Complete cDNA sequence and genomic organization of a human pancreas-specific gene homologous to Caenorhabditis elegans sel-1

We have isolated the complete cDNA of a human SEL-1L gene, termed TSA305, that is abundantly expressed only in the pancreas. The cDNA contained an open reading frame of 2382 nucleotides, encoding a deduced protein of 794 amino acids whose predicted sequence showed 46% identity and 64% similarity with SEL-1 of Caenorhabditis elegans. SEL-1 is thought to be a negative regulator of the NOTCH, LIN-12, and GLP-1 receptors, which are required for differentiation and maturation of cells as well as cell–cell interactions during development in C. elegans. The degree of homology among these proteins suggests that the TSA305 gene product may be a member of the SEL-1 family and therefore involved in downregulation of mammalian Notch signaling. Direct sequencing revealed at least 20 coding exons in TSA305. We localized the gene to chromosome bands 14q24.3–q31 by radiation hybrid (RH) mapping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The IDDM11 locus has been mapped in this region, and TSA305 may represent a candidate gene for predisposition in some families whose insulin-dependent diabetes is not linked to the HLA locus. Received: March 29, 1999 / Accepted: May 11, 1999     

In situ detection of gelatinolytic activity in developing craniofacial tissues

Frozen tissue sections of developing and adult rat heads were incubated on a film coated with a gelatin-containing colloidal silver emulsion in order to detect gelatinolytic activity present in the different tissues. The method, termed film in situ zymography, is based on the ability of the thiol group of the propeptide released from the degraded gelatin to induce a structural change in the colloidal silver and thereby a visible change in color. The frozen tissue sections mounted on the coated film were incubated at 37°C overnight. Gelatinolytic activity was detected as a color change from yellow to red. The activity of gelatinase was completely blocked by phenanthroline, which inhibits matrix metalloproteinases. Gelatinolytic activity was widely present in the oral epithelium, tooth buds, tongue, Meckel’s cartilage, salivary glands, and other tissues. The intensity of the gelatinolytic activity varied among the different tissue types. The present study demonstrated gelatinolytic activity in both developing and adult craniofacial tissues. These results suggest that gelatinolytic activity plays an important role in normal turn-over in several tissues. Whereas some of the activity also in the developing rats may be related to this turn-over process, some of it is probably directly associated with developmental changes. Accepted: 3 March 1999     

Paradoxical Depression in Renal Transplant Recipients

Paradoxical depression occurs despite a completely successful transplantation without tissue rejection or other medical complications. In this study, the occurrence of paradoxical depression was retrospectively investigated among 1139 Japanese successful renal transplant recipients January 1997 through September 2006. Among the 1139 recipients, 103 visited the Department of Psychiatry after renal transplantation, including 40 with depressive symptoms and 15 with a physical problem considered to have nonparadoxical depression. The other 25 recipients were considered to have paradoxical depression; that is, more than half of the 40 recipients with depressive symptoms had paradoxical depression. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics, including average age at the time of renal transplantation, rate of living-donor transplantation, rate of ABO incompatibility, method of dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), duration of dialysis, and time interval between the renal transplantation and the initial visit to the Department of Psychiatry among the 2 groups. These results suggested that there was another risk factor or interactions between factors. Of the 25 recipients, 6 had relationship problems, 6 had social-rehabilitation problems, and 13 had mentioned no clear psychological problems. These psychological factors might in fact be related to the loss of an imagined past. Additional consecutive prospective studies are needed—a challenging prospect for consultation liaison psychiatrists in the field of transplantation.     

Questionnaire‐based assessment of pelvic organ dysfunction in multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized clinically by any combination of autonomic, cerebellar, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Autonomic symptoms are usually severe, and urinary symptoms are one of the cardinal features of MSA. Bowel dysfunction and sexual dysfunction are also common in MSA. Quality of life (QOL) in patients with MSA is severely impaired by the presence of pelvic organ dysfunction. Therefore, we aimed to examine the prevalence of pelvic organ dysfunction in patients with MSA. We recruited 256 patients with MSA seen at our neurology clinic. The mean age was 62 years. The control group comprised 158 individuals, and the mean age was 52 years. We administered a questionnaire on pelvic organ dysfunction to the MSA and control groups. The questionnaire had sections focusing on the bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Dysfunction, as described in the responses, was evaluated as normal, mild (>once a month), moderate (>once a week), or severe (>once a day). The Mann‐Whitney's U‐test was used for statistical analysis. When compared with the control group, the prevalence of pelvic organ dysfunction in the MSA group was significantly higher for urinary storage and voiding dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. QOL in the MSA group was therefore significantly impaired because of urinary dysfunction (70%, 76%), bowel dysfunction (40% of the men), and sexual dysfunction (26%, 45%). Pelvic organ dysfunction is common in MSA, and QOL is severely impaired in patients with MSA. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society     

A foreign body granuloma after gastric perforation mimicking peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer: Report of a case

This report presents the case of a 58-year-old man who was found to have foreign body granulomas (FBGs) that mimicked disseminated gastric cancer. The patient presented with a severe attack of acute upper abdominal pain, was admitted to the hospital, and thereafter underwent an immediate laparotomy due to a diagnosis of an upper gastrointestinal perforation. Follow-up endoscopy revealed an ulcer scar measuring 2 cm in size in the anterior wall of the middle stomach. The pathological examination of biopsy specimens taken around the scar revealed well to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. At the time of reoperation performed 2 months after the first operation, many small white granulomas were observed which were thought to be the result of peritoneal dissemination of the gastric cancer. However, both the cytology of the Douglas washing and pathological examination of frozen section specimens were negative for carcinoma, and therefore a distal gastrectomy was performed. The pathological examination revealed the presence of FBGs. In this rare case, the FBGs formed shortly after surgery and were difficult to distinguish from disseminated cancer.     

Effects of fura-2 and indo-1 on [Ca++]i in spontaneously beating cultured heart cells.

Changes in contractility and intracellular free Ca([Ca++]i) were measured in spontaneously beating cultured heart cells following exposure to indo-1 acetoxymethyl ester (indo-1AM) and fura-2 acetoxymethyl ester (fura-2AM). Although a 10 microM concentration of indo-1AM slightly decreased the beating rate, 5 and 10 microM concentrations of fura-2AM produced arrest of contraction within 10 min. However, contractility returned to normal after washing. With indo-1, the diastolic and peak systolic levels of [Ca++]i were 282 +/- 23 and 1107 +/- 122 nM, respectively, and 84 +/- 8 and 582 +/- 93 nM, respectively, with fura-2. The difference between the indo-1 and fura-2 generated responses are statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results demonstrate that indo-1 and fura-2 can affect [Ca++]i, but the influence of indo-1 is less than that of fura-2 in the heart cells.     

Liver cirrhosis with marked thrombocytopenia and highly elevated serum thrombopoietin levels.

Three patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and a bleeding tendency due to marked thrombocytopenia of less than 20 x 10(9)/l were admitted to our hospital for further examination. Bone marrow examination revealed megakaryocytic hypoplasia in all three patients. All patients exhibited amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura, myelodysplastic syndrome, or bone marrow hypoplasia. 111In-labeled platelet kinetic studies revealed decreased platelet production in all patients. Although serum thrombopoietin (sTPO) levels are usually within the normal level in patients with LC, the sTPO levels of our patients were about 10 times higher than the levels of normal subjects (1.22 +/- 0.37 fmol/ml): 13.34, 16.79, and 10.46 fmol/ml, respectively. These sTPO data supported our findings of decreased megakaryopoiesis. Our findings suggest that examination of sTPO levels is useful in determining the etiology of marked thrombocytopenia in LC patients.     

Flaming portal vein as a new color Doppler sign of portal gas: report of two cases

Portal gas is relatively rare, and the majority of reported cases have shown it to have a close relation to bowel diseases. At present, portal exploration usually begins with color Doppler sonography, and clinicians now possess a good understanding of color Doppler findings of a wide spectrum of portal abnormalities. However, the color Doppler sign we present in this article has not been reported before. We report two cases of ischemic bowel disease in which B-mode ultrasound showed multiple hyperechoic spots moving in the portal vein; the color Doppler appearance was as if the portal vein was on fire (flaming portal vein sign). Knowledge of this simple color Doppler sign helps to improve the diagnostic strategies in patients with portal gas.     

Electrophoretic mobility of cefodizime-treated Staphylococcus aureus and chemiluminescence of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

The electrophoretic mobility of Staphylococcus aureus 209P treated with cefodizime or cefotiam was examined by microscopic electrophoresis, and the production of oxygen-derived radicals by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was measured by a luminol-chemiluminescence assay. S. aureus cells moved from the negative to the positive electrode. Treatment with more than 0.039 mg/L (1/256 MIC) cefodizime or 0.313 mg/L (1/4 MIC) cefotiam significantly reduced the mean mobility compared with the untreated bacterial cells. The decrease of the electrophoretic mobility of antibiotic treated bacteria indicated the decrease of the negative charge of the cell surface. Chemiluminescence of PMN when stimulated by S. aureus treated with more than 0.156 mg/L cefodizime (1/64 MIC) or 1.25 mg/L cefotiam (MIC) increased significantly compared with the untreated cells. These results suggested that the antibiotics caused a decrease of negative charge density on the cell surface of S. aureus, followed by an increase of phagocytic activity of PMN for S. aureus. Furthermore, cefodizime showed this effect even at the low drug-concentration which did not influence the growth of the bacteria cells.