Inhibitory effects of mulberry leaf extract on postprandial hyperglycemia in normal rats

We examined the inhibitory effects of aqueous ethanol extract from mulberry leaves (ME) on postprandial hyperglycemia in normal Wistar rats. ME dose-dependently suppressed the postprandial rise of blood glucose in rats, when ME (0.02-0.5 g/kg) was given 0.5 h before the administration of carbohydrates such as sucrose, maltose and starch. The ME dose showing 50% inhibition of the increment of blood glucose (ED50) was 0.11 g/kg for sucrose, 0.44 g/kg for maltose, and 0.38 g/kg for starch. ME and its basic fraction (MB) containing 1-deoxynojirimycin were assayed for their inhibitory effects (IC50) on disaccharidase derived from the small intestine of rats. The IC50 value of ME was 3.2 microg/mL for sucrase, 10 microg/mL for isomaltase, and 51 microg/mL for maltase. The IC50 value of MB was 0.36 microg/mL for sucrase, 1.1 microg/mL for isomaltase, and 6.2 microg/mL for maltase. The IC50 value of 1-deoxynojirimycin as the principle component in ME was 0.015 microg/mL for sucrase and 0.21 microg/mL for maltase, and this value was comparable to the IC50 of voglibose. The inhibitory activity of ME in a-amylase was weak. These results suggest that ME strongly suppresses postprandial hyperglycemia after carbohydrate loading by inhibiting the activity of disaccharidases in the small intestine of rats.     

Esophageal transit study using a sliding sum image: application to patients with probable and definite systemic sclerosis

Purpose  

Esophageal complication is common in systemic sclerosis (SSc), but scintigraphic transit patterns based on each subtype have not been understood well. The aim of this study was to develop a new algorithm for integrating a dynamic esophageal transit study and to apply the method to patients with SSc.     

Group A streptococcal brain abscess: a case report and a review of the literature since 1988

Brain abscesses caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS) are rare infectious diseases. In this report we present a case of brain abscess due to GAS infection occurring after milk tooth extraction in a healthy child. A literature review of previously reported cases is presented.     

Grisel syndrome as a complication of Kawasaki disease: a case report and review of the literature

Grisel syndrome is a non-traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation and a rare complication of any inflammatory condition of the upper neck and otolaryngological procedures. Delayed diagnosis causes neurological impairment, ranging from radiculopathy to paralysis and death. Kawasaki disease is a very frequent and important acute febrile vasculitis of childhood that is seen worldwide, and upper neck involvement (cervical lymphadenopathy) is one of the common symptoms of Kawasaki disease. A case of Grisel syndrome that occurred as a complication of Kawasaki disease is reported. This is the first case report, in English, of Grisel syndrome as a complication of Kawasaki disease. Conclusion: Pediatricians should be aware of Grisel syndrome as a possible complication of Kawasaki disease.     

Induction of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes by using monocyte-derived DCs transfected with in vitro-transcribed WT1 or SART1 mRNA

To evaluate the usefulness of monocyte-derived dendritic cells transfected with tumor antigen mRNA for dendritic cell-based antitumor immunotherapy, we attempted to generate antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells by priming lymphocytes with monocyte-derived dendritic cells transfected with in vitro-transcribed tumor antigen mRNA. Mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells were generated from microbeads-separated CD14⁺ cells by culturing with GM-CSF/IL-4 for 7 days and with TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6, and PGE₂ for the last one day. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells, lymphocytes, and target cells, which were positive for HLA-A24, were used in the present study. Although lymphocytes prestimulated with untransfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells did not possess the cytotoxic ability against the target cells in a ⁵¹Cr-release cytotoxicity assay, lymphocytes primed with tumor antigen RNA-transfected monocyte-derived dendritic cells were cytotoxic against the tumor antigen-expressing cells but not against the target cells without the expression of the antigen. The cytotoxic ability of the lymphocytes was blocked by the addition of antibodies against MHC class I but not by antibodies against MHC class II. These findings revealed that monocyte-derived dendritic cells transfected with WT1 or SART1 mRNA are able to induce tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells and applicable for antitumor dendritic cell-based cellular immunotherapy.     

加温联合化疗对人舌癌SCC─25细胞杀伤作用的实验研究

采用ＭＴＴ法评价了人舌鳞状细胞癌ＳＣＣ－２５细胞对几种常用抗癌药物联合加温的敏感性，正常温度（３７℃）时ＳＣＣ－２５细胞对化疗药物敏感性顺序为：阿霉素、顺铂、丝列霉素Ｃ、博莱霉素、氨甲喋呤、匹莱霉素、５－氟脲嘧啶；４０～４５℃温度范围内，不同抗癌药物联合加温对ＳＣＣ－２５细胞杀伤作用表现出各自的最佳作用温度，在有效药物浓度条件下，药物浓度增加不能显著地改变药物联合加温的综合癌细胞杀伤效应。     

Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection in the placenta and umbilical cord in pregnant mice with low birth weight

Objective: Growing evidence indicates an association between periodontitis and delivery outcome; however, the mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) infection on delivery outcome in mice.

Materials and methods: Bacteremia was induced in pregnant Slc:ICR mice (8 weeks old) by intravenous injection of Pg. Mice were randomly divided into a control group (CO), and those receiving Pg injection at gestational day 1 (GD1), gestational day 15 (GD15) or every day (ED). Delivery outcome, Pg infection, and gene expression in the placenta and umbilical cord were evaluated.

Results: Birth weight was lower in the ED and GD15 groups than in the CO group. A remarkable increase in anti-Pg IgG antibody was observed in the ED and GD1 groups, although Pg was not detected in the placenta or umbilical cord. mRNA expression of Tnfα and Il6 in the placenta, and Hif1α in the umbilical cord, was significantly increased in the ED group. Microarray analysis of the umbilical cord revealed increased expression of several genes including Orm1, Mgl2, Rps6ka3 and Trim15 in the ED group.

Conclusions: Pg infection during the third trimester caused low birth weight and inflammation in the placenta and umbilical cord.