Direct Observation of a Cyclic Vinyl Polymer Prepared by Anionic Polymerization using N‐Heterocyclic Carbene and Subsequent Ring‐Closure without Highly Diluted Conditions

A 1:1 adduct of methyl sorbate (MS) and 1,3‐di‐tert‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (NHCtBu) initiates anionic polymerization of a nonconjugated polar alkene, allyl methacrylate (AMA) in toluene at ?20 °C. After the monomer is consumed quantitatively using a bulky aluminum Lewis acid, methylaluminum bis(2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenoxide) (MAD), as an additive, successive ring‐closure occurs without highly dilute conditions to give a cyclic poly(AMA) containing α‐terminal MS unit, and an M_n of 8.8 × 10³?58.5 × 10³ with a narrow molecular dispersity index (M_w/M_n = 1.1₄–1.3₇). The lack of a need for dilution is due to the fact that an α‐terminal NHCtBu group is acting as the counter cation for the propagating center in the polymerization. From ¹H NMR and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectra, combined with transmittance electron microscope (TEM) observation of a synthesized poly(AMA) with longer alkyl side chains prepared via a thiol‐ene click reaction, it is concluded that once the monomer is consumed, nucleophilic attack at the neighboring methine of the α‐terminal NHCtBu residue by the propagating anionic center causes ring‐closing to cyclic poly(AMA).     

A study on personal information system using movable media for effective welfare services]

A data system which enables utilization of individual patient data by public health nurses, physicians and home helpers, is required both for the continuous and comprehensive monitoring of the various needs of the aged receiving care services at home in the local district and for facilitating welfare services. Therefore, an experimental and comprehensive system for public health, medical services and welfare was put into practice for district public health services for the aging society. The results of this trial system shows that this system is useful indeed for the welfare services, though it also has several problems.     

Clinical usefulness of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) for elderly in memory clinic]

To investigate the usefulness of the frontal assessment battery (FAB) as a brief assessment for diagnosis in patients with dementia, we examined cognitive function using the FAB, Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Kana-hiroi test, and Raven's colored progressive matrices (RCPM). Subjects were 82 senile patients having amnesia as a complaint including 28 Alzheimer's disease (AD), 14 frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 17 vascular dementia (VD), 13 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 10 healthy persons. We discussed the difference of scores in different types of dementia. In the FAB, the scores of healthy persons and MCI were much higher compared with the scores of all types of dementia. There were high correlation between FAB and MMSE, Kana-hiroi test, and RCPM. Although some subjects showed normal score in MMSE and/or RCPM, they showed low score in FAB. Based on this, FAB is efficient for the differential diagnosis of dementia as brief screening tool.     

A hole in the T cell repertoire specific for a pigeon cytochrome c related peptide associated with amino acid substitutions on I-Ab molecules.

When C57BL/10(B10) mice were immunized with a pigeon cytochrome c related peptide, 50V (AEGFSYTVANKNKGIT), two helper T cell populations with different specificity were activated. A major T cell population reacted with a 50V analog, 50V54A (AEGFSYTVANKAKGIT), more potently than with the immunogen, 50V, in a heteroclitic fashion, whereas the other minor T cell population responded only to 50V. By contrast, when bm12 mice were immunized with 50V, the minor T cell population responding only to 50V could hardly be demonstrated. The apparent deletion of the minor T cell population in bm12 mice seems to be attributable to negative selection under the influence of I-Abm12 molecules, since the minor T cell population was undetectable in both I-Ab and I-Abm12 restricted T cells from (B10 x bm12)F1 mice. Thus, three mutant points on the I-A molecule in bm12 mice appear to be involved in the seemingly negative selection of the certain T cell repertoire. The present finding demonstrates that a T cell repertoire generated under the influence of a MHC product (Ab) on one parental strain is eliminated by a different MHC product (Abm12) on the other parental strain of F1 cross. The mechanism underlying the apparent negative selection is discussed.     

Acute myocardial infarction: comparison of results of Tl-201, Tc-99m pyrophosphate and In-111 antimyosin Fab imagings]

To evaluate the extent and characteristics of infarct areas, we performed indium-111 monoclonal antimyosin Fab (InAM), thallium-201 (TL) and Tc-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) imagings in 17 patients with acute myocardial infarction, and tried to find out the mechanism that causes difference of these imagings. In each study, the extent scores as an index of the infarct area were obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and comparisons were made between the results obtained. The overlap between InAM and TL imagings obtained by SPECT was evaluated. Location, severity, extent and patterns of accumulation were compared between InAM and PYP with both planar image and SPECT. The extent scores of InAM correlated well with those of TL (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). However, the overlap of both methods was recognized in 8 of 17 patients, in whom wall thickness of the infarct area as obtained by echocardiography was well preserved. The left ventricular regional asynergy was mild in 6 of these 8 patients. Coronary angiography showed poor or no collateral circulation in these cases. Although there were generally close correlations of the extent scores between InAM and PYP, discrepancy was noted in 2 cases for location; 2 for severity, 5 for extent, and 3 for patterns of accumulation. These differences may be attributed to the timings of imaging, coronary reperfusion and different mechanisms of accumulation. In conclusion, the extent of acute myocardial infarction obtained by InAM correlates well with those obtained by TL and PYP, with some exceptions.     

Quartromicin, a complex of novel antiviral antibiotics. I. Production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and antiviral activity.

A strain of Amycolatopsis orientalis No. Q427-8 (ATCC 53884) was found to produce a complex of new antiviral antibiotics, quartromicin which consisted of at least six components A1, A2, A3, D1, D2 and D3. Structural studies suggested that they are a novel type of molecules unrelated to any known antibiotics. Each component of quartromicin exhibited antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1, influenza virus type A and human immunodeficiency virus.     

Synaptonemal complex analysis in spermatocytes and oocytes of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Pisces,Salmonidae): the process of autosome and sex chromosome synapsis

The surface-spreading synaptonemal complex (SC) technique was employed to analyze spermatocytes and oocytes of rainbow trout in order to visualize the process of autosome and sex chromosome synapsis in this species. The structure of lateral elements (LEs) of the SC and the chromosome synapsis process at the stages of leptotene, zygotene and pachytene are described. Comparative analysis of SCs of spermatocytes and oocytes showed a difference in the synaptic process, i.e. in spermatocytes all LEs were synapsed before the appearance of centromeric regions in the biarmed elements, while in the oocytes some fully synapsed LEs, including the centromeric region of the biarmed elements, were found together with fully or partially unsynapsed LEs. In males the sex chromosome synapsis starts only after all autosomes have synapsed. Irregular synapses involving three or four LEs were found in 3.4% of the cells analyzed in mid or late zygotene. Multivalents were found in males and females. Some aspects of initial meiotic development and their implications in rainbow trout cytogenetics, genetics and evolution are discussed.     

Bronchial granular cell tumor with osteopontin and osteonectin expression: a case report

The case of a 52-year-old Japanese man with bronchial granular cell tumors with osteopontin and osteonectin expression is reported here because there have been few investigations of their expression in benign tumors. He was admitted because of sudden hematemesis. A bronchoscopic examination revealed a lobulated polypoid tumor located in the left and right bronchi. Histologically, most tumor cells had abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and were immunoreactive for S-100, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CD68 and vimentin. Moreover, osteopontin-positive tumor cells were randomly distributed in the tumor tissue, but few stromal cells were positive. In contrast, osteonectin was mainly expressed in the peripheral tumor cells and was also distributed in the stromal cells. Blood vessels at the tumor border in which osteonectin-positive tumor cells were distributed, proliferated moderately. These results suggest that osteopontin and osteonectin may play a role in the progression of granular cell tumors and in the interaction between the tumor and host or angiogenesis around the tumor, respectively.