Resequencing and association analysis of MIR137 with schizophrenia in a Japanese population

MicroRNA may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. A recent meta‐analysis of genome‐wide association studies indicated a significant association between schizophrenia and a common intronic variation in MIR137HG (microRNA 137 host gene) encoding the primary microRNA‐137. To explore additional risk variations for schizophrenia, we resequenced MIR137 and performed an association analysis in 1321 Japanese individuals. By resequencing, we detected four sequence variations in the 5' and 3' flanking regions. There were no significant associations between these variations and schizophrenia. Our resequencing and association analysis of MIR137 failed to find additional risk variations for schizophrenia.     

Facilitation of experimental tooth movement by NOC-18, a long-acting nitric oxide donor

PurposeIn orthodontic tooth movement, osteoclasts play a crucial role in bone resorption on the compression side of the alveolar bone. It has been reported that nitric oxide is involved in bone remodeling caused by mechanical loading, and we previously reported that NOC-18, a long-acting nitric oxide donor, augmented RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in mouse monocytic RAW264 cells as well as mouse bone marrow macrophages. In this study, we investigated whether NOC-18 facilitated experimental tooth movement in mice.Materials and methodsEight-week-old male ddY mice were used. Experimental tooth movement was induced by the insertion of an orthodontic elastic between the left maxillary first molar and second molar. Just after the insertion of the elastic, NOC-18 was intraperitoneally administered once, and mice were killed after 3 days. For the detection of osteoclasts, HE staining, TRAP staining, and immunostaining for cathepsin K were performed.ResultsAn intraperitoneal injection of NOC-18 significantly increased the distance of experimental tooth movement. Furthermore, the number and area of osteoclasts on the compression side of the alveolar bone surface was significantly higher in the NOC-18 group.ConclusionThese results suggested that systemic administration of NOC-18 might have some effect to facilitate experimental tooth movement in mice via the augmentation of osteoclast differentiation on the compression side of the alveolar bone.     

Endoscopic management with inside stent for proximal benign biliary stricture after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Endoscopic placement of a plastic stent is the standard drainage for a symptomatic benign biliary stricture. Although a removable fully covered self-expandable metal stent has been applied for distal benign biliary stricture, placement of a plastic stent remains the standard treatment for proximal benign biliary stricture. Placement of a plastic stent above the papilla (inside stent) is an alternative to the conventional method because of its preventive effect against the dysfunction of the stent in patients with proximal benign biliary stricture.     

Slowly progressive insulin-dependent diabetes in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis with portal hypertension-type progression

A 73-year-old woman had previously been diagnosed with CREST syndrome, PBC and diabetes. Hepatic fibrosis was not evident, in spite of the transudative ascites and active esophageal varices. ACA were positive, whereas AMA and anti-gp210 antibodies were negative. She showed low urinary excretion of C-peptide and was weakly positive for anti-GAD antibody. She was diagnosed with a form of PBC that progresses via portal hypertension rather than liver failure and with SPIDDM. Her HLA type did not contain risk allele for IDDM or PBC. SPIDDM should be considered when patients with PBC with portal hypertension-type progression develop diabetes.     

Association between ApoE phenotypes and telomere erosion in Alzheimer's disease

Although several reports suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with shortened telomere length, the clinical relevance of this has not yet been fully elucidated. This study was conducted to clarify the correlation of telomere length with clinical characteristics and ApoE phenotypes in 74 AD patients. Telomere length was determined from genomic DNA extracted from whole blood by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found no significant difference in telomere length between the AD and non-dementia elderly control (n = 35) groups. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found among telomere length and the severity of cognitive decline and disease duration, age, or gender difference. However, telomere length was significantly shorter in AD patients with the ApoE4 homozygote than in those with the ApoE4 heterozygote (p < .001) and noncarriers (p < .001). These findings suggest that shortened telomere length may be associated with the ApoE4 homozygote in AD patients.