Ulcerative colitis followed by the development of Behçet's disease.

A 34-year-old man who had a history of ulcerative colitis (UC) was admitted to our hospital with complaints of arthralgia, erythema nodosum, recurrent oral aphthous ulcers and bloody stools. A colonoscopy revealed multiple aphthous ulcers on his cecum and colon and also revealed a transmural ulcer on his rectum consistent with a diagnosis of UC. The patient was HLA-B51 positive.

Autocrine/paracrine role of the angiopoietin-1 and -2/Tie2 system in cell proliferation and chemotaxis of cultured fibroblastic synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Hypervascularity is a characteristic synovial feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We previously reported that Tie1 and Tie2, endothelium-specific tyrosine kinase receptors essential for angiogenesis, are expressed not only by vascular cells, but also by a subpopulation of synovial lining and stromal cells in the inflamed RA synovium. The present study used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to examine whether angiopoietin-1 and -2 (Ang1 and Ang2), ligands for Tie2, are also expressed in the RA synovium.

Doppler effect in resonant photoemission from SF6: correlation between Doppler profile and Auger emission anisotropy.

Fragmentation of the SF6 molecule upon F 1s excitation has been studied by resonant photoemission. The F atomiclike Auger line exhibits the characteristic Doppler profile that depends on the direction of the photoelectron momentum relative to the polarization vector of the radiation as well as on the photon energy. The measured Doppler profiles are analyzed by the model simulation that takes account of the anisotropy of the Auger emission in the molecular frame.

Purification of alcohol dehydrogenase from bovine liver crude extract by dye-ligand affinity counter-current chromatography.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was extracted from a crude bovine liver homogenate by dye-ligand affinity counter-current chromatography (CCC) using a cross-axis coil planet centrifuge (x-axis CPC). The purification was performed using two types of polymer phase systems composed of 4.4% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000-7.

The linker histone homolog Hho1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a winged helix-turn-helix fold as determined by NMR spectroscopy.

Hho1p is assumed to serve as a linker histone in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and, notably, it possesses two putative globular domains, designated HD1 (residues 41-118) and HD2 (residues 171-252), that are homologous to histone H5 from chicken erythrocytes. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of globular domain HD1 with high precision by heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure had a winged helix-turn-helix motif composed of an alphabetaalphaalphabetabeta fold and closely resembled the structure of the globular domain of histone H5.

A case of pachydermoperiostosis associated with arthritis.

Abstract Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is characterized by clubbing fingers, furrowing of the facial skin, and perio-steal hypertrophy. We report a case of a patient with PDP associated with severe arthritis of the knee and ankle joints. His serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were increased, and an analysis of serum and synovial fluid showed high levels of interleukin-6.

[Successful treatment with linezolid in two cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the orthopedic field].

We have reported two orthopedic patients with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections successfully treated with linezolid. The first case was a 64-years-old man with bacteremia, spondylitis and psoas abscesses caused by MRSA. He was treated with arbekacin (ABK) and vancomycin (VCM), and then became afebrile.

P300/CBP acts as a coactivator to cartilage homeoprotein-1 (Cart1), paired-like homeoprotein, through acetylation of the conserved lysine residue adjacent to the homeodomain.

Unlabelled: The paired-like homeoprotein, Cart1, is involved in skeletal development. We describe here that the general coactivator p300/CBP controls the transcription activity of Cart1 through acetylation of a lysine residue that is highly conserved in other homeoproteins. Acetylation of this residue increases the interaction between p300/CBP and Cart1 and enhances its transcriptional activation.

Purification of single-strand DNA binding protein from an Escherichia coli lysate using counter-current chromatography, partition and precipitation.

Single-strand DNA binding protein (SSB) from Escherichia coli lysate was purified by counter-current chromatography (CCC) using the ammonium sulfate precipitation method in a coiled column. About 5 ml of E. coli lysate was separated by CCC using a polymer phase system composed of 16% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000 and 17% (w/w) ammonium sulfate aqueous polymer two-phase solvent system.

Effects of triplet repeat sequences on nucleosome positioning and gene expression in yeast minichromosomes.

Triplet repeat sequences that cause human hereditary diseases can form a variety of DNA conformations. Since DNA structures act as determinants of chromatin structure, chromatin may be involved in mechanisms of these diseases. To address this issue, we examined effects of triplet repeat sequences on chromatin structure and gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The role of nucleosome positioning in repression by the yeast alpha 2/Mcm1p repressor.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, alpha 2/Mcm1p represses a-cell specific genes. Previous studies indicated that repression by alpha 2/Mcm1p is associated with organization of positioned nucleosomes in promoters of a-cell specific genes such as STE6 and BAR1. Here, we examined the role of nucleosome positioning in repression of STE6-lacZ by alpha 2/Mcm1p.

Anisotropic ultrafast dissociation probed by the Doppler effect in resonant photoemission from CF4.

The resonant Auger spectrum from the decay of F 1s-excited CF4 is measured. Several lines exhibit a nondispersive kinetic energy as the exciting photon energy is tuned through the resonance region. The F 1s(-1) atomiclike Auger line is split into two components due to the emission of Auger electrons by a fragment in motion, when electron emission is observed along the polarization vector of the light.

Chromatin structure of yeast minichromosomes containing triplet repeat sequences associated with human hereditary neurological diseases.

Expansion of triplet repeat sequences such as (CTG)n, (CGG)n, and (GAA)n causes human genetic diseases. Since DNA is packaged into arrays of nucleosomes in eukaryotic cells, chromatin may be involved in the mechanism of triplet repeat diseases. To elucidate this issue, we have examined effects of triplet repeat sequences on the chromatin organization in vivo using well defined yeast minichromosomes.

Changes of serum levels of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-3 during fracture healing.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in serum markers relating to bone formation during fracture healing. Ten consecutive patients with fractures treated with or without surgery were included. Sera were collected periodically from patients for 80-280 (average 180) days after the fracture.

Yeast Ume6p repressor permits activator binding but restricts TBP binding at the HOP1 promoter.

Ume6p plays essential roles in the regulation of early meiotic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ume6p exerts repression via recruitment of the Sin3p-Rpd3p histone deacetylase and Isw2p chromatin remodeling complexes. The transcriptional step that is ultimately inhibited by Ume6p is unknown.

A nonsurgical technique to create an esophagostomy for difficult cases of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Background: We developed a minimally invasive technique of esophagostomy called percutaneous transesophageal gastrotubing (PTEG) using a rupture-free balloon (RFB) for enteral nutrition and drainage as well as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). PTEG using RFB allows surgeons to create a nonsurgical esophagostomy even in difficult cases of PEG (i.e.

Doppler-free resonant Raman auger spectroscopy of Ne+ 2s2p(5)3p excited states.

Using very high resolution achieved by the Doppler-free resonant Raman Auger technique, we have resolved the lowest terms of the series of inner-valence excitations 2s2p(5)((1,3)P)np 2S, 2P, and 2D in Ne+. The measured Auger anisotropic parameters and branching ratios help to establish the assignments of these levels. The measured lifetime widths are in reasonable agreements with ab initio calculations available in the literature.

Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head: magnetic resonance imaging findings correlated with micro-computed tomography and histopathology.

We described magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head without collapse in which micro-computed tomography (CT) and histopathologic studies were performed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a subchondral low-signal intensity band, which corresponded to the fracture callus. Diffuse bone marrow edema with contrast enhancement effect was seen in both the proximal and distal segments of the low-signal intensity band.

Effects of caloric restriction on development of the proximal growth plate and metaphysis of the caput femoris in spontaneously hypertensive rats: microscopic and computer-assisted image analyses.

We previously demonstrated that caloric restriction (CR) reduced the prevalence of osteonecrosis in caput femoris of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a model of human Perthes' disease. The effects of CR on the development and pathology in the proximal femoral growth plate (GP) and adjacent structures in SHR were investigated by morphometric and computer-assisted image analyses. From 6 weeks of age, the food intake of SHR was restricted to 65% of the mean intake of ad libitum fed control SHR (SHR-AL).

Functional domains of paired-like homeoprotein Cart1 and the relationship between dimerization and transcription activity.

Background: Cart1 encodes the paired-like homeodomain in the central portion of the gene, and plays a crucial role in the developmental lineage of bone and cartilage, especially in head formation. However, its transactivation mechanism is still poorly understood, including the target gene. Here, we report biochemical dissections of Cart1 functional domains and a relationship between dimerization and transcription activity.

An efficient and practical method for solid-phase synthesis of tripeptide-bearing glycopeptide antibiotics: combinatorial parallel synthesis of carboxamide derivatives of chloroorienticin B.

An efficient and practical method was established for solid-phase parallel synthesis of the peptide-bearing carboxamide derivatives of chloroorienticin B, and over 80 compounds were synthesized simultaneously. Among the derivatives prepared, compounds having both tryptophan and tyrosine residues (1-3) were found to possess potent antibacterial activity against VRE.

Prevalence of vertebral deformity and its associations with physical impairment among Japanese women: The Hizen-Oshima Study.

Vertebral fractures are a hallmark of postmenopausal osteoporosis and an important end point in trials of osteoporosis treatment, but the clinical significance of vertebral deformities remains uncertain. We examined the prevalence of vertebral deformity and associations of vertebral deformities and other characteristics with physical functioning among 584 Japanese women ages 40 to 89 years. Lateral spine radiographs were obtained and radiographic vertebral deformities were assessed by quantitative morphometry, defined as vertebral heights more than 3 SD below the normal mean.

Purification of lactic acid dehydrogenase from crude bovine heart extract by pH-peak focusing counter-current chromatography.

pH-peak focusing counter-current chromatography (CCC) was applied to the purification of lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) from a crude bovine heart extract using a cross-axis coil planet centrifuge (CPC). The experiment was performed with two sets of polymer phase systems composed of 16% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000-12.5% (w/w) potassium phosphate buffer and 15% (w/w) PEG 1540-15% (w/w) ammonium sulfate each at various pH values.