A magnetic force microscopy study of the magnetic reversal of a single Fe nanowire

The magnetization reversal properties of a single 60 nm diameter Fe nanowire were investigated with an in-field magnetic force microscope (MFM). MFM images were observed in a successively decreasing applied field, at various angles between the applied field and the nanowire axis. The results show that the magnetization undergoes a sharp reversal at various angles. When the applied field deviates from the nanowire axis, before complete magnetization reversal, a coherent rotation of magnetic moments inside the nanowire and a stable vortex state at the end of the nanowire are exhibited. The angle dependence of the switching field can be closely described by a curling model, despite the fact the magnetization reversal process is not identical to this model.

Relationship between Joint National Committee-VI classification of hypertension and ambulatory blood pressure in patients with hypertension diagnosed by casual blood pressure

BACKGROUND

White-coat hypertension has been diagnosed arbitrarily based on different criteria. In 1997, the Joint National Committee-VI (JNC-VI) reported a new classification of hypertension and strongly emphasized the importance of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring. The report pronounced normal ABP values for the first time.

HYPOTHESIS

The study's aim was to clarify the relationship between casual blood pressure (BP) and ABP of patients with essential hypertension in each stage of JNC-VI classification, and the prevalence of white-coat hypertension diagnosed by using JNC-VI normal ABP criteria.

METHODS

Ambulatory blood pressure was monitored non-invasively in 232 patients with essential hypertension whose casual BP was > or = 140/90 mmHg. The patients were classified according to JNC-VI classification, and their casual BP was compared with ABP. The criterion of white-coat hypertension was defined as casual BP > or = 140/90 mmHg with normal ABP according to JNC-VI criteria (< 135/85 during daytime and < 120/75 during nighttime).

RESULTS

Mean ABP increased as the stage advanced, and the differences between casual BP and ABP also increased. There were considerable overlaps in the distribution of ABP among stages. The prevalence of white-coat hypertension was 13% overall: 30% of the patients with isolated systolic hypertension, 19% of those in stage 1, 10% in stage 2, and 4% in stage 3.

CONCLUSIONS

Classification of hypertension based on casual BP may not always correspond in severity to that based on ABP. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring recommended by JNC-VI is very useful for the evaluation of hypertension to differentiate white-coat hypertension from true hypertension.

Epidural insertion simulator of higher insertion resistance & drop rate after puncture

Accidents such as dural puncture remain one of the problems of epidural anesthesia, and unskilled doctors can repeat such accidents. The purpose of the current research was to provide a new simulator for epidural insertion training. No reference data regarding the resistance force used when inserting a needle into patients have been reported. A comparative study was conducted to aid in the development of a new simulator. Pork loin (n=5) were employed as a substitute for patients. Thickness was set at 2 cm so as to improve the reproducibility. The authors took the conventional simulator apart, and picked a block as an analogue of muscle and ligamentum flavum. A new simulator was made of a melamine foam resin block and a latex rubber sheet. An epidural needle fixed on a motorized stage was inserted at the speed of 2 mm per second. The reaction force was measured while the needle was inserted into each specimen. Waveform of the pork loin exhibited two slopes of different inclines up to peaks and then falls after puncture. The conventional simulator showed a simple increase up to peak and a slow fall after puncture. In contrast, the new simulator showed two slopes up to peak and then a sudden fall after puncture. The insertion resistances were 2.5 N/s for the porcine, 0.8 N/s for the conventional and 2.1 N/s for the new simulator. The drop rates were 5 N/s for the porcine, 0.6 N/s for the conventional and 24 N/s for the new simulator. The higher insertion resistance and drop rate for the new simulator than the conventional simulator will be suitable for epidural insertion training.

FcepsilonRI-mediated thymic stromal lymphopoietin production by interleukin-4-primed human mast cells

A significant increase of mRNA expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been reported in the bronchial mast cells (MCs) of asthmatic subjects; however, the mechanism underlying the upregulation of TSLP mRNA and protein remains unknown. FcepsilonRI-mediated activation of human MCs upregulated TSLP mRNA expression by 5.2+/-2.9-fold, while activation of the MCs using lipopolysaccharide and polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid failed to upregulate TSLP. Stimulation of MCs with interleukin (IL)-4 alone did not affect the TSLP mRNA expression, while pre-incubation of MCs with IL-4 for 48 h significantly enhanced the FcepsilonRI-mediated TSLP mRNA expression (by 53.7+/-15.9-fold; p<0.05) and the amount of TSLP in the cell pellets increased significantly from 23.4+/-4.3 pg mL(-1) to 121.5+/-3.7 pg mL(-1) (p<0.0001). However, the released TSLP was rapidly degraded by proteases that were released by MCs. We identified the population of cells expressing TSLP in the lungs of 16 asthmatic and 11 control subjects by immunohistochemistry. The percentage of TSLP-positive MCs in the total population of MCs was significantly increased in asthmatic airways (p<0.0001). Thus, MCs are able to store TSLP intracellularly and to produce TSLP following aggregation of FcepsilonRI in the presence of IL-4.

Atypical retardation pattern in measurements of scanning laser polarimetry and its relating factors

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of atypical retardation pattern (ARP) in scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with variable corneal compensation (VCC) and enhanced corneal compensation (ECC), and to evaluate the factors relating to typical scan score (TSS).

METHODS

Measurements of SLP-VCC, SLP-ECC, and the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) were performed in 105 normal subjects and 82 open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. ARP was defined as an SLP image with TSS<80.

RESULTS

Prevalence of ARP with SLP-VCC was 13.3 and 14.6% in normal and OAG eyes, respectively, and that with SLP-ECC (2.9% and 1.2%) was lower than SLP-VCC (P<0.009). TSS with SLP-VCC was significantly correlated with age (partial correlation coefficient (PCC)=-0.22, P=0.003) and refractive error (PCC=0.26, P<0.001) after adjusting for each other. TSS with SLP-ECC was significantly correlated with neither age nor refractive error (PCC=-0.02, P=0.788; PCC=0.10, P=0.177, respectively). In OAG eyes, mean deviation (MD) of HFA was significantly correlated with TSS with SLP-VCC and SLP-ECC (PCC=0.35, P=0.001; PCC=0.23, P=0.039, respectively). In SLP-VCC, MD was significantly correlated with retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness only after excluding eyes with ARP (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ARP in SLP-VCC measurements was found in more than 10% of normal or glaucomatous eyes, and TSS was significantly lower in older subjects, more myopic eyes, or eyes with more advanced glaucomatous damage. The presence of ARP disturbs the accuracy of RNFL thickness measurement by SLP-VCC. In SLP-ECC measurements, prevalence of ARP was considerably lower and TSS was not affected by age or refractive error, suggesting the advantages of ECC in clinical practices.

Corticosteroid enhances TNF-alpha-mediated leukocyte adhesion to pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

BACKGROUND

Some severe asthma patients are characterized by elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and neutrophilic inflammation in the airways. Although such phenotypic changes in asthma might contribute to corticosteroid refractoriness, the role of TNF-alpha in the process remains unclear. TNF-alpha exerts its biological effects mainly by acting on the vascular endothelium, and thereby upregulates leukocyte recruitment into inflamed tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on the TNF-alpha-mediated responses of human microvascular endothelial cells from lung blood vessels (HMVEC-LBl) in vitro.

METHODS

HMVEC-LBl were cultured with TNF-alpha in the presence and absence of DEX. The effects of DEX on various TNF-alpha-mediated responses, such as the expressions of chemokines and cellular adhesion molecules, leukocyte adhesion were determined.

RESULTS

TNF-alpha significantly induced growth-related oncogene alpha (GRO-alpha), interleukin 8 (IL-8), regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) productions and cell surface expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) on HMVEC-LBl. TNF-alpha-induced GRO-alpha and IL-8 were slightly attenuated by DEX treatment (reaches to 89% and 79%, respectively), whereas expressions of IP-10, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were significantly enhanced by the same treatment (up to 172%, 152% and 139%, respectively). Correspondingly, in vitro adhesion of eosinophils and neutrophils to TNF-alpha-treated HMVEC-LBl were significantly enhanced by DEX.

CONCLUSIONS

Some proinflammatory effects of DEX, a corticosteroid, were found in TNF-alpha-mediated in vitro reactions of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells, i.e. chemokine productions and leukocyte adhesion. These in vitro results may explain, at least in part, the corticosteroid refractoriness accompanied by a marked increase in TNF-alpha production that is seen in severe asthmatic patients.

Magnetic behavior in an ordered Co nanorod array

The magnetization reversal process of an ordered Co nanorod array is shown using the images obtained from successive in-field magnetic force microscope (MFM) measurements. The magnetization reversal model is discussed according to local and whole magnetization reversal properties measured by the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect (PMOKE) and an alternating gradient magnetometer (AGM), respectively. Additionally, the dipolar field was probed using in-field MFM measurements. By removing the effect of the dipolar field, an intrinsic switching field distribution (SFD) is shown in a map with a hexagonal array. A detailed study of the dipolar field in ordered nanorod arrays with various diameters and pitches was carried out by numerical calculations.

[Experience of twenty-one cases of tracheo-bronchoplasty]

Twenty-one cases of tracheo-bronchoplasty were performed in Akita University Hospital from 1997 to 2007. There are 14 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 3 cases of adenocarcinoma, 2 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 case of inflammatory tracheal stenosis, and 1 case of inflammatory bronchial stenosis. We performed 12 cases of right upper sleeve lobectomy, 4 cases of left upper sleeve lobectomy, 2 cases of left lower sleeve lobectomy, 1 case of right sleeve pneumonectomy, and 2 cases of tracheoplasty. Of 3 cases, we added sleeve resection of pulmonary artery. The ends of the bronchus are anastomosed end-to-end. The bronchial anastomotic suture was carried out peri-cartilaginously through all layers using an interrupted suture technique except for membranous portion. Membranous portion was sutured a continuous anastomotic technique. We use monofilament, absorbable suture material.

Antigenicity of sulfanilamide and its metabolites using fluorescent-labelled compounds

In order to clarify the onset mechanisms of drug-induced allergies, three fluorescent-labelled compounds were synthesized by subjecting sulfanilamide (SA), a base compound for sulfonamides, and its active metabolites, i.e. sulfanilamide hydroxylamine and sulfanilamide nitroso, to dansylation using dansylchloride. In other words, 5-dimethylamino-N-(4-aminobenzyl)-naphthalenesulfonamide (DNS-4ABA), 5-dimethylamino-N-(4-hydroxylaminobenzyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (DNS-4HABA) and 5-dimethylamino-N-(4-nitrosobenzyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (DNS-4NSBA) were synthesized as model haptens. When analysed by HPLC, a conjugate of DNS-4HABA and glutathione (GSH) with nucleophilic amino acids had two peaks (P-1 and P-2). FAB-MS and 1H-NMR revealed that the DNS-4HABA-GSH conjugate consisted of sulphinamide and semimercaptal. The reactivity of GSH to DNS-4ABA, DNS-4HABA and DNS-4NSBA was quantified by HPLC using an oxidization system (horseradish peroxidase/H2O2). The results show that production of DNS-4NSBA-GSH-conjugate was four to eight times higher than that of DNS-4HABA-GSH conjugate, but that DNS-4ABA did not bind with GSH. Skin reactions were assessed using guinea pigs, and strong delayed erythema was seen with DNS-4NSBA, which bound most strongly with GSH, whereas weak delayed erythema was seen with DNS-4ABA, which did not bind with GSH. This suggests a correlation between GSH conjugate production and skin reactions. DNS-4HABA enzymatically bound with proteins in rat and guinea pig liver cytosol and microsomal fractions. The proteins that bound to DNS-4HABA were purified by HPLC and then subjected to N-terminal amino acid analysis. Ubiquitin (10 kDa) and fatty acid binding protein (30 kDa) were detected in the rat liver cytosol fraction; retinol-dehydrogenase (35 kDa) in the rat microsomal fraction; and glutathione-S-transferase B (mmu) (25 kDa) in the guinea pig liver cytosol fraction. When DNS-4HABA or DNS-4NSBA binds to proteins that play important roles in the body, unexpected adverse reactions may occur. Furthermore, by utilizing our technique using model compounds, it may be possible to identify the carrier proteins of various compounds, including pharmaceutical agents.

d-wave collapse and explosion of a dipolar bose-einstein condensate

We investigate the collapse dynamics of a dipolar condensate of 52Cr atoms when the s-wave scattering length characterizing the contact interaction is reduced below a critical value. A complex dynamics, involving an anisotropic, d-wave symmetric explosion of the condensate, is observed. The atom number decreases abruptly during the collapse. We find good agreement between our experimental results and those of a numerical simulation of the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation, including contact and dipolar interactions as well as three-body losses. The simulation indicates that the collapse induces the formation of two vortex rings with opposite circulations.

Multicommunity weight-driven bipartite network model

Community structure and rewiring phenomena exist in many complex networks, particularly in bipartite networks. We construct a model for the degree distribution of the rewiring problem in a multicommunity weight-driven bipartite network (MCWBN). The network consists of many interconnected communities, each of which holds a bipartite graph. The bipartite graph consists of two sets of nodes. We name each node in one set a "producer" and each node in the other set a "consumer." A weight value matrix defining the trade barrier between any two communities is used to characterize the structure of the communities, which ensures the higher preferential attachment probability in intracommunity than in intercommunity. The size of one producer is defined as the number of consumers connected to it. We find that the nonlinear dynamics of the scale of production, or the total size of all producers in each community is dependent only on the initial scale of production in each community, and independent of the distribution of the producer size. Furthermore, if the nonlinear system of the scale of production in each community is at an equilibrium state, the distribution of the producer size in each community of the MCWBN model is equivalent to that in a one-community model.

Inverse correlation between NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells and the frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with esophageal cancer

Although malignant diseases are known to be associated with immune suppression, detailed mechanisms of this phenomenon are still unknown. NKG2D is an activating cell surface receptor expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells, and it has been reported that NKG2D engagement is extremely important for T cell activation. In the current study, NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells and the frequency of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells were determined by multicolor flow cytometry to investigate one of the mechanisms responsible for immune evasion in esophageal cancer patients. NKG2D expression on CD8+ T lymphocytes in esophageal cancer patients was significantly lower than in those of normal controls. NKG2D expression in T3/T4 esophageal cancer was significantly lower than that in T1/T2 esophageal cancer. CD8+ T cells from patients with lymph node metastasis expressed significantly lower NKG2D than those without lymph node metastasis. Moreover, significantly lower NKG2D expression was observed in stage III/IV cancer in comparison with stage I/II. The frequency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in esophageal cancer patients was significantly higher than those in normal controls. NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly inversely correlated with the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in esophageal cancer patients. Our data indicates that decreased NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells is correlated with disease severity. Decreased NKG2D expression and an increase in Treg cells may be one of the key mechanisms responsible for immune evasion in esophageal cancer.

A CRM1-mediated nuclear export signal governs cytoplasmic localization of BRCA2 and is essential for centrosomal localization of BRCA2

Germ-line mutations of the BRCA2 gene cause inherited susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers. BRCA2 contains two nuclear localization signals, predominantly localizes in the nucleus and plays significant roles in DNA double-strand break repair. Recently, we reported that BRCA2 localizes to the centrosomes during the S and early M phases of the cell cycle. In this study, for the first time, we identified a functional nuclear export sequence (NES1; (1383)DLSDLTFLEVA(1393)) in BRCA2. The green fluorescent protein (GFP)-NES1 fusion protein was localized in the cytoplasm and could be blocked by the chromosomal region maintenance 1-specific export inhibitor leptomycin B. Mutation of a leucine residue in the NES1 motif to alanine (L1384A) resulted in both cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of the GFP-NES1 fusion protein and a nuclear accumulation of ectopic full-length BRCA2-FLAG. Moreover, treatment of cells with leptomycin B decreased centrosomal localization of BRCA2. Finally, by microinjection of an anti-BRCA2 antibody into the cytoplasm of HeLa S3 cells, we found that depletion of normal BRCA2 proteins in the cytoplasm leads to centrosome amplification and binucleated cells. Our results suggest that disruption of the NES function by genetic changes results in deregulation of BRCA2 export, which ultimately leads to centrosome disorder.

Origin of the anomalous magnetic circular dichroism spectral shape in ferromagnetic Ga(1-x)MnxAs: impurity bands inside the band gap

The electronic structure of a prototype dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS), Ga(1-x)MnxAs, is studied by magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy. We prove that the optical transitions originated from impurity bands cause the strong positive MCD background. The MCD signal due to the E0 transition from the valence band to the conduction band is negative indicating that the p-d exchange interactions between the p carriers and d spin is antiferromagnetic. The negative E0 MCD signal also indicates that the hole doping of the valence band is not so large as previously assumed. The impurity bands seem to play important roles for the ferromagnetism of Ga(1-x)MnxAs.

[On/off-pump beating coronary artery bypass grafting after thoracoplasty]

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) [OPCAB] or on-pump beating CABG (conventional CABG) was performed in 3 post-thoracoplasty patients. Considering their poor respiratory function after thoracoplasty, OPCAB is considered more suitable than conventional CABG with cardio-pulmonary bypass in such cases with severe coronary lesions. However, because the sternum inclines or the pleural cavity may be polluted in these patients, special care is necessary for the operation. In such cases, it may be impossible to bypass to the circumflex artery in OPCAB, and is necessary to consider the use of percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS), cardio-pulmonary bypass or hybrid therapy before the operation.

305 TRANSGENIC CLONED PIGS EXPRESSING ORANGE FLUORESCENT PROTEIN KUSABIRA-ORANGE

Transgenic (Tg)-cloned pigs expressing fluorescent proteins are very useful in research such as cell or tissue transplantation studies. In this study, we produced Tg-cloned pigs with an orange fluorescent protein, humanized Kusabira-Orange (huKO), and analyzed the characteristics of these pigs. Fetal fibroblast cells transduced with huKO gene by a gene silencing-resistant retroviral vector, pDΔNhuKO (Suzuki et al. 2002 J. Neurochem. 82, 953–960) were used as nuclear donors. Recipient cytoplasts were prepared using oocytes matured in vitro in NCSU23. The nuclear transfer (NT) embryos were transferred into oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts after culture in PZM-5 for 1 or 2 days. Cloned pigs obtained were analyzed by Southern blotting for the transgene integration. A total of 23 organs and tissues, including brain, eye, internal and reproductive organs, skin, skeletal muscle, and cartilage were examined by fluorescence stereomicroscopy. Cryo- and paraffin-embedded tissue sections were also prepared to examine fluorescence expression. Immunofluorescent staining of brain cryosection and flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood cells were performed to identify huKO-expressing cells. Transfer of 429 NT embryos into 4 recipients resulted in 18 (4.2%) cloned offspring. Southern blotting analysis of the cloned pigs confirmed transduction of 2 to 17 copies of the huKO gene in each pig. Autopsy was performed in 6 pigs, and orange fluorescence was confirmed in all the tissues and organs examined in each pig. In addition, prominent orange fluorescence was detected in pancreatic islets and renal glomeruli, indicating that these transgenic pigs are ideal for islet cell transplantation studies. Expression of huKO was also detected in neurons, microglia, and astrocytes in the brain, and granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes, and platelets in the peripheral blood cells, whereas the expression level in red blood cells was lower. Re-cloning was performed using primary culture fibroblast cells established from 2 Tg-cloned pigs. Transfer of 300 re-cloned embryos into 4 recipients resulted in 3 pregnancies. A re-cloned fetus at Day 44 of gestation showed systemic fluorescence. These results demonstrate that the retroviral vector pD?NhuKO is resistant to gene silencing in pigs, that transduction and expression of the huKO gene had no lethal effects on fetal development, and that a Tg-cloned pig expressing orange fluorescence can be produced by NT of fetal fibroblast cells transduced with the huKO gene. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

85 VITRIFICATION OF IN VITRO-MATURED PORCINE OOCYTES AT THE METAPHASE-II STAGE

Cryopreservation of mammalian metaphase-II (M-II) oocytes is still impractical compared to that of early stage embryos. In this study we examined the effects of delipation and mitotic spindle stabilization in order to improve the post-vitrification survival rate of in vitro-matured (IVM) porcine oocytes at the M-II stage. Cumulus–oocyte complexes that had been collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were matured in vitro in NCSU23 supplemented with 0.6 mm cysteine, 10 ng mL–1 epidermal growth factor (EGF), 10% porcine follcular fluid (PFF), and 10 IU mL–1 eCG and hCG. The denuded M-II oocytes were vitrified in the presence of 30% ethylene glycol and 0.5 m sucrose using the minimum volume cooling (MVC) method with a MVC plate (Cryotop�; Kitazato Supply, Tokyo, Japan). Vitrified embryos were rewarmed by immersing the MVC plate directly into rewarming solution containing 1 m sucrose and 20% calf serum at 39�C for 1 min, followed by stepwise dilution of the cryoprotectants. We compared the effects of previtrification treatments, namely, (1) delipation, (2) mitotic spindle stabilization, (3) delipation + mitotic spindle stabilization, and (4) no treatment. For delipation, we used a noninvasive method (Esaki et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 71, 432–437) that we had published previously with slight modification. The embryos were treated with 4% trypsin at 38�C for approximately two min to expand the zona pellucida, and then centrifuged (12 000g, 38�C 23 min) with 7.5 µg mL–1 cytochalasin B to polarize cytoplasmic lipid droplets within the perivitelline space. For mitotic spindle stabilization, M-II oocytes were vitrified in the presence of 1 µm paclitaxel. After the oocytes were rewarmed, electrical activation of the oocytes (150 V mm–1, 100 µs, one time) was carried out to induce parthenogenesis. These parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in PZM-5 for 7 days, and the number of vitrified embryos that developed into blastocysts with respect to each treatment was determined. The blastcyst formation rate and mean cell numbers of the blastcysts were compared among the treatment groups (chi-square test, Tukey's test). Of the 50 M-II oocytes that had been vitrified without pretreatment, only one oocyte (2.0%) developed into a blastocyst with 20 cells. By contrast, the number of vitrified embryos that developed into blastocysts was significantly high when they were delipated prior to vitrification (37.8%, 14/37, 64.0 � 9.6; P < 0.01). Mitotic spindle stabilization also improved the survival rate of vitrified oocytes (18.6%, 21/113, 56.7 � 9.6; P < 0.01). The combination of delipation and mitotic spindle stabilization produced the highest number of vitrified oocytes that developed into blastocysts (43.8%, 35/80, 69.4 � 6.4), although the difference between the combination group and the delipation group was not significant. These results indicate that blastocysts can be produced very efficiently from IVM porcine oocytes that have been vitrified at the M-II stage using both noninvasive delipation and mitotic spindle stabilization procedures.

84 PRODUCTION OF CLONED PIGLETS FROM NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS AFTER VITRIFICATION

Cryopreservation of cloned embryos is expected to be beneficial in improving the efficiency of somatic cell cloning in pigs. We have already demonstrated that normal piglets can be produced from in vitro-matured and fertilized (IVM/IVF) embryos vitrified at an early cleavage stage after delipation (Nagashima et al. 2007 Biol. Reprod. 76, 900–905). In this study we utilized this technique in an attempt to produce piglets from cloned embryos reconstructed with IVM oocytes. Nuclear transfer (NT) embryos were reconstructed using oocytes matured in vitro in NCSU23 and preadipocytes as nuclear donors. The embryos were cultured in PZM-5 for approximately 98 h, and those that had developed to the morula stage were delipated using a noninvasive method described previously (Esaki et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 71, 432–437). The embryos were treated with 4% trypsin at 38�C for 1 to 4 min to induce a slight swelling of the zona pellucida, and then centrifuged (12 000g, 38�C, 23 min) with 7.5 µg mL–1 cytochalasin B to polarize cytoplasmic lipid droplets within the perivitelline space. The embryos were cultured for 1 h and vitrified by the minimum volume cooling (MVC) method using a MVC plate (Cryotop�; Kitasato Supply Co., Tokyo, Japan) in the presence of 15% ethylene glycol, 15% DMSO, and 0.5 m sucrose as cryoprotectants. Vitrified embryos were rewarmed by immersing the MVC plate diretly into rewarming solution containing 1 m sucrose and 20% calf serum at 38�C for 1 min, followed by stepwise dilution of the cryoprotectants. The rewarmed embryos were cultured for 2 days to the blastocyst stage, and then treated with 0.5% pronase to remove the zona pellucida before transfer to the uterine horn of recipients. A total of 103 vitrified blastocysts were transferred to 2 recipient gilts. Both gilts became pregnant and farrowed 2 and 4 piglets, respectively (6/103, 5.8%). These results demonstrate that cloned piglets can be produced from NT embryos that have been cryopreserved at the morula stage using noninvasive delipation and vitrification procedures. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

High-speed screening and quantitative SAR analysis of human ABC transporter ABCG2 for molecular modeling of anticancer drugs to circumvent multidrug resistance

The transport mechanism-based molecular design strategy would provide an effective tool for rationalized chemotherapy against tumors. To develop a platform for molecular modeling to circumvent multidrug resistance, we established new methods of high-speed screening for human ABCG2-drug interactions, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, and quantum chemical calculation for lead optimization.

Evaluation of 18F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-glucose positron emission tomography for gastric cancer screening in asymptomatic individuals undergoing endoscopy

(18)F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-glucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) has been recently proposed as a promising cancer-screening test. However, the validity of FDG-PET in cancer screening has not been evaluated. We investigated the sensitivity of FDG-PET compared with upper gastric endoscopy in gastric cancer screening for asymptomatic individuals. A total of 2861 consecutive subjects (1600 men and 1261 women) who were asymptomatic and who underwent both FDG-PET and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between 1 February 2004 and 31 January 2005 were included in this study. Both endoscopists and a radiologist were unaware of the results of the other diagnostic tests. The FDG-PET images were examined using criteria determined by the pattern of FDG accumulation. Sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were calculated compared with endoscopic diagnosis as the gold standard. Among 2861 subjects enrolled in the study, there were 20 subjects with gastric cancer, of whom 18 were T1 in depth of cancer invasion. Positive FDG-PET results were obtained only in 2 of the 20 cancer subjects. The calculated sensitivity and specificity for overall gastric cancers were 10.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-31.7%) and 99.2% (95% CI: 98.8-99.5%), respectively. (18)F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-glucose Positron Emission Tomography was poorly sensitive for detection of gastric cancer in the early stages.

Transforming growth factor-beta(2) polymorphisms are associated with childhood atopic asthma

BACKGROUND

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta plays an important role in the regulation of airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma. Recent studies suggest that TGF-beta(2) is a predominant isoform expressed in severe asthma and it is also associated with airway remodelling.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the polymorphisms in TGF-beta(2) are associated with childhood atopic bronchial asthma in a Japanese population.

METHODS

We identified a total of eight polymorphisms and characterized the linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping of the gene. Three variants in the promoter and 3'UTR were genotyped, and we conducted an association study of TGF-beta(2) (childhood atopic asthma n=297, normal controls n=555). An association analysis of these variants and an expression and functional analysis were performed.

RESULTS

3'UTR 94862T >A was found to be significantly associated with the risk of childhood atopic asthma (P=0.00041). The -109-->ACAA ins promoter variant was also associated with the risk of childhood atopic asthma (P=0.0037). TGF-beta(2) expression was observed in both the normal and asthmatic bronchial epithelium, and both real-time PCR and an ELISA showed a significant basal and TGF-beta(1)-induced TGF-beta(2) expression in the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS2B. Furthermore, the promoter variant -109-->ACAA ins increased the TGF-beta(2) promoter-reporter activity in BEAS2B cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that TGF-beta(2) may therefore be involved in the development of childhood atopic asthma by means of functional genetic polymorphism. The polymorphisms in TGF-beta(2) may become important information for asthma susceptibility in children.

Influence of the target vessel on the location and area of maximum skin dose during percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

A number of cases involving radiation-associated patient skin injury attributable to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have been reported. Knowledge of the location and area of the patient's maximum skin dose (MSD) in PCI is necessary to reduce the risk of skin injury.

PURPOSE

To determine the location and area of the MSD in PCI, and separately analyze the effects of different target vessels.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

197 consecutive PCI procedures were studied, and the location and area of the MSD were calculated by a skin-dose mapping software program: Caregraph. The target vessels of the PCI procedures were divided into four groups based on the American Heart Association (AHA) classification.

RESULTS

The sites of the MSD for AHA #1-3, AHA #4, and AHA #11-15 were located mainly on the right back skin, the lower right or center back skin, and the upper back skin areas, respectively, whereas the MSD sites for the AHA #5-10 PCI were widely spread. The MSD area for the AHA #4 PCI was larger than that for the AHA #11-15 PCI (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Although the radiation associated with PCI can be widely spread and variable, we observed a tendency regarding the location and area of the MSD when we separately analyzed the data for different target vessels. We recommend the use of a smaller radiation field size and the elimination of overlapping fields during PCI.

Structural and expression analyses of two vitellogenin genes in the carp, Cyprinus carpio

We cloned and sequenced two vitellogenin (vg) cDNAs of the carp, Cyprinus carpio, using a cDNA library constructed from estradiol-17 beta (E2)-treated livers. One was a novel, longer 5000 bp-long cDNA termed vg-B2 encoding 1624 amino acids in a single open reading frame. The other was a shorter cDNA (vg-B1), identical to that registered previously as carp vg cDNA in the international nucleotide sequence database. The deduced amino acid sequences of these two molecules were well-aligned with known vertebrate Vgs sharing common characteristics such as N-terminal lipovitellin I (LVI), phosvitin (PV) and C-terminal lipovitellin II (LVII). The novel Vg-B2 bore a highly conserved GL/ICG motif within the LVII region, in contrast to the shorter Vg-B1 that has a truncated C-terminal and lacks the beta-component within the LVII region including the GL/ICG motif. Both vg-B2 and vg-B1 genes were expressed in the livers of females and E2-injected males. Western blot analysis using anti-Vg and anti-vitellin (Vn) antisera demonstrated that both Vg-B2 and Vg-B1 were detected as polypeptides with an estimated molecular mass of 180 kDa and 160 kDa, respectively, in the blood of females and E2-injected males. The results suggest the potential utilization of these genes as sensitive xenoestrogenic markers.

Association of erythrocyte indices with glycated haemoglobin in pre-menopausal women

AIMS

Although HbA(1c) is known to be affected by the lifespan of erythrocytes, any association of erythrocyte indices with HbA(1c) in subjects without anaemia is poorly understood. Pre-menopausal women may be relatively iron deficient because of menstruation. In this study, we examined the relationship between HbA(1c) and erythrocyte indices in pre- and post-menopausal women.

METHODS

We determined HbA(1c), red blood cell (RBC) count, haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) in 423 women with normal glucose tolerance who had undergone health checks. In addition, age at menopause was recorded in post-menopausal subjects.

RESULTS

RBC counts of the 180 pre-menopausal women were positively associated with HbA(1c), whereas haemoglobin, MCV and MCH showed a negative association. In contrast, no significant association of any indices with HbA(1c) was detected in the 243 post-menopausal women. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis in the pre-menopausal women identified fasting plasma glucose and age as positively associated and MCH as negatively associated with HbA(1c), regardless of whether or not these pre-menopausal women were anaemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Erythrocyte indices are associated with HbA(1c), independently of plasma glucose levels, in pre-menopausal women even when they are not anaemic. This should be appreciated when interpreting HbA(1c) in pre-menopausal patients with diabetes.

Phylogeography of a northeast Asian spruce, Picea jezoensis, inferred from genetic variation observed in organelle DNA markers

Range-wide genetic variation of the widespread cold-temperate spruce Picea jezoensis was studied throughout northeast Asia using maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA and paternally inherited chloroplast DNA markers. This study assessed 33 natural populations including three varieties of the species in Japan, Russia, China, and South Korea. We depicted sharp suture zones in straits around Japan in the geographical distribution pattern of mitochondrial haplotypes (GST=0.901; NST=0.934). In contrast, we detected possible extensive pollen flow without seed flow across the straits around Japan during the past population history in the distribution pattern of chloroplast haplotypes (GST=0.233; NST=0.333). The analysis of isolation by distance of the species implied that by acting as a barrier for the movement of seeds and pollen, the sharp suture zones contributed considerably to the level of genetic differentiation between populations. Constructed networks of mitochondrial haplotypes allowed inference of the phylogeographical history of the species. We deduced that the disjunction with Kamchatka populations reflects range expansion and contraction to the north of the current distribution. Within Japan, we detected phylogeographically different types of P. jezoensis between Hokkaido and Honshu islands; P. jezoensis in Honshu Island may have colonized this region from the Asian continent via the Korean peninsula and the species in Hokkaido Island is likely to have spread from the Asian continent via Sakhalin through land bridges. Japanese endemism of mitochondrial haplotypes in Hokkaido and Honshu islands might have been promoted by separation of these islands from each other and from the Asian continent by the straits during the late Quaternary.

Estimation of pulmonary oxygen consumption in the early postoperative period after thoracic surgery

Lung injury, including pneumonia, can occur in the early postoperative period following thoracic surgery. Pulmonary oxygen consumption is thought to increase in patients with pulmonary infection. This study measured oxygen consumption in relationship to lung injury in the early postoperative period after thoracic surgery. Thirty-five patients who underwent thoraco-abdominal oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer were studied. Measured oxygen-consumption was obtained by indirect calorimetry and calculated oxygen-consumption was simultaneously determined by the reverse Fick method. The difference in oxygen consumption was attributed to pulmonary oxygen consumption. The difference in oxygen consumption increased to 23.1 ml.min(-1).m(-2) on postoperative day 2. In patients with pneumonia the difference in oxygen consumption increased significantly to 39.0 ml.min(-1).m(-2) the day before clinical onset of pneumonia, and it increased further to 65.7 ml.min(-1).m(-2) on the day that pneumonia became clinically apparent. These findings suggest that the difference in oxygen consumption may be useful for estimating the extent of lung injury and for predicting pulmonary complications in the postoperative period.

Complexity of the HVR-1 quasispecies and disease activity in patients with hepatitis C

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) easily undergoes genomic changes, especially in the hypervariable region (HVR) in the N-terminus of the E2/NS1 region. The quasispecies nature of HCV may have important biological implications in relation to viral persistence; however, the relationship between disease activity of chronic HCV infection and development of the genomic complexity have yielded conflicting results. We explored the changes in the complexity of the HVR-1 in the natural course of chronic HCV infection with and without elevation of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients with chronic hepatitis C proven by liver biopsy, who showed persistent elevation of the serum ALT levels, and 15 patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal serum ALT levels (PNAL) were enrolled in this study. The number of the HCV quasispecies was determined twice for each patient at an interval of mean 2.5 years by fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the changes in the number of quasispecies during the follow-up period between chronic hepatitis C and PNAL. There was also no significant difference in the change in the number of variable nucleotides sites between the two groups. In these patients, the number of quasispecies and the diversity of HVR-1 were correlated with platelet counts and serum hyaluronic acid levels previously shown to be associated with disease progression.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that the disease activity is not always related to the generation of the HVR-1 quasispecies complexity.

A phase II study of chemoradiotherapy in patients with stage II, III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): (JCOG 9906)

15137

Background: The study objective was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with cisplatin and 5- fluorouracil (5FU) in patients with stage II, III ESCC. Methods: Patients with clinical stage II or III (T1N1 or T2–3N0–1 and M0) thoracic ESCC, age of 70 or younger, preserved organ functions were eligible. Treatment consisted of two courses of cisplatin 40 mg/m2 (day 1, 8) and 5FU 400 mg/m2/day (days 1–5, 8–12), q5w combined with concurrent radiotherapy of 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 8 weeks with 2-week break. For responders, two courses of chemotherapy of cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (day 1) and 5FU 800 mg/m2/day (days 1–5) q4w were added. The primary endpoint was overall survival and the secondary endpoints were response, toxicity, and progression-free survival. Results: From April 2000 to March 2002, 76 patients were accrued from 12 institutions. Characteristics of all patients were as follows: median age of 61 (range 39–70), male/female; 68/8, PS 0/1; 59/17, stage IIA/IIB/III; 26/12/38. There were two ineligible cases with inadequate liver function and T4 disease. Grade 4 neutropenia, leukopenia, and anemia occurred in 1.3%, 1.3% and 2.6%. Grade 3/4 esophagitis, stomatitis and infection occurred in 17%, 8% and 17%. Grade 3/4 late toxicities occurred in the following incidences; esophagus (dysphagia, mucositis, stenosis, and fistula) in 13%, pericardial effusion in 17%, pleural effusion in 8%, and radiation pneumonitis in 4%. There were 4 treatment related deaths due to late toxicities such as esophageal fistula, radiation pneumonitis, and the other cardiopulmonary diseases. Of eligible 74 patients, there were 50 complete responses (CRs) with a CR rate of 68% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 56–78%). Median survival time was 31 months and the 2, 3-year survival rates were 55% (95% CI: 43–67%), 47% (95% CI: 36–59%), respectively. Conclusion: CRT for stage II, III ESCC is effective with acceptable acute toxicities, however, careful follow up is necessary for late toxicities.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A randomized phase II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) versus gemcitabine and vinorelbine (GV) in performance status (PS) 2 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): West Japan Thoracic Oncology Group 00

18060

Background: Although doublet chemotherapy is a standard treatment regimen for PS 0–1 patients with advanced non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the optimal chemotherapy for PS 2 patients with advanced NSCLC still remains to be established. We conducted a randomized phase II study to compare the efficacy and safety of a platinum-doublet regimen (CP) versus a non-platinum doublet regimen (GV) in PS 2 patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB (malignant effusion) and IV NSCLC were eligible for this study. The patients were randomly assigned to carboplatin area under the curve of 6 plus paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks (the CP arm) or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 plus vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks (the GV arm). The primary endpoint was the 1-year survival rate while the secondary endpoints were the response rate, the time to progression and the quality-of-life (QOL). The sample size was 41 assessable patients in each arm. Results: Of the 89 patients enrolled, 84 were assessable for efficacy and toxicity: 41 patients (median age 65 years, male/female 30/11, stage IIIB/IV 7/34) in the CP arm and 43 patients (median age 67 years, male/female 31/12, stage IIIB/IV 7/36) in the GV arm. The overall response and 1-year survival rates were 29.3% (95% CI, 16.1 to 45.5%) and 22% (95% CI, 9.3 to 34.6%) for the CP and 20.9% (95% CI, 10 to 36%) and 27.9% (95% CI, 14.5 to 41.3%) for the GV arm, respectively. The median survival time and time to progression were 5.9 and 2.9 months, respectively, for the CP arms and 6 and 2.6 months for the GV arm. The selected Grade 3/4 toxicity in the CP and GV arms included neutropenia (67.5% vs 65.1%, respectively), anemia (12.5% vs 30.2%), thrombocytopenia (7.5% vs 11.6%), febrile neutropenia (17.1% vs 11.6%), infection (29.3% vs 23.3%), pneumonitis (4.9% vs 11.6%), liver dysfunction (2.5% vs 9.3%), and neuropathy (5.1% vs 0%). The QOL improved after each treatment and it was similar between the two arms. Conclusions: Both CP and GV appear to be active in PS 2 patients with advanced NSCLC . The toxicity profiles were different between the two arms.

[Table: see text]

Tumor progression and chemoradiosensitivity in relation to the expression of apoptosis related proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

4588

To study apoptosis related protein expression and their impact on patient’s survival time and sensitivity to postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT), we examined the expression of RB, mutant p53, MDM2 and Bax proteins using immunohistochemistry in 115 (CRT; 42) surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We also investigated the survivin mRNA expression with quantitative analysis by real-time RT-PCR in 57 (CRT; 30) patients with ESCC. CRT contained 40–60 Gy radiation and continuous infusion of 5-FU (300mg/sqm, day1–5qw). Expression of RB, mutant p53, MDM2, Bax proteins and survivin mRNA were detected in 65%, 46%, 33%, 37% and 32% of patients, respectively. Patients with RB(+), MDM2(-), Bax(+) or survivin(-) tumor had significantly better survival rates than those with RB(-), MDM2(+), Bax(-) or survivin(+) tumor, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in survival between patients with and without mutant p53 expression. In patients not treated with CRT, those with RB(+) or survivin(-) tumor survived significantly longer than those with RB(-) or survivin(+) tumor, respectively. In patients treated with CRT, the expression of Bax protein and survivin mRNA was prognostic indicator. The 5-year survival rates of patients with Bax(+) and survivin(-) tumors were 65% and 39%, significantly superior to 21% and 0% of those with Bax(-) and survivin(+) tumors (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). These results indicate that the expression levels of apoptosis related proteins are important for predicting the prognosis of ESCC patients. Furthermore, CRT may be effective in patients with Bax(+) or survivin(-) tumors. Further investigations are required for clarifying the relationship between the efficacy of postoperative CRT and apoptosis promoting status of ESCC.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Randomized phase III study of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone versus combination of irinotecan and cisplatin (CP) versus S-1 alone in advanced gastric cancer (JCOG9912)

LBA4513

Backgrounds: We conducted a 3-arm phase III study to investigate superiority of CP and non-inferiority of S-1 to 5-FU for advanced gastric cancer in the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) and secondary endpoints of response rate (RR), time to treatment failure (TTF), non-hospitalized survival (NHS) and toxicities. Methods: Treatments with 5-FU (800mg/m2/d, ci, d1–5, q4w), CP (irinotecan, 70mg/m2, div, d1&15 and cisplatin, 80mg/m2, div, d1, q4w) and S-1 (40mg/m2, b.i.d., d1- 28, q6w) were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. Tumors were evaluated every two months. With 230 patients (pts) per arm, this study had 80% power to demonstrate 10% superiority of CP and non-inferiority with 5% margin (hazard ratio, HR=1.16) of S-1 and 0.05 study-wise 1-sided alpha. Results: 704 pts having unresectable or recurrent gastric adenocarcinoma with/without target lesions (TL) were randomized between Nov 2000 and Jan 2006. Final analysis was performed in Feb 2007 when 601 pts (85%) were dead. The results of OS are shown in Table . Median TTF/NHS were 2.3M/7.2M for 5-FU, 3.7M/9.5M for CP, and 4.0M/9.2M for S-1. Incidences (%) of grade 4 neutropenia, grade ≥3 febrile neutropenia, infection with neutropenia, anorexia, diarrhea within 6M, and treatment related death (5- FU/CP/S-1) were 0/37/0, 0/9/0, 0/8/0, 13/33/12, 0/9/8, and 0/1.3/0.4. In the subset having TL, RRs of 5-FU/CP/S-1 (n=175/181/175) were 9%/38%/28%, and their median survival times (MST) were 9.0M/12.1M/10.5M and HRs to 5-FU were 0.78 (95%CI, 0.63–0.98) for CP and 0.85 (0.68–1.06) for S-1. In the subset not having TL, the MSTs of 5-FU/CP/S-1 (n=59/55/59) were 13.5M/14.4M/18.1M and HRs were 1.02 (0.68–1.55) for CP and 0.82 (0.55–1.24) for S-1. Conclusions: S-1 showed a significant non-inferiority to 5-FU. Although CP did not show statistically significant superiority to 5-FU in all pts, it may have a benefit for some subgroups such as pts with measurable metastatic diseases.

[Table: see text] [Table: see text]