Representation of the body in the lateral striatum of the freely moving rat: single neurons related to licking

This study examined the relationship of single-neuron activity (n = 739), recorded from the lateral striatum of freely moving rats, to oral movements involved in licking single drops of liquid. Certain neurons (n = 74) fired specifically in relation to licking. Their firing rates increased during licking, but remained near zero in the absence of licking, throughout a full sensorimotor examination of the remainder of the orofacial area and all other body parts. Another category of neurons (n = 17) fired during licking but also fired in the absence of licking, during one or more other orofacial sensorimotor function(s). Lick-related neurons were located in the lateral striatum, throughout the entire anterior-posterior range studied (from +1.5 to -1.5 mm anterior-posterior, A-P, bregma = 0). Summed over the full A–P range, they were located significantly ventral to representations of the trunk and limbs. These findings extend the characterization of the somatotopic organization exhibited by lateral striatal neurons in the rat, to include representation of oral functions, consistent with converging evidence regarding the functional organization of the striatum.     

Linkage and linkage disequilibrium in chromosome band 1p36 in American Chaldeans with inflammatory bowel disease

The idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are complex genetic disorders involving chronic inflammation of the intestines. Multiple genetic loci have been implicated through genome-wide searches, but refinement of localization sufficient to undertake positional cloning efforts has been problematic. This difficulty can be obviated through identification of ancestrally shared regions in genetic isolates, such as the Chaldean population, a Roman Catholic group from Iraq. We analyzed four multiply affected American Chaldean families with inflammatory bowel disease not known to be related. We observed evidence for linkage and linkage disequilibrium in precisely the same region of chromosome band 1p36 reported previously in an outbred population. Maximal evidence for linkage was observed near D1S1597 by multipoint analysis (MLOD = 3.01, P = 6.1 x 10(-5)). A shared haplotype (D1S507 to D1S1628) was observed over 27 cM between two families. There was homozygous sharing of a 5 cM portion of that haplotype in one family and over a <1 cM region in the second family. Homozygous sharing of this haplotype near D1S2697 and D1S3669 was observed in one individual in a third multiply affected family, with heterozygous sharing in a fourth family. Linkage in outbred families as well as in this genetic isolate indicates that a pathophysiologically crucial IBD susceptibility gene is located in 1p36. These findings provide a unique opportunity to refine the localization and identify a major susceptibility gene for a complex genetic disorder.     

Triple synchronous neoplasms in one kidney: report of a case and review of the literature

We report the case of a patient with three synchronous but histologically different primary renal tumors that were all in the same kidney. Two tumors were different subtypes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the third was a variant form of angiomyolipoma. The patient was a 62-year-old man who was receiving antihypertensive drugs and came to our hospital for a regular check-up. Ultrasonography performed during the visit revealed a left renal mass, but the patient had no related symptoms. Subsequent computed tomography revealed two round, high-density masses, one in the mid-portion and the other in the lower pole of the left kidney, and multiple cysts in the right kidney and the liver. The mass in the mid-portion measured 3.3 x 3.0 x 2.8 cm, and the mass in the lower pole measured 1.7 x 1.1 x 0.9 cm. A left radical nephrectomy was performed. On gross examination, an additional ovoid nodule (0.6 cm in the greatest dimension) was found in the lower pole. Microscopically, the largest tumor consisted of a broad alveolar arrangement of large round cells with abundant eosinophilic or clear cytoplasm, distinct cell borders, and perinuclear halos, features consistent with chromophobe RCC. The smallest tumor was a conventional (clear-cell) RCC. The third tumor was composed solely of atypical epithelioid cells with prominent nucleoli and yellowish-brown to black pigments. The tumor cells were positive for melanin (Fontana-Masson stain), the melanoma marker HMB45, vimentin, smooth-muscle actin, and the macrophage marker CD68 and were negative for cytokeratin. This tumor was considered a pigmented epithelioid type of angiomyolipoma. The histologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features in this case confirmed the presence of three synchronous primary tumors, a chromophobe and a clear-cell type RCC and a pigmented epithelioid angiomyolipoma, all of which were in the same kidney. This case is the first of its type reported in the literature.     

Emergence and wide dissemination of CTX-M-type ESBLs, and CMY-2- and DHA-1-type AmpC beta-lactamases in Korean respiratory isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae

Respiratory isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Korea during 2002-2003 were studied to determine the prevalence and types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases (PABLs). ESBL-production was tested by double-disk synergy, and genotypes of beta-lactamases were determined by PCR and sequencing. ESBLs were detected in 28.4% of 373 isolates, and the most prevalent types were SHV-12 (63 isolates) and CTX-M-14 (9 isolates). Forty of 75 ESBL-producers (53.5%) also had PABLs: 21 isolates with CMY-2-like, 17 with DHA-1-like. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed 19 types and 25 of 74 isolates had an identical pattern, indicating nosocomial spread. Dissemination of ESBL- and PABL-producing K. pneumoniae strains in Korea is a particular concern, as it limits the choice of antimicrobial agents for treatment of infections.     

Cellular mechanisms for amyloid beta-protein activation of rat cholinergic basal forebrain neurons

The deposition of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) in the brain and the loss of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain are two pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the mechanism of Abeta neurotoxicity is unknown, these cholinergic neurons display a selective vulnerability when exposed to this peptide. In this study, application of Abeta(25-35) or Abeta(1-40) to acutely dissociated rat neurons from the basal forebrain nucleus diagonal band of Broca (DBB), caused a decrease in whole cell voltage-activated currents in a majority of cells. This reduction in whole cell currents occurs through a modulation of a suite of potassium conductances including calcium-activated potassium (I(C)), the delayed rectifier (I(K)), and transient outward potassium (I(A)) conductances, but not calcium or sodium currents. Under current-clamp conditions, Abeta evoked an increase in excitability and a loss of accommodation in cholinergic DBB neurons. Using single-cell RT-PCR technique, we determined that Abeta actions were specific to cholinergic, but not GABAergic DBB neurons. Abeta effects on whole cell currents were occluded in the presence of membrane-permeable protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein and tyrphostin B-44. Our data indicate that the Abeta actions on specific potassium conductances are modulated through a protein tyrosine kinase pathway and that these effects are selective to cholinergic but not GABAergic cells. These observations provide a cellular basis for the selectivity of Abeta neurotoxicity toward cholinergic basal forebrain neurons that are at the epicenter of AD pathology.     

Colorimetric microwell plate hybridization assay for detection of amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA from sputum samples.

We developed a colorimetric microwell plate hybridization assay (CoMPHA) for the specific detection of 5'-biotinylated amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. The optical densities of the CoMPHA corresponded to the initial amounts of purified template DNA. Here, we show that the CoMPHA is useful in distinguishing the PCR-positive and PCR-negative samples.     

Role of hydrophobic interaction in the enantioselective solvolyses of amino acid p-nitrophenyl esters by optically active imidazole-containing polymers

Solvolytic reactions of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-D -phenylalanine p-nitrophenyl ester and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L -phenylalanine p-nitrophenyl ester by optically active imidazole-containing polymers were performed at different temperatures and in aq. ethanol of different water contents. The catalyst polymers employed were homopolymers of N-methacryloyl-L -histidine ( 1a ) and N-methacryloyl-L -histidine methyl ester ( 1b ), as well as copolymers of 1a with dodecyl methacrylate (DMA) and 1b with DMA. In 30 vol. -% aqueous ethanol at pH 7,02 the homopolymers did not show any enantioselective catalysis. However, the copolymers did exhibit enantioselective catalysis, viz., k_cat(L )/k_cat(D ) = 1,25 for poly ( 1b -co-DMA) containing 5,7 mol-% of DMA. As the reaction temperature was lowered, the reaction rate increased and the enantioselectivity was enhanced (k_cat(L )/k_cat(D ) = 1,67 for poly ( 1b -co-DMA) at 10°C). When the ethanol content was decreased, enhanced reaction rates and enantioselectivity (k_cat(L )/k_cat(D ) = 1,65 for poly ( 1 b -co-DMA) in 20 vol.-% aqueous ethanol) were observed. From these results it is concluded that hydrophobic interaction plays an important role in the enantioselective catalysis of optically active imidazole-containing polymers.     

Dental restorative composites containing 2,2-bis-[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane derivatives and spiro orthocarbonates

Various dental restorative composite resins containing 2,2-bis-[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane (Bis-GMA) derivatives and spiro orthocarbonates (SOCs) were explored for minimizing the volumetric shrinkage that generally occurs during polymerization. Previous reports suggested mixing Bis-GMA with its derivative TMBis-GMA (2,2-bis[3,5-dimethyl-4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxy propoxy) phenyl] propane) to obtain a dental composite with low volumetric shrinkage. It was hypothesized that spiro orthocarbonates would expand volumetrically during polymerization, because of their sophisticated ring-opening reactions; therefore several of them were added to the mixture of Bis-GMA and TMBis-GMA to bring about further reductions in volumetric shrinkage. It was indeed possible to reduce the extent of volumetric shrinkage of dental composites containing SOCs, and to do so without compromising these resins' mechanical properties.     

Clinical Significance of De Novo Malignancy After Liver Transplant: A Single-Center Study

BackgroundSeveral studies have reported that solid organ transplant recipients have a high risk for malignant tumors because the suppressed immune system fails in preventing malignant transformations. De novo malignancy after transplantation is the most common cause of death in the late period after liver transplant (LT). This study investigated the clinical significance of de novo malignancy after LT, and it is the largest study based in Korea to report long-term follow-up results associated with de novo malignancy after LT.MethodsData of 1793 adults who underwent LT in Seoul National University Hospital were retrospectively collected, and medical charts and data from the Ministry of Public Administration and Security were reviewed to examine the causes of death and de novo malignancy status. The Fisher exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to analyze the data.ResultsOf the 1793 recipients, 27 died of de novo malignancies. Of 875 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, 12 died, and of 918 non-HCC patients, 15 died. De novo malignancy was the main cause of death at 5 years after LT but was not in the initial 5 years. In Korea the most common cancers that developed after LT were gastric cancer (21.4%) and lymphoma (14.3%). De novo HCC in non-HCC cases was found in 2 patients.ConclusionDe novo malignancy is a key factor affecting long-term survival after LT. Therefore, regular screening and education are important for improving long-term survival and quality of life in these patients after LT.