The micromethod for determination of cholesterol, cholesteryl esters and phospholipids

We examined the method for determining microquantities of lipids, including cholesterol, cholesteryl esters and phospholipids. A standard colorimetric procedure of cholesteryl esters was modified to accommodate a quantitative thin-layer chromatography. This method involved the following steps. (1) Separation of lipids by a thin-layer chromatography: Lipids were applied to Silica gel G plates. Plates were developed with petroleum ether-diethyl etheracetic acid (82: 18: 2, vIvIv). (2) Elution of cholesterol and its esters from scraped silica gel: After scraping the silica gel with adhered cholesterol and its esters, they were eluted with chloroform-methanol (4: 1, v,tv). In the case of phspholipids, the silica gel was calcified. (3) Colorimetric determination of the lipids: Cholesterol and its esters eluted from the silica gel were determined by the method of ZAK with ROSENTHAL'S color reagent directly and after saponification, respectively. Phospholipids were calculated from the phosphorous content determined by the method of KATES. On the basis of examination of recovery and analyses of lipids extracted from tissue, it was concluded that this method permitted a reliable estimation of microquantities of cholesterol, its esters and phospholipids from small amounts of biological materials.</p

Ultrastructural alteration of the cell surface of Staphylococcus aureus cultured in a different salt condition

Staphylococcus aureus growing in a normal NaGI medium has a specific NaGI tolerance property to grow in the medium contain. ing NaGl in as high a concentration as over 10%. In our comparative study of the cells proliferating in the normal NaGI medium and 10% NaGl medium, we have observed the following differences aside from the changes of lipid composition in the cytoplasmic membrane previously reported. 1. S. aureus grown in high NaGl medium undergoes changes as to increase its size and reduce its surface area. 2. The thickness and weight of cell wall are increased to about 1. 7 times and 1. 32 times, respectively. 3. The protoplast prepared from S. aureus growing in the high NaGI medium shows a weaker resistance to hypotonic condition than that from normal cell.</p

尺側手関節の変形性関節症の頻度とその発現に影響を及ぼす要因

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the distribution of primary osteoarthritis (OA) in the ulnar aspect of the wrist, and analyze the factors correlated with OA at this site. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,128 cases of skeletally mature Japanese patients were collected over a 3-year period. We analyzed the posteroanterior and lateral wrist radiographs of these patients for the presence of primary OA in the ulnar aspect of the wrist, including the distal radioulnar (DRUJ), radiolunate, ulnolunate, lunotriquetral, triquetrohamate, lunohamate, and lunocapitate joints. All joints were examined for the frequency of primary OA. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the factors correlated with the presence of degenerative arthritis in the ulnar aspect of the wrist joint. RESULTS: Primary OA of the ulnar wrist was identified in 145 out of 1,128 cases (12.8 %). Degenerative changes were most frequently identified in the DRUJ (12.3 %), followed by the ulnolunate joint (8.1 %). Variations in radial inclination (RI), carpal height ratio (CHR), and ulnar variance (UV) correlated with OA of the ulnar aspect of the wrist, with variations in UV showing the highest correlation. CONCLUSION: Primary OA of the ulnar wrist was most frequent in the DRUJ and second most frequent in the ulnolunate joint. UV correlated most with OA in the ulnar aspect of the wrist.博士（医学）・乙1328号・平成26年3月17日The definitive version is available at " http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1665-9

Antioxidant, Cytotoxic Activities and Total Phenolic Content of Four Indonesian Medicinal Plants

The crude ethanol extracts of four Indonesian medicinal plants namely Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb.,Phyllanthus niruri Linn., Andrographis paniculata Ness., and Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. wereexamined for their antioxidant (radical scavenging) activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) free radical and cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT). The total phenoliccontent was used the Folin-Ciocalteu method. IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging activityranged from 14.5 to 178.5 μg/ml, with P. niruri having the lowest value and therefore the mostpotent, and C. aeruginosa having the highest value. LC50 values for BSLT ranged from 210.3 to593.2 μg/ml, with C. xanthorrhiza and A. paniculata having the lowest and highest values,respectively. The total phenolic content of the Indonesian plants ranged from 133.0 ±3.7 to863.3±54.7 mg tannic acid equivalent per 1 g extract, with C. aeruginosa and P. niruri having thelowest and highest values, respectively. A positive correlation between free radical scavengingactivity and the content of phenolic compounds was found in the four of Indonesian medicinal plants

Pure Choriocarcinoma of the Ovary in Silver-Russell Syndrome

Pure ovarian choriocarcinoma is an extremely rare malignancy that can be gestational or non-gestational in origin. Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is a rare congenital developmental disorder characterized by pre- and postnatal growth failure, relative macrocephaly, a triangular face, hemihypotrophy, and fifth-finger clinodactyly. We report a rare case of pure ovarian choriocarcinoma occurring in a 19-year-old woman with SRS. Following surgery, multiple chemotherapy courses were effective and she was free of disease at the 10-month follow-up

Effect of introduction of chondroitin sulfate into polymer-peptide conjugate responding to intracellular signals

We recently developed a novel tumor-targeted gene delivery system responding to hyperactivated intracellular signals. Polymeric carrier for gene delivery consists of hydrophilic neutral polymer as main chains and cationic peptide substrate for target enzyme as side chains, and was named polymer-peptide conjugate (PPC). Introduction of chondroitin sulfate (CS), which induces receptor-medicated endocytosis, into polymers mainly with a high cationic charge density such as polyethylenimine can increase tumor-targeted gene delivery. In the present study, we examined whether introduction of CS into PPC containing five cationic amino acids can increase gene expression in tumor cells. Size and zeta potential of plasmid DNA (pDNA)/PPC/CS complex were <200 nm and between -10 and -15 mV, respectively. In tumor cell experiments, pDNA/PPC/CS complex showed lower stability and gene regulation, compared with that of pDNA/PPC. Moreover, no difference in gene expression was identified between positive and negative polymer. These results were caused by fast disintegration of pDNA/PPC/CS complexes in the presence of serum. Thus, we suggest that introduction of negatively charged CS into polymers with a low charge density may lead to low stability and gene regulation of complexes

Delay of computed tomography is associated with poor outcome in patients with blunt traumatic aortic injury a nationwide observational study in Japan

Katayama, Yusuke MD, PhD; Kitamura, Tetsuhisa MD, DrPHb; Hirose, Tomoya MD, PhDa,c; Kiguchi, Takeyuki MD, PhD; Matsuyama, Tasuku MD, PhDe; Sado, Junya PhDb; Kiyohara, Kosuke DrPH; Izawa, Junichi MD, DrPH; Tachino, Jotaro MD; Ebihara, Takeshi MD; Yoshiya, Kazuhisa MD, PhD; Nakagawa, Yuko MD, PhD; Shimazu, Takeshi MD, PhDa Delay of computed tomography is associated with poor outcome in patients with blunt traumatic aortic injury, Medicine: August 2018 - Volume 97 - Issue 35 - p e12112 doi: 10.1097/MD.000000000001211

Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on bystander interventions, emergency medical service activities, and patient outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Osaka City, Japan

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may have negatively affected bystander interventions, emergency medical service (EMS) personnel activities, and patient outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study assessed bystander interventions, EMS activities, and patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic era and compared them with those during the non-COVID-19 pandemic era in Osaka City, Japan, where public-access automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are well established. Methods: We conducted this population-based cohort study that included all cases with non-traumatic OHCA treated by EMS personnel and excluded cases with no resuscitation attempt, traumatic cases, cases occurring in healthcare facilities, or cases witnessed by EMS personnel. Data were compared between the COVID-19 pandemic period (February 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020) and the non-COVID-19 pandemic period (February 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019). Results: During the study periods, 1687 patients were eligible for analyses (COVID-19: n = 825; non-COVID-19: n = 862). Patients with OHCA during the COVID-19 pandemic period were significantly less likely to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (COVID-19: 33.0%; non-COVID-19: 41.3%; p < 0.001) and public-access AED pad application (COVID-19: 2.9%; non-COVID-19: 6.1%; p = 0.002) compared with patients during the non-COVID-19 pandemic period. There were no significant differences in 1-month survival with favorable neurological outcomes between the two periods (COVID-19: 4.6%; non-COVID-19: 6.1%; p = 0.196). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic period did not affect patient outcomes after OHCA but changed bystander behaviors in Osaka City, Japan