Matrix metalloproteinases are involved in mechanical stretch-induced activation of skeletal muscle satellite cells

When skeletal muscle is stretched or injured, myogenic satellite cells are activated to enter the cell cycle. This process depends on nitric oxide (NO) production, release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from the extracellular matrix, and presentation of HGF to the c-met receptor. Experiments reported herein provide new evidence that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the NO-dependent release of HGF in vitro. When rat satellite cells were treated with 10 ng/ml recombinant tissue inhibitor-1 of MMPs (TIMP-1) and subjected to treatments that induce activation in vitro, i.e., sodium nitroprusside (SNP) of an NO donor or mechanical cyclic stretch, the activation response was inhibited. In addition, conditioned medium generated by cultures treated with TIMP-1 plus SNP or mechanical stretch failed to activate cultured satellite cells and did not contain HGF. Moreover, NO(x) assay demonstrated that TIMP-1 does not impair NO synthase activity of stretched satellite cell cultures. Therefore, results from these experiments provide strong evidence that MMPs mediate HGF release from the matrix and that this step in the pathway is downstream from NO synthesis.     

Possible association between nonsynonymous polymorphisms of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and schizophrenia in a Japanese population

Summary. We examined, for the first time, the possible association between schizophrenia and the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene which plays an important role in neurodevelopment. When two nonsynonymous polymorphisms (Arg1491Lys and Glu1529Asp) were examined, there were significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between patients and controls. Individuals homozygous for the minor allele (1491Lys–1529Asp) were more common in patients than in controls (p = 0.0064, odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.6). These results suggest that genetic variations of the ALK gene might confer susceptibility to schizophrenia.     

Present status and future prospects of nutritional support teams

Academic interest in nutritional support teams (NSTs) has increased rapidly in Japan since 1999, when they were first planned by the Japanese Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (JSPEN). The JSPEN promoted their use extensively after 2006 when extra medical fees were approved for medical management by NSTs under the national health insurance system. The purpose of NSTs is to provide the best nutritional support to patients who are malnourished or at high risk of developing malnutrition, without causing conflict among different medical staff. NSTs offer appropriate medical support and help prevent the deterioration of patients' health. The teams are comprised of specialized medical staff with nutritional expertise who work at the bedside and are committed to establishing good medical practice. The main targets of NSTs are patients who undergo surgery or are being treated in a geriatric or internal medicine unit, including those with lifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, most targets of NSTs are patients with common conditions. A package medical system based on the diagnostic-procedure combination was established, and regional medical centers were integrated to ensure high-quality medical care throughout Japan. Under this system, NSTs are expected to resolve individual patients' dietary issues. In addition, improvement of medical care quality and the training of reliable medical staff are necessary to provide nutritional management in the clinical setting. It will be necessary to the revise the assessment of NSTs as proposed by a committee of the Japanese Nutritional Support Promotion Group or to carry out surveillance to evaluate the outcomes of NST activity.     

Thyroglobulin mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects and patients with thyroid disease

BACKGROUND: Thyroglobulin (Tg) mRNA is expressed focally in thyroid tissue. In recent years, the Tg gene has been detected in other tissues, including lymphocytes, although the significance of its presence has not been elucidated yet. We measured Tg mRNA expression in the lymphocytes of healthy subjects and those with thyroid disease. METHODS: Analysis of the quantification of Tg mRNA from 20 healthy subjects and 47 subjects with thyroid disease was carried out by real-time PCR. Furthermore, in cultured lymphocytes we compared changes in Tg mRNA expression following stimulation with TSH. RESULTS: Tg mRNA was detected in the lymphocytes of all subjects. Tg mRNA in the lymphocyte sequence matched that derived from thyroid tissue, and mRNA levels were higher in subjects with thyroid disease than in healthy subjects. Following lymphocyte stimulation, Tg mRNA levels were observed to be increased 2.7-fold in Graves' disease and 1.6-fold in chronic thyroiditis compared to healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Tg mRNA in the lymphocytes was quantified by real-time PCR. The levels of Tg mRNA in the TSH-stimulated lymphocytes were noticeably increased in subjects with thyroid disease. These results suggest an interesting relationship between production of Tg antigen in peripheral blood and autoimmunity in thyroid disease.