Ingestion of paddy rice increases intestinal mucin secretion and goblet cell number and prevents dextran sodium sulfate-induced intestinal barrier defect in chickens.

Paddy rice is a potential feed grain for chickens, whose strong gizzards can crush the hull. Here, we investigated whether paddy rice rich in hull-derived water-insoluble dietary fiber stimulates intestinal mucin secretion and production, as well as the possible involvement of paddy rice in intestinal barrier function. Layer male chicks at 7 d of age were divided into four groups according to the diet: corn, polished rice, brown rice, or paddy rice (650 g/kg diet), which they ate for 14 consecutive days. At 21 d of age, the birds were refed their experimental diets, and small intestinal mucin fractions were collected to determine intestinal mucin content. Small intestinal mucin secretion was induced most strongly in the paddy rice group (Experiment 1). The rank order of diet-induced mucin secretion was paddy rice > corn = brown rice > polished rice. Ileal MUC2 gene expression and ileal number of goblet cells were highest in the paddy rice group (Experiment 1). A study of bromodeoxy-U uptake into ileal epithelial cells indicated the increase in goblet cells in the paddy rice group was related to accelerate epithelial cell migration (Experiment 2). A single supplementation of isolated rice hulls without kernels increased MUC2 gene expression and goblet cell numbers (Experiment 3), suggesting the importance of the hull's bulk-forming capacity on mucin production. Finally, chicks fed corn or paddy rice were orally administered dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to disrupt intestinal barrier function. In the DSS-treated birds, the intestinal permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran in the everted gut sacs was much lower in the paddy rice group than in the corn group (Experiment 4), showing that paddy rice protects against mucosal disruption. In conclusion, ingestion of paddy rice increases intestinal mucin secretion and production through enhanced MUC2 gene expression and epithelial turnover and prevents DSS-induced intestinal barrier defects in chickens.

Alterations in time intervals of ductus venosus and atrioventricular flow velocity waveforms in growth-restricted fetuses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate time intervals of the ductus venosus (DV) flow velocity waveform (FVW) and those of the cardiac cycle that correspond with each DV-FVW component in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency. METHODS: Women with a pregnancy complicated by IUGR were recruited into the study, as was a normal control group. Time intervals for systolic (S) and diastolic (D) components were measured in DV-FVW as follows: S(DV), from the nadir of the a-wave during atrial contraction to the nadir between the S-wave and D-wave; D(DV), from the nadir between S-wave and D-wave to the nadir of the a-wave. Regarding cardiac cycles, the following variables were measured from ventricular inflow through the tricuspid valve (TV) and mitral valve (MV): S(TV) and S(MV), from the second peak of ventricular inflow caused by atrial contraction (A-wave) to the opening of the atrioventricular valve; D(TV) and D(MV), from the opening of the atrioventricular valve to the peak of the A-wave. In the IUGR group, only the last examination performed within 1 week of delivery was used for analysis. All variables were analyzed statistically using Z-scores. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 249 normal fetuses and 26 fetuses with IUGR. Compared to normal fetuses, S(DV) showed a significant decrease (P < 0.001), while D(DV) showed a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the IUGR group. Regarding cardiac cycles, S(TV) and S(MV) showed significant decreases (P = 0.014 and P < 0.001, respectively) and D(TV) and D(MV) showed significant increases (P = 0.008 and P = 0.002, respectively) in fetuses with IUGR. CONCLUSION: Time-interval alterations of DV-FVW in growth-restricted fetuses reflect the hemodynamic events caused by placental insufficiency.

Evaluation of the distribution and orientation of remineralized enamel crystallites in subsurface lesions by X-ray diffraction.

Remineralization is the process by which hydroxyapatite (HAp) is restored in enamel subsurface lesions, and transversal microradiography (TMR) has been used to analyze remineralization in terms of the recovery of mineral content. In this study, we directly detected the distribution and orientation of longitudinal HAp crystallite at the remineralized zone in enamel subsurface lesions by using an X-ray microbeam (6-mum diameter) diffraction method. This method was demonstrated and involves the simultaneous detection of wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). WAXRD reflects the amount of HAp crystallites, and SAXS reflects that of voids in crystallites. The polished surface of a bovine enamel block was divided into three zones of sound, demineralized, and remineralized zones. Thin sections of approximately 150 mum thickness were then cut perpendicular to the surface, and subjected to WAXRD and SAXS following TMR. The increase in the amount of HAp crystallites and the decrease in voids in the crystallites at the remineralized zone were detected by WAXRD and SAXS, respectively, which was consistent with the result of TMR. This study indicates that both the spatial distribution and orientation of the restored HAp crystals in the remineralization process at the subsurface lesion can be simultaneously analyzed by the X-ray diffraction methods.

The behavior of PLGA microspheres containing rifampicin in alveolar macrophages.

We have developed a pulmonary drug delivery system for the treatment of tuberculosis using rifampicin (RFP) encapsulated in poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres (RFP-PLGA MS), which is a biocompatible polymer. In this study, the behavior of RFP-PLGA MS and the metabolism of RFP were investigated after their uptake by macrophages using the rat alveolar macrophage cell line, NR8383. The prepared RFP-PLGA MS were spherical with an average diameter of 1.9microm and were taken up effectively by NR8383 cells in an energy-dependent manner. It was shown by fluorescent microscopic studies that the RPF-PLGA MS taken up by the cells were localized in phago-lysosomes and then degraded. Although a small amount of 3-formylrifamycin SV (3-FRSV) was generated by the metabolism of RFP, almost all RFP remained unchanged. It was considered, therefore, that RFP was released into the cytosol with drug potency intact. Based on these results, RFP-PLGA MS will be effective for the delivery of anti-tuberculosis drugs such as RFP, and will be a potentially useful drug delivery tool for pulmonary and possibly other tissues as well.

Pilocytic astrocytomas in elderly adults.

Pilocytic astrocytomas are classified as WHO grade I gliomas that occur predominantly in children and young adults. Reports of the tumors in elderly adults are extremely rare. We describe two cases of pilocytic astrocytoma in elderly adults, a 68-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman. Brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed well-circumscribed lesions associated with contrast enhancement and minimal surrounding edema. Pathological studies revealed findings consistent with pilocytic astrocytomas. Although these tumors are rarely found in elderly adults, pilocytic astrocytomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis if the radiographic features of the tumors are characteristic of pilocytic astrocytomas.

Imaging-pathologic correlation in corticobasal degeneration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The clinical diagnosis of corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is often difficult due to varied clinical manifestations. In 4 patients with neuropathologically confirmed CBD, characteristic imaging findings and correlations with neuropathologic features were evaluated. Furthermore, imaging findings in CBD were compared with neuropathologically confirmed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for a differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients with neuropathologically confirmed CBD were studied. We evaluated the area of the tegmentum in the midsagittal plane, subcortical white matter (SCWM) abnormality, asymmetric cerebral atrophy, and signal-intensity abnormality in the subthalamic nuclei on MR imaging and compared them with histopathologic findings. Then, MR imaging findings in CBD were compared with those in 13 patients with PSP. RESULTS: On MR imaging, 3 patients had asymmetric cerebral atrophy extending to the central sulcus. On midsagittal sections, the mean midbrain tegmentum area was 66 mm(2), being markedly smaller than normal, but there was no significant difference between PSP and CBD. All patients had signal-intensity abnormalities of the SCWM, constituting primary degeneration neuropathologically; however, no diffuse signal-intensity abnormality in the SCWM existed in the 13 patients with PSP. In 3 patients, T1-weighted images showed symmetric high signal intensity in the subthalamic nuclei. Neuropathologically, these areas showed characteristic CBD. MR imaging signal-intensity changes also existed in 4 patients with PSP; however, subthalamic nucleus degeneration was more severe in PSP than in CBD. CONCLUSIONS: In cases with midbrain tegmentum atrophy and signal-intensity changes in the subthalamic nuclei, the differential diagnosis distinguishing CBD from PSP based on MR imaging alone was difficult. White matter lesions and asymmetric atrophy can be useful for a differential diagnosis.

Excitotoxicity in acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion.

Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is a recently described clinicoradiologic syndrome. MR spectroscopy in 3 patients with AESD revealed decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and elevated glutamine/glutamate complex (Glx) during the week of presentation. Afterward, Glx normalized, whereas NAA remained low in 2 patients with neurologic sequelae but nearly normalized in the third patient without neurologic sequelae. These findings support the hypothesis that excitotoxic neuronal damage plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AESD and suggest that MR spectroscopy might be predictive of outcome.

Significance of radio-pathological correlations: differentiating severe central nervous system infection from acute embolic infarction.

We describe two educational autopsy cases of severe central nervous system (CNS) infection and septic emboli, such cases having been difficult to differentiate from acute infarctions via emergency MR imaging studies. We briefly discuss the pathology and MR findings along with radiopathological correlation.

Severe form of acute influenza encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion.

Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is clinically characterized by biphasic seizures on days 1, and 4 to 6; radiologically by no acute abnormality is visible during the first two days, while reduced diffusion in the subcortical white matter is seen during days 3 to 9, finally resulting in cerebral atrophy. We report here a Japanese child with clinically severe AESD associated with influenza A, whose sequential magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral swelling on day 1, reduced diffusion and central herniation on day 6, followed by cortical laminar necrosis and atrophy on day 30. The findings from this patient suggests that AESD has clinically and radiologically a wider spectrum than previously considered.

Asymptomatic self-limiting diffuse white matter lesions in subacute to chronic stage of herpes simplex encephalitis.

This study evaluated white matter changes in the subacute and chronic stages of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Subjects comprised 15 patients with HSE. All patients were examined using MRI at onset, and then at seven to ten days, three to five weeks and two to three months after onset. In addition, the six patients who displayed white matter signal abnormalities were examined at six months and

Endovascular trapping for a giant aneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery: a case report.

SUMMARY: We describe a case of giant cervical internal carotid aneurysm successfully treated by endovascular trapping. A 57-year-old woman with a history of maxillary contusion seven years before presented with pharyngeal discomfort during swallowing. MRI revealed a 4 cm mass in the right parapharyngeal space. A common carotid angiogram revealed a giant aneurysm with a wide neck originating from the cervical internal carotid artery; kinking of the internal carotid artery was noted at a point distal to the carotid bifurcation. Analysis of cerebral blood flow by SPECT during a balloon occlusion test showed no hypoperfusion areas, and the patient underwent endovascular trapping. There were no neurological or other complications after the procedure. A follow-up MRI revealed complete thrombosis of the aneurysm. Our results show that endovascular trapping for pseudoaneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery can be a reliable and effective treatment in patients who tolerate a balloon occlusion test.

Reversible splenial lesion with restricted diffusion in a wide spectrum of diseases and conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Reversible lesion in the central area of the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) is a unique phenomenon occurring particularly in patients with encephalitis or encephalopathy and in patients receiving antiepileptic drugs (AED). We report MR imaging findings, clinical courses, and outcomes in eight patients with various diseases and conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients with a reversible SCC lesion with transiently restricted diffusion were reviewed retrospectively. Diseases and conditions that were associated with a reversible lesion included epilepsy receiving AED (n=1), seizure from eclampsia receiving AED (n=1), mild infectious encephalitis (n=2), hypernatremia resulting in osmotic myelinolysis (n=1), and neoplasm (n=3) such as acute lymphocytic leukemia, spinal meningeal melanocytoma, and esophageal cancer. We evaluated MR imaging findings and clinical findings. RESULTS: Seven patients had isolated SCC lesions; one patient with osmotic myelinolysis showed additional parenchymal lesions. The reversible SCC lesion shape was oval (n=6) or extended (n=2). The mean apparent diffusion coefficient value of the splenial lesion was 0.40+/-0.16 x 10-3 mm2/s, ranging from 0.22 to 0.64 x 10-3 mm2/s. In a patient with osmotic myelinolysis, additional white matter lesions, shown as restricted diffusion, were revealed as not reversible on follow-up MR imaging. Neurological courses and outcomes were good in seven patients with isolated SCC lesions, but poor in one with osmotic myelinolysis. CONCLUSION: Reversible SCC lesion with restricted diffusion is apparent in a wide spectrum of diseases and conditions. Neurological courses and outcomes are good, particularly in patients with isolated SCC lesions. Knowledge of MR imaging findings and the associated spectrum of diseases and conditions might prevent unnecessary invasive examinations and treatments.

An optical spectrum of the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst at a redshift of z = 6.295.

The prompt gamma-ray emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) should be detectable out to distances of z > 10 (ref. 1), and should therefore provide an excellent probe of the evolution of cosmic star formation, reionization of the intergalactic medium, and the metal enrichment history of the Universe. Hitherto, the highest measured redshift for a GRB has been z = 4.50 (ref. 5). Here we report the optical spectrum of the afterglow of GRB 050904 obtained 3.4 days after the burst; the spectrum shows a clear continuum at the long-wavelength end of the spectrum with a sharp cut-off at around 9,000 A due to Lyman alpha absorption at z approximately 6.3 (with a damping wing). A system of absorption lines of heavy elements at z = 6.295 +/- 0.002 was also detected, yielding the precise measurement of the redshift. The Si ii fine-structure lines suggest a dense, metal-enriched environment around the progenitor of the GRB.

Development of diffusion-weighted image using a 0.3T open MRI.

The purpose of this study was to develop a new technique for diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) with a low-field scanner. DWI is becoming important for assessment of acute stroke. Until recently DWI required expensive technology. We developed multishot-DWI sequence for 0.3T open type MR imager. We prospectively studied forty patients on this 0.3T MRI and compared this DWI to single-shot-DWI by 1.5T-MRI. Group A: Twenty-four patients with acute cerebral infarctions detected by 1.5T-DWI were re-examined using 0.3T-DWI within 24 hours. Sixteen patients with acute cerebral infarctions detected by 0.3T-DWI were re-examined using 1.5T-DWI within 24 hours. In 22 (92%) of 24 cases, 0.3T-DWI showed high signal. In the other two patients, motion artifact distorted 0.3T-DWI. Group B: In all 16 patients, all infarctions detected by 0.3T-DWI showed high signal on 1.5T-DWI. These preliminary data show that, as long as the patient is able to keep still, multishot-DWI can be acquired successfully on a 0.3T open type MRI system.

Optic nerve hyperintensity on T2-weighted images among patients with pituitary macroadenoma: correlation with visual impairment.

PURPOSE: Visual acuity (VA) disturbance other than field defect is important in evaluating patients with pituitary macroadenoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MR imaging appearances of optic nerves in patients with pituitary macroadenoma and to ascertain whether visual impairment was correlated with abnormality in optic nerve signal intensity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with pituitary macroadenoma were examined. Optic nerves were evaluated on T2-weighted images and correlations of signal intensity abnormality with VA disturbance, visual field disturbance, degree of optic chiasm compression, pathologic findings of surgical specimen, and disease duration were statistically analyzed. Correlations between recovery of VA after treatment and the above-mentioned factors were also determined. RESULTS: Coronal T2-weighted images demonstrated unilateral optic nerve hyperintensity lesions in 9 patients. Bilateral signal intensity abnormality of the optic nerve was seen in 5 patients. Signal intensity abnormality of the optic nerve was seen at the site of compression and in the ventral side of the tumor. These patients did not demonstrate signal intensity abnormality posterior to the tumor. Presence of such signal intensity abnormalities was correlated with the degree of optic chiasmal compression and with VA disturbance. Recovery of VA after treatment was correlated with disease duration. CONCLUSION: Hyperintensity of the optic nerves ventral to the pituitary macroadenoma was associated with VA impairment. Recovery of VA after treatment was correlated with disease duration. MR imaging of the optic nerves can provide valuable information for management of pituitary macroadenoma.

Association of interleukin-8 and plasminogen activator system in the progression of colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and plasminogen activator system (PA system) in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). In eighty-seven patients with CRC, the levels of IL-8, and VEGF as representative angiogenic factors and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and PAI-2 as representative invasive factors were quantitatively assayed in tumor and adjacent normal tissues. The levels of IL-8, VEGF, and PA system factors in tumor tissues were all significantly higher than those in normal tissues. The IL-8 level was significantly associated with tumor size, depth of infiltration, Dukes stage, and liver metastasis, and also significantly correlated with the levels of VEGF, uPAR, uPA, and PAI-1. The VEGF level was significantly associated with tumor size, vascular involvement. The levels of uPAR and PAI-1 were significantly associated with tumor size and depth of infiltration, and the uPAR level was associated with liver metastasis. The VEGF level was significantly correlated with the levels of uPAR and PAI-1. These results reveal that IL-8, VEGF, and PA system factors are contributed to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in CRC. Univariate analysis revealed that high levels of IL-8, VEGF, and uPAR were significantly associated with a shorter overall survival time; however, multivariate analysis identified only liver metastasis as an independent prognostic factor. In conclusion, IL-8 is responsible to tumor progression and liver metastasis of CRC, and the activation of PAS induced by IL-8 as well as VEGF may play an important role in the progression of CRC.

New and reliable MRI diagnosis for progressive supranuclear palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the area of the midbrain and pons on mid-sagittal MRI in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Parkinson disease (PD), and multiple-system atrophy of the Parkinson type (MSA-P), compare these appearances and values with those of normal control subjects, and establish diagnostic MRI criteria for the diagnosis of PSP. METHODS: The authors prospectively studied MRI of 21 patients with PSP, 23 patients with PD, 25 patients with MSA-P, and 31 age-matched normal control subjects. The areas of the midbrain tegmentum and the pons were measured on mid-sagittal MRI using the display tools of a workstation. The ratio of the area of the midbrain to the area of the pons was also evaluated in all subjects. RESULTS: The average midbrain area of the patients with PSP (56.0 mm2) was significantly smaller than that of the patients with PD (103.0 mm2) and MSA-P (97.2 mm2) and that of the age-matched control group (117.7 mm2). The values of the area of the midbrain showed no overlap between patients with PSP and patients with PD or normal control subjects. However, patients with MSA-P showed some overlap of the values of individual areas with values from patients with PSP. The ratio of the area of the midbrain to the area of pons in the patients with PSP (0.124) was significantly smaller than that in those with PD (0.208) and MSA-P (0.266) and in normal control subjects (0.237). Use of the ratio allowed differentiation between the PSP group and the MSA-P group. CONCLUSION: The area of the midbrain on mid-sagittal MRI can differentiate PSP from PD, MSA-P, and normal aging.

Post-challenge hyperinsulinaemia rather than hyperglycaemia is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients without a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) but no previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to examine the relation between the severity of CAD and responses of glucose and insulin to the glucose tolerance test. METHODS AND RESULTS: Abnormalities of glucose metabolism and insulin response were analysed in 144 patients with CAD without a previous diagnosis of DM who underwent both coronary arteriography and 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The proportions of impaired and diabetic glucose tolerance were very high (39% for impaired and 21% for diabetic glucose tolerance); only 40% had normal glucose tolerance. The parameters of glucose metabolism were not associated with the number of diseased coronary arteries or the presence of previous myocardial infarction (MI). However, the insulin concentration at 60 minutes or 120 minutes after glucose challenge, insulin area, and the ratio of insulin to glucose area were significantly higher in patients with significant coronary stenosis and with previous MI. Fasting glucose concentration and most conventional risk factors did not predict post-challenge hyperinsulinaemia. CONCLUSION: Patients with CAD without a previous diagnosis of DM had a high prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance. Post-challenge hyperinsulinaemia was associated with the number of diseased coronary arteries and the presence of previous MI. The insulin response to the glucose challenge test requires further investigation as a potential risk factor for CAD and a potential target for intervention.