A promoter variant of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene alters the HDL cholesterol level in the general Japanese population

To investigate the effects of polymorphisms in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene on the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), we performed association studies. Sequence analysis identified 14 polymorphisms in the promoter region of ABCA1. After considering linkage disequilibrium, three polymorphisms in the promoter region and 11 polymorphisms from the JSNP database were determined in 1,880 subjects recruited from the Suita Study, representing the general population in Japan. We evaluated the association between the ABCA1 genotype and HDL-C level adjusted not only for standard factors, but also for genetic factors including ApoA1 and ApoE genotypes. Of the 14 polymorphisms tested, the G(–273)C (P=0.0074), C(–297)T (P=0.0195), and IMS-JST071749 (P=0.0093) polymorphisms were significantly associated with the HDL-C level in the Suita population. We could reconfirm that the G(–273)C genotype was influential in another set of subjects (P=0.0310, n=743). However, the distribution of the ABCA1 G(–273)C genotype in subjects with MI (n=598) was not different from that in the control population (n=801). These results indicate that ABCA1 G(–273)C has a significant effect on the HDL-C level in the general Japanese population, but not on the incidence of MI.     

精神分裂症患者G72基因表达水平的研究

目的 本工作旨在检测精神分裂症（Schizophrenia）患者外周淋巴细胞中G72基因的表达情况，进而探讨G72基因的表达与精神分裂症的相关关系。 方法 工作在56例精神分裂症患者和84名年龄性别相匹配的对照中进行，在新鲜外周血样本中抽提总RNA，反转录成cDNA，基因表达量的检测在ABI Prism7900HT型序列监测系统上进行，采用TaqMan的方法对患者及对照组样本的mRNA进行定量，采集的荧光数据经SDS2.1软件自动处理，每个样本作三次平行检测，取平均值作为该样本的最终定量。数据应用SPSS统计软件进行处理，对组间基因表达水平的差异采用独立样本的T检验，调用本实验室G72基因单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）资料，用单因素方差分析的方法分析SNP与基因表达水平的关联性。结果 1.检测得到G72基因在对照组中的表达量为0.0586±0.0114amol/ng cDNA, 在精神分裂症患者组中的表达量为0.0498±0.0121amol/ng cDNA。2.经显著性检验， G72基因的表达水平在病例和对照组间差异无统计学意义，t=-0.512，df138，P=0.609，95%CI:-4.258~2.506。3.单因素方差分析结果显示，rs947267位置上的SNP与该基因的表达水平无相关，F=0.355，df2，χ2=0.703；而rs2181953位置上的SNP与G72基因表达水平相关联，F=6.275，df2，χ2=0.004。A/A基因型的患者基因表达水平显著高于其他基因型。结论：精神分裂症患者G72基因的表达量总体上较正常人并无显著变化，但rs2181953位置上的基因型会影响精神分裂症患者该基因的表达。     

Mechanics and Ca2+-sensitivity of human detrusor muscle bundles studied in vitro

Mechanical properties of isolated smooth muscle strips from human urinary bladder were investigated in vitro. Bladder tissue was obtained from tumour-free wall regions of bladders from male patients undergoing cystectomy for bladder carcinoma. In intact muscle strips, activated with high-K⁺ solution, half-maximal force occurred at about 0.9 mm extracellular [Ca²⁺]. The length-active force relation was determined and the muscle strips were fixed for light and electron microscopy at optimal length for active force (I_o). The maximal active force per unit smooth muscle cross-sectional area was 208±49 mN/mm², n= 6. Chemically skinned preparations were obtained by treatment with triton X-100. These preparations had a steep [Ca²⁺]-force relation in the micromolar range which was influenced by calmodulin. The skinned preparations could be maximally activated by irreversible thiophosphorylation of the regulatory light chains. The force-velocity relation was determined in the maximally activated skinned muscle at 22 °C at 0.5 1_o. When the muscle was shortened by 10%, force was reduced by 35% whereas the maximal shortening velocity was little affected.     

The postnatal development of thalamocortical projections from the pulvinar in the cat

Summary The postnatal development of thalamocortical projections from the pulvinar to an association cortex of the cat, the crown of the middle suprasylvian gyrus, was studied by using both HRP and evoked field potentials. From birth onward, the pulvinar sends dense fibres to this cortical area, but the cortical laminar distribution of the afferents was found to change markedly with aging. An orthograde HRP study showed that at birth and up to 2 weeks of age, the terminals are distributed mainly in layer I, whereas in adult cats and kittens older than 1 month, the terminals are found largely in and around layer IV and only sparsely in layer I. After HRP injections exclusively into layer I of the crown, numerous thalamic neurones were retrogradely labelled in both the ventroanterior-ventrolateral complex (VA-VL) and the pulvinar in 5-day-old kittens, but in the VAVL alone in 2-month-old kittens. In agreement with these anatomical findings, stimulation of the pulvinar elicited a surface-negative, depth-positive potential in 1-week-old kittens, indicating the existence of a large current sink in layer I; however, it induced a surface-positive, depth-negative potential in 1month-old kittens, reflecting the presence of a strong current sink in the deep cortical layers.     

Investigation of the dopamine D5 receptor gene (DRD5) in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Several lines of evidence from neuroimaging, pharmacology and genetics support the involvement of the dopaminergic system in the etiology of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Previous candidate gene studies have investigated the association between a dinucleotide (CA)_n repeat polymorphism, located 18.5 kb from the start codon of the DRD5 gene, and ADHD. Association between the 148 bp allele and ADHD has been reported in some studies, however replication of the finding has not been consistent. We tested for an association between the (CA)_n repeat and adult ADHD in a sample comprised of 119 families with adult ADHD probands and 88 unrelated adult ADHD cases with a corresponding number of controls matched for age, ethnicity and sex. In the family sample we found a non-significant trend for association between the 148 bp allele and ADHD (Z = 1.91, p = 0.055). An excess of non-transmissions was detected for the 150 and 152 bp alleles (Z = −2.26, p = 0.023; Z = −2.20, p = 0.028). Quantitative analysis performed using the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) showed association between the 150 bp allele and lower total score (p = 0.011), and lower effort (p = 0.008), activation (p = 0.008) and attention (p = 0.01) cluster scores. We did not replicate association findings in the case–control group, likely due to the lack of statistical power of this sample. Our findings add to the literature suggesting DRD5 (CA)_n repeat has a modest effect in modulating susceptibility to adult ADHD but further studies are required.     

人体肠道生物力学特性的研究

为探讨人体肠道的生物力学特性，采用电子拉伸机对人体肠道进行一维拉伸试验。结果表明，人体肠道应力-应变关系为指数函数关系。人体肠道各段的指数系数a值接近，但材料常数C有一定的差异，说明肠道各段应力-应变趋势是一致的。在一定应力下，肠道各段轴向与环向的相对伸长率是不同的，表明人体肠道具有各向异性的特性。在一定应变下，肠道各段的增量弹性模量不同，结肠增量弹性模量相对较小，因而更容易发生变形。本研究为肠道内窥镜机器人的研制提供了理论基础。     

Osteotomy around the knee: Assessment of quality,content and readability of online information

BackgroundAs knee osteotomy surgery becomes increasingly accessible, more patients may turn to the Internet for information. This study examined the source, quality, content and readability of online information regarding osteotomy around the knee.MethodsThe first 70 websites returned by the top four search engines were identified using the key words: “knee osteotomy” and “high tibial osteotomy.” The websites were categorised by type and assessed using the DISCERN score, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria and a novel Knee Osteotomy-Specific Score (KOSS). The presence of the Health On the Net (HON) code accreditation seal was noted. Readability of each website was assessed using eight readability formulae. The mean reading grade level (RGL) was compared to the 6th and 8th grade reading levels. The mean RGL of each category was also compared.ResultsOf the 45 unique websites analysed, the majority were Physician (33%) and Journal websites (31%). The mean DISCERN score was 36.7 (±8.9) which is classified as ‘poor.’ The mean JAMA benchmark criteria score was 2.04 (±1.5) and Physician websites were most likely to be scored zero. The mean KOSS was 15.4 (±5.7). The highest scoring website was a Commercial site but, overall, Journal category sites provided the best quality information. Websites that bore the HONcode seal obtained higher DISCERN, JAMA benchmark criteria and Knee Osteotomy - Specific Scores.The cumulative mean RGL was 13.2 (±2.2) which exceeded the 6th grade level by an average of 7.2 grade levels and the 8th grade level by an average of 5.2 grade levels. No website (0%) was written at or below either the 6th or the 8th grade reading levels. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score of all websites was 41.13 (±14.7) which is classified as ‘difficult.’ Journal websites had the highest RGL.ConclusionThe information available online regarding osteotomy around the knee varies tremendously in quality and completeness. Physician sites predominate, but these were among the lowest scoring of all websites. Even where high quality information is available, it is set at too high a level to be easily understood.Level of evidenceSurvey of materials – Internet.     

Association of natural tooth loss with genetic variation at the human matrix Gla protein locus in elderly women

Natural tooth loss represents a major medical issue within the elderly population, since it impairs masticatory function critical for oral intake of essential nutrition. Contribution of genetic factors has been implicated in the determination of natural tooth loss; degree of reduction in number of natural teeth remaining intact (NTI) varies among individuals; thus, heterogeneity in NTI might reflect genetic variation within the population. One candidate gene, the matrix Gla protein gene (MGP), has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bone loss through a repression of bone/tooth formation. We have investigated a possible association between the CA repeat polymorphism at the human MGP gene locus and the NTI in 458 elderly Japanese women. In 916 chromosomes tested, ten alleles of the polymorphic nucleotide repeat were observed (designated A1–A10), among which five alleles were regarded as major alleles to be tested for the association. Twenty-seven women who possessed an A6 allele (164 bp) had significantly higher NTI than the remaining participants (n=431), who did not carry an allele of that size (mean: 10.0 teeth vs 5.6 teeth; P=0.007, Mann-Whitney test). An eight-year longitudinal follow-up study of NTI suggested that the genetic variations at the MGP locus did not affect the rate of tooth loss in the elderly period. These results suggest that genetic variation at the MGP gene locus is associated with some determinants for tooth loss in elderly women.     

Correlation of MRT imaging with real-time axiography of TMJ clicks

There is a series of tools useful for gathering diagnostic information on patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Tracings of the joint movement (axiography) provide useful information about the motion of the joints. Since the availability of electronic axiographic tracers, the movement of the condyles can be resolved with high resolution both in space and in time. In order to obtain information about the anatomical relation of the joint surfaces and the disc, magnetic resonance tomography imaging (MRI) is routinely carried out. It is common practice to take MR images of the joints with the mouth closed and fully open. In order to correlate the MR images with the axiographic tracings, a series of images can provide much more information. In this study we examined patients with distinct temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicks. In one case, the click occurs once a day, while in the other case the click happens every time the mouth is opened. In order to obtain information about both motion and anatomical relation of the TMJ at and around the position where the clicks occur, we recorded a series of MRI scans with the mouth gradually opened and before and after joint clicks. Real-time axiographic tracings during the click were taken with an optimized system where the polar moments were reduced as much as possible to follow the movement during the click. These tracings were correlated with the MRI scans to determine the exact internal conditions of the TMJ and the changes during the click. In particular cases, the additional information provided by this procedure can be useful in deciding whether and which therapeutic intervention is advisable.     

生物软组织力学特性的研究进展

本文对生物软组织力学本构关系的研究进展进行了综述,内容涉及肌肉、韧带、肌腱、皮肤、粘膜、血管、腔体器官(如眼球)等领域.