LC/PDA/ESI-MS Profiling and Radical Scavenging Activity of Anthocyanins in Various Berries

Anthocyanin extracts of two blueberries, Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry)and Vaccinium ashei (rabbiteye blueberry), and ofthree other berries, Ribes nigrum (blackcurrant), Aronia melanocarpa (chokeberry), andSambucus nigra (elderberry), were analyzed by high-performanceliquid chromatography coupled withphotodiode array detection and electrosprayionization - mass spectrometry(LC/PDA/ESI-MS). Both bilberry and rabbiteyeblueberry contained 15 identical anthocyanins withdifferent distribution patterns. Black currant,chokeberry, and elderberry contained 6, 4, and 4 kindsof anthocyanins, respectively. The radicalscavenging activities of these berry extracts wereanalyzed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH). All these extracts showed potent antiradical activities.     

Artificially produced meteorological changes aggravate pain in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats

To examine the effects of change in meteorological parameters on pain-related behaviors in a simulated arthritic condition, rats with an injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the tibio-tarsal joint were exposed to low barometric pressure (20 mmHg below the natural atmospheric pressure) and low ambient temperature (7 degrees C lower than 22 degrees C) in a climate-controlled room. When the arthritic rats were exposed to these environments, the already increased number of hindpaw withdrawals in response to noxious mechanical stimulation (hyperalgesia) was further increased, and a hindpaw withdrawal response to innocuous mechanical stimulation (allodynia) began to occur. Such exposures did not influence any of the pain-related behaviors of the control rats. These results show that lowering barometric pressure and ambient temperature within the range of natural environmental fluctuation intensify pain in arthritic rats.     

Reduced expression of aquaporin 4 in human muscles with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurogenic atrophies

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is a water channel protein that is widely distributed in human tissues. However, the precise functional role of AQP4 in skeletal muscle tissue has not yet been determined. Expression of AQP4 was reported to be reduced in muscle tissue from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients. In the regenerating phase of skeletal muscle, AQP4 expression was reduced when nerve supply was not present. However, in diseased human muscles with neurogenic atrophy including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, there has been no data on the changes in AQP4 expression. In the present study, we investigated the expression of AQP4 at mRNA and protein levels in human muscles with neurogenic atrophy. The mean level of AQP4 mRNA was significantly lower in muscles with neurogenic atrophy than that in muscles from normal controls. The myofiber surface immunostaining with anti-AQP4 antibody in muscles with neurogenic atrophy was reduced on the surface of scattered myofibers, small angulated myofibers, and myofibers in small- and large-group atrophy despite the presence of dystrophin. Based on the present findings, we conclude that the expression of AQP4 is affected by nerve supply and is down-regulated in human muscles with neurogenic atrophy.     

A case of small cell gastric carcinoma with an adenocarcinoma component operated curatively

We present a case of a primary advanced gastric tumor that was composed of 2 different pathological components: small cell carcinoma and moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient was still alive four years after the surgery was performed, without recurrence. A large part of the tumor consisted of a diffuse sheet of small cell carcinoma, which transitioned into another small portion consisting of moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma components. Therefore, this case raised the possibility that small cell gastric carcinoma may originate from totipotential stem cells of the stomach. Although small cell carcinoma progresses aggressively, and patients with it have an extremely poor prognosis, this patient recovered uneventfully after the surgical resection, and has remained in good health, without any recurrences.     

Studies of time-course changes in human body balance after ingestion of long-acting hypnotics

Falling accidents are a serious nocosomial problem, with balance disorders after the ingestion of hypnotics said to be a cause. Based on the results of animal studies, it was postulated that this problem involves the muscle relaxation that is a pharmacological effect of benzodiazepines (BZP). No reports have, to our knowledge, been made of time-course changes in human body balance after ingestion of hypnotics. Accordingly, we used quazepam (Doral), a long-acting hypnotic considered to show comparatively weak muscle relaxation, to study static balance after drug ingestion in human volunteers. Briefly, informed consent was obtained from 8 healthy adults, then a gait analytic system (Gangas) was used to test static balance after drug ingestion (Mann and Romberg tests). We also measured circulating drug concentration over time. Our results showed that balance disorders occurred after quazepam ingestion with an unstable posture particularly striking. Given the function of quazepam receptors, it is difficult to surmise that balance disorders after drug ingestion were due to the drug's muscle relaxation. We surmised that inhibition from the central nervous system in connection with nerves awakening was involved. We found a strong correlation between the manifestation of balance disorders after drug ingestion and circulating drug concentration.     

Early graft failure due to a veno-occlusive disease after a pediatric living donor liver transplantation

A 10-month-old boy with biliary atresia after Kasai procedure underwent a living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Five days after the LDLT, high fever and increased ascites followed by poor bile drainage was accompanied by elevation of serum liver enzymes. Liver biopsy showed occlusion of the central veins by fibro-edematous endothelium and submassive necrosis of the parenchyma. Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) was suspected, and re-LDLT was urgently performed because of deterioration of hepatic failure. There are few cases of VOD after liver transplantation and this is the first one in an infant after LDLT.     

Lung adenocarcinoma presenting with enlarged and multiloculated cystic lesions over 2 years

We report a case of lung adenocarcinoma in which cystic lesions enlarged and multiloculated over 2 years. Histological examination of the resected specimen found proliferation of nonmucinous adenocarcinoma cells along the alveolar walls, revealing bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma type extension. In cystic lesions, particularly those not associated with inflammation, lung adenocarcinoma, particularly bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma type, should be a diagnostic consideration. .