Neutral endopeptidase inhibitor suppresses the early phase of atrial electrical remodeling in a canine rapid atrial pacing model

Introduction We examined the acute effects of neutral endopeptidase inhibitor on the hemodynamics and electrical properties of dogs subjected to rapid atrial pacing. Methods Ten beagle dogs were used and divided into two groups with and without candoxatril, a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor preadministration. Before and after the 6 hours rapid atrial pacing from the right atrial appendage, the hemodynamics, atrial effective refractory period, and monophasic action potential duration of the right atrial appendage were measured and blood samples were collected. Atrial tissue was also excised after the experiment. Results Candoxatril significantly increased plasma ANP levels (Control: 88.4 ± 50.25 vs. Candoxatril: 197.1 ± 32.09 pg/ml, p = 0.004) and prevented reductions in atrial effective refractory period and monophasic action potential duration. We further demonstrated that the treated animals exhibited significantly higher levels of atrial tissue cyclic GMP (Control: 28.1 ± 1.60 fmol/mg vs. Candoxatril: 44.5 ± 12.28 fmol/mg, p = 0.034) as well as that of plasma cyclic GMP (Control: 32 ± 5.5 vs. Candoxatril: 42 ± 7.1 pg/ml, p = 0.028). Conclusion Candoxatril suppressed the shortening of atrial effective refractory period and monophasic action potential duration in the rapid atrial pacing model. As plasma ANP and the atrial tissue levels of cyclic GMP were higher in the Candoxatril group than the control, this effect was considered to appear through the reduction of calcium overload caused by ANP and cyclic GMP

Ovarian fibrothecoma with massive edema

We report a rare case of ovarian fibrothecoma with massive edema. The patient was a 59-year-old woman with a left ovarian mass measuring 11x10x7 cm. Magnetic resonance images revealed a solid mass showing unhomogeneous content with predominantly high signal intensity on T2-weighted image. Microscopically, the ovarian mass was composed of a cellular area and an edematous hypocellular area. The latter accounted for more than 75% of the tumor. In the cellular area, spindle-shaped or plump tumor cells were randomly distributed or arranged in a fascicular fashion. These cells contained abundant intracytoplasmic lipid. There was dense collagenous connective tissue in the stroma of the cellular areas. In contrast, in the edematous areas spindle or stellate cells were scattered. Alcian blue stain revealed only a small amount of stromal mucin even in the edematous areas. The microscopic findings were consistent with that of fibrothecoma with massive edema. The present case must be differentiated from massive edema of the ovary and sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary. Immunohistochemistry was not helpful in distinguishing them. The age of the patient and careful histologic observation are important

Insulin receptor cleavage induced by estrogen impairs insulin signaling

Introduction: Soluble insulin receptor (sIR), which is the ectodomain of insulin receptor (IR), is present in human plasma. Plasma sIR levels are positively correlated with blood glucose levels and negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity. An in vitro model of IR cleavage shows that extracellular calpain 2 directly cleaves IR, which generates sIR, and sequential cleavage of the IRβ subunit by γ-secretase impairs insulin signaling in a glucose concentration-dependent manner. Nevertheless, sIR levels vary among subjects with normal glucose levels. Research design and methods: We examined sIR levels of pregnant women throughout gestation. Using an in vitro model, we also investigated the molecular mechanisms of IR cleavage induced by estradiol. Results: In pregnant women, sIR levels were positively correlated with estrogen levels and significantly increased at late pregnancy independent of glucose levels. Using an in vitro model, estrogen elicited IR cleavage and impaired cellular insulin signaling. Estradiol-induced IR cleavage was inhibited by targeting of calpain 2 and γ-secretase. Estrogen exerted these biological effects via G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, and its selective ligand upregulated calpain 2 expression and promoted exosome secretion, which significantly increased extracellular calpain 2. Simultaneous stimulation of estrogen and high glucose levels had a synergic effect on IR cleavage. Metformin prevented calpain 2 release in exosomes and restored insulin signaling impaired by estrogen. Conclusions: Estradiol-induced IR cleavage causes cellular insulin resistance, and its molecular mechanisms are shared with those by high glucose levels. sIR levels at late pregnancy are significantly elevated along with estrogen levels. Therefore, estradiol-induced IR cleavage is preserved in pregnant women and could be part of the etiology of insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus and overt diabetes during pregnancy

Prognostic Factors in Endodontic Surgery Using an Endoscope: A 1 Year Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective study clarified the success rate of endoscopic endodontic surgeries and identified predictors accounting for successful surgeries. In this retrospective study, 242 patients (90 males, 152 females) who underwent endoscopic endodontic surgery at a single general hospital and were diagnosed through follow-up one year later were included. Risk factors were categorized into attributes, general health, anatomy, and surgery. Then, the correlation coefficient was calculated for the success or failure of endodontic surgery for each variable, the odds ratio was calculated for the upper variable, and factors related to the surgical prognosis factor were identified. The success rate of endodontic surgery was 95.3%, showing that it was a highly predictable treatment. The top three correlation coefficients were post, age, and perilesional sclerotic signs. Among them, the presence of posts was the highest, compared with the odds ratio, which was 9.592. This retrospective study revealed the success rate and risk factors accounting for endoscopic endodontic surgeries. Among the selected clinical variables, the presence of posts was the most decisive risk factor determining the success of endodontic surgeries

Generation of Embryonic Stem Cell Lines from Immature Rabbit Ovarian Follicles

In mammalian ovaries, many immature follicles remain after the dominant follicles undergo ovulation. Here we report the successful production of rabbit embryonic stem cells (ESCs) from oocytes produced by in vitro culture of immature follicles and subsequent in vitro maturation treatment. In total, we obtained 53 blastocysts from oocytes that received intracytoplasmic sperm injection followed by in vitro culture. Although only weak expression of POU5f1 was observed in the inner cell masses of in-vitro-cultured follicle-derived embryos, repeated careful cloning enabled establishment of 3 stable ESC lines. These ESC lines displayed the morphological characteristics of primed pluripotent stem cells. The ESC lines also expressed the pluripotent markers Nanog, POU5f1, and Sox2. Further, these ESCs could be differentiated into each of the 3 different germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate that immature follicles from rabbits can be used to generate ESCs. Moreover, the use of rabbit oocytes as a cell source provides an experimental system that closely matches human reproductive and stem cell physiology.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140197/1/scd.2012.0300.pd

A case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a woman with a symptomatic cholecystitis in the 20th week of pregnancy

We report a case of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a woman with symptomatic cholecystitis in the ２０th week of pregnancy. A ２６ year old pregnant woman visited our hospital with sudden abdominal pain on the １５th week of pregnancy. She received a proton pomp inhibitor for suspecting acute gastritis. She visited our hospital again with the same complaint on the １９th week of pregnancy. With a diagnosis of symptomatic cholecystitis, she was referred to the department of Gastroenterology at our hospital. Her symptoms recovered following fasting and resting once. However, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed because of the recurrence of symptoms at the ２０th week of pregnancy. The postoperative courses of both mother and fetus were well. She was discharged on the ４th postoperative day. She delivered a bouncing baby on the ３７th week ４ day at natural childbirth

Ablation of Myeloid Cell MRP8 Ameliorates Nephrotoxic Serum-induced Glomerulonephritis by Affecting Macrophage Characterization through Intraglomerular Crosstalk

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and one of its endogenous ligands myeloid-related protein 8 (MRP8 or S100A8), especially expressed in macrophages, play an important role in diabetic nephropathy and autoimmune disorders. However, detailed mechanisms and consequence of MRP8 expression remain unknown, partly due to embryonic lethality of MRP8 knockout mice. In this study, Myeloid lineage cell-specific MRP8 knockout mice were generated, and nephrotoxic serum-induced glomerulonephritis was developed. Mice with conditional ablation of MRP8 gene in myeloid cells exhibited less severe histological damage, proteinuria and inflammatory changes compared to control mice. Mechanism of MRP8 upregulation was investigated using cultured cells. Co-culture of macrophages with mesangial cells or mesangial cell-conditioned media, but not with proximal tubules, markedly upregulated MRP8 gene expression and inflammatory M1 phenotype in macrophages, which was attenuated in MRP8-deleted bone marrow-derived macrophages. Effects of MRP8 deletion was further studied in the context of macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle), which is critically involved in maintenance of M1 phenotype of macrophages. MRP8 ablation in myeloid cells suppressed the induction of Mincle expression on macrophages in glomerulonephritis. Thus, we propose that intraglomerular crosstalk between mesangial cells and macrophages plays a role in inflammatory changes in glomerulonephritis, and MRP8-dependent Mincle expression in macrophage may be involved in the process

Evolution of tetragonal phase in the FeSe wire fabricated by a novel chemical-transformation PIT process

We fabricated superconducting FeSe wires by the chemical-transformation PIT process. The obvious correlation between annealing temperature and phase transformation was observed. Annealing above 500^{\circ}C produced wire-core transformation from hexagonal to tetragonal phase. Furthermore the hexagonal phase completely transformed into the tetragonal phase by annealing at 1000^{\circ}C. With increasing annealing temperature, the superconducting property was dramatically improved, associated with the evolution of the tetragonal phase.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

The New Type of Lectures on the Development of Science Teaching Plans and Materials Tried in the Department ofEducation

岡山大学教育学部の理科教育講座に所属する3年生を対象に,理科教材･授業案開発を指向した新しい講義を始めたのでその報告を行う｡本講義では,近隣の小,中学校や公民館,科学館等の協力も得て実践の場を確保し,開発した教材や授業案を実践することで生きた教材開発の訓練を行なうことを目指している｡教科内容学担当教員と教科教育学担当教員の協働を模索すると同時に,大学教員の教科内容の専門知識や技量を教材や授業案に有効に活用できる講義を意識した。This is a report of the new type of lectures on the development of teaching plans and teaching materials attempted in the science class for 3rd grade students in the Department of Education Okayama Universlty. The students practiced the development of teaching plans and teaching materials, and they conducted their activities not only at university but also at the neighboring schools, the public hall, the science museum etc. We expected the development of further collaboration in the academic staffs in the science education course, and the science abilities will be helpful for the development of teaching plans and teaching materials

Thermotomaculum hydrothermale gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel heterotrophic thermophile within the phylum Acidobacteria from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney in the Southern Okinawa Trough

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt08-13/