Utility of bronchoscopically obtained frozen cytology pellets for next-generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is essential for lung cancer treatment. It is important to collect sufficient tissue specimens, but sometimes we cannot obtain large enough samples for NGS analysis. We investigated the yield of NGS analysis by frozen cytology pellets using an Oncomine Comprehensive Assay or Oncomine Precision Assay. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled patients with lung cancer who underwent bronchoscopy at Kobe University Hospital and were enrolled in the Lung Cancer Genomic Screening Project for Individualized Medicine. We investigated the amount of extracted DNA and RNA and determined the NGS success rates. We also compared the amount of DNA and RNA by bronchoscopy methods. To create the frozen cytology pellets, we first effectively collected the cells and then quickly centrifuged and cryopreserved them. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients were enrolled in this study between May 2016 and December 2022; of them, 75 were subjected to frozen cytology pellet examinations and 57 were subjected to frozen tissue examinations. The amount of DNA and RNA obtained by frozen cytology pellets was nearly equivalent to frozen tissues. Frozen cytology pellets collected by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration yielded significantly more DNA than those collected by transbronchial biopsy methods. (P < 0.01) In RNA content, cytology pellets were not inferior to frozen tissue. The success rate of NGS analysis with frozen cytology pellet specimens was comparable to the success rate of NGS analysis with frozen tissue specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that frozen cytology pellets may have equivalent diagnostic value to frozen tissue for NGS analyses. Bronchial cytology specimens are usually used only for cytology, but NGS analysis is possible if enough cells are collected to create pellet specimens. In particular, the frozen cytology pellets obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration yielded sufficient amounts of DNA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This was registered with the University Medical Hospital Information Network in Japan (UMINCTR registration no. UMIN000052050).

Impact of concurrent medications on the outcome of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There have been reports on the impact of concurrent drugs on the outcome of immunotherapy for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, the effect of some drugs, such as antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has not been clarified in patients with NSCLC. In the present study, we aimed to assess the association between concurrent drugs and the outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone or in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent ICI treatment between September 2017 and December 2021 at Kobe University Hospital. We evaluated the data regarding the use of antibiotics within 30 days before ICI initiation, as well as the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and NSAIDs during ICI initiation. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were assessed, among whom 28 (22.0%) patients received antibiotics, 39 (30.7%) PPIs, and 36 (28.3%) NSAIDs. No significant differences were observed between the patients with and without antibiotic use. However, patients using NSAIDs had significantly worse objective response rates (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) with ICI alone or in combination with chemotherapy compared to those who did not (ORR, 47.2% vs. 67.0%; p = 0.045. PFS, 6.3 months vs. 10.8 months; p = 0.02). Patients using PPIs demonstrated a worse ORR of ICI in combination with chemotherapy compared to those who did not (ORR, 45.2% vs. 72.6%; p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The unnecessary use of NSAIDs along with immunotherapy should be discouraged.

Mechanism of action of adapalene for treating EGFR-TKI-induced skin disorder.

BACKGROUND: Skin disorders are the most common side effect associated with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. It is important to manage skin lesions. Adapalene has been used to treat skin lesions caused by EGFR-TKIs in some cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional mechanism of adapalene in erlotinib-induced skin disorder. METHODS: To analyze the effect of adapalene on skin rash, afatinib and adapalene were administered to mice. The relationship between the concentration of adapalene and skin disorders was also examined by analyzing AQP3 expression. A skin lesion model was experimentally established in human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) by using erlotinib with TNF-α and IL-1ß. We used qRT-PCR to analyze chemokine-induced inflammation and western blotting to analyze the effects of adapalene on the NF-κB signaling pathway. Antimicrobial peptides and adhesion factors were also examined using qRT-PCR. RESULTS: Mice administered 0.01% adapalene had less skin inflammation than mice treated with afatinib alone. The expression level of AQP3 decreased in an adapalene concentration-dependent manner. The mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as CCL2 and CCL27 in HaCaT cells were significantly reduced by adapalene. The expression of an antimicrobial peptide, hBD3, was upregulated after adapalene treatment. Adhesion factors, such as E-cadherin, were significantly downregulated by EGFR-TKI and significantly upregulated by adapalene treatment. Western blot analysis suggested that erlotinib-induced phosphorylation of p65 was decreased by adapalene. CONCLUSION: We suggest that adapalene may be a possible treatment option for skin disorders induced by EGFR-TKIs.

Diagnostic yield and the number of tumor cells of ultrathin bronchoscopy for peripheral lung lesions: A comparison with thin bronchoscopy.

Ultrathin bronchoscopy has been reported to have a higher diagnostic yield than thin bronchoscopy for small peripheral lung lesions in transbronchial biopsy under radial endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS). However, data comparing the number of tumor cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are limited. We retrospectively compared the number of NSCLC tumor cells in peripheral lung lesions obtained using an ultrathin bronchoscope and a thin bronchoscope with radial EBUS between April 2020 and October 2021. In all patients, we used virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) software, and guide sheaths were used in thin bronchoscopy cases. A total of 175 patients were enrolled in this study. Ultrathin bronchoscopy cases (n = 69) had lesions with a smaller diameter that are more peripherally located compared to thin bronchoscopy cases (n = 106) (median, 25.0 vs. 26.5 mm, mean bronchial generations accessed by bronchoscopy; 4.4±1.2 vs. 3.8±1.0, respectively; p<0.010). There were no significant differences in the overall diagnostic yield (ultrathin vs. thin bronchoscopy cases, 68.1% vs. 72.6%, p = 0.610) or diagnostic yield in only lung cancer cases (78.6% vs. 78.5%, p = 1.000). In histologically NSCLC cases (n = 102), the maximum number of tumor cells per slide as the primary endpoint was similar (average, 307.6±246.7 vs. 328.7±314.9, p = 0.710). The success rate of the Oncomine™ analysis did not differ significantly (80.0% vs. 55.6%, p = 0.247). The yield of NSCLC tumor cells was not different between the samples obtained by the ultrathin bronchoscope and those obtained by the thin bronchoscope.

The utility of bispectral index monitoring in flexible bronchoscopy: A single-center, retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The desired depth of sedation during flexible bronchoscopy is one in which verbal contact is possible whenever necessary. Although it is common that the depth of sedation is assessed by validated instruments such as the modified observer's assessment of alertness and sedation (MOAA/S) score, the repeated stimulation associated with the assessment can affect the sedation. The bispectral index (BIS) has been widely used for general anesthesia due to its objective and noninvasive nature. However, the utility of BIS monitoring and a target BIS value for use during bronchoscopy have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study to assess the utility of the BIS value for monitoring conscious sedation during bronchoscopy at Kobe University Hospital from August 2020 to April 2021. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent bronchoscopy with BIS monitoring. The BIS value significantly correlated with the MOAA/S score (r = 0.2, p < 0.01), and the correlation was stronger in sufficiently sedated patients (r = 0.486, p < 0.01). The lowest MOAA/S score during the procedure was highly correlated with the BIS value (r = 0.625, p < 0.01). The BIS monitoring seemed to be more sensitive to changes in the sedation level than the MOAA/S score, heart rate and mean arterial pressure. The median BIS value at an MOAA/S score of 3-4, the desired depth of sedation, was 82.0. CONCLUSIONS: BIS value is useful for monitoring sedation during bronchoscopy. This study suggests that a BIS value of 82 reflects an adequate level of sedation.

Alleviation of cognitive deficits via upregulation of chondroitin sulfate biosynthesis by lignan sesamin in a mouse model of neuroinflammation.

Lignans are plant-derived compounds that act as partial estrogen agonists. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) represent one of the major components of the extracellular matrix. Here we aimed to understand the role of sesamin (SES), a major lignan compound, in the biosynthesis and degradation of CSPGs in the mouse hippocampus because CSPGs play a key role in the regulation of cognitive functions through the promotion of adult neurogenesis. The expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1ß was decreased by SES administration in the hippocampus of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice, a model of neuroinflammation-induced cognitive deficits. The expression of genes related to biosynthesis and degradation of CSPGs in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice was both increased and decreased by SES administration. Further, the diffuse extracellular matrix labeling of CSPGs by Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice was increased by SES administration. The densities of neural stem cells, late transit-amplifying cells, and newborn-granule cells in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice were also increased by SES administration. Moreover, SES-induced alterations in gene expression, WFA labeling, and adult neurogenesis in LPS-treated mice were more evident in the dorsal hippocampus (center of cognition) than in the ventral hippocampus (center of emotion). Neither LPS nor SES administration affected locomotor activity, anxiety-like behavior, and depression-related behavior. However, impairments in contextual memory and sensorimotor gating in LPS-treated mice were recovered by SES administration. Our results show that SES can promote adult hippocampal neurogenesis through the upregulation of CSPGs, which may alleviate cognitive deficits induced by neuroinflammation.

Phytoestrogen genistein modulates neuron-microglia signaling in a mouse model of chronic social defeat stress.

Microglia, resident immune cells in the brain, are shown to mediate the crosstalk between psychological stress and depression. Interestingly, increasing evidence indicates that sex hormones, particularly estrogen, are involved in the regulation of immune system. In this study, we aimed to understand the potential effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and genistein (GEN), an estrogenic compound of the plant origin, on neuron-microglia interactions in the mouse hippocampus. The time spent in the avoidance zone in the social interaction test was increased by CSDS 1 day after the exposure, while the avoidance behavior returned to control levels 14 days after the CSDS exposure. Similar results were obtained from the elevated plus-maze test. However, the immobility time in the forced swim test was increased by CSDS 14 days after the exposure, and the depression-related behavior was in part alleviated by GEN. The numerical densities of microglia in the hippocampus were increased by CSDS, and they were decreased by GEN. The voxel densities of synaptic structures and synaptic puncta colocalized with microglia were decreased by CSDS, and they were increased by GEN. Neither CSDS nor GEN affected the gene expressions of major pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, the expression levels of genes related to neurotrophic factors were decreased by CSDS, and they were partially reversed by GEN. These findings show that GEN may in part alleviate stress-related symptoms, and the effects of GEN may be associated with the modulation of neuron-microglia signaling via chemokines and neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus.

Chiral metal down to 4.2 K - a BDH-TTP radical-cation salt with spiroboronate anion B(2-chloromandelate)2.

We report the first example of a chiral BDH-TTP radical-cation salt. Chirality is induced in the structure via the use of a chiral spiroboronate anion where three stereocentres are present, one on each chiral ligand and one on the boron centre. Despite starting from a labile racemic mixture of BS and BR enantiomers, only one enantiomer is present in the crystal lattice. The anions pack in a novel double anion layer which is the thickest anion layer found in a BDH-TTP salt. This material is chiral and shows metallic behaviour down to at least 4.2 K.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma in a patient with pneumothorax: A cumbersome subtype both clinically and pathologically.

Here, we report a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that was very difficult to diagnose. A 62-year-old woman with a surgical history of recurrent bilateral pneumothorax was admitted to our hospital with severe dysphagia. Computed tomography (CT) detected stenosis in the lower esophagus. Immunohistochemical examination of a biopsy sample from the stenotic region was suggestive of MPM. Chemotherapy was initiated, but the patient soon weakened and died. Autopsy revealed atypical cells, identical to those seen in the biopsy sample which had spread into the stenotic esophagus and entire thoracic cavity. Although neither pleural thickening/nodules nor asbestos bodies were observed, we finally diagnosed the tumor as a biphasic-type MPM. We re-examined previous surgical specimens of pneumothorax and acknowledged foci of bland mesothelial cell proliferation which had the same pathological findings as tumor cells at autopsy. The lack of asbestos exposure and pleural thickening, an initial manifestation of pneumothorax, and faint cytological atypia prevented an early diagnosis. In cases of recurrent pneumothorax in elderly patients, MPM should be included in the differential diagnosis.

PSA-NCAM Colocalized with Cholecystokinin-Expressing Cells in the Hippocampus Is Involved in Mediating Antidepressant Efficacy.

The extracellular glycan polysialic acid linked to neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) is principally expressed in the developing brain and the adult neurogenic regions. Although colocalization of PSA-NCAM with cholecystokinin (CCK) was found in the adult brain, the role of PSA-NCAM remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the functional significance of PSA-NCAM in the CA1 region of the male mouse hippocampus. Combined fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that few vesicular glutamate transporter 3-negative/CCK-positive (VGluT3-/CCK+) cells were colocalized with PSA-NCAM, but most of the VGluT3+/CCK+ cells were colocalized with PSA-NCAM. The somata of PSA-NCAM+/CCK+ cells were highly innervated by serotonergic boutons than those of PSA-NCAM-/CCK+ cells. The expression ratios of 5-HT3A receptors and p11, a serotonin receptor-interacting protein, were higher in PSA-NCAM+/CCK+ cells than in PSA-NCAM-/CCK+ cells. Pharmacological digestion of PSA-NCAM impaired the efficacy of antidepressant fluoxetine (FLX), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, but not the efficacy of benzodiazepine anxiolytic diazepam. A Western blot showed that restraint stress decreased the expressions of p11 and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and FLX increased them. Interestingly, the FLX-induced elevation of expression of p11, but not mature BDNF, was impaired by the digestion of PSA-NCAM. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that restraint stress reduced the expression of polysialyltransferase ST8Sia IV and FLX elevated it. Collectively, PSA-NCAM colocalized with VGluT3+/CCK+ cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus may play a unique role in the regulation of antidepressant efficacy via the serotonergic pathway.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Polysialic acid (PSA) is composed of eight or more α2,8-linked sialic acids. Here, we examined the functional significance of polysialic acid linked to the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) in the adult mouse hippocampus. Few vesicular glutamate transporter 3-negative/cholecystokinin-positive (VGluT3-/CCK+) cells were colocalized with PSA-NCAM, but most of the VGluT3+/CCK+ cells were colocalized with PSA-NCAM. The expression ratios of 5-HT3A receptors and p11, a serotonin receptor-interacting protein, were higher in PSA-NCAM+/CCK+ cells than in PSA-NCAM-/CCK+ cells. The efficacy of antidepressants, but not anxiolytics, was impaired by the digestion of PSA-NCAM. The antidepressant-induced increase in p11 expression was inhibited following PSA-NCAM digestion. We hence hypothesize that PSA-NCAM colocalized with VGluT3+/CCK+ cells may play a unique role in regulating antidepressant efficacy.

In Vivo Fluorescence Visualization of Anterior Chamber Injected Human Corneal Endothelial Cells Labeled With Quantum Dots.

Purpose: The injection of cultured human corneal endothelial cells (cHCECs) into the anterior chamber (AC) is a newly developed modality for the successful treatment of corneal endothelium dysfunction. Here, we investigated whether or not cHCECs could be labeled using quantum dots (QDs) composed of semiconductor nanoparticle octa-arginine (R8) to trace injected cHCECs and examined the utility of in vivo fluorescence imaging to analyze the dynamics and accumulation of QD-labeled injected cHCECs in a corneal endothelial dysfunction mouse model. Methods: The cHCECs, either of high quality or with cell-state transition, were labeled by adding a mixture of QDs655 and R8. The labeling efficiency and the unchanging of the cell phenotypes by the labeling was confirmed by flow cytometry. The labeled cHCECs were injected into the AC of either healthy mice or mice with corneal endothelium damaged by cryogenic treatment. The kinetics of the injected cHCECs was traced quantitatively via multiphoton confocal laser microscopy. Results: QD labeling induced no morphologic change in the cHCECs or in the expression of the functional markers of cHCECs (i.e., Na+/K+-ATPase and zonula occludens-1). The injected cHCECs-QDs were quantitatively detected, and the retention of cHCECs-QDs was evident, from 3 to 48 hours post cell injection on the posterior surface in the cryogenically injured corneal endothelium mouse model eyes, yet not in the noninjured healthy control eyes. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that in the field of regenerative medicine, QD labeling of cells presents a convenient and sensitive method of finely monitoring the fate of injected cells in vivo.

Optical characteristics of human skin with hyperpigmentation caused by fluorinated pyrimidine anticancer agent.

The fluorinated pyrimidine anticancer agent has several side effects that degrade the quality of life of patients, including hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation differs in color from common pigmentation such as a suntan, giving rise to dramatic skin appearance changes. In this study, we measured the optical properties of the skin of patients with hyperpigmentation by using the reflection spatial profile method (RSPM). The absorption coefficient in hyperpigmentation increased ~1.5-2.5 times and pheomelanin significantly increased compared to the normal skin. In addition, the scattering coefficient of skin with hyperpigmentation was about 65.9-76.5% of that of normal skin.

Optimal drug delivery for intraperitoneal paclitaxel (PTX) in murine model.

BACKGROUND: Repeated intraperitoneal (IP) administration of paclitaxel (PTX) with concurrent systemic chemotherapy is clinically effective for the treatment of peritoneal metastases (PM) from gastric cancer. However, it is unclear how biochemical modifications may affect the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of IP administered PTX. METHODS: In a xenograft PM model using human gastric cancer cells, MKN45, fluorescein-conjugated PTX (OG-PTX) was given IP and the intra-tumor distribution of PTX examined with fluorescein microscopy. RESULTS: After IP injection, PTX was seen to directly infiltrate up to several hundred micrometers from the surface of the PM. Co-injection with 5 % non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid increased PTX infiltration and suppressed the development of PM more efficiently than PTX alone. PTX solubilized with amphiphilic polymer composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) efficiently formed a micellar formation 50-100 nm in diameter. IP injection of the nanomicellar PTX (PTX-30W) also showed significantly enhanced tumor infiltration and further inhibition of the growth of PM compared with PTX solubilized with Cremophor-ethanol (PTX-Cre). Finally, IP administration of NK105, another nanomicellar PTX, inhibited the growth of subcutaneous tumors as well as PM, compared with conventional PTX-Cre in the same murine model. CONCLUSIONS: PTX administered IP directly infiltrates PM and are thus a useful strategy for the treatment of PM. Drug modification with nanotechnology may further enhance penetration of PM resulting in improved clinical efficacy.

The Ingenious Interactions Between Macrophages and Functionally Plastic Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the interactions between macrophages (MPs) and RPE cells in coculture systems to investigate the functional plasticity of RPE cells. METHODS: Adherent peritoneal cells or murine MP cell line Raw 264.7 was cocultured with primary RPE cells taken from C57BL/6 mice, with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF-α stimulation. The cytokine levels of the culture supernatants (CSs) were then analyzed with the Bio-Plex murine 23-Plex Panel Assay Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-6, VEGF, and TNF-α in CS were further quantified by ELISA. The expression profiles, in cocultures, of complement-associated genes, TNF-α, and angiogenesis-associated genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The production of MCP-1, IL-6, and VEGF was synergistically elevated when primary MPs or RAW264.7 cells and RPE cells were cocultured compared with those derived from sole cultures of MPs and RPE cells. The synergistic effect was confirmed without direct cell contact and was more prominent in the presence of LPS or TNF-α. TNF-α production by MPs was suppressed by RPE cells. Coculture of RPE cells with RAW264.7 cells increased the gene expression of C3, CFB, and VEGF genes, whereas it reduced those of complement regulatory factors CFH, CD59, clusterin, and TNF-α and antiangiogenic pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the presence of ingenious interactions between MPs and RPE cells that forces the inflammation and complement activation in the vicinity of RPE cells under pathologic conditions.

A giant mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the appendix: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is the second most common etiology of appendiceal mucocele. We report a relatively rare case of a giant appendiceal mucocele caused by mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, which occupied the entire abdomen of an adult woman. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old woman presented with a chief complaint of abdominal distention. Imaging studies showed a giant cystic mass occupying her entire abdomen. Laparotomy confirmed a giant appendiceal mucocele, and the patient underwent ileocecal resection. A mucinous deposit was not found in her abdominal cavity, and the ovaries were grossly normal bilaterally. The pathological diagnosis was mucinous adenocarcinoma with a low-grade mucinous neoplasm that invaded the subserosa. Regional lymph node metastasis was not found. She has had recurrence-free survival for 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: The present case is the largest appendiceal cystadenocarcinoma ever reported. The optimal treatment of an appendiceal neoplasm requires further research based on consensus terminology of an appendiceal mucocele.

Mouse synovial mesenchymal stem cells increase in yield with knee inflammation.

Even though mouse studies have various advantages, harvesting an adequate number of synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is difficult in mice. We investigated whether the total yield of MSCs increased in synovium with inflammation in mice. Infrapatellar fat pads (IFPs) were harvested from 10 knees of 5 mice 3, 7, and 14 days after intraarticular injection of carrageenan. Ten IFPs were also harvested from untreated knees as a control. Seven days after initial plating, the total yield of cells was compared among the 4 groups (n = 4-6). The harvested cells were analyzed for multipotentiality and surface epitopes. Furthermore, knee synovitis was compared among the 4 groups in histology. The number of cells in the 3 and 7 days treated group was significantly higher than the other groups. The harvested cells had characteristics of MSCs. Synovitis in the 3 and 7 days treated groups was significantly severer than the other groups. There seemed to be a relationship between the synovitis score and the total yield of cells derived from IFPs. In mice, it became possible to increase the yield 50-fold by inducing inflammation. This method makes it possible to analyze the molecular mechanisms of cartilage regeneration of synovial MSCs in mice models.

Osteopontin level in synovial fluid is associated with the severity of joint pain and cartilage degradation after anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular function of Osteopontin (OPN) in the pathogenesis of human OA, we compared the expression levels of OPN in synovial fluid with clinical parameters such as arthroscopic observation of cartilage damage and joint pain after joint injury. METHODS: Synovial fluid was obtained from patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery from 2009 through 2011 in our university hospital. The amounts of intact OPN (OPN Full) and it's N-terminal fragment (OPN N-half) in synovial fluid from each patient were quantified by ELISA and compared with clinical parameters such as severity of articular cartilage damage (TMDU cartilage score) and severity of joint pain (Visual Analogue Scale and Lysholm score). RESULTS: Within a month after ACL rupture, both OPN Full and N-half levels in patient synovial fluid were positively correlated with the severity of joint pain. In contrast, patients with ACL injuries greater than one month ago felt less pain if they had higher amounts of OPN N-half in synovial fluid. OPN Full levels were positively correlated with articular cartilage damage in lateral tibial plateau. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that OPN Full and N-half have distinct functions in articular cartilage homeostasis and in human joint pain.

A category approach to predicting the hemolytic effects of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers in repeated-dose toxicity.

Categorizing chemicals is an approach with the potential to reduce animal testing for hazard assessment of chemicals. In this study we investigated the category approach for testing the hemolytic effects of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers (EGAEs) for repeated-dose toxicity (RDT). Using mechanistic information on the hemolytic effects of ethylene glycol butyl ether, a toxicologically meaningful category was built on the basis of similarity of metabolism, mode of action and the hemolytic effects of several EGAEs and related chemicals. The developed category was then evaluated for analogs from a different data source. Given all structural information on category chemicals, the category can be finally defined as EGAEs (alkyl chain carbon number: 1-4) and their acetates. Current RDT test data suggest that EGAEs with 3 and 4 alkyl carbons primarily cause hemolytic effects, while EGAEs with 1 and 2 alkyl carbon(s) show toxicity to the testis before demonstrating any hemolytic effects. Hence, the category approach appears to be applicable to hemolytic effects of EGAEs with 3 and 4 alkyl carbons and their acetates to estimate the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for RDT. It consists of three steps: structure-based primary screening of untested chemicals, categorization of compounds that form hemolytic alkoxyacetic acids by predicting how they are metabolized, and finally estimation of hemolytic levels by employing read-across. Our results clearly demonstrate the usefulness of the category approach for predicting the hemolytic effects of untested EGAEs and their acetates in RDT.

Protective effects of cyclo(L-Leu-L-Tyr) against postischemic myocardial dysfunction in guinea-pig hearts.

The protective effects of cyclic dipeptides in alcoholic beverages were investigated in the perfused guinea-pig hearts subjected to ischemia and reperfusion. Subsequently, in order to determine the importance of cyclic dipeptide structure, the effects of cyclo(L-Leu-L-Tyr) (cLY) were compared with those of the newly synthesized non-cyclic dipeptides, L-Leu-L-Tyr (LY) and L-Tyr-L-Leu (YL). After reperfusion, pressure recovery (%) in the left ventricle reached a peak of over 90% in the presence of cLY (10(-6) M and 10(-5) M) (control: 22.9%). The recovery by LY and YL was significantly lower than that by cLY, and ATP levels simultaneously monitored using (31)P-NMR were already lower during the ischemic end period than those observed with cLY treatment. In perfused mitochondrial preparations, cLY significantly inhibited mitochondrial Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](m)) elevation in a similar way to that of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) inhibitor cyclosporin A. In vitro electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) revealed that the active oxygen radicals quenching activity of cLY was greater than those of non-cyclic dipeptides. cLY inhibited caspase-3-induced apoptosis. The cyclic dipeptide structure inhibits opening of the MPTP by preventing [Ca(2+)](m) overload-induced apoptosis related to mitochondrial active oxygen radical accumulation in ischemia-reperfusion hearts.

Relation between statistics and treatment-related changes obtained from toxicity studies in rats: if detected a significant difference in low or middle dose for quantitative values, this change is considered as incidental change?

The purpose of a toxicity test is to determine the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of test substance through biological and pharmacological techniques. If the low dose not does show statistically significant and biologically relevant changes in the data evaluated in a study, the usual practice is to consider this dose as the NOEL. To overcome this, 6 types of techniques that seemed to be appropriate are presented in this paper by investigating the results of several domestic and foreign theses on toxicology. The most appropriate techniques appear to be the trend test, comparison between treatment group and historical control by t-test, and confirmation that all individual values lie within the 95% confidence interval (2 SD) of the historical control value, if a significant difference is admitted in the low dose.