Detection of the virulent Marek's disease virus genome from feather tips of wild geese in Japan and the Far East region of Russia.

Marek's disease (MD) virus (MDV) is known to cause malignant lymphomas in chickens. In 2001, we first reported an MD case in a white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) in Japan. Therefore, the prevalence of MDV in the wild geese was surveyed by nested PCR using feather-tip samples in Japan and the Far East region of Russia, breeding habitats of geese migrating to Japan. MDV was detected in about 30% of analyzed white-fronted geese. Furthermore, by nucleotide sequence analysis, we confirmed that this MDV shows high homology to very virulent MDV, suggesting that highly virulent MDV is widespread in white-fronted geese migrating between Japan and Far East region of Russia.

[Development of new hydrophilic catheter kit for self-catheterization: study in pediatric cases].

PURPOSE: To increase the management of self-catheterization in children of school age, a catheter kit consisting of hydrophilic catheter and a packet containing sterilized water was developed. We evaluated the lubricating characteristic and clinical efficacy of this new catheter kit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The catheter kit used in the study was a pocket-size plastic container in which a polyurethane catheter coated with hydrophilic polymer and a packet containing sterilized water were packed in combination. The lubricating characteristic of catheter was assessed by the measurement of friction value. For clinical assessment, male children aged over 6 years old who were doing self-catheterization at 17 medical institutions nationwide were selected as the subjects. The 32 children who had given informed consent (mean age: 11.6 years old) were asked to use the catheter kit continuously for 1 week. The results were investigated by a questionnaire survey in which the assessment before and after the use was expressed in scores. At the same time, urinalysis and urine culture were examined. RESULTS: The friction value of hydrophilic catheter was equivalent to or less than that observed by applying a lubricant to the conventional catheter. The comparison of conventional catheter with the kit indicated significantly higher scores (assessment in 5 grades expressed in scores) for the portability and operability of the kit. Though there was no significant difference in the ease of insertion between the two catheters, there were several comments that the kit got stuck in the urethra when it was withdrawn. The global assessment gave a significantly higher score to the kit and 30 (94%) of the 32 children wanted to use the kit continuously. No increase in hematuria which caused a clinical problem or no new apparent urinary tract infection occurred after the use of the kit. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the conventional catheter, the hydrophilic catheter kit highly satisfied a large number of children at the time of self-catheterization. Depending on the condition of children, the kit is considered useful for continued self-catheterization for a long term.

An alternative access to a trisaccharide repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A.

A chemical synthesis has been achieved for beta-D-ManNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glc-(1-->3)-L-Rha, a trisaccharide repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A, by stepwise link-up of the suitably functionalized, constituent sugar units. A beta-selective glycosylation of trimethylsilylethyl glucoside having free 4-OH with 2-(benzoyloxyimino)-2-deoxyglycosyl bromide, followed by manno-selective hydroboration, N-acetylation, and functionalization of the anomeric center (1-OSE-->1-OH-->1-F), gave a key disaccharide donor, beta-D-ManNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glc-(1-->F. Ensuing glycosylation of an L-rhamnosyl acceptor with the donor substrate afforded, after deblocking, the target trisaccharide in 6.5% yield over 13 steps from D-glucose.

Synthesis and utility of 2-(benzoyloxyimino)-2-deoxy-alpha-D-lyxo-hexopyranosyl bromide as a novel alpha-D-talosaminide building block.

A novel alpha-D-talosaminyl donor, 2-(benzoyloxyimino)-2-deoxy-alpha-D-lyxo-hexopyranosyl bromide has been synthesized in a total yield of 32% over 6 steps from D-galactose. The utility of the donor was evaluated for the elaboration of alpha-D-TalNAc-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Gal, alpha-D-TalNAc-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glc, and alpha-D-TalNAc-(1-->3)-L-serine derivatives by a simple 3-step sequence, comprising alpha-selective glycosylation of appropriately protected acceptors of D-galactose, D-glucose, and L-serine, talo-selective hydroboration of the oxyimino function to an amino group, and N-acetylation.

[Two cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection].

We have experienced 2 cases of MRSA infection. Case 1: A 16 month-old girl, whose underlying disease was VAHS, had chronic sinusitis. MRSA was isolated from the blood and rhinorrhea. Her sinusitis was very intractable and it was difficult to eradicate MRSA from the nare. Case 2: A 6-months-old girl was admitted to our hospital with urinary tract infection. She had an ectopic uretelocele. Partial nephrectomy and uretectomy was performed. Retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal abscess had recurred three times during 17 months after the first operation. This abscess was slowly progressive and MRSA was very difficult to eradicate. These 2 cases showed characteristics of MRSA infection.

[High dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for advanced germ cell tumor].

Six patients, with advanced germ cell tumor refractory to prior chemotherapy including cis-platinum and etoposide, were treated by high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Etoposide (1200-1800 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) and cis-platinum (60-120 mg/m2) were given and the autologous bone marrow was infused 72 hours after the last dose of chemotherapy. Two patients were treated by high dose chemotherapy three times. The regimen of the third high dose chemotherapy was etoposide (1800 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg), adriamycin (80 mg/m2), ACNU (200 mg/m2) and 254S (100 mg/m2). One patient died of cerebral hemorrhage 7 days after ABMT. Of the 5 patients evaluable for response, 4 responded: one patient obtained a complete response and 3 a partial response.

[A case of refractory testicular cancer showing complete response to high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation].

A patient with stage III testicular cancer was treated by 3 courses of BEP therapy and a partial response was obtained. Afterwards he underwent resection of pulmonary residual tumors and was treated by 2 courses of PE therapy immediately after operation. However, a new pulmonary tumor appeared after the first course of PE therapy was completed. He was treated by high-dose chemotherapy (etoposide 1200 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg, CDDP 60 mg/m2) with autologous bone marrow transplantation. Three weeks after high-dose chemotherapy his metastatic pulmonary tumor showed cavity formation which disappeared after 3 months. Fifteen months after the high-dose chemotherapy, no evidence of disease has been seen even without maintenance therapy.