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Adjuvant chemotherapy is generally recommended for patients with stage III colorectal cancer. Even with adjuvant chemotherapy, 20–30% of such patients develop recurrences; the risk factors for recurrence are currently unclear. The preoperative systemic inflammation index has been linked to poor prognoses in patients with colorectal cancer; however, the relationship between postoperative systemic inflammation index and recurrence is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative and postoperative systemic inflammation indexes and recurrence in patients with stage III colorectal cancer. The following laboratory data of 133 patients with stage III colorectal cancer were analyzed: preoperative and postoperative C-reactive protein/albumin ratios (CAR); neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios (NLR); and platelet to lymphocyte ratios (PLR) and their relationships with recurrence analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for systemic inflammation indexes were determined by examining receiver operating characteristic curves. Multivariate analyses indicated that N-stage, postoperative complications, preoperative NLR, and postoperative CAR were independent predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS). Postoperative CAR was also an independent predictor of overall survival (OS). Patients with postoperative CAR ≥ 0.035 who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy had shorter RFS and OS than those who did. There were no significant differences in RFS and OS between patients with postoperative CAR

Young adults throughout the world today, including those in Taiwan, are permanently leaving their parents' homes at a much later age compared with their parents' generation, a situation labeled as the failure-to-launch or boomerang generation. What role do filial piety beliefs play in East Asian especially in Chinese societies concerning intergenerational coresidence? Most studies on filial piety have examined older adult children and post-retirement parents, and have not simultaneously considered the viewpoints of both generations, which was investigated by using a two-level nested logit model. A sample of 657 families was selected from the Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD), conducted in Taiwan from 1999 to 2007. The young adult factors of having fewer economic resources and being unmarried were more important than their parents’ having greater economic resources and other demographic characteristics, and the filial piety beliefs of young adults were less significant, but still associated with intergenerational coresidence.

Irinotecan specifically targets topoisomerase I (topoI), and is used to treat various solid tumors, but only 13-32% of patients respond to the therapy. Now, it is understood that the rapid rate of topoI degradation in response to irinotecan causes irinotecan resistance. We have published that the deregulated DNA-PKcs kinase cascade ensures rapid degradation of topoI and is at the core of the drug resistance mechanism of topoI inhibitors, including irinotecan. We also identified CTD small phosphatase 1 (CTDSP1) (a nuclear phosphatase) as a primary upstream regulator of DNA-PKcs in response to topoI inhibitors. Previous reports showed that rabeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) inhibits CTDSP1 activity. The purpose of this study was to confirm the effects of rabeprazole on CTDSP1 activity and its impact on irinotecan-based therapy in colon cancer. Using differentially expressing CTDSP1 cells, we demonstrated that CTDSP1 contributes to the irinotecan sensitivity by preventing topoI degradation. Retrospective analysis of patients receiving irinotecan with or without rabeprazole has shown the effects of CTDSP1 on irinotecan response. These results indicate that CTDSP1 promotes sensitivity to irinotecan and rabeprazole prevents this effect, resulting in drug resistance. To ensure the best chance at effective treatment, rabeprazole may not be a suitable PPI for cancer patients treated with irinotecan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM The C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin (Alb) ratio has been reported as a novel prognostic marker in several cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the CRP/Alb ratio in patients who underwent surgery for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) and upper gastric cancer (UGC). METHODS Data for 144 patients who underwent surgery for AEG and UGC were reviewed. The CRP/Alb ratio, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, Glasgow Prognostic Score, and controlling nutritional status score were calculated, and the relationship between these biomarkers and postoperative prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS The optimal cutoff value of the CRP/Alb ratio was determined to be 0.1. According to the cutoff value of CRP/Alb ratio, patients were divided into two groups (CRP/Alb

Which urban form factor most affects household electricity consumption? This study investigated the relationships between urban density, community layout, and land use factors and household electricity consumption simultaneously, along with building characteristics and demographic indicators. The study site involved 231 communities located in the former provincial area of Tainan City, Taiwan. Due to the area’s subtropical climate, air conditioning accounts for approximately 40% of the total yearly household electricity consumption. Of the urban form factors examined, greater population density was most strongly associated with lower household electricity consumption, followed respectively by greater urban canyon narrowness, or higher height to width ratios, and greater percentages of vacant space and building land use. Notably, both urban canyons and building land use percentages were associated with decreased consumption only after increasing past threshold levels, specifically a 1.5 height to width ratio and 40.7%, respectively. In addition, building characteristics, namely smaller household living areas and greater building age, were most strongly connected with lower household electricity consumption. In contrast, larger household living areas were linked with decreased household electricity consumption/floor area, revealing the importance of lower energy intensities of sizable scales. Of the demographic indicators studied, higher percentages of older adults were associated with lower household electricity consumption. Concerning urban form, the findings suggest that to reduce residential energy usage in a subtropical climate, buildings should be clustered to maximize the inter-building shadows resulting from narrower urban canyons, while simultaneously increasing non-built land use percentages in the adjacent areas.

Background Non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) has revealed the intimal damages or atheromatous plaques as well as its spontaneous rupture of the aorta. Recent study revealed that plaque debris or different size of cholesterol crystals were detected in the blood above the spontaneous ruptured aortic plaque observed by NOGA and these plaque materials might cause the peripheral organ damages as the embolic source. These various morphological changes may cause the acute aortic events or atheroembolic events on the peripheral organs, such as brain, kidney, peripheral artery and so on. Purpose EAST-NOGA (Evaluation of AtheroSclerotic and rupture events by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy) is a multi-center prospective observational study to assess the relationship between the findings of NOGA and future cardiovascular events. Methods Five hundred and seventy-seven patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who underwent NOGA study. The major cerebrocardiovascular events including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal cerebral infarction, and acute aortic syndrome were accumulated during the 2-year follow-up after NOGA study. Results The median number of aortic atheromatous plaques was 6 [IQR: 3–12]. A total of 514 patients were followed up (89.1%). The mean follow-up duration was 757±120 days. Major adverse cardiovascular events developed in 23 (4.5%) during 2 years follow-up. Patients with MACE and cerebral infarction, had significantly greater number of aortic atheromatous plaques (11 [5–19] vs. 6 [3–11], p Conclusion The number of atheromatous plaques identified by NOGA has a significant relation to the onset of cerebral infarction, which suggest the atheromatous plaque were vulnerable and ruptured spontaneously, then cause the aortogenic cerebral infarction. The NOGA study would be useful for predicting the futured atheroembolic events. Acknowledgement/Funding None

Background Recurrences after radical esophagectomy are common. The prognosis for recurrent esophageal cancer is generally poor. Recurrences usually occur between 1 and 3 years of surgery, with the duration of median survival after recurrence ranging from 5 to 10 months. The number of sites and involved organs vary among patients. Consequently, a standard therapeutic strategy has not been established, and the role of surgery in the management of recurrence is unclear. Case presentation A 67-year-old man presented with dysphagia 6 months previously and was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the upper thoracic region (T2M0M0, stage IB), for which he underwent thoracoscopy-assisted esophagectomy and lymphadenectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not prescribed. Three years after the operation, he developed a solitary metastasis in the left lung, requiring segmentectomy followed by chemotherapy with combined cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The following year, a metastatic lesion was recognized in the right lung, invading the chest wall, for which he underwent partial lobectomy with local chest wall resection. Multiple mediastinal and abdominal lymph node (LN) metastases were detected in the right lung a year later, which necessitated chemoradiation to a dose of 50.4 Gy with concomitant CDDP and 5-FU. Post-treatment computed tomography (CT) showed a good response. Positron emission tomography (PET)-CT revealed a reduction in the metastatic LNs with no fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) uptake. The following year, metastases were detected in the left cervical LNs. Owing to the limited extent of metastases, resection was followed by chemoradiation to a dose of 50 Gy with CDDP and 5-FU. The following year, metastases were detected in the mediastinal LNs; chemotherapy was administered with nedaplatin and docetaxel. The follow-up CT and PET-CT demonstrated complete disappearance of the tumor, and the patient is currently surviving without recurrence for 11 years from the first curative operation. Conclusions This case demonstrates that aggressive multidisciplinary treatment including surgery and radiation to achieve local control could be a meaningful treatment strategy in cases with limited and slowly occurring recurrences.

Outdoor environment can have significant connections with place relationships. This study tried to explore the connection in detail. First, the relationship was examined through an integrated view of environmental planning, followed by reviewing impacts of essential elements from the outdoor environment on place relationships. Residents of three public housing communities in Taiwan were surveyed. Each community had a different layout: alley, cluster, and large courtyard. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that outdoor community planning features can be grouped into four factors: outdoor space quality, circulation planning, outdoor recreational facilities, and community layout. Canonical correlation analyses indicate different combinations of these factors were connected to diverse combinations of place relationship dimensions. More importantly, higher levels of satisfaction toward outdoor space quality as well as community layout were associated with greater place attachment and less community participation. Higher levels of satisfaction with circulation planning were connected to greater place attachment and community participation, and less social interaction. Multiple regression analyses found the associations between the community planning features and place relationship dimensions differed among the alley, cluster, and large courtyard. These findings can help planners and architects design public housing and similar communities that better enhance the emotional and social experiences of the inhabitants.

Mobility barriers can impede physical activity, increase the fear of falling, and pose a threat to the ability of older adults to live independently. This study investigated outdoor mobility barriers within a nonretirement public housing community located in Tainan, Taiwan. Site observations and interviews with older adult residents determined that parked motor scooters, potted plants, the rubber tiles of play areas, and a set of steps were the most important barriers. In addition, the space syntax parameters of control value and mean depth were effectively able to quantitatively measure improvements in walkability resulting from the hypothesized removal of these four barriers. These measures of improved walkability can be included in a cost-benefit analysis of spatial improvement factors to help policymakers address the mobility and accessibility needs of older adults.

BACKGROUND: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). This risk is related to disease extent, duration and severity. Current guidelines recommend routine colonoscopy 8–10 years after the initial onset of disease. However, no large controlled trials have investigated the efficacy of surveillance colonoscopy and the benefit remains unproven. AIMS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate whether surveillance colonoscopy for CRC impacts the survival of patients with IBD. METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was undertaken to identify studies that examined the impact of surveillance colonoscopy on overall survival of patients with IBD associated CRC. Three hundred and forty-five studies were screened by title and abstract, followed by a detailed review of twenty three studies. Only studies that included a control group of IBD patients (a surveillance versus a non-surveillance arm) were included in this analysis. Effect estimates (hazard ratios [HR]) and confidence intervals (CIs) were computed, with a fixed-effects model created to estimate the effects. Cochrane’s Q and I(2) -statistics were used to assess study heterogeneity. Additionally Dukes stage of the tumour was compared between the surveillance and non-surveillance groups using the Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS: Four relevant studies were identified, and this included a total of 334 patients. Of these patients, 118 underwent surveillance colonoscopy, while 216 did not. Surveillance colonoscopy was associated with improved overall survival, with the HR of death being 0.354 in the surveillance group (95% CI 0.217–0.578; p

GABA is thought to function as a paracrine factor in adrenal medullary (AM) cells. Thus, we electrophysiologically and immunologically examined the properties of GABA A receptors (GABA A Rs) in guinea-pig AM cells. Bath application of GABA produced an inward current at −60 mV in a dose-dependent manner with an EC 50 of 32.3 μM. This GABA-induced current was enhanced by allopregnanolone at concentrations of 0.01 μM and more. A prior exposure to allopregnanolone resulted in a decrease in an EC 50 for GABA in activating GABA A Rs. The GABA-induced current was suppressed by Zn 2+ in a dose-dependent manner with an IC 50 of 18 μM, whereas it was enhanced by 100 μM La 3+ . The benzodiazepine analog diazepam was three times more potent than zolpidem in enhancing the GABA current, and it was also augmented by L-838,417, which has no action on α1-containing GABA A Rs. The GABA A R α3, but not α1, and γ2 subunits were immunologically detected at the cell periphery. The expression of α3 subunits in PC12 cells was enhanced by glucocorticoid activity. The results indicated that GABA A Rs in guinea-pig AM cells mainly comprise α3, β, and γ2 subunits and are enhanced by allopreganalone and glucocorticoids may play a major role in the expression of α3 subunits.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Only a few reports on intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord using PET have been published. We report findings of PET by using [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose and [11C] methionine and discuss the usefulness of the findings in patients with intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PET/CT was performed in 9 patients with intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord: Six had ependymomas, 1 had an anaplastic astrocytoma, 1 had a hemangioblastoma, and 1 had a cavernous angioma. The maximum standardized uptake value of the tumor was measured and compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: The SUVmax of FDG and MET in a case of anaplastic astrocytoma was high. The SUVmax of FDG and MET was relatively high in 4 of 6 cases of ependymoma (excluding myxopapillary ependymomas). A case of hemangioblastoma showed decreased uptake of both FDG and MET (SUVmax = 2.0 and 1.4, respectively). Three cases with hemorrhage (1 case of ependymoma, 1 case of cellular ependymoma, and 1 case of cavernous angioma) showed a relatively increased uptake of FDG. CONCLUSIONS: Both FDG and MET accumulated to a large degree in an anaplastic astrocytoma and accumulated in ependymomas (excluding a myxopapillary ependymoma). FDG can accumulate in tumors with hemorrhage. More investigation of a larger number of patients is required to evaluate the diagnostic value of PET with FDG and MET for imaging intramedullary tumors of the spinal cord.

Measurements of particle emission from a replica of the T2K 90 cm-long carbon target were performed in the NA61/SHINE experiment at CERN SPS, using data collected during a high-statistics run in 2009. An efficient use of the long-target measurements for neutrino flux predictions in T2K requires dedicated reconstruction and analysis techniques. Fully-corrected differential yields of π±-mesons from the surface of the T2K replica target for incoming 31 GeV/c protons are presented. A possible strategy to implement these results into the T2K neutrino beam predictions is discussed and the propagation of the uncertainties of these results to the final neutrino flux is performed. © 2016, The Author(s).

The edge plasma profile (the ion-saturation current profile) and its time evolution at three different positions of the field topology (near inboard-X, outboard-O and outboard-X points) are discussed focusing on the spontaneous transition to an improved mode in Heliotron J ECH-plasma. For all three positions it is found that the plasma profile becomes steeper as progress of the transition. In the early phase of the transition, however, the different time response is observed between the profiles near X- and O-points.

We investigated on microstructure and superconducting properties of high-density MgB2 superconductors synthesized by a heat-treatment method combining a short period of sintering at 1100degC with a following annealing at a low temperature. The two-step sintering method was found to achieve a coexistence of a high density and broadened XRD full width at half maximum (FWHM) of MgB2 peak in the samples. The onset of diamagnetism at 5 T was approximately 2 K higher than those of the samples heat-treated by single-step sintering at high or low temperatures. Different second-step annealing temperatures were examined in this work. Microstructural analysis indicates that a lower second-step annealing temperature led to further suppression of the large grain growth in the MgB2 samples, which is beneficial to the pinning property of the samples. The energy loss peaks of ac susceptibility measurement in fields confirm that by decreasing the second-step sintering temperature flux pinning of MgB2 in high fields was enhanced.

Cold fingers is complaint of many people. To independently assess actual finger temperature, this paper uses prototype sensors to capture blood vessel width and blood flow rates. We verify their feasibility for future home healthcare use along with far infrared camera outputs. We elucidate the impact of three remedies, massage, hot cocoa, and shoulder exercises, on 7 subjects.

BackgroundThe mode of onset and the course of schizophrenia illness exhibit substantial individual variations. Previous studies have pointed out that the mode of onset affects the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and clinical outcomes, such as cognitive and social functioning. This study attempted to clarify the association between the DUP and clinical features, taking the different modes of onset into consideration, in a prospective longitudinal study examining patients with first-episode schizophrenia.MethodsThis study was conducted in six areas of Japan. Patients with first-episode schizophrenia were followed for over 18 months. Cognitive function, psychopathology, and social functioning were assessed at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18-month follow-up points.ResultsWe identified 168 patients and sufficient information was available to determine the DUP and the mode of onset for 156 patients (92.9%): 79 had an acute onset, and 77 had an insidious onset. The DUP was significantly associated with quality of life (QOL), social functioning, and cognitive function at most of the follow-up points in the insidious-onset group. The DUP and negative symptoms at baseline were significant predictors of cognitive function at the 18-month follow-up in the insidious-onset group.ConclusionsThe present results further support the hypothesis that the DUP affects QOL, social functioning, and cognitive function over the course of illness, especially in patients with an insidious onset. Effective strategies for detecting and caring for individuals with insidious onset early during the course of schizophrenia will be essential for achieving a full patient recovery.

Hyperlipidaemia often occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Though HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are widely used for controlling hypercholesterolemia, atorvastatin has also been reported to have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism. Based on these findings, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of statins on adipocytes, which play pivotal roles in glucose metabolism.In 3T3-L1 cells, effects of statins on adipocyte maturation were determined morphologically. Protein and mRNA levels of SLC2A4 and adipocyte marker proteins were determined by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, respectively. Type 2 diabetic NSY mice were treated with atorvastatin for 15 weeks, followed by glucose and insulin tolerance tests and examination of SLC2A4 expression in white adipose tissue (WAT). Seventy-eight Japanese subjects with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia were treated with atorvastatin (10 mg/day), and its effects on lipid and glycaemic profiles were measured 12 weeks after treatment initiation.Treatment with atorvastatin inhibited adipocyte maturation, SLC2A4 and C/EBPalpha expressions and insulin action in 3T3-L1 cells. Atorvastatin also attenuated SLC2A4 and C/EBPalpha expressions in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. These effects were reversed by L. mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. In NSY mice, atorvastatin accelerated glucose intolerance as a result of insulin resistance and decreased SLC2A4 expression in WAT. In addition to improving hyperlipidaemia, atorvastatin treatment significantly increased HbA(1c) but not fasting glucose levels in diabetic patients, and this effect was greater in the non-obese subgroup.These results demonstrate that atorvastatin attenuates adipocyte maturation and SLC2A4 expression by inhibiting isoprenoid biosynthesis, and impairs glucose tolerance. These actions of atorvastatin could potentially affect the control of type 2 diabetes.

We have investigated the formation of uniform and well-aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by controlling radio-frequency (rf) glow-discharge plasmas in weak and strong magnetic fields. The MWNTs growing directly on the rf electrode in the weak magnetic field (0.03 T) are deformed and combined with each other by the bombardment of the high energy ions generated by the large sheath electric field in front of the rf electrode. When the strong magnetic field (2 T) is applied, on the other hand, the MWNTs are observed to be well-aligned and not to be deformed. These results can be explained by the fact that the ion bombardment energy reduces in spite of the existence of the large sheath electric field, which is caused by the magnetization of the ions in the strong magnetic field.

An embedded DRAM macro with a self-adjustable timing control (STC) scheme, a negative edge transmission scheme (NET), and a power-down data retention (PDDR) mode is developed. A 13.98-mm/sup 2/ 16-Mb embedded DRAM macro is fabricated in 0.13 /spl mu/m logic-based embedded DRAM process. Co-salicide word lines and MIM capacitors are used for high-speed array operation. The delay timing variation of 36 % for an RC delay can be reduced to 3.8% by using the STC scheme. The NET scheme transfers array control signals to local array blocks with high accuracy. Thereby, the test chip achieves 1.2-V 312-MHz random cycle operation even in the low-power process. 73-/spl mu/W data retention power is realized by using the PDDR mode, which is 5% of conventional schemes.

We have investigated laser irradiation effects on the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on 6H-SiC(0001) surfaces. CNTs were formed densely and uniformly after annealing a 6H-SiC(0001) surface at 1700 °C in a vacuum, without laser irradiation. However, amorphous carbon layers were formed on the 6H-SiC(0001) surface and the CNT growth was suppressed when the surface was irradiated by the ArF excimer laser with about 10 mJ/cm2 for 5 min in air before being annealed.

The experimental apparatus used for the first direct observation of the tau neutrino (the DONUT experiment) is described. Its main features consisted of a target system composed of nuclear emulsion targets and scintillation fiber trackers, a magnetic charged-particle spectrometer and detectors for lepton identification. This paper will concentrate on the description of the electronic detectors and their performance in selecting neutrino interactions, making the vertex predictions necessary for locating events in the emulsion target and lepton identification.

A 54-year-old man developed left hemiparesis and tactile and deep sensory disturbance following onset of rightside cervical pain. These symptoms resulted from an isolated infarct in the right medial area of the upper medulla oblongata and intracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissection. Atherosclerotic disease of the VA is the most common cause of medial medullary infarction. In past reports of isolated medial medullary infarction, only a few cases involved VA dissection.

The 28-kDa protein extracted from the guinea pig inner ear membranous fraction, which reacted with sera from Meniere's disease patients, has been subjected to microsequencing. Nineteen amino acids were obtained (IVQQFGFQRRASDDGKL TQ). A protein data bank search showed that this sequence corresponded to residues 41–60 of human Raf-l protein–sera from 75 of 135 Meniere's disease patients and showed reactivity to the recombinant purified glutathione- S -transferase (GST)–Raf-l protein. These results support the hypothesis that a subgroup of patients who suffer from Meniere's disease, as well as some other kinds of autoimmune inner ear diseases, have an autoantibody against Raf-1 protein.

Autoimmune ear disease induced by type II collagen has been investigated by Yoo et al. In the present study, we investigated the effects of direct chronic infusion of type II collagen specific monoclonal antibodies into guinea pig cochlea. Type II collagen fragment CB11 peptide specific monoclonal antibodies (CB11 Mabs) were infused directly into the scala tympani of guinea pig using Alzet mini-osmotic pump (CB11 Mabs group). As a control, normal mouse serum was infused using the same method (control group). To evaluate the auditory function, brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded. In the CB11 Mabs group, 80% of the animals showed increased hearing threshold of more than 25 dB, 7 days after implant. This hearing threshold shift continued until the end of this study. The hearing threshold shift observed in guinea pigs of the control group was minimal (15 dB or less). To detect the structural changes, histopathologic studies were performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Inflammatory cell migration was detected mainly in the scala tympani of the guinea pigs of both groups. In CB11 Mabs group, endolymphatic hydrops and atrophic change of the organ of Corti were also observed. These results of this experiment suggest that type II collagen autoimmunity is responsible for the production of hearing loss and endolymphatic hydrops.

Myelin protein P0 has been identified as an autoantigen in inner ear disease. In order to study autoimmune hearing loss, we performed brain stem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) studies on P0-sensitized mice. Two-P0 sensitized mice showed hunched posture, poor coat, loss of body weight, and abnormal walking with a waddling gait. About 25% of the P0-sensitized mice developed hearing loss. In the BAEPs study, peak latencies of waves I, III, and V and interpeak latencies (IPLs) I–III were prolonged in the P0-sensitized hearing loss group of mice. Hearing thresholds were elevated in this group of mice in comparison with control mice. Inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the cochlear nerve region, and a reduced number of spiral ganglion cells was also detected. These results suggest that P0-sensitized mice are a useful model for studying autoimmune inflammation of the peripheral portion of the auditory system.

Fischer 344 (F344) and Lewis (LEW) rats differ in physiological regulation of the limbic-hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis, such that F344 rats exhibit greater LHPA axis responses to a variety of stimuli. Furthermore, LHPA axis activity has been implicated in the development of sensitization to abused drugs, and F344 rats exhibit greater behavioral sensitization to psychostimulants. Accordingly, we hypothesized that there may be some overlap between the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie these strain differences in LHPA axis activity and in behavioral sensitization to psychostimulants. We examined the effects of acute and repeated methamphetamine (4 mg/kg) treatments on the regulation of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR mRNA) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR mRNA) in F344 and LEW rats. Our results showed that acute treatment with methamphetamine (MAP) does not alter the level of expression of GR or MR mRNA in both strains. However, repeated treatments with MAP decreased the expression of hippocampal GR, but not MR mRNA specifically in F344 rats. The same repeated treatments had no effect on either GR or MR mRNA in LEW rats. This selective MAP regulation of the level of expression of hippocampal GR mRNA in F344 suggests that these receptors may play a role in the development of behavioral sensitization to MAP in this strain. The lack of alteration in hippocampal GR mRNA in LEW rats suggests that plasticity of hippocampal GR may not be critical for the development of behavioral sensitization to MAP in this strain.