Expression of visual and nonvisual opsins in American chameleon

AbstractWe previously characterized five visual opsin genes of American chameleon (Anolis carolinensis). Here we report its nonvisual opsin gene orthologous to the chicken pineal gland-specific opsin (P-opsin) gene. In the pure-cone American chameleon retina, all visual opsins including rod opsin are expressed. In both pineal and parietal eye, three visual opsins as well as P-opsin are expressed. Although opsins are detected in the pineal glands of a wide variety of vertebrates, Southern analysis suggests that the P-opsin gene is used mainly by birds and reptiles

A simple method for studying the molecular mechanisms of ultraviolet and violet reception in vertebrates

The Νmaxs and A/B ratios of HBNs of ancestral and present-day pigments. (DOCX 43 kb

Expression of human thromboxane synthase using a baculovirus system

AbstractHuman thromboxane (TX) synthase (EC 5.3.99.5) was produced by the baculovirus expression system using cDNA encoding human TX synthase [(1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 78, 1479-1484]. A recombinant baculovirus TXS7 was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells. The expressed protein was recognized by monoclonal antibody, Kon 7 raised against human TX synthase [(1990) Blood 76, 80-85]. The recombinant TX synthase catalyzed the conversion of prostaglandin (PG) H2 to TXA2 and 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT). Both conversions of PGH2 to TXA2 and HHT by the expressed TX synthase were completely inhibited by a specific TX synthase inhibitor, OKY-046 (5 μM)

Expression of human thromboxane synthase using a baculovirus system

AbstractHuman thromboxane (TX) synthase (EC 5.3.99.5) was produced by the baculovirus expression system using cDNA encoding human TX synthase [(1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 78, 1479-1484]. A recombinant baculovirus TXS7 was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 insect cells. The expressed protein was recognized by monoclonal antibody, Kon 7 raised against human TX synthase [(1990) Blood 76, 80-85]. The recombinant TX synthase catalyzed the conversion of prostaglandin (PG) H2 to TXA2 and 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT). Both conversions of PGH2 to TXA2 and HHT by the expressed TX synthase were completely inhibited by a specific TX synthase inhibitor, OKY-046 (5 μM)

Spectral Tuning of Phototaxis by a Go-Opsin in the Rhabdomeric Eyes of Platynereis

SummaryPhototaxis is characteristic of the pelagic larval stage of most bottom-dwelling marine invertebrates [1]. Larval phototaxis is mediated by simple eyes that can express various types of light-sensitive G-protein-coupled receptors known as opsins [2–8]. Since opsins diversified early during metazoan evolution in the marine environment [9], understanding underwater light detection could elucidate this diversification. Opsins have been classified into three major families, the r-opsins, the c-opsins, and the Go/RGR opsins, a family uniting Go-opsins, retinochromes, RGR opsins, and neuropsins [10, 11]. The Go-opsins form an ancient and poorly characterized group retained only in marine invertebrate genomes. Here, we characterize a Go-opsin from the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii [3–5, 12–15]. We found Go-opsin1 coexpressed with two r-opsins in depolarizing rhabdomeric photoreceptor cells in the pigmented eyes of Platynereis larvae. We purified recombinant Go-opsin1 and found that it absorbs in the blue-cyan range of the light spectrum. To characterize the function of Go-opsin1, we generated a Go-opsin1 knockout Platynereis line by zinc-finger-nuclease-mediated genome engineering. Go-opsin1 knockout larvae were phototactic but showed reduced efficiency of phototaxis to wavelengths matching the in vitro Go-opsin1 spectrum. Our results highlight spectral tuning of phototaxis as a potential mechanism contributing to opsin diversity

Feasibility of deep-inspiration breath-hold PET/CT with short-time acquisition: detectability for pulmonary lesions compared with respiratory-gated PET/CT

Objectives: Deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) PET/CT with short-time acquisition and respiratory-gated (RG) PET/CT are performed for pulmonary lesions to reduce the respiratory motion artifacts, and to obtain more accurate standardized uptake value (SUV). DIBH PET/CT demonstrates significant advantages in terms of rapid examination, good quality of CT images and low radiation exposure. On the other hand, the image quality of DIBH PET is generally inferior to that of RG PET because of short-time acquisition resulting in poor signal-to-noise ratio. In this study, RG PET has been regarded as a gold standard, and its detectability between DIBH and RG PET studies was compared using each of the most optimal reconstruction parameters. Methods: In the phantom study, the most optimal reconstruction parameters for DIBH and RG PET were determined. In the clinical study, 19 cases were examined using each of the most optimal reconstruction parameters. Results: In the phantom study, the most optimal reconstruction parameters for DIBH and RG PET were different. Reconstruction parameters of DIBH PET could be obtained by reducing the number of subsets for those of RG PET in the state of fixing the number of iterations. In the clinical study, high correlation in the maximum SUV was observed between DIBH and RG PET studies. The clinical result was consistent with that of the phantom study surrounded by air since most of the lesions were located in the low pulmonary radioactivity. Conclusion: DIBH PET/CT may be the most practical method which can be the first choice to reduce respiratory motion artifacts if the detectability of DIBH PET is equivalent with that of RG PET. Although DIBH PET may have limitations in suboptimal signal-to-noise ratio, most of the lesions surrounded by low background radioactivity could provide nearly equivalent image quality between DIBH and RG PET studies when each of the most optimal reconstruction parameters was used. © 2013 The Author(s).In Press / 発行後1年より全文を公

Grand Total EEG Score Can Differentiate Parkinson's Disease From Parkinson-Related Disorders

Background: Semi-quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis is easy to perform and has been used to differentiate dementias, as well as idiopathic and vascular Parkinson's disease.Purpose: To study whether a semi-quantitative EEG analysis can aid in distinguishing idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) from atypical parkinsonian disorders (APDs), and furthermore, whether it can help to distinguish between APDs.Materials and Methods: A comprehensive retrospective review of charts was performed to include patients with parkinsonian disorders who had at least one EEG recording available. A modified grand total EEG (GTE) score evaluating the posterior background activity, and diffuse and focal slow wave activities was used in further analyses.Results: We analyzed data from 76 patients with a final diagnosis of either IPD, probable corticobasal degeneration (CBD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), or progressive supra-nuclear palsy (PSP). IPD patients had the lowest mean GTE score, followed those with CBD or MSA, while PSP patients scored the highest. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. A GTE score of ≤9 distinguished IPD patients from those with APD (p < 0.01) with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 33.3%.Conclusion: The modified GTE score can distinguish patients with IPD from those with CBD, PSP or MSA at a cut-off score of 9 with excellent sensitivity but poor specificity. However, this score is not able to distinguish a particular form of APD from other forms of the disorder

Hemangiopericytoma in the sacrococcygeal space: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A hemangiopericytoma is a rare, soft-tissue tumor of vascular origin derived from a pericyte of Zimmerman, which is a modified smooth muscle cell that surrounds the small blood vessels. Hemangiopericytomas can occur wherever there are vascular capillaries. However, there are no previous reports of a hemangiopericytoma in the sacrococcygeal space.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the first reported case of a hemangiopericytoma found in the sacrococcygeal space. A 47-year-old Japanese woman presented with a palpable tumor on the left side of her anus. Preoperative imaging indicated that the tumor was in the sacrococcygeal space without invasion of other organs. A complete resection was performed via a parasacral incision. The histological and immunohistochemical staining patterns supported the diagnosis of a hemangiopericytoma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A complete resection without piecemeal excision is the best way to treat a hemangiopericytoma. Recognizing the presence of a hemangiopericytoma in the sacrococcygeal space requires appropriate surgery.</p

Moderately differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma as a lymph node metastatic phenotype: comparison with well differentiated counterparts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The differences between the metastatic property of moderately (Mod) and well (Wel) differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma remain unclear. Since Mod is unable to form complete acini, therefore an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can occur in that structure. Herein, we hypothesized that Mod metastasizes more easily than the Wel counterparts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical records of 283 consecutive patients with Mod (n = 71) or Wel (n = 212) who underwent surgery were reviewed between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2003, for actual 5-year overall survival. We examined the differences between the clinicopathological characteristics of the Mod and the Wel groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The lymph node involvement (<it>p </it>< 0.0001), lymphatic permeation, venous permeation, depth of invasion, liver metastasis, and carcinomatous peritonitis were significantly higher in the Mod group in comparison to the Wel group. The independent risk factors by a logistic regression analysis for lymph node involvement were as follows: lymphatic permeation, liver metastasis, and Mod (<it>p </it>= 0.0291, Relative Risk of 1.991: 95% Confidence Interval: 1.073-3.697). A Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that Mod had a trend towards a poor survival (<it>p </it>= 0.0517).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Mod metastasizes to the lymph nodes more easily in comparison to Wel. Therefore, patients with Mod may be considered the existence of lymph node involvement.</p