Effects of galvanic vestibular stimulation on postural righting reactions in hemiplegia

Patients with post-stroke hemiplegia often exhibit reduced ability to maintain sitting balance, a crucial factor for predicting prognosis. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) influences postural control by stimulating vestibular organ. Although several studies have focused on GVS in static postures, no studies have demonstrated the influence of GVS on righting reactions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of GVS on postural righting reactions in seated patients with stroke-induced hemiplegia. Using a vertical board (VB), righting reactions were induced by tilting the VB at 10° after patients sat for 1 min. Patients adjusted their bodies until feeling vertical upon prompt. Twenty-two left hemiplegic patients with cerebrovascular disease participated, divided into two groups undergoing right cathode GVS (RC-GVS) followed by left cathode GVS or vice versa, preceded by sham stimulation. Centre of pressure and the joint angle were measured. During the postural righting reactions towards the paralysed side, RC-GVS enhanced the righting reactions and moved the mean position on the x-axis (COPx) to the right and the mean position on the y-axis (COPy) to the front. During the postural righting reaction towards the right side, RC-GVS induced resistance against the righting reaction, COPx was deflected to the right, COPy was deflected backward, and the angle of the neck tilt increased. The findings revealed that GVS with anodal stimulation on the paralysed side could promote righting reactions in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The study findings suggest that using the contralesional placement of the anode promotes righting reactions, and galvanic vestibular stimulation can induce joint movements in the neck and trunk by polarising it to act as resistance against righting reactions.

Material Design of Porous Hydroxyapatite Ceramics via Inverse Analysis of an Estimation Model for Bone-Forming Ability Based on Machine Learning and Experimental Validation of Biological Hard Tissue Responses

Hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate have been clinically applied as artificial bone materials due to their high biocompatibility. The development of artificial bones requires the verification of safety and efficacy through animal experiments; however, from the viewpoint of animal welfare, it is necessary to reduce the number of animal experiments. In this study, we utilized machine learning to construct a model that estimates the bone-forming ability of bioceramics from material fabrication conditions, material properties, and in vivo experimental conditions. We succeeded in constructing two models: 'Model 1', which predicts material properties from their fabrication conditions, and 'Model 2', which predicts the bone-formation rate from material properties and in vivo experimental conditions. The inclusion of full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the feature of Model 2 showed an improvement in accuracy. Furthermore, the results of the feature importance showed that the FWHMs were the most important. By an inverse analysis of the two models, we proposed candidates for material fabrication conditions to achieve target values of the bone-formation rate. Under the proposed conditions, the material properties of the fabricated material were consistent with the estimated material properties. Furthermore, a comparison between bone-formation rates after 12 weeks of implantation in the porcine tibia and the estimated bone-formation rate. This result showed that the actual bone-formation rates existed within the error range of the estimated bone-formation rates, indicating that machine learning consistently predicts the results of animal experiments using material fabrication conditions. We believe that these findings will lead to the establishment of alternative animal experiments to replace animal experiments in the development of artificial bones.

Effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease: a prespecified secondary analysis from the empa-kidney trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce progression of chronic kidney disease and the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a wide range of patients. However, their effects on kidney disease progression in some patients with chronic kidney disease are unclear because few clinical kidney outcomes occurred among such patients in the completed trials. In particular, some guidelines stratify their level of recommendation about who should be treated with SGLT2 inhibitors based on diabetes status and albuminuria. We aimed to assess the effects of empagliflozin on progression of chronic kidney disease both overall and among specific types of participants in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA), and included individuals aged 18 years or older with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or with an eGFR of 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher. We explored the effects of 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily versus placebo on the annualised rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR slope), a tertiary outcome. We studied the acute slope (from randomisation to 2 months) and chronic slope (from 2 months onwards) separately, using shared parameter models to estimate the latter. Analyses were done in all randomly assigned participants by intention to treat. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and then followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroups of eGFR included 2282 (34·5%) participants with an eGFR of less than 30 mL/min per 1·73 m2, 2928 (44·3%) with an eGFR of 30 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, and 1399 (21·2%) with an eGFR 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2 or higher. Prespecified subgroups of uACR included 1328 (20·1%) with a uACR of less than 30 mg/g, 1864 (28·2%) with a uACR of 30 to 300 mg/g, and 3417 (51·7%) with a uACR of more than 300 mg/g. Overall, allocation to empagliflozin caused an acute 2·12 mL/min per 1·73 m2 (95% CI 1·83-2·41) reduction in eGFR, equivalent to a 6% (5-6) dip in the first 2 months. After this, it halved the chronic slope from -2·75 to -1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (relative difference 50%, 95% CI 42-58). The absolute and relative benefits of empagliflozin on the magnitude of the chronic slope varied significantly depending on diabetes status and baseline levels of eGFR and uACR. In particular, the absolute difference in chronic slopes was lower in patients with lower baseline uACR, but because this group progressed more slowly than those with higher uACR, this translated to a larger relative difference in chronic slopes in this group (86% [36-136] reduction in the chronic slope among those with baseline uACR <30 mg/g compared with a 29% [19-38] reduction for those with baseline uACR ≥2000 mg/g; ptrend<0·0001).

INTERPRETATION

Empagliflozin slowed the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease among all types of participant in the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, including those with little albuminuria. Albuminuria alone should not be used to determine whether to treat with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly.

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

BACKGROUND

The EMPA-KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population.

METHODS

EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110.

FINDINGS

Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5-2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62-0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16-1·59), representing a 50% (42-58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1).

INTERPRETATION

In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease.

FUNDING

Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council.

First Measurement of a Long-Lived π^{+}π^{-} Atom Lifetime

The adapted DIRAC experiment at the CERN PS accelerator observed for the first time long-lived hydrogenlike π^{+}π^{-} atoms, produced by protons hitting a beryllium target. A part of these atoms crossed the gap of 96 mm between the target and a 2.1  μm thick platinum foil, in which most of them dissociated. Analyzing the observed number of atomic pairs, n_{A}^{L}=436_{-61}^{+157}|_{tot}, the lifetime of the 2p state is found to be τ_{2p}=(0.45_{-0.30}^{+1.08}|_{tot})×10^{-11}  s, not contradicting the corresponding QED 2p state lifetime τ_{2p}^{QED}=1.17×10^{-11}  s. This lifetime value is three orders of magnitude larger than our previously measured value of the π^{+}π^{-} atom ground state lifetime τ=(3.15_{-0.26}^{+0.28}|_{tot})×10^{-15}  s. Further studies of long-lived π^{+}π^{-} atoms will allow us to measure energy differences between p and s atomic states and so to discriminate between the isoscalar and isotensor ππ scattering lengths with the aim to check QCD predictions.

Measurement of Coherent π^{+} Production in Low Energy Neutrino-Carbon Scattering

We report the first measurement of the flux-averaged cross section for charged current coherent π^{+} production on carbon for neutrino energies less than 1.5 GeV, and with a restriction on the final state phase space volume in the T2K near detector, ND280. Comparisons are made with predictions from the Rein-Sehgal coherent production model and the model by Alvarez-Ruso et al., the latter representing the first implementation of an instance of the new class of microscopic coherent models in a neutrino interaction Monte Carlo event generator. We observe a clear event excess above background, disagreeing with the null results reported by K2K and SciBooNE in a similar neutrino energy region. The measured flux-averaged cross sections are below those predicted by both the Rein-Sehgal and Alvarez-Ruso et al.

Observation of π^{-}K^{+} and π^{+}K^{-} Atoms

The observation of hydrogenlike πK atoms, consisting of π^{-}K^{+} or π^{+}K^{-} mesons, is presented. The atoms are produced by 24  GeV/c protons from the CERN PS accelerator, interacting with platinum or nickel foil targets. The breakup (ionization) of πK atoms in the same targets yields characteristic πK pairs, called "atomic pairs," with small relative momenta Q in the pair center-of-mass system. The upgraded DIRAC experiment observed 349±62 such atomic πK pairs, corresponding to a signal of 5.6 standard deviations. This is the first statistically significant observation of the strange dimesonic πK atom.

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of ν[over ¯]_{μ} in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector Super-Kamiokande, 295 km away, where the ν[over ¯]_{μ} survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a data set corresponding to 4.01×10^{20} protons on target, 34 fully contained μ-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are sin^{2}(θ[over ¯]_{23})=0.45 and |Δm[over ¯]_{32}^{2}|=2.51×10^{-3}  eV^{2} with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38-0.64 and 2.26-2.80×10^{-3}  eV^{2}, respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the ν_{μ} disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

Measurement of the inclusive electron neutrino charged current cross section on carbon with the T2K near detector

The T2K off-axis near detector ND280 is used to make the first differential cross-section measurements of electron neutrino charged current interactions at energies ∼1  GeV as a function of electron momentum, electron scattering angle, and four-momentum transfer of the interaction. The total flux-averaged ν(e) charged current cross section on carbon is measured to be ⟨σ⟩(ϕ)=1.11±0.10(stat)±0.18(syst)×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon. The differential and total cross-section measurements agree with the predictions of two leading neutrino interaction generators, NEUT and GENIE. The NEUT prediction is 1.23×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon and the GENIE prediction is 1.08×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon. The total ν(e) charged current cross-section result is also in agreement with data from the Gargamelle experiment.

SETBP1 mutations drive leukemic transformation in ASXL1-mutated MDS

Mutations in ASXL1 are frequent in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and associated with adverse survival yet the molecular pathogenesis of ASXL1 mutations are not fully understood. Recently it has been found that deletion of Asxl1 or expression of C-terminal-truncating ASXL1 mutations (ASXL1-MT) inhibit myeloid differentiation and induce MDS-like disease in mice. Here, we find that SETBP1 mutations (SETBP1-MT) are enriched among patients with ASXL1-mutated MDS patients and associated with increased incidence of leukemic transformation as well as shorter survival, suggesting SETBP1-MT play a critical role in leukemic transformation of MDS. We identify that SETBP1-MT inhibit ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of SETBP1, resulting in increased expression. Expression of SETBP1-MT, in turn, inhibited Pp2a activity, leading to Akt activation and enhanced expression of posterior Hoxa genes in ASXL1 mutant cells. Biologically, SETBP1-MT augmented ASXL1-MT-induced differentiation block, inhibited apoptosis, and enhanced myeloid colony output. SETBP1-MT collaborated with ASXL1-MT in inducing AML in vivo. The combination of ASXL1-MT and SETBP1-MT activated a stem cell signature and repressed the TGF-β signaling pathway, in contrast to the ASXL1-MT-induced MDS model. These data reveal that SETBP1-MT are critical drivers of ASXL1-mutated MDS and identify several deregulated pathways as potential therapeutic targets in high-risk MDS.

Precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23 from muon neutrino disappearance in an off-axis beam

New data from the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment produce the most precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23. Using an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV and a data set corresponding to 6.57×10(20) protons on target, T2K has fit the energy-dependent νμ oscillation probability to determine oscillation parameters. The 68% confidence limit on sin(2)(θ23) is 0.514(-0.056)(+0.055) (0.511±0.055), assuming normal (inverted) mass hierarchy. The best-fit mass-squared splitting for normal hierarchy is Δm32(2)=(2.51±0.10)×10(-3)  eV(2)/c(4) (inverted hierarchy: Δm13(2)=(2.48±0.10)×10(-3)  eV(2)/c(4)). Adding a model of multinucleon interactions that affect neutrino energy reconstruction is found to produce only small biases in neutrino oscillation parameter extraction at current levels of statistical uncertainty.

Observation of electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment has observed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam produced 295 km from the Super-Kamiokande detector with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. A total of 28 electron neutrino events were detected with an energy distribution consistent with an appearance signal, corresponding to a significance of 7.3σ when compared to 4.92±0.55 expected background events. In the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata mixing model, the electron neutrino appearance signal depends on several parameters including three mixing angles θ12, θ23, θ13, a mass difference Δm(32)(2) and a CP violating phase δ(CP). In this neutrino oscillation scenario, assuming |Δm(32)(2)|=2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)θ(23)=0.5, and Δm322>0 (Δm(32)(2)<0), a best-fit value of sin(2)2θ(13)=0.140(-0.032)(+0.038) (0.170(-0.037)(+0.045)) is obtained at δ(CP)=0. When combining the result with the current best knowledge of oscillation parameters including the world average value of θ(13) from reactor experiments, some values of δ(CP) are disfavored at the 90% C.L.

Measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters from muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis beam

The T2K Collaboration reports a precision measurement of muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. Near detector measurements are used to constrain the neutrino flux and cross section parameters. The Super-Kamiokande far detector, which is 295 km downstream of the neutrino production target, collected data corresponding to 3.01×10(20) protons on target. In the absence of neutrino oscillations, 205±17 (syst) events are expected to be detected while only 58 muon neutrino event candidates are observed. A fit to the neutrino rate and energy spectrum, assuming three neutrino flavors and normal mass hierarchy yields a best-fit mixing angle sin2(θ23)=0.514±0.082 and mass splitting |Δm(32)(2)|=2.44(-0.15)(+0.17)×10(-3) eV2/c4. Our result corresponds to the maximal oscillation disappearance probability.

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector. In a three-flavor neutrino oscillation scenario with |Δm(23)(2)| = 2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)2θ(23) = 1 and sin(2)2θ(13) = 0, the expected number of such events is 1.5±0.3(syst). Under this hypothesis, the probability to observe six or more candidate events is 7×10(-3), equivalent to 2.5σ significance. At 90% C.L., the data are consistent with 0.03(0.04) < sin(2)2θ(13) < 0.28(0.34) for δ(CP) = 0 and a normal (inverted) hierarchy.

First measurement of the transverse spin asymmetries of the deuteron in semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering

First measurements of the Collins and Sivers asymmetries of charged hadrons produced in deep-inelastic scattering of muons on a transversely polarized 6LiD target are presented. The data were taken in 2002 with the COMPASS spectrometer using the muon beam of the CERN SPS at 160 GeV/c. The Collins asymmetry turns out to be compatible with zero, as does the measured Sivers asymmetry within the present statistical errors.

Pharmacological preconditioning with doxorubicin. Implications of heme oxygenase-1 induction in doxorubicin-induced hepatic injury in rats

Heme oxygenase (HO) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. HO-1, an inducible form, is thought to contribute to resistance to various types of oxidative stress. Doxorubicin (DOX) produces clinically useful responses in a variety of human cancers. We reported previously that prior administration of DOX ameliorated subsequent hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury. The aim of this study was to examine whether this pharmacological preconditioning was useful for another type of hepatic injury induced by a non-surgical method. When a high dose of DOX (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered directly to rat liver via the portal vein, serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels increased markedly 24 hr after the injection. Under this condition, zinc-protoporphyrin IX, a specific inhibitor of HO-1, caused both serum AST and ALT levels to be elevated further. When a low dose of DOX (5 mg/kg body weight) was administered to rats via the tail vein as pharmacological preconditioning 3 days before the injection of a high dose of DOX via the portal vein, the levels of serum AST and ALT in rats clearly were improved as compared with rats without the preconditioning. Expression of HO-1 in the liver was confirmed 3 days after the administration of a low dose of DOX. In addition, prior administration of zinc-protoporphyrin IX abolished the effect of DOX preconditioning. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the positive staining of HO-1 protein induced by a low dose of DOX was localized to histiocytes infiltrating periportal areas. These results strongly suggest that pharmacological preconditioning with DOX may generally help to attenuate subsequent oxidant-induced hepatic injury.

Inhibition of expression of ornithine decarboxylase by c-myc antisense oligonucleotide at the promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice

Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) expression at a promotion stage of lung carcinogenesis is a key clue to suppress the cancer. In this study, we investigated that the ODC induction at the promotion stage of lung carcinogenesis in mice could be inhibited through the suppression of the expression of c-myc, a transcription factor for ODC. The treatment with c-myc antisense oligonucleotide decreased the carcinogen-elevated level of pulmonary ODC protein at the promotion stage, but the sense oligonucleotide had no influence on the level. Overall, it is possible that the induction of ODC in the carcinogenic process of lung is regulated at its transcriptional level.

[A case of non-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis that rapidly deteriorated]

The pulmonary diseases caused by the Aspergillus species include invasive forms, for example, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, and non-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Though these forms are defined pathologically by the presence of the Aspergillus species that invades the lung tissue, they are used as clinical entities. We report a case of non-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis which, from the clinical data, appeared likely to be misdiagnosed as the chronic invasive form. A 45 year-old man received chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer as well as undergoing an left upper lobectomy. Two weeks after the surgery the patient developed a cough, high fever and chest pain. Chest radiography and chest computed tomography showed a rapidly enlarging cavity with an internal mass and infiltration in the left lower lung field. A transbronchial biopsy specimen of the cavity wall showed fungal hyphae. Bronchial washing culture grew Aspergillus fumigatus. Itraconazole and amphotericin B were administered, but the patient's condition did not improve. A left lower lobectomy was performed. The histologic findings showed that the fungal hyphae were only on the surface of the cavity wall, and were surrounded by necrosis and widespread inflammatory cell infiltration. No fungal invasion of the viable lung tissue was seen. The area of infiltration revealed an organizing pneumonia without Aspergillus or other organisms. Our final diagnosis was non-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. There has been no recurrence of the lung cancer or of the pulmonary aspergillosis in the three years since surgery. It is reported that non-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis passes through a period so active that it seems to be the invasive form for its entire clinical course. To avoid confusion in diagnosis, establishment of a comprehensive clinical classification of pulmonary aspergillosis will be needed.

[Pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova]

This is the first clinical report of a case of pneumonia caused by Nocardia nova in Japan. A 52 year-old woman who had received steroids and cyclophosphamide for six years because of polymyositis was admitted to our hospital for further examination. On admission she had a mild cough, and her chest radiography and computed tomography revealed bilateral multiple nodules, some of which were cavitated. She developed a cough productive of yellow sputum and fever up to 38 degrees C. Examination of the sputum revealed a gram-positive branched organism and sputum cultures repeatedly grew Nocardia species. The isolate was identified as Nocardia nova later. Clinical recovery was obtained readily upon treatment with imipenem and trimethoprim methoxazole, though the latter drug was discontinued because of nausea and anorexia. This drug was therefore replaced with oral minocycline, which proved to be ineffective clinically although susceptibility testing of the drug showed positive sensitivity. Minocycline was replaced with clarithromycin, after which chest radiography and computed tomography showed almost total resolution of the infiltrates. Clarithromycin may be an alternative oral agent to sulfonamides or minocycline when these agents are ineffective or not tolerated.

Correlation between the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase and the stages of human colorectal carcinoma

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) catalyzes the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) from ATP and L-methionine. AdoMet is the major methyl donor in most transmethylation reactions in vivo, and it is also the propylamino donor in the biosynthesis of polyamines. In the present study, we assessed MAT activity in human colons with colorectal carcinoma and the values were compared with those of morphologically normal adjacent mucosa. Higher levels of MAT activity were observed in the colorectal carcinoma than in the normal colon. The ratio of MAT activity in tumor tissue versus normal tissue seemed to be correlated well will the stage of the colorectal tumor. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis showed that the high levels of MAT activity observed in colorectal carcinoma were due to the increased amounts of MAT protein. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that MAT was most abundant in goblet cells, particularly in granules in the supranuclear area of these cells. In the colorectal carcinoma tissues, MAT was strongly stained in the cancerous cells and localized in granules in the supranuclear region. The results of this preliminary study suggest that determination of the relative ratio of MAT activity in both normal and tumor regions in human colorectal carcinoma could be a clinically useful tool for determining the stage of malignancy of colorectal carcinomas.

Hemin pretreatment ameliorates aspects of the nephropathy induced by mercuric chloride in the rat

Mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)) is known to be a nephrotoxicant. When HgCl(2) is administered into rats, acute renal failure (ARF) is induced. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is antioxidative enzyme and is known to play a protective role against the oxidative injury. To elucidate the cytoprotective role of HO-1 against the nephrotoxicant-induced ARF, we examined the effect of hemin, HO-1 inducer, on HgCl(2)-induced ARF. Subcutaneous administration of hemin (30 mg/kg body weight) into rats once a day for two successive days obviously induced HO-1 protein in the kidneys at 24 h after the last injection. Under this situation, when HgCl(2) (1 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected into rats at 24 h after the last injection of hemin improved the serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, markers for renal injury, at 24 h after the HgCl(2) injection as compared with the control rats without hemin pretreatment (HgCl(2) treatment alone). This result was further confirmed by histopathological analysis. These findings strongly suggest that the preinduction of HO-1 ameliorates the subsequent HgCl(2)-induced acute renal injury.

Doxorubicin preconditioning: a protection against rat hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

Doxorubicin produces clinically useful responses in a variety of human cancers. However, the toxicity of doxorubicin has limited its usefulness. This side effect is mainly due to the doxorubicin-mediated free radical formation. Administration of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg body weight) to rats intravenously induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the liver. The levels of HO-1 protein were first detected at 6 hours and peaked at about 18 to 24 hours after the injection. It is known that HO-1 plays a protective role against the oxidative injury. Therefore, we have examined the protective effect of doxorubicin preconditioning against the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Partial hepatic ischemia was produced in the left and medium lobes for 45 minutes followed by 120 minutes reperfusion. When low doses of doxorubicin (1 mg/kg body weight) was intravenously administered to rats 2 days before the ischemia, the serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in the preconditioning rat were clearly improved compared with those in the rat without preconditioning. Under this situation, zinc-protoporphyrin IX, a specific inhibitor of HO-1, was injected subcutaneously to rats at 3 and 16 hours before the ischemia, the ALT levels were not improved by doxorubicin preconditioning. Histopathologic examination also supported these results. Although the HO-1 protein level was fairly low 2 days after the doxorubicin administration, significant amounts of HO-1 protein were detected. Our results indicated that the induction of HO-1 played a protective role against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury and that doxorubicin preconditioning is more clinically useful than other preconditioning methods.

Regulation of methionine adenosyltransferase activity by the glutathione level in rat liver during ischemia-reperfusion

Hepatic ischemia was induced by clamping the hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct. After 15 min of ischemia, the hepatic glutathione (GSH) content rapidly decreased. On the other hand, after the start of reperfusion, the hepatic GSH levels promptly increased and reached a peak at about 1 h, and thereafter decreased to a minimum level by 2 h. Under such conditions, we examined the changes in the methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) activity in the liver. Though the time course of MAT activity was somewhat delayed compared with that of the hepatic GSH levels, both patterns were substantially similar during ischemia-reperfusion. In contrast to the changes in the MAT activity during ischemia-reperfusion, the levels of MAT protein were unchanged during these periods. When endogenous antioxidant coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) was administered to rats prior to ischemia, both the reduction in the MAT activity and hepatic GSH levels induced by ischemia-reperfusion were protected. Our findings suggest that CoQ(10) may posttranslationally regulate the MAT activity via the changes in the GSH level in the liver.

Characterization of CFTR expression in a human pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line, NCI-H292 cells

The NCI-H292 cell, a human pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line, is commonly used for studying bacterial and viral infections of airway epithelial cells. Dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the main cause of fetal lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. In this study, we examined CFTR expression in NCI-H292 cells to determine whether NCI-H292 cells possess sufficient, normally functioning CFTR. The results of RT-PCR and Northern blotting analysis indicated that the CFTR gene expression level was much lower in NCI-H292 cells than in T84 cells. However, Western blotting analysis showed that protein expression in NCI-H292 cells was comparable to that in T84 cells. Furthermore, whole-cell and cell-attached patch clamp electrophysiological techniques indicated that the Cl- current induced by intracellular cAMP elevation in NCI-H292 cells was comparable to that in T84 cells. These findings suggest that NCI-H292 cells with a low level of CFTR gene expression possess enough functional CFTR to show a physiological response.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in lung tissues of mice treated with carcinogen

The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in lung tissues of mice, as determined by the appearance of phosphorylated form, was observed on day 30 after urethane injection, and the activation also occurred in urethane-induced lung tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis using anti-phosphorylated ERK antibody indicated that the active form of ERK localized in alveolar epithelial cells. Furthermore, we confirmed by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analysis that other essential components of the ERK cascade, that is, Ras, Raf and MEK (known as ERK kinase) were activated. These results indicate that the activation of the ERK signal in alveolar epithelial cells at the early stage of urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis is an important factor to develop lung tumors.

Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor in the early phase after renal ischemia-reperfusion in rat

In order to estimate a regenerative response in the early phase after renal ischemia-reperfusion in rat, we examined the time course of the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a response of signal transduction pathway after 45 min ischemia in kidney. The activation of EGFR was observed 5-30 min after the start of reperfusion. Simultaneously, superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide generated in the mitochondrial fraction was elevated during the same period. On the other hand, the level of EGF decreased in a time-dependent manner. These results suggested that superoxide anion/hydrogen peroxide generated during the ischemia-reperfusion other than EGF could act as an activator for the EGFR. In summary, the activation of EGFR is important as a regenerative response at an early stage after the start of reperfusion in ischemic kidney.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase mediates renal regeneration in rats with myoglobinuric acute renal injury

In vitro data support that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), members of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, mediate the signal transduction pathways responsible for the cell proliferation. However, in vivo role of these MAP kinases is poorly understood. Intramuscular injection of 50% glycerol solution induces acute renal failure in rats. This injury is known as a model of rhabdomyolysis in human. To investigate the molecular mechanism of the signaling pathway in this injury, we examined the role of ERK and JNK. After the glycerol injection JNK was rapidly and transiently activated at about 4 h, while the activation of ERK was gradually increased and the levels were sustained at least to 24 h. Next, we examined the expression of cell-cycle related proteins after the glycerol injection using Western blot analysis. The levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein as a marker for cell proliferation were induced at 2 h and significantly increased to 24 h after the injection. In addition, cyclins D1, D2, and D3 as markers for G1 phase also increased with similar time courses. To examine whether activation of ERK and/or JNK are involved in the renal regeneration after the glycerol injection, we examined the effect of genistein, which is an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, on the activation of ERK and JNK. Administration of genistein to rats with this injury decreased the activation of ERK, but not JNK. The induction of PCNA and cyclin D1 was also prevented by this treatment. In this condition, renal function was further worsened as compared to control rats. These results provide the first evidence that ERK may be involved in the repair process of renal tubules damaged by this injury.

Primary bronchopulmonary fibrosarcoma: report of a case

We herein report a case of primary bronchopulmonary fibrosarcoma in a 70-year-old man. The patient was referred to our hospital for investigation of hemosputum and an abnormal shadow. On admission, chest radiograph and computed tomography scan showed a mass lesion in right S3 and an infiltrative shadow in the right upper lobe. Transbronchial biopsy specimens showed findings of malignancy, and adenocarcinoma was suspected. A right pneumonectomy was performed, and pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of fibrosarcoma. The patient had an uneventful recovery and no sign of recurrence has been found in the year since his operation, although strict follow-up is essential.

Both positive and negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients stimulate hepatic glucose uptake after the same amount of glucose is infused into the splanchnic bed in conscious dogs

We studied the effects of both positive and negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients on hepatic glucose uptake after the same amount of glucose was administered into the portal vein and/or hepatic artery. Studies were performed on eight unrestrained conscious dogs with catheters in the portal vein, hepatic vein, gastroduodenal artery, superior mesenteric vein, and femoral artery and Doppler flow probes on the portal vein and hepatic artery. Glucose was infused as follows: protocol 1, 55.6 micromol/kg/min into the portal vein for the first 90 minutes; protocol 2, 27.8 micromol/kg/min into both the portal vein and hepatic artery for the next 90 minutes; and protocol 3, 55.6 micromol/kg/min into the hepatic artery for the last 90 minutes. The portal venous and hepatic arterial plasma glucose gradient was 2.1+/-0.3, -3.0+/-0.5, and -7.1+/-0.6 mmol/L, the rate of hepatic glucose uptake divided by the administered glucose load was 46%+/-11%, 42%+/-10%, and 57%+/-8%, net hepatic glucose uptake was 25.4+/-5.9, 23.5+/-5.6, and 31.6+/-4.6 micromol/kg/min; and the fractional hepatic extraction of glucose was 10.7%+/-2.2%, 11.6%+/-2.5%, and 15.0%+/-2.1%, respectively (mean+/-SEM of three points at 60, 75, and 90 minutes in each protocol). The rate of hepatic glucose uptake divided by the administered glucose load, net hepatic glucose uptake, and fractional hepatic extraction of glucose did not change significantly despite the various portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients. We also studied the effect of the same amount of intraportal glucose infusion for 240 minutes on net hepatic glucose uptake. From 60 to 240 minutes, net hepatic glucose uptake did not change significantly. In conclusion, the liver took up a large amount of glucose administered into the portal vein and/or hepatic artery, regardless of positive or negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradients. Augmentation of hepatic glucose uptake is not dependent on the signal of the positive or negative portal venous and hepatic arterial glucose gradient.

Regenerative response in acute renal failure due to vitamin E deficiency and glutathione depletion in rats

In this study, we investigated some factors contributing to renal regeneration after acute renal failure (ARF) induced by vitamin E (VE) deficiency and glutathione (GSH) depletion. Acute renal failure was induced by feeding rats a vitamin E-deficient diet for 6 weeks and then injecting buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione-depleting agent. The level of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a renotropic factor for regeneration in the kidney, showed a transient increase at 5 hr after the BSO treatment. Subsequently, renal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, a marker of G1 phase, and labeling index (LI) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a marker of DNA synthesis (S phase), reached peaks at 10 and 53 hr after the injection, respectively. Thus, it appears that the increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity and subsequent elevation in proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index following the increase in the hepatocyte growth factor level in the kidneys are closely related to the renal regenerative response after acute renal failure.

The inhibitory effect of vitamin E on 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced DNA injury and the fixation of the DNA injury in mouse lungs

In order to estimate the effect of vitamin E on DNA injury and K-ras point mutation at an early stage of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone(NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in mice, the present study was carried out. Presupplement with vitamin E about 15 times more than control for a week significantly inhibited NNK-induced O6-methylguanine formation in the lungs of mice at 4 and 168 h after the injection. At 30 days after the NNK injection. the activation of K-ras oncogene with a 12th codon GC-->AT transition was detected in 56% of lung samples tested by mutant-allele-specific amplification. Vitamin E supplement reduced the frequency of the mutation to 30%. These results suggest that vitamin E suppresses NNK-induced DNA injury and subsequent fixation of the injury during the initiation and post-initiation phases of the lung tumorigenesis in mice.

The repetitive activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase is required for renal regeneration in rat

In this study, we investigated the activation of p42 extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK2) during renal regeneration after HgCl2-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in rat. ERK2 activation was observed at 5 and 29 hr after HgCl2 injection, respectively. The tyrosine phosphorylation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-MET) occurred between 2.5 and 5 hr after the treatment. On the other hand, the phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was transiently observed at 29 hr after the injection. The peak of ornithine decarboxylase activity as a marker of G1 phase was at 10 hr, and subsequently the labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen as a marker of S phase increased at 53 hr. These results indicate that the repetitive activation of ERK2 related to the phosphorylation of c-MET and EGFR is required for the renal regeneration in HgCl2-induced ARF of rat.

MRI of enlarged endolymphatic sacs in the large vestibular aqueduct syndrome

We studied ten inner ears of five patients with a bilateral large vestibular aqueduct syndrome, using CT and MRI. Although the large vestibular aqueduct varied in size, a markedly dilated endolymphatic sac extending to the sigmoid sinus was demonstrated bilaterally on MRI in all patients. The cause of hearing loss in this syndrome is unclear. However, it is suggested that reflux of the protein-rich, hyperosmolar endolymph from the enlarged endolymphatic sac (EES) into the cochlea through a widely patent endolymphatic duct may damage the neuroepithelium. CT density and spin-echo MRI signal intensity of the endolymph in EES were markedly higher than those of CSF in eight inner ears of four patients. Increased density and high signal may indicate protein-rich, hyperosmolar endolymph. In some patients with sensorineural hearing loss and EES, the vestibular aqueduct may not appear dilated on CT. MRI is therefore necessary for correct diagnosis of this syndrome, which should more correctly be termed "large endolymphatic duct and sac syndrome". Prominent EES may predict poor prognosis in this syndrome.

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 in toxic renal injury: mercuric chloride-induced acute renal failure in rat

It is known that mercuric chloride (HgCl2) is a nephrotoxicant. When HgCl2 (1 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected into rats, acute renal failure was induced. Histological changes in the kidneys were exclusively observed in the proximal tubules and the severe necrosis was found as early as 24 h after HgCl2 injection. The heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) mRNA was strongly and promptly induced at about 2.5 h, the earliest time examined and abruptly decreased after the injection. Whereas the time course of HO-1 protein level was delayed as compared with that of HO-1 mRNA level. The levels of HO-1 mRNA and protein similarly increased with dose-dependent manner. The localization of HO-1 protein was restricted to the tubule cells. These findings suggest the potential involvement of HO-1 induction in the response to HgCl2-induced acute renal injury.

Structure of the rat methionine adenosyltransferase 2A gene and its promoter

In this study, to understand the regulation of methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) gene expression, we isolated the rat MAT2A gene encoding MAT alpha2, the catalytic subunit of non-hepatic-type enzyme MAT II and characterized its structural organization and 5'-flanking region. The gene spans approximately 7 kbp and consists of nine exons interrupted by eight introns. The transcription initiation site, as demonstrated by primer extension analysis, is located 123 bp upstream of the translation start codon. Comparison of the structural organization of the rat MAT2A gene to that of the mouse MAT1A gene encoding MAT alpha1, the subunit of liver-type enzymes MAT I and III, shows that the exon structure of two genes is very similar and the insertion sites of all corresponding introns are identical. A canonical TATA box and a GC box, the potential Sp1-binding site, are found 32 bp and 70 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site, respectively. The 5'-flanking region also contains potential recognition sites for various transcription factors including AP-1, AP-2 and NF-IL6 (C/EBPbeta), and a large G+C-rich domain with the characteristics of a CpG island. The 5'-flanking sequence of the rat MAT2A gene has no significant similarity with those of the MAT1A genes. Transient transfection experiments using a luciferase reporter gene showed that the first 820-bp sequence of the 5'-flanking region directed high levels of luciferase activity in cultured rat kidney fibroblast (NRK-49F) and hepatocellular carcinoma (FAA-HTC1) cells, but not in primary rat hepatocytes. Deletion analysis suggested that the first 343 bp of the 5'-flanking region contained cell-type-specific promoter elements of this gene.

Surgical management of Mycobacterium avium complex disease

Between July 1991 and October 1996, eight patients with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) underwent pulmonary resection in our department. There was equal distribution of men women. The length of the preoperative period averaged 8.1 months (range: 1 to 30 months). Surgical resection was complete, consisting of lobectomy in 4 patients, lobectomy with partial resection in 2, segmentectomy in 1, and segmentectomy with partial resection in 1. There were no major complications postoperatively. No patients had positive sputum culture with MAC just after operation; however, one patient had positive sputum culture 6 months after operation. Our results show the good outcome of resectional surgery for MAC in properly selected patients, who should be operated as early as possible.

Effects of vitamin E deficiency and glutathione depletion on stress protein heme oxygenase 1 mRNA expression in rat liver and kidney

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is a stress protein and has been suggested to provide defense mechanisms against agents that may induce oxidative injury. Vitamin E (VE) is considered to function as an important cellular antioxidant. Rats were fed a VE-deficient (0E) or a VE-sufficient (10E) diet for 6 weeks and then were intraperitoneally administered buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), a glutathione (GSH)-depleting reagent. Whereas HO-1 mRNA levels were undetectable in untreated 0E and 10E rat livers, BSO administration induced HO-1 mRNA expression in both 0E and 10E rat livers. High levels of HO-1 mRNA expression were observed in particular in BSO-treated 0E rat livers. The time-course of changes in HO-1 mRNA expression in 0E rat liver after BSO administration showed that HO-1 mRNA expression was transiently induced at 2.5 hr after BSO treatment, the earliest time examined. In addition, to determine whether VE deficiency and GSH depletion affect the expression of HO-1 mRNA in other tissues, we also examined the time-course of HO-1 mRNA expression in BSO-treated 0E rat kidney. The expression pattern of HO-1 mRNA in the kidney was very similar to that in the liver, and the peak was also observed at about 2.5 hr after BSO administration. Interestingly, histologic assessment of liver and kidney showed that VE deficiency and GSH depletion induced injury in the kidney, but not in the liver.