Abstract Bone loss is a serious problem in spaceflight; however, the initial action of microgravity has not been identified. To examine this action, we performed live-imaging of animals during a space mission followed by transcriptome analysis using medaka transgenic lines expressing osteoblast and osteoclast-specific promoter-driven GFP and DsRed. In live-imaging for osteoblasts, the intensity of osterix - or osteocalcin -DsRed fluorescence in pharyngeal bones was significantly enhanced 1 day after launch; and this enhancement continued for 8 or 5 days. In osteoclasts, the signals of TRAP -GFP and MMP9 -DsRed were highly increased at days 4 and 6 after launch in flight. HiSeq from pharyngeal bones of juvenile fish at day 2 after launch showed up-regulation of 2 osteoblast- and 3 osteoclast- related genes. Gene ontology analysis for the whole-body showed that transcription of genes in the category “nucleus” was significantly enhanced; particularly, transcription-regulators were more up-regulated at day 2 than at day 6. Lastly, we identified 5 genes, c-fos , jun-B-like , pai-1 , ddit4 and tsc22d3 , which were up-regulated commonly in the whole-body at days 2 and 6, and in the pharyngeal bone at day 2. Our results suggested that exposure to microgravity immediately induced dynamic alteration of gene expression levels in osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
A 33-year-old woman experienced near-syncope at a hospital. Electrocardiography revealed an intermittent ventricular rhythm. The echocardiogram at admission indicated mild hypokinesis and severe diffuse hypokinesis with reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy on the following day. The patient experienced abdominal pain on the admission day, and computed tomography identified a large left adrenal mass. Her catecholamine levels increased remarkably on the third day. The wall motion improved on the twelfth day. The tumor was successfully resected and the patient was diagnosed with an ectopic pheochromocytoma. The ventricular rhythm with myocardial damage and hypotension induced by the reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy masked the characteristic symptoms of pheochromocytoma.
Eleven cases of maxillary osteomyelitis were studied clinically and radiologically. Clinically, the molar area was most affected. The average age of the patients was 47 years and there was no sex difference. Radiologically, the spotty type of osteolytic change was the most frequent, and osteosclerosis was rare. Sequestrum was not a clear feature radiologically. The features of maxillary and mandibular osteomyelitis were compared and the findings discussed.
The purpose of this study was to establish a finite element stress analysis method of intervertebral discs in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient with cervical involvement using a three dimensional (3D) computer model reconstructed from computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images. Intervertebral disc 3D finite element models were created using point cloud data of endplates of cervical spine (C2-C7) vertebral bodies in three different positions; neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Transformations of each endplate in flexion and extension positions were determined using a volume merge method. Changes in stress/strain distribution during flexion and extension were analyzed using displacement data of the endplate as input data. Stress concentration was noted at both lateral regions in C2/3 and C3/4 intervertebral discs. However, no significant changes in stress distribution during motion were observed at C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7 intervertebral discs.
Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is clinically characterized by intradermal or subcutaneous papules and/or nodules usually occurring in young adults. Lesions in the oral mucosa are extremely rare. We report a case and review the literature of ALHE cases involving the oral mucosa. A 40-year-old man presented with a painless, 20 × 20 mm, submucosal nodule on the upper lip. Histological examination of lip biopsy specimens revealed an increase in many small vessels. The vascular walls consisted of prominent endothelial cells with a histiocytoid appearance, which protruded into the lumen. Many eosinophils and lymphocytes were also seen around the vessels. The diagnosis of ALHE was made from the above findings.
