The solute retention mechanism of reversed-phase liquid chromatography is examined by using newly synthesized hydrophilic porous copolymer beads as a stationary phase. It is shown that when water is used as an eluent, the retention time for solutes such as alcohols, ketones and polyethylene glycols increases with temperature. Adsorption behaviour of polyethylene glycol onto the copolymer beads shows that the adsorption also increases with temperature. These observations are explained on the basis of the hypothesis that hydrophobic interaction plays a vital role in solute retention.

1-Propanol↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Approaches to the development of new poliovirus vaccines based on molecular genetics.

Complete nucleotide sequences of virion RNAs from immunologically distinct vaccine strains of poliovirus (i.e., Sabin strains 1, 2, and 3) were determined by use of molecular cloning and rapid sequence analysis techniques. When the nucleotide sequences were compared, extensive sequence homology was observed among the virion RNAs in the 5' and 3' terminal regions. This result strongly suggested that the serotypes of poliovirus were derived from a putative prototype poliovirus and that the homologous sequences conserved through a long evolutionary process may have essential roles for the replication and the viral functions of the virus. Many different amino acids, predicted from the nucleotide sequences, were located in polypeptides P1-1a, especially in P1-VP1, which is located on the surface of the virion and carries viral antigens. Locations of different amino acids, together with the calculated hydrophilicity values in P1-VP1, revealed possible loci for type-specific antigenic determinants. These data on functionally important conserved sequences and on possible locations of antigenic determinants will be useful in the construction of new polio vaccine strains.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with auto-immune hepatitis type 1.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies were measured in 28 patients with auto-immune hepatitis type 1 using six different assay kits, three for C100-3 antibody and three for second generation HCV antibody, and two confirmatory tests to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in auto-immune hepatitis. These patients were confirmed to have human leucocyte antigen DR 4 or 2 which is susceptible to auto-immune hepatitis in Japanese. Of the 28 patients, four (14.3%) were positive for HCV antibody in all assays and reacted positively in at least one of the two confirmatory tests, indicating a true positive finding. Eight were positive for HCV antibody only by the Ortho ELISA kit and were negative in both confirmatory tests. The cut-off level for these results was low and became negative soon after the patients received corticosteroid treatment. Thus, these eight patients are presumed to be false-positive reactors. Hepatitis C virus RNA was detected in the serum of two of the four patients with HCV antibody and in none of 24 patients without HCV antibody. No significant difference was observed between the patients with and without HCV antibody in terms of clinical background, liver function tests and auto-antibodies. Our results showed that the prevalence of a past or present HCV infection in patients with auto-immune hepatitis in Japan is low; thus, auto-immune hepatitis is thought to be distinct from hepatitis type C. However, it is also suggested that HCV infection can potentially trigger auto-immune hepatitis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiology of genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Japanese patients with type C chronic liver diseases: a multi-institution analysis.

Sixteen medical institutions in Japan collaborated in this study of the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. A total of 4176 patients with type C chronic liver disease, from the four main islands of Japan, were evaluated. Of those evaluated, 2794 had chronic hepatitis, 727 had liver cirrhosis and 655 had hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV genotype of the patients was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on serological genotype 1- and 2-specific recombinant peptides (SG-1 and SG-2, respectively) of the NS4 region. The prevalence of SG-1 and SG-2 HCV was similar in the four main islands of Japan. SG-1 HCV predominated in each disease category (69-76%). The percentage of patients with SG-1 HCV increased by 7%, while that of patients with SG-2 HCV decreased by 7%, as liver disease progressed in severity from chronic hepatitis to carcinoma (P < 0.001). Patients with either SG-1 or SG-2 had a similar mean age and history of blood transfusion. In conclusion, SG-1 HCV was found to predominate in Japan, and the HCV genotype was found to be related to the stage of hepatitis C disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The significance of hepatitis G virus infection in patients with non-A to C hepatic diseases.

The clinical significance of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection was studied in 35 patients with various liver diseases of unknown etiology. Diseases included 5 cases of acute hepatitis, 23 cases of chronic liver diseases, and 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. None of the patients showed evidence of hepatitis A, B, or C virus infection. HGV RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) within 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), nonstructure (NS) 3 region, and NS5 region. RT-PCR within 5'UTR and NS5 detected HGV RNA in 9 of 35 patients, while that within NS3 detected HGV RNA in only 2 patients. This result suggests that RT-PCR within 5'UTR and NS5 as a primer is more sensitive than NS3 in Japanese patients. HGV RNA was detected in 3 of 5 cases of acute hepatitis, 3 of 23 cases of chronic liver diseases, and 1 of 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma. The HGV positive rate was high in patients with acute hepatitis suggesting that HGV might cause acute liver injury. In patients with chronic liver injury, the elevation of serum ALT levels was mild for about 2 years, but persistent HGV infection existed. The studied patients had no causative agent except for HGV. Therefore, HGV was thought to be an important etiological agent for liver injury.

Adult↗