MPC-polymer reduces adherence and biofilm formation by oral bacteria

Oral biofilms such as dental plaque cause dental caries and periodontitis, as well as aspiration pneumonia and infectious endocarditis by translocation. Hence, the suppression of oral biofilm formation is an issue of considerable importance. Mechanical removal, disinfectants, inhibition of polysaccharide formation, and artificial sugar have been used for the reduction of oral biofilm. From the viewpoint of the inhibition of bacterial adherence, we investigated whether aqueous biocompatible 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-polymer can reduce streptococcal colonization and biofilm formation. We examined the effects of MPC-polymer on streptococcal adherence to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and oral epithelial cells, and the adherence of Fusobacterium nucleatum to streptococcal biofilm. MPC-polymer application markedly inhibited both the adherence and biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite and streptococcal adherence to oral epithelial cells, and reduced the adherence of F. nucleatum to streptococcal biofilms. A small-scale clinical trial revealed that mouthrinsing with MPC-polymer inhibited the increase of oral bacterial numbers, especially of S. mutans. These findings suggest that MPC-polymer is a potent inhibitor of bacterial adherence and biofilm development, and may be useful to prevent dental-plaque-related diseases. (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry UMIN000003471).

Lack of association of dairy food, calcium, and vitamin D intake with the risk of Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan

Three previous cohort studies in the USA reported that dairy product consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in men, but not in women. We examined the relationship between consumption of dairy products, calcium, and vitamin D and the risk of PD using data from a multicenter hospital-based case-control study in Japan. Included were 249 cases within 6 years of onset of PD based on the UK PD Society Brain Bank clinical diagnostic criteria. Controls were 368 inpatients and outpatients without a neurodegenerative disease. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, pack-years of smoking, years of education, body mass index, and dietary factors including cholesterol, dietary glycemic index, vitamin E, β-carotene, vitamin B(6), caffeine, iron, and alcohol. Total dairy product consumption was not materially associated with the risk of PD (P for trend = 0.62). No evident relationships were observed between intake of milk, yogurt, cheese, or ice cream and the risk of PD (P for trend = 0.75, 0.63, 0.59, and 0.35, respectively). There were no measurable associations between consumption of calcium or vitamin D and PD (P for trend = 0.37 and 0.69, respectively). No significant interactions were observed between the dietary exposures and sex regarding PD. Our results suggest that intake of dairy products, calcium, and vitamin D was not related to PD, regardless of sex. However, such null relationships might be a consequence of PD.

High incidence of tumors in diabetic thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and apolipoprotein E double-deficient mice

BACKGROUND

Activation of the complement system has been implicated in tumor growth. The antifibrinolytic protein, activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa), can modulate the activation of the complement system by inactivating the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a. The apolipoprotein-E (ApoE) genotype has been associated with carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether TAFIa can affect the development of cancer in the ApoE-deficient mouse model.

METHODS

TAFI and ApoE double-knockout mice were generated. A group of mice was treated with the diabetogenic and carcinogenic compound streptozotocin (stz). Mice treated with saline, single knockout mice and wild-type (wt) mice served as controls.

RESULTS

Six months after treatment with stz, mice were sacrificed. Hepatic tumors were found in male double-knockout mice treated with stz but none was found in control animals that were not treated with stz or in single knockout of ApoE or wt animals. There was no significant difference in coagulation system activation between the groups of mice. The plasma concentrations of C5a, factor D and transforming growth factor-β1 were increased in TAFI/ApoE double-deficient mice treated with stz compared with the mice of the same genotype treated with saline.

CONCLUSION

Apo-E deficiency alone was not associated with tumors but the lack of TAFI appears to make the mice permissive for tumor formation in ApoE mice.

Use of a saline chaser to reduce the dose of contrast material for dynamic CT in cattle

To investigate the effectiveness of a saline chaser in reducing the required dose of contrast material while carrying out dynamic CT scans in cattle, six clinically normal Holstein calves were subjected to CT scans of the head in a study using a crossover design. The calves were studied as three groups: group A received only contrast material (600 mgI/kg); group B received a 30 per cent lower dose of the same contrast material followed by 50 ml of saline solution; and group C received a 40 per cent lower dose of the same contrast material followed by 50 ml of saline solution. In all the animals, a power injector was used for administering the contrast material, with an injection rate of 4 ml/s and a pressure of 4.7 to 5.7 kg/cm(2). Attenuation values were obtained from the right and left maxillary arteries and dorsal sagittal sinus. There were no significant differences in the maximum enhancement value (MEV) of the maxillary arteries and dorsal sagittal sinus between groups A and B. The MEVs of the maxillary arteries and dorsal sagittal sinus in groups A and B were significantly greater than the MEV in group C (P<0.05). The use of a saline chaser allowed a 30 per cent reduction in the dose of contrast material without decreasing vascular enhancement.

Strontium Isotopes: Global Circulation after the Chinese Nuclear Explosion of 14 May 1965

Strontium-89 and strontium-90, released into the atmosphere by the Chinese nuclear device on 14 May 1965, circled the world in less than a month and caused a sharp peak in the Sr(89)/Sr(90) ratio in rain at Tokyo on 12 June.

Consumption of vegetables, fruit, and antioxidants during pregnancy and wheeze and eczema in infants

BACKGROUND

Two previous cohort studies showed inverse relationships between maternal vitamin E and zinc intake during pregnancy and the risk of wheeze and/or asthma in the offspring. We investigated the association between maternal intake of vegetables, fruit, and selected antioxidants during pregnancy and the risk of wheeze and eczema in the offspring aged 16-24 months.

METHODS

Subjects were 763 Japanese mother-child pairs. Data on maternal intake during pregnancy were assessed with a diet history questionnaire. Data on symptoms of wheeze and eczema were based on criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.

RESULTS

Higher maternal intake of green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruit, and beta-carotene during pregnancy was significantly associated with a reduced risk of eczema, but not wheeze, in the offspring {adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between extreme quartiles [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] = 0.41 (0.24-0.71), 0.53 (0.30-0.93), and 0.52 (0.30-0.89), respectively}. Maternal vitamin E consumption during pregnancy was significantly inversely related to the risk of infantile wheeze, but not eczema [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 0.54 (0.32-0.90)]. No statistically significant exposure-response associations were observed between maternal intake of total vegetables, vegetables other than green and yellow vegetables, total fruit, apples, alpha-carotene, vitamin C, or zinc and the risk of wheeze or eczema in the children.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher maternal consumption of green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruit, and beta-carotene during pregnancy may be protective against the development of eczema in the offspring. Higher maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy may reduce the risk of infantile wheeze.

Association between breastfeeding and allergic disorders in Japanese children

SETTING

Data on the association between breastfeeding and allergies are conflicting.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding and the prevalence of wheeze, asthma and eczema in young Japanese children.

DESIGN

Study subjects were 1957 children aged 3 years. Data on breastfeeding, allergic symptoms and potential confounders were collected using a questionnaire. Outcomes were defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Adjustment was made for sex, number of siblings, household smoking, paternal and maternal history of asthma, atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis, and paternal and maternal educational levels.

RESULTS

The prevalence values of symptoms of wheeze, asthma and eczema in the previous 12 months were respectively 22.1%, 8.9% and 17.3%. Exclusive breastfeeding for > or =4 months vs. <4 months was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma. The duration of breastfeeding, regardless of exclusivity, for > or =6 months tended to be associated with a lower prevalence of asthma. There was no appreciable association between breastfeeding and wheeze or eczema.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from this study indicate that breastfeeding may be associated with a lower prevalence of asthma among young Japanese children.

Pulmonary hypertension is ameliorated in mice deficient in thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor

BACKGROUND

The fibrinolytic system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) inhibits fibrinolysis and therefore its absence would be expected to increase fibrinolysis and ameliorate PH.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of TAFI deficiency on pulmonary hypertension in the mouse.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PH was induced in C57/Bl6 wild-type (WT) or TAFI-deficient (KO) mice by weekly subcutaneous treatment with 600 mg kg(-1) monocrotaline (MCT) for 8 weeks. PH was inferred from right heart hypertrophy measured using the ratio of right ventricle-to-left ventricle-plus-septum weight [RV/(LV+S)]. Pulmonary vascular remodeling was analyzed by morphometry. TAFI-deficient MCT-treated and wild-type MCT-treated mice suffered similar weight loss. TAFI-deficient MCT-treated mice had reduced levels of total protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in bronchial alveolar lavage compared with wild-type MCT-treated mice. The ratio of RV to (LV+S) weight was significantly higher in WT/MCT than in KO/MCT mice. The pulmonary artery wall area and vascular stenosis were both greater in MCT-treated WT mice compared with MCT-treated TAFI-deficient mice.

CONCLUSIONS

TAFI-deficient MCT-treated mice had less pulmonary hypertension, vascular remodeling and reduced levels of cytokines compared with MCT-treated WT animals, possibly as a result of reduced coagulation activation.

Meta-analysis: interferon-alpha prevents the recurrence after curative treatment of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Various clinical studies have indicated that interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment prevents the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in people chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. However, it has been controversial whether IFN-alpha treatment prevents HCC recurrence. The aim of this study was to identify the preventive effect of IFN-alpha treatment after curative therapy of primary tumours within the Milan criteria (three or fewer nodules 3 cm or less in diameter or a single nodule of 5 cm or less) on HCC recurrence. We conducted a meta-analysis of five trials including 355 patients (167 patients received IFN-alpha treatment after curative therapy of primary tumours) and estimated relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the effect of IFN-alpha on HCC recurrence according to the DerSimonian and Laird method. IFN-alpha treatment after curative therapy of primary tumours significantly prevented HCC recurrence (RR 0.33; 95%CI 0.19-0.58, P < 0.0001) without a significant heterogeneity (Q = 4.52, P = 0.34). An evaluation using the Begg method suggested no evidence of publication bias. Sub-group analyses revealed that IFN-alpha treatment reduced HCC recurrence in two studies achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) rates >30% (RR 0.20; 95%CI 0.05-0.81, P = 0.02) and in three studies achieving SVR rates <or=30% (RR 0.44; 95%CI 0.23-0.84, P = 0.01). In conclusion, IFN-alpha treatment after curative treatment of primary tumour within Milan criteria may be effective for the prevention of HCC recurrence, and higher SVR rate may be associated with better preventive effect of IFN-alpha treatment on HCC recurrence.

Effect of a saline chaser for contrast enhancement of computed tomographic angiography in cattle

Computed tomographic angiography was performed on nine normal Holstein calves in a crossover method to investigate the effect of a saline chaser for enhancement of the maxillary arteries and dorsal sagittal sinus. One group was administered a contrast injection (600 mg iodine/kg at 4 ml/s) followed by 50 ml of a saline chaser at the same rate as the contrast material. The second group was administered a contrast injection without a saline chaser. Addition of the saline chaser to the contrast material resulted in a higher peak attenuation in the maxillary artery (244.45 +/- 36.19 v 202.20 +/- 27.07, P<0.05) and dorsal sagittal sinus (241.2 +/- 31.51 v 198.88 +/- 21.09, P<0.05). These results indicate that a contrast injection followed by saline chaser increased uptake in contrast-enhanced CT.

Evolution of prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan

BACKGROUND

The surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become prevalent, and the modalities for its treatment have improved.

AIM

To understand the changes that occur in the characteristics and prognostic factors of HCC with time.

METHODS

Newly diagnosed HCC patients were divided into two groups; patients treated before 31 December 2000 (n = 504), and after 1 January 2001 (n = 746), and their clinical backgrounds and prognostic factors were analysed.

RESULTS

The number of patients negative for both Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb) increased with time (NBNC-HCC). The size of HCC decreased in patients who were positive for HBsAg (B-HCC) or HCVAb (C-HCC), whereas no difference was observed in NBNC-HCC. The patient survival of C-HCC improved; however, no difference was detected for NBNC-HCC. In multivariate analysis, low albumin, high aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ascites, large tumour size, multiple tumour number and high alpha-fetoprotein were risk factors for survival before 2000, whereas the presence of HBsAg was additionally selected as a good prognostic factor and AST was excluded after 2001.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognostic factors as well as clinical background of HCC changed with time, and the presence of HBsAg was found to be an additional good prognostic factor after 2001.

Clinical experience of using multidetector-row CT for the diagnosis of disorders in cattle

To determine the clinical usefulness of multidetector-row CT for the diagnosis of disorders in cattle, images were obtained from 27 cattle, which were then subjected to postmortem and histopathological examinations. The cattle were divided into three categories of disorder: neurological (18 cases), skeletal (four cases) and other (five cases). In five cattle, which were suspected to have brain diseases, no abnormalities were identified by either CT or histopathological examination. Eight types of lesions were detected by CT in the cattle with neurological and vestibular disorders. The diseases diagnosed included hydrocephalus (three cases), intracranial arachnoid cysts (three cases), otitis media (five cases), cerebral abscess (one case), meningoencephalocele (one case), porencephaly (one case), bicephalus (one case) and rupture of the spinal cord (one case). Lesions were identified in all the cattle with skeletal disorders, including luxation (two cases), fracture (two cases), spondylosis (one case) and congenital disorders of the skeletal system (one case). Morphological disorders in the eyes (one case), nasal cavity (two cases), frontal sinuses (one case), thyroid glands (two cases), lung fields (two cases) and abdominal organs (two cases) were diagnosed by CT.

Autoimmune hepatitis with acute presentation in Japan

BACKGROUND

In Caucasians with autoimmune hepatitis, patients with acute presentation have autoimmune thyroiditis and histological zone 3 necrosis more frequently.

AIM

We aimed at investigating clinical features of Japanese autoimmune hepatitis patients with acute presentation.

METHODS

Of 176 patients retrospectively reviewed, 53 were diagnosed with acute presentation.

RESULTS

Patients with acute presentation had higher serum levels of bilirubin and transaminase, lower frequencies of autoimmune thyroiditis and antinuclear antibodies of 1:160 or greater, and a higher frequency of zone 3 necrosis. Of the 53 patients with acute presentation, 10 showed histological acute hepatitis; however, advanced staging of fibrosis was found in 13 patients. In patients with acute presentation, those with histological acute hepatitis were younger than those with chronic hepatitis. The cumulative incidental rate of the normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase levels with prednisolone treatment was similar between patients with acute presentation and those with classical presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

In line with previous results, zone 3 necrosis is a histological characteristic of autoimmune hepatitis with acute presentation. Autoimmune hepatitis with acute presentation includes not only histological acute hepatitis but also acute exacerbation of pre-existing chronic disease. On the other hand, Japanese patients with acute presentation may also have different clinical features from Caucasian patients.

Chlorination by-products of fenitrothion

The mutagens produced through chemical reaction between chlorine and the insecticide fenitrothion were studied by using a quadrupole GC-MS. The mutagenicity and the mutagen formation potential (MFP) of the identified by-products were evaluated by the Ames assay (preincubation method) using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 without exogenous activation by S9 mix (TA100-S9). Before conducting GC/MS analyses, six compounds were presumed to be produced in chlorinated fenitrothion. These compounds were confirmed to be produced by the GC/MS analyses, but none of them were mutagenic. One of the chlorination by-products, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, has 19 times greater MFP than that of fenitrothion. This result suggests that a major mutagen in chlorinated fenitrothion will be produced via a chemical reaction between chlorine and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol.

Three-body nonmesonic weak decay of the (Lambda)12C hypernucleus

We have measured the branching ratio of the three-body process in the nonmesonic weak decay of Lambda12C to be 0.29+/-0.13. This result was obtained by reproducing the nucleon and the nucleon pair yields introducing a measured final state interaction. At the same time, we have determined the absolute decay widths, Gamma(n) and Gamma(p), along with Gamma2N, whose relative ratio has been a long-standing puzzle. Including the three-body process, we have successfully reproduced the nucleon energy distribution, the coincidence two-nucleon angular correlation, and the momentum sum distribution simultaneously.

Utility of liquid-based cytology in endometrial pathology: diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of SurePath-liquid-based cytology (LBC) compared to conventional cytological preparations (CCP) in the identification of endometrial carcinoma.

METHODS

During a 13-month period, direct endometrial samples were collected from 120 patients using the Uterobrush. The material comprised 30 cases each of endometrial carcinoma, proliferative endometrium, secretory endometrium and atrophic endometrium. The following points were investigated:(i) the frequency of cell clumps in endometrial carcinoma; (ii) the area of cell nuclei; (iii) overlapping nuclei.

RESULTS

(i) Comparison of the frequency of cell clumps with irregular protrusion pattern and papillo-tubular pattern showed no statistically significant difference in either type of cell clump between CCP and LBC. (ii) Comparison of the nuclear area of cells showed a sequential decrease from endometrial carcinoma to secretory endometrium, to proliferative endometrium and to atrophic endometrium, which was significant in CCP and LBC. (iii) Nuclear area was significantly lower with LBC compared with CCP in endometrial carcinoma, secretory endometrium and proliferative endometrium but not atrophic endometrium. (iv) Comparison of the degree of overlapping nuclei showed a sequential decrease from endometrial carcinoma to proliferative endometrium, to secretory endometrium and to atrophic endometrium, which was significant in both CCP and LBC. (v) Comparison of the degree of overlapping nuclei between CCP and LBC showed no significant difference for normal types of endometrium, but LBC had significantly higher values (P < 0.0001) in endometrial carcinoma than in CCP.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study revealed that applying diagnostic criteria used in CCP to LBC was easy to achieve, because LBC had excellent cytoarchitectural preservation and cells were well presented. Although we have not examined all cytological features of malignancy and have not considered atypical hyperplasia, we believe that this method may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of endometrial cytology.

Dairy food, calcium and vitamin D intake in pregnancy, and wheeze and eczema in infants

The present prospective study examined the association between maternal consumption of dairy products, calcium, and vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk of wheeze and eczema in the infants aged 16-24 months. Subjects were 763 Japanese mother-child pairs. Data on maternal intake during pregnancy were assessed with a diet history questionnaire. Symptoms of wheeze and eczema were based on criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Higher maternal intake of total dairy products, milk, cheese and calcium during pregnancy was significantly related to a decreased risk of infantile wheeze, but not eczema (adjusted ORs (95% CI) between extreme quartiles were 0.45 (0.25-0.79), 0.50 (0.28-0.87), 0.51 (0.31-0.85), and 0.57 (0.32-0.99), respectively). When maternal vitamin D consumption during pregnancy was categorised into two groups using a cut-off point at the 25th percentile, children whose mothers had consumed > or =4.309 microg x day(-1) had a significantly reduced risk of wheeze and eczema (adjusted ORs (95% CI) were 0.64 (0.43-0.97) and 0.63 (0.41-0.98), respectively). Higher consumption of calcium and dairy foods other than yoghurt during pregnancy may reduce the risk of infantile wheeze. Higher vitamin D intake during pregnancy may be protective against childhood wheeze and eczema.