A novel N-acetyltransferase, Shati/Nat8l, was identified in the nucleus accumbens of mice repeatedly treated with methamphetamine (METH). Shati/Nat8l has been reported to inhibit the pharmacological action induced by METH. Shati/Nat8l produces N-acetylaspartate from aspartate and acetyl-CoA. Previously, we reported that overexpression of Shati/Nat8l in nucleus accumbens attenuates the response to METH by N-acetylaspartylglutamate (which is derived from N-acetylaspartate)-mGluR3 signaling in the mice brain. In the present study, to clarify the type of cells that produce Shati/Nat8l, we carried out in-situ hybridization for the detection of Shati/Nat8l mRNA along with immunohistochemical studies using serial sections of mice brain. Shati/Nat8l mRNA was detected in neuronal cells, but not in astrocytes or microglia cells. Next, we investigated the function of Shati/Nat8l in the neuronal cells in mice brain; then, we used an adeno-associated virus vector containing Shati/Nat8l for transfection and overexpression of Shati/Nat8l protein into the primary cultured neurons to investigate the contribution toward the neuronal activity of Shati/Nat8l. Overexpression of Shati/Nat8l in the mice primary cultured neurons induced axonal growth, but not dendrite elongation at day 1.5 (DIV). This finding indicated that Shati/Nat8l contributes toward neuronal development. LY341495, a selective group II mGluRs antagonist, did not abolish this axonal growth, and N-acetylaspartylglutamate itself did not abolish axon outgrowth in the same cultured system. The cultured neurons overexpressing Shati/Nat8l contained high ATP, suggesting that axon outgrowth is dependent on energy metabolism. This study shows that Shati/Nat8l in the neuron may induce axon outgrowth by ATP synthesis and not through mGluR3 signaling.
We report a case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with a vascular loop of the postero-inferior cerebellar artery, precisely diagnosed by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a sequence of 3-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA). A 44-year old man experienced paroxysmal and excruciating pain, starting in the left tongue and descending to mandibular angle. Preoperative 3D-FIESTA-MRI delineated a small vascular loop compressing the vago-glossopharyngeal nerve at its cisternal portion. The patient underwent a microvascular decompression surgery. Intraoperative inspection revealed that the glossopharyngeal nerve root was in contact with a small arterial loop at its cisternal portion and was deformed as demonstrated by preoperative 3D-FIESTA-MRI. At the operation, we adopted the method of repositioning the offending loop of the postero-inferior cerebellar artery by lifting and attaching it to the nearby dura of the petrous bone with glue. The patient's neuralgia resolved immediately after the operation. 3D-FIESTA may be a useful method for visualization of microvascular compression of glossopharyngeal nerve in this relatively rare condition.
Background: Shati/Nat8l significantly increased in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice after repeated methamphetamine (METH) treatment.We reported that the expression of Shati/Nat8l mRNA was increased following brain development in mice, while there was a reduction in the myelin basic protein (MBP) level in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile, but not adult, Shat/Nat8l knockout (Shati KO) mice.We found Shati KO mice demonstrates induces several behavioral deficits.Furthermore we also reported Shati/Nat8l affects neuronal axon outgrowth in the primary mice cultured neurons.Previous findings have suggested that Shati/Nat8l has essential roles in neuronal function.In this study, we carried out various behavioral and electrophysiological study using Shati KO mice to clarify the contribution of Shati/Nat8l on the cognitive function in mice.Methods: We assessed the validity of behavioral test using Shati KO mice and wild type (WT) mice such as open field test, social interaction test, elevated plus maze test, Y-maze test and novel object recognition test.Next, hippocampal slices were prepared from Shati KO and WT mice, and recorded the evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and longterm potentiation (LTP) using MED64 systems.Results: In the open field test, Shati KO mice showed higher basal locomotor activity.Shati KO mice avoided social interaction with unfamiliar mice compared with WT mice.In the elevated plus maze test, Shati KO mice spent much longer time in open arms than WT mice.These behavioral changes were observed both male and female Shati KO mice.Interestingly, inpairment of cognitive dysfunction in the Y-maze and novel object recognition were observed only in Shati KO female mice.Furthermore, injection of adeno associated virus vector of Shati/Nat8l into hippocampal CA3 region of Shati KO ameliorated these cognitive dysfunctions in the female mice.Also in the electrophysiology test, the LTP of Shati KO mice were significantly decreased compared with wild type mice of both male and female mice.Conclusions: These results suggest that Shati/Nat8L would be associated with cognitive function of mice and the impairment has some sexual differences. Poster session WCP2018
Abstract Background The coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with microvascular endothelial injury. Here, we report that syndecan-1, a component of endothelial glycocalyx, may reflect the disease state of COVID-19 related to endothelial injury. Case presentation A patient with COVID-19 was transferred to the intensive care unit of our hospital. Computed tomography of the chest showed bilateral ground glass opacities, which was diagnosed as acute respiratory syndrome. The PaO 2 /F I O 2 ratio gradually increased from 158 on hospitalization to 300 on Day 11, on which day the ventilator was withdrawn. However, serum syndecan-1 (SDC-1) level gradually decreased from 400.5 ng/ml at hospitalization to 165.1 ng/ml on Day 5. On Day 6, serum SDC-1 level increased to 612.9 ng/ml owing to a systemic thrombosis with an increase in D-dimer. Serum SDC-1 level then decreased until 206.0 ng/ml on Day 11 after a decrease in D-dimer. The patient was transferred to another hospital on Day 21 after hospitalization. Conclusions In this case report, changes in serum SDC-1 level closely reflected the change in disease condition in a patient with COVID-19. Serum SDC-1 may be a useful biomarker for monitoring the disease state of critically ill patients with COVID-19.
In stomach X-ray examination, the abdomen of a patient is pushed for taking clear images of the stomach. Especially for detailed examination, various parts of the abdomen must be compressed. However conventional stomach X-ray apparatuses have no pushing mechanism for prone position patient. In this report, we have developed a soft mechanism which can push various parts of the abdomen. The mechanism consists of five pneumatic actuators and has radiolucency. We conducted volunteer tests and confirmed that by changing the pressurizing actuator the obtained image can be changed with corresponding to the pushing area, and rugae in each part can be observed.
