Comparison of follicular fluid and serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels as predictors of the outcome of assisted reproductive treatment.

Objective: To compare follicular fluid and serum concentrations of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) as predictors of the outcome of assisted reproduction.

Study Design: This observational study enrolled 58 women who were undergoing IVF or ICSI treatment with the long stimulation protocol. Patients diagnosed as having PCOS were excluded.

[An 8-year-old boy with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, successfully treated with cyclophosphamide].

We report on an 8-year-old boy with non-paraneoplastic anti-NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, who presented with psychotic symptoms and involuntary movement following an intractable seizure. His serum and CSF tested positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies. He received an initial immunotherapy consisting of methylprednisolone pulse therapy (mPSL) and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIg), without any clinical improvement.

Rapid self-healable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels formed by selective metal-phosphate interactions.

Rapid self-healable and biocompatible hydrogels were prepared using the selective formation of metal-ligand interactions between selected metal ions and phosphate end groups of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The phosphate-terminated branch of PEG was synthesized via a substitution reaction of the hydroxyl end groups using phosphoryl chloride. The gelation and gel properties including rheological properties can be tuned by the careful selection of metal ions, branch numbers, and temperature.

Nine-year follow-up from onset to spontaneous complete remission of cap polyposis.

A 58-year-old woman with severe constipation and a habit of straining at defecation was diagnosed to have mucosal prolapse syndrome. One year later, her primary symptom changed to bloody diarrhea. The colonoscopic and histological findings were consistent with the characteristics of cap polyposis.

Tryptophan at the transmembrane-cytosolic junction modulates thrombopoietin receptor dimerization and activation.

Dimerization of single-pass membrane receptors is essential for activation. In the human thrombopoietin receptor (TpoR), a unique amphipathic RWQFP motif separates the transmembrane (TM) and intracellular domains. Using a combination of mutagenesis, spectroscopy, and biochemical assays, we show that W515 of this motif impairs dimerization of the upstream TpoR TM helix.

Transmembrane helix orientation influences membrane binding of the intracellular juxtamembrane domain in Neu receptor peptides.

The transmembrane (TM) and juxtamembrane (JM) regions of the ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases connect the extracellular ligand-binding domain to the intracellular kinase domain. Evidence for the role of these regions in the mechanism of receptor dimerization and activation is provided by TM-JM peptides corresponding to the Neu (or rat ErbB2) receptor. Solid-state NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy show that there are tight interactions of the JM sequence with negatively charged lipids, including phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, in TM-JM peptides corresponding to the wild-type receptor sequence.

Hydrogen-Bond Network Transformation in Water-Cluster Anions Induced by the Complex Formation with Benzene.

We report spectroscopic evidence of isomer interconversion in water cluster anions, (H2O)n(-), which occurs through the interaction with a benzene molecule. An anion complex composed of (H2O)6(-) and benzene, Bz·(H2O)6(-), is formed via the reaction of (H2O)6(-)Arm with benzene. The reaction proceeds as an Ar-mediated association process such that a rapid energy dissipation by sequential Ar evaporation efficiently suppresses the thermionic emission of e(-), H2O, or both, giving rise to the formation of Bz·(H2O)6(-).

Production of interleukin-10 by combining a granulocyte and monocyte adsorption carrier with ulinastatin.

Interleukin (IL)-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine mainly produced by monocytes and is essential for the induction of anti-inflammatory intestinal macrophages with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Thus, IL-10- and M-CSF-rich conditions in colonic tissues seem to contribute to the improvement of pathological conditions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We have already reported that ulinastatin, a serine protease inhibitor, increases M-CSF production during granulocyte/monocyte (GM) adsorption to cellulose acetate (CA) beads (carriers for Adacolumn therapy).

Resolving vibrational wave-packet dynamics of D2(+) using multicolor probe pulses.

We demonstrate the generation and real-time observation of the vibrational wave packet of D(2)(+) by using a sub-10-fs extreme UV high-harmonic pump pulse and a three-color probe laser pulse whose wavelength ranges from near-IR to vacuum UV. This multicolor pump-probe scheme can provide us with a powerful experimental tool for investigating a variety of wave packets evolving with a time scale of ~20 fs.

Congenital corneal staphyloma as a complication of Kabuki syndrome.

Kabuki syndrome has long been clinically defined based mainly on its characteristic eye features. The recent discovery of MLL2 as a causative gene of Kabuki syndrome has enabled the extreme end of the phenotype to be explored. We herein report on two patients with striking visible congenital staphyloma at birth.

Dynamics of GFRα1-positive spermatogonia at the early stages of colonization in the recipient testes of W/Wν male mice.

Background: The spermatogonial transplantation experiment can be used as an unequivocal detection assay of spermatogenic stem cells (SSCs) in both a qualitative and quantitative manner, based on their regenerative capacity. In this study, the proliferative patterns and kinetics of donor-derived GFRα1-positive spermatogonia containing potential SSCs were examined during early colonization following spermatogonial transplantation.

Results: Donor-derived GFRα1-positive cells frequently formed several aggregates of A(al(aligned)) /morula-like structures in a single spermatogenic cell patch before and on day 14 post-transplant, indicating a possible involvement in the formation of a stable spermatogenic colony at 21 days post-transplant.

First case of a Japanese girl with Myhre syndrome due to a heterozygous SMAD4 mutation.

This article reports the first case of a Japanese girl with molecularly confirmed Myhre syndrome (MS). The patient was 9 years old at her first visit, and she had been diagnosed with unknown skeletal dysplasia. Her phenotype fulfilled the clinical and radiological criteria for MS, such as typical facies with prognathism, hearing impairment, short stature, square body shape, and limited joint mobility.

[Regulation of human β-1,4-galactosyltransferase V gene expression in cancer cells].

β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase (β-1,4-GalT) V - whose human and mouse genes were cloned by us - has been suggested to be involved in the biosyntheses of N-glycans, O-glycans, and lactosylceramide by in vitro studies. Our recent study showed that β-1,4-GalT V-knockout mice are embryonic lethal, suggesting the importance of the glycans synthesized by β-1,4-GalT V for embryonic development. A subsequent study showed that murine β-1,4-GalT V is involved in the biosynthesis of lactosylceramide.

Synthesis, characterization, and polarized luminescence properties of platinum(II) complexes having a rod-like ligand.

We have synthesized a series of platinum (Pt) complexes having a rod-like ligand: 'Pt(F(2)PPy)acac', 'Pt(12F(2)PPy)acac', and 'Pt(12F(2)PPyO4)acac'. The crystal form of Pt(12F(2)PPy)acac was successfully determined to be triclinic by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The molecules were parallelly aligned in the unit cell.

Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, final assessment.

The era of iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has nearly closed; only occasional cases with exceptionally long incubation periods are still appearing. The principal sources of these outbreaks are contaminated growth hormone (226 cases) and dura mater grafts (228 cases) derived from human cadavers with undiagnosed CJD infections; a small number of additional cases are caused by neurosurgical instrument contamination, corneal grafts, gonadotrophic hormone, and secondary infection with variant CJD transmitted by transfusion of blood products. No new sources of disease have been identified, and current practices, which combine improved recognition of potentially infected persons with new disinfection methods for fragile surgical instruments and biological products, should continue to minimize the risk for iatrogenic disease until a blood screening test for the detection of preclinical infection is validated for human use.

[Confirmation of intention by signature regarding terminal care treatment in elderly people].

Aim: In Japan, it is rare for patients to confirm their intentions regarding terminal care treatment in hospital by signature. To maintain respect for the autonomy of elderly patients, we encouraged confirmation by signature regarding terminal care treatment in elderly patients, after repeated discussions. The purpose of this study was to clarify the status of confirmation of intention by signature.

Increased self-transcendence in patients with intractable diseases.

Aims: Patients with intractable disease require long-term treatment and experience repeated bouts of progressive symptoms and resolutions, which cause them severe suffering. The aim of this study was to elucidate the concepts of self-transcendence and subjective well-being in patients with intractable disease.

Methods: Forty-four patients with intractable disease (men/women: 22/22) participated.

Cyclical and patch-like GDNF distribution along the basal surface of Sertoli cells in mouse and hamster testes.

Background And Aims: In mammalian spermatogenesis, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is one of the major Sertoli cell-derived factors which regulates the maintenance of undifferentiated spermatogonia including spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) through GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1). It remains unclear as to when, where and how GDNF molecules are produced and exposed to the GFRα1-positive spermatogonia in vivo.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Here we show the cyclical and patch-like distribution of immunoreactive GDNF-positive signals and their close co-localization with a subpopulation of GFRα1-positive spermatogonia along the basal surface of Sertoli cells in mice and hamsters.

Comparison of postural control ability among three age groups using acceleration measurement.

The purpose of this study is to suggest a numerical model for postural control ability variations in children, young adults and the elderlies. Three sensors were attached to the subjects' bodies at the vertex, the iliospinale and the mid-patellar to measure three-dimensional acceleration at each point while subjects maintained a standing posture for two minutes. Variations in acceleration at the vertex differed among the three age groups.

Evaluation of the effect of ulinastatin on the production of macrophage colony-stimulating factor in vitro for potential combination therapy with leukocyte adsorption.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) induces normal intestinal macrophages that have anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, M-CSF-rich conditions in colonic tissues seem to contribute to the improvement of pathological conditions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, it has not been clarified whether current therapies for IBD, including granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis using an Adacolumn, and ulinastatin, a serine protease inhibitor, affect the production of M-CSF.

Theoretical Investigations on the Photoinduced Phase Transition Mechanism of Tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil.

The photoinduced phase transition (PIPT) mechanism of tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil (TTF-CA) molecular crystal was theoretically investigated using the long-range corrected time-dependent density functional theory (LC-TDDFT) combined with a local response dispersion (LRD) method, which enables us to quantitatively reproduce charge transfer (CT) excitations of van der Waals clusters. By calculating the excitation spectrum and potential energy surface, we found that the PIPT of TTF-CA crystal may proceed through the angle change of the molecular planes. We also found that the CT excitation of one TTF-CA pair helps other neighboring TTF-CA pairs to become excited.

[Antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype distribution in perinatal group B Streptococcus isolates--a 1999-2009 multicenter study].

We determined temporary changes in group B Streptococcus antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype distribution from perinatal strains. We examined invasive microbiological isolates from neonates with early-onset group B streptococcal disease (n = 14), and colonized isolates from those born uneventfully (n = 55) and from the genital tracts of pregnant and puerperal women (n = 198), collected between 1999 and 2009. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin.

Increased homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma in Japanese males.

Many previous reports have documented a relationship between metabolic syndrome, in terms of insulin resistance, and colorectal cancer. However, the association of insulin resistance with colorectal adenoma has not been investigated in detail. To elucidate the association of metabolic syndrome components and insulin resistance with adenoma, we investigated homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in individuals with adenoma.

HIV prevention through extended education encompassing students, parents, and teachers in Japan.

Objectives: We developed an extended HIV prevention program for students, parents, and school teachers, and then evaluated its effectiveness.

Methods: The participants were 490 students, aged 13-14 years, attending four public junior high schools in Saga Prefecture, Japan. They were divided into two groups: control and intervention.