Quantitative analysis of K-ras gene mutation in pancreatic tissue obtained by endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration: clinical utility for diagnosis of pancreatic tumor

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has become established in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. The combination of pathological diagnosis and analysis for mutant K-ras gene was investigated to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. METHODS: EUS-FNA was performed in 34 patients with pancreatic masses (26 adenocarcinomas and eight chronic pancreatitis). Mutant ras gene was analyzed semiquantitatively in the specimens obtained by EUS-FNA as well as in pancreatic juice obtained by ERCP. RESULTS: Mutant gene was detected at high amounts (more than 2% of total ras genes) in 20 of 26 (77%) specimens of EUS-FNA and in 12 of 19 (63%) of pancreatic juice in cases with pancreatic carcinoma. Cytological diagnosis of malignancy by EUS-FNA was found in 16 of 26 (62%) patients with pancreatic cancer. Accurate diagnosis of the carcinoma was 21 of 26 (81%) by combined cytology and molecular method of EUS-FNA, and increased to 23 of 26 (88%) by adding molecular analysis of pancreatic juice. In contrast, mutant gene was absent or low level despite suspicious cytology in patients with benign pancreatic lesion. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of mutant ras gene supplemented conventional cytology of EUS-FNA and ERCP. Detection of mutation at high amounts may represent pancreatic cancer, whereas its absence increased the possibility of benign lesion.     

Antimicrobial and microbicidal activities of tea and catechins against Mycoplasma]

We examined tea extracts, (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and theaflavin digallate (TF3) for their antimicrobial and microbicidal activities against Mycoplasma. Green tea and black tea showed antimicrobial activities against M. pneumoniae. At a concentration of 0.2% green tea and black tea showed microbicidal activities against M. pneumoniae and M. orale but not against M. salivarium. Extracts of pu-erh tea showed a slight microbicidal activity against M. pneumoniae and M. orale. EGCg purified from green tea and TF3 from black tea markedly showed microbicidal activities against M. pneumoniae. M. orale and M. salivarium. These results suggest that tea and catechins can be used as prophylactic agents against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.     

Adrenomedullin regenerates alveoli and vasculature in elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice

RATIONALE: Adrenomedullin, a potent vasodilator peptide, regulates cell growth and survival. However, whether adrenomedullin contributes to lung regeneration remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether adrenomedullin influences the kinetics of bone marrow cells, and whether adrenomedullin promotes regeneration of alveoli and vasculature and thereby improves lung structure and function in elastase-induced emphysema in mice. METHODS: Adrenomedullin or vehicle was randomly administered to C57BL/6 mice for 5 days. We counted the numbers of mononuclear cells and stem cell antigen-1-positive cells in circulating blood. After intratracheal injection of elastase or saline, mice were randomized to receive continuous infusion of adrenomedullin or vehicle for 14 days. Functional and histologic analyses were performed 28 days after treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-eight days after elastase injection, destruction of the alveolar walls was observed. However, adrenomedullin infusion significantly inhibited the increase in lung volume, static lung compliance, and mean linear intercept in mice given elastase. Adrenomedullin increased the numbers of mononuclear cells and stem cell antigen-1-positive cells in circulating blood. Adrenomedullin significantly increased the number of bone marrow-derived cells incorporated into the elastase-treated lung. Some of these cells were positive for cytokeratin or von Willebrand factor. Infusion of adrenomedullin after the establishment of emphysema also had beneficial effects on lung structure and function. In vitro, addition of adrenomedullin attenuates elastase-induced cell death in alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenomedullin improved elastase-induced emphysema at least in part through mobilization of bone marrow cells and the direct protective effects on alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells.     

Perfectionism underlying psychological background correlated with the symptoms of functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUNDS: Early satiety, bloating, and postprandial distress are common symptoms in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and anorexia nervosa (AN). Perfectionism is known to be associated with AN, accompanied by abnormal eating behavior. We analyzed perfectionism in FD as compared with that in AN, and investigated the correlation of perfectionism with abdominal symptoms. METHODS: The study group comprised 168 patients with FD according to the Rome II criteria (65% females, mean age 47.7 years) and 101 with AN according to the DSM-IV criteria (100% females, mean age 23 years). As control, 130 healthy subjects (81% females, mean age 26.2 years) were studied. Frost's Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) was used to evaluate perfectionism. Abdominal symptoms were evaluated on the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS). RESULTS: All subscale scores except for organization were significantly higher in patients with AN than in controls. The parental criticism (PC) score in patients with FD was also significantly higher than that in controls, but lower than that in patients with AN. PC was significantly correlated with the total GSRS, particularly indigestion scores of FD patients (P = 0.0476 and P = 0.0294). CONCLUSIONS: Perfectionism such as PC underlying the psychological background of FD patients may be correlated with their abdominal symptoms.     

Splenectomy-reduced hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in the rat

Abstract: In the present study, we investigated the role of the spleen in experimental hepatic ischemia/reperfusion in the rat. After a 90-min period of ischemia in the left and middle hepatic lobes, the ischemia was released and the liver was reperfused for up to 24 h. Plasma alanine aminotransferase reached a peak 3 h after the onset of reperfusion, and gradually decreased thereafter. A histological examination revealed evidence of hepatocellular necrosis and degeneration, especially 24 h after the onset of reperfusion. In addition, there was a noticeable accumulation of polymorphonuclear cells in the liver following ischemia/reperfusion. A splenectomy performed just prior to ischemia/reperfusion reduced both biochemical and histological hepatocellular injury. The number of polymorphonuclear cells in the liver following ischemia/reperfusion was significantly reduced in rats subjected to splenectomy, suggesting that the increase in polymorphonuclear cells may contribute to liver injury. The number of mononuclear cells also increased in the marginal zones of the spleen following ischemia/reperfusion, and appeared to be derived from the splenic monocyte/macrophage population, based on immunohistochemical studies. The spleen plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and the splenic monocyte/macrophage population contributes to liver damage.     

Maturation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes by Soluble Factors from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

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