The inhibitory effect of essential oils on herpes simplex virus type-1 replication in vitro.

The antiviral effect of 12 essential oils on herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) replication was examined in vitro. The replication ability of HSV-1 was suppressed by incubation of HSV-1 with 1% essential oils at 4 C for 24 hr. Especially, lemongrass completely inhibited the viral replication even at a concentration of 0.

Pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane associated with sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To examine retrospectively the visual outcomes in patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes secondary to sarcoid uveitis.

Methods: Eleven consecutive patients (11 eyes) with epiretinal membrane and uveitis associated with sarcoidosis underwent pars plana vitrectomy.

Results: Nine eyes (82%) gained two or more lines of Snellen visual acuity at 1-12 months after surgery.

Putative PIP1 genes isolated from apple: expression analyses during fruit development and under osmotic stress.

To gain insight into the function of plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) genes in apple, two genes, MdPIP1a and MdPIP1b, were isolated. MdPIP1 expression was in accordance with the volume increase during fruit development, which is a loading process of water and solutes. In addition, the expression of MdPIP1 was up-regulated in the stems by osmotic stress.

Investigation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase and transketolase of Bacillus subtilis in relation to vitamin B6 biosynthesis.

In Escherichia coli, 4-(phosphohydroxy)-L-threonine and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate are believed to be direct precursors of vitamin B6 (B6), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (Dxs) and transketolase could catalyze the formation of each precursor. In this report, the possible involvement Dxs and transketolase (Tkt) in B6 biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis was investigated. The gene disruptant of tkt and conditional mutants of dxs were constructed, and their ability of B6 biosynthesis was examined.

Vector potential of cockroaches for Helicobacter pylori infection.

Objectives: The routes of human infection with Helicobacter pylori remain unclear. In the present study, we examined cockroaches as possible vectors for transmission of H. pylori.

Clinical value of FDG-PET in the follow up of post-operative patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: The clinical usefulness of FDG-PET in the follow up of post-operative patients with endometrial cancer was retrospectively evaluated.

Methods: Twenty-one post-operative patients with endometrial cancer received 30 FDG-PET examinations to evaluate recurrence or response to treatment. The findings of FDG-PET were compared with their serum levels of tumor markers, CT and/or MRI findings, and the final outcome.

MRI lesion volume heterogeneity in primary progressive MS in relation with axonal damage and brain atrophy.

Objectives: To investigate whether axonal damage in primary progressive (PP) multiple sclerosis (MS), as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HMRS) imaging and brain atrophy, is a function of T2 weighted brain lesion volume.

Methods: 34 PP MS patients were divided into two categories: low (<3 cm(3), n = 18) or high (>or=3 cm(3), n = 16) T2 lesion load (LL). An Index of Brain Atrophy (IBA) was calculated and HMRS metabolite ratios were derived from a central brain area centred at the corpus callosum.

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils against Helicobacter pylori.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is an important pathogen responsible for gastroduodenal diseases in humans. Although the eradication of H. pylori using antibiotics often improves gastroduodenal diseases, resistance to the antibiotics is emerging.

Growth factor profile of irradiated human dermal fibroblasts using a serum-free method.

Radiation therapy for cancer permanently damages tissue in the line of treatment. This study sought to establish a serum-free protocol to evaluate the growth of irradiated fibroblasts and to analyze the levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) compared with normal fibroblasts. One irradiated cell line of human dermal fibroblasts was established from an intraoperative specimen obtained from a patient who had undergone radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

Enhanced intestinal inflammation induced by dextran sulfate sodium in tumor necrosis factor-alpha deficient mice.

Background And Aims: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. To further define the role of TNF-alpha in intestinal inflammation, we studied the effects of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) administration in mice with targeted deletions of TNF-alpha gene.

Methods: Acute colitis was induced in female TNF-alpha-/- and TNF-alpha+/+ mice by administering 4.

Structure and expression of spermidine synthase genes in apple: two cDNAs are spatially and developmentally regulated through alternative splicing.

Three cDNAs (MdSPDS1, 2a and 2b) encoding spermidine synthase (SPDS), a key enzyme in the polyamine biosynthesis, have been cloned from apple [Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. var.

Enantioselective synthesis of 15-epi-haterumalide NA methyl ester and revised structure of haterumalide NA.

[structure: see text] The enantioselective synthesis of the enantiomer of the haterumalide NA methyl ester, a cytotoxic macrolide from an Okinawan sponge, was achieved from the threitol derivative in 26 steps. The key steps are the stereoselective construction of a chloroolefin unit and the intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction. This synthesis revised the absolute stereochemistry of haterumalide NA.

Nonviral genetic transfer of Fas ligand induced significant growth suppression and apoptotic tumor cell death in prostate cancer in vivo.

To accomplish efficient nonviral gene therapy against prostate cancer (PC), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-based plasmid vectors containing EBNA1 gene and oriP were employed and combined with a cationic polymer or cationic lipid. When EBV-plasmid/poly-amidoamine dendrimer complex was injected into PC-3-derived tumors established in severe combined immunodeficiency mice, a considerable expression of marker gene was obtained in the tumors, and the expression level was more than eight-fold higher than that achieved by conventional plasmid vector/dendrimer. Since most PC cells express the apoptotic signal molecule Fas (Apo-1/CD95) on their surface, Fas ligand (FasL) gene was transferred into PC cells to kill the tumor cells.

Autocrine growth factor production by fetal, keloid, and normal dermal fibroblasts.

Objective: To evaluate differences in fibroblast autocrine growth factor production by human fetal, keloid, and normal adult dermal fibroblasts.

Design: Serum-free cell lines of fetal, keloid, and normal adult dermal fibroblasts were established. Cell counts were performed and supernatants collected at 4, 24, and 72 hours.

Variant heparan sulfates synthesized in developing mouse brain differentially regulate FGF signaling.

Heparan sulfates (HSs) exert critical regulatory actions on many proteins, including growth factors, and are essential for normal development. Variations in their specific sulfation patterns are known to regulate binding and signaling of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) via tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs). We previously reported differences in sulfation patterns between HS species expressed by embryonic day 10 (E10) and E12 mouse neural precursor cells.

Helicobacter pylori infection in mice: Role of outer membrane proteins in colonization and inflammation.

Background & Aims: Mouse models of Helicobacter pylori infection have yielded variable results with respect to colonization and inflammation. We examined whether outer membrane proteins (OMPs) or the cag pathogenicity island (PAI) was responsible for some of this variability.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice received clinical H.

[Usefulness of cardiac troponin I in patients with acute myocardial infarction].

Cardiac troponin(cTn) is a sensitive marker for acute myocardial infarction(AMI). However, some cases of renal failure have been reported to show false positive results for cardiac troponin T(cTnT). Recently, it has been reported that heart-type fatty acid-binding protein(H-FABP) is a sensitive marker for AMI in the early phase.

Antibacterial effect of Kampo herbal formulation Hochu-ekki-to (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang) on Helicobacter pylori infection in mice.

Because Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a major cause of gastroduodenal diseases in humans, the eradication of H. pylori using antibiotics is very effective for the treatment of gastroduodenal diseases.

CD45 fraction bone marrow cells as potential delivery vehicles for genetically corrected dystrophin loci.

Targeted correction of mutations in muscle can be delivered by direct i.m. injection of corrective DNA to the dystrophic muscle or by autologous injection of cells that have been genetically corrected after isolation from the individual with the dystrophic muscle.

Triamcinolone stimulates bFGF production and inhibits TGF-beta1 production by human dermal fibroblasts.

Background: Triamcinolone acetonide has been shown to decrease both cellular proliferation and collagen production by dermal fibroblasts. An alteration of cytokine levels may mediate these effects.

Objective: To delineate the effect of triamcinolone acetonide on both cellular proliferation and the production of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) by human fibroblasts grown in a serum-free in vitro model.

Role of IFN-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

One of the characteristics of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is that recurrent diseases often develop from latent infection established after acute infection. Cytokines have been proposed to play an important role in each stage of HSV-1 infection, but the exact role of cytokines remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in acute infection and reactivation using IFN-gamma gene knockout (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mice and TNF-alpha gene knockout (TNF-alpha(-/-)) mice.

Post-partum thyroiditis in a mediterranean population: a prospective study of a large cohort of thyroid antibody positive women at the time of delivery.

Post-partum thyroiditis (PPT) is a common disease with important clinical sequelae. Its clinical features, association with antimicrosomal antibodies (TPOAb) and long-term prognosis are not thoroughly described in Mediterranean populations. The aims of this study were: 1) to describe clinical features of PPT in a Greek population, 2) to associate TPOAb with PPT presence, and 3) to identify long-term prognosis of PPT.

Effect of gravity change on the production of thrombopoietic growth factors.

It is reported that the stay in the space develops anemia, thrombocytopenia, and altered function and structure of red blood cell. The mechanism of these abnormalities was not clarified yet. The cloning of the thrombopoietin (TPO), followed by the analysis of TPO and c-mpl (its cellular receptor) knockout mice confirmed its role as the primary regulator of thrombopoiesis.