Sulfurisphaera javensis sp. nov., a hyperthermophilic and acidophilic archaeon isolated from Indonesian hot spring, and reclassification of Sulfolobus tokodaii Suzuki et al. 2002 as Sulfurisphaera tokodaii comb. nov.

A novel hyperthermophilic, acidophilic and facultatively anaerobic archaeon, strain KD-1, was isolated from an acidic hot spring in Indonesia and characterized with the phylogenetically related species Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis Kurosawa et al. 1998, Sulfolobus tokodaii Suzuki et al., 2002 and Sulfolobus yangmingensis Jan et al.

A rare case of non-invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast coexisting with follicular lymphoma: A case report with a review of the literature.

The double presentation of breast cancer and follicular lymphoma is extremely rare, and only six cases have previously been reported in the literature. In the present study, a case of synchronous ductal carcinoma (DCIS) of the breast and follicular lymphoma is reported. During an annual breast screening procedure, a 49-year-old female presented with a hard induration under the nipple of the right breast and swelling of a soft lymph node (LN) in the right axilla.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast: a case report with a special analysis of an association with human papilloma virus.

Unlabelled: Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the breast is a very rare tumor, and fewer than 20 cases have been reported. A recent report suggested the implication of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of breast LELC. We report a case of LELC of the breast with a review of its relevance to an association with HPV.

Ductal carcinoma in situ arising within a benign phyllodes tumor: A case report with a review of the literature.

Phyllodes tumor (PT) is a rare type of breast tumor that rarely occurs with breast carcinoma. This study evaluated a 53-year-old female patient with a benign PT with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) within the tumor. A firm, painless, well-demarcated tumor measuring 4-5 cm was noted in the left breast.

Partial characterization of cytoprotective mechanisms of lecithin against bile salt-induced bile duct damage.

Background: We recently demonstrated that cyclosporine A causes a disproportionate reduction of biliary lipid secretion, and this is inhibited by hydrophilic bile salts through the enhancing of biliary lecithin secretion. In the present study, the underlying mechanism of such a cytoprotective action of hydrophilic bile salts was determined with attention to the possible role of lecithin.

Methods: Immortalized mouse cholangiocytes were cultured for 4 h with taurine conjugates of a hydrophobic bile salt (cholate [TC]), and hydrophilic bile salts (ursodeoxycholate [TUDC], betamuricholate [TbetaMC], and alphamuricholate [TalphaMC]), at 200 microM, in the presence or absence of lecithin (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, or 200 microM), followed by flow cytometric detection of apoptosis, using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) staining.

Hydrophilic bile salts have a cytoprotective effect against cyclosporine A-induced cholestasis through enhanced canalicular membrane fluidity and transporter activity.

Cyclosporine A (CsA) reduces liver canalicular membrane (CM) fluidity to cause a disproportionate reduction of biliary lipid secretion (the uncoupling phenomenon) without affecting adenosine triphosphate-dependent (ABC) transporters except for Mdr1. This study investigated whether hydrophilic bile salts inhibit CsA-induced cholestasis, focusing on CM fluidity and ABC transporter expression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with taurocholate (TC) (200 nmol/min/100 g body weight) for 2 h, flowed by infusion with tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC), tauroalphamuricholate, or taurobetamuricholate (100 nmol/min/100 g body weight plus TC at 100 nmol/min/100 g body weight).

Impaired gallbladder mucosal function in aged gallstone patients suppresses gallstone recurrence after successful extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy.

Background: Absorption of water, as well as emptying of bile, are important functions of the gallbladder. We studied the changes of gallbladder function with age in gallstone patients and their influence on the outcome of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Methods: (i) A total of 123 consecutive patients with complete stone clearance by ESWL were examined.