Relationship between Joint National Committee-VI classification of hypertension and ambulatory blood pressure in patients with hypertension diagnosed by casual blood pressure

BACKGROUND

White-coat hypertension has been diagnosed arbitrarily based on different criteria. In 1997, the Joint National Committee-VI (JNC-VI) reported a new classification of hypertension and strongly emphasized the importance of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring. The report pronounced normal ABP values for the first time.

HYPOTHESIS

The study's aim was to clarify the relationship between casual blood pressure (BP) and ABP of patients with essential hypertension in each stage of JNC-VI classification, and the prevalence of white-coat hypertension diagnosed by using JNC-VI normal ABP criteria.

METHODS

Ambulatory blood pressure was monitored non-invasively in 232 patients with essential hypertension whose casual BP was > or = 140/90 mmHg. The patients were classified according to JNC-VI classification, and their casual BP was compared with ABP. The criterion of white-coat hypertension was defined as casual BP > or = 140/90 mmHg with normal ABP according to JNC-VI criteria (< 135/85 during daytime and < 120/75 during nighttime).

RESULTS

Mean ABP increased as the stage advanced, and the differences between casual BP and ABP also increased. There were considerable overlaps in the distribution of ABP among stages. The prevalence of white-coat hypertension was 13% overall: 30% of the patients with isolated systolic hypertension, 19% of those in stage 1, 10% in stage 2, and 4% in stage 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Classification of hypertension based on casual BP may not always correspond in severity to that based on ABP. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recommended by JNC-VI is very useful for the evaluation of hypertension to differentiate white-coat hypertension from true hypertension.

Intrahepatic biliary cysts in children with biliary atresia who have had a Kasai operation

PURPOSE

In patients with biliary atresia who had undergone a Kasai operation, treatment of intrahepatic biliary cysts (IBCs), particularly when complicated by cholangitis, is often difficult because the clinical implications and the course of IBCs are unclear. Thus, to determine the best treatment guideline, the morphology of IBCs, the clinical course, and the outcomes of such patients were evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 44 patients with type III biliary atresia who underwent a Kasai operation from 1977 to 2005 were postoperatively examined for IBC by using ultrasonography and computed tomography. We classified the IBCs based on their number and shape.

RESULTS

Intrahepatic biliary cysts developed in 12 of 54 patients. Three patients with solitary simple cysts and 1 patient with multiple simple cysts had no history of cholangitis. Two patients with multiple simple cysts had cholangitis at the time of IBC diagnosis and were treated with percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD). Patients with simple IBCs did not develop persistent cholangitis and their prognosis depended largely on their liver function; 3 of 6 patients remained healthy without cholangitis, whereas 3 patients required liver transplantation (LT) because of progressive liver failure or worsening hepatopulmonary syndrome, and not severe cholangitis. On the other hand, all 6 patients with multiple complicated IBCs had persistent cholangitis, eventually requiring LT. Even after bile flow to the intestine was reestablished after PTCD, both IBCs and cholangitis recurred. These patients required LT because of severe cholangitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrahepatic biliary cysts without cholangitis are not a source of infection and require no treatment. Simple IBCs with cholangitis can be controlled by antibiotics and/or PTCD. Patients with multiple complicated IBCs have a poor prognosis, requiring LT to control cholangitis. Although PTCD can control cholangitis in these patients as they wait for LT, PTCD does not alleviate it--LT is the final solution.

Enhanced iturin A production by Bacillus subtilis and its effect on suppression of the plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani

Enhanced production of the antibiotic iturin A by Bacillus subtilis RB14-CS reached 4.4 g L(-1) in SM medium containing soybean meal and maltose, which was 16-fold and 2.2-fold higher than that in original and modified number 3S media, respectively. When various volumes of RB14-CS cultures grown in SM medium were applied to pot tests of tomato damping-off caused by Rhizoctonia solani, damping-off was dose-dependently suppressed by the cultures. Suppression by SM-grown cultures was significantly more effective than that by cultures grown in original or modified number 3S media. The iturin A concentrations in soil decreased to undetectable levels after 17 days of cultivation in pot tests, indicating that iturin A has a low persistence in soil.

Implications of MYCN amplification in patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma who undergo intensive chemotherapy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This study aims to clarify the implications of MYCN amplification in patients with high-risk neuroblastomas treated with 2 different regimens of induction chemotherapy established by the Japan Study Group for Advanced Neuroblastoma.

METHODS

Between 1985 and 2003 in Japan, 392 patients with stage 4 neuroblastomas who were older than 12 months were treated with 2 regimens of induction chemotherapy (the combination of cyclophosphamide [CTX], cisplatin [CDDP], pirarubicin, and vincristine or etoposide). Regimen 91A3 or 98A3 (A3) (CTX 2400 mg/m2, CDDP 125 mg/m2) was a higher dose combination of CTX and CDDP than regimen 85A1 or 91A1 (A1) (CTX 1200 mg/m2, CDDP 90 mg/m2). The 392 cases were classified into 3 groups (A, 1 copy; B, 2-9 copies; C, more than 10 copies) based on the MYCN amplification status by a Southern blot analysis.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival rate (5-YS) was 41.1% for all 392 cases. Regarding the MYCN amplification status, the 5-YS was 46.6% for A group (n = 227), 22.7% for B group (n = 26), and 36.0% for C group (n = 139). A fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed the presence of the cells with more than 10 copies in cases with 2 to 9 copies based on the Southern blot findings. Of the 227 patients in a group, the 5-YS was 46.7% for the 70 cases treated by A3 and 47.0% for 154 cases treated by A1 (nonsignificant). The 5-YS of the 210 patients with stem cell transplantation (SCT) (51.%) was significantly better than that of the 127 patients without SCT (41.1%) (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding the MYCN amplification status, the tumor aggressiveness might thus be different between 2 and 9 copies and a single copy of MYCN. In neuroblastomas with 2 and 9 copies of MYCN based on a Southern blot analysis, the MYCN amplification status should be analyzed using the fluorescence in situ hybridization method. Induction chemotherapy followed by SCT according to the Japan Study Group for Advanced Neuroblastoma protocol improved the outcome of neuroblastomas with MYCN amplification; however, obtaining a further improvement in the long-term survival of stage 4 neuroblastomas may therefore require the development of an even more effective treatment modality.

Comparison of recurrence rate and hemodynamic effect among various technical approaches for ligations of great saphenous vein in treatment of varicose veins

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the recurrence rate and hemodynamic effect retrospectively among various technical approaches for ligations of the great saphenous vein in the treatment of primary varicose veins.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

455 limbs with primary uncomplicated great saphenous varicose veins, which underwent ligations of the great saphenous vein followed by sclerotherapy, were classified into 5 groups according to different ligation techniques. The recurrence rate and hemodynamic effect, evaluated by the photoplethysmographic technique, were compared among the 5 groups at one year intervals up to 5 years.

RESULTS

The 3-ligation technique, in which the great saphenous vein was resected at the groin, thigh, and calf, showed a significantly lower recurrence rate at the 5-year follow-up. The recurrence rates were 27.7, 62.0, 58.5, and 91.9% in the 3-ligation group, 2-ligation group at the groin and thigh, 2-ligation group at the thigh and calf, and 1-ligation group at the thigh, respectively. A lower hemodynamic improvement was observed in the latter two groups. A significantly higher recurrence rate was shown even in the 3-ligation group, when all tributaries were not dissected at the sapheno-femoral junction (50.2 vs. 27.7%, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The 3-ligation technique followed by sclerotherapy, which includes the resection of the great saphenous vein for as long as possible, and dissection of all tributaries at the groin, thigh, and calf, is one of the important choices of minimum invasive treatments for varicose veins, although this technique is not a fully alternative procedure to the stripping operation.

Mapping and characterization of FLC homologs and QTL analysis of flowering time in Brassica oleracea

The FLC gene product is an inhibitor of flowering in Arabidopsis. FLC homologs in Brassica species are thought to control vernalization. We cloned four FLC homologs (BoFLCs) from Brassica oleracea. Three of these, BoFLC1, BoFLC3 and BoFLC5, have been previously characterized. The fourth novel sequence displayed 98% sequence homology to the previously identified gene BoFLC4, but also showed 91% homology to BrFLC2 from Brassica rapa. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this clone belongs to the FLC2 clade. Therefore, we designated this gene BoFLC2. Based on the segregation of RFLP, SRAP, CAPS, SSR and AFLP loci, a detailed linkage map of B. oleracea was constructed in the F(2) progeny obtained from a cross of B. oleracea cv. Green Comet (broccoli; non-vernalization type) and B. oleracea cv. Reiho (cabbage; vernalization type), which covered 540 cM, 9 major linkage groups. Six quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling flowering time were detected. BoFLC1, BoFLC3 and BoFLC5 were not linked to the QTLs controlling flowering time. However, the largest QTL effect was located in the region where BoFLC2 was mapped. Genotyping of F(2 )plants at the BoFLC2 locus showed that most of the early flowering plants were homozygotes of BoFLC-GC, whereas most of the late- and non-flowering plants were homozygotes of BoFLC-Rei. The BoFLC2 homologs present in plants of the non-vernalization type were non-functional, due to a frameshift in exon 4. Moreover, duplications and deletions of BoFLC2 were detected in broccoli and a rapid cycling line, respectively. These results suggest that BoFLC2 contributes to the control of flowering time in B. oleracea.

Fine mapping of the clubroot resistance gene, Crr3, in Brassica rapa

A linkage map of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) was constructed to localize the clubroot resistance (CR) gene, Crr3. Quantitative trait loci analysis using an F(3) population revealed a sharp peak in the logarithm of odds score around the sequence-tagged site (STS) marker, OPC11-2S. Therefore, this region contained Crr3. Nucleotide sequences of OPC11-2S and its proximal markers showed homology to sequences in the top arm of Arabidopsis chromosome 3, suggesting a synteny between the two species. For fine mapping of Crr3, a number of STS markers were developed based on genomic information from Arabidopsis. We obtained polymorphisms in 23 Arabidopsis-derived STS markers, 11 of which were closely linked to Crr3. The precise position of Crr3 was determined using a population of 888 F(2) plants. Eighty plants showing recombination around Crr3 locus were selected and used for the mapping. A fine map of 4.74 cM was obtained, in which two markers (BrSTS-41 and BrSTS-44) and three markers (OPC11-2S, BrSTS-54 and BrSTS-61) were cosegregated. Marker genotypes of the 21 selected F(2) families and CR tests of their progenies strongly suggested that the Crr3 gene is located in a 0.35 cM segment between the two markers, BrSTS-33 and BrSTS-78.

Fine mapping of the clubroot resistance gene, Crr3, in Brassica rapa

A linkage map of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) was constructed to localize the clubroot resistance (CR) gene, Crr3. Quantitative trait loci analysis using an F(3) population revealed a sharp peak in the logarithm of odds score around the sequence-tagged site (STS) marker, OPC11-2S. Therefore, this region contained Crr3. Nucleotide sequences of OPC11-2S and its proximal markers showed homology to sequences in the top arm of Arabidopsis chromosome 3, suggesting a synteny between the two species. For fine mapping of Crr3, a number of STS markers were developed based on genomic information from Arabidopsis. We obtained polymorphisms in 23 Arabidopsis-derived STS markers, 11 of which were closely linked to Crr3. The precise position of Crr3 was determined using a population of 888 F(2) plants. Eighty plants showing recombination around Crr3 locus were selected and used for the mapping. A fine map of 4.74 cM was obtained, in which two markers (BrSTS-41 and BrSTS-44) and three markers (OPC11-2S, BrSTS-54 and BrSTS-61) were cosegregated. Marker genotypes of the 21 selected F(2) families and CR tests of their progenies strongly suggested that the Crr3 gene is located in a 0.35 cM segment between the two markers, BrSTS-33 and BrSTS-78.

2'-,5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase response ratio predicting virological response to PEG-interferon-α2b plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE

Although all the mechanisms of elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by Interferon (IFN) have not been fully elucidated, the 2'-5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) system is one of the mechanisms of the antiviral effect of IFN. Consequently, the measurement of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activity could be useful for the evaluation of IFN treatment. This retrospective study was aimed at assessing whether 2-5AS activity functions as a clinical marker of virological response to PEG-interferon-alpha2b (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

The 32 patients included in this study had high viral loads of serum HCV-RNA of genotype 1b with chronic hepatitis C. All the patients received a regimen of PEG-IFN plus ribavirin for 48 weeks, and were then divided into two groups: one group (effective group) with undetectable serum HCV-RNA levels at 24 weeks (n = 22) of therapy, the other group (ineffective group) with persistent presence of HCV-RNA in serum at 24 weeks (n = 10). The 2-5AS activity in serum was measured 2, 8 and 12 weeks before initial administration.

RESULTS

The 2-5AS response ratio (measured value/measured value of baseline 2-5AS) at 2, 8 and 12 weeks after the administration in the effective group was significantly higher than that in the ineffective group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the ratio of 2-5AS is closely related to the antiviral effect, and that the measurement of 2-5AS response ratio may be a useful clinical parameter of virological response to PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

Production of lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A using soybean curd residue cultivated with Bacillus subtilis in solid-state fermentation

Bacillus subtilis RB14-CS, which suppresses the growth of various plant pathogens in vitro by producing the lipopeptide antibiotic iturin A, was cultured using soybean curd residue, okara, a by-product of tofu manufacture in solid-state fermentation. After 4 days incubation, iturin A production reached 3,300 mg/kg wet solid material (14 g/kg dry solid material), which is approximately tenfold higher than that in submerged fermentation. When the okara product cultured with RB14-CS was introduced into soil infested with Rhizoctonia solani, which is a causal agent of damping-off of tomato, the disease occurrence was significantly suppressed. After 14 days, the number of RB14-CS cells remained in soil at the initial level, whereas almost no iturin A was detected in soil. As the okara cultured with RB14-CS exhibited functions of both plant disease suppression and nutritional effect on tomato seedlings, this product is expected to contribute to the recycling of the soybean curd residue.

Rare association of severe hypoplasia of the abdominal aorta with imperforate anus, colonic atresia, and choledochal cyst

Hypoplasia of the abdominal aorta (HAA) is a rare condition that causes marked hypertension. Although multiple etiologies have been postulated for HAA, congenital structural anomalies are rarely observed except in cases associated with some hereditary syndromes. The authors describe a neonatal case with HAA complicated by multiple anomalies including colonic atresia (CA), imperforate anus, choledochal cyst, facial cleft, and brain defects. This patient showed CA in the descending colon and caliber change in the transverse colon mimicking Hirschsprung disease, both of which were thought to be caused by vascular insult to the mesentery due to HAA. Although multiple surgical corrections were successfully performed, the hypertension was uncontrollable.

Effect of elastic compression stockings on oedema prevention in healthy controls evaluated by a three-dimensional measurement system

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The degree of oedema may differ at various sites on the leg. This study evaluated the degree of oedema at the calf, ankle and foot using a three-dimensional measurement system.

METHODS

By three-dimensional measurement system using the grid pattern projection method, the effects of four different types of elastic compression stockings on oedema prevention were compared in healthy subjects.

RESULTS

Without stockings, a significant increase in the circumference and volume was seen at the ankle and foot in the evening compared with morning values. The average increase in circumference was greater at the foot than that at the ankle. A significant increase in circumference and volume in the evening after a day without stockings disappeared when elastic compression stockings were worn during the day. The coefficient of variation was greater for measurements at the foot than for those at the calf and ankle.

CONCLUSION

Oedema develops easily in order of the foot, the ankle and the calf in healthy populations. Elastic stockings, even with a pressure as low as 8 mmHg, are effective on oedema prevention. In measurement at the foot, further developments are necessary to improve this system.

QTL analysis of powdery mildew resistance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

A population of F7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was made from a cross between susceptible ('Santou') and resistant (PI197088-1) lines of cucumber in order to study powdery mildew resistance loci. Susceptibility to powdery mildew in the F7 RIL individuals showed a continuous distribution from susceptible to resistant, suggesting that powdery mildew resistance is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). A QTL analysis identified two and three loci for powdery mildew resistance under 26 and 20 degrees C conditions, respectively. One QTL was found in the same position under both temperature conditions. Therefore, it is more likely that one major QTL acts under both temperature conditions and that other QTLs are specific to the two temperature conditions. The above results suggest that the four QTLs are controlled in a different temperature manner, and that their combination played an important role in expressing a high level of resistance to powdery mildew in this cucumber population. Sequence-tagged site (STS) markers associated with each QTL were developed and would be useful for breeding a cucumber line with a high level of powdery mildew resistance.

Perforation of the colon in neonates

PURPOSE

Gastrointestinal perforation is a catastrophic condition in neonates, especially in premature neonates. Although perforation is commonly observed in the small intestine during the neonatal period, perforation of the colon is a rare condition. This study analyzed the clinical findings and results of perforation of the colon in neonates.

METHODS

Between 1989 and 2004, 8 neonates were treated for spontaneous perforation of the colon at our institute. These patients were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Gestational ages ranged from 36 to 41 weeks. Seven patients weighed above 2500 g, whereas one patient weighed 1800 g at birth. Perforations developed within 7 days after birth in 6 patients and before birth in two. Associated bowel diseases included rectosigmoid type of Hirschsprung's disease in two patients, immature ganglia in one, imperforate anus in one, colonic atresia in one, and necrotizing enterocolitis in one. An obvious cause was not identified in the remaining two. Six patients without definite anatomic obstructions, such as imperforate anus or colonic atresia, required evaluations for suspected Hirschsprung's disease. All 8 patients underwent colostomy and recovered from peritonitis. Seven survived, but one died of sudden infant death syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, perforation of the colon during the neonatal period mostly occurred in term or near-term neonates and carried a good prognosis. During management, it was important to identify Hirschsprung's and its allied disorders as a cause of perforation.

Isolation of a protease-deficient mutant of Bacillus brevis and efficient secretion of a fungal protein disulfide isomerase by the mutant

The efficient production of a thermostable protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was successfully achieved using the newly isolated protease-deficient mutant, Bacillus brevis 31-OK. Extracellular protease (exoprotease) activity was about a quarter of that in the parent, and the mutant was deficient in at least one of the major exoproteases. The cDNA encoding the fungal PDI was inserted downstream of the signal peptide-encoding region in an expression-secretion vector for B. brevis. Efficient production of PDI was feasible using B. brevis 31-OK as a host and modified signal sequences composed of three leucine residues inserted in the hydrophobic region of the MWP (middle wall protein) signal sequence. The maximal secretion of PDI into the culture medium was 1.1 g/l, which is about twice that by the parent strain and fifty times greater than the amount of rat and murine PDIs produced by Escherichia coli. The enzymatic properties such as the specific activity and thermal stability of the recombinant PDI are similar to those of natural PDI derived from Humicola insolens mycelia. B. brevis 31-OK was able to maintain its exoprotease activity at a low level throughout the cultivation and is considered to be useful host for production of a protease-sensitive protein and for increase of protein productivity due to stable accumulation.

Comparison of the biological H2S removal characteristics among four inorganic packing materials

Four inorganic packing materials were evaluated in terms of their availability as packing materials of a packed tower deodorization apparatus (biofilter) from the viewpoints of biological H2S removal characteristics and some physical properties. Among porous ceramics (A), calcinated cristobalite (B), calcinated and formed obsidian (C), granulated and calcinated soil (D), the superiority of these packing materials determined based on the values of non-biological removal per unit weight or unit volume of packing material, complete removal capacity of H2S per unit weight of packing material per day or unit volume of packing material per day and pressure drop of the packed bed was in the order of A approximately equal to C > D approximately equal to B, which is correlated with the maximum water content, porosity, and mean pore diameter.

Enhancement of styrene removal by Pseudomonas sp. SR-5 in mixed culture with a benzoic acid-degrading bacterium in biofilter

The growth of a styrene-degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. SR-5, was inhibited by benzoic acid (BA), one of the styrene degradation intermediates, in liquid culture. A benzoic acid-degrading microorganism, Raoultella sp. strain A, was isolated from a peat biofilter inoculated with a wastewater. The styrene removal efficiencies of the two laboratory-scale biofilters inoculated with only strain SR-5 and a mixed culture of strains SR-5 and A were compared using a mixed packing material of peat and ceramic (1:1) for 45 days. The biofilter with the mixed culture showed a higher removal efficiency than that with a single culture of SR-5. The maximum elimination capacities of the biofilters with the mixed culture and the single culture were 141 g m(-3)h(-1) and 106 g m(-3)h(-1), respectively. In the biofilter with the single culture, 136 g of benzoic acid (m3 of dry packing material)(-1) was accumulated at the end of the experiment. However, no accumulation of benzoic acid was observed in the biofilter with the mixed culture.

Dose calculation system for remotely supporting radiotherapy

The dose calculation system IMAGINE is being developed keeping in mind remotely supporting external radiation therapy using photon beams. The system is expected to provide an accurate picture of the dose distribution in a patient body, using a Monte Carlo calculation that employs precise models of the patient body and irradiation head. The dose calculation will be performed utilising super-parallel computing at the dose calculation centre, which is equipped with the ITBL computer, and the calculated results will be transferred through a network. The system is intended to support the quality assurance of current, widely carried out radiotherapy and, further, to promote the prevalence of advanced radiotherapy. Prototypes of the modules constituting the system have already been constructed and used to obtain basic data that are necessary in order to decide on the concrete design of the system. The final system will be completed in 2007.

The etiologic role of intrauterine volvulus and intussusception in jejunoileal atresia

PURPOSE

Although intussusception has been reported as quite a rare cause of jejunoileal atresia (JIA), pediatric surgeons have noted the frequent presence of intussusception as well as volvulus at surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of intrauterine intussusception and volvulus to the development of JIA.

METHODS

In 48 newborns (24 boys and 24 girls) treated for JIA at our hospital between 1978 and 2004, the operative and pathologic findings were reviewed.

RESULTS

Intussusception was responsible for gap and cord type atresia in 12 cases (25%). The cord showed an atrophic intestinal lumen in 2 cases. Volvulus was observed in 13 cases. Volvulus and intussusception were simultaneously noted in 1 case. This suggested that intussusception was the cause of the atresia, whereas volvulus was a secondary event. Neither intussusception nor volvulus was observed in high jejunal, apple peel, or multiple atresia.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrauterine volvulus and intussusception were commonly observed in single mid- and low JIA. Thus, intrauterine intussusception may be a common cause of gap and cord type JIA. Volvulus may not only cause JIA but also result from anatomic changes after the development of JIA in some cases.

Placental vascular compromise in jejunoileal atresia

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The mechanisms of intrauterine vascular disruptions that result in the development of jejunoileal atresia (JIA) are not fully understood. Monochorionic twinning with fetal death of a cotwin is known to be correlated with the development of JIA in the survivor through placental communication. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether other placental vascular compromises might contribute to the development of JIA.

METHODS

Forty-five newborns (23 boys and 22 girls) who were treated for JIA at Tsukuba University Hospital from 1978 to 2003 were reviewed. Placental findings were informative in 23 cases.

RESULTS

No or slight abnormality of the placenta was found in 19 cases. Significant placental abnormalities were found in 4 patients who also had a low birth weight. One patient with apple peel atresia (APA) had excessive torsion of the umbilical cord (UC), which was inserted at the margin of the placenta, and there was an adjacent area of infarction. One patent with multiple atresia (MA) was a surviving monochorionic twin with intrauterine fetal death of the other. Another case of MA showed marginal insertion of the UC. Severe placental abnormalities including wide infarction, cyst formation, and marginal insertion of the UC were found in 1 case of MA. These 3 cases of MA were complicated with other anomalies including brain anomaly.

CONCLUSIONS

Placental vascular compromises were involved infrequently in JIA but might possibly be responsible for the development of JIA as well as associated anomalies and a low birth weight as chronic insults since an early stage of gestation in some cases.

Promoter polymorphism of SLC11A1 (formerly NRAMP1) confers susceptibility to autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus in Japanese

Defective function of antigen-presenting cells has been postulated to be one of the non-HLA-linked susceptibility factors for type 1 diabetes mellitus, though the underlying genetic factors remain unclear. SLC11A1 (formerly NRAMP1), a divalent cation transporter, plays a crucial role in macrophage activation. We performed a case-control study in 224 healthy and 95 type 1 diabetic Japanese subjects, examining the length polymorphisms in the promoter region (-377 to -222) of SLC11A1, which may influence transcriptional activity. Alleles designated 2, 3, and 7 have been identified in Japanese subjects. The frequency of allele 7 was significantly higher in subjects with type 1 diabetes (9.47%) than in the healthy controls (4.46%). The difference is more marked in the subpopulation of Japanese subjects with type 1 diabetes; diabetic subjects with at least one protective HLA class II allele and those without any susceptibility HLA class II haplotypes, DR4-DQ4 or DR9-DQ9, had a much higher allele 7 frequency than controls. These findings suggest that the novel promoter polymorphism of SLC11A1 influences the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Japanese subjects.

Baculovirus and dsRNA induce Hemolin, but no antibacterial activity, in Antheraea pernyi

Hemolin is one of the haemolymph proteins most strongly induced upon bacterial infection in Lepidoptera. When we applied RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress Hemolin expression in the Chinese oak silk moth Antheraea pernyi, we discovered that Hemolin is induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) per se. As dsRNA is recognized as a virus pattern molecule, we then investigated the effect of a baculovirus (ApNPV) infection. We found that Hemolin is induced and expressed with similar kinetics as upon dsRNA injection. Notably, no Attacin gene expression or antibacterial activity was recorded. When baculovirus and high amounts of dsRNA were coinjected, the viral symptoms appeared earlier with Hemolin dsRNA than with GFP dsRNA. This indicates that silencing of hemolin affected the progress of the viral infection.

Styrene degradation by Pseudomonas sp. SR-5 in biofilters with organic and inorganic packing materials

Pseudomonas sp. SR-5 was isolated as a styrene-degrading bacterium. In liquid culture containing 1% (v/v) styrene, more than 90% styrene was degraded in 53 h and the doubling time of SR-5 was 2 h. The removal of styrene gas was investigated in biofilters for 31 days using an organic packing material of peat and an inorganic packing material of ceramic inoculated with SR-5. The maximum-styrene-elimination capacities for peat and ceramic packing materials were 236 and 81 g m(-3) h(-1), respectively. The percentage of styrene converted to low molecular weight compounds including CO(2) in the peat and ceramic biofilters during a 10-day operation were estimated to be 90.4 and 36.7%, respectively. As the pressure drop in the peat bioflter at the end of experiment was significantly higher than that in ceramic biofilter, a biofilter using a mixture of peat and ceramic was tested. We determined that the maximum elimination capacity was 170 g m(-3) h(-1) and the production of low molecular weight compounds was 95% at a low pressure drop for this mixed packing material filter.