Low FOXA1 expression predicts good response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy resulting in good outcomes for luminal HER2-negative breast cancer cases.

BACKGROUND: FOXA1 expression is a good prognostic marker for endocrine therapy in hormone-positive breast cancer. We retrospectively examined breast cancer patients with luminal human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative tumours, as defined by immunohistochemistry, who received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and investigated the relationship between treatment effects and FOXA1 expression. METHODS: Biopsy specimens from 103 luminal HER2-negative tumours were immunohistochemically examined. FOXA1 effects on chemo-sensitivity were also investigated employing in vitro experiments. RESULTS: FOXA1 and Ki67 expressions independently predicted a pathological complete response (pCR). Knockdown of FOXA1 by siRNA boosted the chemo-effect in oestrogen receptor-positive cells. The Cox hazards model revealed a pCR to be the strongest factor predicting a good patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study showed low FOXA1 expression to be associated with a good response to NAC in luminal HER2-negative breast cancer. Improved outcomes of these patients suggest that NAC should be recommended to patients with low FOXA1 tumours.

Expression of umami-taste-related genes in the tongue: a pilot study for genetic taste diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Expression of taste-related genes in the tongue was analysed to develop a technique for genetic diagnosis of umami taste disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue samples were collected from healthy volunteers by scraping the foliate papillae of the tongue. Immunocytochemistry staining of gustducin, a taste-cell-specific G protein, and gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction of ß-actin, gustducin (GNAT3) and umami receptors (T1R1, T1R3 and mGluR1) were performed. Changes in umami receptor expression following application of umami substances onto the tongue were analysed. RESULTS: Gustducin-positive cells were observed in the samples, indicating the presence of taste cells. Gene expression of ß-actin, GNAT3, T1R1 and T1R3 was detected in all seven samples tested, while that of mGluR1 was detected in four samples. Sequence analysis by NCBI Blast showed that each polymerase chain reaction product had a 99% rate of identification of its target sequence. Stimulation of the tongue with monosodium glutamate significantly upregulated the gene expression levels of T1R1 and T1R3, indicating that this method can detect alterations in umami-related gene expression. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of the expression of the umami receptor genes, T1R1 and T1R3, in the tongue may be clinically useful for objective genetic diagnosis of umami taste disorders.

Whole-genome prediction of fatty acid composition in meat of Japanese Black cattle.

Because fatty acid composition influences the flavor and texture of meat, controlling it is particularly important for cattle breeds such as the Japanese Black, characterized by high meat quality. We evaluated the predictive ability of single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) in fatty acid composition of Japanese Black cattle by assessing the composition of seven fatty acids in 3088 cattle, of which 952 had genome-wide marker genotypes. All sires of the genotyped animals were genotyped, but their dams were not. Cross-validation was conducted for the 952 animals. The prediction accuracy was higher with ssGBLUP than with best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) for all traits, and in an empirical investigation, the gain in accuracy of using ssGBLUP over BLUP increased as the deviations in phenotypic values of the animals increased. In addition, the superior accuracy of ssGBLUP tended to be more evident in animals whose maternal grandsire was genotyped than in other animals, although the effect was small.

Contributions of FASN and SCD gene polymorphisms on fatty acid composition in muscle from Japanese Black cattle.

The fatty acid synthase (FASN) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (delta-9-desaturase) (SCD) genes affect fatty acid composition. This study evaluated the contributions of polymorphisms of these genes on fatty acid composition in muscle in two different populations: 1189 and 1058 Japanese Black cattle from the Miyagi and the Yamagata populations respectively. We sampled intramuscular fat from the longissimus thoracis muscle in the Miyagi population and from the trapezius muscle in the Yamagata population. The collective contributions of FASN and SCD polymorphisms to total additive genetic variance for oleic acid were 13.46% in the Miyagi population and 16.29% in the Yamagata population and to phenotypic variance were 5.45% and 6.54% respectively. Although the individual effects of FASN and SCD polymorphisms on fatty acid composition were small, overall gene substitution may effectively improve fatty acid composition. In addition, we found that gene polymorphism contributions of fatty acids varied by population even in the same breed.

Whole-genome association study for fatty acid composition of oleic acid in Japanese Black cattle.

Fatty acid composition, especially oleic acid (C18:1), plays an important role in the eating quality of meat in Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify loci associated with C18:1 in the intramuscular fat of the trapezius muscles in Japanese Black cattle using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip whole genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. We also evaluated the relationship between C18:1 and three fatty acid synthesis genes, fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl-CoA desaturase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1. In this experiment, we applied a mixed model and Genomic Control approach using selective genotyping to perform a genome-wide association study. A total of 160 animals (80 animals with higher values and 80 animals with lower values), selected from 3356 animals based on corrected phenotype, were genotyped using the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip and three fatty acid synthesis genes, and the quality of these SNPs was assessed. In this study, a total of 38 955 SNPs, which included SNPs in the three fatty acid synthesis genes, were used, and the estimated inflation factor was 1.06. In the studied population, a total of 32 SNPs, including the FASN gene, had significant effects, and in particular 30 SNPs of all significant SNPs were located between 49 and 55 Mbp on chromosome 19. This study is one of the first genome-wide association studies for fatty acid composition in a cattle population using the recently released Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip.

Aging transition of the bacterial community structure in the chick ceca.

The transition of the bacterial community structure and predominant bacteria in the ceca of chicks from hatching to 2 wk of age was investigated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis with the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, followed by phylogenetic analysis. The results demonstrated that most of the cecal bacterial flora from hatching to a few days old consisted of Escherichia coli (sequence similarity: 100%), and the floral diversity was still low 2 wk posthatch. These findings will help contribute to the development of a novel competitive exclusion product.

Theoretical study on the need for laser iridotomy in an implantable collamer lens with a hole using computational fluid dynamics.

PurposeAlthough one of the advantages of the Hole-ICL implantation is that laser iridotomy (LI) is unnecessary, the evidence have not been reported from the viewpoint of aqueous humor circulation. We investigated the effect of laser iridotomy (LI) on the fluid dynamics of aqueous humor in an implantable collamer lens (ICL) with a central hole, that is, a Hole-ICL using computational fluid dynamics.MethodsA fluid dynamics simulation was performed using the thermal-hydraulic analysis software FloEFD (Mentor Graphics Corp.). For the simulation, three-dimensional eye models with a conventional ICL (Model ICM, STAAR SURGICAL) and a Hole-ICL were used. The LI diameters were 250 and 500 µm. The flow distribution between the anterior surface of the crystalline lens and the posterior surface of the ICL was also calculated.ResultsThe flow velocity 0.25 mm in front of the center of the crystalline lens in the Hole-ICL without LI, with LI of 250 µm, and with LI of 500 µm was 1.48 × 10-1, 1.20 × 10-1, and 4.52 × 10-2 mm/s, respectively. The flow velocity in the conventional ICL without LI, with LI of 250 µm, and with LI of 500 µm was 1.21 × 10-5, 3.60 × 10-4, and 6.33 × 10-4 mm/s, respectively.ConclusionsThese results suggest that there is less need for LI in a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens with a central hole from the viewpoint of aqueous humor circulation, although the results can be considered only in an ideal condition and further studies are needed to clarify the effect of LI in clinical practice.

Inferring phenotypic causal structures among meat quality traits and the application of a structural equation model in Japanese Black cattle.

Meat quality is one of the most important traits determining carcass price in the Japanese beef market. Optimized breeding goals and management practices for the improvement of meat quality traits requires knowledge regarding any potential functional relationships between them. In this context, the objective of this research was to infer phenotypic causal networks involving beef marbling score (BMS), beef color score (BCL), firmness of beef (FIR), texture of beef (TEX), beef fat color score (BFS), and the ratio of MUFA to SFA (MUS) from 11,855 Japanese Black cattle. The inductive causation (IC) algorithm was implemented to search for causal links among these traits and was conditionally applied to their joint distribution on genetic effects. This information was obtained from the posterior distribution of the residual (co)variance matrix of a standard Bayesian multiple trait model (MTM). Apart from BFS, the IC algorithm implemented with 95% highest posterior density (HPD) intervals detected only undirected links among the traits. However, as a result of the application of 80% HPD intervals, more links were recovered and the undirected links were changed into directed ones, except between FIR and TEX. Therefore, 2 competing causal networks resulting from the IC algorithm, with either the arrow FIR → TEX or the arrow FIR ← TEX, were fitted using a structural equation model () to infer causal structure coefficients between the selected traits. Results indicated similar genetic and residual variances as well as genetic correlation estimates from both structural equation models. The genetic variances in BMS, FIR, and TEX from the structural equation models were smaller than those obtained from the MTM. In contrast, the variances in BCL, BFS, and MUS, which were not conditioned on any of the other traits in the causal structures, had no significant differences between the structural equation model and MTM. The structural coefficient for the path from MUS (BCL) to BMS showed that a 1-unit improvement in MUS (BCL) resulted in an increase of 0.85 or 1.45 (an decrease of 0.52 or 0.54) in BMS in the causal structures. The analysis revealed some interesting functional relationships, direct genetic effects, and the magnitude of the causal effects between these traits, for example, indicating that BMS would be affected by interventions on MUS and BCL. In addition, if interventions existed in this scenario, a breeding strategy based only on the MTM would lead to a mistaken selection for BMS.

Maternal Separation Induces Orofacial Mechanical Allodynia in Adulthood.

It is well known that exposure to maternal separation (MS) in early life causes plastic changes in the nervous system in adulthood, occasionally resulting in ubiquitous chronic pain. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of pain hypersensitivity remain unclear. Here, the authors examined the involvement of corticosterone in orofacial mechanical hypersensitivity induced by MS. To establish a rat model of MS, pups were placed in isolated cages 180 min/d and kept in a temperature-controlled environment at 22 ± 2 °C for 14 d. Mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad skin in adulthood was induced by MS and was significantly suppressed by successive postnatal subcutaneous administration of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone. Corticosterone levels were increased in the serum of MS rats, and successive postnatal administration of subcutaneous corticosterone to naive rats induced mechanical allodynia in the whisker pad skin. The number of P2X3 receptor-immunoreactive (P2X3R-IR) trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons innervating the whisker pad skin was significantly increased in MS rats and decreased following subcutaneous administration of mifepristone. The number of P2X3R-IR TG neurons innervating the whisker pad skin was also significantly increased following successive postnatal administration of subcutaneous corticosterone in naive rats. Moreover, the mechanical allodynia was suppressed 30 min after administration of the P2X3R antagonist A317491 to the whisker pad skin in MS rats. These findings suggest that the increase in P2X3R-IR TG neurons innervating the whisker pad skin via enhanced neonatal corticosterone signaling by MS plays an important role in orofacial mechanical allodynia in adulthood.

Gingerol, a novel cardiotonic agent, activates the Ca2+-pumping ATPase in skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Gingerol, isolated as a potent cardiotonic agent from the rhizome of ginger, stimulated the Ca2+-pumping activity of fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) prepared from rabbit skeletal and dog cardiac muscles. The extravesicular Ca2+ concentrations of the heavy fraction of the fragmented SR (HSR) were measured directly with a Ca2+ electrode to examine the effect of gingerol on the SR. Gingerol (3-30 microM) accelerated the Ca2+-pumping rate of skeletal and cardiac SR in a concentration-dependent manner. The rate of 45Ca2+ uptake of HSR was also increased markedly by 30 microM gingerol without affecting the 45Ca2+ efflux from HSR. Furthermore, gingerol activated Ca2+-ATPase activities of skeletal and cardiac SR (EC50, 4 microM). The activation of SR Ca2+-ATPase activity by gingerol (30 microM) was completely reversed by 100-fold dilution with the fresh saline solution. Kinetic analysis of activating effects of gingerol suggests that the activation of SR Ca2+-ATPase is uncompetitive and competitive with respect to Mg . ATP at concentrations of 0.2-0.5 mM and above 1 mM, respectively. Kinetic analysis also suggests that the activation by gingerol is mixed-type with respect to free Ca2+ and this enzyme is activated probably due to the acceleration of enzyme-substrate complex breakdown. Gingerol had no significant effect on sarcolemmal Ca2+-ATPase, myosin Ca2+-ATPase, actin-activated myosin ATPase and cAMP-phosphodiesterase activities, indicating that the effect of gingerol is rather specific to SR Ca2+-ATPase activity. Gingerol may provide a valuable chemical tool for studies aimed at clarifying the regulatory mechanisms of SR Ca2+-pumping systems and the causal relationship between the Ca2+-pumping activity of SR and muscle contractility.

Re-evaluation of refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation.

The category 'refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEBt)' consists of two sub-sets; one group is categorized based on the percentage of blasts in the marrow (> or =20%) and other is based on the percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood (> or =5%). We separated RAEBt patients based on these two criteria and compared hematologic and clinical relevance to assess the reasonable basis for the new classification. All RAEBt patients showing peripheral blood (PB) blasts of > or =5% were re-classified as RAEB by the WHO classification. This subset of RAEBt patients had lower percentages of bone marrow (BM) blasts, and notably they showed frequent complex cytogenetic abnormalities, including -5/5q- and/or -7/7q-. Moreover, the RAEBt patients of this group had shorter survivals compared to RAEBt patients with BM blasts between 20 and 30%. We next assessed hematologic and clinical relevance between refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) and RAEBt patients with PB blasts of > or =5%. Except for the percentage of blasts in the PB (P=0.0037) and BM (P=0.0073), there was no significant difference in hematologic or clinical features between RAEB patients with BM blasts of > or =11% and RAEBt patients with PB blasts of > or =5%. When MDS patients with PB blasts of > or =5% (RAEBt by the FAB classification) were included as RAEB-II based on the "MDS 2000 classification', there was a high frequency of patients with complex chromosome changes, involving 5q and 7q, with significant poorer outcome compared to those with RAEB-I. Although it is still controversial whether MDS patients with BM blasts 20% or more should be considered as acute leukemia, the utilization of the 'MDS 2000 classification' might be useful to designate MDS patients diagnosed based on the percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood.

Comparative multi-color flow cytometric analysis of cell surface antigens in bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors between refractory anemia and aplastic anemia.

Refractory anemia (RA) in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) without prominent dysplasia closely resemble the mild type of aplastic anemia (AA) in their hematological features. This sometimes makes it difficult to distinguish clearly between the two diseases. Using the multi-color flow cytometric technique, we compared cell surface antigen expression patterns on bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor cells which were isolated as a CD34 positive- CD45 dull positive with low side scatter intensity (CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low)) population in flow cytogram between RA (n=12) and AA (n=11). The antigens analyzed in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) mononuclear cells were: CD38 and CD71 for cell growth-related antigens, CD 33 and CD13 for myeloid and monocytoid lineage-associated antigens, CD7 and CD19 for lymphoid lineage, and CD14 for a monocytic lineage specific antigen. The percentages of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) cells in bone marrow non-erythroid mononuclear cells, and the expression frequencies of CD38, CD71, CD33 and CD13 antigens in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) progenitors were all significantly decreased in AA compared to normal bone marrows (n=7) (P<0.005). In contrast, in RA bone marrows the percentages of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) cells showed wide distribution and the cell surface antigen expression patterns varied among each case: some cases showed low frequencies of CD38 and CD71 expression as well as AA, whereas the others showed high expression frequency of specific antigen(s) which may reflect the clonal expansion of an abnormal clone in bone marrow. An MDS patient who had progressed from RA to RAEB showed further projecting pattern of expression of CD38 and CD33 in CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) population in accordance with the disease progression. These data suggest that analysis of cell surface antigen expression patterns of CD34(+)CD45(dull+)SSC(low) progenitor cells by multi-color flow cytometry appears to be a useful method for qualitative and quantitative assessment of marrow progenitor states in AA and RA, therefore this method could be helpful for early detection of clonal evolution in MDS.

Pre-emptive therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease guided by CMV antigenemia assay after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a single-center experience in Japan.

From April 1998 to March 2000, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia-guided pre-emptive approach for CMV disease was evaluated in 77 adult patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the National Cancer Center Hospital. A CMV antigenemia assay was performed at least once a week after engraftment. High-level antigenemia was defined as a positive result with 10 or more positive cells per 50 000 cells and low-level antigenemia was defined as less than 10 positive cells. Among the 74 patients with initial engraftment, 51 developed positive antigenemia. Transplantation from alternative donors and the development of grade II-IV GVHD were independent risk factors for positive antigenemia. Ganciclovir was administered as pre-emptive therapy in 39 patients in a risk-adapted manner. None of the nine low-risk patients with low-level antigenemia as their initial positive result developed high-level antigenemia even though ganciclovir was withheld. Only one patient developed early CMV disease (hepatitis) during the study period. CMV antigenemia resolved in all but two cases, in whom ganciclovir was replaced with foscarnet. In eight patients, however, the neutrophil count decreased to 0.5 x 10(9)/l or less after starting ganciclovir, including three with documented infections and two with subsequent secondary graft failure. The total amount of ganciclovir and possibly the duration of high-dose ganciclovir might affect the incidence of neutropenia. We concluded that antigenemia-guided pre-emptive therapy with a decreased dose of ganciclovir and response-oriented dose adjustment might be appropriate to decrease the toxicity of ganciclovir without increasing the risk of CMV disease.

Bilateral reflex vasodilation in the palatal mucosa evoked by unilateral tooth-pulp stimulation in the cat.

In a previous study in cats, we found that electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp caused blood flow increases at various sites in the ipsilateral oral mucosa (upper and lower gingivae, lower lip, buccal mucosa and tongue, and, notably, bilaterally in the palatal mucosa). Tooth-pulp stimulation is well-known to induce severe pain and to evoke autonomic reflex responses in other organs and tissues. The purpose of this study was: to confirm that tooth-pulp stimulation may indeed induce autonomically mediated vasodilator responses in the feline oral mucosa away from the stimulated tooth, and to test our hypothesis that the reflex pathway involves parasympathetic vasodilator fibers as efferents. Dynamic changes in palatal mucosal blood flow (PMBF), with lower lip blood flow (LBF) as a control, were investigated in anesthetized, cervically sympathectomized cats by means of Laser Doppler Flowmetry. Unilateral electrical stimulation of the maxillary canine tooth pulp produced hexamethonium-sensitive bilateral increases in PMBF in a stimulus-intensity-dependent manner, without an increase in systemic blood pressure; LBF increased only ipsilaterally. Bilateral section of the glossopharyngeal nerve roots had no effect on the vasodilator responses, while unilateral section of the facial nerve root or lesion of the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG) abolished the response on that side. Intracranial electrical stimulation of the peripheral cut ends of the facial or glossopharyngeal nerve roots caused an increase in ipsilateral PMBF. These results indicate that unilateral tooth-pulp stimulation induces a bilateral reflex vasodilator response in the palatal mucosa mediated via parasympathetic vasodilator fibers that emerge from the brain stem with the facial nerve and reach the blood vessels via PPG. Although there is a dual innervation of the cat palatal mucosa by parasympathetic vasodilator fibers running via the facial and glossopharyngeal nerve roots, the latter are not involved in the bilateral reflex responses.

Axon reflex vasodilatation in cat dental pulp elicited by noxious stimulation of the gingiva.

Antidromic stimulation of sensory nerves has been shown to increase blood flow in the tissue they innervate. This study was designed to determine if antidromic vasomotor responses occur in feline dental pulp and if they are mediated by branched axons supplying both tooth pulp and gingiva. Dynamic changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF) elicited by electrical stimulation, pinching, heating, and capsaicin application to the gingivae were investigated in cat mandibular canine teeth by means of Laser Doppler Velocimetry. All inferior alveolar nerve bundles and the cervical sympathetic trunk had been previously sectioned to avoid the occurrence of brainstem reflexes, e.g., somato-autonomic vasomotor reflexes. Increases in PBF were observed in seven out of 12 cats when a restricted gingival area adjacent to the canine teeth was stimulated as described, but the increases were abolished after the sensitive gingival area was painted with lidocaine jelly, a surface anesthetic. These vasodilator responses, remarkably reduced following repeated application of 30 mM of capsaicin, are considered to be induced via antidromic activation of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptive nerve fibers, presumably by axon reflex mechanisms, suggesting that nerve terminals supplying the gingiva originate from parent axons which have collaterals that innervate the canine tooth pulp.

Absence of parasympathetic vasodilatation in cat dental pulp.

The existence and nature of parasympathetic nerve fibers in the dental pulp have long been a subject for discussion; indeed, vasodilator responses mediated by such nerve fibers have yet to be conclusively demonstrated in the dental pulp. This study was designed to determine whether parasympathetic vasodilator mechanisms do or do not exist in the cat dental pulp. Dynamic changes in pulpal blood flow (PBF), with mandibular lip blood flow (LBF) recorded as a control, were investigated in cat mandibular canine teeth by means of laser Doppler velocimetry. Peripheral trigeminal afferents (see below) were stimulated electrically to confirm that somato-parasympathetic reflex vasodilatation could be induced. The peripheral cut ends of the facial and glossopharyngeal nerve roots, which have been reported to contain parasympathetic nerve fibers to the oral tissues, were then stimulated intracranially. Electrical stimulation of trigeminal afferents (in the infraorbital nerve or the maxillary buccal gingiva) caused no change in PBF but did increase ipsilateral LBF. Neither facial nor glossopharyngeal nerve root stimulation caused a PBF increase, though both elicited increases in ipsilateral LBF. The vasodilator responses in the lip were sensitive to ganglion blockade (with hexamethonium), indicating vasodilatation via activation of parasympathetic vasodilator fibers. In contrast, intracranial stimulation of the trigeminal nerve root induced increases in both PBF and LBF which were reduced by pre-treatment with tripelennamine, indicating antidromic vasodilatation via the trigeminal sensory nerve. These results suggest that a parasympathetic vasodilator mechanism is not present in feline dental pulp.

Triterpenoid glycosides from Anagallis arvensis.

From the herb of Anagallis arvensis, we have isolated four novel oleanane glycosides, anagallosaponins VI-IX, and two artifact saponins, apoanagallosaponins III and IV, formed from anagallosaponins III and IV. The structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral methods, 2D NMR techniques being particularly helpful. The structures of anagallosaponins VI and VII were characterized as priverogenin B 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside and 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)]beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside), respectively. The structures of anagallosaponins VIII and IX were characterized as 23-hydroxypriverogenin B 22-acetate 3-O-(beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside), 3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)]beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)]- alpha-L-arabinopyranoside), respectively. The structures of apoanagallosaponins III and IV were characterized as camelliagenin A 16-acetate 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-arabnopyranoside, 3-O-(beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)[beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside), respectively.

Baccharane glycosides from seeds of Impatiens balsamina.

From the seeds of Impatiens balsamina have been isolated four rare baccharane glycosides, hosenkosides L-O. The structures of all isolates were secured by the use of 2D NMR techniques (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, ROESY) and chemical derivatization. Hosenkosides L and M are hosenkol A 3-O-sambubiosyl-28-O-glucoside and 3-O-sambubiosyl-26-O-glucosyl-28-O-glucoside, respectively. Hosenkoside N is hosenkol C 3-O-glucosyl-28-O-glucoside. Hosenkoside O is hosenkol D 3-O-sophorosyl-28-O-glucoside.

Clinical evaluation of a 5.5 mm three-zone refractive multifocal intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of implanting the P359-TUV 5.5 mm three-zone refractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: The lens was implanted in 29 eyes of 19 patients who were followed for a mean of 13.5 months. Distance visual acuity (DVA), near visual acuity (NVA), and contrast sensitivity were measured postoperatively. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of eyes obtained 20/20 or better DVA with correction and J1 or better NVA with correction. Seventy-nine percent obtained J1 or better NVA with distance correction and 93% obtained J3 or better. Postoperative astigmatism was easier to control than with the former large model multifocal IOL. In almost all cases, good DVA and NVA could be obtained without correction and the cases that did not need spectacle correction increased. In unilaterally implanted cases, contrast sensitivity was slightly less in eyes with multifocal IOLs than in eyes with monofocal IOLs. In bilaterally implanted cases, there was no significant difference in contrast sensitivity between the multifocal and monofocal eyes. CONCLUSION: The small model P359-TUV lens is an effective multifocal lens, especially when implanted bilaterally.

Use of real-time PCR to monitor human herpesvirus 6 reactivation after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is common following allogeneic marrow transplantation, however, little is known about the immune control and pathogenic potential of HHV-6 infection after transplantation. In order to determine whether reactivation of HHV-6 plays an important role in the development of complications in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation or not, we developed a very rapid quantification of viral DNA using a LightCycler. The amount of viral DNA was determined using a supernatant of a chronically infected cell line [TaY(OK)] which contains a known amount of viral DNA. Peripheral blood cells were collected from 5 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation once before transplant and once per week after transplant for 8-24 weeks. The real-time PCR system revealed that there was a linear correlation in the range of 101 to 105 molecules of reference. Using this system, we have found the presence of non-diagnosed HHV-6 reactivation as well as symptomatic infection, indicating the potential for routine implementation of this technology for laboratory diagnosis of HHV-6 infection. Our study shows that this method of rapid quantification of HHV-6 genomes by the real-time PCR using a LightCycler may be useful not only to understand the reconstitution of the immune system following marrow transplantation but also to manage the care of patients.