Exposure to crack cocaine causes adverse effects on marine mussels Perna perna.

Our study aimed to evaluate crack cocaine effects in different life stages of the marine mussel Perna perna. For this purpose, fertilization rate, embryo-larval development, lysosomal membrane stability and DNA strand breaks were assessed. Effect concentrations in gametes and in larval development were found after 1h (IC50=23.53mg·L-1) and 48h (IC50=16.31mg·L-1), respectively. The highest tested concentration showing no acute toxicity (NOEC) was 10mg·L-1, while the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) was 20mg·L-1. NOEC concerning embryo-larval development was 0.625mg·L-1, while the LOEC was 1.25mg·L-1. Cyto-genotoxic effects were evidenced in mussels exposed to crack cocaine concentrations ranging from 5 to 500µg·L-1. Our results report the first data on effects of an illicit drug to marine organisms and should encourage further ecotoxicological studies of these contaminants of emerging concern in coastal ecosystems.

Factors associated with perpetration of intimate partner violence among college students in China.

OBJECTIVES: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health threat that contributes to a wide range of physical and mental health issues for victims. However, critical information on IPV in China is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting IPV perpetration as well as victimisation in mainland China. METHODS: The data were from the International Dating Violence Study 2001-2006 (N=731). The lifetime prevalence of victimisation and perpetration of IPV (ie, physical, psychological and/or sexual) was used for analysis. The following individual characteristics and exposures were included in the analysis based on previous studies which showed an association between these characteristics and IPV: childhood sexual abuse history, substance abuse, violence socialisation, dominance, anger management and communication problems. RESULTS: Perpetrators of physical IPV have a higher prevalence of being victims of IPV than non-perpetrators. Female perpetrators have a higher prevalence of anger management issues than male perpetrators. Levels of anger management and violence socialisation are predictors of physical IPV perpetration only for female perpetrators. CONCLUSIONS: IPV interventions for victims should include interventions for perpetration given that many Chinese victims of IPV also perpetrate IPV. Practice and research on professional education and services for treating individuals who have IPV experience need to be developed in China.

Intimate partner violence education for medical students in the USA, Vietnam and China.

OBJECTIVES: While intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global concern for women's health, there are few comparative studies of IPV training in medical schools. The aim of this study was to investigate medical students' knowledge of, and training in, IPV in the USA, Vietnam and China. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-national, cross-sectional study. METHODS: US (n = 60), Vietnamese (n = 232) and Chinese (n = 174) medical students participated in a cross-sectional self-administered survey that included demographic characteristics; opinions, training and knowledge regarding IPV against women; and personal experience with IPV victims. RESULTS: Attitudes, knowledge and training about IPV among medical students varied between the three countries. US participants reported higher levels of knowledge of IPV, were more likely to believe that IPV was a serious problem, and were more likely to consider IPV to be a healthcare problem compared with Vietnamese and Chinese participants. Chinese participants, in particular, did not appear to appreciate the importance of addressing IPV. Differences were found between the Vietnamese and Chinese students. CONCLUSIONS: While most medical schools in the USA include IPV training within their core medical curricula, education throughout medical school seems to be necessary to improve medical education regarding treatment of patients with a history of IPV. Vietnamese and Chinese medical schools should consider including IPV education in the training of their future physicians to improve the health of women who have experienced IPV. Practical opportunities for medical students to interact with women who have experienced IPV are essential to develop effective IPV education.

Trajectory of intimate partner violence and healthcare seeking over the life course: study of Japanese women in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the trajectory of, and examine factors affecting, intimate partner violence (IPV) and IPV-specific healthcare seeking among Japanese women over the life course. STUDY DESIGN: Life course study. METHOD: One hundred and one women, aged 24-80 years, who had a lifetime history of IPV were interviewed in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Japan in 2005 and 2006. Life course data were collected according to the life history calendar method. Hierarchical linear modelling was used to examine IPV-specific healthcare seeking over the life course. RESULTS: Injury, formal or informal help seeking, public assistance, worse self-rated health status and smoking significantly increased the likelihood of IPV-specific healthcare seeking over the life course. There are significant cohort effects on healthcare seeking. The results suggest that women who experience IPV may seek healthcare services not only immediately after the first occurrence of IPV, but also later in life. CONCLUSIONS: IPV is not always associated with immediate healthcare seeking. In particular, sexual IPV is not significantly associated with healthcare seeking. Pursuing formal and informal help is associated with healthcare seeking.

Procyanidin oligomers counteract TGF-beta1- and TGF-beta2-induced apoptosis in hair epithelial cells: an insight into their mechanisms.

Procyanidin oligomers are polyphenol compounds we have identified in apples and barley which have hair growth stimulant effects, and which are able to promote hair epithelial cell growth and induce anagen induction of the hair cycle in the in vivo murine model. For the purpose of examining the hair-growing mechanisms of procyanidin oligomers, we examined their relationship to the TGF-beta signal pathway, known to be a regulator of catagen induction, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade linked to cell proliferation. Addition of TGF-beta(1) or TGF-beta(2) to hair epithelial cell cultures dose-dependently decreased cell growth and induced apoptosis; however, addition of procyanidin B-2 to the culture neutralized the growth-inhibiting effects of both TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(2) and protected the cells from apoptosis. The same effects were observed with procyanidin B-3. We confirmed that procyanidin B-2 upregulates the expression of MEK-1/2 in cultured murine hair epithelial cells. We speculate that the hair-growing activity of procyanidin oligomers is at least linked to their growth-promoting effects on hair epithelial cells that follow MEK activation and their protective action on TGF-beta(1)- or TGF-beta(2)-induced apoptosis that is assumed to trigger catagen induction in the hair cycle.

Acute endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with human parvovirus B19 infection.

A 36-year-old female developed acute nephritic syndrome associated with human parvovirus B19 (HPVB19) infection. Laboratory data showed proteinuria, hypocomplementemia, mild pancytopenia, the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies to HPVB 19 and positive reaction of serum HPVB19 DNA using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A renal biopsy showed endocapillary hypercellularity mainly of mononuclear cells with segmental apparent mesangiolytic change; fine granular IgM, IgG and C3 deposits were noted by immunofluorescence microscopy; relatively small electron-dense deposits were observed in the widened subendothelial spaces and the mesangium, and loosening of the mesangial matrix varied from place to place electron microscopically. PCR of HPVB19 DNA in the renal biopsy tissue was positive as well as in the peripheral blood. The histological findings suggested that immune-complex-mediated endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis is caused by acute HPVB 19 infection. We discuss the differences from poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and the possible pathogenesis of acute endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with HPVB19 infection.

Procyanidin B-2, extracted from apples, promotes hair growth: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that several selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, including procyanidin B-2, promote hair epithelial cell growth and stimulate anagen induction. OBJECTIVES: We discuss the hypothesis that the hair-growing activity of procyanidin B-2 is related to its downregulation or inhibition of translocation of PKC isozymes in hair epithelial cells. METHODS: We examined the effect of procyanidin B-2 on the expression of PKC isozymes in cultured murine hair epithelial cells as well as PKC isozyme localization in murine dorsal skin at different stages in the hair cycle. RESULTS: We observed that procyanidin B-2 reduces the expression of PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII and -eta in cultured murine hair epithelial cells and also inhibits the translocation of these isozymes to the particulate fraction of hair epithelial cells. Our immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that PKC-alpha, -betaI, -betaII and -eta are specifically expressed in the outer root sheaths of both anagen and telogen hair follicles. The hair matrix at the anagen stage showed no positive staining for these PKC isozymes. Moderate to intense staining for PKC-betaI and -betaII in the epidermis and hair follicles was observed in a telogen-specific manner; however, expression of PKC-alpha and -eta during the telogen stage was not conspicuous. Gö 6976, an inhibitor of calcium-dependent (conventional) PKC, proved to promote hair epithelial cell growth. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PKC isozymes, especially PKC-betaI and -betaII, play an important role in hair cycle progression and that the hair-growing mechanisms of procyanidin B-2 are at least partially related to its downregulation of PKC isozymes or its inhibition of translocation of PKC isozymes to the particulate fraction of hair epithelial cells.

Cyclosporin a promotes hair epithelial cell proliferation and modulates protein kinase C expression and translocation in hair epithelial cells.

Cyclosporin A is an immunosuppressive agent known to cause hirsutism. The mechanisms of action that cause hirsutism have not been fully elucidated, however. We have previously reported that several selective protein kinase C inhibitors promote the growth of murine hair epithelial cells and stimulate anagen induction. In this paper, we report on an investigation of the mechanisms of action of hair-growing activity possessed by cyclosporin A from the viewpoint of whether it promotes hair epithelial cell growth or whether it modulates the expression or translocation of protein kinase C isozymes in hair epithelial cells. Our results indicate that cyclosporin A (over a wide dosage range of 1-1000 ng per ml) stimulates cultured murine hair epithelial cell growth to about 150%-160% relative to controls. We also observed growth-promoting effects on murine epidermal keratinocytes (about 140%) at the dose range of 1-100 ng per ml. At high dose ranges above 3 microg per ml, the growth of both cells was inhibited. On the other hand, we found that cyclosporin A reduces the overall expression of protein kinase C alpha, betaI, and betaII in cultured murine hair epithelial cells, and reduces the levels of protein kinase C alpha, betaI, betaII, and eta in the particulate fraction from cultured murine hair epithelial cells. From these results, we speculate that the hair-growing activity of cyclosporin A is at least partially attributable to its growth-promoting influence on hair epithelial cells sequential to its downregulation of some protein kinase C isozymes in hair epithelial cells or inhibition of translocation of some protein kinase C isozymes to the membrane or cytoskeleton of hair epithelial cells.

The first clinical trial of topical application of procyanidin B-2 to investigate its potential as a hair growing agent.

Procyanidin B-2 is a compound we have identified in apple which acts as a growth-promoting factor on murine hair epithelial cells. This report describes our investigation of the hair-growing effects of 1% procyanidin B-2 tonic after sequential use for 4 months. A double-blind clinical trial was performed, involving a total of 29 subjects (procyanidin B-2, 19 men; placebo, 10 men). No adverse side effects were observed in either group. In the procyanidin B-2 group, 78.9% showed an increased mean value of hair diameter, whereas only 30.0% in the placebo group showed any increase (p < 0.02, Fisher's exact probability test). The increased ratio of hairs measuring more than 40 microm in diameter after 4 months of procyanidin B-2 treatment was significantly higher than that of the placebo controls (p < 0.05, two-sample-t-test). The increase in number of total hairs in the designated scalp area (0.25 cm(2)) of procyanidin B-2 subjects after a 4 month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo controls (procyanidin-B-2, 3.67 +/- 4.09 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm(2); placebo, -2.54 +/- 4.00/0.25 cm(2); p < 0.001, two-sample t-test). Procyanidin B-2 therapy shows potential as a promising cure for male pattern baldness.

[A case of severe Legionella pneumonia monitored with serum SP-A, SP-D, and KL-6].

A 67-year-old man was admitted for acute pneumonia on July 20th, 1999. Chest radiographs disclosed dense consolidation in the right lower lung fields. After admission, the pneumonia underwent rapid advance. On the basis of serological findings and cultures of pleural effusion and sputum, the patient was given a diagnosis of acute pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila 1 a. He gradually recovered from the pneumonia by means of chemotherapy using EM, RFP, Mino, gammaglobulins and steroids. The serum SP-A, SP-D, and KL-6 peaked on July 23rd, July 30th, and August 12th, respectively.

[A case of small cell lung cancer with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and anti-voltage-gated calcium channel antibody].

A 55-year-old man presenting with 4 weeks of progressive dysarthria, gait ataxia and vertigo was admitted to our hospital. Chest X-ray films revealed a mass shadow in the right upper lobe of the lung, and transbronchial brushing specimens showed small-cell carcinoma. Extensive examination revealed metastatic lesions in the mediastinal lymph nodes and liver, but brain MRI showed no findings suggestive of metastasis or atrophy. A diagnosis of PCD associated with SCLC was made, and the patient had a high titer of anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibody. He was treated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which resulted in a transient improvement in the PCD symptoms.

Fractionation of apple procyanidins according to their degree of polymerization by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new method was developed for the fractionation of procyanidin oligomers according to their degree of polymerization. Monomeric flavan-3-ols and low molecular mass procyanidins were selectively extracted from the lyophilized powder of apple condensed tannins (ACTs) by methyl acetate extraction. Sequentially, the separation of each oligomer from dimer to pentamer in this extract was carried out by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a silica-beads packed column. The best separation was achieved with a mobile phase system containing hexane; (1) hexane-methanol-ethyl acetate, (2) hexane-acetone. These sequential treatments can be easily adapted to large-scale fractionation.

Intracellular distribution of macrophage migration inhibitory factor predicts the prognosis of patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is known to be a proinflammatory cytokine and glucocorticoid-induced immunomodulator as well as a regulator of tumor growth. Although positive and negative effects of MIF on tumor cell growth have been reported, to the authors' knowledge the precise role of MIF in tumorigenesis remains unclear. In the current study the authors assessed expression of MIF protein and mRNA in lung adenocarcinomas with regard to patient prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissue specimens surgically obtained from 74 patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer pathologic Stages I, II, and IIIa). In addition, expression of MIF mRNA in the cancerous tissue was investigated using in situ hybridization. Patient prognosis was evaluated with regard to MIF expression levels and its distribution was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: MIF mRNA and MIF protein were observed in the bronchial epithelium, alveolar epithelium, vascular smooth muscle, and alveolar macrophages in the normal lung tissue. In tumor tissue from lung adenocarcinoma specimens, both MIF mRNA and protein were observed at much higher levels than in the normal alveolar epithelium. MIF protein was observed diffusely in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in all tumor specimens examined. MIF protein also was observed in the nuclei of tumor cells from 59 patients (79.7%), whereas it was not observed in the nuclei of tumor cells from 15 patients (20.3%). The patients without nuclear MIF expression had a worse prognosis compared with those patients with MIF expression in the nuclei (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that intracellular MIF distribution predicts patient prognosis in individuals with adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Several selective protein kinase C inhibitors including procyanidins promote hair growth.

We have previously reported that procyanidin oligomers selectively promote growth of murine hair epithelial cells in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in vivo. We report here the possible relationship between the protein kinase C-inhibiting activity of procyanidins and their hair-growing activity. Of the procyanidins, procyanidin B-2 and procyanidin C-1, which selectively inhibit protein kinase C, intensively promote hair epithelial cell proliferation in vitro and stimulate anagen induction in vivo. On the other hand, procyanidins, which inhibit both protein kinase C and A, showed relatively low activity in in vitro and in vivo evaluations. We also found that calphostin C, which is a selective inhibitor of protein kinase C, possesses hair epithelial cell growth-promoting activity in vitro and anagen phase-inducing hair-growing activity in vivo. Other selective protein kinase C inhibitors, such as hexadecylphosphocholine, palmitoyl-DL-carnitine chloride, and polymyxin B sulfate, also show marked anagen phase-inducing hair-growing activity in vivo. Nonselective protein kinase inhibitors, such as staurosporine and K252a, inhibit the growth of hair epithelial cells. 1,2-Dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, a protein kinase C activator, dose-dependently decreases the growth of hair epithelial cells. Forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, promotes hair epithelial cell growth and boosts the growth-promoting effect of procyanidin B-2. It is speculated that the hair-growing activity of procyanidins is related to their protein kinase C-inhibiting activity.

Investigation of topical application of procyanidin B-2 from apple to identify its potential use as a hair growing agent.

Procyanidin B-2 is a polyphenol compound we have identified in apple which acts as a hair-growing factor in the murine model both in vitro and in vivo. This report describes our investigation of the effects of 1% procyanidin B-2 tonic on human hair growth after sequential use for 6 months. A double-blind clinical test involving a total of 29 subjects was performed. Nineteen men in the procyanidin B-2 group and 10 men in the placebo control group were subjected to analyses. No adverse side effects were observed in either group. The hair-growing effect was evaluated using a macrophotography technique combined with measurements of the hair diameter of clipped hairs. The increase in number of total hairs in the designated scalp area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2, 6.68 +/- 5.53 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, 0.08 +/- 4.56 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.005, two-sample t test). The increase in number of terminal hairs, which are defined as hairs more than 60 microm in diameter, in the designated area (0.5 cm square = 0.25 cm2 area) of the procyanidin B-2 group subjects after the 6-month trial was significantly greater than that of the placebo control group subjects (procyanidin B-2, 1.99 +/- 2.58 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; placebo, -0.82 +/- 3.40 (mean +/- SD)/0.25 cm2; P < 0.02, two-sample t test). Procyanidin B-2 therapy shows potential as a safe and promising cure for male pattern baldness.

Ganglioside distribution in the liver of inbred strains of rats and the cancerous liver of LEC rats.

The gangliosides in the livers of various inbred strains of rats and hepatoma of LEC rats were purified and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography. The patterns of ganglioside distribution in these rat livers were classified into three phenotypes depending on the strain, that is, a-type (ACI, LEA, LEW, BUF), b-type (WKAH, SHR/SP), and LEC type, which are characterized by dominance of a- or b-series of gangliosides, or a variation of a-type, respectively. A sex difference was also recognized in the molar ratio of GM3 which was much higher in males (60-75%) than in females (33-56%) except in LEC rats. In addition, the content of a-series gangliosides was lower and the content of b-series gangliosides was higher in a-type male rats than in a-type female rats. The opposite was true in b-type rats. LEC rats were an exception, characterized by no sex difference and a quite low content of b-series gangliosides. The LEC rat is a mutant strain that spontaneously develops fulminant hepatitis around 14 to 20 weeks of age and hepatoma at 1 to 1.5 years old. The gangliosides of the hepatoma were characterized by the appearance of the newly synthesized gangliosides, fucosyl-GM1 and alpha-galactosyl alpha-fucosyl GM1 (BGM1). In particular, BGM1 ganglioside accumulated in the hepatoma of female rats.

Synthesis of Photolabile Caged Amino Acids for Measuring Amino Acid Transporters.

Photolabile precursors (caged compounds) of amino acids such as Ala, Leu, Lys, and Ser were prepared by some simple reactions. These compounds were designed for the rapid, photochemically initiated release of amino acids. These amino acid transporters were expressed in Xenopus oocyte by injecting mRNA prepared from rat kidney. The electrical response of each transporter was examined by applying the amino acids and caged compounds before and after photolysis. Photolysis of the caged amino acids increased the electrical response of the facilitated amino acid transporters expressed in the oocyte. Consequently, these synthesized caged amino acids would be applicable to kinetic investigations on the transporters when combined with a pulsed laser or xenon arc flash lamp.

A case of Turner syndrome with the karyotype of 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) associated with acute monocytic leukemia.

An infertile 37-year-old woman was diagnosed as having acute monocytic leukemia (AMoL) (FAB classification; M5b). In addition, a diagnosis of infertile Turner syndrome was made, based on the presence of the ovarian dysplasia, abnormal physical features (short stature, lack of pubic hair, shield-like chest, etc.), and low urinary estrogen excretion with high plasma gonadotropin level. Karyotypes in the peripheral blood and bone marrow cells were mosaic 45,X and 46,X,i(Xq): isochromosome Xq, which were consistent with infertile Turner syndrome. No further chromosomal abnormalities were found during the course of her treatment for leukemia. This is the first report of the combination of Turner syndrome and AMoL. However, this patient did not have any of the other autosomal chromosomal abnormalities which are common in acute non-lymphocytic leukemias.