Functional expression of breast cancer resistance protein and cholesterol effect in human erythrocyte membranes.

In human erythrocyte membranes, various influx and efflux transporters are functionally expressed. However, their transport characteristics and modulation under disease states are not fully understood. In this study, we first examined the expression and detailed transport characteristics of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), an efflux ABC transporter, using inside-out membrane vesicles (IOVs) prepared from human erythrocytes, and then studied the effect of membrane cholesterol on BCRP function.

In vivo effects of short- and long-term MAPK pathway inhibition against neuroblastoma.

Background/purpose: It was reported that almost 80% of relapsed neuroblastomas showed MAPK pathway mutations. In our previous study, both trametinib (MEK inhibitor) and CH5126766 (RAF/MEK inhibitor) showed in vitro antitumor effects on neuroblastoma cells with ERK phosphorylation (pERK). In this study, we analyzed the in vivo effects of MAPK pathway inhibition in neuroblastoma xenografts.

Vibrational and Molecular Properties of Mg Binding and Ion Selectivity in the Magnesium Channel MgtE.

Magnesium ions (Mg) are crucial for various biological processes. A bacterial Mg channel, MgtE, tightly regulates the intracellular Mg concentration. Previous X-ray crystal structures showed that MgtE forms a dimeric structure composed of a total of 10 transmembrane α helices forming a central pore, and intracellular soluble domains constituting a Mg sensor.

Oxidative stress induced by portal vein embolization in fatty liver: Experimental study of a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model.

The present study aimed to investigate whether excessive oxidative stress production or reduction of antioxidative stress potential may occur following portal vein embolization (PVE) in an experimental animal nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model. A NASH rabbit model (n=11) was established by feeding of a fat diet for 4 weeks, and a normal diet rabbit model (n=11) was prepared as a control. The oxidative status of NASH was examined by measuring derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM) for oxidative stress and biological antioxidative potential (BAP) for antioxidative potential in the NASH model and normal group.

Overall survival of Brazilian acute myeloid leukemia patients according to the European LeukemiaNet prognostic scoring system: a cross-sectional study.

Prognostic stratification in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) relies, mostly, on cytogenetics and molecular features of leukemic blasts. The LeukemiaNet prognostic scoring system has been proposed as a standardized way of evaluating prognosis in AML. We have analysed outcomes in 65 AML cases (median age of 54 years, range 18-82) treated at five hematology centers in Brazil stritified according to the European Leukemia Net (ELN) recommendations for cytogenetic and molecular analysis.

Flux Synthesis of Layered Oxyhalide BiNbOCl Photocatalyst for Efficient Z-Scheme Water Splitting Under Visible Light.

An oxyhalide photocatalyst BiNbOCl has recently been proven to stably oxidize water under visible light, enabling the Z-scheme water splitting when coupled with another photocatalyst for water reduction. We herein report the synthesis of BiNbOCl particles via a flux method, testing various molten salts to improve its crystallinity and hence photocatalytic activity. The eutectic mixture of CsCl/NaCl with a low melting point allowed the formation of single-phase BiNbOCl at as low as 650 °C.

Defects in centromeric/pericentromeric histone H2A T120 phosphorylation by hBUB1 cause chromosome missegregation producing multinucleated cells.

Histone H2A phosphorylation plays a role both in chromatin condensation during mitosis and in transcriptional activation during the G1/S transition. Bub1 and NHK1/VRK1 have been identified as histone H2A kinases. However, little is known about the importance of histone H2A phosphorylation in chromosome segregation.

Intramolecular Vibrations Complement the Robustness of Primary Charge Separation in a Dimer Model of the Photosystem II Reaction Center.

The energy conversion of oxygenic photosynthesis is triggered by primary charge separation in proteins at the photosystem II reaction center. Here, we investigate the impacts of the protein environment and intramolecular vibrations on primary charge separation at the photosystem II reaction center. This is accomplished by combining the quantum dynamic theories of condensed phase electron transfer with quantum chemical calculations to evaluate the vibrational Huang-Rhys factors of chlorophyll and pheophytin molecules.

Enhancer function regulated by combinations of transcription factors and cofactors.

Regulation of the expression of diverse genes is essential for making possible the complexity of higher organisms, and the temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression allows for the alteration of cell types and growth patterns. A critical component of this regulation is the DNA sequence-specific binding of transcription factors (TFs). However, most TFs do not independently participate in gene transcriptional regulation, because they lack an effector function.

PCP4/PEP19 upregulates aromatase gene expression via CYP19A1 promoter I.1 in human breast cancer SK-BR-3 cells.

The Purkinje cell protein 4/peptide 19 (PCP4/PEP19) is a novel breast cancer cell expressing peptide, originally found in the neural cells as an anti-apoptotic factor, could inhibit cell apoptosis and enhance cell migration and invasion in human breast cancer cell lines. The expression of PCP4/PEP19 is induced by estrogens in estrogen receptor-positive (ER) MCF-7 cells but also highly expressed in ER SK-BR-3 cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of PCP4/PEP19 on aromatase gene expression in MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 human breast cancer cells.

Ventricular tachycardia without preceding electrocardiogram change after hypertonic mannitol administration: a case report.

Background: Mannitol is widely used during neurosurgery, but it has a serious complication including lethal arrhythmia due to mannitol-induced hyperkalemia.

Case Presentation: We report on a 62-year-old man scheduled for the clipping of an unruptured cerebral artery aneurysm. During surgery, approximately 20 min after the end of 200-mL 20% hypertonic mannitol administration, ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred without preceding electrocardiogram (ECG) change, such as peaked T waves, and VT was recovered to sinus rhythm after chest compression.

Association between tongue pressure and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in relation to platelet levels in hypertensive elderly men: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Age-related low-grade inflammation causing endothelial disruption influences sarcopenia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. We reported previously that maintenance of muscle strength in elderly hypertensive men with high platelet levels is positively associated with subclinical atherosclerosis but not in those with low platelet levels. Since reduced tongue pressure is related to sarcopenia, tongue pressure may be associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive elderly subjects, and platelet levels may function as an indicator of the association between tongue pressure and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Tricaprin Rescues Myocardial Abnormality in a Mouse Model of Triglyceride Deposit Cardiomyovasculopathy.

Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is an intractable cardiovascular disease for which a specific treatment is urgently required. In TGCV, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) deficiency results in the abnormal intracellular metabolism of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) which leads to TG deposition. Medium-chain triglycerides have been used as an important functional food for various human diseases.

Thoracoscopic resection for mediastinal thymolipoma in a child.

Thymolipoma is a rare disease among benign tumors. We herein report the case of a child who underwent thoracoscopic resection of a large thymolipoma. A 3-year-old boy was diagnosed with an anterior mediastinal solid tumor.

Extracellular volume fraction determined by equilibrium contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography as a prognostic factor in unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy.

Objectives: To assess whether extracellular volume (ECV) fraction with equilibrium contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) predicts outcomes for unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy METHODS: Sixty-seven patients (42 men, 25 women; mean age, 67.5 years; range, 45-83 years) with histologically confirmed surgically unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma underwent contrast-enhanced MDCT before systemic chemotherapy. Tumour contrast enhancement (CE) and ECV fraction were calculated using region-of-interest measurement within the pancreatic adenocarcinoma and aorta on unenhanced and equilibrium phase-enhanced CT.

Effects of three drying methods of post space dentin bonding used in a direct resin composite core build-up method.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate drying methods for post space dentin bonding in a direct resin composite core build-up method.

Methods: Experiment 1: Four root canal plastic models, having diameters of 1.0 or 1.

Thymidine phosphorylase and angiogenesis in early stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The relationship between thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and angiogenesis at the early stage of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has been unclear.

Methods: Using 14 samples of normal squamous epithelium, 11 samples of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and 64 samples of superficial esophageal cancer, microvessel density (MVD) was estimated using immunostaining for CD34 and CD105. TP expression was also evaluated in both cancer cells and stromal monocytic cells (SMCs).

Steroidogenesis in ovarian-like mesenchymal stroma of hepatic and pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms.

Aim Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) occur in the ovary, pancreas, and retroperitoneum but very rarely in the liver. Mucinous cystic neoplasms are known to harbor ovarian-like mesenchymal stroma (OLS) expressing progesterone and estrogen receptors. In this study we evaluated steroidogenesis in OLS of 25 hepatic MCNs and 24 pancreatic MCNs.

Retroperitoneal Cystic Nodal Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Cystic nodal metastasis of renal cell carcinoma is very rare. The pathogenesis of cystic nodal metastasis is thought to involve obstruction of a lymphoid vessel draining the kidney by tumor cells and retrograde metastasis from the primary site to the lymph node along the lymphatic vessels. In this study, a surgical case of small renal cell carcinoma with retroperitoneal cystic nodal metastasis is reported.

Vascular endothelial growth factors C and D and lymphangiogenesis at the early stage of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression.

We conducted a detailed study of lymphangiogenesis and subsequent lymph node metastasis in early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) using immunostaining for D2-40 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and D. The study materials included 13 samples of normal squamous epithelium, 6 samples of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), and 60 samples of superficial ESCC (M1 and M2 cancer 24; M3 or deeper cancer 36). We assessed lymphatic vessel density (LVD) using D2-40 and immunoreactivity for VEGF-C and D in relation to histological type, lymphatic invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

[Meta-analyses on measurement precision of non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring technologies in adults].

An ideal non-invasive monitoring system should provide accurate and reproducible measurements of clinically relevant variables that enables clinicians to guide therapy accordingly. The monitor should be rapid, easy to use, readily available at the bedside, operator-independent, cost-effective and should have a minimal risk and side effect profile for patients. An example is the introduction of pulse oximetry, which has become established for non-invasive monitoring of oxygenation worldwide.

A Case of Sudden Shock during Caesarean Section in whi ch Amniotic Fluid Embolism is Suspected.

We report a case of sudden shock during caesarean section under combined spinal epidural anesthesia. The patient was a 29-year-old woman. During the operation vital signs had been almost stable until a female-baby was born.

Mimicking Natural Photosynthesis: Solar to Renewable H Fuel Synthesis by Z-Scheme Water Splitting Systems.

Visible light-driven water splitting using cheap and robust photocatalysts is one of the most exciting ways to produce clean and renewable energy for future generations. Cutting edge research within the field focuses on so-called "Z-scheme" systems, which are inspired by the photosystem II-photosystem I (PSII/PSI) coupling from natural photosynthesis. A Z-scheme system comprises two photocatalysts and generates two sets of charge carriers, splitting water into its constituent parts, hydrogen and oxygen, at separate locations.

Urgent Detection of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection in Hyperacute Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background And Purpose: Urgent diagnosis of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sometimes challenging. We assessed predictive values for markers of AAD in patients with AIS or TIA.

Methods: Consecutive patients with AIS or TIA with AAD who presented to our emergency room within 4.

Effect of Administration of Ramelteon, a Melatonin Receptor Agonist, on the Duration of Stay in the ICU: A Single-Center Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Occurrence of delirium in the ICU is associated with a longer stay in the ICU. To examine whether the use of ramelteon, a melatonin agonist, can prevent delirium and shorten the duration of ICU stay of critically ill patients.

Design: A single-center, triple-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial.