[Diffusion studies of redox-sensitive nitroxyl spin probes through bilayer lipid membranes using 300 MHz electron spin resonance spectrometer]

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies were carried out for 14N-labeled deuterated 3-methoxy-carbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolidine-1-oxyl (MC-PROXYL) and 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidin-1-oxyl (carboxy-PROXYL) in pure water and various concentrations of liposomal solutions by using 300 MHz ESR spectrometer. The ESR parameters such as the line width, hyperfine coupling constant, rotational correlation time, g-factor, partition parameter and permeability were reported for the samples. The line width broadening was observed for MC-PROXYL and carboxy-PROXYL in liposomal solution. The hyperfine coupling constant was observed for both nitroxyl spin probes. The permeable and impermeable nature of nitroxyl spin probes was demonstrated. The rotational correlation time increases with increasing concentration of liposome. The partition parameter increases with increasing concentration of liposome for MC-PROXYL, which indicates that the nitroxyl spin probes diffuse into lipid membrane. The permeability value decreases with increasing concentration of liposome, which reveals an increase in membrane permeability. The peaks corresponding to the lipid phase were observed for MC-PROXYL in liposomal solution, but not resolved for carboxy-PROXYL. These results confirm the permeable and impermeable nature of nitroxyl spin probes.

The influence of pH and temperature on the stability of flutamide. An HPLC investigation and identification of the degradation product by EI+-MS

Stability of flutamide was investigated using validated stability-indicating HPLC method. Degradation kinetics, Arrhenius plots, and pH-rate profile curve were explored.

Spin-orbit fluctuations in frustrated heavy-fermion metal LiV(2)O(4)

Spin fluctuations were studied over a wide momentum (ℏQ) and energy (E) space in the frustrated d-electron heavy-fermion metal LiV_{2}O_{4} by time-of-flight inelastic neutron scattering. We observed the overall Q-E evolutions near the characteristic Q=0.6  Å^{-1}  peak and found another weak broad magnetic peak around 2.4  Å^{-1}. The data are described by a simple response function, a partially delocalized magnetic form factor, and antiferromagnetic short-range spatial correlations, indicating that heavy-fermion formation is attributable to spin-orbit fluctuations with orbital hybridization.

Three-dimensional characterization of BaHfO3 precipitates in GdBa2Cu3O7-y flim using STEM tomography

IntroductionSince the discovery of REBa2Cu3O7-y (RE: Rare Earth element, REBCO) superconductors, they have been expected as the best candidates for the power cable application due to its high critical temperature (Tc) and critical current density (Jc). Among those REBCO superconductors, GdBa2Cu3O7-y (GdBCO) have been receiving great interest because they have higher Tc and Jc than YBa2Cu3O7-y [1].GdBCO with various types of precipitates as artificial pinning centers (APCs) have been proposed to minimize the anisotropy of Jc characteristics under the magnetic field. Among those precipitates, BaHfO3 (BHO) was found most effective precipitates as APCs in GdBCO film prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method [2]. It is therefore necessary to investigate not only the morphologies but also the dispersion of BHO precipitates within the GdBCO, to understand the role of BHO for the superconducting characteristics. In this study, morphologies and dispersions of BHO precipitates were characterized three-dimensional by scanning transmission electron tomography ExperimentalBHO dispersed GdBCO films were fabricated on Hastelloy C-276TM substrates with buffer layers of CeO2/LaMnO3/MgO/ Gd2ZrO7 by PLD method.To observe microstructure of GdBCO film with BHO precipitates, cross-section TEM specimens were prepared by FIB method using Quanta 3D-200 (FEI, USA) with acceleration voltage from 2 to 30 kV. Three-dimensional information such as morphology and dispersion, of BHO precipitates were characterized by electron tomography using STEM-HAADF. Result and discussionFigure 1 shows three-dimensional reconstructed volume of BHO precipitates in GdBCO, which revealed that fine BHO precipitates have rod- and plate-like morphologies with homogeneous dispersion in GdBCO. In addition, growth directions of these precipitates were found with wide angular distributions from growth direction of GdBCO. Anisotropy of Jc in the magnetic fields was probably enhanced by various growth directions and homogeneous dispersion of nanosized BHO within GdBCO.jmicro;63/suppl_1/i26/DFU080F1F1DFU080F1Fig. 1.Three-dimensional reconstructed volume of BHO.

Neurogenic cardiomyopathy in rabbits with experimentally induced rabies

Cardiomyopathies have been rarely described in rabbits. Here we report myocardial necrosis of the ventricular wall in rabbits with experimentally induced rabies. Myocardial lesions were found only in rabbits with brain lesions, and the severity of the cardiac lesions was proportional to that of the brain lesions. Neither the frequency nor the cumulative dose of anesthesia was related to the incidence or the severity of the myocardial lesions. The myocardial lesions were characterized by degeneration and/or necrosis of myocardial cells and were accompanied by contraction band necrosis, interstitial fibrosis, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The brain lesions due to rabies virus infection were most prominent in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and medulla. Rabies virus antigen was not found in the hearts of any rabbits. Based on these findings, the myocardial lesions were classified as neurogenic cardiomyopathy.

Effects of Butyrate on Cell Cycle Progression and Polyploidization of Various Types of Mammalian Cells

We studied the effect of butyrate on cell cycle progression and polyploidization in three fibroblast (rat 3Y1, human IMR-90, and human embryo lung HEL) and two epithelial (human embryo kidney HEK and monkey kidney BSC-1) cells. In these cells, except for 3Y1, G1 arrest with butyrate was incomplete, and the production of tetraploid cells was detectable in the presence of butyrate. G2 arrest with butyrate was also incomplete in HEL and BSC-1 cells, and the number of HEL cells increased in the presence of butyrate. On the contrary, most BSC-1 cells that divided in the presence of butyrate were unstable and the number of attached cells decreased. These results indicate that the effect of butyrate on cell cycle progression varies with the cell type and that polyploidization can be induced by a single treatment with butyrate.

Successive Phase Transitions and High Ionic Conductivity of Trichlorogermanate (II) Salts as Studied by 35C1 NQR and Powder X-Ray Diffraction

A series of trichlorogermanate(II) salts (AGeCl3, A = Rb, Cs, CH3N H3, and (CH3)4N) have been synthesized and characterized by 35Cl NQR , 35Cl NMR , AC conductivity, DTA, and X-ray diffraction techniques. In the temperature range studied two, two, five, and four phases were confirmed for the Rb, Cs, CH3NH3, and (CH3)4N salts, respectively. From the 35Cl NQR and structural data, isolated pyramidal GeCl3 anions were recognized in the low temperature phases. With increasing temperature the relaxation times of the 35Cl NQR decreased exponentially and the signals disappeared far below the melting point. This suggests that the reorientation of the anion about the pseudo three-fold axis is excited. With further increase in temperature, the ionic conductivity of CH3NH3GeCl3 and (CH3)4NGeCl3 increased drastically at the phase transitions to their cubic perovskite phases (CH3NH3GeCl3:σ= 10-1 Sm-1 at 400 K, (CH3)4NGeCl3: σ = 5 x 10-2 Sm-1 at 420 K). The mobile ion was confirmed to be the chloride ion by means of 35Cl NMR and X-ray diffraction.

Insulin stimulates the expression of the SHARP-1 gene via multiple signaling pathways

The rat enhancer of split- and hairy-related protein-1 (SHARP-1) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor. An issue of whether SHARP-1 is an insulin-inducible transcription factor was examined. Insulin rapidly increased the level of SHARP-1 mRNA both in vivo and in vitro. Then, signaling pathways involved with the increase of SHARP-1 mRNA by insulin were determined in H4IIE rat hepatoma cells. Pretreatments with LY294002, wortmannin, and staurosporine completely blocked the induction effect, suggesting the involvement of both phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) and protein kinase C (PKC) pathways. In fact, overexpression of a dominant negative form of atypical protein kinase C lambda (aPKCλ) significantly decreased the induction of the SHARP-1 mRNA. In addition, inhibitors for the small GTPase Rac or Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) also blocked the induction of SHARP-1 mRNA by insulin. Overexpression of a dominant negative form of Rac1 prevented the activation by insulin. Furthermore, actinomycin D and cycloheximide completely blocked the induction of SHARP-1 mRNA by insulin. Finally, when a SHARP-1 expression plasmid was transiently transfected with various reporter plasmids into H4IIE cells, the promoter activity of PEPCK reporter plasmid was specifically decreased. Thus, we conclude that insulin induces the SHARP-1 gene expression at the transcription level via a both PI 3-K/aPKCλ/JNK- and a PI 3-K/Rac/JNK-signaling pathway; protein synthesis is required for this induction; and that SHARP-1 is a potential repressor of the PEPCK gene expression.

Metabolic Engineering ofCorynebacterium glutamicumfor Cadaverine Fermentation

Cadaverine, the expected raw material of polyamides, is produced by decarboxylation of L-lysine. If we could produce cadaverine from the cheapest sugar, and as a renewable resource, it would be an effective solution against global warming, but there has been no attempt to produce cadaverine from glucose by fermentation. We focused on Corynebacterium glutamicum, whose L-lysine fermentation ability is superior, and constructed a metabolically engineered C. glutamicum in which the L-homoserine dehydrogenase gene (hom) was replaced by the L-lysine decarboxylase gene (cadA) of Escherichia coli. In this recombinant strain, cadaverine was produced at a concentration of 2.6 g/l, equivalent to up to 9.1% (molecular yield) of the glucose transformed into cadaverine in neutralizing cultivation. This is the first report of cadaverine fermentation by C. glutamicum.

High-energy spin and charge excitations in electron-doped copper oxide superconductors

The evolution of electronic (spin and charge) excitations upon carrier doping is an extremely important issue in superconducting layered cuprates and the knowledge of its asymmetry between electron- and hole-dopings is still fragmentary. Here we combine X-ray and neutron inelastic scattering measurements to track the doping dependence of both spin and charge excitations in electron-doped materials. Copper L3 resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectra show that magnetic excitations shift to higher energy upon doping. Their dispersion becomes steeper near the magnetic zone centre and they deeply mix with charge excitations, indicating that electrons acquire a highly itinerant character in the doped metallic state. Moreover, above the magnetic excitations, an additional dispersing feature is observed near the Γ-point, and we ascribe it to particle-hole charge excitations. These properties are in stark contrast with the more localized spin excitations (paramagnons) recently observed in hole-doped compounds even at high doping levels.

Evidence for a gene controlling the induction of transplantation tolerance

Class I mismatched kidney transplantation in Massachusetts General Hospital MHC-defined miniature swine has been studied extensively as a model for induction of systemic allograft tolerance. In a large series of juvenile swine, long-term graft acceptance has been observed consistently following a 12-day course of cyclosporine. It was therefore surprising when three of five recipients in one of our studies rejected their grafts. Examination of the origins of the rejecting animals revealed that they were derived from a subline of the SLA(dd) miniature swine herd that was intentionally being inbred toward full homozygosity and had been inbred for eight generations prior to these experiments. A blinded study of additional class I mismatched renal transplants into animals from this subline confirmed the genetic basis of this rejection. We present here preliminary evidence suggesting that a likely explanation for this phenomenon is that the rejectors in this subline are homozygous for a recessive mutant allele of a gene normally involved in the induction of tolerance. Subsequent studies will be directed toward identification and characterization of the gene(s) involved, since existence of a similar genetic locus in humans might have implications for assessing an individual's likelihood of graft rejection versus tolerance induction prior to organ transplantation.

Anticancer effects of gemcitabine are enhanced by co-administered iRGD peptide in murine pancreatic cancer models that overexpressed neuropilin-1

BACKGROUND

Impaired drug transport is an important factor that reduces the efficacy of anticancer agents against pancreatic cancer. Here, we report a novel combination chemotherapy using gemcitabine (GEM) and internalised-RGD (iRGD) peptide, which enhances tumour-specific drug penetration by binding neuropilin-1 (NRP1) receptor.

METHODS

A total of five pancreatic cancer murine models (two cell line-based xenografts (CXs) and three tumour grafts (TGs)) were treated with either GEM (100 mg kg(-1), q3d × 4) alone or GEM plus iRGD peptide (8 μmol kg(-1)). Evaluation of NRP1 expression in xenografts and 48 clinical cancer specimens was performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

We identified a subset of pancreatic cancer models that showed NRP1 overexpression sensitive to iRGD co-administration. Treatment with GEM plus iRGD peptide resulted in a significant tumour reduction compared with GEM monotherapy in CXs, but not remarkable in TGs. Potential targets of iRGD were characterised as cases showing NRP1 overexpression (IHC-2+/3+), and these accounted for 45.8% of the clinical specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Internalised RGD peptide enhances the effects of co-administered drugs in pancreatic cancer models, its efficacy is however only appreciable in those employing cell lines. Therefore, the clinical application needs to be given careful consideration.

Bovine κ-casein inhibits human rotavirus (HRV) infection via direct binding of glycans to HRV

Human rotavirus (HRV) is a major etiologic agent of severe infantile gastroenteritis. κ-Casein (κ-CN) from both human and bovine mature milk has been reported to have anti-HRV activity; however, the mechanism of this activity is poorly understood. The present study examined the molecular basis for the protective effect of bovine κ-CN derived from late colostrum (6-7 d after parturition) and from mature milk. Among the components of casein, κ-CN is the only glycosylated protein that has been identified. Therefore, we investigated whether the glycan residues in κ-CN were involved in the anti-HRV activity. Desialylated CN obtained by neuraminidase treatment exhibited anti-HRV activity, whereas deglycosylated CN obtained by o-glycosidase treatment lacked antiviral activity, indicating that glycans were responsible for the antiviral activity of CN. Furthermore, an evanescent-field fluorescence-assisted assay showed that HRV particles directly bound to heated casein (at 95°C for 30 min) in a viral titer-dependent manner. Although the heated κ-CN retained inhibitory activity in a neutralization assay, the activity was weaker than that observed before heat treatment. Our findings indicate that the inhibitory mechanism of bovine κ-CN against HRV involves direct binding to viral particles via glycan residues. In addition, heat-labile structures in κ-CN may play an important role in maintenance of κ-CN binding to HRV.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry with transmission of energetic primary cluster ions through foil targets

We developed time-of-flight (TOF) secondary ion (SI) mass spectrometry that provides informative SI ion mass spectra without needing a sophisticated ion beam pulsing system. In the newly developed spectrometry, energetic large cluster ions with energies of the order of sub MeV or greater are used as primary ions. Because their impacts on the target surface produce high yields of SIs, the resulting SI mass spectra are informative. In addition, the start signals necessary for timing information on primary ion incidence are provided by the detection signals of particles emitted from the rear surface of foil targets upon transmission of the primary ions. This configuration allows us to obtain positive and negative TOF SI mass spectra without pulsing system, which requires precise control of the primary ions to give the spectra with good mass resolution. We also successfully applied the TOF SI mass spectrometry with energetic cluster ion impacts to the chemical structure characterization of organic thin film targets.

Dynamic chromosome reorganization in the osprey ( Pandion haliaetus , Pandionidae, Falconiformes): relationship between chromosome size and the chromosomal distribution of centromeric repetitive DNA sequences

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) has a diploid number of 74 chromosomes, consisting of a large number of medium-sized macrochromosomes and relatively few microchromosomes; this differs greatly from the typical avian karyotype. Chromosome painting with chicken DNA probes revealed that the karyotype of P. haliaetus differs from the chicken karyotype by at least 14 fission events involving macrochromosomes (chicken chromosomes 1-9 and Z) and at most 15 fusions of microchromosomes, suggesting that considerable karyotype reorganization occurred in P. haliaetus in a similar manner previously reported for Accipitridae. A distinct difference was observed, however, between Accipitridae and Pandionidae with respect to the pattern of chromosome rearrangements that occurred after fissions of macrochromosomes. Metacentric or submetacentric chromosomes 1-5 in P. haliaetus appear to have been formed by centric fusion of chromosome segments derived from macrochromosomal fissions. By contrast, many pairs of bi-armed chromosomes in Accipitridae species seem to result from pericentric inversions that occurred in the fission-derived chromosomes. Two families of repetitive sequences were isolated; the 173-bp PHA-HaeIII sequence occurred on all chromosomes, whereas intense signals from the 742-bp PHA-NsiI sequence were localized to all acrocentric chromosomes, with weak signals on most of the bi-armed chromosomes. Two repetitive sequences cohybridized in the centromeric heterochromatin; however, the sequences differed in unit size, nucleotide sequence and GC content. The results suggest that the 2 sequence families originated from different ancestral sequences and were homogenized independently in centromeres, and that a chromosome size-dependent compartmentalization may have been lost in P. haliaetus.

Development of microwave ion source for industrial applications

A microwave ion source is one of the long-life ion sources. In this paper, we report on the characteristics of the extracted Ar ion beam produced by a microwave ion source under various conditions, in terms of magnetic flux distribution and mass flow, and the stability of the ion beam. The measured spectra show that, under the experimental condition, almost all of produced ions were Ar(+) ions. For more than 6 h, the ion beam was stable.

Production of fullerene ions by combining of plasma sputtering with laser ablation

We have produced C60 ion beams by combining plasma sputtering and laser ablation. A C60 sample was placed in an electron cyclotron resonance type ion source, negatively biased and sputtered by argon plasma. The beam current of C60 (+) decreased rapidly, but it was transiently recovered by a single laser shot that ablates the thin sample surface on the sputtered area. Temporal variations in beam current are reported in response to laser shots repeated at intervals of a few minutes.

Lipids and immunology

Dietary fat plays an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of a range of immune reactions. In food allergies, especially in type I allergic reactions, dietary fat can modulate the development of clinical symptoms through influencing the production of immunoglobulins (Ig), cytokines and chemical mediators. In general, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-3 family in relation to those of the n-6 family reduce the production of eicosanoids and hence, mitigate hypersensitivity. In this context, it is interesting that conjugated derivatives of linoleic acid (CLA) reduce the production of eicosanoids and regulate the production of Ig in a manner favourable to the prevention of allergic reactions. Trans monoene fatty acid (that is, elaidic acid), in relation to cis monoenoic fatty acid (that is, oleic acid), also behaves as an anti-allergic agent through interfering with the desaturation of linoleic acid. The information available indicates that different dietary fats influence differently the immune indices related to food allergic reaction. The effects appeared to be readily modified by the combination of food components, including dietary fats. Thus, an appropriate combination of a specific fat or fatty acid may be one approach to the regulation of allergic reaction.

A long-term follow-up study of open reduction using Ludloff's approach for congenital or developmental dislocation of the hip

Objectives

There are several reports clarifying successful results following open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach for congenital (CDH) or developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). This study aimed to reveal the long-term post-operative course until the period of hip-joint maturity after the conventional surgical treatments.

Methods

A long-term follow-up beyond the age of hip-joint maturity was performed for 115 hips in 103 patients who underwent open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach in our hospital. The mean age at surgery was 8.5 months (2 to 26) and the mean follow-up was 20.3 years (15 to 28). The radiological condition at full growth of the hip joint was evaluated by Severin’s classification.

Results

All 115 hips successfully attained reduction after surgery; however, 74 hips (64.3%) required corrective surgery at a mean age of 2.6 years (one to six). According to Severin’s classification, 69 hips (60.0%) were classified as group I or II, which were considered to represent acceptable results. A total of 39 hips (33.9%) were group III and the remaining seven hips (6.1%) group IV. As to re-operation, 20 of 21 patients who underwent surgical reduction after 12 months of age required additional corrective surgeries during the growth period as the hip joint tended to subluxate gradually.

Conclusion

Open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach accomplished successful joint reduction for persistent CDH or DDH, but this surgical treatment was only appropriate before the ambulating stage.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:1–6.

Effects of hypergravity stimulus on global gene expression during reproductive growth in Arabidopsis

The life cycle of higher plants consists of successive vegetative and reproductive growth phases. Understanding effects of altered gravity conditions on the reproductive growth is essential, not only to elucidate how higher plants evolved under gravitational condition on Earth but also to approach toward realization of agriculture in space. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of global gene expression of floral buds under hypergravity was carried out to understand effects of altered gravity on reproductive growth at molecular level. Arabidopsis plants grown for 20-26 days were exposed to hypergravity of 300 g for 24 h. Total RNA was extracted from flower buds and microarray (44 K) analysis performed. As a result, hypergravity up-regulated expression of a gene related to β-1,3-glucanase involved in pectin modification, and down-regulated β-galactosidase and amino acid transport, which supports a previous study reporting inhibition of pollen development and germination under hypergravity. With regard to genes related to seed storage accumulation, hypergravity up-regulated expression of genes of aspartate aminotransferase, and down-regulated those related to cell wall invertase and sugar transporter, supporting a previous study reporting promotion of protein body development and inhibition of starch accumulation under hypergravity, respectively. In addition, hypergravity up-regulated expression of G6PDH and GPGDH, which supports a previous study reporting promotion of lipid deposition under hypergravity. In addition, analysis of the metabolic pathway revealed that hypergravity substantially changed expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of phytohormones such as abscisic acid and auxin.

Characterisation of proanthocyanidins from black soybeans: isolation and characterisation of proanthocyanidin oligomers from black soybean seed coats

Proanthocyanidin oligomers (dimers to tetramers) were isolated from black soybean seed coats, using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and reversed-phase preparative HPLC. The isolated oligomers consisted of only (-)-epicatechin units, which were linked through either 4β→8 or 4β→6 (B-type) bonds. Procyanidin B2, procyanidin C1, and cinnamtannin A2 were identified as the main compounds of the proanthocyanidin dimers, trimers, and tetramers, respectively.

Dual-band multi-aperture enhanced redox imaging of colonic adenomas for endoscopes with a high-performance CMOS imager

Dual-band multi-aperture imaging of colonic adenomas based on the redox condition of mucosal cells for next-generation endoscopes is proposed. A low-noise and high-dynamic-range CMOS imager with the folding integration and the cyclic ADC is utilized in the single-imager multi-aperture camera system with 475-nm and 530-nm band-pass filters. A redox image is calculated from four kinds of images, 475-nm and 530-nm fluorescence images for 365-nm and 405-nm excitation lights. Dark current and random noise are reduced with a selective averaging method. The contrast of the redox image has been successfully enhanced.

Induction of cardiac allograft tolerance across a full MHC barrier in miniature swine by donor kidney cotransplantation

We have previously shown that tolerance of kidney allografts across a full major histocompatibility complex (MHC) barrier can be induced in miniature swine by a 12-day course of high-dose tacrolimus. However, that treatment did not prolong survival of heart allografts across the same barrier. We have now tested the effect of cotransplanting an allogeneic heart and kidney from the same MHC-mismatched donor using the same treatment regimen. Heart allografts (n = 3) or heart plus kidney allografts (n = 5) were transplanted into MHC-mismatched recipients treated with high-dose tacrolimus for 12 days. As expected, all isolated heart allografts rejected by postoperative day 40. In contrast, heart and kidney allografts survived for >200 days with no evidence of rejection on serial cardiac biopsies. Heart/kidney recipients lost donor-specific responsiveness in cell-mediated lympholysis and mixed-lymphocyte reaction assays, were free of alloantibody and exhibited prolonged survival of donor, but not third-party skin grafts. Late (>100 days) removal of the kidney allografts did not cause acute rejection of the heart allografts (n = 2) and did not abrogate donor-specific unresponsiveness in vitro. While kidney-induced cardiac allograft tolerance (KICAT) has previously been demonstrated across a Class I disparity, these data demonstrate that this phenomenon can also be observed across the more clinically relevant full MHC mismatch. Elucidating the renal element(s) responsible for KICAT could provide mechanistic information relevant to the induction of tolerance in recipients of isolated heart allografts as well as other tolerance-resistant organs.

Bioengineered osteochondral precursor for treatment of osteochondritis dissecans in a Thoroughbred filly

CASE REPORT

A 13-month-old Thoroughbred filly was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the medial tibial malleolus. A sponge impregnated with platelet-rich plasma, bone morphogenetic protein-2, mesenchymal stem cells and gelatin β-tricalcium phosphate was applied to the OCD site following arthroscopy and debridement. Postoperative radiography (every week for 16 weeks), computed tomography (CT) (16 weeks postoperatively), arthroscopy (16 weeks postoperatively) and biopsy of the regenerated tissue (16 weeks postoperatively) were performed to evaluate the outcome. Radiographically, the defect began to diminish 3 weeks postoperatively and had disappeared by 12 weeks. CT images showed that the debrided site was filled with ossified tissue and arthroscopy showed that the regenerated tissue was covered with smooth tissue, which a biopsy showed was fibrocartilage.

CONCLUSIONS

Placing the impregnated sponge in the OCD lesion facilitated satisfactory regeneration of tissue in the debrided area, but the regenerated cartilage was fibrocartilage. This method may be a viable option for the treatment of cases of equine OCD, but further work to determine how to induce hyaline cartilage regeneration is required.

Long insular artery infarction: characteristics of a previously unrecognized entity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The infarctions arising in the long insular arteries of the M2 segment have been poorly described in the past. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics, and pathogenesis of long insular artery infarcts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with acute isolated infarcts in territories of the long insular arteries and lenticulostriate arteries were retrospectively reviewed. The long insular artery territory was defined as the area above the lenticulostriate artery territory at the level of centrum semiovale. On the coronal section, it lies between the tip of the anterior horn and the top of the superior limb of the insular cleft. Clinical features and prevalence of embolic sources were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

Of 356 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke, 8 (2.2%) had a long insular artery infarct (long insular artery group) and 50 (14.0%) had a lenticulostriate artery infarct (lenticulostriate artery group). There were no differences in age, sex, prevalence of risk factors, neurologic deficit, or incidence of lacunar syndromes between these groups. Abrupt onset was more common in the long insular artery than in the lenticulostriate artery group (P = .004). The prevalence of embolic high-risk sources (eg, atrial fibrillation) was not significantly different between these groups, but the combined prevalence of all embolic sources, including moderate-risk sources, was significantly higher in the long insular artery group (P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated infarction caused by long insular artery occlusion is not rare. Abrupt onset is more common for long insular artery infarction, and this finding could be attributed to the higher incidence of an embolic etiology as the pathogenesis of infarction.

Proximal margin length with transhiatal gastrectomy for Siewert type II and III adenocarcinomas of the oesophagogastric junction

BACKGROUND

A gross proximal oesophageal margin greater than 5 cm is considered to be necessary for curative surgery of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction. This study investigated whether a shorter proximal margin might suffice in the context of total gastrectomy for Siewert type II and III tumours.

METHODS

The gross proximal margin was measured on stretched specimens just after resection. Relationships between gross proximal margin lengths and clinicopathological features were investigated in patients with Siewert type II and III adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction treated by R0-1 surgical resection. For survival analyses, only patients who had undergone R0 resection for pathological (p) T2-4N0-3M0 tumour via a transhiatal approach were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 140 patients, 120 had a total gastrectomy. Two patients (1·4 per cent) had histologically positive proximal margins and another two (1·4 per cent) developed anastomotic recurrence. Of 100 patients with pT2-4N0-3M0 tumours who underwent gastrectomy via a transhiatal approach, those with gross proximal margins larger than 20 mm appeared to have better survival than those with shorter margins (P = 0·027). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that a gross proximal margin of 20 mm or less was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio (HR) 3·56, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·39 to 9·14; P = 0·008), as was pathological node status (HR 1·76, 1·08 to 2·86; P = 0·024).

CONCLUSION

Gross proximal margin lengths of more than 20 mm in resected specimens seem satisfactory for patients with type II and III adenocarcinoma of the oesophagogastric junction treated by transhiatal gastrectomy.