Novel Concept of Motor Functional Analysis for Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Mice

In basic research on spinal cord injury (SCI), behavioral evaluation of the SCI animal model is critical. However, it is difficult to accurately evaluate function in the mouse SCI model due to the small size of mice. Although the open-field scoring scale is an outstanding appraisal method, supplementary objective tests are required. Using a compact SCANET system, in which a mouse carries out free movement for 5 min, we developed a novel method to detect locomotor ability. A SCANET system samples the horizontal coordinates of a mouse every 0.1 s, and both the speed and acceleration of its motion are calculated at each moment. It was found that the maximum speed and acceleration of motion over 5 min varied by injury severity. Moreover, these values were significantly correlated with open-field scores. The maximum speed and acceleration of SCI model mice using a SCANET system are objective, easy to obtain, and reproducible for evaluating locomotive function

Purification and Characterization of Cystathionine γ-Synthase from Thermoacidophilic Archaea Sulfolobus tokodaii

The gene encoding a cystathionine γ-synthase from Sulfolobus tokodaii was cloned and expressed in Escherihia coli Rosetta-gami (DE3). Cystathionine γ-synthase ［EC 2. 5. 1. 48］ from Sulfolobus tokodaii (stCGS) was purified by heat treatment, DEAE- Toyopearl 650M and Sephacryl S-300 column chromatographies from E. coli transformants. stCGS shows optimum activity at pH 7.0, and is stable between pH5.0 and pH9.0. The optimum temperature of stCGS is above 100℃, and the enzyme showed the remaining activity of almost 100% up to 70℃. The K(m) and V(max) with O-phospho-L- homoserine as a substrate are 0.82 mM and 2.42 U/mg. To analyze the role of Phe 97 in the active site of stCGS, we constructed F97Y, R99C, and F97Y-R99C mutant enzymes. Although native stCGS has no activity toward l-methionine, F97Y mutant enzyme gained the elimination activity toward L-methionine.好熱好酸性アーキア Sulfolobus tokodaii 由来シスタチオニンγﾝシンターゼ（stCGS）遺伝子を pET-11a に組み込み pET-stCGS を構築した．このベクターでE. coli Rosettaﾝgami（DE3）を形質転換し，本遺伝子を発現させ，精製及び性質検討を行った．大腸菌で発現したシスタチオニンγﾝシンターゼの活性が無細胞抽出液で確認できた．S. tokodaii シスタチオニンγﾝシンターゼを70℃熱処理 DEAEﾝトヨパールイオン交換カラム等により単一精製した．精製酵素の最適温度は100℃以上であり，熱安定性は60分間処理で70℃までほぼ100ｵの残存活性を示した．また，最適pHについてはリン酸緩衝液やブリトンﾝロビンソン広域緩衝液の場合はpH7.0の時が最も活性が高く，トリス塩酸緩衝液の場合はpH9.0が最適であった．pH安定性についてはpH5.0～9.0において安定であった．O-ホスホ-l-ホモセリンに対するKm，Vmaxは，それぞれ0.82mM，2.42U/㎎であった．アポ酵素のホロ化実験により，本酵素活性がPLP に依存していることが明らかとなった．更に本酵素の脱離反応での基質特異性の検討を行った．変異酵素を用いた実験により，stCGSの基質特異性には，活性中心に存在するPhe97を含む領域が深く関わっていることが示唆された

Novel Concept of Motor Functional Analysis for Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Mice

In basic research on spinal cord injury (SCI), behavioral evaluation of the SCI animal model is critical. However, it is difficult to accurately evaluate function in the mouse SCI model due to the small size of mice. Although the open-field scoring scale is an outstanding appraisal method, supplementary objective tests are required. Using a compact SCANET system, in which a mouse carries out free movement for 5 min, we developed a novel method to detect locomotor ability. A SCANET system samples the horizontal coordinates of a mouse every 0.1 s, and both the speed and acceleration of its motion are calculated at each moment. It was found that the maximum speed and acceleration of motion over 5 min varied by injury severity. Moreover, these values were significantly correlated with open-field scores. The maximum speed and acceleration of SCI model mice using a SCANET system are objective, easy to obtain, and reproducible for evaluating locomotive function

Cancer of Unknown Primary Site:A Review of 28 Cases and the Efficacy of Cisplatin/Docetaxel Therapy at a Single Institute in Japan

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin/docetaxel (CDDP/TXT) chemotherapy and identified prognostic factors in Japanese patients with cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). Twenty-eight consecutive patients seen at a single institute were reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen patients were treated with TXT 80mg/m2, followed by CDDP 75mg/m2. The overall response rate to CDDP/TXT treatment was 62.5%, with a median survival time (MST) of 22.7 months. Common adverse reactions were myelosuppression and hyponatremia. The MST of all 28 patients with CUP was 8.3 months, and the 1-year overall survival rate was 45.6%. Univariate analysis identified 5 prognostic factors:performance status, liver involvement, bone involvement, pleural involvement, and lymph node involvement. In conclusion, CDDP/TXT chemotherapy is effective with tolerable toxicity in patients with CUP. Japanese patients with CUP might be chemosensitive and may survive longer

ベトナム都市住宅調査概要 : ハノイでの事例を中心として

Under the influence of the improvement in social and economic conditions, the housing situation in Hanoi, Vietnam has undergone great changes in recent years. New apartment houses have been constructed from the 1960s to the present in Hanoi, but the styles differ according to the construction period. In the planned economy era before 1986, housing units were limited in space and equipment. On the other hand, common spaces were incorporated to compensate for the inadequate private space and this tended to promote a collective lifestyle. In the market-oriented economy era with the Doi Moi policy, or reformation economy policy, the weak points of the old apartments were improved to match the needs of the inhabitants of the new apartments. However, common spaces were not emphasized as before

An Id-like molecule, HHM, is a synexpression group-restricted regulator of TGF-β signalling

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β induces various cellular responses principally through Smad-dependent transcriptional regulation. Activated Smad complexes cooperate with transcription factors in regulating a group of target genes. The target genes controlled by the same Smad-cofactor complexes are denoted a synexpression group. We found that an Id-like helix-loop-helix protein, human homologue of Maid (HHM), is a synexpression group-restricted regulator of TGF-β signalling. HHM suppressed TGF-β-induced growth inhibition and cell migration but not epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In addition, HHM inhibited TGF-β-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 1 (PAI-1), PDGF-B, and p21WAF, but not Snail. We identified a basic-helix-loop-helix protein, Olig1, as one of the Smad-binding transcription factors affected by HHM. Olig1 interacted with Smad2/3 in response to TGF-β stimulation, and was involved in transcriptional activation of PAI-1 and PDGF-B. HHM, but not Id proteins, inhibited TGF-β signalling-dependent association of Olig1 with Smad2/3 through physical interaction with Olig1. HHM thus appears to regulate a subset of TGF-β target genes including the Olig1-Smad synexpression group. HHM is the first example of a cellular response-selective regulator of TGF-β signalling with clearly determined mechanisms

Dobutsu ebanashi

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