123I-BMIPP心肌断层显像对劳力性心绞痛的诊断价值

目的 探讨安静时＾１２３Ｉ－β甲基碘苯脂十五烷酸（ＢＭＩＰＰ）心肌断层显像（简称＾１２３Ｉ－ＢＭＩＰＰ ＳＰＥＣＴ）对劳力性心绞痛的诊断价值,并与运动负荷＾２０１Ｔｌ心肌断层显像对比分析,方法 对３２例劳力性心绞痛患者及１２例健康对照者进行＾２０１Ｔｌ ＳＰＥＣＴ检查;将左室划分为９个节段,采用４级评分法对各节段放射性分布进行半定量评价（ＤＳ）。结果 心绞痛组＾２０１Ｔｌ ＳＰＥＣＴ表现为放射性分     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the porcine precursor of endothelin-2

The amino acid sequences of two of the three endothelin (ET) family peptides, ET-1 and ET-3, are identical among mammals, whereas for the other family member, ET-2 or vasoactive intestinal contractor (VIC), the mouse and rat sequences differ from the human counterpart ET-2 by one amino acid residue. To examine more deeply the structural diversity among ET-2/VIC orthologs (EDN2), we screened porcine ET-2/VIC-like cDNAs using the 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method with degenerate primers based on ET-2/VIC mature peptides. Sequence analysis of the cDNAs showed that ET-2 is present in pig. The full-length cDNA sequence, produced by combining 5' RACE and 3' RACE products, revealed the porcine precursor protein of ET-2 (PPET-2). Porcine PPET-2, made up of 214 amino acids, includes a 26-residue putative signal sequence, big ET-2, mature ET-2, and ET-2-like peptide. The percent sequence identity of porcine PPET-2 with human PPET-2, and rat or mouse precursor protein of VIC runs between approximately 70% and 74%. ET-2, although expressed in intestine, has no anti-microbial activity.     

Transient neonatal expression of NR2B/2D subunit mRNAs of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in the rat spinal cord

Physiological studies have shown that lower urinary tract function is regulated through glutamate receptors at the levels of spinal and supraspinal cord. Of the receptor family, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors mediate activity-dependent changes of synaptic efficacy, underlying synaptic plasticity and synapse development. To know the ontogenic changes of NMDA receptor expression in the visceromotor system innervating pelvic organs, including the bladder, we employed double labeling technique of retrograde neuronal tracing and in situ hybridization for detecting NMDA subunit mRNAs in preganglionic neurons (PGNs) of the lumbosacral cord. Rats at postnatal day 7 (P7), 14 (P14), 21 (P21), and adult were used. In situ hybridization was conducted using 35S-labeled antisense oligonucleotides specific to mRNAs for NMDA receptor subunits. Hybridizing signals in PGNs were detected by a dark-field microscope equipped fluorescence detector. PGNs showed strong signals for NR1 subunit mRNA at each developmental stage examined. Moderate signals for the NR2B and NR2D subunit mRNAs were found in PGNs at P7. However, their expression levels decreased thereafter, reaching the minimal level in adults. No significant signals for NR2A and NR2C subunit mRNAs were detected at any stages. This temporal pattern of expression suggests a possible involvement of NMDA receptors in the development of micturitional neural circuit through activity-dependent mechanisms.     

Association between birth weight and serum lipid concentration in premenopausal Japanese women

BACKGROUND: The relationships between birth weight and serum lipid concentrations in pre-menopausal Japanese women were not well identified and also diet and serum hormone status in these women would be considered. METHODS: A total of 59 premenopausal Japanese women completed a self-administered questionnaire including basic demographic information, disease histories, and menstrual and reproductive histories. They were asked to obtain information on birth weight recorded in mother-and-baby notebook issued by municipality from their mother. Diet was assessed by daily diet records from day 2 through day 10 of the menstrual cycle. Blood sample was collected on day 11 of the cycle to measure serum lipid and hormone concentrations (total and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterols, triglyceride, estrone, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin). RESULTS: Birth weight was significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = 0.32, p = 0.03), but not with total cholesterol and triglyceride after controlling for age. Neither estrogen nor sex hormone-binding globulin was significantly correlated with serum lipid concentrations after controlling for age and the number of days prior to the next menses. The correlation between birth weight and HDL cholesterol was not affected after additional adjustment for serum estrogen and intakes of protein, calcium, and iron. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that intrauterine growth may be associated with lipid profile.     

Immunohistological diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma based on cytoplasmic kappa/lambda ratio of CD138-positive plasma cells

Abstract For differentiating reactive plasmacytosis from clonal plasma cell neoplasms such as plasma cell myeloma (PCM), it is important to determine the expression of the cytoplasmic light chain accurately. Through retrospective analysis, we studied the cytoplasmic kappa/lambda ratio of CD138-positive plasma cells in bone marrow from 50 patients with PCM and 50 controls by immunohistological analysis. The percentage of cytoplasmic light chain immunoreactive cells out of the total plasma cell population was shown by a novel quantitative image analysis approach using an Aperio ScanScope CS and the Membrane v9 algorithm. PCM cells were distinguished from normal plasma cells by cut-off levels between 0.35 and 5.5, a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.0%. Detection of the cytoplasmic kappa/lambda ratio of CD138-positive plasma cells could be a useful tool for simple, efficient and accurate diagnosis of PCM.     

Extraordinarily favorable recovery from unilateral condylar fracture in a 4-year-old girl

Introduction

Management of condylar fractures in children is especially important. If not properly treated, these fractures may lead to serious problems, such as ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint. This article describes an extraordinarily favorable recovery after conservative treatment of a unilateral condylar fracture in a 4-year-old girl.

Case presentation

A 4-year-old Japanese girl was referred to our institution with a right mandibular condylar fracture caused by a fall. In this article, we report the 2-year follow-up of this case by clinical and radiological evaluations after conservative treatment, highlighting the strategy used.

Conclusions

The outcomes throughout the 2-year follow-up and the remodeling process of the condyle observed on panoramic radiographs and computed tomographic images proved the suitability of the conservative treatment.

     

Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic tumor of the urinary bladder with massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage in a child

Abstract A 3-year-old boy presented with persistent abdominal pain, hematuria and facial pallor with progressive anemia. A computed tomography scan showed a massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage and tumor mass in the bladder. Histological examinations of the resected tumor revealed findings of pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic tumor (PMT). The clinico-pathological features of this case warn us that PMT can cause acute abdomen syndrome with massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage.     

A rare case of vascular rejection in a renal transplant recipient with nephrotic range proteinuria

Abstract:  In the post-cyclosporine A era, it has been reported that acute rejection after kidney transplantation is commonly revealed as an asymptomatic increase in the serum creatinine level. Nephrotic range proteinuria is observed in patients with recurrent or de novo glomerulonephritis, or with chronic transplant nephropathy and glomerulopathy in the late phase. Acute rejection occurring with nephrotic range proteinuria without a rise of serum creatinine has been rarely reported. Here, we report a rare case of vascular rejection in a renal transplant recipient with nephrotic range proteinuria. A 34-yr-old male renal transplant recipient presented with acute vascular rejection and early-onset nephrotic syndrome. Severe nephrotic range proteinuria was detected with a minimally elevated level of serum creatinine. Biopsy showed severe glomerulitis and vasculitis, which was relieved by conversion of the immunosupressant regimen. Severe proteinuria was a sign of acute vascular rejection with severe glomerulitis and vasculitis. Careful observation to ensure maintenance of immunosuppression is necessary in such cases.     

Novel intronic polymorphisms in the presenilin-2 gene and a case-control association study of Alzheimer's disease

Several alleles of introns or untranslated regions in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) and presenilin-2 (PS-2) genes have been reported to behave as risk factors for senile Alzheimer's disease (AD). On the other hand, mutations in the three presenile AD genes also have been identified in a small number of sporadic presenile AD and senile AD cases. The present study evaluated the genetic contributions of PS-2 exons and introns to 56 senile and 18 Japanese cases of presenile AD using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. In the PS-2 gene, one exonic polymorphic site without amino acid substitution, 9 intronic polymorphic sites, and 2 intronic variant sites were detected. However, in all cases, amino acid substitutions in exons between 4 and 12 of the PS-2 gene were not observed. The risk factors of senile and presenile AD were evaluated using a population-based study of restriction cleavages between patients and controls in introns 3, 4, 10 and 11. Regarding PS-2, there was no association between AD and intronic polymorphisms.