 62-year-old man developed a fever, fatigue, anorexia and arthralgia. Central hypocorticoidism and central hypothyroidism were observed, and a low serum antidiuretic hormon level without symptoms of diabetes insipidus, as well. Images showed swelling of pituitary stalk, mediastinal and hilar lymphnodes and pancreas, pulmonary infiltrates and retroperitoneal mass. Serum CRP level was 20.6 mg/dL, and IgG4 level was 292 mg/dL. Lung biopsy revealed pseudotumor containing IgG4-positive plasmacytes, and obliterative vasculitis both in arterioles and venules. These features were similar to those of reported IgG4-related autoimmune disease. However, replacement steroid therapy for hypocorticoidism brought about almost complete recovery except that diabetes insipidus got apparent. This is the first report on the efficacy of only a small dose of steroid, and on features of pituitary stalk involvement and central hypocorcicoidism.

Silico-asbestosis that responded to steroid therapy.

A 73-year-old man with silico-asbestosis responded to steroid therapy. Chest CT scans showed diffuse micronodular opacities and ground glass opacities bilaterally throughout the entire lung fields, as well as progressive massive fibrosis in the bilateral upper lung fields. Diagnostic thoracoscopic biopsy revealed mixed dust pneumoconiosis with silicotic nodules, as well as fibrosis similar to that of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) with many fibroblastic foci and alveolitis. Many asbestos bodies were also detected by iron staining.

Efficacy and safety of rush immunotherapy in patients with Hymenoptera allergy in Japan.

In Japan, approximately 40 persons die annually from anaphylaxis caused by Hymenoptera stings. Venom immunotherapy is considered safe and effective for the treatment of allergic systemic reactions caused by Hymenoptera stings in patients with Hymenoptera allergy. We studied the efficacy and safety of rush immunotherapy in patients who had a history of systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings in Japan. Between 1988 and 2002, 95 patients with a history of systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings were investigated. The stings originated from honeybees in 5 patients, yellow jackets in 28, wasps in 48, both yellow jackets and wasps in 9, and both yellow jackets and honeybees in 5. All patients had venom-specific IgE antibodies in sera (RAST score > or = 2) and received rush immunotherapy with venom extracts at our hospital. Forty-three patients had 63 field re-stings during immunotherapy. Of these patients, 41 (95.3%) with 59 field re-stings (93.7%) had no systemic reactions. Two patients (4.7%) with four field restings (6.3%) had anaphylactic shock. Although anaphylactic reactions developed in two patients (2.1%) during rush immunotherapy with honeybee venom and one patient (1.1%) during maintenance therapy wasp venom, systemic adverse reactions were mitigated by treatment with antihistamines before venom injection. Our results show that immunotherapy is safe and effective for the prevention of systemic reactions to Hymenoptera re-stings in patients with Hymenoptera allergy. We therefore recommend that patients who are allergic to Hymenoptera venom prophylactically receive immunotherapy.

Effects of CD80 and CD86 on cytokine production in patients with wasp-venom allergy who receive venom immunotherapy.

Several studies have provided evidence that activation of antigen-specific T cells requires interactions between CD28 on T cells and its ligands, CD80 and CD86, on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). However, the effects of CD80 and CD86 on cytokine production in patients with Hymenoptera venom allergy who receive venom immunotherapy remain unclear. We examined the effects of CD80 and CD86 on Th1- and Th2-cytokine production before and after venom immunotherapy in patients with wasp-venom allergy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with wasp-venom allergy before and after three months of venom immunotherapy. CD4+ T cells and monocytes were isolated as APCs from PBMCs and were cocultured with wasp venom in the presence of anti-CD80 or -CD86 blocking antibodies. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of CD80 and CD86 on CD14+ PBMCs was detected by fluorescence-activated cell-sorter analysis. The expression of CD86, but not that of CD80, on CD14+ PBMCs cocultured with venom increased after three months of venom immunotherapy, but not before venom immunotherapy. Blockade of CD86 reduced IL-10 production after three months of venom immunotherapy. IL-10 production promoted by CD86 costimulation may be involved in the mechanism of venom immunotherapy in patients with venom allergy.

Production of TARC and MDC by naive T cells in asthmatic patients.

The helper (Th)2 cell-attracting chemokines thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) are ligands for the chemokine receptor CCR4. A number of cellular sources of TARC and MDC have been identified, including not only macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells, but also bronchial epithelial cells. Recent studies report that TARC and MDC may serve as pivotal chemokines for the development of Th2-dominated experimental allergen-induced asthma. This study was designed to assess TARC and MDC production by CD4+ T cells, including naive T cells and memory/effector T cells, purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with asthma. Asthmatic subjects included in this study had mild asthmatic symptoms, positive skin test responses to house dust mite allergen, and elevated level of Dermatophagoides farinae immunoglobulin E in the sera. CD4+ T cells--CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells--as naive T cells and CD45RO+ CD4+ T cells--as memory/effector T cells--were purified by negative selection from peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from asthmatic patients (n = 6) and healthy controls (n = 6). These cells and established Th1/Th2 cell lines were then cultured in the presence of both anti-CD3 and -CD28 antibodies. After 48 hr of incubation, concentrations of TARC, MDC, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon-gamma in the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze mRNA expression of TARC and MDC. Our results clearly showed that TARC and MDC were produced by activated CD45RA+ CD4+ T cells rather than by activated CD45RO+ CD4+ T cells, and the levels of these chemokines in the asthmatic patients were higher than those in the healthy controls. Furthermore, these chemokines production by Th2 cell lines were greater than those by Th1 cell lines, but the level were smaller than those by naive T cells. Our studies suggest that TARC and MDC are produced by naive T cells rather than by memory/effector T cells, including Th2 cells, in asthmatic patients, and these chemokines were produced at modest levels in any T-cell populations from healthy controls. Taken together, naive T cells in asthma have a peculiar function to produce TRAC and MDC, which contribute to local migration of Th2 cells into lung and lymphoid tissues, along with a function as precursor for memory/effector T cell. This novel function of naive T cells may be implicated in the development of asthma.

Anti-interleukin-9 antibody treatment inhibits airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in mouse asthma model.

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies in both animals and patients with asthma have shown that interleukin (IL)-9 is an important inflammatory mediator in asthma. To examine the effects of IL-9 antagonism on airway inflammation, ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice were intravenously given anti-IL-9 antibody or an isotype-matched control antibody 30 minutes before challenge with aerosolized ovalbumin. Airway response to methacholine was measured, and samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were obtained 24 hours after the last antigen challenge. Lung tissue was harvested and examined histopathologically. After ovalbumin challenge, there were significant increases in airway hyperreactivity, the numbers of inflammatory cells in lung, and IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 production in BALF. Treatment with anti-IL-9 antibody significantly prevented airway hyperreactivity in response to methacholine inhalation. Blockade of IL-9 reduced the numbers of eosinophils (0.3 +/- 0.1 x 10(5) and 23.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(5)/ml, anti-IL-9 antibody/control immunoglobulin G) and lymphocytes (0.2 +/- 0.2 x 10(5) and 0.8 +/- 0.1 x 10(5)/ml) in BALF. Anti-IL-9 antibody treatment also reduced the concentrations of IL-4 (from 70.6 +/- 4.6 to 30.8 +/- 5.2 pg/ml), IL-5 (from 106.4 +/- 12 to 54.4 +/- 6.6 pg/ml), and IL-13 (from 44.2 +/- 7.6 to 30.1 +/- 5.5 pg/ml) in BALF. Macrophage-derived cytokine expression in the airways was also decreased by IL-9 blockade. Taken together, our findings emphasize the importance of IL-9 in the pathogenesis of asthma and suggest that blockade of IL-9 may be a new therapeutic strategy for bronchial asthma.