A Novel Method for Removal of Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Filtration with Porous Polymeric Membranes

We propose a new method to rid solutions of a virus by using a novel regenerated multilayered structured cellulose membrane (BMM). When the filtrate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preparation was obtained through BMM it showed no infectivity. Electron microscopic observation revealed that HIV was completely caught by the multilayers of the BMM. Conveniently, BMM was seldomly found to adsorb protein molecules and also to have a high filtration rate. These characteristics may have a use in the removal of other variously sized pathogenic agents from plasma.     

9-cis retinoic acid enhances the antiviral effect of interferon on hepatitis C virus replication through increased expression of type I interferon receptor

The concentration of type I interferon receptor (IFN-Rc) in the liver is a crucial factor in determining the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Retinoic acids (RAs) can enhance the expression of type I IFN-Rc expression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether RAs increase the anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) effect of IFN through an increase in IFN-Rc. The hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HuH-7 was treated with 10(-7) mol/L all-trans RA (ATRA) and 9-cis RA (9-CRA). Expression of type I IFN-Rc was investigated at both the mRNA and protein levels with the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry, respectively. We investigated the anti-HCV effect, using in vitro HCV transfection, by monitoring the level of HCV RNA in the culture medium. ATRA and 9-CRA enhanced the expression of type I IFN-Rc at both the mRNA and protein levels. After IFN-alpha treatment, the activity of 2,5'-oligoadenylate synthetase was enhanced by RAs, and this enhancement was abolished when blocking antibodies had previously been bound to the surface receptors. IFN treatment decreased the concentration of HCV RNA, and this effect was enhanced by treatment with RAs. Our findings suggest that RAs enhance the anti-HCV replication effect of IFN-alpha through up-regulation of type I IFN-Rc in HuH-7 cells.     

Quantitative evaluation of the therapeutic effects of antibiotics using silkworms infected with human pathogenic microorganisms

The injection of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) or true fungi (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis) that are pathogenic to humans into the silkworm hemolymph leads to death of the larvae within 2 days. Antibiotics used for clinical purposes have therapeutic effects on silkworms infected with these pathogens. The 50% effective doses obtained by injection into the silkworm hemolymph are consistent with those reported for mice. Injection of vancomycin and kanamycin into the silkworm hemolymph was effective, but oral administration was not. Chloramphenicol, which is effective by oral administration, appeared in the silkworm hemolymph soon after injection into the midgut, whereas vancomycin did not. Isolated midgut membranes were impermeable to vancomycin. Thus, the ineffectiveness of oral administration of vancomycin to silkworms is due to a lack of intestinal absorption.     

In vitro activities of moxifloxacin and other fluoroquinolones against Mycoplasma pneumoniae

A total of 105 isolates of Mycoplasma pneumoniae were evaluated for susceptibility to moxifloxacin, sparfloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Moxifloxacin, a newly synthesized compound, showed the greatest activity. The MICs and MBCs at which 50 and 90% of isolates were affected were 0.15 (MIC(50) and MBC(50)) and 0.3 microg/ml (MIC(90) and MBC(90)) respectively. The results indicate that moxifloxacin might be promising an antimycoplasmal agent.     

Prophylaxis of rebleeding from isolated gastric fundal varices by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration

We describe a case of bleeding gastric fundal varices associated with a gastrorenal shunt that were successfully treated with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. Blood flow in the varices disappeared after treatment. Because of its safety and simplicity, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration appears to be a feasible alternative to transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for the treatment of gastric fundal varices. Received: 18 November 2000/Accepted: 13 December 2000     

Current status and perspective of pediatric liver transplantation in Japan

In Japan, the annual number of pediatric liver transplantation (LT) has been stable around 140 in the last few years. Almost all of them are from living donors. Three fourth are indicated for cholestatic liver diseases, mainly biliary atresia. One year patient survival rate after pediatric LT in Japan is 85 %. In comparison to other indications, patient survival of the infants with fulminant hepatic failure is quite poor. Weaning protocol of immunosuppression in pediatric LT in Japan is going in many institutions, and has succeeded to obtain some number of recipients with complete tolerance. More attenuated immunosuppresion and intimate monitoring for EB virus infection using the real-time PCR has been effective to decrease the incidence of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.     

Abnormal cardiac [123I]‐meta‐iodobenzylguanidine uptake in multiple system atrophy

[¹²³I]‐Meta‐iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is useful for distinguishing multiple system atrophy (MSA) from Parkinson disease. In this study, longitudinal observation using MIBG myocardial scintigraphy was carried out in patients with MSA to evaluate the association of myocardial MIBG uptake with clinical features. A total of 96 MIBG examinations were performed in 52 patients with MSA. The heart/mediastinum (H/M) ratio of MIBG uptake at 240 minutes after injection was below the lower limit in 16 patients with MSA (31.3%). Overall, the H/M ratio correlated with neither disease duration nor severity. In the follow‐up observations, the H/M ratio did not show any specific trends, in contrast with the continuous decrease observed in patients with Parkinson's disease. This data clearly showed that cardiac MIBG uptake cannot necessarily be preserved in patients with MSA and that approximately 30% of patients with MSA showed decreased MIBG uptake without any correlation to disease duration or severity. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

Effects of impaired functional domains of osteopontin on renal crystal formation: Analyses of OPN transgenic and OPN knockout mice

Osteopontin (OPN) has been described as playing a nonredundant role in renal crystal formation. Here we investigated the effects of impaired domains of OPN, namely, the Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) sequence and two calcium‐binding sites on crystal formation. We used wild‐type mice (WT group), OPN knockout mice (KO group), and OPN knockout mice carrying either a transgene in which the RGD sequence had been modified to Arg‐Gly‐Glu (RGE group) or whose two calcium‐binding sites had been deleted (CaX group). Following intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylate for 9 days, the changes occurring in three parameters of crystal formation—localization, number, and microstructure—were analyzed. In the WT group, crystal deposits increased gradually at the renal corticomedullary junction in an orderly fashion, whereas those in the KO group were observed sporadically in the renal cortex. In both the CaX and RGE groups, deposits were localized near the corticomedullary junction. Crystal deposition was greatest in the WT group and least in the KO group. The number of deposits in the RGE group was nearly equal to that in the KO group. Microscopic observations revealed that the crystal nuclei in the CaX group were stratified and occurred in a disordered pattern; this pattern was dissimilar to that in the WT group, in which a rosette petal–like radial pattern was observed. In the RGE group, the nuclei exhibited a radial pattern similar to that in the WT group. The results indicated the possibility that each domain contributes to the mechanism by which OPN stimulates crystal formation. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.