Evaluation of bioavailable 137Cs transfer from forest litter to Scarabaeidae beetle (Protaetia orientalis) through a breeding experiment in Fukuhshima.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, most of the released 137Cs remained in the litter and surface soil of the adjacent forest floor. However, 137Cs absorption by large soil invertebrates near this site has not been estimated. The aim of this study was to understand the role of soil macroinvertebrates in 137Cs uptake from forest litter into forest ecosystems.

Conversion of 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-diol to bis[(4-dimethylamino)phenyl carbamate] derivative for sensitive determination of its rat brain level by LC/ESI-MS/MS.

Rationale: 5α-Androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α,5α-Adiol) is a testosterone-derived neurosteroid and has anxiolytic and analgesic effects via γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors as with the progesterone-derived neurosteroid, allopregnanolone (AP). Although the psychotropic drug-evoked changes in the brain AP concentration have been intensively studied, those in the brain 3α,5α-Adiol concentration remain poorly understood. One of the causes for this is the limited availability of a validated method for quantifying the brain 3α,5α-Adiol with a sufficient sensitivity and specificity, which is described in this study.

Exploring simple ways to avoid collecting highly 137Cs-contaminated Aralia elata buds for the revival of local wild vegetable cultures.

Collection and cooking of wild vegetables have provided seasonal enjoyments for Japanese local people as provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. However, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 caused extensive radiocesium contamination of wild vegetables. Restrictions on commercial shipments of wild vegetables have been in place for the last 10 years.

Anti-Donor T-Cell Responses Are Not Necessarily Attenuated During Cytomegalovirus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the most common opportunistic infection of kidney transplantation (KT), is preventable by prophylactic and preemptive antiviral drugs in CMV-immunoglobulin (Ig)G-positive donors. Our preemptive therapy optimized immunosuppressive doses based on mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) results, regardless of preoperative CMV-IgG serostatus pairing. This study used the MLR to compare the anti-donor T-cell responses between CMV antigenemia-positive and -negative cases.

Drugs possessing aryloxypropanamine pharmacophore, duloxetine, dapoxetine and propranolol, increase allopregnanolone in rat brain: Possible involvement of allopregnanolone in their central nervous system effects.

Allopregnanolone (AP) is a neurosteroid synthesized in the brain and a positive allosteric modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors. Some drugs possessing the aryloxypropanamine (AOPA) pharmacophore, such as fluoxetine, exert their central nervous system (CNS) effects by increasing the brain AP. Although duloxetine (DLX), dapoxetine (DPX), atomoxetine (ATX) and propranolol (PRL) also possess the AOPA pharmacophore and are used to treat some psychiatric disorders, the capabilities of these drugs to increase the brain AP and the possible involvement of AP in their CNS effects remain to be fully elucidated.

Evaluation of T-Cell Immune Status of Reduced-Dose Cyclosporine and Everolimus Combination Therapy in Kidney Transplant Patients.

Background: Kidney transplantation (KT) outcomes have significantly improved with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) administration. In recent years, the dose of CNIs has been reduced, and everolimus (EVR) has been used in combination with CNIs to avoid complications from the long-term use of CNIs. However, T-cell immune responses to these protocols have not been fully evaluated.

Contrasting seasonality of Cs concentrations in two stream animals that share a trophic niche.

Understanding the seasonality of Cs concentrations in aquatic animals is crucial for reviving local inland fisheries. The seasonality of Cs concentrations in animals is expected to vary, even if focal species consume similarly contaminated foods because the Cs excretion rate is species-specific, and Cs uptake by foraging autochthonous food resources also vary among seasons. Here, we conducted a seasonal monitoring survey of dissolved Cs concentrations as an indicator of the contamination level of food resources and measured Cs concentrations in two carnivorous aquatic animals (Palaemon paucidens and Rhinogobius sp.

B cell depletion with anti-CD20 mAb exacerbates anti-donor CD4 T cell responses in highly sensitized transplant recipients.

Pretransplant desensitization with rituximab has been applied to preformed donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibody (DSA)-positive recipients for elimination of preformed DSA. We investigated the impact of pretransplant desensitization with rituximab on anti-donor T cell responses in DSA-positive transplant recipients. To monitor the patients' immune status, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assays were performed before and after desensitization with rituximab.

Anthocyanin synthesis potential in betalain-producing Caryophyllales plants.

Although anthocyanins are widely distributed in higher plants, betalains have replaced anthocyanins in most species of the order Caryophyllales. The accumulation of flavonols in Caryophyllales plants implies that the late step of anthocyanin biosynthesis from dihydroflavonols to anthocyanins may be blocked in Caryophyllales. The isolation and characterization of functional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) from Caryophyllales plants has indicated a lack of anthocyanins due to suppression of DFR and ANS.

Protective Effects of Polyvinylpyrrolidone-Wrapped Fullerene Against Nitric Oxide/Peroxynitrite-Induced Cellular Injury in Human Skin Keratinocytes.

Excess ultraviolet (UV) exposure accelerates skin inflammation, melanogenesis, wrinkle formation, photoaging, and carcinogenesis through oxidative stress and deoxyribonucleic acid damage. These deleterious effects to skin are closely associated with UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) produced via nitric oxide (NO) generation. RNS are known to be responsible for various skin disorders, such as erythema, melanin production, reduced barrier function, and psoriasis.

Two cases of giant peritoneal inclusion cysts requiring treatment after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PICs) often develop in post-operative patients. Since the incidence of adhesions is lower with laparoscopic surgery than with open surgery, PICs are less likely to occur in the former. Although post-operative adhesions or PICs rarely develop after laparoscopic surgery (such as total laparoscopic hysterectomy: TLH), we encountered two cases of giant PICs with abdominal pain after TLH.

A case of sarcomatoid malignant peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed by laparoscopy.

•Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, particularly the sarcomatoid type, is rare and aggressive.•Accurate diagnosis by ascites cytology is difficult.•Histological examination such as laparoscopy aids in diagnosis.

TLR-MyD88 signaling blockades inhibit refractory B-1b cell immune responses to transplant-related glycan antigens.

Refractory B cell responses to T cell-independent (TI) carbohydrate antigens (Ags) are critical drivers of rejection reactions to ABO-incompatible allogeneic grafts and xenogeneic grafts from other species. To explore the biological significance of crosstalk between Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and B cell receptors (BCRs) in the TI B cell immunity, we here used MyD88-, TRIF-, and α-galactosyltransferase-deficient mice to study B cell phenotypes and functional properties during TI transplant-related glycan Ag exposure. BCR stimulation alone induced differentiation into CD5 (B-1a) cells, which were highly sensitive to a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), while co-stimulation of TLRs and BCRs induced differentiation into CD5 (B-1b) cells in MyD88-dependent and CNI-resistant manner.

A rare case of transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome following living donor liver transplantation: A case report and literature review.

Introduction: Transient Left Ventricular Apical Balloon Syndrome (LV-ABS) is an unknown acute dysfunction of the left ventricle, which develops under emotional or physical stress events like the major surgical postoperative period.

Presentation Of Case: A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with hepatitis C cirrhosis was admitted for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). No evidence for underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease was found.

Perioperative management with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and prostaglandin E1 for moderate portopulmonary hypertension following adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation: a case report.

Background: Portopulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a relatively rare but well-recognized complication of end-stage liver disease. Moderate or severe PPH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] ≥ 35 mmHg) is usually a contraindication for liver transplantation due to high operation-related mortality. Here, we report on a patient with moderate PPH whose condition was successfully managed with a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor (tadalafil) and prostaglandin E1, who experienced rapid improvement of PPH after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

PD-L1/PD-L2-expressing B-1 cells inhibit alloreactive T cells in mice.

B cells constitute a complex system of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and exist as distinct subsets that differ in their lineage affiliation, surface molecule expression, and biological function, thus potentially regulating the immune response. In this study, we investigated the immune-regulatory roles of murine B cell subsets as regulatory APCs targeting alloreactive T cells. Either splenic B cells, peritoneal cavity (PerC) B cells, or non-B cells from Balb/c mice were intravenously injected into B6 mice.

bacteremia following total laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine corpus cancer.

, a Gram-positive coccus facultative anaerobe, is part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the oropharynx, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. However, this species can also cause serious infection. We herein report on a case of bacteremia, accompanied by peritonitis and pleuritis, in a 46-year-old immunocompetent female following a total laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer.

Rare hydrosalpinx in a sexually inactive adolescent successfully treated with laparoscopy.

The majority of cases of symptomatic hydrosalpinx needing treatment are caused by sexually transmitted diseases. However, here, we present a rare case of a hydrosalpinx occurring in a sexually-inactive adolescent girl successfully treated with laparoscopy. A 17-year-old girl presenting with lower abdominai symptoms had a surgical history for an inguinal hernia at infancy.

Fc-gamma receptor 3A polymorphism predicts the incidence of urinary tract infection in kidney-transplant recipients.

We investigated the impact of polymorphisms in host innate immunoregulatory genes on the development of infectious complications after kidney transplantation (KT). The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of C1QA [276 A/G], FCGR2A [131 H/R], and FCGR3A [158 F/V], genes encoding the Fc gamma receptor (FcγR), were analyzed in 81 KT recipients in relation to the occurrences of postoperative infectious complications within 30days after KT. Consistent with a lower affinity of the isoform encoded by the FCGR3A [158 F] to both IgG1 and IgG3, a significantly higher incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) was observed in the FCGR3A [158 F/V or F/F] individuals (65.

Etiology of Ascites and Pleural Effusion Associated with Ovarian Tumors: Literature Review and Case Reports of Three Ovarian Tumors Presenting with Massive Ascites, but without Peritoneal Dissemination.

Borderline ovarian tumors are benign but relatively large tumors that are often initially mistaken as ovarian cancers. We report three cases of stage I borderline ovarian tumors having massive ascites that we (preoperatively) suspected of being advanced ovarian cancer. The three patients (35, 47, and 73 years old) reported feeling fullness of the abdomen before consulting their gynecologist.

Rare Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Broad Ligament: Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review.

Malignant primary tumors arising in the uterine broad ligament are extremely rare, and only 26 cases have been reported to date. We describe 2 new cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament, and we review the previous literature on such rare tumors. In Case 1, a 71-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of increased yellow vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain during bowel movement.