beta2- and beta3-Adrenoceptor polymorphisms relate to subsequent weight gain and blood pressure elevation in obese normotensive individuals.

High blood pressure (BP) is a major determinant of cardiovascular events in obesity. The beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphisms are associated with obesity and hypertension. In the present study, we examine the relationships of beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphisms with further weight gain-induced BP elevation in obese subjects. Changes in BP, body weight, total body fat-mass, waist-to-hip ratio, plasma norepinephrine (NE) and leptin levels, and beta2(Arg16Gly)- and beta3(Trp64Arg)-adrenoceptor polymorphisms were measured periodically over a 5-year period in 55 entry obese (body mass index [BMI]> or =25.0 kg/m(2)) normotensive (BP<140/90 mmHg) men. BP elevation and weight gain were defined as > or =10% increases from entry levels over 5 years in mean BP or BMI. Obese subjects with weight gain, BP elevation or weight gain-induced BP elevation had higher frequencies of the Gly16 allele of Arg16GIy and Arg64 allele of Trp64Arg. Subjects carrying the Gly16 or Arg64 alleles had significantly greater total fat-mass and waist-to-hip ratio at entry and over a 5-year period compared to the subjects who did not carry these polymorphisms. Subjects carrying the Gly16 allele had similar levels of plasma NE, higher levels of plasma leptin and a lower slope of the regression lines between plasma leptin and NE levels. Those carrying the Arg64 allele had higher plasma NE levels at entry and over a 5-year period compared to the subjects without the Arg64 allele, but plasma leptin levels and slopes were similar. The findings demonstrate that the Arg64 allele of the beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphisms relates to weight gain-induced BP elevation accompanying high plasma NE (heightened sympathetic activity) in obese men. The Gly16 allele of the beta2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms links to weight gain-induced BP elevation associated with leptin resistance. beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphisms could predict the future BP elevation and further weight gain-induced BP elevation in originally obese subjects.     

Effect of hyaluronan on the healing of partially ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of rabbits

The midportion of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of rabbits was partially transected, and the effect of hyaluronan (HA) on its healing was determined. A 1% solution of HA (HA group) or physiological phosphate-buffered saline (control group) was administered intraarticularly, at 0.1 ml/kg body weight, once a week from 1 week after the operation. Two, 4, and 6 weeks after the initiation of HA administration, the ACLs were examined grossly, histologically and immunohistochemically. At 2 weeks, the lacerated portions were completely covered with scar-like tissue in both groups. These tissue areas were smaller in the HA group than in the control group. Histologically in the HA group, the regularity of collagen fibers (indicating the maturity of regenerated collagen fibers) had increased compared to findings in the control group, and the number of fibroblastic cells decreased gradually at a significantly faster rate. The number of inflammatory cells and blood vessels decreased gradually in both groups, with these values being lower in the HA group at each time point but not significantly so. Immunohistochemical examination of the repaired tissue revealed strong staining with anti-chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan antibody in the HA group 2 weeks after the first HA administration. The staining gradually became reduced, with the rate of reduction being faster in the HA group than in the control group. The stimulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan production and the faster reduction of it in the HA group suggests that HA facilitated tissue repair and inhibited the formation of scar tissue.     

Effect of systemic zinc administration on delayed neuronal death in the gerbil hippocampus

The divalent cation zinc has been reported to possess several physiological properties such as blocking apoptotic cell death through an inhibitory effect on Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺ endonuclease activity, or modulating the neurotoxicity via glutamate receptor subtypes. In the present study, we investigated the effect of peripherally injected zinc on delayed neuronal death seen in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia, in order to elucidate a possible beneficial role on zinc in ischemic neuronal cell death. Forty-five adult Mongolian gerbils of both sexes underwent transient bilateral clipping of the common carotid arteries for 3 min. In the pretreated animals, ZnCl₂ (20 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously once, 1 h before ischemia (superacute group; n=6) or twice at 24 and 48 h before ischemia (subacute group; n=14). Histological survey was carried out 3 days later by in situ DNA fragmentation method and 4 days later by hematoxylin-eosin staining by semiquantatively counting dead neurons in the CA1 sector. Subacute zinc pre-administration significantly reduced the nuclear damage and subsequent neuronal death; however, superacutely pre-administered zinc did not protect hippocampal neurons against ischemia but it did not aggravate the effect of ischemia, either. The present study suggested that transfer of exogenous zinc into the intracellular space is required for neuroprotection, presumably via the anti-endonuclease activity.     

Action of Isoflurane on the Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons of the Adult Rat Spinal Cord

Background: Although isoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, can block the motor response to noxious stimulation (immobility and analgesia) and suppress autonomic responsiveness, how it exerts these effects at the neuronal level in the spinal cord is not fully understood.

Methods: The effects of a clinically relevant concentration (1 rat minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) of isoflurane on electrically evoked and spontaneous excitatory/inhibitory transmission and on the response to exogenous administration of the [gamma]-aminobutyric acid type A receptor agonist muscimol were examined in lamina II neurons of adult rat spinal cord slices using the whole cell patch clamp technique. The effect of isoflurane on the action potential-generating membrane property was also examined.

Results: Bath-applied isoflurane (1.5%, 1 rat MAC) diminished dorsal root-evoked polysynaptic but not monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents. Glutamatergic miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were also unaffected by isoflurane. In contrast, isoflurane prolonged the decay phase of evoked and miniature [gamma]-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and increased the amplitude of the muscimol-induced current. Isoflurane had little effect on action potential discharge activity.     

Effect of repeated transcatheter arterial embolization on the survival time in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. An analysis by the Cox proportional hazard model.

One hundred fifty-eight patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) as repeatedly as possible. Survival rates at the end of the first, second, and third year were 76.5%, 54.5%, and 41.1%, respectively. In 142 patients with repeated TAE, a significantly increased number of patients with complete necrosis of tumor was observed after repetition of the therapy. Adjusting the imbalance in prognostic factors among patients by using Cox proportional hazard model, it proved that the best response during the repeated therapy, rather than the first response, was significantly associated with survival period of the patients. Aside from the factor of response to the treatment, tumor size was the worst prognostic factor at the time when diagnosis was made. Other significant factors were portal vein invasion by HCC and bilirubin. The survival period of patients with HCC treated by repeated TAE was, therefore, affected by cancer factors, liver cirrhosis factors, and therapy-responsiveness factors. It is concluded that even if complete necrosis of tumor is not obtained after the first trial, repetition of TAE is an effective measure for prolonging of survival time in patients with HCC.     

Gene polymorphism of myospryn (cardiomyopathy-associated 5) is associated with left ventricular wall thickness in patients with hypertension.

We examined a gene polymorphism of a novel Z-disc-related protein, myospryn (cardiomyopathy-associated 5). We focused on one haplotype block associated with a tag single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that covered 16 of 27 coding SNPs with linkage disequilibrium (minor allele frequency 0.413). Screening a myospryn polymorphism (K2906N) in a general health check-up of a rural Japanese population revealed an association with cardiac diseases (p=0.0082). In further analysis of the interaction between K2906N and cardiac function in patients, K2906N was associated with the anteroseptal wall thickness of the left ventricle in a recessive model (p=0.0324) and with the ratio of the peak velocity of the early diastolic filling wave to the peak velocity of atrial filling (A/E) (p=0.0278). In an association study based on left ventricular wall thickness, we found a significant difference in the K2906N genotype between controls and patients with cardiac hypertrophy. These results suggest that the K2906N polymorphism could be clinically associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction independent of known parameters. Although the precise mechanism underlying this association remains to be elucidated, treatment with angiotensin II induced an increase in heart myospryn mRNA level in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the polymorphism of myospryn is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, and an association between a Z-disc protein and cardiac adaptation in response to pressure overload.     

Detailed Analysis of Mucosal Restoration of the Small Intestine After the Cavitary Two-Layer Cold Storage Method

Small bowel transplantation (SBT) is associated with a high incidence of infectious complications because of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) mucosal injury concomitant with potent immunosuppression. In this study, we evaluated whether the cavitary two-layer method (cTLM) could reduce I/R injury and allow early mucosal restoration, particularly after prolonged preservation and transplantation. Canine heterotopic segmental SBT was performed immediately without preservation (group 1), after 24-h preservation in UW solution (group 2) or by the cTLM (group 3). The graft samples were taken 1 h after reperfusion and on days 1, 4 and 7. We assessed graft mucosa with detailed microscopic and electromicroscopic analyses. In Group 3, histological injury and cell apoptosis after transplantation were significantly alleviated and rapidly recovered to a similar level of group 1. The mucosal restoration was morphologically completed within 4 days. In contrast, in group 2, more pronounced mucosal injury and delayed recovery were noted. Crypt cell proliferation activity was well maintained in groups 1 and 3 throughout the experimental period. Our ultrastructural analysis suggested that mitochondrial integrity achieved by the cTLM was a basal mechanism under the prompt mucosal restoration. The cTLM could reduce I/R injury, facilitate mucosal regeneration and restore the nearly normal structure early after SBT.