Toxicity profile and clinical outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy with a focal boost without fiducials or perirectal hydrogel spacer for localized prostate cancer.

Purpose: Whole-prostate dose escalation in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for localized prostate cancer (PCa) can improve oncological outcomes, albeit at the cost of increased toxicity. A focal boost to the dominant intraprostatic lesion (DIL) is gaining interest as an alternative approach. Herein, we investigate the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Integrated Predictors by Propensity Scoring With Tumor Markers and Plasma Levels of microRNA-21-5p, IL-17, and IL-10 Complement Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis.

The clinical usefulness of tumor markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gamma carboxyprothrombin (DCP) in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), including those with marker decline after antiviral therapy, is limited. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are expected to complement detection; however, their details remain unknown. Our prospective pilot study aimed to improve the surveillance of HCC high-risk LC patients by propensity scoring with tumor markers and additional predictors.

Methotrexate mediates the integrity of intestinal stem cells partly through nitric oxide-dependent Wnt/β-catenin signaling in methotrexate-induced rat ileal mucositis.

This study aimed to elucidate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in intestinal stem cells in methotrexate-induced ileal mucositis in rats. Methotrexate induced the mRNA expressions of the Wnt/β-catenin target genes Wnt3a, Sox9, and Lgr5 and the Wnt-antagonist gene sFRP-1 and the protein expressions of Lgr5 and sFRP-1. Methotrexate also induced Lgr5+ cells and lysozyme+ cells.

Administration of cyclophosphamide to rats induces pica and potentiates 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis in the intestine without causing severe intestinal injury.

The effects of cyclophosphamide on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis in the intestinal tissue of rats were investigated. Rats received 120 mg/kg cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally as a single administration, and kaolin and food intake was measured by an automatic monitoring apparatus. Ileal tissues were collected at either 24 or 72 h after administration.

Abnormal Pressure Stress Reduces Interleukin-1β-Induced Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Cultured Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Elevated mechanical stress on blood vessels associated with hypertension has a direct effect on the function of vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In the present study, we have identified the effect of pulsatile pressure stress on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression induced by interleukin (IL)-1β in cultured rat VSMCs. VSMCs were isolated from aortic media of Wistar rats and cultured.

Plasma Interleukin-10 Levels Are Altered in Women with Severe Premenstrual Syndrome: A Preliminary Study.

The precise pathophysiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is unknown, and chronic inflammation has been implicated in PMS. However, inflammatory markers, including cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP), have not been investigated before and after menstruation in relation to PMS among the same participants. This study investigated whether the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and CRP are related to PMS.

The role of nitric oxide in small intestine differs between a single and a consecutive administration of methotrexate to rats.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) on intestinal mucosal injury induced by single or consecutive administration of methotrexate was investigated in a rodent model. Rats received methotrexate intraperitoneally either as a single administration (50 mg/kg) or as a consecutive administration (12.5 mg/kg/day) for 4 days.

Potentiation of Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Dynamics by Methotrexate Administration in Rat Small Intestine.

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between chemotherapy-induced mucositis and endogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) dynamics in the small intestine following treatment with either methotrexate or 5-fluorouracil. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of either 50 mg/kg methotrexate or 100 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil. At 24 and 72 h after drug administration, ileal tissues and plasma were used to investigate GLP-2 dynamics.

Nitric oxide plays a critical role in methotrexate-induced hyperplasia of enterochromaffin cells containing 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat small intestine.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the changes in enterochromaffin cells and ileal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) content induced by a single i.p. administration of methotrexate was investigated in rats.

Methotrexate causes acute hyperplasia of enterochromaffin cells containing substance P in the intestinal mucosa of rats.

This study aimed to investigate the acute and chronic effect of methotrexate on the intestinal substance P metabolism after a single administration to rats. Methotrexate caused a significant increase in the number of substance P-containing cells in the ileal mucosa both at 24 and 96 h. Most of enterochromaffin cells expressing l-tryptophan hydroxylase contained substance P.

Administration of olanzapine as an antiemetic agent changes glucose homeostasis in cisplatin-treated rats.

We investigated the effects of olanzapine on cisplatin-induced pica (the consumption of non-nutrient materials such as kaolin) and glucose homeostasis in rats to clarify the effects of olanzapine when used as an anti-emetic drug. Rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.

Carvedilol improves uptake-1 in patients with systolic congestive heart failure.

Background: The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) of the whole body, including cardiac sympathetic nerves, is activated in patients with severe congestive systolic heart failure (CHF). Carvedilol can improve clinical status in such patients. This study aimed to determine how carvedilol acts on the SNS to improve CHF.

Excretions of urinary albumin and various proteins increase in hypertension.

Aims: Hypertension causes proteinuria and is an important factor in the progress of renal dysfunction. Increases in various proteins in urine are caused by malfunction of the glomerulus and the renal tubules. In the present study, the effects of hypertension on urinary excretion levels of various proteins were investigated to show the tubular cell malfunction in hypertensive patients.

Simultaneous analysis of human plasma catecholamines by high-performance liquid chromatography with a reversed-phase triacontylsilyl silica column.

The clinical importance of simultaneous analysis of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol with other human plasma catecholamines has been investigated to better understand the sympathetic nervous system. However, previous reports have had analytical difficulties with both resolution and extraction. The current study uses a reversed-phase triacontylsilyl silica (C30) column under the mobile phase condition without ion-pair reagents to separate catecholamines and their metabolites, with above 91% recoveries for intra-assay, above 85% for inter-assay, and less than 10% (n=5) coefficient of variation.

High-sodium diets in Japanese evacuation centers increase blood pressures of evacuees.

Aims: High blood pressure after a natural disaster is tentatively considered to be due to elevation of sympathetic nerve activity. A volcano in Japan erupted on March 31, 2000, and people living in the vicinity of the volcano were evacuated to safe shelters. We found that many evacuees developed high blood pressure while staying at evacuation centers.

Measurement of carvedilol in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Carvedilol is a beta/alpha1-adrenoceptor blocker. A sensitive method for measuring plasma levels of carvedilol in human administrated low doses is needed since its plasma concentration is low. We measured carvedilol and carvedilol M21-aglycon using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection.

Different coronary blood flow increase in left ventricular hypertrophy due to hypertension compared to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at elevated heart rate.

Coronary vasodilator reserve (CVR) is reduced in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, it is not clear whether there is any difference between the coronary blood flow increase in LVH caused by hypertension (HTH) and that caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) when the heart rate increases. In this study, 16 subjects with HTH, 10 subjects with HCM, and 10 subjects with normotension (NT) were investigated.