Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis treatment

OBJECTIVE

Plasma triglyceride (TG) levels were reported to be high in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) treatment. One of the atherogenic causes of hypertriglyceridemia is the increase in TG-rich lipoprotein remnants, which are equivalent to remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C). Here, we compared the plasma levels of TG, a representative indicator of TG-rich lipoproteins and RLP-C, as well as the TG/RLP-C ratio between CKD patients undergoing HD and controls, in an effort to elucidate the atherogenicity of TG-rich lipoproteins in CKD patients on HD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plasma lipid and apo(lipo)protein levels and the TG/RLP-C ratio were compared between 49 CKD patients undergoing HD and 627 controls. Blood sampling for lipid and apoprotein analysis was performed in a 12-h fasting state. Controls were divided into four subgroups according to TG level (from highest to lowest). RLP-C and apo(lipo)proteins were measured using the immunoprecipitation method and turbidimetric immunoassay, respectively. In addition, a comparison between HD patients and age-, gender-, and plasma TG level-matched controls was performed.

RESULTS

Plasma TG levels were 107 ± 70 (mean ± SD) mg/dl in HD patients and 115 ± 72 mg/dl in controls. Plasma RLP-C levels were 6.7 ± 4.5 mg/dl in HD patients and 4.6 ± 3.5 mg/dl in the controls (p < 0.0001). RLP-C levels decreased in descending order from the highest to the lowest TG group in controls. RLP-C levels were higher in HD patients than in controls with plasma TG levels of < 150 mg/dl (p < 0.0001). TG/RLP-C ratios were 19.0 ± 12.0 in HD patients and 25.9 ± 9.5 in controls (p < 0.0001). This ratio was significantly lower in HD patients than in all four TG subgroups. The comparison between HD patients and age-, gender-, plasma TG-matched controls revealed identical results.

CONCLUSION

Plasma RLP-C levels were high, and the TG/RLP-C ratio was low in CKD patients undergoing HD treatment. These findings indicate that total plasma TG-rich lipoprotein levels were not increased, but the distribution of plasma TG-rich lipoproteins were skewed towards remnant fractions in CKD patients undergoing HD treatment; these plasma TG-rich lipoproteins appear to be more atherogenic than those in controls.

Effect of the addition of beta-mercaptoethanol to a thawing solution supplemented with caffeine on the function of frozen-thawed boar sperm and on the fertility of sows after artificial insemination

We have reported that artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed boar semen supplemented with caffeine increased the number of uterine sperm by inhibiting the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the uterine lumen, thereby improving the fertility of gilts and sows. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of the addition of the antioxidant beta-mercaptoethanol (bME) and caffeine to the thawing solution on the function of frozen-thawed sperm, on the phagocytic activity of PMNs for sperm, and on the fertility of sows after AI. When frozen-thawed sperm were cultured in the presence of 25 or 50 μm bME, sperm capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reactions were inhibited (P < 0.01). There was no effect of bME on phagocytic activity of PMNs for sperm in vitro. When hormonally treated (400 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin + 200 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin) weaned sows experienced a single intrauterine insemination with frozen-thawed sperm (25 × 10(8) sperm per 50 ml dose) 40 h after subsequent hCG administration, pregnancy and farrowing rates were unaffected by the addition of 50 μm bME (pregnancy rate, 20 vs 21% in controls; farrowing rate, 20 vs 21%; n = 15 and 14, respectively). However, litter size tended to be higher than in the presence of 50 μm bME compared to its absence (10.0 ± 1.0 vs 5.7 ± 1.5, respectively; P < 0.07). Thus, the addition of bME to the thawing solution containing caffeine could be of benefit for improving the function of frozen-thawed sperm without influencing the phagocytic activity of PMNs for sperm. Although there were no statistically significant effects of bME on pregnancy or farrowing rates, the litter size tended to be higher in the sows subjected to a fixed-time single AI treatment with synchronized ovulation.

Association of genetic variants for susceptibility to obesity with type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

In populations of East Asian descent, we performed a replication study of loci previously identified in populations of European descent as being associated with obesity measures such as BMI and type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We genotyped 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 13 candidate loci that had previously been identified by genome-wide association meta-analyses for obesity measures in Europeans. Genotyping was done in 18,264 participants from two general Japanese populations. For SNPs showing an obesity association in Japanese individuals, we further examined diabetes associations in up to 6,781 cases and 7,307 controls from a subset of the original, as well as from additional populations.

RESULTS

Significant obesity associations (p < 0.1 two-tailed, concordant direction with previous reports) were replicated for 11 SNPs from the following ten loci in Japanese participants: SEC16B, TMEM18, GNPDA2, BDNF, MTCH2, BCDIN3D-FAIM2, SH2B1-ATP2A1, FTO, MC4R and KCTD15. The strongest effect was observed at TMEM18 rs4854344 (p = 7.1 × 10(-7) for BMI). Among the 11 SNPs showing significant obesity association, six were also associated with diabetes (OR 1.05-1.17; p = 0.04-2.4 × 10(-7)) after adjustment for BMI in the Japanese. When meta-analysed with data from the previous reports, the BMI-adjusted diabetes association was found to be highly significant for the FTO locus in East Asians (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.09-1.18; p = 7.8 × 10(-10)) with substantial inter-ethnic heterogeneity (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We confirmed that ten candidate loci are associated with obesity measures in the general Japanese populations. Six (of ten) loci exert diabetogenic effects in the Japanese, although relatively modest in size, and independently of increased adiposity.

Bone bonding bioactivity of Ti metal and Ti-Zr-Nb-Ta alloys with Ca ions incorporated on their surfaces by simple chemical and heat treatments

Ti15Zr4Nb4Ta and Ti29Nb13Ta4.6Zr, which do not contain the potentially cytotoxic elements V and Al, represent a new generation of alloys with improved corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility. Recently it has become possible for the apatite forming ability of these alloys to be ascertained by treatment with alkali, CaCl2, heat, and water (ACaHW). In order to confirm the actual in vivo bioactivity of commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) and these alloys after subjecting them to ACaHW treatment at different temperatures, the bone bonding strength of implants made from these materials was evaluated. The failure load between implant and bone was measured for treated and untreated plates at 4, 8, 16, and 26 weeks after implantation in rabbit tibia. The untreated implants showed almost no bonding, whereas all treated implants showed successful bonding by 4 weeks, and the failure load subsequently increased with time. This suggests that a simple and economical ACaHW treatment could successfully be used to impart bone bonding bioactivity to Ti metal and Ti-Zr-Nb-Ta alloys in vivo. In particular, implants heat treated at 700 °C exhibited significantly greater bone bonding strength, as well as augmented in vitro apatite formation, in comparison with those treated at 600 °C. Thus, with this improved bioactive treatment process these advantageous Ti-Zr-Nb-Ta alloys can serve as useful candidates for orthopedic devices.

Neurological deficit after simultaneous open abdominal aortic surgery and thoracic aortic endovascular therapy

We examined a total of 12 cases; 8 cases were identified by searching the literature on Pubmed (excluding case reports published prior to 2000) and 4 cases were ones we personally encountered. We examined age, sex, history of smoking, and preoperative risk factors as preoperative factors, the access route and coverage of the descending aorta as perioperative factors, and complications and survival time as postoperative factors. Mean coverage of the thoracic aorta was 90.8 mm. In terms of perioperative deaths, 8.3% (1 patient) were due to coagulopathy. Perioperative complications occurred in 16.7% of cases (coagulopathy in 1 patient and paralysis in another). No patients experienced complications or underwent additional treatment during a mean follow-up of 22.9 months. This study suggested that simultaneous open abdominal aortic repair and thoracic aortic endovascular therapy is feasible and also involves few postoperative complications. Paraplegia and paralysis tended to occur less frequently than with two-stage surgery, but further study is needed to explain why this is true.

Quantitative analysis of masticatory activity during unilateral mastication using muscle fMRI

OBJECTIVE

Quantitative analysis of the activities of all masticatory muscles is required to elucidate the mechanism of stomatognathic dysfunction. Electromyography can be used to record the activity of masticatory muscles, but quantification of the overall activity of every masticatory muscle has not been accomplished because of methodological limitations. In this study, we used muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging for simultaneous quantification of the overall activities of the masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid muscles during unilateral gum chewing.

METHODS

Seven healthy male volunteers participated in the study. We evaluated changes in the mean proton transverse relaxation time in the bilateral masseter, medial pterygoid and lateral pterygoid muscles before and after unilateral gum chewing, and to quantify the overall activity of these muscles simultaneously during unilateral gum chewing.

RESULTS

After 5 min of chewing, the activity of the ipsilateral masseter was highest among the six muscles, followed by the ipsilateral medial pterygoid, contralateral lateral pterygoid and contralateral masseter muscles.

CONCLUSION

These results affirm the importance of the ipsilateral masseter muscle and quantitatively demonstrate the important contribution of the ipsilateral medial pterygoid and contralateral lateral pterygoid muscles during unilateral mastication.

Simultaneous projection and detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry in Large Helical Device

A simultaneous projection/detection system of four different frequencies for microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) was developed for three-dimensional observation of electron density fluctuations in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The microwave with four frequency components at 60.410, 61.808, 63.008, and 64.610 GHz is projected in a continuous-wave mode to illuminate the target LHD plasma. A two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (2D HMA) receives the reflected wave from the plasma as well as the wave from the local oscillator operating at 55.800 GHz. The first intermediate frequency (IF) signals at 4.610, 6.008, 7.208, and 8.810 GHz were confirmed to be obtained by downconversion of these microwaves using the 2D HMA. Each of these first IF components is filtered from each other and downconverted again for the superheterodyne detection. It was confirmed that both the amplitudes and the phases of the detected signals reflect the fluctuations in LHD plasmas.

Development of electron cyclotron emission imaging system on Large Helical Device

A combined system of microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging has been developed for the Large Helical Device. This system includes a wide-band two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (HMA). The HMA consists of horn antennas, waveguides, mixers, and intermediate frequency circuits. The frequency response of the HMA is between 50 and 110 GHz. The ECE signal is selected using a 95 GHz local oscillator and a 93 GHz high-pass filter.

Diaphragm dysfunction with congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection can cause a wide variety of symptoms. We report three infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection presenting with respiratory insufficiency associated with persistent diaphragmatic dysfunction. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal diaphragmatic dysfunction.

Common variants at the GCK, GCKR, G6PC2-ABCB11 and MTNR1B loci are associated with fasting glucose in two Asian populations

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

To test fasting glucose association at four loci recently identified or verified by genome-wide association (GWA) studies of European populations, we performed a replication study in two Asian populations.

METHODS

We genotyped five common variants previously reported in Europeans: rs1799884 (GCK), rs780094 (GCKR), rs560887 (G6PC2-ABCB11) and both rs1387153 and rs10830963 (MTNR1B) in the general Japanese (n = 4,813) and Sri Lankan (n = 2,319) populations. To identify novel variants, we further examined genetic associations near each locus by using GWA scan data on 776 non-diabetic Japanese samples.

RESULTS

Fasting glucose association was replicated for the five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at p < 0.05 (one-tailed test) in South Asians (Sri Lankan) as well as in East Asians (Japanese). In fine-mapping by GWA scan data, we identified in the G6PC2-ABCB11 region a novel SNP, rs3755157, with significant association in Japanese (p = 2.6 x 10(-8)) and Sri Lankan (p = 0.001) populations. The strength of association was more prominent at rs3755157 than that of the original SNP rs560887, with allelic heterogeneity detected between the SNPs. On analysing the cumulative effect of associated SNPs, we found the per-allele gradients (beta = 0.055 and 0.069 mmol/l in Japanese and Sri Lankans, respectively) to be almost equivalent to those reported in Europeans.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Fasting glucose association at four tested loci was proven to be replicable across ethnic groups. Despite this overall consistency, ethnic diversity in the pattern and strength of linkage disequilibrium certainly exists and can help to appreciably reduce potential causal variants after GWA studies.

Amphiregulin induces proliferative activities in osseous dysplasia

Human osseous dysplasia (OD) is a benign fibro-osseous neoplasm of periodontal ligament origin in which normal bone is replaced with fibrous connective tissue containing abnormal bone or cementum. However, cellular differentiation and proliferation in OD have not been fully elucidated. In vitro culture systems have distinct advantages for analytical studies. Therefore, we established immortalized cell lines (OD-1) from OD lesions of the jaw from an individual with gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia (GDD). We hypothesized that OD-1 had a characteristic growth mechanism different from that of mineralized-associated cells such as osteoblasts. To clarify the difference of gene expression patterns between OD-1 and osteoblasts, we compared the profiles of genes expressed in the 2 cell types by microarray analysis. We identified amphiregulin to be highly expressed in OD-1 compared with osteoblasts and gingival fibroblasts. OD-1 showed proliferative activities regulated in an autocrine manner by amphiregulin, and amphiregulin may play a significant role in the proliferation of OD.

Evaluation of asymmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine in microangiopathy-related cerebral damage

BACKGROUND

Microangiopathy-related cerebral damage (MARCD) is an entity of cerebrovascular disease based on arteriosclerosis in deep white matter, which includes lacunar infarction and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). As asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of the nitric oxide (NO) synthases, and homocysteine are both potential risk factors for arteriosclerosis, the plasma levels of these two substances were evaluated in individuals with MARCD.

METHODS

Consecutive participants of a health examination (401 males and 311 females) were recruited for this cross-sectional study. All participants received an magnetic resonance imaging examination, and those with either lacunar infarction or WMH (grade > or =2) were classified into MARCD (+) (N = 146). The plasma ADMA concentration was measured with high performance liquid chromatography. The total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration was measured using a commercial kit.

RESULTS

The ADMA level (P < 0.001), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) level (P < 0.05) and L-arginine (Arg)/ADMA ratio (P < 0.01) differed significantly between MARCD (+) and (-) according to nonparametric Wilcoxon test, while the tHcy level did not (P = 0.37). Classic risk factors such as age, blood pressure, and the presence of hypertension differed significantly between the two groups as well. In the logistic analysis, the association of Arg/ADMA with MARCD remained significant (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, 0.19 (0.05, 0.73), P < 0.05) even after adjusting for the effects of age and hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

ADMA and tHcy levels were studied in 712 subjects with or without MARCD. The Arg/ADMA ratio was suggested to be an independent risk factor for MARCD. A large-scale prospective study is warranted to confirm the causal relationship between Arg/ADMA and MARCD.

Development of microwave imaging reflectometry in large helical device

Three key devices of the microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) are under development in large helical device (LHD). The 2-D mixer array is developed by stacking the one-dimensional array of the planar Yagi-Uda antenna. The new type of the bandpass filter bank is modified to match the requirement of the MIR. The low-cost quadrature demodulator is also developed for the phase detection system. By using the low-price commercial wireless devices, the development cost becomes much lower than the expensive waveguide system. These devices enable the development of 2-D/3-D microwave imaging system for the plasma diagnostics and industrial applications.

Correlation between colonic motility and defecatory disorders after anterior resection of the rectum in canine models

The objective of this study was to describe the correlation between changes in colonic motility and defecatory disorders in four experimental canine models, with an emphasis on denervation. Therefore, we constructed a model by dividing 20 healthy mongrel dogs into four groups, i.e. control, denervation, transection and anterior resection of the rectum (AR) (denervation plus transection), and focused on the correlation between colonic motility and defecatory disorders by counting the colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) and colonic non-migrating motor complexes (CNMCs). Gastrointestinal and colonic contractile activities were continuously recorded on a computer with strain gauge force transducers. The dogs' feces were checked daily, and their consistency was recorded as normal, semisolid, or watery. Compared with the control group, the transection group showed elongation of the propagation time (P < 0.05), and the mean motility index of colonic contractile activity at C4 and C5 in the denervation group was greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The AR group showed three features of colonic motility: (i) elongation of the mean CMMC cycle (P < 0.05); (ii) shortening of the propagation time (P < 0.05); and (iii) increment of the number of CNMCs. Concerning fecal consistency, the AR group only showed watery diarrhoea. In conclusion, we revealed the existence of a correlation between defecatory disorders and changes in colonic motility. Increased knowledge among colorectal surgeons of the changes in colonic motility that occur following colorectal surgery is very important and could lead to the curtailment of defecatory disorders among patients.

Chemokine-like factor expression in the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the expression of chemokine-like factor (CKLF) in biopsied muscle fibers in inflammatory myopathies, non-inflammatory myopathies and neurologically diseased controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied the expression of CKLF in 15 polymyositis (PM), five dermatomyositis (DM), 15 non-inflammatory myopathies and nine neurologically diseased patients by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Chemokine-like factor was mostly expressed in small diameter muscle fibers surrounded by infiltrated lymphocytes of inflammatory myopathies patients. Parts of them were also positive for the staining of the developmental form of myosin heavy chain, a maker of regenerating muscle fibers. Thrombin immunoreactivity was observed in endomysium in PM and perimysium in DM. In vitro differentiation study showed a constitutive expression of CKLF in myoblasts that was abolished in myotubes during differentiation process and was induced again by thrombin. Thrombin regulates CKLF expression through protease-activated receptor-1 in myotubes. Treatment of a protein kinase C inhibitor partially blocked CKLF expression in myoblasts, while it remarkably inhibited that in myotubes.

CONCLUSION

Chemokine-like factor expression is differentially regulated in myoblasts and myotubes. Thrombin could be a strong regulator for its expression. As CKLF is immunohistochemically positive in regenerating muscle fibers, we postulate here that CKLF is a useful marker for regenerating muscle fibers in inflammatory myopathies.

Cystatin C expression in ischemic white matter lesions

OBJECTIVES

To study the involvement of cystatin C in the progression of ischemic white matter lesions (WMLs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cystatin C levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with cerebrovascular disease, and also in primary and established human neural cell cultures were investigated. For pathologic analysis, cystatin C immunoreactivity was investigated in the white matter of patients with severe WMLs, mild WMLs or controls.

RESULTS

Cystatin C levels in the CSF of patients with Fazekas WML grade 3 [14 with hypertension; W/HT(+) and nine without hypertension; W/HT(-)] were lower than those in 38 patients with grade 0-1 (P = 0.0022 and P < 0.0001 respectively). Immunohistochemical study showed that the cystatin C immunoreactivity was found in astrocytes, and the number of astrocytes in the white matter in the severe WML group was decreased when compared with that in controls (P = 0.0027) and in the mild WML group (P = 0.0024). In human neural cell cultures, treatments with thrombin, matrix metalloproteinases and interleukin 1 beta increased the expression of cystatin C mRNA in human astrocytes and hybrid neurons, but an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that only thrombin significantly increased the production and secretion of cystatin C in astrocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that low levels of CSF cystatin C in ischemic WMLs might be due to the decreased number of astrocytes that secrete cystatin C in response to the stimuli of proteases and inflammatory cytokines.

Enhancement of synaptic transmission and nociceptive behaviour in HPC-1/syntaxin 1A knockout mice following peripheral nerve injury

Our previous analysis of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A knockout (KO) mice indicated that HPC-1/syntaxin 1A plays an important role in the synaptic plasticity of the hippocampus in vitro and learning behaviour in vivo. In order to gain further insights into the physiological functions of HPC-1/syntaxin 1A, we studied the changes in the plasticity of synaptic transmission in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord following a peripheral nerve injury in HPC-1/syntaxin 1A KO and wild-type (WT) mice. The von Frey filament test revealed that partial ligation of the sciatic nerve caused neuropathic pain in both WT and KO mice. However, KO mice showed significant enhancement of mechanical allodynia as compared with WT mice. Tight-seal whole-cell recordings were obtained from neurons in the superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord slices. Electrical stimulus-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), asynchronous EPSCs (aEPSCs) in the presence of strontium, and spontaneously occurring miniature EPSCs (mEPSCs) were analysed. Prior to peripheral nerve ligation, no significant differences were observed in the properties of evoked EPSCs, aEPSCs and mEPSCs in KO and WT mice. Seven-14 days after partial ligation, the amplitude of evoked EPSCs and the frequency of aEPSCs and mEPSCs in KO mice were significantly greater than those in WT mice; however, the amplitude of aEPSCs and mEPSCs remained unchanged in both groups. Enhanced allodynia behaviour and significant enhancement of excitatory synaptic transmission following peripheral nerve ligation in KO mice suggest that HPC-1/syntaxin 1A might play a role in synaptic plasticity in the nociceptive pathway.

73 SUPPLEMENTATION OF FROZEN BOAR SEMEN WITH β-MERCAPTOETHANOL INCREASES THE INCIDENCE OF INTACT CELLS AFTER THAWING

During the process of freezing and thawing of boar spermatozoa, a large number of the cells appear to be injured by some stresses such as osmotic forces and oxidation, causing reduced viability and penetrability. β-Mercaptoethanol (bME), a strong reducing agent, may ease oxidative stress and rescue sperm cells from those injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the presence of bME during freezing and thawing of boar spermatozoa on the viability and acrosome status of the sperm cells. Semen samples were collected from 3 boars; only samples with a high motility (more than 80%) were used for this experiment. Each sample was diluted 1:1 with modified Modena solution and kept overnight at 15�C. After centrifugation at 800g for 10 min, the diluent supernatant was removed; spermatozoa were re-suspended at 2 � 109 cells mL–1 in the first diluent (8.8% trehalose solution containing 20% egg yolk and antibiotic) supplemented with 0, 25, or 50 µm bME, and then cooled to 5�C over 2–3 h. At 5�C, semen samples were further diluted 1:1 with the second diluent (same as the first diluent + 5% glycerin + 1.48% Orvus ES Paste (Equex STM; Minitube, Verona, WI, USA)) supplemented with 0, 25, and 50 µm bME, respectively. After packaging the semen into 0.5-mL straws, it was frozen by keeping the straws 4 cm above the surface of liquid nitrogen for 15 min and then storing them in liquid nitrogen until use. After thawing at 37�C for 30 s, semen samples were re-suspended in 10 mL of BTS solution containing 1.15 mm caffeine and 4 mm Ca chloride, and incubated at 37�C under 5% CO2 in air for 90 min. Viability, DNA fragmentation, and acrosome status of spermatozoa were assessed by flow cytometry after staining with SYBR�14/PI (Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA), acridine orange, and PNA/PI, respectively. Statistical analyses of data from at least 3 replicated trials were carried out by ANOVA and Fisher's protected least-squares difference (PLSD) post-hoc test. Just after thawing, no differences in viability (45.6–51.1%; P = 0.67), DNA fragmentation (0.7–0.9%; P = 0.76), and acrosome status (intact acrosome: 79.2–83.0%; P = 0.26) of the spermatozoa were observed when sperm cells were frozen and thawed in 0, 25, and 50 µm bME. After culture for 90 min, however, the incidence of spermatozoa with an intact acrosome was significantly higher (P < 0.05) when the semen was frozen and thawed in the presence of 50 µm bME (70.9%), compared with 0 (61.7%) and 25 µm bME (61.0%). Chlortetracycline (CTC) analyses were peformed to confirm that the incidence of intact spermatozoa was higher (P < 0.01) in 50 µm bME (67.6%) than that of non-supplementation controls (51.4%). These results demonstrate that supplementation of semen with 50 µm bME during freezing and thawing processes reduces acrosome damage of boar spermatozoa.

Association between PRKCH gene polymorphisms and subcortical silent brain infarction

Recently, a large-scale genetic epidemiological study has shown significant association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the protein kinase C eta (PRKCH) gene with cerebral infarction, particularly, with lacunar infarction. To extend the findings, we tested association of two SNPs previously reported--rs3783799 and rs2230500--in PRKCH with silent lacunar infarction (SLI), which has drawn substantial attention in the aging societies. Disease association was tested in the case-control study design. Subjects with and without SLI were recruited from people who underwent a health-screening examination including brain MRI. Two SNPs were genotyped and proven to be in complete linkage disequilibrium (D'=1.00, r(2)=1.00) and thus showed comparable results of disease association, which were reproduced in two panels collected independently. In the entire population involving 295 cases and 497 controls, two SNPs remained to be significantly associated with SLI under a dominant model even after adjustment for confounding factors such as hypertension (e.g., genetic effects of rs2230500, P=0.0026 for AA+AG vs. GG, adjusted odds ratio=1.27; 95% CI, 1.09-1.48). As the two SNPs appear to be common only in Asian people, further replication study is warranted in the other Asian populations as well as the Japanese.

Genetic basis for correction of very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency by bezafibrate in patient fibroblasts: toward a genotype-based therapy

Very-long-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency is an inborn mitochondrial fatty-acid beta-oxidation (FAO) defect associated with a broad mutational spectrum, with phenotypes ranging from fatal cardiopathy in infancy to adolescent-onset myopathy, and for which there is no established treatment. Recent data suggest that bezafibrate could improve the FAO capacities in beta-oxidation-deficient cells, by enhancing the residual level of mutant enzyme activity via gene-expression stimulation. Since VLCAD-deficient patients frequently harbor missense mutations with unpredictable effects on enzyme activity, we investigated the response to bezafibrate as a function of genotype in 33 VLCAD-deficient fibroblasts representing 45 different mutations. Treatment with bezafibrate (400 microM for 48 h) resulted in a marked increase in FAO capacities, often leading to restoration of normal values, for 21 genotypes that mainly corresponded to patients with the myopathic phenotype. In contrast, bezafibrate induced no changes in FAO for 11 genotypes corresponding to severe neonatal or infantile phenotypes. This pattern of response was not due to differential inductions of VLCAD messenger RNA, as shown by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, but reflected variable increases in measured VLCAD residual enzyme activity in response to bezafibrate. Genotype cross-analysis allowed the identification of alleles carrying missense mutations, which could account for these different pharmacological profiles and, on this basis, led to the characterization of 9 mild and 11 severe missense mutations. Altogether, the responses to bezafibrate reflected the severity of the metabolic blockage in various genotypes, which appeared to be correlated with the phenotype, thus providing a new approach for analysis of genetic heterogeneity. Finally, this study emphasizes the potential of bezafibrate, a widely prescribed hypolipidemic drug, for the correction of VLCAD deficiency and exemplifies the integration of molecular information in a therapeutic strategy.