Critical behavior of the ferromagnetic perovskite BaRuO3

A thorough study has been made of the physical properties under high pressure of the perovskite BaRuO3 synthesized under pressure; it includes the critical behavior in the vicinity of Tc to 1 GPa and the temperature dependences of resistivity and ac magnetic susceptibility up to 8 GPa. The ferromagnetism in BaRuO3 is suppressed at 8 GPa. Critical fluctuations in the vicinity of Tc have been found in BaRuO3 and they are enhanced under pressure. These observations are in sharp contrast to SrRuO3 where mean-field behavior is found at Tc.

The dance of the honeybee: how do honeybees dance to transfer food information effectively?

A honeybee informs her nestmates of the location of a flower she has visited by a unique behavior called a "waggle dance." On a vertical comb, the direction of the waggle run relative to gravity indicates the direction to the food source relative to the sun in the field, and the duration of the waggle run indicates the distance to the food source. To determine the detailed biological features of the waggle dance, we observed worker honeybee behavior in the field. Video analysis showed that the bee does not dance in a single or random place in the hive but waggled several times in one place and then several times in another. It also showed that the information of the waggle dance contains a substantial margin of error. Angle and duration of waggle runs varied from run to run, with the range of +/-15 degrees and +/-15%, respectively, even in a series of waggle dances of a single individual. We also found that most dance followers that listen to the waggle dance left the dancer after one or two sessions of listening.

Recovery of learning ability after the ablation of the procerebrum in the terrestrial slug, Limax valentianus

The procerebrum (PC) is indispensable for odor-aversion learning in Limax. On the other hand, the central nervous system (CNS) of some Pulmonata shows robustness against injury, recovering from nerve injury both at the histological and functional levels. To investigate whether the PC of Limax also shows robustness against nerve injury, we tested whether or not the slugs can acquire and retrieve odor-aversion memory after a long recovery period from PC ablation. When the recovery period is short (7 days), the PC-ablated slugs failed to avoid the conditioned odor. But when the recovery period is long (1 month), the PC-ablated slugs successfully avoided the conditioned odor. These results indicate that the CNS including the PC can recover from injury at least at the functional level.

The effects of GABA on the network oscillations of the procerebrum in Limax valentianus

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing neurons are capable of controlling network oscillations and their patterns in the widely divergent species. In the terrestrial slug, Limax valentianus, oscillatory activity of the procerebrum neurons is considered to encode the odor information. Previous studies showed that GABA is present in the central nervous system and may be involved in the control of neuronal activity of Limax. In the present study, we examined the effects of GABA on the generation of oscillatory activity in the procerebrum. The results suggest that the GABAergic synaptic transmission may be involved in the oscillatory neural network of the procerebrum.

Localization of serotonin transporter mRNA in the CNS of Lymnaea stagnalis

The serotonin transporter, SERT, is reported as a key molecule that regulates serotonergic neurotransmission. In the present study, we analyzed the localization of Lymnaea SERT (LymSERT) mRNA-containing neurons by in situ hybridization using frozen sections of the central nervous system (CNS) of Lymnaea. To precisely demonstrate the distribution of LymSERT mRNA-containing neurons, colocalization with serotonin immunoreactivity was also examined. The results showed that LymSERT mRNA was constitutively expressed and localized in the serotonin-containing neurons in the CNS.

Nasal speaking valve: a device for managing velopharyngeal incompetence

Velopharyngeal incompetence is a contributing factor for speech disorders, and other frequently accompanying disorders, such as cleft palate, congenital paralysis of the soft palate and cerebrovascular disease. A palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) has been fabricated for managing velopharyngeal incompetence to improve speech. Because of discomfort, such as difficulty in swallowing or vomiting reflex, while wearing the PLP, rigorous adjustment is required. Patients may have difficulty becoming accustomed to using the prosthesis. This article reports on a newly developed device, the nasal speaking valve, for improving hypernasal speech caused by velopharyngeal incompetence.

Lower esophageal palisade vessels and the definition of Barrett's esophagus

The designated area of the columnar-lined esophagus (CLE) is anatomically defined by the distal limit of the lower esophageal palisade vessels (LEPV) and the term 'Barrett's esophagus' is equally used along with the name CLE in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the actual prevalence of CLE based on the Japanese criteria and to evaluate the criteria per se. A total of 42 esophagi consecutively resected at this institute were included. All subjects underwent a surgical resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The position of the LEPV, squamocolumnar junction, the prevalence of CLE and intestinal metaplasia were investigated both pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative endoscopy revealed CLE based on the Japanese criteria in half of all patients. In the resected specimens the distal limit of LEPV was lower than the squamocolumnar junction in 95.2%. In other words, almost all cases had CLE (equivalent to Barrett's mucosa in Japanese criteria). However, most of the CLE areas were very short and their average maximum length was only about 5 mm. In addition, no intestinal metaplasia was observed in any of the CLE cases. Almost all individuals might therefore be diagnosed to have CLE or Barrett's mucosa based on precise endoscopic observations in Japan. The CLE located in a small area, e.g. less than 5 mm, defined according to the LEPV criteria without any other factor concerning typical Barrett's esophagus such as signs of gastroesophageal reflux should therefore be excluded from consideration as a high-risk mucosa.

Effective treatment of young patients with pediatric-onset, long-standing lupus nephritis with tacrolimus given as a single daily dose: an open-label pilot study

The objective of the current work is to report the preliminary experience with tacrolimus (TL) administered as a single-dose daily for maintenance therapy of young patients with pediatric-onset, long-standing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Six consecutive patients with long-standing SLE were recruited for a 6-month open-label trial of single-dose-daily administration of tacrolimus (3 mg/day) without dose up of concomitantly administered prednisolone (PDN). TL treatment was started at the time of the most recent flares. Data on the clinical and serologic lupus activity were collected prospectively. The baseline characteristics of the patients were: mean age, 20 years; urinary protein/creatinine ratio, 1.22 +/- 1.94; serum C3 level, 70.8 +/- 21.2 (normal, 79-152 mg/dL); serum complement hemolytic activity (CH50), 22.2 +/- 10.3 (normal, 23-46 U/mL); serum anti-dsDNA antibody titer, 60.4 +/- 71.7 IU/mL (normal, < 12.0 IU/mL); serum creatinine, 0.55 +/- 0.11 mg/dL; European Consensus Lupus Activity Measurement (ECLAM) index, 5.2 +/- 2.6. Despite the gradual tapering of the PDN dose, marked improvement as compared with the baseline values was observed in the ECLAM index examined at one and three months and serological parameters examined at three months after the start of treatment. After a 6-months' therapy, complete response was achieved in all of the patients (serum CH50 value, 27.7 +/- 8.3 U/mL; serum anti-dsDNA antibody titer, 28.4 +/- 27.9 U/mL and the ECLAM index, 1.2 +/- 1.2 (P < 0.05), respectively), except in one patient who showed WHO class V lupus nephritis. No serious adverse effects were observed. These data suggest that TL, even when administered as a single-daily dose, is effective and safe for selected young patients with pediatric-onset, long-standing SLE. However, further studies on a larger number of patients are needed to confirm these results.

Effect of honeycomb-patterned surface topography on the adhesion and signal transduction of porcine aortic endothelial cells

Surface topography has vital roles in cellular response. Here, to investigate the mechanism behind cellular response to surface topography, we prepared honeycomb (HC)-patterned films from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) with micropatterned surface topography by casting a polymer solution of water-immiscible solvent under high humidity. We characterized the adsorption of fibronectin (Fn) on the film using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The response of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) to adsorbed Fn molecules onto HC-patterned films was observed by immunofluorescence labeling of vinculin and the actin fiber of PAECs cultured for 1 and 72 h in serum-free medium. The expression of focal adhesion kinase autophosphorylated at the tyrosine residue (pFAK) at 1 h culture was determined using an immunoprecipitation method. Fn adsorbed selectively around the pore edges to form ring-shaped aggregates. The immunostaining results revealed that PAECs adhered to the HC-patterned films at focal contact points localized around pore peripheries. These points correspond to adsorption sites of Fn. The expression of pFAK after 1 h on the HC-patterned film was 3 times higher than that on a corresponding flat film, indicating that the signaling mediated by the binding between Fn and the integrin receptor was more highly activated on the HC-patterned film. These results suggest that the cellular response to HC-patterned films (e.g., adhesion pattern and phosphorylation of FAK) originates from the regularly aligned adsorption pattern of Fn determined by the pore structure of the film.

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy analysis of the hydrophobic interactions of protein 4.1 with phosphatidyl serine liposomes

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was applied to examine the interactions between a protein and a membrane lipid. The protein 4.1-phosphatidyl serine (PS) interactions served as the model system to demonstrate the membrane lipid-protein interactions. This protein was labeled with rhodamine and its interactions with PS-liposomes were measured by FCS. The present results clearly demonstrated that a small protein molecule, protein 4.1, interacts specifically with a large particle, a PS-liposome. This interaction appears to be hydrophobic and not electrostatic, since the bound protein 4.1 did not dissociate in solution and was specifically released from PS-liposomes by treatment with phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). In the present study, using FCS we could demonstrate that the serine residue of PS is required for protein 4.1 to bind to PS-liposomes and that the bound protein 4.1 is closely associated with the fatty acid of the PS molecule in the liposomes.

A phase I study of modified irinotecan (CPT-11) plus cisplatin (CDDP) [m-IP] against paclitaxel/carboplatin [TC] -resistant and recurrent ovarian cancer

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Background: CPT-11/CDDP is effective regimen for ovarian cancer. Particularly against ovarian cancer resistant to prior chemotherapy, a 40% response rate was reported (Sugiyama T Cancer Letters, 1998). However, every 4 weeks treatment with CPT-11 day 1, 8, and 15, administration on day 15 was skipped in about 60% due to toxicity, and the relative dose intensity of IP was 66.7% in non-small cell lung cancer (Saito H Am J Clin Oncol 2006). We planed Phase I study, in consideration of the effect of prior chemotherapy in TC-resistant ovarian cancer, a modified CPT-11 (day 1, 8) and CDDP (day 1) for every 4 weeks treatment (m-IP). The aim of this study conducted to examine the dose limiting toxicity (DLT), to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and define the recommended dose (RD) for a phase II study. Methods: Patients with TC-resistant ovarian cancer having a PS 0–1, age 30–75 years, normal organ functions, and written informed consent. CPT-11 was administered intravenously over 90 minutes on day 1 and day 8, plus CDDP was day 1, repeated every 4 weeks. The dose escalation schedule was defined: Doses of CPT-11/CDDP (mg/m2) were 60/60 at level 1, 70/60 at level 2 and 70/70 at level 3. DLT were determined as Grade 4 hematological toxicity and = Grade 3 non-hematological toxicity occurred, and when dosing on day 8 was delayed for more than 8 days due to toxicity. Results: Nine patients were enrolled (level 1/2/3: 3/3/3). DLTs, at level 1 and 2, no patients developed. At level 3, grade 3 nausea and vomiting and delayed treatment on day 8 due to anorexia, were observed in all of 3 patients. Therefore, MTD was determined to be level 3 and RD was determined to be level 2 (CPT-11: 70mg/m2, CDDP: 60mg/m2). Major =Grade 3 toxicities observed were leukopenia, neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting. No Grade 4 hematological toxicities were observed. Diarrhea was mild. Antitumor effect at RD was observed in 1 patient with CR, 1 patient with PR and 1 patient with PD. Conclusions: The MTD of m-IP was CPT-11 70mg/m2 and CDDP 70mg/m2 (level 3), the RD was CPT-11 70mg/m2 and CDDP 60mg/m2 (level 2). Preliminary response are promissing associated with tolerable toxicity for TC-resistant and recurrent ovarian cancer. A Phase II study is currently conducted.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Mild inflammation accelerates colon carcinogenesis in Mlh1-deficient mice

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory bowel disease, which frequently accompanies silencing of Mlh1, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. The interaction between inflammation and mismatch repair deficiency, however, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inflammation on colorectal carcinogenesis in Mlh1-deficient mice.

METHOD

Inflammatory colitis was induced by treatment with 1% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water for 1 week in Mlh1 knockout (Mlh1(-/-)), Mlh1 heterozygous (Mlh1(+/-)) and wild-type (Mlh1(+/+)) mice at 10 weeks of age. The development of colon tumors was followed for a subsequent 15 weeks and the tumors were analyzed immunohistochemically for the expression and localization of iNOS, beta-catenin and p53.

RESULTS

Male and female Mlh1(-/-) mice with DSS showed a 63 and 44% incidence of tumors, respectively, whereas no tumors were observed in Mlh1(+/-) and Mlh1(+/+) mice. The mice without DSS treatment did not develop any tumors regardless of the genotype. While aberrant expression of beta-catenin was not detected in colonic neoplasms, p53 and iNOS expression was increased in 100 and 77%, respectively. These immunohistochemical changes were consistent with those of human colon cancers associated with ulcerative colitis.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that Mlh1 deficiency strongly accelerates colon carcinogenesis when combined with inflammation. Thus the cells with Mlh1 deficiency, either inherently or colitis associated, may be at an increased risk of cancer under inflammatory conditions.

Accelerated growth of intestinal tumours after radiation exposure in Mlh1-knockout mice: evaluation of the late effect of radiation on a mouse model of HNPCC

Mlh1-knockout mice have been developed as a useful model of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In this study, we analyzed the pathology of gastrointestinal tumours (GIT) in these mice in detail and examined the possible effects of ionizing radiation on the induction of intestinal tumours to evaluate the late response to radiotherapy in HNPCC. Mlh1-/- mice spontaneously developed GIT and thymic lymphomas by 48 weeks. GIT included not only well differentiated adenocarcinomas but also poorly differentiated and mucinous adenocarcinomas, suggesting that this mouse is a good model for HNPCC. In contrast to colon cancers from HNPCC patients, however, carcinomas of Mlh1-/- mice expressed p53 and showed a lack of transforming growth factor (TGF)-betaRII mutation, which resulted in the expression of TGF-betaRII protein. Irradiation of 10-week-old Mlh1-/- mice accelerated GIT development but had little effect at 2 weeks. Mlh1+/- and Mlh1+/+ mice were not susceptible to spontaneous or radiation-induced thymic lymphomas and GIT until 72 weeks after birth. The development and pathology of GIT in Mlh1-/- mice suggest that this mouse is a good model for HNPCC, although tumour-related responsible genes might be different from HNPCC. As X-ray exposure promoted carcinogenesis of GIT in adult Mlh1-/- mice, an increased risk of secondary cancers after radiotherapy for HNPCC patients should be taken into consideration.

Effusion and solid lymphomas have distinctive gene and protein expression profiles in an animal model of primary effusion lymphoma

Lymphoma usually forms solid tumours in patients, and high expression levels of adhesion molecules are observed in these tumours. However, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-related primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) does not form solid tumours and adhesion molecule expression is suppressed in the cells. Inoculation of a KSHV-associated PEL cell line into the peritoneal cavity of severe combined immunodeficiency mice resulted in the formation of effusion and solid lymphomas in the peritoneal cavity. Proteomics using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and DNA microarray analyses identified 14 proteins and 105 genes, respectively, whose expression differed significantly between effusion and solid lymphomas. Five genes were identified as having similar expression profiles to that of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1, an important adhesion molecule in leukocytes. Among these, coronin 1A, an actin-binding protein, was identified as a molecule showing high expression in solid lymphoma by both DNA microarray and proteomics analyses. Western and northern blotting showed that coronin 1A was predominantly expressed in solid lymphomas. Moreover, KSHV-encoded lytic proteins, including viral interleukin-6, were highly expressed in effusion lymphoma compared with solid lymphoma. These data demonstrate that effusion and solid lymphomas possess distinctive gene and protein expression profiles in our mouse model, and suggest that differences in gene and protein expression between effusion and solid lymphomas may be associated with the formation of effusion lymphoma or invasive features of solid lymphoma. Furthermore, the results obtained using this combination of proteomics and DNA microarray analyses indicate that protein synthesis partly reflects, but does not correlate strictly with, mRNA production.

Physical association of the patient-specific GATA1 mutants with RUNX1 in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia accompanying Down syndrome

Mutations of the GATA1 gene on chromosome X have been found in almost all cases of transient myeloproliferative disorder and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) accompanying Down syndrome (DS). Although most GATA1 mutations lead to the expression of GATA1s lacking the N-terminal activation domain, we recently found two novel GATA1 proteins with defects in another N-terminal region. It has been suggested that loss of the N-terminal portion of GATA1 might interfere with physiological interactions with the critical megakaryocytic transcription factor RUNX1, and this would imply that GATA1s is not able to interact properly with RUNX1. However, the interaction domain of GATA1 remains controversial. In this study, we show that GATA1 binds to RUNX1 through its zinc-finger domains, and that the C-finger is indispensable for synergy with RUNX1. All of the patient-specific GATA1 mutants interacted efficiently with RUNX1 and retained their ability to act synergistically with RUNX1 on the megakaryocytic GP1balpha promoter, whereas the levels of transcriptional activities were diverse among the mutants. Thus, our data indicate that physical interaction and synergy between GATA1 and RUNX1 are retained in DS-AMKL, although it is still possible that increased RUNX1 activity plays a role in the development of leukemia in DS.

C1-C2 point monitoring of low-dose cyclosporin a given as a single daily dose in children with steroid-dependent relapsing nephrotic syndrome

AIM

It has been reported that the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin A (CsA) in children is different from that in adults. It appears that, in general, pediatric patients metabolize CsA more rapidly than adult patients, necessitating the use of higher dose of the drug in pediatric transplant recipients. In this context, we speculated that single-dose daily administration of low-dose CsA may be associated with a higher peak blood level without associated trough blood level elevation, and thereby yield better results and allow safer use of the drug than the conventional twice daily administration dosing used for the treatment of childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).

METHODS

A total of 10 children with steroid-dependent relapsing INS (9 with biopsy-proven minimal-change disease) who showed steroid toxicity were enrolled in the study. The initial daily dose of CsA (Neoral) used was around 2.0 mg/kg, given as a single daily dose before breakfast. The dose was subsequently adjusted to achieve a C1-C2 point blood level between 600 - 800 ng/ml. The dose of the concomitantly administered prednisolone was tapered following the commencement of CsA.

RESULTS

The mean daily CsA dosage, the mean C1-C2 point blood level and the mean trough blood level in the subjects were 2.2 +/- 0.8 mg/kg, 754.0 +/- 71.9 ng/ml and 42.7 +/- 29.2 ng/ml, respectively. At the latest observation, after a mean duration of 17 months (6 - 24 months) of CsA therapy, the minimum dose of prednisolone required for maintenance of clinical remission and the calculated relapse rate were significantly decreased as compared to the respective pretreatment values (0.52 +/- 0.46 mg/kg on alternate days, vs. 0.97 +/- 0.63 mg/kg on alternate days, and 0.28 +/- 0.32 times per six months, vs. 1.06 +/- 0.41 times per six months, respectively, p = 0.005). No significant change was observed in the mean estimated GFR value as compared to the pretreatment value (183.1 +/- 35.4 ml/min/1.73 m2vs. 185.4 +/- 39.3 ml/min/1.73 m2). No evidence of CsA nephrotoxicity was observed in a repeat renal biopsy performed around 12 months after the commencement of CsA therapy in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the limitations of the study, our results suggest that administration of low-dose CsA as a single daily dose with C1-C2 point blood level monitoring might be an equally effective and safe and, therefore, more cost-beneficial, protocol for the treatment of steroid-dependent cases of relapsing INS, as conventional twice-daily administration of CsA with trough blood level monitoring. Further studies to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of this CsA treatment protocol in larger numbers of patients are, however, needed.