Easily installable wireless behavioral monitoring system with electric field sensor for ordinary houses

This paper describes an indoor behavioral monitoring system for improving the quality of life in ordinary houses. It employs a device that uses weak radio waves for transmitting the obtained data and it is designed such that it can be installed by a user without requiring any technical knowledge or extra constructions. This study focuses on determining the usage statistics of home electric appliances by using an electromagnetic field sensor as a detection device. The usage of the home appliances is determined by measuring the electromagnetic field that can be observed in an area near the appliance. It is assumed that these usage statistics could provide information regarding the indoor behavior of a subject. Since the sensor is not direction sensitive and does not require precise positioning and wiring, it can be easily installed in ordinary houses by the end users. For evaluating the practicability of the sensor unit, several simple tests have been performed. The results indicate that the proposed system could be useful for collecting the usage statistics of home appliances.

Design and synthesis of non-peptidic inhibitors for the Syk C-terminal SH2 domain based on structure-based in-silico screening

Structure-based in-silico screening was carried out for the Syk C-terminal SH2 domain. Fragments that could interact with the pY or pY+1 pockets were selected by our in-silico screening. After tethering two fragments bound to these pockets, we have designed and synthesized new compounds that show favorable interaction with the pY+3 pocket. One such compound, having a cyclohexylmalonic acid moiety identified as a novel potent phosphotyrosyl mimetic, exhibited an affinity comparable to that of the monophosphorylated ligand peptide.

Four new bioactive pyrrole-derived alkaloids from the marine sponge Axinella brevistyla

Four new alkaloids (1-4) were isolated from the marine sponge Axinella brevistyla, and their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The alkaloids 1-4 were antifungal against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae at <1.0, <1.0, 30, and 100 microg/disk, respectively. Compounds 1-3 also exhibited cytotoxicity against L1210 cells with IC(50) values of 1.1, 0.66, and 2.5 microg/mL, respectively.

Antibody elimination by apheresis in living donor liver transplant recipients

In the present study, we investigated retrospectively the indications and the efficacy of the elimination of preexisting antiallogeneic antibodies in liver transplant recipients. Three patients who were ABO blood type incompatible were subjected to plasmapheresis and double filtration plasmapheresis before the living donor liver transplantation (LDLTx), and the titers decreased to less than 8. After transplantation, plasmapheresis was also performed in 3 cases, and continuous hemodiafiltration in 1 case, and in 2 out of these 3 patients acute rejection was recognized. Two patients who were crossmatch positive were subjected to plasmapheresis before transplantation, and the T warm titers were reduced to less than Score 2. These 2 patients had no acute rejections after transplantation. We conclude that in liver transplant patients apheresis is effective to prevent acute rejection induced by preexisting anti-A and/or anti-B antibodies and anti-donor specific antibodies before transplantation, but it is not effective in a patient with accelerated humoral rejection occurring after transplantation.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships in a series of ethenesulfonamide derivatives, a novel class of endothelin receptor antagonists

In the previous paper, we described a series of the 2-arylethenesulfonamide derivatives, a novel class of ETA-selective endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists, including the compounds 1a, b. Compound 1a showed excellent oral antagonistic activities and pharmacokinetic profiles, and the monopotassium salt of 1 (YM-598 monopotassium) is in clinical trials. In this paper, we wish to report the investigation of the further details of structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the 2-phenylethenesulfonamide region in 1a. It was found that methyl substitutions at the 2-, 4- and 6-positions of the phenyl group in 1a led to the discovery of the ET(A)/ET(B) mixed antagonist (6s) with an IC50 of 2.2 nM for the ET(A) receptor. We also found that introduction of an ethyl group to the 1-position of the ethenyl group in 1a gave the ET(A) selective antagonist (6u) with an oral endothelin antagonistic activity in rats.

High vascularity in the peripheral region of non-small cell lung cancer tissue is associated with tumor progression

OBJECTIVES

We attempted to determine if the degree of angiogenesis can serve as a prognostic factor in the case of completely resected non-small cell lung cancer patients, with special reference to the center and the periphery of the tumor tissue.

METHOD

For 255 Japanese patients who underwent completely resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), micro vessel density (MVD) was assessed by visual quantification of microvessels immunostained with anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody in 5 m section. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was also immunostained on the same paraffin block specimen.

RESULTS

MVD at the center (MVD-c) and that at the periphery (MVD-p) were frequently different in each individual although a weak positive correlation was observed (r=0.499, P<0.0001). One hundred and one patients with high MVD-p, but not the 107 patients with high MVD-c, showed a significantly higher proportion of advanced stage, larger tumor size and nodal metastasis as compared with MVD. The 5 year survival rate and median survival time for the high MVD-p group were significantly lower than that of low the MVD-p group (43.0%/31 months vs 48.6%/54 months, P=0.0256). As to the relationship among vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and MVD, expression of VEGF was not associated with the degree of MVD. However, patients with high grade MVD-p showed an unfavorable prognosis in cases of high expression of VEGF.

CONCLUSION

High MVD-p is associated with advancement of NSCLC, and it was particularly apparent in conjunction with high VEGF expression.

Transport properties and efficiency of elastically coupled Brownian motors

As models for biological molecular motors, Brownian motors have been studied recently by many workers, and their physical properties such as velocity, efficiency, and so on, have been investigated. They have also attracted much interest in an application to nanoscale technology. It is significant to study more complex systems, that is, coupled Brownian motors, in detail, since Brownian motors with a single particle have been mainly studied until now. In this paper, we consider Brownian motors coupled mutually with elastic springs, and investigate the dynamics of the model and the efficiency of energy conversion. In particular, we find that the center of the mass of the elastically coupled particles moves faster than the corresponding single-particle model, and also that the efficiency of the coupled-particle model is larger than that of the single-particle model.

Ethenesulfonamide and ethanesulfonamide derivatives, a novel class of orally active endothelin-A receptor antagonists

In the previous paper, we described a series of 2-phenylethenesulfonamide derivatives, a novel class of ET(A)-selective endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists, including the 2-methoxyethoxy derivative 2a and the 2-fluoroethoxy derivative (2b). In this paper, we wish to report further details of structure-activity relationships (SARs) of the two regions of the molecule in compound 2b, which were the alkoxy region at the 6-position of the core pyrimidine ring and the 2-phenylethenesulfonamide region. In these modifications, replacement of the 2-fluoroethoxy group with a methoxy group (6e) and replacement of the 2-phenylethenesulfonamide group with a 2-(pyridin-3-yl)ethenesulfonamide group (6l) or 2-phenylethanesulfonamide group (6q) were well tolerated both in the ET(A) binding affinity and ET(A) selectivity. Among them, compound 6e showed further improvement in oral activity compared to 2b. After oral administration, compound 6e inhibited the big ET-1 induced pressor response in conscious rats at 0.3mg /kg with a duration of >6.5h. Compound 6e also exhibited a potent antagonistic activity in the pithed rats.

Reduced expression of cell-cycle regulator p27(Kip1) correlates with a shortened survival in non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The cell cycle progression is governed by a family of cyclin-dependent kinases, which are regulated by associated cyclins and by phosphorylation. p27, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, regulates the progression from G1 into the S phase by binding and inhibiting cyclin/cdks. Although p27 mutations in human tumors are extremely rare, a reduced expression of p27 might to lead to a progression of cancer cells.

METHODS

We examined tissues that had been surgically excised from 161 unselected Japanese patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and investigated the p27 protein expression by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

A reduced expression of the p27 protein was found in 63 cases (39.0%). Statistical correlation was found between the reduced p27 expression and advanced stage, although no correlation was found between the level of p27 expression and the gender, T factor, N factor or histological differentiation. The 5-year survival rate in the reduced group was 35.4%, which was statistically poorer than the 63.2% rate in the normal group (P=0.0016), in patients with complete resection. In a multivariate analysis, the level of p27 expression was found to be an independent prognostic indicator.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the expression of p27 protein to be a biological prognostic indicator which can indicate the subsets of patients with either a good or poor prognosis, in patients who underwent surgical resection.

A case of angiomyolipoma presenting as a huge retroperitoneal mass

A 60-year-old man was admitted to Hitachi General Hospital, Hitachi, Japan, with general fatigue and epigastric fullness. A large mass was palpated on whole abdomen and abdominal computed tomography scan showed a large lobulated fatty mass surrounding the right kidney, which indicated the existence of angiomyolipoma arising from the right kidney. The tumor was success-fully resected through a thoracoabdominal incision. The total weight of the resected specimen was 3500 g, apparently the largest angiomyolipoma resected by operation in Japan.

Evaluation of St. Jude Medical valve's long-term function by Doppler echocardiography

In this study, the long-term function of St. Jude Medical valve (SJM valve) is evaluated by Doppler echocardiography. The subjects were 191 patients who underwent mitral or aortic valve replacement using SJM valve in our institute since July 1978 and had no clinical problem showing more than 50% of left ventricular ejection fraction. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to measurement period (within 5 years, 10 years and 15 years and more), and further classified by size and their results were compared. In every group by size, there was no significant difference among groups by measurement period. In the mitral valve position, peak pressure gradient and pressure half-time were not significantly different among groups by size. On the other hand, in the aortic valve position, pressure gradient in 21-mm group was significantly high among 21-mm, 25-mm, and 27-mm groups, showing a negative correlation with size. As the result, it was suggested that SJM valve kept a good function more than 15 years after operation. From these results, it was considered that the patients with small annlus of the aortic valve needed annulus-enlarging procedure or use of Hemodynamic Plus series valves to keep the size of more than 23 mm.

[Management of a hormone dependent cancer with endocrine therapy--prostate cancer]

We offer a historical overview of endocrine therapy for prostate cancer. Hormone therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Although this therapy has been traditionally performed by oral estrogen or bilateral orchiectomy, there are now two most important pharmacological hormonal therapies: LH-RH agonist and antiandrogen therapy. We do not have yet sufficient data to conclude whether maximal androgen blockade from the combined use of an LH-RH agonist and an antiandrogen will prolong the survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, nor to conclude whether neoadjuvant androgen ablation therapy improves the disease-free survival of patients after radical prostatectomy. New treatment strategies and modalities such as LH-RH antagonists, intermittent hormonal therapy, and antiandrogen monotherapy are appearing and being tested in clinical trials. However, to date there is still no effective therapy for patients who have hormone refractory disease.

[Changes of fatty acid composition of brain synaptosomal phospholipids in isoflurane exposure rat]

We examined effects of inhalational anesthetic drug, isoflurane, on phospholipid and fatty acid in brain synaptosome. Wistar strain male rat was treated by inhalation of isoflurane. Rats were divided into 3 groups each 6 rats, one was 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) exposure group, 1MAC group, and another was 2 times of MAC exposure group, 2MAC group, and the other was non exposure group, control group. The animals were kept in to box (0.343 m3) and the gas flow rate was set in 4 L/min by anesthetic instrument. After 60 minutes of exposure, rats were decapitated. Immediately, cerebrums were removed and fraction of synaptosome was sampled. In 2MAC group, C14:0 of phosphatidylcholine (PC) increased significantly as compared to the control group, but C16:1, C18:0, C18:2 and C20:3 decreased significantly. And also, C18:2 and C20:3 decreased significantly in 1MAC group. In terms of phosphatidylethanolamine(PE), C18:1 in 1MAC group, C14:0 and C16:1 in 2MAC group increased, but C20:3, C20:4 and C22:5 in 2MAC group decreased significantly as compared to the control group. Regarding phosphatidylserine + phosphatidylinositol, C14:0 in 2MAC group increased, but C22:5 decreased. In lysophosphatidylcholine, C12:0 and C14:0 in 2MAC group and C18:0, C20:4 in 1MAC group increased significantly, but C18:1 in 2MAC decreased. The changes of phospholipids and fatty acid in synaptosome were due to the metabolism of phospholipids of basic matrix and this was caused by effects of isoflurane on neural cellular membrane. The results indicated the suppression of membrane activity. Isoflurane has physiological activity on metabolism of phospholipid of cellular membrane. Thus, it has effects on neural cellular functions in brain.

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of St. Jude Medical valves in the tricuspid position: criteria for normal and abnormal valve function

BACKGROUND

Although this examination for mitral and aortic prosthetic valves has been frequently reported to be available for the early diagnosis of complications, there are few reports on examinations for tricuspid prosthetic valves, particularly the mechanical valve such as the St. Jude Medical (SJM) valve. Furthermore, the criteria for early diagnosis of complications are unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the SJM valve in the tricuspid position by Doppler echocardiography and to analyze valve-related complications.

METHODS

Between September 1978 and March 1997, 46 patients underwent tricuspid valve replacements with SJM valves; these cases were evaluated by Doppler echocardiography. We divided the cases into Normal and Complication groups.

RESULTS

In the Normal group, peak pressure gradient was 4.2+/-1.5 mmHg and pressure half-time was 123.5+/-22.9 msec. In the Complication group, peak pressure gradient was 12.7+/-3.6 mmHg and pressure half-time was 271.8+/-76.4 msec. In the Complication group, the lowest peak pressure gradient case was 8.0 mmHg and the shortest pressure half-time was 160.0 msec.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that when the peak pressure gradient is more than 8 mmHg or the pressure half-time is more than 160 msec, there is a possibility of complications. Despite the problems, the absence of any structural change after more than ten years suggests that the SJM valve can be used in the tricuspid position with careful follow-up.

Ethenesulfonamide derivatives, a novel class of orally active endothelin-A receptor antagonists

In the present article we wish to report the discovery of a novel class of ET(A)-selective endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists through the modification of the ET(A)/ET(B) non-selective antagonist, Ro47-0203 (Bosentan, 1). Replacement of the benzenesulfonamide group of 1 with a 2-phenylethenesulfonamide group gave compound 5a and resulted in improvement in ET(A)-selectivity. Optimization of the alkoxy side chain attached to the core pyrimidine ring yielded the 2-fluoroethoxy derivative (5n) with further improvement of ET(A)-selectivity. [IC50=2.1 nM for ET(A) receptor, ET(B)/ET(A) ratio=1200]. After oral administration, compound 5n inhibited the big ET-1 induced pressor response in pithed rats with a DR2 value of 2.6 mg/kg and also exhibited a potent antagonistic activity in conscious rats.

Clinical significance of the Rb expression in adenocarcinoma of the lung

BACKGROUND

Altered retinoblastoma gene expression has been found in various types of cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and some reports have shown it also to be associated with a poor clinical prognosis in NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the expression of Rb protein by immunohistochemistry in 90 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection and determined its prognostic significance. Also, the expression of p27 by immunohistochemistry and the mutations of the p53 gene by PCR-SSCP were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifty-one out of 90 tumors (56.7%) had reduced expression of the Rb gene. There were no statistical differences between the Rb expression level and clinicopathological status. There was no correlation between the Rb expression level and the p53 mutations or the p27 expression level. The 5-year survival rate in the normal group was 55.1%, which was poorer than that of 73.0% in the reduced group, but showed no statistical difference (p=0.0981). In patients with a reduced Rb-expression, the survival rate of the p53 mutation group tended to show a poorer prognosis than that of the p53 normal group (p=0.0880). In addition, the survival rate of the negative p27 expression group tended to show a poorer prognosis than that of the positive p27 expression group (p=0.0537).

CONCLUSIONS

The Rb expression status was not significant as an individual factor for evaluating the prognosis in adenocarcinoma of the lung. Analyses of the accumulation of genetic alteration are necessary to identify the subset of patients with a poor prognosis.