In vitro transfer of apolipoproteins from plasma lipoproteins to artificial lipid particles

Our earlier studies in vivo revealed that artificial lipid particles (exo TG) in lipid emulsion acquire apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II) from high density lipoprotein (HDL). Since the transfer of apo C-II to exo TG terminated within a short time after the intravenous injection of exo TG, it is likely that exo TG has a high affinity for apolipoprotein. This hypothesis has been investigated in vitro. Human plasma was incubated at 37 degrees C with or without a 10% emulsion of soybean oil for 5 min and 60 min. After the incubation, the plasma was separated into HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Levels of apo C-II, C-III and E in each lipoprotein fraction were quantified. When the plasma was incubated without exo TG, the distribution of apo C-II and C-III in the lipoprotein fractions was unchanged after incubations for 5 and 60 min. However, when the plasma was incubated with exo TG, apo C-II and C-III in the HDL fraction decreased after a 5 min incubation, while those in the VLDL fraction increased. Apo E in each lipoprotein fraction did not change after 5- and 60-min incubations regardless of the presence or absence of exo TG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cytophotometric DNA analysis of rectal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis

Cytophotometric DNA analysis of rectal mucosa was carried out in 11 patients with ulcerative colitis, in attempt to determine the proliferative activity of rectal mucosa. There was no significant difference in the mean DNA value, modal DNA value, total variation of DNA content and population of over 3c cells of rectal mucosa between controls and the patients. However, the differential determination of the proliferative activity in the upper, middle and lower thirds of the crypt disclosed that a population of over 3c cells in the upper and middle thirds of the crypt was significantly larger in the patients with longstanding disease than in the controls.     

The Effect of Education and Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose on Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Type I Diabetes

ABSTRACT The influence on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA₁) of formal education as compared with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) was studied in a randomized 18-month trial. All adult type I diabetics in a community were identified. Forty-one of these patients had had diabetes for 20 years or less. Thirty-seven patients were included in the study and finally randomized into four groups. Ten patients received individual formal education followed by SMBG, eight patients were instructed in SMBG without pre-education, nine patients were given only formal education and 10 patients made up a reference group. Education did not improve the mean HbA₁ values. SMBG resulted in a decrease by 2% in HbA₁ from 12 to 10% (p<0.05). The final HbA₁ level, however, did not differ significantly between any of the groups. SMBG was accepted by 80% of the patients. The liability to hypoglycemia was about equal in the four groups. It was concluded that SMBG, but not education, improved metabolic control to a certain degree.     

Comparison of the clinical outcomes of nilotinib and dasatinib therapies in newly diagnosed patients in the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia: a retrospective analysis

Treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is the standard of care for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The new-generation TKIs, nilotinib and dasatinib, are found to have deeper and faster treatment response rates compared to imatinib in the first-line setting. However, a direct comparison between nilotinib and dasatinib has never been reported previously. Our study aims to compare the outcomes and molecular responses achieved following the first-line use of these two agents in patients with CML-CP. The database of the CML Cooperative Study Group was reviewed and patients with CML in the chronic phase (CP) who were given nilotinib or dasatinib as first-line therapy were identified. Out of 361 patients with CML-CP enrolled in our database, 58 and 63 had been treated with conventional doses of nilotinib (300 mg twice daily) and dasatinib (100 mg once daily), respectively, as first-line therapy. The patient demographics did not show significant differences between the groups. The event-free survival rates did not differ between these two groups. The major molecular response (MMR) and the deep molecular response (DMR) rates by 6, 12, 18, and 24 months did not differ between groups. Among the three scoring systems, only the Hasford score could predict the achievement of DMR, and all of them failed to predict the achievement of MMR in the entire cohort. Our data suggest that both nilotinib and dasatinib have comparable efficacies and promising outcomes.     

Effect of light-curing methods on resin cement Knoop hardness at different depths

This study evaluated, using Knoop hardness test, the polymerization depth of Rely-X dual-cured resin cement activated by chemical reaction alone (control group) or by chemical/physical mode with light curing through a 1.5-mm-thick ceramic layer (HeraCeram). Bovine incisors had their buccal surface flattened and hybridized. On this surface, a rubber mould (5 mm diameter; 1 mm high) was bulk filled with cement. Either a polyester strip or a 1.5-mm-thick disc of the veneering material was seated over this set. Light curing was performed with either conventional halogen light (QTH; XL2500) for 40 s, light-emitting diode (LED; Ultrablue Is) for 40 s or xenon plasma arc (PAC; Apollo 95E) for 3 s. In a control group, cement setting occurred by chemical reaction alone. After storage dry in dark (24 h/37 masculineC), the specimens (n=5) were sectioned for hardness (KHN) measurements at three depths in a microhardness tester (50 gf load/15 s). Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's test (a = 0.05). Rely-X cement presented higher Knoop hardness values when the QTH and LED LCUs were used, compared to the control group and PAC. Light curing with PAC resulted in lower hardness compared to the control group. Cement hardness was significantly lower in deeper regions.     

Serum hepatocyte growth factor as an index of extensive catabolism of patients awaiting liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: Whole body catabolism as the result of intrahepatic metabolic derangement is common in liver transplant candidates. However, individual nutritional assessment parameters lack sensitivity and specificity in determining energy status of these patients. Recently, serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reflect the recovery of hepatic energy metabolism after liver transplantation. AIMS: The relation between preoperative levels of serum HGF and metabolic variables was investigated to clarify the clinical value of measuring HGF in evaluations of the catabolism. PATIENTS/METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 30 liver transplant recipients, and biopsy specimens were taken from each recipient's rectus muscle and the explanted liver. Preoperative serum concentration of HGF was determined. Whole body energy metabolism was assessed by measuring glycogen contents of biopsy specimens and plasma or serum levels of glucose, insulin, total ketone bodies, total carnitine, and amino acids. RESULTS: Serum HGF concentration was elevated in 22 of 30 patients and correlated with the Child-Pugh score. It showed a negative association with muscle glycogen content, and a positive correlation with serum levels of glucose, total carnitine, and total ketone bodies. Patients with elevated serum HGF concentrations had higher preoperative plasma levels of aromatic amino acids and branched chain amino acids, associated with lower branched chain to aromatic amino acid ratios. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated serum concentration of HGF in liver transplant candidates reflected inhibition of peripheral glucose storage, enhanced lipid oxidation, and increased peripheral release of branched chain amino acids, and thus extensive energy catabolism.     

Dumbbell type schwannoma of the posterior mediastinum: a report of two cases with different surgical approaches]

Two cases of dumbbell type schwannoma of the posterior mediastinum are reported. Case 1 involved a 16-year-old man and case 2, a 48-year-old woman. They were asymptomatic, and in both cases an abnormal mass shadow of the left mediastinum was incidentally detected on a routine chest roentogenogram. In these cases, CT and MRI revealed that dumbbell type tumors extended to the spinal canal. The operations were performed with thoracic approach cooperated with a neurosurgeon in case 1 and with combined posterior and thoracic approach cooperated with an orthopedic surgeon in case 2. Histopathologic findings indicated all benign schwannomas. The reported 25 cases in Japan sofar are reviewed.