Clinical usefulness of serum telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA as a novel tumor marker for lung cancer.

Using a newly developed assay of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in serum by real-time RT-PCR, we previously reported this assay to be superior to other tumor markers for hepatoma. In this study, we aimed to clarify its clinical significance as a biomarker for lung cancer. In 112 patients with lung tumor and 80 individuals without cancer, we measured serum hTERT mRNA and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA levels, using a quantitative one-step real-time RT-PCR assay.

Receptor activator of NF-kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin regulate proinflammatory cytokine production in mice.

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) is a membrane-bound or soluble cytokine essential for osteoclast differentiation, whereas the decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) masks RANKL activity. In mouse serum, both soluble RANKL and OPG are detectable. We observed that mice injected with LPS showed significantly down-regulated serum RANKL levels, whereas serum OPG levels were up-regulated.

Endogenous cannabinoid signaling through the CB1 receptor is essential for cerebellum-dependent discrete motor learning.

Cannabinoids exert their psychomotor actions through the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in the brain. Genetic deletion of CB1 in mice causes various symptoms, including changes in locomotor activity, increased ring catalepsy, supraspinal hypoalgesia, and impaired memory extinction. Although the cerebellar cortex contains the highest level of CB1, severe cerebellum-related functional deficits have not been reported in CB1 knock-out mice.

Naked gene therapy of hepatocyte growth factor for dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is progressive and relapsing disease. To explore the therapeutic effects of naked gene therapy of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on UC, the SRalpha promoter driving HGF gene was intrarectally administered to the mice in which colitis was induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Expression of the transgene was seen in surface epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.

Search for the invisible decay of neutrons with KamLAND.

The Kamioka Liquid scintillator Anti-Neutrino Detector is used in a search for single neutron or two-neutron intranuclear disappearance that would produce holes in the -shell energy level of (12)C nuclei. Such holes could be created as a result of nucleon decay into invisible modes (inv), e.g.

Phase separation in A-site-ordered perovskite manganite LaBaMn2O6 probed by 139La and 55Mn NMR.

139La- and 55Mn-NMR spectra demonstrate that the ground state of the A-site-ordered perovskite manganite LaBaMn2O6 is a spatial mixture of the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic regions, which are assigned to the metallic and the insulating charge ordered state, respectively. This exotic coexisting state appears below 200 K via a first-order-like formation of the antiferromagnetic charge ordered state inside the ferromagnetic metal one. The Mn spin-spin relaxation rate indicates that the ferromagnetic region coexisting with the antiferromagnetic one in LaBaMn2O6 is identical to the bulk ferromagnetic metal phase of the disordered form La0.

Hippocampal CA3 NMDA receptors are crucial for adaptive timing of trace eyeblink conditioned response.

Classical conditioning of the eyeblink reflex is a simple form of associative learning for motor responses. To examine the involvement of hippocampal CA3 NMDA receptors (NRs) in nonspatial associative memory, mice lacking an NR1 subunit selectively in adult CA3 pyramidal cells [CA3-NR1 knock-out (KO) mice] were subjected to eyeblink conditioning paradigms. Mice received paired presentations of an auditory conditioned stimulus (CS) and a periorbital shock unconditioned stimulus (US).

Expression of oxidative stress-related molecules in circulating leukocytes and urine in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Aims: Oxidative stress plays a role in pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis. Expression of oxidative stress-related molecules remains to be clarified.

Methods: 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (4-HHE), catalase, superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase-1, thioredoxin (TRX) in leukocytes and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were examined in 164 persons, including 130 chronic viral hepatitis patients and 34 normal individuals, by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

New labdane diterpenoids from Hyptis fasciculata.

Two new labdane diterpenoids, 15beta-methoxyfaciculatin (1) and 15alpha-methoxyfaciculatin B (2), together with the previously known methoxynepetaefolin (3), were isolated from a methanol extract of the dried aerial parts of a Brazilian medicinal plant, Hyptis faciculata. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Plausible biogenetic correlation between faciculatins and nepetaefolin is briefly discussed.

A randomized, postremission comparison of four courses of standard-dose consolidation therapy without maintenance therapy versus three courses of standard-dose consolidation with maintenance therapy in adults with acute myeloid leukemia: the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group AML 97 Study.

Background: A major concern in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is how to prevent disease recurrences. Although intensive consolidation therapy has proven useful, the effectiveness of maintenance therapy remains controversial.

Methods: Seven hundred eighty-nine patients ages 15-64 (median: 45 yrs) with de novo AML received induction therapy, which consisted of cytosine arabinoside (at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) on Days 1-7) and idarubicin (at a dose of 12 mg/m(2) on Days 1-3).

Experimental investigation of geologically produced antineutrinos with KamLAND.

The detection of electron antineutrinos produced by natural radioactivity in the Earth could yield important geophysical information. The Kamioka liquid scintillator antineutrino detector (KamLAND) has the sensitivity to detect electron antineutrinos produced by the decay of 238U and 232Th within the Earth. Earth composition models suggest that the radiogenic power from these isotope decays is 16 TW, approximately half of the total measured heat dissipation rate from the Earth.

IL-4-producing CD8(+) T cells may be an immunological hallmark of chronic GVHD.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) occurs in approximately 60-80% of those who survive over 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, the pathophysiology of cGVHD is poorly understood. To gain more insight into the immunological mechanism of cGVHD, we examine cytokine production of peripheral blood T cells from 19 patients in the chronic phase of allo-HSCT.

Trapidil enhances the slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium current and suppresses the transient inward current induced by catecholamine in Guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

We examined the electrophysiological effects of trapidil on the ionic currents influencing the repolarization and on the transient inward current (ITi) that can cause triggered arrhythmia using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Trapidil shortened the action potential duration (APD) and increased the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of trapidil on the rapidly and slowly activating components of IK (IKr and IKs, respectively) was studied by the envelope of tails test.

Prospective study of estramustine phosphate for hormone refractory prostate cancer patients following androgen deprivation therapy.

Introduction: Estramustine phosphate (EMP) in combination with other cytotoxic agents has been widely used in clinical trials as an anti-tumor agent for the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). However, few prospective studies have considered the efficacy of EMP monotherapy for HRPC patients following androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), given the availability of methods to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the serum. We therefore initiated a prospective study to determine whether EMP is efficient for HRPC following ADT using changes in PSA levels as the major endpoint.

Serum human telomerase reverse transcriptase messenger RNA as a novel tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: We previously reported the usefulness of a qualified highly sensitive detection method for human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA in serum with 89.7% sensitivity for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we developed a quantitative detection method for serum hTERT mRNA and examined the clinical significance in HCC diagnosis.

Living donor liver transplantation in a recipient with anti-Fy(a) and Jk(a) antibodies.

We report a case of a living donor liver transplantation using right lobe graft to a recipient having anti-Fy(a) and Jk(a) antibodies. The red blood cell (RBC) antigens of the donor were Fy (a+) and Jk (a-). We attempted to eliminate donor RBCs remaining in the graft by perfusing histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate.

Integrinalpha5-dependent fibronectin accumulation for maintenance of somite boundaries in zebrafish embryos.

Boundary formation and epithelialization are crucial processes in the morphological segmentation of vertebrate somites. By a genetic screening procedure with zebrafish, we identified two genes, integrinalpha5 (itga5) and fibronectin (fn), required for these processes. Fibronectin proteins accumulate at somite boundaries in accordance with epithelialization of the somites.

Measurement of neutrino oscillation with KamLAND: evidence of spectral distortion.

We present results of a study of neutrino oscillation based on a 766 ton/year exposure of KamLAND to reactor antineutrinos. We observe 258 nu (e) candidate events with energies above 3.4 MeV compared to 365.

Stereoisomers of 1,3,5,7-tetrahydroxy-1,3,5,7-tetraisopropylcyclotetrasiloxane: synthesis and structures in the crystal.

The first synthesis of all four stereoisomers of 1,3,5,7-tetrahydroxy-1,3,5,7-tetraisopropylcyclotetrasiloxane, [i-PrSiO(OH)]4 (all-trans-, cis-cis-trans-, cis-trans-cis-, and all-cis-1), is presented. The starting compounds, all-trans-, cis-cis-trans-, cis-trans-cis-, and all-cis-1,3,5,7-tetraaryl-1,3,5,7-tetraisopropylcyclotetrasiloxanes, were prepared by the hydrolysis of the corresponding arylisopropyldichlorosilanes, i-PrArSiCl2 (Ar = Ph, p-tolyl), and subsequent separation of isomers. A combination of dephenylchlorination of tetraarylcyclotetrasiloxanes and the following hydrolysis proved to be an efficient method for the stereospecific transformation of aryl-substituted cyclotetrasiloxanes into (i-PrSiO(OH))4.

Multicentric liposarcoma.

Abstract A 72-year-old man complaining of upper abdominal discomfort was diagnosed as having retroperitoneal liposarcoma by means of diagnostic imaging. He then underwent an operation. One mass existed on the curvatura ventriculi major, extending to the hilum splenicum and pressing back the pancreal head and body.

Ischemia of rat stomach mobilizes ECL cell histamine.

Microdialysis was used to study how ischemia-evoked gastric mucosal injury affects rat stomach histamine, which resides in enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells and mast cells. A microdialysis probe was inserted into the gastric submucosa, and the celiac artery was clamped (30 min), followed by removal of the clamp. Microdialysate histamine was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Cytotoxic iridoid aldehydes from Taiwanese Viburnum luzonicum.

Four new iridoid aldehydes bearing (E)- or (Z)-p-coumaroyl group, luzonial A (1), luzonial B (2), luzonidial A (3), and luzonidial B (4), were isolated from a methanol extract of the dried leaves of Viburnum luzonicum collected in Kaoshiung, Taiwan and their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against HeLa S3 cancer cells.

[Significance of tissue thymidine phosphorylase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activities in ovarian cancer].

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) are important enzymes in the pyrimidine salvage pathway. In the meantime, TP and DPD are a converting enzyme of 5'-DFUR to 5-FU and the major catabolic enzyme of 5-FU, respectively. Because little is known about their protein expressions in ovarian cancers, we investigated TP and DPD protein expressions quantitatively in 24 ovarian cancers and their normal counterparts by ELISA.

Iridoid glucosides and p-coumaroyl iridoids from Viburnum luzonicum and their cytotoxicity.

Four new iridoids glucosides (1-4) and seven new iridoid aglycons (5-11) bearing (E)- or (Z)-p-coumaroyl groups were isolated from a methanol extract of the dried leaves of Viburnum luzonicum collected in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. The structures of the new compounds, named luzonoside A (1), luzonoside B (2), luzonoside C (3), luzonoside D (4), luzonoid A (5), luzonoid B (6), luzonoid C (7), luzonoid D (8), luzonoid E (9), luzonoid F (10), and luzonoid G (11), were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with values for previously known analogues. Among the iridoids isolated in the present study, glucosides 1 and 2, and their aglycons 5-9, exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against HeLa S3 cancer cells, whereas 3 and 4 showed no cytotoxicity even at 100 microM.

[Splenic marginal zone lymphoma associated with antiphospholipid antibodies].

A 61-year-old woman experienced a high fever with anemia and APTT prolongation after suffering a herpes zoster virus infection. Physical examination revealed a large splenomegaly without lymphadenopathy. Laboratory evaluations were positive for lupus anticoagulant (LA) and monoclonal IgM-kappa protein.