Studies on the behavior of peritoneal cells against soluble immune complexes using the “agar-bullet” method

The results of our previous investigation indicated that the reaction of intraperitoneal cells against foreign materials depended on the heterogenicity and the molecular weight of the substance (Takeuchi, 1973). Substances tested for cellular reaction in this agar-bullet method were (1) bovine serum albumin, (2) soluble antigen-antibody complexes, (3) mixtures of bovine serum albumin and rabbit gamma globulin, (4) precipitated complexes, and (5) bovine gamma globulin. The soluble complex prepared with excess antigen in vitro showed a marked cellular reaction, which was considered to be due to its heterogenicity and molecular weight.     

Genetic diversity of HIV type 1 in rural eastern Cameroon

To monitor the presence of genotypic HIV-1 variants circulating in eastern Cameroon, blood samples from 57 HIV-1-infected individuals attending 3 local health centers in the bordering rural villages with Central African Republic (CAR) were collected and analyzed phylogenetically. Out of the 40 HIV-1 strains with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) profile for both gag and env-C2V3,12 (30.0%) had discordant subtype or CRF designation: 2 subtype B/A (gag/env), 1 B/CRF01, 2 B/CRF02, 1 CRF01/CRF01.A, 2 CRF11/CRF01, 1 CRF13/A, 1 CRF13/CRF01, 1 CRF13/CRF11, and 1 G/U (unclassified). Twenty-eight strains (70.0%) had concordant subtypes or CRF designation between gag and env: 27 subtype A and 1 F2. Out of the remaining 17HIV-1 strains negative for PCR with the env-C2V3 primers used, 10 (58.8%) had discordant subtype or CRF, and 7 (41.2%) had concordant one based on gag/pol/env-gp41 analysis. Altogether, a high proportion (22/57, 38.6%) of the isolates were found to be recombinant strains. In addition, an emergence of new forms of HIV-1 strains, such as subtype B/A (gag/env), B/CRF01 and B/CRF02, was identified. The epidemiologic pattern of HIV-1 in eastern Cameroon, relatively low and high prevalence of CRF02 and CRF11, respectively, was more closely related to those of CAR and Chad than that of other regions of Cameroon, where CRF02 is the most predominant HIV-1 strain. These findings strongly suggest that this part of Cameroon is a potential hotspot of HIV-1 recombination, with a likelihood of an active generation of new forms of HIV-1 variants, though epidemiologic significance of new HIV-1 forms is unknown.     

Habitual Dietary Intake Affects the Altered Pattern of Gut Microbiome by Acarbose in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this research was to reveal the characteristics of gut microbiome altered by acarbose intervention in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its possible association with habitual dietary intake. Eighteen patients with T2D were administered acarbose for four weeks. The abundances of two major phyla, namely Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, were reciprocally changed accompanied by the acarbose intervention. There were also significant changes in the abundances of ten genera, including the greater abundance of Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Lactobacillus and the lower abundance of Bacteroides in the group after the intervention than that before the intervention. Hierarchical clustering of habitual dietary intake was performed based on the pattern of changes in the gut microbiota and were classified into distinct three clusters. Cluster I consisted of sucrose, cluster II mainly included fat intake, and cluster III mainly included carbohydrate intake. Moreover, the amount of change in Faecalibacterium was positively correlated with the intake of rice, but negatively correlated with the intake of bread. The intake of potato was negatively correlated with the amount of change in Akkermansia and Subdoligranulum. Acarbose altered the composition of gut microbiome in Japanese patients with T2D, which might be linked to the habitual dietary intake.     

All-case Japanese post-marketing surveillance of the real-world safety and efficacy of rituximab treatment in patients with refractory nephrotic syndrome

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Rituximab is conditionally approved in Japan for use in patients with refractory nephrotic syndrome. To meet the conditions of approval, an all-case...     

Anti-thrombotic effects and bleeding risk of AJvW-2, a monoclonal antibody against human von Willebrand factor

1. A murine anti-human vWF monoclonal antibody, AJvW-2, was developed that inhibited the interaction between platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) during the ristocetin- (IC₅₀=0.7±0.1 μg ml⁻¹) and botrocetin- (IC₅₀=1.8±0.3 μg ml⁻¹) induced aggregation of human platelets.
2. AJvW-2 inhibited the high shear stress (10.8 N m⁻²) induced aggregation of human platelets dose-dependently with an IC₅₀=2.4±0.3 μg ml⁻¹, but had no effect on low shear stress induced platelet aggregation (1.2 N m⁻²) up to 100 μg ml⁻¹.
3. AJvW-2 also inhibited the high shear stress (5.0 N m⁻²) induced adhesion of human platelets to collagen I with the same efficacy (IC₅₀=2.4±0.3 μg ml⁻¹), but had no effect at low shear conditions (1.5 N m⁻²).
4. AJvW-2 inhibited the botrocetin-induced aggregation of platelets from guinea-pig, rat, rabbit, dog and pig at the same concentration range as human platelets; it likewise also inhibited the high shear stress induced aggregation and adhesion to collagen I of guinea-pig platelets.
5. AJvW-2 prevented arterial thrombus formation in guinea-pigs at a dose of 100 μg kg⁻¹ without prolonging the template bleeding time, whereas the GPIIb/IIIa antagonist lamifiban mediated inhibition of thrombosis at 1000 μg kg⁻¹ was accompanied by a significant prolongation of the bleeding time.
6. These results suggest that AJvW-2 is a potent inhibitor of the GPIb-vWF interaction and a potential novel antithrombotic agent with lower bleeding risk than GPIIb/IIIa antagonists.

     

Evaluation of serum lipid levels in clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with terazosin monotherapy

Nine clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients were treated with oral terazoin monotherapy (2 mg daily) for 12 weeks. Serum lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, apoproteins) were estimated prior to and every 4 weeks during treatment in 5 patients. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and pressure-flow study were evaluated before and 12 weeks after treatment in 4 patients. The total cholesterol level decreased from a baseline of 210 +/- 36.6 mg/dl by 6.6% at the 12th week. This result was not significant but suggested a favorable effect of terazosin on diminishing the risk of coronary heart disease. This effect was marked especially in patients with a total cholesterol level over 200 mg/dl. On the other hand, IPSS improved in all cases. The mean change ranged from 19.5 to 10.0 and the mean peak flow rate from 9.0 to 15.7 ml/s. On Sh?ffer's nomogram, 1 patient showed improvement of obstruction and the other 3 patients were diagnosed as having week detrusor without obstruction. Clinical BPH patients with hyperlipidemia may markedly benefit from terazosin, which is a safe and useful initial treatment for BPH.     

Diaphragm reconstruction with autologous fascia lata: Report of a case

When the diaphragm is excised so wiely that the defect cannot be closed directly during an operation on either thoracic or epigastric tumors, a reconstruction of the defect is necessary. We used harvested autologous fascia lata to reconstruct the diaphragm in a patient undergoing a pleuropneumonectomy with a partial diaphragmatic resection for malignant mesothelioma.     

Prevalence of nocturia among Japanese adults

The prevalence of nocturia among Japanese community-dwelling adults was associated with insomnia, taking into account other correlates of insomnia.     

Effects of antihistamines,ebastine and terfenadine,on electrocardiogram in conscious dogs and cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ebastine and terfenadine on the electrocardiogram of conscious dogs and cats. In dogs, terfenadine at oral doses of 30 mg/kg twice a day for 7 days prolonged the electrocardiographic QT interval and the corrected QT (QTc) interval on the seventh day, whereas the drug did not affect these parameters on the first day. Plasma concentrations of terfenadine and its active metabolite, fexofenadine, reached 306 and 8,541 ng/mL, respectively, on the seventh day. Ebastine at oral doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg once a day for 7 days was without effect on the QT and QTc intervals, whereas the drug slightly shortened the RR interval. On the seventh day following the dose of 100 mg/kg, plasma concentrations of ebastine and its active metabolite, carebastine, reached 36 and 1,939 ng/mL, respectively. In conscious cats, terfenadine at oral doses of 30 mg/kg twice a day for 7 days prolonged the QT and QTc intervals, QRS duration, JT and the corrected JT intervals. Unexpectedly, terfenadine induced ventricular tachyarrhythmia and premature beats. On the other hand, ebastine at oral doses of 100 mg/kg once a day for 7 days was without effect on the electrocardiographic parameters in cats. These results suggest that the electrocardiographic changes indicative of the proarrhythmic potential of terfenadine can be evaluated in conscious dogs and especially in conscious cats by repeated oral administration, and that ebastine does not induce such changes. 58:209–217, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.