The Utility of a Novel Stacked Microvascular Imaging for Enhanced Detection of Fibrosis in Chronic Liver Diseases

OBJECTIVE

Ultrasonographic imaging plays a primary role to detect fibrotic changes in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). To enhance detectability of fibrosis in its early stage, we developed a novel stacked microvascular imaging (SMVI) that enables continuous visualization of fibrotic changes in intrahepatic vessels.

METHODS

SMVI was produced by accumulating 3-5 seconds of high-definition color images in tilted-scan mode. An SMVI score was devised by quantitating three hallmark vascular changes in liver fibrosis in 0-2 grades (total 0-6): narrowing, caliber irregularity, and tortuosity. To evaluate the clinical utility of the SMVI score, 469 well-defined CLD patients were enrolled and subgrouped by the stage of liver fibrosis defined based on elastography: F0-1Low, F0-1High, F2, F3, and F4. The diagnostic performance of the SMVI score was compared to conventional B-mode liver morphology score and various laboratory test markers of fibrosis.

RESULTS

Unlike conventional microvascular imaging that relies on a single image, SMVI enabled an undisrupted view of intrahepatic vessels for easy detection of fibrotic changes. SMVI detected microvascular narrowing in 92% at stage F0-1High. While detection rates for caliber irregularity and tortuosity were low at early stages but increased proportionately in advanced stages. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that SMVI score was most accurate in distinguishing F0-1Low from F0-1High cases compared to B-mode or laboratory test scores.

CONCLUSION

SMVI provides enhanced vascular images of liver fibrosis in CLD, especially in its early stage. The SMVI score can be used as a primary tool for determining fibrotic stages in CLD.

Comparison of response options and actual symptom frequency in the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in women in early pregnancy and non-pregnant women

BACKGROUND

The positive predictive rate of the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is lower than those of other versions. This study aimed to confirm whether the EPDS Japanese version reflects actual symptom frequency and to examine the possibility of improving the positive predictive rate.

METHODS

This is a methodological study aimed at improving the positive predictive value of EPDS. The participants were 63 non-pregnant and 382 pregnant women. They answered the 10 questions of the Japanese version of the EPDS and reported the specific number of days as the frequency. The EPDS score (EPDS-S) and the frequency score (FREQ-S) were calculated for three factors of emotion: anhedonia, anxiety, and depression.

RESULTS

The positive rates of the EPDS-S and FREQ-S in pregnant women were 6% and 8%, respectively, which were lower than those in non-pregnant women (17%). On comparing the EPDS-S with the FREQ-S, a significant underestimation of frequency was observed in approximately 3% of pregnant women. The FREQ-S showed better internal consistency than the EPDS-S. Among the factors of emotion, women tended to rate anhedonia lower in the EPDS-S than in the frequency scale.

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women tended to report a lower frequency on the Japanese version of the EPDS than their actual symptom frequency, which was especially true for those with a desire to self-harm. The combined use of the FREQ-S and EPDS-S can prevent underestimation and help improve the detection rate of depression.

Liver stiffness assessed by Fibrosis-4 index predicts heart failure in AMI patients

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

It has been recently reported that the liver stiffness, which reflects increased central venous pressure, measured by transient elastography increases along with decompensated heart failure (HF) developing and decreases with clinical improvement. A simple index for the assessment of liver stiffness and/or impairment of liver reserve may be useful in patients with HF. We calculated each patient´s FIB4 index(F4I) using the following formula: (age (years)× aspartate aminotransferase (IU/L)/platelet count (10９/L)× square root of alanine aminotransferase (IU/L)). Patients with an F4I≥2.67 were classified into the high F4I group and these patients were strongly suspected to have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is also said to be a form of metabolic syndrome expressed in the liver. And lately NAFLD is associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke and cardiovascular surrogate markers. But Little is known about F4I with the influence of AMI prognosis. This study included 167 AMI patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention within 24h of onset. Consecutive patients were divided into two groups based on their F4I at discharge: First group (2.67 ≤F4I, n = 27), second group (F4I <2.67, n = 140) . And we assessed the association between F4I and CV events including cardiac death, recurrent AMI, recurrent PCI (TLR) and re-hospitalization of heart failure during 13 months. Result: High F4I (2.67≤ F4I ,19% VS F4I <2.67, 6%: P = 0.045) related to the re-hospitalization of heart failure. Univariate odds ratio was 3.45. F4I is significantly related to the re-hospitalization of heart failure. Conclusion: A simple index F4I is significantly related to the prognosis of adverse cardiac events after AMI patients. Abstract Figure. Predictor of Re-hospitalization of HF

The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults

Spending time in nature might positively influence mental health by inducing a relaxed state. Recently, gardens have been created on hospital rooftops in Japan to help inpatients recover from various physical and mental aliments. However, there is little evidence regarding any positive physiological effects of artificial gardens designed for health. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and cardiovascular responses incited by artificial natural environments. Japanese university students (n = 38) participated in a one-group pretest post-test experiment conducted at the Yamaguchi Flower Expo in Japan in October 2018, designed to assess whether exposure to four environments (forest, flowers, ocean, and artificial garden for health) influenced heart rate variability measures. After pretesting to determine baseline measurements, participants completed a circuit through the four natural environments. Following circuit completion, post-testing determined that the low frequency/high frequency ratio was significantly lower in the overall sample and the four areas had similar influences on heart rate variability. Findings suggest that exposure to nature by walking through natural areas and in rooftop artificial gardens might enhance the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

[Effects of strolling on the mind and autonomic activities of elderly people in the 2018 Yamaguchi Yume Flower Expo Well-being Garden based on the heart rate, blood pressure, low frequency/high frequency and mood]

AIM

In recent years in Japan, forest therapies have been implemented in various places. While the effects of such therapies have been reported in previous research papers, those of artificial gardens have not been clarified. At the 2018 Yamaguchi Yume Flower Expo, the Yamaguchi University Faculty of Medicine had the opportunity to provide a "Well-being Garden" in collaboration with the Japan Landscape Contractors Association Yamaguchi Prefecture Branch. We examined the physical and mental responses of older people who strolled in the Well-being Garden.

METHODS

Participants were 158 people ≥ 65 years old. Pre-and post-stroll interviews were conducted, and the heart rate, blood pressure, and autonomic nervous activities were measured.

RESULTS

After strolling in the garden, the heart rate significantly decreased from 76.1±12.9 to 73.9±11.8/min (p<0.01), and both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased from 142.5±24.4 to 139.4±24.1 mmHg and from 83.7±12.0 to 81.5±11.9 mmHg, respectively (p<0.01). The ralue of low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) after strolling in the garden came closer to the standard one than before, both in the participants with much tension and with less tension. In the post-stroll interview, 74 reported feeling very good, and 84 felt good.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that strolling in the Well-being Garden positively influenced the physical and mental condition of the participants.

P3391Cholesterol crystals in culprit coronary artery with acute myocardial infarction and their relation to myocardial salvage

Methods

This study included 53 AMI patients (90% with STEMI) who underwent primary PCI within 24h of onset. 53 STEMI patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) of 5th days and 3 months after PCI. Infarct size was measured on delayed-enhancement imaging, and area at risk was quantified on T2-weighted imaging. MSI was calculated as [area at risk − infarct size] × 100/area at risk. 3 months CMR with contrast-enhanced imaging of late gadolinium enhancement-LGE. Patients were divided 2 groups according to the existence of CCs at the site of culprit coronary artery.

Results

CCs occurs in 26 of 53 (49%). Acute 5th days risk area (13.5±4.1 vs 12.6±4.9, P=0.48) and 3months infarct size (5.3±3.5 vs 7.0±3.2, P=0.066) were not significant between CCs and no CCs group. But salvage index were significantly lower in patients with CCs group (47.7±17.5% vs 60.1±20.2%, P=0.021)

Conclusion

Salvage index in patients that CCs were found by the OCT analysis, remain low after AMI. This study demonstrates the potential correlation between the myocardial salvage and vulnerable morphological features of culprit lesion to the presence of CCs with AMI patients.

Bone metabolism induced by denture insertion in positron emission tomography

18F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) can identify subtle functional variation prior to the major structural change detectable by X-ray. This study aims to investigate the mechanobiological bone reaction around the abutment tooth and in the residual ridge, induced by insertion of removable partial denture (RPD) within two different groups of patients: patients without denture experience (Group 1) and patients with denture experience before (Group 2), using 18F-fluoride PET imaging technique. 18F-fluoride PET/computerised tomography (CT) scan was performed to examine the bone metabolic change in mandible before and after the RPD treatment. Region of interests (ROIs) were placed in alveolar bone around abutment tooth and in residual bone beneath the RPD. Standardised uptake value (SUV), reflecting the accumulation of 18F-fluoride, was measured for each ROI. In all subjects of Group 1, SUVs after insertion were higher than before in both alveolar bone and residual bone, while there was less significant change in SUV in subjects of Group 2. This study demonstrated using longitudinal 18F-fluoride PET scans to effectively examine the bone metabolic change in mandible induced by occlusal loading after RPD insertion. Using this technique, within the six subjects in this study, it was shown that bone metabolism around abutment tooth and residual ridge increased after RPD insertion in case of first-time denture user, while there was no big change in the patient with experience of denture before. This study revealed the effectiveness of applying PET to evaluate bone metabolic activity as mechanobiological reaction.

Rapid susceptibility testing for slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of water-soluble tetrazolium WST-1

Rapid susceptibility testing for slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of the water-soluble tetrazolium salt {2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-1)} using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone as an electron mediator was developed. Using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method, a long-term incubation time (7-14 days) was required to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the slowly growing NTM. The MICs for a variety of different antibiotics against the slowly growing NTM were determined by the WST-1 colorimetric method and compared with those obtained using the broth microdilution methods approved by the CLSI. Good agreement was found between the MICs determined after 3-4 days using the WST-1 colorimetric method and those obtained after 10-14 days using the broth microdilution method. The results suggest that the WST-1 colorimetric assay is a useful method for the rapid determination of the MICs for the slowly growing NTM.

Mechanobiological Bone Reaction Quantified by Positron Emission Tomography

While nuclear medicine has been proven clinically effective for examination of the change in bone turnover as a result of stress injury, quantitative correlation between tracer uptake and mechanical stimulation in the human jawbone remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between bone metabolism observed by 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) images and mechanical stimuli obtained by finite element analysis (FEA) in the residual ridge induced by the insertion of a removable partial denture (RPD). An 18F-fluoride PET/CT (computerized tomography) scan was performed to assess the change of bone metabolism in the residual ridge under the denture before and after RPD treatment. Corresponding patient-specific 3D finite element (FE) models were created from CT images. Boundary conditions were prescribed by the modeling of condylar contacts, and muscular forces were derived from the occlusal forces measured in vivo to generate mechanobiological reactions. Different mechanobiological stimuli, e.g., equivalent von Mises stress (VMS), equivalent strain (EQV), and strain energy density (SED), determined from nonlinear FEA, were quantified and compared with the standardized uptake values (SUVs) of PET. Application of increased occlusal force after RPD insertion induced higher mechanical stimuli in the residual bone. Accordingly, SUV increased in the region of residual ridge with higher mechanical stimuli. Thus, with SUV, a clear correlation was observed with VMS and SED in the cancellous bone, especially after RPD insertion (R2 > 0.8, P < 0.001). This study revealed a good correlation between bone metabolism and mechanical stimuli induced by RPD insertion. From this patient-specific study, it was shown that metabolic change detected by PET in the loaded bone, in a much shorter duration than conventional x-ray assessment, is associated with mechanical stimuli. The nondestructive nature of PET/CT scans and FEA could potentially provide a new method for clinical examination and monitoring of prosthetically driven bone remodeling.

Hypothermia at 35 °C reduces the time-dependent microglial production of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors that mediate neuronal cell death

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic hypothermia protects neurons after severe brain damage. This effect has been mainly achieved at the core temperatures of 32-34 °C; however, the optimum temperature of therapeutic hypothermia is not fully defined. Here we studied whether hypothermic culture at 35 °C had the same effects on the decrease of time-dependent expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, and nitric oxide (NO) by stimuli-activated microglia as that at 33 °C, as determined in our previous reports, and whether these factors directly induced neuronal cell death.

METHODS

We determined the levels of cytokines and NO produced by microglia cultured with adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a toll-like receptor (TLR)2 agonist (N-palmitoyl-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2R,S)-propyl)-(R)-cysteinyl-seryl-(lysyl)3-lysine, Pam(3)CSK(4)), or a TLR4 agonist (lipopolysaccharide) under mild hypothermic (33 °C), minimal hypothermic (35 °C), and normothermic (37 °C) conditions. We also determined the viability of rat neuronal pheochromocytoma PC12 cells treated with recombinant TNF-α or IL-10 or (±)-(E)-4-ethyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-3-hexenamide (NOR3, an NO donor).

RESULTS

Production of TNF-α, as well as that of IL-10 and NO were decreased by minimal hypothermia at 1.5-6, and 24-48 h, respectively, compared with normothermia, although some effects were diminished as compared with those by mild hypothermia. Exposure to TNF-α, IL-10, and NOR3 caused the death of PC12 cells in a concentration-dependent manner after 24 h.

CONCLUSION

Hypothermic culture at 35 °C decreased the production of early-phase TNF-α and late-phase IL-10 and NO from ATP- and TLR-activated microglia as observed at 33 °C, albeit with diminished effects. Moreover, these factors caused the death of neuronal cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that the attenuation of microglial production of TNF-α, IL-10, and NO by therapeutic hypothermia leads to the inhibition of neuronal cell death. Minimal hypothermia at 35 °C may be sufficient to elicit neuroprotective effect.

A rapid microplate method for the proliferation assay of fungi and the antifungal susceptibility testing using the colorimetric microbial viability assay

A rapid microplate method for the proliferation assay of fungi and the antifungal susceptibility testing using the colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction in a tetrazolium salt 2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-8) with 2-methyl-1,4-napthoquinone as the electron mediator was developed. The proposed method was useful to measure the proliferation of 18 kinds of moulds and seven kinds of yeasts, including representative pathogens such as Aspergillus spp., Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. Linear relationships between the absorbance and viable fungal cell density were obtained for all fungi, suggesting that the absorbance change reflected the fungal proliferation. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against a variety of different pathogenic moulds and yeasts for amphotericin B, itraconazole and 5-flucytosine were determined by susceptibility testing using the proposed method and compared with those obtained using the conventional broth microdilution method. There was an excellent agreement between the results obtained using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained using the conventional Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute method. The WST-8 colorimetric assay is a useful method for rapid determination of accurate MICs for a variety of different fungi.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A rapid microplate method for the proliferation assay of fungi and the antifungal susceptibility testing using the colorimetric microbial viability assay based on reduction in a tetrazolium salt (WST-8) was developed. The WST-8 colorimetric method was useful to measure the proliferation of a variety of different fungi. In the antifungal susceptibility testing, there was a good agreement between the MICs determined after 24 h using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained after 48-96 h using the broth microdilution method. The proposed method was superior to conventional methods in terms of its rapidity towards a variety of different fungi.

Specific Lysogenicity in Streptomyces azureus

Slope (or plate) cultures of thiostrepton-producing Streptomyces azureus (ATCC 14921) often showed spontaneously developing plaques. Plaques increased in number during serial subcultures. The production of aerial mycelia and sporulating aerial hyphae was interrupted by the overlapping plaques, whereas the growth of substrate mycelia continued in the plaques. These abnormal (eroded) cultures were easily restored to their normal conditions once they were passed through liquid cultures under shaking conditions. A few phage particles were found in the plaques, together with some headless tails and numerous tail tips which formed a hexagonal crystal or a large crystal mass when viewed in an electron microscope. No lytic phenomenon and no phage production were found in the liquid cultures, although all mycelia and spores harbored phage-producing abilities. It was also found that the propagation of phages was successful in solid culture, but not in liquid culture. The whole phage was named SAt2, which belongs to group B of Bradley's morphological classification. From these results, it is considered that S. azureus is lysogenic with temperate phage SAt2, of which virulent mutants are able to infect the aerial mycelia and sporulating hyphae of their lysogenic host.

Pock Formation of Streptomycetes endus with Production of Phage Taillike Particles

Plate (or slope) cultures of endomycin-producing Streptomyces endus (KCC S-0213) showed spontaneously developing pocks which increased in number during subculturing. Neither spore formation nor typical aerial hyphae formation was observed in the pocks, whereas formation of substrate hyphase was not inhibited. Almost all of the hyphae were broken or lysed in the pocks, and many phage tail tiplike particles were observed in the pocks. No self-replication activity was associated with the particles. The particles often formed a hexagonal crystal or a large crystal mass. The production of these particles did not occur in the liquid culture or in young or normal plate cultures having no pocks. These results were similar to those obtained from the plaque-making phenomenon, except for active phage production, in thiostrepton-producing Streptomyces azureus (ATCC 14921), which has been described previously.

Anticipation and motor control on repetitive tooth tapping produced by open-close jaw movements

This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the temporal anticipation effects and motor control on repetitive tooth tapping movements (tooth tapping produced by open-close jaw movements) commanded by six frequencies of acoustic signals. Ten dentulous young adults were asked to perform tooth tapping movements to acoustic command signals at constant frequencies of 0.3, 0.8, 1.3, 1.8, 2.3 and 2.8 Hz. Surface electromyograms of the Masseter muscles, vertical component of the Mandibular kinesiograph, and acoustic signals were simultaneously recorded. Some parameters were measured for tappings at the last signal (TL) and surplus tappings without signals after the last signal (TL(n)) in each frequency command signal. The results showed that changes in the strategy for tapping movement controls occurred between 0.3 and 0.8 Hz. Between 0.8 and 2.8 Hz, each tooth tapping was automatically initiated before the confirmation of the signal; initiation and control of repetitive tapping movements were apparently based on effector anticipation (predicting the duration of internal processes for a planned movement so that it can be made coincidental to some anticipated external event) and receptor anticipation (anticipation of the arrival of a stimulus due to sensory information about its time of arrival). However, at 0.3 Hz, the movement initiation was delayed, such that each tooth tapping was initiated after the confirmation of the signal. Therefore, tappings at 0.3 Hz showed less dependence on receptor anticipation. These changes in motor control strategy are considered to be a reasonable way to prevent incorrect movements and to minimize erroneous movements.

Engineering a hybrid pseudomonad to acquire 3,4-dioxygenase activity for polychlorinated biphenyls

We constructed a hybrid strain that acquired 3,4-dioxygenase activity for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This strain, KF707-D34, possessed a chimeric biphenyl dioxygenase gene, of which a portion of bphA1 (coding for a large subunit of biphenyl dioxygenase) of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 was replaced with that of a PCB-degrader, Burkholderia cepacia LB400 by homologous recombination. KF707-D34 retained the ability to degrade 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl via 2,3-dioxygenation in a fashion identical to that of KF707 and gained novel capability to degrade 2,5,4'-trichlorobiphenyl and 2,5,2',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl via 3,4-dioxygenation in a fashion identical to that of LB400. Sequence analysis of bphA1 from KF707-D34 revealed that three nucleotides in the 3'-terminal region of KF707 bphA1 were changed to correspond to those in LB400 bphA1. The resulting BphA1 protein in KF707-D34 was changed at position 376 from threonine (Thr) to asparagine (Asn). The results demonstrate that a minor alteration of the amino acid sequence in BphA1 improved the PCB degradation capability in biphenyl-utilizing bacteria.

Anticipatory and reflexive neck muscle activities during voluntary rapid jaw opening and passive jaw depression in humans

The characteristics of head movement during voluntary rapid jaw opening movement and passive jaw depression were investigated using accelerometers and electromyographs (EMG) on eight healthy examinees. Passive depressions were executed by means of load on the lower jaw, initiated either by examinees themselves or an experimenter. In the depression initiated by examinees, a head-extension movement that preceded the load to the lower jaw and anticipatory activities in the nuchal region of the trapezius muscle were observed. In the depression initiated by the experimenter, the anticipatory activities were not observed. In both of these cases, stretch reflexes were induced in the trapezius muscle. During voluntary rapid jaw opening, a head-extension movement nearly synchronized with the opening movement in the lower jaw acceleration, and dorsal-neck muscle activities accompanying the synchronized movement were observed. The peak timing of these neck-muscle activities preceded the latencies of the stretch-reflex activities observed in the jaw-depressed tasks, but no anticipatory activities were observed in the dorsal-neck muscles. We conclude that neither the anticipatory activities nor the reflex activities observed in the passive depressions have effects on the initial part of the dorsal-neck muscle activities, which are related to the head-extension synchronized with the voluntary lower-jaw opening movement.

Propagation of the impact on the tooth caused by jaw tapping movement

The influence of mechanical stimulation on the human body is extremely important. We hypothesized that if tooth impact is propagated to other sites of the body, this impact will have some effect on those sites as well. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which tooth impact was propagated in the head and neck. It was found that the waves recorded on the upper canine are divided into a high frequency component and a low frequency component at a border of approximately 7 kHz. The amplitude of the impulse wave was 80.813 g for the low frequency component, and 177.839 g for the high frequency component. In terms of propagated vibration from the canine, the amplitude of the low frequency component was larger than that of the high frequency component, and greatest at the chin, followed in descending order by the zygomatic bone, forehead and vertebra prominens. For both frequency components, the amplitude of the propagated vibrations was small compared with the impulse waves. These results provide a basis for future analysis of the influence of such impact on cell response.

Directed evolution of biphenyl dioxygenase: emergence of enhanced degradation capacity for benzene, toluene, and alkylbenzenes

Biphenyl dioxygenase (Bph Dox) catalyzes the initial oxygenation of biphenyl and related compounds. Bph Dox is a multicomponent enzyme in which a large subunit (encoded by the bphA1 gene) is significantly responsible for substrate specificity. By using the process of DNA shuffling of bphA1 of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 and Burkholderia cepacia LB400, a number of evolved Bph Dox enzymes were created. Among them, an Escherichia coli clone expressing chimeric Bph Dox exhibited extremely enhanced benzene-, toluene-, and alkylbenzene-degrading abilities. In this evolved BphA1, four amino acids (H255Q, V258I, G268A, and F277Y) were changed from the KF707 enzyme to those of the LB400 enzyme. Subsequent site-directed mutagenesis allowed us to determine the amino acids responsible for the degradation of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Functional analyses of Bph-Tod hybrid dioxygenase, which exhibits high degradation activity toward trichloroethylene

Biphenyl dioxygenase (BphDox) in Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 is a multicomponent enzyme consisting of an iron-sulfur protein (ISP) that is composed of alpha (BphA1) and beta (BphA2) subunits, a ferredoxin (FD(BphA3)), and a ferredoxin reductase (FDR(BphA4)). A recombinant Escherichia coli strain expressing hybrid Dox that had replaced BphA1 with TodC1 (alpha subunit of toluene dioxygenase (TolDox) of Pseudomonas putida) exhibited high activity toward trichloroethylene (TCE) (Furukawa, K., Hirose, J., Hayashida, S., and Nakamura, K. (1994) J. Bacteriol. 176, 2121-2123). In this study, ISP, FD, and FDR were purified and characterized. Reconstitution of the dioxygenase components consisting of purified ISP(TodC1BphA2), FD(BphA3), and FDR(BphA4) exhibited oxygenation activities toward biphenyl, toluene, and TCE. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by the Ferguson plot analyses demonstrated that ISP(TodC1BphA2) and ISP(BphA1A2) were present as heterohexamers, whereas ISP(TodC1C2) was present as a heterotetramer. The molecular activity (k(0)) of the hybrid Dox for TCE was 4.1 min(-1), which is comparable to that of TolDox. The K(m) value of the hybrid Dox for TCE was 130 microm, which was lower than 250 microm for TolDox. These results suggest that the alpha subunit of ISP is crucial for the determination of substrate specificity and that the change in the alpha subunit conformation of ISP from alpha(2)beta(2) to alpha(3)beta(3) results in the acquisition of higher affinity to TCE, which may lead to high TCE degradation activity.

Chemotaxonomy on the leaf constituents of Thujopsis dolabrata Sieb. et Zucc.-Analysis of neutral extracts (diterpene hydrocarbon)

The leaf terpenes in Thujopsis dolabrata from all regions in Japan were analyzed using GC and GC-MS. The results show that the major constituents of the diterpene hydrocarbon fraction in this conifer are dolabradiene, hibaene, rimuene, 13-epi-dolabradiene and abietatriene. There were wide variations in the contents of the constituents among individuals and habitats. The results also show that T. dolabrata trees from 34 habitats can be classified into three groups based on the composition of the leaf diterpene hydrocarbon.

Influence on force curve exerted by jaw tapping force

The purpose of this study, which made use of visual biofeedback, was to determine how methods of regulating jaw tapping force differed depending on the strength of the tapping, using the force curve as an index. Nine healthy examinees were asked to make 30-35 jaw tapping movements, reproducing the defined target tapping force as accurately as possible. We measured the duration of the tooth contact phase, the time to peak force, the first time derivative of force (peak dF/dt), and the time to peak dF/dt. The results indicated that the duration of the tooth contact phase and the time to peak force increased with the target value (P < 0.01). As the target rose, the peak dF/dt increased significantly (P < 0.01), but the time to peak dF/dt was not significant (P=0.134). We found that the higher the target value, the greater the degree of dependency on feedback information. We also found that both the peak dF/dt and the time to peak dF/dt were determined for each examinee prior to movement.

Emergence of multifunctional oxygenase activities by random priming recombination

Biphenyl dioxygenase (Bph Dox) is responsible for the initial dioxygenation of biphenyl. The large subunit (BphA1) of Bph Dox plays a crucial role in determination of substrate specificity of biphenyl-related compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Functional evolution of Bph Dox of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 was accomplished by random priming recombination of the bphA1 gene, involving two rounds of in vitro recombination and mutation followed by selection for increased activity in vivo. Evolved Bph Dox acquired novel and multifunctional degradation capabilities not only for PCBs but also for dibenzofuran, dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzothiophene, and fluorene, the compounds scarcely attacked by the original KF707 Bph Dox. The modes of oxygenation were angular and lateral dioxygenation for dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin, sulfoxidation for dibenzothiophene, and mono-oxygenation for fluorene. These enzymes also exhibited enhanced degradation abilities for PCB congeners, retaining 2,3-dioxygenase activity and gaining 3,4-dioxygenase activity, depending on the chlorine substitution of PCB congeners. Further mutation analysis revealed that the amino acid at position 376 in BphA1 is significantly involved in the acquisition of multifunctional oxygenase activities and mode of oxygenation.

Enhanced Ca2+ sensitization of the bronchial smooth muscle contraction in antigen-induced airway hyperresponsive rats

To investigate the alteration in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced increase in Ca2+ sensitization of bronchial smooth muscle contraction concurrent with the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), the ACh-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]) level and contractile response were simultaneously determined by using Fura-2 loaded bronchial smooth muscle. The left main bronchi were isolated from AHR rats which were sensitized and repeatedly challenged with DNP-Ascaris antigen. The tissue ring preparations were incubated in loading solution containing 10 microM Fura-2AM for 3 hr at room temperature. Then the isometrical contraction and [Ca2+]i (F340/F380) were monitored. Although the ACh (10(-3) M)-induced contractile response in AHR group (322 +/- 60 % of 60 mM K+ induced contraction) was significantly greater than that in control animals (173 +/- 15 %, p<0.05), the ACh (10(-3) M)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was without significant difference between the two groups (128 +/- 15 and 171 +/- 29% of 60 mM K+ -induced increase in [Ca2+]i, respectively). These findings suggest that an augmentation of ACh-induced Ca2+ sensitization may occur in bronchial smooth muscle of the rats with antigen-induced AHR.

Effects of calmodulin antagonist (W-7) on phorbol ester (PMA)-induced contractile response in isolated rat aorta

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of calmodulin antagonist (W-7) on the contractile response of the rat aorta induced by activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol ester. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) produced biphasic contraction i.e., a sustained contraction (initial contraction) and 17.9 +/- 1.7 min later, this progressively developed contraction was changed to a delayed contraction superimposed on the initial contraction. The delayed contraction was completely inhibited by treatment with nicardipine. The onset of the delayed contraction was significantly delayed by treatment with W-7, whereas same concentration of W-7 showed a weak relaxant effect (10%) on the PMA-induced maximal contraction of aorta. Higher concentration of W-7 strongly inhibited PMA-induced sustained contraction. These results suggest that PMA-induced biphasic contractile response may be regulated by calmodulin.

Alpha-adrenoceptor agonists produce Ca2+ oscillations in isolated rat aorta: role of protein kinase C

We investigated the relationship between tension development and the cytosolic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) in responses to norepinephrine (NE) and selective alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist, UK14,304 of the endothelium-denuded rat aorta loaded with fura PE-3. NE (3 x 10(-8) M) evoked a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i followed by slight decreasing to a steady state level and produced a contraction. After the NE-induced increase in [Ca2+]i had reached a maximum, the [Ca2+]i showed persistent oscillations. The Ca2+ oscillations were superimposed on the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i. UK14,304 (3 x 10(-6) M) also evoked an increase in [Ca2+]i and produced a contraction. However, the UK14,304-induced effect on [Ca2+]i was characterized by pronounced oscillations, and the amplitude of the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i was less than that seen with NE. Protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro31-8220 (3 x 10(-6) M) and verapamil (10(-5) M) abolished both NE and UK14,304-evoked Ca2+ oscillations. UK14,304-induced contractions were also strongly inhibited by Ro31-8220 and verapamil. However, NE induced contractions were partly inhibited by these inhibitors. The sustained increases in [Ca2+]i evoked NE and UK14,304 were not significantly inhibited by Ro31-8220 and verapamil. These results suggest that NE and UK14,304 produce Ca2+ oscillations during sustained contractions in rat aorta. The alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist, UK14,304-induced sustained contraction and Ca2+ oscillations may be due to PKC activation and opening of voltage-dependent L type Ca2+ channels.

Management of suspected nosocomial infection: an audit of 19 hospitalized patients with septicemia caused by Bacillus species

From April to August of 2000, Bacillus spp. were detected in the blood culture of 29 patients in a hospital in Japan. Of these patients, 19 had clinical signs of septicemia; positive culture in the remaining 10 patients was attributed to contamination with skin flora at the site of puncture. Of the 18 strains evaluated, 15 were Bacillus cereus, 2 were Bacillus subtilis, and one was Bacillus licheniformis. The only hospital death observed was that of a patient who had no clinical signs of septicemia at the time of blood sampling. That death is now considered attributable to the underlying neoplasm. The hospital committee for prevention of nosocomial infection concluded after a critical review of the patient records that the cause of septicemia in most cases had been contaminated intravenous lines. To control the situation, the committee recommended the use of a new skin disinfectant, and medical personnel were advised to avoid infusion pauses with interruption of intravenous lines and to replace the caps for the stopcocks with new ones each time the caps were removed. These measures were rigorously observed in addition to the conventional measures for preventing catheter sepsis, and the incidence of septicemia due to the Bacillus spp. declined dramatically thereafter.

The enhancing effect of soybean-derived sterylglucoside and beta-sitosterol beta-D-glucoside on nasal absorption in rabbits

The aim of this study was to elucidate the efficiency of soybean-derived sterylglucoside (SG) and its main component beta-sitosterol beta-D-glucoside (Sit-G), as nasal absorption enhancers. Nasal administration of verapamil with SG and Sit-G showed the higher bioavailabilities (60.4 and 90.7%, respectively) than that with lactose (39.8%). It was clear that SG and Sit-G promoted the absorption of verapamil through nasal mucosa. To elucidate the mechanism, we measured the calcein leakage from liposomes by incubation with SG, Sit-G, oleic acid, soybean-derived sterol, and beta-sitosterol to investigate transcellular absorption and measured the changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) by Sit-G to analyze paracellular absorption. The large amount of calcein leakage induced by enhancers was consistent with an enhancement of bioavailability of verapamil and insulin following nasal administration (oleic acid < SG < Sit-G). Moreover, Sit-G increased [Ca2+]i in the medium containing Ca2+, but not in Ca2+ free medium. This result suggested that Sit-G increases the fluidity of the mucosal membrane and facilitates Ca2+ influx from extracellular sources. In conclusion, a possible explanation for SG and Sit-G to promote drug absorption, is that they may affect both paracellular pathway and transcellular pathways caused by pertubation of lipid.

Regulation of human jaw tapping force with visual biofeedback

The purpose of this study, which made use of visual biofeedback, was to determine whether jaw tapping force reproduction is related to the strength of tapping and to investigate how jaw tapping force affects the tapping movement curve. Nine healthy examinees were asked to reproduce jaw tapping force. We found that the ease and method of regulating jaw tapping force differed depending on the target force. We also found that jaw tapping force was regulated by alteration of the jaw opening distance, the duration of the tooth contact phase, the duration of the jaw closing phase, the maximum jaw opening velocity, and the maximum jaw closing velocity. However, the duration of the jaw opening phase and cycle time was not affected by force regulation under our experimental conditions.

[Copper supplement with cocoa for copper deficiency in patients with long-term enteral nutrition]

Copper deficiency (normal serum copper level: 78-136 micrograms/dl) has been reported in patients with long-term enteral nutrition, caused by a copper deficit in enteral nutrition. Occasionally, this leads to anemia and leukopenia. We used Hershey's pure cocoa that is rich in copper (content 3.8 mg/cocoa 100 g) for copper deficiency. A total of 86 (40 men and 46 women, mean age 69 years) patients on enteral nutrition were studied. The primary diseases were cerebral vascular disease in 71 patients, neurological disease in 5 and others in 10. Those who showed serum copper levels of 20 micrograms/dl or less (N = 8) were given 30-45 g of cocoa (copper content 1.14-1.71 mg) per day for about 40 days. Among them, two patients could not continue because of vomiting and diarrhea and were excluded from this study. Mean serum copper levels increased from 8.7 +/- 6.2 to 99.0 +/- 25.4 micrograms/dl (N = 6). Those who showed serum copper levels 20-77 mg/dl (N = 31) were given 10 g of cocoa (copper content 0.38 mg) per day for about 40 days. When mean serum copper levels increased from 50.5 +/- 19.3 to 89.0 +/- 12.9 micrograms/dl with cocoa administration, anemia and neutropenia caused by copper deficiency showed a tendency to improve. After completing the study period, cocoa was reduced to 5 g (copper content 0.19 mg) per day in 23 patients. The mean serum copper levels increased from 90.7 +/- 10.4 to 100.6 +/- 17.1 micrograms/dl for about 100 days. Recently, the amount of daily copper requirement for adults has been reported to be 1.28-2.5 mg per day. We showed that 10 g of cocoa (0.6 mg total copper: 0.38 mg in cocoa and 0.22 mg in other nutrients) is sufficient to treat copper deficiency, and 5 g of cocoa (0.37 mg total copper: 0.19 mg in cocoa and 0.18 mg in other nutrients) is enough to maintain the normal level of serum copper in patients with long-term enteral nutrition.

Reduction of tyrosine kinase B and tyrosine kinase C inductions by treatment with neurotrophin-3 after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat

Infarct volume and immunoreactivities for trkB and trkC in rat brain were compared at 24 h after 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) between animal groups with or without neurotrophin-3 (NT-3, 10 microg/250 g animal). Treatment of rat brain with topical application of NT-3 significantly reduced infarct volume (P = 0.02) and trkB and trkC inductions. These data suggest that NT-3 reduced the ischemic injury along with the reduction of trkB and trkC inductions.

Topical application of neurotrophin-3 attenuates ischemic brain injury after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats

In order to examine the effect of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) on ischemic brain injury, NT-3 was topically applied to brain surface just after 90 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. NT-3 significantly reduced the infarct size at 24 h of reperfusion. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin in situ nick labeling (TUNEL) staining and immunohistochemical study for caspase-3 and heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) showed that NT-3 treatment decreased the number of cells with DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 and HSP72 expressions. These data suggest that NT-3 protects neuronal cells from ischemic injury, and it is possibly associated with inhibition of DNA fragmentation.

Marked dissociation between intracellular Ca2+ level and contraction on exposure of rat aorta to lysophosphatidylcholine

We investigated the relationship between tension development and the cytosolic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) on exposure of the endothelium-denuded isolated rat aorta to palmitoyl-L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine. Lysophosphatidylcholine concentration-dependently induced a gradual increase in [Ca2+]i. Application of 10(-4) M lysophosphatidylcholine induced a large and sustained tonic increase in [Ca2+]i (the peak [Ca2+]i was 125.2 +/- 11.5% of the 80 mM K+-induced response) but only a small contraction (4.0 +/- 1.4% of the 80 mM K+ induced contraction). The sustained increase in [Ca2+]i was attenuated when extracellular Ca2+ was removed but it was unaffected by verapamil or 1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7). Digitonin also produced a gradual increase in [Ca2+]i but with a pronounced contraction. Triton X-100 (0.1%) produced a marked elevation in [Ca2+]i with no detectable contraction. Triton X-100, however, caused a rapid leakage of fura PE-3. Treatment with 10(-4) M lysophosphatidylcholine for 1 or 2 h did not affect the contractile response induced by 80 mM K+ and this treatment did not release lactate dehydrogenase from the rat aorta. Treatment with lysophosphatidylcholine did not affect either the cyclic AMP level or the cyclic GMP level in endothelium-denuded aortic tissues. These results show that in the rat aorta lysophosphatidylcholine produces a large increase in [Ca2+]i (possibly in a non-contractile compartment) which does not induce contraction. Thus, the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by lysophosphatidylcholine (i) requires external Ca2+ but is not due to an increased Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels, (ii) is not primarily due to protein kinase C activation and (iii) is probably not due to a detergent action (like those of digitonin and triton X-100). The relative lack of a contractile response to lysophosphatidylcholine is not due to formation of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP.

Lysophosphatidylcholine potentiates vascular contractile responses by enhancing vasoconstrictor-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ in rat aorta

We investigated the effects of palmitoyl-L-alpha-lysophosphatidylcholine on the contractile responses of the endothelium-denuded rat aorta to high K+, noradrenaline, UK14,304 (5-bromo-6-[2-imidazolin-2-ylamino]-quinoxaline) (a selective alpha2 adrenoceptor agonist) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Lysophosphatidylcholine at concentrations from 10(-6) M to 10(-4) M did not contract aortic strips. However, lysophosphatidylcholine strongly potentiated the UK14,304-induced contraction. High K+ - and PMA-induced contractions were also potentiated. In contrast, the noradrenaline-induced contraction was only slightly potentiated by 10(-5) M lysophosphatidylcholine. In fura PE-3-loaded aortic strips, lysophosphatidylcholine (10(-5) M) markedly augmented the increase in both cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and contractile tension induced by UK14,304, high K+ and PMA. Nicardipine (10(-7) M) and 10(-6) M Ro-31-8220 (¿1-[3-(amidinothio)propyl-1H-indoyl-3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-++ +indoyl-3-yl)-maleimide-methane sulfate) strongly inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i and contractile tension induced by UK14,304 and in the presence of these inhibitors, the enhancing effects of lysophosphatidylcholine were attenuated. However, the enhancing effect on high K+ -induced contraction was not affected by Ro-31-8220. These results suggest that lysophosphatidylcholine may cause an augmentation of the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by UK14,304 which response is depend on protein kinase C activation and in this way potentiate contractile responses in the rat aorta. Protein kinase C independent mechanisms may also be involved in the enhancing effect of lysophosphatidylcholine on smooth muscle contraction.

Propagation of various tooth impacts in the human body

The purpose of this study was to investigate how far tooth impacts were propagated in the body and whether the propagation would be influenced by posture. The impacts were propagated to all recording sites on the head and neck of the 10 examinees tested. In the recordings on the limbs, even at the most distal site, the number of examinees detecting the vibration was seven out of nine examinees. These results showed that the impacts exerted on the tooth were propagated to distal sites of limbs through the bones and soft tissues and implied that the propagated vibration would influence the whole of the body. On the other hand, as the amplitude of propagated vibration was influenced by posture and recording site, the posture during jaw functioning appears to be important.

Early gastric cancer with psammomatous calcification

We describe a 51 year-old man with calcified early gastric cancer. The calcification was not displayed by abdominal X-ray, CT, or conventional ultrasound. Only endoscopic ultrasonography displayed the distribution of calcification in vivo. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a slightly hypoechoic lesion with a high echoic line, without involvement of the fourth layer. Histopathologically, it was a IIc type early gastric cancer. The depth of cancer invasion was limited to the mucosa and a mucin pool was not observed. Psammomatous calcification was observed in the lumen of the carcinomatous glands. This seems to be the first case reported in which psammoma bodies were observed in early gastric cancer.

Treatment of the survivors from the Nagoya air crash

Six patients were taken to our hospital alive just after the air crash at Nagoya Airport in 1994. On admission, all patients suffered from profound shock which rapidly progressed. Serum albumin and hemoglobin levels, and platelet count decreased on admission or soon after. The four patients who died could not recover from the shock and associated rapid deterioration of neurological signs. However, two patients were successfully treated with massive transfusion of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, fresh blood, and/or platelet concentrate and survived to discharge. We recommend addition of albumin to the transfusate in such cases.

Enhanced degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls by directed evolution of biphenyl dioxygenase

Biphenyl dioxygenases (BP Dox) from different organisms, which are involved in the initial oxygenation and subsequent degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), are similar in structure but have different functions. The large subunit of BP Dox, encoded by the bphA1 gene, is crucial for substrate selectivity. Using the process of DNA shuffling, we randomly recombined the bphA1 genes of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 and Burkholderia cepacia LB400 and selected for genes that expressed proteins with altered function. Upon expression in Escherichia coli, some of these evolved genes exhibited enhanced degradation capacity, not only for PCB and related biphenyl compounds, but for single aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene, which are poor substrates for the original BP Dox.

GTP-binding protein regulates the contractile response elicited by the phorbol ester (PMA)-induced activation of protein kinase C in the isolated rat aorta

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of GTP-binding protein in the contractile response induced by activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in isolated rat aorta. The rats were treated with islet-activating protein (IAP) for 4 days prior to the experiments. 2. In the aorta from control rats, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) produced biphasic contractions; twitch contraction superimposed on the slowly developing contraction. The twitch contraction was abolished by the removal of external Ca2+ or by treatment with nicardipine. In the aorta pretreated with IAP, PMA produced only a slowly developing contraction, and no twitch contraction was induced. 3. The application of Ca2+ to aortic strips in a Ca(2+)-free solution, that had been treated with 10(-6) M PMA caused concentration-dependent contraction, and the contraction was completely inhibited by IAP. 4. Pretreatment with IAP inhibited Ca(2+)-induced contraction of the aorta in Ca(2+)-free medium in the presence of 10(-6) M clonidine, but did not affect the Ca(2+)-induced contraction in the medium treated with 10(-6) M phenylephrine and 10(-7) M nicardipine. 5. These results suggest that the activation of PKC by PMA produces biphasic contractions in the rat aorta. The twitch contraction may be induced by the activation of voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channels and the activation may be regulated by IAP-sensitive GTP-binding protein.