Corrugation of an unpaved road surface under vehicle weight

Road corrugation refers to the formation of periodic, transverse ripples on unpaved road surfaces. It forms spontaneously on an initially flat surface under heavy traffic and can be considered to be a type of unstable growth phenomenon, possibly caused by the local volume contraction of the underlying soil due to a moving vehicle's weight. In the present work, we demonstrate a possible mechanism for road corrugation using experimental data of soil consolidation and numerical simulations. The results indicate that the vertical oscillation of moving vehicles, which is excited by the initial irregularities of the surface, plays a key role in the development of corrugation.

Isolation and Characterization of jararaca GPIb-BP, a Snake Venom Antagonist Specific to Platelet Glycoprotein lb

A platelet glycoprotein lb-binding protein (GPIb-BP) was isolated from the snake venom of Bothrops jararaca. Jararaca GPIb-BP showed a single band with Mr of 30,000, and two distinct bands with Mr. of 17,000/13,000 under non-reducing and reducing conditions, respectively, on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Jararaca GPIb-BP itself induced neither platelet aggregation nor serotonin release from platelets, but specifically bound to GPIb (40,629 ± 2,521 molecules per normal platelet, with Kd 39.1 ± 2.4 nM at saturation). The purified venom protein completely inhibited ristocetin- or botrocetin-induccd von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding, and blocked the bovine vWF binding to GPIb, with IC50 values ranging from 28 to 42 nM, without affecting the platelet aggregation induced by ADP or α-thrombin. 1251-jararaca GPIb-BP binding to GPIb was not altered by the presence of human α-thrombin. Jararaca GPIb-BP at a final concentration of 104 nM totally abolished vWF-dependent shear- induced platelet aggregation (SIPA) at a high shear stress, but had no effect on SIPA at a low shear stress. Reduced and S-carboxyamidomethylated jararaca GPIb-BP lost its inhibitory activity on SIPA. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the subunits revealed a high degree of homology with those of several Ca2+-dependent lectins, especially to those of two functionally opposite venom proteins, botrocetin (a vWF-modulator) and alboaggregin-B (a GPIb- modulator).

Abstract P6-07-03: Long non-coding RNA H19 promotes cancer stemness and worsen breast cancer survival

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSC) are good sources of tumor initiation, heterogeneity, progression, and metastasis because of their unique characteristics. Several potential markers for CSCs have been suggested for breast cancer, including CD44+/CD24−/low, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), and epithelial cell adhesion molecule/epithelial-specific antigen. We previously reported that ALDH1 gene expression is related to aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis in breast cancers. In this study, we conducted differential analysis of mRNA expression in ALDH1-positive breast cancer to identify genes associated with CSC. Next, we performed basic and clinical studies of one gene.

Methods: Messenger RNA was isolated from ALDH1-positive cells and ALDH1-negative cells in 5 ALDH1-positive breast cancers. Microarray analysis revealed that several genes were significantly associated with the ALDH1 gene. Among them, we examined a long non-coding RNA of H19 in this study. We evaluated the effect of H19 on CSCs using RNA interference and a sphere formation assay using two cell lines, HCC1937 and iCSCL10A cells. We also investigated H19 expression in 192 surgical specimens by in situ hybridization and analyzed the relationship between H19 expression and clinic pathological findings in breast cancer patients.

Results: Through in vitro experiments, we confirmed that suppression of H19 reduced sphere formation in both HCC1937 and iCSCL10A cells. Among surgical specimens, 48 samples (25%) expressed H19. We verified thatH19 positivity was significantly higher in ALDH1-positive cases than in ALDH1-negative cases (68% vs 9.7%, p < 0.001). H19 was significantly highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (46%) compared with other subtypes: luminal (33%), luminal-HER2 (6%), and HER2-enriched subtype (15%). H19-positive patients showed significantly worse prognosis (5-year disease-free survival 75.8% vs 91.5%, p = 0.001 and 5-year overall survival 88.7% vs 97.7%, p = 0.002). The effect of H19 expression on prognosis was the most significant in TNBC compared to in other subtypes (5-year disease-free survival 63.6% vs 88.9%, p = 0.038).

Conclusions: H19 is clearly associated with CSCs and correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients, particularly TNBC. Our future studies will investigate the role of H19 in maintaining the nature of CSCs and protein-coding genes associated with H19.

Citation Format: Shima H, Kida K, Yamada A, Sugae S, Narui K, Miyagi Y, Ryo A, Ichikawa Y, Ishikawa T, Endo I. Long non-coding RNA H19 promotes cancer stemness and worsen breast cancer survival [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-03.

Catastrophic cellular events leading to complex chromosomal rearrangements in the germline

Although complex chromosomal rearrangements were thought to reflect the accumulation of DNA damage over time, recent studies have shown that such rearrangements frequently arise from 'all-at-once' catastrophic cellular events. These events, designated chromothripsis, chromoanasynthesis, and chromoanagenesis, were first documented in the cancer genome and subsequently observed in the germline. These events likely result from micronucleus-mediated chromosomal shattering and subsequent random reassembly of DNA fragments, although several other mechanisms have also been proposed. Typically, only one or a few chromosomes of paternal origin are affected per event. These events can produce intrachromosomal deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations, as well as interchromosomal translocations. Germline complex rearrangements of autosomes often result in developmental delay and dysmorphic features, whereas X chromosomal rearrangements are usually associated with relatively mild clinical manifestations. The concept of these catastrophic events provides novel insights into the etiology of human genomic disorders. This review introduces the molecular characteristics and phenotypic outcomes of catastrophic cellular events in the germline.

Novel synthesis process for solar-light-active porous carbon-doped CuO nanoribbon and its photocatalytic application for the degradation of an organic dye

A simple, one-step novel solution process was developed for the synthesis of carbon-doped CuO (C-CuO) nanoribbons without the use of a catalyst, template, substrate, or costly instrumentation at room temperature.

Simple synthesis process for ZnO sphere-decorated CNT fiber and its electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties

An easy process to produce ZnO sphere-decorated CNT (ZSDC) fibers was established.

Construction of anα-Amylase/Glucoamylase Fusion Gene and Its Expression inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

A fusion gene which encoded a polypeptide comprised of 1116 amino acids was constructed using the alpha-amylase and glucoamylase cDNAs of Aspergillus shirousamii. When the fusion gene was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a yeast expression plasmid under the control of the yeast ADH1 promoter, a bifunctional fusion protein (145 kDa) having both alpha-amylase and glucoamylase activities was secreted into the culture medium. The fusion protein had higher raw-starch-digesting activity than those of the original alpha-amylase and glucoamylase, and adsorbed onto raw starch like the glucoamylase. It was suggested that the characteristics are a result of the raw-starch-affinity site in the glucoamylase domain of the fusion protein.

Anomalous enhancement in the infrared phonon intensity of a one-dimensional uneven peanut-shaped C60 polymer

A one-dimensional (1D) uneven peanut-shaped C(60) polymer formed from electron-beam (EB)-induced polymerization of C(60) molecules showed an anomalous increase in two characteristic infrared (IR) peak intensities, which are respectively due to the radial and tangential motion of the 1D polymer, when compared to the IR peaks of pristine C(60) films. This anomaly was analyzed on the basis of the vibrational van Hove singularity (VHS), using an extended thin-shell elastic model fully considering the effects of periodic radius modulation inherent to the 1D uneven peanut-shaped C(60) polymer. We succeeded in explaining the enhancement in the tangential peak intensity by VHS, whereas the origin to cause that in the radial peak intensity is still unclear.

Applying computational nanomaterials design to the reactive ion etching of NiO thin films-a preliminary investigation

We have developed and proposed a model for reactive ion etching (RIE) process design of nickel oxide thin films using a computational materials design based on ab initio calculations. On etching NiO, we found that it was necessary to have hydrogen-based reactive gases in the initial state in order to enhance RIE (e.g. NH(3), CH(4)). We strongly suggest the use of CH(4) or any H-based gas source other than CHF(3) to enhance RIE process.

Phospho-regulation of human protein kinase Aurora-A: analysis using anti-phospho-Thr288 monoclonal antibodies

Mammalian Aurora-A is related to a serine/threonine protein kinase that was originally identified by its close homology with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ipl1p and Drosophila melanogaster aurora that are key regulators in the orchestration of mitotic events. The protein level of Aurora-A, its peak kinase activity during mitosis, and its activation have been attributed to phosphorylation. Here we show that this enzyme is an arginine-directed kinase and define its substrate specificity. We also found that Thr288 within the activation loop is a critical residue for activating phosphorylation events in vitro and that it is spatiotemporally restricted to a brief window at mitosis on duplicated centrosomes and on spindle microtubules proximal to the poles in vivo. Immunodepletion assays indicated that an upstream kinase(s) of Aurora-A might exist in mammalian cells in addition to autophosphorylation. Furthermore, human activated Aurora-A forms complexes with the negative regulator protein serine/threonine phosphatase type 1 (PP1) that was negatively phosphorylated on Thr320. Interestingly, phospho-specific Aurora-A monoclonal antibodies restrain Aurora-A kinase activity in vitro, providing further therapeutic avenues to explore.

[New CT program simulating kidney displacement during retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy]

A total of 12 patients with malignant localized renal or ureteral neoplasms underwent multi-slice computed tomography. Imaging data were sent to the dedicated workstation to create volume rendering and virtual laparoscopic images of the kidney which was displaced ventrally with retroperitoneal balloon. These findings were compared with video images obtained during retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy. The kidney displacement simulator depicted all renal arteries (100% sensitivity) and 13 of 14 renal veins (93% sensitivity). Hilar anatomy, including the tumor, major vessels and their relationships were visualized as in the actual laparoscopic views. The desired portions of major vessels as well as the left adrenal and gonadal veins visualized with this system completely corresponded with the actual laparoscopic images during surgery. The kidney displacement simulator is useful to foresee desired portions of major vessels and branched small vessels such as the adrenal or gonadal veins in advance of surgery. It is thus able to guide surgeons and reduce operative risks and possible complications.

Sequential blood level monitoring of basiliximab during multisession plasmapheresis in a kidney transplant recipient

Basiliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the alpha chain of the interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) has been used in renal transplant patients. We monitored sequential blood concentrations of basiliximab in a patient who received a kidney transplant with basiliximab-based immunosuppression together with multiple sessions of plasmapheresis. A 34-year-old man received a living-related kidney transplant with induction immunosuppression including tacrolimus, mycophenolate, methylprednisolone, and basiliximab. Severe antibody-mediated acute rejection lead to a requirement for hemodialysis. Deoxyspergualin was administered for 10 days at a daily dose of 5 mg/kg combined with eight sessions of double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP). After treatment, the serum creatinine returned to 0.95 mg/dL, and there were no major complications or infections. Sequential basiliximab blood levels of the patient were monitored following transplantation. The serum basiliximab concentration decreased by 72.4% after five consecutive DFPPs, and by 87.6% after eight DFPP sessions. The elimination rate of basiliximab (DeltaBLX) was 6.1% before DFPP, but increased over eight DFPPs to 20.5%. Serum basiliximab concentrations declined to 0.16 microg/mL on day 33, which is below the IL-2R saturation concentration (0.2 microg/mL). Multiple sessions of plasmapheresis using DFPP enhanced the elimination of serum basiliximab at an average elimination rate of 19.1%. In the patient reported on here, the serum basiliximab concentration fell to below the IL-2R saturation level (0.2 microg/mL) within 1 month of living-related kidney transplantation. We recommend that additional basiliximab infusions be considered for cases undergoing more than three plasmapheresis sessions.

Loss of Heterozygosity on Chromosome 10p14–p15 in Colorectal Carcinoma

High frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 10p14-p15 have been reported in various tumors, including gliomas, pulmonary carcinoid tumors and cervical, hepatic, prostatic and esophageal carcinomas. However, LOH on chromosome 10p14-p15 in colorectal tumors has not been reported. Therefore, we examined LOH on chromosome 10p14-p15 in 60 colorectal carcinomas (21 superficial and 39 advanced types) by microsatellite assay. Three microsatellite loci, D10S191 (10p14), D10S558 and D10S249 (10p15) were examined by polymerase chain reaction [early colorectal carcinomas, LOH of markers D10S191 (36%), D10S558 (7%) and D10S249 (11%), and in advanced colorectal carcinomas, LOH of markers D10S191 (20%), D10S558 (13%) and D10S249 (33%)]. There were no significant associations between LOH on chromosome 10p14-p15 and clinicopathologic features, including patient age, sex, tumor location, depth of invasion, histologic type, lymph node metastasis and prognosis. These data suggest that a putative tumor suppressor gene associated with colorectal carcinogenesis may be located on chromosome 10p14-p15 and that alteration of this gene may be involved in the development but not progression of colorectal tumors.

Combined Therapy of Deoxyspergualin and Plasmapheresis: A Useful Treatment for Antibody-Mediated Acute Rejection After Kidney Transplantation

Antibody-mediated acute rejection (AbAR) is one of the primary causes of graft impairment in kidney transplant recipients. Deoxyspergualin (DSG), which displays an antiproliferative action against antigen-stimulated B cells inhibiting antibody production, may be effective to rescue AbAR in combination with plasmapheresis by suppressing antibody production and elimination. In the present study, we report our experience with DSG/plasmapheresis therapy for the treatment of AbAR. Five kidney transplant patients experienced a steroid-resistant acute rejection requiring dialysis followed by an AbAR that was confirmed by biopsy and flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM) results. DSG was administration at 3 mg/kg per day for 10 days with plasmapheresis reduce antidonor antibody. Treatment outcome, effectiveness, and adverse events were examined; in two cases sequential FCXM examinations were performed to evaluate antibody status. All five patients received DSG/plasmapheresis therapy. The number of plasmapheresis treatments ranged from 1 to 9 according to treatment outcomes. Four patients recovered graft function following treatment; whereas one showed no response to the treatment, and the graft was lost. No serious side effects or infections were observed during or after treatment. Monitoring of sequential FCXM correlated with the clinical course. AbAR shows a worse prognosis than cellular rejection. It is refractory to conventional antirejection therapy. In the present study, DSG/plasmapheresis therapy was effective in four of five patients (80%) with AbAR. It may be considered the first choice of treatment for cases of acute humoral rejection.

Treatment with β-SQAG9 prevents rat hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

BACKGROUND

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury occurs in various situations, including transplantation, trauma, and shock. We previously reported that the synthetic beta-SQDG (18:0), which was derived from sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol of the sea urchin, possessed immunosuppressive effects, such as inhibition of T-cell responses in human allogenic human mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) and skin allograft survival in rats. beta-SQAG9 was synthesized from beta-SQDG (18:0) to improve structural stability in aqueous solution with the same biological activities to bind to CD62L (L-selectin) and CD62P (P-selectin) in vitro. We hypothesized that beta-SQAG9 might attenuate leukocyte rolling on the endothelium and neutrophil infiltration in which L-selectin and P-selectin are key molecules. We investigated the protective effect of beta-SQAG9 against hepatic I/R injury.

METHODS

Male Lewis rats were divided into 6 groups: sham, control, and treatment. Rats in the control, and the treatment groups were subjected to hepatic ischemia for 30 minutes. They were injected with PBS or beta-SQAG9 at doses of 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg into the penile vein immediately before reperfusion. To assess the damage to the hepatic parenchyma, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured and histological evaluation was performed at 6 hours after reperfusion.

RESULTS

In the group treated with beta-SQAG9 at a dose of 10 mg/kg, AST, ALT, and LDH were significantly reduced, and the amount of neutrophil infiltration also was significantly reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that SQAG-9 (10 mg/kg) reduces the warm hepatic I/R injury.

Synthetic sulfonolipids deduced from sulfonoquinovosyl diacylglycerols of sea urchin reduces hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

BACKGROUND

In hepatic surgery and liver transplantation, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is an unavoidable process, and protection against hepatic I/R injury is a major unresolved problem. In this study, we investigated whether 3-O-(6-deoxy-6-sulfono-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1,2-di-O-acylglycerol bound to saturated C18 fatty acids (beta-SQAG9), which was derived from sea urchin intestines, could reduce this injury. This agent was recently reported to have immunosuppressive effects in allogeneic rat skin grafts.

MATERIALS & METHODS

Male Lewis rats were divided into two experimental groups. Group 1 rats were injected with SQAG9 (50 mg/kg) into the penile vein 15 minutes before the induction of ischemia and into the portal vein just reperfusion. The same amounts of normal saline were injected into rats in the control group (group 2). Each experimental groups included six rats. Seventy percent hepatic ischemia (20 minutes) was induced by occluding the blood vessels and bile duct with a vascular clamp. For examination of hepatic function, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, (AST) alanine transaminase (ALT), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. In addition, histological examination was also assessed.

RESULTS

Three hours after reperfusion, the mean plasma concentration of AST, ALT, LDH in group 1 was suppressed compared with group 2. Six hours after reperfusion, the hepatic damage in group 1 was mild in comparison with that in group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that SQAG-9 reduced the warm hepatic I/R injury.

Recurrent intracranial esthesioneuroblastoma outside the initial field of radiation with progressive dural and intra-orbital invasion

A 55-year-old man presented with esthesioneuroblastoma in the right paranasal sinuses and orbita, extending into the right anterior and middle cranial fossa. He received a partial resection of tumour and post-operative radiotherapy, which was set with a central focus on the right orbit. Five years later, he came to our hospital with a complaint of left exophthalmos. Neuro-imaging revealed that the tumour recurred on the opposite side of the primary lesion, which was out side the irradiated field, with progressive invasion of the left temporal dura. The residual tumour in the irradiated field had reduced in size. He received gross total resection and post-operative radiotherapy. We would like to emphasize that radiotherapy is an important adjuvant therapy for esthesioneuroblastoma, and that the field setting for radiation therapy is extremely important.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor peptide and gene expression in hypoplastic lung in nitrofen induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats

Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) lung has been shown to be associated with structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature, including medial and adventitial thickening. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogenic and permeability factor targeting predominantly endothelial cells. mRNA encoding VEGF is detected in all fetal tissues and is most abundant in fetal lung, kidney, and liver. Recently, antenatal dexamethasone (Dex) treatment has been shown to prevent pulmonary-artery structural changes in experimentally-produced CDH. The aim of this study was to investigate mRNA and protein levels of VEGF in CDH lung and to determine whether antenatal Dex treatment has any effect on the production of VEGF. A CDH model was induced in pregnant rats following administration of 100 mg nitrofen on days 9.5 of gestation (term=22 days). Dex 0.25 mg/kg was given on day 18.5 and 19.5. Cesarean section was performed on day 21 of gestation. The fetuses were divided into three groups: normal controls (NC, n=8); nitrofen-induced CDH (CDH, n=8); and nitrofen-induced CDH with antenatal Dex treatment (CDH-Dex, n=8). Protein and mRNA were extracted from the whole lung. VEGF protein was measured by ELISA assay and mRNA expression was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry using anti-rat VEGF antibody was also performed in each group. VEGF protein as well as mRNA expression were significantly increased in the CDH group compared to the NC group, which was not affected by antenatal Dex treatment. VEGF immunoreactivity in pulmonary vessel walls was increased in the CDH and CDH-Dex groups compared to the NC group. The enhanced VEGF protein and mRNA expression in CDH lung suggests that increased local synthesis of VEGF may be responsible for the structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature in CDH lung. VEGF expression in CDH lung is not downregulated by antenatal Dex treatment.

Positivity of extrapulmonary Ga-67 uptake in sarcoidosis: thyroid uptake due to chronic thyroiditis and bone uptake due to fibrous dysplasia

Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy was performed on a 29-year-old man who had been diagnosed as having pulmonary sarcoidosis by a transbronchial lung biopsy. A Ga-67 citrate scintigram showed increased uptake not only in the pulmonary hilum and mediastinum, but also in the thyroid gland and the right ilium. Chronic thyroiditis was confirmed by aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland, and fibrous dysplasia was confirmed by CT guided biopsy of the right ilium. Extrapulmonary Ga-67 uptake in patients with sarcoidosis does not necessarily indicate the involvement of other tissues and organs.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase epsilonC selectively inhibits interleukin-6- and interleukin- 10-induced JAK-STAT signaling

Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) epsilon (PTPepsilon) exists as 2 forms generated by alternative promoter usage. It has recently been reported that a cytosolic isoform of PTPepsilon (PTPepsilonC) when over-expressed in murine M1 myeloid cells inhibits interleukin-6 (IL-6)- and leukemia inhibitory factor-induced activation of Janus kinases (JAKs), thereby suppressing STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation and STAT3 signaling. This study characterizes an inhibitory action of PTPepsilonC on IL-6 signaling and also reveals that PTPepsilonC inhibitory activity is independent of other potential negative regulators, such as SHP-2 and SOCS family proteins. Furthermore, it analyzes the selectivity of PTPepsilonC action toward several cytokines. On IL-6 stimulation, expression of PTPepsilonC-DA, a catalytically inactive mutant of PTPepsilonC, results in an earlier onset of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting different modes of action between PTPepsilonC and other negative regulators. In addition, the study shows PTPepsilonC-DA enhances activation of STAT1 by IL-6 as well. In terms of specificity to cytokines, over-expressed PTPepsilonC also inhibits IL-10-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in M1 cells, whereas PTPepsilonC does not affect either interferon-beta- and interferon-gamma-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STATs or expression of STAT transcriptional targets. Among cytokines tested, the inhibitory effect of PTPepsilonC is selective to IL-6- and IL-10-induced JAK-STAT signaling.

Detectability of pulmonary perfusion defect and influence of breath holding on contrast-enhanced thick-slice 2D and on 3D MR pulmonary perfusion images

The present study assesses the detectability of perfusion defect and the influence of breathhold on pulmonary magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion imaging using contrast-enhanced thick-slice two-dimensional (2D) fast gradient-echo sequence compared with three-dimensional (3D) fast spoiled gradient-recalled sequence. Dynamic studies were performed in 16 patients. MR perfusion images were interpreted by two independent observers using perfusion scintigraphy as the reference standard. The patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of holding the breath measured during MR imaging. The sensitivity and specificity of 2D MR perfusion imaging in detecting perfusion defects were 93% and 94%, respectively, while those of 3D MR perfusion imaging were 89% and 85%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of 2D MR perfusion imaging was significantly higher than that of 3D MR perfusion imaging (P < 0.05) among those who could not hold their breath. Therefore, 2D MR perfusion imaging offers promise for evaluating pulmonary perfusion even among patients who cannot hold their breath.

MKP-7, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase, functions as a shuttle protein

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs) negatively regulate MAPK activity. In the present study, we have identified a novel MKP, designated MKP-7, and mapped it to human chromosome 12p12. MKP-7 possesses a long C-terminal stretch containing both a nuclear export signal and a nuclear localization signal, in addition to the rhodanese-like domain and the dual specificity phosphatase catalytic domain, both of which are conserved among MKP family members. When expressed in mammalian cells MKP-7 protein was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm, but this localization became exclusively nuclear following leptomycin B treatment or introduction of a mutation in the nuclear export signal. These findings indicate that MKP-7 is the first identified leptomycin B-sensitive shuttle MKP. Forced expression of MKP-7 suppressed activation of MAPKs in COS-7 cells in the order of selectivity, JNK p38 > ERK. Furthermore, a mutant form MKP-7 functioned as a dominant negative particularly against the dephosphorylation of JNK, suggesting that MKP-7 works as a JNK-specific phosphatase in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments and histological analysis suggested that MKP-7 determines the localization of MAPKs in the cytoplasm.

Cardiac gene expression and synthesis of atrial natriuretic peptide in the nitrofen model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats: effect of prenatal dexamethazone treatment

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine the gene and protein levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in the heart of nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in rats and to evaluate the effect of antenatal dexamethazone (Dex) treatment.

METHODS

CDH model was induced in pregnant rats after administration of 100 mg of nitrofen on day 9.5 of gestation (term, day 22). Dexamethazone (Dex, 0.25 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection on days 18.5 and 19.5 of gestation. Cesarean section was performed on day 21 of gestation. The fetuses were divided into 3 groups: group I, control (n = 10); group II, nitrofen-induced CDH (n = 10); group III, nitrofen-induced CDH with antenatal Dex treatment (n = 10). ANP protein was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the relative amount of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA expression.

RESULTS

There was a significant reduction in ANP mRNA (P <.05) and protein (P <.01) levels in heart of group II (CDH) compared with group I. Antenatal Dex treatment significantly increased both ANP mRNA and protein levels in the heart of CDH animals (P <.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced cardiac ANP gene expression and ANP synthesis indicates that the heart in CDH is functionally immature and may be unable to respond to hemodynamic load accompanying persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH). ANP or drugs such as steroids, which raise endogenous ANP levels, may have a therapeutic application in CDH complicated by PPH.

Activity of testis angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in ejaculated human spermatozoa

Testicular angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) isozyme is likely to play important functional roles in male reproduction. Several studies have shown that ACE is released from human spermatozoa during capacitation and that ACE is associated with reduced sperm motility. Recently, we established an assay to detect testicular ACE activity in human spermatozoa. The purpose of this study was to determine if testicular ACE activity is related to sperm motility in human ejaculates. Semen samples were collected from 80 infertile patients. According to the semen characteristics, they were divided into four (WHO) categories. Enzyme activities of ACE in spermatozoa (testicular ACE) and seminal plasma (somatic ACE) were spectrophotometrically determined. Total testicular ACE activity in spermatozoa was measured by solubilization of spermatozoa with Triton X-100. Membrane testicular ACE activity was measured in a sperm : PBS suspension. Sperm concentration and sperm motility were 136.6 +/- 154.1 x 10(6)/mL and 58.6 +/- 23.4%, respectively (mean +/- SD). Enzyme activities of membrane testicular ACE, total testicular ACE and somatic ACE were 0.273 +/- 1.219 microU/10(6) spermatozoa, 0.35 +/- 1.34 microU/10(6) spermatozoa and 684.7 +/- 226.6 mU/mL, respectively. A negative correlation was observed between sperm motility and membrane testicular ACE activity (p < 0.05). Membrane testicular ACE activity in 44 normal semen samples was 0.04 +/- 0.02 microU/10(6) spermatozoa, whilst that in 36 abnormal semen samples was 0.24 +/- 0.42 microU/10(6) spermatozoa. There was a significant difference between these two groups (p < 0.01). Membrane testicular ACE in sperm samples from normozoospermic men was significantly lower than that from oligoasthenozoospermic men (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that testicular ACE is released from normal functional spermatozoa for them to have fertilizing ability.

Tautomycetin is a novel and specific inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase type 1, PP1

Here we isolated tautomycetin, TC, and examined its phosphatase inhibitory activity. Recently we have reported that the left-hand moiety of tautomycin, TM, and the right one containing the spiroketal are essentially required for inhibition of protein phosphatase, PP, and induction of apoptosis, respectively. TC is structurally almost identical to TM except that TC is lacking the spiroketal, which has the potential apoptosis-inducing activity. TC specifically inhibited PP1 activity, IC50 values for purified PP1 and PP2A enzymes being 1.6 and 62 nM, respectively, whereas the IC50 values of TM were 0.21 and 0.94 nM, respectively. These results demonstrate that TC is the most specific PP1 inhibitor out of over 40 species of natural phosphatase inhibitors reported, strongly suggesting that TC is a novel powerful tool to elucidate the physiological roles of PP1 in various biological events.

Successful treatment of low-flow priapism associated with phenothiazine therapy

We present a case of low-flow priapism that was successfully treated. A 21-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia was admitted with a painful complete erection. He had taken propericiazine, phenothiazine derivatives, before hospitalization and was treated with a glandular-cavernosal shunt (El-Ghorab's procedure). Currently, he is able to have erections without any changes in his quality of life.

Selective neurotrophin deficiency in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Increasing evidence suggests that the enteric nervous system is under the control of neurotrophins. Nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), promote differentiation, growth, and survival of various central and peripheral nervous system neurons. The biological effects of neurotrophins are mediated by the interactions with high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC). Recently, abnormalities of intramuscular innervation have been reported in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). To further understand the reported abnormalities in pyloric innervation in IHPS, the authors analyzed the expression of Trk receptors and the neurotrophins content in IHPS.

METHODS

Full-thickness muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from 8 IHPS patients (age range, 23 to 41 days) at pyloromyotomy and from 8 age-matched controls without gastrointestinal disease at autopsy performed within 12 hours after death. Indirect immunohistochemistry was performed using ABC (Avidin Biotin peroxidase Complex) method with anti-Trk specific antibodies (A,B,C). Quantitative analysis was performed using sandwich-type ELISA for NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4/5.

RESULTS

The intensity of staining of the myenteric plexus for TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC was similar among IHPS and controls. There was a lack of TrkA-positive nerve fibers in IHPS compared with controls. The quantity of total NGF, NT-3, and BDNF in IHPS was significantly lower than in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced production of neurotrophins in IHPS may be responsible for the delay in the functional and structural maturation of pyloric innervation in IHPS. The lack of TrkA-positive nerve fibers in pyloric muscle may explain the abnormal intramuscular innervation in IHPS.