Overexpression of DnaJ-Like Chaperone Enhances Carotenoid Synthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Production of functional carotenoids using microalgae may facilitate the commercialization of anti-aging nutritional supplements. The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii uses a non-mevalonate (MEP) pathway for isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) synthesis. Two enzymes thought to play important roles in this MEP pathway to IPP synthesis are 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and reductase (DXR).

[Efficacy of new antiepileptic drugs and the next generation drugs].

Recent development and success in the field of new antiepileptic drug treatment, has resulted in the commercialization of many new drugs. The efficacy of these drugs has been assessed in many countries. Despite the progress in USA and European countries, a time lag of approximately 10 years concerning these new drugs exists in Japan.

Therapy-resistant epilepsy in children: with the view of the long-term outcome.

Of 362 children with therapy-resistant epilepsy, 119 patients had generalized tonic seizures, which were the most common seizure type in patients with generalized epilepsy. The long-term observation of the patients with tonic seizures revealed that their seizures were completely controlled in 27 patients for more than 5 years. The effective antiepileptic drugs were VPA (10 patients), PHT (5), CLB (4), ZNS (2), VPA + PHT (4), ZNS + CLB (1) and VPA + AZA (1).

[Rhythmic fast activity on EEG in a patient with Mollaret's meningitis].

Mollaret's meningitis is a rare disease of unknown etiology, characterized by repeated aseptic meningitis with transient neurological symptoms and quick recovery. The patient, a 16-year-old boy, had episodes of acute encephalitis followed by complete recovery every year from the age of 13 to 16 years. The symptoms at onset were loss of consciousness, a generalized tonic clonic seizure and pyramidal signs.

Mutations of sodium channel alpha subunit type 1 (SCN1A) in intractable childhood epilepsies with frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

A group of infant onset epilepsies manifest very frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTC) intractable to medical therapy, which may or may not be accompanied by minor seizures such as myoclonic seizures, absences and partial seizures. They include severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI) and intractable childhood epilepsy with GTC (ICEGTC). They are commonly associated with fever-sensitivity, family history of seizure disorders and developmental decline after seizure onset.