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Study Design Retrospective cohort studyObjectives This study aimed to investigate whether early surgery shortens the duration of opioid use in patients who underwent surgery with lumbar disc herniation.Methods We extracted patients who underwent surgery at least 2 weeks after they were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation between April 2014 and May 2021. Opioid use after surgery was compared between patients who underwent surgery within 90 days (early surgery group) and 90 days or later (late surgery group). Propensity-score-matching analysis and multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis with a restricted cubic spline model were conducted to evaluate the association between the timing of surgery and termination of opioid use after surgery.Results A total of 1597 eligible patients were identified, with 807 (51%) in the early surgery group. In the propensity-score-matched cohort, the early surgery group had a significantly lower proportion of opioid use than the control group (28% vs 48%, percent difference −20%, P< .001). Multivariable Cox hazard regression analysis showed that early surgery was significantly associated with the earlier termination of opioid use (HR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.97-4.97; P< .001). Restricted cubic spline model showed a monotonically decreased hazard ratio and decreased hazard ratio of .50 in patients who underwent surgery 111 days or later after the diagnosis.Conclusions Early surgery, especially within 90 days, was associated with earlier opioid use termination after surgery. Regarding the duration of opioid use following surgery, surgical treatment may be preferable to perform within around 4 months after the diagnosis.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study.Objectives This study aimed to examine whether the use of intravenous TXA in elective spine surgery is associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion.Methods We extracted all patients who underwent decompression with or without fusion surgery for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine between April 2012 and March 2019. The primary outcome was the occurrence of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion, defined as at least 560 mL of blood transfusion within 2 days of spine surgery or the requirement of additional blood transfusion from 3-7 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of thrombotic complications (pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke) and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery.Results We identified 83,821 eligible patients, with 9747 (12%) patients in the TXA group. Overall, massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion occurred in 781 (.9%) patients. Propensity score matching yielded 8394 pairs. In the matched cohort, the TXA group had a lower proportion of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion than the control group (.7% vs 1.1%; P= .002). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of thrombotic complications and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery between both groups. The multivariable regression analysis also showed that the use of TXA was associated with significantly lower proportions of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion (odds ratio, .62; 95% confidence interval, .43-.90; P= .012).Conclusions In this analysis using real-world data, TXA use in elective spinal surgery was associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion without increasing thrombotic complications.Level of evidence Prognostic Level Ⅲ

Study Design: Case series study.Objective: We aimed to clarify the prevalence of rotator cuff tear (RCT), and the association between RCT and the severity and prognosis in patients with proximal type cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA).Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 35 proximal type CSA patients who were treated conservatively. The following data was collected: age, rotator cuff status on MRI, manual muscle test (MMT) score of shoulder abductor and biceps brachii muscles both at the first visit and final follow-up. We investigated the prevalence of RCT and the association between the rotator cuff status, and the severity and recovery of upper extremity weakness in patients with proximal type CSA.Results: Of the 35 patients, 21 had an RCT on MRI, indicating that the prevalence of RCT in patients with proximal type CSA was 60%. An age-adjusted analysis showed that the presence of RCT was significantly associated with the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles both at the first visit and at the final follow-up. The presence of RCT was significantly associated with the recovery of the shoulder abductor muscles. The size of the RCT was negatively correlated with the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles at the final follow-up. The size of the RCT was independently correlated with the change of the MMT score of the shoulder abductor muscles.Conclusion: RCT was detected in >50% in patients with proximal type CSA, and the presence and severity of RCT can be used as prognostic factors for proximal type CSA patients who are treated conservatively.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus. Favipiravir is an orally administrable antiviral drug whose mechanism of action is to selectively inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. A preliminary trial in COVID-19 patients reported significant improvements across a multitude of clinical parameters, but these findings have not been confirmed in an adequate well-controlled trial. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial assessing the efficacy and safety of favipiravir in patients with moderate pneumonia not requiring oxygen therapy. Methods: COVID-19 patients with moderate pneumonia (SpO2≥ 94%) within 10 days of onset of fever (temperature ≥ 37.5 °C) were assigned to receive either placebo or favipiravir (1800 mg twice a day on Day 1, followed by 800 mg twice a day for up to 13 days) in a ratio of 1:2. An adaptive design was used to re-estimate the sample size. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome defined as the time to improvement in temperature, oxygen saturation levels (SpO2), and findings on chest imaging, and recovery to SARS-CoV-2-negative. This endpoint was re-examined by the Central Committee under blinded conditions. Results: A total of 156 patients were randomized. The median time of the primary endpoint was 11.9 days in the favipiravir group and 14.7 days in the placebo group, with a significant difference (p= 0.0136). Favipiravir-treated patients with known risk factors such as obesity or coexisting conditions provided better effects. Furthermore, patients with early-onset in the favipiravir group showed higher odds ratio. No deaths were documented. Although adverse events in the favipiravir group were predominantly transient, the incidence was significantly higher. Conclusions: The results suggested favipiravir may be one of options for moderate COVID-19 pneumonia treatment. However, the risk of adverse events, including hyperuricemia, should be carefully considered. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.jp number: JapicCTI-205238.

•The case involved a male victim in his 80s who appeared to have been hit by a car.•A 3D model of the bones arranged in several postures created from PMCT data was fitted to a car of the same model as the suspect vehicle using augmented reality.•Augmented reality visualization using PMCT-based antemortem posture reconstruction may facilitate detailed simulation of the injury mechanism and reconstruction of the scene.

A 45-year-old woman who had undergone surgical repair for an atrial septal defect at the age of 7 years presented with multiple anterior mediastinal masses. Positron-emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) revealed high uptake in the masses. The findings were interpreted as mediastinal malignant tumors with dissemination. Biopsy was performed, and the histological diagnosis was phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease without neoplastic changes. Although phosphoglyceride crystal deposition disease is rare, it should be recognized as a potential interpretive pitfall that mimics a malignant tumor in FDG-PET findings in a patient after cardiac surgery.

•We examined the usefulness of organ-selective volume rendering for detection of liver or heart injury found at autopsy.•Liver and heart injury was detectable in a small proportion of cases using 2DCT imaging or selective volume-rendered imaging.•Organ-selective volume rendering is applicable for estimating the direction of puncture wounds.

To evaluate imaging findings and complications from transcatheter interventional treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via the inferior phrenic arteries.

Whole-body–enhanced computed tomography of a septuagenarian woman hit by a truck revealed a traumatic aortic dissection (Stanford B) and arterial bleeding from the right lumbar artery in the right iliopsoas muscle. Angiography revealed an active arterial extravasation from a false lumen of the left lumbar artery. We performed a transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the right lumbar artery. After fenestration of the intimal flap, the left lumbar artery was successfully selected and embolized; the patient's clinical condition subsequently stabilized. This is the first report of successful treatment of a lumbar artery injury with a traumatic aortic dissection by a TAE.

A thin layer of a polymer containing densely populated redox-active nitroxide radicals, photocrosslinked poly[2,3-bis(2′,2′,6′,6′-tetramethylpiperidin-1′-oxyl-4′-oxycarbonyl)-5-norbornene] (PTNB), was employed to demonstrate an electrochemical transistor-like behavior in the form of a polymer-sandwiched nanogap device. A significant and sensitive change in the current in response to the applied electrode potential was produced, owing to the fast formation of the steep redox gradient of the electroactive species through the polymer layer. A current response to an alternating voltage obtained from the polymer-sandwiched nanogap device exhibited the electrochemical amplification effect based on the facile redox conduction.A thin layer of a polymer containing densely populated radicals, photocrosslinked poly[2,3-bis(2′,2′,6′,6′-tetramethylpiperidin-1′-oxyl-4′-oxycarbonyl)-5-norbornene] (PTNB), was employed to demonstrate the electrochemical amplification in the form of a polymer-sandwiched nanogap device. A sensitive current response to the applied electrode potential was produced, owing to the fast formation of the steep redox gradient of the electroactive species through the polymer layer.

A 68-year-old woman being treated with hemodialysis for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease was admitted for progressive dyspnea over 6 months. On chest radiography, her cardiothoracic ratio had increased from 52.2% 6 months prior, to 71%, and echocardiography revealed diffuse pericardial effusion and right ventricular diastolic insufficiency. A resultant pericardial tamponade was thought to be the cause of the patient’s dyspnea, and therefore a pericardiocentesis was performed, with a total of 2,000mL of fluid removed. However, 21 days later the same amount of pericardial fluid had reaccumulated. The second pericardiocentesis was performed, followed by transcatheter renal artery embolization (TAE). The kidneys, which were hard on palpation before TAE, softened immediately after TAE. After resolution of the pericardial effusion was confirmed, the patient was discharged after 24 days in hospital. Twelve months later, the patient was asymptomatic, the cardiothoracic ratio decreased to 48% on chest radiography and computed tomography revealed no reaccumulation of pericardial effusion. This case illustrates a potential relationship between enlarged kidneys in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and pericardial effusion.

Sphingobium lignivoransSYK-6 can assimilate various lignin-derived aromatic compounds, including a β-5-type (phenylcoumaran-type) dimer, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (DCA). SYK-6 converts DCA to a stilbene-type intermediate via multiple reaction steps and then to vanillin and 5-formylferulic acid (FFA). Here, we first elucidated the catabolic pathway of FFA, which is the only unknown pathway in DCA catabolism. Then, we identified and characterized the enzyme-encoding genes responsible for this pathway. Analysis of the metabolites revealed that FFA was converted to 5-carboxyferulic acid (CFA) through oxidation of the formyl group, followed by conversion to ferulic acid by decarboxylation. A comprehensive analysis of the aldehyde dehydrogenase genes in SYK-6 indicated that NAD+-dependent FerD (SLG_12800) is crucial for the conversion of FFA to CFA. LigW and LigW2, which are 5-carboxyvanillic acid decarboxylases involved in the catabolism of a 5,5-type dimer, were found to be involved in the conversion of CFA to ferulic acid, and LigW2 played a significant role. The ligW2gene forms an operon with ferD, and their transcription was induced during growth in DCA.

A 33-year-old male was referred to our institute with acute heart failure. The patient was found to have a unicuspid aortic valve (UAV) and severe aortic stenosis. He had been followed at a local university hospital during childhood. However, he stopped visiting the outpatient clinic after becoming an adult. His condition subsequently worsened, and he ultimately presented to our hospital with cardiogenic shock. In Japan, some adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients continue to be followed by pediatric cardiologists, though the patterns of practice are variable. This report describes the case of a patient who became lost to follow-up in early adulthood. We thus focus on this ACHD case as an example of the effects of inadequate communication among doctors and the need to establish better ACHD management protocols for treating this patient population.

En estudios previos se ha descrito que la intervención coronaria aplicada a lesiones complejas presenta una correlación independiente con las hemorragias mayores. La puntuación SYNTAX es un instrumento angiográfico utilizado para evaluar el grado de complejidad de las enfermedades arteriales coronarias. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la capacidad de la puntuación SYNTAX para predecir hemorragias mayores tras el implante de stentsliberadores de fármacos.

A couple of totally reversible redox-active molecules, which are different in redox potentials, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and viologen (V2+), were employed to give rise to a rectified redox conduction effect. Single-layer and bilayer devices were fabricated using polymers containing these sites as pendant groups per repeating unit. The devices were obtained by sandwiching the redox polymer layer(s) with indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass and Pt foil electrodes. Electrochemical measurements of the single-layer device composed of polynorbornene-bearing TEMPO (PTNB) exhibited a diffusion-limited current–voltage response based on the TEMPO+/TEMPO exchange reaction, which was almost equivalent to a redox gradient through the PTNB layer depending upon the thickness. The bilayer device gave rise to the current rectification because of the thermodynamically favored cross-reaction between TEMPO+and V+at the polymer/polymer interface. A current–voltage response obtained for the bilayer device demonstrated a two-step diffusion-limited current behavior as a result of the concurrent V2+/V+and V+/V0exchange reactions according to the voltage and suggested that the charge transport process through the device was most likely to be rate-determined by a redox gradient in the polymer layer. Current collection experiments revealed a charge transport balance throughout the device, as a result of the electrochemical stability and robustness of the polymers in both redox states.

•Spinal Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/pPNET) is a rare.•A total of 40 case reports of ES/pPNET of the cervical spine were analyzed.•Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery was associated with longer survival.

To determine the effect of ovarian arteries on the use of prophylactic abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (PABO) in patients with coexisting placenta accreta and placenta previa.

Cognitive agents must be able to decide their actions based on their recognised states. In general, learning mechanisms are equipped for such agents in order to realise intelligent behaviours. In this paper, we propose a new estimation of distribution algorithms (EDAs) which can acquire effective rules for cognitive agents. Basic calculation procedure of the EDAs is that: 1) select better individuals; 2) estimate probabilistic models; 3) sample new individuals. In the proposed method, instead of the use of individuals, input-output records in episodes are directory used for estimating the probabilistic model by conditional random fields. Therefore, estimated probabilistic model can be regarded as policy so that new input-output records are generated by the interaction between the policy and environments. Computer simulations of probabilistic transition problems show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Peanut skin (PS) is characterized by almost exclusively consisting of polyphenols and fiber. We fractionated PS into a water-soluble fraction (WSF) and water-insoluble fraction (WIF), and further fractionated WSF into a soluble dietary fiber fraction (DF) and dietary fiber-free, water-soluble fraction (DFF-WSF). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on high-cholesterol diets supplemented with PS and its fractions. PS, WSF, and DFF-WSF decreased the serum lipid and cholesterol levels and increased those in feces. This effect was probably due to the polyphenols that inhibited intestinal cholesterol absorption.

An α-amylase secreted by Pichia burtonii15-1 isolated from a traditional starter murcha of Nepal, named Pichia burtoniiα-amylase (PBA), was studied. The gene was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. PBA was deduced to consist of 494 amino acid residues. It shared certain degrees of amino acid sequence identity with other homologous proteins: 60% with Schwanniomyces occidentalisα-amylase, 58% with Saccharomycopsissp. α-amylase, and 47% with Taka-amylase A from Aspergillus oryzae. A three-dimensional structural model of PBA generated using the known three-dimensional structure of Taka-amylase A as a template suggested high structural similarity between them. Kinetic analysis revealed that the Kmvalues of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharides. Although the kcatvalues of PBA were lower than those of Taka-amylase A for the oligosaccharide substrates, the kcat/Kmvalues of PBA were higher.

Among more than 20 yeast strains isolated from the traditional starter “murcha” in Nepal, we characterized a yeast that might be involved in saccharification. This strain, identified as Pichia burtonii, produced an extracellular amylolytic enzyme when cultured in the presence of starch in the medium. Since no amylase secreted by P. burtoniihas yet been reported, we purified the enzyme and determined its N-terminal amino acid sequence. Together with the results of a hydrolyzing activity assay toward various substrates, it was found to be an α-amylase. The purified enzyme, named Pichia burtoniiα-amylase (PBA), was a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular mass of 51 kDa. Enzyme activity was optimal at pH 5.0 at 40 °C. The enzyme retained 80% of its original activity after incubation under the optimal pH condition at 50 °C for 30 min. The activity was inhibited by metal ions such as Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Al3+, and Zn2+.

AbstractNests of Red Wattlebirds (Anthochaera carunculata) and Noisy Friarbirds (Philemon corniculatus)were watched during four breeding seasons near Armidale, New South Wales (NSW). Friarbirds have larger clutches than Wattlebirds (mode of three v.two) and a shorter breeding season. Two hypotheses (food and nest predation) could explain these differences in life history between the species. We predict that if the food hypothesis is correct Friarbirds would experience a greater seasonal range in food abundance, and hence more abundant food during the breeding season. We also predict that Friarbirds should spend longer incubating, brooding and guarding chicks, because they need to spend less time feeding. If the nest predation hypothesis is correct, Wattlebirds would suffer higher nest predation, and so should spend more time incubating, brooding and guarding their nests, and should visit the nest more synchronously and attack more nest predators. Synchronous visits to the nest reduce the likelihood that predators will be attracted to the nest. We found that Friarbirds spent a greater percentage of time incubating and brooding in the first week after nestlings hatched, and had longer incubation and brooding bouts than Wattlebirds. Wattlebirds left their nests unattended for a greater percentage of the time during incubation, but there was no difference during the nestling stage. There were no differences in the number of incubation bouts per hour, nor in the number of brooding bouts per hour between species. Friarbirds more often visited the nest synchronously during the nestling stage. There was no difference in nest success between the species, with most failures resulting from predation. These results support more of the predictions of the food hypothesis than the nest predation hypothesis. Friarbirds feed themselves and their young on large insects, such as cicadas and scarab beetles, which are abundant for only a short period in the study area, when Friarbird young are dependent. Wattlebirds feed their young on a wide range of insects, including many small ones, which are available over a longer period. The range of clutch-sizes and breeding seasons shown by honeyeaters generally, and friarbirds specifically, provide the opportunity for further testing of these and other hypotheses.

A laser flash photolysis–laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique has been employed to study the relaxation kinetics of vibrationally excited O2(X 3Σ−g). The time-resolved LIF excited B 3Σ−u–X 3Σ−gsystem has been recorded and analyzed by the integrated-profiles method. The rate coefficient for vibrational relaxation of O2(X 3Σ−g, ν= 8) by collisions with CF4, [1.4 ± 0.3(2σ)] × 10−11cm3molecule−1s−1, indicates that CF4is an efficient relaxant of O2(X 3Σ−g) and that the propensity rule for O2relaxation suggested by Mack et al. (J. A. Mack, K. Mikulecky and A. M. Wodtke, J. Chem. Phys., 1996, 105, 4105) has been observed experimentally.

Legionnaires' disease is clinically manifested as severe pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila. However, the dendritic cell (DC)-centered immunological framework of the host defense against L. pneumophila has not been fully delineated. For this study, we focused on a potent chemoattractant for lymphocytes, fractalkine/CX3CL1, and observed that the fractalkine expression of DCs was somewhat up-regulated when they encountered L. pneumophila. We therefore hypothesized that fractalkine expressed by Legionella-capturing DCs is involved in the induction of T-cell-mediated immune responses against Legionella, which would be enhanced by a genetic modulation of DCs to overexpress fractalkine. In vivo immunization-challenge experiments demonstrated that DCs modified with a recombinant adenovirus vector to overexpress fractalkine (AdFKN) and pulsed with heat-killed Legionella protected immunized mice from a lethal Legionella infection and that the generation of in vivo protective immunity depended on the host lymphocyte subsets, including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells. Consistent with this, immunization with AdFKN/Legionella/DC induced significantly higher levels of serum anti-Legionella antibodies of several isotypes than those induced by control immunizations. Further analysis of spleen cells from the immunized mice indicated that the AdFKN/Legionella/DC immunization elicited Th1-dominated immune responses to L. pneumophila. These observations suggest that fractalkine may play an important role in the DC-mediated host defense against intracellular pathogens such as L. pneumophila.

Peroxiredoxin (Prx) constitutes a large family of enzymes found in microorganisms, animals, and plants, but the detection of the activities of Prx-linked hydroperoxide reductases (peroxiredoxin reductases) in cell extracts, and the purification based on peroxide reductase activity, have only been done in bacteria and Trypanosomatidae. A peroxiredoxin reductase (NADH oxidase) from a bacterium, Amphibacillus, displayed only poor activities in the presence of purified Prx from Saccharomycesor Synechocystis, while it is highly active in the presence of bacterial Prx. These results suggested that an enzyme system different from that in bacteria might exist for the reduction of Prx in yeast and cyanobacteria.Prx-linked hydroperoxide reductase activities were detected in cell extracts of Saccharomyces, Synechocystis, and Chlorella, and the enzyme activities of Saccharomycesand Chlorellawere induced under vigorously aerated culture conditions and intensive light exposure conditions, respectively. Partial purification of Prx-linked peroxidase from the induced yeast cells indicated that the Prx-linked peroxidase system consists of two protein components, namely, thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase. This finding is consistent with the previous report on its purification based on its protein protection activity against oxidation [Chae et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269, 27670–27678 (1994)]. In this study we have confirmed that Prx-linked peroxidase activity are widely distributed, not only in bacteria species and Trypanosomatidae, but also in yeast and photosynthetic microorganisms, and showed reconstitution of the activity from partially purified interspecies components.

A Bacillus vietnamensismetalloprotease (BVMP) with high affinity toward collagen was isolated and purified from the culture supernatant of Bacillus vietnamensis11-4 occurring in Vietnamese fish sauces. The BVMP gene was cloned and its nucleotide and coded amino acid sequences determined. BVMP consists of 547 amino acid residues, with the zinc-binding sites conserved in common metalloproteases. It shares 57% amino acid identity with thermolysin originating from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus. The three-dimensional structure of BVMP was deduced by computer-aided modeling with the use of the known three-dimensional thermolysin structure as a template. Like thermolysin, BVMP cleaved the oxidized insulin B-chain at the peptide bonds involving the N-terminal sides of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids. BVMP also showed high hydrolytic activity toward gelatin, collagen, casein, and elastin, especially toward the skeletal proteins at increased NaCl concentration. The high activity was found to be due to enhanced affinity to the substrates. Kinetical data on BVMP indicated that the Km values for the hydrolysis of Cbz-GPGGPA as a collagen model decreased as the concentration of added NaCl increased. Some contribution of this enzyme during the aging of fish sauces at high salt concentrations can thus be expected.

Nascent vibrational distributions of NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2‘ ‘ = 0−4) generated in the 193 nm photolysis of NH3 at 298 ± 1 K have been determined by simple kinetic analysis. The vibrational levels of NH2(&Xtilde;²B1) were detected by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) excited via the òA1−&Xtilde;²B1 system, and time-resolved concentration profiles were recorded. Rate constants for intramode relaxation of ν2 vibration (v2‘ ‘ → v2‘ ‘−1) by collisions of He have been determined to be (4.2 ± 1.0) × 10^-14, (7.5 ± 0.5) × 10^-14, (1.6 ± 0.1) × 10^-13, (3.0 ± 0.1) × 10^-13 in units of cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 for v2‘ ‘ = 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The quoted errors are 2σ. Rate constants for intermode coupling between v1‘ ‘ = 1 and v2‘ ‘ = 2 by He have also been determined to be (4.7 ± 1.6) × 10^-12 (v1‘ ‘ =1 → v2‘ ‘ = 2) and (1.3 ± 0.4) × 10^-12 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 (v1‘ ‘ =1 ← v2‘ ‘ = 2). Relative detectivities of the levels v2‘ ‘ = 1−4 were obtained by the kinetic analysis, and vibrational distributions immediately after the photolysis have been given to be 2.2 ± 0.7/1.0/ &lt; 1.3/0.66 ± 0.3/ &lt; 3.0 for v2‘ ‘ = 0/1/2/3/4 (normalized by the population of v2‘ ‘ = 1). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first quantitative report on the initial vibrational populations of NH2 generated in the photolysis at 193 nm.

The rate constants for reactions NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2 = 0 and 1) + NO have been determined at 298 ± 1 K using the pulsed UV photolysis/pulsed laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. NH3 was photolyzed with an ArF excimer laser (193 nm), and NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2 = 0 and 1) were detected by LIF in the òA1−&Xtilde;²B1 system. It has been found that CF4 is efficient at vibrational relaxation of NH2, and the rate constant for deactivation of NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2 = 1) by CF4 has been determined to be [3.2 ± 0.5(2σ)] × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1. Fast vibrational relaxation of NH2 by CF4 prior to the reaction with NO permits us to obtain an accurate rate constant for NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2 = 0) + NO. The rate constant measured in N2 buffer gas at 1 Torr is [2.05 ± 0.1(2σ)] × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1. The sources of discrepancy in previously reported room-temperature rate constants have been discussed on the basis of a survey of the experimental conditions and the methods of analysis. The overall rate constant for NH2(&Xtilde;²B1, v2 = 1) + NO has been also obtained (without CF4) to be [2.6 ± 0.4(2σ)] × 10^-11 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1.

He(2³S) Penning ionization of HCl and HBr leading to HCl⁺(A) and HBr⁺(A) has been studied optically by using a crossed-beam apparatus. The ratios of the vibrational population, Pv‘/P0 (v‘ = 2 and 3) of HCl⁺(A) and P1/P0 of HBr⁺(A), increase with the collision energy in the region of 120−200 meV. The rotational distributions of HCl⁺(A, v‘= 0) and HBr⁺(A, v‘= 0) can be represented by a double-Boltzmann distribution; the temperatures are 200 ± 50 and 700 ± 80 K for HCl⁺(A, v‘= 0) and 250 ± 50 and 1200 ± 200 K for HBr⁺(A) and are nearly independent of the collision energy. The bimodal rotational distributions suggest that at least two processes contribute to formation of these ions. The model potential surface calculated for He*(Li) + HCl as the entrance channel is nearly isotropic and shows a shallow well of about 20 meV, whereas the surface for He + HCl⁺(A) as the exit channel is anisotropic and shows a deep minimum of 250 meV in the He−H−Cl collinear direction. Dynamical effects of the anisotropic attractive structure in the exit surface are proposed to account for the observed results.

Erythromycin and other macrolides are effective for the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB) and chronic sinusitis. The effect of macrolides in DPB is suggested to be anti-inflammatory rather than antibacterial. We investigated the effects of clarithromycin on interleukin-8 (IL-8) production using human peripheral monocytes and the human monocytic leukaemia cell line, THP-1. Bacterial extracts from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Helicobacter pylori, as well as E. coli-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induced IL-8 production. Clarithromycin suppressed this production in a dose-dependent manner in both monocytes and THP-1 cells (49.3-75.0% inhibition at 10 mg/L). A luciferase reporter gene assay with plasmids containing a serially deleted IL-8 promoter fragment showed that both the activator protein-1 (AP-1) and/or the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kapp aB) binding sequences were responsible for the LPS and clarithromycin responsiveness of the IL-8 promoter. Consistently, in an electromobility shift assay, LPS increased the specific binding of both AP-1 and NF-kappaB, whereas clarithromycin suppressed it. Moreover, LPS and clarithromycin regulated three other promoters that have either the NF-kappa B or the AP-1 binding sequences: two synthetic (pAP-1-Luc and pNF-kappa B-Luc) and one naturally occurring (ELAM-Luc). Our results indicate that clarithromycin modified inflammation by sup-pressing IL-8 production and that clarithromycin may affect the expression of other genes through AP-1 and NF-kappa B. In addition to treatment of airway diseases, the anti-inflammatory effect of macrolides may be beneficial for the treatment of other inflammatory diseases such as chronic gastritis caused by H. pylori.

High serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in patients with hydronephrosis but without malignant disease is reportedly rare but to our knowledge the clinical features of hydronephrosis that affect this level have not yet been clarified. We examined the correlation of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 with hydronephrosis status in patients with benign hydronephrosis.

In pursuit of a more effective antireflux ureteroileostomy with a lower postoperative complication rate we performed a new operative technique and evaluated intraureteral pressure with ureterometry to examine the mechanism of antireflux function.

Abstract.: We investigated the antibacterial activity of 12 antibiotics, inclusive of four carbapenems, against 167 strains of respiratory pathogens isolated between 1999 and 2000. Thirty strains of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), 28 strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 11 strains of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PSSP), 29 strains of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP), 30 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 14 strains of Moraxella catarrhalis, and 25 strains of Haemophilus influenzae were examined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs)50/90 (μg/ml) of imipenem, panipenem, meropenem, and biapenem against the clinical isolates obtained between 1999 and 2000 were: 0.06/0.25, 0.12/0.25, 0.12/0.25, and 0.12/0.25, respectively, against MSSA; 16/32, 16/32, 16/32, and 8/32 against MRSA; ≦0.015/0.06, ≦0.015/0.03, 0.03/0.12, and ≦0.015/0.06 against PSSP; 0.12/0.25, 0.03/0.06, 0.25/0.5, and 0.12/0.25 against PRSP; 1/8, 2/8, 0.5/2, and 2/16 against P. aeruginosa; 0.06/0.06, 0.03/0.06, ≦0.015/0.06, and 0.06/0.12 against M. catarrhalis; and 1/4, 1/4, 0.12/0.25, and 2/4 against H. influenzae. A comparison of the antibacterial activity of the four carbapenems with that found in our previous studies showed no significant difference in the susceptibility of clinical isolates, except for a slight decrease in the susceptibility of MSSA. Carbapenems have remained effective for severe infections. The MIC data showed that imipenem and panipenem were more active than meropenem and biapenem against gram-positive bacteria, and that meropenem and biapenem were more active than imipenem and panipenem against gram-negative bacteria. As only meropenem had an MIC90 below the breakpoint of pneumonia against all species except MRSA, meropenem was considered to be the most potent of the four carbapenems studied.

The photoemissions from fragments produced by collisions of He(23S) atoms with CHCl3, CCl2F2, CCl3F, CCl4, and CBrCl3have been studied in the collision energy range of 120–210 meV using a crossed beam. The Cl2(D'–A') band is predominant for CCl4and CBrCl3, while the A–X and B–X bands of CF are intense for CCl2F2and CCl3F. The sum of the emission cross sections (sem) for several systems of neutral fragments in the 190–600 nm region was estimated to be in the (0.3–1.2) × 10-20m2range for these chloromethanes at a collision energy of 150 meV. The dependences of sem’s for the Cl2(D'–A') band from CHCl3and CCl4on the collision energy are either nearly zero or slightly negative. The sum of sem’s for Cl2and other ion-pair bands reveals a fairly good correlation with the electron affinity of the targets. These results support the harpoon mechanism for the formation of Cl2(D') from the He(23S) + chloromethanes reactions.

Nonseminomatous components within testicular germ cell tumors affect patient prognosis to varying degrees. These components are well known to mimic early embryonic totipotential tissues. Prompted by the recent observation that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8, FGF4, and FGF receptor (FGFR) 1 are required for the growth of early postimplantational embryonic tissues, we investigated the expressions of FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1 in surgically resected specimens of primary testicular germ cell tumors using an immunohistochemical method. All cases of embryonal carcinoma (14 cases), yolk sac tumor (3 cases), and choriocarcinoma (3 cases) showed positive immunostaining for FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1. In contrast, out of 13 cases of seminoma, immunostaining was negative for FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1 in 8 cases (61.5%), 6 cases (46.1%), and 7 cases (53.8%), respectively. In 7 cases of mature and immature teratoma, most areas showed negative immunostaining. In addition, the Ki-67 labeling index showed extremely high mitogenic activity in embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and choriocarcinoma, which are precisely the carcinomas with the highest expressions of FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1. It is in keeping with the immunohistochemical result that murine teratocarcinoma P19 cells were shown to express FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1 only under undifferentiated growth conditions. Taken together, these findings confirm the involvement of FGF8, FGF4, and FGFR1 in highly proliferative conditions of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors.

The relative rates for the reaction of translationally energetic H atoms with XCN to yield HNC + X, HCN + X, and HX + CN, where X is Br or Cl, have been determined using time- and frequency-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The H atoms were created with an average translational energy of 92 kJ mol^-1 by the laser photolysis of CH3SH at a wavelength of 248 nm. The measurements were carried out at a total pressure of several torr. The dominant channel for each reaction system was the production of hydrogen isocyanide, HNC. The relative branching ratios for H + BrCN and H + ClCN were determined to be 0.85/0.13/0.017 and 0.74/0.25/0.01 for the HNC/HCN/HX + CN channels, respectively. The ratio of the total reaction cross sections, σXCN, was found to be σBrCN/σClCN = 0.84.

The purpose of the present study was to examine directly the role of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in the sensitivity of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to a novel fluoropyrimidine carbamate, capecitabine. TP cDNA-transfected RCC are used in these experiments to provide a basis for improved therapeutic benefit in chemoimmunotherapy. Human RCC line KU2 cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1/zeo(+) with or without human TP cDNA by the lipofectin method. We established a clone transfected with pcDNA3.1/zeo(+)/TP (KU2-TP15) and a clone transfected with pcDNA3.1/zeo(+) as a control (KU2-C1). TP expression levels (mean ± SD) examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were 1.3 ± 0.14 U/mg protein in KU2, 1.6 ± 0.57 U/mg protein in KU2-C1 and 216 ± 25.6 U/mg protein in KU2-TP15. Immunohistochemical staining of subcutaneous tumors established in Balb/c nu/nu mice showed that KU2-TP15 was strongly positive for TP expression, whereas KU2 and KU2-C1 were negative. Sensitivities in vitro to 5-fluorouracil (5FU), 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'DFUR) and capecitabine in KU2-TP15 were significantly enhanced compared with those in KU2 or KU2-C1. A moderate but statistically significant bystander effect was observed in vitro. KU2-TP15 tumors showed significant increase in the in vivo sensitivities to 5'DFUR and capecitabine as compared with the vehicle alone while KU2-C1 tumors did not. The difference in tumor-free rate in mice bearing KU2-TP15 at 2 months after the cessation of treatment was statistically significant between the capecitabine treatment group and the controls, the 5FU treatment group and the 5'DFUR treatment group. The present study clearly provides direct evidence for the role of TP in mediating the sensitivity of RCC to capecitabine. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The chemical and nutritional properties were investigated of hypoallergenic wheat flour (HWF) prepared by the cellulase-actinase treatment. HWF was composed mainly of oligopeptides and free amino acids, and its average molecular weight was lower than 1,000. Feeding tests on rats showed that, with respect to the PER, GOT and GPT activities and other nutritional indices, the HWF diet was almost equivalent to the control diet which had been prepared from normal wheat flour (NWF). No abnormality was apparent in the main organs after the HWF diet had been fed for 3 weeks. The small intestinal absorption of the HWF diet was found normal by measuring the free amino acid concentration in the intestinal tract and in the portal vein plasma. These data suggest that te absorption of amino acids from the HWF diet was comparable with or more efficient than that from a simulated free amino acid diet.