In situ hybridisation study of type I, II, X collagens and aggrecan mRNAs in the developing condylar cartilage of fetal mouse mandible

The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental characteristics of the mandibular condyle in sequential phases at the gene level using in situ hybridisation. At d 14.5 of gestation, although no expression of type II collagen mRNA was observed, aggrecan mRNA was detected with type I collagen mRNA in the posterior region of the mesenchymal cell aggregation continuous with the ossifying mandibular bone anlage prior to chondrogenesis. At d 15.0 of gestation, the first cartilaginous tissue appeared at the posterior edge of the ossifying mandibular bone anlage. The primarily formed chondrocytes in the cartilage matrix had already shown the appearance of hypertrophy and expressed types I, II and X collagens and aggrecan mRNAs simultaneously. At d 16.0 of gestation, the condylar cartilage increased in size due to accumulation of hypertrophic chondrocytes characterised by the expression of type X collagen mRNA, whereas the expression of type I collagen mRNA had been reduced in the hypertrophic chondrocytes and was confined to the periosteal osteogenic cells surrounding the cartilaginous tissue. At d 18.0 of gestation before birth, cartilage-characteristic gene expression had been reduced in the chondrocytes of the lower half of the hypertrophic cell layer. The present findings demonstrate that the initial chondrogenesis for the mandibular condyle starts continuous with the posterior edge of the mandibular periosteum and that chondroprogenitor cells for the condylar cartilage rapidly differentiate into hypertrophic chondrocytes. Further, it is indicated that sequential rapid changes and reductions of each mRNA might be closely related to the construction of the temporal mandibular ramus in the fetal stage.     

Transient elevation of nerve growth factor content in the rat hippocampus and frontal cortex by chronic ethanol treatment

Abstract The nerve growth factor (NGF) content in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of chronic ethanol-treated rats was measured and compared with that of control rats, using a two-site enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system. The different time periods of chronic ethanol treatment caused transient elevation of the NGF content in both the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The NGF content in the hippocampus was significantly elevated in rats undergoing ethanol treatment of 2 weeks and 1 month. Nerve growth factor content of the 1 month treatment was higher than that of the 2 week treatment. However, a 3 month administration of ethanol reduced the NGF content to the control level. The NGF content in the frontal cortex increased significantly in the 2 week administration, but decreased to the control level in the 1 month administration. The increase of NGF may be caused by the proliferation of glial cells or the enhancement of neuronal production of NGF.     

Prevalence of use of medically prescribed hypnotics among adult Japanese women in urban residential areas

Abstract Based on a population survey on insomnia among 3600 adult Japanese women living in urban areas, the prevalence of use of medically prescribed hypnotics is determined. The prevalence of use of medically prescribed hypnotics increases with an increase in age (<1.0% for those aged 49 or younger, while 14.3% for those aged 70 or older), in agreement with the results reported in many Western nations. The current sleep disturbance is mild in nearly half of these hypnotics users. More than one-third of the hypnotic users are receiving health care not for sleep problems but for depression, anxiety, or other reasons. More than one-third of the hypnotic users are found to be receiving hypnotics from non-psychiatrists. The percentage of this group is particularly high among those aged 60 or over, probably reflecting the fact that they are often consulting physicians for physical reasons. On the other hand, more than 80% of insomniacs are suggested to be untreated. Future public health research should focus on the quality of life and health care behaviors of untreated insomniacs and hypnotic users, especially among the elderly people, in order to assess the need for primary health care to prevent accidents, mortality, and psychiatric disorders related to sleep problems.     

Use of a Dual Chamber Pacemaker with a Novel Fallback Algorithm as an Effective Treatment for Sick Sinus Syndrome Associated with Transient Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia

A dual chamber pacemaker having a fallback (FB) mode was utilized in nine patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) associated with transient supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (atrial fibrillation [Af] in three patients, atrial flutter [AF] in two, and paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia [PAT] in four). Various degrees of abnormality of atrioventricular (AV) conduction were observed at the time of pacemaker implantation in five patients. In this pacemaker, a DDD mode was active during sinus rhythm, but the mode changed, through a given cycle of high rale tracking at an upper rate limit (VRL), to VDI only during intrinsic atrial rate increases that were either normally or abnormally above the URL. The VDI mode automatically returned to DDD when the atrial rate fell below the URL. At follow-up periods of 7–12 months, this pacemaker appeared to be especially effective in those SSS patients with transient Af or AF. In the SSS patients with PAT, however, the FB mode was not active because the PAT rhythm was conducted to the ventricle without block (1:1 conduction) and thus the given cycles of ventricular tracking at the URL did not occur. From the repetitive FB starting tests that were performed during an Af period in one patient with transient Af, a 2:1 point setting of a given URL plus 30–50 ppm was required to quickly start the FB algorithm. Moreover, an atrial sensitivity setting that was less than half of the P wave amplitude was desirable. These results suggest that, when properly set, the DDD plus FB mode is useful in a SSS patient with transient supraventricular tachyarrhythmia when a significant degree of AV block is present.     

Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Stress and Coping Inventory

Abstract We examined the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the Stress and Coping Inventory (SCI) among 170 Japanese college students and 234 healthy subjects. The validity and reliability of this version of the SCI in the college student group were supported by significant test-retest correlations, relatively high internal consistency coefficients, and adequate correlations with the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). AS for the healthy subject group, the reliability was supported by relatively high internal consistency coefficients, although further analyses, such as test-retest, are required. The Japanese version of the SCI appears to be suitable for use among college students.     

Hyperbaric oxygen stimulates cell proliferation and normalizes multidrug resistance protein-2 protein localization in primary rat hepatocytes

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has been used for many clinical treatments, including primary liver non-function. However, the cellular mechanism by which HBO treatment ameliorates liver function is not understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate this cellular mechanism using primary cultured rat hepatocytes in in vitro studies. Hepatocytes were treated with HBO at 1 day after plating, and the morphological and functional characteristics of bile canaliculi formed in cultured hepatocytes were observed by time-lapse microscopy. Multidrug resistance protein-2 localization was observed by confocal laser microscopy. In cultured hepatocytes, the labeling index in the HBO group at 2 days after treatment was significantly higher than that in the control group. In addition, the proliferating cellular nuclear antigen level in the HBO group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The contraction of the bile canaliculi in the HBO group was slower than in the control group and the dilatation of bile canaliculi in the HBO group was much larger than in the control group. Multidrug resistance protein-2 in the HBO group was localized at the apical membrane. These results show that HBO stimulates hepatocytes to proliferate and HBO normalizes multidrug resistance protein-2 localization to the apical membrane, which could dilate bile canaliculi.     

SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS: A CASE-CONTROL EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY IN JAPAN

Background. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is designated by the Japanese government as one of the intractable diseases and all patients, who suffer from these diseases, are registered to get financial aid for treatment. Using newly registered SLE patients, a case-control study was conducted to evaluate potential risk factors. Methods. Two-hundred and eighty-two women SLE patients, newly registered to receive financial aid for treatment, and 292 randomly selected health examination participants at public health centers (controls) were surveyed from April 1988 through March 1990. By means of a self-administered questionnaire, data concerning demographic variables, smoking and drinking habits, past medical and reproductive history, and family history were collected. Results. Based on unconditional logistic regression analysis, the risk of SLE was significantly increased for current smokers (age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.34–3.97). Alcohol and milk intake were inversely associated with risk. Family histories of asthma and collagen diseases, including SLE, were associated with significantly elevated risk of SLE (OR = 2.07, 95% ci 1.14–3.77; OR = 5.20, 95% CI 1.08–24.95, respectively). Regarding reproductive function, women with menarche at age 15 or later had significantly higher risk than those, who started menstruating before age 12 (OR = 3.82, 95% CI 1.66–8.81 for menarche at > 15 years and OR = 2.90, 95% a 1.14–7.39 for menarche at 16y). Conclusions. Our study suggests several risk factors, including smoking, family history, and reproductive history that may increase the risk of SLE.     

Primary pulmonary choriocarcinoma in a four month old boy complicated with precocious puberty

A four month old boy with pulmonary choriocarcinoma, showing iso-sexual precocious puberty is reported. His serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was highly elevated. A round isolated tumor in the right lung, found by chest X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging and gallium scintigraphy, was removed surgically a month and a half after clinical manifestations were noticed. It was determined to be choriocarcinoma on the basis of histological findings and positive HCG on histochemical examination. Skull irradiation and chemotherapy (cisplatinum, vinblastin and bleomycin) had only a transient effect on reducing tumor size and normalizing the serum level of HCG. This case suggests that a more effective treatment regimen needs to be established.     

Successful treatment with topical mesalazine for a patient with intractable crohn’s colitis

A 32‐year‐old woman was admitted to our hospital for intractable Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s colitis was diagnosed at another hospital in August 1999. She had been successfully treated with oral mesalazine and an elemental diet. In March 2000, she had been admitted to the previous hospital for her third flare up of symptoms. She responded to oral mesalazine administration and total parenteral nutrition, but bowel symptoms were exacerbated and C‐reactive protein level was elevated after a polymeric diet was started. Prednisolone 30 mg/day was started in addition to total parenteral nutrition, but hematochezia and elevated serum C‐reactive protein level persisted, and she was referred to our hospital. She had about four bowel movements per day with fresh bleeding at the time of admission. Total parenteral nutrition and oral mesalazine were continued. The dose of oral prednisolone was increased from 15 mg/day to 40 mg/day. However, the frequency of bowel movements did not decrease and C‐reactive protein level continued to exceed 1.5 mg/day. Mesalazine enemas were begun on 23 January 2001, and were effective in improving hematochezia and serum C‐reactive protein. Both radiologic and endoscopic examinations revealed remarkable improvement.