Efficiency of organic solvents on the ability of α2,3-sialyltransferase from Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224 to control a hydrolysis side reaction.

Enzymatic synthesis of oligosaccharides using specific sialyltransferases enables single-step glycosylation with high positional and anomeric structural selectivity. The α2,3-sialyltransferase cloned from the marine bacterium Photobacterium sp. JT-ISH-224 has unique and broad acceptor specificity, but this enzyme possesses not only sialyltransferase activity but also sialidase activity.

Pretreatment with epidermal growth factor enhances naked plasmid DNA transfer onto gastric serosal surface in mice.

We have developed a simple administration method, which is gastric serosal surface instillation of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) in experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to improve gastric gene transfer efficiency by pre-treatment with a macropinocytosis enhancer, such as fetuin or epidermal growth factor (EGF), in mice. A series of concentrations of fetuin were instilled onto gastric serosal surface prior to instillation of naked pDNA in mice; however, fetuin did not improve transgene expression in the stomach 6 h after administration of pDNA.

Efficient in vivo gene transfer by intraperitoneal injection of plasmid DNA and calcium carbonate microflowers in mice.

Gene transfer to intraperitoneal organs is thought to be a promising approach to treat such conditions as peritoneal fibrosis and peritoneal dissemination of cancers. We previously discovered that simple instillation of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) onto intraperitoneal organs such as the liver and stomach could effectively transfer foreign genes in mice. In this study, we developed a novel nonviral method to enhance transfection efficiency of naked pDNA to intraperitoneal organs using a calcium carbonate suspension containing pDNA.

Double-balloon endoscopy-diagnosed multiple small intestinal ulcers in a Churg-Strauss syndrome patient.

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vascular disorder characterized by severe bronchial asthma, hypereosinophilia, and allergic rhinitis. Small intestinal ulcers associated with CSS are a relatively rare manifestation that causes gastrointestinal bleeding. Multiple deep ulcers with an irregular shape are characteristic of small intestinal involvement of CSS.

Randomized controlled trial of pancreatic stenting to prevent pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of pancreatic duct (PD) stent placement for the prevention of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in high risk patients.

Methods: Authors conducted a single-blind, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent against post-ERCP pancreatitis, including rates of spontaneous dislodgement and complications. Authors defined high risk patients as having any of the following: sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, difficult cannulation, prior history of post-ERCP pancreatitis, pre-cut sphincterotomy, pancreatic ductal biopsy, pancreatic sphincterotomy, intraductal ultrasonography, or a procedure time of more than 30 min.

Comparison of epirubicin-iodized oil suspension and emulsion for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in VX2 tumor.

To compare the antitumor efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) by epirubicin suspension (epirubicin suspension: epirubicin-iodized oil mixture without solution) to that by epirubicin emulsion (epirubicin emulsion: epirubicin-iodized oil mixture with solution), the efficacy of treatment by administration of either an epirubicin suspension or emulsion was examined in an animal model. Changes in plasma epirubicin concentration were compared over 24 h immediately after treatment, and enhanced ultrasonographic and histopathological analysis subsequently conducted 7 days after treatment to determine the growth ratio and proportion of viable tumor cells. The growth ratio and proportion of viable tumor cells were found to be significantly lower in the suspension group than in the emulsion group while the plasma epirubicin concentration was found to be significantly higher in the suspension group than in the emulsion group.

Immunological evaluation of personalized peptide vaccination in refractory small cell lung cancer.

Since the prognosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains poor, development of new therapeutic approaches, including immunotherapies, would be desirable. In the current study, to evaluate immunological responses in refractory SCLC patients, we conducted a small scale phase II clinical trial of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV), in which vaccine antigens are selected based on pre-existing host immunity. Ten refractory SCLC patients, who had failed to respond to chemo- and/or chemoradiotherapies (median number of regimens, 2.

Personalized peptide vaccination in patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer.

Since the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor, the development of novel therapeutic approaches, including cancer vaccines, is highly desirable. In the current study, we conducted a phase II study of personalized peptide vaccination (PPV), in which a maximum of 4 peptides were selected based on pre-existing humoral immune responses and administered subcutaneously (weekly for 6 consecutive weeks and bi-weekly thereafter) in refractory NSCLC patients. Forty-one refractory NSCLC patients (4 stage IIIb, 22 stage IV and 15 recurrent), who had failed to respond to chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy (median number of regimens, 3; median duration, 10 months), were enrolled.

Catheter ablation of long-lasting accelerated idioventricular rhythm in a patient with mild left ventricular dysfunction.

A 35-year-old woman with long-lasting accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR) exhibited palpitation and dyspnea on exertion and mild left ventricular (LV) dysfunction during followup. Symptoms appeared 10 years after the AIVR was first noted, and she underwent catheter ablation for curative therapy of AIVR after 12 years. Radiofrequency ablation of the anteroseptal site of the LV at the earliest activation terminated rhythm.

Bacteriological and chemical evaluation of overseas mineral waters.

Overseas and imported mineral waters were subjected to visual examination, tested for standard plate count and heterotrophic bacteria, and also analyzed to determine the concentrations of several anions and cations. Some products showed turbidity or color, and several had standard plate count and/or heterotrophic bacteria. One imported natural mineral water product had a high level of standard plate count, and the levels differed with the lot.

Pharmacologic advantages of negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion: achievement of intensive exposure of the pelvis to platinum without systemic leakage.

Purpose: To study tissue platinum concentrations and the correlation between tissue and plasma platinum concentrations after negative-balance isolated pelvic perfusion (NIPP) in a porcine model.

Materials And Methods: All animal experiments were conducted according to the University Guidelines for Animal Care and Experimentation. Cisplatin (5 mg per kilogram of body weight) was administered into balloon catheter-isolated porcine pelvic circulations (n=7) and also systemically to a control group (n=7).

Weight-based high- and low-dose ribavirin in combination with peginterferon α-2b therapy for genotype 2 chronic hepatitis C: A randomized trial.

Aim:   The optimal ribavirin dose in the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 remains to be elucidated. We aimed to seek the optimal ribavirin dose required for this genotype in a randomized trial.

Methods:   We compared the efficacy and tolerability of the 24-week peginterferon α-2b (1.

Comparative study of cisplatin-iodized oil suspension and emulsion for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization of rabbit VX2 liver tumors.

Aim:   To evaluate the antitumor effects and hepatotoxicity of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with cisplatin-iodized oil suspension and emulsion in a rabbit tumor model.

Methods:   Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization was performed on 12 rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumors using a cisplatin suspension (1 mg/kg cisplatin and 0.1 mL/kg iodized oil, n = 6) or emulsion (1 mg/kg cisplatin, 0.

Double-balloon endoscopy versus magnet-imaging enhanced colonoscopy for difficult colonoscopies, a randomized study.

Background And Study Aims: Studies have estimated that failure of cecal intubation occurs with conventional colonoscopy in up to 10 % of cases. Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) systems, magnetic endoscope imaging (MEI), and transparent cap have been shown to improve success rates for colonoscopy. This study evaluated the utility of DBE for complete examination of the colon compared with MEI plus cap (MEI-Cap) after incomplete or technically difficult colonoscopy in a randomized comparative manner.

Effect of right ventricular pacing site on QRS width.

To assess the effect of various right ventricular pacing sites on QRS duration, we enrolled 50 patients (mean age, 64 ± 13 years; 36 men); 16 had bradycardia and 34 had tachycardia. The right ventricle was arbitrarily divided into 5 sections: high and low right ventricular outflow tract, mid septum, low septum, and apex. Right ventricular pacing was performed using an electrode catheter at each of the 5 sites.

Glue embolization for endoscopically unmanageable gastrointestinal haemorrhage.

Background/aims: To evaluate the clinical feasibility of embolization with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) for endoscopically unmanageable non-variceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage (GIH).

Methodology: Between June 2004 and May 2009, 61 patients with confirmed acute upper and/or lower GIH underwent emergency embolization for haemorrhage control; NBCA was used in 28 of these patients, all of whom were in shock despite receiving blood transfusions. The results were studied retrospectively.

Large-scale randomized clinical study on functional dyspepsia treatment with mosapride or teprenone: Japan Mosapride Mega-Study (JMMS).

Background And Aim: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common condition seen in primary gastroenterology practice. The present study was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of mosapride and teprenone in patients with FD.

Methods: Prospective clinical comparative study with random allocation of open labeled medications was performed as a multicenter trial in Japan.

Multiple components in serum contribute to hepatic transgene expression by lipoplex in mice.

Background: Interaction of cationic liposome/plasmid DNA complex (lipoplex) with serum was not a limiting factor for in vivo transfection. After intraportal injection of lipoplex, hepatic transgene expression was enhanced by interaction with serum in mice. In the present study, we analyzed the mechanism of enhanced hepatic transgene expression of lipoplex by interaction with serum components.

A case of small pancreatic cancer with intra-pancreatic metastasis diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound.

The usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of small pancreatic cancer is widely accepted. We experienced a small, 8 mm, pancreatic cancer with intra-pancreatic metastasis of 2 mm revealed by EUS. The patient was a 71-year-old female with a small low echoic tumor observed by abdominal ultrasonography.

[Current status and prospects of cancer vaccine therapy].

Cancer vaccine is proceeding to a promising therapy against cancer since 1990 when expression cloning method of tumor associated antigens was reported. Clinical trials showed immunological therapies contribute to prolonged survival in patients with cancers, such as prostate cancer and melanoma, so that FDA approved a dendritic cell vaccine in USA, and peptide vaccines are developing energetically in recent years in Japan. Peptide vaccines have advantages immunologically and economically as a cancer vaccine spreads all over the world, because CTL epitope peptides of tumor associate antigen has a highly antigen-specificity, and can be synthesized uniformly in large quantities for easy handing agents.

Rubbing gastric serosal surface enhances naked plasmid DNA transfer in rats and mice.

We have developed in vivo gene transfer to mesothelial cells on the peritoneal organs, including the stomach. Simple instillation of naked plasmid DNA onto the gastric serosal surface in mice resulted in effective but transient transgene expression. Here, we developed a simple method to improve not only the transfection efficiency but also the duration of transgene expression.

Expression of RANKL/OPG during bone remodeling in vivo.

The interaction between receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) plays a dominant role in osteoclastogenesis. As both proteins are produced by osteoblast lineage cells, they are considered to represent a key link between bone formation and resorption. In this study, we investigated the expression of RANKL and OPG during bone remodeling in vivo to determine the relationship between osteoclastogenic stimulation and osteoblastic differentiation.

Emergency upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Emergency Room of Tokai University Hospital.

The Tokai University Hospital is the only tertiary emergency hospital in the western region of Kanagawa prefecture and treats many patients; for example, more than 7,000 cases (including 297 helicopter-transfer cases) were transferred to the Emergency Room (ER) of the hospital in 2008. In cases where an emergency endoscopy is necessary, such as suspected upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract bleeding, the gastroenterologists and the ER staff collaborate on patient care, diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this study was to summarize such cases in the hospital and to elucidate the possible problems that such collaboration may cause, by means of a questionnaire completed by both the gastroenterology and the ER staff.