Opinions on research involving human embryo models by researchers and the general public.

Rules and ethical considerations regarding research on embryo models have been debated across numerous countries. In this paper, we provide insights from our attitude survey conducted among Japanese researchers, including members of the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine, and among the general public residing in Japan, the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Our survey revealed that many researchers expressed the need for clear guidelines for embryo model research.

Attitudes towards human fetal tissue research: Survey of researchers and the public in Japan.

Introduction: The rules for human fetal tissue (HFT) research in Japan are unclear.

Methods: In this paper, we conducted a web survey to examine the attitudes of Japanese researchers (n=535) and the public (n=3,000) toward HFT research.

Results: The results demonstrated that 5.

Survey of Japanese researchers and the public regarding the culture of human embryos in vitro beyond 14 days.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has eliminated its prohibition on research involving the culturing of human embryos beyond 14 days within the updated 2021 guidelines. We conducted a survey of Japanese researchers working in stem cell- or embryo-related research (n = 535) and the public (n = 3,000) about their attitudes toward the 14-day rule. Among the researchers, 46.

Extracellular Vesicles Are Important Mediators That Regulate Tumor Lymph Node Metastasis via the Immune System.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are particles with a lipid bilayer structure, and they are secreted by various cells in the body. EVs interact with and modulate the biological functions of recipient cells by transporting their cargoes, such as nucleic acids and proteins. EVs influence various biological phenomena, including disease progression.

Comparison of the 2021 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) guidelines for "laboratory-based human stem cell research, embryo research, and related research activities" and the corresponding Japanese regulations.

This paper presents a comparison of the 2021 guidelines for stem cell research and clinical translation outlined by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) with the current regulations in Japan regarding the performance of such research. This paper provides a convenient English-language summary of the Japanese regulations, and illustrates the difference between the ISSCR guidelines and Japanese regulations regarding the conditions of implementation of study activities using human embryos or stem cells, for researchers outside Japan. The regulations governing the performance of research activities using human embryos or stem cells in Japan are relatively complex and comprise a range of laws and guidelines; the specific rules applied depend on the characteristics of each study.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the common bile duct associated with congenital bile duct dilatation: a case report.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is frequently observed in patients with congenital bile duct dilatation (CBDD). Most cholangiocarcinomas are adenocarcinomas. Other types, especially neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs), are rare.

Precise anatomical resection based on structures of nerve and fibrous tissue around the superior mesenteric artery for mesopancreas dissection in pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of resection based on the nerve and fibrous tissue (NFT) structures around the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (R-PDAC) patients.

Methods: NFTs around the SMA were classified into four "intensive NTFs area" with spreading the NFTs around the SMA and three SMA nerve plexus regions without branching nerves according to autopsy findings. Complete dissection of four "intensive NTFs areas" was performed by pre-exposing three SMA nerve plexus regions without branching nerves as "dissection-guiding points" with SMA nerve plexus preservation (NFT-based resection).

Conversion surgery after extensive chemotherapy for stage IV mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) of the gallbladder: clinical implications from the patterns of response and recurrence.

A 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed as having advanced gallbladder cancer (T3N1M1, Stage IVB) showed a dramatic response to chemotherapy using gemcitabine + cisplatin and surgery with curative intent was attempted. Histopathological examination revealed residual tumor limited to the perimuscular connective tissue of the gallbladder (T2bN0M0, Stage IIB) and a mixture of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) components was confirmed. At 6 months after the surgery, a small peritoneal nodule was detected and chemotherapy was resumed with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and S-1.

Indocyanine green clearance of remnant liver (ICG-Krem) predicts postoperative subclinical hepatic insufficiency after resection of colorectal liver metastasis: theoretical validation for safe expansion of Makuuchi's criteria.

Background: Multidisciplinary treatment for colorectal liver metastases (CLMs) often includes major hepatectomy for preoperative chemotherapy-related hepatic injury, although the safety limit for resection extent is unclear. We investigated this parameter using the estimated indocyanine green clearance rate (ICG-K) of liver remnants, focusing on postoperative subclinical hepatic insufficiency (PHI).

Methods: Altogether, 225 patients who underwent resection of CLMs were studied.

Combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma with angiosarcomatoid change: A case report with immunohistochemical study.

Sarcomatoid combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) is a rare condition, with only 16 cases reported to date; however, there have been no reports of hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma with angiosarcomatous features. Here, we report a rare case of cHCC-CCA with angiosarcomatoid changes in a 77-year-old man. The tumor was biphasic with malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components.

Platelet-Albumin Score as a Sensitive Measure for Surgical Risk Prediction and Survival Outcomes of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Given that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually suffer from dual diseases (i.e., HCC and underlying liver disease), a complete survival estimation model is difficult to establish because both the oncological stage and the underlying liver function affect the survival outcome.

CO₂ and O₂ evolution at high voltage cathode materials of Li-ion batteries: a differential electrochemical mass spectrometry study.

A three-electrode differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) cell has been developed to study the oxidative decomposition of electrolytes at high voltage cathode materials of Li-ion batteries. In this DEMS cell, the working electrode used was the same as the cathode electrode in real Li-ion batteries, i.e.

Small molecules with similar structures exhibit agonist, neutral antagonist or inverse agonist activity toward angiotensin II type 1 receptor.

Small differences in the chemical structures of ligands can be responsible for agonism, neutral antagonism or inverse agonism toward a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Although each ligand may stabilize the receptor conformation in a different way, little is known about the precise conformational differences. We synthesized the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan, R239470 and R794847, which induced inverse agonism, antagonism and agonism, respectively, and then investigated the ligand-specific changes in the receptor conformation with respect to stabilization around transmembrane (TM)3.

Abilities of candesartan and other AT(1) receptor blockers to impair angiotensin II-induced AT(1) receptor activation after wash-out.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) binds to Ang II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor and evokes cell signaling, and subsequently stimulates vasoconstriction and cell proliferation, which eventually lead to cardiovascular disease. Since most AT(1) receptor blockers (ARBs) have molecular (differential) effects, we evaluated the specific features of candesartan and compared the abilities of candesartan and other ARBs (olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan, irbesartan and losartan) to bind to and activate AT(1) receptors using a cell-based wash-out assay. Each ARB blocked Ang II-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation and inositol phosphate production to different degrees after wash-out.

Possibility of increasing cholesterol efflux by adiponectin and its receptors through the ATP binding cassette transporter A1 in HEK293T cells.

A decrease in adiponectin secretion leads to the early stage of atherosclerosis. Discoidal high-density lipoproteins (HDL) accept the cholesterol that effluxes from cells expressing the ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in the first step of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Recently, a new therapeutic strategy involving reconstituted (r)HDL has been shown to enhance RCT.

Significance of pigment epithelium-derived factor levels with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers in patients with successful coronary stent implantation.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and pentosidine have received growing attention as sensitive biomarkers of the progression of atherosclerosis. The present study was performed to evaluate the utility of these biomarkers for assessing the effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs). Sixty-three patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) following successful stent implantation were divided into an ARB group (n = 50), who initially received valsartan or olmesartan immediately following stent implantation, and a non-ARB group (n = 13) according to their blood pressure (BP) at baseline.

A small difference in the molecular structure of angiotensin II receptor blockers induces AT₁ receptor-dependent and -independent beneficial effects.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT₁) receptor blockers (ARBs) induce multiple pharmacological beneficial effects, but not all ARBs have the same effects and the molecular mechanisms underlying their actions are not certain. In this study, irbesartan and losartan were examined because of their different molecular structures (irbesartan has a cyclopentyl group whereas losartan has a chloride group). We analyzed the binding affinity and production of inositol phosphate (IP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and adiponectin.

Pharmacological intervention using reconstituted high-density lipoprotein changes in the lipid profile in spontaneously hypersensitive rats.

Reconstituted (r) high-density lipoprotein (HDL) protects against coronary artery disease by promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), thereby preventing atherosclerosis. In addition, rHDL has many pleiotropic effects, such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombotic properties. In this study, the effects of chronic rHDL administration on blood pressure (BP), plasma lipoprotein, and charge-based HDL subfractions were examined.

Clinical and pharmacotherapeutic relevance of the double-chain domain of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker olmesartan.

We previously reported that the angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor blocker (ARB) olmesartan has two important interactions to evoke inverse agonism (IA). We refer to these interactions as the "double-chain domain (DCD)." Since the clinical pharmacotherapeutic relevance of olmesartan is still unclear, we examined these effects in rats and humans.

Molecular mechanisms of the antagonistic action between AT1 and AT2 receptors.

Although angiotensin II (Ang II) binds to Ang II type 1 (AT(1)) and type 2 (AT(2)) receptors, AT(1) and AT(2) receptors have antagonistic actions with regard to cell signaling. The molecular mechanisms that underlie this antagonism are not well understood. We examined AT(1) and AT(2) receptor-induced signal cross-talk in the cytoplasm and the importance of the hetero-dimerization of AT(1) receptor with AT(2) receptor on the cell surface.

Safety and efficacy of antihypertensive therapy with add-on angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker after successful coronary stent implantation.

This study was performed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of additional antihypertensive therapy with angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB; olmesartan or valsartan) after successful stent implantation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Fifty patients with CAD after successful stent implantation were included in this study. They were divided into an ARB group, which initially received olmesartan (n=20, 14+/-8 mg day(-1)) or valsartan (n=20, 60+/-23 mg day(-1)) immediately after stent implantation, and a non-ARB group (n=10) according to their blood pressure (BP).