Para-cavernous sinus venous structures: anatomic variations and pathologic conditions evaluated on fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR images

BACKGROUND

The cavernous sinus communicates with several para-cavernous sinus venous structures, receiving blood flow from the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV), the sphenoparietal sinus (SPS), and the superior ophthalmic vein, and draining into the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses and pterygoid and basilar plexuses. Anatomic variations of these veins have been previously reported; however, some details, such as the relationship between the SPS and the SMCV, are incompletely characterized. The anatomic variations of para-cavernous sinus veins, especially drainage patterns of the SMCV, were evaluated on MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-seven patients, including those without any lesions affecting the cavernous sinus or para-cavernous veins and patients with carotid cavernous fistulas, were examined by using fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced 3D fast gradient-echo MR imaging. Two neuroradiologists evaluated the images on a viewer, regarding the normal anatomy and the pathologic findings of the para-cavernous sinus veins.

RESULTS

The fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR images clearly depicted the para-cavernous sinus venous structures in all patients. SMCVs had 4 variations in the drainage patterns. The most frequent pattern was drainage into the SPS (39%), and other types were draining into cavernous sinus, pterygoid plexus, and tentorial sinus. The SPS had 3 variations. The most frequent pattern was drainage into cavernous sinus (72%), and others were the hypoplastic type or those draining into pterygoid plexus.

CONCLUSION

The fat-suppressed 3D fast gradient-echo MR image is useful for evaluating the venous structures in the skull base. Knowledge of the variations is important for diagnosis and endovascular treatment of the cavernous sinus lesions.

Basal cell adenoma of the parotid gland: MR imaging findings with pathologic correlation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Basal cell adenomas (BCAs) are rare tumors of the parotid gland. Only a few case reports describing MR imaging features of BCA have been published. The aim of this study was to describe and characterize the MR findings of BCAs of the parotid gland.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed MR images of BCA with pathologic correlation in 8 cases (2 men and 6 women; age range, 52-82 years) collected between January 1992 and August 2004 from our pathologic data base. All MR images were retrospectively evaluated with respect to the marginal morphology, signal intensity (SI), and enhancement behavior by 2 experienced radiologists.

RESULTS

On pathologic examination, 5 tumors were solid type, 2 were trabecular type, and 1 was membranous type. All of the tumors were well circumscribed with smooth contours. Cystic changes were seen in 4 cases. On T1-weighted images (T1WI), 7 tumors showed homogeneously low SI equal to muscle and one showed heterogeneously low SI. On T2-weighted images (T2WI), all of them showed slightly lower SI than that of surrounding parotid tissue. On gadolinium-enhanced T1WI, 6 tumors demonstrated moderate enhancement and one demonstrated strong enhancement (membranous type). Dynamic studies were performed in 4 cases. All showed rapid and prolonged enhancement.

CONCLUSION

MR imaging findings of BCA were well-defined and smooth marginal morphologies, relatively low SI on both T11W and T2WI, and rapid and prolonged enhancement on dynamic study. Although BCAs are rare, they should be suspected when a tumor shows all of the characteristics noted here.

Antibacterial activity of plant extracts from azuki beans (Vigna angularis)in vitro

This study was undertaken to examine the antimicrobial property of azuki beans (Vigna angularis). The water extracts of green, black and red colored azuki beans showed antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In contrast, the extract of white azuki beans showed no inhibition towards any of the microorganisms examined. The extracts of colored azuki beans contained larger amounts of polyphenols including proanthocyanidins than the extracts of white azuki beans. The counts of S. aureus cells, inoculated in the medium containing the extracts of colored azuki beans, were significantly reduced in comparison with those of control and white azuki beans after 24 h (p < 0.05). These results suggest that polyphenols including proanthocyanidins in colored azuki beans may be responsible for their antibacterial activity.

Familial aggregation and coaggregation of history of hypertension and stroke

We attempted to evaluate familial aggregation and coaggregation of history of hypertension and stroke. Past and family history of hypertension and stroke for 83 089 probands and their relatives were obtained from a data set for the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk sponsored by the Ministry of Education (JACC Study), which was initiated from 1988 to 1990. First, evaluation was performed for familial aggregation of each of two disorders using ordinal logistic regression of the generalized estimation equations (GEE) to account for dependence of observations within families. Secondly, in order to evaluate the familial congregation of the history of hypertension and stroke, a GEE-based multivariate probed predictive model was applied. After adjusting for the proband's age, level of obesity, smoking status, drinking status, habitation area, and the gender and type of the relatives, the estimated odds ratios for the intraindividual clustering and familial aggregation of the disease history showed statistically significant relationships. In addition, the history of the two disorders showed a significant relationship in terms of familial coaggregation independently of the aggregation of each disorder itself. Our results confirmed that hypertension and stroke coaggregate strongly within families through possible effects of genetic factors, which, alone or in conjunction with environmental factors, influence susceptibility to both hypertension and stroke.

Insertion of a C in the exon 28 of integrin alphaIIb gene leading to a frameshift mutation is responsible for Glanzmann thrombasthenia in a Japanese case

BACKGROUND

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a qualitative or quantitative defect in the integrin alphaIIbbeta3.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective is to identify the gene mutation that resulted in GT.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patient was a 66-year-old male with a history of frequent bleeding. The expression levels of the integrin proteins in the platelets were determined by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. The sequences of genomic DNA and mRNA encoding for alphaIIb and beta3 were analyzed by the dye-terminator cycle sequencing method. For transfection experiments, expression vectors encoding for wild-type alphaIIb, mutated alphaIIb, beta3, green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion wild-type alphaIIb, GFP fusion mutated alphaIIb and DsRed fusion beta3 were constructed. These vectors were transfected to COS-7 cells, and the expression levels were determined.

RESULTS

The alphaIIb protein was remarkably reduced in the patient's platelets, and gene analysis showed that the patient possessed compound heterozygous mutations in the alphaIIb gene. One was a C --> G substitution at the splice acceptor site (- 3) of exon 26 (CAG -->GAG) and the other was the insertion of an additional C at the region including six C bases between 2911 and 2916 in exon 28 (InsC). Transfection experiments using COS-7 cells showed that alphaIIb containing InsC had expressed and formed a complex with beta3, but had not been transported to the Golgi apparatus.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study the novel mutation InsC, leading to a frameshift that affects the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic tail, was found to be responsible for GT.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia due to a point mutation within intron 10 results in aberrant splicing of the beta3 gene

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is an hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a quantitative or qualitative defect in the integrin alphaIIbbeta3. We attempted to identify genetic defects responsible for a case of GT in Korea. The patient was a 6-year-old boy who had suffered from hemorrhage and purpura. The cDNAs of alphaIIb and beta3 were amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and were sequenced. RT-PCR of COS7 cells transfected with Exontrap vectors containing the beta3 genomic DNA fragments were performed to verify an aberrant splicing. Transient expression of alphaIIbbeta3 on transfected-COS7 cells was determined by flow cytometry, and the presence of alphaIIbbeta3 was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. We discovered an abnormality with the insertion of 38 bp between exon 10 and exon 11, including a stop codon, in beta3 cDNA. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA showed a point mutation, G-->T, at the position 29 107 of intron 10. RT-PCR analyses of COS7 cells transfected with Exontrap vector containing the mutant beta3 gene revealed that the point mutation at the position 29 107 of intron 10, G-->T, was responsible for an aberrant splicing in the beta3 gene. The transfection experiments and immunoprecipitation revealed the absence of alphaIIbbeta3 in the COS7 cells transfected with mutant gene. The mutation at the position 29 107 of intron 10, G-->T, in the beta3 genomic DNA was found to induce an aberrant splicing and to be responsible for GT in this patient.

The engineering, structure, and DNA binding properties of a novel His4-type zinc finger peptide

We have created a novel His4-type zinc finger protein (H4Sp1) engineered by Cys-->His mutations of the Cys2His2-type zinc finger in transcription factor Sp1. The CD and NMR studies reveal that the His4 domain has Zn(II)-dependent folding properties and similar secondary structures to wild-type Cys2His2 domain. The DNA binding experiments demonstrate that H4Sp1 can bind DNA in a specific way. The present artificial peptide H4Sp1 will provide valuable information about the interaction between a metallopeptide and DNA.

Long-term body weight variability is associated with elevated C-reactive protein independent of current body mass index among Japanese men

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the effect of long-term weight variability on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of the circulating CRP.

SUBJECTS

A total of 637 Japanese men aged 40-49 y in1997.

MEASUREMENTS

Serum CRP levels, body mass index in 1997 (current BMI), the slope of weight on age (weight-slope) representing an individual's weight trend of direction and magnitude, and the root mean square error around the slope of weight on age (weight-RMSE) representing the weight fluctuation magnitude, as calculated by a simple linear regression model in which each value of the subject's five actual weights (aged 20, 25, 30 y, five years ago, and current) was a dependent variable and the subject's ages independent variables.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age and confounders, including smoking and health status, the odds ratios of elevated CRP (> or =0.06 mg/dl) were 1.83 (95% CI: 1.25-2.69), 2.63 (1.69-4.11), and 10.31 (2.17-48.98) for upper normal-weight (BMI: 22-<25 kg/m(2)), overweight (25-<30), and obese (> or =30) persons, respectively, compared with lower normal-weight persons (18.5-<22). Adjusting for age, confounders, and current BMI, weight-slope was positively associated with CRP level especially among subjects with BMI> or =25 kg/m(2) (trend P<0.01), and weight-RMSE was positively associated with CRP level particularly among subjects with BMI <25 kg/m(2) (trend P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a state of low-grade systemic inflammation not only in overweight and obese persons, but also in normal-weight persons with large weight fluctuation, possibly explaining in part the positive association between weight fluctuation and CVD.

In vitro hyperprocessing of tRNAs by Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P RNA

We have previously reported that the catalytic RNA subunit of ribonuclease P (RNase P) of Escherichia coli (M1 RNA) cleaves Drosophila initiator methionine tRNA (tRNA(i)Met), alanine tRNA (tRNA(Ala)) and histidine tRNA (tRNA(His)) within the mature tRNA sequences to produce specific fragments. We call this further cleavage hyperprocessing. These cleavages were dependent on the occurrence of altered conformations of the tRNAs. Here, we found that the RNase P RNA of Bacillus subtilis can hyperprocess these three tRNAs at the same sites as does M1 RNA. The hyperprocessing activity may probably be common feature for Bacterial RNase P RNAs.

Well maintained expression of CYP genes in sandwich-culturing hepatocytes: quantitative analysis using real-time PCR method

Sandwich-culturing is an excellent hepatocyte culturing method in drug metabolism studies, however, its advantages for gene expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) have not been evaluated so far. The present study was undertaken to determine the utilities of sandwich-culturing hepatocytes for evaluation of CYP genes expression. Hepatocytes from male rats were cultured for 5 days between two layers of type-I collagen gel (sandwich-culturing) or over type-I collagen gel (single gel culturing). To determine the expression of CYP genes rapidly and accurately, the time course study using real-time RT-PCR quantification was conducted in the present study, and CYP2B1, CYP2B2, CYP3A2, CYP3A9 and CYP3A23 genes were measured. Albumin secretion was also measured by ELISA to evaluate cell viability. Higher expression and excellent maintenance of all CYP genes were confirmed in sandwich-culturing hepatocytes than those in single gel culturing. Particularly, significant difference in the amounts of CYP genes expression was observed between both methods after 3 days culturing. Albumin secretion was also higher in sandwich-culturing after 3 days culturing, suggesting that the cell viability of hepatocytes was maintained. These results indicate that sandwich-culturing method is much more advantageous than the ordinate method in maintaining the CYP gene expression and cell viability.

The metabolic syndrome is associated with elevated circulating C-reactive protein in healthy reference range, a systemic low-grade inflammatory state

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the underlying mechanisms between C-reactive protein (CRP) and cardiovascular disease, we examined the association of circulating CRP in healthy reference range (< or =1.0 mg/dl) measured by high-sensitive CRP assay with the metabolic syndrome (MS).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of circulating CRP in adult men.

SUBJECTS

A total of 3692 Japanese men aged 34-69 y.

MEASUREMENTS

Serum CRP, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, uric acid, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant positive correlation between CRP and BMI (r=0.25), total cholesterol (r=0.096), triglycerides (r=0.22), LDL-cholesterol (r=0.12), fasting glucose (r=0.088), fasting insulin (r=0.17), uric acid (r=0.13), systolic blood pressure (r=0.12), and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.11), and a significant negative correlation of CRP with HDL-cholesterol (r=0.24). After adjusting for age, smoking, and all other components of MS, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperuricemia were significantly associated with both mildly (> or =0.06 mg/dl) and moderately (> or =0.11 mg/dl) elevated CRP. Compared with men who had no such components of the MS, those who had one, two, three, four, and five or more components were, respectively, 1.48, 1.84, 1.92, 3.42, and 4.17 times more likely to have mildly elevated CRP levels (trend P<0.001). As for moderately elevated CRP, the same association was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that a variety of components of the MS are associated with elevated CRP levels in a systemic low-grade inflammatory state.

Association between weight fluctuation and fasting insulin concentration in Japanese men

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether long-term weight fluctuation is associated with the fasting serum insulin concentration.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Weight histories of 1932 male Japanese workers aged 40-59 y were analyzed in relation to their current fasting serum insulin concentration.

MEASUREMENTS

Individual weight fluctuation was calculated by root mean square error (RMSE) along the linear regression line of weight measured at five to six different ages.

RESULTS

The mean RMSE and fasting insulin concentration were 1.22 kg and 4.5 microU/ml, respectively. The multivariate adjusted insulin level became higher with the increase in weight fluctuation. Subanalysis stratified by current body mass index (BMI) showed that the multivariate adjusted insulin level in individuals in the top quartile of fluctuation was 4.3 microU/ml, against 3.9 microU/ml in those in the bottom quartile (P=0.018, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)) in the normal weight subgroup with current BMI below 25 kg/m(2). In the overweight subgroup with BMI 25 kg/m(2) or above, the level was 6.9 microU/ml in individuals in the top quartile and 6.2 microU/ml in those in the bottom quartile (P=0.054, ANCOVA).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that weight fluctuation increases the risk of developing hyperinsulinemia. Prospective observations together with measurement of changes in adiposity are needed for confirmation.

Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on vascularization in esophagus tissue engineering

We carried out an experimental study to evaluate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-containing collagen gel on vascularization in esophageal tissue engineering. We compared an acellular collagen sponge scaffold and an acellular collagen gel scaffold in combination with bFGF using a canine model. The construct was implanted in the cervical esophagus and the regenerated tissue was evaluated one month after surgery. Histological analysis confirmed a significantly large amount of blood vessels in the bFGF-containing collagen gel group as compared to the collagen gel group without bFGF (bFGF (-)). However, in the collagen sponge groups, no difference was observed between the bFGF (+) group and the bFGF (-) group. These results showed that bFGF-containing collagen gel is suitable not only for an acellular scaffold for tissue engineering but also for an effective tropic factor vehicle in vivo.

The accuracy of long-term recall of past body weight in Japanese adult men

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influences of recall period, current body weight, weight gain and loss, and weight variability on the accuracy of long-term recall of past weight.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

Comparison of recalled weights around 25 y old with weights measured at age 25y in health checkup records among 2453 Japanese men (age: 34-61 y).

MEASUREMENTS

Deviations between reported and measured weights were examined as to the three indexes: actual error (reported-measured), percent error (actual error/measured x 100), and absolute value of the percent error. Weight variability was defined as (1) the coefficient of variation of weight (CV) and (2) the root mean square error around the slope of weight on age (RMSE).

RESULTS

Recalled weight strongly correlated with measured weight (r=0.849). Correlation coefficients decreased as age or the elapsed time since age 25y increased. Recalled weight (mean=58.3 kg) was slightly greater than measured weight at age 25y (mean=57.0 kg, mean actual error=1.28 kg). Subjects with a current body mass index (BMI) of less than 28.6 kg/m(2) overestimated their past weights, whereas those with BM1 of 28.6 kg/m(2) or over underestimated it. Subjects with weight loss since age 25y underestimated their past weights, whereas those with stable weight or gain overestimated it. There were monotonic increases in the three indexes of deviation across the CV quartile categories. Concerning the effect RMSE, a similar trend was observed.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that past body weights over a long period seem to be recalled with good accuracy. However, it should be kept in mind when using recalled weight in an epidemiologic study that accuracy of recall is influenced by age or elapsed time, current BMI, weight gain and loss, and weight variability.

Immunohistochemical study of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in rat liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a molecule known to regulate macrophage accumulation at sites of inflammation. To elucidate the role of MIF in progression of liver fibrosis, the immunohistochemical localization of MIF and macrophages in the liver were examined. Male Wistar rats received thioacetamide (TA) injections (200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 1 or 6 weeks. In biochemical and histological tests, it was confirmed that liver fibrosis was induced. In immunohistochemical analyses, the expression of MIF protein was seen in hepatocytes in the areas extending out from the central veins to the portal tracts. In particular, at 6 weeks, immunoreactivity was detected in degenerated hepatocytes adjacent to the fibrotic areas but hardly observed in the fibrotic areas. On the other hand, a number of exudate macrophages stained by antibody ED1 were seen in the areas from the central veins to the portal tracts at 1 week and in the fibrotic areas at 6 weeks. Macrophages also showed a significant increase in number as compared with controls. These results revealed that there was a close relationship between the appearance of MIF expression and ED1-positive exudate macrophages in degenerated hepatocytes during the progression of TA-induced liver fibrosis.

Inhibition of antigen-induced arthritis in guinea pigs by a selective LTB4 receptor antagonist LY293111Na

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

To investigate the role of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the development and progression of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in guinea pigs and rats.

METHODS

Arthritis was induced by injecting cationic amidated bovine serum albumin (aBSA) into the knee joint of immunized guinea pigs or rats. The effect of a potent and selective LTB4 receptor antagonist, LY29311INa (2-[2-propyl-3-[3-[2-ethyl-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxyphenoxy]-propoxy]-phenoxy]benzoic acid sodium salt) was compared with those of indomethacin and dexamethasone. The effect of LY293111Na on adjuvant arthritis in rats was also examined.

RESULTS

LY293 111Na (5 to 50 mg/kg b.i.d.) significantly inhibited knee joint swelling and histopathological changes of AIA in guinea pigs, but not in rats. Especially its protective effect against bone and cartilage destruction was substantial. In contrast, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin significantly inhibited AIA in rats, but slightly inhibited in guinea pigs, while dexamethasone markedly inhibited AIA in both guinea pigs and rats. Increases of LTB4 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were observed in the knee joint tissue of AIA guinea pigs, and LY293111Na dose-dependently inhibited the increase of MPO activity. Moreover, in adjuvant arthritic rats, LY293111Na showed slight inhibitory effect, while indomethacin showed marked inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

LTB4 but not PGE2 appeared to play important roles as an effective mediator in joint, particularly in cartilage and bone destruction of AIA in guinea pigs probably by inducing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) chemotaxis to the joint tissue. In contrast, PGE2 but not LTB4 is an important mediator of arthritis in rats.