In vitro bactericidal activity against periodontopathic bacteria by electrolyzed ion-reduced water

As typical periodontopathic bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) were exposed to electrolyzed ion-reduced water (ERI) and ERI containing 1% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) (ERI-1% CMC-Na), and the time course of their bactericidal action was evaluated. More than 99% of each bacteria species were killed after exposure to each solution for 15 sec. In addition, 1% CMC-Na, which was added to prolong bactericidal action, did not affect the bactericidal action of ERI. Its bactericidal action was concentration-dependent. No viable P. gingivalis bacteria were observed at a concentration of 15% of the undiluted solution and no viable A. actinomycetemcomitans bacteria were observed at a concentration of 50%, indicating differences in the bactericidal action of ERI for the two bacteria species. These results suggest that ERI may be extremely useful in preventing and treating periodontal diseases.

Seasonal variations of urinary albumin creatinine ratio in Japanese subjects with Type 2 diabetes and early nephropathy

AIMS

It has been recognized that blood pressure shows a seasonal variation, but it remains unknown whether diabetic nephropathy shows a seasonal variation. In the present study, we investigated the change in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in relation to the season in Japanese patients with Type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 430 subjects (275 male, 155 female) with Type 2 diabetes and early nephropathy (defined by UACR 30-300 mg/g creatinine) were included. One year was divided into four seasons and each season was defined as winter (December-February), spring (March-May), summer (June-August), and fall (September-November), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum creatinine levels, and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio were examined. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was also calculated and evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age (± SE) was 64.8 ± 0.8 years. The mean systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in winter than in summer (136 ± 0.68 vs. 133 ± 0.68 mmHg, P < 0.001). The urinary albumin/creatinine ratio showed a significantly higher value in winter than in summer (72.8 ± 4.4 vs. 54.6 ± 3.4 mg/g creatinine, P < 0.001). The curve of seasonal variation of this ratio showed a similar change to that of systolic blood pressure. No significant seasonal variation was observed in estimated glomerular filtration rate and diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that there is a hitherto unknown seasonal variation in the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, and that it may be necessary to consider this seasonal change, especially when performing an intervention study of nephropathy.

Strong suppression of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in a 4He film under high pressure

We have found that the surface specularity for 3He quasiparticle scattering is closely related to the superfluidity and the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition of 4He film adsorbed on the surface. The specularity is determined by measurements of the transverse acoustic impedance of bulk liquid 3He. The unique point of our system is that we can control the correlation among 4He atoms in the film by changing the pressure of the bulk 3He. The observed KT transition temperature is significantly suppressed by increasing the pressure, which suggests a strong correlation effect on KT transition.

Assessing current nutritional status of patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis in the compensated stage

BACKGROUND/AIM

Nutritional states of Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis have recently shown great diversity, some show protein energy malnutrition and others excessive nutrition and obesity. For there to be adequate guidance regarding dietary treatment, it is important that a patient's current nutritional state be clarified.

METHODS

We assessed nutritive intake in Japanese cirrhotic patients and determined their nutritional problems. Subjects were non-hospitalized patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis in the compensated stage (n=47), chronic hepatitis C (n=46) or healthy volunteers (n=32). A brief self-administered diet history questionnaire was conducted with assistance from a registered dietitian.

RESULTS

We categorized patients with cirrhosis according to daily intake of energy and protein; 10.6% had an energy and protein intake within a normal range, 72.4% showed excessive intake, and 17.0% showed insufficient intake of energy or protein. In cirrhotic patients with diabetic complications, the intake levels of energy, proteins, fat and carbohydrates were significantly higher than in patients without diabetes. Moreover, cirrhotic patients had significantly higher intake levels of energy, protein and fat than did chronic hepatitis C patients and healthy individuals. In patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis, insufficient intake of energy and protein was shown in some, while many, especially those with diabetes, showed excessive intake.

CONCLUSION

For nutritive management of cirrhotic patients, the intake of various nutrients should be appropriately assessed and effective nutritional education systems established.

Ectopic expression of cone-specific G-protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK7 in zebrafish rods leads to lower photosensitivity and altered responses

To investigate the roles of G-protein receptor kinases (GRKs) in the light responses of vertebrate photoreceptors, we generated transgenic zebrafish lines, the rods of which express either cone GRK (GRK7) or rod GRK (GRK1) in addition to the endogenous GRK1, and we then measured the electrophysiological characteristics of single-cell responses and the behavioural responses of intact animals. Our study establishes the zebrafish expression system as a convenient platform for the investigation of specific components of the phototransduction cascade. The addition of GRK1 led to minor changes in rod responses. However, exogenous GRK7 in GRK7-tg animals led to lowered rod sensitivity, as occurs in cones, but surprisingly to slower response kinetics. Examination of responses to long series of very dim flashes suggested the possibility that the GRK7-tg rods generated two classes of single-photon response, perhaps corresponding to the interaction of activated rhodopsin with GRK1 (giving a standard response) or with GRK7(giving a very small response). Behavioural measurement of optokinetic responses (OKR) in intact GRK7-tg zebrafish larvae showed that the overall rod visual pathway was less sensitive, in accord with the lowered sensitivity of the rods. These results help provide an understanding for the molecular basis of the electrophysiological differences between cones and rods.

Utilization of Valuable Metals from High Level Waste-Decomposition of Water Using Semiconductor Photocatalytic Method Induced by Gamma Ray-

The technique of radiolytic decomposition of water leading to hydrogen production was demonstrated to explore a new field in the utilization of radioactive platinum group metals recovered from high level radioactive waste (HAW) and radioactivity of HAW. The radiation photocatalytic method is based on the technique to decompose water on platinized semiconductor particles under UV-light irradiation which has been widely investigated to develop an alternative energy source. In this study gamma radiation from Co-60 source was applied to produce hydrogen instead of UV-light and a significant amount of hydrogen evolved from catalyst-water suspension. Our preliminary experiments proved a possibility of converting the energy of radiation ionization into chemical energy (hydrogen) by the radiation photocatalytic method.

Preliminary results of a study comparing conventional radiography with phase-contrast radiography for assessing root morphology of mandibular third molars

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of phase-contrast radiography for assessing root morphology of mandibular third molars in comparison with conventional radiography.

METHODS

We studied 37 extracted mandibular third molars. One oral surgeon compared the number of roots and root curvature of the extracted teeth on conventional radiographs with those on phase-contrast images.

RESULTS

The number of roots and root curvature on conventional images differed significantly from those on phase-contrast images.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the possibility that phase-contrast radiography is more useful than conventional radiography for assessing the root morphology of mandibular third molars.

The treatment effect of the atopic dermatitis by electrolytic-reduction ion water lotion

A female in her late 20s was diagnosed with systemic atopic dermatitis in another hospital 5 years earlier and treated by steroid ointment application to the affected areas and oral steroid administration. She visited our hospital due to the aggravation of dermatitis symptoms over the entire face from 1 week earlier. Lesions were present on the face, chest, neck, and bilateral upper limbs, and, in particular, facial dermatitis was extensive. A diagnosis of systemic atopic dermatitis complicated by infection was made. As oral drugs, a herbal medicine and steroid/antihistamine combination tablet were used. As topical drugs, an steroid/antibiotic combination ointment and vitamin E/A ointment were applied. In addition, injections for the treatment of allergic disease were used, and acidic electrolyzed water and an electrolyticreduction ion water (ERI) lotion were topically applied. While receiving the two types of oral drug, she received a subcutaneous injection once a week and the application of acidic electrolyzed water, ERI lotion, steroid/antibiotic combination ointment, and vitamin E/A ointment to the lesions twice a day. One week after the initiation of treatment, redness and swelling decreased. After 1 month, the swelling further decreased, but the redness remained. After 1.5 months, the redness further decreased, showing a favorable course. Three months after the initiation of treatment, slight redness remained, but the skin color was almost normal. This patient showed the improvement of skin redness and swelling and an almost normal skin state without pigmented scars. These results suggest the effectiveness of complex therapy consisting of a herbal medicine and steroid/antihistamine combination drug as oral drugs and an steroid/antibiotic combination ointment and vitamin E/A ointment as topical drugs, injections for allergic disease, and acidic electrolyzed water and ERI lotion for disinfection and skin care.

Implementation of a hospital-wide project for appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis

The aim of this study was to confirm the effect of implementing a hospital-wide project for appropriate use of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) to reduce the rate of antibiotic-resistant organisms. Fifteen different manuals for each surgical department have been simultaneously implemented since February 2007. Compliance rate was compared between pre- and postintervention periods (3 months for each period). As an effect of this intervention, we analyzed changes in the rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among organisms isolated postoperatively. The number of operations was 1,627 in both periods. Among patients whose surgeries were longer than 3 h in duration, 75% received an additional intraoperative antimicrobial dose in the postintervention period and 23% in the preintervention period (P < 0.001). Although most patients received postoperative AMP with an interval of q12 h in the preintervention period, 63% of the patients received AMP with an interval of q8 h in the postintervention period. The duration of AMP use was reduced from 2.4 ± 1.9 to 1.6 ± 1.5 days (P < 0.001). Forty-seven percent of patients discontinued AMP within 24 h and 81% within 48 h. Isolation rates of P. aeruginosa among all gram-negative organisms significantly decreased from 13% (68/538 patients) to 7.3% (37/509 patients) (P = 0.004). Execution of a hospital-wide project to promote the appropriate use of AMP, including shortening the duration of AMP use, was useful to decrease the rate of P. aeruginosa isolated postoperatively.

Rapamycin enhances chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting the expressions of TS and ERK in gastric cancer cells

We have previously reported the synergistic cytotoxic effects of Docetaxel (TXT) and S-1 in gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo, and the combination regimen is now under phase III clinical trail. In this study, to elucidate whether the rapamycin, the inhibitor of the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamaycin), can enhance the potentiation of TXT and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in gastric carcinoma cells. Rapamycin inhibited the growth of TMK-1, MKN-28, MKN-45 and MKN-74 cell lines by MTT assay, and it demonstrated the cytostatic effects as G1 arrest shown by flowcytometry. However, the cytotoxic effects of 5-Fu, TXT and cisplatin were enhanced by 2 to 4 times with the concomitant administration of rapamycin. To clarify the mechanism of the potentiation, the expression changes of the enzymes relating DNA metabolism and cell growth signal transduction pathways were examined by western blot analysis. Interestingly, the expression of thymidilate synthase was markedly decreased by the administration of rapamycin in TMK-1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, rapamycin decreased the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and enhanced the phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and the activation of caspase of apoptotic pathways in combination with TXT. These results strongly indicate that the mTOR inhibitor can enhance the potentiation of TXT and 5-Fu or S-1 and can serve as a new therapeutic tool for advanced and recurrent gastric cancer patients.

Oral bacterial extracts facilitate early osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation in human dental pulp-derived cells

OBJECTIVES

Bacterial metabolites demineralize dental hard tissues, and soluble factors lead to tertiary dentinogenesis in the area of the dentin-pulp complex. However, it is unclear whether the oral bacteria are directly involved in the differentiation of dental pulp cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of oral bacterial extracts on cellular differentiation in human dental pulp-derived cells (hDPC).

STUDY DESIGN

The hDPC were obtained from third molar teeth, and the cells were subcultured. The sonicated extracts were obtained from Porphyromonas gingivalis (gram-negative) and Streptococcus mutans (gram-positive). The effect of bacterial extracts on cellular growth and differentiation in hDPC were tested.

RESULTS

Alkaline phosphatase activity and bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene expression were increased in hDPC exposed to low concentrations of both sonicated extracts, whereas the activity was decreased upon exposure to high concentrations of sonicated extracts from P. gingivalis.

CONCLUSION

This is the first evidence that oral bacteria have a positive effect on cellular differentiation in hPDC.

[A case of small cell lung cancer (extensive disease) with liver metastasis acquiring stable disease by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy]

The patient was a 58-year-old male with small cell lung cancer [T2N1M1 (HEP) ED case] who was treated systemic chemotherapy with 2 courses of CDDP+CPT-11 and 3 courses of CBDCA+PTX. After 5 courses of chemotherapy, the total response was stable disease (SD). Because the primary lesion had achieved a minor response, however, liver metastasis evidenced no change. Because of his good performance status, he was immediately treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy ( HAI) using CPT-11 to control the liver metastasis. After the HAI of weekly CPT-11 during eleven months until progression of primary lung lesion, no change in size of the liver metastasis was recognized with decreasing ProGRP (18,400 -->5,800). HAI is considered very useful for disease control without progression and for good quality of life.

Molecular analysis of the cutaneous Malassezia microbiota from the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis of different severities

Cutaneous Malassezia is an exacerbating factor in patients with atopic dermatitis. We analysed the Malassezia microbiota of adult patients with head and neck atopic dermatitis of different severities (mild, moderate and severe). Of the nine human-associated Malassezia species, the number detected was similar (3.5-4.2 species per case) among the members of all severity groups. However, the ratio of the two major Malassezia species, M. globosa and M. restricta, was different in the severe group.

Degeneration of patellar cartilage in patients with recurrent patellar dislocation following conservative treatment: evaluation with delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage

OBJECTIVE

To examine the characteristics of cartilage degeneration in patients with recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) following conservative treatment using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage (dGEMRIC).

DESIGN

This study evaluated three groups of knees: group I, 35 knees from both knees of patients with bilateral RPD and dislocated side knees of patients with unilateral RPD; group II, 15 non-dislocated side knees of patients with unilateral RPD; and group III, 20 knees from both knees of healthy volunteers. Differences in post-contrast T1 [T1(Gd)] of cartilage at both medial and lateral facets between groups I, II and III were analyzed. For group I, possible relationships were evaluated between T1(Gd) of cartilage and patient age, length of time between the initial dislocation and MRI and the total number of dislocations between the initial dislocation and MRI for both medial and lateral facets.

RESULTS

The mean T1(Gd) of cartilage at medial facets for groups I, II and III were 411+/-46ms, 465+/-38ms and 490+/-29ms, respectively; there were significant differences between these means (P<0.05). The mean T1(Gd) of cartilage at lateral facets for groups I, II and III were 426+/-53ms, 466+/-45ms and 510+/-36ms, respectively; there were also significant differences between these means (P<0.05). Significant correlations were observed between T1(Gd) of cartilage for both medial and lateral facets and length of time between the initial dislocation and MRI (P<0.05). No other correlations were significant.

CONCLUSION

dGEMRIC may be a useful method to monitor glycosaminoglycan concentration in patients with RPD following conservative treatment.

New anomaly in the transverse acoustic impedance of superfluid 3He-B with a wall coated by several layers of 4He

We measured the transverse acoustic impedance of superfluid 3He-B with a wall coated by several layers of 4He. The coating is known to enhance the specularity in quasiparticle scattering by the wall. We found a new anomaly, a bump and a peak, in the temperature dependence of the transverse acoustic impedance. This agrees with a theoretical calculation using a partially specular wall boundary condition. The new anomaly is shown to arise from a change in the surface density of states by coating and the scattering of thermally occupied surface bound states to other states. The change is towards the density of states of Majorana cone in the specular limit.

Assessment of haemophilia treatment practice pattern in Japan

The current status of replacement therapy for haemophilia and the role played by nurses in Japan were investigated at 16 facilities (17 specialties) each providing care to 20 or more haemophilia A or B patients without inhibitor. The questionnaire was mailed to the nurse or physician in charge of haemophilia at each facility in August 2006, asking the nurse to fill in the questionnaire. Responses were collected on 1318 patients (haemophilia A: 1078 patients; haemophilia B: 240 patients). About 70% of these patients were reported to be severe haemophilia A or B. Overall, 26% were receiving regular prophylaxis while 74% received on-demand therapy with or without temporary prophylaxis before special events. The percentage of patients receiving primary prophylaxis was only 2%. The percentage of adherence to prophylaxis decreased with age (lowest at age 19-29) but this percentage for each age group in Japan was higher than that in the western countries. Of the nurses working at the facilities surveyed, 88% considered prophylaxis as an optimal therapy for severe haemophilia patients, although the percentage of patients receiving prophylaxis for the entire population surveyed was lower than that in the western countries. The main factor precluding introduction of prophylaxis was 'difficulty in venous access' for infants and small children. On the other hand, 'unwillingness of family members' and 'poor adherence' were the main factors precluding introduction of this therapy for those aged over 6 years.

Validity of FibroScan values for predicting hepatic fibrosis stage in patients with chronic HCV infection

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to validate the FibroScan system compared with liver histology and serum markers for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis. We also tried to determine the cut-off levels and assess the feasibility of using FibroScan values to predict the fibrosis stage.

METHODS

In 44 patients with HCV infection, liver stiffness was evaluated by FibroScan, serum fibrosis markers and a liver biopsy. Associations between these indices were also analyzed.

RESULTS

FibroScan values showed a good correlation with serum levels of type IV collagen, hyaluronic acid and procollagen-III-peptide, and with the platelet count. Compared with liver histology, the FibroScan values increased proportionally with the progression of the histological fibrosis stage. Advanced fibrosis (F3 or F4) could be efficiently predicted by a FibroScan cut-off value of 15 kPa. The FibroScan sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 100%, 73.9%, 77.8%, 100%, and 86.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

FibroScan values gave a good correlation with various markers of fibrosis and increased proportionally with the progression of the hepatic fibrosis stage. A FibroScan value of 15 kPa was found to be a significant separation limit for differentiating advanced fibrosis stages (F3 and F4) from the milder stages (F0-F2). FibroScan values are clinically useful for predicting the fibrosis stages and helpful in managing interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

A biological molecular motor, proton-translocating ATP synthase: multidisciplinary approach for a unique membrane enzyme

Proton-translocating ATP synthase (F(o)F(1)) synthesizes ATP from ADP and phosphate, coupled with an electrochemical proton gradient across the biological membrane. It has been established that the rotation of a subunit assembly is an essential feature of the enzyme mechanism and that F(o)F(1) can be regarded as a molecular motor. Thus, experimentally, in the reverse direction (ATP hydrolysis), the chemical reaction drives the rotation of a gammaepsilonc(10-14) subunit assembly followed by proton translocation. We discuss our very recent results regarding subunit rotation in Escherichia coli F(o)F(1) with a combined biophysical and mutational approach.

Decreased orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activity produces 5-fluorouracil resistance in a human gastric cancer cell line

To elucidate the mechanism of resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human gastric cancer cells, we established a cell line MKN45/F2R, which acquired 5-FU resistance as a result of continuous exposure to increasing dosages of 5-FU over a year. The cell line showed 157-fold elevated 5-FU resistance compared to the MKN45 human gastric cancer parental cell line. Furthermore, the cells acquired crossresistance to paclitaxel and docetaxel. To identify the mechanism of 5-FU resistance, the expressions of 5-FU metabolic enzymes were examined. Although protein expression and activity of thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase did not change, orotate phosphoribosyl-transferase (OPRT) protein expression and activity significantly decreased in the 5-FU resistant MKN45/F2R cells. Interestingly, expression of proteins related to taxane resistance including P-glycoprotein, class III beta-tubulin and Bcl-2 increased in MKN45/F2R cells. OPRT-knockout MKN45 parent cells using small interfering RNA demonstrated 15.8-fold increased resistance to 5-FU compared to the control cells. However, resistance to paclitaxel and docetaxel was not observed. These results strongly indicate that decreased activity of OPRT plays an important role in the acquired resistance of gastric cancer cells towards 5-FU; however, it does not play a direct role in paclitaxel and docetaxel resistance. Further studies are now underway to identify genes related to crossresistance to these chemotherapeutic agents.

MAMLD1 (CXorf6): a new gene for hypospadias

MAMLD1 (mastermind-like domain containing 1), also known as CXorf6 (chromosome X open reading frame 6) has been shown to be a causative gene for hypospadias. This is primarily based on the identification of nonsense mutations (E124X, Q197X, and R653X) which undergo nonsense mediated mRNA decay in patients with penoscrotal hypospadias. Subsequent molecular studies have shown that (1) the mouse homolog is transiently expressed in fetal Sertoli and Leydig cells around the critical period for sex development; (2) CXorf6 protein shares homology to mastermind-like 2 (MAML2) protein that functions as a co-activator in canonical Notch signaling; (3) CXorf6 localizes to the nuclear bodies and transactivates the promoter activity of a non-canonical Notch target gene hairy/enhancer of split 3(Hes3) without demonstrable DNA binding capacity; (4) transient knockdown of CXorf6 results in significantly reduced testosterone production in murine Leydig tumor cells; and (5) CXorf6 can be regulated by steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). These findings suggest that the CXorf6 mutations cause hypospadias primarily because of testicular dysfunction and resultant compromised testosterone production around that period, and provide useful information for the molecular network involved in fetal testosterone production.

Contact dermatitis in dairy cattle caused by calcium cyanamide

Nine of 250 cows on a dairy farm initially developed severe dermatitis on parts of their bodies that touched the floor, and it then spread over their entire body. The cause was suspected to be calcium cyanamide, which had been added to the material spread on the floor to prevent environmental mastitis. Experimental exposure of the skin of a cow to calcium cyanamide induced the same type of contact dermatitis, and histopathological investigations showed that it caused irritant and allergic reactions. To identify the cause of the dermatitis, a patch test with calcium cyanamide and its breakdown products, cyanamide, urea and ammonium bicarbonate, was carried out on four cows. Three of them had a positive reaction to calcium cyanamide and cyanamide; delayed and amplified reactions suggesting an allergic response were observed.

Neuroprotective effect of chronic lithium treatment against hypoxia in specific brain regions with upregulation of cAMP response element binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor but not nerve growth factor: comparison with acute lithium treatment

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the neuroprotective effect of chronically or acutely administered lithium against hypoxia in several brain regions. Furthermore, we investigated the contribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) to the neuroprotective effect of lithium.

METHODS

Brain slices were prepared from rats that had been treated chronically or acutely with lithium. The cerebral glucose metabolic rate (CMRglc) before and after hypoxia loading to brain slices was measured using the dynamic positron autoradiography technique with [(18)F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose. The changes of expression of proteins were investigated using Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Before hypoxia loading, the CMRglc did not differ between the lithium-treated and untreated groups. After hypoxia loading, the CMRglc of the untreated group was significantly lower than that before hypoxia loading. However, the CMRglc of the chronic lithium treatment group recovered in the frontal cortex, caudate putamen, hippocampus and cerebellum, but not in the thalamus. In contrast, the CMRglc of the acute lithium treatment group did not recover in any analyzed brain regions. After chronic lithium treatment, the levels of expression of BDNF and phospho-CREB were higher than those of untreated rats in the frontal cortex, but not in the thalamus. However, the expression of NGF did not change in the frontal cortex and thalamus.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that lithium was neuroprotective against hypoxia only after chronic treatment and only in specific brain regions, and that CREB and BDNF might contribute to this effect.

Identifying pathogenic genetic background of simplex or multiplex retinitis pigmentosa patients: a large scale mutation screening study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

More than half of the retinitis pigmentosa (RP) cases are genetically simplex or multiplex. To date, 37 causative genes of RP have been identified; however, the elucidation of gene defects in simplex or multiplex RP patients/families remains problematic. The aim of our study was to identify the genetic causes of RP in patients with unknown or non-Mendelian inheritance.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Since 2003, 52 simplex RP patients, 151 patients from 141 multiplex RP families, and six sporadic patients with retinal degeneration were studied. A total of 108 exons of 30 RP-causing genes that harboured the reported mutations were screened by an efficient denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) based assay. Aberrant fragments were subsequently analysed by automatic sequencing. Twenty-six mutations, including two frameshift mutations, one single amino acid deletion, and 23 missense mutations, were identified in 28 probands (14.07%). Eighteen mutations have not been reported to date. Three pairs of combined mutations in different genes were identified in two sporadic cases and one multiplex family, indicating the possibility of novel digenic patterns. Of the 23 missense mutations, 21 were predicted as deleterious mutations by computational methods using PolyPhen, SIFT, PANTHER, and PMut programs.

CONCLUSION

We elucidated the mutation spectrum in Japanese RP patients and demonstrated the validity of the mutation detection system using dHPLC sequencing for genetic diagnosis in RP patients independent of familial incidence, which may provide a model strategy for identifying genetic causes in other diseases linked to a wide range of genes.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves motor dysfunction and pain originating from knee osteoarthritis in rats

OBJECTIVE

Although there have been several reports on the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), the efficacy of ESWT for knee osteoarthritis (OA) has not been clarified. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of ESWT on OA in a rat knee model.

METHODS

The rats were divided into three groups: (1) control, (2) OA, and (3) ESWT (knee OA+shock wave therapy). Behavioral analysis consisted of measuring the duration of walking on a treadmill. The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the knee using immunohistochemistry was examined in the three groups at their peak time point on the treadmill.

RESULTS

Walking duration was significantly extended 4, 7 and 14 days after ESWT in rats with knee OA (peak time point: 4 days), again decreasing by days 21 and 28. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the OA group had significantly higher percentages of CGRP positive neurons in the DRG than were found in the control group. In addition, ESWT reduced the ratio of CGRP positive DRG neurons in the OA model.

CONCLUSION

The improvement in walking ability and the reduction of CGRP positive neurons in DRG indicates that ESWT is a useful treatment for knee OA.

Melanoma-associated antigen-A1 expression predicts resistance to docetaxel and paclitaxel in advanced and recurrent gastric cancer

Melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) genes are cancer-testis antigen genes that serve as immunotherapy targets in several human cancers. Previous studies have revealed that the forced expression of MAGE genes induces a paclitaxel-resistant phenotype. In the present study, we examined whether the expression of MAGE-A1 could predict the response of advanced and recurrent gastric cancers (GCs) to taxan (doce-taxel or paclitaxel)-based chemotherapy. The expression of MAGE-A1 was analyzed by immunostaining in 41 primary GC samples. DNA demethylation was assessed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and the effect of the forced expression of MAGE-A1 on drug resistance to taxan drugs was monitored by MTT assay. The expression of MAGE-A1 in primary GC was observed in 4 (9.8%) of 41 cases. All 4 patients with MAGE-A1-positive GC showed progressive disease, whereas MAGE-A1 expression was not detected in any of the 23 patients showing partial response (P=0.0302). There was no association between MAGE-A1 gene demethylation and response to chemotherapy (P=0.7245). The forced MAGE-A1 expression in the TMK-1 GC cell line increased the sensitivity to paclitaxel and docetaxel. These results suggest that although MAGE-A1 does not participate directly in the drug-resistant phenotype, the expression of MAGE-A1 could be a marker for the prediction of resistance to taxan-based chemotherapies in patients with GC.