[A case of meningovascular syphilis presenting with bilateral oculomotor nerve palsy, cerebral aneurysm, and cerebral hemorrhage].

The patient was a 32-year-old man with no HIV infection and possible syphilis infection at the age of 22 years. At the age of 29 years, he visited an ophthalmologist for diplopia due to right oculomotor nerve palsy. He underwent diplopia strabismus surgery for unexplained oculomotor nerve palsy.

Persistence of neutralizing antibody and its protective efficacy induced by a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine, KD-382, in cynomolgus monkeys.

An effective dengue vaccine should induce a long-lasting immune response against all four serotypes simultaneously with a minimum number of immunizations. Our live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine candidate, KD-382, was developed using a classical host range mutation strategy (no addition of artificial genetic modification). In our previous study, cynomolgus monkeys immunized with a single dose of KD-382 seroconverted to all four serotypes.

Well-balanced immune response and protective efficacy induced by a single dose of live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (KD-382) in monkeys.

One of the challenges developing a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (TDV) is to overcome the presumed viral interference that may be preventing the induction of a balanced immune response to all 4 serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV1-4). Our live attenuated TDV candidate was developed from wild-type (wt) parental strains (DENV1/03135, DENV2/99345, DENV3/16562, and DENV4/1036, respectively) using a classical host range mutation strategy: the same strategy used for the approved live attenuated smallpox, polio, and MMR vaccines. Our vaccine candidate is expected to mimic natural dengue virus infection, as it provides all the components of dengue virus, including both structural and nonstructural proteins.

Solanum palinacanthum: broad-spectrum resistance to root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.).

Background: Root-knot nematodes (RKN, Meloidogyne spp.) are harmful phytophagous pests of Solanum spp. Some RKN species are becoming worldwide problems because of their virulence to RKN-resistant Solanum species.

Construction of a core collection of eggplant ( L.) based on genome-wide SNP and SSR genotypes.

A core collection of eggplant ( L.) was developed based on a dataset of genome-wide 831 SNP and 50 SSR genotypes analyzed in 893 accessions of eggplant genetic resources collected in the NARO Genebank using the Core Hunter II program. The 893 accessions were collected worldwide, mainly Asia.

Profiling of the antibody response to attenuated LC16m8 smallpox vaccine using protein array analysis.

Concerns about bioterrorism and outbreaks of zoonotic orthopoxvirus require safe and efficacious smallpox vaccines. We previously reported the clinical efficacy and safety profiles of LC16m8, a live, attenuated, cell culture-derived, smallpox vaccine, examined in over 3000 healthy Japanese adults with various vaccination histories. In this study, serum of approximately 200 subjects pre and post LC16m8 vaccination were subjected to a vaccinia virus-specific protein array to evaluate the proteome-wide immunogenicity.

12-Week Effectiveness and Safety of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy by Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibition in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Hypercholesterolemia - Data From a Real-World Observational Study of Evolocumab in Japan.

Evolocumab is the first monoclonal antibody against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and hypercholesterolemia (HC). This study assessed the 12-week effectiveness and safety of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapy by PCSK9 inhibition in patients with FH (homozygous [HoFH] or heterozygous [HeFH]) and HC by analyzing evolocumab data collected in the real-world setting in Japan. Overall, 427 patients (mean±SD age, 61.

Hall Effect in Bulk-Doped Organic Single Crystals.

The standard technique to separately and simultaneously determine the carrier concentration per unit volume (N, cm ) and the mobility (μ) of doped inorganic single crystals is to measure the Hall effect. However, this technique has not been reported for bulk-doped organic single crystals. Here, the Hall effect in bulk-doped single-crystal organic semiconductors is measured.

Safety and efficacy of adalimumab treatment in Japanese patients with psoriasis: Results of SALSA study.

The safety and efficacy of adalimumab were evaluated over 24 weeks in Japanese patients with psoriasis in routine clinical practice. In this multicenter, observational, open-label, postmarketing study, primary efficacy measures included the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) in all patients with psoriasis. In patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and the visual analog scale (VAS) pain were also evaluated.

Development and characterization of 27 microsatellite markers for the mangrove fern, Acrostichum aureum (Pteridaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Twenty-seven nuclear microsatellite markers were developed for the mangrove fern, Acrostichum aureum (Pteridaceae), to investigate the genetic structure and demographic history of the only pantropical mangrove plant.

Methods And Results: Fifty-six A. aureum individuals from three populations were sampled and genotyped to characterize the 27 loci.

Safety of Adalimumab and Predictors of Adverse Events in 1693 Japanese Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Background And Aims: Data from an all-cases post-marketing study were used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adalimumab in Japanese patients with Crohn's disease [CD].

Methods: Patients received adalimumab for 24 weeks. Data from all patients [n = 1693] were used for the safety assessment.

Freeze-dried live attenuated smallpox vaccine prepared in cell culture "LC16-KAKETSUKEN": Post-marketing surveillance study on safety and efficacy compliant with Good Clinical Practice.

Background: In Japan, production of smallpox vaccine LC16m8 (named LC16-KAKETSUKEN) was restarted and was determined to be maintained as a national stockpile in March 2002.

Objective: To conduct a post-marketing surveillance study of the vaccination of freeze-dried live attenuated smallpox vaccine prepared in cell culture LC16-KAKETSUKEN using attenuated vaccinia strain LC16m8. The study complied with Good Clinical Practice, focusing on a comparison between primary vaccinees and re-vaccinees.

Vaccinia virus strain LC16m8 defective in the B5R gene keeps strong protection comparable to its parental strain Lister in immunodeficient mice.

Background: Attenuated vaccinia virus strain, LC16m8, defective in the B5R envelope protein gene, is used as a stockpile smallpox vaccine strain in Japan against bioterrorism: the defect in the B5R gene mainly contributes to its highly attenuated properties.

Methods: The protective activity of LC16m8 vaccine against challenge with a lethal dose of vaccinia Western Reserve strain was assessed in wild-type and immunodeficient mice lacking CD4, MHC class I, MHC class II or MHC class I and II antigens.

Results: The immunization with LC16m8 induced strong protective activity comparable to that of its parent strain, Lister (Elstree) strain, in wild-type mice from 2 days to 1 year after vaccination, as well as in immunodeficient mice at 2 or 3 weeks after vaccination.

Genome Sequence of the Deep-Sea Denitrifier Pseudomonas sp. Strain MT-1, Isolated from the Mariana Trench.

Pseudomonas sp. strain MT-1 was the first deep-sea denitrifier isolated and characterized from mud recovered from a depth of 11,000 m in the Mariana Trench. We report here the genome sequence of this bacterium, which contributes to our understanding of denitrification and bioenergetics in the deep sea.

Trend of patient characteristics and its impact on the response to adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: post hoc time-course analysis of an all-case PMS in Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between changes in patient characteristics over time and the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the post-marketing registry study in Japan were divided into 5 subgroups based on the time adalimumab treatment was initiated. Demographic and baseline characteristics and responses to adalimumab were compared among the 5 subgroups to detect any time-course trend.

Safety of attenuated smallpox vaccine LC16m8 in immunodeficient mice.

Freeze-dried live attenuated smallpox vaccine LC16m8 prepared in cell culture has been the sole smallpox vaccine licensed in Japan since 1975 and was recently recommended as a WHO stockpile vaccine. We evaluated the safety of recently remanufactured lots of LC16m8 using a series of immunodeficient mouse models. These models included suckling mice, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice, and wild-type mice treated with cyclosporine.

Bactericidal activity of garenoxacin against in vitro biofilm formed by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Using β-lactamase-negative ampicillin (ABPC)-susceptible (BLNAS) and β-lactamase-negative ABPC-resistant (BLNAR) nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) strains isolated from otological patients, colony biofilm was prepared on membrane filter substrates. Bactericidal activities of garenoxacin (GRNX), levofloxacin (LVFX), cefditoren (CDTR), and clavulanic acid/amoxicillin (CVA/AMPC) were examined by counting viable cells after drug exposure to biofilm cells for 6 and 24 h and by observation under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). After exposure of biofilm to the 100-fold MIC of GRNX or LVFX for 24 h, GRNX and LVFX showed potent bactericidal activity (∆log10 CFU/ml, ≥5.

Effects of intrapulmonary viral tropism and cytokine expression on the histological patterns of cytomegalovirus pneumonia.

Pulmonary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection causes fatal CMV pneumonia (CMVp) in immunocompromised patients; however, the mechanisms underlying CMV-infection-induced pulmonary lesion development remain largely unknown. We examined the relationship between CMVp patterns and intrapulmonary viral tropism, including expression of inflammatory cytokines and related molecules. Double immunohistochemistry of CMV antigen and cellular markers showed that epithelial tropism was associated with a diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) pattern (CMVp-DAD) while stromal tropism was associated with a predominantly interstitial inflammation/fibrosis (IIF) (CMVp-IIF) or a combination of DAD and IIF (CMVp-complex).

In vitro pharmacodynamic evaluation of garenoxacin against quinolone-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The bactericidal activity and resistance selectivity of garenoxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae with mutations in ParC (S79F) or both GyrA (S81F) and ParC (D83Y and K137N) were investigated using in vitro pharmacokinetic models simulating plasma concentrations for a standard clinical regimen [400mg once daily (q.d.)].

Smallpox vaccine safety is dependent on T cells and not B cells.

The licensed smallpox vaccine, ACAM2000, is a cell culture derivative of Dryvax. Both ACAM2000 and Dryvax are administered by skin scarification and can cause progressive vaccinia, with skin lesions that disseminate to distal sites. We have investigated the immunologic basis of the containment of vaccinia in the skin with the goal to identify safer vaccines for smallpox.

Enamel tissue engineering using subcultured enamel organ epithelial cells in combination with dental pulp cells.

We describe a strategy for the in vitro engineering of enamel tissue using a novel technique for culturing enamel organ epithelial (EOE) cells isolated from the enamel organ using 3T3-J2 cells as a feeder layer. These subcultured EOE cells retain the capacity to produce enamel structures over a period of extended culture. In brief, enamel organs from 6-month-old porcine third molars were dissociated into single cells and subcultured on 3T3-J2 feeder cell layers.

Quiescent epithelial cell rests of Malassez can differentiate into ameloblast-like cells.

Epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) are quiescent epithelial remnants of Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) that are involved in the formation of tooth roots. After completion of crown formation, HERS are converted from cervical loop cells, which have the potential to generate enamel for tooth crown formation. Cervical loop cells have the potential to differentiate into ameloblasts.

Sacrococcygeal chordoma in infancy showing an aggressive clinical course: an autopsy case report.

The autopsy case of a 3-year 6-month-old boy with chordoma arising in the sacrococcygeal region is presented. The primary lesion of the sacrococcygeal area was unresectable and lung metastasis was detected. He was treated with multi-agent systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but the tumor was less responsive to these therapies.

Inhibitory activities of quinolones against DNA gyrase of Chlamydia pneumoniae.

The gyrA and gyrB genes of Chlamydia pneumoniae TW-183 were cloned, and their proteins were purified by use of a fusion system with a maltose-binding protein. The 50% inhibitory concentrations of garenoxacin, sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, and levofloxacin were 10.1, 47.