The monocyte chemotactic protein-1 gene may contribute to hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

In a previous study, we performed a genome-wide quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis for blood pressure using F2 rats derived from Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and Lewis (LEW) rats and identified two QTLs that influenced blood pressure levels. Although we determined that one of the causative genes in the chromosome (Ch) 1 region seemed to be Klk1, we did not perform detailed analyses on the Ch10 QTL region. The purpose of the present study was to identify candidate genes that influence blood pressure in the Ch10 QTL region.

Continuous infusion of insulin-like growth factor-I into the epiphysis of the tibia.

We have developed a method to promote longitudinal bone growth at the level of a specific growth-plate (GP) in young rabbits. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was continuously infused by means of an osmotic pump into the bone marrow cavity of the proximal epiphysis of the tibia. Radiological measurement showed a 2-mm overgrowth of the tibia after 4 weeks of treatment, while histological analysis demonstrated a 15% increase in the thickness of the selected GP.

Genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in endonuclease G-like 1 gene with type 2 diabetes in a Japanese population.

Aims/hypothesis: In order to identify type 2 diabetes disease susceptibility gene(s) in a Japanese population, we applied a region-wide case-control association test to the 20.4 Mb region between D3S1293 and D3S2319 on chromosome 3p24.3-22.

Differences of therapeutic effects on regional bone mineral density and markers of bone mineral metabolism between alendronate and alfacalcidol in Japanese osteoporotic women.

We studied the differences of therapeutic effects on regional bone mineral density (BMD) and markers of bone mineral metabolism between alendronate and alfacalcidol in Japanese osteoporotic women. Ninety-two Japanese women suffering from primary osteoporosis without osteoporotic fractures, aged 55 to 81 years, were divided into two groups: women treated orally with alendronate for one-year (5mg/day) (alendronate group, n=35) and women treated orally with alfacalcidol for one year (0.5 microg/day) (alfacalcidol group, n=57).

Distinct expression of mast cell tryptase and protease activated receptor-2 in synovia of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The objective of this study is to examine the differential expression of mast cell tryptase and its receptor, protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), in the synovium and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to determine whether the trypsin-like protease in the synovium is identical to mast cell tryptase. The effects of mast cell tryptase on the proliferation of synovial fibroblast-like cells (SFCs) and the release of IL-8 thereof were evaluated by the [3H]-thymidine incorporation and ELISA, respectively.

Surgical outcomes after treatment of fractures in femur and tibia in pycnodysostosis.

Pycnodysostosis is a rare hereditary disease, characterized by systemic bone sclerosis. The most important orthopedic problem in this condition is the recurrent pathological fracture of long bones. In this paper, the surgical results for fractures of six limbs (three femurs and three tibias) in five cases of pycnodysostosis are reported.

Genetic association between the PRKCH gene encoding protein kinase Ceta isozyme and rheumatoid arthritis in the Japanese population.

Objective: Analyses of families with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have suggested the presence of a putative susceptibility locus on chromosome 14q21-23. This large population-based genetic association study was undertaken to examine this region.

Methods: A 2-stage case-control association study of 950 unrelated Japanese patients with RA and 950 healthy controls was performed using >400 gene-based common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

A leiomyoma arising from the deep palmar arterial arch.

Vascular leiomyomas, or angioleiomyomas, are benign tumours originating from smooth non-striated muscle. Leiomyomas in the hand are uncommon and their pre-operative diagnosis is difficult. We report a 65 year-old woman who developed a vascular leiomyoma arising from the deep palmar arterial arch.

Asynchronous progressive diaphyseal dysplasia.

We report the case of a 42-year-old Japanese woman with unusual diaphyseal dysplasia of bilateral femora. Radiographs showed thickening and sclerosis of the cortex with resultant enlargement of the diaphysis, unclear demarcation of the surface of the cortex, and no periosteal reaction. These changes were found on the left femur at the first presentation, and those on the right femur developed within several years.

Chronic superior sagittal sinus thrombosis with phlebosclerotic changes of the subarachnoid and intracerebral veins.

An autopsy case of chronic thrombotic occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) with an unusually protracted clinical course is reported. The patient was an 84-year-old man without any predisposing conditions for thrombosis. The clinical features were atypical and were characterized by recurrent cerebral subcortical hemorrhages.

Treatment of relapsed idiopathic clubfoot by complete subtalar release combined with the Ilizarov method.

This study presents the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 6 feet (4 patients) with relapsed idiopathic clubfoot that were treated with a combination of subtalar release and the Ilizarov method. The mean patient age at the time of the surgery was 7.4 years (range, 4.

A novel type of EWS-CHOP fusion gene in myxoid liposarcoma.

The cytogenetic hallmark of myxoid type and round cell type liposarcoma consists of reciprocal translocation of t(12;16)(q13;p11) and t(12;22)(q13;q12), which results in fusion of TLS/FUS and CHOP, and EWS and CHOP, respectively. Nine structural variations of the TLS/FUS-CHOP chimeric transcript have been reported, however, only two types of EWS-CHOP have been described. We describe here a case of myxoid liposarcoma containing a novel EWS-CHOP chimeric transcript and identified the breakpoint occurring in intron 13 of EWS.

Ubiquitin ligase gene expression in healthy volunteers with 20-day bedrest.

In animal models, several ubiquitin ligases play an important role in skeletal muscle atrophy caused by unloading. In this study we examined protein ubiquitination and ubiquitin ligase gene expression in quadriceps femoris muscle from healthy volunteers after 20-day bedrest to clarify ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in human muscles after unloading. During bedrest, thickness and cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris muscle decreased significantly by 4.

Structure of a signaling-competent reelin fragment revealed by X-ray crystallography and electron tomography.

The large extracellular glycoprotein reelin directs neuronal migration during brain development and plays a fundamental role in layer formation. It is composed of eight tandem repeats of an approximately 380-residue unit, termed the reelin repeat, which has a central epidermal growth factor (EGF) module flanked by two homologous subrepeats with no obvious sequence similarity to proteins of known structure. The 2.

High-grade slippage of the lumbar spine in a rat model of spondylolisthesis: effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on its deformity.

Study Design: Radiographic and histologic evaluation of spondylolisthesis in a rat model.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of etodolac, a cox-2 inhibitor, on the severity of spondylolisthesis in a 4-week-old rat model.

Summary Of Background Data: Spondylolisthesis occurs associated with spondylolysis in some pediatric patients.

High tibial osteotomy for osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity utilizing the hemicallotasis method.

Introduction: A hemicallotasis method has been developed utilizing an external fixator as high tibial osteotomy (HTO), and satisfactory results of this method with the external fixator have been reported. This external fixator has a universal joint that moves in all directions. We have recently designed a hemicallotasis device for this operation.

MRI characteristics of parosteal lipomas associated with the HMGA2-LPP fusion gene.

Background: The magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics of parosteal lipomas with the HMGA2-LPP fusion transcripts are described.

Patients And Methods: The expression of HMGA2-LPP fusion transcripts was determined using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method.

Results: MR images of two cases with the fusion transcripts, a 56-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman, revealed heterogeneous high signal intensities on T1- and T2-weighted images, showing heterogeneous curvilinear enhancement on fat-suppressed T1-weighted images after Gd-DTPA injection, which resembled those of well-differentiated liposarcomas.

Preservation of C7 spinous process does not influence the long-term outcome after laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Axial pain is one of the major complications after laminoplasty, and preservation of C7 spinous process during the procedure can reduce the axial pain. However, it has not been elucidated whether laminoplasty preserving the C7 spinous process can maintain neurological improvement for a long time. The purpose of our retrospective study was to investigate the long-term neurological outcome after open-door laminoplasty preserving the C7 spinous process for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b downregulates bone formation through suppression of IGF-I signaling in osteoblasts during denervation.

Unlabelled: Unloading can prevent bone formation by osteoblasts. To study this mechanism, we focused on a ubiquitin ligase, Cbl-b, which was highly expressed in osteoblastic cells during denervation. Our results suggest that Cbl-b may mediate denervation-induced osteopenia by inhibiting IGF-I signaling in osteoblasts.

Sp1 family of transcription factors regulates the human alpha2 (XI) collagen gene (COL11A2) in Saos-2 osteoblastic cells.

Unlabelled: Genes encoding type XI collagen, normally associated with chondrogenesis, are also expressed by osteoblasts. By studying Saos-2 cells, we showed that the transcription factors, Sp1, Sp3, and Sp7 (Osterix), regulate COL11A2 expression through its proximal promoter. The findings indicate both ubiquitous and osteoblast-specific mechanisms of collagen gene regulation.

Bisphosphonate modulates morphological and mechanical properties in distraction osteogenesis through inhibition of bone resorption.

Despite the general clinical acceptance of distraction osteogenesis and much attention to bone formation in this method, little is recognized about activated bone resorption in the regenerated bone. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the simultaneously activated bone resorption with activated bone formation and to investigate the role and efficacy of bisphosphonate in distraction osteogenesis. Left tibiae of 54 immature rabbits were lengthened for 3 weeks at a rate of 0.