Hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy reduces ventricular arrhythmia in animal models of myocardial ischemia.

It was recently reported that gene therapy using hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has the potential to preserve cardiac function after myocardial ischemia. We speculated that this HGF gene therapy could also prevent ventricular arrhythmia. To investigate this possibility, we examined the antiarrhythmic effect of HGF gene therapy in rat acute and old myocardial infarction models. Myocardial ischemia was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-coated liposome containing HGF genes were injected directly into the myocardium fourteen days before programmed pacing. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)was induced by programmed pacing. The VF duration was reduced and the VF threshold increased after HGF gene therapy ( p&#60; 0.01). Histological analyses revealed that the number of vessels in the ischemic border zone was greatly increased after HGF gene injection. These findings revealed that HGF gene therapy has an anti-arrhythmic effect after myocardial ischemia.</p

Detection of vitellogenin incorporation into zebrafish oocytes by FITC fluorescence

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Large volumes of lymph can be collected from the eye-sacs of bubble-eye goldfish. We attempted to induce vitellogenin (Vtg) in the eye-sac lymph of bubble-eye goldfish and develop a method for visualizing Vtg incorporation by zebrafish oocytes using FITC-labeling.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Estrogen efficiently induced Vtg in the eye-sac lymph of goldfish. After FITC-labeled Vtg was prepared, it was injected into mature female zebrafish.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Incorporation of FITC-labeled Vtg by zebrafish oocytes was detected in <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>experiments. The embryos obtained from zebrafish females injected with FITC-labeled Vtg emitted FITC fluorescence from the yolk sac and developed normally.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This method for achieving Vtg incorporation by zebrafish oocytes could be useful in experiments related to the development and endocrinology of zebrafish oocytes.</p

Ileocecal actinomycosis : A case report and review of the literature

A case of actinomycosis in the ileocecal area of a 44-years-old man which manifested as a painful lump in the right iliac fossa is reported. Clinical and laboratory findings suggested the diagnosis of perityphlitic abscess due to acute appendicitis. Upon a laparotomy, a malignant tumor was suspected and so a right hemicolectomy was performed. Gram staining of cecum tissues demonstrated gram positive pleomorphic filaments. Postoperative penicillin therapy was successful. Despite the fact that infection accompanying an actinomycotic organism is relatively rare, the possibility of such an infection should be kept in mind because the organism is known to be commensal in the oral cavity, lungs and intestinal tract