English version of the concluding report published in 2001 by the Advisory Committee on Atopic Dermatitis Severity Classification Criteria of the Japanese Dermatological Association.

The Japanese Dermatological Association established an advisory committee in 1995 to develop a severity scoring system for atopic dermatitis (AD). Its interim and concluding reports were published in Japanese in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology (108: 1491-1496, 1998 and 111: 2023-2033, 2001). Because of the strong demand for an English version, we have decided to publish the reports in English.

English version of the interim report published in 1998 by the members of the Advisory Committee on Atopic Dermatitis Severity Classification Criteria of the Japanese Dermatological Association.

The Japanese Dermatological Association established an advisory committee in 1995 to set up severity scoring systems for atopic dermatitis (AD). Its interim report was published in Japanese in the Japanese Journal of Dermatology (108: 1491-1496, 1998) by Chairman Hikotaro Yoshida. Because of the strong demand for an English version, we have decided to publish the report in English.

Extension of Einstein's viscosity equation to that for concentrated dispersions of solutes and particles.

A viscosity equation for concentrated solutions or suspensions is derived as an extension of Einstein's hydrodynamic viscosity theory for dilute dispersions of spherical particles. The derivation of the equation is based on the calculation of dissipation of mechanical energy into heat in the dispersion, subtracting the energy dissipation in the portion of solutes or particles. The viscosity equation derived thus was well fitted to the viscosity-concentration relationship of the concentrated aqueous solutions of glucose and sucrose.

Theoretical correlation between viscosities at dynamic and steady flow states in Aureobasidium pullulans culture fluids.

For the culture fluid and exopolysaccharide solution of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans in a previous study, the angular frequency dependence of dynamic viscosity is well superimposed on the shear rate dependence of steady flow viscosity. For various polymeric fluids, the superimposition of the dependencies of steady flow viscosity and dynamic viscosity has also been realized. In this study, it is derived that, by assuming the sinusoidal oscillating flow of a viscoelastic fluid, complex viscosity is equivalent to viscosity in a steady flow measurement.

Accumulation of S-2-hydroxyethyl derivatives of L-cysteine and L-homocysteine by a methionine auxotroph of Escherichia coli with the addition of 2-mercaptoethanol to the culture.

We previously reported [J. Biosci. Bioeng.

A modified model for non-newtonian viscosity behavior of Aureobasidium pullulans culture fluid.

The culture fluid of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans and the exopolysaccharide solution obtained by removal of the microbial cells exhibit a marked shear dependence of viscosity. The viscosity in a high shear rate region was a little higher than that predicted by a non-Newtonian viscosity equation derived previously on the basis of the concept of traveling force. In a sample exhibiting such high shear rate dependence, a hydrodynamic effect based on the fluid structure of the binding of contacting polymers and suspended microbial cells on viscosity becomes comparatively significant.

Accumulation of L-cystathionine by an Escherichia coli mutant deficient in cystathionine beta-lyase.

An Escherichia coli mutant deficient in cystathionine beta-lyase was found to accumulate a substance detectable by ninhydrin reaction and chloride platinic acid reaction in its cells (rarely in the culture supernatant) when cultured with a limited amount (50-200 microg/ml) of L-methionine to support the growth. The product was released by freezing treatment and isolated by ion-exchange chromatography (cation exchange resin: Daiaion SK1B). It was identified as L-cystathionine by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, 13C- and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance analyses and high-performance liquid chromatography (as its 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl isothiocyanate derivative).

Characteristic behavior of viscosity and viscoelasticity of Aureobasidium pullulans culture fluid.

Measurements of dynamic viscoelasticity and steady flow viscosity were made for culture fluids obtained by cultivation of Aureobasidium pullulans IAM 5060 with initial pHs of 6 and 7 and for exopolysaccharide (EPS) solutions obtained by removal of microbial cells. The molecular weight of EPS of the pH 6 culture is about 850,000, and that of the pH 7 culture is much larger. In the present study, the complex viscosity shifted to a considerably larger value than that of the steady flow viscosity.

Improvement of foam breaking and oxygen-transfer performance in a stirred-tank fermenter.

This study examined a stirred-tank fermenter (STF) containing low-viscosity foaming liquids with an agitation impeller and foam-breaking impeller mounted on the same shaft. Results showed that the performance of the foam-breaking impeller can be improved by changing a conventional six-blade turbine impeller into a rod impeller as the agitation impeller. The volumetric oxygen-transfer coefficient, kLa, in the mechanical foam-control method (MFM) using a six-blade vaned disk as the foam-breaking impeller in the STF with the rod impeller was approximately five times greater than that of the chemical foam-control method (CFM) adding an anti-foaming agent in the STF with the six-blade turbine impeller.

Finasteride in the treatment of Japanese men with male pattern hair loss.

Finasteride is a type 2 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor that inhibits conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a key mediator of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia). The objective of this study was to identify the optimal dosage of finasteride and to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of Japanese men with male pattern hair loss. In this double- blind randomized study, 414 Japanese men with male pattern hair loss received finasteride 1 mg (n = 139), finasteride 0.

Theoretical and methodological studies of continuous microbial bioreactors.

This article reviews most of the author's studies on process development and reactor design for continuous microbial reactions. (1) Enzyme reactions of growing and non-growing microbial cells immobilized in agar gel beads were analyzed pertaining to the effects of external and internal diffusion of substrate on reaction kinetics. (2) Experimental correlations of production rates of beta-fructosidase and acid phosphatase with dilution rate of continuous culture were simulated based on an operon model for enzyme regulation.