FGF signal-dependent segregation of primitive endoderm and epiblast in the mouse blastocyst.

Primitive endoderm (PE) and epiblast (EPI) are two lineages derived from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the E3.5 blastocyst. Recent studies showed that EPI and PE progenitors expressing the lineage-specific transcriptional factors Nanog and Gata6, respectively, arise progressively as the ICM develops.

3-D MRI/CT fusion imaging of the lumbar spine.

Objective: The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of MRI/CT fusion in demonstrating lumbar nerve root compromise.

Materials And Methods: We combined 3-dimensional (3-D) computed tomography (CT) imaging of bone with 3-D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of neural architecture (cauda equina and nerve roots) for two patients using VirtualPlace software.

Results: Although the pathological condition of nerve roots could not be assessed using MRI, myelography or CT myelography, 3-D MRI/CT fusion imaging enabled unambiguous, 3-D confirmation of the pathological state and courses of nerve roots, both inside and outside the foraminal arch, as well as thickening of the ligamentum flavum and the locations, forms and numbers of dorsal root ganglia.

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in patients with Machado-Joseph disease.

Objective: Tachycardia is a clinical feature of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and it may be attributable to cardiac autonomic dysfunction. We investigated heart rate variability in MJD patients to reveal heart rate dysregulation in MJD.

Methods: Power spectral analysis of successive R-R intervals (300 beats) was performed in 10 genetically diagnosed MJD patients and 10 healthy control subjects to obtain frequency-domain measures, including high- (HF; 0.

Physical exercise accelerates reentrainment of human sleep-wake cycle but not of plasma melatonin rhythm to 8-h phase-advanced sleep schedule.

Effects of timed physical exercise were examined on the reentrainment of sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms to an 8-h phase-advanced sleep schedule. Seventeen male adults spent 12 days in a temporal isolation facility with dim light conditions (<10 lux). The sleep schedule was phase-advanced by 8 h from their habitual sleep times for 4 days, which was followed by a free-run session for 6 days, during which the subjects were deprived of time cues.

Characterization of receptor proteins using affinity cross-linking with biotinylated ligands.

The plant genome encodes a wide range of receptor-like proteins but the function of most of these proteins is unknown. We propose the use of affinity cross-linking of biotinylated ligands for a ligand-based survey of the corresponding receptor molecules. Biotinylated ligands not only enable the analysis of receptor-ligand interactions without the use of radioactive compounds but also the isolation and identification of receptor molecules by a simple affinity trapping method.

Porous-coated cementless acetabular components without bulk bone graft in revision surgery.

We previously reported the average 9.3-year (range, 5-13 years) results of 74 patients (83 hips) with porous-coated acetabular components that were placed without bulk bone graft at revision surgery. Since the previous report, 7 patients (7 hips) died before the minimum follow-up of 10 years, and 1 patient (1 hip) was lost to follow-up.

[Gastritis].

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has suggested not only the decrease in the incidence of peptic ulcer diseases and gastric cancer, and but also the improvement of dyspeptic symptoms. Dyspepsia is a common condition in the world, and dyspepsia-related medical cost is high due to consultations, investigations, and drug consumption.

[The tradition of healing with magical spells as seen in Buddhist texts].

Although India has its own traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, healing through magic spells was also practiced. After the systematization of Ayurveda, these healing spells almost lost their significance and only the spells for specific diseases were further transmitted. On the other hand, Indian Buddhism partially accepted the healing spells, and Buddhist texts which include the healing spells began to appear after the 4th century.

[Daily phase adjustment of human sleep-wake cycle].

In humans, studies using temporal isolation unit have indicated that (1) bright light is a dominant zeitgeber in human circadian systems and (2) period of endogenous circadian rhythms is longer than 24 h. The human circadian systems have at least two unique features. First is an internal desynchronization in which period of core body temperature rhythm and sleep-wake cycle free-run with different periods.

Microcalorimeter-type energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer for a transmission electron microscope.

A new energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) with a microcalorimeter detector equipped with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) has been developed for high- accuracy compositional analysis in the nanoscale. A superconducting transition-edge-sensor-type microcalorimeter is applied as the detector. A cryogen-free cooling system, which consists of a mechanical and a dilution refrigerator, is selected to achieve long-term temperature stability.

Aberrant overexpression of microRNAs activate AKT signaling via down-regulation of tumor suppressors in natural killer-cell lymphoma/leukemia.

The gene(s) responsible for natural killer (NK)-cell lymphoma/leukemia have not been identified. In the present study, we found that in NK-cell lymphoma lines (n = 10) and specimens of primary lymphoma (n = 10), levels of miR-21 and miR-155 expression were inversely related and were significantly greater than those found in normal natural killer (CD3(-)CD56(+)) cells (n = 8). To determine the functions of these microRNAs in lymphomagenesis, we examined the effects of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting miR-21 (ASO-21) and/or miR-155 (ASO-155) in NK-cell lymphoma lines overexpressing one or both of these miRNAs.

Change in environmental bacterial flora in a new hospital building.

Microbial surveillance of environmental bacteria was performed in order to study the microbial changes in a newly established hospital building. Airborne bacteria and surface-associated bacteria on floors and sinks were systematically collected between 2002 and 2005. The number of isolates obtained from frequently used floors was significantly higher than that obtained from those floors used less often.

MICA gene polymorphism not associated with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in the Japanese population?

Unlabelled: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) is one of the most common birth defects. Despite its frequency, the etiology remains largely unknown. Most likely, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this malformation.

Sudomotor, skin vasomotor, and cardiovascular reflexes in 3 clinical forms of Lewy body disease.

Objective: To elucidate the differences among dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson disease with dementia (PDD), and Parkinson disease without dementia (PD), with respect to the involvement of the autonomic nervous system, we clinically investigated the cutaneous and cardiovascular autonomic functions in patients with Lewy body disease.

Methods: We studied 36 patients with Lewy body disorders, including 12 patients with DLB (age, 75.4 +/- 5.

Shorter unipedal standing time and lower bone mineral density in women with distal radius fractures.

Unlabelled: Unipedal standing time was shorter and bone mineral density was lower in Japanese women aged 50 years and over with low-energy distal radius fractures resulting from falls than those in age-matched community-dwelling Japanese women without distal radius fractures.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare unipedal standing time and bone mineral density (BMD) of women >or=50 years of age with distal radius fractures with those of age-matched women without fractures.

Methods: Fracture group was 54 Japanese women with low-energy distal radius fractures resulting from fall.

Unipedal standing exercise and hip bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to test the effect of unipedal standing exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) of the hip in postmenopausal women. Japanese postmenopausal women (n = 94) were assigned at random to an exercise or control group (no exercise). The 6-month exercise program consisted of standing on a single foot for 1 min per leg 3 times per day.

Successful cord blood transplantation using a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for advanced childhood-onset cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.

The CCALD, which is caused by a mutation of the ABCD1 gene that encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein, progresses to a stage where the patient is in a vegetative state and can cause death within 3-5 yr after the appearance of neurological symptoms. Although HSCT is the only means of preventing the progression of this disease, HSCT is currently recommended only for cases diagnosed in the early stages. Previous reports on HSCT in advanced CCALD have indicated that the complications of the HSCT procedure seem to outweigh its benefits with respect to survival and neurological outcome.

[The effect of unsupervised home exercise program for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of an unsupervised exercise training program at home on exercise function and health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Forty-two patients with COPD (age 72.9+/-7.

The preventive factors for aspirin-induced peptic ulcer: aspirin ulcer and corpus atrophy.

Purpose: Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) polymorphisms are associated with peptic ulcer and atrophic gastritis. This study aimed to examine effects of corpus atrophy and the genotypes of genes related to peptic ulcer, including IL-1beta, on risk of aspirin ulcer.

Methods: 232 patients taking 100 mg of aspirin for cardiovascular diseases, of whom 40 had peptic ulcer, were enrolled.

Religion and HIV in Tanzania: influence of religious beliefs on HIV stigma, disclosure, and treatment attitudes.

Background: Religion shapes everyday beliefs and activities, but few studies have examined its associations with attitudes about HIV. This exploratory study in Tanzania probed associations between religious beliefs and HIV stigma, disclosure, and attitudes toward antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

Methods: A self-administered survey was distributed to a convenience sample of parishioners (n = 438) attending Catholic, Lutheran, and Pentecostal churches in both urban and rural areas.

Upper gastrointestinal ulcer in Japanese patients taking low-dose aspirin.

Background: There are few studies on the association of the risks of upper gastrointestinal (GI) ulcer induced by aspirin combined with other medicines. We investigated the association between peptic ulcer and clinical parameters, including Helicobacter pylori infection and combinations of medicines.

Methods: Patients taking 100 mg aspirin for cardiovascular diseases who were planning to undergo endoscopy were enrolled.

Microbeads display of proteins using emulsion PCR and cell-free protein synthesis.

We developed a method for coupling protein to its coding DNA on magnetic microbeads using emulsion PCR and cell-free protein synthesis in emulsion. A PCR mixture containing streptavidin-coated microbeads was compartmentalized by water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion with estimated 0.5 template molecules per droplet.

A signaling polypeptide derived from an innate immune adaptor molecule can be harnessed as a new class of vaccine adjuvant.

Modulation of intracellular signaling using cell-permeable polypeptides is a promising technology for future clinical applications. To develop a novel approach to activate innate immune signaling by synthetic polypeptides, we characterized several different polypeptides derived from the caspase recruitment domain (CARD) of IFN-beta promoter stimulator 1, each of which localizes to a different subcellular compartment. Of particular interest was, N'-CARD, which consisted of the nuclear localization signal of histone H2B and the IFN-beta promoter stimulator 1CARD and which localized to the nucleus.

Sonic hedgehog and CDX2 expression in the stomach.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is an essential regulator of patterning processes throughout development, and CDX proteins act as the master regulators for intestinal development and differentiation. Shh and CDX2 seem to be interdependently linked with cellular differentiation through different signal cascades. We have recently shown that the loss of Shh and aberrant expression of CDX2 in Helicobacter pylori (H.