Gastric adenocarcinoma arising in gastritis cystica profunda presenting with selective loss of KCNE2 expression

Gastritis cystica profunda(GCP) is a rare condition caused by ectopic entrapment of gastric glands,probably secondary to the disruption of muscularis mucosae.GCP is often associated with gastric adenocarcinoma,and loss of the KCNE2 subunit from potassium channel complexes is considered a common primary target molecule leads to both GCP and malignancy.In this study,we,for the first time,analyzed the expression of KCNE2 in surgically excised tissue from human gastric cancer associated with GCP and confirmed that reduced KCNE2 expression correlates with disease formation.     

MeCP2 expression and promoter methylation of cyclin D1 gene are associated with cyclin D1 expression in developing rat epididymal duct

Hypermethylation-dependent silencing of the gene is achieved by recruiting methyl-CpG binding proteins (MeCPs). Among the MeCPs, MeCP2 is the most abundantly and ubiquitously expressed in various types of cells. We first screened the distribution and expression pattern of MeCP2 in adult and developing rat tissues and found strong MeCP2 expression, albeit rather ubiquitously among normal tissues, in ganglion cells and intestinal epithelium in the small intestine, in Purkinje cells and neurons in the brain, in spermatogonia and in epithelial cells in the epididymal duct of the testis. We then assessed the expression and the methylation pattern of the promoter region of cyclin D1 by immunohistochemistry and sodium bisulfite mapping, and found that cyclin D1 expression in the epididymal duct decreased rapidly during rat development: strong in newborn rats and very weak or almost negative in 7-day-old rats. Mirroring the decrease of cyclin D1 expression, methylated cytosine at both CpG and non-CpG loci in the cyclin D1 promoter was frequently observed in the epididymal duct of 7-day-old rats but not in that of newborn rats. Interestingly, MeCP2 expression also increased concomitant with the increase of methylation. Cyclin D1 expression in the epididymal duct may be efficiently regulated by the epigenetic mechanism of the cooperative increase of MeCP2 expression and promoter methylation.     

Bosentan, a novel synthetic mixed-type endothelin receptor antagonist, attenuates acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by indomethacin and HCl in the rat: Role of endogenous endothelin-1

Endothelin-1 has been reported to be responsible for gastric mucosal damage in various experimental models. We evaluated the role of endogenous endothelin-1 in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin and HCl in the rat. Rats were given indomethacin (25 mg/kg) subcutaneously, and 15 min later, 0.2N HCl intragastrically. Gastric mucosal damage, gastric endogenous endothelin-1, and gastric mucosal hemodynamics were measured. The effects of bosentan, a mixed endothelin receptor antagonist, on gastric mucosal integrity and hemodynamics were assessed. Gastric endogenous endothelin-1 was significantly elevated at 20min, gastric mucosal blood flow began to decrease significantly at 25 min, and gastric damage occupied 52.2% of the total glandular mucosa at 135 min after injection of indomethacin. Intragastric pretreatment with bosenthan (5, 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg) significantly attenuated gastric damage, to 26.1%, 7.7%, 3.6%, and 1.6%, respectively, of the total glandular mucosa. Bosentan (60 mg/kg) prevented the initial decrease of blood flow and, even at 135 min, improved blood flow and hemoglobin oxygen saturation significantly. We suggest that indomethacin-induced endogenous endothelin-1 diminishes gastric mucosal blood flow and tissue oxygenation and ultimately causes gastric damage. Endogenous endothelin-1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by indomethacin and HCl.     

The role of communication aids in the rehabilitation of hearing impairment.

The primary emphasis in rehabilitating the hearing impaired has involved fitting a hearing aid. There are patients however, who can be helped by communication aids in addition to, or in place of hearing aids. Communication aids include any device, other than a conventional hearing aid, which assists the hearing impaired in maintaining contact wiht the normally hearing. In Scandinavian countries a sophisticated system for rehabilitating the hearing impaired has evolved and communication aids are recommended extensively. Similar aids exist in North America, but clinicians have not yet developed a full awareness of how these devices can benefit their patients. This paper represents the results of a two year survey undertaken to identify and evaluate various devices available in Toronto. The contribution these aids can offer in rehabilitating patients is discussed.     

Bioavailability of oyster shell electrolysate

Balance studies were conducted on 4 normal elderly subjects, 2 males and 2 females, ranging in age between 66 and 86 years in order to compare the bioavailability of oyster shell electrolysate with that of calcium carbonate and calcium lactate, in a crossover design. In each subject, 600 mg oyster shell electrolysate was more effective than calcium carbonate or calcium lactate containing the same 600 mg calcium to restore the negative calcium balance found on 600 mg/day calcium intake, suggesting a better bioavailability of oyster shell electrolysate than the two kinds of calcium salts.     

Hearing aid usage in occupational hearing loss claimants

Between 1980 and 1986, the Department of Otolaryngology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, evaluated 3,509 occupational hearing loss claimants for the Workers' Compensation Board of Ontario. Detailed information about work, medical and audiologic findings for each claimant was entered into the departmental database system. The goals of this retrospective analysis were to examine some demographic characteristics and to describe the aural rehabilitation status of this population. Most claimants had bilateral mild or moderate hearing loss but all degrees and patterns of loss occurred. Of 2,657 first-time, reliable claimants, 881 (33.2%) arrived with a hearing aid, typically a monaural, behind-the-ear fitting. Twenty percent with bilateral mild loss owned an aid whereas 38% of claimants with bilateral severe loss did not have one. Ninety percent of aid owners reported that their device was of some help. This level of satisfaction was not affected by age, degree of loss, or speech discrimination ability. Substantial usage was reported for non-work situations. Hearing aids were especially helpful for TV and in small group situations. Ultimately, 81% of all claimants were determined to be hearing aid candidates.     

A benzophenazine derivative,N-β-dimethylaminoethyl 9-carboxy-5-hydroxy-10-methoxy-benzo[a]phenazine-6-carboxamide,as a new antitumor agent against multidrug-resistant and sensitive tumors

Summary NC-190, a benzophenazine derivative (N-β-dimethylaminoethyl 9-carboxy-5-hydroxy-10-methoxybenzo[a]phenazine-6-carboxamide), was effective against multidrug-resistant human and mouse tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. When vincristine (VCR)-resistant P388 leukemia-bearing mice were treated with an optimal dose of NC-190, four of six mice were cured, whereas treatment of mice with VCR resulted in only a marginal increase in life span. The compound also showed chemotherapeutic effect against Adriamycin-resistant P388 leukemia-bearing mice and was effective against various multidrug-resistant human and murine tumor cells in vitro. Its cytotoxicity to multidrug-resistant K562 cells was not enhanced by the addition of verapamil. The accumulation of NC-190 in multidrug-resistant K562 cells was slightly lower than that observed in sensitive K562 cells; the compound did not efficiently inhibit the binding of VCR to the plasma membrane of resistant cells, indicating that NC-190 has little affinity for P-glycoprotein. NC-190 inhibited the activity of DNA topoisomerase II. These observations suggest that NC-190 (1) is not transported out of resistant cells by P-glycoprotein and (2) inhibits DNA topoisomerase II activity in the cells, resulting in its likely effectiveness against various multidrug-resistant tumor cells.     

Ray tracing analysis of overlapping objects in refraction contrast imaging

We simulated refraction contrast imaging in overlapping objects using the ray tracing method. The easiest case, in which two columnar objects (blood vessels) with a density of 1.0 [g/cm3], run at right angles in air, was calculated. For absorption, we performed simulation using the Snell law adapted to the object's boundary. A pair of bright and dark spot results from the interference of refracted X-rays where the blood vessels crossed. This has the possibility of increasing the visibility of the image.