Leucoxenols A and B,two new phenolics from Bornean medicinal plant Syzygium leucoxylon

The medicinal plant, Syzygium leucoxylon or commonly known as Obah found in North Borneo was considered as traditional medicine by local committee. Two new phenolics, leucoxenols A (1) and B (2) were isolated and identified as major secondary metabolites from the leaves of S. leucoxylon. Their chemical structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic data such as NMR and HRESIMS. Furthermore, these compounds were active against selected strains of fungi.     

Multiple floppy valves with all cardiac valves prolapsing: Clinical course and treatment

Summary Two cases with prolapse of all four cardiac valves are described and compared with two similar ones previously reported. The severity and progression of regurgitation of each of the valves differed by case, despite having similar echocardiographic findings consistent with the diagnosis of multiple floppy valves. Two of the four patients had their aortic valve replaced because of severe regurgitation: the excised valves revealed myxomatous degeneration. None of the patients had any stigmata of Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, except for the presence of hyperextensive joints. There may be an unknown collagen disorder that caused floppiness in all the valves.     

Iron trends in rat serum related to dietary fish oils under protein malnutrition

The iron trend in the serum of male rats fed a low wheat gluten (5% level) diet containing several fish oils for 2 to 4 wk was investigated. The body weight in every experimental group decreased during the first 3 d and thereafter their body weights dropped gradually until the 4th week. At the end of the experimental period, the weights of the spleens from the rats in the cod liver oil (CLO) and sardine oil (SO) groups were significantly heavier than those of the corn oil (control: CO) group. The iron concentrations in the serum of all dietary groups at the 4th week had a tendency to decrease compared to that of the control (CO) group. Ferritin in serum in the 4th week was significantly increased compared to that of the 2nd week for both the CO and CLO groups. However, that of the SO group remained at a low level similar to that measured in the 2nd week. The unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) of the SO group in the 2nd week was significantly higher than that of the control (CO) group. In the 2nd week, the non-heme iron content in the liver was almost equal to the standard value. In the 4th week, however, the non-heme iron in the liver tissues of all dietary groups was significantly increased compared to those of the corresponding groups in the 2nd week. These findings suggest that iron accumulates in the liver.     

Experimentelle Infektionen von Mäusen und Meerschweinchen parenteral und von den natürlichen Eingangsforten aus

Ohne ZusammenfassungAus der Seuchenabteilung des Instituts Robert Koch. — Leiter: Prof.B. Lange.     

Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Japanese Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

We investigated the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients (n = 1041) were screened for occult HBV. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBc) was determined by various chemiluminescent immunoassays. HBV‐DNA was quantified in patients positive for anti‐HBc using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Among the 1041 patients, six (0.6%) were HBsAg‐positive and 218 (20.9%) were anti‐HBc‐positive. All HBsAg‐positive patients also tested positive for the presence of HBV DNA. Of 212 HBsAg‐negative and anti‐HBc‐positive patients, three were positive for HBV DNA. Our study showed that the prevalence of occult HBV infection in chronic hemodialysis patients from eastern Japan was 0.3%.     

Epidemiological study of fowl glioma-inducing virus in chickens in Asia and Germany

Fowl glioma-inducing virus (FGV), which belongs to avian leukosis virus (ALV) subgroup A, induces fowl glioma. This disease is characterized by multiple nodular gliomatous growths of astrocytes and has been previously reported in Europe, South Africa, Australia, the United States and Japan. FGV and FGV variants have spread to ornamental Japanese fowl, including Japanese bantams (Gallus gallus domesticus), in Japan. However, it is unclear how and where FGV emerged and whether FGV is related to the past fowl glioma in European countries. In this study, the prevalence of FGV in European, Asian and Japanese native chickens was examined. FGV could not be isolated from any chickens in Germany and Asian countries other than Japan. Eighty (26%) out of 307 chickens reared in Japan were positive by FGV-screening nested polymerase chain reaction and 11 FGV variants with an FGV-specific sequence in their 3′ untranslated region were isolated. In addition, four other ALVs lacking the FGV-specific sequence were isolated from Japanese bantams with fowl glioma and/or cerebellar hypoplasia. These isolates were considered to be distinct recombinant viruses between FGV variants and endogenous/exogenous avian retroviruses. These results suggest that the variants as well as distinct recombinant ALVs are prevalent among Japanese native chickens in Japan and that FGV may have emerged by recombination among avian retroviruses in the chickens of this country.     

Liver-specific mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I deficiency in fatal influenza encephalopathy

We report on a 4-year-old boy who died from influenza encephalopathy. The clinical course and microscopic findings of the autopsied liver were compatible with Reye's syndrome. We examined the mitochondrial respiratory chain function by blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), western blotting, and respiratory chain enzyme activity assays. The activity of liver respiratory chain complex (CO) I was markedly decreased (7.2% of the respective control activity); whereas, the other respiratory chain complex activities were substantially normal (CO II, 57.9%; CO III, 122.3%; CO IV, 161.0%). The activities of CO I-IV in fibroblasts were normal (CO I, 82.0%; CO II, 83.1%; CO III, 72.9%; CO IV, 97.3%). The patient was diagnosed with liver-specific complex I deficiency. This inborn disorder may have contributed to the fatal outcome. We propose that relying only on fibroblast respiratory chain complex activities may lead to the misdiagnosis of liver-specific complex I deficiency.     

A case report of ureteropelvic junction obstruction and multiple renal stones associated with nutcracker syndrome

A 20 year-old man presented to emergency room with severe left-sided flank pain. Urinalysis showed hematuria and he was referred to the urology department. KUB, DIP and retrograde pyelography (RP) revealed multiple renal stones, left hydronephrosis (grade 2) and ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Abdominal CT revealed shortened nutcracker distance and renal angiography showed left renal vein hypertension. From these findings, diagnosis of nutcracker syndrome was made. Transposition of the left renal vein, dismembered pyeloplasty and left pyelolithotomy were performed simultaneously. 2 months after the procedure, his symptom and hematuria disappeared. 3 months after the procedure, DIP revealed improvement of hydronephrosis (grade 1) and CT showed elongation of nutcracker distance. In 12 months follow-up, there was no recurrence of symptom and hydonephrosis. To the best our knowledge, there has been no report of UPJO associated with nutcracker syndrome and the simultaneous treatment for the both diseases.