Genetic variants of phosvitin in egg yolk of the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica

Phosvitin polymorphism in egg yolk of the Japanese quail was found by horizontal polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Six phenotypes of yolk phosvitin designated A, B, C, AB, AC, and BC were observed in a population of 281 birds. Analysis of family data revealed that the phenotypic variation of quail yolk phosvitins was controlled by an autosomal Pv locus with three codominant alleles, Pva, Pvb and Pvc. The gene frequencies of Pva, Pvb and Pvc were 0.064, 0.824 and 0.112, respectively.

[Experience of chest wall reconstruction with newly developed material]

After the chest wall resection, its reconstruction is often needed. A 45-year-old male lung adenocarcinoma patient with chest wall invasion underwent upper lobectomy of the right lung with partial resection of 4-6th ribs. The size of the removed chest wall was 11 x 6.5 cm. We reconstructed the chest wall with Bard Composix E/X Mesh. This prosthesis is consisted of a polypropylene mesh and an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet This material is seems to be useful in the reconstruction of chest wall in both preventing pulmonary adhesion and enabling good wound healing.

Diffusion tensor imaging in chronic subdural hematoma: correlation between clinical signs and fractional anisotropy in the pyramidal tract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was introduced as a good technique to evaluate structural abnormalities in the white matter. In this study, we used DTI to examine anisotropic changes of the pyramidal tracts displaced by chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients with unilateral CSDH underwent DTI before and after surgery. We measured fractional anisotropy (FA) values in pyramidal tracts of bilateral cerebral peduncles and calculated the ratio of the FA value on the lesion side to that on the contralateral side (FA ratio) and compared the ratios with motor weakness. Moreover, the relationships between FA ratios and clinical factors such as age, sex, midline shift, interval from trauma, and hematoma attenuation on CT were evaluated.

RESULTS

FA values of pyramidal tracts on the lesion side were significantly lower than those on the contralateral side (0.66 +/- 0.07 versus 0.74 +/- 0.05, P < .0001). The FA ratio was correlated to the severity of motor weakness (r(2) = 0.32, P = .002). FA ratios after surgery improved significantly compared with those before surgery (0.96 +/- 0.08 versus 0.89 +/- 0.07, P = .0004). Intervals from trauma and the midline shift were significantly associated with decreased FA ratios (P = .0008 and P = .037).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CSDH, a reversible decrease of FA in the affected pyramidal tract on DTI was correlated to motor weakness. These anisotropic changes were considered to be caused by a reversible distortion of neuron fibers and vasogenic edema due to the hematoma.

Genetic and phenotypic variations among F1 progenies of Arthroderma benhamiae

The genotypes and phenotypes of 77 isolates derived from ascospores produced from two genetically different Arthroderma benhamiae were studied. Specifically, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) type, nuclear DNA (nDNA) type, mating type, colony texture, growth rate, urease activity, red pigmentation and hair perforation were examined. The nDNA types based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and mating types were inherited from parents independently. mtDNA type was inherited from only one parent. All the phenotypes, except hair perforation and mating type, showed great variations. Those seemed not to be a conclusive factor for species identification. Additionally, these characteristics appeared in variable combinations suggesting that they are not interrelated. The intensity of red pigmentation varied even within a colony, implying that it is not a strain-specific characteristic. Hair perforation was observed in isolates of all but one atypical strain, and therefore could be one characteristic of this species.

[Case of non-alcoholic pellagra following gastrectomy]

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in May 2006 because of gait disturbance, delirium and myoclonus along with dermatitis and diarrhea. Those symptoms became worse in 3 months. He had undergone a gastrectomy, including a fundectomy and jejunal pouch interposition, for early gastric cancer at the age of 65 years. He had no habit of drinking alcohol or unbalanced diet. The triad of typical dermatitis, delirium, and diarrhea led to a diagnosis of pellagra, and all the symptoms disappeared after intravenous administration of nicotinate and vitamins. With a gastrectomy, fundectomy performed with jejunal pouch interposition has been regarded as a superior method for postoperative nutrition, but may cause vitamin deficiency. Thus, vitamin deficiency must be considered as a potential cause in neurologic patients who underwent surgical treatment for disorders of digestive tract, regardless of the procedure utilized.

Analysis of the clinicopathological prognosis of stage IVb cervical carcinoma

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological prognostic factors in patients with stage IVb cervical carcinoma (CC). All patients with stage IVb CC included in the study were diagnosed from 1997 to 2006 at the National Cancer Center Hospital. We retrospectively examined clinicopathological parameters in these patients, including the efficacy of chemotherapy. Survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and log-rank test. The independent prognostic factors found to be predictive of survival in univariate and multivariate analysis were evaluated using a Cox's proportional hazard model. Thirty-six patients (median age 54 years) were diagnosed with stage IVb CC. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.8 and 11.1 months, respectively. As initial treatment, 4 patients underwent hysterectomy, 13 received chemotherapy, 17 received radiotherapy, and the remaining 2 patients refused treatment. A total of 21 patients received chemotherapy, of which 13 were initial cases, 7 were persistent/recurrence cases, and 1 was a postoperative adjuvant case; 15 patients were never treated with chemotherapy. On univariate analysis, poor performance status (PS) and non-chemotherapy groups were considered poor prognostic factors, respectively. On multivariate analysis, poor PS (p=0.007; hazard ratio, 2.64) and non-chemotherapy (p=0.016; hazard ratio, 6.03) were independent prognostic factors of survival, respectively. Poor PS and non-chemotherapy groups were found to have poor prognosis in patients with stage IVb CC. Chemotherapy may improve the survival for stage IVb CC.

K-ras mutations and cell kinetics in Helicobacter pylori associated gastric intestinal metaplasia: a comparison before and after eradication in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori related gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is considered to be a precancerous lesion.

AIMS

To identify the effects of H pylori eradication on K-ras mutations, cell kinetics in IM and histological changes in patients with and without gastric cancers in a one-year prospective study.

METHODS

Patients included group A (n = 39), chronic gastritis, and group B (n = 53), intestinal-type early gastric cancer patients who had all undergone endoscopic mucosal resection (n = 25) or surgical resection (n = 28). K-ras codon 12 mutations in IM were examined, followed by DNA sequencing analysis. Proliferating and apoptotic cells were detected with anti-Ki-67 antibody and using the TUNEL method, respectively.

RESULTS

The incidence of K-ras mutations in the cancer was only 3.8%. The mutant K-ras in IM was observed more frequently in group A (46.2%) than in group B patients (1.9%) (p<0.005). After eradication, the K-ras mutations significantly declined to 12.8% in group A (p<0.005). The mutation pattern of K-ras codon 12 before eradication was that GGT was mainly changed to AGT (50%) in group A. AGT transformation was not affected by treatment. Apoptosis in IM showed an increase after H pylori eradication in both groups (p<0.05 in group A) although no histological improvement in IM was observed. The monocyte score was significantly higher in group A than in group B (p<0.05); the score improved significantly after eradication.

CONCLUSIONS

K-ras mutations in IM do not always play a role in gastric carcinogenesis but cell kinetics, especially apoptosis, in IM may contribute to it. There are early events in K-ras mutations which are influenced by H pylori infection; some mutations may also be selected by eradication. These unstable K-ras mutations in IM may be related to lymphocyte infiltration caused by H pylori infection.

Follicular keratosis of the chin treated with 1.24R-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ointment

In follicular keratosis of the chin, keratotic follicular papules occur on the chin and jaw due to localized prolonged pressure and friction on the naked skin. We present one patient with this disorder. The dermatoscopic examination revealed many well-demarcated yellow spindle bodies in the patchy lesion. Therapy with 1.24R-dihydroxyvitamin D3 ointment was effective during the treatment but had no residual positive effect.

Novel zoom endoscopy technique for diagnosis of small flat gastric cancer: a prospective, blind study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

During gastroscopy we frequently encounter flat reddened lesions in the stomach. Making a correct diagnosis of flat small early gastric cancer is dependent not on endoscopic diagnosis, but on histopathologic diagnosis of biopsy specimens alone. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of magnified endoscopic findings for differentiating between reddened mucosa caused by gastritis and flat reddened gastric cancer, prospectively and blindly.

METHODS

A total of 603 consecutive patients were examined by upper-gastrointestinal zoom endoscopy and the prevalence of each of the following magnified endoscopic findings, which already had been reported as characteristic for differentiated carcinoma, was recorded: (1) presence of a demarcation line between the reddened lesion and the surrounding mucosa, (2) disappearance of the regular subepithelial capillary network pattern, and (3) presence of an irregular microvascular pattern within the flat reddened lesion. Patients with known gastric carcinomas were excluded from this study.

RESULTS

A total of 158 flat reddened lesions from 158 patients were detected. Pathologically, 144 flat reddened lesions showed only gastritis, whereas 14 lesions were newly diagnosed as carcinoma. Regarding diagnostic accuracy for carcinoma, the negative predictive values of the presence of a demarcation line and disappearance of the regular subepithelial capillary network pattern were 100% and 100%, respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy of the irregular microvascular pattern was 98.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel zoom endoscopic findings based on microvascular architecture are very useful for making a differential diagnosis between flat early gastric carcinoma and gastritis.

Molecular epidemiology of trichophyton tonsurans isolated in Japan using RFLP analysis of non-transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal RNA genes

Trichophyton tonsurans has been reported to be the causative agent of an epidemic of tinea corporis and tinea capitis among Japanese judoists and wrestlers. A molecular method using restriction enzyme analysis of PCR-amplified fragments targeting the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of ribosomal RNA genes in fungal nuclei was applied to a total of 232 strains of T. tonsurans isolated in Japan. Six molecular types, i.e., NTS types I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, were clearly detected in restriction analysis of fragments digested with MvaI and AvaI together. Of the 232 strains, 199 were classified as NTS I, 21 as NTS II, 7 as NTS III, 3 as NTS IV, 1 as type V, and 1 as type VI. Whereas the NTS I strains were found nationwide, most of the NTS II and NTS III strains were limited to central Japan. Of 164 strains isolated from judoists, 160 were classified as NTS I, which suggests that the majority of the cases were caused by a clonal lineage. On the other hand, the 48 strains isolated from wrestlers showed more variety, with 27 strains classified as NTS I, 17 as NTS II, and 4 as NTS III. We concluded that the epidemic was caused by at least three lineages of T. tonsurans. NTS VI strains, the major molecular type among sporadically isolated strains, were not observed among the epidemic strains, and strains of this type did not contribute to the present epidemic.

[A feasibility study of doxorubicin/cisplatin (AP) for postoperative chemotherapy in patients with advanced endometrial cancer]

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the feasibility of doxorubicin/cisplatin (AP) for postoperative chemotherapy in patients with advanced endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Patients with newly diagnosed advanced endometrial cancer received AP (doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2), cisplatin 50 mg/m(2)) every 3 weeks. Treatment was continued until disease progression or completion of 6 courses. Toxicities were evaluated every cycle according to NCI-CTCAE Ver.3.0.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were enrolled from April 2004 through December 2005. All patients successfully completed therapy. There were two patients who needed dose reduction and nine patients with prolongation of treatment interval. Patients with over Grade 3/4 toxicity were observed to have leucopenia (47%), neutropenia (67%), anemia (26%), and vomiting (13%). No grade 3/4 cardiac and renal failure were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The doxorubicin/cisplatin (AP) regimen is tolerated and can be safely given without severe toxicity.

[Survey of Trichophyton tonsurans infection in Japan. Molecular epidemiology and factors affecting adequate hairbrush sampling]

At the 48th Annual Meeting of The Society for Japanese Medical Mycology, held in October, 2004, we reported our findings from a survey on Trichophyton tonsurans infections in the Hokuriku and Kinki regions of Japan. The survey revealed that a few epidemics had occurred across these regions. In this article, we introduce our subsequent studies relating to 1) molecular epidemiology of isolates taken from people in many parts of Japan and 2) factors affecting adequate sampling of the scalp with hairbrushes, essential for surveying and monitoring the infection. In total, 198 isolates of Trichophyton tonsurans were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the non-transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal RNA genes. The restriction enzyme Mva I indicated two molecular types of strains, implying that the causative agents of the epidemic had different origins. None of the isolates obtained from the epidemic showed the same restriction profile as that of isolates from aged and sporadic cases. The published hairbrush method suitable for obtaining samples from the scalp of Judo trainees was reevaluated by changing several factors. We found that sampling should not be done soon after the students' physical training because other fungal elements may give a false positive, samples should not be obtained from students who have recently applied topical antimycotics, and samples should be taken under the guidance of qualified instructors familiar with the sampling method.

CA125 nadir as a prognostic factor in advanced ovarian carcinoma: A retrospective study of 84 patients achieving clinical CR

5060

Background: There have been few reports of the relationship between CA125 nadir and the prognosis in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma (AOC) who achieve a complete clinical response by multivariate analysis. Methods: CA125 nadir and the prognosis after the initial therapy (debulking surgery + first line chemotherapy) were retrospectively investigated in patients (pts) who had AOC meeting the criteria below and received therapy at National Cancer Center Hospital, between 1998 and 2004. The eligibility criteria were: 1) histological diagnosis of mullerian carcinoma, 2) FIGO stages III and IV, 3) a combination of platinum and taxane was administered as the first line chemotherapy, and 4) achieved clinically defined complete response (CR) after the initial therapy (ie, no cancer-related symptoms; normal physical examination, computed tomography scan of the abdomen/pelvis and chest x-ray). The possibility of CA125 nadir being a prognostic factor was investigated in pts who met these criteria by multivariate analysis (age (<50 years or 50 years≤), stage (III or IV), histological type (serous adenocarcinoma (serous) or non-serous), residual tumor diameter (<2 cm or 2 cm≤) and CA125 nadir (<10 U/ml or 10 U/ml≤)) using the Cox regression model. Results: There were 84 pts with a median age of 55.5 years (26–74). The stage was III in 59 pts and IV in 25 pts, the histological type was serous in 71 pts and non-serous in 13pts, and the residual tumor diameter was <2 cm in 72 pts and >2 cm in 12 pts and the median of CA125 before the initial therapy was 535 U/ml (13–28190), the CA125 nadir was <10 U/ml in 54 pts and 10 U/ml≤ in 30 pts, respectively. Regarding the prognosis, the median progression free survival (PFS) was 19 months (6–82), and the median overall survival (OS) was 36.5 months (10–82). By multivariate analysis, the CA125 nadir was significantly associated with the prognosis (hazard ratio of PFS was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.21–0.71), hazard ratio of OS was 0.28 (95% CI, 0.11–0.72)). Conclusion: CA125 nadir is a prognostic factor in patients with AOC who achieved clinically defined CR after the initial therapy, when the cut-off value was set to 10 U/ml. CA125 nadir may be an important factor for identifying pts for whom maintenance chemotherapy is effective.

[Table: see text]

Analysis of third-line and fourth-line chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer treated with first-line platinum/taxane regimens

15045

Background: Limited information is available regarding to the usefulness of third-line chemotherapy (TLC) and forth-line chemotherapy (FLC) for recurrent ovarian cancer treated with first-line platinum/taxane (PT) regimens. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients (pts) with ovarian cancer treated with PT regimens at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1998 to 2004. The aim of this study is to investigate the important clinical factor such as response rate (RR), time to treatment progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and predictor of response to TLC and FLC. Kaplan-Meier method was used for estimating TTP and OS. Wilcoxon test was performed for survival times and p-values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: There were 183 pts received first-line PT regimens in study period, 77 of 183 pts received second-line chemotherapy (SLC), 61 of 77 progressed after SLC and 55 of 61 pts received TLC. The RR to TLC was 34.5%. The median TTP was 5 months (mo) (range; 1–19 mo) and the median OS was 12 mo (range; 2–38 mo). The TLC regimen was consisted of P and/or T regimens of 36 pts and the other regimens of 19 pts. The RR according to the duration of response of previous chemotherapy (DRPC) (< 6 mo and ≥ 6 mo) were 31.4% and 37.3%, respectively. The median OS of DRPC (< 6 mo and ≥ 6 mo) were 8 mo (range; 2–33 mo) and 12 mo (range; 2–38 mo), respectively (p = 0.002). After TLC 47 pts progressed and 29 pts received FLC. The RR to FLC was 27.5%. The median TTP was 3 mo (range; 0–11 mo). The median OS of 18 pts who didn’t receive FLC and 29 pts received FLC were 2 mo (range; 2–16 mo) and 7 mo (range; 2–25 mo), respectively (p = 0.01). The RR according to DRPC (< 4 mo and ≥ 4mo) were 22.2% and 30%, respectively. The median OS of DRPC (< 4 mo and ≥ 4 mo) were 3 mo (range; 2–23 mo) and 6 mo (range; 2–25 mo), respectively (p = 0.4). Conclusions: The DRPC is considered to be predictor of response to TLC but not to FLC. Giving TLC and FLC if the pts have tolerable may improve OS, however this analysis is prone to several well-established potential biases and limitations. Further prospective study is warranted.

[Table: see text]

Selective inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by coptisine isolated from Coptis rhizoma, one of the crude drugs composing Kampo medicines Unsei-in

Acceleration of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is closely linked to the pathogenesis of vascular diseases. We, therefore, focused on traditional Japanese herbal medicines (Kampo medicines) used to ameliorate the impairment of microcirculation or blood stasis and screened them for their ability to inhibit rat VSMC proliferation. Among them, Unsei-in was found to effectively suppress VSMC proliferation, and Coptis rhizome was the responsible constituent crude drug. The extract of Coptis rhizome inhibited VSMC proliferation with the GI(50) value of 4.4 microg/ml, which was much lower than those against the proliferation of 3Y1, dRLh-84, B16, and HeLa cells. The Coptis rhizome extract inhibited the progression of VSMC arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase from G(0)/G(1) to S phase, but not that of 3Y1 cells. Biological assay-guided fractionation revealed that an alkaloid of Coptis rhizome, coptisine, was the active ingredient in selectively preventing VSMC proliferation with GI(50) of 3.3 microM (1.2 microg/ml). When the structurally-related isoquinoline alkaloids of protoberberine class were studied for their inhibitory activities, berberine decreased the VSMC proliferation with GI(50) of 95.1 microM (35.4 microg/ml), about 30 times higher concentration than coptisine, while palmatine failed to show any activity. This study provides evidence that coptisine, an ingredient of Unsei-in, prevents VSMC proliferation selectively at lower concentrations compared with various cells or other structurally related alkaloids.

Correlation of visual hallucinations with occipital rCBF changes by donepezil in DLB

The authors explored the neural substrate of visual hallucinations in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) by investigating changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and psychiatric symptoms, before and after cholinesterase inhibitor treatment. Twenty subjects with DLB were treated with donepezil for a 12-week period. Hallucinations attenuated while receiving therapy, whereas occipital rCBF focally increased, suggesting that functional visual association cortex deficits may cause visual hallucinations in patients with DLB.

Intra-species variation of genotypes of Exophiala jeanselmei isolated from patients in Japan

Isolates of Exophiala jeanselmei have been classified into 15 types based on their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Thirteen of the 15 types and E. spinifera, which has been classified as E. jeanselmei Type 14, were confirmed to be also clearly differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosomal RNA genes in their nuclear DNA (nDNA). Twenty strains of E. jeanselmei, newly identified or isolated from patients in Japan, were examined for mtDNA-RFLP and ITS-RFLP. The twenty isolates were comprised of: 11 E. jeanselmei Type 5, 6 E. jeanselmei Type 6, 2 Type 10, and 1 Type 8. E. jeanselmei Type 6 was the second most common strain in Japan after Type 5. Type 5 was definitely identified as E. jeanselmei var. jeanselmei and Type 8 was identified as E. jeanselmei var. lecanii-corni based on the genotypes of type strains of these species. However, two other types were still designated as E. jeanselmei Type 6 and E. jeanselmei Type 10.

Silsesquioxane-based nanocomposite dendrimers with photo-luminescent and charge transport properties

The synthesis and characterization of octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS)-based nanocomposite dendrimers with luminescent and charge transport properties are reported. The nanocomposite dendrimers were prepared in high yield using mild Heck chemistry of mono-haloaromatic compounds with the peripheral vinylsilane groups of OVS. Attachment of 2-naphthalene, 2-(9,9-dimethyl)fluorene, and 2-(4-phenyl)-5-(1-naphthyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole resulted in materials with blue-violet emission (360-380 nm) and photo-luminescent quantum efficiencies (PLQEs) from 1 to 26%. Blue-green emission was observed for attachment of 1-pyrene, 9-anthracene, and N1-(4-phenyl)-N1,N4,N4-triphenylbenzene-1,4-diamine with PLQEs ranging from 23 to 50%. Despite the planar characteristics of the organic dendrons, the nanocomposite dendrimers are completely amorphous and have high glass transition temperatures (Tg) ranging from 115 to 186 degrees C with decomposition temperatures (Td) exceeding 450 degrees C. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight shows that unlike traditional Heck chemistry, haloaromatic compounds are adding twice across the vinylsilane groups. Finally, organic light emitting diodes using the aromatic amine-based dendrimer as hole injection layers show 55% improvement in device efficiency over traditional materials (5.16 vs. 3.24 cd A(-1)) with brightness levels exceeding 40,000 cd m(-2).

Double blockade of cell cycle progression by coptisine in vascular smooth muscle cells

Coptisine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from rhizome of Coptis japonica, inhibits proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of coptisine, along with berberine (a structurally similar isoquinoline alkaloid), on progression of the cell cycle in VSMCs. Coptisine displayed antiproliferative action against VSMCs by blocking the cell cycle at G(1) and G(2)/M phases. The G(1) block was shown by inhibition of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into VSMCs at coptisine concentrations higher than 15 microM. The mechanism underlying the G(1) arrest involved a decrease in cyclin D1 protein, although cyclin E, A, and B were not affected by coptisine treatment. The selective reduction in cyclin D1 protein was mainly attributable to accelerated proteolysis via proteasome-dependent pathway, since it was inhibited by a proteasome inhibitor, N-carbobenzoxy-L-leucinyl-L-leucinyl-L-norleucinal (MG132) and further the mRNA level of cyclin D1, protein synthesis, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity remained unaltered. The mechanism underlying the G(2)/M arrest involved partial inhibition of tubulin polymerization, which was apparent at coptisine concentration of 3 microM. Berberine arrested the cell cycle at G(1) phase via a mechanism identical with coptisine, but did not cause block at G(2)/M phase. The results demonstrate that a small difference in the structure between isoquinoline alkaloids produces a big difference in activity, and that coptisine has a unique double action in arresting the cell cycle of VSMCs.