Cord serum adiponectin is positively related to postnatal body mass index gain.

Background: The roles of adiponectin and leptin in the early stages of life are poorly understood. We previously studied longitudinal changes in these adipocytokines from birth to 12 months of age. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the correlation between cord serum adipocytokine levels and postnatal growth by 3 years of age.

Establishment of a real-time, quantitative, and reproducible mouse model of Staphylococcus osteomyelitis using bioluminescence imaging.

Osteomyelitis remains a serious problem in the orthopedic field. There are only a few animal models in which the quantity and distribution of bacteria can be reproducibly traced. Here, we established a real-time quantitative mouse model of osteomyelitis using bioluminescence imaging (BLI) without sacrificing the animals.

Pallidal hyperdopaminergic innervation underlying D2 receptor-dependent behavioral deficits in the schizophrenia animal model established by EGF.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is one of the ErbB receptor ligands implicated in schizophrenia neuropathology as well as in dopaminergic development. Based on the immune inflammatory hypothesis for schizophrenia, neonatal rats are exposed to this cytokine and later develop neurobehavioral abnormality such as prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficit. Here we found that the EGF-treated rats exhibited persistent increases in tyrosine hydroxylase levels and dopamine content in the globus pallidus.

Predictive value of baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio for T4 disease in wall-penetrating gastric cancer.

Background: Multimodality therapy has been used in the management of gastric cancer associated with locoregional spread. However, the accurate clinical staging still remains to be established. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the peripheral blood is reported to be an easily assessable prognostic factor in cancer patients.

Antioxidant properties of rare sugar D-allose: Effects on mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in Neuro2A cells.

The anti-oxidative activity of the rare sugar D-allose has recently been reported, but the mechanism is largely unclear. In this study, we evaluated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities of D-allose and then examined the effects of D-allose on ROS production in mitochondria to clarify the antioxidant properties of D-allose. While D-allose did not scavenge hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions, it eliminated hydroxyl radicals to the same extent as D-glucose.

Reevaluation of the mucosa-bone marrow axis in IgA nephropathy with animal models.

Impaired immune regulation along the 'mucosa-bone marrow axis' has been postulated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Animal models have allowed us to study such changes in detail. Recently, we established several useful animal models, including IgAN-prone mice.

Synthesis of uniform and dispersive calcium carbonate nanoparticles in a protein cage through control of electrostatic potential.

We have synthesized calcium carbonate nanoparticles (Ca-NPs) in the cavity of a cage-shaped protein, apoferritin, by regulating the electrostatic potential of the molecule. The electrostatic potential in the cavity was controlled by pH changes resulting from changes in the dissolved carbon dioxide (CO(2)) concentration in the reaction solution. Recombinant L-apoferritin was mixed with a suspension of calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)), and the mixture was pressurized with gaseous CO(2) at 2 MPa.

Clinical course and predictive factors of virological response in long-term lamivudine plus adefovir dipivoxil combination therapy for lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the long-term efficacy of lamivudine (LAM) plus adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B resistant to LAM, to identify predictive factors of complete viral response (HBV-DNA <2.6  log  copies/ml at 12 months of combination therapy), and to analyze amino acid substitutions associated with treatment resistance in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome. Seventy-two patients who received ADV in addition to LAM for breakthrough hepatitis were enrolled.

mRNA distribution of the thalidomide binding protein cereblon in adult mouse brain.

Cereblon is implicated in mild mental retardation and proved to bind to a teratogenic hypnotic, thalidomide. Here, we determined cereblon mRNA distributions in adult mouse brain. Almost all neurons expressed cereblon mRNA with various intensities whereas the signals in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were modest or negligible.

[Efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma].

Background: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was performed as the initial therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no effective chemotherapy has been established for patients who did not respond to TACE, and for those the therapy was not suitable. Since 2004, transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI) chemotherapy using fine-powder cisplatin has been applied at our department to such cases mentioned before.

N-glycosylation at noncanonical Asn-X-Cys sequences in plant cells.

The vesicular transport pathway in plant cells is often used for higher accumulation of recombinant proteins. In the endoplasmic reticulum, which acts as a gateway to the vesicular transport pathway, N-glycosylation occurs on specific Asn residues. This N-glycosylation in recombinant proteins must be carefully regulated as it can impact their enzymatic activity, half lives in serum when injected, structural stability, etc.

Production of double repeated B subunit of Shiga toxin 2e at high levels in transgenic lettuce plants as vaccine material for porcine edema disease.

Pig edema disease is a bacterial disease caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. E. coli produces Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), which is composed of one A subunit (Stx2eA) and five B subunits (Stx2eB).

Transplantation of liver organoids in the omentum and kidney.

Liver organoids were reconstructed by mouse-immortalized hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells (sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells) in a radial-flow bioreactor (RFB). A biodegradable apatite-fiber scaffold (AFS) was used as a scaffold packed in the RFB, which enables three-dimensional cell cultures. The organoids cocultured in the RFB showed a liver-like structure with high-density layers of hepatocytes and the formation of vessel-like structures.

Topographical analyses of proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in micro- and macropores of apatite-fiber scaffold.

A variety of calcium phosphates have been used for bone tissue-engineering applications. We developed porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics by firing green compacts consisting of spherical carbon beads and HAp fiber. The apatite-fiber scaffold (AFS) forms a three-dimensional network of fibers with two different pore sizes (micro- and macropores).

Detection of enzyme activities based on the synthesis of gold nanoparticles in HEPES buffer.

The reduction of tetrachloroaurate ions (AuCl(4)(-)) with 2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) was used to detect alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity.

Automatic segmentation of teeth from dentomaxillofacial 3D-CT images.

CT is an effective tool for image diagnosis because it enables noninvasive observation of internal organs. In the course of CT, 3D-CT, such as a helical scanning CT and a multi-detector row CT, has been developed. With the use of 3D-CT, organs can be observed from several viewing directions.

Genetic characterization of Aino and Peaton virus field isolates reveals a genetic reassortment between these viruses in nature.

Sequence determination and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using the S, M and L RNA segments of the 10 Aino, 6 Peaton and 1 Sango virus (AINOV, PEAV and SANV) field isolates of the genus Orthobunyavirus in the family Bunyaviridae, respectively. The Japanese AINOV strains were genetically stable, but the sequence differences between the Japanese and Australian AINOV strains were considerably larger than those among the Japanese AINOV strains. A similar result was found in the genetic relationship among Japanese and Australian PEAVs, and SANV which was isolated in Nigeria and was thought as a synonym of PEAV, suggesting that geographic separation contributed significantly to the evolution of those viruses.

Overlap/switch to adefovir monotherapy for lamivudine-resistant patients who responded to combination therapy: a pilot controlled study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of overlap/switch to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) monotherapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with lamivudine (LAM)-resistant HBV, who responded to LAM plus ADV combination therapy.

Methods: In 29 of 35 LAM-resistant CHB patients, serum HBV-DNA levels decreased to <3.7 log genome equivalent (LGE)/mL at 12 months after LAM plus ADV combination therapy, defined as complete virological response (CVR).

Highly active antiretroviral therapy improved persistent lamivudine-resistant viremia in acute hepatitis B virus genotype Ae infection with coinfection of human immunodeficiency virus.

A 57-year-old man developed acute hepatitis B virus (AHB), caused by HBV genotype Ae. Lamivudine (LAM) therapy was started at 8 months after the disease onset, because the infection was persistent, but not self-limited. Despite LAM therapy, the hepatitis became chronic.

Synthesis and characteristics of graphene oxide-derived carbon nanosheet-Pd nanosized particle composites.

Carbon nanosheet (CNS)-Pd nanosized particle (NP) composites were synthesized by using graphite oxide (GO) and bis(ethylenediamine)palladium(II) (Pd(en)(2)(2+)) as the precursors, and their structure and adsorption properties were examined. It was found that the Pd(en)(2)(2+) complex ions can be intercalated into GO layers highly efficiently to form a layered structure containing a large amount of Pd (approximately 12 wt %). By the subsequent chemical reduction, Pd NPs (2-6 nm in size) are well dispersed between CNS to form a CNS-Pd NP composite and serve as spacers to increase the porosity of the composite.

Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist, improves hepatic microcirculatory patency and oxygen availability in a high-fat-diet-induced fatty liver in mice.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease of chronic liver diseases. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) has been implicated to play important roles in the development of the disease. Beyond its effects on lipid metabolisms, PPARalpha activation in the vascular system has emerged as an attractive therapeutic potential for NAFLD, although its actions in the microcirculatory system are not fully understood.

Novel chemoembolization using calcium-phosphate ceramic microsphere incorporating TNP-470, an anti-angiogenic agent.

The purpose of the present study was to develop a new method of chemoembolization to improve the therapeutic effectiveness and safety profile of cancer treatment. A chemoembolization approach was designed for human solid tumors using resorbable calcium-phosphate ceramic microspheres loaded with an agent anti-angiogenic to tumor vasculature in vivo. The human uterine sarcoma cell line FU-MMT-3 was used in this study because this tumor is aggressive and also exhibits a poor response to radiotherapy or any chemotherapy currently used.

[Two cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombus responding to transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy using cisplatin].

We report two cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC) with a portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) responding to transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) using cisplatin (CDDP). Case 1: A 65-year-old male patient was diagnosed with unresectable multiple HCCs. After 5 courses of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), the tumor became markedly enlarged, and a PVTT (Vp2) and lymph node metastasis were noted.