Association of mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphisms with Kawasaki disease in the Japanese.

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis in childhood; its etiology is unknown. The possibility that KD is an infectious disease has been discussed and investigated for decades, in light of the implication that infections are involved in the pathogenesis of KD. Young children rely on their innate immune system for protection against virus and micro-organisms.

The in vitro response of human retinal endothelial cells to cytokines and other chemically active agents is altered by coculture with vitreous-derived hyalocytes.

Background: Ocular angiogenesis is regulated by polypeptides including cytokines, which are known to affect vascular endothelial cells. We have reported that hyalocytes interact with vascular endothelial cells, and some cytokines affect these interactions.

Aims: To determine the effect of various chemically active agents on the viability of endothelial cells alone and cocultured with hyalocytes.

Anti-glutamate receptor antibodies in pediatric enteroviral encephalitis.

In order to better understand enteroviral encephalitis we investigated the clinical symptoms and several disease markers. Between 2000 and 2005 eight patients aged between 9 months and 5 years were admitted to our hospital with one case having sequela. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), serum IL-6, and ferritin were elevated in most of the cases.

Cloning and characterization of cell strains derived from human corneal stroma and sclera.

Purpose: To establish human corneal stroma- and sclera-derived cells as models for studying diseases of the anterior segment of the eye.

Methods: Using a recombinant retrovirus system, we transfected human papilloma virus 16 E6 and E7 (HPV16 E6/E7) into human corneal stroma- and sclera-derived cells. The primary cells and established cell strains were characterized by assessing the mRNA expression of collagen, matrix metalloproteinase, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Characterization of Aspergillus oryzae glycoside hydrolase family 43 beta-xylosidase expressed in Escherichia coli.

This is the first report of glycoside hydrolase family 43 beta-xylosidase from Aspergillus oryzae. To characterize this enzyme, the recombinant enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli. Unlike known beta-xylosidases from fungal origins, the enzyme did not show substrate ambiguity and was stable at alkaline pH.

Sudden unexpected death associated with ileocecal duplication cyst and clinical review.

Duplications of the alimentary tract are very rare. A one-month-old female presented with symptoms of anorexia, vomiting and continuous watery diarrhea. The plain abdominal radiograph showed thickened intestinal wall and signs of small bowel obstruction.

Characterization of recombinant prolyl aminopeptidase from Aspergillus oryzae.

Aims: Prolyl aminopeptidase (PAP) degrades only amino-terminal proline from peptides. The food-grade fungus Aspergillus oryzae produces this enzyme only in small amounts. In this paper, we present efficient production of recombinant PAP with an overexpression system of A.

Activin inhibits cell growth and induces differentiation in human retinoblastoma y79 cells.

Purpose: Activin is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily and exerts certain effects on differentiation and apoptosis. We investigated the effects of activin on retinoblastoma cell line.

Materials And Methods: We used retinoblastoma cell line Y79.

Cloning and characterization of human vitreous tissue-derived cells.

Purpose: Previously, we established a porcine vitreous tissue-derived hyalocyte cell line (PH5) and investigated the regulation of hyaluronan synthesis in these cells by cytokines. The objective of the current study was to establish human vitreous tissue-derived cells and to compare their characteristics with those of PH5 cells.

Methods: Human vitreous specimens from two patients were cultured in the presence of 10% foetal bovine serum and immortalized by infection with human papilloma virus 16 genes E6 and E7.

Detection of MCP-1 and IL-8 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of a child with Miller Fisher syndrome.

We describe an 11-year-old female patient who presented with a 7-day history of diplopia and difficulty walking. On examination she had ataxia, areflexia and ophthalmoplegia, and a diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) was made after the exclusion of other conditions. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin (IL)-8 chemokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were significantly increased in the acute phase.

Trichostatin A-induced TGF-beta type II receptor expression in retinoblastoma cell lines.

Purpose: Retinoblastoma, an intraocular malignant tumor of childhood, is caused by a mutation in the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene RB. Retinoblastoma cells are thought to be resistant to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) because they do not express the TGF-beta type II receptor (TbetaR-II). In several tumor cell lines, trichostatin A (TSA), a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylase, induces expression of the TbetaR-II gene.

Characterization of a neutral ceramidase orthologue from Aspergillus oryzae.

Ceramide is an important molecule not only structurally but also regulationally as a modulator of various cellular events. Ceramidase (CDase) are classified into three different types (acid, alkaline, and neutral CDases). Neutral CDase could play an important role in the regulation of ceramide levels in the extracellular space.

Interactions between vitreous-derived cells and vascular endothelial cells in vitreoretinal diseases.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the roles played by vitreous-derived cells in the pathogenesis of vitreoretinal vascular diseases.

Methods: The vitreous was removed from porcine eyes and small pieces were cultured from which vitreous-derived cells were isolated. Polymerase chain reaction and ELISA were performed to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively.

A mutation in the IL-2 receptor gamma chain gene associated with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency accompanying opisthotonus.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an inherited disease with profoundly defective T cells, B cells, and NK cells. X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) is its most common form. In this report, we describe a 4-month old male with X-SCID who also showed opisthotonic posturing.

Deletion analysis of the promoter of Aspergillus oryzae gene encoding heat shock protein 30.

In order to find a promoter that could be influenced by temperature shift, we explored and isolated an Aspergillus oryzae gene expressed at high temperatures (37-42 degrees C) by the cDNA subtraction method. Of the 96 cDNA clones isolated from the subtraction library, one cDNA clone showed 73% identity with Aspergillus nidulans heat shock protein 30 (hsp30). Based on this, we designated the isolated gene hsp30 of A.

A novel transformation system using a bleomycin resistance marker with chemosensitizers for Aspergillus oryzae.

Aspergillus oryzae is resistant to many kinds of antibiotics, which hampers their use to select transformants. In fact, the fungus is resistant to over 200microg/ml of bleomycin (Bm). By enhancing the susceptibility of A.

Perioperative immune responses in cancer patients undergoing digestive surgeries.

Background: Th1/Th2 cell balance is thought to be shifted toward a Th2-type immune response not only by malignancy but also by surgical stress. The aim of this study was to estimate perioperative immune responses with respect to the Th1/Th2 balance in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods: Ninety-four patients who underwent abdominal surgeries were divided into three groups: gastric resection (n = 40), colorectal resection (n = 34) and hepatic resection (n = 20).

A Case of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis (TINU) Syndrome with High ASLO Titer.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease and the pathogenesis is still unknown. We report a case of TINU syndrome with high ASLO titer. Uveitis improved and urine β2-MG normalized with low dose systemic predonisolone and cyclosporin A.

Characterization of a new acid stable exo-beta-1,3-glucanase of Rhizoctonia solani and its action on microbial polysaccharides.

A new acid stable exo-beta-1,3-glucanase of Rhizoctonia solani purified from a commercial source 'Kitarase-M', by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange and gel filtration methods, had specific activity of 0.26 U/mg protein, Km and Vmax values of 0.78 mg/ml and 0.

Efficient production and partial characterization of aspartyl aminopeptidase from Aspergillus oryzae.

Aims: Aspartyl aminopeptidase (DAP) has a high degree of substrate specificity, degrading only amino-terminal acidic amino acids from peptides. Therefore, attention is focused here on the efficient production of this enzyme by a recombinant Aspergillus oryzae and characterization of its biochemical properties.

Methods And Results: The gene encoding DAP was overexpressed under a taka-amylase gene promoter, with His-tag linker in A.

Colorimetric response to mercury-induced abstraction of triethylene glycol ligands from a gold nanoparticle surface.

A simple method for specific colorimetric sensing of aqueous mercury(II) has been developed by using a gold nanoparticle supported by triethylene glycol ligand (Au:S-EG(3)). The unusual kinetic behavior of the sensing process of Hg(2+) and the TEM images of the Au core, as well as the electrospray ionization mass spectroscopic analysis of the analyte solution, have led us to propose a new color changing mechanism that involves ligand abstraction from a gold surface by Hg(2+).

Nicotine inhibits mineralization of human dental pulp cells.

Nicotine is a major component of tobacco smoke, and signals via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). However, little is known about the effects of nicotine on human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). In this study, we assessed the effects of nicotine on mineralization in HDPCs.

Protective effect of captopril and enalaprilat, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, on para-nonylphenol-induced *OH generation and dopamine efflux in rat striatum.

We recently reported that para-nonylphenol, an environmental chemical, induced hydroxyl radical (*OH) formation in rat striatum. In this study we examined the antioxidant effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (captopril or enalaprilat) on para-nonylphenol (nonylphenol) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+))-induced hydroxyl radical (*OH) formation and dopamine (DA) efflux in extracellular fluid of rat striatum, using a microdialysis technique. para-Nonylphenol clearly enhanced *OH formation and DA efflux induced by MPP(+).