Sera from normal subjects were examined for reactivity to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) by the anticomplement immunofluorescence test. Of a total of 179 serum specimens from donors aged from under 10 to 59 years, 141 specimens showed positive reactivity against HHV-6. The positive rate was 70 to 83% for all age groups, and there were no substantial differences in the positive rates. Sera from younger children aged from 0 to 21 months were then examined in detail. The antibody-positive rate of children aged from 0 to 5 months decreased from 52 to 5%, but it gradually increased by 12 months. Almost all children had the antibody against this virus after 13 months of age.

Aims-To investigate the effects of transforming growth factor P1 (TGF-,1) on regeneration and induction of apoptosis of liver cell and bile duct in various liver diseases. Methods-Formalin fixed paraffin wax sections of 18 liver tissue samples were obtained by needle biopsy, surgery, or necropsy; these included six liver cirrhosis, three obstructive jaundice; five fulminant hepatitis, one subacute hepatitis, and three normal liver. Expression of TGF-p1, apoptosis related Ley antigen, Fas antigen, a receptor for tumour necrosis factor, and biotin nick end labelling with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP (TUNEL) for locating DNA fragmentation, was investigated histochemically.

Aim: This study was designed to clarify differences in serum phospholipid fatty acid compositions and estimated desaturase activities between Japanese men with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: From among 227 males, 40 to 59 years of age, excluding those receiving treatment for lipid disorders, 165 subjects (including 27 with MetS) were selected for this study. Serum phospholipid fatty acid compositions were determined, and desaturase activities were estimated. Results: The C15:0 and C17:0 fatty acids associated with hepatic function were lower, while the C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-3 fatty acids were higher, in subjects with than without MetS (p 0.05). The estimated desaturase activity for D5D(n-6) was lower in subjects with than without MetS (p 0.01). Body fat percentage was an independent negative predictor of C17:0, and a positive predictor of log C20:3n-6 and log C20:4n-3 (p 0.01). HDL-C was an independent negative predictor of log C15:0 and of C17:0 (p 0.01). Conclusion: Decreases in minor saturated fatty acids, accumulation of C20:3n-6 and C20:4n-3 and low estimated D5D activitiy were confirmed to be associated with MetS.

SummaryNatural ( -)-perhydrohistrionicotoxin (6a), its unnatural (t )-antipode 6b, (-)-2-depentylperhydrohistrionicotoxin (7a) and its (+ )-antipode 7b have been prepared and characterized. Kishi's lactam 8 reacted with optically active isocyanates, and the mixture of diastereomeric carbamates so obtained was separated and hydrolyzed yielding the optical antipodes of Kishi's lactam in optically pure form. Reduction with LiAlH4 yielded the optically active 2-depentyl analogs, while another sequence already developed in the racemic series afforded the natural toxin and its (+ )-antipode. Some electrophysiological properties of these compounds are presented.Natural histrionicotoxin (1, (-)-HTX) was isolated from extracts of skins of the Columbian poison frog Dendrobates histrionicus by Witkop et al. [l]. HTX represents a spiropiperidine, substituted at C ( 2 ) and C (7) with side-chains containing cis-ene-yne unsaturation (Scheme 1).The absolute configuration of 1 shown in Scheme 1, was deduced from data obtained by a single crystal X-ray analysis of isodihydrohistrionicotoxin hydro- ')