Liver tissue engineering at extrahepatic sites in mice as a potential new therapy for genetic liver diseases.

Liver tissue engineering using hepatocyte transplantation has been proposed as an alternative to whole-organ transplantation or liver-directed gene therapy to correct various types of hepatic insufficiency. Hepatocytes are not sustained when transplanted under the kidney capsule of syngeneic mice. However, when we transplanted hepatocytes with the extracellular matrix components extracted from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm cells, hepatocytes survived for at least 140 days and formed small liver tissues.

Urinary excretion of fatty acid-binding protein reflects stress overload on the proximal tubules.

Urinary excretion of human liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (hL-FABP), which is expressed in human proximal tubules and engaged in free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism, was reported to reflect the clinical prognosis of chronic kidney disease. Here we have investigated the pathophysiological significance of hL-FABP in a model of protein overload nephropathy. Because L-FABP is not expressed in the wild-type mice, we generated hL-FABP chromosomal gene transgenic (Tg) mice.

Current-induced domain-wall switching in a ferromagnetic semiconductor structure.

Magnetic information storage relies on external magnetic fields to encode logical bits through magnetization reversal. But because the magnetic fields needed to operate ultradense storage devices are too high to generate, magnetization reversal by electrical currents is attracting much interest as a promising alternative encoding method. Indeed, spin-polarized currents can reverse the magnetization direction of nanometre-sized metallic structures through torque; however, the high current densities of 10(7)-10(8) A cm(-2) that are at present required exceed the threshold values tolerated by the metal interconnects of integrated circuits.

Urinary fatty acid-binding protein as a new clinical marker of the progression of chronic renal disease.

Previous studies have indicated that in massive proteinuria, free fatty acids (FFAs) bound to albumin were overloaded in the proximal tubule and exacerbated tubulointerstitial damage. Liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) is an intracellular carrier protein of FFAs that is expressed in the proximal tubule of human kidney. We sought to evaluate urinary L-FABP as a clinical marker in chronic renal disease.

Electrical manipulation of magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor.

We report electrical manipulation of magnetization processes in a ferromagnetic semiconductor, in which low-density carriers are responsible for the ferromagnetic interaction. The coercive force HC at which magnetization reversal occurs can be manipulated by modifying the carrier density through application of electric fields in a gated structure. Electrically assisted magnetization reversal, as well as electrical demagnetization, has been demonstrated through the effect.

Urinary free fatty acids bound to albumin aggravate tubulointerstitial damage.

Background: Evidence indicates that urinary protein is associated with tubulointerstitial damage and thus it is an aggravating factor for chronic renal disease. As free fatty acids (FFAs) are bound to serum albumin, we hypothesized that FFAs were overloaded to the proximal tubule in massive proteinuria and thus caused tubulointerstitial damage. To test this hypothesis, massive proteinuria was provoked in mice and the renal damage examined.

Integrative control of rectoanal reflex in guinea pigs through lumbar colonic nerves.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the neuromodulation of rectoanal reflex activity by lumbar sympathetic nerves in guinea pigs. The mechanical activities of the rectum were recorded with a balloon connected to a pressure transducer, and those of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) were recorded with a custom-made strain gauge force transducer. Gradual and sustained rectal distension evoked the rectoanal reflex, causing cholinergic contractions of the rectum and synchronous nitrergic relaxations of the IAS.

Mantle cell lymphoma of the rectum at an early stage: a case report.

We report a very rare early-stage case of mantle cell lymphoma, which arose from the rectum. A 60-year-old man presented with a small elastically hard polypoid lesion in the rectum. The lesion was 1.

Nociceptin inhibits capsaicin-sensitive contraction to mesenteric nerve stimulation in the guinea-pig isolated ileum.

Mesenteric nerve stimulation (MNS) in the presence of guanethidine and hexamethonium antidromically stimulated extrinsic sensory nerve fibers and cholinergic myenteric motor neurons, resulting in longitudinal muscle contraction in the isolated guinea-pig ileum. Nociceptin (NC) is a recently discovered neuropeptide that structurally resembles an opioid peptide. The aim of the current study was to examine how NC affects the contractile responses to MNS in the isolated guinea-pig ileum, in comparison with an opiate, methionine-enkephalin.

Coronary flow reserve in angiographically normal coronary arteries with one-vessel coronary artery disease without traditional risk factors.

Aims: Reduced coronary flow reserve has been reported in patients with traditional risk factors, in particular hyperlipidaemia, despite angiographically normal coronary arteries. However, it is recognized that traditional risk factors do not explain the presence of coronary atherosclerosis in a large proportion of patients. The aim of this study was to assess whether coronary flow reserve is preserved in the myocardium supplied by normal coronary arteries in patients with one-vessel coronary artery disease without traditional risk factors.

New method for evaluating intestinal contractions in guinea pig by curve fitting.

Using a "hybrid logistic function," we attempted to develop a new approach for a quantitative and comprehensive evaluation of the force-time curve of guinea pig gut contractions. We recorded ileum twitch and proximal colon spontaneous isometric longitudinal contractions because of their high regularities. We digitized the force-time curves of both contractions and performed curve fitting to them by hybrid logistic functions with a personal computer.

Prognostic utility of myocardial blood flow assessed by N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Previous studies in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) have suggested that myocardial perfusion is impaired and spatially heterogeneous in such cases. Our objective was to identify any association between an abnormality in myocardial perfusion and the prognosis of patients with IDC. We collected data on N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) studies performed in 26 patients with IDC (9 nonsurvivors, 17 survivors) and in 8 normal control subjects.

Angiotensin II plays a pathogenic role in immune-mediated renal injury in mice.

Several lines of evidence show the importance of angiotensin II (AII) in renal injuries, especially when hemodynamic abnormalities are involved. To elucidate the role of AII in immune-mediated renal injury, we studied anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis in AII type 1a receptor (AT1a)-deficient homozygous (AT1a-/-) and wild-type (AT1a+/+) mice. A transient activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) was observed in both groups of mice at around day 1.

Effect of the duration of fasting on myocardial fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography images in normal males.

To evaluate the effect of the duration of fasting on myocardial fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and distribution, 16 FDG-positron emission tomography (PET) studies were performed in 7 normal volunteers under three different conditions: glucose loading, 6 h fasting and overnight fasting. In the glucose-loaded condition, all subjects had good image quality, and myocardial metabolic rates of glucose (MRGlc) were significantly higher than those in the other two conditions. In the 6 h and overnight fasting conditions, image qualities varied according to MRGlc.

[Relationship between static images of 13N ammonia positron emission tomography and left ventricular wall motion in patients with coronary artery disease].

Observed myocardial activities in static image of 13N ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) contains factors about not only myocardial blood flow but also wall motion, wall thickness and glutamine synthetase activity. Those factors may help to delineate myocardial viability in 13N ammonia static image. To assess the role of 13N ammonia static image in prediction of reversibility of regional wall motion abnormalities after revascularization, we studied 20 patients with coronary artery disease.

Endothelin-1 production and endothelin converting enzyme expression by guinea pig airway epithelial cells.

Significant amount of endothelin-1 (ET-1) production and endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) activity have been detected in cultured guinea pig airway epithelial cells. Subsequent screening of the cDNA library constructed from epithelial cells, a complete cDNA of guinea pig ECE and a partial cDNA encoding preproET-1 were newly isolated. The production of ET-1 from epithelial cells was influenced by some vasoactive or inflammatory mediators, especially LPS enhances ET-1 production.

Simplified PET quantitation of myocardial glucose utilization.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to validate experimentally a simple method to quantify tissue glucose utilization with the brain reference index (BRI) using 14C-deoxyglucose and assess its clinical feasibility for myocardial PET.

Methods: To validate the BRI method, glucose utilization in myocardial and skeletal muscle was studied in rats with 14C-deoxyglucose after increasing doses of oral glucose loading. To assess clinical feasibility of the method, the BRI was applied to nine patients undergoing myocardial PET and compared to rMGU measured by the deoxyglucose model of Sokoloff et al.

[A case report of left atrial free-floating ball thrombus in a patient without mitral valve disease].

A 77-year-old man who had a left atrial free-floating ball thrombus without mitral valve disease was operated. His electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. Transesophageal echocardiography showed free-floating mass in dilated left atrium and intact mitral valve.

A cytosolic endothelin converting activity in guinea-pig lung: purification of a novel metalloprotease.

A proteinous fraction that produces endothelin-1 (ET-1) from big ET-1 in guinea-pig lung cytosol is described. An active protein has been successfully purified to homogeneity by combinations of sequential column chromatographies. The purified enzyme was a metalloenzyme based upon its sensitivity to chelating agent, and a molecular mass of the enzyme was 38 kDa estimated by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE.

Sandwich enzyme immunoassay for endothelin with monoclonal antibodies and its application.

The development of a sensitive enzyme immunoassay for endothelin is described. This assay is based on a sandwich method using two different monoclonal antibodies against endothelin-1. A monoclonal antibody, which reacted to the C-terminal region of endothelin, was selected as an immobilized antibody.

A novel murine zinc finger gene mapped within the tw18 deletion region expresses in germ cells and embryonic nervous system.

A novel zinc finger gene, designated NT fin12, belonging to the C2H2-Krüppel-type gene family was isolated from a newborn mouse testis cDNA library by using zinc finger consensus motif probes. Northern blot analyses showed that NT fin12 mRNA was expressed during the meiotic prophase of spermatogenesis and in embryogenesis. Transcripts were localized by in situ hybridization in spermatogonia and in early spermatocytes, and in testis cords in the genital ridge as well as in oocytes and follicle cells in the ovary.

Low copper and brain abnormalities in fetus from triethylene tetramine dihydrochloride-treated pregnant mouse.

The effects of prenatal triethylene tetramine dihydrochloride (Trien-2HCl) exposure on fetal mice have been investigated on gestational day 19. Trien-2HCl was given throughout pregnancy at levels of 0 (control), 3,000, 6,000, or 12,000 ppm as drinking water, ad libitum. At the level of 12,000 ppm, the frequency of total resorption tended to be high and that of fetal viability tended to be low, as compared to controls.