Injury rate and characteristics in Japanese male professional ice hockey players: prospective study of 60 players over 10 seasons

Objectives

We aimed to assess the injury rate and characteristics in Japanese male professional ice hockey players.

Methods

This study involved an inclusive cohort of male ice hockey players from a Japanese professional team competing in the 2010-2011 through the 2019-2020 seasons. An injury was defined as the 'time-loss and medical attention' definition of the International Ice Hockey Federation. All injuries that occurred during games and practice sessions were recorded daily on injury charts by the team athletic trainers and/or physician. Game-related injury rates were analysed using both the athlete-at-risk (AAR) and time on ice (TOI) methods.

Results

Sixty players were included in the study. A total of 479 injuries were recorded, with 307 (64%) occurring during 451 games and 172 (36%) occurring during the practice sessions. The game-related injury rates obtained using the AAR and TOI methods were not statistically different (p>0.05): 115.3 (95% CI 107.1 to 123.1) and 116.8 (95% CI 109.9 to 124.7) per 1000 player-game hours, respectively. Most injuries involved the upper extremities (39.9% game-related, 32.6% practice-related), followed by the lower extremities (23.5% game-related, 32.5% practice-related). The most frequent mechanism of game-related injury was body checking (45.4%).

Conclusion

We observed a higher injury rate in a Japanese male professional team compared with rates reported in other leagues. The reported injury characteristics should help to improve injury prevention strategies that should target shoulder dislocations caused by body checking, and finger or wrist fractures resulting from contact with a hockey stick or puck impact.

Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes of abemaciclib for the treatment of HR + , HER2- metastatic breast cancer patients in Japan

INTRODUCTION

This study described, in routine clinical practice in Japan, the patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of female patients with HR + /HER2- metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who started abemaciclib treatment.

METHODS

Clinical charts were reviewed for patients starting abemaciclib in 12/2018-08/2021 with a minimum of 3 months follow-up data post-abemaciclib initiation regardless of abemaciclib discontinuation. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and tumor response were descriptively summarized. Kaplan-Meier curves estimated progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

200 patients from 14 institutions were included. At abemaciclib initiation, median age was 59 years, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was 0/1/2 for 102/68/5 patients (58.3/38.9/2.9%), respectively. Most had an abemaciclib starting dose of 150 mg (92.5%). The percentage of patients receiving abemaciclib as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd line treatment was 31.5%, 25.8%, and 25.2%, respectively. The most frequent endocrine therapy drugs used with abemaciclib were fulvestrant (59%) and aromatase inhibitors (40%). Evaluation of tumor response was available for 171 patients, 30.4% of whom had complete/partial response. Median PFS was 13.0 months (95% CI 10.1-15.8 months).

CONCLUSIONS

In a routine clinical practice setting in Japan, patients with HR + , HER2- MBC appear to benefit from abemaciclib treatment in terms of treatment response and median PFS, with the results broadly reflecting the evidence demonstrated in clinical trials.

Associations of time to return to performance following acute posterior thigh injuries with running biomechanics, hamstring function, and structure in collegiate sprinters: A prospective cohort design

BACKGROUND

The time to return to sport from acute hamstring strain injuries is associated with several functional and structural impairments. However, not all previous studies assessed the preinjury level before acute hamstring strain injuries directly. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of the time to return to performance following acute hamstring strain injuries with deficits in running biomechanics, hamstring function and structure in collegiate sprinters by a prospective study.

METHODS

Using a prospective cohort design, 72 participants were recruited from a collegiate track and field team. At the preinjury assessment, a 60-m running-specific test, passive straight leg raise test and isometric knee flexion strength test were assessed at the beginning of the competitive season for three consecutive years (2017-2019). Afterwards, postinjury examinations were performed only in sprinters with acute hamstring strain injuries.

FINDINGS

Twelve sprinters strained their hamstring muscle (incidence rate of hamstring strain injuries: 16.7%); the majority (n = 10) were classified as grades 0-2. The running speed deficit of the running-specific test was associated with the time to return to performance as well as the passive straight leg raise test deficit. In the running-specific test, lower-limb kinetic deficits were more strongly associated with the time to return to performance compared to lower-limb kinematic deficits.

INTERPRETATION

A running-specific test may be considered one of the most convenient and valid tests for assessing rehabilitation progress after acute hamstring strain injuries.

Post COVID-19 condition of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of post coronavirus disease (COVID-19) condition of the Omicron variant in comparison to other strains.

Study design

A single-center cross-sectional study.

Methods

Patients who recovered from Omicron COVID-19 infection (Omicron group) were interviewed via telephone, and patients infected with other strains (control group) were surveyed via a self-reporting questionnaire. Data on patients’ characteristics, information regarding the acute-phase COVID-19, as well as presence and duration of COVID-19-related symptoms were obtained. Post COVID-19 condition in this study was defined as a symptom that lasted for at least 2 months, within 3 months of COVID-19 onset. We investigated and compared the prevalence of post COVID-19 condition in both groups after performing propensity score matching.

Results

We conducted interviews for 53 out of 128 patients with Omicron and obtained 502 responses in the control group. After matching cases with controls, 18 patients from both groups had improved covariate balance of the factors: older adult, female sex, obesity, and vaccination status. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of each post COVID-19 condition between the two groups. The number of patients with at least one post COVID-19 condition in the Omicron and control groups were 1 (5.6%) and 10 (55.6%) (p = 0.003), respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of post Omicron COVID-19 conditions was less than that of the other strains. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to investigate the precise epidemiology of post COVID-19 condition of Omicron, and its impact on health-related quality of life and social productivity.

Minimally important differences for interpreting the EORTC QLQ-C30 in patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy

AIM

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) assesses the health-related quality of life of patients in cancer trials. There are currently no minimally important difference (MID) guidelines for the EORTC QLQ-C30 for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to estimate MIDs for the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales in patients with advanced CRC treated with chemotherapy and enrolled in clinical trials.

METHOD

The data were obtained from three published EORTC trials that treated CRC patients using chemotherapy. Potential anchors were selected from clinical variables based on their correlation with EORTC QLQ-C30 scales. Anchor-based MIDs for within-group change and between-group change were estimated via the mean change method and linear regression, respectively, and summarized using weighted correlation. Distribution-based MIDs were also examined.

RESULTS

Anchor-based MIDs were determined for deterioration in 8 of the 14 EORTC QLQ-C30 scales and in 9 scales for improvement, and varied by scale, direction of change and anchor. MIDs for improvement (deterioration) ranged from 6 to 18 (-11 to -5) points for within-group change and 5 to 15 (-10 to -4) for between-group change. Summarized MIDs (in absolute values) per scale mostly ranged from 5 to 10 points.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings have clinical relevance for the interpretation of treatment efficacy and the design of clinical trials by informing sample size requirements.

P1363 Risk factors of severe tricuspid regurgitation after left-sided valve surgery

Background

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) sometimes deteriorate late after left-sided valve surgery. The recent guidelines recommend tricuspid valve repair at the same time as the left-sided valve surgery. However, little is known about the pathophysiology that leads to severe TR after left-sided valve surgery.

Purpose

To clarify the risk factors of the patients with severe TR after left-sided valve surgery.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated consecutive 526 patients diagnosed as severe TR from January 2004 to December 2018 at our hospital. Clinical background, echocardiographic parameters were evaluated. Demographic information and clinical data (including age, electrocardiograms, type of left-sided valve surgery, underlying valve diseases and history of pacemaker or ICD implantation) were obtained by chart review.

Results

Of the 526 patients with severe TR, 107 patients were after a left-sided valve surgery. Patients developed severe TR at a mean of 14.8 ± 8 years after surgery.The surgical indications were as follows: mitral valve stenosis (74 patients, 69%), mitral valve regurgitation (43 patients, 40%), aortic valve stenosis (37 patients, 35%) and aortic regurgitation (28 patients, 26%), respectively. The mean age at diagnosis of severe TR was 74 ± 10 years and 75 were female (70%). Among those patients, 32 patients (30%) had a tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) with the first left-sided valve surgery. Ninety-five patients (88%) had atrial fibrillation (AF), 75 patients (70%) were diagnosed as rheumatic heart disease, 64 patients (60%) had pulmonary artery hypertension (PH) and 28 patients (26%) had a permanent pacemaker or ICD implantation.

There were only 12 patients who had severe TR without AF. Eight of 12 patients without AF had PH, and permanent pacemakers were implanted in remaining 4 patients.

Conclusions

Almost all patients with severe TR after left-sided valve surgery present with AF and prevalence of rheumatic heart disease were about 70 percent. These two factors may be one of the important risk factors for severe TR after left-sided valve surgery.

Abstract P2-12-13: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Energy dissipation differs between females with and without chronic ankle instability

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is associated with altered energy dissipation patterns, but comparisons to lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers have not been explored. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in relative sagittal plane energy dissipation during a single-leg landing between female CAI and LAS coper participants. We separated 33 females (23.6 ± 4.6 years, 164.3 ± 6.2 cm, 69.4 ± 13.7 kg) into CAI (n = 17) and LAS coper (n = 16) groups. Participants completed 5 single-leg landings followed by a 5-second stabilization. We collected sagittal plane kinematics and joint moments at the ankle, knee, hip, and proximal joints (knee and hip) combined then calculated each joint's energy dissipation at 50, 100, 150, and 200 ms post-landing. We compared the percentage of total energy dissipated by the ankle, knee, hip, and proximal joints during each interval utilizing independent t tests and Cohen's d effect sizes. Statistical significance was set a priori at P < .05. The CAI group had lower relative energy dissipation from the ankle at 50 (24.7 ± 11.5% vs 39.2 ± 11.8%, P < .01, d = 1.25 [0.47, 1.95]), 100 (66.9 ± 19.4% vs 77.7 ± 6.5%, P = .04, d = 0.74 [0.01, 1.42]), and 150 ms (70.7 ± 17.8% vs 81.0 ± 5.7%, P = .03, d = 0.77 [0.04, 1.46]) compared to LAS copers. The CAI group had a greater hip contribution through 150 ms (17.9 ± 10.7% vs 11.7 ± 4.4%, P = .04, d =-0.75 [-1.44, -0.03]) and the proximal joints at 50 (75.3 ± 11.5% vs 60.8 ± 11.8%, P < .01, d = -1.25 [-1.96, -0.47]), 100 (33.1 ± 19.4% vs 22.3 ± 6.5%, P = .04, d = -0.74 [-1.42, -0.01]), and 150 ms (29.3 ± 17.8 vs 19.0 ± 5.7%, P = .03, d =-0.77 [-1.46, -0.04]) compared to LAS copers. Females with CAI may benefit from therapeutic exercises designed to correct a single-leg energy dissipation strategy that relies less on the ankle joint.

MR angiography for the evaluation of non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy: A case report

Peripheral neuropathy due to vasculitis without any complications of vasculitis in other organs was first reported in 1987. This condition was termed non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (NSVN). Although vasculitis is believed to develop in small arteries and arterioles in this disease, the level of vascular involvement has not been fully established. We present a case of NSVN followed up by MR angiography, which was thought to be useful to assess the level as well as the state of vascular lesions in this condition.

Design of a Brønsted acid with two different acidic sites: synthesis and application of aryl phosphinic acid–phosphoric acid as a Brønsted acid catalyst

A Brønsted acid with two different acidic sites, aryl phosphinic acid–phosphoric acid, was synthesized and its catalytic performance was assessed.

Abstract P5-01-11: A new anti-HER2 peptide “CH401MAP” can stimulate the immunity of breast cancer patients

In previous decades, numerous attempts have been made to develop therapeutic peptide vaccines for cancer. However, the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) types are limited because most peptide vaccines are specific to the major HLA types of the area. Peptide vaccines specific for Caucasians thus may not be specific to Japanese. Moreover, they are not designed to stimulate both helper and killer T cells. We are trying to make a peptide vaccine specific to the MHC of Japanese patients that stimulates both helper and killer T cells. We selected a new-HER2 peptide including a B-cell epitope which has anti-tumor effects in a mouse system. The B-cell epitope was determined for a H401 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific for HER2. As for epitope mapping of the chimera mAb CH401, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed with 20mer MAPs carrying a partial HER2 sequence. The CH401 epitope was determined as N:163-182, and the CH401MAP including the epitope induced anti-tumor effects in HER2-overexpressing tumor cells in a mouse system. We predicted the peptide MHC affinity and examined the in vitro reaction of PBMCs from Japanese breast cancer patients. The study enrolled 173 female breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between October 2010 and July 2012 at Tokai University Hospital. We used SYFPEITHI, BIMAS and IEDB algorithms to estimate peptide and HLA affinity. Lymphocyte proliferation ability, cell surface marker expression, cytokine (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-g) secretion and specific antibody production were analyzed in vitro. According to the algorithms, 97.1% of patients showed high to intermediate affinity of the CH401 epitope peptide to Japanese major HLA class I. Similarly, 34.5% of patients showed high to moderate affinity to HLA class II. The proliferative ability of patient groups was significantly higher than that of the HD group (HER2 0 group, p&lt;0.05; HER2 1+2+ group, p&lt;0.01; HER2 3+ group, p&lt;0.01). Cell percentages of CD8+ cells were significantly increased after 21 days of CH401MAP stimulation. In the HER2 0 patient group, CD4+CD25+ cell ratio was also increased, while no significant increase was seen in the other groups. Foxp-3 expression was not increased in any groups, suggesting that these cells were not regulatory T cells. Concentrations of IL2 in stimulated supernatant tended to increase in all patient groups. In particular, concentration in the HER2 1+2+ group at 48 h was significantly increased (p&lt;0.001). IL-4 and IFN-g secretion also tended to increase. CH401MAP-specific antibodies were measured for all breast cancer patient groups and HD, showing significant differences. However, within each patients’ group, no significant differences were observed irrespective of CH401MAP stimulation (p&lt;0.001). As a result, reactivity with CH401MAP and breast cancer patient PBMCs activated immunity in the total breast cancer patient group, and the association with HER2 expression level of the primary cancer was poor overall. Collectively, CH401MAP may become a promising peptide vaccine to prevent recurrent breast cancer in Japanese patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-01-11.

Responses of knee extensor muscles to leg press training of various types in human

Responses of m. vastus lateralis to 8-week resistive training of various types at leg press mashine were investigated in 30 male subjects. Training loads were 25, 65 and 85% of one repetition maximum for low (LI), medium (MI), and high intensity (HI) training groups respectively, while angular velocities of contraction differed considerably between groups. The total work done during training session was identical. The maximum strengths during isokinetic knee extension in LI and HI groups were increased at most angular velocities. In group MI increments were obtained only during concentric contractions. Significant improvement of fatigue resistance and maximum oxygen consumption (V(O2max)) was seen only in group MI and LI, respectively. The training-related increase of cross-sectional area in type II fibers in m. vastus lateralis was in the order of HI > MI > LI group, and that of type I fibers was opposite. The increased myonuclear number was found for HI group. The data suggest that fiber hypertrophy, fatigue resistance and V(O2max) changes were related to the type of training.

Abstract P3-13-02: Safety and Efficacy of Zoledronic Acid Beyond 24 Months in Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy has decreased the risk of skeletal complications associated with osteolytic bone lesions in patients with breast cancer and multiple myeloma. The large prospective studies have used 21 to 24 months of treatment. We studied the safety and efficacy of Zoledronic acid in a subset of patients who received therapy for more than 24 months.

Patients and Methods: Patients who received Zoledronic acid were identified. Data on skeletal events and laboratory parameters were gathered by chart review. The treatment regimen is 4 mg of Zolendronic acid at 3- to 4-week intervals, and concurrent chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy was included. Before approval of Zoledronic acid, we were using Pamidronate and Incadronate.

Results: We used the Zoledronic acid in 221 patients from June 2006 until December 2011 (range, 1–69 times of administration). We analyzed 71 cases in which the treatment could be continued for more than 24 months (range, 24–69 times of administration). No significant calcium, phosphorus, electrolyte abnormalities were encountered. There were no significant differences between the long-term treatment patients with Zoledronic acid and all the other patients in the range of pain felt at the time of the bone metastasis diagnosis, or the bone metastases sites. In addition, by March 2012, more than 50% patients of long-term usage of Zoledronic acid had continued receiving treatment. And in all of the patients, as well, the most cited reason for discontinuing treatment was a disease progression, adverse effect was few. In long-term treatment patients, 4 cases of fractures and 2 cases of spinal compression were encountered. The median time until an SRE occurred was 37 months. There were fewer occurrences of SREs in our investigation than in the 12 months of a clinical trial conducted in Japan with Zoledronic acid and a placebo. As for adverse effects, BRONJ appeared in 4 (1.8%) out of a total of 221 cases, and in 3 (4.2%) at prolonged treatment patients. The other adverse effects were fever in 4 cases and fatigue in 2 cases.

Conclusion: Prolonged treatment with Zoledronic acid seems to be well tolerated and should be studied in prospective, randomized studies to document prolonged skeletal efficacy and survival.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-13-02.

GW501516 acts as an efficient PPARα activator in the mouse liver

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtype specificity of GW501516, a well-known PPARδ-specific agonist, was studied by examining its effects on the expression of endogenous genes in primary hepatocytes and the liver of wild-type and PPARα-null mice. GW501516, like the PPARα-specific agonist Wy14,643, induced the expression of several PPAR target genes in a dose-dependent manner but this action was mostly absent in the cells and liver of PPARα-null mice. Results indicated that GW501516 acts as an efficient PPARα activator in the mouse liver.

Temporary auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation using a small graft for familial amyloid polyneuropathy

Donor shortage is a major issue in liver transplantation. We have successfully performed temporary auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) using a small volume graft procured from a living donor for recipients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The aim of this study was to evaluate this procedure by comparing it with standard living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We compared 13 recipients undergoing this procedure with 23 recipients undergoing a standard LDLT for the treatment of FAP. The estimated donor graft volume and the graft volume/recipient's standard liver volume ratio were significantly smaller in the temporary APOLT group than in the standard LDLT group. Postoperative complications were comparable, although the hospital stay was longer in the temporary APOLT group. All the patients safely underwent a remnant native liver resection about 2 months after their first operation in the temporary APOLT group. No symptoms related to FAP developed before the remnant liver resection, and no significant differences in graft and patient survival were observed between the two groups. We successfully performed temporary APOLT using a small volume liver graft without postoperative liver failure for FAP. Temporary APOLT for FAP might be a useful alternative procedure for expanding the donor pool for LDLT.

Temporary auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation using a small graft for familial amyloid polyneuropathy

Donor shortage is a major issue in liver transplantation. We have successfully performed temporary auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) using a small volume graft procured from a living donor for recipients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). The aim of this study was to evaluate this procedure by comparing it with standard living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We compared 13 recipients undergoing this procedure with 23 recipients undergoing a standard LDLT for the treatment of FAP. The estimated donor graft volume and the graft volume/recipient's standard liver volume ratio were significantly smaller in the temporary APOLT group than in the standard LDLT group. Postoperative complications were comparable, although the hospital stay was longer in the temporary APOLT group. All the patients safely underwent a remnant native liver resection about 2 months after their first operation in the temporary APOLT group. No symptoms related to FAP developed before the remnant liver resection, and no significant differences in graft and patient survival were observed between the two groups. We successfully performed temporary APOLT using a small volume liver graft without postoperative liver failure for FAP. Temporary APOLT for FAP might be a useful alternative procedure for expanding the donor pool for LDLT.

Prototype of Kepler Processing Workflows For Microscopy And Neuroinformatics

We report on progress of employing the Kepler workflow engine to prototype “end-to-end” application integration workflows that concern data coming from microscopes deployed at the National Center for Microscopy Imaging Research (NCMIR). This system is built upon the mature code base of the Cell Centered Database (CCDB) and integrated rule-oriented data system (IRODS) for distributed storage. It provides integration with external projects such as the Whole Brain Catalog (WBC) and Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF), which benefit from NCMIR data. We also report on specific workflows which spawn from main workflows and perform data fusion and orchestration of Web services specific for the NIF project. This “Brain data flow” presents a user with categorized information about sources that have information on various brain regions.

Multiscale imaging characterization of dopamine transporter knockout mice reveals regional alterations in spine density of medium spiny neurons

The dopamine transporter knockout (DAT KO) mouse is a model of chronic hyperdopaminergia used to study a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), drug abuse, depression, and Parkinson's disease (PD). Early studies characterizing this mouse model revealed a subtle, but significant, decrease in the anterior striatal volume of DAT KO mice accompanied by a decrease in neuronal cell body numbers (Cyr et al., 2005). The present studies were conducted to examine medium spiny neuron (MSN) morphology by extending these earlier reports to include multiscale imaging studies using correlated light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) techniques. Specifically, we set out to determine if chronic hyperdopaminergia results in quantifiable or qualitative changes in DAT KO mouse MSNs relative to wild-type (WT) littermates. Using Neurolucida Explorer's morphometric analysis, we measured spine density, dendritic length and synapse number at ages that correspond with the previously reported changes in striatal volume and progressive cell loss. Light microscopic analysis using Neurolucida tracings of photoconverted striatal MSNs revealed a highly localized loss of dendritic spines on the proximal portion of the dendrite (30 μm from the soma) in the DAT KO group. Next, thick sections containing MSN dendritic segments located at a distance of 20-60 μm from the cell soma, a region of the dendrite where spine density is reported to be the highest, were analyzed using electron microscope tomography (EMT). Because of the resolution limits of LM, the EM analysis was an extra measure taken to assure that our analysis included nearly all spines. Spine density measurements collected from the EMT data revealed only a modest decrease in the DAT KO group (n=3 mice) compared to age-matched WT controls (n=3 mice), a trend that supports the LM findings. Finally, a synaptic quantification using unbiased stereology did not detect a difference between DAT KO mice (n=6 mice) and WT controls (n=7 mice) at the EM level, supporting the focal nature of the early synaptic loss. These findings suggest that DAT KO mice have MSNs with highly localized spine loss and not an overall morphologically distinct cell shape. The characterization of morphological changes in DAT KO mice may provide information about the neural substrates underlying altered behaviors in these mice, with relevance for human neurological disorders thought to involve altered dopaminergic homeostasis. Results from this study also indicate the difficulty in correlating structural changes across scales, as the results on fine structure revealed thus far are subtle and non-uniform across striatal MSNs. The complexities associated with multiscale studies are driving the development of shared online informatics resources by gaining access to data where it is being analyzed.

Administration of dalteparin based on the activated clotting time for prophylaxis of hepatic vessel thrombosis in living donor liver transplantation

Beginning in 2004, dalteparin doses based on activated clotting time (ACT) were administered for hepatic vessel thrombosis prophylaxis in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We verified the feasibility of this new therapy by comparing it with the previous one. From 1993 through 2008, 42 metabolic liver patients who underwent LDLT were divided into two groups. Group A (1993-2003, n = 32) was administered a fixed dalteparin dose and a large amount of fresh frozen plasma (FFP); Group B (2004-2008, n = 10) was administered an appropriate dosage of dalteparin to maintain the ACT levels from 140 to 150 seconds and a small amount of FFP. Group B was administered a lesser amount of FFP and more dalteparin. This resulted in longer activated partial thromboplastin time, lower fibrinogen degradation products D-dimer, and lower aspartate aminotransferase levels compared to group A; all differences were significant. Group B showed neither thrombotic nor hemorrhagic complications. Anticoagulation therapy comprising adjustment of the dalteparin dose based on ACT reduces thrombotic complications without increasing hemorrhagic complications. ACT measurement is a simple, reliable method for bedside monitoring of dalteparin anticoagulant effects for LDLT.

Cellular adaptations in soleus muscle during recovery after hindlimb unloading

AIM

We used a model of chronic unloading followed by reloading to examine the apoptotic responses associated with soleus muscle atrophy and subsequent recovery.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were subjected to hindlimb unloading (HU) for 2 weeks and subsequent reloading for 0, 3, 7 and 14 days. One-half of the HU-reloaded rats were administered cyclosporine A (CsA), a calcineurin (CaN) inhibitor.

RESULTS

There was fibre atrophy (73%) and a decrease in slow type I fibre/myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition in the soleus muscle after 2 weeks of HU. Fibre size and type I MyHC composition recovered to near the age-matched control levels by recovery day 14 in non-treated, but not in CsA-treated, rats. Myonuclear number was lower and the number of apoptotic nuclei higher in 2-week HU than control rats. These values returned to control levels after 7 and 14 days of recovery, respectively, in both HU-recovery groups. After 2 weeks of HU, the levels of heat shock proteins (Hsp) 60 and 72, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV (Cox IV), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC-1) proteins were lower than control. The levels of all of these proteins gradually increased to or above the control levels during cage recovery in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that apoptotic mechanisms are involved in the modulation of myonuclear number during chronic unloading and subsequent reloading. Furthermore, it appears that CaN is related to fibre size and phenotype adaptations, but not to apoptotic responses.

Molecular biology of the hst-1 gene

The hst-1 gene (or HSTF1 by human gene nomenclature) was originally identified in our laboratory by an NIH/3T3 focus formation assay using DNA from a human gastric cancer. Sequence analysis predicted the hst-1 product to be a novel growth factor with 30-50% homology with six other heparin-binding growth factors: basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), the int-2 protein, FGF5, the hst-2/FGF6 protein and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). A recombinant hst-1 protein was synthesized in silkworm cells and found to be a potent heparin-binding mitogen for murine fibroblasts and human vascular endothelial cells. Although hst-1 expression cannot be detected in most cancer cells, including gastric cancers, it is expressed in mouse embryos and in some germ cell tumours. Both hst-1 and int-2 are located on band q13.3 of human chromosome 11 within a distance of 35 kbp; in the mouse genome these two genes are separated by less than 20 kbp. They are differentially transcribed in the F9 mouse teratocarcinoma cell line; hst-1 is expressed in undifferentiated stem cells and int-2 in differentiated endodermal cells. The hst-1 and int-2 genes were coamplified in a variety of cancer cells, most notably in more than 50% of oesophageal cancers.

Role(s) of nucleoli and phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 and/or HSP27 in the regulation of muscle mass

Effects of 14 days of hindlimb unloading or synergist ablation-related overloading with or without deafferentation on the fiber cross-sectional area, myonuclear number, size, and domain, the number of nucleoli in a single myonucleus, and the levels in the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 (S6) and 27-kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) were studied in rat soleus. Hypertrophy of fibers (+24%), associated with increased nucleolar number (from 1–2 to 3–5) within a myonucleus and myonuclear domain (+27%) compared with the preexperimental level, was induced by synergist ablation. Such phenomena were associated with increased levels of phosphorylated S6 (+84%) and HSP27 (+28%). Fiber atrophy (−52%), associated with decreased number (−31%) and domain size (−28%) of myonuclei and phosphorylation of S6 (−98%) and HSP27 (−63%), and with increased myonuclear size (+19%) and ubiquitination of myosin heavy chain (+33%, P > 0.05), was observed after unloading, which inhibited the mechanical load. Responses to deafferentation, which inhibited electromyogram level (−47%), were basically similar to those caused by hindlimb unloading, although the magnitudes were minor. The deafferentation-related responses were prevented and nucleolar number was even increased (+18%) by addition of synergist ablation, even though the integrated electromyogram level was still 30% less than controls. It is suggested that the load-dependent maintenance or upregulation of the nucleolar number and/or phosphorylation of S6 and HSP27 plays the important role(s) in the regulation of muscle mass. It was also indicated that such regulation was not necessarily associated with the neural activity.

Mechanical load-dependent regulation of satellite cell and fiber size in rat soleus muscle

The effects of mechanical unloading and reloading on the properties of rat soleus muscle fibers were investigated in male Wistar Hannover rats. Satellite cells in the fibers of control rats were distributed evenly throughout the fiber length. After 16 days of hindlimb unloading, the number of satellite cells in the central, but not the proximal or distal, region of the fiber was decreased. The number of satellite cells in the central region gradually increased during the 16-day period of reloading. The mean sarcomere length in the central region of the fibers was passively shortened during unloading due to the plantarflexed position at the ankle joint: sarcomere length was maintained at <2.1 μm, which is a critical length for tension development. Myonuclear number and domain size, fiber cross-sectional area, and the total number of mitotically active and quiescent satellite cells of whole muscle fibers were lower than control fibers after 16 days of unloading. These values then returned to control values after 16 days of reloading. These results suggest that satellite cells play an important role in the regulation of muscle fiber properties. The data also indicate that the satellite cell-related regulation of muscle fiber properties is dependent on the level of mechanical loading, which, in turn, is influenced by the mean sarcomere length. However, it is still unclear why the region-specific responses, which were obvious in satellite cells, were not induced in myonuclear number and fiber cross-sectional area.

An epistatic effect of the female specific loci on the development of autoimmune vasculitis and antinuclear autoantibody in murine lupus

OBJECTIVE

To identify the genetic loci regulating the incidence and severity of renal autoimmune vasculitis developed in murine lupus.

METHODS

Vasculitis of renal arteries was histopathologically evaluated in MRL/Mp-Fas(lpr) (MRL/lpr), C57BL/6-Fas(lpr) (B6/lpr), (MRL/lpr x B6/lpr) F1, and MRL/lpr x (MRL/lpr x B6/lpr) F1 backcross mice. Using genomic DNA samples of the backcross mice, genome-wide scans, association studies, and linkage analyses were carried out based on genotypes of polymorphic microsatellite markers. Correlations of vasculitis grade and levels of various autoantibodies were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Two recessive susceptibility loci of the MRL allele were identified on chromosomes 4 and 1, which had previously been defined as the autoimmune related loci termed Arvm1 and Sle-1/Nba2, respectively. The former was epistatic to the latter in a female specific manner. The titre of antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) in IgG class, but not ANA in IgM class or anti-dsDNA in either IgG or IgM class, correlated significantly with vasculitis grade.

CONCLUSIONS

The present loci have been reported in previous studies using a different set of murine strains, suggesting that they are of importance in the development of autoimmune vasculitis in murine models. The concomitance of autoimmune vasculitis and IgG ANA suggests a shared genetic factor regulating these traits.