近赤外線スペクトロスコピィで測定された成人強迫性障害における前頭前野の活動性の低下

Recent developments in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) have enabled the non-invasive elucidation of the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. Functional neuroimaging studies in human patients have suggested that the frontal cortex and subcortical structures may play a role in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here we used NIRS to investigate neurobiological function in 12 patients with OCD and 12 age- and sex-matched, healthy control subjects. The relative concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) were measured with prefrontal probes every 0.1 sec, during performance of a Stroop color-word task, using 24-channel NIRS. Oxy-Hb changes in the prefrontal cortex of the OCD group were significantly smaller than those in the control group, especially in the left lateral prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that patients with OCD have reduced prefrontal hemodynamic responses as measured by NIRS.博士（医学）・甲第599号・平成25年5月29

Initial Pulmonary Respiration Causes Massive Diaphragm Damage and Hyper-CKemia in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Dog

The molecular mechanism of muscle degeneration in a lethal muscle disorder Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) has not been fully elucidated. The dystrophic dog, a model of DMD, shows a high mortality rate with a marked increase in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels in the neonatal period. By measuring serum CK levels in cord and venous blood, we found initial pulmonary respiration resulted in massive diaphragm damage in the neonates and thereby lead to the high serum CK levels. Furthermore, molecular biological techniques revealed that osteopontin was prominently upregulated in the dystrophic diaphragm prior to the respiration, and that immediate-early genes (c-fos and egr-1) and inflammation/immune response genes (IL-6, IL-8, COX-2, and selectin E) were distinctly overexpressed after the damage by the respiration. Hence, we segregated dystrophic phases at the molecular level before and after mechanical damage. These molecules could be biomarkers of muscle damage and potential targets in pharmaceutical therapies.ArticleSCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 3:2183 (2013)journal articl

Oral findings in Noonan syndrome : Report of a case

Oral findings in a case of Noonan syndrome in an 8-year-old Japanese male are reported. Examination of the patient revealed a narrow, higharched palate and an anterior open bite. Cephalometric measurements showed a wide gonial angle, a large mandibular plane angle, a large Y-axis and long facial height. It is suggested that the patient had a skeletal open-bite malocclusion, which included an abnormal swallowing habit

Symmetrical Skin Lesions on the Gluteal Region in a Patient with Anti-Laminin-332 Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), previously called cicatricial pemphigoid, is a rare subepidermal immunobullous disorder that primarily affects the mucous membranes (1,2). MMP is divided into two major subtypes, anti-BP180-type MMP and anti-laminin-332 (previously called laminin 5 or epiligrin) MMP. Anti-laminin-332 MMP is known to be associated with malignant tumors (3), which may cause overexpression of autoantibodies and induce autoimmunity to laminin-332 (4). MMP primarily affects the mucous membranes, and widespread skin lesions are rare. In MMP, circumscribed skin lesions have been previously reported as occurring on the head, neck, and upper trunk (5). We report a case of anti-laminin-332 MMP presenting with symmetrical skin lesions characteristic of MMP on the weightbearing areas of the gluteal regio

Економіко-математичне моделювання оптимізації фінансування заходів щодо збереження біорізноманіття (Economic modeling optimization funding for biodiversity)

Удосконалено організаційно-економічний механізм збереження біорізноманіття України відповідно до умов збалансованого розвитку. Обґрунтовано концептуальні положення збереження біорізноманіття, які базуються на соціо-еколого-економічній оцінці функціонування екосистем. Розроблено методологічні підходи до врахування збереження біорізноманіття у національних рахунках держави, що ґрунтуються на визначенні економічної оцінки функціонування природних екосистем. Поглиблено методологію збереження біорізноманіття на основі поєднання і розвитку теорії систем та інституціональної економіки. Розширено механізми застосування інноваційних інструментів збереження біорізноманіття. Розроблено концептуальні підходи маркетингової стратегії розвитку природно-заповідних територій на основі формування їх позитивного іміджу й адаптації до ринкових умов. (The investigation is devoted to the organization-economic mechanism improvement of the biodiversity conservation in Ukraine in relation to the sustainable development conditions. The conceptual principles of the biodiversity that are based on ecological and social and economic assessment of ecosystem functioning were scientifically proved for the first time in this research. The methodological approaches to the biodiversity conservation in the national state accounts were developed and they are based on the new calculations of the economic evaluation of the natural ecosystem functioning. The methodology and tools of the economic mechanism for resolving environmental conflicts at international level are improved. The methodology of the biodiversity conservation which is based on the institutional economics theory and the systems theory was improved. The innovative mechanisms for biodiversity conservation tools were expanded.

Immunohistochemistry or Molecular Analysis : Which Method Is Better for Subtyping Craniopharyngioma?

Craniopharyngioma (CP) is mainly classified into two pathological subtypes: adamantinomatous (ACP) and papillary (PCP). CTNNB1 (β-catenin) mutations are detected in ACPs, and the BRAF V600E mutation is detected in PCPs. However, genetic analysis is not always possible in general medical practice. In this study, we investigated whether immunohistochemistry could replace genetic analysis as an aid in subtype diagnosis. Here, 38 CP patients who had undergone their first tumor resection were included. Among the 38 cases, 22 were morphologically diagnosed as ACP, 10 cases were diagnosed as PCP, and six cases were diagnosed as undetermined CP that were morphologically difficult to classify as either ACP or PCP. Results of immunohistochemistry and genetic analysis and clinical features were compared. Based on the immunohistochemistry, 26 (22 ACPs and four undetermined CPs) showed nuclear β-catenin expression, 11 (nine PCPs and two undetermined CPs) exhibited positive BRAF V600E immunostaining and one PCP showed membranous β-catenin expression and negative for BRAF V600E immunostaining. Among the 26 nuclear β-catenin expression cases, 11 had CTNNB1 mutations; however, 15 cases had mutations of neither CTNNB1 nor BRAF V600E. All 11 BRAF V600E immunopositive cases had BRAF V600E mutations. When comparing clinical features between, pediatric patients and those with tumor calcification and less solid components on MRI more commonly had nuclear β-catenin expression tumors than BRAF V600E immunopositive tumors, reflecting the differences in clinical features between ACP and PCP. Accordingly, immunohistochemistry can replace genetic analysis as an aid to determine the subtype diagnosis of CP in general medical practice