Isolation and mapping of a polymorphic CA repeat sequence at the human VRK1 locus

VRK1 is a novel human putative serine/threonine kinase, and is located on chromosome 14 at band q32 where an autosomal recessive congenital microphthalmia (CMIC) is mapped. We isolated a polymorphic dinucleotide CA repeat marker from a genomic clone containing the human VRK1 gene. This polymorphism will be useful in genetic studies of disorders localized at the 14q32 region, such as CMIC. Received: October 8, 1998 / Accepted: October 16, 1998     

The influence of bioglass on the growth of fibroblasts

The influence of Bioglass (BG) on the growth of L cells was studied by means of tissue culture, to get an idea on its bone-bonding mechanism. Growth rate of L cells on BG was lower than that on the control silica glass (SG). L cells on BG diminished in size and took up long and slender polygonal shapes with radially spread long pseudopods, which probably meant that the cell cycle was detained at the synthetic period. From these findings, BG is thought to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of L cells, which might arrest the fibrous tissue encapsulation and allow bonding with bone.     

Prostaglandin D2 increases Cl secretion across canine tracheal epithelium through cyclo-oxygenase stimulation and cAMP production.

Prostaglandin (PG) D2 is one cyclo-oxygenase product of arachidonic acid metabolites that may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. To determine the effect of PGD2 on ion transport by airway epithelium and its mechanism of action, we measured bioelectric properties of canine cultured tracheal epithelium under short-circuit conditions in vitro. PGD2 (10(-7) M) increased short-circuit current (Isc) from 5.5 +/- 1.2 to 14.1 +/- 2.9 microA cm-2 (means +/- SE, P less than 0.01) when added to the mucosal solution, and to 22.2 +/- 3.8 microA cm-2 (P less than 0.001) when added to the submucosal solution, an effect that was accompanied by the corresponding increases in transepithelial potential difference and conductance. These effects were dose-dependent. The PGD2-induced increase in Isc was not altered by preincubation of cells with autonomic antagonists (phentolamine, propranolol, atropine), the lipoxygenase inhibitor AA-861, the protein kinase C inhibitor H-7, or the Na channel blocker amiloride, but it was inhibited by each of indomethacin, piroxicam, the Cl channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, the Cl transport inhibitor furosemide, and Cl-free medium. Intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels were dose-dependently increased by PGD2. These results suggest that PGD2 may selectively stimulate airway epithelial Cl secretion via cyclo-oxygenase- and cAMP-dependent pathway.     

Association between central sensitivity syndrome and psychological factors in people with presurgical low back pain: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a major problem; it causes significant burden, incurs considerable economic and human costs, and adversely affects the quality of life (QoL). Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) is known as a group of overlapping conditions that share a common pathophysiological mechanism of central sensitization. Previous studies have shown that CSS is present in several disorders. However, it has been studied for people with presurgical LBP. The purpose of the study was to investigate the proportion of patients with CSS for presurgical LBP and to analyse the association of CSS with clinical symptoms and psychological factors.MethodsData of demographics, the central sensitization inventory (CSI), psychological measures, clinical symptoms of 238 patients with presurgical LBP were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the CSI scores (≥40 and < 40). The two groups were compared, and the correlation between the CSI scores and other outcomes was analysed. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors contributing to the CSI scores.Results13.0% of participants were CSS. All outcomes were significantly different between the groups and significant associations were found between the CSI scores and all other outcomes. In addition, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) was most significant associated scale for the CSI scores.ConclusionWe found that certain patients had CSS with presurgical LBP. The CSI scores were significantly associated with the majority of the factors. The PCS was the factor with the most influence on the CSI scores.     

Effect of neutral endopeptidase inhibition on substance-P-induced increase in short-circuit current of canine cultured tracheal epithelium.

We studied the effect of substance P (SP) on the electric properties of cultured canine tracheal epithelium and its possible modulation by neutral endopeptidase (NEP) by Ussing's short-circuited technique in vitro. Addition of SP (5 x 10(-6) M) to the mucosal side increased short-circuit current (SCC) from 5.1 +/- 0.9 to 10.3 +/- 2.2 microA/cm2 (mean +/- SE; p less than 0.01), which was accompanied by increases in transepithelial potential difference and conductance. The effect of the mucosal SP on SCC was dose-dependent, with the maximal increase from the baseline value being 5.8 +/- 1.0 microA/cm2 observed at 5 x 10(-5) M. The NEP inhibitor phosphoramidon (10(-5) M) did not affect these responses. On the other hand, SCC was not altered by the addition of SP to the submucosal side. However, it was increased dose-dependently in the presence of phosphoramidon (10(-5) M) but not in the presence of captopril, bestatin or leupeptin. This stimulatory effect of submucosal SP was abolished by furosemide, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate and Cl-free medium, but not by amiloride. These results suggest that SP may selectively stimulate Cl secretion across the airway epithelium and that this effect may be modulated by submucosal NEP.     

A clinicopathologic evaluation of "depth" in cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma

A total of 573 cases of endometrial adenocarcinomas, composed of patients that had been hysterectomized from 1949 to 1985 at the Cancer Institute Hospital in Tokyo, have been clinicopathologically investigated to evaluate the degree of the myometrial invasion, meaning the "Depth" as a postoperative prognostic factor of this type of cancer. These patients were classified into groups, depending on the depth of the invasion. The Depth d group, showing a myometrial invasional depth of over two-thirds of the uterine wall, revealed a rate of 61.3% of the lymph node metastasis positive cases, and accounted for 50.0% of the postoperative survivals. These values were statistically worse, when compared to those of the Depth a to c groups, which showed less invasional depth. Thus it was concluded that "Depth" is an important prognostic factor in cases of an endometrial adenocarcinoma.     

A new model rat with acute bronchiolitis and its application to research on the toxicology of inhaled particulate matter

The aim of the present study was to establish a useful animal model that simulates humans sensitive to inhaled particulate matter (PM). We have developed a new rat model of acute bronchiolitis (Br) by exposing animals to NiCl2 (Ni) aerosols for five days. Three days following the Ni exposure, the animals developed signs of tachypnea, mucous hypersecretion, and bronchiolar inflammation which seemed to progress quickly during the fourth to fifth day. They recovered from lesions after four weeks in clean air. To assess the sensitivity of the Br rats to inhaled particles, two kinds of PM of respirable size were tested with doses similar to or a little higher to the recommended threshold limit values (TLVs) for the working environment in Japan. Titanium dioxide (TiO2 = Ti) was chosen as an inert and insoluble particles and vanadium pentoxide (V2O5 = V), as a representative soluble and toxic airborne material. The Br rats exposed to either Ti or V were compared the pathological changes in the lungs and the clearance of particles to those in normal control or Br rats kept in clean air. The following significant differences were observed in Br rats: 1. delayed recovery from pre-existing lesions or exacerbated inflammation, 2. reductions in deposition and clearance rate of inhaled particles with the progress of lesions. The present results suggest that Br rats are more susceptible to inhaled particles than control rats. Therefore, concentrations of particulate matter lower than the TLVs for Japan, which have no harmful effects on normal lungs, may not always be safe in the case of pre-existing lung inflammation.     

Clinicopathological study of intrapelvic cancer spread to the iliac area in lower rectal adenocarcinoma by serial sectioning

BACKGROUND: The role of iliac lymphadenectomy in surgery for rectal cancer remains unknown. Detailed clinicopathological data on lateral cancer extension may be needed to determine the true role of this procedure. METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients with low rectal cancer who underwent systematic iliac lymphadenectomy between 1991 and 1995 were reviewed. The iliac area was divided into five regions: (1) middle rectal root, (2) internal iliac, (3) obturator, (4) common iliac and (5) external iliac. Iliac lymph nodes that were cancer-free based on conventional pathological examination were serially sectioned at 100-microm intervals and re-examined for occult microscopic involvement. RESULTS: Occult microscopic foci were detected in five (7 per cent) of the 70 patients, and the overall incidence of lateral cancer spread was 24 per cent (17 of 70). Among patients without other sites of distant metastasis or circumferential involvement of the margin, the 5-year survival rate of those with lateral spread was 35 per cent. Although the prognosis of patients with cancer involving multiple iliac regions was poor, three of six patients with metastasis to only a single region were alive without disease at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of localized lateral spread, including microscopic metastasis, when determining the optimum procedure for iliac lymphadenectomy in patients with rectal cancer.     

Bone mineral density in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine

Bone mineral density (BMD) has not been clearly determined in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the cervical spine. BMD in patients with OPLL was measured in the third vertebral body in the lateral projection and in the distal part of the radius in the anteroposterior projection using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Patients with OPLL had significantly higher BMD than healthy controls in both the lumbar spine and radius. Observing BMD by gender and age group, high BMD was recognized especially in female patients over 60 years of age. Significantly increased BMD was observed in patients with ankylosing spinal hyperostosis (ASH) in addition to OPLL. These findings suggest that patients with OPLL may tend to develop systemic hyperostosis, leading to the pathological ectopic ossification observed in OPLL. Received: July 7, 1998 / Accepted: March 17, 1999     

Attenuation of microvascular reperfusion injury in rat pancreas transplantation by L-arginine

BACKGROUND: Despite improving results, exocrine complications remain a major challenge in clinical pancreas transplantation. The etiology of posttransplantation pancreatitis relates almost certainly to cold ischemia/reperfusion-induced microvascular injury with an imbalance of vasoconstricting and vasodilating mediators due to endothelial dysfunction. We therefore studied the effectiveness of a nitric oxide donor on postischemic microvascular reperfusion injury after pancreas transplantation. METHODS: Heterotopic isogeneic pancreaticoduodenal transplantation was performed in spontaneously breathing, chloralhydrate-anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats after 16 hr (n=5) of cold storage of the graft in 4 degrees C histidine-tryptophane-ketoglutarate solution. An additional five animals received L-arginine immediately before (50 mg/kg i.v.) and during the first 30 min of reperfusion (100 mg/kg i.v.). Five animals that did not undergo transplantation served as controls. Intravital fluorescence microscopy was used for analysis of functional capillary density, capillary diameters, and capillary red blood cell velocity in exocrine pancreatic tissue during 120 min of reperfusion. Histology served for quantitative assessment of inflammatory response (leukocytic tissue infiltration) and endothelial disintegration (edema formation). RESULTS: In L-arginine-treated animals, functional capillary density of exocrine tissue of pancreatic grafts was found slightly higher after 30 and 60 min, and significantly higher after 120 min of postischemic reperfusion compared with untreated pancreatic grafts. This was accompanied by a significant increase of capillary diameters. In parallel, pancreatic histology revealed significant attenuation of both leukocytic tissue infiltration and edema formation in the L-arginine-treated animals when compared with the nontreated controls. CONCLUSIONS: Besides reduction of leukocyte-dependent microvascular injury, L-arginine improves postischemic microvascular reperfusion, supposedly by capillary dilatation. Thus, our results suggest that supplement of nitric oxide during reperfusion is effective in attenuating exocrine microvascular reperfusion injury.