RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To establish a rat preeclampsia model with fetoplacental growth restriction caused by bestatin via induction of placental apoptosis. STUDY DESIGN: 200 mg/kg/day of bestatin or saline as a control were infused intraperitoneally into pregnant Wistar rats from 15 days' gestation. In the first experiment, maternal blood pressure and proteinuria were examined during the pre- and postpartum periods. In the second experiment, cesarean sections were performed at 20 days' gestation and the weights of pups and placentas, and levels of proteinuria and placental apoptosis were examined. RESULTS: Physiological decrease of blood pressure in late pregnancy was not detected in the bestatin group but proteinuria level at 20 days' gestation was elevated. The weights of pups and placentas in the bestatin group were significantly lower than those in the controls, bestatin strongly inducing apoptosis in the placenta. CONCLUSION: Bestatin may cause a preeclampsia-like condition through induction of placental apoptosis.
Asunto(s)
Apoptosis , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Leucina/análogos & derivados , Placenta/patología , Preeclampsia/inducido químicamente , Preeclampsia/fisiopatología , Animales , Peso al Nacer , Presión Sanguínea , Femenino , Edad Gestacional , Etiquetado Corte-Fin in Situ , Tamaño de los Órganos , Preeclampsia/patología , Embarazo , Proteinuria , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: During the treatment of pre-term labor with magnesium sulfate, we noted an abnormal elevation of maternal serum creatine phosphokinase. This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between tocolysis with MgSO4 and maternal serum CPK elevation, which represents the possible damage of muscles by magnesium sulfate. METHODS: Clinical records of 45 women treated with magnesium sulfate and beta-sympathomimetics for the treatment of pre-term labor were retrospectively examined. RESULTS: Serum CPK was abnormally elevated in 32 out of 45 cases (71.1%), but in only one out of 21 in the control group. In three cases, the decrease of serum creatine phosphokinase after cessation of magnesium sulfate was demonstrated, despite the continuous infusion of beta-sympathomimetics. CONCLUSION: Magnesium sulfate may cause muscular damage and abnormal elevation of maternal serum creatine phosphokinase. Special attention must be paid to patients when drugs acting on muscle cells, for example succinyl choline, are going to be used.
Asunto(s)
Creatina Quinasa/sangre , Sulfato de Magnesio/efectos adversos , Tocolíticos/efectos adversos , Femenino , Humanos , Sulfato de Magnesio/uso terapéutico , Trabajo de Parto Prematuro , Embarazo , Estudios Retrospectivos , Simpatomiméticos/uso terapéutico , Tocolíticos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
This study was performed to determine whether the incidence of cervical cancer in women aged 35 or younger has changed over the last 10 years and to examine the clinical characteristics of the cases. The incidence of cervical cancer in women aged 35 or younger were significantly greater in 1987-1991 than 1992-1996 (p = 0.001). Most new cases were detected by routine cytological screening.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/epidemiología , Adenocarcinoma/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Carcinoma Adenoescamoso/epidemiología , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/epidemiología , Femenino , Humanos , Japón/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Invasividad Neoplásica , Pronóstico , Estudios Retrospectivos , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnóstico , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/patología , Frotis VaginalRESUMEN
Phytochrome A (PhyA)-regulated genes in 6-d-old etiolated seedlings of Arabidopsis Landsberg erecta were identified by fluorescent differential display. To screen for PhyA-regulated genes, mRNA fingerprints of the wild type and the phyA-201 mutant were compared from samples prepared 4 h after far-red light irradiation. Approximately 30,000 bands of cDNA were displayed by fluorescent differential display, and 24 differentially expressed bands were observed. Sequence analysis revealed that they represent 20 distinct genes. Among them, 15 genes were confirmed as PhyA regulated by northern-blot (or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) analysis. Thirteen up-regulated genes included 12 known genes that encode nine photosynthetic proteins, two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll, one DNA damage repair/toleration-related protein, and one unknown gene. Two down-regulated genes were identified as encoding a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase-related protein and a novel member of the ASK protein kinase family. In the phyA-201 mutant and the phyA-201phyB-1 double mutant, expression of all of these genes was photoreversibly up- or down-regulated by type II phytochromes. The results indicate that modes of photoperception differ between PhyA and PhyB, but that both types of phytochromes have overlapping effects on the photoregulation of gene expression.
Asunto(s)
Arabidopsis/genética , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Fitocromo/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Arabidopsis/efectos de la radiación , Proteínas de Arabidopsis , Northern Blotting , Clonación Molecular , ADN Complementario/genética , Colorantes Fluorescentes , Luz , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Fitocromo/metabolismo , Fitocromo A , ARN Mensajero/análisis , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa InversaRESUMEN
The photoregulation of gene expression in higher plants was extensively studied during the 1980s, in particular the light-responsive cis -acting elements and trans -acting factors of the Lhcb and rbcS genes. However, little has been discovered about: (1) which plant genes are regulated by light, and (2) which photoreceptors control the expression of these genes. In the 1990s, the functional analysis of the various photoreceptors has progressed rapidly using photoreceptor-deficient mutants, including those of the phytochrome gene family. More recently however, advanced techniques for gene expression analysis, such as fluorescent differential display and DNA microarray technology, have become available enabling the global identification of genes that are regulated by particular photoreceptors. In this paper we describe distinct and overlapping effects of individual phytochromes on gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Asunto(s)
Arabidopsis/genética , Núcleo Celular/genética , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas , Fitocromo/metabolismo , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Luz , Análisis de Secuencia por Matrices de Oligonucleótidos , ARN de Planta/análisis , ARN de Planta/genéticaAsunto(s)
Hiperpotasemia/inducido químicamente , Fármacos Neuromusculares Despolarizantes/efectos adversos , Trabajo de Parto Prematuro/tratamiento farmacológico , Complicaciones Cardiovasculares del Embarazo/inducido químicamente , Succinilcolina/efectos adversos , Adulto , Analgésicos/uso terapéutico , Anestésicos Intravenosos , Atropina/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Humanos , Hiperpotasemia/sangre , Magnesio/sangre , Sulfato de Magnesio/uso terapéutico , Trabajo de Parto Prematuro/sangre , Medicación Preanestésica , Embarazo , Complicaciones Cardiovasculares del Embarazo/tratamiento farmacológico , Ranitidina/administración & dosificación , Ritodrina/uso terapéutico , TiamilalRESUMEN
Murine exencephaly corresponds to human anencephaly, and provides a model for studying the mechanism of development of the central nervous system. A system which induces exencephaly at an extremely high rate is required in order to examine embryos, before the stage of neural tube closure, as samples of future exencephaly. Herein, we report on a system which is close enough to the best conditions for induction of this malformation, involving ICR mice and all-trans retinoic acid. The intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg of all-trans retinoic acid at 03:00 hr on day 8 (copulatory plug, day 0) induced exencephaly in 81.6% of live embryos, as evaluated on day 10, with a 41.7% embryonic death rate. Earlier administration (more than 3 hr before) greatly increased the rate of embryonic death, whereas later administration resulted in a reduction in the rate of exencephaly. These findings suggest that a specific time during early development is crucial for neural tube closure, and provide a system which may facilitate the study of neural development and the pathophysiology of human anencephaly.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/anomalías , Teratógenos , Tretinoina/efectos adversos , Animales , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Femenino , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos ICR , EmbarazoRESUMEN
CONCLUSION: A multivariate analysis of CAMPAS-PX2 can increase its diagnostic accuracy in differential diagnosis of pancreatic cancer from benign pancreatic or extrapancreatic disease, when compared with CA19-9 alone. However, the improvement in diagnostic accuracy is still not satisfactory in spite of an elaborate combination of serum markers in diagnosis for pancreatic cancer. Optimal combination of a sensitive serum marker and another diagnostic modality, such as ultrasonography, can be a practical way to improve important diagnostic and cost-effectiveness in diagnosis for pancreatic cancer. BACKGROUND: No specific biological test has yet been developed for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, although increasing numbers of tumor markers become available. For improvement in the diagnostic and cost effectiveness, it is important to select optimal combination of several serum markers relatively independent of each other. METHODS: A new model of discriminant function, computer-aided multivariate and pattern analysis system for pancreatic cancer examination 2 (CAMPAS-PX2), was developed based on the data of the 23 serum tumor markers from the first prospective trial (1) to differentiate between pancreatic cancer and benign pancreatobiliary disease by logistic regression analysis using a stepwise selection method. In 243 patients suspected of having pancreatic pancreatic cancer by a multicenter prospective study, the diagnostic value of the multivariate analysis, CAMPAS-PX2, was compared with the 23 markers. RESULTS: Pancreatic cancer was subsequently identified in 27 patients. Positive in disease, negative in health, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve were significantly higher by CAMPAS-PX2 (89, 87, 91%) than by CA 19-9 (78, 82, 84%), the most sensitive marker among the 23 markers.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/sangre , Páncreas/patología , Enfermedades Pancreáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico , Antígeno CA-19-9/sangre , Diagnóstico por Computador , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Estudios de Evaluación como Asunto , Humanos , Análisis Multivariante , Enfermedades Pancreáticas/sangre , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/sangre , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/epidemiología , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Prevalencia , Estudios Prospectivos , Curva ROC , Reproducibilidad de los ResultadosRESUMEN
Basigin (Bsg) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Chicken Bsg (HT7/neurothelin/ 5A11) is expressed in neuroblasts, but disappears from neurons after a specific stage of cytodifferentiation, and becomes restrictedly expressed in the capillary endothelium in the adult brain. We show herein by means of in situ hybridization that Bsg mRNA was expressed in neuroblasts in 13.5 day old mouse embryos. In the adult mouse, Bsg was differentially expressed in subregions of the brain. Strong Bsg expression was detected in the limbic system, including the olfactory system, hippocampal formation, septal area, amygdala, thalamic anterior nuclei, hypothalamus, mesencephalic tegmentum, entorhinal cortex, and cingulate gyrus. Bsg was also intensely expressed in the retinal neuronal layers, the Vth layer of the cerebral neocortex, Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, several nuclei of the brain stem, and the gray matter of the spinal cord. Although in situ hybridization showed a weak signal in the brain capillary endothelium, protein expression of Bsg was strong enough to be detected by immunohistochemistry. Northern blot analysis confirmed the strong expression of Bsg in the central nervous system. Taking into account that Bsg knockout mice exhibit abnormalities in behavior, but a normal blood-brain barrier function, the present findings suggest that Bsg functions actively in neuronal interactions in the central nervous system.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Proteínas Aviares , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/biosíntesis , Neuronas/metabolismo , Médula Espinal/metabolismo , Animales , Antígenos de Superficie/análisis , Antígenos de Superficie/biosíntesis , Basigina , Encéfalo/embriología , Encéfalo/crecimiento & desarrollo , Capilares/embriología , Capilares/metabolismo , Circulación Cerebrovascular , Pollos , Embrión de Mamíferos , Embrión no Mamífero , Hibridación in Situ , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/análisis , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/deficiencia , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Especificidad de Órganos , ARN Mensajero/biosíntesis , Médula Espinal/embriología , Médula Espinal/crecimiento & desarrollo , Células Madre/metabolismo , Transcripción GenéticaRESUMEN
Basigin (Bsg) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Bsg knock-out mice exhibit infertility of both sexes. Based on limited results, defective implantation has been considered to be the cause of the female infertility. We demonstrate here that disruption of the Bsg gene produces the failure of female reproductive processes including not only implantation but also fertilization. Bsg mRNA expression in cumulus cells and basolateral localization of the Bsg protein in the endometrial epithelium further support the importance of Bsg in these processes.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Antígenos de Superficie , Proteínas Aviares , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Infertilidad Femenina/genética , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Animales , Basigina , Copulación/fisiología , Femenino , Eliminación de Gen , Expresión Génica , Genitales Femeninos/fisiología , Humanos , Inmunoglobulinas/genética , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Ovario/metabolismo , Ovulación/fisiología , Embarazo , Espermatozoides/fisiología , Útero/metabolismoRESUMEN
Basigin is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein with two immunoglobulin-like domains. We generated mutant mice lacking the basigin gene (Bsg) by gene targeting. Bsg (-/-) embryos developed normally during preimplantation stages. However, the majority of Bsg (-/-) embryos died around the time of implantation. At this time, basigin mRNA was strongly expressed in the trophectoderm, embryo proper, and uterine endometrium of Bsg (+/+) mice. These results suggest that basigin is involved in intercellular recognition during implantation. Embryos which survived the critical period yielded Bsg (-/-) mutant mice. Half of the mutant mice died before 1 month after birth, due to interstitial pneumonia. The surviving adult mutant mice were small and sterile. Spermatogenesis was arrested in the mutant mice. Most of the spermatocytes in the Bsg (-/-) mouse were arrested and degenerated at the metaphase of the first meiosis, and only a small number differentiated to step 1 spermatids. In the female mutants, the ovaries and genital tract were morphologically normal, and the defect was probably in the capability of implantation of the uterus. In conclusion, basigin is an important cell-surface molecule involved in early embryogenesis and reproduction.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Antígenos de Superficie/genética , Antígenos de Superficie/fisiología , Proteínas Aviares , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Implantación del Embrión/genética , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/fisiología , Mutación , Espermatogénesis/genética , Animales , Basigina , Femenino , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Ratones MutantesRESUMEN
Ablation of the transmembrane glycoprotein basigin leads to azoospermic mice, indicating that this gene is essential for spermatogenesis. To examine the functions of basigin in the testis, the precise localization of basigin during spermatogenesis was examined immunohistochemically. In the adult mouse testis, basigin immunoreactivity appeared on the cell surface of leptotene spermatocytes and gradually increased in intensity during the meiotic prophase. Cytoplasmic staining, as well as cell surface staining, was detected in spermatids. The most conspicuous reactivity was found in the spermatids at steps 9-11 and in the flagella of spermatids. Immuno-electron microscopic analysis demonstrated that basigin was localized not only on the plasma membranes of spermatocytes and spermatids, but also on the plasma membrane of the Sertoli cell processes which contact the spermatocytes and spermatids. Basigin immunoreactivity was also detected during postnatal development in spermatocytes and spermatids but not in spermatogonia. Experimental cryptorchid testes which contain only spermatogonia and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium showed no basigin immunoreactivity. Seven days after surgical reversal of the cryptorchid testis, spermatocytes reappeared in the tubules, along with basigin immunoreactivity. Furthermore, in sterile mutant mice, in which neither spermatocytes nor spermatids were generated, no basigin immunoreactivity was detected in the seminiferous tubules. These findings indicate that expression of basigin is concomitant with appearance of spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubule, and suggest that basigin is involved in the interaction between Sertoli cells and germ cells at specific stages of spermatogenesis.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Antígenos de Superficie/análisis , Proteínas Aviares , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/análisis , Espermatogénesis , Testículo/inmunología , Animales , Basigina , Membrana Celular/inmunología , Criptorquidismo/inmunología , Femenino , Inmunohistoquímica , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Microscopía Inmunoelectrónica , Células de Sertoli/inmunología , Espermátides/inmunología , Espermatocitos/inmunología , Testículo/crecimiento & desarrolloRESUMEN
Basigin is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. We used mutant mice lacking the basigin gene (Bsg) to investigate its involvement in learning and memory. Mutations were generated by the gene targeting method. Various kinds of learning and memory tasks were performed in mutant, hetero and wild type mice. The mutant mice showed worse performance than the wild and hetero mice in the Y-maze task, which assesses short-term memory, and in the water finding task, which examines latent learning, without any motor dysfunction. Moreover, the mutant mice showed less acclimation in the habituation task compared with the wild-type mice. The mutant mice were also more sensitive to electric foot-shock. These findings are consistent with the expression profile of basigin in the central nervous system. Thus, basigin may play an important role in learning and memory as well as in the sensory functions.
Asunto(s)
Antígenos CD , Antígenos de Neoplasias , Antígenos de Superficie , Proteínas Aviares , Proteínas Sanguíneas , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Trastornos de la Memoria/genética , Mutación , Trastornos de la Sensación/genética , Animales , Reacción de Prevención , Basigina , Conducta Animal/fisiología , Electrochoque , Marcación de Gen , Aprendizaje/fisiología , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/fisiología , Ratones , Ratones NoqueadosRESUMEN
We determined the activity, content and mRNA of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and copper ion concentration in a Japanese pedigree of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) having two basepair deletion in the 126th codon of the SOD1 gene. The activity and concentration of the SOD1 were low in red blood cells from the patients and the unaffected subjects with the SOD1 mutation. The SOD activity stain and Western blot analysis of the brain from one of the patients showed low SOD1 activity and the absence of the mutant SOD1. The mRNA due to the mutant SOD1 gene was, however, confirmed. Availability of the copper ions for oxidative catalytic DNA damage in the brain from the patient was 1.9-fold higher than those in the controls. We propose that the decrease of SOD1 activity and increased copper ions play a role in the neuronal death in this FALS.
Asunto(s)
Esclerosis Amiotrófica Lateral/genética , Superóxido Dismutasa/genética , Anciano , Secuencia de Bases , Western Blotting , Codón , Cobre/análisis , Eliminación de Gen , Humanos , Masculino , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Lóbulo Parietal/química , Lóbulo Parietal/enzimología , Mutación Puntual , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , ARN Mensajero/genética , Superóxido Dismutasa/análisis , Superóxido Dismutasa/metabolismoRESUMEN
The hydrolysis of bradykinin (BK) by human placental subcellular fractions and pregnancy sera was studied in the presence of inhibitors by measuring amino acids liberated from BK by high-performance liquid chromatography. The effects of the inhibitors DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropionic acid (MGTA, for kininase I), phosphoramidon (for endopeptidase 24.11) and captopril and rentiapril (for angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE, kininase II]) suggested the essential roles of the above three proteases in BK degradation: among the three proteases, kininase I and endopeptidase 24.11 appeared to be the most important in kininase action in the placenta microsomes, whereas kininase I and ACE appeared to be the most important in kininase action in the placental cytosol, lysosome and pregnancy serum. Measurements of BK concentrations in the umbilical arterial blood, umbilical venous blood and maternal plasma revealed higher concentrations in the mother than in the fetus. The present data suggest that degradation of BK in the placenta and pregnancy serum might contribute to the gradient of BK between mother and fetus.
Asunto(s)
Bradiquinina/metabolismo , Endopeptidasas/metabolismo , Placenta/enzimología , Ácido 3-Mercaptopropiónico/análogos & derivados , Ácido 3-Mercaptopropiónico/farmacología , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/farmacología , Arginina/metabolismo , Sangre , Captopril/farmacología , Femenino , Glicopéptidos/farmacología , Humanos , Hidrólisis , Lisina Carboxipeptidasa/antagonistas & inhibidores , Lisina Carboxipeptidasa/metabolismo , Microsomas/enzimología , Neprilisina/antagonistas & inhibidores , Neprilisina/metabolismo , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/metabolismo , Fenilalanina/metabolismo , Placenta/ultraestructura , EmbarazoRESUMEN
The relation between placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activity in maternal sera and umbilical artery waveforms (systolic/diastolic ratio, S/D) obtained by pulsed Doppler has been examined by cross-sectional study in 26 normal pregnancies during weeks 26-38. A negative correlation was seen to exist suggesting that P-LAP may have a role in the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow.
Asunto(s)
Leucil Aminopeptidasa/metabolismo , Placenta/enzimología , Arterias Umbilicales/fisiología , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Flujometría por Láser-Doppler , Embarazo , Segundo Trimestre del Embarazo , Tercer Trimestre del Embarazo , Vasopresinas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
The prevalence of all neurological disorders in a Japanese town was calculated, with a result of 91.1 per 1,000 population. The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease was 28.8; myelopathy and/or radiculopathy caused by deformity of the spine or disc herniation, 23.9; neuralgia, 11.5; dementia, 10.4; peripheral nerve disturbance, 5.5; epilepsy, 4.4; Parkinson's disease, 2.0; mental retardation, 2.9; brain/spinal tumor, 1.4; headache, 10.8, and vertigo/dizziness, 4.4. The prevalence of headache and vertigo/dizziness was also calculated from the results of the questionnaires sent to inhabitants: headache, 79.6, and vertigo/dizziness, 60.8. Neurological disorders are common in Japan and likely to continue to increase.