KaiA-stimulated KaiC phosphorylation in circadian timing loops in cyanobacteria

Cyanobacterial clock proteins KaiA and KaiC are proposed as positive and negative regulators in the autoregulatory circadian kaiBC expression, respectively. Here, we show that activation of kaiBC expression by kaiA requires KaiC, suggesting a positive feedback control in the cyanobacterial clockwork. We found that robust circadian phosphorylation of KaiC. KaiA was essential for in vivo KaiC phosphorylation and activated in vitro KaiC autophosphorylation. These effects of KaiA were attenuated by the kaiA2 long period mutation. Both the long period phenotype and the abnormal KaiC phosphorylation in this mutant were suppressed by a previously undocumented kaiC mutation. We propose that KaiA-stimulated circadian KaiC phosphorylation is important for circadian timing.     

Drug therapy of patients with early-stage parkinson's disease

A guideline regarding the initial therapy for parkinsonian patients is described in this article. The basis for the selection of levodopa or a dopamine(DA) agonist for the initial therapy should depend on the patients' clinical characteristics. Young age, less severe condition of the disease, and absence of dementia are the most important determining factors to initiate DA agonist therapy. In this therapy, the dose should be based on the standard dose of the drug, which is obtained by previous clinical trials. In the case that the initial DA agonist therapy failed, or in the case that levodopa was initially used, the combined use of a DA agonist and levodopa should follow in the earlier period of the therapy.     

A rat model for monitoring homograft rejection of the lung

A new surgical procedure was devised for the experimental homograft of the lung. The pulmonary artery and vein and bronchus were anastomosed under the operation microscope using interrupted sutures in group W (30 outbred Wistar rats) and continuous sutures in group F (7 inbred F344/Ducrj Rats). Mean ischemia time during the operation was 95.3 +/- 10.3 min in the group W and 55.6 +/- 5.8 in group F. Eight out of 30 rats (27%) of group W and all rats of group F survived more than 24 hr after the surgery. Pulmonary functions of grafted lungs were evaluated by serial x-rays and the perfusion ratio was 27.4 +/- 11.6% (mean +/- S.D.) in group W and 25.4 +/- 7.7% in group F. A patent opening of the hilar anastomosis in these rats was confirmed at autopsy. This model with continuous suture would be useful for the rat lung transplantation.     

Pattern recognition as a caring partnership in families with cancer

Pattern recognition as a caring partnership in families with cancer The purpose of this study was to address the process of a caring partnership by elaborating pattern recognition as nursing intervention with families with cancer. It is based on Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness within the unitary-transformative paradigm and is an extension of a previous study of Japanese women with ovarian cancer. A hermeneutic, dialectic method was used to engage 10 Japanese families in which the wife-mothers were hospitalized because of cancer diagnosis. The family included at least the woman with cancer and her primary caregiver. Each of four nurse-researchers entered into partnership with a different family and conducted three interviews with each family. The participants were asked to describe the meaningful persons and events in their family history. The family's story was transmuted into a diagram of sequential patterns of interactional configurations and shared with the family at the second meeting. Evidence of pattern recognition and insight into the meaning of the family pattern were identified further in the remaining meetings. The data revealed five dimensions of a transformative process. Most families found meaning in their patterns and made a shift from separated individuals within the family to trustful caring relationships. One-third of them went through this process within two interviews. The families showed increasing openness, connectedness and trustfulness in caring relationships. In partnership with the family, each nurse-researcher grasped the pattern of the family as a whole and experienced the meaning of caring. Pattern recognition as nursing intervention was a meaning-making transforming process in the family-nurse partnership.     

Combination of cefmenoxime and cefsulodin in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The clinical efficacy of the combination therapy with cefmenoxime plus cefsulodin was studied in patients with complicated urinary tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Patients received 1 g of CMX and 1 g of CFS concomitantly twice a day by 1-hour intravenous drip infusion. Of a total of 127 patients who received medication, 82 patients were evaluated on the 5th day. The overall clinical efficacy of treatment was evaluated by the criteria proposed by the UTI Committee, Japan, as excellent, moderate or poor. It was excellent in 15%, moderate in 55% and poor in 30%. Of the 143 strains isolated from 82 patients, 115 strains (80%) were eradicated. The eradication rate of P. aeruginosa was 83%. Subjective side effects were observed in 3 (2.4%) of the patients. Drug-related aggravations in laboratory test results were observed in 8 (7.5%), but most of them were minimal and reversible. The results of this study suggest that a combination of cefmenoxime and cefsulodin might be useful in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by P. aeruginosa.     

A case of a rare variant of Klinefelter syndrome, 47,XY,i(X)(q10)

Klinefelter syndrome is a condition in which a male patient has one Y chromosome and one or more extra X chromosomes. It is the most common sex chromosome disorder. Klinefelter syndrome is distinguished by many clinical features, such as infertility, high gonadotropin and low testosterone levels, increased height, and sparse body and facial hair. We report the case of a 32‐year‐old man who visited our hospital complaining of male infertility. Semen analysis showed azoospermia, and chromosomal analysis revealed a 47,XY,i(X)(q10) karyotype, which is a rare variant of Klinefelter syndrome. No spermatozoon was found on microdissection testicular sperm extraction, and the testis biopsy histology showed only Sertoli cells and hyalinised seminiferous tubules. 47,XY, i(X)(q10) has an additional isochromosome made of the long arm of the X chromosome, which shares some features of classical Klinefelter syndrome in many aspects, but patients are usually shorter than average height and have normal intelligence. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no successful sperm extractions from 47,XY, i(X)(q10) patients were reported in the literature. The reports of patients who have undergone microdissection testicular sperm extraction are very rare. Further reports and studies of this chromosomal abnormality are needed.     

Transfusion-associated hypoxemia in pediatric patients with solid tumors after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Background

Although several types of transfusion-related adverse reactions (TRARs) have been reported, one of the most important involves respiratory features during and after blood transfusion. Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) are the most severe adverse events following blood transfusion, whereas transfusion-associated dyspnea　(TAD) is a less severe respiratory distress. However, there exists little evidence of these factors in pediatric populations.