Human umbilical cord blood-derived cells differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in the Fas-mediated liver injury model

Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) contains stem/progenitor cells, which can differentiate into a variety of cell types. In this study, we investigated whether HUCB cells differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. We also examined whether CD34 could be the selection marker of stem cells for hepatocytes. HUCB cells were obtained from normal full-term deliveries, and CD34(+/-) cells were further separated. For in vitro study, HUCB cells were cultured for 4 wk, and expressions of liver-specific genes were examined. For the in vivo study, nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice were subjected to liver injury by a Fas ligand-carried adenoviral vector or only radiated. Mice were treated simultaneously with or without cell transplantation of HUCB, CD34(+), or CD34(-) cells. After 4 wk, human-specific gene/protein expression was examined. In the in vitro study, human liver-specific genes were positive after 7 days of culture. The immunofluorescent study showed positive staining of alpha-fetoprotein, cytokeratin 19, and albumin in round-shaped cells. In the in vivo study, immunohistochemical analysis showed human albumin-positive, hepatocyte-specific antigen-positive cells in mouse livers of the Fas ligand/transplantation group. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis using the human Y chromosome also showed positive signals. However, no difference between transplanted cell types was detected. In contrast, immunopositive cells were not detected in the irradiated/transplantation group. The RT-PCR result also showed human hepatocyte-specific gene expressions only in the Fas ligand/transplantation group. HUCB cells differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells in the mouse liver, and liver injury was essential during this process. The differences between CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells were not observed in human hepatocyte-specific expression.     

Annual and seasonal changes in foraging site and diving behavior in Adélie penguins

Foraging sites, diet, and diving behavior of chick-rearing Adélie penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae, in fast sea-ice areas were investigated during two consecutive seasons with contrasting sea-ice conditions. During 1995/1996, fast sea ice covered the foraging range of penguins during the whole breeding season. In contrast, during 1996/1997, sea ice covered the area in December 1996, but gradually thinned and finally broke up, so that open sea appeared along the coast during February 1997. Foraging sites were concentrated in a small area in 1995/1996 and spread over a wider area in 1996/1997 as more small open-water areas were available. In both seasons, parents traveled to more distant foraging sites as the season progressed and, consequently, the foraging-trip duration increased. In both years, Euphausia superba and Pagothenia borchgrevinki dominated the diet in the early part of the season, while later in the season penguins fed mainly on E. superba in 1995/1996 and Pagothenia borchgrevinki and E. crystallorophias in 1996/1997. In 1995/1996, penguins tended to dive deeper—albeit for a relatively shorter duration—when feeding mainly on krill compared to when feeding on fish. In 1996/1997, there was no difference in the dive depth and duration between krill- and fish-eating trips. Our results suggest that prey distribution changes annually and seasonally, probably according to sea-ice conditions, and that consequently penguins modify their foraging sites, diving patterns, and diet according to these changes.     

Excess carotenoids disturb prospective cell-to-cell recognition system in mating responses ofPhycomyces blakesleeanus

Carotenogenic mutants ofPhycomyces, which accumulate excess β-carotene or its intermediates, always failed in zygospore development. No improvement occurred when such mutants were mated together with a helper wild type of the same mating type against the wild type of the opposite mating type. Addition of excess synthesized pheromone, trisporin B, also failed to improve the zygospore development, though the mating response was significantly activated in the early stages and abundant zygophores were formed. Exceptional acceleration of the zygospore development under these experimental conditions occurred in a regulatory albino mutant (carA), which does not accumulate excess intermediate carotenoids. Chemically- or genetically-induced ovarproduction of β-carotene or lycopene also inhibited the zygospore development. These results imply that the zygospore development ofPhycomyces is maximal when the intracellular amount of β-carotene is optimal (=wild type), and that pheromones act mainly in the early stages of mating, while other factors such as the cell-to-cell recognition system may also be involved in the later stages. Intracellular accumulation of excess β-carotene or its intermediates probably disturb such later-stage factors.     

Beta 3-adrenergic receptor is involved in feeding regulation in chicks

We examined whether the brain beta 3-adrenergic receptor (B3-AR) is involved in the feeding regulation of chicks. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of BRL37344, a B3-AR agonist, reduced food intake of chicks under ad libitum, but not fasting, feeding conditions. The ICV injection of BRL37344 did not affect chick posture or locomotion activity suggesting that BRL37344 inhibited feeding without induction of sleep-like behavior as caused by norepinephrine. Furthermore, the rectal temperature increased following the ICV injection of BRL37344. Intraperitoneal administration of BRL37344 did not reduce food intake under ad libitum feeding condition. The present study demonstrated that the brain B3-AR is involved in the inhibition of feeding in chicks. We also suggested that activation of the brain affects the energy metabolism in chicks.     

Emergence of Pathogenic Coronaviruses in Cats by Homologous Recombination between Feline and Canine Coronaviruses

Type II feline coronavirus (FCoV) emerged via double recombination between type I FCoV and type II canine coronavirus (CCoV). In this study, two type I FCoVs, three type II FCoVs and ten type II CCoVs were genetically compared. The results showed that three Japanese type II FCoVs, M91-267, KUK-H/L and Tokyo/cat/130627, also emerged by homologous recombination between type I FCoV and type II CCoV and their parent viruses were genetically different from one another. In addition, the 3′-terminal recombination sites of M91-267, KUK-H/L and Tokyo/cat/130627 were different from one another within the genes encoding membrane and spike proteins, and the 5′-terminal recombination sites were also located at different regions of ORF1. These results indicate that at least three Japanese type II FCoVs emerged independently. Sera from a cat experimentally infected with type I FCoV was unable to neutralize type II CCoV infection, indicating that cats persistently infected with type I FCoV may be superinfected with type II CCoV. Our previous study reported that few Japanese cats have antibody against type II FCoV. All of these observations suggest that type II FCoV emerged inside the cat body and is unable to readily spread among cats, indicating that these recombination events for emergence of pathogenic coronaviruses occur frequently.     

Assessment of Still and Moving Images in the Diagnosis of Gastric Lesions Using Magnifying Narrow-Band Imaging in a Prospective Multicenter Trial

Objectives

Magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) is more accurate than white-light imaging for diagnosing small gastric cancers. However, it is uncertain whether moving M-NBI images have additional effects in the diagnosis of gastric cancers compared with still images.

Design

A prospective multicenter cohort study.

Methods

To identify the additional benefits of moving M-NBI images by comparing the diagnostic accuracy of still images only with that of both still and moving images. Still and moving M-NBI images of 40 gastric lesions were obtained by an expert endoscopist prior to this prospective multicenter cohort study. Thirty-four endoscopists from ten different Japanese institutions participated in the prospective multicenter cohort study. Each study participant was first tested using only still M-NBI images (still image test), then tested 1 month later using both still and moving M-NBI images (moving image test). The main outcome was a difference in the diagnostic accuracy of cancerous versus noncancerous lesions between the still image test and the moving image test.

Results

Thirty-four endoscopists were analysed. There were no significant difference of cancerous versus noncancerous lesions between still and moving image tests in the diagnostic accuracy (59.9% versus 61.5%), sensitivity (53.4% versus 55.9%), and specificity (67.0% versus 67.6%). And there were no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between still and moving image tests of demarcation line (65.4% versus 65.5%), microvascular pattern (56.7% versus 56.9%), and microsurface pattern (48.1% versus 50.9%). Diagnostic accuracy showed no significant difference between the still and moving image tests in the subgroups of endoscopic findings of the lesions.

Conclusions

The addition of moving M-NBI images to still M-NBI images does not improve the diagnostic accuracy for gastric lesions. It is reasonable to concentrate on taking sharp still M-NBI images during endoscopic observation and use them for diagnosis.

Trial registration

Umin.ac.jp UMIN-CTR000008048     

Correlations of calcium accumulations in arteries, veins, cartilages, ligaments, and bones in single humans

To show the relationships of calcium accumulation in the thoracic aorta to the other tissues, calcium contents were determined with a microwave-induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometer on arteries, veins, cartilages, ligaments, and bones. These tissues were resected from 18 individuals, consisting of 11 men and 7 women who died in the age range 59–91 yr. As thoracic and abdominal aortas are routinely used for radiographic examination of arterial calcification, they appear to be standard tissues of the calcium accumulation. The calcium accumulations were determined in the femoral artery, the superior and inferior venae cavae, the internal jugular vein, cartilages of the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint and the intervertebral disk, both the ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament and the ligamentum capitis femoris, and the calcaneus, in contrast with the thoracic aorta. As calcium increased in the thoracic aorta, it increased in the femoral artery, the articular disk of the temporomandibular joint, the intervertebral disk, both ligaments of the anterior cruciate ligament, and the ligamentum capitis femoris, but it did not increase in veins, such as the superior and inferior venae cavae and the internal jugular vein. In contrast, it decreased in the calcaneus.     

Preparation of polymers containing Fe(0)-coordinated 2,5-diethynylsilole units

UV irradiation of poly(organosilanylene-2,5-diethynylenesiloles) in benzene with an excess of Fe(CO)₅ led to the formation of Fe(CO)₃-coordinated silole units in the polymer backbone. The Fe(CO)₃-coordinated polymers exhibited suppressed π-conjugation, relative to the parent non-coordinated polymers. Hole-transporting properties of poly(organosilanylene-2,5-diethynylenesiloles) were examined by the performance of EL devices containing the polymer layer as the hole-transport and Alq3 layer as the electron-transporting emitter.