Lipid volume fraction in atherosclerotic plaque phantoms classified under saline conditions by multispectral angioscopy at near-infrared wavelengths around 1200 nm

To identify high-risk atherosclerotic lesions, we require detailed information on the stability of atherosclerotic plaques. In this study, we quantitatively classified the lipid volume fractions in atherosclerotic plaque phantoms by a novel angioscope combined with near-infrared multispectral imaging. The multispectral angioscope was operated at peak absorption wavelengths of lipid in vulnerable plaques (1150, 1200, and 1300 nm) and at lower absorption wavelengths of water. The potential of the multispectral angioscope was demonstrated in atherosclerotic plaque phantoms containing 10–60 vol.% lipid and immersed in saline solution. The acquired multispectral data were processed by a spectral angle mapper algorithm, which enhanced the simulated plaque areas. Consequently, we classified the lipid volume fractions into five categories (0–5, 5–15, 15–30, 30–50, and 50–60 vol.%). Multispectral angioscopy at wavelengths around 1200 nm is a powerful tool for quantitatively evaluating the stability of atherosclerotic plaques based on the lipid volume fractions.     

Predictive Ability of the Five-time Chair Stand Test for Postoperative Pneumonia after Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

Annals of Surgical Oncology - The revised sarcopenia guidelines proposed handgrip strength (HGS) and five-time chair stand test (5-CST) as the primary parameters of muscle function. HGS and 5-CST...     

Features and prognostic impact of distant metastasis in patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR mutations: importance of bone metastasis

Mutated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and signaling pathways were associated with multiple brain and intra-pulmonary metastases, oncogenic progression and metastasis. However, features of metastasis to other organs and the independent prognostic influence of metastatic lesions were not elucidated in patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations. Between January 2007 and April 2012, we treated 277 patients diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. Studied were 246 patients with available tumor EGFR mutation data who also underwent radiographic evaluation of lung, abdominal, brain, and bone metastases. The EGFR mutated group (N = 98) had significantly more metastatic lesions in the brain and bone than the wild-type group (N = 148): brain, 3 (1–93) versus 2 (1–32) median (range), P = 0.023; bone, 3 (1–43) versus 2 (1–27), P = 0.035, respectively. In addition, EGFR mutations were significantly more frequent in patients with multiple than non-multiple lung metastases (24/40 vs. 12/42, P = 0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that bone metastasis was a significant independent negative predictive factor of overall survival (OS) in patients with mutated [hazard ratio (HR) 2.04; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.17–3.64; P = 0.011] and wild-type EGFR (HR 2.09; 95 % CI 1.37–3.20; P < 0.001). In conclusion, patients with mutated EGFR had more lung, brain, and bone metastases, and bone metastasis was an independent negative predictor of OS.     

Construction of Supramolecular Systems That Achieve Lifelike Functions

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in 1987 and 2016 for research in supramolecular chemistry on the “development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity” and the “design and production of molecular machines”, respectively. This confirmed the explosive development of supramolecular chemistry. In addition, attempts have been made in systems chemistry to embody the complex functions of living organisms as artificial non-equilibrium chemical systems, which have not received much attention in supramolecular chemistry. In this review, we explain recent developments in supramolecular chemistry through four categories: stimuli-responsiveness, time evolution, dissipative self-assembly, and hierarchical expression of functions. We discuss the development of non-equilibrium supramolecular systems, including the use of molecules with precisely designed properties, to achieve functions found in life as a hierarchical chemical system.     

Gene rearrangements of MLL and RUNX1 sporadically occur in normal CD34+ cells under cytokine stimulation

Gene rearrangements of MLL/KMT2A or RUNX1 are the major cause of therapy‐related leukemia. Moreover, MLL rearrangements are the major cause of infant leukemia, and RUNX1 rearrangements are frequently detected in cord blood. These genes are sensitive to topoisomerase II inhibitors, and various genes have been identified as potential fusion partners. However, fetal exposure to these inhibitors is rare. Therefore, we postulated that even a proliferation signal itself might induce gene rearrangements in hematopoietic stem cells. To test this hypothesis, we detected gene rearrangements in etoposide‐treated or non–treated CD34⁺ cells cultured with cytokines using inverse PCR. In the etoposide‐treated cells, variable‐sized rearrangement bands were detected in the RUNX1 and MLL genes at 3 hours of culture, which decreased after 7 days. However, more rearrangement bands were detected in the non–treated cells at 7 days of culture. Such gene rearrangements were also detected in peripheral blood stem cells mobilized by cytokines for transplantation. However, none of these rearranged genes encoded the leukemogenic oncogene, and the cells with rearrangements did not expand. These findings suggest that MLL and RUNX1 rearrangements, which occur with very low frequency in normal hematopoietic progenitor cells, may be induced under cytokine stimulation. Most of the cells with gene rearrangements are likely eliminated, except for leukemia‐associated gene rearrangements, resulting in the low prevalence of leukemia development.     

Topical application of anti-angiogenic peptides based on pigment epithelium-derived factor can improve psoriasis

BackgroundPsoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a high prevalence (3–5%) in the Caucasian population. Although the number of capillary vessels increases in psoriatic lesions, there have been few reports that have specifically examined the role of angiogenesis in psoriasis. Angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), may dominate the activity of anti-angiogenic factors and accelerate angiogenesis in psoriatic skin.ObjectiveWe investigated to identify small peptide mimetics of PEDF that might show anti-angiogenic potential for the topical treatment for psoriasis.MethodsWe examined the expression of PEDF in skin by immunohistochemical staining, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR. To identify potential PEDF peptides, we screened peptides derived from the proteolytic fragmentation of PEDF for their anti-proliferative action. Anti-psoriatic functions of these peptides were analyzed using a mouse graft model of psoriasis.ResultsThe specific low-molecular weight peptides (MW < 850 Da) penetrated the skin and showed significant anti-angiogenic activity in vitro. Topical application of these peptides in a severe combined immunodeficient mouse model of psoriatic disease led to reduced angiogenesis and epidermal thickness.ConclusionsThese data suggest that low-molecular PEDF peptides with anti-angiogenic activity may be a novel therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.     

Effect of Different Slopes of the Lower Leg during the Nordic Hamstring Exercise on Hamstring Electromyography Activity

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the NHE with an increased lower leg slope angle would enhance hamstring EMG activity in the final phase of the descend. The hamstring EMG activity was measured, the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and the semitendinosus (ST). Fifteen male volunteers participated in this study. Subjects performed a prone leg curl with maximal voluntary isometric contraction to normalize the hamstring EMG activity. Subsequently, subjects performed the NHE, with the help of a certified strength and conditioning specialist, while the lower leg slope angle were randomly set at 0° (NH), 20° (N20), and 40° (N40). To compare hamstring EMG activity during the NHE variations, the knee flexion angle was set in the range from 0° to 50°, divided into five phases (0–10°, 10–20°, 20–30°, 30–40° and 40–50°), where 0° indicated that the knee was fully extended. To calculate the knee extension angular velocity, the knee flexion angle divided by time, and break point angle (BPA) was the angle at which 10°/s was exceeded. In the statistical analysis, a two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used for the hamstring EMG activity and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used for the BPA. The EMG activity of the BFlh and the ST in N20 and N40 was significantly higher than in NH at knee flexion angle of 0–20° (p < 0.05). For the BPA, NH (57.75° ± 13.28°), N20 (36.27° ± 9.89°) and N40 (16.26° ± 9.58°) were significantly higher in that order (p < 0.05). The results of this study revealed that the NHE with an increased lower leg slope angle shifted the BPA to the lower knee flexion angle and enhanced the hamstring EMG activity in the final phase of the descent.Key points

• The NHE with an increased lower leg slope angle enhances the hamstring EMG activity in the final phase of the descent.
• The NHE with an increased lower leg slope angle shifts the BPA to the lower knee flexion angle.
• The NHE with an increased lower leg slope angle may be an important rehabilitation exercise to prevent recurrence of HSIs.

Key words: Sports injuries, injury recurrence, hamstring muscles, electromyography, rehabilitation exercise, resistance training