Cooperative effects of FGF-2 and VEGF-A in periodontal ligament cells

We previously demonstrated that topical application of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 enhanced periodontal tissue regeneration. Although angiogenesis is a crucial event for tissue regeneration, the mechanism(s) by which topically applied FGF-2 induces angiogenesis in periodontal tissues has not been fully clarified. In this study, we investigated whether FGF-2 could induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and whether cell-to-cell interactions between PDL cells and endothelial cells could stimulate angiogenesis. FGF-2 induced VEGF-A secretion from MPDL22 cells (mouse periodontal ligament cell line) in a dose-dependent manner. Transwell and wound-healing assays revealed that co-stimulation with FGF-2 plus VEGF-A synergistically stimulated the migration of MPDL22 cells. Interestingly, co-culture of MPDL22 cells with bEnd5 cells (mouse endothelial cell line) also stimulated VEGF-A production from MPDL22 cells and tube formation by bEnd5 cells. Furthermore, time-lapse analysis revealed that MPDL22 cells migrated close to the tube-forming bEnd5 cells, mimicking pericytes. Thus, FGF-2 induces VEGF-A expression in PDL cells and induces angiogenesis in combination with VEGF-A. Cell-to-cell interactions with PDL cells also facilitate angiogenesis.

Separation method of blood constituents using dielectrophoresis and flow-induced shear force

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) contains many cytokines for treatment skin diseases. The final goal of this study is to develop the dielectrophoretic PRP purification system enriching the platelets in a label-free manner from whole blood solution. In this study, we characterized dielectrophoretic properties of red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet for the fundamental study. Moreover, purification of PRP was performed to eliminate red and white blood cells using dielectrophoretic and flow-induced shear force.

Involvement of prolactin-releasing peptide in the activation of oxytocin neurones in response to food intake

Food intake activates neurones expressing prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) in the medulla oblongata and oxytocin neurones in the hypothalamus. Both PrRP and oxytocin have been shown to have an anorexic action. In the present study, we investigated whether the activation of oxytocin neurones following food intake is mediated by PrRP. We first examined the expression of PrRP receptors (also known as GPR10) in rats. Immunoreactivity of PrRP receptors was observed in oxytocin neurones and in vasopressin neurones in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Application of PrRP to isolated supraoptic nuclei facilitated the release of oxytocin and vasopressin. In mice, re-feeding increased the expression of Fos protein in oxytocin neurones of the hypothalamus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The increased expression of Fos protein in oxytocin neurones following re-feeding or i.p. administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK), a peripheral satiety factor, was impaired in PrRP-deficient mice. CCK-induced oxytocin increase in plasma was also impaired in PrRP-deficient mice. Furthermore, oxytocin receptor-deficient mice showed an increased meal size, as reported in PrRP-deficient mice and in CCKA receptor-deficient mice. These findings suggest that PrRP mediates, at least in part, the activation of oxytocin neurones in response to food intake, and that the CCK-PrRP-oxytocin pathway plays an important role in the control of the termination of each meal.

Novel Pauli-paramagnetic quantum phase in a Mott insulator

In Mott insulators, the strong electron-electron Coulomb repulsion localizes electrons. In dimensions greater than one, their spins are usually ordered antiferromagnetically at low temperatures. Geometrical frustrations can destroy this long-range order, leading to exotic quantum spin liquid states. However, their magnetic ground states have been a long-standing mystery. Here we show that a quantum spin liquid state in the organic Mott insulator EtMe(3)Sb[Pd(dmit)(2)](2) (where Et is C(2)H(5)-, Me is CH(3)-, and dmit is 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate) with two-dimensional triangular lattice has Pauli-paramagnetic-like low-energy excitations, which are a hallmark of itinerant fermions. Our torque magnetometry down to low temperatures (30 mK) up to high fields (32 T) reveals distinct residual paramagnetic susceptibility comparable to that in a half-filled two-dimensional metal, demonstrating the magnetically gapless nature of the ground state. Moreover, our results are robust against deuteration, pointing toward the emergence of an extended 'quantum critical phase', in which low-energy spin excitations behave as in paramagnetic metals with Fermi surface, despite the frozen charge degree of freedom.

Anomalous upper critical field in CeCoIn5/YbCoIn5 superlattices with a Rashba-type heavy Fermion interface

We report a highly unusual angular variation of the upper critical field (H(c2)) in epitaxial superlattices CeCoIn(5)(n)/YbCoIn(5)(5), formed by alternating layers of n and a 5 unit-cell thick heavy-fermion superconductor CeCoIn(5) with a strong Pauli effect and normal metal YbCoIn(5), respectively. For the n=3 superlattice, H(c2)(θ) changes smoothly as a function of the field angle θ. However, close to the superconducting transition temperature, H(c2)(θ) exhibits a cusp near the parallel field (θ=0°). This cusp behavior disappears for n=4 and 5 superlattices. This sudden disappearance suggests the relative dominance of the orbital depairing effect in the n=3 superlattice, which may be due to the suppression of the Pauli effect in a system with local inversion symmetry breaking. Taking into account the temperature dependence of H(c2)(θ) as well, our results suggest that some exotic superconducting states, including a helical superconducting state, might be realized at high magnetic fields.

Differential Expression of Cyclins B1 and B2 during Medaka (Oryzias latipes) Spermatogenesis

The Cdc2-cyclin B complex (named the M-phase-promoting factor, MPF) is well known to be a key regulator of G2-M transition in both mitosis and meiosis. However, MPF may have functions other than the cell cycle regulation, since its activity is detectable in post-mitotic (or post-meiotic) non-dividing cells. Cyclin B comprises several subtypes, but their functional differences are still unknown. Despite the established function of MPF during oocyte maturation, its role during spermatogenesis, where spermatogenic cells undergo drastic morphological changes after meiosis, remains to be elucidated. To address these issues, we have isolated cDNA clones encoding cyclins B1 and B2 from medaka testis and raised polyclonal antibodies against their products. Using these as probes, we examined the expression patterns of cyclins B1 and B2 in medaka testis at both mRNA and protein levels. Cyclin B1 and B2 mRNAs were expressed in all stages of spermatogenic cells except for spermatozoa, although the expression levels varied according to the spermatogenic stages. Cyclin B1 protein was expressed only in spermatogonia and spermatocytes at prophase and metaphase with a transient disappearance at anaphase. On the other hand, cyclin B2 protein was continuously expressed throughout spermatogenesis, even in spermatogonia and spermatocytes at anaphase and in post-meiotic spermatids and spermatozoa. The difference in their expression patterns suggests that cyclins B1 and B2 have distinct roles in medaka spermatogenesis; i.e., cyclin B1 controls the meiotic cell cycle, whereas cyclin B2 is involved in process(es) other than meiosis.

Overexpression of MDM2 and p53 protein is infrequently but significantly associated with progression of human prostatic adenocarcinoma

In the present immunohistochemical study using anti-p53 (DO-7) and anti-MDM2 (IF2) antibodies, we determined the frequency of p53 and MDM2 protein expression in a series of 115 primary prostatic adenocarcinomas (stage A1 to D2) and evaluated the reliability of p53 and MDM2 immunoreactivity as an indicator for tumor progression. Overall, 13.9% (16/115) of surgically resected tumors were positive for anti-p53 antibody. A significantly higher association of immunoreactivity for p53 was detected in both high-grade (4/16, 25%; p<0.05) and advanced stage tumors (14/73, 19.1%; p<0.05) compared with that of other grade or stage. Positive staining for anti-MDM2 antibody was observed in only 4.3% (5/115) of the tumors examined. However, nuclear MDM2 protein overexpression, detected as focal and markedly heterogeneous staining, was sometimes observed especially in advanced stage tumors (4 stage C and 1 stage D tumors), and was significantly more common in locally advanced cancers (p<0.05) than in those of other stage. Only 2 cases (1.7%) exhibited positive staining with both p53 and MDM2 antibodies. These findings suggest that p53 and MDM2 alterations might play significant roles in the development and progression of some advanced stage or high-grade prostatic cancers, although MDM2 and p53 protein overexpression is infrequent in prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Renal vein extension using an autologous renal vein in a living donor with double inferior vena cava: a case report

BACKGROUND

When the kidney from a living donor with a double inferior vena cava (IVC) is harvested for renal transplantation, the short length of the renal vein may eventually create a technical problem for graft implantation. Herein, we have reported a rare case of renal vein extension using an autologous renal vein in a living donor with a double IVC.

CASE REPORT

A 70-year-old man with end-stage renal disease owing to autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease underwent a living donor kidney graft from his wife who had a double IVC. Because of the enlarged kidneys, the patient underwent a bilateral native nephrectomy with concomitant renal transplantation to create space in the pelvis. At nephrectomy, the recipient's renal vein was used to extend the donor renal vein. On the back table, the vein graft was sutured to the donor renal vein, permitting a 3.0-cm extension.

RESULTS

The transplantation was performed safely without any complications; the recipient's renal function and blood flow were excellent after the operation.

CONCLUSION

This case illustrated that an autologous renal vein graft is a preferable option to extend of short donor renal vein for recipients who require a simultaneous native nephrectomy.

Nodal versus nodeless behaviors of the order parameters of LiFeP and LiFeAs superconductors from magnetic penetration-depth measurements

High-precision measurements of magnetic penetration depth λ in clean single crystals of LiFeAs and LiFeP superconductors reveal contrasting behaviors. In LiFeAs the low-temperature λ(T) shows a flat dependence indicative of a fully gapped state, which is consistent with previous studies. In contrast, LiFeP exhibits a T-linear dependence of superfluid density infinity λ(-2), indicating a nodal superconducting order parameter. A systematic comparison of quasiparticle excitations in the 1111, 122, and 111 families of iron-pnictide superconductors implies that the nodal state is induced when the pnictogen height from the iron plane decreases below a threshold value of ~1.33 Å.

P3-07-32: The Role of Axillary Ultrasound in the Detection of Metastases from Primary Breast Cancers

Background: The value of ultrasound (US) in the preoperative evaluation of axillary nodes has yet to be completely clarified. Preliminary experience with this technique in our institution was examined.

Methods: Patients with a radiographic or palpable abnormality of the breast had simultaneous breast and axillary US. The exams were performed by dedicated breast radiologists using a 12 MHz linear array transducer (HDI 5000: Philips Ultrasound). Results were reviewed for all patients with invasive cancers who were cN0 and had definitive surgical procedures between June 2006 and May 2008. Criteria for abnormal lymph nodes were loss of reniform shape, focal or diffuse cortical thickening, or eccentric/replaced fatty hilum. US-guided biopsies were done using a 16g spring-loaded core biopsy device (16g MD TECH SuperCore). Patients with positive axillary node biopsies bypassed sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and had axillary dissection, whereas those with sonographically normal nodes or benign/non-diagnostic biopsy results had SLNB at the time of definitive surgery.

Results: Of 128 patients diagnosed with invasive cancer, 23 (18%) had abnormal axillary US at the time of initial diagnosis. Biopsies were performed in 18 of the 23, of which 12 (67%) were malignant and 6 (33%) were benign. Ultrasounds were negative in 105 (82%) patients. SLNB was done in 110 patients: 103 with negative US; 4 patients with abnormal US but negative axillary biopsies; 2 patients with abnormal US but no core biopsies; and 1 patient with a positive US biopsy. SLNB was negative in 91 (83%) patients and positive in 19 (17%). The node-positive status was N1a in 14 patients and N1mic in 5. Axillary dissection was done in 32 (25%) of 128 patients, comprised of 11 patients with US-guided positive biopsies, 12 with positive sentinel nodes, 2 with US-guided negative biopsies, 2 with negative ultrasounds, 3 with unbiospied abnormal ultrasounds, and 2 with a false-negative SLNB. For determining axillary metastases with US, sensitivity was 16/31 (52%), specificity was 90/97 (93%), positive predictive value was 16/23 (69%), and negative predictive value was 90/105 (86%).

Conclusions: US examination was a valuable method of evaluating the axilla in newly diagnosed breast cancers. Of 32 patients having an axillary dissection, abnormal US eliminated the need for SLNB in 17 (53%). Patients with US-guided positive nodes were submitted to axillary dissection without SLNB. Therefore, we were unable to determine how often US identified an abnormal non-sentinel node, thus upstaging the axilla relative to SLNB alone. This question should be the topic of further clinical study.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-32.