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Histochemical detection of L-gulonolactone- phenazine methosulfate oxidoreductase activity in mammals with emphasis on vitamin C synthesis in primates

The present investigation was undertaken to study the carbohydrate metabolism of the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve in detail: The latest histochemical methods were applied to the rat brain. The nerve cells of the nucleus showed variable reactions in their cytoplasm for enzymes: The reactions were moderate through the modified Takeuchi-Kuriaki method; either strong or negative through Friede’s method for amylophosphorylase; moderate or strong for aldolase, succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxiclase; weak or moderate for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and weak for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. The neuropile showed weak or moderate reactions through the modified Takeuchi-Kuriaki method. It exhibited the slight reactions for aldolase, and for glucose-6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate and succinate dehydrogenases as well as the weak reaction for cytochrome oxidase. Some satellite cells showed strong amylophosphorylase reactions through Friede’s method, moderate ones through the modified Takeuchi-Kuriaki method, and moderate aldolase reactions, while the reactions for succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase appeared to be weak. Weak reactions were observed in the nuclei of the nerve cells for these enzymes. There was no perinuclear concentration of succinate dehydrogenase or of cytochrome oxidase.

The present investigation was designed to study the carbohydrate metabolism of the subfornical organ in detail: The latest histochemical methods were applied to the rat brain. The reactions of the organ were strong for G-6-P and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, moderate for aldolase, and also moderate for succinate dehydrogenase. The organ showed a moderate to relatively strong reaction for total lactate dehydrogenase. The fast-moving lactate dehydrogenase isozymes were found to be present fairly in it, as well as the slow-moving ones. The reaction was positive for cytochrome oxidase. The parenchymal cells reacted as follows: There were a weak reaction for aldolase, moderate to strong ones for G-6-P and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenases, and a moderate to strong one for total lactate dehydrogenase; some cells showed a stronger reaction for slow-moving isozymes (M type) than the reaction for fast-moving isozymes (H type), while the two reactions for isozymes of the other cells are of almost even strength; they showed a moderate cytochrome oxidase reaction. The ependymal cells covering the ventral stalk of the subfornical organ exhibited in strength the similar reactions to those of the parenchymal cells for the enzymes but aldolase, with which they reacted moderately. Weak reactions were observed in the nuclei of the cells for these enzymes.

In the feasibility study of a FBR cycle system, alternative nuclear fuels are considered. One option is the "sphere-pac" fuel, which consists of a spherical particle bed vibro-packed into the cladding tube. Potential advantages of this concept are an almost powder less production and lower mechanical interaction between fuel and cladding. JNC has developed a new fuel irradiation behavior analysis code for sphere-pac fuel. It is based on a pellet type fuel code because of its analogous irradiation behavior. However, the macrostructure of the sphere-pac fuel affects some properties. Therefore, some modifications have to be applied. The PSI SPACON model is used to calculate the effective thermal conductivity. This theoretical calculation model takes into account the discontinuous structure with voids between the particles. It also accounts the increased thermal conductivity due to the sintering of the bed. A mechanistic sintering model addresses this structural change. Finally, the mechanical interaction between particle bed and cladding is studied. A three-dimensional Distinct Element Method is applied to investigate mechanical properties of the bed. Together with the theory of radial expansion pressure, these results then built a new model for the sphere-pac mechanical interaction.

In-Depth analysis is one of the most important application fields of ion microprobe analyzer. Various attempts have been already made and some of them have been used in practical applications. Conventional in-depth analysis includes the following problems. 1) In-depth analysis of a selected microscopic area. 2) In-depth analysis of thin surface layers. In this paper, the new technique to solve these problems are discussed. With reference to item 1), scan-stop method is developed. With reference to item 2), cancellation of the secondary ion yield change due to the transformed surface layers is achieved by taking a ratio of the specific ion current to total ion current.

Background Artificial neural network (ANN)-based bone scan index (BSI), a marker of the amount of bone metastasis, has been shown to enhance diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility but is potentially affected by training databases. The aims of this study were to revise the software using a large number of Japanese databases and to validate its diagnostic accuracy compared with the original Swedish training database. Methods The BSI was calculated with EXINIbone (EB; EXINI Diagnostics) using the Swedish training database (n = 789). The software using Japanese training databases from a single institution (BONENAVI version 1, BN1, n = 904) and the revised version from nine institutions (version 2, BN2, n = 1,532) were compared. The diagnostic accuracy was validated with another 503 multi-center bone scans including patients with prostate (n = 207), breast (n = 166), and other cancer types. The ANN value (probability of abnormality) and BSI were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) analyses were performed. Results The ROC analysis based on the ANN value showed significant improvement from EB to BN1 and BN2. In men (n = 296), the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.877 for EB, 0.912 for BN1 (p = not significant (ns) vs. EB) and 0.934 for BN2 (p = 0.007 vs. EB). In women (n = 207), the AUC was 0.831 for EB, 0.910 for BN1 (p = 0.016 vs. EB), and 0.932 for BN2 (p < 0.0001 vs. EB). The optimum sensitivity and specificity based on BN2 was 90% and 84% for men and 93% and 85% for women. In patients with prostate cancer, the AUC was equally high with EB, BN1, and BN2 (0.939, 0.949, and 0.957, p = ns). In patients with breast cancer, the AUC was improved from EB (0.847) to BN1 (0.910, p = ns) and BN2 (0.924, p = 0.039). The NRI using ANN between EB and BN1 was 17.7% (p = 0.0042), and that between EB and BN2 was 29.6% (p < 0.0001). With respect to BSI, the NRI analysis showed downward reclassification with total NRI of 31.9% (p < 0.0001). Conclusion In the software for calculating BSI, the multi-institutional database significantly improved identification of bone metastasis compared with the original database, indicating the importance of a sufficient number of training databases including various types of cancers. © 2013 Nakajima et al.

Background and purpose In patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cardiac involvements are common, may have serious consequences. Sensitive diagnostic techniques in cardiac MRI can identify subclinical myocardial abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to assess regional dysfunction of left ventricule in asymptomatic patients with SSc, compared to RA, by using unique image tracking method by using cine MRI. Methods The study population included 21 patients, 11 patients with SSc and 10 patients with RA, who underwent evaluation with cardiac MRI. Peak systolic regional radial strain (Err, %) was calculated by image tracking method by using cine MRI based on the 16-segment model (ZIOsoft, CA, USA). Results Compared with RA subjects, SSc patients had similar LV ejection fraction, but peak systolic Err was less negative in all of 6 segments calculated by 16-segment model in SSc than RA. Peak systolic Err is; 1) antero-septal wall: 0.38+/-0.18 in RA and 0.24+/-0.14 in SSc (r=0.22), 2) infero-septal wall: 0.44+/-0.23 in RA and 0.29+/-0.13 in SSc (r=0.22), 3) inferior wall: 0.56+/-0.19 in RA and 0.38+/-0.14 in SSc (r=0.08), 4) infero-lateral wall: 0.57+/-0.25 in RA and 0.52+/-0.20 in SSc (r=0.57), 5) antero-lateral wall: 0.51+/-0.19 in RA and 0.45+/-0.30 in SSc (r=0.47), 6) anterior wall: 0.67+/-0.28 in RA and 0.41+/-0.31 in SSc (r=0.17). Conclusions SSc is associated with regional LV dysfunction in subclinical stage. Further large studies are needed to validate this finding and to better define implications of subclinical regional LV dysfunction.

Background Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience an excess risk of congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in this increased risk. Despite the growing body of research on cardiovascular (CV) disease in RA, the key pathways underlying the development of abnormalities in myocardial structure and function associated with CHF remain obscure. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has been used to identify early functional and structural changes in the left ventricle (LV) before development of clinically overt CHF. We evaluated LV function and structure using a CMR in RA patients (pts) without cardiac symptoms, and determined the impact of non-biologic DMARDs and biologic DMARDs. Methods Consecutive RA pts and healthy control were enrolled. RA pts received biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) or non-biologic DMARDs (nbDMARDs). All subjects underwent evaluation of LV function and structure using non-contrast CMR. LV function was based on LV ejection fraction (EF), end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO). LV hypertrophy was measured by absolute LV mass (LVM) and LV mass index (LVMI) determined by LVM/body surface area. Subjects were classified into four categories based on LVMI and LVM/EDV of control subjects, with the mean + 2 SD of each measure defined as elevated LVMI and LVM/EDV. Results We compared 90 female RA pts (mean age, 55.9±7.1 years) with a matched 20-patient control group (mean age, 52.7±4.6 years). 46 RA pts received nbDMARDs [43, methotrexate (MTX); 3, other drugs)] and 44 RA pts received bDMARDs [(18, infliximab; 26, tocilizumab) plus MTX]. The Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) was significantly higher in the nbDMARDs group than in the bDMARDs group (p=0.002). Compared to the control group, the nbDMARDs group showed significantly higher LVMI and lower EF (p 1.02 (2) concentric hypertrophy (LVMI>66.9 and LVM/EDV>1.02 (3) eccentric hypertrophy (LVMI>66.9 and LVM/EDV

Background Patients with gynecologic cancer have a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) like patients with other cancers. However, there is little information on risk factors for VTE during gynecologic surgery and no uniform preventive strategy. Our objectives were to identify risk factors for perioperative VTE in gynecologic patients and establish methods for prevention. Methods We analyzed 1,232 patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of St. Marianna University School of Medicine between January 2005 and June 2008. We investigated (1) risk factors for preoperative VTE, (2) use of an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and (3) risk factors for postoperative VTE. Results There were 39 confirmed cases of perioperative VTE (3.17%), including 25 patients with preoperative VTE and 14 with postoperative VTE. Thirty-two patients had cancer and seven patients had benign diseases. Twenty-two of the 32 cancer patients (68.7%) had preoperative VTE, while postoperative VTE occurred in 10 cancer patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that ovarian cancer, tumor diameter ≥10 cm, and previous of VTE were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE. Among ovarian cancer patients, multivariate analysis showed that an age ≥50 years, the presence of heart disease, clear cell adenocarcinoma, and tumor diameter ≥20 cm were independent risk factors for preoperative VTE. The factors significantly related to preoperative VTE in patients with benign disease included previous VTE, age ≥55 years, tumor diameter ≥20 cm, and a history of allergic-immunologic disease. Thirteen of the 25 patients (52%) with preoperative VTE had an IVC filter inserted preoperatively. Postoperative screening (interview and D-dimer measurement) revealed VTE in 14/1,232 patients (1.14%). Multivariate analysis indicated that cancer surgery, a history of allergic-immunologic disease, and blood transfusion ≥2,000 ml were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE. Conclusions Perioperative VTE is often fatal and preventive measures should be taken in the gynecologic field, especially when patients have the risk factors identified in this study. Since VTE is often present before surgery, preoperative screening is important and use of an IVC filter should be considered.

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multi-organ inflammatory disorder associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess cardiac involvement using a comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) approach and to determine its association with disease characteristics in RA patients without symptomatic cardiac disease. Methods RA patients with no history and/or clinical findings of systemic or pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery disease, severe valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, or echocardiographic abnormalities underwent contrast-enhanced cMRI on a 1.5T scanner. Adenosine triphosphate was used to assess perfusion defects due to microvascular impairment or ischemia, and delayed enhanced imaging was obtained for the assessment of myocardial inflammation/fibrosis. We explored the associations of cMRI abnormalities with RA disease activity and severity measures. Results Eighteen patients (78% female) with a mean age of 57 ± 10 years were studied. Eight patients (45%) demonstrated a myocardial abnormality. Perfusion defects under pharmacologic stress were seen in two patients (11%), one of whom had a circumferential subendocardial perfusion defect and one had a non-segmental subendocardial perfusion defect. Seven patients (39%) were found to have delayed enhancement, only one of whom also demonstrated a perfusion defect. Mean disease activity score (DAS)28 was significantly higher in the group with delayed enhancement compared to the group without by an average of 1.32 DAS28 units (4.77 vs. 3.44 units, respectively; P = 0.011). Corresponding trends to statistical significance were noted in systemic inflammatory markers, with both C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) quantitatively higher in the group with delayed enhancement. Other RA characteristics, such as disease duration, autoantibody status, and current treatments were not significantly associated with cardiac involvement. Conclusions Myocardial abnormalities, as detected by cMRI, were frequent in RA patients without known cardiac disease. Abnormal cMRI findings were associated with higher RA disease activity, suggesting a role for inflammation in the pathogenesis of myocardial involvement in RA.