[Discrimination of psychoactive fungi (commonly called "magic mushrooms") based on the DNA sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region].

'Magic mushrooms' (MMs) are psychoactive fungi containing the hallucinogenic compounds, psilocin (1) and psilocybin (2). Since June 6, 2002, these fungi have been regulated by the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law in Japan. Because there are many kinds of MMs and they are sold even as dry powders in local markets, it is very difficult to identify the original species of the MMs by morphological observation.

Double-chelation-assisted Rh-catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation.

[reaction: see text] Rh-Catalyzed intermolecular hydroacylation between salicylaldehydes and 1,5-hexadienes proceeded under remarkably mild reaction conditions to afford a mixture of iso- and normal-hydroacylated products in good yields. The experiments using deuterated salicylaldehyde-d revealed that "double chelation" of salicylaldehyde and 1,5-hexadiene to Rh-complex played vital roles in the catalytic cycle of intermolecular hydroacylation.

Bone development in neurofibromatosis 1.

Bony abnormalities are common findings in cases of neurofibromatosis 1. We might hypothesize that neurofibromin, the protein encoded by the neurofibromatosis 1 gene, plays important roles in bone development. Loss of function of oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein gene and increased activity of ras p21 might increase the level of c-fos proto-oncogene in bones with formation of fibrous dysplasia-like tissue.

Bacopasides III-V: three new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monniera.

Three new saponins, designated as bacopasides III, IV and V have been isolated from Bacopa monniera WETTST. and their structures have been elucidated as 3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl jujubogenin (1), 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl jujubogenin (2) and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl pseudojujubogenin (3) mainly on the basis of two dimensional (2D) NMR and other spectral analyses.

A new acylated flavonol glycoside from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica.

A new acylated flavonol glycoside was isolated from the leaves of Eriobotrya japonica along with two known flavonol glycosides. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic investigation.

New phenylethanoid glycosides from Bacopa monniera.

Three new phenylethanoid glycosides, viz. monnierasides I-III (1-3) along with the known analogue plantainoside B were isolated from the glycosidic fraction of Bacopa monniera. Their structures were elucidated mainly on the basis of two dimensional (2D) NMR spectral analyses.

Biomechanical evaluation of reconstructed lumbosacral spine after total sacrectomy.

When a sacral tumor involves the first sacral vertebra, total sacrectomy is necessary. It is mandatory to reconstruct the continuity between the spine and the pelvis after total sacrectomy. In this study, strain and stress on the instruments and the bones were evaluated for two reconstruction methods: a modified Galveston reconstruction (MGR) and a triangular frame reconstruction (TFR).

Structure of DNA adduct formed with aminophenylnorharman, being responsible for the comutagenic action of norharman with aniline.

A mutagenic heterocyclic amine (HCA), 9-(4'-aminophenyl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (aminophenylnorharman, APNH), is produced in the presence of S9 mix by the reaction of norharman and aniline, both of which are nonmutagenic and abundantly present in our environment. It has been previously reported that APNH-DNA adducts were detected in DNA of Salmonella typhimurium strain incubated with APNH and S9 mix. In the present study, we examined the structures of APNH-DNA adducts using the (32)P-postlabeling method and various spectrometry techniques.

Antitumor-promoting constituents from Dioscorea bulbifera L. in JB6 mouse epidermal cells.

An antitumor-promoting effect was found in the extracts/ingredients of a plant used as a traditional medicine in mainland China, using the neoplastic transformation assay of mouse epidermal JB6 cell lines. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of 75% ethanol extract of the rhizomes of Dioscorea bulbifera L. showed an inhibitory effect against the tumor promotion of JB6 (Cl 22 and Cl 41) cells induced by a promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).

Intramolecular reaction of a phenonium ion. Novel lactonization of 4-aryl-5-tosyloxypentanoates and 4-aryl-5-tosyloxyhexanoates concomitant with a phenyl rearrangement.

The novel lactonizations of methyl 4-aryl-5-tosyloxypentanoate 1 and 4-aryl-5-tosyloxyhexanoate 3 concomitant with a phenyl rearrangement are reported. The lactonizations were promoted by silica gel or heating in various solvents. By examining the effects of substituents of the aromatic ring on the reactivity, it was found that the reaction proceeded via a phenonium ion.

Hypophosphatemic osteomalacia in neurofibromatosis 1: hypotheses for pathogenesis and higher incidence of spinal deformity.

Osteomalacia is rarely encountered in association with neurofibromatosis 1, characterized by phosphate loss in the urine and its pathogenesis is still unknown. Incidence of spinal deformities in cases of neurofibromatosis 1 associated with osteomalacia seems to be high. Spinal deformities are unlikely to be due to osteomalacia itself.

Regeneration of hippocampal pyramidal neurons after ischemic brain injury by recruitment of endogenous neural progenitors.

The adult brain is extremely vulnerable to various insults. The recent discovery of neural progenitors in adult mammals, however, raises the possibility of repairing damaged tissue by recruiting their latent regenerative potential. Here we show that activation of endogenous progenitors leads to massive regeneration of hippocampal pyramidal neurons after ischemic brain injury.

Thyroid cancer spinal metastases: report on 25 operations in 14 patients.

This study reviewed 14 patients with thyroid cancer spinal metastases treated between December 1984 and July 2000. In total the 14 patients had undergone 25 operations (average 1.8 operations/patient).

Healing of autologous bone in a titanium mesh cage used in anterior column reconstruction after total spondylectomy.

Study Design: Autologous bone inside a titanium mesh cage, used as an anterior strut in a reconstruction after total spondylectomy, was histologically examined in a postmortem specimen.

Objectives: To determine whether the autologous bone inside the titanium mesh cage attained fusion and remodeling in a combined reconstruction, consisting of an anterior titanium mesh cage with posterior multilevel instrumentation, after total spondylectomy.

Summary Of Background Data: There are few previous reports on the histologic analysis of the bone inside a titanium mesh cage when it is used clinically as an anterior column support in a spinal fusion.

The role of neurofibromin and melatonin in pathogenesis of pseudarthrosis after spinal fusion for neurofibromatous scoliosis.

We might hypothesize that the high rate of pseudarthrosis after spinal fusion for neurofibromatous scoliosis is related to two factors: the absence of neurofibromin and melatonin deficiency. Loss of the up-regulation of neurofibromin during the healing process might abolish the bone-forming effects mediated through platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1. The absence of neurofibromin might cause an increase in the Ras activity that increases the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with resultant disturbance of the regulatory mechanism of core binding transcription factor (Cbfa 1) and increase of osteocalcin.

Selective proteasomal dysfunction in the hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemia.

Delayed neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemia may share its underlying mechanism with neurodegeneration and other modes of neuronal death. The precise mechanism, however, remains unknown. In the postischemic hippocampus, conjugated ubiquitin accumulates and free ubiquitin is depleted, suggesting impaired proteasome function.

Cardiac arrest cerebral ischemia model in mice failed to cause delayed neuronal death in the hippocampus.

Global cerebral ischemia models for genetically engineered mice are of particular importance for the study of delayed neuronal death, but have been complicated by variability of vascular anatomy. Here we developed a 5-min cardiac arrest model that was not affected by vascular anatomy, and evaluated the hippocampal neuronal injury in BL/6 and SV129 mice. Despite prolonged anoxic depolarization for approximately 7 min, however, no consistent ischemic neuronal injury was noted in the CA1 sector of the hippocampus in both strains.

Results of multimodality therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of maxillary sinus.

Background: A wide variety of modalities, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, alone or in combination, have been used for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary sinus to obtain better local control and maintain functions. However, there is still much controversy with regard to the optimum treatment.

Methods: From 1987 to 1999, 33 patients with SCC of maxillary sinus were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tokyo Hospital.

New phenolic constituents from Smilax bracteata.

From the methanol extract of Smilax bracteata rhizomes, six new phenolic compounds, (2S,3S)-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-6-methyl-3'-methoxy-3,7,3'-trihydroxyflavan (1), (2S,3S)-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-6-methyl-4'-methoxy-3,7,4'-trihydroxyflavan (2), 3beta-(3',5'-dihydroxyphenyl)-2alpha-(4' '-hydroxyphenyl)dihydrobenzofuran-5-carbaldehyde (3), (1-p-O-coumaroyl-6-O-feruroyl)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (4), (1-p-O-coumaroyl-3,6-di-O-feruroyl)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (5), and (6-O-feruroyl)-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(6-O-acetyl)-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (6) were isolated together with five known compounds. Their structures were established by spectral data interpretation.

Interaction of dinotefuran and its analogues with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of cockroach nerve cords.

To investigate the action of dinotefuran (MTI-446, 1-methyl-2-nitro-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl)guanidine), a recently developed insecticide, on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), we determined the potencies of the compound and 15 analogues in inhibiting the specific binding of [3H]epibatidine (EPI), a nAChR agonist, and [3H]alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BGT), a competitive nAChR antagonist, to the nerve cord membranes of American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana). Racemic dinotefuran inhibited [3H]EPI binding with an IC50 of 890 nM and [3H]alpha-BGT binding with an IC50 of 36.1 microM.

Tumor growth potential after tumoral and instrumental contamination: an in-vivo comparative study of T-saw, Gigli saw, and scalpel.

In the field of spinal tumors, intralesional tumor cutting is sometimes inevitable. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential for tumor growth after intralesional cutting by T-saw, Gigli saw, and scalpel. Tumors, prepared by the subcutaneous injection of human HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells in nude mice, were harvested and cut with a T-saw, Gigli saw, or scalpel.

Radiation-induced apoptosis of oligodendrocytes in the adult rat brain.

Although radiation injuries to the brain are well documented, immediate early histological changes in the brain remain to be defined. The present study characterizes glial injury provoked in adult rat white matter within 24 h after a single irradiation of the whole brain (10 or 20 Gray). Irradiated brains were histologically and histochemically analyzed.