UVA causes specific mutagenic DNA damage through ROS production, rather than CPD formation, in Drosophila larvae.

Evidence is accumulating that ultraviolet A (UVA) plays an important role in photo-carcinogenesis. However, the types of DNA damage involved in the resulting mutations remain unclear. Previously, using Drosophila, we found that UVA from light-emitting diode (LED-UVA) induces double-strand breaks in DNA through oxidative damage in an oxidative damage-sensitive (urate-null) strain.

A novel enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of plasma (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan levels.

The presence of (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan in human plasma is a marker for fungal infections. Currently, the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL)-based assay is widely used for the quantification of plasma (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan. However, it has limitations in clinical use, such as an unstable supply of natural resources, complicated manufacturing process, and low-throughput of the reagents.

Protective role of Galectin-7 for skin barrier impairment in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients have a barrier disorder in association with Th2 dominant skin inflammation. Galectin-7 (Gal-7), a soluble unglycosylated lectin, is highly expressed in the stratum corneum of AD patients. However, the biological significance of increased Gal-7 expression in AD skin lesions remains unclear.

Decreased expression of suprabasin induces aberrant differentiation and apoptosis of epidermal keratinocytes: Possible role for atopic dermatitis.

Background: Suprabasin (SBSN), a secreted protein, is expressed in various epithelial tissues. The role of SBSN in epidermal differentiation and atopic dermatitis (AD) pathology remains largely unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of SBSN on epidermal keratinocytes and its role in AD.

Rare Clinical Course of Immunoglobulin G4-Related Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Multiple Rare Complications.

Immunoglobulin G4- (IgG4-) related inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been recognized as a manifestation of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). We experienced one patient with multiple consecutive manifestations before and after endovascular stent grafting for IgG4-related inflammatory AAA (IAAA). A 71-year-old man was diagnosed with IgG4-RD due to increased IgG4 serum concentration, typical findings of parotid gland biopsy, and periaortitis in another hospital 2 years and 7 months before visiting our hospital.

Clonal change of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with impetigo in Kagawa, Japan.

Recently, the USA300 clone, which is a Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive clonal complex 8-staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV (CC8-IV) community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strain, emerged in community and hospital settings in Japan. Hence, clonal types of CA-MRSA strains are predicted to be changing. Nonetheless, long-term surveillance of CA-MRSA has not been conducted in Japan.