Immunohistochemical Analysis of Connexin43 Expression in Infertile Human Testes

Connexin43 (Cx43) is abundantly expressed in mammalian testes and implicated in the regulation of cell-to-cell interaction between germ cells and Sertoli cells, which is essential to the normal process of spermatogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the relation between Cx43 expression and the degree of spermatogenesis in infertile human testes. Immunohistochemical analysis of Cx43 was performed on testicular biopsies from 29 patients with azoospermia (n=23) and severe oligospermia (n=6), who gave informed consent to this experiment. The degree of testicular spermatogenesis was evaluated by Johnsen score. In the interstitium, immunostaining for Cx43 was localized to some focal parts of plasma membrane between neighboring Leydig cells. In seminiferous tubules with normal spermatogenesis, Cx43 expression was found between Sertoli cells and germ cells. However, Cx43 expression in maturation arrest was decreased and located mainly in the basal compartment of seminiferous tubules. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between histological score of spermatogenesis and intensity of Cx43 (p=0.0294). These data suggest that the alteration of Cx43 expression may be involved in spermatogenic impairment, and that the communication between Sertoli cells and germ cells through Cx43 may be important for maturation of spermatogenesis

Subtype-specific gout susceptibility loci and enrichment of selection pressure on ABCG2 and ALDH2 identified by subtype genome-wide meta-analyses of clinically defined gout patients

Objectives Genome-wide meta-analyses of clinically defined gout were performed to identify subtype-specific susceptibility loci. Evaluation using selection pressure analysis with these loci was also conducted to investigate genetic risks characteristic of the Japanese population over the last 2000–3000 years. Methods Two genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of 3053 clinically defined gout cases and 4554 controls from Japanese males were performed using the Japonica Array and Illumina Array platforms. About 7.2 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms were meta-analysed after imputation. Patients were then divided into four clinical subtypes (the renal underexcretion type, renal overload type, combined type and normal type), and meta-analyses were conducted in the same manner. Selection pressure analyses using singleton density score were also performed on each subtype. Results In addition to the eight loci we reported previously, two novel loci, PIBF1 and ACSM2B, were identified at a genome-wide significance level (p<5.0×10–8) from a GWAS meta-analysis of all gout patients, and other two novel intergenic loci, CD2-PTGFRN and SLC28A3-NTRK2, from normal type gout patients. Subtype-dependent patterns of Manhattan plots were observed with subtype GWASs of gout patients, indicating that these subtype-specific loci suggest differences in pathophysiology along patients’ gout subtypes. Selection pressure analysis revealed significant enrichment of selection pressure on ABCG2 in addition to ALDH2 loci for all subtypes except for normal type gout. Conclusions Our findings on subtype GWAS meta-analyses and selection pressure analysis of gout will assist elucidation of the subtype-dependent molecular targets and evolutionary involvement among genotype, phenotype and subtype-specific tailor-made medicine/prevention of gout and hyperuricaemia

Follow-up examinations performed by radiation oncologists after radiotherapy in Japan.

Backgrounds: As there are few radiotherapists in Japan, it is impossible to perform post-radiotherapy examinations in some cases. we conducted a questionnaire-based survey to discover whether patients desired to undergo follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department in addition to the examinations performed by the attending physician after radiotherapy and to discover the types of patients who desired such examinations.Aim: To know how many patients desire re-examination in radiotherapy department.Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 109 patients to investigate the number of patients who desired to undergo follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department similar to those received at the department of their attending physician.Results: Forty-three percentage of the patients desired followup examinations. A statistically significant number of men reported that they desired follow-up examinations at both departments. Patients with brain tumors did not desire follow-up examinations at both departments. There was a great individual variation in the desire for follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department.Conclution: As a whole, 43% of patients hope for the second visit. It is necessary to repair these present conditions in Japan

Follow-up examinations performed by radiation oncologists after radiotherapy in Japan.

Aim: To know how many patients desire re-examination in radiotherapy department.Background: As there are few radiotherapists in Japan, it is impossible to perform post-radiotherapy examinations in some cases. we conducted a questionnaire-based survey to discover whether patients desired to undergo follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department in addition to the examinations performed by the attending physician after radiotherapy and to discover the types of patients who desired such examinations.Materials and methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of 109 patients to investigate the number of patients who desired to undergo follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department similar to those received at the department of their attending physician.Results: Forty-three percentage of the patients desired follow-up examinations. A statistically significant number of men reported that they desired follow-up examinations at both departments. Patients with brain tumors did not desire follow-up examinations at both departments. There was a great individual variation in the desire for follow-up examinations at the radiation oncology department.Conclusion: As a whole, 43% of patients hope for the second visit. It is necessary to repair these present conditions in Japan