Metabolic biomarkers for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet: In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hyperpolarized [1-C] pyruvate.

Hyperpolarized C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to assess hepatic metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been reported. This study searched for cellular metabolism-based biomarkers for NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. Also, correlations of the biomarkers with enzyme levels and histopathology were identified during a 6-week follow-up.

Time-course metabolic changes in high-fat diet-induced obesity rats: A pilot study using hyperpolarized (13)C dynamic MRS.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the time-course metabolic changes based on hyperpolarized (13)C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rats and the correlation between metabolic and serum enzyme levels. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either HFD (60% fat) or normal diet (10% fat) for 6weeks. A HyperSense DNP was used to hyperpolarize [1-(13)C] pyruvic acid and the hyperpolarized (13)C MRS was examined every 2weeks in the course of 6weeks using a 3T GE MR750 scanner.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging for monitoring chemotherapeutic efficacy in gastric cancer.

Aim: To assess intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) for monitoring early efficacy of chemotherapy in a human gastric cancer mouse model.

Methods: IVIM-DWI was performed with 12 b-values (0-800 s/mm(2)) in 25 human gastric cancer-bearing nude mice at baseline (day 0), and then they were randomly divided into control and 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-d treatment groups (n = 5 per group). The control group underwent longitudinal MRI scans at days 1, 3, 5 and 7, and the treatment groups underwent subsequent MRI scans after a specified 5-fluorouracil/calcium folinate treatment.

Elevated Coexpression of KITENIN and the ErbB4 CYT-2 Isoform Promotes the Transition from Colon Adenoma to Carcinoma Following APC loss.

Purpose And Experimental Design: The molecular events in the malignant progression of colon adenoma after loss of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are not fully understood. KITENIN (KAI1 C-terminal interacting tetraspanin) increases the invasiveness of colorectal cancer cells, and we identified a novel EGFR-independent oncogenic signal of EGF that works under coexpressed KITENIN and ErbB4. Here we tested whether elevated KITENIN and ErbB4 contribute to further progression of intestinal adenoma following APC loss.

Efficacy of the mineral oil and hyaluronic acid mixture eye drops in murine dry eye.

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of mineral oil (MO) and hyaluronic acid (HA) mixture eye drops on the tear film and ocular surface in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE).

Methods: Eye drops consisting of 0.1% HA alone or mixed with 0.

Effect of detrusor overactivity on the expression of aquaporins and nitric oxide synthase in rat urinary bladder following bladder outlet obstruction.

Background: Aquaporins (AQPs) have recently been reported to be expressed in rat and human urothelium. Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play a role in the bladder overactivity related to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of BOO on the expression of AQP2-3 and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in rat urothelium.

Bilateral asymmetric supernumerary heads of biceps brachii.

Anatomical variations of the biceps brachii have been described by various authors, but the occurrence of bilateral asymmetric supernumerary heads is rare and has not been reported. We found three accessory heads of the biceps brachii muscle on right arm and an anomalous third head of biceps brachii on left arm. The third, fourth, and fifth heads of right arm originated from the body of humerus at the insertion site of coracobrachialis and inserted into the distal part of biceps brachii short head in order.

Tear production and ocular surface changes in experimental dry eye after elimination of desiccating stress.

Purpose: To investigate the severity and duration of desiccating stress-induced dry eye disease between mice with and without a genetic predisposition to spontaneous autoimmunity.

Methods: Experimental dry eye was induced in 12- to 16-week-old wild-type C57BL/6 and autoimmune NOD.B10.

Gene expression profiling of mouse aborted uterus induced by lipopolysac charide.

To identify genes that participate in the abortion process, normal pregnant uteri were compared to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion uteri. At day 6 of pregnancy, mice were treated with LPS at various time points to induce an abortion. Total RNAs were applied to a cDNA microarray to analyze genes with altered expression.

Nrf2 and Sp family synergistically enhance the expression of ion transporters in potassium-depleted conditions.

Introduction: During potassium (K) depletion, many adaptive responses are likely mediated through a complex network that involves expression of a variety of genes. We identified that the Nrf2 gene was differentially expressed between normal and K-depleted rat kidney.

Methods: To investigate the effect of Nrf2 on colonic H/K-ATPase and kNBC1, overexpression of Nrf2 was carried out in 293T and CV1 cell lines, and experiments were conducted in low-K media.

Effects of androgen on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the penile corpus cavernosum.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of orchiectomy and androgen replacement on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rat penile tissue.

Material And Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) were left intact (control) or surgically castrated. Orchiectomized rats were left untreated or received testosterone propionate (TP) for 7 days, beginning 1 or 2 weeks after castration.

HOXB13 is co-localized with androgen receptor to suppress androgen-stimulated prostate-specific antigen expression.

During the prostate cancer (PCa) development and its progression into hormone independency, androgen receptor (AR) signals play a central role by triggering the regulation of target genes, including prostate-specific antigen. However, the regulation of these AR-mediated target genes is not fully understood. We have previously demonstrated a unique role of HOXB13 homeodomain protein as an AR repressor.

The Expression of AQP1 and eNOS in Menopausal Rat Urinary Bladder.

Purpose: Aquaporins (AQPs) have been reported to be expressed in rat and human urothelium. Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to play an important role in the bladder overactivity related to menopause. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hormonal alteration on the expression of AQP1 and eNOS in menopausal rat urinary bladder.

Distribution of interstitial cells of cajal in menopausal rat urinary bladder showing detrusor overactivity.

Purpose: Recent studies have showed that interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are widely distributed in the genitourinary tract and have suggested their involvement in spontaneous electrical activity and muscle contraction. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of estrogen on ICCs in rat urinary bladder from the detrusor overactivity induced by ovariectomy.

Materials And Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (230-240 g, N=60) were divided into three groups: control (N=20), bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx, N=20), and bilateral ovariectomy followed by subcutaneous injections of 17 β-estradiol (50 mg/kg/day, Ovx + Est, N=20).

Glycoprotein 90K, downregulated in advanced colorectal cancer tissues, interacts with CD9/CD82 and suppresses the Wnt/beta-catenin signal via ISGylation of beta-catenin.

Background And Aims: 90K, a tumour-associated glycoprotein, interacts with galectins and has roles in host defence by augmenting the immune response, but the serum 90K level was suggested to indicate poor prognosis in several cancers. The cellular mechanisms of 90K action on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell motility and its effect on CRC progression were investigated.

Methods: The impact of 90K was analysed by combining cell cultures, in vitro assays, and immunohistochemistry.

HOXB13 promotes androgen independent growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells by the activation of E2F signaling.

Background: Androgen signaling plays a critical role in the development of prostate cancer and its progression. However, androgen-independent prostate cancer cells emerge after hormone ablation therapy, resulting in significant clinical problems. We have previously demonstrated that the HOXB13 homeodomain protein functions as a prostate cancer cell growth suppressor by inhibiting androgen-mediated signals.

Testicular steroidogenesis is decreased by hyperthermia in old rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of hyperthermia on testicular steroidogenesis in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: Three-month-old and 20-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 rats each, a control group and a hot-bath group for each age. The rats in the hot-bath groups received multiple 10-min treatments in a hot bath (41-43 degrees C) over a period of 4 weeks.

Distribution and three-dimensional appearance of the interstitial cells of Cajal in the rat stomach and duodenum.

The relationship between the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and enteric nerves or smooth muscles cells is not fully defined. Presently, distribution and appearance of ICC in the rat stomach and duodenum was studied by immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and three-dimensional reconstruction. c-kit expressing ICC were regularly observed in the Auerbach's myenteric plexus (AP) of the stomach and duodenum.

Differential expression of osteocalcin during the metastatic progression of prostate cancer.

Osteocalcin expression is restricted to osteoblasts and serum osteocalcin level is elevated in metastatic bone tumors including prostate tumors, which predominantly metastasizes to the bone and causes typical osteoblastic lesions. Previously, we have reported that osteocalcin RNA is widely expressed but incompletely spliced in the prostate including prostate tumors. Considering that many studies using osteocalcin-driven gene therapy have been conducted to treat hormone refractory metastatic tumors, detailed mechanisms controlling osteocalcin expression needs to be clarified.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for the treatment of patients with corneal neovascularization.

Design: Prospective interventional case series.

Methods: Eighteen eyes of 18 patients with stable corneal neovascularization who were refractory to conventional treatment were treated with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (6 mg/m(2)).

A repressor complex, AP4 transcription factor and geminin, negatively regulates expression of target genes in nonneuronal cells.

The transcription of neuron-specific genes must be repressed in nonneuronal cells. REST/NRSF is a transcription factor that restricts the expression of many neuronal genes through interaction with the neuron-restrictive silencer element at the promoter level. PAHX-AP1 is a neuronal gene that is developmentally up-regulated in the adult mouse brain but that has no functional NRSE motif in its 5' upstream sequence.

Polyion complex micelles composed of all-trans retinoic acid and poly (ethylene glycol)-grafted-chitosan.

The goal of this study is to develop novel types of polyion complex micelles for the drug delivery to brain tumor. Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-grafted chitosan (CP) was synthesized in order to make polymeric micelles encapsulating all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) based on polyion complex formation. Polyion complex micelles were found to have spherical shapes with sizes of about 50 approximately 200 nm.

Experimental inhibition of corneal neovascularization by photodynamic therapy with verteporfin.

Purpose: To investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in a rabbit model of corneal neovascularization.

Methods: One week after suturing, the localization of verteporfin in the neovascularized cornea was examined through fluorescent microscopy 1 hr after administration. Rabbits were treated with one or two times of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin at 1-week intervals.

Expression of Nm23 in gliomas and its effect on migration and invasion in vitro.

Background: Despite the well-documented importance of Nm23 in the control of metastasis, there is currently a paucity of data regarding the role of this gene family in the control of glioma invasion.

Materials And Methods: Nm23-H1 expression in gliomas was assessed via immunohistochemistry, Western blot, RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses. The migration and invasion ability were also investigated in primary glioma culture cells, human glioma cell lines and nm23-H1 transfectant, using an in vitro brain slice invasion model and a simple scratch technique.

Suppression of progression and metastasis of established colon tumors in mice by intravenous delivery of short interfering RNA targeting KITENIN, a metastasis-enhancing protein.

KITENIN promotes invasion of mouse colon adenocarcinoma (CT-26) cells in vivo. Here, we studied the effects of in vivo KITENIN ablation on established tumors by using pSUPER vectors (pSUPER-KITENIN) producing short interfering RNA (siRNA). When pSUPER-KITENIN was given weekly or semiweekly for 1 month into tail vein of syngeneic mice that have established colon tumors, tumor size regressed markedly and metastases were inhibited.