Protective effects of calpain inhibitor for prolonged hypothermic cardiac preservation

Purpose: For successful organ transplantation, it is important to properly preserve the donor organ. This study was carried out to investigate tissue damage generated by the activation of calpain during prolonged hypothermic cardiac preservation using specific antibodies for μ- and m-calpain proenzymes, and to ensure the protective effect of calpain inhibitor 1 (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal). Methods: Excised rat hearts were divided into two groups: in Group I, the heart was arrested and immersed in University of Wisconsin solution with 20 μM of calpain inhibitor 1 (n = 28) and in Group N, the heart was arrested and immersed in University of Wisconsin solution without calpain inhibitor (n = 27). After a 12-hour preservation period at 4°C, the hearts were reperfused on an isolated perfusion apparatus. Separation of the myocardial calpain isozymes was carried out by DEAE cellulose chromatography and both calpain proenzymes were detected by immunoblotting. Results: The cardiac function was more satisfactorily maintained in Group I in comparison with Group N. Remarkable leakage of creatine kinase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase was detected in Group N, while it was efficiently suppressed in Group I. During ischemia, μ-calpain proenzyme decreased in Group N (p < 0.01), but there was no significant change in m-calpain. However, during reperfusion, both μ- and m-calpains decreased more in Group N (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Activation of calpain proenzymes and a decrease in cardiac function during preservation and reperfusion were demonstrated. The use of calpain inhibitor to protect against tissue damage was suggested as being useful for the prolonged preservation of the heart.     

Endosalpingiosis of nonmetastatic lymph nodes along the stomach in a patient with early gastric cancer: Report of a case

We report herein the case of a 32-year-old woman who underwent distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer. Microscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach with lymph node metastases, and endosalpingiosis in the normal lymph nodes. There was no evidence of malignancy in the peritoneal cavity. To our knowledge, no other case of endosalpingiosis in the lymph nodes along the stomach has ever been reported. The possible significance of endosalpingiosis is discussed following this case report.     

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption

As both tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2 have been reported to inhibit bone resorption, we examined whether TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 in fetal calf serum (FCS), with which culture media were supplemented, affected osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro. Contrary to our expectation, almost complete suppression of osteoclastic bone resorption was observed when both TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were removed from the FCS. Bone resorption was, however, almost fully restored by the addition of recombinant TIMPs. TIMPs stimulate bone resorption at significantly lower concentrations (∼ng/ml) than those (∼μg/ml) required to inhibit bone resorption. To understand the mechanism of TIMP-dependent bone resorption, we counted and compared the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-(TRAP-) positive and multinuclear cells in cultures containing either 10% FCS or TIMP-1-free and/or TIMP-2-free FCS. There was essentially no difference in number among these, suggesting that the TIMP role seems to be related to the functional expression of osteoclasts. Metallo-proteinase inhibitors, either BE16627B[l-N-(N-hydroxy-2-isobutylsuccinynamoyl)-seryl-l-valine] or R94138 {N-methyl-(3S)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxycarbamoylmethylundecanoyl] hexahydropyridazine-3-carboxamide}, could not replace TIMPs, suggesting that the osteoclast-stimulating activity of TIMPs cannot be ascribed to merely their inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinases. Received: Oct. 15, 1998 / Accepted: April 5, 1999     

Synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis by Apo-2 ligand and adriamycin against bladder cancer cells.

Resistance to conventional anticancer chemotherapeutic agents remains one of the major problems in the treatment of bladder cancer. Hence, new therapeutic modalities are necessary to treat the drug-resistant cancers. Apo-2 ligand (Apo-2L) is member of the tumor necrosis factor ligand family, and it induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Several cytotoxic anticancer drugs, including Adriamycin (ADR), also mediate apoptosis and may share the common intracellular pathways leading to cell death. We reasoned that combination treatment of the drug-resistant cancer cells with Apo-2L and drugs might overcome their resistance. Here, we examined whether bladder cancer cells are sensitive to Apo-2L-mediated cytotoxicity and whether Apo-2L can synergize with ADR in cytotoxicity and apoptosis against bladder cancer cells. Recombinant human soluble Apo-2L (sApo-2L), which carries the extracellular domain of Apo-2L, was used as a ligand. Cytotoxicity was determined by a 1-day microculture tetrazolium dye assay. Synergy was assessed by isobolographic analysis. Human T24 bladder cancer line was relatively resistant to sApo-2L. Treatment of T24 line with combination of sApo-2L and ADR resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect. Synergy was also achieved in the ADR-resistant T24 line (T24/ADR), two other bladder cancer lines, and three freshly derived human bladder cancer cell samples. In addition, T24 cells were sensitive to treatment with sApo-2L combined with epirubicin or pirarubicin. The synergy achieved in cytotoxicity with sApo-2L and ADR was also achieved in apoptosis. Intracellular accumulation of ADR was not affected by sApo-2L. Incubation of T24 cells with sApo-2L down-regulated the expression of glutathione S-transferase-pi mRNA. This study demonstrates that combination treatment of bladder cancer cells with sApo-2L and ADR overcomes their resistance. The sensitization obtained with established ADR-resistant bladder cancer cells and freshly isolated bladder cancer cells required low subtoxic concentrations of ADR, thus supporting the in vivo potential application of combination of sApo-2L and ADR in the treatment of ADR-resistant bladder cancer.     

Bilateral nonpalpable breast carcinomas in a patient withbrca2 germ line mutation and past history of osteosarcoma

A 34-year-old premenopausal woman developed asynchronous bilateral nonpalpable breast cancers at the age of 32 and 34 years. She had undergone amputation of her left lower leg because of osteosarcoma at the age of 16. Her mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 45. The clinicopathological features of the two breast tumors in this patient closely resembled each other; both were nonpalpable, and detectable only by helical CT scan. Histologically, they consisted mainly of an intraductal component with small grade 3 invasive foci. In addition, both tumors estrogen receptor (ER) status was negative, and both were positive for c-erbB-2 protein on immunohistochemical staining. A missense germ line mutation ofBRCA2 (exon 25 codon 3118; Met31 1 8Thr) was detected in this patient. These data may provide useful information on the carcinogenesis and biological behavior of breast cancers which develop in patients withBRCA2 germ line mutations.     

Reduction of the Side Effects of an Antitumor Agent, KRN5500, by Incorporation of the Drug into Polymeric Micelles

For intravenous (i.v.) injection of a water-insoluble antitumor drug, KRN5500, we have successfully incorporated KRN5500 into polymeric micelles. In the present study, in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against several human tumor cell lines and toxicity in mice of polymeric micelles incorporating KRN5500 (KRN/m) were evaluated in comparison with those of the prototype KRN5500. KRN/m was found to express similar antitumor activity to KRN5500 in the in vitro and in vivo systems. However, the vascular damage and liver focal necrosis observed with KRN5500 i.v. injection were not seen when KRN/m was administered i.v. Therefore, we expect that KRN/m will be superior to KRN5500 for clinical use and that the methodology of polymeric micelle drug carrier systems can be applied to other water-insoluble drugs.     

Lessons learned from lower urinary tract complications of anorectoplasty for imperforate anus with rectourethral/rectovesical fistula: Laparoscopy-assisted versus posterior sagittal approaches

PurposeTo report the sequelae of and preventive strategies for selected lower urinary tract (LUT) complications, i.e., posterior urethral diverticulum (PUD), intraoperative LUT injuries, postoperative dysuria, and fistula recurrence in male imperforate anus (IA) with rectourethral/rectovesical (RU/RV) fistula after laparoscopy-assisted anorectoplasty (LAARP) or posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP).Methods153 boys with IA and RU/RV fistula treated 1986–2019 by LAARP (n = 56) or PSARP (n = 97) at two unrelated institutes were studied retrospectively.ResultsAfter mean follow-up of 17.0 years (range: 36.5 days-32.0 years), the overall incidences of LUT complications were: LAARP (6/56; 10.7%); PSARP (7/97; 7.2%); p = 0.55, comprising PUD: LAARP (n = 5), PSARP (n = 0); p = 0.006; injuries: LAARP (n = 0), PSARP (n = 5); p = 0.16; dysuria: LAARP (n = 1), PSARP (n = 1); p>0.999; and recurrence: LAARP (n = 0), PSARP (n = 1); p>0.999. Mean onset of PUD was 5.1 years (range: 1.0–15.1 years). Treatment: PUD: surgery (n = 2/5), conservative (n = 3/5); injuries: intraoperative repair (n = 5/5); dysuria: conservative (n = 2/2), and recurrence: redo PSARP (n = 1/1).ConclusionsStrategies devised to improve dissection accuracy resolved the specific technical issues causing LUT complications (remnant RU fistula dissection in LAARP and blind posterior access in PSARP). Currently, the incidence of new cases of PUD and LUT injuries is zero.Level of Evidence: Level III     

Pre-operative higher hematocrit and lower total protein levels are independent risk factors for cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome after superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery anastomosis with pial synangiosis in adult moyamoya disease patients—case-control study

Neurosurgical Review - Superficial temporal artery (STA)–middle cerebral artery (MCA) anastomosis is a standard treatment for adult moyamoya disease (MMD) patients. Cerebral hyperperfusion...     

Association between central sensitivity syndrome and psychological factors in people with presurgical low back pain: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a major problem; it causes significant burden, incurs considerable economic and human costs, and adversely affects the quality of life (QoL). Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) is known as a group of overlapping conditions that share a common pathophysiological mechanism of central sensitization. Previous studies have shown that CSS is present in several disorders. However, it has been studied for people with presurgical LBP. The purpose of the study was to investigate the proportion of patients with CSS for presurgical LBP and to analyse the association of CSS with clinical symptoms and psychological factors.MethodsData of demographics, the central sensitization inventory (CSI), psychological measures, clinical symptoms of 238 patients with presurgical LBP were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups depending on the CSI scores (≥40 and < 40). The two groups were compared, and the correlation between the CSI scores and other outcomes was analysed. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors contributing to the CSI scores.Results13.0% of participants were CSS. All outcomes were significantly different between the groups and significant associations were found between the CSI scores and all other outcomes. In addition, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) was most significant associated scale for the CSI scores.ConclusionWe found that certain patients had CSS with presurgical LBP. The CSI scores were significantly associated with the majority of the factors. The PCS was the factor with the most influence on the CSI scores.     

Inhibitory activity of flavonoids from Ephedrae Herba on hypoxia signaling in PANC-1 cells and the evaluation of their mechanisms

Journal of Natural Medicines - Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease with a very poor prognosis. Recent reports indicate that hypoxia signaling mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)...