Functional complementation reveals that 9 of the 13 human V-ATPase subunits can functionally substitute for their yeast orthologs.

Vacuolar-type H-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a highly conserved proton pump responsible for acidification of intracellular organelles and potential drug target. It is a multisubunit complex comprising a cytoplasmic V domain responsible for ATP hydrolysis and a membrane-embedded V domain that contributes to proton translocation across the membrane. V-ATPase is composed of 14 subunits, deletion of any one of which results in well-defined growth defects.

[Support provided by public health nurses to adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders and their families].

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the process of support provided by public health nurses (PHNs) to adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders. The support given to the families of these adolescents was also examined.

Methods: The subjects in the study were PHNs with at least a 10-year experience at a public health center, who had been engaged in providing continuous support to adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders and their families.

Long-term follow-up after nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) characteristically consists of fibrotic changes in various organs, and immunological abnormality is the main cause of the disease. Although high-dose immunosuppressive therapies with autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell support can reverse the disease course, they have a high treatment-related mortality. We report the successful use of nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for SSc.

The membrane-spanning domain of CD98 heavy chain promotes alpha(v)beta3 integrin signals in human extravillous trophoblasts.

CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) is expressed highly in developing human placental trophoblast. CD98hc is an amino acid transporter and is thought to function in cell fusion, adhesion, and invasion by interacting with integrins. In invasive extravillous trophoblast, alpha(v)beta(3) integrin is expressed in a temporally and spatially specific manner, which prompted us to investigate the potential role of CD98hc in signal transduction of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin.

Liquid heating effects by SAW streaming on the piezoelectric substrate.

When a liquid is placed on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation surface, a longitudinal wave is radiated into the liquid, and the liquid begins to vibrate stream, jet, and atomize. This phenomenon is known as SAW streaming. In this paper, we describe experimental results concerning the temperature of a thin liquid layer during SAW generation.

Steroid myopathy: evaluation of fiber atrophy with T2 relaxation time--rabbit and human study.

Purpose: To determine whether muscle fiber atrophy associated with steroid myopathy can be detected with T2 relaxation time.

Materials And Methods: Animal and human studies were approved by the ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained.

Orally active benzoxazole derivative as 5-HT3 receptor partial agonist for treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

During our search for therapeutic agents to treat diarrhea-predominant IBS, we found that 2-substituted benzoxazole derivatives have a characteristic 5-HT(3) receptor partial agonist activity with high affinity. Some of these compounds showed high in vitro metabolical stability, and 6g showed marked antidiarrhetic activity with little side effect of constipation in in vivo tests. Our results indicate that 5-HT(3) receptor partial agonists might be superior as therapeutic agents to the drugs currently used for IBS treatment.

Secretory role for human uterodomes (pinopods): secretion of LIF.

The differentiation of human endometrial epithelium is a dynamic event, which occurs throughout the menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. The appearance of uterodomes (pinopods) in this regard was first introduced in rodents with an established pinocytotic function, whereas little evidence was available in humans in this context. This study was undertaken to identify the potential physiological roles of uterodomes in the implantation process.

Sustained molecular remission by non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is refractory to conventional chemotherapy. To achieve a sustained complete remission, we performed planned non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (NST) after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a patient with stage III MM. Autologous HSCT was performed using high-dose melphalan after conventional chemotherapy, followed by NST from an HLA-identical sibling using low-dose total body irradiation (200 cGy) for conditioning.

Tissue transglutaminase at embryo-maternal interface.

Context: Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has a high affinity for fibronectin (FN) and is a coreceptor of both beta1 and beta3 integrin subunits. Considering the notion that FN and integrins have critical roles during the implantation process, this study was undertaken to elucidate the expression pattern and the potential physiological function of tTG at the embryo-maternal interface.

Methods: The primary cultures of human placentas from 15 legal elective abortions at the first trimester of normal pregnancies and endometrial biopsies of 12 female patients in the midluteal phase as well as normal trophoblastic cell lines (CRL) were employed to address these issues using several approaches, such as scanning and transmission electron microscopies, immunostaining for light and electron microscopies, western blotting, and function assays using GRGDSP hexapeptide and an antibody against tTG.

A novel mechanism in suppression of erythropoiesis during inflammation: a crucial role of RCAS1.

A novel human tumor-associated antigen, receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1), induces apoptosis in normal human erythroid progenitor cells, which express putative RCAS1 receptors. In the present study, we investigated a possible role of RCAS1 produced by human peripheral blood monocytes (CD14-positive cells) and monocyte-derived macrophages. RCAS1 was immunohistochemically detected in monocytes as well as macrophages.

Comparison between partial agonist (ME3412) and antagonist (alosetron) of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor on gastrointestinal function.

Therapeutic use of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonists for diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome may be accompanied by constipation. We hypothesized that ME3412, 5-chloro-2-(1,4-diazacycloheptan-1-yl)-7-methylbenzoxazole, a novel partial agonist of the 5-HT(3) receptor, would minimize constipation without reducing antidiarrhoeal activity. Receptor binding studies showed that ME3412 is highly selective for the human 5-HT(3) receptor (K(i) = 1.

Successful treatment of pure red cell aplasia with cyclosporin A and erythropoietin after thymectomy in a 88-year old woman.

An 88-year old Japanese female with pure red cell aplasia was treated safely and effectively by a combination of thymectomy, cyclosporin A, and erythropoietin. The thymoma was histologically classified as lymphocytic type or cortical type, which are uncommon in cases of a thymoma accompanied by pure red cell aplasia. Immunohistochemical analysis of the thymoma and bone marrow revealed a predominance of CD8(+) cells.

Extranodal multiple involvement of enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma without expression of CC chemokine receptor 7.

Enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma (ETCL) is a rare extranodal lymphoma that tends to disseminate into the intestines and other extranodal organs. We present a case of ETCL with involvement of the lungs and kidneys and report CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) expression of lymphoma cells. A 73-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain.

The role of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in the IGF-I-induced migration of extravillous trophoblast cells during the process of implantation.

The role of integrins in the processes of adhesion and migration makes them attractive potential participants in the complex events of embryo implantation and placentation. Recently, the role of the alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin pathway was shown in the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-stimulated migration of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. This study was designed to investigate the role of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in this respect.

Local antigen-driven oligoclonal expansion of B cells in the liver portal areas of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Background/aims: The antigen-driven clonal proliferation of B cells within target tissue has been reported in some autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the clonal characteristics of B cells in the liver portal area of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Methods: The liver portal area was microdissected from liver biopsy sections from two PBC patients.

Successful treatment of pure red cell aplasia and autoimmune cytopenia with cyclosporine and prednisolone in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome.

Abstract A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with xerophthalmia, xerostomia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. She was diagnosed to have Sjögren's syndrome and autoimmune cytopenia. After 11 months, she was readmitted with severe anemia and reticulocytopenia.

[Successful treatment of refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation].

A 40-year-old man was admitted to our hospital suffering from abdominal pain. He revealed marked splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and pancytopenia. Lymph node biopsy showed diffuse proliferation of medium to large atypical lymphoid cells.

CP0569, a new broad-spectrum injectable carbapenem. Part 1: synthesis and structure-activity relationships.

A series of 1beta-methylcarbapenems bearing an (imidazo[5,1-b]thiazolium-6-yl)methyl moiety, a 5,5-fused heterobicycle, at the C-2 position was synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activities. CP0569 (1r) and its analogues showed potent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, CP0569 (1r) exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against MRSA and higher resistance to renal dehydropeptidase-1 (DHP-1) than any currently marketed carbapenems, that is, imipenem (IPM), panipenem (PAPM), and meropenem (MEPM).

Physiologic role of decidual beta1 integrin and focal adhesion kinase in embryonic implantation.

Implantation refers to a series of interactions between embryo and endometrium including hatching, attachment, and outgrowth. We investigated the expression and function of beta1 integrin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in human decidual cells during implantation. Immunofluorescent staining localized beta1 integrin to surfaces of cultured decidual cells.

Gallium-67 scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of chronic sarcoid myopathy.

The authors describe a patient with chronic sarcoid myopathy. Except for the presence of left posterior synechia, no other organ involvement was observed. Gallium-67 ((67)Ga) scintigraphy showed many intense nodular uptake areas in both the upper and lower extremities.

Alphavbeta3 integrin signaling pathway is involved in insulin-like growth factor I-stimulated human extravillous trophoblast cell migration.

IGF-I and -II provide paracrine and autocrine stimuli, respectively, for extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell migration. This study examined the role of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin and its signaling pathway in IGF-I-stimulated migration. Migration assays were conducted using cultured EVT cells treated with or without IGF-I in the presence or absence of alphaIR3, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) hexapeptide, and antibody against alpha(v)beta(3) integrin.

Clonal analysis of B cells in the synovial membrane of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the clonal characteristics of B cells in the synovial membranes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: The clonality of B cells at separate sites of the synovial membrane and other tissues from RA patients were investigated by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction with a VH framework 3 consensus primer and a subsequent single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis.

Results: Several dominant bands were observed in all synovial membrane samples and some of the dominants bands were common among the 2 or 3 separate regions of each synovial sample.

Rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains and VH family in thyroid and salivary gland lymphomas.

It is often difficult to differentiate extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) from non-neoplastic inflammatory conditions. Demonstration of clonal lymphoid proliferation by molecular procedures is important for accurate diagnosis. We examined the clonal population of B-cell lymphomas in nine cases of thyroid and two cases of salivary gland B-cell lymphoma using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay for IgH gene arrangement and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for the detection of IgL gene rearrangement.

Re-entry of tumour B cells into the cycle of somatic mutation and isotype switching in follicular lymphoma.

Sequencing of the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene transcripts of the tumour B cells in lymph node (LN) and bone marrow (BM) from a follicular lymphoma (FL) patient associated with multiple myeloma identified two dominant clones. One of the clones, present in both LN and BM, had somatic mutations and extensive clonal diversity. Among the diversified clones, two dominant populations of identical sequences (group I and II) were present.