Influence of hospital size on antimicrobial resistance and advantages of restricting antimicrobial use based on cumulative antibiograms in dogs with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infections in Japan.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (SP) and the prevalence of meticillin-resistant SP (MRSP) is increasing in dogs worldwide.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of hospital size on antimicrobial resistance of SP and whether restricted use of antimicrobials based on antibiograms could reduce the identification of antimicrobial resistance in SP from infected dogs.

Methods And Materials: In Study 1, a total of 2,294 SP isolates from dogs with pyoderma (n = 1,858, 52 hospitals) or otitis externa (OE; n = 436, 44 hospitals) taken between 2017 and 2019 were analysed.

A late cutaneous response in actively sensitized rats: a new method for evaluating the efficacy of antiallergic drugs.

We established a new and facile model to investigate allergic mechanism and assess the effect of antiallergic compounds. Male Wistar rats were actively or passively sensitized. Active sensitization was performed by injection of both dinitrophenylated-ovalbumin (DNP-OA) and Bordetella pertussis.

Comparison between partial agonist (ME3412) and antagonist (alosetron) of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor on gastrointestinal function.

Therapeutic use of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT(3)) receptor antagonists for diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome may be accompanied by constipation. We hypothesized that ME3412, 5-chloro-2-(1,4-diazacycloheptan-1-yl)-7-methylbenzoxazole, a novel partial agonist of the 5-HT(3) receptor, would minimize constipation without reducing antidiarrhoeal activity. Receptor binding studies showed that ME3412 is highly selective for the human 5-HT(3) receptor (K(i) = 1.

Elevated expression of DNA polymerase kappa in human lung cancer is associated with p53 inactivation: Negative regulation of POLK promoter activity by p53.

DNA polymerase kappa (POLkappa) is a low fidelity translesional DNA polymerase implicated in spontaneous and DNA damage-induced mutagenesis. We have previously shown that POLkappa was frequently overexpressed in human lung cancer tissues as compared with their matched non-tumorous tissue counterpart. In the present study, we found a close correlation between elevated POLkappa expression and p53 inactivation in lung cancer tissues.

5-HT3-receptor antagonist inhibits visceral pain differently in chemical and mechanical stimuli in rats.

The present study was designed to compare the effects of a selective 5-HT(3)-receptor antagonist, alosetron, on the glycerol-and colorectal distention (CRD)-induced visceral nociception as measured by changes in EMG of the external oblique muscle in conscious rats. Both glycerol and CRD evoked the EMG response, and these amplified EMG were attenuated by morphine, indicating that these responses might reflect visceral nociceptive responses. In the present study, we showed that alosetron significantly attenuated the glycerol-induced visceral pain, but not that of CRD.

Identification of the small interstitial deletion at chromosome band 1p34-p35 and its association with poor outcome in oligodendroglial tumors.

To narrow down the putative tumor-suppressor gene locus and to assess the predictability of clinical courses by genomic alterations, we analyzed 46 oligodendroglial tumors for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the distal region of the short arm of chromosome 1. LOH at 1p was found in 43 tumors (93.5%), including all 28 oligodendrogliomas, all eight oligo-astrocytomas, six of eight anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, and in one of two anaplastic oligo-astrocytomas.

Dynamic-enhanced MRI predicts metastatic potential of invasive ductal breast cancer.

Background: Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has improved the detection of breast malignancies. The method is based on estimating the velocity of contrast enhancement taking into account increased angiogenesis in tumor. Microvessel density correlates with breast carcinoma metastasis.

Genetic analysis of p73 localized at chromosome 1p36.3 in primary neuroblastomas.

Background: Human p73, a novel homolog of p53, has recently been cloned and mapped at chromosome 1p36.3, the locus for putative tumor suppressor gene(s) of neuroblastoma (NBL) and other cancers. p73, like p53, inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in neuroblastoma and osteosarcoma cell lines.

Functional characterization of naturally occurring mutants (P405R and P425L) of p73alpha and p73beta found in neuroblastoma and lung cancer.

The novel candidate tumor suppressor p73, a structural and functional homolog of p53, activates various p53 responsive promoters and induces tumor cell apoptosis. Although p73 is infrequently mutated in human cancers, we have previously found two types of p73 mutation with amino acid substitution (P405R and P425L) in primary neuroblastoma and lung cancer. Here we report generations of the p73 mutants with either P405R or P425L substitution and functional analysis of these naturally occurring mutants.

Human neuroblastomas with unfavorable biologies express high levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA and a variety of its variants.

The expression of human brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was investigated in 16 primary human neuroblastomas with favorable biologies, 15 with unfavorable biologies, and in human neuroblastoma cell lines. We demonstrated higher expressions of human BDNF mRNA in neuroblastomas with unfavorable biologies and with N-myc amplification than in those with favorable biologies. For the first time we revealed the composition of splice variants of human BDNF mRNA and analyzed their expression in neuroblastomas by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

The error-prone DNA polymerase zeta catalytic subunit (Rev3) gene is ubiquitously expressed in normal and malignant human tissues.

Mutagenesis induced by UV light and chemical agents in yeast is largely dependent on the function of Rev3, the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase zeta that carries out translesion DNA synthesis. Human and mouse homologues of the yeast Rev3 gene have recently been identified, and inhibition of Rev3 expression in cultured human fibroblasts by Rev3 anti-sense was shown to reduce UV-induced mutagenesis, indicating that Rev3 also plays a crucial role in mutagenesis in mammalian cells. A common variant transcript with an insertion of 128-bp between nucleotides +139 and +140 is found in both human and mouse Rev3 cDNAs, but its biological significance has not been defined.

Association between favorable neuroblastoma and high expression of the novel metalloproteinase gene, nbla3145/XCE, cloned by differential screening of the full-length-enriched oligo-capping neuroblastoma cDNA libraries.

Background: The biology of neuroblastoma (NBL) is at least partly regulated by neurotrophic factors and their receptors.

Procedure: To identify novel NBL-related genes that affect growth, differentiation, and programmed cell death of the tumor, we constructed full-length-enriched cDNA libraries by oligo-capping method.

Results: Semi-quantitative and quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that the nbla3145 gene was significantly highly expressed in favorable subset of NBL.

Hunting the subset-specific genes of neuroblastoma: expression profiling and differential screening of the full-length-enriched oligo-capping cDNA libraries.

Background: Neuroblastoma (NBL) has a distinct nature in different prognostic subgroups.

Procedure: To understand the molecular mechanism of NBL's genesis and biology as well as that of the neural crest development, we constructed full-length-enriched cDNA libraries by an oligo-capping method from two different subsets of primary NBL, one with favorable biology and the other with MYCN amplification.

Results: Sequencing analysis of these libraries revealed that the expression profile was markedly different between both subsets.

Identification of the homozygously deleted region at chromosome 1p36.2 in human neuroblastoma.

Background: We have identified for the first time a homozygously deleted region within the smallest region of overlap at 1p36.2-3 in two neuroblastoma cell lines.

Procedure: The 800-kb PAC contig covering the entire homozygously deleted region was made and sequenced.

Quantitative ultrasound as a predictor of node metastases and prognosis in patients with breast cancer.

Background: A retrospective study was performed to determine whether preoperative quantitative ultrasound assessment could predict axillary lymph node metastases and prognosis in patients with breast cancer. We focused on the presence of a halo, which is one of the features of breast cancer on ultrasound and represents reflections from the invading margin around infiltrating malignancies.

Methods: We evaluated ultrasonography from 187 infiltrating breast carcinoma patients with tumors 5 cm or less in greatest dimension (T1, T2).

Investigation of menstruation recovery after LH-RH agonist therapy for premenopausal patients with breast cancer.

Background: Recently Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist has been used for premenopausal patients with breast cancer as endocrine therapy. However, there is no consensus regarding recovery of menstruation after long-term treatment with LH-RH agonist. We investigated recovery of menstruation after this treatment.

Cytomorphometric differentiation of intraductal proliferative breast lesions.

Background: Although cytologic examination has been an indispensable procedure for the diagnosis of various breast diseases, it is often difficult to make a precise diagnosis of intraductal proliferative breast lesions preoperatively. The present study attempts to clarify the differentiation of the lesions by the cytologic morphometric approach.

Methods: Cytologic specimens from 21 intraductal lesions, including nine ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), seven ductal hyperplasias (DH), and five papillomas were evaluated.

Identification and characterization of a 500-kb homozygously deleted region at 1p36.2-p36.3 in a neuroblastoma cell line.

Loss of heterozygosity of the distal region of chromosome 1p where tumor suppressor gene(s) might harbor is frequently observed in many human cancers including neuroblastoma (NBL) with MYCN amplification and poor prognosis. We have identified for the first time a homozygously deleted region at the marker D1S244 within the smallest region of overlap at 1p36.2-p36.

[Comparative clinical study on 5-FU concentrations for oral HCFU and i.v. 5-FU].

Using the cross-over method, the same patients were administered continuous intravenous injections of 5-FU and HCFU, an oral derivative of 5-FU widely used for breast and colon cancer in Japan. The pharmacokinetics of 5-FU in blood of both drugs were then compared. The AUC of the 5-FU concentration in blood of the HCFU 100 mg group tended to be higher than that in the 5-FU 250 mg group and lower than that in the 5-FU 500 mg group.

Mutational analysis of p51A/TAp63gamma, a p53 homolog, in non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer.

p51, a novel family member of human p53, is a recently identified candidate tumor suppressor gene mapped at chromosome 3q28. Like p53, p51 was found to activate p21Waf1/Cip1 and to induce apoptosis. Since the DNA loss at 3q is reported in several cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we screened for mutations in p51A (TAp63gamma), an isoform of p51 with short C-terminal region, in 80 NSCLCs as well as 85 breast cancers by RT-PCR single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing.

Mutational analysis of the p73 gene in human breast cancers.

In primary breast cancer, mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene lead to loss of growth-suppressive properties and poor outcome. Recently, a p53-related gene, termed p73, has been cloned and its gene product possesses a function similar to p53. p73 has been mapped at chromosome 1p36.

p73 at chromosome 1p36.3 is lost in advanced stage neuroblastoma but its mutation is infrequent.

p73, a novel p53 family member, is a recently identified candidate neuroblastoma (NBL) suppressor gene mapped at chromosome 1p36.33 and was found to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in cell lines. To test the hypothesis that p73 is a NBL suppressor gene, we analysed the p73 gene in primary human NBLs.

Predicting the prognoses of breast carcinoma patients with positron emission tomography using 2-deoxy-2-fluoro[18F]-D-glucose.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-fluoro[18F]-D-glucose (FDG) can provide quantitative information about tumor glucose metabolism. The prognostic value of this technique was evaluated for breast carcinoma patients.

Methods: FDG PET was performed on 70 patients with primary breast carcinoma, and the differential absorption ratio (DAR) was calculated as an index of FDG uptake.

Morphometry in the cytologic evaluation of thyroid follicular lesions.

Background: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the quantitative estimation of cytologic features on aspirated smears for the preoperative differential diagnosis of follicular lesions of the thyroid.

Methods: The subjects were 60 patients with follicular lesions of the thyroid (including 20 follicular carcinomas, 15 follicular adenomas, and 25 adenomatous goiters) whose histopathologic explorations were conducted fully postoperatively. Using a microscope connected to a computerized video system, the mean nuclear area, the mean nuclear perimeter, the circular rate, the largest to the smallest dimension ratio (LS ratio) of the nuclei, and the coefficient of variation of the nuclear area (NACV) were measured and analyzed.