[Clinical pathway for bleeding peptic ulcers]

We devised and evaluated a clinical pathway (CP) protocol for patients with bleeding peptic ulcers (BPU). Patients without severe comorbidities, who had been diagnosed with BPU and who had undergone endoscopic treatment, were enrolled in our study. The CP adaptation rate for BPU patients was 78.8% (89/113). The variance rate was 13.5% (12/89). The median length of admission was 10.0 +/- 4.6 days (n = 78) before and 7.4 +/- 2.9 days (n = 77) after introducing CP. Our CP for BPU was safe and resulted in shorter hospital stays and, therefore, cost reductions. In elder patients, our CP was also successful, but the variance rate was higher than in younger patients.

Genome-wide survey of imprinted genes

The developmental failure of mammalian parthenogenote has been a mystery for a long time and posed a question as to why bi-parental reproduction is necessary for development to term. In the 1980s, it was proven that this failure was not due to the genetic information itself, but to epigenetic modification of genomic DNA. In the following decade, several studies successfully identified imprinted genes which were differentially expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner, and it was shown that the differential expression depended on the pattern of DNA methylation. These facts prompted development of genome-wide systematic screening methods based on DNA methylation and differential gene expression to identify imprinted genes. Recently computational approaches and microarray technology have been introduced to identify imprinted genes/loci, contributing to the expansion of our knowledge. However, it has been shown that the gene silencing derived from genomic imprinting is accomplished by several mechanisms in addition to direct DNA methylation, indicating that novel approaches are further required for comprehensive understanding of genomic imprinting. To unveil the mechanism of developmental failure in mammalian parthenogenote, systematic screenings for imprinted genes/loci have been developed. In this review, we describe genomic imprinting focusing on the history of genome-wide screening.

(B1) Candida and mycotic infections

Oral candidiasis (OC) is the most common mucosal manifestation of HIV infection. This workshop examined OC and other mycoses associated with HIV infection. Historically, blood CD4 cell numbers were the primary prognosticator for the development of OC. However, a study that statistically evaluated the predictive role of HIV viral load vs. CD4 cell counts revealed viral load to be a stronger predictor for OC. The role of biofilms and antifungal resistance in recalcitrant OC is unclear at present. In general, micro-organisms including yeasts in biofilms are more resistant to antifungals than their planktonic counterparts. When the remaining organisms are eliminated, the few resistant organisms may not be problematic, because they are present in low numbers. Unusual exotic mycoses in HIV-infected patients are more common in patients from the developing than the developed world. These infections may be recurrent and recalcitrant to therapy, be present in multiple and uncommon sites, increase with the progression of HIV disease, and may play a role similar to that of the more common mycoses. Typing and subtyping of yeasts are probably not critical to the clinical management of candidiasis caused by Candida albicans and non-albicans strains, including C. dubliniensis, because it is responsive to antifungal therapy. C. glabrata is probably the only exception. The presence of oral thrush in infants younger than 6 months of age is associated with an increased post-natal transmission risk of HIV infection. Thus, perinatal retroviral therapy should be combined with the treatment of oral thrush to prevent the post-natal acquisition of HIV.

185 EMBRYONIC LOSS IN PIGS ASSOCIATED WITH OVIDUCT TRANSPLANTATION OF EARLY-STAGE EMBRYOS WITH DAMAGES IN THE ZONA PELLUCIDA

It is assumed that if porcine early-stage embryos with damages in their zonae pellucidae are transplanted to the recipient's oviduct, they may suffer from mechanical and immunological stresses by oviduct contraction and the recipient's immune response. This study aimed to examine the impact of zona pellucida damages, which might arise during nuclear transfer and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), on the development and survival of transplanted embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries obtained at a local slaughterhouse and matured in vitro in NCSU23 to prepare MII-stage oocytes. The zonae pellucidae of these oocytes were either penetrated with 8- to 10-�m square-ended microinjection pipettes or incised with 35- to 40-�m beveled enucleation pipettes. Intact oocytes were used as controls. The oocytes were electroactivated to induce parthenogenesis and transplanted to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts (estrus-synchronized with 1000 IU eCG and 1500 IU hCG). After 5 to 7 days, the recipient uteri were flushed with PBS supplemented with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to collect embryos, and their development (morula-blastocyst stage embryos/collected embryos) and survival (viable embryos/collected embryos) were determined. In total, 221 zona-penetrated, 129 zona-incised, and 57 intact embryos were transplanted to four, two and two gilts, respectively. The efficiency of embryo recovery was similar in all groups (59.0 to 81.8%). However, the zona-penetrated and zona-incised embryos showed inconsistent development and survival compared with controls; the development and survival rate were 92.6% (25/27) to 96.7% (29/30) and 77.8% (21/27) to 96.7% (29/30) in control embryos, respectively, whereas those of zona-penetrated embryos were 57.1% (28/49) to 95.7% (22/23) and 8.2% (4/49) to 78.3% (18/30), and those of zona-incised embryos were 47.6% (30/63) to 92.3% (36/39) and 23.8% (15/63) to 92.3% (22/23), respectively. Large foci of cells that appeared to be macrophage giant cells were observed at the surface or inside of the degenerated zona-damaged embryos. These results indicate that the recipient's immune response may impair development after transplantation of the embryo to the oviduct, when there is damage in the zona pellucida. This may be one of the factors attributable to the reduced efficiency of live progeny production by ICSI and nuclear transfer. This work was supported by PROBRAIN.

98 SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCIES FOLLOWING TRANSFER OF VITRIFIED PORCINE EMBRYOS DERIVED FROM IN VITRO-MATURED OOCYTES

To date only in vivo-produced embryos have successfully produced live piglets after cryopreservation. In this study, we aimed to produce piglets from vitrified embryos derived from in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes collected from ovaries obtained at a local slaughterhouse were matured for 44 to 45 h in NCSU23 MEDIUM supplemented with 0.6 mM cysteine, 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor, 10% (v/v) porcine follicular fluid, 75 �g/mL potassium penicillin G, 50 �g/mL streptomycin sulfate, and 10 IU/mL eCG/ hCG. These IVM oocytes were either activated for parthenogenesis or in vitro-fertilized (IVF). For IVF, oocytes were incubated with 5 � 106/mL of cryopreserved epididymal sperm in PGM-tac medium (Yoshioka et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 2092-2099) for 20 h. Embryos were treated for removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets (delipation; Nagashima et al. 1995 Nature 374, 416) at the 4- to 8-cell stages, around 50 to 54 h after activation or insemination. After culture in NCSU23 for 15 h, they were vitrified by the minimum volume cooling (MVC) method. Embryos were equilibrated with equilibration solution containing 7.5% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG), 7.5% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and 20% (v/v) calf serum for 4 min, followed by exposure to vitrification solution containing 15% EG, 15% DMSO, 0.5 M sucrose, and 20% calf serum. Embryos were then loaded onto a Cryotop (Kitazato Supply Co., Tokyo, Japan) and immediately plunged into liquid nitrogen. Vitrified embryos were examined for viability in vitro and in vivo after warming. Their in vitro developmental competence was compared to that of corresponding control (nonvitrified) embryos. Vitrified 4- to 8-cell stage embryos, both parthenogenetic and IVF, showed developmental competence into blastocysts comparable to that of control embryos (parthenogenetic: 46.8%, 36/77 vs. 51.7%, 31/60; IVF: 40.0%, 30/75 vs. 44.3%, 35/79). Of four surrogate gilts that received a total of 251 vitrified parthenogenetic embryos, three became pregnant and had 20 fetuses (8.0%, 22 to 23 days old). Three surrogates gilts that received 267 vitrified IVF embryos all became pregnant. Of those, the one that received 47 embryos was confirmed to have eight fetuses (17.0%, 22 days old) by autopsy. The other two were examined by ultrasonography at 56 and 95 days of gestation and found to be pregnant. These results suggest that porcine embryos derived from IVM oocytes have a potential to develop into live offspring after delipation and MVC vitrification. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

The transcriptional landscape of the mammalian genome

This study describes comprehensive polling of transcription start and termination sites and analysis of previously unidentified full-length complementary DNAs derived from the mouse genome. We identify the 5' and 3' boundaries of 181,047 transcripts with extensive variation in transcripts arising from alternative promoter usage, splicing, and polyadenylation. There are 16,247 new mouse protein-coding transcripts, including 5154 encoding previously unidentified proteins. Genomic mapping of the transcriptome reveals transcriptional forests, with overlapping transcription on both strands, separated by deserts in which few transcripts are observed. The data provide a comprehensive platform for the comparative analysis of mammalian transcriptional regulation in differentiation and development.

Chimpanzee chromosomes: retrotransposable compound repeat DNA organization (RCRO) and its influence on meiotic prophase and crossing-over

The terminal C-bands that are a specific feature of chimpanzee chromosomes were dissected using a molecular cytogenetic technique, PRINS, with primers for telomeric sequences, subterminal satellite, and retrotransposable elements (HERV-K and -W). These DNA elements jointly formed a large block of retrotransposable compound repeat DNA organization (RCRO) at the terminal C-band regions of 30 chromosomes, and are also located at the centromeric regions of some chromosomes. Additionally, a block consisting of all members of the RCRO has transposed to the middle (q31.1) of the long arm of chromosome 6, and three members, the subterminal satellite and the two HERVs, have integrated into the proximal region (q14.4) of the long arm of chromosome 14. Terminal RCROs seem to induce and prolong the bouquet stage in meiotic prophase, and to affect chiasma formation, together with interstitial RCROs. It is also postulated that RCROs may cause a position effect to gene expression, resulting in gene silencing and/or late replication.

Extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint as identified by a new provocative test: predisposition to dislocation

A tendon subluxation test was performed on the unaffected side in 13 patients with traumatic extensor tendon dislocation of the middle finger and on both middle fingers in 800 healthy controls to identify extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint. Ten of the 13 patients with dislocation had laxity of middle finger extensor tendon, compared with 174 of the 800 (22%) controls. The difference in these rates of extensor tendon laxity is significant (P<0.0001), and suggests that extensor mechanism laxity at the metacarpophalangeal joint may predispose to traumatic extensor tendon dislocation.

A primary amelanotic melanoma of the vagina, diagnosed by immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45, which recurred as a pigmented melanoma

Usually, malignant melanoma is readily diagnosed by the presence of melanin granules. Although amelanotic melanoma contains a few melanin granules, it is often difficult to differentiate from non-epithelial malignant tumours. This report describes a case of amelanotic melanoma of the vagina, which was originally suspected to be a non-epithelial malignant tumour, but was subsequently correctly diagnosed by immunohistochemical staining with the HMB-45 antibody and for the S-100 protein. A light grey tumour with superficial ulceration was located in the upper third of the vagina. The patient was treated with irradiation followed by chemotherapy. Subsequently, the tumour disappeared and cytology was negative; thus, she achieved complete remission. However, 20 months after complete remission, the tumour recurred locally: the site had a grossly black appearance, which was pathognomonic for a malignant melanoma. Thus, HMB-45 and S-100 protein immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of amelanotic melanoma.

Visualization and void fraction measurement of gas-liquid two-phase flow in plate heat exchanger

Adiabatic and boiling gas-liquid two-phase flows in a simulated plate heat exchanger with a single-ribbed channel were visualized by a thermal neutron radiography method. In the experiments under adiabatic condition, the air-water two-phase flows in an aluminum test section were visualized. In the boiling two-phase flow experiments, chlorofluorocarbon R141b was used as the working fluid. Two-dimensional distributions of void fraction were measured from visualized images via some image processing techniques. As a result, it was shown that both the phases tended to flow straight in the ribbed channel, and mixing of gas and liquid phases was weak. Moreover, when working fluids flew into the test section as a gas-liquid mixture, the phase distributions were strongly affected by a liquid pool at the test section inlet.

Generation of amino-terminated surfaces by chemical lithography using atomic force microscopy

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) covered with nitroso end groups were reduced using an atomic force microscope. As the bias voltage become more negative (beyond -4 V), the surface potential of the scanned area become closer to that of the amino-terminated SAM. Following this chemical change, however, no change in topographic features was detected, implying retained stability of the underlying SAM layer. We then released carboxylate-modified polystyrene (PS) spheres into a pH 4 solution containing the sample. Subsequent imaging with atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that these PS spheres were only selectively immobilized on the regions that were originally scanned at -6 V to form amino termination. In summary, using AFM set to a specific voltage, we were able to selectively generate micropatterned regions of the SAM with amino termination.

Marked regional differences of brain human apolipoprotein E expression in targeted replacement mice

We used three human apolipoprotein (apo) E targeted replacement mouse lines, each expressing one of the three common human apoE isoforms to study the pattern of apoE expression in the central nervous system (CNS). Immunocytochemistry on brain sections from all three lines of targeted replacement mice, wild type mice, African green monkeys, and humans show a predominantly glial pattern of apoE expression. The levels of human apoE protein in hippocampus and frontal cortex were similar between targeted replacement mice and non-demented human tissue. Within a given brain region, the levels of apoE were very similar amongst all three isoforms, which contrasts sharply with plasma, where apoE2 levels are 16-fold higher than apoE3 and E4 levels. Across brain regions, cerebellar apoE levels were significantly higher than cerebral apoE levels. In conclusion, we provide detailed analysis of a human apoE animal model system that recapitulates both the pattern and level of apoE expression in non-demented humans. The neurobiology of human apoE isoforms can now be studied in both the normal and post-injury state, since all apoE regulatory sequences are intact. Finally, the differences in apoE levels we observed may explain the regional vulnerability of neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease.

Hepatitis C virus infection in human liver tissue engrafted in mice with an infectious molecular clone

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Recent advances in molecular cloning of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have enabled us to apply some available HCV molecular clones to experimental studies. However, these investigations have been restricted to chimpanzee models or 'isolated hepatocytes' from tree shrews. In this study, we engrafted 'human liver tissue' into immunodeficient mice and investigated HCV infection using an infectious molecular clone.

METHODS

Human liver tissues from normal (non-HCV-infected) liver were transplanted into non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. We then inoculated the mice with sera from HCV-infected patients or an infectious HCV molecular clone. HCV RNA was assessed using nested reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time detection PCR and in situ PCR.

RESULTS

Without any growth support, normal human liver tissues survived in NOD/SCID mice while maintaining the original viable hepatic architecture. HCV RNA was detected in the mice serum until the fourth week after the inoculation. In situ PCR and immunohistochemistry clearly demonstrated positive signals for HCV in the cytoplasm of infected hepatocytes, while the engrafted human liver tissues showed no apparent morphological changes indicative of infection.

CONCLUSION

Engraftment of human liver tissues into NOD/SCID mice and infection with HCV molecular clones could offer a reverse genetic strategy for HCV infection.

Inhibitory effect of green tea catechins on cysteine proteinases in Porphyromonas gingivalis

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of catechins and their derivatives on the activities of Arg-gingipain (Rgp) and Lys-gingipain (Kgp) in Porphyromonas gingivalis. Catechin derivatives, which included (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-gallocatechin gallate, and (-)-catechin gallate, significantly inhibited the Rgp activity. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of these catechin derivatives for Rgp ranged from 3 to 5 microm. While (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-gallocatechin moderately inhibited Rgp activity (IC50s, 20 microm), (-) -epicatechin, (+)-catechin, and gallic acid were not effective, with IC50s greater than 300 microm. Further, some of the catechin derivatives tested also inhibited the Kgp activity, though to a lesser extent than inhibition of the Rgp activity. These findings suggest that green tea catechins may have the potential to reduce periodontal breakdown resulting from the potent proteinase activity of P. gingivalis.

Effects of dietary triglycerides on rheological properties of human red blood cells (abstract)

Atherogenic diets rich in saturated fat and cholesterol influence the blood viscosity and red blood cell (RBC) aggregability, the parameters associated with increased risk of circulatory disorders. However, little is known about the effect of triglycerides, which are the major dietary lipid form in humans, on blood rheology. Therefore, we studied the effects of postprandial plasma triglyceride levels on human RBC indices, hematological parameters, RBCs aggregation velocity and whole blood viscosity. For this purpose, whole blood was collected 2 hours after high-fat or low-fat meal. Proteins, triglycerides and cholesterol levels of plasma were analysed, and RBCs rouleaux formation rate was measured in 70% autologous plasma using a low-shear rheoscope. There were no significant differences in hematological parameters, RBC indices, whole blood viscosity, plasma protein and cholesterol content between high-fat and low-fat blood samples. However, a significant increase in rouleaux formation rate was observed in samples with high postprandial triglyceride levels, when compared with low-triglyceride samples. Plasma triglyceride levels correlated significantly with rouleaux formation rate. In conclusion, these results suggest that diet-dependent alterations of plasma triglyceride levels as well as possible changes in the cell membrane lipid composition lead to RBC hyperaggregability.

Protective effect of vitamin E against focal brain ischemia and neuronal death through induction of target genes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1

Vitamin E has been shown to have protective effects against cerebral ischemia, possibly due to its anti-oxidant effects. However, its non-anti-oxidant, intracellular molecular mechanism remains elusive. For in vivo experiments in rats, orally administered vitamin E significantly reduced not only the brain infarct volume but also space navigation disability after permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The level of anti-oxidant after MCA occlusion was significantly increased specifically in the ipsilateral brain tissues of vitamin E-treated rats. For in vitro experiments, posttreatment with vitamin E protected primary cultured neurons from nitric oxide-induced insult. Vitamin E induced the expression of the alpha subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and its target genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heme oxygenase-1. The hypoxia response element on the VEGF promoter was responsible for this vitamin E-induced transcriptional activation of VEGF gene. Taken together, these results suggest that cerebral infarction increased the permeability of vitamin E across the blood-brain barrier, and this increased vitamin E in brain tissue elicited neuroprotective effects not only through scavenging oxidants, as are previously well reported, but also by transactivating HIF-1-dependent genes, which results in protection of brains from ischemic insults.

Expression of c-Fos protein in the trigeminal nuclear complex resulting from quantified force application to the rat molar

This study was conducted to investigate the expression and distribution of c-Fos-like immunoreactive neurones (Fos-neurones), in the rat trigeminal sensory nuclear complex, produced by mechanical forces with various magnitudes and durations applied to the left upper first molar. The magnitudes of forces applied to the tooth were 25, 50 and 100 g and the duration was 2 h. A quantified force of 100 g was also applied to the upper molar for varying durations [short-time (1-2 min)], 2, 4, 8 and 12 h. Fos-neurones distributed in the bilateral superficial laminae of the subnucleus caudalis, and the ipsilateral dorsomedial part of subnucleus oralis (Sp5Odm). The number of Fos-neurones increased in the subnucleus caudalis (Sp5C) according to the force magnitude. In the Sp5C, the number of Fos-neurones exhibited maximum level, 2 or 4 h after the application. In the Sp5Odm, however, the number of Fos-neurones reached the maximum level at 8 h. These data suggest that the change in the number of nociceptive neurones in Sp5C reflect changes in encoding the magnitude of force to tooth, and that the nature of pain response to orthodontic forces might have some relation to the delayed expression of c-Fos protein in the Sp5Odm.