Thrombopoietin in postoperative thrombocytopenia following living donor hepatectomy.

Thrombocytopenia is a frequent finding following living donor hepatectomy. It appears more pronounced in right graft donors than in left graft donors. This study analyzed postoperative thrombocytopenia in 20 living liver donors and examined the change of endogenous thrombopoietin (TPO) in its recovery. Platelet count, TPO level, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), and D-Dimer were measured before surgery and on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 14. Concurrently, liver and spleen volumes were calculated by computed tomography. Platelet count on POD 3 was significantly lower in right graft donors than in left graft donors (13.0 +/- 3.7 x 10(4)/microL vs. 16.8 +/- 4.0 x 10(4)/microL, P = 0.039) but recovered by POD 7 in all donors. Postoperative elevations of FDP and D-Dimer were significantly higher in right graft donors than in left graft donors. TPO level rose immediately after surgery, peaked on POD 5 in left graft donors and on POD 7 in right graft donors, and fell nearly to preoperative levels by POD 14. Postoperative TPO level per liver volume was significantly higher in right graft donors than in left graft donors. In conclusion, thrombocytopenia following living donor hepatectomy resolved within the first week regardless of graft type and was mainly associated with increasing consumption of circulating platelets, possibly due to intrahepatic and splenic congestion. With a reduced number of circulating platelets, TPO level rapidly increases. Also, with reduced consumption of platelets related to recovery from surgery, thrombocytopenia should resolve. As a consequence, TPO level would be expected to fall.     

Glucose as regulator of glucose transport activity and glucose-transporter mRNA in hamster beta-cell line.

To investigate the role of glucose in regulating glucose transporters in pancreatic beta-cells, we studied the hamster clonal beta-cell line HIT-T15, which retains responsiveness to glucose. Northern blot analysis demonstrates that GLUT2 and GLUT1 mRNA are abundant in HIT cells. After a 24-h culture with various concentrations of glucose (0-22.2 mM [0-400 mg/dl]), the GLUT2 mRNA level in HIT cells increased by 40% at 22.2 mM (400 mg/dl) glucose compared with 11.1 mM (200 mg/dl) without a change in mRNA stability. It also decreased proportionally to the reduction of glucose concentration. Glucose deprivation resulted in a decrease of GLUT2 mRNA to an almost undetectable level, with a marked increase in the degradation rate of mRNA. In contrast, the GLUT1 mRNA was not affected by glucose. We show that glucose uptake is highest in HIT cells incubated at 2.8-5.5 mM (50-99 mg/dl) glucose for 24 h, and that levels in cells cultured at 0 mM (0 mg/dl) and 22.2 mM (400 mg/dl) glucose decrease to approximately 20% of the maximum level. This decrease is consistent with the effects of glucose on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in HIT cells. Our results indicate that glucose is involved in regulating GLUT2 mRNA and glucose uptake activity and that the glucose responsiveness of the insulin secretion correlates with the glucose-induced change in glucose uptake activity in HIT cells.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in ameloblastomas

BACKGROUND: To clarify the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) and stress proteins in oncogenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontogenic epithelium. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) were analyzed in ameloblastomas as well as in tooth germs. METHODS: Specimens of seven tooth germs, 36 benign ameloblastomas and five malignant ameloblastomas were examined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against iNOS and 27-, 60- and 70-kDa HSPs (HSP27, HSP60 and HSP70). RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for iNOS was detected in normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells and was higher in malignant ameloblastomas than in tooth germs and benign ameloblastomas. HSP27 was expressed constitutively in all odontogenic epithelial cells in tooth germs and benign and malignant ameloblastomas. Expression of HSP60 and HSP70 was detected in normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells and was prominent in cells neighboring the basement membrane. HSP60 reactivity showed no apparent difference between normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelium, whereas HSP70 expression was slightly higher in benign and malignant ameloblastomas than in tooth germs. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of iNOS might be associated with malignant potential of epithelial odontogenic tumors. Elevated expression of HSP70 is considered to be involved in neoplastic transformation of odontogenic epithelial cells.     

Ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of tumor-derived lymphocytes

Ectopic cervical or cervico-mediastinal thymomas are very rare and most of them are asymptomatic, except for the presence of a cervical mass. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with an ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma threatening superior vena cava syndrome. He had a slight headache and presented with venous dilatation on the chest wall. A computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance, imaging of the chest demonstrated a mass extending from the right neck to the hilum, that indented the trachea and compressed and displaced the brachiocephalic veins anteriorly. Under a right hemicollar incision and median sternotomy, the mass was resected en bloc together with the thymus. The resected specimen was an encapsulated mass measuring 11×7×4 cm. The pathological diagnosis was type AB, non-invasive thymoma, confirmed by 3-color flow, cytometry of tumor-derived lymphocytes. Flow cytometry using biopsy material may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of ectopic thymoma.     

Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with Borrelia afzelii infection]

A 58-year-old woman suffered from stiffness, swelling, rubor and muscle pain in the extremities one month after she climbed a mountain in Kyushu, an island in southern Japan. On admission, mild proximal weakness was present in the extremities. Her range of motion in the extremities was limited due to firm skin and subcutaneous stiffness which was similar to scleroderma. She showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia as well as a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate. An IgM antibody against Borrelia afzelii was positive. MRI of the skeletal muscles demonstrated enhancing fascia around the biceps brachii muscle, and a biopsy specimen revealed perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells within the hypertrophic fascia. Eosinophilic infiltration was absent. We treated the patient with prednisolone, doxycycline and amoxicillin, which alleviated the symptoms. This is the first report to show that Borrelia afzelii was involved in eosinophilic fasciitis.     

Initial and midterm results for repair of aortic diseases with handmade stent grafts.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the initial and midterm results for repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic diseases using handmade stent-grafts (SGs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2004, 41 consecutive patients (31 patients with thoracic and 10 patients with abdominal aortic disease) underwent endovascular stent-graft repair using handmade SGs. The follow-up averaged 24.8+/-17.6 months. The technical and initial clinical success rates were 82.9% (34/41) and 80.5% (33/41), respectively. Primary type I or III endoleaks occurred in 12.2% (5/41) of the patients. The hospital mortality rate was 4.9% (2/41). Persistent type I or III endoleaks occurred in 9.8% (4/41) and SG migrations occurred in 4.9% (2/41) of the patients. Open surgical conversion was undertaken in 12.2% (5/41) of the patients because of an endoleak and/or migration. The mean change observed in the aneurysm diameter was -6.2+/-10.5 mm, and shrinkage in the diameter occurred in 51.4% (18/35) of the cases. There was 1 patient death because of aneurysm rupture. Neither stent fracture nor graft hole was observed. The overall clinical success rate during follow-up was 78.0% (32/41). CONCLUSION: The initial and midterm results obtained after repair of the aortic diseases using handmade SGs were considered to be satisfactory. More surgical experience and long-term patient follow-up are both required to further reassess the effect of this treatment.     

Independent association of antibodies against human papillomavirus type 16 and E7 proteins with cervical cancer

The E4 open reading frame (ORF) of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is transcribed in abundant mRNAs encoding an fusion gene during the productive infection, and the HPV 16 E7 ORF encodes an oncoprotein detectable in the cell lines derived from cervical carcinoma. We examined 421 human sera, which included 108 samples from the patients with cervical carcinoma, for the presence of IgG antibodies against the HPV 16 E4 and E7 proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bacterially expressed fusion protein lac- and nonfusion protein E7 were purified and used as antigens. All of the 22 serum samples positive for anti-E7 antibody and the 11 out of 15 samples positive for anti- antibody were from the patients with cervical carcinoma, but only one sample was found to contain both anti- and anti-E7 antibodies. These findings show specific and independent association of these antibodies with cervical carcinoma.     

3D kinematic analysis of the acromioclavicular joint during arm abduction using vertically open MRI.

Many researchers have evaluated the motions of the shoulder girdle, especially scapular and humeral motion. However, few reports exist that describe motions of the acromioclavicular joint. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the 3D kinematics of the acromioclavicular joint during arm abduction using 3D MR images obtained by a vertically open MRI. Fourteen shoulders of seven volunteers were examined in seven static positions from 0 degrees to the maximum abduction in a seated position. 3D surface models of the clavicle and scapula were created, and the movements of the acromioclavicular joint from 0 degrees to each position were calculated using the volume-based registration technique. From these calculations, the translations were evaluated and the rotational motions were analyzed using the concept of the screw axis. In the anteroposterior direction, the clavicle translated most posteriorly (-1.9 +/- 1.3 mm) at 90 degrees of abduction and most anteriorly (1.6 +/- 2.7 mm) at maximum abduction. In the superoinferior direction, the clavicle translated slightly superiorly (0.9 +/- 1.9 mm). When analyzing relative motion of the scapula with respect to the clavicle, the scapula generally rotated about a specific screw axis passing through the insertions of both the acromioclavicular and the coracoclavicular ligaments on the coracoid process. The average rotation was 34.9 +/- 8.4 degrees.     

Mild Hypercapnia Induces Vasodilation via Adenosine Triphosphate-sensitive K+ Channels in Parenchymal Microvessels of the Rat Cerebral Cortex

Background: Carbon dioxide is an important vasodilator of cerebral blood vessels. Cerebral vasodilation mediated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels has not been demonstrated in precapillary microvessel levels. Therefore, the current study was designed to examine whether ATP-sensitive K+ channels play a role in vasodilation induced by mild hypercapnia in precapillary arterioles of the rat cerebral cortex.

Methods: Brain slices from rat cerebral cortex were prepared and superfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid, including normal (Pco2 = 40 mmHg; pH = 7.4), hypercapnic (Pco2 = 50 mmHg; pH = 7.3), and hypercapnic normal pH (Pco2 = 50 mmHg; pH = 7.4) solutions. The ID of a cerebral parenchymal arteriole (5-9.5 [mu]m) was monitored using computerized videomicroscopy.

Results: During contraction to prostaglandin F2[alpha] (5 x 10-7 m), hypercapnia, but not hypercapnia under normal pH, induced marked vasodilation, which was completely abolished by the selective ATP-sensitive K+ channel antagonist glibenclamide (5 x 10-6 m). However, the selective Ca2+-dependent K+ channel antagonist iberiotoxin (10-7 m) as well as the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (10-4 m) did not alter vasodilation. A selective ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, levcromakalim (3 x 10-8 to 3 x 10-7 m), induced vasodilation, whereas this vasodilation was abolished by glibenclamide.     

Pharmacologic preconditioning effects: Prostaglandin E1 induces heat-shock proteins immediately after ischemia/reperfusion of the mouse liver

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has several potential therapeutic effects, including cytoprotection, vasodilation, and inhibition of platelet aggregation. This study investigates the protective action of PGE1 against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo using a complementary DNA microarray. PGE1 or saline was continuously administered intravenously to mice in which the left lobe of the liver was made ischemic for 30 minutes and then reperfused. Livers were harvested 0, 10, and 30 minutes postreperfusion. Messenger RNA was extracted, and the samples were labeled with two different fluorescent dyes and hybridized to the RIKEN set of 18,816 full-length enriched mouse complementary DNA microarrays. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels at 180 minutes postreperfusion were significantly lower in the PGE1-treated group than in the saline-treated group. The cDNA microarray analysis revealed that the genes encoding heat-shock protein (HSP) 70, glucose-regulated protein 78, HSP86, and glutathione S-transferase were upregulated at the end of the ischemic period (0 minutes postreperfusion) in the PGE1 group. Our results suggested that PGE1 induces HSPs immediately after ischemia reperfusion. HSPs might therefore play an important role in the protective effects of PGE1 against ischemia/reperfusion injury of the liver.