Development and validation of the Japanese version of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS-J)

BACKGROUND

The average sleep duration of Japanese people is shorter than that of people from other countries, and bedtime procrastination is suspected to be one of the factors contributing to this issue. This study aimed to develop and validate the Japanese version of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale (BPS-J).

METHODS

The BPS-J was developed through procedures including the translation and back-translation of the scale, cognitive interviews with 100 participants who reported having experiences of being diagnosed with insufficient sleep syndrome (ISS) or receiving treatment for ISS using open-ended online questionnaires, and expert checking. To investigate the scale's validity and reliability, an online survey was conducted with daytime workers aged 20 - 65 years without a history of sleep disorders other than ISS. Half the participants were retested using the same survey after 14 days. Participants' responses to the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS), General Procrastination Scale (GPS), and Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), and data on sleep-related variables such as sleep duration on workdays and the days per week of fatigue or sleep loss, sex, and age, were collected.

RESULTS

We analyzed data from 574 participants to assess scale validity. We then analyzed data from 280 participants to determine test-retest reliability. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the two-factor model without Item 2 was most suitable for the BPS-J, unlike other language versions. Regardless of the full-item model or the model with Item 2 eliminated, sufficient reliability and significant correlations with the BSCS, GPS, MCTQ, and sleep-related variables such as sleep duration per night on work days, days per week of feeling fatigued, and days per week of sleep loss were observed. Logistic and linear regressions showed that the relationships between the BPS-J, sleep-related variables, and MCTQ were maintained after adjusting for sex and age.

CONCLUSION

The BPS-J had sufficient validity and reliability. Further, eliminating Item 2 from the original version of the BPS strengthened the ability to survey Japanese daytime workers.

Subjectively intense odor does not affect dream emotions during rapid eye movement sleep

Dreams experienced during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have emotional features. Intervention methods for dream affectivity have recently garnered interest; we previously demonstrated that negative dreams were induced during REM sleep by exposure to favorable or familiar odors. However, the underlying mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unclear. Thus, to address this gap, we investigated whether more intense odors could induce negative dreams, as odors tend to be perceived as more intense when they are preferred or familiar. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results of our study indicated that subjective intense odors did not induce negative dreams. We initially anticipated stronger odors to have a greater impact on dream emotionality, as they stimulate the brain more intensely. Notably, during arousal, weak odors tended to evoke a more potent olfactory response, while strong odors tended to produce a weaker response. To investigate whether this difference influenced the effects on dreams, we compared the respiratory activities of the strongly and weakly perceived odor groups; however, no significant differences were observed. Our findings suggest that subjectively perceived strong odors are unlikely to affect dream emotionality and may be processed differently than favorable or familiar odors.

Peripheral blood flow estimated by laser doppler flowmetry provides additional information about sleep state beyond that provided by pulse rate variability

Pulse rate variability (PRV), derived from Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) or photoplethysmography, has recently become widely used for sleep state assessment, although it cannot identify all the sleep stages. Peripheral blood flow (BF), also estimated by LDF, may be modulated by sleep stages; however, few studies have explored its potential for assessing sleep state. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether peripheral BF could provide information about sleep stages, and thus improve sleep state assessment. We performed electrocardiography and simultaneously recorded BF signals by LDF from the right-index finger and ear concha of 45 healthy participants (13 women; mean age, 22.5 ± 3.4 years) during one night of polysomnographic recording. Time- and frequency-domain parameters of peripheral BF, and time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear indices of PRV and heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated. Finger-BF parameters in the time and frequency domains provided information about different sleep stages, some of which (such as the difference between N1 and rapid eye movement sleep) were not revealed by finger-PRV. In addition, finger-PRV patterns and HRV patterns were similar for most parameters. Further, both finger- and ear-BF results showed 0.2-0.3 Hz oscillations that varied with sleep stages, with a significant increase in N3, suggesting a modulation of respiration within this frequency band. These results showed that peripheral BF could provide information for different sleep stages, some of which was complementary to the information provided by PRV. Furthermore, the combination of peripheral BF and PRV may be more advantageous than HRV alone in assessing sleep states and related autonomic nervous activity.

Inhibitory effect of polysulfide, an endogenous sulfur compound, on oxidative stress-induced TRPA1 activation

Polysulfide (PS), an endogenous sulfur compound, generated by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, has a stimulatory action on the nociceptive TRPA1 channel. TRPA1 is also activated by reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) produced during inflammation. Here, we examined the effect of PS on H₂O₂-induced responses in native and heterologously expressed TRPA1 using a cell-based calcium assay. We also carried out behavioral experiments in vivo. In mouse sensory neurons, H₂O₂ elicited early TRPA1-dependent and late TRPA1-independent increases of [Ca²⁺]_i. The former was suppressed by the pretreatment with PS. In cells heterologously expressed TRPA1, PS suppressed [Ca²⁺]_i responses to H₂O₂. Simultaneous measurement of [Ca²⁺]_i and the intracellular PS level revealed that scavenging effect of PS was not related to the inhibitory effect. Removal of extracellular Ca²⁺, a calmodulin inhibitor and dithiothreitol attenuated the inhibitory effect of PS. Pretreatment with PS diminished nociceptive behaviors induced by H₂O₂. The present data suggest that PS suppresses oxidative stress-induced TRPA1 activation due to cysteine modification and Ca²⁺/calmodulin signaling. Thus, endogenous sulfurs may have regulatory roles in nociception via functional changes in TRPA1 under inflammatory conditions.

Presentation of familiar odor induces negative dream emotions during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in healthy adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Odor presentation is a crucial tool in the experimental investigation of dreaming since odors rarely cause arousal, and are processed in the brain during sleep. Our previous study demonstrated that the presentation of a preferred odor during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-induced negative dream emotions. However, preference and familiarity of an odor are known to be strongly related to each other in olfactory perception. Consequently, the above result might have been due to the confounding effects of familiarity. Therefore, the present study was designed to clarify the effects of an individual's degree of familiarity with an odor on negative emotions experienced when dreaming.

METHODS

The airflow with phenylethyl alcohol (PEA: rose-like smell) was presented as a stimulus of experimental condition, and odorless airflow was presented as the control. Participants who were familiar (n = 7) and unfamiliar (n = 7) with the odor of PEA experienced both conditions during REM sleep in the second and later sleep cycle. Then, they were awakened, and they rated the characteristics of their dream using a questionnaire.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Participants who were familiar with the odor of PEA rated their dreams more negatively in the experimental condition relative to the control condition. It is concluded based on these results that a familiar odor may induce negative emotion in dreams, possibly because familiar odors tend to be perceived more strongly, and the olfactory pathway has direct connections to the amygdala, which is primarily involved in processing negative emotions.

Selection of cellular genetic markers for the detection of infectious poliovirus

AIMS

Cellular responses of an established cell line from human intestinal epithelial cells (INT-407 cells) against poliovirus (PV) infections were investigated in order to find cellular genetic markers for infectious PV detection.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Gene expression profile of INT-407 cells was analysed by DNA microarray technique when cells were infected with poliovirus 1 (PV1) (sabin) at multiplicity of infection of 10^-3 and incubated for 12 h. Poliovirus infection significantly altered the gene expressions of two ion channels, KCNJ4 and SCN7A. The expression profile of KCNJ4 gene was further investigated by real-time RT-qPCR, and it was found that KCNJ4 gene was significantly regulated at 24 h postinfection of PV1.

CONCLUSIONS

KCNJ4 gene, coding a potassium channel protein, is proposed as a cellular genetic marker for infectious PV detection.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first study to show the availability of cellular responses to detect infectious PV. The selection of cellular genetic markers for infectious viruses using DNA microarray and RT-qPCR can be applicable for the other enteric viruses.

Bayesian modeling of virus removal efficiency in wastewater treatment processes

Left-censored datasets of virus density in wastewater samples make it difficult to evaluate the virus removal efficiency in wastewater treatment processes. In the present study, we modeled the probabilistic distribution of virus removal efficiency in a wastewater treatment process with a Bayesian approach, and investigated how many detect samples in influent and effluent are necessary for accurate estimation. One hundred left-censored data of virus density in wastewater (influent and effluent) were artificially generated based on assumed log-normal distributions and the posterior predictive distribution of virus density, and the log-ratio distribution were estimated. The estimation accuracy of distributions was quantified by Bhattacharyya coefficient. When it is assumed that the accurate estimation of posterior predictive distributions is possible when a 100% positive rate is obtained for 12 pairs of influent and effluent, 11 out of 144, 60 out of 324, and 201 out of 576 combinations of detect samples gave an accurate estimation at the significant level of 0.01 in a Kruskal-Wallis test when the total sample number was 12, 18, and 24, respectively. The combinations with the minimum number of detect samples were (12, 9), (16, 10), and (21, 8) when the total sample number was 12, 18, and 24, respectively.

Source identification of nitrous oxide on autotrophic partial nitrification in a granular sludge reactor

Emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) during biological wastewater treatment is of growing concern since N2O is a major stratospheric ozone-depleting substance and an important greenhouse gas. The emission of N2O from a lab-scale granular sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for partial nitrification (PN) treating synthetic wastewater without organic carbon was therefore determined in this study, because PN process is known to produce more N2O than conventional nitrification processes. The average N2O emission rate from the SBR was 0.32 ± 0.17 mg-N L(-1) h(-1), corresponding to the average emission of N2O of 0.8 ± 0.4% of the incoming nitrogen load (1.5 ± 0.8% of the converted NH4(+)). Analysis of dynamic concentration profiles during one cycle of the SBR operation demonstrated that N2O concentration in off-gas was the highest just after starting aeration whereas N2O concentration in effluent was gradually increased in the initial 40 min of the aeration period and was decreased thereafter. Isotopomer analysis was conducted to identify the main N2O production pathway in the reactor during one cycle. The hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidation pathway accounted for 65% of the total N2O production in the initial phase during one cycle, whereas contribution of the NO2(-) reduction pathway to N2O production was comparable with that of the NH2OH oxidation pathway in the latter phase. In addition, spatial distributions of bacteria and their activities in single microbial granules taken from the reactor were determined with microsensors and by in situ hybridization. Partial nitrification occurred mainly in the oxic surface layer of the granules and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were abundant in this layer. N2O production was also found mainly in the oxic surface layer. Based on these results, although N2O was produced mainly via NH2OH oxidation pathway in the autotrophic partial nitrification reactor, N2O production mechanisms were complex and could involve multiple N2O production pathways.

Introduction of a degassing membrane technology into anaerobic wastewater treatment

The effectiveness of degasification using a degassing membrane to improve chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was investigated using a bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Vacuum degasification was able to transfer dissolved gas in the bulk liquid of the UASB reactor inside the membrane. Such a process might provide thermodynamically favorable conditions for the degradation of organic compounds. The COD-removal efficiency improved from 83% during normal operation to 90% during the degassing operation.

Mandibular reconstruction using a poly(L-lactide) mesh combined with autogenous particulate cancellous bone and marrow: a prospective clinical study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability and viability of mandibular bone regeneration using a poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) mesh and autogenous particulate cancellous bone and marrow (PCBM). Sixty-two procedures were undertaken at eight hospitals (22 malignant tumours, 30 benign tumours, five cysts, two osteomyelitis, two trauma, and one atrophy of the alveolar ridge); the success rate was 84%. The follow-up period was between 9 and 200 months (mean 88.2 months). Consequently, bone regeneration at 6 months postoperation was excellent in 35 cases (57%), good in 17 cases (27%), and poor in 10 cases (16%). In six of the 'poor' cases, the PLLA mesh was removed due to local infection early after surgery. Bone resorption>20% was observed in only one of 46 cases with a follow-up term of >1 year. There were no signs of any other adverse effects except in one case where a section of the tray broke off late in the follow-up period. It is concluded that this method is stable and effective due to favourable morphological and functional recovery and low invasiveness. It may thus be a useful alternative procedure for mandibular reconstruction.

Characterization of microbial community structures and their activities in single anaerobic granules by beta imaging, microsensors and fluorescence in situ hybridization

The spatial distribution of microorganisms and their in situ activities in anaerobic granules were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), beta imaging and microsensors. FISH results revealed a layered structure of microorganisms in the granule, where Chloroflexi was present in the outermost layer, Smithella spp. and Syntrophobacter spp. were found in a depth of ca. 100 μm, and Archaea was restricted to the inner layer (below ca. 300 μm from the surface). Substrate uptake patterns elucidated by beta imaging demonstrated that glucose uptake was highest at 50 μm depth, whereas propionate uptake had a peak at 200 μm depth. In addition, microsensor measurements revealed that acid was produced mainly at 100 μm depth and H(2) production was detected at a depth from 100 to 200 μm. H(2) consumption and corresponding CH(4) production were found below 200 μm from the surface. Direct comparison of these results implied sequential degradation of complex organic compounds in anaerobic granules; Chloroflexi contributed to fermentation of organic compounds and acid production in the outermost layer, volatile fatty acids were oxidized and H(2) was produced mainly by Smithella spp. and Syntrophobacter spp. at a depth from 100 to 200 μm, and Archaea produced CH(4) below ca. 300 μm from the surface.

Aspirin's ability to induce intestinal injury in rats is dependent on bile and can be reversed if pre-associated with phosphatidylcholine

Clinical evidence suggests that aspirin and particularly enteric-coated aspirin induce significant injury to the lower gut. We have reported that NSAID injury to the small bowel is exacerbated by bile acids and that phosphatidylcholine (PC) can protect against this damage. Using a recently described method, we intra-duodenally administered either: saline, aspirin or aspirin pre-associated with PC. The rats were euthanized 90 minutes later at which time we assessed: tissue injury morphologically, vascular permeability with i.v. administered Evan's blue and intestinal bleeding by measuring luminal hemoglobin. In a separate experiment, aspirin-induced injury was studied in rats whose bile duct was ligated either alone or in the presence of rat bile (collected from donor animals). Intra-duodenal administration of aspirin induced mucosal injury (observed histologically), an increase in vascular permeability and blood loss into the intestinal lumen, all of which could be attenuated if the NSAID was pre-associated with PC. Furthermore, using 100 mg/kg dose of aspirin it was determined that bile duct ligation (BDL) significantly reduced aspirin-induced intestinal bleeding which was not different from control rats. Lastly, it was determined that intestinal bleeding was significantly increased in rats with BDL if the aspirin was administered in rodent bile. Aspirin-induced intestinal injury and bleeding in the rat is dependent on the presence of luminal bile, which is likely attributable to it's constituent bile acids. Pre-association of aspirin with PC provides a novel therapeutic approach to significantly reduce aspirin-induced small intestinal injury and bleeding, as may occur with enteric-coated aspirin.

Triad stimulation frequency for cortical facilitation in cortical myoclonus

BACKGROUND

Abnormally enhanced cortical rhythmic activities have been reported in patients with cortical myoclonus. We recently reported a new triad-conditioning transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) method to detect the intrinsic rhythms of the primary motor cortex (M1). Triad-conditioning TMS revealed a 40-Hz intrinsic rhythm of M1 in normal subjects. In this investigation, we study the motor cortical facilitation induced by rhythmic triple TMS pulses (triad-conditioning TMS) in patients with cortical myoclonus.

METHODS

Subjects were 7 patients with cortical myoclonus (28-74 years old) and 13 healthy volunteers (30-71 years old). Three conditioning stimuli over M1 at the intensity of 110% active motor threshold preceded the test TMS at various interstimulus intervals corresponding to 10-200 Hz. The resulting amplitudes of conditioned motor evoked potentials recorded from the contralateral hand muscle were compared with those evoked by the test stimulus alone.

RESULTS

The facilitation at 25 ms (40 Hz) observed in normal subjects was absent in patients with cortical myoclonus. Instead, triad-conditioning TMS induced facilitation at a 40 ms interval (25 Hz) in cortical myoclonus.

DISCUSSIONS

This change in the timing of facilitation may be explained by a shift of the most preferential intrinsic rhythm of M1, or by some dysfunction in the interneuronal network in cortical myoclonus.

Qualitative and quantitative estimation of host-specific fecal pollution using Bacteroides-Prevotella 16S rRNA genetic markers by T-RFLP and real-time PCR analyses

Rapid and reliable determination of the non-point sources of fecal pollution is a critical issue for the environmental microbiologists all over the world. In this work we evaluated the use of anaerobic bacterial group Bacteroides-Prevotella as an alternative fecal pollution indicator. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses were used to monitor and quantify human-, cow- and pig-specific fecal contamination in natural river waters. We also included DNA sequence analysis of the identified fecal markers revealed by T-RFLP in order to clarify the specificity of each marker. It was suggested that the most influent peaks for each fecal source could be used to identify the source of fecal pollution. Development of specific probes based on these markers permit to quantify source of contamination by quantitative RT-PCR. Therefore, we combined the T-RFLP results and RT-PCR assay to quantify fecal contamination by certain host. We can conclude that T-RFLP and RT-PCR analyses showed high reproducibility and sensitivity during analyzing real water samples and can be used to identify, track and quantify host-specific bacterial genetic markers in complex natural water environments.

Differentiation of embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells whose developmental state is equivalent to cells of the inner cell mass in the blastocyst-stage embryo. This unit presents a method of producing differentiated ES cells in which the cells are first aggregated on a less adhesive surface to form embryoid bodies (EBs). EBs are allowed to attach to a permissive substrate and then differentiate into neural cells in a serum-free medium. The resulting cell population can be maintained for several passages in serum-free medium in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or allowed to differentiate into postmitotic neurons by plating onto a glial monolayer followed by culture with serum. Also included in the unit are procedures for preparing feeder cells from embryonic fibroblasts and for preparing glial monolayer cultures, both for use in the main ES production protocol.

Bacterial community dynamics and conversion of inorganic nitrogen under aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions

To investigate the inorganic nitrogen conversion in reactors that were operated under aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions and to identify populations that became acclimated in the reactors under those oxygen conditions, we operated two reactors with 72 h of hydraulic retention time and an artificial medium containing ammonium- and nitrite-nitrogen without any organic compound. We determined the concentration of inorganic nitrogen in samples from the reactors and the microbial community structure in the reactors by using PCR-DGGE of the partial 16S rRNA gene. The results showed that nitrification to nitrate fully progressed in the aerobic reactor within 24 h, but we could not find any obvious reaction in the micro-aerobic reactor. In a view of microbial community structure, the total number of microorganisms composing the communities in the reactors was dramatically decreased compared to those of the initial inoculated sludge that originated from the Jang-lim sewage treatment plant in Busan, Republic of Korea because of the limited nutrients present. One Nitrospira sp. was clearly detected under both aerobic (as DO > 2 mg l(-1)) and micro-aerobic (as DO < 0.7 mg l(-1)) conditions while no AOB-like bacterium was exactly matched among main bands. By the results, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria may be more tolerant to variations in oxygen, or the occupation of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria as dominant groups may have been inhibited by substrate starvation and high concentrations of nitrite-N in influent.

Tracheostomy can fatally exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing in multiple system atrophy

Tracheostomy has been employed to release the airway obstruction at the glottic level and to prevent sudden death in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, sudden death is possible even after tracheostomy. Nocturnal polysomnography showed that the apnea-hypopnea index became higher after tracheostomy, and all tracheostomized patients had frequent central sleep apneas.

Functional evaluations of the parotid and submandibular glands using dynamic magnetic resonance sialography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the functional differences between the parotid and submandibular glands using dynamic MR sialography.

METHODS

In 30 volunteers, the time-dependent changes (dynamic changes) in the maximum area of the detectable parotid and submandibular gland ducts on dynamic MR sialographic images were analysed.

RESULTS

Dynamic changes in the parotid gland ducts were detectable on MR sialographic images in all volunteers, but images of the submandibular gland ducts were detectable in only 23 volunteers. In addition, the dynamic changes in the submandibular gland ducts in these 23 subjects were less than those seen in the parotid gland ducts. A relationship was found between the changing ratio of parotid (Pearson r=0.448, P=0.013) or submandibular gland ducts (Pearson r=0.418, P=0.047) and the salivary flow rate during the stimulation period.

CONCLUSIONS

Dynamic MR sialography allows evaluation of rest and stimulated functioning and morphological evaluation of the parotid and submandibular glands. This technique appears to have many possible applications in the dental, medical and biological fields.

Identification and functional signature of genes regulated by structurally different ABL kinase inhibitors

Dasatinib is an ATP-competitive, multi-targeted SRC and ABL kinase inhibitor that can bind BCR-ABL in both the active and inactive conformations. From a clinical standpoint, dasatinib is particularly attractive because it has been shown to induce hematologic and cytogenetic responses in imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The fact because the combination of imatinib and dasatinib shows the additive/synergistic growth inhibition on wild-type p210 BCR-ABL-expressing cells, we reasoned that these ABL kinase inhibitors might induce the different molecular pathways. To address this question, we used DNA microarrays to identify genes whose transcription was altered by imatinib and dasatinib. K562 cells were cultured with imatinib or dasatinib for 16 h, and gene expression data were obtained from three independent microarray hybridizations. Almost all of the imatinib- and dasatinib-responsive genes appeared to be similarly increased or decreased in K562 cells; however, small subsets of genes were identified as selectively altered expression by either imatinib or dasatinib. The distinct genes that are selectively modulated by dasatinib are cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and CDK8, which had a maximal reduction of <5-fold in microarray screen. To assess the functional importance of dasatinib regulated genes, we used RNA interference to determine whether reduction of CDK2 and CDK8 affected the growth inhibition. K562 and TF-1BCR-ABL cells, pretreated with CDK2 or CDK8 small interfering RNA, showed additive growth inhibition with imatinib, but not with dasatinib. These findings demonstrate that the additive/synergistic growth inhibition by imatinib and dasatinib may be mediated in part by CDK2 and CDK8.

Dynamic magnetic resonance sialography as a new diagnostic technique for patients with Sjogren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical utility of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) sialographic images as a diagnostic tool for patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

The morphological findings and various kinds of functional parameters in volunteers on dynamic MR sialographic images were compared with those in five patients with definite Sjögren's syndrome.

RESULTS

On the MR sialographs of all five patients with Sjögren's syndrome, the so-called 'apple-tree appearance' was seen. The difference in two functional parameters using the dynamic MR sialographic data was elucidated between the two groups. The maximum area of the detectable ducts in the group of patients was significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than that in the group of volunteers. The ratio of change in the detectable ducts in the group of patients was significantly lower (P = 0.011) than that in the group of volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that dynamic MR sialographic data in addition to MR sialographic images might be useful for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Clinical significance and variation of the advanced calcified stylohyoid complex detected by panoramic radiographs among 80-year-old subjects

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the clinical significance and variation of a calcified stylohyoid complex associated with advanced calcification as detected on panoramic radiographs among 80-year-old subjects.

METHODS

Panoramic radiographs of 659 patients (262 men and 397 women) and data of their general and dental health conditions were used for the evaluation of the relationship between a calcified stylohyoid complex and general health among 80-year-olds. This study was part of the 8020 Data Bank Survey, which was designed to collect the baseline data of general and dental health conditions in 80-year-old subjects. The morphology of the calcified stylohyoid complexes was allocated to one of 12 patterns. The lengths of the calcified stylohyoid complex were measured directly on the radiographs from the caudal margin of the tympanic plate to the tip of the styloid process.

RESULTS

All of the stylohyoid complexes from the 659 panoramic radiographs could be allocated to one of 12 morphological patterns, and some of their radiographic findings suggested calcification of the carotid artery and lymph nodes. In 80-year-old subjects, the average length of the calcified stylohyoid complexes was 36.7 mm, and ranged from 0.0 mm to 153.0 mm. There appeared to be correlations between the length of the calcified stylohyoid complex and serum calcium concentration and heel bone density, but not with the Community Periodontal Index (CPI).

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists should recognize the existence of morphological variation in calcified stylohyoid complexes, especially in length, apparent on panoramic radiographs of 80-year-old patients. In addition, the longer length of the calcified stylohyoid complexes in 80-year-old patients may be a predictor of bone density and high serum calcium concentration level. The findings from the present study may provide potentially life-saving information about elderly people.

Telomerase inhibition with a novel G-quadruplex-interactive agent, telomestatin: in vitro and in vivo studies in acute leukemia

The telomerase complex is responsible for telomere maintenance and represents a promising neoplasia therapeutic target. Recently, we have demonstrated that treatment with a G-quadruplex-interactive agent, telomestatin reproducibly inhibited telomerase activity in the BCR-ABL-positive leukemic cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis induced by telomerase inhibition in acute leukemia. We have found the activation of caspase-3 and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase in telomestatin-treated U937 cells (PD20) and dominant-negative DN-hTERT-expressing U937 cells (PD25). Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and MKK3/6 was also found in telomestatin-treated U937 cells (PD20) and dominant-negative DN-hTERT-expressing U937 cells (PD25); however, activation of JNK and ASK1 was not detected in these cells. To examine the effect of p38 MAP kinase inhibition on growth properties and apoptosis in telomerase-inhibited cells, we cultured DN-hTERT-expressing U937 cells with or without SB203580. Dominant-negative-hTERT-expressing U937 cells stopped proliferation on PD25; however, a significant increase in growth rate was observed in the presence of SB203580. Treatment of SB203580 also reduced the induction of apoptosis in DN-hTERT-expressing U937 cells (PD25). These results suggest that p38 MAP kinase has a critical role for the induction of apoptosis in telomerase-inhibited leukemia cells. Further, we evaluated the effect of telomestatin on the growth of U937 cells in xenograft mouse model. Systemic intraperitoneal administration of telomestatin in U937 xenografts decreased tumor telomerase levels and reduced tumor volumes. Tumor tissue from telomestatin-treated animals exhibited marked apoptosis. None of the mice treated with telomestatin displayed any signs of toxicity. Taken together, these results lay the foundations for a program of drug development to achieve the dual aims of efficacy and selectivity in vivo.

Correlation between the incidence of central nodal necrosis in cervical lymph node metastasis and the extent of differentiation in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the incidence of central nodal necrosis (CNN) in the cervical lymph nodes of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the factors that influence the formation of CNN.

METHODS

Lymph nodes shown as CNN on computed tomography (CT) films in 107 lymph nodes from 27 patients with oral SCC were selected. Lymph nodes with CNN on CT films were compared with the pathological findings of lymph nodes on specimens. We compared many kinds of factors influencing the formation of CNN, including the differentiated type, with the incidence of CNN.

RESULTS

Significant relationships were found between the incidence of CNN in metastatic lymph nodes and the presence of well-differentiated SCC and the presence of keratinization in tumour cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that if a patient had SCC with low-grade differentiation, CNN in small lymph nodes would be difficult to detect on CT scan. Therefore, noting changes in lymph node density in the absence of CNN on CT scans is necessary in case the primary tumour is low-grade SCC.

Radiographic examination of the mandibular (glenoid) fossa in ancient and modern man

OBJECTIVE

To compare the morphology of the mandibular (glenoid) fossa between ancient and modern Japanese.

METHODS

There were 221 specimens from the ancient period and 206 specimens from the modern period. Radiographs of the mandibular fossa were obtained using a modified Schuller technique and were studied. The length, depth, and area of the mandibular fossa and angulation of the frontal slope of the mandibular fossa on the radiographs were automatically computed. In addition, morphological changes of the mandibular fossa in the ancient or modern periods on radiographs were evaluated in order to assess tendency of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

RESULT

The ratio of mandibular fossa having morphological alternation in the modern period was greater than that in the Yayoi. Differences in the length and area between the right and left sides became progressively larger from the Yayoi to modern periods. The angulation of the anterior slope of the mandibular fossa in the modern period was smaller than that in other periods.

CONCLUSION

The morphology of the mandibular fossa was shown to have changed and asymmetry has increased from the Yayoi to modern periods. It can be speculated that this change in morphology of the mandibular fossa in the modern period is the result of an increase of TMD.

Glycoconjugates with NeuAc-NeuAc-Gal-Glc are more effective at preventing adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to gastric epithelial cells than glycoconjugates with NeuAc-Gal-Glc

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) adheres to human gastric epithelial cells, eliciting various gastroduodenal diseases. Gangliosides play a critical role in bacterial adhesion to cell surfaces. The present study examined how residues of gangliosides are important for inhibition of adhesion of H. pylori to MKN-45 cells. We measured adhesion or detachment effects of gangliosides on the interaction between MKN-45 cells and H. pylori, as well as interleukin-8 production. Among the gangliosides, O-Ac-GD3, GT(1b), GD(1a), GD(1b), GT(1a), and GD3 had potent dose dependent inhibitory effects on adhesion of H. pylori to MKN-45 cells, interleukin-8 production, and vacuole formation induced by H. pylori toxin binding to Vero cells. GD3 also accelerated bacterial detachment of MKN-45 cells with adherent H. pylori in a dose dependent manner. Such results strongly suggest that the mechanism involved in the inhibition of H. pylori adhesion is mediated by the variations of the residues of the NeuAc-NeuAc-Gal-Glc chain of gangliosides. NeuAc-NeuAc-Gal-Glc exhibits a more inhibitory effect on adhesion than the NeuAc-Gal-Glc chain. Such gangioside and oligosaccrharide sequences appear to have therapeutic importance for prevention of H. pylori adhesion, as well as reduction of both inflammation and gastric mucosal injuries.

Equilateral-triangular shape in 14C

An equilateral-triangular shape of three alpha clusters surrounded by excess neutrons is suggested for 14C, based on the molecular-orbit model. It is found that the attractive interaction between an excess neutron and an alpha particle stabilizes the K(pi)=0(+) and 3(-) rotational bands, which demonstrates an equilateral-triangular symmetry. This K(pi)=3(-) band at 3 MeV below the 10Be+alpha threshold energy corresponds to the experimentally observed band built on top of the second 3(-) state. A positive-parity rotational band (0(+), 2(+), 4(+)) arises similarly. These two bands suggest a molecular 3-alpha structure stabilized by the excess neutrons and can be viewed as a realization of the alpha crystallization in the dilute nuclear medium.

Effects of indomethacin and rofecoxib on gastric mucosal damage in normal and Helicobacter pylori-infected mongolian gerbils

This study examined the effects of indomethacin and rofecoxib on normal and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected gastric mucosa of Mongolian (M.) gerbils. M. gerbils (6-wk-old) were orally administered H. pylori (ATCC43504, 2 x 10(8) CFU/ml) after fasting for 24 hours. Beginning 3 mo after inoculation, indomethacin (2 mg/kg, s.c) or rofecoxib (10 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered once daily for 2 wk to the gerbils. At autopsy, gastric mucosal ulcer area, myeroperoxidase (MPO) activity, prostaglandin (PG) E(2) synthesis, and H. pylori viability were determined. Histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion was measured with the acute gastric fistula method. Histological study was performed with H&E staining. H. pylori infection caused severe mucosal damage and production of lymphoid follicles in the gastric submucosa. In H. pylori-infected gerbils, indomethacin aggravated the gastric mucosal damage induced by H. pylori infection. Furthermore, indomethacin by itself induced gastric ulcers at an incidence of 6/10. In contrast, rofecoxib did not aggravate the H. pylori-induced mucosal damage. Indomethacin and rofeocoxib significantly reduced H. pylori viability. MPO activity was significantly increased in H. pylori-infected gerbils compared with H. pylori-uninfected gerbils. Indomethacin and rofecoxib reduced MPO activity in H. pylori-infected gerbils. PGE(2) synthesis was markedly increased in H. pylori-infected gerbils (approximately 3-times) compared with the normal gerbils. Indomethacin significantly inhibited PGE(2) synthesis in the gastric mucosa, both in normal and H. pylori-infected gerbils. Rofecoxib did not reduce PGE(2) synthesis in normal gerbils, however, PGE(2) synthesis was reduced to normal levels in H. pylori-infected gerbils. In H. pylori-infected gerbils, histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion was reduced compared with normal gerbils. Indomethacin significantly increased histamine-stimulated gastric acid secretion and rofecoxib tended to increase secretion in H. pylori-infected gerbils. It was concluded that indomethacin enhances development of gastric mucosal damage in normal gerbils and aggravates H. pylori-induced gastric damage, resulting in gastric ulcers. Rofecoxib did not induce gastric damage in normal gerbils and did not aggravate damage in H. pylori-infected gerbils, suggesting that rofecoxib is less damaging to the stomach than indomethacin.

Microbial communities and their interactions in biofilm systems: an overview

Several important advances have been made in the study of biofilm microbial populations relating to their spatial structure (or architecture), their community structure, and their dependence on physicochemical parameters. With the knowledge that hydrodynamic forces influence biofilm architecture came the realization that metabolic processes may be enhanced if certain spatial structures can be forced. An example is the extent of plasmid-mediated horizontal gene transfer in biofilms. Recent in situ work in defined model systems has shown that the biofilm architecture plays a role for genetic transfer by bacterial conjugation in determining how far the donor cells can penetrate the biofilm. Open channels and pores allow for more efficient donor transport and hence more frequent cell collisions leading to rapid spread of the genes by horizontal gene transfer. Such insight into the physical environment of biofilms can be utilized for bioenhancement of catabolic processes by introduction of mobile genetic elements into an existing microbial community. If the donor organisms themselves persist, bioaugmentation can lead to successful establishment of newly introduced species and may be a more successful strategy than biostimulation (the addition of nutrients or specific carbon sources to stimulate the authochthonous population) as shown for an enrichment culture of nitrifying bacteria added to rotating disk biofilm reactors using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and microelectrode measurements of NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, and O2. However, few studies have been carried out on full-scale systems. Bioaugmentation and bioenhancement are most successful if a constant selective pressure can be maintained favoring the promulgation of the added enrichment culture. Overall, knowledge gain about microbial community interactions in biofilms continues to be driven by the availability of methods for the rapid analysis of microbial communities and their activities. Molecular tools can be grouped into those suitable for ex situ and in situ community analysis. Non-spatial community analysis, in the sense of assessing changes in microbial populations as a function of time or environmental conditions, relies on general fingerprinting methods, like DGGE and T-RFLP, performed on nucleic acids extracted from biofilm. These approaches have been most useful when combined with gene amplification, cloning and sequencing to assemble a phylogenetic inventory of microbial species. It is expected that the use of oligonucleotide microarrays will greatly facilitate the analysis of microbial communities and their activities in biofilms. Structure-activity relationships can be explored using incorporation of 13C-labeled substrates into microbial DNA and RNA to identify metabolically active community members. Finally, based on the DNA sequences in a biofilm, FISH probes can be designed to verify the abundance and spatial location of microbial community members. This in turn allows for in situ structure/function analysis when FISH is combined with microsensors, microautoradiography, and confocal laser scanning microscopy with advanced image analysis.

Effects of hydroxylamine on microbial community structure and function of autotrophic nitrifying biofilms determined by in situ hybridization and the use of microelectrodes

Effects of hydroxylamine (NH2OH), an intermediate of NH4+ oxidation, on microbial community structure and function of two autotrophic nitrifying biofilms fed with and without NH2OH were analyzed by a 16S rRNA approach and the use of microelectrodes. In the NH2OH-added biofilm, partial oxidation of NH4+ to NO2- was observed, whereas complete oxidation of NH4+ to NO3- was achieved in the control biofilm. In situ hybridization results revealed that no nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) hybridized with any specific probes were detected in the NH2OH-added biofilm. Thus, the addition of low concentrations of NH2OH (250 microM) completely inhibited the growth of NOB. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA indicated that the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) detected in both biofilms were closely related to Nitrosomonas europaea, and that the clone sequences from both biofilm libraries have more than 99% similarity to each other. However, in situ hybridization results revealed that the addition of NH2OH changed the form of growth pattern of the dominant Nitrosomonas spp. from dense clusters mode to single scattered cells mode. Microelectrode measurements revealed that the average NH4+ consumption rate calculated in the NH2OH-added biofilm was two times higher than that in the control biofilm. This clearly demonstrated that the oxidation of NH4+ was stimulated by NH2OH addition.

Sulfate-reducing bacterial community structure and their contribution to carbon mineralization in a wastewater biofilm growing under microaerophilic conditions

The community structure of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and the contribution of SRB to carbon mineralization in a wastewater biofilm growing under microaerophilic conditions were investigated by combining molecular techniques, molybdate inhibition batch experiments, and microelectrode measurements. A 16S rDNA clone library of bacteria populations was constructed from the biofilm sample. The 102 clones analyzed were grouped into 53 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), where the clone distribution was as follows: Cytophaga- Flexibacter- Bacteroides (41%), Proteobacteria (41%), low-G+C Gram-positive bacteria (18%), and other phyla (3%). Three additional bacterial clone libraries were also constructed from SRB enrichment cultures with propionate, acetate, and H(2) as electron donors to further investigate the differences in SRB community structure due to amendments of different carbon sources. These libraries revealed that SRB clones were phylogenetically diverse and affiliated with six major SRB genera in the delta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that Desulfobulbus and Desulfonema were the most abundant SRB species in this biofilm, and this higher abundance (ca. 2-4x10(9) cells cm(-3) and 5x10(7) filaments cm(-3), respectively) was detected in the surface of the biofilm. Microelectrode measurements showed that a high sulfate-reducing activity was localized in a narrow zone located just below the oxic/anoxic interface when the biofilm was cultured in a synthetic medium with acetate as the sole carbon source. In contrast, a broad sulfate-reducing zone was found in the entire anoxic strata when the biofilm was cultured in the supernatant of the primary settling tank effluent. This is probably because organic carbon sources diffused into the biofilm from the bulk water and an unknown amount of volatile fatty acids was produced in the biofilm. A combined approach of molecular techniques and batch experiments with a specific inhibitor (molybdate) clearly demonstrated that Desulfobulbus is a numerically important member of SRB populations and the main contributor to the oxidation of propionate to acetate in this biofilm. However, acetate was preferentially utilized by nitrate-reducing bacteria but not by acetate-utilizing SRB.

Characterization of "unhealed gastric ulcers" produced with chronic exposure of acetic acid ulcers to indomethacin in rats

We previously discovered that a 4-wk course of indomethacin delivered to rats with acetic acid ulcers resulted in production of "unhealed gastric ulcers" that persisted for up to 12 wks after treatment cessation. The present study examined the mechanism underlying such "unhealed gastric ulcers" with biochemical and histological procedures. "Unhealed gastric ulcers" were induced with a 4-wk indomethacin treatment (1 mg/kg, twice daily) in rats with acetic acid ulcers. Two and 4 wks after treatment cessation, ulcer size was significantly larger in rats receiving indomethacin compared with control animals. Ulcerated tissue prostaglandin E2 levels were significantly lower during indomethacin treatment, but the levels tended to increase after treatment cessation compared with levels measure in the group receiving vehicle. Myeloperoxidase activity levels were significantly higher during indomethacin treatment; such levels persisted after treatment cessation. Histologically, greater degrees of fibrosis and neutrophil accumulation, as well as a lesser degree of angiogenesis were observed in the "unhealed gastric ulcers" compared to ulcers that healed in a normal fashion. It was concluded that severe fibrosis, persistent neutrophil infiltration, and poor angiogenesis in the ulcer base might represent factors involved in the mechanism underlying production of "unhealed gastric ulcers".

Effect of dissolved oxygen concentration on the biofilm and in situ analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and microelectrodes

A better understanding of microbiology and ecology of nitrifying bacteria in inner biofilms is an important part of improving process performance and control. Microelectrodes and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in biofilm research have been used to investigate the spatial distributions of various microbial activities in biofilms and have led to new experimental findings as well as modifications of the homogeneous assumptions in the biofilm kinetic models. The objective of this study is to try the combination of two methods, both FISH and microelectrode measurements, and to provide reliable and in situ information on nitrifying bacterial activity in biofilms. The characteristics of biofilm developed on tygon slides were different according to the change of dissolved oxygen (DO). When the DO increased from 2 to 10 mg DO/L, the rate of the biofilm thickness increased and its dry density changed from 50-70 to 25-90 mg/cm3. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria were not uniformly distributed in biofilm, and were found at the deeper layer where oxygen is depleted, they were detected primarily in the upper and middle layers of the biofilm.

Effect of nitrite and nitrate on biogenic sulfide production in sewer biofilms determined by the use of microelectrodes

The effects of O2 and NO3- concentrations on in situ sulfate reduction and sulfide reoxidation in microaerophilic wastewater biofilms grown on rotating disk reactors were investigated by the use of microelectrodes for O2, S2-, NO3-, NO2-, and pH. Microelectrode measurements showed the vertical microzonation of O2 respiration, NO3- respiration, H2S oxidation and SO4(2-) reduction in the biofilms. The microelectrode measurements indicate that sulfate reducing activity was largely restricted to a narrow anaerobic zone located about 500 microm below the biofilm surface. An addition of nitrate forced the sulfate reduction zone deeper in the biofilm and reduced the specific sulfate reduction rate as well. The sulfate reduction zone was consequently separated from the O2 and NO3- respiration zones. Anaerobic H2S oxidation with NO3- was also induced by addition of nitrate to the medium. Measurements of the reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (FeS, FeS2 and S0), total-Mn and total-Fe in the biofilm indicated that the produced H2S became immediately oxidized with O2, NO3- and other oxidants, mainly ferric/ferrous hydrates. On the basis of the present results, it was estimated that of all sulfide produced, 13% of the sulfide was precipitated by metal ions as FeS and S0 just above the sulfate reduction zone, 65% was anaerobically oxidized to SO4(2-) with NO3- as an electron acceptor and 22% was aerobically oxidized within the biofilm incubated in 70 micromol l(-1) of DO and 280 micromol l(-1) of NO3-.

gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid and 5-fluorouracil, metabolites of UFT, inhibit the angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor

UFT, a drug composed of uracil and tegafur at the molar ratio of 4:1, is an orally active agent for the treatment of a wide variety of malignant tumours. Using a murine dorsal air sac (DAS) assay, we have previously shown that UFT and its metabolites, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), inhibited the angiogenesis induced by murine renal cell carcinoma. Here we report that UFT was more effective than other fluorinated pyrimidines such as 5-FU and doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) in blocking the angiogenic responses elicited by five human cancer cell lines which produced high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but no detectable fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in vitro. In contrast, UFT was unable to block the angiogenic response to one human gastric cancer cell line which produced both VEGF and FGF-2 in vitro. However, the production or secretion of VEGF by these cells was unaffected by GHB and 5-FU treatment. Interestingly, GHB suppressed the chemotactic migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by VEGF, without inhibiting their DNA synthesis. Since GHB did not affect the FGF-2-driven activities in HUVECs, its action appears to be VEGF-selective. On the other hand, 5-FU inhibited DNA synthesis and migration of HUVECs stimulated by both VEGF and FGF-2, and tube formation driven by VEGF, suggesting that 5-FU is cytotoxic to endothelial cells. The inhibitory effects of 5-FU, and especially those GHB, were reproduced under in vivo condition using the DAS assay. The VEGF-mediated angiogenesis was significantly inhibited by UFT, 5-FU, and especially by GHB. We propose that the selective inhibitory effects of GHB on VEGF-mediated responses of endothelial cells are involved in the anti-angiogenic activity of UFT.