Surgical intervention in middle-ear cholesterol granuloma

Eleven patients who had been surgically treated from 1988 to 1999 were retrospectively reviewed in order to evaluate the efŽcacy of ventilation tube insertion and mastoidectomy with, or without, mastoid obliteration for intractable middle-ear cholesterol granuloma. The mean age registered was 17.2 years at the time of surgical treatment. All cases were unilaterally affected. Five ears were treated with simple mastoidectomy coupled with the insertion of a ventilation tube, while six others had additional mastoid obliteration. The hearing prognosis was excellent with an improved post-operative hearing level of 16.5.dB (cf. pre-operative 37.7.dB). However, morphological prognosis revealed two ears had a residual perforated tympanic membrane without otorrhoea after displacement of the ventilation tube. Of the remaining nine ears with intact placement of the ventilation tube, Žve had dry ears while four had occasional otorrhoea. Although the morphological prognosis was incomplete, treatments involving at least an insertion of a ventilation tube with thorough mastoidectomy were thought to be necessary.</p

Association Between SLFN11 and Antitumor Activity of Trabectedin

Background/Aim: Trabectedin is a DNA-damaging agent and has been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) was identified as a dominant determinant of the response to DNA-damaging agents. The aim of the study was to clarify the association between SLFN11 expression and the antitumor activity of trabectedin. Materials and Methods: The antitumor activity of trabectedin was evaluated under different expression levels of SLFN11 regulated by RNA interference and CRISPR-Cas9 systems, and the combined antitumor activity of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein kinase (ATR) inhibitor and trabectedin in sarcoma cell lines using in vitro a cell viability assay and in vivo xenograft models. Results: SLFN11-knockdown cell lines had a lower sensitivity to trabectedin, compared to parental cells. ATR inhibitor enhanced the antitumor activity of trabectedin in SLFN11-knockdown cells and in a SLFN11-knockout xenograft model. Conclusion: SLFN11 expression might be a key factor in the antitumor activity of trabectedin

Syntheses of (±)-clavicipitic acid and its derivatives

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生理活性物質科学金沢大学薬学

Polar Patrol Balloon experiment in Antarctica during 2002-2003

The first scientific campaign of the Polar Patrol Balloon (PPB) experiment (1st-PPB) was performed at Syowa Station in Antarctica during 1990-1991 and 1992-1993. Based on the fruitful results of the 1st-PPB experiment, the next campaign (2nd-PPB) will be carried out in the austral summer of 2002-2003. This paper summarizes the 2nd-PPB experiment. Four balloons in total will be launched to make astrophysics observations (1 balloon) and upper atmosphere physics observations (3 balloons). The first payload will carry a very sophisticated instrument that will observe primary cosmic-ray electrons in the energy range of 10 GeV - 1 TeV. The payloads of the latter 3 flights are identical to each other. They will be launched in as rapid a succession as weather conditions permit to form a cluster of balloons during their flights. Such a "Balloon Cluster" is suitable for observing the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of various phenomena in the various magnetospheric and ionospheric regions and their boundaries that the balloons will traverse during their circumpolar trajectory. The expected flight duration of each balloon is 20 days. Observation data will be obtained mainly by a satellite communication system with a much higher temporal resolution than that used in the 1st-PPB experiment

Major Basic Protein, Eosinophil Cationic Protein, and Arylsulfatase in Nasal Secretions of Patients with Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

In 15 patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis and 10 healthy control subjects, levels of major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and arylsulfatase B (As) in the nasal secretions were examined before and after challenge with Japanese cedar pollen extract. The MBP and ECP levels in the patients were significantly higher 30 min after challenge than those before challenge (P &#60; 0.005). MBP and ECP levels after challenge were significantly higher in the nasal secretions of patients than in the controls (MBP: P &#60; 0.01, ECP: P &#60; 0.05). The level of As after challenge was significantly higher in the nasal secretions of patients than in the controls. These results suggest that eosinophils activate or modify the immediate, nasal allergic reaction and have a role in regulating immunological responses.</p

Synthetic study directed toward novel multi-linked heterocycles

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生理活性物質科学金沢大学薬学部2-Amino-4-(1-methylindol-3-yl)thiazole (11c) has a characteristic nucleophilic nature at the 5-position and add to the 4-position of acetylpyridinium acetate (13) producing 2-acetylamino-5-(1-acetyl-1,4-dihydropyridin-4-yl)-4-(1-methylindol-3-yl) thiazole (1c). Its structure was established by X-ray single crystallographic analysis. Applying the results, simple syntheses of the related tris- (1a-b and 2-8) and tetrakis-linked heterocycles (9) were achieved

Allergens of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in patients with mite allergic rhinitis: a clinical investigation by intracutaneous skin tests and nasal provocation tests.

To determine the allergens of mite allergic rhinitis, we studied 31 patients with mite allergic rhinitis by skin tests and nasal provocation tests (15 for skin and 16 for nasal tests) using 6 fractions of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract differing in molecular weights (15, 25, 32, 53, 95 and 190 kDMW). In skin testing, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 25, 32, 95 and 190 kDMW, among which the most patients showed positive reactions to the fractions of 15 and 25 kDMW. Significant differences were found in patients' positive reactivity among each fraction and between low (15 and 25 kD) and high (95 and 190 kD) molecular weight fractions as well. In nasal provocation tests, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 32, 53 and 95 kDMW, especially to the fractions of 15 and 95 kDMW. Furthermore, the insidence of positive reactions to the 15 kDMW fraction was significantly higher than that to any other fraction in the skin tests (P &#60; 0.05). From these results, the low molecular weight fraction, 15 kDMW, is considered to be the main allergen of this mite and the high molecular weight fractions, 95 and 190 kDMW, may also be considered to be allergens of this mite.</p

Allergens of the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in patients with mite allergic rhinitis: a clinical investigation by intracutaneous skin tests and nasal provocation tests.

To determine the allergens of mite allergic rhinitis, we studied 31 patients with mite allergic rhinitis by skin tests and nasal provocation tests (15 for skin and 16 for nasal tests) using 6 fractions of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) extract differing in molecular weights (15, 25, 32, 53, 95 and 190 kDMW). In skin testing, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 25, 32, 95 and 190 kDMW, among which the most patients showed positive reactions to the fractions of 15 and 25 kDMW. Significant differences were found in patients' positive reactivity among each fraction and between low (15 and 25 kD) and high (95 and 190 kD) molecular weight fractions as well. In nasal provocation tests, patients showed intense positive reactions to the fractions of 15, 32, 53 and 95 kDMW, especially to the fractions of 15 and 95 kDMW. Furthermore, the insidence of positive reactions to the 15 kDMW fraction was significantly higher than that to any other fraction in the skin tests (P &#60; 0.05). From these results, the low molecular weight fraction, 15 kDMW, is considered to be the main allergen of this mite and the high molecular weight fractions, 95 and 190 kDMW, may also be considered to be allergens of this mite.</p

Surgical management of infants with mitral valve stenosis or atresia without diminutive ascending aorta

The surgical strategy in infants with mitral valve stenosis or atresia without diminutive ascending aorta remains to be established, including the potential for biventricular repair as a definitive operation. Our surgical experience of six infants with mitral valve stenosis (4patients) or atresia (2patients) without diminutive ascending aorta was evaluated based on three important factors:left ventricular volume;the nature of the systemic outflow obstruction; and the type of mitral valve anomaly. Two patients with systemic outflow tract diameter less than 65% of normal underwent systemic outflow tract reconstruction, and the other patients with outflow tract diameter more than 68%of normal were able to maintain systemic circulation without repair. Only one patient with mitral valve stenosis without left ventricular outflow tract obstruction underwent a successful open mitral valvotomy as a biventricular repair after first-stage palliation. The left ventricle of the other patients did not grow after first-stage palliation. Due to progressive subaortic narrowing, pulmonary artery banding should be avoided in patients with mitral atresia due to absent atrioventricular connection who are future Fontan candidates. Most patients with this lesion can be expected to become candidates for safe Fontan-type repair