Effect of pimobendan on cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity in healthy young men

In order to determine the effect of pimobendan on sympathetic nerve activity and cardiopulmonary baroreflex (CPB), electrocardiogram, direct arterial pressure, central venous pressure (CVP) and cardiac output were recorded along with muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 8 healthy young men. CPB function was evaluated before and 60 min after oral administration of 5 mg pimobendan using the response of MSNA to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of -5 and -10 mm Hg. The same protocol also was performed during handgrip exercise. Cardiac index, MSNA increased and CVP decreased significantly (p<0.01, respectively), but arterial pressure and heart rate unchanged after pimobendan administration. During LBNP, CVP decreased and MSNA increased significantly. CPB sensitivity was augmented from 5.53+/-0.75 to 8.59+/-0.78 burst incidence/mm Hg after pimobendan administration (p<0.01). Pimobendan did not alter the percentage increase of MSNA during handgrip exercise. In conclusion, pimobendan induces an increase in basal sympathetic nerve activity by decreasing CVP and augmenting CPB sensitivity without changing arterial pressure in healthy young men.     

Expression of a 72-kDa heat shock protein, and its cytoprotective function, in gastric mucosa in cirrhotic rats

Background Portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) is a clinical entity that is observed frequently in patients with liver cirrhosis. In PHG, gastric mucosa is highly susceptible to mucosal injury caused by noxious agents. Many studies, including ours, have reported that a 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) has a crucial cytoprotective function in gastric mucosa. In this study, we investigated the expression and cytoprotective effect of HSP72 on gastric mucosa in portal hypertensive rats.Methods PHG was produced by bile duct ligation (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of HSP72 in the gastric mucosa was evaluated by Western blotting. Induction of gastric mucosal HSP72 by 6-h water-immersion stress was compared between cirrhotic and control rats. Also, mucosal protective abilities against hydrochloric acid (HCl; 0.6N) following pretreatment with water-immersion stress to induce HSP72 were studied in both groups.Results Portal venous pressure was significantly higher in cirrhotic rats compared with control rats (P < 0.05). Baseline expression (before water-immersion stress) of mucosal HSP72 was significantly lower in cirrhotic rats compared with control rats. HCl-induced gastric mucosal lesions were significantly suppressed in control rats compared with cirrhotic rats, especially when HSP72 was preinduced by water-immersion stress.Conclusions These findings suggest that HSP72 in the gastric mucosa plays a crucial role with respect to cytoprotection; the induction of HSP72 may provide therapeutic strategies for protection against mucosal injury in PHG.     

Epidermoid cyst originating from an intrapancreatic accessory spleen

We report a rare case of an epidermoid cyst originating from an intrapancreatic accessory spleen, in a 40-year-old Japanese man with no clinical symptoms. A cystic tumor in the pancreatic tail was detected incidentally by abdominal ultrasonography. The patient was referred to the KKR Tachikawa Hospital for further examination of the tumor. Preoperative imaging findings suggested that the tumor was an epidermoid cyst originating from an intrapancreatic accessory spleen. On both pre-and post-contrast computed tomography and magnetic resonance images, the solid compartment of the tumor had the same X-ray attenuation and intensity as the spleen. Upon surgical excision, the mass consisted of solid and cystic components that were macroscopically evident on the preoperative images. Microscopic analysis revealed that the solid component was an accessory spleen in the pancreatic tail, whereas the cystic component was lined with stratified epithelium representative of an epidermoid cyst. This is the thirteenth report (in English) of an epidermoid cyst originating from an intrapancreatic accessory spleen, and the first case to be diagnosed prior to surgery.     

Soy protein reduces paraquat-induced oxidative stress in rats

The effect of soy protein, soy isoflavones and saponins on paraquat (PQ)-induced oxidative stress was investigated in rats. Rats were fed experimental diets containing casein (CAS), soy protein (SPI), and casein with soy isoflavones and saponins (CAS + IS). The diets were supplemented or not with 0.025% paraquat (CAS + PQ, SPI + PQ, and CAS + IS + PQ). The protective effects of soy protein, soy isoflavones, and saponins on paraquat-induced oxidative stress were examined. Ingestion of soy protein generally mitigated the lung enlargement (P = 0.076), loss of body weight (P = 0.051) and oxidation of liver lipid (P = 0.043) and glutathione (P = 0.035) induced by paraquat, although soy isoflavones and saponins did not. To determine whether soy protein exerted its antioxidative effects by preventing paraquat absorption from digestive organs, rats were fed CAS or SPI diets and orally administered a 12.5 g/L paraquat solution. Plasma, urine, and fecal paraquat concentrations did not differ between the two groups, indicating that soy protein did not prevent paraquat absorption. The present study suggests that intake of soy protein itself, but not soy isoflavones and saponins, reduces paraquat-induced oxidative stress in rats, although this effect was not due to reduced absorption of paraquat from digestive organs.     

MEK Activation Suppresses CPT11-Induced Apoptosis in Rat Intestinal Epithelial Cells Through a COX-2-Dependent Mechanism

Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is one of the distinct features of cancer cells. We evaluate the role of activated MEK-ERK signaling in Camptotecin/irinotecan (CPT-11)-induced cell death using constitutively activated MEK1-transfected normal rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-caMEK cells). A CPT-11-induced inhibitory concentration of 50% was determined by WST assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by DNA staining and fragmented DNA analysis. Protein expressions were analyzed by western blotting. We also examined the role of cyclooxygenase-2 in the cell systems. IEC-caMEK cells possessed survival advantages compared to control cells. Apoptosis was remarkably suppressed in IEC-caMEK cells. Western blot analysis revealed increased expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, and COX-2 and decreased expression of Bak in IEC-caMEK cells. The COX-2 selective inhibitor ameliorated the antiapoptotic nature of IEC-caMEK cells. MEK activation suppressed CPT-11-induced apoptosis in IEC-caMEK cells via a COX-2- dependent mechanism. Therefore, MEK-ERK signaling may contribute to the drug-resistant nature of cancer cells.     

Application of a wearable switch to perform a mouse left click for a child with mix type of cerebral palsy: a single case study

Abstract

Purpose: Children with cerebral palsy may face difficulties using handheld pointing devices, due to involuntary muscle movements. This study aimed at describing the idea of the new wearable sensor switch and assessing its feasibility as an access solution in a case of mixed-type cerebral palsy.

Methods: The study participant was a 17-year-old male with mixed-type cerebral palsy characterized by chorea-athetotic movements and bilateral spasticity with gross motor function classification system level V. He exhibited sudden and irregular involuntary upper limb movements when sitting. Because spastic finger movements limited his ability to use a handheld mouse, he used a trackball near his neck as a pointing device (previous input method). The wearable switch system using a stretchable strain sensor was introduced; the sensor was attached to a groove worn on the dorsal regions of the right hand crossing the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the middle finger (new input method). The switch turned on when the subject flexed his middle finger.

Results: The user successfully turned the switch on and typed almost the same numbers of characters per trial compared with the previous input method. The speed of his head movements during typing reduced (p?<?.01), and his sitting posture was nearly upright during computer operation (p?<?.01). No involuntary movement, requiring physical assistance, was observed when using the wearable switch.

Conclusion: The new switch system can be a new option for people with difficulty using standard handheld input devices due to paralysis and involuntary muscle movements.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Cerebral palsy is a major cause of motor dysfunction and spasticity and dyskinesia in the fingers and upper limbs may prevent children with cerebral palsy from using handheld input devices.

• Wearable devices may be useful for children with cerebral palsy who have limited access to handheld pointing devices.

• We developed a new wearable switch to control devices using a flexible stretchable sensor.

• The wearable switch contributed to the improvement of sitting posture and reduction of neck burden during the typing task at the speed equivalent to that using the previous method in a child with mixed type of cerebral palsy exhibiting choreoathetotic movements and bilateral spasticity.

     

Doppler tissue analysis of atrial electromechanical coupling in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The aim of this study was to: (1) evaluate atrial electromechanical coupling using M-mode Doppler tissue; and (2) test its clinical impact for detecting atrial abnormalities in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Using Doppler tissue, the time intervals from the onset of P wave until the backward motions of the right and left atrioventricular rings in the apical 4-chamber view corresponding to the atrial contractions were measured. In paroxysmal AF group, these intervals were significantly longer than in the control group. Using the criteria that an abnormal time interval from the onset of P wave until the backward motion of the left atrioventricular ring is longer than 112 milliseconds, the sensitivity, the specificity, and the positive predictive values for paroxysmal AF are 73%, 93%, and 93%, respectively. This parameter is affected in patients with paroxysmal AF and should be useful for detecting atrial impairment related to paroxysmal AF.     

An infected pseudoaneurysm following a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt

A two-month-old male infant with tetralogy of Fallot underwent a right-sided modified Blalock-Taussig shunt using a 4 mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft through a right thoracotomy. Five months later, the patient developed otitis media, followed by repeated relapses of pneumonia and fever of unknown origin. Multidetector-row computed tomography and angiography, performed at 12 months of age, revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery at the insertion of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. After 20 days of antibiotic therapy, the pseudoaneurysm and infected graft were successfully resected through a median sternotomy approach. This report describes the treatment strategy of this rare but potentially fatal complication after a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt operation.     

Positron emission tomography for predicting malignancy of sinonasal inverted papilloma

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) is an uncommon nasal tumor. It is known for being locally invasive and recurrent, with a high probability of malignant transformation. Accurate initial staging and close surveillance are critical in the management of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) was performed in 5 patients with IP. High FDG uptake (maximum standardized uptake (SUVmax) value >3.0) was observed in all patients, and 2 patients with IP associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) exhibited higher SUVmax values. CONCLUSION: The SUVmax value of a sinonasal tumor can warn the surgeon of the probability of an associated malignancy, even when preoperative biopsy demonstrates a purely benign papilloma.