[Comparison of doctor sampling and self-collection of specimens in the same examinee for cervical cytopathology and human papillomavirus testing].

Objectives　The purpose of the study is to compare the results of doctor sampling and self-collection of specimens in the same examinee for cervical cytopathology and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.Methods　Patients who have undergone cervical cancer screening at the four clinics affiliated with the Association for Preventive Medicine of Japan and who consented to participate were included in the study. Approximately one month after undergoing cervical cancer screening at the clinic, we tested a method of self-collection by mailing a Kato-type self-collection container to the participants.

Discovery and dimeric approach of novel Natriuretic Peptide Receptor A (NPR-A) agonists.

Novel agonists of the Natriuretic Peptide Receptor A (NPR-A) were obtained through random screening and subsequent structural modification of triazine derivatives. The key structural feature to improve in vitro activity was the dimerization of triazine monomer derivatives. The non peptide derivative 7c and 13a showed highly potent NPR-A agonistic activity in vitro and diuretic activity in vivo.

Involvement of guanylin and GC-C in rat mesenteric macrophages in resistance to a high-fat diet.

A high-fat diet (HFD) is a well-known contributing factor in the development of obesity. Most rats fed HFDs become obese. Those that avoid obesity when fed HFDs are considered diet resistant (DR).

Ghrelin improves body weight loss and skeletal muscle catabolism associated with angiotensin II-induced cachexia in mice.

Ghrelin is a gastric peptide that regulates energy homeostasis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is known to induce body weight loss and skeletal muscle catabolism through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on body weight and muscle catabolism in mice treated with Ang II.

Restriction of a peptide turn conformation and conformational analysis of guanidino group using arginine-proline fused amino acids: application to mini atrial natriuretic peptide on binding to the receptor.

Compounds (2S,4S)- and (2S,4R)-4-(2'-guanidinoethyl)proline have been synthesized as a conformationally restricted arginine. Their backbones fit the i + 1 position in a turn, and the side chains are restricted compared to that of arginine. These analogues were incorporated into mini atrial natriuretic polypeptide, which has an important turnlike conformation at Gly(6)-Arg(7)()-Met(8)-Asp(9).

Seroepidemiologic studies of serotype VIII group B Streptococcus in Japan.

Levels of antibody to serotype VIII group B Streptococcus (GBS) were surveyed in serum samples from 583 pregnant women, from 461 neonates born to these women, and from 4 mother-and-neonate pairs with early-onset serotype VIII sepsis. Colonization by serotype VIII GBS was associated with significantly higher serum concentrations of serotype-specific antibodies (geometric mean [GM], 5.53 micro g/mL), compared with both noncolonization (1.