A cytokine mixture of GM-CSF and IL-3 that induces a neuroprotective phenotype of microglia leading to amelioration of (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinsonism of rats.

Dopamine (DA) agonists are widely used as primary treatments for Parkinson's disease. However, they do not prevent progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, the central pathology of the disease. In this study, we found that subcutaneous injection of a cytokine mixture containing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-3 (IL-3) markedly suppressed dopaminergic neurodegeneration in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats, an animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Outcome of cochlear implantation in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection or GJB2 mutation.

Conclusions: Outcomes following cochlear implantation in children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were almost equivalent to those of children with GJB2 mutation-related sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Although our patients with developmental disorder showed poor auditory performance and speech and language skills after cochlear implantation, SNHL with developmental disorder should not be a contraindication for the procedure.

Objective: Congenital CMV infection accounts for approximately 20% of all cases of neonatal hearing loss, while the GJB2 mutation accounts for 30-50% of all cases of profound nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Bioengineered prosthesis with allogenic heterotopic fibroblasts for cricoid regeneration.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a bioengineered prosthesis with allogenic heterotopic fibroblasts for cricoid regeneration.

Study Design: Experimental study using a rat model.

Methods: Bioengineered prosthetic grafts consisting of collagen sponge, polypropylene mesh, collagen gel, and allogenic dermal fibroblasts were implanted into rat cricoid defects.

Dysfunction of the RAR/RXR signaling pathway in the forebrain impairs hippocampal memory and synaptic plasticity.

Background: Retinoid signaling pathways mediated by retinoic acid receptor (RAR)/retinoid × receptor (RXR)-mediated transcription play critical roles in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that treatment with retinoic acid alleviates age-related deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and memory performance and, furthermore, memory deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. However, the roles of the RAR/RXR signaling pathway in learning and memory at the behavioral level have still not been well characterized in the adult brain.

[Nontuberculous mycobacteria in wet areas of a hospital and standard residences].

From 1998 to 2000, UOEH Hospital identified a problem with bronchoscopes which were contaminated with mycobacteria. While conducting research into the problem, we found an extensive amount of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in wet areas. In this study, we collected a total of 114 samples to screen wet areas such as drains and taps in our hospital and in standard residences.

Japanese case of Budd-Chiari syndrome due to hepatic vein thrombosis successfully treated with liver transplantation.

A 22-year-old Japanese woman was found to have severe esophageal varices and then suffered from hepatic encephalopathy. She was diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) due to hepatic vein (HV) thrombosis accompanied by portal vein thrombosis without inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction. Latent myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) lacking the JAK2-V617F mutation was considered to be the underlying disease.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery: a case of a 20-month survivor after incomplete surgical resection.

We report a 53-year-old man who presented with dyspnea and low-grade fever. Cardiac ultrasound showed pulmonary hypertension and an ill-defined echogenic mass within the pulmonary trunk. Computed tomography scan revealed an inhomogeneous mass which filled the main pulmonary trunk with near-total occlusion, and extended into both pulmonary arteries.

Analysis of high-pitched phonation using three-dimensional computed tomography.

Objectives/hypothesis: Our aim was to use three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) to examine arytenoid cartilage movement during a high-pitched tone task.

Study Design: This was a prospective study.

Methods: This study included 14 patients with male-to-female gender identity disorder who had undergone 3DCT imaging for surgical simulation between January 2007 and May 2008.

Uterine cervical carcinomas associated with lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia.

Aims: To investigate the clinicopathological features of cervical uterine carcinoma associated with lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH).

Methods And Results: Subjects comprised 12 patients with cervical carcinoma associated with LEGH. Carcinoma included nine invasive adenocarcinomas, two adenocarcinoma in-situ (AIS) and one microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Reduced NKG2D ligand expression in hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with early recurrence.

Background & Aims: The activating receptor natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) and its ligands play a crucial role in immune response to tumors. NKG2D ligand expression in tumors has been shown to be associated with tumor eradication and superior patient survival, but the involvement of NKG2D ligands in the immune response against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remains to be elucidated.

Methods: We investigated the expression of NKG2D ligands in HCC tissues collected from 54 patients and HCC cell lines.

Characterization of nitrated phenolic compounds for their anti-oxidant, pro-oxidant, and nitration activities.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. Evidence of the health benefits and the important contribution of coffee brew to the intake of anti-oxidants in the diet has increased coffee consumption. Chlorogenic acid (ChA) and caffeic acid (CaA) are the major phenolic compounds in coffee.

Three spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 siblings with ataxia, parkinsonism, and motor neuronopathy.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) represents a family of dominant neurodegenerative disorders that results from CAG expansion repeat mutations. The phenotype consists of some common features, most notably progressive ataxia. We describe three siblings with SCA2, manifesting parkinsonism and ataxia in the first sibling, juvenile parkinsonism in the second and motor neuronopathy in the third.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with progenitor cell features distinguishable by the hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker NCAM.

We analyzed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with progenitor cell features using hepatic stem/progenitor cell marker neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). Approximately 8.3% of the operated HCC cases expressed NCAM, and 22.

Effect of vitamin K2 on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by frequent recurrence, even after curative treatment. Vitamin K2, which has been reported to reduce HCC development, may be effective in preventing HCC recurrence. Patients who underwent curative ablation or resection of HCC were randomly assigned to receive placebo, 45 mg/day, or 90 mg/day vitamin K2 in double-blind fashion.

Content analysis of school textbooks on health topics: a systematic review.

High-quality textbooks and learning materials are especially important for school children, but school textbooks may contain incorrect health information. The objective of this study was to review the findings of analytical studies about the contents of textbooks used in elementary, junior high, or high schools. Of 450 studies we screened, we reviewed 14 that met the inclusion criteria, and summarized information regarding: i) authors and publication year, ii) target country, iii) topics selected, iv) school level, v) textbook subject(s), vi) analytical methods, and vii) findings.

Predictors of the uptake of A (H1N1) influenza vaccine: findings from a population-based longitudinal study in Tokyo.

Background: Overall pandemic A (H1N1) influenza vaccination rates remain low across all nations, including Japan. To increase the rates, it is important to understand the motives and barriers for the acceptance of the vaccine. We conducted this study to determine potential predictors of the uptake of A (H1N1) influenza vaccine in a cohort of Japanese general population.

Alpha-fetoprotein-producing adenocarcinoma in which the metastatic route was determined from calcified lesions.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing adenocarcinoma is known for its rapid progression and poor prognosis, and chemotherapy regimens are yet to be standardized. Here we describe the first report of AFP-producing adenocarcinoma with calcification. The metastatic route was visualized from the calcification, and combination chemotherapy was performed.

A new strategy for ionization enhancement by derivatization for mass spectrometry.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) using atmospheric pressure ionization is drastically different from hitherto available analytical methods used to detect polar analytes. The electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources of MS have contributed to the advancement of LC-MS and LC-MS/MS techniques for the analysis of biological samples. However, one major obstacle is the weak ionization of some analytes in the ESI and APCI techniques.

View and present status of personnel involved in clinical trials: a survey of participants from the First Symposium of the Shikoku Collaborative Group for Promotion of Clinical Trials.

Clinical trials leading to drug approval (registration trials) play a central role in the drug development process. Since the introduction of the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standard in 1997, the Japanese infrastructure for registration trials has improved. The contribution of support staff, including clinical research coordinators (CRCs), to clinical trials is now widely recognized in Japan.

Zonisamide-induced long-lasting recovery of dopaminergic neurons from MPTP-toxicity.

Zonisamide is an antiepileptic drug that also improves the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This study investigated the effects of zonisamide on dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. Six groups of mice were treated as follows: 1) normal saline; 2) MPTP, 15 mg/kg×4 every 2h; 3) MPTP and zonisamide, 40 mg/kg×1, 1h after the last MPTP dose; 4) MPTP and zonisamide, 1 day after the last dose of MPTP; 5) MPTP and zonisamide, 1h before the first MPTP dose; and 6) zonisamide, 40 mg/kg.

Multicentric occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Aim: To reveal the manner of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) focusing on multicentric occurrence (MO) of HCC.

Methods: We compared clinicopathological characteristics between patients with and without MO of HCC arising from NASH background. The clinical features were implicated with reference to the literature available.

[A case with chronic hepatitis C who developed liver cirrhosis due to liver dysfunction caused by pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment despite negativity of serum HCV RNA, during therapy].

We report a case of chronic hepatitis C in whom liver cirrhosis was later diagnosed following abnormality of ALT levels during pegylated interferon α2a and ribavirin treatment. A 62-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C was treated with pegylated interferon α2a plus ribavirin for 72 weeks. Her HCV RNA became negative 16 weeks after the start of treatment and continued to be negative for most of the treatment duration.

Characterization of elevated alanine aminotransferase levels during pegylated-interferon α-2b plus ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Aim:   Elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels during pegylated-interferon (peg-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C [CHC] is a problem that cannot be disregarded. The aim of this study is to assess the frequency and to characterize clinical parameters of this phenomenon.

Methods:   Two hundred and thirty-five (235) CHC patients with genotype 1b receiving peg-IFN α-2b plus ribavirin therapy were analyzed.

Amantadine for dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Dyskinesias are some of the major motor complications that impair quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of amantadine in Parkinson's disease patients suffering from dyskinesias.

Methods: In this multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, 36 patients with Parkinson's disease and dyskinesias were randomized, and 62 interventions, which included amantadine (300 mg/day) or placebo treatment for 27 days, were analyzed.