Characterization of DNA sequences constituting the terminal heterochromatin of the chicken Z chromosome

Two clones, pCZTH5-8 and pCZTH12-8, were isolated from a female chicken genomic library by screening with sequences obtained from genomic libraries which had been constructed from a terminal region of a single Z chromosome of chicken utilizing laser microbeam irradiation and PCR amplification. Fluorescencein situ hybridization to the mitotic Z chromosome and the lampbrush ZW bivalent of chicken demonstrated that both the cloned sequences are located in the heterochromatic region of the Z chromosome at the end opposite to the pairing region with the W chromosome. The sequences pCZTH5-8 and pCZTH12-8 are distributed widely on both the telomeric bow-like loops (TBL) and the region I (short loops region) of the Z lampbrush chromosome. These clones, pCZTH12-8 particularly notably, hybridized also to the TBLs of lampbrush bivalents 1–4 of chicken. Both sequence are transcribed in the lampbrush stage oocytes on the Z chromosome and on other macrobivalents. The subfragment of pCZTH5-8 which hybridizes to the TBLs and the insert of pCZTH12-8 contain regions that are closely similar in sequence. The pCZTH5-8 sequence has no internal repeats and may be part of the 24-kb macrosatellite repeating unit that is evident afterNhel digestion of the genomic DNA. A cloned 24-kb unit, pFN-1, does not show significant DNA curvature, but cytosines of its CpG dinucleotides may be highly methylatedin vivo. This contrasts with the repeat sequences of the W heterochromatin which not only have highly methylated CpG but are also strongly curved. The 24-kb unit is repeated about 830 times in the diploid genome of a female chicken, suggesting that nearly the entire terminal heterochromatin on the Z chromosome consists of this macrosatellite family. Sequences of the greater part of the pCZTH5-8 are restricted to the genusGallus but the sequence of one subregion which hybridizes to TBLs is present in the genomes of the order Galliformes.accepted for publication by M. Schmid     

Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variant in Travelers from Brazil to Japan

Multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with higher transmission potential have been emerging globally, including SARS-CoV-2 variants from the United Kingdom and South Africa. We report 4 travelers from Brazil to Japan in January 2021 infected with a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant with an additional set of mutations.     

组织多普勒成像的应用测量

1 介绍 当前心脏检查中急需解决的问题是无创地用超声心动图客观地、定量地评价心功能。在常规的彩色多普勒成像(CDI)技术基础上发展起来的组织多普勒成像(TDI)技术,让这些成为可能。组织多普勒成像是通过测量心室壁的运动速度来定量评价心功能。它最初是被用来评价缺血性心脏病(心肌梗塞,心绞痛等)的,其主要目的是客观、精确地识别引起心功能减     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessment of Abductor Muscles Shortly After Curved Periacetabular Osteotomy

BackgroundCurved periacetabular osteotomy (CPO) is performed via an anterior approach without detachment of the hip abductor muscles. This study aimed to evaluate the abductor muscle status shortly after CPO on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsWe prospectively evaluated 38 hips in 38 patients 1 week and 3 months after CPO between October 2017 and July 2019. The status of the abductor muscles was assessed on MRI using the following criteria: grade 0, normal; grade I, strain/edema; grade II, partial tear; and grade III, complete tear. We also evaluated associations between muscle status and patients’ characteristics.ResultsOne week after CPO, the gluteus maximus was classified as grade 0 in all patients. The gluteus medius was grade 0 in 84.2% of patients and grade I in 15.8%. The gluteus minimus was grade I in 55.3% of patients and grade II in 44.7%. Three months after CPO, both the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius were grade 0 in all patients, while the gluteus minimus was still grade I in 47.4%. There were no significant differences between patients with a grade 0 and grade I gluteus minimus at 3 months after CPO in patients’ characteristics (age and body mass index) or clinical scores (Harris Hip Score and Japanese Orthopedics Association score).ConclusionBoth the gluteus minimus and medius showed abnormal appearances on MRI 1 week after CPO, whereas only the gluteus minimus showed abnormalities 3 months after CPO. This abductor muscle status did not affect the postoperative Harris Hip Score or Japanese Orthopedics Association score.     

A combination therapy with mitomycin c, etoposide, doxifluridine and medroxyprogesterone acetate as second line therapy for advanced breast cancer refractory to combination chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and 5 fluorouracil

Thirty-two patients with advanced breast cancer refractory to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (CPA), doxorubicin (ADR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (CAF) were treated with the combination of mitomycin C, etoposide, doxifluridine and medroxyprogesterone acetate as second line therapy. Observed responses included 6 patients (18.7%) with complete response (CR) and 7 (21.9%) with partial response (PR). Two (50%) out of 4 patients who had bone pain due to bone metastasis noted pain relief. CR or PR were obtained in 4 out of 12 patients who had not responded to the previous CAF therapy. While grade III myelosuppression was observed in 3 patients, other adverse effects were minimal. It is suggested that this combination therapy may be recommended for advanced breast cancer patients as a second therapy.     

Immunohistochemical detection of P-glycoprotein in breast cancer and its significance as a prognostic factor

Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in tumors is one of the major mechanisms which mediates the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. To evaluate the prognostic significance of Pgp in breast cancer, Pgp expression was examined in paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 94 breast cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry. Tissue specimens were obtained by mastectomy without preoperative chemotherapy. UIC2 monoclonal antibody which recognizes an extracellular epitope of human Pgp was employed. Of the 94 breast cancer specimens, 35 (37.2%) were positive for Pgp expression. Pgp expression had no correlation with menopausal or hormone receptor status, axillary lymph node involvement or tumor size. However, a significant correlation was observed between Pgp expression and disease relapse (p = 0.0322). Pgp-positive patients showed a significantly shorter disease-free survival period than Pgp-negative patients by the Kaplan-Meier method (p = 0.0433). These results suggest that immunohistochemical detection of Pgp in breast cancer tissue may have prognostic value after radical operation.     

Finger bougie method compared with pyloroplasty in the gastric replacement of the esophagus

To elucidate the necessity of pyloroplasty for the gastric tube through the posterior mediastinum in esophageal surgery, gastric emptying and duodenogastric reflux (DGR) were evaluated in 16 cases undergoing an anterior pylorectomy (group P) and in 16 cases treated by the finger bougie method (group F). First, the obstruction and reflux symptoms were examined based on a patient questionnaire using a brief scoring system. The median value of the symptom score showed the patients in P to have more symptoms than those in F; however, the difference was not significant (8.0 vs 6.0). Secondly, the swallowed Tc O₄ ⁻ (85 MBq) was counted using a gamma camera at three sites on the sternal bone in the upright position based on a gastric transit scintigram. Both the descending time of the RI peak and the clearance rates were similar between the two groups. Thirdly, intragastric 24-h pH monitoring was carried out. Antimony pH sensors were anchored 5 and 15 cm below the esophagogastrostomy. We could not find any difference between the two groups in both the % time pH>4 and %time pH>7. These findings thus revealed no big difference between groups P and F. The finger bougie method to drain the vagotomized posterior mediastinal stomach was found to achieve results similar to conventional pyloroplasty, while it was also simpler and safer.     

Changes in optic nerve head blood flow and retrobular hemodynamics following calcium-channel blocker treatment of normal-tension glaucoma

Background: Because calcium channel blockers reduce vascularresistance, they may have a clinical application in the treatment ofnormal-tension glaucoma (NTG). This study investigates changes inboth the optic disc blood flow and the hemodynamics of retrobulbarvessels in NTG patients after the systemic administration of a calcium channel blocker. Methods: Twelve eyes of 12 NTG patients (meanage 57 6 ± 15.3 years) were examined before and after a 4-weektreatment with 2 mg b.i.d. oral nilvadipine, an L-typc calcium channel blocker. By scanning laser-Doppler flowmetry (SLDF), we obtained the velocity, flow, and volume from within a 10 × 10 pixel windowplaced on the temporal rim region of the optic disc perfusion map. Byultrasound color Doppler imaging (CDI), we measured the peak systolicvelocity (PSV) and the end diastolic velocity (EDV) of the ophthalmicartery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), nasal posterior ciliary artery (NPCA), and temporal posterior ciliary artery (TPCA). We then calculated a resistance index (RI) for each vessel. Results: After treatment, the flow and velocity of the optic disc blood flow significantly increased (P < 0.05).Nilvadipine also significantly reduced RIs of the CRA, NPCA, and TPCA(P <0 .05), and increased both the PSV of the NPCA and the EDVs of the CRA, NPCA, and TPCA. The percent change in velocity correlated significantly with the percent changes of the CRA RI and NPCA RI. Conclusions: Oral nilvadipine appears to reduce orbital vascular resistance, which consequentlyincreases the optic disc blood flow. Abbreviations.BP – blood pressure;CRA – central retinal artery;CDI – ultrasound color Doppler imaging;EDV – end diastolic velocity;NPCA – short posterior ciliary arteries located nasal to optic nerve;NTG – normal-tension glaucoma;OA – ophthalmic artery;PP – perfusion pressure;PSV – peak systolic velocity;RI – resistance index;SLDF scanning laser-Doppler flowmetry;TPCA – short posterior ciliary arteries locatedtemporal to optic nerve.     

Syntheses of hydroxyamino, nitroso and nitro derivatives of Trp-P-2 and Glu-P-1, amino acid pyrolysate mutagens, and their direct mutagenicities towards Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA98NR

Hydroxyamino, nitroso and nitro derivatives of 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole(Trp-P-2) and 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole(Glu-P-1), mutagens-carcinogens produced on pyrolysis of aminoacids, were synthesized from Trp-P-2 and Glu-P-1. 3-Hydroxyamino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole(N-OH-Trp-P-2) and 2-hydroxyamino-6-methyldipyrido[l,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (N-OH-Glu-P-1) were obtained with good yieldsby controlled catalytic reduction of 3-nitro-l-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoleand 2-nitro-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole. Subsequentoxidation of N-OH-Trp-P-2 and N-OH-Glu-P-1 with -manganese dioxideyielded 3-nitroso-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole and 2-nitroso-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole.All six synthesized compounds were mutagenic to Salmonella typhimuriumTA98 without mammalian activation systems. The mutagenic activitiesof hydroxyamino and nitroso derivatives were identical for bothS. typhimurium TA98 and TA98NR, the nitroreductase deficientstrain. However, nitro derivatives were essentially mutageniconly towards S. typhimurium TA98.