Amnesia in frontotemporal dementia with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, masquerading Alzheimer's disease

A 68-year-old man with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) later developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which was confirmed at autopsy at age 72 years. Because neuronal loss and AD-type pathologies (Braak stage II for neurofibrillary tangles) were scant, TDP-43-positive intracytoplasmic inclusions in hippocampal dentate granular cells and in neurons in the subiculum and amygdala, even though small in amount, may represent the earliest lesions of ALS-related dementia and could be the cause of dementia in this patient. Although the persistent elevation of creatine kinase from the onset could be a pointer to the presence of motor involvement, more accurate characterization of dementia, which may differentiate ALS-related dementia and AD, is necessary.

The Analysis of Drug Release from Diluted Water/oil/water Emulsions by a Model of the Rupture of Oil Membrane

The release behaviour of theophylline encapsulated in the inner aqueous phase of a water/oil/water emulsion was investigated by two methods. A cellulose tube containing a sample of the emulsion was placed in a rotary basket and was stirred in a dissolution medium (Method A), or the w/o/w emulsion was dispersed in a dissolution medium and the system was stirred by a paddle, allowing the drug to permeate into a cellulose tube placed in the dispersing medium (Method B).

In Method A, the drug release rate from the emulsion decreased with increase in the concentration of sodium chloride co-formulated with the drug in the inner aqueous phase. The drug release rate in the dissolution test medium No. 1 or No. 2 of the JP XII was greater than that in purified water and was increased with the ionic strength of the dissolution medium. The drug was released more rapidly in Method B than in Method A, because the emulsion was destroyed more easily using the former method. As this destruction of emulsion structure occurred immediately after dilution with dissolution medium, the influence of the dissolution medium on the release profile could not be detected using Method B.

The experimental data of drug release were satisfactorily explained by the destruction model of the oil membranes of the water/oil/water emulsions.

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL is required for the PRC2 recruitment to and silencing of p15(INK4B) tumor suppressor gene

A 42 kb region on human chromosome 9p21 encodes for three distinct tumor suppressors, p16(INK4A), p14(ARF) and p15(INK4B), and is altered in an estimated 30-40% of human tumors. The expression of the INK4A-ARF-INK4B gene cluster is silenced by polycomb during normal cell growth and is activated by oncogenic insults and during aging. How the polycomb is recruited to repress this gene cluster is unclear. Here, we show that expression of oncogenic Ras, which stimulates the expression of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A), but not p14(ARF), inhibits the expression of ANRIL (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus), a 3.8 kb-long non-coding RNA expressed in the opposite direction from INK4A-ARF-INK4B. We show that the p15(INK4B) locus is bound by SUZ12, a component of polycomb repression complex 2 (PRC2), and is H3K27-trimethylated. Notably, depletion of ANRIL disrupts the SUZ12 binding to the p15(INK4B) locus, increases the expression of p15(INK4B), but not p16(INK4A) or p14(ARF), and inhibits cellular proliferation. Finally, RNA immunoprecipitation demonstrates that ANRIL binds to SUZ12 in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest a model in which ANRIL binds to and recruits PRC2 to repress the expression of p15(INK4B) locus.

Total compensation of pulse transients inside a resonator

The profile of rf pulses that nuclear spins experience inside a resonator deviates from that of rf voltage signals generated by a NMR spectrometer according to users' pulse programming, when change of the profile in time is comparable to or shorter than the time constant of the resonator. In our previous work [Takeda et al., J. Magn. Reson. 197 (2009) 242-244], we proposed active compensation of rf pulse transients, in which the amplitude transient of the rf pulse can be suppressed without sacrificing the Q factor of the probe. Here we extend the idea of active compensation toward total compensation of the amplitude as well as phase transients. By measuring the transient response of the probe to a given excitation using a pickup coil, the response function determining the transient behavior of the probe is numerically obtained. Then, by numerically solving the convolution equation with the help of Laplace transformation, one can obtain the amplitude and phase profiles of the pulse that should be programmed in the spectrometer in order to apply the rf pulses to the nuclear spins as intended. Accurate rf pulsing based on this idea is experimentally demonstrated, and prospect and requirements for coping with the receiver dead-time problem are discussed.

Negative MRI findings in a case of degenerative myelopathy in a dog

An 11-year-old male Rough collie was submitted with paraparesis, but did not respond to medical treatment. Clinical signs worsened and the dog displayed paralysis, inability to stand and loss of voluntary bladder control, whereupon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. No significant abnormalities were identified from MRI, blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid tests or radiography. After MRI, the dog developed dyspnoea and died. Autopsy and subsequent histopathological examination led to a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy.

Fbw7 promotes ubiquitin-dependent degradation of c-Myb: involvement of GSK3-mediated phosphorylation of Thr-572 in mouse c-Myb

Expression of oncoprotein c-Myb oscillates during hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies. Its quantity is not only regulated through transcriptional control but also through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, accompanied by phosphorylation, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this report, we tried to identify an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which targets c-Myb for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. We found that an F-box protein, Fbw7, interacted with c-Myb, which is mutated in numerous cancers. Fbw7 facilitated ubiquitylation and degradation of c-Myb in intact cells. Moreover, depletion of Fbw7 by RNA interference delayed turnover and increased the abundance of c-Myb in myeloid leukemia cells concomitantly, and suppressed the transcriptional level of gamma-globin, which receives transcriptional repression from c-Myb. In addition, we analysed sites required for both ubiquitylation and degradation of c-Myb. We found that Thr-572 is critical for Fbw7-mediated ubiquitylation in mouse c-Myb using site-directed mutagenesis. Fbw7 recognized the phosphorylation of Thr-572, which was mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). In consequence, the c-Myb protein was markedly stabilized by the substitution of Thr-572 to Ala. These observations suggest that SCF(Fbw7) ubiquitin ligase regulates phosphorylation-dependent degradation of c-Myb protein.

Optical feshbach resonance using the intercombination transition

We report control of the scattering wave function by an optical Feshbach resonance effect using ytterbium atoms. The narrow intercombination line (1S0-3P1) is used for efficient control as proposed by Ciuryło et al. [Phys. Rev. A 71, 030701(R) (2005)10.1103/PhysRevA.71.030701]. The manipulation of the scattering wave function is monitored with the change of a photoassociation rate caused by another laser. The optical Feshbach resonance is especially efficient for isotopes with large negative scattering lengths such as 172Yb, and we have confirmed that the scattering phase shift divided by the wave number, which gives the scattering length in the zero energy limit, is changed by about 30 nm.

Effect of follicular fluid collected from various diameter follicles on the progression of nuclear maturation and developmental competence of pig oocytes

Supplementing in vitro maturation medium with porcine follicular fluid (FF) improves maturation rate, male pronucleus formation, and monospermic fertilization of pig oocytes. This study examined, (1) if there are differences in FF derived from large follicles (LF, 5-6mm in diameter) and small follicles (SF, 3-4mm in diameter) on the effect of supplementing the maturation medium with FF on the progression of nuclear maturation, fertilization rate, and developmental competence of porcine oocytes; (2) whether the FF source influences the effect of the FF on the maturation medium on the survival rate and proliferation rate of cumulus cells (CCs) and the expansion of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs); (3) whether the oocyte source (oocytes collected from LFs or SFs) influences the effect of FF on the progression of the nuclear maturation of oocytes; (4) whether the factors in the FF that affect the kinetics of nuclear maturation are proteins, and the range of the molecular weight of the FF factors. In experiment 1, adding FF from LFs (LFF) significantly accelerated nuclear maturation and improved the fertilization rate; the developmental ratio was comparable with those of adding FF from SFs (SFF). In experiment 2, adding LFF, but not SFF, improved the CC survival rate, although the FF source did not affect the proliferation rate. Expansion of COCs was greater with SFF than LFF. In experiment 3, LFF promoted nuclear maturation of oocytes collected from only LFs. There was a significant interaction between the FF source and the oocyte source in the effect on nuclear maturation stages at 36 h of maturation. In experiment 4, treatment of FF with heat or trypsin diminished the difference between the effect of LFF and SFF on the progression of nuclear maturation. In addition, the predominant effect of LFF compared to that of SFF on nuclear maturation was not affected by ultrafiltration of the FF with a 30-kDa filter, but was diminished by ultrafiltration with a 100-kDa filter. The present study suggests that some proteins present in LFF that range in molecular weight from 30 to 100 kDa improve the developmental competence of oocytes probably via progression of nuclear maturation and cumulus cells viability.

Calcium channel blockers suppress cytokine-induced activation of human neutrophils

BACKGROUND

Neutrophils, in concert with proinflammatory cytokines, play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Calcium channel blockers are commonly used in the treatment of hypertension, and their pleiotropic effects, other than the lowering of blood pressure, have been recently recognized.

METHODS

We studied the effects of various calcium channel blockers (amlodipine, nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, nifedipine, azelnidipine, verapamil, and diltiazem; each being used at 5 and 10 micromol/l) on superoxide (O(2)(-)) release, migration, and signaling pathways in human neutrophils stimulated by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

RESULTS

GM-CSF-induced O(2)(-) release was suppressed by amlodipine, nicardipine, and cilnidipine, whereas TNF-alpha-induced O(2)(-) release was suppressed by amlodipine, nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, nifedipine, and azelnidipine. TNF-alpha-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), was attenuated by nicardipine, cilnidipine, benidipine, efonidipine, and azelnidipine. By contrast, GM-CSF-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38, and Akt was affected by none of the blockers. GM-CSF-induced neutrophil migration was also suppressed by amlodipine and nicardipine, but not by azelnidipine, when these blockers were assessed for their effect on neutrophil migration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that (i) some calcium channel blockers can suppress cytokine-induced neutrophil activation, leading to possible prevention of the progression of atherosclerosis; and (ii) that activation of the ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways, induced by TNF-alpha but not by GM-CSF, is selectively affected by some blockers.

The effect of vitamin C supplementation on plasma concentration and urinary excretion of vitamin C in cattle

We investigated the plasma concentration and urinary excretion of vitamin C in cows supplemented with vitamin C. Five cows (mean BW = 597 kg) were allocated to a 5 x 5 Latin square design and supplemented with a vitamin C preparation coated with hydrogenated soybean oil at 0, 10, 20, 40, or 60 mg of vitamin C per kg of BW per day for 9 d. Plasma and urine samples were collected for measuring vitamin C concentration. Urinary excretion of vitamin C was expressed as the ratio of vitamin C to creatinine. Plasma vitamin C concentration and urinary vitamin C excretion increased quadratically as dietary vitamin C increased (P < 0.001); that is, the lowest dose affected neither plasma vitamin C concentration nor urinary vitamin C excretion but the plasma vitamin C concentration and urinary vitamin C excretion increased (P < 0.05) with increasing supplementation of vitamin C at greater doses. This suggests that plasma vitamin C concentration affects urinary excretion of vitamin C in cattle and that plasma vitamin C concentration exceeded the renal threshold for vitamin C in the cows receiving vitamin C at 20 mg/kg of BW per day. Furthermore, increased urinary excretion of vitamin C appears to limit plasma vitamin C concentration in response to vitamin C intake. The daily excretion of vitamin C was estimated by the reported value of daily creatinine excretion, indicating that the daily amount of vitamin C excreted into urine was more than half of supplied vitamin C. Therefore, a large part of supplied vitamin C probably escapes ruminal degradation and is absorbed but excreted into urine.

Enhancement of chemosensitivity toward peplomycin by calpastatin-stabilized NF-kappaB p65 in esophageal carcinoma cells: possible involvement of Fas/Fas-L synergism

Chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs was compared between two human esophageal carcinoma cell lines, T.Tn and YES-6 cells. T.Tn cells were more resistant than YES-6 cells to peplomycin (PEP) but not to the other anticancer drugs such as camptothecin, mitomycin C and cytosine arabinoside. Western blot analysis showed higher expression levels of m-calpain and activated mu-calpain in T.Tn cells than in YES-6 cells. On the other hand, YES-6 cells showed a high expression level of calpastatin, which is a calpain-specific endogenous inhibitor. To investigate whether calpain activity was involved in the chemosensitivity, T.Tn cells were transfected with calpastatin cDNA in an inducible expression vector. The induction of calpastatin was accompanied by increased chemosensitivity to PEP. The increases in calpastatin levels were followed by serial increases in the expression levels of NF-kappaB p65 and Fas. Since purified m- or mu-calpain degraded NF-kappaB p65 in vitro, it is possible that calpastatin suppressed calpain-mediated degradation of NF-kappaB p65. Fas ligand (Fas-L) protein levels increased after treatment of the parental T.Tn and calpastatin-transfected cells with PEP, suggesting the synergism between calpastatin-induced Fas and PEP-induced Fas-L. These results suggest that calpain/calpastatin expression levels are effective markers for predicting the sensitivity of human esophageal carcinoma cells to PEP.

Stress via p53 pathway causes apoptosis by mitochondrial Noxa upregulation in doxorubicin-treated neuroblastoma cells

In this study, we employed a panel of cell lines to determine whether p53-dependent cell death in neuroblastoma (NB) cells is caused by apoptotic cellular function, and we further studied the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced via the p53-dependent pathway. We obtained evidence that a type of p53-dependent stress, doxorubicin (Doxo) administration, causes accumulation of p53 in the nucleus of NB cells and phosphorylation of several serine residues in both Doxo-sensitive and -resistant cell lines. Upregulation of p53-downstream molecules in cells and upregulation of Noxa in the mitochondrial fraction were observed only in Doxo-sensitive NB cells. Significance of Noxa in the Doxo-induced NB cell death was confirmed by Noxa-knockdown experiments. Mitochondrial dysfunction, including cytochrome-c release and membrane potential disregulation, occurred and resulted in the activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway. However, in the Doxo-resistant cells, the accumulation in the nucleus and phosphorylation of p53 did not induce p53-downstream p21(Cip1/Waf1) expression and the Noxa upregulation, resulting in the retention of the mitochondrial homeostasis. Taken together, these findings indicate that the p53 pathway seems to play a crucial role in NB cell death by Noxa regulation in mitochondria, and inhibition of the induction of p53-downstream effectors may regulate drug resistance of NB cells.

Clinical significance of diffusion-weighted whole body magnetic resonance imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) as a staging procedure for lymphoma patients in comparison with FDG-PET

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Background: FDG-PET is thought to be an important staging tool in lymphomas. However, high cost and exposure to radioactive agents are of disadvantage. Diffusion weighted whole body magnetic resonance imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) is recently reported to be a new way of magnetic resonance imaging which can make FDG-PET-like imaging possible to detect tumors (Takahara et al; Radiation Medicine 22: 275–282, 2004). This study is aimed to compare accuracy and clinical significance of DWIBS to FDG - PET. Methods: We examined 19 lymphoma (Ly) patients (pts) by using both DWIBS and FDG -PET at the time of diagnosis before therapy. There were follicular Ly in 3 pts, nodal marginal zone Ly in 1, diffuse large B-cell Ly in 9 including primary stomach Ly in 2, peripheral T -cell Ly in 4, and MALT Ly of stomach (GI-MALT) in 2. DWIBS was performed with a 1.5 -Tesla system as previously reported (Ochiai et al; Nichidoku -Iho 50: 86–98, 2005). Clinical staging was made according to the Ann Arbor classification. Results: Both DWIBS and FDG -PET had positive findings in 18 of 19 pts except for a case of GI -MALT. In nodal lesions, DWIBS was positive in 16 pts at 66 sites compared to 16 pts at 68 sites with FDG -PET. DWIBS was negative in 3 pts at 5 sites in spleen, hilar and mediastinal lymphnodes where positive in FDG -PET. DWIBS was positive in 2 pts at 4 sites in iliac and inguinal lymphnodes that are negative in FDG -PET. In extranodal lesions, DWIBS was positive in 12 pts at 17 sites as compared to 12 pts at 18 sites with FDG -PET. Involvement of bone and stomach were equally identified at 8 sites. DWIBS was negative in 2 pts at 2 sites in liver and pleura with FDG -PET positive. Small skin lesions were clearly identified on DWIBS. Discordance of clinical staging was not observed between DWIBS and FDG -PET. Conclusions: Although some discrepancy was seen between DWIBS and FDG -PET, there was no disadvantage of DWIBS compared to FDG -PET. Furthermore, DWIBS has no risk of radiation exposure and is even advantageous to detect lesions with FDG -PET negative. We conclude DWIBS is a new useful tool to assess tumor spread in lymphomas.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Epigenetic silencing of prostaglandin E receptor 2 (PTGER2) is associated with progression of neuroblastomas

We previously identified a cluster of prostanoid receptor genes, prostaglandin D2 receptor (PTGDR) and prostaglandin E receptor 2 (PTGER2), as possible targets for DNA methylation in advanced types of neuroblastoma (NB) using bacterial artificial chromosome array-based methylated CpG island amplification method. Among them, in this study, we found that PTGER2 was frequently silenced in NB cell lines, especially in those with MYCN amplification, through epigenetic mechanisms. In NB cell lines, DNA methylation pattern within a part of CpG island was inversely correlated with PTGER2 expression, and histone H3 and H4 deacetylation and histone H3 lysine 9 methylation within the putative promoter region were more directly correlated with silencing of this gene. Methylation of PTGER2 was observed more frequently in advanced-type of primary NBs compared with early-stage tumors. Growth of NB cells lacking endogenous PTGER2 expression was inhibited by restoration of the gene product by transient and stable transfection. A PTGER2-selective agonist, butaprost, increased intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level, inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis of NB cells stably expressing exogenous PTGER2. 8-Bromo-cAMP also inhibited growth of NB cells lacking PTGER2 expression, but not cells expressing this gene. Taken together, it is suggested that NB cells may lose responsiveness to PTGER2-mediated growth inhibition/apoptosis through epigenetic silencing of PTGER2 and/or disruption of downstream cAMP-dependent pathway during the neuroblastomagenesis.

Determination of the s-wave scattering length and the C6 van der Waals coefficient of 174Yb via photoassociation spectroscopy

We report photoassociation spectroscopy of 174Yb for the 1S(0)-1P1 transition at 1 microK, where only the s-wave scattering state contributes to the spectra. The wave function of the s-wave scattering state is obtained from the photoassociation efficiency, and we determine that the C6 potential coefficient is 2300+/-250 a.u. and the s-wave scattering length is 5.53+/-0.11 nm. Based on these parameters, we discuss the scattering properties of s- and d-wave states.

344 FOLLICULAR FLUIDS COLLECTED FROM LARGE FOLLICLES IMPROVED THE PROGRESSION OF IN VITRO NUCLEAR MATURATION OF PIG OOCYTES

The present study examined the effects of supplementation of in vitro maturation medium with porcine follicular fluids (pFFs) on the progression of nuclear maturation, subsequent fertilization, and development of pig oocytes. The pFFs were collected from follicles of different diameters: small follicles (SFs, 3–4 mm in diameter) and large follicles (LFs, 5-6 mm). In experiment 1, oocytes were collected from follicles 3–6 mm in diameter. The oocytes were cultured in maturation medium (NCSU-37) supplemented (10% v/v) with pFF from SFs (SpFF) or LFs (LpFF); the kinetics of nuclear maturation, fertilization rate, and developmental competence of oocytes were evaluated. In experiment 2, oocytes were collected from SFs or LFs, and the effects of supplementation of SpFF and LpFF on the nuclear maturation of these oocytes were examined. In experiment 3, each pFF was denaturated by heat treatment (60�C for 30 min) or trypsin treatment (200 �g mL-1), and the effects of these pFFs on the nuclear maturation of pig oocytes were examined. In experiment 4, pFFs were ultrafiltered, and separated into fractions greater and less than 30 kDa; the effects of the separated pFFs on nuclear maturation were examined. We used Student&apos;s t-test to examine the differences among the results; a P value less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. In experiment 1, the progression of nuclear maturation was significantly faster when the maturation medium was supplemented with LpFF than with SpFF (MI rates at 36 h after culture: LpFF, 20.0%, and SpFF, 35.0%; MII rates at 36 h after culture: LpFF, 33.3%, and SpFF, 20.0%). The rates of polyspermic fertilization were significantly lower in the maturation medium with LpFF than in that with SpFF (LpFF, 31.7%; SpFF, 66.7%). Moreover, the rates of monospermic fertilization (LpFF, 45.0%; SpFF, 21.7%) and blastocyst formation (LpFF, 15.2%; SpFF, 3.0%) were significantly greater in the medium supplemented with LpFF than with SpFF. In experiment 2, we observed that LpFF accelerated the progression of nuclear maturation of pig oocytes collected from LFs (MII rates at 36 h after culture: LpFF, 61.7%; SpFF, 35.5%), but not those collected from SFs (MII rates at 36 h after culture: LFs, 15.0%; SFs, 11.7%). In experiment 3, the accelerating effect of pFF on nuclear maturation was eliminated by heat (MII rates at 36 h after culture: LpFF, 30.0%; SpFF, 25.0%) or trypsin treatment (MII rates at 36 h after culture: LpFF, 20.0%; SpFF, 21.7%). In experiment 4, only LpFF with a molecular weight greater than 30 kDa had positive effects on the progression of nuclear maturation (MII rates at 36 h after culture with LpFF: &gt;30 kDa, 30.0%; &lt;30 kDa, 11.7%). The present study suggests that LpFF contains some proteins that improve the progression of nuclear maturation and the developmental competence of oocytes.

Enzymatic synthesis of arbutin undecylenic acid ester and its inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase

A novel tyrosinase inhibitor, an arbutin derivative having undecylenic acid at the 6-position of its glucose moiety, was enzymatically synthesized. Its inhibitory activity was studied in vitro by using catechol and phenol as substrates. The IC(50) value of the arbutin ester on tyrosinase using catechol (4 x 10(-4) M) was 1% of that when arbutin (4 x 10(-2) M) was used. Using phenol, IC(50) of the arbutin ester (3 x 10(-4) M) as substrate was 10% of that of arbutin (3 x 10(-3) M). These results suggest that the arbutin ester inhibits the latter part of the tyrosinase reaction, which consists of hydroxylation and oxidation.

Fetal pleuroamniotic shunting for bronchopulmonary sequestration with hydrops

Bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS), a non-functional pulmonary tissue mass, when complicated by fetal hydrops, carries a high risk of perinatal mortality. However, a limited number of cases of BPS complicated by fetal hydrops with an informative clinical course have been reported. We report here on three cases of BPS complicated by fetal hydrothorax and hydrops that were successfully treated by pleuroamniotic shunting, which should be considered as a treatment option for fetal hydrothorax and hydrops associated with BPS.

Effects of Endogenous and Exogenous Prostaglandin E2on the Proliferation and Differentiation of a Mouse Cementoblast Cell Line (OCCM-30)

BACKGROUND

Cementum formation is considered to be a critical event for successful regeneration of periodontal tissues. Cementoblasts share many characteristics with osteoblasts. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is an important local factor in bone metabolism. Although the effects of PGE(2) on osteoblasts are well known, its effects on cementoblasts have not yet been established. We examined the effects of PGE(2) on proliferation and differentiation in a mouse cementoblast cell line, OCCM-30 cells.

METHODS

OCCM-30 cells were treated with three concentrations of PGE(2) (10, 100, and 1,000 ng/ml). Cell number, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and expression for mineralization-related genes were determined. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) ligand (RANKL) expression were also examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The addition of PGE(2) at the highest dose used in this study suppressed cell proliferation of OCCM-30 cells. The expression of mineralization-related marker mRNA, such as type 1 collagen, ALP, bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin (OCN), was constitutively detected in OCCM-30 cells. PGE(2) dose dependently stimulated ALP activity and BSP-mRNA expression in OCCM-30 cells at day 3. Transcripts for OPG and RANKL and the protein level of OPG in culture media were upregulated with PGE(2) stimulation.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that PGE(2) suppressed cementoblast proliferation but stimulated ALP activity and the BSP-mRNA level, suggesting a role of PGE(2) in controlling cementoblast differentiation, and further indicate that PGE(2) modulates RANKL and OPG expression in cementoblasts; the increase of OPG secreted from cementoblasts with PGE(2) stimulation may be essential to protect the root surface from resorption.

Periostin is frequently overexpressed and enhances invasion and angiogenesis in oral cancer

Oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common types of human cancer. Typically OSCC cells show persistent invasion that frequently leads to local recurrence and distant lymphatic metastasis. We previously identified Periostin as the gene demonstrating the highest fold change expression in the invasive clone by comparing the transcriptional profile of parent OSCC cell line and a highly invasive clone. Here, we demonstrated that Periostin overexpression enhanced invasiveness in oral cancer cell lines. To know the role of Periostin in invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis in OSCC cases, we first examined the expression of Periostin mRNA in 31 OSCC cases by RT-PCR and Periostin protein in 74 OSCC cases by immunohistochemistry. Then, we compared the Periostin expression with invasion pattern, metastasis and blood vessel density. Periostin mRNA and protein overexpression were frequently found in OSCC cases and Periostin expression was well correlated with the invasion pattern and metastasis. Moreover, blood vessel density of Periostin-positive cases was higher than those of Periostin-negative cases. Interestingly, recombinant Periostin enhanced capillary formation in vitro in a concentration-dependant manner. In summary, these findings suggest that Periostin may promote invasion and angiogenesis in OSCC, and that Periostin can be a strong marker for prediction of metastasis in oral cancer patients.

Apoptosis-independent Poor Morphology of Bovine Embryos Produced by Multiple Ovulation

In multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in cattle, a considerable number of morphologically poor-quality embryos continue to be produced; this is one of the limiting factors of the technique. Apoptosis has often been implicated in developmental arrest and fragmentation; these are regarded as poor traits of embryonic quality in mammalian pre-implantation embryos. In the present study, apoptosis was assessed in morphologically poor-quality embryos in comparison with good-quality embryos that were recovered from a MOET programme. Retarded embryos (two to 16 cell stage), morulae with severe fragmentation and morphologically good-quality morulae recovered from superstimulated cows at day 7 post-insemination were subjected to TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) and Hoechst staining. Cell nuclei that showed both TUNEL staining and apoptotic morphology were considered to be apoptotic. Apoptotic index (AI) was calculated as the percentage of apoptotic cells per embryo. Fifteen of 17 retarded embryos and 10 of 15 morphologically poor-quality morulae did not show signs of apoptosis. The mean AIs in the morphologically poor-quality embryos (two to 16 cell stage, 2.2%; poor morulae, 1.3%) were as low as that in the good-quality embryos (2.9%). These results suggest that another mode of developmental arrest and/or fragmentation that is independent of apoptosis occurs in morphologically poor-quality embryos recovered from MOET programmes.

MRI findings of haematomyelia in a dog with spontaneous systemic haemorrhage

A 7-year-old female cross-breed dog was brought to Nihon University Animal Medical Center for investigation of tetraplegia. Lameness in the pelvic limbs, that had developed 2 weeks previously, had progressed to tetraplegia. On magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord, isointensity was detected from C2 to C4 and T12 to T13, isointensity and hyperintensity were intermingled from L3 to L4, and hyperintensity was detected from L5 to L7 by T1-weighted imaging. On T2-weighted imaging, hyperintensity was detected in all regions described above. The dog recovered from anaesthesia, but died during the day from systemic bleeding as the result of a coagulopathy of unknown aetiology. Histopathological examination revealed haematomyelia in these regions of the spinal cord. This is the first report of magnetic resonance imaging findings of haematomyelia in canine spontaneous systemic haemorrhage. It appeared that the differences in the findings of T1-weighted imaging along the spinal regions reflected time-lags in the occurrence of bleeding.

Ubiquitin-dependent degradation of SnoN and Ski is increased in renal fibrosis induced by obstructive injury

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a critical role in the progression of renal fibrosis. The activity of TGF-beta is tightly controlled by various mechanisms, among which antagonizing Smad-mediated gene transcription by co-repressors represents one of the important components. We investigated the expression, degradation, and ubiquitination of Smad transcriptional co-repressors SnoN (ski-related novel gene N) and Ski (Sloan-Kettering Institute proto-oncogene) in renal fibrogenesis. We also studied the involvement of Smad-ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) in ubiquitination of SnoN protein. The kidneys of mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and those of sham-operated mice were used. Renal lesions and the expression of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, SnoN, Ski, and Smurf2 were examined by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and/or real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Degradation and ubiquitination of SnoN/Ski proteins were also investigated. The obstructed kidneys of UUO mice showed progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis, high expression levels of TGF-beta1, type I collagen, SnoN and Ski mRNAs, and low levels of SnoN and Ski proteins. Both degradation and ubiquitination of SnoN/Ski proteins were markedly increased in the obstructed kidneys, in which Smurf2 expression was increased. Smurf2 immunodepletion in extracts of obstructed kidneys resulted in reduced ubiquitination of SnoN. Our results suggest that the reduction of SnoN/Ski proteins resulting from increased ubiquitin-dependent degradation is involved in the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Characteristics of periodontal ligament subpopulations obtained by sequential enzymatic digestion of rat molar periodontal ligament

Periodontal ligament (PDL) consists of different cell populations in various differentiation stages. In the present study, we isolated cell populations from rat molar PDL by sequential enzymatic digestion and characterized growth potential and mineralization activity of the PDL subpopulations (PDL-SP) to throw light on the mechanism of PDL remodeling and, in its turn, periodontal tissue regeneration. PDL attached to extracted rat molars was digested 2 mg/ml collagenase and 0.25% trypsin at 37 degrees C for 30 min. Then four consecutive digestions were performed for 20 min each in a fresh digestive solution. The solutions were centrifuged to collect released cells and 5 PDL subpopulations (30M-, 50M-, 70M-, 90M-and 110M-PDL-SP) were obtained. Light microscopic observation showed that about a half of PDL in width attached on the root surface of extracted teeth and 30M-PDL-SP was considered to contain cells mainly from middle portion of PDL. Scanning electron microscopic examination indicated that 110M-PDL-SP was enriched by root lining cementoblastic cells. 30M-PDL-SP showed a high level of proliferative activity. Although the growth potential of a subpopulation decreased in PDL-SP toward the root surface, 110M-PDL-SP had a high proliferative activity equivalent to that of 30M-PDL-SP. Analyses of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mineralization activities showed that higher activities in PDL-SP toward the surface of roots and that 110M-PDL-SP had the highest activity of ALP and the largest number of mineralization nodules. The present study shows as supposed by previous studies on cell kinetics in PDL that subpopulations with larger growth potential were generally located in the middle portion of PDL and those with higher mineralization activities toward the surface of the roots. It is suggested, however, that a possible pathway of PDL cell turnover may exist within the PDL-SP on the root surface in addition to the generally recognized pathway from the middle area of PDL to root surface.

The clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid lipid peroxides in central nervous system disease

Forty-four dogs were referred to our hospital presenting with neurological symptoms such as seizure or paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormal results in 21 (abnormal MRI group) and normal results in 23 dogs (normal MRI group). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (normal MRI group, n = 22; abnormal MRI group, n = 21) and serum lipid peroxide (LP) concentrations (normal MRI group, n = 11; abnormal MRI group, n = 15) were measured in a number of these dogs, and revealed a significant difference in the CSF/serum LP values (normal MRI group, n = 10; abnormal MRI group, n = 14) between the abnormal and the normal MRI groups (t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test p < 0.05). No other significant differences were observed. CSF/serum LP values exceeding 1.0 were exhibited in 10 of 14 dogs (71%) in the abnormal MRI group, and in 1 of 10 dogs (10%) in the normal MRI group. In the remaining animals, 4 dogs of the abnormal MRI group showed CSF/serum values lower than 1.0, 3 dogs had morphological abnormalities but no abnormal MRI signals in the central nervous system, and 1 dog had an abnormal MRI signal but no pathological abnormality. In the CSF analysis, 3 of 16 dogs (19%) of the abnormal MRI groupshowed abnormal cell counts and/or protein content. We conclude that the CSF/serum LP value can be used for the detection of neurological lesions such as oedema, inflammation and tumour.

Three-dimensional dynamic hip contact area and pressure distribution during activities of daily living

Estimation of the hip joint contact area and pressure distribution during activities of daily living is important in predicting joint degeneration mechanism, prosthetic implant wear, providing biomechanical rationales for preoperative planning and postoperative rehabilitation. These biomechanical data were estimated utilizing a generic hip model, the Discrete Element Analysis technique, and the in vivo hip joint contact force data. The three-dimensional joint potential contact area was obtained from the anteroposterior radiograph of a subject and the actual joint contact area and pressure distribution in eight activities of daily living were calculated. During fast, normal, and slow walking, the peak pressure of moderate magnitude was located at the lateral roof of the acetabulum during mid-stance. In standing up and sitting down, and during knee bending, the peak pressures were located at the edge of the posterior horn and the magnitude of the peak pressure during sitting down was 2.8 times that of normal walking. The peak pressure was found at the lateral roof in climbing up stairs which was higher than that in going down stairs. These results can be used to rationalize rehabilitation protocols, functional restrictions after complex acetabular reconstructions, and prosthetic component wear and fatigue test set up. The same model and analysis can provide further insight to soft tissue loading and pathology such as labral injury. When the pressure distribution on the acetabulum is inverted onto the femoral head, prediction of subchondral bone collapse associated with avascular necrosis can be achieved with improved accuracy.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal hydrometrocolpos secondary to a cloacal anomaly by magnetic resonance imaging

Fetal female urogenital anomalies are often difficult to evaluate by ultrasonography, especially in late gestation. We report a case of fetal hydrometrocolpos detected at 35 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography revealed a large retrovesical septate hypoechogenic mass in the fetal abdomen, however the sonographic findings were inconclusive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed that the abdominal mass was fluid-filled with a mid-plane septum in the midline posterior to the bladder, and showed a connection to the dilated uterus that was duplicated. These findings were consistent with a diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos with septate vagina and uterus didelphys. The neonate showed abdominal distension, ambiguous genitalia and anal atresia with a single perineal opening. Hydrometrocolpos was secondary to a urethral type of cloacal anomaly. Aspiration of the mass and a colostomy were performed on the first postnatal day, followed by anorectoplasty at 19 months of age. MRI is a useful complementary tool for assessing fetal urogenital anomalies when ultrasonography is inconclusive.

Subdural accumulation of fluid in a dog after the insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt

A dog with hydrocephalus as a result of aqueduct stenosis and cerebellar herniation underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Magnetic resonance images and computed tomography scans taken after the surgery revealed subdural accumulations of haemorrhagic fluid and cereberocortical collapse caused by overshunting and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the site of insertion of the shunt. However, the degree of cerebellar herniation was reduced after the shunt was inserted, and the dog did not develop any neurological signs and made good progress.

Cytological basis for enhancement of radiation-induced mortality by Friend leukaemia virus infection

PURPOSE

To analyse the cytological basis for enhancement of radiation-induced mortality by Friend leukaemia virus infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cellularity in haematopoietic tissues of C3H mice infected with FLV and/or whole-body irradiation was examined.

RESULTS

When mice were treated with a sublethal dose (3 Gy) of irradiation at 1 week after virus infection, most manifested a severe loss of cellularity in the spleen, bone marrow and peripheral blood 2 weeks after irradiation. More than 90% of the mice died within 1 month post-irradiation. However, this deleterious effect of virus infection on the survival of irradiated mice was observed only when they were irradiated at around 1 week after virus inoculation. Strain differences in the sensitivity to this effect were observed among virus-sensitive strains of mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that Friend leukaemia virus infection can cause enhancement of radiation sensitivity of haematopoietic cells in host animals in a restricted manner in terms of genetic background and the interval between infection and irradiation.

Determination of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in human serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Concentrations of mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP), and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), in serum of healthy volunteers were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The serum was extracted with acetone, followed by hexane extraction under acidic conditions, and then applied to the LC/MS/MS. Recoveries of 20 ng/ml of MEHP and DEHP were 101+/-5.7 (n=6) and 102+/-6.5% (n=6), respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQ) of MEHP and DEHP in the method were 5.0 and 14.0 ng/ml, respectively. The concentration of MEHP in the serum was at or less than the LOQ. The concentration of DEHP in the serum was less than the LOQ. Contaminations of MEHP and DEHP from experimental reagents, apparatus and air during the procedure were less than the LOQ and were estimated to be <1.0 and 2.2+/-0.6 ng/ml, respectively. After subtraction of the contamination, the net concentrations of MEHP and DEHP in the serum were estimated at or <5 and <2 ng/ml, respectively. To decrease contamination by DEHP, the cleanup steps and the apparatus and solvent usage were minimized in the sample preparation procedures. The high selectivity of LC/MS/MS is the key for obtaining reliable experimental data from in the matrix-rich analytical samples and for maintaining a low level contamination of MEHP and DEHP in this experimental system. This method would be a useful tool for the detection of MEHP and DEHP in serum.

Expression of IAP family proteins in colon cancers from patients with different age groups

Members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family including survivin, are expressed in many tumors. However, age-related changes in their expression in cancer have not been clarified. Thus, we investigated the expression of mRNA-coding for IAP family proteins in colon cancer samples from young (<70 years of age) and elderly (>70 years) patients by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Samples were collected from cases with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and their adjacent normal epithelial tissue. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma tended to express higher levels of survivin than normal mucosa, and expression in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly greater than in normal mucosa in samples from both groups of patients ( p<0.05, respectively). When samples were compared between the different age groups, the normal mucosa exhibited similar levels of survivin expression. However, samples from older patients showed a significantly higher level of expression than those from younger patients in well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas ( p<0.05, respectively). In contrast, the levels of expression of cIAP1, cIAP2, and NAIP in the cancerous tissues were lower than those found in normal mucosa regardless of age. As for age-related changes, the expression of cIAP2 in normal mucosa and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was stronger in the elderly group than the young group ( p<0.05, respectively), and NAIP expression in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma was higher in the young group than the elderly group ( p<0.05). XIAP expression was similar in normal and cancerous tissues in both the young and elderly groups. These results suggest that the expression of IAP family proteins, especially survivin, is associated with the age-related biological characteristics of colon cancer.

Cerebellar Focal Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis in a Dog: Clinical Findings and MR Imaging

The authors encountered a dachshund dog, presenting vestibular disorder. On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, a mass showing isointensity on the T1- and T2-weighted images and enhanced by contrast medium, was observed in the right cerebellum. In addition, the periphery of the mass showed isointensity on the T1-weighted image and hyperintensity on the T2-weighted image, suggesting sever oedema. Although the dog underwent surgery, it died. The mass was diagnosed pathologically as a granulomatous meningoencephalitis.