Specific loss of chondromodulin-I gene expression in chondrosarcoma and the suppression of tumor angiogenesis and growth by its recombinant protein in vivo

AbstractChondromodulin-I (ChM-I) was previously identified as an angiogenesis inhibitor in cartilage. Here, we demonstrated that the level of ChM-I transcripts was substantially reduced to 100 or even less in the lower-grade chondrosarcomas, in articular cartilage or other benign cartilage tumors. We implanted human chondrosarcoma OUMS-27 cells into nude mice that reproducibly produced tumors with cartilaginous matrix. Tumor-induced angiogenesis was evident when the tumors were excised 30 days after implantation. However, the local administration of recombinant human ChM-I almost completely blocked vascular invasion and tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, ChM-I also inhibited the growth of HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma in vivo, implying its therapeutic potential for solid tumors

Simple and Sensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Ivermectin

A sensitive and reproducible enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of the concentration of ivermectin (IVM) in biological fluids was developed. A conjugate of IVM on bovine serum albumin and poly-L-lysine was used to produce antibodies in rabbits and served as a solid-phase marker for titration of antibodies, respectively. The competitive ELISA was conducted by simultaneously incubating IVM and IVM-biotin conjugate with anti-IVM antiserum over goat anti-rabbit IgG (Fc) and then determining the amount of bound IVM-biotin with avidin-peroxidase conjugate as a tracer. The coefficient of variation for the assay was less than 10% in the range of 0.3?10 ng/ml. The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml. The cross-reactivities of anti-IVM antiserum with some anthelmintic drugs were negligible. Using this ELISA, serum levels of IVM were easily determined in Mongolian jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) up to 72 hr following a single oral dose of 500 μg/kg of body weight

Lissencephaly Type I Associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in a 20-Year-old man : a Case Report

Lissencephaly is associated with various types of intractable epilepsy. However, complication by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is rare. We report an adult patient with Lissencephaly type I complicated by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, along with a review of the literature. Although mild asphyxia was noted in the history of birth, there were no recognized multiple anomalies. His developmental milestones were severely delayed. Partial seizures frequently occurred at the age of 2 months. Brain CT revealed a smooth surface of the brain cortex, and so he was diagnosed with type I lissencephaly. He was treated with several kinds of oral administrations of anti-convulsants, such as phenobarbital, valproric acid, and clonazepam, but progressed into infantile spasms with West syndrome. At the age of 20, he was repeatedly hospitalized due to respiratory infection, and aspiration pneumonia with diffuse aspiration bronchitis. Deformity of the thorax and ventilation disorder associated with severe scoliosis and respiratory muscle atrophy were also noted. His epilepsy was intractable, and tonic and axial seizures repeatedly occurred for a prolonged period. On electroencephalography, a high-amplitude 1.5-Hz spike-and-slow wave complex was dominant in the frontal region, and a rapid rhythm also appeared, based on which Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was diagnosed. Epileptic surgery and tracheotomy were recommended to his parents, but they did not consent. The patient died of rapid aggravation of respiratory infection and the frequent occurrence of epileptic seizures, in addition to chronic respiratory disorder, at 20 years of age