[Two bedridden patients with bone metastases from breast cancer effectively treated with pamidronate therapy]

Case 1: A 43-year-old woman underwent mastectomy because of locally advanced breast cancer with multiple bone metastases. She was treated with CMF therapy but developed a compression fracture of a thoracic vertebra after 10 months and received pamidronate therapy. Pamidronate administration relived her back pain after 2 months and she was able to walk again after 3 months. However, she developed a resistance to the treatment, and then refused another treatment. She was found to have hypercalcemia 6 months later and received pamidronate again, but died 9 months after the treatment. Case 2: A 52-year-old woman underwent mastectomy because of breast cancer (T2) and was diagnosed as having multiple bone metastases 24 months after the operation. She could not turn over in bed due to progressing bone pain and received pamidronate therapy with CMF therapy at home 23 months after the diagnosis. After 2 months, pamidronate administration relieved her bone pain and she was free of pain after 4 months. After 5 months, X-rays revealed that lytic lesions showed sclerosis, and the pamidronate therapy was assessed as producing a PR. Pamidronate therapy improved her quality of life and activities of daily living, and she continues to receive it this time as an outpatient. Pamidronate therapy is promising as an effective treatment for bedridden patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer.

Changes in mint1, a novel synaptic protein, after transient global ischemia in mouse hippocampus

Mints (munc18-interacting proteins) are novel multimodular adapter proteins in membrane transport and organization. Mint1, a neuronal isoform, is involved in synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Its potential effects on development of ischemic damage to neurons have not yet been evaluated. The authors examined changes in mint1 and other synaptic proteins by immunohistochemistry after transient global ischemia in mouse hippocampus. In sham-ischemic mice, immunoreactivity for mint1 was rich in fibers projecting from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus and in the mossy fibers linking the granule cells of the dentate gyrus to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Munc18-1, a binding partner of mint1, was distributed uniformly throughout the hippocampus, and synaptophysin 2, a synaptic vesicle protein, was localized mainly in mossy fibers. After transient global ischemia, mint1 immunoreactivity in mossy fibers was dramatically decreased at 1 day of reperfusion but actually showed enhancement at 3 days. However, munc18-1 and synaptophysin 2 were substantially expressed in the same region throughout the reperfusion period. These findings suggest that mint1 participates in neuronal transmission along the excitatory pathway linking the entorhinal cortex to CA3 in the hippocampus. Because mint1 was transiently decreased in the mossy fiber projection after ischemia, functional impairment of neuronal transmission in the projection from the dentate gyrus to CA3 pyramidal neurons might be involved in delayed neuronal death.

Construction of a generalized simulator for multi-cellular organisms and its application to SMAD signal transduction

In this paper, we report development of a generalized simulation system based on ordinary differential equations for multi-cellular organisms, and results of the analysis on a Smad signal transduction cascade. The simulator implements intra-cellular and extra-cellular molecular processes, such as protein diffusion, ligand-receptor reaction, biochemical reaction, and gene expression. It simulates the spatio-temporal patterning in various biological phenomena for the single and multi-cellular organisms. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of the simulator, we constructed a model of Drosophila's Smad signal transduction, which includes protein diffusion, biochemical reaction and gene expression. The results suggest that the presence of negative feedback mechanism in the Smad pathway functions to improve the frequency response of the cascade against changes in the signaling.

Loss of function of a rice brassinosteroid insensitive1 homolog prevents internode elongation and bending of the lamina joint

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant growth-promoting natural products required for plant growth and development. Physiological studies have demonstrated that exogenous BR, alone or in combination with auxin, enhance bending of the lamina joint of rice. However, little is known about the function of endogenous BR in rice or other grass species. We report here the phenotypical and molecular characterization of a rice dwarf mutant, d61, that is less sensitive to BR compared to the wild type. We cloned a rice gene, OsBRI1, with extensive sequence similarity to that of the Arabidopsis BRI gene, which encodes a putative BR receptor kinase. Linkage analysis showed that the OsBRI1 gene is closely linked to the d61 locus. Single nucleotide substitutions found at different sites of the d61 alleles would give rise to amino acid changes in the corresponding polypeptides. Furthermore, introduction of the entire OsBRI1 coding region, including the 5' and 3' flanking sequences, into d61 plants complemented the mutation to display the wild-type phenotype. Transgenic plants carrying the antisense strand of the OsBRI1 transcript showed similar or even more severe phenotypes than those of the d61 mutants. Our results show that OsBRI1 functions in various growth and developmental processes in rice, including (1) internode elongation, by inducing the formation of the intercalary meristem and the longitudinal elongation of internode cells; (2) bending of the lamina joint; and (3) skotomorphogenesis.

[A case of effective chemotherapy using CAF followed by docetaxel for advanced breast cancer]

A huge mass measuring 13 x 12 cm and wide cutaneous edema were detected in the right breast of a 51-year-old woman. Under a diagnosis of locally advanced breast cancer (T4bN2M1, stage IV) with liver metastases, we attempted sequential neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After three courses of CAF therapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (DXR), 5-FU), the primary tumor was decreased by 56% and the liver metastases had disappeared. A minor pathologic response was observed. Subsequently, three courses of docetaxel (TXT) administration were carried out. The primary tumor was then decreased by 75% and the axillary metastases had disappeared. Histopathological examination showed gross viable tumor cells in the residual tumor and positive axillary lymph nodes. The only toxic effect was nausea (grade 1) and no major adverse effects were observed. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with sequential DXR followed by TXT is a useful treatment for locally advanced breast cancer.

Solution Properties of Star-Shaped Polystyrenes Having Peripheral Charged Ions

Functionalized polystyrene stars were prepared by copolymerization of polystyryl lithium with divinylbenzene in a mixture of benzene/tetrahydropyran, where the polystyrene arms were prepared by anionic polymerization using [2-[(N,N-dimethylamino)-methyl]phenyl]lithium as the initiator. These functional stars were converted by quaternization with methyl iodide into polystyrene stars having peripheral positive charges. We studied the charge effects on the solution properties of such stars. The hydrodynamic dimension of peripheral charged polystyrene (PS) stars depended strongly on the solubility parameter between PS segments and solvent. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Loss of function of a rice brassinosteroid insensitive1 homolog prevents internode elongation and bending of the lamina joint

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant growth-promoting natural products required for plant growth and development. Physiological studies have demonstrated that exogenous BR, alone or in combination with auxin, enhance bending of the lamina joint of rice. However, little is known about the function of endogenous BR in rice or other grass species. We report here the phenotypical and molecular characterization of a rice dwarf mutant, d61, that is less sensitive to BR compared to the wild type. We cloned a rice gene, OsBRI1, with extensive sequence similarity to that of the Arabidopsis BRI gene, which encodes a putative BR receptor kinase. Linkage analysis showed that the OsBRI1 gene is closely linked to the d61 locus. Single nucleotide substitutions found at different sites of the d61 alleles would give rise to amino acid changes in the corresponding polypeptides. Furthermore, introduction of the entire OsBRI1 coding region, including the 5' and 3' flanking sequences, into d61 plants complemented the mutation to display the wild-type phenotype. Transgenic plants carrying the antisense strand of the OsBRI1 transcript showed similar or even more severe phenotypes than those of the d61 mutants. Our results show that OsBRI1 functions in various growth and developmental processes in rice, including (1) internode elongation, by inducing the formation of the intercalary meristem and the longitudinal elongation of internode cells; (2) bending of the lamina joint; and (3) skotomorphogenesis.

Quantitative correlation between initial dissolution rate and heat of fusion of drug substance

The initial dissolution rates of amorphous, partial crystalline and crystalline samples of terfenadine polymorphs (forms I and II) were measured by the rotating disk method. The heats of fusion due to crystalline fraction of samples were obtained by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data taking into account the heat of crystallization and the heat capacity change at glass transition during the heating process. The logarithms of initial dissolution rates of different crystallinity samples were linearly correlated with the corrected heats of fusion, irrespective of the crystal forms.

[A case of effective bisphosphonate therapy of sequential pamidronate and incadronate for bone metastases from breast cancer]

A 55-year-old woman complained of neck pain ten years after undergoing surgery. She was diagnosed as having bone metastases and treated using pamidronate therapy with doxifluridine, tamoxifen and fadrozole, which was assessed as effective. She complained of neck pain 32 months after pamidronate infusion. CT revealed that the sclerosis had continued but new lytic lesions were detected in the cervical vertebra. Thus, we attempted incadronate and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) administration. After 2 months, incadronate therapy with MPA relieved her neck pain. CT revealed lytic lesions of cervical vertebra showing sclerosis 3 months after this treatment and the sclerosis has continued. Bisphosphonate therapy of sequential pamidronate and incadronate with MPA administration is a useful treatment for bone metastasis from breast cancer.

[Auditory cortical response to monaural stimulation as detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging]

In order to confirm the crossed-innervation between auditory cortex and the ear that receives monosyllabic sound, the auditory cortical response to monaural monosyllabic stimulation as detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was investigated in six normal hearing subjects. Stimulus amplitude averaged 95 dBSPL at the distal end of the audio system. A series of 440 echo planar images was acquired during the acoustic stimulation within the four OFF-ON cycle paradigm. Five image series with 10 slices were collected within each OFF or On period. Each scanning session began with four baseline images before the OFF-ON paradigm. Monosyllabic sounds were presented monaurally during the ON period at a rate of one monosyllable/sec. Functional MRI data were analyzed with SPM99b software (Statistical Parametric Mapping). The background scanner noise averaged 97dBSPL. The selicon ear plug and headphone as acoustic shields attenuated the noise as much as 17 dB. A broad and intense auditory cortical response was observed bilaterally in response to monaural monosyllable stimulation. Sound presentation to the right ear was followed by a larger response in the left auditory cortex than in the right, and left ear stimulation evoked a larger response in the right auditory cortex than in the left. This pattern was consistent in all subjects examined. The primary auditory cortex responded to monosyllabic words presented to the contralateral ear. The results confirmed the crossed-innervation between the auditory cortex and ear for listening to monosyllables. Functional MRI is a useful tool for investigating auditory cortex function, if the scanner noise is adequated controlled.

Quantitative correlation between initial dissolution rate and heat of solution of drug

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to estimate the initial dissolution rate of drug substances by isothermal microcalorimetry. A theory was presented on the basis of Gibbs free energy and the Noyes-Whitney equation.

METHODS

Polymorphic forms and quenched glass of indomethacin, and some different crystallinity samples of terfenadine were used. The heats of solution of samples were measured by isothermal microcalorimetry. The initial dissolution rates of samples were measured by rotating disk method at 25 degrees C.

RESULTS

Each drug showed a linear correlation between the heats of solution and the logarithms of initial dissolution rate, irrespective of their different crystal structure, such as polymorphic forms and crystallinity. The logarithms of initial dissolution rates were well correlated with the degree of crystallinity obtained by the isothermal microcalorimetry.

CONCLUSIONS

The initial dissolution rates of drug substances could be estimated quantitatively from the heats of solution as estimated from the present theory. Isothermal microcalorimetry was extremely useful for the estimation of the initial dissolution rates of polymorphs and of partially crystalline samples.

Plasma endotoxin and serum cytokine levels in patients with alcoholic hepatitis: relation to severity of liver disturbance

BACKGROUND

Endotoxin plays an important role in the initiation and aggravation of alcoholic liver disease. In this study, we evaluated plasma endotoxin levels and serum concentrations of cytokines and lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) during the acute and recovery phase of patients with alcoholic hepatitis; we also explored the prognostic factors associated with a fatal outcome.

METHODS

Fourteen patients, consisting of eight patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH), five cirrhotics with superimposed AH (LC+AH), and one patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH), were studied. Among these, two with LC+AH died of hepatic failure.

RESULTS

Plasma endotoxin levels in the acute phase were higher in patients with AH (184.4 +/- 159.4 pg/ml) and LC+AH (206.9 +/- 174.9 pg/ml) than in healthy subjects (10.4 +/- 5.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001). In particular, in one patient with SAH and one of two nonsurvivors, plasma endotoxin levels were markedly high relative to the other cases. In most survivors, plasma endotoxin levels decreased in the recovery phase, whereas they further increased at the terminal stage in one of two nonsurvivors. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in the acute phase were significantly higher in patients with AH and LC+AH as compared with healthy subjects. These levels were especially high in nonsurvivors and in one patient with SAH. IL-10 increased in two nonsurvivors, one patient with SAH, and one with LC+AH. In the recovery phase, these cytokine levels in survivors tended to decrease, but in nonsurvivors, IL-6 remained high, and IL-8 and IL-10 further increased. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were below the detection limit throughout the course in all patients. Serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) generally was elevated in the acute phase and decreased in the recovery phase in all survivors, but in one of the nonsurvivors, LBP was elevated markedly at the terminal stage. In the acute phase, plasma endotoxin levels were correlated positively with white blood cell counts, neutrophil counts, and serum IL-8. IL-8 was correlated positively with neutrophil counts and negatively with serum cholinesterase, hepaplastin test, and serum albumin levels. IL-6 was correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts, C-reactive protein, and serum total bilirubin and negatively with hepaplastin test and serum total protein levels. Serum LBP was correlated positively with white blood cell and neutrophil counts.

CONCLUSIONS

Endotoxemia and related elevation of IL-8 may play an important role in the activation and migration of neutrophils in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Marked elevation of inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, are related to severity and poor prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis. Serum LBP may serve as an index of inflammatory reaction in alcoholics.

Specific accumulation of polysaccharide-linked hydroxycinnamoyl esters in the cell walls of irregularly shaped and collapsed internode parenchyma cells of the dwarf rice mutant Fukei 71

We examined a novel rice mutant, Fukei 71 (Oryza sativa L.), for alterations in the levels of hydroxycinnamoyl esters that are linked to cell wall polysaccharides and lignin units. In this mutant, a recessive mutation at a single locus caused the collapse of parenchyma cells in the internodes. Light microscopy revealed that the abnormal walls of internode parenchyma cells of Fukei 71 were stained by the Mäule reaction, which is specific for syringyl units in phenolic compounds. These walls were not stained by Wiesner's reagent (phloroglucinol-HCl), which reacts cinnamaldehyde in lignin. Levels of p-coumaric acid (PCA) and ferulic acid (FA) were apparently elevated in the abnormal tissue of the mutant. Western blotting analysis with antibodies specific for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) revealed higher levels of PAL in the abnormal parenchyma tissue of Fukei 71 than in the parenchyma tissue of the parent cultivar Fujiminori. These results and the observation that PAL was produced at a greatly elevated level indicated that the phenylpropanoid pathway that leads to the biosynthesis of polysaccharide-linked FA and PCA was abnormally activated in the irregularly shaped and collapsed internode parenchyma cells, in which the biosynthesis of lignin is normally repressed.

Characterization of XET-related genes of rice

To elucidate the mechanism of internodal elongation in rice (Oryza sativa L.), we analyzed genes encoding xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET), a cell wall-loosening enzyme essential for cell elongation. Four rice XET-related (XTR) genes, OsXTR1, OsXTR2, OsXTR3, and OsXTR4, were isolated and their expression patterns in rice plants determined. The expression of the four XTR genes showed different patterns of organ specificity and responses to several plant hormones. OsXTR1 and OsXTR3 were up-regulated by gibberellin and brassinosteroids, whereas OsXTR2 and OsXTR4 showed no clear response to these hormones. Expression of the four XTR genes was also investigated in elongating internodes at different developmental stages. OsXTR1 and OsXTR3 were preferentially expressed in the elongating zone of internodes, while OsXTR2 and OsXTR4 were expressed in nodes and in the divisional and elongating zones of internodes. In three genetic mutants with abnormal heights, the expression of OsXTR1 and OsXTR3 correlated with the height of the mutants, whereas no such correlation was observed for OsXTR2 and OsXTR4. Based on these observations, we discuss the roles that OsXTR1 and OsXTR3 may play in internodal elongation in rice.

Endolymphatic hydrops induced by chronic administration of vasopressin

Recently, many lines of evidence have supported the possibilities that vasopressin (VP) is closely linked to the formation of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease. In the present study, it was examined whether or not the chronic administration of VP might induce endolymphatic hydrops. For this purpose, histological studies and VP radioimmunoassay were independently performed in 20 and 40 guinea pigs, respectively. The degree of hydrops was quantitatively assessed by the increase ratio (IR) of the scala media area in the mid-modiolar sections of the cochlea. The IR was defined by the following equation: 100x(A-B)/B (A: the cross-sectional area of the bulging scala media; B: the no-bulging scala media, enclosed by an idealized straight Reissner's membrane). VP was administered at the rates of 200 microU/kg/min, 400 microU/kg/min and 1000 microU/kg/min for 1 week via the osmotic mini-pump. The IR of the total of the apical, second, third and basal turns (means+/-S.D.s) were 4.4+/-0.7, 10.4+/-1.8, 17.4+/-7.9 (n=10 ears, each) in respective doses of VP. Comparing with that of the control animals (5.2+/-1.7, n=10 ears), the area increased significantly in the VP dosage of 400 and 1000 microU/kg/min (Bonferroni's method, P<0.05). Plasma VP concentrations produced by the VP administration in these dosages were 2.2+/-0.4, 3.5+/-0.8 and 14.0+/-3.9 (n=10, each) pg/ml. Although 3.5 pg/ml is the upper limit of plasma VP concentration in normal human subjects, 14.0 pg/ml was almost the same concentration as those observed in the acute phase of Meniere's disease (Takeda et al., 1995). Therefore, the formation of endolymphatic hydrops in cases of Meniere's disease might be caused by high concentrations of plasma VP.

Effects of endolymphatic-perilymphatic fistula on endolymphatic hydrops in guinea pig

The endolymphatic-perilymphatic shunt operation between the scala media and scala tympani was performed in 22 guinea pigs with endolymphatic hydrops induced by the silver nitrate injection method 2 months before the operation. Two (n = 10), 7 (n = 6), and 28 (n = 6) days after the operation, the condition of the fistula and the inner ear pathology were studied histopathologically. In half of the animals, the fistula was open, whereas in the other half, the fistula was closed. In the group examined after 2 postoperative days, the animals with open fistulas showed a slight collapse of Reissner's membrane, which might indicate that excess endolymph escaped through the fistula into the scala tympani. In the groups examined later, especially in the group examined after 28 postoperative days, the animals showed distention of hydrops despite preservation of the fistula. Moderate-to-severe degenerative changes of the organ of Corti, macula sacculi, and stria vascularis were observed in the vicinity of the fistula. We conclude from this study that the endolymphatic-perilymphatic fistula created inside the cochlea apparently was not sufficient to reduce the hydrops. Rather, it caused degenerative changes of the inner ear structure. This type of surgery is not suitable for Meniere's disease.

Effect of chronic (-)-nicotine treatment on rat cerebral benzodiazepine receptors

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of (-)-nicotine on cerebral benzodiazepine receptors (BzR) with radiotracer methods. The effect of (-)-nicotine on BzR was examined in in vitro studies using chronic (-)-nicotine-treated rats using 3H-diazepam. The in vitro radioreceptor assay showed a 14% increase in the maximum number of binding sites of BzR in chronic (-)-nicotine-treated rats in comparison with the control rats. Moreover, a convenient in vivo uptake index of 125I-iomazenil was calculated and a higher uptake of the radioactivity was observed in the chronic (-)-nicotine-treated group than in the control group. Although further studies of the mechanism of (-)-nicotine on such BzR changes are required, an increase in the amount of BzR in the cerebral cortex was found in rats that underwent chronic (-)-nicotine treatment, and this result contributed to the understanding of the effects of (-)-nicotine and smoking on neural functions.

C-type natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity in the rat inner ear

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a member of the atrial natriuretic peptide family (ANP family). The family also includes ANP and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). These peptides regulate the homeostasis of body fluid and blood pressure as a neuropeptide in the central nervous system as well as a cardiac hormone in the periphery. We have recently reported the expression of CNP mRNA in the inner ear. To assess the possible physiological role of CNP in the inner ear, we investigated the localization of CNP peptide in the rat inner ear by immunohistochemistry at the light and electron microscopic level. CNP-like immunoreactivity was widely distributed in the secretory and the neuronal portion of the inner ear, i.e. the spiral ligament, the dark cell region of the utriculus, the epithelium of the endolymphatic sac, the spiral ganglion cells and the vestibular ganglion cells. The results suggest that CNP may play a role in the homeostasis of the perilymph and endolymph and may also influence nerve activities in the inner ear.

Regional expression of the rice KN1-type homeobox gene family during embryo, shoot, and flower development

We report the isolation, sequence, and pattern of gene expression of members of the KNOTTED1 (KN1)-type class 1 homeobox gene family from rice. Phylogenetic analysis and mapping of the rice genome revealed that all of the rice homeobox genes that we have isolated have one or two direct homologs in maize. Of the homeobox genes that we tested, all exhibited expression in a restricted region of the embryo that defines the position at which the shoot apical meristem (SAM) would eventually develop, prior to visible organ formation. Several distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns were observed for the different genes in this region. After shoot formation, the expression patterns of these homeobox genes were variable in the region of the SAM. These results suggest that the rice KN1-type class 1 homeobox genes function cooperatively to establish the SAM before shoot formation and that after shoot formation, their functions differ.

Initiation of shoot apical meristem in rice: characterization of four SHOOTLESS genes

The regulatory mechanism of shoot apical meristem (SAM) initiation is an important subject in developmental plant biology. We characterized nine recessive mutations derived from four independent loci (SHL1-SHL4) causing the deletion of the SAM. Radicles were produced in these mutant embryos. Concomitant with the loss of SAM, two embryo-specific organs, coleoptile and epiblast, were lost, but the scutellum was formed normally. Therefore, differentiation of radicle and scutellum is regulated independently of SAM, but that of coleoptile and epiblast may depend on SAM. Regeneration experiments using adventitious shoots from the scutellum-derived calli showed that no adventitious shoots were regenerated in any shl mutant. However, small adventitious leaves were observed in both mutant and wild-type calli, but they soon became necrotic and showed no extensive growth. Thus, leaf primordia can initiate in the absence of SAM, but their extensive growth requires the SAM. An in situ hybridization experiment using a rice homeobox gene, OSH1, as a probe revealed that shl1 and shl2 modified the expression domain of OSH1, but normal expression of OSH1 was observed in shl3 and shl4 embryos. Accordingly, SHL1 and SHL2 function upstream of OSH1, and SHL3 and SHL4 downstream or independently of OSH1. These shl mutants are useful for elucidating the genetic program driving SAM initiation and for unraveling the interrelationships among various organs in grass embryos.

[A case of adriamycin and methotrexate-resistant recurrent breast cancer treated with doxifluridine and mitomycin C]

A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with local recurrence and cervical lymph node and bone metastases 55 months after surgery for breast cancer. She was treated with goserelin acetate and tamoxifen but the disease was assessed as progressive after 8 months. Five courses of CMF therapy were performed but lung, pleural and mediastinal lymph node metastases were detected. Then, five courses of CAF therapy were carried out, but a contralateral breast metastasis was detected and the patient complained of shortness of breath. The CAF therapy was assessed as PD. We attempted administration of doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) and mitomycin C (MMC) on an outpatient basis. After 6 months, no progressive disease was detected and she was relieved of her shortness of breath. The combination therapy was assessed as long NC. Combination therapy with 5'-DFUR and MMC is thus a useful treatment for adriamycin- and methotrexate-resistant breast cancer, especially in terms of quality of life.

Intraoperative mitomycin C in endolymphatic sac surgery for Ménière's disease: A pilot study

The long-term results of endolymphatic sac (ES) shunt surgery in Ménière's disease have been reported to be unsatisfactory compared to the short-term results, probably because of fibrosis and/or reclosure of the incised ES. To solve this problem, we tried to apply mitomycin C (MMC) intraoperatively to the incised ES as used in trabeculectomy for glaucoma. MMC has an antiproliferative effect as well as an antineoplastic effect. Thus, it is expected that MMC would have a benefit to prevent rapid fibrosis and/or reclosure of the ES. MMC did not show any ototoxicity in our animal study and we started a clinical trial after being approved by the Ethics Committee for Human Research at our university. Fourteen patients with Ménière's disease underwent ES mastoid shunt surgery with intraoperative application of MMC and they were followed up more than 6 months. No patients experienced vertigo, although some complained of slight dizziness. Five patients out of 14 showed remarkable hearing improvement by more than 10 dB, accompanied with decrease of tinnitus.

Simulation of genetic interaction for Drosophila leg formation

The formation of Drosophila wings and legs are major research topics in Drosophila development, and several hypotheses, such as the polar-coordinate model and the boundary model, has been proposed to explain mechanisms behind these phenomena. A series of recent studies have revealed complex interaction among genes involved in establishing three principal axes (A-P, D-V, and P-D) of leg formation. In this paper, we present a simulation system for leg formation, simulating the genes interactions involved. We use this simulator to investigate a mathematical framework of leg formation which is otherwise well-founded from a molecular perspective. Particularly, we focus on the formation of the expression patterns of dpp, wg, dll, dac, al, en, hh and ci genes, which are involved in the development of the third instar Drosophila leg disc. The most interesting part of this research is showing how the coaxial gene expression patterns behind the P-D axis can be formed, and how positional information, as postulated in the polar-coordinate model, can be conveyed to each cell. Our results suggest that P-D axis can be formed by a set of genes with different activation thresholds; the process involves different chemical gradients of dpp and wg products, forming a bi-polar contour. Interestingly, this combination of chemical gradients can specify unique positions of cells for the hemisphere, leaving the A-P axis determiner to decide only whether the cells are anterior or posterior. All in all, our so-called Bi-Polar Model describes axial formation of the leg disc well.

Suppression of the heterotrimeric G protein causes abnormal morphology, including dwarfism, in rice

Transgenic rice containing an antisense cDNA for the alpha subunit of rice heterotrimeric G protein produced little or no mRNA for the subunit and exhibited abnormal morphology, including dwarf traits and the setting of small seeds. In normal rice, the mRNA for the alpha subunit was abundant in the internodes and florets, the tissues closely related to abnormality in the dwarf transformants. The position of the alpha-subunit gene was mapped on rice chromosome 5 by mapping with the restriction fragment length polymorphism. The position was closely linked to the locus of a rice dwarf mutant, Daikoku dwarf (d-1), which is known to exhibit abnormal phenotypes similar to those of the transformants that suppressed the endogenous mRNA for the alpha subunit by antisense technology. Analysis of the cDNAs for the alpha subunits of five alleles of Daikoku dwarf (d-1), ID-1, DK22, DKT-1, DKT-2, and CM1361-1, showed that these dwarf mutants had mutated in the coding region of the alpha-subunit gene. These results show that the G protein functions in the formation of normal internodes and seeds in rice.