Successful cochlear implantation in a patient with Epstein syndrome during long-term follow-up.

Epstein syndrome is a rare disease characterized by macrothrombocytopenia, nephritis and progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This syndrome is presently recognized as an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations of non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9). Little information is available about the progress of SNHL, the efficacy of cochlear implants (CI) or the perioperative management of thrombocytopenia in patients with Epstein syndrome. We herein report a case of a patient with Epstein syndrome with the MYH9:c.2105G>A:p.R702H variant who underwent cochlear implantation after 27 years of follow-up for her progressive SNHL. The deterioration rates of hearing were 3.48 dB/year on the right ear and 2.46 dB/year on the left ear. The patient derived benefits from CI and had a speech recognition test result (for sentences) of 93% at 6-months postoperatively. Thrombocytopenia was successfully managed without any bleeding complications by using eltrombopag, an oral thrombopoietic agent, making transfusion of platelets unnecessary. The accurate diagnosis of Epstein syndrome was made only after long-term follow-up as the thrombocytopenia was initially diagnosed as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. This case report highlights the perioperative management of thrombocytopenia, the progress of SNHL and the potential pitfalls of diagnosis.

Rapid detection of papillary thyroid carcinoma by fluorescence imaging using a γ-glutamyltranspeptidase-specific probe: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Nodular lesions of the thyroid gland, including papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), may be difficult to diagnose by imaging, such as in ultrasonic echo testing, or by needle biopsy. Definitive diagnosis is made by pathological examination but takes several days. A more rapid and simple method to clarify whether thyroid nodular lesions are benign or malignant is needed. Fluorescence imaging with γ-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green (gGlu-HMRG) uses γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), a cell-surface enzyme, to hydrolyze the γ-glutamyl peptide and transfer the γ-glutamyl group. GGT is overexpressed in several cancers, such as breast, lung, and liver cancers. This imaging method is rapid and useful for detecting such cancers. In this study, we tried to develop a rapid fluorescence detection method for clinical samples of thyroid cancer, especially papillary carcinoma. METHODS: Fluorescence imaging with gGlu-HMRG was performed to detect PTC using 23 surgically resected clinical samples. A portable imaging device conveniently captured white-light images and fluorescence images with blue excitation light. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate which fluorescent regions coincided with cancer, and immunohistochemical examination was used to detect GGT expression. RESULTS: All 16 PTC samples exhibited fluorescence after topical application of gGlu-HMRG, whereas the normal sections of each sample showed no fluorescence. HE staining revealed that each fluorescent region corresponded to a region with carcinoma. The PTC samples also exhibited GGT expression, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: All PTC samples were detected by fluorescence imaging with gGlu-HMRG. Thus, fluorescence imaging with gGlu-HMRG is a rapid, simple, and powerful detection tool for PTC.

Protective Effects of Fisetin Against 6-OHDA-Induced Apoptosis by Activation of PI3K-Akt Signaling in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells.

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. 3,3',4',7-Tetrahydroxyflavone (fisetin), a plant flavonoid has a variety of physiological effects such as antioxidant activity. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of the neuroprotective effects of fisetin against 6-OHDA-induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. 6-OHDA-mediated cell toxicity was reduced in a fisetin concentration-dependent manner. 6-OHDA-mediated elevation of the expression of the oxidative stress-related genes such as hemeoxygenase-1, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1, NF-E2-related factor 2, and γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier was suppressed by fisetin. Fisetin also lowered the ratio of the proapoptotic Bax protein and the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, fisetin effectively suppressed 6-OHDA-mediated activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, which leads to the cell death, while, 6-OHDA-induced caspase-3/7 activity was lowered. Furthermore, fisetin activated the PI3K-Akt signaling, which inhibits the caspase cascade, and fisetin-mediated inhibition of 6-OHDA-induced cell death was negated by the co-treatment with an Akt inhibitor. These results indicate that fisetin protects 6-OHDA-induced cell death by activating PI3K-Akt signaling in human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells. This is the first report that the PI3K-Akt signaling is involved in the fisetin-protected ROS-mediated neuronal cell death.

Nutritional status of patients with phenylketonuria in Japan.

Accumulating evidence suggests that hyperphenylalaninemia in phenylketonuria (PKU) can cause neuropsychological and psychosocial problems in diet-off adult patients, and that such symptoms improve after resumption of phenylalanine-restricted diet, indicating the need for lifetime low-phenylalanine diet. While limiting protein intake, dietary therapy should provide adequate daily intake of energy, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and microelements. We evaluated nutrient balance in 14 patients with classical PKU aged 4-38 years. Approximately 80-85% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein in Japanese was supplied through phenylalanine-free (Phe-free) milk and Phe-free amino acid substitutes. Nutritional evaluation showed that the calorie and protein intakes were equivalent to the RDA. Phenylalanine intake was 9.8 ± 2.2 mg/kg of body weight/day, which maintained normal blood phenylalanine concentration by the 80% Phe-free protein rule. The protein, fat, and carbohydrate ratio was 9.5:23.9:66.6% with relative carbohydrate excess. Phe-free milk and amino acid substitutes provided 33.7% of carbohydrate, 82.1% of protein, and 66.7% of fat intake in all. Selenium and biotin intakes were 25.0% and 18.1% of the RDA and adequate intake (AI) for Japanese, respectively; both were not included in Phe-free milk. PKU patients showed low serum selenium, low urinary biotin, and high urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid in this study. The intakes of magnesium, zinc, and iodine were low (71.5%, 79.5%, and 71.0% of the RDA, respectively) and that of phosphorus was 79.7% of the AI, although they were supplemented in Phe-free milk. PKU patients depend on Phe-free milk and substitutes for daily requirement of microelements and vitamins as well as protein and fat. Development of low-protein food makes it possible to achieve the aimed phenylalanine blood level, but this lowers the intake of microelements and vitamins from natural foods. The dietary habits vary continuously with age and environment in PKU patients. We recommend the addition of selenium and biotin to Phe-free milk in Japan and the need to review the composition of microelements and vitamins in A-1 and MP-11 preparations.

Antioxidant activity of flavonoids evaluated with myoglobin method.

Antioxidant activities of four flavonoids (rutin, quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol) and two non-flavonoids (chlorogenic acid and pyrocatechol) against four reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been measured with a myoglobin method developed by our group. The myoglobin method uses the absorbance changes of myoglobin (a probe molecule) due to the reaction with the ROS as an indicator for the antioxidant activity measurement. Myoglobin protective ratio (MPR) was defined to express the antioxidant activities of the specimens. Antioxidant activities against hypochlorite ion, hydroxyl radical, peroxyl radical, and peroxynitrite were measured with the myoglobin method. The antioxidant activities were comprehensively evaluated by plotting MPR against four ROS and vitamin C equivalent concentration evaluated by DPPH quenching method in 5-axe cobweb charts. The four flavonoids show a very similar pattern in the 5-axe cobweb charts, while the patterns of two non-flavonoids are quite different from that of the flavonoids. This procedure combining the myoglobin method with the cobweb charts is useful in the evaluation of antioxidant activities of plant-derived food, and also can be extended to monitor antioxidant condition of media for plant cell cultures.

Accumulative gene integration into a pre-determined site using Cre/loxP.

Site-specific gene recombination systems, such as Cre/loxP, have been used for genetic modification of cells and organisms in both basic and applied research. We previously developed an accumulative gene integration system (AGIS), in which target gene cassettes could be repeatedly integrated into a pre-determined site on a plasmid or cellular genome by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE), using Cre and mutated loxPs. In the present study, we designed a simplified AGIS. For gene integration into a target site, the previous system used two loxP sites in the acceptor DNA, whereas the new system uses a single loxP site. The gene integration reactions were repeated four times in vitro using Cre protein and specific plasmids. The expected integration reactions mediated by Cre occurred at the loxP sites, resulting in integration of four target genes. The system was also used for genomic integration of reporter genes using Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The reporter genes were efficiently introduced into the CHO genome in a Cre-dependent manner, and transgene expression was detected after the integration reaction. The expression levels of the reporter genes were enhanced, corresponding to the increase of transgene copy number. Recombinase-mediated AGIS provides a useful tool for the modification of cellular genomes.

Effects of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine on synaptic transmission at hippocampal inhibitory and excitatory synapses.

Clozapine is the first atypical antipsychotic, and improves positive and negative symptoms of many patients with schizophrenia resistant to treatment with other antipsychotic agents. Clozapine induces minimal extrapyramidal side effects, but is more often associated with seizures. A large number of studies have been conducted to elucidate pharmacological profiles of clozapine and its major active metabolite, N-desmethylclozapine (NDMC). However, there are only a limited number of electrophysiological studies examining their effects on synaptic transmission. In this study, we examined effects of clozapine and NDMC on synaptic transmission by measuring inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents in rat cultured hippocampal neurons. We found that clozapine and NDMC have qualitatively similar actions. They depressed the inhibitory transmission at 1-30 µM, and the excitatory transmission at 30 µM, the former being much more sensitive. The depression of IPSCs by 30 µM of these drugs was associated with an increase in the paired-pulse ratio. The GABA-induced currents were suppressed by these drugs, but less sensitive than IPSCs. The AMPA-induced currents were slightly potentiated by these drugs at 30 µM. At 30 µM, clozapine and NDMC slightly suppressed Ca(2+) and Na(+) channels. These results strongly suggest that clozapine and NMDC depress the inhibitory synaptic transmission mainly by antagonizing postsynaptic GABA(A) receptors, but at higher concentrations additionally by acting on presynaptic site, possibly in part through inhibition of presynaptic Ca(2+) and Na(+) channels. Preferential depression of inhibitory synaptic transmission by clozapine and NDMC might contribute to therapeutic actions and/or side-effects of clozapine.

Two types of direction-changing positional nystagmus with neutral points.

OBJECTIVES: We encountered patients who had static direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) canceled at about 20-30° yaw head rotation from the supine position. This nystagmus was also canceled when the head was rotated 180° from this position. We termed these head positions neutral points. The positional nystagmus observed (except at the neutral points) was thought to occur due to a "heavy cupula" or "light cupula". The purpose of this study was to examine DCPN with neutral points as well as the pathomechanism of this condition. METHODS: Retrospective case review of patients attending two hospitals. Sixteen patients who exhibited DCPN with neutral points were examined using an infrared camera (installed in goggles). Using this system, the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was recorded, and VOR gain was obtained. Vestibular function and the affected side were determined. In addition, the angle between the supine position and neutral point was measured in each patient. We also examined other positional nystagmus occurring at other times. RESULTS: In the heavy cupula type group, we noted positional nystagmus for which repositioning maneuvers were successful, whereas, in the light cupula type group, repositioning maneuvers were not effective. The angle between supine position and neutral point was 26.5 ± 11.6°. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy cupula type may occur as a result of otoconia while light cupula type may be due to the specific gravity of the endolymph. The VOR gain and side of the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) observed suggested that the affected side was that to which the neutral point was deviated.

Self-organized formation and self-repair of a two-dimensional nanoarray of Ge quantum dots epitaxially grown on ultrathin SiO2-covered Si substrates.

Two-dimensional nanoarrays of Ge quantum dots (QDs) with the ability to self-repair were epitaxially grown by self-organization on Si substrates using an ultrathin SiO(2) film technique. Nanometer-sized voids were patterned on ultrathin SiO(2) films by transcription of the pattern of block copolymer films using a selective etching method and worked as nucleation sites for QD growth. The epitaxial QDs were elastically strain-relaxed without misfit dislocations and of uniform size. The epitaxial structures of Si-capped QD nanoarrays exhibited strong photoluminescence near 1.5 microm.

An isoflavone conjugate-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase from the roots of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings: purification, gene cloning, phylogenetics, and cellular localization.

Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and certain other legumes excrete isoflavones from their roots, which participate in plantmicrobe interactions such as symbiosis and as a defense against infections by pathogens. In G. max, the release of free isoflavones from their conjugates, the latent forms, is mediated by an isoflavone conjugate-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase. Here we report on the purification and cDNA cloning of this important beta-glucosidase from the roots of G. max seedlings as well as related phylogenetic and cellular localization studies. The purified enzyme, isoflavone conjugate-hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase from roots of G. max seedling (GmICHG), is a homodimeric glycoprotein with a subunit molecular mass of 58 kDa and is capable of directly hydrolyzing genistein 7-O-(6 ''-O-malonyl-beta-d-glucoside) to produce free genistein (k(cat), 98 s(-1); K(m), 25 microM at 30 degrees C, pH 7.0). GmICHG cDNA was isolated based on the amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme. GmICHG cDNA was abundantly expressed in the roots of G. max seedlings but only negligibly in the hypocotyl and cotyledon. An immunocytochemical analysis using anti-GmICHG antibodies, along with green fluorescent protein imaging analyses of Arabidopsis cultured cells transformed by the GmICHG:GFP fusion gene, revealed that the enzyme is exclusively localized in the cell wall and intercellular space of seedling roots, particularly in the cell wall of root hairs. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that GmICHG is a member of glycoside hydrolase family 1 and can be co-clustered with many other leguminous beta-glucosidases, the majority of which may also be involved in flavonoid-mediated interactions of legumes with microbes.

Localization of a flavonoid biosynthetic polyphenol oxidase in vacuoles.

Aureusidin synthase, a polyphenol oxidase (PPO), specifically catalyzes the oxidative formation of aurones from chalcones, which are plant flavonoids, and is responsible for the yellow coloration of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) flowers. All known PPOs have been found to be localized in plastids, whereas flavonoid biosynthesis is thought to take place in the cytoplasm [or on the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)]. However, the primary structural characteristics of aureusidin synthase and some of its molecular properties argue against localization of the enzyme in plastids and the cytoplasm. In this study, the subcellular localization of the enzyme in petal cells of the yellow snapdragon was investigated. Sucrose-density gradient and differential centrifugation analyses suggested that the enzyme (the 39-kDa mature form) is not located in plastids or on the ER. Transient assays using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) chimera fused with the putative propeptide of the PPO precursor suggested that the enzyme was localized within the vacuole lumen. We also found that the necessary information for vacuolar targeting of the PPO was encoded within the 53-residue N-terminal sequence (NTPP), but not in the C-terminal sequence of the precursor. NTPP-mediated ER-to-Golgi trafficking to vacuoles was confirmed by means of the co-expression of an NTPP-GFP chimera with a dominant negative mutant of the Arabidopsis GTPase Sar1 or with a monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-fused Golgi marker (an H+-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase of Arabidopsis). We identified a sequence-specific vacuolar sorting determinant in the NTPP of the precursor. We have demonstrated the biosynthesis of a flavonoid skeleton in vacuoles. The findings of this metabolic compartmentation may provide a strategy for overcoming the biochemical instability of the precursor chalcones in the cytoplasm, thus leading to the efficient accumulation of aurones in the flower.

[Discussions on home care of solely living people receiving nursing services at the station].

The number of solely living people receiving nursing services at the station has continuously increased to 23 people in the period of four years and six months from September 1998 to February 2003. We plan to survey the condition of home care of solely living people, which is considered to give hints for future nursing.

[Discussions on home care of solely living people receiving nursing services at the station].

The number of solely living people receiving nursing services at the station has continuously increased to 23 people in the period of four years and six months from September 1998 to February 2003. We plan to survey the condition of home care of solely living people, which is considered to give hints for future nursing.