Adjusted relative survival rate and causes of death after resection of gastric cancer

To estimate how many of 1,302 patients with curative resection of gastric cancer died of recurrence or other diseases, the cumulative survival rate (act), relative survival rate (rl) and adjusted relative survival rate (adj) were analyzed. Adj was computed excluding gastric cancer death, because the death rate of this disease can not be ignored in the Japanese population. The death rate from gastric cancer can be estimated by [1.0-(adj)] and that from other causes by [(adj)-(act)]. It is more appropriate to calculate adj for the patients with mucosal or submucosal cancer, and rl can be substituted for adj for those with deeper invasion.     

Intraocular microsporidiosis due to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a patient with idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia

Encephalitozoon cuniculi was documented to cause disseminated microsporidial infection including an iris tumor and endophthalmitis in an adolescent with idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia. The diagnosis was established by microscopic, serologic and molecular methods. E. cuniculi (rabbit strain) was identified from the iris tumor, as well as from urine, conjunctival, corneal, and nasal swabs. Treatment with oral albendazole led to rapid improvement. This case raises the possibility of disseminated microsporidial infection in the context of idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia and possibly advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and above all the possibility of intraocular infection with E. cuniculi in humans.     

Role of histamine produced by bone marrow-derived vascular cells in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis

To clarify the role of histamine-producing cells and its origin in atherosclerosis, we investigated histidine decarboxylase (HDC; histamine-producing enzyme) expression in murine arteries with vascular injuries after the animal had received transplanted bone marrow (BM) from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic mice. The neointima in the ligated carotid arteries contained BM-derived HDC+ cells that expressed macrophage (Mac-3) or smooth muscle cell antigen (alpha-SMA). In contrast, the HDC+ BM-derived cells, which were positive for Mac-3, were mainly located in the adventitia in the cuff replacement model. In apolipoprotein E-knockout mice on a high cholesterol diet, BM-derived cells expressing Mac-3 in the atheromatous plaques were also positive for HDC. In comparison with wild-type mice, HDC-/- mice showed reduced neointimal thickening and a decreased intima-to-media ratio after ligation and cuff replacement. These results indicate that histamine produced from BM-derived progenitor cells, which could transdifferentiate into SMC- or macrophage-like cells, are important for the formation of neointima and atheromatous plaques.     

Scalusamides A-C, new pyrrolidine alkaloids from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum

Three new pyrrolidine alkaloids, scalusamides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from the gastrointestine of a marine fish, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of C-2 in the pyrrolidine unit was determined by HPLC analysis of a Marfey's derivative of the hydrolysate of 1, while that of 2 and 3 was assigned by comparison of spectroscopic data of 3 and reductive products of 1 and 2. On the other hand, each of 1-3 was found to be a mixture of epimers at C-7. Scalusamide A (1) exhibited antifungal and antibacterial activities.     

Bactericidal effects of acidic electrolyzed water on the dental unit waterline

Many studies have been conducted in the United States regarding the microbial contamination of dental unit waterline, but not in Japan. Recently, acidic electrolyzed water has been used in the medical and dental fields. In this study, we investigated the bactericidal effects of the temporary inflow of acidic electrolyzed water on microbial contamination of the dental unit waterline. First, in order to observe the daily bacterial contamination of the dental unit waterline, water samples were collected at the end of handpieces and three-way syringes before the inflow of acidic electrolyzed water. They were cultured to detect viable bacteria. Later, the inflow of acidic electrolyzed water was conducted through the piping box of the dental unit. Before starting operation on next day, water samples were collected and cultured, as described above. The mean viable bacteria count was 910 -/+ 190 CFU/ml at the end of handpieces, and 521 -/+ 116 CFU/ml at the end of three-way syringes before the inflow of acidic electrolyzed water. However, bacteria were detected in only small numbers at the end of handpieces and three-way syringes on the next day. These results indicated that acidic electrolyzed water could be applied as an appropriate measure against bacterial contamination of the dental unit waterline.