Effect of Perospirone on p300 Electrophysiological Activity and Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Three-dimensional Analysis with (s)loreta

The purpose of this study was to determine if perospirone, a second generation antipsychotic drug and partial agonist at serotonin-5-HT1A receptors, enhances electrophysiological activity, such as event-related potentials (ERPs), in frontal brain regions, as well as cognitive function in subjects with schizophrenia. P300 current source images were obtained by means of standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) before and after treatment with perospirone for 6 months. Perospirone significantly increased P300 current source density in the left superior frontal gyrus, and improved positive symptoms and performance on the script tasks, a measure of verbal social cognition. Perospirone also tended to enhance verbal learning memory in patients with schizophrenia. There was a significant correlation between the changes in P300 amplitudes on the left frontal lead and those in social cognition. These results suggest the changes in three-dimensional distribution of cortical activity, as demonstrated by sLORETA, may mediate some of the actions of antipsychotic drugs. the distinct cognition-enhancing profile of perospirone may be related to its actions on 5-HT1A receptors.

Advancement in singing ability using The YUBA Method in patients with cochlear implants

CONCLUSION

Although overall improvement was not so dramatic due to a lack of retention, session by session advancement of matching pitch for targeted MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sound was predominantly obvious. It was proved that The YUBA Method worked to improve singing ability for patients with cochlear implants.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to verify whether or not the Yuba theory and method improved the singing ability of patients with cochlear implants.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Based on diagnosis, the instructor experimented to improve matching pitch of singing for three patients with cochlear implants using The YUBA Method. The mean fundamental frequencies and standard deviation of singing were then compared with before and after instructions to patients. The instruction was given for over 40 days at the University of Tokyo Hospital.

RESULTS

For each patient, the mean fundamental frequencies of their singing approached the mean MIDI specified frequencies as references for tests done in all three songs. Overall, the SD between fundamental frequencies of their singing and reference MIDI sounds became smaller.

The expression of TNF-alpha converting enzyme at the site of ruptured plaques in patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) converting enzyme (TACE) plays an essential role in the TNF-alpha shedding process, which could affect the outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, it remains unclear whether it originates from the ruptured plaque or represents a systemic process. This study analysed TACE-mediated TNF-alpha shedding at the site of ruptured plaques in AMI patients and compared them with a systemic mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 60 patients with AMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and 21 patients with stable angina pectoris (SA). Local samples from the site of plaque were taken from AMI using aspiration catheter treatment. Systemic samples were also taken from the aorta in all patients with AMI and SA.

RESULTS

Systemic levels of TACE and TNF-alpha were higher in AMI patients than in SA patients. In AMI patients, these levels were higher in local samples than in systemic samples. A positive correlation was seen between local TACE and TNF-alpha levels in AMI patients. Thrombus material removed from the ruptured plaque showed immunostainings of TACE and TNF-alpha in infiltrating macrophages. By six months follow-up study, local TACE levels remained the only significant independent predictors of adverse cardiac events in AMI patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that local expression of TACE is related to TNF-alpha shedding at the site of ruptured plaques in AMI patients. In addition, local TACE expression at the site of ruptured plaques may play an important role in poor outcomes in patients with AMI.

Essential elements in the coding region of mRNA for translation of ColE2 Rep protein

Translation initiation of mRNA encoding the plasmid-specified initiator protein (Rep) required for initiation of the ColE2 plasmid DNA replication is fairly efficient in Escherichia coli despite the absence of a canonical Shine-Dalgarno sequence. Although a GA cluster sequence exists upstream the initiation codon, its activity as the SD sequence has been shown to be very inefficient. Deletion analyses have shown that there are sequences important for the Rep translation in the regions upstream the GA cluster sequence and downstream the initiation codon. To further define regions important for translation of the Rep mRNA, a set of the ColE2 rep genes bearing single-base substitution mutations in the coding region near the initiation codon was generated and their translation activities examined. We showed that translation of the Rep mRNA was reduced by some of these mutations in a region ranging at least 70 nucleotides from the initiation codon in the coding region, indicating the presence of translation enhancer(s) outside the translation initiation region which is covered by the ribosome bound to the initiation codon. Some of them seem to be essential and specific for translation of the ColE2 Rep mRNA due to the absence of a canonical SD sequence.

Cystic thymoma in a child: a rare case and review of the literature

Thymomas are rare mediastinal tumors in pediatrics and cystic thymoma, is characterized by a predominantly cystic formation, is extremely rare. This report describes a 13-year-old girl with cystic thymoma, who was treated by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The microscopic findings were characteristic of cystic thymoma. The literature on cystic thymoma is reviewed here and the clinical characteristics of cystic thymoma are discussed.

Unique technological voice method (The YUBA Method) shows clear improvement in patients with cochlear implants in singing

It is known that children with cochlear implants tend to sing off-key, monotonously, and flat. There are a few reports that it is possible to improve off-key singing mainly through instruction using the falsetto voice for people with normal hearing. We examined whether their singing skills could be improved through instruction. Eight subjects (five boys and three girls aged 10.4+/-2.4 years) with cochlear implants were selected. Speech perception scores of short sentences were on average 66.5%+/-26.5%. We diagnosed their singing acuity by letting them sing a nursery song, well known to all of them, before and after the instruction. The mean fundamental frequencies of their singing approached the mean Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)-specified frequencies as references and the deviation between fundamental frequencies of their singing and reference MIDI sounds became smaller. This study shows a clear improvement in the singing ability of children with cochlear implants through a unique technological voice method, mainly focused on the falsetto voice in this experiment.

Observation of phonons in multiferroic BiFeO(3) single crystals by Raman scattering

We have grown BiFeO(3) bulk single crystals by a flux method and characterized the phonon spectra in detail by Raman scattering in the temperature range 4-1100 K. All the 13 Raman-active phonon modes predicted by group theory, 4A(1)+9E, were observed at low temperature and successfully assigned by a polarized Raman measurement. Moreover, drastic spectral changes in the Raman spectra were observed at temperatures 600-700 K and 1000-1100 K. These features are discussed from the viewpoint of phonon coupling with the magnetic ordering and the structural phase transition, respectively.

Celiprolol reduces the intimal thickening of autogenous vein grafts via an enhancement of nitric oxide function through an inhibition of superoxide production

BACKGROUND

Beta-adrenoceptor antagonist celiprolol has been widely used as an effective antihypertensive agent. Some studies reported that celiprolol enhances nitric oxide production. The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of celiprolol on vein graft intimal hyperplasia and endothelium-dependent nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation.

METHODS

Japanese white rabbits were randomized to a control group that was fed regular rabbit chow or to a celiprolol group that was fed regular rabbit chow supplemented with 100 mg/body celiprolol sodium. The reversed jugular vein was implanted into the carotid artery. At 2 and 4 weeks after the operation, vein grafts in both groups were harvested, and intimal hyperplasia of the vein grafts was assessed. At 4 weeks after the operation, harvested vein grafts from both the groups were examined on the endothelium-dependent relaxation by application of Ach and were examined to detect for endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and superoxide anion production.

RESULTS

Celiprolol inhibited intimal hyperplasia of carotid interposition-reversed jugular vein grafts 4 weeks after implantation (Intima/media index of celiprolol group, 0.48 +/- 0.01 vs control group, 1.07 +/- 0.08, P < .05) and suppressed cell proliferation in the neointima 2 weeks after implantation. In addition, celiprolol significantly enhanced endothelium-dependent NO-mediated relaxation in the vein graft with no change in eNOS expression and a reduction in superoxide production.

CONCLUSIONS

These novel findings clearly demonstrate that beta-adrenoceptor antagonist celiprolol can suppress intimal hyperplasia of the vein graft, which may be due to the enhancement of nitric oxide function through an inhibition of superoxide production. These results strongly support the clinical usefulness of celiprolol administration for preventing intimal hyperplasia of the vein graft after bypass grafting.

Bacterial superantigens and T cell receptor beta-chain-bearing T cells in the immunopathogenesis of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the colon and the rectum producing debilitating symptoms, which impair ability to function and quality of life. The aetiology of IBD is incompletely understood, but within the lymphocyte population, specific T cell subsets are known to be major factors in the development of intestinal immune pathology while different subsets are essential regulators, controlling IBD. Hence, IBD is thought to reflect dysregulated T cell behaviour. This study was to investigate if the normal molecular configuration of the T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is compromised in patients with UC. The percentage of T cell-bearing beta-chain 4 (TCRBV4) was high in patients with UC, and T cells showed polyclonal expansion in the presence of bacterial superantigens (SA) such as streptococcal mitogenic exotoxin Z-2 (SMEZ-2), indicating that bacterial SA promote specific TCRBV family expansion. Further, in patients with UC, the duration of UC was significantly longer in patients with skewed TCRBV4 compared with patients without TCRBV4 skewing, suggesting that long-term exposure to bacterial SA such as SMEZ-2 might promote systemic immune disorders like the remission-relapsing cycles seen in patients with UC. In conclusion, our observations in this study support the perception that the systemic activation of T cells by enteric bacterial SA might lead to a dysregulated, but exuberant immune activity causing the remission and flare-up cycle of mucosal inflammation in patients with UC. Future studies should strengthen our findings and increase understanding on the aetiology of IBD.

Preliminary field testing of a long-lasting insecticide-treated hammock against Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia spp. (Diptera: Culicidae) in West Africa

The efficacy of an experimental long-lasting insecticide-treated hammock (LLIH) with a long-lasting treated net used as a blanket and made of the same fabric (polyethylene) was tested in a concrete block experimental hut, against the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. and the arbovirus vectors and nuisance mosquitoes Mansonia africana (Theobald) and Mansonia uniformis (Theobald). The LLIH was treated with the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin. It was evaluated concurrently with ignited mosquito coils over 20 successive weeks. In total, 2,227 mosquitoes (130 An. gambiae and 2,097 Mansonia spp.) corresponding to 27.8 mosquitoes per trap-night were collected in the untreated hut (control). The repellent effect of both coils and LLIH significantly reduced the number of mosquitoes entering the huts (35- 60%). There was no significant difference between LLIH and mosquito coils in blood-feeding inhibition (93-97%) or in mortality (88-98%). The LLIH is more cost-effective and user-friendly than mosquito coils, which need to be replaced nightly to protect people sleeping indoors from mosquito bites. The effects of LLIH on exophagic vectors also need to be investigated because most people that sleep in hammocks are outdoors.

Human papillomavirus-16 is integrated in lung carcinomas: a study in Chile

The human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in 20 (29%) out of 69 lung carcinomas (LCs) in Chile, by PCR and Southern blot, and was more frequently detected in squamous cell carcinoma (SQC) than in adenocarcinomas (46 vs 9%, P=0.001). HPV-16, positive in 11 cases, was the most frequently detected HPV genotype determined by DNA sequencing. HPV-16 E2/E6 ratio, estimated from real-time PCR analysis, was much lower than the unity, suggesting that at least a partial HPV-16 genome was integrated in all but one HPV-16-positive SQCs. The remaining one case was suspected to have only episomal HPV-16. Although the viral load was low in most of the LCs, a case showed the HPV-16 copy number as high as 8479 per nanogram DNA, which was even a few times higher than the minimum viral load of seven cervical carcinomas (observed viral load: 3356-609 392 per nanogram DNA). The expression of the HPV-16/18 E6 protein was found in only two HPV-16-positive SQCs (13%) but not in the case with the highest viral load. Although the viral load was in general very low and HPV E6 expression is none or weak, further studies seem warranted to examine aetiological involvement of high-risk HPV in lung carcinogenesis.

Mechanism underlying H2O2-induced inhibition of acetylcholine-induced contraction in rabbit tracheal smooth muscle

The mechanism underlying the inhibition by H2O2 of acetylcholine-induced contraction was investigated in epithelium-denuded strips of rabbit trachea. Acetylcholine (10 microM) generated a phasic, followed by a tonic increase in both the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and force. Although the acetylcholine-induced tonic contraction was around 9 times the high K+ (80 mM)-induced one, the two stimulants induced similar [Ca2+]i increases (around 0.2 microM), indicating that acetylcholine generates tonic contraction via increases in both [Ca2+]i and myofilament Ca2+-sensitivity. H2O2 (30 microM) (a) enhanced the acetylcholine-induced tonic (not phasic) increase in [Ca2+]i but attenuated both phases of the acetylcholine-induced contraction and (b) enhanced the high K+-induced increase in [Ca2+]i but did not modify the high K+-induced contraction. In beta-escin-skinned strips, application of acetylcholine in the presence of GTP enhanced the contraction induced by 0.3 microM Ca2+ so that its amplitude became similar to that induced by 1 microM Ca2+. H2O2 (30 microM) attenuated the contraction induced by 0.3 microM Ca2+ (alone or in the presence of acetylcholine) but not those induced by higher concentrations of Ca2+ alone (0.5 microM and 1 microM). These results indicate that H2O2 acts directly on contractile proteins in rabbit tracheal smooth muscle to inhibit the contraction induced by low concentrations of Ca2+ (<0.5 microM). An action of H2O2 that increases [Ca2+]i (and thereby masks this reactive-oxygen-induced inhibition of myofilament Ca2+-sensitivity) is apparent in the presence of high K+ but not of acetylcholine. Thus, in rabbit tracheal smooth muscle H2O2 downregulates myofilament Ca2+-sensitivity more potently during acetylcholine-induced contraction than during high-K+-induced contraction, leading to an effective inhibition of the former contraction.

Parameter optimization technique using the response surface methodology

We propose a parameter optimization technique using the response surface methodology (RSM) for the accurate biological cell simulation which calculates cell behavior by numerically integrating the differential equation and generates action potentials, intracellular Ca transient, contraction, and intracellular ATP consumption by using parameter values of major ion permeability and amplitude of Ko dependency. Since most of these parameters cannot be directly measured by experiment, these are searched for by applying an optimization technique, that is, by minimizing an objective function defined as a difference between a measured and a calculated waveform of action potentials in a cardiac myocyte. We employ the RSM as the optimization technique. In the RSM, a quadratic polynomial is used in general, and a mathematical technique is used to calculate the extreme points. Because our parameter space cannot be approximated by a single quadratic polynomial surface, we adopt a recursive subdivision technique and use the coefficient of multiple determination to representing a response surface in each subspace for a criteria of the subdivision. We confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed technique by searching for parameters which are determined in advance.

Comparison between prenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst and type-1 cystic biliary atresia by CD56-immunostaining using liver biopsy specimens

Because it is difficult to distinguish preoperatively between a prenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst (CC) and type-1 cystic biliary atresia (BA) by ultrasound scanning or magnetic resonance imaging, some mode of discriminating between the 2 entities is required. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunohistological differences between prenatally diagnosed CC and type-1 cystic BA, using liver biopsy specimens immunostained for CD56. Five children with prenatally diagnosed CC and two children with prenatally diagnosed type-1 cystic BA were identified by fetal ultrasonography between 1985 and 2004. The control group included two children who were operated on at an earlier period due to postnatally diagnosed BA. Liver wedge biopsy in the right lobe was performed at the time of the radical operation. Histological findings of the CD56-stained liver biopsy specimens were classified into 4 categories each, with particular focus on staining distribution and intensity. The staining distribution was classified according to the scale 0 = no staining; 1 = some staining of bile ducts/ductules but staining in less than one-third of portal tracts; 2 = staining in one-third to less than two-thirds of portal tracts; and 3 = staining in more than two-thirds of portal tracts. Staining intensity was scored as follows: 0 = no staining, 1 = weak staining, 2 = moderate staining, and 3 = strong staining. The staining intensity and distribution in the CC group was zero in all 5 cases. The type-1 cystic BA group consisted of patients with scale 1 or 3 staining distribution and score 1 or 2 staining intensity. In the control group, staining distribution was 1 or 3, and staining intensity was 1 or 3. These results indicate that CD56-positive biliary duct cells are present in prenatally diagnosed type-1 cystic BA. The authors suggest that exploratory laparotomy might be avoided and, instead, immunohistological examination using liver biopsy specimens may be a reliable test for the differential diagnosis of CC and type-1 cystic BA in prenatally diagnosed neonates.

Oligogenic transmission of abnormal teat patterning phenotype (ATPP) in cattle

Abnormal teat patterning phenotype (ATPP) is characterized by one (moderate form) or two (severe form) absent teats in cattle. Using an allele-sharing non-parametric linkage strategy, significant associations with severe ATPP animals were detected on BTA17 (Z(max) = 7.3 at 21 cM), centromeric BTA1 (Z(max) = 3.7 at 8 cM) and telomeric BTA1 (Z(max) = 4.8 at 142 cM). The BTA17 region was also significantly associated in the analysis of the moderate ATPP animals (Z(max) = 5.3 at 0 cM). The transmission disequilibrium test in severe ATPP animals demonstrated significant over-transmission of paternal alleles in the BTA17 region (P = 2.2 x 10(-9)), the centromeric BTA1 region (P = 0.035) and the telomeric BTA1 region (P = 0.005). Significant over-transmission of the BTA17 region was also observed among the moderate ATPP animals (P = 2.3 x 10(-4)). These findings indicate that the BTA17 locus plays a key role in risk of the disease, and that the BTA17 locus contributes temporally in combination with the two other loci on BTA1 and/or possibly unknown modifier(s) in a probabilistic oligo- or polygenic manner of transmission. Haplotypes of these three loci can be used for marker-assisted animal breeding to control the recurrence of affected progeny with ATPP.

Angiotensin-II receptor antagonist alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes

We examined the effects of the angiotensin-II receptor antagonist candesartan on non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and circulating adiponectin concentrations in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The KKAy mice were randomly assigned to receive either candesartan at a once-daily dose of 10 mg/kg (n = 5) or placebo (n = 5). The differences in liver weight, histological evaluation of hepatic lipid infiltration, serum adiponectin concentration and hepatic adiponectin mRNA levels between the two groups were determined on day 7 after treatment was initiated. Candesartan-treated mice demonstrated significantly lower liver weights and reduced lipid droplets in hepatic cells compared with control mice. The circulating adiponectin levels and hepatic expression of adiponectin mRNA were significantly higher in candesartan-treated mice than control mice. These results suggest that candesartan might alleviate NAFL through elevation of circulating adiponectin levels in KKAy obese mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Metastatic lung tumor from uterine leiomyosarcoma]

We herein present 2 cases of metastatic lung tumor derived from uterine leiomyosarcoma. In the case 1, a 59-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital to examine abnormal shadow detected on chest X-ray. She had undergone hysterectomy and oophorectomy for uterine leiomyosarcoma 19 months previously. A round 3 cm mass in the right lung (S10) was seen on chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT). No other distant metastases or local recurrence were found, and the right lower lobectomy was perfomed under the clinical diagnosis of metastatic lung tumor. Postoperative pathologic examination revealed the tumor as a metastatic leiomyosarcoma. The patient recovered uneventfully, and there have been no signs of recurrence for 26 months after the pulmonary resection. In the case 2, a 58-year-old woman, who had undergone hysterectomy and oophorectomy for uterine leiomyosarcoma 7 months previously, was admitted to our hospital for further examination of pulmonary tumors on chest X-ray. Two tumors were recognized in the left lung (S8 and S10) on chest X-ray and CT. No other distant metastases or local recurrence were found, and the left lower lobectomy was performed under the clinical diagnosis of metastatic lung tumors. Pathological examinations revealed smooth muscle cells with nuclear pleomorphism and high mitotic indices. The tumors proved to be lung metastases derived from uterine leiomyosarcoma. Postoperative course was uneventful. However, brain metastasis was found 1 month after the pulmonary resection, and she underwent resection of brain metastasis. Two months after the brain metastasectomy, local recurrence of the brain tumor developed and re-resection followed by stereotactic radiotherapy was performed. Furthermore, intrapelvic recurrence was found 4 months after the pulmonary resection. Exploratory laparotomy revealed the tumor was unresectable, and she received 4 courses of chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin). For metastatic lung tumor from uterine leiomyosarcoma, surgery has been considered the best choice. However, for patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma who cannot be treated surgically because of multiple metastatic tumors or poor surgical risk chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) or stereotactic radiotherapy can be strategies.

Chronic nitroglycerine administration reduces endothelial nitric oxide production in rabbit mesenteric resistance artery

We investigated whether 10 days' in vivo treatment with nitroglycerine (NTG) would inhibit nitric oxide production by the endothelial cells of resistance arteries ex vivo and, if so, what the underlying mechanism might be. ACh increased the intracellular nitric oxide concentration ([NO]i; estimated using the nitric oxide-sensitive fluorescent dye diaminofluorescein-2) within the endothelial cells of rabbit mesenteric resistance arteries. This effect was significantly smaller in arteries isolated from NTG-treated rabbits than in those from control rabbits. The reduction in endothelial [NO]i in NTG-treated rabbits was prevented when olmesartan (blocker of type 1 angiotensin II receptors (AT1Rs)) was coadministered in vivo with NTG and also when the superoxide scavenger manganese (III) tetrakis-(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (Mn-TBAP), the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X or L-arginine (with or without the active form of folate (5-methyltetrahydrofolate)) was incubated with the arteries in vitro. Endothelial cell superoxide production (estimated by ethidium fluorescence) was greatly increased in arteries from NTG-treated rabbits. This was normalized by in vivo coadministration of olmesartan with NTG and also by in vitro application of Mn-TBAP or GF109203X (but not of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate+L-arginine). ACh increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration (estimated using the Ca2+-sensitive dye Fura 2) within endothelial cells, the increase being not significantly different between NTG-treated rabbits and control rabbits. We conclude that in NTG-treated rabbits, endothelial nitric oxide production in mesenteric resistance arteries is reduced, possibly through a reduction in the bioavailability of L-arginine via an action mediated by superoxide. Activation of the AT1R-PKC pathway may be involved in increasing superoxide production.

Reduced hyperpolarization in endothelial cells of rabbit aortic valve following chronic nitroglycerine administration

This study was undertaken to determine whether long-term in vivo administration of nitroglycerine (NTG) downregulates the hyperpolarization induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in aortic valve endothelial cells (AVECs) of the rabbit and, if so, whether antioxidant agents can normalize this downregulated hyperpolarization. ACh (0.03-3 microM) induced a hyperpolarization through activations of both apamin- and charybdotoxin-sensitive Ca2+-activated K+ channels (K(Ca)) in rabbit AVECs. The intermediate-conductance K(Ca) channel (IK(Ca)) activator 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolinone (1-EBIO, 0.3 mM) induced a hyperpolarization of the same magnitude as ACh (3 microM). The ACh-induced hyperpolarization was significantly weaker, although the ACh-induced [Ca2+]i increase was unchanged, in NTG-treated rabbits (versus NTG-untreated control rabbits). The hyperpolarization induced by 1-EBIO was also weaker in NTG-treated rabbits. The reduced ACh-induced hyperpolarization seen in NTG-treated rabbits was not modified by in vitro application of the superoxide scavengers Mn-TBAP, tiron or ascorbate, but it was normalized when ascorbate was coadministered with NTG in vivo. Superoxide production within the endothelial cell (estimated by ethidium fluorescence) was increased in NTG-treated rabbits and this increased production was normalized by in vivo coadministration of ascorbate with the NTG. It is suggested that long-term in vivo administration of NTG downregulates the ACh-induced hyperpolarization in rabbit AVECs, possibly through chronic actions mediated by superoxide.

Specific interaction between the initiator protein (Rep) and origin of plasmid ColE2-P9

The replication initiator protein (Rep) of plasmid ColE2-P9 (ColE2) is multifunctional. We are interested in how Rep binds to the origin (Ori) to perform various functions. We used the wild type and variants of Rep to study the Rep-Ori interaction by both in vitro and in vivo approaches, including biochemical analyses of protein-DNA interactions and an in vivo replication assay. We identified three regions (I, II, and III) of Rep, located in the C-terminal half, and three corresponding binding sites (I, II, and III) in Ori which are important for Rep-Ori interaction. We showed that region I, containing a putative helix-turn-helix motif, is necessary and sufficient for specific Ori recognition, interacting with site I of the origin DNA from the major groove. Region II interacts with site II of the origin DNA, from the adjacent minor groove in the left half of Ori, and region III interacts with site III, next to the template sequence for primer synthesis, which is one and one-half turn apart from site I on the opposite surface of the origin DNA. A putative linker region located between the two DNA binding domains (regions II and III) was identified, which might provide Rep an extended conformation suitable for binding to the two separate sites in Ori. Based on the results presented in this paper, we propose a model for Rep-Ori interaction in which Rep binds to Ori as a monomer.

Immunohistochemical analysis of nuclear survivin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Despite advances in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma, the prognosis for this disease remains poor. Therefore, it is important to obtain a better understanding of the molecular basis of esophageal carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the roles of survivin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). One hundred 22 ESCC surgical specimens resected from 1989 to 1999 were examined. Survivin expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Tumor cells were considered survivin-positive if the immunoreactivity was confined to the nucleus, and a scoring method was applied. Survivin-positive immunostaining was detected in 68 patients (56%). There was a significant association between survivin expression and pN (P = 0.0472). Moreover, the overall survival rate was worse in patients with survivin-positive tumors than in patients with survivin-negative tumors (P = 0.0189). The overexpression of survivin was associated with the overall survival rate and poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. Survivin may be targeted during cancer therapy because of its selective expression in malignant tissue.

Advanced oesophageal carcinoma in an 84-year-old treated with chemoradiotherapy

We present a case of advanced oesophageal cancer with cardiac invasion in an 84-year-old male presenting with dysphagia and general malaise. Histological analysis of an endoscopic biopsy specimen revealed a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography indicated a thickened oesophageal wall that was compressing the left atrium, suggesting invasion of the heart, and oesophagography revealed a polypoid lesion 9 cm in length. No distant metastases were seen on computed tomography. The patient was given chemotherapy with 10 mg/m2 cisplatin on days 1 and 4 every week for 5 weeks and concurrent radiotherapy at a dose of 2 Gy five times per week (total dose 52 Gy). After 4 weeks, the mass was no longer visible on oesophagography or endoscopic examination. The patient was free of recurrence and metastases for 4.5 years. In conclusion, chemoradiotherapy may be curative in elderly patients with unresectable oesophageal carcinoma.

Management and algorithm for focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver in children

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate management plan for childhood and adolescent FNH, in particular to establish an algorithm for preoperative diagnosis and treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1985 and 2003, 4 children with FNH were diagnosed. Of these 4 patients, 3 (Group A) underwent tumor resection, and 1 (Group B) was treated by conservative management. Clinical data, pathological findings and follow-up were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

The 3 patients in Group A were symptomatic, while the 1 patient in Group B was asymptomatic. In 3 of 4 patients, a homogeneous tumor with a central stellate area was noted on abdominal ultrasonography, CT scan and MR imaging. In case 2, SPIO-enhanced MR imaging was useful for differentiating FNH from hepatocellular carcinoma. Though percutaneous needle biopsy was performed in case 3, a pathologically definitive diagnosis was impossible. An open biopsy was performed in case 4 and FNH was diagnosed. In case 4 treated by conservative management, the tumor size did not change during the 7 years after the diagnosis of FNH.

CONCLUSION

FNH is usually treated conservatively because of the good evolutionary outcome of the lesion. Surgery is indicated in cases of complications, compressed adjacent organs, lesion progression, or for symptomatic patients. We advocate the use of less invasive SPIO-enhanced MR imaging instead of open biopsy when the diagnosis of focal liver lesions is not clear after contrast-enhanced CT scan and non-enhanced MR imaging.

Alteration of T-cell receptor repertoires during thymic T-cell development

The majority of thymocytes die in the thymus, whereas small populations of T cells that are able to specifically recognize an antigen are considered to survive. Although the thymic selection is thought to have a profound effect on T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, little is known how TCR repertoire is formed during the thymocyte developmental process. We examined TCRalpha- and beta-chain variable regions (TCRAV and TCRBV) repertoire in thymic T-cell subpopulations from mice bearing different major histocompatibility (MHC) haplotypes. In Balb/c mice, but not C57BL/6, remarkable alterations of the TCR repertoire were observed in mature T-cell subpopulations as previously reported. In contrast, there were no significant differences of TCRBV repertoire between DN3 (CD25(+)CD44(-)) and DN4 (CD25(-)CD44(-)), and between DN4 and DP. These results suggest that (1) TCR repertoire of mature T cells was formed mainly under the influence of endogenous superantigens, while MHC haplotypes played the least role; (2) the 'beta-selection' process during immature stages had little impact on TCRBV repertoire formation; and (3) TCR repertoire in immature T-cell subpopulations was extremely similar between different strains of mice. We thus consider that pre-selection TCR repertoire in immature T cells could be determined by some genetic factors conserved among different strains.

Nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma and its association with type "i"/XhoI loss strain Epstein-Barr virus in Chile

BACKGROUND

Nasal T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma is an aggressive type of non-Hodking's lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and striking geographical variations worldwide.

AIM

To characterise nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma associated with genotypes of EBV in Chile, a Latin American country, where multiple strains of EBV, including two new recombinant strains, in healthy individuals were recently found.

METHODS

Cases with diagnosis of primary nasal lymphoma were selected for histological and immunohistochemical analysis (CD3, CD3e, CD4, CD8, CD79a, CD56, CD57 and TIA-1) and in-situ hybridisation, serology and genotyping analysis for EBV.

RESULTS

Out of 22 cases, 9 (41%) cases fulfilled the World Health Organization criteria for nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma; of these 7 (78%) cases were positive for EBV. Genotyping analysis revealed 6 cases of type 1 EBV and wildtype F at the BamHI-F region, 4 cases type "i" EBV at the BamHI-W1/I1 region; XhoI wild type was found in 2 and XhoI loss in 4 cases, respectively. Cosegregation analysis of the BamHI-W1/I1 region and XhoI restriction site showed the new recombinant strain type "i"/XhoI loss in 3 cases and type "i"/XhoI wild-type strain in 1 case. Most patients were treated with combined anthracycline-containing regimens. Half of the cases attained complete remission.

CONCLUSION

Although nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas from Chile share similar clinicopathological features, high association with EBV and unfavourable prognosis with those described elsewhere, genotype analysis shows that the new recombinant type "i"/XhoI loss strain might contribute to explain the intermediate incidence of nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas in Latin America.

[Small peripheral lung cancer incidentally detected by massive hemoptysis]

A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for treatment of massive hemoptysis. He was intubated and underwent bronchial arterial embolization because of this deteriorating respiratory state and uncontrollable hemoptysis. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed a 1-cm nodular shadow in the peripheral apical lobe (S1) of the right lung. He underwent right upper lobectomy for the purpose of preventing re-hemorrhage as well as making the definitive diagnosis of nodular shadow in S1 of the right lung. Intraoperative pathological examination revealed the nodule as adenocarcinoma, and mediastinal lymphadenectomy was added to the right upper lobectomy. The patient recovered uneventfully, and there has been no sign of recurrence for 15 months after the operation.

Concurrent infiltration by CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells is a favourable prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between the number of tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes and the clinicopathological features and clinical outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tissue specimens from 109 patients who underwent surgical resection for NSCLC were immunohistochemically analysed for CD4 and CD8 expression. Patients were classified into two groups according to whether their tumours exhibited a ‘high’ or ‘low’ level of CD8⁺ or CD4⁺ lymphocyte infiltration. Although the level of infiltration by CD8⁺ T cells alone had no prognostic significance, the survival rate for patients with both ‘high’ CD8⁺ and ‘high’ CD4⁺ T-cell infiltration was significantly higher than that for the other groups (log-rank test, P=0.006). Multivariate analysis indicated that concomitant high CD8⁺ and high CD4⁺ T-cell infiltration was an independent favourable prognostic factor (P=0.0092). In conclusion, the presence of high levels of both CD8⁺ T cells and CD4⁺ T cells is a significant indicator of a better prognosis for patients with NSCLC, and cooperation between these cell populations may allow a significantly more potent antitumour response than either population alone.

Histological differentiation between prenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst and type I cystic biliary atresia using liver biopsy specimens

Because it is difficult to distinguish preoperatively between prenatally diagnosed choledochal cyst (CC) and type I cystic biliary atresia (BA) by ultrasound scanning or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), some modality of discrimination for the 2 entities is required. The aim of this study was to investigate the histological differences between prenatally diagnosed CC and type I cystic BA using liver biopsy specimens. Four children with prenatally diagnosed CC and two children with prenatally diagnosed type I cystic BA were identified by fetal ultrasonography between 1985 and 2003. The control group included two children who were operated on at an earlier period due to postnatally diagnosed BA. Liver wedge biopsy in the right lobe was performed at the time of the radical operation. Histological findings of the H & E-stained liver biopsy specimens were classified into 4 grades (Grade 0, no abnormality; Grade 1, ductular proliferation without bridging fibrosis; Grade 2, ductular proliferation with bridging fibrosis; and Grade 3, liver cirrhosis). The CC group consisted of one case of Grade 0 and three cases of Grade 1. The type I cystic BA group consisted of one case each of Grade 2 and Grade 3. In the control group, both cases were Grade 2. The authors suggest that exploratory laparotomy might be avoided and, instead, histologic examination using liver biopsy specimens can be a reliable test for the differential diagnosis of CC and type I cystic BA in prenatally diagnosed neonates.

Management of childhood and adolescent thyroid carcinoma: long-term follow-up and clinical characteristics

AIM

This analysis was performed to evaluate clinical factors such as local tumor control, control of distant metastasis, survival, and complications in children and adolescents with thyroid carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1960 to 2003, 21 children and adolescents (16 girls and 5 boys, aged 4 to 15 years) were treated for thyroid carcinoma in our departments. Clinical data, operative findings, pathological findings, operative procedures, intra- and postoperative complications and follow-up were evaluated. Follow-up of patients ranged from 3 to 42 years (median, 20 years).

RESULTS

Papillary carcinoma was found in 20 patients (95%) and follicular carcinoma in one patient. Cervical lymph node metastases were found in 12 out of 21 patients (57.1%) when thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed, and 5 patients (23.8%) had pulmonary metastasis. In patients with pulmonary metastasis, total thyroidectomy and bilateral radical lymph node resection was performed in 3 patients, lobectomy of the thyroid and radical lymph node resection in one patient, and partial thyroidectomy in one patient. All three patients who underwent total thyroidectomy are still alive. Internal irradiation by 131I and thyroid hormone replacement therapy was administered to 2 of 3 patients with pulmonary metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Despite metastasis in the lymph nodes and even the lungs, the prognosis for patients with papillary carcinoma is good. Total thyroidectomy and positive 131I therapy are recommended for childhood and adolescent thyroid carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis.