Carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel in combination with bevacizumab for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer complicated by idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: A feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are an independent risk factor of lung cancer, and a chemotherapy-induced acute exacerbation is the most common lethal complication in Japanese patients. The safety and efficacy of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias has been previously reported in prospective studies. However, carboplatin + paclitaxel with bevacizumab is currently the standard therapy. We conducted a multicenter, phase II study to confirm the safety and efficacy of carboplatin + weekly paclitaxel + bevacizumab for the treatment of patients with lung cancer complicated by idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

METHODS

Chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced-stage or patients with post-operative recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer complicated by idiopathic interstitial pneumonias were enrolled. Patients received carboplatin (area under the curve: 5.0) and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) on day 1 and paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 4-week cycle.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients less than the predetermined number were enrolled and received a median of four treatment cycles (range: 1-6). One patient (5.9%; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-28.7%) had acute exacerbation of interstitial pneumonia related to the study treatment which improved after corticosteroid treatment. The overall response rate was 52.9%. The median progression-free survival, median survival time, and 1-year survival were 5.7 months, 12.9 months, and 52.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The addition of bevacizumab to carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel might be safe and effective for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer complicated by idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000008189.

Inhibitors of ABCB1 and ABCG2 overcame resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors in small cell lung cancer

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Although most patients initially respond to topoisomerase inhibitors, resistance rapidly emerges. The aim, therefore, is to overcome resistance to topoisomerase I (irinotecan) or II (etoposide) inhibitors in SCLCs.

Methods

To identify key factors in the chemoresistance of SCLCs, we established four cell lines resistant to etoposide or an active metabolite of irinotecan, SN‐38, from SCLC cell lines and evaluated RNA profiles using parental and newly established cell lines.

Results

We found that the drug efflux protein, ATP‐binding cassette sub‐family B member 1 (ABCB1), was associated with resistance to etoposide, and ATP‐binding cassette sub‐family G member 2 (ABCG2) was associated with resistance to SN‐38 by RNA sequencing. The inhibition of ABCB1 or ABCG2 in each resistant cell line induced synergistic apoptotic activity and promoted drug sensitivity in resistant SCLC cells. The ABC transporter inhibitors, elacridar and tariquidar, restored sensitivity to etoposide or SN‐38 in in vitro and in vivo studies, and promoted apoptotic activity and G2‐M arrest in resistant SCLC cells.

Conclusions

ABC transporter inhibitors may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the purpose of overcoming resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors in patients with SCLC.

Carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin‑bound paclitaxel for the treatment of thymic carcinoma

Thymic carcinoma is a relatively rare type of malignant tumor. The present retrospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel for the treatment of advanced thymic carcinoma. The study included data from 12 patients with advanced thymic carcinoma treated in the Nippon Medical School Hospital (Tokyo, Japan). Response to treatment, patient survival and treatment safety were assessed. The objective response rate was 66.7% (8/12 patients). Disease control was achieved in 11 patients (91.7%). At the median follow-up time of 27.6 months (range, 6.2-75.1 months), the median progression-free survival and median first-line overall survival times were 16.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 13.2-37.7] and 14.3 months (95% CI, 4.7-54.6), respectively. There was no occurrence of febrile neutropenia or treatment-related death. The results of the present study showed that carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel was effective and safe. Therefore, it is a promising chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of advanced thymic carcinoma.

CADM1 and SPC25 Gene Mutations in Lung Cancer Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Introduction

To investigate the genomic profiles of patients with lung cancer with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF-LC), mechanism of carcinogenesis, and potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

We analyzed 29 matched, surgically resected, cancerous and noncancerous lung tissues (19 IPF-LC and 10 non–IPF-LC) by whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and established a medical-engineering collaboration with the Department of Engineering of the Tokyo University of Science.

Results

In IPF-LC, CADM1 and SPC25 were mutated at a frequency of 47% (9 of 19) and 53% (10 of 19), respectively. Approximately one-third of the IPF-LC cases (7 of 19; 36%) had both mutations. Pathway analysis revealed that these two genes are involved in transforming growth factor-β1 signaling. CADM1 and SPC25 gene mutations decreased the expression of CADM1 and increased that of SPC25 revealing transforming growth factor-β1–induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cell proliferation in lung cancer cells. Furthermore, treatment with paclitaxel and DNMT1 inhibitor suppressed SPC25 expression.

Conclusions

CADM1 and SPC25 gene mutations may be novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for IPF-LC.

Abstract 3068: The glycoprotein inhibitors overcome the resistance of the topoisomerase inhibitors in small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive disease with median survival of <2 years. Most patients respond initially to the topoisomerase inhibitors, resistance rapidly emerges. The purpose is overcoming the resistance of the topoisomerase inhibitors in SCLCs. To identify the key factors for the resistance of the topoisomerase I (SN38) or II (VP-16) inhibitors in SCLCs, we analyzed MTS cell proliferation assay. We identified 8 sensitive cell lines and 2 resistant cell lines. We established 4 resistant cell lines by continuous exposure to increasing concentrations of SN-38 or VP-16 stepwise.

RNA sequencing was performed using the established cell lines to discover novel therapeutic targets associated with the resistance to topoisomerase inhibitors. We found that whenever the drug efflux protein ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) was associated the with resistance of VP-16, ATP-binding cassette super-family G member 2 (ABCG2) was associated with the resistance of SN-38. The silencing of ABCG2 or ABCB1 in every resistant cell line, could induce synergistic apoptosis of every cell line. Elacridar and tariquidar which are glycoprotein inhibitors, recovered the sensitivity of SN38 or VP-16 in every resistant line, increased expression of signaling proteins associated with DNA damage and cell-cycle checkpoints, and promoted G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, we are going to analyze the expressions of ABCG2 and ABCB1 in serum before and after the treatment of VP-16 or CPT-11. These results suggested the glycoprotein inhibitors, which phase I study is ongoing, could be a promising therapeutic strategy for the purpose of preventing the resistance of topoisomerase inhibitors in SCLCs.

Citation Format: Rintaro Noro, Miwako Omori, Aya Fukuizumi, kuniko Matsuda, Mariko Hirao, Satoshi Takahashi, Natsuki Takano, Shinji Nakamichi, Teppei Sugano, Akihiko Miyanaga, Yuji Minegishi, Masahiro Seike, Kaoru Kubota, Akihiko Gemma. The glycoprotein inhibitors overcome the resistance of the topoisomerase inhibitors in small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 3068.

Severe Pneumonitis with Alveolar Hemorrhage Associated with Herbal Medicines: A Case Report

We report a case of pneumonitis with alveolar hemorrhage induced by herbal medicines in a 73-year-old woman who was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and an abnormal shadow on a chest radiograph. She had received treatment with numerous drugs, including the herbal medicines Seisin-renshi-in, Chotosan, Rikkunshi-to, and Shakuyakukannzo-to. Chest radiography revealed diffuse ground-glass shadows in both lungs, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was progressively hemorrhagic. A culture of the fluid showed no evidence of microorganisms. Moreover, there were no findings suggestive of rheumatic disease or vasculitides. On the basis of this evidence, we suspected drug-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. She discontinued all medicines and started treatment with corticosteroids. Her respiratory condition and chest radiographic findings improved. The timing of administration and rechallenge with other drugs suggested that the herbal medicines were the causative drugs. The primary concern was Seisin-renshi-in, because it contains Ougon (skullcap; a known cause of pneumonitis) and because a drug lymphocyte stimulation test was positive for Seisin-renshi-in. This is the first report indicating that Seisin-renshi-in may cause diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage due to herbal medicines is a rare but emergent disorder. Therefore, treating physicians should be aware that it may be caused by herbal medicines, including Seisin-renshi-in.

Abstract 1602: Genomic profiling of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is reportedly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. However, optimal diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer associated with IPF remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the mechanism of carcinogenesis and progression in lung cancer with IPF. We used tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor lung tissues from 29 lung cancer patients who had undergone complete surgical resection at Nippon Medical School Hospital between 2013 and 2017. Whole-Exon Sequencing was performed on 29 paired samples, consisted of 19 lung cancers with IPF (IPF group) and 10 lung cancers with normal lung (non-IPF group). The candidate gene alterations discriminating between the IPF and non-IPF group, were identified using the random-forest method, RelifF method along with the data from Catalogue Of Somatic Mutations In Cancer (COSMIC). Twenty-five gene alterations were specifically found in IPF tissues and/or tumor tissues with IPF. Whenever 5 of 25 genes including MUC2 and TTF1, were altered in both IPF tissues and tumor tissues, 20 of 25 genes including CADM1, were altered in only tumor tissues. We are undergoing the validation study using other tissues in independent cohorts. Among the candidate genes, Cell adhesion molecule genes (CADM1) gene alterations were frequently found in 15 out of 19 in only tumor tissues with IPF. The CADM1 protein expression was decreased in tumors than in non-tumor fibrotic tissues by western blotting. The CADM1 induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) on the multifunctional cell process involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosis in vitro study. Whenever the down-regulation of CADM1 was frequently detected in various human cancers through its allelic loss as well as hypermethylation within promoter region in addition to inactivate gene mutation, the up-regulation of CADM1 was frequently detected in paired IPF tissues. The CADM1 may be a target candidate in lung cancer associated with IPF.

Citation Format: Rintaro Noro, Akihiko Miyanaga, Aya Fukuizumi, Shinobu Kunugi, Teppei Sugano, Miwako Omori, Yuji Minegish, Jitsuo Usuda, Masahiro Seike, Kaoru Kubota, Mamiko Hirao, Kuniko Matsuda, Akihiko Gemma. Genomic profiling of lung cancer associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1602.

Impact of prior antibiotic use on the efficacy of nivolumab for non-small cell lung cancer

Gut microbiota serves an important role in shaping systemic immune responses. Antibiotics cause changes in the gut microbiota that may influence the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In the present study, a retrospective analysis of the data from 90 patients treated with nivolumab for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was conducted. A total of 13 patients were treated with antibiotics prior to nivolumab therapy. The median progression-free survival time in patients treated with antibiotics was 1.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.5-5.8], while the time for patients who were not treated with antibiotics was 4.4 months (95% CI, 2.5-7.4). The median overall survival time in patients treated with antibiotics was 8.8 months, while it was not reached in those not treated with antibiotics, respectively. The differences between the survival curves with regard to PFS and OS were statistically significant (P=0.04 and P=0.037, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, no statistically significant association was indicated between survival and prior antibiotic use, although a certain trend concerning the negative influence of antibiotic use was conveyed.

Expression of transcription factors and stem cell factor precedes hepatocyte differentiation in rat pancreas

Multiple foci of morphologically and functionally differentiated hepatocytes are induced in the pancreas of adult rats subjected to a copper depletion-repletion regimen. Differentiation of hepatocytes in pancreas is preceded by irreversible depletion of over 90% of pancreatic acinar cells. Progressive acinar cell loss during 4-6 weeks of copper deficiency results in the proliferation of oval cells, some of which may serve as the hepatocyte precursor or stem cells. Albumin mRNA is detected in oval cells at 5 and 6 weeks by in situ hybridization at which time no morphologically identifiable hepatocytes are evident in the pancreas. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of stem cell factor (SCF) in proliferating oval cells during 6 weeks of copper depletion, and Northern blot analysis revealed the expression of liver-enriched transcription factors in the rat pancreas during this 4-6-week period of copper deficiency. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP alpha) mRNA was detected first at 4 weeks of copper deficiency. By 5 and 6 weeks of copper deficiency, the expression of mRNAs of C/EBP alpha, beta, and delta, and hepatocyte nuclear factor-3 factor (HNF-3 beta) was markedly enhanced. This enhanced expression of liver-enriched transcription factors and the SCF during oval cell proliferation in the pancreas preceding the expression of albumin mRNA and subsequent differentiation of hepatocyte phenotype further supports the identity of these oval cells as hepatocyte precursors or stem cells.

The Study of Nursing NAVI

We have examined the nurses' thinking process in their professional judgment and action in the Partogram of 170 labors by 17 Midwifery students in 2 years.

Oxytocin efficacy is modulated by dosage and oxytocin receptor genotype in young adults with high-functioning autism: a 24-week randomized clinical trial

Recent studies have suggested that long-term oxytocin administration can alleviate the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, factors influencing its efficacy are still unclear. We conducted a single-center phase 2, pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, clinical trial in young adults with high-functioning ASD, to determine whether oxytocin dosage and genetic background of the oxytocin receptor affects oxytocin efficacy. This trial consisted of double-blind (12 weeks), open-label (12 weeks) and follow-up phases (8 weeks). To examine dose dependency, 60 participants were randomly assigned to high-dose (32 IU per day) or low-dose intranasal oxytocin (16 IU per day), or placebo groups during the double-blind phase. Next, we measured single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). In the intention-to-treat population, no outcomes were improved after oxytocin administration. However, in male participants, Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scores in the high-dose group, but not the low-dose group, were significantly higher than in the placebo group. Furthermore, we examined whether oxytocin efficacy, reflected in the CGI-I scores, is influenced by estimated daily dosage and OXTR polymorphisms in male participants. We found that >21 IU per day oxytocin was more effective than ⩽21 IU per day, and that a SNP in OXTR (rs6791619) predicted CGI-I scores for ⩽21 IU per day oxytocin treatment. No severe adverse events occurred. These results suggest that efficacy of long-term oxytocin administration in young men with high-functioning ASD depends on the oxytocin dosage and genetic background of the oxytocin receptor, which contributes to the effectiveness of oxytocin treatment of ASD.

Psychological distress in corticosteroid-naive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A prospective cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, has been intensively studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, those studies have mostly included patients who were treated with corticosteroids, which might themselves induce mood disturbances. We investigated psychological distress in corticosteroid-naive patients with SLE who did not exhibit any overt neuropsychiatric manifestations.

METHODS

Forty-three SLE in-patients with no current or past abnormal neuropsychiatric history participated in the study. Patients and 30 healthy control subjects with similar demographic and personality characteristics were administered a comprehensive battery of psychological/neuropsychological tests. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) was used to assess depression and anxiety. Results of clinical, laboratory, and neurological tests were compared with regard to their presence.

RESULTS

Prevalence of depression was higher in patients (n = 11, 25.6%) than in controls (n = 2, 6.7%; p = 0.035), although prevalence of anxiety did not differ across groups (patients: 34.9%, n = 15; controls: 16.7%, n = 5; p = 0.147). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we identified avoidance coping methods (OR, 1.3; 95% CI 1.030-1.644; p = 0.027) as an independent risk factor for depression.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that depression presents more frequently in corticosteroid-naive patients with early-stage, active SLE than in the normal population, but anxiety does not. Depression may be related to psychological reactions to suffering from the disease.

Treatment results for Stage Ib cervical cancer after stage subdivision by MRI evaluation

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

The authors analyzed treatment results for cervical cancer after subdividing Stage Ib into Stages Ib1 and Ib2 according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) information.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The subjects comprised 40 cases of Stage Ib cervical cancer treated by definitive radiotherapy in Kitasato University hospital and Tokyo University hospital from January 2000 to December 2008. The patients' ages ranged from 28 to 85 years (median: 68 years). The maximum tumor diameter measured with MRI ranged from undetectable to 60 mm (median: 25 mm). The authors classified tumors with the greatest dimension less than 40 mm as Stage Ib1 (29 cases) and those with the greatest dimension more than 40 mm as Ib2 (11 cases). All cases were treated with a combination of external beam irradiation and high-dose-rate intra-cavitary brachytherapy. Chemotherapy was combined with radiotherapy in 11 cases.

RESULTS

The follow-up time was from four to 109 months (median: 53 months). At the time of last observation, 37 cases survived, local recurrence was seen in none, and two cases showed distant metastasis. The two- and five-year overall survival rates of all cases were 97.5% and 89.5%, respectively. When a stage was subdivided and examined, the five-year overall survival rate of Stage Ib1 was 100% and that of Stage Ib2 was 50.5% (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The authors suggest that the subdivision of stages using image information reflects the prognosis of Stage Ib cervical cancer.

Phylogenetic relationships in the coral family acroporidae, reassessed by inference from mitochondrial genes

Phylogenetic relationships within the dominant reef coral family Acroporidae were inferred from the mitochondrial genes cytochrome b and ATPase 6. The rate of nucleotide substitution in the genes gave proper resolution to deduce genetic relationships between the genera in this family. The molecular phylogeny divided this family into three major lineages: the genera Astreopora, Montipora and Acropora. The genus Anacropora was included in the same clade as the genus Montipora, suggesting its recent speciation from Montipora. The subgenus Isopora was significantly distant from the subgenus Acropora. Taken together with morphological and reproductive differences, we propose that these two subgenera be classified as independent genera. The divergence times deduced from the genetic distances were consistent with the fossil record for the major genera. The results also suggest that the extant reef corals speciated and expanded very recently, probably after the Miocene, from single lineage which survived repeated extinction by climate changes during the Cenozoic era.

A novel structure for carbon nanotube reinforced alumina composites with improved mechanical properties

Engineering ceramics have high stiffness, excellent thermostability, and relatively low density, but their brittleness impedes their use as structural materials. Incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into a brittle ceramic might be expected to provide CNT/ceramic composites with both high toughness and high temperature stability. Until now, however, materials fabrication difficulties have limited research on CNT/ceramic composites. The mechanical failure of CNT/ceramic composites reported previously is primarily attributed to poor CNT-matrix connectivity and severe phase segregation. Here we show that a novel processing approach based on the precursor method can diminish the phase segregation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and render MWCNT/alumina composites highly homogeneous. The MWCNTs used in this study are modified with an acid treatment. Combined with a mechanical interlock induced by the chemically modified MWCNTs, this approach leads to improved mechanical properties. Mechanical measurements reveal that only 0.9 vol% acid-treated MWCNT addition results in 27% and 25% simultaneous increases in bending strength (689.6 ± 29.1 MPa) and fracture toughness (5.90 ± 0.27 MPa m(1/2)), respectively.

Abnormal pontine activation in pathological laughing as shown by functional magnetic resonance imaging

To explore the aetiology of pathological laughing, a 65-year-old woman with pathological laughing was examined by 3-T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment with drugs. Here, we report that the patient consistently showed exaggerated pontine activation during the performance of three tasks before treatment, whereas abnormal pontine activation was no longer found after successful treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, paroxetine. Our findings in this first fMRI study of pathological laughing suggest that serotonergic replacement decreases the aberrant activity in a circuit that involves the pons.

Possible association between nonsynonymous polymorphisms of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and schizophrenia in a Japanese population

We examined, for the first time, the possible association between schizophrenia and the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene which plays an important role in neurodevelopment. When two nonsynonymous polymorphisms (Arg1491Lys and Glu1529Asp) were examined, there were significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between patients and controls. Individuals homozygous for the minor allele (1491Lys-1529Asp) were more common in patients than in controls (p = 0.0064, odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.6). These results suggest that genetic variations of the ALK gene might confer susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Cellular immune responses to feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) induced by dual-subtype FIV vaccine

Vaccine-induced T cell responses to FIV were assessed by measuring FIV-specific cytokine and cytotoxic-effector molecule production. A total of 22 cats at 10-12 weeks of age received either dual-subtype FIV vaccine (n=12), uninfected cell lysate (n=5) consisting of cells used to produce vaccine viruses, or no immunization (n=5). Significant increases in mRNA and protein production of T-helper 1 (Th1) cytokines (IL-2, IFNgamma), mRNA production of a cytotoxic-effector molecule (perforin), and lymphoproliferation response were observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from dual-subtype FIV-vaccinated cats after in vitro stimulation with inactivated FIV. In contrast, no statistically significant increase in FIV-stimulated mRNA production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6) or other cytotoxic-effector molecules (TNFalpha, FasL) was observed in the PBMC from dual-subtype vaccinated cats. Moreover, no FIV-specific increases in the IFNgamma, IL-2, and perforin mRNA productions and in the IFNgamma bioactivity and lymphoproliferation responses were observed in the PBMC from cell-immunized cats. These observations suggest that IFNgamma induction, lymphoproliferation, and significant portion of IL-2 and perforin productions in the PBMC from dual-subtype vaccinated cats are clearly specific for viral antigens. Overall, dual-subtype FIV vaccine elicited strong Th1 response (IFN(, IL-2), which may contribute to the vaccine protection by enhancing the perforin-mediated cytotoxic-cell activity against FIV.

Individual trait anxiety levels characterizing the properties of zen meditation

Meditation is a specific consciousness state in which deep relaxation and increased internalized attention coexist. There have been various neurophysiological studies on meditation. However, the personal predispositions/traits that characterize the properties of meditation have not been adequately studied. We analyzed changes in neurophysiological parameters [EEG coherence and autonomic nervous activity using heart rate variability (HRV) as an index] during Zen meditation, and evaluated the results in association with trait anxiety (assessed by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) in 22 healthy adults who had not previously practiced any form of meditation. During meditation, in terms of mean values in all subjects, an increase in slow alpha interhemispheric EEG coherence in the frontal region, an increase in high-frequency (HF) power (as a parasympathetic index of HRV), and a decrease in the ratio of low-frequency to HF power (as a sympathetic index of HRV) were observed. Further evaluation of these changes in individuals showed a negative correlation between the percent change (with the control condition as the baseline) in slow alpha interhemispheric coherence reflecting internalized attention and the percent change in HF reflecting relaxation. The trait anxiety score was negatively correlated with the percent change in slow alpha interhemispheric coherence in the frontal region and was positively correlated with the percent change in HF. These results suggest that lower trait anxiety more readily induces meditation with a predominance of internalized attention, while higher trait anxiety more readily induces meditation with a predominance of relaxation.

Neural substrates participating in acquisition of facial familiarity: an fMRI study

The amygdala is related to recognition of faces and emotions, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have reported that the amygdala is habituated over time with repetition of facial stimuli. When subjects are presented repeatedly with unfamiliar faces, they come to gradually recognize the unfamiliar faces as familiar. To investigate the brain areas participating in the acquisition of familiarity to repeatedly presented unfamiliar faces, we conducted an fMRI study in 16 healthy subjects. During the task periods, the subjects were instructed to see presented unfamiliar faces repeatedly and to judge whether the face was male or female or whether the face had emotional valences. The experiment consisted of nine sessions. To clarify the brain areas that showed increasing or decreasing activation as the experimental session proceeded, we analyzed the fMRI data using specified linear covariates in the face recognition task from the first session to the ninth session. Imaging data were investigated on a voxel-by-voxel basis for single-group analysis according to the random effect model using Statistical Parametric Mapping. The bilateral posterior cingulate cortices showed significant increases in activity as the experimental sessions proceeded, while the activation in the right amygdala and the left medial fusiform gyrus decreased. Thus, the posterior cingulate cortex may play an important role in the acquisition of facial familiarity.

Abnormal nocturnal blood pressure fall in senile-onset depression with subcortical silent cerebral infarction

Recent studies have shown that the complication rate of silent cerebral infarction (SCI) in patients with geriatric depression increases with the age at the onset of depression. This study investigated the cardiovascular factors involved in the development of SCI in geriatric depression. Thirty-six patients with geriatric depression were classified according to the age at onset into 16 who developed depression at the age of <50 years (early-onset group) and 20 who developed depression at the age of > or =50 years (late-onset group). The incidence of SCI assessed by subcortical hyperintensity on MRI images, office blood pressure (BP), nocturnal systolic BP fall pattern examined by 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis examined by B-mode ultrasonography were compared between the two groups. Furthermore, the association between the presence or absence of SCI and the nocturnal systolic BP fall pattern or the severity of carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated. The SCI complication rate was higher in the late-onset group (55.0%) than in the early-onset group (18.7%). The office BP and mean 24-hour BP did not differ significantly between the two groups. Abnormal nocturnal systolic BP fall patterns were observed in 85.0% (nondipper type showing a fall of <10% in 60.0%, extreme-dipper type showing a fall of > or =20% in 25.0%) in the late-onset group, which was significantly higher than the incidence in the early-onset group (18.7%). No significant difference was observed in any parameter of carotid atherosclerosis between the two groups. In addition, the patients with SCI more frequently showed abnormal nocturnal systolic BP fall patterns than those without SCI. These results suggest that abnormal nocturnal BP fall patterns appear to be involved in the development of SCI in senile-onset depression.

Central pontine myelinolysis associated with hypokalaemia in anorexia nervosa

A 31-year-old man was admitted to hospital with of anorexia, binge eating, and self induced vomiting. On admission, he showed a pronounced low weight and disturbance of the body image and was diagnosed as having anorexia nervosa. In addition, electrolyte abnormalities, mainly hypokalaemia, and increased serum renin and aldosterone concentrations were recorded, suggesting pseudo-Bartter syndrome as a complication. Under frequent monitoring of the serum potassium and sodium concentrations, serum electrolytes were gradually corrected, but brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed reversible central pontine myelinolysis (CPM). Although attention has been mainly paid to the association of CPM with rapid correction of hyponatraemia and abnormal osmolality, this case report strongly suggested the involvement of hypokalaemia in the pathogenesis of CPM.

Differential amygdala response during facial recognition in patients with schizophrenia: an fMRI study

Human lesion or neuroimaging studies suggest that amygdala is involved in facial emotion recognition. Although impairments in recognition of facial and/or emotional expression have been reported in schizophrenia, there are few neuroimaging studies that have examined differential brain activation during facial recognition between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. To investigate amygdala responses during facial recognition in schizophrenia, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study with 12 right-handed medicated patients with schizophrenia and 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The experiment task was a type of emotional intensity judgment task. During the task period, subjects were asked to view happy (or angry/disgusting/sad) and neutral faces simultaneously presented every 3 s and to judge which face was more emotional (positive or negative face discrimination). Imaging data were investigated in voxel-by-voxel basis for single-group analysis and for between-group analysis according to the random effect model using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). No significant difference in task accuracy was found between the schizophrenic and control groups. Positive face discrimination activated the bilateral amygdalae of both controls and schizophrenics, with more prominent activation of the right amygdala shown in the schizophrenic group. Negative face discrimination activated the bilateral amygdalae in the schizophrenic group whereas the right amygdala alone in the control group, although no significant group difference was found. Exaggerated amygdala activation during emotional intensity judgment found in the schizophrenic patients may reflect impaired gating of sensory input containing emotion.

Measurement of day and night neutrino energy spectra at SNO and constraints on neutrino mixing parameters

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has measured day and night solar neutrino energy spectra and rates. For charged current events, assuming an undistorted 8B spectrum, the night minus day rate is 14.0%+/-6.3%(+1.5%)(-1.4%) of the average rate. If the total flux of active neutrinos is additionally constrained to have no asymmetry, the nu(e) asymmetry is found to be 7.0%+/-4.9%(+1.3%)(-1.2%). A global solar neutrino analysis in terms of matter-enhanced oscillations of two active flavors strongly favors the large mixing angle solution.

Direct evidence for neutrino flavor transformation from neutral-current interactions in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Observations of neutral-current nu interactions on deuterium in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory are reported. Using the neutral current (NC), elastic scattering, and charged current reactions and assuming the standard 8B shape, the nu(e) component of the 8B solar flux is phis(e) = 1.76(+0.05)(-0.05)(stat)(+0.09)(-0.09)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1) for a kinetic energy threshold of 5 MeV. The non-nu(e) component is phi(mu)(tau) = 3.41(+0.45)(-0.45)(stat)(+0.48)(-0.45)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), 5.3sigma greater than zero, providing strong evidence for solar nu(e) flavor transformation. The total flux measured with the NC reaction is phi(NC) = 5.09(+0.44)(-0.43)(stat)(+0.46)(-0.43)(syst) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1), consistent with solar models.

MRI white matter hyperintensities, (1)H-MR spectroscopy and cognitive function in geriatric depression: a comparison of early- and late-onset cases

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Geriatric depression is often thought to differ from that at other times of adulthood. Recently, several studies have shown that the incidence of white matter hyperintense lesions identified by brain MRI is higher in patients with geriatric depression than in healthy elderly subjects, but a consensus has not yet been reached on the relationship between the severity of white matter lesions and either cognitive impairment or depressive symptoms.

METHOD

Forty-seven patients aged 50 to 75 years with major depression were divided into two groups based on age at onset of depression: early-onset (< 50 years) group (20 patients; mean age, 62.7 +/- 6.7) and late-onset (> or =50 years) group (27 patients; mean age, 65.6 +/- 5.4). The severity of hyperintense white matter lesions on MRI was classified by region, then a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) focusing on the white matter of the frontal lobes, multidimensional neuropsychological tests and evaluation of depressive symptoms were conducted.

RESULTS

The severity of the deep white matter lesions, the deterioration of cognitive function related to subcortical/frontal brain system and clinician-rated depressive symptoms were all more pronounced in the late-onset group compared with those in the early-onset group. It was further observed that the more severe the deep white matter lesions, the lower the levels of N-acetylaspartate/creatine. With the age of onset as the covariate, the patients with moderate deep white matter lesions had more pronounced cognitive impairment and clinician-rated depressive symptoms than those with none and/or mild lesions.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that subcortical/frontal type cognitive impairment and the persistence of depressive symptoms in geriatric depression is related to moderate deep white matter lesions more often complicated in the late-onset group. The (1)H-MRS findings were suggested to be a useful indicator of neuronal/axonal loss in the white matter of the frontal lobes which precedes cognitive impairment.

Quantitative evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging of deep white matter hyperintensity in geriatric patients by multifractal analysis

Fractal analysis has played an important role in various fields such as physics, biology and medicine. Recently, multifractal analysis based on generalized concepts of fractals has been applied to biological tissues composed of complex structures. Deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is more often observed in patients with geriatric depression than in healthy elderly subjects, and its clinical significance is receiving attention. We applied multifractal analysis to white matter images on brain T2-weighted MRI in 62 patients with geriatric depression (50-75 years). The local fractal dimensions, alpha(max) and alpha(min), which serve as indices of complexity, and their difference, alpha(max) - alpha(min), were closely correlated with the macroscopic grading according to Fazekas classification, suggesting that multifractal analysis is useful for quantitative evaluation of DWMH on MRI.

Neural interaction of the amygdala with the prefrontal and temporal cortices in the processing of facial expressions as revealed by fMRI

Some involvement of the human amygdala in the processing of facial expressions has been investigated in neuroimaging studies, although the neural mechanisms underlying motivated or emotional behavior in response to facial stimuli are not yet fully understood. We investigated, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and healthy volunteers, how the amygdala interacts with other cortical regions while subjects are judging the sex of faces with negative, positive, or neutral emotion. The data were analyzed by a subtractive method, then, to clarify possible interaction among regions within the brain, several kinds of analysis (i.e., a correlation analysis, a psychophysiological interaction analysis and a structural equation modeling) were performed. Overall, significant activation was observed in the bilateral fusiform gyrus, medial temporal lobe, prefrontal cortex, and the right parietal lobe during the task. The results of subtraction between the conditions showed that the left amygdala, right orbitofrontal cortex, and temporal cortices were predominantly involved in the processing of the negative expressions. The right angular gyrus was involved in the processing of the positive expressions when the negative condition was subtracted from the positive condition. The correlation analysis showed that activity in the left amygdala positively correlated with activity in the left prefrontal cortex under the negative minus neutral subtraction condition. The psychophysiological interaction revealed that the neural responses in the left amygdala and the right prefrontal cortex underwent the condition-specific changes between the negative and positive face conditions. The right amygdaloid activity also had an interactive effect with activity in the right hippocampus and middle temporal gyrus. These results may suggest that the left and right amygdalae play a differential role in effective processing of facial expressions in collaboration with other cortical or subcortical regions, with the left being related with the bilateral prefrontal cortex, and the right with the right temporal lobe.

Serial MRI and (1)H-MRS of Wernicke's encephalopathy: report of a case with remarkable cerebellar lesions on MRI

Before and after the administration of thiamine (vitamin B(1)), MRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) were serially performed in a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy demonstrating remarkable cerebellar lesions on MRI. Before thiamine administration, high signal intensities were observed in the thalamus around the third ventricle and in the superior portion of the cerebellar vermis and hemisphere on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2-weighted MR images. After thiamine administration, the high signal intensity in the former region disappeared immediately, while that in the latter regions persisted. The low level of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) in the thalamus before thiamine administration improved to some degree on the (1)[H]-MRS images taken after thiamine administration. In the cerebellum, a lactate peak was observed before thiamine administration, and the NAA/Cr level did not improve after thiamine administration, suggesting that irreversible necrosis occurred. It is suggested that serial MRI/(1)H-MRS observation may be helpful in determining the neuronal viability of Wernicke's encephalopathy and the prognostic implications of sequelae such as Korsakoff's syndrome and cerebellar ataxia.

Measurement of the rate of nu(e) + d --> p + p + e(-) interactions produced by (8)B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory

Solar neutrinos from (8)B decay have been detected at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory via the charged current (CC) reaction on deuterium and the elastic scattering (ES) of electrons. The flux of nu(e)'s is measured by the CC reaction rate to be straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) = 1.75 +/- 0.07(stat)(+0.12)(-0.11)(syst) +/- 0.05(theor) x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1). Comparison of straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) to the Super-Kamiokande Collaboration's precision value of the flux inferred from the ES reaction yields a 3.3 sigma difference, assuming the systematic uncertainties are normally distributed, providing evidence of an active non- nu(e) component in the solar flux. The total flux of active 8B neutrinos is determined to be 5.44+/-0.99 x 10(6) cm(-2) s(-1).

Neuronal damage in the interval form of CO poisoning determined by serial diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging plus 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy

In a patient with the interval form of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning diffusion weighted MRI and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) were serially performed immediately after the appearance of delayed sequelae (the 23rd day after exposure). During the period in which few clear findings were evident on MRI T2 weighted images, a high signal area in the cerebral white matter and relative decrease in the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCav) were already apparent on diffusion weighted images, with these findings thought to sensitively reflect the tissue injury associated with the onset of sequelae. The decrease in relative ADCav persisted until the 38th day after exposure. Subsequently, ADCav gradually increased, and in the cerebral white matter showed higher values in the 118th day after exposure than immediately after the onset of sequelae. During this period, on 1H-MRS choline containing compounds showed persistently high values throughout the course, with N-acetylaspartate depletion and the appearance of a lactate peak later in the course. These findings, with regional specificity in the cerebral white matter, reflect the developmental process of the white matter lesions in the interval form of CO poisoning in which demyelination progresses leading to neuronal necrosis. Serial diffusion weighted imaging plus 1H-MRS measurements are useful in determining the tissue damage and long term outcome of delayed sequelae associated with the interval form of CO poisoning.

Intestinal permeability testing using lactulose and rhamnose: a comparison between clinically normal cats and dogs and between dogs of different breeds

In the experiment reported here, the lactulose/rhamnose urinary excretion test was used to compare intestinal permeability between four breeds of healthy adult dogs and a group of healthy adult cats. A significant difference in permeability was found between dogs and cats (P <0.001) and between different breeds of dogs (P <0.005). The range of urinary lactulose/rhamnose ratios in the dogs in this study (0.07-0.61) was wider than previously reported (0.03-0.12). The mean value for dogs was 0.19. The range in cats was 0.41-1.25 and the mean 0.52. The results of this study suggest that breed or some other factor such as environment, diet or sexual status as well as species should be taken into account when assessing intestinal permeability using the lactulose/rhamnose urinary excretion test.

Dual-subtype FIV vaccine protects cats against in vivo swarms of both homologous and heterologous subtype FIV isolates

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of an inactivated dual-subtype feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine.

DESIGN

Specific-pathogen-free cats were immunized with dual-subtype (subtype A FIV(Pet) and subtype D FIV(Shi)) vaccine and challenged with either in vivo- or in vitro-derived FIV inocula.

METHODS

Dual-subtype vaccinated, single-subtype vaccinated, and placebo-immunized cats were challenged within vivo-derived heterologous subtype B FIV(Bang) [10--100 50% cat infectious doses (CID(50))], in vivo-derived homologous FIV(Shi)(50 CID(50)), and in vitro- and in vivo-derived homologous FIV(Pet)(20--50 CID(50)). Dual-subtype vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy were evaluated and compared to single-subtype strain vaccines. FIV infection was determined using virus isolation and proviral PCR of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymphoid tissues.

RESULTS

Four out of five dual-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against low-dose FIV(Bang) (10 CID(50)) and subsequently against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet) (50 CID(50)) challenge, whereas all placebo-immunized cats became infected. Furthermore, dual-subtype vaccine protected two out of five cats against high-dose FIV(Bang) challenge (100 CID(50)) which infected seven out of eight single-subtype vaccinated cats. All dual-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet), but only one out of five single-subtype vaccinated cats were protected against in vivo-derived FIV(Pet). Dual-subtype vaccination induced broad-spectrum virus-neutralizing antibodies and FIV-specific interferon-gamma responses along with elevated FIV-specific perforin mRNA levels, suggesting an increase in cytotoxic cell activities.

CONCLUSION

Dual-subtype vaccinated cats developed broad-spectrum humoral and cellular immunity which protected cats against in vivo-derived inocula of homologous and heterologous FIV subtypes. Thus, multi-subtype antigen vaccines may be an effective strategy against AIDS viruses.

Phospholipid abnormalities in postmortem schizophrenic brains detected by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a preliminary study

It has been hypothesized that schizophrenia arises from cell membrane abnormalities due to changes in phospholipid (PL) composition and metabolism. We have used high resolution, in vitro 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to characterize the PLs in left frontal cortex (gray matter) of postmortem brain from four schizophrenics and five controls. High resolution 31P NMR spectra were obtained in an organic-solvent system to resolve PL classes (headgroups) and in a sodium-cholate, aqueous dispersion system to resolve phosphatidylcholine (PC) molecular species. Multivariate analysis which included the major PC molecular species and phosphatidylinositol (PI) showed a significant difference between schizophrenics and controls. Analysis of specific interactions showed that the PI was significantly higher in the schizophrenic group than in the control group. There were no differences between the two groups for other individual PL classes, or for individual PL subclasses determined by the linkage type at the sn-1 position on glycerol. There was a trend for total PL content to be higher in schizophrenics than in controls. There was no evidence for elevated lysophosphatidylcholine or lysophosphatidylethanolamine in schizophrenia. The intensity of the PC peak representing molecular species with one saturated and one unsaturated (one or two double bonds) acyl chain was higher for the schizophrenic group than for the control group. Although these results are not in complete agreement with previous studies, they support the idea that PL abnormalities occur in the brain in schizophrenia and that fatty acid metabolism may be abnormal.

[Toxicity study of cefmatilen hydrochloride hydrate (S-1090) (5)--Six-month repeated oral dose toxicity study and supplement study in rats]

Cefmatilen hydrochloride hydrate (S-1090) was orally administered to rats at dose levels of 100, 300 and 1000 mg potency/kg once daily for 6 months. All the S-1090 treated groups showed soft feces, reddish-brown feces (due to chelated products of S-1090 or its decomposition products with Fe3+ in the diet), abdominal distention, increased food and water consumption, lower urine pH, and a decrease of white blood cells counts (except for males of the 100 mg potency/kg group). One male in the 300 mg potency/kg group showed mucous feces and marked decrease in body weight, and diet in the middle stage of the administration period. In necropsy of the survivors of all treated groups, marked cecal enlargement was noted. No remarkable changes were observed in the other examination items. From the early stage of the withdrawal period, animals in the 1000 mg potency/kg group showed again soft or mucous feces and a marked decrease in body weight. Of these animals, one male died and another male was sacrificed in a moribund state at about 2 weeks of the withdrawal period. Enterocolitis was observed in these cases. Almost all animals recovered within 3 weeks of withdrawal. A supplemental study of the 6-month toxicity study was conducted to examine the mechanisms of enterocolitis and the changes observable in the 100 or 300 mg potency/kg groups after drug withdrawal. As a reference, cefdinir (CFDN), an oral cephem antibiotic the same as S-1090, was added in the 1000 mg potency/kg group. No deaths occurred in any groups. Decreased intestinal flora were noted in all the groups treated with S-1090 or CFDN at the end of the dosing period. At 2 weeks of the withdrawal period, C. difficile and its D-1 toxin in the cecal contents were highly detected in the S-1090 300 and 1000 mg potency/kg groups and CFDN group. Inflammatory changes in the cecum and colon were observed in these groups. At 4 weeks of the withdrawal period, intestinal flora in the S-1090 groups almost returned to the condition before dosing, but those in the CFDN group were retained highly. Cecal D-1 toxin in the CFDN group was positive and higher than in the S-1090 groups. It was thus considered that the critical condition with enterocolitis resulted from C. difficile, which proliferated more rapidly than the other bacteria and D-1 toxin produced by this bacteria in the withdrawal period. Above changes were commonly observed in the CFDN group. The NOAEL of S-1090 was assessed to be 100 mg potency/kg/day which induced no enteritis.

Monochloramine inhibits etoposide-induced apoptosis with an increase in DNA aberration

Monochloramine (NH(2)Cl) is a physiological oxidant produced by activated neutrophils, and it affects apoptosis signaling. We studied the effects of NH(2)Cl on the cell death induced by etoposide, a widely used anticancer agent that is directed to DNA topoisomerase II. Jurkat T cells, a human acute T cell leukemia cell line, were pretreated with 70 microM of NH(2)Cl for 10 min. After 24 h, 5-30 microM of etoposide was added to the NH(2)Cl pretreated and control cells, and their apoptosis, caspase activity, cell morphology, and cellular DNA contents were measured. NH(2)Cl pretreatment significantly inhibited apoptosis and caspase activation induced by etoposide or camptothecin, a DNA topoisomerase I poison, but not by staurosporine or Fas stimulation. The apoptosis inhibition actually resulted in the proliferation of the survived cells and, notably, the survived cells showed more aberrant morphology, such as variation in nuclear size, nuclear fragments, and multinucleated cells. DNA content analysis of the survived cells showed an increase in aneuploid nuclei. Cell cycle analysis after 24 h of NH(2)Cl treatment showed a significant decrease in S phase cells with a concurrent increase in G(0)/G(1) phase cells, which suggested that NH(2)Cl induced G(1) arrest. Using synchronized Jurkat cells, etoposide and camptothecin were found to be particularly cytotoxic to S phase cells, whereas staurosporine and Fas stimulation were not. Thus NH(2)Cl-induced G(1) arrest was a likely cause of the observed resistance to etoposide. These observations suggested that inflammation-derived oxidants may make the tumor cells more resistant to etoposide and increase the risk of tumor progression and the development of secondary tumors by increasing the survival of DNA damage-bearing cells.

Effect of increased dietary protein and decreased dietary carbohydrate on performance and body composition in racing Greyhounds

OBJECTIVE

To determine effects of increased dietary protein and decreased dietary carbohydrate on hematologic variables, body composition, and racing performance in Greyhounds.

ANIMALS

8 adult Greyhounds.

PROCEDURE

Dogs were fed a high-protein (HP; 37% metabolizable-energy [ME] protein, 33% ME fat, 30% ME carbohydrate) or moderate-protein (MP; 24% ME protein, 33% ME fat, 43% ME carbohydrate) extruded diet for 11 weeks. Dogs subsequently were fed the other diet for 11 weeks (crossover design). Dogs raced a distance of 500 m twice weekly. Rectal temperature, hematologic variables before and after racing, plasma volume, total body water, body weight, average weekly food intake, and race times were measured at the end of each diet period.

RESULTS

When dogs were fed the MP diet, compared with the HP diet, values (mean +/- SD) differed significantly for race time (32.43 +/- 0.48 vs 32.61 +/- 0.50 seconds), body weight (32.8 +/- 2.5 vs 32.2 +/- 2.9 kg), Hct before (56 +/- 4 vs 54 +/- 6%) and after (67 +/- 3 vs 64 +/- 8%) racing, and glucose (131 +/- 16 vs 151 +/- 27 mg/dl) and triglyceride (128 +/- 17 vs 104 +/- 28 mg/dl) concentrations after racing.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Greyhounds were 0.18 seconds slower (equivalent to 0.08 m/s or 2.6 m) over a distance of 500 m when fed a diet with increased protein and decreased carbohydrate. Improved performance attributed to feeding meat to racing Greyhounds apparently is not attributable to increased dietary protein and decreased dietary carbohydrate.

An fMRI study of the functional neuroanatomy of picture encoding in younger and older adults

Age-related changes in the neural mechanisms of picture encoding were investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Seven younger and seven older adults were studied while they were encoding pairs of concrete-related, concrete-unrelated, and abstract pictures. Functional (T2*-weighted) and anatomical (T1-weighted) images of the brain were obtained using a 1.5 T MRI scanner. The results in the younger adults showed that the left dorsal prefrontal cortex (PFC) was activated during associative learning of the concrete-unrelated or abstract pictures. The results also suggest that both ventral and dorsal visual pathways are involved in the encoding of abstract pictures, and that the right superior parietal lobule likely mediates spatial information of the abstract pictures. The older adults showed significant activation in the left dorsal PFC under concrete-unrelated and abstract conditions. However, the older adults failed to activate either the left ventral and right dorsal PFC under the concrete-unrelated condition, or the parietal areas under abstract condition. A direct comparison between the two age groups demonstrates that the older adults had a reduced activation in the bilateral parieto-temporo-occipital areas under abstract condition, and in the right temporo-occipital area extending to the fusiform gyrus under the concrete-unrelated condition. Finally, age difference was found in correlation between memory performance and amplitude of signal change in the parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus under the concrete-unrelated and abstract conditions. These changes in neural response likely underlie the age-related memory decline in relation to pictorial information.