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.

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.

Kinetics of hydrolysis, oxidation, and adsorption during olive oil degradation by activated sludge

Kinetics of the degradation of olive oil by an acclimated activated sludge were studied. Kinetic constants for the lipid removal from the mixed liquor and for that from the supernatant and for the hydrolysis step were evaluated using Michelis-Menten equations. The maximum specific reactions rates (v(max)) and the saturation constants (K(m)) were v(max) = 1.20 mg lipid mg(-1) MLVSS day(-1) and K(m) = 1290 mg/L for lipid removal from the mixed liquor; v(max) = 1.54 mg lipid mg(-1) MLVSS day(-1) and K(m) = 801 mg/L for that from the supernatant; v(max) = 1.57 mg olive oil mg(-1) MLVSS day(-1) and K(m) = 1750 mg/L for the hydrolysis of olive oil (where MLVSS refers to mixed liquor volatile suspended solids). The adsorption of olive oil by the activated sludge contributed to the lipid removal from the supernatant. The specific rate of this adsorption was also estimated. The hydrolysis, rather than the oxidation of free fatty acids, was the rate limiting step in the degradation of olive oil when the concentration of olive oil was lower than about 800 mg/L.

Ultrastructure of placental hyperplasia in mice: comparison of placental phenotypes with three different etiologies

Hyperplastic placentas have been reported in several experimental mouse models, including animals produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer, by inter(sub)species hybridization, and by somatic cytoplasm introduction to oocytes followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Of great interest are the gross and histological features common to these placental phenotypes--despite their quite different etiologies--such as the enlargement of the spongiotrophoblast layers. To find morphological clues to the pathways leading to these similar placental phenotypes, we analyzed the ultrastructure of the three different types of hyperplastic placenta. Most cells affected were of trophoblast origin and their subcellular ultrastructural lesions were common to the three groups, e.g., a heavy accumulation of cytoplasmic vacuoles in the trophoblastic cells composing the labyrinthine wall and an increased volume of spongiotrophoblastic cells with extraordinarily dilatated rough endoplasmic reticulum. Although the numbers of trophoblastic glycogen cells were greatly increased, they maintained their normal ultrastructural morphology, including a heavy glycogen deposition throughout the cytoplasm. The fetal endothelium and small vessels were nearly intact. Our ultrastructural study suggests that these three types of placental hyperplasias, with different etiologies, may have common pathological pathways, which probably exclusively affect the development of certain cell types of the trophoblastic lineage during mouse placentation.

Estimation of reduced and increasing health risks by installation of urban wastewater systems

This paper aims to propose a methodological framework for quantifying the reduction and increase of health risks associated with urban wastewater systems. A risk assessment model was used to quantify reduction in disease burden while a life cycle assessment approach was used to quantify increasing risks by environmental loading. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) was used to quantify health risks. This framework was applied to a hypothetical watershed to evaluate health risks by installation of wastewater treatment systems. In this hypothetical case, 55 DALYs per year of health risk would be reduced for 200,000 people in the downstream community by constructing wastewater systems for 200,000 people, while a range from 1.9 to 22 DALYs per year of health risks would be generated by materials and energy consumption for construction and operation of wastewater systems. However, this result would significantly change, depending on the parameters used in this analysis. The proposed methodology should be improved to obtain more precise results, but it will suggest useful information to discuss the overall effects due to the installation of various types of urban wastewater systems.

Evaluation of nitrate removal by continuous culturing of an aerobic denitrifying bacterium, Paracoccus pantotrophus

Nitrate removal under aerobic conditions was investigated using pure cultures of Paracoccus pantotrophus, which is a well-known aerobic-denitrifying (AD) bacterium. When a high concentration of cultures with a high carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio was preserved at the beginning of batch experiments, subsequently added nitrate was completely removed. When continuous culturing was perpetuated, a high nitrate removal rate (66.5%) was observed on day 4 post-culture, although gradual decreases in AD ability with time were observed. The attenuation in AD ability was probably caused by carbon limitation, because when carbon concentration of inflow water was doubled, nitrate removal efficiency improved from 18.1% to 59.6%. Bacterial community analysis using the polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method showed that P. pantotrophus disappeared in the suspended medium on day 8 post-culture, whereas other bacterial communities dominated by Acidovorax sp. appeared. Interestingly, this replaced bacterial community also showed AD ability. As P. pantotrophus was detected as attached colonies around the membrane and bottom of the reactor, this bacterium can therefore be introduced in a fixed form for treatment of wastewater containing nitrate with a high C/N ratio.

Risk factors for fatality and neurological sequelae after status epilepticus in children

Using multivariate regression analysis, we examined risk factors for fatality and neurological sequelae after status epilepticus (SE) in children. Possible risk factors included sex, age at onset, the cause of SE, pyrexia, asthmatic attack during SE, past history of seizure, predisposing neurological abnormality, seizure duration, type of seizure, and medication with theophylline. Consecutive patients with SE, aged 1 month to 18 years, who were referred to Tottori University Hospital from 1984 to 2002 were reviewed. Of the 234 patients enrolled, 45 patients (19.2 %) showed poor outcomes, namely early death in 9 and neurological sequela in 36. Acute neurological insult and progressive neurological disease as the cause of SE were very significantly related to poor outcome (OR = 33.68, p = 0.000). We excluded 21 patients with the etiology of acute neurological insult and progressive neurological disease and then reanalyzed risk factors in the remaining 213 patients. Twenty-nine patients (13.6 %) showed poor outcome, namely early death in 6 and neurological sequela in 23. Seizure duration of more than 2 hours (OR = 12.73, p = 0.000) and moderate to severe asthmatic attack (OR = 31.61, p = 0.010) were associated with poor outcome. These results indicate that long-lasting seizure activity and asthmatic attack can exacerbate SE-associated brain injury.

Comparison of aerobic denitrifying activity among three cultural species with various carbon sources

Abilities of three aerobic denitrifiers such as Alcaligenes faecalis, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans and Paracoccus pantotrophus were compared from the viewpoints of nitrate removal efficiency and organic matter utilization. First, the effect of carbon source was investigated. Although nitrate reduction was observed in all strains under aerobic conditions, a change of carbon source considerably affected the denitrification ability. In the case of P. pantotrophus, nitrate and nitrite were completely removed in three days under sodium acetate or leucine as a carbon source. In the case of A. faecalis, sufficient nitrate removal was observed only when sodium acetate or ethanol was added. P. pantotrophus and A. faecalis showed a higher ability of nitrate removal than that of M. aerodenitrificans. Therefore, P. pantotrophus was selected in order to investigate the effects of concentration and repetitive addition of carbon. Sodium acetate was used as a sole carbon source. Nitrate was not reduced when the carbon concentration was below 500 mgC/L. However, when carbon source was added repeatedly, nitrate was reduced under 100 mgC/L after the optical density of the bacterium reached above 1.0. This result indicated that a high enough level of bacterial density was necessary to express aerobic denitrification activity.

Nitrate removal with low N2O emission by application of sulfur denitrification in actual agricultural field

Sulfur denitrification was applied to the agricultural field and the characteristics of the treatment were evaluated from the viewpoints of nitrate removal efficiency and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Two actual sites where sulfur denitrification was performed were surveyed. One is a valley bottom field, where groundwater contaminated with nitrate is coming up as spring water. The nitrate concentration in influent was about 45 mgN/L. The other was wastewater from a plastic greenhouse. The nitrate concentration in inflow water was about 200 mgN/L. Nitrate was almost removed by the containers packed with sulfur (S0)-CaCO3 blocks in both sites. Increase of sulfate indicated that nitrate was removed by sulfur denitrification. This was also estimated stoichiometrically from the relationships between the removed nitrate and produced sulfate. The N2O was supersaturated in water at most sampling points and the highest concentration of dissolved N2O reached 900 microgN/L in Saitama in March. It seemed that insufficient nitrate removal caused accumulation of intermediates during denitrification, such as nitrite and N2O, in this month. However, the emission ratio of N2O to the removed nitrate during these processes was kept low, ranging from 0.01 to 0.19%, at both two sites throughout all surveys.

Assessment of sustainable water management for rapidly developing urban regions in Guangzhou City, China

The Shawan River will be the focal point in the development of the Panyu District, the southern-most district of Guangzhou City in the Guangdong Province of South China. In this research, through the use of two scenarios, the future water quality of the Shawan River was predicted with relation to changes in the water quantity utilized to fuel industrial and domestic development. The worst-case scenario used, simulated the situation if no wastewater treatment was employed, and the best-case scenario simulated the situation if 90% of the pollution load was removed. The period of simulation was for the years 2020 and 2050. Three flowrates were used in the evaluation, those of: the 90% probability of the month of lowest flow (37.2 m3/s); and the range of flowrates within the low flow period, that is, the dry season from November to February (307 and 432 m3/s). Subsequently, two countermeasures (industrial and domestic water savings)--sustainable initiatives--were nested within the two scenarios to ascertain improvements in water quality as a direct result of reduction in water quantity used. The industrial water saving countermeasure showed the greatest improvement in water quality. For the 90% probability of lowest flow for the worst-case scenario, this countermeasure equated to a 63% decrease in BOD. For the low flow period flowrates the background concentration of pollutants was more influential than improvements imparted by the countermeasures to the future predicted water quality. It was recommended that industrial countermeasures be used that take into account water saving, water recycling, the use of brackish water for cooling, and the implementation of economic pricing initiatives. Also that inter-district governmental policy initiatives be introduced to prevent upstream pollution from influencing downstream proposals, further enhancing sustainable water management of the Shawan River.

Nitrous oxide production in high-loading biological nitrogen removal process under low COD/N ratio condition

Effects of influent COD/N ratio on N2O emission from a biological nitrogen removal process with intermittent aeration, supplied with high-strength wastewater, were investigated with laboratory-scale bioreactors. Furthermore, the mechanism of N2O production in the bioreactor supplied with low COD/N ratio wastewater was studied using 15N tracer method, measuring of reduction rates in denitrification pathway, and conducting batch experiments under denitrifying condition. In steady-state operation, 20-30% of influent nitrogen was emitted as N2O in the bioreactors with influent COD/N ratio less than 3.5. A 15N tracer study showed that this N2O originated from denitrification in anoxic phase. However, N2O reduction capacity of denitrifiers was always larger than NO3(-)-N or NO2(-)-N reduction capacity. It was suggested that a high N2O emission rate under low COD/N ratio operations was mainly due to endogenous denitrification with NO2(-)-N in the later part of anoxic phase. This NO2(-)-N build-up was attributed to the difference between NO3(-)-N and NO2(-)-N reduction capacities, which was the feature observed only in low COD/N ratio operations.

Evaluation of appropriate system for reclaimed wastewater reuse in each area of Tokyo using GIS-based water balance model

The appropriate type of reclaimed wastewater reuse system in each area of Tokyo was evaluated from the aspect of economic efficiency, using a GIS-based water balances model. The following four reclaimed wastewater reuse systems and conventional waterworks and sewerage system were evaluated; "Rain water storage and use system", "Onsite wastewater treatment and reuse system", "Sewage treatment and reuse at an intermediate point on the sewer pipe" and "Treated water supply system in sewage treatment plant". In the case that we install them to office and residential buildings, the supplied volume by reclaimed wastewater reuse systems is 693 thousands m3/d, this corresponds to 15% of total water demand in the area. Furthermore, the effects of the following scenarios brought about by technological innovation in water treatment were investigated; the case that flush water in toilet and wastewater from kitchen are also available as source in a "onsite wastewater treatment and reuse system" and the case that reclaimed water is used for laundering in residential buildings. When reclaimed water is used for laundering in residential buildings, the supplied volume by these systems increases to 814 thousand m3/d in the case that these systems are installed to office and residential buildings.

Clinical and molecular studies in 15 females with ring X chromosomes: implications for r(X) formation and mental development

We report clinical and molecular findings in 15 Japanese mosaic females with r(X) chromosomes, 45,X/46,X,r(X), confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for DXZ1 and whole X chromosome painting. Cases 1-3, 5-7, and 11-13 had mental retardation (MR), the remaining cases being free from MR. FISH analysis showed that XIST was absent from the r(X) chromosomes in cases 1-4 and was present on the r(X) chromosomes in cases 5-15. X-inactivation analysis for the methylation status of the AR gene indicated that, of eight cases with XIST-positive r(X) chromosomes in more than 10% (23%-62%) of lymphocytes (cases 5-12), cases 5-10 had selective X-inactivation, whereas cases 11 and 12 had active X disomy. Microsatellite analysis for multiple loci on the pericentromeric region revealed that, of 11 cases with r(X) chromosomes in more than 10% (13%-62%) of lymphocytes (cases 1, 2, and 4-12), cases 1, 2, and 5-10 had heterozygous alleles for at least one locus, whereas cases 4, 11, and 12 had single alleles for all the loci examined. The results suggest that the r(X) and normal X chromosomes could be of biparental or uniparental origin, and that mental status in females with r(X) chromosomes is determined by multiple factors, including the presence or absence of XIST on the r(X) chromosomes and the size and frequency of active r(X) chromosomes, in addition to co-incidental genetic and environmental factors.

Mouse macrophage metalloelastase gene transfer into a murine melanoma suppresses primary tumor growth by halting angiogenesis

Mouse macrophage metalloelastase (MME) has been associated with the generation of angiostatin, an internal fragment of plasminogen, which inhibits angiogenesis. To clarify whether tumor cells that consistently generate MME can suppress angiogenesis and, therefore, inhibit the growth of primary tumors in vivo, we transfected a cDNA coding for MME into murine B16-BL6 melanoma cells that grow rapidly and are MME deficient. The generation of active MME in MME-transfected clones was confirmed by immunoprecipitation followed by in vitro cleavage of plasminogen. Subcutaneous implantation of these stable clones in C57BL/6 mice inhibited primary tumor growth by an average of 73% (P = 0.00002), which directly correlated with a significant reduction of blood vessel formation (approximately 76%) in such tumors. Microangiography revealed massive angiogenesis in control tumors (mock and vector); however, in MME-transfected primary tumors it demonstrated a decreased and disrupted vascular network. Western blot analysis using a specific anti-mouse angiostatin antibody demonstrated a strong 38-kDa immunoreactive band in MME-transfected tumors and in the serum of mice bearing those tumor cells. These results show that placing MME gene directly into B16-BL6 melanoma cells is an effective approach to suppress primary tumor growth in vivo because it halts angiogenesis. Our data provide a feasible and promising strategy for gene therapy of cancer by targeting tumor vasculature.

Protection by vascular endothelial growth factor against sinusoidal endothelial damage and apoptosis induced by cold preservation

BACKGROUND

It is well known that sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) damage during cold preservation of liver tissue is closely involved in early graft failure. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of apoptosis in the SEC damage induced by cold preservation and to demonstrate the protective effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on SEC injury, including apoptotic changes.

METHODS

Isolated SECs and liver tissue of Wistar rats were cold-preserved in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution, and the protective effect of VEGF was then investigated. Isolated SECs were cultured for 24 hr, and divided into the following 3 groups: Group A, in which the cells were cultured for an additional 27 hr, Group B, in which the cells were cold-preserved in UW solution for 3 hr, and then recultured for 24 hr, and Group C, in which 20 ng/ml of VEGF was added to both the culture medium and the UW solution of cells cultured according to the Group B protocol. Each group of SECs was morphologically examined using the phase contrast microscopic method and the transmission electron microscopic method (TEM), and quantitatively analyzed using the WST-1 assay. Rat livers were cold-preserved in UW solution and divided into the VEGF(+) group and the VEGF(-) group, depending on whether VEGF was added or not. Each group of livers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopic method (SEM) after 24 hr of preservation. The hyaluronic acid uptake rate (HUR) was also determined after 6 hr of preservation. After 24 hr of preservation and 6 hr of reperfusion, tissues were examined by TEM and by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase d-uridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.

RESULTS

The phase contrast microscopic method and the WST-1 assay showed a protective effect of VEGF against the injury to isolated SECs during cold preservation and subsequent reculturing. Apoptosis was detected immediately by TEM after isolation of SECs, and the number of apoptotic cells increased with the incubation time. This increase was accelerated after cold preservation. The scanning electron microscopic method and the hyaluronic acid uptake rate showed a protective effect of VEGF against SEC damage in the cold-preserved livers. In the liver tissue, the TEM and the TUNEL assay detected apoptosis of SECs only after cold preservation and subsequent reperfusion. VEGF suppressed the apoptosis of SECs induced by cold preservation in both isolated cells and liver tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that SEC damage in the cold preservation of liver tissue was caused mainly by apoptosis, which required subsequent reperfusion. Moreover, isolated SECs showed spontaneous occurrence of apoptotic changes during culture, and these changes were accelerated by the preceding cold preservation. This is the first report to demonstrate the apoptotic changes of SECs seen here were inhibited by VEGF.

Application of the hybridization AT-tailing method for detection of human immunodeficiency virus RNA in cells and simian immunodeficiency virus RNA in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues

An in situ hybridization (ISH) AT-tailing method (HybrAT) was developed for the detection of viral genomes in infected cells and tissues. The method consists of hybridization with oligonucleotide probe which has a 3' end oligo d(A-T) tag, followed by elongation of the oligo d(A-T) by deltaTth DNA polymerase in the presence of the labeled nucleotide. The in situ HybrAT detected human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in cells and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded sections with a sensitivity comparable to RNA ISH. The advantage of this method over other methods is discussed.

Leptin before and after insulin therapy in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes

Serum leptin levels reflect the amount of body fat. However, several reports suggest that insulin may also regulate serum leptin levels. This study was aimed at testing whether leptin levels are low in newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes and increase after institution of insulin therapy. Nineteen children with new-onset type 1 diabetes were studied. Serum leptin levels were measured at presentation before insulin therapy was initiated (day 0), 1 day after insulin therapy (day 1), 3-5 days after insulin therapy (day 3-5), and at 3 months of follow-up (3 months). The control group consisted of 19 healthy children matched for age and body mass index. On day 0 leptin levels were lower in the patients compared with those in controls (3.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.2 +/- 0.9 ng/mL; P < 0.005). After insulin therapy, leptin levels increased significantly by day 1 without significant weight change and became comparable to control values by days 3-5. Before insulin therapy, leptin did not correlate with weight, body mass index, or hemoglobin A1c. After insulin therapy, leptin levels on days 3-5 correlated with insulin dose (r = 0.43; P = 0.03). The results of this study demonstrate that children with new-onset type 1 diabetes have low leptin levels before insulin therapy. Leptin levels increase within 24 h of insulin therapy and become comparable to nondiabetic levels by 3-5 days. This rapid increase in leptin after 24 h of insulinization is independent of changes in body weight and is postulated to be due to a stimulatory effect of insulin on leptin production, nutritional replenishment, or both factors together.

Morphologic alteration of hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells in rat fatty liver during cold preservation and the protective effect of hepatocyte growth factor

BACKGROUND

Fatty liver grafts are considered to be one of the main factors of primary nonfunctioning graft in transplantation. We investigated here, the hepatic damage during cold preservation in a rat fatty liver model by ultrastructural observation, and examined the effect of human recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (hrHGF) on amelioration of the cold-preserved graft condition.

METHODS

Wistar rats were fed a choline-deficient diet (CDD) for 7 days. Livers were stored in cold University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for 0, 4, and 24 hr. We evaluated the ultrastructural alteration of the hepatocytes, sinusoidal architecture, and endothelial cells (SECs) by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Ex vivo, we measured alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in first effluent as an index of hepatocyte injury and the hyaluronic uptake rate (HUR) as that of SEC damage. We injected hrHGF into rats fed CDD for 7 days through the portal vein and also added it to the UW solution to determine whether or not the agent ameliorated the hepatic damage in cold-preserved fatty livers.

RESULTS

In rats fed CDD for 7 days, the lesion occupied by fat deposits appeared to enlarge with the duration of cold preservation leading to the disarrangement of sinusoidal architecture. Furthermore, sinusoidal endothelial damage, in which gaps, blebs, microvilli, and sinusoid denudation were detected, appeared to be more severe in these livers than in the corresponding control livers. ALT significantly increased in the 4-hr cold-preserved livers of rats fed CDD for 7 days. HUR decreased with 4-hr cold preservation and/or with CDD feeding. Administration of hrHGF prevented the expansion of fatty droplets and reduced SEC injury as detected by morphological observations. Increase of ALT in first effluent was inhibited to about one fourth the level observed in the 4-hr cold-preserved livers of rats fed CDD. Moreover, HUR significantly increased with the pretreatment of hrHGF.

CONCLUSION

The hepatic injury in both hepatocytes and SECs in cold-preserved fatty liver graft developed more rapidly and severely than in the corresponding controls and demonstrated a protective effect of hrHGF.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-induced tumor angiogenesis and tumorigenicity in relation to metastasis in a HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cell model

Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well known to be a potent mitogen for vascular endothelial cells, the role of VEGF in a developmental process of tumor angiogenesis and metastatic potential remains poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate VEGF-induced vascular formation from a spatiotemporal viewpoint and to analyze VEGF-enhanced metastatic potential using stable clones of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells transfected with VEGF cDNA (S) or with vector alone (V). Microangiography revealed massive angiogenesis in the S cell-derived tumors and demonstrated that the angiogenesis occurred not in the tumor itself, but rather around the S cell tumor early after inoculation into the thigh muscles of mice. Thereafter, the angiogenesis extended in and around the tumor. The tumorigenicity of the S cells was higher than the V cells in the subcutaneous (s.c.) space, intraperitoneal space, liver and spleen. However, neither S cells nor V cells metastasized to the liver after an intrasplenic injection. Few apoptotic cells were detected in the S cell tumor, but many apoptotic cells were scattered in the V cell tumor. Our results indicate that VEGF facilitates tumorigenicity in various organs, possibly due to inducing angiogenesis in and around the tumor and preventing tumor cells from undergoing apoptosis, and suggest that VEGF may augment metastatic potential, by accelerating proliferative activity after reaching the target organ. Furthermore, VEGF-induced angiogenesis occurred preferentially around the tumor at an early period of tumor development, followed by neovascularization into the tumor.

Inhibitory effects of modified oligonucleotides complementary to the leader RNA on the multiplication of mouse hepatitis virus

Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-oligo) and PS-oligos with cholesterol conjugates (ChPS-oligo) complementary to the leader RNA of strain JHM of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) were more effective inhibitors of viral multiplication than natural oligodeoxynucleotides (PO-oligo) in JHMV-infected DBT cells. PS- and ChPS-oligos were 1,000 times more potent than unmodified PO-oligo. No significant difference was observed in the inhibitory efficiency between PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo. Sequence-dependent inhibition of viral multiplication was shown at low concentrations (0.001-0.1 M) of antisense PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo. Phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidine, PS-(dC)20, and PS-(dC)20 with cholesterol conjugates, and PS- and ChPS-oligo which have no significant homology to the JHMV sequences, showed inhibitory effects on JHMV multiplication at concentrations higher than 0.5 M. These results showed that PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo were more potent than PO-oligo in the inhibition of JHMV multiplication, and that PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo may inhibit JHMV multiplication by two different mechanisms, that is by sequence-dependent and sequence-independent manners.

cis Elements required for high-level expression of unspliced Gag-containing message in Moloney murine leukemia virus

The 441-nucleotide (nt) region (nt 5325 to 5766) around the splice acceptor (SA) site (nt 5491) was found to be necessary for high-level expression of gag-containing unspliced RNA of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M. Oshima, T. Odawara, T. Matano, H. Sakahira, K. Kuchino, A. Iwamoto, and H. Yoshikura, J. Virol. 70:2286-2295, 1996). Detailed genetic dissection of the 441-nt region revealed that the 5'-end 64 nt (nt 5325 to 5389) were necessary for high-level expression of the unspliced RNA when the spliced RNA was not produced, while the 3'-side 301 nt (nt 5466 to 5766) containing the SA site were necessary for producing spliced RNA. When the spliced RNA was produced, the unspliced RNA could be expressed at a high level even when the 5'-end 64 nt were absent. Probably the virus sequence ensuring the splicing could produce an RNA structure able to compensate for the function of the 5'-end 64-nt region responsible for the expression of the unspliced RNA.

Hybridization-AT-tailing (HybrAT) method for sensitive and strand-specific detection of DNA and RNA

delta Tth DNA polymerase catalyzed polymerization of dATP and dTTP into a high-molecular-weight d(A-T) copolymer using oligo-d(A-T) as the template/primer (Hanaki et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 244, 210-219). Taking advantage of this reaction, we developed a highly sensitive method for strand-specific detection of DNA or RNA. The probe consisted of a 40- to 50-base-long complementary sequence on the 5' side and 10 repeats of AT on the 3' side. After hybridization using the 5' side, the 3' side AT repeat region was elongated by delta Tth DNA polymerase in the presence of the dATP, dTTP, and digoxigenin (dig)-11-dUTP. The elongation condition was 52-62 degrees C for 3 h. The method named HybrAT (hybridization-AT-tailing) was at least 100-fold more sensitive than the conventional hybridization with 5' end dig-11-dUTP labeled probe.

Two different reactions involved in the primer/template-independent polymerization of dATP and dTTP by Taq DNA polymerase

Taq and Tth DNA polymerases catalyzed polymerization of dATP and dTTP into poly d(A-T) without requiring added primer/template (Hanaki et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 238, 113-118), while the Stoffel fragment of Taq DNA polymerase and delta Tth DNA polymerase with respective deletions of ca. 290 and 250 N-terminal amino acids did not. The primer/template-independent polymerization appeared to proceed via two reactions, the slow process of formation of 16-19 nt long oligo d(A-T) without primer/template and the rapid process of elongation of the oligo d(A-T) by self-priming. As the former step was more sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide than the elongation reaction, probably the formation of the oligonucleotide preceded the elongation. But when the substrates were depleted, Taq DNA polymerase degraded the high molecular weigh d(A-T) polymer to the oligomers which were resistant to the further digestion by the 5'-->3' exonuclease activity of Taq DNA polymerase. Probably, the elongation and the degradation reactions proceeded simultaneously, the former process being faster than the latter in the presence of enough dATP and dTTP.

Primer/template-independent synthesis of poly d(A-T) by Taq polymerase

Taq DNA polymerase polymerized dATP and dTTP to poly d(A-T) without requiring added primer/template in the temperature range of 60-70 degrees C. Tth DNA polymerase also catalyzed the reaction, while delta Tth, Vent, Vent(exo-), Pfu, Ultma, BcaBEST, and KOD DNA polymerases did not. The reaction was distinct from the template-nonrequiring terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase reaction which absolutely required primers.

Analysis of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene in Japanese patients with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia

Genomic DNA from 19 Japanese patients with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (lipoid CAH) representing 16 different families was examined to identify the genetic alterations of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Ten of 19 patients had a 46,XX karyotype and nine had a 46,XY karyotype. Six of the 46,XX patients have experienced spontaneous pubertal changes including breast development and irregular menstruation whereas none of the 46,XY subjects displayed pubertal changes. Eight different mutations were identified. Sixteen patients were either homozygotes or compound heterozygotes for the Q258X mutation. The seven other mutations identified were 189delG, 246insG, 564del13bp, 838delA, Q212X, A218V and M225T. The 189delG, 246insG, 546del13bp and Q212X mutants encode truncated proteins. COS-1 cells transfected with expression vectors encoding cDNAs for the mutant StAR proteins which affect the C-terminus, 838delA, A218V and Q258X, exhibited no steroidogenesis enhancing activity. However, the M225T mutant retained some steroidogenic activity. The patient with the M225T mutation had late onset of this disorder and some capacity to secrete testosterone in response to hCG. These findings suggest: (i) that the Q258X mutation can be used as a genetic marker for the screening of Japanese for lipoid CAH, (ii) that the C-terminus of StAR plays an important role in the protein's activity and (iii) that there are differences in the extent of functional impairment of the testis and ovaries in lipoid CAH.

Partial monosomy 10q and partial trisomy 9q with anal atresia due to maternal translocation: t(9;10)(q32;q26)

We report a case of a boy with a partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 10 and partial duplication of the long arm of chromosome 9 due to maternal balanced translocation. The karyotype was 46,XY,-10, +der(10)t(9;10)(q32;q26)mat. Our patient had imperforate anus and as this finding is usually not observed in association with trisomy 9q, it suggests that partial monosomy of the long arm of chromosome 10 might be associated with anogenital anomalies.

Maternal perception of children's weight in relation to eating disorders

Abnormal perception of body weight in girls has been reported previously (1), and distorted perception of body shape is cited as one of the pathogenetic factors in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa (2,3). Parent-child relationships should also be considered as one of the factors possibly contributing to the onset of the eating disorders (3,4). In the present paper we shall examine whether mothers perceive the weight of their sons and daughters correctly or not, and we shall also compare the results with the perceptions of the children themselves, which we have reported previously in this journal (1). Five outline drawings (-20% to 20% overweight), used in the previous study (1), were shown to the mothers, who were asked to select the drawings which they considered to represent the body weight of their sons (n = 130) and daughters (n = 125), who were aged 6 to 18 years. The mean body weights of the boys and girls in the study sample were 6.0% and 6.6% overweight, respectively. The mothers perceived the weight of their sons to be significantly (P < 0.01) less than the actual weight of these boys. The mean difference between the perceived weight and the actual weight was 10.4%. The mothers' perception of their daughters' weight was also 7.9% less than the actual weight (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1).

Inhibition of mouse hepatitis virus multiplication by phosphorothioate analogues of oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to the leader RNA

Phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (PS-oligo) complementary to a leader RNA of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) were more effective inhibitors of MHV multiplication than natural oligodeoxynucleotides (PO-oligo). Sequence-dependent inhibition of viral multiplication was shown at low concentrations (0.001-0.1 microM) of antisense PS-oligo. Phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidine, PS-(dC)20 and PS-oligo, which has no significant homology to the MHV sequence, showed inhibitory effects on MHV multiplication at concentrations higher than 0.5 microM. These results showed that PS-oligo was more potent than PO-oligo in inhibition of MHV multiplication and that PS-oligo may inhibit MHV multiplication by two different mechanisms, that is, in sequence-dependent and -independent manners.

An infant with pseudohypoaldosteronism accompanied by cholelithiasis

A case of an infant with very rare concurrence of pseudohypoaldosteronism and cholelithiasis is described. Aldosterone concentration was extremely high (64.6 nmol/l; normal 0.03-4.4 nmol/l) and fludrocortisone did not have favorable effects on hyperkalemia (7.4 mEq/l) and hyponatremia (124 mEq/l). A gallstone was found using ultrasonography at age 6 months, and it was extirpated surgically. The combination has not been reported previously. The study supports the previous hypothesis that cholelithiasis is found more often in infants with dehydration or electrolyte derangement.

Excessive food aversion, compulsive exercise and decreased height gain due to fear of obesity in a prepubertal girl

A case of a 7-year-old girl with a remarkable food aversion and excessive weight reduction caused by fear of obesity, which has been demonstrated in pubertal girls with symptoms partly similar to anorexia nervosa, is reported. Although the patient's weight was reduced to the upper limits of the normal range with diet and exercise, she reduced her food intake more strictly and did not at all eat food consisting of carbohydrates. Exercise was performed longer than before. Her weight continued to decrease and height velocity lowered from 6.0 to 4.1 cm/year (mean +/- SD of the age-matched normal girls: 5.5 +/- 0.74 cm/year). Her eating behavior was normalized without specific psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. It is suggested that food aversion with weight loss and decrease in height gain due to fear of obesity may occur in prepubertal children as well as in adolescent girls.

Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome in a girl with hypogonadism due to inactive follicle stimulating hormone

We report a very rare case of a girl with hypogonadism probably due to inactive FSH. She had been diagnosed as carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome. The 14-year-old patient had no secondary sexual characteristics with the 46,XX karyotype and estradiol (E2) levels were undetectable. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were extremely high and responded exaggeratedly to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). The E2 levels, on the other hand, were elevated after stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropin (75 units/day) for 5 days, suggesting biologically inactive FSH in the circulation. Abnormal structure in the glycoprotein may be possibly related with hypogonadism.

Long QT syndrome with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: contiguous gene syndrome on chromosome 11p

Long QT syndrome (Romano-Ward syndrome) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have been documented as being linked with gene(s) on chromosome 11p although concurrence of the two disorders has not been reported. Our case is a 13-year-old boy with Romano-Ward syndrome accompanied by IDDM. The long QT syndrome seemed to be transmitted in an autosomal-dominant mode because the Q-T intervals of his father and paternal grandfather were longer than normal. There was no family member with an abnormally high level of blood glucose except the patient. The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes of the patient and the father were DR4/DR9 and DR2/DR9, respectively. This study suggests that in our patient IDDM, as well as Romano-Ward syndrome, is linked with chromosome 11p in the presence of HLA-DR4. The results support the previous study that chromosome 11p encodes a gene implicated in HLA-DR4-dependent diabetes susceptibility.

Assessment of subcutaneous fat using ultrasonography in the Ullrich-Turner syndrome

Subcutaneous fat was measured using an ultrasonic method (SF-US) in girls with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) and in height and weight-matched controls. The method is not influenced by changes in cutaneous compressibility, which is frequently abnormal in UTS especially at a younger age. SF-US in the arms was significantly less in UTS patients (ulnar SF-US: P < 0.05; triceps SF-US: P < 0.005) than in the control girls. Results in suprailiac SF-US measurement was also similar (P < 0.05). Though the mean SF-US in the subscapular region was less in UTS patients than the control girls, there was no statistically significant difference. It is demonstrated that subcutaneous fat in UTS patients is less in their arms than in girls without UTS and that trunkal fatness is not increased but rather decreased in the UTS. The ratio of lean body mass to weight seems higher in UTS patients than in girls with similar weight and height.

Immunodeficiency with increased immunoglobulin M associated with growth hormone insufficiency

Growth hormone deficiency associated with hypogammaglobulinemia has been reported only in a few publications. Our patient was a male with recurrent episodes of infections. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G was extremely low although IgM concentration was much greater than the normal limit. Growth hormone responses to insulin, 1-Dopa and growth hormone-releasing hormone were low. The mean growth hormone concentration during sleep was less than the normal limit. These results are consistent with hyper-IgM immunodeficiency associated with growth hormone deficiency. The mode of transmission appears to be autosomal dominant. This combination has not been reported previously.

Brachydactyly type A-4 (Temtamy type) with short stature in a Japanese girl and her mother

We report on a Japanese girl and her mother with brachydactyly. Their 2nd and 5th middle phalanges were short and the latter was fused with the distal phalanx in one of the patients. Length and shape of proximal and distal phalanges as well as metacarpals seemed normal. These findings are consistent with brachydactyly type 4-A, which is a rare subtype and has not been adequately documented. Short stature was reported only in some cases of brachydactyly type A-1, A-6, C, and E, but not in the other subtypes. Our patients with type A-4 brachydactyly also had short stature.

Abnormal perception of body weight is not solely observed in pubertal girls: incorrect body image in children and its relationship to body weight

Perceived actual body weight and perceived ideal weight were assessed in 255 Japanese children and adolescents (130 boys, 125 girls) aged 6 years through 18 years using the drawing test to clarify whether they wanted to be thinner or to gain weight. More than half (68%) of the girls attending high school and 41% of the elementary school girls perceived their ideal weight to be less than the standard. The mean difference between the perceived actual weight and the ideal weight was positive in the high school girls of normal weight as well as in the overweight girls, meaning that even the normal-weight girls wanted to lose weight. The difference was also slightly positive in the underweight girls. The difference in the high school boys was negative, demonstrating that they wished to gain weight. It is suggested that girls want to lose weight even before adolescence; this tendency becomes more prominent in the high school period and is mostly unrelated to their own weight.

Responses of plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide to methacholine and exercise loading in children and adolescents with bronchial asthma

Responses of plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) to methacholine inhalation and to exercise loading were studied in asthmatic patients to clarify a significant role of the peptide. The mean of basal VIP in asthmatics was not significantly different from the normals. The levels were increased after FEV (1.0) (forced expiratory volume in a second) decreased to 80% of the baseline following methacholine inhalation and were returned to values similar to the baseline when FEV (1.0) recovered to 100%. Thirty minutes after the exercise, mean VIP was significantly lower in patients with the lowest FEV (1.0). These results suggest that VIPergic system contributes, at least partly, to relax constricted bronchioles in some patients with bronchial asthma.

Eating attitudes test in boys and girls aged 6-18 years: decrease in concerns with eating in boys and the increase in girls with their ages

Concerns with eating were studied in 130 Japanese boys and 125 girls aged 6-18 years using the Simplified Eating Attitudes Test (s-EAT). The s-EAT scores in girls slightly increased with age. The mean scores in girls at age 10 years or older were significantly higher than in boys of the same age, suggesting that pubertal girls have more concerns with eating. On the other hand, s-EAT scores in boys that were not overweight decreased as they grew older, contributing, at least partly, to the sexual difference in eating behavior. The mean scores in overweight boys were higher than in boys that were not overweight. The score in boys correlated significantly with weight though there was no significant correlation in girls. These results suggest that, in addition to increased concerns with eating in girls, decreased concerns with age in boys is one of the causes of the sexual difference in eating behavior, especially during puberty. Eating behaviors in girls seem to be less influenced by changes in body weight than in boys.

Elevated venous concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in cord blood of infants with fetal distress

Concentrations of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in cord plasma were determined in 70 neonates (birth weight, mean +/- SD, 3,213.5 +/- 50.9 g, gestation 39.5 +/- 0.2 weeks), 22 of whom had fetal distress. Arterial VIP levels in cord blood were not significantly different between infants with and without fetal distress. The mean venous VIP in cord blood of distressed infants (28.1 +/- 8.4 pg/ml, mean +/- SE) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of normal neonates (12.6 +/- 3.4 pg/ml). The mean placental content of VIP was 5.1 +/- 0.3 ng/g wet tissue, although a correlation with the venous concentration in the cord was not demonstrated. Venous VIP levels were elevated 24 h after birth (34.6 +/- 13.7 pg/ml) and decreased on the 5th day of life to 12.9 +/- 3.8 pg/ml, which was not significantly different from the mean VIP level in childhood (14.7 +/- 3.1 pg/ml). These results demonstrate that, in the perinatal period, plasma VIP levels are elevated on two occasions: at delivery associated with fetal distress (cord vein), and at 24 h of age. VIP in the former seems to be of placental and/or maternal origin.

Efficacy of bromocriptine administration for selective pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone

The relation between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) was evaluated in a girl with the selective pituitary type of thyroid hormone resistance for more than 7 years to clarify whether bromocriptine was an effective treatment or not. Levels of T3 (before: 2.44 +/- 0.64 nmol/l, mean +/- SD) and TSH (4.81 +/- 2.52 mU/l) were significantly decreased during therapy (T3: 2.15 +/- 0.44 nmol/l; TSH: 1.59 +/- 0.78 mU/l). T3 x TSH, calculated as one of the indices of pituitary resistance, on bromocriptine therapy (3.229 +/- 1.255 mU/l x nmol/l) was significantly (p < 0.005) smaller than the product before the administration (11.298 +/- 5.891 mU/l x nmol/l). The results suggest that bromocriptine should be one of the agents initially considered for the treatment of pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone.

Refractoriness at peripheral and pituitary receptors in general and pituitary types of thyroid hormone resistance

Patients with the general type (patient #1 and #2) and the selective pituitary type (#3) of thyroid hormone refractoriness (TR) were studied to clarify defects at peripheral and pituitary receptors. Products of T3 and TSH (n = 63) were calculated when T3 was above the normal limit (T3 > 1.8 ng/ml, 2.8 nmol/l) as one of the indices of pituitary resistance. Means of T3 (ng/ml) x TSH (mU/l) of patient #1 (mean; 40.8), #2 (15.0) and #3 (8.6) were significantly greater than patients with Graves' disease (2.1), suggesting pituitary refractoriness in the 3 patients. The products of patient #1 and #2 were also significantly larger than patient #3, demonstrating that the pituitary insensitivity in the latter (#3) was less than the former patients. Means of serum cholesterol in patients #1 and #2 were higher than patient #3 and patients with Graves' disease. Products of T3 (ng/ml) and cholesterol (mg/ml) (n = 28) in the patient #1 (541.9) and #2 (461.0) were significantly greater than the patient #3 (292.8) and the patients with Graves' disease (275.3). The results demonstrate generalized refractoriness in the patient #1 and #2 and selective pituitary resistance in the patient #3. It is suggested that our patient with the pituitary type (#3) had less severely affected receptors at the pituitary than our two patients with the general type. These results are consistent with the previous hypothesis that the pituitary type of TR is a partial form of this disease.

Fat distribution in overweight patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome

Overweight patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) and control children with similar weight/height and indices of overweight were studied to clarify the unique fat distribution in the syndrome. Triceps and ulnar skin-fold thickness (SFT) in UTS patients was significantly less than that of obese children without the syndrome. The means of SFT at the subscapular and paraumbilical regions were also less in the patients than control girls, though significance was not documented. Thus, increased body weight in UTS children seems mainly to be due to excess of adipose tissue, not in the limbs but on the trunk, and/or due to the increment of lean body mass.

Skinfold thickness at ulnar, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac regions in 1,656 Japanese children aged 3-11 years

We measured body weight, height, and skinfold thickness (SFT) at ulnar, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac regions in 1,656 Japanese children aged 3-11 years. Means of SFT in boys and girls with normal weight exhibited similar changes with age to Caucasian children. However, nadirs of SFT were observed 1 year earlier and means at 11 years were slightly higher in Japanese. Correlation coefficients between SFT and excess weight (EW) were high in boys and girls when EW was more than 10%. Some children with EW of more than 10% had abnormal SFT. Skinfolds in all children with EW of 30% or more were beyond the normal limits. In this study, normal ranges of SFT in Japanese children are demonstrated and their racial characteristics are compared to Caucasians. It is suggested that children with EW of 10-30% are heterogenous and determination of fat volume is essential to confirm the diagnosis of obesity in these subjects.