Extracellular vesicles released from irradiated neonatal mouse cheek tissue increased cell survival after radiation

Alopecia is one of the common symptoms after high-dose radiation exposure. In our experiments, neonatal mice that received 7 Gy X-ray exhibited defects in overall hair growth, except for their cheeks. This phenomenon might suggest that some substances were secreted and prevented hair follicle loss in the infant tissues around their cheeks after radiation damage. In this study, we focused on exosome-like vesicles (ELV) secreted from cheek skin tissues and back skin tissues, as control, and examined their radiation protective effects on mouse fibroblast cell lines. We observed that ELV from irradiated cheek skin showed protective effects from radiation. Our results suggest that ELV from radiation-exposed cheek skin tissue is one of the secreted factors that prevent hair follicle loss after high-dose radiation.     

TH1/TH2 and regulatory cytokines in adults with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: Otitis media with effusion is one of the most common and intractable ear diseases. However, the role of Th1, Th2, and immunoregulatory cytokines on the pathogenesis of the disease in adult patients remains to be determined. The aim of this study is to disclose the cytokine expression in middle ear effusions (MEEs) in adults and to compare the profile on the basis of the presence of allergic rhinitis and the type of effusions. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective controlled clinical study. PATIENTS: MEEs were collected from 80 adult subjects. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in MEEs were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, and IFN-gamma in MEEs were detected in 60 (75.0%), 33 (41.3%), 42 (52.5%), 14 (17.5%), 80 (100%), and 66 (82.5%) samples, respectively. Among these cytokines, only the concentration of IL-4 in the allergic rhinitis-positive group was significantly higher than that in the allergic rhinitis-negative group. On the other hand, IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-gamma were detected, regardless of the presence of allergic rhinitis, and the concentration of these cytokines correlated with each other. The correlation between the concentration of IL-4 and IL-5 was also detected. In addition, both the incidence rate and the concentration of IL-10 in MEEs were significantly higher in the mucoid type compared with those in the serous type effusions. CONCLUSION: Regardless of allergic status, IL-12 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion by affecting the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma. In addition, IL-4 may have some impact on the immunologic condition in adults with allergic rhinitis. IL-10 potentially affects the viscosity of MEEs.     

Influence of response to prior docetaxel on sensitivity to cabazitaxel in prostate cancer patients with PTEN alterations

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors predicting the sensitivity to cabazitaxel therapy in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) alterations. This single‐institution, retrospective study included 12 mCRPC patients with PTEN alterations who had received cabazitaxel therapy. Five patients (41%) responded to cabazitaxel therapy with a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level decline of ≥30% from baseline, and all of them had responded to prior docetaxel therapy with a PSA decline of ≥30%. None of the patients with a poor response to prior docetaxel therapy responded well to cabazitaxel therapy. Of the seven patients who did not respond to cabazitaxel and whose PSA declined from baseline was <30%, five (71%) were also refractory to prior docetaxel therapy. The PSA responses to docetaxel and cabazitaxel were significantly correlated (p = 0.027). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that progression‐free survival (PFS) for cabazitaxel was significantly shorter for prior docetaxel nonresponders (3.3 versus 9.1 months, p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis revealed that a poor response to prior docetaxel (PSA decline < 30%) (hazard ratio [HR] = 6.382, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.172–34.750, p = 0.032) and baseline PSA of ≥20 ng/ml (HR = 33.584, 95% CI 2.332–483.671, p = 0.010) were independent prognostic factors for PFS with cabazitaxel therapy. These results demonstrate cross‐resistance between docetaxel and cabazitaxel. The response to prior docetaxel therapy can influence the sensitivity to cabazitaxel therapy in mCRPC patients with PTEN alterations.     

Tumor growth inhibition through targeting liposomally bound curcumin to tumor vasculature

Increasing number of Phase I/II clinical studies have demonstrated clinical potential of curcumin for treatment of various types of human cancers. Despite significant anti-tumor efficacies and bio-safety profiles of curcumin, poor systemic bioavailability is retarding its clinical success. Efforts are now being directed toward developing stable formulations of curcumin using various drug delivery systems. To this end, herein we report on the development of a new tumor vasculature targeting liposomal formulation of curcumin containing a lipopeptide with RGDK-head group and two stearyl tails, di-oleyolphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and cholesterol. We show that essentially water insoluble curcumin can be solubilized in fairly high concentrations (~ 500 μg/mL) in such formulation. Findings in the Annexin V/Propidium iodide (PI) binding based flow cytometric assays showed significant apoptosis inducing properties of the present curcumin formulation in both endothelial (HUVEC) and tumor (B16F10) cells. Using syngeneic mouse tumor model, we show that growth of solid melanoma tumor can be inhibited by targeting such liposomal formulation of curcumin to tumor vasculature. Results in immunohistochemical staining of the tumor cryosections are consistent with tumor growth inhibition being mediated by apoptosis of tumor endothelial cells. Findings in both in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies are consistent with the supposition that the presently described liposomal formulation of curcumin inhibits tumor growth by blocking VEGF-induced STAT3 phosphorylation in tumor endothelium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on inhibiting tumor growth through targeting liposomal formulation of curcumin to tumor vasculatures.     

Cycling probe technology to quantify and discriminate between wild-type varicella-zoster virus and Oka vaccine strains

Rapid differentiation between wild-type varicella zoster virus (VZV) and Oka-vaccine (vOka) strains is important for monitoring side reactions of varicella vaccination. To develop a high-throughput molecular diagnostic method for the differentiation of wild-type VZV and vOka strains based on cycling probe technology. The primers were designed to amplify common sequences spanning a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in gene 62 of VZV. DNA–RNA chimeric probes (cycling probes) were designed to detect the SNP at nucleotide 105705. The cycling probe real-time PCR assays for VZV wild-type and vOka strains specifically amplified plasmids containing target sequences that ranged between 10 and 1 × 10⁶ copies per reaction. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation were less than 5%. After initial validation studies, the clinical reliability of this method was evaluated using 38 swab samples that were collected from patients suspected of being zoster. Compared to the loop mediated isothermal amplification method, which is defined as the gold standard, cycling probe real-time PCR was highly sensitive and specific. The cycling probe real-time PCR technology is a reliable tool for differentiating between wild-type VZV and vOka strains in clinical samples.     

Rare presentation of De Garengeot hernia treated by transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair: A case report

We present a rare case of De Garengeot hernia treated with simultaneous laparoscopic appendectomy and transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair. Our patient was an 85-year-old man with a bulging mass in the right groin. De Garengeot hernia was observed on contrast-enhanced CT. Urgent laparoscopy showed the distal part of the appendix passing through a right-sided femoral hernia. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, followed by transabdominal preperitoneal repair of the femoral hernia. Pathological examination revealed ischemic necrosis of the appendix. The patient's postoperative recovery was uneventful.     

Relationship between joint motion and acceleration during single-leg standing in healthy male adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between acceleration and joint movement by synchronizing accelerometers and a three-dimensional motion analysis system, and to show the utility of an accelerometer as a postural control assessment tool. [Subjects and Methods] Head, lumbar, shank accelerations and various joint angles during single-leg standing were measured of 20 healthy males. Root mean squares of acceleration and joint angle were calculated. Fast Fourier transform analysis was performed for head, lumbar, and shank accelerations, and the median frequencies were calculated. Then, principal component analysis was performed for the median frequency of each acceleration. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was also used to examine the relationship between joint angle and acceleration. [Results] The score of the first principal component was highest for shank acceleration, while that of the second principal component was highest for lumbar and head accelerations. In multiple regression analysis, hip flexion/extension and adduction/abduction were identified as variables associated with head acceleration. [Conclusion] We were able to confirm the aggregation of acceleration into two components, which we interpreted as postural control strategies using primarily the ankle and hip joints. Furthermore, though multiple regression analysis, we were able to clarify the joint movement indicated by acceleration of each segment.Key words: Postural control, Acceleration, Ankle sprain     

Alteration of the oral environment in patients undergoing esophagectomy during the perioperative period

Objective:

During the perioperative period, oral ingestion is changed considerably in esophagectomy patients. The aim of this study was to investigate oral environment modifications in patients undergoing esophageal cancer treatments due to changes in dietary intake and swallowing functions.

Material and Methods:

Thirty patients who underwent operation for removal of esophageal cancer in Tokushima University Hospital were enrolled in this study.

Results:

It was found that 1) the flow rate of resting saliva decreased significantly at postoperative period by deprived feeding for one week, although it did not recover several days after oral ingestion began, 2) the accumulation of dental plaque and the number of mutans streptococci in saliva decreased significantly after operation, while both increased relatively quick when oral ingestion began, and 3) the swallowing function decreased significantly in the postoperative period.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that dental professionals should emphasize the importance of oral health care and provide instructions on plaque control to patients during the perioperative period of esophageal cancer treatment.