The development of a mini-array for estimating the disease state of gastric adenocarcinoma by array CGH

Background  

The treatment strategy usually depends on the disease state in the individual patient. However, it is difficult to estimate the disease state before treatment in many patients. The purpose of this study was to develop a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) mini-array allowing for the estimation of node metastasis, liver metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and the depth of tumor invasion in gastric cancers.     

Possible application to medium-term organ bioassays for renal carcinogenesis modifiers in rats treated with N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine and unilateral nephrectomy.

The effects of the renal tumor promoters; beta-cyclodextrin (beta-C), DL-serine (DL-S), basic lead acetate (LA), trisodium nitrilotriacetate monohydrate (NTA) and potassium bromate (KB), and diethylene glycol (DEG) as a negative control, on early stage of renal carcinogenesis were investigated in unilaterally nephrectomized male Wistar rats after N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine (EHEN) administration. Wistar male rats were fed 1000 ppm EHEN diet for 2 weeks and the left kidney was removed at week 3, then the animals were divided into 7 groups of 15 rats each. These groups received the following treatments: 1000 ppm LA, 10000 ppm NTA or 500 ppm KB diet for 18 weeks from week 3; 45 mg/100 g body wt./day of beta-C injected sc for 7 days; 100 mg/100 g body wt. of DL-S injected sc biweekly for 6 weeks; 5% DEG in drinking water as a negative control for two days. Five rats in each group were killed at weeks 8, 12 and 20 and their kidneys were examined histologically. At week 20, the average numbers of adenomatous hyperplasias seen as preneoplastic lesions in the beta-C, DL-S, LA, NTA or KB groups were significantly higher than those in the DEG or control groups. Thus within a relatively short period of 20 weeks, promoting effects of chemicals can be detected as a significant increase of adenomatous hyperplasias in this model.     

A case of left atrial giant thrombus which appeared in a short period

We reported a case with left atrial giant thrombus (LAGT) which appeared over a period of six months. The patient was a 65-year-old woman who came to our hospital complaining of syncopal attack. Her electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation with very slow ventricular response, and there was cardiac arrest for 1500 ms, mitral stenosis and regurgitation, aortic and tricuspid regurgitations were recognized in the echocardiogram. By coronary angiography, 90% stenosis in the left circumflex artery (LCX) was found, and using transseptal left atrium heart catheterization, pressure gradient from the left atrium to the left ventricle was also measured. We diagnosed that her valvular diseases were mild. To protect her from unconsciousness and heart failure, a permanent pacemaker was implanted and PTCA for LCX lesion was performed. After six months, we found LAGT by echocardiography. It is very rare that LAGT is formed in a short period. We suggested that the changes of hemodynamics caused by transseptal left atrial catheterization or the permanent pacemaker implantation effected the formation of the LAGT.     

Serum concentrations of trace elements in patients with Crohn's disease receiving enteral nutrition

We investigated the trace element status in Crohn's disease (CD) patients receiving enteral nutrition, and evaluated the effects of trace element-rich supplementation. Thirty-one patients with CD were enrolled in this study. All patients were placed on an enteral nutrition regimen with Elental(R) (Ajinomoto pharmaceutical. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Serum selenium, zinc and copper concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Serum selenoprotein P levels were determined by an ELISA system. Average serum levels of albumin, selenium, zinc and copper were 4.1 +/- 0.4 g/dl, 11.2 +/- 2.8 microg/dl, 71.0 +/- 14.8 microg/dl, and 112.0 +/- 25.6 microg/dl, respectively. In 9 patients of 31 CD patients, serum albumin levels were lower than the lower limit of the normal range. Serum selenium, zinc and copper levels were lower than lower limits in 12 patients, 9 patients and 1 patient, respectively. Serum selenium levels significantly correlated with both serum selenoprotein P levels and glutathione peroxidase activity. Supplementation of selenium (100 microg/day) and zinc (10 mg/day) for 2 months significantly improved the trace element status in CD patients. In conclusion, serum selenium and zinc levels are lower in many CD patients on long-term enteral nutrition. In these patients, supplementation of selenium and zinc was effective in improving the trace element status.     

Lumped parameter model for hemodynamic simulation of congenital heart diseases

The recent development of computer technology has made it possible to simulate the hemodynamics of congenital heart diseases on a desktop computer. However, multi-scale modeling of the cardiovascular system based on computed tomographic and magnetic resonance images still requires long simulation times. The lumped parameter model is potentially beneficial for real-time bedside simulation of congenital heart diseases. In this review, we introduce the basics of the lumped parameter model (time-varying elastance chamber model combined with modified Windkessel vasculature model) and illustrate its usage in hemodynamic simulation of congenital heart diseases using examples such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Fontan circulation. We also discuss the advantages of the lumped parameter model and the problems for clinical use.     

Heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus genotype D in Japan

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes B and C are predominant in Japan. Previously, we reported that approximately 9% of HBV carriers in the Ehime area of western Japan were infected with genotype D (HBV/D) and their sequences closely related. Recently, serum samples from 3 patients with chronic HBV/D infections living in Tokyo and the surrounding area became available for testing. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the HBV/D isolates from these different areas of Japan are closely related. METHODS: Of the 3 Tokyo area patients infected with HBV/D, 2 had chronic hepatitis, and 1 had hemophilia with a history of frequent coagulation factor injections. The complete HBV/D genome sequences of each were determined, and compared with those of subjects from the Ehime area. RESULTS: All 3 HBV/D sequences had a genomic length of 3,182 bases, and the hepatitis B surface antigen subtype was ayw3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 1 of the HBV/D isolates was closely related to the isolates from Ehime Prefecture, while 1 was similar and 1 was clearly distinct. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that HBV/D infections in Japan are heterogeneous.