Renal transcriptome analysis of uninephrectomized db/db mice identified a mechanism for the transition to severe diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), included in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), is a primary driver of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) leading to dialysis treatment. To develop new therapeutic drugs to prevent ESRD and avoid dialysis treatment, insight into DKD pathophysiology and animal models suitable for drug efficacy testing are needed. In this study, transcriptome analysis of kidneys from 26-week-old and 35-week-old uninephrectomized (UNX) db/db mice was used to identify the pathways that affect the deterioration of renal function in db/db mice. Differentially expressed genes suggested that there was increased interferon (IFN)-γ signaling during the 26 to 35-week period. Modules that changed between 26 and 35 weeks of age extracted by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) suggested increased the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in component cells of glomeruli. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified Cxcl16 as a hub gene for those signaling pathways, and it was shown that the pathways in this module changed when the glomerular filtration rate decreased in patients with DN. These results suggested the possibility that signaling mediated by Cxcl16 induced by IFN-γ and TNF-α between 26 and 35 weeks of age leads to renal fibrosis, resulting in severe disease. Drugs that target such pathways can be options for developing drugs for DN. We also think that the uninephrectomized db/db mouse can be used as an animal model of severe DKD and to evaluate efficacy in patients with DN.

High-cholesterol diet in combination with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin induces NASH-like disorders in the liver of rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a general term for fatty liver disease not caused by viruses or alcohol. Fibrotic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma can develop. The recent increase in NAFLD incidence worldwide has stimulated drug development efforts. However, there is still no approved treatment. This may be due in part to the fact that non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) pathogenesis is very complex, and its mechanisms are not well understood. Studies with animals are very important for understanding the pathogenesis. Due to the close association between the establishment of human NASH pathology and metabolic syndrome, several animal models have been reported, especially in the context of overnutrition. In this study, we investigated the induction of NASH-like pathology by enhancing cholesterol absorption through treatment with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CDX). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal diet with normal water (control group); a high-fat (60 kcal%), cholesterol (1.25 %), and cholic acid (0.5 %) diet with normal water (HFCC group); or HFCC diet with 2 % CDX water (HFCC+CDX group) for 16 weeks. Compared to the control group, the HFCC and HFCC+CDX groups showed increased blood levels of total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase. At autopsy, parameters related to hepatic lipid synthesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis were elevated, suggesting the development of NAFLD/NASH. Elevated levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes were evident in the HFCC+CDX group. In the novel rat model, excessive cholesterol intake and accelerated absorption contributed to NAFLD/NASH pathogenesis.

Effects of salt supplementation in uninephrectomized KK-Ay mice: Examining the potential of a diabetic kidney disease model

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although current therapeutic strategies for DKD, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, have shown some degree of efficacy, they have failed to completely halt the progression of DKD to ESRD owing to the complexity of DKD pathogenesis. Elucidating the pathophysiological mechanism of DKD is essential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiological characteristics of uninephrectomized (UNx) KK-Ay mice and examined the effects of salt supplementation on the acceleration of renal injury in these mice. UNx KK-Ay mice exhibited pathophysiological renal abnormalities with glomerular and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Additionally, salt supplementation exacerbated renal injury, particularly tubular injury. These results suggest that UNx KK-Ay mice are useful models for advanced DKD and that salt exacerbates tubular damage in DKD.

P-127 Identification of the optimal puncture position by image analysis may reduce oocyte degeneration in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Study question

Is it possible to identify the optimal puncture position by image analysis where oocyte degeneration is reduced in ICSI procedure?

Summary answer

Visualizing the likelihood of unintentional membrane rupture (UMR) using image analysis can reduce oocyte degeneration and thereby generate more embryos available for treatment.

What is known already

It is known that the oocyte degeneration after both conventional-ICSI and Piezo-ICSI are often observed when UMR occurs during the puncturing process and the likelihood of UMR may depends on the location of the puncture site on the oolemma. Identifying the appropriate puncturing position may decrease the likelihood of membrane rupture and thus degeneration, however, there are no studies identifying the optimal puncture position during ICSI.

Study design, size, duration

We have developed the ICSI Position Detector (IPD), which can identify an area where rupture is likely to occur and visualize it on a video monitor. This study included 1,110 mature oocytes retrieved from 190 consenting patients. Matured oocytes were inseminated either by Conventional-ICSI (n = 437, average maternal age: 39.1±4.6 y.o.) or Piezo-ICSI (n = 673, average maternal age: 38.6±4.5 y.o.). ICSI was performed blindly, moving images were recorded and analyzed retrospectively during ICSI using IPD.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Inseminated oocytes were subsequently divided into two groups according to IPD results, oocytes on which ICSI was performed at the position with a low chance of UMR (appropriate group), and with a high chance of UMR (non-appropriate group) by IPD. The rates of UMR, degeneration, fertilization (2PN), blastocyst formation, and good-quality blastocyst (Grade 3BB and above on day 5 by the Gardner scoring) were compared between the two groups of both conventional-ICSI and Piezo-ICSI.

Main results and the role of chance

The areas in which UMR is less likely to occur and more likely to occur are heterogeneously distributed. When ICSI was performed blindly, about half was from the non-appropriate position. In appropriate group of Piezo-ICSI, rates of UMR (4.3% vs. 17.4%, P < 0.001) and degeneration (1.0% vs. 5.7%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower than those of non-appropriate group, whereas rates of fertilization (88.0% vs. 78.4%, P < 0.01) and blastocyst formation (57.8% vs. 45.9%, P < 0.01) were significantly higher than those of non-appropriate group, respectively. The rate of good-quality blastocyst (28.8% vs. 24.9%) was in favor of appropriate group, but not significantly different. In appropriate group of Conventional-ICSI, rates of UMR (6.7% vs. 20.6%, P < 0.001) and degeneration (1.5% vs. 6.6%, P < 0.01) were significantly lower than those of non-appropriate group, whereas rate of fertilization (88.7% vs. 69.5, P < 0.001) was significantly higher than those of non-appropriate group, respectively. The rates of blastocyst formation (37.5% vs. 35.3%), good-quality blastocyst (21.3% vs. 18.7%) were all in favor of appropriate group, but not significantly different.

Limitations, reasons for caution

This is a single private fertility clinic study. Its reproducibility should be assessed in different laboratory conditions and the hands of different operators. Moreover, specific studies should be addressed on the effect of the other putative confounders under investigation (e.g. kind of ovulation trigger, patient demographics, culture environment, etc.).

Wider implications of the findings

This study demonstrated that the IPD is useful to identify the optimal puncture location site to prevent UMR on ICSI procedure, resulting in reducing UMR and degeneration of the oocytes and increasing culture results, thereby, generating more embryos available for transfer or cryopreservation.

Trial registration number

not applicable

Pathophysiological Analysis of Uninephrectomized db/db Mice as a Model of Severe Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic nephropathy, included in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), is the primary disease leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or dialysis treatment, accounting for more than 40% of all patients with ESRD or receiving dialysis. Developing new therapeutics to prevent the transition to ESRD or dialysis treatment requires an understanding of the pathophysiology of DKD and an appropriate animal model for drug efficacy studies. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiology of diabetic kidney disease with type 2 diabetes in uninephrectomized db/db mice. In addition, the nephrectomized db/db mice from 10 weeks to 42 weeks were used to assess the efficacy of long-term administration of the angiotensin-II–receptor antagonist losartan. The blood and urinary biochemical parameters and the blood pressure which is a main pharmacological endpoint of the losartan therapy, were periodically measured. And at the end, histopathological analysis was performed. Uninephrectomized db/db mice clearly developed obesity and hyperglycemia from young age. Furthermore, they showed renal pathophysiological changes, such as increased urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) (the peak value 3104±986 in 40-week-old mice), glomerular hypertrophy and increased fibrotic areas in the tubulointerstitial tubules. The blood pressure in the losartan group was significantly low compared to the normotensive Vehicle group. However, as expected, Losartan suppressed the increase in UACR (829±500) indicating the medication was sufficient, but the histopathological abnormalities including tubular interstitial fibrosis did not improve. These results suggest that the uninephrectomized db/db mice are useful as an animal model of the severe DKD indicated by the comparison of the efficacy of losartan in this model with the efficacy of losartan in clinical practice.

Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura Extract Suppresses Myocardial Infarction-Induced Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction by Inhibiting p300-HAT Activity

Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura extract (ESE) has been reported to have various bioactive effects, but its effects on cardiovascular disease have not yet been investigated. First, primary neonatal rat cultured cardiomyocytes were treated with ESE and stimulated with phenylephrine (PE) for 48 h. ESE (1000 µg/mL) significantly suppressed PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, hypertrophy-related gene transcription, and the acetylation of histone H3K9. An in vitro p300-HAT assay indicated that ESE directly inhibited p300-HAT activity. Next, one week after myocardial infarction (MI) surgery, rats (left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) < 40%) were randomly assigned to three groups: vehicle (saline, n = 9), ESE (0.3 g/kg, n = 10), or ESE (1 g/kg, n = 10). Daily oral administration was carried out for 8 weeks. After treatment, LVFS was significantly higher in the ESE (1 g/kg) group than in the vehicle group. The ESE treatments also significantly suppressed MI-induced increases in myocardial cell diameter, perivascular fibrosis, hypertrophy- and fibrosis-related gene transcription, and the acetylation of histone H3K9. These results suggest that ESE suppressed both hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes and the development of heart failure in rats by inhibiting p300-HAT activity. Thus, this dietary extract is a potential novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure in humans.

Effects of excessive sodium chloride loading in the spontaneously diabetic torii (SDT) fatty rats, a preclinical model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus represents an international health concern with its growing number of patients worldwide. At the same time, excessive salt consumption is also seen as a major cause of diseases such as hypertension and may expedite renal complications in diabetic patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of excessive sodium chloride supplementation on the kidney of the Spontaneously Diabetic Torii-Lepr^fa (SDT fatty) rat, an obese type 2 diabetes model. Male and female SDT fatty rats and normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 5 weeks of age were loaded with 0.3% sodium chloride (NaCl) in drinking water for 13 weeks. Blood serum and urinary parameters were observed throughout the experiment and kidney samples were examined in histopathological and genetical analyses. Significant changes on the body weight, blood pressure, urine volume, creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), relative gene expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were observed in the salt-loaded male SDT fatty rats. Urinary L-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) and albumin levels were higher observed in the salt-loaded male SDT fatty rats throughout the period, but urinary albumin levels in the female SDT fatty rats remain unchanged. In the kidney, slight Armani-Ebstein changes, tubular degeneration, hyaline cast, and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in female SDT fatty rats while the levels of some changes were higher in the salt-loaded group. The kidney of the salt-loaded male SDT fatty rats demonstrated a higher degree of lesions compared to the female group and the male unloaded group. Histopathological changes in salt-loaded SDT fatty rats show that excessive salt consumption may act as a diabetic pathology exacerbation factor, but the pathology may be influenced by gender difference. Urinary L-FABP levels may act as a useful biomarker to detect slight tubular damages in the kidney. Excessive salt loading was shown to exacerbate the renal injury in SDT fatty rats.

Anti-PD-1 antibody monotherapy versus anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 combination therapy as first-line immunotherapy in unresectable or metastatic mucosal melanoma: a retrospective, multicenter study of 329 Japanese cases (JMAC study)

Background

Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody monotherapy (PD1) has led to favorable responses in advanced non-acral cutaneous melanoma among Caucasian populations; however, recent studies suggest that this therapy has limited efficacy in mucosal melanoma (MCM). Thus, advanced MCM patients are candidates for PD1 plus anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) combination therapy (PD1 + CTLA4). Data on the efficacy of immunotherapy in MCM, however, are limited. We aimed to compare the efficacies of PD1 and PD1 + CTLA4 in Japanese advanced MCM patients.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively assessed advanced MCM patients treated with PD1 or PD1 + CTLA4 at 24 Japanese institutions. Patient baseline characteristics, clinical responses (RECIST), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and toxicity was assessed to estimate the efficacy and safety of PD1 and PD1 + CTLA4.

Results

Altogether, 329 patients with advanced MCM were included in this study. PD1 and PD1 + CTLA4 were used in 263 and 66 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between both treatment groups, except for age (median age 71 versus 65 years; P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the PD1 and PD1 + CTLA4 groups with respect to objective response rate (26% versus 29%; P = 0.26) or PFS and OS (median PFS 5.9 months versus 6.8 months; P = 0.55, median OS 20.4 months versus 20.1 months; P = 0.55). Cox multivariate survival analysis revealed that PD1 + CTLA4 did not prolong PFS and OS (PFS: hazard ratio 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.58-1.19, P = 0.30; OS: HR 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.57-1.38, P = 0.59). The rate of ≥grade 3 immune-related adverse events was higher in the PD1 + CTLA4 group than in the PD1 group (53% versus 17%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

First-line PD1 + CTLA4 demonstrated comparable clinical efficacy to PD1 in Japanese MCM patients, but with a higher rate of immune-related adverse events.

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Anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy (PD1 + CTLA4) is an option for patients with advanced mucosal melanoma (MCM).

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Data on the efficacy of PD1 + CTLA4 compared with PD-1 monotherapy (PD1) for MCM, however, are limited.

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We retrospectively analyzed data from 329 Japanese patients with advanced MCM treated with PD1 or PD1 + CTLA4.

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No significant differences in objective response rate, progression-free survival, or overall survival were observed.

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Immune-related adverse events resulting in treatment cessation were higher in the PD1 + CTLA4 group.

Homodyne interferometry using a phase rotator for calibration of sine-cosine phase detection of a 70 GHz probe beam through a plasma

Homodyne interferometry using a motorized phase rotator for calibration of sine-cosine detection of the phase shift of a 70 GHz probe beam through a plasma has been developed. Four interferometers based on this interferometry have been installed on the low aspect ratio torus experiment (LATE) device with four horizontal probe beams on the mid-plane, which has measured the line-integrated electron densities with a time resolution of 10 μs and a resolution of line-integrated density of 5 × 10¹⁵ m^-2.

GPR52 accelerates fatty acid biosynthesis in a ligand-dependent manner in hepatocytes and in response to excessive fat intake in mice

Gpr52 is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor of unknown physiological function. We found that Gpr52-deficient (Gpr52^−/−) mice exhibit leanness associated with reduced liver weight, decreased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Treatment of the hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells with c11, the synthetic GPR52 agonist, increased fatty acid biosynthesis, and GPR52 knockdown (KD) abolished the lipogenic action of c11. In addition, c11 induced the expressions of lipogenic enzymes (SCD1 and ELOVL6), whereas these inductions were attenuated by GPR52-KD. In contrast, cholesterol biosynthesis was not increased by c11, but its basal level was significantly suppressed by GPR52-KD. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced increase in hepatic expression of Pparg2 and its targets (Scd1 and Elovl6) was absent in Gpr52^−/− mice with alleviated hepatosteatosis. Our present study showed that hepatic GPR52 promotes the biosynthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol in a ligand-dependent and a constitutive manner, respectively, and Gpr52 participates in HFD-induced fatty acid synthesis in liver.

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Hepatosteatosis is inherently an adaptive response to overnutrition to store energy

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On the other hand, it can be a pathological condition causing insulin resistance

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High-fat diet increases PPARγ2 expression and lipogenesis in liver via GPR52

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Gpr52 ablation protects mice from developing hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance

M2 Phenotype Macrophages Colocalize with Schwann Cells in Human Dental Pulp

Macrophages are immune cells with high plasticity that perform many functions related to tissue injury and repair. They are generally categorized as 2 functional phenotypes: M1 (proinflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory and prohealing). To investigate the role of macrophages in human dental pulp, we examined the localization and distributional alterations of macrophages in healthy dental pulp as well as during the reparative process of pulp capping with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and in cariously inflamed pulp of adult human teeth. We also quantified the populations of M1/M2 macrophages in healthy dental pulp by flow cytometric analysis. CD68⁺CD86⁺ cells (M1 phenotype) and CD68⁺CD163⁺ cells (M2 phenotype) were 2.11% ± 0.50% and 44.99% ± 2.22%, respectively, of 2.96% ± 0.41% CD68⁺ cells (pan-macrophages) in whole healthy dental pulp. Interestingly, M2 phenotype macrophages were associated with Schwann cells in healthy pulp, during mineralized bridge formation, and in pulp with carious infections in vivo. Furthermore, the M2 macrophages associated with Schwann cells expressed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) under all in vivo conditions. Moreover, we found that plasma cells expressed BDNF. Coculture of Schwann cells isolated from human dental pulp and human monocytic cell line THP-1 showed that Schwann cells induced M2 phenotypic polarization of THP-1 cell-derived macrophages. The THP-1 macrophages that maintained contact with Schwann cells were stimulated, leading to elongation of their cell shape and expression of M2 phenotype marker CD163 in cocultures. In summary, we revealed the spatiotemporal localization of macrophages and potent induction of the M2 phenotype by Schwann cells in human dental pulp. M2 macrophages protect neural elements, whereas M1 cells promote neuronal destruction. Therefore, suppressing the neurodestructive M1 phenotype and maintaining the neuroprotective M2 phenotype of macrophages by Schwann cells may be critical for development of effective treatment strategies to maintain the viability of highly innervated dental pulp.

Toxicity of dextran stabilized fullerene C60 against C6 Glial cells

Elevated application potential of fullerene C₆₀ paved the way to think on its adverse effect when it reaches to biological system and environment. Though fullerenes are insoluble in water, various strategies are employed to make it soluble. Method of solubilization with organic solvents, yield cytotoxic responses both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, dextran was used to stabilize C₆₀ particle. Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and transition electron microscopy (TEM) were used for characterization and it confirms effective surface stabilization and morphological characteristics. This was followed by various cytotoxicity studies to evaluate its bio-nano interactions. The results of the study suggest that the dextran stabilized C₆₀ nanoparticles (Dex-C₆₀) forms uniform suspension in water and was stable up to 72 h. The C6 glial cell-Dex-C₆₀ interactions indicated that the Dex-C₆₀ nanoparticles penetrate deeper into the cells and cause dose dependent toxic response. The result of the study recommended that Dex-C₆₀ nanoparticles should undergo intensive risk assessment before biomedical applications and should take proper safety measure to avoid its entry to the environment.

White Matter Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis Evaluated by Quantitative Synthetic MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A number of MR-derived quantitative metrics have been suggested to assess the pathophysiology of MS, but the reports about combined analyses of these metrics are scarce. Our aim was to assess the spatial distribution of parameters for white matter myelin and axon integrity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS by multiparametric MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 24 age- and sex-matched controls were prospectively scanned by quantitative synthetic and 2-shell diffusion MR imaging. Synthetic MR imaging data were used to retrieve relaxometry parameters (R1 and R2 relaxation rates and proton density) and myelin volume fraction. Diffusion tensor metrics (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivity) and neurite orientation and dispersion index metrics (intracellular volume fraction, isotropic volume fraction, and orientation dispersion index) were retrieved from diffusion MR imaging data. These data were analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics.

RESULTS

Patients with MS showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy and myelin volume fraction and higher isotropic volume fraction in widespread white matter areas. Areas with different isotropic volume fractions were included within areas with lower fractional anisotropy. Myelin volume fraction showed no significant difference in some areas with significantly decreased fractional anisotropy in MS, including in the genu of the corpus callosum and bilateral anterior corona radiata, whereas myelin volume fraction was significantly decreased in some areas where fractional anisotropy showed no significant difference, including the bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule, external capsule, sagittal striatum, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus.

CONCLUSIONS

We found differences in spatial distribution of abnormality in fractional anisotropy, isotropic volume fraction, and myelin volume fraction distribution in MS, which might be useful for characterizing white matter in patients with MS.

Effect of Gadolinium on the Estimation of Myelin and Brain Tissue Volumes Based on Quantitative Synthetic MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The effect of gadolinium on the estimation of myelin has not been reported. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of gadolinium on automatic myelin and brain tissue volumetry via quantitative synthetic MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 36 patients who were referred for brain metastases screening, and quantitative synthetic MR imaging data before and after gadolinium-based contrast agent administration were analyzed retrospectively. Brain metastases were detected in 17 patients. WM volume, GM volume, CSF volume, non-WM/GM/CSF volume, myelin volume, brain parenchymal volume, myelin fraction (myelin volume/brain parenchymal volume), and intracranial volume were estimated. T1 and T2 relaxation times, proton density, and myelin partial volume per voxel averaged across the brain parenchyma were also analyzed.

RESULTS

In patients with and without metastases after gadolinium-based contrast agent administration, measurements of WM and myelin volumes, and myelin fraction were significantly increased (+26.65 and +29.42 mL, +10.14 and +12.46 mL, +0.88% and +1.09%, respectively), whereas measurements of GM, CSF, brain parenchymal, and intracranial volumes were significantly decreased (-36.23 and -34.49 mL, -20.77 and -18.94 mL, -6.76 and -2.84 mL, -27.41 and -21.84 mL, respectively). Non-WM/GM/CSF volume did not show a significant change. T1, T2, and proton density were significantly decreased (-51.34 and -46.84 ms, -2.67 and -4.70 ms, -1.05%, and -1.28%, respectively) after gadolinium-based contrast agent administration, whereas measurements of myelin partial volume were significantly increased (+0.78% and +0.75%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Gadolinium had a significant effect on the automatic calculation of myelin and brain tissue volumes using quantitative synthetic MR imaging, which can be explained by decreases in T1, T2, and proton density.

Improving the Quality of Synthetic FLAIR Images with Deep Learning Using a Conditional Generative Adversarial Network for Pixel-by-Pixel Image Translation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Synthetic FLAIR images are of lower quality than conventional FLAIR images. Here, we aimed to improve the synthetic FLAIR image quality using deep learning with pixel-by-pixel translation through conditional generative adversarial network training.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty patients with MS were prospectively included and scanned (3T) to acquire synthetic MR imaging and conventional FLAIR images. Synthetic FLAIR images were created with the SyMRI software. Acquired data were divided into 30 training and 10 test datasets. A conditional generative adversarial network was trained to generate improved FLAIR images from raw synthetic MR imaging data using conventional FLAIR images as targets. The peak signal-to-noise ratio, normalized root mean square error, and the Dice index of MS lesion maps were calculated for synthetic and deep learning FLAIR images against conventional FLAIR images, respectively. Lesion conspicuity and the existence of artifacts were visually assessed.

RESULTS

The peak signal-to-noise ratio and normalized root mean square error were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in generated-versus-synthetic FLAIR images in aggregate intracranial tissues and all tissue segments (all P < .001). The Dice index of lesion maps and visual lesion conspicuity were comparable between generated and synthetic FLAIR images (P = 1 and .59, respectively). Generated FLAIR images showed fewer granular artifacts (P = .003) and swelling artifacts (in all cases) than synthetic FLAIR images.

CONCLUSIONS

Using deep learning, we improved the synthetic FLAIR image quality by generating FLAIR images that have contrast closer to that of conventional FLAIR images and fewer granular and swelling artifacts, while preserving the lesion contrast.

Correction: Myeloproliferative leukemia protein activation directly induces fibrocyte differentiation to cause myelofibrosis

Owing to the insufficient specificity of the anti-myeloproliferative leukemia protein (MPL) antibody in the original version of this Article, Figure 6 and parts of Figures 2a, 4e, and 5a do not represent the correct information. The corrected version of Figure 6 is in this correction and those of Figures 2a, 4e, and 5a are shown in the supplemental information.

Pathophysiological abnormalities in the brains of Spontaneously Diabetic Torii-Lepr fa (SDT fatty) rats, a novel type 2 diabetic model

In recent years, a relationship between diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer disease or depression, has been proposed. In this study, pathophysiological changes in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, of male SDT fatty rats with obesity and hyperglycemia were investigated. Brains of SD rats and SDT fatty rats were collected at 32 and 58 weeks of age, and parietal cortical thickness and number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 1 and 3 (CA1 and CA3) regions were measured. At 58 weeks of age, the parietal cortical thickness and number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions were lower in SDT fatty rats than in age-matched SD rats. Measurements of mRNA in rat brains at 58 weeks of age showed that the expression of genes related to inflammatory responses (S100a9, TNFα, NF-κB) was elevated in SDT fatty rats. From the aforementioned results, changes suggestive of brain atrophy and impairment in cognitive function were observed in male SDT fatty rat brains.

Studies on Production of Antithrombin III with Special Reference to Endotoxin-Induced DIC in Dogs

The production of antithrombin III (AT III) was studied using Se-75-selenomethionine as a tracer in dogs with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) experimentally induced by endotoxin infusion. Using canine AT III purified by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, antiserum against canine AT III was raised in rabbit. To study the production of plasma AT III, Se-75-selenomethionine was injected into the dog and thereafter the radioactivity incorporated into plasma AT III immunoprecipitated by anti-AT III rabbit serum was serially measured. In normal control dogs, peak radioactivity incorporated into AT III fraction was 970 ± 55 (mean ± SE) cpm/mg of AT III. It was 1196 ± 51.5 cpm/mg, 2748 ± 826 cpm/mg and 1057 ± 74 cpm/mg when Se-75-selenomethionine was injected 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after a single infusion with one mg of endotoxin/kg body weight of dogs, and was 1.2 times, 2.8 times and 1.1 times more than normal control dogs, respectively. Plasma AT III levels decreased to a minimum of 26.7 ± 4.9 mg/dl within 6 h after endotoxin infusion and returned to normal levels by 2 to 3 days after the infusion. Since the catabolic rate of AT III was evidently accelerated, judging from the more rapid decay of the AT III radioactivity, it is suggested that the production of AT III is markedly increased in dogs with DIC induced by endotoxin infusion even during a period of low plasma level.

Depression-related behavioural and neuroendocrine changes in the Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rat, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric diseases and is commonly comorbid with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the pathophysiology underlying the depressive state in DM remains poorly understood. Animal models are useful tools to investigate the association between depression and DM. In the present study we investigated whether the Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rat, a novel animal model of type 2 DM, shows depression-related features. We assessed depression-like behaviour, hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and neurotransmitter levels in the brain. Behaviour was evaluated using a forced swimming test, and the HPA axis was evaluated with changes in plasma corticosterone levels after a swimming stress exposure or dexamethasone challenge. In addition, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), noradrenaline, glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and brain stem were measured. In the forced swimming test, SDT fatty rats exhibited increased duration of immobility compared with control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Moreover, basal corticosterone levels were significantly elevated in SDT fatty compared with control SD rats. However, there were no stress-induced increases or changes in dexamethasone-induced suppression of corticosterone in SDT fatty compared with control SD rats. Furthermore, there were significant changes in 5-HT concentrations in the prefrontal cortex, and in GABA and glutamate concentrations in the hippocampus in SDT fatty compared with controls. The results of the present study suggest that the SDT fatty rat may be an appropriate model for diabetes with comorbid depression associated with neurotransmitter impairments and aberrant basal HPA hyperactivity.

Investigation of pharmacological responses to anti-diabetic drugs in female Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, a new nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive liver disease, and some patients develop hepatic cirrhosis/carcinoma. Animal models play key roles in the development of new therapies for NASH. In this study, the pharmacological effects of metformin and pioglitazone were investigated in female Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats to verify the utility of this model. The anti-diabetic drugs were administered to SDT fatty rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet from 4 to 25 weeks, and changes in food intake, body weight, and blood chemistry parameters were evaluated every 4 weeks. The hepatic lipid content, mRNA expression in relation to lipid synthesis, inflammation, and fibrosis, and histopathological analyses were performed at 25 weeks. Pioglitazone improved hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and abnormalities in hepatic parameters. The insulin levels were lower than those in the control rats before 16 weeks. Plasma glucose levels in the metformin-treated rats were lower than those in the control rats, and plasma alanine aminotransferase levels temporarily decreased. The lipid content and some mRNA expression in relation to fibrosis in the liver decreased with pioglitazone treatment, and the mRNA expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein increased. Hepatic fibrosis observed in the SDT fatty rats improved with pioglitazone treatment; however, the effect with metformin treatment was partial. These results in both drugs are in line with results in the human study, suggesting that the SDT fatty rat is useful for developing new anti-NASH drugs that show potential to regulate glucose/lipid metabolism.

Diabetic macular edema-like ocular lesions in male spontaneously diabetic torii fatty rats

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a major factor contributing to visual disabilities in diabetic patients, and the number of patients is increasing. Animal models play a key role in the development of novel therapies. In this study, pathophysiological analyses of ocular lesions in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats were performed. First, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations in vitreous humor, retinal vascular permeability and retinal thickness were measured in SDT fatty rats (Experiment 1). Furthermore, the pharmacological effects of two anti-diabetic drugs, phlorizin and pioglitazone, on retinal lesions were evaluated (Experiment 2). As results, the SDT fatty rats exhibited VEGF increase in vitreous humor at 8 and 16 weeks of age, and both retinal vascular hyperpermeability and retinal thickening at 16 weeks of age. In particular, the layers between the retinal internal limiting membrane and the outer nuclear layer were thickened. Phlorizin treatment from 4 to 16 weeks of age improved hyperglycemia and normalized retinal thickness; however, the effect of pioglitazone on retinal thickness was not strong despite the normalization of hyperglycemia. These data demonstrate that the male SDT fatty rat is a useful model for developing new therapeutic approaches in DME.

Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) Fatty Rat, a Novel Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Shows Blunted Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Secretion

In patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), impairments of circadian rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle, blood pressure, and plasma melatonin concentrations, are frequently observed. Animal models of DM are also reported to show aberrant circadian rhythms. However, the changes in the circadian rhythms of plasma soluble substances, including melatonin, in diabetic animals are controversial. In the present study, we investigated the circadian rhythms of spontaneous locomotor activity, metabolic parameters (plasma glucose, triglyceride, and total cholesterol), and plasma melatonin concentrations in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats, a novel animal model of type 2 DM. Although SDT fatty rats exhibited low locomotor activity in the dark phase, no phase shifts were observed. The circadian variations of plasma metabolic parameters were more apparent in the SDT fatty rats compared with control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The circadian rhythms of plasma melatonin concentrations were significantly impaired in SDT fatty rats. To get an insight into the mechanism underlying the impaired melatonin secretion in SDT fatty rats, the expression of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (Asmt) mRNA, which encode the rate-limiting enzymes for melatonin synthesis, was investigated in the pineal gland. There were no significant differences in Aanat and Asmt expression between the control SD and SDT fatty rats. These results suggest that SDT fatty rats show impaired circadian rhythms and dysregulated melatonin secretion.

MR Imaging Features of the Cerebellum in Adult-Onset Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease: 8 Cases

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease is a neurodegenerative disorder pathologically characterized by eosinophilic hyaline intranuclear inclusions. A high-intensity signal along the corticomedullary junction on DWI has been described as a specific MR imaging finding of the cerebrum in neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease. However, MR imaging findings of the cerebellum in neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease have not been fully evaluated. Here, we review MR imaging findings of the cerebellum in a series of 8 patients with pathologically confirmed neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease. The MR imaging results showed cerebellar atrophy (8/8 patients) and high-intensity signal on FLAIR images in the medial part of the cerebellar hemisphere right beside the vermis (the "paravermal area") (6/8) and in the middle cerebellar peduncle (4/8). The paravermal abnormal signals had a characteristic distribution, and they could be an indicator of the diagnosis of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease even when using the results of past MR imaging examinations in which DWI findings were not examined.

Constitutively active ABL family kinases, TEL/ABL and TEL/ARG, harbor distinct leukemogenic activities in vivo

ABL (ABL1) and ARG (ABL2) are highly homologous to each other in overall domain structure and amino-acid sequence, with the exception of their C termini. As with ABL, translocations that fuse ARG to ETV6/TEL have been identified in patients with leukemia. To assess the in vivo leukemogenic activity of constitutively active ABL and ARG, we generated a bone marrow (BM) transplantation model using the chimeric forms TEL/ABL and TEL/ARG, which have comparable kinase activities. TEL/ABL rapidly induced fatal myeloid leukemia in recipient mice, whereas recipients of TEL/ARG-transduced cells did not develop myeloid leukemia, instead, they succumbed to a long-latency infiltrative mastocytosis that could be adoptively transferred to secondary recipients. Swapping of the C termini of ABL and ARG altered disease latency and phenotypes. In a detailed in vitro study, TEL/ARG strongly promoted mast cell differentiation in response to stem cell factor or interleukin-3, whereas TEL/ABL preferentially induced myeloid differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. These results indicate that ABL and ARG kinase activate distinct differentiation pathways to induce specific diseases in vivo, that is, myeloid leukemia and mastocytosis, respectively. Further elucidation of the differences in their properties should provide important insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of oncogenes of the ABL kinase family.

Differential Expression and Roles of Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 5 and the Wingless Homolog Wnt5a in Periodontitis

The Wingless/integrase-1 (Wnt) family of protein ligands and their functional antagonists, secreted frizzled-related proteins (sFRPs), regulate various biological processes ranging from embryonic development to immunity and inflammation. Wnt5a and sFRP5 comprise a typical ligand/antagonist pair, and the former molecule was recently detected at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level in human periodontitis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the interrelationship of expression of Wnt5a and sFRP5 in human periodontitis (as compared to health) and to determine their roles in inflammation and bone loss in an animal model. We detected both Wnt5a and sFRP5 mRNA in human gingiva, with Wnt5a dominating in diseased and sFRP5 in healthy tissue. Wnt5a and sFRP5 protein colocalized in the gingival epithelium, suggesting epithelial cell expression, which was confirmed in cultured human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs). The HGEC expression of Wnt5a and sFRP5 was differentially regulated by a proinflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] from Porphyromonas gingivalis) in a manner consistent with the clinical observations (i.e., LPS upregulated Wnt5a and downregulated sFRP5). In HGECs, exogenously added Wnt5a enhanced whereas sFRP5 inhibited LPS-induced inflammation, as monitored by interleukin 8 production. Consistent with this, local treatment with sFRP5 in mice subjected to ligature-induced periodontitis inhibited inflammation and bone loss, correlating with decreased numbers of osteoclasts in bone tissue sections. As in humans, mouse periodontitis was associated with high expression of Wnt5a and low expression of sFRP5, although this profile was reversed after treatment with sFRP5. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel reciprocal relationship between sFRP5 and Wnt5a expression in periodontal health and disease, paving the way to clinical investigation of the possibility of using the Wnt5a/sFRP5 ratio as a periodontitis biomarker. Moreover, we showed that sFRP5 blocks experimental periodontal inflammation and bone loss, suggesting a promising platform for the development of a new host modulation therapy in periodontitis.

Targeting self-renewal pathways in cancer stem cells: clinical implications for cancer therapy

Extensive cancer research in the past few decades has identified the existence of a rare subpopulation of stem cells in the grove of cancer cells. These cells are known as the cancer stem cells marked by the presence of surface biomarkers, multi-drug resistance pumps and deregulated self-renewal pathways (SRPs). They have a crucial role in provoking cancer cells leading to tumorigenesis and its progressive metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are much alike to normal stem cells in their self-renewal mechanisms. However, deregulations in the SRPs are seen in CSCs, making them resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic agents resulting in the tumor recurrence. Current treatment strategies in cancer fail to detect and differentiate the CSCs from their non-tumorigenic progenies owing to absence of specific biomarkers. Now, it has become imperative to understand complex functional biology of CSCs, especially the signaling pathways to design improved treatment strategies to target them. It is hopeful that the SRPs in CSCs offer a promising target to alter their survival strategies and impede their tumorigenic potential. However, there are many perils associated with the direct targeting method by conventional therapeutic agents such as off targets, poor bioavailability and poor cellular distribution. Recent evidences have shown an increased use of small molecule antagonists directly to target these SRPs may lead to severe side-effects. An alternative to solve these issues could be an appropriate nanoformulation. Nanoformulations of these molecules could provide an added advantage for the selective targeting of the pathways especially Hedgehog, Wnt, Notch and B-cell-specific moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 in the CSCs while sparing the normal stem cells. Hence, to achieve this goal a complete understanding of the molecular pathways corroborate with the use of holistic nanosystem (nanomaterial inhibition molecule) could possibly be an encouraging direction for future cancer therapy.

Criteria for diagnosis of DIC based on the analysis of clinical and laboratory findings in 345 DIC patients collected by the Research Committee on DIC in Japan

From analysis of the clinical and laboratory findings in the DIC patients collected by JRDC, diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of DIC are proposed. The characteristics of the criteria are as follows: (1) a scoring system is adopted; (2) as the tests for scoring, PT, plasma Fbg level, serum FDP level, and platelet count are used; (3) different scores are given according to the grade of change in the results of the tests; (4) bleeding and clinical signs indicating organ dysfunction due to DIC are included in the scoring system; and (5) recognition of the well-known etiological factors of DIC is also scored.

The role of tissue thromboplastin in the development of DIC accompanying neoplastic diseases

Procoagulant activity of gastric cancer tissues and leukocytes obtained from various types of leukemia have been studied with special reference to TTP. The following results were obtained. Homogenates of APL leukocytes and gastric cancer tissues contained strong procoagulant activities, most of which have been identified as TTP since the activities were neutralized by a specific antibody against purified human placenta TTP, inactivated by the removal of phospholipid with heptane-butanol mixture, and inactivated by the addition of phospholipase C. The delipidated homogenates regained procoagulant activities by relipidation procedures. These results also confirmed that TTP from APL leukocytes and gastric cancer tissues have the same lipoprotein properties as those of TTP in normal tissues. Though slight proteolytic activity and fibrinolytic activity were demonstrated in the homogenate of gastric cancer tissues, it was noted that the TTP activity was different from these two activities by partial purification of TTP from gastric cancer tissues. The TTP activity of 9 homogenates of gastric cancer tissues was 301 +/- 289 (mean +/- SD) units per mg protein, being higher in homogenates of mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma than in those of tubular and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The mean TTP activity of leukocyte homogenates from 14 patients with APL and one out of 4 patients with CML in blastic crisis was 81 +/- 76 units/10(7) cells. The TTP activity of the homogenates of leukocytes from 7 out of 18 patients with AML and another patient with CML in blastic crisis ranged from one to six units/10(7) cells with a mean of 3.3 +/- 1.2. The TTP activity of leukocyte homogenates from the other 11 cases of AML, two cases of CML in blastic crisis, 6 cases of CML, and one case each of ALL and CLL were less than one unit/10(7) cells. In leukemic patients, all cases with a value of more than 202 for the product of units of TTP activity per 10(7) cells and differential count (%) of leukemic cells in the bone marrow smear (MU value) were accompanied by DIC. The MU value of leukemic patients correlated well to the plasma fibrinogen and serum FDP levels. All patients with a MU value of more than 277 died of DIC when a sufficient amount of heparin was not administered. On the other hand, no DIC developed in any of the patients with a MU value of less than 90.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Topical treatment with probiotic Lactobacillus brevis CD2 inhibits experimental periodontal inflammation and bone loss

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

An increasing body of evidence suggests that the use of probiotic bacteria is a promising intervention approach for the treatment of inflammatory diseases with a polymicrobial etiology. The objective of this study was to determine whether Lactobacillus brevis CD2 could inhibit periodontal inflammation and bone loss in experimental periodontitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Periodontitis was induced by placing a silk ligature around the second maxillary molar of mice treated with L. brevis CD2 (8 × 10(5)  CFU in 1 mm(2) lyopatch) or placebo, which were placed between the gingiva and the buccal mucosa near the ligated teeth. The mice were killed after 5 d and bone loss was measured morphometrically, gingival expression of proinflammatory cytokines was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and CFU counts of periodontitis-associated bacteria were determined after aerobic and anaerobic culture. To determine the role of arginine deiminase released by L. brevis CD2, soluble extracts with or without formamidine (arginine deiminase inhibitor) were tested in in vitro cellular activation assays.

RESULTS

Mice topically treated with L. brevis CD2 displayed significantly decreased bone loss and lower expression of tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-1β, -6 and -17A as compared to placebo-treated mice. Moreover, L. brevis CD2-treated mice displayed lower counts of anaerobic bacteria but higher counts of aerobic bacteria than placebo-treated mice. In in vitro assays, the anti-inflammatory effects of soluble L. brevis CD2 extracts were heavily dependent on the presence of functional arginine deiminase, an enzyme that can inhibit nitric oxide synthesis.

CONCLUSION

These data provide proof-of-concept that the probiotic L. brevis CD2 can inhibit periodontitis through modulatory effects on the host response and the periodontal microbiota.

Development of a compact thermal lithium atom beam source for measurements of electron velocity distribution function anisotropy in electron cyclotron resonance plasmas

The anisotropy of the electron velocity distribution function (EVDF) in plasmas can be deduced from the polarization of emissions induced by anisotropic electron-impact excitation. In this paper, we develop a compact thermal lithium atom beam source for spatially resolved measurements of the EVDF anisotropy in electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasmas. The beam system is designed such that the ejected beam has a slab shape, and the beam direction is variable. The divergence and flux of the beam are evaluated by experiments and calculations. The developed beam system is installed in an ECR plasma device with a cusp magnetic field, and the LiI 2s-2p emission (670.8 nm) is observed in low-pressure helium plasma. The two-dimensional distributions of the degree and direction of the polarization in the LiI emission are measured by a polarization imaging system. The evaluated polarization distribution suggests the spatial variation of the EVDF anisotropy.

Immunohistochemical analysis of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) and possible regulation by estrogen receptor βcx in human prostate carcinoma

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) belongs to the family of bombesin-like peptides. GRP was demonstrated to stimulate the proliferation and invasiveness of androgen-independent prostate carcinoma. GRP mediates its action through the membrane-bound receptor, GRP receptor (GRPR), which is characterized by a high-affinity binding for both GRP and bombesin. In human prostate cancer tissue, GRPR mRNA was reported to be detectable in more than 90% but its immunolocalizaition has not been reported. Therefore, in this study we immunolocalized GRPR in 51 human prostate cancer cases and correlated the findings with several clinicopathological parameters in order to better understand the function and regulation of GRPR in human prostate cancer. GRPR was immnolocalized in carcinoma cells and their values were significantly associated with Gleason score and immunoreactivity of estrogen receptor βcx (ERβcx) that is one of splicing variants of ligand dependent transcription factor, ERβ, and considered to be prognostic factor of prostate cancer patients. The amounts of GRPR and ERβcx mRNA in three prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) analysis were also significantly correlated. In addition, we established stable transformants of prostate carcinoma cell line PC-3 introduced with ERβcx, and confirmed that GRPR mRNA was induced in ERβcx over-expressing PC-3 cells by qPCR analysis. These results also suggest that ERβcx contributes to prostate cancer development possibly through mediating GRPR expression in carcinoma cells.

AV-65, a novel Wnt/β-catenin signal inhibitor, successfully suppresses progression of multiple myeloma in a mouse model

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cells. Although new molecular targeting agents against MM have been developed based on the better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis, MM still remains an incurable disease. We previously demonstrated that β-catenin, a downstream effector in the Wnt pathway, is a potential target in MM using RNA interference in an in vivo experimental mouse model. In this study, we have screened a library of more than 100 000 small-molecule chemical compounds for novel Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors using a high-throughput transcriptional screening technology. We identified AV-65, which diminished β-catenin protein levels and T-cell factor transcriptional activity. AV-65 then decreased c-myc, cyclin D1 and survivin expression, resulting in the inhibition of MM cell proliferation through the apoptotic pathway. AV-65 treatment prolonged the survival of MM-bearing mice. These findings indicate that this compound represents a novel and attractive therapeutic agent against MM. This study also illustrates the potential of high-throughput transcriptional screening to identify candidates for anticancer drug discovery.

Alkylphenolic compounds and their effect on the injury rate, survival and acetylcholinesterase activity of the rat neuronal cell line PC12

Most studies on hormonally active agents or endocrine disruptors have been limited to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins. In this paper, we report results of in vitro studies on the effects of alkylphenolic compounds, namely, n-pentylphenol, n-hexylphenol, n-heptylphenol, n-octylphenol, and n-nonylphenol, on the injury rate, survival, and acetylcholinesterase activity of the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Results using the lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay to determine cell injury rate reveal that the alkylphenols mentioned did not induce cell necrosis beyond 30%, even at concentrations as high as 300 muM in a 15-min incubation period. Exposing the cells to alkylphenols for 4 hr and testing for DNA fragmentation showed that nonylphenol and octylphenol also did not induce apoptosis, even at concentrations as high as 500 and 100 muM, respectively. However, incubating the cells with the alkylphenols for 24 hr significantly inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity at concentrations as low as 0.8 muM, with n-octylphenol showing the most significant effect Since it is believed that human exposure to nonylphenol from drinking water is around 0.7 mug day(-1) and that these compounds can accumulate in adipose tissue, this finding may implicate alkylphenols in neurological and behavioral disturbances in both animals and humans.