Lack of a modifying effect by the diuretic drug furosemide on the development of neoplastic lesions in rat two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis

The effect of the diuretic drug furosemide on two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis in F344 rats initiated by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) was investigated with regard to possible promoting activity. BBN was administered at 2 doses, 0.01 or 0.05%, in drinking water for 4 wk, and thereafter furosemide was given by gavage 3 times weekly for 32 wk, 250 mg/kg body weight. Furosemide ingestion induced diuresis with an alkaline, hypotonic urine. No significant difference with regard to incidences of bladder lesions were apparent between furosemide and control groups. The present investigation indicated that neither furosemide nor its related polyuria acted as a promoter in two-stage urinary bladder carcinogenesis.     

Nasal septal abscess caused by anaerobic bacteria of oral flora

Although nasal septal abscess (NSA) was formerly common, it has become rare since the development of antibiotics. NSA, if left untreated, can lead to intracranial complications such as meningitis and eventually result in saddle-nose deformity. NSA often occurs after injury, and indigenous skin bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are frequently detected. We treated a patient who had injured the upper alveolus in a fall on the stairs and developed NSA two weeks later. Anaerobic bacteria, including Veillonella parvula and Peptostreptococcus sp., were detected. Symptoms were relieved by needle and incisional drainage. Our patient represents a very rare case of NSA in terms of the cause of onset and the detected bacteria. Early drainage can result in good outcomes.     

Gene expression profiles by microarray analysis during matrigel-induced tube formation in a human extravillous trophoblast cell line: comparison with endothelial cells

Endovascular differentiation of extravillous cytotrophoblasts (EVT) during placentogenesis induces remodeling of spiral arteries that increases blood flow toward the intravillous space and is required for maintaining pregnancy. To address the molecular mechanisms involved in this differentiation, we investigated the gene expression profile during matrigel-induced tube formation in TCL1 cells, a human immortalized EVT cell line, and HUV-EC-C, human umbilical vessel endothelial cells, and compared their profiles. The numbers of genes that showed significant up-regulation (>3-fold expression at both 3 and 6h, and/or >5-fold expression at either 3 or 6h) during tube formation and significant down-regulation (0.33-fold expression at both 3 and 6h, and/or less than 0.2-fold expression at either 3 or 6h), were 969 and 659 in TCL1, respectively. In HUV-EC-C, the numbers of genes that showed significant up-regulation and down-regulation were 86 and 65, respectively. Only 73 of 1628 genes that showed significant expression changes in TCL1 were common with HUV-EC-C. The genes showing significant expression change specifically in TCL1 were associated with cellular, metabolisms, proliferation, anti-apoptosis, proteolysis adhesion, and some known to be involved in EVT differentiation or related to angiogenesis. The gene expression profile in EVT during tube formation is very different from that of endothelial cells. Further investigations based on the current data may help to elucidate mechanisms of normal and abnormal placentogenesis.     

Chronic Pulmonary Disease Caused by Tsukamurella toyonakaense

Unidentified Mycobacterium species are sometimes detected in respiratory specimens. We identified a novel Tsukamurella species (Tsukamurella sp. TY48, RIMD 2001001, CIP 111916^T), Tsukamurella toyonakaense, from a patient given a misdiagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease caused by unidentified mycobacteria. Genomic identification of this Tsukamurella species helped clarify its clinical characteristics and epidemiology.     

Effect of Surface Modification for Carbon Cathode Materials on Charge–Discharge Performance of Li-Air Batteries

Li-air batteries have attracted considerable attention as rechargeable secondary batteries with a high theoretical energy density of 11,400 kWh/g. However, the commercial application of Li-air batteries is hindered by issues such as low energy efficiency and a short lifetime (cycle numbers). To overcome these issues, it is important to select appropriate cathode materials that facilitate high battery performance. Carbon materials are expected to be ideal materials for cathodes due to their high electrical conductivity and porosity. The physicochemical properties of carbon materials are known to affect the performance of Li-air batteries because the redox reaction of oxygen, which is an important reaction for determining the performance of Li-air batteries, occurs on the carbon materials. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the surface modification of carbon cathode materials on the charge–discharge performance of Li-air batteries using commercial Ketjenblack (KB) and KB subjected to vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation as cathodes. The surface wettability of KB changed from hydrophobic to hydrophilic as a result of the VUV irradiation. The ratio of COOH and OH groups on the KB surface increased after VUV irradiation. Raman spectra demonstrated that no structural change in the KB before and after VUV irradiation was observed. The charge and discharge capacities of a Li-air battery using VUV-irradiated KB as the cathode decreased compared to original KB, whereas the cycling performance of the Li-air battery improved considerably. The sizes and shapes of the discharge products formed on the cathodes changed considerably due to the VUV irradiation. The difference in the cycling performance of the Li-air battery was discussed from the viewpoint of the chemical properties of KB and VUV-irradiated KB.     

Negative regulation of cell motile and invasive activities by lysophosphatidic acid receptor-3 in colon cancer HCT116 cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) mediates a wide range of biological responses with G protein-coupled transmembrane receptors (LPA receptors). So far, at least six types of LPA receptors (LPA receptor-1 (LPA₁) to LPA₆) have been identified. Recently, it has been reported that LPA₃ indicates opposite effects on cellular functions of cancer cells. In the present study, to assess a biological role of LPA₃ on cell migration ability of colon cancer cells, we generated LPA receptor-3 (LPAR3) knockdown (HCT-sh3-3) cells from HCT116 and measured cell motile and invasion activities. In motility assay with a cell culture insert, HCT-sh3-3 cells showed significantly high cell motile activity, compared with control cells. For invasion assay, the filter was coated with Matrigel. The invasive activity of HCT-sh3-3 cells was significantly higher than that of control cells. Furthermore, we also examined the effects of LPAR3 knockdown on the interaction between colon cancer cells and endothelial F-2 cells. When F-2 cells were cultured with serum-free DMEM containing a supernatant from HCT-sh3-3 cells, the cell growth rate and migration activity of F-2 cells were significantly stimulated, associating with the elevated expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A and VEGF-C genes in HCT-sh3-3 cells. These results suggest that LPA₃ may act as a negative regulator on cell motile and invasive abilities of colon cancer HCT116 cells.     

Time-Dependent Interaction of Ritonavir in Chronic Use: The Power Balance Between Inhibition and Induction of P-Glycoprotein and Cytochrome P450 3A

Ritonavir (RTV) is not only an inhibitor but also an immunoreactive inducer of both P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A in terms of its chronic use. The aim of present study was to test the hypothesis that the power balance between inhibition effects of RTV and induced activities of Pgp and CYP3A depends on the time after last RTV treatment (TimeR) in the chronic use of RTV; rhodamine 123 (Rho) and midazolam (MDZ) were administered at predetermined TimeR to rats pretreated with RTV for 7 days. After oral administration of Rho and MDZ to rats pretreated with RTV for 7 days, the areas under the plasma concentration-time curve of Rho and MDZ were significantly altered depending on TimeR: 1.27-, 0.79-, 0.95-, and 0.11-fold increases over that of the control for Rho at TimeR = 0, 3, 9, and 24 h and 3.12-, 1.50-, 1.27-, and 0.17-fold increases over that of the control for MDZ at TimeR = 0, 3, 9, and 24 h, respectively. These results revealed the presence of the time-dependent interaction of RTV with concomitant drugs in chronic use and should be taken into account in therapeutic strategies for HIV infection.