Implantation of IOLs with different diameters]

The intraocular lenses (IOLs) commonly used today are 13.5 to 14 mm in diameter, and this diameter is considered by some to be unnecessarily large. The size of the crystalline lens and the diagonal width between the ciliary sulcus were measured in rabbit eyes and human eyes. Then, IOLs with a smaller diameter (12.5 mm) were evaluated after implantation into rabbit eyes. The mean diameter of the human crystalline lens was 9.6 mm and its thickness was 4.1 mm. The mean width of the ciliary sulcus was 11.1 mm. The crystalline lenses of rabbits were larger than those of humans. Decentration and posterior capsular opacification score were 0.33 mm and 0.63 in 12.5 mm IOL, and 0.47 mm and 0.61 in 14.0 mm IOL. Indicating that the result of implanting the 12.5 mm IOL was not inferior to that of implanting the conventional 14 mm IOL. The average width of the ciliary sulcus is 11.1 mm, indicating that a 12.5 mm IOL is of a sufficient size to be firmly fixed in this sulcus. In addition, a 12.5 mm IOL is considered to be safer, because larger lenses may lead to erosion or vessel compression that could induce ischemia or neovascularization.     

Early Infantile Growth and Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescent Japanese Women

Objective: Early life events connected with the risk of later disease can occur not only in utero, but also in infancy. In study of the developmental origins of health and disease, the relationship between infantile growth patterns and adolescent body mass index and blood pressure is one of the most important issues to verify.Materials and Methods: We analyzed the correlation of current body mass index and systolic blood pressure of 168 female college students with their growth patterns in utero and in infancy.Results: Body mass index and systolic blood pressure in adolescence showed positive correlations with changes in weight-for-age z scores between 1 and 18 months but not with those between 18 and 36 months. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that both change in weight-for-age z scores from 1 to 18 months and body mass index at 1 month were significantly and independently associated with systolic blood pressure in adolescence. Body mass index at 36 months was positively correlated with body mass index in adolescence, while body mass index at birth was negatively correlated with body mass index in adolescence.Conclusion: Our findings shows that restricted growth in utero and accelerated weight gain in early infancy are associated with the cardiovascular risk factors of high systolic blood pressure and high body mass index in adolescence. In Japan, an increasing proportion of low birth weight infants and accelerated catch-up growth after birth have been observed in recent decades. This might be an alarming harbinger of an increase in diseases related to the developmental origins of health and disease in Japan.     

S-oxidation of S-methyl-esonarimod by flavin-containing monooxygenases in human liver microsomes

1. Studies using human liver microsomes and recombinant human cytochrome P450 (CYP) and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) were performed to identify the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of S-methyl-esonarimod (M2), an active metabolite of esonarimod (KE-298, a novel antirheumatic drug).

2. S-oxidative activities of M2 significantly correlated with those of methyl p-tolyl sulfide, a specific substrate of FMOs, as tested using 10 different human liver microsomes (r² = 0.539, p<0.05). Thermal treatment of microsomes reduced the S-oxidative activity in the absence of the NADPH-generating system at 45°C for 5?min. However, methimazole, a known competitive substrate of FMOs, was a weak inhibitor of the S-oxidation in liver microsomes.

3. Recombinant human FMO1 and FMO5 produced M3 in greater quantities than recombinant human FMO3. The S-oxidation of M2 by recombinant human FMO5 was not appreciably inhibited in the presence of methimazole. In contrast, methimazole was effective in suppressing the catalytic activity of recombinant human FMO1 and FMO3.

4. The apparent K_m (K_{m app}) for the S-oxidation of M2 in human recombinant FMO5 (2.71?μM) was similar to that obtained using human liver microsomes (2.43?μM).

5. The present results suggest that the S-oxidation of S-methyl esonarimod reflects FMO5 activity in the human liver because the recombinant FMO5 data match well with the human liver microsomal experiments.     

Effects of deuterium oxide on Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A complex aggregation of microorganisms growing on a solid substrate is termed a biofilm and is considered to be an etiological agents. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus mutans are representative bacteria in such biofilms. It is well known that deuterium oxide (D?O) causes toxic effects on a number of biological systems. We investigated the effects of D?O on growth and biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa and S. mutans. These bacteria were incubated in medium containing D?O (100%, 75% or 0%) at 37°C for 24hr, 48 hr or 72 hr. Growth of P. aeruginosa was inhibited by D?O within the first 48 hr. However, after 72 hr, growth rate was seen to increase in the D?O-containing medium compared with in medium without D?O. In contrast, the growth of S. mutans in the D?O medium was inhibited within 72 hr. The biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa was increased in the D?O medium. Biofilm formation of S. mutans in the D?O medium increased compared with in the medium without D?O, but this increase was only temporary in the case of P. aeruginosa. Compared to biofilm formation in 0% D?O medium marked as 100%, the biofilm formation rate of S. mutans in 75% D?O medium was 143% at 24 hr, 146% at 48 hr and 130% at 72 hr. In other D?O concentration media biofilm formation was lower. In 100% D?O medium, biofilm formation rate decreased from 114% at 24 hr to 56% at 72 hr. The biofilm formation rate of P. aeruginosa in 100% D?O medium was 172% at 24 hr, but decreased to 88% at 72 hr. Biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa in 75% and 0% D?O media showed no significant difference. We consider that these results were due to stress or alteration in bacterial metabolisms.     

Stability of the seven hexon hypervariable region sequences of adenovirus types 1–6 isolated in Yamagata, Japan between 1988 and 2007

Seven hexon hypervariable regions (HVRs) of adenoviruses (Ads) were identified by comparing the regions among different serotypes; however, no one has compared HVR sequences among the identical serotypes, except for adenovirus type 3 (Ad3).To examine a variability between the HVRs for each serotype, we compared the sequences of Ad1–6 isolates, respectively, isolated between 1988 and 2007 in Yamagata, Japan. We selected 23–43 isolates randomly and sequenced 894–987 bp regions.Except for strains with insertions and deletions, the sequence identities among Ad1–6 were 99–100%, excluding that between the two Ad5 groups (approx. 94%). Even the insertions and deletions were likely to be established, as these changes were repeatedly observed. The obtained phylogenetic tree indicated that Ad isolates and reference strains branched depending on serotype. The Yamagata isolates had similar sequences or amino acid arrangements to the reference strains as well as to other strains isolated in different areas. HVRs have been stably conserved as serotype-specific regions for a long period with only minor genomic variations. Therefore, we herein recommend that these regions be hereafter referred to as “serotype-specific regions”, which might be a more appropriate title with which to characterize the epidemiological nature of these sites than the current “HVRs”.     

Distribution of a gelsolin-like 74,000 mol. wt protein in neural and endocrine tissues

A Ca2(+)-dependent actin binding protein with a molecular weight of 74,000, was purified from bovine adrenal medulla by using deoxyribonuclease I affinity chromatography followed by ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. This protein broke actin filaments into fragments and promoted nucleation of actin polymerization in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner as effectively as gelsolin. Proteolytic and immunological comparison with gelsolin which is widely distributed actin-severing protein, indicated that the 74,000 mol. wt protein is a distinct protein, but its domain structure resembles that of gelsolin. Immunoblotting using antibody against this protein showed a tissue-specific distribution. The protein was detected in various endocrine, neuroendocrine and nervous tissues, but not in muscle tissues and plasma which contained relatively large amounts of cytoplasmic and plasma gelsolin. This fact might indicate that this actin-severing protein is involved in the regulation of the secretory process of endocrine and nervous tissues. In the exocytotic process regulated by Ca2+, this protein probably plays a role to free secretory organelles like vesicles from the cytoskeletal network, mainly F-actin, which prevents the movement of secretory vesicles in the resting state.     

Transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter with inverted proliferation: a difficult case to make a differential diagnosis with ureteral polyp

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in June 2001 for evaluation of an asymptomatic microscopic hematuria. One year prior to presentation, he had a spontaneous discharge of a left ureteral stone. Excretory urography and retrograde pyelography showed a filling defect in the middle portion of the left ureter. Cystoscopic examination did not reveal any abnormality, and urinary cytology was class I. Cold cup biopsy was performed under ureteroscopy, and pathology revealed inflammatory fibrovascular tissue but with no malignancy. Selective washing cytology was class III, whereas selective washing cytology done at the referring hospital was reported to be class V. Under a preoperative diagnosis of a left fibroepithelial ureteral polyp or a transitional cell carcinoma, left segmental ureterectomy was performed. The tumor was 5 x 5 x 5 mm in size, pedunculated, and smooth-surfaced. Intraoperative pathological examination of a frozen section showed an inverted type transitional cell carcinoma. Therefore, a left nephroureterectomy was performed, and the final histopathological examination confirmed an inverted type transitional cell carcinoma of grade 2. The patient is healthy and free of disease 15 months after operation. We also reviewed the current literature relating to transitional cell carcinomas of the ureter with inverted proliferation.     

Synthesis of silicone graft polymers and a study of their surface active properties

Silicone macromers 5 , having a methacryloyl group at one end, and controiled molecular weights, were prepared by anionic polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane ( 2 ) and subsequent termination with chlorosilane compounds containing a polymerizable vinyl groups. Graft polymers with siloxane grafts were prepared by copolymerization of these macromers with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or styrene. The surface active properties of MMA-based graft polymers were investigated by studying the extent of surface modification of films of graft polymer-poly(methyl methacrylate) blends.     

Clinical study of recombinant interferon alpha-2 (Sch 30500) in advanced gynecological cancers

Recombinant interferon alpha-2 (Sch 30500) was administered to 29 patients with advanced gynecological cancers (14 patients with cancer of the cervix, 8 with ovarian cancer, 4 with uterine sarcoma, 2 with endometrial cancer and 1 with unclassified cancer). No antitumor effects (CR and PR) were noted in 23 evaluable patients. Side effects observed were fever, tachycardia, diarrhea, chills, general fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. In some patients, leukopenia, decrease of hemoglobin and elevation of SGOT and SGPT were observed. No production of antibody for Sch 30500 was noted.     

Inhibitory effects of histamine antagonists on the skin reaction with house dust allergen, histamine and compound 48/80 in Japanese monkeys

Using the skin of monkeys, we studied the participation of histamine receptors in the immediate skin reaction. Intradermal injection of H2 agonist produced whealing reaction to a significant degree, although this effect was not so remarkable as the effect of H1 agonist. A non-thiourea H2 antagonist showed a significant inhibitory effect on the whealing reaction to allergen, compound 48/80, and histamine. These results suggest that H2 antagonist prevented the whealing reaction by changing the vascular reaction to secreted or exogenous histamine. However, the participation of histamine receptors on dermal mast cells in the immediate skin allergic reaction is still left inconclusive.