A gold-complex initiated functionalization of biologically active polyphenols applied to a F-labeled chemical probe.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a key component of green tea, exerts therapeutic anticancer and antiallergic properties through its binding to the 67 kDa laminin receptor. The functionalization of EGCG is a promising strategy for creating new drug candidates and chemical probes. In our study, we developed a method for effectively modifying the A ring of EGCG through an electrophilic aromatic substitution with amidomethyl 2-alkynylbenzoates initiated with a gold complex.

Reclassification of atypical immature metaplasia of the uterine cervix by combination of nuclear features on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections without auxiliary immunohistochemistry.

Reclassification of endocervical atypical immature metaplasia (AIM) into reactive changes and neoplastic lesion is often challenging. We aimed to accurately reclassify AIM on hematoxylin and eosin (HE)-stained sections without auxiliary immunohistochemistry (IHC). A total of 133 AIM diagnosed by punch biopsy were reclassified by IHC for p16 and Ki-67 into high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) or negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (NILM/LSIL) as a reference.

Comparison of Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for FIGO2018 Stage IIIC1 Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

: In October 2018, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) revised its classification of advanced stages of cervical cancer. The main points of the classification are as follows: stage IIIC is newly established; pelvic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC1; and para-aortic lymph node metastasis is stage IIIC2. Currently, in Japan, radical hysterectomy is performed in advanced stages IA2 to IIB of FIGO2014, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended for patients with positive lymph nodes.

Immunotherapy for Uterine Cervical Cancer Using Checkpoint Inhibitors: Future Directions.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated marked clinical effects worldwide, and "cancer immunotherapy" has been recognized as a feasible option for cancer treatment. Significant treatment responses have already been attained for malignant melanoma and lung cancer, ahead of gynecologic cancer. In cervical cancer, however, results are only available from phase II trials, not from phase III trials.

Mental health of Japanese psychiatrists: the relationship among level of occupational stress, satisfaction and depressive symptoms.

Background: Psychiatrists in clinical practice face a number of stressors related to patient care, such as overwork. On the other hand, they gain satisfaction from their work. We quantified and assessed the potential relationship between levels of occupational stress, satisfaction, and depressive symptoms among Japanese clinical psychiatrists.

Risk factors for delayed bleeding from endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastric neoplasms.

Objective: Delayed bleeding is a major complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric neoplasms. We aimed to clarify risk factors for delayed bleeding from ESD.

Material And Methods: This study included 447 patients in whom 544 gastric neoplasms were resected by ESD between April 2006 and March 2011 in Yamaguchi University Hospital.

Usefulness of magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging for determining gastric tumor margin.

Background And Aim: Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (ME-NBI) enhances images of the irregular mucosal structures and microvessels of gastric carcinoma, and could be useful for determining the margin between cancerous and non-cancerous mucosa. We evaluated the usefulness of ME-NBI for determining the tumor margin compared with indigocarmine chromoendoscopy (ICC).

Methods: The subjects were 110 patients (with 118 lesions) who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric tumors.

Fine-tuning the criteria for strip biopsy and endoscopic submucosal dissection improves the outcome of early gastric carcinoma treatment.

Background And Aim: Strip biopsy and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) have been developed as a local treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, the lesion criteria for the use of ESD, rather than strip biopsy, remain to be elucidated.

Methods: On the basis of reviews of literature and our observations concerning the outcome of strip biopsy, we set the criteria for selecting strip biopsy and ESD as follows.

Tongue muscle-derived stem cells express connexin 43 and improve cardiac remodeling and survival after myocardial infarction in mice.

Background: Cell transplantation therapy for heart failure is hindered by poor differentiation into cardiomyocytes and arrhythmias caused by the poor expression of connexin 43 (Cx43). A new stem cell source for cardiac regeneration is needed.

Methods And Results: Tongue muscle-derived Sca-1(+) cells (TDSCs) were isolated from normal and green fluorescence protein (GFP)-transgenic mouse tongues using surface antigen Sca-1.

The impact of intermittent pneumatic compression devices on deep venous flow velocity in patients with congestive heart failure.

Background: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) has been used to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but the effects of IPC on the hemodynamics of popliteal and soleal veins, especially in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of IPC on the flow velocity of deep veins in the lower extremities and to compare the efficacy of two different types of IPC in deep venous flow enhancement in patients with CHF.

Methods: Flow velocities of popliteal and soleal veins were recorded in 19 patients with CHF and in 19 control subjects using a high-resolution linear probe.

Impact of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery: experience in 1011 cases.

Background: Although intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) has been widely used in cardiovascular surgery, the exact incidence of abnormalities detected by IOTEE in each type of surgical procedure is still unclear. The aim of this study was to review our experiences of IOTEE, in patients who underwent different types of cardiovascular surgery and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of IOTEE.

Methods And Results: Our database of 1011 consecutive patients, who underwent cardiovascular surgery and IOTEE monitoring was reviewed.

Epstein-Barr virus upregulates phosphorylated heat shock protein 27 kDa in carcinoma cells using the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Gastric cancer is the most common cancer in Japan and infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is responsible for about 10% of gastric cancers worldwide. Although EBV infection may be involved at an early stage of gastric carcinogenesis, the mechanisms underlying its involvement remain unknown. To investigate the role of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis, we performed proteomic analyses of an EBV-infected gastric carcinoma cell line NU-GC-3 (EBV(+)) and its uninfected control (EBV(-)).

Ulcerous change decreases the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography diagnosis for the invasive depth of early gastric cancer.

Background: With the development of endoscopic submucosal dissection, an expansion of the criteria for local treatment was suggested for lesions with ulcerous changes or undifferentiated-type adenocarcinoma.

Aim Of The Study: To determine the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography for such lesions, we retrospectively analyzed factors that influenced accurate diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasonography of the depth of tumor invasion.

Methods: We investigated 267 gastric adenocarcinomas for which histopathological results were obtained by endoscopic mucosal resection or gastrectomy.

The long-term efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background And Aim: A beneficial effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with H. pylori-positive idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) has been reported by several investigators; however, it was not clear whether the recovered platelet count after H.

Bispolides, novel 20-membered ring macrodiolide antibiotics from microbispora.

Seven new related compounds named bispolides A1, A2, A3, B1, B2a, B2b and B3, have been found in a culture of Microbispora sp. A34030, isolated from a Malaysian soil sample. The planar structures were elucidated to be new 20-membered ring macrodiolide antibiotics on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses.

Pleiotropic effects of the beta-adrenoceptor blocker carvedilol on calcium regulation during oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Carvedilol is a nonselective beta-adrenoceptor blocker with multiple pleiotropic actions. A recent clinical study suggested that carvedilol may be superior to other beta-adrenoceptor blockers in the treatment of heart failure. Despite numerous investigations, the underlying mechanisms of carvedilol on improving heart failure are yet to be fully established.

Carvedilol inhibits mitochondrial oxygen consumption and superoxide production during calcium overload in isolated heart mitochondria.

Background: The COMET study suggested the better effect of carvedilol to metoprolol in treating heart failure. However, its underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. As a result, evaluation of the distinct effects of both drugs on the mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during Ca(2+) overload was investigated.

A new type of Streptomycete arylsulfatase with high affinity to the sulfuryl moiety of the substrate.

Streptomyces sp. T109-3 arylsulfatase (Es-2), which desulfated p-nitrophenyl sulfate as well as etoposide 4'-sulfate, was purified to protein homogeneity by sulfated cellulose affinity and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. Es-2 required calcium for enzyme activity and was severely inhibited by SH and chelating reagents.

Arylsulfatase from Streptomyces griseorubiginosus S980-14.

A new arylsulfatase designated Es-1, which desulfated etoposide 4'-sulfate and p-nitrophenyl sulfate, was isolated from Streptomyces griseorubiginosus S980-14 and purified to protein homogeneity by ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange column chromatography, and chromatofocusing. The enzyme was active in monomeric form with an approximate molecular weight of 45,000, had a pI value of 4.95, and required calcium for full activity.

Screening and production of arylsulfatases for target therapy with etoposide 4'-sulfate, an antitumor prodrug.

Two arylsulfatase-producing streptomycetes that desulfated etoposide 4'-sulfate were isolated from soil samples. Taxonomical study identified one soil isolate as Streptomyces griseorubiginosus S980-14 (Es-1 arylsulfatase producer), while the other was considered new and tentatively designated Streptomyces sp. T109-3 (Es-2 arylsulfatase producer).

Eurystatins A and B, new prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors. III. Fermentation and controlled biosynthesis of eurystatin analogs by Streptomyces eurythermus.

Accurate and precise component analysis of eurystatin analogs in fermentation broth was devised by HPLC methods with and without 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazonation. Detailed optimization of fermentation conditions and strain improvement by HPLC analysis significantly increased the eurystatin productivity of Streptomyces eurythermus. Chemically defined fermentation media which produced eurystatins A and B at fermentation yields comparable to complex media were elaborated for radio-isotope fermentation studies and controlled biosynthesis.

Lagunamycin, a novel 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, physico-chemical properties and biological characteristics.

Lagunamycin, a novel 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AA0310. This compound showed potent rat 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity (IC50 6.