A simple large-scale method for separating closed circular form DNA by gel electrophoresis

The covalently closed form of circular duplex SV40 DNA was separated from the open and linear form of SV40 DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis in a large-scale gel system. The closed circular DNA was recovered from agarose gels by re-electrophoresing the gel slices. The recovery of DNA was about 70%. Electron microscopic analysis showed that the recovered DNA did not have doube- or single-stranded breaks. The recovered DNA can be used without further purification for electron microscopy, as a substrate for experiments using restriction endonuclease and as a template for in vitro RNA synthesis.</p

Indoor Environment and Energy Consumption of an Elementary School in a Subtropical Region

Indoor thermal environment and air quality in an elementary school were measured and examined for the basic data of net Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) and the adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The target school is located in Okinawa, a subtropical archipelagic region with hot and humid climate in Japan. The school is equipped with air conditioners (ACs) that are sometimes operated without natural ventilation. The measurement results are as follows: (1) The ACs were operated when the daily average air temperature was over 22 C. (2) The ACs in the class rooms were controlled by the teachers individually. The preset temperature was sometimes too low. (3) Direct solar radiation penetrated the class rooms, which increased the heat load. (4) The higher point in the class rooms was the higher temperature when AC was working. (5) The CO2 concentrations in the class rooms were kept under 1000ppm by heat exchange ventilation systems.publishedVersio

Pathological characteristics of reoperated regrowing clinically nonfunctioning pituitary tumor cases in comparison with initial surgical cases

ObjectivePostoperative nonfunctioning pituitary tumor (NFPT) regrowth is a significant concern, but its predictive factors are not well established. This study aimed to elucidate the pathological characteristics of NFPTs indicated for reoperation for tumor regrowth.MethodsPathological, radiological, and clinical data were collected from patients who underwent repeat operation for NFPT at Moriyama Memorial Hospital (MMH) between April 2018 and September 2023. For comparison, we also gathered data from patients who underwent initial surgery for NFPT during the same period at MMH.ResultsOverall, 61 and 244 NFPT patients who respectively underwent reoperation and initial operation were evaluated. The mean period between the previous operation and reoperation was 113 months. Immunonegativity for any adenohypophyseal hormone was significantly more frequent in the reoperation group than in the initial operation group. In addition, the rate of hormone-negative but transcription factor–positive (H-/TF+) tumors among silent gonadotroph tumors was significantly higher in the reoperation group than in the initial operation group. Furthermore, seven silent corticotroph tumors (SCTs) in the reoperation group were ACTH-negative but TPIT-positive. Because most of the previous surgeries were performed in other hospitals a long time ago, we could procure the previous pathological results with immunohistochemistry (IHC) only from 21 patients. IHC for TF had not been performed in all the previous specimens. IHC for adenohypophyseal hormone was almost the same as the current results, and many H-/TF+ tumors were previously diagnosed as NCT. In addition, the reoperated patients were classified into 3 groups on the basis of the condition of the previous operation: gross total resection (GTR), 12 patients; subtotal resection (STR), 17 patients; and partial resection (PR), 32 patients. The mean Ki-67 LI in the GTR, STR, and PR subgroups were 1.82, 1.37, and 0.84, respectively, with the value being significantly higher in the GTR subgroup than in the PR subgroup (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionsThe ratio of H-/TF+ tumors is significantly higher in symptomatically regrown tumors than in the initial cases, which used to be diagnosed as NCT. PR cases tend to grow symptomatically in a shorter period, even with lower Ki-67 LI than GTR cases

Changes in Atrial Size Following PVI: Comparison of the Right and Left Atria

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is expected to cure atrial fibrillation (AF) and to improve atrial remodeling. However, the effects of PVI on the right atrial (RA) size have not been fully examined. We studied the effects of PVI on RA size in comparison that with the effects on LA size. Method: We studied 17 patients with drug-refractory AF (11 paroxysmal, 6 persistent). Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at baseline and at follow-up to measure and compare RA and LA size.Results: Despite a short duration of AF in 7 patients after the PVI, all cases were maintained in sinus rhythm during the follow-up. LA and RA size were both reduced after the PVI compared with baseline measurements (LA 25.5 ± 2.9cm2 vs. 23.2 ± 3.6cm2, P < 0.05, RA 21.2 ± 2.9cm2 vs. 18.1 ± 3.0cm2, P < 0.01). The reduction ratio was more prominent in RA size (14.9%) than in LA size (8.7%)(P < 0.05). Conclusion: Atrial size was reduced following PVI for both the LA and RA, although the rate of reduction was more prominent in the RA

Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Cryoablation of Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Renal Allograft: First Case in Asia

Nephron-sparing treatment should be offered whenever possible to avoid dialysis in allograph cases. Cryoablation is a new treatment option for treating small-sized renal cell cancer (RCCs). We report a case of RCC arising in a kidney allograft treated by cryoablation. To our knowledge, this is the first case in Asia of RCC in a renal allograft treated using cryoablation. Contrast-enhanced CT-guided percutaneous renal needle biopsy and cryoablation were used to identify the RCC, which could not be identified by other techniques. The postoperative course was uneventful. Contrast-enhanced CT also showed no recurrence or metastases at the 6-month follow-up