Continuous monitoring of glucose levels in the hepatic vein and systemic circulation during the Pringle maneuver in beagles

Intraoperative continuous glucose monitoring revealed that liver ischemia/reperfusion causes a rapid and profound transition in glucose concentration. We hypothesized that the washout of the glucose stored in the liver leads to a rapid transition in blood glucose concentration. Six female beagles were studied. A portosystemic shunt was established, and the glucose levels in the jugular, hepatic, and portal veins were continuously monitored. All beagles were stabilized for 30 min, and, subsequently, the hepatic artery and portal vein were clamped (the Pringle maneuver). After 30 min of warm hepatic ischemia, the clamp was removed in order to initiate hepatic reperfusion. The endpoint of the experiment was 60 min after the onset of reperfusion. The glucose levels in the abovementioned veins were recorded continuously. The glucose level in the hepatic vein increased 10 min after the start of the Pringle maneuver and was significantly higher than that in the jugular vein and portal vein just before unclamping. The glucose level in the hepatic vein peaked at 2 min after unclamping and that in the portal and jugular veins started to increase after reperfusion. The glucose level in the hepatic vein was significantly higher than that in the jugular and portal veins between 9 min after clamping and 8 min after reperfusion. In conclusion, our study among beagles showed that glucose release from the hepatic vein and sinusoid leads to a rapid elevation in systemic blood glucose levels after liver ischemia/reperfusion. This knowledge might help in the development of new strategies for blood glucose management during hepatectomy.     

定量质子磁共振波谱对鉴别良性与恶性脑膜瘤的价值(英文)

本研究致力于探讨定量质子磁共振波谱(MRS)对鉴别良性与恶性脑膜瘤的价值。研究利用1.5T磁共振仪,对23例脑膜瘤(良性组(WHO I级)19例,恶性组(WHOⅡ～Ⅲ级)4例)进行单体素MRS检查(PRESS序列,TR/TE=2000ms/68,136,272ms),通过指数衰减模型估计组织水和胆碱(Choline,Cho)的T2弛豫时间,并以组织水为内参照计算Cho的绝对浓度,然后按MRS体素内坏死或囊变组织的比例对Cho浓度进行校正。研究发现,良、恶性脑膜瘤的组织水T2弛豫时间分别是(105±41)ms和(151±42)ms,差异有显著性(P=0.033)。良、恶性脑膜瘤的Cho T2弛豫时间分别是(242±73)ms和(316±102)ms,无显著差异(P=0.105)。良、恶性脑膜瘤的Cho浓度在校正前分别是(2.86±0.86)mmol/kg wet weight和(3.53±0.60)mmol/kg wet weight,在校正后分别是(2.98±0.93)mmol/kg wet weight和(4.58±1.22)mmol/kg wet weight,校正后差异具有显著性(P=0.019)。研究...     

Dextran sulphate sodium increases splenic Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells which accelerate recovery from colitis following intravenous transplantation

While Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells are known to regulate immune responses and accumulate in most cancer tissues, the function of Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells in inflammation is poorly understood. We investigated the role of Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells in a dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-treated mouse model of ulcerative colitis (UC). C57BL/6 mice were treated with 2% DSS in drinking water for 5 days. Disease progression and recovery were assessed by body weight, disease activity index score (DAI) score and colon length. Splenic Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cell number was greatly increased during the recovery phase of DSS-induced colitis. DSS-derived splenic Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells were administered intravenously to recipient (C57BL/6) mice during the early phase of DSS treatment. The transplanted splenic DSS-induced Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells improved DSS-induced colitis and promoted efficient colonic mucosal healing. We found that the CD11b(+) single positive cells increased in the course of DSS-induced colitis in lamina propria. The transplantation of splenic Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells induced feedback suppression of myeloid-lineage cell development. Namely, the transplantation of splenic Gr1(+)CD11b(+) cells greatly suppressed the migration of CD11b(+) single positive cells to the lamina propria. Further, transplantation of Gr-1(+)CD11b(+) cells greatly suppressed the increase of the same population, especially during the late phase of DSS colitis both in spleen and bone marrow.     

Acute intrahepatic cholestasis accompanied with Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection

We report a case of Chlamydophila (C.) pneumoniae infection presenting with fever and rapid intrahepatic cholestasis. A 63-year-old man had a week-long history of intermittent high fever and rapidly progressive jaundice with atypical erythema. The results of liver function tests were recorded. The results of all serological tests were negative; the IgM, IgG, and IgA titers for C. pneumoniae had increased, which indicates a C. pneumoniae infection. The patient's fever and liver dysfunction improved upon administration of minocycline. Light microscopic findings showed the presence of enlarged liver cells with clear cytoplasm, a few mitotic figures, multinucleated cells, and bile cholestasis. The electron microscopic appearance of liver biopsy showed that bile canaliculi exhibited intrahepatic forms of cholestasis. From the results of light and electron microscopy, we inferred atypical intrahepatic cholestasis, probably resulting from the C. pneumoniae infection.     

Controlled release by biodegradable hydrogels enhances the ectopic bone formation of bone morphogenetic protein

The objective of this study is to develop a carrier for the controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) suitable for enhancement of the bone regeneration activity. Hydrogels with different water contents were prepared through glutaraldehyde crosslinking of gelatin with an isoelectric point of 9.0 under varied reaction conditions. Following subcutaneous implantation of the gelatin hydrogels incorporating 125I-labeled BMP-2 into the back of mice, the in vivo retention period of BMP-2 prolonged with a decrease in the water content of hydrogels used, although every time period was much longer than that of BMP-2 solution injection. Ectopic bone formation studies demonstrated that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin content around the implanted site of BMP-2-incorporated gelatin hydrogels were significantly high compared with those around the injected site of BMP-2 solution. The values became maximum for the gelatin hydrogel incorporating BMP-2 with a middle period of BMP-2 retention, while bone formation was histologically observed around the hydrogel incorporating BMP-2. The ALP activity was significantly higher than that of the collagen sponge incorporating BMP-2. We concluded that the controlled release technology of BMP-2 for a certain time period was essential to induce the potential activity for bone formation.     

Unique prognostic features of grade 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma: Findings from 101 consecutive cases at a Japanese tertiary cancer center

ObjectiveThe prognosis of and optimal treatment for grade 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (G3EEC) currently remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the baseline recurrence risk in patients with early-stage (stage I–II) G3EEC without adjuvant therapy and the prognosis of patients with advanced-stage (stage III–IV) G3EEC.Materials and methodsA total of 101 patients with pathologically confirmed G3EEC from 1997 to 2018 were identified. Their clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Disease-free survival and overall survival values were estimated according to the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using a log-rank test.ResultsRecurrence was observed in eight (13%) of 63 patients with early-stage G3EEC, none of whom had received adjuvant therapy. The 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival rates for these patients were 86.7% and 96.4%, respectively. Recurrence was also observed in 12 (41%) of 29 patients with stage III G3EEC. The 5-year overall survival rates for stage III patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy were 85.6% and 42.9%, respectively. The 3-year overall survival rate among stage IVB patients was only 12.7% despite multidisciplinary treatment provision.ConclusionOur study newly demonstrates that patients with early-stage G3EEC have a favorable prognosis and a low recurrence rate in the absence of adjuvant therapy. In patients with stage III G3EEC, adjuvant chemotherapy was more beneficial than adjuvant radiotherapy. The poor prognosis of patients with stage IV G3EEC indicates the need for more effective treatments. Unique therapeutic approaches based on staging are recommended for treatment of G3EEC.     

Treatment with Laevo (l)-carnitine reverses the mitochondrial function of human embryos

PurposeLaevo (l)-carnitine plays important roles in reducing the cytotoxic effects of free fatty acids by forming acyl-carnitine and promoting beta-oxidation, leading to alleviation of cell damage. Recently, the mitochondrial functions in morula has been shown to decrease with the maternal age. Here, we assessed the effect of l-carnitine on mitochondrial function in human embryos and embryo development.MethodsTo examine the effect of l-carnitine on mitochondrial function in morulae, 38 vitrified–thawed embryos at the 6–11-cell stage on day 3 after ICSI were donated from 19 couples. Each couple donated two embryos. Two siblings from each couple were divided randomly into two groups and were cultured in medium with or without 1 mM l-carnitine. The oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) were measured at morula stage. The development of 1029 zygotes cultured in medium with or without l-carnitine was prospectively analyzed.ResultsAddition of l-carnitine to the culture medium significantly increased the OCRs of morulae and improved the morphologically-good blastocyst formation rate per zygote compared with sibling embryos. Twenty healthy babies were born from embryos cultured in l-carnitine-supplemented medium after single embryo transfers.Conclusion(s)l-carnitine is a promising culture medium supplement that might be able to counteract the decreased mitochondrial function in human morula stage embryos.     

Isolation, growth, and characteristics of human ovarian surface epithelium

To isolate human ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) and studied its characteristicsin vitro, we used the scraping method with an enzymatic procedure. After incubation of the ovary in collagenase type 1 solution, the surface cells were removed by gentle scraping with surgical blade. Cells obtained as a cluster after unit gravity sedimentation with 5% bovine serum albumin in medium 199 were cultured in medium 199 containing 15% fetal bovine serum. The viable cell number in a single ovary was 0.1 to 2.7×10⁶, and the cell population doubling time was between 7 to 10 days. Confluent monolayers were formed after 13–20 days and subcultured one to three times. The monolayers mostly had a cobblestone appearance, and fusiform or polygonal cells were also observed. By cytochemistry, immunocytochemistry and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, the cells in short-term culture were shown to have characteristics of mesothelial OSE cells.     

Effect of salvianolic acid A, a depside from roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase

Salvianolic acid A, a depside from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza, inhibited pig gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase and pNPPase with 50% inhibition values (IC50) of 5.2 x 10(-7) M and 1.7 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the inhibition patterns induced by salvianolic acid A were competitive with respect to ATP and noncompetitive with respect to K+. Salvianolic acid A (25 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly inhibited acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. At the same dose it also showed a significant reduction in the formation of gastric lesion induced by water immersion and restraint stress. These results suggest that salvianolic acid A shows antisecretory and antiulcer activity by inhibiting the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase.