Contribution of shame and attribution style in developing PTSD among Japanese University women with negative sexual experiences

The roles of shame and attribution style in developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined among 172 Japanese university women with negative sexual experiences (NSEs) using a structural equation model. "Shame" directly predicted PTSD, whereas "Internal Attribution" and "External Attribution" did not. The effect of Internal Attribution on PTSD was mediated by Shame. In a simultaneous analysis of multi-groups, only the relationship with the perpetrator showed a different contribution for shame in developing PTSD symptoms. In addition, the role of the shame and attribution style in developing PTSD symptoms in the Japanese culture was discussed.

Significance of SAA1.3 allele genotype in Japanese patients with amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the clinical significance of the SAA1.3 allele in the development and outcome of AA amyloidosis in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

One hundred and twenty RA patients (60 alive and 60 dead) fulfilling the 1987 ACR criteria and 62 RA patients with biopsy-confirmed amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis (36 alive and 26 dead) were enrolled. The SAA1 genotypes were determined by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism. To predict the clinical outcome of AA amyloidosis, we investigated characteristics and survival, focusing on the SAA1.3 allele retrospectively.

RESULTS

The SAA1.3 allele genotype was not only a risk factor for the association of AA amyloidosis but also a poor prognostic factor for the development of AA amyloidosis (P=0.015). Both the association of AA amyloidosis arising early in the RA disease course and symptomatic variety and severity were found in amyloidotic patients with the SAA1.3 allele. The presenting factors adversely influenced were age (P=0.001), lowered serum albumin (P=0.001) and creatinine concentration (P=2.14 x 10(-5)). Renal involvement was associated with poor survival in patients with AA amyloidosis (P=0.011) and the presence of cardiac involvement was likely to be a risk factor for survival (P=0.062). The rate of the causes of death in respect to the category of infection, gastrointestinal diseases, and renal failure was higher in patients with AA amyloidosis than in those without amyloidosis, gastrointestinal diseases and renal failure. Cyclophosphamide was found to be superior to methotrexate in the management of RA patients with AA amyloidosis.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the fact that homozygosity for the SAA1.3 allele is a univariate predictor of survival in addition to a risk factor for the association of AA amyloidosis adversely influencing the outcome in Japanese RA patients. Renal involvement is a pivotal clinical manifestation in the development of AA amyloidosis, as is likely to be cardiac involvement in AA amyloidosis secondary to RA.

Localization of calcium in the pericarp cells of tomato fruits during the development of blossom-end rot

Blossom-end rot (BER) of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum) fruits is considered to be a physiological disorder caused by calcium deficiency. We attempted to clarify the localization of calcium in the pericarp cells and the ultrastructural changes during the development of BER. Calcium precipitates were observed as electron-dense deposits by an antimonate precipitation method. Some calcium precipitates were localized in the cytosol, nucleus, plastids, and vacuoles at an early developmental stage of normal fruits. Calcium precipitates were increased markedly on the plasma membrane during the rapid-fruit-growth stage compared with their level at the early stage. Cell collapse occurred in the water-soaked region at the rapid-fruit-growth stage in BER fruits. There were no visible calcium precipitates on the traces of plasma membrane near the cell wall of the collapsed cells. The amount of calcium precipitates on plasma membranes near collapsed cells was smaller than that in the cells of normal fruits and normal parts of BER fruits, and the amount on cells near collapsed cells was small. The amount of calcium precipitates on the plasma membranes increased as the distance from collapsed cells increased. On the other hand, calcium precipitates were visible normally in the cytosol, organelles, and vacuoles and even traces of them in collapsed cells. The distribution pattern of the calcium precipitates on the plasma membrane was thus considerably different between normal and BER fruits. On the basis of these observations, we concluded that calcium deficiency in plasma membranes caused cell collapses in BER tomato fruits.

Functional analysis of salt-inducible proline transporter of barley roots

We cloned a cDNA encoding Hordeum vulgare Proline Transporter (HvProT) from salt-stressed barley roots by differential display. HvProT was 2,161 bp long and had an open reading frame encoding 450 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of HvProT was similar to those of proline transporter proteins of rice (65.7%), Arabidopsis (57.7%) and tomato (42.0%). Northern blot analysis showed that the transcript level of HvProT was induced in roots at 30 min after 200 mM NaCl treatment and its peak was observed at 3 h. However, the transcript level was very low in leaves and did not increase by salt stress. The expression level of Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), encoding a key enzyme of proline synthesis, was induced later than HvProT by salt stress. A transport assay using a yeast with mutation in proline uptake revealed that HvProT was a transporter with high affinity for L-proline (K(m) = 25 microM). HvProT was found to be a unique transporter with high affinity for L-proline. Since its transport activity was dependent on the pH gradient, HvProT was suggested to be a H(+)/amino acid symporter. In situ hybridization analysis showed that the HvProT mRNA was strongly expressed in root cap cells under salt stress. HvProT might play an important role in the transport of proline to root tip region urgently upon salt stress.

Analysis of heart rate variability of an anencephalic fetus using a new method to determine a fractal dimension of non-stationary time-serial data

Human fetal heart rate (HR) variabilities were analyzed using the QIS-A, which we devised to determine a fractal dimension of non-stationary time series. Fifteen 10-min HR data of an anencephalic fetus at 23 weeks and 3 days of gestation and those of 10 normal fetuses at the same weeks of gestation were obtained by ultrasonic cardiography. The anencephalus preserved the spinal cord, medulla and partial anterior hypothalamus. The fractal scaling exponent alpha of the anencephalus was compared with that of each normal fetus by Student's t-test. In results, the scaling relationship in each case had a crossover pattern characterized by alpha(s) and alpha(l), which were slopes above and below a crossover point, respectively. Differences in mean alpha(s) and mean alpha(l) between the anencephalus and each normal fetus were significant (P < 0.01): mean alpha(s), 1.0 +/- 0.1 (+/-SD) (1/f fluctuation) and 1.6 +/- 0.2 (+/-SEM); mean alpha(l), 1.6 +/- 0.2 (+/-SD) and 1.4 +/- 0.1 (+/-SEM). There were six significant differences in mean crossover point between the anencephalus and each normal fetus: 13.8 +/- 5.7 s (+/-SD) and 15.3 +/- 5.6 s (+/-SEM). These results reveal the relationship between fractal structure of fetal HR variability and the developing central nervous system (CNS). In particular, the 1/f fluctuation of HR variability in an anencephalic fetus from the 1.25 to 13.8 s time scale might have a strong relation to the defect of the CNS.

Effect of serum depletion on centrosome overduplication and death of human pancreatic cancer cells after exposure to radiation

The tumor microenvironment is one of the key factors affecting the cellular response to radiation; however, the influence of serum concentration on tumor radiosensitivity remains poorly understood. We recently discovered that gamma-irradiation of tumor cells causes centrosome overduplication, which may lead to lethal nuclear fragmentation through the establishment of multipolar mitotic spindles. In the present study, we investigated the effect of serum depletion on radiation-induced cell death in relation to the centrosome dynamics in human pancreatic cancer cells. Exposure of Capan-1 cells to gamma-irradiation resulted in a time-dependent increase in cells containing multiple centrosomes in association with the appearance of mitotic cell death. Treatment of irradiated cells with serum depletion drastically accelerated centrosome overduplication and the formation of multipolar spindles, resulting in increased nuclear fragmentation and cell death. Cell cycle analysis of irradiated cultures revealed that the reduced serum level increased the population of cells arrested in the G2/M phase, which might be responsible for the abnormal centrosome accumulation. These findings suggest that serum concentration can influence radiation-induced cell killing through modulating cell cycle progression and possibly centrosome overduplication.

Hepatic stellate cells contain the functional estrogen receptor beta but not the estrogen receptor alpha in male and female rats

In an earlier study, we showed that estradiol (E2) inhibits proliferation and transformation in cultured rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and that the actions of E2 are mediated through estrogen receptors (ERs). This study reports on an investigation of the cellular localization of ER subtypes ERalpha and ERbeta using immunohistochemistry in experimental fibrotic liver rats and of each ER subtype expression in cultured rat HSCs by evaluating the produced mRNA and protein. The results indicate that high levels of ERbeta expression and low or no levels of ERalpha expression were observed in normal and fibrotic livers and in quiescent and activated HSCs from both males and females. The specificity of E2-mediated antiapoptotic induction through the ERbeta was shown by dose-dependent inhibition by the pure ER antagonist ICI 182,780 in HSCs which were undergoing early apoptosis. These findings demonstrate for the first time that rat HSCs possess functional Erbeta, but not Eralpha, to respond directly to E2 exposure.

[Clinical study on mortality of rheumatoid arthritis compared with malignant rheumatoid arthritis]

OBJECTIVE

To determine how the mortality of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) behave in comparison with that of patients with malignant rheumatoid arthritis (MRA).

METHODS

The mortality of RA patients selected at randam identified in 1991-2000 (n = 104) was compared with that of 18 MRA patients. Hazard ratios of death were calculated with a multivariate survival analysis. A clinical study of patients with both RA and MRA was performed in mortality.

RESULTS

Excess mortality was seen in MRA patients in Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p = 0.02 by log-rank test). MRA patients were treated more often with cytostatic and immunosuppressive drugs. Infection was the main cause of death in both RA and MRA patients. Vasculitis was not reported as the cause of death in MRA patients. Secondary amyloidosis played an important role in RA death rather than MRA.

CONCLUSION

There remained an excess mortality in MRA patients compared with RA, and infection was attributable to the key cause of death in both RA and MRA suggesting therapeutic side effects.

Stepwise progression of centrosome defects associated with local tumor growth and metastatic process of human pancreatic carcinoma cells transplanted orthotopically into nude mice

Recent evidence indicates that loss of centrosome integrity may be a major cause of genetic instability underlying various human cancers. The aim of this study was to define the role of centrosome defects during the in vivo tumor progression of pancreatic carcinoma using an orthotopic implantation model. Injection of Suit-2 human pancreatic cancer cells into the pancreata of nude mice reproduced the pattern of local tumor growth and distant metastasis observed in humans. Pancreatic xenografts, peritoneal disseminations, and hepatic metastases were harvested, and tumor cells were examined for centrosomes by immunofluorescence microscopy. Centrosome abnormalities, characterized by increased numbers of centrosomes, were detected in only a small fraction of parental Suit-2 cells in culture, whereas the frequency was markedly increased in cells isolated from the pancreatic xenografts. Abnormal centrosome numbers were found at higher frequencies in metastatic foci than in pancreatic xenografts. A significant positive correlation existed between the fraction of cells with multiple centrosomes and that with multipolar mitotic spindles, suggesting a functional involvement of aberrant centrosomes in spindle disorganization and chromosome missegregation. In addition, the increased frequency of abnormal centrosomes was associated with an enhanced degree of chromosomal instability. These findings suggest a novel model of pancreatic tumor progression whereby a stepwise increase in the magnitude of centrosomal abnormalities confers an increased chance for aberrant mitotic events, thus accelerating genetic instability and causing the tumor to progress to a more advanced stage.

A new method to analyze basic rest-activity cycle

A new method was proposed to analyze a basic rest-activity cycle (BRAC), termed BRAC-A. This method calculates a significant cycle length by chi-squared method and the starting points of a resting phase and an active one by analysis of the array consisting of the segmented time series in the same length. Using 20 3-day computer-simulated time series of standard deviation in fetal heart rate fluctuation with known periodicity of the BRAC, we demonstrated that the BRAC-A was a useful tool to reveal the characteristics of the BRAC.

A longitudinal study of diurnal variation in baseline fetal heart rate in one dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy

A longitudinal study to analyse the diurnal variations in baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) and sustained fetal tachycardia (SFT) in twin pregnancy was performed on one dichorionic twin. Twenty-four hour FHR recordings on twins were made at 32, 34 and 36 weeks of gestation simultaneously. Significant diurnal variations were found in both twins in all gestational weeks. The diurnal variations in baseline FHR of twins were highly correlated with no phase-lag. No coincidence was recognized in the appearance of SFT between twins. These results suggest the maternal influence equally affects FHR in each fetus of dichorionic twin since 32 weeks of gestation, while the appearance of SFT might be independent from maternal influence.

Changes in fractal structure of heart rate variability during a nap in one case

The objective of the present study was to analyze fractal structures of adult heart rate (HR) variability during a nap. Fractal analysis was carried out in one case over consecutive 10-min time series of HR, which were simultaneously recorded with electroencephalogram. Scaling relationships showed cross-over patterns characterized by alphas and alphal (i.e. slopes above and below a cross-over point). The alphas and alphal were black and white noise at Stage 4 of NREM sleep, and black and 1/f noise in REM sleep. Cross-over points changed from the first to second sleep cycle. We demonstrate the multifractal structures of HR variability during a nap in the present case.

Isolation and characterization of a Na+/H+ antiporter gene from the halophyte Atriplex gmelini

With a homologous gene region we successfully isolated a Na+/H+ antiporter gene from a halophytic plant, Atriplex gmelini, and named it AgNHX1. The isolated cDNA is 2607 bp in length and contains one open reading frame, which comprises 555 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 61.9 kDa. The amino acid sequence of the AgNHX1 gene showed more than 75% identity with those of the previously isolated NHX1 genes from glycophytes, Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. The migration pattern of AgNHX1 was shown to correlate with H+-pyrophosphatase and not with P-type H+-ATPase, suggesting the localization of AgNHX1 in a vacuolar membrane. Induction of the AgNHX1 gene was observed by salt stress at both mRNA and protein levels. The expression of the AgNHX1 gene in the yeast mutant, which lacks the vacuolar-type Na+/H+ antiporter gene (NHX1) and has poor viability under the high-salt conditions, showed partial complementation of the NHX1 functions. These results suggest the important role of the AgNHX1 products for salt tolerance.

Molecular cloning of Na(+)-ATPase cDNA from a marine alga, Heterosigma akashiwo

We cloned novel Na(+)-ATPase (HANA) cDNA from marine alga Heterosigma akashiwo. The full-length HANA cDNA was 4467 bp long and coded for a 1330 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 146,306. The deduced product exhibited around 40% identity in amino acids with Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunits. A hydrophilic sequence of 285 amino acid residues that showed no homology with any sequence listed in databases existed in the M7--M8 junction of HANA. This is the first report on the primary structure of putative Na(+)-transporting ATPase from plant cells.

Most apoptotic cells in mdx diaphragm muscle contain accumulated lipofuscin

An age-related pigment, lipofuscin (LF), which accumulates in postmitotic, long-lived cells, is formed by the oxidative degradation of cellular macromolecules by oxygen-derived free radicals. In the present study we show that LF is accumulated in some myofibres, myosatellite cells and interstitial cells in the diaphragm muscles of the X chromosome-linked muscular dystrophic (mdx) mice at the age of 10 weeks when repetitive cycles of de- and regeneration of myofibres occur. In contrast, LF is virtually absent in diaphragm muscles of age-matched C57BL/10 (C57) normal control mice. Therefore, mdx muscle is more susceptible to oxidative stress than normal muscle. We hypothesise that gene-regulated cell death (apoptosis) occurs in dystrophic muscle cells that accumulate LF as a consequence of either oxidative stress or injury. We found that 74-79% of apoptotic myosatellite cells, interstitial cells and myofibres in mdx diaphragm contain accumulated or dotted LF granules, but only 12-20% of non-apoptotic cells contain LF. Apoptotic cells are very rare in the diaphragm of age-matched C57 control mice. This suggests that the regeneration of mdx diaphragm muscle initiated from myosatellite cells is impaired by their apoptosis as the result of either oxidative stress or a product of oxidative injury.

Instability of chromosome 8 as an indicator of aggressive tumor phenotype in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Chromosomal instability is a common feature of pancreatic carcinoma, but its biological significance remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between chromosomal instability and biological aggressiveness in human pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODS

Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed to examine changes in chromosomal numbers in a total of 13 pancreatic cancer cell lines. We also assessed the potential for tumor aggressiveness within cancer cells by in vitro migration and invasion assay and by subcutaneous implantation into nude mice.

RESULTS

Chromosomal instability, characterized by numerical variations in copy numbers of chromosome 8, was observed in most cell lines, and the magnitude of instability was correlated well with both motility (P < 0.001) and invasion rate (P < 0.001) of these cells. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation existed between chromosome instability and tumor growth in vivo (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the increased level of chromosomal instability may play a critical role in the development of aggressive tumor phenotype during pancreatic cancer progression. J. Surg. Oncol. 2001;76:181-187.

Induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase by ginsenosides in cultured porcine endothelial cells

Mechanism of Nitric oxide (NO) production by ginsenosides was investigated in cultured porcine endothelial cells. Beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (beta-NADPH) staining showed that the NO production was significantly enhanced by the presence of 40 microg/ml ginsenosides with 10 microM L-arginine after 12 h incubation. NO production was suppressed by addition of 0.5 microM Nomega-Nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), an inhibitor of NO synthases (NOSs), to the incubation medium. In addition, the immunoreactive signals of inducible NOS (iNOS) were appeared in endothelial cells after 12-h incubation of ginsenosides, whereas the signals were not observed in non-treated cells. Our findings suggest that ginsenosides can enhance NO production by induction of iNOS in addition to its direct effect on endothelial cells by increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon3 allele is not a risk factor of schizophrenia: a study of 314 Japanese patients

The association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) alleles and schizophrenia has remained controversial. A recent report claiming that ApoE epsilon3 Taiwan Chinese carriers have an increased risk of schizophrenia prompted us to investigate the allele frequency in a large group of Japanese schizophrenic patients. Serum samples were obtained from 314 schizophrenic patients and 188 controls in Japan and examined using isoelectric focusing/immunoblotting. There were no significant differences in ApoE allele frequencies between schizophrenic patients and controls and in the odds ratios for schizophrenia among the epsilon2, epsilon3 and epsilon4 carriers. In contrast to the report from Taiwan, our findings and results of the majority of previous studies suggest no effects of ApoE alleles on the development of schizophrenia.

Regulation of lymphocyte proliferation by eosinophils via chymotrypsin-like protease activity and adhesion molecule interaction

We investigated the regulatory mechanisms responsible for release of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from eosinophils activated by platelet-activating factor (PAF) and monitored intra-cellular pH (pHi) changes using a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe. We also explored the mechanisms by which eosinophils suppress T-lymphocyte proliferation induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). In these experiments, a separated culture to investigate the ECP-mediated pathway and a coculture to identify the adhesion molecules involved in eosinophil-lymphocyte interactions were employed. Chymostatin (1x10(-6) M) inhibited ECP release by about 50% via stimulation by PAF or recombinant interleukin 5(rIL-5) plus IgG. PAF (1x10(-7) M) raised eosinophil pHi from 6.9 to 7.3 within 20 s and pretreatment of these cells with chymostatin (1x10(-6) M), but not with leupeptin or E64-d, completely prevented this increase. Calcium ionophore A23187 (1x10(-7) M) induced ECP release and raised pHi to within a range similar to that of PAF, however, chymostatin had no effect on either. Chymostatin reversed ECP-mediated suppression of PHA-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation in separated cultures, but not in cocultures. In coculture, eosinophils exhibited the same level of suppression of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell proliferation in response to PHA. Monoclonal antibodies against CD11a, CD18 and CD54, but not CD11b, restored eosinophil suppression of T-lymphocyte proliferation which was chymostatin-resistant in coculture. Eosinophils were unable to suppress the proliferative response to lymphocytes to anti-CD3 stimulation. In conclusion, chymostatin specifically inhibited both the eosinophil pHi increase and ECP release induced by PAF. Eosinophils regulate PHA-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation via the ECP-mediation associated with chymotrypsin-like protease activity. These cells also control interactions with lymphocyte between adhesion molecules, CD11a, CD18 and CD54.

An incident involving blood sucking by a tick in a suburb in Japan

We encountered a patient whose blood was sucked by Haemaphysalis longicornis in the suburb of a business city in Tokushima prefecture in Japan. The tick, which had been attached to the lower limb of the patient for one week, measured 10 mm in length. There were no notable objective or subjective findings after the complete extirpation of the tick. The area had not been known in recent history to be a habitat of ticks, and, thus, this case is of importance in terms of predicting future trends of tick-borne diseases in Japan.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 and tardive dyskinesia in a Japanese population

The findings that free radicals play a causative role in the occurrence of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and that apolipoprotein E (ApoE) 4 has decreased anti-oxidant activity suggest a potential link between TD and ApoE alleles. We, therefore, examined ApoE allelic frequencies in schizophrenic subjects with TD and non-TD. Serum samples were obtained from 333 DSM IV-diagnosed schizophrenic patients and 191 controls in Japan. The presence of TD was evaluated by research diagnostic criteria for TD. ApoE phenotypes of the serum samples were determined by polyacrylamide gel isoelectricfocusing. A total of 62 TD subjects (31 males, 31 females) were identified among all patients examined. No significant differences in ApoE allelic frequency were found between TD and non-TD groups. ApoE epsilon4 allele frequency, however, was significantly lower in the female TD group than in the male TD group. These findings do not clearly demonstrate a certain association between TD and the epsilon4 allele, but may preliminarily reveal a difference in influence of this allele on the development of TD between males and females.

A new method to determine a fractal dimension of non-stationary biological time-serial data

We devised a new analysis using quartile deviation of integrated and subtracted fluctuation, termed QIS-A, to determine a fractal dimension of non-stationary fluctuation. In the algorithm, computations of the quartile deviation, Q(n), of all integrated and subtracted fluctuations are repeated over all scales (n). The fractal scaling exponent is determined as a slope of the line relating log Q(n) to log n. Comparison of the QIS-A and a spectral analysis using 20 computer-simulated fractional Brownian motions demonstrates robustness of the QIS-A to non-stationary fluctuations.

A new periodogram using one-way analysis of variance for circadian rhythms

A new periodogram was proposed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), termed ANOVA periodogram, in order to reveal a precise significant periodicity. Thirty 3-day complex computer-simulated time series with known periodicity (24 h) and three 2-h data-missing occurring periodically (23 h, 20 min) were used to compare the ANOVA periodogram with Enright's one. In results, the ANOVA periodogram was superior to Enright's periodogram in the accuracy of assessing the major periodicity.

Health surveillance in the population living in a methyl mercury-polluted area over a long period

It is important to follow up on the health status of inhabitants living in the methyl mercury-polluted area surrounding Minamata City, paying particular attention to diseases not only of the central nervous system but also of other organs. We have been carrying out such concentric studies for more than 10 years. We have previously studied the cause-specific standard mortality ratios in Minamata disease patients and reported that the SMRs for liver disease and renal disease were significantly raised in male and female patients, respectively. It was also found that complications arising from diabetes could be due to the large number of old people among the autopsy cases. The next step was to clarify the actual prevalence and incidence of liver disease, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus epidemiologically among the population in this area. The aim of this study was to determine the actual prevalence of these diseases and complaints, and to investigate the contribution of various risk factors to these diseases in this area. The study was a population-based cross-sectional mass screening survey. A case-control study was designed to estimate the role of various risk factors including methyl mercury exposure for these diseases. A mass multiple health examination survey was performed in 1500 subjects aged 40 years and older in Tsunagi Town, neighboring Minamata City, every summer since 1984. Tsunagi Town is located in a methyl mercury-polluted area and there are 36.9 certified Minamata disease patients per 1000 population. Data concerning liver disease, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus were collected on the basis of urine, hematological, physical, and ultrasonographic examinations. Data on risk factors and subjective complaints were collected by interview and other measures. The prevalence of these diseases was not higher in this methyl mercury-polluted area compared with other areas in Japan, contrary to what was expected based on standard mortality ratios and pathological findings. There were no positive correlations between those diseases and methyl mercury exposure. On the other hand, the population in the polluted area had more and a greater variety of complaints than those in the nonpolluted area. It is possible that not only neurological subjective complaints but also nonspecific complaints of the population in the polluted area might be influenced by past methyl mercury exposure. This health surveillance in the population living in a methyl mercury-polluted area must be maintained in the future.

Dynamic changes in the middle cerebral artery perfusion in normal full-term human fetuses in relation to the timing of behavioral state

Our aim is to evaluate serial changes in normal full-term fetal cerebral circulation according to the behavioral states. Flow velocity waveforms in the middle cerebral artery and fetal heart rate (FHR) were well recorded in ten of 19 cases by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography and actocardiography over 45 min, respectively. Behavioral states were classified as resting or active phase by FHR patterns. Resistance indices (RIs) were calculated every 5 s as an average of two consecutive waveforms, and median RI was chosen in each 2-min segment. In order to evaluate changes in median RI from active-to-resting transition to resting-to-active one statistically, differences in RI between two 2-min segments were examined using Mann-Whitney U-test. As a result, median RI was decreased to the minimum one in the active-to-resting transition for 12 min in all cases: significant decrease to the 2-min segment with the minimum one (P<0.01). Various types of increase to the maximum median RI during resting phase followed the minimum one: significant increase from the 2-min segment with the minimum one to that with the maximum one in all cases (P<0.001 in eight cases, P<0.01 in two cases). Thereafter, median RI was decreased from the end of resting phase in the resting-to-active transition for 12 min in all cases: significant decrease from the last 2-min segment of resting phase in all cases (P<0.01). We reveal that fetal cerebral circulation changes dynamically in relation to the timing in each behavioral state.

Involvement of vesicle-cytoskeleton interaction in AQP5 trafficking in AQP5-gene-transfected HSG cells

A cDNA of rat aquaporin 5 (AQP5) was used to transfect to HSG (human salivary gland cells), and the trafficking mechanism was studied in vitro by confocal laser microscopy. The trafficking of AQP5 to the plasma membrane was induced by stimulation of AQP5-gene-transfected human salivary gland cells (HSGAQP5 cells) with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of endoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase, and or with A-23187, a calcium ionophore. Pretreatment of these cells with colchicine or vinblastine, microtubule inhibitors, prevented the trafficking induced by thapsigargin or A-23187. The trafficking event was not completely inhibited by cytochalasin B, a microfilament inhibitor. These results demonstrate that the trafficking of AQP5 vesicles to the plasma membrane is triggered by an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) and that the interaction of AQP5-containing vesicles with the cytoskeleton is involved in this trafficking.

Localisation and quantification of dehydrogenase activities in single muscle fibers of mdx gastrocnemius

The kinetics of succinate (SDH) and lactate (LDH) dehydrogenases were determined in single muscle fibres in unfixed sections of the gastrocnemius of dystrophic mdx mice (with an X-linked genetic disorder lacking a cytoskeletal protein, dystrophin) and age-matched C57BL/10 control mice. Quantitative gel substrate-film techniques and a real-time image analysis system were used. Three main fibre types were observed in regenerated mdx gastrocnemius and in corresponding controls: small fibres (S) with high SDH and LDH initial reaction velocities and activities, large fibres (L) with low activities of these dehydrogenases and intermediate-sized fibres (I) with intermediate enzyme activities. The small and intermediate fibres in both mdx and control muscles exhibited respectively high and moderate sub-sarcolemmal SDH and LDH activities attributable to accumulated mitochondria. The ratios of the initial velocities of the intrinsic enzyme reactions in the sarcoplasm, excluding the subsarcolemmal regions, of mdx muscle fibres compared to those in control fibres were 0.958 (S), 1.09 (I) and 0.959 (L) for SDH, and 1.03 (S), 1.06 (I) and 1.07 (L) for LDH. A parameter a, a measure of the diffusion of LDH out of muscle sections during incubation on gel substrate films, was found to be 0.981 and 1.00 in mdx and control muscles, respectively. Thus there are no significant differences in the activities and microenvironments of the enzymes between regenerated mdx muscle fibres and normal control muscle fibres. These data suggest that dystrophin deficiency in mdx muscles has no effects on the interactions of LDH with cytoskeletal proteins or on SDH activities in mitochondria whose number and morphology differ in mdx muscle fibres compared to those in normal controls. SDH and LDH activities were also found in the mitochondria clustered on two longitudinally directed poles of each central nucleus in regenerated mdx muscle fibres. They were proportional to the activities in the sarcoplasm excluding the subsarcolemmal regions.

Characterization of mitochondria-located small heat shock protein from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

We cloned and sequenced a full-length cDNA encoding the precursor of the mitochondria-located small heat shock protein (MT-sHSP) gene (LeHSP23.8) from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). The deduced protein precursor with a calculated molecular weight of 23.8 kDa was predicted to target mitochondria and was classified as a plant MT-sHSP. A single copy of LeHSP23.8 was found in tomato genomic DNA by southern-blot analysis. Northern-blot analysis revealed the heat inducible character of LeHSP23.8 mRNA. The LeHSP23.8 mRNA was hardly detectable at about 36 degrees C but accumulated markedly at 40 degrees C. The molecular chaperone function of LeHSP23.8 was confirmed in vitro. The recombinant LeHSP23.8 was able to enhance the renaturation of chemically denatured citrate synthase (CS). Moreover, the recombinant LeHSP23.8 protected CS from thermal inactivation and also promoted the renaturation of thermally inactivated citrate synthase.

Allergic contact dermatitis from a perinone-type dye C.I. Solvent Orange 60 in spectacle frames

This is the 1st case report of allergic contact dermatitis from a perinone-type plastic dye, C.I. Solvent Orange 60, used in the earpieces of spectacle frames. Sensitization of this dye was confirmed by patch tests and chemical analysis of the causative earpieces and coloring agents. Solvent Orange 60 is suspected of being the contact allergen in at least 2 other Japanese cases of spectacle earpiece dermatitis, and provoked strong reactions on sensitized individuals. Its use in products that are applied on human skin for a prolonged period of time, such as spectacle frames or hearing aids, would best be avoided.

Quantitative analysis of immunofluorescent signals for dystrophin, beta-dystroglycan and myosin skeletal muscle by epifluorescence microscopy

Quantitative analysis of signal intensities in immunostained sections has been performed in only a few studies owing to difficulties with quantifying amounts of antigen present. We determined correlations between fluorescent signal intensities and amounts of antigen in muscle cryosections by altering section thickness from 4 to 10 microm. Fluorescent signals of dystrophin. beta-dystroglycan and myosin were detected with monoclonal and/or polyclonal primary antibodies using routine procedures. Confocal laser microscopy demonstrated that these signals were distributed uniformly along the z-axis suggesting that the antibodies permeated well through the sections. Epifluorescence microscopy with microfluorometry demonstrated a positive correlation between the optical density of signals and section thickness. These findings suggest that immunofluorescent signals can be quantitated by epifluorescence microscopy.

Differences in ethidium bromide and 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining profiles with regard to DNA fragmentation during apoptosis

To simply and directly evaluate DNA fragmentation during apoptosis induced in mouse cultured hepatocytes by an anti-Fas antibody, we examined the fluorescence intensity in cell nuclei stained with ethidium bromide and 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole by optiphoto fluorescence microscopy. The intensity of the former staining for the nuclear DNA of apoptotic cells was clearly decreased compared to that of non-apoptotic cells, whereas no difference in the fluorescence intensity for the latter stain between the apoptotic and non-apoptotic groups was observed. Thus, the use of optiphoto fluorescence microscopy, in conjunction with both stains, constitutes a useful tool for the evaluation of apoptotic DNA fragmentation.

Retinyl palmitate reduces hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Lipid peroxidation has been found to be associated with Ito cell activation. Ito cells are the principal collagen-producing cells and the main storage sites of retinoids. However, the relationship between retinoids and hepatic fibrosis is complex. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of retinoids as a fibrosuppressant: the effects of retinoids on hepatic fibrosis induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum, as well as on rat Ito cells in primary culture, were examined in order to assess the antioxidant activity of retinoids.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were given a single injection of 40 mg/kg dimethylnitrosamine or 0.5 ml PS twice weekly for 10 weeks. In each model, rats were treated with retinyl palmitate for 2 weeks before hepatotoxin treatments or for the last 2 weeks of the treatments. The cumulative amount of retinyl palmitate administered in each experiment was 2, 10, or 20x10(4) IU/rat.

RESULTS

Retinyl palmitate treatment before or after administration of dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum suppressed the induction of hepatic fibrosis, restored hepatic retinyl palmitate levels, prevented increases in hepatic levels of collagen and malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, and prevented increases in deposition of type III collagen and the number of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive-Ito cells in the liver. Retinyl palmitate supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of alpha-SMA expression and an oxidative burst in cultured Ito cells. In addition, retinyl palmitate inhibited Fe2+/adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria and showed radical scavenging activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that retinyl palmitate may suppress the induction of hepatic fibrosis, at least in part, by the inhibition of Ito cell activation through its antioxidant activity.

Intracellular regulation of macromolecules using pH-sensitive liposomes and nuclear localization signal: qualitative and quantitative evaluation of intracellular trafficking

The objective of this study is to present a rational strategy to target macromolecules to the nucleus via the endocytic pathway. The two major barriers in this route to the nucleus are known as endosomal escape and nuclear transport. pH-sensitive liposomes were used in order to achieve endosomal escape under the conditions of low pH in endosomes. Bovine serum albumin (alb) served as a model compound to be delivered to nucleus and was encapsulated into the pH-sensitive liposomes. The liposomes are composed of dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine: cholesterylhemisuccinate. They were taken up by rat peritoneal macrophages via endocytosis and subsequently underwent degradation, principally by lysosomal enzymes. By using pH-sensitive liposomes, intracellular degradation was reduced by a significant extent, as expected, via endosomal escape. Cytosolic delivery of FITC-labelled alb was also detected by confocal microscopy. Selective targeting to the nucleus was performed by adding the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of the SV-40 large T antigen to the FITC-alb, which were then encapsulated into the pH-sensitive liposomes. Confocal microscopy revealed that FITC-alb, in the presence of NLS was successfully delivered into nucleus, while no transport was observed in the absence of NLS. These results provide a useful strategy for the nuclear targeting of macromolecules using pH-sensitive liposomes in conjunction with NLS.

Effects of a time-varying strong magnetic field on transient increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ induced by bradykinin in cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells

We tested the effects of exposure to a time-varying magnetic field changing between 0.07 and 1.7 T at an interval of 3 s on transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ stimulated by bradykinin in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Addition of bradykinin induced the increase in intracellular Ca2+ within a few minutes. The exposure to the magnetic field perfectly suppressed the increase in intracellular Ca2+ in Ca2+-free medium. The inhibition occurred for 15 min when the maximum magnetic flux density was more than 1.4 T. These results suggest that the exposure inhibits Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores.

Developmental characteristics in sustained fetal tachycardia in 30 to 41 weeks of gestation

The aim of the present study is to reveal gestational age-related changes in sustained foetal tachycardia (SFT). 24 h fetal heart rate (FHR) recordings were made on 102 normal pregnant women in 30-41 weeks of gestation. SFT was defined as an increase for 20 or more beats per minute from the FHR-baseline persisting for more than 20 min. In the results, SFTs in 38-39 weeks started during night-time (1900-0700) more frequently than during day-time (0700-1900) (P < 0.01, by chi-square test). The rate and duration were 0% and 0 min in 30-31 weeks of gestation, and increased to 85% and 114 min in 40-41 weeks, respectively. Two critical points were detected by a piecewise linear regression analysis: in the rate between 34-35 weeks and 36-37 weeks, and in the duration between 38-39 to 40-41 weeks. We conclude that gestational age-related changes in SFT depend on the developmental stages.

Resistance index of uterine artery and placental location in intrauterine growth retardation

BACKGROUND

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between placental location and resistance index (RI) of uterine arteries in cases with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).

METHODS

Placental location and flow velocity waveforms of uterine arteries in 86 normal and 20 IUGR cases from 33 to 38 weeks of gestation were examined using a combined real-time scanner and pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. The location of placenta was classified as lateral when most of it was located to either the right or the left side of the uterine midline. Otherwise it was called central. Cases where the placenta was located in the uterine fundus or in the lower segment were not included. RI values were calculated from the uterine arteries on the placental side, on the non-placental side and in case of central placentas as a mean of both uterine arteries. In normal cases, the calculations were done every second week from 33 to 38 weeks of gestation, and the difference in variance among three gestational ages in each artery was tested by a one-way ANOVA. In IUGR cases, a standard deviation score (SDS) was calculated individually in each artery as (RI - normal mean)/normal SD. Differences in SDS between three categories of uterine arteries were examined by non-parametric tests.

RESULTS

In normal cases, there was no significant difference in variance of RIs among three gestational ages in each category of arteries. In IUGR cases, SDSs on the placental side were higher than those on the non-placental side and those in central placenta, (p<0.01, Wilcoxon's and Mann Whitney's tests, respectively). SDSs in five of eight cases with central placentas were below 1.0. Two of 12 cases with lateral placentas had higher SDSs on the non-placental side than on the placental side and resulted in abruptio placentae.

CONCLUSIONS

Deviation of RIs in uterine arteries with IUGR could be affected by the pathologic conditions of the utero-placental blood flow on the placental side of lateral placenta rather than in central placenta and might be done by dramatic increase in resistance to flow of the myometrial vessels on the non-placental side.

Whole-body vibration and health effects in the agricultural machinery drivers

Recently farm mechanization has been widespread and developing rapidly, in particular riding farm machines are increasingly used in paddy fields in Japan. We have no information available on the actual situation regarding whole-body vibration on the seats of these farm machines from the standpoint of labour protection. Measurement and evaluation of whole-body vibration was performed on the seats of popular riding agricultural machineries. Whole-body vibration on the seats of combine harvesters and wheel tractors exceeded exposure limits and the fatigue-decreased proficiency boundary limit of 8 hr and also shortened the reduced comfort boundary limits of ISO 2631 (1985). Some combines, tractors and carieers had only less than one hour exposure duration as compared with the ISO 2631-1 standard (1997). On the other hand a questionnaire was also performed on the subject of agricultural machine operators. Any specific injury or other effects, i.e. low back injuries were not found among the group of operators as compared with those in non-operator farmers. It seems to be difficult to find out the health effects of whole-body vibration itself, because there may be a lot of causes, i.e. working posture, operating heavy materials, in farm working conditions.

Separate histogenesis of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma in two patients

Double primary liver carcinomas, i.e. hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) are rare. Two patients in whom double primary liver carcinomas were surgically resected are described herein. Case 1: A 51-year-old Japanese man with chronic type B hepatitis underwent hepatectomy for primary HCC with intrahepatic metastasis. Case 2: A 67-year-old Japanese man with a history of rectal cancer and CCC underwent lateral hepatic segmentectomy for a suspected recurrence of intrahepatic CCC. Lack of direct contact between tumors, no evidence of histological transition and clearly different immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin support a distinct histogenesis of the tumors in these two patients. The findings indicate that combined HCC and CCC can arise synchronously or metachronously as an intrahepatic double cancer.