A nation-wide sero-epidemiologic survey of adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV), detected es anti-ATLA (ATLV-associated antigen), was made in Japan. Sera from adult donors in 15 different locations were screened for anti-ATLA. High incidences (6 to 37%) of antibody-positive donors were found in seven regions, one in northern Japan, and the others in southwestern regions. These areas are ATLV-endemic areas corresponding to ATL-endemic areas. Examination of sera from healthy donors aged 6 to 80 years in ATL-endemic areas showed an age-dependent increase of seropositive donors with a maximum of about 30% at 40 years of age. Anti-ATLA was found in all but two of 142 patients with ATL. Anti-ATLA-positive patients with ATL were mainly found in ATLV-endemic areas, and only a few in ATL-nonendemic areas. Six patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in ATLV-nonendemic areas gave a negative reaction for anti-ATLA. The geometric mean titer of anti-ATLA of patients with ATL was higher than that of healthy donors.

Background. Efavirenz (EFV) is metabolized primarily by cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6), and high plasma concentrations of the drug are associated with a GrT polymorphism at position 516 (516GrT) of CYP2B6 and frequent central nervous system (CNS)-related side effects. Here, we tested the feasibility of genotype-based dose reduction of EFV.Methods. CYP2B6 genotypes were determined in 456 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients who were receiving EFV treatment or were scheduled to receive EFV-containing treatment. EFV dose was reduced in CYP2B6 516GrT carriers who had high plasma EFV concentrations while receiving the standard dosage (600 mg). EFV-naive homozygous CYP2B6 516GrT carriers were treated with low-dose EFV. In both groups, the dose was further reduced when plasma EFV concentration remained high.

The ComX pheromone is an extracellular signaling molecule that stimulates natural competence in response to crowding in the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis. The pheromone is formed by isoprenylation of an inactive precursor peptide, but its precise structure is not known. Here we report the structure of the ComX pheromone, showing that addition of a geranyl group to a tryptophan residue results in the formation of an unusual ring structure.

Bacillus subtilis and related bacilli produce a posttranslationally modified oligopeptide, the ComX pheromone, that stimulates natural genetic competence controlled by quorum sensing. The ComX(RO-C-2) pheromone from strain RO-C-2 must be modified with a farnesyl group on the Trp residue, but the precise structure is not known. Here we report the precise nature of posttranslational farnesylation of ComX(RO-C-2) pheromone on the Trp residue, resulting in the formation of a tricyclic structure. The ComX(168) pheromone, produced by the standard laboratory strain used in the study of B. subtilis, is also posttranslationally farnesylated according to phylogenetic resemblance.

Intrathecal administration of MgSO(4) is reported to cause paralysis. However, the characteristic sensory disturbances have not been thoroughly investigated. We examined the effect of intrathecally administered MgSO(4) on the nociceptive threshold, using three different nociceptive measures, formalin test, hot plate test and paw pressure test in rats. The dose of MgSO(4) was 30, 100 or 300 microg. In acute nociceptive tests, intrathecal MgSO(4) did not cause any significant changes in the pain threshold. However, phase 2 of the formalin test was suppressed dose-dependently. It is known that spinal NMDA receptors are involved in the changes seen during the second (tonic) phase of the formalin test and in vitro studies showed that Mg(2+) can cause voltage-dependent blockade of NMDA receptor channel in the neurons of spinal dorsal horn. Thus, the suppressive effect of intrathecally administered MgSO(4) on the tonic inflammation-evoked behavior is mediated by the spinal NMDA receptors. Our results suggest that intrathecal administration of MgSO(4) may be therapeutically beneficial for patients with tonic pain involving the spinal NMDA receptors.