Unsuspected gallbladder cancer diagnosed during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: The long-term prognosis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for patients with unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) remains unclear. We investigated retrospectively the role of examination of frozen sections and the prognosis of patients with unsuspected GBC detected during or after LC.

Methods: LC was performed on 1,793 consecutive patients.

Circulating dendritic cells and development of septic complications after pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer.

Objective: To investigate whether circulating dendritic cells in patients with pancreatic cancer is a risk factor for septic complications after pancreatectomy.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University hospital.

Edaravone prevents iNOS expression by inhibiting its promoter transactivation and mRNA stability in cytokine-stimulated hepatocytes.

Edaravone has an anti-inflammatory effect in experimental models of various organ injuries. We reported that edaravone reduces the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines in endotoxin-treated rats with partial hepatectomy, leading to the prevention of liver injury. Studies were performed to investigate the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of iNOS expression by edaravone in hepatocytes.

Modifications of boronic ester pro-chelators triggered by hydrogen peroxide tune reactivity to inhibit metal-promoted oxidative stress.

Several new analogs of salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH) and salicylaldehyde benzoyl hydrazone (SBH) that contain an aryl boronic ester (BSIH, BSBH) or acid (BASIH) in place of an aryl hydroxide have been synthesized and characterized as masked metal ion chelators. These pro-chelators show negligible interaction with iron(III), although the boronic acid versions exhibit some interaction with copper(II), zinc(II) and nickel(II). Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the aryl boronate to phenol, thus converting the pro-chelators to tridentate ligands with high affinity metal binding properties.

Protective effect of neutrophil elastase inhibitor (FR136706) in lethal acute liver failure induced by D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide in rats.

Background/aims: It has been reported that liver dysfunction with ischemia-reperfusion is improved through selective inhibition of neutrophil elastase (NE) by NE inhibitor. This study was designed to investigate whether NE inhibitor has protective effect in lethal acute liver failure.

Materials And Methods: Rats were treated with D-galactosamine plus lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS) to induce acute liver failure.

Activities of clindamycin, synercid, telithromycin, linezolid, and mupirocin against Gram-positive coccal strains resistant to erythromycin in Korea.

The antibacterial activities of clindamycin, synercid, telithromycin, linezolid and mupirocin were evaluated against erythromycin-resistant Gram-positive coccal clinical isolates collected in Korean hospitals. In Staphylococcus aureus, synercid, linezolid and mupirocin were the most active agents. Against coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), synercid, linezolid and mupirocin were also active.

Postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas resected with exposure of the tumor surface: clinical role of the no-margin resection.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that no-margin resections for hepatocellular carcinoma do not negatively affect patient outcomes.

Design: Inception cohort study.

Setting: Department of surgery at a university hospital.

Topical application of plasma fibronectin in full-thickness skin wound healing in rats.

Fibronectin (Fn) has been shown to play an important role in wound healing because it appears to be the stimulus for migration of fibroblasts and epidermal cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether topical application of plasma Fn (pFn) improves healing of full-thickness skin wounds in rats. A round section of full-thickness skin (diameter of approximately 15 mm) was resected in rats.

Fibronectin prevents endotoxin shock after partial hepatectomy in rats via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB and apoptosis.

Fibronectins (Fns) are involved in a number of biologic processes, such as cellular adhesion, motility, differentiation, apoptosis, hemostasis, wound healing, and ischemic injury. We investigated the possible mechanism underlying the protective action of plasma Fn (pFn) on endotoxin shock following partial hepatectomy in rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intravenously to male Sprague-Dawley rats within 48 hrs of 70% hepatectomy.

oPOSSUM: integrated tools for analysis of regulatory motif over-representation.

The identification of over-represented transcription factor binding sites from sets of co-expressed genes provides insights into the mechanisms of regulation for diverse biological contexts. oPOSSUM, an internet-based system for such studies of regulation, has been improved and expanded in this new release. New features include a worm-specific version for investigating binding sites conserved between Caenorhabditis elegans and C.

Prevention of graft-versus-host disease by intra-bone marrow injection of donor T cells.

We have recently found that intra-bone marrow-bone marrow transplantation (IBM-BMT) can be used to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), even when intensive donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) is carried out. In the present study, in conjunction with IBM-BMT, allogeneic splenic T cells as DLI were also injected into the bone marrow cavity of lethally irradiated (8.5 Gy) recipients.

NMR spectroscopic assessment of the structure and dynamic properties of an amphibian antimicrobial peptide (Gaegurin 4) bound to SDS micelles.

The structure and dynamics of a 37-residue antimicrobial peptide gaegurin 4 (GGN4) isolated from the skin of the native Korean frog, Rana rugosa, was determined in SDS micelles by NMR spectroscopy. The solution structure of the peptide in SDS micelles was determined from 352 NOE-derived distance constraints and 22 backbone torsion angle constraints. Dynamic properties for the amide backbone were characterized by (1)H-(15)N heteronuclear NOE experiments.

Amyloidosis of the gallbladder mimicking gallbladder cancer.

We report a rare case of amyloidosis of the gallbladder in a 63-year-old woman with a history of primary amyloidosis. The patient was asymptomatic. Blood chemistry and hematologic laboratory levels, as well as values for tumor markers, were unremarkable.

Preoperative diagnosis and efficacy of laparoscopic procedures in the treatment of Mirizzi syndrome.

Background: The role of laparoscopic procedures in the treatment of Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is not well-defined and remains controversial. We evaluated the preoperative diagnosis and efficacy of laparoscopic procedures in treatment of MS.

Study Design: Preoperative diagnosis and cholecystectomy were attempted on 2,012 consecutive patients at a single center and 24 (1.

Neutrophil elastase inhibitor prevents endotoxin-induced liver injury following experimental partial hepatectomy.

Background: During endotoxaemia, neutrophils activated by inflammatory cytokines release reactive oxygen species and neutrophil elastase, resulting in hepatic necrosis and dysfunction. This study investigated the possible mechanism underlying the protective effect of sivelestat, a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, on endotoxin-induced liver injury following partial hepatectomy.

Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intravenously to male Sprague-Dawley rats 48 h after 70 per cent hepatectomy.

Comparison of the temporary diagnostic relief of transforaminal epidural steroid injection approaches: conventional versus posterolateral technique.

Background And Purpose: Conventional transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) has several problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the temporary diagnostic relief and advantages of TFESI performed using the conventional and posterolateral approaches.

Methods: From August to December 2004, 187 patients received TFESI for lumbar radicular pain.

Effect of plasma fibronectin on the incisional wound healing in rats.

Background: Abdominal wall repair after celiotomy is important because insufficient incisional wound strength results in wound failures such as fascial dehiscence and herniation. Plasma fibronectin (pFn) has been shown to play an important role in wound healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pFn improves incisional wound healing in a rat skin incision and celiotomy model.

ErmK leader peptide : amino acid sequence critical for induction by erythromycin.

The ermK gene from Bacillus lichenformis encodes an inducible rRNA methylase that confers resistance to the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B antibiotics. The ermK mRNA leader sequence has a total length of 357 nucleotides and encodes a 14-amino acid leader peptide together with its ribosome binding site. The secondary structure of ermK leader mRNA and a leader peptide sequence have been reported as the elements that control expression.

Effects of plasma fibronectin on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Background: Fibronectin has been shown to assist in wound healing. Impaired wound healing in diabetes mellitus is characterized by a reduction in plasma fibronectin (pFn) at the wound site. This study investigated whether topical application of pFn could improve the impaired wound healing in diabetic rats.

Preoperative regional maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA-Rmax) is useful for judging the safety of hepatic resection.

Background: For hepatic resection, the preoperative estimation of hepatic functional reserve in the predicted remnant liver may be more important than that of the entire liver. We evaluated the maximal removal rate of technetium-99m-galactosyl-human serum albumin (GSA-Rmax) in the remnant.

Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were admitted for elective hepatectomy.

Agenesis of the gallbladder with hypoplastic cystic duct diagnosed at laparoscopy.

An 86-year-old man was admitted to our department with complaints of intermittent upper abdominal pain. Ultrasonography of the abdomen showed dilated extrahepatic bile ducts containing stones; however, the gallbladder was not clearly identified. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed dilated extrahepatic ducts and choledocholithiasis without gallbladder visualization.

In vitro and in vivo activities of DW-224a, a novel fluoroquinolone antibiotic agent.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo activities of DW-224a in order to eventually use it as an antibiotic.

Methods: DW-224a was compared with DW286, ciprofloxacin and trovafloxacin. MICs of DW-224a, DW286, ciprofloxacin and trovafloxacin were determined against several groups of clinical isolates.

Mechanical loading differentially regulates membrane-bound and soluble RANKL availability in MC3T3-E1 cells.

To understand the biochemical response of RANKL in response to mechanical loading, MC3T3-E1 cells were biequiaxially stretched. A murine RANKL cDNA with double epitopes, pEF6 HA-RANKL-V5His, was transfected into MC3T3-E1 cells, which were then stretched. Endogenous RANKL protein expression increased in response to mechanical loading.

Less morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Objectives: The pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended resection has been frequently performed in patients with pancreatic cancer in Japan. One result of this additional surgical stress may be that postoperative complications in patients with pancreatic cancer are more frequent than in patients with periampullary cancer.

Methods: The 198 patients with pancreatic and periampullary cancer underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy.