Survey of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier functions in Japanese and Chinese school students]

BACKGROUND: The comparative studies of the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier functions in Japanese and Chinese were performed. METHODS: Clinical investigations were performed in 68 elementary school students in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region and 67 students in Yixing, Jiangsu Province in China, and 99 students in Nishinomiya, Hyogo in Japan. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and capacitance were measured. Questionary survey about bathing frequency was also performed for students in Lhasa, Yixing and Osaka. RESULT: The prevalence rate of atopic dermatitis was 0% in Lhasa, 2.63% in Yixing, 4.26% in Nishinomiya. TEWL of students in Nishinomiya was higher than that in Yixing and Lhasa. Capacitance of students in Lhasa was lower than that in Nishinomiya and Yixing. The frequency of taking a bath in Lhasa was about 2.2 times per month and fewer than that in Nishinomiya and Yixing. CONCLUSION: There was tendency that the prevalence of atopic dermatitis increased according to increase of TEWL. It was thought that more investigations are necessary whether the development of habitat and environment influence the prevalence of atopic dermatitis and skin barrier function.     

Mechanomyography of the human quadriceps muscle during incremental cycle ergometry

The mechanical activity of the human quadriceps muscle during maximal incremental cycle ergometry was investigated by mechanomyography (MMG). MMG and surface electromyography (EMG) recordings of vastus lateralis muscle activity were obtained from nine males. Cycle ergometry was performed at 60?rev/min and work load was incremented step wise by 20?W (3.2?Nm) every minute until volitional fatigue. The mean amplitudes of MMG (mMMG) and EMG (mEMG) during the contraction phase were calculated from the last six contractions in each load. The duration, load and work rate of exercise at exhaustion were 13.3 (1.6)?min, 44.1 (5.5)?Nm, 276.7 (34.7)?W, respectively. A linear relationship between mMMG and load was evident in each subject (r?=?0.868–0.995), while mEMG seemed to dissociate as the load became greater. In the grouped mean data, mMMG was linearly related to load whether aligned to the absolute (r?=?0.995) or maximal (r?=?0.995) load. Involvement of the noise component was further investigated by studying passive cycling by four subjects. Pedals were rotated passively for the first half of each stage (PAS) and the subject then pushed the pedals for the second half (ACT). In the lighter load region, the mMMG of ACT was as small as that of PAS. However, the change in the mMMG of PAS was very small compared with that of ACT. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a linear relationship between the mMMG of the quadriceps muscle and work load during maximal incremental cycle ergometry. The effect of movement noise was thought to be small and stable.     

B cell development is perturbed in bone marrow from c-fos/v-jun doubly transgenic mice

c-fos and c-jun gene products form a heterodimeric complex (AP-1)that regulates target gene expression by binding to a specificDNA sequence motif. In order to study a role of AP-1 (Fos/Jun)in growth and differentiation of immature B lineage cells, wehave established and mated two independent transgenic mice carryingthe mouse c-fos gene or the viral v-Jun gene fused to the H-2Kpromoter. IL-7 dependent bone marrow cell culture from doublytransgenic (H2-fos/jun) mice demonstrated severe delay of earlyB cell development. Proliferation of pre-B cells in the freshbone marrow from HZ-fos/jun mice to IL-7 stimulation was verylow. These results suggest that the deregulated production ofAP-1 perturbs IL-7 mediated proliferation and differentiationof immature B cells.     

Arpp,a new homolog of carp,is preferentially expressed in type 1 skeletal muscle fibers and is markedly induced by denervation

In this study, we isolated and characterized a murine counterpart of the human Arpp (hArpp) gene. Sequence analysis revealed that the murine Arpp (mArpp) gene is almost identical to the Ankrd2 gene, which has recently been isolated as a mouse gene induced in stretched skeletal muscle. The mArpp gene encodes a protein of 332 amino acids that contains four well-conserved ankyrin-repeat domains in the central portion of the protein. The amino acid sequence of mArpp protein (mArpp) is highly homologous to that of mouse cardiac-restricted ankyrin-repeat protein (Carp), which is proposed to be a putative genetic marker for cardiac hypertrophy. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that mArpp is preferentially expressed in type 1 skeletal muscle fibers, and that mArpp is localized in both the nucleus and the sarcomeric I-band of muscle fibers, suggesting that Arpp may function as a nuclear and sarcomeric protein. Furthermore, mArpp was also expressed in neurons of the cerebellum and cerebrum, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, and the esophageal epithelium, suggesting that mArpp may play a functional physiologic role in brain, pancreas, and esophagus as well as in type 1 muscle fibers. Interestingly, although mArpp was localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm in neurons, its localization was restricted to nucleus in pancreas and esophagus, suggesting that intracellular localization of mArpp is regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Furthermore, we found that mArpp- and Carp-expression in skeletal muscle were markedly up-regulated after denervation. Although the elevated expression level of Carp was kept only for two weeks after denervation, that of Arpp was kept at least for 4 weeks, suggesting that mArpp and Carp may play distinct functional roles in denervated skeletal muscle.     

Amplification of the c-erbB-2 gene detected by FISH in gastric cancers

The amplification and overexpression of the c- erbB -2 gene are considered to be Implicated In the process of carcincogenesis of a variety of human tumors. The amplification and overexpression of c- erbB -2 were investigated in 48 surgically resected human gastric cancers by means of fluorescence In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. DNA ploidy was determined by flow cytometry. The c- erbB -2 amplification was demonstrated as a cluster of signals, suggesting homogeneously staining region (HSR), in three tumors (6.3%) accompanied by the overexpression of its protein. Such overexpression was detected In another tumor without amplification of the c- erbB -2 gene. All tumors with amplification and overexpression of c- erbB -2 were differentiated adenocarcinoma histologically, but only 10.3 and 13.8% of differentiated carcinomas showed amplification and over-expression of the c- erbB -2 gene, respectively. There was no relationship between the amplification and overexpression of c- erbB -2 and the depth of tumor invaslon and lymph node Involvement. Three of four cases with overexpression of c- erbB -2 were classified Into DNA aneupldd tumor.     

Immunohistochemical,ultrastructural and biochemical studies of an amylase-producing breast carcinoma

Summary We describe a breast cancer with ectopic production of amylase, found in the patient's serum, urine and in the tumour. Clinically, serum amylase levels reflected both the progression of the disease and regression induced by various therapies. Using agarose gel electrophoresis and a wheat protein inhibitor assay, the predominant serum amylase appeared to be identical to pancreatic-type isoenzyme. However, the action mode analysis using a new fluorogenic substrate revealed that the serum contained non-salivary, non-pancreatic amylase. The tumour had microscopic features of invasive ductal carcinoma with some argyrophilic differentiation. The component cells stained positively for amylase, and ultrastructurally numerous secretory granules were seen.     

Nature of optokinetic response and zonal organization of climbing fiber afferents in the vestibulocerebellum of the pigmented rabbit

Summary In pigmented rabbits anesthetized with N₂O (70%) and halothane (2–4%), Purkinje cells were extracellularly recorded in the nodulus. Large field (60°×60°) optokinetic stimulation (OKS) with constant velocity was delivered to either the ipsi- or contralateral eye, and the direction and velocity selectivities of complex spike responses were examined. To ipsilateral OKS (n = 181), the preferred direction was forward (F, n = 72), upward (U, n = 38) or downward (D, n = 10), while the remaining cells (n = 61) showed no response (N). To contralateral OKS (n = 117), the preferred direction was backward (B, n = 22), upward (U, n = 7) or downward (D, n = 22), while the rest (n = 66) showed N. Cells tested with both eyes (n = 95) fell into 8 categories based on the preferred direction to ipsi- and contralateral OKS: (1) ipsi-F and contra-B (F/B type, n = 20), (2) ipsi-F but contra-N (F/N type, n = 12), (3) ipsi-U and contra-D (U/D type, n = 15), (4) ipsi-U but contra-N (U/N type, n = 13), (5) ipsi-N but contra-D (N/D type, n = 1), (6) ipsi-D but contra-N (D/N type, n = 5), (7) ipsi-N but contra-U (N/U type, n = 6), and (8) N to both eyes (N/N type, n = 23). The optimum velocity was in the range 0.1–2.0°/s for all cells responsive to OKS. In the ventral lamella, four medio-laterally aligned zones were demonstrated. In the most medial zone (0–0.5 mm from the midline), the majority of cells showed ipsi-N or contra-N responses. In the second zone (0.5–1.5 mm), most cells preferred ipsi-F or contra-B directions. In the third zone (1.5–2.5 mm), most cells preferred ipsi-U or contra-D directions. In the most lateral zone (2.5–3.5 mm), most cells preferred ipsi-F or contra-B directions. In the dorsal lamella, a longitudinal zone characterized with cells preferring ipsi-U or contra-D directions was found about 1.5–2.5 mm from the midline. This zone seemed to be the continuation of the third zone in the ventral lamella. Cells preferring ipsi-D or contra-U directions were scattered in the medial half of both the dorsal and ventral lamellae. Most cells responsive to electrical stimulation of the contralateral optic tract (OT) preferred the ipsi-F direction and were localized in the second and the most lateral zones of the ventral lamella. As for cells activated by a climbing fiber with a branching axon to the flocculus, no characteristic feature was found in terms of the preferred direction to OKS, except that none of the cells preferring ipsi-D or contra-U directions were activated by such branching climbing fibers. The results indicate that the nodulus consists of at least four functionally distinct zones in terms of direction selectivity of visual climbing fiber afferents.     

Nature of optokinetic response and zonal organization of climbing fiber afferents in the vestibulocerebellum of the pigmented rabbit

In pigmented rabbits anesthetized with N2O (70%) and halothane (2-4%), Purkinje cells were extracellularly recorded in the flocculus. A large central visual field (60 degrees x 60 degrees) was used to optokinetically stimulate either the ipsi- or contralateral eye, and the direction and velocity selectivities of complex spike responses were examined. For optokinetic stimulation (OKS) delivered to the ipsilateral eye (n = 129), the preferred direction was forward (F, n = 57) or upward (U, n = 37), while the remaining cells (n = 35) showed no response (N). For OKS delivered to the contralateral eye (n = 107), the preferred direction was backward (B, n = 11), downward (D, n = 42) or upward (U, n = 2), and the rest (n = 52) showed N. Cells tested with both eyes (n = 89) fell into five categories based on the preferred direction to ipsi- and contralateral OKS: (1) ipsi-F and contra-B (F/B type, n = 9), (2) ipsi-F but contra-N (F/N type, n = 28), (3) ipsi-U and contra-D (U/D type, n = 13), (4) ipsi-U but contra-N (U/N type, n = 17), and (5) ipsi-N but contra-D (N/D type, n = 22). The optimum velocity was within 0.1-2.0 degrees/s for all cells. On the average, the best response was obtained at 0.2-0.5 degrees/s stimulation. All ipsi-F cells responded to electrical stimulation of the optic tract (OT), while most cells preferring ipsi-U, contra-B and contra-D directions did not respond. No characteristic feature was found in cells innervated with collateralized climbing fiber branches to the nodulus. In the flocculus, cells preferring horizontal orientation (H cells, preferring ipsi-F and/or contra-B directions) were localized in a narrow dorsoventral zone (less than 1.0 mm) along the caudal border of the rostral one third, while those preferring the vertical orientation (V cells, preferring ipsi-U and/or contra-D directions) were in two distinct narrow zones located rostral and caudal to the H cell zone. H and V cells were intermingled in the central portion of the ventral flocculus. These four zones are in good agreement with previously defined H, anterior V, posterior V and R zones, respectively. The results indicate that the subdivision of the flocculus which controls horizontal (vertical) eye movements receives information regarding movements of the visual surround in the horizontal (vertical) orientation through visual climbing fiber afferents, thus being organized in olivo-cortico-nuclear functional units for control of eye movements.     

AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE RETICULOENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN THE LYMPH NODES

In an attempt to clarify the cytological characteristics of the RES cells in the lymph nodes and their embryological correlations, lymph nodes and lymph node anlages of germ-free rats, nude mice, and human fetuses were light and electron microscopically examined. On the basis of differences of intracellular organelles, their behaviors for reticulum fibers and of endogenous peroxidatic activity, histiocytes should be reasonably distinguished from the cells conventionally called reticulum cells. Reticulum cells and histiocytes respectively are destined to differentiate in different directions from the early stage of development of the lymph node anlage. Sinus endothelial cells are ontogenetically originated and differentiated from the endothelial lining cells of lymphatic vessels. Primitive reticular cells are differentiated into mature reticulum cells in the lymph nodes, they transform into the lympho-reticular cells, further into lymphoblasts, and finally develop into medium-sized lymphocytes.     

Identification of cryptochrome DASH from vertebrates

A new type of cryptochrome, CRY-DASH, has been recently identified. The CRY-DASH proteins constitute the fifth subfamily of the photolyase/cryptochrome family. CRY-DASHs have been identified from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, Vibrio cholerae, and Arabidopsis thaliana. The Synechocystis CRY-DASH was the first cryptochrome identified from bacteria, and its biochemical features and tertiary structure have been extensively investigated. To determine how broadly the subfamily is distributed within living organisms, we searched for new CRY-DASH candidates within several databases. We found five sequences as new CRY-DASH candidates, which are derived from four marine bacteria and Neurospora crassa. We also found many CRY-DASH candidates from the EST databases, which included sequences from fish and amphibians. We cloned and sequenced the cDNAs of the zebrafish and Xenopus laevis candidates, based on the EST sequences. The proteins encoded by the two genes were purified and characterized. Both proteins contained folate and flavin cofactors, and have a weak DNA photolyase activity. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the seven candidates actually belong to the new type of cryptochrome subfamily. This is the first report of the CRY-DASH members from vertebrates and fungi.