A sulfated polysaccharide named naviculan was isolated from a diatom, Navicula directa (W. SMITH) RALFS, collected in deep sea water from Toyama Bay. The polysaccharide consisted of fucose, xylose, galactose, mannose, rhamnose and sulfate with an apparent molecular weight of 220000. It showed antiviral activities against herpes simplex viruses type 1 and 2, and influenza A virus with selectivity indices (CC 50 /IC 50 ) of 270, 510 and 32, respectively. Naviculan also showed an inhibitory effect on cell-cell fusion between CD4-expressing and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp160-expressing cells that was used as a model system of infection with HIV.

SummaryCellular architectures require regulated mechanisms to correctly localize the appropriate plasma membrane lipids and proteins. Microvilli are dynamic filamentous-actin-based protrusions of the plasma membrane that are found in the apical membrane of epithelial cells. However, it remains poorly understood how their formation is regulated. In the present study, we found that sphingomyelin clustering underlies the formation of microvilli. Clustering of sphingomyelin is required for the co-clustering of the sialomucin membrane protein podocalyxin-1 at microvilli. Podocalyxin-1 recruits ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM)-binding phosphoprotein-50 (EBP50; also known as NHERF1), which recruits ERM proteins and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase b (PIP5Kb). Thus, clustering of PIP5Kb leads to local accumulation of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P 2 ], which enhances the accumulation of ERM family proteins and induces the formation of microvilli. The present study revealed novel interactions between sphingomyelin and the cytoskeletal proteins from which microvilli are formed, and it clarified the physiological importance of the chemical properties of sphingomyelin that facilitate cluster formation.

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When the tumor gradually became larger, we excised it for a precise diagnosis, which showed that it was JXG.The present case is rare because (1) only six cases of JXG involving the corneoscleral limbus have been previously reported 5 as occurring in patients at less than 5 years of age; 5 and (2) the extensive time course of the lesion was photographed.Of the 18 reported patients with JXG involving the corneoscleral limbus, three patients underwent partial excision. 5 In all three cases, the tumor recurred. In these recurring cases, all tumors were located on the lower side of the limbus. Recurrence may be related to the choice of surgery and the location of the tumor. It has been the main choice of therapy to totally excise the tumor, since complete excision decreases the chance of limbal JXG recurrence. 3,5 In our case, observation 12 months after the surgery has not shown any evidence of tumor recurrence, but we will have to continue to follow this patient.Solitary JXG affecting the corneoscleral limbus is a rare form of limbal lesion. If such a lesion becomes enlarged and extends to the stromal cornea rapidly, total excision is required, and occasionally, lamellar keratoplasty.JXG should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any lesions occurring in the limbus.Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is an uncommon benign skin disorder usually seen in infants and children, occurring a b c Figure 2. a The tumor is composed of a mixture of acute and chronic infl ammatory cells. Lipid-laden vacuoles are present. H&E staining, bar = 200 µm. b High-power fi eld of the tumor. Lipid-laden vacuoles are intermixed with acute and chronic infl ammatory cells. Arrows indicate Touton giant cells. H&E staining, bar = 50 µm. c Immunohistochemical staining for CD68. Positively stained cells are dispersed throughout the tumor. Bar = 50 µm.lymphoproliferative disorders, primary xanthomatous or histiocytic disorders, and malignant neoplasms such as squamous cell carcinoma. 5 Our fi rst impression was that this tumor was a dermoid cyst, because the surface was smooth.

Background:Although considerable efforts have been made to develop diagnostic tools for predicting the outcome of oral food challenges, tests for predicting the outgrowth of food allergies are lacking.Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of the wheal size and skin index (SI) (the ratio of an allergen-induced wheal to a histamine-induced wheal diameter) of the skin-prick test based on the outcome of a controlled oral provocation test for cow's milk. Moreover, we assessed whether wheal size and/or SI were useful for predicting the outgrowth of cow's milk allergy (CMA).Methods:This study included 135 children with suspected CMA. Eighty-one patients were definitely diagnosed by oral provocation tests for cow's milk, and their wheal diameters, SIs, and cow milk's–specific serum immunoglobulin E concentrations were determined.Results:The wheal diameters were significantly larger and the SIs significantly higher in children with positive oral provocation test results than in those with negative test results. We found that 50% of the patients were expected to be able to drink cow's milk by age 5 years. In these patients, the wheal diameters were significantly smaller and the SIs significantly lower at the time of CMA outgrowth than at the time of diagnosis, whereas these values were apt to increase in patients who did not outgrow CMA, with no significant difference.Conclusions:The skin-prick test can be used to diagnose CMA and predict CMA outgrowth. A wheal diameter of 8 mm or/and an SI of 1.0 is informative, not only in diagnosing CMA but also in predicting a natural CMA outgrowth.