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Ameloblastic carcinoma, secondary type, is an extremely rare odontogenic malignant tumor. The present study reports the case of a 58-year-old male with ameloblastic carcinoma that extended into the intracranial space close to the internal carotid artery. Surgical excision was performed, as headaches were being caused via compression by the mass. Small remnants of the tumor remained surrounding the internal carotid artery following surgical resection. Although the remnant tissue was not detected on magnetic resonance imaging or 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET), it was clearly visualized on 11C-methionine PET in the early post-operative follow-up period. No neurological deficits were exhibited during the follow-up period, and 11C-methionine PET was able to detect the remnant lesion distribution in the intracranial space. The current study presents a rare case of ameloblastic carcinoma that extended into the intracranial space. In addition, several diagnostic imaging tools were compared in order to determine the most suitable imaging modality. At present, the patient is continuing a therapeutic course of radiation and evident mass reduction has been observed. However, the therapeutic effects are currently under consideration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the effectiveness of using 11C-methionine PET for detecting ameloblastic carcinoma with intracranial extension.

Pilophorus typicus (Distant) (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a predatory bug occurring in East, Southeast, and South Asia. Because the active stages of P. typicus prey on various agricultural pest insects and mites, this species is a candidate insect as an indigenous natural enemy for use in biological control programs. However, the mass releasing of introduced natural enemies into agricultural fields may incur the risk of affecting the genetic integrity of species through hybridization with a local population. To clarify the genetic characteristics of the Japanese populations of P. typicus two portions of the mitochondrial DNA, the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) (534 bp) and the cytochrome B (cytB) (217 bp) genes, were sequenced for 64 individuals collected from 55 localities in a wide range of Japan. Totals of 18 and 10 haplotypes were identified for the COI and cytB sequences, respectively (25 haplotypes over regions). Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method revealed the existence of two genetically distinct groups in P. typicus in Japan. These groups were distributed in different geographic ranges: one occurred mainly from the Pacific coastal areas of the Kii Peninsula, the Shikoku Island, and the Ryukyu Islands; whereas the other occurred from the northern Kyushu district to the Kanto and Hokuriku districts of mainland Japan. However, both haplotypes were found in a single locality of the southern coast of the Shikoku Island. COI phylogeny incorporating other Pilophorus species revealed that these groups were only recently differentiated. Therefore, use of a certain population of P. typicus across its distribution range should be done with caution because genetic hybridization may occur.

In order to establish the optimal thermal conditions for mass rearing of the predatory mirid bug Pilophorus typicus, we investigated the effect of temperature on the development and fecundity of this bug at 6 constant temperatures (17.5, 20.0, 22.5, 25.0, 27.5, and 30.0°C) under a 16L8D photoperiod. The developmental period of P. typicus from egg to adult at different temperatures was not affected by sex. The developmental zero (T0) and thermal constant (K) of females from egg to adult were 12.0°C and 357.1 day-degrees, respectively. The corresponding values for males were 12.1°C and 357.1 day-degrees, respectively. The mean generation time (T) of P. typicus decreased with an increase in temperature from 17.5°C to 30.0°C. Among the temperatures investigated, the net reproductive rate (R0) was highest at 25.0°C, whereas the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) occurred at 27.5°C. These results indicate that the optimal temperature for the mass rearing of P. typicus is between 25.0°C and 27.5°C.

Pilophorus typicus (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a candidate insect for biological control against agricultural pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. This species has two genotypes in Japan, i.e., the northern and southern types, but it is difficult to differentiate them because of few morphological characters separating them. Artificial migration across the distribution range of each genotype may incur ecological and genetic risks. To conduct a prompt identification of the two genotypes, we developed the method of PCR-RFLP using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) region on mitochondrial DNA. The PCR product of the southern type yielded two DNA bands by the action of the restriction enzyme of Psi I, whereas that of the northern type gave only a single band on electrophoresis. Moreover, the PCR-RFLP using samples from many localities revealed that the restriction site of Psi I is well conserved within each type. These results suggest that the PCR-RFLP of the COI region provides the accurate and easy discrimination of the two genotypes of P. typicus.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether changes in body temperature are related to the ovarian cycle in elephants. Rectal, tongue or fecal temperature was measured for 2 Asian and 5 African elephants using an electric thermometer. Evaluation of ovarian cycles was based on the changes in serum or fecal progestin. The mean +/- SD values of the rectal, tongue, and fecal temperatures were 36.3 +/- 0.3 (2 Asian), 36.2 +/- 0.5 (1 African) and 36.5 +/- 0.3 C (4 African), respectively; the fecal temperature was the highest of the 3 temperatures (P

Blepharocheilodontic syndrome was identified by Gorlin et al.1 as an autosomal dominant disorder in 1996, and since the introduction of their nomenclature, only 15 cases have been reported.1– 4 Blepharocheilodontic syndrome consists of cleft lip and palate (most often bilateral), oligodontia, and euryblepharon without limb anomalies. Euryblepharon was first reported by Desmarres5 as a horizontal increase of eyelid width; it is often complicated by four ectropic eyelids and lagophthalmos. In our case, the upper eyelid ectropion was atypically more severe because of a congenital everted upper eyelid complication, and nocturnal eyelid eversion was a characteristic. Euryblepharon involves vertical shortage of the eyelid, and unless a flap or graft is used in severe cases, ectropion is not cured completely. However, because our patient was 2 years old, we removed only the horizontal laxity with a full-thickness wedge excision, and the ectropion and nocturnal eyelid eversion disappeared. Although lagophthalmos seemed to be relieved because of repair of the ectropion, vertical shortage of the eyelid remained and lagophthalmos persisted.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play a key role in angiogenesis. VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) has a tyrosine kinase domain, and, once activated, induces the phosphorylation of cytoplasmic signaling proteins. The phosphorylated VEGFR-2 may be a substrate for intracellular protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) which prevent VEGF signaling. We synthesized a series of α,α-difluoro(phenyl)methylphosphonic acids (DFPMPAs) which inhibit the action of PTP. In this study, we test their effects on VEGF-induced angiogenesis. DFPMPA-3, the most effective inhibitor of human PTP-1B, promoted tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on Matrigel more effectively than any other DFPMPAs. The inhibitor promoted the VEGF-induced proliferation and migration of HUVEC by inhibiting the dephosphorylation of VEGFR-2. Its effectiveness was proven through neo-vascularization in mice. The present findings suggest that targeting PTP to promote therapeutic neo-vascularization may be a potential strategy.