We previously isolated a partial cDNA fragment of a novel gene, Elm1 (expressed in low-metastatic cells), that is expressed in low-metastatic but not in high-metastatic K-1735 mouse melanoma cells. Here we determined the full-length cDNA structure of Elm1 and investigated the effect of Elm1 expression on growth and metastatic potential of K-1735 cells. The Elm1 gene encodes a predicted protein of 367 amino acids showing ∼40% amino acid identity with the CCN (connective tissue growth factor [CTGF], Cyr61/Cef10, neuroblastoma overexpressed gene [Nov]) family proteins, which consist of secreted cysteine-rich proteins with growth regulatory functions. Elm1 is also a cysteine-rich protein and contains a signal peptide and four domains conserved in the CCN family proteins. Elm1 was highly conserved, expressed ubiquitously in diverse organs, and mapped to mouse chromosome 15. High-metastatic K-1735 M-2 cells, which did not express Elm1, were transfected with an Elm1 expression vector, and several stable clones with Elm1 expression were established. The in vivo growth rates of cells expressing a high level of Elm1 were remarkably slower than those of cells expressing a low level of Elm1. Metastatic potential of transfectants was reduced in proportion to the level of Elm1 expression. Thus, Elm1 is a novel gene of CCN family that can suppress the in vivo growth and metastatic potential of K-1735 mouse melanoma cells.

Previous investigations have suggested that ghrelin, an endogenous orexigenic peptide, is involved in the pathology of eating disorders. We conducted a study to determine whether any preproghrelin gene polymorphisms are associated with eating disorders. Three hundred thirty-six eating disorder patients, including 131 anorexia nervosa (AN)-restricting types (AN-R), 97 AN-binge eating/purging types (AN-BP) and 108 bulimia nervosa (BN)-purging types (BN-P), and 300 healthy control subjects participated in the study. Genotyping was performed to determine the polymorphisms present, and with this information, linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the markers was analyzed and the distributions of the genotypes, the allele frequencies, and the haplotype frequencies were compared between the groups. The Leu72Met (408 C > A) (rs696217) polymorphism in exon 2 and the 3056 T > C (rs2075356) polymorphism in intron 2 were in LD (D' = 0.902, r2 = 0.454). Both polymorphisms were significantly associated with BN-P (allele-wise: P = 0.0410, odds ratio (OR) = 1.48; P = 0.0035, OR = 1.63, for Leu72Met and 3056 T > C, respectively). In addition, we observed a significant increase in the frequency of the haplotype Met72-3056C in BN-P patients (P = 0.0059, OR = 1.71). Our findings suggest that the Leu72Met (408 C > A) and the 3056 T > C polymorphisms of the preproghrelin gene are associated with susceptibility to BN-P.

Common warts (verruca vulgaris) are the most commonly seen benign cutaneous tumors. However, warts in the hands and feet regions often respond poorly to treatment, some are resistant to more than 6 months of treatment with currently available modalities, including cryotherapy, being defined as refractory warts. We investigated the usefulness of long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (LP-Nd:YAG) treatment for refractory warts. The clinical trial was conducted on 20 subjects (11 male, nine female) with a total of 34 lesions (periungual/subungual areas, plantar areas, fingers and/or toes). All the subjects suffered from refractory warts despite conventional treatments for more than 6 months. The patients were administrated up to six sessions of treatment, at intervals of 4 weeks between sessions, with an LP-Nd:YAG at a spot size of 5 mm, pulse duration of 15 msec and fluence of 150-185 J/cm 2 . Evaluation of the treatment results at 24 weeks after the initial treatment showed complete clearance of the refractory warts in 56% of the patients. Histological evaluation showed separation of the dermis and epidermis at the basement membrane with coagulated necrosis of the wart tissue in the lower epidermis, as well as coagulation and destruction of the blood vessels in the papillary dermis following the laser irradiation. No scarring, post-hyperpigmentary changes or serious adverse events were documented. Our preliminary results show that LP-Nd:YAG treatments are safe and effective for refractory warts of hands and feet, causing minimal discomfort, and is a viable treatment alternative.

RF treatment was very satisfactory for skin tightening in Asian facial skin. When compared with published literature from the United States, the results suggested that there might be race-related differences in the treatment parameters.

No abstract

Study Subjects The retrospectively enrolled subjects were 151 patients with PAH in the Nice Classification group 1 who were admitted for routine hemodynamic follow-up and were screened for SDB from April 2008 through February 2010 (37 males, 114 females; 44±16 years old). The mean PAP (mPAP) was 46±16 mmHg, and PVR was 12±9 Wood units. Patients with a total sleep time <3 h in the sleep studies were excluded. PAH was defined by right-heart catheterization (RHC) as mPAP ≥25 mmHg with a pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) <15 mmHg. They were classified, on the basis of the Nice Classification; into idiopathic PAH (IPAH; n=78) and associated PAH (n=73) (52% and 48 %, respectively). There were 6 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome in the associated PAH group. Assessments Serum hemoglobin (Hb) and B-type natriuretic peptide S leep apnea (SA) can cause repeated nocturnal arterial oxygen desaturation, sleep fragmentation, increased sympathetic activity, oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, negative swings in intrathoracic pressure, and acute increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP). 1-5 Pulmonary vasoconstriction occurs in response to alveolar hypoxia, then increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), contributing to an increase in PAP and resulting in pulmonary vascular remodeling. 6,7 Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), which comprises not only SA, but also periodic breathing and nocturnal hypoxemia, is common. 8-14 Many studies show that the presence of SA is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with left-sided heart failure, 15,16 but the effect of nocturnal hypoxemia and SA on the outcome of patients with PAH is unknown. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to determine whether nocturnal hypoxemia and/or SA is associated with prognosis in PAH patients.

IPL skin rejuvenation using relatively shorter wavelengths and pulse widths brought about significant macroscopic and quantitative improvements, especially in the treatment of epidermal pigmentation and improvement of basic skin tone.

BACKGROUND: Skin rejuvenation with intense pulsed light (IPL) is effective for clearing epidermal pigment disorders. Complications are mild and limited to epidermal burns caused by excessive settings. Some patients, however, experience IPL-induced melasma-like hyperpigmentation despite the appearance of normal skin. These patients seem to have very subtle epidermal melasma not visible to the naked eye. Ultraviolet photography has been useful in identifying these patients and preventing complications. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the incidence of very subtle melasma in patients using UV photography, and assessed this tool in identifying high-risk patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 223 Japanese women, 30-69 years old, participated in the study. Very subtle melasma invisible to the naked eye under normal light was diagnosed by UV photography by two physicians, and any relationship among the disease incidence, age, and regular sunscreen use was examined. RESULTS: Sixty-three cases of very subtle melasma (28.3%) were identified among the 223 subjects, with a significantly lower incidence in sunscreen users. CONCLUSIONS: Patients diagnosed with subtle epidermal melasma and treated with mild IPL parameters did not suffer induced secondary hyperpigmentaion. To help avoid complications after treatment, IPL users should be aware of the age and sunscreen-related incidence of this phenomenon in Asian patients. KEI NEGISHI, NOBUHARU KUSHIKATA, YUKIKO TEZUKA, KAORI TAKEUCHI, EIKO MIYAMOTO, AND SHINGO WAKAMATSU HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS. UV PhotographyThe UV (364 nm) camera system (Canfield Imaging Systems, Fairfield, NJ) used in the study consisted of a r