Age at onset of schizophrenia: gender differences and influence of temporal socioeconomic change

This study was undertaken to examine whether males develop schizophrenia at a younger age than females, and whether temporal socioeconomic change affects the age at onset of schizophrenia. The subjects were 848 ICD-9 schizophrenics who were admitted to Nihon University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, during the period of 1955-64 (n = 468 (214 males and 254 females), group A) or during the period of 1982-91 (n = 380 (220 males and 160 females). group B). Schizophrenic males showed an earlier age at onset than schizophrenic females. However, the mean age at onset of schizophrenia did not differ significantly between group A and group B. These results indicate that the gender difference in age at onset of schizophrenia has not been influenced by temporal socioeconomic change.     

Intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia for CABG: extended interval of cardioplegia

BACKGROUND: Intermittent delivery of warm cardioplegia provides a bloodless surgical field, but it is clinically important to evaluate the periods of normothermic ischemia. The aims of this study are to compare intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia (IAWBC) with intermittent antegrade cold blood cardioplegia (IACBC) groups in terms of myocardial protection, and also to evaluate whether the length of ischemic time in the IAWBC group has an effect on myocardial dysfunction. METHODS: This study is based on a retrospective review of patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery: 162 consecutive patients with IAWBC and 107 consecutive patients with IACBC. RESULTS: The creatinine kinase peak was smaller in the IAWBC group compared with the IACBC group (p<0.0001). The cardiac index after cardiopulmonary bypass was higher in the IAWBC group (p<0.02), and the amount of inotropic support required to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass was less in the IAWBC group compared with the IACBC group (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: IAWBC with 30 minutes of ischemia provides to be clinically acceptable myocardial protection for coronary bypass surgery.     

Overexpression of the aldo-keto reductase family protein AKR1B10 is highly correlated with smokers' non-small cell lung carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of the lung are currently subject to similar treatment regimens despite distinct differences in histology and epidemiology. The aim of this study is to identify a molecular target with diagnostic and therapeutic values for SCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Genes specifically up-regulated in SCC were explored through microarray analysis of 5 SCCs, 5 adenocarcinomas, 10 small cell lung carcinomas, 27 normal tissues, and 40 cancer cell lines. Clinical usefulness of these genes was subsequently examined mainly by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Seven genes, including aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B10 (AKR1B10), were identified as SCC-specific genes. AKR1B10 was further examined by immunohistochemical analysis of 101 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and its overexpression was observed in 27 of 32 (84.4%) SCCs and 19 of 65 (29.2%) adenocarcinomas. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was an independent variable responsible for AKR1B10 overexpression in NSCLCs (P < 0.01) and adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). AKR1B10 staining was occasionally observed even in squamous metaplasia, a precancerous lesion of SCC. CONCLUSION: AKR1B10 was overexpressed in most cases with SCC, which is closely associated with smoking, and many adenocarcinoma cases of smokers. These results suggest that AKR1B10 is a potential diagnostic marker specific to smokers' NSCLCs and might be involved in tobacco-related carcinogenesis.     

Biology of desmoplastic melanoma: a case-control comparison with other melanomas.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have established that patients with desmoplastic melanoma (DM) have thicker primary tumors. Consequently, comparisons with other forms of melanoma have been strongly biased by differences in Breslow stage. This is the first case-matched control study comparing DM with other forms of melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From a database of 3,202 melanoma patients treated at one institution, 89 patients with DM and 178 case-matched control patients (2:1) were identified by matching for tumor thickness, age, sex, and year of diagnosis. Clinical, pathologic, and outcome information was obtained from chart review. RESULTS: Controls were matched successfully to patients for tumor thickness, age, sex, and year of diagnosis. Presentation with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III or IV disease is less common in patients with DM compared to case-matched control patients (5% v 21%; P < .001). Re-excisions to obtain clear surgical margins are required more often in patients with DM compared to case-matched control patients (21% v 6%; P < .001). Risk of positive sentinel nodes is lower in patients with DM compared to case-matched control patients (8% v 34%; P = .013). Despite these differences, survival rates of patients with DM are the same as case-matched control patients. CONCLUSION: Use of case-matched control patients matched for tumor thickness avoids biases introduced by the advanced Breslow stage of DMs. DMs are more locally aggressive than thickness-matched controls, and positive sentinel nodes are limited to patients with thick primary tumors. Importantly, patients with DM have survival rates similar to patients with other melanomas of similar thickness.     

Reduced anxious behavior in mice lacking the CCK2 receptor gene.

Cholecystokinin 2 (CCK2) receptors have been implicated as mediators of anxiety in standard mouse models such as exploratory behavior both in black and white test boxes and in elevated plus-mazes. We investigated the role of the CCK2 receptor in anxiety by evaluating the behavior of mice lacking the gene for this receptor in these standard anxiety models (i.e., exploratory behavior in a black and white test box and exploratory behavior in an elevated plus-maze). In the black and white test box, mice lacking the CCK2 receptor gene showed significantly increased numbers of transitions between the boxes compared to control mice. In the elevated plus-maze, mice lacking the CCK2 receptor gene displayed significantly more head dips than control mice. These results suggest that mice lacking the CCK2 receptor gene are less anxious than normal mice.     

Translational research of herniated discs: current status of diagnosis and treatment

Lumbar herniated discs commonly occur in patients 20–40 years of age, and result in acute symptoms of shooting and intractable pain in the low back and/or lower extremities. However, the prognosis of these patients is considered to be very good. Moreover, 70 % of these patients have been reported to be free from sciatica at approximately 6 months after the first onset. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have described the spontaneous resorption process of herniated discs, which is a major cause of the reduction of symptoms in patients. New advancements in MRI have recently been developed that have facilitated the examination of nerve tract fibers and identification of symptomatic nerve tissue. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the resorption process of a herniated disc has been determined. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, and enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases are intricately related to each other. In our previous studies, matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) has been shown to play a crucial role in the initiation of herniated disc resorption. Therefore, we developed recombinant human MMP-7 for intradiscal therapy through an industry–university joint research program. We have already performed in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm its efficacy; this therapy avoids the side effects associated with surgery, such as nerve tissue damage. Moreover, the phase 1/2 studies of recombinant human (rh) MMP-7 are currently ongoing in the United States, and careful monitoring is required for these clinical trials. In conclusion, patients with lumbar herniated discs may benefit from the development of a less invasive treatment for disc herniation, which can be applied even immediately after the onset of disease symptoms.     

Characteristic hydrolyzing of megalosaccharide by human salivary α-amylase and small intestinal enzymes,and its bioavailability in healthy subjects

The digestibility of Megalosaccharide® (newly developed carbohydrate comprising α-1,4-glucosaccharide) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Isomaltosyl-megalosaccharide® (IMS) and nigerosyl-megalosaccharide® (NMS) contain 20% and 50% of the megalosaccharide fraction (degree of polymerization (DP) 10–35), respectively. IMS was hydrolyzed readily by α-amylase to oligosaccharides (DP?≤?7), and a small amount of glucose was produced from oligosaccharides by small intestinal enzymes (SIEs). NMS was partially hydrolyzed by α-amylase to oligosaccharides, and a small amount of glucose produced by SIEs. When IMS and NMS were treated by SIEs after treatment with human saliva α-amylase for a few minutes, IMS and NMS were hydrolyzed readily to glucose. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin upon ingestion of 50?g of IMS or NMS were elevated the same as those for 50?g of glucose, and breath hydrogen was not excreted. These results suggest that IMS and NMS are digestible carbohydrates.