Helicobacter pylori promotes hepatic fibrosis in the animal model.

Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to be very common in patients with chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis. To elucidate the pathological effect of H. pylori infection on the progression of hepatic fibrosis, C57BL/6 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were orally inoculated with H.

Central popliteal mass due to communicating posterior cruciate ligament cyst: an indication for a combined approach.

An isolated symptomatic posterior cruciate ligament cyst is uncommon, and extra-articular communication of this cyst is extremely rare. We report a case of a symptomatic communicating posterior cruciate ligament cyst presenting as a central popliteal mass. In view of the large extra-articular extension of this cyst and its close proximity to the popliteal neurovascular structures, we successfully treated this cyst with a combined arthroscopic and open approach.

Conducting polymers on hydrogel-coated neural electrode provide sensitive neural recordings in auditory cortex.

Recently, a significant amount of effort has been dedicated to understanding factors that influence the functionality of bio-electronic sensors and to development of novel coating technologies for modifying biosensor surfaces. Due to its well-known biocompatibility, alginate hydrogel (HG) has been used as a coating material on neural electrodes for promoting intimate cellular integration, providing a scaffold for local drug delivery, and creating a mechanical buffer between hard electrodes and the soft tissues of the central nervous system. However, neural signal recordings using HG-coated electrodes in animal models are still poorly evaluated.

Osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: is bone bruising a risk factor?

Osteonecrosis of the knee is extremely rare following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. We report a case of osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle in a patient after ACL reconstruction. The osteonecrotic lesion occurred in the same area as a large bone bruise, which was sustained at the time of the initial injury.

Vernalization: winter and the timing of flowering in plants.

Plants have evolved many systems to sense their environment and to modify their growth and development accordingly. One example is vernalization, the process by which flowering is promoted as plants sense exposure to the cold temperatures of winter. A requirement for vernalization is an adaptive trait that helps prevent flowering before winter and permits flowering in the favorable conditions of spring.

A case of hepatocellular carcinoma within hepatocellular adenoma in a non-cirrhotic male.

Hepatocellular adenoma (HA) is a benign hepatic lesion that predominantly occurs in young women. Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) arise in a cirrhotic liver during the fifth or sixth decades. There have been several reported cases of HCC developing from HA in female patients.

BCL2 gene polymorphism could predict the treatment outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

The Bcl-2 protein inhibits apoptosis (programmed cell death) of hematopoietic stem cells induced by a variety of noxious stimuli, thus mediating chemoresistance and decreasing chemosensitivity. Higher Bcl-2 expression correlates to an adverse outcome following therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The current study determined whether a BCL2 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) could affect treatment outcomes in 99 AML patients excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia.

[A case of intramural duodenal hematoma accompanied by acute pancreatitis following endoscopic hemostasis for duodenal ulcer bleeding].

Intramural duodenal hematoma is an uncommon condition, which usually develops after blunt abdominal trauma. It is also reported as a complication of anticoagulant therapy, blood dyscrasia, pancreatic disease, and diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. The typical clinical pictures of intramural duodenal hematoma consist of upper abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, and hematochezia, and it is rarely accompanied by intestinal obstruction, peritonitis, and pancreatitis as its complication.

Curcumin attenuates ethanol-induced toxicity in HT22 hippocampal cells by activating mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1.

Ethanol causes neurotoxicity through formation of reactive oxygen species and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) is one of the phosphatases responsible for dephosphorylation/deactivation of MAPKs. In this report, we examined the potential involvement of MKP-1 in cytoprotective effects of the well-known antioxidant curcumin.

Calcific tendinitis of popliteus tendon: arthroscopic excision and biopsy.

Calcific tendinitis results from the deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in periarticular muscular attachments. It is a rare cause of knee pain commonly affecting patients aged 40 to 70 years. Although commonly seen in the shoulder, it should be kept in mind in nontraumatic cases, particularly when the pain is severe and localized to the lateral aspect of the knee.

Peripheral blood eosinophilia has a favorable prognostic impact on transplant outcomes after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Peripheral eosinophilia after allogeneic stem cell transplant (ASCT) may reflect the activation of the Th2 cytokine pathway. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of early- (before day 100: EEo) or late-onset (beyond day 100: LEo) eosinophilia (> or =0.5 x 10(9)/L in peripheral blood) on transplant outcomes after peripheral blood SCT (PBSCT) in 237 patients.

Interaction between BCL2 and interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms alter outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following rituximab plus CHOP chemotherapy.

Purpose: Rituximab may overcome bcl-2-mediated chemoresistance through the inhibition of interleukin-10 (IL-10)-mediated loops, thus down-regulating bcl-2 expression. We examined the effects of genetic variation in BCL2/IL10 gene loops on treatment outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when treated with either CHOP or rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.

Experimental Design: Four genotypes were tested including BCL2 -938 C>A (rs2279115), +21 A>G (rs1801018), IL10 -819 T>C (rs1800871), and -592 A>C (rs1800872) in patients receiving either R-CHOP (n = 125) or CHOP (n = 110).

cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP act cooperatively via nonredundant pathways to regulate genotoxic stress-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation.

Various genotoxic agents cause monoubiquitination of NEMO/IKKgamma-the regulatory subunit of IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex-in the nucleus. Ubiquitinated NEMO exits from the nucleus and forms a complex with the IKK catalytic subunits IKKalpha and IKKbeta, resulting in IKK activation and, ultimately, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. Thus, NEMO ubiquitination is a prerequisite for IKK-dependent activation of NF-kappaB.

Surface morphology of SiN film deposited by a pulsed-plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition at room temperature.

Silicon nitride (SiN) films were deposited by a pulsed plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system in a SiH4-NH3 chemistry. Surface morphology of SiN films at room temperature is first reported. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscopy were used for characterization.

Natural killer or natural killer/T cell lineage large granular lymphocytosis associated with dasatinib therapy for Philadelphia chromosome positive leukemia.

Dasatinib, a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is known to modulate or suppress T-cell activation and proliferation. We report a series of 8 patients who developed chronic peripheral lymphocytosis, identified as natural killer cells or natural killer/T-cells based on their large granular lymphocyte morphologies and CD16(+), CD56(+), CD3(-) or CD3(+) immunophenotypic profiles, out of 18 patients receiving dasatinib therapy. All cases that developed large granular lymphocyte lymphocytosis achieved optimal molecular response (8/8 in large granular lymphocyte(+) patients vs.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms may predict the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease following allogeneic transplantation: preventive effect of vascular endothelial growth factor gene on acute graft-versus-host disease.

Microvessel injury is associated with the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), whereas high levels of posttransplantation vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have a protective effect on severe acute GVHD (aGVHD) and transplantation-related mortality. The current study aimed to determine the impact of VEGFA gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the risk of aGVHD after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, 4 VEGFA SNPs- -2578 C>A (rs699947), -460 T>C (rs833061), +405 G>C (rs2010963), and +936 C>T (rs3025039)-were analyzed in 98 recipients.

Autophagy contributes to degradation of Hirano bodies.

Hirano bodies are actin-rich inclusions reported most frequently in the hippocampus in association with a variety of conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. We have developed a model system for formation of Hirano bodies in Dictyostelium and cultured mammalian cells to permit detailed studies of the dynamics of these structures in living cells. Model Hirano bodies are frequently observed in membrane-enclosed vesicles in mammalian cells consistent with a role of autophagy in the degradation of these structures.

Epigallocatechin gallate stimulates glucose uptake through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated pathway in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells.

The effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on glucose uptake was studied in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Glucose uptake assay revealed that EGCG increased glucose uptake >70% compared to control. EGCG-stimulated glucose uptake was blocked by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, which is a major regulatory molecule in glucose uptake pathways.

Clinical efficacy of prophylactic strategy of long-term low-dose acyclovir for Varicella-Zoster virus infection after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Varicella-Zoster virus infection (VZV) has a high incidence post-allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT). However, data regarding long-term acyclovir prophylaxis for VZV prevention are limited. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of long-term low-dose acyclovir prophylaxis for VZV infection after allogeneic PBSCT at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Canada and the Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH), Korea.

Is International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) still standard in predicting prognosis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome? External validation of the WHO Classification-Based Prognostic Scoring System (WPSS) and comparison with IPSS.

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the prognostic value of the WHO Classification-Based Prognostic Scoring System (WPSS) and to compare it with that of the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS).

Patients And Methods: 149 patients de novo diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndrome between December 1994 and February 2007, were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: WPSS presented an excellent method for risk-stratifying patients into five subgroups, with different risks of death and leukaemic evolution.

Co-fermentation of grape must by Issatchenkia orientalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae reduces the malic acid content in wine.

Grape must was fermented by a mixed culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae W-3 (a wine yeast) and Issatchenkia orientalis KMBL 5774 (a malic acid-degrading yeast). Co-fermentation with 1:1 (v/v) inoculum ratio of W-3 and KMBL 5774 decreased malic acid to 0.33 mg/ml from 1.

[FLT3 Gene Mutations as a Prognostic Factor for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.].

Background: Two distinct types of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene mutations have been identified in acute myeloid leukemia (AML): D835 and internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations. These mutations are known to cause the proliferation of leukemic cells and inhibit the apoptosis of leukemic cells due to ligand-independent activation of their receptors. Therefore, the current study attempted to investigate the frequency of FLT3 gene mutations and their prognostic implications for AML in terms of treatment response, survival, and relapse.