Idiopathic Hyperestrogenism in Postmenopausal Women

Idiopathic hyperestrogenism of unknown etiology in postmenopausal women (PIH), a new entity, was proposed. To clarify its etiology the 10 patients with this condition were observed.In 6 healthy postmenopausal volunteers who gave written consent, the adrenal and ovarian functions were investigated. Among the 10 PIH cases, a higher than normal serum level of estrone was observed in 4 cases and a level within the upper normal limit was noted in one case. The serum levels of estradiol and estriol, however, were normal in all cases. The increase of serum levels of estrone after ACTH load in the volunteers was seen in 3 cases, of serum estradiol in 5 cases (including 2 cases without ovaries due to previous surgical removal), of serum testosterone in 4 cases, and of serum Ai4-androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone in all 6 cases. These results suggest strongly that PIH is related to higher serum levels of estrone, which may be caused by an increased conversion rate of androgens to estrogens in the periphery and/or by an increased androgens production. Stress was considered to be one of the factors to increase the conversion and/or production of androgens

Reactive Oxygen Species in HaCaT Keratinocytes After UVB Irradiation Are Triggered by Intracellular Ca2+ Levels

It is recognized that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are responsible for skin damage due to UVB-radiation (UVB-R). However, the triggering substance(s) for ROS generation after UVB-R is uncertain with respect to the activation of NADPH oxidase (Nox), xanthine oxidase (XOD), and respiratory chain–chain reactions in mitochondria. As a first step in identifying the trigger(s) for UVB-induced ROS generation, we examined the relationship between Ca2+ levels and ROS generation in HaCaT keratinocytes. UVB-R exposure of HaCaT keratinocytes resulted in an immediate elevation of ROS that recurred 7 hours later. This was accompanied by immediately elevated intracellular Ca2+ . A Ca2+ chelating agent, BAPTA, abolished the elevation of ROS after UVB-R completely. In addition, exogenous H2O2 did not increase intracellular Ca2+ levels. This suggests that intracellular Ca2+ is the first trigger for UVB-induced ROS generation

YbはpiRNA前駆体とpiRNA生合成因子を核周辺部位に形成される顆粒体に局在させることによってpiRISC形成を促進する

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) direct Piwi to repress transposons and maintain genome integrity in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells. piRNA maturation and association with Piwi occur at perinuclear Yb bodies, the centers of piRNA biogenesis. Here, we show that piRNA intermediates arising from the piRNA cluster flamenco (flam) localize to perinuclear foci adjacent to Yb bodies, termed Flam bodies. RNAi-based screening of piRNA factors revealed that Flam body formation depends on Yb, the core component of Yb bodies, while Piwi and another Yb body component, Armitage, are dispensable for formation. Abolishing the RNA-binding activity of Yb disrupts both Flam bodies and Yb bodies. Yb directly binds flam, but not transcripts from neighboring protein-coding genes. Thus, Yb integrates piRNA intermediates and piRNA processing factors selectively into Flam bodies and Yb bodies, respectively. We suggest that Yb is a key upstream factor in the cytoplasmic phase of the piRNA pathway in ovarian somatic cells

Periostin as a novel biomarker for postoperative recurrence of chronic rhinosinitis with nasal polyps

We previously reported that chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) was subdivided into four chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) subtypes using the JESREC scoring system. We sought to identify the gene expression profile and biomarkers related with CRSwNP by RNA-sequence. RNA-sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes between nasal polyps (NPs) and inferior turbinate mucosa from 6 patients with CRSwNP, and subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR was performed to verify the results. ELISA was performed to identify possible biomarkers for postoperative recurrence. In the RNA-sequencing results, periostin (POSTN) expression was the highest in NP. We focused on POSTN and investigated the protein level of POSTN by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. POSTN was diffusely expressed in moderate and severe eosinophilic CRS using immunohistochemistry, and its staining pattern was associated with the severity of the phenotype of the CRSwNP (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the POSTN high/low groups for postoperative recurrence when the cutoff point was set at 115.5 ng/ml (P = 0.0072). Our data suggests that the protein expression level of POSTN was associated with the severity of CRSwNP, and serum POSTN can be a novel biomarker for postoperative recurrence of CRSwNP