Dimethylthiourea ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in ovariectomized mice.

Aims: In order to clarify hepato-protective actions of estrogen, we examined the progress of carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in sham and ovariectomized (ovx) mice and the effects of dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, and meloxicam (Melo), a selective cox-2 inhibitor, on the development of CCl-induced ALI.

Main Methods: Female C57BL/6 J mice weighing 15-20 g were performed sham or ovx operation at 8 weeks of age. Blood and liver samples were collected 15 and 24 h after CCl administration.

The Faculty of Language Integrates the Two Core Systems of Number.

Only humans possess the faculty of language that allows an infinite array of hierarchically structured expressions (Hauser et al., 2002; Berwick and Chomsky, 2015). Similarly, humans have a capacity for infinite natural numbers, while all other species seem to lack such a capacity (Gelman and Gallistel, 1978; Dehaene, 1997).

Apocynin reduced doxycycline-induced acute liver injury in ovariectomized mice.

To determine the physiological role of estrogen in the development of liver injury, we examined the sensitivities of sham and ovariectomy (ovx) mice against doxycycline (DOXY)-induced acute liver injury. Ovx or sham operation was performed in C57BL/6J wild-type female mice of eight weeks of age. Sham mice and ovx mice were treated with DOXY (240 mg/kg ip) 8 weeks after the operation, 30 min after apocynin (5 mg/kg) or saline administration.

EpCAM, a potential therapeutic target for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Molecular-targeted drugs are not available for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which has a poor prognosis. We investigated the clinicopathological significance of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expression and the utility of EpCAM as a potential therapeutic target.

Methods: The relationship between EpCAM expression and clinicopathological factors was examined by immunohistochemistry in 74 patients with resectable ESCC.

Oxidative stress may be involved in distant organ failure in tourniquet shock model mice.

Crush syndrome is characterized by prolonged shock resulting from extensive muscle damage and multiple organ failure. However, the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure has not yet been completely elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the molecular biological and histopathological aspects of distant organ injury in crush syndrome by using tourniquet shock model mice.

Contribution of lung macrophages to the inflammatory responses induced by exposure to air pollutants.

Large population cohort studies have indicated an association between exposure to particulate matter and cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality. The inhalation of toxic environmental particles and gases impacts the innate and adaptive defense systems of the lung. Lung macrophages play a critically important role in the recognition and processing of any inhaled foreign material such as pathogens or particulate matter.

Statins attenuate the development of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction induced by exposure to urban particulate matter (PM10).

Exposure to ambient air particulate matter (particles less than 10μm or PM10) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have well-established anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of statins on the adverse functional and morphological changes in blood vessels induced by PM10.

Interleukin-6 modulates oxidative stress produced during the development of cisplatin nephrotoxicity.

Aims: We reported that interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a protective role in the development of cisplatin-induced acute renal failure (ARF) through upregulation of anti-oxidative stress factors. In this study, we examined the effects of dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, on the development of cisplatin-induced ARF in wild-type (WT) and IL-6(-/-) mice to determine how IL-6 contributes to modulation of oxidative stress caused by cisplatin.

Main Methods: WT and IL-6(-/-) male mice were given either cisplatin (30 mg/kg) or saline intraperitoneally.

Interleukin-6 plays a protective role in development of cisplatin-induced acute renal failure through upregulation of anti-oxidative stress factors.

Aims: Cisplatin, a major chemotherapeutic agent, accumulates in proximal tubules of the kidneys and causes acute renal failure dose-dependently. We previously reported that cisplatin induced more severe renal dysfunction in interleukin-6 (IL-6) knockout (IL-6(-/-)) mice than in wild-type (WT) mice. Expression of a pro-apoptotic protein was significantly increased with cisplatin in IL-6(-/-) mice compared to that in WT mice.

Sentinel node mapping with thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles in rats.

Background: In this study, we investigated the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after interstitial administration of thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN).

Materials And Methods: Postcontrast MRI scans were acquired following subcutaneous injection of thermoresponsive magnetic nanoparticles into the thoracic wall of rats. The signal-to-noise ratio of axillary lymph nodes was calculated to assess whether the SLN could be detected by MRI.

Age and body mass index: significant predictive factors for successful laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

Purpose: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) is a feasible treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients, but it is unclear who will benefit from the surgery. This study investigated patients' GERDspecific quality of life (GsQOL) and analyzed the factors leading to the performance of successful LARS.

Methods: Twenty-six (57.

Fatal human poisoning with Padan: a cartap-containing pesticide.

We report a patient who ingested about 13 g of Padan SG, a cartap-containing pesticide. After ingestion, the patient developed multiple seizures and dyspnea and lost consciousness. The patient did not recover and died on the fifth hospital day despite treatment at the early stage of poisoning.

Interleukin-6 deficiency accelerates cisplatin-induced acute renal failure but not systemic injury.

Cisplatin (CDDP), a major chemotherapeutic agent used to treat solid tumors, is known to induce acute renal failure (ARF). The progression of tissue injury involves the coordination of inflammatory and repair responses. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been suggested to modulate inflammatory and repair processes in various tissue injuries.

Comparison of renal dysfunction in wild-type, IL-6 KO and iNOS KO mice hind limb tourniquet-reperfusion model.

The release of a tourniquet after hind limb ischemia results in vital organ injury, which progresses to multiple organ failure with a high mortality rate. Many events are involved in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The purpose of this study was to determine how IL-6 or iNOS is involved in I/R injury using IL-6 knockout (KO) and iNOS KO mice.

PCR detection of bacterial genes provides evidence of death by drowning.

We have developed a sensitive and specific PCR method for detecting plankton DNA in cases of death by drowning. However, this PCR method could not be used for cases of drowning in water containing no plankton. Bacteria species are normally localized in the throat and trachea and they may invade into blood through the respiratory tract in people who have drowned as well as species localized in water.

Western blot analysis for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified proteins in paraquat-treated mice.

Paraquat (PQ) is widely used in agriculture as a non-selective contact herbicide. Ingestion of PQ results in multiple organ failure within one week, although the primary damage induced by PQ occurs in the lungs. It is known that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in pathological changes in PQ poisoning, although the exact mechanism of PQ toxicity has not been completely elucidated.

Clinical significance of circulating tumor cells in blood from patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) measured by the CellSearch system in metastatic breast cancer have been reported to correlate with shorter overall survival. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics of CTCs in gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods: Pre- and postoperative CTCs from 130 gastrointestinal cancer patients and 41 healthy volunteers were measured by this system.

Surfactant gel adsorption of platinum(II), (IV) and palladium(II) as chloro-complexes and kinetic separation of palladium from platinum using EDTA.

A micellar solution of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) can separate into two phases due to a temperature change or to the addition of salts. Platinum(II), (IV) and palladium(II) reacted with chloride ions to form stable anionic complexes of PtCl4(2-), PtCl6(2-) and PdCl4(2-), respectively, and were adsorbed onto the CPC gel phase. The CPC phase plays the role of an ion-exchange adsorbent for the anionic complexes.

Histologic study of arteriovenous shunts in the normal dura mater adjacent to the transverse sinus.

Background: Although AV shunts are known to exist in the normal dura mater, their histologic appearance has not been examined in detail. Arteriovenous shunts in the normal dura mater adjacent to the transverse sinus, the most frequent site of DAVFs, were studied histologically.

Methods: Normal dura mater adjacent to the transverse sinus was obtained from 8 cadavers.

Isolated splenic vein thrombosis secondary to splenic metastasis: a case report.

A 49-year-old, previously healthy woman sought treatment for abdominal pain. Colonoscopy revealed ascending colon cancer. Computed tomography and angiography showed splenic metastasis and thrombosis extending from the splenic vein to the portal vein.

Enhanced lipid peroxidation in tourniquet-release mice.

Background: The pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion involves generation of reactive oxygen and resulting lipid peroxidation. However, investigation that ischemia-reperfusion following tourniquet release enhances lipid peroxidation is insufficient.

Methods: Tourniquet was applied to a unilateral hind limb of mice for 3h followed by 5-, 15-, 30- and 60-min release.

Strangulated hernia through a defect of the broad ligament and mobile cecum: a case report.

We report a case of 28-year-old woman presenting with small bowel obstruction. She had neither prior surgery nor delivery. An upright abdominal radiograph revealed several air-fluid levels in the small bowel in the midabdomen and the pelvic cavity.

Medico-legal aspects of traumatic injury of the vertebrobasilar artery.

Based on our experiences with medico-legal autopsies, we analyzed traumatic injury of the vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) in traffic accident victims. VBA rupture occurred in six cases with traumatic medullary lesions, but in none with cervical cord injury. A relatively small external force applied to the head or neck can induce isolated traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which accounts for approximately 11% of fatal head injuries.

Diagnostic Performance of Triagetrade mark for Benzodiazepines: Urine Analysis of the Dose of Therapeutic Cases.

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Triage for benzodiazepines in 74 urine specimens from outpatients given therapeutic doses of benzodiazepines and compared the results of EMIT assays. Results obtained in all urine samples were confirmed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Overall agreement between results of Triage and EMIT assays was 73%.