The possible novel treatment of achondroplasia, C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP)

C-type natiruetic peptide (CNP) showed a potent effect on the elongation of the tibial organ culture system. CNP also corrected the dwarfing phenotype of the CNP knockout mice. These results suggest that CNP is the novel promoter of the endochondral ossification, and that CNP/GC-B activation is possible target of the treatment of the achondroplasia.     

Age-related change in the amount of ubiquitinated histones in the mouse brain

We investigated age-related changes in the ubiquitination of histones in mouse brains. By Western blot analysis using rabbit anti-ubiquitin antibodies, histone H2A and H2B were found to be the only proteins that are ubiquitinated in the acid-extractable nuclear proteins of both young (4-month-old) and senescent (29-month-old) mouse brains. The proportion of ubiquitinated histones was about 30% higher in senescent mice than in young ones. When total brain homogenates were analyzed similarly using somewhat different age groups of the animals, the proportion in the old animals was about 2-fold higher than that in the young.     

Acute myocardial infarction caused by "malignant" anomalous right coronary artery detected by multidetector row computed tomography.

Anomalous coronary arteries are usually identified incidentally by angiography or autopsy, but some "malignant" coronary anomalies are associated with a high incidence of syncope, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. So far, the pathogenesis of the coronary events in such cases has only been revealed by autopsy. In the present case report, a patient with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva developed acute myocardial infarction, and visualization of the anomaly and assessment of the culprit plaque in the artery were done by multidetector row computed tomography and intravascular ultrasound.     

Inhibition of endotoxin- and antigen-induced airway inflammation by fudosteine, a mucoactive agent

We evaluated the effect of a mucoactive agent (-)-(R)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxypropylthio) propionic acid (fudosteine), on airway inflammation using endotoxin- and antigen-induced models. Time courses of growth related oncogene/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1 (GRO/CINC-1) production, neutrophil migration and goblet cell hyperplasia were examined in endotoxin-induced rat airway inflammation. GRO/CINC-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased in response to intratracheal instillation of endotoxin and peaked within 4 h. Neutrophils in BALF and goblet cells on trachea peaked 24 and 96 h after endotoxin instillation, respectively. Fudosteine significantly inhibited increases in GRO/CINC-1 at 10-100 mg/kg, and neutrophils and goblet cells at 30 and 100 mg/kg. These results suggest that inflammatory events including neutrophil chemoattractant production and neutrophil migration play important roles for goblet cell hyperplasia in endotoxin-induced airway inflammation, and fudosteine inhibits goblet cell hyperplasia by inhibiting GRO/CINC-1 production and/or neutrophil migration. Furthermore, fudosteine (100 mg/kg) inhibited ovalbumin-induced eosinophil infiltration into BALF, suggesting it attenuates asthmatic inflammation.     

Construction of an infectious cDNA clone of radish mosaic virus, a crucifer-infecting comovirus

Radish mosaic virus (RaMV) is a crucifer-infecting comovirus that has been detected worldwide. Here, we report the successful construction of a full-length infectious cDNA clone of RaMV. The full-length cDNA clones corresponding to RNA1 and RNA2 of a Japanese isolate of RaMV were cloned into the pBlueScript plasmid or the binary vector pCAMBIA1301 downstream of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Mechanical inoculation or agroinoculation of Nicotiana benthamiana with these vectors resulted in systemic RaMV infections causing symptoms similar to those caused by the wild-type parental virus. The presence of progeny virus was verified by western blot analysis and electron microscopy.     

Effect of impression holding time and tray removal speed on the dimensional accuracy of impressions for artificial abutment tooth inclined

Odontology - Oral scanners allow dental impressions to be taken in a short time without the use of an impression material. However, it has been noted that high impression accuracy cannot be...