Postsynaptic activity of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the piriform cortex.

Effects of some glutamate receptor antagonists on signal propagation elicited by stimulation of association fibers in guinea pig piriform cortex slices were investigated using optical imaging. During simultaneous application of both NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists (D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, respectively) the postsynaptic activity was largely suppressed, and a weak although distinct late propagation component was found to survive. This latter component was reversibly suppressed by application of low Ca(2+) solution or a group I/II specific metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine.

Abnormal expression and function of Fas ligand of lacrimal glands and peripheral blood in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands.

The objective of our study was to investigate the possibility of Fas ligand protein abnormalities in certain types of Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands. Fas ligand expression by lymphocytes infiltrating the lacrimal glands and by peripheral blood monocytes in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands was assessed immunohistologically and by immunoblotting. Cytotoxicity of peripheral blood monocytes and sensitivity to steroids in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands were studied by functional assay.

Immunohistochemical detection of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative DNA damage, in human chronic cholecystitis.

Aims: Recent studies suggest that oxidative DNA damage induced during chronic inflammation may play a role in carcinogenesis in some organs. Although gallbladder carcinomas are frequently observed with a background of chronic cholecystitis, little is known about oxidative DNA damage in chronic cholecystitis. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, in normal and chronically inflamed human gallbladder mucosa and compare its expression with clinicopathological findings.

T-cell receptor ζ mRNA with an alternatively spliced 3' untranslated region is generated predominantly in the peripheral blood T cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Abstract  To investigate the mechanism of the downregulation of T-cell receptor ζ chain (TCRζ) expression in the peripheral blood T cells (PBTs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we analyzed the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TCRζ mRNA, because the 3'UTR in mRNA is responsible for posttranscriptional regulation. Use of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify the 917 bp TCRζ 3'UTR cDNA demonstrated that the short variant cDNA (355 bp), expressed as an alternatively spliced 3'UTR with 562-bp deletion, was predominated in the PBTs of 11 of 14 SLE patients, whereas mainly the wild-form cDNA (917 bp) was detected in the PBTs of seven negative controls (two systemic sclerosis patients, five normal controls) and in two T-cell line hybridomas. Semiquantitative PCR also revealed the predominant expression of the TCRζ mRNA with alternatively spliced 3'UTR (TCRζ mRNA/as-3'UTR), and a decreased expression of TCRζ mRNA with the wild form 3'UTR (TCRζ mRNA/w-3'UTR) in SLE T cells.

Age-dependent occurrence of synchronized population oscillation suggestive of a developing functional coupling between NMDA and ryanodine receptors in the neocortex.

Synchronized population oscillation of delta to alpha range frequencies was synaptically induced in rat visual cortex neurons, depending on (1) the extent of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation, (2) occurrence of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR), and (3) the age of animals. In adult slices bathed with 0.1 mM Mg(2+), as white matter stimulation continued, solitary synaptic potentials gradually became enlarged and overridden by small wavelets oscillating at alpha range frequencies.

Prognostic value of combined analysis of estrogen receptor status and cellular proliferative activity in breast cancer patients with extensive lymph node metastases.

Breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases generally show poor prognosis. However, some can survive for a long period. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated these cases for estrogen receptor status and cell proliferation potential in an attempt to predict patient outcome more accurately.

[Continuous epidural administration of droperidol to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting].

This randomized double-blind trial was designed to evaluate the antiemetic effect of continuous epidural analgesia with droperidol mixed with bupivacaine and buprenorphine. We studied 78 patients for abdominal gynecological surgery under general-epidural anesthesia. After recovery from anesthesia, they received epidural administration of 0.

Inhibition of human endothelial cell proliferation by ShIF, a vacuolar H(+)-ATPase-like protein.

ShIF is a bone marrow stroma cell-derived factor originally identified to support proliferation of bone marrow cells in vitro. This protein shares high sequence homology to the yeast vacuolar H(+)-ATPase subunit, Vph1p, and the 116 kDa proton pump of the rat and bovine synaptic vesicle, Vpp1. We examined the function of ShIF in the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

[A case of amphetamine-induced down-regulation of beta-adrenoceptor].

A 29-year-old man with severe pyloric stenosis confessed that he had been a chronic amphetamine abuser just after awakening from anesthesia for partial gastrectomy. Anesthesia was maintained with thoracic epidural bupivacaine combined with continuous i.v.

Genetic approach and phenotype-based complementation screening for identification of stroma cell-derived proteins involved in cell proliferation.

The functional capacities of stromal cell lines to support stem cell activity are heterogeneous and the mechanism of how they support bone marrow cultures remains unclear. Recently, we reported a strategy of functional analysis in which a genetic approach is combined with phenotype-based complementation screening to search for a novel secreted growth factor from mouse bone marrow stroma called ShIF that supported proliferation of bone marrow cells. To investigate the role of stromal cells in hemopoiesis, we extended this strategy to search for stroma-derived proteins that induce cell proliferation by establishing stroma-dependent Ba/F3 mutants of three stroma cell lines from two mouse tissues.

SF20/IL-25, a novel bone marrow stroma-derived growth factor that binds to mouse thymic shared antigen-1 and supports lymphoid cell proliferation.

Using a forward genetic approach and phenotype-based complementation screening to search for factors that stimulate cell proliferation, we have isolated a novel secreted bone marrow stroma-derived growth factor, which we termed SF20/IL-25. This protein signals cells to proliferate via its receptor, which we have identified as mouse thymic shared Ag-1 (TSA-1). Enforced expression of TSA-1 in IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 cells that do not express endogenous TSA-1 rendered cells to proliferate in a dose-dependent manner when stimulated with SF20/IL-25.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric remnant after distal gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer.

Background: The development of a second primary cancer in the gastric remnant after gastrectomy for early gastric carcinoma is a problem, and eradication of Helicobacter pylori after the operation has been recommended. However, to date, practical indications for H. pylori eradication after gastric cancer surgery have not yet been reported.

Nicotine affects the signaling of the death pathway, reducing the response of head and neck cancer cell lines to DNA damaging agents.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that tobacco can affect the responsiveness of cancer cells to treatment, particularly those of head and neck cancer. This article describes the effects of nicotine on the signaling of the death pathway, resulting in a decreased cytotoxicity of various anticancer agents such as cisplatin and gamma-radiation.

Methods: Colony-forming assays (CFA), using the head and neck cancer cell lines UMSCC10b and UMSCC5 and DNA fragmentation assays, were used to determine the effect of nicotine on cytotoxicity of various anticancer agents, whereas PCR and a JNK activity test were used to study the effect of nicotine on message expression levels and activity of the JNK signaling pathway.

Synchronized population oscillation of excitatory synaptic potentials dependent of calcium-induced calcium release in rat neocortex layer II/III neurons.

We examined the roles played by calcium-induced calcium release from ryanodine-sensitive calcium stores in induction of neocortical membrane potential oscillation by using caffeine, an agonist of ryanodine receptors. Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in layer II/III of rat visual cortex slices in a caffeine-containing medium. White matter stimulation initially evoked monophasic synaptic potentials.

Bcl-2 expression in breast cancer is down-regulated by trans-arterial administration of chemotherapeutic agents.

Bcl-2 is one of the cytoplasmic oncoproteins, and has been shown to suppress apoptotic cell death. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Bcl-2 expression and effects of chemotherapeutic agents on human breast cancer cells. We examined 26 surgically resected breast tumors with preoperative trans-arterial administration of chemotherapeutic agents and 30 control cases using immunohistochemical methods.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index and p53 expression predict outcome for breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases.

In general, extensive lymph node metastasis indicates poor prognosis in breast cancer. Nevertheless, some patients with this condition survive for a long time without recurrent disease. This study involved 112 breast cancer patients with four or more lymph node metastases and without distant metastasis who underwent surgery.

Expression of thrombospondin-1 inversely correlated with tumor vascularity and hematogenous metastasis in colon cancer.

Solid tumors require neovascularization for growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis depends on the local balance between various molecules that induce and inhibit neovascularization. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is thought to be an antiangiogenic factor.

A novel secreted form of immune suppressor factor with high homology to vacuolar ATPases identified by a forward genetic approach of functional screening based on cell proliferation.

In the search for stromal-derived growth factors, we have identified a novel secreted short form of immune suppressor factor (ISF) using a combination of a genetic approach and retrovirus-mediated functional screening. This protein, which we termed ShIF, was isolated based on its ability to support proliferation of a mutant clone S21, which was established from Ba/F3 cells that are usually interleukin-3-dependent but became dependent on a stroma cell line ST2 after chemical mutagenesis. ISF, a membrane protein harboring six transmembrane domains, was reported to have immunosuppressive functions.

A combination analysis of p53 and p21 in gastric carcinoma as a strong indicator for prognosis.

We studied p53 and p21 expression simultaneously in gastric carcinoma tissues to investigate the clinical significance of p53-p21 pathway in this disease. One hundred sixty-four primary gastric carcinoma specimens were immunohistochemically stained for p53 and p21 protein, and clinicopathological features of the cases were examined. P53 was stained negatively, while p21 was stained positively in each normal stomach epithelium.

The value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology for thyroid nodules: an assessment of its diagnostic potential and pitfalls.

This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic potential and pitfalls of performing fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for thyroid nodules. We retrospectively analyzed 1,012 aspirated samples obtained from 806 thyroid nodules by the ultrasound (US)-guided method. Of these 806 nodules, 226 (31%) had been surgically treated, 152 (67%) of which were histologically diagnosed as malignant.

Genetic structure of the five-factor model of personality in a Japanese twin population.

Dimensional approaches have been used to describe the fundamental dimensions that underlie the entire domain of normal and pathological personality. We tested the five factor model of personality structure in a sample of Japanese twins, to clarify the contributions of genetic and environment. The revised NEO personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) was administered to 251 twin pairs, ranging in age from 15 to 27 years of age.

Interleukin 10 expression is correlated with thrombospondin expression and decreased vascular involvement in colon cancer.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is an immuno-suppressive cytokine produced by T-lymphocytes, and a regulatory molecule for angiogenesis in various cancers. We examined IL-10 gene expression in 53 colon cancer patients who underwent surgical resection. IL-10 gene expression was correlated with TSP1 and TSP2 gene expression (P=0.

[Three cases of metastatic breast cancer, resistant to pre-chemo and/or endocrine therapy, markedly improved with UFT and cyclophosphamide oral combination therapy].

The cases of 3 female patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with oral UFT and cyclophosphamide (CPA) are reported. Patient 1 had lymph node and bone metastases. Patient 2 had bone metastasis.

Caspase-1 activity as a possible predictor of apoptosis induced by cisplatin in gastric cancer cells.

Recent studies have shown that caspases, which are cystein proteases, elevate endonuclease activity and induce apoptosis. Caspase-1, an interleukin-1beta converting enzyme, has been reported to be related with anti-cancer drug induced apoptosis as well as with caspase-3. To elucidate the caspase-1 activity, which might be a predictor for the effect of chemotherapy, we examined the changes of caspase-1 activity induced after exposure to cisplatin (CDDP) in six gastric cancer cell lines.