Study of orthoexciton-to-paraexciton conversion in Cu(2)O by excitonic Lyman spectroscopy

Using time-resolved 1s-2p excitonic Lyman spectroscopy, we study the orthoexciton-to-paraexciton transfer, following the creation of a high density population of ultracold 1s orthoexcitons by resonant two-photon excitation with femtosecond pulses. An observed fast exciton-density dependent conversion rate is attributed to spin exchange between pairs of orthoexcitons. Implication of these results on the feasibility of Bose-Einstein condensation of paraexcitons in Cu(2)O is discussed.

260 REPLACEMENT OF PVA WITH FETAL BOVINE SERUM IMPROVES FORMATION AND HATCHING OF PORCINE BLASTOCYSTS PRODUCED IN VITRO

Porcine embryos, derived from in vitro maturation and fertilization, were used to investigate the effects of timing of serum inclusion and PVA replacement in the medium for in vitro culture (IVC) on rates of blastocyst formation and hatching. In Experiment 1, presumptive zygotes at 20 h post-insemination (hpi) or cleaved embryos obtained by culture in porcine zygote medium (PZM-5) containing 3 mg mL−1 polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at 48 or 96 hpi were further cultured in either PZM-5 containing PVA or PZM-5 where PVA was replaced by 1%, 5%, or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) until Day 6 (Day 0 = the day of in vitro insemination). Supplementation with 1% to 10% FBS at 20 and 48 hpi reduced (P < 0.05; by ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test) blastocyst rates on Days 5 (0% to 1%) and 6 (3% to 6%) compared with PVA supplementation (4% and 22%, respectively). However, addition of 10% FBS at 96 hpi increased (P < 0.05) blastocyst rates (30%) on Day 5 compared with PVA (11%) and 1% FBS (15%); there was no significant difference among treatments in rates of blastocyst formation on Day 6 (24% to 40%). The total number of blastomeres in Day 6 blastocysts did not differ among treatments at any timing of serum supplementation (26.5 to 48.3 cells). In Experiment 2, presumptive zygotes were cultured from 20 to 96 hpi in PVA medium, and the cleaved embryos were later transferred into PZM-5 containing PVA, or 1%, 5%, or 10% FBS for another 4 days. Hatching rates of embryos on Days 7 and 8 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in PZM-5 where PVA was replaced with 10% FBS (15% and 20%, respectively) than those in PZM-5 containing PVA (1% and 5%, respectively). Moreover, the total cell number in hatching/hatched blastocysts on Day 8 were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in medium containing 10% FBS (135.1 cells) than that in PVA medium (77.0 cells). In Experiment 3, at 130 hpi, blastocysts derived from IVC with PZM-5 containing PVA were transferred into PZM-5 containing PVA, 3 mg mL−1 bovine serum albumin (BSA) or 10% FBS for another 2 days. Hatching rates of blastocysts on Days 6, 7 and 8 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in PZM-5 where PVA was replaced with 10% FBS (12%, 56%, and 64%, respectively) than those in PZM-5 containing PVA (0%, 12%, and 20%, respectively) and BSA (0%, 12%, and 20%, respectively). Moreover, the total cell number in hatching/hatched blastocysts on Day 8 were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in medium containing 10% FBS (138.7 cells) than that in PVA (71.7 cells) and BSA medium (70.7 cells). The results indicate that the timing of serum inclusion in the culture medium markedly affects porcine embryo development in vitro and that replacement of PVA with FBS in PZM-5 at 96 hpi or later improves the subsequent development of embryos to the hatching/hatched blastocyst stage. This work was supported by MAFF, Japan, and STINT and FORMAS, Sweden.

257 EFFECTS OF GLUTAMINE AND HYPOTAURINE ON OXIDATIVE STRESS OF PORCINE EMBRYOS CULTURED IN VITRO

We previously developed an in vitro production system for porcine embryos and reported that the addition of glutamine and hypotaurine during in vitro culture improved blastocyst yield and the total number of cells in the blastocysts. Glutamine and hypotaurine might reduce oxidative stress, allowing the development of embryos cultured in vitro, because glutamine reportedly protects embryos against oxidative stress by helping to maintain intracellular levels of cysteine, a precursor of glutathione (GSH), and hypotaurine is a potent antioxidant. In the present study we evaluated the effects of the presence of glutamine and hypotaurine from Day 2 (Day 0 = the day of in vitro fertilization) to Day 3 on oxidative stress during in vitro development of porcine embryos. Porcine cumulus-oocytes complexes from prepubertal gilts were matured and fertilized in vitro using frozen-thawed ejaculated boar semen (Yoshioka et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 2092–2099). Presumptive zygotes were cultured in porcine zygote medium (PZM)-5 (Suzuki et al., 2002) containing 2 mM of glutamine and 5 mM of hypotaurine as a basal culture medium until Day 2. The cleaved embryos were then transferred into one of four media prepared as follows: (1) containing no glutamine or hypotaurine (G−H−), (2) containing glutamine (G+H−), (3) containing hypotaurine (G−H+), (4) containing glutamine and hypotaurine (G+H+) (= PZM-5), and cultured for 24 h. After culture, the total number of cells, intracellular GSH content, and level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is a reactive oxygen species, in the cleaved embryos were examined. Some cleaved embryos were cultured in PZM-5 from Day 3 until Day 5 and the percentage of embryos that developed into blastocysts and the total number of cells in the blastocysts were investigated. Intracellular GSH content and H2O2 level on Day 3 were determined by a dithionitrobenzoic acid-glutathione disulfide (DTNB-GSSG) reductase recycling assay and dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate (DCHFDA)-based assay, respectively. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test. The total number of cells (4.3 to 4.4 cells) and intracellular GSH content (2.3 to 2.9 pmol/embryo) in the cleaved embryos on Day 3 did not differ among treatments. On Day 3, the intracellular H2O2 level of the cleaved embryos cultured in G+H+ decreased by 49% compared with those cultured in G−H− (100%) (P < 0.05). On Day 5, the percentage of embryos that developed into blastocysts in G+H+ (52%, 47/90) and G+H− (41%, 36/88) was significantly higher than in G−H− (11%, 11/90) and G−H+ (21%, 19/89) (P < 0.05). The total number of cells in the Day 5 blastocysts from G+H+ (34.5 cells) was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in those from G−H− (25.8 cells). These results suggest that the presence of glutamine and hypotaurine in PZM-5 from Day 2 to Day 3 improves the subsequent development of porcine embryos into blastocysts by reducing intracellular H2O2 levels. This work was supported by MAFF, Japan.

Effects of growth hormone (GH) on mRNA levels of uncoupling proteins 1, 2, and 3 in brown and white adipose tissues and skeletal muscle in obese mice

We have investigated whether GH treatment influences the expression of UCP1, 2 and 3 mRNA in a KK-Ay obese mouse model. KK-Ay mice (n = 10) and C57Bl/6J control mice (n = 10) were injected subcutaneously with human GH (1.0 mg/kg/day and 3.5 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, and compared with mice injected with physical saline. The KK-Ay obese mice weighed significantly less (p < 0.01 : 1.0 mg/kg/day, p < 0.05 : 3.5 mg/kg/day) and had smaller inguinal subcutaneous and perimetric white adipose tissue (WAT) pads (p < 0.05 : 3.5 mg/kg/day), but increased skeletal muscle weight (p < 0.05). The brown adipose tissue (BAT) weight did not change significantly. Not only plasma free fatty acid and glucose levels but also plasma insulin levels decreased. The reduced HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) values suggested that insulin resistance was improved by GH treatment. UCP1 mRNA levels increased after the 3.5 mg GH treatment by 2.8-fold (p < 0.01 vs. saline controls) and 2.0-fold (p < 0.05 vs. 1 mg GH treatment) in BAT, and by 6.0-fold in subcutaneous WAT (p < 0.05 vs. controls). UCP2 mRNA levels increased 2.2-fold (p < 0.05 vs. control) and 2.1-fold (p < 0.05 vs. 1 mg GH treatment) in BAT, and 2.0-fold (p < 0.05 vs. controls) in skeletal muscle. One mg GH administration also stimulated UCP1 mRNA expression by 2.5-fold (p < 0.05 vs. controls) and UCP3 mRNA expression by 2.8-fold (p < 0.05 vs. controls) in the muscle. On the other hand, lean mice showed no significant difference in body composition or plasma parameters. UCP1, 2 and 3 mRNA expression in lean mice did not show any significant change after treatment with GH. We conclude that GH treatment increased mRNA levels for not only UCP1, but also UCP 2 and 3 in BAT, WAT and muscle in a KK-Ay obese mouse model. These findings suggest that GH-induced thermogenesis may contribute to the reduction in WAT and energy expenditure.

Beneficial action of candesartan cilexetil plus amlodipine or ACE inhibitors in chronic nondiabetic renal disease

Although multiple antihypertensive agents are required to control blood pressure (BP) in chronic renal disease, it remains undetermined whether the combination therapy with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) plus calcium antagonists or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) confers more preferable action on renal disease than the ARB monotherapy. In the present study, we compared the effect of the combination therapy with ARB plus calcium antagonists/ACEI on proteinuria with that of the ARB monotherapy in chronic nondiabetic renal disease. At 1 month of the drug treatment, the candesartan monotherapy (n=19) reduced BP from 154+/-3/93+/-2 to 146+/-3/88+/-2 mmHg (P<0.05), and a similar magnitude of BP reductions was observed with the combination therapy with candesartan plus ACEI/amlodipine (from 153+/-2/95+/-2 to 144+/-2/88+/-2 mmHg, P<0.05, n=39). The depressor action of these therapies was sustained throughout the 12-month treatment. In contrast, the reduction in proteinuria was greater with the combination therapy (-52+/-3% at 12 months, n=39) than with the candesartan monotherapy (-25+/-3%, n=19), although the baseline values of proteinuria were nearly the same in the candesartan monotherapy group (1.74+/-0.22 g/day) and the combination therapy group (2.10+/-0.19 g/day, P>0.2). Of note, the proteinuria-sparing effect did not differ between the candesartan+ACEI group and the candesartan+amlodipine group. In conclusion, the present study suggests more beneficial action of the combination therapy with ARB plus ACEI/amlodipine than the ARB monotherapy in nondiabetic renal disease. Since the reduction in BP was achieved to the same level, the distinct proteinuria-sparing action of these therapies is attributed to BP-independent mechanisms, which should vary depending on the agents used.

Interferon treatment improves survival in chronic hepatitis C patients showing biochemical as well as virological responses by preventing liver-related death

Interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C reduces the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, especially among virological and biochemical responders. However, little is known about the effect of interferon therapy on mortality. We studied the long-term effect of interferon therapy on mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis C. For this retrospective cohort study, 2954 patients with chronic hepatitis C were recruited, of whom 2698 received interferon therapy and 256 did not. The effect of interferon therapy on survival was assessed by standardized mortality ratio (SMR) based on published mortality data for the general Japanese population and by risk ratio calculated by proportional hazard regression. Over 6.0 +/- 2.2 years follow-up, death from liver-related diseases was observed in 69 (68%) of 101 deaths among interferon-treated patients and in 42 (81%) of 52 deaths among untreated patients. Compared with the general population, overall mortality was high among untreated patients (SMR: 2.7; 95% CI: 2.0-3.6) but not among interferon-treated patients (SMR: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.7-1.1). Liver-related mortality was extremely high among untreated patients (SMR: 22.2; 95% CI: 16.0-30.0) and less among interferon-treated patients (SMR: 5.5; 95% CI: 4.3-6.9). The risk of death from all causes was lower for interferon-treated than untreated patients (risk ratio: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.261-0.836; P = 0.01). The risk of death from liver-related diseases was significantly lower for sustained virological responders (risk ratio: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.005-0.301; P = 0.002) compared with untreated patients, but not for nonsustained virological responders. Sustained biochemical responders (risk ratio: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.004-0.230; P < 0.001) and transient biochemical responders (risk ratio: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.063-0.532; P = 0.002) showed a significantly reduced risk of death from liver-related death, whereas biochemical nonresponders did not. Hence interferon treatment improved survival in chronic hepatitis C patients showing a biochemical as well as a virological response by preventing liver-related deaths.

Testicular atrophy after bile duct ligation in chickens

Testicular atrophy associated with biliary obstruction in chickens, produced by the ligation of both extrahepatic bile ducts, was examined grossly, histologically, immunohistochemically, and ultrastructurally. Grossly, reduction in testicular size and volume was evident in chickens that underwent bile duct ligation (BDL). Histologically, there was marked reduction in tubular diameter, peritubular fibrosis, loss of spermatogenic cells, and tubules lined only by Sertoli cells. In addition, Leydig cells, which accumulated in the interstitium of the testes, contained numerous large lipid vacuoles, as determined by electron microscopy. These features suggest that BDL in chickens causes hypogonadism and low serum testosterone.

Expression of Nestin and IGF-1 in Rat Pancreas after Streptozotocin Administration

The present study examines whether centroacinar (CA) and intercalated duct (ICD) cells can serve as stem cells, after administration of the diabetogenic agent streptozotocin (STZ). Thirty rats were divided into five experimental groups: (1) control, (2) 1 day after STZ (STZ-1), (3) 3 days after STZ (STZ-3), (4) 7 days after STZ (STZ-7) and (5) 14 days after STZ (STZ-14). Many small pancreatic islets were observed in the STZ-7 group than in the other experimental groups, and many of these small islets were in close contact with ICD and CA cells. A higher number of nestin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1-receptor positive ICD and CA cells were observed at STZ-3 and STZ-7 than at the others. These expression patterns coincided well with the proliferating cell nuclear antigen pattern. The results suggest that rat pancreatic endocrine cells after damage by STZ administration might be recovered from newly generated cells derived from ICD and CA cells.

Morphological Characterization of Ductular Reactions in Canine Liver Disease

Intrahepatic bile duct proliferation (ductular reaction) was examined histologically, immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally in four cases of canine liver disease, diagnosed as chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and cholangiocellular carcinoma. Ductular reaction was a common finding in all cases. Most of the proliferated bile ducts were similar to normal bile ducts. In addition, duct-like structures occurred, consisting of hepatocytes and of intermediate cells that had phenotypic characteristics of both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes. The proliferated bile ducts were immunohistochemically negative for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and stem cell factor (SCF). The proliferated bile ducts in these four cases of canine liver disease thus showed both typical ductular reactions, such as elongation and tortuosity of the existing bile ducts, and atypical ductular reactions resulting from metaplasia of hepatocytes.

290EFFECTS OF HYALURONAN ON IN VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF PORCINE EMBRYOS CULTURED IN A CHEMICALLY DEFINED MEDIUM

Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan present in follicular and oviductal fluids, has been related to sperm capacitation, fertilization and embryo development. We have previously developed an in vitro-production (IVP) system of porcine embryos, where porcine blastocysts can be produced by IVF and IVC in chemically defined media and can develop to full-term by transfer to recipients. The application of a chemically defined medium to IVP in pigs allows the analysis of the physical action of substances on the development of pre-implantation embryos. In the present study, the effects of HA on the development of porcine embryos in a chemically defined medium were investigated. Porcine presumptive zygotes were produced by IVM and IVF of COC from pre-pubertal gilts and frozen-thawed ejaculated boar semen. The zygotes were cultured in Porcine Zygote Medium (PZM)-5 containing different concentrations of HA (0 [control], 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50μgmL−1) until 6 days after IVF, and representative specimens were fixed for cell counting and transmission electron microscopy. Data of percentages and cell numbers were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher’s PLSD test. The percentage of embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage (15.8% [23/144] to 19.5% [27/139]) did not differ among treatments. However, addition of 5 or 10μgmL−1 HA increased (P&lt;0.05) the total number of cells in blastocysts (56.1 and 58.3 cells [n=22 and 23], respectively) compared to control (no HA, 42.0 cells [n=23]). To evaluate proliferation rates of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE), embryos were cultured in PZM-5 for various periods of exposure to 10μgmL−1 HA. The numbers of ICM and TE cells in Day-6 blastocysts cultured in the presence of exogenous HA from Day 0 to Day 3 (18.3 and 34.4 cells, respectively [n=38]) or Day 6 (17.9 and 35.9 cells, respectively [n=36]) were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher than those cultured without HA through the culture period (13.5 and 24.2 cells, respectively [n=26]). In the presence of HA from Day 3 to 6, only the number of TE cells (37.1 cells [n=33]) increased (P&lt;0.05), compared to PZM-5 alone. Differences in ultrastructure were noticed among blastocysts cultured with or without 10mgmL−1 HA. Blastocysts cultured with HA had mainly mature mitochondria while many mitochondria appeared morphologically immature in the blastocysts cultured without HA. Lipid droplets in the blastocysts cultured with HA seemed to be more homogeneous in comparison with those in the blastocysts cultured in PZM-5 alone. Further differences were seen in the numbers of lysosome-like structures, which were greater in blastocysts cultured with HA. This study demonstrates that exogenous HA improves cell proliferation and normality of ICM and TE in porcine embryos cultured in a chemically defined medium, depending on the exposure periods to HA. (Supported by MAFF, Japan and STINT, Sweden.)

285BIRTH OF PIGLETS AFTER NON-SURGICAL TRANSFER OF PORCINE EMBRYOS CULTURED IN PZM-4 WITH ALTERED CONCENTRATIONS OF AMINO ACIDS

We previously developed an in vitro production (IVP) system for porcine embryos and obtained piglets after surgical transfer of blastocysts cultured in Porcine Zygote Medium (PZM)-4. However, the developmental competence of pig IVP embryos to the blastocyst stage is still low and further improvement of IVC medium is needed. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the addition of glutamine (Gln), hypotaurine (HT), taurine (Tau), BME-essential (EA) and MEM-nonessential (NA) amino acids solutions to PZM-4, and the replacement of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with BSA on embryo development to blastocysts. Moreover, the developmental competence of IVP blastocysts after nonsurgical embryo transfer (NS-ET), using a flexible catheter (FC) for deep intrauterine insemination, was investigated. Porcine COC from prepubertal gilts were matured and fertilized in vitro, using frozen-thawed ejaculated boar semen. Presumptive zygotes were cultured in PZM-4, as a basal culture medium, until Day 5 after IVF. Data from six replicates were analyzed by ANOVA. Addition of 0.25 to 4mM Gln to PZM-4 (containing 5mM HT) significantly increased the percentage of embryos that developed to blastocysts (15 to 31%), with addition of 2mM Gln significantly increasing the total cell numbers in blastocysts (43±17 cells) compared with no addition (3% and 20±4 cells, respectively). Addition of 1.25 to 10mM HT to HT-free PZM-4 supplemented with 2mM Gln (named PZM-5) significantly increased the percentage of embryos that developed to blastocysts (22 to 28%) compared with control (no HT;; 4%). In the culture with HT-free PZM-5, addition of 5mM Tau significantly increased blastocyst yield (17%) compared with control (4%). However, Tau addition in the presence of 5mM HT had no effect on development to the blastocyst stage. In combinations of EA and NA added to PZM-5, a single dose of EA significantly increased the percentage of embryos that developed to blastocysts (27%) compared with no dose (19%) or with a double dose of EA (20%), while a double dose of NA significantly increased the total cell numbers in blastocysts (43±16 cells) compared with no NA (37± 6 cells). Replacement of PVA with BSA in PZM-5 had no effect on embryo development to the blastocyst stage. Crossbred sows were used as recipients for NS-ET, and had their estrous cycle synchronized by a described previously method (Yoshioka et al., 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 112–119). Five days after hCG injection, a FC was introduced via the cervix into the uterine horn of recipients without sedation. Day-5 blastocysts cultured in PZM-5 were then transferred together with 5ml of TALP-Hepes (45 to 50 blastocysts/recipient). Of 6 recipients, one sow became pregnant and farrowed 7 piglets. Our results indicate that the addition of amino acids to PZM-4 can improve porcine embryo development to the blastocyst stage, and that blastocysts cultured in a chemically defined medium, PZM-5, can develop to full-term following NS-ET.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of selective ligands for P3 purinoceptor-like protein (P3LP)

We examined the structure-activity relationship of various 5'-N-substituted-carboxamidoadenosine derivatives toward P3 purinoceptor-like protein (P3LP), which has affinity for both adenine nucleosides and nucleotides. We discovered a hydrophobic binding region near the 5'-N-substituted-carboxamide group. From the linear alkyl N-substituted derivatives, 1-(adenin-9-yl)-1-deoxy-N-n-pentyl-beta-D-ribofuranuronamide (6) was found to be the most potent ligand. In the series of the N-cycloalkyl derivatives, 1-(adenin-9-yl)-1-deoxy-N-cyclohexyl-beta-D-ribofuranuronamide (8) was the strongest ligand. We also examined the receptor selectivity for the selected nucleosides 6 and 8 with 1 (HAK2701) and N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) versus P1 purinoceptor subtypes, such as adenosine A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors and found 8 is the most selective ligand for P3LP.

Morphological relationship between intercalated duct and pancreatic islet in streptozotocin and/or camostat mesilate administrations in the chicken

Present electron microscopical and immunocytochemistrical studies elucidated some morphological relationship between intercalated duct (ICD) and pancreatic islet cells in the chicken in streptozotocin (STZ) and/or camostat mesilate (CM) administrations. Twenty-one chickens were set into four experimental groups: (1) control group, (2) STZ administration group, (3) CM administration group, and (4) STZ + CM administration group. Cytoplasms of ICD cells stained more strongly with eosin in STZ administration group than other groups, and electron-dense materials and intercalated processes between ICD and islet cells were also increasing in time dependence in STZ administration. Number of pancreatic islet in STZ + CM co-administration was about 3.1 times larger than other groups. Many small sized cells were detected at surrounding area of ICD and they incorporated 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine better than other experimental groups. Present morphological data suggested that ICD cells might support some tolerances of pancreatic endocrine cells against toxic substances and also involve in regeneration of new pancreatic islet cells in STZ + CM co-administration.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Gnathostoma nipponicum

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against the proteins of advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) of Gnathostoma nipponicum. Six mAbs (Gn2C3, Gn2H3, Gn4C3, Gn4E9, GnSH1, and Gn10B7) were obtained as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gn4E9 and GnSH1 seemed to be genus-specific, as they did not cross-react with Anisakis sp., Dirofilaria immitis, Gongylonema pulchrum, Toxocara canis, Trichinella sp., Trichuris vulpis, Metagonimus sp., or Spirometra erinaceieuropaei by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry showed that Gn2C3, Gn4E9, and Gn5H1 reacted strongly with the central esophagus; Gn2H3 reacted with cuticle,muscle, intestine, and the cervical sac; and Gn4C3 and Gn10B7 reacted with cuticle, muscle, esophagus, intestine, and the cervical sac of AdL3. In Western blotting analysis, Gn2C3, Gn4E9, and Gn5H1 reacted to 60-, 53-, 46-, and 41-kDa proteins; Gn4C3 reacted to the AdL3 protein of G. nipponicum (>42 kDa). Moreover, proteins purified using a mAb Gn4E9 immunoprecipitation method (sizes 60-, 53-, 46-, and 41-kDa) were used as antigens in ELISAs. A significant difference (P < 0.01) was shown between mouse sera infected with G. nipponicum and sera infected with Trichnella sp. or not infected. These results provide a rationale for evaluating esophageal proteins for the development of diagnostic methods for detecting G. nipponicum or Gnathostoma sp. infections.

Aldose reductase gene polymorphism is associated with progression of diabetic nephropathy in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIM

The objective of this study was to investigate cross-sectionally and longitudinally whether polymorphism of the (A-C)n dinucleotide repeat sequence of the aldose reductase (AR) gene may modulate risk for diabetic nephropathy or retinopathy in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

We obtained DNA samples from 101 patients followed up after the onset of type 1 diabetes and analysed a (A-C)n dinucleotide repeat polymorphic marker in the AR gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

RESULTS

Ten alleles ranging from Z-10 (128 bp) to Z+8 (146 bp) in repeat number were identified. In cross-sectional studies, the prevalence of the Z+2 allele was higher than that of any other allele in patients with diabetic nephropathy (37.5% of patients in a microalbuminuria group, and 41.7% of those in a macroalbuminuria group including patients with chronic renal failure and maintenance haemodialysis treatment). Prevalence of the Z+2 allele was not increased in patients with diabetic retinopathy. In longitudinal Kaplan-Meier plots, the cumulative incidence of nephropathy was significantly associated with homozygosity for the Z+2 allele (log rank test, p = 0.031); respective prevalence of nephropathy after diabetes durations of 10 and 15 years was 42.9% and 100% in Z+2 homozygotes (n = 8), 17.6% and 27.4% in Z+2 heterozygotes (n = 44), and 6.1% and 17.4% in patients without the Z+2 allele (n = 49). However, occurrence of retinopathy was not influenced by the Z+2 allele (log rank test, p = 0.926).

CONCLUSIONS

Homozygosity for the Z+2 allele was associated with accelerated early progression of diabetic nephropathy in Japanese type 1 diabetic patients.

A new method for measuring dynamic change of tracer distribution using dynamic single photon emission tomography with a slip-ring rotational gamma camera

The clinical applicability of dynamic single photon emission tomograpy (SPET) using a dual-head gamma camera equipped with a slip-ring rotational mechanism, referred to as serial SPET, was examined in the present investigation. Serial SPET enables the production of tomographic images for any arbitrary time frame from an arbitrary range of data to 360 degrees. In a pre-clinical evaluation, a correlation between radioactivity concentration and serial SPET counts was evaluated in a phantom with continuous changes in 99mTc concentration. A differential value was obtained from each pair of SPET images; moreover, moving average approximation processing was investigated with respect to the elimination of noise in the data. In 11 and one patient presenting with cerebrovascular disease and meningioma, respectively, changes in SPET counts were evaluated when 99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) was continuously administered at a constant rate in the resting state. Furthermore, in six of 11 subjects with cerebrovascular disease, changes occurring in SPET counts were examined by using acetazolamide loading while continuously administering 99mTc-ECD at a constant rate. Consequently, serial SPET enabled the evaluation of changes in radioactivity concentration over time in both the phantom and preliminary clinical studies. Data analysis by differential processing utilizing moving average approximation processing enabled the detection of minor changes in radioactivity concentration. An increase of 15.1+/-5.4% was observed in SPET counts of the unaffected cerebral hemisphere with acetazolamide loading. The response of the affected hemisphere was less prominent. These findings suggest that serial SPET would be an effective technique for the pharmacokinetic analysis of radiopharmaceuticals.

IgG/IgA pemphigus with IgG and IgA antidesmoglein 1 antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Pemphigus is an autoimmune mucocutaneous bullous disease characterized by autoantibodies against the cell surfaces of epidermal keratinocytes. Six cases with deposition of both IgG and IgA on keratinocyte cell surfaces have been reported in the recent literature. We provisionally termed these cases IgG/IgA pemphigus. We describe a 42-year-old Japanese woman with clinical and histopathological features resembling herpetiform pemphigus who demonstrated in vivo bound and circulating anticell surface autoantibodies of both IgG and IgA classes on immunofluorescence examination. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using baculovirus-expressed recombinant desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg 3 showed that both IgG and IgA antibodies reacted with Dsg1. The reactivity was completely adsorbed with preincubation of serum with Dsg1 baculoprotein, further confirming the exclusive reactivity of both IgG and IgA antibodies with Dsg1. This is the second case of IgG/IgA pemphigus in which the human target antigens for both IgG and IgA antibodies have been unequivocally identified. This study provides further evidence that IgG/IgA pemphigus is a distinct disease entity.

Clinical study of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and auditory brainstem responses in patients with brainstem lesions

A total of 13 patients, who were diagnosed with localized brainstem lesions using MRI, were investigated. The diagnoses were multiple sclerosis in five patients, brainstem hemorrhage in three patients, pontomedullary infarction in one patient and Wallenberg's syndrome in four patients. In addition, 42 ears of 21 normal adult volunteers were also examined. In a patient with upper brainstem lesions mainly affecting the midbrain, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was abnormal but the vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) was normal. In four patients with middle brainstem lesions which mainly affected the pons, both ABR and VEMP were abnormal. In five patients with lower brainstem lesions which mainly affected the medulla, the ABR was normal but the VEMP was abnormal. In those patients with middle-to-lower brainstem lesions, a disappearance of VEMP reactions, delay of the positive-negative (PN) wave, increase in PN interpeak latency and decrease in PN amplitude on the affected side were confirmed. In conclusion, the VEMP test comprises a useful new diagnostic method for identifying lower brainstem lesions.

Chromosome 9 and 17 aberrations and p53 gene deletion detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in renal-cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nuclear grade and tumor stage have been reported as important prognostic factors for renal-cell carcinoma (RCC), but tumors of similar stage and grade can still exhibit wide variations in biologic behavior and clinical outcome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has recently been applied to RCC. This study was designed to investigate whether aberrations of some chromosomes or genes detected by FISH are related to the progression of RCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 52 patients with RCC, including 31 patients without metastasis (control group) and 21 patients with either concurrent or subsequent metastasis (metastatic group). Paraffin-embedded specimens of the primary tumors were analyzed by FISH for aberrations of chromosomes 9 and 17, as well as for p53 gene alterations.

RESULTS

The incidence of aberrations of chromosome 9 was higher in the metastatic group than in the control group. The p53 gene deletion rate was significantly higher in the metastatic group than in the control group. When the metastatic group was separated into concurrent and subsequent metastasis subgroups, chromosome 17 aberrations as well as p53 gene deletion were significantly more common in the subsequent metastasis group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 as well as p53 gene deletion detected by FISH may be markers of chromosomal instability in RCC and are probably associated with an increased propensity to metastasize.

Absence of endothelium in invertebrate blood vessels: significance of endothelium and sympathetic nerve/medial smooth muscle in the vertebrate vascular system

In the course of evolution, two remarkable changes seem to have occurred in vertebrate circulation: the appearance and development of the "endothelium or endothelial tubular system" and "sympathetic nerve/medial smooth muscle system". In the present article, some relevant literature is reviewed and discussed. Absence of endothelium in the vascular wall of most invertebrates had been known and was confirmed by recent electron microscopic studies. The medial smooth muscle is rather proper to vertebrate vessels. It seems to have appeared after emergence of and in association with the endothelial tubular system. Phylogenetically, the parasympathetic nervous system is thought to be older than the sympathetic system. The former is distributed to viscera and the latter developed in close relation with the vascular system. It is assumed that during evolution, a circulatory system composed of the heart and endothelial tubular system first formed in vertebrates, medial smooth muscle then appeared for regulation of the system, and innervation of the muscle tissue took place. This sequence of development assumed for phylogenesis is actually realized in the ontogenetic processes. We thus propose a hypothesis that the "sympathetic nerve/medial smooth muscle system" may be regarded as a new neuroeffector mechanism that developed for systemic regulation of the endothelium-lined closed vascular system in vertebrates. A few implications of the hypothesis are presented.

Biochemical response to interferon therapy correlates with interferon sensitivity-determining region in hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection

Biochemical responders maintain normal alanine aminotransferase levels after interferon (IFN) therapy despite persistent presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in their sera. There have been few reports on predictive factors for biochemical response. A region associated with sensitivity to IFN was identified in the nonstructural protein 5 A of genotype 1b [aa 2209-2248; IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR)]. The substitutions in ISDR correlate with sustained response to IFN. In this report, we assessed the association of ISDR with biochemical response. The sequences of ISDR were determined in 62 patients with HCV genotype 1b treated by IFN in two randomized controlled trials. 30 patients had wild ISDR (identical to HCV-J), 20 intermediate ISDR (1-3 amino acid substitutions compared with HCV-J), and 12 mutant ISDR (four or more amino acid substitutions). All 12 patients with mutant ISDR had a sustained response, while only one of those with wild or intermediate ISDR had a sustained response (P < 0.0001). In the 49 patients other than sustained responders, the patients with intermediate ISDR obtained biochemical response significantly more frequently (52.6%, 10/19) than those with wild-type ISDR (20.0%, 6/30) (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated the number of substitutions in ISDR as the most important predictor for biochemical response (discriminant coefficient=1.08, P < 0.05) and sustained response (discriminant coefficient=6.13, P < 0.0001). In phylogenetic analysis, clustering of sustained responders and biochemical responders was observed. These results demonstrate that the substitutions in ISDR are the most important predictor for biochemical response to IFN in patients infected with genotype 1b as well as for sustained response.

Differential expression of activin subunits, activin receptors and follistatin genes in bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos

The presence of inhibin subunits (alpha, betaA and betaB), activin binding protein follistatin and activin receptors (ActR-I, ActR-IB, ActR-II and ActR-IIB) mRNA transcripts in bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Immature and matured oocytes, zygotes, 2-cell, 3-4-cell, 5-8-cell, 9-16-cell embryos, morulae, blastocysts and hatched blastocysts were produced by in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture for this study. Activin betaA subunit and follistatin transcripts were detected in all of the stages tested. However, alpha subunit transcripts were detected only in oocytes (immature and matured), blastocysts and hatched blastocysts, and no betaB subunit transcripts were found in any of the stages. Whereas ActR-I transcripts were detectable in all stages, ActR-IB transcripts were not detectable in oocytes or embryos except in matured oocytes. Activin type II receptors (ActR-II and ActR-IIB) transcripts were detectable in oocytes and embryos except for ActR-IIB, which was not found in the 5-8-cell stage embryos. The results suggest that bovine embryos may produce activin A (homodimer of the betaA subunits) at least from zygotes to morulae. Furthermore, bovine oocytes and embryos express the activin receptors mainly by the combination of ActR-I and either ActR-II or ActR-IIB.