Functional outcomes of reconstructive flap surgery for soft tissue sarcoma: Long-term outcomes of functional restoration using innervated muscle transplantation.

Functional outcomes associated with prognostic factors and innervated muscle transplantation after wide soft tissue sarcoma resection remain unclear. We retrospectively examined the functional outcomes of reconstructive flap surgery for soft tissue sarcoma. Twenty patients underwent innervated muscle transplantation with pedicled or free flaps for functional reconstruction of resected muscles.

Effect of joint limitation and balance control on gait changes in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Aims: This study analyzed the gait patterns of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) patients and changes in the center of mass sway to prevent the formation and recurrence of foot ulcers.

Methods: Forty-two subjects were divided into the diabetes mellitus (DM), DPN, and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) groups. We measured the range of motion (ROM) of the lower limb joints in the resting position and the center of mass sway in the standing position.

A Kinetic Pump Integrated Microfluidic Plate (KIM-Plate) with High Usability for Cell Culture-Based Multiorgan Microphysiological Systems.

Microphysiological systems (MPSs), including organ-on-a-chip (OoC), have attracted attention as a novel method for estimating the effects and side effects of drugs in drug discovery. To reproduce the dynamic in vivo environment, previous MPSs were connected to pump systems to perfuse culture medium. Therefore, most MPSs are not user-friendly and have poor throughput.

An Efficient Method for the Differentiation of Human iPSC-Derived Endoderm toward Enterocytes and Hepatocytes.

The endoderm, differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can differentiate into the small intestine and liver, which are vital for drug absorption and metabolism. The development of human iPSC-derived enterocytes (HiEnts) and hepatocytes (HiHeps) has been reported. However, pharmacokinetic function-deficiency of these cells remains to be elucidated.

Oxidative removal of soluble divalent manganese ion by chlorine in the presence of superfine powdered activated carbon.

Here, we examined the removal of soluble divalent manganese (Mn(II)) by combination treatment with superfine powdered activated carbon (SPAC) and free chlorine in a membrane filtration pilot plant and batch experiments. Removal rates >95% were obtained with 3 mg/L SPAC, 1 mg/L chlorine, and a contact time of 4 min, meeting practical performance standards. Mn(II) was found to be oxidized and precipitated on the surface of the activated carbon particles by chlorine.

Pharmacokinetic functions of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells.

To develop a novel intestinal drug absorption system using intestinal epithelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, the cells must possess sufficient pharmacokinetic functions. However, the CYP3A4/5 activities of human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells prepared using conventional differentiation methods is low. Further, studies of the CYP3A4/5 activities of human iPS-derived and primary small intestinal cells are not available.

Environmental co-benefits and adverse side-effects of alternative power sector decarbonization strategies.

A rapid and deep decarbonization of power supply worldwide is required to limit global warming to well below 2 °C. Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, the power sector is also responsible for numerous other environmental impacts. Here we combine scenarios from integrated assessment models with a forward-looking life-cycle assessment to explore how alternative technology choices in power sector decarbonization pathways compare in terms of non-climate environmental impacts at the system level.

Prediction of Drug Permeability Using Blood-Brain Barrier Models with Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.

The strong barrier function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the central nervous system (CNS) from xenobiotic substances, while the expression of selective transporters controls the transportation of nutrients between the blood and brain. As a result, the delivery of drugs to the CNS and prediction of the ability of specific drugs to penetrate the BBB can be difficult. Although pharmacokinetic analysis using rodents is a commonly used method for predicting human BBB permeability, novel BBB models, such as Transwell models, have been developed recently.

FF-10502, an Antimetabolite with Novel Activity on Dormant Cells, Is Superior to Gemcitabine for Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

In this paper, we report that 1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-4-thio--d-arabinofuranosyl) cytosine (FF-10502), a pyrimidine nucleoside antimetabolite with a chemical structure similar to gemcitabine, shows beneficial anticancer activity via a novel mechanism of action on dormant cells. The growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell lines by FF-10502 (IC, 60-330 nM) was moderately weaker than that by gemcitabine in vitro. In contrast, an in vivo orthotopic implantation model in mice with established human pancreatic cancer cell line, SUIT-2, revealed no mortality with FF-10502 intravenous treatment, which was related to regression of implanted tumor and little metastasis, whereas 75% of the mice treated with gemcitabine died by day 128.

Nuclear factor of activated T-cell activity is associated with metastatic capacity in colon cancer.

Metastatic recurrence is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in patients with colorectal carcinoma. To capture the molecular underpinnings for metastasis and tumor progression, we performed integrative network analysis on 11 independent human colorectal cancer gene expression datasets and applied expression data from an immunocompetent mouse model of metastasis as an additional filter for this biologic process. In silico analysis of one metastasis-related coexpression module predicted nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) transcription factors as potential regulators for the module.

Magnetic resonance imaging in adolescent symptomatic navicular tuberosity.

Background: The accessory navicular bone is one of the most common accessory ossicles, which sometimes become symptomatic. Abnormalities in magnetic resonance (MR) image, e. g.

Radio-transparent multi-layer insulation for radiowave receivers.

In the field of radiowave detection, enlarging the receiver aperture to enhance the amount of light detected is essential for greater scientific achievements. One challenge in using radio transmittable apertures is keeping the detectors cool. This is because transparency to thermal radiation above the radio frequency range increases the thermal load.

Search for new particles in two-jet final states in 7 TeV proton-proton collisions with the ATLAS detector at the LHC.

A search for new heavy particles manifested as resonances in two-jet final states is presented. The data were produced in 7 TeV proton-proton collisions by the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 315  nb⁻¹ collected by the ATLAS detector. No resonances were observed.

Significance of magnetic resonance imaging signal change in the pedicle in the management of pediatric lumbar spondylolysis.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Objective: To investigate the time course of signal changes in the adjacent pedicle in fresh pediatric lumbar spondylolysis.

Summary Of Background Data: A recent study reported that high signal change (HSC) on T2-magnetic resonance image (MRI) in the pedicle adjacent to the pars interarticularis could be an indicator of early spondylolysis.

Public health benefits of strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions: low-carbon electricity generation.

In this report, the third in this Series on health and climate change, we assess the changes in particle air pollution emissions and consequent effects on health that are likely to result from greenhouse-gas mitigation measures in the electricity generation sector in the European Union (EU), China, and India. We model the effect in 2030 of policies that aim to reduce total carbon dioxide (CO(2)) emissions by 50% by 2050 globally compared with the effect of emissions in 1990. We use three models: the POLES model, which identifies the distribution of production modes that give the desired CO(2) reductions and associated costs; the GAINS model, which estimates fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 2.

Effects of super-powdered activated carbon pretreatment on coagulation and trans-membrane pressure buildup during microfiltration.

As a pretreatment for membrane microfiltration (MF), the use of powdered activated carbon (PAC) with a particle size much smaller than that of conventional PAC (super-powdered PAC, or S-PAC) has been proposed to enhance the removal of dissolved substances. In this paper, another advantage of S-PAC as a pretreatment for MF is described: the use of S-PAC attenuates trans-membrane pressure increases during the filtration operation. The floc particles that formed during coagulation preceded by S-PAC pretreatment were larger and more porous than the floc particles formed during coagulation preceded by PAC pretreatment and those formed during coagulation without pretreatment.

Effect of claudin expression on paracellular permeability, migration and invasion of colonic cancer cells.

Alteration in the expression of claudins, consisting of tight junctions (TJs), has been reported in various clinically isolated tumors. Claudins play an important role not only in the intercellular barrier function of TJs but also in migration and invasiveness of cancer cells. However, the use of different types of cells and different claudins in these studies has complicated the picture.

Up-regulation of S100P expression by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and its role in anti-tumorigenic effects.

Epidemiological studies have revealed that prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduces the risk of cancer. Various mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis and inhibition of the growth and invasion of cancer cells, have been implicated in this anti-tumorigenic activity. In this study we focused on S100P, which is known to be overexpressed in clinically isolated tumors and which functions through both intracellular and extracellular mechanisms.

Expression and function of TETRAN, a new type of membrane transporter.

In contrast to transport across basolateral membranes, the mechanism governing transport of organic anions across the luminal membranes of proximal tubules has remained unclear. We recently found Tetracycline transporter-like protein (TETRAN), a human ortholog of yeast Tpo1p that can transport anionic Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this study, we examine the expression and function of TETRAN.

NSAIDs suppress the expression of claudin-2 to promote invasion activity of cancer cells.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) show chemopreventive effects; however, the precise molecular mechanism of these effects is still unclear. On the other hand, the expression of proteins that form tight junctions (TJs) (such as claudins) in clinically isolated tumors is frequently altered relative to normal tissue. We previously reported that NSAIDs upregulate the expression of claudin-4 and that this upregulation contributes to NSAID-dependent inhibition of both migration activity and anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells.