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Most QTL detection studies in pigs have been carried out in experimental F2populations. However, segregation of a QTL must be confirmed within a purebred population for successful implementation of marker-assisted selection. Previously, QTL for meat quality and carcass traits were detected on SSC 7 in a Duroc purebred population. The objectives of the present study were to carry out a whole-genome QTL analysis (except for SSC 7) for meat production, meat quality, and carcass traits and to confirm the presence of segregating QTL in a Duroc purebred population. One thousand and four Duroc pigs were studied from base to seventh generation; the pigs comprised 1 closed population of a complex multigenerational pedigree such that all individuals were related. The pigs were evaluated for 6 growth traits, 7 body size traits, 8 carcass traits, 2 physiological traits, and 11 meat quality traits, and the number of pigs with phenotypes ranged from 421 to 953. A total of 119 markers were genotyped and then used for QTL analysis. We utilized a pedigree-based, multipoint variance components approach to test for linkage between QTL and the phenotypic values using a maximum likelihood method; the logarithm of odds score and QTL genotypic heritability were estimated. A total of 42 QTL with suggestive linkages and 3 QTL with significant linkages for 26 traits were detected. These included selection traits such as daily BW gain, backfat thickness, loin eye muscle area, and intramuscular fat content as well as correlated traits such as body size and meat quality traits. The present study disclosed QTL affecting growth, body size, and carcass, physiological, and meat quality traits in a Duroc purebred population.

Background: Topical pharyngeal anesthesia is generally used as a pretreatment for upper endoscopy. However its efficacy has not been established. Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was undertaken. Subjects were 201 patients who underwent upper endoscopy and gave informed consent. Relative risks (RR) of patient discomfort were calculated for pharyngeal anesthesia, anxiety, and other potential confounding factors by using logistic regression analyses. Results: The RR of patient discomfort on intubation was 0.56 for the anesthesia versus the placebo group (95% CI, 0.31-1.01). RR was higher in patients aged 39 or younger than in those 40 or over (RR = 2.22, 95% CI, 1.04-4.74). With subgroup analysis in those examinees less than 40 years old, the RR of patient discomfort was 0.21 for the topical anesthesia (95% CI, 0.04-0.99) versus the placebo group and 4.93 for patients undergoing upper endoscopy for the first time (95% CI, 1.13-21.60). In the first-time patients, the RR was lower in the topical anesthesia than in the placebo group (RR = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04-0.93); it was higher in patients with a trait-anxiety score higher by 10 points than in those with a lower score (RR = 3.35, 95% CI, 1.01-11.15). With the Bonferroni correction for multiple testing of data, statistical significance is indicated by a CI of 97.5% in the subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Topical pharyngeal anesthesia appears to be effective in patients less than 40 years old and in those undergoing the procedure for the first time. A high trait-anxiety score could be a predictor of discomfort in first-time examinees. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;53:14-8.)

Objective. To determine the serum levels of KL‐6, a mucin‐like high‐molecular‐weight glycoprotein, in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) patients.Methods. Serum samples from 42 adult PM/DM patients and 38 healthy control subjects were examined using specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems.Results. The serum levels of KL‐6 in the PM/DM patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The elevated serum KL‐6 levels correlated with the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and decreased percentage diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (%DLco) in the PM/DM patients. The serum KL‐6 levels inversely correlated with %DLco and percentage vital capacity. Additionally, the serum KL‐6 levels were elevated in five of the seven DM patients with malignant neoplasia.Conclusions. These results suggest that the serum KL‐6 level might be a useful serum marker for ILD and internal malignancy in PM/DM.

Objective. To determine the serum levels of KL-6, a mucin-like high-molecular-weight glycoprotein, in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) patients.
Methods. Serum samples from 42 adult PM/DM patients and 38 healthy control subjects were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems.
Results. The serum levels of KL-6 in the PM/DM patients were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The elevated serum KL-6 levels correlated with the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and decreased percentage diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (%DLco) in the PM/DM patients. The serum KL-6 levels inversely correlated with %DLco and percentage vital capacity. Additionally, the serum KL-6 levels were elevated in five of the seven DM patients with malignant neoplasia.
Conclusions. These results suggest that the serum KL-6 level might be a useful serum marker for ILD and internal malignancy in PM/DM.

To determine whether the nocturnal decrease in arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion into the plasma, found in a patient with multiple system atrophy (MSA) reported previously, is a usual finding in MSA, the plasma AVP concentrations in 13 patients with MSA were measured every 4 hours during a 24 hour period. The plasma AVP concentrations in these patients showed significant daily variations and were the lowest during the night. This finding indicates that patients with MSA often exhibit nocturnal decrease in AVP secretion into the plasma. The results suggest the possibility that the system responsible for the daily variations in AVP secretion is involved in MSA.

Abstract A 67 year old Japanese male patient had pure agraphia after a haemorrhage in the left superior parietal lobule. He developed difficulty in letter formation but showed no linguistic errors, consistent with the criteria of apraxic agraphia. He manifested a selective disorder of sequencing writing strokes, although he was able to orally state the correct sequences. The patient's complete recovery after 1 month, without new learning, showed that he had manifested a selective disorder of writing stroke sequences. These findings indicate that the final stage of the execution of writing according to acquired sequential memory shown as a stroke sequence can be selectively disturbed, and should be considered to be distinct from the ability of character imagery and the knowledge of the writing stroke sequence itself. This case also indicates that the left superior parietal lobule plays an important part in the execution of writing.

Cervical spinal cord lesions in the anterior spinal artery syndrome were delineated on magnetic resonance images (MRI) in four patients. The lesion was always seen anteriorly in the cervical cord. On T2-weighted images, the lesions appeared hyperintense relative to the normal spinal cord, while on T1-weighted images, two chronic lesions appeared hypointense, with local atrophy of the cord. In one case, repeated T1-weighted images showed no signal abnormality 4 days after the ictus, but the lesion became hypointense 18 days later, when contrast enhancement was also recognized after injection of Gd-DTPA; this sequence of intensity changes was similar to that of cerebral infarction. The extent of the lesion seen MRI correlated closely with neurological findings in all cases. Although the findings may not be specific, MRI is now the modality of choice for confirming the diagnosis in patients suspected of having an anterior spinal artery syndrome.

Abnormal growth regulation in lesional skin fibroblasts may be related to scleroderma pathogenesis. We report on the abnormal response of cultured fibroblasts derived from sclerotic lesions to various growth factors. We investigated the responses of skin fibroblasts (10 strains) and normal fibroblasts (9 strains) to the growth factors as PDGF, TGF-?1, EGF and basic FGF. Experiments were conducted during the proliferation and confluent stages. PDGF, EGF and basic FGF stimulated fibroblast growth during the proliferation and confluent stages, but the response of scleroderma fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of normal fibroblasts. TGF-?1 slightly stimulated confluent fibroblast growth and inhibited proliferating fibroblasts, and the response of scleroderma fibroblasts exceeded that of normal fibroblasts. The decreased response to growth-stimulating factors observed in scleroderma fibroblasts suggests that cultured fibroblasts derived from scleroderma lesions were already senescent because they have been activated by growth-stimulating factors and repeatedly divided in vivo. Thus, abnormal growth regulation of skin fibroblasts may be partially related to the pathogenesis of scleroderma.

The serum level of procollagen type I carboxyterminal propeptide (P1CP), which has been used as an index of collagen synthesis in patients with various fibrotic diseases during the active stage, was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 61 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and in 21 control subjects. The mean P1CP level in the SSc patients was significantly higher than in the normal controls (mean ± SD, 326 ± 319 vs 128 ± 87 ng/ml; p<0.005). In 36% of the SSc patients, the serum P1CP level was significantly elevated more than two standard deviations above the mean control value. The mean serum P1CP level in patients with diffuse SSc was significantly higher than in those with limited SSc (411 ± 373 vs 255 ± 199 ng/ml; p<0.05). In addition, the SSc patients with elevated serum P1CP levels showed a significantly greater incidence of lung fibrosis and joint involvement than those with normal P1CP levels (p<0.005 and p<0.05, respectively). These results suggest that the serum P1CP level is a useful indicator of the severity of disease in SSc patients.

Endothelin is a novel potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced mainly by endothelial cells. Thrombomodulin is a high-affinity thrombin receptor on vascular endothelial cells that plays an important role as a natural anticoagulant. In this study, we measured plasma levels of endothelin and thrombomodulin in patients with systemic sclerosis or Raynaud's disease. Plasma levels of endothelin and the ratio of thrombomodulin to creatinine were significantly increased in patients with systemic sclerosis compared with normal controls, and there was a positive correlation between these two indicators (r=0.615, P=0.004). Moreover, plasma levels of endothelin were significantly higher in patients with diffuse systemic sclerosis than in patients with limited systemic sclerosis. In contrast, plasma levels of endothelin in patients with Raynaud's disease were not significantly increased. These results suggest that increased plasma levels of endothelin and thrombomodulin may reflect microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis.

Mitogenic activities for adult skin fibroblasts in 17 sera from untreated patients with scleroderma at the early stage were studied. Mitogenic activities in 10% test sera were measured by the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay using confluent fibroblasts; there was no significnt difference between scleroderma-affected and normal controls. Growth-stimulatory activities for subconfluent fibroblasts in 10% test sera were measured by increased cell numbers; again, there was no significant difference between scleroderma-affected and normal controls.

We have established a new diagnostic method using a points system to evaluate patients with early scleroderma and those with scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD). To examine the clinical usefulness of this method, it was applied to a total of 215 cases including 97 patients with scleroderma, 32 with SSD, 28 with presumed primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and 58 with other connective tissue disorders (CTD). A total score was obtained for each patient as the sum of the following five factors: (1) extent of skin sclerosis (maximum, 10 points); (2) pulmonary changes (maximum, 4 points); (3) antinuclear antibodies (maximum, 5 points); (4) pattern of Raynaud's phenomenon (maximum, 3 points); and (5) nailfold bleeding (maximum, 2 points). Of the 97 scleroderma patients, 86 (89%) had 9 or more points, and of the 32 SSD patients, 28 (88%) had 5 to 8 points. In contrast, all patients with presumed primary RP and 54 of 58 (93%) patients with other CTD had 0 to 4 points. These data suggest that this diagnostic method is very useful not only for clinical evaluation of SSD, but also for the differentiation of scleroderma and SSD from other CTD and primary RP.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated to give important structural information on the reactions of aromatic molecules in the interlayer of transition-metal ion-exchanged montmorillonites. Para-substituted benzenes or 4,4'-substituted biphenyls are oxidized to form their cation radicals, which are stabilized in the interlayer of the clay mineral. The oxidative dimerization or polymerization results in the formation of biphenyl type cations and poly-p-phenylene cations from mono-substituted benzenes and benzene, respectively.

We have performed a modified Boyden chamber chemotaxis assay using NRK-49F cells under serum-free condition, in order to characterize the chemotactic activity of recombinant platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA, -AB, and -BB. All three PDGF isoforms showed similar chemotactic activity on NRK cells expressing both PDGF α- and β-receptors. A checkerboard analysis revealed that PDGF-AA was a true chemoattractant for NRK cells, indicating that α-receptors could transduce signals for the chemotactic response. We then examined the inhibitory effects of PDGF isoforms in the upper chamber on NRK cell migration to PDGF in the lower chamber. When higher concentrations of PDGF-AB or -BB were present in the upper chamber, cell migration to any of the PDGF isoforms was completely blocked, whereas PDGF-AA in the upper chamber could not induce complete inhibition of the chemotactic migration to PDGF-AB or -BB. Even when 100 ng/ml of PDGF-AA was present in the upper chamber, NRK cell migration to 5 ng/ml of PDGF-AB in the lower chamber was not completely blocked. These findings suggest that the chemotactic response induced by ligand binding to PDGF β-receptor may be different from that induced by ligand binding to PDGF α-receptors.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans(DFSP) is a malignant tumor originating in the dermis. Although it is locally aggressive and recurs unless completely excised, it only rarely metastasizes. In the present study, we established 4 cultured DFSP cell strains, which were almost identical to normal skin fibroblasts when observed under a phase-contrast-microscope, and we observed their responses to various growth factors. DFSP cells showed significantly greater response to platelet-derived growth factor BB(PDGF BB) and transforming growth factor β1(TGFβ1) than normal fibroblasts. We also determined upregulation of PDGF β receptors in DFSP cells by both 125I PDGF-BB binding assay and immunoblotting analysis. These findings suggest that the interaction between the PDGF-B chain and the overexpression of PDGF β receptors might play a role in the development of DFSP tumors.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was applied for the analysis of asbestos fibers. It was possible to identify the asbestos fibers by the pattern of the positive secondary ion mass spectrum. The image of the asbestos fibers was measurable by use of any major positive secondary ions. The smallest size of detectable asbestos fiber was about 5 and 1 µm in length and diameter, respectively. Using a fast atom bombardment (FAB) source instead of primary ion beam, asbestos fibers collected on a membrane filter were easily detected without any pretreatment.

A polypeptide of Mr 26,000 and pI 6.7 that was markedly increased in rat livers bearing hyperplastic nodules (HNs) induced by chemical carcinogens was identified immunochemically as the subunit of neutral glutathione (GSH) transferase (GSHTase; RX:glutathione R-transferase, EC 2.5.1.18; also called GSH S-transferase) purified from placenta (GSHTase-P) and was demonstrated immunohistochemically to be localized in preneoplastic foci and HNs. In the present study, GSHTase-P has been purified from the HN-bearing liver, and the distribution and inducibility have been examined quantitatively using anti-GSHTase-P antibody. Elevation of GSHTase-P in the HN-bearing livers was also confirmed by in vitro translation of mRNAs isolated from the HN-bearing livers. The purified GSHTase-P was homogeneous in size but had two charge isomers on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In normal tissues, including liver, placenta, and fetal liver, the protein content of GSHTase-P was generally low but was significantly high in kidney and pancreas. In contrast, the amount of GSHTase-P in HN-bearing livers (primary hepatomas) and transplantable Morris hepatoma 5123D were several 10-fold higher than that in normal liver but were undetectably low in transplantable Yoshida ascites hepatoma AH 130. Different from ordinary drug-metabolizing enzymes, GSHTase-P was uninducible by administration of drugs and carcinogens prior to appearance of the preneoplastic foci and HNs. In addition, species specificity of GSHTase-P was low as it was crossreactive among rat, hamster, and human.

In neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1), abnormal growth regulation may be related to the formation of multiple neurofibromas. We investigated the growth responses of neurofibroma-derived cells (NF cells) and control skin fibroblasts to various growth factors. The responses to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in NF cells were significantly greater than those in control fIbroblasts. The increased response to PDGF-BB in NF cells was accompanied by an increased number of PDGF β receptors. which was demonstrated by both 125I PDGF-BB binding assay and immunoblotting analysis. The increased response to TGF-β1 was assumed to be mediated through PDGF-like protein induction; TGF-β1-treated NF cells produced greater amounts of 36-kD PDGF-like protein than TGF-β1-treated control fibroblasts. These observations suggest that certain growth factors, e.g., PDGF-BB and TGF-β, may play some role in the development of neurofibromas in NF-1.Copyright 1994, 1999 Academic Press

Objective. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this study, we examined the occurrence of PH and investigated the clinical and laboratory features of SSc patients with PH.
Methods. A cross-sectional study of 125 Japanese patients with SSc was conducted using Doppler echocardiography, other multiple cardiopulmonary tests, and laboratory examination.
Results. PH (systolic pressure >40 mmHg) was diagnosed in 20 patients (16%) by Doppler echocardiography. In the six patients who had secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH), PH was due to severe pulmonary fibrosis; 14 patients had isolated pulmonary hypertension (IPH). An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) were found in a significantly greater proportion of the patients with PH than in those without PH. The incidence of pitting scars/ulcers was significantly greater in the patients with SPH than in those without PH.
Conclusion. Elevated ESR and increased IgG were common features of scleroderma patients with PH, and scleroderma patients with SPH were inclined to have pitting scars/ulcers.

We describe three patients with frontoparietal scleroderma showing multiple lesions. The lesions were in two different lines that seemed to belong to Blaschko's lines. It remains controversial whether linear scleroderma follows Blaschko's lines, but our observations presented here suggest that frontoparietal scleroderma occurs along the lines of Blaschko. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:366-8.)

Surface oxide layers on stainless steel were formed in 561 K pure water at different potentials. To understand the oxide's properties in terms of their potential dependence, cross-sectional views of the oxide layer were analyzed using an electron microprobe technique and potential–solubility (equilibrium concentration of ionic species) diagram. In the potential range investigated, duplex oxide layers composed of mono- and bimetallic oxide were formed. Both the structure and composition of the oxide layer were affected by solubility of oxides. At low potential (−0.40 to −0.02 V (SHE)), the most thermodynamically stable (least soluble) Fe-based oxide was FeCr2O4, followed by NiFe2O4and Fe2O3. FeCr2O4was formed as the inner oxide layer, and NiFe2O4and Fe2O3were formed as the outer oxide layer. The FeCr2O4layer was thermodynamically stable but did not act as a barrier preventing further oxidation. Its thickness decreased with increasing potential (≈150 nm at −0.40 to −0.32 V, ≈20 nm at −0.14 to −0.02 V, both after 100 h of exposure). This is attributed to the decreasing solubility of Fe2+(in equilibrium with NiFe2O4and Fe2O3) with increasing potential. At high potential (0.05 to 0.21 V), the Cr components were thermodynamically unstable because of transpassive dissolution of Cr(III) to Cr(VI). A relatively Cr-depleted inner oxide layer was formed except underneath the NiFe2O4outer oxide layer.