Positional Changes of the Ocular Organs During Craniofacial Development

The present study aimed to describe the positional changes of the ocular organs during craniofacial development; moreover, we examined the relationships among the ocular organs and other internal structures. To do this, we traced the positions of the ocular organs in 56 human early fetal samples at different stages of development using high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging and phase‐contrast X‐ray computed tomography. The eyes were located on the lateral side in the ventral view at Carnegie stage (CS) 16, and then changed their positions medially during development. The eyes remained in the neurocranium until CS17. However, the eyes changed their positions medially and caudally in the viscerocranium after CS18. The positional relationship between the eyes and pituitary gland changed in the lateral view as development progressed. Specifically, they were close to each other at CS17, but moved apart during the later stages of development. These positional changes were also demonstrated quantitatively with morphometric analyses. Based on the present data, the positional changes of the eyes can be categorized into phases, as follows: Phase 1, dramatic positional changes (early fetal period until CS23); and Phase 2, mild positional changes (stabilized; early fetal period after CS23). Notably, all absolute lengths measured in the present study linearly increased as the crown‐rump length increased irrespective of the phase, while features of the measured angles and ratios differentially changed in Phases 1 and 2. The present data may help improve our understanding of both the normal and abnormal development of the ocular organs and craniofacial area. Anat Rec, 300:2107–2114, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Background Gabexate mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor, is used to treat acute pancreatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation because it inhibits various serine proteases; however, whether gabexate mesilate prevents acute liver failure has not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of gabexate mesilate in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury in rats.Methods Acute hepatic failure was induced by administration of CCl₄ intragastrically to male Sprague–Dawley rats. The effects of gabexate mesilate were examined in terms of serum transaminase levels, liver histology, and the prognosis of rats.Results Gabexate mesilate treatment significantly decreased the elevation of serum transaminase levels and improved liver histology 24h after the administration of CCl₄ (0.2ml/100g rat weight). Plasma tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) decreased significantly in the gabexate mesilate-treated rats compared with saline-treated rats. Gabexate mesilate treatment also significantly improved survival rate after a lethal dose of CCl₄ (0.5ml/100g rat weight) from 0% to 20%.Conclusions Gabexate mesilate treatment attenuated CCl₄-induced liver injury via a suppression of proinflammatory cytokine production. In addition, these investigations suggest that gabexate mesilate treatment may provide therapeutic strategies for human acute liver failure.     

Resection of an icteric type hepatoma with tumor thrombi filling the right posterior bile duct

A 67-year-old male with jaundice was found to have hepatocellular carcinoma in the right hepatic lobe and tumor thrombi in the common hepatic duct. Physicians initially considered the tumor unresectable, and treated the patient with transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy and biliary endoprosthesis. The patient developed a liver abscess after the second transcatheter arterial infusion, and the physicians consulted our department for another form of therapy. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed to relieve revived obstructive jaundice. Cholangiography revealed tumor thrombi extending through the right posterior segmental bile duct into the common hepatic duct. Most biliary branches of the caudate lobe joined with the left lateral posterior segmental branch. Arterial and portal venous branches of the caudate lobe were not involved. Right hepatic lobectomy and extrahepatic bile duct resection were performed 1 year after initial diagnosis. On histologic examination, the epithelium of the right posterior segmental bile duct, which was filled with the tumor thrombi, was not detected. The patient is alive without recurrence 24 months after surgery. Careful investigation of biliary branches of the caudate lobe on cholangiography is essential to determine the necessity of caudate lobectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor thrombi filling the right posterior segmental bile duct.     

Tracking stem cells in the cardiovascular system

Stem cells are a promising approach to cardiovascular therapeutics. Animal experiments have assessed the fate of injected stem cells through ex vivo methods on sacrificed animals. Approaches are needed for in vivo tracking of stem cells. Various imaging techniques and contrast agents for stem cell tracking will be reviewed.     

Dental status and mortality in institutionalized elderly people

Background:   Inadequate dentition for mastication is one of the major issues associated with systemic health for institutionalized elderly people, but its prognostic value and related deaths have not been fully examined.
Methods:   Four hundred and three patients aged 65 and older were recruited from nine nursing homes and were prospectively followed up for morbidity and mortality for 5 years in Japan. These patients were classified into three groups according to dental status: patients who had adequate dentition with natural teeth only or natural teeth with partial dentures (Group A); those who were edentulous but wearing full dentures (Group B); and those who had inadequate dentition without dentures (Group C).
Results:   Dental status was strongly related to age, cognitive function and activities of daily living. After allowing for confounding effects, the 2-year risk of mortality among those in Group C was 1.84 times that of Group A (95% confidence interval 1.01–3.36, P  = 0.047). Furthermore, the 5-year mortality rate in Group C was higher than that in Group A, whereas that was not significant with a hazard ratio of 1.30 (0.90–1.88, P  = 0.168). The main causes of death were respiratory infections, which explained 14.1% of all causes of death in Group A, 14.3% in Group B and 18.3% in Group C. Any associations between a specific cause of death and the different dental status did not reach a significant level.
Conclusion:   Inadequate dental status is associated with high overall mortality. Our findings suggest that systemic attention to dental status should be recommended in institutionalized elderly people.