Mouse placental cells secrete soluble leptin receptor (sOB-R): cAMP inhibits sOB-R production

The aims of this study were to identify whether mouse placenta secretes soluble OB-R (sOB-R) and to find the regulating factor of OB-R expression. Total RNAs were extracted from placenta and decidua, and OB-R expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis. Decidua did not express OB-R mRNA. However, OB-R mRNA expression was detectable in the placenta on day 13 of pregnancy, and then it increased and reached a peak on day 17 of pregnancy. Mouse placental cells from day 12 of pregnancy were cultured and OB-R gene expression was assessed by Northern blot analysis. OB-R mRNA expression was detectable from the second day of culture and reached a peak on the third day of culture. To determine whether placental cells release sOB-R, supernatant of cultured placental cells was subjected to Western blot analysis. sOB-R was detected in the medium by the second day of culture and sOB-R release increased up to the fourth day of culture. Addition of leptin to the medium did not affect expression of OB-R mRNA. However, 8-bromo cAMP inhibited both steady-state levels of OB-R mRNA and the amount of sOB-R protein in the medium in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These results suggest that trophoblast cells differentiate, express, and release sOB-R both in vivo and in vitro and that cAMP is one of several potent regulators of sOB-R secretion by the mouse placenta.

Direct projections from the extrathalamic forebrain structures to the neocortex in the macaque monkey

Extrathalamic direct projections from the subcortical forebrain structures to the neocortex were examined in the macaque monkey by the horseradish peroxidase method. The enzyme, when injected into discrete regions in the neocortex, labeled cell bodies of extrathalamic forebrain neurons in the basal nucleus of Meynert, nucleus of the diagonal band, medial septal nucleus, hypothalamus, claustrum and dorsolateral part of the basal amygdaloid nucleus. Neurons in the basal nucleus of Meynert, lateral hypothalamus and claustrum appeared to send their axons widely, but not diffusely, to the neocortex.

Trigeminal primary afferent neurons projecting directly to the solitary nucleus in the cat: a transganglionic and retrograde horseradish peroxidase study

After applying horseradish peroxidase to peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve in the cat, the lingual and pterygopalatine nerves were found to contain fibers which ended ipsilaterally in the rostral portions of the solitary nucleus (SN); massively in the medial and ventrolateral SN, moderately in the intermediate and interstitial SN and sparsely in the ventral SN. The rostralmost part of the SN was free from labeled terminals. After injecting the enzyme into the SN portions rostral to the area postrema, small neurons were scattered in the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal ganglion.

A pretectofacial projection in the cat: a possible link in the visually-triggered blink reflex pathways

A direct projection from the pretectum to the facial motor nucleus was shown to exist in the cat by the anterograde and retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) methods. Pretectofacial fibers arise from the olivary pretectal nucleus and end mainly in the dorsal division of the facial motor nucleus, bilaterally, with a contralateral predominance. It is known that the olivary pretectal nucleus receives retinal fibers, and that the dorsal division of the facial motor nucleus contains orbicularis oculi motoneurons. Thus, the pretectofacial fibers are assumed to cause protective lid closure with certain visual stimuli.

Direct projections from the globus pallidus to the inferior colliculus in the rat

A retrograde and anterograde wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) study in the rat indicated that some neurons in the globus pallidus (GP) sent their axons ipsilaterally to the inferior colliculus (IC). These neuronal cell bodies were located in the ventrolateral portions of the caudal part of the GP, and their axons were distributed mainly in the peripheral region of the external cortex of the IC.

A novel mutation of delta-aminolaevulinate dehydratase in a healthy child with 12% erythrocyte enzyme activity

Cloning, expression and phenotype studies of the defective gene for delta-aminolaevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) in a family with an asymptomatic girl who had ALAD deficiency were carried out. The proband was identified by neonatal ALAD screening, and had erythrocyte ALAD activity at 12% of the normal control. She was heterozygous for ALAD deficiency, which was inherited from her father. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned ALAD cDNA revealed C36 to G and T168 to C mutations on the same allele. The former mutation resulted in F12L substitution, whereas the latter was a silent mutation. All family members who had decreased ALAD activity had the same mutation. Expression of the mutant ALAD cDNA in Chinese hamster ovary cells produced an ALAD protein without significant enzyme activity. Additionally, the mutant ALAD cDNA which encodes F12L substitution produced an aberrant migration pattern in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. This finding probably reflects an abnormal folding of the F12L protein, since the mutation occurred in the alpha1 helix of the N-terminal arm of the enzyme, which is involved in the extensive quaternary interactions among the subunits. This is also the first report of ALAD gene mutation in an asymptomatic subject.

Cloning of the mouse cDNA encoding DNA topoisomerase I and chromosomal location of the gene

The mouse cDNA encoding DNA topoisomerase I (TopoI) was cloned and the nucleotide sequence of 3512 bp was determined. The cDNA clone contained an open reading frame encoding a protein of 767 amino acids (aa), which is 2 aa longer than its human counterpart. Overall aa sequence homology between the mouse and human, and between the mouse and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) sequences was 96% and 42%, respectively. The mouse TopI gene was mapped at position 54.5 on chromosome 2 from linkage analyses of a three-point cross test with Geg, Ada, and a as marker genes.

Nigral axon terminals are in contact with parvicellular reticular neurons which project to the motor trigeminal nucleus in the rat

We examined whether in the rat the descending fibers from the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) were in contact with premotor neurons projecting to the motor trigeminal nucleus (Vm), using a combined anterograde and retrograde tracing technique. After ipsilateral injections of cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) into the Vm and biotinylated dextranamine (BDA) into the SNr, numerous CTb-labeled neurons were distributed bilaterally with slightly ipsilateral dominance in the parvicellular reticular formation (RFp), where many BDA-labeled axons with bouton-like varicosities were found bilaterally with a clear-cut ipsilateral dominance. The overlapping distribution of these labeled axons and neurons was more prominent in the rostral RFp than in the caudal RFp. Within the neuropil of the RFp, some of the BDA-labeled axons made synapses with the somata and proximal dendrites of CTb-labeled neurons. Thus, the present study demonstrated the existence of an indirect pathway from the SNr to the Vm, relayed by the RFp.

Patient empowerment and feedback did not decrease pain in seriously ill hospitalized adults

We tested a nurse clinician-mediated intervention to relieve pain in a group of seriously ill hospitalized adults using a randomized controlled trial at five tertiary care academic centers in the US. The study included 4804 patients admitted between January 1992 and January 1994 with one or more of nine high mortality diagnoses; 2652 were allocated to the intervention and 2152 to usual care. Specially-trained nurse clinicians assessed patients' pain, educated them and their families about pain control, empowered patients to expect pain relief, informed patients' nurses and physicians about level of pain and suggested or used other pain management resources. Patients' pain was determined from hospital interviews with patients and surrogates. Pain 2 and 6 months later or after death and satisfaction with its control at all time periods were also assessed. All analyses were adjusted for baseline risk of being in pain and propensity to be in the intervention group. Overall, 50.9% of patients reported some pain. After adjustment for other variables associated with pain, comparing the intervention to the control group, there was not a statistically significant difference in level of pain (OR for higher levels of pain 1.15; CI 1.00-1.32) or satisfaction with control of pain during the hospitalization (OR for higher levels of pain 1.12; CI 0.91-1.39), 2 or 6 months after discharge, or during the last 3 days of life. A multifaceted intervention using information, empowerment, advocacy, counseling and feedback was ineffective in ameliorating pain in seriously ill patients. Control of pain in these patients remains an important problem. More intensive pain treatment strategies addressing the needs of seriously ill hospitalized adults must be evaluated.

Styrene formation by the decomposition by Pichia carsonii of trans-cinnamic acid added to a ground fish product

It is not well known how the formation of styrene by microorganisms can occur in foods. In this study, we described and characterized the production of styrene by a yeast isolated from chikuwa fish paste. The styrene was not detected in fresh and normal food products nor in the food package's plastic film. The food containing styrene contained cinnamic acid as an antimicrobial agent and spice, and it was contaminated by 5.4 x 10(6) CFU of a yeast per gram. On the basis of morphological and biochemical features, the yeast isolated was determined to be a strain of Pichia carsonii, now designated strain CHI. Strain CHI, which was able to grow on cinnamic acid, had the ability to form styrene from trans-cinnamic acid via trans-p-coumaric and caffeic acids. The MIC of trans-cinnamic acid against strain CHI was 230 micrograms/ml. Strain CHI thrived well at pH 5.0 and 26.0 degrees C and was tolerant to 20% NaCl. Styrene was subsequently produced in ground fish meat containing cinnamic acid into which strain CHI had been inoculated. The yeast was found to be an environmental contaminant in food processing plants of the chikuwa manufacturer.

Selective determination of haloperidol in human serum: surface ionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with surface ionization detection

Surface ionization organic mass spectrometry (SIOMS) has been performed on the clinically important drug haloperidol using quadrupole mass spectrometry in which the thermal ion source has a rhenium oxide emitter. The surface ionization (SI) mass spectrum is presented, interpreted in a purely empirical way by means of evidence from previous investigations, and then compared to results from conventional electron impact (EI) ionization. An approach to detection of this drug in serum by gas chromatography (GC) with a surface ionization detector (SID) and GC-SIOMS is described. This approach demonstrates that (a) haloperidol is efficiently surface-ionized, giving a unique SI mass spectrum, (b) experimental results rationalize the combined sensitivity and selectivity of the GC-SID for the examined drug, (c) the detection limit for haloperidol in serum is 1.1 ng/ml (S/N = 3) by GC-SID (the coefficients of variation of the assay are generally low, i.e., below 8.5%) and (d) the GC-SIOMS coupling can be used for sensitive and selective detection of haloperidol in serum.

Direct projections from the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus to the striatum in the cat

The results of a WGA-HRP and HRP study in the cat indicated that some neurons in the marginal zone (lamina I) of the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus sent their axons contralaterally to the striatum; mainly to the dorsal part of the putamen, and additionally to the ventrolateral part of the caudate nucleus, at the stereotaxic rostrocaudal levels of A 13.0-A 15.5.

Monosynaptic and disynaptic projections from the substantia nigra pars reticulata to the parafascicular thalamic nucleus in the rat

We examined a direct pathway and an indirect pathway via the reticular thalamic nucleus (RT) from the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) to the parafascicular thalamic nucleus (PF) by using anterograde and retrograde tract tracing methods. After biotinylated dextranamine (BDA) injection into the dorsolateral part of the SNr, many labeled fibers and axon terminals were distributed in the ventral part of the RT, as well as in the ventrolateral part of the PF, bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance. After BDA injection into the ventral part of the RT, a plexus of labeled axons was found bilaterally with an ipsilateral dominance in the ventrolateral part of the PF. After combined injections of BDA into the dorsolateral part of the SNr and cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) into the ventrolateral part of the PF on the same side, overlapping distribution of BDA-labeled fibers and CTb-labeled neurons was observed in the ventral part of the RT ipsilateral to the injection sites, where the BDA-labeled axon terminals made symmetrical synaptic contacts with soma and dendrites of the CTb-labeled neurons.

Projections from the red nucleus to the parvicellular reticular formation and the cervical spinal cord in the rat, with special reference to innervation by branching axons

After biotinylated dextranamine injection into the dorsal part of the red nucleus (RN) in the rat, labeled axons were distributed contralaterally in the lateral tegmental field including the parvicellular reticular formation (RFp), and ipsilaterally in the medial reticular formation. In the cervical spinal cord, labeled axons were present bilaterally with a contralateral dominance mainly in laminae V-VI and the dorsal part of laminae VII. After ipsilateral injections of rhodamine dextranamine, Fluoro-ruby (FR) into the RFp and Fluoro-gold (FG) into the upper cervical spinal cord, a population of FR-labeled neurons was found in the dorsal part of the contralateral RN, whereas the majority of FG-labeled neurons were located more ventrally. However, some of them were intermingled with FR-labeled neurons, and as many as one-third of FR-labeled neurons were labeled with FG. After combined injections of FR into the RFp and FG into the lower cervical spinal cord, RN neurons labeled with FG existed more ventrally than those retrogradely labeled from the upper cervical spinal cord, and less than 10% of FR-labeled neurons were labeled with FG. The present data suggest that axon collateral innervation of the RFp and the upper cervical spinal cord by single RN neurons may be responsible for coordinating head and orofacial movements.

Filopodia and growth cones in the vertically migrating granule cells of the postnatal mouse cerebellum

The details of the morphology of vertically migrating granule cells were examined semiquantitatively in the postnatal mouse cerebellum by a Golgi method, with special reference to the growth cone-related structures such as filopodia and lamellipodia. The first sign of inward migration was extension of short, vertical filopodium-like processes from the sides of the perikarya of tangentially oriented granule cells, followed by a change of orientation of cell bodies to the vertical axis showing a T-shaped morphology. The T-shaped migratory cells formed sprouted filopodia (side spikes) from their vertical leading processes and perikarya at right angles to the vertical axis. More than three-quarters of the migratory cells extended the side spikes. The presence of such side spikes was confirmed with laser scanning confocal microscopy of granule cells labeled with 1,1', dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate and also with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, about one-fourth of migratory cells extended lamellipodia of web-like forms along the stem or at the tip of the leading process, some of which showed a typical growth cone. Several morphological variations of vertical granule cells were also observed. Furthermore, TEM observation confirmed that side spikes from migratory cells made direct contact with parallel fibers. The present results suggest that, during vertical migration, growth cone-related structures of the leading processes of granule cells adhere to and probably recognize tangentially oriented parallel fibers. Therefore, the mechanisms of the vertical guidance and migration of granule cells in the cerebellar cortex seem to be multiple, involving not only parallel contact guidance by the Bergmann glia fibers but also perpendicular contact guidance by the parallel fibers. These parallel and perpendicular geometric cues surrounding the granule cells seem to have produced the varying morphology of vertically migrating granule cells.

Tectal projections to the parvicellular reticular formation and the upper cervical spinal cord in the rat, with special reference to axon collateral innervation

After Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin injection into the lateral part of the superior colliculus (SC) in the rat, labeled fibers and axon terminals in the lower brainstem were distributed not only in the medial reticular formation but also in the lateral tegmental field including the parvicellular reticular formation (RFp). More caudally, in the upper cervical spinal cord labeled fibers with bouton-like varicosities were distributed mainly in laminae V, VII and VIII, with relatively sparse distribution in lamina IX. These labeled axons were found bilaterally with a clear-cut contralateral dominance. After combined injections of rhodamine-dextranamine, Fluoro-ruby (FR) into the RFp and Fluoro-gold (FG) into the upper cervical spinal cord on the same side, SC neurons labeled with FR were intermingled with those labeled with FG in the lateral part of the SC contralateral to the injection sites. In the stratum griseum intermediale, some of them were double-labeled with both tracers. Our results suggest that SC neurons innervating both the RFp and the cervical spinal cord may be involved in the coordination of head and mouth movements.

Rice Flower Development Revisited: Regulation of Carpel Specification and Flower Meristem Determinacy

The ABC model in flower development represents a milestone of plant developmental studies and is essentially conserved across a wide range of angiosperm species. Despite this overall conservation, individual genes in the ABC model are not necessarily conserved and sometimes play a species-specific role, depending on the plant. We previously reported that carpels are specified by the YABBY gene DROOPING LEAF (DL) in rice (Oryza sativa), which bears flowers that are distinct from those of eudicots. In contrast, another group reported that carpels are specified by two class C genes, OsMADS3 and OsMADS58. Here, we have addressed this controversial issue by phenotypic characterization of floral homeotic gene mutants. Analysis of a complete loss-of-function mutant of OsMADS3 and OsMADS58 revealed that carpel-like organs expressing DL were formed in the absence of the two class C genes. Furthermore, no known flower organs including carpels were specified in a double mutant of DL and SUPERWOMAN1 (a class B gene), which expresses only class C genes in whorls 3 and 4. These results suggest that, in contrast to Arabidopsis, class C genes are not a key regulator for carpel specification in rice. Instead, they seem to be involved in the elaboration of carpel morphology rather than its specification. Our phenotypic analysis also revealed that, similar to its Arabidopsis ortholog CRABS CLAW, DL plays an important function in regulating flower meristem determinacy in addition to carpel specification.

Direct projections from Ammon's horn to the septum in the cat

Direct projections from Ammon's horn to the septum were studied in the cat by the anterograde tracing method after injecting WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate) into Ammon's horn. The results were further confirmed by the retrograde WGA-HRP method after injecting WGA-HRP into the septum. Pyramidal neurons in fields CA1, CA2 and CA3 were observed to send their axons ipsilaterally to the lateral septal nucleus; the septal parts of the hippocampus sent projection fibers to the dorsomedial portions of the lateral septal nucleus via the medial aspects of the subcallosal fornix, while the hippocampal regions successively more proximal to the temporal pole sent projection fibers to progressively more ventrolateral portions of the lateral septal nucleus via more lateral aspects of the subcallosal fornix. It was also found that the septal parts of fields CA1, CA2 and CA3 sent projection fibers bilaterally to the dorsomedial aspects of the lateral septal nucleus. Field CA4 appeared to send projection fibers only sparsely, if at all, to the medial septal nucleus. The rudimentary parts of the hippocampal formation, taenia tecta and indusium griseum, were found to have reciprocal ipsilateral connections with the dorsal portions of the lateral septal nucleus.

Adherence to treatment guidelines in stage II/III rectal cancer in Alberta, Canada

AIMS

Evidence suggests that pre- and/or postoperative treatment benefits patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. This study aimed to quantify treatment patterns and adherence to treatment guidelines, and to identify barriers to having a consultation with an oncologist and barriers to receiving treatment in stage II/III rectal cancer, in a publicly funded medical care system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with surgically treated stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma, diagnosed from 2002 to 2005 in Alberta, a Canadian province with a population of 3 million, were included. Demographic and treatment information from the Alberta Cancer Registry were linked to data from electronic medical records, hospital discharge data and the 2001 Canadian Census. The study outcomes were 'not having an oncologist consultation' and 'not receiving guideline-based treatment'. The relative risks of the two outcomes in association with patient characteristics were estimated using multivariable log-binomial regression.

RESULTS

Of a total of 910 surgically treated stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma patients, 748 (82%) had a consultation with an oncologist and 414 (45.5%) received treatment. Pre-/post-surgical treatment modalities and timing varied; 96 (10.5%) received neoadjuvant treatment only, 389 (42.7%) received adjuvant treatment only, 119 (13.1%) received both, and 306 (33.6%) had surgery alone. Factors related to not having a consultation with an oncologist included older age, co-morbidities, cancer stage II and region of residence. Older age was the most significantly associated factor with not receiving treatment (relative risk=2.23; 95% confidence interval: 1.89, 2.64).

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities exist in the receipt of treatment in stage II/III rectal cancer. Factors such as age, region of residence and stage should not be barriers to consulting an oncologist to discuss or receive treatment. The reasons for these disparities need to be identified and addressed.

Organization of the nigro-tecto-bulbar pathway to the parvicellular reticular formation: a light- and electron-microscopic study in the rat

We examined a nigro-tecto-bulbar pathway to the parvicellular reticular formation (RFp), where many premotor neurons for orofacial motor nuclei are known to be distributed, by using a combined anterograde and retrograde tracing method. After contralateral injections of biotinylated dextranamine (BDA) into the dorsolateral part of the substantia nigra (SNr) and cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) into the RFp, overlapping distributions of BDA-labeled terminals and CTb-labeled neuronal cell bodies were found in the lateralmost part of the superior colliculus (SC) ipsilateral or contralateral to the site of BDA injection or CTb injection, respectively. After contralateral injections of BDA into the SNr and horseradish peroxidase conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP) injection into the RFp, ipsilateral labeled axon terminals with BDA were found to make symmetrical synaptic contacts with the somata and dendrites of contralateral labeled neurons with WGA-HRP in the lateralmost part of the SC. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BDA-labeled axon terminals were immunoreactive for GABA, by using the anterograde tracing method combined with immunohistochemistry for GABA. Thus, GABA-like immunoreactive fibers originating from the dorsolateral part of the SNr make monosynaptic contacts with the tectal neurons sending their axons to the RFp.