Absence of either gastric or intestinal phenotype in microscopic differentiated gastric carcinomas

Differentiated gastric carcinoma (DGC) corresponds roughly to the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma described by Laurén. It has been suggested that DGCs arise from intestinalized gastric mucosa, but recent findings regarding their mucin expression do not support this hypothesis. To evaluate the histogenetic relationship between DGCs and intestinal metaplasia, lesions that are as small as possible should be examined. Twenty-five DGCs, ranging in their greatest dimension from 0.4 to 2.7 mm, were collected and divided into two groups by size. Group A consisted of 13 lesions less than 1.4 mm across, and group B of 12 lesions 1.4 mm or more. The presence of mucin and a brush border was assessed by immunostaining with antibodies against human gastric mucin, pyloric-gland-type mucin, Muc-2 glycoprotein, and CD10 antigen, and the lesions were classified as having the gastric phenotype (G-type), intestinal phenotype (I-type), mixed gastric and intestinal phenotype (M-type), or null phenotype (N-type). Thirteen (52%) of the 25 lesions were N-type, 5 (20%) lesions were G-type, 5 (20%) were I-type, and 2 (8%) were M-type. Group A had a larger proportion of N-type lesions than B (10/13, or 77%, vs. 3/12, or 25%; p = 0.027, chi-square test for proportions). Group B had a larger proportion of G-type lesions than A (5/12, or 42%, vs. 0/13, or 0%; p = 0.033). The phenotypes of the carcinomas and their surrounding mucosa were unrelated. Therefore, DGCs may arise from gastric mucosa affected by intestinal metaplasia or not, without having either the gastric or intestinal phenotype.     

Related Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Osteosarcopenia: A Narrative Review

Osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia are common geriatric diseases among older adults and harm activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL). Osteosarcopenia is a unique syndrome that is a concomitant of both osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia. This review aimed to summarize the related factors and clinical outcomes of osteosarcopenia to facilitate understanding, evaluation, prevention, treatment, and further research on osteosarcopenia. We searched the literature to include meta-analyses, reviews, and clinical trials. The prevalence of osteosarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults is significantly higher in female (up to 64.3%) compared to male (8–11%). Osteosarcopenia is a risk factor for death, fractures, and falls based on longitudinal studies. However, the associations between osteosarcopenia and many other factors have been derived based on cross-sectional studies, so the causal relationship is not clear. Few studies of osteosarcopenia in hospitals have been conducted. Osteosarcopenia is a new concept and has not yet been fully researched its relationship to clinical outcomes. Longitudinal studies and high-quality interventional studies are warranted in the future.     

Acute Low-Intensity Treadmill Running Upregulates the Expression of Intestinal Glucose Transporters via GLP-2 in Mice

The effects of exercise on nutrient digestion and absorption in the intestinal tract are not well understood. A few studies have reported that exercise training increases the expression of molecules involved in carbohydrate digestion and absorption. Exercise was also shown to increase the blood concentration of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), which regulates carbohydrate digestion and absorption in the small intestine. Therefore, we investigated the effects of exercise on the expression of molecules involved in intestinal digestion and absorption, including GLP-2. Six-week-old male mice were divided into a sedentary (SED) and low-intensity exercise (LEx) group. LEx mice were required to run on a treadmill (12.5 m/min, 1 h), whereas SED mice rested. All mice were euthanized 1 h after exercise or rest, and plasma, jejunum, ileum, and colon samples were collected, followed by analysis via IHC, EIA, and immunoblotting. The levels of plasma GLP-2 and the jejunum expression of the GLP-2 receptor, sucrase-isomaltase (SI), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) were higher in LEx mice. Thus, we showed that acute low-intensity exercise affects the expression of molecules involved in intestinal carbohydrate digestion and absorption via GLP-2. Our results suggest that exercise might be beneficial for small intestine function in individuals with intestinal frailty.     

Excimer laser coronary atherectomy prior to paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo coronary artery lesions

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) prior to paclitaxel-coated balloon angioplasty for de novo coronary artery lesions. This retrospective observational study analyzed 118 eligible patients with de novo coronary artery disease whose only percutaneous coronary intervention was a drug-coated balloon angioplasty (i.e., no subsequent stent placement). Data related to our primary outcomes of interest—incidence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE), and incidence of procedural complications (bailout stenting and minor complications)—were collected and retrospectively analyzed. ELCA was used significantly more often in the cases of main branch and ostial lesions (i.e., of the circumflex, right coronary, or left anterior descending arteries, or high lateral branch), normally associated with poor treatment outcomes (55.6% vs. 14.3%, p < 0.0005). However, the two groups were not different in terms of cumulative incidence as estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method (log-rank test, p = 0.603) and a causal relationship between ELCA and MACCE was not identified (OR, 2.223; 95% CI, 0.614–8.047; p = 0.223). This study confirms the safety of ELCA prior to paclitaxel DCB angioplasty to treat de novo coronary artery lesions. While difficult-to-treat lesions were significantly more prevalent in the group treated by ELCA, the study revealed similar efficiency as conventional pre-dilation methods. Our findings provide grounds for a prospective randomized trial with consistent lesion and procedural characteristics to evaluate the potential benefits of combining paclitaxel DCB angioplasty following ELCA for de novo coronary artery lesions.

     

Reduction in cadmium in blood and dietary intake among general populations in Japan

Blood samples and 24-h duplicates of food were collected in the years around 1980 and then in 1990's from inhabitants of nonpolluted regions in Japan. The 1990 study is still in progress with 286 blood samples and 125 food duplicates already collected from 7 regions. A preliminary analysis is made in the present study with the data obtained from the 7 study regions where the survey was conducted in 1980 and then in 1990, to examine possible changes in dietary cadmium intake (Cd-D) and consequently cadmium levels in blood (Cd-B) during this 10 year period. The food duplicate analysis showed that Cd-D in 1980 was 47.1 g/day (1.74):65 [GM (GSD):N] for men and 27.7 g/day (1.75):65 for women. The counterpart values in 1990 were 29.5 g/day (1.66):40 for men and 23.8 g/day (1.73):85 for women; the difference between the two values for the same sex is significant (P<0.05) both=" in=" men=" and=" in=" women,=" suggesting=" that=" there=" occurred=" about=" 37%=" and=" 14%=" reduction=" in=" dietary=" cadmium=" intake=" during=" this=" 10=" year=" period=" in=" men=" and=" in=" women,=" respectively.=" comparison=" in=" cd-b=" showed=" that=" cd-b=" for=" men=" and=" women=" in=" 1990=" were=" 1.79=">g/l (2.01):121 and 1.84 g/l; (1.67):165, respectively, whereas the counterpart values in 1980 were 3.84 g/l (1.64):123 and 3.57 g/l (1.42):141, respectively, indicating significant (P<0.01) reduction=" in=" cd-b=" in=" both=" sexes=" in=" parallel=" to=" the=" reduction=" in=" cd-d.=" the=" role=" of=" rice=" as=" a=" major=" source=" of=" cadmium=" among=" japanese=" population=" together=" with=" recent=" reduction=" in=" the=" importance=" is=" discussed;=" cd=" in=" rice=" accounted=" for=" 72%=" in=" late=" 1970's,=" whereas=" it=" is=" about=" 35%=" in=" the=" present=">     

Reactive oxygen species in NMDA receptor-mediated glutamate neurotoxicity

In search of endogenous protective substances that inhibit neurotoxic action of glutamate and nitric oxide (NO), we found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), acting on TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase, inhibited neurotoxicity induced by glutamate and NO donors in cultured cortical neurons. In co-cultures of the mesencephalon and striatum, projection of mesencephalic dopamine neurons to the striatum attenuated N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced cytotoxicity in dopamine neurons themselves. Growth factors such as neurotrophins, which the target cells in the striatum would synthesize and secrete, may offer the protection of dopamine neurons against glutamate neurotoxicity.     

Tc-99m colloid and Ga-67 imaging of splenic inflammatory pseudotumor correlation with ultrasound, CT, and MRI

Splenic inflammatory pseudotumor is extremely rare and may mimic splenic neoplasms, such as lymphomas or hamartomas, clinically and radiologically. A case of a surgically proved splenic inflammatory pseudotumor is presented in which Tc-99m colloid SPECT and Ga-67 scintigraphy characterized the changes in the spleen, but the findings of ultrasound and unenhanced CT and MRI were nonspecific. This report indicates the utility of radionuclide imaging for diagnosing splenic inflammatory pseudotumor.     

Platelet-activating factor receptor is not required for long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region

From pharmacological studies, platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been proposed as a retrograde messenger for long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal CA1 region. We re-examined a possible contribution of PAF to LTP with a more specific approach using mice deficient in the PAF receptor. The PAF receptor-deficient mice exhibited normal LTP and showed no obvious abnormality in excitatory synaptic transmission. We also performed pharmacological experiments on the wild-type mice. Two structurally different antagonists of PAF receptors had no effects on LTP. Furthermore, the application of PAF itself caused no detectable changes in excitatory synaptic transmission. Thus, we conclude that the PAF receptor is not required for LTP in the CA1 region. Introduction