Inhibition of antibody production by thioinosine. 3. Studies on antibody biosynthesis

The effect of thioinosine on antibody response of immunized rabbits has been studied. When given simultaneously with the antigen, thioinosine profoundly suppresses the formation of humoral antibody.</p

Transformation of antibody from IgM to IgG in experimental syphylitic rabbits. I. Syphylitic serum reaction

Localization of IgM and IgG sypylitic antibodies in the sera of patients and the experimental syphylitic rabbits was examined by the gel filtration on Sephadex G.200 column. I) In the case of late syphylitic patients; OGATA test-reactive antibodies were contained in IgM and IgG fractions. On the other hand, RPCF test-reactive antibody was contained only in IgG fraction. This discrepancy may be due to the difference in antigens; Cardiolipin.resicin and T. P. Reiter protein. 2) In the case of the experimental syphylitic rabbits; The results were as follows. a) Variation in the level of the titer. The peaks of the titer were seen 3-4 weeks after inoculation of T. P. Nichols by OGATA test, VDRL test and RPCF test, thereafter titers decreased. On the other hand, the titer kept on rising up to 2 months and maintained high level during the periods of 3, 4 and 5 months by TPHA test. b)Transformation of antibody from IgM to IgG. Transformation of antibody from IgM to IgG was seen 3-4 weeks after inoculation by all four tests; OGATA test, VDRL test, RPCF test and TPHA test, and such a transformation was completed 3 months after inoculation.</p

Phylogenetic Position of the Western Bangladesh Populations of Weaver Ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina is distributed from India through SE Asia to North Australia including many tropical western pacific Islands. A recent phylogenetic study of O. smaragdina revealed the central Bangladesh population as SE Asian mainland clade despite of its geographical proximity to India. However, the sample analyzed was limited and the geographical border between the two groups has not been presented. In this study, several samples collected from western parts of Bangladesh have been used to examine the phylogenetic position. A total of 20 O. smaragdina colonies were sampled from 12 Districts during 2013 to 2014. Their haplotype and phylogenetic relationships were determined by analyzing mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene (Cytb) of 606 bp and Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) of 775bp. Bayesian analysis inferred that the western parts of Bangladesh were occupied by Indian type, which is the first record in the country. The present study suggested that, although the Ganges river has no border effect, both Indian type and SE Asian types occur in Bangladesh.

Esophageal Cancer Initially Thought to be Accompanied by a Solitary Metastasis to an Intrathoracic Paraaortic Lymph Node

Esophageal cancers usually exhibit lymph-node metastases. Although a solitary lymph-node metastasis is occasionally found, the involvement of an intrathoracic paraaortic node is rare. We present here an intrathoracic mid-esophageal cancer case in which an accompanying solitary retroaortic mass was found within the posterior mediastinum by integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography. For diagnosis, thoracoscopic resection of the mass was performed from a left thoracic approach, and histology revealed it to be a squamous cell carcinoma metastasized from the esophageal cancer. Upon radical esophagectomy after neoadjuvant therapy as a T3N1M0 Stage IIIa (AJCC/UICC) cancer, the esophageal cancer was found to have invaded unexpectedly deeply in the vicinity of the descending aorta. Another lymph node within the paraaortic region was also involved (T4N1M0 Stage IIIc). The present case and other cases we review here inform our understanding of metastasis to intrathoracic paraaortic nodes as follows:1) its existence may indicate extensive lymph-node metastasis or direct tumor invasion nearby, and 2) it may be accompanied by other lymph-node involvements in this region, even if it appears solitary upon preoperative investigation. Thus, for radical esophagectomy, sufficient lymph-node dissection is required, even at locations not reached by the usual right thoracic approach. Definitive chemoradiotherapy may be a better choice for preoperatively recognized T3 esophageal cancer when the cancer is accompanied by paraaortic lymph node metastasis

Taxonomy and DNA Sequencing of Crematogaster coriaria

Crematogaster coriaria Mayr, 1872, is revised based on the nest series samples. The following new synonymies are proposed: C. coriaria Mayr, 1872 =  C. coriaria fraudatrix Forel, 1911 syn. nov.  =  C. spengeli Forel, 1912 syn. nov.  =  C. spengeli taipingensis Forel, 1913 syn. nov. Worker, queen, and male castes of C. coriaria Mayr, 1872, are redescribed. The polymorphism of C. coriaria Mayr, 1872, was also discussed. DNA sequences were generated for C. coriaria Mayr, 1872, using an amplification of second half region of the mitochondrial gene COI with a total of 711 bp. The interspecific COI divergence is 17.4% for C. coriaria Mayr, 1872, and C. modiglianii Emery, 1900

Is Adenosine Deaminase in Pleural Fluid a Useful Marker for Differentiating Tuberculosis from Lung Cancer or Mesothelioma in Japan, a Country with Intermediate Incidence of Tuberculosis?

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the determination of adenosine deaminase (ADA) level in pleural fluid for the differential diagnosis between tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in Japan, a country with intermediate incidence of tuberculosis (TB). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 435 patients with pleural effusion and investigated their pleural ADA levels as determined by an auto analyzer. ROC analysis was also performed. The study included patients with MPE (n＝188), TPE (n＝124), benign nontuberculous pleural effusion (n＝94), and pleural effusion of unknown etiology (n＝29). The median ADA level in the TPE group was 70.8U/L, which was significantly higher than that in any other groups (p＜0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) in ROC analysis was 0.895. With a cut-off level for ADA of 36U/L, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 85.5%, 86.5%, 69.7%, and 93.6%, respectively. As many as 9% of patients with lung cancer and 15% of those with mesothelioma were false-positive with this ADA cutoff setting. Although the ADA activity in pleural fluid can help in the diagnosis of TPE, it should be noted that some cases of lung cancer or mesothelioma show high ADA activity in geographical regions with intermediate incidence of TB, in contrast to high prevalence areas