Changes in resting-state brain networks after cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is thought to be useful for chronic pain, with the pathology of the latter being closely associated with cognitive-emotional components. However, there are few resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) studies. We used the independent component analysis method to examine neural changes after CBT and to assess whether brain regions predict treatment response. METHODS: We performed R-fMRI on a group of 29 chronic pain (somatoform pain disorder) patients and 30 age-matched healthy controls (T1). Patients were enrolled in a weekly 12-session group CBT (T2). We assessed selected regions of interest that exhibited differences in intrinsic connectivity network (ICN) connectivity strength between the patients and controls at T1, and compared T1 and T2. We also examined the correlations between treatment effects and rs-fMRI data. RESULTS: Abnormal ICN connectivity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and inferior parietal lobule within the dorsal attention network (DAN) and of the paracentral lobule within the sensorimotor network in patients with chronic pain normalized after CBT. Higher ICN connectivity strength in the OFC indicated greater improvements in pain intensity. Furthermore, ICN connectivity strength in the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) within the DAN at T1 was negatively correlated with CBT-related clinical improvements. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the OFC is crucial for CBT-related improvement of pain intensity, and that the dorsal PCC activation at pretreatment also plays an important role in improvement of clinical symptoms via CBT.

Effects of behavioural activation on the neural basis of other perspective self-referential processing in subthreshold depression: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that negatively distorted self-referential processing, in which individuals evaluate one's own self, is a pathogenic mechanism in subthreshold depression that has a considerable impact on the quality of life and carries an elevated risk of developing major depression. Behavioural activation (BA) is an effective intervention for depression, including subthreshold depression. However, brain mechanisms underlying BA are not fully understood. We sought to examine the effect of BA on neural activation during other perspective self-referential processing in subthreshold depression. METHOD: A total of 56 subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans during a self-referential task with two viewpoints (self/other) and two emotional valences (positive/negative) on two occasions. Between scans, while the intervention group (n = 27) received BA therapy, the control group (n = 29) did not. RESULTS: The intervention group showed improvement in depressive symptoms, increased activation in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), and increased reaction times during other perspective self-referential processing for positive words after the intervention. Also, there was a positive correlation between increased activation in the dmPFC and improvement of depressive symptoms. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between improvement of depressive symptoms and increased reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: BA increased dmPFC activation during other perspective self-referential processing with improvement of depressive symptoms and increased reaction times which were associated with improvement of self-monitoring function. Our results suggest that BA improved depressive symptoms and objective monitoring function for subthreshold depression.

Excitation-photon-energy selectivity of photoconversions in halogen-bridged Pd-chain compounds: Mott insulator to metal or charge-density-wave state.

Ultrafast photoinduced transitions of a one-dimensional Mott insulator into two distinct electronic phases, metal and charge-density-wave (CDW) state, were achieved in a bromine-bridged Pd-chain compound [Pd(en)2Br](C5-Y)2H2O (en=ethylenediamine and C5-Y=dialkylsulfosuccinate), by selecting the photon energy of a femtosecond excitation pulse. For the resonant excitation of the Mott-gap transition, excitonic states are generated and converted to one-dimensional CDW domains. For the higher-energy excitation, free electron and hole carriers are produced, giving rise to a transition of the Mott insulator to a metal. Such selectivity in photoconversions by the choice of initial photoexcited states opens a new possibility for the developments of advanced optical switching and memory functions.

Post-operative oral contraceptive use reduces the risk of ovarian endometrioma recurrence after laparoscopic excision.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of post-operative oral contraceptives (OCs) use on the rate of recurrence after laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometrioma. METHODS: In May 2005, we introduced a 'post-operative OC recommendation' for patients treated with laparoscopic excision of endometrioma. That is, at the time of the operation, we provided each patient with information about OC, known and possible benefits and risks and let her decide whether to take OC. A retrospective cohort study included 87 patients who underwent a laparoscopy after May 2005. The endometrioma recurrence rate at 24 months was compared between those who used OC for the entire follow-up period OC (n = 34) and all of the others (n = 53). We also performed logistic regression analysis to identify variables associated with recurrence. A before-after study included another 224 patients who underwent a laparoscopy before May 2005 and compared the recurrence rate before and after introduction of the 'post-operative OC recommendation'. RESULTS: The recurrence rate in those who used OC for the entire period was significantly lower than in the 'others' group (2.9 versus 35.8%, relative risk 0.082, 95% CI 0.012-0.58, P < 0.001). Post-operative OC was determined as an independent variable associated with lower recurrence (OR 0.054, 95% CI 0.007-0.429, P < 0.001). The overall recurrence rate in patients who underwent laparoscopy after the introduction of the 'post-operative OC recommendation' was significantly lower than that in patients who received laparoscopy before the introduction (18.6 versus 33.1%, relative risk 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.97, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative OC use reduces the risk of ovarian endometrioma recurrence after laparoscopic excision. This information will help in appropriate planning of pre- and post-operative management.

Ombitasvir-Paritaprevir-Ritonavir Therapy in a Kidney Transplant Recipient With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection: A Case Report on the Importance of Considering Drug-Drug Interactions and Monitoring Cyclosporine Levels.

A 74-year-old Japanese man with a history of chronic hepatitis C and kidney transplant (KT) was administered pegylated-interferon plus ribavirin therapy. However, this therapy was ineffective. The patient was then hospitalized to receive ombitasvir (OBV) plus paritaprevir (PTV) plus ritonavir (r) antiviral combination therapy. He tested negative for the virus after 4 weeks, and completed 12 weeks of treatment. The patient ultimately achieved a sustained virological response after the 12 weeks of treatment. Cyclosporine (CyA) trough levels, during the OBV-PTV-r therapy, reached a peak within 5 days of initiating therapy, and increases in serum creatinine and total bilirubin were also observed. However, onset of irreversible nephropathy and hepatopathy were avoided by reducing the CyA dosage. The OBV-PTV-r therapy demonstrated a sufficient antiviral effect and could be safely administered postoperatively to patients having undergone KT. When a combination therapy with interferon-free, direct-acting antivirals is used in patients post-transplantation, consideration of drug-drug interactions with and monitoring CyA are of vital importance.

Apparent diffusion coefficients of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors. Comparison to histopathological findings.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors in comparison to histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 32 patients with a wide spectrum of major salivary gland tumors (17 benign, 15 malignant). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and ADC measurements were performed in all patients. The degrees of extracellular components (myxoid and chondroid matrices, microcysts and hyalinization), were histopathologically classified as mild, moderate and conspicuous. Comparisons were made of mean ADC values between benign and malignant tumors, and among tumors showing different degrees of extracellular components. RESULTS: Mean ADC values were 1.09+/-0.34 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s in malignant salivary gland tumors and 1.40+/-0.43 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s in benign salivary gland tumors. No significant difference in mean ADC values was found between benign and malignant tumors (P>0.05). However, mean ADC values increased with the degree of extracellular components. Mean ADC values were significantly different between mild and moderate degrees (P<0.05) of extracellular components, and between mild and conspicuous degrees (P<0.05), in both benign and malignant tumor groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, ADC values alone did not allow differentiation between benign and malignant salivary gland tumors. Comparison with histopathological findings suggests a correlation between the amount of extracellular components and mean ADC values in salivary gland tumors.

Association of thalamic hyperactivity with treatment-resistant depression and poor response in early treatment for major depression: a resting-state fMRI study using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations.

Despite novel antidepressant development, 10-30% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have antidepressant treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Although new therapies are needed, lack of knowledge regarding the neural mechanisms underlying TRD hinders development of new therapeutic options. We aimed to identify brain regions in which spontaneous neural activity is not only altered in TRD but also associated with early treatment resistance in MDD. Sixteen patients with TRD, 16 patients with early-phase non-TRD and 26 healthy control (HC) subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. To identify brain region differences in spontaneous neural activity between patients with and without TRD, we assessed fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). We also calculated correlations between the percent change in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD17) scores and fALFF values in brain regions with differing activity for patients with and without TRD. Patients with TRD had increased right-thalamic fALFF values compared with patients without TRD. The percent change in HRSD17 scores negatively correlated with fALFF values in patients with non-TRD. In addition, patients with TRD showed increased fALFF values in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and vermis, compared with patients with non-TRD and HC subjects. Our results show that spontaneous activity in the right thalamus correlates with antidepressant treatment response. We also demonstrate that spontaneous activity in the right IFG, IPL and vermis may be specifically implicated in the neural pathophysiology of TRD.

Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors are involved in the regulation of cholesterol side chain cleavage in adrenocortical mitochondria.

In an attempt to elucidate the physiological relevance of the peripheral type of benzodiazepine receptor in adrenocortical mitochondria, we examined the effect of three different benzodiazepines (diazepam, Ro5-4864, and chlordiazepoxide) on the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone, the rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis, by using cholesterol-loaded mitochondria from bovine adrenal zona fasciculata. These benzodiazepines, except chlordiazepoxide, caused a dose-dependent stimulation of the cholesterol side chain cleavage in the mitochondria. The stimulatory effect of Ro5-4864 was approximately 10 times more potent than that of diazepam. No inhibitory effect of YM-684 (Ro15-1788), a potent antagonist to central-type benzodiazepine receptors, was observed in the stimulation induced by diazepam and Ro5-4864. Both external calcium ion and voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker, (+)-PN200-110, were without effect on the diazepam-induced steroidogenesis. By contrast, pretreatment of mitochondria with digitonin abolished the stimulatory effect of diazepam on the mitochondrial steroidogenesis. The present results indicate that the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor of adrenocortical mitochondria plays an essential role in regulating cholesterol side chain cleavage without any change of calcium channels.

Influence of dual ET(A)/ET(B)-receptor blockade on coronary responses to treadmill exercise in dogs.

We hypothesized that endothelin (ET) release during exercise may be triggered by alpha-adrenergic-receptor activation and thereby influence coronary hemodynamics and O(2) metabolism in dogs. Exercise resulted in coronary blood flow increases (to 1.88+/-0.26 from 1.10+/- 0.12 ml x min(-1) x g(-1)) and in a fall (P<0.01) in coronary sinus O(2) saturation (17.4+/-1.5 to 9.6+/-0.7 vol%), whereas myocardial O(2) consumption (MVO(2)) increased (109+/-13% from 145+/-16 microl O(2) min(-1) x g(-1)). Tezosentan, a dual ET(A)/ET(B)-receptor blocker, slightly reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) and increased heart rate throughout exercise. The relationship between coronary sinus O(2) saturation and MVO(2) was shifted upward (P<0.05) after tezosentan administration; i.e., as MVO(2) increased during exercise, coronary sinus O(2) saturation was disproportionately higher after ET-receptor blockade. After propranolol, tezosentan resulted in significant decreases (P<0.05) in left ventricular pressure, the first derivative of left ventricular pressure over time, and MAP during exercise. As MVO(2) increased during exercise, coronary sinus O(2) saturation levels after tezosentan became superimposable over those observed before ET-receptor blockade. Thus dual blockade of ET(A)/ET(B) receptors alters coronary hemodynamics and O(2) metabolism during exercise, but ET activity failed to increase beyond baseline levels.

Nitric oxide induces c-fos gene expression via cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in rat retinal pigment epithelium.

We have examined whether nitric oxide (NO) induces the expression of c-fos proto-oncogene and the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the rat retina. NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was injected into the vitreal cavity of the eye, and the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was analysed by in situ hybridization using single-stranded RNA probes for c-fos transcripts and by immunocytochemistry using an anti-phospho Ser-133 antibody 20 min after the injection of SNP, phosphorylated-CREB immunoreactivity was found in RPE cells and weakly in some cells of the INL. Forty-five min after the SNP injection, the expression of c-fos mRNA was detected in the RPE. These results suggested that NO induced the c-fos expression via the phosphorylation of CREB in RPE cells, as it has been demonstrated in PC12 cells that the transcription of c-fos gene was activated by the CREB phosphorylation.

Comparative significance of p53 and WAF/1-p21 expression on the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas.

p53 tumor-suppressor gene has a dual role as a trigger of apoptosis and as an initiator of DNA repair. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor WAF/1-p21 is induced by wild-type p53 and has been implicated as a downstream mediator of the growth-suppressing and apoptosis-promoting function of wild-type p53, suggesting an impact on the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This study was designed to assess the significance of p53 and WAF/1-p21 expression in the prognosis of patients and the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. A total of 58 patients with primary IDC of the pancreas underwent pancreatectomy between 1982 and 1996: 28 patients underwent surgery alone, and 30 patients received postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy. p53 and WAF/1-p21 were stained immunohistochemically with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and anti-WAF/1-p21 mAb. p53 was positively expressed in 29 (50%) of 58 primary lesions, and p21 was expressed in 24 (41%) lesions; however, p21 expression did not necessarily correlate with p53 expression. The survival curve of the patients with p53(+) IDC was significantly lower than that of those with p53(-) IDC, and p21(+) patients showed a higher survival curve than did p21(-) patients, but this difference was not statistically significant. When p53 and p21 expression were analyzed in combination, the patients with p53(+)p21(-) IDC were found to have a significantly poorer prognosis than others. On the other hand, the survival curve of the adjuvant chemotherapy group was also higher than that of the surgery-alone group, but this difference was not significant. In a multivariate analysis, p21 expression was a significantly low risk factor for death due to IDC overall, and adjuvant chemotherapy was found to decrease the risk of death from IDC in p53(+) patients. Evaluation of expression of p53 and WAF/1-p21 may be beneficial in the prediction of the patient's prognosis as well as prediction of the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

Apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas.

The Bcl-2 family of genes plays important roles in the regulation of apoptosis. The present study was designed to assess the clinicopathologic significance of apoptosis and the expression of the apoptosis-inhibitory Bcl-2 protein (pBcl-2) and the apoptosis-promoting Bax protein (pBax) in human invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of the pancreas. The present study included 66 IDCs that were resected between 1982 and 1998. Apoptosis was assessed by the in situ nick end labeling method and pBcl-2 and pBax were stained immunohistochemically. Apoptosis was quantified as the apoptotic index (AI, the percentage of apoptotic cells of the total tumor cells), and a high AI (>10%) was observed in 26 of the 66 (39%) IDCs. The AI correlated significantly with the extent of nodal involvement. pBax immunoreactivity was detected in 42 of 66 IDCs (64%), and pBax expression was significantly correlated with female gender and showed a significant negative correlation with the extent of nodal involvement. pBcl-2 was expressed in 16 IDCs (24%) but did not show any correlation with the clinicopathologic factors. The AI did not correlate with the expression of pBcl-2 or pBax, but there was a significant correlation between the expression of pBcl-2 and that of pBax; 15 of the 16 pBcl-2(+)IDCs were also pBax(+), and only one pBcl-2(+)IDC was pBax(-). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the degree of apoptosis had no significant influence on the patients' prognosis, pBax or pBcl-2 expression was significantly associated with a better prognosis, and in particular, the pBax(+)pBcl-2(+) group had a significantly higher survival than the other groups. On the other hand, the survival curve of the adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) group was also higher than that of the surgery alone (SA) group, with borderline statistical signfiicance. The ACT group showed a significantly better survival rate than the SA group for the pBax(+)IDC patients, but the AI and pBcl-2 expression were not correlated with an improved survival rate in the ACT group. Multivariate analysis showed that the AI. pBcl-2 expression, and pBax expression by themselves did not represent significant variables for death owing to IDC, but pBax expression was significantly associated with the efficacy of ACT. In conclusion, pBax expression may be essential for pBcl-2 expression. pBcl-2 and pBax expressions are not significant prognostic factors for patients with IDC, but pBax expression may be beneficial in predicting the effects of ACT on patients with IDC.

Two-dimensional guided M-mode color tissue Doppler echocardiography in artificial preexcitation models.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the left ventricular contraction patterns in artificial preexcitation models by using 2-dimensional guided M-mode color tissue Doppler echocardiography. Three types of preexcitation models were produced in 12 patients by right atrio-mitral annular sequential pacing, carried out at the left ventricular lateral, posterior, and posteroseptal walls. Tissue Doppler M-mode was recorded at anteroseptal, posterior, lateral, and posteroseptal sites in the parasternal short-axis view. The time interval from the onset of the QRS complex during sinus rhythm or from the annular pacing spike during fusion beats to the beginning of systolic motion was measured. During sinus rhythm, the time interval at the anteroseptal wall was shortest. During fusion beats, the time intervals at the mitral annular pacing sites were shortest. In preexcitation models, tissue Doppler M-mode could clearly distinguish the difference of left ventricular contraction patterns and detect the earliest contraction site of the left ventricle.

c-fos gene expression in postnatal rat retinas with light/dark cycle.

We examined the diurnal variation of c-fos gene expression during a 12:12 light/dark cycle in developing rat retinas by in situ hybridization histochemistry. c-fos Gene was not expressed before postnatal day 10 (P10) but was expressed on P15 in the outer nuclear layer throughout the dark period and in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer during the light period. These results demonstrated that the earliest c-fos gene expression occurred between P11 and P15. The good correlation between the expression of c-fos gene and the genes coding for proteins involved in phototransduction, in terms of their diurnal variation and in their development, suggested that c-fos gene may play a role in the regulation of these genes in retinal cells during the light/dark cycle.

Interaction between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and its agonists: docking study of oximes having 5-benzyl-2,4-thiazolidinedione.

The molecular modelling of oximes having 5-benzyl-2,4-thiazolidinedione moieties, agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), was performed with respect to their structures complexed with the ligand binding domain of PPAR gamma. For each ligand molecule, the 5-benzyl-2,4-thiazolidinedione head group was used as an anchor and the conformation of the rest of the molecule was searched for the most energetically favorable interaction with the receptor by systematic conformation search and manual modelling. Although both tail-up and tail-down configurations, which have been observed in the crystal structure of eicosapentaenoic acid when complexed with PPAR delta, appeared among the lowest energy structures for most of the compounds, potent agonists were found to adopt a configuration similar to that of rosiglitazone when bound to PPAR gamma, according to the crystal structure. The structure-activity relationships were analyzed based on the receptor-ligand interaction. The alkyl group and the aromatic ring of the tail group of the ligands had hydrophobic interactions with the receptor, and these interactions were found to be essential for the strong activity.

p53 expression affects the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of invasive ductal carcinoma of the pancreas.

p53 tumor suppressor gene has a dual role as a trigger of apoptosis and as an initiator of DNA repair, suggesting its involvement in the mechanisms of drug resistance or chemosensitivity. The present study assessed the implication of p53 expression in the prognosis of patients and the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy for resectable invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the pancreas. A total of 58 patients with primary IDC of the pancreas underwent pancreatectomy between 1982 and 1996: 28 patients received surgery alone and 30 patients received postsurgical adjuvant chemotherapy. p53 protein was stained immunohistochemically with anti-p53 monoclonal antibody. p53 was positively expressed in 29 out of 58 primary lesions (50%), and the survival curve of the patients with p53 (+) pancreatic cancer is lower than that of those with p53 (-) cancer. On the other hand, the survival curve of adjuvant chemotherapy group was also higher than that of surgery alone group, and furthermore, in patients with p53 (+) cancer, the survival curve of adjuvant chemotherapy group was significantly better than that of the surgery alone group. A multivariate analysis showed that p53 expression or adjuvant chemotherapy is not a significant risk-factor for prognosis, but that adjuvant chemotherapy is a significant risk factor for the patients with p53 (+) pancreatic cancer, which suggests that p53 expression affects the efficacy of chemotherapy. p53 expression may be beneficial as an indicator for introduction of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer patients.

Second malignancies after a gastrectomy for gastric cancers: the effects of adjuvant therapies.

Second malignancy after gastrectomy has become one of the important issues in the management of gastric cancer patients. However, the effect of adjuvant therapies has never been surveyed, although there have been many reports on second malignancy after chemotherapy of other malignancies. Between 1979 and 1995, 574 patients with gastric cancer underwent gastrectomies in our department. 563 patients (98.1%) were completely followed-up, and the incidence of second malignancy after gastrectomy was assessed with special emphasis on the effect of adjuvant therapies, namely benefits versus carcinogenesis. The overall postsurgical survival rate was 62.5%, and the survival rate of patients with stage 2-4 cancer was significantly higher in the adjuvant therapy groups than in the surgery alone group. The overall incidence rate of a second malignancy was 3.20% (18/563), including 4 colorectal, 3 liver, 3 head and neck, and 8 other malignancies, and 3.90% (9/231) for the surgery alone group, 1.94% (3/155) for the chemotherapy group, 3.68% (6/163) for the chemoimmunotherapy group, and 0% (0/14) for the immunotherapy alone group. There were no statistical differences in the incidence rates between these 4 groups. The mean duration until the occurrence of second malignancy was 5.1 years for the surgery alone group, 8.6 years for the adjuvant therapy group (9.3 years for chemotherapy and 8.1 years for chemoimmunotherapy; p < 0.1, surgery alone vs. adjuvant therapy). The overall mean actuarial risk of developing a second malignancy was 6% at 5 years and 18% at 10 years. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that chemotherapy decreased the risk of death due to gastric cancer (risk ratio = 0.67, p = 0.017) and the risk of a second malignancy (risk ratio = 0.52, p = 0.261). Oral fluoropyrimidines were found to be particularly effective at decreasing the risk of death due to gastric cancer (risk ratio = 0.66, p = 0.012) and a second malignancy (risk ratio = 0.38, p = 0.136). However, intravenous chemotherapy was demonstrated to have no influence on survival (risk ratio = 0.93, p = 0.692) or a second malignancy (risk ratio = 0.58, p = 0.500). There was no evidence of an increased risk for a second malignancy following adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy with oral fluoropyrimidines was suggested to contribute to the improved survival of patients with stage 2-4 gastric cancer, and to have a decreased the risk of a second malignancy.

Reduced invasiveness and metastasis of Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with human interleukin-17 gene.

Human IL-17 (hIL-17) stimulates epithelial, endothelial, fibroblastic cells and macrophages to secrete various cytokines. The present study was designed to assess the effects of the transfection of the hIL-17 gene in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A complementary DNA (cDNA)-encoding hIL-17 was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification from human CD4+ T-cell cDNA and inserted into the plasmid pRc/CMV to construct an expression vector for hIL-17. CHO cells were transduced with hIL-17 DNA-carrying cytomegalovirus (CMV)-based retroviral vectors. A clone with a high mRNA expression of hIL-17 (CHO/IL-17) was selected by Northem blotting. There was no significant difference in the in vitro growth of cells among parent CHO cells, vector-only transfected cells (CHO/neo) and CHO/IL-17 cells. A Matrigel invasion chamber assay, however, demonstrated significantly lower invasiveness by CHO/IL-17 cells than by either the parent CHO or the CHO/neo cells. There was no difference in the in vivo growth among the cells, when subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice. When injected into the tail vein, however, the number of metastatic nodules in the lungs of CHO/IL-17-injected mice was significantly smaller than that of CHO- or CHO/neo-injected mice. Furthermore, NK activity of spleen cells was significantly higher in nude mice transplanted with CHO/IL-17 cells than in mice transplanted with parent CHO or CHO/neo cells. In conclusion, the hIL-17-gene-transfected CHO cells showed a significantly lower metastatic potential to the lung by directly modulating the invasiveness and metastasis of CHO cells as well as by enhancing NK activity.

MRI of cervical adenocarcinoma with cystic components.

We encountered two cases of endocervical well-differentiated adenocarcinoma with cystic components. Magnetic resonance findings of the first case showed cystic lesion with enhanced mural nodule in the uterine cervix. The second case showed multicystic lesion in the uterine cervix. The cystic walls were thickening in the postcontrast T1-weighted image. The cervical adenocarcinoma with cystic components should be added to one of differential diagnosis of the uterine cervical cystic lesion.

MR imaging of mesenteric hemangioma: a case report.

A 62-year-old woman presented with a mobile abdominal palpable mass. She underwent MR examination twice. Because of the mobility of the mass, it was out of the field of view on the first MR examination. The second MR examination detected the mass, which showed heterogeneous signal intensity including low and high intensity on T2-weighted spin echo images. The mass, which was cavernous hemangioma with old hemorrhage, was difficult to differentiate from fibroma or thecoma of the ovary or subserosal leiomyoma of the uterus.