Ceramide and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase are two novel regulators of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 expression and activity in cultured preadipocytes

Increased activity of intracellular glucocorticoid reactivating enzyme, 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) in obese adipose tissue contributes to adipose dysfunction. As recent studies have highlighted a potential role of preadipocytes in adipose dysfunction, we tested the hypothesis that a variety of metabolic stress mediated by ceramide or AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) would regulate 11beta-HSD1 in preadipocytes. The present study is the first to show that 1) expression of 11beta-HSD1 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was robustly induced when cells were treated with cell-permeable ceramide analogue C(2) ceramide, bacterial sphingomyelinase, and sphingosine 1-phosphate, 2) 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR)-induced activation of AMPK augmented the expression and enzyme activity of 11beta-HSD1, and 3) these results were reproduced in human preadipocytes. We demonstrate for the first time that C(2) ceramide and AICAR markedly induced the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) beta and its binding to 11beta-HSD1 promoter. Transient knockdown of C/EBPbeta protein by small interfering RNA markedly attenuated the expression of 11beta-HSD1 induced by C(2) ceramide or AICAR. The present study provides novel evidence that ceramide- and AMPK-mediated signaling pathways augment the expression and activity of 11beta-HSD1 in preadipocytes by way of C/EBPbeta, thereby highlighting a novel, metabolic stress-related regulation of 11beta-HSD1 in a cell-specific manner.

Two patients with intraspinal germinoma associated with Klinefelter syndrome: case report and review of the literature

We report 2 cases of intraspinal germinoma associated with Klinefelter syndrome. In one patient, spinal cord atrophy was observed at the upper and lower ends of the intraspinal tumor. Brain atrophy was observed in both cases. Germinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis if an intraspinal tumor is observed in a patient with Klinefelter syndrome.

White matter abnormalities in the anterior temporal lobe suggest the side of the seizure foci in temporal lobe epilepsy

INTRODUCTION

White matter abnormalities in the anterior temporal lobe (WAATL) are sometimes observed on magnetic resonance (MR) images of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Our purpose was to determine whether WAATL could indicate if the seizure foci are ipsilateral on electroencephalograms (EEG) in TLE patients.

METHODS

We reviewed 112 consecutive patients with medically intractable TLE. We compared the side of seizure foci on EEG (preoperative and intraoperative) and MR images.

RESULTS

Both loss of gray-white matter demarcation and increased signal intensity changes in the anterior white matter (positive WAATL) were observed in 54 of 112 patients (48.2%) with TLE. WAATL were present on the same side as the seizure foci on preoperative intracranial EEG with subdural electrodes (iEEG) and on intraoperative electrocorticography (ECG) in all the patients. In 47 patients, MR images showed WAATL and focal lesions that were possibly epileptogenic for TLE. In 2 of the 47 patients, the seizure foci on iEEG and ECG were contralateral to the focal lesion; in the remaining 45 patients, the seizure foci on surface EEG (sEEG) and ECG and the focal lesion were on the same side. In three patients, no focal lesions were seen but WAATL were present on the same side as the seizure foci on sEEG and ECG. In four patients, MR images showed focal lesions for which epileptogenicity was questionable, and WAATL on the same side as the seizure foci on EEG.

CONCLUSION

WAATL are clinically useful because they indicate the side of the seizure foci.

Flow in a Tube with an Aneurysmal Sac: Effect of Aneurysm and Stent

Ruptured saccular aneurysms were severe condition for intracerebral Condition. And the cause for their rupture is not yet clear. In this study (I), since the configurations of aneurysms are considered to be a factor for the rupture of aneurysms, several shapes has been modeled using

Aspect ratio AR and inclination angle of saccular aneurysms. In vitro the parametric study has been conducted on the range of Reynolds Number in human blood flow for aneurismal models of AR=2.1 and 1.3 and q =90° and 70°, As results, it was con firme d that there are characteristic flow patterns with Reynolds Number, And that the aneurismal configuration has effects on the shear stress and pressure losses. II) The object of this paper is to study the effects of STENTS. We made the model of aneurysm and performed in vitro study in range of Reynolds number of human blood flows using three kinds of STENTS. As results, it was confirmed that flow pattern and pressure loss changes with the kinds of STENTS. This study aims the accumulation of data to predict the hazard of aneurysmal rupture by their shapes and STENTS.

Mini-incision posterior approach for total hip arthroplasty

We compared the short-term outcomes of 50 total hip arthroplasties performed through a mini-incision posterior approach with those of 42 arthroplasties performed through a conventional posterior approach. There were no significant differences in age, gender, and bodymass index between groups. The mean operative time was shorter (99+/-26 versus 123+/-30 min), and the peroperative mean blood loss was smaller with the mini-incision (339+/-210 versus 422+/-177 ml). There was no significant difference between groups in post-operative mean blood loss, mean inclination angle of acetabular components, percentage of hips with good inclination angle, and mean hip score at 6 months after surgery. There was one infection in the conventional group but none in the mini group. There were no dislocations or symptomatic pulmonary embolism in either group. With the mini-incision posterior approach, surgical invasion was reduced, and short-term outcome was as good as with a conventional posterior approach.

Z and W chromosomes of chickens: studies on their gene functions in sex determination and sex differentiation

Since the discovery of SRY/SRY as a testis-determining gene on the mammalian Y chromosome in 1990, extensive studies have been carried out on the immediate target of SRY/SRY and genes functioning in the course of testis development. Comparative studies in non-mammalian vertebrates including birds have failed to find a gene equivalent to SRY/SRY, whereas they have suggested that most of the downstream factors found in mammals including SOX9 are also involved in the process of gonadal differentiation. Although a gene whose function is to trigger the cascade of gene expression toward gonadal differentiation has not been identified yet on either W or Z chromosomes of birds, a few interesting genes have been found recently on the sex chromosomes of chickens and their possible roles in sex determination or sex differentiation are being investigated. It is the purpose of this review to summarize the present knowledge of these sex chromosome-linked genes in chickens and to give perspectives and point out questions concerning the mechanisms of avian sex determination.

Split chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in Chediak-Higashi syndrome

Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) is a hereditary multiorgan disease associated with a lymphoproliferative disorder termed 'accelerated phase' (AP). As AP is often life-threatening, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been proposed as the only curative treatment for CHS. Here, we report a 1-year-old Japanese boy with CHS who received an HLA-matched unrelated BMT at the AP stage, which resulted in split chimerism. We evaluated the chimerism status of isolated leukocytes and found that only a limited population of T and NK cells was of donor origin and the majority of these and other hematopoietic cells was of host origin. Clinical outcome was successful, and the patient is currently alive and well, free of AP and serious infections more than 18 months after BMT.

High-resolution structures of a chitinase complexed with natural product cyclopentapeptide inhibitors: mimicry of carbohydrate substrate

Over the past years, family 18 chitinases have been validated as potential targets for the design of drugs against human pathogens that contain or interact with chitin during their normal life cycles. Thus far, only one potent chitinase inhibitor has been described in detail, the pseudotrisaccharide allosamidin. Recently, however, two potent natural-product cyclopentapeptide chitinase inhibitors, argifin and argadin, were reported. Here, we describe high-resolution crystal structures that reveal the details of the interactions of these cyclopeptides with a family 18 chitinase. The structures are examples of complexes of a carbohydrate-processing enzyme with high-affinity peptide-based inhibitors and show in detail how the peptide backbone and side chains mimic the interactions of the enzyme with chitooligosaccharides. Together with enzymological characterization, the structures explain why argadin shows an order of magnitude stronger inhibition than allosamidin, whereas argifin shows weaker inhibition. The peptides bind to the chitinase in remarkably different ways, which may explain the differences in inhibition constants. The two complexes provide a basis for structure-based design of potent chitinase inhibitors, accessible by standard peptide chemistry.

Absence of Z-chromosome inactivation for five genes in male chickens

In order to examine if Z-chromosome inactivation, which is analogous to X-chromosome inactivation in mammals, takes place in male birds having ZZ sex chromosomes, five Z-linked genes of chickens which are expressed in both sexes in certain tissues were selected: i.e. genes for growth hormone receptor, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta3, aldolase B, beta1,4-galactosyltransferase I, and iron-responsive element-binding protein (also known as cytosolic aconitase). Antisense or sense riboprobe was prepared from an intronic sequence of each gene and subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization to nascent transcripts of each gene in a nucleus. Each antisense riboprobe hyridized to two spots of nascent RNA which corresponded to its gene loci on the two Z chromosomes in a majority of nuclei in a tissue of the male. The efficiency of detection of two spots per nucleus was comparable to that for the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, an autosomal housekeeping gene. These results suggest strongly that Z-chromosome inactivation, i.e. virtual silence of transcription at one of the alleles, does not take place for these five Z-linked genes in male chickens.

Failure of low-dose radiosurgery to control temporal lobe epilepsy

Radiosurgical treatment of intractable epilepsy has emerged as a noninvasive alternative to resection. Although gamma knife surgery (GKS) reportedly is effective when the radiation dose is sufficient to cause a destructive reaction in the targeted medial temporal lobe, the optimal target area and dose distribution are largely unknown. Some investigators have suggested that focused irradiation from a nondestructive dose is also effective. In this article the authors report two cases of medial temporal lobe epilepsy in which the patients underwent GKS performed using a 50% marginal dose of 18 Gy covering the amygdala. hippocampal head and body, and parahippocampal gyrus. In both cases this procedure failed to control seizures. Both patients became seizure free after undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy 30 and 16 months, respectively, after radiosurgery.

[A case of multiple emphysematous bullae treated with living-donor lung transplantation from identical twin brothers]

A 30-year-old man with multiple emphysematous bullae and bronchiectasis was admitted to Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital because of exertional dyspnea and fever. His chest radiograph and CT scan revealed multiple large bullae in the right lung and infiltrative shadows in the left middle lung field. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from his sputum culture. Although standard therapies including various antibiotics were administered, his respiratory condition was exacerbated, accompanied with the enlargement of bullae in the right lung and the consequent shift of the mediastinum to the left. The patient and his family proposed lung transplantation, and we concluded that lung transplantation would be an appropriate treatment for his disease. We transported the patient to Osaka University Hospital. Living-donor lung transplantation from the patient's identical twin brothers was successfully performed.

[Clinical significance of measurement of urinary leukotriene E4 in asthmatic patients without attack]

To evaluate clinical significance of measurement of urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) in asthmatic patients without attack, we measured urinary LTE4 in 68 asthmatic patients without attack and investigated its correlation with severity of asthma, % FEV1, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and peripheral eosinophil counts. Values of urinary LTE4 were significantly higher in the asthmatic patients (113.6 +/- 9.7 pg/mg.cr) than in healthy control subjects (67.8 +/- 4.7, n = 31), and the level of urinary LTE4 was in proportion to the severity of disease. Urinary LTE4 showed significant negative correlation with % FEV1 in atopic patients (Rs = -0.43, p = 0.025, n = 28), which was not recognized in non-atopic patients. Urinary LTE4 showed no significant correlation with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and peripheral eosinophil counts. Our findings suggested that basal LTE4 in urine reflected chronic airway inflammation of asthma.

[A case with left mesial temporal lobe epilepsy characterized by abnormal massive salivation]

A 26-year-old woman was admitted because of a 12-year history of intractable epileptic seizures. Every seizure began with an upper abdominal discomfort, and often followed by massive salivation. Whenever the epileptic salivation happened, the patient lost consciousness, and sometimes she developed generalized convulsions. In terictal sphenoidal EEG recordings revealed abnormal discharges in the left mesial temporal region. MRI demonstrated left hippocampal atrophy. Since her seizures were medically intractable, left temporal lobectomy was performed. Neuropathologic examination revealed hippocampal sclerosis. After the operation, she became completely seizure-free with no episode of massive salivation. From the literature, epileptic salivation can originates from the rolandic area; fronto-orbital cortex & cingulate gyrus; insula & operculum; and mesial temporal structures. The abnormal massive salivation in our patient might be attributable to the activation of frontal limbic system triggered by hippocampal abnormal firing during the ictal period of TLE.

[Examination of eye position after strabismus surgery in Kawasaki Medical School Hospital]

PURPOSE

To examine the factors which affect changes in the position of the eyes following the strabismus surgery.

METHODS

The postoperative position of 240 eyes with concomitant strabismus was examined. The factors which seemed to have an effect on the position of the eyes were enumerated, and a logistic regression analysis of the results was done.

RESULTS

In comparison with esotropia, in exotropia the eyes showed a tendency to return gradually to a normal position. There was no remarkable improvement in stereoscopic vision following strabismus surgery. Based on the standards of the Japanese Association of Strabismus and Amblyopia [the cure standard for strabismus], the results of strabismus surgery were as follows: Grade 1(cosmetically satisfactory) was mainly observed for esotropia, and Grade 3(good) for exotropia. The factors which had a significant effect on the postoperative position of the eyes were as follows: esotropia amblyopia, muscle movement, and operative methods; exotropia: retinal correspondence, operative methods, and the necessity of inferior oblique muscle surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

There was little correction of the position of the eyes. In individual cases, the factors which affect position of eyes were examined, and it was considered necessary to increase the amount of correction. Age is a factor which has an effect, but the effect on esotropia and exotropia is small.

Inhibition of NFATx activation by an oligopeptide: disrupting the interaction of NFATx with calcineurin

Calcium-dependent phosphatase calcineurin (CN) regulates the activation and nuclear translocation of NFAT. We identify here a novel CN-binding motif in one member of the NFAT family, NFATx, and a peptide based on this motif, Pep3. Pep3 binds CN and competes with wild-type NFATx for CN interaction. Amino acid mutations within Pep3 show that multiple amino acid residues are required for the effective functions of Pep3. Ectopic expression of Pep3 in a Th clone via a retrovirus-mediated gene transfer could selectively block the nuclear translocation of endogenous NFATx, whereas it had little effect on the nuclear translocation of another member of the NFAT family, NFATp. Furthermore, in transfection experiments, Pep3 also blocked the nuclear translocation of transfected NFATx, but not NFATp, in the B cell line M12, demonstrating specific inhibition of Pep3 for NFATx. Importantly, several cytokines produced by the T cell clone were severely repressed by ectopic Pep3, and indeed, the production of these cytokines was enhanced by the expression of wild-type NFATx. Our results show selective inhibition of NFATx activation and cytokine expression by Pep3 and suggest a new approach for studying the biology of each NFAT family member. This approach may provide an opportunity for pharmacological targeting of Ca(2+)-dependent signaling events.

[Pathology of intractable epilepsy with regard to surgical treatment]

There have recently been a number of new pathological findings of specimens from epileptic foci that have increasingly been highlighted as opportunities for surgical treatment. These findings include a wide range from hippocampal sclerosis-related lesions of temporal lobe epilepsy to newly established malformative lesions. As to the former, special interest has been paid to additional knowledge regarding the pathology inside and outside the medial temporal regions, such as the significance of 1) accumulation of corpora amylacea in hippocampal sclerotic lesions, 2) dispersion of the granular layer of the dentate gyrus, 3) various pathologic features in the lateral temporal lobe, and 4) dual pathology in extratemporal areas. As increasing opportunities for surgical treatment of intractable epilepsy, new categories of malformative lesions are being established, including focal cortical dysplasia and microdysgenesis, the latter of which can be diagnosed only by pathological examination after surgery. In the field of surgical pathology of epilepsy patients, further clues to clarify the pathomechanism of epilepsy remain to be discovered.

A case of false median cleft of upper lip with IV-A holoprosencephaly that underwent cheiloplasty at 2.5 years of age

Holoprosencephaly results from the incomplete development of midline structures within the cerebrum and encompasses a series of abnormalities of mid-facial development. Here, we report a case of male holoprosencephaly associated with false median cleft of upper lip. This patient belonged clinically to the DeMyer's group IV holoprosencephaly, semilobar type. An infant with this type of holoprosencephaly has been thought to die generally within 1 to 2 years after birth and to rarely benefit from an operation. In this case, the patient had cheiloplasty at the age of 2.5 years at the request of his parents and he lives currently, being 3 years and 2 months old.

Trehalose suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced osteoclastogenesis bone marrow in mice

We have previously shown that trehalose suppresses bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice by way of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow. Also, trehalose inhibits the secretion of interleukin-6 in bone marrow cell cultures, resulting in a decrease in osteoclast formation. In this study, we examined the effect of trehalose on osteoclastogenesis using another model of bone resorption, namely lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated osteoclast induction. Mice were given trehalose (1g/kg) by gastric intubation for 5 consecutive days, and 24 hours later, 14 mg/kg of LPS was injected intraperitoneally. Trehalose significantly suppressed LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production after 90 min and decreased the number of osteoclasts in the bone marrow 48 hours after LPS injection. These results indicate that trehalose suppresses excessive osteoclastogenesis not only in OVX mice but also in a LPS-induced bone resorption mouse model and further suggest that the latter finding may be mediated at least in part through a decrease in TNF-alpha production.

Cytoplasmic and nuclear polyglutamine aggregates in SCA6 Purkinje cells

Aggregations of the alpha1A-calcium channel protein have been previously demonstrated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). Here the authors show that small aggregates, labeled by a monoclonal antibody 1C2 that preferentially detects expanded polyglutamine larger than that in SCA6 mutation, are present mainly in the cytoplasm but also in the nucleus of Purkinje cells. Although the length of expansion is small in SCA6, the current finding might indicate that SCA6 conforms to the pathogenic mechanism(s) in other polyglutamine diseases.

Adenocarcinoma complicating Barrett's esophagus: an analysis of cell proliferation

In Japan, cases of Barrett's esophagus with concurrent adenocarcinoma are relatively rare. We report herein a case of long-segment Barrett's esophagus-associated adenocarcinoma in a 72-year-old Japanese man. The surgical specimen showed that an ulcerating tumor, measuring 5.5 x 3.9 cm, was present in the lower esophagus adjacent to the esophagogastric junction, the background lower esophagus having an erythematous appearance. Histologically, the ulcerating tumor was a well-to-moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, with a small area of signet ring cell carcinoma invading the adventitia. In addition, the esophageal epithelium was replaced by columnar epithelium (9.5 cm in length) with multifocal dysplastic changes. Immunohistochemically, the number of Ki-67-positive cells gradually increased, moving from the normal gastric mucosa (mean Ki-67 labeling index [mKLI], 2.6%) through Barrett's epithelium (mKLI, 12.9%), low-grade dysplasia (mKLI, 16.9%), and high-grade dysplasia (mKLI. 23.7%) to invasive carcinoma, in that order, with labeling higher in the invasive tubular adenocarcinoma elements (mKLI, 40.5%) than in areas of signet ring cell carcinoma (mKLI, 20.4%). Findings in our patient suggest that increased cellular proliferation plays an integral part, in the progression of Barrett's metaplasia to adenocarcinoma. The collection of further cases for analysis will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Nefiracetam metabolism by human liver microsomes: role of cytochrome P450 3A4 and cytochrome P450 1A2 in 5-hydroxynefiracetam formation

An in-vitro study was conducted to investigate the metabolism of nefiracetam in human liver microsomes and to identify the enzymes responsible for the metabolism. Nefiracetam was hydroxylated by human liver microsomes to 5-hydroxynefiracetam (5-OHN). Eadie-Hofstee plots for the formation of 5-OHN suggested substrate activation. The kinetic parameters, apparent Km, Vmax, and Hill coefficient, for the formation of 5-OHN by pooled human liver microsomes were 4012 microM, 2.66 nmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1), and 1.65, respectively. The formation of 5-OHN was significantly correlated with cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4-mediated testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity and dextromethorphan N-demethylase activity. The 5-OHN formation was inhibited (94%) by antibody to human CYP3A4/5. The 5-OHN formation was also inhibited by the CYP3A4 inhibitors ketoconazole and troleandomycin, but not significantly inhibited by several other P450 inhibitors. The microsomes containing cDNA-expressed CYP3A4 formed 5-OHN with sigmoidal kinetics. CYP3A5-containing microsomes did not form 5-OHN. These results indicated that CYP3A, most likely CYP3A4, was the major isozyme responsible for the formation of 5-OHN in human liver microsomes. CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 microsomes were also capable of forming 5-OHN. However, the contribution of CYP1A2 was considered to be relatively minor compared with that of CYP3A4, and the contribution of CYP2C19 was assumed to be negligible, based on the result of the immunoinhibition study and taking into account both the turnover rate by each isozyme and the relative abundance of each isozyme in human liver. We conclude that on average the formation of 5-OHN, the major metabolite of nefiracetam, is principally mediated by CYP3A4 with a relatively minor contribution by CYP1A2.

Surgical indication for refractory childhood epilepsy

Recent progress in surgical intervention for medically refractory epilepsy has helped to shed light on more complex epileptogenic problems in children and infants. Surgical treatment increasingly is being used in pediatric patients, but the indications for surgery in this age group have not been well defined. The developing child with a seizure disorder has several problems that are different from adults, such as neural plasticity, deleterious effects of seizures on developmental status, and spontaneous resolution of epilepsy. The critical age for irreversible brain dysfunction and the timing of surgery are the main issues for the treatment of children. Thus, earlier surgical intervention is generally recommended to prevent further detrimental seizure effects, but we still do not know the optimal age. Until the establishment of guidelines for pediatric epilepsy surgery, surgical indications should be determined by the prognosis and the presence of a resectable epileptogenic focus, which in turn are based on the localization of the epileptic focus, seizure frequency, severity, and cognitive function of each case, rather than just the patient's age.

DOPA cyclohexyl ester, a competitive DOPA antagonist, protects glutamate release and resultant delayed neuron death by transient ischemia in hippocampus CA1 of conscious rats

In rat striata, DOPA released is a causal factor for glutamate release and resultant delayed neuron death by four-vessel occlusion. Nanomolar DOPA cyclohexyl ester (CHE), a potent and relatively stable competitive DOPA antagonist, protects these events. We tried to clarify whether DOPA CHE protects these events in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell layers most vulnerable against ischemia. Five to 10 min ischemia caused slight to mild glutamate release in 10 min samples during microdialysis and mild to severe neuron death 96 h after reperfusion. DOPA and dopamine were under assay limit in this design, but were basally detected by 20 min sampling and released by 20 min ischemia. In 10 min samples, intrahippocampal perfusion of 100 nM DOPA CHE 10 min before ischemia for 70 min did not inhibit glutamate release by 10 min ischemia, while it abolished glutamate release and protected delayed neuron death by 5 min ischemia. DOPA CHE is neuroprotective under a mild ischemic condition in rat hippocampus CA1.

Endogenously released DOPA is a causal factor for glutamate release and resultant delayed neuronal cell death by transient ischemia in rat striata

Glutamate is implicated in neuronal cell death. Exogenously applied DOPA by itself releases neuronal glutamate and causes neuronal cell death in in vitro striatal systems. Herein, we attempt to clarify whether endogenous DOPA is released by 10 min transient ischemia due to four-vessel occlusion during rat striatal microdialysis and, further, whether DOPA, when released, functions to cause glutamate release and resultant delayed neuronal cell death. Ischemia increased extracellular DOPA, dopamine, and glutamate, and elicited neuronal cell death 96 h after ischemic insult. Inhibition of striatal L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase 10 min before ischemia increased markedly basal DOPA, tripled glutamate release with a tendency of decrease in dopamine release by ischemia, and exaggerated neuronal cell death. Intrastriatal perfusion of 10-30 nM DOPA cyclohexyl ester, a competitive DOPA antagonist, 10 min before ischemia, concentration-dependently decreased glutamate release without modification of dopamine release by ischemia. At 100 nM, the antagonist elicited a slight ceiling effect on decreases in glutamate release by ischemia and protected neurons from cell death. Glutamate was released concentration-dependently by intrastriatal perfusion of 0.3-1 mM DOPA and stereoselectively by 0.6 mM DOPA. The antagonist elicited no hypothermia during and after ischemia. Endogenously released DOPA is an upstream causal factor for glutamate release and resultant delayed neuronal cell death by brain ischemia in rat striata. DOPA antagonist has a neuroprotective action.

Cutting edge: chromatin remodeling at the IL-4/IL-13 intergenic regulatory region for Th2-specific cytokine gene cluster

During the differentiation of naive Th cells into Th2 effector cells, the entire IL-4/IL-13 locus is remodeled into an accessible chromatin conformation. Here we show that ectopic expression and activation of Stat6 or GATA-3 in Th cells developing under Th1-polarizing conditions lead to the induction of chromatin remodeling not only at the flanking regions of the IL-4 and IL-13 genes but also at the IL-4/IL-13 intergenic regulatory region for the IL-4/IL-13/IL-5 gene cluster. Furthermore, we demonstrate that GATA-3 and another Th2-specific, inducible protein complex interact with the IL-4/IL-13 intergenic DNase I hypersensitive region specifically in Th2 cells.

The molecular basis of T helper 1 and T helper 2 cell differentiation

Cytokines such as interleukin 12 (IL-12) and IL-4 are dominant factors in driving the development of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells, respectively, through specific signalling pathways. In addition, it has been demonstrated more recently that T helper-cell-specific transcription factors exist that determine the commitment of Th1 and Th2 cells for the production of distinct profiles of cytokines. In addition to the expression of distinct cytokine genes and transcription factors, the molecular basis for commitment to a Th1 or Th2 phenotype can probably be explained by multiple mechanisms, including differential cytokine signalling, exclusive cytokine receptor expression, differential expression of transcription factors and/or differential chromatin remodelling of Th1- and Th2-specific genes.

The Hairy and Enhancer of Split homologue-1 (HES-1) mediates the proliferative effect of 17beta-estradiol on breast cancer cell lines

The mechanism behind hormone dependent growth of breast cancer is presently not well understood. We show that the HES-1 protein level in the breast cancer cell lines T47D and MCF-7 is down regulated by 17beta-estradiol treatment. This regulation could be reversed by addition of the anti-estrogens 4OH tamoxifen, raloxifen and Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) 182,780. In T47D cells with inducible exogenous HES-1 expression, induced expression of HES-1 protein prevented the proliferative effect of 17beta-estradiol and subsequent up regulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). An inverse correlation between the HES-1 and PCNA protein levels respectively was found in colon cancer cell lines. These findings point to a potential role of HES-1 as a tumor suppressor in epithelial cells, and as a mediator of 17beta-estradiols proliferative effect on breast cancer cells.

Cortical dysplasia with ossification

We present the first case of cortical dysplasia with extensive intracerebral ossification. An eight-year-old epilepsy patient with a calcified lesion was successfully treated by surgical intervention. Pathological examination revealed a number of bizarre dysplastic cells in the whole lesion, which consisted of an epileptogenic cerebral cortex and a nonepileptogenic hamartomatous lesion with adipose tissue, vascular tissue, calcification, and ossification. The patient was diagnosed as having cortical dysplasia with ossification. Our findings support the notion that cortical dysplasia has a multipotentiality of cellular differentiation, including various hamartomatous tissues. We suggest that cortical dysplasia should be considered as a potential cause for epileptogenicity of a hamartomatous lesion even when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fails to disclose cortical dysplasia.

[A case of primary Sjögren's syndrome with interstitial pneumonia showing bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia pattern and lymphofollicular formation]

A 46-year-old woman with a 2-year history of xerostomia, who had had an episode of suspected Sjögren's syndrome in 1995, was admitted to our hospital because of a dry cough. Chest radiography on admission showed ground-glass infiltrates and reticular shadows in both lower lung fields. Primary Sjögren's syndrome was diagnosed by lip biopsy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsies revealed the co-existence of interstitial pneumonia with the BOOP pattern and follicular bronchiolitis. Treatment with oral prednisolone improved the symptoms, and reduced the abnormal chest shadows. This was an interesting case of the BOOP pattern in a lung lesion associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

[Acute eosinophilic pneumonia induced by cigarette smoking: positive lymphocyte stimulation test of a cigarette extract]

A 21-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with high fever, general fatigue and dyspnea. Chest radiography on admission showed diffuse bilateral infiltrate shadows with Kerley's B lines, and a CT scan showed patches of infiltrates with thickened interlobular septa in both lungs. Examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the clinical course led to a diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient improved without steroid therapy. We suspected that the disease was related to smoking because the patient had started smoking seven days before the onset of the symptoms. Because a lymphocyte stimulation test gave a positive reaction to a cigarette extract, a challenge test was done. After this, the patient had fever and hypoxemia. These findings suggest that cigarette smoking induces acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

Presence of human herpesvirus 6 and herpes simplex virus detected by polymerase chain reaction in surgical tissue from temporal lobe epileptic patients

We investigated the presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in surgical tissue from temporal lobe epileptic patients. A total of 17 cases were studied, including eight males and nine females. The mean age was 24.9 +/- 11.1 years and the mean age of onset was 11.1 +/- 5.4 years. Five patients were diagnosed as encephalitis/meningitis and another three had a history of suspected encephalitis/meningitis, but no patient showed any obvious neurological symptom or mental handicap. Mesial and lateral temporal tissues were examined by polymerase chain reaction. Among six patients positive for HHV-6 (35%), the mesial temporal lobe was positive in four and the lateral temporal lobe was positive in three. Herpes simplex virus was positive in only one patient. Three of the six patients positive for HHV-6 did not show any apparent causes. Mild encephalitis/meningitis induced by HHV-6, a condition sometimes not recognized as encephalitis/meningitis, may be one of the most frequent causes of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Argadin, a new chitinase inhibitor, produced by Clonostachys sp. FO-7314

A new chitinase inhibitor, designated as argadin (1), was isolated from the cultured broth of a fungal strain FO-7314. The strain was identified as Clonostachys sp. from the morphological characteristics. Argadin was purified from the cultured mycelium by a combination of cation exchange, adsorption and gel filtration chromatographic methods. The structure of argadin was elucidated as cyclo(Nomega-acetyl-L-arginyl-D-prolyl-homoseryl-histidyl-L- 2-aminoadipyl) in which homoseryl gamma-methylene bonded to histidyl alpha-amino residue. The IC50 value of argadin against Lucilia cuprina (blowfly) chitinase was 150 nM at 37 degrees C and 3.4 nM at 20 degrees C. Argadin arrested the moult of cockroach larvae upon injection into the ventral abdominal part.