Expression of calmin,a novel developmentally regulated brain protein with calponin-homology domains

We examined the expression in the mouse brain of a recently isolated protein named calmin that has two calponin-homology domains in tandem at the N-terminus and a transmembrane domain at the C-terminus. Calmin mRNA and protein were detected in neurons of the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and thalamus, Purkinje cells, and also in the choroid plexus and ependymal cells. The protein is present predominantly in dendrites and cell bodies of the neurons, but not in axons. Furthermore, the amounts of calmin mRNA and protein increase during the period of maturation of the mouse brain after birth, in a manner similar to that of PSD95 and synaptophysin. These results indicate that calmin may be involved in the development and/or maintenance of neuronal functions.     

Financial assistance in promoting occupational health services for small-scale enterprises in Japan

In spite of the diversified views on the governmental financial assistance in promoting occupational health services (OHS) for small-scale enterprises (SSE), the issue has not been much studied. Considering the large differences between countries in the degree of governmental financial assistance, the international comparative research will provide insight into its advantages and disadvantages. In order to conduct such comparative research, the status of each country must first be clarified. This informative piece of study aims at stimulating researchers in other countries to share their experiences and facilitate future comparative studies. This study was conducted to clarify the financial assistance of the Japanese government for SSE. Published reports on financial assistance for SSE were collected and used for the study. The Ministry of Labor initiated the policy of subsidizing OHS for SSE in the early 1960s. Activities to be subsidized through four routes included primary and secondary prevention of occupational injuries and diseases. The amount of subsidy was limited from one-third to two-thirds of costs. There was a fourteen-fold increase in the amount of subsidies for SSE from US$ 7 million in 1986 to US$ 98 million in 1998. The long history of financial assistance for SSE and the increasing amount of subsidies suggest that the Ministry of Labor recognizes the importance of financial assistance in promoting OHS in small scale enterprises.     

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland with adenoid cystic carcinoma-like features: a case report with immunohistochemical study

A 69-year-old japanese female with epithelial myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) in the parotid gland is reported. The tumor, 3.5 x 4.0 x 1.5 cm in size, was located in the left parotid gland. Histopathological examination of the surgically removed tumor revealed that it was composed of double-layered, tubule-like structures formed by inner eosinophilic ductal cells and outer clear cells, as well as solid clear cell nests. The unique histological finding of this tumor was that it had a cribriform-like arrangement of myoepithelial cells resembling an adenoid cystic carcinoma. On the other hand, the typical ductal and myoepithelial components of EMC showed the usual biphasic pattern and the expected immunophenotypes, with expression of low molecular weight cytokeratins, CAM 5.2 and EMA in the ductal part, and smooth muscle actin, S-100 protein, and vimentin in the myoepithelial component.     

An operated case of lung cancer with pleural plaques: its asbestos bodies, fiber analysis and asbestos exposure

This case was a 79-year-old man with pleural plaques, which had been pointed out in the left lung field on chest X-ray six years ago. A new shadow in the right chest appeared in 1999 and was closely examined. Cytological class IV carcinoma was detected in his lung tissue obtained by broncho-fiberscope. Lobectomy of the right upper lobe was performed, and calcified pleural plaques were found on the chest wall. The clinical diagnosis was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, T1N0M0. In World War II when he was 26 years old, he had worked as a boiler man on a battle cruiser for one year. The amount of asbestos bodies (AB) was 3,348 per gram dry lung tissue. The cores of AB and asbestos fibers were examined and showed that amosite was the most prevalent and crocidolite, tremolite and chrysotile were present in that order. After leaving the navy, he had worked as a farmer throughout his life, suggesting that he had never contacted asbestos occupationally after being a boiler man. It is strongly suggested that he had been exposed to asbestos during his work as a boiler man and that produced pleural plaques and lung cancer 50 years' later.     

Influence of age and disease severity on high resolution CT lung densitometry in asthma

BACKGROUND: Low attenuation areas (LAA) on computed tomographic (CT) scans have been shown to represent emphysematous changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the significance of LAA is still controversial in patients with asthma. This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of lung CT densitometry in the detection of airspace enlargement in association with asthma severity. METHODS: Forty five asthmatic subjects and 15 non-smoking controls were studied to determine the influence of age, pulmonary function, and asthma severity on mean lung density (MLD) and the relative area of the lung showing attenuation values less than -950 HU (RA(950)) on high resolution CT (HRCT) scans. RESULTS: In asthmatic patients both MLD and RA(950) correlated with parameters of airflow limitation (%FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC, %FEF(25-75)) and lung volume (%TLC, %FRC, %RV), but not with lung transfer factor (%TLCO, %TLCO/VA). The results of HRCT lung densitometry also correlated with patient age and severity of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased CT lung density in non-smoking asthmatics is related to airflow limitation, hyperinflation and aging, but not with lung transfer factor.     

Directional preponderance in pitch circular vection

We used optokinetic stimulation (OKS) in eighteen normal adults aged 18-30 years to investigate vertical self-motion perception. In order to induce self-rotation, either a stripe pattern or a random dot pattern was projected onto the inner wall of a hemispherical dome with a diameter of 150 cm. The pattern was rotated either about the subject's vertical axis (yaw) or about the subject's interaural axis (pitch) for 80 s at a constant acceleration of 1 deg/s2. Stimuli were randomly repeated three to four times in each direction. The latency of onset as well as the perceived intensity of circular vection (CV) was measured for each stimulus presentation. CV latencies for upward rotational stimulation were significantly longer than those for downward rotational stimulation under both types of stimulus conditions. There was no significant difference in CV latency between rightward and leftward rotational stimulation. For most subjects, the magnitudes of the perceived CV for rightward rotational stimulation were equal to those for leftward rotational stimulation, whereas the magnitudes of the perceived CV for vertical stimulation showed large intersubject variability. These results provide additional evidence that fundamental differences exist between different types of self-motion. Possible explanations for the directional asymmetry in vertical perception of self-motion will also be discussed.     

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

The nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple cutaneous basal cell carcinomas, jaw keratocysts and a variety of other tumours, and developmental abnormalities. Recently, this syndrome was shown to result from germ line mutations in human patched(PTC) gene, which encodes a membrane receptor and functions as an important developmental regulator and a tumour suppressor. Haploinsufficiency for the PTC locus is likely to give rise to developmental abnormalities characterized by symmetrical defects and malformed spine and ribs. Postnatal loss of the normal PTC allele leads to multiple basal cell carcinomas and other cancers. PTC mutations and loss of the remaining wild-type allele have also been identified in sporadic basal cell carcinomas and meduloblastomas.