Acoustic analysis of experimental prosthetic apparatus on spatial distribution formants

This study concerns the effects of various prosthetic apparatus on speech perception. In this study we analyzed not only the first and second formant frequencies (as have often been studied previously) but also the third formant frequencies, and the three formant frequencies en masse. Our study demonstrated that of the six kinds of prosthetic apparatus we examined, the least effective apparatus was the L.S. type, while the most effective was the M.P. type.     

Senescence marker protein 30 is up‐regulated in kainate‐induced hippocampal damage through ERK‐mediated astrocytosis

Senescence maker protein 30 (SMP30) is decreased in an androgen‐independent manner in kidney and liver with age. However, regulation of SMP30 expression in the brain has not been examined in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. To investigate SMP30 expression in the brain, we utilized aging and kainate (KA)‐induced neurodegenerative disease models. Interestingly, expression of SMP30 was unlikely to decrease in the aged brain, but total levels of SMP30 protein were increased at 4 weeks after KA injury. Increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with elevated SMP30 expression was observed at the same time post‐KA, indicating that regulation of SMP30 expression in the brain may be associated with astrocytosis. We confirmed that KA induced GFAP expression with increased SMP30 in rat astrocyte cells. Moreover, we found that ERK1/2 activation was involved in the up‐regulation of SMP30 in astrocytes. Our results suggest that elevated SMP30 in activated astrocytes plays an important supportive role after brain damage. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Enhanced inhibition of anticancer drugs by human recombinant gamma-interferon for human renal cell carcinoma in vitro

We studied the inhibitory effect of seven anticancer drugs and alpha-, recombinant beta-, and recombinant gamma-interferons on the in vitro growth of two established human renal cell carcinomas and 16 renal cell carcinomas obtained from patients using monolayer culture and the double-layer soft agar system. Recombinant gamma-interferon was the most effective of three types of interferon. Combined treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and some anticancer drugs inhibited the cell growth in both cell lines more than treatment with each drug alone. Treatment with recombinant gamma-interferon and cisplatinum or 5-fluorouracil following a 24-hour incubation with the interferon was more effective than when interferon and the drug were given simultaneously. Treatment using doxorubicin, cisplatinum, or vinblastine with recombinant gamma-interferon synergistically inhibited colony formation in 11 of the 16 renal cell carcinomas that showed clonal growth. Our results suggest that treatment with anticancer drugs in combination with recombinant gamma-interferon is effective for renal cell carcinoma.     

Effects of famotidine, a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, on renal function

The effects of famotidine on renal function were investigated. Eight healthy men (N) and 8 renal patients with varying degrees of renal failure (R.F.) participated in the trial. They were given either famotidine (40 mg) or cimetidine (800 mg) for 7 days. Cimetidine produced a significant decrease in creatinine clearance (from 131.6 +/- 12.9 to 107.7 +/- 3.4 ml/min (N), and 22.2 +/- 3.9 to 18.1 +/- 3.5 ml/min (R.F.], and increase in serum creatinine (from 0.96 +/- 0.05 to 1.09 +/- 0.04 mg/dl (N), and 3.46 +/- 0.62 to 3.86 +/- 0.51 mg/dl (R.F.], and a decrease in creatinine excretion (from 24.0 +/- 1.1 to 22.6 +/- 0.8 mg/kg/24 hr (N], respectively, although the reduction in creatinine excretion in the renal failure group was small. On the other hand, the famotidine treatment produced no significant changes in renal function in both subjects (creatinine clearance, 136.5 +/- 5.7 to 133.6 +/- 6.0 ml/min (N), and 21.9 +/- 3.6 to 20.9 +/- 4.1 ml/min (R.F.); serum creatinine, 0.98 +/- 0.02 to 0.99 +/- 0.02 mg/dl (N), and 3.24 +/- 0.43 to 3.46 +/- 0.55 mg/dl (R.F.); and urinary creatine, 25.1 +/- 1.0 to 25.3 +/- 1.0 mg/kg/24 hr (N), and 17.2 +/- 1.4 to 16.6 +/- 1.5 mg/kg/24 hr (R.F.]. There were no changes in the percent sodium excretion, or the serum and urinary beta 2-microglobulin in both groups.     

Uterine lipoleiomyoma: MRI appearances

A case of uterine lipoleiomyoma demonstrated on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is described and usefulness of MRI is discussed in diagnosing this entity. Received: 28 June 1996/Accepted: 25 July 1996     

Enlargement and hypervascularity of both the epididymis and testis do not exclude involvement with lymphoma or leukemia

We present 3 cases of diffuse infiltration of the testes and epididymides by malignant lymphoma and leukemia. Gray-scale and color Doppler sonograms showed diffuse hypoechoic enlargement and hypervascularity of the involved testes and epididymides. The authors emphasize that enlargement and hypervascularity of both the epididymis and testis can be caused by lymphomatous/leukemic involvement and is not always indicative of epididymo-orchitis.     

Histogram analysis of noncancerous liver parenchyma on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: predictive value for liver function and pathology

Purpose

To clarify whether the heterogeneity of hepatic parenchyma in the hepatobiliary phase on gadoxetic acid-magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is correlated with liver damage.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively examined the cases of 98 patients with or without chronic liver disease who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced 3T MR imaging before a hepatectomy between December 2010 and October 2014. For the evaluation of the heterogeneity of the signal intensity in the hepatobiliary phase, we placed the region of interest on the hepatic parenchyma, and the skewness and kurtosis were calculated using ImageJ software. A discriminant analysis was performed to examine the routine preoperative laboratory test results including indocyanine green retention at 15 min (ICG-R15), necro-inflammation grade, and liver fibrosis stage according to the METAVIR system: A0/1 (n = 69) and A2 (n = 29); F0/1 (n = 47), F2/3 (n = 31), and F4 (n = 20).

Results

The combination of skewness and kurtosis could discriminate the high ICG-R15 (>20) and low (<20) groups (lambda; 0.925, p = 0.025), necro-inflammatory grade (lambda; 0.926, p = 0.026), and fibrosis stage (lambda; 0.752, p < 0.0001) with statistical significance. The difference between the patients with normal values and those with an abnormal platelet count or aspartate transaminase level was also detectable (lambda; 0.901, p < 0.007, and lambda; 0.864, p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Histogram analyses of the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging have potential as a biomarker for the assessment of liver function, liver fibrosis, and necro-inflammation.

     

PD-L1 blockade exhibits anti-tumor effect on brain metastasis by activating CD8+ T cells in hematogenous metastasis model with lymphocyte infusion

Brain metastases are common complication in cancer patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors show therapeutic benefits also in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases. However, their antitumor effects on metastatic tumors and their underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study we investigated the antitumor effect of anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody on metastatic brain tumors and evaluated immune responses during treatment. We employed a hematogenous brain metastasis xenograft model using immunodeficient mice with murine lymphocyte infusions. A human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line stably expressing NanoLuc^® reporter (Nluc-H1915) was inoculated from the internal carotid artery of SCID mice. After metastases were established (24 days after inoculation), splenocytes prepared from H1915-immunized BALB/c mice were injected intravenously and mouse IgG or anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment was started (day 1). Evaluated by Nluc activity, tumor volume in the brain on day 14 was significantly lower in anti-PD-L1-treated mice than in mouse IgG-treated mice. Furthermore CD8⁺ cells were primarily infiltrated intratumorally and peritumorally and anti-PD-L1 treatment induced a significantly higher proportion of Granzyme B (GzmB)⁺ cells among CD8⁺ T cells. The antitumor effect of anti-PD-L1 antibody on brain metastasis is thought to be achieved by the enhanced activation of infiltrated CD8⁺ T cells into metastatic brain tumor. These results suggest that anti-PD-L1 antibody-containing regimens may be promising treatment options for cancer patients with brain metastases.