Effect of a Device-Free Compressed Shell Fixation Method on Hepatic Respiratory Movement: Analysis for Respiratory Amplitude of the Liver and Internal Motions of a Fiducial Marker

Purpose

Suppression of respiratory movement of the liver would be desirable for high-precision radiation therapy for liver tumors. We aimed to investigate the effect of our original device-free compressed shell fixation method and breathing instruction on suppression of respiratory movement. The characteristics of liver motion based on the movement of a fiducial marker were also analyzed.

Screening for musculoskeletal problems in children using a questionnaire

Background

On April 1, 2016, the Ministerial ordinance was enforced, and musculoskeletal examination of the extremities was made mandatory. From 2008, the University of us started musculoskeletal direct examination. To expand the examination, from 2016, we started to use the marksheet-type questionnaire. This study aimed to report the results of a musculoskeletal examination and investigate the association between musculoskeletal examination and age/gender and reports the reliability of the collected questionnaire data.

Suppression by adrenoceptor beta-agonists of vascular permeability increase and edema formation induced by arachidonate metabolites, platelet-activating factor, and tumor-promoting phorbol ester TPA

Air-pouch-type inflammation was induced by injecting sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution containing leukotriene C4 (LTC4, 3.20 x 10(-7) M, 0.2 micrograms/ml) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 5.68 x 10(-6) M, 2.0 micrograms/ml), platelet-activating factor (PAF, 1 x 10(-6) M, 0.52 micrograms/ml), or 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA, 1.62 x 10(-6) M, 1.0 micrograms/ml) into an air pouch made on the dorsum of rats. Vascular permeability and tissue edema formation were significantly increased by injecting the phlogogen solution. The histamine level in the pouch fluid was dramatically increased by injecting TPA but not by LTC4 and PGE2, or PAF. Injection of isoproterenol or procaterol with the phlogogen solution produced dose-dependent suppression of both vascular permeability increase and tissue edema formation. However, the TPA-induced increase in the histamine level was not suppressed in parallel with the decrease of vascular permeability or tissue edema formation. These results indicate that beta-agonists suppress vascular permeability response and local tissue edema formation not by inhibiting mast cell degranulation, but by inhibiting the reactivity of the local vasculature to chemical mediators such as arachidonate metabolites, PAF, and histamine and serotonin released from mast cells.     

Case of Heerfordt's syndrome with prolonged peripheral nerve involvement]

A 28-year-old man complaining of myiodesopsia was given a diagnosis of uveitis. Subsequently he complained facial nerve palsy and enlargement of parotid gland. Heerfordt's syndrome was diagnosed based on the results of several examinations. Facial nerve palsy, enlargement of the parotid gland and uveitis were improved by systemic corticosteroid therapy. At present he is receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy, but numbness in the mouth, thought to be the involvement of the trigeminal nerve, remains. Systemic corticosteroid therapy is usually effective for most cases with Heerford's syndrome. On the other hand, there are some cases with the prolonged peripheral nerve involvement despite systemic corticosteroid therapy, as seen in this case. If peripheral nerve involvement is prolonged, it is necessary to consider small-fibre neuropathy as one possible cause.     

Tetronothiodin, a novel CCKB receptor ligand, antagonizes cholecystokinin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in a pituitary cell line.

We found a novel nonpeptide CCKB receptor antagonist, tetronothiodin (Ro 09-1468), in the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. NR0489. The structure of the compound (C31O8H38S), which has a 19-membered ring with an alpha-acyltetronic acid and tetrahydrothiophene moiety, is completely different from that of any known CCK receptor antagonist. Tetronothiodin inhibited [125I]CCK-8 binding to rat brain CCKB receptors with an IC50 of 3.6 nM, whereas it showed only weak affinity for rat CCKA receptors (IC50 = 70 microM). As demonstrated autoradiographically, tetronothiodin concentration dependently inhibited [125I]CCK-8 binding to CCKB receptors in rat forebrain slices. The effects of tetronothiodin on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in GH3 cells, a rat anterior pituitary tumor cell line, were investigated with the fura-2 method. Tetronothiodin inhibited CCK-8-induced Ca2+ mobilization without affecting basal cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations. In conclusion, tetronothiodin is a new, potent and highly selective CCKB receptor antagonist. It is a useful tool for investigating the pharmacological and physiological roles of CCKB receptors.     

Abdominal vagotomy attenuates interleukin-1β-induced nitric oxide release in the paraventricular nucleus region in conscious rats

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to modulate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to interleukin-1β (IL-1β). We measured levels of nitrite (NO₂⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) region using an in vivo brain microdialysis technique in conscious rats. Intraperitoneally administered IL-1β produced a significant increase in both NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ levels in the PVN region. We also examined the possible involvement of the abdominal vagal afferent nerves in this effect. In abdominal-vagotomized rats, the increase was significantly attenuated compared to that in sham-operated rats. Our results suggest that the abdominal vagal afferent nerves are involved in intraperitoneally administered IL-1β-induced NO release in the PVN region.     

A Possible Role of the Pineal Gland in Acute Immobilization-Related Suppression of Naloxone-Induced LH Release in Ovariectomized Estrogen-Primed Rats

It has been recently reported that acute immobilization stress almost completely suppresses the luteinizing hormone (LH) release induced by naloxone, a μ-opioid antagonist, in ovariectomized estrogen-primed rats. The present study examined the possible involvement of the pineal gland in the acute immobilization-related suppression of the naloxone-induced LH release. An intraventricular (ICV) injection of 15 μg naloxone produced an abrupt increase in circulating LH concentrations in non-stressed rats. The naloxone-induced LH release was completely eliminated when tested 60 min after the end of a 30 min session of acute immobilization. The same stress conditions did not affect LH-releasing hormone (LHRH)-induced LH release, suggesting that the stress-related suppression of the naloxone-induced LH release was a suprapituitary event. In chronically-pinealectomized rats, but not in sham-pinealectomized rats, naloxone injected 60 min after the end of the stress session evoked a significant increase in serum LH concentrations. However, naloxone injected ICV during the acute immobilization did not elicit LH release in either pinealectomized or sham-operated rats. Under non-stressed conditions, the LH secretory response to naloxone was similar in pinealectomized and sham-operated animals. The same stress (30 min immobilization) significantly increased pineal melatonin content as well as plasma melatonin concentrations in rats bearing intact pineal glands, indicating that stress actually affected the pineal function. These results provide evidence for a role of the pineal in the suppression of the LH response to naloxone after stress, but not during stress.     

Age-associated changes in proliferative and differentiative response of human B cells and production of T cell-derived factors regulating B cell functions

The abilities of highly purified B cells to repeat replication for clonal expansion and to differentiate into immunoglobulin secreting cells (ISC) were examined in the aged and young groups. B cells from the aged showed twofold less proliferative response to B cell mitogen Cowan 1 (SAC) than those from the young. The original clone size of SAC responding B cells determined by colchicine block and [3H] thymidine [( 3H] TdR) uptake was not significantly reduced in the aged whereas the ability to repeat replication to expand clonal size was significantly reduced. B cells from aged and young persons were induced into ISC by combined stimulation with SAC and partially purified B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) free of IL-2 activity. ISCs for IgG and IgA were rather increased or at least not reduced in number in the aged as compared with those in the young. We also determined the IL-2 and BCDF activity produced by T cells from aged and young persons. Upon PHA stimulation, the aged T cells produced tenfold less IL-2 activity and threefold higher BCDF activity than did young T cells. Approximately threefold increase in spontaneous secretion of BCDF activity by aged T cells was found as compared with young T cells. The inverse correlation between the IL-2 activity and BCDF activity was found when both activities were determined in the same samples.