Observation of the decay B --> Kl+l-

We report a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B-->K(*)l+l- using a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- storage ring. We observe the decay process B-->Kl+l-(l = e, mu), for the first time, with a branching fraction of B(B-->Kl+l-) = (0.75(+0.25)(-0.21)+/-0.09)x10(-6).

Prolonged survival of mouse epididymal spermatozoa stored at room temperature

The viability and fertility of isolated mouse epididymal spermatozoa kept for up to 7 days at various temperatures (4 degrees C, 22 degrees C, and 37 degrees C) were determined. Spermatozoa kept for 3 days at 22 degrees C were still active, while those kept at 37 degrees C or 4 degrees C exhibited great reduction in motility within 2 days after isolation. In vitro fertilizing abilities of spermatozoa left for 0, 1, 2, and 3 days at 22 degrees C were 69.2, 32.5, 9.5, and 4.9%, respectively, when the cleavage rate to two-cell stage was examined. Transfer of two-cell embryos produced in vitro with spermatozoa left for 1, 2, and 3 days at 22 degrees C resulted in production of fetuses with efficiencies of respectively 30.2, 11.5, and 16.7%, which were lower (63.3%) than that of embryos derived from in vitro fertilization with fresh spermatozoa. These findings indicate that spermatozoa kept for up to 3 days at 22 degrees C can fertilize oocytes, although at relatively low efficiency.

Tetracycline-regulated gene expression mediated by a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases in mammalian cells

Regulated gene expression will provide important platforms from which gene functions can be investigated and safer means of gene therapy may be developed. Histone deacetylases have recently been shown to play an important role in regulating gene expression. Here we investigated whether a more tightly controlled expression could be achieved by using a novel chimeric repressor that recruits histone deacetylases to a tetracycline-responsive promoter. This chimeric repressor was engineered by fusing the tetracycline repressor (TetR) with an mSin3-interacting domain of human Mad1 and was shown to bind the tetO(2) element with high affinity, and its binding was efficiently abrogated by doxycycline. The chimeric repressor was shown to directly interact with mSin3 of the histone deacetylase complex. This inducible system was further simplified by using a single vector that contained both a chimeric repressor expression cassette and a tetracycline-responsive promoter. When transiently introduced into mammalian cells, the chimeric repressor system exhibited a significantly lower basal level of luciferase activity (up to 25-fold) than that of the TetR control. When stably transfected into HEK 293 cells, the chimeric repressor system was shown to exert a tight control of green fluorescent protein expression in a doxycycline dose- and time-dependent fashion. Therefore, this novel chimeric repressor provides an effective means for more tightly regulated gene expression, and the simplified inducible system may be used for a broad range of basic and clinical studies.

Slowly progressive dementia and multiple cerebral cortical infarctions following mitral valve replacement

We describe the clinicopathological findings of a woman, 83 years of age at the time of death, who demonstrated dementia and numerous cerebral infarctions. She had a history of repeated mitral valve replacements 15 and 13 years prior to death and showed a dull responsive state 1 month after the second operation. Thereafter, dementia manifested and slowly progressed. Brain computed tomography revealed cortical atrophy and ventricular dilatation. Histological examination revealed a large number of minute foci of infarction in the cerebral cortex. Such lesions may have developed in association with the valve replacement and resulted in progressive dementia.

External radiotherapy for decompression of cholangiocellular carcinoma with obstructive jaundice: report of a case

Percutaneous transhepatic catheter drainage (PTCD) is generally performed for the treatment of obstructive jaundice. However, in some cases it is difficult to perform insertion because of lack of dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. We report a patient who had been suffering from jaundice as a result of recurrent cholangiocarcinoma near the hilum and whose symptoms were relieved by external radiotherapy. We consider radiotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma effective palliative treatment for decompression of obstructive jaundice.

Clinical and pedigree study on familial cases of West syndrome in Japan

Nationwide survey on familial cases of West syndrome (WS) in first- and second-degree relatives was conducted by mailing a questionnaire to 64 major university hospitals, children's hospitals, and epilepsy centers in Japan, and by review of the Japanese cases in the literatures. Thirty-four familial cases, 20 males and 14 females, were obtained in 15 families including one with five affected members in two generations and another with three affected male siblings including a half brother by a different father (X-linked WS). A mother and the child or children were involved in three families. Nine families had 21 cryptogenic cases and six families had 13 symptomatic cases, and the etiologies were same among the affected members in each family. Familial cases of WS have characteristic clinical features and genetic mechanisms. Age of onset, seizure types, electroencephalographic abnormalities, early seizure outcome, effective treatment, long-term seizure prognosis, and long-term developmental prognosis were concordant among the affected members in each family. Long-term seizure and developmental prognoses were far better than those in WS in general, with seizure-free rate of 82% and normal mental development rate of 44%. Poor prognosis was limited to specific symptomatic cases. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was a treatment of choice, and even in relapse of WS after ACTH therapy, the patients well responded to antiepileptic drugs. Specific inheritance pattern was difficult to imagine in the majority of the present cases, except for one family with X-linked WS and another family with five patients of maternal inheritance. These results are helpful for the treatment choice and prognostication of clinical course for familial cases of WS.

Complete genomic sequence of the filamentous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120

The nucleotide sequence of the entire genome of a filamentous cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120, was determined. The genome of Anabaena consisted of a single chromosome (6,413,771 bp) and six plasmids, designated pCC7120alpha (408,101 bp), pCC7120beta (186,614 bp), pCC7120gamma (101,965 bp), pCC7120delta (55,414 bp), pCC7120epsilon (40,340 bp), and pCC7120zeta (5,584 bp). The chromosome bears 5368 potential protein-encoding genes, four sets of rRNA genes, 48 tRNA genes representing 42 tRNA species, and 4 genes for small structural RNAs. The predicted products of 45% of the potential protein-encoding genes showed sequence similarity to known and predicted proteins of known function, and 27% to translated products of hypothetical genes. The remaining 28% lacked significant similarity to genes for known and predicted proteins in the public DNA databases. More than 60 genes involved in various processes of heterocyst formation and nitrogen fixation were assigned to the chromosome based on their similarity to the reported genes. One hundred and ninety-five genes coding for components of two-component signal transduction systems, nearly 2.5 times as many as those in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were identified on the chromosome. Only 37% of the Anabaena genes showed significant sequence similarity to those of Synechocystis, indicating a high degree of divergence of the gene information between the two cyanobacterial strains.

Observation of B --> J/psi K(1)(1270)

We report the first observation of the exclusive decay process B-->J/psi K(1)(1270) using a sample of 11.2M BB macro meson pairs collected in the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e(+)e(-) collider. We measure branching fractions of B[B(0)-->J/psi K(0)(1)(1270)] = (1.30+/-0.34+/-0.32) x 10(-3) and B[B(+)-->J/psi K(+)(1)(1270)] = (1.80+/-0.34+/-0.39) x 10(-3), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. These modes constitute approximately 15% of the total number of B-->J/psi X decays. No evidence is seen for B-->J/psi K(1)(1400) and we set an upper limit for this branching fraction.

Comparative FISH mapping of human cDNA clones to chromosomes of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora)

Forty-one cDNA clones of human functional genes were newly mapped to chromosomes of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora) by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and a comparative cytogenetic map of 51 genes, including 10 genes reported in our previous study, was constructed between human (HSA) and musk shrew (SMU) chromosomes. In this comparative map, the 51 genes localized to human autosomes, except HSA 8, 16, and 20, were mapped to 15 shrew autosomes, except SMU 4, 16, 17 and 18. Twelve conserved segments were identified between human and shrew chromosomes, and six segments among the musk shrew, human, and mouse. Our results defined the presence of at least one inversion and several interchromosomal rearrangements that occurred during evolution after the two species diverged from a common ancestor. Localization of three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes to shrew chromosome 3 suggested that the MHC genes of the musk shrew are located in a cluster on chromosome 3. The cytogenetic map constructed in this study is the first cytogenetic map with many functional genes in insectivore species. This approach provides clues for clarifying the chromosomal evolution in this order.

Dynamic change of cells expressing MMP-2 mRNA and MT1-MMP mRNA in the recovery from liver fibrosis in the rat

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate whether both matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP) participate in the spontaneous resolution of liver fibrosis.

METHODS

Transcription of both genes was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Gelatinase activity was investigated by zymography.

RESULTS

Gene expression by RT-PCR showed that both genes increased in the process of liver fibrosis, then decreased gradually in the recovery phase. ISH revealed that distribution of positive cells changed quickly in the recovery phase. Positive cells were widely seen in the liver, mainly around fibrous septa, in the aggressive phase, but were exclusively observed at the interface between the resolving fibrous band and the parenchyma, then were diffusely located in the lobules in the recovery phase. Main cells expressing both mRNAs seemed to be stellate cells for their morphology, though they did not express characteristic cell markers. Some hepatocytes and Kupffer cells expressed both mRNAs in the recovery phase. Gelatinase activity of MMP-2 increased in the recovery phase of 8-week-treated rat liver by gelatin zymography.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of present study suggest that both enzymes participate in the destruction of extracellular matrix in coordination with MMP-13.

Neurons in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus projecting to the infralimbic cortex in rats: electrical activity and response to changes in blood pressure

Neurons in the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) are known to project directly to the infralimbic cortex (IL). However, there have been no physiological studies on LPGi neurons projecting to the IL. In urethane-anesthetized rats, the single-unit activities of LPGi neurons were recorded extracellularly to investigate their electrophysiological properties and responses to changes in blood pressure (BP). The LPGi neurons antidromically driven from the IL were restricted to the ventral part of the LPGi and most spontaneously active neurons revealed suppression of activity following a fall in BP. These results suggest that the LPGi neurons in a very restricted location influence the IL in response to changes in BP.

Observation of Cabibbo suppressed B --> D(*)K- decays at Belle

We report observations of the Cabibbo suppressed decays B-->D((*))K- using a 10.4 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) storage ring. We find that the ratios of Cabibbo suppressed to Cabibbo favored branching fractions are B(B--->D0K-)/B(B--->D0pi(-)) = 0.079+/-0.009+/-0.006, B(B(0)-->D+K-)/B(B(0)-->D+pi(-)) = 0.068+/-0.015+/-0.007, B(B--->D(*0)K-)/B(B--->D(*0)pi(-)) = 0.078+/-0.019+/-0.009, and B(B(0)-->D(*+)K-)/B(B(0)-->D(*+)pi(-)) = 0.074+/-0.015+/-0.006. These are the first observations of the B-->D+K-, D(*0)K-, and D(*+)K- decay processes.

Osteoporosis, bone turnover and hypogonadism in elderly men with treated leprosy

In male hypogonadism associated with bone loss, it is important to determine whether bone loss continues with ageing and an increased risk of fracture. We studied bone metabolism in 86 male leprosy patients, who were classified according to the presence or absence of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis was present when men had lumbar compression fractures or a mean BMD-2SD that of normal Japanese men in each age decade. Four men had fractures. Serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and high-sensitivity parathyroid hormone were almost normal in both groups, whereas free testosterone and oestradiol were significantly lower in the osteoporosis group than in the non-osteoporosis group (free testosterone: P < 0.01, oestradiol: P < 0.05). The urinary concentrations of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, as a marker of bone absorption, were significantly higher in the osteoporosis group than in the non-osteoporosis group (pyridinoline: P < 0.01, deoxypyridinoline: P < 0.01). The serum concentration of osteocalcin, a marker of bone formation, was significantly higher in the osteoporosis group than in the non-osteoporosis group (P < 0.01). Elevated concentration means that bone repair is increased possibly because of compensation mechanisms for increased bone loss. In the osteoporosis group, hypogonadism occurred, and high bone turnover continued even in older men. We recommend clinical studies of treatment such as replacement therapy to prevent bone loss and increasing risk of fractures in older men with leprosy.

Observation of large CP violation in the neutral B meson system

We present a measurement of the standard model CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) based on a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi K(S), psi(2S)K(S), chi(c1)K(S), eta(c)K(S), J/psi K(L), or J/psi K(*0) decay and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we determine sin2 phi(1) = 0.99+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.06(syst). We conclude that we have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.

A case of traumatic renal graft rupture with salvage of renal function

An 18-yr-old man received a kidney graft from a 60-yr-old female cadaver donor on February 8, 1996. Postoperative course was uneventful and his serum creatinine level was stable at about 1.8 mg/dL. On April 30, 1999, he collided with a truck while riding a motor cycle. Macroscopic hematuria was observed and CT showed an extensive retroperitoneal hematoma. Because his anemia and hypotension were becoming worse after transfusion of 9 units of blood, he was operated on as an emergency case. A large rupture reaching the pelvis and calyces was observed in the upper pole of the grafted kidney. There were also numerous shallow lacerations, but the major arteries and veins were not injured. The rupture was closed by suturing the renal parenchyma with the peritoneum, and the other shallow lacerations were closed by suturing the renal capsule. The kidney could be salvaged without requiring hemodialysis. The serum creatinine was maintained at 2.1 mg/dL during follow-up. A review of the literature showed that 6 cases of traumatic renal graft rupture with salvage of the kidney have been reported. Our present case was the seventh, and was the most severe graft rupture reported so far.

[A case of suprasellar hemangioblastoma with thoracic meningioma]

Supratentorial hemangioblastoma is encountered very rarely, with only about 110 cases reported. This report concerns a case of a suprasellar hemangioblastoma associated with thoracic meningioma. A 62-year-old man was admitted with visual disturbance of the left eye. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a high signal intensity mass in the suprasellar region without perifocal edema. T1-weighted MRI with gadolinium showed a homogeneously enhanced mass. The angiogram revealed remarkable tumor staining originating from the right and left internal carotid arteries (ICA) and the left external carotid artery (ECA). On the basis of the pre-operative diagnosis of tuberculum sellae meningioma, total tumor removal was performed. Photomicrographs of the specimen showed numerous capillaries divided by stroma cells. Positive immunostaining for factor VIII related antigen (F VIII RAg) was observed in endothelial cells, but immunostaining for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) was not observed in any cells. A diagnosis of suprasellar hemangioblastoma was made on the basis of these findings. The patient suffered paraparesis on the postoperative seventh day. Since MRI showed a thoracic tumor, a second total tumor removal was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as a meningothelial meningioma. The patient was discharged without evidence of new neurological deficits. Our experience shows that, when a mass is vascularized in the cerebral hemisphere, the possibility of hemangioblastoma needs to be taken into consideration.

Recurrent bleeding from a duodenal diverticulum 8 years after endoscopic treatment: case report and review of the literature

A 70-year-old woman presented with a 2-day history of tarry stool. She had a history of hemorrhage from a duodenal diverticulum of the 2nd portion 8 years previously that had been managed successfully by endoscopic hemostasis. Initial gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed ulceration of the diverticulum with no active bleeding; nevertheless the ulceration was presumed to be the source of the tarry stool. Despite medical treatment, bleeding started again, but endoscopic ethanol injection achieved hemostasis. When bleeding started yet again 8 days after the endoscopic therapy, the patient underwent diverticulectomy. Although duodenal diverticula are frequently found in the adult gastrointestinal tract, they rarely show hemorrhage. Recently, there has been controversy about whether bleeding diverticula should be managed surgically or endoscopically. We describe for the first time a rare case of recurrent hemorrhage of a duodenal diverticulum after an 8-year interval; the case was treated by surgical diverticulectomy as a definitive therapy for the recurrent bleeding ulcer. We also present a review of the literature.

A deficiency of coproporphyrinogen III oxidase causes lesion formation in Arabidopsis

We isolated an Arabidopsis lesion initiation 2 (lin2) mutant, which develops lesion formation on leaves and siliques in a developmentally regulated and light-dependent manner. The phenotype of the lin2 plants resulted from a single nuclear recessive mutation, and LIN2 was isolated by a T-DNA tagging approach. LIN2 encodes coproporphyrinogen III oxidase, a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of chlorophyll and heme, a tetrapyrrole pathway, in Arabidopsis. The lin2 plants express cytological and molecular markers associated with the defense responses, usually activated by pathogen infection. These results demonstrate that a porphyrin pathway impairment is responsible for the lesion initiation phenotype, which leads to the activation of defense responses, in Arabidopsis. Lesion formation was not suppressed, and was even enhanced when accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) was prevented in lin2 plants by the expression of an SA-degrading salicylate hydroxylase (nahG) gene. This suggests that the lesion formation triggered in lin2 plants is determined prior to or independently of the accumulation of SA but that the accumulation is required to limit the spread of lesions in lin2 plants.

Quantitative trait loci for body weight in the intercross between SM/J and A/J mice

We performed a genome-wide quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of body weight at 10 weeks of age in a population of 321 intercross offspring from SM/J and A/J mice, progenitor strains of SMXA recombinant inbred strains. Interval mapping revealed two significant QTLs, Bwq3 (body weight QTL3) and Bwq4, on Chromosomes (Chrs) 8 and 18 respectively, and five suggestive QTLs on Chrs 2, 6, 7, 15 and 19. Bwq3 and Bwq4 explained 6% of the phenotypic variance. The SM/J alleles at both QTLs increased body weight, though the SM/J mouse was smaller than the A/J mouse. On the other hand, four of the five suggestive QTLs detected had male-specific effects on body weight and the remainder was female-specific. These suggestive QTLs explained 5-6% of the phenotypic variance and all the SM/J alleles decreased body weight.

In vitro growth of mouse ovarian preantral follicles and the capacity of their oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage

Two groups of mouse preantral follicles with diameters of 125-150 and 151-175 microm were cultured individually for 6 days in a medium supplemented with FSH and fetal calf serum to determine their in vitro growth characteristics. Their oocyte capacity for maturation and development to the blastocyst stage following in vitro fertilization was also assessed. Antral formation rate at the end of culture was higher in the follicles of 151-175 microm (89%) than 125-150 microm (76%). The timing of antrum formation was different between the two follicle categories: most 151-175 microm follicles formed antra earlier than 125-150 microm follicles (days 4 and 5 vs. 5 and 6). However, follicle diameters at the time of antrum formation were the same regardless of the initial size and the culture period. Maturation rates of the oocytes derived from both categories of in vitro grown follicles (70 and 62%) were not different from those of oocytes from in vivo grown follicles (74%). The in vitro derived oocytes, however, showed less cleavage (30 and 35%) than the in vivo derived oocytes (89%). Although the oocytes from both follicle categories developed to the morula stage after in vitro fertilization, blastocysts were only obtained from oocytes derived from the 151-175 microm category. These results demonstrate that an individual follicle culture system using a medium with FSH and fetal calf serum supports in vitro growth of mouse preantral follicles with diameters of 151-175 microm to the preovulatory stage, and that their oocytes have the capability to develop to the blastocyst stage.

Chromosomal mapping of 18S-28S rRNA genes and 10 cDNA clones of human chromosome 1 in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus)

The direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method was used to map 18S-28S ribosomal RNA genes and 10 human cDNA clones on the chromosomes of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus). The chromosomal locations of 18S-28S ribosomal RNA genes were examined in the five laboratory lines and wild animals captured in the Philippines and Vietnam, and the genes were found on chromosomes 5, 6, 9, and 13 with geographic variation. The comparative mapping of 10 cDNA clones of human chromosome 1 demonstrated that human chromosome 1 consisted of at least three segments homologous to Suncus chromosomes (chromosomes 7, 10, and 14). This approach with the direct R-banding FISH method is useful for constructing comparative maps between human and insectivore species and for explicating the process of chromosomal rearrangements during the evolution of mammals.

Measurement of B(0)(d)-B_(0)(d) mixing rate from the time evolution of dilepton events at the upsilon(4S)

We report a determination of the B(0)(d)-&B_(0)(d) mixing parameter Deltam(d) based on the time evolution of dilepton yields in Upsilon(4S) decays. The measurement is based on a 5.9 fb(-1) data sample collected by the Belle detector at KEKB. The proper-time difference distributions for same-sign and opposite-sign dilepton events are simultaneously fitted to an expression containing Deltam(d) as a free parameter. Using both muons and electrons, we obtain Deltam(d) = 0.463+/-0.008 (stat)+/-0.016 (syst) ps(-1). This is the first determination of Deltam(d) from time evolution measurements at the Upsilon(4S). We also place limits on possible CPT violations.

Quantitative trait locus analysis of abnormal circadian period in CS mice

CS mice show a free-running period (tau) longer than 24 h and rhythm splitting in constant darkness (DD). These features in behavioral circadian rhythms are distinctive as compared with other inbred strains of mice, which exhibit robust free-running rhythms with T shorter than 24 h. To identify the genes affecting tau, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was initially conducted by using 289 F2 mice derived from a cross between CS and C57BL/6J strain. A suggestive QTL (LOD = 3.71) with CS allele increasing tau was detected on the distal region of Chromosome (Chr) 19. Next, using 192 F2 mice from a cross between CS and MSM strain, the presence of the QTL on Chr 19 was examined, and we confirmed the QTL at the genome-wide significant level (LOD = 4.61 with 10.4% of the total variance explained). This QTL was named long free-running period (Lfp). Three other suggestive QTLs (LOD = 3.24-4.28) were mapped to the midportion of Chr 12 in (CSxC57BL/6J)F2 mice, and to the proximal and middle region of Chr 19 in (CSxMSM)F2 mice, respectively, of which, CS alleles for two QTLs on Chr 19 have the effect of lengthening tau. None of these QTLs were mapped to the chromosomal regions of previously described QTLs for tau and known clock genes (Clock, mPer1, Bmal1, mCrv1, mCry2, mTim, and Csnk1e).