Stability of oral mucosal cell RNA stored in liquid–based cytology medium

We evaluated the stability of RNA stored in liquid–based cytology (LBC) medium for long periods. Specimens were taken from the five volunteers using LBC preparation methods. Experimental samples were preserved at one day, three days, seven days, one month, two months and three months in the medium at room temperature. The RNA was routinely extracted from each specimen, and amplified using human β–actin after reverse transcription method. In all cases, 186 bp β–actin bands were successfully detected until seventh days. However, the detection of RNA was impossible in some cases of one–month, two–month and three–month groups. These results suggest that the LBC method is superior in the preservation of RNA

バセドウ ビョウ ト ハカイセイ コウジョウセン エン ノ ショシンジ ニオケル ジンソク カンベツホウ

[目的]バセドウ病 (GD) と破壊性甲状腺炎 (DT) の迅速鑑別法にはTSHレセプター抗体の有無,甲状腺エコー検査,遊離T3/T4 (FT3/FT4),総T3/T4比 (T3/T4),総ALP (T-ALP),甲状腺血流が有用とされている.そのうち最も鋭敏な指標となりうる項目を検討した.[方法]2007年から未治療で当科を受診したGD:15名,無痛性甲状腺炎(PT):8名,亜急性甲状腺炎( SAT):10名( DT:18名) を対象として,FT3/FT4,T3/T4,T-ALP,上甲状腺動脈平均血流速度( mean velocity STA) を測定した.[結果]年齢:GD51.2± 18.8歳,DT49.3±21.0歳,FT3/FT4:GD3.3±1.0,DT2.9±1.9,T3/T4:GD15.9±4.7,DT15.2± 3.3,T-ALP( U/l):GD431.3 ±196.6,DT299.1±163.2,mean velocitySTA( cm/s):GD65.0±8.7,DT41.0± 7.0,(P < 0.0001).[結論]今回の検討ではmean velocity STA がGD とDT の鑑別に最も有用であった.It is important to make a rapid differentialdiagnosis of Graves\u27Diseases (GD) and Destructive Thyroiditis(DT). However, it is often difficult to make a distinctionwithout measurement of radioactive iodine uptake(RAIU). Instead of measurement of RAIU, measuringFreeT3/FT4ratio (FT3/FT4), totalT3/T4ratio (T3/T4),total alkaline phosp hatase activity( T-ALP), blood flow inthe thyroid, is useful for differential diagnosis. We searchedfor the parameters is most sensitive parameter for rapiddifferential diagnosis.Patients and Methods:We investigated on 33 patientswith untreated hyperthyroidism (15 with GD and 18 withDT). When 33 patients were first seen in our hospital, wemeasured FT3/FT4, T3/T4, T-ALP, and mean velocity inthe superior thyroid arteries( STA).Results:In comparison between GD and DT, mean velocitySTA was significantly increased in patients with GD.In the group of GD, FT3/FT4 and T-ALP tend to be higherin patients with GD but without statistical significance.Conclusion:Mean velocity STA might be the most sensitiveparameter for rapid differential diagnosis of GD andDT

Age-related changes in the trachea in healthy adults.

To investigate age-related changes in the shape of trachea, normal male volunteers (n = 83, mean +/- SD: 47.7 +/- 20.2 years old) underwent inspiratory CT scans at full inspiration and lung function tests. Subjects who showed VC < 80% predicted or FEV1 < 80% predicted on lung function tests were excluded. The CT data, which is located at 2.0 cm above the aortic arch, were transferred to a personal computer. The tracheal area (St) and two parameters, Tracheal index (Ti) and Circularity (Ci) indicating the shape of the trachea, were automatically calculated. Ti was defined the ratio of the coronal to the sagittal diameter of the trachea, and the Ci (Ci = 4piS/L2, S: tracheal area, L: tracheal perimeter) was used to indicate the roundness of the trachea. A Ci value of less than 1 indicated the distortion of the roundness. Both St and St/BSA (body surface area) showed a significant correlation with age (r = 0.37, r = 0.52; p = 0.0006, p < 0.0001). Ti was not correlated with age (r = -0.20; p = 0.0697), whereas Ci was significantly correlated with age (r = -0.32; p = 0.00364). There were measurable age related changes of the trachea both in the area and the shape. Aging results in the increased tracheal area and a distortion of the roundness

Retrograde sulfur flow from glucosinolates to cysteine in Arabidopsis thaliana

10.1073/pnas.2017890118Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America11822e201789011

Phenotypic features of genetically modified DMD-XKOXWT pigs

Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a hereditary neuromuscular disorder caused by mutation in the dystrophin gene (DMD) on the X chromosome. Female DMD carriers occasionally exhibit symptoms such as muscle weakness and heart failure. Here, we investigated the characteristics and representativeness of female DMD carrier (DMD-XKOXWT) pigs as a suitable disease model. Methods: In vitro fertilization using sperm from a DMD-XKOY↔XWTXWT chimeric boar yielded DMD-XKOXWT females, which were used to generate F2 and F3 progeny, including DMD-XKOXWT females. F1–F3 piglets were genotyped and subjected to biochemical analysis for blood creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Skeletal muscle and myocardial tissue were analyzed for the expression of dystrophin and utrophin, as well as for lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration. Results: DMD-XKOXWT pigs exhibited various characteristics common to human DMD carrier patients, namely, asymptomatic hyperCKemia, dystrophin expression patterns in the skeletal and cardiac muscles, histopathological features of skeletal muscle degeneration, myocardial lesions in adulthood, and sporadic death. Pathological abnormalities observed in the skeletal muscles in DMD-XKOXWT pigs point to a frequent incidence of pathological abnormalities in the musculoskeletal tissues of latent DMD carriers. Our findings suggest a higher risk of myocardial abnormalities in DMD carrier women than previously believed. Conclusions: We demonstrated that DMD-XKOXWT pigs could serve as a suitable large animal model for understanding the pathogenic mechanism in DMD carriers and developing therapies for female DMD carriers