Diagnosis of pancreatic cysts: EUS-guided, through-the-needle confocal laser-induced endomicroscopy and cystoscopy trial: DETECT study.

Background: The diagnosis of pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCNs), which now depends on morphology, cytology, and fluid analysis, is still challenging. A novel confocal laser endomicroscopy probe that can be inserted through a 19-gauge FNA needle allows needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE), and the feasibility of nCLE has been reported in PCNs. The combination of cystoscopy by using a through-the-needle fiberoptic probe in combination with nCLE under EUS guidance may improve the diagnosis of PCNs.

Downregulation of transient receptor potential M6 channels as a cause of hypermagnesiuric hypomagnesemia in obese type 2 diabetic rats.

We assessed the expression profile of Mg(2+)-transporting molecules in obese diabetic rats as a cause of hypermagnesiuric hypomagnesemia, which is involved in the development of insulin resistance, hypertension, and coronary diseases. Kidneys were obtained from male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) obese diabetic rats at the ages of 16, 24, and 34 wk. Expression profiles were studied by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry together with measurements of urine Mg(2+) excretion.

Independent validation of the modified prognosis palliative care study predictor models in three palliative care settings.

Context: Accurate prognostic information in palliative care settings is needed for patients to make decisions and set goals and priorities. The Prognosis Palliative Care Study (PiPS) predictor models were presented in 2011, but have not yet been fully validated by other research teams.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to examine the accuracy and to validate the modified PiPS (using physician-proxy ratings of mental status instead of patient interviews) in three palliative care settings, namely palliative care units, hospital-based palliative care teams, and home-based palliative care services.

Local energy landscape in a simple liquid.

It is difficult to relate the properties of liquids and glasses directly to their structure because of complexity in the structure that defies precise definition. The potential energy landscape (PEL) approach is a very insightful way to conceptualize the structure-property relationship in liquids and glasses, particularly the effect of temperature and history. However, because of the highly multidimensional nature of the PEL it is hard to determine, or even visualize, the actual details of the energy landscape.

Macroscopic on-site quality evaluation of biopsy specimens to improve the diagnostic accuracy during EUS-guided FNA using a 19-gauge needle for solid lesions: a single-center prospective pilot study (MOSE study).

Background: Although rapid on-site cytologic evaluation provides high efficacy of EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA), its availability is limited. Alternatively, macroscopic on-site quality evaluation (MOSE) may increase the efficacy of EUS-FNA.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of MOSE in estimating the adequacy of histologic core specimens obtained by EUS-FNA using a standard 19-gauge needle (19GN) for solid lesions.

Evaluation of prognostic differences in elderly patients with pneumonia treated by between pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists: a propensity score analysis.

Introduction: The incidence of pneumonia among elderly people is increasing in aged countries, and both pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists treat such patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess prognostic differences between elderly patients treated by pulmonologists and those treated by non-pulmonologists.

Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort using a propensity score analysis.

Aberrant fetal macrophage/microglial reactions to cytomegalovirus infection.

Objective: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading viral cause of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, with the most severe and permanent sequelae being those affecting the cerebrum. As the fetal immune reactions to congenital CMV infection in the brain and their effects on cerebral development remain elusive, our aim was to investigate primitive innate immunity to CMV infection and its effects on cerebral corticogenesis in a mouse model for congenital CMV infection using a precise intraplacental inoculation method.

Methods: At 13.

How thermally activated deformation starts in metallic glass.

The studies on dynamics and deformation in glassy materials are particularly challenging because of their strongly disordered atomic structure. Here, by probing the changes in the atomic displacements and stresses at saddle points of the potential energy landscape, we show that thermally activated deformation is triggered by subnano-scale rearrangements of a small number of atoms, typically less than 10 atoms. The individual triggers are invariant of the cooling history or elastic structure of the system.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided transhepatic antegrade stone removal in patients with surgically altered anatomy: case series and technical review (with videos).

Recently, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided transhepatic antegrade interventions have been introduced in patients with a surgically altered anatomy. Herein, we focused on and reviewed EUS-guided transhepatic antegrade stone removal (EUS-TASR) in patients with a surgically altered anatomy and native papilla. The basic technique of EUS-TASR involves the following steps: (1) EUS-guided needle puncture; (2) guidewire placement; (3) tract dilation; (4) balloon sphincteroplasty; (5) stone removal; and (6) stent placement if needed.

Physiological characterization of aluminum tolerance and accumulation in tartary and wild buckwheat.

Ionic aluminum (Al) is toxic for plant growth, but some plant species are able to accumulate Al at high concentrations without showing toxicity symptoms. In order to determine whether other species in the genus Fagopyrum are able to accumulate Al like common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), we investigated the external and internal detoxification mechanisms of Al in two self-compatible species: tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum) and wild buckwheat (Fagopyrum homotropicum). Both tartary and wild buckwheat showed high Al tolerance comparable to common buckwheat.

Measurement of the branching fraction B(Λc+ → pK-π+).

We present the first model-independent measurement of the absolute branching fraction of the Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+) decay using a data sample of 978 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. The number of Λ(c)(+) baryons is determined by reconstructing the recoiling D((*)-) pπ(+) system in events of the type e(+)e(-) → D((*)-) pπ(+)Λ(c)(+). The branching fraction is measured to be B(Λ(c)(+) → pK(-)π(+)) = (6.

Evolution of elastic heterogeneity during aging in metallic glasses.

The properties of glasses vary widely depending on the way they are prepared, even though their structures appear similar. We show that the local potential energy landscape (PEL) sensitively reflects the stability differences through simulation of local structural excitation in a model metallic glass. It is observed that the spectrum of local structural excitation develops a pseudogap at low energies as the glass becomes more stable.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage: a review.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP) is widely used as a first-line therapy for biliary drainage. ERCP occasionally fails owing to anatomical or technical problems, despite high reported success rates. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) has recently emerged as an effective alternative biliary drainage method after unsuccessful ERCP.

Nondestructive observation of teeth post core space using optical coherence tomography: a pilot study.

Coronal tooth lesions, such as caries, enamel cracking, and composite resin restoration cavities, have been observed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). This pilot study was performed to verify whether OCT could reveal details of root canals filled with resin core build-up. A dual-cure, one-step, self-etch adhesive system-bonding agent (Clearfil Bond SE ONE, Kuraray Noritake Dental) and dual-cure resin composite core material (Clearfil DC Core Automix ONE, Kuraray Noritake Dental) were used according to the manufacturer's instructions in root canals.

Observation of D0-D0 mixing in e+e- collisions.

We observe D(0)-D(0) mixing in the decay D(0) → K+π- using a data sample of integrated luminosity 976 fb(-1) collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- asymmetric-energy collider. We measure the mixing parameters x'(2) = (0.09 ± 0.

Measurement of the τ-lepton lifetime at Belle.

The lifetime of the τ lepton is measured using the process e+ e- → τ+ τ- , where both τ leptons decay to 3πν(τ). The result for the mean lifetime, based on 711  fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the ϒ(4S) resonance and 60  MeV below, is τ=(290.17±0.

The involvement of reactive oxygen species derived from NADPH oxidase-1 activation on the constitutive tyrosine auto-phosphorylation of RET proteins.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in neoplastic growth and tumor invasion is supported by various experimental data. In this study, we analyzed the participation of ROS in the RET tyrosine auto-phosphorylation. The NIH3T3 cell lines transfected with cRET, MEN2A, and MEN2B individually (designated NIH3T3cRET, NIH3T3 RET-MEN2A, and NIH3T3RET-MEN2B) showed the elevated levels of intracellular ROS, and concomitantly increased Rac1 expression, as well as down-regulation of Mn SOD and Cu/Zn SOD in comparison with the parental cell line expressing RET.

Neurological outcomes after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a retrospective observational study in a rural tertiary care center.

Background: In a rural region with few medical resources, we have promoted the strategy that if an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patient is likely reversible, he or she should be transported directly from the scene of cardiac arrest to the only tertiary care center where extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is readily available. We investigated 1-month survival and neurological outcomes after ECPR in OHCA patients at this center.

Methods: We implemented a retrospective review of OHCA patients of heterogeneous origin in whom ECPR was performed.

Tips for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of various pancreatic lesions.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is a well-established procedure for diagnosis of pancreatic solid masses. This technique is highly accurate and safe and can be performed uneventfully in most cases. However, factors such as unstable scope position, inappropriate location of the lesion, lesion mobility, and lesion characteristics may complicate the procedure.

Prevention of lipopolysaccharide-induced peritoneal damage by eplerenone in rats undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Bacterial peritonitis in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a major cause of therapy interruption due to peritoneal insufficiency. Here we studied the effect of a selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blocker, eplerenone, on the prevention of peritoneal damage.


Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a daily infusion of human use PD solution (100 mL/kg i.

Release from glomerular overload by the addition of low-dose thiazide in patients with angiotensin receptor blocker-resistant hypertension.

Background/aims: This multicenter, prospective, observational study assessed the renoprotective effects of losartan/thiazide combination therapy in terms of lowering the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: Adult patients with angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)-resistant essential hypertension (n = 104) were enrolled and switched to combination therapy with losartan (50 mg/day) and hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg/day).

Confocal laser endomicroscopy in gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary diseases.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an emerging diagnostic procedure that enables in vivo pathological evaluation during ongoing endoscopy. There are two types of CLE: endoscope-based CLE (eCLE), which is integrated in the tip of the endoscope, and probe-based CLE (pCLE), which goes through the accessory channel of the endoscope. Clinical data of CLE have been reported mainly in gastrointestinal (GI) diseases including Barrett's esophagus, gastric neoplasms, and colon polyps, but, recently, a smaller pCLE, which goes through a catheter or a fine-needle aspiration needle, was developed and clinical data in the diagnosis of biliary stricture or pancreatic cysts have been increasingly reported.

Expression of β-Adrenoceptor Subtypes in Urothelium, Interstitial Cells and Detrusor of the Human Urinary Bladder.

Objective: We examined whether interstitial cells (ICs) of the human urinary bladder expressed β-adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes, and semiquantitatively compared the staining intensity among urothelium, ICs and detrusor muscles.

Methods: Paraffin sections of the human urinary bladder were obtained from histologically normal areas of formalin-fixed specimens removed for bladder carcinoma. Double-labeling immunohistochemical methods using antibodies against each β-AR subtype and vimentin were performed to identify ICs of the human urinary bladder.

Isolation of a reduced form of cyanidin 3-O-β-D-glucoside from immature black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and its reducing properties.

5,7,3',4'-Tetrahydroxyflav-2-en-3-ol 3-O-β-D-glucoside was isolated from the seed coats of immature black soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.).