Gastrointestinal stromal tumor is a mesenchymal tumor with KIT or PDGFRA gene mutation, occurring primarily in the stomach and intestine and rarely outside the digestive tract. KIT-negative tumors with epithelioid cell morphology and PDGFRA mutation represent a minor subset of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Here, we describe a case of gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the liver of a 70-year-old man. The tumor was shown to be completely limited within the liver by radiologic, intraoperative, and pathologic examinations. Histopathologically, the tumor showed epithelioid cell-type morphology and immunohistochemical expression of CD34 and protein kinase C theta but was negative for cytokeratin, EMA, S-100, and HMB-45. KIT protein expression was very faint, and we judged it as negative. Mutation analysis revealed the presence of PDGFRA gene mutation (V561D) at exon 12. These findings are essentially the same as those typically seen in ordinary KIT-negative epithelioid cell-type gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the digestive tract. Although KIT-negative gastrointestinal stromal tumor occurring outside the gastrointestinal tract is very rare, this entity should be considered as a potential primary hepatic neoplasm.

Intentional contamination of beverages with microbes is one type of bioterrorist threat. While bacteria and fungus can be easily collected by a centrifuge, viruses are difficult to collect from virus-contaminated beverages. In this study, we demonstrated that Viro-Adembeads, a rapid-capture system for viruses using anionic polymer-coated magnetic beads, collected viruses from beverages contaminated intentionally with vaccinia virus and human herpesvirus 8. Real-time PCR showed that the recovery rates of the contaminated viruses in green tea and orange juice were lower than those in milk and water. Plaque assay showed that green tea and orange juice cut the efficiency of vaccinia virus infection in CV-1 cells. These results suggest that the efficiency of virus detection depends on the kind of beverage being tested. Viro-Adembeads would be a useful tool for detecting viruses rapidly in virus-contaminated beverages used in a bioterrorist attack.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the influence of surface treatment on the shear bond strength between a Co-Cr alloy and two ceramics. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight metal cylinders were made (thickness: 4 mm, height: 3.7 mm) according ISO TR 11405. The 48 metallic cylinders were divided into four groups (n = 12), according to the veneering ceramic (StarLight Ceram and Duceram Kiss) and surface treatments: air-particle abrasion with Al(2)O(3) or tungsten drill (W). Gr1: StarLight + Al(2)O(3); Gr2: StarLight + W; Gr3: Duceram + Al(2)O(3); and Gr4: Duceram + W. The specimens were aged using thermal cycling (3000x, 5 to 55 degrees C, dwell time: 30 seconds, transfer time: 2 seconds). The shear test was performed with a universal testing machine, using a load cell of 100 kg (speed: 0.5 mm/min) and a specific device. The bond strength data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's test (5%), and the failure modes were analyzed using an optical microscope (30x). Results: The means and standard deviations of the shear bond strengths were (MPa): G1 (57.97 +/- 11.34); G2 (40.62 +/- 12.96); G3 (47.09 +/- 13.19); and G4 (36.80 +/- 8.86). Ceramic (p= 0.03252) and surface treatment (p= 0.0002) significantly affected the mean bond strength values. Conclusions: Air-particle abrasion with Al(2)O(3) improved the shear bond strength between metal and ceramics used.

OBJECTIVE: Streptococcus mutans, known to be a major pathogen of dental caries, is also considered to cause infective endocarditis. Its 120-kDa Cnm protein binds to type I collagen, which may be a potential virulence factor. In this study, we characterized S. mutans clinical strains focusing on the cnm gene encoding Cnm. DESIGN: A total of 528 S. mutans strains isolated from Japanese, Finnish, and Thai subjects were investigated. Using molecular techniques, the distribution frequency of cnm-positive strains and location of the inserted cnm were analyzed. Furthermore, isogenic mutant strains were constructed by inactivation of the cnm gene, then their biological properties of collagen-binding and glucan-binding were evaluated. Southern hybridization of the genes encoding glucan-binding proteins was also performed. RESULTS: The distribution frequency of cnm-positive strains from Thai subjects was 12%, similar to that previously reported for Japanese and Finnish subjects. Furthermore, the location of insertion of cnm was the same in all cnm-positive clinical isolates. As for the cnm-inactivated mutant strains constructed from 28 clinical isolates, their collagen-binding activity was negligible. In addition, glucan-binding activity in the cnm-positive clinical isolates was significantly reduced and corresponded to a lack of gbpA encoding glucan-binding protein A. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that strains with cnm genes, the most crucial factor for the collagen-binding property of S. mutans, are detectable at similar frequencies over several different geographic locations. In addition, the common properties of these strains are a high level of collagen-binding activity and tendency for a low level of glucan-binding activity.

In order to investigate the origin of tetracycline resistance in Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, conjugative transpositions of Tn916 were tested. The frequency of transfer between strains of E. rhusiopathiae was about 10-fold higher than that between Enterococcus faecalis and E. rhusiopathiae. In addition, detection of a Tn916-like transposon was performed by PCR assay and DNA sequencing in E. rhusiopathiae field isolates. Of 49 tetracycline-resistant isolates, 38 (77.6 %) carried a Tn916-like transposon, while 11 (22.4 %) carried tet(M) only. These results suggested that Tn916-like transposon may be widely present in the E. rhsuiopathiae field isolates resistant to tetracycline.

The synthesis and SAR studies of 3- and 4-substituted 7-hydroxycoumarins as novel 17beta-HSD3 inhibitors are discussed. The most potent compounds from this series exhibited low nanomolar inhibitory activity with acceptable selectivity versus other 17beta-HSD isoenzymes and nuclear receptors.

A scale was constructed to investigate the dietary life style of Japanese college students relating to dietary life, mental health, and eating disorders. Exploratory factor analysis found four factors, termed "dietary mood,""dietary regulation,""dietary stress avoidance behavior," and "food safety." Cluster analysis revealed four typical dietary habits of Japanese college students:"deprecating food safety,""dietary regulation oriented and infrequent dietary stress avoidance behavior,""deprecating dietary moods," and "frequent dietary stress avoidance behavior." Regarding eating disorders, a high percentage of the moderate eating disorder group exhibited frequent dietary stress avoidance behavior. Regarding mental health, a high percentage of the healthy group showed dietary regulation orientation and infrequent dietary stress avoidance behavior. A high percentage of the neurotic-level participants deprecated dietary moods. These results suggest that dietary regulation and deprecatory mood and infrequent dietary stress avoidance behavior lead to college students having a healthy dietary life.

ABSTRACT The oligomerization of HIV-1 Gag and Gag-Pol proteins, which are assembled at the plasma membrane, leads to viral budding. The budding generally places the viral components under non-reducing conditions. Here the effects of non-reducing conditions on Gag structures and viral RNA protection were examined. Using different reducing conditions and SDS-PAGE, it was shown that oligomerized Gag possesses intermolecular covalent bonds under non-reducing conditions. In addition, it was demonstrated that the mature viral core contains a large amount of covalent bonded Gag multimers, as does the immature core. Viral genomic RNA becomes sensitive to ribonuclease in reducing conditions. These results suggest that, under non-reducing conditions, covalent bonded Gag multimers are formed within the viral particles and play a role in protection of the viral genome.

The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 2,205 isolates of Escherichia coli and 1,181 isolates of Enterococcus faecalis (n=610) and E. faecium (n=571) from apparently healthy cattle, pigs and broiler and layer chickens collected from 2000 to 2003 were examined using an agar dilution method. Overall, the isolates from cattle and layer chickens showed a lower incidence of resistance to almost all antimicrobials studied compared with those from pigs and broiler chickens. Fluoroquinolone resistance was found at a low level in isolates of E. coli from four animal species and in E. faecalis from pigs and broiler and layer chickens. Resistance to cephalosporin was identified in isolates of E. coli from broiler chickens in 2000-2002 and from four animal species in 2003. Incidence of antimicrobial resistance in the bacteria did not vary from year to year during the investigation period.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is recognized as a major health problem worldwide, and its prevalence depends on the age range of the subjects. The aims of this study were to determine the current prevalence of AR, effects of age on the prevalence of IgE sensitization to inhalant allergens, and serum total IgE levels in Japanese subjects. Methods: We conducted a survey of 1,540 subjects between 20 and 49 years of age in 2006 and 2007 and examined the prevalence of AR and sensitization to 7 common aeroallergens. We measured serum total IgE and specific IgE to 7 aeroallergens. AR was determined based on symptoms, predominantly in the nose and eyes, caused by aeroallergens as mentioned in a questionnaire and sensitization to any of the 7 aeroallergens as assessed by measurement of serum specific IgE. Results: The prevalence of AR was 44.2%(681 of the 1,540 subjects) and there was no difference among age decades. Of the 1,540 subjects, 1,073 (69.7%) were sensitized to at least 1 of the 7 aeroallergens. The most common allergen in AR was Japanese cedar pollen (89.6%, 610 of the 681 with AR) in all the age decades examined. The sensitization rate to mites was significantly higher in the younger subjects. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the prevalence of AR between 20 and 49 years of age has increased by nearly 10% during the last 10 years. Cedar pollen and mites were predominant allergen sources among the 7 aeroallergens in the Japanese population.