Increase in hemokinin-1 mRNA in the spinal cord during the early phase of a neuropathic pain state

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Substance P (SP), a representative member of the tachykinin family, is involved in nociception under physiological and pathological conditions. Recently, hemokinin-1 (HK-1) was identified as a new member of this family. Although HK-1 acts on NK(1) tachykinin receptors that are thought to be innate for SP, the roles of HK-1 in neuropathic pain are still unknown.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Using rats that had been subjected to chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve as a neuropathic pain model, we examined the changes in expression of SP- and HK-1-encoding genes (TAC1 and TAC4, respectively) in the L4/L5 spinal cord and L4/L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) in association with changes in pain-related behaviours in this neuropathic pain state.

KEY RESULTS

The TAC4 mRNA level was increased on the ipsilateral side of the dorsal spinal cord, but not in DRGs, at day 3 after CCI. In contrast, the TAC1 mRNA level was significantly increased in the DRGs at day 3 after CCI without any changes in the dorsal spinal cord. Analysis of a cultured microglial cell line revealed the presence of TAC4 mRNA in microglial cells. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, blocked the increased expression of TAC4 mRNA after CCI and inhibited the associated pain-related behaviours and microglial activation in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The present results suggest that HK-1 expression is increased at least partly in activated microglial cells after nerve injury and is clearly involved in the early phase of neuropathic pain.

Pressure-induced valence anomaly in TmTe probed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering

The pressure-induced valence transition in TmTe was investigated by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Tm L3 edge, a powerful probe of the rare-earth valent state. The data are analyzed within the Anderson impurity model which yields key parameters such as the Tm 4f-5d hybridization. In addition to the general tendency of the f electrons towards delocalization, we find a plateau in both the Tm valence and hybridization pressure dependences between 4.3 and 6.5 GPa which is interpreted in terms of an n-channel Kondo (NCK) screening process. This behavior is at odds with the usually continuous, single-channel Kondo-like f delocalization while being supported by the seminal calculations of the NCK temperature in Tm ion by Saso et al. Our study raises the interesting possibility that an NCK effect realized in a compressed mixed-valent f system could impede the concomitant electron delocalization.

Search for the Decay K L0-->pi0nu nu[over]

We performed a search for the K L0-->pi0nu nu[over] decay at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. No candidate events were observed. An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay was set to be 6.7 x 10(-8) at the 90% confidence level.

Correction osteotomy for malunion of the talar head: a case report

Talar head fractures are rare injuries. We present a 26-year-old man with malunion of the talar head. The displaced fracture was initially neglected. The patient was treated with osteotomy and bone grafting to improve the congruity and movement of the talonavicular joint. Three months after surgery, he returned to his pre-injury activity level with no disability.

Aberrantly spliced alpha-dystrobrevin alters alpha-syntrophin binding in myotonic dystrophy type 1

BACKGROUND

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. Aberrant messenger RNA (mRNA) splicing of several genes has been reported to explain some of the symptoms in DM1, but the cause of muscle wasting is still unknown. By contrast, many forms of muscular dystrophy are caused by abnormalities of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC). alpha-Dystrobrevin is a key component of the DGC in striated muscle and plays important roles in maturation and signal transduction by interacting with alpha-syntrophin. The goal of this study was to investigate alternative splicing of alpha-dystrobrevin in DM1 and examine alpha-syntrophin binding of different alpha-dystrobrevin splice isoforms.

METHODS

Splicing patterns of alpha-dystrobrevin in DM1 muscle were studied by reverse-transcriptase PCR. Expression of the variant splice isoform was examined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Alternatively spliced isoforms were expressed in cultured cells to investigate interaction with alpha-syntrophin. alpha-Syntrophin expression was examined by immunoblotting.

RESULTS

alpha-Dystrobrevin mRNA including exons 11A and 12 was increased in both skeletal and cardiac muscle of DM1 patients. The aberrantly spliced alpha-dystrobrevin isoform was localized to the sarcolemma, and showed increased binding with alpha-syntrophin. Furthermore, levels of alpha-syntrophin associated with the DGC were increased in DM1 muscle.

CONCLUSION

Alternative splicing of alpha-dystrobrevin is dysregulated in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) muscle, resulting in changes in alpha-syntrophin binding. These results raise the possibility that effects on alpha-dystrobrevin splicing may influence signaling in DM1 muscle cells.

(+)-Syringaresinol-di-O-β-d-glucoside, a phenolic compound from Acanthopanax senticosus Harms, suppresses proinflammatory mediators in SW982 human synovial sarcoma cells by inhibiting activating protein-1 and/or nuclear factor-κB activities

(+)-Syringaresinol-di-O-beta-D-glucoside (SR), syringin, and isofraxidin isolated from the stem bark of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms are its major constituents. The present work was undertaken to analyze effects of these compounds on inflammatory functions in SW982 human synovial sarcoma cell system. When cells were exposed to SR, syringin, or isofraxidin, only isofraxidin had significant inhibitory effects on cell growth, although a slight inhibition was observed at the highest concentration of SR. SR suppressed the production of IL-6 at lower concentrations than syringin and isofraxidin. SR and syringin significantly suppressed the production of prostaglandin E(2), while isofraxidin suppressed only slightly. SR was more potent than syringin and isofraxidin at inhibiting the expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 mRNA, but was less potent than syringin at inhibiting the expression of MMP-2. We further demonstrated that SR significantly reduced MMP-1 promoter luciferase activity and DNA-binding activity of transcriptional factors AP-1 and NF-kappaB. Taken together, these results suggest that SR, an active component of the stem bark of A. senticosus, modulates the inflammatory process involved in arthritis by suppressing various gene expression through inhibiting AP-1 and/or NF-kappaB activities.

Abortion in a thoroughbred mare associated with an infection with avirulent Rhodococcus equi

An eight-year-old thoroughbred mare with no previous history of illness aborted a fetus at 196 days of gestation, and its internal tissues were examined immunohistologically and bacteriologically. The placenta was not examined, but specimens of the intrauterine fluids and the dam's faeces were collected four days after the abortion and examined bacteriologically. No significant histological lesions were found in the fetus but the amnion and the umbilical cord were oedematous and had petechial haemorrhages. Rhodococcus equi was isolated in pure culture from the lung, heart and stomach contents of the fetus and from an intrauterine specimen and faeces of the dam. The anti-R equi antibody titre of the mare was high after the abortion. The diagnosis was confirmed in the lung of the fetus by immunohistochemical staining with R equi-specific antibodies. Isolates from the fetus and mare were identified as avirulent R equi by pcr and the mouse pathogenicity test. The avirulent isolates were characterised by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, which yielded only one VspI profile in all the isolates from the fetus and its dam.

Effect of molecular rotation on the atomic alignment dependence in the oriented Ar (3P2) + CF3H reaction

Atomic alignment effect for the CF3* formation in the oriented Ar (3P2, MJ = 2) + CF3H reaction has been investigated at different two CF3H beam conditions: effusive and supersonic beams. The chemiluminescence intensity of CF3* was measured as a function of the magnetic orientation field direction in the collision frame. A significant contribution of rank 4 moment was recognized. The cross-section for each magnetic M'(J) substate in the collision frame, sigma|M'(J)|, was determined to be sigma(|M'(J)|=0):sigma(|M'(J)|=1):sigma(|M'(J)|=2) = 1.00:0.84 +/- 0.02:0.88 +/- 0.02 for the effusive CF3H beam condition. The atomic alignment effect was found to significantly depend on the CF3H beam condition. For the supersonic beam condition, sigma(|M'(J)|=0&1) was changed to be smaller than sigma(|M'(J)|=2).

Deuterium isotope effect on the atomic alignment dependence in the reaction of oriented Ar (3P2) with (CH3CN)2 and (CD3CN)2 dimers

The effect of atomic alignment on CN (B2Sigma+) formation has been studied in the reaction of oriented Ar (3P2) with (CX3CN)2 (X = H, D). The reaction cross-section for each magnetic M'(J) substate in the collision frame sigma|M'(J)|(H(D),d) relative to the cross-section sigma0(H,m) in the CH(3)CN reaction was determined to be sigma0(H,d)/sigma|1|(H,d)/sigma|2|(H,d)/sigma0(D,d)/sigma|1|(D,d):/sigma|2|(D,d)= 0.87/1.00/0.98/1.58/1.93/1.78. A notable deuterium isotope effect was observed. In contrast with the monomer reactions, a significant decrease of sigma0(H(D),d) relative to the other cross-sections of sigma|M'(J)|(H(D),d) was observed.

Effect of mutual configuration between molecular orientation and atomic orientation in the oriented Ar (3P2)+oriented CF3H reaction

The steric effect in the dissociative energy transfer reaction of Ar (3P2,MJ=2)+CF3H has been observed as a function of the mutual configurations between the molecular orientation and the atomic orientation in the collision frame. The reactivity is significantly changed depending on the mutual configuration between the molecular orientation and the atomic orientation. Especially, the molecular alignment dependence is dramatically changed depending on the configuration of the atomic alignment.

Correlation between atomic orientation and product angular momentum alignment in the reaction of oriented Ar (3P2) with CH3OH

Atomic orientation effect for the CH(3)O(*) formation has been studied for the dissociative energy transfer reaction of oriented Ar ((3)P(2)) with CH(3)OH. The degree of polarization of CH(3)O(*) chemiluminescence was determined as a function of each magnetic M(J) (') substate in the collision frame. A drastic change of the product angular momentum alignment due to atomic orientation was recognized.

Reduced dose of foscarnet as preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus infection following reduced-intensity cord blood transplantation

Although foscarnet is a promising alternative for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, its toxicity can be significant in patients with advanced age. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 123 patients (median age of 55; range, 17-79) who received reduced-intensity cord blood transplantation (RI-CBT). Patients preemptively received reduced-dose foscarnet 30 mg/kg twice daily when CMV antigenemia exceeded 10/50,000. Sixty-three patients developed CMV antigenemia on a median of day 34, and 29 received foscarnet preemptively. The median level of CMV antigenemia at the initiation of foscarnet was 30. Median duration of foscarnet administration was 24 days. Adverse effects included electrolyte abnormalities (n=19), renal impairment (n=13), and skin eruption requiring discontinuation of foscarnet (n=1). Preemptive therapy of foscarnet was completed in 18 patients. Seven patients died during foscarnet use without developing CMV disease. The remaining 3 developed CMV enterocolitis 5, 14, and 17 days after initiation of foscarnet. All of them were successfully treated with ganciclovir or foscarnet. Reduced dose of foscarnet is beneficial to control CMV reactivation following RI-CBT; however, it has considerable toxicities in RI-CBT recipients with advanced age. Further studies are warranted to minimize toxicities and identify optimal dosages.

Clinicopathological features of pyothorax-associated lymphoma; a retrospective survey involving 98 patients

To investigate clinicopathological features of pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL), we examined medical records of 98 patients (88 males and 10 females) with PAL at a median age of 70 years (range 51-86). Seventy-nine patients had a history of artificial pneumothorax. Median interval between diagnosis and artificial pneumothorax was 43 years (range 19-64). At diagnosis, performance status (PS) was 0-1 (n=56) and 2-4 (n=42). Clinical stages were I (n=42), II (n=26), III (n=8) and IV (n=22). Pathological diagnosis comprised diffuse large-B-cell (n=78) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (n=1). Seventeen were treated supportively. The other 81 received aggressive treatments; chemotherapy (n=52), radiotherapy (n=7), surgery (n=4) and combination (n=18). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 0.35 (95% confidence interval, 24% to 45%). Causes of deaths were PAL (n=39), respiratory failure (n=13) and others (n=12). Multivariate analysis identified prognostic factors for OS; lactate dehydrogenase levels [hazard ratio (HR)=2.36; P=0.013], sex (female versus male) (HR=0.15; P=0.01), PS (2-4 versus 0-1) (HR=2.20; P=0.02), clinical stages (III/IV versus I/II) (HR=1.95; P=0.037) and chemotherapy (HR=0.31; P=0.01). Most patients with PAL are elderly and have comorbidities, while some of them achieve durable remission with appropriate treatments. These findings prompt us to establish an optimal treatment strategy on the basis of risk stratification of individual patients.

Proteome analysis of human placentae: pre-eclampsia versus normal pregnancy

Although placental proteins play multiple roles in fetal and placental development and in the maintenance of pregnancy, many remain inadequately characterized. In the present study, we comprehensively analyzed these proteins by using a proteomic approach. Samples were denatured with guanidine hydrochloride, which was found to be superior to the commonly used urea for the present purpose, and subjected to 2-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis (2-DE) to obtain placental proteome maps. The identified protein spots (ca. 60% of the total) on the proteome maps included several pregnancy-related proteins (PRPs). Furthermore, a novel 2D immunoblotting (2-DI) analysis of molecules related to pre-eclampsia revealed three immunopositive spots that appeared to correspond to dynactin p-50, a protein related to cell turn-over. The rate of positivity for dynactin p-50-reactive antibodies was significantly (P=0.0024) higher in 26 pre-eclamptic women than in 58 normally pregnant women. These results indicate that dynactin p-50 may be involved in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.

Significant change of alignment effect by dimer formation in the dissociative energy transfer reaction of Ar(3P2)+(N2O)n and (H2O)n

An alignment effect in the dissociative energy transfer reaction of Ar((3)P(2))+(X(2)O)(n)(X=N,H) was directly measured using an oriented Ar((3)P(2),M(J)=2) beam. The chemiluminescence intensity of N(2)(B,(3)Pi(g)) for (N(2)O)(n) and OH(A,(2)Sigma(+)) for (H(2)O)(n) was measured as a function of the magnetic orientation field direction in the collision frame. The relative reaction cross section for each magnetic substate in the collision frame, sigma(M(J) (') ), was determined. In both the reaction systems, it is observed that the dimer formation significantly enhances the alignment effect and decreases the reactivity, especially for sigma|1| and sigma|2|. A significant contribution of rank 4 moment is recognized in the dimer reaction.