A 31-year-old female sought termination of pregnancy due to a fetal body stalk anomaly diagnosed at 18 weeks of gestation. Despite an anterior placenta previa, successful vaginal delivery occurred. ...However, placental adhesion over a previous cesarean scar occurred, and part of the placenta could not be removed. Immediate postpartum bleeding prompted imaging studies, revealing extravasation from adherent placental remnants. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) provided initial hemostasis, but recurrent bleeding necessitated re-embolization. Although conservative treatment was initially pursued, significant hematuria prompted reevaluation, revealing extensive uterine wall and bladder penetration. Surgical intervention with total hysterectomy and partial bladder resection was performed, leading to the successful recovery of bladder function following surgical repair. While this case achieved a positive outcome, there is a potential for permanent urinary dysfunction if lesions are more extensive. While achieving a conservative cure is ideal, it is essential to assess the timing for opting for surgical intervention.
A quantitative description of glyco-alteration/differences in diseases can lead to the development of a diagnostic agent for use in vitro to monitor the degree of change in target glycoproteins. ...Analytical systems have been developed along with the progress of omics-oriented technologies. For clinical implementation, their full automation is required with an apparatus that is simple to operate. Here, we report an automatic analysis system for quantitative characterization of glyco-alteration/differences that depends on the unique strategy of “bead arrays in a single tip.” The alternative lectin array can obtain a minimum characterization of the glycan profile for nanogram quantities of an endogenous glycoprotein. A simple autopipetting robot produces the precise chemiluminescence detection of glycan–lectin interactions with a wide dynamic range that is superior to fluorescence-based lectin arrays. The tip-based array format enables automatic glycan profiling from sample pretreatment to detection with low variation and linear detection, which may facilitate the use of this lectin array in clinical practice.
A low-cost and simple on-site technique for genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was developed. The technique is based on allele-specific primer PCR and the recently developed bead ...arrays in a single tip technique. The performance of the method was verified by genotyping four SNPs that correlate with cardiovascular diseases.
Studies have shown that certain foods contain compounds with antigenotoxic activities. Here, we ask if dried powders and/or extracts from three edible mushrooms,
Agrocybe cylindracea,
Lentinula ...edodes and
Pleurotus ostreatus, have a mitigating effect on genotoxicity. We used two in vivo assays: the Drosophila DNA repair test and the Drosophila wing spot test (also known as SMART) which measures somatic mutation and recombination. Eight carcinogens were tested with the mushroom powders: 2-AAF, aflatoxin B1, DMBA, IQ, MeIQx, MNU NDMA, and 4NQO. We found that
A. cylindracea and
P. ostreatus powders can suppress DNA damage induced by each of the mutagens we tested. In contrast,
L. edodes has an inhibitory effect on DNA damage induced by only a sub-set of mutagens, namely aflatoxin B1, NDMA, MNU and 4NQO. In addition,
A. cylindracea extracts were able to suppress somatic cell mutation induced by aflatoxin B1, MMC, MNU, NDMA, NMOR and 4NQO. These results suggest that Agrocybe genus mushrooms contain factors with antigenotoxic activity, including anti-recombinogenic activity. Furthermore, the antigenotoxic activity of
A. cylindracea powder can be extracted in water but not in ethyl acetate or methanol, and is sensitive to heat treatment. The data suggest that there is a novel antigenotoxic factor(s) in
A. cylindracea, possibly in the form of a peptide or protein.
We previously developed a three-dimensional microarray system, the Bio-Strand, which exhibits advantages in automated DNA analysis in combination with our Magtration Technology. In the current study, ...we have developed a compact system for the Bio-Strand, the Handy Bio-Strand, which consists of several tools for the preparation of Bio-Strand Tip, hybridization, and detection. Using the Handy Bio-Strand, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of
OPRM1 (A118G) by allele-specific oligonucleotide competitive hybridization (ASOCH). DNA fragments containing SNP sites were amplified from genomic DNA by PCR and then were fixed on a microporous nylon thread. Thus, prepared Bio-Strand Tip was hybridized with allele-specific Cy5 probes (<15mer), on which the SNP site was designed to be located in the center. By optimizing the amount of competitors, the selectivity of Cy5 probes increased without a drastic signal decrease.
OPRM1 (A118G) genotypes of 23 human genomes prepared from whole blood samples were determined by ASOCH using the Handy Bio-Strand. The results were perfectly consistent with those determined by PCR direct sequencing. ASOCH using the Handy Bio-Strand would be a very simple and reliable method for SNP genotyping for small laboratories and hospitals.
DNA polymerases synthesize new DNA strands according to the template DNA, using deoxynucleotide triphosphates during DNA replication and repair, and are essential to maintain genome integrity in DNA ...metabolism. In addition, these enzymes are widely used for genetic engineering techniques, including dideoxy-sequencing, PCR, DNA labeling, mutagenesis, and other in vitro experiments. Thermostable DNA polymerases are especially useful for PCR and cycle-sequencing. We propose a powerful strategy using environmental DNA as a genetic resource to investigate the structure-function relationships of the family B DNA polymerases. The region corresponding to the active center of the DNA polymerizing reaction in the structural gene of P. furiosus DNA polymerase I (PolBI) was substituted by PCR fragments amplified from DNAs within soil samples from various locations in Japan. The chimeric pol genes were constructed within the PolBI expression plasmid. The chimeric enzymes thus produced revealed DNA polymerase activities with different properties.
Previously, we developed a novel three-dimensional microarray system called Bio-Strand, which may be used in various applications including single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyping. In Bio-Strand, ...samples for detection are immobilized on a one-dimensional thread, which is wound around a cylinder-shaped core to form a three-dimensional thread-and-core structure. The thread-and-core structure is then inserted into a plastic pipette tip, where hybridization and detection are performed. In this study, we have developed an automation system, NIAGALA Bio-Station SDx, which enables automated hybridization and detection during the genotyping procedure using Bio-Strand. Using this system, we have performed the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of
CYP2C, one of the important human cytochrome P450 genes and the results were completely consistent with the genotyping results determined by the TaqMan method.
A radiographic examination of pinealectomized rats to observe the development of scoliosis and halt the condition by administration of melatonin.
To discover whether pinealectomy has the same effect ...in mammals as shown in the chicken, and to determine whether the bipedal condition is important for development of scoliosis.
Pinealectomizing chickens shortly after hatching consistently resulted in scoliosis closely resembling human idiopathic scoliosis. It has not been determined whether this phenomenon is restricted solely to chickens, or if this experimental model is applicable to other animals, especially those more closely related to humans.
A sham operation in five bipedal rats served as the control in this study. Pinealectomy was performed in 10 quadrupedal rats, pinealectomy in 20 bipedal rats, and pinealectomy with implantation of melatonin pellet in 10 bipedal rats. Spinal radiographs were used to measure the degree of scoliosis at 3 months after surgery.
Scoliosis developed only in pinealectomized bipedal rats and not in quadrupedal rats. It developed in none of the sham operation group and in only 1 of 10 pinealectomized bipedal rats with melatonin treatment.
Melatonin deficiency secondary to pinealectomy alone does not produce scoliosis if the quadrupedal condition is maintained. The bipedal condition, such as that in chickens or humans, plays an important role in the development of scoliosis. The findings suggest a critical influence of a postural mechanism for the development of scoliosis.
The serum melatonin levels during 24-hour periods were compared between patients with idiopathic and age-matched normal control subjects.
To find if the melatonin deficiency may have some role for ...progression or etiology of idiopathic scoliosis in humans.
Experimentally induced scoliosis in chicken by pinealectomy can be attributed to the defect in melatonin metabolism.
Blood samples were correlated every 3 hours during 24-hour periods, and serum melatonin levels were measured and statistically analyzed.
The level of melatonin, integrated concentration through 24 hours and night time (0:00 am-6:00 am), in the patients who had progressive curve (more than 10 degrees of progression in the previous 12 months) was significantly lower than the level in the patients who had a stable curve (less than 10 degrees of progression in the previous 12 months) or in the control subjects (P < 0.05).
The study suggests that normal melatonin synthesis or metabolism may have crucial role in regulating normal spine growth. The level of melatonin appears to be a useful predictor for progression of spine curvature in idiopathic scoliosis.
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