The 301 to 314 amino acid residue of beta-tubulin is not a target epitope for serum IgM antibodies in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Connolly et al. [Neurology 48 (1997) 243] reported that IgM M-proteins from three patients selectively binds to an epitope on beta-tubulin that consists of amino acids 301 to 314. We therefore investigated whether these 14 amino acid residues beta301-314 are the target epitope for serum IgMs in sera from 67 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), 50 with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 50 with motor neuron diseases, and 50 normal controls. IgM anti-beta301-314 antibodies were not restricted to nor were selectively associated with CIDP. We conclude that beta301-314 is not a target epitope for serum IgMs in CIDP.     

E. coli endotoxin enhances cardiomyopathy in rats with chronic alcohol consumption

The purpose of the study was to show whether it was possible to produce alcoholic cardiomyopathy by short-term alcohol ingestion combined with an infinitesimally low endotoxin injection. Wistar rats were fed an alcoholic liquid diet according to the formula of Lieber and Decarli, and challenged with an injection ofE. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin (1.0 g/g body weight per day for ten weeks). After ten weeks alcohol diet combined with LPS challenge, light microscopical examination showed changes commonly seen in alcoholic cardiomyopathy such as hypertrophy, oedema and disarray of myofibers. By electron microscopy, degeneration of mitochondria and degeneration of myocardial fibers were observed, the latter showing disturbance of the myofibrilla arrangement and interstitial fibrosis. Rats on an alcoholic liquid diet and rats challenged with a single identical doses of LPS did not show characteristic histological findings of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. These results suggest that short-term alcohol ingestion combined with an infinitesimally low endotoxin injection experimentally produces alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and may support the idea that endotoxin plays an important role in the aetiology of alcoholic cardiomyopathy.     

Completely covered cloacal exstrophy: recognition of a new clinical sub-entity

A case showing many of the typical visceral features of cloacal exstrophy is reported. The patient had fn imperforate anus, a cecal-cloacal fistula, dehiscence of the pubiic symphysis, and lumbosacral spina bifida with synsingomyelia, but the lower abdominal wall was intact without any visceral extroversion. The pertinent literature was reviewed, and it was found that this case corresponded to t typical case of completely covered cloacal exstrophy. Only six cases, including the present one, have so far been reported in the literature. From a clinical viewpoint, it apparently occupies an intermediate position in the wide spectrum of cloacal anomalies between classical cloacal exstrophy and imperforate anus with recto-cloacal fistula, but anatomatically and embryologically it is definitely a variant of cloacal exstrophy. In other words, it looks like an imperforate anus with recto-cloacal exstrophy, but should be treated as a variant of loacal exstrophy. The anatomy, classification, embryology, diagnosis, and management of this peculiar surgical condition are discussed, and recognition of this entity is urged.     

胸苷酸合成酶基因多态性及烟酒茶嗜好与贲门癌易感性的关系

目的 :研究胸苷酸合成酶TS3′ UTR多态性及其和烟酒茶嗜好相互作用与贲门癌易感性的关系。方法 :在上消化道癌高发区淮安市进行了一个病例对照研究 (贲门癌 89例 ,人群对照 2 2 3例 ) ,调查研究对象的生活习惯 ,采用PCR RFLP技术检测研究对象的TS 3′ UTR基因型。结果 :贲门癌组TS 6/ 6bp、 6/-6bp和 -6/-6bp基因型频率分别为7 9%、43 8%和 48 3 % ,与对照组( 8 1%、5 4 3 %和 3 7 7% )相比差异无统计学意义。与携带TS 6bp等位基因且不吸烟、每周饮酒 <2次和饮茶者相比 ,在吸烟、每周饮酒≥ 2次和不饮茶者中 ,携带TS -6/-6bp基因型者发生贲门癌的危险性显著上升 ,调整后的OR分别为 3 99( 95 %CI:1 5 1～ 10 5 0 )、3 2 2 ( 95 %CI :1 2 1～8 5 5 )和 6 14 ( 95 %CI:2 3 9～ 15 77)。结论 :TS 3′ UTR基因多态性影响吸烟、饮酒和饮茶与贲门癌之间的关系     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genotypes, Dietary Habits and Susceptibility to Stomach Cancer

OBJECTIVE To study the relation among methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotypes, dietary habits and the risk of stomach cancer (SC).METHODS A case-control study was conducted with 107 cases of SC and 200 population-based controls in Chuzhou district, Huaian, Jiangsu province, China. The epidemiological data were collected, and DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes was obtained from all of the subjects..MTHFR genotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS (1) The prevalence of the MTHFR C/T or T/T genotypes was found to be significantly different between controls (68.5%) and SC cases (79.4%,P=0.0416), the increased risk had an adjusted OR of 1.79 (95?:1.01-3.19). (2) Among subjects who had a low intake of garlic or Chinese onion, MTHFR C/T or T/T genotypes significantly increased the risk of developing SC. Among non-tea drinkers or among subjects who had a frequent intakeof meat, the carriers of the MTHFR C/T or T/T genotypes had a higher risk of SC than individuals with the C/C type MTHFR. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of MTHFR C677T was associated with increased risk of developing SC, and that individuals with differing genotypes may have different susceptibilities to SC, based on their exposure level to environmental factors.     

Biomechanical evaluation of foot pressure and loading force during gait in rheumatoid arthritic patients with and without foot orthosis

Foot orthoses are commonly used in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to support the foot and relieve pain, however little is known about the biomechanical effects of in-shoe foot orthoses in reducing or redistributing high pressures and loading forces. The purpose of this study was to compare the foot pressures and loading forces during gait in rheumatoid arthritic patients and healthy subjects, and evaluate the biomechanical effects of the foot orthoses in the RA patients. Twelve female RA patients with foot pain in walking, all Steinbrocker class II, and 8 healthy women without foot pain were matched for age. Foot pressures and loading forces with and without orthoses were measured using the F-Scan program. The pressure distributions and loading forces were standardized by the body weight and compared, and the effects of the foot orthoses were evaluated. The foot orthoses of RA patients provided higher pressure reduction than those of the control group (3.00 +/- 0.38 g/cm2/BW and 3.29 +/- 0.29 g/cm2/BW respectively, p < 0.001). Similar redistribution of plantar pressures and loading forces were found between two groups but the RA patients had a greater change at the stance phase of gait (p < 0.0001). The foot orthosis produces greater pressure and loading force relief and redistribution in RA patients than in normal subjects.     

Auditory agnosia restricted to environmental sounds following cortical deafness and generalized auditory agnosia

We encountered a case of auditory agnosia restricted to environmental sounds, which was associated with the development of bilateral subcortical lesions after suffering a bilateral putaminal hemorrhage. The patient had a history of a putaminal hemorrhage on her left side without any major disability. Three years later, she suffered a putaminal hemorrhage on the other side. The clinical picture started with cortical deafness, then changed to generalized auditory agnosia for verbal and environmental sounds, and finally developed into auditory agnosia confined to the perception of environmental sounds. Her errors in a test of sound recognition were discriminative rather than associative in nature. Neuro-radiological examinations revealed bilateral subcortical lesions involving the fibers from the medial geniculate body to the temporal lobes after bilateral putaminal hemorrhage. This case suggested that the subcortical lesion involving bilateral acoustic radiation could cause either cortical deafness, auditory agnosia of all sounds, or auditory agnosia restricted to environmental sounds.     

No Improvement of Adult Height in Non-growth Hormone (GH) Deficient Short Children with GH Treatment

It is still in doubt whether the standard-dose growth hormone (GH) used in Japan (0.5 IU/kg/week, 0.167 mg/kg/week) for growth hormone deficiency is effective for achieving significant adult height improvement in non-growth hormone deficient (non-GHD) short children. We compared the growth of GH-treated non-GHD short children with that of untreated short children to examine the effect of standard-dose GH treatment on non-GHD short children. GH treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) was started before the age of 11 yr in 64 boys and 76 girls with non-GHD short stature registered at the Foundation for Growth Science who have now reached their adult height. In 119 untreated boys and 127 untreated girls whose height standard deviation score (SDS) was below –2 SD at the age of 6 yr, height growth was followed until 17 yr. Height SDS was significantly lower before GH treatment in the GH-treated group than at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group, in both sexes. Adult height and adult height SDS were significantly greater in the untreated group than in the GH-treated group, in both sexes, although the change in height SDS did not differ significantly. Height SDS was significantly lower before GH treatment in the GH-treated group than at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group, so 57 boys and 57 girls whose height SDS at the age of 6 yr in the untreated group closely matched the height SDS before GH treatment in the GH-treated group were chosen for comparison. Height SDS did not differ significantly between the GH-treated group before GH treatment and the untreated group at the age of 6 yr, nor were there differences between these subgroups in adult height, adult height SDS, or height SDS change, in either sex. The effect of GH treatment is reported to be dose-dependent and doses over 0.23 mg/kg/week are reported to be necessary to improve adult height in non-GHD short children. Currently, the GH dose is fixed at 0.175 mg/kg/week in Japan, and we expected to find, and indeed concluded, that ordinary GH treatment in Japanese, non-GHD short children does not improve adult height.     

Overexpression of the aldo-keto reductase family protein AKR1B10 is highly correlated with smokers' non-small cell lung carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma of the lung are currently subject to similar treatment regimens despite distinct differences in histology and epidemiology. The aim of this study is to identify a molecular target with diagnostic and therapeutic values for SCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Genes specifically up-regulated in SCC were explored through microarray analysis of 5 SCCs, 5 adenocarcinomas, 10 small cell lung carcinomas, 27 normal tissues, and 40 cancer cell lines. Clinical usefulness of these genes was subsequently examined mainly by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Seven genes, including aldo-keto reductase family 1, member B10 (AKR1B10), were identified as SCC-specific genes. AKR1B10 was further examined by immunohistochemical analysis of 101 non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and its overexpression was observed in 27 of 32 (84.4%) SCCs and 19 of 65 (29.2%) adenocarcinomas. Multiple regression analysis showed that smoking was an independent variable responsible for AKR1B10 overexpression in NSCLCs (P < 0.01) and adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). AKR1B10 staining was occasionally observed even in squamous metaplasia, a precancerous lesion of SCC. CONCLUSION: AKR1B10 was overexpressed in most cases with SCC, which is closely associated with smoking, and many adenocarcinoma cases of smokers. These results suggest that AKR1B10 is a potential diagnostic marker specific to smokers' NSCLCs and might be involved in tobacco-related carcinogenesis.