Sphingomyelin Deacylase, the Enzyme Involved in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis, Is Identical to the β-Subunit of Acid Ceramidase.

A ceramide deficiency in the stratum corneum (SC) is an essential etiologic factor for the dry and barrier-disrupted skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Previously, we reported that sphingomyelin (SM) deacylase, which hydrolyzes SM and glucosylceramide at the acyl site to yield their lysoforms sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and glucosylsphingosine, respectively, instead of ceramide and/or acylceramide, is over-expressed in AD skin and results in a ceramide deficiency. Although the enzymatic properties of SM deacylase have been clarified, the enzyme itself remains unidentified.

A case of endometrioid adenocarcinoma developing 8 years after conservative management for atypical polypoid adenomyoma.

•Endometrioid adenocarcinoma may develop during the long-term follow-up of APA.•Atypical polypoid adenomyoma is a precursor of endometrioid adenocarcinoma.•Careful follow-up is needed for the conservative management of APA.

Ovarian thecoma associated in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Ovarian thecoma is a relatively rare tumor which occurs before and after menopause. It is extremely rare that pregnancy is complicated with thecoma. Diagnosis of ovarian tumors during pregnancy is highly problematic due to difficulties in obtaining clinical manifestations, and treatment of these tumors poses an even greater challenge.

Design and synthesis of peptide-based carboxylic acid-containing transition-state inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase.

In our search for a new agent, human neutrophil elastase (HNE) inhibitor, for the treatment of acute respiratory failure, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of peptide-based carboxylic acid-containing transition-state inhibitors. The presence of valyl moiety is found to be essential for potent in vitro inhibitory activity and also prevention of an undesirable toxicity. Of these, compound 9m has the most potent in vivo effect on HNE-induced lung hemorrhage in hamsters.