Sporadic Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 in a Japanese Patient

We herein report a Japanese patient with myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2), which is rare in Japan. A 64-year-oldman had proximal muscle weakness and grip myotonia. Electromyography showed myotonic discharges, but dystrophia-myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) was negative for CTG repeats. A muscle biopsy revealed increased central nuclei, pyknotic nuclear clumps and muscle fiber atrophy, mainly in type 2 fibers, raising the possibility of DM2. The diagnosis was genetically confirmed by the abnormal CCTG repeat size in cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) on repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction, which was estimated to be around 4,500 repeats by Southern blotting.

A Case of Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy Caused by a Novel PABPN1 c.34G > T (p.Gly12Trp) Point Mutation without Polyalanine Expansion

Immediately after the initial methionine codon, the PABPN1 gene encodes a stretch of 10 alanines, 1 glycine, and 2 alanines. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is caused by the expansion of the first 10 alanine stretches. The only exception is the missense mutation of glycine at the 12th residue into alanine, which elongates the stretch to 13 alanines by connecting the first and second stretch with the addition of one alanine in between, indicating that the expansion or elongation of the alanine stretch results in OPMD. We report a 77-year-old man with the novel missense mutation c.34G >  T (p.Gly12Trp) in PABPN1 gene whose clinicopathological findings were compatible with OPMD. He presented with slowly progressive bilateral ptosis, dysphagia, and symmetrical proximal dominant muscle weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed selective fat replacement of the tongue, bilateral adductor magnus, and soleus muscles. Immunohistochemistry studies of the muscle biopsy sample revealed PABPN1-posibive aggregates in the myonuclei which have been reported to be specific to OPMD. This is the first OPMD case caused by neither the expansion nor the elongation of alanine stretch. The present case suggests that OPMD may be caused not only by triplet repeats but also by point mutations.

Intranuclear inclusions in muscle biopsy can differentiate oculopharyngodistal myopathy and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy

Oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM) and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) are similar and even believed to be indistinguishable in terms of their myopathological features. To address the diagnostic gap, we evaluated the muscle biopsy samples for p62 expression by immunohistochemistry and compared the occurrence and the frequency of intranuclear inclusions among the individuals with OPDM (harboring CGG repeat expansion in LRP12 (n = 19), GIPC1 (n = 6), or NOTCH2NLC (n = 7)), OPMD (n = 15), and other rimmed vacuolar myopathies. We found that myonuclei with p62-positive intra-nuclear inclusions (myo-INIs) were significantly more frequent in OPMD (11.9 ± 1.1%, range 5.9-18.6%) than in OPDM and other rimmed vacuolar myopathies (RVMs) (0.9-1.5% on average, range 0.0-2.8%, p < 0.0001). In contrast, INIs in non-muscle cells such as blood vessels, peripheral nerve bundles, and muscle spindles (non-muscle-INIs) were present in OPDM, but absent in OPMD. These results indicate that OPMD can be differentiated from OPDM and other RVMs by the frequent presence of myo-INIs; and in OPDM, the presence of non-muscle-INIs in muscle pathology should be a diagnostic hallmark.

Respiratory Dysfunction in Becker Muscular Dystrophy Patients: A Case Series and Autopsy Report

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined respiratory dysfunction in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of respiratory dysfunction in patients with BMD.

METHODS

The present retrospective study assessed respiratory parameters of adult BMD patients using medical records and compared these parameters with various patient characteristics to identify correlations. BMD patients aged 17 years and older who had been diagnosed genetically and/or pathologically were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

Of the source population of 133 patients, respiratory function was assessed in 85. Two of these patients had no symptoms, and eight had died. Mean % forced vital capacity (% FVC) was 94.2+/-21.7% (median, 96.1%; range, 5.1-134.1%). In 16 (19%) of the 85 patients, % FVC was <80%. Of these, seven were non-ambulant. Age, ambulation, and cardiac function did not significantly differ between patients with or without respiratory dysfunction, whereas age at onset was significantly lower in patients with respiratory dysfunction (7.7+/-4.7 years vs. 14.4+/-11.9 years; p = 0.001). One non-ambulant patient was a continuous NPPV user, and one patient had been recommended NPPV use but refused. Autopsy of one patient revealed that the diaphragm and intercostal muscles were less affected than proximal skeletal muscles.

CONCLUSION

BMD patients are at risk of developing respiratory dysfunction due to dystrophic changes in respiratory muscles. Respiratory function should be carefully and periodically monitored in these patients.

A Japanese case of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) with PABPN1 c.35G > C; p.Gly12Ala point mutation

Background

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset muscular dystrophy characterised by slowly progressive ptosis, dysphagia, and proximal limb muscle weakness. A common cause of OPMD is the short expansion of a GCG or GCA trinucleotide repeat in PABPN1 gene.

Case presentation

A 78-year-old woman presented with ptosis and gradually progressive dysphagia. Her son had the same symptoms. A physical examination and muscle imaging (MRI and ultrasound) showed impairment of the tongue, proximal muscles of the upper limbs, and flexor muscles of the lower limbs. Needle-electromyography (EMG) of bulbar and facial muscles revealed a myopathic pattern. Based on the characteristic muscle involvement pattern and needle-EMG findings, we suspected that the patient had OPMD. Gene analysis revealed PABPN1 c.35G > C point mutation, which mimicked the effect of a common causative repeat expansion mutation of OPMD.

Conclusion

We herein describe the first reported Japanese case of OPMD with PABPN1 point mutation, suggesting that this mutation is causative in Asians as well as in Europeans, in whom it was originally reported.

Clinicopathologic Features of Oculopharyngodistal Myopathy With LRP12 CGG Repeat Expansions Compared With Other Oculopharyngodistal Myopathy Subtypes

Importance

Repeat expansion of CGG in LRP12 has been identified as the causative variation of oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM). However, to our knowledge, the clinicopathologic features of OPDM with CGG repeat expansion in LRP12 (hereafter referred to as OPDM_LRP12) remain unknown.

Objective

To identify and characterize the clinicopathologic features of patients with OPDM_LRP12.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This case series included 208 patients with a clinical or clinicopathologic diagnosis of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPDM) from January 1, 1978, to December 31, 2020. Patients with GCN repeat expansions in PABPN1 were excluded from the study. Repeat expansions of CGG in LRP12 were screened by repeat primed polymerase chain reaction and/or Southern blot.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Clinical information, muscle imaging data obtained by either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and muscle pathologic characteristics.

Results

Sixty-five Japanese patients with OPDM (40 men [62%]; mean [SD] age at onset, 41.0 [10.1] years) from 59 families with CGG repeat expansions in LRP12 were identified. This represents the most common OPDM subtype among all patients in Japan with genetically diagnosed OPDM. The expansions ranged from 85 to 289 repeats. A negative correlation was observed between the repeat size and the age at onset (r2 = 0.188, P = .001). The most common initial symptoms were ptosis and muscle weakness, present in 24 patients (37%). Limb muscle weakness was predominantly distal in 53 of 64 patients (83%), but 2 of 64 patients (3%) had predominantly proximal muscle weakness. Ptosis was observed in 62 of 64 patients (97%), and dysphagia or dysarthria was observed in 63 of 64 patients (98%). A total of 21 of 64 patients (33%) had asymmetric muscle weakness. Aspiration pneumonia was seen in 11 of 64 patients (17%), and 5 of 64 patients (8%) required mechanical ventilation. Seven of 64 patients (11%) developed cardiac abnormalities, and 5 of 64 patients (8%) developed neurologic abnormalities. Asymmetric muscle involvement was detected on computed tomography scans in 6 of 27 patients (22%) and on magnetic resonance imaging scans in 4 of 15 patients (27%), with the soleus and the medial head of the gastrocnemius being the worst affected. All 42 muscle biopsy samples showed rimmed vacuoles. Intranuclear tubulofilamentous inclusions were observed in only 1 of 5 patients.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study suggests that OPDM_LRP12 is the most frequent OPDM subtype in Japan and is characterized by oculopharyngeal weakness, distal myopathy that especially affects the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, and rimmed vacuoles in muscle biopsy.

A symptomatic male carrier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with Klinefelter's syndrome mimicking Becker muscular dystrophy

Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) are commonly inherited muscle disorders. We report a 31-year-old male who had muscle symptoms with left-right differences and intellectual disability. He was diagnosed with BMD at age 15 primarily based on muscle biopsy findings. A few years later, DMD gene analysis revealed that he was a heterozygous carrier of a normal copy of the gene and a mutated copy with an exon 45-54 deletion, which is expected to result in an out-of-frame mutation. A karyotype analysis was compatible with XXY Klinefelter's syndrome. The analysis of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) using his skeletal muscle sample revealed a skewed XCI pattern. This is the first reported case of a symptomatic male carrier of DMD caused by skewed XCI in Klinefelter's syndrome with a genetically proven heterozygous mutation of the DMD gene. The skewed XCI pattern could also explain the left-right differences in skeletal muscle symptoms observed in this patient.

Clinical, pathological, imaging, and genetic characterization in a Taiwanese cohort with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

Background

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a genetically heterogeneous, hereditary disease characterized by limb-girdle weakness and histologically dystrophic changes. The prevalence of each subtype of LGMD varies among different ethnic populations. This study for the first time analyzed the phenotypes and genotypes in Taiwanese patients with LGMD in a referral center for neuromuscular diseases (NMDs).

Results

We enrolled 102 patients clinically suspected of having LGMD who underwent muscle biopsy with subsequent genetic analysis in the previous 10 years. On the basis of different pathological categories, we performed sequencing of target genes or panel for NMDs and then identified patients with type 1B, 1E, 2A, 2B, 2D, 2I, 2G, 2 N, and 2Q. The 1B patients with LMNA mutation presented with mild limb-girdle weakness but no conduction defect at the time. All 1E patients with DES mutation exhibited predominantly proximal weakness along with distal weakness. In our cohort, 2B and 2I were the most frequent forms of LGMD; several common or founder mutations were identified, including c.1097_1099delACA (p.Asn366del) in DES, homozygous c.101G > T (p.Arg34Leu) in SGCA, homozygous c.26_33dup (p.Glu12Argfs*20) in TCAP, c.545A > G (p.Tyr182Cys), and c.948delC (p.Cys317Alafs*111) in FKRP. Clinically, the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in our patients with LGMD2I aged > 18 years was 100%, much higher than that in European cohorts. The only patient with LGMD2Q with PLEC mutation did not exhibit skin lesions or gastrointestinal abnormalities but had mild facial weakness. Muscle imaging of LGMD1E and 2G revealed a more uniform involvement than did other LGMD types.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that detailed clinical manifestation together with muscle pathology and imaging remain critical in guiding further molecular analyses and are crucial for establishing genotype–phenotype correlations. We also determined the common mutations and prevalence for different subtypes of LGMD in our cohort, which could be useful when providing specific care and personalized therapy to patients with LGMD.

Severe cardiac involvement with preserved truncated dystrophin expression in Becker muscular dystrophy by +1G>A DMD splice-site mutation: a case report

Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) is caused by specific mutations in the DMD gene that causes progressive muscle weakness and primarily affects skeletal and cardiac muscle. Although cardiac involvement is a significant cause of mortality in BMD, the genetic–phenotype correlation for skeletal and cardiac muscles has not been elucidated. Here, we described a 39-year-old man with BMD, who presented with subtle skeletal muscle weakness in the right leg in his 20s and underwent left ventricular restoration for severe dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 29. He had difficulty climbing stairs after the age of 35. Neither duplication nor deletion of exons was detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. A hemizygous c.264 + 1G>A mutation in intron 4 of the DMD was identified by next-generation sequencing. Furthermore, exon 4 skipping of the DMD was confirmed in both skeletal and cardiac muscles evaluated by reverse transcriptase PCR. Endomyocardial and skeletal muscle biopsies revealed dystrophic pathology characterized by muscle fiber atrophy and hypertrophy with a mild degree of interstitial fibrosis. Interestingly, dystrophin immunohistochemistry demonstrated patchy and faint staining of the skeletal muscle membranes but almost normal staining of the cardiac muscle membranes. Western blot analysis revealed a decreased amount of truncated dystrophin in skeletal muscle but surprisingly almost normal amount in cardiac muscle. This case indicates that BMD patients may have severe cardiac dysfunction despite preserved cardiac truncated dystrophin expression.

Social involvement issues in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy: A questionnaire survey of subjects from a patient registry

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the relationship between Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) and developmental problems, school life, employment, and mental problems. We aimed to clarify whether BMD is a risk factor for developmental disorders, problematic behavior, psychiatric diseases, and other social difficulties in school life and employment.

METHODS

Adults with genetically or immunohistochemically confirmed BMD from the Registry of Muscular Dystrophy in Japan (REMUDY) were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding patient history, school life, employment, and mental problems.

RESULTS

In total, 125 (68.3%) of 183 participants with BMD (median age, 37.2 years) completed the questionnaire. Of these, ten had developmental disorders (mental retardation, autism, and speech disturbance). Fifty-eight (44%) experienced bullying in school, and 39 felt the reason for bullying was physical handicap. Sixteen participants experienced problematic behavior such as cutting class, domestic violence, violent incidents, suicide attempts, or self-mutilation. Employment histories were noted by 92 (73%), of whom 15 could not continue to work due to physical handicaps. Fifteen participants had psychiatric disorders, with 5, 3 and 1 having neurosis, depression, and bipolar disorder, respectively. The other 6 participants with psychiatric disorders did not specify their diagnoses. Patients carrying a Dp140 expression change had significantly more incidences of developmental disorders, but not bullying, problematic behavior, workplace difficulties, or psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with BMD risk bullying and workplace difficulties, as well as developing psychiatric disorders. Parents, teachers, and supporters should be mindful of the daily environment of BMD patients and provide support to help them cope with stress.

192 Culture Conditions Supporting Long-Term Expansion of Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells Isolated from Adult and Immature Testes

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSC) self-renew and differentiate into spermatocytes to produce haploid sperm. Because SSC are a small population of adult stem cells in the testis, numerous studies have been reported to derive cell lines from cultured SSC. It has been reported that neonatal and adult mouse SSC can be cultured in vitro over the long term. Male germline stem (GS) cells, embryonic stem (ES)-like cells, and multipotent male germline stem (MGS) cells were derivated from mouse SSC. However, in domestic species including cattle, information about in vitro culture of SSC is mainly available in the neonatal and immature animal. To our knowledge, there are no reports about long-term culture of SSC isolated from adult bovine testis. In this report, we established culture conditions to maintain SSC isolated from adult and immature testes. The SSC were isolated by 3-step enzymatic digestion and enriched by Percoll gradient centrifugation. For adult testicular cell suspensions, SSC were further enriched by differential plating on precoated gelatin dish. After Percoll gradient centrifugation, we found differential expression of SSC markers (GFRα-1 and UCHL-1) in the isolated cells from immature and adult testis. The RT-PCR results also confirmed the expression of differentiated spermatogonia markers (SYCP3 and STRA-8) in adult testicular cell suspensions. It suggests that isolated testicular germ cell population from adult testis are more heterogeneous than those of immature testis. The SSC isolated from adult testes were cultured in low-serum media containing 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK3), and subsequently the cultures were maintained in the medium containing glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (GDNF). The cell lines have characteristics resembling mouse GS cell lines as confirmed by their grape-like shape morphology, the expression of SSC markers (UCHL-1, DBA, and GFRa-1), and pluripotent stem cell markers (POU5F1, SOX2, KLF4). The SSC from immature testes were proliferated for more than 3 months in serum-free culture conditions in the presence of GDNF and bovine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The cell lines had ES-like cell morphology, expressed pluripotent stem cell markers and SSC-specific markers. They differentiated in vitro into 3 germ layers confirmed by the expression of ectoderm (NESTIN), mesoderm (BMP4), and endoderm (GATA-6) markers by RT-PCR and neuron like-cells confirmed by the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunofluorescence analysis. In conclusion, these findings indicate an efficient method to enrich SSC without cell sorting method and different long-term culture systems subsequently established to maintain SSC from adult and immature testes. Furthermore, our data would be useful for further studies that aim to preserve endangered species and improve livestock production through genome editing technology.

Cardiopulmonary dysfunction in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2A

Introduction: Little is known about the frequency of cardiopulmonary failure in limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (calpainopathy) patients, although some studies have reported severe cardiomyopathy or respiratory failure. Methods: To clarify the frequency of cardiopulmonary dysfunction in this patient population, we retrospectively reviewed the respiratory and cardiac function of 43 patients with calpainopathy. Results: Nine of the 43 patients had forced vital capacity (FVC) < 80%, and 3 used noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Mean FVC was significantly lower in patients who were nonambulant and had normal creatine kinase levels. Only 1 patient had a prolonged QRS complex duration. Echocardiography revealed that 1 patient had very mild left ventricular dysfunction. Conclusions: These findings suggest that patients with calpainopathy may develop severe respiratory failure, but cardiac dysfunction is infrequent. Muscle Nerve55: 465–469, 2017

Rimmed vacuoles in Becker muscular dystrophy have similar features with inclusion myopathies

Rimmed vacuoles in myofibers are thought to be due to the accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, and can be characteristic in certain myopathies with protein inclusions in myofibers. In this study, we performed a detailed clinical, molecular, and pathological characterization of Becker muscular dystrophy patients who have rimmed vacuoles in muscles. Among 65 Becker muscular dystrophy patients, we identified 12 patients who have rimmed vacuoles and 11 patients who have deletions in exons 45–48 in DMD gene. All patients having rimmed vacuoles showed milder clinical features compared to those without rimmed vacuoles. Interestingly, the rimmed vacuoles in Becker muscular dystrophy muscles seem to represent autophagic vacuoles and are also associated with polyubiquitinated protein aggregates. These findings support the notion that rimmed vacuoles can appear in Becker muscular dystrophy, and may be related to the chronic changes in muscle pathology induced by certain mutations in the DMD gene.

Nonspecies-specific effects of mouse oviducts on the development of bovine IVM/IVF embryos by a serum free co-culture

In Experiment 1, development of bovine embryos derived from in vitro-matured (IVM) and in vitro-fertilized (IVF) oocytes was examined under 4 culture conditions: 1) co-culture with mouse ampullae continuously for 8 d, 2) co-culture with mouse ampullae that were replaced with fresh ampullae at 48-h intervals, 3) co-culture with bovine granulosa cell monolayers, and 4) culture in medium alone. Culture medium consisted of tissue culture medium 199 (TCM-199) supplemented with 1% fetal calf serum (FCS). Inseminated oocytes were transferred to each of the culture treatment 24 h after insemination and were cultured for 8 d. The number of blastocysts per number of cleaved ova obtained after co-culture with mouse ampullae (42.9%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that obtained after co-culture with granulosa cell monolayers (28.3%) or culture without cells (4.2%). In Experiment 2, the developmental ability of bovine IVM/IVF embryos co-cultured with mouse ampullae supplemented with or without serum was examined. When serum was excluded from the culture medium, 26.4% (33 125 ) of the total number of embryos cultured were able to develop to the blastocysts stage using this co-culture system. This value was comparable to that obtained in a serum-supplemented co-culture system (30.7%; 39 125 ). In addition, the developmental ability of embryos that reached to the 4-cell stage or beyond at 46 to 48 h after insemination was not significantly different when the embryos were co-cultured with mouse ampullae with (38.5 vs 44.6%) or without (37.0 vs 33.8%) serum.

Impact of screening with thyroid ultrasonography in myasthenia gravis patients

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to screen thyroid abnormality evaluated with ultrasonography (US) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and investigate further when malignancy is suspected.

METHODS

Thyroid screening using US was conducted in 162 patients with MG. In cases where malignancy was suspected, further investigations were performed.

RESULTS

Abnormal US findings were detected in 125 of 162 patients with MG (72 patients with nodules, 74 patients with cysts, 27 patients with diffuse findings such as enlargement, atrophy, a hypoechoic pattern or a heterogenous echoic pattern, and 28 patients with calcification). From among these 125 subjects, 30 patients underwent further examinations such as needle aspiration cytology. As a result, six patients (3.7% of 162 cases) were positive for papillary carcinoma. The size of the carcinoma in three patients was <10 mm, yet the stage of thyroid carcinomas was high (stage III or IVa) in all six cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that the prevalence of thyroid carcinoma in cases of MG may be higher than that of the general population. Furthermore, in patients with MG, there is a possibility that the stage of the carcinoma is higher even when the carcinoma is of a very small size. Patients with MG, when diagnosed, should be advised to undergo US screening of the thyroid because most cases of thyroid carcinoma are highly curable.

Importance of CAG repeat length in childhood-onset dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy

To elucidate a relationship between CAG repeat expansion length and disease progression history in patients with childhood-onset dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). We retrospectively evaluated information from nine Japanese patients with disease onset reported as between 6 months and 12 years of age. CAG repeat length in these patients ranged from 62 to 93. A strong correlation was confirmed for the age of disease onset, with the onset of epilepsy and involuntary movements, emergence of regression, and autonomic symptoms. The age at becoming wheelchair-bound and initiation of tube feeding also showed a significant correlation with CAG repeat length. This is the first report detailing this aspect of DRPLA focusing on the childhood-onset population. Earlier disease milestones were revealed compared to the expected age based upon a previous report that contained data from the entire patient population, including adult-onset cases (Hasegawa et al. in Mov Disord 25:1694-1700, 2010). These results provide a basis for predicting the outcome of patients in this particular age group, as well as for assessing the results of future clinical therapeutic trials.

10 TRACEABILITY SYSTEM FOR AN INDIVIDUAL FROZEN SEMEN STRAW BY A TINY RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION CHIP

A traceability of frozen semen straws that certify the bloodline of a sire will improve the efficiency of cattle breeding. Semen of the sire can be generally identified by the colour of a straw and printing on a straw. However, it is difficult to identify individual frozen semen straws by the conventional method. To identify straws individually, each straw must be tagged with a unique ID that is able to be read quickly in the frozen state. We have established the identification method for individual frozen semen straws using radio frequency identification (RFID) and developed a traceability system that is able to record the distribution history of an individual semen straw from the production of frozen semen to artificial insemination (AI). We used a 2.5-mm diameter straw combined with an RFID tag, which consisted of a tiny RFID chip (μ-Chip: Hitachi Co. Ltd, 0.4 × 0.4 × 0.2 mm) and a thin aluminum antenna on the polyester sheet (54 × 1.5 × 0.05 mm). The μ-chip contains a unique ID (128 bit). It responds to the 2.45 GHz microwave frequency that is emitted from the RFID reader and transmits its ID to the RFID reader. The μ-Chip retains its function on a straw, which has been stored in the liquid nitrogen (–196°C). Artificial insemination of the frozen semen straw with the RFID tag could be performed using a conventional AI gun. The semen traceability system consisted of the database server and the client software. Information about semen straws is connected with their ID and stored on the database server. Producers and distributors of frozen semen can count the number of semen straws correctly by reading their ID one by one and can send information to the database server through the web by easy operation using the client software. Artificial insemination information can be instantly recorded by the handy terminal that is able to read both a bar-code on the ear tag of the cow and the RFID tag of the straw. The system has been used on fields at Gifu Prefecture in Japan for ∼3 months. Eight hundred thirty-one frozen semen straws with the RFID tag were produced from 3 bulls. After freezing of the straws, 17 straws were not identified with their ID. It was speculated that their μ-Chips were disconnected from the antenna during freezing. Six hundred ninety-four straws were distributed to the 7 AI centers. Five hundred thirty straws were used for AI by 15 inseminators to a total of 424 cows at the 101 farms. Although only one straw could not read its ID after AI, information of the remaining 529 straws were recorded on the database accurately. A strict traceability of frozen semen straws can be established using the individual identification of straws by RFID. Information stored in the database would be useful for the evaluation of sire and the reproductive management of cows. This work was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF).

Rational Construction of Polymeric Nonlinear Optical Materials. Properties of Chromophore-Functionalized Polystyrenes

Processable polymeric nonlinear optical materials can be synthesized by functionalizing a glassy macromolecule with chromophores having large quadratic hyperpolarizabilities, followed by poling in an electric field. In the present case, the functionalization of polystyrene with 4- (4-nitrophenylaza)(N-ethyl)(2-hydroxyethyl))aniline, 4-(4-N,N-dimethylaminostyryl) pyridine, and N-(4-nitrophenyl)-L-prolinol is described. Particularly noteworthy is the high level of chromophore units that can be incorporated into transparent films of these materials, the high second harmonic coefficients that can be achieved (as high as d33 – 11 × 10-9 esu at 1064 nm), and the long-term temporal stability of the second harmonic generation capacity.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy associated with dementia

We report genetically confirmed heterozygote oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) accompanied by dementia, suggesting a possible causal association between OPMD and dementia. The proband first noticed bilateral ptosis, dysphagia, and proximal dominant muscle weakness in the lower extremities at age 53. Ten years later, she was found to have dementia with a score of 10/30 on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). On PABPN1 gene analysis, the GCN repeat was expanded 17 times in one allele. In addition, the proband's younger brother exhibited myopathy and dementia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of genetically confirmed heterozygote OPMD associated with dementia.

Mechanisms of genomic instabilities underlying two common fragile-site-associated loci, PARK2 and DMD, in germ cell and cancer cell lines

Common fragile sites (CFSs) are specific chromosome regions that exhibit an increased frequency of breaks when cells are exposed to a DNA-replication inhibitor such as aphidicolin. PARK2 and DMD, the causative genes for autosomal-recessive juvenile Parkinsonism and Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, respectively, are two very large genes that are located within aphidicolin-induced CFSs. Gross rearrangements within these two genes are frequently observed as the causative mutations for these diseases, and similar alterations within the large fragile sites that surround these genes are frequently observed in cancer cells. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this fragility, we performed a custom-designed high-density comparative genomic hybridization analysis to determine the junction sequences of approximately 500 breakpoints in germ cell lines and cancer cell lines involving PARK2 or DMD. The sequence signatures where these breakpoints occur share some similar features both in germ cell lines and in cancer cell lines. Detailed analyses of these structures revealed that microhomologies are predominantly involved in rearrangement processes. Furthermore, breakpoint-clustering regions coincide with the latest-replicating region and with large nuclear-lamina-associated domains and are flanked by the highest-flexibility peaks and R/G band boundaries, suggesting that factors affecting replication timing collectively contribute to the vulnerability for rearrangement in both germ cell and somatic cell lines.

Congenital myotonic dystrophy can show congenital fiber type disproportion pathology

Congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM) is associated with markedly expanded CTG repeats in DMPK. The presence of numerous immature fibers with peripheral halo is a characteristic feature of CDM muscles together with hypotrophy of type 1 fibers. Smaller type 1 fibers with no structural abnormality are a definitive criterion of congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD). Nonetheless, we recently came across a patient who was genetically confirmed as CDM, but had been earlier diagnosed as CFTD when he was an infant. In this study, we performed clinical, pathological, and genetic analyses in infantile patients pathologically diagnosed as CFTD to evaluate CDM patients indistinguishable from CFTD. We examined CTG repeat expansion in DMPK in 28 infantile patients pathologically diagnosed as CFTD. Mutation screening of ACTA1 and TPM3 was performed, and we compared clinical and pathological findings of 20 CDM patients with those of the other cohorts. We identified four (14%) patients with CTG expansion in DMPK. ACTA1 mutation was identified in four (14%), and TPM3 mutation was found in two (7%) patients. Fiber size disproportion was more prominent in patients with ACTA1 or TPM3 mutations as compared to CFTD patients with CTG expansion. A further three patients among 20 CDM patients showed pathological findings similar to CFTD. From our results, CDM should be excluded in CFTD patients.

Homozygous female Becker muscular dystrophy

We report, for the first time, on a female Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patient with homozygous dystrophin deletion. The 14-year-old patient, product of consanguineous parents, presented with a 7-year history of exercise intolerance and recurrent myoglobinuria. Although CK was elevated to 1,800 U/L, no muscle weakness, atrophy, or hypertrophy was seen on examination. Muscle pathology demonstrated a minimal dystrophic change and faint dystrophin staining pattern. Semi-quantitative PCR of dystrophin revealed a homozygous dystrophin deletion of exons 45-55, which is predicted to remove 593 amino acids without frame shifting. Western blot analysis of skeletal muscle for dystrophin showed a 306 kDa band; thus, we made a diagnosis of female BMD. We confirmed identical deletion in both father and mother, in hemizygous and heterozygous modes, respectively. Neither female Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) nor BMD due to homozygous dystrophin mutation has ever been identified although female DMD has been found in patients with Turner syndrome or unilateral parental disomy for X chromosome. Our results indicate that dystrophinopathy can also be caused in females by homozygosity, albeit rare.

Statistical properties of spectral fluctuations for a quantum system with infinitely many components

Extending the idea formulated in Makino [Phys. Rev. E 67, 066205 (2003)], that is based on the Berry-Robnik approach [M. V. Berry and M. Robnik, J. Phys. A 17, 2413 (1984)], we investigate the statistical properties of a two-point spectral correlation for a classically integrable quantum system. The eigenenergy sequence of this system is regarded as a superposition of infinitely many independent components in the semiclassical limit. We derive the level number variance (LNV) in the limit of infinitely many components and discuss its deviations from Poisson statistics. The slope of the limiting LNV is found to be larger than that of Poisson statistics when the individual components have a certain accumulation. This property agrees with the result from the semiclassical periodic-orbit theory that is applied to a system with degenerate torus actions [D. Biswas, M. Azam, and S. V. Lawande, Phys. Rev. A 43, 5694 (1991)].

[Case of LGMD2A (calpainopathy) clinically presenting as Miyoshi distal myopathy]

We reported a 23-year-old woman with distal myopathy and highly elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) caused by calpainopathy. Although muscle weakness was not evident, a muscle CT scan revealed replacement by adipose tissue in the medial head of the gastrocnemius. The gluteus maximus and biceps femoris were also affected to a lesser degree, but the lateral head of the gastrocnemius was preserved. A histological study of a biopsied specimen of the biceps brachii revealed obvious variation in fiber size and a few necrotic or regenerating fibers. Rimmed vacuoles or lobulated fibers were absent in vacuoles. Although the clinical features suggested Miyoshi's distal myopathy, gene analysis of calpain 3 revealed a c.802-9G > A mutation in intron 5 and a c.1319G > A (p.Arg440Gln) in exon 10. Mini-multiplex Western Blotting (MMW) of the patient's muscle showed no band in calpain 3 (p94) and calpain 3 30 kDa fragments and immunoblotting did not reveal any dysferlin abnormalities. Calpainopathy should be also considered in patients with clinical manifestations of Miyoshi distal myopathy.

72 PRESERVATION OF PORCINE GONOCYTES AT 4°C AND IN LIQUID NITROGEN - A PRESERVATION MODEL OF GENETIC RESOURCES IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND IN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Gonocytes are primitive germ cells that reside in neonatal testis and are believed to be progenitor-type stem cells that differentiate into spermatogonial stem cells. Because of their self-renewal ability, gonocytes may be one of the targets for cryopreservation of genetic resources in domestic animals and in endangered species. However, there are only a few reports regarding the preservation of gonocytes and spermatogonial stem cells isolated from the testis. In this experiment, porcine gonocytes were used as a model for preservation of genetic resources. Porcine testes were collected at 2–6 days after birth. They were divided into the 5 experimental groups for storage: (1) DMEM/F12 medium, (2) DMEM/F12 + 15 mm HEPES, (3) PBS, (4) PBS + 15 mm HEPES, and (5) Liquid-Free, and stored at 4�C for 24 h. The testes were minced by scissors and digested with 2-step enzyme treatments. The gonocytes were isolated by Percoll density gradients and recovered from the fraction between 50 and 60%. The viability of cells was assessed using trypan blue dye exclusion. To determine optimum cryopreservation conditions for gonocytes, 10% DMSO, 10% glycerol, and 0.07 mm sucrose were used as cryoprotectants. The isolated gonocytes were suspended in DMEM/F12 + 10% FBS containing cryoprotectant at 4�C, kept at –80�C overnight, and finally immersed in liquid nitrogen. After freezing and thawing of gonocytes, cells were examined for viability and then cultured in DMEM/F12 + 10% FBS in 5% CO2, 95% air at 37�C in humidified atmosphere. Identification of gonocytes was performed using a specific marker of gonocytes, a lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA; Goel et al. 2007 Biol. Reprod. 77, 127–137). The gonocytes were recovered from testes at the purity level of around 70%. Cell viability in average after storage of testes at 4�C was significantly higher in DMEM/F12 + HEPES (95.3%) and PBS + HEPES (89.8%) than in DMEM/F12 (73.9%), PBS (79.7%), and Liquid-Free (72.2%) (P < 0.05; ANOVA). The addition of HEPES in storage medium seemed to be effective for improving cell viability. The use of 10% DMSO and 0.07 mm sucrose as cryoprotectants supported high cell viability (74.4%) of gonocytes after freezing and thawing. The addition of glycerol had an adverse effect on cell viability after freezing (18.3%). When cells were cultured, gonocytes started to form colonies after 3 days and continued to proliferate for at least 7 days in culture. These colonies showed DBA affinity and maintained their nature as gonocytes. The viability of gonocytes can be maintained in the testis at 4�C for at least 24 h and after freezing and thawing. The stored gonocytes successfully proliferated in culture for at least 7 days. In conclusion, these results may provide useful information for short-term storage of primitive germ cells and preservation of genetic resources in domestic animals and in endangered species. It may also have implications for assisted reproductive technology in humans.

A unique case of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A carrying novel compound heterozygous mutations in the human CAPN3 gene

A unique sib pair afflicted by limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is described showing a slowly progressive autosomal recessive type of muscular dystrophy with onset in the third and fourth decades. The patients had early asymmetric muscle involvement characterized by prominent biceps brachii atrophy with sparing of the knee extensors. Additional findings included elevation of serum creatine kinase level, myopathic EMG changes and dystrophic type of pathology on muscle biopsy. Asymmetrical wasting of muscles in the extremities exhibited uniform and highly selective CT imaging patterns. RNA and DNA analyses confirmed novel compound heterozygous mutations (R147X/L212F) in the human CAPN3 gene.

Evaluation of acrosomal status of bovine spermatozoa using concanavalin a lectin

We report here that fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated concanavalin A (FITC-ConA) specifically labels the acrosomal region of acrosome-reacted bovine spermatozoa. This labeling is found to be useful in evaluating the acrosome status of bovine spermatozoa. When fresh bovine spermatozoa that had been fixed with 4% formaldehyde, smeared on glass slides and then air-dried were stained by FITC-ConA, weak fluorescence was observed on the acrosomal region, although almost all the spermatozoa appeared to be acrosome-intact. However, when fresh sperm suspensions were incubated with FITC-ConA and then mounted on glass slides, no fluorescence was observed on the acrosomal region. Therefore, in the ensuing experiments, both the fixation and the FITC-ConA staining of spermatozoa were done in suspension. When ethanol-treated spermatozoa, whose outer membrane may be permeabilized, were stained with FITC-ConA, the fluorescence was extensively observed on the inner acrosomal region. This fluorescence was inhibited in the presence of 0.2 M D-mannose, a competitive sugar, suggesting that FITC-ConA binds specifically to glycocomponents on the inner acrosomal membrane. We next tried to stain fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa from 3 different bulls that had been treated with the calcium ionophore A23187, which is known to induce acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa, with FITC-ConA. A significant correlation between the percentage of ConA-labeled spermatozoa and that of rose bengal stained negative ones at various time points during A23187 incubation was achieved. Furthermore, suitability of dual staining to distinguish between physiological acrosome reaction (acrosome-lost and live) and degenerative acrosomal loss (acrosome-lost and dead) using FITC-ConA and Hoechst bis-benzimide 33258 (H258) supravital stain was also confirmed. From these results, it was concluded that the FITC-ConA labeling procedure is a feasible and reliable method for the assessment of physiological acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa.

CYP2C8 haplotype structures and their influence on pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel in a Japanese population

OBJECTIVE

CYP2C8 is known to metabolize various drugs including an anticancer drug paclitaxel. Although large interindividual differences in CYP2C8 enzymatic activity and several nonsynonymous variations were reported, neither haplotype structures nor their associations with pharmacokinetic parameters of paclitaxel were reported.

METHODS

Haplotype structures of the CYP2C8 gene were inferred by an expectation-maximization based program using 40 genetic variations detected in 437 Japanese patients, which included cancer patients. Associations of the haplotypes and paclitaxel pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed for 199 paclitaxel-administered cancer patients.

RESULTS

Relatively strong linkage disequilibriums were observed throughout the CYP2C8 gene. We estimated 40 haplotypes without an amino-acid change and nine haplotypes with amino acid changes. The 40 haplotypes were classified into six groups based on network analysis. The patients with heterozygous *IG group haplotypes harboring several intronic variations showed a 2.5-fold higher median area under concentration-time curve of C3'-p-hydroxy-paclitaxel and a 1.6-fold higher median value of C3'-p-hydroxy-paclitaxel/paclitaxel area under concentration-time curve ratio than patients bearing no *IG group haplotypes (P<0.001 for both comparisons by Mann-Whitney U-test). No statistically significant differences, however, were observed between patients with and without the *IG group (haplotypes) in clearance and area under concentration-time curve of paclitaxel, area under concentration-time curve of 6alpha-hydroxy-paclitaxel and 6alpha-, C3'-p-dihydroxy-paclitaxel, and area under concentration-time curve ratio of 6alpha-hydroxy-paclitaxel/paclitaxel.

CONCLUSION

CYP2C8*IG group haplotypes were associated with increased area under concentration-time curve of C3'-p-hydroxy-paclitaxel and area under concentration-time curve ratio of C3'-p-hydroxy-paclitaxel/paclitaxel. Thus, *IG group haplotypes might be associated with reduced CYP2C8 activity, possibly through its reduced protein levels.

Characterization of lobulated fibers in limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A by gene expression profiling

Limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is caused by mutations in CAPN3, which encodes an intracellular cysteine protease. To elucidate the fundamental molecular changes that may be responsible for the pathological features of LGMD2A, we employed cDNA microarray analysis. We divided LGMD2A muscles into two groups according to specific pathological features: an early-stage group characterized by the presence of active necrosis and a regeneration process and a later-stage group characterized by the presence of lobulated fibers. After comparing the gene expression profiles of the two groups of LGMD2A muscles with control muscles, we identified 29 genes whose mRNA expression profiles were specifically altered in muscles with lobulated fibers. Interestingly, this group included genes that encode actin filament binding and regulatory proteins, such as gelsolin, PDZ and LIM domain 3 (PDLIM3) and troponin I1. Western blot analysis confirmed the upregulation of these proteins. From these results, we propose that abnormal increased expression of actin filament binding proteins may contribute to the changes of the intra-myofiber structures, observed in lobulated fibers in LGMD2A.

13 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR FROZEN BULL SEMEN USING A RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG

An appropriate traceability system is essential for safety during production and distribution of food products. In Japan, the ear-tag system has been applied for this purpose. In this system, newborn calves are tagged individually with a bar code, and are registered to the database, so that everyone can know the information regarding individual cattle and meat. However, the management of frozen semen and the validation of frozen straws are out of the scope of the system. A traceability system for beef production totally covering the progression from semen to meat is necessary for food safety and validation. We applied radio frequency identification (RFID) for the identification of individual frozen semen straws. RFID is the management technology that uses a small tag with a radio transmitter (RFID tag) that has recently been used in the field of distribution management. We consider this technology as a tool to trace artificial insemination (AI) data before the birth of a calf and to establish a management system for production of the Japanese Black cattle breed. The microchip (�-chip) we used as an RFID tag was manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. The �-chip is the smallest RFID chip in the world (0.4 mm square) and has a unique identification number (capable of corresponding to 128 bits, 1038 in decimal notation) readable by the RFID tag reader. The �-chip was attached to the frozen semen straw by ultrasonic sealing. We demonstrated that the �-chip retained its function after being stored in liquid nitrogen for at least several months. The information for bull semen, which was dispensed into frozen semen straws with the attached �-chips, was stored in the system database, and the straws were stored in liquid nitrogen. These straws with the �-chips were distributed to local farmers and inseminated into recipient cattle; the AI conditions, results of pregnancy diagnosis, and birth conditions were recorded in the system database. This system using the �-chips may be useful for confirmation and acquisition of trust for a commercially valuable bull and for the study of the improvement of AI for reproduction.

89 ZYGOTICALLY ACTIVATED GENES ARE SUPPRESSED IN MOUSE NUCLEAR-TRANSFERRED EMBRYOS

Mammalian oocytes have the ability to confer totipotency to terminally differentiated somatic cell nuclei. Viable cloned animals have been produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) into oocytes in many mammalian species including mouse. However, the success rates of the production were quite low in all species. Many studies have measured differences in gene expression between NT and fertilized embryos in relatively advanced stages of development such as pre- and post-natal stages or the blastocyst stage. In the mouse, major zygotic gene activation (ZGA) occurs at the 2-cell stage after fertilization and leads to the transition of gene regulation from maternal control to embryonic control. Suppression of the ZGA by a transcription inhibitor was shown to decrease the viability of embryos, and causes developmental arrest at the 2-cell stage. An abnormal ZGA may therefore affect the viability of NT embryos and cause further abnormalities in later embryonic development. In the present study, we compared gene expression patterns using differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) between the NT and IVF embryos at the 2-cell stage to detect some abnormalities affecting later development of NT embryos. The developmental rate of NT embryos to blastocysts (32.9%) was significantly lower than that of IVF (92.7%) or PA (92.8%). In addition, the cell numbers of NT embryos at the blastocyst stage (39.5 � 2.6; n = 19) were less than those of IVF (66.8 � 2.1; n = 30) or PA embryos (48.2 � 2.1; n = 30). Using these embryos, we first identified 4 genes that were differentially expressed between NT and IVF embryos at the 2-cell stage. Among the identified genes, Inpp5b and Chst12 were up-regulated, and MuERV-L and Dnaja2 were down-regulated in the NT embryos compared with IVF embryos. Further analysis showed that the expression of zygotically activated genes such as Interferon-γ, Dub-1, Spz1, DD2106, and DD2111 were not properly activated in NT embryos, suggesting that the cellular process involved in the control of the zygotic genome activation is not appropriately regulated. These results indicate that abnormal gene expression has already occurred at the early stage of pre-implantation development as a failure of nuclear reprogramming.

65 NUCLEAR REPROGRAMMING OF PORCINE CELLS AND THEIR USE AS DONOR CELL FOR NUCLEAR TRANSFER AFTER TREATMENT IN XENOPUS EGG EXTRACTS

Revealing an adequate cell state for nuclear reprogramming is essential to achieve efficient production of cloned embryos and animals. Previous reports suggest that nuclei from undifferentiated cells such as blastomeres or embryonic stem cells can support efficient development of cloned embryos to term. In recent years, differentiated somatic cells are frequently used for donor cells because of ease of preparation and application for genetic modification. The efficiency of the somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is still extremely low. We hypothesized that somatic cells that had been reprogrammed to dedifferentiated states before SCNT might support higher developmental ability of SCNT embryos. To test this hypothesis, porcine fibroblast cells were treated with Xenopus egg extracts, and the extract-treated cells (ETCs) were used as donor cell for SCNT to examine their ability to support early embryonic development. Xenopus egg extracts were prepared from activated S-phase eggs. Porcine fibroblast cells (106/mL) were permeabilized by 500 ng mL-1 of Streptolysin O and were incubated in the egg extracts with the energy-regenerating system for 2 hours at 23�C. After the extract treatment, permeabilized membranes were resealed in DMEM containing 2 mM CaCl2. The ETCs were fused with porcine enucleated oocytes and simultaneously activated. The reconstructed embryos were cultured in PZM-3 medium for 7 days. All statistical differences were analyzed by ANOVA. Reprogramming of ETCs was evaluated on changes of chromatin states and gene expression. Chromatin-binding proteins of ETCs were separated and analyzed on SDS-PAGE. Some proteins were incorporated onto and/or released from chromatins after the extract treatment. Especially, Xenopus egg-specific linker histone B4 was assembled on chromatins. Non-permeabilized control cells did not show these protein exchanges. Deacetylation of histone H3 lysine9 was detected in half number of ETCs in an ATP-dependent manner. In contrast, a high population of histone H3-acetylated cells was observed in buffer-treated cells as well as cells before the extract treatment. The pluripotent marker gene expression, such as OCT4 and SOX2, was also observed in ETCs after culture. The gene expression of these genes was not detected in non-treated cells. These results indicate that the extract treatment induces or triggers a part of dedifferentiation of somatic cells. These ETCs were used as donor cell for SCNT, and reconstructed cloned embryos were cultured. SCNT embryos showed no significant difference in cleavage rates and developmental rates to the blastocyst stage (25%) compared with non-treated control cells (26%). However, the total cell number of embryos at the blastocyst stage was significantly higher in SCNT embryos from ETCs compared with those of control cells (62 � 7 vs. 43 � 2, respectively; P &lt; 0.05). These results indicate that the extract treatment before nuclear transfer may stimulate cell proliferation of SCNT embryos but not improve early development. More studies, however, are needed to investigate their developmental ability to term.