Short communication: Effects of feeding purple corn (Zea mays L.) silage on productivity and blood superoxide dismutase concentration in lactating cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding purple corn (Zea mays L.) silage on productivity and blood superoxide dismutase concentration in lactating cows. We hypothesized that feeding purple corn silage (AX-152; Nagano Animal Industry Experiment Station, Nagano, Japan, and Takii and Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), which is high in anthocyanin content, would increase milk production and blood concentration of superoxide dismutase. We assigned 16 Holstein cows (8 primiparous and 8 multiparous) in mid lactation to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized block design, with efforts to balance parity, body weight, and days in milk between treatments. Experimental diets contained either purple corn silage [PCS; 31.2% dry matter (DM), 8.4% crude protein, 40.2% neutral detergent fiber, and 26.6% starch] or conventional corn silage (CONT; 30.5% dry matter, 8.7% crude protein, 42.1% neutral detergent fiber, and 26.5% starch) at approximately 32% of diet DM. Both PCS and CONT were ensiled for 5 mo before the study. Treatment diets were fed as total mixed rations ad libitum for 12 wk from February 1 to April 25, 2016. Cows fed the PCS had increased milk yield (31.7 vs. 29.2 kg/d) and blood superoxide dismutase concentrations (9,333 vs. 8,467 U/mL) compared with those fed CONT. However, anthocyanin concentration in the PCS decreased over the 12-wk experiment: 70 mg/kg of DM for the first 4 wk, 20 mg/kg of DM for the second 4 wk, and undetectable for the last 4 wk. We did not detect anthocyanins in the CONT group at any time point. Feeding PCS may increase antioxidant capacity and milk production in dairy cows, but anthocyanin in PCS may be degraded during storage.

Novel prognostic prediction models for patients with stage IV colorectal cancer after concurrent curative resection

BACKGROUND

We developed a prediction tool for recurrence and survival in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) following surgically curative resection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From January 1983 to December 2012, 113 patients with CRC and synchronous liver and/or lung metastatic CRC were investigated at the Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases. All patients underwent curative resection of primary and metastatic lesions. In the group of patients who underwent surgery from 1983 to 2008, a Cox regression model was used to develop prediction models for 1-year, 3-year and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). In the other group of patients who underwent surgery from 2009 to 2012, the developed prediction model was validated.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis of clinicopathological factors showed that the following factors were significantly correlated with CSS and RFS: preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, tumour location, pathologically defined tumour invasion and lymph node metastasis, and synchronous metastatic lesions. Using these variables, novel prediction models predicting CSS and RFS were constructed using the Cox regression model with concordance indexes of 0.802 for CSS and 0.631 for RFS. The prediction models were validated by external data sets in an independent patient group.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed novel and reliable personalised prognostic models, integrating tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) factors as well as the preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, tumour location and metastatic lesions, to predict patients' prognosis following surgically curative resection. This individualised prediction model may help clinicians in the treatment of postoperative stage IV CRC following surgically curative resection.

Anatomical versus non-anatomical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The optimal surgical resection method in patients with HCC to minimize the risk of local recurrence has not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to compare the prognosis following anatomical versus non-anatomical hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with HCC without macroscopic vascular invasion, treated by curative resection between 1981 and 2012 at Osaka Medical Centre, were included in this retrospective study. The outcomes of patients selected by propensity score matching were compared.

RESULTS

Some 1102 patients were included, 577 in the anatomical and 525 in the non-anatomical resection group. By propensity score matching, 329 patients were selected into each group. Demographic, preoperative and tumour variables were similar between the propensity score-matched groups, including tumour size, tumour multiplicity, α-fetoprotein level and 15-min indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min. The incidence of microvascular invasion was higher in the matched anatomical resection group (P = 0·048). Stratified analysis of recurrence-free and overall survival rates revealed no statistically significant differences between the two propensity score-matched groups (P = 0·704 and P = 0·381 respectively). There was also no significant difference in the early recurrence rate within 2 years after resection between these groups (P = 0·726). Subset analysis of the early recurrence-free survival rate in patients with and without microvascular invasion revealed no significant differences between the groups (P = 0·312 and P = 0·479 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The resection method had no impact on the risk of HCC recurrence or survival.

Hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor regulates glucagon secretion mediated by pancreatic efferent nerves

Understanding the molecular mechanism of the regulation of glucagon secretion is critical for treating the dysfunction of α cells observed in diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 analogues reduce plasma glucagon and are assumed to contribute to their action to lower blood glucose. It has previously been demonstrated that the central administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) improves glucose metabolism by a mechanism independent of feeding behaviour in obese subjects. Using male rats, we examined whether BDNF influences glucagon secretion from α cells via the the central nervous system. We investigate whether: (i) the central infusion of BDNF stimulates glucagon and/or insulin secretion via the pancreatic efferent nerve from the hypothalamus; (ii) the intraportal infusion of GLP-1 regulates glucose metabolism via the central and peripheral nervous system; and (iii) BDNF receptor and/or BDNF-positive fibres are localised near α cells of islets. The portal glucagon level decreased with the central administration of BDNF (n = 6, in each; P < 0.05); in contrast, there was no significant change in portal insulin, peripheral glucagon and insulin levels with the same treatment. This reduction of glucagon secretion was abolished by pancreatic efferent denervation (n = 6, in each; P < 0.05). In an immunohistochemical study, pancreatic α cells were stained specifically with BDNF and tyrosine-related kinase B, a specific receptor for BDNF, and α cells were also co-localised with BDNF. Moreover, intraportal administration of GLP-1 decreased glucagon secretion, as well as blood glucose, whereas it increased the BDNF content in the pancreas; these effects were inhibited with the central infusion of BDNF antibody (n = 6, in each; P < 0.05). BDNF and GLP-1 affect glucose metabolism and modulate glucagon secretion from pancreatic α cells via the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Visualization of lenticulostriate arteries by flow-sensitive black-blood MR angiography on a 1.5 T MRI system: a comparative study between subjects with and without stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The branches of the LSA are the main causative arteries for lacunar infarction, though the vascular changes are largely unknown. Herein, we examined the correlation of LSA imaging findings in patients with lacunar infarction compared with controls by using FSBB-MRA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen patients (9 men, 6 women; mean age, 73 years) with infarction at the basal ganglia and/or its vicinity were prospectively enrolled, and 12 aged-matched control subjects (6 men, 6 women; mean age, 68 years) were examined by using FSBB-MRA on a 1.5T MR imaging system. Total number and length of visualized LSA branches were compared by a 2-tailed 2-sample t test. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking history, and diabetes mellitus after evaluation of their colinearity. P<.05 after correction for multiple comparisons was considered significant.

RESULTS

Patients with stroke had significantly fewer LSA branches (average, 6.3; 95% CI, 5.4-7.1) than controls (8.7; 95% CI, 7.8-9.5) (P=.0003). The total LSA lengths were 117 mm (95% CI, 96-138 mm) for patients with stroke and 162 mm (95% CI, 133-91 mm) for control subjects (P=.01). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, only the LSA branch numbers were significantly related to infarction (P=.0003), while only hypertension was significantly related to total LSA length (P=.0085).

CONCLUSIONS

Using FSBB-MRA to visualize LSA branches, we found a significant reduction in the numbers of LSA branches in patients with stroke, and hypertension was inversely related to total LSA length. FSBB is a promising method to investigate the LSA by using 1.5T MR imaging.

Evaluation of CT angiography for visualisation of the lenticulostriate artery: difference between normotensive and hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVE

High-resolution CT angiography (CTA) is currently available using multidetector row CT (MDCT); however, its use for small artery visualisation has been limited. To evaluate its capability, we investigated CTA visualisation for difference in number of the lenticulostriate artery (LSA) branches between normotensive and hypertensive patients, because hypertension is a major cause of LSA damage.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study evaluating cerebrovascular CTA at our hospital conducted from February 2008 to June 2009 under approval of the institutional review board. 117 patients (39 males and 78 females, 19-88 years old) were included. CTA was conducted using a 64 channel MDCT. Total numbers of LSA branches were examined for differences by age with regression analysis and the presence or absence of hypertension and/or aneurysm using two-sample t-tests. A p-value <0.016 was considered statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. A multiple variable analysis of three factors was also conducted.

RESULTS

The average number of LSA branches was 3.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0-4.1] and 4.4 (95% CI 4.1-4.7), respectively, for a patient with and without history of hypertension, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.013). The difference was approximately one branch in the multiple variable analysis. No significant correlation was observed for age and no significant difference was observed for the presence or absence of aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrast-enhanced CTA can visualise significant differences in the number of LSA branches among patients with and without hypertension. Advances in knowledge Current high-resolution CTA can visualise LSA well, which enables finding a difference in the LSA between normotensive subjects and hypertensive patients.

T cells affect thymic involution during puberty by inducing regression of the adrenal reticularis

The thymus involutes after puberty, although the mechanism by which this process occurs remains poorly understood. The profile of thymic involution, which is inversely correlated with an increase in peripheral T cells, may indicate that the accumulation of T cells in the periphery is related to thymic atrophy. In this study, it was shown that the prevention of T cell generation delayed the initiation of thymic involution. The activation of T cells increased the serum concentration of glucocorticoid (GC) and thymic involution, which was completely prevented by adrenalectomy. In the adrenals of growing mice, the activity of the zona fasciculata, which produces GC, increased and plateaued by the weaning period; however, the zona reticularis (ZR), which produces dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) that has anti-GC actions, started to decline just before puberty. Thymic atrophy was preceded by the infiltration of activated T cells into the ZR and by the loss of ZR cells. Thus, T cells are involved in thymic involution, a process which was retarded by DHEA administration, through an increase in GC activity due to ZR cell-killing.

Prevention of gastroduodenal content reflux and delayed gastric emptying after esophagectomy: gastric tube reconstruction with duodenal diversion plus Roux-en-Y anastomosis

Reflux of gastroduodenal contents and delayed gastric emptying are the most common and serious problems after esophagectomy with gastric reconstruction. However, attempts to reduce the above symptoms, surgically as well as non-surgically, had no or limited effect. To address this issue, we performed retrosternal gastric reconstruction with duodenal diversion plus Roux-en-Y anastomosis (RY) in eight patients with thoracic esophageal cancer and compared the outcomes with control patients who underwent standard reconstruction. The procedure is simple, safe, and not associated with any postoperative complications. The pancreatic amylase concentrations in the gastric juice samples on postoperative day 2 were slightly lower in the non-RY group than in the RY group (1884 ± 2152 vs. 25,790 ± 23,542IU/mL, respectively, P= 0.07). Postoperative endoscopic examination showed neither reflux esophagitis nor residual gastric content in the RY group. Quality of life assessed by the Dysfunction After Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery-32 questionnaire postoperatively was significantly better in the RY group than in the non-RY group for 'decreased physical activity,''symptoms of reflux,''nausea and vomiting,' and 'pain.' The results of this pilot study suggest that gastric reconstruction with duodenal diversion plus RY seems effective in improving both the reflux and delayed gastric emptying. The benefits of this procedure need to be further assessed in a large-scale, randomized controlled trial.

The significance of abdominal para-aortic lymph node metastasis in patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer

Para-aortic lymph node (PALN) recurrence is often seen in patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer treated by esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection. However, the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with PALN metastasis and the significance of PALN dissection are unknown. A total of 283 patients with lower thoracic esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy at our hospital between April 1984 and March 2007. Among these 283 patients, 60 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study according to following criteria: (i) clinical T2 to T4 tumor, (ii) no clinical PALN metastasis, and (iii) received PALN dissection. PALN dissection was indicated by a tumor depth of at least T2 and no severe complications. The clinicopathological data, recurrence pattern, and overall survival were compared between patients with PALN and without PALN metastasis. The mean length of surgery was 587 min and the mean blood loss was 1383 mL. The morbidity was 33.3% and mortality was 5% in this series. Sixteen patients (26.7%) had PALN metastasis; these showed significantly more lymph node metastases (15.8 ± 13.2 vs. 3.0 ± 3.2, P < 0.0001) and significantly worse survival rates (53.3% vs. 79.9% at 1 year, 6.7% vs. 62.0% at 3 years, P < 0.0001) than patients without PALN metastasis. The incidence of lymph node recurrence (P < 0.0001) and hematogenous recurrence (P= 0.0487) was also higher in patients with PALN metastasis than in patients without PALN metastasis. Among the 16 patients with PALN metastasis, a univariate analysis revealed total number of metastatic nodes < 8 (P= 0.0325) to be a significant prognostic factor. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of the regional lymph nodes identified the invasion of the lower mediastinal nodes (hazard ratio = 6.120) and retroperitoneal nodes (hazard ratio = 15.167) to be significantly correlated with PALN metastasis. PALN metastasis is suggested to be related to the systemic spread of lymphatic metastasis even in lower thoracic esophageal cancer. PALN dissection for pathological PALN(+) patients should not be performed. It remains to be determined in future prospective studies whether patients without pathological PALN metastasis, but showing PALN micrometastasis, could achieve improved survival with PALN dissection.

AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE POSITIONS OF AEROSOL SOURCE BY THE PIXE ANALYSIS

Aerosols were continuously collected for 2 or 3 hours during the periods of 4-27 August 1997 and of 23 March-2 April 1998 at a suburb of Sendai City (east 10 km from Sendai), and meteorological data such as wind directions, wind velocities, etc were measured at the same time. The collected aerosol samples were analyzed by the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Fourteen elements (S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg and Pb) were contained in these samples. The elemental concentrations increased in the daytime and decreased at night. It coincided with the time variation of people movement. The concentrations of Mn, Fe, Zn and Pb elements depended strongly on the direction of wind and their distributions for wind directions reflected to the position of aerosol sources. This result suggests that the position of aerosol source can be determined by measuring aerosols and wind directions at the many positions.

Nosocomial outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis accompanying environmental contamination with adenoviruses

An outbreak of acute keratoconjunctivitis involving 27 patients occurred in the Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University Hospital. Adenoviral DNA was detected in four inpatients, one outpatient and one healthcare worker. Sequence-based typing of adenoviral DNA indicated serotype 3 from one inpatient, the rest being serotype 37. At a later stage of the outbreak adenoviral DNA types 37 and/or 3 were also detected from almost all environmental instruments and commonly used eye drops, despite thorough disinfection of the environment and enforcement of various infection control measures. The detection rate of adenoviral DNA in environmental swabs was 81%. A further second disinfection of the environment reduced the detection rate of adenoviral DNA to 38%. The outbreak ceased after closing the ophthalmology ward and outpatient consulting room, accompanied by enhanced cleaning of environmental instruments and the introduction of disposable eye drops for individual patients.

Adrenal participation in thymocyte death by anti-CD3 antibodies in vivo

The deletion of CD4- and CD8-double-positive (DP) cells in the thymus after treatment with anti-CD3 antibodies has long been considered as a useful model for clonal deletion during T cell development, although it was reported that DP cell death was not observed in neonates where self-tolerance should be developing. We dealt with the cellular basis of this enigmatic phenomenon in this report. Due to the similar susceptibility to the antibody-treatment in vitro between neonatal and adult thymocytes, critical factors may be outside rather than within the thymus. Indeed, newborn thymus lobes transplanted into recipients of different ages showed an increased susceptibility to the thymo-toxicity as the age of the recipient increased. The thymo-toxicity seems to be based on the adrenal function of glucocorticoid (GC) synthesis, because administration of an inhibitor of GC synthesis significantly reduced the DP cell death by the antibody-treatment. Finally, adrenalectomy completely prevented DP cell death by anti-CD3 antibodies in adult mice. Therefore, the thymocyte death by anti-CD3 antibodies in vivo may not be due to the T cellreceptor mediated selection in the thymus.

Alpha-fetoprotein mRNA Detection in Peripheral Blood for Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

The aim of this study was to assess the value of alphafeto protein (AFP) mRNA-expressing cells detected in peripheral blood for predicting tumor recurrence after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The test group consisted of 25 patients who underwent LDLT for end-stage liver disease with HCC while the control group consisted of 37 living donors. Quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used for detection of AFP mRNA-expressing cells in peripheral blood. Nine (36%) of 25 patients developed tumor recurrences (four lung; one liver; one peritoneum; two bone; one adrenal gland) during the follow-up period. Perioperatively, AFP mRNA was positive in peripheral blood of eight patients (32.0%) but only in 1 (2.7%) of the control. Preoperative AFP mRNA was positive in three cases. Univariate analyses revealed that preoperative and perioperative AFP mRNA and microscopical vascular invasion were the significant predictors for HCC recurrence (P = .007, .037, and .005, respectively). In the patients with HCC exceeding Milan criteria (n = 15), the presence of AFP mRNA-positive cells in the peripheral blood correlated significantly with HCC recurrence (P = .033). We concluded that the presence of AFP mRNA-expressing cells could be a useful predictor of HCC recurrence in liver transplant patients.

Risk factors for graft dysfunction after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for graft dysfunction after adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Thirty-nine adults with chronic cirrhosis underwent LDLT between 1999 and 2004. Their postoperative courses were uneventful with no vascular or bile duct complications early after LDLT, except one mild hepatic artery stenosis. The preoperative MELD scores were significantly higher in the failed graft group (n=5) than the functioning graft group (n=34; P=.004), while the graft liver weight/standard liver volume ratio was similar between these groups. We concluded that a high preoperative MELD score was associated with postoperative graft failure and that graft size had little impact on graft outcome. Although large grafts would seem intuitively more suitable for sick recipients, we did not show a benefit among this cohort; the MELD score was the best predictor, a finding that is also most consistent with donor safety.

Effects of a high-protein diet versus dietary supplementation with ammonium chloride on struvite crystal formation in urine of clinically normal cats

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of a high-protein diet versus dietary supplementation with ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) on struvite crystal formation in the urine of clinically normal cats by measuring the urine concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCl)-insoluble sediment, urine pH, struvite activity product (SAP), number of struvite crystals in urine, and urine volume.

ANIMALS

23 healthy adult cats.

PROCEDURE

Urine was fractionated by centrifugation with subsequent extraction of the sediment with 1 N HCl (study 1). Diets containing either 29% crude protein or 55% crude protein were fed to cats in a crossover trial of 3 weeks/period (study 2). Diets supplemented with either sodium chloride (NaCl) or NH4Cl were fed, by use of a 3 x 3 Latin-square design with 3 wk/period (study 3). In studies 2 and 3, urine samples were collected for the last 7 days of each period.

RESULTS

The HCl-insoluble sediment contained Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP; study 1). The high-protein diet (study 2) and dietary supplementation with NH4Cl (study 3) resulted in a decrease in urine pH, SAP, and the number of struvite crystals in urine. However, the high-protein diet decreased urine concentrations of HCl-insoluble sediment containing THP (study 2), in contrast to the NH4Cl supplementation that increased urine volume without a significant effect on the urine concentration of the HCl-insoluble sediment (study 3).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our results indicate that compared with dietary supplementation with NH4Cl, the high-protein diet is preferable as a urine acidifier for the prevention of struvite crystal formation in clinically normal cats.

Comparison of corn gluten meal and meat meal as a protein source in dry foods formulated for cats

OBJECTIVE

To compare the nutritional value of corn gluten meal (CGM) and meat meal (MM) as a dietary source of protein in dry food formulated for adult cats.

ANIMALS

8 healthy adult cats (4 males and 4 females).

PROCEDURE

Diets containing CGM or MM as the main protein source were each fed for a 3-week period in a crossover study. Digestibility and nutritional balance experiments were conducted during the last 7 days of each period. Furthermore, freshly voided urine was obtained to measure urinary pH, struvite crystals, and sediment concentrations.

RESULTS

Daily food intake and dry-matter digestibility were significantly higher for the MM diet. Fecal moisture content also was higher for the MM diet. Apparent nitrogen (N) absorption and N retention were higher for the MM diet, even when values were expressed as a percentage to account for differences in N intake. Urinary pH, struvite activity product, number of struvite crystals in urine, and urinary sediment concentrations were not different between diets. Retention of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium was lower for the CGM diet, and cats lost body calcium and magnesium when fed the CGM diet.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Meat meal was superior to CGM as a protein source in dry foods formulated for cats, because dry-matter digestibility and N utilization were higher for the MM diet. In addition, net loss of body calcium and magnesium for the CGM diet suggests that mineral requirements increase when CGM is used as a protein source.

Electric and magnetic phenomena observed before the volcano-seismic activity in 2000 in the Izu Island Region, Japan

Significant anomalous changes in the ultra low frequency range (approximately 0.01 Hz) were observed in both geoelectric and geomagnetic fields before the major volcano-seismic activity in the Izu Island region, Japan. The spectral intensity of the geoelectric potential difference between some electrodes on Niijima Island and the third principal component of geomagnetic field variations at an array network in Izu Peninsula started to increase from a few months before the onset of the volcano-seismic activity, culminating immediately before nearby magnitude 6 class earthquakes. Appearance of similar changes in two different measurements conducted at two far apart sites seems to provide information supporting the reality of preseismic electromagnetic signals.

Significance of platelet-reactive antibody screening for patients facing frequent platelet transfusions

It is not clear whether platelet-reactive antibody screening is clinically significant for patients facing frequent platelet transfusions. On the basis of data from 96 patients who had been examined for platelet-reactive antibodies by the mixed passive hemagglutination method for a variety of reasons, we investigated the following three issues retrospectively: (1) the relationship between platelet-reactive antibodies and the occurrence of problems in platelet transfusions, such as refractoriness or nonhemolytic reactions; (2) the influence of a history of transfusion on the production of those antibodies; and (3) the effect of screening for those antibodies on the prompt administration of appropriate platelet components. More than half of the platelet transfusion-related problems were associated with platelet-reactive antibodies. For patients with a history of transfusion, the mean period before a clinical problem occurred with platelet transfusions was 9 days,compared with 66 days for those without such a history. Accordingly, during the period, patients with a history of transfusions received fewer units of platelets and had fewer donor exposures than did patients without such a history. On the other hand, most patients who had been screened in advance for those antibodies received appropriate platelet components without delay, whereas an average of 10 days was needed before those who had not been screened received compatible platelets. The patients who had not been screened were transfused with 68 units of random platelets on average during the period. When frequent platelet transfusions are anticipated, especially for patients with a history of transfusion, screening for platelet-reactive antibodies beforehand would be helpful for prompt administration of appropriate platelets, although problems, such as the cost of those platelets and the burden on donors, remain to be resolved.

Separation and characterization of the molecular species of thrombomodulin in the plasma of diabetic patients

Thrombomodulin (TM) and its molecular species have been identified as markers of vascular endothelial cells (EC). In the present study, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 7 normal subjects, 5 chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) patients, and 25 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, the TM molecular species separated from plasma showed seven heterogeneous fragments of 94, 74, 48, 36, 27, 14, and 12 kDa. Comparing the diabetic patients and healthy subjects, it was found that plasma TM generally, and its 74-kDa molecular species particularly, were increased in diabetic patients and the increase became more apparent as the disease progressed in severity. Comparing the patients with diabetic nephropathy and those with nephritis of the same degree of renal dysfunction, both groups had increased levels of TM, but the distribution of the molecular species differed; that is, the 74-kDa form increased in the diabetic patients and the 12-kDa species increased markedly in the nephritis patients. Glycation of the various TM molecular species increased more in the diabetic patients than in healthy subjects. There was a significantly positive correlation between the HbA(1c) and the 74-kDa TM molecular species in diabetic patients. These findings suggest that a fluctuation in the blood glucose level is significantly related to vascular EC damage in DM.

[Multiple cerebral tuberculomas presenting with paradoxical expansion: a case report]

A 24-year-old male presented with headache. He had been treated with antituberculous drugs for 19 months. MRI revealed 4 intracranial Gd-DTPA enhanced lesions surrounded by massive edema in the right frontal, both occipital and left basal ganglionic regions. Digital subtraction angiography showed no tumor stain. Two procedures for tumor resection were performed for the right frontal and left occipital regions, the latter of which definitively diagnosed by the polymerase chain reaction method. The tumors were well demarcated, showed a rough surface, and were elastically hard. The two residual lesions responded differently to chemotherapy. The lesion in the right occipital region decreased in size, while the other in the left basal ganglionic region continued to grow gradually 26 months after the antituberculous chemotherapy was started. According to previous reports, treatment should be continued for as long as 12-30 months in cases showing paradoxical expansion. In this case, the left basal ganglionic lesion began to decrease in size after 28 months of administration of anti-tuberculous drugs. We report successful treatment of a case of multiple tuberculomas presenting with paradoxical expansion managed by a combination of surgery and continuous chemotherapy.

Anti-tumor effect of gallic acid on LL-2 lung cancer cells transplanted in mice

We previously reported that gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid), a naturally occurring plant phenol, can induce apoptosis in four kinds of human lung cancer cell lines in vitro. The present study further investigated the in vivo anti-tumor effects of orally administered gallic acid. Gallic acid reduced cell viability of LL-2 mouse lung cancer cells in vitro dose dependently, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of around 200 microM. C57Black mice were transplanted with LL-2 cells, and administered gallic acid (1 mg/ml in drinking water, ad libitum) and/or cisplatin (4 mg/kg i.p. injection, once a week). The average weight of the transplanted tumors, obtained at 29 days after transplantation, in the mice of control, gallic acid-treated cisplatin-treated and cisplatin plus gallic acid-treated groups was 4.02, 3.65, 3.19 and 1.72 g, respectively. The average tumor weight of the mice treated with cisplatin combined with gallic acid was significantly smaller than that of the control group (p<0.05). The amount of apoptotic cells in the tumor tissues of mice treated with gallic acid and/or cisplatin was significantly higher than those of the control mice. Combination of gallic acid and cisplatin increased the tumor cell apoptosis compared with the treatment with cisplatin alone. The present findings suggest that the combination of gallic acid with an anti-cancer drug, including cisplatin, may be an effective protocol for lung cancer therapy.

Synthesis and evaluation of bifunctional anti-HIV agents based on specific CXCR4 antagonists-AZT conjugation

We have previously found that T140, a 14-amino acid residue peptide, inhibits infection of target cells by T cell-line-tropic strains of HIV-1 (X4-HIV-1) through its specific binding to a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. Here, we report synthesis and evaluation of bifunctional anti-HIV compounds, which are composed of T140 analogues and a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). Novel conjugated analogues have been proved to have the ability for controlled release of AZT in neutral aqueous media as well as mouse and feline sera, and high selectivity indexes (SIs, 50% cytotoxic concentration/50% effective concentration) caused by a synergistic effect of two different regenerating agents. Thus, these bifunctional compounds have several potential advantages. T140 analogues can possibly work as a carrier of AZT targeting T cells due to their specific affinity for CXCR4 on T cells. A synergistic effect by two types of regenerating agents may enable drug dosage to be reduced, and thus it may effectively suppress toxic side effects and the appearance of drug-resistant virus.

Development of specific CXCR4 inhibitors possessing high selectivity indexes as well as complete stability in serum based on an anti-HIV peptide T140

We previously reported a truncated polyphemusin peptide analogue, T140, which efficiently inhibits infection of target cells by T-cell line-tropic strains of HIV-1 (X4-HIV-1) through its specific binding to a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. We have found that T140 is not stable in feline serum due to the cleavage of the C-terminal Arg,(14) indispensable for anti-HIV activity. On the other hand, a C-terminally amidated analogue of T140, TZ14004, has been found to be completely stable in incubation in the serum for 2 days. The C-terminal amide is thought to be needed for stability in serum. However, TZ14004 does not have fairly strong anti-HIV activity, but has relatively strong cytotoxicity, probably due to an increase by +1 charge from total +7 charges of T140. In our previous study, the number of total +6 charges seemed to be a suitable balance between activity and cytotoxicity. In this study, we have conducted a double-L-citrulline (Cit)-scanning study on TZ14004 based on the C-terminally amidated form in due consideration of the total net charges in the whole molecule to find novel effective CXCR4 inhibitors, TN14003 ([Cit(6)]-T140 with the C-terminal amide) and TC14012 ([Cit(6), D-Cit(8)]-T140 with the C-terminal amide), which possess high selectivity indexes (SIs) and complete stability in feline serum.

Relationship between cytotoxic activity and radical intensity of isoflavones from Sophora species

Among 11 isoflavones tested, genistein [YS13] produced higher cytotoxic activity against human oral tumor cell lines (HSC-2, HSG) than against normal cells (human gingival fibroblast, HGF), suggesting its tumor-specific action. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy showed that YS13 did not produce radical, nor scavenged O2*- generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction system, suggesting that radical-mediated oxidation mechanism is not be involved in the YS13-induced cytotoxicity. Addition of one prenyl group produced YS18 and YS19 with higher anti-Helicobacter pylori activity. Addition of two prenyl groups produced YS21 with the highest cytotoxic activity but lower tumor-specificity. Since YS21 produced the highest amount of radical and most efficiently scavenged O2*-, this compound may induce cytotoxicity by radical-mediated oxidation mechanism. All isoflavones failed to induce anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. These data suggest the medicinal efficacy of isoflavones.

Biological and genetic characterization of a human immunodeficiency virus strain resistant to CXCR4 antagonist T134

The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are considered to be potential targets for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. We have reported that T134 and T140 inhibited X4 HIV-1 infection specifically because they acted as CXCR4 antagonists. In the present study, we have generated a T134-resistant virus (trHIV-1(NL4-3)) in a cell culture with gradually increasing concentrations of the compound. The EC(50) of T134 against trHIV-1(NL4-3) recovered after 145 passages was 15 times greater than that against wild-type HIV-1(NL4-3). This adapted virus was resistant to other CXCR4 antagonists, T140, AMD3100, and ALX40-4C, and SDF-1; from 10 to 145 times greater than that against wild-type HIV-1(NL4-3). On the other hand, T134, T140, and ALX40-4C were still active against AMD3100-resistant viruses (arHIV-1(018A)). The trHIV-1(NL4-3) contained the following mutations in the V3 loop of gp120: N269K, Q278T, R279K, A284V, F285L, V286Y, I288T, K290E, N293D, M294I, and Q296K; an insertion of T at 290; and Delta274-275 (SI). In addition, many other mutations were recognized in the V1, V2, and V4 domains. Thus, resistance to T134 may be the consequence of amino acid substitutions in the envelope glycoprotein of X4 HIV-1. The trHIV-1(NL4-3) could not utilize CCR5 as an HIV infection coreceptor, although many amino acid substitutions were recognized. The trHIV-1(NL4-3) acquired resistance to vMIP II, which could inhibit both X4 and R5 HIV-1 infection. However, neither the ligands of CCR5, RANTES, and MIP-1alpha, nor a CCR5 low molecular antagonist, TAK-779, were able to influence the infection of trHIV-1(NL4-3). Those results indicated that alternation of coreceptor usage of trHIV-1(NL4-3) was not induced.

Comparison of bacteriological, genetic and pathological characters between Escherichia coli O115a,c:K(B) and Citrobacter rodentium

Murine pathogenic Escherichia coli O115a,c:K(B) (MPEC) is the causative agent of mouse megaenteron, the pathology of which resembles that of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia caused by Citrobacter rodentium. We compared their genetic and pathological features to reveal the relationship between these two bacteria. To evaluate the genetic distances, 16S rDNA genes were sequenced and biochemical reactions were tested. Mouse strain susceptibility tests, using CF1 MPEC-susceptible germfree mice and BALB/cA(Jic) resistant mice were performed. MPEC strains and C. rodentium showed more than 99.6% identity by comparison of 16S rDNA gene sequences. All results from biochemical reactions and the mouse strain susceptibility tests were identical. It is proposed that MPEC should be reclassified as C. rodentium.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity of YK-FH312 (a betulinic acid derivative), a novel compound blocking viral maturation

Betulinic acid, a triterpenoid isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the leaves of Syzigium claviflorum, was found to have a potent inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Betulinic acid derivatives were synthesized to enhance the anti-HIV activity. Among the derivatives, 3-O-(3',3'-dimethylsuccinyl) betulinic acid, designated YK-FH312, showed the highest activity against HIV-induced cytopathic effects in HIV-1-infected MT-4 cells. To determine the step(s) of HIV replication affected by YK-FH312, a syncytium formation inhibition assay in MOLT-4/HIV-1(IIIB) and MOLT-4 coculture, a multinuclear-activation-of-galactosidase-indicator (MAGI) assay in MAGI-CCR5 cells, electron microscopic observation, and a time-of-addition assay were performed. In the syncytium formation inhibition assay or in the MAGI assay for de novo infection, the compound did not show inhibitory effects against HIV replication. Conversely, no virions were detected in HIV-1-infected cell cultures treated with YK-FH312 either by electron microscopic observation or by viral yield in the supernatant. In accordance with a p24 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatant in the time-of-addition assay, YK-FH312 inhibited virus expression in the supernatant when it was added 18 h postinfection. However, Western blot analysis of the cells in the time-of-addition assay revealed that the production of viral proteins in the cells was not inhibited completely by YK-FH312. These results suggest that YK-FH312 might affect the step(s) of virion assembly and/or budding of virions, and this is a novel mechanism of action of an anti-HIV compound.

Effect of supplementation of dry cat food with D,L-methionine and ammonium chloride on struvite activity product and sediment in urine

Feeding dry foods supplemented with urine acidifier (D,L-methionine (Met) or ammonium chloride) decreased urinary pH and struvite activity product in clinically normal cats. As a result, the number of struvite crystals in urine was greatly reduced. Supplementation with 3% Met but not 1% Met caused decrease in the urinary concentration of sediment, which resulted from a reduction in the HCl-soluble fraction. The concentration of HCl-insoluble sediment was not affected by supplementation with the urine acidifier.

Increase of R5 HIV-1 infection and CCR5 expression in T cells treated with high concentrations of CXCR4 antagonists and SDF-1

The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are considered to be potential targets for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. We found that the synthetic peptides T134 and T140 (see text for full names) inhibited X4 HIV-1 infection with selectivity and low toxicity because they acted as CXCR4 antagonists. However, high concentrations of T134, T140, and ALX40-4C (see text for full name) increased the expression of CCR5 and R5 HIV-1 infection, as did stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1). In contrast to CXCR4 antagonists and SDF-1, viral monocyte inflammatory protein (vMIP) II inhibited not only anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) but also inhibited anti-CCR5 MAb binding to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and inhibited both X4 and R5 HIV-1 strains. T134, T140, ALX40-4C, and SDF-1 increased viral transcription in the treated cells. In addition, ALX40-4C and SDF-1 also increased nuclear transcription factor (NF)-kappaB. However, the mechanisms of action of T134 and T140 are different from those of clinically used anti-HIV drugs. Thus, synergistic activities were observed in the concomitant treatment with T134 and reverse transcriptase inhibitors or protease inhibitors. Our findings, presented here, are noteworthy in regard to the potential clinical use of these agents as drugs for the treatment of AIDS.

Relationship between thallium-201 myocardial SPECT and findings of endomyocardial biopsy specimens in dilated cardiomyopathy

The purpose of this study was to clarify which myocardial histological findings associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are reflected in quantitative 201Tl myocardial SPECT. We obtained studied SPECT images from 21 patients with DCM 10 minutes and 2 hours after they received an injection of 111 MBq 201Tl at rest. We calculated the percent coefficient of variation of myocardial 201Tl counts [%CV(TI)], the washout rate (WR), standard deviation of WR [SD(WR)], extent score (ES) and severity score (SS). We used image analysis to measure % fibrosis, % myocytes, the ratio of fibrous tissue to myocyte tissue (F/My), myocyte size and standard deviation of myocyte size [SD(My)] in left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy specimens. The %CV(Tl) was correlated with % fibrosis and F/My. The ES and SS also correlated with F/My. The correlation between SD(WR) and SD(My) was significant. The present findings suggest that %CV(Tl), ES and SS of rest 201Tl SPECT reflect myocardial fibrosis and that the standard deviation of washout reflects the distribution of myocyte size.

BCAP: the tyrosine kinase substrate that connects B cell receptor to phosphoinositide 3-kinase activation

Tyrosine phosphorylation of adaptor proteins permits the B cell antigen receptor (BCR)-associated protein tyrosine kinases to regulate downstream effector molecules. Here, we report the identification of a novel B cell adaptor for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), termed BCAP. Tyrosine phosphorylation of BCAP is mediated by Syk and Btk, thereby providing binding site(s) for the p85 subunit of PI3K. Disruption of the BCAP gene in the DT40 B cell line inhibits BCR-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate generation, leading to impaired Akt response. Moreover, recruitment of PI3K to glycolipid-enriched microdomains (GEMs) is significantly attenuated in the absence of BCAP. Hence, these data suggest that BCAP bridges BCR-associated kinases to the PI3K pathway by regulating PI3K localization.

Expression of human telomerase subunit genes in primary lung cancer and its clinical significance

BACKGROUND

Three major components of human telomerase, RNA component (hTERC), telomerase-associated protein (TEP1), and catalytic subunit (hTERT) have been cloned recently. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of these genes and to search for clinical usefulness.

METHODS

Expression of these genes was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 92 human lung cancers and in 32 non-neoplastic lung tissues. In 15 patients, both telomerase activity by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay and expression were evaluated.

RESULTS

hTERT expression was best associated with telomerase activity with a concordance of 77%. In 92 lung cancer tissues, hTERC, TEP1, and hTERT were expressed in 100%, 93%, and 89%, respectively. Whereas most adjacent non-neoplastic lung tissues expressed hTERC and TEP1 (94% and 100%, respectively), hTERT was detected in only 1 of 32 normal lungs. However, there was no relationship between hTERT expression and clinicopathologic features.

CONCLUSIONS

hTERT expression can be a surrogate for telomerase activity that may serve as a novel biomarker of lung cancer with high specificity and sensitivity.

Sulfated fibroin, a novel sulfated peptide derived from silk, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro

We prepared two kinds of sulfated silk fibroins, SclFib30 and SclFib31, which contain different amounts of sulfate. These sulfated silk fibroins have anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, apparently due to interference with the adsorption of virus particles to CD4+ cells, and completely blocked virus binding to the cells at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Sulfated fibroins also abolished cell-to-cell infection-induced syncytium formation upon cocultivation of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-IIIB cells, suggesting that they would interfere with gp120 and prevent the formation of gp120/CD4 complex. Silk is used in biomaterials such as surgical sutures and is believed to be a safe material for humans. In accordance with low anticoagulant activity and high anti-HIV-1 activity against both X4 HIV-1 and R5 HIV-1 strains, sulfated silk fibroins have potential as antiviral material such for a vaginal anti-HIV formulation.

Mechanism of relaxant response to papaverine on the smooth muscle of non-pregnant rat uterus

In the present paper, we examined a mechanism of the papaverine induced relaxation in the smooth muscle of non-pregnant rat uterus. The hyperosmotic 65 mM KCl (H-65K+)-or oxytocin-induced contraction in the uterus was inhibited by an addition of papaverine in a concentration-dependent manner. Papaverine did not increase both cAMP and cGMP contents in the uterus in the presence of H-65K+ or oxytocin. In fura 2 loaded muscles, papaverine did not affect an increase of [Ca2+]i level by high K+ or oxytocin. In permeabilized muscles, papaverine had no effect on the Ca2+-induced contraction. H-65K+ and oxytocin increased the rate of oxygen consumption 1.8 and 1.5 times higher than that in the resting condition, respectively. The increase of oxygen consumption in the H-65K+ or oxytocin was significantly inhibited by papaverine (1-100 microM). These results suggested that papaverine inhibits smooth muscle contraction mainly by inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in rat uterus as well as guinea pig ileum, which shows a highly spontaneous activity and a highly metabolic dependency of a contraction.