Efficient and cost-effective differentiation of induced neural crest cells from induced pluripotent stem cells using laminin 211.

Introduction: Neural crest cells (NCCs) are cell populations that originate during the formation of neural crest in developmental stages. They are characterized by their multipotency, self-renewal and migration potential. Given their ability to differentiate into various types of cells such as neurons and Schwann cells, NCCs hold promise for cell therapy applications.

Magnetic anchor-guided endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric lesions (with video).

Background And Aims: The feasibility of magnetic anchor-guided endoscopic submucosal dissection (MAG-ESD) using a neodymium magnet for gastric lesions has not been clarified. The aim of study was to evaluate the feasibility of MAG-ESD using neodymium magnets while treating gastric lesions.

Methods: This prospective trial was conducted at the Yamashita Hospital.

Synchronous rectal and esophageal cancer treated with chemotherapy followed by two-stage resection.

We report a case of 61-year-old male who had synchronous advanced rectal cancer involving the urinary bladder massively associated with multiple liver metastases, and esophageal cancer successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by two-stage resection. Although complete resection of each of the lesions was considered possible by performing anterior pelvic exenteration, liver resection, and esophagectomy, it might be impossible for the patient to endure the stress of all of these operative procedures at once. Therefore, we planned to perform staged treatment with prioritizing consideration.

[A case of intractable hepatic encephalopathy successfully treated by oral administration of vancomycin hydrochloride, with subsequent improvement of hepatic function reserve enabling transcatheter arterial chemoembolization against hepatocellular carcinoma].

We report a case of an 80-year-old male who suffered from intractable hepatic encephalopathy and hepatocellular carcinoma( HCC), associated with hepatitis type C-related liver cirrhosis. He was unable to receive HCC treatment due to the deterioration of his liver. His hepatic encephalopathy was resistant to oral administration of laxatives, lactulose, and kanamycin sulfate, etc.

[A case of metastatic pancreatic cancer with a remarkable response to combination therapy of gemcitabine and adoptive immune cell therapy].

A 52-year-old woman with a chief complaint of epigastric distress was diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer with multiple liver metastases. After insertion of a metallic stent for biliary stenosis, combination therapy of gemcitabine (GEM) and adoptive immune cell therapy (AICT) was initiated. GEM 1,000 mg/m2 was administered on day 1, 8 and 15 every 4 weeks, while AICT using MUC1 peptide-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) and anti-CD3-activated T lymphocytes (CAT) was given biweekly.

[A case of hepatitis B-related multiple hepatocellular carcinomas, most of which lead to necrosis possibly due to the implantation of an arterial infusion catheter].

The patient was a 59-year-old male with chronic hepatitis type B. He was diagnosed as having multiple hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), most of which showed hypervascular features on contrast-enhanced CT scan. He underwent the implantation of a 5-french catheter by" GDA coil method" for hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy.

Hemodynamic and neurohumoral responses to the restriction of femoral blood flow by KAATSU in healthy subjects.

The application of an orthostatic stress such as lower body negative pressure (LBNP) has been proposed to minimize the effects of weightlessness on the cardiovascular system and subsequently to reduce the cardiovascular deconditioning. The KAATSU training is a novel method to induce muscle strength and hypertrophy with blood pooling in capacitance vessels by restricting venous return. Here, we studied the hemodynamic, autonomic nervous and hormonal responses to the restriction of femoral blood flow by KAATSU in healthy male subjects, using the ultrasonography and impedance cardiography.

Hemodynamic and hormonal responses to a short-term low-intensity resistance exercise with the reduction of muscle blood flow.

We investigated the hemodynamic and hormonal responses to a short-term low-intensity resistance exercise (STLIRE) with the reduction of muscle blood flow. Eleven untrained men performed bilateral leg extension exercise under the reduction of muscle blood flow of the proximal end of both legs pressure-applied by a specially designed belt (a banding pressure of 1.3 times higher than resting systolic blood pressure, 160-180 mmHg), named as Kaatsu.

Amlodipine increases nitric oxide production in exhaled air during exercise in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: Endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO) is attenuated in patients with essential hypertension. We investigated whether treatment with amlodipine increased exhaled NO output (VNO) at rest and during exercise in patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: We studied the effect of amlodipine in seven untreated hypertensive patients.

AT-1015, a novel serotonin2A receptor antagonist, improves resaturation of exercised ischemic muscle in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Objective: The effect of AT-1015, a serotonin(2A) receptor antagonist, on the resaturation of ischemic muscle in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model was examined with near-infrared spectroscopy.

Methods: New Zealand White male rabbits were fed normal chow or cholesterol-rich chow. Ischemia was induced in the right hindlimb by ligation of the femoral artery, accompanied by balloon injury of the iliac artery.

Inhibitory effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on the induction of nitric oxide synthase in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the resultant increased nitric oxide production are associated with endotoxemia and atherosclerotic lesions observed in transplant hearts or balloon-injured artery. Ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to have cardiovascular protective effects, such as inhibition of the development of transplant arteriosclerosis, but its mechanism remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid on nitric oxide production and the expression of iNOS in vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from adult rat aorta and rabbit coronary artery.