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A thorough understanding of the mechanism underlying fragmentation would contribute to the improvement of the developmental ability of reconstructed embryos after nuclear transfer. We conducted the present study to elucidate the influence of the nuclear transfer method on fragmentation of enucleated oocytes and the relationship between change in actin filament distribution and fragmentation. In Experiment 1, we examined activation rates of in vitro matured oocytes. These were 12.9% in maturation alone, 75.7% in electrical stimulation, and 57.9% in ethanol/cycloheximide treatment. In Experiment 2, we observed a higher rate of fragmentation (P<0.05) in cultured oocytes that had been enucleated and electrically stimulated than in oocytes subjected to the other treatments (maturation alone, enucleation alone and enucleation plus ethanol/cycloheximide activation). In Experiment 3, we stained enucleated and electrically stimulated oocytes with rhodamine/phalloidin dye to show discontinuous distributions in the ooplasm of treated oocytes; oocytes in the other treatment groups showed homogenous distributions of actin filaments (AFs). In Experiment 4, we added cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of AF polymerization, to the culture medium, which prevented fragmentation of enucleated plus electrically stimulated oocytes (cytochalasin B, [+] 0.0%, [−] 60.7% at 24 h after treatment, P<0.05). In Experiment 5, we investigated the relationship between fragmentation and alteration in AF distribution in enucleated plus electrically stimulated oocytes. At 0 h of culture, enucleated plus electrically stimulated oocytes showed discontinuous distributions of AFs, while nontreated oocytes showed homogenous AF distributions. At 24 and 48 h of culture, fragmentation proceeded in enucleated plus electrically stimulated oocytes and the discontinuous AF distribution diminished with time. In Experiment 6, we added hyaluronic acid (HA) to the culture medium, which suppressed fragmentation of enucleated plus electrically stimulated oocytes (HA, [+] 28.5%, [−] 66.4% at 24 h after treatment, P<0.05). The results suggest that electrical stimulation induces a change in the AF distribution of oocytes, resulting in fragmentation, and that the addition of HA to the culture media is effective for the suppression of fragmentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The enantiodifferentiating [4+4] photocyclodimerization of anthracenecarboxylic acid (AC) mediated by native, mono- and di-3,6-anhydro-γ-cyclodextrins was investigated in both aqueous solution and solid-state. The solid-state photolyses gave inherently disfavored head-to-head photodimers in much higher chemical and optical yields than in the aqueous solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS) is known as autoimmune vasculitis with peripheral eosinophilia after bronchial asthma and rarely has otological findings. We present a case of CSS with refractory otitis media and discuss the relationship between otological symptoms of CSS and eosinophilic otitis media. Case report: A 60-year-old woman had suffered from recurrent sinusitis for 8 years, and also otitis media with effusion for 4 months. Eruption with peripheral eosinophilia was found in the lower legs; therefore, she was diagnosed with CSS. She was treated with systemic administration of predonisolone, intratympanic injection of betamethasone, and betamethasone nasal spray; thereafter, eosinophilia, otitis media and sinusitis rapidly improved. Conclusion: The features of eosinophilic otitis media are similar to the otological symptoms of CSS. It should be considered whether patients with eosinophilic otitis media have early phase CSS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This is the third case report of liposarcoma of the temporal bone. A 69-year-old man complained of left otalgia, left otorrhea, and dizziness for several months, with a past history of tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma 28 years previously. Otoscopy revealed debris in the attic. We performed tympanoplasty for recurrent cholesteatoma. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was well-differentiated liposarcoma. Palliative resection of liposarcoma was performed 3 months after the first surgery. Neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis has been detected for 24 months after the first surgery. The favorable outcome in this patient was probably due to the histological type of his liposarcoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]