Delayed neural damage is induced by iNOS-expressing microglia in a brain injury model

Most CNS diseases begin with inflammation with subsequent neural damage eventually occurring; however, the process leading from the onset of inflammation to neural damage remains obscure. We used an artificial brain injury mouse model and examined how neural damage occurred in the brain parenchyma. The damaged area in each mouse was clearly observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the progression of damage was observed to occur in a biphasic manner (acute damage, within 1 week; delayed damage, after 2 weeks). We found that the delayed neural damage was absent in iNOS-deficient mice (iNOS-KO mice). Then, we analyzed brain tissues and determined that delayed neural damage was accompanied by an increase in the levels of NO end products and iNOS expression, with accumulation of iNOS-expressing microglia around the injured area. In addition, the expression of IL-1β mRNA was increased in areas affected by acute damage, but not in those affected by delayed damage. These findings suggest that delayed neural damage might arise from NO production by iNOS-expressing activated microglia and that such activated microglia might become a therapeutic target for many CNS diseases.     

Metabolic cardiovascular disease risk factors and their clustering in subclinical hypothyroidism

Objective A possible association between subclinical hypothyroidism and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported. Monitoring of atomic‐bomb survivors for late effects of radiation exposure at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation has provided the opportunity to examine associations between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic CVD risk factors. The objective of the study was to evaluate associations between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic CVD risk factors, and a cluster of these factors. Design and participants This was a cross‐sectional study of 3549 subjects (mean age 70 years; 1221 men and 2328 women) between 2000 and 2003 comprising 306 subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism and 3243 control euthyroid subjects in Japan. Measurements We investigated associations between subclinical hypothyroidism and metabolic CVD risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and hyperuricaemia, and a cluster of these factors. Results Subclinical hypothyroidism was not significantly associated with either hypertension, diabetes mellitus or hyperuricaemia defined by taking into account the use of medications in both men and women, but in men it was associated with dyslipidaemia (P = 0·02). We observed a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for the presence of three or more metabolic CVD risk factors in men with subclinical hypothyroidism after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status [OR: 1·83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·13–2·94, P = 0·01]. The significant associations remained after an additional adjustment for atomic‐bomb radiation dose. Conclusions There appears to be a significant increase in a cluster of metabolic CVD risk factors among people with subclinical hypothyroidism.     

Acoustic Impedance Analysis with High-Frequency Ultrasound for Identification of Fatty Acid Species in the Liver

Acoustic properties of free fatty acids present in the liver were studied as a possible basis for non-invasive ultrasonic diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Acoustic impedance was measured for the following types of tissue samples: Four pathologic types of mouse liver, five kinds of FFAs in solvent and five kinds of FFAs in cultured Huh-7 cells. A transducer with an 80-MHz center frequency was incorporated into a scanning acoustic microscopy system. Acoustic impedance was calculated from the amplitude of the signal reflected from the specimen surface. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in acoustic impedance not only among pathologic types, but also among the FFAs in solvent and in cultured Huh-7 cells. These results suggest that each of the FFAs, especially palmitate, oleate and palmitoleate acid, can be distinguished from each other, regardless of whether they were in solution or absorbed by cells.     

Prognostic value of 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma: A retrospective study of 18 cases

Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma with rapid growth and poor prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 18 patients with CAS who underwent ¹⁸F‐Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) at the initial visit to the Department of Dermatology, Okayama University Hospital from September 2006 to March 2016. In the univariate survival analysis, patients with high standardized uptake values (SUV_max) of the primary tumor showed significantly poorer prognosis than those with low SUV_max. Early assessment of prognosis using PET/CT may predict patient survival and is useful in the selection of therapeutic strategies.     

Crown angulation measured by laser scanner

The aim of this study was to measure the crown angulation of Japanese subjects with normal occlusion using a laser scanner to minimize human error. Twenty study models with normal occlusion were scanned by laser scanner. Crown angulations of each tooth in scanned 3D dental images were measured according to Andrews’ procedure. In Andrews’ procedure, a plane was established along the mesiodistal contact points of each tooth. The crown angulations of each tooth were measured by projecting the facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) and a vertical line from the occlusal plane, and the mean and standard deviation were calculated. In maxillary teeth, the canine crown angulation was highest at about 7°, thus indicating a mesial tip, which was seen in all teeth except the second molar. In mandibular teeth, the second molar crown angulation was highest at about 7°, thus indicating a mesial tip, and only the lateral incisor exhibited slight distal tip, while all the remaining teeth exhibited mesial tip. Standard deviations for the maxillary and mandibular teeth ranged from 2.5° to 8°. The standard deviation of the maxillary and mandibular second molars was particularly large.