Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Myo-inositol on Hepatic Expression of Glycolytic and Fructolytic Enzyme Genes in Rats Fed a High-sucrose Diet

We examined effects of a major lipotrope, myo-inositol, on the expression of primary glycolytic (glucokinase and phosphofructokinase) and fructolytic enzyme (ketohexokinase [KHK] and aldolase B) genes in the livers of rats fed a control diet, high-sucrose diet, or high-sucrose diet supplemented with 0.5% myo-inositol for 14 d. Supplementation with myo-inositol decreased the hepatic expression of fructolytic enzyme genes, but not that of glycolytic enzyme genes, and the levels of triglycerides, fatty acid synthase, and KHK proteins in high-sucrose diet-induced fatty liver. The study results suggest that myo-inositol represses primary fructlysis, but not glycolysis, in high-sucrose diet-induced fatty liver.

Evaluation of serum IgE in peach-allergic patients with systemic reaction by using recombinant Pru p 7 (gibberellin-regulated protein)

BACKGROUND

Lipid transfer protein (LTP) is a major fruit allergen. It has, however, recently been revealed that the systemic reaction in peach-allergic patients is related not only to LTP (Pru p 3) but also to gibberellin-regulated protein (Pru p 7). We investigated recombinant Pru p 7 (rPru p 7) for its potential use in worldwide standardization for the diagnosis of peach allergy.

METHODS

Natural Pru p 7 (nPru p 7) was purified from peach crude extract using a monoclonal antibody affinity column. Complementary DNA for Pru p 7 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E in peach-allergic patients was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using nPru p 7 and rPru p 7 (E. coli product: erPru p 7 and P. pastoris product: prPru p 7).

RESULTS

Peach-allergic patients (n=27) were diagnosed and categorized into oral reaction (n=10) or systemic reaction (n=17). The nPru p 7 positivity based on serum IgE levels was 52% in the systemic-reaction group and 0% in the oral-reaction group (P<0.05). In the systemic-reaction group, there was no significant difference in reactivity between nPru p 7 and prPru p 7, but the reactivity of erPru p 7 was significantly lower than those of nPru p 7 and prPru p 7 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that prPru p 7 exhibited reactivity in ELISA comparable to that of nPru p 7 for the diagnosis of peach allergy with systemic reaction.

Quality of omeprazole purchased via the Internet and personally imported into Japan: comparison with products sampled in other Asian countries

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quality of omeprazole personally imported into Japan via the Internet and to compare the quality of these samples with previously collected samples from two other Asian countries.

METHODS

The samples were evaluated by observation, authenticity investigation and pharmacopoeial quality analysis. Quality comparison of some selected samples was carried out by dissolution profiling, Raman spectroscopy and principle component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

Observation of the Internet sites and samples revealed some discrepancies including the delivery of a wrong sample and the selling of omeprazole without a prescription, although it is a prescription medicine. Among the 28 samples analysed, all passed the identification test, 26 (93%) passed the quantity and content uniformity tests and all passed the dissolution test. Dissolution profiling confirmed that all the personally imported omeprazole samples remained intact in the acid medium. On the other hand, six samples from two of the same manufacturers, previously collected during surveys in Cambodia and Myanmar, frequently showed premature omeprazole release in acid. Raman spectroscopy and PCA showed significant variation between omeprazole formulations in personally imported samples and the samples from Cambodia and Myanmar.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the pharmaceutical quality of omeprazole purchased through the Internet was sufficient, as determined by pharmacopeial tests. However, omeprazole formulations distributed in different market segments by the same manufacturers were of diverse quality. Measures are needed to ensure consistent quality of products and to prevent entry of substandard products into the legitimate supply chain.

A multi-throughput multi-organ-on-a-chip system on a plate formatted pneumatic pressure-driven medium circulation platform

This paper reports a multi-throughput multi-organ-on-a-chip system formed on a pneumatic pressure-driven medium circulation platform with a microplate-sized format as a novel type of microphysiological system. The pneumatic pressure-driven platform enabled parallelized multi-organ experiments (i.e. simultaneous operation of multiple multi-organ culture units) and pipette-friendly liquid handling for various conventional cell culture experiments, including cell seeding, medium change, live/dead staining, cell growth analysis, gene expression analysis of collected cells, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of chemical compounds in the culture medium. An eight-throughput two-organ system and a four-throughput four-organ system were constructed on a common platform, with different microfluidic plates. The two-organ system, composed of liver and cancer models, was used to demonstrate the effect of an anticancer prodrug, capecitabine (CAP), whose metabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) after metabolism by HepaRG hepatic cells inhibited the proliferation of HCT-116 cancer cells. The four-organ system, composed of intestine, liver, cancer, and connective tissue models, was used to demonstrate evaluation of the effects of 5-FU and two prodrugs of 5-FU (CAP and tegafur) on multiple organ models, including cancer and connective tissue.

A pneumatic pressure-driven multi-throughput microfluidic circulation culture system

Here, we report a pneumatic pressure-driven microfluidic device capable of multi-throughput medium circulation culture. The circulation culture system has the following advantages for application in drug discovery: (i) simultaneous operation of multiple circulation units, (ii) use of a small amount of circulating medium (3.5 mL), (iii) pipette-friendly liquid handling, and (iv) a detachable interface with pneumatic pressure lines via sterile air-vent filters. The microfluidic device contains three independent circulation culture units, in which human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured under physiological shear stress induced by circulation of the medium. Circulation of the medium in the three culture units was generated by programmed sequentially applied pressure from two pressure-control lines. HUVECs cultured in the microfluidic device were aligned under a one-way circulating flow with a shear stress of 10 dyn cm(-2); they exhibited a randomly ordered alignment under no shear stress and under reciprocating flow with a shear stress of 10 dyn cm(-2). We also observed 2.8- to 4.9-fold increases in expression of the mRNAs of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and thrombomodulin under one-way circulating flow with a shear stress of 10 dyn cm(-2) compared with conditions of no shear stress or reciprocating flow.

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) current inhibition selectively prolongs action potential of midmyocardial cells to augment transmural dispersion

The majority of drug induced arrhythmias are related to the prolongation of action potential duration following inhibition of rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kr)) mediated by the hERG channel. However, for arrhythmias to develop and be sustained, not only the prolongation of action potential duration but also its transmural dispersion are required. Herein, we evaluated the effect of hERG inhibition on transmural dispersion of action potential duration using the action potential clamp technique that combined an in silico myocyte model with the actual I(Kr) measurement. Whole cell I(Kr) current was measured in Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing the hERG channel. The measured current was coupled with models of ventricular endocardial, M-, and epicardial cells to calculate the action potentials. Action potentials were evaluated under control condition and in the presence of 1, 10, or 100 μM disopyramide, an hERG inhibitor. Disopyramide dose-dependently increased the action potential durations of the three cell types. However, action potential duration of M-cells increased disproportionately at higher doses, and was significantly different from that of epicardial and endocardial cells (dispersion of repolarization). By contrast, the effects of disopyramide on peak I(Kr) and instantaneous current-voltage relation were similar in all cell types. Simulation study suggested that the reduced repolarization reserve of M-cell with smaller amount of slowly activating delayed rectifier potassium current levels off at longer action potential duration to make such differences. The action potential clamp technique is useful for studying the mechanism of arrhythmogenesis by hERG inhibition through the transmural dispersion of repolarization.

Utilizing stomach content and faecal DNA analysis techniques to assess the feeding behaviour of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus

In this study, the feeding behaviour of the non-native invasive predatory fishes largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus was studied in the Ezura River, a northern tributary of Lake Biwa, Japan. Prey composition was estimated based on visual examination of stomach contents and faecal DNA analysis to determine feeding habits of these predatory fishes. Stomach content analysis showed that native fishes (e.g. ayu Plecoglossus altivelis and gobies Rhinogobius spp.) and shrimps (e.g. Palaemon paucidens) were the major prey items for M. salmoides, while snails, larval Chironomidae and submerged macrophytes were the dominant prey items of L. macrochirus. Micropterus salmoides tended to select larger fish in the case of crucian carp Carassius spp., but smaller fishes in the case of P. altivelis and Rhinogobius spp. Faecal DNA analyses revealed prey compositions similar to those identified in predator stomach contents, and identified additional prey species not detected in stomach content inspection. This study demonstrated that both stomach content inspection and DNA-based analysis bear several inherent shortcomings and advantages. The former method is straightforward, although identification of species can be inaccurate or impossible, whereas the latter method allows for accurate species identification, but cannot distinguish prey size or stage. Hence, integration of morphology-based and DNA-based methods can provide more reliable estimates of foraging habits of predatory fishes.

Simultaneous combined intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular therapy for hyperacute middle cerebral artery m1 occlusion

We investigated the efficacy and safety of combined intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and simultaneous endovascular therapy (ET) for hyperacute middle cerebral artery (MCA) M1 occlusion. Between October 2005 and April 2007, in the combined group, 22 patients eligible for IV rtPA, who were diagnosed as having MCA M1 occlusion, were treated with IV rtPA and simultaneous ET was initiated as soon as possible. The other patients were treated with IV rtPA alone (IV group A: n = 11). Between May 2007 and November 2008, all patients eligible for IV rtPA, who were diagnosed as having MCA M1 occlusion, underwent thrombolysis by IV rtPA alone (IV group B: n = 24). The improvement of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at 24 hours was highest in the combined group (10 ± 4.1). In contrast, it was 5.1 ± 4.7 in the IV group A (P = 0.017) and 5.6 ± 5.6 in IV group B (P = 0.006). In the combined group, successful recanalization was observed in 18 of 22 patients with one symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. The rate of mRS0-2 at three months was highest in the combined group, 36% in the IV group A and 33% in the IV group B (P = 0.008).Simultaneous treatment with IV rtPA and ET improved the clinical outcome of MCA M1 occlusion without a significant increase of adverse effects in our study.

Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Ménière's disease

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and Ménière's disease are the most common inner ear diseases in which the causes are unknown. As recent magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated disruption of the blood-labyrinth barrier in these inner ear diseases, inflammatory reaction associated with increased permeability of the blood vessels may be involved. The genotypes of interleukin 1A (IL1A) (-889C/T; rs1800587) and interleukin 1B (IL1B) (-511C/T; rs16944) were determined using an allele-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction method in 72 patients with SSNHL, 68 patients with Ménière's disease, and 2202 control subjects living almost in the same area as the patients. A significantly higher prevalence of the IL1A-889T allele was observed in SSNHL and Ménière's disease compared with controls, although no significant difference in distribution of IL1B-511C/T genotypes was observed between the patients and controls. Adjusted odd ratios for SSNHL and Ménière's disease risks in the -889TT genotypes were 25.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.19-54.98) and 18.20 (95% CI 7.80-42.46), respectively, after age and gender were taken as moderator variables. Our results suggested that IL1A is closely associated with susceptibility of SSNHL and Ménière's disease.

Immunosuppressive effect of prolactin-induced protein: a new insight into its local and systemic role in chronic allergic contact dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Prolactin-induced protein (PIP) has been shown to bind to CD4 and is speculated to block CD4-HLA-DR interaction. However, the immunomodulatory effect of PIP on chronic allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) remains to be elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To define the role of PIP during the immunoresponse.

METHODS

Using a low-dose oxazolone-induced mouse chronic ACD model, expression of PIP was examined immunohistologically. Furthermore, effects of continued exposure to a peptide mimicking the major binding site of PIP (amino acids 106-132) for CD4 was examined in a mouse chronic ACD model.

RESULTS

We clarified that keratinocytes, dermal infiltrating cells and spleen infiltrating mononuclear cells are positively stained with anti-PIP antibody. The PIP peptide significantly downregulated oxazolone-induced mouse ACD compared with controls. We also found that inflammation of the control ear, to which the PIP peptide had not been applied, was also suppressed in a synchronized manner in the late phase of ACD.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that PIP might have a local and systemic immunosuppressive effect in mouse chronic ACD.

Genetic polymorphism of eserine resistant esterases in canine plasma

Six plasma eserine resistant esterase phenotypes were observed in a population of 1438 dogs consisting of 38 breeds. Analysis of parentage records of the dogs examined revealed that the phenotypic variation of eserine resistant esterases was controlled by 3 codominant alleles ESA, ESB and ESC at one autosomal locus. The gene frequency of ESB was high in most of the breeds examined. Allele ESC was only seen in 5 Japanese native breeds, Akita, Shikoku, Hokkaido, Shinshu-Shiba and Mino-Shiba, and in a Spitz dog. Allele ESA has a low frequency in Japanese breeds but a higher frequency in some of the European breeds tested.

Simultaneous treatment with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours of onset

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Because intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) does not always lead to a good outcome in a considerable proportion of patients, combined IV rtPA and rescue endovascular therapy (ET) have been performed in several recent studies. However, rescue therapy after completion of IV rtPA often results in late ineffective recanalization. We examined the efficacy and safety of combined IV rtPA and simultaneous ET as primary rather than rescue therapy for hyperacute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 29 patients eligible for IV rtPA, who were diagnosed as having MCA (M1 or M2) occlusion within 3 hours of onset, underwent thrombolysis. In the combined group, patients were treated by IV rtPA (0.6 mg/kg for 60 minutes) and simultaneous ET (intra-arterial rtPA, mechanical thrombus disruption with microguidewire, and balloon angioplasty) initiated as soon as possible. In the IV group, patients were treated by IV rtPA only.

RESULTS

The improvement of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 24 hours was 11 +/- 4.8 in the combined group versus 5 +/- 4.3 in the IV group (P < .001). In the combined group, successful recanalization was observed in 14 (88%) of 16 patients with no symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 10 (63%) of 16 patients had favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0, 1) at 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive combined therapy with IV rtPA and simultaneous ET markedly improved the clinical outcome of hyperacute MCA occlusion without significant adverse effect. Additional randomized study is needed to confirm our results.

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus in forensic blood samples obtained from injecting drug users

Injecting drug users (IDUs) are a high-risk group for contracting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. In Japan, data on the prevalence of those blood-borne viruses among IDUs are very limited. Blood samples were obtained from 12 cadavers of IDUs sent to Nagoya City University for the purpose of judicious autopsy and two alive IDUs with hepatitis C referred to a local hospital at the same period. The viruses were detected by polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Two (16.6%) of the 12 autopsy cases were positive for HCV, but no case was positive for either HBV or HIV. Phylogenetic analysis of the two HCV isolates revealed that one was classified into genotype 1b and another was genotype 2b. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences of two isolates recovered from IDUs with hepatitis C were identical, that indicated the transmission of HCV between them, and those HCV were phylogenetically classified into genotype 2a. The prevalence of HCV infection among IDUs in Japan, despite the case of judicious autopsy, seems to be high, but HIV infection seems to be rare. The transmission of HCV between IDUs was demonstrated, and this indicates that phylogenetic analysis would applicable to also forensic analysis. HCV isolates identified in this study did not phylogenetically segregate, thus multiple transmission route of HCV among IDUs seems be exist in Japan.

Dose-dependent promotion by phenylethyl isothiocyanate, a known chemopreventer, of two-stage rat urinary bladder and liver carcinogenesis

The effects of phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on urinary bladder and liver carcinogenesis were analyzed in a rat model. Diets containing 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% PEITC were administered for 32 wk to male Fischer 344 rats with and without pretreatment with an injection of diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg body wt i.p.) and 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in the drinking water for 4 wk for initiation. In the initiated groups, PEITC administration significantly increased the incidences of papillary or nodular hyperplasia, dysplasia, and transitional cell carcinomas at higher doses of 0.01%, 0.01%, and 0.05%, respectively, compared with the control group, given initiation alone, in a dose-dependent manner. Without initiation, administration of 0.1% and 0.05% PEITC induced simple and papillary or nodular hyperplasia and dysplasia in the urinary bladder. In the liver, induction of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci was dose dependently enhanced by PEITC administration, but the incidences of liver tumors were not different among the groups. From the present experiment, we can conclude that > 0.01% PEITC enhances rat urinary bladder carcinogenesis, while weakly promoting hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, it is suggested that > 0.05% PEITC has tumorigenic potential.

Acute and chronic smooth muscle cell apoptosis after mechanical vascular injury can occur independently of the Fas-death pathway

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis has been demonstrated in vascular lesions, such as atherosclerotic and postangioplasty restenotic lesions. Balloon injury also induces VSMC apoptosis. Fas is a death factor that mediates apoptosis when it is activated by its ligand, FasL. Fas-mediated apoptosis was found to be implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases in which Fas/FasL expression was detected. We investigated whether the Fas/FasL interaction mediated acute and chronic VSMC apoptosis and lesion formation in a vascular injury model that may resemble balloon angioplasty. A large spring wire was inserted into the femoral artery of C3H/HeJ (wild-type), C3H-gld (Fas ligand-/-), and C3H-lpr (Fas-/-) mice. The wire was left in place for 1 minute to denude and expand the artery. Massive apoptosis was observed in medial VSMCs from 1 to 7 hours later. There was no difference in the number of apoptotic cells among the 3 groups of mice 4 hours after injury. At 4 weeks, the injured arteries presented signs of concentric neointimal hyperplasia composed exclusively of VSMCs. There was no difference in the degree of neointima hyperplasia (intima/media ratios were as follows: wild type 1.4+/-0.3, gld 1.0+/-0.2, and lpr 1.3+/-0.2) or in the number of apoptotic nuclei among the 3 groups. These findings suggest the existence of other signaling pathways for acute and chronic VSMC apoptosis, at least that induced by mechanical vascular injury.

In situ visualization of ultraviolet-light-induced DNA damage repair in locally irradiated human fibroblasts

We have developed a novel method that uses a microfilter mask to produce ultraviolet-induced DNA lesions in localized areas of the cell nucleus. This technique allows us to visualize localized DNA repair in situ using immunologic probes. Two major types of DNA photoproducts [cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts] were indeed detected in several foci per nucleus in normal human fibroblasts. They were repaired at those localized sites at different speeds, indicating that DNA photoproducts remain in relatively fixed nuclear positions during repair. A nucleotide excision repair protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, was recruited to the sites of DNA damage within 30 min after ultraviolet exposure. The level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen varied with DNA repair activity and diminished within 24 h. In contrast, almost no proliferating cell nuclear antigen fluorescence was observed within 3 h in xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts, which could not repair either type of photolesion. These results demonstrate that this technique is useful for visualizing the normal nucleotide excision repair process in vivo. Interestingly, however, in xeroderma pigmentosum cells, proliferating cell nuclear antigen appeared at ultraviolet damage sites after a delay and persisted as late as 72 h after ultraviolet exposure. This result suggests that this technique is also valuable for examining an incomplete or stalled nucleotide excision repair process caused by the lack of a single functional nucleotide excision repair protein. Thus, the technique provides a powerful approach to understanding the temporal and spatial interactions between DNA damage and damage-binding proteins in vivo.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is essential for the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor cerivastatin to promote collateral growth in response to ischemia

HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A) reductase inhibitors, or statins, are prescribed widely to lower cholesterol. Accumulating evidence indicates that statins have various effects on vascular cells, which are independent of their lipid-lowering effect. Here, we tested the hypothesis that statins may augment collateral flow to ischemic tissues. We induced hind-limb ischemia in wild-type mice and treated them with either saline or cerivastatin. Cerivastatin enhanced the blood flow recovery dramatically as determined by Laser Doppler imaging. The mice treated with saline displayed frequent autoamputation of the ischemic toe, which was prevented completely by cerivastatin. Anti-CD31 immunostaining revealed that cerivastatin significantly increased the capillary density. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity was enhanced markedly in the mice treated with cerivastatin. The angiogenic effect of cerivastatin was abrogated in eNOS deficient (eNOS-/-) mice. These results indicate that eNOS is essential for cerivastatin to promote collateral growth in response to ischemia.

A novel method to study contraction characteristics of a single cardiac myocyte using carbon fibers

To facilitate cardiac muscle research, we developed a novel method by which the force and length of a single ventricular myocyte can be recorded with a pair of carbon graphite fibers attached firmly to both ends. One fiber was stiff, whereas the other fiber was compliant to allow the recording of force and shortening during twitch contractions. The image of the compliant carbon fiber was projected onto a pair of photodiodes, and their output was fed to a piezoelectric transducer after variable amplifications to alter the effective compliance of the carbon fiber. Thus contraction of the myocyte was induced under virtually isometric conditions as well as under auxotonic conditions. We obtained a bell-shaped relation between the compliance under an auxotonic load and the work output of the myocyte, which was directly related to myocyte performance in the heart. Because it is easy to attach myocytes to the experimental apparatus, the present method would allow us to study cardiac muscle mechanics at the cellular and molecular levels.

Protein kinase A increases the rate of relaxation but not the rate of tension development in skinned rat cardiac muscle

To clarify the contribution of cross-bridge kinetics to the contraction profile of cardiac twitch during beta-adrenergic stimulation, we studied the rate of tension development and relaxation following laser flash photolysis of caged compounds in rat-skinned ventricular trabeculae before and after treatment with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PKA, 0.5 U/microl, 40 min). Tension development following nitrophenyl (NP)-EGTA photolysis was fitted with a single exponential function. The rate constant increased with an increase in postphotolysis steady tension, and the relation between the rate constant and the tension was not influenced by PKA. The rate of relaxation following diazo-2 photolysis was fitted with a double exponential function. The rate of both initial rapid and subsequent slow relaxation was independent of the extent of relaxation. PKA increased the rate of initial rapid relaxation by about twofold, but showed no significant effect on the rate of subsequent slow relaxation. These results suggest that in beta-receptor stimulated rat cardiac muscle, the increased rate of tension development and the facilitated relaxation rate during twitch can be partly explained as being due to the combined effects of decreased Ca(2+) affinity of troponin C and increased cycling rate of cross-bridges (subtractive combination for tension development and additive combination for tension relaxation).

Intracranial subdural hematoma after puncture of spinal meningeal cysts

A patient is reported with an intracranial subdural hematoma after puncture of spinal meningeal cysts. In this case, spinal meningeal cysts were diagnosed by myelography. No intracranial subdural hematoma was detected immediately after myelography. Deterioration in the patient's level of consciousness occurred after puncture of the cysts. The authors speculated that the cerebrospinal fluid pressure dropped rapidly when the spinal meningeal cysts were punctured. This displaced the cerebral bridging veins downward, tearing them and resulting in an intracranial subdural hematoma.

Phencyclidine impairs latent learning in mice: interaction between glutamatergic systems and sigma(1) receptors

The effect of phencyclidine (PCP) on latent learning was investigated using a one-trial water-finding task in mice. Mice without water deprivation were given PCP or saline before a training trial, which consisted of exposure to a novel open-field environment with an alcove containing a water tube. Twenty to twenty-four hours after water deprivation, animals were placed in the same apparatus and the time required to find the water tube measured (test trial). Saline-treated trained mice showed a significantly shorter time to find the water tube during the test trial (finding latency) than naive mice that had not been trained. When PCP (1mg/kg i.p.) was administered before the training trial, the finding latency was significantly prolonged in comparison with that in the saline-treated mice, indicating that PCP induced impairment of latent learning. 1-(3,4-Dimethoxy-phenethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (SA4503: 0.3 mg/kg s.c.) and (+)-pentazocine (1 mg/kg s.c.), selective sigma(1) receptor agonists, or D-cycloserine (10 and 30mg/kg, s.c.), a glycine binding site agonist, significantly counteracted the PCP-induced impairment of latent learning, whereas (+)-SKF-10,047 (0.1-3 mg/kg s.c.), a putative sigma(1) receptor agonist, did not. The ameliorating effects of SA4503 and (+)-pentazocine were antagonized by N,N-dipropyl-2-(4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy) phenyl) ethylamine (NE-100: 1 mg/kg i.p.), a selective sigma(1) receptor antagonist. SA4503 also ameliorated the impairment of latent learning induced by dizocilpine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, the effect being antagonized by NE-100. These results suggest that PCP induces an impairment of latent learning, this effect being mediated via glutamatergic systems, and that activation of sigma(1) receptors ameliorates impairment of latent learning induced by PCP.

[Detection of mupirocin resistant staphylococci from patients treated with mupirocin]

Susceptibility testing of mupirocin (MUP) was performed by an agar dilution method according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCLS) to detect the MUP resistance. A total of 434 isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci were examined and all of 205 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from 43 hospitals nationwide in 1993 were sensitive to MUP. However, MUP resistance emerged among 228 isolates [185 isolates (88 cases) of MRSA and 43 isolates (28 cases) of methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MR-CNS)] from nasal swabs of patients with MUP treatment between Sep 1996 and Feb 2000 in the Nagoya University Hospital. The high-level MUP resistance (MIC > or = 512 micrograms/mL) was isolated from two patients, one isolate of MRSA and four of S. hominis, respectively. Low-level MUP resistance (MIC 8-128 micrograms/mL) was isolated from three patients, 11 isolates of MRSA, one of S. chromogenes and five of S. epidermidis, respectively. The mupA which encodes the MUP resistant isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IRS) were investigated by PCR in these MUP resistant isolates. The mupA was detected only in high-level MUP resistant S. hominis, but not detected in high-level MUP resistant MRSA and low-level MUP resistant isolates. We also investigated the characteristics of the patients with MUP resistance. All of MUP resistant staphylococci were isolated after initiation of MUP treatment. Four patients with MUP resistant MRSA and low-level MUP resistant MR-CNS had MRSA infectious disease and MUP resistant strains were successfully eradicated with vancomycin treatment in two patients. MUP high-level resistant S. hominis, has emerged after MUP treatment for eradication of MRSA. Clinical guidelines for the prudent use of MUP should be generally adopted with careful monitoring of emergence of MUP resistance.

A mouse model of vascular injury that induces rapid onset of medial cell apoptosis followed by reproducible neointimal hyperplasia

Genetically modified mice serve as a powerful tool to determine the role of specific molecules in a wide variety of biological phenomena including vascular remodeling. Several models of arterial injury have been proposed to analyze transgenic/knock-out mice, but many questions have been raised about their reproducibility and physiological significance. Here, we report a new mouse model of vascular injury that resembles balloon-angioplasty. A straight spring wire was inserted into the femoral artery via arterioctomy in a small muscular branch. The wire was left in place for one minute to denude and dilate the artery. After the wire was removed, the muscular branch was tied off and the blood flow of the femoral artery was restored. The lumen was enlarged with rapid onset of medial cell apoptosis. While the circumference of the external elastic lamina remained enlarged, the lumen was gradually narrowed by neointimal hyperplasia composed of smooth muscle cells. At 4 weeks, a concentric and homogeneous neointimal lesion was formed reproducibly in the region where the wire had been inserted. Similar exuberant hyperplasia could be induced in all strains examined (C57BL/6J, C3H/HeJ, BALB/c, and 129/SVj). This model may be widely used to study the molecular mechanism of post-angioplasty restenosis at the genetic level.

Non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography using 3D ECG-synchronized half-Fourier fast spin echo

A non-contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique, which acquires images in a reasonably short scanning time and requires no contrast agent, is developed. An electrocardiographically (ECG) synchronized 3D half-Fourier fast spin-echo (FSE) technique with an appropriate ECG delay time for every slice encoding in 3D terms was used to examine the thoracic and iliac regions in 16 healthy volunteers at both 0.5 and 1.5 T. Prior to each 3D fresh blood imaging (FBI) experiment, an ECG preparation (ECG-prep) scan was acquired, and an appropriate ECG triggering time was selected for 3D FBI acquisition to optimize visualization of the vessel of interest. In the thoracic and abdominal regions, good-quality 3D MRA images were obtained. Furthermore, the weighted subtraction of two images in different phases provides contrast enhancement between arteries and veins.

Inhibition of carnitine synthesis modulates protein contents of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and hexokinase type I in rat hearts with myocardial infarction

It was previously reported that inhibition of carnitine synthesis by 3-(2,2,2-trimethyl-hydrazinium) propionate (MET-88) restores left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Preservation of the calcium uptake function of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2) is one of the possible mechanisms by which MET-88 alleviates hemodynamic dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, the effects of MET-88 on protein content of SERCA2 were evaluated using the same rat model of heart failure. Myocardial protein content of hexokinase, which is one of the key enzymes of glucose utilization, was also measured. Either MET-88 (MET-88 group) or a placebo (MI group) was administered for 20 days to rats with MI induced by coronary artery ligation. The control group underwent sham surgery (no ligation) and received placebo. In LV myocardial homogenates, the myocardial SERCA2 protein content was 32% lower (p<0.05) in the MI group than in the control group. However, in the MET-88 group myocardial SERCA2 content was the same as in the control group. Hexokinase I protein content was 29 % lower (p<0.05) in the MI group compared with the control. In contrast, hexokinase II protein content did not differ significantly among the three groups. Consequently, inhibition of carnitine synthesis ameliorates depression of SERCA2 and hexokinase I protein content which may reduce tissue damage caused by MI.

[The difficulty of urethral anastomosis in sigmoid neobladder--the role of preoperative X-ray of an air-contrast barium enema]

BACKGROUND

Sigmoid neobladder (Reddy method) is one of the representative neobladder after radical cystectomy. Occasionally we experienced difficulty on urethral anastomosis in sigmoid neobladder. Here we investigated preoperative X-ray of air-contrast barium enema and clarified what type could be easily anastomosed in sigmoid neobladder.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed five cases of total cystectomy with sigmoid neobladder replacement. Of the five, we can easily make a urethral anastomsis in three cases but not easily in other two cases. We investigated sigmoid colon length, it's internal diameter, it's form and it's mobility that was substituted for elevation level of rectosigmoid using preoperative X-ray of air-contrast barium enema. We also studied seventy five cases of X-ray of air-contrast barium enema who visited our hospital with various complaints such as lower abdominal pain.

RESULTS

The length of three cases with easily anastomosed were 45.7 cm in diameter other two cases 33.5 cm in diameter.(over all 47.5 cm) The internal diameter were 49 mm and 33.5 mm respectively.(over all 44.4 mm) It was considered that Reddy method was indicated who had at least averaged sigmoid colon length and internal size. Sigmoid colon form were classified into 3 groups (type N. type l and others). There were no difference on colon length regarding sigmoid form, but others was considered to be improper form because significant difference was observed between type N and others in internal diameter. Three cases with easily anastomosed demonstrated a positive correlation of the elevation of the sigmoid colon over promontorium in the air contrast barium enema, other two cases negative. The elevation cases of the sigmoid colon in X-ray of air contrast barium enema had long sigmoid colon than other types.(p < 0.0001) Tha mean length of them was 51.6 cm in diameter.

CONCLUSION

Sigmoid neobladder was at least indicated in men who had averaged sigmoid colon length. The sigmoid colon elevation sign in X-ray of air contrast barium enema did not require the measurement of sigmoid colon length and that sign implied good indication for sigmoid neobladder.

[A case of urachal abscess mimicking a tumor in the retrovesical space]

A 14-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital because of umbilical erythema and discharge. She had had an appendectomy at the age of twelve. Abdominal ultrasonography and cystoscopy revealed a large tumor-like mass at the posterior wall of the bladder. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed urachal sinus. The diagnosis of urachal abscess had been confirmed and conservative treatment had been continued by drainage via umbilicus and the administration of antibiotics. Total excision of the urachus was performed about one month later because the bladder mass was not reduced. Pathological findings revealed an inflammatory thickened wall of the urachus and no evidence of malignancy. We report this rare case of urachal abscess with a large mass in the retrovesical space.

Suppressive effects of dietary genistin and daidzin on rat prostate carcinogenesis

High intake of phytoestrogens through soybeans and their products is thought to be associated with low incidences of prostate and / or breast cancer in Asian countries. Possible chemopreventive effects of genistin or daidzin on rat prostate carcinogenesis were therefore investigated. Male F344 rats were given 10 biweekly subcutaneous injections of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) and then either genistin or daidzin in the diet at a concentration of 0.1% for 40 weeks. Other groups of rats given DMAB were treated with genistin or daidzin together with a high dose of testosterone propionate (TP). Both genistin and daidzin reduced the numbers of ventral prostate carcinomas (P < 0.05), with a tendency for decrease in incidence. Invasive carcinomas which developed in the anterior prostate and seminal vesicles with TP were, however, not influenced by the two isoflavones. Thus, the present data suggest that genistin and daidzin possess anti-cancer effects at relatively early stages of prostate cancer development, providing experimental support for epidemiological findings.

Adrenomedullin and nitric oxide inhibit human endothelial cell apoptosis via a cyclic GMP-independent mechanism

Adrenomedullin, which was discovered as a vasodilating peptide, has been reported to be produced in various organs, in which adrenomedullin regulates not only vascular tone but also cell proliferation and differentiation in an autocrine/paracrine manner. We evaluated the effect of adrenomedullin on endothelial cell apoptosis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells underwent apoptosis when cultured in serum-free medium. Treatment with adrenomedullin reduced the number of cells with pyknotic nuclei (Hoechst 33258 staining) and inhibited cell death (dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay) in a dose-dependent manner. The administration of adrenomedullin did not alter the expression levels of Bcl-2 family proteins. Experiments with analogs of cAMP or a cAMP-elevating agonist demonstrated that elevation of the intracellular cAMP concentration does not mediate the antiapoptotic effect of adrenomedullin. The coadministration of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (2 mmol/L), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, abrogated the effect of adrenomedullin. Lower doses of sodium nitroprusside (1 to 10 micromol/L), a nitric oxide donor, mimicked the antiapoptotic effect of adrenomedullin. The antiapoptotic effect of sodium nitroprusside was not attenuated by the inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with 1 micromol/L oxadiazolo-quinoxalin-1-one nor could apoptosis be inhibited by the incubation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells with 1 mmol/L 8-bromo-cGMP, a cell-permeant cGMP analog. These results indicate that adrenomedullin and nitric oxide inhibit endothelial cell apoptosis via a cGMP-independent mechanism.

Preparation of Monodispersed Solid Lipid Microspheres Using a Microchannel Emulsification Technique

Monodispersed solid lipid microspheres consisting of high melting point edible oil were prepared as a novel sophisticated material. To prepare the monodispersed solid lipid microspheres a temperature-controlled microchannel (MC) emulsification process was devised. The prepared microspheres had diameters of approximately 20 µm or more and the standard deviation of the diameters was less than 1 µm. The effects of different surfactants, the pressure and the shape of the MC on the MC emulsification, and the diameter of the prepared droplet were studied. The experimental results are discussed using the new mechanism of droplets formation which is caused by the interfacial tension. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Calcineurin is activated in rat hearts with physiological left ventricular hypertrophy induced by voluntary exercise training

BACKGROUND

Calcineurin may play a pivotal role in the signaling of cardiac hypertrophy; since this hypothesis was first put forward, controversial reports have been published using various experimental models. This study was designed to compare the physiological left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) induced by voluntary exercise with LVH induced by aortic constriction and to determine whether calcineurin participates in the signaling of exercise-induced LVH.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Wistar rats were assigned to 1 of the following 5 groups: 10 weeks of voluntary exercise (EX), a sedentary regimen, a 1-week (AC1) or 4-week (AC4) ascending aortic constriction period, or a sham operation. EX rats ran 2.4+/-0.7 km/day voluntarily in specially manufactured cages; this was associated with an increase of LV diastolic dimension and stroke volume. Myocardial calcineurin activity markedly increased in EX rats (46.4+/-8.3 versus 18.4+/-0.5 pmol. min(-1). mg(-1) in sedentary rats; P<0.001) and in AC1 rats (44.9+/-6.7 versus 22.1+/-3.7 pmol. min(-1). mg(-1) in sham-operated rats; P<0.001), but not in AC4 rats (29.0+/-3.4 pmol. min(-1). mg(-1)). Treatment with cyclosporin A completely inhibited the development of LVH in EX rats, but it only partially attenuated the development of LVH in AC4 rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Calcineurin was activated in exercise-induced physiological LVH and in the developing phase of LVH (AC1), but not in decompensated pressure-overload hypertrophy (AC4). Cyclosporin therapy for the prevention of LVH may be harmful because it does not block the development of pathological hypertrophy but rather that of favorable adaptive hypertrophy.

Role of insulin resistance in heart and skeletal muscle F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Altered heart and skeletal glucose usage has been reported in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Although elevations in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations have been implicated in reduced myocardial 18fluorine-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake (MFU), the specific role of whole-body insulin resistance in MFU in patients with NIDDM compared with skeletal muscle metabolism remains controversial.

PURPOSE

MFU and skeletal muscle 18fluorine-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake (SMFU) were compared with positron emission tomography and the whole-body glucose disposal rate (GDR) during hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamping in 26 normotensive asymptomatic patients with NIDDM who were not taking medication. These factors were also compared in 12 age-matched control subjects to increase the knowledge of the influence of whole-body insulin resistance on MFU. In addition, independent factors for both SMFU and MFU were investigated.

RESULTS

GDR in control subjects (10.0 +/- 2.97 mg/min per kilogram) was significantly higher than in patients with NIDDM (4.05 +/- 2.37 mg/min per kilogram, P < .01). SMFU in patients with NIDDM (0.826 +/- 0.604 mg/min per 100 g) was significantly lower than that in control subjects (1.86 +/- 1.06 mg/min per 100 g, P < .01). MFU in patients with NIDDM (5.35 +/- 2.10 mg/min per 100 g) was also significantly lower than that of control subjects (7.05 +/- 1.66 mg/min per 100 g, P = .0182). SMFU significantly correlated with GDR (r = .727, P < .01) and FFA (r = -.52, P < .01) in patients with NIDDM. MFU also correlated with GDR (r = .778, P < .01) and FFA (r = -.72, P < .01) in patients with NIDDM. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that GDR (F = 36.8) was independently related to MFU (r = .85, P < .01) whereas FFA was not (F = 1.763), where F is the value for statistical analysis of multivariate stepwise regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Insulin resistance is the most essential factor for both heart and skeletal muscle FDG uptake in patients with NIDDM.

[Treatment of renal cell carcinoma extending into the right atrium with extra-corporeal circulation using high-grade hypothermia: a case report]

A 68-year-old woman underwent surgical treatment for renal cell carcinoma associated with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. Although the tumor thrombus reached the level of the right atrium, there were no other apparent metastases. Combination therapy with interferon alfa plus tegafur/uracil (UFT) was attempted with the expectation of reducing the tumor thrombus, but there was no change. Successful management was achieved with right radical nephrectomy, right auriculotomy, and partial cavectomy using cardiopulmonary bypass under high-grade hypothermia. After removal of the tumor and thrombus, blood loss was 13,900 ml during the patient's recovery. She had mild heart failure for about two weeks after the operation, but recovered. She was discharged on the 40th day after the operation. Proper preparation for blood transfusion is the key point of this operation.