Reaction norm for genomic prediction of plant growth: modeling drought stress response in soybean

KEY MESSAGE

We proposed models to predict the effects of genomic and environmental factors on daily soybean growth and applied them to soybean growth data obtained with unmanned aerial vehicles. Advances in high-throughput phenotyping technology have made it possible to obtain time-series plant growth data in field trials, enabling genotype-by-environment interaction (G × E) modeling of plant growth. Although the reaction norm is an effective method for quantitatively evaluating G × E and has been implemented in genomic prediction models, no reaction norm models have been applied to plant growth data. Here, we propose a novel reaction norm model for plant growth using spline and random forest models, in which daily growth is explained by environmental factors one day prior. The proposed model was applied to soybean canopy area and height to evaluate the influence of drought stress levels. Changes in the canopy area and height of 198 cultivars were measured by remote sensing using unmanned aerial vehicles. Multiple drought stress levels were set as treatments, and their time-series soil moisture was measured. The models were evaluated using three cross-validation schemes. Although accuracy of the proposed models did not surpass that of single-trait genomic prediction, the results suggest that our model can capture G × E, especially the latter growth period for the random forest model. Also, significant variations in the G × E of the canopy height during the early growth period were visualized using the spline model. This result indicates the effectiveness of the proposed models on plant growth data and the possibility of revealing G × E in various growth stages in plant breeding by applying statistical or machine learning models to time-series phenotype data.

Genomic Prediction of Green Fraction Dynamics in Soybean Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Observations

With the widespread use of high-throughput phenotyping systems, growth process data are expected to become more easily available. By applying genomic prediction to growth data, it will be possible to predict the growth of untested genotypes. Predicting the growth process will be useful for crop breeding, as variability in the growth process has a significant impact on the management of plant cultivation. However, the integration of growth modeling and genomic prediction has yet to be studied in depth. In this study, we implemented new prediction models to propose a novel growth prediction scheme. Phenotype data of 198 soybean germplasm genotypes were acquired for 3 years in experimental fields in Tottori, Japan. The longitudinal changes in the green fractions were measured using UAV remote sensing. Then, a dynamic model was fitted to the green fraction to extract the dynamic characteristics of the green fraction as five parameters. Using the estimated growth parameters, we developed models for genomic prediction of the growth process and tested whether the inclusion of the dynamic model contributed to better prediction of growth. Our proposed models consist of two steps: first, predicting the parameters of the dynamics model with genomic prediction, and then substituting the predicted values for the parameters of the dynamics model. By evaluating the heritability of the growth parameters, the dynamic model was able to effectively extract genetic diversity in the growth characteristics of the green fraction. In addition, the proposed prediction model showed higher prediction accuracy than conventional genomic prediction models, especially when the future growth of the test population is a prediction target given the observed values in the first half of growth as training data. This indicates that our model was able to successfully combine information from the early growth period with phenotypic data from the training population for prediction. This prediction method could be applied to selection at an early growth stage in crop breeding, and could reduce the cost and time of field trials.

FUT2 non-secretor status is associated with Type 1 diabetes susceptibility in Japanese children

AIM

To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children.

METHODS

We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined.

RESULTS

The se2 genotype (c.385A>T) of the FUT2 gene was found to confer susceptibility to Type 1A diabetes in a recessive effects model [odds ratio for se2/se2, 1.68 (95% CI 1.20-2.35); corrected P value = 0.0075].

CONCLUSIONS

The FUT2 gene contributed to the development of Type 1 diabetes in the present cohort of Japanese children.

Consumption of a single serving of red raspberries per day reduces metabolic syndrome parameters in high-fat fed mice

Intake of one daily serving of raspberry ameliorates the symptoms of metabolic syndrome in a high fat diet fed C57BL/6J mouse model.

Variants associated with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children: implications for age-specific effects of cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21

AIMS

The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of previously reported susceptibility variants in the development of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in non-white children. Tested variants included rs2290400, which has been linked to Type 1 diabetes only in one study on white people. Haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 are known to determine the susceptibility of early-onset asthma by affecting the expression of flanking genes.

METHODS

We genotyped 63 variants in 428 Japanese people with childhood-onset autoimmune Type 1 diabetes and 457 individuals without diabetes. Possible association between variants and age at diabetes onset was examined using age-specific quantitative trait locus analysis and ordered-subset regression analysis.

RESULTS

Ten variants, including rs2290400 in GSDMB, were more frequent among the people with Type 1 diabetes than those without diabetes. Of these, rs689 in INS and rs231775 in CTLA4 yielded particularly high odds ratios of 5.58 (corrected P value 0.001; 95% CI 2.15-14.47) and 1.64 (corrected P value 5.3 × 10^-5 ; 95% CI 1.34-2.01), respectively. Age-specific effects on diabetes susceptibility were suggested for rs2290400; heterozygosity of the risk alleles was associated with relatively early onset of diabetes, and the allele was linked to the phenotype exclusively in the subgroup of age at onset ≤ 5.0 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that rs2290400 in GSDMB and polymorphisms in INS and CTLA4 are associated with the risk of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children. Importantly, cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 probably determine the risk of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes predominantly in early childhood.

In vivo use of human fibrin glue under the subperiosteal and subcutaneous planes in Holtzman rats

BACKGROUND

Commercial fibrin sealant has been increasingly used off-label in the United States for aesthetic surgical procedures to minimize postoperative drainage, hematoma and seroma collections, ecchymosis, and edema.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the optimal concentrations of thrombin and fibrinogen to extend the sealant adhesion time and to maintain the maximal glue strength, respectively, in subperiosteal and subcutaneous planes in Holtzman rats.

METHODS

Three preparations of 2-component fibrin sealant from the Hemaseel APR kit (Haemacure Corp., Sarasota, FL) were formulated: standard fibrin sealant (fibrinogen 75-115 mg/mL, thrombin 500 IU/mL), half fibrinogen concentration (fibrinogen 37.5-57.5 mg/mL, thrombin 500 IU/mL), and 1/100 thrombin concentration (fibrinogen 75-115 mg/mL, thrombin 5 IU/mL). In 6 rats, paired standardized subperiosteal scalp pockets and subcutaneous abdominal pockets were elevated, leaving a retained septum between each pair. In experiment 1, 1 of the 3 fibrin sealant preparations was instilled into 1 side of each paired subperiosteal and subcutaneous pockets in 2 of the 6 rats, leaving the adjacent pocket as a control flap. Changes in force of flap displacement and in setup time for adherence within the treated and matched control flaps were measured at intervals over an hour. In experiment 2, the duration and strength of adherence in flaps treated only with the standard fibrin sealant preparation and their paired control flaps in 34 rats were measured weekly over 6 weeks. One of the 34 rats was sacrificed each week to examine the histologic changes at the tissue-glue interface.

RESULTS

In flaps treated with the half-concentration of fibrinogen, the grams of force needed to displace the scalp flaps by 5 mm and the abdominal flaps by 10 mm were significantly reduced compared with values obtained in similar flaps treated with the standard fibrin preparation over 1 hour of interval measurements (P < 0.05). In flaps treated with the 1/100 concentration of thrombin, the setup times before flap adherence were significantly extended to about 1 minute compared with the 15-second setup times observed in flaps treated with the standard fibrin preparation (P < 0.05). The use of the standard fibrin preparation in 34 rats resulted in up to 6 weeks of tissue adherence in the subperiosteal scalp flaps and up to 2 weeks of tissue adherence in the subcutaneous abdominal flaps over the paired control flaps, as measured weekly on the basis of force of flap displacement. Histologic examination demonstrated that glue material was absent at about 5 to 6 weeks in the subperiosteal space and 2 to 3 weeks in the subcutaneous space.

CONCLUSIONS

Any decrease in fibrinogen concentration from that found in the standard fibrin sealant results in suboptimal strength of adherence of flaps. The standard thrombin concentration (500 IU/mL) results in a rapid onset of adherence within 15 seconds that may prevent the surgeon from massaging the glue evenly throughout the pocket and may produce a premature seal on opposing surfaces, leading to a seroma cavity. A reduced thrombin concentration (5 IU/mL), on the other hand, extends the onset time to a minute before adherence occurs, optimizing the sealing of the surgical cavity. (Aesthetic Surg J 2003;23:458-463).

Evaluation of autonomic nervous system function with spectral analysis of heart rate variability in a case of tetanus

The autonomic nervous system is affected in a wide variety of neurological disorders. Its dysfunction may play an important role in the clinical course and may result in serious complications, such as cardiac arrest. We report a case of tetanus who presented with severe autonomic nervous system dysfunction which was detected by spectral analysis of heart rate variability monitored over 24 h. This is a semi-quantitative method for evaluation of the status of the autonomic nervous system. In the present case, the analysis revealed profoundly decreased activity of both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system modulation of cardiac rhythm. The parasympathetic nervous system activity was more severely impaired than that of the sympathetic nervous system. The relative predominance of the sympathetic nervous system in the present case may have resulted in unopposed sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity manifested in this patient by tachycardia and excessive sweating. We further infer that the documented diminished buffering capacity of the autonomic nervous system may have lead to a sudden cardiac arrest in our case. Thus, spectral analysis of heart rate variability is a non-invasive and sensitive method for evaluating the status of the autonomic nervous system of critically ill patients in the hospital setting.

Micropenis and the AR Gene: mutation and CAG repeat-length analysis

Various mutations of the AR gene and expanded CAG repeats at exon 1 of that gene have been reported in patients with hypospadias or genital ambiguity. However, the role of the AR gene has not been systemically studied in those with isolated micropenis lacking hypospadias or genital ambiguity. We studied 64 Japanese boys with isolated micropenis (age, 0-14 yr; median, 7 yr), whose stretched penile lengths were between -2.5 and -2.0 SD (borderline micropenis) in 31 patients (age, 0-13 yr; median, 8 yr) and below -2.5 SD (definite micropenis) in 33 patients (age, 0-14 yr; median, 6 yr). Mutation analysis of the AR gene was performed for exons 1-8 and their flanking introns, except for the CAG and GGC repeat regions at exon 1, by denaturing HPLC and direct sequencing, identifying a substitution of cytosine to thymine at a position -3 in the 3' splice site of intron 1 in a patient with definite micropenis. CAG repeat length at exon 1 was determined by electrophoresis with internal size markers and direct sequencing, revealing no statistically significant difference in the distribution of CAG repeat lengths [median (range) and mean +/- SE: total patients with isolated micropenis, 24 (14-34) and 23.5 +/- 0.38; patients with borderline micropenis, 24 (15-29) and 23.5 +/- 0.53; patients with definite micropenis, 23 (14-34) and 23.5 +/- 0.56; and 100 control males, 23 (16-32) and 23.5 +/- 0.29] or in the frequency of long CAG repeats (percentage of CAG repeats > or =26 and > or =28: total patients with isolated micropenis, 17.2 and 4.7%; patients with borderline micropenis, 19.4 and 6.5%; patients with definite micropenis, 15.2 and 3.0%; and 100 control males, 21.0 and 10.0%). These results suggest that an AR gene mutation is rare and that CAG repeat length is not expanded in children with isolated micropenis.

Pyridoxine-induced photosensitivity and hypophosphatasia

We describe a case of photosensitivity due to pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B(6)) in a heterozygote of hypophosphatasia. Photopatch tests using pyridoxine hydrochloride and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, compounds referred to as vitamin B(6), with ultraviolet light A irradiation were positive. Laboratory examination showed low serum alkaline phosphatase. Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase exon amplification from DNA of the patient's lymphocytes detected deletion 1154-1156 hypophosphatasia mutation, indicating that this patient was diagnosed to be a heterozygote of hypophosphatasia. The seric pyridoxal 5'-phosphate level of this patient with hypophosphatasia was higher than in normals. Furthermore, after oral administration of vitamin B(6) this level increased greatly and long-lastingly, and this might be related to the low level of alkaline phosphatase in this patient. Photosensitivity in this patient may have been caused by abnormal metabolism of vitamin B(6) under the hypophosphatic condition.

Novel mutations of the ACTH receptor gene in a female adult patient with adrenal unresponsiveness to ACTH

We report a 30-year-old female with adrenal unresponsiveness to ACTH. Her clinical features included no adrenal crisis despite poor drug compliance, poor pubic hair development (Tanner stage 2), well-developed breasts (Tanner stage 5), and regular menstrual cycles. Endocrinological data included blood ACTH 1500 pmol/l, cortisol 18 nmol/l, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate below 0.26 micromol/l, activated renin 0.37 pmol/l, and aldosterone 3.4 nmol/l. Direct sequencing and allele-specific amplification revealed two novel mutations in the ACTH receptor gene. One was transition from guanine to adenine at nucleotide position 1002, resulting in substitution of aspartate for asparagine at codon 103, and the other was transition from cytosine to thymine at nucleotide 1104, leading to substitution of arginine for tryptophan at codon 137. The present findings lend additional credence to the notions that adrenal androgens play an important role in female pubic hair development and that ovarian development takes place independently of adrenarche.

Regulation of cyclophosphamide-induced eosinophilia in contact sensitivity: functional roles of interleukin-5-producing CD4(+) lymphocytes

Blood and tissue eosinophilia is obtained when mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide (CY) and sensitized with picryl chloride are challenged on each ear lobe on day 13. To gain important insights into the cellular mechanisms involved in CY-induced eosinophilia in the contact-sensitivity reaction, we examined the cytokine profile expressed in regional lymph node cells and spleen cells. CY pretreatment 2 days before sensitization enhanced expression of IL-4 mRNA in the regional lymph node cells more strongly than expressions of both IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA on day 13. Five days after sensitization, spleen cells expressed IL-5 mRNA and produced IL-5 in vitro. Depletion of CD4(+) cells from spleen cells completely abrogated the secretory capacity of IL-5. In vivo blocking of IL-5 on day 3 entirely inhibited spleen, bone marrow, and subsequent blood eosinophilia. When immune lymph node cells prepared on day 13 were stimulated with hapten-modified cells in vitro, the level of IL-4 secreted in the culture supernatant was enhanced by CY pretreatment, but that of IL-2 was not. One important result was that IL-5 was not produced in response to in vitro stimulation, despite the fact that marked eosinophil infiltration in the dermis was observed in vivo. Thus, eosinophilopoiesis was stimulated by IL-5-producing CD4(+) immune T cells that were present in the eosinophil production site, particularly in the spleen before elicitation. In contrast, eosinophil recruitment into the dermis in the efferent phase can be induced without production of IL-5 from lymphocytes.

Treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing-hormone analog and attainment of full height potential in a male monozygotic twin with gonadotropin-releasing hormone-dependent precocious puberty

We report on a pair of male monozygotic twins, one unaffected and the other affected with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-dependent precocious puberty, and discuss the role of treatment with a GnRH analog in the attainment of full height potential in GnRH-dependent precocious puberty. At 1.6 years of age, the affected twin was studied for tall stature (+3.8 SD), and was diagnosed as having GnRH-dependent precocious puberty due to a hypothalamic hamartoma of the tuber cinereum. He was treated with oral cyproterone acetate (110-170 mg/m(2) daily) from 1.8 through 5. 0 years of age, with oral cyproterone acetate and intranasal buserelin acetate (700-900 microg/m(2) daily) from 5.0 through 7.5 years, and with intranasal buserelin acetate alone (1100- 1400 microg/m(2) daily) from 7.5 through 12.6 years. He attained a final height of 171.0 cm at 14.9 years of age (+0.10 SD) and his twin 170. 0 cm at 15.3 years of age (-0.10 SD), with their target height being 174.5 +/- 9.0 cm.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that GnRH analog treatment may preserve near full height potential in some patients with GnRH-dependent precocious puberty.

Confluent ecchymoses on the lower extremities of a malnourished patient

Nutritional deficiencies result in many distinctive cutaneous manifestations. Vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, produces follicular hyperkeratosis, perifollicular hemorrhages, gingival hypertrophy, and bleeding (1). We report here a case of malnutrition who suddenly developed extensive eccymoses on the lower extremities sharing morphological similarities with purpura fulminans. Although the patient did not have the characteristic dermatological features of scurvy, serum levels of vitamins C, K, B12, and E were decreased.

Phylogeny of Japanese papilionid butterflies inferred from nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial ND5 gene

Phylogenetic relationships among the Japanese papilionid butterflies were analyzed by comparing 783 nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene encoding NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5). Phylogenetic trees of the representative species from each family in the superfamily Papilionoidea revealed that the species of the family Papilionidae and those of all other families formed distinct clusters, with a few species of the family Hesperiidae (Hesperioidea) as an outgroup. In the phylogenetic trees of most Japanese species of the family Papilionidae with Nymphalis xanthomelas (Nymphalidae) as an outgroup, the tribe Parnassiini (Parnassiinae) formed a cluster, and the rest formed the other cluster in which the tribe Zerynthiini (Parnassiinae) and the subfamily Papilioninae formed different subclusters. In the Papilioninae cluster, the tribes Troidini and Graphiini formed a subcluster, and the tribe Papilionini formed the other subcluster. These results generally agree with the traditional classification of the papilionid butterflies based on their morphological characteristics and support the proposed evolutionary genealogy of the butterflies based on their morphology, behavior, and larval host plants, except that the tribes Parnasiini and Zerynthiini (both Parnassiinae) are not in the same cluster.

A spectrum of mutations induced by crotonaldehyde in shuttle vector plasmids propagated in human cells

A spectrum of crotonaldehyde-induced mutations in the supF gene of the shuttle vector plasmid pMY189 replicated in human fibroblast cells was examined. Base sequence analysis of 104 plasmids with mutations in the supF gene revealed that the majority of the mutations were base substitutions (85%) and the rest were frameshifts (15%). A single base substitution was most frequently found (47%), while 25% had multiple base substitutions and interestingly 13% had tandem (adjacent two) base substitutions. Of the base substitution mutations, 50% were G:C-->T:A transversions and 23% were G:C-->A:T transitions. The mutations were not distributed randomly but were located at several hotspots, most of which were G:C base pairs in 5'-AAGG-3' (or 5'-CCTT-3') sequences. Production of propanodeoxyguanosine adducts may be related to such specificity in the mutation spectrum.

Pneumoperitoneum complicating mechanical ventilation in congenital myotonic dystrophy

Pneumoperitoneum is known as a disease caused by perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, but it has also been reported as a complication of mechanical ventilation. In a case of congenital myotonic dystrophy (CMyD), mechanical ventilation was performed to treat severe respiratory distress starting at birth, and then pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum developed as complications 5 days after birth. The fact that the pneumoperitoneum improved when the ventilation pressure was reduced and the patient's course was observed, allowed us to rule out gastrointestinal perforation. It appeared that hypoplasia of the diaphragm may have been involved in the progression of pneumomediastinum to pneumoperitoneum in this patient. Mechanical ventilation is performed on many occasions in CMyD, and the development of pneumoperitoneum secondary to pulmonary air leak should always be borne in mind.

Cyclophosphamide-induced blood and tissue eosinophilia in contact sensitivity: mechanism of hapten-induced eosinophil recruitment into the skin

The mechanism leading to selective production and accumulation of eosinophils in certain allergic skin diseases is unknown. Cyclophosphamide treatment (150 mg/kg) of BALB/c mice 48 h before sensitization with picryl chloride (PCl) resulted in striking blood and tissue eosinophilia, maximal at 13 days. Blood eosinophilia was not induced by the sensitization with oxazolone and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Challenge with 1 % PCl, but not croton oil caused preferential eosinophil accumulation into the dermis, which was associated with the enhanced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) on endothelial cells. Intravenous administration of anti-VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody abrogated eosinophil infiltration. In this murine model, we examined the role of several cytokines, including chemokines in inducing selective tissue eosinophilia in vivo. Local administration of antibodies against interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-4, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and RANTES, but not against IL-5 before challenge inhibited hapten-induced eosinophil recruitment. Intradermal injection of recombinant (r)IL-1beta, rIL-4, rTNF-alpha, rRANTES, and rMIP-1alpha induced marked eosinophil accumulation. Nonetheless, intradermal rIL-5 was not a chemoattractant for eosinophils in vivo. Our findings suggest that IL-1beta, IL-4, TNF-alpha, and RANTES contribute to the selective accumulation of eosinophils in contact sensitivity reaction. Although circulating IL-5 can activate eosinophils and prolong their survival, locally secreted IL-5 is not crucial for inducing eosinophil recruitment into the skin.

Three cases of linear lichen planus caused by dental metal compounds

Three cases of linear lichen planus on the lower extremities unaccompanied by mucous lesions are described. Dental metal compounds were thought to be the precipitating factor in all cases. Skin lesions did not respond to topical steroid ointment or antihistamines. Two cases showed a positive patch test reaction to gold (HAuCl4) and a positive lymphocyte stimulation test to gold compound (Gold sodium thiomalate). One case showed a positive patch test reaction to mercury (HgCl2), but a negative lymphocyte stimulation test. Suspected metal compounds were demonstrated in their dental materials. Removal of gold materials in one case gradually improved the lesions within 6 months with a transient erythematous swelling of the face shortly after removal of the metal. Both of these cases responded to oral disodium chromoglycate therapy. These results suggest that metal compound specific T cells might be responsible for the development of linear lichen planus.

Effect of cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion on coronary reserve and autoregulation

BACKGROUND

The effects of cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion on the coronary vasculature remain to be characterized. This study was designed to investigate changes in coronary reserve and autoregulation after hypothermic cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion.

METHODS

Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused in a retrograde manner with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer solution at a pressure of 80 cm H2O. Baseline measurements were performed for (1) coronary flow; (2) vasodilatory response to 5-hydroxytryptamine (10(-7) mol/L) and nitroglycerin (10(-4) mol/L); (3) autoregulatory capacity, quantified as closed-loop gains; and (4) isovolemic left ventricular function. Hearts were then subjected to cardioplegic arrest for 90 minutes. Twenty minutes after reperfusion, measurements were repeated.

RESULTS

Coronary flow decreased significantly after reperfusion (6.2 +/- 1.1 versus 5.3 +/- 1.1 mL.min-1.g-1; p < 0.01). The response to 5-hydroxytryptamine as percentage increase of flow decreased significantly after reperfusion (134.0% +/- 12.0% versus 109.1% +/- 6.8%; p < 0.01). However, there was no significant change in the response to nitroglycerin after reperfusion (121.3% +/- 17.6% versus 136.6% +/- 13.3%). The closed-loop gain demonstrated negative values before arrest but became positive after reperfusion, indicating loss of autoregulation after reperfusion. There was no significant change in left ventricular function.

CONCLUSIONS

The coronary flow reserve in response to 5-hydroxytryptamine and autoregulation were impaired after cardioplegic arrest and reperfusion, whereas nitroglycerin-induced vasodilatory response and left ventricular function were preserved.

[An approach to the emergency surgery for arch and/or ascending aortic aneurysm]

The outcome of emergency surgery for the aortic arch aneurysm and/or dissecting aneurysm is worse than that of elective surgery. To decide the future strategy of the emergency surgery for these disease, 11 patients with emergency surgery (= group E: 8 for aortic dissection and 3 for rupture of the aortic arch aneurysm, age; 61 +/- 13 SD) were compared with 12 patients who had elective surgery (= group S: 5 for aortic dissection and 7 for aortic arch aneurysm, age; 69 +/- 3 SD). Ascending aorta replacement was performed in 7 cases in group E v.s. 1 in group S, aortic arch replacement in 2 v.s. 5, ascending aorta and aortic arch replacement in 1 v.s. 4 and patch replacement of the aortic wall in 1 v.s. 2, respectively. Selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) upon the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was used in 45% (5/11) in group E. v.s. in 92% (11/12) in group S, p < 0.05. CPB time, aortic clamp time and SCP time were not significantly different between E group and S group. Postoperative cardiac failure, respiratory failure, renal failure, brain injury and infection occurred at insignificant rates between both groups. Thirty-day and 3-year survivorships were 73% in group E, while in group S they were 92% and 75%, respectively. In group E there were 2 cases which had aortic wall injury due to the aortic clamp used during the surgery. We recommend the use of selective cerebral perfusion and open distal anastomosis in emergency surgery for aortic arch aneurysm and/or Stanford type A aortic dissection.

[Surgical treatment for ruptured aneurysm of distal arch or aortic arch: report of three cases]

We experienced three cases of surgery for ruptured aneurysm of the distal aortic arch (2 cases) or aortic arch (1 case). A 59-year-old man who was diagnosed as distal arch aneurysm ruptured to the pericardial cavity underwent graft replacement of the aneurysm and reconstruction of a left subclavian artery under selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). This patient had left hemiplegia postoperatively. A 73-year-old man who was diagnosed as an aneurysm of distal arch and descending aorta ruptured to left pleural cavity underwent graft replacement of the aneurysm and reconstruction of a left subclavian artery under SCP, and died of severe left ventricular failure possibly due to preoperative myocardial ischemia. A 70-year-old man who was diagnosed as a saccular aneurysm of aortic arch ruptured to mediastinum underwent resection of the aneurysm and patch plasty of the aorta under SCP. The postoperative course was uneventful. We discussed the approach to aneurysm, adjunctive method and surgical precedures from standpoint of our ruptured three cases.

Cytokine profile of tumor cells in mycosis fungoides: successful treatment with intra-lesional interferon-gamma combined with chemotherapy

Two cases of mycosis fungoides (MF) in the tumor stage were treated with intra-lesional interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) therapy. After systemic chemotherapy, intra-lesional recombinant interferon-gamma was applied to the residual tumors. Intra-lesional IFN-gamma was sufficiently effective in the treatment of MF tumors, especially small-sized ones. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of messenger RNA expression of cytokines commonly detected interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IFN-gamma in the tumor cells before intra-lesional IFN-gamma. However, in our study, tumor cells in these cases did not exhibit the definitive cytokine patterns of Th1 or Th2.

Cytoplasmic accumulation of a normally mitochondrial malonyl-CoA decarboxylase by the use of an alternate transcription start site

Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase, a normally mitochondrial enzyme, accumulates in the cytoplasm of specialized glands to cause production of multiple methyl-branched fatty acids. Evidence was presented that a single copy of the decarboxylase gene present in the goose genome codes for both the mitochondrial form found in extremely low amounts in the liver and the cytosolic form found in large amounts in uropygial glands. To elucidate how a single gene encodes both forms, the malonyl-CoA decarboxylase gene and the cDNAs for both the mitochondrial (liver) and the cytoplasmic (gland) species were cloned and sequenced. The decarboxylase gene, found in a 21-kb segment of cloned genomic DNA, is composed of five exons of 0.521, 0.118, 0.156, 0.145, and 1.93 kb interrupted by 6.9, 1.5, 0.45, and 9.3-kb introns. Exon 1 revealed two ATGs in frame 150 bp apart. cDNA for the cytoplasmic form and mitochondrial form showed identical nucleotide sequence, except that the latter was longer than the former. The longest cDNA for the cytoplasmic form of the enzyme extended only 44 bp 5' to the second ATG and the position corresponded to the transcription initiation site of the cytoplasmic form revealed by primer extension and RNase protection. The cDNA for the mitochondrial form isolated from the library extended 19 bp further upstream. Primer extension and RNase protection indicated that transcripts for the mitochondrial form initiated upstream from the first ATG. The N-terminal segment of the open reading frame initiated at the first ATG showed an amphipathic signal sequence appropriate for mitochondrial import. A putative full length mRNA for the mitochondrial form of the enzyme when translated in vitro yielded a 55-kDa primary translation product which was processed by removal of about 5 kDa during uptake into goose liver mitochondria. These results strongly suggest that in most tissues transcription initiates 5'- to the first ATG, generating a transcript that would generate a protein with an N-terminal leader for transport into mitochondria. In the uropygial gland the use of an alternate promoter generates transcripts initiated between the two ATGs and the translation product accumulates in the cytoplasm since it lacks a mitochondrial targeting sequence.

Estradiol induces proliferation of peroxisome-like microbodies and the production of 3-hydroxy fatty acid diesters, the female pheromones, in the uropygial glands of male and female mallards

During the mating season the female mallards produce sex pheromones, diesters of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, in their uropygial glands. Subcellular fractionation by sucrose and Nycodenz density gradient centrifugations and electron microscopic examination of the fractions showed that diesters of 3-hydroxy acids and the enzymes that catalyze the formation and esterification of the 3-hydroxy fatty acids are located in the catalase-containing fractions, probably peroxisomes, whereas monoester synthesizing activities are located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Fatty acyl-CoA reductase that would provide fatty alcohol needed for the synthesis of monoester and diester waxes was found both in the peroxisomal and endoplasmic reticulum fraction. Upon daily intramuscular injection of estradiol into the females in the nonmating season, the short chain monoester waxes of the uropygial glands were replaced by long chain monoester waxes, and subsequently the monoester waxes were replaced by diester waxes. Injection of thyroxine with estradiol hastened the induction of the compositional changes including diester synthesis. Similar changes, including the synthesis of the female pheromones, were induced in the uropygial glands by the hormone treatment of males that do not normally produce diesters at any time during their life cycle. The structure and composition of the diesters induced by hormone treatment of both males and females were identical to those of the female pheromones produced during their mating season. Electron microscopic examination of diaminobenzidine-treated glands showed that peroxisomes proliferated in the gland of the females in the mating season and in the estradiol-treated males that produce the diesters.

Developmental changes in the expression of S-acyl fatty acid synthase thioesterase gene and lipid composition in the uropygial gland of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Developmental changes in the composition of the uropygial gland secretory lipids of the postembryonic mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were determined. During the first 3 weeks after hatching, the composition of the secretory lipids remained constant; the lipids consisted of long-chain wax esters composed of a complex mixture of n-, monomethyl, and dimethyl fatty acids esterified to n-C16 and n-C18 fatty alcohols. Afterward, as the ducks began to acquire adult feathers, short-chain wax esters composed of 2- and 4-monomethyl fatty acids began to appear with 2-methylhexanoyl and 4-methylhexanoyl as the major acyl components; esters of short-chain monomethyl fatty acids (less than or equal to C12) constituted 90% of the lipids when the ducks were 2 months old and had acquired adult plumage. The appearance of the short-chain acids in the acyl portion of the wax esters was accompanied by the appearance of S-acyl fatty acid synthase thioesterase, which can hydrolytically release short-chain acids from fatty acid synthase in the gland. Northern blot analysis showed that the gland-specific thioesterase gene transcripts began to appear in the gland only 3 weeks after hatching. The appearance of the transcripts and immunologically detectable thioesterase protein reached maximum levels 2 months after hatching, with the acquisition of the adult plumage. Thus, the developmental changes in lipid composition correlated with the changes in the level of expression of the thioesterase gene. Expression of other gland-specific genes has been previously found to begin just prior to hatching. The gland-specific thioesterase is the first case of delayed expression of a gland-specific gene.

Saddle deformity. Posttraumatic interosseous-lumbrical adhesions: review of eighty-seven cases

Trauma to the hand can result in adhesions between the interosseous and lumbrical muscles with subsequent painful impingement on the deep transverse metacarpal ligament during intrinsic contraction. If these adhesions also develop between the intrinsic muscles and the deep transverse metacarpal ligaments or metacarpophalangeal capsule, discomfort may be produced by stretching of the intrinsic tendons. Release of these adhesions, partial resection of the ligament, and early mobilization can produce relief of the symptoms. Eighty-seven cases are reviewed with respect to causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

Studies of ultramicrostructure in relation to disaccharidase activity in the jejunal mucosa

Ultramicrostructural changes of the mucosa of the small intestine were studied in relation to the alterations of the lactase activity, measuring the height of microvilli by electron microscopy and the enzyme activity by the method of Dahlqvist. Studies with clinical cases revealed that the height of microvilli correlated with the lactase activity significantly (p less than 0.01), and that patients with relatively higher microvilli had a correspondingly higher activity of lactase. In animal experiments an increase of lactase activity by lactose load feeding and low calorie feeding resulted in a raise in the height of microvilli. It was concluded that lactase deficiency in adults and in various gastrointestinal diseases, where no histological abnormality was observed by light microscopy is perhaps due to shortening of the microvilli of the mucosa. It was speculated that the microvillous change and the sequential hypolactasia may be the initial ultramicrostructural and enzymatic alteration in the diffuse disease of the small intestine.

Studies on the etiology of milk intolerance in Japanese adults

1. The incidence of milk intolerance is approximately 19% in Japanese adults when 200 ml of milk is given. However, a much greater incidence was assumed when considered under the criteria of Western standard. 2. The lactase activity was significantly greater in milk drinkers than non-drinkers. And, internationally, the active is higher in those nationalities whose milk consumption is greater. 3. Lactase is an adaptive enzyme and rather easily induced by lactose load feeding in animals. From the data of our own and of the literature, it was further confirmed that environmental factors play a more important role than genetic factors in the etio-pathogenesis of milk intolerance.