RNA-seq analysis of diet-driven obesity and anti-obesity effects of quercetin glucoside or epigallocatechin gallate in Drosophila adults.

OBJECTIVE: High-fat diet (HFD) feeding stimulates fat accumulation in mammals and Drosophila. In the present study, we examined whether simultaneous feeding of familiar anti-obesity drugs, quercetin glycosides (QG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), to Drosophila has the same suppressive effect on fat accumulation as previously reported in rats and mice. To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of HFD diet-induced obesity and the suppression effect of the drugs, we performed transcriptome analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We induced extra fat accumulation by feeding Drosophila fly food containing 20% coconut oil and quantified the triglyceride accumulated in flies. The effects of anti-obesity drugs were also evaluated. We isolated total RNA from each sample and performed RNA-seq analyses and quantitive Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) to investigate altered gene expression. RESULTS: The mRNA levels of several genes involved in lipid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and anti-oxidative stress changed in HFD-fed adults. Moreover, the levels altered in those fed an HFD with QG or EGCG. The qRT-PCR further confirmed the RNA-seq data, suggesting that the expression of five essential genes for lipid metabolism changed in HFD-fed flies and altered in the flies treated with anti-obesity drugs. The most remarkable alteration was observed in the dHSL gene encoding a lipase involved in lipid-storage after HFD feeding and HFD with QG or EGCG. These alterations are consistent with HFD-induced fat accumulation as well as the anti-obesity effects of the drugs in mammals, suggesting that the genes play an important role in anti-obesity effects. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first reports to date of entire profiles of altered gene expression under the conditions of diet-induced obesity and its suppression by anti-obesity drugs in Drosophila.

Lysophosphatidic Acid Synthesis and its Receptors' Expression in the Bovine Oviduct During the Oestrous Cycle.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a naturally occurring simple phospholipid which in the bovine reproductive system can be produced in the endometrium, corpus luteum, ovarian follicle and embryo. In this study, we examined the possibility that LPA receptors are expressed, and LPA synthesized, in the bovine oviduct. We found that the concentration of LPA was highest in infundibulum in the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle and was relatively high during the early-luteal phase in all examined parts of the oviduct. We also documented that LPA synthesis engages both available pathways for LPA production. The autotaxin (ATX) protein expression was significantly higher in the infundibulum compared to the isthmus during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle. During the early-luteal phase of the oestrous cycle, ATX and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) protein expression was highest in ampulla, although the expression of LPARs was not as dynamic as LPA concentration in the oviduct tissue, and we presume that in the bovine oviduct, the most abundantly expressed receptor is LPAR2. In conclusion, our results indicate that the bovine oviduct is a site of LPA synthesis and a target for LPA action in the bovine reproductive tract. We documented that LPAR2 is the most abundantly expressed in the bovine oviduct. We hypothesize that in the bovine oviduct, LPA may be involved in the transport of gametes, fertilization and cellular signalling between the oviduct and cumulus-oocyte complex.

Biological heterogeneity and length-biased sampling in asymptomatic neurosurgical patients.

Increased numbers of asymptomatic intracranial lesions are being identified because of recent advances in imaging technology. Understanding of the natural history of these diseases, together with length bias is highly important in refining treatment strategy. Two sample models of hypothetical healthy cohorts were constructed, in which diseases showed either dual-type or multiple-type heterogeneity. Relative preclinical interval (PCI) of asymptomatic lesions including length-biased sampling was calculated, confirming that relative PCI increased according to heterogeneity of the disease. Length-biased sampling in asymptomatic lesions results from biological heterogeneity of the disease. Because lesions of longer PCI always are over-represented in a healthy population, conventional frequency analysis will tend to over-estimate risks in these patients.

Diffuse pachymeningeal hyperintensity and subdural effusion/hematoma detected by fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR imaging in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR imaging has advantages to detect meningeal lesions. FLAIR MR imaging was used to detect pachymeningeal thickening and thin bilateral subdural effusion/hematomas in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients were treated under clinical diagnoses of SIH. Chronologic MR imaging studies, including the FLAIR sequence, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Initial MR imaging showed diffuse pachymeningeal thickening as isointense in 6 cases, hypoisointense in 1 case, and isohyperintense in 1 case on the T1-weighted MR images, and hyperintense in all cases on both T2-weighted and FLAIR MR images. Dural (pachymeningeal) hyperintensity on FLAIR MR imaging had the highest contrast to CSF, and was observed as linear in all patients, usually located in the supratentorial convexity and also parallel to the falx, the dura of the posterior fossa convexity, and the tentorium, and improved after treatment. These characteristics of diffuse pachymeningeal hyperintensity on FLAIR MR imaging were similar to diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement (DPME) on T1-weighted imaging with gadolinium. Initial FLAIR imaging clearly showed subdural effusion/hematomas in 6 of 8 patients. The thickness of subdural effusion/hematomas sometimes increased transiently after successful treatment and resolution of clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION: Diffuse pachymeningeal hyperintensity on FLAIR MR imaging is a similar sign to DPME for the diagnosis of SIH but does not require injection of contrast medium. FLAIR is useful sequence for the detection of subdural effusion/hematomas in patients with SIH.

Assessment of hemorrhage in pituitary macroadenoma by T2*-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intratumoral hemorrhage occurs frequently in pituitary macroadenoma and manifests as pituitary apoplexy and recent or old silent hemorrhage. T2*-weighted gradient-echo (GE) MR imaging is the most sensitive sequence for the detection of acute and old intracranial hemorrhage. T2*-weighted GE MR imaging was used to investigate intratumoral hemorrhage in pituitary macroadenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients who underwent total or subtotal resection of pituitary macroadenoma with heights from 17 to 53 mm, including 1 patient with classic pituitary apoplexy, underwent MR imaging before surgery, including T2*-weighted GE MR imaging. For histologic assessment of the hemorrhage in whole surgical specimens, we used hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS: T2*-weighted GE MR imaging detected various types of dark lesions, such as "rim," "mass," "spot," and "diffuse" and combinations, indicating clinical and subclinical intratumoral hemorrhage in 12 of the 25 patients. The presence of intratumoral dark lesions on T2*-weighted GE MR imaging correlated significantly with the hemorrhagic findings on T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging (P < .02 and <.01, respectively), and the surgical and histologic hemorrhagic findings (P < .001 and <.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: T2*-weighted GE MR imaging could detect intratumoral hemorrhage in pituitary adenomas as various dark appearances. Therefore, this technique might be useful for the assessment of recent and old intratumoral hemorrhagic events in patients with pituitary macroadenomas.

Parent artery occlusion for posterior cerebral artery aneurysms.

SUMMARY: We review four cases of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysm, of which three showed intolerance of parent artery occlusion. In two, balloon test occlusion (BTO) indicated poor opacification of the PCA branches from the anastomoses, and therefore, permanent occlusion was not attempted.

Publication bias in neurosurgery: lessons from series of unruptured aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Bias favouring publication of research with "positive" results over studies with "negative" results is widely suspected. The present investigation addressed this problem in the field of neurosurgery through a review of recent literature concerning outcome of surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A Medline search was performed seeking case series of surgical treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms that analyzed 50 or more patients. Ten type I studies (retrospective studies from a single institution; 1457 patients) met these entry criteria. In general, type I studies reported excellent surgical outcome, with mean combined mortality and morbidity of 7.8% (95% confidence interval (CI), 6.4% to 9.2%). We found 4 multicenter or community-based studies (type II studies; 5401 patients). Mean combined mortality and morbidity in the type II studies was 20.3% (95% CI, 19.2% to 21.4%), much higher than in type I studies. Relative risk was 2.6 (95% CI, 2.2 to 3.1) for patients in type II studies compared with those in type I studies. Two meta-analyses (type III studies) described combined mortality and morbidity of 5.0% and 12.7%, essentially corresponding to results of type I studies. INTERPRETATION: Publication bias is present in the neurosurgical literature. Studies with an excellent surgical outcome are more likely to be published than those with an average outcome. Conclusions of literature reviews or meta-analyses based on published work therefore may be misleading. The solution to the problem would be community-based prospective registration of all patients who underwent surgery, providing a sampling frame free from publication bias.

[Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome accompanied by HELLP syndrome and eclampsia: a case report].

We report a case of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome accompanied by HELLP syndrome and eclampsia. A 30-year-old woman complained of diminution of visual acuity and eclampsia. Laboratory data revealed hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme and low platelets. CT showed low density areas in the bilateral occipital cortex. T1-weighted images showed a low signal intensity and T2-weighted images showed a high signal intensity in the occipital cortex bilaterally. Magnetic resonance angiography showed stenotic change in the intracranial artery. An operation was performed and significant improvement was seen in her visual function and MRI and MRA returned to normal on a month after operation. The mechanism of a reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome was discussed.

Two starch-branching-enzyme isoforms occur in different fractions of developing seeds of kidney bean.

The nature and enzymic properties of starch-branching enzyme (SBE) are two of the dominant factors influencing the fine structure of starch. To understand the role of this enzyme's activity in the formation of starch in kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a study was undertaken to identify the major SBE sequences expressed during seed development and to characterize the enzymic properties of the coded recombinant enzymes. Two SBE cDNA species (designated pvsbe2 and pvsbe1) that displayed significant similarity (more than 70%) to other family A and B SBEs respectively were isolated. Northern blot analysis revealed that pvsbe1 and pvsbe2 were differentially expressed during seed development. pvsbe2 showed maximum steady-state transcript levels at the mid-stage of seed maturation, whereas pvsbe1 reached peak levels at a later stage. Western blot analysis with antisera raised against both recombinant proteins (rPvSBE1 and rPvSBE2) showed that these two SBEs were located in different amyloplast fractions of developing seeds of kidney bean. PvSBE2 was present in the soluble fraction, whereas PvSBE1 was associated with the starch granule fraction. The differences in location suggest that these two SBE isoenzymes have different roles in amylopectin synthesis in kidney bean seeds. rPvSBE1 and rPvSBE2 were purified from Escherichia coli and their kinetic properties were determined. The affinity of rPvSBE2 for amylose (K(m) 1.27 mg/ml) was lower than that of rPvSBE1 (0.46 mg/ml). The activity of rPvSBE2 was stimulated more than 3-fold in the presence of 0.3 M citrate, whereas rPvSBE1 activity was not affected. The implications of the enzymic properties and the distribution of SBEs and amylopectin structure are discussed.

Acute systemic inflammatory response syndrome in subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) without infection is a well-known phenomenon that accompanies various acute cerebral insults. We sought to determine whether the initial SIRS score was associated with outcome in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: In 103 consecutive patients with SAH, the occurrence of SIRS was assessed according to the presence of >/=2 of the following: temperature of <36 degrees C or >38 degrees C, heart rate of >90 bpm, respiratory rate of >20 breaths/min, and white blood cell count of <4000/mm(3) or >12 000/mm(3). SIRS criteria and other prognostic parameters were evaluated as predictors of dichotomous Glasgow Outcome Scale score. RESULTS: SIRS was highly related to poor clinical grade (Hunt and Hess clinical grading scale), a large amount of SAH on CT (Fisher CT group), and high plasma glucose concentration on admission. By univariate analysis, the occurrence of SIRS was associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates than was the nonoccurrence (P<0.001). Among individual SIRS criteria, heart rate (P=0.003), respiration rate (P=0.003), and white blood cell count (P=0.03) were significant outcome predictors. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of SIRS independently predicted outcome. SIRS carried an increased risk of subsequent intracranial complications such as vasospasm and normal pressure hydrocephalus, as well as systemic complications. CONCLUSIONS: In SAH patients, SIRS on admission reflected the extent of tissue damage at onset and predicted further tissue disruption, producing clinical worsening and, ultimately, a poor outcome.

Hormonal regulation of the human ghrelin receptor gene transcription.

The aim of this study is to clarify the hormonal regulation of the human ghrelin receptor gene expression in GH(3) cells transfected with our previously cloned 5'-flanking region inserted into a luciferase reporter vector. Phorbor 12-tetradecanoate 13-acetate (TPA) with simultaneous addition of Bay K8644 mimicking ghrelin action caused a significant inhibition of the luciferase activity through the ghrelin receptor gene upstream proximal to -669 but not to -608 base pairs (bp). Glucocorticoid caused a weak but significant inhibition of the luciferase activity through the ghrelin receptor gene upstream proximal to -531 but not to -475 bp. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay resulted in binding of oligonucleotides between -669 and -640 bp, and between -520 and -491 bp to GH(3) cell nuclear proteins unlike AP(2) or glucocorticoid receptor. These results suggest that both TPA/Bay K8644 and glucocorticoid downregulate human ghrelin receptor gene expression through the transcriptional mechanism involving some nuclear factors.

Injection of a sperm extract triggers egg activation in the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster.

Unfertilized eggs of the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster are arrested at the second meiotic metaphase. The primary signal for egg activation is a transient increase in [Ca2+](i), which is triggered by the fertilizing sperm and propagates over the egg cortex as a Ca2+ wave. We injected an extract of Cynops sperm (SE) into unfertilized eggs and induced a wave-like [Ca2+](i) increase which resulted in activation and resumption of meiosis. The SE-injected eggs showed degradation of cyclin B1 and DNA replication. When SE was boiled or treated with proteinase K before injection, it was unable to cause egg activation. Preinjection of Ca2+ -chelator BAPTA before SE injection inhibited egg activation. These results indicate that a heat-labile and proteinaceous factor in the sperm cytoplasm induces a transient increase in [Ca2+](i) which is required for egg activation. Injection of IP3 into unfertilized eggs caused an increase in [Ca2+](i) and egg activation, but injection of cADP-ribose did not. These results support the hypothesis that Ca2+ release at fertilization occurs via IP3 receptors.

Malignant struma ovarii with Graves' disease.

BACKGROUND: Malignant struma ovarii is a rare tumor, consisting of a struma ovarii with malignant change. Because of the rarity of the tumor, only a few reports with detailed data of thyroid function of the patient have been published. CASE: Medical and surgical treatments were performed in a case of malignant struma ovarii with Graves' disease and data from thyroid function tests were analyzed. After removal of the tumor, rapid improvement of thyroid function was observed and thyroglobulin level decreased. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the possible, if not dominant, contribution from the malignant struma ovarii to the hyperthyroidism of the patient.

MK800-62F1, a new inhibitor of apoptotic cell death, from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes MK800-62F1. II. Structure elucidation.

A new compound, MK800-62F1, was isolated from a cultured broth of Streptomyces diastatochromogenes MK800-62F1. The structure was determined by NMR analysis and degradation experiments.

MK800-62F1, a new inhibitor of apoptotic cell death, from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes MK800-62F1. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activity.

A new compound, MK800-62F1, was isolated from a cultured broth of Streptomyces diastatochromogenes MK800-62F1. It inhibited H2O2-induced apoptosis in human small cell lung carcinoma Ms-1 cells as well as in human T-cell leukemia Jurkat cells. In addition, MK800-62F1 also inhibited camptothecin-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells, which was mediated by intracellular H2O2 generation. MK800-62F1 did not exhibit antioxidative activity in vitro, suggesting that inhibition of apoptosis by MK800-62F1 was not due to the scavenging of H2O2, rather it was due to the modulation of the downstream event of H2O2 generation.

The expression of three types of CINCs by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat macrophages is inhibited similarly by anti-inflammatory steroids.

OBJECTIVE: Expression of CINCs was regulated differentially in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat macrophages. We examined whether the expression of CINCs in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated rat macrophages is similarly inhibited by anti-inflammatory drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat peritoneal macrophages were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide in the presence of anti-inflammatory steroids (dexamethasone, prednisolone and hydrocortisone) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin and piroxicam). The production and mRNA expression of three types of CINCs were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and northern hybridization. RESULTS: Anti-inflammatory steroids; dexamethasone, prednisolone and hydrocortisone, dose-dependently inhibited the production of CINC-1, -2 and -3, whose inhibitory patterns were similar to each other. Furthermore mRNA expression of each CINC was inhibited by dexamethasone in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, indomethacin and piroxicam were without effect. Expression of each CINC was regulated differently; the production of CINC-1 reached a maximum at 12 h and then slightly decreased after lipopolysaccharide stimulation, whereas that of CINC-2 and CINC-3 increased up to 24 h. Dexamethasone inhibited the CINCs production and mRNA expression at 9 h after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate no difference among CINC-1, -2 and -3 in the inhibition of production and mRNA expression of CINCs by anti-inflammatory steroids, although lipopolysaccharide differentially induces expression of each CINC expression in culture of rat macrophages.

8-bromo-cyclicAMP stimulates glucose transporter-1 expression in a human choriocarcinoma cell line.

Facilitative glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) is abundant in trophoblast cells and is responsible for glucose transport in the placenta. However, the change in GLUT expression in human placenta upon trophoblast differentiation remains to be clarified. Therefore, we first examined the localization of GLUT1 and GLUT3 using human first-trimester chorionic villi. We found that GLUT1 and GLUT3 were mainly localized to syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells respectively. We analyzed whether placental GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression changes during differentiation using a human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cell line which is known to show functional and morphological differentiation in response to cAMP in culture. Treatment of BeWo cells with 8-bromo-cyclicAMP (8-bromo-cAMP) increased the level of hCG secretion and induced cell fusion leading to the formation of large syncytia. Treatment of BeWo cells with 8-bromo-cAMP also resulted in a significant increase in glucose uptake on days 2-3 of culture. The stimulating effect of 8-bromo-cAMP on glucose uptake was concentration dependent. Northern and immunoblot analyses revealed that the levels of mRNA and protein of GLUT1, but not of GLUT3, were significantly increased by 8-bromo-cAMP. These findings suggest that 8-bromo-cAMP stimulates GLUT1 expression with differentiation in BeWo cells.

Lymph node metastases identified with mediastinoscopy in a patient with superficial carcinoma of the esophagus.

Superficial esophageal cancers limited to the lamina propria are not associated with lymph node metastases. Mediastinoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy was planned in a patient with widespread superficial cancer of the midthoracic esophagus. Sampling of the upper mediastinal lymph nodes revealed metastases. The operation was converted to a transthoracic esophagectomy with radical lymphadenectomy. Histopathologic examination of the resection specimen showed three metastatic lymph nodes, despite local invasion limited to the lamina propria. This is the first report of a patient with superficial esophageal cancer and lymph node metastases.

Migrastatin, a new inhibitor of tumor cell migration from Streptomyces sp. MK929-43F1. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities.

A new compound, migrastatin, was isolated from a cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. MK929-43F1, as an inhibitor of tumor cell migration. It was purified by column chromatographies on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC. Migrastatin has the molecular formula of C27H39NO7 consisting of 14-membered macrolide and glutarimide moiety. It inhibited spontaneous migration of human esophageal cancer EC17 cells. Migration inhibitory activity of migrastatin was not dependent on cytotoxicity or inhibition of protein synthesis.