AMPK is indispensable for overload-induced muscle glucose uptake and glycogenesis but dispensable for inducing hypertrophy in mice

Chronic muscle loading (overload) induces skeletal muscles to undergo hypertrophy and to increase glucose uptake. Although AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reportedly serves as a negative regulator of hypertrophy and a positive regulator of glucose uptake, its role in overload-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy and glucose uptake is unclear. This study aimed to determine whether AMPK regulates overload-induced hypertrophy and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles. To this end, skeletal muscle overload was induced through unilateral synergist ablations in wild-type (WT) and transgenic mice, expressing the dominant-negative mutation of AMPK (AMPK-DN). After 14 days, parameters, including muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), glycogen level, and in vivo [3 H]-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake, were assessed. No significant difference was observed in body weight or blood glucose level between the WT and AMPK-DN mice. However, the 14-day muscle overload activated the AMPK pathway in WT mice skeletal muscle, whereas this response was impaired in the AMPK-DN mice. Despite a normal CSA gain in each fiber type, the AMPK-DN mice demonstrated a significant impairment of overload-induced muscle glucose uptake and glycogenesis, compared to WT mice. Moreover, 14-day overload-induced changes in GLUT4 and HKII expression levels were reduced in AMPK-DN mice, compared to WT mice. This study demonstrated that AMPK activation is indispensable for overload-induced muscle glucose uptake and glycogenesis; however, it is dispensable for the induction of hypertrophy in AMPK-DN mice. Furthermore, the AMPK/GLUT4 and HKII axes may regulate overload-induced muscle glucose uptake and glycogenesis

Workplace reform with changing management through the user participation workshop : the case study of Seiyo City Office / Ikumi Egawa

The research explains about workplace reform, aimed at improving productivity of General Affairs and Policy Planning department of Seiyo officeby changing management through the user participation workshop at 4th floor of Seiyo city office and on the changes of workplace reform. The purpose of this research is to find the changes that are worker's behaviour and worker’s awareness of workplace through workplace reform. The researchers surveyed changes, worker's behaviour and worker's awareness of workplace using workplace reform at 4th floor of Seiyo office as case study. In workplace reform, in order to create a place where new work style can be practiced, the researchers conducted the user participation workshops with workers a total of 6 times. Through the workshops, concept of work style and plan of renovation were proposed. In addition, the researchers did a survey using two methods which were a set of questionnaire and 3 observationsthat is before the workplace renovation, 3 months after the renovation, and 1 year and 3 months after the renovation. The findings obtained from the questionnaire in the first three months after the renovation showed that the opinions of the workers were divided between pros and cons against workplace reform. However, the survey of 1 year and three months after the renovation showed that almost all workers are satisfied with the new environment. In addition, the researchers found that a positive correlation exist between participation rate of workshops and the satisfaction level. The findings suggest the worth of workshops for workplace reform. In the Observation Survey, the workers needed to select a place freely where they can work comfortably after the workplace reform. For example, they chose to work in refresh space. In addition, the findings from the survey showed that the floor became livelier when the participation rate increses at that workplace. Additionally, the participants became more conscious of the work style such as features of work style, after workplace renovation; they are able to clearly differentiate between short intermittent works separated by conversation and phone and personal work on concentration

Binarization of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic images of an eye with Wyburn-Mason syndrome : a case report

Background: To report a thicker choroid and larger choroidal luminal area in an eye with Wyburn-Mason syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating an increase in the choroidal thickness and the luminal area in a case of Wyburn-Mason syndrome. In addition, we report the changing appearance of retinal arteriovenous malformations over a 16-year period. Case presentation: A 27-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with Wyburn-Mason syndrome at age 11 years, visited our clinic. Her best-corrected visual acuity was 20/12.5 in the right eye and light perception in the left eye. Severely dilated, tortuous vascular loops were distributed from the optic disc over all four quadrants of the left fundus. The vascular loops in some areas were more dilated and tortuous than 16 years earlier. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed retinal edema with cystic changes and enlarged choroidal vessel lumens in the left eye. The subfoveal choroidal thickness was manually measured by the caliper function in the enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) images. Binarization of the EDI-OCT images was performed with publicly accessible ImageJ software. The examined area of the subfoveal choroid was 1,500 μm wide, and the dark areas representing the luminal areas were traced by the Niblack method. After determining the distance of each pixel, the luminal area was automatically calculated. The subfoveal choroidal thickness was 250 μm in the right eye and 462 μm in the left eye. The luminal area of the 1,500-μm-wide subfoveal choroid was computed to be 307,165.6 μm2 in the right eye and 545,780.7 μm2 in the left eye. Conclusions: The EDI-OCT images showed a thicker choroid, and binarization of the EDI-OCT images showed that the luminal areas were significantly larger in the affected eye, suggesting a dilatation of the choroidal vessels. The results demonstrated that conversion of EDI-OCT images to binary images was a useful method to quantify the choroidal structure

Changes of choroidal structure after treatment for primary intraocular lymphoma : retrospective, observational case series

Background: We report changes of choroidal structure determined by binarization of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic (EDI-OCT) images after treatment for primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL). Methods: Five eyes of four patients with PIOL were examined by EDI-OCT before and 6 months after intravitreal methotrexate injections. In addition, 15 eyes of 15 normal individuals controlled by age and refractive error were examined by EDI-OCT. Binarization of the EDI-OCT images was performed using publicly accessible software (ImageJ). The examined area of the subfoveal choroid was 1,500 μm wide, and the dark areas that represented the luminal areas were traced by the Niblack method. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine the significance of changes in the subfoveal choroidal thickness, interstitial area, and luminal area. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the parameters in the eyes with pretreatment PIOL and normal control eyes. Results: The subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.0431). In the binarized images, the interstitial area was significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.0431), while the luminal area was not significantly changed (P = 0.8927). After delayed onset of PIOL, increased interstitial area, thickened choroid and unchanged luminal area were observed in one eye. The interstitial area and choroidal thickness were significantly increased in the eyes with pretreatment PIOL compared with the normal control eyes (P = 0.0207, P = 0.0495, respectively), while the luminal area was not significantly different (P = 0.2752). Conclusions: After treatment for PIOL, the EDI-OCT images showed a thinner choroid, and binarization of the EDI-OCT images showed significantly decreased interstitial areas compared with the luminal areas. The binarized EDI-OCT images can provide useful information on choroidal structure in eyes with PIOL, and combining these images with intraocular interleukin levels or fundus autofluorescence images should provide valuable information for determining the PIOL activity

Case of adult-onset Coats’ disease with epiretinal membrane treated with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy

We describe a case of untreated adult-onset Coats’ disease with a proliferative epiretinal membrane (ERM) treated successfully with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (25GPPV). A 26-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of decreased vision in his left eye. At the initial examination, the decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.7 in the left eye. Ophthalmoscopy revealed the typical appearance of Stage 2A Coats’ disease but with a proliferative ERM in the posterior pole. The patient received 2 monthly intravitreal injections of 2.5 mg bevacizumab, 5 laser photocoagulations to the area of telangiectasia, and 1 session of cryoretinopexy. Nine months after the initial visit, a traction by the ERM on the parafoveal area developed causing macular edema which reduced the BCVA to 0.3. He underwent 25GPPV with the removal of the ERM. In addition, the peripheral telangiectasia was treated intraoperatively with both laser photocoagulation and cryoretinopexy. Postoperatively, the traction to the parafoveal area was released and the BCVA improved to 0.6 which remained stable during the follow-up period of 13 months.We conclude that 25GPPV combined with ERM peeling, laser photocoagulation, and cryoretinopexy can be effective for adult-onset Coats’ disease associated with an ERM

Prepapillary Vascular Loops Complicated by Suspected Macroaneurysm Rupture

We present a case of prepapillary vascular loops complicated by a suspected macroaneurysm rupture which was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB). A 62-year-old woman presented with decreased vision and myodesopsia in her left eye. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.6 in the left eye. Fundus examination disclosed an elevated, round, and reddish lesion, retinal hemorrhage at the superior aspect of the optic disc, retinal opacification along the superior branch retinal artery, and a small vitreous hemorrhage. Optical coherence tomography showed a serous retinal detachment, and indocyanine green angiography demonstrated prepapillary vascular loops and a hypofluorescent area with hyperfluorescent margins. These findings suggested the presence of a macroaneurysm. No filling of the dye in the aneurysm-like dilatation suggested a blockage of the lumen with a thrombus which might be associated with a branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). A diagnosis of prepapillary vascular loops complicated by a suspected macroaneurysm rupture and BRAO was made. Because of a persistent serous retinal detachment, IVB was performed. One month later, the BCVA improved to 1.0. Fundus examination disclosed an organized yellowish-white macroaneurysm and resolution of the serous retinal detachment. We recommend careful monitoring of patients with prepapillary vascular loops because of complications such as macroaneurysm rupture and BRAO

Quantification of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate Inhibition of Migration and Invasion of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines Using Real-time Cell Analysis

Catechins found in green tea, in particular (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have antitumor activity. The primary antitumor actions of catechins are anti-oxidative, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects. Cell migration and invasion contribute to the metastatic potential of tumors. Real-time cell analysis (RTCA) measures cell migration and invasion in vitro. In the present study, using RTCA, we investigated whether the cell migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) of the tongue and floor of the mouth were inhibited by EGCG. Studies were performed using the human SCC-4 and SAS cell lines, which are poorly differentiated OSCCs of the tongue, and the HO-1-u-1 cell line, an OSCC of the floor of the mouth. SCC-4 cells exhibited high cell migration and invasion compared with the SAS and HO-1-u-1 cells. EGCG was most effective in inhibiting the migration and invasion of SCC-4 cells, and inhibited OSCC cell invasion more strongly than it inhibited cell migration. EGCG inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and integrin α1 and β1 mRNA in the OSCC cell lines, particularly SCC-4 cells. The findings of the present study suggest that EGCG inhibits OSCC cell migration and invasion by inhibiting MMP-2, MMP-9, and integrin α1and β1 expression. Thus, EGCG may be a suitable agent or lead compound for the inhibition of OSCC metastasis

Changes in Choroidal Structures in Eyes with CSC after Photodynamic Therapy

Purpose To determine the structural changes in the choroid after half-dose photodynamic therapy (hPDT) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods This was a retrospective interventional study of 29 eyes of 29 patients who underwent hPDT for chronic CSC with serous retinal detachment (SRD) and were followed for ≥3 months. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic (EDI-OCT) images of the subfoveal choroid were converted to binary images. The central choroidal thickness (CCT), the cross sectional subfoveal choroidal area, the hyporeflective and hyperreflective areas of the inner, outer, and whole choroid were determined at the baseline, and at 1, 3, and 12 months after the hPDT. Results The SRDs were resolved in 26 (89.7%) eyes at 3 months after the hPDT. The mean CCT (P = 0.001), the total choroidal area (P = 0.001), and the hypo-reflective area (P = 0.003) of the whole choroid were significantly decreased from the baseline at 3 months. The hyperreflective area of whole choroid was not significantly changed during the study period (P = 0.083). The hyperreflective but not the hyporeflective area of the inner choroid was significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.001, P = 1.000, respectively). The hyporeflective but not the hyperreflective area of the outer choroid was significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.001, P = 1.000, respectively). Conclusions The hyperreflective area of the inner choroid and hyporeflective area of the outer choroid were significantly decreased after hPDT for chronic CSC. Because the hyperreflective and hyporeflective area correspond to the choroidal stroma and vessels, respectively, the decreased CCT and subfoveal choroidal area after hPDT may be attributed to a decrease in the exudative changes in the inner choroidal stroma and the reduction of the dilation of the outer choroidal vessels

Natural ligand-nonmimetic inhibitors of the lipid-transfer protein CERT

Lipid transfer proteins mediate inter-organelle transport of membrane lipids at organelle contact sites in cells, playing fundamental roles in the lipidome and membrane biogenesis in eukaryotes. We previously developed a ceramide-mimetic compound as a potent inhibitor of the ceramide transport protein CERT. Here we develop CERT inhibitors with structures unrelated to ceramide. To this aim, we identify a seed compound with no ceramide-like structure but with the capability of forming a hydrogen-bonding network in the ceramide-binding START domain, by virtual screening of ~3 × 106 compounds. We also establish a surface plasmon resonance-based system to directly determine the affinity of compounds for the START domain. Then, we subject the seed compound to a series of in silico docking simulations, efficient chemical synthesis, affinity analysis, protein-ligand co-crystallography, and various in vivo assays. This strategy allows us to obtain ceramide-unrelated compounds that potently inhibited the function of CERT in human cultured cells

Effects of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane on apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in PC12 cells

The effects of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, one of the endocrine disrupters, widely used for agricultural and medicinal purpose, on apoptosis in PC12 cells were investigated using western blotting analysis and reverse transcriptase-DNA polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Apoptosis is a fundamental process necessary for development of individuals and organs. Although γ -HCH at high concentration did not have an effect on cell viability and apoptosis, DNA fragmentation was slightly enhanced, and apoptotic factors; Bax, Bad, cytochrome c and caspase-3 showed tendency to increase by the addition of a low dose of γ-HCH to the cell medium. However these changes were not statistically significant. It was concluded that γ -HCH did not affect on apoptosis in the PC12 cell line system, although γ -HCH has been reported to induce apoptosis in other cell lines