Analysis of the production efficiency and titration of various recombinant adeno-associated viruses.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV2) viral vector, a non-pathogenic human parvovirus, has recently emerged as a gene transfer vehicle for cancer gene therapy. To utilize rAAV2 properly and safely while carrying out preclinical and clinical studies, it is crucial to exactly titer the virus. We therefore compared biological infectious rAAV2 titers with physical titers of rAAV2 vectors encoding various transgenes with different sized viral genomes.

Endoscopic disconnection for hypothalamic hamartoma with intractable seizure. Report of four cases.

Although intractable epilepsy associated with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH) can be controlled by microsurgical resection of the lesion, excision of deep-seated lesions is often associated with morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic disconnection is less invasive and seems to be well suited for this indication. The authors discuss the role of endoscopic-assisted surgery in the management of HH-induced seizures.

Nasal reconstruction: the state of the art.

Purpose Of Review: Cutaneous malignancies of the nose are common problems and create the need for nasal reconstruction within many otolaryngology practices. In spite of the fact that such reconstruction is an ancient art, there continue to be innovations and advances that allow for more predictable and functional long-term results.

Recent Findings: Analyzing the nasal defect through an organized algorithm can be useful in many circumstances, especially when one needs to consider vectors of tension, minimizing alar base asymmetry, resultant scars, and preservation of the intranasal airway.

Loss of striatal dopaminergic fibers after intraventricular injection of tetrahydrobiopterin in rat brain.

We have reported previously that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an obligatory cofactor for dopamine synthesis, exerts preferential toxicity on dopamine producing cells. We report in the present study that BH4 injection into the lateral ventricle leads to degeneration of the dopaminergic terminals in the striatum, evidenced by a loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive fibers, a decreased amount of TH protein, and decreased dopamine content. Thus, the results of our study further provide evidence that BH4, the molecule endogenously present in the dopaminergic neurons, may participate in the nigrostriatal degeneration as in Parkinson's disease.

Isolation and characterization of a strain of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni PG-14 encoding delta-endotoxin Cry1Ac.

Bacillus thuringiensis 656-3, isolated from a soil sample collected at mushroom houses, showed high toxicity to mushroom flies, Lycoriella mali and Coboldia fuscipes. B. thuringiensis 656-3 produced bipyramidal inclusions and reacted with the H antiserum of B.

A retrospective study of the clinical outcomes and significant variables in the surgical treatment of temporal lobe tumor associated with intractable seizures.

A retrospective study was performed assessing the preoperative evaluation, and the postoperative outcomes in 35 patients with a temporal lobe tumor with intractable seizures who were treated by our neurosurgery service between October 1995 and December 1999. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 27.9 years.

Synthesis and characterization of bis(di-2-pyridylmethanamine)ruthenium(II).

The complex Ru(dipa)(2)(2+) (dipa = di-2-pyridylmethanamine) has been prepared, yielding approximately a statistical ratio of the meso and rac isomers. The electronic spectra of both isomers show pyridyl pi --> pi transitions in the UV region and MLCT bands in the visible region. The solvent dependence of the spectra provides evidence of hydrogen bond formation between the solvent and the NH(2) site on the ligand.

The tumour suppressor RASSF1A regulates mitosis by inhibiting the APC-Cdc20 complex.

The tumour suppressor gene RASSF1A is frequently silenced in lung cancer and other sporadic tumours as a result of hypermethylation of a CpG island in its promoter. However, the precise mechanism by which RASSF1A functions in cell cycle regulation and tumour suppression has remained unknown. Here we show that RASSF1A regulates the stability of mitotic cyclins and the timing of mitotic progression.

Effect of ipsilateral subthalamic nucleus lesioning in a rat parkinsonian model: study of behavior correlated with neuronal activity in the pedunculopontine nucleus.

Object: The purpose of this study was to investigate the spontaneous behavioral changes and the alteration of neuronal activities in the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) after ipsilateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) lesioning by kainic acid in a rat parkinsonian model created by lesioning with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).

Methods: Assumptions about the mechanisms mediating the effects of lesioning of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway by 6-OHDA and the effects of STN lesioning were examined behaviorally by means of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior and forepaw-adjusting steps. The authors subsequently investigated the alteration of neuronal activities in the PPN to compare them with the behavioral changes in rat parkinsonian models.

An improved baculovirus insecticide producing occlusion bodies that contain Bacillus thuringiensis insect toxin.

Baculovirus occlusion bodies, large proteinaceous structures which contain virions, have recently been engineered to incorporate foreign proteins. The major constituent protein of occlusion bodies from the baculovirus Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus is polyhedrin, and assembly of recombinant occlusion bodies which incorporate a foreign protein depends on an interaction between native polyhedrin and a polyhedrin-foreign protein fusion. This technology has now been applied to the generation of a recombinant baculovirus (ColorBtrus) that produces occlusion bodies incorporating the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal Cry1Ac toxin protein.

Radiological and hormonal responses of functioning pituitary adenomas after gamma knife radiosurgery.

In this study, we examined patients with functioning pituitary adenoma that underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS). In particular, we assessed the effects of GKS on the growth and endocrinological response of the functioning pituitary adenoma. Forty-two cases of functioning pituitary adenoma treated with GKS were analyzed.

Association of learning and memory impairments with changes in the septohippocampal cholinergic system in rats with kaolin-induced hydrocephalus.

Objective: The septohippocampal cholinergic (SHC) system plays an important role in the maintenance of normal memory and learning. However, the fact that memory and learning impairments under hydrocephalic conditions are directly related to the SHC system is less well known. We investigated the relationships between pathological changes in SHC neurons and impairments in memory and learning among hydrocephalic rats.

[A mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis induced by caerulein plus lipopolysaccharide].

Objective: To set up a convenient nontraumatic mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).

Methods: Mice received intraperitoneal injections with caerulein and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Serum amylase and pancreatic moisture content were measured during experiment.

Thoracoscopic limited T-3 sympathicotomy for primary hyperhidrosis: prevention for compensatory hyperhidrosis.

Object: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is a major and troublesome complication of thoracoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis. The incidence of compensatory hyperhidrosis has been reported to be as high as 50 to 97% in the patients who underwent sympathetic ganglia resection. In this study the authors evaluate the role of thoracoscopic T-3 sympathicotomy for primary hyperhidrosis and the prevention of compensatory hyperhidrosis.

[Create the mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis induced by caerulein plus lipopolysaccharide and study on its pathogenesis].

To set up a nontraumatic and convenient mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Caerulein(Cn) was injected the mice intraperitonealy with lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Serum amylase and pancreas weight were measured in experiment.

Single photon emission computed tomography imaging in obsessive-compulsive disorder and for stereotactic bilateral anterior cingulotomy.

In conclusion, the present study suggests that SPECT, using a sophisticated SPM analysis method, may be useful as a potential diagnostic tool for OCD and a possible predictor of treatment outcome for OCD patients undergoing bilateral anterior cingulotomy. The anterior cingulate gyrus seems to be an important structure in the pathogenesis of OCD symptoms. Furthermore, our operative technique of anterior cingulotomy, featuring a larger lesion, seems to be effective in ameliorating the symptoms of OCD without causing any serious complications.

Degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway and induction of motor deficit by tetrahydrobiopterin: an in vivo model relevant to Parkinson's disease.

We determined whether the preferential toxicity of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) on dopamine-producing cells, which we have previously observed in vitro, might also occur in vivo and generate characteristics associated with Parkinson's disease. Intrastriatal BH4 injection caused a loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and decreased dopamine content. The dopaminergic cell bodies topologically corresponding to the lesioned terminals were selectively degenerated.

Optimization of vesicular stomatitis virus-G pseudotyped feline immunodeficiency virus vector for minimized cytotoxicity with efficient gene transfer.

FIV-based lentiviral vector has shown a unique opportunity as an efficient gene delivery vehicle, especially to nondividing human cells. Here, we genetically reconstructed the FIV-based vector by serially deleting residual virus genes of gag and vif, leading to minimized cytotoxicity together with efficient virus production and gene transfer. The modified FIV- based vector was generated by transiently transfecting 293T cells with three plasmids of the gene transfer vector with minimal gag region, the packaging plasmid without vif and the VSV-G-expressing plasmid.

Myofibroblast differentiation of normal human keratocytes and hTERT, extended-life human corneal fibroblasts.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether TGFbeta induces myofibroblast differentiation in cultured human keratocytes and in telomerase (hTERT)-immortalized human corneal fibroblast cell lines.

Methods: Normal human corneal keratocytes were isolated from donor corneas of various ages and grown under serum-free (cultured keratocytes) or serum-added (corneal fibroblasts) conditions. Corneal fibroblasts were infected with the MPSV-hTERT retroviral vector, and selected clones were isolated and characterized by chromosomal karyotyping.

A mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis induced with caerulein and lipopolysaccharide.

Aim: To establish a non-traumatic, easy to induce and reproducible mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced with caerulein and lipopolyasccharide (LPS).

Methods: Thirty-two healthy mature NIH female mice were selected and divided at random into four groups (each of 8 mice), i.e.

Unusual causes of trigeminal neuralgia treated by gamma knife radiosurgery. Report of two cases.

The purpose of this paper was to present two cases of secondary trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with an unusual origin and lesion location. In two cases TN was caused by lesions along the course of the trigeminal nerve within the pons and adjacent to the fourth ventricle. Both cases presented with typical TN.

Chronic epidural hematoma with rapid ossification.

Case Report: The authors present a rare case of ossified chronic epidural hematoma. A 13-year-old female patient presented with an ossified chronic epidural hematoma. She had sustained a head injury about 10 weeks previously and had received conservative care for a delayed-onset epidural hematoma at a local hospital.

Interictal epileptiform discharges relate to 1H-MRS-detected metabolic abnormalities in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: To examine whether the distribution of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) recorded from foramen ovale electrodes (FOEs) correlates with metabolite levels in medial structures of the temporal lobes in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

Methods: We studied 34 patients with MTLE. The lateralization ratio of IEDs was calculated after counting IEDs recorded from FOEs during prolonged video-EEG monitoring.

Genome sequence of Streptococcus mutans UA159, a cariogenic dental pathogen.

Streptococcus mutans is the leading cause of dental caries (tooth decay) worldwide and is considered to be the most cariogenic of all of the oral streptococci. The genome of S. mutans UA159, a serotype c strain, has been completely sequenced and is composed of 2,030,936 base pairs.

Role of postoperative magnetic resonance imaging after microvascular decompression of the facial nerve for the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the role of postoperative three-dimensional short-range magnetic resonance angiography in the prediction of clinical outcomes after microvascular decompression (MVD) for the treatment of hemifacial spasm.

Methods: We examined pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging scans obtained between March 1999 and May 2000 for 122 patients with hemifacial spasm, to evaluate the degree of detachment of the vascular contact and changes in the positions of offending vessels. The degree of vascular decompression of the facial nerve root was classified into three groups, i.