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Background/Aims Dilation of the tract before stent deployment is a challenging step in endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD). In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of a novel spiral dilator, Tornus ES (Asahi Intec), for EUS-PDD. Methods This was a retrospective, single-arm, observational study at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. The punctured tract was dilated using a Tornus ES dilator in all EUS-PDD cases. Our primary endpoint was the technical success rate of initial tract dilation. Technical success was defined as successful fistula dilation using a Tornus ES followed by successful stent insertion. Secondary endpoints were procedure times and early adverse events. Results A total of 12 patients were included between December 2021 and March 2023. EUS-PDD was performed in 11 patients for post-pancreaticoduodenectomy anastomotic strictures and one patient with pancreatitis with duodenal perforation. The technical success rates of stent insertion and fistula dilation using a Tornus ES dilator was 100%. The median procedure time was 24 minutes. No remarkable adverse events related to the procedure were observed, apart from fever, which occurred in 2 patients. Conclusions Tract dilation in EUS-PDD using a Tornus ES is effective and safe.

Abstract Background We used transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedure time to investigate the association between surgical team maturity and outcome. Methods Among patients who underwent TAVI between October 2015 and November 2019, those who had Sapien™ implanted with the transfemoral artery approach were included in the analysis. We used TAVI procedure time and surgery number to draw a learning curve. Then, we divided the patients into two groups before and after the number of cases where the sigmoid curve reaches a plateau. We compared the two groups regarding the surveyed factors and investigated the correlation between the TAVI procedure time and survey factors. Results Ninety-nine of 149 patients were analysed. The sigmoid curve had an inflection point in 23.2 cases and reached a plateau in 43.0 cases. Patients in the Late group had a shorter operating time, less contrast media, less radiation exposure, and less myocardial escape enzymes than the Early group. Surgical procedure time showed the strongest correlation with the surgical case number. Conclusion The number of cases required for surgeon proficiency for isolated Sapien™ valve implantation was 43. This number may serve as a guideline for switching the anesthesia management of TAVI from general to local anesthesia.

Abstract Circulation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB has resulted in the emergence of XBB.1.5, a new Variant of Interest. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that XBB.1.5 evolved from XBB.1 by acquiring the S486P spike (S) mutation, subsequent to the acquisition of a nonsense mutation in ORF8. Neutralization assays showed similar abilities of immune escape between XBB.1.5 and XBB.1. We determine the structural basis for the interaction between human ACE2 and the S protein of XBB.1.5, showing similar overall structures between the S proteins of XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. We provide the intrinsic pathogenicity of XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 in hamsters. Importantly, we find that the ORF8 nonsense mutation of XBB.1.5 resulted in impairment of MHC suppression. In vivo experiments using recombinant viruses reveal that the XBB.1.5 mutations are involved with reduced virulence of XBB.1.5. Together, our study identifies the two viral functions defined the difference between XBB.1 and XBB.1.5.

Abstract A passive, low‐cost, paper‐based intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is designed to reflect a signal in a desired direction to overcome non‐line‐of‐sight scenarios in indoor environments. The IRS is fabricated using conductive silver ink printed on paper with a specific nanoparticle arrangement, yielding a cost‐effective paper‐based IRS that can easily be mass‐produced. Full‐wave numerical simulation results were consistent with measurement results, demonstrating the IRS's ability to reflect incident waves into a desired nonspecular direction based on the inkjet‐printed design and materials.

Here the authors show that a Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) containing PCGF1 prevents excessive loading of transcriptional activators and chromatin remodelers on nascent DNA, allowing proper deposition of nucleosomes immediately after the passage of the DNA replication fork to optimize downstream chromatin configurations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs).

Abstract Background Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with diabetes. Previously, we demonstrated that branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) showed cardioprotective effects against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. A recent study suggested that leucine (Leu), a BCAA, is a key amino acid involved in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity and mitochondrial function. However, whether Leu has cardioprotective effects on diabetic hearts is unclear. In this study, we examined the preconditioning effect of Leu treatment on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse which simulate prediabetic heart. Methods In vivo mice models of I/R injury were divided into the following groups: control, mTOR+/−, and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese groups. Mice were randomly administered with Leu, the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (Rap), or Leu with Rap. Isolated rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to simulated I/R injury. Biochemical and mitochondrial functional assays were performed to evaluate the changes in mTOR activity and mitochondrial dynamics caused by Leu treatment. Results Leu-treated mice showed a significant reduction in infarct size when compared with the control group (34.8% ± 3.8% vs. 43.1% ± 2.4%, n = 7, p

Polycomb repressive complexes (PRC1 and PRC2) repress genes that are crucial for development via epigenetic modifications; however, their role in differentiation is not well known. Here the authors reveal that a PCGF1-containing PRC1 variant facilitates exit from pluripotency by downregulating target genes and recruiting PRC2.

Abstract Opioid inhibition of nociceptive stimuli varies in individuals and is difficult to titrate. We have reported the vascular stiffness value (K) as a standard monitor to quantify sympathetic response with high accuracy. On the contrary, among individuals, a considerable variation in the rate of change in K for constant pain has been observed. In this study, we proposed a new index, the minimum stimulus intensity value that evoked the response on K (MECK: Minimum Evoked Current of K), and evaluated its accuracy in predicting sympathetic response to nociceptive stimuli under constant opioid administration. Thirty patients undergoing open surgery under general anesthesia were included. After anesthetic induction, remifentanil was administered at a constant concentration of 2 ng/ml at the effect site followed by tetanus stimulation. MECK was defined as the minimal current needed to produce a change in K. MECK significantly (P

We propose an all-monolithically integrated self-scanning addressable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array for time-of-flight measurement. Some advantages of addressable VCSELs for ToF measurement applications include large reductions in power consumption, heat generation, multi-pass noise, and flare noise. In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of the proposed self-scanning addressable VCSEL array. All layers in the epilayer structure of the proposed VCSEL array were formed at once by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. The device consists of an (Al)GaAs-based thyristor and a conventional top-emitting 940-nm oxide-confined VCSEL on an n-type GaAs substrate. The array contained 12 blocks (4 × 3) that have more than 40 emitters each. The device required only four signals from a field-programmable gate array to select the emitting blocks and one emission signal from a conventional VCSEL driver, even for arrays containing hundreds of blocks. The proposed module is capable of one-block sequential emission, parallel emission from several blocks, and emission from all blocks. The rise and fall times of the fabricated VCSEL array were observed to be 200 and 400 ps, respectively, for each emission mode. The influence of flare noise from an obstacle in front of the camera was dramatically reduced by avoiding emission to the obstacle.

Abstract Background Remimazolam is a novel short-acting benzodiazepine characterized by metabolism independent from organ function. We report intraoperative MEP responses of two patients who underwent spine surgery under general anesthesia using remimazolam. Case presentation In case 1, MEP monitoring was successfully performed with the use of a fixed dose of remimazolam at 0.5 mg/kg/h and remifentanil at 0.2 μg/kg/min. In case 2, an increasing dose of remimazolam from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg/h during the operation did not affect MEP signals. In both cases, remimazolam was titrated to maintain the values of entropy electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring at 40–60. Conclusions General anesthesia using remimazolam and remifentanil can be a valuable alternative for spine surgery with MEP monitoring by EEG to assess the optimal dose.

To establish a mouse model of weak depression, we raised 6-week-old C57BL/6N mice in single (SH) or group housing (GH) conditions for 2 weeks. The SH group showed less social interaction with stranger mice, learning disability in behavioral tests, and lower plasma corticosterone levels. The cecal microbiota of the SH group showed significant segregation from the GH group in the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Transcriptome analysis of the amygdala and liver detected multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In the amygdala of SH mice, suppression of the cyclic adenine monophosphate (cAMP) signal was predicted and confirmed by the reduced immunoreactivity of phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element-binding protein. In the liver of SH mice, downregulation of beta-oxidation was predicted. Interestingly, the expression levels of over 100 DEGs showed a significant correlation with the occupancy of two bacterial genera, Lactobacillus (Lactobacillaceae) and Anaerostipes (Lachnospiraceae). These bacteria-correlated DEGs included JunB, the downstream component of cAMP signaling in the amygdala, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (Cpt1a), a key enzyme of beta-oxidation in the liver. This trans-omical analysis also suggested that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) synthesis in the liver may be linked to the occupancy of Lactobacillus through the regulation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and kynureninase (KYNU) genes. Our results suggested that SH condition along with the presence of correlated bacteria species causes weak depression phenotype in young mice and provides a suitable model to study food ingredient that is able to cure weak depression.

Abstract Objective To evaluate patient acceptability and bowel preparation efficacy of sodium picosulfate‐magnesium citrate (PICOPREP) for colonoscopy. Methods A questionnaire survey regarding the patient acceptability of bowel preparation agent PICOPREP was administered to 54 patients, and its efficacy was evaluated using the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (OBPS). Results Eighteen (33.3%) participants reported that PICOPREP is very easy to drink, 30 (55.5%) easy, four (7.4%) acceptable, one (1.9%) difficult, and one (1.9%) very difficult. The flavor was very good as reported by eight (14.8%) participants, good by 25 (46.3%), neutral by 20 (37.0%), bad by one (1.9%), and very bad by none. The number of patients who requested PICOPREP was 42 (77.7%), indicating its high acceptability. Evaluation of the OBPS score showed that the rectosigmoid colon had significantly better polyethylene glycol (PEG) scores than PICOPREP, but the entire colon did not show a significant difference between PICOPREP and PEG scores (1.09 ± 0.65 vs. 1.17 ± 0.76, p = 0.632 in the right colon; 0.48 ± 0.52 vs. 0.72 ± 0.66, p = 0.079 in the mid colon, 0.93 ± 0.49 vs. 0.63 ± 0.52, p = 0.012 in the rectosigmoid colon, and 3.28 ± 1.70 vs. 3.20 ± 1.90, p = 0.836 in the entire colon). Conclusion PICOPREP is considered as one of the important options due to its good patient acceptability and high efficacy similar to PEG.

Human clinical specimens are a valuable source of tissue‐resident stem cells, but such cells need to be collected immediately after tissue collection. To extend the timescale for collection from fresh human samples, we developed a new extracellular fluid (ECF)‐type preservation solution based on a high‐sodium and low‐potassium solution containing low‐molecular‐weight dextran and glucose, which is used for preservation of organs for transplantation. In this study, we compared the preservation of tissue‐resident stem cells using our ECF solution with that using three other solutions: PBS, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium and Euro‐Collins solution. These solutions represent a common buffer, a common culture medium and a benchmark organ‐preservation solution, respectively. Lung tissues were removed from mice and preserved for 72 h under low‐temperature conditions. Of the solutions tested, only preservation in the ECF‐type solution could maintain the proliferation and differentiation capacity of mouse lung tissue‐resident stem cells. In addition, the ECF solution could preserve the viability and proliferation of human alveolar epithelial progenitor cells when stored for more than 7 days at 4 °C. The mean viability of human alveolar type II cells at 2, 5, 8 and 14 days of low‐temperature preservation was 90.9%, 84.8%, 85.7% and 66.3%, respectively, with no significant differences up to 8 days. Overall, our findings show that use of our ECF‐type preservation solution may maintain the viability and function of tissue‐resident stem cells. Use of this preservation solution may facilitate the investigation of currently unobtainable human tissue specimens for human stem cell biology.

Antipsychotic medications based on the dopamine hypothesis possess limited effects for negative symptoms and cognitive impairments of schizophrenia. Growing body of evidence suggests that redox dysregulation contributes to the pathophysiology of the illness. We synthesized new chemicals using apocynin and tandospirone as leading compounds, and tested their antioxidant properties. The new compounds (A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4), olanzapine (OLA), and clozapine (CLZ) were examined in terms of the ⋅OH radical decreasing activity and the effects on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation induced by X-irradiation in human lymphoma U937 cells. The effects of these drugs, given around the period of puberty (postnatal days; PD 49 to 62), on glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as the number of parvalbumin (PV)-positive γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneurons were evaluated in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats transiently exposed to MK-801 in the neonatal period. A-2, A-3, A-4, OLA, and CLZ decreased intracellular ⋅OH and OCl−. The novel compounds reversed the decrease in GSH concentrations and reduction of PV-positive neurons in the mPFC in the model rats. CLZ only decreased GSH levels while OLA did not show a significant effect on either measure. These findings suggest that the new compounds derived from apocynin and tandospirone elicit antioxidant properties, and may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of schizophrenia and its spectrum disorders.

Abstract: KDM2B together with RING1B, PCGF1, and BCOR or BCORL1 comprise polycomb repressive complex 1.1 (PRC1.1), a noncanonical PRC1 that catalyzes H2AK119ub1. It binds to nonmethylated CpG islands through its zinc finger-CxxC DNA binding domain and recruits the complex to target gene loci. Recent studies identified the loss of function mutations in the PRC1.1 gene, BCOR and BCORL1 in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We previously reported that Bcor insufficiency induces T-ALL in mice, supporting a tumor suppressor role for BCOR. However, the function of BCOR responsible for tumor suppression, either its corepressor function for BCL6 or that as a component of PRC1.1, remains unclear. We herein examined mice specifically lacking the zinc finger-CxxC domain of KDM2B in hematopoietic cells. Similar to Bcor-deficient mice, Kdm2b-deficient mice developed lethal T-ALL mostly in a NOTCH1-dependent manner. A chromatin immunoprecipitation sequence analysis of thymocytes revealed the binding of KDM2B at promoter regions, at which BCOR and EZH2 colocalized. KDM2B target genes markedly overlapped with those of NOTCH1 in human T-ALL cells, suggesting that noncanonical PRC1.1 antagonizes NOTCH1-mediated gene activation. KDM2B target genes were expressed at higher levels than the others and were marked with high levels of H2AK119ub1 and H3K4me3, but low levels of H3K27me3, suggesting that KDM2B target genes are transcriptionally active or primed for activation. These results indicate that PRC1.1 plays a key role in restricting excessive transcriptional activation by active NOTCH1, thereby acting as a tumor suppressor in the initiation of T-cell leukemogenesis.

Abstract Background Changes in coagulability during the hyperacute phase within 24 h after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for Heyde’s syndrome, or aortic stenosis complicated by gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and acquired coagulation dysfunction, have not been clarified. We evaluated perioperative changes in coagulability using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Case presentation A female patient with Heyde’s syndrome in her 80s underwent TAVI. ROTEM showed coagulation dysfunction before and at 6 h after surgery. Improvements in coagulation function started at 12 h after surgery. Based on ROTEM findings, oral administration of antiplatelet agents was started on the day after surgery. No hemorrhagic complications were observed in the postoperative phase. Conclusions Evaluation of coagulation function using ROTEM was useful for monitoring perioperative hemostasis and coagulation in this patient.

In concrete structures (concrete), damage from cracks, deterioration, amorphization, and delamination occur in some structures, causing disaggregation (concrete changed to very fine particles) and hollowing out of the concrete. In concrete pavements, damage from large amounts of pop-out of aggregate occurs from the surface of the concrete pavement 4-5 hours after spraying of snow melting agent on the surface of the pavement. The damage from disaggregation, blistering, cracks, and peeling-off of a surface course have also been observed in asphalt runways and highways. The damage from disaggregation, cracks and pop-out of aggregate in asphalt pavements and concrete structures have long been seen as strange and unexpected and have defied explanation. As a result of examinations in various experiments, it was concluded that all of the unexplained kinds of damage of both asphalt pavements and concrete structures were caused by Trace Quantities of Organic Matter (TQOM), Air Entrained (AE) water reducing agent in air and/or cement, and surfactant in snow melting agent. The emission sources of TQOM and these organic substances were also identified by chemical analysis for these unexpected and unexplained phenomena. The TQOM includes phthalate compounds (phthalates in the following), amine compounds, phosphate compounds, snow melting agent and Sodium Polyoxyethylene Nonyl phenyl Ether Sulfate (SPNES). SPNES is a surfactant in windshield washer fluid for automobiles. We found that the water content and content of organic matter in damaged asphalt pavements and concrete structures are also important indicators for the damage. Further, a new evaluation method for amorphization was proposed in this study and it appears suitable for evaluating the safety of concrete structures along roads which were exposed to TQOM in severely air-polluted environments.

Purpose. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of desflurane, sevoflurane, and propofol on the glottic opening area during general anesthesia using remifentanil. Methods. Ninety patients undergoing hand and upper limb surgery combined with brachial plexus block under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomized into three groups to receive desflurane (group D), sevoflurane (group S), or propofol (group P) for maintenance of anesthesia. Following induction of general anesthesia with remifentanil, continuous fiberoptic video recording around the glottis via an i-gel™ supraglottic device was started after establishing mechanical ventilation. Desflurane, sevoflurane, or propofol was administrated after video recording was started. The changes in normalized glottic opening area (n-GOA) and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) during surgery were compared between the three groups. Results. Intraoperative changes of n-GOA in group D showed significant differences compared with group S and group P (−0.0656 ± 0.0772 vs. −0.0076 ± 0.0499 and +0.0269 ± 0.0809, P=0.005 and P

Abstract Background We studied a recent epizootic of Getah virus infection among pigs in the southern part of Ibaraki Prefecture and the northern part of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, focusing on its possible association with outbreaks in racehorses in 2014 and 2015. The genomic sequence of a Getah virus strain from an infected pig was analyzed to evaluate the degree of identity with the strains from horses. Results Sera were collected from pigs from September to December 2012 to 2015 in south Ibaraki (380 pigs in 29 batches), and from September to December 2010 to 2015 in north Chiba (538 pigs in 104 batches). They were examined by using a virus-neutralizing test for Getah virus. Seropositivity rates in 2012–2013 in south Ibaraki and 2010–2012 in north Chiba ranged from 0% to 1.6%. In south Ibaraki, seropositivity rates in 2014 (28.8%) and 2015 (65.0%) were significantly higher than those in the previous years (P

Our previous works demonstrated that brown rice-specific bioactive substance, γ-oryzanol acts as a chaperone, attenuates exaggerated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in brain hypothalamus and pancreatic islets, thereby ameliorating metabolic derangement in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese diabetic mice. However, extremely low absorption efficiency from intestine of γ-oryzanol is a tough obstacle for the clinical application. Therefore, in this study, to overcome extremely low bioavailability of γ-oryzanol with super-high lipophilicity, we encapsulated γ-oryzanol in polymer poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (Nano-Orz), and evaluated its metabolically beneficial impact in genetically obese-diabetic ob/ob mice, the best-known severest diabetic model in mice. To our surprise, Nano-Orz markedly ameliorated fuel metabolism with an unexpected magnitude (∼1000-fold lower dose) compared with regular γ-oryzanol. Furthermore, such a conspicuous impact was achievable by its administration once every 2 weeks. Besides the excellent impact on dysfunction of hypothalamus and pancreatic islets, Nano-Orz markedly decreased ER stress and inflammation in liver and adipose tissue. Collectively, nanotechnology-based developments of functional foods oriented toward γ-oryzanol shed light on the novel approach for the treatment of a variety of metabolic diseases in humans.

Background Gastric cancers (GC) after H. pylori eradication are difficult to diagnose even by magnifying narrow-band imaging (NBI) or blue laser imaging (BLI) endoscopy. Little is known with regard to non-magnifying (NM)-NBI/BLI for early GC so we examined the efficacy of NM-NBI/BLI for early GC diagnosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the images of 29 small (≤ 1 cm) intramucosal GC that had been treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection and 137 benign depressed lesions (BDLs). The brightness and shape of the GCs and BDLs by NM-NBI/BLI were assessed with ImageJ software. Results The NBI/BLI-index, which indicates the brightness of NBI/BLI for visualization, was significantly higher in GC than BDLs in both the H. pylori-infected (P = 0.009) and -eradicated group (P

Radiation exposure such as A-bomb or radiation therapy is considered a major health-risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory reaction frequently encountered in the vascular system after exposure to ionizing radiation, we carried out a global scale microarray and computational gene expression analyses on human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to X-ray (2.5 Gy). The gene ontology analysis revealed that the down-regulated genes were associated with cell cycle regulation, whereas the up-regulated genes were associated with inflammatory responses, in particular, the type 1 interferon response. The computational analysis using ingenuity pathway analysis also identified a gene network containing the interferon response factor 7 (IRF7) and its transcriptional targets such as interferon-induced transcripts (IFITs) and Mx1, which have been known to be associated with inflammation in endothelial cells. The up-regulated genes and the gene network identified here may explain the inflammatory response induced by X-irradiation. These findings uncover part of the molecular basis of the mechanism(s) of the inflammatory disorder in response to X-irradiation in HUVECs. The dataset is publicly available at the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/) with accession number GSE76484.

Although dysbiosis is likely to disturb the mucosal barrier system, the mechanism involved has remained unclear. Here, we investigated alterations of colonic mucosal permeability and tight junction (TJ) molecules in mice with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Mice were orally administered vancomycin or polymyxin B for 7 days, and then fecal samples were subjected to microbial 16S rRNA analysis. The colonic mucosal permeability was evaluated by chamber assay. The colonic expression of TJ molecules and cytokines was examined by real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Caco2 cells were stimulated with cytokines and their transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) was measured. Vancomycin-treated mice showed significantly lower gut microbiota diversity than controls, and the same tendency was evident in polymyxin B-treated mice. The colonic mucosal permeability was significantly elevated in both vancomycin- and polymyxin B-treated mice. The expression of claudin 4 in the colonic mucosa was decreased in both vancomycin- and polymyxin B-treated mice. Colonic expression of TNF-α and/or IFN-γ was significantly increased in mice that had been administered antibiotics. TNF-α and IFN-γ stimulation dose-dependently decreased TEER in Caco2 cells. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis is correlated with the enhancement in colonic tissue permeability, accompanied by a reduction in claudin 4 expression and enhancement in TNF-α and/or IFN-γ expression in mice.

It is well known that physical inactivity during space flight or prolonged bed rest causes rapid bone loss. Soy isoflavones (ISOs) and resveratrol (RES) have been reported to be useful to maintain a positive balance for bone turnover. Therefore, we examined the combined effects of ISO and RES on bone loss that was induced by hindlimb-unloading in mice. Female eight-week-old ddY mice were divided into the following six groups (n = 6–8 each): normally housed mice, loading mice, hindlimb-unloading (UL) mice fed a control diet, UL mice fed a 0.16% ISO conjugates, UL mice fed a 0.15% RES diet, and UL mice fed a 0.16% ISO and 0.15% RES diet. After three weeks, femoral bone mineral density was markedly decreased in unloading mice. The combination of ISO and RES prevented bone loss and especially maintained the trabecular bone mineral density more effectively compared with cortical bones. ISO and/or RES inhibited the increase in the RANKL/OPG expression ratio in bone marrow cells in UL mice. These results suggest that the combination of ISO and RES had a preventive effect against bone loss induced by hindlimb-unloading in mice. These osteoprotective effects of ISO and RES may result from the inhibition of bone resorption.

CpG islands are gene regulatory elements associated with the majority of mammalian promoters, yet how they regulate gene expression remains poorly understood. Here, we identify FBXL19 as a CpG island-binding protein in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells and show that it associates with the CDK-Mediator complex. We discover that FBXL19 recruits CDK-Mediator to CpG island-associated promoters of non-transcribed developmental genes to prime these genes for activation during cell lineage commitment. We further show that recognition of CpG islands by FBXL19 is essential for mouse development. Together this reveals a new CpG island-centric mechanism for CDK-Mediator recruitment to developmental gene promoters in ES cells and a requirement for CDK-Mediator in priming these developmental genes for activation during cell lineage commitment.

3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid (3OTPCA), a triterpenoid isolated from the plant Zizyphus jujuba (ZJ), is known to be cytotoxic to cancer cells; however, the molecular mechanism underlying 3OTPCA-induced cell death remains unknown. Here, we provide novel evidence that 3OTPCA induces apoptotic cell death in human leukemia cells. We found that 3OPTCA induces DNA fragmentation within 24 h after treatment in U937 cells, which was also observed in other leukemia cell lines, including Molt-4 and Jurkat cells. We then investigated other parameters involved in apoptosis, including phosphatidylserine externalization and caspase-3 cleavage in U937 cells treated with 3OTPCA. 3OTPCA caused significant DNA fragmentation, annexin-V binding, and caspase-3 cleavage, indicating that 3OTPCA exerts cytotoxicity through apoptosis induction. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the expression of transcripts associated with the unfolded protein response (UPR), such as spliced XBP-1 and CHOP, were up-regulated by 3OTPCA treatment. 3OTPCA-induced UPR activation may be due to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress because both 3OTPCA and thapsigargin, an endoplasmic Ca2+ transport ATPase inhibitor, increased intracellular calcium levels. 3OTPCA down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, a target of CHOP, and led to the loss of the mitochondrial membrane, indicating that the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway was triggered by 3OTPCA, likely through UPR activation. Furthermore, we found that 3OTPCA induced superoxide anion generation and, following p38 MAPK phosphorylation, caspase-8 cleavage without affecting Fas expression. It also induced subsequent Bid cleavage, which may enhance the apoptosis triggered by the intrinsic pathway. These findings reveal for the first time that 3OTPCA induces apoptotic cell death through the generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of UPR.

Here, to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death induced by sodium fluoride (NaF), we analyzed gene expression patterns in rat oral epithelial ROE2 cells exposed to NaF using global-scale microarrays and bioinformatics tools. A relatively high concentration of NaF (2 mM) induced cell death concomitant with decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, chromatin condensation and caspase-3 activation. Using 980 probe sets, we identified 432 up-regulated and 548 down-regulated genes, that were differentially expressed by >2.5-fold in the cells treated with 2 mM of NaF and categorized them into 4 groups by K-means clustering. Ingenuity® pathway analysis revealed several gene networks from gene clusters. The gene networks Up-I and Up-II included many up-regulated genes that were mainly associated with the biological function of induction or prevention of cell death, respectively, such as Atf3, Ddit3 and Fos (for Up-I) and Atf4 and Hspa5 (for Up-II). Interestingly, knockdown of Ddit3 and Hspa5 significantly increased and decreased the number of viable cells, respectively. Moreover, several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes including, Ddit3, Atf4 and Hapa5, were observed in these gene networks. These findings will provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms of NaF-induced cell death accompanying ER stress in oral epithelial cells.

Numerous Foods with Function Claims that contain the extract of Pueraria flower (kudzu) isoflavones (PFI) are available in the Japanese market. These are labelled with function claims of reducing visceral fat. However, these foods have not undergone proper safety assessment such as the evaluation of their oestrogenic activity and effects on drug-metabolising enzymes (cytochrome P-450: CYP) in the liver. This study evaluated the estrogenic effect and the hepatic CYP activity and mRNA expression in normal female mice as a safety assessment of PFI (Experiment 1). In addition, the bone mineral density and visceral fat weight in ovariectomised mice (OVX) compared to soy isoflavones (SI) was evaluated to assess the efficacy of PFI (Experiment 2). OVX control fed a control diet, OVX fed a PFI diet (the recommended human intake of PFI), OVX fed a PFI20 diet (20- times the recommended PFI), OVX fed an SI diet (the recommended human intake of SI), and OVX fed an SI20 diet (20 -times the recommended intake of SI) for 28 days in Experiment 2. Body, liver, and visceral fat weights were not affected by the PFI, PFI20, SI, or SI20 diets. The hepatic CYP1A and CYP3A activities were elevated by the SI20 treatment. Ovariectomy-induced bone loss was inhibited by the SI20 treatment, but not by the PFI20 treatment. These results suggest that (1) PFI intake in human doses had no oestrogenic properties and did not affect CYP activity in the liver; (2) there was no evidence that PFI affects the amount of visceral fat in OVX mice.

An outbreak of Getah virus infection occurred among racehorses in Japan during September and October 2014. Of 49 febrile horses tested by reverse transcription PCR, 25 were positive for Getah virus. Viruses detected in 2014 were phylogenetically different from the virus isolated in Japan in 1978.

Although low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to enhance bone fracture healing, the underlying mechanism of LIPUS remains to be fully elucidated. Here, to better understand the molecular mechanism underlying cellular responses to LIPUS, we investigated gene expression profiles in mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells exposed to LIPUS using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays and computational gene expression analysis tools. Although treatment of the cells with a single 20-min LIPUS (1.5 MHz, 30 mW/cm2) did not affect the cell growth or alkaline phosphatase activity, the treatment significantly increased the mRNA level of Bglap. Microarray analysis demonstrated that 38 genes were upregulated and 37 genes were downregulated by 1.5-fold or more in the cells at 24-h post-treatment. Ingenuity pathway analysis demonstrated that the gene network U (up) contained many upregulated genes that were mainly associated with bone morphology in the category of biological functions of skeletal and muscular system development and function. Moreover, the biological function of the gene network D (down), which contained downregulated genes, was associated with gene expression, the cell cycle and connective tissue development and function. These results should help to further clarify the molecular basis of the mechanisms of the LIPUS response in osteoblast cells.

A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer with malignant ascites. Despite chemotherapy, recurrent peritoneal dissemination was seen 1.5 years after operation. A computed tomography scan revealed rectal stenosis due to Schnitzler's metastasis. When the distance from the distal end of the obstruction to the anal verge is less than 5 cm, stent replacement has been said to be contraindicated due to the development of anal pain and foreign body sensation. Although the distance from the distal end of the obstruction to the anal verge was 4 cm in this case, a WallFlex™ colonic stent could be placed. She stayed home, and luminal patency remained until she died 270 days after stent insertion. This report demonstrates that rectal obstruction located less than 5 cm from the anal verge due to Schnitzler's metastasis could be treated by stenting without any symptomatic or technical complications.

BACKGROUND:Lung transplantation has been established as the definitive treatment option for patients with advanced lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). However, the prognosis after registration and the circumstances of lung transplantation with sirolimus therapy have never been reported. METHODS:In this national survey, we analyzed data from 98 LAM patients registered for lung transplantation in the Japan Organ Transplantation Network. RESULTS:Transplantation was performed in 57 patients as of March 2014. Survival rate was 86.7% at 1 year, 82.5% at 3 years, 73.7% at 5 years, and 73.7% at 10 years. Of the 98 patients, 21 had an inactive status and received sirolimus more frequently than those with an active history (67% vs. 5%, p

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154234.].

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a tissue-derived cytokine that is constitutively expressed in epithelial cells of tissues exposed to the environment and plays a role in sensing damage caused by inflammatory diseases. IL-33 acts as both a traditional cytokine and as a chromatin-associated nuclear factor in both innate and adaptive immunity. We recently showed that IL-33 in esophageal mucosa is upregulated in reflux esophagitis. However, IL-33 expression in patients with heartburn without mucosal injury and its relationship with intercellular space (ICS) have never been examined. We therefore examined the expression of cytokines and ICS in patients with heartburn.The expression of IL-33 in the middle and distal esophageal mucosa of patients with heartburn without mucosal break and control samples was examined using real-time RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. The mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and RANTES, and ICS was also analyzed.IL-33 expression and the mean ICS were significantly increased in the mucosa of patients with heartburn compared to that of the control. IL-33 and ICS were not different between the patients who were taking a PPI and those who were not. The upregulated IL-33 expression in the heartburn group was located in the nuclei of the basal cell layer. Although IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES levels were not different between control and patients with heartburn samples, IL-33 mRNA levels were still significantly correlated with IL-6, IL-8, or MCP-1 mRNA levels.Nuclear IL-33 is upregulated in patients with heartburn. Upregulated IL-33 in heartburn patients is related to the symptoms.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-spin trapping and flow cytometry were used to identify free radicals generated using argon-cold atmospheric plasma (Ar-CAP) in aqueous solutions and intracellularly in comparison with those generated by X-irradiation. Ar-CAP was generated using a high-voltage power supply unit with low-frequency excitation. The characteristics of Ar-CAP were estimated by vacuum UV absorption and emission spectra measurements. Hydroxyl (·OH) radicals and hydrogen (H) atoms in aqueous solutions were identified with the spin traps 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (M4PO), and phenyl N-t-butylnitrone (PBN). The occurrence of Ar-CAP-induced pyrolysis was evaluated using the spin trap 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene sulfonate (DBNBS) in aqueous solutions of DNA constituents, sodium acetate, and L-alanine. Human lymphoma U937 cells were used to study intracellular oxidative stress using five fluorescent probes with different affinities to a number of reactive species. The analysis and quantification of EPR spectra revealed the formation of enormous amounts of ·OH radicals using Ar-CAP compared with that by X-irradiation. Very small amounts of H atoms were detected whereas nitric oxide was not found. The formation of ·OH radicals depended on the type of rare gas used and the yield correlated inversely with ionization energy in the order of krypton > argon = neon > helium. No pyrolysis radicals were detected in aqueous solutions exposed to Ar-CAP. Intracellularly, ·OH, H2O2, which is the recombination product of ·OH, and OCl- were the most likely formed reactive oxygen species after exposure to Ar-CAP. Intracellularly, there was no practical evidence for the formation of NO whereas very small amounts of superoxides were formed. Despite the superiority of Ar-CAP in forming ·OH radicals, the exposure to X-rays proved more lethal. The mechanism of free radical formation in aqueous solutions and an intracellular milieu is discussed.

Iron is an essential mineral for the body, and iron deficiency generally leads to anemia. However, because non-anemic iron deficiency can exist, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of the liver to define the effects of this condition on the body. Four-week-old male rats were fed a low-iron diet (approximately 3 ppm iron) for 3 days and compared with those fed a normal diet (48 ppm iron) by pair feeding as a control. The rats in the iron-deficient diet group developed a non-anemic iron-deficient state. DNA microarray analysis revealed that during this short time, this state conferred a variety of effects on nutrient metabolism in the liver. In comparison with long-term (17 days) iron-deficiency data from a previous study, some of the changed genes were found to be common to both short- and long-term iron deficiency models, some were specific to the short-term iron deficiency model, and the others were oppositely regulated between the two feeding terms. Taken together, these data suggest that although the blood hemoglobin level itself remains unchanged during non-anemic iron deficiency, a variety of metabolic processes involved in the maintenance of the energy balance are altered.

The inhibition of DNA damage response pathway seems to be an attractive strategy for cancer therapy. It was previously reported that in rodent cells exposed to heat stress, cell growth was promoted by the activity of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), an enzyme involved in DNA non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) required for double-strand break repair. The absence of a functioning DNA-PK was associated with down regulation of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). The objective of this study is thus to investigate the role of DNA-PK inhibition in heat-induced apoptosis in human cell lines. The inhibitors of phosphorylation of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) at Ser2056, such as NU7026 and NU7441, were utilized. Furthermore, knock down of DNA-PKcs was carried out using small interfering RNA (siDNA-PKcs). For heat exposure, cells were placed in water bath at 44°C for 60 min. Apoptosis was evaluated after 24 h incubation flow cytometrically. Proteins were extracted after 24 h and analyzed for HSP70 and HSP40 expression by Western blotting. Total RNA was extracted 6 h after treatment and analyzed using a GeneChip® microarray system to identify and select the up-regulated genes (≥1.5 fold). The results showed an enhancement in heat-induced apoptosis in absence of functioning DNA-PKcs. Interestingly, the expression levels of HSP70 and HSP40 were elevated in the absence of DNA-PKcs under heat stress. The results of genetic network analysis showed that HSPs and JUN genes were up-regulated independently of DNA-PKcs in exposed parent and knock out cells. In the presence of functioning DNA-PKcs, there was an observed up-regulation of anti-apoptotic genes, such as NR1D1, whereas in the absence of DNA-PKcs the pro-apoptotic genes, such as EGR2, were preferentially up-regulated. From these findings, we concluded that in human cells, the inactivation of DNA-PKcs can promote heat-induced apoptosis independently of heat-shock proteins.

Alkannin is an active constituent from the root extract of Alkanna tinctoria of the Boraginaceae family and it may have utility as a heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inducer in living organisms. Here, the effects of alkannin-induced HSP70 on ultraviolet (UV) B (40 mJ/cm(2))-induced apoptosis were investigated in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Pretreatment of cells with alkannin (1 µM) caused significant inhibition of UVB-induced apoptosis and caspase-3 cleavage. On the other hand, the addition of KNK437 (HSP70 inhibitor) reversed the action of alkannin increasing UVB-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, differences in gene expression associated with the suppression of UVB-induced apoptosis in the presence of alkannin were investigated using Gene Chip assay. Our results indicate that alkannin suppresses UVB-induced apoptosis through the induction of HSP70 in human keratinocytes, and therefore, we suggest the usefulness of using alkannin as an antiaging agent.

The acoustic effects in a biological milieu offer several scenarios for the reversal of multidrug resistance. In this study, we have observed higher sensitivity of doxorubicin-resistant uterine sarcoma MES-SA/DX5 cells to ultrasound exposure compared to its parent counterpart MES-SA cells; however, the results showed that the acoustic irradiation was genotoxic and could promote neotic division in exposed cells that was more pronounced in the resistant variant. The neotic progeny, imaged microscopically 24 hr post sonication, could contribute in modulating the final cell survival when an apoptotic dose of doxorubicin was combined with ultrasound applied either simultaneously or sequentially in dual-treatment protocols. Depending on the time and order of application of ultrasound and doxorubicin in combination treatments, there was either desensitization of the parent cells or sensitization of the resistant cells to doxorubicin action.

Ultrasonic technologies pervade the medical field: as a long established imaging modality in clinical diagnostics; and, with the emergence of targeted high intensity focused ultrasound, as a means of thermally ablating tumours. In parallel, the potential of [non-thermal] intermediate intensity ultrasound as a minimally invasive therapy is also being rigorously assessed. Here, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells has been observed, although definitive identification of the underlying mechanism has thus far remained elusive. A likely candidate process has been suggested to involve sonochemical activity, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate the generation of DNA single-strand breaks. Here however, we provide compelling new evidence that strongly supports a purely mechanical mechanism. Moreover, by a combination of specific assays (neutral comet tail and staining for γH2AX foci formation) we demonstrate for the first time that US exposure at even moderate intensities exhibits genotoxic potential, through its facility to generate DNA damage across multiple cancer lines. Notably, colocalization assays highlight that ionizing radiation and ultrasound have distinctly different signatures to their respective γH2AX foci formation patterns, likely reflecting the different stress distributions that initiated damage formation. Furthermore, parallel immuno-blotting suggests that DNA-PKcs have a preferential role in the repair of ultrasound-induced damage.

Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is isolated as an endothelial cell (EC)-produced angiogenesis inhibitor. We questioned whether VASH1 plays any role besides angiogenesis inhibition, knocked-down or overexpressed VASH1 in ECs, and examined the changes of EC property. Knock-down of VASH1 induced premature senescence of ECs, and those ECs were easily killed by cellular stresses. In contrast, overexpression of VASH1 made ECs resistant to premature senescence and cell death caused by cellular stresses. The synthesis of VASH1 was regulated by HuR-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. We sought to define the underlying mechanism. VASH1 increased the expression of (superoxide dismutase 2) SOD2, an enzyme known to quench reactive oxygen species (ROS). Simultaneously, VASH1 augmented the synthesis of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an anti-aging protein, which improved stress tolerance. Paraquat generates ROS and causes organ damage when administered in vivo. More VASH1 (+/-) mice died due to acute lung injury caused by paraquat. Intratracheal administration of an adenovirus vector encoding human VASH1 augmented SOD2 and SIRT1 expression in the lungs and prevented acute lung injury caused by paraquat. Thus, VASH1 is a critical factor that improves the stress tolerance of ECs via the induction of SOD2 and SIRT1.

The combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) was reported first in 1990, but it has been comparatively underestimated until recently. Although the diagnostic findings of both emphysematous and fibrotic regions are detectable by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, the degree of progressive fibrosis, which increases with emphysematous lesions, is difficult to evaluate. In this study, we hypothesized that the biomarkers for pulmonary fibrosis, surfactant protein D (SP-D), and KL-6 would serve as good indicators of fibrotic lesions in CPFE. We recruited 46 patients who had been diagnosed in our hospital with both emphysema and fibrosis by their CT scan image from April 2003 to March 2008. The correlation among their pulmonary function tests, composite physiologic index (CPI), and the serum levels of SP-D and KL-6 was evaluated. We found a correlation between KL-6 and %VC, %TLC, or CPI and between SP-D and %VC or CPI. Interestingly, the combined product of KL-6 and SP-D (KL-6xSP-D) was found to highly correlate with %VC and %TLC or CPI. These results show that both KL-6 and SP-D, and especially the product of SP-D and KL-6, are good indicators of the presence of fibrotic lesions in the lungs of CPFE patients.

The sense of taste is of critical importance to animal survival. Although studies of taste signal transduction mechanisms have provided detailed information regarding taste receptor calcium signaling molecules (TRCSMs, required for sweet/bitter/umami taste signal transduction), the ontogeny of taste cells is still largely unknown. We used a novel approach to investigate the molecular regulation of taste system development in mice by combining in silico and in vivo analyses. After discovering that TRCSMs colocalized within developing circumvallate papillae (CVP), we used computational analysis of the upstream regulatory regions of TRCSMs to investigate the possibility of a common regulatory network for TRCSM transcription. Based on this analysis, we identified Hes1 as a likely common regulatory factor, and examined its function in vivo. Expression profile analyses revealed that decreased expression of nuclear HES1 correlated with expression of type II taste cell markers. After stage E18, the CVP of Hes1(-/) (-) mutants displayed over 5-fold more TRCSM-immunoreactive cells than did the CVP of their wild-type littermates. Thus, according to our composite analyses, Hes1 is likely to play a role in orchestrating taste cell differentiation in developing taste buds.

Expression of Hox genes is tightly regulated in spatial and temporal domains. Evx2 is located next to Hoxd13 within 8 kb on the opposite DNA strand. Early in development, the pattern of Hoxd13 expression resembles that of Evx2 in limb and genital buds. After 10 dpc, however, Evx2 begins to be expressed in CNS as well. We analyzed the region responsible for these differences using ES cell techniques, and found that the intergenic region between Evx2 and Hoxd13 behaves as a boundary element that functions differentially in space and time, specifically in the development of limbs, genital bud, and brain. This boundary element comprises a large sequence spanning several kilobases that can be divided into at least two units: a constitutive boundary element, which blocks transcription regulatory influences from the chromosomal environment, and a regulatory element, which controls the function of the constitutive boundary element in time and space.

We developed the outboard motor (OM) equipped with a new V8 type engine with a V-bank angle of 60 degrees. In OMs, the low vibration performance is important to provide the comfortable cruising. However, in this type of engine, the conventional crankshaft cannot cancel the inertial couples. Additionally, because high rpm range mainly used in OMs, the inertial couples contribute to the engine vibrations. In this paper, we proposed the new crankshaft which can cancel them with no additional parts such as balancers. In the examination of the structure, we performed the parametric study of the crankpin offset angle and the counterweight balance ratio. Finally, adopting the new crankshaft to the OM, we achieved the low vibration performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Dilation of the tract before stent deployment is a challenging step in endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic duct drainage (EUS-PDD). In this study, we examined the effectiveness and safety of a novel spiral dilator, Tornus ES (Asahi Intec), for EUS-PDD. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-arm, observational study at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. The punctured tract was dilated using a Tornus ES dilator in all EUS-PDD cases. Our primary endpoint was the technical success rate of initial tract dilation. Technical success was defined as successful fistula dilation using a Tornus ES followed by successful stent insertion. Secondary endpoints were procedure times and early adverse events. Results: A total of 12 patients were included between December 2021 and March 2023. EUS-PDD was performed in 11 patients for post-pancreaticoduodenectomy anastomotic strictures and one patient with pancreatitis with duodenal perforation. The technical success rates of stent insertion and fistula dilation using a Tornus ES dilator was 100%. The median procedure time was 24 minutes. No remarkable adverse events related to the procedure were observed, apart from fever, which occurred in 2 patients. Conclusions: Tract dilation in EUS-PDD using a Tornus ES is effective and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]