Effects of Nd:YAG laser irradiation on ventricular myocardium in dogs using an artificial sapphire tip contact laser catheter]

To apply Nd:YAG laser irradiation through a new sapphire tip contact laser method to catheter ablation in treatment of tachy-arrhythmias, effects of laser irradiation on ventricular myocardium were investigated in 10 mongrel dogs. Nd:YAG lase (1064nm) discharges were delivered to different sites on the endomyocardium at power of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25w with duration of 3, 5, or 10 seconds (sec.) respectively in closed beating hearts. Histopathologically, the lesion irradiated was clearly demarcated from the normal myocardium by the construction band necrosis zone. The depth of injured myocardium was less than 2mm with 3 sec. irradiations, with 5 sec. from 1 mm to 4 mm in proportion to power increase, with 10 sec. from 3mm to 8 mm in proportion to the power from 5w to 15w and could not be measured in cases of more than 20w irradiations. Although with every irradiation duration, the depth of injury increased in proportion to the power increase. With the same total energy, a longer time of irradiation produced deeper injury than a shorter time. This method makes it easier to keep the laser positioned to target than bare laser, and is suitable for use in catheter ablation.     

Mucin expression profile in pancreatic cancer and the precursor lesions

In this review article, we demonstrate the mucin expression profile in normal tissue, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), two subtypes of intraductal papillary–mucinous neoplasm (IPMN dark cell type and IPMN clear cell type), pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), and mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) of the pancreas. In MUC1, there are various glycoforms, such as poorly glycosylated MUC1, sialylated MUC1, and fully glycosylated MUC1. IDCs showed high expression of all the glycoforms of MUC1. IPMNs dark cell type showed no expression or low expression of all the glycoforms of MUC1. IPMNs clear cell type showed low expression of poorly glycosylated MUC1, but expression of sialylated MUC1 and fully glycosylated MUC1. Expression of MUC2 was negative in IDCs, high in IPMNs dark cell type and low in IPMNs clear cell type. MUC5AC was highly expressed in IDCs, IPMNs dark cell type, and IPMNs clear cell type. MUC6 expression was higher in IPMNs clear cell type than in IDCs and IPMNs dark cell type. Our recent study demonstrated that high expression of MUC4 in IDCs is correlated with a poor outcome for patients. In PanINs, expression of both MUC5AC and MUC6 are an early event, whereas up-regulation of MUC1 is a late event. MCNs do not look as if they will show a specific mucin expression profile according to the literature review.     

Functional expression of TWEAK in human colonic adenocarcinoma cells

The TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) can induce diverse cellular responses, including cell death, inflammation, migration, and proliferation in various transformed cell lines. We investigated TWEAK sensitivity, TWEAK effects on nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and expression of TWEAK in the HT-29, LS180, SK-CO-1 and SW480 human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines, all of which express the TWEAK receptor (Fn14). TWEAK alone induced cell death in SW480 cells and induced cell death of HT-29 cells after addition of IFN-gamma, actinomycin D or cycloheximide. TWEAK did not affect cell viability of LS-180 or SK-CO-1 cells. Activation of NF-kappaB was not obviously influenced by TWEAK in any of the cell lines. All four human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines constitutively expressed TWEAK mRNA, protein and membrane-bound TWEAK antigen, as detected by RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. Stimulation by an anticancer drug (camptothecin) augmented cell surface expression of TWEAK and all human colonic adenocarcinoma tissue samples studied (n=59) demonstrated positive staining for TWEAK antigen. Soluble TWEAK was detected in culture medium of these cell lines by ELISA and conditioned medium from SW480 cells incubated with anti-TWEAK antibody significantly inhibited endothelial cell tube formation in Matrigels. Thus, functional expression of TWEAK from human colonic adenocarcinoma cells may contribute to neovascularization.     

Factors that influence the serum of atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide concentrations--is there a specific marker for senile patients?

To evaluate factors that influence of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in elderly people, we measured those levels in 54 men and 148 women (84.4 +/- 0.5 years old), and looked for associations of ANP and BNP with clinical factors and echocardiographic variables [left ventricular mass index and atrial to-early peak transmitral velocity ratio (A/E)]. ANP and BNP levels were 1.6 and 6.5 times higher than average. Sex was not a significant factor. We also looked for a link between cardiac rhythms and levels of ANP and BNP. Patients with atrial fibrillation had significantly higher levels of ANP and BNP than did patients with sinus rhythm. ANP and BNP levels were abnormally high in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We could measured A/E in 161 of 202 subjects; 154 of 157 subjects with normal LV systolic function had A/E > 1 which indicates abnormally low in LV diastolic function. Moreover, abnormally high LV diastolic stress might have been present, because 124 of 202 subjects had aortic regurgitation. We divided the patients into two groups: those 65 to 75 years old, and those over 75 years old. The older patients had significantly higher levels of ANP and BNP even without LVH and without a difference in renal function. Furthermore, the older patients had significantly higher levels of BNP even without LVH, with normal renal function, with sinus rhythm, with normal LV systolic function, and in NYHA Class I or II. These data indicate that ANP and BNP levels in people with senility may be associated with the cardiac rhythm and with abnormally low renal function, myocardial hypertrophy, abnormally high cardiac volume, and abnormally low diastolic function.     

A child case of Down's syndrome with intestinal tuberculosis and tuberculous pleuritis

A 13 year-old girl with Down's syndrome was admitted to our hospital with a very positive reaction to PPD 5TU, abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray films and diarrhea. She suffered from acute enterocolitis one year ago, and then has been complaining of abdominal pain, appetite loss, and weight loss for a year. After admission, she was diagnosed as tuberculous pleuritis and suspected intestinal tuberculosis by laboratory examination. She recovered without sequelae by the combination therapy of SM, INH, and RFP, and was discharged after 5 months. The diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis was confirmed by Colon Fiberscopy showing ulceration at the ileocecal region and simultaneous biopsy showing granuloma. Surgical treatment was not reserved, because she had no complications namely perforation and fistulization. We estimated that the onset of intestinal tuberculosis coincided with the acute enterocolitis which she had about one year ago. We realized the importance of paying attention to intestinal tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of enterocolitis, especially regional enteritis. Furthermore, in the therapy of the immunocompromised host including Down's syndrome, we must pay attention to extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Efficiency of SM for intestinal tuberculosis with complications was confirmed.     

G protein‐coupled receptor 30 contributes to improved remyelination after cuprizone‐induced demyelination

Estrogen exerts neuroprotective and promyelinating actions. The therapeutic effect has been shown in animal models of multiple sclerosis, in which the myelin sheath is specifically destroyed in the central nervous system. However, it remains unproven whether estrogen is directly involved in remyelination via the myelin producing cells, oligodendrocytes, or which estrogen receptors are involved. In this study, we found that the membrane‐associated estrogen receptor, the G protein‐coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), also known as GPER, was expressed in oligodendrocytes in rat spinal cord and corpus callosum. Moreover, GPR30 was expressed throughout oligodendrocyte differentiation and promyelinating stages in primary oligodendrocyte cultures derived from rat spinal cords and brains. To evaluate the role of signaling via GPR30 in promyelination, a specific agonist for GPR30, G1, was administered to a rat model of demyelination induced by cuprizone treatment. Histological examination of the corpus callosum with oligodendrocyte differentiation stage‐specific markers showed that G1 enhanced oligodendrocyte maturation in corpus callosum of cuprizone‐treated animals. It also enhanced oligodendrocyte ensheathment of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in co‐culture and myelination in cuprizone‐treated animals. This study is the first evidence that GPR30 signaling promotes remyelination by oligodendrocytes after demyelination. GPR30 ligands may provide a novel therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Initial experience with proximal ligation for profunda femoris artery aneurysms: report of three cases

Profunda femoris artery aneurysms (PFAAs) are rare and difficult to diagnose in the early stage. They are often found due to the presence of complicated conditions, such as rapid expansion, rupture, or acute lower limb ischemia. Surgical procedures such as aneurysmectomy and endoaneurysmorrhaphy tend to be technically challenging because of the patient status and the extent of the aneurysm. We experienced three cases of PFAAs that were treated by proximal ligation (PL) without complete control of the distal branches. The exclusion of PFAAs was confirmed by duplex ultrasound or angiography at the end of the operation. There was no mortality in the perioperative period. During a 12-month follow-up, all cases exhibited complete exclusion of aneurysms with marked size reduction. Based on these findings, we propose that PL, with a careful follow-up for PFAA exclusion and distal limb circulation, could be an alternative treatment for complicated PFAAs.     

Selecting and Using the Appropriate Influenza Vaccine for Each Individual

Despite seasonal influenza vaccines having been routinely used for many decades, influenza A virus continues to pose a global threat to humans, causing high morbidity and mortality each year. The effectiveness of the vaccine is largely dependent on how well matched the vaccine strains are with the circulating influenza virus strains. Furthermore, low vaccine efficacy in naïve populations such as young children, or in the elderly, who possess weakened immune systems, indicates that influenza vaccines need to be more personalized to provide broader community protection. Advances in both vaccine technologies and our understanding of influenza virus infection and immunity have led to the design of a variety of alternate vaccine strategies to extend population protection against influenza, some of which are now in use. In this review, we summarize the progress in the field of influenza vaccines, including the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies, and discuss future prospects. We also highlight some of the challenges to be faced in the ongoing effort to control influenza through vaccination.     

Augmentation of tumor necrosis factor family-induced apoptosis by E3330 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines via inhibition of NFκB

AIM: To investigate the reduction of cell viability in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines induced by inhibition of nuclear factor κB (NFκB).METHODS: HLE, SKHep1, and HepG2 were incubated and E3330 was used to compare the stimulation of some chemotherapeutic drugs with that of TNF family, Fas ligand, TNFα and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) at the point of the reduction of cell viability by inhibiting NFκB.RESULTS: E3330 decreased NFκB levels in HLE cells stimulated by TNF and TRAIL. The cytotoxicity of the combination of TRAIL, TNFα, Fas ligand, and E3330increased synergistically in a dose-dependent manner compared to either E3330 alone in all HCC cell lines by MTT assay. However, the combination of some chemotherapeutic drugs and E3330 did not decrease the cell viability.CONCLUSION: Inhibition of NFκB sensitizes human HCC cell lines to TNF-mediated apoptosis including TRAIL, and TRAIL-based tumor therapy might be a powerful potential therapeutic tool in the treatment of human HCC.