Imaging of Facial Nerve With 3D-DESS-WE-MRI Before Parotidectomy: Impact on Surgical Outcomes.

Objective: The intra-parotid facial nerve (FN) can be visualized using three-dimensional double-echo steady-state water-excitation sequence magnetic resonance imaging (3D-DESS-WE-MRI). However, the clinical impact of FN imaging using 3D-DESS-WE-MRI before parotidectomy has not yet been explored. We compared the clinical outcomes of parotidectomy in patients with and without preoperative 3D-DESS-WE-MRI.

Manufacture and characterization of optimized red ginseng drinks containing herbal medicine extracts.

The optimum mixing ratio of red ginseng, herbal medicine extracts, and oligosaccharides for diabetic improvement was investigated and verified through animal experiments. Using the optimum mixing technique, 2% red ginseng extract, 15% oligosaccharides, and 83% herbal medicine extracts were determined to be optimal for red ginseng beverages. The taste was improved as the amount of red ginseng decreased and oligosaccharides increased, whereas antioxidative activity was increased with increased red ginseng.

Serum amyloid A inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast formation.

When mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages were stimulated with serum amyloid A (SAA), which is a major acute-phase protein, there was strong inhibition of osteoclast formation induced by the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand. SAA not only markedly blocked the expression of several osteoclast-associated genes (TNF receptor-associated factor 6 and osteoclast-associated receptor) but also strongly induced the expression of negative regulators (MafB and interferon regulatory factor 8). Moreover, SAA decreased c-fms expression on the cell surface via shedding of the c-fms extracellular domain.

Phospholipase C activator m-3M3FBS protects against morbidity and mortality associated with sepsis.

Although phospholipase C (PLC) is a crucial enzyme required for effective signal transduction and leukocyte activation, the role of PLC in polymicrobial sepsis remains unclear. In this study, we show that the direct PLC activator m-3M3FBS treatment significantly attenuates vital organ inflammation, widespread immune cell apoptosis, and mortality in a mouse sepsis model induced by lethal cecal ligation and puncture challenge. Mechanistically, m-3M3FBS-dependent protection was largely abolished by pretreatment of mice with the PLC-selective inhibitor U-73122, thus confirming PLC agonism by m-3M3FBS in vivo.

A WKYMVm-containing combination elicits potent anti-tumor activity in heterotopic cancer animal model.

The development of efficient anti-cancer therapy has been a topic of intense interest for several decades. Combined administration of certain molecules and immune cells has been shown to be an effective form of anti-cancer therapy. Here, we examined the effects of administering an immune stimulating peptide (WKYMVm), 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU), and mature dendritic cells (mDCs) against heterotopic cancer animal model.

Activation of CXCR2 by extracellular matrix degradation product acetylated Pro-Gly-Pro has therapeutic effects against sepsis.

Rationale: Acetylated Pro-Gly-Pro (Ac-PGP) is an endogenous degradation product of extracellular collagen that binds to leukocyte-expressed chemoattractant receptor CXCR2. Although certain agents that block CXCR2-mediated signaling protect against experimental sepsis, the roles of Ac-PGP and CXCR2 in sepsis are unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the role of Ac-PGP and its receptor, CXCR2, in murine models of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced polymicrobial sepsis and organ injury.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine stimulates CCL2 production from human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a component of high-density lipoprotein particles. We investigated the functional role of SPC in HUVECs. SPC stimulation induced production of the CCL2 chemokine in a PTX-sensitive G-protein-dependent manner.

Activation of human monocytes by a formyl peptide receptor 2-derived pepducin.

We synthesized and investigated the effect of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2)-derived pepducins in human monocytes. The FPR2-based cell-penetrating lipopeptide, "pepducin" (F2pal-16), stimulated intracellular calcium increase in human monocytes via pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G-protein and phospholipase C (PLC) activity. From a functional aspect, we showed that F2pal-16 stimulated monocyte chemotaxis.

A pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein-independent pathway is involved in serum amyloid A-induced formyl peptide receptor 2-mediated CCL2 production.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) induced CCL2 production via a pertussis toxin (PTX)-insensitive pathway in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). SAA induced the activation of three MAPKs (ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK), which were completely inhibited by knock-down of formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2). Inhibition of p38 MAPK and JNK by their specific inhibitors (SB203580 and SP600125), or inhibition by a dominant negative mutant of p38 MAPK dramatically decreased SAA-induced CCL2 production.

Molecular analysis of colonized bacteria in a human newborn infant gut.

The complex ecosystem of intestinal microflora is estimated to harbor approximately 400 different microbial species, mostly bacteria. However, studies on bacterial colonization have mostly been based on culturing methods, which only detect a small fraction of the whole microbiotic ecosystem of the gut. To clarify the initial acquisition and subsequent colonization of bacteria in an infant within the few days after birth, phylogenetic analysis was performed using 16S rDNA sequences from the DNA isolated from feces on the 1st, 3rd, and 6th day.