One of the possible causes of dilated cardiomyopathy is considered to be a sequel to myocarditis. Two mechanisms have been proposed in the process of progression of myocarditis into dilated cardiomyopathy: one is a persistent viral infection, and the other is an autoimmune myocardial injury. To clarify the possible part played by the autoimmune mechanism in the process, using an animal model, we investigated whether autoimmune myocarditis, exclusively not related to viral infection, might develop into dilated cardiomyopathy. Experimental autoimmune myocarditis was elicited in Lewis rats by immunization with cardiac myosin fraction. Rats of the control group were immunized with ovalbumin. The clinical course was observed over 4 months. Six rats from the myosin-immunized group died during the acute phase and the healing phase, and all those rats had severe myocarditis. All rats that survived until the end of the study showed enlarged and discolored hearts. Aneurysmal changes were observed in the right ventricle during thoracotomy. The ratio of heart weight to body weight of the myosin-immunized group was significantly higher than that of the control group (3.36 +/- 0.49 versus 2.69 +/- 0.06 g/kg, respectively; P < .005). The lengths of the anterior interventricular fissure and the posterior interventricular fissure of the hearts of the myosin-immunized group were significantly longer than those of the control group. The external diameter of the left ventricle of the myosin-immunized group was also significantly larger than that of the control group. Diffuse myocardial muscle loss and replacement fibrosis were the prominent histological findings of the rats of the myosin-immunized group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR) from silica-powder pellets and silica aerogel has been measured in order to investigate the slowing down of free positronium (Ps) atoms by collisions with silica grains and gas molecules. The data for the pellets and the aerogel in vacuum show that the slowing down of parapositronium (p-Ps) in the free space between the silica grains depends on the number of collisions and hence on the mean distance between the grains. The momentum distribution of orthopositronium (o-Ps) shows further slowing down because of its long lifetime. From the ACAR data obtained from specimens of aerogel 611ed with gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, H2, CH4, CO2, and iso-C4Hqo), the momentum-transfer cross sections between Ps and the gas molecules are estimated. It is concluded that the Ps kinetic energy is transferred only to the translational motion of the gas molecules, i.e. , the excitations of vibration and rotation of the molecules are negligible. PACS number(s): 36.10.Dr, 34.50. -s, 78.70.Bj I. INTR. ODU CTIONIt was observed in the mid 1960s that the angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR) and positron lifetime spectra in metal oxide and metal Huoride powders [1,2] showed formation of positronium (Ps). In 1968, Paulin and Ambrosino [3] reported that the Ps component in the positron lifetime spectra for silica powders depends on the grain diameter. It was postulated that the Ps atoms form inside the grains and then disuse out of them [4]. Paulin and Ambrosino also observed the eA'ect of air on the o-Ps annihilation. Following this, silica powders were used for investigating the interactions between Ps and paramagnetic gases [5 -8].

To describe clinical and neurodevelopmental phenotypes of Costello syndrome, we performed a retrospective review of the clinical records and findings in 10 children with Costello syndrome. All patients showed significant postnatal growth retardation and severe feeding difficulties leading to failure to thrive from early infancy. All required tube feeding and some needed high‐calorie formulas for variable periods. Developmental quotients/IQs in seven children were 50 or less, and three were in the mildly retarded range. Five had seizures. Remarkable manifestations not previously reported were the characteristic behavior in infancy. Although happy and sociable personality was always emphasized in the genetic literature, all children showed significant irritability, including hypersensitivity to sound and tactile stimuli, sleep disturbance, and excess shyness with strangers in infancy. Those symptoms usually disappeared around age 2–4 years. Other clinical signs included cardiac abnormalities (8), musculoskeletal abnormalities (10), ophthalmological manifestations (5), increased urinary vanillymandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) (3), rhabdomyosarcoma (1), laryngomalacia (1), and cryptorchidism (1). Only three girls had papillomata. Family histories were negative for Costello syndrome. In conclusion, we confirm the wide spectrum of mental function in patients with Costello syndrome, which ranges from severe to mild. During infancy Costello syndrome showed remarkable irritability with severe feeding problems, which attributes significant difficulties to the parents of affected children. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

No abstract

A new germinal center kinase (GCK) family kinase, Misshapen/NIKs-related kinase (MINK), has been cloned and its expression has been characterized in several tissues and various developmental stages of the mouse brain. MINK encodes a 1300 amino acid polypeptide, consisting of an N-terminal kinase domain, a proline-rich intermediate region, and a C-terminal GCK homology region. The expression of MINK is up-regulated during the postnatal development of the mouse brain. MINK activates the cJun N-terminal kinase and the p38 pathways.z 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

We evaluated a handling method using tunnels to tame laboratory mice (ICR) in the context of animal welfare and ease of handling. During 1-week acclimation to handling and subsequent 1-week oral administration (once per day), voluntary interaction with the experimenter was much greater in mice handled by a tunnel compared to those picked up by the tail. According to a rating of the ease of handling laboratory mice, a tunnel facilitated mouse handling during acclimation to handling and oral gavage of saline compared to tail handling. In addition, mice handled by a tunnel showed less anxiety than mice handled by the tail in the open field test, but not in elevated plus maze. Calculation of experimental variation in behavioral tests, which were used to mimic pharmacological studies, suggested that mice handled by a tunnel exhibited the tendency of less variation compared to those picked up by the tail, in both groups that were intraperitoneally administered saline as placebo and diazepam as an active drug. Thus, tunnel use could be beneficial for improving animal welfare and facilitated handling of ICR mice in mouse studies.

Spasm was frequently induced at a site different from the initial stenosis, even in the absence of restenosis after PCI. Calcium antagonists should be continued in most patients with CSA who show no restenosis after PCI.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hyper-vascular tumor, so the understanding the mechanisms of angiogenesis in HCC is very important for its treatment. However, the influence of the exosomes secreted from HCC cells (HCC-exosomes) on angiogenesis remains poorly understood. We herein examined the effects of the exosomes secreted from HepG2 cells (HepG2-exosomes) on the lumen formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the imaging of angiogenesis. The degree of lumen formation of HUVECs was dependent on the number of HepG2-exosomes. The HepG2-exosomes expressed NKG2D, an activating receptor for immune cells, and HSP70, a stress-induced heat shock protein associated with angiogenesis through the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. In addition, the HepG2-exosomes contained several microRNAs (miRNAs) reported to exist in the serum of HCC patients. These results suggest that the HCC-exosomes play an important role in angiogenesis. Further studies on the function of HCC-exosomes may provide a new target for HCC treatment.