The infant-doctor relationship: an examination of infants' distress reactions in the presence of a doctor.

Fear of doctors is a common source of distress among infants; however, the underlying sources of this distress are unknown. To investigate the doctor-infant relationship, the behaviors of 61 healthy infants (176-617 days old) were observed in a simulated examination room. Their behaviors and electrocardiograms were recorded.

Association between vitamin D deficiency and allergic symptom in pregnant women.

Background: Vitamin D has been reported to affect both innate, and acquired immunity with immune cells such as dendritic cells having the vitamin D receptors. The co-occurrence of the high prevalence of allergic diseases and vitamin D deficiency globally documented in recent decades, has prompted a hypothesis on whether there is a reasonable association between them.

Objective: To investigate the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and allergic symptoms.

Papillotubular carcinoma with an invasive micropapillary carcinoma component of the breast, characterized by a rapid increase in size due to intra-tumoral hemorrhage: A case report.

Introduction: Rapidly enlarging mammary tumors, including invasive breast tumors, are clinically rare. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the breast is known to have aggressive behavior and poor clinical course compared to invasive ductal carcinoma.

Case Presentation: An 87-year-old woman presented with a rapidly enlarging tumor of the right breast over the course of 3 weeks.

Complicated adult right-sided Bochdalek hernia with Chilaiditi's syndrome: a case report.

An extremely rare adult case that underwent surgery for ileus caused by Bochdalek hernia associated with Chilaiditi's syndrome is presented. A 65-year-old woman complaining of upper abdominal pain presented to our hospital. Abdominal plain radiography showed increased intestinal gas, and computed tomography (CT) showed the transverse colon located above the right lobe of the liver, representing Chilaiditi's sign.

[A Case of Gastrointestinal Metastases of Breast Cancer Effectively Treated with Gemcitabine and Paclitaxel Combination Chemotherapy].

A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of constipation and abdominal distention. She had a history of right breast surgery for cancer at the age of 48 years. An abdominalCT scan revealed tumors at the antrum of the stomach and the ascending colon, and the tumor at the ascending colon caused obstruction of the colon.

Platelets prevent acute hepatitis induced by anti-fas antibody.

Background And Aim: Platelets provide many functions in the body, especially to the liver. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of thrombocytosis with acute hepatitis induced by anti-Fas antibody and its mechanism.

Methods: Acute hepatitis was induced by administration of anti-Fas antibody in normal and thrombocytotic C57BL6J mice.

Mesenchymal mode of migration participates in pulmonary metastasis of mouse osteosarcoma LM8.

The outcomes of osteosarcoma patients still remain poor because of intractable pulmonary metastasis. We previously established a highly metastatic osteosarcoma cell line, LM8 from Dunn mouse osteosarcoma by in vivo selection. We herein aimed to clarify the characteristic biological features related with high metastatic potential and new target molecules to suppress pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma, using this syngeneic spontaneous metastatic model.

Prognostic significance of the BAALC isoform pattern and CEBPA mutations in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype: a study by the Japanese Childhood AML Cooperative Study Group.

High BAALC (brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic) gene expression may indicate an adverse prognosis for adults who have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a normal karyotype, but its prognostic significance for pediatric AML cases is unclear. Whether different BAALC isoform patterns are of prognostic significance is also unclear. Newly diagnosed AML patients with normal karyotype who were treated by the Japanese Childhood AML Cooperative Treatment Protocol AML 99 were analyzed in terms of their BAALC expression levels (n = 29), BAALC isoforms (n = 29), and CEBPA mutations (n = 49).

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor protects cardiac mitochondria in the early phase of cardiac injury.

Although granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) reportedly plays a cardioprotective role in several models of cardiac injury, clinical use of this drug in cardiac patients has been controversial. Here, we tested, in vivo and in vitro, the effect of G-CSF on cardiac mitochondria, which play a key role in determining cardiac cellular fate and function. Mild stimulation of C57/BL6 mice with doxorubicin (Dox) did not induce cardiac apoptosis or fibrosis but did induce damage to mitochondrial organization of the myocardium as observed through an electron microscope.

Involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in human osteosarcoma cell resistance to the histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 [(1S,4S,7Z,10S,16E,21R)-7-ethylidene-4,21-bis(propan-2-yl)-2-oxa-12,13-dithia-5,8,20,23-tetraazabicyclo[8.7.6]tricos-16-ene-3,6,9,19,22-pentone].

The histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide [(1S,4S,7Z,10S, 16E,21R)-7-ethylidene-4,21-bis(propan-2-yl)-2-oxa-12,13-dithia-5,8,20,23-tetraazabicyclo[8.7.6]tricos-16-ene-3,6,9,19, 22-pentone] (FK228) has attracted a great deal of interest because of its antiproliferative and apoptotic properties in various malignancies.

Clinically relevant dose of zoledronic acid inhibits spontaneous lung metastasis in a murine osteosarcoma model.

Clinically obtainable concentrations of zoledronic acid (ZOL) inhibited the production of vascular endothelial growth factor and reduced the migration, adhesion, and invasiveness of osteosarcoma (OS) cells in vitro. The in vivo effects of ZOL were investigated by using a murine model of spontaneous lung metastasis. The higher dose of ZOL (80 microg/kg three times/week) inhibited the growth of OS at the primary site, accompanied by inhibition of neovascularization in the tumor.

Single administration of thrombopoietin prevents progression of liver fibrosis and promotes liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic rats.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of thrombopoietin on liver regeneration after hepatectomy and antifibrosis under conditions of liver cirrhosis in rats.

Summary Background Data: We revealed that platelets induced by thrombopoietin administration promote liver regeneration after hepatectomy in the normal liver.

Methods: Seventy percent hepatectomy was carried out in rats, which were subsequently divided into 4 groups: (1) normal group without any treatment, (2) liver cirrhosis (LC) group, (3) combined thrombopoietin and liver cirrhosis (LC+TPO) group, and (4) combined thrombopoietin, antiplatelet serum and liver cirrhosis (LC+TPO+APS) group.

Induction of autophagy in malignant rhabdoid tumor cells by the histone deacetylase inhibitor FK228 through AIF translocation.

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) exhibit a very poor prognosis because of their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and new therapies are needed for the treatment of this cancer. Here, we show that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor FK228 (depsipeptide) has an antitumor effect on MRT cells both in vitro and in vivo. FK228 is a unique cyclic peptide and is among the most potent inhibitors of both Class I and Class II HDACs.

Platelets contribute to the reduction of liver fibrosis in mice.

Background And Aim: Several recent studies have reported that liver cirrhosis (LC) can be ameliorated, but few adequate strategies are available against liver fibrosis. Although LC clinically shows thrombocytopenia and hypersplenism, the correlation with liver fibrosis and platelets remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of platelets on liver fibrosis in mouse models.

Autonomic regulation of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice.

Background/aims: The autonomic vagus nerve is thought to play an essential role in liver regeneration since hepatic vagotomy delays hepatic DNA synthesis. However, how the parasympathetic vagus nerve is involved in liver regeneration remains obscure. Kupffer cells are located in liver sinusoids adjacent to hepatocytes and might regulate liver regeneration by releasing interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Role of platelets on liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in mice.

Background/aims: Mortality after 90% partial hepatectomy in mice was associated with severe acute liver failure. Recently, we revealed that platelets have a strong promotional effect on hepatic regeneration. In the present study, we investigated the effect of thrombocytosis on liver regeneration after 90% hepatectomy in mice.

Platelet dynamics in the early phase of postischemic liver in vivo.

Background: In liver surgery, ischemia/reperfusion injury occasionally leads to liver failure by activating Kupffer cells (KCs) and leukocytes. However, few reports have demonstrated a relationship between KCs and platelets in vivo. This study investigated the relationship between these cells using intravital microscopy.

Platelets promote liver regeneration under conditions of Kupffer cell depletion after hepatectomy in mice.

Background: Platelets have been proven to promote liver regeneration after hepatectomy. Kupffer cells produce inflammatory cytokines and also promote liver regeneration. In the present study, we examined whether platelets promote liver regeneration after hepatectomy under conditions of Kupffer cell depletion.

Platelets Strongly Induce Hepatocyte Proliferation with IGF-1 and HGF In Vitro.

Background: It is well known that platelets have a thrombotic effect. However, platelets play an important role not only in hemostasis but also in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Platelets have been reported to accumulate in the liver and promote liver regeneration after an extended hepatectomy, but the mechanism is unclear.