Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Real-time Ultrasound Measurements for Hanwoo Cows at Different Ages and Pregnancy Status

The purpose of this study was to estimate genetic parameters of ultrasound measurements for longissimus dorsi muscle area (LMA), backfat thickness (BFT), and marbling score (MS) in Hanwoo cows (N = 3,062) at the ages between 18 and 42 months. Data were collected from 100 Hanwoo breeding farms in Gyeongbuk province, Korea, in 2007 and 2008. The cows were classified into four different age groups, i.e. 18 to 22 months (the first pregnancy period), 23 to 27 (the first parturition), 28 to 32 (the second pregnancy), and 33 to 42 (the second parturition), respectively. For each age group, a multi-trait animal model was used to estimate variance components and heritabilities of the three traits. The averages of LMA, BFT, and MS measurements across the cows of all age groups were 50.1 cm², 4.62 mm, and 3.04, respectively and heritability estimates were 0.09, 0.10, and 0.08 for the respective traits. However, when the data were analyzed in different age groups, heritability estimates of LMA and BFT were 0.24 and 0.47, respectively, for the cows of 18 to 22 months of age, and 0.21 for MS in the 28 to 32 months old cows. When the cows of all age groups were used, the estimates of genetic (phenotypic) correlations were 0.43 (0.35), −0.06 (0.34) and 0.21 (0.32) between LMA and BFT, LMA and MS, and BFT and MS, respectively. However, in the cow age group between 28 and 32 (18 and 22) months, the estimates of genetic (phenotypic) correlations were 0.05 (0.29), −0.15 (0.24) and 0.38 (0.24), for the respective pairs of traits. These results suggest that genetic, environmental, and phenotypic variations differ depending on cow age, such that care must be taken when ultrasound measurements are applied to selection of cows for meat quality.

A Whole Genome Association Study on Meat Quality Traits Using High Density SNP Chips in a Cross between Korean Native Pig and Landrace

A whole genome association (WGA) study was performed to detect significant polymorphisms for meat quality traits in an F₂ cross population (N = 478) that were generated with Korean native pig sires and Landrace dams in National Livestock Research Institute, Songwhan, Korea. The animals were genotyped using Illumina porcine 60k SNP beadchips, in which a set of 46,865 SNPs were available for the WGA analyses on ten carcass quality traits; live weight, crude protein, crude lipids, crude ash, water holding capacity, drip loss, shear force, CIE L, CIE a and CIE b. Phenotypes were regressed on additive and dominance effects for each SNP using a simple linear regression model, after adjusting for sex, sire and slaughter stage as fixed effects. With the significant SNPs for each trait (p<0.001), a stepwise regression procedure was applied to determine the best set of SNPs with the additive and/or dominance effects. A total of 106 SNPs, or quantitative trait loci (QTL) were detected, and about 32 to 66% of the total phenotypic variation was explained by the significant SNPs for each trait. The QTL were identified in most porcine chromosomes (SSCs), in which majority of the QTL were detected in SSCs 1, 2, 12, 13, 14 and 16. Several QTL clusters were identified on SSCs 12, 16 and 17, and a cluster of QTL influencing crude protein, crude lipid, drip loss, shear force, CIE a and CIE b were located between 20 and 29 Mb of SSC12. A pleiotropic QTL for drip loss, CIE L and CIE b was also detected on SSC16. These QTL need to be validated in commercial pig populations for genetic improvement in meat quality via marker-assisted selection.

Detection of QTL for Carcass Quality on Chromosome 6 by Exploiting Linkage and Linkage Disequilibrium in Hanwoo

The purpose of this study was to improve mapping power and resolution for the QTL influencing carcass quality in Hanwoo, which was previously detected on the bovine chromosome (BTA) 6. A sample of 427 steers were chosen, which were the progeny from 45 Korean proven sires in the Hanwoo Improvement Center, Seosan, Korea. The samples were genotyped with the set of 2,535 SNPs on BTA6 that were imbedded in the Illumina bovine 50 k chip. A linkage disequilibrium variance component mapping (LDVCM) method, which exploited both linkage between sires and their steers and population-wide linkage disequilibrium, was applied to detect QTL for four carcass quality traits. Fifteen QTL were detected at 0.1% comparison-wise level, for which five, three, five, and two QTL were associated with carcass weight (CWT), backfat thickness (BFT), longissimus dorsi muscle area (LMA), and marbling score (Marb), respectively. The number of QTL was greater compared with our previous results, in which twelve QTL for carcass quality were detected on the BTA6 in the same population by applying other linkage disequilibrium mapping approaches. One QTL for LMA was detected on the distal region (110,285,672 to 110,633,096 bp) with the most significant evidence for linkage (p<10⁻⁵). Another QTL that was detected on the proximal region (33,596,515 to 33,897,434 bp) was pleiotrophic, i.e. influencing CWT, BFT, and LMA. Our results suggest that the LDVCM is a good alternative method for QTL fine-mapping in detection and characterization of QTL.

An outbreak of lymphomas in a layer chicken flock previously infected with fowlpox virus containing integrated reticuloendotheliosis virus

Visceral lymphomas occurred in a 236-day-old layer flock previously diagnosed with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)-integrated fowlpox virus (FPV) infection at the age of 77 days. Common pathologic lesions were multiple neoplastic nodules of homogeneous lymphocytes in the livers and spleens of all submitted chickens. All neoplastic tissues were positive for the REV envelope (env) gene by PCR. In a retrospective molecular study of FPV-infected 77-day-old chickens from the same flock, we identified nearly full-length REV provirus integrated into the genome of FPV as well as the REV env gene in trachea samples, whereas only the REV LTR region was present in the FPV strain used to vaccinate this flock. The 622-bp REV env gene nucleotide sequence derived from the trachea and neoplastic tissues was identical. Commercial ELISA of serum samples revealed that all chickens aged between 17 and 263 days in this flock were positive for REV but not for avian leukosis virus. Taken together, the evidence suggests that the visceral lymphomas were caused by a REV-integrated FPV field strain. FPV infections of commercial chickens should be followed up by careful monitoring for manifestations of REV infection, including lymphomas and immune depression, considering the ease with which the REV provirus appears to be able to integrate into the FPV genome.

Impairment of the proximal to distal tonic gradient in the human diabetic stomach

BACKGROUND

Little has been known about the contractile characteristics of diabetic stomach. We investigated spontaneous contractions and responses to acetylcholine in the gastric muscle in diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects according to the region of stomach.

METHODS

Gastric specimens were obtained from 26 diabetics and 55 controls who underwent gastrectomy at Samsung Medical Center between February 2008 and November 2011. Isometric force measurements were performed using circular muscle strips from the different regions of stomach under basal condition and in response to acetylcholine.

KEY RESULTS

Basal tone of control was higher in the proximal stomach than in the distal (0.63 g vs 0.46 g, p = 0.027). However, in diabetics, basal tone was not significantly different between the proximal and distal stomach (0.75 g vs 0.62 g, p = 0.32). The distal stomach of diabetics had higher basal tone and lower frequency than that of control (0.62 g vs 0.46 g, p = 0.049 and 4.0/min vs 4.9/min, p = 0.049, respectively). After exposure to acetylcholine, dose-dependent increases of basal tone, peak, and area under the curve (AUC) were noticed in both proximal and distal stomach of the two groups. In the proximal stomach, however, the dose-dependent increase of basal tone and AUC was less prominent in diabetics than in control.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

On the contrary to control, the proximal to distal tonic gradient was not observed in diabetic stomach. Diabetic stomach also had lower frequency of spontaneous contraction in the distal stomach and less acetylcholine-induced positive inotropic effect in the proximal stomach than control.

Degenerative retrolisthesis: is it a compensatory mechanism for sagittal imbalance?

We investigated the spinopelvic morphology and global sagittal balance of patients with a degenerative retrolisthesis or anterolisthesis. A total of 269 consecutive patients with a degenerative spondylolisthesis were included in this study. There were 95 men and 174 women with a mean age of 64.3 years (sd 10.5; 40 to 88). A total of 106 patients had a pure retrolisthesis (R group), 130 had a pure anterolisthesis (A group), and 33 had both (R+A group). A backward slip was found in the upper lumbar levels (mostly L2 or L3) with an almost equal gender distribution in both the R and R+A groups. The pelvic incidence and sacral slope of the R group were significantly lower than those of the A (both p < 0.001) and R+A groups (both p < 0.001). The lumbar lordosis of the R+A group was significantly greater than that of the R (p = 0.025) and A groups (p = 0.014). The C7 plumb line of the R group was located more posteriorly than that of the A group (p = 0.023), but was no different from than that of the R+A group (p = 0.422). The location of C7 plumb line did not differ between the three groups (p = 0.068). The spinosacral angle of the R group was significantly smaller than that of the A group (p < 0.001) and R+A group (p < 0.001). Our findings imply that there are two types of degenerative retrolisthesis: one occurs primarily as a result of degeneration in patients with low pelvic incidence, and the other occurs secondarily as a compensatory mechanism in patients with an anterolisthesis and high pelvic incidence.

Ligand-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ modulates human endometrial cancer cell survival

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women and is a major cause of morbidity contributing to approximately 8,200 annual deaths in the USA. Despite advances to the understanding of endometrial cancer, novel interventions for the disease are necessary given that many tumors become refractory to therapy. As a strategy to identify novel therapies for endometrial carcinoma, in this study, we examined the contribution of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) to endometrial cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. We found that when activated with the highly selective PPARβ/δ agonists, GW0742 and GW501516, PPARβ/δ inhibited the proliferation and markedly induced the apoptosis of three endometrial cancer cell lines. The specificity of the PPARβ/δ-induced effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis was demonstrated using PPARβ/δ-selective antagonists and PPARβ/δ small interfering RNA in combination with PPARβ/δ-selective agonists. Furthermore, we showed that PPARβ/δ activation increased phosphatase and tensin homolog expression, which led to protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) dephosphorylation, and increased β-catenin phosphorylation associated with its degradation. Overall, our data suggest that the antitumorigenic effect of PPARβ/δ activation in endometrial cancer is mediated through the negative regulation of the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway. These findings warrant further investigation of PPARβ/δ as a therapeutic target in endometrial cancer.

Feasibility and efficacy of argon plasma coagulation for early esophageal squamous cell neoplasia

We present 19 cases in which argon plasma coagulation (APC) was used as curative initial treatment for 5 low-grade esophageal squamous intraepithelial neoplasias (ESINs), 12 high-grade ESINs, and 2 early esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs). Complete response was defined as the absence of tumor from any biopsy taken from the ablated lesion. At follow-up endoscopy 2 - 4 months after APC, 94.7 % of patients had achieved complete response in a single treatment session. Only one patient with high-grade ESIN showed local recurrence. This patient underwent additional APC and showed complete response at 12 months after initial APC. At the 12-month follow-up endoscopy, again 94.7 % had a complete response. The exception was one patient with local recurrence, who underwent additional APC. After the 12-month follow-up endoscopy, no patient showed local recurrence during a median follow-up of 22 months. No stricture requiring endoscopic dilation occurred after the procedure. This study suggests that APC is a feasible and effective treatment modality for ESIN and early ESCC.

Natural history of acute upper GI bleeding due to tumours: short-term success and long-term recurrence with or without endoscopic therapy

BACKGROUND

Scant information is available regarding patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) from tumours.

AIM

To determine the presentation, endoscopic findings, treatment and outcomes in patients with UGIB from malignant tumours and identify risk factors associated with rebleeding.

METHODS

Consecutive patients who were hospitalised with haematemesis, melena or haematochezia and underwent upper endoscopy were identified retrospectively by reviewing an endoscopy database. Patients with UGIB due to biopsy-proven malignant tumours were studied.

RESULTS

Tumours were the source of bleeding in 106 (5%) of 2,166 patients with UGIB. Tumours were oesophageal in 17 (16%), gastric in 77 (73%) and duodenal in 12 (11%). At presentation, 84 (79%) did not have known cancer previously, and 79 (75%) had metastatic disease. Seventy-seven (73%) received transfusions at index hospitalisation. At endoscopy, 32 (30%) had active bleeding (31 oozing, 1 spurting). Among actively bleeding patients, haemostasis was achieved in 12 (86%) of 14 receiving endoscopic therapy and all 18 not receiving endoscopic treatment. Hospitalisation for rebleeding occurred in 50 (49%) of 103 at a median of 30 days (3-885). On multivariate analysis, age ≤60 years (OR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.06-5.81) and haemodynamic instability (OR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.08-5.46) were associated with rebleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients presenting with tumour-associated UGIB have substantial blood loss, with three-quarters requiring transfusion at presentation. Initial haemostasis occurs in almost all patients, with or without endoscopic therapy, but rebleeding requiring repeat hospitalisation occurs in approximately half the patients and is more common in patients who are ≤60 years of age and have haemodynamic instability at presentation.

Barrett's esophagus in Latinos undergoing endoscopy for gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms

Previous studies comparing the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Latinos and non-Latino whites are inconsistent. The aim of the study is to compare the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Latinos and non-Latino whites and to determine risk factors associated with Barrett's esophagus. Between March 2005 and January 2009, consecutive Latino and non-Latino white patients who underwent endoscopy for primary indication for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were identified by examining the internal endoscopy database at Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center. Barrett's esophagus was defined by columnar-lined distal esophagus on endoscopy confirmed by intestinal metaplasia on histology. Clinical features and endoscopic findings were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the 663 patients was 50 ± 12 years, 30% were male, and 92% were Latino. Compared with non-Latino whites, Latinos had more females (72% vs. 46%; P = 0.0001) and more Helicobacter pylori infection (53% vs. 24%; P = 0.003) but less tobacco use (7% vs. 17%; P = 0.01). Overall, 10% (68/663) of all patients had Barrett's esophagus whereas the prevalence was 10% (62/611) among the Latinos and 12% (6/52) among the non-Latino whites (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.4-2.1; P = 0.75). One patient in the Latino group had high-grade dysplasia. On multivariate analysis, male gender (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-4.1; P = 0.002), diabetes (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.5; P = 0.03), and age ≥55 years (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.8; P = 0.006) were independently associated with Barrett's esophagus; Latino ethnicity remained nonsignificant (AOR 1.1, 95% CI 0.4-2.7; P = 0.88). In Latinos undergoing endoscopy for gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus was 10%, comparable with non-Latino white controls as well as the prevalence previously reported among Caucasians. In addition to established risk factors, diabetes was associated with Barrett's esophagus.

Lower prediagnostic serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration is associated with higher risk of insulin-requiring diabetes: a nested case-control study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration may increase risk of insulin-requiring diabetes.

METHODS

A nested case-control study was performed using serum collected during 2002-2008 from military service members. One thousand subjects subsequently developed insulin-requiring diabetes. A healthy control was individually matched to each case on blood-draw date (±2 days), age (±3 months), length of service (±30 days) and sex. The median elapsed time between serum collection and first diagnosis of diabetes was 1 year (range 1 month to 10 years). Statistical analysis used matched pairs and conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

ORs for insulin-requiring diabetes by quintile of serum 25(OH)D, from lowest to highest, were 3.5 (95% CI 2.0, 6.0), 2.5 (1.5, 4.2), 0.8 (0.4, 1.4), 1.1 (0.6, 2.8) and 1.0 (reference) (p (trend) <0.001). The quintiles (based on fifths using serum 25(OH)D concentration in the controls) of serum 25(OH)D in nmol/l, were <43 (median 28), 43-59 (median 52), 60-77 (median 70), 78-99 (median 88) and ≥100 (median 128).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Individuals with lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations had higher risk of insulin-requiring diabetes than those with higher concentrations. A 3.5-fold lower risk was associated with a serum 25(OH)D concentration ≥60 nmol/l.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection or transanal endoscopic microsurgery for nonpolypoid rectal high grade dysplasia and submucosa-invading rectal cancer

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has been shown to be highly effective for early rectal cancer, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been introduced to treat noninvasive colorectal neoplasia. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of ESD and TEM for superficial early rectal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 63 patients with nonpolypoid rectal high grade dysplasia or submucosa-invading cancer who were treated with ESD or TEM, and compared clinical outcomes and safety between the treatment groups.

RESULTS

30 patients underwent ESD and 33 underwent TEM. For ESD compared with TEM, en bloc resection rates were 96.7% vs. 100% (P = 0.476) and R0 resection rates were 96.7 % vs. 97.0 % (P = 1.000). There were no cases of local recurrence or distant metastasis in either group. Antibiotics were required in 11 patients (36.7%) in the ESD group and 33 (100%) in the TEM group (P < 0.001). There was no difference in net procedure time although ESD was associated with shorter total procedure time and hospital stay than TEM, with mean (standard deviation [SD]) 84.0 (51.2) vs. 116.4 (58.5) min (P = 0.0023), and 3.6 (1.2) vs. 6.6 (3.5) days (P < 0.001), respectively. There were no significant differences in complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both ESD and TEM are effective and oncologically safe for treating nonpolypoid rectal high grade dysplasia and submucosa-invading cancers. ESD has the additional advantages of minimal invasiveness and avoidance of anesthesia. Therefore, ESD could be recommended as a treatment option for superficial early rectal cancers.

Gastric extremely well-differentiated intestinal-type adenocarcinoma: a challenging lesion to achieve complete endoscopic resection

Extremely well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinomas (EWDAs) of the stomach are characterized by surface maturation and their mimicking of intestinal metaplasia. Endoscopically, intramucosal EWDAs are frequently ill defined with indistinct borders due to the pallor of the neoplastic mucosa and the lack of contrast against the background atrophic and metaplastic mucosa. We evaluated the effectiveness of endoscopic resection for EWDAs after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Among 872 patients with early gastric cancer, 17 EWDAs were identified (1.9 %). Endoscopically, the flat or depressed type was significantly more common among EWDAs (88.2 %) than among early gastric cancers of other histologies (37.8 %; P < 0.01). The discrepancy between endoscopically estimated tumor size and tumor size as confirmed in pathology reports was significantly greater among EWDAs (18.4 ± 22.0  mm) than among others (5.8 ± 7.5  mm). Involvement of the lateral resection margin was more common (29.4 % vs. 2.5 %; P < 0.05), and complete resection was achieved less often in EWDAs (47.1 % vs. 80.4 %; P = 0.01) compared to the others. EWDAs are associated with higher rates of incomplete resection after ESD, especially along the lateral margins. Pathologists should alert endoscopists when this diagnosis is made, with its associated risks; and endoscopists should pay particular attention to the extent of these tumors during resection.

[Increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and connective tissue growth factor accompanied by fibrosis in the rat testis of varicocele]

OBJECTIVE

We investigated hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and fibrosis in the testis of rats with surgically induced varicocele.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 47 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were arranged in 3 groups, namely group 1 (varicocele operation 4 weeks ago, n=10; sham operation 4 weeks ago, n=5), group 2 (8 weeks, n=11; n=5), and group 3 (12 weeks, n=11; n=5). The rats in every group underwent bilateral orchiectomy 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the operations, respectively. HIF-1α and CTGF expression of both testes in group 3 were studied by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Fibrotic change was assessed by quantitative image analysis.

RESULTS

HIF-1α mRNA expression in testes tissues in varicocele operation and sham controls showed no significant differences in RT-PCR. However, CTGF mRNA expressions in left testes were found to be significantly different between varicocele operation and sham controls. HIF-1α staining was present in both testes of all specimens and CTGF staining was present in 10 left and 8 right testes of 11 specimens. However HIF-1α and CTGF staining were absent in control group. There were significant fibrotic changes of both testes in groups 2 and 3. There were significant differences in fibrotic change along the durations of surgical varicocele.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that experimental varicocele in the rat is associated with HIF-1α and CTGF expression and it is accompanied by fibrotic change in the testis.

The relaxant effect of ginseng saponin on the bladder and prostatic urethra: an in vitro and in vivo study

AIM

To assess the effects of ginseng saponin on relaxation of the bladder and prostatic urethra and to determine its mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For the in vitro study, prostatic urethra muscle strips were harvested from 18 male New Zealand rabbits. The strips were mounted in organ baths and connected to force displacement transducers. After stabilization, maximal tissue contractions were obtained by the application of phenylepinephrine to the urethra strips, and a dose-response curve for ginseng saponin was constructed (10(-6)-10(-2)M). After pretreatment of urethra strips with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), another dose-response curve for ginseng saponin was constructed. For the in vivo study, we used adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into three groups [control, partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) and saponin-fed groups], and we monitored the vesical pressure (P(ves)) and urethral perfusion pressure (UPP).

RESULTS

The ginseng saponin induced a significant dose-dependent relaxant effect on the prostatic urethra strips. A significant relaxant effect of ginseng saponin was observed from 10(-3)M, and ginseng saponin significantly relaxed urethra strips by 50.2 ± 20.26% at 10(-2)M. The relaxant effect was partially inhibited with L-NAME pretreatment. In the in vivo study, the change in UPP between baseline and relaxation was significantly higher in the saponin group than in the control or PBOO group (p < 0.001). The saponin group showed a significantly lower baseline P(ves) than the PBOO group.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed a significant relaxation effect of ginseng saponin on the bladder and prostatic urethra in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The mechanism by which ginseng saponin induces relaxation appears to involve the nitric oxide/nitric oxide synthase pathway.

Cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening with primary human papillomavirus testing in Norway

Background:

New screening technologies and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the necessary cause of cervical cancer, may impact optimal approaches to prevent cervical cancer. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of alternative screening strategies to inform cervical cancer prevention guidelines in Norway.

Methods:

We leveraged the primary epidemiologic and economic data from Norway to contextualise a simulation model of HPV-induced cervical cancer. The current cytology-only screening was compared with strategies involving cytology at younger ages and primary HPV-based screening at older ages (31/34+ years), an option being actively deliberated by the Norwegian government. We varied the switch-age, screening interval, and triage strategies for women with HPV-positive results. Uncertainty was evaluated in sensitivity analysis.

Results:

Current cytology-only screening was less effective and more costly than strategies that involve switching to primary HPV testing in older ages. For unvaccinated women, switching at age 34 years to primary HPV testing every 4 years was optimal given the Norwegian cost-effectiveness threshold ($83 000 per year of life saved). For vaccinated women, a 6-year screening interval was cost-effective. When we considered a wider range of strategies, we found that an earlier switch to HPV testing (at age 31 years) may be preferred.

Conclusions:

Strategies involving a switch to HPV testing for primary screening in older women is expected to be cost-effective compared with current recommendations in Norway.

Plating of humeral shaft fractures: comparison of standard conventional plating versus minimally invasive plating

PURPOSE

This study compared clinical outcomes and complications in patients with humeral shaft fractures treated using two methods of fixation by plating.

METHODS

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO, n=29) was prospectively performed from around the middle of the study period, while open reduction and plate osteosynthesis (ORPO, n=30) had been the original standard method. Locking compression plate was used in these two groups. Major characteristics of the two groups were similar in terms of fracture type, fracture location, age, associated injuries and numbers of open fractures.

RESULTS

Primary union was achieved in 28 of 29 in the MIPO and in 27 of 30 in the ORPO. Mean time to union was similar in the two groups. Mean operation time in the MIPO (110min) was shorter than in the ORPO (169min) (P<0.05). Bone grafting was performed in five patients of in the ORPO, but in no patient in the MIPO (P<0.0001). There was one case of deep infection in the ORPO. Functional outcome was satisfactory in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis may achieve comparable results with the open plate osteosynthesis method in simple as well as complex fractures of humeral shaft. Although MIPO potentially has the radiation hazard, it may reduce the perioperative complications with a shortened operation time.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III. Case-control study.

Effects of recombinant dentin sialoprotein in dental pulp cells

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is critical for dentin mineralization. However, the function of dentin sialoprotein (DSP), the cleaved product of DSPP, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the signal transduction pathways and effects of recombinant human DSP (rh-DSP) on proliferation, migration, and odontoblastic differentiation in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). The exogenous addition of rh-DSP enhanced the proliferation and migration of HDPCs in dose- and time-dependent manners. rh-DSP markedly increased ALP activity, calcium nodule formation, and levels of odontoblastic marker mRNA. rh-DSP increased BMP-2 expression and Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation, which was blocked by the BMP antagonist, noggin. Furthermore, rh-DSP phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Akt, and IκB-α, and induced the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. Analysis of these data demonstrates a novel signaling function of rh-DSP for the promotion of growth, migration, and differentiation in HDPCS via the BMP/Smad, JNK, ERK, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways, suggesting that rh-DSP may have therapeutic utility in dentin regeneration or dental pulp tissue engineering.

Double edge: CDK2AP1 in cell-cycle regulation and epigenetic regulation

Cancer research has been devoted toward an understanding of the molecular regulation and functional significance of cell-cycle regulators in the pathogenesis and development of cancers. Cyclin-dependent Kinase 2-associated Protein 1 (CDK2AP1) is one such cell-cycle regulator, originally identified as a growth suppressor and a prognostic marker for human oral/head and neck cancers. Functional importance and the molecular mechanism of CDK2AP1-mediated cell-cycle regulation have been documented over the years. Recent progress has shown that CDK2AP1 is a competency factor in embryonic stem cell differentiation. Deletion of CDK2AP1 leads to early embryonic lethality, potentially through altered differentiation capability of embryonic stem cells. More intriguingly, CDK2AP1 exerts its effect on stem cell maintenance/differentiation through epigenetic regulation. Cancer cells and stem cells share common cellular characteristics, most prominently in maintaining high proliferative potential through an unconventional cell-cycle regulatory mechanism. Cross-talk between cellular processes and molecular signaling pathways is frequent in any biological system. Currently, it remains largely elusive how cell-cycle regulation is mechanistically linked to epigenetic control. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying CDK2AP1-mediated cell-cycle regulation and epigenetic control will set an example for establishing a novel and effective molecular link between these two important regulatory mechanisms.

Association of the interferon-γ gene (CA)n repeat polymorphism with endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) gene (CA)(n) repeat polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to endometriosis.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

POPULATION

Women with (n = 622) and without (n = 442) endometriosis.

METHODS

Genotyping was performed by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gene-scan analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Genotype distribution and allele frequency of the dinucleotide (CA)(n) repeat polymorphism in the IFN-γ gene.

RESULTS

Seven alleles (12-18 repeats) of the IFN-γ gene (CA)(n) repeat polymorphism were found. In both patients with endometriosis and controls the most common allele was composed of 13 repeats, followed by an allele of 15 repeats, and then by an allele of 12 repeats. Patients with endometriosis had a significantly higher incidence of genotypes with alleles composed of fewer repeats (12-13 repeats), compared with the controls (92.0 versus 84.4%, respectively, P < 001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the (CA)(n) repeat polymorphism in the IFN-γ gene may be associated with a risk of endometriosis in the South Korean population.

Disrupted theory of mind network processing in response to idea of reference evocation in schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the neural pathophysiology of the theory of mind network by eliciting self-referential processing during an idea of reference evocating situation in patients with schizophrenia.

METHOD

Functional MRI was conducted on 14 schizophrenic in-patients with the idea of reference and 15 healthy participants while viewing video vignettes of referential conversations, non-referential conversations or no conversations between two people, which were filmed at varying distances of 1, 5 or 10 m.

RESULTS

The patient group did not show normal patterns of superior temporal sulcus activation to conversational context, and reciprocal deactivation and activation of the ventromedial and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex to referential conversational context. Instead, the patient group showed overall greater ventromedial prefrontal activities across different conversational contexts and inverse correlation between superior temporal sulcus activity and delusional severity. Differential activations of the temporal pole and its posterior extension to varying distances were observed in the control group but not in the patient group.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that theory of mind-related responses of the medial prefrontal-superior temporal network are attenuated during the self-referential processing in patients with schizophrenia and that these abnormalities may be related to the formation of their referential or persecutory delusion.

Degrading ability of oligocyclic aromates by Phanerochaete sordida selected via screening of white rot fungi

Seventy-nine white rot strains were screened to determine if they had the potential for use in the degradation of oligocyclic aromates (PAHs) by measuring their dye-decoloration rate. Fourteen strains that were selected based on their dye-decoloration rate were then evaluated for the ability to tolerate various levels of PAHs spiked in agar medium. The ability of white rot fungi to degrade 3- or 4-ring PAHs (anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene) was determined. Two strains of Phanerochaete sordida (KUC8369, KUC8370) were possible PAHs degraders, degrading a significantly greater amount of phenanthrene and fluoranthene than the culture collection strain P. chrysosporium (a known PAHs degrader). The production of manganese peroxidase, the only extracellular ligninolytic enzyme detected during the cultivation, was evaluated.

The effects of intravesical chemoimmunotherapy with gemcitabine and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in superficial bladder cancer: a preliminary study

This prospective study investigated the long-term effects of intravesical chemoimmunotherapy with gemcitabine (GEM) and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG; n = 36) versus BCG alone (n = 51) for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. For the chemoimmunotherapy (GEM + BCG) group, GEM (1000 mg) was instilled immediately after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) and again (2000 mg) 1 week later. From 2 to 7 weeks after TURBT, BCG was instilled into the bladder of all patients once weekly. The recurrence-free period of the GEM + BCG group (24.13 months) was significantly longer than that of the BCG monotherapy group (19.81 months). The overall recurrence rate was similar between the groups, although at 6 and 9 months post-TURBT, GEM + BCG produced a significantly lower rate of recurrence compared with BCG alone. This study suggests that intravesical chemoimmunotherapy with GEM + BCG is effective in reducing early tumour recurrence and in prolonging the recurrence-free period of superficial bladder cancer.