OPERA tau neutrino charged current interactions

The OPERA experiment was designed to discover the vτ appearance in a vμ beam, due to neutrino oscillations. The detector, located in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, consisted of a nuclear photographic emulsion/lead target with a mass of about 1.25 kt, complemented by electronic detectors. It was exposed from 2008 to 2012 to the CNGS beam: an almost pure vμ beam with a baseline of 730 km, collecting a total of 1.8·1020 protons on target. The OPERA Collaboration eventually assessed the discovery of vμ→vτ oscillations with a statistical significance of 6.1 σ by observing ten vτ CC interaction candidates. These events have been published on the Open Data Portal at CERN. This paper provides a detailed description of the vτ data sample to make it usable by the whole community.

P5463Hyperfiltration could be a risk factor for development of hypertension: A five-year cohort study

Background

Some recent studies showed that hyperfiltration is a risk for cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism is still unknown. This longitudinal study tested the hypothesis that hyperfiltration could be a risk for hypertension.

Methods

This study retrospectively included Japanese healthy adults between 30 and 85 years of age who had medical check-up at our Center for Preventive Medicine, both at enrollment (2004) and at 5-year follow-up (2009). We excluded the subjects with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, or chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) at the baseline. We divided this study subjects into three categories of eGFR (60–80 (reference), 80–100, and 100≤mL/min/1.73 m2), and defined hyperfiltration as more than 100 mL/min/1.73 m2 of eGFR. We used logistic regression analyses to examine risk factors for development of hypertension with multiple adjustments for age, sex, smoking, drinking habits, body mass index, and eGFR categories.

Results

In this study, 6045 subjects without comorbidities (mean age of 47±10 years, 1,842 men) were followed for 5 years. Of those, 450 subjects had developed hypertension. After multiple adjustments, hyperfiltration is a risk for development of hypertension (OR: 1.374; 95% confidence incidence (CI), 1.013–1.864), as well as aging (OR: 1.063; 95% CI, 1.052–1.073), higher BMI (OR: 1.244; 95% CI, 1.200–1.289), and drinking habits (OR: 1.387, 95% CI, 1.117–1.721).

Conclusion

Hyperfiltration carries a significant risk for developing hypertension in Japanese individual without comorbidities. We should take account for hyperfiltration as a risk for hypertension, as well as chronic kidney diseases.

P1683Optimal serum uric acid levels for hypertension: 5-year cohort study

Background

Although hyperuricemia is known as a risk factor for hypertension, the optimal range of serum uric acid (SUA) for preventing hypertension has not been established, especially in a healthy population.

Methods

This is a 5-year cohort study to clarify the optimal SUA for hypertension. Subjects consisted of Japanese adults between 30 and 85 years of age were enrolled in the study at our Center for Preventive Medicine, and available at enrollment (2004) and at 5-year follow-up (2009). We excluded the study subjects who were hypertensive, diabetic, dyslipidemic, had a history of gout or hyperuricemia on medications, or if they had chronic kidney disease as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73m2. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between each 1 mg/dL of serum uric acid range and development of hypertension with multiple adjustments for age, smoking, drinking habits, body mass index and baseline systolic blood pressure.

Results

Of 13,070 subjects enrolled at this step, we included 6,476 subjects (46.9±10.1 years old, 34.6% men) without comorbidities. The cumulative incidences of hypertension over 5 years were 5.9% in women and 12.1% in men. The lowest cumulative incidences of hypertension were 2.6% in 2.0–3.0 mg/dL of serum uric acid in women and 6.9% in 4.0–5.0 mg/dL in men. In contrast, the highest uric acid range showed highest cumulative incidence of hypertension both in women (28.6% in 8.0–9.0 mg/dL) and men (21.0% in ≥9.0 mg/dL). Hypouricemic (<2.0 mg/dL) subjects had higher cumulative incidences of hypertension than subjects with 2.0–3.0 mg/dL of serum uric acid levels, we excluded these subjects in multivariable logistic analysis. The odds ratio of 1 mg/dL increase of serum uric acid for developing hypertension was 1.395 (95% CI, 1.182–1.648) in women and 1.139 (95% CI, 1003–1.294) in men after multiple adjustments.

Conclusion

The optimal serum uric acid range for preventing hypertension was 2.0–3.0 mg/dL in women and 4.0–5.0 mg/dL in men. Higher uric acid levels increase cumulative incidence of hypertension.

Acknowledgement/Funding

None

Final Results of the OPERA Experiment on ν_{τ} Appearance in the CNGS Neutrino Beam

The OPERA experiment was designed to study ν_{μ}→ν_{τ} oscillations in the appearance mode in the CERN to Gran Sasso Neutrino beam (CNGS). In this Letter, we report the final analysis of the full data sample collected between 2008 and 2012, corresponding to 17.97×10^{19} protons on target. Selection criteria looser than in previous analyses have produced ten ν_{τ} candidate events, thus reducing the statistical uncertainty in the measurement of the oscillation parameters and of ν_{τ} properties. A multivariate approach for event identification has been applied to the candidate events and the discovery of ν_{τ} appearance is confirmed with an improved significance level of 6.1σ. |Δm_{32}^{2}| has been measured, in appearance mode, with an accuracy of 20%. The measurement of the ν_{τ} charged-current cross section, for the first time with a negligible contamination from ν[over ¯]_{τ}, and the first direct evidence for the ν_{τ} lepton number are also reported.

Absolute optical responsivity down to the photon counting level with a photomultiplier tube

A novel method is presented for evaluation of the absolute optical responsivity of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) at optical powers down to the photon counting level under visible light. This method is based on a combination of the calibrated responsivity and nonlinearity corrections using a silicon photodiode and a PMT. The evaluation results with the PMT enable accurate determination of the absolute optical responsivity over a wide power range of 10^-11 W to 10^-16 W under visible light. This method provides validation of both the photon counting efficiency of a PMT and of accurate optical measurement with attenuators at the photon counting level.

Pyrite form of group-14 element pernitrides synthesized at high pressure and high temperature

The incompressible pyrite form of group 14 elemental pernitrides synthesized at high pressures and high temperatures.

Synthesis, crystal structure and phase transition of a Xe-N2 compound at high pressure: experimental indication of orbital interaction between xenon and nitrogen

The van der Waals compound Xe(N₂)₂ with a C15 Laves structure was successfully synthesised at pressures greater than 4.4 GPa. We found that, at 10 GPa, the structure reversibly transforms from a cubic to a tetragonal phase. Further compression results in changes of Xe-N compound, which could result in the enhancement of orbital interactions between the xenon and nitrogen atoms.

Contrast-enhanced transabdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of pancreatic mass lesions

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of contrast-enhanced transabdominal ultrasonography (CE-US) in pancreatic mass lesions that could be detected by US.

Material and Methods: CE-US was performed in 37 patients with various pancreatic mass lesions to evaluate the characteristic vascular findings.

Results: Pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma showed negative enhancement pattern in 16 cases and a slight spotty enhancement pattern in 5 cases. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma showed slight homogeneous enhancement pattern in 1 case and acinar cell carcinoma was expressed as a heterogeneous enhancement pattern in 3 cases on CE-US. Endocrine cell tumor had a strong homogeneous enhancement pattern in 3 cases, a strong central enhancement in 1 case and a strong peripheral enhancement in 2 cases. Pseudotumorous pancreatitis showed an iso-enhancement pattern in 6 cases.

Conclusion: CE-US is useful in evaluating the vascularity of the lesions in various pancreatic mass lesions in real-time images, and may be useful for the differential diagnosis of pancreatic mass lesions.

Evaluation of contraceptive methods in women with congenital heart disease in Germany, Hungary and Japan

AIMS

For women with congenital heart defects (CHD), pregnancy may pose a health risk. Sexually active women with CHD without the desire for own children or for whom pregnancy would imply considerable health risks require adequate counselling regarding appropriate contraception. This study gathers data on the contraceptive behaviour of women with CHD from three different cultural regions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

634 women with CHD from Germany, Hungary and Japan were surveyed regarding contraception and contraceptive methods (CM) used. The patients were divided into groups according to different criteria such as pregnancy associated cardiovascular risk or "safety" of the contraceptive methods used. 59% of the study participants had already gained experience with CM. The average age at the first time of use was 18.4 years; the German patients were significantly younger at the first time of using a CM than those from Hungary and Japan. Overall the condom was the method used the most (38%), followed by oral contraceptives (30%) and coitus interruptus (11%). The range of CM used in Japan was much smaller than that in Germany or Hungary. Unsafe contraceptives were currently, or had previously been used, by 29% of the surveyed patients (Germany: 25%, Hungary: 37%, Japan: 32%).

CONCLUSION

Most women with CHD use CM. There are differences between the participating countries. Adequate contraceptive counselling of women with CHD requires considering the individual characteristics of each patient, including potential contraindications. For choosing an appropriate CM, both the methods' "safety", as well as the maternal cardiovascular risk, are important.

Discovery of τ Neutrino Appearance in the CNGS Neutrino Beam with the OPERA Experiment

The OPERA experiment was designed to search for ν_{μ}→ν_{τ} oscillations in appearance mode, i.e., by detecting the τ leptons produced in charged current ν_{τ} interactions. The experiment took data from 2008 to 2012 in the CERN Neutrinos to Gran Sasso beam. The observation of the ν_{μ}→ν_{τ} appearance, achieved with four candidate events in a subsample of the data, was previously reported. In this Letter, a fifth ν_{τ} candidate event, found in an enlarged data sample, is described. Together with a further reduction of the expected background, the candidate events detected so far allow us to assess the discovery of ν_{μ}→ν_{τ} oscillations in appearance mode with a significance larger than 5σ.

Hyaluronic acid pretreatment for Sendai virus-mediated cochlear gene transfer

Gene therapy with viral vectors is one of the most promising strategies for sensorineural hearing loss. However, safe and effective administration of the viral vector into cochlear tissue is difficult because of the anatomical isolation of the cochlea. We investigated the efficiency and safety of round window membrane (RWM) application of Sendai virus, one of the most promising non-genotoxic vectors, after pretreatment with hyaluronic acid (HA) on the RWM to promote efficient viral translocation into the cochlea. Sendai virus expressing the green fluorescent protein reporter gene was detected throughout cochlear tissues following application combined with HA pretreatment. Quantitative analysis revealed that maximum expression was reached 3 days after treatment. The efficiency of transgene expression was several 100-fold greater with HA pretreatment than that without. Furthermore, unlike the conventional intracochlear delivery methods, this approach did not cause hearing loss. These findings reveal the potential utility of gene therapy with Sendai virus and HA for treatment of sensorineural hearing loss.

Isolation and characterization of halophilic lactic acid bacteria acting as a starter culture for sauce fermentation of the red alga Nori (Porphyra yezoensis)

AIMS

A screening test was conducted for environmental samples to isolate halophilic lactic acid bacteria (HLAB) that can act as a starter in a Nori (Porphyra yezoensis)-sauce culture.

METHOD AND RESULTS

After 9 months of incubation of enrichment cultures added with 25 kinds of environmental samples, growth of HLAB-like microorganisms was observed in six cultures salted at a 15% w/w level, including culture samples originally from mesopelagic water taken from 321 m-depth and from mountain snow taken at 2450 m-height. Ten strains were isolated and characterized as Tetragenococcus halophilus based on sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. The isolates were inoculated into a newly prepared Nori-sauce culture and were confirmed to be able to act as a starter culture while three reference strains of T. halophilus obtained from a culture collection could not grow in the same culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Halophilic lactic acid bacteria strains that can make growth in a highly salted Nori-sauce culture were isolated from environmental samples for the first time. All the isolates were identified as T. halophilus.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The isolated strains are expected to be utilized as a starter culture for manufacturing fermented seaweed-sauce, which will be the first fermented food products obtained from algae.

Glucose requirement at different developmental stages of in vitro fertilized bovine embryos cultured in semi-defined medium

Three experiments were conducted in which 2-cell bovine embryos were prepared from oocytes, obtained from abattoir ovaries, by in-vitro maturation for 22 to 24 hours, followed by exposure to spermatozoa for 8 hours and culture for 40 hours within the cumulus. The cumulus cells were then removed, and the cleaved embryos were cultured for a further 120 hours or longer, in the presence or absence of glucose, pyruvate and lactate. Very few embryos developed in the complete absence of energy substrates. Lactate and pyruvate, alone or combined, supported development to the 8-cell stage, but pyruvate was required to support development to the morula stage (Experiment 1). When present throughout culture or when added at 48 or 96 hours postinsemination, 5.56 mM glucose was detrimental to development (Experiments 1 and 2). However, when added at 120 hours postinsemination, 5.56 mM glucose improved development to the blastocyst and expanded blastocyst stages, compared with no glucose or 11.12 mM glucose (Experiment 3).

Risk factors for maternal outcome in pregnancy complicated with dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

The goal of the study was to determine risk factors for maternal cardiac failure in pregnancy complicated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

STUDY DESIGN

The subjects were 29 patients diagnosed with DCM before conception or during the first 7 months of pregnancy. DCM was defined as left ventricle end-diastolic dimension (LVDd)≥48 mm and/or fractional shortening (%FS)≤30% on echocardiography. Patients were followed until at least 1 year after delivery and were categorized into a poor prognosis group (n=6; death or end stage heart failure of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV) and a good prognosis group (n=23; all other cases).

RESULT

DCM was initially diagnosed during pregnancy in 6/6 and 8/23 patients in the poor and good prognosis groups, respectively (P<0.005). The %FS of the first test during pregnancy was 17.5±6.2 and 27.4±9.3% in the respective groups (P<0.005). In eight abortion cases with %FS 15.2±3.1%, %FS, cardiac function and NYHA class were maintained until 20 months after abortion. There was no relationship between LVDd and maternal outcome.

CONCLUSION

Onset during pregnancy and decreased %FS are risk factors for a poor maternal outcome in patients with DCM. Abortion prevents further deterioration of cardiac function in patients with a very low %FS.

Genetic relationships between Japanese native and commercial breeds using 70 chicken autosomal SNP genotypes by the DigiTag2 assay

Recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been used to identify genes or genomic regions responsible for economic traits, including genetic diseases in domestic animals, and to examine genetic diversity of populations. In this study, we genotyped 70 chicken autosomal SNPs using DigiTag2 assay to understand the genetic structure of the Japanese native chicken breeds Satsumadori and Ingie, and the relationship of these breeds with other established breeds, Rhode Island Red (RIR), commercial broiler and layer. Five breeds, each consisting of approximately 20 chickens, were subjected to the assay, revealing the following: Average expected heterozygosities of broiler, Satsumadori, RIR, layer and Ingie were 0.265, 0.254, 0.244, 0.179 and 0.176, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis using the concatenated 70 autosomal SNP genotypes distinguished all chickens and formed clusters of chickens belonging to the respective breeds. In addition, the 2-D scatter plot of the first two principal components was consistent with the phylogenic tree. Taken together with the pairwise F(st) distances, broiler and RIR were closely positioned near each other, while Ingie was positioned far from the other breeds. Structure analysis revealed that the probable number of genetic clusters (K) was six and four with maximum likelihood and ΔK values, respectively. The clustering with maximum likelihood revealed that, in addition to the clustering of the other five breeds, the Satsumadori was subdivided into two genetic clusters. The clustering with ΔK value indicated that the broiler and Rhode Island Red were assigned to the same genetic cluster.

Combining FIB milling and conventional Argon ion milling techniques to prepare high-quality site-specific TEM samples for quantitative EELS analysis of oxygen in molten iron

This paper reports a procedure to combine the focused ion beam micro-sampling method with conventional Ar-milling to prepare high-quality site-specific transmission electron microscopy cross-section samples. The advantage is to enable chemical and structural evaluations of oxygen dissolved in a molten iron sample to be made after quenching and recovery from high-pressure experiments in a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The evaluations were performed by using electron energy-loss spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The high signal to noise ratios of electron energy-loss spectroscopy core-loss spectra from the transmission electron microscopy thin foil, re-thinned down to 40 nm in thickness by conventional Argon ion milling, provided us with oxygen quantitative analyses of the quenched molten iron phase. In addition, we could obtain lattice-fringe images using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The electron energy-loss spectroscopy analysis of oxygen in Fe(0.94)O has been carried out with a relative accuracy of 2%, using an analytical procedure proposed for foils thinner than 80 nm. Oxygen K-edge energy-loss near-edge structure also allows us to identify the specific phase that results from quenching and its electronic structure by the technique of fingerprinting of the spectrum with reference spectra in the Fe-O system.

Nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate signaling in the local circuit of the cricket abdominal nervous system

The distribution of potential nitric oxide (NO) donor neurons and NO-responsive target neurons was revealed in the terminal abdominal ganglion (TAG) of the cricket. The expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the nervous system was examined by Western blotting using universal nitric oxide synthase (uNOS) antibody that gave about a 130 kDa protein band. Immunohistochemistry using the uNOS antibody detected neurons whose cell bodies are located at the lateral region of the TAG. These neurons expanded their neuronal branches into the dorsal-median region or the dorsal-lateral region of the TAG. NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was performed to confirm the distribution of NOS-containing neurons. The distributions of cell bodies and stained neuronal branches were similar to those revealed by uNOS immunohistochemistry. NO-induced cGMP immunohistochemistry was performed to reveal NO-responsive target neurons. Most of the cell bodies stained by immunohistochemistry appeared at the dorsal side of the TAG. At the dorsal-median region, some unpaired neuronal cell bodies were strongly stained. Some efferent neurons whose axon innervate into each nerve root were strongly stained. The generation of NO in the TAG was detected by NO electrode. We found that NO is generally produced to maintain a basal concentration of 70 nM. Hemoglobin scavenged released NO from the ganglion. The concentration of NO was partly recovered when hemoglobin was replaced by normal saline. Application of 10 microM L-arginine that is a substrate of NOS increased NO release by approximately 10 nM. Furthermore, an excitatory neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) also increased NO generation by approximately 40-50 nM in concentration in addition to the basal level of 70 nM. Optical imaging with fluorescent NO-indicator demonstrated that ACh-induced enhancement of NO release was transiently observed in the outer-edge region of TAG, where cell bodies of NOS-immunoreactive neurons were located. These results suggest that ACh accelerates NO production via neuronal events activated by ACh in the TAG.

Effect of chondroitin sulfate C on sperm capacitation and fertilization parameters in vitro in pigs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of chondroitin sulfate C (CS-C) on sperm capacitation and fertilization parameters in vitro in pigs. Frozen-thawed ejaculated pig sperm (semen S-484) were incubated with fertilization medium containing CS-C (0-2mg/ml) for 1h and the capacitation rate with chlorotetracycline (CTC) assay was examined, which showed that CS-C increased the rate of incapacitation F pattern spermatozoa converted to capacitation B pattern sperm cell in concentration-dependent manner and mostly increased capacitation B pattern sperm cell and decreased acrosome reaction AR pattern sperm cell in 1mg/ml concentration. When sperm was incubated for 1, 2 and 4h in fertilization medium containing 1mg/ml CS-C, it showed that the capacitated B pattern sperm cell was significantly (p<0.01) increased and the AR pattern sperm cell was significantly decreased at each time point in the presence than in the absence of CS-C. For identifying the validity of CS-C in sperm capacitation, sperm-oocyte was inseminated in fertilization medium containing CS-C (0-2mg/ml) and the rate of fertilized oocytes was examined, which showed that the penetration rates significantly (p<0.05) increased from 0.5 to 1.0mg/ml concentrations (87.4-96.3%) compared with control (74.9%). For identifying the universality of CS-C in sperm capacitation, four different semens (boar S-484, S-454, D-815 and D-748) were incubated in fertilization medium containing CS-C (1mg/ml) for 2h, respectively, which showed that CS-C increased the rate of capacitation B pattern sperm cell and decreased acrosome reaction AR pattern sperm cell in each semen. And it showed that CS-C yielded a higher promote effect (93.9%, 83.9%, 60.7% and 44.9%, respectively) on sperm penetration compared to unaddition control (63.4%, 22.0%, 3.3% and 3.3%, respectively). Sperm-oocyte binding analysis showed that CS-C increased the number of sperm bound to oocyte compared unaddition control in each semen. These results suggested that CS-C is the efficient factor on sperm capacitation in pigs, CS-C may promote sperm from the incapacitated to capacitated state and sequentially prevent sperm from spontaneous acrosome reaction, and thus facilitate the sperm-zona binding and sperm penetration to oocyte.

Clinical implication of medroxyprogesterone acetate against advanced ovarian carcinoma: a pilot study

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

The present study was performed to identify the effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) plus adjuvant chemotherapy on advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (FIGO Stage III/IV).

METHODS

A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study. A relatively low dose of MPA (200 mg/day) after surgery was administered in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy and the treatment was continued for two years. Patients' backgrounds were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Relapse-free survival (p < 0.05) and overall survival (p < 0.001) rates in FIGO Stage III/IV ovarian cancer patients with MPA combined chemotherapy were significantly longer than the control group. The effect was more prominent in the higher progesterone receptor expression group. The chemotherapy regimens (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and cisplatin vs paraplatin plus cyclophosphamide or paclitaxel) did not affect prognosis.

CONCLUSION

MPA with platinum-based chemotherapy as an adjuvant therapy might improve the prognosis in FIGO Stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer cases. A randomized controlled study is still needed for further analyses.

Effects of selective estrogen receptor modulators and genistein on the expression of ERalpha/beta and COX-1/2 in ovarectomized mouse uteri

This study was performed to examine the effects of selective estrogen receptor modulators [tamoxifen (TAM) and toremifene (TOR)] and pure anti-estrogen, ICI-182780 (ICI, Faslodex) and soybean isoflavone, genistein (GE) on the expression of estrogen-stimulated c-fos/jun, ERalpha/beta and COX-1/2 in the uteri of ovarectomized mice. TAM, TOR, ICI and GE treatment significantly decreased the levels of estradiol (E2)-induced c-fos. ICI and GE treatment significantly decreased the levels of E2-induced c-jun and ERalpha expressions. High doses of TOR treatment significantly increased the E2-induced ERbeta expression. In contrast, ICI and GE treatment significantly decreased the levels of E,-induced COX-2 expression, thus suggesting that TOR and GE might prevent E2-related endometrial carcinogenesis.

Primary endodermal sinus tumor of the vulva in a 52-year-old woman with long-term survival: a case report

A postmenopausal 52-year-old Japanese woman with a 5-month history of a right labial tumor was referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The resected tumor had been diagnosed as a primary endodermal sinus tumor of the vulva with pT2N0M0 in 2001. Six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy using bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin were administered. The patient was free of recurrence or metastasis 67 months after the initial treatment.

Pseudomyxoma peritonei and mucinous pyometral fluid arising from an ovarian borderline mucinous tumor: case report

An extremely rare case of a pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) and mucinous pyometral fluid, possibly arising from an ovarian borderline mucinous tumor is reported. A 68-year-old Japanese patient received an expolatory laparatomy under a working diagnosis of a PMP, left ovarian cystic tumor and an umbilical hernia. Surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy induced a 15-month disease-free condition.

Primary lymphoma of the uterine corpus: an unusual location for a common disease--case report

A case of a primary uterine corpus lymphoma in a 75-year-old woman is described. Immunohistochemical studies showed diffuse large B-cell type one. Primary lymphoma of the uterine corpus is considered to be an unusual location for a common disease.

Electron microscopic investigation on the osteogenesis at titanium implant/bone marrow interface under masticatory loading

Electron microscopic investigation on osteogenetic process at the implant surface of threadless rod-type titanium implants with different surface roughness of Ra 0.4 +/- 0.01 microm, Sm 2.6 +/- 0.3 microm and Ra 2.0 +/- 0.12 microm, Sm 36 +/- 9.1 microm was performed at the early stage of 21 and 42 days post implantation into the jawbones of four beagles under the load bearing condition of functional mastication. The implant surfaces were covered with a blood clot and haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) including phagocytic monocytes immediately after the implantation. Successively, osteogenic stem cells (OSC) migrated from cortical and/or trabecular endosteum to the HSC-layer on the implant surface. The new bone formation at the implant/bone marrow interface was developed by collaboration of osteomediator cells (OMC) differentiated from monocytes of HSC and osteoblast phenotype cells of OSC derived from endosteum of cortical bone and/or trabecular. The new bone layer at the implant surface consisted of two layers, solution-mediated calcification layer of pseudo bone and cell (osteoblast) -mediated calcification layer of true bone. The pseudo bone was produced by solution-mediated calcification of OMC- and HSC-remnants near by the implant surface. The bone healing process at the implant/bone marrow interface depended upon two factors; the migration of OSC from cortical and/or trabecular endosteum to the implant surface and the healing potentiality. Topographic dependency upon the bone healing potential at implant/bone marrow interface was not confirmed in this experiment under the load bearing condition of functional mastication.

The right ventricle in congenital heart disease

In patients with congenital heart disease the right ventricle (RV) may support the pulmonary (subpulmonary RV) or the systemic circulation (systemic RV). During the last 50 years evidence is accumulating that RV dysfunction develops in many of these patients and leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. Therefore RV function in certain groups of congenital heart disease patients needs close surveillance and timely and appropriate intervention to optimise outcomes. Despite major progress being made, assessing the RV either in the subpulmonary or the systemic circulation remains challenging, often requiring a multi-imaging approach and expertise (echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear and occasionally invasive assessment with angiography). This review discusses the implications of volume and pressure loading of the RV in the context of congenital heart disease and describes the most relevant imaging modalities for monitoring RV function.

Generation of Fertile and Diploid Fish, Medaka (Oryzias latipes), from Nuclear Transplantation of Blastula and Four-Somite-Stage Embryonic Cells into Nonenucleated Unfertilized Eggs

In two experimental series of transplantation of embryonic cell nuclei into nonenucleated unfertilized eggs in medaka (Oryzias latipes), fertile and diploid nuclear transplants were successfully generated. In the first experiment, nuclei from blastula cells of a medaka stock with the wild-type body color were transplanted into 1722 eggs from the orange-red variety. Of 26 adult nuclear transplants with the wild-type body color, 22 were, as expected, triploid and sterile, but the other four were fertile. Three of the four were diploid, and the last one was tetraploid. They transmitted the wild-type body color to the F1 and F2 progenies in a Mendelian fashion. In the second experiment, cell nuclei from four-somite-stage embryos of the orangered variety carrying the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene were transplanted into 1688 recipients of the same strain. Three adult nuclear transplants expressing GFP were obtained. Two of them were triploid and sterile, but the remaining one was fertile and diploid. The transgene of the donor nuclei was transmitted to the F(1) and F(2) offspring in a Mendelian fashion. These observations that diploid and fertile nuclear transplants could be obtained without enucleation of the recipient eggs may have important implications for future nuclear transplantation in medaka.

Infective endocarditis in congenital heart disease: Japanese national collaboration study

OBJECTIVE

To provide pure cohorts of paediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and infective endocarditis (IE) for making future guidelines.

DESIGN

Japanese nationwide survey.

SETTING

66 Japanese institutions.

PATIENTS

170 children, mean (SD) age 7.4 (5.7) years (range 14 days to 17 years), and 69 adults, age 32.5 (14.1) years (range 18-69) who developed IE between 1997 and 2001 (one in 240 admissions with CHD).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical presentation of IE.

RESULTS

119 patients including 88 with cyanotic CHD had previous cardiac surgery. Procedures preceding IE were dental (12%) followed by cardiovascular surgery (8%). Sites of infection were left sided in 46% and right sided in 51%. Vegetation with diameter of 11 mm was documented in 151 (63%). Frequent complications were embolic events (stroke 11%, other emboli 20%) and cardiac failure (23%). The most common microorganisms were streptococci (50%) and staphylococci (37%) with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 7.5%. Empirical treatments were penicillins (alone or with other antibiotics 57%) followed by cephems (22%) and vancomycin (11%). Surgery during active IE was common (26%), with vegetation (45%) and heart failure (29%) as the most frequent indications. Mortality was 8.8%: 8.0% among patients who received medical treatment alone and 11.1% among those with active IE who underwent surgery. The causes of death (n = 21) were surgery (7), infection (7), cardiac failure (6), and renal failure (1).

CONCLUSIONS

Because of a recent increase in the incidence of IE and high mortality and complication rate, it is mandatory to establish well formulated recommendations for management of IE in paediatric and adult patients with CHD based on a large cohort. Results of this nationwide multicentre database should be helpful in establishing guidelines.

Mutations affecting the formation of posterior lateral line system in Medaka, Oryzias latipes

We performed a systematic screen for mutations affecting the trajectory of axons visualized by immunohistochemical staining of Medaka embryos with anti-acetylated tubulin antibody. Among the mutations identified, yanagi (yan) and kazura (kaz) mutations caused specific defects in projection of the posterior lateral line (PLL) nerve. In yan and kaz mutant embryos, the PLL nerve main bundle was misrouted ventrally and dorsally or anteriorly. Medaka semaphorin3A, sdf1, and cxcr4 cDNA fragments were cloned to allow analysis of these mutants. There were no changes in semaphorin3A or sdf1 expression in mutant embryos, suggesting that the tissues expressing semaphorin3A or sdf1 that are involved in PLL nerve guidance are present in these mutant embryos. Double staining revealed that the mislocated PLL primordium and growth cone of the ectopically projected PLL nerve were always colocalized in both yan and kaz mutant embryos, suggesting that migration of PLL primordia and PLL nerve growth cones are not uncoupled in these mutants. Although homozygous yan larvae showed incomplete migration of the PLL primordium along the anteroposterior axis, ventral proneuromast migration was complete, suggesting that ventral migration of the proneuromast does not require the signaling affected in yan mutants. In addition to the PLL system, the distribution of primordial germ cells (PGCs) was also affected in both yan and kaz mutant embryos, indicating that yan and kaz genes are required for the migration of both PLL primordia and PGCs. Genetic linkage analysis indicated that kaz is linked to cxcr4, but yan is not linked to sdf1 or cxcr4. These mutations will provide genetic clues to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying formation of the PLL system.

A systematic genome-wide screen for mutations affecting organogenesis in Medaka, Oryzias latipes

A large-scale mutagenesis screen was performed in Medaka to identify genes acting in diverse developmental processes. Mutations were identified in homozygous F3 progeny derived from ENU-treated founder males. In addition to the morphological inspection of live embryos, other approaches were used to detect abnormalities in organogenesis and in specific cellular processes, including germ cell migration, nerve tract formation, sensory organ differentiation and DNA repair. Among 2031 embryonic lethal mutations identified, 312 causing defects in organogenesis were selected for further analyses. From these, 126 mutations were characterized genetically and assigned to 105 genes. The similarity of the development of Medaka and zebrafish facilitated the comparison of mutant phenotypes, which indicated that many mutations in Medaka cause unique phenotypes so far unrecorded in zebrafish. Even when mutations of the two fish species cause a similar phenotype such as one-eyed-pinhead or parachute, more genes were found in Medaka than in zebrafish that produced the same phenotype when mutated. These observations suggest that many Medaka mutants represent new genes and, therefore, are important complements to the collection of zebrafish mutants that have proven so valuable for exploring genomic function in development.

Mutations affecting thymus organogenesis in Medaka, Oryzias latipes

The thymus is an organ for T lymphocyte maturation and is indispensable for the establishment of a highly developed immune system in vertebrates. In order to genetically dissect thymus organogenesis, we carried out a large-scale mutagenesis screening for Medaka mutations affecting recombination activating gene 1 (rag1) expression in the developing thymus. We identified 24 mutations, defining at least 13 genes, which led to a marked reduction of rag1 expression in the thymus. As thymus development depends on pharyngeal arches, we classified those mutations into three classes according to the defects in the pharyngeal arches. Class 1 mutants had no or slight morphological abnormalities in the pharyngeal arches, implying that the mutations may include defects in such thymus-specific events as lymphocyte development and thymic epithelial cell maturation. Class 2 mutants had abnormally shaped pharyngeal arches. Class 3 mutants showed severely attenuated pharyngeal arch development. In Class 2 and Class 3 mutants, the defects in thymus development may be due to abnormal pharyngeal arch development. Those mutations are expected to be useful for identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying thymus organogenesis.

Outcome of fertility-preserving treatment in young women with endometrial carcinomas

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of conservative treatment of young women with endometrial cancer.

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Gifu University Hospital, Japan from 1988 to 2002.

POPULATION

Twelve women with endometrial cancer, FIGO IA estimated by MRI under 35 years.

METHODS

Patients were treated with medroxyprogestreone acetate (400-600 mg/day) for 6-10 months, with endometrial curettage performed every four weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Response to therapy, pregnancies and reoccurrence of disease during follow up over a 30-month period.

RESULTS

All cases had pathological complete remissions within 6-10 months. Seven of 10 wishing to have babies conceived, and five of them were delivered of full-term babies. Eight of nine cases receiving long term follow up (over 30 months) developed recurrent disease, with four opting for hysterectomy. No patient developed distant metastases or had disease-related death.

CONCLUSION

Conservative therapy is feasible in carefully selected young women with endometrial cancer. Recurrence rates were high during long term observation even after pathological complete remissions. Therefore, close follow up is recommended.

Mutations affecting early distribution of primordial germ cells in Medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryo

The development of germ cells has been intensively studied in Medaka (Oryzias latipes). We have undertaken a large-scale screen to identify mutations affecting the development of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in Medaka. Embryos derived from mutagenized founder fish were screened for an abnormal distribution or number of PGCs at embryonic stage 27 by RNA in situ hybridization for the Medaka vasa homologue (olvas). At this stage, PGCs coalesce into two bilateral vasa-expressing foci in the ventrolateral regions of the trunk after their migration and group organization. Nineteen mutations were identified from a screen corresponding to 450 mutagenized haploid genomes. Eleven of the mutations caused altered PGC distribution. Most of these alterations were associated with morphological abnormalities and could be grouped into four phenotypic classes: Class 1, PGCs dispersed into bilateral lines; Class 2, PGCs dispersed in a region more medial than that in Class 1; Class 3, PGCs scattered laterally and over the yolk sac area; and Class 4, PGCs clustered in a single median focus. Eight mutations caused a decrease in the number of PGCs. This decrease was observed in the offspring of heterozygous mothers, indicating the contribution of a maternal factor in determining PGC abundance. Taken together, these mutations should prove useful in identifying molecular mechanisms underlying the early PGC development and migration.