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Notes: To determine whether a 5-day regimen with rabeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin (RCA) was as effective as a 7-day regimen.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods:A total of 139 H. pylori-infected patients were randomized to receive either a 5-day or 7-day course of rabeprazole 10 mg b.d., clarithromycin 400 mg b.d. and amoxicillin 750 mg b.d. Eradication was assessed by CLO test, histology and 13C-urea breath test.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Results:On the intention-to-treat basis, eradication rates were 66% (46 out of 70) and 84% (58 out of 69) for the 5- and 7-day regimens, respectively (P 〈 0.05). Using per protocol analysis, eradication rates were 70% (46 out of 66) and 91% (58 out of 64) for the 5- and 7-day regimens, respectively (P 〈 0.01). Adverse events, which were observed in 14 patients from each group, caused discontinuation of treatment in only two patients, resulting in excellent compliance.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉Conclusions:Our 5-day regimen of RCA yielded inferior results, whereas the 7-day regimen achieved an eradication rate exceeding 90% on the per protocol basis. Therefore, treatment regimens of less than 7 days for proton pump inhibitor–clarithromycin–amoxicillin therapies cannot be recommended.

Notes: Background  Laminin 5 is known to induce the adhesion, spreading and migration of human keratinocytes. In skin wound healing, laminin 5 deposition beneath migrating keratinocytes occurs early and is followed by the formation of hemidesmosomes and then basement membrane.Objectives  To identify factors that regulate the synthesis and secretion of laminin 5 by human keratinocytes during acute wound healing.Methods  Laminin 5 synthesis by human keratinocytes was determined by a specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To determine the total amount of laminin 5 synthesized, laminin 5 deposited on culture dishes and inside cells was solubilized by detergent solution and determined separately from conditioned medium, and the total laminin 5 synthesis was calculated. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to measure the expression levels of laminin 5 genes, LAMA3, LAMB3 and LAMC2, which correspond to the α3, β3 and γ2 chains of laminin 5. We also examined the effects of lysophospholipids, proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors, which are components in acute wound fluids, on laminin 5 synthesis in keratinocytes.Results  Human acute wound fluid at days 1, 2 and 3 stimulated laminin 5 synthesis in cultured human keratinocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, although findings are restricted to one case. Human serum also increased laminin 5 production by human keratinocytes as strongly as the wound fluid did, suggesting that the major active components in acute wound fluid may be derived from those in human serum. Lysophospholipids such as lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) increased laminin 5 synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Among growth factors, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, interferon-γ and keratinocyte growth factor increased laminin 5 production in keratinocytes, while platelet-derived growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor were ineffective. Although interleukin-1α had no effect, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and TGF-β1 also stimulated laminin 5 synthesis, and TGF-α and TGF-β1 showed a synergistic effect. Neutralizing antibodies to TGF-α and TGF-β1 markedly inhibited the enhanced laminin 5 synthesis by human serum, suggesting that TGF-α and TGF-β1 are important components to increase laminin 5 in human serum. In line with the increase of laminin 5 synthesis, the expression levels of all three laminin 5 genes were also augmented by TGF-α and TGF-β1.Conclusions  Laminin 5 synthesis in human keratinocytes was augmented by inflammatory cytokines and growth factors such as TGF-α, TGF-β1 and TNF-α, and lysophospholipids such as S1P, LPA and LPCs, which are supposed to be present in acute wound fluid. The increased laminin 5 protein in the wound area presumably enhances wound repair by stimulating adhesion and migration of keratinocytes on the wound bed and by facilitating basement membrane formation at the dermal–epidermal junction.

Notes: Summary  Background Cultured epidermal autographs (CEAs) are currently used as a coverage treatment for burn wounds, for disfiguring burn scars involving depigmentation and in restoring the elasticity of the skin. The advantage of CEAs is that epidermal sheets prepared from small skin pieces can be enlarged sufficiently to cover large burn areas. Objectives We examined the correlation between recovery of skin texture, and elastic fibre formation and keratinocyte differentiation (assessed by immunohistochemistry) in CEAs used as replacement skin after tattoo excision in a Japanese patient. Methods The tattooed skin was excised down to the deep dermal layer and then CEA was transplanted onto the patient. The skin textures were evaluated by taking replicas of the skin surface, and histological changes of filaggrin, transglutaminase, involucrin, fibrillin and elastin in the autograft skin were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results The skin texture improved with time after grafting the CEA, and appeared similar to that of normal skin at 39 months. Among keratinocyte differentiation markers, filaggrin recovered to a normal pattern at around 6 months, and transglutaminase did so at 39 months, whereas involucrin expression remained abnormal at 39 months. Fibrillin expression appeared similar to that of normal skin by 39 months, except for sparse candelabra-like structures of short fibres. Elastin expression remained at a low level throughout. Conclusions Our results show that the recovery of skin texture after application of CEAs following tattoo excision is associated with the normalization of epidermal differentiation markers, except involucrin, and with the regeneration of elastic fibres in the dermis.

Notes: (+) (S)- and (-) (R)-trans-1,2-cyclopropanedicarboxylic acids (C3A), (+) (S)- and (-) (R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclopropanes (C3B), (+) (S)- and (-) (R)-trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamines (øC3B), (+) (S)- and (-) (R)-trans-1,2-bis(methylamino)-cyclopropanes (C3MB), and (+) (S)- and (-) (R)-trans-(2-phenylcyclopropyl)-methylamines (øC3MB) were prepared.

Notes: The polyamides were prepared from the dicarbonyl chloride of (+) (S)- or (-)(R)-trans-1,2-cyclopropanedicarboxylic acid (C3A) with either the dihydrochloride salt of (+)(S)- or (-)(R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclopropane (C3B) or the dihydrobromide salt of (+)(S)- or (-)(R)-trans-1,2-bis(methylamino)cyclopropane (C3MB) by interfacial polycondensation. Several diamide model compounds composed of these monomers were also synthesized. The polyamides [poly(C3A-C3B)] derived from C3A and C3B have the capability of hydrogen bonding, while the polyamides [poly-(C3A-C3MB)] derived from C3A and C3MB do not. Poly(C3A-C3B) were insoluble in common organic solvents except strong acids. Poly(C3A-C3MB) were soluble in common organic solvents. Poly(C3A-C3B) had melting points higher than 300°C. Poly(C3A-C3MB) melted at 180-235°C. The ORD and CD study has shown that poly(+)C3A(+)C3B in methane sulfonic acid (MSA), 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) (5 v % MSA), and tetramethylenesulfone (TMS) (5 v % MSA) exhibits a very strong Cotton effect or CD peak at 212-218 mμ, attributable to a component of the split π-π* transition of the amide chromophores. Poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB in MSA and TFE (5 v % MSA) shows a strong Cotton effect or CD peak at 217-223 mμ and an intermediate Cotton effect or CD trough at 202-204 mμ as well as an intermediate Cotton effect or CD trough at 220-222 mμ and an intermediate Cotton effect or CD peak at 202-204 mμ in TFE and TMS. These peaks and troughs may be assigned to splitting of the π-π* transition. The CD spectra of poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB in nonacidic media are quite different from those in acidic media: they are almost mirror images. The CD spectra in this transition induced by MSA suggests that a transition from a compact helix to another more extended helix with opposite handedness occurs similar to poly-L-proline I ⇄ II. This transition may be explained by electrostatic repulsion between protonated amide groups. Viscosity data have shown that the conformation is changed to a highly extended from in acidic media. The polyamides and diamides derived from enantiomers exhibit mirror image spectra. Poly(+)C3A(+)C3B and poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB in every solvent studied exhibit a marked enhancement of the rotatory strength of ORD and CD with respect to the corresponding diamide models.

Notes: The synthesis and optical properties of the polyamides [poly(C3A·C3B) and poly(C3A-C3MB)] derived from asymmetric trans-1,2-cyclopropanedicarboxylic acids (C3A), asymmetric trans-1,2-diaminocyclopropanes (C3B), and asymmetric trans-1,2-bis(methylamino) cyclopropanes (C3MB) were reported in the preceding article. This paper describes the NMR studies and conformations of the polyamides. The NMR studies of the polyamides and their diamide models have suggested that the polyamides have about a 90° torsional angle for NH (or CH3) CH. This angle seems to be reasonable because of less steric interaction, especially for poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB. The N—CH3 of the poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB in sulfuric acid-d2 (D2SO4) is a singlet and is tentatively assigned to trans to the carbonyl oxygen of the amide group. In 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol-d3 (TFE-d3) and chloroform-d (CDCl3) it is also a singlet and is tentatively assigned to cis. The overall results obtained suggest that poly(+)C3A(+)C3MB exists in a compact helical conformation in TFE and TMS, while some conformational transition to a highly extended helical form with opposite handedness is induced by the addition of MSA. Likewise, poly(+)C3A(+)C3B must exist in some ordered conformation in the solvents studied. Possible ordered conformations of the polyamides have been proposed based on the experimental results and some assumptions.