Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy preserving blood supply for pancreatic cancer with a history of proximal gastrectomy and sigmoidectomy: a case report.

Background: Blood supply to the remnant stomach should be preserved during pancreatectomy in patients with a history of gastrectomy. Moreover, ischemic complications should be considered when performing pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) stenosis. However, whether these surgical procedures can be safely performed remains unclear.

Potential risk factors for early acute kidney injury in patients treated with vancomycin.

Purpose: The acute kidney injury (AKI) onset owing to vancomycin (VCM) is reported that depend on the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) and occur comparison early phase (early AKI). This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of early AKI in patients treated with VCM and new indicators to avoid early AKI.

Methods: Adult patients who received VCM treatment for more than 4 days and whose trough values measured at least once on or after day 4 and serum creatinine before day 7 from the initiation of VCM administration between August 2021 and September 2022 at the Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital were enrolled.

Prostaglandin E synchronizes lunar-regulated beach spawning in grass puffers.

Many organisms living along the coastlines synchronize their reproduction with the lunar cycle. At the time of spring tide, thousands of grass puffers (Takifugu alboplumbeus) aggregate and vigorously tremble their bodies at the water's edge to spawn. To understand the mechanisms underlying this spectacular semilunar beach spawning, we collected the hypothalamus and pituitary from male grass puffers every week for 2 months.

Lysinibacillus fusiformis bacteremia: Case report and literature review.

A 93-year-old woman was diagnosed with Lysinibacillus fusiformis bacteremia complicated with coma blisters. Initial gram staining for L. fusiformis indicated the presence of gram-negative rods; however, subsequent staining of colonies from Mueller-Hinton agar revealed the presence of gram-positive and gram-negative rods with spherical endospores, and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (VITEK ® MS and microflex® LT/SH) definitively identified the organism as L.

Structure-based drug design of novel and highly potent pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitors.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDHKs) are fascinating drug targets for numerous diseases, including diabetes and cancers. In this report, we describe the result of our structure-based drug design from tricyclic lead compounds that led to the discovery of highly potent PDHK2 and PDHK4 dual inhibitors in enzymatic assay. The C3-position of the tricyclic core was explored, and the PDHK2 X-ray structure with a representative compound revealed a novel ATP lid conformation in which the phenyl ring of Phe326 mediated the interaction of the Arg258 sidechain and the compound.

Modulation of circadian clock by crude drug extracts used in Japanese Kampo medicine.

Circadian rhythm is an approximately 24 h endogenous biological rhythm. Chronic disruption of the circadian clock leads to an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Hence, it is important to develop circadian clock modulators.

Effects of cryptochrome-modulating compounds on circadian behavioural rhythms in zebrafish.

The circadian clock controls daily rhythms of various physiological processes, and impairment of its function causes many diseases including sleep disorders. Chemical compounds that regulate clock function are expected to be applied for treatment of circadian clock-related diseases. We previously identified small-molecule compounds KL001, KL101 and TH301 that lengthen the period of cellular circadian clock by directly targeting clock proteins cryptochromes (CRYs) in mammals.

The effect of a shoe lift on tensor fasciae latae length during standing with an artificial functional leg length discrepancy: An ultrasonic shear wave elastography study.

Background: Shortening of tensor fasciae latae is one factor that causes a functional leg length discrepancy. A shoe lift has been used to correct the compensatory posture resulting from the discrepancy. Despite the potential therapeutic benefit of a shoe lift, the mechanism by which it exerts its effect is unclear.

Analysis of E1A domains involved in the enhancement of CDK2 activity.

E1A is an adenoviral protein which is expressed at the early phase after viral infection and contains four conserved regions (CR1, CR2, CR3 and CR4). Our previous work suggests that E1A facilitates the formation of cyclin A-CDK2 complex and thereby enhances CDK2 activity. However, the molecular function of E1A in CDK2 activation has been unclear.

Photoperiodic regulation of dopamine signaling regulates seasonal changes in retinal photosensitivity in mice.

At high latitudes, approximately 10% of people suffer from depression during the winter season, a phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Shortened photoperiod and/or light intensity during winter season are risk factors for SAD, and bright light therapy is an effective treatment. Interestingly, reduced retinal photosensitivity along with the mood is observed in SAD patients in winter.

5,7,3',4'-Tetrahydroxyflav-2-en-3-ol 3-O-glucoside, a new biosynthetic precursor of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside in the seed coat of black soybean, Glycine max.

The seed coat of mature black soybean, Glycine max, accumulates a high amount of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (Cy3G), which is the most abundant anthocyanin in nature. In the pod, it takes two months for the seed coat color change from green to black. However, immature green beans rapidly adopt a black color within one day when the shell is removed.

Hyperglycemia contributes to the development of Leydig cell hyperplasia in male Spontaneously Diabetic Torii rats.

Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rats are a well-known animal model of non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although this animal model has been studied extensively over the last decade, the incidence rates of Leydig cell hyperplasia and tumors in this model have not been reported. In this study, pathophysiological analyses of the testes were performed on male SDT rats, to understand the effect of insulin treatment on the development of Leydig cell hyperplasia and tumors and the expression of integrins and extracellular matrix proteins.

Studies toward the Synthesis of Chartelline C.

Chartelline C, a marine alkaloid, possesses a unique core scaffold including indolenine β-lactam and imidazole moieties linked by an unsaturated 10-membered ring. A new synthetic approach for the construction of the indolenine β-lactam was planned, based on the inherent reactivity of chartelline A with NaOMe, triggered by bromination of bromoenamide, and proceeding through an -acyl imine. However, the -acyl imine intermediate was not observed.

Oxidized Perilla and Linseed Oils Induce Neuronal Apoptosis by Caspase-Dependent and -Independent Pathways.

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid, is involved in bioregulatory functions. In recent years, the health-promoting effects of vegetable-derived edible oils rich in ALA have attracted attention. ALA has a variety of physiological effects such as anti-arteriosclerotic and antiallergic properties, but is prone to oxidation.

Seasonal changes in NRF2 antioxidant pathway regulates winter depression-like behavior.

Seasonal changes in the environment lead to depression-like behaviors in humans and animals. The underlying mechanisms, however, are unknown. We observed decreased sociability and increased anxiety-like behavior in medaka fish exposed to winter-like conditions.

Action spectrum for photoperiodic control of thyroid-stimulating hormone in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).

At higher latitudes, vertebrates exhibit a seasonal cycle of reproduction in response to changes in day-length, referred to as photoperiodism. Extended day-length induces thyroid-stimulating hormone in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland. This hormone triggers the local activation of thyroid hormone in the mediobasal hypothalamus and eventually induces gonadal development.

Involvement of TRPM2 and TRPM8 in temperature-dependent masking behavior.

Masking is a direct behavioral response to environmental changes and plays an important role in the temporal distribution of activity. However, the mechanisms responsible for masking remain unclear. Here we identify thermosensors and a possible neural circuit regulating temperature-dependent masking behavior in mice.

Skeletal development in blue-breasted quail embryos.

The blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis), the smallest species of quail with short generation interval and excellent reproductive performance, is a potential avian research model. A normal series of skeletal development of avian embryos could be served as a reference standard in the fields of developmental biology and teratological testing as well as in the investigation of mutation with skeletal abnormalities and in the study of the molecular mechanisms of skeletal development through genome manipulation. Furthermore, ossification sequence shows a species-specific pattern and has potential utility in phylogeny.

Developmental stages of the blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinensis).

Chickens and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) have traditionally been the primary avian models in developmental biology research. Recently, the blue-breasted quail (Coturnix chinesis), the smallest species in the order Galliformes, has been proposed as an excellent candidate model in avian developmental studies owing to its precocious and prolific properties. However, data on the embryonic development of blue-breasted quail are scarce.

Photoperiodic Regulation of Reproduction in Vertebrates.

Organisms use changes in photoperiod for seasonal reproduction to maximize the survival of their offspring. Birds have sophisticated seasonal mechanisms and are therefore excellent models for studying these phenomena. Birds perceive light via deep-brain photoreceptors and long day-induced thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, thyrotropin) in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland (PT), which cause local thyroid hormone activation within the mediobasal hypothalamus.

Impaired Circadian Photoentrainment in Opn5-Null Mice.

The master circadian pacemaker in mammals resides in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and is synchronized to ambient light/dark cycles (i.e., photoentrainment).