Dietary melatonin and liver cancer incidence in Japan: From the Takayama study.

There is some biological plausibility that exogenous melatonin plays a role in preventing liver carcinogenesis. There has been little research on the association between melatonin intake in a normal diet and health outcomes. We evaluated the association between dietary melatonin intake and the incidence of liver cancer in a population-based prospective study in Japan.

Dietary advanced glycation end products and cancer risk in Japan: From the Takayama study.

Few large epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and cancer risk. We evaluated the relationship between dietary AGE intake and the incidence of total cancer and site-specific cancers in a population-based prospective study in Japan. Participants were 14,173 men and 16,549 women who were 35 years of age or older in 1992.

Inhibitory effects of pentoxifylline on inflammation-related tumorigenesis in rat colon.

Chronic inflammation in the colorectum increases the risk of colorectal cancer development. Pentoxifylline, a medicine used for improving the circulation, has been reported to inhibit TNF-α production and to ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In this study, we investigated the effects of pentoxifylline on inflammation-related colon tumorigenesis in a rodent model using Kyoto APC delta rats, which have APC mutation and are susceptible to colon carcinogenesis.

Inorganic phosphorus (Pi) in CSF is a biomarker for SLC20A2-associated idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC1).

Introduction: Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC), also called Fahr's disease or recently primary familial brain calcification (PFBC), is characterized by abnormal deposits of minerals including calcium mainly and phosphate in the brain. Mutations in SLC20A2 (IBGC1 (merged with former IBGC2 and IBGC3)), which encodes PiT-2, a phosphate transporter, is the major cause of IBGC. Recently, Slc20a2-KO mice have been showed to have elevated levels of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); however, CSF Pi levels in patients with IBGC have not been fully examined.

Prediction of Early BK Virus Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients by the Number of Cells With Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies (Decoy Cells).

Background: BK virus (BKV) is the cause of nephropathy. Because BKV nephropathy can progress to graft loss, early diagnosis of BKV infection is very important. In this study, we aimed to investigate the utility of quantifying cells with intranuclear inclusion bodies (decoy cells) in urinary sediment for the screening and monitoring of BKV infection in renal transplant recipients at our hospital.

Preventive effects of the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor tofogliflozin on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver tumorigenesis in obese and diabetic mice.

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are expected to ameliorate the abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor tofogliflozin on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related liver tumorigenesis in C57BL/KsJ-+Lepr /+Lepr obese and diabetic mice. The direct effects of tofogliflozin on human liver cancer cell proliferation were also evaluated.

Activation of NLRP3 signalling accelerates skin wound healing.

The process of skin wound healing involves the following three steps: inflammation, tissue formation and tissue remodelling. These optimal steps are required for the development of normal wound healing. Recent reports demonstrated that inflammasomes are involved in the innate immune response.

Deficiency of NALP3 Signaling Impairs Liver Regeneration After Partial Hepatectomy.

Inflammatory response is required to proceed the optimal liver regeneration after liver injury. Recent reports demonstrated that inflammasomes are involved in the innate immune response. Several NOD-Like receptors (NLRs) participated in the formation of the inflammasomes.

The inhibition of NLRP3 signaling attenuates liver injury in an α-galactosylceramide-induced hepatitis model.

Inflammasomes are involved in innate immune responses. Several NOD-Like receptors (NLRs) participate in the formation of inflammasomes. NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NALP3) belongs to the NLR family and recognizes adenosine triphosphate (ATP), crystals, and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

Quantitative Sonographic Assessment of the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle in Healthy Japanese Adults.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among aging, muscle strength, and image feature analysis of the quadriceps femoris muscle and to evaluate the relationship between aging, muscle strength, and sonographic findings.

Methods: One hundred forty-five healthy volunteers participated in the study. The participants were classified into 6 groups on the basis of sex and age.

Behavior of leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5-expressing cells in the reprogramming process.

It remains unclear what cells are proper for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) is well known as a tissue stem cell and progenitor marker, both of which are reported to be sensitive to reprogramming. In the present study, we examined the reprogramming behavior of Lgr5-expressing cells (Lgr5+ cells).

Late Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus after Chemotherapies for Hematological Malignancies: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a serious complication of immunosuppressive therapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy. The optimal duration of HBV-DNA monitoring for at-risk patients depends on the clinical features of reactivation, especially the range of potency from therapies to reactivation. We present a case of very late reactivation after chemotherapy for lymphoma and review previous reports of late reactivation cases.

Symptomatic Acute Pancreatitis Induced by Nilotinib: A Report of Two Cases.

Nilotinib is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias. An elevation of the pancreatic enzyme level is one of the major adverse events associated with nilotinib, but whether or not nilotinib induces symptomatic pancreatitis remains to be elucidated. The cases of two chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with nilotinib who developed symptomatic acute pancreatitis on the third and fifth day of nilotinib administration are herein presented.

Catechins and Its Role in Chronic Diseases.

The mechanisms of action of polyphenols have attracted much attention. Catechins are generally known as tea polyphenols. Researchers have extensively investigated the molecular mechanisms of these substances, especially (-)-epigallocatechin gallate of green tea catechin, and have provided new insights in the prevention and therapy for chronic diseases.

[Effects of Aging and Sex Differences on the Median Nerve: Relationship Between Nerve Conduction Study and Ultrasonographic Cross-Sectional Nerve Area].

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nerve conduction and sonographic measurements of the median nerve, and to investigate the effects of aging and sex on nerve structure.

Methods: Measurements from both hands of 82 healthy volunteers were included in this study (45 men and 37 women, 38.9 ?17.

Role of invariant NKT cells in lipopolysaccharide-induced lethal shock during encephalomyocarditis virus infection.

Viral infections can give rise to secondary bacterial infections. In the present study, we examined the role of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lethal shock during encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection. Wild-type (WT) mice and Jα18 gene knockout (Jα18 KO) mice were inoculated with EMCV, 5days prior to challenging with LPS.

Serum concentrations of l-kynurenine predict clinical outcomes of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase exerts intense immunomodulatory effects due to enzymatic activities that catalyze the breakdown of the essential amino acid l-tryptophan. The activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase can be estimated by measuring serum l-kynurenine concentrations. Here, we aimed to determine the role of l-kynurenine as a prognostic factor for peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) in a retrospective analysis of data derived from 31 consecutive patients between June 2000 and March 2013 who were histologically diagnosed with PTCL-NOS according to the World Health Organization classification and treated with 6-8 cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin or pirarubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone.

[Physiological Function of Apolipoproteins and Atherosclerosis].

We have studied the physiological function of four apolipoproteins. First, apo A-I is a major component of HDL and plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport. The lipid-poor apo A-I concentration in plasma was significantly increased in patients with coronary artery disease compared with healthy controls, which may be caused by the impairment of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway.

[Introduction].

It is well-known that plasma HDL-C shows a negative correlation with the incidence of coronary artery disease, which was confirmed by the Framingham Study, a famous prospective cohort study, in 1977. At first, HDL-C was determined by the precipitation method, and then the homogeneous method of HDL-C determination was developed in the 1990's in Japan. This method enabled HDL-C measurement in a short time for many samples.

The Role of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase in Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Carcinogenesis.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan-catabolizing intracellular enzyme of the L-kynurenine pathway, causes preneoplastic cells and tumor cells to escape the immune system by inducing immune tolerance; this mechanism might be associated with the development and progression of human malignancies. In the present study, we investigated the role of IDO in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by using IDO-knockout (KO) mice. To induce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic adenoma, and preneoplastic hepatocellular lesions termed foci of cellular alteration (FCA), male IDO-wild-type (WT) and IDO-KO mice with a C57BL/6J background received a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN at 2 weeks of age.

[Change in Serum Levels of New Hepatic Fibrosis Marker "Mac-2 Binding Protein Glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi)" in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C during the Treatment of Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin].

The sustained virological response (SVR) rate in the patients with HCV has currently reached to 90% by the progression of anti-viral therapy. However, several reports demonstrated that hepatocellular carcinoma develops even in the patients with SVR. It is widely accepted that liver fibrosis plays a pivotal role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.