CCD Photometry of a Newly Confirmed SU UMa-Type Dwarf Nova, NSV 4838

We present time-resolved CCD photometry of a dwarf nova NSV 4838 (UMa 8, SDSS J102320.27+440509.8) during the 2005 June and 2007 February outburst. Both light curves showed superhumps with a mean period of 0.0699(1) days for the 2005 outburst and 0.069824(83) days for the 2007 outburst, respectively. Using its known orbital period of 0.0678 days, we estimated the mass ratio of the system to be $q$=0.13 based on an empirical relation. Although the majority of SU UMa-type dwarf novae having similar superhump periods show negative period derivatives, we found that the superhump period increased at $\dot{P}$ / $P_{\rm sh}$=+7(+3, -4)$\times10^{-5}$ during the 2007 superoutburst. We also investigated long-term light curves of NSV 4838, from which we derived 340 days as a supercycle of this system.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for PAS

Quantum Molecular Dynamics Approach to the Nuclear Matter Below the Saturation Density

Quantum molecular dynamics is applied to study the ground state properties of nuclear matter at subsaturation densities. Clustering effects are observed as to soften the equation of state at these densities. The structure of nuclear matter at subsaturation density shows some exotic shapes with variation of the density.Comment: 21 pages of Latex (revtex), 9 Postscript figure

Human Papillomavirus Influences Histologic Features of Bowen’s Disease

Persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV) is suggested to be a risk factor for non- melanomal skin cancer, including Bowen’s disease, however the epidemiologic evidences are not sufficient at present. To clarify the role of HPV infection in the morphogenesis of Bowen’s disease, we examined whether there are differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative cases with respect to characteristic histologic features of the disease, including hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, and cell vacuolation. In 40 histopathologically diagnosed cases of Bowen’s disease, the presence of HPV in tumor cells was examined by in situ hybridization. HPV DNA was detected in four (10%) of these cases, and papillomatosis was recognized in 18 (45%). While papillomatosis was severe in one, moderate in five and slight in nine of the 36 HPV-negative cases, papillomatosis was severe in two and moderate in one of the four HPV-positive cases. With respect to the degree of papillomatosis, there was a statistically significant difference between HPV-positive cases and HPV-negative cases (p=0.036). However, there was no statistically significant relation between HPV infection and the severity of hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, acanthosis, and cell vacuolation. These data indicate that severity of papillomatosis in Bowen’s lesions is statistically related to the presence of HPV infection, and the results suggest that HPV infection may be associated with morphogenesis in Bowen’s diseasedepartmental bulletin pape

In vivo dopamine-D2 and serotonin-5-HT2 receptor binding study of risperidone and haloperidol

金沢大学疾患モデル総合研究センターAn in vivo receptor binding technique was applied to evaluate the affinities of risperidone and haloperidol for dopamine-D2 receptors (D2) and serotonin-5-HT2 receptors (5-HT2) in rat brain with [3H]YM-09151-2 and [3H]ketanserin as selective ligands. Radioactivities were obtained in the striatum, frontal cortex, and cerebellum of the rats treated with the ligands. Time course study of receptor occupancy at 25 to 250 min after single doses of the drugs (1 mg/kg, IP) showed higher 5-HT2 occupancy in the frontal cortex and lower D2 occupancy in the striatum by risperidone than by haloperidol. Dose-response analysis of receptor occupancy revealed risperidone demonstrated higher binding affinity for 5-HT2 than for D2, while the reverse was observed with haloperidol. It appeared that risperidone (1 mg/kg, IP), but not haloperidol (1 mg/kg, IP), demonstrated regional selectivity in D2 occupancy favouring frontal cortex more than the striatum. That risperidone displayed a higher ratio of 5-HT2 to D2 in occupancy than haloperidol is in agreement with the previous findings obtained in vitro. © 1994

Time course of dopamine1,2 and serotonin2 receptor binding of antipsychotics in vivo

金沢大学疾患モデル総合研究センターAn in vivo receptor binding technique was applied to evaluate the affinities of clozapine (20 mg/kg), RMI-81582 (20 mg/kg), and haloperidol (1 mg/kg) for dopamine D1, D2 and serotonin 5-HT2 receptors in rat brain with [3H]-SCH23390, [3H]-YM-09151-2, and [3H]-ketanserin as selective ligands. The time course study of receptor occupancy at 25 to 250 min after intraperitoneal administration of the drugs showed higher 5-HT2 and lower D2 receptor occupancies of clozapine and RMI-81582 than those of haloperidol both in the striatum and frontal cortex. The 5-HT2/D2 ratios of receptor occupancy for clozapine and RMI-81582 were about 6 to 8 times higher than that for haloperidol. Stable occupancies of D1 receptors were observed only with RMI-81582 and clozapine, the former demonstrating the higher occupancy. These findings are in agreement with the previous findings obtained under in vitro conditions and may account for some part of the properties of atypical antipsychotic drugs. © 1994

Negatively Skewed Locomotor Activity Is Related to Autistic Traits and Behavioral Problems in Typically Developing Children and Those With Autism Spectrum Disorders

An important objective for researchers and clinicians is to gain a better understanding of the factors that underlie autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is possible that investigating objective and quantitative behavioral phenotypes and their relationship to clinical characteristics, such as autistic traits and other emotional/behavioral problems, might facilitate this process. Given this, in the current study we examined the link between locomotor dynamics and clinical characteristics, including autistic traits and emotional/behavioral problems, in children with ASD (n = 14) and typically developing (TD) children (n = 13). A watch-type actigraph was used to continuously measure locomotor activity which was assessed in terms of mean activity levels and the skewness of activity. Parents assessed quantitative autistic traits using the Japanese version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and emotional and behavioral problems using the Japanese version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results showed that among all children, all-day activity was more negatively skewed, suggesting sporadic large all-day “troughs” in activity and was significantly correlated with the SRS social awareness subscale score (ρ = −0.446, p = 0.038). In addition, the more negatively skewed daytime locomotor activity was associated with the SDQ Hyperactivity Inattention subscale score (ρ = −0.493, p = 0.020). The results of this study indicate that investigating locomotor dynamics may provide one way to increase understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the clinical characteristics of ASD

Echinocandin Resistance in Candida auris Occurs in the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract Due to FKS1 Mutations

Candida auris is resistant to multiple antifungal agents. This study investigated its antifungal susceptibility and explored FKS1 mutations across the isolates from mice enterically colonized with wild-type C. auris and treated with echinocandin. Resistant C. auris with FKS1 mutations, including S639F, S639Y, D642Y, R1354H, or R1354Y, were isolated and found to be micafungin- and caspofungin-resistant in vivo; however, the MICs of isolates with mutation in R1354 remained below the micafungin breakpoint in vitro

A multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with mild COVID-19

Nelfinavir, an orally administered inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease, inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included unvaccinated asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 days before enrollment. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral nelfinavir (750 mg; thrice daily for 14 days) combined with standard-of-care or standard-of-care alone. The primary endpoint was the time to viral clearance, confirmed using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR by assessors blinded to the assigned treatment. A total of 123 patients (63 in the nelfinavir group and 60 in the control group) were included. The median time to viral clearance was 8.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.0 to 12.0) days in the nelfinavir group and 8.0 (95% CI, 7.0 to 10.0) days in the control group, with no significant difference between the treatment groups (hazard ratio, 0.815; 95% CI, 0.563 to 1.182; P = 0.1870). Adverse events were reported in 47 (74.6%) and 20 (33.3%) patients in the nelfinavir and control groups, respectively. The most common adverse event in the nelfinavir group was diarrhea (49.2%). Nelfinavir did not reduce the time to viral clearance in this setting. Our findings indicate that nelfinavir should not be recommended in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The study is registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT2071200023). IMPORTANCE The anti-HIV drug nelfinavir suppresses the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro. However, its efficacy in patients with COVID-19 has not been studied. We conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orally administered nelfinavir in patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19. Compared to standard-of-care alone, nelfinavir (750 mg, thrice daily) did not reduce the time to viral clearance, viral load, or the time to resolution of symptoms. More patients had adverse events in the nelfinavir group than in the control group (74.6% [47/63 patients] versus 33.3% [20/60 patients]). Our clinical study provides evidence that nelfinavir, despite its antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, should not be recommended for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 having no or mild symptoms