Schizophrenia with the 22q11.2 deletion and additional genetic defects: case history

The 22q11.2 deletion is the most prominent known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, but its penetrance is at most approximately 50% suggesting that additional risk factors are required for disease progression. We examined a woman with schizophrenia with this deletion for such risk factors. She had high plasma pentosidine levels ('carbonyl stress') and a frameshift mutation in the responsible gene, GLO1. She also had a constant exotropia, so we examined the PHOX2B gene associated with both schizophrenia and strabismus, and detected a 5-alanine deletion. We propose that the combination of these genetic defects may have exceeded the threshold for the manifestation of schizophrenia.

Cognition and event-related potentials in adult-onset non-demented myotonic dystrophy type 1

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the cognitive and event-related potentials (ERPs) profiles of adult-onset genetically-proven non-demented myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).

METHODS

Fourteen DM1 patients and matched 14 normal controls were enrolled. DM1 patients were compared with normal controls, using a variety of neuropsychological tests; an auditory "oddball" counting paradigm for the ERPs, and low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). For patients, ERPs and neuropsychological parameters were correlated with CTG repeat size, duration of illness, grip strength, and arterial blood gas analysis.

RESULTS

Frontal lobe dysfunction, prolonged N1 latency, and attenuated N2/P3 amplitudes were observed in DM1. Longer CTG repeat size was associated with fewer categories achieved on Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Greater grip strength was associated with better scores on color-word "interference" of Stroop test. P3 latency was negatively correlated with PaO(2). LORETA revealed significant hypoactivities at the orbitofrontal and medial temporal lobe, cingulate, and insula. There was no correlation between ERPs and CTG expansion.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult-onset non-demented DM1 presented frontal lobe dysfunction. Absence of correlations between CTG repeat size and objective ERP parameters suggested CTG expansion in lymphocytes does not directly contribute to cognitive dysfunction.

SIGNIFICANCE

CTG expansion in lymphocytes does not directly contribute to cognitive dysfunction of adult-onset non-demented DM1.

Quantification of hepatitis C virus in patients treated with peginterferon-alfa 2a plus ribavirin treatment by COBAS TaqMan HCV test

Extremely low levels of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA can be detected by COBAS TaqMan HCV test. To investigate whether the COBAS TaqMan HCV test is useful for measuring rapid virological response (RVR) and early virological response (EVR) to predict sustained virological response (SVR), we compared the virological response to PEG-IFN-alfa 2a plus RBV in 76 patients infected with HCV genotype 1 when undetectable HCV RNA by the COBAS TaqMan HCV test was used, with those when below 1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test was used, which corresponded to the use of traditional methods. Among the 76 patients, 28 (36.8%) had SVR, 13 (17.1%) relapsed, 19 (25.0%) did not respond, and 16 (21.0%) discontinued the treatment due to side effects. The positive predictive values for SVR based on undetectable HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test at 24 weeks after the end of treatment [10/10 (100%) at week 4, 21/23 (91.3%) at week 8 and 26/33 (78.7%) at week 12] were superior to those based on <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA [17/19 (89.4%) at week 4, 27/38 (71.0%) at week 8, and 27/43 (62.7%) at week 12]. The negative predictive values for SVR based on <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test [46/57 (80.7%) at week 4, 37/38 (97.3%) at week 8, and 32/33 (96.9%) at week 12] were superior to those based on undetectable HCV RNA [48/66 (72.7%) at week 4, 46/53 (86.7%) at week 8, and 41/43 (95.3%) at week 12]. The utilization of both undetectable RNA and <1.7 log IU/mL HCV RNA by COBAS TaqMan HCV test is useful and could predict SVR and non-SVR patients with greater accuracy.

Patching retinal breaks with Seprafilm in experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of rabbit eyes

PURPOSE

To examine the short-term effect of Seprafilm for patching retinal breaks in experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of rabbit eyes.

METHODS

Experimental retinal detachment with a break was made and repaired by fluid-gas exchange during vitreous surgery in 10 rabbit eyes. In seven eyes, Seprafilm was applied to cover iatrogenic retinal breaks entirely (study group) and in other three eyes operations were finished without Seprafilm application (control group). Funduscopic examination was carried out in both groups and in study group optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed to observe Seprafilm on the retinal break. Eyes of study group were enucleated on 7th and 14th postoperative day for histological evaluation.

RESULTS

The funduscopic examination showed that the retina was reattached in all eyes of study group. Meanwhile all three eyes of control group resulted in proliferative vitreoretinopathy. OCT showed that Seprafilm adhered to the retina tightly. Funduscopic examination and OCT showed Seprafilm dissolved within 14 days. Histological examination revealed that Seprafilm adhered tightly to the retina and there was no inflammatory change at the Seprafilm application sites.

CONCLUSIONS

In our small number of this study, Seprafilm was found to be beneficial to patch small and posteriorly located retinal breaks in vitreous surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

A cubic-anvil high-pressure device for pulsed neutron powder diffraction

A compact cubic-anvil high-pressure device was developed for in situ neutron powder diffraction studies. In this device, a cubic shaped pressure medium is compressed by six anvils, and neutron beams pass through gaps between the anvils. The first high-pressure experiment using this device was conducted at J-PARC and clearly showed the neutron diffraction patterns of Pb. Combining the cubic-anvil high-pressure device with a pulsed neutron source will prove to be a useful tool for neutron diffraction experiments.

Changes in Fungicide Resistance Frequency and Population Structure of Pyricularia oryzae after Discontinuance of MBI-D Fungicides

The changes in fungicide resistance frequency and population structure of the rice blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae were monitored after the discontinuance of melanin biosynthesis inhibitor targeting scytalone dehydratase (MBI-D) fungicides use in Saga Prefecture, Japan. After discontinuance in 2003, the frequency of resistant isolates decreased from 71.8% in 2002 to 25% in 2003, and became undetectable in 2007. The initial marked decrease was due to a decline of isolates possessing the predominant haplotype, although the haplotypic diversity among resistant isolates remained high from 2003 to 2005. These results revealed that resistant isolates were less fit in comparison with sensitive isolates in the absence of MBI-D fungicide pressure under field conditions. Pairwise F_ST values indicated that the change in population structure after MBI-D discontinuance was explainable by a rapid change in the proportions of resistant and sensitive subpopulations. Depending upon the existence of fitness cost and rapid changes in population structure, it may be possible to reintroduce MBI-D fungicides in areas where resistance has already developed, although we speculate that fitness cost related to MBI-D resistance may be small based on our present results and previous findings.

Concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha is a predictor of poor prognosis in uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy: prospective analysis (KGROG0501)

BACKGROUND

In previously reported retrospective analyses of uterine cervical carcinoma cases, HER2 was correlated with poor radiation sensitivity and poor treatment outcomes and HIF-1alpha was found to be an indicator of poor prognosis. To date, no prospective studies have been performed to evaluate the radiation sensitivity and treatment outcomes of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma relative to HER2 and HIF-1alpha expressions. We conducted a prospective evaluation of HER2 and HIF-1alpha in cases of locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

METHODS

Between June 2005 and April 2008, 25 patients with locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma were registered in this study, KGROG0501. Their clinical stages were Ib2/IIb/IIIb/IVa in 1/2/22/1 cases, respectively. Nineteen cases had squamous cell carcinoma and six had adenocarcinoma. HER2 expression and HIF-1alpha expression were analyzed using an immunohistochemical kit on pretreatment biopsied specimens. HIF-1alpha expression was studied using another commercial immunohistochemical kit on pretreatment biopsied specimens. The survival rates were compared between patients with and without positive HER2 and HIF-1alpha expressions.

RESULTS

The 20-month survival of HER2(-) and HIF-1alpha(-) cases (n = 6) was 100% and that of HER2(+) and HIF-1alpha(+) cases (n = 4) was 37.5% (p = 0.0032).

CONCLUSIONS

In this first prospective analysis of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha was suggested to be a strong indicator of poor prognosis. A novel therapy including molecular targeted therapy such as anti-HER2 and anti-HIF-1alpha may be worth considering in patients with concomitant expression of HER2 and HIF-1alpha.

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.

Indications for the use of endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer in Japan: a comparative study with endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been reported to produce excellent treatment results for early gastric cancer. In terms of lesions that previously met the criteria for endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), there is now controversy about which of the two methods is superior, and whether the two methods are comparable.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 177 patients (202 lesions) with early gastric cancer who met the guidelines for EMR and who underwent either EMR or ESD were studied. The rates of en bloc resection, complete resection, local recurrence, and complications were compared between EMR and ESD.

RESULTS

The overall en bloc and complete resection rates were lower in patients undergoing EMR than in those undergoing ESD (en bloc: 53.8 % vs. 94.3 %, P < 0.001; complete: 37.5 % vs. 92.6 %, P < 0.001). The overall 5-year recurrence-free rate was lower in the EMR group than in the ESD group (82.5 % vs. 100 %; P < 0.001). However, with regard to the tumor size, the two groups did not differ in en bloc ( P = 1.0) or complete resection rate ( P = 0.8) for tumors < or = 5 mm and in 5-year recurrence-free rate ( P = 0.19) for tumors < or = 10 mm. The mean time required for resection was longer for ESD than for EMR ( P < 0.001). Perforation and bleeding requiring blood transfusion occurred in a small percentage in the ESD group, but in none in the EMR group.

CONCLUSION

In this study, EMR was comparable to ESD for the millimeter-sized lesions. We suggest that such small lesions might be well suited to treatment with EMR.

Myocardial atrial natriuretic factor gene expression after coronary ligation in rats

The atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) messenger RNA (mRNA) content was determined in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. Non-infarcted tissue of left and right ventricles were examined soon after ligation of the left descending anterior coronary artery. In the left ventricles, ANF mRNA/alpha-actin mRNA ratio increased to reach a maximum on day 7 and was sustained while in the right ventricle, the maximum was reached on day 1. The plasma ANF was significantly (p < 0.01) elevated from days 1 to 28 after coronary ligation. The primary compensatory response of ANF within the first 7 days may be attributed not only its synthesis in the left ventricle but also to its generation in the right ventricle in acute heart failure.

Global analysis of nuclear receptor expression and dysregulation in human osteoarthritic articular cartilage: reduced LXR signaling contributes to catabolic metabolism typical of osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Compare the expression and regulation of nuclear receptors (NRs) in osteoarthritic and normal human articular cartilage.

METHOD

The transcriptional levels of 48 NRs and additional related proteins were measured in mRNA from human articular cartilage from subjects with osteoarthritis (OA) and compared to samples from subjects without OA, using microarrays, individual quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays, and a custom human NR TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA). The functional effect of liver X receptor (LXR) activity in cartilage was studied by measuring proteoglycan (PG) synthesis and degradation in articular cartilage explant cultures following treatment with the synthetic LXR agonist T0901317.

RESULTS

Thirty-one of 48 NRs analyzed by TLDA were found to be measurably expressed in human articular cartilage; 23 of these 31 NRs showed significantly altered expression in OA vs unaffected cartilage. Among these, LXRalpha and LXRbeta, and their heterodimeric partners retinoid X receptor (RXR)alpha and RXRbeta were all expressed at significantly lower levels in OA cartilage, as were LXR target genes ABCG1 and apolipoproteins D and E. Addition of LXR agonist to human OA articular chondrocytes and to cartilage explant cultures resulted in activation of LXR-mediated transcription and significant reduction of both basal and interleukin (IL)-1-mediated PG degradation.

CONCLUSIONS

Articular cartilage expresses a substantial number of NRs, and a large proportion of the expressed NRs are dysregulated in OA. In particular, LXR signaling in OA articular cartilage is impaired, and stimulation of LXR transcriptional activity can counteract the catabolic effects of IL-1. We conclude that LXR agonism may be a possible therapeutic option for OA.

Development of simple sequence repeat markers for Japanese isolates of Magnaporthe grisea

We developed nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers useful for differentiating Japanese isolates of Magnaporthe grisea through a bioinformatic approach. Repeat sequences in the genome of M. grisea were identified by a Tandem Repeat Finding program. Length polymorphisms at 28 loci were examined, nine of which were selected on the basis of detected polymorphisms. These nine SSR markers showed a Nei's gene diversity ranging from 0.23 to 0.91 among 48 field isolates of two natural populations. These SSR markers are well suited for M. grisea epidemiology and population genetics.