Differentiation of Smooth Muscle Cells from Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Cells Implanted in the Freeze-Injured Mouse Urinary Bladder

Background: The multipotency of human amniotic mesenchymal cells (HAMCs) has been reported, but the role of HAMCs in urinary tract regeneration is unknown. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if cells derived from HAMCs support the structural and functional reconstruction of freeze-injured mouse bladders. Design, setting, and participants: HAMCs were harvested from an amnion membrane, and cells were cultured for 7 d prior to injection into the freeze-injured bladder walls of nude mice. Intervention: Three days prior to implantation, the posterior bladder walls were freeze injured for 30 s. The cultured HAMC-derived cells (0.5 x 10(5) cells per 50 mu l) were implanted into the injured regions. Control bladders received a cell-free injection. At 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk after the cell implantation, the experimental bladders were extirpated. Measurements: The bladder tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The HAMC-derived cells were detected by antihuman nuclei antibody (HuNu). Separately, bladder muscle strips were examined for contractile responses to potassium. Results and limitations: At 1 wk after implantation, the HAMC-derived cells, which were detected by HuNu, differentiated into muscular layers composed of SMA-positive cells. From 2 to 6 wk after implantation, abundant layers of SMA-positive and HuNu-positive cells developed. In control bladders, few SMA-positive cells remained at the injured regions at 1 wk, but by 6 wk, more were present. At 1 wk, the contractile responses to potassium of the cell-implanted bladders were significantly higher than those of the control-injected ones. Control-injected bladders also recovered by 6 wk, but the rate of recovery was slower. Conclusions: Freeze-injured mouse bladders implanted with HAMC-derived cells recovered morphology and function faster than control-injected bladders.ArticleEUROPEAN UROLOGY. 58(2):299-306 (2010)journal articl

Gosha-jinki-gan Reduces Transmitter Proteins and Sensory Receptors Associated with C Fiber Activation Induced by Acetic Acid in Rat Urinary Bladder

This is a preprint of an article published in [NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS. 27(8):832-837 (2008)].ArticleNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS. 27(8):832-837 (2008)journal articl

MicroRNA-125b regulates the expression of aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS-4) in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes

INTRODUCTION: Increased expression of aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS-4) has emerged as an important factor in osteoarthritis (OA) and other joint diseases. This study aimed to determine whether the expression of ADAMTS-4 in human chondrocytes is regulated by miRNA. METHODS: MiRNA targets were identified using bioinformatics. Chondrocytes were isolated from knee cartilage and treated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Gene expression was quantified using TaqMan assays and protein production was determined by immunoblotting. Luciferase reporter assay was used to verify interaction between miRNA and target messenger RNA (mRNA). RESULTS: In silico analysis predicted putative target sequence of miR-125b on ADAMTS-4. MiR-125b was expressed in both normal and OA chondrocytes, with significantly lower expression in OA chondrocytes than in normal chondrocytes. Furthermore, IL-1β-induced upregulation of ADAMTS-4 was suppressed by overexpression of miR-125b in human OA chondrocytes. In the luciferase reporter assay, mutation of the putative miR-125b binding site in the ADAMTS-4 3'UTR abrogated the suppressive effect of miR125. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that miR-125b plays an important role in regulating the expression of ADAMTS-4 in human chondrocytes and this identifies miR-125b as a novel therapeutic target in OA

Full-Length Sequence of Mouse Acupuncture-Induced 1-L (Aig1l) Gene Including Its Transcriptional Start Site

We have been investigating the molecular efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA), which is one type of acupuncture therapy. In our previous molecular biological study of acupuncture, we found an EA-induced gene, named acupuncture-induced 1-L (Aig1l), in mouse skeletal muscle. The aims of this study consisted of identification of the full-length cDNA sequence of Aig1l including the transcriptional start site, determination of the tissue distribution of Aig1l and analysis of the effect of EA on Aig1l gene expression. We determined the complete cDNA sequence including the transcriptional start site via cDNA cloning with the cap site hunting method. We then analyzed the tissue distribution of Aig1l by means of northern blot analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We used the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to examine the effect of EA on Aig1l gene expression. Our results showed that the complete cDNA sequence of Aig1l was 6073 bp long, and the putative protein consisted of 962 amino acids. All seven tissues that we analyzed expressed the Aig1l gene. In skeletal muscle, EA induced expression of the Aig1l gene, with high expression observed after 3 hours of EA. Our findings thus suggest that the Aig1l gene may play a key role in the molecular mechanisms of EA efficacy

Distinct Clinic-Pathological Features of Early Differentiated-Type Gastric Cancers after Helicobacter pylori

Background. Gastric cancer is discovered even after successful eradication of H. pylori. We investigated clinic pathological features of early gastric cancers after H. pylori eradication. Methods. 51 early gastric cancers (EGCs) from 44 patients diagnosed after successful H. pylori eradication were included as eradication group. The clinic-pathological features were compared with that of 131 EGCs from 120 patients who did not have a history of H. pylori eradication (control group). Results. Compared with control group, clinic-pathological features of eradication group were characterized as depressed (p<0.0001), reddish (p=0.0001), and smaller (p=0.0095) lesions, which was also confirmed in the comparison of six metachronous lesions diagnosed after initial ESD and subsequent successful H. pylori eradication. Prevalence of both SM2 (submucosal invasion greater than 500 μm) and unexpected SM2 cases tended to be higher in eradication group (p=0.077, 0.0867, resp.). Prevalence of inconclusive diagnosis of gastric cancer during pretreatment biopsy was also higher in the same group (26.0% versus 1.6%, p<0.0001). Conclusions. Informative clinic pathological features of EGC after H. pylori eradication are depressed, reddish appearances, which should be treated as a caution because histological diagnosis of cancerous tissue is sometimes difficult by endoscopic biopsy

A community intervention trial of multimodal suicide prevention program in Japan: A Novel multimodal Community Intervention program to prevent suicide and suicide attempt in Japan, NOCOMIT-J

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To respond to the rapid surge in the incidence of suicide in Japan, which appears to be an ongoing trend, the Japanese Multimodal Intervention Trials for Suicide Prevention (J-MISP) have launched a multimodal community-based suicide prevention program, NOCOMIT-J. The primary aim of this study is to examine whether NOCOMIT-J is effective in reducing suicidal behavior in the community.</p> <p>Methods/DesignThis study is a community intervention trial involving seven intervention regions with accompanying control regions, all with populations of statistically sufficient size. The program focuses on building social support networks in the public health system for suicide prevention and mental health promotion, intending to reinforce human relationships in the community. The intervention program components includes a primary prevention measures of awareness campaign for the public and key personnel, secondary prevention measures for screening of, and assisting, high-risk individuals, after-care for individuals bereaved by suicide, and other measures. The intervention started in July 2006, and will continue for 3.5 years. Participants are Japanese and foreign residents living in the intervention and control regions (a total of population of 2,120,000 individuals).</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The present study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the community-based suicide prevention program in the seven participating areas.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000000460.</p