Splenic artery ligation: A protection against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in partially hepatectomized rats

Aim: In liver resection, the temporary occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament (Pringle maneuver) is often used. However, the maneuver causes ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the remnant liver. Heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 has a cytoprotective role against this injury. Our aim is to investigate whether splenic artery ligation induces HO‐1 expression in the liver and ameliorates the hepatic I/R injury in partially hepatectomized rats. Methods: Rats underwent splenic artery ligation by occluding the main splenic artery. Two days later, the total hepatic ischemia (Pringle maneuver) was conducted, and then a two‐thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) was performed just before the start of reperfusion. HO inhibitor was twice injected s.c. at 3 and 16 h before the Pringle maneuver. HO‐1 levels were determined by western blotting. Liver injury was biochemically assessed. Results: In normal rats, HO‐1 was highly expressed in the spleen, but not in the liver. Splenic artery ligation induced HO‐1 in the livers. When rats underwent 20 and 30 min of Pringle maneuver/PH, survival rates were 28% and 8%, respectively. Splenic artery ligation significantly improved both the survival rates: 73% and 56%, respectively. Under these conditions, administration of HO‐1 inhibitor at least partly negated the efficacy of splenic artery ligation. Splenic artery ligation also increased the recovery rate of the remnant liver mass and platelet counts in Pringle maneuver/PH‐treated rats. Conclusion: Splenic artery ligation was significantly effective on the hepatic I/R injury in partially hepatectomized rats. Induction of HO‐1 may be at least partly involved in the improvement of this injury.     

Anal Canal Carcinoma in a Child With Disorders of Sex Development

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal in children is rare. To date, the etiology and outcome of this condition have been not fully understood. Here, we report an 11‐year‐old child with anal canal cancer who had concomitant disorders of sex development. Radiotherapy followed by salvage surgery achieved disease‐free survival of 3 years. Since overexpression of cell cycle regulatory protein p16 was immunohistochemically evident in tumor tissue, human papillomavirus infection was considered as a causative factor in the carcinogenesis.     

Effect of hypertriglyceridemia in dyslipidemia‐induced impaired glucose tolerance and sex differences in dietary features associated with hypertriglyceridemia among the Japanese population: The Gifu Diabetes Study

Aims/IntroductionThe mechanisms underlying hypertriglyceridemia‐induced impaired glucose tolerance in Japanese individuals remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of hypertriglyceridemia on glucose metabolism in comparison with that of increased low‐density lipoprotein or decreased high‐density lipoprotein levels and to elucidate the sex differences in hypertriglyceridemia‐related dietary intake among Japanese individuals.Materials and MethodsWe randomly selected 898 (384 men and 514 women) participants aged 40–78 years in the Gifu Diabetes Study; those taking medication for dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus were excluded. Serum levels of glucose metabolism parameters and the food frequency were measured cross‐sectionally. The glycated hemoglobin was measured again after 5 years.ResultsGlucose metabolism parameters and the percentage of individuals with impaired glucose tolerance were significantly higher in the high triglyceride group in men and women. Similar trends were observed in the low high‐density lipoprotein group, but only in men. Meanwhile, only the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was higher in the high low‐density lipoprotein group. In non‐obese men, the percentage of energy intake from alcohol per total daily energy intake was significantly greater in the high triglyceride group. In obese women, the total energy intake was significantly greater in the high triglyceride group. At the 5‐year follow up, the risk of elevated glycated hemoglobin levels with hypertriglyceridemia was increased in men.ConclusionsHypertriglyceridemia is a stronger risk factor for impaired glucose tolerance than increased low‐density lipoprotein or decreased high‐density lipoprotein. For dietary habits, increased daily alcohol energy intake in non‐obese men and increased total energy intake in obese women were associated with hypertriglyceridemia.     

Changes in cerebral blood flow during steady-state cycling exercise: a study using oxygen-15-labeled water with PET

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) during dynamic exercise has never been examined quantitatively using positron emission tomography (PET). This study investigated changes in CBF that occur over the course of a moderate, steady-state cycling exercise. Global and regional CBF (gCBF and rCBF, respectively) were measured using oxygen-15-labeled water (H₂¹⁵O) and PET in 10 healthy human subjects at rest (Rest), at the onset of exercise (Ex1) and at a later phase in the exercise (Ex2). At Ex1, gCBF was significantly (P<0.01) higher (27.9%) than at Rest, and rCBF was significantly higher than at Rest in the sensorimotor cortex for the bilateral legs (M1_Leg and S1_Leg), supplementary motor area (SMA), cerebellar vermis, cerebellar hemispheres, and left insular cortex, with relative increases ranging from 37.6% to 70.5%. At Ex2, gCBF did not differ from Rest, and rCBF was significantly higher (25.9% to 39.7%) than at Rest in only the M1_Leg, S1_Leg, and vermis. The areas showing increased rCBF at Ex1 were consistent with the central command network and the anatomic pathway for interoceptive stimuli. Our results suggest that CBF increases at Ex1 in parallel with cardiovascular responses then recovers to the resting level as the steady-state exercise continues.     

Third-generation Aromatase Inhibitor Improved Adult Height in a Japanese Boy with Testotoxicosis

In this study, we report a Japanese boy with testotoxicosis due to a heterozygous mutation [p. A572V] in the LH/CGR gene, who was the first boy treated with a third-generation aromatase inhibitor (AI) and reached his adult height in Japan. He showed accelerated growth and rapid penile growth from 3 yr of age and was diagnosed as having testotoxicosis. Combined treatment with anastrozole and spironolactone was started when he was 7 yr old and 145.8 cm (+4.45 SD) tall, at which point his bone age (BA) was 13.5 yr. His predicted adult height (PAH) was estimated to be 158.3 cm. The combined treatment was continued until he was 13 yr old and 166.5 cm tall, with his BA being 15.5 yr. He reached his adult height of 166.9 cm at 15 yr of age. Combined treatment with anastrozole and spironolactone successfully decelerated BA advancement, prolonged pubertal period and improved adult height.     

Higher Iron Intake Is Independently Associated with Obesity in Younger Japanese Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

We aimed to analyze the association between dietary iron intake and obesity assessed by BMI after adjustment for nutrient intake (macronutrients and fiber) and food groups. The study design was cross-sectional. Patients with type-2 diabetes (n = 1567; 63.1% males; mean age 62.3 ± 11.6 years) were included in the study. To assess diet, consumption of typical food groups was determined by a food frequency questionnaire. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². We performed a binary regression analysis between quartiles of iron intake and obesity by quartiles of age group. A direct linear association was found for the highest quartile of iron intake and obesity in the younger age group of 30 to 54 years (OR = 3.641, 95% CI = 1.020–12.990; p trend = 0.011). Multivariate analysis using food groups as opposed to nutrients revealed a positive trend for obesity in the younger age group after adjusting for lifestyle factors, energy intake and bean and vegetable intake (p trend = 0.023). In all participants, an inverse association was observed before adjustment by vegetable intake (OR = 0.453, 95% CI = 0.300–0.684; p trend = 0.001). Higher iron intake was associated with obesity independent of macronutrient and fiber intake but only in the youngest quartile of age group examined.     

Comparison of the somatogenic action of 20 kDa- and 22 kDa-human growth hormones in spontaneous dwarf rats.

The somatogenic action of the 20 kilodalton human growth hormone (20 K) was studied using the spontaneous dwarf rat (SDR), which has an isolated GH deficiency. Saline or 2.5 microg, 10 microg, or 100 microg/rat/day of recombinant 20 K or 22 K was administered to prepubertal male and female SDRs for 10 days. Their body weights, serum IGF-I, glucose and insulin were measured, and their body composition was determined. Body weights and serum IGF-I increased dose-dependently in both the 20 K- and 22 K-treated groups. There was no significant difference in body weights and serum IGF-I between the 20 K- and 22 K-treated groups except at the dose of 100 microg/rat, in which the IGF-I concentrations were higher in the 22 K-treated male SDRs (P< 0.05: 20 K vs 22 K). Blood glucose was not significantly different between the Spague-Dawley (SD) normal rats and the SDR control groups; however, serum insulin levels of the SDR were higher than those of the SD control group (P< 0.05). Additionally, there was a tendency for serum insulin and glucose levels to increase following 22 K treatment, but the differences were not significant. The percentage of body fat decreased with hGH treatment in both groups (P< 0.01: GH 10, 100 microg/rat group vs SDR control group), however, no significant differences were observed in body composition between the 20 K and 22 K treatment groups.In summary, the 20 K-hGH showed almost the same somatogenic activity as the 22 K-hGH in prepubertal male and female SDRs.