Effect of piracetam on urea-induced myoclonus in rats]

Piracetam [2-oxo-1-pyrrolidineacetamide], a cyclic GABA, has been used in Europe for the treatment of patients with cognitive disorders. We investigated the effect of piracetam on urea-induced myoclonus in rats. Myoclonus was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4.5 g/kg urea, and was recorded with EMG and video apparatus. The incidence of induced myoclonus decreased significantly by intraperitoneal injection of 300 mg/kg piracetam and oral administration of 0.3-10 mg/kg clonazepam. Furthermore, the combined application of 100 mg/kg piracetam and 0.03-0.1 mg/kg clonazepam was effective in ameliorating the myoclonus, although separate administrations were not effective. These findings suggest that piracetam is an effective drug for treating myoclonus, particularly when it is used in combination with clonazepam.     

A human friendly reporting and database system for brain PET analysis

We have developed a human friendly reporting and database system for clinical brain PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans, which enables statistical data analysis on qualitative information obtained from image interpretation. Our system consists of a Brain PET Data (Input) Tool and Report Writing Tool. In the Brain PET Data Tool, findings and interpretations are input by selecting menu icons in a window panel instead of writing a free text. This method of input enables on-line data entry into and update of the database by means of pre-defined consistent words, which facilitates statistical data analysis. The Report Writing Tool generates a one page report of natural English sentences semi-automatically by using the above input information and the patient information obtained from our PET center’s main database. It also has a keyword selection function from the report text so that we can save a set of keywords on the database for further analysis. By means of this system, we can store the data related to patient information and visual interpretation of the PET examination while writing clinical reports in daily work. The database files in our system can be accessed by means of commercially available databases. We have used the 4th Dimension database that runs on a Macintosh computer and analyzed 95 cases of^I8F-FDG brain PET studies. The results showed high specificity of parietal hypometabolism for Alzheimer’s patients.     

Immunoadsorption therapy for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders long after the acute phase

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a severe inflammatory demyelinating disease with exacerbations involving recurrent or bilateral optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Pulse steroid therapy is recommended as the initial, acute‐phase treatment for NMO. If ineffective, treatment with plasma exchange (PE) should commence. However, no evidence exists to support the effectiveness of PE long after the acute phase. Immunoadsorption therapy (IA) eliminates pathogenic antibodies while sparing other plasma proteins. With IA, side effects of PE resulting from protein substitution can be avoided. However, whether IA is effective for NMO remains unclear. We describe a patient with anti‐aquaporin‐4‐positive myelitis who responded to IA using a tryptophan polyvinyl alcohol gel column that was begun 52 days after disease onset following the acute phase. Even long after the acute phase when symptoms appear to be stable, IA may be effective and should not be excluded as a treatment choice. J. Clin. Apheresis 30:43–45, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 enhances NK sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

The roles of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development are still controversial. In this study, we investigated the expression of FGF-2 in chronic hepatitis (CH) type C patients with or without HCC and the immunoregulation of FGF-2 in NK sensitivity of HCC cells. The FGF-2 expressions were detected in the liver tissues of patients, but not in normal liver. The serum FGF-2 levels of the patients with CH, liver cirrhosis (LC) or HCC were significantly higher than those of healthy volunteers. The serum FGF-2 levels of patients decreased with the progression of chronic liver disease. HCC occurrence of LC patients with high levels of serum FGF-2 was significantly lower than that with low levels of serum FGF-2. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-6, induced FGF-2 expressions in HCC cells and normal hepatocytes. FGF-2 stimulation resulted in increasing the expression of the membrane-bound major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA), an NK activating molecule, and decreasing that of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I, an NK inhibitory molecule, on HCC cells. This did not occur with normal hepatocytes. Adding anti-FGF receptor-2 neutralizing antibody resulted in inhibiting the change of MICA and HLA class I expressions on FGF-2 stimulated HCC cells. FGF-2 stimulation on HCC cells resulted in increasing NK sensitivity against HCC cells. These findings indicate that FGF-2 produced by HCC cells or normal hepatocytes of chronic liver disease may play critical roles in eliminating HCC cells by innate immunity.     

Body iron store as a predictor of oxidative DNA damage in healthy men and women

While iron plays an important role in many cellular functions, excess iron storage induces DNA damage by generating hydroxyl radicals and thus promotes carcinogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether body iron levels that are commonly observed in a general population are related to oxidative DNA damage. We examined the association between serum ferritin concentrations and levels of urinary 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG), a biomarker of systemic oxidative DNA damage and repair, in 528 Japanese men and women aged 21–67 years. Men had much higher ferritin levels than in women, and the levels were significantly greater in women aged 50 years or older than in women aged less than 50 years. Urinary 8‐OHdG concentrations were significantly and positively associated with serum ferritin levels in all the subgroups. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients were 0.47, 0.76, and 0.73 for men overall, women aged less than 50 years, and women aged 50 years or older, respectively. These associations were materially unchanged after adjustment for potential confounding variables. In men, a more pronounced association was observed in nonsmokers than in smokers. Our results suggest body iron storage is a strong determinant of levels of systemic oxidative DNA damage in a healthy population. (Cancer Sci 2009)     

Quality of Life in Gynecological Inpatients Undergoing Surgery

This study investigates the changes in the quality of life (QOL) of gynecological patients undergoing surgery, and the relationship between these changes and clinical/demographic factors. Ninety patients were examined on three occasions using the Japanese version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire–core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Although the global QOL and physical function decreased before discharge, the emotional function was lowest before surgery. There was no difference between the benign and malignancy groups in most QOL subscales. With regard to the relationship between global QOL and physical function before discharge and other demographic/clinical factors, multiple regression analysis suggested that these were explained by employment status, benign/malignancy, region of tumor, chemotherapy, postoperative complication, and psychological symptoms during hospitalization.     

Influence of cefroxadine dry syrup on intestinal bacterial flora

Influence of cefroxadine (CXD) dry syrup on intestinal bacterial flora was studied in mice infected with 4 species of bacteria, namely, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium breve, and in pediatric patients having infections in the respiratory tract and cutaneous/soft tissues. The results were summarized as follows: CXD dry syrup was administered for 5 consecutive days to mice infected with the 4 species. No considerable changes were observed in levels of bacteria in the feces and in different parts of digestive tracts. Eleven pediatric patients were orally administered with 30-54 mg/kg of CXD dry syrup a day for 7-15 consecutive days. Symptom of diarrhea was noted in 2 patients. Dominant species of the intestinal flora such as E. coli, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides sometimes decreased in patients treated with CXD dry syrup. In general, however, decreases in numbers of these bacteria were insignificant. Changes of intestinal flora in patients treated with CXD dry syrup were apparently smaller than those treated with ampicillin and were similar to those treated with cephalexin or amoxicillin.     

Influence of sultamicillin on intestinal bacterial flora

Effects of sultamicillin (SBTPC) fine granules, a new oral beta-lactam antibiotic, on the intestinal bacterial flora were studied in tetra-contaminated mice and in pediatric patients. SBTPC was administered at a dose of 100 mg/kg once a day for 5 consecutive days to mice contaminated with 4 different species of organisms: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium breve. In all of the 4 species, bacterial populations in feces were markedly reduced on days 4 to 5 after the start of the treatment. Subjects in the pediatric study were 5 children with bacterial infections (4 boys and 1 girl) at ages from 1 year 3 months to 10 years 8 months and with their body weight ranging from 11.8 kg to 35.0 kg. SBTPC fine granule was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg 3 to 4 times a day for 4 to 7 days. Although there were some variations in the fecal bacterial flora noticed among these subjects during the treatment, populations of main aerobes and anaerobes such as Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium decreased markedly in all cases. These decreases were more pronounced for anaerobes and total numbers of anaerobes were markedly reduced in all cases. Glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative rods and fungi tended to increase with administration of SBTPC fine granule. Although these changes tended to return to pre-dosing state after the cessation of the treatment with SBTPC fine granule, attention must be paid to possible occurrences of diarrhea, superinfection or bleeding tendency when treatment with the drug is continued for a long period of time. Fecal concentrations of both ampicillin and sulbactam during SBTPC fine granule treatment showed relatively high values except 1 sample with a high beta-lactamase activity in feces. These high concentrations suggest the possibility of biliary excretion of absorbed drugs and the possibility of hydrolysis of SBTPC in the intestine due to high pH. Fecal concentrations of the drug also appeared to be closely related to beta-lactamase activity in feces.     

Dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk in Japanese: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study)

Purpose

The development of prostate cancer may be impacted by environmental factors, including diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and risk of prostate cancer in a large prospective cohort study among Japanese men.

Methods

A total of 43,469 men who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study were followed from 1995 to 1998 to the end of 2012, during which 1,156 cases of prostate cancer were newly identified. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire in the 5-year follow-up survey.

Results

Three major dietary patterns were derived using exploratory factors analysis: prudent, westernized, and traditional dietary patterns. The westernized dietary pattern was associated with a higher risk of total prostate cancer (HR: 1.22; 95% CI 1.00–1.49; p trend?=?0.021), localized cancer (HR: 1.24; 95% CI 0.97–1.57; p trend?=?0.045), and advanced cancer (HR: 1.23; 95% CI 0.82–1.84; p trend?=?0.233). The prudent dietary pattern was associated with a lower risk of total and localized prostate cancer, with respective multivariable HRs for the highest and lowest quintiles of 0.71 (95% CI 0.50–1.02; p trend?=?0.037) and 0.63 (95% CI 0.38–1.03; p trend?=?0.048) among subjects detected by subjective symptoms. No association was found between the traditional dietary pattern and prostate cancer risk among our subjects.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a western-style diet may lead to a higher risk of prostate cancer in the total population, whereas the prudent diet contributes to a lower risk among subjects detected by subjective symptoms.