Isolation of antifungal compounds from Gardenia jasminoides

Gardenia jasminoides E. (Rubiaceae) methanol extracts showed the highest level of antifungal activity against Pleurotus ostreatus, a wood-rotting fungus, compared to five other methanol plants extracts; [Thuja orientalis L. (Cupressaceae), Datura innoxia (Solanaceae), Ligustrum japonicum T. (Oleaceae), Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens (Cupressaceae) and Mallotus japonica M. (Euphorbiaceae)] and selected for further analysis. Two antifungal compounds were isolated from n-butanol and ethyl acetate solubles in the methanol extracts of Gardenia jasminoides leaves and stems by bioassay-guided fractionation, using Pleurotus ostreatus. The antifungal compounds found for the first time in Gardenia jasminoides against Pleurotus ostreatus were identified as genipin and geniposide based on instrumental analyses. Both also had potent inhibitory effects on two plant pathogenic fungi; Fusarium oxysporum and Corynespora cassiicola.

Polarization-maintaining, high-energy, wavelength-tunable, Er-doped ultrashort pulse fiber laser using carbon-nanotube polyimide film

A high-energy, wavelength-tunable, all-polarization-maintaining Er-doped ultrashort fiber laser was demonstrated using a polyimide film dispersed with single-wall carbon nanotubes. A variable output coupler and wavelength filter were used in the cavity configuration, and high-power operation was demonstrated. The maximum average power was 12.6 mW and pulse energy was 585 pJ for stable single-pulse operation with an output coupling ratio as high as 98.3%. Wide wavelength-tunable operation at 1532-1562 nm was also demonstrated by controlling the wavelength filter. The RF amplitude noise characteristics were examined in terms of their dependence on output coupling ratio and oscillation wavelength.

Can hybrid FDG-PET/CT detect subclinical lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer appropriately and contribute to radiation treatment planning? A comparison of image-based and pathological findings

BACKGROUND

We aimed to determine the appropriateness of adding 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positronemission tomography (PET) to computed tomography (CT) and other pre-existing diagnostic imaging modalities for detecting subclinical lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer, by comparing images from these modalities with the results of histopathological analysis.

METHODS

Twenty patients who received radical surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were examined by PET-CT, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination before surgery. Based on these diagnostic modalities, the clinical target volume (CTV) was set as the gross tumor volume (GTV) plus a 1-cm margin. Histopathological diagnosis was performed in all patients immediately after resection.

RESULTS

Fifty-three (3.0%) of 1764 nodes in the 20 patients were histopathologically positive for cancer cells. The CTV was not adequate to cover these histopathologically detected positive lymph nodes in 8 of 20 patients on CT, 5 of 20 on CT+EUS, 7 of 20 on PET-CT, and 5 of 20 on PET-CT+EUS.

CONCLUSION

The detection rate of subclinical lymph node metastasis did not improve with the use of PET-CT, for either the cervical and supraclavicular, mediastinal, or abdominal regions. It is not recommended to use FDG-PET or PET-CT alone as a diagnostic tool to determine CTV if pathologically involved lymphatic regions are to be included in the CTV in the treatment protocol. The accuracy of PET-CT must be further improved in order to better detect positive nodes and improve the definition of the CTV.

Genetic polymorphisms in folate pathway enzymes as a possible marker for predicting the outcome of methotrexate therapy in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Low-dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Though the difference in response to MTX between patients with RA is large, the factors that contribute to this variability remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to identify those factors with a particular emphasis on the pharmacogenetics of MTX.

METHOD

We evaluated the association of possible factors, including genetic polymorphisms of folate metabolic pathway enzymes, with the cumulative value of C-reactive protein, an index of MTX anti-inflammatory efficacy, in 87 Japanese patients with RA.

RESULTS

Polymorphisms of the reduced folate carrier gene (RFC) G80A and of the gamma-glutamylhydrolase gene (GGH) C-401T were more closely associated (beta = 2.1194, P = 0.0017) than other polymorphisms, with the anti-inflammatory response to MTX.

CONCLUSION

Patients with RA having RFC 80A and GGH-401T alleles were less responsive to MTX than those with RFC 80A and without GGH-401T alleles. Thus, this data may be useful for guiding treatment of RA patients with MTX.

In vitro comparison of three caries dyes

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of a conventional and newly-developed caries detector (Caries Check) by measuring the Vickers microhardness (VMH) and DIAGNOdent value of the dentin cavity wall of extracted human teeth after removing carious dentin that was stained by the caries detector.

METHODS

30 human teeth with coronal dentin caries extending halfway through the dentin were sectioned and extracted for use in this study. As a control, the longitudinal section of a caries-free extracted human tooth was prepared. The VMH and DIAGNOdent values were measured and the microstructure of the dentin cavity wall was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTS

When Caries Check was employed as a guide for carious dentin removal, the microhardness of the cavity wall was significantly lower than the normal dentin and the DIAGNOdent value indicated that the dentin may have recalcified. SEM observations of the stained regions revealed that Caries Check did not stain the sclerotic dentin. Based on these findings, Caries Check may be a useful modality because the excavation of the dentin structure was shallower and the sclerotic dentin was preserved.

16S rRNA gene sequence-based analysis of clostridia related to conversion of germfree mice to the normal state

AIMS

To determine phylogenetic groups of clostridia inhabiting the mouse intestine that are essential for normalization of germfree (GF) mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using both the culture method and cloning, clostridia inhabiting the mouse intestine were isolated, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was carried out. As a result, the isolates were found to have novel sequences, and no isolate was determined to be identical to previously known identified clostridia. Although the taxonomy of mouse intestinal clostridia was complex, many of them belonged to Clostridium clusters XIVa and IV in conventional (CV) and limited flora mice and ex-germfree mice administered chloroform-treated CV mouse faeces. The clostridia that belonged to cluster XIVa were most often present and showed the highest diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Clostridia belonging clusters XIVa and IV are dominant in the mouse intestine as in other gut ecosystems. The novel groups in these clusters are essential for normalization of GF mice.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results of this study can be applied in the strict control of mouse intestinal microbiota and will provide important information for normalization of GF mice and also for research on microbiology of the mouse intestine.

New multiplexed flow cytometric assay to measure anti‐peptide antibody: a novel tool for monitoring immune responses to peptides used for immunization

Peptide-based vaccination has a great potential for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. There is, however, no appropriate monitoring system to measure immune responses to vaccinated peptides, which hampers the development of therapeutically effective vaccine regimens to various diseases. In this study a new multiplexed flow cytometric assay using the Luminex system to monitor humoral immune responses to vaccinated peptides is described. Although the sensitivity is mostly equal to that of the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the new assay has several advantages over ELISA in that it minimizes the amount of sera needed, running costs and working periods, and thus will be a novel tool for monitoring immune responses to vaccinated peptides.

A randomized trial of personalized peptide vaccine (PPV) plus low-dose estramustine (EMP) versus full-dose EMP in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer

3007

Background: Personalized selection of the right peptides for each patient could be a novel peptide-based immunotherapy for boosting anti-cancer immunity in many patients (pts). This randomized study evaluated the anti-tumor effect and safety of PPV plus a low-dose EMP compared with full dose EMP for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Methods: This was a randomized (1:1), open labeled, cross-over study in pts with HRPC. Pts were randomized to arm A; PPV plus low-dose EMP (280 mg/day) or arm B; full dose EMP (560 mg/day) according to age and PSA levels. In arm A, prevaccination plasma were measured for their IgG levels for each of the 14 or 12 candidate peptides which can induce HLA-A2 or A24-restricted CTL activity against cancer cells followed by biweekly subcutaneous administration of the top four peptides (3mg each) showing the strongest IgG responses. Disease progression (PD) was defined as three consecutive and 125% increase from baseline PSA levels at least two weeks apart or objective PD by RECIST criteria. After PD, pts were treated with the opposite regime. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were overall survival and toxicity. The planned sample size was 80. Results: A total of 54 pts from 4 institutions were enrolled between June 2006 and December 2008. The accural into arms A and B was 27 and 27 pts, respectively. The main pts characteristics are (arm A/B): median age 71/69 years, EOCG performance status 0/1 96%/4% and 100%/0%, HLA A2/A24/A2A24 40%/32%/28% and 54%/27%/19%, median PSA 27/25 ng/ml, and metastatic HRPC 96%/85%. All pts were evaluable for their response at the time of interim analysis. The personalized peptide vaccination was well tolerated with no major adverse effects. Increased levels of IgG responses to the vaccinated peptides were observed in 20 of 23 (87%) patients tested. The median PFS time was 246 days in the arm A group and 85 days in the arm B, respectively. The PFS time in the arm A was statistically longer than that in the arm B (log-rank test: p = 0.0007, hazard ratio: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.12 to 0.615). Conclusions: PPV plus low-dose EMP was associated with improvement in PSA-based PFS compared to full-dose EMP alone.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Development of a robotic endoscope that locomotes in the colon with flexible helical fins

The purpose of this study was to develop a robotic endoscope that is low invasive, easy to operate and capable of locomotion from the rectum to the appendix in the human body. We believe that it would contribute to relieving pain in patients. We therefore developed a robotic endoscope that consists of a front and rear body with clockwise and anticlockwise helical fins, respectively. The front and rear bodies are connected via a DC motor. This robot moves forward in the colon by rotating the front body in the clockwise direction and the rear body in the anticlockwise direction. In addition, the radius of each helical fin can be changed by blowing air into a balloon implemented under each fin using an air compressor. Before experiments with animals, we performed experiments to evaluate the mechanical performance and safety of the robot. We confirmed that the maximum radius of the fins was less than the maximum radius of the colon by blowing air continuously into the balloons. We then confirmed that the robot can locomote in the colon without invasion of scratch and make short hole by performing an in-vivo experiment in live swine.

Comparison of methods for determination of glomerular filtration rate: Tc-99m-DTPA renography, predicted creatinine clearance method and plasma sample method

BACKGROUND

The gamma camera uptake method with Tc-99m-DTPA is simple and less time consuming for the determination of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, its diagnostic accuracy is debated. Gates' method and predicted creatinine clearance method were compared with plasma clearance method with Tc-99m-DTPA for the measurement of GFR.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tc-99m-DTPA renography was performed on 133 patients (69 males and 64 females; age range being 24 to 84 years) with a wide range of renal function. The GFR was determined simultaneously by 3 methods; (1) gamma camera uptake method (modified Gates, Gates); (2) predicted creatinine clearance method (Cockcroft-Gault, CG); (3) single- or two-plasma clearance method (plasma sample clearance method, PSC). The PSC was chosen as a reference.

RESULTS

The regression equation of the Gates and the CG against the PSC was Y = 11.89 + 1.041X (r = 0.790, p < 0.001, RMSE = 23.55 ml/min/1.73 m2) and Y = 8.845 + 0.7899X (r = 0.8270, p < 0.001, RMSE = 16.27 ml/min/1.73 m2), respectively. In comparison with the GFR by PSC, the Gates tended to overestimate the GFR, and contrarily the CG tended to underestimate the GFR.

CONCLUSION

The Gates correlates well with the PSC. However, the Gates is even less precise than the CG. The Gates' method in Tc-99m-DTPA renography is not suitable for the estimation of GFR in routine practice.

Reinvestigation on the buildup mechanism of alternate multilayers consisting of poly(L-glutamic acid) and poly(L-, D-, and DL-lysines)

The buildup mechanism of polypeptide multilayers prepared by the layer-by-layer deposition of a polyanion (poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA)) and polycations (poly(L-lysine) (PLL), poly(D-lysine) (PDL), and copoly(DL-lysine)(PDLL)) was reinvestigated by using in situ ATR-IR spectroscopy. A difference spectral technique applied to analyze the spectra indicated that the deposition of both the PGA and PLL (PDL) layers accompanies the formation of secondary structures consisting mainly of the antiparallel pleated sheet (the beta-sheet) structure, and that the formation of the beta-sheet structure cannot always be explained in terms of polyanion/polycation complex formation or charge compensation between the polyanion and polycations, although it has been considered as a major process in the multilayer buildup process. Instead, the present paper proposes the following mechanism. During the deposition of the polyelectrolyte, a small amount of the beta-sheet structures are produced at the interface as a result of charge compensation between a polyelectrolyte and an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte in the multilayer. The beta-sheets act as nuclei from which further propagation of the structure takes place at the solution/multilayer interfaces. The driving force of the buildup process in the new mechanism is a kinetically favorable insolubilization of each polyelectrolyte in solution at the interfaces.

Magnetic behavior in an ordered Co nanorod array

The magnetization reversal process of an ordered Co nanorod array is shown using the images obtained from successive in-field magnetic force microscope (MFM) measurements. The magnetization reversal model is discussed according to local and whole magnetization reversal properties measured by the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect (PMOKE) and an alternating gradient magnetometer (AGM), respectively. Additionally, the dipolar field was probed using in-field MFM measurements. By removing the effect of the dipolar field, an intrinsic switching field distribution (SFD) is shown in a map with a hexagonal array. A detailed study of the dipolar field in ordered nanorod arrays with various diameters and pitches was carried out by numerical calculations.

Stereospecific oxidation of the (S)-enantiomer of RS-8359, a selective and reversible monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor, by aldehyde oxidase

In a previous paper by the authors on RS-8359, a new selective and reversible monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibitor, it was reported that the (S)-enantiomer of RS-8359 is rapidly eliminated from rats, monkeys and humans as a result of the formation of a 2-oxidative metabolite. The present study investigates the properties of the enzyme responsible for the 2-oxidation of RS-8359. Subcellular localization, cofactor requirement and the inhibitory effects of typical compounds were studied using rat liver preparations. In addition, the enzyme was purified from rat liver cytosol for further characterization. The enzyme activity was localized in the cytosolic fraction without the need for any cofactor and was extensively inhibited by menadione, chlorpromazine and quinacrine. The purified enzyme was also a homodimer with a monomeric molecular weight of 140 kDa and it had an A280/A450 ratio of 5.1 in the absorption spectrum. The results suggest that the enzyme responsible for the biotransformation of RS-8359 to give the 2-keto derivative is aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1). The reaction of aldehyde oxidase is highly stereoselective for the (S)-configuration of RS-8359 and the (9R)-configuration of cinchona alkaloids.

Lack of dimer formation ability in rat strains with low aldehyde oxidase activity

Aldehyde oxidase (AO) is a homodimer with a molecular weight of 300 kDa. To clarify the reasons for the well-known differences in rat strains, we set out to study the relationship between AO activity and the expression levels of its dimer. AO-catalyzed 2-oxidation activity of (S)-RS-8359 was measured in liver cytosols from ten rat strains. The expression levels of AO dimeric protein were evaluated by the native-PAGE/Western blot. Rat strains with low AO activity showed only a monomer, whereas strains with high activity overwhelmingly exhibited a dimer. Exceptionally, one strain in the high AO activity group displayed complex mixed expression patterns of low and high AO activity groups. However, there was a good relationship between AO activity and the expression levels of a dimer, but not of a monomer. The results suggest that rat strains with low AO activity lack the ability to produce a dimer necessary for catalytic activity, and AO differences in rat strains should be discussed in terms of the expression levels of the dimer itself.