Cytohistology of morule in cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Cribriform-morular variant (CMV) is a rare variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. It frequently occurs in association with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), although some cases are sporadic. Herein, we report a case of CMV and analyse morule cytohistology.

CASE REPORT

The patient was a 47-year-old woman with no familial history of FAP. A 3.0-cm unifocal mass was identified in the left thyroidal lobe. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed papillary clusters of atypical cells with nuclear grooves, which was suspected to be conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma. Histologically, the tumour comprised a papillary and cribriform growth of atypical cells with cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear translocation of b-catenin. In addition, frequent morule formation was identified.

DISCUSSION

In this case, we performed morule analysis through correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), and revealed its ultrastructure. Although CMV is a rare form of thyroid carcinoma, it should be considered along with its distinct clinicopathological characteristics.

Spin structure and spin Hall magnetoresistance of epitaxial thin films of the insulating non-collinear antiferromagnet SmFeO3

We report a combined study of imaging the antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin structure and measuring the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) in epitaxial thin films of the insulating non-collinear antiferromagnet SmFeO₃. X-ray magnetic linear dichroism photoemission electron microscopy measurements reveal that the AFM spins of the SmFeO₃(1 1 0) align in the plane of the film. Angularly dependent magnetoresistance measurements show that SmFeO₃/Ta bilayers exhibit a positive SMR, in contrast to the negative SMR expected in previously studied collinear AFMs. The SMR amplitude increases linearly with increasing external magnetic field at higher magnetic fields, suggesting that field-induced canting of the AFM spins plays an important role. In contrast, around the coercive field, no detectable SMR signal is observed, indicating that the SMR of the AFM and canting magnetization components cancel out. Below 50 K, the SMR amplitude increases sizably by a factor of two as compared to room temperature, which likely correlates with the long-range ordering of the Sm ions. Our results show that the SMR is a sensitive technique for non-equilibrium spin systems of non-collinear AFMs.

P6441New continuous glucose monitoring reveals hypoglycemia risk in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

There has been growing evidence that the glucose fluctuation is an important contributing factor to the development of coronary artery disease. However, whether large glucose fluctuation, especially hypoglycemia, may be associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains largely unknown.

Aim

As new continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has recently become available to evaluate glucose fluctuation from immediately after an emergency visit, this study sought to investigate glucose fluctuation and the occurrence of hypoglycemia in patients with AMI.

Methods

In this prospective study, 93 consecutive patients with AMI from April 2017 to November 2018 were enrolled. Subcutaneous interstitial glucose levels were monitored from emergency room to discharge using the CGM System. Based on the CGM data, 24-h mean glucose levels, the time in hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and the occurrence of hypoglycemia, defined as less than 70 mg/dL, were measured, and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) were calculated.

Results

The majority of patients [n=57, 61% (non-DM)] did not have diabetes and 36 patients had diabetes (DM). The occurrence of hypoglycemia within 24 hours after admission was observed in 49 patients [DM: n=11 (30.6%), non-DM: n=38 (66.7%)]. MAGE within 24 hours after admission were 100±47 in DM patients and 67±20 in non-DM patients. The mean time in hypoglycemia within 24 hours after admission was 148 minutes [DM: 100±260 minutes, non-DM: 178±287 minutes]. The occurrence of hypoglycemia during a hospital stay (mean 11.5 days) was detected in 76 patients [DM: n=28 (77.8%), non-DM: n=48 (84.2%)].

Representative case of hypoglycemia

Conclusion

Not only in DM patients but also in non-DM patients with AMI, large glucose fluctuation and high incidence of hypoglycemia were observed using new CGM system. Further investigations should address the rationale for the early detection and control of glucose fluctuation for AMI patients.

Biochemical studies of membrane bound Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial L-malate:quinone oxidoreductase, a potential drug target

Plasmodium falciparum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes the most severe malaria in humans. Due to a lack of effective vaccines and emerging of drug resistance parasites, development of drugs with novel mechanisms of action and few side effects are imperative. To this end, ideal drug targets are those essential to parasite viability as well as absent in their mammalian hosts. The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) of P. falciparum is one source of such potential targets because enzymes, such as L-malate:quinone oxidoreductase (PfMQO), in this pathway are absent humans. PfMQO catalyzes the oxidation of L-malate to oxaloacetate and the simultaneous reduction of ubiquinone to ubiquinol. It is a membrane protein, involved in three pathways (ETC, the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the fumarate cycle) and has been shown to be essential for parasite survival, at least, in the intra-erythrocytic asexual stage. These findings indicate that PfMQO would be a valuable drug target for development of antimalarial with novel mechanism of action. Up to this point in time, difficulty in producing active recombinant mitochondrial MQO has hampered biochemical characterization and targeted drug discovery with MQO. Here we report for the first time recombinant PfMQO overexpressed in bacterial membrane and the first biochemical study. Furthermore, about 113 compounds, consisting of ubiquinone binding site inhibitors and antiparasitic agents, were screened resulting in the discovery of ferulenol as a potent PfMQO inhibitor. Finally, ferulenol was shown to inhibit parasite growth and showed strong synergism in combination with atovaquone, a well-described anti-malarial and bc₁ complex inhibitor.

Enhanced biomass production of duckweeds by inoculating a plant growth-promoting bacterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus P23, in sterile medium and non-sterile environmental waters

Duckweed offers the promise of a co-benefit culture combining water purification with biomass production. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus P23 is a plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from a duckweed, Lemna aequinoctialis. This study quantified its growth-promoting effect on three duckweeds (L. aoukikusa, L. minor, and Spirodela polyrhiza) in sterile Hoagland solution and evaluated its usefulness in duckweed culture under non-sterile conditions. P23 promoted growth of three duckweeds in sterile Hoagland solution at low to high nutrient concentrations (1.25-10 mg NO₃-N/L and 0.25-2.0 mg PO₄-P/L). It increased the biomass production of L. aequinoctialis 3.8-4.3-fold, of L. minor 2.3-3.3-fold, and of S. polyrhiza 1.4-1.5-fold after 7 days compared with noninoculated controls. P23 also increased the biomass production of L. minor 2.4-fold in pond water and 1.7-fold in secondary effluent of a sewage treatment plant under non-sterile conditions at laboratory-scale experiments. P23 rescued L. minor from growth inhibition caused by microorganisms indigenous to the pond water. The results demonstrate that the use of P23 in duckweed culture can improve the efficiency of duckweed biomass production, and a positive effect of P23 on duckweed-based wastewater treatment can be assumed.

Differences in subtype distribution between screen-detected and symptomatic invasive breast cancer and their impact on survival

PURPOSE

Stage shift is considered a major reason for more favorable outcomes in patients with screen-detected breast cancer. However, even after adjusting for clinical stage, unresolved issues concerning the reasons for a survival benefit associated with screening programs remain. This study aims to evaluate differences in subtype distribution and outcomes among patients with screen-detected and symptomatic invasive breast cancer and assess whether variations in subtype distribution could explain differences in prognosis.

METHODS

Survival analysis was performed to estimate the likelihood of distant recurrence and death in 1132 patients. Subtypes were defined as luminal A [estrogen receptor (ER)+ and/or progesterone receptor (PR)+, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-, and Ki67 low], luminal B (HER2-) (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2-, and Ki67 high), luminal B (HER2+) (ER+ and/or PR+ and HER2+), HER2 overexpressing (ER-, PR-, and HER2+), and triple negative (ER-, PR-, and HER2-).

RESULTS

Screen-detected cancers had favorable clinicopathological characteristics, such as smaller tumor size and a lower frequency of lymph node involvement. Women with screen-detected cancers had a survival advantage. Subtype distribution differed significantly among women with screen-detected and symptomatic cancer. Screen-detected cancers were more likely to be luminal A and less likely to be HER2 overexpressing or triple negative cancer compared with symptomatic cancers (luminal A 61.3 vs. 44.2%, HER2 overexpressing 4.0 vs. 8.0%, triple negative 8.0 vs. 15.9%). Node status, mode of detection, and subtype were independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in subtype distribution between screen-detected and symptomatic cancer could partially explain differences in outcomes.

Case report of multiple pustules of the bilateral lower limbs caused by a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-producing solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas

Here we report a rare case of neutrophilic dermatoses related to a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing solid pseudopapillary tumour (SPT). The patient was a 39-year-old woman presenting with scattered pustules and crusts of the palms, heels and thighs and plaques of the bilateral lower legs. The skin biopsy revealed dense neutrophil infiltration in the epidermis to the dermis. A pancreatic head tumour was detected using computed tomography. A pathological examination of the resected specimen suggested an SPT. As the skin eruption promptly disappeared after SPT resection, we hypothesized that SPT secretes growth factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and G-CSF. The SPT cells stained positive for both EGF and G-CSF tumour cells. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-α were within normal limits before and after the SPT resection. In contrast, the serum IL-8, EGF and G-CSF levels decreased after the SPT resection. This is a rare case of neutrophilic dermatoses related to a G-CSF-producing SPT. The present case suggests that physicians should be aware that a G-CSF-producing tumour is a differential diagnosis to consider in patients with unusual aseptic pustulosis.

Genetic variants of Kudoa septempunctata (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida), a flounder parasite causing foodborne disease

Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by raw olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus) parasitized with Kudoa septempunctata have been reported in Japan. Origins of olive flounders consumed in Japan vary, being either domestic or imported, and aquaculture-raised or natural. Although it is unknown whether different sources are associated with different outcomes, it is desirable to identify whether this is the case by determining whether unique K. septempunctata strains occur and if so, whether some are associated with foodborne illness. We here developed an intraspecific genotyping method, using the sequence variation of mitochondrial genes. We collected olive flounder samples from foodborne disease outbreaks, domestic fish farms or quarantine offices and investigated whether K. septempunctata genotype is associated with pathogenicity or geographic origin. The 104 samples were classified into three genotypes, ST1, ST2 and ST3. Frequency of symptomatic cases differed by genotypes, but the association was not statistically significant. Whereas K. septempunctata detected from aquaculture-raised and natural fish from Japan were either ST1 or ST2, those from fish inspected at quarantine from Korea to Japan were ST3. Our method can be applied to phylogeographic analysis of K. septempunctata and contribute to containing the foodborne disease. The genotype database is hosted in the PubMLST website (http://pubmlst.org/kseptempunctata/).

Evaluation of the human papillomavirus mRNA test for the detection of cervical lesions in Japan

AIMS

For the screening of cervical abnormalities, human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is widely used along with Papanicolaou (Pap) testing. Although the sensitivity of the HPV DNA testing is good, its specificity is relatively low. In the present study, the authors evaluated the use of the Gen-Probe APTIMA HPV Assay for the detection of HPV mRNA and compared it with HPV DNA testing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Liquid cervical Pap specimens collected from 410 women were assessed using the APTIMA test, the Qiagen Hybrid Capture 2 HPV DNA (HC2) Test, and the AMPLICOR HPV Test.

RESULTS

The sensitivity and specificity for the detection of high-risk HPV were 85.6% and 99.2% for the APTIMA test, 94.1% and 98.4% for the HC2 test, and 90.2% and 95.7% for the AMPLICOR test, respectively. As the severity of the cervical lesion progressed, the positive rate of the three tests indicated a similar increase. The clinical sensitivity and specificity for the detection of squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) were 91.2% and 84.2% for the APTIMA test, 94.5% and 80.4% for the HC2 test, and 87.9% and 78.2% for the AMPLICOR test, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The APTIMA is sensitive and specific for the detection of high-risk HPV. In the specimens with SIL, the APTIMA test is more specific than the HC2 and the AMPLICOR tests. This indicates that the APTIMA test may improve patient management and reduce the cost of screening.

Selenium recovery from kiln powder of cement manufacturing by chemical leaching and bioreduction

A novel process by using chemical leaching followed by bacterial reductive precipitation was proposed for selenium recovery from kiln powder as a byproduct of cement manufacturing. The kiln powder at a slurry concentration of 10 w/v% with 0.25 M Na2CO3 at 28°C produced wastewater containing about 30 mg-Se/L selenium. The wastewater was diluted four-fold and adjusted to pH 8.0 as preconditioning for bioreduction. A bacterial strain Pseudomonas stutzeri NT-I, capable of reducing selenate and selenite into insoluble elemental selenium, could recover about 90% selenium from the preconditioned wastewater containing selenium of 5 mg-Se/L when supplemented with lactate or glycerol. The selenium concentrations in the treated wastewater were low around the regulated effluent concentration of 0.1 mg-Se/L in Japan.

Distinguishable epidemics of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in different hosts

The global epidemic of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 provides an important example, both in terms of the agent and its resistance, of a widely disseminated zoonotic pathogen. Here, with an unprecedented national collection of isolates collected contemporaneously from humans and animals and including a sample of internationally derived isolates, we have used whole-genome sequencing to dissect the phylogenetic associations of the bacterium and its antimicrobial resistance genes through the course of an epidemic. Contrary to current tenets supporting a single homogeneous epidemic, we demonstrate that the bacterium and its resistance genes were largely maintained within animal and human populations separately and that there was limited transmission, in either direction. We also show considerable variation in the resistance profiles, in contrast to the largely stable bacterial core genome, which emphasizes the critical importance of integrated genotypic data sets in understanding the ecology of bacterial zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance.

Quantitative autistic traits ascertained in a national survey of 22 529 Japanese schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE

Recent epidemiologic studies worldwide have documented a rise in prevalence rates for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Broadening of diagnostic criteria for ASD may be a major contributor to the rise in prevalence, particularly if superimposed on an underlying continuous distribution of autistic traits. This study sought to determine the nature of the population distribution of autistic traits using a quantitative trait measure in a large national population sample of children.

METHOD

The Japanese version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) was completed by parents on a nationally representative sample of 22 529 children, age 6-15.

RESULTS

Social Responsiveness Scale scores exhibited a skewed normal distribution in the Japanese population with a single-factor structure and no significant relation to IQ within the normal intellectual range. There was no evidence of a natural 'cutoff' that would differentiate populations of categorically affected children from unaffected children.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence of the continuous nature of autistic symptoms measured by the SRS, a validated quantitative trait measure. The findings reveal how paradigms for diagnosis that rest on arbitrarily imposed categorical cutoffs can result in substantial variation in prevalence estimation, especially when measurements used for case assignment are not standardized for a given population.

Gender difference in tooth autotransplantation with complete root formation: a retrospective survey

Gender-related risk factors in the survival of transplanted teeth with complete root formation have not yet been identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in tooth autotransplantation at dental clinics. We asked participating dentists to provide information on transplantations they had undertaken from 1 January 1990 to 1931 December 2010. The data were screened to exclude patients who underwent more than one transplantation, smokers or those whose smoking habits were unknown, patients under 30 or who were 70 years old and over, cases where the transplanted teeth had incomplete root formation or multiple roots and those with fewer than 20 present teeth post-operation. We analysed 73 teeth of 73 males (mean age, 47.2 years) and 106 teeth of 106 females (mean age, 45.3 years) in this study. The cumulative survival rate and mean survival time were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The cumulative survival rate for males was 88.3% at the 5-year mark, 64.8% at 10 years and 48.6% at 15 years; for females, it was 97.2% at the 5-year mark, 85.9% at 10 years and 85.9% at 15 years. A log-rank test indicated the difference between males and females to be significant (P = 0.011). There was also a significant difference in the main causes for the loss of transplanted teeth: males lost more transplanted teeth due to attachment loss than females (P < 0.05). These results indicate that males require more attention during the autotransplantation process, particularly at the stage of pre-operation evaluation and that of follow-up maintenance.

Peptide free energy landscapes calibrated by molecular orbital calculations

Free energy landscapes of peptide conformations werecalibrated by ab initiomolecular orbital calculations, after enhancedconformational sampling using the multicanonical molecular dynamicssimulations. Three different potentials of mean force for an isolateddipeptide were individually obtained using the conventional force fields,AMBER parm94, AMBER parm96, and CHARMm22. Each potential ofmean force was calibrated based on the umbrella sampling algorithm fromthe adiabatic energy map that was calculated separately by the abinitiomolecular orbital method. All the calibrated potentials of mean forcecoincided well. The calibration was applied to a peptide in explicit water,and the calibrated free energy landscapes did not depend on the force fieldused in conformational sampling, as far as the conformational space waswell sampled.

Female pseudohermaphroditism associated with maternal steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified of the ovary: a case report and literature review

Maternal virilization in pregnancy with or without fetal female pseudohermaphroditism has several etiologies. Of these, pregnancy luteoma is the most common cause of maternal virilization during pregnancy, and approximately 20 cases have been reported in recent years. Moreover, four cases of pregnancy luteomas with female pseudohermaphroditism have been reported. However, the extremely rare steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS), has been reported only once as a cause for maternal virilization. Herein, the authors report the first case of maternal virilization with female pseudohermaphroditism associated with steroid cell tumor-NOS along with the clinical course, pathological features, and a review of the literature.

Suppression of tumor metastasis by manganese superoxide dismutase is associated with reduced tumorigenicity and elevated fibronectin

We have examined the tumorigenicity and the level of extracellular matrix proteins in fibrosarcoma cells expressing low (SOD-L) and high (SOD-H) MnSOD activities as well as the fibrosarcoma cells transfected with the selectable marker alone (NEO). When the cells derived from each tumor cell line were injected into syngeneic mice., the number of tumor cells required to make a tumor in one-half of the mice (TD50) was markedly increased in MnSOD-transfected cells. The decrease in the tumorigenicity of the MnSOD-transfected cells was associated with an increase in the fibronectin level. These results support the hypothesis that MnSOD is a new type of tumor-suppressor gene.

Risk factors affecting third molar autotransplantation in males: a retrospective survey in dental clinics

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors affecting long-term prognosis of autotransplantation of third molars with complete root formation in males at dental clinics. Participating dentists were requested to provide information on transplantations they had undertaken from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2010. Data on a total of 708 teeth from 637 patients were collected. After data screening and elimination, participants of this study consisted of 183 teeth of 171 males ranging from 20 to 72 years of age (mean age, 44·8 years). The cumulative survival rate was 86·0% at the 5-year mark, 59·1% at 10 years and 28·0% at 15 years. The mean survival time was 134·5 months, as calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Single factor analysis using the log-rank test showed that the following factors had significant influence (P < 0·05) on survival of transplanted teeth: periodontal disease as the reason for recipient site tooth extraction, fewer than 25 present teeth and Eichner index Groups B1 to C. Cox regression analysis examined five factors: age, smoking habit, recipient site extraction caused by periodontal disease, fewer than 25 present teeth and Eichner index. This analysis showed that two of these factors were significant: fewer than 25 present teeth was 2·63 (95% CI, 1·03-6·69) and recipient site extraction caused by periodontal disease was 3·80 (95% CI, 1·61-9·01). The results of this study suggest that long-term survival of transplanted teeth in males is influenced not only by oral bacterium but also by occlusal status.

[Dosage compensation in drosophila: sequence-specific initiation and sequence-independent spreading of MSL complex to the active genes on the male X chromosome]

For the dosage compensation to occur, genes on the single male X chromosomes in Drosophila must be selectively bound and acetylated by the ribonucleoprotein complex called MSL complex. It remained unknown how such exquisite specificity is achieved, and whether specific DNA sequences were involved. In the present work we demonstrate that it is transcription of the gene on the X chromosome that is important for MSL targeting, irrespective of gene origin and DNA sequence.

Electric prompting and control of denitrification

The effectiveness of a denitrification process which is driven and controlled by an electric current is demonstrated. Denitrifying microorganisms were immobilized on a carbon electrode and hydrogen was produced through the electrolysis of water. The hydrogen was utilized for the reduction of nitrate to N(2). The denitrification rate was a linear function of the electric current, and it was shown that about 1 mol of electron reduces 0.2 mol of nitrate to N(2) gas. These results exhibit that the proposed process is simple and feasible, especially for the treatment of low-strength nitrate solutions.

Gene set enrichment analysis provides insight into novel signalling pathways in breast cancer stem cells

Background:

Tumour-initiating cells (TICs) or cancer stem cells can exist as a small population in malignant tissues. The signalling pathways activated in TICs that contribute to tumourigenesis are not fully understood.

Methods:

Several breast cancer cell lines were sorted with CD24 and CD44, known markers for enrichment of breast cancer TICs. Tumourigenesis was analysed using sorted cells and total RNA was subjected to gene expression profiling and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

Results:

We showed that several breast cancer cell lines have a small population of CD24^−/low/CD44⁺ cells in which TICs may be enriched, and confirmed the properties of TICs in a xenograft model. GSEA revealed that CD24^−/low/CD44⁺ cell populations are enriched for genes involved in transforming growth factor-β, tumour necrosis factor, and interferon response pathways. Moreover, we found the presence of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in CD24^−/low/CD44⁺ cells, which was previously unrecognised. In addition, NF-κB inhibitor dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ) prevented tumourigenesis of CD24^−/low/CD44⁺ cells in vivo.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that signalling pathways identified using GSEA help to identify molecular targets and biomarkers for TIC-like cells.

Development of a phantom compatible for MRI and hyperthermia using carrageenan gel—relationship between dielectric properties and NaCl concentration

A phantom has previously been developed containing carrageenan, agarose and gadolinium chloride (called CAG phantom) for MRI with 1.5 T. T(1) and T(2) relaxation times of this phantom are independently changeable by varying concentrations of relaxation-time modifiers to simulate relaxation times of the various types of human tissues. The CAG phantom has a T(1) value of 202-1904 ms and a T(2) value of 38-423 ms, when the GdCl(3) concentration is varied from 0-140 micromol/kg and the agarose concentration is varied from 0-1.6%. A new phantom has now been developed (called CAGN phantom), made by adding an electric conductive agent, NaCl, to the CAG phantom for use in the areas of MRI and hyperthermia research. Dielectric properties of the CAGN phantom were measured and the results of experiments were expressed by the Cole-Cole equation in the frequency range of 5-130 MHz. The relationship between the conductivity of the CAGN phantom and the concentration of NaCl was expressed by a linear function in the frequency range of 1-130 MHz. The linear function involves a parameter of frequency and, when the frequency is 10 MHz, the conductivity of the CAGN phantom can be changed from 0.27-1.26 Sm(-1) by increasing the NaCl concentration from 0-0.7%. The CAGN phantom developed can be employed in basic experiments for non-invasive temperature measurement using MRI and as a loading phantom for MRI with up to 3 T.

Development of a phantom compatible for MRI and hyperthermia using carrageenan gel—relationship betweenT1andT2values and NaCl concentration

The authors developed a phantom, designated as the CAGN phantom, compatible for MRI and hyperthermia that is useful in the fundamental studies of non-invasive MR thermometry. The ingredients of this phantom are carrageenan, GdCl3 as a T1 modifier, agarose as a T2 modifier, NaCl as a conductivity modifier, NaN3 as an antiseptic and distilled water. Another phantom that was developed, the CAG phantom, has relaxation times that are adjustable to those of any human tissue. To use this phantom for electromagnetic heating, NaCl was added to change the conductivity of the phantom and clarified the relationship between the conductivity and NaCl concentration. This study examined the relationship between relaxation times and NaCl concentration of the CAGN phantom. The results showed that both T1 and T2 values were affected by NaCl and the experimental results led to the empirical formulae expressing the relationship between the relaxation rates (1/T1, 1/T2) and the concentrations of GdCl3, agarose and NaCl. The appropriate concentrations of T1 and T2 modifiers were calculated from these empirical formulae when making a specified phantom that has the required relaxation times and NaCl concentration.

Expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 is associated with breast cancer tumourigenesis

G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) comprise a family of seven mammalian serine/threonine protein kinases that phosphorylate and regulate agonist-bound, activated, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GRKs and beta-arrestins are key participants in the canonical pathways leading to phosphorylation-dependent GPCR desensitization, endocytosis, intracellular trafficking and resensitization. Here we show that GRK4 isoforms are expressed in human breast cancer but not in normal epithelia. In addition, GRK4-over-expressing cells activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mediated by ERK 1/2 and JNK phosphorylation in breast cancer-derived cell lines. Furthermore, suppression of beta-arrestins decreased GRK4-stimulated ERK 1/2 or JNK phosphorylations. These data indicate that high-level expression of GRK4 may activate MAPK signalling pathways mediated by beta-arrestins in breast cancer cells, suggesting that GRK4 may be implicated in breast cancer carcinogenesis.