Correlation between quantified promoter methylation and enzymatic activity of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in glioblastomas.

The DNA repair protein O (6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT, AGT) is a determinant of the resistance of tumor cells to alkylating anticancer agents that target the O(6) position of guanine. MGMT promoter methylation in tumors is regarded as the most common predictor of the responsiveness of glioblastoma to alkylating agents. However, MGMT promoter methylation status has been investigated mainly by methylation-specific PCR, which is a qualitative and subjective assay.

Mental health status of municipal solid waste incinerator workers compared with local government office workers.

Recently in Japan dioxin problem of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) became social issue. The news spread all around Japan and induced fear that workers at incinerators would suffer from cancer or other serious illness induced by the exposure to dioxins. Authors were interested in the effect of this stressful event occurred to the workers and intended to evaluate mental health status of MSWI workers compared with office workers.

FR258900, a novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor isolated from Fungus No. 138354. II. Anti-hyperglycemic effects in diabetic animal models.

A novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor FR258900 was isolated from the cultured broth of a fungal strain No. 138354. We examined the hypoglycemic effects of FR258900 in diabetic animal models.

FR258900, a novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor isolated from Fungus No. 138354. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities.

FR258900 is a novel glycogen synthesis activator produced by Fungus No. 138354. This compound was isolated from the culture broth by solvent extraction and reverse-phase column chromatography.

Increased oxidative stress in obesity and its impact on metabolic syndrome.

Obesity is a principal causative factor in the development of metabolic syndrome. Here we report that increased oxidative stress in accumulated fat is an important pathogenic mechanism of obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. Fat accumulation correlated with systemic oxidative stress in humans and mice.

[Efficacy of influenza vaccine for young children in Mie Prefecture in the 1999/2000 prevalent season].

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to investigate the efficacy and safety of influenza HA vaccine for children between 1 and 6 years of age in Mie Prefecture during the 1999/2000 prevalent season.

Methods: We surveyed clinical data for children aged between 1 to 6 who visited five clinics in Mie Prefecture. Dividing them into vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, we surveyed their basic properties, disease histories and manifestation of symptoms.

[Poliovirus uptake into and excretion from oysters: a model experiment for elimination of Norwalk-like viruses from oysters].

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis caused by Norwalk-like viruses are often induced by the consumption of raw shellfish such as oysters. Incidences reach a peak during the cold season in Japan, when seawater temperatures fall below 10 degrees C. We investigated oysters' uptake and excretion of viruses, over varying lengths of exposure, monitoring the effects of changes in temperature and flow rate of seawater, and the presence of plankton.

[Construction and application of an information transfer system on prevalence of infectious disease for subscriber in a regional medical association].

Purpose: To assess the utility of an e-mail information exchange system, for subscription by members of a regional medical association, focusing on surveillance of infectious disease.

Methods: Questionnaires regarding addition to the mailing list were first addressed to all 474 members of Yokkaichi regional medical association. After management for about three months, questionnaires focused on utility and application of the system were mailed out.

[Contamination of oyster sea farm with the Norwalk virus: mechanisms and control].

The Norwalk virus(NV) is widely known as a cause of nonbacterial food poisoning, infant diarrhea, and acute gastroenteritis in the winter months between November and March. While it is strongly suspected that NV that is excreted by humans flows into coastal seawaters via rivers and wastewater treatment facilities to contaminate oysters that are grown in farms in the area, light has yet to be shed on the behavior of this virus in the natural environment. We therefore conducted a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey of NV levels in the aquatic environment of the oyster bed area of the Shima region in Mie Prefecture, whereupon the NV was detected in marine sediment, oysters, and mule clams even during the summer months, when food poisoning is infrequent.