High-power laser experiment forming a supercritical collisionless shock in a magnetized uniform plasma at rest

We present an experimental method to generate quasiperpendicular supercritical magnetized collisionless shocks. In our experiment, ambient nitrogen (N) plasma is at rest and well magnetized, and it has uniform mass density. The plasma is pushed by laser-driven ablation aluminum (Al) plasma. Streaked optical pyrometry and spatially resolved laser collective Thomson scattering clarify structures of plasma density and temperatures, which are compared with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is indicated that just after the laser irradiation, the Al plasma is magnetized by a self-generated Biermann battery field, and the plasma slaps the incident N plasma. The compressed external field in the N plasma reflects N ions, leading to counterstreaming magnetized N flows. Namely, we identify the edge of the reflected N ions. Such interacting plasmas form a magnetized collisionless shock.

Electroencephalographic Neurofeedback to up-regulate frontal Theta rhythms: Preliminary results

Retrieval of positive Autobiographical Memory (AM) has been reported to increase positive emotions in healthy population. Evidence suggests that positive AM retrieval tasks are correlated with synchronisation of frontal Theta rhythms (4-8Hz). The present study has developed the Electroencephalography (EEG) based Neurofeedback (NF) protocols to promote voluntary elevation or up-regulation of positive AM retrieval related Theta rhythms over F3, Fz, F4 electrode sites (10-20 System). The protocols were evaluated with a human participant in 10-day NF training. It observed that the average amplitude of observed Theta rhythms in each NF regulation block gradually increased over days of training and most was prominent at Fz electrode site. Furthermore, a larger peak at 6Hz was present in the spectrum of the observed Theta with later trial day suggesting up-regulation of Frontal Midline Theta (FmT) rhythms.

Risk Factors for Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis

Background and Objectives:

Factors that contribute to difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in acute cholecystitis (AC) that would affect the performance of early surgery remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify such risk factors.

Methods:

One hundred fifty-four patients who underwent LC for AC were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were categorized into early surgery and delayed surgery. Factors predicting difficult LC were analyzed for each group. The operation time, bleeding, and cases of difficult laparoscopic surgery (CDLS)/conversion rate were analyzed as an index of difficulty. Analyses of patients in the early group were especially focused on 3 consecutive histopathological phases: edematous cholecystitis (E), necrotizing cholecystitis (N), suppurative/subacute cholecystitis (S).

Results:

In the early group, the CDLS/conversion rate was highest in necrotizing cholecystitis. Its rate was significantly higher than that of the other 2 histopathological types (N 27.9% vs E and S 7.4%; P = .037). In the delayed-surgery group, a higher white blood cell (WBC) count and older age showed significant correlations with the CDLS/conversion rate (P = .034 and P = .004).

Conclusion:

In early surgery, histopathologic necrotizing cholecystitis is a risk factor for difficult LC in AC. A higher WBC count and older age are risk factors for delayed surgery.

CD40 Expression in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Is Associated with Tumor Progression and Lymph Node Metastasis

BACKGROUND

The co-stimulatory molecule cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40) is widely expressed in various types of malignant tumors, but its role remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between CD40 expression and clinicopathological variables in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as well as the function of CD40 expressed on ESCC tumor cells in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tumor specimens of patients who underwent surgical resection for ESCC were immunohistochemically analyzed for CD40 expression.

RESULTS

Of the 122 specimens, 45 (37%) were positive for CD40. Significant positive correlation was found between CD40 expression and p-stage (p=0.0011), histopathological grade (p=0.0143), pT-classification (p=0.0011), and pN-classification (p=0.0007). Survival of patients with stage III and IV disease with positive CD40 expression was significantly shorter than that of those with negative expression (log-rank test, p=0.0422). In in vitro analysis, while the addition of recombinant human CD154 did not inhibit growth, it did induce a significant increase in interleukin 6 production in ESCC cell lines.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that functional expression of CD40 on tumor cells might play an important role in tumor progression and lymph node metastasis in ESCC.

Noninvasive management for iatrogenic splenic injury caused by chest tube insertion: a case report

Splenic injury is one of the most critical complications of chest tube insertion and often requires invasive emergency management. However, noninvasive management such as delayed removal of the malpositioned tube may be considered for a stable patient without severe adverse event.

Intermediate band solar cell with extreme broadband spectrum quantum efficiency

We report, for the first time, about an intermediate band solar cell implemented with InAs/AlGaAs quantum dots whose photoresponse expands from 250 to ∼6000  nm. To our knowledge, this is the broadest quantum efficiency reported to date for a solar cell and demonstrates that the intermediate band solar cell is capable of producing photocurrent when illuminated with photons whose energy equals the energy of the lowest band gap. We show experimental evidence indicating that this result is in agreement with the theory of the intermediate band solar cell, according to which the generation recombination between the intermediate band and the valence band makes this photocurrent detectable.

Blood stasis may cause thrombosis in the left superior pulmonary vein stump after left upper lobectomy

Background

We previously reported that arterial infarction of vital organs after lobectomy might occur only after left upper lobectomy and be caused by thrombosis in the left superior pulmonary vein stump. We hypothesized that changes in blood flow, such as blood stasis and disturbed stagnant flow, in the left superior pulmonary vein stump cause thrombosis, and this was evaluated by intraoperative ultrasonography.

Methods

From July 2013 to April 2014, 24 patients underwent lobectomy in the Steel Memorial Muroran Hospital. During the procedure, an ultrasound probe was placed at the pulmonary vein stump and the velocity in the stump was recorded with pulse Doppler mode. The peak velocity and the presence of spontaneous echo contrast in the stump were evaluated. After the operation, the patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT within 3 months.

Results

The operative procedures were seven left upper lobectomies, four left lower lobectomies, seven right upper lobectomies, and six right lower lobectomies. Blood flow was significantly slower in the left superior pulmonary vein stump than in the right pulmonary vein stumps. However, that was not significantly slower than that in the left inferior pulmonary vein stump. Spontaneous echo contrast in the pulmonary vein stump was seen in three patients who underwent left upper lobectomy. Of the three patients with spontaneous echo contrast, two patients developed thrombosis in the left superior vein stump within 3 months after the operation. There was no patient who developed arterial infarction.

Conclusions

In patients who underwent left upper lobectomy, intraoperative ultrasonography to evaluate blood flow and the presence of spontaneous echo contrast in the left superior pulmonary vein stump may be useful to predict thrombosis that may cause arterial infarction.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13019-014-0159-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Method for the validation of immunohistochemical staining using SCID mouse xenografts: expression of CD40 and CD154 in human non-small cell lung cancer

This report proposes a concept for the standardization of immunohistochemical evaluation. Immunohistochemical staining has several problems associated with the sensitivity of the technical process and standardization of the assessment of potent staining. We provided data focusing on this concept through immunostaining for CD154 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We used two types of anti-CD154 antibody as primary antibodies in immunohistochemical staining, as previously reported. Western blot analysis confirmed strong CD154 expression in the cultured cell line PC10, but not in LK2. We also assessed CD154 expression in SCID mouse xenografts of these cell lines. SCID xenograft data on western blot analysis were consistent with those of cultured cell lines. These xenografts could thus be used as positive or negative tissue controls for CD154 immunostaining. Primary antibodies should therefore be confirmed as recognizing target lesions, while control tissue specimens should be objectively confirmed as having target products using another experimental method. Our method would allow results to be unified at more than one laboratory and could act as an objective control assessment method in immunohistochemistry.

The CD40-CD154 interaction would correlate with proliferation and immune escape in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

CD40 and CD154 are associated with lymphocyte signaling pathways and they are also expressed in some malignant neoplasms, but the significance in pancreatic cancer is unknown.

METHODS

Eighty pancreatic cancer specimens were stained immunohistochemically, and the results were correlated with the patients' clinicopathologic features. Subsequently, in vitro analysis of CD40-CD154 signaling was performed.

RESULT

Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor cells showed that 29 patients (36.3%) were positive for CD40, and 17 patients (21.3%) had very high CD154 expression. The survival of patients who had very high CD154 expression was significantly better than that of others (P = 0.0198). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that very high CD154 expression in cancer cells was not an independent, favorable prognostic factor (risk ratio, 0.493; P = 0.0224). On in vitro proliferation assay, the growth of PK-45P and KP-4 cells was blocked by CD40 and CD154 blocking antibodies. Moreover, on in vitro cytokine assay, Th-2 cytokines from PK-45P and SUIT-2 were blocked by CD40 or CD154 blocking antibody.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the CD40-CD154 interaction would correlate with cell proliferation and secretion of cytokines in PDAC cells, and CD154 overexpression could be a favorable prognostic factor in PDAC patients.

[A case of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw in a patient with bone metastasis of breast cancer]

A 5 6-year-old woman underwent modified radical mastectomy for left breast cancer in 2002. Bone metastases developed in November 2005, and she received pamidronate from February 2006. Pamidronate was changed to zoledronate in November 2006. In November 2007, she was referred to a dentist for pain and swelling of the right lower gum. Conservative therapy with local irrigation and antibiotics was performed, but the lesion progressed and showed ulceration with exposed bone. She was diagnosed as bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws, and zoledronate was withdrawn in January 2008. Conservative therapy was continued but the necrotic lesion caused pathological fracture and fistula. In February 2009, surgical intervention was performed for the improvement of her QOL.

[A case of premenopausal stage IV breast cancer responding to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy after chemotherapy with FEC]

A 33-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left breast tumor. After examinations, she was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma with sternum metastasis (T2N0M1(OSS), Stage IV). The tumor was hormone receptor- positive and HER2-negative. Primary systemic chemotherapy with FEC was performed. After four courses, the efficacy was judged as a partial response (PR). After chemotherapy, endocrine therapy with goserelin and tamoxifen was performed. The efficacy of endocrine therapy was as good as that of chemotherapy. After endocrine therapy for 13 months, breast conserving-surgery was performed. After surgery, radiotherapy for left breast and sternum was performed. She continues to undergo outpatient endocrine therapy with no detectable tumor. It is suggested that neoadjuvant endocrine therapy may be useful with consideration for treatment effectiveness and the patient's quality of life.

[Two cases of breast cancer responding to primary systemic chemotherapy containing trastuzumab without surgery]

The first case was a 40-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left breast tumor. She was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma (T2N0M0, Stage IIA). The tumor was ER-negative, PR-negative and HER2-positive. After primary systemic chemotherapy with 6 courses of 5-fluorouracil+epirubicin+cyclophosphamide(FEC)and 3 courses of weekly paclitaxel (PTX)+trastuzumab, the efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a complete response (CR). After chemotherapy, radiotherapy for her left breast was performed without surgery. At 21 months after CR, local efficacy was judged as CR, but liver and bone metastases appeared, and were treated by capecitabine and trastuzumab. The efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a partial response (PR). The second case was a 26-year-old woman referred to our hospital with a complaint of right breast tumor. She was diagnosed as invasive lobular carcinoma (T2N0M0, Stage IIA). The tumor was ER-positive, PR-negative and HER2-positive. After primary systemic chemotherapy with 4 courses of FEC and 6 courses of docetaxel+trastuzumab, the efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as CR. Then, 4 courses of weekly PTX+trastuzumab were performed. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy for her right breast was performed without surgery. The efficacy of treatment was judged as CR for 15 months.

Sorption behavior of americium onto bentonite colloid

In the geological disposal system, if colloids can stably exist in groundwater, radionuclides (RNs) might be sorbed onto the colloids and migrate long distance without retardation such as the sorption onto minerals and the matrix diffusion. The distribution coefficient (Rd), which is a measure for sorption onto colloids, is one of the sensitive parameters in evaluation of the effect of colloids on the RN migration. In this study, theRds of Am onto bentonite colloids were evaluated by batch sorption experiments under weakly basic and low ionic strength conditions. Colloidal species of Am seems to be generated even in the absence of bentonite colloids, however, it has less contribution toRd. The obtainedRdvalues are larger than those obtained for larger montmorillonite particles reported in literatures. The difference ofRdis considered to be due to a difference of composition of experimental solution and a difference of reactive site capacity affected by particle size. Site capacities of bentonite colloids are evaluated by acid titration and it is observed that bentonite colloids have about 8 times larger site capacities than bentonite sediments. A relatively simple and generalized mechanistic sorption model, 2SPNE SC/CE model, is applied to estimate theRdfor Am sorption onto bentonite colloids using reaction constants reported in literatures and site capacities obtained in this study. CalculatedRds mostly agree well with corresponding experimental data at pH 8, while,Rds are underestimated at pH 10. Based on the speciation plots, it is probably due to the underestimation of surface complexation reaction.

[A case of stage IV breast cancer with large cancer ulcer responding to combination therapy of capecitabine and medroxyprogesterone acetate and cyclophosphamide]

A 53-year-old woman suffering from nausea and vomiting was admitted to our hospital. There was a large ulcer from her left anterior chest to her right side chest. After pathological examination from the ulcer, she was diagnosed as breast cancer, scirrhous carcinoma. The estrogen and progesterone receptors were positive in the tumor. HER2 score was 1+ in the tumor. The stage was T4bNxM1(OTH). Uterine metastases of the breast cancer caused obstructive nephropathy. Ureteral obstruction was treated by urinary tract catheter. After improvement of renal failure, chemotherapy with 5-FU+epirubicin+cyclophosphamide (FEC) and docetaxel was performed. The efficacy was judged as stable disease (SD). For third-line chemotherapy, she was then treated with oral combination chemoendocrine therapy with capecitabine and medroxyprogesterone acetate. After the combination chemoendocrine therapy, the local tumor was remarkably reduced. With added cyclophosphamide, the partial response (PR) continued for 19 months. She died of peritonitis carcinomatosa and pleuritis carcinomatosa. No adverse reactions occurred with the combination chemoendocrine therapy. It is suggested that this oral combination chemoendocrine therapy may be useful with consideration for treatment effectiveness and the quality of life of the patient.

Adenovirus-mediated eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein-1 in combination with rapamycin inhibits tumor growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in vivo

Over-expression of eIF4E indicates a poor prognosis in different tumors. In the present study, we investigated the frequency of eIF4E, 4E-BP1 and phosphorylated 4E-BP1 expression in PDAC cell lines, gastric carcinoma (GC) cell lines and human embryonic pancreatic cells, as well as gene therapy using translation repressor gene 4E-BP1 in combination with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin. We also assessed the significance of eIF4E expression in 80 PDAC cases. Combination therapy of adenovirus vector-delivered 4E-BP1 gene and rapamycin was administered to determine their growth inhibition effect in vitro and in vivo in mice. Our study revealed that all PDAC cell lines, GC cell lines and human embryonic pancreas-derived cells expressed the 25-kDa eIF4E protein (MIAPaca-2 cells also expressed the 13-kDa protein 4E-BP1). The 80 PDAC specimens showed a heterogeneous pattern of eIF4E staining. No significant correlation between eIF4E expression and TNM classification was found. Adenovirus vectors Ad-4E-BP1 and Ad-GFP efficiently showed transgenic expression with hyperphosphorylation of 4E-BP1; however, insignificant growth inhibition of the PDAC and GC cell lines was observed. Combination therapy with rapamycin significantly inhibited proliferation and tumor growth in vitro as well as in vivo. Therefore, combination of Ad 4E-BP1 and rapamycin may be a more effective adjuvant therapy.

Glutamate reduces secretion of l-serine in astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

In the CNS, l-serine (l-Ser) plays an essential role in neuronal survival by evoking a variety of biological responses in glial cells. Initially, we examined whether glutamate, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induce the secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes isolated from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The secretion of l-Ser was significantly induced with glutamate and SNP in cultured astrocytes. Next, to gain insight into the involvement of l-Ser in glutamate-induced neuroprotection, we compared the secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive rats, WKY. We also examined the mRNA expression of the enzyme that produces l-Ser, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), and a neural amino acid transporter, ASCT1, in the cultured astrocytes. A dose-dependent study of glutamate in astrocytes of SHRSP indicated differences in the secretion of l-Ser, and gene expression of PHGDH and ASCT1, compared with levels in the WKY astrocytes. We demonstrated that both the secretion and the gene expression were significantly attenuated in glutamate-treated astrocytes from SHRSP. Cerebral ischemia in SHRSP induced a massive efflux of glutamate, causing delayed neuronal death in region CA1 of the hippocampus. The results suggest that the attenuated secretion of l-Ser in astrocytes is involved in neuronal vulnerability and survival in SHRSP during the production of glutamate, as the secretion of l-Ser, which is stimulated by glutamate, is closely related to the protective effect against glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity. We conclude that glutamate and SNP up-regulate the secretion of l-Ser in primary astrocytes. Secretion of l-Ser is regulated in astrocytes in response to glutamate and nitric oxide and may correspond to the level of l-Ser needed for neuronal survival during brain insults such as ischemic stroke in SHRSP.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies from Maranhão and surrounding states in the northeastern region of Brazil

Although many outbreaks of rabies have been reported in northern Brazil, few epidemiological studies of these outbreaks have been undertaken. In this study, molecular epidemiological analyses were performed using 41 rabies virus samples isolated in the Maranhão (MA), Pará (PA), and Tocantins (TO) states of northeastern Brazil. A 599-bp region of the glycoprotein (G) gene was first amplified from each sample by RT-PCR, then sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. A phylogenetic tree divided the 41 isolates into two clades: Clade I was associated with terrestrial carnivores and Clade II was associated with vampire bats. The Clade I isolates were further sub-divided into two groups. The first group was closer to carnivore isolates that predominate in central Brazil, whereas the second group more closely resembled wild fox isolates from the northeastern coastal state of Paraíba (PB). MA isolates of Clade II formed an entirely separate group. These results demonstrate that bat- and dog-transmitted rabies occur in northwestern Brazil.

Genetic and phylogenetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from wildlife and livestock in Paraiba, Brazil

Thirty-four rabies virus (RV) isolates from foxes (8), insectivore bats (9), cattle (14), sheep (1), a goat (1) and a donkey (1) from Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil, were genetically characterized. Sequences of 890 nts of nucleoprotein (N) genes of these isolates were analyzed and compared with those of other Brazilian isolates characterized earlier. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three genetical lineages of RV co-existing in this region. Each lineage was found to be associated with particular host species and to circulate independently of each other. The first lineage was found in foxes (Dusicyon sp.) and could be discriminated from domestic carnivore isolates from Sao Paulo, Goias and Minas Gerais in the southern and central Brazil. The second lineage was associated with insectivorous bats (Molossus spp.) and differed from vampire bat-associated RV isolates. The third lineage was found in livestock and clustered with vampire bat-associated RV isolates from Sao Paulo, Tocantins, Goias and Matto Grosso. These results indicate that RV of these genetic lineages are cocirculating in the Paraiba state and that livestock in this region are infected with vampire bat-associated RV, suggesting that the vampire bat is the main reservoir of livestock rabies in this region.

Downregulation of prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP3 during colon cancer development

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Involvement of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptors EP(1), EP(2), and EP(4) in the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and/or intestinal polyps has been suggested. In contrast, EP(3) appears to have no influence on the early stages of colon carcinogenesis. In the present study, we examined expression of PGE(2) receptor subtypes EP(1), EP(2), EP(3), and EP(4) in normal colon mucosa and colon cancers, and assessed the contribution of EP(3) to colon cancer development.

METHODS

mRNA expression of PGE(2) receptor subtypes EP(1), EP(2), EP(3), and EP(4) in normal colon mucosa and colon cancers in azoxymethane (AOM) treated mice and rats, and in humans, were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative real time RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical analyses. Evaluation of the role of EP(3) was performed by intraperitoneal injection of AOM, using EP(3) receptor knockout mice. Effects of EP(3) receptor activation on cell growth of human colon cancer cell lines were examined using ONO-AE-248, an EP(3) selective agonist. Moreover, EP(3) expression in colon cancer cell lines was analysed with or without 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) treatment.

RESULTS

Expression levels of EP(1) and EP(2) mRNA were increased in cancer tissues. EP(4) mRNA was constantly expressed in normal mucosa and cancers. In contrast, expression of EP(3) mRNA was markedly decreased in colon cancer tissues, being 5% in mice, 9% in rats, and 28% in humans compared with normal colon mucosa, analysed by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the rat EP(3) receptor protein to be expressed in epithelial cells of normal mucosa and some parts of small carcinomas but hardly detectable in large carcinomas of the colon. Colon cancer development induced by AOM in EP(3) receptor knockout mice was enhanced compared with wild-type mice, with a higher incidence of colon tumours (78% v 57%) and mean number of tumours per mouse (2.17 (0.51) v 0.75 (0.15); p<0.05). Expression of EP(3) mRNA was detected in only one of 11 human colon cancer cell lines tested. Treatment with 5 microM of an EP(3) selective agonist, ONO-AE-248, resulted in a 30% decrease in viable cell numbers in the HCA-7 human colon cancer cell line in which EP(3) was expressed. Treatment with 5-aza-dC restored EP(3) expression in CACO-2, CW-2, and DLD-1 cells but not in WiDr cells, suggesting involvement of hypermethylation in the downregulation of EP(3) to some extent.

CONCLUSION

The PGE(2) receptor subtype EP(3) plays an important role in suppression of cell growth and its downregulation enhances colon carcinogenesis at a later stage. Hypermethylation of the EP(3) receptor gene could occur and may contribute towards downregulating EP(3) expression to some extent in colon cancers.

Abnormal exploratory eye movements in schizophrenic patients vs healthy subjects

OBJECTIVE

We examined previously described exploratory eye movements abnormalities as biologic markers in schizophrenic patients in comparison with age-matched healthy subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using an eye-mark recorder, eye movements were analysed for mean gazing time, total number of gazing points, mean eye scanning length, total eye scanning length, and total gazing times as subjects viewed six simple pictures in preparation for copying them.

RESULTS

In-patients, and to a lesser extent, out-patients, with schizophrenia showed a longer gazing time, fewer gazing points, a shorter mean and total eye scanning length. and longer gazing time than healthy subjects. In schizophrenic patients. negative symptom scores were positively correlated with mean gazing time (r = 0.33), and negatively correlated with the total number of gazing points (r = -0.29) as well as, the mean (r = -0.40) and total scanning length (r = -0.46).

CONCLUSION

Exploratory eye movements are a biologic marker useful for evaluation of schizophrenia.

Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of a novel soluble saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin binding protein from plasma of the puffer fish, Fugu pardalis

Some species of puffer fish have been reported to possess both of tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin, which share one binding site on sodium channels. We purified a novel soluble glycoprotein that binds to these toxins from plasma of the puffer fish, Fugu pardalis, and named puffer fish saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin binding protein (PSTBP). PSTBP possessed a binding capacity of 10.6 +/- 0.97 nmol x mg(-1) protein and a K(d) of 14.6 +/- 0.33 nm for [(3)H]saxitoxin in equilibrium binding assays. [(3)H]Saxitoxin (10 nm) binding to PSTBPs was half-inhibited by the presence of tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin at 12 microm and 8.5 nm, respectively. From the results of gel filtration chromatography (200 kDa) and SDS/PAGE (104 kDa), PSTBP was suggested to consist of noncovalently linked dimers of a single subunit. PSTBP was completely deglycosylated by glycopeptidase F, producing a single band at 42 kDa. Two highly homologous cDNAs to each other coding PSTBP (PSTBP1 and PSTBP2, the predicted amino-acid identity 93%), were obtained from a cDNA library of F. pardalis liver. These proteins consisted to two tandemly repeated homologous domains. The predicted amino-acid sequences of PSTBP1 and 2 were not homologous to that of saxiphilin, a reported saxitoxin binding protein, or sodium channels, but their N-terminus sequences were homologous to that of the reported tetrodotoxin binding protein from plasma of Fugu niphobles, which has not been fully characterized. The partially homologous cDNA sequences to PSTBP1 and 2 were also found in expressed sequence tag clones of nontoxic flounders liver. Presumably, PSTBP is involved in accumulation and/or excretion of toxins in puffer fish.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) tumor necrosis factor alpha

Bottlenose dolphin tumor necrosis factor alpha (doTNF-alpha) cDNA was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the nucleic and deduced amino acid sequences were determined. The sequence of the cDNA clones shows that doTNF-alpha has an open reading frame of 699bp encoding 233 amino acids. The nucleic acid sequence of doTNF-alpha indicates 90, 88, 87, and 79% similarity with the cattle, pig, human, and mouse TNF-alpha gene, respectively. Based on the analysis of human and mouse TNF-alpha molecules, doTNF-alpha is processed to a mature protein with 157 amino acids. The 233 amino acids precursor has a hydrophobic region that could serve as a transmembrane domain. The recombinant doTNF-alpha expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein reacted with anti-human TNF-alpha antibody and exerted cytotoxity to the TNF-alpha sensitive murine cell line L929.

Apoptosis induction by epigallocatechin gallate involves its binding to Fas

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is known to induce apoptosis in various types of tumor cells, but the precise mechanism by which EGCG induces apoptosis remains to be elucidated. The Fas-Fas ligand system is one of the major pathways operating in the apoptotic cascade. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility that EGCG-binding to Fas triggers the Fas-mediated apoptosis. The EGCG treatment of human monocytic leukemia U937 cells resulted in elevation of caspase 8 activity and fragmentation of caspase 8. The DNA ladder formation caused by the EGCG treatment was inhibited by the caspase 8 inhibitor. These findings suggested the involvement of the Fas-mediated cascade in the EGCG-induced apoptosis in U937 cells. Affinity chromatography revealed the binding between EGCG and Fas. Thus, the results suggest that EGCG-binding to Fas, presumably on the cell surface, triggers the Fas-mediated apoptosis in U937 cells.

Effects of selenium deficiency on expression of selenoproteins in bovine arterial endothelial cells

Damage to the vascular endothelium by reactive oxygen species causes many cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Such damage can be prevented by selenium (Se), which is thought to exert its actions mainly through the expression of selenoproteins. Se deficiency increased the susceptibility to tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) and enhanced lipid peroxidation in bovine arterial endothelial cells (BAEC). We investigated the effects of Se deficiency on the expression of the selenoproteins in BAEC. 75Se metabolic labeling analysis and RT-PCR analysis revealed that BAEC expressed two glutathione peroxidase (GPx) isozymes, cytosolic GPx (cGPx) and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (PHGPx), three thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) isozymes, TrxR1, TrxR2 and TrxR3, and selenoprotein P (SelP). Se deficiency reduced both enzyme activity and mRNA level of cGPx, but did not affect those of PHGPx. SelP mRNA level was also reduced by Se deficiency, although the extent of reduction was much smaller than that of cGPx mRNA. We further found that TrxR activity was also decreased by Se deficiency but none of the mRNA levels of TrxR isozymes were reduced. These results indicate that vascular endothelial cells express several selenoproteins including cGPx, PHGPx, TrxR isozymes and SelP which might play important roles in the defense system against oxidative stresses and that the expressions of these selenoproteins are differently regulated by Se status.

A fibronectin-binding protein from rice bran with cell adhesion activity for animal tumor cells

A rice bran 57-kDa protein was isolated by affinity chromatography with fibronectin immobilized on agarose. This fibronectin-binding protein designated as RB-57 had an amino-terminal amino acid sequence identical with that of a putative mature form of rice hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein. A distinct feature of the amino acid composition of RB-57 was the high contents of hydroxyproline and proline representing about 45% of the total amino acids. The sugar analysis indicated that arabinose represented 46.8% of the total carbohydrates. RB-57 showed cell adhesion activity for murine Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The result suggests that RB-57 may play a role in plant cell adhesion, although cell adhesion-promoting activity for plant cells remains to be tested.

Decreased expression of c-myc family genes in thymuses from myasthenia gravis patients

The thymus is a critical organ for the elimination of autoreactive T cells by apoptosis. We studied the expression of apoptosis-associated genes, bcl-xL, bad, caspase-3, and c-myc family genes in myasthenia gravis (MG) thymuses. We observed that the mRNA levels of myc family genes, c-myc and max, were markedly reduced in MG thymuses. These results indicate that c-myc-mediated signaling is abnormal in MG thymuses. The levels of molecules whose expressions are associated with myc, such as STAM, prothymosin-alpha, and NFkappaB, were also analyzed.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of tetrodotoxin and its analogs: liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Tetrodotoxin (TTX), a powerful sodium channel blocker, usually exists as a mixture of its analogs (TTXs) in natural sources. Due to the structural variation, some analogs are difficult to detect using the postcolumn liquid chromatography-fluorescent detection (LC-FLD) system. Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) analysis of TTXs can be achieved by a combination of chromatography on a reversed-phase column with long carbon chains (C30) and the mobile phase containing an ion pair reagent (ammonium heptafluorobutyrate). The relationship between the amount of applied standard TTX and its peak area on the mass chromatogram (m/z 320) showed good linearity over a range of 50-1000 pmol. The detection limit for TTX in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode was estimated to be 0.7 pmol (signal to noise ratio: 2). The tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) scan for the fragment ions of eight TTXs arising from the molecular ions provided characteristic spectra, and the structures of the origins of the prominent fragment ions were proposed. The intense fragment ions of TTX and 11-deoxyTTX were applicable to LC/MS/MS operated in the selected reaction monitoring mode. This method might be useful for further identification of TTXs.

Evaluation of a human monocytic cell line THP-1 model for assay of the intracellular activities of antimicrobial agents against Legionella pneumophila

We examined the intracellular activities of 11 antimicrobial agents against Legionella pneumophila using a human monocyte-derived cell line, THP-1. Colony counting and microscopic examination of L. pneumophila co-incubated with THP-1 cells (5 x 105 cells/well) were performed. Both extra- and intra-cellular multiplication of L. pneumophila were observed and were dependent on the inoculum of L. pneumophila in the culture; L. pneumophila did not grow in the cell culture medium alone. Light microscopic examination confirmed that extracellular L. pneumophila originated from THP-1 cells disrupted by bacterial multiplication. L. pneumophila multiplied by 3-4 logs after 24 h incubation with THP-1 cells and their number remained stable at 106-107 cfu/mL until 72 h. The results of viability studies using four antimicrobial agents-ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, minocycline and rifampicin-demonstrated that our system was suitable for the intracellular activity assay. We used a concept of 'minimum extracellular concentration inhibiting intracellular multiplication' (MIEC) to evaluate the intracellular activity of antimicrobial agents. The MIECs of three beta-lactams were markedly higher than their conventional MICs while those of macrolides, quinolones, rifampicin and minocycline were similar to their MICs. Our results suggest that evaluation of the clinical efficacy of drugs against L. pneumophila should include determination of their intracellular activity against the bacteria, which could be measured using our assay system in THP-1 cells.

A cluster of lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) patients in a northern part of Iwate, Japan due to a founder effect. The Mass Screening Group

Lysinuric protein intolerance is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by defective transport of the dibasic aminoacids. Mutational analysis of LPI patients in the northern part of Japan revealed that six were homozygous for the R410X mutation and two others were compound heterozygotes of R410X and other unknown mutations. In the population epidemiology study in a local cluster in the northern part of Iwate, ten heterozygotes were found in 1190 newborn babies leading to an estimated LPI incidence of 1/57,000. Polymorphism analysis revealed two major alleles, A and B, in intron 8. While the population frequency of allele A was 0.9 and that of allele B was 0.1 in the northern part of Japan the R410X mutations were exclusively on allele B in 31 chromosomes suggesting a founder effect. Genetic analysis in patients revealed strong linkage disequilibrium with D14S283 and TCRA indicating that the R410X mutation occurred before at least 130 generations ago (about 2600 years). The R410X mutation was shown to be useful as a molecular marker for screening LPI patients in the northern part of Japan.

A comparison of stapled and hand-sewn anastomoses in Crohn's disease

Sixty-eight patients with Crohn's disease who underwent intestinal resection were randomly divided into 2 groups: the stapled group (32 patients, 40 anastomoses) with functional end-to-end anastomoses made with linear staplers and with circular stapling anastomoses, and the hand-sewn group (36 patients, 48 anastomoses), with anastomoses achieved by layer-to-layer suturing. There were no significant differences in operative indications, age, sex, blood loss, or length of hospital stay between the groups. The operation times for right hemicolectomy and total colectomy in the stapled group were significantly shorter than those in the hand-sewn group. There were no significant differences in anastomotic dehiscence or recurrence between the stapling and hand-sewn procedures. These results indicate that these stapling techniques, even though producing an everted anastomosis, are not an adverse procedure for Crohn's disease.

Spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta without trauma, aneurysm, or dissection is an extremely rare but catastrophic disorder. Two cases of spontaneous aortic rupture are presented, both treated surgically with satisfactory results.

METHODS

A review of the English literature found 16 patients with the diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta from 1961 through 1998. Eighteen reported cases, including the 2 cases presented herein, are reviewed.

RESULTS

The representative clinical picture is one of a middle-aged hypertensive patient with acute chest pain and collapse, with imaging modalities demonstrating hemopericardium, hemomediastinum, or hemothorax. According to the reported experiences, aortography was accurate for identifying the rupture site although the findings were sometimes subtle. Misdiagnosis or nonsurgical management resulted in the patient's death. All 8 patients who did not undergo aortic repair died within 3 weeks after the onset, whereas 9 of 10 patients who underwent surgical aortic repair survived.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with a definitive or possible diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta, prompt operation is imperative through an optimal surgical approach to identify and repair the rupture site with appropriate circulatory support.

Prolonged activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in a child with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita

X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) is a rare developmental disorder of the human adrenal cortex that is caused by a mutation of the DAX-1 gene, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism is frequently associated with this disease and the DAX-1 mutation is known to impair gonadotrophin production by acting at both the hypothalamic and pituitary levels. However, three recent studies reported that the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was active in six infants with AHC, suggesting that a difference exists in the central regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal activity between infant boys and pubertal boys. To determine the effect of the DAX-1 gene mutation on the axis in early childhood, we measured testosterone, LH, and FSH and performed LH-releasing hormone tests on a boy with AHC from birth to 3 years of age. Surprisingly, our findings showed that the axis was active from the infantile period to 3 years of age. This delayed initiation of the prepubertal pause, or prolonged activation of the axis, indicates that the DAX-1 gene is related to the control mechanism of the prepubertal restraint of gonadotrophin secretion.

SLC7A7 genomic structure and novel variants in three Japanese lysinuric protein intolerance families

Lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare inherited disease caused by defective transport of the dibasic amino acids at the basolateral membranes of epithelial cells in the renal tubules and small intestine. The metabolic defect leads to brain dysfunction caused by hyperammonemia with a functional impairment of the urea cycle. Recently, mutations in the human SLC7A7 cDNA coding for y(+)LAT-1, which express dibasic amino acid transport activity, were reported to be responsible for LPI. In the present study, we examined the genomic structure of SLC7A7 by DNA sequencing of PCR products, and determined that the gene had 11 exons and 10 introns spanning about 18 kb of genomic DNA. We also identified an alternative RNA splicing at the 5' untranslated region of the SLC7A7 mRNA in human peripheral blood leukocytes, cultured lymphoblasts, and fibroblasts. As a result of mutational analysis of SLC7A7 in three Japanese LPI families, we found a nonsense mutation (R410X), a splicing mutation(911+1G>A) in intron 4, and four silent polymorphisms (201C/T, 445A/G, 784C/T, 946T/C). Identification of the genomic structure of SLC7A7 may provide a molecular basis for a genetic survey for LPI.

Carcinoembryonic antigen facilitates experimental metastasis through a mechanism that does not involve adhesion to liver cells

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) injected intravenously into athymic nude mice increases the ability of weakly metastatic human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells to colonize liver in an experimental metastasis assay. Since CEA acts as an intercellular adhesion molecule in vitro, several investigators have postulated that this facilitation of experimental metastasis may be mediated through adhesion between CEA on CRC and CEA-binding proteins on Kupffer or other cells lining the hepatic sinusoid. The present work tested this postulate both by intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy in vivo and in adhesion assays in vitro to enriched populations of Kupffer cells and hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC). The data indicate that CEA expression does not effect adhesion to enriched Kupffer cells or SEC in vitro. These data suggest that CEA enhances liver colonization through another mechanism, possibly one that involves modulation of the hepatic response to tumor cell implantation.

Quantification of telomerase activity in sporadic colorectal carcinoma: association with tumor growth and venous invasion

BACKGROUND

Activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex that synthesizes telomere repeats, is associated with acquisition of unlimited cellular proliferation and is commonly detected in human cancer. Measurement of telomerase activity (TA) may provide important information as a diagnostic marker or a prognostic indicator. The authors studied the quantification of TA and assessed its utility as a prognostic marker in sporadic colorectal carcinoma.

METHODS

Sixty surgical specimens, including 30 specimens of cancer tissue and 30 specimens of corresponding normal colorectal mucosa, were examined. TA was measured by a fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The authors determined the telomerase index (TI = log (A-B), where A represented TA of cancer tissues and B represented TA of normal mucosa) and examined the relation between TI and clinicopathologic factors using the Student t test, analysis of variance, the Chi-square test, and the Fisher PLSD as a post hoc test.

RESULTS

TA of cancer and corresponding normal mucosa was 51.87+/-27.38 and 7.14+/-9.85, respectively (P<0.0001). The cutoff value was determined to be 26 in a receiver operating characteristic study, with 90% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity, and 96.4% positive predictive value. TI was closely correlated with depth of invasion (P = 0.0129) but not with age, gender, histologic type, location, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic infiltration, or Dukes stage. There was a significant difference in TI between tumors with and without venous invasion (P = 0.0003). Four of five tumors with synchronous liver metastasis showed high TI (1.555 <TI).

CONCLUSIONS

High TI may be a risk factor for metastasis of colorectal carcinoma to the liver.

Isolation of a 41-kDa protein with cell adhesion activity for animal tumor cells from the mushroom Hypsizigus marmoreus by affinity chromatography with type IV collagen immobilized on agarose

A type IV collagen-binding protein of 41 kDa was isolated from the mushroom Hypsizigus marmoreus and the protein was designated as HM41. The Western blotting analysis with anti-HM41 antibodies demonstrated that HM41 was unrelated to HM23, which had been shown to have an affinity for type IV collagen. The microsequence analysis of the membrane-blotted peptides generated by fragmentation with cyanogen bromide showed no homologous proteins reported. HM41 had cell adhesion-promoting activity for murine Lewis lung carcinoma LL2 cells and human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells. These results indicate that HM41 is a hitherto undescribed fungus protein that can interact both with animal extracellular matrix protein type IV collagen and with animal tumor cells.

Quantification of telomerase activity in sporadic colorectal carcinoma: association with tumor growth and venous invasion

BACKGROUND

Activation of telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex that synthesizes telomere repeats, is associated with acquisition of unlimited cellular proliferation and is commonly detected in human cancer. Measurement of telomerase activity (TA) may provide important information as a diagnostic marker or a prognostic indicator. The authors studied the quantification of TA and assessed its utility as a prognostic marker in sporadic colorectal carcinoma.

METHODS

Sixty surgical specimens, including 30 specimens of cancer tissue and 30 specimens of corresponding normal colorectal mucosa, were examined. TA was measured by a fluorescence-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The authors determined the telomerase index (TI = log (A-B), where A represented TA of cancer tissues and B represented TA of normal mucosa) and examined the relation between TI and clinicopathologic factors using the Student t test, analysis of variance, the Chi-square test, and the Fisher PLSD as a post hoc test.

RESULTS

TA of cancer and corresponding normal mucosa was 51.87+/-27.38 and 7.14+/-9.85, respectively (P<0.0001). The cutoff value was determined to be 26 in a receiver operating characteristic study, with 90% sensitivity, 96.7% specificity, and 96.4% positive predictive value. TI was closely correlated with depth of invasion (P = 0.0129) but not with age, gender, histologic type, location, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic infiltration, or Dukes stage. There was a significant difference in TI between tumors with and without venous invasion (P = 0.0003). Four of five tumors with synchronous liver metastasis showed high TI (1.555 <TI).

CONCLUSIONS

High TI may be a risk factor for metastasis of colorectal carcinoma to the liver.

[Diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and the biopsy method]

The biopsy specimen should be oriented flat on a ground glass slide or on a piece of filter paper so that the submucosa is on the slide and the mucosa uppermost to allow proper histopathological interpretation. It is important to perform the biopsy based on a full knowledge of features of inflammatory diseases of the large intestine. Biopsies should be taken from apparently normal and abnormal mucosa. It is necessary to observe the mucosa of the colon carefully for any mass lesions to find dysplasia or cancer complicating the ulcerative colitis. Any suspicious areas should be liberally biopsied. Biopsies should also be performed at random, because of possible existence of dysplasia or cancer which is not visible at endoscopy. This occurs especially in the rectum; biopsies can also be performed after inversion of the endoscope.