Sex contextualism in laboratory research: Enhancing rigor and precision in the study of sex-related variables

Understanding sex-related variation in health and illness requires rigorous and precise approaches to revealing underlying mechanisms. A first step is to recognize that sex is not in and of itself a causal mechanism; rather, it is a classification system comprising a set of categories, usually assigned according to a range of varying traits. Moving beyond sex as a system of classification to working with concrete and measurable sex-related variables is necessary for precision. Whether and how these sex-related variables matter-and what patterns of difference they contribute to-will vary in context-specific ways. Second, when researchers incorporate these sex-related variables into research designs, rigorous analytical methods are needed to allow strongly supported conclusions. Third, the interpretation and reporting of sex-related variation require care to ensure that basic and preclinical research advance health equity for all.

Rigorous science demands support of transgender scientists

To build a just, equitable, and diverse academy, scientists and institutions must address systemic barriers that sex and gender minorities face. This Commentary summarizes (1) critical context informing the contemporary oppression of transgender people, (2) how this shapes extant research on sex and gender, and (3) actions to build an inclusive and rigorous academy for all.

Associations between 24-h movement behaviors and self-rated health: a representative sample of school-aged children and adolescents in Okinawa, Japan

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the associations between adherence to 24-h movement behavior guidelines and self-rated health (SRH) among Japanese adolescents according to their age group.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Probability proportional sampling data, which were collected from six regions of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, considering the number of schools, included 2408 fifth-grade students (aged 10-11 years) in 31 elementary schools and 4360 eighth-grade students (aged 13-14 years) in 30 junior high schools. SRH, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time (ST), sleep duration, and confounding factors (sex, weight status, family affluence, parental support, school satisfaction, and school demands) were self-reported.

RESULTS

The logistic regression models showed that adherence to ST and sleep recommendations in elementary school students was associated with a high prevalence of good health only, whereas adherence to only MVPA, only sleep, ST and sleep, MVPA and sleep, and all three recommendations were associated with a high prevalence of good health among junior high school students. All combinations that included achievement of the recommended sleep duration were associated with SRH.

CONCLUSIONS

Achieving 24-h movement behavior guidelines, particularly sleep recommendations, is associated with better perceived health in school-aged children, especially in adolescents.

Trends in current alcohol use among Japanese adolescents by sociodemographic groups

Background

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among Japanese adolescents, although its use has been declining recently. However, little is known whether the declining trend in adolescent drinking can be found across all sociodemographic characteristics. This study explored time trends in alcohol use among Japanese adolescents by sociodemographic characteristics between 2008 and 2016.

Methods

A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using data from three prefectural-wide surveys of public high schools in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, in 2008, 2012, and 2016. The study participants comprised 7,807 students in grades 10 to 12 (15-18 years). Alcohol use was defined as drinking one or more alcoholic beverages on at least one day in the past month. Demographic characteristics included grade, sex, and region, and socioeconomic status (SES) was assessed by family structure, parental education, and school type. Time trends in alcohol use over time by each sociodemographic group were assessed by the Cochran-Armitage test for trend.

Results

The overall prevalence of adolescent alcohol use significantly reduced from 20.7% (95% CI 19.1-22.3%) in 2008 to 9.5% (95%CI 8.4-10.6%) in 2016. Similar reducing trends in adolescent alcohol use were found across all of the demographic characteristics as well as the SES groups (all P for trends <0.001). During the survey periods, there were no sex differences in alcohol use prevalence, while alcohol use was more prevalent among old graders. Alcohol use was also more prevalent among low SES groups than high SES groups. However, family structure in 2016 did not show significant differences in alcohol use.

Conclusions

Alcohol use among Japanese adolescents has been declining over time and this downward trend was similar for all demographic and socioeconomic subgroups. Further adolescent drinking prevention efforts should be implemented across all population subgroups. Moreover. monitoring of adolescent alcohol use should be continued.

Key messages

This study found that adolescent alcohol use in Japan has been decreasing over time across all population subgroups. The finding is a desired outcome from the viewpoint of the public health impact.

Adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines among Japanese elementary and junior high school students

Background

For optimal health benefits, the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth (aged 5-17 years) recommend an achievement of ≥ 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), <2 h of recreational screen time (ST), and 9-11 h for 5-13 years or 8-10 h for 14-17 years of sleep time (SLT) each day. There is little evidence showing the proportion of the recommendation in Japan, so we need to investigate. The aim of this study thus was to reveal the compliance to the recommendation with a large sample of Japanese elementary and junior high school children.

Methods

This study included 2408 students enrolled in fifth grade (aged 10-11 years) in 31 elementary schools, and 4360 students enrolled in eighth grade (aged 13-14 years) in 30 junior high schools. Each behaviour was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. To analyze the differences in adherence to the recommendation between the school-aged group, we conducted a chi-analysis.

Results

Overall, only 4% of participants complied with all three recommendations, and 20% of the students did not comply with any of the recommendations (χ2=1390.87;p<.001). Compared with MVPA and ST, SLT had a trend to be likely to achieve the recommendation in each school-age group. Elementary school students had a higher percentage of non-adherence to all recommendations (39%) than junior high school students (10.3%). The adherence to the recommendation of the ST & SLT simultaneously had no differences in each age group (11.5% for elementary schoolers and 12.7% for junior high schoolers). However, adherence to the recommendation of MVPA only, ST only, and MVPA & ST were higher in elementary schoolers, and the adherence to the recommendation of SLT only and MVPA & SLT were higher in junior high schoolers.

Conclusions

The proportion of adherence to at least one of the three recommendations is better in junior high school students than elementary school students in Okinawa, Japan.

Key messages

Health behaviour required improvement may differ by age group. It is necessary for particularly elementary school children in Okinawa to take proper countermeasures to improve the movement behaviours.

Comparing and displaying phylogenetic trees using edge union networks

The general problem of representing collections of trees as a single graph has led to many tree summary techniques. Many consensus approaches take sets of trees (either inferred as separate gene trees or gleaned from the posterior of a Bayesian analysis) and produce a single "best" tree. In scenarios where horizontal gene transfer or hybridization are suspected, networks may be preferred, which allow for nodes to have two parents, representing the fusion of lineages. One such construct is the cluster union network (CUN), which is constructed using the union of all clusters in the input trees. The CUN has a number of mathematically desirable properties, but can also present edges not observed in the input trees. In this paper we define a new network construction, the edge union network (EUN), which displays edges if and only if they are contained in the input trees. We also demonstrate that this object can be constructed with polynomial time complexity given arbitrary phylogenetic input trees, and so can be used in conjunction with network analysis techniques for further phylogenetic hypothesis testing.

Genomic architecture and introgression shape a butterfly radiation

We used 20 de novo genome assemblies to probe the speciation history and architecture of gene flow in rapidly radiating Heliconius butterflies. Our tests to distinguish incomplete lineage sorting from introgression indicate that gene flow has obscured several ancient phylogenetic relationships in this group over large swathes of the genome. Introgressed loci are underrepresented in low-recombination and gene-rich regions, consistent with the purging of foreign alleles more tightly linked to incompatibility loci. Here, we identify a hitherto unknown inversion that traps a color pattern switch locus. We infer that this inversion was transferred between lineages by introgression and is convergent with a similar rearrangement in another part of the genus. These multiple de novo genome sequences enable improved understanding of the importance of introgression and selective processes in adaptive radiation.

Nerve growth factor regulation and production by macrophages in osteoarthritic synovium

Nerve growth factor (NGF) functions to modulate osteoarthritis (OA)-associated pain. Although recent studies suggest that tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β mediate NGF activity in human synovial fibroblasts, the regulation of NGF expression in human synovial macrophages remains unclear. Here, we examined the role of macrophages in the production and regulation of synovial (SYN) NGF in osteoarthritic knee joints by examining the mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β in freshly isolated CD14-positive (macrophage-rich fraction) and CD14-negative cells (fibroblast-rich fraction) in synovial tissue from OA patients by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We also examined the effects of IL-1β and TNF-α on NGF mRNA expression in cultured CD14-positive (macrophage-rich fraction) and CD14-negative cells (fibroblast-rich fraction). In addition, to examine the contribution of macrophages to NGF, TNF-α and IL-1β expression, we injected clodronate liposomes systemically into STR/Ort mice, an osteoarthritis animal model, to deplete macrophages. TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels in CD14-positive cells from the SYN of OA patients was significantly higher than that in CD14-negative cells, while NGF expression did not differ markedly between the two cell fractions. In addition, treatment of human cultured CD14-positive and -negative cells with IL-1β and TNF-α enhanced NGF mRNA and protein levels. Expression of NGF, IL-1β and TNF-α was also reduced significantly in STR/Ort mice upon macrophage depletion. These findings suggest that IL-1β and TNF-α regulate NGF expression and production in synovial macrophages and fibroblasts in osteoarthritic joints.

Monitoring Protein Synthesis in Caenorhabditis elegans Using SILAC

The static levels of proteins are the net results of their production and clearance regulated by the activities of proteins involved in their synthesis, degradation, and transportation. Therefore, the information on the rates of protein synthesis and clearance is needed to understand the underlying dynamic nature of a proteome. In this chapter, the experimental technique, we use in our laboratory for monitoring the synthesis of individual proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is described. The technique utilizes a preisotopically labeled amino acid (¹³C₆-Lys) as a precursor for protein synthesis and monitors the kinetics of the precursor incorporation into the newly synthesized proteins. C. elegans is a powerful animal model in various fields of biomedical science such as aging, developmental biology, and neurobiology. The experimental technique would, therefore, be useful for research laboratories using C. elegans as an animal model.

Synovial macrophage-derived IL-1β regulates the calcitonin receptor in osteoarthritic mice

Recent studies have reported that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) contributes to joint pain. However, regulation of the CGRP/CGRP receptor signalling in osteoarthritis (OA) is not fully understood. To investigate the regulation of CGRP/CGRP receptor signalling by macrophages in the synovial tissue (ST) of OA joints, we characterized the gene expression profiles of CGRP and CGRP receptors in the ST of OA mice (STR/Ort). In addition, we examined whether macrophage depletion by the systemic injection of clodronate-laden liposomes affected the expression of CGRP and CGRP receptors in ST. CD11c(+) macrophages in the ST of STR/Ort and C57BL/6J mice were analysed by flow cytometry. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, CGRP, calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) in F4/80(+) and F4/80(-) cells. The effects of IL-1β on the expression of CGRP and CLR by cultured synovial cells were also examined. The percentage of CD11c(+) macrophages in the ST of STR/Ort was higher than that in C57/BL6J mice. Notably, the F4/80(+) cell fraction expressed IL-1β highly, whereas the F4/80(-) cell fraction expressed CGRP, CLR, and RAMP1 highly. In addition, expression of the IL-1β and CLR genes was increased in ST, but was decreased upon macrophage depletion, and the IL-1β treatment of cultured synovial cells up-regulated CLR. Taken together, the present findings suggest that synovial macrophages are the major producers of IL-1β and regulators of CLR in OA mice. Therefore, macrophages and IL-1β may be suitable therapeutic targets for treating OA pain.

CD11c(+) macrophages and levels of TNF-α and MMP-3 are increased in synovial and adipose tissues of osteoarthritic mice with hyperlipidaemia

To understand more clearly the link between osteoarthritis and hyperlipidaemia, we investigated the inflammatory macrophage subsets and macrophage-regulated matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3) and A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS4) in synovial (ST) and adipose tissues (AT) of osteoarthritic mice with hyperlipidaemia (STR/Ort). CD11c(+) F4/80(+) CD11b(+) macrophage populations in the ST and AT of 9-month-old STR/Ort and C57BL/6J mice were characterized and compared by flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. Expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, MMP-3 and ADAMTS4, and the response of these factors to anionic liposomal clodronate induced-macrophage depletion were also evaluated by real-time PCR. Expression of TNF-α in CD11c(+) cells, which were isolated by magnetic beads, was compared to CD11c(-) cells. In addition, the effect of TNF-α on cultured synovial fibroblasts and adipocytes was investigated. CD11c(+) F4/80(+) CD11b(+) macrophages were increased in ST and AT of STR/Ort mice. The CD11c(+) cell fraction highly expressed TNF-α. Expression of TNF-α and MMP3 was increased in ST and AT, and was decreased upon macrophage depletion. TNF-α treatment of cultured synovial fibroblasts and adipocytes markedly up-regulated MMP-3. CD11c(+) F4/80(+) CD11b(+) macrophages were identified as a common inflammatory subset in the AT and ST of STR/Ort mice with hyperlipidaemia. The induction of inflammation in AT and ST may be part of a common mechanism that regulates MMP3 expression through TNF-α. Our findings suggest that increased numbers of CD11c(+) macrophages and elevated levels of TNF-α and MMP-3 in AT and ST may explain the relationship between hyperlipidaemia and OA.

[Decrease in allogenic transfusions due to the spread of use of postoperative retransfusion systems in knee replacement surgery]

OBJECTIVES

Surgical teams have several tools in order to reduce the need for postoperative allogenic transfusion. Postoperative autotransfusion of unwashed shed blood has become common practice for total knee replacement surgery since 2006 in our hospital. This study was designed to evaluate if this practice has reduced allogenic blood transfusions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study comparing two cohorts, group 2004 with patients operated on for total knee replacement during the year 2004, before the use of the retransfusion system, and group 2008, patients operated on in the year 2008, with regular use of the retransfusion system. Gender, preoperative and postoperative haemoglobin levels, total amount of calculated erythrocytes lost, reinfusion of shed blood and allogenic blood transfusion during hospital stay were recorded.

RESULTS

Both groups were similar as regards gender, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels, and total amount of erythrocytes lost. The proportion of transfused patients was significantly lower in group 2008 versus group 2004 (20.18% versus 42.19%), with a relative risk of being transfused of 0.47 and a NNT of 4.54. P=.0017.

CONCLUSIONS

In our hospital the use of postoperative retransfusion systems has reduced the proportion of transfused patients during hospitalization for total knee replacement surgery, although this result cannot be generalized due to the lack of a fixed transfusion trigger.

Quantitative evaluation and visualization of lumbar foraminal nerve root entrapment by using diffusion tensor imaging: preliminary results

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

DTI can provide valuable structural information that may become an innovative tool in evaluating lumbar foraminal nerve root entrapment. The purpose of this study was to visualize the lumbar nerve roots and to measure their FA in healthy volunteers and patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis by using DTI and tractography with 3T MR imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight patients with lumbar foraminal stenosis and 8 healthy volunteers underwent 3T MR imaging. In all subjects, DTI was performed with echo-planar imaging at a b-value of 800 s/mm(2) and the lumbar nerve roots were visualized with tractography. Mean FA values in the lumbar nerve roots were quantified on DTI images.

RESULTS

In all subjects, the lumbar nerve roots were clearly visualized with tractography. In all patients, tractography also showed abnormalities such as tract disruption, nerve narrowing, and indentation in their course through the foramen. Mean FA values were significantly lower in entrapped roots than in intact roots.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that DTI and tractography of human lumbar nerves can visualize and quantitatively evaluate lumbar nerve entrapment with foraminal stenosis. We believe that DWI is a potential tool for the diagnosis of lumbar nerve entrapment.

Ototoxicity of Povidone-Iodine applied to the middle ear cavity of guinea pigs

OBJECTIVE

Povidone-Iodine preparation is used as a disinfectant in otological surgeries. The ototoxicity of Povidone-Iodine preparation was evaluated using infant, young and adult guinea pigs. The effects of different concentrations and of different exposure durations on compound action potentials were also studied.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Povidone-Iodine was used to fill one middle ear cavity of the guinea pig, and the compound action potential (CAP) was measured from the round window membrane at 24h, 7 days, and 28 days. The contralateral side was filled with saline as control. Test sounds used were clicks and tone bursts of 2, 4, and 8 kHz.

RESULTS

At 24h, Povidone-Iodine solution showed a significant toxic effect in the infant group. In the young animal group, no toxic effect was seen. In the adult group, a mild degree of deafness for 2 kHz was found. At 7 days, the young group showed significant hearing loss for all frequencies, but the adult group did not show any hearing loss. With a half strength solution, both young and adult group did not show hearing loss. At 28 days, with a full strength solution, hearing loss became prominent for all sound stimulation. With 1/8th dilution, the young group showed a moderate hearing loss, but the adult group did not.

CONCLUSION

The thicker round window membrane in human is expected to provide more protection to the human cochlea than in the guinea pig model that we have studied. Mild hearing loss at 24h and 7 days using 10% solution, but no hearing loss with 5% solution at 7 days may indicate that rinsing of the middle ear cavity with saline during surgery should minimize the ototoxic effect of this product. The age of the animals does influence the outcome of the ototoxicity experiment. From this experiment, Povidone-Iodine preparations in the infant should be used with caution. Povidone scrub should not be used for otologic surgery.

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor expressions in the adult rat brain

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are members of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. BMPs exert its biological functions by interacting with membrane bound receptors belonging to the serine/threonine kinase family including bone morphogenetic protein receptor I (BMPRIA, BMPRIB) and type II (BMPRII). Although BMPR expressions have been well described in the early development of the CNS, little information is available for their expressions in the adult CNS. We, thus, investigated BMPR expressions in the adult rat CNS using immunohistochemistry. Here, we show that BMPRIA, IB and II proteins are widely expressed throughout the adult CNS. Interestingly, we observed that BMPRIA, IB and II proteins are abundantly expressed in many kinds of axons. In addition, we found that BAMRIB-IR was preferentially expressed in dendrites of many neurons throughout the CNS, while BMPRIA was mainly expressed in cell bodies, showing that BMPRIA and BMPRIB are differentially targeted in a single neuron. In addition, besides abundant BMPR expressions in neurons, we exhibited BMPR expressions in astrocytes and ependymal cells. These data indicate that BMPRs are more widely expressed throughout the adult CNS than previously reported, and their continued abundant expressions in the adult brain strongly support the idea that BMPRs play pivotal roles also in the adult brain.

Phase II study of S-1 in combination with paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer

e15615

Background: Taxanes and S-1 have been shown to be effective in patients with advanced gastric cancer and they have a considerable single-agent activity, respectively. We evaluated the combination of paclitaxel and S-1 as first-line chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent gastric cancer (AGC). Methods: All patients with histologically confirmed AGC with unresectable or metastatic diseases, measurable lesions, PS 0–2, age between 18 and 75, and no contraindication to chemotherapy were eligible in this study. Prior adjuvant chemotherapy finished at least 6 months before enrollment was allowed. Treatment included S-1 80 mg/m2 p.o. twice daily on days 1–14 and paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, 8, 15 with a 2-week interval until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities. Results: Between MAY 2004 and Match 2008, total 20 pts were enrolled in this study. The median age was 56.5 years (range, 38–73). Nine pts had recurrent disease after previous curative gastrectomy and 8 had previous adjuvant chemotherapy. After a median 4 (range, 1–9) cycles of chemotherapy, 12 pts were evaluable for toxicity and 20 pts for response. In intention-to-treat analysis, the overall response rate was 62.9% (95% C.I., 36.2–69.6%), including 0 CR, 6 PRs, 8 SDs, and 6 PDs. After a median follow-up of 8.6 months (range, 0.9–17.9), median time to progression was 6.3 months (95% C.I., 3.6–6.9) and median overall survival was 11.6 months (95% C.I., 8.5–20.7). Commonly observed grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (40% of patients), anemia (10%). There was no neutropenic fever or treatment-related death. Conclusions: The combination of paclitaxel and S-1 appear to have well efficacy, manageable toxicity and is well tolerated in patients with AGC. Further studies of this combination should be considered.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Safety of ofloxacin (OFLX) and fosfomycin sodium (FOM) ear drops

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of two ear drops, Ofloxacin (OFLX: Taribid Otic Solution, Daiichi Seiyaku) and Fosfomycin sodium (FOM: Fosmicin S, Meiji Seiyaku).

METHODS

Albino guinea pigs were used as experimental animals, and the ototoxicity was evaluated by means of threshold changes in the compound action potentials (CAP), when topically applied to the middle ear cavity of the guinea pig. The sound stimuli applied were; click sound, with tone bursts of 8 kHz, 4 kHz, and 2 kHz. In one group of animals, after one application of the ear drops in the right middle ear cavity, the change in CAP was compared with a contralateral saline control at 24h, one week, and four weeks. In other group of animals, the ear drops were applied into the middle ear cavity for seven consecutive days and the CAP was measured at 24h.

RESULTS

At 24h the CAP threshold for click, 8 and 4 kHz elevated significantly for both the saline and ear drop treatment, but the threshold returned to normal when measured at 7 days and 28 days. Seven consecutive days of ear drops administration resulted in no reduction in the CAP for either ear drops.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the lack of changes in the CAP, these two ear drops studied did not show any significant ototoxicities.

Use of hollow-core fibers to deliver nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses to form sparks in gases

We report what is to our knowledge the first delivery of nanosecond laser pulses through flexible fibers to produce optical sparks in atmospheric-pressure gases. Our work employs a Nd:YAG laser beam (1.064 microm) delivered through a cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow fiber. We studied the beam properties at the fiber exit as a function of the fiber launch geometry. We found that for a low-angle launch (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle), the exit beam has relatively high optical intensity (approximately 2 GW/cm2) and low light divergence (approximately 0.01 rad half-angle) and allows downstream spark formation. The effect of fiber bending on the exit beam and on the ability to make sparks is also investigated.

Reversibility from delayed hyperacute rejection in ABO-incompatible renal transplantation: histopathological findings of renal allograft biopsy

ABO-incompatible renal transplantation (ABOIRTx) tend to lead to blood type antibody-mediated rejection, the so-called delayed hyperacute rejection (DHAR), which results in short-term graft loss. To clarify the accurate incidence and prognostic value of DHAR among ABOIRTx, we reviewed biopsy specimens obtained from ABOKTx allografts with abrupt dysfunction during the early period after transplantation. Among 74 ABOIRTx patients, 34 patients displayed allograft dysfunction within 14 days following transplantation. The biopsy specimens were classified based on the Banff schema. The pathological diagnosis of ABO blood type antibody-mediated humoral rejection (ABO-AMHR) was made by the following 3 findings: Specimens with all of above-mentioned findings were categorized as severe ABO-AMHR; those with at least one findings, were categorized as mild ABO-AMHR. All patients were treated with steroid pulse therapy and/or modification of other immunosuppressants. Group 1 consisted of severe ABO-AMHR (n = 6); group 2 consisted of mild ABO-AMHR (n = 5); group 3 consisted of acute cellular rejection (n = 3); group 4 consisted of recovery phase of ATN (n = 11); group 5 consisted of calcineurin inhibitor toxicity (n = 2); and group 6 consisted of normal histology (n = 5). One of 6 patients (16%) in group 1 lost the graft because of DHAR irreversible by antirejection and anticoagulation therapy. However, there has been no clear definition of histpathological criteria for DHAR after ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. The definition must prognosticate whether the rejection process is reversible.

Baseline Glomerular Sclerosis Influences Morphological Changes, But Not Level of Serum Creatinine

The aim of this study was to investigate whether glomerular sclerosis (GS) at the time of engraftment affects subsequent morphology and clinical course of renal allografts. Eighty-one renal transplant recipients were recruited for this study. Protocol biopsies of the renal allografts were performed at engraftment, as well as at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years after transplantation. All cases were divided into 2 groups based on the presence of GS at engraftment, namely, non-GS and GS groups. Morphological changes in the renal allografts were graded from 0 to 3+ based on the severity of chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) of the Banff classification based on 5 factors: percentage of GS, extent of interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, arterial intimal thickening, and arteriolar hyalinosis. Furthermore, the level of serum creatinine (s-Cr) at each year was examined by recipient age and gender, donor age and gender, type of donor (living/cadaver), delayed graft function, acute rejection within 1 year after transplantation, mean blood pressure, and use of calcineurin inhibitors as well as the presence of GS at engraftment. The extent of GS at engraftment significantly correlated with donor age (P = .0038) but with a weak correlation coefficient. Although the severity of CAN developed gradually in both non-GS and GS groups, differences in morphological changes at engraftment between the 2 groups persisted throughout 7 years. Donor age and recipient gender influenced s-Cr significantly. In conclusion, the presence of GS at engraftment aggravates subsequent morphological changes and affects short-term but not long-term allograft prognosis.

Construction of bacterial artificial chromosome libraries and their application in developing PCR-based markers closely linked to a major locus conditioning bruchid resistance in mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek)

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries have been widely used in different aspects of genome research. In this paper we report the construction of the first mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) BAC libraries. These BAC clones were obtained from two ligations and represent an estimated 3.5 genome equivalents. This correlated well with the screening of nine random single-copy restriction fragment length polymorphism probes, which detected on average three BACs each. These mungbean clones were successfully used in the development of two PCR-based markers linked closely with a major locus conditioning bruchid (Callosobruchus chinesis) resistance. These markers will be invaluable in facilitating the introgression of bruchid resistance into breeding programmes as well as the further characterisation of the resistance locus.

Advanced gastric cancer effectively treated by neoadjuvant continuous low-dosage 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP regimen): a case report

We have experienced a case of advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis effectively treated by neoadjuvant continuous low dosage 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP regimen). The patient was a 67-year-old man diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer type 4 with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. This patient was treated by continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/day, for 28 days, and infusion of cisplatin 10 mg/day over 1 hr on days 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, and 22-26. At 4 weeks later, a CT revealed that swelling in the para-aortic lymph node had disappeared, and the thickening in the stomach wall had diminished. This patient underwent a curative operation, and both the serum level of carcinoembryonal antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) decreased to normal. These results suggested that the FP regimen was an effective neoadjuvant treatment for advanced gastric cancer with para-aortic lymph node metastasis.

Long-term survival after gastric cancer with liver metastasis: a report of two cases

We have experienced two cases of long-term survival after surgery for gastric cancer case with liver metastasis. One case was of a 66-year-old male patient diagnosed as having type 1 advanced gastric cancer located in the posterior wall of the lower body with liver metastasis. The stage of this case was P0H1N1T2M0 stage IV. This patient underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node resection, partial hepatectomy of the S3 region including the metastatic liver tumor and coagulation of metastatic liver tumors in the S6 and S7 regions. This patient was treated by intra-hepatic arterial infusion of 5-FU, CDDP and peroral administration of UFT after surgery. This patient has died at 3 years and 7 months after surgery. The other case was of a 55-year-old male patient diagnosed as having type 2 advanced gastric cancer located in the lesser curvature of the cardia with liver metastasis. The stage of this case was P0H1N1T3 M0 stage IV. This patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection, wedge resection of the S8 region including the metastatic liver tumor and coagulation of a metastatic liver tumor in the S4 region. This patient was treated by obstruction of the hepatic artery using coils, peroral administration of UFT, lentinan, MMC, and continuous low-dosage 5-FU and CDDP after surgery. This patient has died at 3 years and 6 months after surgery. These results suggest that for long-term survival in cases of gastric cancer with liver metastasis, hepatectomy or coagulation of the metastatic tumor with postoperative chemotherapy are indicated in cases that have no non-curative factors and only a few metastatic tumors.

Evaluation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB-2 in superspreading-type and penetrating-type gastric carcinoma

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), and of c-erbB-2 was immunohistochemically investigated in resected gastric carcinoma (in 39 cases of superspreading type and in 11 cases of penetrating type), to understand the differential biological features of these two types of gastric carcinoma. EGF, EGFR and c-erbB-2 positive cases were preferentially found in penetrating type rather than in superspreading type (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively). The positive rates of EGFR and c-erbB-2 were significantly higher in submucosal gastric carcinoma than in intramucosal gastric carcinoma (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). These results suggested that the autocrine mechanism of the growth factors and the expression of c-erbB-2 were correlated to the degree of gastric wall invasion.

Proteomic method identifies proteins nitrated in vivo during inflammatory challenge

Inflammation in asthma, sepsis, transplant rejection, and many neurodegenerative diseases associates an up-regulation of NO synthesis with increased protein nitration at tyrosine. Nitration can cause protein dysfunction and is implicated in pathogenesis, but few proteins that appear nitrated in vivo have been identified. To understand how this modification impacts physiology and disease, we used a proteomic approach toward targets of protein nitration in both in vivo and cell culture inflammatory disease models. This approach identified more than 40 nitrotyrosine-immunopositive proteins, including 30 not previously identified, that became modified as a consequence of the inflammatory response. These targets include proteins involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis, ATP production, and other metabolic functions. Our approach provides a means toward obtaining a comprehensive view of the nitroproteome and promises to broaden understanding of how NO regulates cellular processes.

Proteome survey of proliferating and differentiating rat RPE-J cells

The suitability of the rat derived SV-40T immortalized RPE-J cell line for identifying proteome changes associated with RPE differentiation was evaluated by surveying changes in protein expression levels. Rat RPE-J cells were induced to undergo differentiation in culture by growth at the nonpermissive temperature of 40 degrees C in the presence of retinoic acid. Total proteins were extracted from cells grown under proliferating or differentiating conditions and separated by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. Gel spots were excised, digested in situ with trypsin, and analysed by mass spectrometry to identify proteins. Computer assisted image analysis was used to align gel patterns and quantify spot intensities. Neither proliferating nor differentiating RPE-J cell cultures exhibited detectable levels of cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein, RPE65, 11- cis -retinol dehydrogenase or lecithin retinol acyl transferase, suggesting that RPE-J cells are not appropriate for visual cycle studies. About 18% of the 61 identified proteins appear to change expression levels with the cell growth conditions. Seven proteins appeared to be up-regulated and four proteins down-regulated when the cells were changed from proliferating to differentiating culture conditions. The majority of the apparent changes in protein expression levels were associated with stress response genes. Significant changes in the apparent mass and charge properties of proteins were also observed and for select proteins, the modifications appeared to be correlated with cell growth conditions. The results demonstrate that proteome differences in RPE-J cells associated with growth conditions can be identified and support the suitability of RPE-J cells for more targeted and/or more global proteome analysis of RPE differentiation.

Alcohol and retinoids

This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2000 ISBRA Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. The chairs were Hirokazu Yokoyama and David Crabb. The presentations were (1) Roles of vitamin A, retinoic acid, and retinoid receptors in the expression of liver ALDH2, by J. Pinaire, R. Hasanadka, M. Fang, and David W. Crabb; (2) Alcohol, vitamin A, and beta-carotene: Adverse interactions, by M. A. Leo and Charles S. Lieber; (3) Retinoic acid, hepatic stellate cells, and Kupffer cells, by Hidekazu Tsukamoto, K. Motomura, T. Miyahara, and M. Ohata; (4) Retinoid storage and metabolism in liver, by William Bosron, S. Sanghani, and N. Kedishvili; (5) Characterization of oxidation pathway from retinol to retinoic acid in esophageal mucosa, by Haruko Shiraishi, Hirokazu Yokoyama, Michiko Miyagi, and Hiromasa Ishii; and (6) Ethanol in an inhibitor of the cytosolic oxidation of retinol in the liver and the large intestine of rats as well as in the human colon mucosa, by Ina Bergheim, Ina Menzl, Alexandr Parlesak, and Christiane Bode.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D genotype and renal ACE gene expression

BACKGROUND

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D genotype affects serum ACE levels and the onset and progression of renal disease, but little is known about the mechanism. We investigated a possible association between the ACE I/D genotype and renal ACE mRNA levels in healthy subjects.

METHODS

Renal biopsy samples were obtained from 50 healthy kidney donors. The ACE I/D genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Renal ACE mRNA quantification was performed by competitive RNA-PCR. In situ hybridization (ISH) for ACE mRNA on renal biopsy specimens was also performed.

RESULTS

The number of ACE transcripts in 100 ng of total RNA was significantly (P < 0.01) lower in subjects with II genotype (5.6 +/- 5.3 x 10(5), N = 20) compared with those with the ID (17.9 +/- 13.6 x 10(5), N = 23) or the DD genotype (36.9 +/- 14.6 x 10(5), N = 7) in healthy donors. The ISH studies showed that both tubular and glomerular ACE mRNA expressions were weak in subjects with the II genotype, intermediate in subjects with ID genotype, and strong in subjects with DD genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that renal ACE gene expression is associated with the ACE I/D genotype in healthy Japanese subjects.

Simultaneous quantification of retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid isomers by high-performance liquid chromatography with a simple gradiation

A new method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis to quantify isomers of retinol, retinal and retinoic acid simultaneously was established. The HPLC system consisted of a silica gel absorption column and a linear gradient with two kinds of solvents containing n-Hexane, 2-propanol, and glacial acetic acid in different ratios. It separated six retinoic acid isomers (13-cis, 9-cis, all-trans, all-trans-4-oxo, 9-cis-4-oxo, 13-cis-4-oxo), three retinal isomers (13-cis-, 9-cis-, and all-trans) and two retinol isomers (13-cis- and all-trans). Human serum samples were subjected to this HPLC analysis and at least, all-trans retinol, 13-cis retinol, and all-trans retinoic acid were detectable. This HPLC system is useful for evaluating retinoic acid formation from retinol via a two-step oxidation pathway. Moreover, it could be applied to monitoring the concentrations of various retinoids, including all-trans retinoic acid in human sera.

Silver-based compound metal island films for write-once optical data-storage media

Silver-based compound metal island (CMI) films prepared by use of a two-step evaporation method at the low substrate temperature of 20-30 degrees C have been experimentally investigated for write-once (WO) optical data-storage media. We found that most silver-based CMI films can be used as WO optical data-storage media provided that the island structure is formed in the films. Silver-gold CMI films are particularly useful as more-durable WO media for the 800-nm wavelength as compared with conventional silver island films. Aluminum-silver CMI films are potential WO media for a shorter-wavelength region, since the resonance wavelength exists near 500 nm. The spectral characteristics of the CMI films can be controlled by selection of the mixture ratio and evaporation order of metals. By use of CMI films, various specific WO optical data-storage media could be developed.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent retinoic acid formation from retinol in the human gastric mucosa: inhibition by ethanol, acetaldehyde, and H2 blockers

All-trans retinoic acid formation from all-trans retinol (vitamin A) in the human gastric mucosa was studied. When all-trans retinol and the human gastric mucosa were incubated together, all-trans retinoic acid was formed in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). When the NAD was not added, hardly any formation was observed. The formation of all-trans retinoic acid tended to be attenuated by 10 mM ethanol. Moreover, it was significantly attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner by ethanol at concentrations of 100 mM and above. Acetaldehyde at concentrations of 50 microM and above also significantly attenuated its formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Some H2 blockers, which include ranitidine hydrochloride and cimetidine, significantly attenuated the formation of all-trans retinoic acid, whereas famotidine failed to suppress it. There is an NAD-dependent pathway by which all-trans retinoic acid is produced from all-trans retinol in the human gastric mucosa. Inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase, which include ethanol and some H2 blockers, and of aldehyde dehydrogenase, which include acetaldehyde, inhibit its production.