ErbB inhibitors ameliorate behavioral impairments of an animal model for schizophrenia: implication of their dopamine-modulatory actions

Ligands for ErbB receptors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and neuregulin-1, have a neurotrophic activity on midbrain dopaminergic neurons and are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Although ErbB kinase inhibitors ameliorate behavioral deficits of the schizophrenia model that was established by hippocampal lesioning of rat pups, the antipsychotic action of ErbB kinase inhibitors and its general applicability to other models are not fully characterized. Using a different animal model, here, we examined whether and how ErbB kinase inhibitors ameliorate the behavioral endophenotypes relevant to schizophrenia. The animal model for schizophrenia was prepared by exposing neonatal rats to the cytokine EGF. Intraventricular infusion of the ErbB1 inhibitors ZD1839 and PD153035 in these animals ameliorated the deficits in startle response and prepulse inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. The deficits of latent inhibition of fear learning were also alleviated by ZD1839 with its limited effects on body weight gain or locomotor activity. ZD1839 infusion also decreased the busting activity of nigral dopamine (DA) neurons and reduced pallidal DA metabolism, a result that mimics the anti-dopaminergic profile of risperidone and haloperidol in this brain region. ErbB inhibitors appear to have anti-dopaminergic actions to alleviate some of the behavioral deficits common to animal models for schizophrenia.

High-frequency dominant depression of peripheral vagal control of heart rate in rats with chronic heart failure

AIM

To examine whether dynamic characteristics of the peripheral vagal control of heart rate (HR) are altered in chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODS

The right vagal nerve was electrically stimulated according to a binary white noise signal, and the transfer function from vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) to HR was estimated in the frequency range from 0.01 to 1 Hz in five control rats and five CHF rats under anaesthetized conditions. The rate of VNS was changed among 10, 20 and 40 Hz.

RESULTS

A multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the increase in the VNS rate augmented the ratio of the high-frequency (HF) gain to the steady-state gain in the control group but not in the CHF group. As a result, the dynamic gain of the transfer function in the frequencies near 1 Hz decreased more in the CHF group than in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Changes in the dynamic characteristics of the peripheral vagal control of HR may contribute to the manifestation of decreased HF components of HR variability observed in CHF.

Relationship between sun-protection factor and application thickness in high-performance sunscreen: double application of sunscreen is recommended

BACKGROUND

High-performance sunscreen protects both healthy consumers and photosensitive patients from strong ultraviolet (UV) exposure. The sun-protection factor (SPF), which indicates the efficacy of UV protection, is determined using a prescribed sunscreen application thickness of 2.0 mg/cm(2). Therefore, users should apply at least 2.0 mg/cm(2) of sunscreen to obtain the level of UV protection expected from a product. In most cases, however, users apply insufficient amounts of sunscreen.

AIM

To determine the amount of sunscreen applied under specific conditions, and the relationship between application thickness and SPF value in high-performance sunscreen.

METHODS

The amount of applied sunscreen was calculated under practical conditions and conditions that directed a double application. The SPF values of high-performance sunscreen applied at three thicknesses (2.0, 1.0 and 0.5 mg/cm(2)) were determined according to the international SPF testing method. RESULTS. The relationship between SPF value and application thickness correlated in a logarithmic curve. The mean application thickness under practical conditions was approximately 1 mg/cm(2), and directing subjects to use a double application increased the application thickness to nearly 2 mg/cm(2).

CONCLUSION

Encouraging a double application of sunscreen will help users apply products at a thickness sufficient to achieve expected SPF efficacy. We recommend that guidance on double application of sunscreen should be posted in public locations where sunscreen is likely to be in use.

Human elastic cartilage engineering from cartilage progenitor cells using rotating wall vessel bioreactor

Transplantation of bioengineered elastic cartilage is considered to be a promising approach for patients with craniofacial defects. We have previously shown that human ear perichondrium harbors a population of cartilage progenitor cells (CPCs). The aim of this study was to examine the use of a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor for CPCs to engineer 3-D elastic cartilage in vitro. Human CPCs isolated from ear perichondrium were expanded and differentiated into chondrocytes under 2-D culture conditions. Fully differentiated CPCs were seeded into recently developed pC-HAp/ChS (porous material consisted of collagen, hydroxyapatite, and chondroitinsulfate) scaffolds and 3-D cultivated utilizing a RWV bioreactor. 3-D engineered constructs appeared shiny with a yellowish, cartilage-like morphology. The shape of the molded scaffold was maintained after RWV cultivation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed engraftment of CPCs inside pC-HAp/ChS. Alcian blue and Elastica Van Gieson staining showed of proteoglycan and elastic fibers, which are unique extracellular matrices of elastic cartilage. Thus, human CPCs formed elastic cartilage-like tissue after 3-D cultivation in a RWV bioreactor. These techniques may assist future efforts to reconstruct complicate structures composed of elastic cartilage in vitro.

Clinical practice at a multi-dimensional treatment centre for individuals with early psychosis in Japan

Early intervention for psychosis in Japan has lagged behind that in western countries, but has rapidly begun to attract attention in recent years. As part of a worldwide trend, a multi-dimensional treatment centre for early psychosis consisting of a Youth Clinic, which specialises in young individuals with an at-risk mental state for psychosis, and Il Bosco, a special day-care service for individuals with early psychosis, was initiated at the Toho University Omori Medical Center in Japan in 2007. The treatment centre aims to provide early intervention to prevent the development of full-blown psychosis in patients with an at-risk mental state and intensive rehabilitation to enable first-episode schizophrenia patients to return to the community. We presently provide the same programmes for both groups at Il Bosco. However, different approaches may need to be considered for patients with an at-risk mental state and for those with first-episode schizophrenia. More phase-specific and need-specific services will be indispensable for early psychiatric interventions in the future.

Effects of transglucosidase on diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and hepatic biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the efficacy and safety of transglucosidase (TGD) were compared with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). At 12 weeks, TGD 300 mg/day and TGD 900 mg/day significantly reduced HbA1c (0.18 and 0.21%) and insulin concentration (19.4 and 25.0 pmol/l), respectively, vs. placebo. TGD 300 mg/day and TGD 900 mg/day also significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.22 and 0.17 mmol/l, respectively). TGD 900 mg/day significantly reduced triglyceride by 0.24 mmol/l and diastolic blood pressure by 8 mmHg. Placebo was associated with a significant increase from baseline in body mass index, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (0.17 kg/m(2) , 3 and 2 U/l, respectively), whereas TGD was not. TGD 300 mg/day significantly increased high-molecular-weight adiponectin by 0.6 µg/ml. Adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups. TGD resulted in lowering of HbA1c and blood insulin level and improvements in metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM.

Protein conformational changes of the oxidative stress sensor, SoxR, upon redox changes of the [2Fe-2S] cluster probed with ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy

The [2Fe-2S] transcription factor, SoxR, a member of the MerR family, functions as a bacterial sensor of oxidative stress in Escherichia coli. SoxR is activated by reversible one-electron oxidation of the [2Fe-2S] cluster and enhances the production of various antioxidant proteins through the SoxRS regulon. Ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopic analysis of SoxR revealed conformational changes upon reduction of the [2Fe-2S] cluster in the absence and presence of promoter oligonucleotide. UVRR spectra reflected the environmental or structural changes of Trp following reduction. Notably, the environment around Trp91 contacting the [2Fe-2S] cluster was altered to become more hydrophilic, whereas that around Trp98 exhibited a small change to become more hydrophobic. In addition, changes in cation-π interactions between the [2Fe-2S] cluster and Trp91 were suggested. On the other hand, the environment around Tyr was barely affected by the [2Fe-2S] reduction. Binding of the promoter oligonucleotide triggered changes in Tyr located in the DNA-binding domain, but not Trp. Furthermore, conformational changes induced upon reduction of DNA-bound SoxR were not significantly different from those of DNA-free SoxR.

Auditory findings after stereotactic radiosurgery in acoustic neurinoma

Auditory function after gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GK) was evaluated in 22 patients with newly diagnosed unilateral acoustic neurinoma who had had some measurable hearing preoperatively. No tumor growth was observed in any patients. The preservation rates for useful hearing (n = 13) and any measurable hearing (n = 22) were 62% and 86%, respectively, at 2 years after GK. Postoperative hearing dysfunction was attributed to progressive cochlear impairment in 13 patients and to progressive injury in the retrocochlear auditory pathway in 5 patients. Hearing tended to be well preserved when caloric response was unchanged postoperatively. Preservation of hearing was not associated with the initial tumor volume, decrease of tumor size, maximum tumor dose, or peripheral tumor dose.

Changes in the hydrogen-bond network around the chromophore of photoactive yellow protein in the ground and excited states

Changes in the hydrogen-bond (HB) network around the chromophore, p-coumaric acid (pCA), in the ground pG and excited pG* states were investigated for wild type (WT) photoactive yellow protein (PYP) and its mutants using ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy. The intensity depletion of Tyr UVRR bands was observed upon photoexcitation of pCA to the pG* state. The spectral change was ascribed to strengthening of HB between pCA and Tyr42. Comparison of Raman intensities indicated that, in the pG state, the HB between pCA and Tyr42 in WT is a short HB, which is weaker than that in E46Q mutant. In the pG* state, the HB network around pCA of WT is similar to that of E46Q mutant. The present results demonstrate that the HB between pCA and Tyr42 and that between pCA and Glu46 are correlated with each other in the HB network.

Laparoscopy-assisted appendectomy through an umbilical port in children

INTRODUCTION

We report surgical techniques for single-incision laparoscopy-assisted surgery (SILAS) in the treatment of pediatric acute appendicitis.

METHODS

We performed SILAS in 15 cases of acute appendicitis between January and September of 2009. SILAS is a surgical method that involves making the incision at the umbilicus, inserting a wound retractor XS, suspending the abdominal wall with a hook, and appendectomy with the same procedures as conventional appendectomy.

RESULTS

SILAS appendectomy was performed in all 15 cases with the exception of one case where one 3-mm port was added. Compared to open appendectomy, blood loss was significantly lower and postoperative hospitalization time was shorter, although there was no significant decrease in operative time, or postoperative fasting time. No postoperative complications, such as wound infection, intestinal obstruction, intra-abdominal abscess, or bleeding, were encountered.

CONCLUSION

SILAS was safely performed and is superior to open appendectomy with regard to cosmetic outcome.