were analyzed using 4-color flow cytometry (FCM). We objectively determined reference ranges of 13 parameters related to CD34 ؉ cells with data from controls. InLGw/oRS patients, various abnormalities of CD34 ؉ cells-eg, decrease in CD34 ؉ B-cell precursors, aberrant expression or overexpression of various antigens on CD34 ؉ myeloblasts-were observed. We constructed a reproducible, flow cytometric scoring system for LGw/oRS diagnosis. High scores were observed in 16 of 27LGw/oRS patients, regardless of the presence or absence of chromosomal aberrations, but not in any of the 90 controls. Among LGw/oRS patients with chromosomal aberrations, patients with trisomy 8 or del20(q) had low FCM scores (P ‫؍‬ .002). As a result, most LGw/oRS patients were identified based on high FCM score, chromosomal aberration, or both.

A novel, highly cardioselective ultra short-acting beta-blocker, ONO-1101, has been developed for application in the emergency treatment of tachycardia and better control of heart rate in surgery. This agent is approximately nine times more potent in beta-blocking activity in vivo and eight times more cardioselective in vitro than esmolol. This beta-blocking drug has a short duration of activity, enabling rapid recovery after cessation of administration if side effects occur. It can be used safely in patients suffering from acute heart disease and represents a major therapeutic advance in the treatment of heart disease.

Human enteroviruses (EVs) are the major cause of a variety of acute and chronic illnesses. Virus isolation and neutralization tests are usually done to identify the causative virus, but these tests are labor intensive, time consuming, and sometimes require suckling mice from which certain viruses have been isolated. This study investigated a rapid and reliable method based on reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree constructed by neighbor-joining on the basis of the VP4 sequence from 66 prototypes grouped all human EVs into 5 distinct clusters. These clusters correspond closely to the 5 newly designated species-human EV A-D and poliovirus. The VP4 sequences of 89 isolates from 26 serotypes obtained over >30 years plus those of 66 prototype strains were analyzed. Each isolate formed a monophyletic cluster along with its respective prototype strain, allowing for serotype identification (with the exception of E-8). VP4-based classification appears to be an effective tool for the molecular epidemiology study of EVs.

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Astronauts experience osteoporosis‐like loss of bone mass because of microgravity conditions during space flight. To prevent bone loss, they need a riskless and antiresorptive drug. Melatonin is reported to suppress osteoclast function. However, no studies have examined the effects of melatonin on bone metabolism under microgravity conditions. We used goldfish scales as a bone model of coexisting osteoclasts and osteoblasts and demonstrated that mRNA expression level of acetylserotonin O‐methyltransferase, an enzyme essential for melatonin synthesis, decreased significantly under microgravity. During space flight, microgravity stimulated osteoclastic activity and significantly increased gene expression for osteoclast differentiation and activation. Melatonin treatment significantly stimulated Calcitonin (an osteoclast‐inhibiting hormone) mRNA expression and decreased the mRNA expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (a promoter of osteoclastogenesis), which coincided with suppressed gene expression levels for osteoclast functions. This is the first study to report the inhibitory effect of melatonin on osteoclastic activation by microgravity. We also observed a novel action pathway of melatonin on osteoclasts via an increase in CALCITONIN secretion. Melatonin could be the source of a potential novel drug to prevent bone loss during space flight.