Inactivation of the p16 gene by hypermethylation and loss of heterozygosity in adenocarcinoma of the lung

We investigated the aberrant promoter hypermethylation of p16, p15 and p14 genes and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 9p21-22 in 48 cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung. The frequencies of hypermethylation of genes were as follows: p16, 25.0%; p15, 22.9%; and p14, 18.8%. The frequency of LOH at chromosome 9p21-22 was 60.9%. The frequency of two-hit inactivation of the p16 gene by hypermethylation and LOH was 21.7%. Two-hit inactivation of the p16 gene showed loss of protein expression and was significantly correlated with tumor size, tumor grade and the Ki-67 labeling index. Hypermethylation of the p16 gene was not significantly correlated with hypermethylation of the p15 and p14 genes, both of which are close to the p16 gene locus, suggesting that hypermethylation of these genes occurs selectivity. In conclusion, biallelic inactivation of the p16 gene by hypermethylation and LOH might cause loss of p16 expression and play an important role in the development of adenocarcinoma of the lung. Therefore, controlling and monitoring for hypermethylation of the p16 gene may be partially useful for treatment and early diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung.     

Diagnostic impact of monitoring transcranial motor-evoked potentials to prevent ischemic complications during endovascular treatment for intracranial aneurysms

Neurosurgical Review - The present study aimed to determine the incidence of intraprocedural motor-evoked potential (MEP) changes and to correlate them with intraprocedural ischemic complications...     

RhoN, a novel small GTP-binding protein expressed predominantly in neurons and hepatic stellate cells

A cDNA encoding a novel member of the small molecular weight GTP-binding protein (small G-protein) superfamily was cloned from rat spinal cord. The deduced amino acid sequence was highly homologous with those of so-far-known Rho proteins. Rho proteins were reported to alter many important cellular functions including formation of both actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. RNA blot hybridization and in situ hybridization analyses indicated that the novel small G-protein is expressed specifically in neurons in the brain and spinal cord and also in hepatic stellate cells. Based on the sequence similarity and neuron-specific expression in the brain, this protein was named RhoN. Unlike classical Rho proteins, RhoN was not susceptible to the ADP-ribosylation reaction by C3 botulinum toxin. Accordingly, RhoN seemed to be specifically involved in neuronal and hepatic functions as a C3 toxin-insensitive member of the Rho subfamily. Then, a mouse genomic DNA segment containing the RhoN gene was cloned. The locus was mapped on the mouse chromosome 11C-D. The sequence data showed that the protein-coding sequence for RhoN is divided by 4 introns, and that the defined 5 exons may encode intramolecular domains serving for different functions.     

DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION BY EXAMINATION OF PLACENTA: Application of Polymerase Chain Reaction and in Situ Hybridization

We examined the placentas of 12 patients in whom congenital cytomegalovirus CMV infection was suspected from serological and or pathological evaluation. Seven patients died including four intrauterine deaths and five survived. On histological examination, the characteristic inclusion bodies were detected in only three placentas, and villitis with plasma cell infiltration was seen in eight placentas. Immunohistochemistry using a specific antibody against CMV improved the sensitivity of CMV detection 10 cases were positive . With the polymerase chain reaction PCR following the extraction of DNA from formaldehyde-fixed placenta samples, CMV DNA was detected in seven cases. All 12 subjects were diagnosed with CMV infection by additional Southern blot analysis after the PCR. CMV DNA was also detected by an in situ hybridization method in all cases. With current molecular biological techniques the placenta can be reliably used for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.     

Effect of olprinone hydrochloride on cerebral blood flow in patients after cardiac surgery

This study was designed to investigate the effect of olprinone hydrochloride on cerebral blood flow in ten patients after cardiac surgery by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). We assessed cerebral blood flow in the middle cerebral artery by transtemporal approach and in the carotid siphon by transorbital approach. We measured the mean blood flow velocity in the left middle cerebral artery (Vmca) and the left carotid siphon (Vlca) and calculated the pulsatility index in the left middle cerebral artery (PImca) and the left carotid siphon (PIlca) using 2 MHz transcranial Doppler ultrasound system (DWL Multidop-P). After baseline measurement, the olprinone hydrochloride loading dosage was increased from 0.15 to 0.3 microgram.kg-1.min-1 every 60 minutes. The mean blood flow velocity was measured at each point. Vmca and Vlca significantly increased, and PImca and PIlca significantly decreased at the infusion rate of 0.3 microgram.kg-1.min-1. There were significant linear correlations between CI and Vmca, CI and Vlca, SVRI and Vmca, as well as SVRI and Vlca. Dose-response relationships were observed in CI, SVRI, Vmca, and Vlca. In conclusion, we demonstrated that olprinone hydrochloride led to an increase of cerebral blood flow in the patients after cardiac surgery.     

A set of SNPs near or within STR regions useful for discriminating native Lake Biwa and introduced “Eurasian” strains of common carp

We present a set of nuclear DNA SNPs useful for discriminating native Lake Biwa and introduced ??Eurasian?? strains of common carp, and further, for detecting their hybridization. Such SNPs were searched around short tandem repeat (STR) regions to be used later as HapSTR markers. A total of 62 microsatellite locus were screened with PCR and direct sequencing. The resultant nucleotide sequences from typical Lake Biwa (n?=?30) and ??Eurasian?? (n?=?24) specimens indicated that a total of 21 SNPs distributed across 7 loci would be useful for the above-mentioned purpose. All of the SNPs can be genotyped by direct sequencing, simultaneously with STR polymorphisms.     

Familial Crohn's disease with systemic lupus erythematosus

We describe a young Japanese woman who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease affecting the ileum, transverse colon, and rectum, as confirmed by barium studies, colonoscopy, and histopathological examination. Her father and sister also had Crohn's disease. After a 4-yr course of sulfasalazine and elemental diet therapy, she was readmitted for perianal abscess associated with the presence of pancytopenia, microhematuria with granular cast, hypocomplementemia, and high titers of autoimmune antibodies (anti-ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies). Based on these features, a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was made. Despite the rarity of such combination (Crohn's disease with SLE), patients with Crohn's disease who develop such clinical findings might need evaluation for SLE.