Changes in respiratory mechanics of artificial pneumothorax two-lung ventilation in video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in prone position.

We aimed to clarify the changes in respiratory mechanics and factors associated with them in artificial pneumothorax two-lung ventilation in video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy in the prone position (PP-VATS-E) for esophageal cancer. Data of patients with esophageal cancer, who underwent PP-VATs-E were retrospectively analyzed. Our primary outcome was the change in the respiratory mechanics after intubation (T1), in the prone position (T2), after initiation of the artificial pneumothorax two-lung ventilation (T3), at 1 and 2 h (T4 and T5), in the supine position (T6), and after laparoscopy (T7).

Preoperative disseminated intravascular coagulation complicated by thoracic aortic aneurysm treated using recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin: A case report.

Rationale: Chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm is characterized by enhanced fibrinolysis and is thought to be stable in the compensated/asymptomatic stage, with few bleeding symptoms. However, DIC can lead to decompensated/hemorrhagic stage disseminated intravascular coagulation, resulting in severe bleeding diathesis, and there is currently no established strategy for treatment of DIC in aortic aneurysms.

Patient Concerns: A 77-year-old woman underwent angiography and cardiac catheterization, before descending aortic replacement surgery.

Relationship of a Special Acidified Milk Protein Drink with Cognitive Performance: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Young Adults.

A previous in vivo study with rats suggested that a special milk protein drink manufactured using an acidification procedure to suppress the aggregation of milk proteins was absorbed quickly after feeding. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measure crossover study to investigate the short-term effects on cognitive performance in 29 healthy young adult men after they consumed this drink in the morning. After an overnight fast, subjects were tested for performance in the Uchida⁻Kraepelin serial arithmetic test and the Stroop test as well as for subjective feeling, body temperature, and heart rate variability before and after consumption of either the acidified milk protein drink or an isoenergetic placebo drink.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of Vibrio vulnificus infection: a retrospective study of 12 cases.

Background And Aims: Vibrio vulnificus causes an infectious disease that has extremely poor convalescence and leads to necrotic fasciitis. In this study, we sought to define the characteristic epidemiology of V. vulnificus infection and clarify its diagnosis at the global level.

Effects of dietary supplementation with betaine on a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) mouse model.

The effects of betaine supplementation on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice were examined by measuring the accumulation of fat in the livers of NASH model mice compared to a control. Betaine from sugar beets was provided to the model mice as a dietary supplement. After 3 wk of dietary supplementation, there were no significant differences in body weight or liver weight between the groups.

Invariant Valpha14 natural killer T cell activation by edible mushroom acidic glycosphingolipids.

Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells regulate multi-immune response through Th1/Th2 cytokine release triggered by the recognition of CD1d-restricted glycosphingolipid antigens. Here we report that acidic glycosphingolipids (AGLs) of mushroom (Hypsizigus marmoreus and Pleurotus eryngii) presented by murine CD1d-transfected rat basophilic leukocytes induced interleukin-2 (IL-2) release from iNKT hybridoma cells. AGL-1, one of the AGLs, containing mannose at the non-reducing ends, induced CD1d-dependent IL-2 release.

Sialyltransferases of marine bacteria efficiently utilize glycosphingolipid substrates.

Bacterial sialyltransferases (STs) from marine sources were characterized using glycosphingolipids (GSLs). Bacterial STs were found to be beta-galacotoside STs. There were two types of STs: (1) ST obtained from strains such as ishi-224, 05JTC1 (#1), ishi-467, 05JTD2 (#2), and faj-16, 05JTE1 (#3), which form alpha2-3 sialic acid (Sia) linkages, named alpha2-3ST, (2) ST obtained from strains such as ISH-224, N1C0 (#4), pda-rec, 05JTB2 (#5), and pda-0160, 05JTA2 (#6), which form alpha2-6 Sia linkages, named alpha2-6ST.

Mushroom acidic glycosphingolipid induction of cytokine secretion from murine T cells and proliferation of NK1.1 alpha/beta TCR-double positive cells in vitro.

Interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-4 regulate many types of immune responses. Here we report that acidic glycosphingolipids (AGLs) of Hypsizigus marmoreus and Pleurotus eryngii induced secretion of IFN- gamma and IL-4 from T cells in a CD11c-positive cell-dependent manner similar to that of alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) and isoglobotriaosylceramide (iGb3), although activated T cells by AGLs showed less secretion of cytokine than those activated by alpha-GalCer. In addition, stimulation of these mushroom AGLs induced proliferation of NK1.

Repeated administrations of concanavalin A induce Th1 to Th2 cytokine shift and tolerance against liver injury in mice.

The intravenous injection of concanavalin A (Con A) activates T cells and induces cytokine dependent liver injury in mice. However, the effect of repeated administrations of Con A has not been fully investigated. Female BALB/c mice were intravenously injected with Con A (20mg/kg) or saline once a week for six times.

[Clinical utility of angiotensin II receptor antagonist].

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can potentially progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The causes of this disease are not well defined, and although several therapies have been tried, the optimal treatment has not been established. Recently, a role for angiotensin II in insulin resistance, oxidative stress and hepatic stellate cell activation has been reported.

Fucoidan prevents concanavalin A-induced liver injury through induction of endogenous IL-10 in mice.

Fucoidan is a complex of sulfated polysaccharides derived from non-mammalian origin such as marine brown algae and induces cytokine expression. We investigated the effect of fucoidan on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver injury in mice. Liver injury was induced by an intravenous injection of Con A (18.

Inhibitory effect of angiotensin II receptor antagonist on hepatic stellate cell activation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of angiotensin II receptor antagonist on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in the patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Seven patients with NASH were prescribed losartan, a selective angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (50 mg/d) for 48 wk. Liver biopsies were performed both at the entry and end of the study in all patients.

Postmarketing surveillance of rabeprazole in upper gastrointestinal peptic lesions in Japanese patients with coexisting hepatic disorders.

Background: Many Japanese patients with hepatic disorders confirmed on diagnostic imaging and coexisting upper gastrointestinal (GI) peptic lesions receive treatment with proton pump inhibitors. Some pharmacotherapies used to treat peptic ulcers have been associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs), including elevated liver enzyme levels.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the tolerability and effectiveness of rabeprazole sodium in treating peptic lesions in patients with coexisting hepatic disorders.

Central thyrotropin-releasing hormone increases hepatic cyclic AMP through vagal-cholinergic and prostaglandin-dependent pathways in rats.

Central neuropeptides play roles in many physiologic regulations through the autonomic nervous system. We have demonstrated that central thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), one of neuropeptides, induces a stimulation of hepatic proliferation through vagal-cholinergic pathways. Since cAMP is known to play an important role in the hepatic proliferation, effect of central TRH on hepatic cAMP was investigated.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the dorsal vagal complex stimulates pancreatic blood flow in rats.

Central administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) enhanced pancreatic blood flow in animal models. TRH nerve fibers and receptors are localized in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), and retrograde tracing techniques have shown that pancreatic vagal nerves arise from the DVC. However, nothing is known about the central sites of action for TRH to elicit the stimulation of pancreatic blood flow.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha plays a crucial role in concanavalin A-induced liver injury through induction of proinflammatory cytokines in mice.

Background/aims: : The chemokines play roles in the development of immune mediated liver diseases. In this study, we investigate the involvement of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), one of the CC chemokines in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced liver injury in mice.

Methods: : Liver injury was induced by intravenous injection of Con A.

Protective effect of central thyrotropin-releasing hormone analog on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.

Central neuropeptides play a role in many physiological functions through the autonomic nervous system. We have recently demonstrated that central injection of a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analog increases pancreatic blood flow through vagal and nitric oxide-dependent pathways. In this study, the central effect of a TRH analog on experimental acute pancreatitis was investigated in rats.

Therapeutic efficacy of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

The therapeutic efficacy of angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan, was studied in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Seven patients with both NASH and hypertension were treated with losartan (50 mg/d) for 48 weeks. Treatment with losartan resulted in a significant decrease in blood markers of hepatic fibrosis, plasma TGF-beta1 and serum ferritin concentration concurrently with an improvement in serum aminotransferase levels.

Effect of central thyrotropin-releasing hormone on pancreatic blood flow in rats.

Central neuropeptides play a role in physiological regulation through the autonomic nervous system. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a neuropeptide distributed throughout the central nervous system and acts as a neurotransmitter to regulate gastric and hepatic functions through vagal-cholinergic pathways. In this study, the central effect of TRH on pancreatic blood flow was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats.

High, but not low, molecular weight hyaluronan prevents T-cell-mediated liver injury by reducing proinflammatory cytokines in mice.

Background: The extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA) modulates the production of various cytokines and chemokines by activated inflammatory cells. In this study, we investigated whether exogenous administration of HA influences T-cell-mediated liver injury and cytokine production.

Methods: Liver injury was induced by administration of concanavalin A (Con A) or D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS), and 0.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in the dorsal vagal complex stimulates hepatic blood flow in rats.

Central administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) enhances hepatic blood flow in animal models. TRH nerve fibers and receptors are localized in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC), and retrograde tracing techniques have shown that hepatic vagal nerves arise mainly from the left DVC. However, nothing is known about the central sites of action for TRH to elicit the stimulation of hepatic blood flow.

Gender-related differences in concanavalin A-induced liver injury and cytokine production in mice.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Concanavalin A (Con A) activates T cells and causes T cell-mediated liver injury in mice. Since autoimmune diseases predominantly occur in women, female is considered to have enhanced immune responses and T cell functions. We investigated the presence of gender-related differences on Con A-induced liver injury and cytokine production in mice.

Involvement of calcitonin gene-related peptide and capsaicin-sensitive afferents in central thyrotropin-releasing hormone-induced hepatic cytoprotection.

The involvement of capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in central thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced hepatic cytoprotection was investigated in rats. Both systemic capsaicin pretreatment and intravenous administration of CGRP receptor antagonist, human CGRP-(8-37), completely abolished the protective effect of intracisternal TRH analog (RX-77368; p-Glu-His-(3,3'-dimethyl)-Pro-NH2, 5 ng) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury, assessed by serum alanin aminotransferase levels and histological changes. These data demonstrate the involvement of capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons and CGRP in central TRH-induced hepatic cytoprotection.

Protective effect of central thyrotropin-releasing hormone on carbon tetrachloride-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis in rats.

Background/aims: Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) acts in the brain to stimulate hepatic proliferation and blood flow through vagal-muscarinic and prostaglandin-mediated pathways. Hepatic blood flow and prostaglandins are well recognized as cytoprotective factors for liver damage, and central TRH is known to play a role in gastric cytoprotection. The effect of central TRH on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute hepatocellular necrosis was investigated in rats.