Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary and brain of three teleost fish species: somatostatin as a potential regulator of prolactin cell function

Somatostatin-like immunofluorescence occurs in the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis of three euryhaline teleosts: tilapia, killifish, and mudsucker. This immunofluorescence was eliminated by incubating the primary antibody with excess somatostatin or somatostatin-28 but not with urotensin II, a partial analogue of somatostatin. In all three fishes, the strongest reaction was seen in the proximal pars distalis and parts of the pars intermedia. Strongly fluorescing processes from cells of the preoptic nucleus extend toward the pituitary. Distinct fluorescence was also associated with the neurohypophysis penetrating into the rostral pars distalis in the tilapia but not in the killifish or mudsucker. In the tilapia, an extensive network of immunofluorescent fibers and small cells were present in the anterior dorsolateral telencephalon, in addition to a moderately fluorescing group of cells anterolateral to the preoptic nucleus. A small area of diffuse fluorescence was also seen in the anterior dorsolateral midbrain tegmentum. Previous physiological studies have implicated somatostatin as a regulator of prolactin cell activity in tilapia. The present study demonstrates the route by which somatostatin may be delivered to the rostral pars distalis to inhibit prolactin secretion.     

Duodenal erosions after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND: There is interest in the development of GERD after Helicobacter pylori eradication. In contrast, the development of duodenal erosions after therapy has received scant attention. Patients were examined after eradication of H pylori infection to determine the frequency of post-therapy duodenal erosions (primary outcome) and whether there was a relation between development of duodenal and esophageal erosions. Additionally, factors were searched for that would identify patients at increased risk for duodenal erosions. METHODS: A single-center, endoscopist-blinded, observational study was conducted of 196 patients in whom H pylori was eradicated. The presence of esophageal or duodenal erosions was evaluated 4 weeks and 6 months after eradication. Serum gastrin and pepsinogen I (PG I) and II (PG II) levels were also determined for 83 patients entering the study during its final year. RESULTS: Multiple small duodenal erosions developed in 8.6% of patients after H pylori eradication and were more common in patients with pre-eradication duodenal ulcer (27.8%) compared with those with gastric ulcer (6.7%) or atrophic gastritis (1.4%) (p < 0.05). Duodenal erosions were associated with high levels of PG I before and after eradication. The frequency of duodenal erosions decreased over time (3.1% by 6 months). CONCLUSION: Duodenal erosions occur after H pylori eradication and appear to be related to duodenal ulcer and increased PG I levels, both of which are associated with increased acid secretion. Measurement of PG I may help to identify patients who have duodenal erosions develop after H pylori therapy for studies of the pathogenesis of these lesions.     

Noninvasive transcutaneous low frequency ultrasound enhances thrombolysis in peripheral and coronary arteries

Previous studies have shown that external ultrasound with low frequencies and high intensities can enhance thrombolytic drug-induced clot dissolution during in vitro experiments. In this series of studies, we evaluated the efficacy of peripheral and coronary thrombolysis in vivo in animals by using noninvasive transcutaneous ultrasound combined with thrombolytic drugs (streptokinase and tPA) and/or microbubbles agents (dodecafluoropentane [DDFP] and perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin [PESDA]). Thrombotic occlusions were induced in 74 rabbit iliofemoral arteries and 24 canine left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries in this in vivo study. By using the combination of transcutaneous ultrasound and streptokinase, the angiographic patency rate in rabbit iliofemoral arteries was higher (56%-100%) than with ultrasound (6%; P < or = 0.0036) and streptokinase alone (6%; P < or = 0.0012). Also, with transcutaneous ultrasound and microbubbles, the angiographic patency rates were 76%-100% as compared with ultrasound alone (0%, P < or = 0.0003) or microbubbles alone (9%, P < or = 0.0001). In the canine study of acute myocardial infarction, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade flow at 90 minutes in the tPA alone group was 0.92 +/- 1.4 as compared with 2.42 +/- 1.9 in the tPA plus transthoracic ultrasound group (P = 0.006). There was much improved reperfusion with tPA plus ultrasound as compared with tPA alone. In vivo animal studies demonstrate that noninvasive transcutaneous ultrasound can greatly enhance the effect of clot dissolution with thrombolytic drugs and/or microbubbles, and has the potential for clinical application as an adjunctive method to improve arterial thrombolysis.     

Homozygous deletion of DIS3L2 exon 9 due to non-allelic homologous recombination between LINE-1s in a Japanese patient with Perlman syndrome

Perlman syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive overgrowth disorder. Recently, the deletion of exon 9 and other mutations of the DIS3L2 gene have been reported in patients; however, the mechanism behind this deletion is still unknown. We report the homozygous deletion of exon 9 of DIS3L2 in a Japanese patient with Perlman syndrome. We identified the deletion junction, and implicate a non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between two LINE-1 (L1) elements as the causative mechanism. Furthermore, the deletion junctions were different between the paternal and maternal mutant alleles, suggesting the occurrence of two independent NAHR events in the ancestors of each parent. The data suggest that the region around exon 9 might be a hot spot of L1-mediated NAHR.     

Effect of exposure parameters and gutta-percha cone size on fracture-like artifacts in endodontically treated teeth on cone-beam computed tomography images

Oral Radiology - To ascertain the effects of exposure parameters (tube current and tube voltage) and the gutta-percha cone (GPC) size on root fracture-like artifacts obtained with cone-beam...     

Development and validation of a salmon prolactin radioimmunoassay

A highly specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of prolactin (PRL) in the plasma and pituitary of salmonid fishes was developed using a rabbit antiserum to chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) PRL. The PRLs purified from chinook salmon and chum salmon (O. keta) pituitaries showed exactly the same competitive inhibition curves in the RIA, regardless of iodination of either hormone. The displacement curves for pituitary extracts and plasma from several salmonids, including chum, coho, and amago salmon, rainbow trout, and Japanese charr, were parallel to the salmon PRL standard, whereas those from the eel, goldfish, carp, and tilapia showed negligible cross-reactivity. Negligible cross-reactivity was also seen with plasma from hypophysectomized rainbow trout or coho salmon. None of the mammalian PRL or growth hormone (GH) preparations, bullfrog PRL, or presumptive chum salmon "gonadotropin" and eel "PRL" cross-reacted in the PRL RIA. Presumptive chum salmon GH showed less than 0.05% cross-reactivity. The RIA sensitivity was less than 0.1 ng of the salmon PRL standard per milliliter. The immunoreactive plasma PRL levels in mature chum salmon were below 1 ng/ml in seawater. The plasma PRL in females increased to about 8 ng/ml 1 day after transfer to fresh water, and high levels (2-4 ng/ml) were maintained during 3-7 days after the transfer. In contrast, when males were transferred to fresh water, an increase in plasma PRL was seen only 1 day after the transfer. A significant decrease in plasma osmolality was observed in both males and females after transfer to fresh water. No change was observed either in plasma PRL or osmolality, when fish were transferred from seawater to seawater.     

Mechanoenergetic effects of pimobendan in canine left ventricles. Comparison with dobutamine.

BACKGROUND. We hypothesized that the effect of pimobendan (UD-CG 115 BS) to increase calcium sensitivity of contractile protein might result in less myocardial oxygen consumption (VO2) in comparison with dobutamine when they enhance ventricular contractility to the same extent. To examine this hypothesis, we compared the effects of pimobendan and dobutamine on left ventricular contractility and energetics using the frameworks of Emax (contractility index) and the relation between VO2 and PVA (systolic pressure-volume area, a measure of left ventricular total mechanical energy). METHODS AND RESULTS. We measured VO2, Emax, PVA, and force-time integral (FTI) in excised, cross-circulated, nonfailing dog hearts. The slope of the VO2-PVA relation reciprocally indicates the efficiency from PVA-dependent VO2 to the total mechanical energy (contractile efficiency). The VO2 intercept of the VO2-PVA relation, i.e., PVA-independent VO2, reflects energy utilization for excitation-contraction coupling. The ratio of FTI to PVA-dependent VO2 can be called contractile economy. Both drugs comparably enhanced Emax. Although the contractile economy was greater by 14 +/- 19% (p less than 0.05) for pimobendan than for dobutamine, the contractile efficiency was similar between the two drugs. Oxygen cost of contractility, defined as the slope of the relation between the PVA-independent VO2 and Emax, was the same between the two drugs. Other mechanoenergetic effects of both drugs were similar except for a greater coronary vasodilating effect of pimobendan. CONCLUSIONS. Pimobendan has almost the same mechanoenergetic effects as dobutamine but slightly greater contractile economy and coronary vasodilation. The calcium-sensitizing effect of pimobendan did not save the oxygen cost of contractility.     

Expression of osteopontin at sites of bone erosion in a murine experimental arthritis model of collagen-induced arthritis: possible involvement of osteopontin in bone destruction in arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the involvement of osteopontin (OPN) in bone destruction in a murine experimental arthritis model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). METHODS: The expression of OPN was examined at both the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in various arthritic lesions in mice with CIA by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, the expression of alpha(v)beta3 integrin, a receptor for OPN, the ligation of which is thought to be essential for bone resorption by osteoclasts, was examined by immunohistochemistry. Plasma concentrations of OPN were measured at different time points in the course of CIA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: OPN mRNA was detected mainly at sites of bone erosion in arthritic lesions, where activated osteoclasts were present; OPN protein was also detected at sites of bone erosion. In the arthritic synovium, OPN was predominantly expressed in the synovial lining layer, but not in lymphoid aggregates. In addition, alpha(v)beta3 integrin was detected coincident with OPN at sites of bone erosion (bone-pannus junction). Plasma OPN levels were markedly elevated at the time points that corresponded to arthritis flares, and higher levels were maintained during the progression of arthritis. CONCLUSION: OPN may mediate bone resorption by osteoclasts in arthritis through ligation with its receptor, alpha(v)beta3 integrin. OPN may be a useful therapeutic target molecule in the prevention of bone destruction in arthritis.     

Identification and functional characterization of a sex pheromone receptor in the silkmoth Bombyx mori

Sex pheromones released by female moths are detected with high specificity and sensitivity in the olfactory sensilla of antennae of conspecific males. Bombykol in the silkmoth Bombyx mori was the first sex pheromone to be identified. Here we identify a male-specific G protein-coupled olfactory receptor gene, B. mori olfactory receptor 1 (BmOR-1), that appears to encode a bombykol receptor. The BmOR-1 gene is located on the Z sex chromosome, has an eight-exon/seven-intron structure, and exhibits male-specific expression in the pheromone receptor neurons of male moth antenna during late pupal and adult stages. Bombykol stimulation of Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing BmOR-1 and BmGalphaq elicited robust dose-dependent inward currents on two-electrode voltage clamp recordings, demonstrating that the binding of bombykol to BmOR-1 leads to the activation of a BmGalphaq-mediated signaling cascade. Antennae of female moths infected with BmOR-1-recombinant baculovirus showed electrophysiological responses to bombykol but not to bombykal. These results provide evidence that BmOR-1 is a G protein-coupled sex pheromone receptor that recognizes bombykol.     

Antibodies to Ro/La, Cenp-B, and snRNPs Antigens in Autoimmune Hepatitis of North America versus Asia: Patterns of Immunofluorescence, ELISA Reactivities, and HLA Association

To assess whether demography is one of theimportant factors determining antibody response tonuclear antigens [ANA: SSA-Ro (52K and 60K), SSB-La,snRNPs (A, 70K, B/B), and Cenp-B], weinvestigated 95 and 47 sera of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) fromNorth America and Asia, respectively, byimmunofluorescent (IF) and recombinant ELISA.Correlations among nuclear IF patterns, ELISA, anddisease indices were analyzed. The frequency and titer of individualantibodies differed significantly between the groups.Patients with speckled patterns were younger in bothregions and had higher aspartate aminotransferase levels only in North America. HLA-A1, B8, DQ2,and DR4 or DR3 or both in North America, and A2, B61,DQ7, and DR4 in Asia were predominant. In Asia, B61correlated with anti-70K, and DQ7 correlated with antibodies to 52K, Cenp-B, and B/B. InNorth America, A1, B8, DR3 haplotype, and DQ2 correlatedwith antibodies to A and 70K. Anti-B/B and DR4 inNorth America, and A2 in Asia, were associated withconcurrent immunologic disorder. Individual ANA clusterscorrelated with individual HLA in the demography, anddifferent HLA alleles might determine disease expressionas well as different ANA being produced inAIH.