Abbreviated and Ultrafast Dynamic Contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR Imaging.

The early detection and treatment of breast cancer is extremely important for extending patients' outcomes. Breast MRI has high sensitivity for the detection of breast cancer and plays an important role in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, but conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI may be too time-consuming for breast cancer screening purposes. Abbreviated MRI is a technique that can be applied within a short time, as usually only the pre-contrast and first post-contrast images from the dynamic study or additional T2-weighted imaging are used.

MRI Findings and Differential Diagnosis of Anterior Mediastinal Solid Tumors.

The anterior mediastinum is the most common location of mediastinal tumors, and thymic epithelial tumors are the most common mediastinal tumors. It is important to differentiate thymic epithelial tumors from malignant lymphomas and malignant germ cell tumors because of the different treatment strategies. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging can provide additional information on the differential diagnosis.

Influence of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in PPAR-δ, PPAR-γ, and PRKAA2 on the Changes in Anthropometric Indices and Blood Measurements through Exercise-Centered Lifestyle Intervention in Japanese Middle-Aged Men.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPAR-δ), PPAR-γ, and α2 isoforms of the catalytic subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (PRKAA2) on the extent of changes in anthropometric indices and blood measurements through exercise-centered lifestyle intervention in middle-aged men. A total of 109 Japanese middle-aged male subjects (47.0 ± 0.

Association between the PPARGC1A polymorphism and aerobic capacity in Japanese middle-aged men.

Objective: A lower frequency for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PPARGC1A) Ser482 allele has been reported in elite-level endurance athletes among Caucasians, although this gene polymorphism has not been found to be associated with aerobic capacity in German, Dutch or Chinese populations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the associations between the Gly482Ser polymorphism and aerobic fitness in 112 Japanese middle-aged men.

Methods: The PPARGC1A Gly482Ser polymorphism was identified according to a TaqMan(®) SNP genotyping assay.

Influence of physical activity intensity and aerobic fitness on the anthropometric index and serum uric acid concentration in people with obesity.

Background And Objective: Physical activity (PA) is considered an important approach to prevent and treat obesity and hyperuricemia. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of PA intensity and aerobic fitness on anthropometric indices and serum uric acid in obese individuals.

Methods: PA was examined using a single-axial accelerometer and aerobic fitness was assessed by electric cycle ergometry in obese middle-aged men (n=71, 47.

Presynaptic inhibition by baclofen of miniature EPSCs and IPSCs in substantia gelatinosa neurons of the adult rat spinal dorsal horn.

Intrathecal administration of baclofen, a GABA(B)-receptor agonist, affects pain behavior induced by formalin in a biphasic manner; baclofen at low doses enhances pain while producing antinociception at high doses. This may be due to the fact that baclofen modulates each of excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord with a distinct sensitivity, resulting in a biphasic action on pain transmission. To address this issue, we examined the actions of baclofen on miniature excitatory (glutamatergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs and mIPSCs, respectively) in substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of adult rat spinal cord slices by using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique.

Inter-individual variation of smoking-related DNA adducts in lymphocytes-relationship to mRNA levels for CYP1A1 and DNA repair enzymes.

The measurement of DNA adducts is a useful indicator for environmental carcinogen exposure monitoring. To clarify the effect of metabolic activation and DNA repair system on the inter-individual variation of DNA adduct levels, aromatic DNA adducts and mRNA expression of metabolic and repair enzymes were measured in 43 human lymphocytes. Aromatic DNA adducts were measured by the nuclease P1 postlabelling method.

Effects of genetic polymorphism of metabolic enzymes, nutrition, and lifestyle factors on DNA adduct formation in lymphocytes.

Although cigarette smoking is one major determinant of lung carcinogenesis, not all smokers develop cancer. This phenomenon is due to individual variation in genetic susceptibility to carcinogens, nutrition, and lifestyle. Previous studies have shown that genetic polymorphism of metabolic enzymes and plasma micronutrients are associated with lung cancer risk.

Neurotropic melanoma invading the median nerve.

We report a case of acral lentiginous melanoma of the right thumbnail bed which demonstrated characteristic intraneural invasion and extension along the median nerve. Four years after amputation of the involved thumb, a melanotic tumor recurred on the right thenar. Radiation therapy was given.

Evaluation of organic solvent-induced inflammation modulated by neuropeptides in the abdominal skin of hairless rats.

In this study, the severity and time course of inflammation induced by 4 organic solvents (acetone, cyclohexane, toluene and m-xylene), and the effect of neuropeptides during the inflammation were investigated in the hairless rat abdominal skin. Plasma extravasation used as a parameter of inflammation was measured by Evans blue and 125I-bovine serum albumin (BSA). Total volume of plasma extravasation induced by 4 organic solvents in 240-min exposure was as follows: toluene > m-xylene > cyclohexane > acetone = 0.

Lymphocytes,DNA adducts and genetic polymorphism for metabolic enzymes in low dose cigarette smokers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphism of metabolic enzymes and DNA adduct levels in lymphocytes of low dose cigarette smokers (less than 20 cigarettes per day). We previously reported the effects of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) on lymphocyte DNA adducts. This time we considered not only CYP1A1 and GSTM1 but also cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1).

Relationship between plasma concentrations of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol and life-style factors and levels of DNA adducts in lymphocytes.

beta-Carotene and alpha-tocopherol have been thought to reduce risk of lung cancer. Whether beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol influence human DNA adducts, indicators of biologically effective doses of carcinogens, has been seldom studied. In this cross-sectional study, we measured plasma beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in 192 healthy men and DNA adducts in lymphocytes in 104 of the subjects.

Postlabeling analysis of DNA adducts in white blood cells from lead smelter workers.

We analyzed DNA adducts levels in white blood cells from 14 lead smelter workers for the first time as an indicator of the effect of lead exposure and compared with some lead exposure indices to evaluate whether lead exposure induces DNA adducts significantly. DNA adducts were measured by the nuclease P1 enhanced 32P-postlabeling method. As the lead exposure indices, we chose blood lead (Pb-B), urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP).

A unique case of extramammary Paget's disease. Derivation from eccrine porocarcinoma?

A unique case of extramammary Paget's disease is reported that may have derived from eccrine porocarcinoma. A palm-sized erythematous plaque on the patient's pubis spread to the lower abdominal wall. The center of the lesion contained a reddish tumor.