Hexylsilane-mediated direct amidation of amino acids with a catalytic amount of 1,2,4-triazole.

In this study, we report amino acid amidation using hexylsilane and a catalytic amount of 1,2,4-triazole. The conventional protection/deprotection method for the α-amino group of amino acids is not required. The corresponding α-amino amides were obtained in moderate to good yields with low to no racemization.

Early induction of interleukin-5 and peripheral eosinophilia in acute pneumonia in Japanese children infected by pandemic 2009 influenza A in the Tokyo area.

A novel influenza A (2009 H1N1) virus has led to a worldwide pandemic. A significant number of patients with pneumonia have been reported, although its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. To determine its pathogenesis, we evaluated serum interleukin (IL)-5 and peripheral eosinophil counts in patients with acute pneumonia caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus. During the period from October to December 2009, 40 patients with laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 pneumonia were under investigation. Their mean age at presentation was 6.8 years. The most characteristic finding was the early development of hypoxemic respiratory distress in the first 24 hr after the onset of fever. Bronchial mucous plugs included eosinophils in addition to neutrophils, even in patients without allergies. Serum IL-5 levels were elevated in 20 out of 24 patients (83%) whose samples were obtained in the first 24 hr after the onset of fever (26.5 ± 20.1 pg/mL), independent of the presence of underlying allergies. In contrast, induction of IL-5 was not documented in sera from eight patients with laboratory-confirmed 2009 H1N1 virus who developed neurological complications, but without lower respiratory infection (2.1 ± 0.7 pg/mL, P < 0.001 vs acute pneumonia). Peripheral eosinophilia was characteristic in acute pneumonia, but not in patients without a lower respiratory infection. There was a marked difference in the induction of IL-5 in 2009 H1N1 patients who developed acute pneumonia, compared with those without a lower respiratory infection. IL-5 may play a role in the early phase of acute pneumonia caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus in Japanese children.

Distinctive clinical features of human bocavirus in children younger than 2 years.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) infection have been studied worldwide, but their importance of those characteristics remains unknown. We investigated distinctive clinical features of HBoV-positive children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). METHODS AND RESULTS: During April 2007-July 2009, for 402 hospitalized children younger than 2 years with LRTI, we prospectively examined virus genomes in nasopharyngeal swabs for HBoV, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenzavirus, and adenovirus. The HBoV genomes were identified in 34 patients (8.5%). Clinical and laboratory data of HBoV-positive and other virus/bacteria-negative patients (n = 18) were analyzed and compared with data of RSV-single positive patients (n = 99). The seasonal distribution of HBoV exhibits a concentration of cases during March-September, with most RSV cases occurring during winter in Japan. The minimum age of HBoV-positive patients was 5 months, although 44 patients (44%) with RSV were younger than 6 months. The main clinical features were respiratory distress and hypoxia. Hypoxia advances within 3 days after onset. The mean oxygen saturation on arrival was 92.8%, which was significantly lower than that in patients with RSV (p < 0.001). White blood cell counts were similar among groups. However, the percentage of neutrophils in white blood cells were significantly higher in HBoV-positive patients (62 vs. 45%, p < 0.001). Their prognoses were good. Their hospital stays were 6.6 days. CONCLUSIONS: HBoV-single positive patients show several clinical characteristics, such as seasonality, age, hypoxia, and neutrophilia, which differ from those with RSV infection.

Quantification of mouse pulmonary cancer models by microcomputed tomography imaging.

The advances in preclinical cancer models, including orthotopic implantation models or genetically engineered mouse models of cancer, enable pursuing the molecular mechanism of cancer disease that might mimic genetic and biological processes in humans. Lung cancer is the major cause of cancer deaths; therefore, the treatment and prevention of lung cancer are expected to be improved by a better understanding of the complex mechanism of disease. In this study, we have examined the quantification of two distinct mouse lung cancer models by utilizing imaging modalities for monitoring tumor progression and drug efficacy evaluation. The utility of microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) for real-time/non-invasive monitoring of lung cancer progression has been confirmed by combining bioluminescent imaging and histopathological analyses. Further, we have developed a more clinically relevant lung cancer model by utilizing K-ras(LSL-G12D)/p53(LSL-R270H) mutant mice. Using micro-CT imaging, we monitored the development and progression of solitary lung tumor in K-ras(LSL-G12D)/p53(LSL-R270H) mutant mouse, and further demonstrated tumor growth inhibition by anticancer drug treatment. These results clearly indicate that imaging-guided evaluation of more clinically relevant tumor models would improve the process of new drug discovery and increase the probability of success in subsequent clinical studies.