Objective

Based on the neuroprotective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on experimental spinal cord injury, we initiated a clinical trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of neuroprotective therapy using G-CSF for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy.

Methods

We obtained informed consent from 15 patients, in whom the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for cervical myelopathy decreased two points or more during a recent 1-month period. G-CSF (5 or 10 μg/kg/day) was intravenously administered for five consecutive days. We evaluated motor and sensory functions of the patients and the presence of adverse events related to G-CSF therapy.

Results

G-CSF administration suppressed the progression of myelopathy in all 15 patients. Neurological improvements in motor and sensory functions were obtained in all patients after the administration, although the degree of improvement differed among the patients. Nine patients in the 10-μg group (n = 10) underwent surgical treatment at 1 month or later after G-CSF administration. In the 10-μg group, the mean JOA recovery rates 1 and 6 months after administration were 49.9 ± 15.1 and 59.1 ± 16.3%, respectively. On the day following the start of G-CSF therapy, the white blood cell count increased to more than 22,700 cells/mm3. It varied from 12,000 to 50,000 and returned to preadministration levels 3 days after completing G-CSF treatment. No serious adverse events occurred during or after treatment.

Conclusion

The results indicate that G-CSF administration at 10 μg/kg/day is safe for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy and may be effective for their neurological improvement.

Iron nanomaterials are of considerable interest for application to nanotechnology-related fields including environmental catalysis, biomedical imaging, drug delivery and hyperthermia, because of their superparamagnetic characteristics and high catalytic abilities. However, information about potential risks of iron nanomaterials is limited. The present study assessed pulmonary responses to a single intratracheal spray instillation of triiron tetraoxide nanoparticles (magnetite) in rats. Ten-week-old male and female Fischer 344 rats (n=5/group) were exposed to a single intratracheal spray instillation of 0 (vehicle), 5.0, 15.0 or 45.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) of magnetite. After 14 days, the rats were sacrificed, and biological consequences were investigated. The lung weights of the 15.0 and 45.0 mg/kg BW male and female groups were significantly higher than those of the control groups. The lungs of treated rats showed enlargement and black patches originating from the color of magnetite. The typical histopathological changes in the lungs of the treated rats included infiltration of macrophages phagocytosing magnetite, inflammatory cell infiltration, granuloma formation and an increase of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. The results clearly show that instilled magnetite causes foreign body inflammatory and granulating lesions in the lung. These pulmonary responses occur in a dose-dependent manner in association with the increase in lung weight.

Because we have a clinical impression that elderly patients have low back pain while in motion and standing, but less pain when sitting, we investigate characteristics of nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP), using a new detailed visual analog scale (VAS) scoring system. One hundred eighty-nine patients with NSLBP were divided into an elderly group (≥65 years old, n = 56) and a young group (<65 years old, n = 133). Low back pain was evaluated by a traditional VAS scoring system, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a new detailed VAS scoring system in which pain is independently evaluated in three different postural situations (in motion, standing, and sitting). No significant differences were observed in traditional VAS and ODI scores between the two groups. The results of the detailed VAS showed no significant differences between the two groups while in motion and standing. However, the elderly group showed significantly lower VAS score while sitting compared to the young group. In this study of the first use of a new detailed VAS scoring system, differences in characteristics of NSLBP between elderly and young patients were successfully detected. This minor modification of the traditional VAS may be useful for characterizing and evaluating low back pain.

Introduction

To investigate the effects of bisphosphonates (Bis) (etidronate, alendronate, and risedronate), alone and in combination with statin, on the BMD (bone mineral density) and bone metabolism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods

Seventy-seven RA patients who had been receiving prednisolone (PSL) and Bis for over 4 years were divided into two groups: Bis and Bis + statin (n = 42 and 35; average age, 66.4 and 65.3 years; average disease duration, 24.9 and 20.8 years; average PSL dose, 2.4 and 2.7 mg, respectively). Serum levels of NTX (N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen), TRACP-5b (tartrate-resistant acid phosphate-5b), PICP (C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen), and RANKL (receptor activator of NF-κB ligand) were measured over an 18-month period of treatment and follow-up. The BMD levels of the two groups at the radius, lumbar spine, and femoral neck were compared using DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry).

Results

A significant increase was only observed in the BMD of the lumbar spine at 18-months, but the BMDs of the radius and femoral neck decreased during the follow-up period in the Bis group. Meanwhile, a significant increase was observed in the BMD of the lumbar spine in the Bis + statin group during administration and the BMDs of the radius and femoral neck stayed at baseline. Among the markers of bone metabolism, serum NTX was up-regulated after 6 months in the Bis + statin group. Serum TRACP-5b was significantly increased during the follow-up period in the Bis + statin group, but only at 18 months in the Bis group. Serum PICP recovered to base line in the Bis + statin group, whereas that in the Bis group did not observably recover during the post-administration follow-up, but rather decreased.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that both bone resorption and bone formation were inhibited by long-term administration of Bis alone, whereas combination therapy with Bis + statin may be associated with a less marked inhibition of bone metabolism. Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in RA patients and some patients are prescribed statins and bisphosphonate. Bis + statin may confer more benefit to the bone metabolism of these patients compared to Bis alone.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) rarely exhibits an aggressive clinical course and its patients often have chromosomal deletions or additions. Furthermore, reciprocal translocations are barely observed in CLL. There have only been a few reports of CLL with t(1;6), and here we report the first Asian case of CLL with reciprocal translocation t(1;6). Since our case and previously reported CLL patients with t(1;6) consistently showed aggressive clinical course, t(1;6) may define a distinct type of CLL.

Background

Allergy and gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) are main causes of chronic cough, and simple, easy and rapid screening is desired for diagnosis of these symptoms.

We used F-scale (Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD: FSSG) for GERD screening, developed by Japanese gastro-enterologist, did general allergy screenings, and investigated clinical outcome after treatment retrospectively.

Methods

GERD was screened by F-scale questionnaire, composed in twelve questions concerned with reflux symptoms, and scored 5 grades in each symptom. General allergy screening was defined as asking history of allergy, serum immnogloblin E (IgE) test (total, fourteen kinds of specific allergens) and measuring fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO),its positive range was greater than or equal to 20 ppb. Allergy positive was defined as at least one positive finding of allergy screening test. GERD was treated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and allergy was treated with inhaled corticosteroid or histamine H1 receptor blocker or leukotriene receptor antagonist.

Results

Fifty-four consecutive chronic cough patients were screened in GERD and general allergy screening. Thirty-seven patients (69%) were F-scale positive and 43 patients (80%) were positive in general allergy screening. Thirty patients (56%) were positive in both F-scale and general allergy screening. All patients were treated with allergy medicine or PPI, or both medicines. In all patients screened and treated with both GERD and allergy concurrently, cough improved within 2 weeks, and in patients whose positive finding was either GERD or allergy, cough improved by treatment with PPI or allergy drugs similarly. Delayed screening or treatment of either GERD or allergy was related to delayed improvement of cough. Cough finally improved in all patients in visit within 3 times.

Conclusions

In examination of chronic cough, adding GERD screening by use of F-scale to general allergy screening is beneficial to proper diagnosis, treatment and rapid improvement of symptom.

Purpose

To determine whether a mutation in the RP1-like protein 1 (RP1L1) gene is present in a Japanese patient with sporadic occult macular dystrophy (OMD) and to examine the characteristics of focal macular electroretinograms (ERGs) of the patient with genetically identified OMD.

Methods

An individual with OMD underwent detailed ophthalmic clinical evaluations including focal macular ERGs. Mutation screening of all coding regions and flanking intron sequences of the RP1L1 gene were performed with DNA sequencing analysis in this case with OMD.

Results

A new RP1L1 mutation (c.3596 C>G in exon 4) was identified. The variant c.3596 C>G in exon 4 resulted in the substitution of cysteine for serine at amino acid position 1199. The serine at position 1199 is well conserved among the RP1L1 family in other species. Four out of five computational assessment tools predicted that this mutation is damaging to the protein function. This mutation was not present in 294 control alleles. The waveform of focal macular ERGs recorded from the patient with OMD had a depolarizing pattern, simulating the ERG waveforms observed after the hyperpolarizing bipolar cell activity is blocked.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated in a Japanese patient the possibility that sporadic OMD may also be caused by an RP1L1 mutation. The waveform of focal macular ERGs elicited from the OMD patient with the RP1L1 mutation showed a depolarizing pattern. This characteristic is the same as reported for the focal macular ERGs of OMD.

Postoperative C5 palsy is a common complication after cervical spine decompression surgery. However, the incidence, prognosis, and etiology of C5 palsy after anterior decompression with spinal fusion (ASF) have not yet been fully established. In the present study, we analyzed the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients who developed C5 palsy after ASF for cervical degenerative diseases. The cases of 199 consecutive patients who underwent ASF were analyzed to clarify the incidence of postoperative C5 palsy. We also evaluated the onset and prognosis of C5 palsy. The presence of high signal changes (HSCs) in the spinal cord was analyzed using T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. C5 palsy occurred in 17 patients (8.5%), and in 15 of them, the palsy developed after ASF of 3 or more levels. Among ten patients who had a manual muscle test (MMT) grade ≤2 at the onset, five patients showed incomplete or no recovery. Sixteen of the 17 C5 palsy patients presented neck and shoulder pain prior to the onset of muscle weakness. In the ten patients with a MMT grade ≤2 at the onset, nine patients showed HSCs at the C3–C4 and C4–C5 levels. The present findings demonstrate that, in most patients with severe C5 palsy after ASF, pre-existing asymptomatic damage of the anterior horn cells at C3–C4 and C4–C5 levels may participate in the development of motor weakness in combination with the nerve root lesions that occur subsequent to ASF. Thus, when patients with spinal cord lesions at C3–C4 and C4–C5 levels undergo multilevel ASF, we should be alert to the possible occurrence of postoperative C5 palsy.

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common bone and joint disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent association studies have uncovered the genetic factors behind OA, its susceptibility genes, which would enable us to predict disease occurrence based on genotype information. However, most previous studies have evaluated the effects of only a single susceptibility gene, and hence prediction based on such information is not as reliable. Here, we constructed OA-prediction models based on genotype information from a case-control association study and tested their predictability.

Methods

We genotyped risk alleles of the three susceptibility genes, asporin (ASPN), growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5), and double von Willebrand factor A domains (DVWA) for a total of 2,158 Japanese subjects (933 OA and 1,225 controls) and statistically analyzed their effects. After that, we constructed prediction models by using the logistic regression analysis.

Results

When the effects of each allele were assumed to be the same and multiplicative, each additional risk allele increased the odds ratio (OR) by a factor of 1.23 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12 to 1.34). Individuals with five or six risk alleles showed significantly higher susceptibility when compared with those with zero or one, with an OR of 2.67 (95% CI, 1.46 to 4.87; P = 0.0020). Statistical evaluation of the prediction power of models showed that a model using only genotyping data had poor predictability. We obtained a model with good predictability by incorporating clinical data, which was further improved by rigorous age adjustment.

Conclusions

Our results showed that consideration of adjusted clinical information, as well as increases in the number of risk alleles to be integrated, is critical for OA prediction by using data from case-control studies. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the OA-prediction model combining both genetic and clinical information.

A subchronic feeding study of l-serine (l-Ser) was conducted with groups of 10 male and 10 female Fischer 344 rats fed a powder diet containing 0, 0.06, 0.5, 1.5 or 5.0% concentrations of l-Ser for 90 days. There were no toxicologically significant, treatment-related changes with regards to body weight, food intake, water intake or urinalysis data. In several of the hematology, serum biochemistry and organ weight parameters, significant changes were observed between some of the treated groups and the controls. All these changes, however, were subtle and lacked any corresponding pathological findings. In addition, the increased or decreased values remained within the range of the historical control values. In fact, histopathological assessment revealed only sporadic and/or spontaneous lesions. In conclusion, the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) for l-Ser was, therefore, determined to be at least a dietary dose of 5.0% (2765.0 mg/kg body weight/day for males and 2905.1 mg/kg body weight/day for females) under the present experimental conditions.

Purpose

To evaluate the possibility of genetic involvement in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Although ROP is most often associated with low birthweight and low gestational age, these factors do not necessarily predict the severity of ROP. The possible involvement of other factors, including genetic variants, has been considered. Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a hereditary vitreoretinal disorder with clinical manifestations similar to those of ROP. Three genes involving the wingless/int1 (Wnt) receptor signaling pathway—FZD4 for frizzled 4, LRP5 for low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5, and ND for Norrie disease protein—are associated with the development of FEVR.

Methods

In the present study, 17 Japanese patients with advanced ROP were screened for these three candidate genes of FEVR. Genomic DNA from each patient was subjected to PCR and direct sequencing of the ND, FZD4, and LRP5 genes.

Results

One patient had a heterozygous mutation in the 5′ untranslated region of the ND gene. Another had a leucine insertion in the signal peptide of LRP5. None showed any mutation in FZD4.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that genetic changes in the Wnt receptor signaling pathway associate to the development of advanced ROP.

The kinase domain (residues 1–331) of human tau-tubulin kinase 2 was expressed in insect cells, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data have been collected to 2.9 Å resolution.

Tau-tubulin kinase 2 (TTBK2) is a Ser/Thr kinase that putatively phosphorylates residues Ser208 and Ser210 (numbered according to a 441-residue human tau isoform) in tau protein. Functional analyses revealed that a recombinant kinase domain (residues 1–331) of human TTBK2 expressed in insect cells with a baculovirus overexpression system retains kinase activity for tau protein. The kinase domain of TTBK2 was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belong to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 55.6, b = 113.7, c = 117.3 Å, α = β = γ = 90.0°. Diffraction data were collected to 2.9 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation at BL24XU of SPring-8.

We isolated a temperature-sensitive mutant with a mutation in mviN, an essential gene in Escherichia coli. At the nonpermissive temperature, mviN mutant cells swelled and burst. An intermediate in murein synthesis, polyprenyl diphosphate-N-acetylmuramic acid-(pentapeptide)-N-acetyl-glucosamine, accumulated in mutant cells. These results indicated that MviN is involved in murein synthesis.

The hemodialysis procedure is thought to be a physical stressor in the majority of hemodialyzed patients. Previous studies suggest that elevated salivary amylase level may correlate with increased plasma norepinephrine level under psychological and physical stress conditions. In this study, we investigated biological stress reactivity during hemodialysis treatment using salivary amylase activity as a biomarker. Seven patients (male/female = 5/2, age: 67.7+/−5.9 years) who had been receiving regular 4 h hemodialysis were recruited. Salivary amylase activity was measured using a portable analyzer every hour during the hemodialysis session. Salivary amylase activity was shown to be relatively stable and constant throughout hemodialysis, whereas there were significant changes in systolic blood pressure and pulse rate associated with blood volume reduction. Our results show that hemodialysis treatment per se dose not affect salivary amylase activity.

The NanoChip400 system uses multiplex PCR chemistry and electronic microarray detection of influenza A and B viruses; respiratory syncytial viruses A and B; and human parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, and 3. The results obtained with the NanoChip 400 system were compared with those obtained by direct fluorescent-antibody staining (DFA) and real-time PCR with 122 and 130 specimens, respectively. Concordance between DFA and NanoChip 400 system was obtained for 106 of 122 (86.9%) specimens. On the basis of discrepancy analysis with specimens available for confirmatory real-time PCR testing, the sensitivity and specificity of the NanoChip 400 were 98.6% and 100%, respectively. With respect to specimens previously tested by real-time PCR, the NanoChip 400 system demonstrated a sensitivity of 91.1% and a specificity of 100%. The NanoChip 400 system provides clinical laboratories with a practical, rapid, and sensitive method for the detection of common respiratory viruses.

We describe the fourth reported case involving “Mycobacterium ulcerans subsp. shinshuense.” Compared to previous cases, the infection was more invasive with extensive ulceration from the elbow to the forearm. Definitive identification involved IS2404 detection, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and analysis of the 16S rRNA gene 3′-terminal region and the virulence plasmid pMUM001.

Background

Bronchioles are critical zones in cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation. However, there have been few studies on the in vivo dynamics of cytokine gene expression in bronchiolar epithelial cells in response to CS.

Methods

We subjected C57BL/6J mice to CS (whole body exposure, 90 min/day) for various periods, and used laser capture microdissection to isolate bronchiolar epithelial cells for analysis of mRNA by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results

We detected enhanced expression of keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by bronchial epithelial cells after 10 consecutive days of CS exposure. This was mirrored by increases in neutrophils and KC, MIP-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β proteins in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The initial inhalation of CS resulted in rapid and robust upregulation of KC and MIP-2 with concomitant DNA oxidation within 1 hr, followed by a return to control values within 3 hrs. In contrast, after CS exposure for 10 days, this initial surge was not observed. As the CS exposure was extended to 4, 12, 18 and 24 weeks, the bronchiolar KC and MIP-2 expression and their levels in BAL fluid were relatively dampened compared to those at 10 days. However, neutrophils in BAL fluid continuously increased up to 24 weeks, suggesting that neutrophil accumulation as a result of long-term CS exposure became independent of KC and MIP-2.

Conclusion

These findings indicate variable patterns of bronchiolar epithelial cytokine expression depending on the duration of CS exposure, and that complex mechanisms govern bronchiolar molecular dynamics in vivo.

In July 1993, a liquid suspension of Bacillus anthracis was aerosolized from the roof of an eight-story building in Kameido, Tokyo, Japan, by the religious group Aum Shinrikyo. During 1999 to 2001, microbiologic tests were conducted on a liquid environmental sample originally collected during the 1993 incident. Nonencapsulated isolates of B. anthracis were cultured from the liquid. Multiple-locus, variable-number tandem repeat analysis found all isolates to be identical to a strain used in Japan to vaccinate animals against anthrax, which was consistent with the Aum Shinrikyo members’ testimony about the strain source. In 1999, a retrospective case-detection survey was conducted to identify potential human anthrax cases associated with the incident, but none were found. The use of an attenuated B. anthracis strain, low spore concentrations, ineffective dispersal, a clogged spray device, and inactivation of the spores by sunlight are all likely contributing factors to the lack of human cases.

A 29-year-old woman with symptoms suggestive of trigeminal neuralgia is presented. Because of her age, an intracranial tumor was suspected, but images of a brain computerized tomography scan revealed nothing in particular. A magnetic resonance imaging was scheduled 2 weeks later. However, as the pain increased and occurred more frequently, the patient returned to the hospital 2 days later. After a stellate ganglion block with transient nausea and dizziness, the pain was noticeably relieved. Using magnetic resonance scanning, a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle was discovered, and at surgical resection was diagnosed as an epidermoid tumor. Stellate ganglion block may provide pain relief to some patients who are suspected to have symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia.

Images

In 1993, the Aum Shinrikyo cult aerosolized Bacillus anthracis spores over Kameido, Japan. Spore samples were obtained from the release site, cultured, and characterized by molecular genetic typing. The isolates were consistent with strain Sterne 34F2, which is used in Japan for animal prophylaxis against anthrax.

The in vitro activity of HSR-903, an oral quinolone, against 196 recent clinical isolates of respiratory pathogens was evaluated. HSR-903 was 2 to 32 times more active than ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and sparfloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains, and Streptococcus pneumoniae and was at least as active as the other quinolones against gram-negative pathogens.

It has long been held as scientific fact that soon after birth, cardiomyocytes cease dividing, thus explaining the limited restoration of cardiac function after a heart attack. Recent demonstrations of cardiac myocyte differentiation observed in vitro or after in vivo transplantation of adult stem cells from blood, fat, skeletal muscle, or heart have challenged this view. Analysis of these studies has been complicated by the large disparity in the magnitude of effects seen by different groups and obscured by the recently appreciated process of in vivo stem-cell fusion. We now show a novel population of nonsatellite cells in adult murine skeletal muscle that progress under standard primary cell-culture conditions to autonomously beating cardiomyocytes. Their differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes is characterized here by video microscopy, confocal-detected calcium transients, electron microscopy, immunofluorescent cardiac-specific markers, and single-cell patch recordings of cardiac action potentials. Within 2 d after tail-vein injection of these marked cells into a mouse model of acute infarction, the marked cells are visible in the heart. By 6 d they begin to differentiate without fusing to recipient cardiac cells. Three months later, the tagged cells are visible as striated heart muscle restricted to the region of the cardiac infarct.

A population of primitive cells from adult murine skeletal muscle can develop into beating cardiomyocytes in vitro and can contribute to the repair of damaged heart in vivo

Background

Past reports showed that the baroreflex continuously regulates hemodynamics during exercise. However, it is still clinically unclear. If baroreflex mechanism is able to influence actually exercise cardiovascular control, baroreflex sympathetic and/or parasympathetic function relates to response to exercise. Therefore, we examined the relationship of heat rate changes to both blood pressure increment and decrement with tolerance and chronotropic response to peak exercise in patients with heart disease.

Methods

In 25 male heart disease patients (60 ± 9 years) without decompensated heart failure, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS ms mmHg−1) was measured by reflex heart rate responses to changes in blood pressure after phenylephrine (P-BRS) and nitroglycerin (N-BRS) injection, respectively. Symptom-limited treadmill exercise test was performed according to Bruce's protocol.

Results

(i) The absolute values of blood pressure change after the administrations were similar between the agents because the dosages of nitroglycerin and phenylephrine were set to equalize absolute changes in blood pressure. (ii) In this study population, the ratio of N-BRS to P-BRS was not significantly correlated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus. (iii) Exercise capacity (METs) (r = −0·626) and heart rate response to exercise per METs (r = 0·670) was significantly related to N-BRS but not to P-BRS.

Conclusion

We found that the abnormality of baroreflex function in the presence of blood pressure decrements can lead to insufficient capacity and easy sympathetic activation during exercise.