Double infection with two interferon (IFN)-sensitive strains of herpes simplex virus (HSV), HSV-1(17syn) and HSV-2(UW268), showed reduced inhibition of virus growth by IFN. Intertypic recombinants ...with IFN resistance were obtained from the doubly infected cultures. These results indicate that HSV IFN resistance is controlled by at least two genetic regions. Restriction endonuclease analysis demonstrated that the recombinants were similar to HSV-2 in their genomic structure but the BamHI-A, BglII-I and BglII-N fragments of HSV-2 were commonly lost in the recombinants, suggesting that any of these fragments could be associated with HSV-2 IFN resistance. We cloned these fragments and BamHI-E, which overlaps BglII-N, from an IFN-resistant HSV-2 strain, HSV-2(G), and examined each fragment for its ability to rescue IFN resistance of HSV-2(UW268) by co-transfecting with the HSV-2(UW268) genome. Of the HSV-2(G) fragments, only BglII-N increased plating efficiency of progeny viruses in IFN-treated cells. An IFN-resistant HSV-2 clone was obtained from the BglII-N of HSV-2(G) and HSV-2(UW268) genome co-transfected culture, and a part of BglII-N of HSV-2(UW268) was replaced with that of HSV-2(G) in the HSV-2 clone. Thus, it was concluded that one of the HSV regions encoding IFN resistance is located on the BglII-N fragment of HSV-2.
To evaluate the influence of blood substrate levels on myocardial uptake of 123I-labeled beta-methyl-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP), we examined the correlation between myocardial BMIPP uptake ...and blood levels of free fatty acid (FFA), glucose, insulin, triglyceride and total cholesterol.
In 180 patients, venous blood samples were obtained, and the early and late myocardial uptakes (MU15 and MU150) were determined on planar images at 15 and 150 min after injection at rest, respectively, and the clearance rate of BMIPP from the myocardium was calculated. Dynamic SPECT with BMIPP, PET with 18Ffluoro-deoxyglucose and determination of myocardial carnitine contents were performed in 15, 1 and 3 patients, respectively.
In the 180 patients, MU15 correlated with blood insulin (r = 0.22, p = 0.005) and FFA (r = -0.19, p = 0.02) levels, whereas MU150 did not correlate with blood levels of any variables that were measured (p > 0.05). The clearance rate correlated with blood insulin (r = 0.28, p < 0.001), glucose (r = 0.17, p = 0.03) and FFA (r = -0.40; p < 0.001) levels. The correlations were, however, weak, and five patients (2.8%) with no myocardial BMIPP uptake, all of whom had anterior myocardial infaction, had no characteristics regarding the blood substrate levels. Although dynamic SPECT demonstrated rapid myocardial extraction of BMIPP in 13 patients with myocardial BMIPP uptake, it demonstrated no myocardial BMIPP extraction in two patients with no myocardial BMIPP uptake. One of the five patients with no myocardial BMIPP uptake showed increased myocardial 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose uptake and decreased myocardial carnitine content.
The influence of blood substrate levels on myocardial BMIPP uptake is not very significant, although high serum FFA levels may be associated with slow clearance of BMIPP from the myocardium. The complete absence of myocardial BMIPP uptake is not rare and may not be associated with changes in blood substrate levels or early back diffusion of BMIPP.
Background Although intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is widely used in clinical practice, there are no official guidelines for its proper usage in Japan. We have started the preparation of ...guidelines for appropriate usage of IVIG, firstly by collecting clinical cases treated with IVIG nationwide. Methods Questionnaires concerning the number of patients treated with IVIG and the amount of IVIG used by disease and age (children and adults) from July to September 2003 were sent to 732 hospitals with more than 400 beds. Results Replies were obtained from 319 hospitals, of which 268 (36.6%) were suitable for data analysis. The number of patients and the amount of IVIG used were 1, 955 cases and 28, 684g for children and 6, 615 cases and 142, 334g for adults, respectively. Main diseases in children and adults were infectious diseases (including post-operative infection) in 33% and 73%, autoimmune diseases in 28% and 10%, and immunodeficiency diseases in 16% and 8%, respectively. The differences between them were significant. In particular, Kawasaki disease in children was predominant among autoimmune diseases, representing 44.5% of cases. The amount of IVIG used in children was 60% for autoimmune diseases and 17% for immunodeficiency diseases, while that in adults was 45% for infectious diseases and 35% for autoimmune diseases. Pathogens in these infectious diseases of both children and adults were bacteria in more than half of the cases, and high CRP values as a factor of severe infection were 28% in children (more than 10mg/dl) and 51% in adults (more than 15mg/dl). Conclusions These results indicate that IVIG is mainly used in both autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases, and that IVIG is also used in some non-severe infectious diseases.
Preferences of fish and shellfish and their eating frequency were investigated in 171 households in Hiroshima prefecture. They were divided into four groups by their living regions. These regions ...were Hiroshima city, suburban (local) cities, farming regions and farming or fishery regions. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and multiple linear regressions. There was relationship between frequencies of fish and shellfish intake and size of family members in all four groups significantly. Among four groups, frequencies of fish and shellfish intake were the highest in people who lived in Hiroshima city and the lowest that in suburban (local) cities. It showed that consumers choice of fish and shellfish might be dependent on their residence regions. People who live in Hiroshima city had taken advantage of their convenient environment and eaten variety of fish and shellfish dishes.
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