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Notes: Abstract. Objective: To obtain a synthetic anti-complement inhibitor which has stronger activity than FUT-175 (nafamostat mesilate), as a synthetic ester derivative containing amidino and guanidino groups.¶Methods: We synthesized several modified compounds of FUT-175. The anti-complement activities were measured using synthetic substrates and complement-mediated hemolysis in vitro. The anti-complement activity in vivo was evaluated via Forssman systemic shock in guinea pigs.¶Results: FUT-175 inhibited C1r- and C1s- with IC50s of 1.7 × 10-6 and 3.2 × 10-7 M, respectively. Inhibitory activities were decreased by substitution of the amidino group with a hydrogen atom (compound 2), but not the guanidino group with a hydrogen atom (compound 3). Compound 6, in which the benzene ring of compound 3 was substituted with a furan ring, inhibited C1r- and the complement-mediated hemolysis in high-diluted serum with higher potency than FUT-175. The inhibitory activity of compound 6 in hemolysis was weakened in low diluted serum. Compound 7 had a guanidino group inserted into compound 6; however, Compound 7 strongly inhibited hemolysis even in low-diluted serum, and suppressed Forssman systemic shock more potently than both FUT-175 and compound 6.¶Conclusions: These data suggest that the 2-furylcarboxylic acid derivatives have a strong potential for inhibiting the activities of the complement, and the guanidino group was required to retain high inhibitory activities in vivo, and compound 7 is a hopeful anti-complement agent.¶

Notes: Abstract Background: We evaluated interval changes of the internal structure of renal angiomyolipomas in relation to the doubling time on computed tomography (CT). Methods: A retrospective review of 42 renal angiomyolipomas in 10 patients who had been followed up for more than 5 months with CT was performed. The doubling time of each tumor was estimated. We classified the internal structures of the tumors into five types, based on the fat component percentage. We compared changes between initial and follow-up CT, and the relationship with the doubling time was evaluated. Results: The fat component increased more than the soft tissue component in 15 tumors (36%). The soft tissue component increased more than the fat component in only one tumor, in which an intratumoral hemorrhage occurred during the follow-up period. Twenty-six tumors (62%) showed no change. Most tumors with relatively long doubling times did not show a change in their internal structures. Conclusion: The growth of renal angiomyolipoma is due mainly to an increase in its fat component. An increase in the soft tissue component suggests the development of an intratumoral hemorrhage. RID="" ID="" 〈E5〉Correspondence to:〈/E5〉 S. Yamamoto

Notes: Abstract Oxygen ordering in nonstoichiometric compositions of YBa2Cu3O7−y is considered in terms of the Landau theory of second-order phase transitions. It is shown that there can only be ten types of homogeneous long-range order, of which two types correspond to the OI and OII phases. The Landau theory predicts that the filling of vacant positions 2(f)D 4h 1 by oxygen must follow a scenario that is far from forming chains but compatible with known facts. Such a scenario of filling vacancies with oxygen was not considered earlier. It is demonstrated that the predicted structures can be experimentally identified from the spectra of copper ions. In the course of identification of diffraction patterns, the symmetry-allowed displacement of copper ions from centrosymmetric positions in a Cu(1)(Ox□1−x )2 layer should be taken into account.

Notes: In this study the photolightening behavior of blond hair was investigated. The results demonstrated that visible (VIS) and ultraviolet (UV) light lighten blond hair through different mechanisms. VIS light was found to contribute much more to the lightening of blond hair than UV light, and acted directly, while UV light only lightened blond hair that had been washed following irradiation. VIS and UV light both, however, lightened to a similar degree isolated melanin granules and decomposed melanin granules that were exposed on a cross section of blond hair. These results indicate that melanin granules are equally sensitive to both forms of light while blond hair is most sensitive to VIS light. The results also indicate that hair tissues, excluding melanin granules, are damaged by UV light but not by VIS light. Based on these facts, the hypothetical lightening mechanism of UV light is assumed to be that UV light preferentially attacks and damages hair tissues rather than melanin granules. This occurs only after the hair is washed, as the washing process removes the melanin granules that effuse from loose hair fibers. In contrast, VIS light preferentially attacks and decomposes the melanin granules rather than other tissues, and also results in the lightening of blond hair but without the need for subsequent washing. We also found that while VIS light destroys the structure of isolated melanin granules, UV light does not act in a similar manner. Consequently, it is proven that VIS and UV light attack different sites of the melanin granule, even though the lightening rates from both light sources are similar.

Notes: Some metabolic end-products in tissues and physiological parameters of haemolymph of the Japanese clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams & Reeve) were investigated under aerial exposure at 15 °C with low relative humidity (RH) (22%) or high RH (91%). Acclimated clams in water at 15 °C were used as a control and to supply the low or high RH experiment. The low RH experiment was conducted at air exposure for 50 h (LH50), and the high RH experiment for 50 h (HH50) and 100 h (HH100). Accumulation of succinate and alanine in the tissues proved that the clam shifted its metabolism to anaerobiosis. Lactate accumulation did not occur. Glucose concentrations in tissues increased slightly during exposure except for HH50. The total free amino acid contents (363–410 μmol g−1) were higher than those of glucose (530–804 μmol 100 g−1), suggesting that the free amino acids might play a more dominant role in the metabolism. Increase in the haemolymph pco2 did not influence the acid–base balance in the haemolymph during exposure at both humidity conditions. Increase in the haemolymph ammonia from 48.2 to 57.1 μmol 100 g−1 and to 131.0 μmol 100 g−1 at LH50 and HH100, respectively, suggested that ammonia might function as an important buffering factor during aerial exposure. Retention values of the haemolymph po2 even at the longest exposure time (16.30 mmHg at LH50 and 14.69 mmHg at HH100) indicated that the clams depend partially on some aerobic manner.

Notes: Summary Background Mutations of the patched (Ptc) gene, a developmental regulator implicated in the signalling pathway via sonic hedgehog (Shh) and smoothened (Smo), play an essential pathogenic role in the development of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). We previously reported the upregulation of Shh signal transducers, including Ptc, Smo and hedgehog-interacting protein, in BCCs. In vertebrates, specific downstream effectors in the Shh signalling pathway include three zinc-finger transcription factors, Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3. Gli1 possesses only an activation domain, while Gli2 and Gli3 contain both activation and repression domains. It remains unclear which of these transcription factors are responsible for the development of BCCs. Objectives To examine the expression pattern of Gli2 mRNA by human BCCs in comparison with those by normal human skin and various skin tumours. Methods We performed quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction analyses with a series of samples from BCCs, other skin tumours and normal skin. Results We found that Gli2 mRNA expression was enhanced in the BCCs we examined, whereas there was no significant increase in other skin tumours or normal skin. Of four spliced Gli2 isoforms designated Gli2α, β, γ and δ, the expression of Gli2β mRNA was increased the most in BCCs. Conclusions As Gli2β is an isoform spliced at the first splicing site containing a repression domain and consists of an intact activation domain, its overexpression may lead to the upregulation of the Shh signalling pathway, thereby inducing BCCs.

Notes: summary  The prevalences of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in Bangladeshi adolescents and their associations with intake of various hard food items were investigated. A group of 1200 randomly selected high school students aged 12–17 years from three communities (rural, semi-urban and urban) completed a questionnaire on dietary habits and presence of TMD symptoms and were examined clinically. In bivariate analysis, no significant relationship was observed between TMD symptoms and eating of hard foods. However, in logistic regression analysis, clicking showed a significant correlation with consumption of hard vegetable and fruits more than three times per week (P 〈 0·05). A statistically significant correlation was also observed between consumption of all hard food items (at least one item in each of the four categories of hard food) more than 12 times per week and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) (P 〈 0·05). A positive association was found between pain in the TMJ and older age (15–17 years) (P 〈 0·001). The prevalence of pain in the TMJ was significantly higher in males (P 〈 0·01). Prevalences of clicking and pain in the TMJ were significantly higher in subjects living in a rural area than in subjects living in an urban area (P 〈 0·01 and P 〈 0·01, respectively). Subjects having one or more decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) showed significantly higher prevalences of clicking (P 〈 0·01) and restricted mouth opening (P 〈 0·01). The results suggest that prevalence of TMD symptoms are related to prolonged consumption of hard food items.

Notes: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is a distinct entity, characterized by fatty change, lobular inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. Some cases of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis progress to cirrhosis, but it is not easy to distinguish this disease from non-alcoholic fatty liver by non-invasive examinations. No proven therapy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis exists. Transforming growth factor-β1 is implicated in the development of liver fibrosis, and is inhibited by α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the liver. Therefore, in this study, the significance of the measurement of the level of plasma transforming growth factor-β1 and the effect of α-tocopherol on the clinical course of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were investigated.〈section xml:id="abs1-2"〉〈title type="main"〉Methods:Twelve patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and 10 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver, with a diagnosis confirmed by liver biopsy, were studied. None of the patients had a history of alcohol abuse, habitual medicine or malignant or inflammatory diseases. All patients were negative for hepatitis B, C and G virus. Patients were given dietary instruction for 6 months, and then α-tocopherol (300 mg/day) was given for 1 year. Blood chemistries, measurement of plasma transforming growth factor-β1 level and liver biopsies were undertaken before and after the 1-year α-tocopherol treatment.〈section xml:id="abs1-3"〉〈title type="main"〉Results:The serum alanine transaminase level decreased in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients, but not in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients, after 6 months of dietary therapy. Although the serum alanine transaminase level in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients was reduced during the 1-year α-tocopherol treatment, α-tocopherol had no effect on the serum alanine transaminase level in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients. The histological findings, such as steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, of the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients were improved after α-tocopherol treatment. The plasma transforming growth factor-β1 level in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients was significantly elevated compared with that in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients and healthy controls, and decreased, accompanied by an improvement in serum alanine transaminase level, with α-tocopherol treatment.〈section xml:id="abs1-4"〉〈title type="main"〉Conclusions:lOur data suggest that the measurement of the level of plasma transforming growth factor-β1 represents a possible method of distinguishing between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Long-term α-tocopherol treatment may be safe and effective for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial is needed to confirm the full potential of α-tocopherol in the management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.