Coordinated Movement of Bile Canalicular Networks Reconstructed by Rat Small Hepatocytes

Hepatocytes in vivo have a potential for liver regeneration, but it has been very difficult to reconstruct hepatic organoids in vitro. Recent studies have shown that small hepatocytes (SHs) can reconstruct hepatic organoids including functional bile canaliculi (BC). In the present study we analyzed the movement of BC formed in the hepatic organoids, focusing on the coordination of contraction and dilation among cells and the mechanism producing the coordination. Hepatic cells, including SHs, were isolated from an adult rat liver and cultured. Time-lapse images of BC movements were taken and analyzed in cells treated with or without cytochalasin B (CB). Time-lapse images revealed that all BC, regardless of region contracted in a coordinated manner. Actin filaments were observed along the BC even after the BC networks treated with CB dilated markedly. Microinjection of dye was also carried out to investigate the flow thorough BC. Secreted fluorescein from the injected cell flowed along BC, and gap junctional protein connexin 32 was expressed along BC networks, suggesting cell-to-cell communication. Thus, groups of hepatocytes in the hepatic organoids act in a coordinated manner through intercellular communication.     

M-CSF levels during peripheral blood stem cell harvest and autologous stem cell transplantation

Plasma macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF) levels were determined during peripheral blood stem cell harvest and autologous stem cell transplantation(PBSCT). Plasma of 10 patients were analyzed by using ELISA system. The average peak values during PBSCT were quite higher than those during harvest(20,092 vs 1,681 pg/ml). Peak values were observed mainly around leukocyte nadir(Phase II) during harvest. On the other hand, they were detected just after pretreatment(Phase I) during PBSCT courses. Moreover, samples showing extremely high M-CSF values(Phase I) were associated with increase in serum LDH levels. These data suggest that plasma M-CSF in Phase I are mainly derived from chemotherapy-induced cellular damage during PBSCT courses, and there might be different mechanisms to raise M-CSF around the nadir of leukocytes. It is necessary to elucidate the biological meanings of M-CSF.     

I-J as an Inducible T Cell Receptor for Self

"Jedenfalls, wenn man davorsteht, dann sieht man sich selbstaber eben nicht wie in einem gewöhnlichen Spiegel, versteht sich. Man sieht nicht sein Äusseres, sondern man sieht sein wahres inneres Wesen. so wie es in Wirklichkeit beschaffen ist. Wer da durch will, der muß - um es mal so auszudrücken -in sich selbst hineingehen."
Die undendliche Geschichte, bei Michael Ende, K. Thiehemanns Verlag, Stuttgart, 1979.     

Avoidance test of a fish,medaka (Oryzias latipes), to aquatic contaminants,with special reference to monochloramine

The avoidance behavior of fish is a sensitive indicator to aquatic contaminants such as surfactants, pesticides, and residual chlorine. This paper describes an avoidance test with special reference to monochloramine by medaka (killifish,Oryzias latipes) in a small modular chamber system with a symmetrical parallel-flow. The significant avoidance concentration (P = 0.05) was 5.7 g/L as combined residual chlorine, which is the lowest among the residual chlorine avoidance concentrations reported in the literature. The avoidance curves of medaka to monochloramine exhibited a similar pattern to those of anionic surfactants.     

Nutritional Assessment in Adult Patients with Dysphagia: A Scoping Review

Malnutrition negatively affects the quality of life of patients with dysphagia. Despite the need for nutritional status assessment in patients with dysphagia, standard, effective nutritional assessments are not yet available, and the identification of optimal nutritional assessment items for patients with dysphagia is inadequate. We conducted a scoping review of the use of nutritional assessment items in adult patients with oropharyngeal and esophageal dysphagia. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched to identify articles published in English within the last 30 years. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven nutritional assessment categories were identified: body mass index (BMI), nutritional screening tool, anthropometric measurements, body composition, dietary assessment, blood biomarkers, and other. BMI and albumin were more commonly assessed in adults. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), defining new diagnostic criteria for malnutrition, includes the categories of BMI, nutritional screening tool, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and dietary assessment as its required components, but not the blood biomarkers and the “other” categories. We recommend assessing nutritional status, including GLIM criteria, in adult patients with dysphagia. This would standardize nutritional assessments in patients with dysphagia and allow future global comparisons of the prevalence and outcomes of malnutrition, as well as of appropriate interventions.     

Risk Factor Analysis of Facet Fusion Following Cervical Lateral Mass Screw Fixation with a Minimum 1-Year Follow-up: Assessment of Maximal Insertional Screw Torque and Incidence of Loosening

Posterior stabilization is a common surgical procedure, which aims for rigid stabilization by facet fusion. Facet non-union has a potential risk of the screw loosening and malalignment. Although some authors have reported the influencing factors about screw loosening in the lumbar spine, there are few reports about the risk factor contributing to the facet non-union in the cervical spine. In all, 22 patients (78 facets and 122 screws) with degenerative cervical kyphosis or spondylolisthesis who underwent decompression and lateral mass screw (LMS) fixation were analyzed. Age, gender, smoking, bone mineral density (BMD), the degree of facet decortication with bone packing, and screw loosening were investigated as risk factors contributing to the facet non-union at each segmental fused level. Facet fusion rate was 85.9% (67/78 facets) and the incidence of loosening was 4.9% (6/122 screws, 4 patients). Insufficient facet decortication with bone packing is a significant risk factor of facet non-union (p <0.05, odds ratio: 26.5). All six loosened screws were associated with bony non-union of the facet and were located in the uppermost or lowermost vertebrae. Comparing loosened screws and stable screws, the average maximal insertional screw torque (MIT) was 9.8 cNm and 39.5 cNm, respectively (p <0.05). Additionally, the length of the stable screws was significantly longer versus the loosened screws (p <0.05). Lower MIT and shorter screw length located near the ends of the lateral mass may predict loosening, which can lead to facet non-union. Sufficient facet decortication with bone packing is one of the important factors contributing to the facet fusion.