Varicella-zoster virus-associated fulminant hepatitis following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Disseminated visceral varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection rarely occurs in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). To date, only a few cases of isolated VZV-induced fulminant hepatitis following allo-HSCT have been reported. We herein describe the case of a 47-year-old Japanese man with multiple myeloma who developed fulminant hepatitis 17 months after undergoing allo-HSCT.

Age estimation based on pulp cavity to tooth volume ratio using postmortem computed tomography images.

Pulp cavity size is known to decrease with age and can therefore serve as an indicator for age estimation. Here, we evaluated whether reconstructed images of multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) acquired before forensic autopsy are useful for estimating age at death. Images of 136 mandibular first premolars obtained from bodies of known age at death were analyzed, and the volume of the regions corresponding to pulp cavity and that of the whole tooth were determined using a voxel counting function.

In vivo selection of high-metastatic subline of bladder cancer cell and its characterization.

The majority of deaths associated with solid tumors are caused by tumor metastasis. To prevent metastasis, it is vital to understand its detailed process. In hematogenous metastasis of bladder cancer, some cancer cells disseminating into blood circulation extravasate into the lung tissues to form metastases.

MutMap+: genetic mapping and mutant identification without crossing in rice.

Advances in genome sequencing technologies have enabled researchers and breeders to rapidly associate phenotypic variation to genome sequence differences. We recently took advantage of next-generation sequencing technology to develop MutMap, a method that allows rapid identification of causal nucleotide changes of rice mutants by whole genome resequencing of pooled DNA of mutant F2 progeny derived from crosses made between candidate mutants and the parental line. Here we describe MutMap+, a versatile extension of MutMap, that identifies causal mutations by comparing SNP frequencies of bulked DNA of mutant and wild-type progeny of M3 generation derived from selfing of an M2 heterozygous individual.

High-yield expression of mouse Aos1-Uba2-fusion SUMO-activating enzyme, mAU, in a baculovirus-insect cell system.

Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) research requires large amounts of SUMO-activating enzyme (SUMO-E1) for in vitro SUMOylation assays. In this study the expression and purification of a hexahistidine-tagged mouse Aos1-Uba2-fusion protein (His6-mAU) in a baculovirus-insect cell system revealed that approximately 1.0 mg of highly-purified His6-mAU was obtained from 100 mL of Sf9 cell culture.

Identification of a second cytotoxic protein produced by Bacillus thuringiensis A1470.

Bacillus thuringiensis A1470 produces multiple proteins with similar molecular masses (~30 kDa) with cytotoxicity against human cell lines. One that was previously identified, parasporin-4, is a β-pore-forming toxin. The N-terminal sequence of a second cytotoxic protein was identical to a partial sequence of parasporin-2 produced by B.

MutMap-Gap: whole-genome resequencing of mutant F2 progeny bulk combined with de novo assembly of gap regions identifies the rice blast resistance gene Pii.

Next-generation sequencing allows the identification of mutations responsible for mutant phenotypes by whole-genome resequencing and alignment to a reference genome. However, when the resequenced cultivar/line displays significant structural variation from the reference genome, mutations in the genome regions missing from the reference (gaps) cannot be identified by simple alignment. Here we report on a method called 'MutMap-Gap', which involves delineating a candidate region harboring a mutation of interest using the recently reported MutMap method, followed by de novo assembly, alignment, and identification of the mutation within genome gaps.

Two distinct secretion systems facilitate tissue invasion by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

To cause plant diseases, pathogenic micro-organisms secrete effector proteins into host tissue to suppress immunity and support pathogen growth. Bacterial pathogens have evolved several distinct secretion systems to target effector proteins, but whether fungi, which cause the major diseases of most crop species, also require different secretory mechanisms is not known. Here we report that the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae possesses two distinct secretion systems to target effectors during plant infection.

Age estimation by multidetector CT images of the sagittal suture.

Closure of cranial sutures progresses with age; therefore, macroscopic assessment of cranial sutures has been used as one method of age estimation. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), which many forensic medical departments and institutes have begun to adopt, has the potential to simplify the gathering of information from cranial sutures for both surface and cross-sectional evaluation. To examine the feasibility of age estimation by cross-sectional multidetector computed tomography images of the sagittal suture, PMCT findings of 125 subjects of known age and sex were retrospectively reviewed.

Gene expression changes in venous segment of overflow arteriovenous fistula.

Aim. The objective of this study was to characterize coordinated molecular changes in the structure and composition of the walls of venous segments of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas evoked by overflow. Methods.

Role of RNF4 in the ubiquitination of Rta of Epstein-Barr virus.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encodes a transcription factor, Rta, which is required to activate the transcription of EBV lytic genes. This study demonstrates that treating P3HR1 cells with a proteasome inhibitor, MG132, causes the accumulation of SUMO-Rta and promotes the expression of EA-D. GST pulldown and coimmunoprecipitation studies reveal that RNF4, a RING-domain-containing ubiquitin E3 ligase, interacts with Rta.

Forensic validation of the modified ABO genotyping method using a DNA chip.

ABO typing is effective in several forensic investigations, including the identification of unknown cadavers. When the serological method cannot be used because of the decomposition of ABH antigens, ABO genotyping of DNA is often performed. Previously, we reported a novel ABO genotyping method using a DNA chip as a proof of concept.

Deployment of the Burkholderia glumae type III secretion system as an efficient tool for translocating pathogen effectors to monocot cells.

Genome sequences of plant fungal pathogens have enabled the identification of effectors that cooperatively modulate the cellular environment for successful fungal growth and suppress host defense. Identification and characterization of novel effector proteins are crucial for understanding pathogen virulence and host-plant defense mechanisms. Previous reports indicate that the Pseudomonas syringae pv.

Viable herpes simplex virus type 1 and varicella-zoster virus in the trigeminal ganglia of human cadavers.

Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were isolated in the bilateral trigeminal ganglia of 12 human cadavers with no history of herpes-related symptoms within 1-5 days of death. Sixteen trigeminal ganglia were subjected to explant culture by using Vero cells, but no cytopathogenic effects (CPE) were observed. However, when another eight trigeminal ganglia were placed in a cell strainer and kept from direct contact with Vero cells during culture, CPE were clearly apparent in all cultures.

Effect of itraconazole on the concentrations of tacrolimus and cyclosporine in the blood of patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactions of itraconazole (ITCZ) with orally administered calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in Japanese allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients.

Methods: Sixteen HSCT patients (8 patients each receiving tacrolimus or cyclosporine) were enrolled. An ITCZ oral solution was administered from day 30 after the initiation of ITCZ administration as a loading dose.

Acyclovir reduces the duration of fever in patients with infectious mononucleosis-like illness.

Acyclovir is known for its antiviral activity against some pathogenic viruses such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that causes infectious mononucleosis (IM) and IM-like illness. Therefore, we empirically administered acyclovir to patients with suspected EBV-IM and IM like-illness, upon their admission to our hospital. We admitted 25 patients, who were hospitalized for fever and lymphadenopathy, to the Tohoku University Hospital Infectious Disease Ward.

[Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma developed from an HTLV-1 carrier during treatment of B-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome].

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with high-grade fever, liver dysfunction, and pancytopenia. Computed tomography of the whole body revealed hepatosplenomegaly but no lymphoadenopaties. Bone marrow aspiration showed infiltrations of CD20-positive large atypical B-lymphocytes with severe hemophagocytosis.

Quantitative analysis of in-air output ratio.

Output factor (Scp) is one of the important factors required to calculate monitor unit (MU), and is divided into two components: phantom scatter factor (Sp) and in-air output ratio (Sc). Generally, Sc for arbitrary fields are calculated using several methods based on Sc determined by the absorbed dose measurement for several square fields. However, there are calculation errors when the treatment field has a large aspect ratio and the opening of upper and lower collimator are exchanged.

[Outline of standard dosimetry of absorbed dose to water in external beam radiotherapy].

In this report, history of the dose standard system, calibration of ionization chamber and standard dosimetry protocol to assure dose traceability was interpreted. The water absorbed dose standard is newly established in Japan and calibration service and dosimetry protocol based on the water absorbed dose has been provided. A lot of uncertainties exist in current complicated radiation therapy.

CDR3-independent expansion of Vδ1 T lymphocytes in acquired chronic pure red cell aplasia.

Although there exist case reports describing the association of clonal expansion of γδ T cells with chronic acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), there is no consensus regarding whether clonal expansion of γδ T cells are generally found in chronic PRCA. We examined the γδ T cell receptor repertoire in 19 PRCA patients and found that there was a difference in γδ T-cell repertoires between PRCA patients and healthy donors. We observed an increase in Vδ1 γδ T cells and a decrease in Vδ2 T cells in PRCA patients.

[A case of a patient with gastric cancer and liver metastasis -a long-term survival of 10 years].

We report a case of patient who is alive 10 years after total gastrectomy and partial liver resection for gastric cancer and liver metastasis, respectively. The patient is 69-year-old man who was examined in another hospital for nausea, tarry stool, and weight loss. Diagnosis by stomach fluoroscopy revealed gastric cancer and he was admitted to our hospital in September 2002.

Experimental evaluation of actual delivered dose using mega-voltage cone-beam CT and direct point dose measurement.

Radiation therapy in patients is planned by using computed tomography (CT) images acquired before start of the treatment course. Here, tumor shrinkage or weight loss or both, which are common during the treatment course for patients with head-and-neck (H&N) cancer, causes unexpected differences from the plan, as well as dose uncertainty with the daily positional error of patients. For accurate clinical evaluation, it is essential to identify these anatomical changes and daily positional errors, as well as consequent dosimetric changes.

Core2 O-glycan-expressing prostate cancer cells are resistant to NK cell immunity.

Core2 β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (C2GnT) forms an N-acetylglucosamine branch in the O-glycans (core2 O-glycans) of cell surface glycoproteins. We previously revealed that the expression of C2GnT is positively correlated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying their poor prognosis remain unclear.

Establishment of a human cell line stably overexpressing mouse Nip45 and characterization of Nip45 subcellular localization.

The nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin dependent 2 interacting protein, Nfatc2ip (Nip45), has been implicated as a crucial coordinator of the immune response and of cellular differentiation in humans and mice, and contains SUMO-like domains in its C-terminal region. However, the significance of its N-terminal region and its correlation to the SUMO modification pathway remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, a human cultured cell line was established, in which FLAG-tagged mouse Nip45 (FLAG-mNip45) was stably overexpressed.