Mass, Spectroscopy, and Two-Neutron Decay of ^{16}Be

The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two relatively narrow resonances were observed for the first time, with energies of 0.84(3) and 2.15(5) MeV above the two-neutron decay threshold and widths of 0.32(8) and 0.95(15) MeV, respectively. These were assigned to be the ground (J^{π}=0^{+}) and first excited (2^{+}) state, with E_{x}=1.31(6)  MeV. The mass excess of ^{16}Be was thus deduced to be 56.93(13) MeV, some 0.5 MeV more bound than the only previous measurement. Both states were observed to decay by direct two-neutron emission. Calculations incorporating the evolution of the wave function during the decay as a genuine three-body process reproduced the principal characteristics of the neutron-neutron energy spectra for both levels, indicating that the ground state exhibits a strong spatially compact dineutron component, while the 2^{+} level presents a far more diffuse neutron-neutron distribution.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout Reaction Reveals a Small s-Orbital Component in the Borromean Nucleus ^{17}B

A kinematically complete quasifree (p,pn) experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus ^{17}B, which had long been considered to have a neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for 1s_{1/2} and 0d_{5/2} orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)% was determined for 1s_{1/2}. Our finding of such a small 1s_{1/2} component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in ^{17}B. The present work gives the smallest s- or p-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features and implies that the dominant occupation of s or p orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of a neutron halo.

Surface Localization of the Dineutron in ^{11}Li

The formation of a dineutron in the ^{11}Li nucleus is found to be localized to the surface region. The experiment measured the intrinsic momentum of the struck neutron in ^{11}Li via the (p,pn) knockout reaction at 246  MeV/nucleon. The correlation angle between the two neutrons is, for the first time, measured as a function of the intrinsic neutron momentum. A comparison with reaction calculations reveals the localization of the dineutron at r∼3.6  fm. The results also support the density dependence of dineutron formation as deduced from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations for nuclear matter.

Competitive networks using chaotic circuits with hierarchical structure

Coupled oscillatory systems are good models that are able to describe a variety of higher dimensional nonlinear phenomena. Coupled chaotic circuits produce many kinds of interesting synchronization phenomena. In recent years, research studies on complex networks related to the synchronization of coupled oscillators have attracted much attention. In the real world, there are a variety of different network structures. We focus on the competitive interaction network that includes conflict between two networks. Here, we propose a new paradigm for this competitive interaction network using coupled chaotic circuits.

Crystallization and vitrification of electrons in a glass-forming charge liquid

Charge ordering (CO) is a phenomenon in which electrons in solids crystallize into a periodic pattern of charge-rich and charge-poor sites owing to strong electron correlations. This usually results in long-range order. In geometrically frustrated systems, however, a glassy electronic state without long-range CO has been observed. We found that a charge-ordered organic material with an isosceles triangular lattice shows charge dynamics associated with crystallization and vitrification of electrons, which can be understood in the context of an energy landscape arising from the degeneracy of various CO patterns. The dynamics suggest that the same nucleation and growth processes that characterize conventional glass-forming liquids guide the crystallization of electrons. These similarities may provide insight into our understanding of the liquid-glass transition.

High-Convexity Tightness Predicts the Shunt Response in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although neuroimaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, its predictive value for response to shunt surgery has not been established. The purpose of the current study was to identify neuroimaging markers that predict the shunt response of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus underwent presurgical brain MR imaging and clinical evaluation before and 1 year after shunt surgery. The assessed MR imaging features included the Evans index, high-convexity tightness, Sylvian fissure dilation, callosal angle, focal enlargement of the cortical sulci, bumps in the lateral ventricular roof, and deep white matter and periventricular hyperintensities. The idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus grading scale total score was used as a primary clinical outcome measure. We used measures for individual symptoms (ie, the idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus grading scale subdomain scores, such as gait, cognitive, and urinary scores), the Timed Up and Go test, and the Mini-Mental State Examination as secondary clinical outcome measures. The relationships between presurgical neuroimaging features and postoperative clinical changes were investigated by using simple linear regression analysis. To identify the set of presurgical MR imaging features that best predict surgical outcomes, we performed multiple linear regression analysis by using a bidirectional stepwise method.

RESULTS

Simple linear regression analyses demonstrated that presurgical high-convexity tightness, callosal angle, and Sylvian fissure dilation were significantly associated with the 1-year changes in the clinical symptoms. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that presurgical high-convexity tightness alone predicted the improvement of the clinical symptoms 1 year after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

High-convexity tightness is a neuroimaging feature predictive of shunt response in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Development and testing of an endoscopic pseudo-viewpoint alternating system

Purpose

   An endoscopic system is needed that presents informative images irrespective of the surgical situation and the number of degrees of freedom in endoscopic manipulation. This goal may be achieved with a virtual reality view for a region of interest from an arbitrary viewpoint. An endoscopic pseudo-viewpoint alternation system for this purpose was developed and tested.

Method

   Surgical experts and trainees from an endoscopic surgery training course at the minimally invasive surgery training center of Kyushu University were enrolled in a trial of a virtual reality system. The initial viewpoint was positioned to approximate the horizontal view often seen in laparoscopic surgery, with \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$20^{\circ }$$\end{document}20∘ between the optical axis of the endoscope and the task surface. A right-to-left suturing task with right hand, based on a task from the endoscopic surgery training course, was selected for testing. We compared task outcomes with and without use of a new virtual reality-viewing system.

Result

   There was a 0.37 mm reduction in total error (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 0.02$$\end{document}p=0.02) with use of the proposed system. Error reduction was composed of 0.1 mm reduction on the y-axis and 0.27 mm reduction on the x-axis. Experts benefited more than novices from use of the proposed system. Most subjects worked at a pseudo-viewpoint of around 34\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$^\circ $$\end{document}∘.

Discussion

   Suturing performance improved with the new virtual reality endoscopic display system. Viewpoint alternation resulted in an overview that improved depth perception and allowed subjects to better aim the marker. This suggests the proposed method offers users better visualization and control in endoscopic surgery.

Estradiol and raloxifene induce the proliferation of osteoblasts through G-protein-coupled receptor GPR30

BACKGROUND

Although G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR30, has been considered as a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor, conflicting results have been reported and the function of GPR30 in bone remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to clarify the functional role of GPR30 in osteoblasts using its derived cell line.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Immunohistochemical study revealed that GPR30 is expressed in human osteoblasts. Human fetal osteoblast cell lines, hFOB cells, which express GPR30 but lack estrogen receptor, were used for the in vitro experiments. Estradiol or raloxifene induced the proliferation of hFOB cells, which was accompanied by the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Those proliferative effects were completely abrogated by the transfection of GPR30 small interfering RNA, while the transfection alone did not affect the cell viability.

CONCLUSION

GPR30 is required for the proliferation of hFOB cells induced by estradiol or raloxifene. This proliferative effect was at least partly mediated via MAP kinase activation. These findings revealed a novel function of GPR30 in osteoblasts and might lead to a better understanding of how estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators show their osteoprotective effects.

Counting-backward test for executive function in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a bedside test for executive function in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty consecutive patients with INPH and 20 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were enrolled in this study. We developed the counting-backward test for evaluating executive function in patients with INPH. Two indices that are considered to be reflective of the attention deficits and response suppression underlying executive dysfunction in INPH were calculated: the first-error score and the reverse-effect index. Performance on both the counting-backward test and standard neuropsychological tests for executive function was assessed in INPH and AD patients.

RESULTS

The first-error score, reverse-effect index and the scores from the standard neuropsychological tests for executive function were significantly lower for individuals in the INPH group than in the AD group. The two indices for the counting-backward test in the INPH group were strongly correlated with the total scores for Frontal Assessment Battery and Phonemic Verbal Fluency. The first-error score was also significantly correlated with the error rate of the Stroop colour-word test and the score of the go/no-go test. In addition, we found that the first-error score highly distinguished patients with INPH from those with AD using these tests.

CONCLUSION

The counting-backward test is useful for evaluating executive dysfunction in INPH and for differentiating between INPH and AD patients. In particular, the first-error score may reflect deficits in the response suppression related to executive dysfunction in INPH.

Regulation of expression of the interleukin 6 gene: structure and function of the transcription factor NF-IL6

The interleukin 6 (IL-6) promoter is rapidly and transiently activated by other cytokines, including IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF), as well as by phorbol esters and cyclic AMP agonists. Studies using promoter mutants suggested that an IL-1-responsive element mapped within the -180 to -123 region of the IL-6 promoter. A nuclear factor (NF-IL6) that recognized a unique sequence containing an inverted repeat, ACATTGCACAATCT, was identified within the region. Direct cloning of the human NF-IL6 revealed its similarity to C/EBP, a liver- and adipose tissue-specific transcription factor. C/EBP and NF-IL6 recognize the same nucleotide sequence, but exhibit distinct patterns of expression. NF-IL6 is expressed at a low level in normal tissues, but is rapidly and drastically induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF and IL-6. Recently, NF-IL6 has been shown to be identical to IL-6DBP, the DNA-binding protein which is responsible for IL-6-mediated induction of several acute-phase proteins. Evidence that NF-IL6 DNA-binding activity is increased after IL-6 stimulation without increased NF-IL6 protein synthesis demonstrates the importance of post-translational modification. There are some results indicating that phosphorylation is involved in transcriptional and binding activities of NF-IL6. Taken together, these findings indicate that NF-IL6 may be an important transcription factor on the signal transduction pathways of IL-1 and IL-6.

Membrane localization of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B is essential for its activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 gene expression

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor in stimulating lipogenesis in the liver. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) induces SREBP-1 gene expression via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activation. PTP1B is reported to be anchored on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via its C-terminal tail, and change in intracellular localization of PTP1B by C-terminal-truncation did not alter its inhibitory effects on insulin signaling. In this study, we investigated whether the change in intracellular localization of PTP1B could influence SREBP-1 gene expression. Overexpression of C-terminal truncated PTP1B (PTP1BdeltaCT) in rat Fao cells did not induce SREBP-1 gene expression. Furthermore, PTP1BdeltaCT failed to bind PP2A, resulting in impaired PP2A activation, whereas overexpression of wild-type PTP1B (PTP1BWT) associated with PP2A. Moreover, a membrane-targeted PTP1BDeltaCT activated PP2A with restored PP2A binding, despite the absence of its C-terminal region. Finally, overexpression of PTP1BdeltaCT into mouse primary cultured hepatocytes failed to enhance SREBP-1c mRNA, whereas membrane-targeted PTP1BdeltaCT led to enhanced SREBP-1c mRNA in hepatocytes as well as PTP1BWT. In conclusion, membrane localization of PTP1B is essential for PP2A activation, which is crucial for its enhancement of SREBP-1 gene expression.

Photoinduced melting of a stripe-type charge-order and metallic domain formation in a layered BEDT-TTF-based organic salt

Photoinduced melting of charge-order (CO) in [bis(ethylenedithiolo)]-tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) salts was investigated by femotosecond spectroscopy. Comparative studies on two polytypes exhibiting large [theta-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)_{4}] and small [alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3] molecular rearrangements through the CO transition were performed. Ultrafast melting of CO for both compounds demonstrates the major contribution of the electronic instability which is due to Coulomb interaction. The roles of the molecular rearrangements on the formation of the CO and the metallic domain are discussed on the basis of low-frequency lattice dynamics.

Increased expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta and -delta and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 genes in aortas from hyperinsulinaemic rats

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We evaluated whether hyperinsulinaemia stimulates the expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-beta and C/EBP-delta and leads to the induction of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene (Ccl2, also known as MCP-1) expression in aortas.

METHODS

Hyperinsulinaemia was induced by feeding rats a high-fructose diet. CCL2 production was analysed by ELISA. The expression of Ccl2, Cebpb and Cebpd mRNAs was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR. The binding of C/EBP-beta to Ccl2 was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay.

RESULTS

Insulin at a concentration of 10 nmol/l significantly stimulated the expression of Cebpb, Cebpd and Ccl2 mRNAs, depending on activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. The knock-down of C/EBP-beta with siRNA abolished the insulin-induced Ccl2 mRNA expression. In the aortas from fructose-fed rats, the levels of phosphorylation of Akt/protein kinase B, a downstream effector of PI3K, were also increased. The expression of Cebpb, Cebpd and Ccl2 mRNAs in the aortas from fructose-fed rats were significantly elevated, by 330, 300 and 300%, respectively, compared with those of control-fed rats. The induction Ccl2 mRNA expression in the aortas was significantly correlated with the expression of Cebpb and Cebpd mRNAs in the aortas. Furthermore, the ChIP assay showed elevated binding of C/EBP-beta to the 5' upstream region of Ccl2 in the aortas from fructose-fed rats.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These findings clearly indicate the role of C/EBPs in the mechanism of upregulation of CCL2, an inflammation-related protein, observed in the hyperinsulinaemic state, which may initiate the process of atherosclerosis.

Actions anchored by concepts: defective action comprehension in semantic dementia

OBJECTIVE

To study the ability of patients with semantic dementia to understand actions, in order to examine the contribution of semantic memory to action comprehension.

METHODS

The ability to comprehend symbolic and instrumental actions was assessed in 6 patients with semantic dementia and 10 healthy controls. The patients were also given the imitation test of meaningful and meaningless actions.

RESULTS

In all patients with semantic dementia, comprehension of both symbolic and instrumental actions was defective. The comprehension of symbolic actions was more impaired than that of instrumental actions. Their ability to imitate other's actions was well preserved.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that comprehension of action was impaired in semantic dementia, suggesting that semantic memory has an important role in comprehension of human action.

Pit patterns in rectal mucosa assessed by magnifying colonoscope are predictive of relapse in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND

Relapse of ulcerative colitis is difficult to predict by routine colonoscopy. A high-resolution video-magnifying colonoscope with chromoscopy enables the observation of colorectal mucosal pit patterns.

AIMS

To investigate the association of pit patterns as assessed by magnifying colonoscopy (MCS) with histological inflammation and mucosal chemokine activity in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis, and to prospectively analyse the prognostic factors that may predict exacerbations.

METHODS

MCS was performed in 113 patients with ulcerative colitis in remission. Pit patterns in the rectal mucosa were classified into four MCS grades on the basis of size, shape and arrangement. Mucosal interleukin (IL) 8 activity was measured in biopsy specimens of rectal mucosa and the specimens were assessed for histological disease activity. The patients were then followed until relapse or for a maximum of 12 months. Multivariate survival analysis was carried out to determine the independent predictors of clinical relapse.

RESULTS

A positive correlation was identified between MCS grade, histological grade (p = 0.001) and mucosal IL8 activity (p<0.001). Multivariate proportional hazard model analysis showed that MCS grade was a significant predictor of relapse (relative risk 2.06, p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimate of relapse during 12 months of follow-up was found to increase with increasing MCS grade, with values of 0% for grade 1, 21% for grade 2, 43% for grade 3 and 60% for grade 4.

CONCLUSION

MCS grading is associated with the degree of histological inflammation and mucosal IL8 activity in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis, and may predict the probability of subsequent disease relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission.

A phase II study of combination CPT-11 and docetaxel in patients with ovarian carcinoma refractory or resistant to combination paclitaxel and carboplatin

15036

Background: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of combination irinotecan and docetaxel in patients with ovarian carcinoma refractory (not responded) or resistant (relapsed within 6 months after the last chemotherapy) to the first line chemotherapy with combination paclitaxel (175mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC=5). Methods: 30 refractory patients and 28 resistant patients with measurable disease were treated with combination irinotecan (60 mg/m2) and docetaxel (30 mg/m2) at days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks for more than 2 courses. Results: The average number of courses administered was 2.6 for refractory cases and 3.4 for resistant cases. The average number of courses administered was 2.6 for refractory cases and 3.4 for resistant cases. Using RECIST criteria, 2/28 (7%) resistant cases responded completely, 6/30 (20%) of refractory cases and 6/28 (21%) resistant cases were responded partially. 16/30 refractory cases and 14/28 cases progressed. Grade 3–4 toxicities were leukopenia (31%) neutropenia (36%) thrombocytopenia (8%) and diarrhea (6%). Conclusions: Combination chemotherapy of CPT-11 and Docetaxel at days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks is a regimen with moderate toxicity and good compliance, and shows some response to those patients who are refractory or resistant to the first-line chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin with a response rate of 20% and 29%, respectively.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

MPO-ANCA-associated pseudovasculitis in cardiac myxoma

We describe a case of cardiac myxoma whose clinical presentation mimicked that of polyarteritis nodosa. The serum levels of MPO-ANCA and IL-6 were elevated on laboratory investigation and normalized after the removal of the tumor. We suggest that a 'true' vasculitic mechanism contributes to the pathogenesis of pseudovasculitis in cardiac myxoma.

A case of delayed brain abscess due to a retained intracranial wooden foreign body: a case report and review of the last 20 years

A 13-year-old female is presented. When she was six years old, she had fallen, holding wooden chopsticks and got stuck with a chopstick in the right upper eyelid. She was brought to a physician immediately, but a residual foreign body was missed and no particular symptom had developed during 7 years. She visited our department with fever and headache, and a brain abscess and an intracranial foreign body were found on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) 7 years after the penetrating injury. She underwent removal of the object and abscess by craniotomy and recovered without neurological abnormalities. Since intracranial retained wooden foreign bodies frequently cause delayed complications of severe central nervous system infection, surgical removal is necessary even in the absence of symptoms.

Association between polymorphisms in the SPINK5 gene and atopic dermatitis in the Japanese

Atopy, which is characterized by increased levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) against common environmental allergens, is considered the strongest predisposing factor for asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD). Mutations in the gene encoding serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5) are responsible for Netherton syndrome, a rare skin disorder characterized by greatly elevated IgE levels with atopic manifestations. A recent study of Caucasian AD families showed that maternally derived alleles of the SPINK5 gene are associated with development of AD and asthma, suggesting the parent-of-origin effect for the development of atopic diseases in the SPINK5 gene. We studied the possible association of the SPINK5 gene for the development of atopic diseases by determining the genotypes of five polymorphisms in a Japanese population. Ttransmission disequilibrium tests revealed an association of SPINK5 polymorphisms with AD but not with asthma. Our data indicate that the SPINK5 gene is associated with AD across ethnicities.

Striatal infarcts mimicking frontotemporal dementia: a case report

We described a patient with bilateral striatal infarcts, in whom stereotyped and disinhibited behaviors were insidiously emerged over 2 years mimicking frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxy glucose showed a hypometabolism in the frontal lobes, basal ganglia, and thalami. The peculiar behavioral alterations remained unchanged for the following 7 years, suggesting that the disease is not degenerative but of vascular origin. A disruption of the fronto-subcortical circuits at the level of the striatum or the anterior thalamic peduncle is attributable to the FTD-like behavioral and cognitive syndrome.

Upregulation of mucosal soluble fas ligand and interferon-gamma may be involved in ulcerogenesis in patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric ulcer

BACKGROUND

Excessive upregulation of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis is speculated to be associated with ulcerogenesis in Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori may have an ulcerogenic effect through induction of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis mediated by infiltrating T cells and their soluble products.

METHODS

The contents of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in organ cultures and the degree of apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the gastric epithelium were examined using the mucosal tissues obtained from the antrum and the ulcer site in patients with H. pylori-positive gastric ulcer (GU). The molecular mechanisms of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis induced by sFasL and IFN-gamma were analyzed using epithelial cell lines, MKN 45 and KATO III.

RESULTS

The mucosal tissues of the ulcer site had substantially higher contents of sFasL and IFN-gamma in organ cultures regardless of its healing stage in association with increased numbers of apoptotic cells and enhanced expression of proapoptotic proteins Bak and Bax in the surface foveolar epithelium as compared with the antral tissues in patients with H. pylori-positive GU. The addition of sFasL caused increases in cytotoxic cell death and caspase-3 activation in MKN 45 and KATO III cells in which IFN-gamma treated cells had more prominent effects than untreated cells. The expression of Bak in MKN 45 cells increased when they were treated with IFN-gamma.

CONCLUSIONS

Upregulation of mucosal sFasL and IFN-gamma may be involved in ulcerogenesis in patients with H. pylori-positive GU through induction of gastric epithelial cell apoptosis.

Mutation and association analysis of the interferon regulatory factor 2 gene (IRF2) with atopic dermatitis

Interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF-2) is a member of a family of transcriptional factors involved in the modulation of cellular responses to interferons (IFNs) and viral infection as well as in the regulation of cell growth and transformation. Irf2 knockout mice show T helper 1 (Th1) cell development defect and spontaneous development of an inflammatory skin disease. To determine if there are any mutations in IRF2 associated with development of atopic dermatitis (AD), we screened for mutations in the 5' flanking and coding regions of IRF2 in AD patients and control subjects by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. We found three mutations in the promoter region ([-829C>T, -830C>T], -684C>T, and -467G>A), one silent mutation in exon 9 (921G>A), and a 10-bp deletion in the 3' untranslated region (1739[ATCCC]8>6). Among them, the -467G allele and the haplotype of the -467G, 921A, and 1739(ATCCC)8 alleles were transmitted preferentially to AD-affected children (P = 0.02 and P = 0.007, respectively). Our data suggest that IRF-2 plays some role in the development of AD in the Japanese population.

Clinical features affecting the results of estrogen replacement therapy on bone density in Japanese postmenopausal women

Although estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has been established as an effective treatment for postmenopausal bone loss, the clinical features which predict the effects of ERT have not been well investigated in Japanese postmenopausal women. We analyzed the role of physical factors influencing the effect of ERT on vertebral bone mineral density (BMD) in 94 Japanese postmenopausal women treated for 2 years or longer. The increase in BMD with ERT is 17.6 +/- 27.6 mg/cm(2)/year (mean +/- SD) during the first 2 years. Rates of BMD change were negatively correlated with the estimated initial BMD, and positively correlated with age and years since menopause, while no correlation was noted with the body mass index by a simple correlation analysis. The relationships between BMD change and estimated initial BMD or age also held in a multiple regression analysis. The estimated initial BMD and age together accounted for 34.4% of the BMD change during ERT. Furthermore, there were very few (2.4%) nonresponders with a negative linear regression slope of BMD in the osteoporosis and osteopenia group, although 32.7% of the normal initial BMD group were nonresponders. These results suggest that the initial BMD and age are potent predictive factors of the ERT effect on BMD change in Japanese postmenopausal women.

Induction of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase phosphorylation by the raloxifene analog LY117018 is differentially mediated by Akt and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in vascular endothelial cells

Raloxifene is a tissue-selective estrogen receptor modulator. The effect of estrogen on cardiovascular disease is mainly dependent on direct actions on the vascular wall involving activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via Akt and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) cascades. Although raloxifene is also known to activate eNOS in the vascular endothelium, the molecular mechanism responsible for this effect remains to be elucidated. In studies of both human umbilical vein endothelial cells and simian virus 40-transformed rat lung vascular endothelial cells (TRLECs), the raloxifene analog LY117018 caused acute phosphorylation of eNOS that was unaffected by actinomycin D and was blocked by the pure estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780. Activation of Akt by raloxifene reached a plateau at 15-30 min and declined thereafter, a similar time frame to that of Akt activation by 17beta-estradiol. On the other hand, both activation and phosphorylation of ERK by raloxifene showed a biphasic pattern (peaks at 5 min and 1 h), whereas ERK activation and phosphorylation by 17beta-estradiol reached a plateau at 5 min and declined thereafter. A MEK inhibitor, PD98059, had no effect on the raloxifene-induced Akt activity, suggesting an absence of cross-talk between the ERK and Akt cascades. Either exogenous expression of a dominant-negative Akt or pretreatment of TRLECs with PD98059 decreased the raloxifene-induced eNOS phosphorylation. Moreover, raloxifene stimulated the activation of Akt, ERK, and eNOS in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing estrogen receptor alpha but not Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing estrogen receptor beta. Our findings suggest that raloxifene-induced eNOS phosphorylation is mediated by estrogen receptor alpha via a nongenomic mechanism and is differentially mediated by Akt- and ERK-dependent cascades.

Effect of endotoxin on P-glycoprotein-mediated biliary and renal excretion of rhodamine-123 in rats

The effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae endotoxin on the biliary excretion and renal handling of rhodamine-123 were investigated in rats at different times after intraperitoneal injection (1 mg/kg of body weight). The typical substrates for P glycoprotein, i.e., cyclosporine, colchicine, and erythromycin, inhibited the biliary clearance of rhodamine-123, whereas a substrate for organic cation transporter, cimetidine, did not inhibit clearance, suggesting that rhodamine-123 is transported mainly by P glycoprotein. The biliary, renal, and tubular secretory clearances of rhodamine-123 and the glomerular filtration rate significantly decreased 6 h after injection of endotoxin but returned to control levels by 24 h. These results suggest that endotoxin-induced decreases in P-glycoprotein-mediated biliary excretion and renal handling of rhodamine-123 were probably due to impairment of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport ability. Pretreatment with pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg) significantly inhibited endotoxin-induced increases in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in plasma, which ameliorated the endotoxin-induced reduction of the biliary excretion of rhodamine-123. It is likely that endotoxin-induced impairment of the transport of rhodamine-123 is caused, in part, by overproduction of TNF-alpha. The effect of endotoxin on the expression of P-glycoprotein mRNA in liver and kidneys of rats was investigated by using a reverse transcriptase PCR. The expression of Mdr1a mRNA in both liver and kidney decreased 6 h after endotoxin injection and returned to control levels after 24 h, whereas the expression of Mdr1b mRNA in liver increased at both times and that in kidney decreased at 24 h. These findings suggest that K. pneumoniae endotoxin dramatically decreases P-glycoprotein-mediated biliary and renal excretion of rhodamine-123 probably by decreasing the expression of Mdr1a, which is likely due to increased plasma TNF-alpha levels.

[Molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus]

Diabetes is a strong risk factor for vascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that disruption of endothelial cell function results in vascular injury. One of causes underlying the endothelial dysfunction in diabetics is hyperglycemia. Many epidemiological studies demonstrated that hyperglycemia increased the incidence of macrovascular diseases. In contrast to the microvascular complications in diabetes, however, the macrovascular complication often develops even in patients with good glycemic control, suggesting that some factors other than hyperglycemia may contribute to it. Insulin resistance is one of possible candidates for that. In fact, it is shown that insulin resistance is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. In this article, we reviewed recent hypothesis explaining how hyperglycemia or insulin resistant state caused endothelial dysfunction.

Coronary endothelial dysfunction in the insulin-resistant state is linked to abnormal pteridine metabolism and vascular oxidative stress

OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether abnormal pteridine metabolism is related to coronary endothelial dysfunction in insulin-resistant subjects.

BACKGROUND

Depletion of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) and elevation of the 7,8-dihydrobiopterin (BH(2)) (activating and inactivating cofactors of nitric oxide synthase [NOS], respectively) contribute to impairment of NO-dependent vasodilation through reduction of NOS activity as well as increased superoxide anion generation in insulin-resistant rats.

METHODS

Thirty-six consecutive nondiabetic, normotensive and nonobese subjects with angiographically normal coronary vessels were studied. Traditional coronary risk factors, plasma pteridine levels, activities of erythrocyte dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), the recycling enzyme that converts BH(2) to BH(4) and lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were measured and coronary endothelial function was assessed with graded infusions of acetylcholine (ACh).

RESULTS

When we divided patients into tertiles based on insulin sensitivity, we observed stepwise decreases in the maximal ACh-induced vasodilation and plasma BH(4)/7,8-BH(2) ratio, and increases in coronary LPO production as insulin sensitivity decreased. The ACh-induced vasodilation was positively correlated with insulin sensitivity, BH(4)/7,8-BH(2) ratio and DHPR activity. Furthermore, BH(4)/7,8-BH(2) was inversely correlated with DHPR activity and insulin sensitivity. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, BH(4)/BH(2) was independently related to ACh-induced vasodilation and accounted for 39% of the variance. However, no significant correlation existed between other traditional risk factors and BH(4)/7,8-BH(2).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that both abnormal pteridine metabolism and vascular oxidative stress are linked to coronary endothelial dysfunction in the insulin-resistant subjects.

Increased arterial wall stiffness limits flow volume in the lower extremities in type 2 diabetic patients

OBJECTIVE

To document an association between arterial wall stiffness and reduced flow volume in the lower-extremity arteries of diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We recruited 60 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients who had no history or symptoms of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the lower extremities and normal ankle/brachial systolic blood pressure index at the time of the study (non-PAD group) and 20 age-matched nondiabetic subjects (control group). We used an automatic device to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the lower extremities as an index of arterial wall stiffness. At the popliteal artery, we evaluated flow volume and the resistive index as an index of arterial resistance to blood flow using gated two-dimensional cine-mode phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous reports, we confirmed that the non-PAD group had an abnormally higher PWV compared with that of the control group (P < 0.001). To further demonstrate decreased flow volume and abnormal flow pattern at the popliteal artery in patients with a higher degree of arterial wall stiffness, we assigned the 60 non-PAD patients to tertiles based on their levels of PWV. In the highest group, magnetic resonance angiograms of the calf and foot arteries showed decreased intravascular signal intensity, indicating the decreased arterial inflow in those arteries. The highest group was also characterized by the lowest late diastolic and total flow volumes as well as the highest resistive index among the groups. From stepwise multiple regression analysis, PWV and autonomic function were identified as independent determinants for late diastolic flow volume (r(2) = 0.300; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Arterial wall stiffness was associated with reduced arterial flow volume in the lower extremities of diabetic patients.

Endotoxin impairs biliary transport of sparfloxacin and its glucuronide in rats

The effect of endotoxin on glucuronidation and hepatobiliary transport of quinolone antimicrobial agents was investigated in rats using sparfloxacin and p-nitrophenyl glucuronide as model drugs. The biliary clearance experiments were performed 24 h after a single intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (1 mg/kg). Endotoxin significantly delayed the disappearance of sparfloxacin from plasma and increased plasma concentration of its glucuronide after intravenous injection of sparfloxacin (10 mg/kg). Significant decreases in the systemic clearance of sparfloxacin and the biliary clearance of sparfloxacin and the glucuronide were observed. Endotoxin had no effect on in vitro glucuronidation activity using p-nitrophenol as a substrate. When p-nitrophenyl glucuronide (8 mg/kg) was administered in endotoxin-pretreated rats, significant decreases in the systemic clearance, biliary clearance and renal clearance of p-nitrophenyl glucuronide were observed. These findings suggest that endotoxin decreases the biliary excretion of sparfloxacin and its glucuronide probably due to impairment of their hepatobiliary transport systems and renal handling.

Involvement of nuclear transcription factor Sp1 in regulating glucose transporter-1 gene expression during rat trophoblast differentiation

Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) is important in placental glucose transport. However, the mechanism of regulation of placental GLUT1 expression remains to be elucidated. We show here that the level of GLUT1 protein in rat choriocarcinoma cells (Rcho-1) decreased during differentiation. To analyze the regulatory mechanism of rat GLUT1 (rGLUT1) gene expression, we transfected rGLUT1 promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs into Rcho-1 cells. Deletion analysis of the rGLUT1 promoter suggested that the region -76/-53 bp was essential for basal transcriptional activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3 bound two GC boxes in the region -99/-33 bp of the rGLUT1 promoter. Mutation analysis of the Sp1 binding sites revealed that the promoter-proximal site located between -76 and -53 bp was essential for basal rGLUT1 promoter activity. Furthermore, the decreased level of GLUT1 may result from a decreased level of Sp1 during differentiation. These findings suggest that Sp1 is involved in the regulation of rGLUT1 gene expression during rat trophoblast differentiation.

[A case of craniopharyngioma with chemical meningitis as an initial symptom]

We reported a rare case of craniopharyngioma with chemical meningitis due to spontaneous rupture of the tumor. A 50-year-old woman was admitted with high fever, headache, and nausea. On physical examination, she had nuchal rigidity. The examination of her cerebral spinal fluid(CSF) revealed pleocytosis(mononuclear cell dominant), low value of glucose level and high content of protein. The feature of her CSF findings suggested tuberculosis or fungal meningitis, but bacteriologic culture of the CSF was negative. The CT scan showed an isodensity mass in the suprasellar region and a spotty calcification in the third ventricle. The MRI with gadolinium enhancement suggested that the tumor must be craniopharyngioma and that meningitis was a type of chemical meningitis due to spontaneous rupture of craniopharyngioma. The corticosteroid therapy was rather effective to the symptoms of fever and headache. Then the operation was performed by neurosurgeons, and the diagnosis of craniopharyngioma was pathologically confirmed. Spontaneous rupture of craniopharyngioma rarely occurred and was followed by chemical meningitis. This case was an extremely rare condition that presented with chemical meningitis as an initial symptom.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy: usefulness of an endoscopic ultrasonic catheter probe for diagnosis

A 67-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain. Barium enema examination and colonoscopy showed numerous round polypoid lesions covered with normal mucosa in the area from the ascending colon to the splenic flexure. Endoscopic ultrasound examination with an ultrasonic catheter probe revealed a strong echo with distal acoustic shadowing in the third layer of the diseased colonic wall, which suggested the presence of gas in the submucosa. The gaseous cysts disappeared completely after hyberbaric oxygen therapy at 2 to 3 atmospheres absolute (60 minutes, twice a day) for 30 consecutive days.

Progesterone inhibits transcriptional activation of human chorionic gonadotropin-alpha gene through protein kinase A pathway in trophoblast cells

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanism of transcriptional inhibition of human chorionic gonadotropin-alpha (hCGalpha) gene by progesterone in trophoblast cells. We stably transfected -290 bp hCGalpha promoter-CAT constructs (-290halphaCAT) into Rcho-1 cells and monitored the promoter activities. Differentiation-dependent activation of -290 bp hCGalpha promoter containing a tandem repeat of cAMP response element (CRE) was inhibited by progesterone in a dose-dependent manner. To further analyze the mechanism of the progesterone action, Rcho-1 cells stably transfected with -290halphaCAT were treated with forskolin in the presence of progesterone. Progesterone inhibited forskolin-induced transcriptional activation of hCGalpha gene. Moreover, progesterone inhibited forskolin-induced transcriptional activation of CRE-CRE-tk-CAT. These results suggest that progesterone may inhibit cAMP-induced transcriptional activation of hCGalpha gene through CRE. Although progesterone did not alter the amount of CRE-binding protein (CREB), which is a main transcriptional factor bound to CRE(s) on hCGalpha promoter, progesterone abolished forskolin-induced CREB phosphorylation. In addition, pretreatment with progesterone abolished forskolin-induced activation of nuclear protein kinase A (PKA). In conclusion, progesterone inhibits hCGalpha gene transcription, at least in part, via the CRE region by inhibiting CREB phosphorylation through PKA pathway in trophoblast cells.

Coordinate upregulation of interleukin-8 and growth-related gene product-alpha is present in the colonic mucosa of inflammatory bowel

BACKGROUND

Although ãlpha-chemokines, such as interleukin (IL)-8 and epithelial neutrophil-activating peptide 78, are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), little information is currently available on the expression and cellular source of growth-related gene product-alpha (GROalpha) and its functional relationship to other ãlpha-chemokines in the intestinal mucosa of patients with IBD.

METHODS

The contents of IL-8 and GROalpha in organ cultures, the expression of IL-8 and GROalpha mRNA, and the modulatory effects of inflammatory mediators on IL-8 and GROalpha-producing cells were examined using colonic mucosal tissues. In vitro stimulatory effects of IL-8 and GROalpha on neutrophils were investigated in terms of chemotactic migration and superoxide anion generation.

RESULTS

The contents of IL-8 and GROalpha in organ cultures were elevated in patients with IBD, especially in those with active ulcerative colitis (UC). Both IL-8 and GROalpha contents increased according to an increase in histological disease activity in patients with UC, but not in those with Crohn disease. In contrast, no significant correlation was found between the contents of these alpha-chemokines and clinical disease activity. In situ hybridization detected increased expression of IL-8 and GROalpha mRNA in macrophages, pericrypt myofibroblasts, and the epithelium of tissue specimens with active lesions of IBD. The secretion of IL-8 and GROalpha from macrophages and myofibroblasts obtained from control patients was upregulated by inflammatory cytokines and bacterial products. The concentrations of recombinant (r)-IL-8, which covered the levels of activity detected in individual organ cultures or cell cultures of fractionated mucosal cells, could induce chemotactic migration and superoxide anion generation in neutrophils in vitro, and r-GROalpha had synergistic effects on r-IL-8-induced neutrophil activation.

CONCLUSIONS

A coordinate upregulation of IL-8 and GROalpha may be involved in the tissue injury in patients with IBD through their stimulatory effects on neutrophils.

Crush and imprint cytology of subependymoma: a case report

BACKGROUND

There are few descriptions of the cytologic features of subependymoma because this neoplasm is rare and most commonly encountered incidentally at autopsy. Here we report a surgical case of subependymoma occurring in the lateral ventricle and provide the first documentation of the crush cytologic features of this tumor.

CASE

A 34-year-old woman was found to have a tumorous lesion in the right lateral ventricle. At surgery, a 2-cm-diameter tumor was detected in the anterior horn. Histologic examination during surgery revealed that the mass was composed of loose,fibrillary networks and clusters of nuclei showing mild pleomorphism. A number of microcystic formations were evident. Histologically, the neoplasm was considered benign--specifically, a subependymoma. Papanicolaou- or Giemsa-stained crush specimens and imprint smears were also prepared. The cytologic morphology was fundamentally the same as the histologic. In the crush specimens, microcystic formations were readily visible. Moreover, details of the cellular morphology were more easily recognized in the cytologic slides than in the frozen sections.

CONCLUSION

Cytologic examination, particularly crush cytology, appears to be useful for the rapid diagnosis of subependymoma during surgery in combination with the examination of frozen histologic sections.

Effects of bezafibrate and simvastatin on plasma lipoproteins in hypercholesterolemia resistant to hormone replacement therapy

OBJECTIVES

Estrogen replacement therapy has favorable effects on serum lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. However, there are some patients who fail to respond to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to lower the serum cholesterol level. In these cases, a conventional lipid-lowering therapy will be applied in addition to HRT, while the effects of these drugs are not well understood. In this study, we studied the effects of simvastatin and bezafibrate administered in addition to HRT.

METHODS

Patients who were hypercholesterolemic even after HRT were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: HRT only (control group, n=10), HRT+simvastatin (10 mg/day, n=10), or HRT+bezafibrate (400 mg/day, n=10). Serum lipids and lipoprotein levels were measured throughout 12 weeks.

RESULTS

The serum triglyceride levels were decreased by 24+/-28 and 38+/-13% in the HRT+simvastatin and HRT+bezafibrate groups, respectively. HRT+simvastatin decreased the total cholesterol (21+/-10%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (28+/-12%) levels without affecting the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, while HRT+bezafibrate increased the HDL-C level (12+/-11%).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with simvastatin or bezafibrate in addition to HRT should be considered in cases of postmenopausal hypercholesterolemia in which HRT alone fails to lower the serum lipoprotein levels.

Endoscopic ablation with cyanoacrylate glue for isolated gastric variceal bleeding

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ablation with cyanoacrylate glue may achieve gastric variceal obliteration. A prospective evaluation of its therapeutic effects on bleeding gastric varices was conducted, focusing on endoscopic features.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients with bleeding gastric varices underwent endoscopic ablation with cyanoacrylate.

RESULTS

Patients with localized-type gastric varices (n = 14) had a better clinical course in terms of recurrent bleeding, variceal eradication, and survival than those with diffuse-type gastric varices (n = 23) after endoscopic ablation with cyanoacrylate. These clinical effects were related to the vascular anatomy of the gastric varices as determined by varicography and 3-dimensional CT. Type 1 vascular anatomy (one varicose vessel without noticeable ramifications) was much more common (86%) in localized-type gastric varices, whereas type 2 vascular anatomy (multiple varicose vessels with complex connecting ramifications) was found almost exclusively (91%) in diffuse-type gastric varices.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic ablation with cyanoacrylate is an effective and safe procedure for patients with bleeding gastric varices. Determination of variceal anatomy may be useful for improving treatment strategies for such patients.

Insulin production in a neuroectodermal tumor that expresses islet factor-1, but not pancreatic-duodenal homeobox 1

We studied a 60-yr-old female with a brain tumor who showed severe symptoms of hypoglycemia (plasma glucose, 2.2 mmol/L) and hyperinsulinemia (1.28 nmol/L) after radiotherapy. The cystic brain tumor contained proinsulin and insulin at concentrations of 13.6 and 1.22 nmol/L, respectively. Immunohistochemical studies showed the tumor cells were ectodermal in origin but not endodermal, based on three diagnostic features of neuroectodermal tumors 1) pseudorosette formation noted under light microscopy, 2) finding of a small number of dense core neurosecretory granules on electron microscopy, and 3) positive immunostaining for both neuronal specific enolase and protein gene product 9.5. These cells also expressed the transcription factor, neurogenin-3, NeuroD/beta 2, and islet factor I, which are believed to be transcription factors in neuroectoderm as well as in pancreatic islet cells, but not pancreatic-duodenal homeobox 1, Pax4, or Nkx2.2. In addition, they did not express glucagon, somatostatin, or glucagon-like peptide-1. Our results show the presence of proinsulin in an ectoderm cell brain tumor that does not express the homeobox gene, pancreatic-duodenal homeobox 1, but expresses other transcription factors, i.e. neurogenin3, NeuroD/beta 2, and islet factor-1, which are related to insulin gene expression in the brain tumor.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase-1B negatively regulates insulin signaling in l6 myocytes and Fao hepatoma cells

Insulin signaling is regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation of the signaling molecules, such as the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrates (IRSs). Therefore, the balance between protein-tyrosine kinases and protein-tyrosine phosphatase activities is thought to be important in the modulation of insulin signaling in insulin-resistant states. We thus employed the adenovirus-mediated gene transfer technique, and we analyzed the effect of overexpression of a wild-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) on insulin signaling in both L6 myocytes and Fao cells. In both cells, PTP1B overexpression blocked insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and IRS-1 by more than 70% and resulted in a significant inhibition of the association between IRS-1 and the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt phosphorylation as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. Moreover, insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis was also inhibited by PTP1B overexpression in both cells. These effects were specific for insulin signaling, because platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated PDGF receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and Akt phosphorylation were not inhibited by PTP1B overexpression. The present findings demonstrate that PTP1B negatively regulates insulin signaling in L6 and Fao cells, suggesting that PTP1B plays an important role in insulin resistance in muscle and liver.