Attenuation of canine warm ischemic small bowel injury by novel combination of nitric oxide donor, FK409, and cytokine suppressive anti-inflammatory agent FR167653.

Organ ischemia-reperfusion injury is caused by two consecutive steps, microcirculatory disturbance and neutrophil-endothelial cell interactions, which are caused by inflammatory cytokines. We examined the hypothesis that combination therapy with a donor (FK409) of nitric oxide, one of the potent mediators with diverse roles as a vosodilator and a platelet inhibitor, together with the cytokine suppressor agent (FR167653) attenuates warm ischemic injury in canine small bowel. Small bowel ischemia was initiated by clamping the superior mesenteric artery and vein.

Measurement of nonrandom event-by-event fluctuations of average transverse momentum in square root of (sNN)=200 GeV Au+Au and p+p collisions.

Event-by-event fluctuations of the average transverse momentum of produced particles near midrapidity have been measured by the PHENIX Collaboration in square root of (sNN)=200 GeV Au+Au, and p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The fluctuations are observed to be in excess of the expectation for statistically independent particle emission for all centralities. The excess fluctuations exhibit a dependence on both the centrality of the collision and on the pT range over which the average is calculated.

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study on the binding of Mg2+ to a mutant Akazara scallop troponin C (E142Q).

Troponin C (TnC) is the Ca(2+)-binding regulatory protein of the troponin complex in muscle tissue. Vertebrate fast skeletal muscle TnCs bind four Ca(2+), while Akazara scallop (Chlamys nipponensis akazara) striated adductor muscle TnC binds only one Ca(2+) at site IV, because all the other EF-hand motifs are short of critical residues for the coordination of Ca(2+). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to study coordination structure of Mg(2+) bound in a mutant Akazara scallop TnC (E142Q) in D(2)O solution.

Long-term use of corticosteroid eye drops delays the spontaneous remission of pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Topical corticosteroid eye drops are commonly used for ocular sarcoidosis. That systemic absorption of corticosteroids by eye drops may influence the clinical course of sarcoidosis may be speculated because it has been reported that the serum concentration of corticosteroids after drop administration was dose-related. To evaluate the effects of corticosteroid eye drops on the clinical course of patients with stage I pulmonary sarcoidosis, we compared the serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL) on chest radiographs of group CS, which is consisted of patients who received topical therapy of betamethasone in the form of eye drops for anterior uveitis, and group CN, which is consisted of patients who did not receive any medications throughout the entire course of the disease.

Weekly administration of irinotecan (CPT-11) plus cisplatin for refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Weekly administrations of CPT-11 plus cisplatin together with an anti-diarrheal program, the Oral Alkalization and Control of Defecation [Int J Cancer 1999;83:491; Int J Cancer 2001;92:269; Cancer Res 2002;62:179], were evaluated in this phase II study for patients with refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer.

Methods: Patients were treated by weekly administrations of 60 mg/m(2) CPT-11 plus 30 mg/m(2) cisplatin on Days 1, 8 and 15 over 4 weeks. Coinciding with the infusions and for 4 days thereafter, the anti-diarrheal program was practiced using orally administered sodium bicarbonate, magnesium oxide and basic water.

J/psi production from proton-proton collisions at square root of s=200 GeV.

J/psi production has been measured in proton-proton collisions at square root of s=200 GeV over a wide rapidity and transverse momentum range by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Distributions of the rapidity and transverse momentum, along with measurements of the mean transverse momentum and total production cross section are presented and compared to available theoretical calculations. The total J/psi cross section is 4.

Cyclic ADP-ribose, a putative Ca2+-mobilizing second messenger, operates in submucosal gland acinar cells.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a putative Ca(2+)-mobilizing second messenger, has been reported to operate in several mammalian cells. To investigate whether cADPR is involved in electrolyte secretion from airway glands, we used a patch-clamp technique, the measurement of microsomal Ca(2+) release, quantification of cellular cADPR, and RT-PCR for CD38 mRNA in human and feline tracheal glands. cADPR (>6 microM), infused into the cell via the patch pipette, caused ionic currents dependent on cellular Ca(2+).

Midrapidity neutral-pion production in proton-proton collisions at square root s = 200 GeV.

The invariant differential cross section for inclusive neutral-pion production in p+p collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV has been measured at midrapidity (|eta|<0.35) over the range 1 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Augmented gene expression of quinone reductase by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate through avoiding its cytotoxicity.

We examined both the induction of quinone reductase (QR) by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate and its cytotoxicity in Hepa1c1c7 cells, and compared the sensitivity of these two responses to NAC. QR activity was increased by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate in a dose-dependent manner. At 80 microM, the compound was significantly toxic to cells, but the resulting QR inhibition was dose-dependently overcome by NAC.

Scaling properties of proton and antiproton production in sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV Au+Au collisions.

We report on the yield of protons and antiprotons, as a function of centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Elliptic flow of identified hadrons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN =200 GeV.

The anisotropy parameter (v(2)), the second harmonic of the azimuthal particle distribution, has been measured with the PHENIX detector in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV for identified and inclusive charged particle production at central rapidities (|eta|<0.35) with respect to the reaction plane defined at high rapidities (|eta|=3-4 ). We observe that the v(2) of mesons falls below that of (anti)baryons for p(T)>2 GeV/c, in marked contrast to the predictions of a hydrodynamical model.

Reduced transcription of the RB2/p130 gene in human lung cancer.

Reduced expression of the retinoblastoma gene (RB)2/p130 protein, as well as mutation of exons 19, 20, 21, and 22 of the same gene, has been reported in primary lung cancer. However, it has been suggested by other investigators that mutational inactivation and loss of the RB2/p130 gene and protein, respectively, are rare events in lung cancer. In order to determine the contribution and mechanisms of RB2/p130 gene inactivation to lung cancer development and progression, we quantified RB2/p130 mRNA expression levels in a range of human lung cancer cell lines (n = 13) by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

Somatic mutation of the Caspase-5 gene in human lung cancer.

Using cDNA array-based gene expression profiling, we previously found reduced expression of the Caspase-5 gene in highly metastatic subpopulations of a lung cancer cell line. The Caspase-5 gene contained poly(A) repeats in its coding region, an area that has been reported to be mutated in both endometrial and gastrointestinal tumors displaying evidence of microsatellite instability. In order to determine the contribution of Caspase-5 gene inactivation to lung cancer development and progression, the mutational status of the Caspase-5 poly(A) tract in 30 primary lung cancers with distant metastasis and 30 lung cancer cell lines was determined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and direct sequencing.

Suppressed pi(0) production at large transverse momentum in central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV.

Transverse momentum spectra of neutral pions in the range 1 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Attenuation of microcirculatory disturbance after liver ischemia by newly synthesized inflammatory cytokine suppressor, FR167653.

Background/aims: Inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which activate neutrophils, contribute to hepatic warm ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the role of the cytokines in hepatic microcirculation immediately after reperfusion is still unclear. This study was carried out to investigate whether FR167653, a dual inhibitor of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, attenuates hepatic microcirculatory disturbance at the initial phase of reperfusion following liver ischemia.

Placental site trophoblastic tumor: p53 gene analysis.

Background: Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is the rarest type of trophoblastic neoplasm. Because of its rarity, the clinical behavior and pathogenesis of PSTT are still unclear.

Case: A 20-year-old woman presented with secondary amenorrhea and irregular vaginal bleeding.

[A case of secondary pulmonary cryptococcosis showing various radiographic changes during its natural course without antifungal treatment].

A 58-year-old man who had been prescribed corticosteroids for rheumatoid arthritis in another hospital was admitted to our hospital for examination of an abnormal chest shadow. We obtained a positive result for cryptococcal antigen in the serum, in a measurement done as a screening test for abnormal chest shadows. We diagnosed secondary pulmonary cryptococcosis through a transbronchial biopsy.

Differential effect of epidermal growth factor on serous and mucous cells in porcine airway submucosal gland.

Using a patch-clamp technique, we found that the fresh porcine submucosal gland acinar cells contained two functionally distinct cell populations, i.e. physiologically relevant concentration of acetylcholine (ACh, 30 nM) induced two distinct patterns of electric response in tracheal gland acinar cells.

Infrared study of human serum very-low-density and low-density lipoproteins. Implication of esterified lipid C=O stretching bands for characterizing lipoproteins.

Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was applied to examine human serum very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in aqueous solution and in solid film for characterizing lipid components. On the basis of the FT-IR second-derivative spectra for standard samples of triglycerides, cholesterol esters and phospholipids, it was found that the band at 1746 cm(-1) for VLDL and the band at 1738 cm(-1) for LDL were mainly due to the unsaturated triglycerides and unsaturated cholesterol esters, respectively. The implications of ester C=O stretching bands are discussed.

CD7+ and CD56+ myeloid/natural killer cell precursor acute leukemia treated with idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside.

We describe a 69-year-old Japanese male with acute leukemia with a CD7+ and CD56+ immunophenotype presenting with multiple lymphadenopathy. He was treated with idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside. Although the leukemia showed partial response, the patient did not achieve complete remission.

Vibration measurement of the tympanic membrane of guinea pig temporal bones using time-averaged speckle pattern interferometry.

"Time-averaged holography" and "holographic interferometry" enable recording of the complete vibration pattern of a surface within several seconds. The results appear in the form of fringes. Vibration amplitudes smaller than 100 nm are not readily measurable by these techniques, because such small amplitudes produce variations in gray level, but not fringes.

A death resulting from inadvertent intravenous infusion of enteral feed.

A female patient suffering from the after-effects of an intracerebral hemorrhage, inadvertently received approximately 50 ml of enteral feed containing high molecular weight dextrin intravenously and died 6 h later despite intensive emergency resuscitation attempts. The total quantity of enteral feed received was calculated from the amounts of dextrin measured in the blood. This is the first report describing how the total quantity of enteral feed administered intravenously was determined using biochemical analysis.

Increased serum thymidine kinase activity in acute sarcoidosis.

This is the first case report of acute sarcoidosis with increased serum thymidine kinase (TK) activity. A 43-year-old male presented fever, swelling of parotid glands, lymphadenopathy, and peripheral neuropathy. Sarcoidosis was pathologically diagnosed by lung and parotid gland biopsy.

Pharmaceutical and clinical assessment of hydroquinone ointment prepared by extemporaneous nonsterile compounding.

Ointments of the skin depigmentation agent hydroquinone (HQ) have been prepared by extemporaneous nonsterile compounding in Japan by imitating skin lightening creams commercially available in the U.S.A.