Effect of light conditions on trophic level and gene expression of partially mycoheterotrophic orchid, .

Partial mycoheterotrophic i.e., mixotrophic, plants are the species which partially depend on mycorrhizal fungi for its nutrients.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus possibly affects the occurrence of proximal femoral fracture.

Aims: The clinical triad of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) includes gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. These symptoms are also frequently observed in patients with proximal femoral fracture (PFF). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PFF and iNPH retrospectively.

Generation of a lung squamous cell carcinoma three-dimensional culture model with keratinizing structures.

Tumor nests in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) have a hierarchical structure resembling squamous epithelium. The nests consist of basal-like cells on the periphery and layers of keratinocyte-like cells that differentiate towards the center of the nest, forming keratin pearls. Reproducing this spatial heterogeneity in in vitro models would be useful for understanding the biology of LUSC.

Azelnidipine Inhibits the Differentiation and Activation of THP-1 Macrophages through the L-Type Calcium Channel.

Aim: Recently, calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have been reported to reduce atherosclerosis with anti-inflammatory or antiatherosclerotic effects in vivo. It is well established that monocytes and macrophages play important roles in promoting atherosclerosis. However, the effects of CCBs on macrophage activation remain unclear.

Hypercholesterolemia Causes Circadian Dysfunction: A Potential Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease.

Hypercholesterolemia is a well-known risk factor for a wide range of diseases in developed countries. Here, we report that mice lacking functional LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor), an animal model of human familial hypercholesterolemia, show circadian abnormalities. In free running behavioral experiments in constant darkness, these mice showed a prolonged active phase and distinctly bimodal rhythms.

EGCG, a green tea catechin, attenuates the progression of heart failure induced by the heart/muscle-specific deletion of MnSOD in mice.

Background: Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is an important antioxidant enzyme affected in heart/muscle-specific MnSOD-deficient mice (H/M-SOD2), which develop progressive congestive heart failure and exhibit pathology typical of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Methods: In this study we investigated the beneficial effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the cardiac remodeling and telomere biology in H/M-SOD2 mice. H/M-SOD2 mice were divided into three groups: those receiving normal drinking water (KO), a low dose of EGCG (L: 10mg/L), and a high dose of EGCG (H: 100mg/L) beginning at eight weeks of age and lasting for eight weeks.

Deletion of Apoptosis Inhibitor of Macrophage (AIM)/CD5L Attenuates the Inflammatory Response and Infarct Size in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: An excessive inflammatory response after myocardial infarction (MI) increases myocardial injury. The toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 is activated by the recognition of endogenous ligands and is proinflammatory when there is myocardial tissue injury. The apoptosis inhibitor of the macrophage (AIM) is known to provoke an efflux of saturated free fatty acids (FFA) due to lipolysis, which causes inflammation via the TLR-4 pathway.

Acute effects of statin on reduction of angiopoietin-like 2 and glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end-products levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a message from SAMIT (Statin for Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial).

Experimental ischemia-reperfusion models have shown that 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, statins, have cardioprotective effects. SAMIT (Statin Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial) is a multicenter prospective open randomized trial, designed to evaluate the effects of statin treatment from the earliest stage on cardioprotection in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Patients were randomly assigned to receive atorvastatin (initial dose of 40 mg at admission followed by the maintenance dose of 10 mg/day for 30 days) or not (control), and then immediately underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the culprit lesion.

The relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, endothelial function, and severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive intermittent hypoxia and reoxygenation during sleep with elevated oxidative stress and promotes the development of atherosclerosis, as demonstrated by vascular dysfunction and chronic inflammation. An increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been recognized to be a novel inflammatory biomarker for systemic inflammation.

Objectives: We evaluated whether the NLR reflects the severity of OSA and if continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment ameliorates the endothelial function and NLR in patients with OSA.

Possible effects of glimepiride beyond glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: a preliminary report.

Background: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of glimepiride on the levels of biomarkers related to cardiovascular regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods And Results: Thirty-four patients with type 2 diabetes received glimepiride for 24 weeks. Significant decreases in the levels of glyceraldehyde-derived advanced glycation end products, (glycer-AGE: toxic AGE), eotaxin and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 were recognized after the administration of glimepiride.

Hepatitis A outbreak associated with a revolving sushi bar in Chiba, Japan: Application of molecular epidemiology.

Aim:   The number of hepatitis A cases in Japan as well as in other developed countries has been progressively decreasing during the last several years. There is no universal hepatitis A vaccination program in Japan, and a hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemic in Japan is not unlikely. In 2011, a hepatitis A outbreak associated with a revolving sushi bar occurred in Chiba, Japan.

The glucagon-like peptide 1 analog liraglutide reduces TNF-α-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in endothelial cells.

Objective: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), one of the incretin hormones, has been reported to increase positive inotropic activity in cardiac myocytes and protect against myocardial injury. However, the effects upon endothelial cells and the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. We assessed the hypothesis that GLP-1 has protective effects against inflammation and oxidative stress on human endothelial cells.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor augments the serum total cholesterol-lowering effect of human adipose tissue-derived multilineage progenitor cells in hyperlipidemic homozygous Watanabe rabbits.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal codominant disease characterized by high concentrations of proatherogenic lipoproteins secondary to deficiency in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. We reported recently the use of in situ stem cell therapy of human adipose tissue-derived multilineage progenitor cells (hADMPCs) in lowering serum total cholesterol in the homozygous Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, an animal model of homozygous FH. Here we demonstrate that pravastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, augmented the cholesterol-lowering effect of transplanted hADMPCs and enhanced LDL clearance in homozygous WHHL rabbit.

Cationized gelatin-HVJ envelope with sodium borocaptate improved the BNCT efficacy for liver tumors in vivo.

Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cell-selective radiation therapy that uses the alpha particles and lithium nuclei produced by the boron neutron capture reaction. BNCT is a relatively safe tool for treating multiple or diffuse malignant tumors with little injury to normal tissue. The success or failure of BNCT depends upon the 10B compound accumulation within tumor cells and the proximity of the tumor cells to the body surface.

Anti-inflammatory properties of azelnidipine, a dihydropyridine-based calcium channel blocker.

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation as well as oxidative stress play essential roles in atherogenesis, progression of atherosclerosis, and plaque instability and rupture. Recent studies on available anti-hypertensive agents have focused on their anti-atherosclerotic effects over and above their blood pressure lowering action. These studies have included investigations on several types of calcium channel blockers, with several investigations indicating that a dihydropiridine-based calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine, developed in Japan, has unique anti-oxidative properties.

Reduction of N-glycolylneuraminic acid xenoantigen on human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells/mesenchymal stem cells leads to safer and more useful cell sources for various stem cell therapies.

Adipose tissue is an attractive source for somatic stem cell therapy. Currently, human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells/mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs/MSCs) are cultured with fetal bovine serum (FBS). Recently, however, not only human embryonic stem cell lines cultured on mouse feeder cells but also bone marrow-derived human MSCs cultured with FBS were reported to express N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) xenoantigen.

Properties of hepatocyte-like cell clusters from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

There are only a few reports that describe the hepatocytic differentiation potential of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) and no reports that describe the in vivo functions of hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from somatic stem cells including hADMSCs. In this study, we established a new method for generation of functional hepatocyte-like cell clusters using floating culture method and induced functional hepatocyte-like cell clusters, which functioned effectively not only in vitro but also in vivo. The generated hepatocyte-like cell clusters were characterized by gene expression analysis, functional assays, and transplantation into non-obese diabetic severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD-SCID) mouse with chronic liver injury.

Cardiomyoblast-like cells differentiated from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells improve left ventricular dysfunction and survival in a rat myocardial infarction model.

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are multipotent cells. Here we examined whether human ADMSCs (hADMSCs) could differentiate into cardiomyoblast-like cells (CLCs) by induction with dimethylsulfoxide and whether the cells would be utilized to treat cardiac dysfunction. Dimethylsulfoxide induced the expression of various cardiac markers in hADMSCs, such as alpha-cardiac actin, cardiac myosin light chain, and myosin heavy chain; none of which were detected in noncommitted hADMSCs.

Transdifferentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells into insulin-producing clusters.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. The major obstacle to transplantation of insulin-producing cells to cure the disease is the limited source of these cells. To overcome this problem, we describe here a multistep protocol for generation of insulin-producing islet-like clusters from human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs).

Creation of a rich subcutaneous vascular network with implanted adipose tissue-derived stromal cells and adipose tissue enhances subcutaneous grafting of islets in diabetic mice.

Subcutaneous tissue was proposed as an optimal transplant site for islets in treatment for type I diabetes mellitus. However, vascular networks in subcutaneous tissue are too poor in their natural state to allow survive and function of the transplanted graft. This study examined whether subcutaneous implantation of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) combined with minced adipose tissue could form vascular-rich beds suitable to support islet transplantation.

Tropical fruit camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Background: Oxidative stress as well as inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Although, various anti-oxidative dietary supplements have been evaluated for their ability to prevent atherosclerosis, no effective ones have been determined at present. "Camu-camu" (Myrciaria dubia) is an Amazonian fruit that offers high vitamin C content.

Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of either membrane-bound human FasL or human decoy Fas can prolong pig islet xenograft survival in a rat transplant model.

The success of pancreatic islet transplantation is limited because of the severe shortage of allogeneic pancreas donors. Accordingly, pig islets are considered to be an attractive, promising alternative. However, cell-mediated immunity, especially CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated cytotoxicity, remains a formidable barrier to prevent long-term islet survival in xenograft recipients.

Regeneration of beta cells in the native pancreata after syngeneic and allogeneic pancreas transplantations in spontaneously type 2 diabetic Torii rats.

Background: We previously demonstrated that syngeneic pancreas transplantation has a potential to reverse diabetes even in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, namely Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT; RT1a). The onset of diabetes was significantly delayed in the pancreas transplant recipients. We speculated that perfect diabetic control achieved by pancreas transplantation showed a beneficial effect on the native pancreata & recipients.