An organophosphorus insecticide EPN, O-ethyl-O, 4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate, is a stronger inhibitor of ChE activity than leptophos or cyanofenphos which are delayed neurotoxic organophosphorus insecticides, and it is usually difficult to demonstrate its delayed neurotoxicity with a single oral dose without atropinization. In this study, delayed neurotoxic effect of EPN was observed in non-atropinized hens by using the repeated pretreatment method.
1) Three groups of hens were given preliminarily small dose of EPN such as 10mg/kg/day for 10 days, 5 mg/kg/day for 20 days and 10mg/kg/day for 20 days. Another group was not given any preliminary dose. After each pretreatment, these groups received a large amount of dose called ‘challenge dese’, 150mg/kg, 200mg/kg or 300mg/kg of EPN. During the pretreatmental period, only 2 out of 60 hens which received the pretreatment died.
2) The mortality rate due to the acute toxicity after the challenge does in the group pretreated by 10 mg/kg/day for 20 days was significantly lower than in the non-pretreated group.
3) It is clear that EPN shows delayed neurotoxicity in hens. Delayed neurotoxic effect was observed in all groups which were given repeatedly the pretreatment of EPN prior to each challenge dose. While the survived hens from the acute death in the non-pretreated group did not show any sign of delayed neurotoxicity. The specific relationship, however, was not observed between the anount and times of pretreatment and the incidence of delayed neurotoxicity.
4) Delayed neurotoxic effects of EPN such as clinical symptomes, the cource of body-weight change and the findings of histopathological changes were just similar to those of leptophos and cyanofenphos.
5) The results of this study suggest that the using of the repeated pretreatment method allows to give high concentrated organophosphorus compound without atropinization and to accurate assessment of delayed neurotoxicity of some organophosphates; these effects would otherwise not be detected using a single dose of LD₅₀.

Objective To find out a proper way to detect green fluorescent protein (GFP). Methods Kidneys, livers and femurs from GFP transgenic mice and C57BL/6J wild type mice were employed for in vivo study.The samples were dehydrated with alcohol and acetone individually before embedding, then frozen, paraffin and resin sections were made for the detection of GFP. C3 P12 cells which derived from calvaria bone cells of GFP transgenic mouse were used for the detection of GFP in vitro. Cells were exposed to alcohol, acetone and PBS after paraformaldehyde fixation. Laser scanning microscopy was employed for GFP detection. Results In frozen sections, both kidney and liver samples which exposed to 4% buffered paraformaldehyde fixation had strong GFP signals, while GFP signal disappeared completely in fresh frozen sections without fixation. Much stronger GFP intensity was found in acetone treated samples than in alcohol treated paraffin sections, but without apparent difference in GFP intensity in acetone and alcohol treated resin samples. Acetone and alcohol made no difference in fixed C3 cells in different time courses. Conclusion Acetone treated paraffin sections are preferable for GFP detection.

STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter prospective study with a crossover design. PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of limaprost alfadex (LP) and elcatonin (EL) for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients with concurrent osteoporosis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: It has been increasingly important to improve quality of life by establishing appropriate conservative treatments for LSS patients with concurrent osteoporosis who will presumably continue to increase due to the percentage of the aging elevations, however there is no prospective study. METHODS: A total of 19 patients with LSS and concurrent osteoporosis were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups and compared using a crossover design. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) and short-form (SF)-8 health survey scale were used for clinical evaluations. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of buttock-leg pain and numbness in the EL group. A significant improvement of impaired walking function was noted for the LP group according to the JOABPEQ while the rest of the items in the JOABPEQ showed no significant differences. The SF-8 health survey revealed that somatic pains and physical summary scores in the EL group and physical functioning and physical summary scores in the LP group tended to improve but not to any statistically significant extents. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant uses of EL may be useful in patients who do not respond satisfactorily to the treatments of LP for 6-8 weeks.
Aging ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Back Pain ; Cross-Over Studies* ; Drug Therapy ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Nociceptive Pain ; Osteoporosis* ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in diagnosing patients with cervical myelopathy by determining the accuracy of normal DTI parameter values. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: DTI can visualize white matter tracts in vivo and quantify anisotropy. DTI is known to be more sensitive than conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting subtle pathological changes of the spinal cord. METHODS: A total of 31 normal subjects (13 men and 18 women; age, 23-87 years; mean age, 46.0 years) were included in this study. The patients had no symptoms of myelopathy or radiculopathy. A Philips Achieva 3-Tesla MRI with SE-type Single Shot EPI was used to obtain diffusion tensor images. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were measured as DTI parameters on axial sections of several cervical levels. Subjects were divided into two groups: >40 years (n=16) and < or =40 years (n=15). A paired t-test was used to compare significant differences between the groups. ADC and FA values were most stable on axial sections. RESULTS: For all subjects, mean ADC and FA values were 1.06+/-0.09x10-3 mm2/sec and 0.68+/-0.05, respectively. ADC was significantly higher in subjects >40 years of age than in those < or =40 years. There was no significant difference in FA values between the two groups. The mean ADC value was significantly higher in normal subjects >40 years of age than in those < or =40 years. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider age when evaluating cervical myelopathy by DTI.
Anisotropy ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Diffusion* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Reference Values* ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Cord*

OBJECTIVEAlkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OC) are the markers of new bone formation. Quantitative study of ALP and OC in the process of new bone formation helps to understand the ongoing of this cascade and contributes to make diagnosis in clinical treatment.

METHODS8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice and primary osteoblasts from neonatal C57BL/6J mice calvaria were used in this experiment. HE staining, Northern blot and Real Time PCR methods were employed to detect the histological changes and the expression pattern of ALP and OC.

RESULTSIn vivo study showed that after fracture the expressions of both ALP and OC kept on increasing which were peaked on the 10 day, then started decreasing gradually. In vitro study on primary osteoblasts showed that the expressions of ALP and OC reached peak on the 14th day in differentiation culture medium and started decreasing from this time point till the 21st day.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ALP and OC in the process of new bone formation parallels with the development of osteoblasts, it increases with the differentiation of osteoblasts and becomes decreasing with the maturation of osteoblasts. The reciprocal relationship between the expression pattern of ALP and OC and development of osteoblast helps to maintain homeostasis.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Differentiation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Skull

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of osteoclast related factors, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), in the process of bone remodeling.

METHODS8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were employed in this study to detect the expression of osteoclast related factors by real time PCR.

RESULTSTNF-alpha, RANKL and TRAP were up regulated in the process of bone remodeling, they reached the peak on day 2, 5 and 10 individually after injury.

CONCLUSIONOsteoclast related factors also participate in bone remodeling, which depends on the delicate balance between bone formation and bone resorption.

Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis ; RANK Ligand ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Methods: Sixty patients with PCSA who underwent surgical treatment of the cervical spine were enrolled. The radiological findings on plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were evaluated. The cervical lordotic angles, C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and T1 slope were assessed on a lateral radiograph in the neutral position. CT was used to assess the width of the intervertebral foramen and the anterior protrusion of the superior articular process on the axial view. MRI was used to determine the number of levels of compression (NLC) and the presence of a high-intensity area in the spinal cord in the T2- weighted midsagittal view. The preoperative and postoperative strengths of the most atrophic muscles were evaluated using manual muscle testing. Improvements in strength were classified as excellent (five grades recovered), good (more than one grade recovered), fair (no improvement), or poor (worsened). Results: The prevalence of C5 palsy was 17% (10/60). Patients with poor outcomes had higher NLC and Δ C2–C7 SVA than patients with excellent, good, and fair outcomes (p =0.015; odds ratio [OR], 5.758; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.397−23.726 for a change of 10% and p =0.048; OR, 1.068; 95% CI, 0.992−1.141 for a change of 10%, respectively). Conclusions ΔC2–C7 SVA and NLC may be used as prognostic factors for achieving a poor outcome following surgery in patients with PCSA. More focus is needed on preventing the increase in ΔC2–C7 SVA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationships between sick building syndrome and mold in newly-built dwellings.

METHODSSymptoms of 61 residents in 18 dwellings were surveyed by standardized questionnaires. Mold sampling was done by gravity sampling using an open Petri dish. Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and dichloran-18% glycerol agar (DG-18) were used as the culture medium.

RESULTSThere were 6 dwellings in which at least one inhabitant complained of one or more symptoms and 12 dwellings in which none of the inhabitants complained of symptoms. There was a tendency for the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms to have larger colony forming units (CFU) on PDA than those without inhabitants reporting symptoms (p=0.1), but there was no difference in DG-18 result. There was a tendency for the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms to have larger CFU ofCladosporium on PDA than those without (p=0.08), but there was no difference in DG-18 result. Significantly moreUlocladium sp. was detected in the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms than in those without (p=0.03).Cladosporium cladosporioides was detected in all the dwellings with inhabitants reporting symptoms and 75% of the dwellings without.Cladosporium macrocarpum andCladosporium herbarum were detected in 33% of the dwellings with inhabitants reporting e symptoms and none of the dwellings without (p=0.1).

CONCLUSIONCladosporium was dominant in the Japanese newly-built dwellings studied, andCladosporium andUlocladium were probably associated with the residents' symptoms in these newly-built dwellings.

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown origin. Rarely, BD occurs together with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Interestingly, it is speculated that these are not simple coexistence but that the etiology of intestinal BD is at least partly derived from MDS itself. Furthermore, there is a relationship between MDS in patients with intestinal BD and trisomy 8. Immunosuppressive agents alone are insufficient to control MDS-associated BD, and many of these patients die of infection or hemorrhage. Surgery is considered for intestinal BD patients who are unresponsive to medical treatment or those with bowel complications such as perforation or persistent bleeding. We report a case of intestinal BD associated with MDS and trisomy 8. The patient was unresponsive to oral steroids and immunosuppressive treatment; the patient improved by surgical repair of a bowel perforation. Five years after the surgery, the patient is free of recurrence and not on medication. Our experience suggests that surgery may provide an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of MDS-related BD.