Cell-specific expression of NADPH-dependent cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine-binding protein (p38CTBP)

We have previously shown that cytosolic 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-binding protein (CTBP) possesses a high affinity for T3 binding in the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in vitro, and that p38CTBP increases intracellular content of T3, and suppresses T3-mediated transactivity. Screening of mRNA expression in 73 different human tIssues has demonstrated that p38CTBP mRNA is expressed at high levels in brain and heart. We have examined the intracellular localization and tissue-specific distribution of this protein by using a specific antibody against human p38CTBP. Western blotting and immunoprecipitation studies have shown that the antibody recognizes human p38CTBP. Interaction of p38CTBP with the antibody did not affect the T3-binding activity of p38CTBP, and its dimer formation in vitro. Western blotting analysis has shown that p38CTBP is expressed in brain and heart predominantly, similar to the distribution of mRNA. Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated p38CTBP in neural cells and cardiac muscle cells. p38CTBP localizes in cytoplasm rather than in nuclei in neural cells. The evidence for the presence of tIssue-specific localization of p38CTBP has indicated that p38CTBP has a tIssue-specific function, such as the regulation of T3 delivery from cytoplasm to nuclei.     

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the parotid gland

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) arising in a major salivary gland is rare. We encountered a case of MFH affecting the parotid gland. The patient was a 54-year-old man diagnosed as having pleomorphic type of MFH after extended total parotidectomy. Examination of the resected specimen revealed the tumor had not been completely removed. Accordingly treatment consisted in the resection of MFH and radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy using carboplatin (CBDCA). This postoperative therapy was effective in controlling the growth of the remaining tumor tissue. As the patient showed no signs of local recurrence and distant metastasis for 5 years, plastic surgery was performed to improve the serious deformation of the face with a free anterolateral thigh flap. Our literature review yielded 17 cases of parotid MFH and the 2-year survival rate was 33%.     

In situ Ca2+ imaging of odor responses in a coronal olfactory epithelium slice

An in situ Ca2+ -imaging technique was adopted to monitor odorant responses of more than several hundreds of neurons simultaneously in an intact coronal slice of the mouse olfactory epithelium. The sensitivity and resolution of the slice Ca2+ -imaging were high enough to distinguish between olfactory receptor neurons with threshold concentrations in a one-order difference for a particular odorant at the single-cell level. Increasing odorant concentrations resulted in increases in the numbers of odorant-responsive neurons, which were visualized in situ in the coronal slice. The methodology established in this study is a powerful tool to visualize spatial distributions of odorant responsive neurons at a cellular resolution, and to construct odor maps in a coronal view of the olfactory epithelium.     

A congenital anterior diaphragmatic hernia with massive pericardial effusion requiring neither emergency pericardiocentesis nor operation. A case report and review of the literature

All previously reported cases of anterior, diaphragmatic hernia with massive pericardial effusion were treated by pericardiocentesis and radical surgery during the early neonatal period. However, we initially followed the course of our patient in the neonatal period. Subsequently, elective surgery was performed at 70 days of age. Including our case, cardiac tamponade has not been observed in any previously reported cases of congenital anterior diaphragmatic hernia with massive pericardial effusion. CONCLUSION: Emergency pericardiocentesis and surgery are not always required immediately after birth, even when the presence of this condition is suspected by prenatal diagnosis. Our observation may be beneficial to preterm low birth weight infants with this condition.     

Self-assessed secondary difficulties among paralytic poliomyelitis and spinal cord injury survivors in Japan

OBJECTIVE: To determine the time course of secondary worsening of difficulties (SWD) experienced by postpolio and spinal cord injury (SCI) subjects in the general population. DESIGN: Self-report survey. SETTING: Multicenter study in general community in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 662 postpolio and 736 SCI subjects who had had contact with some rehabilitation facility. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respondents completed a questionnaire about demographic factors, physical complaints, activities of daily living (ADLs), social participation, and a visual analog scale of time course for difficulties (VAST-D) devised for the present study in which the subjects drew a single curve to indicate the lifetime course of disability as they perceived it. RESULTS: Signs of SWD in all extremities of the polio patients and in the upper extremities of the SCI subjects were visually shown by the VAST-D. Additionally, the prevalence of postpolio syndrome and SWD in the SCI group was estimated to be 55.3% and 45.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SWD was visually shown by the VAST-D in polio and SCI subjects.     

Car seatbelt use during pregnancy in Japan: determinants and policy implications

CONTEXT: Pregnant women are exempted from the current seatbelt legislation in Japan despite the fact that seatbelt use is essential to reduce the risk of fatalities for these women and their fetuses in car crashes. OBJECTIVE: To examine factors that might influence seatbelt use during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross sectional study, with data collected via an anonymous, self administered questionnaire at obstetric clinics in suburban areas of Japan. Altogether 880 pregnant women receiving prenatal care in July 2001 were recruited. The relative effects of factors that might influence seatbelt use during pregnancy were estimated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Almost 70%-80% of pregnant women were consistent seatbelt wearers before pregnancy but seatbelt compliance was reduced by about half at 20 weeks or more gestation. Only 20% had received information on maternal seatbelt use, with one third reporting that seatbelt use is beneficial during pregnancy. Those who perceived that maternal seatbelt use is beneficial tended to maintain use, but daily car users and those who knew that they were exempted from seatbelt legislation were more likely to reduce use. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the legislative exemption for pregnant women, misunderstanding of the benefits, and daily car use contributed to the reduction in seatbelt use after pregnancy.     

The analysis of thymidine phosphorylase examined by ELISA in bladder cancer

PURPOSE: Some reports suggest that the high level expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), which is known as one of angiogenic factors, is related to high malignancy and also poor prognosis in the field of gastrointestinal cancer. So the authors investigated the expression of TP in bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of TP in cancer tissues and normal tissues, which were obtained during transurethral resection of the tumor of 66 patients with initial primary bladder cancer, was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And relationship of the TP expression and clinicopathologic factors was investigated. RESULTS: The level of TP expression was significantly high in cancer tissues compared with normal tissues (P < 0.0001). About the level of TP expression of cancer tissues, there was a significant difference between G1 and G3 in grade (P = 0.0099), Ta and T2 or greater (P = 0.0059), Ta, T1 and T2 or greater (P = 0.0157) in T stage, papillary and non-papillary in surface form (P = 0.0056), pedunculated and sessile in tumor shape (P = 0.0458), and 1 cm or under and 3 cm or greater in size (P = 0.0267). The level was higher in latter, respectively. About the level of TP expression of normal tissues, the level was significantly higher in the cases with sessile tumor than the cases with pedunculated tumor (P = 0.0078). CONCLUSION: There is correlation between the level of TP expression of cancer tissues and their grade of malignancy, so we can expect that the level of TP expression of cancer tissues will be a prognostic factor. And what does it mean in the fact that the level of TP expression of normal tissues in patients with sessile tumor is higher? It should be clear after accumulation of the cases and collecting the episodes in the follow-up period.