Ribosome modulation factor (RMF) is a protein specifically associated with 100S ribosome dimers which start to accumulate in Escherichia coli cells upon growth transition from exponential to stationary phase. The structural gene, rmf, encoding the 55 amino acid residues RMF protein has been cloned from the 21.8 min region of the E. coli genome and sequenced. While rmf was silent in rapidly growing exponential phase cells, a high level of transcription took place concomitantly with the growth transition to stationary phase. Under slow growth conditions, rmf was expressed even in exponential phase and there was an inverse relationship between the expression of rmf and the cell growth rate. Thus, the expression profile of rmf is contrary to those of genes for ribosomal components and ribosome‐associated proteins constituting the translational apparatus. The katF gene product, a stationary phase‐specific sigma factor, was not required for the expression of rmf. Disruption of rmf resulted in loss of ribosome dimers and reduction of cell viability during stationary phase.

Aim : We evaluated the efficacy of an α 1a/d blocker, naftopidil, on storage symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using frequency/volume charts (FVC). Methods : A total of 81 patients with BPH (52-91 years, mean age 69.0 years) were studied. The inclusion criteria were: (i) one or more episode(s) of urinary urgency/day; (ii) a score of eight or more points on the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS); and (iii) three or more points in any of the scores for three items (frequency, nocturia, and urgency) of the I-PSS. The patients received 50-75 mg/day of naftopidil for 6 weeks. All the patients were examined for 2-day FVC before and after the administration of naftopidil. I-PSS, quality of life index, and uroflowmetry were also evaluated. Results : Total I-PSS decreased from 19.1 to 10.5 points ( P < 0.0001), with significant improvement of both storage and voiding symptom scores ( P < 0.0001, both). The score for urgency decreased from 3.1 to 1.4 ( P < 0.0001). Daytime and night-time frequency decreased from 9.3 to 8.0 ( P < 0.0001) and from 2.7 to 2.0 ( P = 0.0009), respectively. Mean volume/void increased from 174.0 to 188.6 mL ( P = 0.0453). Nocturia decreased from 3.2 to 2.3 ( P < 0.0001) in 40 patients who suffered from nocturia two times or more. Notably, significant improvement of nocturia was observed in the patients both with and without nocturnal polyuria ( P = 0.0006 and 0.0135, respectively). Conclusion : The α 1a/d blocker naftopidil improves not only voiding symptoms but also storage symptoms, and is effective for nocturia in patients with BPH regardless of the existence of nocturnal polyuria.

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Abstract:The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of the selective a1D-adrenoceptor antagonist naftopidil and the selective a1A-adrenoceptor antagonist silodosin (as an example) in the management of ureteral stones in Japanese male patients. A total of 74 patients with symptomatic Յ10 mm ureteral stones were enrolled in a prospective study and randomized into two groups: Group 1 received 50 mg naftopidil daily, whereas Group 2 received 8 mg silodosin daily. Patients were followed-up for up to 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was stone expulsion rate and secondary endpoints were stone expulsion time, the rate of interventions, such as transurethral ureterolithotripsy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, or ureteral stenting, and side effects. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, stone size, and location. The stone expulsion rate was 61% and 84% in the naftopidil and silodosin groups, respectively (P = 0.038). No significant differences were noted in stone expulsion time or the rate of interventions between the two groups. The findings suggest that a1A-adrenoceptor blockade was clinically superior for stone expulsion our study population.

BackgroundThis study compared the detection rates for clinically significant prostate cancer (CSPC) between magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography (MRI/US)-fusion-targeted biopsy (TB), systematic biopsy (SB) and combination of TB and SB.MethodsThis prospective study evaluated simultaneous TB and SB for consecutive patients with suspicious lesions that were detected using pre-biopsy multiparametric MRI. A commercially available real-time virtual sonography system was used to perform the MRI/US-fusion TB with the transperineal technique. The prostate imaging reporting and data system version 2 (PI-RADS v2) was assigned to categorize the suspicious lesions.ResultsA total of 177 patients were included in this study. The detection rate for CSPC was higher using SB, compared to TB (57.1% vs 48.0%, p = 0.0886). The detection rate for CSPC was higher using the combination of TB and SB, compared to only SB (63.3% vs 57.1%, p = 0.2324). Multivariate analysis revealed that PIRADS v2 category 4 and an age of <65 years were independent predictors for TB upgrading (vs. the SB result).ConclusionsPI-RADS v2 category 4 and an age of <65 years were predictive factors of upgrading the Gleason score by MRI/US-fusion TB. Thus, MRI/US-fusion TB may be appropriate for patients with those characteristics.Trial registrationThis study was retrospectively registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMINID000025911) in Jan 30, 2017.