Glycated LDL increases monocyte CC chemokine receptor 2 expression and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-mediated chemotaxis.

Background: Previous reports have suggested that levels of advanced glycation end product-modified LDL (AGE-LDL) increase in patients with diabetes due to elevated plasma glucose. However, understanding of the mechanisms by which AGE-LDL may accelerate atherogenesis remains incomplete.

Methods And Results: Microarray and reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses revealed that AGE-LDL significantly increased levels of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) mRNA in human macrophages compared with LDL, an effect accompanied by increased levels of CCR2 protein.

Multipotent cells from the human third molar: feasibility of cell-based therapy for liver disease.

Adult stem cells have been reported to exist in various tissues. The isolation of high-quality human stem cells that can be used for regeneration of fatal deseases from accessible resources is an important advance in stem cell research. In the present study, we identified a novel stem cell, which we named tooth germ progenitor cells (TGPCs), from discarded third molar, commonly called as wisdom teeth.

Fucoidan partly prevents CCl4-induced liver fibrosis.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of fucoidan on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Administration of fucoidan reduced CCl4-induced acute and chronic liver failure.

Keratin and filaggrin expression in keratoacanthoma.

To clarify the histogenesis of keratoacanthoma, we studied keratin (K) expression in keratoacanthoma (KA) using 10 different anti-keratin antibodies against K1, K7, K8, K10, K14, K15, K16, K17, K18 and K19 and anti-filaggrin (filament aggregating protein) antibody. In the centre of KA, K1 and K10 expressions were declined, and K14 and K16 were detected in the tumour cells, suggesting differentiation towards the outer root sheath beneath the orifice of the sebaceous duct. These results suggest that KA differentiates towards the outer root sheath beneath the opening of the sebaceous duct.

A case of Adamantiades-Behçet disease with ischemic optic neuritis (posterior optic neuropathy).

Adamantiades-Behçet disease (ABD) may present with cutaneous and ophthalmologic findings. A 29-year old woman complained of fever and general fatigue, along with erythema nodosum and vesiculo-pustular lesions on the legs, acneiform lesions, genital ulcerations and painful oral ulcers. She also complained of reduced visual acuity, visual disturbance and blurred vision in the left eye.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma with paraproteinemia; an atypical case.

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare marker for paraproteinemia. An 86-year-old woman had a one year history of large red-yellow to brown annular plaques involving all limbs. Biopsies showed a non-palisading granuloma with numerous multinucleated giant cells showing prominent elastophagocytosis and extensive areas of necrobiosis throughout the entire dermis.

Neuro-Sweet disease: report of the first autopsy case.

Background: Neuro-Sweet disease is a rare condition of central nervous involvement accompanied by cutaneous Sweet lesions. Neuropathological changes in neuro-Sweet disease are unknown.

Objective: To describe post-mortem findings of the first case of neuro-Sweet disease.

Oxidative stress is related to the formation of Antoni B patterns and eosinophilic hyaline droplets in schwannomas.

Schwannomas, particularly of vestibular origin, often accompany degenerative hypocellular areas known as Antoni B patterns; however, the detailed mechanism is uncertain. Eosinophilic hyaline droplets (EHD), the substantial nature of which are autophagic vacuoles, preferentially appear in acoustic schwannomas and distribute around areas of Antoni B. We investigated their common background using schwannomas with (15 cases) or without (10 cases) EHD, and demonstrated that EHD showed selective immunoreactivity with an anti-nitrotyrosine antibody, suggesting the overproduction of nitric oxide in this condition.

Persistently increased serum concentrations of cardiac troponin in patients with acutely decompensated heart failure are predictive of adverse outcomes.

Background: Persistently increased serum concentrations of cardiac troponin (cTn) are a prognostic marker in patients suffering from chronic congestive heart failure (CHF), but the significance in acute cardiac decompensation is unclear.

Methods And Results: Serial blood samples were collected from 52 patients presenting with acute cardiac decompensation in the absence of an acute coronary event. Serial serum concentrations of cTnI, creatine kinase (CK)-MB, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured by rapid assay.

[Infusion therapy at outpatient clinic in chronic end-stage heart failure].

Objectives: To determine whether drug infusions at ambulatory clinic in patients with end stage congestive heart failure are safe and reduce the period of hospitalization.

Methods: Between May 2000 and November 2006, 21 ambulatory patients with end stage congestive heart failure were treated with infusions of the natriuretic peptide, carperitide (6 patients, 43 infusions of mean 0.033 microg/kg/min for mean 3.

Cytokeratin and filaggrin expression in nevus comedonicus.

To elucidate the pathogenesis of abnormal keratinization in nevus comedonicus, we performed an immunohistochemical study using antikeratin and antifilaggrin (filament-aggregating protein) antibodies. There were no significant differences between nevus comedonicus and normal skin in cytokeratin expression. Although filaggrin was only detected in the granular layer in open comedones, filaggrin was detected in both superficial cells and also intermediate cells in closed comedones, suggesting that filaggrin is involved in the formation of closed comedones.

Pinkus tumor may originate from intraepidermal eccrine ducts and proliferate in the dermis.

To clarify the histopathogenesis of Pinkus tumor (fibroepithelial basal cell carcinoma, FEBCC), we have studied cytokeratin (CK) expression in FEBCC using ten different anti-keratin antibodies against CK 1, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Tumor nests consisted of two epithelial components: duct-like structures and basaloid cells of anastomosing strands. In duct-like structure, CK 1, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 19 were detected.

Cytokeratin expression in trichilemmal carcinoma suggests differentiation towards follicular infundibulum.

An immunohistochemical study of cytokeratins (CK) in a case of trichilemmal carcinoma (TLC). CK expression showed the presence of CK 1, 10, 14 and 17, suggesting that TLC differentiates toward follicular infundibulum. In a comparison of CK expression between TLC and trichilemmoma, the absence of CK 15 and 16 in TLC may be related to transformation from trichilemmoma to TLC.

AGE-BSA decreases ABCG1 expression and reduces macrophage cholesterol efflux to HDL.

Background: Previous reports have suggested that advanced glycation end products (AGE) participate in the pathogenesis of diabetic macroangiopathy. However, current understanding of the mechanisms by which AGE may accelerate atherogenesis remains incomplete.

Methods And Results: Microarray and reverse transcription real-time PCR analyses revealed that exposure to AGE-BSA (BSA, bovine serum albumin) reduced mRNA levels (60%) in the ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) but not ABCA1 in human macrophages.

Protection against CCl4-induced injury in liver by adenovirally introduced thioredoxin gene.

Antioxidation therapy is a promising strategy for treating or preventing oxidative stress-related liver diseases. The human thioredoxin (TRX) gene was inserted into an adenovirus vector (Adv-TRX), which was administered to mice. The mice were treated with 1 ml/kg CCl4 48 h after the infection.

Cytokeratin expression in subungual squamous cell carcinoma.

Cytokeratin expression in subungual squamous cell carcinoma was investigated in order to evaluate the origin and state of differentiation of the tumour. The tumour nests contained cytokeratin 14, 16 and 17, which were also expressed in the nail bed. Therefore, cytokeratin expression in subungual squamous cell carcinoma may reflect its indolent clinical prognosis.

Protection against D-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury by oral administration of extracts from Lentinus edodes mycelia.

The development of oral medications to help prevent liver injury is desirable, and some mushrooms contain chemicals that show promise as such a treatment. Here, we tested whether a hot-water extract (L.E.

Interleukin-1 and occlusive arterial diseases.

Interleukin (IL)-1 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and a central mediator in the cytokine network, and is known to control important functions both in the immune system and inflammation. The activity of IL-1 is counter-regulated by its endogenous inhibitor, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). IL-1 and IL-1Ra are produced and secreted by a variety of cells including those responsible for controlling immunity.

Cutaneous dermoid cyst: cytokeratin and filaggrin expression suggesting differentiation towards follicular infundibulum and mature sebaceous gland.

We experienced two cases of cutaneous dermoid cysts (DC). To elucidate the histogenesis of DC, we have studied cytokeratin (CK) expression in DC using ten different anti-keratin antibodies against CK1, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19, and anti-filaggrin (filament aggregating protein) antibody. In the cyst wall of DC, CK1 and 10 were expressed in suprabasal layer, and CK14 was limited to the basal layer.