[Results of therapy for orbital malignant lymphoma].

Purpose: To elucidate the clinical and histopathological features of orbital malignant lymphoma, and to develop a protocol for effective treatment.

Materials And Methods: The present study analyzed 18 cases of orbital lymphoma which were treated at Yamagata University Hospital over the last 14 years. The tentative strategy for choosing the treatment was to treat the cases of clinical stage I (Ann Arbor criteria) with curative intent and the cases of stage II-IV with palliative intent.

Isoflavonoid glycosides from Dalbergia sissoo.

Two isoflavone glycosides, biochanin A 7-O-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->5)-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] and tectorigenin 7-O-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside], were isolated from Dalbergia sissoo. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.

[A-56-year-old woman with parkinsonism, whose mother had Parkinson's disease].

We report a 56-year-old woman with progressive gait disturbance. Her mother had Parkinson's disease with onset at age 70. She died at age 74 and the post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of Lewy body positive Parkinson's disease.

Association of gastroesophageal reflux disease with weight gain and apnea, and their disturbance on sleep.

Obesity is a common predisposition to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). By statistical analysis of the respondents to a questionnaire that was distributed to members of the Kansai Rugby Association, we examined whether weight gain increased the incidence of these diseases and whether GERD alone disturbs sleep. Prevalence distribution of GERD by age differed from another survey, which suggests that predispositions other than age may contribute to GERD.

The relationship between esophageal pressure and apnea hypopnea index in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Severity of negative esophageal pressure (Pes) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were investigated in 34 patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The OSAHS patients were diagnostically classified as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) or upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Diagnosis of OSAS was based on an AHI of more than 5, and that of UARS on an AHI of less than 5, EEG arousals which were associated with apnea, hypopnea and/or respiratory effort occurring more than 10 times per hour, and daytime sleepiness.

Diagnosis and treatment of orbital malignant lymphoma: a 14-year review at Yamagata University.

Purpose: With the recent increase in the incidence of orbital malignant lymphoma, it is important to make the appropriate decision on effective treatment. The purpose of the current study was to develop a protocol to treat orbital malignant lymphoma based on evidence from histopathological examination.

Methods: In the present study we analyzed the records of 18 cases of orbital lymphoma treated in the Yamagata University Hospital over the past 14 years, including 6 cases of isolated orbital disease and 12 cases of systemic disease.

Effects of isoflavone supplement on healthy women.

Effects of the isoflavone supplement on hormonal states in young premenopausal women were studied by cross-over study design. Administration of 20 mg or 40 mg isoflavones (IF) by tablets, of which 1 g contained 43.5 mg daidzein, 6.

Antioxidant activity of soya hypocotyl tea in humans.

Antioxidative activity of isoflavones has not been shown in humans. Newly-developed isoflavone-rich soya hypocotyl tea contains about 12 mg isoflavones per liter. 15 tea drinkers and 23 control young female students were randomly selected from volunteers, and underwent physical examination, blood chemistry and urinary analysis before and after one month of tea drinking.

Esophageal pressure and apnea hypopnea index in sleep-disordered breathing.

Severity of negative esophageal pressure (Pes) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI) were investigated in six cases of upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and 11 cases of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The severity of negative Pes was represented by the highest peak (Pes Max) and the number of increased episodes (more than 13.5 cmH2O) per h (NPesI13.

Structure-activity relationship of orally potent tripeptide-based HIV protease inhibitors containing hydroxymethylcarbonyl isostere.

We designed and synthesized a new class of peptidomimetic human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors containing a unique unnatural amino acid, allophenylnorstatine [Apns; (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid], with a hydroxymethylcarbonyl isostere as the active moiety. From a structure-activity relationship study of HIV-1 protease inhibition, enzyme selectivity for other aspartyl proteases, the antiviral activity and pharmacokinetics in rats, 24c (KNI-227) and 24d (KNI-272, our first clinical candidate) were found to be selective and orally potent HIV protease inhibitors. Moreover, an improvement of the pharmacokinetic features of KNI-272 provided two long-lasting and highly bioavailable compounds (24g: JE-2178, 24h: JE-2179).

Purification and properties of protoporphyrinogen oxidase from spinach chloroplasts.

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox), an enzyme that catalyzes the common step of chlorophyll and heme biosynthetic pathways, was purified from spinach chloroplasts. The molecular weight of purified protein was estimated to be approximately 60,000 by SDS-PAGE. Protox activity was stimulated by addition of FAD, suggesting that chloroplast Protox requires FAD as a cofactor.

Compact dry chemistry instruments.

Compact dry chemistry instruments are designed for use in point-of-care-testing (POCT). These instruments have a number of advantages, including light weight, compactness, ease of operation, and the ability to provide accurate results in a short time with a very small sample volume. On the other hand, reagent costs are high compared to liquid method.

A case of eosinophilic cystitis in a 5-year-old boy.

Eosinophilic cystitis (EC) is rather an uncommon disease in childhood. A case of EC in a 5-year-old boy, in which open biopsy was needed for final diagnosis, is reported. After diagnosis, he was treated with pemirolast potassium followed-up with eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and urine.

Cytoplasmic localization is required for the mammalian ELAV-like protein HuD to induce neuronal differentiation.

Background: ELAV-like neuronal RNA-binding proteins are highly conserved in many neurone-containing organisms and have been implicated in neuronal development and differentiation.

Results: Mammalian neurone-specific ELAV-like Hu proteins (HuB, HuC and HuD) and Drosophila ELAV, but not HuR, were found to induce neurite outgrowth when over-expressed in rat PC12 cells. Functional analysis of HuD deletion mutants demonstrated the importance of two conserved RNA-binding domains (RBDs 1 and 3) and the indispensability of the linker region between RBDs 2 and 3 for the neurite-inducing activity.

Genomic structure and promoter analysis of the ecto-phosphodiesterase I gene (PDNP3) expressed in glial cells.

PDNP (phosphodiesterase I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase) is one of a series of ectoenzymes that are involved in hydrolysis of extracellular nucleotides. PDNP possesses ATPase (EC 3.6.

Clinical characteristics of upper airway resistance syndrome.

Polysomnographic findings and clinical symptoms were investigated in 14 cases of upper airway resistance syndrome. The mean scores of the Epworth sleepiness scale and self-rating depression scale in eight cases were 13.5 and 38.

Frequent breathing-related electroencephalogram arousals in four patients with mild obstructive sleep apneas.

We report cases of four patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with frequent breathing-related electroencephalogram (EEG) arousals which led to excessive daytime sleepiness. In spite of a relatively low apnea hypopnea index (AHI), sleep was disrupted by frequent EEG arousals associated with respiratory effort as observed in upper airway resistance syndrome. The effects of sleep stage and sleep position on EEG arousals were also investigated.

A case of large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor in a child with a history of nasal myxoid tumor in infancy.

A case of an 8-year-old Japanese boy with a testicular large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT) is presented. This report appears to be the first Japanese case of LCCSCT. The patient presented with left testicular swelling and gynecomastia.

[Evaluation of chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer].

Clinical study has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in six patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment schedule consisted of docetaxel 60 mg/m2 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1 and repeated every 4 weeks. Eligible patients had histologically proven locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, PS < or = 2, age < or = 74, normal hematological, hepatic and renal functions and informed consent in writing.

Structure-activity relationship of small-sized HIV protease inhibitors containing allophenylnorstatine.

We designed and synthesized a new class of peptidomimetic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors containing a unique unnatural amino acid, allophenylnorstatine [Apns; (2S, 3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid], with a hydroxymethylcarbonyl (HMC) isostere as the active moiety. A systematic evaluation of structure-activity relationships for HIV protease inhibition, anti-HIV activities, and pharmacokinetic profiles has led to the delineation of a set of structural charateristics that appear to afford an orally available HIV protease inhibitor. Optimum structures, exemplified by 21f (JE-2147), incorporated 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoyl groups as the P2 ligand, (R)-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carbonyl (Dmt) residue at the P1' site, and 2-methylbenzylcarboxamide group as the P2' ligand.

Expression of spliceosome-associated protein 49 is required for early embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Spliceosome-associated protein 49 (SAP 49) is a subunit of the splicing factor SF3b, which is involved in 3' splice site recognition in pre-mRNA splicing. Here we show the Caenorhabditis elegans SAP 49 gene is located in a gene cluster that is transcribed polycistronically with three other upstream genes. Transgenic analysis of expression of the gene cluster under the control of its native promoter revealed that in spite of its predicted essential function for all cells, the C.

[A case of ureteral polyp prolapsing into bladder in a 3-year-old boy].

A 3-year-old boy was referred to us with a diagnosis of bladder tumor. On cystoscopy, a yellowish-white pedunculated tumor was found at the right trigone and biopsy revealed an inflammatory change. Computed tomographic (CT) scan showed a soft tissue density from the lower ureter to the bladder.

A subset of CD4+ T cells expressing early activation antigen CD69 in murine lupus: possible abnormal regulatory role for cytokine imbalance.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which spontaneously develops in (NZB (New Zealand Black) x NZW (New Zealand White)) F1 mice, is strictly dependent on CD4+ T cells. We found that in these mice with overt SLE, CD4+ T cells expressing CD69 molecules, an early activation Ag, are dramatically increased in peripheral lymphoid tissues and inflammatory infiltrates in the kidney and lung, but not in peripheral blood, while CD8+ and NK1.1+ T cells were virtually CD69-.

Two cases of sleep-disordered breathing in climacteric.

Two cases of sleep disordered-breathing in climacteric were reported. Polysomnography including esophageal pressure (Pes) measurement was performed. Case 1 was diagnosed as upper airway resistance syndrome.

Alteration of esophageal pressure in sleep-disordered breathing.

We investigated the alteration of esophageal pressure (Pes) in 10 patients with upper-airway sleep-disordered breathing (UASDB) and the relationship among Pes, breathing patterns and EEG arousals. Increased negative Pes without apnea or hypopnea, appeared not only in upper airway resistance syndrome but also in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This phenomenon produced frequent EEG microarousals leading to sleep fragmentation and daytime sleepiness.