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E‐negotiators' credibility was compared to that of face‐to‐face (FTF) negotiators in an integrative bargaining task. Dyads were randomly assigned to negotiate either on the computer or FTF. E‐negotiators perceived their opponents to be less credible and reported less selfcredibility than FTF negotiators. Although lying did not vary significantly from FTF to e‐negotiations, self‐credibility and lying were negatively correlated. E‐negotiators were also more likely to advocate using dishonesty in the future. Consistent with psychological distance theory, skepticism regarding the credibility of e‐negotiators appears warranted. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

:  Quantification of lipophilic toxins in bivalves associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning was investigated by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Using a C8‐silica reversed phase column and a mobile phase of aqueous acetonitrile containing 2 mM ammonium formate and 50 mM formic acid, okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin‐1, 7‐O‐palmitoyldinophysistoxin‐1, pectenotoxin‐1, pectenotoxin‐2, pectenotoxin‐6, pectenotoxin‐2 seco‐acid, yessotoxin, and 45‐hydroxyyessotoxin in bivalves were quantified by LC–MS in the negative mode. When the crude 90% methanol extracts were analyzed by LC–MS, there were no significant effects from bivalve matrices on the quantification of toxins. More than 200 bivalve samples collected from various production areas in Japan were analyzed by LC–MS. Pectenotoxin‐6 and dinophysistoxin‐1 were the dominant toxins in scallops and mussels, respectively. Yessotoxin and 45‐hydroxyyessotoxin were also detected in both species. Comparison of the quantitative results obtained for these bivalve samples between LC–MS and mouse bioassay indicates that LC–MS is suitable for routine monitoring of lipophilic toxins in Japanese bivalves.

Germline mutations of the EVER1/TMC6 gene are associated with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV), which is characterized by an abnormal susceptibility to human papillomaviruses that were considered to be innocuous for the general population. In this study, we have employed polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analysis to characterize the EVER1 gene in a 65-year-old Japanese EV patient. Direct sequence analyses resulted in the identification of two novel mutations. One nonsense mutation consisting of a (C>A) transversion at nucleotide 744 in exon 8 in one EVER1 allele resulted in the introduction of a premature termination codon (Y248X). Another mutation was identified in the splice acceptor site of intron 8 (892-2, IVS8-2, A>T) in another allele. This is the second report of EVER1/TMC6 mutations in EV.

Many mutations of the NF1 gene have been reported in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1); however, there have been no documented NF1 gene mutations in Japanese NF1 patients. In the present study, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing analysis to characterize the NF1 gene in a 53-year-old Japanese patient with NF1 who suffered from neurofibroma, pheochromocytoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Direct sequence analyses revealed a single base substitution in the splicing donor site of intron 6 (IVS6 888+1, G --> A) in one NF1 allele, resulting in an altered splice site (ss) in the mutated allele. Splicing at the cryptic 5' ss in the mutated allele generated mRNA with an insertion of 60 nucleotides. In addition, we screened for mutations in exons 9, 11, 13, and 17 of the c-kit gene in GIST and the succinate dehydrogenase subunit D (SDHD) gene in the pheochromocytoma, but we did not detect any somatic mutations. We report here the first case of an NF1 patient with four neoplasms: neurofibroma, pheochromocytoma, astrocytoma and GIST. Our results suggest that the molecular pathogenesis of GISTs in NF1 patients is different from that in non-NF1 patients.

Yessotoxin (YTX) is a shellfish toxin and its contamination in bivalves has seriously damaged shellfish industries. The biogenetic origin of YTX was identified as the dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum (Claparede et Lachmann) Butschli collected in New Zealand and Yamada Bay, Iwate in Japan. Scallops cultured in Mutsu Bay, Japan, were frequently contaminated with YTX, however, occurrence of P. reticulatum in this bay and YTX production by the local strains have not been investigated. Eight strains of P. reticulatum, isolated from the bay, were cultured in the laboratory, and analyzed by fluorometric high-pressure liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry methods for YTX production and composition. All strains tested were confirmed to produce YTX, and none of them produced known YTX analogs. Toxin amount and composition differed from strain to strain. This result is also confirmation of one of the biogenetic origins of YTX in Mutsu Bay.

ITK, predominantly expressed on T cells and myeloid cells, is a member of the Tec nonreceptor tyrosine kinase family. Both human ITK and mouse Itk genomic clones were isolated to assign the chromosome location. The human ITK gene was mapped to chromosome band 5q34 and the mouse gene to chromosome 15 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

There have been many reports about the severity of hepatic necrosis caused by fulminant hepatitis; however, the relation between proliferated bile ductules and osteopontin (OPN) expression in inflamed areas in each of the clinical forms of fulminant hepatitis has not been described. To analyze the mechanism in the onset of fulminant hepatitis, we classified not only 16 autopsy cases of fulminant hepatitis into two clinical forms--acute and subacute--but also 3 autopsy cases of late-onset hepatic failure (LOHF) associated with fulminant hepatitis, and examined liver specimens by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry and also serum transaminase levels. Histopathologic study revealed that some of the proliferated bile ductules were associated directly with deteriorating hepatocytes and that bile plugs were present in the proliferated bile ductules. The value of the proliferative cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-L I) for proliferated bile ductules was very high during the acute form of fulminant hepatitis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that OPN expression was higher in the proliferated bile ductules of acute-form fulminant hepatitis than in cirrhotic and normal liver bile ducts. Transaminase levels in acute-form fulminant hepatitis were significantly elevated in comparison with levels in the other forms of the disease. Comparison of acute form fulminant hepatitis with the subacute form and LOHF showed OPN expression in proliferated bile ductules and serum aspartate aminotransferase (ALT)max to be decreased in the subacute form of fulminant hepatitis. OPN expression is an important marker of the degree of liver inflammation, and its regulation mechanism is very important to understanding the pathophysiology of fulminant hepatitis.