Construction of a standard rating scale to estimate sleep onset and the analysis of influencing factors

In this study, we developed a ratings scale for estimating sleep onset that would be capable of providing quantitative evaluations of the quality of the sleep onset process. We also examined factors affecting sleep onset using a questionnaire consisting of two separate clusters of items: the first, consisting of 9 items, related to the quality of sleep onset; and the second, consisting of 56 items, related to factors with apparent effects on sleep onset. The questionnaire was administered to 515 day-workers (range: 25-44 years old) for standardization. Each item was weighted based on the distribution of subject responses to determine discrimination. The reliability coefficient alpha for the questionnaire was high, exceeding 0.8. Of 41 items set out as potential factors affecting sleep onset, the results of the questionnaire indicated that five factors consisting of 26 items could be isolated as most likely affecting sleep onset. Path analysis indicated that sleep onset is more commonly affected by factors present at bedtime than factors related to sleep quality the previous night, or to daytime activities.     

Preemptive analgesia by zaltoprofen that inhibits bradykinin action and cyclooxygenase in a post-operative pain model

The post-operative pain state results from a barrage of primary afferent inputs exposed to products of tissue damage such as bradykinin and prostaglandins and the central sensitization by the continuing inputs. This provides the rationale for preemptive analgesia, whereby the blockade of primary afferent inputs prior to injury may result in a reduction of post-operative pain. 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxo-dibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl) propionic acid (zaltoprofen) is a unique compound that inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and exhibits anti-bradykinin activity. The present study evaluated the preemptive analgesic effect of zaltoprofen in a post-operative pain model produced by plantar incision. When orally, but no intrathecally, administered 30 min prior to incision, zaltoprofen significantly increased the withdrawal threshold 2 h and 1-3 days after incision at 10 mg/kg. While the bradykinin B1 antagonist des-Arg10-HOE-140, the selective COX-1 inhibitor SC-560, and the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib did not affect post-operative pain, the B2 antagonist HOE-140 dose-dependently relieved the post-operative pain at 2-200 microg/kg with a time course similar to that of zaltoprofen. The B2 receptor mRNA was expressed in the hindpaw and the expression did not change before and 24 h after surgery. These results suggest that zaltoprofen produces the preemptive analgesic effect peripherally by blocking the B2 pathway.     

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma with chondroblastic osteosarcomatous dedifferentiation

We describe a rare case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma with features resembling chondroblastic osteosarcoma in the dedifferentiated component. The tumor was removed from the left thigh in a 78-year-old male. It consisted of a well-differentiated liposarcoma and an anaplastic component that contained numerous osteoid and cartilaginous tissues surrounded by high-grade spindle cell sarcoma. To our knowledge, only two cases similar to the divergent chondroblastic osteosarcomatous dedifferentiation of this disease have been reported in the literature.     

Parosteal fasciitis of the clavicle

A rare case of parosteal fasciitis arising from the periosteum of the left clavicle in a 27-year-old woman is reported. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the lesion surrounding the periosteum of the clavicle. The lesion was iso-intense with muscle on T(1)-weighted images and hyperintense on T(2)-weighted images. At surgery, the lesion was discovered to be densely adherent with the periosteum, and excised along with the periosteum. Histopathological examination revealed the proliferation of myofibroblasts in a vague storiform or short fascicular pattern. A large amount of extravasated erythrocytes, and a few lymphocytes were present in the matrix. There were some foci of abundant myxoid materials. Immunohistochemical study showed the cells to be positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and HHF35, but negative for desmin. There was no local recurrence at a 6 months postoperative follow up.     

Frequency thresholds of rat cochlear nerve fibers.

Activities of single cochlear nerve fibers of Wistar rats were recorded extracellularly. Best frequencies (BF) distributed from 0.50 to 62.6 kHz. The audiogram was made as the minimum boundary of the BF threshold distribution. The range of audible frequency was 0.54-63 kHz at 60 dB SPL and 0.15-67 kHz at 100 dB SPL. The lowest trough of the audiogram was 5 dB SPL at 41.2 kHz. There was the second trough of 10 dB SPL at 7.01 kHz leaving a notch between the two troughs. The shapes of the frequency-threshold curves (FTCs) of fibers were evaluated quantitatively and typical FTCs were shown as a function of BF.     

Rapid identification of metallothionein isoforms in liver cytosol fraction by capillary zone electrophoresis using EDTA

Identification of metallothionein (MT) isoforms on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) analysis was studied using a linear polyacrylamide-coated capillary at pH 7.4 and EDTA. The CZE system was able to separate standard (purified and commercially available) MT specimens into their isoforms within 10 min. The peaks of MT-1 and MT-2 isoforms disappeared on addition of EDTA to the specimen, and the disappearance was shown to be time-dependent and dose-dependent, although the reason why the peaks decreased is still unclear. A heat-treated cytosol fraction prepared from Zn-injected mouse liver showed many major and minor peaks on CZE analysis. Two major peaks were identified to be MT-1 and MT-2, respectively, by co-injection with the purified MT isoforms. When EDTA was added to the cytosol fraction, the two major peaks, MT-1 and MT-2, and three other minor peaks disappeared time-dependently. Therefore, each MT isoform in the cytosol fraction can be identified by the addition of EDTA, also the peaks are identified by the corresponding migration times of purified MTs. Unknown substances like MT sub-isoforms may also be detected, although this question warrants clarification. From these results, it was concluded that the addition of EDTA is useful for identification of MT isoforms in cytosol fractions on CZE analysis.     

Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma of the external deep soft tissue

Epithelioid leiomyosarcoma in the external deep soft tissue is extremely rare. Most epithelioid leiomyosarcomas occur in the uterus. We present a case of epithelioid leiomyosarcoma occurring in the muscle of the thigh of a 78-year-old man. Histologically, the tumor predominantly consisted of round or polygonal cells arranged in sheets with a focal spindle cell component. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumor cells expressed vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and alpha-sarcomeric actin. The tumor was negative for desmin, S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, pan-keratin, epithelial membrane antigen, CAM 5.2, HMB-45, leukocyte common antigen, factor VIII-associated antigen, and CD34. Electron microscopically, some tumor cells contained abundant actin-type filaments in their cytoplasm.     

Increased expression of apoptosis-linked gene 2 (ALG2) in the rat brain after temporary focal cerebral ischemia

Calcium is an important mediator of programmed cell death induced by transient cerebral ischemia, and calcium-binding proteins have been implicated in calcium-regulated signal transduction. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 is a calcium-binding protein required for cell death induced by different apoptotic stimuli. By Western blot analysis, we found that apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was expressed in normal brains, and that expression increased in ischemic brains after 20 or 90 min of transient focal cerebral ischemia. Immunocytochemistry showed increased apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein expression in frontal cortex, a region where neurons underwent ischemic stress but still survived, after 20 or 90 min of focal cerebral ischemia. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was also up-regulated in the ischemic border-zone of parietal cortex 24h after 20 min of focal ischemia, and was remarkably over-expressed in the caudate-putamen and parietal cortex, (where cells are destined to die) 24h after 90 min of ischemia. The expression pattern of apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was similar to that of deoxyribonucleic acid damage detected by Klenow labeling assay.Our results suggest that apoptosis-linked gene 2 may be involved in the regulation of cell death after transient focal cerebral ischemia.     

Angiosarcoma arising from skeletal haemangiomatosis in an atomic bomb survivor

The authors report a unique case in which an angiosarcoma arose from skeletal haemangiomatosis in a 72 year old man. This patient had a history of atomic bomb irradiation more than 50 years ago. Radiographically, the patient had multiple sclerotic foci of benign haemangiomas in the pelvis, the sacrum, and the left femur. The patient developed a high grade angiosarcoma in the left pubic bone. It is thought that atomic bomb irradiation played an important role in the development of the malignant lesion.     

Hsc70/Hsp40 chaperone system mediates the Hsp90-dependent refolding of firefly luciferase

BACKGROUND: The 90-kDa heat shock protein, Hsp90, was previously shown to capture firefly luciferase during thermal inactivation, thereby preventing its irreversible off-pathway aggregation and maintaining it in a folding-competent state. However, subsequent refolding of the luciferase required addition of rabbit reticulocyte lysate. RESULTS: Here we demonstrate that Hsc70 (cytosolic Hsp70) and Hsp40/Hdj1 (cytosolic DnaJ homologue) are the effective components in a reticulocyte lysate, while other unidentified factor in the lysate is also required for the refolding of Hsp90-captured luciferase. Though another cytosolic DnaJ homologue, Hdj2/HSDJ, was more efficient than Hsp40 in suppressing the aggregation of rhodanese, Hdj2 was less effective for the refolding of luciferase than Hsp40. In the absence of the third factor, Hsp40 could bind to the luciferase captured by Hsp90, which suggested that Hsp40 on its own was able to bind the substrate protein, but Hsc70 could not. CONCLUSIONS: Hsc70, Hsp40 and at least another additional component in the reticulocyte lysate are necessary for full accomplishment of the refolding of Hsp90-captured luciferase. The third factor may be required for the loading of Hsc70 on to the substrate protein bound to Hsp90.