A Centrifuge Polarizing Microscope (CPM) That Enables the Visualization of Intracellular Structures Under High Centrifugal Forces.

The mitotic spindle consists of aligned filaments of dynamic microtubules that faithfully segregate mitotic chromosomes. This view of the mitotic spindle was initially established by detecting weak birefringence of the aligned filaments, which was realized by developing polarized light microscopy (Inoué S, Chromosoma 5:487-500. https://doi.

Live-cell imaging under centrifugation characterized the cellular force for nuclear centration in the embryo.

Organelles in cells are appropriately positioned, despite crowding in the cytoplasm. However, our understanding of the force required to move large organelles, such as the nucleus, inside the cytoplasm is limited, in part owing to a lack of accurate methods for measurement. We devised a method to apply forces to the nucleus of living embryos to measure the force generated inside the cell.

Live-cell imaging under centrifugation characterized the cellular force for nuclear centration in the embryo.

Organelles in cells are appropriately positioned, despite crowding in the cytoplasm. However, our understanding of the force required to move large organelles, such as the nucleus, inside the cytoplasm is limited, in part owing to a lack of accurate methods for measurement. We devised a novel method to apply forces to the nucleus of living, wild-type embryos to measure the force generated inside the cell.

Uric acid is a major chemical constituent for the whitish coloration in the medaka leucophores.

In whitish parts of teleost skin, the coloration is attributed to a light scattering phenomenon within light-reflecting chromatophores, namely leucophores and iridophores, which contain high refractive index materials in their cytoplasmic organelles, leucosomes and light-reflecting platelets, respectively. Previous chemical examinations revealed that guanine is a major constituent of the materials in the platelets of the iridophores, while, in leucophores, the detailed chemical nature of the materials contained in the leucosomes has not been reported. Here, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy, we investigated the chemical features of materials eluted from scales, larvae, and single chromatophores of the medaka.

The Potentiality for Development of Multiple Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas after Ligation of the Internal Jugular Vein: A Case Report.

A 74-year-old male presented with an intracranial hemorrhage caused by multiple dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) in the left transverse sinus and right sigmoid sinus. Four months previously, the patient underwent tongue cancer removal with lymph node dissection and ligation of the right internal jugular vein. Endovascular embolization (transvenous and transarterial embolization) resulted in the complete disappearance of the fistulas.

Rapid integumental color changes due to novel iridophores in the chameleon sand tilefish Hoplolatilus chlupatyi.

The wavelength of the light reflected from iridophores depends on the thickness and the spacing of intracellular reflecting platelets. Here, we show that the rapid color change from blue to red of the chameleon sand tilefish Hoplolatilus chlupatyi is mediated by adrenergic stimulation of a novel type of iridophore in which reflecting platelets are concentrated selectively in the periphery of the cell, near the plasma membrane. The color changes are not only observed in vivo but also in pigment cells of isolated scales which respond to increases in K ion concentrations in 0.

What is a vertebrate pigment cell?

On the basis of discussions emerging from a workshop and discussions at the 7th meeting of the European Society for Pigment Cell Research in Geneva in 2012, this manuscript outlines useful criteria for defining the bona fide pigment cells as a functional entity of the vertebrate body plan and differentiating them from 'pigmented' cells in general. It also proposes a nomenclature for various types of pigment cells of vertebrates.

Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are a primary source of induced pluripotent stem cells in human fibroblasts.

The stochastic and elite models have been proposed for the mechanism of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell generation. In this study we report a system that supports the elite model. We previously identified multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells in human dermal fibroblasts that are characterized by stress tolerance, expression of pluripotency markers, self-renewal, and the ability to differentiate into endodermal-, mesodermal-, and ectodermal-lineage cells from a single cell.

Integumental reddish-violet coloration owing to novel dichromatic chromatophores in the teleost fish, Pseudochromis diadema.

In the reddish-violet parts of the skin of the diadema pseudochromis Pseudochromis diadema, we found novel dichromatic chromatophores with a reddish pigment and reflecting platelets. We named these novel cells 'erythro-iridophores'. In standard physiological solution, erythro-iridophores displayed two hues, red and dark violet when viewed with an optical microscope under ordinary transmission light and epi-illumination optics, respectively.

Unique multipotent cells in adult human mesenchymal cell populations.

We found adult human stem cells that can generate, from a single cell, cells with the characteristics of the three germ layers. The cells are stress-tolerant and can be isolated from cultured skin fibroblasts or bone marrow stromal cells, or directly from bone marrow aspirates. These cells can self-renew; form characteristic cell clusters in suspension culture that express a set of genes associated with pluripotency; and can differentiate into endodermal, ectodermal, and mesodermal cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Calyculin A-induced neurite retraction is critically dependent on actomyosin activation but not on polymerization state of microtubules.

Calyculin A (CL-A), a toxin isolated from the marine sponge Discodermia calyx, is a strong inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A). Although CL-A is known to induce rapid neurite retraction in developing neurons, the cytoskeletal dynamics of this retraction have remained unclear. Here, we investigated the cytoskeletal dynamics during CL-A-induced neurite retraction in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, using fluorescence microscopy as well as polarized light microscopy, which can visualize the polymerization state of the cytoskeleton in living cells.

Intracranial infiltration by recurrent scalp dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the scalp is a rare soft tissue sarcoma. A 22-year-old male with DFSP, who had undergone several surgical excisions and radiotherapy, presented with a mild left lower-limb paresis. An MRI scan demonstrated a huge mass extending throughout the frontoparietal convexity.

Calyculin-A induces cleavage in a random plane in unfertilized sea urchin eggs.

Calyculin-A (CLA), a protein phosphatase inhibitor, has been known to induce cleavage resembling normal furrowing in unfertilized sea urchin eggs. In CLA-treated eggs, actin filaments and myosin assemble to form a contractile ring-like structure in the egg cortex; however, this occurs in the absence of a mitotic spindle or asters. Here, we investigated the relationship between the plane of CLA-induced cleavage and the intrinsic animal-vegetal polar axis in sea urchin eggs.

Electrical preconditioning attenuates progressive necrosis and cavitation following spinal cord injury.

This study evaluates the influence of preconditioning and subsequent electrical stimulation on the formation of primary and secondary lesions following spinal cord injury in rats. The dorsal surface of the spinal cord at the T7 level was stimulated 24 h before right-side hemisection (500 Hz, 10 pulses/train, at an inter-train interval of 10 sec for 2 h). Stimulation was again administered immediately after injury and then every 24 h for 7 days.

Long-term effects of indirect bypass surgery on collateral vessel formation in pediatric moyamoya disease.

Object: The authors investigated whether revascularization surgeries in children with moyamoya disease could reduce abnormal collateral formations in the posterior circulation; long-term follow-up angiography was performed to assess status.

Methods: In six patients who underwent indirect bypass surgery in childhood, long-term follow-up angiography studies were obtained between 7 and 12 years after surgery. All six patients presented with ischemic symptoms at onset of disease between 2 and 7 years of age.

TGF-alpha overexpression induces astrocytic hypertrophy after cortical stab wound injury.

To determine the exact role of TGF-alpha in glial activation after traumatic brain injury, we investigated the astroglial and microglial responses after cortical stab wound injury in TGF-alpha overexpressing mice. Adult male B6D2-TgN (MMTVTGFA) 29RjC transgenic mice were used for the subjects. This transgenic line carries a TGF-alpha cDNA under the control of the dexamethasone-inducible MMTV promoter.

Solitary metastasis of prostatic cancer to the internal auditory canal.

We report a 56-year-old man with a metastatic prostatic tumor who developed left orbital meatus syndrome as the first manifestation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a swollen lesion in the left internal auditory canal that was isointense on T1-weighted images, hyperintense on T2-weighted images, and marked by enhanced after the administration of gadolinium. A biopsy of the affected lesion confirmed the prostatic origin of the metastasis.

Both MK801 and NBQX reduce the neuronal damage after impact-acceleration brain injury.

To understand the pathogenesis of diffuse axonal injury, we investigated the temporal and spatial profiles of neuronal degeneration in impact-acceleration injury in rats using Fluoro-Jade (FJ) staining. Impact-acceleration injury was produced in Wistar rats by the method described by Marmarou et al. with some modifications.

Hamartoma in the internal auditory canal.

An 11 year old girl presented with hearing loss in her left ear and left trigeminal and facial nerve palsy. Radiological examinations revealed an enlargement of the left internal acoustic canal and the existence of a mass protruding from the canal into the cerebellopontine angle. The partial resection of the mass by a suboccipital craniectomy resulted in ceasing the progression of her symptoms.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for aggressive papillary tumor of the temporal bone: case report.

Background: Papillary tumors of the temporal bone are very rare neoplasms that show locally aggressive behavior though they have low-grade histologic features. The best treatment for these tumors is a radical resection. However, if the tumor is very large, local invasiveness and hypervascularity can prevent surgeons from achieving a complete resection.

Mechanism by which an elevation of extracellular glucide concentration induces pigment aggregation in medaka melanophores.

An increase in glucide concentration induces pigment aggregation in melanophores in the skin on scales isolated from the medaka, Oryzias latipes. In this study, hexoses (including the common D-isomers of glucose, galactose, fructose, and mannitol) were examined. Denervated melanophores were refractory to such stimuli.

Middle cerebral artery dissecting aneurysm causing intracerebral hemorrhage 4 years after the non-hemorrhagic onset: a case report.

Background: We report a case of dissecting middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm causing intracerebral hemorrhage 4 years after the non-hemorrhagic onset.

Case Description: A 30-year-old male was diagnosed with an unruptured dissecting MCA aneurysm after a severe pulsating headache in August 1993. Angiography revealed dilatation of the distal portion of the temporo-occipital artery.

Fluorescence polarization of green fluorescence protein.

We report here the striking anisotropy of fluorescence exhibited by crystals of native green fluorescence protein (GFP). The crystals were generated by water dialysis of highly purified GFP obtained from the jellyfish Aequorea. We find that the fluorescence becomes six times brighter when the excitation, or emission, beam is polarized parallel (compared with perpendicular) to the crystal long axis.