Primary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the cauda equina in a child case report.

Study Design: A case report of primary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of the cauda equina in a child is presented, and the literature is reviewed.

Objective: To discuss the problems involved in the treatment of primary intradural MPNSTs.

Setting: A department of orthopaedic surgery in Japan.

Thermal conductivity of Pr1.3-xLa0.7CexCuO4 single crystals and signatures of stripes in an electron-doped cuprate.

It was recently demonstrated that the anisotropic phonon heat transport behavior is a good probe of the stripe formation in La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) (LSCO) [Phys. Rev. B 67, 104503 (2003)]].

Gene therapy eradicating distant disseminated micro-metastases by optimal cytokine expression in the primary lesion only: novel concepts for successful cytokine gene therapy.

The most serious problem in current gene therapy is that clinical applications have often led to unsatisfactory results. Here we show novel concepts and crucial factors that have been missing for successful cytokine gene therapy. A clinically-relevant mouse model of primary and micro-metastatic osteosarcoma was generated by subcutaneously and intravenously injecting murine osteosarcoma LM8 cells, in which adenoviral gene transduction efficiencies were extremely low; current therapies remain less effective for such disseminated micro-metastases.

Validity of the body mass index and fat mass index as an indicator of obesity in children aged 3-5 year.

The validity of the BMI and fat mass index (FMI) as indicators of obesity was evaluated in a group of 3-5 yr old (n=486) children. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was measured (using 50 kHz and tetrapolar electrodes) in order to calculate percent fat mass (%FM) and FMI (fat mass/stature squared). For boys, obesity was defined as > or =20%FM.

Endogenous TGF-beta signaling suppresses maturation of osteoblastic mesenchymal cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), one of the most abundant cytokines in bone matrix, has positive and negative effects on bone formation, although the molecular mechanisms of these effects are not fully understood. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), members of the TGF-beta superfamily, induce bone formation in vitro and in vivo. Here, we show that osteoblastic differentiation of mouse C2C12 cells was greatly enhanced by the TGF-beta type I receptor kinase inhibitor SB431542.

LY309887, antifolate via the folate receptor suppresses murine type II collagen-induced arthritis.

Objective: To examine the effect of LY309887, an inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine biosynthesis on murine type collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: CIA was induced by immunization with bovine type II collagen in adjuvant. The expression of folate receptors was examined in dissected synovial tissues and bone marrow cells from arthritic and non-arthritic mice by the semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Oxygen Saturation and Hemoglobin Level in the Muscles of Hypertensive Patients during Exercise in Water.

To clarify whether exercise therapy in a water environment is appropriate therapy for hypertensive patients, we investigated oxygen saturation and hemoglobin level in the vastus medialis muscle using a laser tissue blood oxygen monitor. Seven hypertensive patients (52 to 77 years of age, hypertensive group) and five healthy volunteers (44 to 69 years of aged, control group) participated in this study. Subjects maintained resting postures for about 5 minutes each in a standing position, a sitting position on a chair, a lying position out of water, and a position in water below the navel and to the chest level.

Endogenous cannabinoids are candidates for lipid mediators of bone cement implantation syndrome.

Acute hypotension, hypoxemia, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, (or a combination of these), and sudden death are well-recognized complications of the cemented hip arthroplasty procedure. Collectively, these are known as the bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS). The endogenous cannabinoids, anandamide (ANA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), are reported to be strong vasodilators and play a role in the hypotension associated with hemorrhagic and septic shock.

Comparison of body water turnover in endurance runners and age-matched sedentary men.

This study compared the body water turnover in endurance athletes and age-matched sedentary men. Eight competitive endurance athletes (20.8+/-1.

Reference norms for a fat-free mass index and fat mass index in the Japanese child population.

The aims of this study were to determine reference norms for a fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) in a large population of healthy children in Japan, to observe differences in these values in three age groups between ages three and eleven, and to develop percentile distributions for these parameters. Five hundred twenty-two boys and six hundred forty-nine girls with a wide spectrum of stature, body mass, and body composition underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for the determination of fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM). Both FFM and FM were divided by stature(2) to give FFMI and FMI, as described previously.

Josephson plasmon and inhomogeneous superconducting state in La2-xSrxCuO4.

We report on the interlayer far infrared response for a series of La2-xSrxCuO4 crystals with 0.08 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Synoviolin/Hrd1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a novel pathogenic factor for arthropathy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most critical articular diseases with synovial hyperplasia followed by impairment of quality of life. However, the mechanism(s) that regulates synovial cell outgrowth is not fully understood. To clarify its mechanism(s), we carried out immunoscreening by using antirheumatoid synovial cell antibody and identified and cloned "Synoviolin/Hrd1", an E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Anisotropic electromagnetic response of lightly doped La2-xSrxCuO4 within the CuO2 planes.

Using infrared spectroscopy, we show that spin self-organization in untwinned La2-xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) crystals has profound consequences for the dynamical conductivity sigma(omega). The electronic response of CuO2 planes acquires significant anisotropy in the spin ordered state with enhancement of the conductivity along the direction of the diagonal spin stripes by up to a factor of 2. An examination of the anisotropic response indicates that the diagonal spin texture in weakly doped LSCO is also accompanied by the modulation of charge density.

Catalytic synthesis of thiobutyrolactones via CO insertion into the C-S bond of thietanes in the presence of a heterodinuclear organoplatinum-cobalt complex.

Heterodinuclear organoplatinum-cobalt complex having a 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane ligand (dppe)MePt-Co(CO)4 catalyzes CO insertion into the C-S bond of thietanes in THF at 100 degrees C under 1.0 MPa of CO for 2 h to give gamma-thiobutyrolactone in quantitative yield.

Occupational recovery after open-door type laminoplasty for patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Study Design: A cross-sectional survey of occupational recovery after surgery with patients who had ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Objectives: To evaluate occupational recovery after open-door type laminoplasty for patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Summary Of Background Data: The literature contains numerous reports on the surgical results of laminoplasty for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, but very few reports are available on postoperative quality of life, and even fewer on occupational recovery after laminoplasty.

Prognosis of patients with upper cervical lesions caused by rheumatoid arthritis: comparison of occipitocervical fusion between c1 laminectomy and nonsurgical management.

Study Design: A matched controlled comparative study of patients with upper cervical lesions caused by rheumatoid arthritis was performed at two different hospitals to evaluate occipitocervical fusion associated with C1 laminectomy and nonsurgical treatment.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term results and advantages of occipitocervical fusion associated with C1 laminectomy, and to compare these results with those of nonsurgical management of patients with myelopathy related to rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary Of Background Data: Few studies have reported the prognosis of patients with rheumatoid arthritis managed by occipitocervical fusion associated with C1 laminectomy.

Anisotropic magnetoresistance in lightly doped La(2)-(x)Sr(x)CuO(4): impact of antiphase domain boundaries on the electron transport.

Detailed behavior of the magnetoresistance (MR) is studied in lightly doped antiferromagnetic La(1.99)Sr(0.01)CuO(4), where, thanks to the weak-ferromagnetic moment due to spin canting, the antiferromagnetic (AF) domain structure can be manipulated by the magnetic field.

Membranous lipodystrophy (Nasu-Hakola disease) presenting an unusually benign clinical course.

Membranous lipodystrophy is known as Nasu-Hakola disease. The main symptoms of membranous lipodystrophy are those of a progressive presenile dementia due to sclerosing leukoencephalopathy with skeletal polycystic lesions. There is no report detailing long-term follow-up of patients with membranous lipodystrophy.

Percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection for the treatment of lumbar discal cyst: a case report.

Study Design: A case report of discal cyst treated by percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection.

Objectives: To present the efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided puncture and steroid injection for the treatment of this disorder.

Summary Of The Background Data: Surgical removal of the cyst is usually performed for the treatment of this disorder.

Magnetic-field-induced localization of quasiparticles in underdoped La(2-x)SrxCuO4 single crystals.

Magnetic-field-induced ordering of electrons around vortices is a striking phenomenon recently found in high-T(c) cuprates. To identify its consequence in the quasiparticle dynamics, the magnetic-field (H) dependence of the low-temperature thermal conductivity kappa of La(2-x)SrxCuO4 crystals is studied for a wide doping range. It is found that the behavior of kappa(H) in the subkelvin region changes drastically across optimum doping, and the data for underdoped samples are indicative of unusual magnetic-field-induced localization of quasiparticles; this localization phenomenon is probably responsible for the unusual "insulating normal state" under high magnetic fields.

High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 plays a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis as a novel cytokine.

Objective: High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB-1), a nuclear DNA binding protein, was recently rediscovered as a new proinflammatory cytokine. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate HMGB-1 expression in vivo and to identify the role of HMGB-1 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: HMGB-1 concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) and serum from RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were measured by immunoblot analysis.

Age-related changes in expression of transforming growth factor-beta and receptors in cells of intervertebral discs.

Object: The authors conducted a study to determine age-related changes in expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, -beta2, -beta3, and Type I and Type II receptors in various cells in the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus. Immunolocalization of TGFbetas and Type I and II receptors was examined during the aging process of cervical intervertebral discs in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM). The TGFbeta family has important roles for cellular function of various tissues.

Akaike's information criterion for a measure of linkage disequilibrium.

The extent and distribution of linkage disequilibrium ( LD) in humans is a current topic especially for gene mapping of complex diseases. Akaike's information criterion ( AIC) was applied to estimate LD and compared with other standard LD measures, D' and r(2). By comparison of an independent model (IM; linkage equilibrium) and a dependent model (DM; linkage disequilibrium), the parsimonious model is the one with the smaller AIC score.

Changes in nitric oxide and expression of nitric oxide synthase in spinal cord after acute traumatic injury in rats.

The aim of this study was to observe the time course of NO production and NOS expression in the spinal cord following acute traumatic injury. Rat spinal cord was injured by extradural static weight-compression, which resulted in an incomplete transverse spinal cord lesion with paralysis of the lower extremities. Using this model, measurement of NO by microdialysis and Griess reaction and histological and immunohistochemical examinations using polyclonal antibodies to nNOS and iNOS were performed from immediately to 14 days after injury.