Expression and distribution of cortical type aromatase mRNA variant in the adult rat brain

Our previous study showed that a relatively high level of the aromatase mRNA existed in the cerebral cortex (CC) of the rat, where the aromatase activity was reported to be little or absent. To elucidate the identity of the aromatase mRNA in the CC of the rat, we investigated the 5'-region of the aromatase mRNA in the rat CC. When the sequence of the 5'-region of the cortical message was analysed by the 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE) with the antisense primer for exon II using the RNA extracted from the CC, no clone could be isolated. However, the upstream sequence from the 5'-end of exon IV of the aromatase clones, isolated from the CC by RACE with the antisense primers for exon V, was different from that on the aromatase mRNA encoding the full translated region. The new sequence of the cortical type message, called the cortical type aromatase mRNA variant, was located on the intron upstream of exon IV in the genomic cDNA. Distribution of the brain aromatase message with exons III-V and the cortical type aromatase mRNA variant were analysed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using total RNAs extracted from the hypothalamus-preoptic area (HPOA), amygdala (AMY) and CC. The PCR products with primers for exons III-V were generated from the HPOA and AMY, but not from the CC. On the other hand, the PCR products with primers for exon IIIv (cortical type aromatase mRNA variant specific)-V were detected in significant amounts in the CC as well as the HPOA and AMY. These results indicate the existence of the aromatase mRNA variant lacking exons I-III in the adult rat brain. This cortical type mRNA variant seemed to be widely distributed in the tissues.

Transient rise in serum cytokines during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

In order to examine the specificity of cytokine production during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, we serially measured serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in twenty patients between 52 and 80 years of age, during surgery and 2 days afterwards. Serum MCP-1, as well as IL-8 and IL-6, increased significantly during the surgery (P < 0.05), while IL-1 beta and TNF did not. MCP-1, IL-8 and IL-6 concentrations were not different in the sera of three patients tested at three different sites, i.e., the hepatic vein, pulmonary artery and radial artery. They increased in parallel in each patient, although the actual timing of the increase relative to the surgical step varied among individuals. In complicated patients, MCP-1, IL-8 and IL-6 showed higher peaks and persisted longer than in patients without complications. The universal and simultaneous appearance of MCP-1, IL-8 and IL-6 could indicate that these three cytokines may be stimulated by a yet undiscovered stimulus (or stimuli) which occurs systemically despite the independent pathways of production.

Studies on dynamic behavior of the biosensor based on immobilized glucoamylase-glucose oxidase membrane

Frequency response of the glucose/maltose biosensors based on immobilized glucoamylase and glucose oxidase membranes of different thickness were investigated with the sinusoidal signal generator of substrate concentration. The results were modeled by the serial combination of the dead time and the first order response blocks, and time constants and dead times were estimated. The estimated value of time constant ranged from 4.5 to 13.2 s and that of the dead time from 3.2 to 7.7 s with the tendency that both time constant and dead time increase as membrane thickness increases and number of enzymatic reaction steps increases.

[Importance of oral and dental care in home medical care]

Recently, the importance of home medical care has been stressed. But patients, those assisting them and home care nurses do not attach much importance to oral and dental care in home medical care. When we visit patients who have asked for dental treatment through home care nurses, they appeared to have very poor oral hygiene; cavities were uncared for, dental plaque and dental calculus built up, and they used ill-fitting dentures. Through home dental care visits, it was not just the dental treatment but advice on dental hygiene management and diet that helped patients regain their appetite and bring back a smile to their face, while giving a rhythm to their life. This created a certain human feeling and brought about better patient quality of life (QOL), while at the same time helping to improve the QOL of the family as well.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae IRE2/HAC1 is involved in IRE1-mediated KAR2 expression

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae IRE1 gene, encoding a putative receptor-type protein kinase, is known to be required for inositol prototrophy and for the induction of a chaperon molecule, BiP, encoded by KAR2, under stress conditions such as tunicamycin addition. We have characterized a yeast gene, IRE2, which was isolated as a suppressor gene that complements the inositol auxotrophic phenotype of the ire1 mutation. Sequencing analysis revealed that IRE2 is identical to HAC1, which encodes a transcription factor having a basic-leucine zipper motif. Introduction of IRE2/HAC1 into the ire1 mutant clearly restored the expression of KAR2 upon tunicamycin treatment. ire2/hac1-disrupted yeast cells showed not only the inositol auxotrophic phenotype but also the tunicamycin sensitivity, and failed to induce the expression of KAR2. These results clearly indicate that the IRE2/HAC1 gene product plays a critical role in the induction of KAR2 expression and in the inositol prototrophy mediated by IRE1.

[Surgical treatment of primary mediastinal tumors in children]

Twenty children with primary mediastinal tumor underwent surgical treatment. Ten patients had benign tumor and the other patients were malignant. Seven of ten patients with malignant tumor were neurogenic, and 3 patients were of germ cell tumor. In the clinical manifestation, 11 patients were asymptomatic. All of benign tumors were resected completely, but in a few patients with malignant tumors, the complete resection not possible. However, except for one patient with immature teratoma, all patients with malignant tumor have been surviving following postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two infants with bronchogenic cyst were operated on their respiratory distress syndrome in emergency, and have been salvaged.

The untranslated first exon 'exon 0S' of the rat estrogen receptor (ER) gene

Recently, we have isolated the untranslated first exon 'exon ON' of the rat estrogen receptor (ER) gene from the liver by the use of the 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'-RACE) method. To investigate the existence of other untranslated first exon(s), we further analyzed the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of ER mRNA in the rat liver in this study. Total RNA from the livers of 8-week-old male Wistar rats was subjected to 5'-RACE with the antisense primers located in exon 1 of the rat ER gene. The inserts of four clones (clones 3, 4, 7 and 8) were sequenced. The nucleotide sequences of the clones revealed the existence of a previously unidentified untranslated first exon (we termed it 'exon OS') which was spliced onto exon I of the rat ER mRNA. The distribution of ER mRNA containing 'exon OS' (ER mRNA (OS-1)) in several brain regions and various peripheral tissues of 8-week-old male and female Wistar rats was further analyzed by the use of the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. ER mRNA (OS-1) was found to be widely distributed in the rat brain and peripheral tissues. The distribution of the message was different from that of ER mRNA containing exon 0 (the first reported 5'-UTR form of rat ER mRNA) or of ER mRNA with exon ON which was reported in our recent report. These results indicate that (1) 'exon OS' is a novel untranslated first exon of the rat ER gene, (2) rat ER mRNAs possess at least three forms of 5'-UTRs which are exon 0, exon ON, and exon OS, (3) the tissue specific expression of ER is regulated, at least in part, by the usage of differential promoters in the rat.

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with sarcoma-like mural nodules arising in a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: a case report

Almost all cases with malignant transformation of a mature cystic teratoma of the ovary have been reported to be associated with squamous cell carcinoma. We describe a very rare case of mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with sarcoma-like mural nodules arising in an ovarian teratoma.

Cardiac angiosarcoma

Angiosarcoma is one of the most common cardiac tumors, but early detection of this tumor is often difficult, as exemplified by our patient, a 55-year-old woman whose cardiac tumor was first detected by echocardiography. Surgical removal of the tumor was impossible due to its extensive pericardial invasion. Pathological diagnosis was not complete before autopsy because of the wide occupied necrotized area of the tumor. There is no diagnostic imaging technique available to detect such a necrotized area. An imaging technique more powerful than echocardiography and able to diagnose angiosarcoma earlier is needed.

The novel untranslated first exon "exon 0N" of the rat estrogen receptor gene

The 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of the estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA in the rat liver was analyzed by the use of the 5'-rapid amplification of the cDNA ends (5'-RACE) method. The nucleotide sequence of one of the positive RACE clones (clone 9) revealed that the existence of the novel untranslated first exon (termed "exon N") being spliced onto the exon 1 of the rat ER mRNA. We further analyzed the distribution of the ER mRNA containing the "exon 0N" (ER mRNA (0N-1)) and the ER mRNA containing the previously reported exon 0 (ER mRNA (0-1)) in the rat brain and peripheral tissues. In contrast to the wide distribution of the ER mRNA (0-1), the distribution of the ER mRNA (0N-1) was almost limited in the peripheral tissues. These results indicate that the "exon 0N" is the novel untranslated first exon of the rat ER gene, and the tissue specific expression of the ER is regulated, at least in part, by differential promoter usage in the rat.

[Pulmonary aspergillosis: clinical findings and surgical treatment]

Between 1980 and 1995, 10 patients underwent thoracotomy for pulmonary aspergillosis. In six patients, hemoptysis and bloody sputum were the chief complaints. The other complaints were nonspecific. Six patients had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and two of those patients underwent upper lobectomy. Aspergillosis had developed in the residual space. A fungus ball was observed on the preoperative chest X-ray and CT scan films in seven patients. Lobectomy was done in three patients, segmentectomy in two, and partial pulmonary resection in four. The patients with lesions that had grown in the residual space underwent curettage with muscle plombage. Three patients underwent thoracoplasty. An additional operation was done in two patients because of poor residual lung expansion. No patient had recurrence. We conclude that surgical treatment should be based on symptoms and on pathological findings.

An immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic study of adhesion molecules in synovial pannus formation in rheumatoid arthritis

To investigate the mechanism of synovial pannus formation in rheumatoid arthritis, immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic studies with monoclonal antibodies against the adhesion molecules, CD54 (ICAM-1), CD11a (LFA-1), CDw49a (VLA-1), CDw49b (VLA-2), CDw49c (VLA-3), Cdw49d (VLA-4) and CDw49e (VLA-5), were carried out to determine the pattern of distribution of these molecules at the rheumatoid synovial cartilage junction. Treatment with anti-ICAM-1 resulted in membrane staining of most of the macrophages and fibroblasts infiltrating the synovial tissue and bordering and pannus-cartilage junction, suggesting the possibility that ICAM-1 may function to facilitate the adhesion of synovial type A cells bearing ICAM-1 to type B cells of the pannus. ICAM-1 positive macrophages and fibroblasts were often found to be in contact with lymphoid cells, suggesting also that a cellular immune reaction occurs in the formation of the pannus. In addition, VLA-3, VLA-4 and, particularly, VLA-5 were the predominant beta 1 integrins expressed by rheumatoid synovial pannus. Sine these three integrins all function as fibronectin receptors, it is possible that the fibronectin-rich environment of the rheumatoid cartilage surface effectively traps pannus cells expressing high levels of these molecules. The VLA-5 molecule was found in a pericellular and interterritorial matrix distribution in the present study, strongly suggesting that a receptor-ligand interaction between VLA-5 and cartilage matrix may occur at the early stage of pannus formation. Furthermore, an increase in beta 1 integrin may be necessary for the growth of the pannus and also for the upregulation of the VLA molecules, leading secondarily to increased attachment.

On-line column preconcentration for the determination of cobalt in sea water by flow-injection chemiluminescence detection

A flow-injection method for the determination of dissolved cobalt(II) in sea water has been studied based on a combination of column preconcentration using 8-quinolinol immobilized on silica gel, fluoride containing metal alkoxide glass (8HQ-MAF) and chemiluminescence detection with a gallic acid-hydrogen peroxide system. Co(II) is selectively recovered from an acidified sample with 8-quinolinol immobilized on silica gel. After elution with dilute hydrochloric acid the resultant eluent is mixed with the reagent solutions, heated to 60 ( degrees )C and then introduced into the CL cell. The analysis time including the 2-min sample load was 8 min per sea water sample with a corresponding detection limit of 0.62 ng l(-1) (3sigma). The average standard deviation calculated for 10 replicate measurements of artificial sea water samples with a concentration of 10 ng l(-1) cobalt was +/-2.1%. The method has been tested with the standard reference sea waters NASS and CASS.

A case of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix presenting Cushing's syndrome

A proportion of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is known to secrete a neuroendocrine substance. However, cases presenting Cushing's syndrome due to ACTH secreted from a cervical small cell carcinoma are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix that ectopically secreted ACTH and presented Cushing's syndrome. A 42-year-old woman was initially admitted to the endocrine unit for investigation of ectopic ACTH syndrome. Serum cortisol and plasma ACTH levels were elevated with no diurnal variation. After gynecologic examination, her original disease was found to be a stage IIb cervical small cell carcinoma. She underwent a radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The entire tumor was excised and post-TNM classification was T2bN1M0. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells stained strongly for ACTH and chromogranin. Electronmicroscopic pictures showed typical neurosecretory granules. Although plasma ACTH returned to normal after surgery, liver metastasis appeared during the course of postoperative irradiation. She died 9 months after operation in spite of vigorous systemic chemotherapy.

bcl-2 and p53 protein expression in non-small cell lung cancers: correlation with survival time

Apoptosis-related genes have received increasing attention in carcinogenesis, drug sensitivity, radiation sensitivity, and patient survival. bcl-2 and mutated p53 genes have been reported to inhibit apoptosis. To determine bcl-2 and p53 protein expression and their impacts on survival time in lung cancers, we studied 99 surgically resected, paraffin-embedded non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens by immunohistochemical staining. The bcl-2 protein was expressed in 19.2% of NSCLCs. bcl-2-positive cases were found in 30. 4% of stages I and II carcinomas in 36.8% of squamous cell carcinomas. Patients with bcl-2 expression survived longer than those without. p53 protein was found in 44.4%; there was no significant difference in survival time between patients with and without p53 expression. Patients who were both bcl-2 positive and p53 negative survived significantly longer than those who were bcl-2 negative or p53 positive. These results suggest that bcl-2 protein expression can be histologically specific and stage dependent, and that the bcl-2 protein expression is potentially valuable for prognosis in NSCLC, particularly in the early stages, when bcl-2 protein expression is considered with mutant p53 protein expression.

Existence and expression of the untranslated first exon of aromatase mRNA in the rat brain

Tissue-specific expression of aromatase activity and mRNA occurs by alternative utilization of multiple untranslated first exons and promoters in the human. The major transcript in the human brain contains the brain-specific first exon, "exon I-f". However, few reports on the untranslated first exon of aromatase mRNA in the rat brain have been available so far. In the present study, we investigated the existence and expression of exon I-f in the rat brain to elucidate the mechanism of the tissue-specific expression of the brain aromatase. Total RNA extracted from amygdala (AMY) was subjected to a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The nucleotide sequence of the RT-PCR product had 89.4% homology to the corresponding region of exon I-f of the human aromatase cDNA. It was indicated that the major transcript in the rat AMY contained exon I-f by the use of a rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Furthermore, in order to determine the distribution of the aromatase mRNA with exon I-f, total RNAs from the hypothalamus-preoptic area (HPOA), AMY, testis and ovary were analysed by RT-PCR using the primers specific for the mouse exon I-f and the primers for the rat exon III-V. Significant levels of PCR products were found in all tissues with the highest level being in the ovary, using the primers for exon III-V. On the other hand, using the primers for exon I-f, the levels of signals from HPOA and AMY were higher than those from the testis and ovary. These results suggest that tissue-specific expression of aromatase mRNA occurs by an alternative utilization of multiple promoters in the rat, as in the human. It should be noted that minor transcripts containing exon I-f were observed in the testis and ovary.

Expansion of the spectral bandwidth by spatial and chemical shift selective saturation in high-speed magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

A new spectral bandwidth expansion technique for high-speed magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) based on an echo-planar technique is presented. This expansion can be achieved by spatial and chemical shift selective saturation without increasing the total measurement time. In addition, displacement along the slice-select direction due to chemical-shift differences between the measured compounds is also suppressed. Experimental results are shown using a phantom consisting of benzene and acetone. High spatial resolution (1 x 1 mm2) and wide spectral bandwidth (1.5-1.8 kHz; the effective spectral bandwidth has been doubled) are obtained without the displacement along the slice-select direction.

[Expression of major histocompatibility complex of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]

Expression of major histocompatibility complex of lung cancer was examined to study the malignant potential of the tumor using immunochemical staining (anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody; w6/32). Nuclear DNA contents and the labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured as well. Forty three advanced (p-stage IIIa) lung cancers resected by lobectomy (33 cases), pneumonectomy (9 cases), and segmentectomy (1 case) entered the study. Mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed in every case during the operation. Of the 43 cases, expression of HLA class I was positive in 17 and negative in 26. The patients with positive HLA expression showed significantly better prognosis than those with negative HLA expression in terms of 5 year survival (p < 0.01). The patients with aneuploid pattern and positive HLA class I expression had the best prognosis on the survival curve (p < 0.01). When the PCNA positive rate was high, the prognosis was poor. And the patients with negative PCNA and positive HLA class I expression had significantly better prognosis than the others (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that the expression of HLA class I on the tumor cells is an important prognostic factor in the patients with NSCLC.

[Malignant mediastinal lesions with invasion to the superior vena cava]

Four patients underwent resection of mediastinal malignant tumors with invasion to the superior vena cava. Two patients had invasive thymoma, one seminoma, and one metastatic mediastinal lymph nodes of unknown origin. Prior to resection of the tumor, an ePTFE graft was anastomosed between the innominate vein and the right atrium to maintain the venous drainage from the brain and the upper extremities. In two patients, the superior vena cava was reconstructed by patch angioplasty after the tumor with a part of the vena cava was safely resected. One patient died of acute respiratory failure, but the other three are alive and well without any evidence of graft obstruction. This safe and useful method in order to prevent cerebral congestion during and after resection of the tumor.

T cell adherence and mucosal injury in ulcerative colitis: involvement of integrin-fibronectin interaction in situ

The mechanism whereby mononuclear cells, including T lymphocytes, accumulate in the mucosal lesions of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is unknown. Although the role played by vascular adhesion molecules in the abnormal recruitment of leukocytes has been emphasized, it does appear that fibronectin (FN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, can play an important role in the persistence of active inflammation because of its effects on the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of cells. beta 1-integrins (VLA proteins) mediate cell adhesion to ECM proteins such as fibronectin, laminin, and collagen. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBL-T) showed increased expression of VLA proteins after activation, although the expression of VLA proteins by lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) is not known. In an in-vitro binding assay, PBL-T showed increased adherence to inflamed mucosa from patients with UC after stimulation with CD3 crosslinking. This adherence was partially inhibited by antibodies specific for plasma FN, VLA-4, VLA-5, and VLA-beta 1, and by the synthetic peptide RGDS. These findings suggest that infiltrating T cells derived from blood use FN receptors to anchor at inflammatory sites. It is conceivable that the inhibition of T cell adherence to ECM by antibodies or synthetic peptides could suppress inflammatory activity in UC.

Analysis of tardy ulnar nerve palsy associated with cubitus varus deformity after a supracondylar fracture of the humerus: a report of four cases

Four cases of tardy ulnar nerve palsy associated with a cubitus varus deformity of the elbow secondary to a supracondylar fracture of the humerus are presented. All patients had surgical management of their ulnar nerve palsy. In two patients, the ulnar nerve was entrapped by scar tissue at the abnormal position and the nerve developed a sharp V-shaped kink when the elbow was flexed. In one patient, the ulnar nerve displaced anteriorly with elbow flexion and spontaneously reduced into the ulnar nerve groove with elbow extension. In one patient, the ulnar nerve remained in the ulnar nerve groove; however, it was entrapped by fibrous bands arising from the flexor carpi ulnaris. It is speculated that malunion resulting in cubitus varus deformity will alter the anatomy at the elbow and that this can have a direct effect on the position and instability of the ulnar nerve. Incongruity of the elbow joint due to cubitus varus deformity also may cause osteoarthritis changes. As a result, ulnar neuropathy may develop from irritation to the ulnar nerve from the posttraumatic osteoarthritic changes at the elbow joint.

Monitoring reproductive status by fecal progesterone analysis in ruminants

Characterization of the estrous cycle and the ability to detect pregnancy are essential for the development of efficient captive breeding programs in wild mammalian species and for their conservation. We assess here the feasibility of using fecal progesterone analysis as a non-invasive method of monitoring the ovarian function of the Shiba goat as an experimental model for ruminant species. Feces and blood samples were collected sequentially from 4 female goats throughout the estrous cycle and gestation period and from 2 ovariectomized goats which were subcutaneously implanted with progesterone. The recovery rate with ether extraction was about 70% for fecal progesterone. Fecal progesterone concentrations changed dramatically in accordance with plasma progesterone during the estrous cycle and the pregnancy. Moreover, implantation and removal of progesterone capsules resulted in matched elevation and decline in fecal and plasma progesterone. The present data suggest that measurement of progesterone in feces is a potential noninvasive method of assessing the reproductive status of ruminant species.

Analysis of the expression and the first exon of aromatase mRNA in monkey brain

To elucidate the mechanism of the region-specific expression of the aromatase in the primate brain, we investigated the distribution and level of the total aromatase mRNA and the aromatase mRNA with the exon 1-f, which was reported to be the brain-specific exon 1 of the human aromatase gene, in male Japanese monkeys. Total RNAs extracted from the hypothalamus-preoptic area (HPOA), amygdala (AMY), cerebellum, hippocampus, brainstem, five regions of cerebral cortex and four peripheral tissues: liver, kidney, adipose tissue and testis were subjected to a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-Southern blotting (RT-PCR-SB) assay. The levels of the total aromatase mRNA was high in the HPOA, AMY and testis with a low level of message in the other regions. These results roughly paralleled the distribution of aromatase activity of the monkey brain previously reported. The level of the aromatase mRNA with the exon 1-f was high in the HPOA and AMY, and low in the other regions of the brain and the testis with an undetectable level of the messenger in the other peripheral tissues. Furthermore, the ratio of the aromatase mRNA with the exon 1-f to the total aromatase mRNA was different among various regions of the monkey brain, for example, the ratio in the AMY was distinctly higher than that in the HPOA. These results indicated that the level of the aromatase mRNA mainly regulated the level of aromatase protein and aromatase activity in a region-specific manner, and that the exon 1-f was used in most of the monkey brain regions. Moreover, the ratio of the aromatase mRNA with the exon 1-f to the total aromatase mRNA varied in the brain regions. It was implied that the aromatase mRNA using the other first exons was also expressed in the brain and was involved in the region-specific expression of the brain aromatase.