Personality disorder comorbidity in early-onset versus late-onset major depression in Japan

This study explored the comorbidity of DSM-III-R personality disorders in early-onset versus late-onset major depression in Japan. The subjects were 117 consecutive outpatients with major depression, with 26 classified as having an early onset (first depressive episode at age 22 or earlier) and 91 classified as having a late onset (first depressive episode at age 23 or later). Personality disorders were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders after a 2-month antidepressant treatment. The results indicated that early-onset major depression was characterized by greater personality disorder comorbidity than late-onset major depression in Japan. Subjects with any one cluster A or B personality disorder were more prevalent in the early-onset group. In terms of each personality disorder, histrionic, narcissistic, and borderline patients were more prevalent, and the number of criteria met for schizotypal and cluster B personality disorders was significantly larger in early-onset major depression after corrections for age and gender. The results suggested that the higher prevalence of personality pathologies in early-onset major depression may reflect a higher likelihood to convert into bipolar disorders or a stronger impact of having experienced depressive episodes in young individuals. The possibility that the predisposing personality pathology may be different in early-onset and late-onset major depression is also discussed.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Parental Bonding Instrument in a Japanese population

BACKGROUND

There is controversy surrounding the factor structure of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), a widely used instrument for assessing perceived parental rearing behaviours. Recent studies have proposed five different factor structures, including Parker et al.'s original two-factor model.

METHODS

Four hundred and eighteen employed Japanese adults filled out the PBI. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analyses were performed to compare the five different factor structures in terms of model-fit.

RESULTS

Parker's original two-factor structure fitted the data poorly. In general, three-factor structures showed better fit. Among the three-factor structures, Murphy's model and Kendler's model were superior (the adjusted goodness-of-fit index > 0.8), with the latter providing the best fit to the data (the goodness-of-fit index > 0.9). When considering invariance of factor structure across gender subgroups and across age subgroups, only Kendler's model was acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

Parker's two-factor structure of the PBI may not be appropriate for assessing perceived parental rearing behaviours in a Japanese population. Three-factor structures, in particular Murphy's model and Kendler's model, are preferable. Kendler's model provided the best fit to the data and was relatively invariant across the subgroups in this study. Thus, Kendler's model might prove to be very important for obtaining a factor structure invariant across different cultures.

Behavior and reproduction of invertebrate animals during and after a long-term microgravity: space experiments using an Autonomous Biological System (ABS)

Aquatic invertebrate animals such as Amphipods, Gastropods (pond snails), Ostracods and Daphnia (water flea) were placed in water-filled cylindrical vessels together with water plant (hornwort). The vessels were sealed completely and illuminated with a fluorescent lamp to activate the photosynthesis of the plant for providing oxygen within the vessels. Such ecosystem vessels, specially termed as Autonomous Biological System or ABS units, were exposed to microgravity conditions, and the behavior of the animals and their reproduction capacity were studied. Three space experiments were carried out. The first experiment used a Space shuttle only and it was a 10-day flight. The other two space experiments were carried out in the Space station Mir (Shuttle/Mir mission), and the flight units had been kept in microgravity for 4 months. Daphnia produced their offspring during a 10-day Shuttle flight. In the first Mir experiment, no Daphnia were detected when recovered to the ground. However, they were alive in the second Mir experiment. Daphnia were the most fragile species among the invertebrate animals employed in the present experiments. All the animals, i.e., Amphipods, pond snails, Ostracods and Daphnia had survived for 4 months in space, i.e., they had produced their offspring or repeated their life-cycles under microgravity. For the two Mir experiments, in both the flight and ground control ecosystem units, an inverse relationship was noted between the number of Amphipods and pond snails in each unit. Amphipods at 10 hours after the recovery to the ground frequently exhibited a movement of dropping straight-downward to the bottom of the units. Several Amphipods had their legs bent abnormally, which probably resulted from some physiological alterations during their embryonic development under microgravity. From the analysis of the video tape recorded in space, for Ostracods and Daphnia, a half of their population were looping under microgravity. Such looping animals could be observed still at the end of the 4 month stay in space. No looping behavior was noted for Amphipods and pond snails.

Hypertension in Leigh syndrome--a case report

A female patient, who was diagnosed with Leigh syndrome at 15 months of age, developed fulminating severe hypertension and died at 8 years of age. Hypertension has not been reported as an important clinical symptom in Leigh syndrome. Laboratory findings indicated that it was not associated with endocrinopathic diseases such as pheochromocytoma and aldosteronism, or renal diseases. Brain MRI scan showed symmetrical lesions in the basal ganglia and medulla oblongata including the nucleus tractus solitarius. This nucleus is known to play an important role in maintaining blood pressure. Since the medulla oblongata is a vulnerable site, potential development of hypertension should be taken into consideration when managing Leigh syndrome.

Enlargement of bone tunnels after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

We measured the width of tibial bone tunnels after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and investigated the correlation between bone tunnel enlargement and clinical results. Thirty-two patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction with patellar tendons augmented by woven polyester underwent physical and radiographic examinations postoperatively. The interval between surgery and examination ranged from 60 to 91 months with a mean of 68.9 months. The clinical results investigated included the total Lysholm score, the injured-to-uninjured difference in anterior knee laxity from KT-1000 arthrometer measurements, and range of motion. The width of the tibial bone tunnels was increased by a mean of 2.6 +/- 1.5 mm in the antero-posterior view, and by a mean of 2.7 +/- 1.4 mm in the lateral view. Eighteen patients had tunnel enlargements of less than 3 mm, and 14 patients had enlargements of 3 mm or more. The clinical results for patients with tunnel enlargements of less than 3 mm were compared with those for patients with tunnel enlargements of 3 mm or more. However, no significant differences were found between the two groups. We conclude that bone tunnel enlargement does not appear to adversely affect clinical results over the long term.

Interactions of plaunotol with bacterial membranes

Plaunotol, a cytoprotective antiulcer agent, has a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori, which may result from interaction of this compound with the bacterial cell membrane. The purpose of the present study was to confirm that plaunotol interacts with the H. pylori membrane. Membrane fluidities were measured using two stearic acid spin labels, namely 5-doxyl-stearic acid (in which the nitroxide group is located in the upper portion of the bacterial cell membrane) and 16-doxyl-stearic acid methyl ester (in which the nitroxide group is located deeper in the bacterial cell membrane), by means of electron spin resonance. The membrane fluidities of plaunotol-treated cells were significantly increased in the measurements made using the two spin labels. We also attempted to isolate plaunotol-resistant H. pylori in vitro by two different methods. To assess the level of resistance that could be reached, H. pylori was passaged five times on an agar plate containing subinhibitory concentrations of plaunotol or metronidazole. To measure the rate of development of resistance, H. pylori was grown with subinhibitory concentrations (0.25 x MIC) of plaunotol or metronidazole, and quantitatively plated on to medium containing 4 x MIC of the compounds. This treatment was repeated once more. No plaunotol-resistant colonies were selected by the two methods. H. pylori developed resistance to metronidazole easily and at a relatively high rate. The mechanism by which plaunotol directly fluidizes and destroys the H. pylori membrane might make it difficult for this organism to develop resistance to plaunotol. It was confirmed that the bactericidal effects of plaunotol were also shown against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae. No such effect was seen against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Gene expression of fucosyl- and sialyl-transferases which synthesize sialyl Lewisx, the carbohydrate ligands for E-selectin, in human breast cancer

The adhesion of circulating cancer cells to vascular endothelium is an important step in the hematogenous metastasis of cancer. Until recently, it has been believed that carbohydrate antigens are expressed on cancer cells, and E-selectin is expressed on endothelial cells to effect this adhesion. We investigated the gene expression of fucosyl-transferase (Fuc-T) and sialyltransferase (ST), which are involved in the synthesis of sialyl Lewisx (s-Lex) in breast cancer by using Northern blot analysis. The concentration of s-Lex in the cancerous portion was increased, compared to that in the adjacent non-cancerous portion. A correlation was found between the concentration of s-Lex and the amount of Fuc-T VI message in 9 cases of breast cancer tissue. Expression of the Fuc-T III message was found in only one case who expressed s-Lea. No expression of the Fuc-T V or VII message was observed. There was no relationship between the concentration of s-Lex and the amount of ST3N and ST4 transcripts. Similar findings were obtained from an analysis using cell lines derived from human breast cancer. When Fuc-T VI gene was transfected to MCF-7 cells, the expression of s-Lex was markedly induced on MCF-7 cells, and the attachment of cancer cells to endothelial cells was enhanced. These findings suggest that Fuc-T VI is chiefly involved in the synthesis of s-Lex on breast cancer cells.

Dysfunctional parenting as a risk factor to lifetime depression in a sample of employed Japanese adults: evidence for the 'affectionless control' hypothesis

BACKGROUND

Although many case-control studies have replicated an association between dysfunctional parenting and a lifetime diagnosis of depression, few epidemiological studies have explored the association. In addition, little is known about the association in non-western countries.

METHODS

Using logistic regression analyses, additive and interactive contributions of parental child-rearing behaviours, as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), toward the risk for having a lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder were explored in 418 employed Japanese adults. The diagnosis was provided by using the Inventory to Diagnose Depression, lifetime version. The analyses were conducted for male and female subjects separately.

RESULTS

Parental care rather than parental protection was primary in predicting lifetime depression in both male and female subjects. An interactive combination of low care and high protection ('affectionless control') was a significant risk factor for lifetime depression in male respondents' reporting child-rearing behaviours of both parents and female respondents' reporting paternal child-rearing behaviours. Model improvements when entering the PBI scores were larger in male subjects than in female subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that a combination of low care and over-protection increases a risk to lifetime depression even in a non-clinical sample; that an association between dysfunctional parenting (particularly low care) and the development of depression is independent of culture; and that Japanese boys are more sensitive than Japanese girls to dysfunctional parenting as regards the development of depression.

Heteroduplex analysis: a useful screening method for glycogen storage disease type Ia

Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSDIa), also known as von Gierke disease, is the most common and severe disease of glycogenoses and is caused by a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and transmitted by an autosomal recessive trait. The encoding gene of G6Pase is composed of only five exons and each exon is short. With heteroduplex analysis (HDA) method, we analyzed the genomic DNA from a patient diagnosed with GSDIa and from her parents. Exons II and IV of the patient showed heteroduplex bands. The mother had a heteroduplex band of exon II, and the father had a heteroduplex band of exon IV. In a mini-slab electrophoresis, exons II and IV of the patient did not show clear heteroduplex bands, but they appeared broader than the others, which made us suspect that they were heteroduplex bands. HDA is an easy and simple method and can verify mutant homozygous DNA fragments by adding wild-type DNA. We think that HDA may be a very useful screening method for the detection of novel genomic mutation in GSDIa in large-scale and mini-slab electrophoresis.

Differential expression of fos and jun family members in the developing chicken gastrointestinal tract

We have analysed the expression patterns of all the known fos/jun family genes, which encode the components of the transcription factor AP-1, in the chicken embryonic digestive tract that develops into the esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, ceca and large intestine. From soon after formation of the tubular structure, each gene transcript was localized in distinct domains of the epithelium and mesenchyme in all of these major gastrointestinal organs, independently of the anterior-posterior axis. fra-2 was expressed predominantly in epithelium, which also expressed junD, while low-level expression of junD was also detected in smooth muscle cell precursors in mesenchyme. Expression of c-jun and c-fos was detectable in both mesenchyme and epithelium through the whole tract. In the differentiated proventriculus, the developed glandular epithelium expressed c-jun and junD, but not fra-2, while luminal epithelium expressed fra-2 and junD, but not c-jun. These results suggest that distinct Fos/Jun protein heterodimers play important roles in maintaining the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Similar expression patterns to those of fra-2 and junD were established from earlier stages by Sonic hedgehog gene and the Indian hedgehog gene, respectively, both of which are important in forming the inductive network between epithelium and mesenchyme of the digestive tract.

Role of Leptodora kindti (Cladocera: Leptodoridae) in the life cycle of Raphidascaris biwakoensis (Nematoda: Anisakidae), a fish parasite in Lake Biwa, Japan

Advanced third-stage larvae (body length 2.92 to 5.49 mm) of the fish nematode Raphidascaris biwakoensis Fujita, 1928 were found as frequent parasites of the leptodorid cladoceran Leptodora kindti (Focke) in Lake Biwa, southern Honshu, Japan, in July 1995. This is the first confirmed record of the L3 of this nematode species from an invertebrate host, showing that L. kindti may serve as a true intermediate host to R. biwakoensis, probably in addition to lower aquatic vertebrates. The high degree of prevalence of the nematode larvae in L. kindti in Lake Biwa indicates that this plankton crustacean is an important source of infection with R. biwakoensis for fish definitive and paratenic hosts.

Involvement of adhesion molecules in metastasis of SW1990, human pancreatic cancer cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Peritoneal dissemination and hepatic metastasis commonly occur after patients with pancreatic cancer have undergone surgery. It is thought that specific adhesion molecules play corresponding roles in cancer metastasis.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted in vitro and in vivo studies to assess the role of adhesion molecules in these processes, using SW1990 cells derived from human pancreatic cancer.

RESULTS

SW1990 cells pronouncedly expressed sialyl Lewis(a) (s-Le[a]) and sialyl Lewis(x) antigens (s-Le[x]), CD44H, and beta1 integrin. Also, SW1990 cells showed a strong binding activity to IL-1beta activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, cultured murine endothelial cells (F-2 cells), and human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Invasive ability of SW1990 cells to F-2 cells was also observed. The adhesion leading to implantation of cancer cells to endothelial cells were inhibited by treatment with the antibodies against s-Le(a) and against beta1 integrin, respectively. Treatments with the antibodies against s-Le(a) and beta1 integrin each inhibited the development of liver metastasis in nude mice with SW1990 cells. The adhesion of SW1990 cells to peritoneal mesothelial cells was markedly inhibited by antibodies each against CD44 or beta1 integrin, but was completely blocked by using a combination of these two antibodies. These antibodies inhibited the dissemination of SW1990 cells in the peritoneal cavity of nude mice and prolonged their survival.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that s-Le(a) and integrin mediate the process from adhesion to implantation of SW1990 cells to endothelial cells, and CD44 and integrin play important roles in the initial attachment of SW1990 cells to mesothelial cells. It is thus speculated that compounds that interfere with the function of cell adhesion molecules may decrease the incidence of pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Sonic hedgehog expression in developing chicken digestive organs is regulated by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) gene encodes a secreted protein that acts as an important mediator of cell-cell interactions. A detailed analysis of Shh expression in the digestive organs of the chicken embryo was carried out. Shh expression in the endoderm begins at stage 7, when the formation of the foregut commences, and is found as narrow bands in the midgut. Shh expression around the anterior intestinal portal at stage 15 is restricted to the columnar endoderm lined by the thick splanchnic mesoderm, suggesting that the existence of thick splanchnic mesoderm might be necessary for Shh expression in the columnar endoderm. After the gut is closed, Shh expression is found universally in digestive epithelia, including the cecal epithelium. However, its expression ceases in the epithelium of the proventricular glands, the ductus choledochus and ductus pancreaticus that protrude from the main digestive duct. When the gizzard epithelium differentiated into glands under the influence of the proventricular mesenchyme, the glandular epithelium lost the ability to express Shh. These findings suggest that Shh expression in the epithelium may be regulated by surrounding mesenchyme throughout organogenesis of the digestive organs and is closely involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in developing digestive organs.

Altered expression of integrins in adriamycin-resistant human breast cancer cells

We investigated alterations in the expression of integrin on adriamycin-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7/ADR) cells, which had been selected from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, in order to examine the mechanisms behind the acquisition of malignancy in breast cancer progression. Expression of the alpha 6 integrin subunit of MCF-7/ADR cells was stronger than that of MCF-7 cells, whereas expression of alpha 2 integrin subunit of MCF-7/ADR cells was weaker than that of MCF-7 cells. MCF-7/ADR showed increased binding activity to laminin, but not to collagen or fibronectin, compared to those of parental MCF-7 cells. Adhesion of MCF-7 cells to collagen and laminin was inhibited by the addition of antibody to alpha 2 and alpha 6 integrin subunit, respectively. On the other hand, adhesion of MCF-7/ADR cells to collagen was not inhibited by the addition of antibody to alpha 2, alpha 3 or alpha 6 integrin subunit. Adhesion of MCF-7/ADR cells to laminin was inhibited by not only the antibody to alpha 6 subunit but also the antibody to the alpha 3 subunit. The transmigratory activity of MCF-7/ADR cells was higher than that of MCF-7 cells. A significant inhibitory effect on the transmigration of MCF-7/ADR cells was observed by the addition of antibody to alpha 6 and beta 1 integrin subunit. MCF-7/ADR cells appeared smaller and flatter than MCF-7 cells, and spread to a greater extent on the culture dish. MCF-7 cells cultured on Matrigel for 24 hours formed clusters. In contrast to this, MCF-7/ADR cells expanded with a tubular-like pattern on Matrigel. The spread of MCF-7/ADR cells was incompletely inhibited by addition of the antibody to alpha 3 integrin subunit, and completely inhibited by addition of the antibody to alpha 6 and beta 1 integrin subunit. These findings suggest that integrins on MCF-7/ADR cells are altered from those on parental MCF-7 cells in not only expression but also function, and that interaction between cancer cells and extracellular matrix protein is involved in augmentation of the invasiveness of MCF-7/ADR cells.

A follow-up arthroscopy after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the patellar tendon augmented by woven polyester

Follow-up arthroscopy was performed on 9% patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with patellar tendon augmented by woven polyester. The interval between surgery and arthroscopy ranged from 6 to 26 months, with a mean of 13.1 months. The patients were classified into 4 grades according to the arthroscopical findings as follows: grade 1, ligamentous tissue ruptured or not observed; grade II, loose and thin ligamentous tissue observed; grade III, thick and taut ligamentous tissue observed, but some ligamentous strands exposed from the synovial tissue: grade IV, thick and taut ligamentous tissue with a synovial tissue observed, as in normal ACL. Based on the arthroscopical findings, 4 of the 92 patients were rated as grade I, 11 as grade II, 24 as grade III, and 53 as grade IV. Correlation between the arthroscopical and functional test results indicated that the mean injured-to-uninjured differences of KT-1000 measurements were significantly smaller in the grade IV group than in the grade I and grade II groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that postoperative anterior knee laxity correlate significantly with arthroscopical results, and is a useful parameter for evaluating ACL reconstruction.

[Regional difference in the etiology of liver cirrhosis in Iwate]

To assess regional differences in the etiology of liver cirrhosis in Iwate, we analyzed 324 patients with liver cirrhosis treated at various hospitals. The etiology was HCV 44.8%, HBV 11.1%, HBV + HCV 4.6%, alcohol 27.5% (including heavy drinkers 17.9%), PBC 1.5% and non-B non-C 10.5% in Iwate. The incidence of alcoholic cirrhosis was higher than that in other prefectures, while that of HCV was lower. Especially in the northern area of Iwate, the rate of alcoholic cirrhosis was very high (39.1%--including heavy drinkers 21.8%) while viral cirrhosis was relatively low. Although the alcohol consumption volume in Iwate was not very high, marked alcohol consumption, especially shochu, was observed in the northern area of Iwate. The volume and kind of alcohol consumed in each area differed, and the etiology of liver cirrhosis differed regionally in Iwate. Thus, we should consider these districts and levels of alcohol consumption when treating patients with liver cirrhosis.

Induction of autoimmune-like hepatic and ductal lesions by administration of lipopolysaccharide in mice undergoing graft-versus-host reaction across MHC class I difference

In this paper, we examined the induction of autoimmune-like histologic changes in the liver and other organs of mice undergoing graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) with MHC class I disparity by the administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), on the assumption that stimulation with LPS could be an exacerbating factor. Spleen cells of C57BL/6 (B6) mice were injected twice into (B6 x bml) F1 recipient mice at an interval of 7 days to induce MHC class I GVHR and then challenged with 1 microg of LPS intravenously on the next day of the cell transfer. The hepatic lesions of the group of MHC class I GVHR mice challenged with LPS showed marked cellular infiltration at the portal area and focal necrosis was observed in the hepatic lobule. The major infiltrating cells were CD8+, and others including CD4+ cells being of minor populations. In addition, ductal lesions in extrahepatic organs, including the pancreas and salivary glands also showed marked cellular infiltration. Thus, we have demonstrated that LPS induced ductal lesions in mice with MHC class I disparity. CD8+ cells were detected at the destructive hepatic lesions, which might be effector cells. These findings indicate that LPS might be one of the potential factors which augment autoimmune-like lesions.

Biological and clinical significance of hepatocyte growth factor in breast cancer

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a mesenchyme- or stroma-derived multipotent factor that regulates the growth, motility, and morphogenesis of various types of cells, including cancer cells. We investigated the effect of HGF on human breast cancer cells, and measured the concentration of HGF in the sera of breast cancer patients. When BT-20 cells were stimulated with HGF, the transmigration of cancer cells was markedly accelerated. In a checkboard assay, pronounced chemotaxic locomotion of BT-20 cells is expressed, corresponding to HGF concentrations. HGF treatment of BT-20 cells resulted in enhanced expression of alpha 2, alpha 3 and beta 1 integrin subunits, and augmented the binding activity to immobilized collagen. The c-met protein was expressed on the cancer cells in 48 of the 97 (49.5%) breast cancer primary tumors. In the serum, the advanced and recurrent cancer group showed a high level of this protein in comparison with the other patient groups. The mean value of serum HGF was 0.65 ng/ml in patients with distant metastases and 0.27 ng/ml in those with no such evidence. Thus, the HGF concentration becomes significantly elevated in the sera of patients with distant metastases. These findings suggest that HGF is involved in invasion and metastasis of breast cancer, and that serum HGF is useful as a tumor marker with a close correlation to the metastatic state of breast cancer.

Increased concentration of hepatocyte growth factor in the sera of patients with gastrointestinal cancer

We measured the concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the sera of 138 patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The mean value and positive rate for this protein (assuming 0.4 ng/ml as the cut-off value) were 0.29 ng/ml (11.4%) in healthy donors (n=44), 0.90 ng/ml(70.8%) in esophageal cancer (n=24), 0.39 ng/ml (33.3%) in gastric cancer (n=39), and 0.40 ng/ml (42.7%) in colorectal cancer (n=75). Thus, the mean values of the esophageal and colorectal cancer group were significantly higher than that of healthy donors. There was a tendency for elevated mean value of serum HGF in the sera of patients with distant metastases, compared to those with no such evidence, i.e., 1.36:0.77 ng/ml in esophageal cancer, 0.69:0.30 ng/ml in gastric cancer, and 0.66:0.37 ng/ml in colorectal cancer. This difference was statistically significant in gastric and colorectal cancer. These findings suggest that serum HGF is useful as a tumor marker with a close correlation to the metastatic state of gastrointestinal cancer.