Generation and Characterization of Conditional Heparin-Binding EGF-Like Growth Factor Knockout Mice

Recently, neurotrophic factors and cytokines have been shown to be associated in psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family, serves as a neurotrophic molecular and plays a significant role in the brain. We generated mice in which HB-EGF activity is disrupted specifically in the ventral forebrain. These knockout mice showed (a) behavioral abnormalities similar to those described in psychiatric disorders, which were ameliorated by typical or atypical antipsychotics, (b) altered dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, (c) decreases in spine density in neurons of the prefrontal cortex, (d) reductions in the protein levels of the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and post-synaptic protein-95 (PSD-95), (e) decreases in the EGF receptor, and in the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) signal cascade. These results suggest the alterations affecting HB-EGF signaling could comprise a contributing factor in psychiatric disorder

Epstein-Barr virus infected cells in the aqueous humour originated from nasal NK/T cell lymphoma

Nasal natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphoma is a definitive diagnostic entity in the World Health Organization lymphoma classification.1 In many cases, NK/T cell lymphoma is invariably associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Although ocular involvement is found in less than 10% of patients with systemic lymphoma,2 because of its anatomical proximity, nasal NK/T lymphoma can sometimes complicate uveitis and orbital infiltration.3 We experienced a case of nasal NK/T lymphoma, and the cells collected from the aqueous humour originated from the lymphoma which was infected by EBV.www.bmj.co

Testing local adaptations of affiliate freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera laevis, to its host fish, Oncorhynchus masou masou

Understanding the limiting factors of the reproduction process in host-affiliate relationships is a high priority. We examined the effects of habitat location on the reproductive process of freshwater pearl mussels Margaritifera laevis (Bivalvia, Unionida) as a parasite using sympatric and allopatric Oncorhynchus masou masou (Actinopterygii, Salmoniformes) as a host fish. Initial infection rates of parasitic larvae (glochidia) and transformation rates to cysts (encysted glochidia) were examined for all parasite-host combinations from three habitat locations (a total of nine combinations) to test the hypothesis that sympatric pairs of mussels and fish result in the highest success rates of glochidia infection and encystment. Measurements of glochidia-infected fish reared in flow-through experimental indoor tanks were taken at the initial infection point as well as at encystment, 2 weeks after the infection. Results disagreed with our hypothesis. Instead, an unexpected heterogeneity in a pathological deformity in gills explained a greater amount of variance in these processes. This deformity was responsible for reducing the initial infection rate and increasing the metamorphosis rates of initially attached glochidia to cysts. The field-measured prevalence of the gill deformity was low in all habitat locations, indicating that the deformity occurred during the acclimation period before infection for relatively small-sized host fish more susceptible to infection. Our results did not show the local adaptation of parasitic freshwater mussels to host fish but shed light on one of the least studied factors, providing an empirical underpinning of the importance of pathologically diversified host conditions in the reproductive processes of unionid mussels

Acute unilateral conjunctivitis after rubella vaccination: the detection of the rubella genome in the inflamed conjunctiva by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase–chain reaction

The efficacy of long-term rubella vaccine is >90%, and the anti-rubella vaccination causes few side effects.1 Some cases of anterior uveitis were reported after a combined vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella, but not when vaccination for rubella alone was administered.2 Another study reported that, after smallpox vaccination, 16 out of 450 000 subjects vaccinated had ocular complaints including conjunctivitis, keratitis and eyelid oedema, and only 5 of those cases were confirmed positive for vaccinia by culture or PCR.3 However, conjunctivitis after rubella vaccination with laboratory confirmation has never been reported

Increased expression of mucinous glycoprotein KL‐6 in human pterygium

Pterygia represent growth onto the cornea of fibrovascular tissue continuous with the conjunctiva.1 KL-6 (Krebs von den Lunge-6) is a high molecular weight mucinous glycoprotein, and the monoclonal antibody reacts with the sugar moiety of MUC-1.2,3 We have reported that measurement of serum KL-6 levels is useful for the diagnosis and management of uveitis patients with sarcoidosis.4,5 The aim of this study was to examine the expression of KL-6, and Ki-67, a proliferation marker, in normal human conjunctiva, pterygium, and pseudopterygium tissues