The principle of digital subtraction angiography and radiological protection

SUMMARY

Recent improvements in x-ray technology have greatly contributed to the advancement of diagnostic imaging. Fluoroscopically guided neurointerventional procedures with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) are being performed with increasing frequency as the treatment of choice for a variety of neurovascular diseases. Radiation-induced skin injuries can occur after extended fluoroscopic exposure times, and the injuries have recently been reported. In this article, measured radiation doses at the surface of Rando Phantom with Skin Dose Monitor, and estimated and measured entrance skin doses in patients underwent neurointerventional procedures are reported as well as means of reducing radiation doses absorbed by patients and personnel to avoid occurrence of radiation-induced injuries.

Endovascular Treatment of Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms using Platinum Coils in Patients over 70 Years of Age

SUMMARY

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using platinum coils was performed in 26 patien with age over 70 years. The patients ranged from 70 to 86 years old (mean 77.5). Preoperative World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) scale revealed that 6 patients were in grade I, 5 in grade II, 2 in grade III, 12 in grade IV, and 1 in grade V. The location of aneurysms are as follows; 10 were in the internal carotid artery, 7 in the anterior cerebral artery, 1 in the middle cerebral artery, and 8 in the vertebro- basilar system. Intra-aneurysmal occlusion was accomplished in 25 patients, resulting in 6 complete occlusion (24%), 3 neck remnant (12%), 11 body filling (44%), and both of neck remnant and body filling in 5 (20%). In one patient with vertebral artery union aneurysm, the parent artery was occluded just proximal to the aneurysm. Eleven of 13 patients with good clinical grade (grade I, II, and III) resulted in good clinical outcome, whereas 11 of 13 patients with poor clinical grade (grade IV and V) showed poor outcome. Periprocedural complications such as thromboembolism and intra-procedural rupture occurred in 5 patients (19.2%). Each of the complications was attributed to severe atherosclerotic changes of parent arteries. Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm occurred in only one patient (3.8%). In conclusion, endovascular coil emboilization is a useful therapeutic alternative for treating ruptured intracranial aneurysms in patients over 70 years of age, especially in patients with good clinical grade (better than grade III).

FGF-2 regulation of neurogenesis in adult hippocampus after brain injury

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) promotes proliferation of neuroprogenitor cells in culture and is up-regulated within brain after injury. Using mice genetically deficient in FGF-2 (FGF-2(-/-) mice), we addressed the importance of endogenously generated FGF-2 on neurogenesis within the hippocampus, a structure involved in spatial, declarative, and contextual memory, after seizures or ischemic injury. BrdUrd incorporation was used to mark dividing neuroprogenitor cells and NeuN expression to monitor their differentiation into neurons. In the wild-type strain, hippocampal FGF-2 increased after either kainic acid injection or middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the numbers of BrdUrd/NeuN-positive cells significantly increased on days 9 and 16 as compared with the controls. In FGF-2(-/-) mice, BrdUrd labeling was attenuated after kainic acid or middle cerebral artery occlusion, as was the number of neural cells colabeled with both BrdUrd and NeuN. After FGF-2(-/-) mice were injected intraventricularly with a herpes simplex virus-1 amplicon vector carrying FGF-2 gene, the number of BrdUrd-labeled cells increased significantly to values equivalent to wild-type littermates after kainate seizures. These results indicate that endogenously synthesized FGF-2 is necessary and sufficient to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of neuroprogenitor cells in the adult hippocampus after brain insult.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a gene expressed in mouse developing tongue, mDscr5 gene, a homolog of human DSCR5 (Down syndrome Critical Region gene 5)

For understanding the pathogenesis of Down syndrome (DS), it is important to identify and characterize the genes on Chromosome (Chr) 21, especially those in the Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) on Chr 21q22.2. Recently we have determined 33.5 Mb (more than 99%) of DNA sequence of Chr 21 and, from these sequence data, we identified a novel gene, DSCR5 (transcript = 0.8 kb), from DSCR by combination of computational gene prediction and cDNA screening. For functional analysis of DSCR5, we identified a mouse homolog of the DSCR5 cDNA, and termed it mDscr5 (transcript length = 0.8 kb). The gene was mapped to mouse Chr 16 C3-C4, the syntenic region of human Chr 21, and encodes an amino acid of 132 residues with 90% identity to DSCR5. In situ hybridization showed that mDscr5 is predominantly expressed in the developing tongue. To our best knowledge, no other gene in DSCR is reported to be expressed in tongue, so that DSCR5 may be the first candidate to elucidate the pathophysiology of tongue malformation observed in DS.

Reproductive effects of nonylphenol in rats after gavage administration: a two-generation study

The potential reproductive toxicity of nonylphenol (NP) was assessed in a two-generation reproductive toxicity study. Groups of 25 male and female Crj:CD (SD) IGS rats were given NP by gavage at levels of 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg, and 25 males and females were given corn oil as controls. No adverse changes in clinical signs were observed in any rats throughout the study. Significant increases in the liver, kidney and pituitary gland weights in males, and decreases in thymus weight in males and in ovary weight in females were observed in the 50 mg/kg group. NP did not affect sperm characteristics or the estrous cycle at any dose administered. A significant increase in the TSH level was observed in males in the 50 mg/kg group. No adverse effects of NP on reproduction were found. At necropsy, no treatment-related alterations were observed in any organs including the reproductive tissues in any group. Histopathologic changes were found in the liver of male and female rats and kidneys of males in the 50 mg/kg group. The viability of offspring from postnatal day 0 to 4 in the 50 mg/kg group was reduced as compared with that in the controls, although growth was not affected by NP administration. On postnatal day 22, an increase in the serum FSH level and decrease in T(3) level for males, and decreases in LH and TSH levels and an increase in T(3) levels for females were observed in the 50 mg/kg group. NP did not affect the timing of preputial separation, while vaginal opening was accelerated in the 50 mg/kg group. No adverse changes were found in behavior or learning in the offspring of NP-treated groups. There were no treatment-related changes in any reproductive parameter, including estrous cycle, mating, fertility, delivery, and lactation, except for significant decreases in the numbers of implantation sites and live pups, and a significant decrease in ovary weight in the 50 mg/kg group. Kidney and liver weight were increased in males in the 50 mg/kg group. Histopathologic examination revealed changes in the liver of males and females of the 50 mg/kg group. No treatment-related changes were observed in the sperm characteristics. Hormone data should be interpreted cautiously until the findings are repeated and confirmed by further studies. These results of NP suggested that the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) on reproductive capacity is 50 mg/kg/day or greater in parent animals, and 10 mg/kg/day in the next generation under the present experimental condition.

Effective antigen presentation by dendritic cells is NF-kappaB dependent: coordinate regulation of MHC, co-stimulatory molecules and cytokines

Antigen presentation is a key rate-limiting step in the immune response. Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells for naive T cells, due to their high expression of MHC and co-stimulatory molecules, but little is known about the biochemical pathways that regulate this function. We here demonstrate that monocyte-derived mature DC can be infected with adenovirus at high efficiency (>95%) and that this procedure can be used to dissect out which pathways are essential for inducing DC antigen presentation to naive T cells. Using adenoviral transfer of the endogenous inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaBalpha, we show that DC antigen presentation is NF-kappaB dependent. The mechanism for this is that NF-kappaB is essential for three aspects of antigen-presenting function: blocking NF-kappaB coordinately down-regulates HLA class II, co-stimulatory molecules like CD80, CD86 and CD40, and immuno-stimulatory cytokines like IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In contrast adhesion molecules are up-regulated after infection with the adenovirus transferring IkappaBalpha, indicating that NF-kappaB also regulates the duration of T cell-DC interaction. These results establish NF-kappaB as an effective target for blocking DC antigen presentation and inhibiting T cell-dependent immune responses, and this finding has potential implications for the development of therapeutic agents for use in allergy, autoimmunity and transplantation.

Genetic transformation system for a psychrotrophic deep-sea bacterium: isolation and characterization of a psychrotrophic plasmid

A versatile system that permits genetic manipulation of a psychrotrophic deep-sea bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp. PS1M3, has been developed. A cryptic indigenous plasmid, pPS1M3, of 3.1 kb from the above strain was isolated and characterized. The nucleotide sequence analysis of plasmid pPS1M3 revealed the presence of one open reading frame, and its deduced amino acid sequence was identified as the essential protein for plasmid maintenance. Transformation with the pPS1M3 harboring antibiotic resistance genes by electroporation was fully successful using the pPS1M3-cured strain as a host. This plasmid was quite stable under nonselective culture conditions for about 100 generations at 4 degrees C. The copy number of this plasmid in the cell was about 5 copies per chromosome.

Role of ceramide during cisplatin-induced apoptosis in C6 glioma cells

Cisplatin is commonly used for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. However, the mechanisms of cell death by cisplatin are not fully understood. Therefore, the present study was designed to elucidate the apoptotic signaling pathway(s) activated by cisplatin in a C6 rat glioma cell line. C6 cells were treated with various concentrations of cisplatin (0.2-10 microg/ml) for 24-72 h. At 10 microg/ml cisplatin, over 90% of the cells became dead at 72 h. Apoptotic death was confirmed by condensation and fragmentation of nuclei, and DNA laddering. Even in cells treated with 1.5 microg/ml cisplatin, typical apoptotic cells were observed at 72 h. The intracellular level of ceramide, measured Escherichia coli diacylglycerol kinase markedly increased during 24-72 h after the addition of 10 microg/ml cisplatin. The activity of caspase-3(-like) proteases increased and reached a peak at 48 h. Inhibitors of caspases reduced the number of apoptotic cells. Pretreatment of C6 cells with glutathione or N-acetyl-cysteine, which are known to block the activation of neutral magnesium-dependent sphingomyelinase, inhibited ceramide formation, leading to suppression of both activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases and apoptosis by cisplatin. In contrast, pretreatment of the cells with N-oleoylethanolamine (OE), a ceramidase inhibitor, potentiated apoptosis induced by cisplatin. Furthermore, OE enhanced sensitivity of the cisplatin-resistant cells to cisplatin. These results suggest that ceramide is closely implicated in apoptosis of glioma cells by cisplatin through activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases.

Serum p53 antibody as a useful marker for monitoring of treatment of superficial colorectal adenocarcinoma after endoscopic resection

BACKGROUND

Mutation of the p53 gene is a genetic alteration found in human cancers. Overexpression of p53 has been found to induce antibody production in serum, and, recently, the simple detection of serum antibody has been made possible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of serum p53 antibody in the early diagnosis of superficial colorectal cancer and in the monitoring of its treatment after endoscopic resection.

METHODS

In a prospective study, our subjects were 27 patients with superficial colorectal adenocarcinomas, whose results were compared with those in 38 patients with benign adenomas; all patients were treated by endoscopic resection. The correlation between serum p53 antibody levels before and within 3 weeks after resection was determined, using an immunoassay. Immunohistological staining for p53 was also performed, and its sensitivity was compared with that of two other tumor markers.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, serum p53 antibody was detected in 63.0% (17/27) patients with adenocarcinoma and in 2.6% (1/38) patients with adenoma, showing a significant difference (P < 0.001). However, the two other markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen CA19-9, showed no significant difference between superficial colorectal adenocarcinoma and adenoma. The serum p53 antibody status was strongly correlated with p53 immunostaining in adenocarcinoma (P = 0.0065), but there was no significant correlation in adenoma (P = 0.973). Sixteen (94.1%) of 17 seropositive adenocarcinoma patients, showed negative conversion after complete tumor resection, and all these 16 patients remained seronegative.

CONCLUSION

The detection of serum p53 antibody is expected to serve as a new genetic marker, determined by serological analyses, for aiding in the early diagnosis of superficial colorectal cancer and indicating its local curability after endoscopic treatment.

[Continuous nursing of incurable patients at home--the case of a patient with Parkinson's disease]

At the Department of Neurology and Internal Medicine at our hospital, there are 22 outpatients who are nursed at home. Their diseases are Parkinson's disease, spinal cerebellar degeneration, dementia and other diseases. The problem is how we should care for and support these patients in the future, now that the official Care Insurance System has started. We discuss how we could support such patients, through the case of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease. The patient was a 69-year-old female. In 1991, she developed Parkinson's disease, accompanied with trembling in her right upper limb. Her condition was controlled at our hospital. Is April 1999, she lost strength in her right thigh without any previous notice, so she was hospitalized for treatment. For a period, she became aggressive from hallucinations and delusions and she had to be taken care of all day. Her only daughter lived apart and her 72-year-old husband was also suffering from Parkinson's disease. In spite of such conditions, she hoped to receive home care and her husband accepted that. We asked what they would want us to do. We had meetings together with the staff of the local administration, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. The report from our hospital staff says, "It may be difficult for only her family to support her. She needs other supporting systems." She came to our hospital twice a month. We made an effort to understand her condition with the help of the report of a visiting nurse. However, her illusions and delusions made it difficult even to utilize the short-stay. Her husband sometimes uses violence and says. "I can't stand this any more--her unrest, micturition at night and refusal to eat." Nevertheless, she continues to say "I want to stay at home." They have had considerable trouble. The following are necessary for home care of some patients. 1. Understanding what a patient and her family want to do. Cooperating with the staff of the administration, in consideration of the Care Insurance System. 2. Studying with incurable neurology patients using pamphlets or other materials and supporting them, 3. Discussing how to act in concert with patients at home and outpatients at the hospital involving a risk without MSW.

Increased phospholipase D2 activity during hypoxia-induced death of PC12 cells: its possible anti-apoptotic role

During hypoxic incubation (1% O2) of PC12 cells, the PLD activity was transiently increased within 12h, followed by a gradual decrease. In the in vitro assay, the increased PLD activity was independent of GTPgammaS required for PLD1 or of oleic acid for PLD(OA), suggesting the activation of PLD2. The level of PLD2 protein showed no change up to 12h but a gradual decrease after 24 h. Pretreatment of cells with S. chromofuscus PLD resulted in inhibition of hypoxia-induced apoptotic cell death. In contrast, 1-butanol, but not 2-butanol, potentiated cell death. Moreover, the number of apoptotic cells significantly reduced in PC12 cells over-expressing PLD2. These results raise the possibility that PLD2 activation may play an anti-apoptotic role in hypoxia-induced cell death.

[Long-term results of right ventricular outflow reconstruction with valved conduit]

Twenty-nine patients who underwent right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction using a valved conduit 37 times and survived surgery, were reviewed in this study. Hancock, Ionescu-Shiley, Carpentier-Edwards and Polystan was used for RVOTR. Freedom from reoperation rates of Hancock, Ionescu-Shiley and Carpentier-Edwardsat at five and ten years after surgery were 100%, 85.7%, 89.2% and 75%, 28.6%, 89.2%, respectively. The freedom from reoperation rates of Hancock and Carpentier-Edwards were significantly higher than that of Ionescu-Shiley. In conclusion, the freedom from reoperation rate at ten years was high for both Hancock and Carpentier-Edwards.

Effect of butyl benzyl phthalate in Sprague-Dawley rats after gavage administration: a two-generation reproductive study

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), a plasticizer, has been shown in in vitro studies to be weakly estrogenic, and in in vivo studies to possess testicular toxicity and teratogenicity, but few experimental data on BBP multigeneration effects on reproduction in mammals are available. The present two-generation reproductive study was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using oral doses of 0, 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg/day BBP. Endpoints were chosen in order to evaluate both subchronic and reproductive toxicity. In the parent animals (F(0)), a decrease in body weight gain was observed in males in the 500 mg/kg/day group, although no significant decrease in food consumption was found. No dose-related changes were observed in estrous cyclicity, fertility, or lactation. A dose-dependent increase in kidney weight in rats of both sexes, an increase in liver weight in males, and a decrease in the weight of the ovaries in females were observed. No macroscopic or microscopic changes were found in the reproductive system of males or females. Oral administration of BBP caused a decrease in the serum concentration of testosterone, and an increase in FSH. In the next generation (F(1)), the body weight of male and female offspring at birth in the 100 and 500 mg/kg groups was significantly decreased, and the body weight in the 500 mg/kg group was lower throughout the study, while viability was not affected. Anogenital distance (AGD) at birth was decreased in male pups and was increased in female pups of the 500 mg/kg/day group. Preputial separation for male offspring in the 500 mg/kg/day group was delayed, while vaginal opening for female offspring in this group was not affected. BBP did not affect reproductive ability, including delivery and lactation, at any dose whereas macroscopic and microscopic changes of the testis, and decreased serum concentrations of testosterone were observed in male offspring of the 500 mg/kg/day group after puberty. From these data, it would appear that 20 mg/kg BBP is a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for reproductive effects on parent animals and the next generation.

Expression of pituitary homeo box 1 (Ptx1) in human non-neoplastic pituitaries and pituitary adenomas

We investigated the localization of pituitary homeo box 1 (Ptx1) protein in five human non-neoplastic pituitaries and 73 of all types of pituitary adenomas using immunohistochemistry, and the expression of Ptx1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in 18 representative pituitary adenomas using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. By immunohistochemical analysis, Ptx1 protein was extensively detected in the nuclei of normal human pituitary cells. Ptx1 was detected in 10/14 (71.4%) of growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenomas, 12/12 (100%) of prolactin (PRL)-secreting adenomas, 18/20 (90%) of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting adenomas, 6/7 (85.7%) of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting adenomas, and 17/20 (85%) of clinically non-functioning adenomas, including 9/10 (90%) of gonadotropin-subunit-positive adenomas. Thus, there was no relationship between Ptx1 expression and a particular type of pituitary adenomas. By RT-PCR analysis, Ptx1 mRNA was expressed in all 18 cases of pituitary adenomas, including two cases negative for Ptx1 protein by immunohistochemistry. These results suggested that Ptx1 may be an universal transcription factor in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions in human pituitaries. The synergistic action with other transcription factors may be speculated to determine the specific production of the anterior pituitary hormones.

High concentrations of serum inhibin in pre-eclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate maternal serum immunoreactive inhibin (ir-inhibin) concentrations in women with pre-eclampsia, and assess the correlation between serum ir-inhibin and HCG.

METHODS

The subjects comprised 28 pregnant women with suspected intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) during the third trimester. Serum concentrations of ir-inhibin and HCG were measured in 13 women with pre-eclampsia and 15 pregnant women as control subjects. Serum ir-inhibin was determined by a double antibody radioimmunoassay, and HCG by a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in maternal characteristics between the pre-eclamptic group and control group. The pre-eclamptic group had significantly higher concentrations of serum ir-inhibin and HCG compared with the control group. The serum concentrations of ir-inhibin correlated positively with those of HCG.

CONCLUSION

The pre-eclamptic patients displayed high serum levels of ir-inhibin and HCG, and this might reflect hyperplasia of trophoblastic cells.

Activation of caspase-9 and -3 during H2O2-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells independent of ceramide formation

The treatment of PC12 cells with H2O2 (100-500 microM) resulted in typical apoptotic changes including fragmentation and condensation of nuclei, and DNA fragmentation observed as DNA ladder. H2O2-induced apoptosis was associated with activation of caspase-3 as assessed by cleavage of specific fluorogenic substrate peptide and processing of procaspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, formation of ceramide, which often locates upstream of caspase-3, was not observed. The inhibitory peptide relatively specific for caspase-3, z-DEVD-FMK and non-selective caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK inhibited activation of caspase-3 and apoptotic cell death. However, the relatively specific inhibitors, Ac-YVKD for caspase-1 and Ac-IETD for caspase-8/6, did not affect the occurrence of apoptotic cell death. As an upstream activation of caspase-3, induction of cytochrome c release followed by processing of procaspase-9 was observed by Western blotting, although the formation of intracellular ceramide was not observed. On the other hand, in PC12 cells overexpressing Bcl-2, the number of apoptotic cells was markedly decreased and activation of both caspases-9 and -3 was prevented. These results suggest that cytochrome c and caspase-9 initiate the activation of executor caspase-3 in H2O2-treated PC12 cells, and that Bcl-2 inhibits H2O2-induced release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and then proteolytic processing of procaspase-9.

[Long-term effect of polystan monocusp ventricular outflow patch after right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction]

Forty-eight patients who underwent right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction with Monocusp Ventricular Outflow Patch (MVOP) fifty-five times and survived surgery, were reviewed in this study. Mean age at surgery was 6.4 years-old and mean follow-up interval was 75.2 months. There was no late death, however reoperation was performed 7 times. Freedom from reoperation rate was 97.2% and 80.7% after 5 and 10 years after surgery, respectively. The main cause for reoperation were right ventricular outflow obstruction RVOTO (5 cases). All of the RVOTO occurred at the distal end of the anastomosis. However, there was no RVOTO in patients who underwent RVOTR with MVOP during the past ten years. So, we considered the cause of RVOTO a technical problem. Pulmonary regurgitation was one to two degree early after surgery, and had worsened by almost two or three degrees more than 5 years after surgery. Moreover, five of six patients who underwent cardiac catheterization more than 10 years after surgery had three degrees of pulmonary regurgitation as well as a large CTR. In conclusion, according to long-term results, especially more than 10 years post operatively, pulmonary regurgitation was the most important problem.

Analyses of virus-induced homomeric and heteromeric protein associations between IRF-3 and coactivator CBP/p300

Cellular genes including the type I interferon genes are activated in response to viral infection. We previously reported that IRF-3 (interferon regulatory factor 3) is specifically phosphorylated on serine residues and directly transmits a virus-induced signal from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and then participates in the primary phase of gene induction. In this study, we analyzed the molecular mechanism of IRF-3 activation further. The formation of a stable homomeric complex of IRF-3 between the specifically phosphorylated IRF-3 molecules occurred. While virus-induced IRF-7 did not bind to p300, the phosphorylated IRF-3 complex formed a stable multimeric complex with p300 (active holocomplex). Competition using a synthetic phosphopeptide corresponding to the activated IRF-3 demonstrated that p300 directly recognizes the structure in the vicinity of the phosphorylated residues of IRF-3. These results indicated that the phosphorylation of serine residues at positions 385 and 386 is critical for the formation of the holocomplex, presumably through a conformational switch facilitating homodimer formation and the generation of the interaction interface with CBP/p300.

Developmental toxicity of the topoisomerase inhibitor, etoposide, in rabbits after intravenous administration

The developmental effect of the topoisomerase inhibitor, etoposide, was investigated in pregnant rabbits given intravenous doses during early organogenesis. Does received 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg/day on days 7 through 9 of gestation. Fetal parameters were evaluated on day 28 of gestation. Live fetuses were examined for gross, visceral, and skeletal malformations and variations. In addition, telencephalon in embryos 8 h following the final treatment was examined histologically. No change in general condition was observed in any does, but a significant decrease in body weight gain during the pregnancy and enlargement of the liver resulting from marked fatty change were observed in does treated with etoposide at 2 mg/kg/day. Etoposide had neither lethal nor growth retarded effects on embryos/fetuses. However, axial skeletal malformation and extra ribs had a low incidence but were significant in the group treated with etoposide at 2 mg/kg/day, whereas no significant increases in external malformations in term fetuses nor in pyknotic cells in the ventricular zone of telencephalon in embryos were noticed in any etoposide-treated groups. It was concluded that anatomical defects (skeletal malformation or variation) in rabbits were induced by intravenous etoposide treatment during early organogenesis and that they occurred in the presence of maternal toxicity.

Touch-free in situ investigation of ancient Egyptian pigments

Some of the pigments painted on the Funerary Stele of Amenemhat (ca. 2000 B.C.) exhibited at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo and on the walls of the Tomb of Userhat (ca. 1420 B.C.), a rock-cut tomb in Thebes, Egypt, were investigated in situ using both a convenient home-made hand-held type of X-ray diffractometer and a commercial X-ray fluorescence spectrometer in a complementary way under touch-free conditions. CaCO3.3MgCO3 (huntite) was found in the white-painted parts of these two ancient monuments. An arsenic (As)-bearing phase was detected in the yellow-painted parts of the latter monument. The occurrence of huntite in Egypt has not been reported previously.

[Coil embolization for incidental aneurysms in patients with chronic renal failure: midterm clinical results of two cases]

In spite of recent advances in perioperative management, the risk of neurosurgical intervention for patients with chronic renal failure is still considered too high. In this study, coil embolization for incidental aneurysms in such patients is demonstrated in reference to midterm results. A 42-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 7 years presented with subcortical hemorrhage in her right frontal lobe. The magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated a distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm, but it was considered to be unrelated to the hemorrhage. Two and a half months after the hemorrhage the aneurysm was embolized with interlocking detachable coils. Thirty months after embolization, the angiogram revealed the coil compaction and the recanalization of the aneurysm neck. However, 54 months after embolization, the figure of the embolized aneurysm and neck remnant was the same as the previous findings. A 69-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 5 years suddenly experienced left hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed cerebral infarction in the right frontoparietal white matter. In addition, a left middle cerebral artery aneurysm was unexpectedly found on the MRA. Five months after the onset of the attack, the aneurysm was embolized with a Guglielmi detachable coli. An angiogram obtained 24 months after the embolization showed the aneurysm to be almost completely obliterated. In considering the therapeutic risks and benefits for incidental aneurysms of patients with chronic renal failure, intra-vascular surgery could be recommended as a less invasive treatment.

[Forecast of total pollen counts of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) from the amount of male flower development and the revised total pollen counts]

We have successfully forecast the total pollen counts of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) since 1996 by the amount of male flower development. The amount of male flower development was observed at 11 forests in the Tanba Mountains and 10 forests in the Chugoku Mountains depending on both in Hyogo Prefecture. The amount of male flower development on each tree was assigned to one of five classes by the number of male flowers per spring. After a large harvest of male flowers, the production of male flowers declined in the following years, especially at high altitudes. It was also followed by a decrease in the number of airborne pollen grains in the later pollen season. According to an analysis of weather conditions, total pollen counts were correlated with the high temperature between July 6 and 20 and the total pollen counts of the previous season. However, the amount of male flower development was the most significant indicator for forecasting total pollen counts. Decrease in total pollen counts due to abnormal weather during the pollen season was correlated with discrepancies in forest flowering time according to observations made in the Rokko Mountains. Increase in total pollen counts was connected by a development of the sugi forest areas. Twenty percent of mature sugi forests from 1992 which showed an annual increase were associated with an increase in total pollen counts. The accuracy of the forecast was improved by revising the total pollen counts for weather conditions during the dispersion stage, a decrease in the production of male flowers at high altitude, and an increase in the production of male flowers connected by a developing forest areas.

Limited myogenic response to a single bout of weight-lifting exercise in old rats

The purpose of the present study was to compare the myogenic response of hindlimb muscles in young (14-20 wk of age) and old (>120 wk of age) rats with a single exhaustive bout of heavy resistance weight lifting. [(3)H]thymidine and [(14)C]leucine labeling were monitored for up to 2 wk after the exercise bout to estimate serial changes in mitotic activity and the level of amino acid uptake and myosin synthesis. Histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical [anti-5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and myogenic determination genes (MyoD)] analyses of whole muscles and analysis of muscle-specific gene expression (MyoD) using Western blotting and RT-PCR were performed. Old rats showed significant muscle atrophy and a lower exercise capacity than young rats. Exercise-induced muscle damage, as assessed in histological sections, and increases in serum creatine kinase activity were evident in both young and old exercised groups. Mitotic activity was increased in young, but not old, rats 2 days after exercise. There was a biphasic increase in [(14)C]leucine uptake during the 14 days postexercise (peaks at 1-4 and 10 days) in young rats: only the first peak was observed in old rats. There was a lower uptake of [(14)C]leucine in the myosin fraction and an impaired expression of MyoD at the protein (immunohistochemistry and Western blotting) and mRNA (RT-PCR) levels in old rats throughout the postexercise period. These results demonstrate a reduced reparative capability of muscle in response to a single bout of exercise in old compared with young rats.

A new antimitotic substance, FR182877. III. Structure determination

During the course of screening for novel cell cycle inhibitors, FR182877 was isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. No.9885. During the NMR measurements, FR182877 decomposed so much that the structure elucidation of FR182877 itself was difficult. Then, combinations of chemical correlations and spectroscopic methods clarified that FR182877 possesses an unprecedented multi-ring system including the strained double bond, which was unexpectedly epoxidized by molecular oxygen. FR182877 showed broad antitumor activities in vitro and promoted assemblies of tublins in vitro as well as taxol. It is noteworthy that epoxidation of the distorted double bond resulted in significant decrease in antitumor activities.