Dietary Conjugated Linolenic Acid Inhibits Azoxymethane-induced Colonic Aberrant Crypt Foci in Rats

The modifying effects of dietary feeding of conjugated linolenic acid (CLN) isolated from the seeds of bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia ) on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were investigated in male F344 rats to predict its possible cancer chemopreventive efficacy. The effect of CLN on the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index in colonic ACF was also examined. Rats were given subcutaneous injections of AOM (20 mg/ kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks to induce ACF. They also received the experimental diet containing 0.01%, 0.1% or 1% CLN for 5 weeks, starting one week before the first dosing of AOM. AOM exposure produced a substantial number of ACF (108±21/rat) at the end of the study (week 4). Dietary administration of CLN caused a significant reduction in the frequency of ACF: 87±14 (19.4% reduction, P <0.05) at a dose of 0.01%, 69±28 (36.1% reduction, P <0.01) at a dose of 0.1% and 40±d6 (63.0% reduction, P <0.001) at a dose of 1%. Also, CLN administration lowered the PCNA index and induced apoptosis in ACF. These findings might suggest possible chemopreventive activity of CLN in the early phase of colon tumorigenesis through modulation of cryptal cell proliferation activity and/or apoptosis.     

Significance of resecting the head of the pancreas for the treatment of gallbladder cancer from the perspective of surgical results and mode of lymph node metastasis

The significance of resecting the head of the pancreas was clinicopathologically investigated, predominantly by examining the mode of lymph node metastasis, in patients with gallbladder cancer. Of 60 patients who underwent resection of gallbladder cancer, 24 patients (40.0%) had lymph node metastasis. The breakdown of lymph node metastases was as follows: 12b (24.0%), 16 (21.7%), 13 (17.1%), 8 (12.2%), 12c (12.0%), 12p (8.0%), and 6 (6.3%). Of 45 patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, 14 patients survived more than 5 years after surgery. In the absence of lymph node metastasis, there were some long-term survivors following D0 dissection, gallbladder resection, or liver bed resection. However, all five long-term survivors with lymph node metastasis underwent S4aS5 resection combined with pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) and D3 dissection. Seven patients had number 13 lymph node metastasis, and only two n2 patients who underwent S4aS5 resection combined with PPPD and D3 dissection, survived more than 5 years. There were no long-term survivors with n3 lymph node metastasis. Of the 50 patients who underwent curative resection, 13 patients experienced recurrence: in the liver in six patients, in the peritoneum in four patients, in the lymph nodes in four patients, in the bone in two patients, in the lung in one patient, and local in one patient (including duplicate cases). Of the four patients with lymph node recurrence, two demonstrated number 12 and/or number 13 lymph node metastasis at the time of surgery and underwent bile duct-conserving D2 dissection, although cancer recurred in the head of the pancreas, probably due to recurrence in number 13 lymph node. Extensive resection including resection of the head of the pancreas was therefore effective in patients with up to n2 lymph node metastasis as long as the cancer could be completely sected.     

Sexual relations and condom use among young male factory workers in northern Thailand

PURPOSE: This article analyzes sexual relations and condom use among young male factory workers at an industrial estate in Northern Thailand, so as to clarify their HIV risk situation. METHODS: The analysis is based on data obtained from a total of 13 months of ethnographic field research at an industrial estate between June 1997 and March 2000. During this period, I interviewed 27 male factory workers, gathering information on their knowledge and awareness of AIDS, HIV preventive behavior, lifestyles, relations with friends, sexual relations, health, and contraception. RESULTS: This study identified the emergence of positive self-images among participants as diligent and respectable factory workers, as a result of life changes, such as having a stable job at the estate and improvement of their social status. Having a wife/lover also stabilized the sexual life, as they tried to avoid sexual relationships with commercial sex workers. All participants had accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS. They had negative images of HIV risk groups such as "poor," "uneductated," and "sexually promiscuous," which stood in opposition to their positive self-images such as "financially stable," "educated," and "self-controlled," Such formation of self-images resulted in the denial of their risk potential. Believing that their sexual partners posed no risk of infection, they hardly ever took HIV preventive measures. In marriage and loving relationships, oral pills were mostly used for contraception, and condom use was seen as unnatural and unnecessary. CONCLUSIONS: It was inferred from the present study that formation of new sexual norms in opposition to traditional sexual norms of Thai men that value sexual philandering would possibly control their risk-taking behavior. New sexual norms emerged as a result of their life and status change from sons of peasants' families to factory workers, and also their conscious effort to differentiate themselves from HIV risk groups. Insofar as their life remains stable and their mutually exclusive relations with their wife/lover are maintained, they should have no risk of infection. However, some of the participants in this study were in multiple sexual relationships and almost all of the participants did not take any preventive measures, suggesting a potential hazard. Effective HIV prevention campaigns for factory workers that clearly state that every sexual activity involves a potential risk of infection are required.     

Identification of estrogenic activity of chlorinated bisphenol A using a GFP expression system

A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-reporter vector regulated by an estrogen response element (ERE) was constructed and transfected into human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells. Stable transfectants were selected and their GFP fluorescence intensity was measured using a quantitative fluorescent imaging system. 17β-estradiol (E(2)) and bisphenol A (BPA) induced a dose-dependent increase in GFP intensity in the cells, reaching maximum response at 5×10(-10) and 10(-5) M, respectively. Using this GFP expression system, we examined the estrogenicity of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-chlorinated BPAs, which were detected in wastewater from waste-paper recycling plants using sodium hypochlorite as a bleaching agent. 3-ClBPA and 3,3'-diClBPA showed similar estrogenicities, effective at lower concentrations than parent BPA. On the other hand, the maximum activities of BPA and 3,3',5-triClBPA, whose EC(50) were similar, were higher than other chlorinated BPAs. This is the first demonstration of the estrogenicity of chlorinated BPAs. Since polychlorinated BPAs were not easily biodegraded, chlorinated BPAs might be more severe endocrine disruptors than BPA.     

Dose distribution of narrow beam irradiation for small lung tumor

: To aid in the selection of incident X-ray energy for stereotactic irradiation (STI) of lung tumor, dose distribution was investigated in a model of a thorax embedded with a tumor.

: The dose distribution in a thorax model was calculated using the EGS4 Monte Carlo simulation; it was also measured with dosimetric film of a tentative thorax phantom. Uniformity of dose distribution in a tumor region was compared among the results of irradiation for several X-ray energies, and optimal X-ray energy for STI of a lung tumor was discussed.

: Dose distributions in the thorax were obtained. An increase in X-ray energy led not only to an increased dose delivered to the tumor, but also to an increased dose to surrounding normal lung tissue.

: The flat range in dose distribution along the beam axis and in the beam profiles of the tumor increases with decreasing X-ray energy. Consequently, lower energy, rather than higher energy, is recommended for STI of a lung tumor in terms of higher uniformity in the target volume.     

Establishment of immunity against Epstein‐Barr virus infection in a patient with CHARGE/complete DiGeorge syndrome after peripheral blood lymphocyte transfusion

CHARGE syndrome is a rare congenital malformation syndrome which may share symptoms with DiGeorge syndrome. Complete DiGeorge syndrome (cDGS) is a severe form of DiGeorge syndrome, characterized by a CD3+ T‐cell count of <50/mm³ due to athymia, and is fatal without immunologic intervention. We performed peripheral blood lymphocyte transfusion (PBLT) from an HLA‐identical sibling without pretransplant conditioning in a CHARGE/cDGS patient with a novel CHD7 splice site mutation. Cyclosporine and short‐term methotrexate were used for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, and neither acute nor chronic GVHD was observed. After PBLT, T‐cell proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A recovered, and intractable diarrhea improved. EBV infection, evidenced by a gradual increase in the viral genome copy number to a maximum of 2861 copies/μgDNA on day 42 after PBLT, resolved spontaneously. HLA A2402 restricted, EBV‐specific CTLs were detected from peripheral blood on day 148, and EBV seroconversion was observed on day 181. Thus, EBV‐specific immunity was successfully established by PBLT. Our results indicate that PBLT is a simple and effective therapy to reconstitute immune systems in CHARGE/DiGeorge syndrome.     

Characteristics of spinopelvic alignment in Parkinson's disease: Comparison with adult spinal deformity

Purpose

The characteristics and pathogenesis of spinopelvic alignment in Parkinsons's disease (PD) patients—including differences compared to non-PD subjects and their relationships with the severity of PD—have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of spinopelvic alignment in patients with PD.

Global patterning of the vertebrate mesoderm.

We describe recent advances in the understanding of patterning in the vertebrate post-cranial mesoderm. Specifically, we discuss the integration of local information into global level information that results in the overall coordination along the anterioposterior axis. Experiments related to the integration of the axial and appendicular musculoskeletal systems are considered, and examples of genetic interactions between these systems are outlined. We emphasize the utility of the terms primaxial and abaxial as an aid to understanding development of the vertebrate musculoskeletal system, and hypothesize that the lateral somitic frontier is a catalyst for evolutionary change.     

Effects of whole-body and local thermal stress on hydrostatic volume changes in the human calf

In the present study, we examined the effect of thermal stress on the magnitude and pattern of change in leg volume during orthostatic stress and thigh occlusion in humans. Ten healthy volunteers underwent whole-body thermal stress produced by a cool- or hot-water-perfused suit and local heat stress of the calf. During whole-body thermal stress, changes of calf circumference during head-up tilt (HUT) at angles of 15° and 60° for 2 min each were monitored. In the supine position, the distensibility of the calf veins was evaluated from the magnitude and half-time of the change in calf circumference during thigh cuff occlusions at 20, 30, 50, 70, and 80 mmHg. Skin blood flow in the calf was measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Skin blood flow increased by [mean (SEM)] 295 (71)% with whole-body heating and decreased by 31 (4)% with whole-body cooling. Local heating of the calf increased skin blood flow in the heated area by 263 (25)%. During HUT, the calf cross-sectional area, calculated from the circumference, increased rapidly during whole-body heating and slowly during the cooling. The magnitude of the increase in calf area with HUT did not alter during whole-body heating, whereas it was reduced during cooling compared with the normothermic control. Whole-body and local heating did not alter the magnitude of change in calf area at a given cuff pressure, whereas whole-body cooling decreased it. The time to the half-maximal response of the change in calf circumference was shortened by 35 (17)% during whole-body heating and by 44 (4)% during local heating, whereas it was prolonged by 31 (16)% during whole-body cooling compared with the normothermic control. These results indicate that the magnitude and the pattern of change in calf volume during the early phase of orthostatic stress are modulated due to the changes in venous distensibility and blood flow in the skin during thermal loading. Electronic Publication     

Role of integrin alpha(v)beta3 in the early phase of liver metastasis: PET and IVM analyses

To clarify the function of integrin αvβ3 in the early stage of liver metastasis, we investigated the interactions of metastatic cells with their target organ under the actual blood flow by using positron emission tomography (PET). The cells used were CHO-K1 cells and their transfectants bearing human integrin αvβ3 cDNA (αvβ3-CHO-K1 cells). The liver accumulation of αvβ3-CHO-K1 cells was significantly higher than that of CHO-K1 cells after injection via the portal vein, whereas no significant difference was observed in the lung accumulation after tail vein injection, suggesting a specific interaction of αvβ3-CHO-K1 cells with the hepatic sinusoids. Furthermore, to clarify the precise location of each cell in the liver, i.e., to determine whether individual cells were intravascularly localized or had extravasated, we performed intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVM) on the liver by using stable transfectants bearing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, namely, GFP-CHO-K1 and GFP-αvβ3-CHO-K1 cells. Both types of cells remained in the hepatic blood vessels 1 h after injection via the portal vein. On the other hand, expression of integrin αvβ3 promoted the cells to reach the extravascular region after 24 h. These results suggest the possibility that the specific accumulation of αvβ3-CHO-K1 cells in the liver is followed by migration of the cells into the extravascular region. Interestingly, the adhesion of the two types of cells to hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells in vitro did not correspond to in vivo accumulation of these cells. Therefore, integrin αvβ3 may function to promote extravasation of integrin αvβ3-expressing tumor cells in liver through a process possibly mediated by vitronectin produced by this organ. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.