Lowered serum cesium levels in schizophrenia: association with immune-inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive impairments

Objectives: A previous study has shown that schizophrenia (SCZ) is accompanied by lowered levels of trace/metal elements, including cesium. However, it is not clear whether changes in cesium, rubidium, and rhenium are associated with activated immune-inflammatory pathways, cognitive impairments, and the symptomatology of SCZ. Methods: This study measured cesium, rubidium, and rhenium, cognitive impairments (using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia [BACS]), and the levels of cytokines/chemokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and eotaxin (CCL11) in 120 patients with SCZ and 54 healthy controls. Severity of illness was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating (FF) Scale, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Results: Serum cesium was significantly lower in patients with SCZ as compared with controls. Further, serum cesium was significantly and inversely associated with CCL11 and TNF-α, but not IL-1β, in patients with SCZ; significant inverse associations were also noted between serum cesium levels and BPRS, FF, HAM-D, and SANS scores. Finally, cesium was positively correlated with neurocognitive probe results including the Tower of London, Symbol Coding, Controlled Word Association, Category Instances, Digit Sequencing Task, and List Learning tests. Conclusion: The results suggest that lowered serum cesium levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of SCZ, contributing to specific symptom domains including negative, depressive and fatigue symptoms, neurocognitive impairments (spatial working, episodic, and semantic memory and executive functions), and neuroimmune pathways.

Cancer incidence in the cohort exposed to Cesium-137 accident in Goiânia (Brazil) in 1987

Objective:to describe the incidence of cancer cases in the direct victims of the accident, Groups I and II, and compare with overall cancer incidence rates for the population of Goiânia. Method: A descriptive study is presented herein, on the cohort of patients directly exposed and contaminated (Groups I and II) during the cesium-137 accident, which occurred in Goiania (Midwest Brazil) in 1987. The incident cases of malignant neoplasms diagnosed between 1988 and 2017 are described. Analysis included calculation of the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI95%), according to gender. Results: In the 30-year period (1987-2017) following individual exposure, there were seven cancer cases in six directly exposed victims of the cesium-137 accident. Of these, five neoplasms occurred in men, in the esophagus (1), prostrate (3), bladder (1), and two in women, involving breast cancer (1) and skin melanoma (1). The accumulated incidence rates in the direct victims of the Cesium-137 accident were 327.9/100,000 for men and 148.6/100,000 for women. For the overall population of Goiânia, rates were 221.4/100,000 and 231.2/100,000 in men and women, respectively. The ratios of brute incidence rates (direct victims of Cesium-137/population of Goiânia) were 1.5 (IC95%:0.4;5.9) in men and 0.6 (IC95%:0.1;3.8) in women, with no statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Cancer incidence in the direct victims of the Cesium-137 accident (Groups I and II), according to sex, was not different from the incidence in those not exposed to Cesium-137 in the municipality of Goiânia. Cancer risk was similar to that of the general population of the municipality of Goiânia

Objetivo: descrever a incidência de casos de câncer nas vítimas diretas do acidente Grupo I e II e comparar com as taxas de incidência de câncer na população de Goiânia. Método: Estudo descritivo da coorte de pacientes diretamente expostos e contaminados (Grupos I e II), no acidente com Césio 137, ocorrido em Goiânia (Brasil), em 1987. Descrevemos os casos incidentes de neoplasia maligna diagnosticados no período entre 1988 e 2017. Foram calculados a razão das taxas de incidência e os intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%), segundo o sexo na população de estudo. Resultados: No período de 30 anos (1987-2017), ocorreram sete casos de câncer, em seis vítimas diretas do acidente pelo césio-137. Desses, cinco ocorreram em homens (esôfago [1], próstata [3] e bexiga [1]) e dois, em mulheres (mama [1] e melanoma da pele [1]). As taxas de incidência acumulada nas vítimas diretas do Césio-137 foram de 327,9/100,000 entre homens e de 148,6/100,000 entre as mulheres. Na população de Goiânia, as taxas foram de 221,4/100,000 e 231,2/100,000 em homens e mulheres, respectivamente. As razões das taxas de incidência bruta (vítimas diretas do Césio-137/população de Goiânia) foram 1,5 (IC95%:0,4;5,9) em homens e 0,6 (IC95%:0,1;3,8) em mulheres, não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Conclusão: A incidência de câncer nas vítimas diretas do acidente pelo Césio 137 (Grupos I e II), segundo o sexo, não foi diferente da população não exposta ao Césio-137 do município de Goiânia; portanto, o risco de câncer foi semelhante ao da população geral do Município de Goiânia.

Influence of Ectomycorrhizal Colonization on Cesium Uptake by Pinus densiflora Seedlings

Radionuclides were deposited at forest areas in eastern parts of Japan following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in March 2011. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have important effects on radiocaesium dynamics in forest ecosystems. We examined the effect of colonization by the EM fungus Astraeus hygrometricus on the uptake of cesium (Cs) and potassium (K) by Pinus densiflora seedlings. Pine seedlings exhibited enhanced growth after the EM formation due to the colonization by A. hygrometricus. Additionally, the shoot Cs concentration increased after the EM formation when Cs was not added to the medium. This suggests that A. hygrometricus might be able to solubilize Cs fixed to soil particles. Moreover, the shoot K concentration increased significantly after the EM formation when Cs was added. However, there were no significant differences in the root K concentration between EM and non-EM seedlings. These results suggest that different mechanisms control the transfer of Cs and K from the root to the shoot of pine seedlings.

Boletim Epidemiológico resumido 2017: radioacidente Césio 137 - 30 anos / Summary Epidemiological Bulletin 2017: Cesium 137 radio accident - 30 years

O Boletim Epidemiológico resumido constitui um instrumento de informação objetivo, com dados sobre a mortalidade e a incidência cumulativa de transtornos de saúde sofridos pelos radioacidentados dos grupos I e II e seus filhos, desde o acidente radiológico, ocorrido em 27 de setembro de 1987, até 31 de julho de 2017, perfazendo quase 30 anos. Para o grupo III, as informações são relativas ao período de cinco anos, de agosto de 2012 a julho de 2017. Também há uma descrição dos atendimentos prestados pela Superintendência Leide das Neves (SULEIDE) e pelo Centro de Assistência aos Radioacidentados (CARA), por especialidade, desde 2008.

The summary Epidemiological Bulletin is an objective information tool, with data on mortality and the cumulative incidence of health disorders suffered by radio accident victims in groups I and II and their children, since the radiological accident, which occurred on September 27, 1987, until July 31, 2017, making it almost 30 years old. For group III, the information is related to the five-year period, from August 2012 to July 2017. There is also a description of the services provided by the Leide das Neves Superintendence (SULEIDE) and by the Assistance Center for Radio Injuries (CARA), by specialty, since 2008.

The work-relatedness at a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a radiation oncologist

BACKGROUND: Clinicians who perform radiation therapy (RT) are exposed to radiation, which may negatively affect their health. The present study reports a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a healthcare provider who was exposed to radiation at work; we also present a literature review of this topic. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old patient, who had been a radiation oncologist and had been exposed to radiation while performing brachytherapy 10 years ago, complained of chest pain and was suspected of having leukemia based on the results of a blood test in an outpatient clinic. He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and subsequently underwent chemotherapy. However, the case died during treatment. Through epidemiological investigation, it was found that the case's cumulative exposure dose based on personal exposure and spatial dose measured during the work period was in the range of 6.08–12.15 mSv. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the following considerations, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was highly correlated with the level of radiation to which the case was exposed while performing brachytherapy on patients with cancer. Firstly, the latent period of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the case closely matched the latency time reported in previous published studies (5–10 years). In addition, numerous studies have reported significantly higher relative risks of cancer among clinicians who perform RT compared with the general population. The case was also atypically exposed to radiation through his hands, despite wearing protective equipment. Lastly, the case's coworkers were also found to have been exposed to high levels of radiation. Investigation into the influence of radiation exposure through atypical routes during RT on the health of clinicians is recommended.

Rebound depolarization of substantia gelatinosa neurons and its modulatory mechanisms in rat spinal dorsal horn / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the rebound depolarization of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons in rat spinal dorsal horn and explore its modulatory mechanisms to provide better insights into rebound depolarization-related diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Parasagittal slices of the spinal cord were prepared from 3- to 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. The electrophysiologic characteristics and responses to hyperpolarization stimulation were recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The effects of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation (HCN) channel blockers and T-type calcium channel blockers on rebound depolarization of the neurons were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 63 SG neurons were recorded. Among them, 23 neurons showed no rebound depolarization, 19 neurons showed rebound depolarization without spikes, and 21 neurons showed rebound depolarization with spikes. The action potential thresholds of the neurons without rebound depolarization were significantly higher than those of the neurons with rebound depolarization and spikes (-28.7∓1.6 mV vs -36.0∓2.0 mV, P<0.05). The two HCN channel blockers CsCl and ZD7288 significantly delayed the latency of rebound depolarization with spike from 45.9∓11.6 ms to 121.6∓51.3 ms (P<0.05) and from 36.2∓10.3 ms to 73.6∓13.6 ms (P<0.05), respectively. ZD7288 also significantly prolonged the latency of rebound depolarization without spike from 71.9∓35.1 ms to 267.0∓68.8 ms (P<0.05). The T-type calcium channel blockers NiCl2 and mibefradil strongly decreased the amplitude of rebound depolarization with spike from 19.9∓6.3 mV to 9.5∓4.5 mV (P<0.05) and from 26.1∓9.4 mV to 15.5∓5.0 mV (P<0.05), respectively. Mibefradil also significantly decreased the amplitude of rebound depolarization without spike from 14.3∓3.0 mV to 7.9∓2.0 mV (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nearly two-thirds of the SG neurons have rebound depolarizations modulated by HCN channel and T-type calcium channel.</p>

Effects of inward rectifier potassium channel blockers on EPCs function / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of inward rectifier potassium channel blockers (BaCl2, CsCl) on the functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Density gradient centrifugation-isolated rat hone marrow mononuclear cells were cultured in vitro. EPCs were harvested and seeded on six culture dish when cells grew to 3-5 passages. Before testing the EPCs were synchronized with M199, which contain 2% fetal calf serum. In the end, EPCs were treated with different intervention. The experiment mainly included two parts: (1) BaCl2 (100 micromol/L) and free BaC2 of Tyrodes solution; (2) CsCl (1 mmol/L) and control. Cell pretreated with blockers above mentioned for 12 h, then the gene expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), epoprotenol (PGI2) were assessed, beyond that the ability of adhesion, migration were assayed with different tests. In addition, the medium was collected when EPCs were treated for 3 days. The levels of SDF-1 were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Going even further, EPCs were treated with the signal pathway blockers in advance, after repeat the above steps, in order to analyze the change of SDF-1 and then discuss its mechanism.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, BaCl2, CsCl could increase EPC adhesion and migration to same extent. Moreover, the gene expression of SDF-1, PGI2 was significantly up-regulated and the production of SDF-1 increased evidently. Furthermore, the mechanism of SDF-1 secretion increasing mainly was associated with eNOS signaling pathways.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ba2+ and Cs+ play important roles in increasing EPCs functions, such as adhesion, migration and secretion.</p>

Distribution of rubidium, cesium, beryllium, strontium, and barium in blood and urine in general Chinese population / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution of rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), beryllium (Be), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba) in blood and urine in general Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 18 120 subjects aged 6~60 years were enrolled from 24 regions in 8 provinces in Eastern, Central, and Western China from 2009 to 2010 based on the method of cluster random sampling. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the data on living environment and health status. Blood and urine samples were collected from these subjects, and the levels of Rb, Cs, Be, Sr, and Ba in these samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The distribution of these elements in blood and urine in male or female subjects living in different regions was analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the general Chinese population, the concentration of Be in the whole blood was below the detection limit (0.06 μg/L); the geometric mean (GM) of Ba in the whole blood was below the detection limit (0.45 μg/L), with the 95th percentile (P95)of 1.37 μg/L; the GMs (95% CI)of Rb, Cs, and Sr in the whole blood were 2 374(2 357~2 392) μg/L, 2.01 (1.98~2.05) μg/L, and 23.5 (23.3~23.7) μg/L, respectively; in males and females, the GMs (95%CI)of blood Rb, Cs, and Sr were 2 506 (2 478~2 533) μg/L and 2 248 (2 227~2 270) μg/L, 1.88 (1.83~1.94) μg/L and 2.16 (2.11~2.20) μg/L, and 23.4 (23.1~23.7) μg/L and 23.6 (23.3~23.9) μg/L, respectively(P<0.01, P>0.05, and P>0.05). In the general Chinese population, the GM of urine Be was below the detection limit (0.06 μg/L), while the GMs (95%CI)of urine Rb, Cs, Sr, and Ba were 854 (836~873) μg/L, 3.65 (3.56~3.74) μg/L, 39.5 (38.4~40.6) μg/L, and 1.10 (1.07~1.12) μg/L, respectively; in males and females, the GMs (95%CI)of urine Rb, Cs, Sr, and Ba were 876 (849~904) μg/L and 832 (807~858) μg/L, 3.83 (3.70~3.96) μg/L and 3.47 (3.35~3.60) μg/L, 42.5 (40.9~44.2) μg/L and 36.6 (35.1~38.0) μg/L, and 1.15 (1.12~1.19) μg/L and 1.04 (1.01~1.07) μg/L, respectively (all P< 0.01). Correlation analyses showed that there were weak correlations between blood Rb and urine Rb (r=0.197)and between blood Sr and urine Sr (r=0.180), but a good correlation between blood Cs and urine Cs (r=0.487).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of Rb, Cs, Be, Sr, and Ba in the general Chinese population are similar to those reported in other countries, and there is a significant difference in the concentration of each element among the populations living in different regions, as well as significant differences in blood Rb, urine Rb, urine Cs, urine Sr, and urine Ba between males and females.</p>

Césio 137: 25 anos: uma história para relembrar e prevenir / Cesium 137: 25 years old: a story to remember and prevent

Relato histórico acerca do acidente com o Césio 137, ocorrido em setembro de 1987, em Goiânia, Goiás. Há 25 anos acontecia o maior acidente radioativo do mundo, com a violação da cápsula que ficava revestida num imenso aparelho de chumbo, abandonado nas ruínas da antiga Santa Casa, no centro da capital. A publicação traz o primeiro Boletim Epidemiológico da saúde dos pacientes expostos ao Césio 137 e é uma análise descritiva, com retrospecto de janeiro de 2005 a julho de 2012, em todas as áreas de assistência prestadas pelo poder público estadual.

Historical account of the accident with Cesio 137, which occurred in September 1987, in Goiânia, Goiás. The biggest radioactive accident in the world took place 25 years ago, with the violation of the capsule that was coated in a huge lead apparatus, abandoned in the ruins of old Santa Casa, in the center of the capital. The publication brings the first Epidemiological Bulletin on the health of patients exposed to Cesium 137 and is a descriptive analysis, with a retrospective from January 2005 to July 2012, in all areas of care provided by the state government.

Isolation and characterization of fowl adenovirus serotype 4 from chickens with hydropericardium syndrome in Korea / 대한수의학회지

Four strains of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) were isolated from 4 flocks of broiler or layer chickens affected by hydropericardium syndrome in Korea. These FAdVs were classified as serotype 4 by restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of hexon genes and whole genomes. The virus exhibited cytopathic effects consisting of rounding, ballooning and clustering in primary chicken embryo liver cell cultures. In transmission electron microscopy, virus particles in hexagonal shape aggregated exclusively in the nuclei of hepatocytes of the chickens as the typical appearances in adenovirus infections. Buoyant density of the virus in cesium chloride (CsCl) was 1.34 g/mL. The virus was stable to chloroform, ether, 50~70% ethanol, acidic condition at pH 3, 0.25% trypsin (1 : 250), heat at 50degrees C for 30 min, but labile to 100% ethanol, heat at 52~60degrees C for 30 min, 1 M MgCl2 at 50degrees C for 1 h, 1 : 2,000 formalin (37%). All of the physicochemical properties pertained to the characteristics of adenoviruses. Eight viral polypeptides were determined in CsCl-purified virus by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Isolation of Voltage Dependent Calcium Current in Chick Inner Hair Cell / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Voltage dependent calcium channel (VDCC) mediates calcium ion influx and controls neurotransmitter release in excitable cells. Hair cells in vertebrates cochlea are known to express L-type VDCC. The purpose of this study was to measure calcium current from hair cells to investigate basic activity and characteristics of VDCC. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We measured calcium current in hair cells of the chicken's auditory organ, the basilar papilla analogous to the mammalian cochlea, in whose L-type, dihydropyridinesensitive calcium channels predominate and in vestibular hair cells from cristae. Calcium currentthrough VDCC was isolated in voltage-clamp recording using Cesium, Tetraethylammonium, 4- aminopyridine and apamin to block the much larger potassium currents. Various concentrations of internal calcium buffer, ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or 1,2-bis (o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) were used. RESULTS: The higher the buffer concentration, the larger the current size were ; they were significantly larger in 10 mM of calcium buffer concentration (ANOVA, p< 0.05). There was no difference in calcium current between cochlear and vestibular hair cells. CONCLUSION: We could successfully isolate stable inward calcium current from chick hair cells. This experiment can be used as a basic method to understand neurotransmission process between hair cells and afferent neurons.

Production and Quality Control of Adenoviral Vectors for Clinical Trials

The importance of recombinant adenoviral vectors for the development of gene therapy and prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines has led to efforts for process development of large scale production of clinically safe adenoviral vectors. First of all, cell lines producing replication incompetent adenoviral vectors required for clinical application have been developed and the concept of banking and characterization of cell lines and adenoviral vectors has been established. In order to meet the need of amount of adenoviral vectors for clinical trials, various large scale suspension culture methods using serum-free media have been developed along with development of large scale purification methods using chromatography instead of cesium chloride method. In addition, methods for the quality control of adenoviral vectors have been established and applied for the clinical lots.

Micro-CT System for Small Animal Imaging / 의학물리

We developed a high-resolution micro-CT system based on rotational gantry and flat-panel detector for live mouse imaging. This system is composed primarily of an x-ray source with micro-focal spot size, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) flat panel detector coupled with CsI (Tl) (thallium-doped cesium iodide) scintillator, a linearly moving couch, a rotational gantry coupled with positioning encoder, and a parallel processing system for image data. This system was designed to be of the gantry-rotation type which has several advantages in obtaining CT images of live mice, namely, the relative ease of minimizing the motion artifact of the mice and the capability of administering respiratory anesthesia during scanning. We evaluated the spatial resolution, image contrast, and uniformity of the CT system using CT phantoms. As the results, the spatial resolution of the system was approximately the 11.3 cycles/mm at 10% of the MTF curve, and the radiation dose to the mice was 81.5 mGy. The minimal resolving contrast was found to be less than 46 CT numbers on low-contrast phantom imaging test. We found that the image non-uniformity was approximately 70 CT numbers at a voxel size of ~55x55x100micrometer3. We present the image test results of the skull and lung, and body of the live mice.

Catalytic Efficiency of H[3]PW[12]O[40]SiO[2], cesium and potassium salts of dodecatungstophosphoric acid supported on silica

Pure tungstophosphoric acid, potassium tungstophosphate and cesium tungstophosphate with varying extent of substitution of protons by Cs or K ions x [x = 1, 2, 2.5, and 3] have been prepared and being supported on silica by wet impregnation method. The extent of loading was fixed at 20 wt%. For sake of comparison unloaded Cs[x] and K[x] [x=1] salts of tungstophosphoric acid were prepared by precipitation method. The supported catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, specific surface area measurements and catalytic conversion of tert- butanol. The results revealed that the catalytic conversion of tert- butanol proceeds mainly via dehydration yielding isobutene. The Cs[1]PW/SiO[2], HPW/SiO[2] and K[1]W/SiO[2] catalysts were more active than their unsupported samples. The previous solids showed bigger catalytic -activity and stability. Unexpectedly, substitution of one proton of tungstophosphoric acid by cesium or potassium ion exerted no measurable effect on the catalytic activity of the treated solids, in spite of decreasing-the Bronsted acidity of Cs[1]PW/SiO[2] and K[1]PW/SiO[2] indicating that the acidity of HPW/SiO[2] decreased may be due to the interaction between HPW and SiO[2] surface. On the other hand, significant decrease in the catalytic activity took place upon increasing cation content [x] to x =2,2.5 and 3

ZD7288 inhibits the synaptic transmission in the pathway from perforant pathway fibers to CA3 region in rat hippocampus / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effect of ZD7288 on synaptic transmission in the pathway from perforant pathway (PP) fibers to CA3 region in rat hippocampus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The extracellular recording technique in vivo was used to record the CA3 region field potentials. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection was applied to measure the content of amino acids in hippocampal tissues. The effect of ZD7288 and CsCl on the amplitudes of population spike (PS) in CA3 region evoked by stimulation (0.5 Hz) of the perforant pathway (PP) fibers, and the content of amino acids in hippocampal tissue were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Microinjection of ZD7288 (20, 100 and 200 nmol) and CsCl (1, 5 and 10 micromol) into CA3 region decreased the population spike (PS) amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effects appeared at 5 min after microinjection and lasted at least 90 min. In those rats treated with ZD7288 (100 nmol), the contents of glutamate, aspartate, glycine and GABA decreased significantly as compared to those of saline control (all P < 0.01, except P < 0.05 for that of glycine). A similar decrease in the contents of amino acids was observed when the rats were microinjected with CsCl (5 micromol). CONCLUSION; ZD7288 could obviously inhibit synaptic transmission in the pathway from PP fibers to CA3 region in rat hippocampus, and this action of ZD7288 may be associated with altered contents of amino acids.</p>

Perioperative Management to Prevent Postoperative Pulmonary Embolism in General Surgical Patients / 日本農村医学会雑誌

Recently, the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) after surgery began to increase in Japan and to prevent PE has become essentially important. During the period between July 2003 and August 2004, we placed 203 general surgical patients under our perioperative management using intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and compression stockings (CS). We evaluated the effect of our management on the prevention of postoperative PE in those patients. The incidence of PE, prognosis, complications, patient's complaints, cost-benefit were examined. No fatal PE occurred. One patient with low SpO2 had a chest pain and dyspnea but pulmonary scintigrams revealed no PE. Two other patients had contact dermatitis by CS and another patient using an epidural catheter suffered temporary paraplegia after heparin injection. The government has approved a fee for PE prophylaxis since April 2004. Our management using IPC and CS for PE prophylaxis after surgery proved to be an effective in reducing the risk of PE. However, we must take the atmost care in injecting heparin into patients with epidural catheters.

Evaluation of JEV and BVDV Clearance During the Purification of Recombinant HPV-16 L1 Virus-Like Particles

Insect cell-derived biotechnological products have a potential for viral contamination from cell line sources themselves or from adventitious introduction of virus during production. The objective of this study was to establish techniques for viral clearance validation of insect cell-derived recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 type L1 virus-like particles (VLPs) using Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) as relevant viruses. The downstream process for the production of recombinant HPV-16 L1 VLPs was sequentially carried out employing detergent lysis (NP-40/PBS), sonication, sucrose cushion centrifugation, and cesium chloride (CsCl) equilibrium density centrifugation. Recombinant HPV-16 L1 capsid protein (56 kD) expressed in Sf9 cell culture was clearly detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis. Each purification step was evaluated to determine reduction factor for viral clearance by infectivity assay. In individual purification steps, detergent treatment (0.50% v/v, NP-40/PBS) and CsCl equilibrium density centrifugation were found to be effective in JEV and BVDV clearance. Overall cumulative reduction factors of JEV and BVDV infectivity titer for the purification procedure implemented in this study were 12.53 and 10.05 log TCID(50)/pool, respectively. The results suggest that the purification procedure employed in this study for the HPV-16 L1 VLPs produced from recombinant baculovirus-infected Sf9 cells will be effective over 10 log TCID(50)/pool reduction factor in the clearance of enveloped, adventitious viruses with a buoyant density lower than approximately 1.23 g/ml.

A saúde mental em indivíduos envolvidos no acidente com Césio137 em Goiânia / Mental health of the individuals involved in the accident with the Cesium137 in Goiânia-Goiás

Pesquisa descritiva de caráter exploratório, que se fundamenta na hipótese de que a exposição individual ou familiar ao acidente radiológico com o Césio137, ocorrido em Goiânia, Goiás, em 1987, e aos fatores a ele relacionados decorrentes da situação de estresse, ansiedade e depressão tanto individual como familiar, possam ter desencadeado nestas pessoas transtornos mentais, índices mais elevados do que os registrados na população em geral...

Ionic mechanisms underlying spontaneous firing in isolated type B medial vestibular nucleus neurons

Medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons are found to have spontaneous electrical activity in the absence of any detectable synaptic input. To investigate the contributions of intrinsic mechanisms to the spontaneous activity of type B MVN neurons, we examined the effects of various channel blockers on spontaneous firing by means of patch clamp recordings. Coronal slice (400 micrometer) of the vestibular nucleus region was sequentially treated with pronase 0.2 mg/ml and thermolysin 0.2 mg/ml, then single neurons were mechanically dissociated. MVN neurons recorded in neonatal rat were shown to have either a single deep afterhyperpolarization (AHP; type A cells), or an early fast and a delayed slow AHP (type B cells). In 300 nM TTX, spontaneous firing was blocked in type B cells tested. In 8 of 11 cells, underlying fluctuation or oscillations in membrane potential was not remained, and hyperpolarization did not produce rebound low-threshold calcium spikes. Although type B MVN neurons possessed hyperpolarization activated cation current (Ih), cesium had no effect on firing rates. The spike AHP is calcium dependent. When Ca2+ influx was blocked in external Ca2+ free solution, repetitive firing was abolished and the cell rested at depolarized membrane potentials. Application of apamin (300 nM) caused a profound reduction in the amplitude of the AHP and produced rhythmic burst firing. These findings suggest that the spontaneous activity of type B MVN neurons is regulated by interactions between the membrane depolarization mainly due to a persistent sodium conductances and hyperpolarization due to the calcium-activated potassium conductances.

Effects of irradiation on the mRNA expression of the osteocalcin and osteopontin in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell line / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of irradiation on the phenotypic expression of the MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell line, particularly on the expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were irradiated with a single dose of 0.5, 1, 4, and 8 Gy at a dose rate of 5.38 Gy/min using a cesium 137 irradiator. After the specimens were harvested, RNA was extracted on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 21st day after irradiation. The RNA strands were reverse-transcribed and the resulting cDNAs were subjected to amplification by PCR. RESULTS: The irradiated cells demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in osteocalcin and a dose-dependent decrease in osteopontin mRNA expression compared with the non-irradiated control group. The amount of osteocalcin mRNA expression decreased significantly at the 3rd day after irradiation of 0.5, 1, 4, and 8 Gy, and also decreased significantly at the 3rd, 14th, and 21st day after irradiation in the 8 Gy exposed group compared with the control group. The degree of osteopontin mRNA expression increased significantly at the 7th day after irradiation of 0.5, 1, 4, and 8 Gy. CONCLUSION: These results showed that each single dose of 0.5, 1, 4, and 8 Gy influenced the mRNA expression of osteocalcin and osteopontin associated with the calcification stage of osteoblastic cells, suggesting that each single dose affected bone formation at the cell level.