First demonstration of recombination between the gene for Norrie disease and probe L1.28

Norrie disease is an X-linked trait thought to be tightly linked to the anonymous probe L1.28. Here we report the first recombinational event among 24 informative meioses. This indicates there is a 4% (95% C.L. 0.1%-21%) error rate introduced by meiotic crossovers in carrier or prenatal diagnosis based on linkage between Norrie disease and L1.28.     

Directed differentiation of telencephalic precursors from embryonic stem cells

We demonstrate directed differentiation of telencephalic precursors from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells using optimized serum-free suspension culture (SFEB culture). Treatment with Wnt and Nodal antagonists (Dkk1 and LeftyA) during the first 5 d of SFEB culture causes nearly selective neural differentiation in ES cells ( approximately 90%). In the presence of Dkk1, with or without LeftyA, SFEB induces efficient generation ( approximately 35%) of cells expressing telencephalic marker Bf1. Wnt3a treatment during the late culture period increases the pallial telencephalic population (Pax6(+) cells yield up to 75% of Bf1(+) cells), whereas Shh promotes basal telencephalic differentiation (into Nkx2.1(+) and/or Islet1/2(+) cells) at the cost of pallial telencephalic differentiation. Thus, in the absence of caudalizing signals, floating aggregates of ES cells generate naive telencephalic precursors that acquire subregional identities by responding to extracellular patterning signals.     

Polo-like kinase 1 expression in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid: its relationship with clinicopathological features.

OBJECTIVE: Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is one of the serine-threonine kinases that contributes to cell mitosis and is regarded as a marker of cellular proliferation. However, its protein expression in human carcinoma has not been studied in depth. In this study, we investigated PLK1 expression in medullary thyroid carcinoma by means of immunohistochemistry. METHODS: We immunohistochemically investigated PLK1 expression in 67 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma. RESULTS: The PLK1 expression level was elevated in 43 of the 67 cases (64.1%). Furthermore, the expression level was directly linked to lymph node metastasis, advanced stage and male sex. All patients who were negative for PLK1 expression are currently alive without tumor recurrence, while 6 of the 43 PLK1-positive patients showed recurrence and 3 have already died of this disease. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that PLK1 expression significantly reflects aggressive characteristics of medullary thyroid carcinoma.     

Quantitative analysis for soluble elastin in circulation and cell culture fluids using monoclonal antibody-based sandwich immunoassay

We have newly established 3 distinct murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against human soluble elastin by using chemically denatured immunogen isolated from human aorta; they are designated as HASG-2, HASG-30, and HASG-61-1. All of these MoAbs were highly reactive with soluble forms of native elastin in normal human serum. HASG-2 and HASG-61-1 MoAbs can recognize soluble bovine elastin as well as human antigen, but HASG-30 cannot. The sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human soluble elastin was developed with HASG-61-1 labeled with peroxidase and HASG-30 immobilized on the microplates. The circulating levels of soluble elastin in human healthy subjects (mean +/- SD; 42.9 +/- 19.9ng/mL; n = 85) could be measured with full accuracy and reproducibility, and gradually increased with aging. The positive correlation between the levels and ages was statistically significant (r = 0.581, p < 0.0001). In addition, we could also determine the concentration of tropoelastin secreted from cultured human dermal fibroblasts accurately by this ELISA. This simple assay can be utilized for the routine clinical laboratory screening of patients with arteriosclerotic vascular diseases or to accurately determine the concentrations of tropoelastin secreted from cultured human cells.     

新疆地区维吾尔族大学生卡特尔16种人格因素测查分析

目的 全面了解维吾尔族(维族)大学生的人格特征及其相关因素,为健康人格教育提供依据.方法 采用卡特尔16种人格因素问卷对666名维族大学生进行测试.结果 ①维族大学生在大部分人格特质上表现出与大学生常模显著不同的特征;②不同性别、来自不同地区、不同年级、不同专业的维族大学生人格特征之间存在一定的显著差异.结论 维族大学生人格有一定的民族性,而其人格发展受到很多因素的制约.     

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.     

Dilute solution properties of imogolite

Imogolite, a natural product in the clay fraction of Japanese soil, was characterized through its dilute solution properties. Various methods were employed for this characterization, including viscosity, sedimentation, static/dynamic light scattering, and small angle X-ray scattering. All these measurements have revealed consistently that imogolite is represented by a rigid thin rod within the accuracy of available theories, where its repeat unit is composed of twelve gibbsite units. Since the evaluation of the chain length from the observed quantities depends on the molecular weight distribution, its effect was also considered where M_w/M_n ≈ 1,2 was estimated from the sedimentation profile.     

Lyotropic mesophase of imogolite, 1. Effect of polydispersity on phase diagram

The acidic aqueous solution of imogolite is proposed to be an ideal lyotropic system. No temperature dependence was marked on the two phase boundary concentrations (A and B points) of imogolite solutions as predicted by the theories of Flory and Onsager. A satisfactory quantitative agreement was observed with Onsager's theory. The polydispersity of rod lengths was found to shift the A point towards lower concentrations than expected from theory.     

C CELL CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID

Two cases of papillary type of C cell carcinoma of the thyroid were reported. They showed papillary arrangement with Abrovascular stalk in properly Axed tissues. Histochemically argyrophil reaction was positive in the cytoplasm and amyloid deposited in the stroma. Ultrastructurally secretory granules were found in their cytoplasm. The papillary type is not an artifact but one of the histologic variations of this carcinoma. ACTA PATH. SAP. 29: 653–659, 1979.     

Melanotic schwannoma arising in the sympathetic ganglion

A case of melanotic schwannoma, the 28th reported in the literature and the second to arise in the sympathetic ganglion, was reported in a 39-year-old man who remains free of recurrence or metastasis since removal of the tumor. In common with earlier benign melanotic schwannomas, its ultrastructural study revealed well-developed contiguous external lamina as opposed to absent or only minimally developed external lamina seen in malignant melanotic schwannomas. This emphasizes the use of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of this tumor. The literature yields only nine melanotic tumors (including one malignant melanotic schwannoma) arising in the sympathetic nervous system; all nine tumors had a malignant clinical course. Therefore, the present case represents the first "benign" tumor among ten melanotic tumors, and the second among 28 melanotic schwannomas to arise in the sympathetic nervous system.