Transcriptome Profiling of Lotus japonicus Roots During Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Development and Comparison with that of Nodulation

To better understand the molecular responses of plants to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, we analyzed the differential gene expression patterns of Lotus japonicus, a model legume, with the aid of a large-scale cDNA macroarray. Experiments were carried out considering the effects of contaminating microorganisms in the soil inoculants. When the colonization by AM fungi, i.e. Glomus mosseae and Gigaspora margarita, was well established, four cysteine protease genes were induced. In situ hybridization revealed that these cysteine protease genes were specifically expressed in arbuscule-containing inner cortical cells of AM roots. On the other hand, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related genes for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase, etc. were repressed in the later stage, although they were moderately up-regulated on the initial association with the AM fungus. Real-time RT–PCR experiments supported the array experiments. To further confirm the characteristic expression, a PAL promoter was fused with a reporter gene and introduced into L. japonicus, and then the transformants were grown with a commercial inoculum of G. mosseae. The reporter activity was augmented throughout the roots due to the presence of contaminating microorganisms in the inoculum. Interestingly, G. mosseae only colonized where the reporter activity was low. Comparison of the transcriptome profiles of AM roots and nitrogen-fixing root nodules formed with Mesorhizobium loti indicated that the PAL genes and other phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related genes were similarly repressed in the two organs

A novel surgical treatment for labial adhesion – The combination of Z- and Y-V-plasty : A case report.

Labial adhesion is characterised by complete or partial fusion of the labia minora. It occurs rarely in postmenopausal women. Although various methods have been proposed, there is no established treatment for postmenopausal patients with labial adhesions due to its low prevalence in this age group. Severe cases require surgical intervention, and the postoperative recurrence rate is relatively high at 14–20%. In this study, a novel therapeutic method was designed to treat labial adhesions: a combination of Z- and Y-V-plasty. An 82-year-old woman was diagnosed with severe long labial adhesion during an episode of urinary tract infection. The labia could not be separated manually; hence, Z-plasty was performed on the ventral side and Y-V-plasty on the anal side under general anaesthesia. No recurrence was noted eight months postoperatively. This method is relatively easy and produced the desired therapeutic effect with decreased risk of recurrence. This is a novel approach for postmenopausal patients with severe labial adhesion

Current Overview of Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, is a heterogeneous disorder characterised by bone fragility, multiple fractures, bone deformity, and short stature. OI is a heterogeneous disorder primarily caused by mutations in the genes involved in the production of type 1 collagen. Severe OI is perinatally lethal, while mild OI can sometimes not be recognised until adulthood. Severe or lethal OI can usually be diagnosed using antenatal ultrasound and confirmed by various imaging modalities and genetic testing. The combination of imaging parameters obtained by ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resource imaging (MRI) can not only detect OI accurately but also predict lethality before birth. Moreover, genetic testing, either noninvasive or invasive, can further confirm the diagnosis prenatally. Early and precise diagnoses provide parents with more time to decide on reproductive options. The currently available postnatal treatments for OI are not curative, and individuals with severe OI suffer multiple fractures and bone deformities throughout their lives. In utero mesenchymal stem cell transplantation has been drawing attention as a promising therapy for severe OI, and a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of cell therapy is currently ongoing. In the future, early diagnosis followed by in utero stem cell transplantation should be adopted as a new therapeutic option for severe OI

An abdominal-sacral approach with preoperative embolisation for vulvar solitary fibrous tumour : a case report.

Background:Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) in the female genital tract are uncommon. Resection of these tumours is controversial because it can cause life-threatening haemorrhage. We report a case of vulvar SFT that was excised in a combined abdominal-sacral approach after preoperative embolisation.Case presentation:At another hospital, an inoperable intrapelvic tumour was diagnosed in a 34-year-old woman. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the uterus, urinary bladder and rectum were compressed laterally by a pelvic tumour with a maximum diameter of 11 cm. This mass was hypervascular and had a well-defined border. Transperineal biopsy was performed, and immunostaining revealed that the mass was an SFT. The tumour was supplied by feeding vessels from the right iliac arteries. First, we embolised the feeding vessels. Second, we performed surgical resection in a combined abdominal-sacral approach; no blood transfusion was necessary, and no perioperative complications occurred. The final pathological diagnosis was SFT that was positive for CD34 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 according to immunohistochemical staining.Conclusion:During a year of follow-up, the disease did not recur. Treatment of pelvic SFT should aim at complete resection through various approaches after careful measures are taken to prevent haemorrhage

Human matrix metalloproteinases: An ubiquitarian class of enzymes involved in several pathological processes

Human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to the M10 family of the MA clan of endopeptidases. They are ubiquitarian enzymes, structurally characterized by an active site where a Zn(2+) atom, coordinated by three histidines, plays the catalytic role, assisted by a glutamic acid as a general base. Various MMPs display different domain composition, which is very important for macromolecular substrates recognition. Substrate specificity is very different among MMPs, being often associated to their cellular compartmentalization and/or cellular type where they are expressed. An extensive review of the different MMPs structural and functional features is integrated with their pathological role in several types of diseases, spanning from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and to neurodegeneration. It emerges a very complex and crucial role played by these enzymes in many physiological and pathological processes

Marked attenuation of the amplitude of transcranial motor-evoked potentials after intravenous bolus administration of ketamine: a case report

Abstract Background It is believed that ketamine does not affect motor-evoked potential amplitude, whereas various anesthetic drugs attenuate the amplitude of transcranial motor-evoked potential. However, we encountered a patient with marked attenuation of motor-evoked potential amplitude after intravenous bolus administration of ketamine. Case presentation A 15-year-old Japanese girl with a diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was admitted to our hospital to undergo posterior spinal fusion at T4–L3. After induction of general anesthesia using a continuous infusion of propofol and remifentanil, we confirmed that transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials were being recorded correctly. Ketamine 1.25 mg/kg was administered intravenously for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. About 3 minutes later, the motor-evoked potential amplitude was markedly attenuated. No other drugs were administered except for ketamine. The patient’s vital signs were stable, and the surgery had not yet started. The motor-evoked potential amplitude was recovered at about 6 minutes after administration of ketamine. The surgery was performed uneventfully, and the patient had no neurologic deficit when she emerged from general anesthesia. Conclusions Although there is a widely held belief in the field of anesthesiology that ketamine does not affect motor-evoked potential amplitude, it has been suggested that ketamine could affect its monitoring

Systematic review of the use of intravenous amiodarone and nifekalant for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Japan

AbstractBackgroundIntravenous amiodarone is considered to be the first-line drug for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. However, in Japan, nifekalant had been used before the introduction of amiodarone; therefore, most clinical studies on amiodarone use have been small-scale studies. The aim of the present study was to review the literature concerning the actual use of amiodarone and nifekalant in order to evaluate the effects of both drugs and the most appropriate mode of administration.MethodsThe Japan Medical Abstracts Society, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to identify the reports. The resulting data were used for a systematic review focusing on the effectiveness of amiodarone in comparison with that of nifekalant and the dose differential effect of amiodarone.ResultsThe search returned 9 studies, including 310 patients, that compared the effectiveness of amiodarone and nifekalant, as well as 3 studies, including 108 patients, that analyzed the effectiveness of treatment according to amiodarone dose. Of 418 patients, 187 in whom amiodarone was used for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were included in a review that compared the doses recommended by Japanese guidelines 2009 (125mg intravenous [i.v.] over 10min) and the American Heart Association guidelines (300mg bolus i.v.). Amiodarone and nifekalant were equally effective in preventing electrical storm (67% vs. 67%). The defibrillation effect for CPR was also equal in the 2 groups (60% vs. 54%). Hypotension and bradycardia were recorded as adverse effects in the amiodarone group (9.5% and 5.3%), whereas torsades de pointes was observed in the nifekalant group (1.4%). In the analysis of the dose-differential effect of amiodarone, the rates of successful return of spontaneous circulation and discharge survival were higher in the 125-mg slow i.v. group than in the 300-mg bolus i.v. group (76% vs. 53% and 54% vs. 26%, respectively).ConclusionsAmiodarone and nifekalant were equivalent in their prophylactic and defibrillation efficacy. Concerning the initial amiodarone dose, the 125mg intravenous [i.v.] over 10min seemed to be more appropriate for the Japanese population

Additional file 1 of Bleeding risk factors and real-world antithrombotic therapies in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective study

Additional File 1: Supplementary material 1 to 10

Systematic review of the use of intravenous amiodarone and nifekalant for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Japan

Background: Intravenous amiodarone is considered to be the first-line drug for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. However, in Japan, nifekalant had been used before the introduction of amiodarone; therefore, most clinical studies on amiodarone use have been small-scale studies. The aim of the present study was to review the literature concerning the actual use of amiodarone and nifekalant in order to evaluate the effects of both drugs and the most appropriate mode of administration. Methods: The Japan Medical Abstracts Society, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to identify the reports. The resulting data were used for a systematic review focusing on the effectiveness of amiodarone in comparison with that of nifekalant and the dose differential effect of amiodarone. Results: The search returned 9 studies, including 310 patients, that compared the effectiveness of amiodarone and nifekalant, as well as 3 studies, including 108 patients, that analyzed the effectiveness of treatment according to amiodarone dose. Of 418 patients, 187 in whom amiodarone was used for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were included in a review that compared the doses recommended by Japanese guidelines 2009 (125 mg intravenous [i.v.] over 10 min) and the American Heart Association guidelines (300 mg bolus i.v.). Amiodarone and nifekalant were equally effective in preventing electrical storm (67% vs. 67%). The defibrillation effect for CPR was also equal in the 2 groups (60% vs. 54%). Hypotension and bradycardia were recorded as adverse effects in the amiodarone group (9.5% and 5.3%), whereas torsades de pointes was observed in the nifekalant group (1.4%). In the analysis of the dose-differential effect of amiodarone, the rates of successful return of spontaneous circulation and discharge survival were higher in the 125-mg slow i.v. group than in the 300-mg bolus i.v. group (76% vs. 53% and 54% vs. 26%, respectively). Conclusions: Amiodarone and nifekalant were equivalent in their prophylactic and defibrillation efficacy. Concerning the initial amiodarone dose, the 125 mg intravenous [i.v.] over 10 min seemed to be more appropriate for the Japanese population