Prevalence of specific allergic diseases in school children as related to parental atopy.

Background: Our objective was to investigate the influence of parental allergy on the manifestations and course of allergic disease in children.

Methods And Results: A total of 15,234 school children aged 6 and 9 years were evaluated by means of questionnaires completed by their parents in a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tokushima, Japan. The prevalence and relative risk ratio (RRR) for parental allergy in children with atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis were 6.

Endogenous interleukin-8 (IL-8) surge in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced peripheral blood stem cell mobilization.

The relationship between stem cell mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and the endogenous production of interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was studied in normal donors for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation. G-CSF was administered to 20 normal donors at a dose of 10 microg/kg/d for 5 days with aphereses on days 5 and 6 of G-CSF treatment. Cytokine serum levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and during G-CSF treatment.

Novel B-ring modified combretastatin analogues: syntheses and antineoplastic activity.

A series of B-ring modified combretastatin analogues were synthesized and their inhibitory activity against microtubule assembly, cytotoxic activity against Colon 26 adenocarcinoma cancer cell line were evaluated. Among these, pyridone derivative (19) showed strong antimitotic activity and cytotoxicity, along with excellent water-solubility.

Syntheses and antitumor activity of cis-restricted combretastatins: 5-membered heterocyclic analogues.

A series of cis-restricted combretastatin analogues with 5-membered heterocycles were synthesized and their inhibitory activity against microtubule assembly and cytotoxic activity against the colon 26 adenocarcinoma cancer cell line were evaluated. Some of the heterocyclic analogues showed potent antitubulin activity and cytotoxicity. Compounds 16 and 35 showed marked tumor growth suppression in the colon 26 murine tumor model.

Clinically applicable bulk isolation of blood CD34+ cells for autografting in children.

CD34+ cells were purified in bulk from apheresis-collected cells of children with cancer using monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and magnetic beads (Baxter ISOLEX system). To improve the purity of the final product for possibly better tumor cell purging and to make the manufacturer's original procedure more cost-effective, we incubated the cells for 30 min with l-phenylalanine methylester hydrochloride (PME) to reduce the cell number by removing contaminating granulocytes and monocytes in the initial step before incubation with MoAb. Our modification prevented nonspecific interactions between MoAb and magnetic beads, and thereby saved expensive materials for purification.

Selection of DNA binding sites for human transcriptional regulator GATA-6.

The DNA-binding sites for transcriptional regulator GATA-6 were selected and amplified by means of a PCR-mediated random-site selection method involving filter binding and gel-mobility shift analysis using the zinc finger region of human GATA-6 fused with GST. Sequencing and comparison of the selected clones suggested that (A/T/C)GAT(A/T)(A) is the consensus binding sequence, which is similar to the GATA motif (A/T)GATA(A/G) and the gastric motif (G/C)PuPu(G/C)NGAT(A/T)PuPy. GATA-6 also binds to a similar sequence containing the GATC but not the GATG sequence.

Intra-apheresis recruitment of blood progenitor cells in children.

Background: Determination of the optimal duration of apheresis requires a careful examination of blood progenitor cell (BPC) kinetics during apheresis. Intra-apheresis recruitment of BPCs should be evaluated.

Study Design And Methods: Twenty-six apheresis procedures were performed in 13 children with various malignant disorders (ages, 10 months to 17 years; median, 7 years) to collect BPCs for autologous transplant, using a blood cell separator with 2 to 5.

Change and behavior of residual mercury in paddy soils and rice of Japan.

Paddy soils collected near Agano River, Niigata Prefecture in Japan. Agano River is located on an attack area of Niigata-Minamata disease. Soil samples were collected from 122 sites in 1989 and 120 sites in 1997.

[Postoperative analgesic effects of epidural bolus administration of bupivacaine and morphine in patients after vaginal hysterectomy and vaginoplasty].

This study was conducted to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effects of epidural bolus administration of bupivacaine and morphine in patients after vaginal hysterectomy and vaginoplasty. A total of 100 patients who had received the elective vaginal hysterectomy and vaginoplasty were investigated retrospectively by separating them into two groups. Fifty patients who had received epidural analgesics (E group) showed significantly lower pain scores for 12 hrs after the surgery compared with 50 patients who had received intramuscular buprenorphine hydrochloride (C group).

Novel combretastatin analogues effective against murine solid tumors: design and structure-activity relationships.

A series of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) analogues were synthesized, and their cytotoxic effects against murine Colon 26 adenocarcinoma and inhibitory activity on tubulin polymerization were evaluated. Since CA-4 has limited aqueous solubility, the target compounds were designed to improve solubility by introduction of a nitrogen-containing group. Among the compounds synthesized, those with an amino moiety in place of the phenolic OH of CA-4 showed potent antitubulin activity and cytotoxicity against murine Colon 26 adenocarcinoma in vitro.

Variable gene segment-specific N-insertions at the signal joint of T-cell receptor Vbeta-Dbeta recombinations.

The V(D)J recombination of immunoglobulin and a T-cell receptor generates two species of DNA junctions, a coding joint and a signal joint. Non-templated nucleotides (N-nucleotides) are inserted in these DNA junctions. We analyzed the N-insertion at signal joints generated by the Vbeta-Dbeta recombinations.

Treatment of hepatic metastasis of the colon26 adenocarcinoma with an alpha-galactosylceramide, KRN7000.

Colorectal liver metastasis is clinically a major problem. We examined the antitumor activity of KRN7000, an alpha-galactosylceramide, on mice with liver metastases of adenocarcinoma Colon26 cells. KRN7000 treatment, beginning 1 day after tumor inoculation (day 1), significantly inhibited tumor growth in the liver, and its potency was equal to that of interleukin 12.

Total mercury intake from fish and shellfish by Japanese people.

Elevated mercury concentrations have been reported in fish in recent years. Japanese people eat a great deal of raw fishes and shellfishes as "Sashimi" and "Sushi". The action level of large predatory fish such as tuna with total mercury levels exceeding the Japanese maximum permitted limit of 0.

CD1d-restricted and TCR-mediated activation of valpha14 NKT cells by glycosylceramides.

Natural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes express an invariant T cell antigen receptor (TCR) encoded by the Valpha14 and Jalpha281 gene segments. A glycosylceramide-containing alpha-anomeric sugar with a longer fatty acyl chain (C26) and sphingosine base (C18) was identified as a ligand for this TCR. Glycosylceramide-mediated proliferative responses of Valpha14 NKT cells were abrogated by treatment with chloroquine-concanamycin A or by monoclonal antibodies against CD1d/Vbeta8, CD40/CD40L, or B7/CTLA-4/CD28, but not by interference with the function of a transporter-associated protein.

Gastric GATA-6 DNA-binding protein: proteolysis induced by cAMP.

The rat gastric GATA DNA-binding protein, GATA-6 (GATA-GT1), was stably expressed in CHO-K1 cells. The GATA-6 protein was localized in the nucleus but not in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, when cells were treated with dibutyryl cAMP, the GATA-6 protein was specifically degraded.

[Concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in blood of 83 patients with Yusho].

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) and total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyzed in blood samples from 83 Yusho patients and 39 normal control subjects in 1995. The average concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and Co-PCBs in the blood of Yusho patients were 14, 128 and 14 pg toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ)/g, lipid, respectively. The levels of these compounds in the blood of normal subjects were 14, 10 and 8 pg/g lipid, respectively.

Geographical distribution and background levels of total mercury in air in Japan and neighbouring countries.

Concentrations of total atmospheric mercury were determined in air collected from several locations in Japan and neighbouring countries to elucidate the geographical distribution and the background levels of total mercury in environmental air. The concentrations of mercury in urban air in Japan were 2.3-67 ng/m3, mean value 11.

Tendency toward atopy in Kawasaki disease.

Unlabelled: To evaluate the possible trend towards developing allergic disease in children who had suffered from Kawasaki disease (KD), we evaluated data related to allergy that were collected by parental questionnaire on 1,165 children who had suffered from KD. Comparisons were made with 5,825 sex- and age-matched control children. The incidence of household pets and of cigarette smoking in the family were significantly lower in the children with a history of KD than in those of control children.

Characteristic evoked potentials in childhood-onset dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy.

To determine the characteristics of multimodal evoked potentials (MEPs) in childhood-onset dentatorubral-palli-doluysian atrophy (DRPLA) we studied three DRPLA patients with progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials showed reduced or absent brainstem components as well as delayed latencies. In addition, short latency somatosensory evoked potentials (S-SEPs) had prolonged central conduction time and reduced amplitude of cortical components.

Purification and characterization of two lectins from calllus of Helianthus tuberosus.

Two lectins were purified from Helianthus tuberosus callus by maltose affinity chromatography and subsequent preparative electrophoresis. The lectins were designated HTA I and HTA II and their molecular masses were about 34 kDa by gel-filtration chromatography. A single band of 17 kDa and bands of 17 kDa and 18 kDa were detected after SDS-PAGE of HTA I and HTA II, respectively, indicating that HTA I is a homodimer while HTA II is a heterodimer.

Potentiation of antitumor and antimetastatic activities of adriamycin by a novel N-alkylated dihydropyridine, AC394, and its enantiomers in colon cancer-bearing mice.

Purpose: We have previously shown that a series of N-alkylated 1,4-dihydropyridines potentiate the therapeutic efficacy of vincristine in vincristine-resistant P388 leukemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of one of the compounds, AC394, and its enantiomers to potentiate the antitumor activity of adriamycin against colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: The effects of AC394 on potentiation of adriamycin cytotoxicity and enhancement of its accumulation were evaluated using colon 26, HCT-15 and MCF-7 cells.

Collection and transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells in very small children weighting 20 kg or less.

The safety and efficacy of harvesting peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells (PBSC) were evaluated in 38 children weighing 20 kg or less, with the smallest patient weighing 7 kg. The patients had a median age of 42 months and included 26 children with acute leukemias or lymphoma and 12 with various solid tumors. A total of 81 aphereses were performed, mostly in the recovery phase of chemotherapy, with or without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, using a CS-3000 cell separator and regular procedure no.

Studies on the levels in atmospheric concentrations of mercury in Japan.

Several factors that influence the total mercury levels in atmosphere concentrations of mercury in Japan were investigated. The daily variation in the mercury content of air was ascribed to daily temperature differences. The maximum amount of mercury in air was found at about 1:00 pm; much smaller amounts were found in the morning and in the evening.

Estimation of 1992-1993 dietary intake of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in Fukuoka, Japan.

To estimate Japanese daily intakes of organochlorine pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDTs), dieldrin (aldrin), heptachlor-epoxide (heptachlor), and hexachlorobenzenes (HCBs) from foods, fish, fish products, meat, eggs, milk, and milk products were analyzed as major sources of these pesticides in the diet. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) per person were 0.56 microgram for total HCH, 0.