Relative importance of the area and intensity of the orange spots of male guppies Poecilia reticulata as mating traits preferred by females

Digitally modified videos of male guppies Poecilia reticulata were used to examine the relative importance of the area and intensity of the orange spots as mating traits preferred by females. The females prioritized the area of the orange spots over intensity for their mate preference.

The comparative neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of zebrafish CNS systems of relevance to human neuropsychiatric diseases

Modulatory neurotransmitters which signal through G protein-coupled receptors control brain functions which deteriorate in degenerative brain diseases. During the past decade many of these systems have been mapped in the zebrafish brain. The main architecture of the systems in zebrafish brain resembles that of the mammals, despite differences in the development of the telencephalon and mesodiencephalon. Modulatory neurotransmitters systems which degenerate in human diseases include dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, histamine, acetylcholine and orexin/hypocretin. Although the number of G protein-coupled receptors in zebrafish is clearly larger than in mammals, many receptors have similar expression patterns, binding and signaling properties as in mammals. Distinct differences between mammals and zebrafish include duplication of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene in zebrafish, and presence of one instead of two monoamine oxidase genes. Zebrafish are sensitive to neurotoxins including MPTP, and exposure to this neurotoxin induces a decline in dopamine content and number of detectable tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in distinct nuclei. Sensitivity to important neurotoxins, many available genetic methods, rapid development and large-scale quantitative behavioral methods in addition to advanced quantitative anatomical methods render zebrafish an optimal organism for studies on disease mechanisms.

Ibadronate may prevent colorectal carcinogenesis in mice with ulcerative colitis

An increased incidence of colorectal carcinoma is known to occur in patients with ulcerative colitis, which displays a cycle of recurrence-remission in the colorectal mucosa. Repeated oral doses of 3% dextran sulfate sodium subsequent to a single intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane induces chronic ulcerative colitis, resulting in an increased incidence of high-grade dysplasia and submucosal-invasive adenocarcinomas in the mouse colorectum. The features of the colitis induced in this animal model are very similar to the ulcerative colitis in patients in terms of both clinical and histopathological characteristics. Bisphosphonates are known to increase bone mass by suppressing bone turnover in postmenopausal women. A novel single-nitrogen bisphosphonate, ibandronate, is effective in preventing skeletal events in patients with bone metastases from colorectal cancer. Decreasing the bone mineral affinity of bisphosphonates is an effective therapeutic strategy to inhibit skeletal tumor growth in vivo. In the present study, the preventative effects of the bisphosphonate ibadronate on colorectal carcinogenesis in mice treated with azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium was investigated. Additive treatment with bisphosphonate prevented the shrinkage of colorectum which was affected by a cycle of recurrence-remission in colorectal mucosa, resulting in a reduced incidence of colorectal dysplasia and a reduced expression of thymidine kinase mRNA in the colorectum. Taken together, the present results indicate that ibadronate may inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis and its development by inhibiting colorectal epithelial cell proliferation and the neoplastic process.

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

Molecular characterization and histochemical demonstration of salmon olfactory marker protein in the olfactory epithelium of lacustrine sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Despite the importance of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) for homing migration, the expression of olfactory marker protein (OMP) is not well understood in ORNs of Pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus). In this study, salmon OMP was characterized in the olfactory epithelia of lacustrine sockeye salmon (O. nerka) by molecular biological and histochemical techniques. Two cDNAs encoding salmon OMP were isolated and sequenced. These cDNAs both contained a coding region encoding 173 amino acid residues, and the molecular mass of the two proteins was calculated to be 19,581.17 and 19,387.11Da, respectively. Both amino acid sequences showed marked homology (90%). The protein and nucleotide sequencing demonstrates the existence of high-level homology between salmon OMPs and those of other teleosts. By in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled salmon OMP cRNA probe, signals for salmon OMP mRNA were observed preferentially in the perinuclear regions of the ORNs. By immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody to salmon OMP, OMP-immunoreactivities were noted in the cytosol of those neurons. The present study is the first to describe cDNA cloning of OMP in salmon olfactory epithelium, and indicate that OMP is a useful molecular marker for the detection of the ORNs in Pacific salmon.

Identification of proSAAS homologs in lower vertebrates: conservation of hydrophobic helices and convertase-inhibiting sequences

The prohormone convertases (PCs) 1/3 and 2 accomplish the major proteolytic cleavage events in neuroendocrine tissues; each of these convertases has a small associated binding protein that inhibits convertase action in the secretory pathway. The proSAAS protein binds to PC1/3, whereas the 7B2 protein binds to PC2. However, both convertase-binding proteins are more widely expressed than their cognate enzymes, suggesting that they may perform other functions as well. All known mammalian proSAASs are over 85% conserved; thus, identifying functionally important segments has been impossible. Here, we report the first identification of nonmammalian proSAAS molecules, from Xenopus and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Although these two proteins show an overall amino acid sequence identity of only 29 and 30% with mouse proSAAS, two 14-16 residue hydrophobic segments (predicted to form alpha-helices) and two, nine through 11 residue sequences containing basic convertase cleavage sites are highly conserved; therefore, these sequences may be of functional importance. Confidence that these nonmammalian molecules represent authentic proSAAS is supported by the finding that both inhibit mouse PC1/3 with nanomolar inhibition constants; human furin was not inhibited. In vitro, the two proteins were cleaved by PC2 and furin to three or more peptide products. Both zebrafish and Xenopus proSAAS exhibited neural and endocrine distributions, as assessed by in situ and PCR experiments, respectively. In summary, the identification of proSAAS molecules in lower vertebrates provides clues as to functional regions within this widely expressed neuroendocrine protein.

ABO blood type incompatible kidney transplantation without splenectomy prepared with plasma exchange and rituximab

We have designed a protocol for ABO-incompatible kidney transplantations based on preoperative plasmapheresis with a tacrolimus/mycophenolate mofetil/methylprednisolone/basiliximab protocol using low-dose rituximab (200 mg/body) instead of splenectomy to prevent antibody-mediated acute rejection. Eight patients successfully received transplants with this protocol. The titers of anti-A and -B antibodies as well as the number of CD20(+) cells were readily maintained at a low level posttransplantation. There were no side effects. All patients have renal transplant function with a follow-up of 1-34 months.

A new Japanese vegetarian food guide

Vegetarianism continues to gain popularity in Japan and the Westernized world, in part from decades of science supporting the health advantages of properly planned vegetarian-based diets. Although there are Asian nutritional tools, one specific to a Japanese vegetarian diet is lacking. Thus, the Japanese vegetarian food guide (JVFG) was developed and based in part on the American Dietetic Association position paper for vegetarian diets and the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. The JVFG was developed by collecting dietary information from 3 different institutes in Japan that specialize in regularly offering vegetarian meals. The JVFG was divided into 6 groups with respective recommended servings: vegetables (7.5), grains (4.5), protein foods (4), milk (3), fruits (2), and fats, sugar, and seasonings (<3). The JVFG was developed so that it would adequately provide for all nutrients and be structured for practical use by the general public as well as health professionals.

The relationship between serum leptin concentration and the percentage of body fat in Japanese high school students

Leptin is a hormone that is synthesized and secreted by adipocytes. Leptin has been found to participate in a number of regulatory physiological functions. It suppresses food intake and increases energy consumption, increases blood pressure, and improves carbohydrate metabolism. The relationship between serum leptin concentration and percentage of body fat (% BF) in Japanese students in the 1st year of high school (1stHS, n = 889) and the 3rd year of high school (3rdHS, n = 948) was examined in a cross-sectional study. The mean of serum leptin concentrations showed no significant difference between the 1stHS and 3rdHS; it was significantly higher in girls than in boys in both grades. Significant gender differences were observed in both the slope and intercept of the regression lines. These results suggest that the serum leptin concentrations in Japanese high-school students do not differ significantly in the 1stHS and 3rdHS, but change with % BF, regardless of school year and the presence or absence of obesity.

SOLVING THE INTERIOR PROBLEM OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY USING A PRIORI KNOWLEDGE

The case of incomplete tomographic data for a compactly supported attenuation function is studied. When the attenuation function is a priori known in a subregion, we show that a reduced set of measurements is enough to uniquely determine the attenuation function over all the space. Furthermore, we found stability estimates showing that reconstruction can be stable near the region where the attenuation is known. These estimates also suggest that reconstruction stability collapses quickly when approaching the set of points that are viewed under less than 180 degrees. This paper may be seen as a continuation of the work "Truncated Hilbert transform and Image reconstruction from limited tomographic data" that was published in Inverse Problems in 2006. This continuation tackles new cases of incomplete data that could be of interest in applications of computed tomography.

Down regulation by a low-zinc diet in gene expression of rat prostatic thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase

Background

Zinc has a wide spectrum of biological activities and its deficiency is related to various abnormalities of cell metabolism.

Methods

Wistar male rats, at age of 4 weeks, were fed a low-zinc diet for six weeks. The levels of bromodeoxyuridine incorporated into the prostatic DNA and the mRNA expression levels of prostate thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase were examined.

Result

The low-zinc diet caused a marked reduction in the body growth and organ weights, resulted in a low hematopoiesis, hypo-albuminemia and hypocholesterolemia. Although there were few differences in plasma biochemical markers, plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were reduced by the low-zinc diet. Bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive (S-phase) cells and mRNA expression levels of thymidylate synthase and thymidine kinase in the prostate cells were markedly affected by the low-zinc diet.

Conclusion

A low-zinc diet appears to reduce the body growth and organ weights including prostate, causing low plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and testosterone and reduction in prostate DNA replication in growing-rats.

Chemopreventive effect of a vitamin D(3) analog, alfacalcidol, on colorectal carcinogenesis in mice with ulcerative colitis

An increased incidence of colorectal carcinoma is known to occur in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), which displays a cycle of recurrence-remission in the colorectal mucosa. Repeated oral doses of 3% dextran sulfate sodium subsequent to a single intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane induced a chronic UC resulting in an increased incidence of high-grade dysplasia and submucosal-invasive adenocarcinomas in the mouse colorectum. The active form of vitamin D(3) is a calcium-regulating hormone that increases serum calcium levels and intestinal calcium absorption. It has been reported that there is an inverse correlation between serum levels of the active metabolite of vitamin D and colorectal carcinoma stage. The features of the colitis induced in this animal model are very similar to the UC in patients in terms of both clinical and histological characteristics. Treatment with a vitamin D(3) analog, alfacalcidol, in mice prevented colitis and carcinogenesis; this is shown by inhibition of the decrease in colorectal length and inhibition of the increased incidence of colorectal dysplasia, with a reduction in the mRNA expression of the DNA-synthesizing enzyme, thymidine kinase, in colorectal tissues.

Novel erythrocyte pits in the small tropical ruminant, lesser mouse deer

We examined unique erythrocyte pits of the peripheral blood and bone marrow in the lesser mouse deer, Tragulus javanicus, using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Under the SEM observation, the pit was observed as a hole on both mature erythrocytes of the peripheral blood and immature erythrocytes of the bone marrow. By the TEM, the mature erythrocytes had a vacuole, which showed complicated shape and occupied considerable space within the cytoplasm. The vacuole was communicated extracellularly by perforation, which corresponded to the hole on the cell surface. In the bone marrow, erythroblast and reticulocytes have a cytoplasmic vacuole. This abnormal feature of the erythrocytes is peculiar to the mouse deer, and not found in other tropical ruminants. Despite the disadvantage of volume loss from the small erythrocytes, the mouse deer were healthy and showed no signs of anaemia.

Effects of colloidal iron overload on renal and hepatic siderosis and the femur in male rats

Genetic hemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder, and osteopenic and osteoporotic. Femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) appears to fall with rising hepatic iron concentrations. A critical role for iron in mediating tissue injury is played via hydroxyl radical formation in nephrotoxicity. We investigated the effects of a colloidal iron overload on renal function, organ siderosis, and femoral bone in male rats. Iron overload reduced body growth, and increased the weights of the liver and spleen. Marked deposition of iron was noted in liver and kidney. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were decreased, and the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were increased with the reduction in plasma calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels, i.e. functions of the liver and kidney might be affected by reactive oxygen species such as the superoxide radical, H2O2, and the hydroxyl radical produced by overloaded iron. Damage to the proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney and a loss of connectivity of cancellous bone in the epiphysis and of trabecular bone in the metaphysis of the distal femur were observed in iron-overloaded rats with a reduction of femoral bone mineral density, i.e. reabsorption of calcium from the proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney might be affected and urinary discharge of calcium might be elevated. It was suggested that iron overload gave rise to osteoporosis combined with renal dysfunction and liver iron overload syndrome.

Painless self-monitoring of blood glucose at finger sites

INTRODUCTION

Skin punctures at alternative sites can reduce the pain associated with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). However, delays in detection of blood glucose at alternative sites during rapid systemic blood glucose change have been reported. Accordingly, we developed a novel method of finger pricking and tested it to see if it would both reduce or eliminate pain and accurately reflect systemic glucose levels, even during rapid changes.

METHODS

Each of 35 healthy volunteers (10 females and 25 males; mean age 36.6 years, range 18-82 years) received 5 serial punctures from a lancet device on randomly selected fingers. The puncture target was the dorsal side of the finger between the nail and the distal finger joint. We used a lancet device designed for accurate punctures of 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 mm depths. Immediately afterward, as a control, a conventional fingertip puncture was done on the front of a 6th finger. After each puncture, subjects were asked whether or not they felt pain.

RESULTS

Following punctures at depths of 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively, 31 of 35 subjects (89%) and 33 of 35 subjects (94%) felt no pain. Following conventional punctures, all 35 subjects (100%) felt pain. Blood sample volumes> or =2microL were obtained in all cases except for two punctures at 0.2 mm depth. Blood glucose levels did not differ with differing puncture sites, (conventional fingertip sites vs. alternative sites used in this study).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that 0.2 and 0.3 mm punctures at our alternative finger site - the dorsal side of the finger between the nail and the distal finger joint - can provide blood samples sufficient for SMBG, substantially redu-ces the proportion of subjects who experience pain, and accurately reflects systemic glucose levels.

Effects of three Chinese herbal medicines on plasma and liver lipids in mice fed a high-fat diet

Chinese herbal medicines, Inchinko-to, Bofu-tsusho-san and Dai-saiko-to, containing 3, 18 and 8 components, respectively, have since long been used as an anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, choleretic and diuretic agent for liver disorders and jaundice, as an anti-obesity agent, a hypocholesterolemic agent for liver disorders and a therapeutic and/or preventive agent for cholesterol gallstone disease with hypertriglycerid-emia in China and Japan, respectively. In the present study, we investigated the effects of these three herbal medicines in young male mice fed a high-fat diet. Plasma levels of lipids and the numbers of the fatty droplets in the liver cytoplasm were markedly lowered by the diets supplemented with three herbal medicines. The liver weights and the body growth were reduced by the diet supplemented with Dai-saiko-to, which slightly affected the concentrations of total protein, albumin, creatinine or calcium, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Thus, Dai-saiko-to, besides Bofu-tsusho-san, seems effective in the activities of anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-hyperlipids in liver cytoplasm, when used carefully.

Preventive effect of fluvastatin on ulcerative colitis-associated carcinogenesis in mice

An increased incidence of colorectal carcinoma is known to occur in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), which displays a cycle of recurrence-remission in the colorectal mucosa. Fluvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, is a hypocholesterolemic agent effective in animals and humans. Repeated administration of 3% dextran sulfate sodium subsequent to a single intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane induces chronic UC resulting in an increased incidence of high-grade dysplasia and submucosal-invasive adenocarcinomas in the mouse colorectum. The effects of fluvastatin as an antioxidant on colorectal carcinogenesis in mice with UC were investigated. Treatment with fluvastatin in mice with UC abolished the anemia caused by colorectal carcinogenesis, and markedly lowered plasma lipid levels resulting in a reduction of colitis and carcinogenesis, shown by inhibition of the decrease in colorectal length, the increased number of foci of gland loss with inflammatory cell infiltration indicating the severity of UC and incidence of colorectal dysplasia, respectively, with a reduction in anti-8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibody (a biological marker of in vivo oxidative DNA damage)-positive cells of the colorectal mucosa and the activity of the DNA-synthesizing enzyme thymidine kinase in colorectal tissues.

Kudo type-5 total elbow arthroplasty in mutilating rheumatoid arthritis

We studied 11 patients (14 elbows) with gross rheumatoid deformity of the elbow, treated by total arthroplasty using the Kudo type-5 unlinked prosthesis, and who were evaluated between five and 11 years after operation. Massive bone defects were augmented by autogenous bone grafts. There were no major complications such as infection, subluxation or loosening. In most elbows relief from pain and stability were achieved. The results, according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, were excellent in eight, good in five and fair in one. In most elbows there was minimal or no resorption of the grafted bone. There were no radiolucent lines around the stems of the cementless components. This study shows that even highly unstable rheumatoid elbows can be replaced successfully using an unlinked prosthesis, with augmentation by grafting for major defects of bone.

Comparison of two types of ulnar component in type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term results (more than ten years) of two types of cemented ulnar component with type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in a consecutive series of 56 patients (60 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis, and to compare the results in elbows above and below a Larsen grade IV.

There was no radiolucency around the humeral component. Patients in whom a metal-backed ulnar component and a porous-coated stem were used had better clinical results and significantly less progression of radiolucent line formation around the ulnar component. They also had a significantly better long-term survival than patients with an all-polyethylene ulnar component. The clinical results of arthroplasty using all-polyethylene ulnar components were inferior, regardless of the degree of joint destruction.

We conclude that the type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty with cementless fixation of the porous-coated humeral component and cemented fixation of a metal-backed ulnar component is acceptable and well-tolerated by rheumatoid patients.