Comparative sequence analysis of the M gene among rabies virus strains and its expression by recombinant vaccinia virus

Nucleotide sequences and the deduced amino acid sequences of the gene encoding the matrix (M) protein of the Nishigahara and the CVS strains of rabies virus have been determined. The M gene is 609 nucleotides long and is capable of coding for a peptide composed of 202 amino acids. Sequence comparison of these M genes with those of other stains [Pasteur (PV), ERA, Avol] revealed that there is 89.7–91.5% homology at the nucleotide level, and 90.1–92.1% homology at amino acid level, between almost all combinations of these strains. However, in the combinations of the PV and ERA strains, and the virulent CVS and the avirulent CVS-derived Avol strains, much higher homology was observed both at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. The predicted secondary structure and hydropathy profiles also exhibited similar features. Recombinant vaccinia virus containing the M gene was constructed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO₄)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the precipitates obtained by immune reaction of the recombinant virus-infected cell lysate with a monoclonal antibody against the M protein revealed that electrophoretic mobility of the expressed protein is indistinguishable from that of the authentic M protein from rabies virions.The nucleotide sequence data of the M genes of the CVS and Nishigahara (RCEH) strains reported in this paper will appear in the DDBJ, EMBL, and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession numbers D90450 and D90451.     

Synthesis of linear poly(4-vinylbenzaldehyde) by means of anionic living polymerization of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(4-vinylphenyl)imidazolidine and subsequent hydrolysis

Poly(4-vinylbenzaldehyde)s ( 4 ) of known chain lengths and of narrow molecular weight distributions (M?_w/M?_n ≈ 1,1) were synthesized by means of anionic living polymerization of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(4-vinylphenyl)imidazolidine ( 1 ) with oligo[α-methylstyryl]potassium ( 2 ) and subsequent acid hydrolysis to remove the imidazolidine protective group. The living polymer of 1 can initiate further polymerization of α-methylstyrene, resulting in the preparation of a triblock copolymer of the type poly[α-methylstyrene-b-(4-vinylbenzaldehyde)-b-α-methylstyrene] in quantitative yield after hydrolysis.     

Complementary and alternative medical therapy utilization by people with chronic fatiguing illnesses in the United States

Background  

Chronic fatiguing illnesses, including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Previous clinical reports addressed the utilization of health care provided to patients with CFS by a variety of practitioners with other than allopathic training, but did not examine the spectrum of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used. This study was designed to measure CAM therapy use by persons with fatiguing illnesses in the United States population.     

Venodilator effects of adenosine triphosphate and sodium nitroprusside; Comparisons during controlled hypotension

Adenosine triphosphate as well as sodium nitroprusside has been used for hypotensive anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility that two hypotensive drugs may exert different effects on venous capacitance during controlled hypotension. In rats anesthetized with ketamine, mean arterial pressure was lowered to 50mmHg by intravenous infusion of adenosine triphosphate or sodium nitroprusside. Venous capacitance was assessed before and during induced hypotension by measuring the mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP). MCFP was measured after briefly arresting the circulation by inflating an indwelling balloon in the right atrium. MCFP was lower during adenosine triphosphate-induced as well as sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension as compared with the respective value at control (P < 0.01 for adenosine triphosphate and sodium nitroprusside). However, the decrease in MCFP by adenosine triphosphate (0.8 ± 0.1mmHg) was less (P < 0.01) than that by sodium nitroprusside (2.3 ± 0.3mmHg). These results suggest that at a comparable level of arterial hypotension venodilator effect of adenosine triphosphate was less than that of sodium nitroprusside. Less venodilatation during adenosine triphosphate-induced hypotension may contribute to the maintenance of cardiac output during hypotensive anesthesia.(Hoka S, Takeshita A, Aishima K et al.: Venodilator effects of adenosine triphosphate and sodium nitroprusside; comparisons during controlled hypotension. J Anesth 1: 144–147, 1987)     

Efficacy of misoprostol (twice daily dosage) in acute healing of duodenal ulcer

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of misoprostol taken twice daily for the healing of duodenal ulcer. Three hundred thirty patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer participated in a multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial comparing placebo with misoprostol 200 μg and 400 μg twice daily for up to four weeks. Patient characteristics were similar in all three treatment groups. Ulcers were between 0.3 cm and 2.0 cm in length. Healing was determined by endoscopy at two weeks; if ulcers were not healed, endoscopy was repeated at four weeks. All patients were given Al(OH)₃ antacid (up to 54 meq a day) to be used as needed for pain. Healing rates at four weeks for a total of 280 evaluable patients in the three treatment groups were as follows: misoprostol 400 μg bid, 65.4%; misoprostol 200 μg bid, 52.9%; and placebo, 42.2%. Misoprostol 400 μg bid was superior to placebo (P=0.002) in healing ulcers. However, the healing rate for misoprostol 200 μg bid did not differ significantly from placebo. The percentage of nonsmokers who healed at four weeks was higher than that of smokers in both misoprostoltreatment groups, although the difference was not analyzed for statistical significance. There were no differences in antacid consumption or pain relief among the three experimental groups during the study. Diarrhea was the most common side effect but was mild and self-limiting, occurring in 8.9%, 5.9%, and 1.8% of the misoprostol 400 μg, 200 μg, and placebo groups, respectively. These results indicate that misoprostol 400 μg, 200 μg, and for four weeks is effective and safe for the treatment of duodenal ulcers.     

Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study ofN 4-behenoyl-1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine

A phase I study ofN ⁴-behenoyl-1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (BHAC) was conducted in 66 patients, 41 with solid tumors and 25 with hematological malignancies. The patients received either a 2-h single intravenous (i.v.) drip infusion (Schedule 1) or consecutive daily 2-h i.v. infusions (Schedule 2). In Schedule 1 the daily dose was initiated with 1.5 mg kg^?1 which was escalated up to 7 mg kg^?1. Side-effects were mild, and included nausea, vomiting, epilation, and hot flushes. Because of the presence of the solvent vehicle, HCO-60 and in consideration of the mechanism of action of BHAC, the dose escalation was stopped at 7 mg kg^?1. In Schedule 2, the daily dose was started with 1.5 mg kg^?1 which was escalated up to 8 mg kg^?1 and given for 2–16 days. Myelosuppression was found to be dose-limiting toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in patients with non-hematological solid tumors was assumed to be 5 mg kg^?1 daily × 5 days. The plasma disappearance curve of BHAC looked biphasic, and when 4 mg kg^?1 of BHAC were administered the half-lives of the initial phase (t _1/2α) and the second phase (t _1/2β) were calculated as 0.798 and 5.76 h respectively. In Schedule 2 complete remission was observed in 5 out of 21 patients with acute leukemia, one partial remission in Hodgkin’s disease, and one 1-B response (Karnofsky) in thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma.     

Positron CT imaging using a high resolution PCT device (Positologica-I),11CO,13NH3, and18FDG in clinical evaluation of cerebrovascular diseases

Positron computed tomography (PCT) was performed in 3 normal volunteers and 21 patients with cerebrovascular diseases using a high resolution PCT device Positologica-I and three tracers¹¹CO,¹³NH₃, and¹⁸FDG. Relatively early lesions showed various accumulation patterns, and metabolism and perfusion mismatches were clearly shown by this measurement. One type of mismatch is luxury perfusion which had a slight increase of blood volume. Another type of uncoupling is misery perfusion. Remote effects of ischemic lesions also appeared on PCT with¹⁸FDG and¹³NH₃. From our clinical results, the PCT method with a high resolution device and radiopharmaceuticals such as¹¹CO,¹³NH₃, and¹⁸FDG is very useful in the assessment of cerebrovascular diseases and in defining circulatory dysfunction in man.     

Validation and reliability of a Japanese version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a simple disease specific questionnaire that is used to evaluate the impact of shoulder disorders. The purpose of this study was to translate the SPADI into Japanese (SPADI-Jp) and evaluate its reliability and validity in Japanese patients with shoulder disorders.MethodsCross-cultural adaptation of the SPADI was performed according to international guidelines. A total of 100 patients with shoulder disorders participated in this study. Each participant was asked to finish the SPADI-Jp, Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), and the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) at the initial visit. Thirty-four patients repeated the SPADI-Jp to assess the test–retest reliability. The test–retest reliability was quantified using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency. The construct validity was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients.ResultsInternal consistency in the SPADI-Jp was very high (0.969), as measured by the Cronbach's alpha. The ICC of the SPADI-Jp was 0.930. There was a strong, positive correlation between the DASH and the SPADI-Jp (r = 0.837, p < 0.001). The SPADI-Jp was significantly correlated with most of the SF-36 subscales. The correlations of the SPADI-Jp with physical subscales of the SF-36 were stronger than those with the other subscales.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that the SPADI-Jp is a reliable and valid self-assessment tool. Because cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and reliability of the disease-specific questionnaire for shoulder pain and disability have not been evaluated in Japan, the SPADI-Jp can be useful for evaluating such patients in the Japanese population.