Cationic Lipid Content in Liposome-Encapsulated Nisin Improves Sustainable Bactericidal Activity against Streptococcus mutans.

An oral infectious disease, dental caries, is caused by the cariogenic streptococci Streptococcus mutans. The expected preventive efficiency for prophylactics against dental caries is not yet completely observed. Nisin, a bacteriocin, has been demonstrated to be microbicidal against S.

The role of nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr) in glomerulonephritis associated with streptococcal infection.

It is well known that glomerulonephritis can occur after streptococcal infection, which is classically referred to as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). The pathogenic mechanism of APSGN has been described by so-called immune complex theory, which involves glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen and subsequent formation of immune complexes in situ and/or the deposition of circulating antigen-antibody complexes. However, the exact entity of the causative antigen has remained a matter of debate.

Localization of nephritis-associated plasmin receptor in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

The nephritis-associated plasmin receptor is a recently identified nephritogenic antigen associated with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and proposed to play a pathogenic role, but its precise glomerular localization in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis has not been elucidated. We therefore analyzed renal biopsy sections from 10 acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis patients by using immunofluorescence staining with anti-nephritis-associated plasmin receptor antibody and various markers of glomerular components. Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor was detected in the glomeruli of all patients, and double staining for nephritis-associated plasmin receptor and collagen IV showed nephritis-associated plasmin receptor to be predominantly on the inner side of the glomerular tufts.

Involvement of epimorphin in the repair of experimental renal fibrosis in mice.

Interaction between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells is essential in normal organ morphogenesis and in tissue repair after injury. Epimorphin, a mesenchymal protein that regulates epithelial morphogenesis through epithelial-mesenchymal interactions, has recently attracted attention as an important modulator of tissue repair. In this study we analyzed the role of epimorphin in renal fibrosis.

The national tuberculosis drug resistance survey in Cambodia, 2000-2001.

Setting: Cambodia has a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB). Hospital-based DOTS was predominant throughout the country from 1994 to 2002.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of resistance to four major anti-tuberculosis drugs, isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP), ethambutol (EMB) and streptomycin (SM), among new cases as a baseline before a new National Tuberculosis Programme strategy with decentralised ambulatory DOTS was widely implemented.

Effects of pioglitazone and candesartan on renal fibrosis and the intrarenal plasmin cascade in spontaneously hypercholesterolemic rats.

The profibrotic effect of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in renal fibrosis is widely recognized, but its mechanism remains controversial especially in chronic progressive kidney disease. In the present study, pioglitazone (Pio) and candesartan (CD), which are reported to inhibit PAI-1, were administered to spontaneously hypercholesterolemic (SHC) rats, a model of chronic progressive kidney disease. Therapeutic effects and effects on the intrarenal plasmin cascade were examined.

Sequence and expression of NAPlr is conserved among group A streptococci isolated from patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and non-APSGN.

Background: The relation of nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr) as a nephritogenic antigen in group A streptococci (GAS), to acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and the potential of specific strains to cause APSGN are not fully understood. It would be helpful to determine whether certain GAS strains from APSGN patients specifically express NAPlr and whether strains from non-APSGN patients express lower levels or an altered form of NAPlr.

Methods: The sequence and levels of expression of NAPlr were assayed for strains of GAS isolated from patients with APSGN, pharyngitis, scarlet fever or toxic shock-like syndrome.

Intraperitoneal immunization with oligomannose-coated liposome-entrapped soluble leishmanial antigen induces antigen-specific T-helper type immune response in BALB/c mice through uptake by peritoneal macrophages.

The present study demonstrates that the intraperitoneal administration of soluble leishmanial antigen (SLA) entrapped in liposomes coated with neoglycolipids containing oligomannose residues (mannopentaose or mannotriose) strongly induces an antigen-specific T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune response in BALB/c mice. In response to in vitro stimulation with SLA, spleen cells from mice that had received oligomannose-coated liposomes encasing SLA (SLA-OML) displayed greater interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 production and lower IL-4 and IL-5 production than spleen cells from mice that had received SLA alone, indicating that the SLA-specific Th1 immune response had predominantly been induced in the mice that had received SLA-OML. After subsequent infection with Leishmania major, mice that had received SLA-OML were effectively protected against the disease, with a predominant production of IFN-gamma.

Significance of glomerular cell apoptosis in the resolution of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Background: Glomerular hypercellularity due to resident glomerular cell proliferation and leucocyte infiltration has been described in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). APSGN usually resolves without progression. However, the mechanism of resolution remains to be determined.

Alterations of cell adhesion molecules in human glomerular endothelial cells in response to nephritis-associated plasminogen receptor.

Background: Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is induced by glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen-antibody complexes. Recently, a streptococcal antigen, nephritis-associated plasminogen receptor (NAPlr) was purified from ruptured streptococcal cell supernatants (RCS). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of NAPlr action on the glomerular vas culature are still unknown.

Targeting gene therapy for prostate cancer cells by liposomes complexed with anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen monoclonal antibody.

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a membrane-bound antigen expressed on the surface of prostate cancer cells, and this paper describes the use of an antibody against PSMA for targeting gene therapy. We coupled anti-PSMA monoclonal antibody with poly-L-lysine and then incubated it with plasmids. These complexes were then transfected with cationic liposomes into cells.

Chiral inversion of RS-8359: a selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor via oxido-reduction of keto-alcohol.

RS-8359, (+/-)-4-(4-cyanoanilino)-5,6-dihydro-7-hydroxy-7H-cyclopenta[d]-pyrimidine is a selective and reversible MAO-A inhibitor. The (S)-enantiomer of RS-8359 has been demonstrated to be inverted to the (R)-enantiomer after oral administration to rats. In the current study, we investigated the chiral inversion mechanism and the properties of involved enzymes using rat liver subcellular fractions.

A case of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by alveolar hemorrhage and cytomegalovirus colitis.

We report a rare case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by alveolar hemorrhage and cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis. Despite the successful treatment of lupus nephritis by steroid pulse therapy, the patient developed an acute alveolar hemorrhage 2 months later. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy ameliorated the hemorrhage.

Selective gene therapy for prostate cancer cells using liposomes conjugated with IgM type monoclonal antibody against prostate-specific membrane antigen.

Prostate cancer cells express prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). We developed an IgM type monoclonal antibody against PSMA. The antibody was coupled to poly-L-lysine and thereafter this conjugate was mixed with cationic liposomes containing plasmid DNA.

Glomerular plasmin-like activity in relation to nephritis-associated plasmin receptor in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

A nephritogenic antigen for acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) was isolated recently from group A streptococcus and termed nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr). In vitro experimental data indicate that the pathogenic role of NAPlr occurs through its ability to bind to plasmin and maintain its proteolytic activity. However, the mechanism whereby this antigen induces glomerular damage in vivo has not been fully elucidated.

Early bone marrow hematopoietic defect in simian/human immunodeficiency virus C2/1-infected macaques and relevance to advance of disease.

To clarify hematological abnormalities following infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), we examined the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow by using cynomolgus monkeys infected with pathogenic simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) strain C2/1, an animal model of HIV infection. The relationship between the progress of the infection and the CD4/CD8 ratio of T lymphocytes or the amount of SHIV C2/1 viral load in the peripheral blood was also investigated. A colony assay was performed to assess the hematopoietic capability of bone marrow stem cells during the early and advanced phases of the infection.

Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis: characterization of the antigen and associated immune response.

The role of nephritis-associated antigen as a virulence factor for acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) remains to be fully clarified. Nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr) was previously isolated from group A streptococcus (GAS) and shown to bind plasmin(ogen). The nucleotide sequence of the naplr gene from GAS isolates obtained from patients with APSGN was determined.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus show a normal responsive search score in exploratory eye movement analysis: comparison with schizophrenia.

Objective: To assess whether a difference in psychiatric vulnerability exists between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and those with schizophrenia.

Methods: Twenty women with SLE underwent exploratory eye movement analysis, and a responsive search score (RSS) was obtained, two months after the onset of the disease. Fifteen women with schizophrenia in remission also underwent this analysis.

Administration of plasmids expressing interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 causes BALB/c mice to induce a T helper 2-type response despite the expected T helper 1-type response with a low-dose infection of Leishmania major.

BALB/c mice are susceptible to developing an infection with Leishmania major as a result of a fatal T helper 2 (Th2)-type response. However, mice infected with a low dose of parasites are reported to be able to overcome the lesions associated with a T helper 1 (Th1)-type response. To clarify why a difference in the dose of parasites induces a difference in the polarization of the Th phenotype, we first attempted to measure cytokine production.

[Complement activity among individuals at a ground self-defense force base].

Objective: This study aims to examine the distribution of hemolytic complement activity, the prevalence of hypocomplementemia and the disorders causing hypocomplementemia among individuals taking part in a mass screening program.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 1340 male Japanese participating in a mass screening program at a Ground Self-Defense Force base in Asaka. We measured the hemolytic complement activity (CH50) after overnight fasting.