Altered ATP release and metabolism in dorsal root ganglia of neuropathic rats

Recent advances in pain research provide a clear picture for the molecular mechanisms of acute pain; substantial information concerning plasticity that occurs during neuropathic pain has also become available. The peripheral mechanisms responsible for neuropathic pain are found in the altered gene/protein expression of primary sensory neurons. With damage to peripheral sensory fibers, a variety of changes in pain-related gene expression take place in dorsal root ganglion neurons. These changes, or plasticity, might underlie unique neuropathic pain-specific phenotype modifications – decreased unmyelinated-fiber functions, but increased myelinated A-fiber functions. Another characteristic change is observed in allodynia, the functional change of tactile to nociceptive perception. Throughout a series of studies, using novel nociceptive tests to characterize sensory-fiber or pain modality-specific nociceptive behaviors, it was demonstrated that communication between innocuous and noxious sensory fibers might play a role in allodynia mechanisms. Because neuropathic pain in peripheral and central demyelinating diseases develops as a result of aberrant myelination in experimental animals, demyelination seems to be a key mechanism of plasticity in neuropathic pain. More recently, we discovered that lysophosphatidic acid receptor activation initiates neuropathic pain, as well as possible peripheral mechanims of demyelination after nerve injury. These results lead to further hypotheses of physical communication between innocuous Aβ- and noxious C- or Aδ-fibers to influence the molecular mechanisms of allodynia.     

Enzymatic characterization of peroxisomal and cytosolic betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases in barley

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH; EC 1.2.1.8) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the last step in the synthesis of glycine betaine, a compatible solute accumulated by many plants under various abiotic stresses. In barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), we reported previously the existence of two BADH genes ( BBD1 and BBD2 ) and their corresponding proteins, peroxisomal BADH (BBD1) and cytosolic BADH (BBD2). To investigate their enzymatic properties, we expressed them in Escherichia coli and purified both proteins. Enzymatic analysis indicated that the affinity of BBD2 for betaine aldehyde was reasonable as other plant BADHs, but BBD1 showed extremely low affinity for betaine aldehyde with apparent K_m of 18.9 μ M and 19.9 m M , respectively. In addition, V_max/K_m with betaine aldehyde of BBD2 was about 2000-fold higher than that of BBD1, suggesting that BBD2 plays a main role in glycine betaine synthesis in barley plants. However, BBD1 catalyzed the oxidation of ω-aminoaldehydes such as 4-aminobutyraldehyde and 3-aminopropionaldehyde as efficiently as BBD2. We also found that both BBDs oxidized 4- N -trimethylaminobutyraldehyde and 3- N -trimethylaminopropionaldehyde.     

福建畲族的红细胞血型分布The

本文报道了父母双方上溯三代均为畲族的123名健康人的9个红细胞血型系统的分布。其表型分布如下：ABO血型系统：A型34人,B型26人,O型57人,AB型6人。MNSs血型系统：MNSs型5人,MMSs型5人,NNSs型1人, MMss型32人,MNss型62人,NNss型18人。未发现SS型。Rh血型系统：CCDee型44人,CcDee型9人,CCDEe型5人, CcDEe型55人,ccDEe型2人,ccDEE型8人,未发现ccDee、CCDEE型及CcDEE型。Duffy血型系统：Fy(a+b-)型115人,Fy(a+b+)型8人,未发现Fy(a-b+)及Fy(a-b-)型。 Kidd血型系统：Jk(a+b-)型49人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a+b+)型43人,Jk(a-b+)型31人,未发现Jk (a-b-)型。Lutheran血型系统: Lu(a-b+) 型123人,未发现Lu(a+b-)及Lu(a+b+)型。Diego血型系统：Di(a+)型13人,Di(a-)型110人。P血型系统：P1(+)型38人,P1(-)型85人。Lewis血型系统：Le(a+b-)型16人,Le(a+b+)型9人,Le(a-b+)型91人,Le(a-b-)型7人。     

Segregative cell division and the cytoskeleton in two species of the genus Struvea (Cladophorales,Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta)

The detailed segregative cell division (SCD) processes and changes in the arrangement of cortical microtubules and actin filaments were examined in two species of Struvea. SCD was initiated by the appearance of annular constrictions along the lateral side of a mother cell. The constrictions decreased in diameter, became thin, tubular in shape, and pinched the protoplasm of the mother cell into several protoplasmic sections. The protoplasmic sections expanded and developed into daughter cells, which appressed each other, and were arranged in a single row. Lateral branches protruded from the upper parts of the daughter cells. The protoplasm of the lateral branches was divided by secondary SCDs and was distributed amongst the new daughter cells. SCD and lateral branch formation were essential for morphogenesis in Struvea. Cortical microtubules were arranged parallel and longitudinally to the cell axis before SCD. When SCD was initiated, there was considerable undulation of the cortical microtubules and several transverse bundles appeared in the cytoplasmic zone where annular constrictions occurred. A microtubule‐disrupting drug (amiprophos methyl) inhibited SCD. Actin filaments maintained reticulate patterns before and during SCD. These results demonstrated that SCD in Struvea species was quite distinct from that in Dictyosphaeria cavernosa reported previously.     

Functional assessment of self-renewal activity of male germline stem cells following cytotoxic damage and serial transplantation

Spermatogenesis is dependent on a small population of stem cells. Although stem cells are believed to expand infinitely, there is little functional evidence regarding whether spermatogonial stem cells can increase in their number. Using the spermatogonial transplantation technique, we evaluated the proliferative potential of spermatogonial stem cells in two models of regeneration. After busulfan injection to deplete stem cells, the surviving stem cells were able to expand by at least 15.8-fold within 2 mo. On the other hand, a serial transplantation study indicated that one transplanted stem cell was able to expand by 3.8- and 12-fold within 2 and 4 mo, respectively. These results provide direct functional evidence for the expansion of stem cells and establish the basis for further characterization of the stem cell self-renewal process.     

Allogeneic offspring produced by male germ line stem cell transplantation into infertile mouse testis

The testis is one of several immune-privileged organs and is known for its unique ability to support allogeneic or xenogeneic tissue transplants. We investigated the possibility of deriving offspring from mice that underwent transplantation with allogeneic male germ line stem cells in the testis. Although mature adult mice rejected allogeneic germ cells and were infertile, offspring were obtained by intracytoplasmic germ cell injection using partially differentiated donor cells. In contrast, complete spermatogenesis occurred when allogeneic germ cells were transplanted into immature pup testes. Tolerance induction by monoclonal antibody administration allowed the pup transplant recipients to produce allogeneic offspring by natural mating, whereas no spermatozoa were found in the epididymis of untreated recipients. Thus, these results indicate that a histoincompatible recipient can serve as a "surrogate father" to propagate the genetic information of heterologous male donors.     

Overtime Work and Prevalence of Diabetes in Japanese Employees: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study

Objective

Epidemiologic evidence on long working hour and diabetes has been conflicting. We examined the association between overtime work and prevalence of diabetes among Japanese workers.

Methods

The subjects were 40,861 employees (35,170 men and 5,691 women), aged 16 to 83 years, of 4 companies in Japan. Hours of overtime were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Diabetes was defined as a fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or current use of anti-diabetic drug. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio of diabetes for each category of overtime.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, company, smoking, and BMI, there was a suggestion of U-shaped relationship between overtime work and prevalence of diabetes (P for quadratic trend = 0.07). Compared with those who worked <45 hours of overtime per month, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of diabetes were 0.86 (0.77–0.94), 0.69 (0.53–0.89), and 1.03 (0.72–1.46) for those who worked 45–79, 80–99, and ≥100 hours of overtime per month, respectively. In one company (n = 33,807), where other potential confounders including shift work, job position, type of department, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, leisure time physical activity, and family history of diabetes was additionally adjusted for, similar result was obtained (P for quadratic trend = 0.05).

Conclusions

Long hours of overtime work may not be associated with increased prevalence of diabetes among Japanese workers.     

Oil-soluble dyes for marking Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Although various biological aspects of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) have been examined, adult movement and dispersal of this insect pest is not well understood. Release-recapture techniques by using marked insects is a useful approach for dispersal studies; however, the marking technique should not significantly affect insect biology or behavior. Therefore, the effect of different concentrations of oil-soluble dyes (Solvent Blue 35 [C.I. 61554], Sudan Red 7B [C.I. 26050], Sudan Black B [26150], Sudan Orange G [C.I. 11920], and Sudan I 103624 [C.I. 12055]) on development, mortality, and fecundity of S. frugiperda was evaluated. Dyes were added to artificial diet used to feed larvae. Larval and pupal development and mortality, adult longevity, and female fecundity were evaluated. High concentrations (400 and 600 ppm) of all dyes led to longer larval and pupal stages. Adult life span and number of eggs were not affected by the dyes. Sudan Red 7B marked both adults and eggs very well. Solvent Blue 35 marked both adults and eggs, but the blue-marked eggs could not be distinguished from some bluish eggs laid by nonlabeled females. Adults and eggs were not adequately marked by the Sudan Black B, Sudan Orange G, and Sudan I 103624 (a yellow dye).     

Imaging the interaction of αv integrin-GFP in osteosarcoma cells with RFP-expressing host stromal cells and tumor-scaffold collagen in the primary and metastatic tumor microenvironment

Human osteosarcoma 143B cells were previously stably transfected with an α_v integrin green flourescent protein (GFP) vector. 143B cells expressing α_v integrin-GFP were transplanted orthotopically in the tibia of transgenic nude mice ubiquitously expressing red fluorescent protein (RFP). The primary tumors acquired RFP-expressing stroma and were passaged orthotopically in the tibia in noncolored nude mice, which maintained the RFP stroma. The interaction of α_v integrin-GFP expression in 143B cells with RFP-expressing host stromal cells was observed by confocal microscopy using the Olympus FV1000. Collagen fibers were imaged simultaneously in reflectance mode. The RFP-expressing stroma included cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) which persisted even 3 weeks after passage to nontransgenic nude mice. CAFs expressing RFP were aligned between collagen fibers and cancer cells expressing α_v integrin-GFP. Six weeks after transplantation, pulmonary metastases expressing α_v integrin-GFP could be identified. TAMs expressing RFP accompanied metastasized osteosarcoma cells expressing α_v integrin-GFP in the lung. The current study demonstrates the importance of α_v integrin interaction with stromal elements in osteosarcoma.