An ambulatory respirometer (Hotmate) as a tool for screening of sleep apnea syndrome

The gold standard diagnostic method for sleep apnea syndrome(SAS) is overnight polysomnography(PSG), but is costly in terms of time and money. We studied the usefulness of a 24-hour ambulatory respirometer equipped with oximeter(Hotmate) for screening of SAS. Seventy-six cases of suspected SAS were enrolled(68 males and 8 females, mean age 51). The correlation between data from Hotmate and PSG was evaluated in 24 cases who underwent both of the tests for the final diagnosis of SAS. There was a good correlation between the two parameters of the data obtained by Hotmate(H) (H-apnea index(AI) vs H-desaturation index(DI)). Among 24 cases who underwent both Hotmate and PSG, there was a good correlation between the data from PSG and Hotmate(PSG-AI vs H-AI: r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Both sensitivity and specificity were highest when screening criteria of H-DI > 15 was utilized(sensitivity = 91.7%, specificity = 66.7%). Our findings suggest that the respiromonitor with oximeter is useful for the screening the patients with SAS.     

Analysis of mRNA with microsomal fractionation using a SAGE-based DNA microarray system facilitates identification of the genes encoding secretory proteins

In the regulation of host defense responses such as inflammation and immunity, the secretory proteins, including membrane proteins, play central roles. Although many secretory proteins have been identified by using methods such as differential display, random screening, or the signal sequence trap method, each method suffers from poor reproducibility, low sensitivity, or time-consuming or laborious work. Therefore, the strategy for facilitating the selection of the genes encoding the secretory proteins is desired. In this paper, we describe a system for isolating the genes encoding secretory proteins by analyzing mRNAs with microsomal fractionation on serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE)-based DNA microarray system. This system succeeded in discriminating the genes encoding secretory proteins from ones encoding nonsecretory proteins with 80% accuracy. We applied this system to human T lymphocytes. As a result, we were able to identify the genes that are not only encoding secretory proteins but also expressing selectively in a specific subset of T lymphocytes. The SAGE-based DNA microarray system is a promising system to identify the genes encoding specific secretory proteins.     

Fate redirection of hippocampal astrocytes toward neuronal lineage by aggregate culture

Mammalian cells that have been committed to a certain cell lineage cannot be directed to other lineages. However, some astrocytes in the mammalian brains have been reported to represent plasticity to redirect to other cell lineages. We found that mouse hippocampal astrocytes cultured in aggregate forms of "astrosphere", redirected to MAP2-positive immature neurons. In astrospheres, basic HLH factors positively regulating neuronal differentiation were up-regulated and Id3 inhibiting basic HLH factors was down-regulated. Ectopic Id3 induction repressed redirection of astrocytes to a neuronal lineage, suggesting that astrosphere formation induced plasticity of astrocytes by changing the gene expression patterns.     

Quantitative Analysis of Mycobacterial and Propionibacterial DNA in Lymph Nodes of Japanese and European Patients with Sarcoidosis

The cause(s) of sarcoidosis is unknown. Mycobacterium spp. are suspected in Europe and Propionibacterium spp. are suspected in Japan. The present international collaboration evaluated the possible etiological links between sarcoidosis and the suspected bacterial species. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded sections of biopsy samples of lymph nodes, one from each of 108 patients with sarcoidosis and 65 patients with tuberculosis, together with 86 control samples, were collected from two institutes in Japan and three institutes in Italy, Germany, and England. Genomes of Propionibacterium acnes, Propionibacterium granulosum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Escherichia coli (as the control) were counted by quantitative real-time PCR. Either P. acnes or P. granulosum was found in all but two of the sarcoid samples. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was found in no sarcoid sample. M. tuberculosis was found in 0 to 9% of the sarcoid samples but in 65 to 100% of the tuberculosis samples. In sarcoid lymph nodes, the total numbers of genomes of P. acnes or P. granulosum were far more than those of M. tuberculosis. P. acnes or P. granulosum was found in 0 to 60% of the tuberculosis and control samples, but the total numbers of genomes of P. acnes or P. granulosum in such samples were less than those in sarcoid samples. Propionibacterium spp. are more likely than Mycobacteria spp. to be involved in the etiology of sarcoidosis, not only in Japanese but also in European patients with sarcoidosis.     

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist reduces nitrotyrosine formation in caudate-putamen in rat focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

The aim of this study is to determine experimentally whether N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is involved in nitrotyrosine formation in rat brain subjected to focal ischemia-reperfusion, by using the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801. Halothane-anesthetized and artificially ventilated rats were given MK-801 (5 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle prior to 2 h of focal cerebral ischemia followed by 0.5 h of reperfusion. The brain was then removed and divided into four sections, cortical ischemic core, peri-ischemic cortex, lateral caudate-putamen and non-ischemic cortex. Tissue nitrotyrosine was measured by means of hydrolysis/HPLC. MK-801 significantly attenuated nitrotyrosine formation in the lateral caudate-putamen. We conclude that nitrotyrosine formation required activation of NMDA receptors, at least in part.     

Preparation of a novel polyoxime and reversible uptakes of molecular oxygen and carbon monoxide by its metal complexes

Polyketones with carbonyl groups in the polymer backbone (ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymer) have been converted into a novel polyoxime by means of C-nitrosation of the methylene groups and oximation of the carbonyl groups. The polyoxime is considered to be composed largely of 1,2-bis(hydroxyimino)trimethylene units. From the polyoxime and divalent Fe-, Co-, or Ni-salts, polymeric metal chelate complexes were prepared which are capable of combining reversibly with molecular oxygen and, especially the Fe-complex, also with carbon monoxide.     

A case of the esophageal candidiasis supposedly caused by rhinenchysis steroid chronic administration before sleep]

In general, steroid is mainly used as anti-inflammatory action in case of allergic diseases. As one of the side effects of inhalation steroid, a report is given below regarding buccal capsule/esophageal candidiasis. The patient came to the hospital with the chief complaint regarding passage dysphagia in the time of deglutition; pharyngitis and esophageal candidiasis were found by endoscopy of upper gastrointestinal tract.The interview after the endoscopy revealed that the patient, a 69-year-old female was diagnosed as chronic perennial allergic rhinitis a few years ago, and had been inhaling rhinenchysis Beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) before sleep every day for the past two years because using this collunarium seemed to mitigate the nasal obstruction and mucus during sleep. The patient did not report this fact before the endocsopy because she did not associate it with her subjective symptom. In this case, it was assumed that nebulized rhinenchysis BDP was accidentally swallowed to the pharynx and esophagus during sleep. As a treatment, rhinenchysis BDP was canceled and instead Azunol mouth washing (gargling/nasal douche) was used. No antifungal agent was used. In two weeks, the patient reported some improvement, and this was confirmed by reexamination of the upper gastrointestinal tract using endoscope in one month and a half. Pharyngitis was improved, and in the digital endoscopic assessment of esophageal candidiasis complicating inhaled steroid therapy the esophageal candidiasis became Grade I (mild grade). As for the later progress, the patient did not report any subjective symptoms such as nasal obstruction and dysphagia. In addition, the inflammation caused by candidiasis and found in the early examination was improved. The patient in this case was under treatment for thrombosis in the vein of lower extremity, but no complications such as diabetes mellitus or immune deficiency syndrome were observed. DISCUSSION: Esophageal candidiasis by chronic administration of inhalation of steroid before sleep for asthmatic patients has been reported. However, there has not been a report of esophageal candidiasis by chronic administration of rhinenchysis steroid before sleep for patients with allergic rhinitis. Similarly, in the case of the use of steroid in the form of collunarium before sleep, steroid stayed in the esophagus via the transendothelial nasal cavity, and that seemed to cause, in the long run, to develop esophageal candidiasis. CONCLUSIONS: One of the implications of the above case is that collunarium can go down, even when it is nebulized in the nasal cavity, to the esophagus via the nasal cavity to buccal capsule. This suggests the necessity for preventative measures in the case of chronic administration of steroid as follows. A. Blowing of the nose just after the use of collunarium B. Daily rinsing (gargling and nasal douche).     

Expression of BAFF-R (BR3) in normal and neoplastic lymphoid tissues characterized with a newly developed monoclonal antibody

BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) is required for the successful maturation and survival of B-cells. We developed an anti-human BAFF-R monoclonal antibody (mAb), 8A7. The reactivity of 8A7 in normal and neoplastic tissue was examined by performing immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections. 8A7 reacted with lymphocytes in the mantle and marginal zones, but not with lymphocytes in the interfollicular area. Lymphocytes in the germinal centers were found to be negative or occasionally weakly positive for 8A7. BAFF-R expression was found only in B-cell lymphoma (44/80, positive cases/examined cases): B-lymphoblastic lymphoma 0/3, B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma 4/4, mantle cell lymphoma 9/11, follicular lymphoma 10/14, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) 11/25, marginal zone B-cell lymphoma 8/10, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma 2/2, plasma cell myeloma 0/2, and Burkitt lymphoma 0/9, but not in T/NK cell lymphomas (0/19) or Hodgkin lymphoma (0/10). BAFF-R was expressed in most low-grade B-cell neoplasms and a small number of DLBCL, suggesting that BAFF-R may play an important role in the proliferation of neoplastic lymphoid cells. Thus, the mAb is very useful for further understanding of both healthy B-cell biology and its pathogenic neoplasms.