[Multimodal therapy improved carcinoid syndrome secondary to liver metastases of an atypical lung carcinoid tumor:a case report].

A 69-year-old male presented for an annual medical examination, and his chest X-ray showed an abnormal shadow. He presented to our hospital, and was diagnosed with typical carcinoid tumor of the lung by bronchoscopy. We recommended surgery, however the patient did not agree to the operation.

Bone morphogenetic protein-4 modulates proliferation and terminal differentiation of fetal hepatic stem/progenitor cells.

Unlabelled: Fetal hepatic stem/progenitor cells, called hepatoblasts, play central roles in liver organogenesis; however, molecular mechanisms regulating proliferation and terminal differentiation of such cells have not been completely elucidated. Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) is essential for the development of stem cells in various tissues, but its function in regulating the phenotype of hepatoblasts after the mid-gestational fetal stage remains unclear. The aim of this study is to clarify a functional role for BMP-4 in proliferation and terminal differentiation of murine hepatoblasts in mid-gestational fetal livers.

Serial measurement of Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2-binding protein is useful for predicting liver fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-based and IFN-free therapy.

Aim: Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive (WFA) Mac-2-binding protein (M2BPGi) is a noninvasive glyco-marker for liver fibrosis. This study evaluated the utility of serial measurement of serum M2BPGi and total M2BP as a predictor of fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This study included 119 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Evaluation of Interferon Resistance in Newly Established Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus Cell Culture System.

Background And Aims: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b is known to exhibit treatment resistance with respect to interferon (IFN) therapy. Substitution of amino acids 70 and 91 in the core region of the 1b genotype is a significant predictor of liver carcinogenesis and poor response to pegylated-IFN-α and ribavirin therapy. However, the molecular mechanism has not yet been clearly elucidated because of limitations of the HCV genotype 1b infectious model.

Protein purification and cloning of diacylglycerol lipase from rat brain.

Diacylglycerol (DG) lipase, which hydrolyses 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonyl-sn-glycerol to produce an endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, was purified from the soluble fraction of rat brain lysates. DG lipase was purified about 1,200-fold by a sequential column chromatographic procedure. Among proteins identified by mass spectrometry analysis in the partially purified DG lipase sample, only DDHD domain containing two (DDHD2), which was formerly regarded as a phospholipase A1, exhibited significant DG lipase activity.

Matrix metalloproteinase-14 mediates formation of bile ducts and hepatic maturation of fetal hepatic progenitor cells.

Fetal hepatic stem/progenitor cells, called hepatoblasts, play central roles in liver development; however, the molecular mechanisms regulating the phenotype of these cells have not been completely elucidated. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-14 is a type I transmembrane proteinase regulating pericellular proteolysis of the extracellular matrix and is essential for the activation of several MMPs and cytokines. However, the physiological functions of MMP-14 in liver development are unknown.

Comprehensive analyses of mutations and hepatitis B virus integration in hepatocellular carcinoma with clinicopathological features.

Background And Aims: Genetic alterations in specific genes are critical events in carcinogenesis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, the genetic alterations responsible for HCC development, progression, and survival are unclear.

Methods: We investigated the essential difference in genetic alterations between HCC and adjacent non-HCC tissues using next-generation sequencing technology.

Efficacy of additional radiofrequency ablation after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: For intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy is recommended in the guidelines as a monotherapy, although TACE is a non-curative therapy. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of adding radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to TACE in patients with intermediate HCC, and to identify the factors that were associated with favorable survival in these patients.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with intermediate HCC were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma with a cholangiocellular carcinoma component in one nodule.

Primary neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) in the liver are very rare; however, several reports have described cases of a primary hepatic NEC combined with a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We present the first report of a primary hepatic NEC with a cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC) component in one nodule in a patient with a metachronous liver HCC. A 73-year old man who had received partial hepatectomy surgery because of a primary HCC and a primary CCC two years prior was diagnosed with a primary hepatic NEC after surgical treatment.

Impaired induction of interleukin 28B and expression of interferon λ 4 associated with nonresponse to interferon-based therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: Interferon (IFN) λ plays an important role in innate immunity to protect against hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near IL28B (IFNλ3) are strongly associated with treatment response to IFNα therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Recently, IFNλ4 related to IL28B-unfavorable allele was discovered.

Breakthrough pain management using fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) in combination with around-the-clock (ATC) opioids based on the efficacy and safety of FBT, and its relationship with ATC opioids: results from an open-label, multi-center study in Japanese cancer patients with detailed evaluation.

Objective: Rapid analgesic onset opioids, particularly fentanyl buccal tablet, is preferable for managing breakthrough pain. The efficacy and safety of fentanyl buccal tablet and its association with around-the-clock opioids needs to be explored with an option of dose adjustments, more closely reflecting administration in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of fentanyl buccal tablet in breakthrough pain management in combination with around-the-clock opioids with the dose adjustment option, and explore the dose adjustment's influence on breakthrough pain management using detailed evaluation.

The radiobiological effectiveness of carbon-ion beams on growing neurons.

Purpose: Recently carbon-ion beams have been reported to be remarkably effective for controlling various cancers with less toxicity and are thought to be a promising modality for cancer treatment. However, the biological effect of carbon-ion beams arising on normal neuron remains unknown. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of carbon-ion beams on neurons by using both morphological and functional assays.

Actions of propofol on substantia gelatinosa neurones in rat spinal cord revealed by in vitro and in vivo patch-clamp recordings.

Propofol, an intravenous general anaesthetic, exerts anaesthetic actions through interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptors in the supraspinal nervous system. However, whether propofol has any significant effects on synaptic transmission at the spinal level and whether it exhibits antinociceptive action is still not fully clarified. Spontaneous activity and stimulus-evoked responses of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurones to noxious pinch stimuli were recorded using spontaneously breathing rats under propofol anaesthesia using in vivo whole-cell patch-clamp techniques.

The nociceptive mechanism of 5-hydroxytryptamine released into the peripheral tissue in acute inflammatory pain in rats.

The present study examined the contribution of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to acute peripheral inflammatory pain in rats. We used formalin test in this study. After formalin injection into the rat hind paw, biphasic pain-related behavior (phases 1 and 2) was observed.

Growth cone collapse and neurite retractions: an approach to examine X-irradiation affects on neuron cells.

The growth cone is a structure at the terminal of a neurite that plays an important role in the growth of the neurite. The growth cone collapse assay is considered to be a useful method to quantify the effects of various factors on nerve tissue. Here, we investigated the effect of x-irradiation on growth cones and neurites and also the comparative radiosensitivity of different neurons.

[Cases of femoral nerve palsy after radical prostatectomy].

Although postoperative femoral neuropathy is an uncommon complication occurring after pelvic surgery, we experienced several cases of femoral nerve palsy in patients after radical prostatectomy. All cases had neither previous vascular nor peripheral nerve disease. To investigate the possible etiology, we compared the difference in age, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), duration of surgery, and volume of bleeding in patients with or without femoral nerve palsy.

Amnestic concentrations of sevoflurane inhibit synaptic plasticity of hippocampal CA1 neurons through gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated mechanisms.

Background: The cellular mechanisms of anesthetic-induced amnesia are still poorly understood. The current study examined sevoflurane at various concentrations in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices for effects on excitatory synaptic transmission and on long-term potentiation (LTP), as a possible mechanism contributing to anesthetic-induced loss of recall.

Methods: Population spikes and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded using extracellular electrodes after electrical stimulation of Schaffer-collateral-commissural fiber inputs.

[Transient hyperglycemia following intra-peritoneal irrigation with 5% glucose in a patient with pseudomyxoma peritonei].

Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a condition characterized by the production of a large amount of mucopolysaccharide by a neoplastic epithelium. Although surgical removal of the mucinous ascites may be attempted, complete removal of the material is difficult. Thus, intra-peritoneal lavage with the liquid containing glucose or dextrose has been advocated to prevent reaccumulation of the mucus and complications such as bowel obstruction requiring repeated surgery.

Effects of spinal anesthesia on the peripheral and deep core temperature in elderly diabetic patients undergoing urological surgery.

Purpose: The effects of spinal anesthesia on temperature homeostasis have been well studied, but whether body temperature during spinal anesthesia exhibits the same characteristic changes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been clarified. The present study measured body temperatures at the forehead and at the lower limb using a monitor of deep body temperature and compared patients with DM (n = 8) and without DM (n = 10).

Methods: Subjects comprised 18 male patients (ASA physical status I or II) undergoing spinal anesthesia for urological surgery.

Sevoflurane anesthesia did not affect postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine whether sevoflurane anesthesia had any ameliorative effects on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods: One hundred and nine patients underwent elective CABG surgery at our institution from May 1999 to May 2001. From May 1999 to August 2000, the main anesthetic regime used included a propofol infusion with no volatile anesthetic being administered during the surgery.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation and hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients with thromboangiitis obliterans.

Many patients suffering from severe ischemic limb disease inevitably experience amputation, despite intensive therapies. Sympathectomy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are optional therapies for patients with peripheral circulation disorders. Recently, several clinical studies have established that implantation of bone marrow-mononuclear cells into ischemic limbs increases collateral vessel formation.

Effects of selective iNOS inhibition on systemic hemodynamics and mortality rate on endotoxic shock in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether selective iNOS inhibition can restore the hemodynamic changes and reduce the nitrotyrosine levels in the cerebral cortex of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes during endotoxin-induced shock. The study was designed to include three sets of experiments: (1) measurement of changes in systemic hemodynamics, (2) measurement of biochemical variables, including iNOS activity and nitrotyrosine formation in the brain, and (3) assessment of mortality rate. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: group 1, control; group 2, LPS: Escherichia coli endotoxin, 10.

Effects of nicardipine-induced hypotension on cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity in patients with diabetes mellitus under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nicardipine-induced hypotension on cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity in patients with diabetes mellitus under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Methods: Nineteen diabetic patients, and 11 nondiabetic patients (serving as controls), undergoing elective orthopedic, cardiovascular, or thoracic surgery were included in the study. The diabetic patients were divided into three groups according to the antidiabetic therapy they were receiving, i.