Diversity of amino acid signaling pathways on autophagy regulation: a novel pathway for arginine.

Autophagy is the intracellular bulk degradation process to eliminate damaged cellular machinery and to recycle building blocks, and is crucial for cell survival and cell death. Amino acids modulate autophagy in response to nutrient starvation and oxidative stress. We investigated the relevance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on the regulation of autophagy using amino acids, both as a mixture and individually, in rat hepatoma H4-II-E cells.

Shortened blood coagulation times in genetically obese rats and diet-induced obese mice.

The aim of this study was to investigate blood coagulation times in genetically obese rats and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice in order to clarify the relationship between visceral obesity and blood coagulation. WBN/Kob-Lepr(fa) (fa/fa) rats, a genetically obese model, exhibited a significantly shorter activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) than age-matched Wistar rats. C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (60%), a DIO model, exhibited significantly shorter aPTT, PT and thrombin time than lean mice fed a standard diet.

Correlation of age with distribution of periodontitis-related bacteria in Japanese dogs.

We analyzed the distribution of 11 periodontitis-related bacterial species in dental plaque collected from 176 Japanese dogs divided into young (less than 2 years of age), middle-aged (2-7 years of age) and elderly (more than 8 years of age) groups using a polymerase chain reaction method. Clinical examination revealed that no dogs in the young group were affected by periodontitis, whereas the rates for gingivitis and periodontitis were high in the middle-aged and elderly groups. In addition, the total numbers of bacterial species in the middle-aged and elderly groups were significantly greater than in the young group.

Distribution and molecular characterization of Porphyromonas gulae carrying a new fimA genotype.

Porphyromonas gulae is a gram-negative black-pigmented anaerobe which is known to be a pathogen for periodontitis in dogs. Approximately 41kDa filamentous appendages on the cell surface (FimA) encoded by the fimA gene are regarded as important factors associated with periodontitis. The fimA genotype was classified into two major types and strains in type B were shown to be more virulent than those in type A.

Diversity of fimbrillin among Porphyromonas gulae clinical isolates from Japanese dogs.

Porphyromonas gulae, a gram-negative black-pigmented anaerobe, is a pathogen for periodontitis in dogs. An approximately 41-kDa fimbrial subunit protein (FimA) encoded by fimA is regarded as associated with periodontitis. In the present study, the fimA genes of 17 P.

Comparison of the blood coagulation profiles of ferrets and rats.

The aim of this study was to examine the blood coagulation profiles of ferrets and compare them with those of rats. The ferret activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was slightly longer than the rat aPTT. In contrast, the ferret prothrombin time and thrombin time were profoundly shorter than the corresponding rat values.

Duodenogastric reflux after choledochoduodenostomy: evaluation by technetium-99m scintigraphy.

Background/aims: Persistence of dyspeptic symptoms after choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) is common. There is evidence that at least some of these symptoms may be attributed to duodenogastric reflux (DGR). The aim of the study was to quantify DGR after CDD.

Role of sialyl Lewis X in liver metastasis in view of liver-associated immunity.

Background/aims: As sialyl Lewis X is a lignad of the selectin family, it has been proposed that sialyl Lewis X-rich colon cancer cells metastasize to the liver by adhesion to selectins on hepatic endothelial cells. However, little is known about the interaction between sialyl Lewis X and hepatic immune cells. We evaluated the role of sialyl Lewis X in liver metastasis in view of liver-associated immunity.

A series of immune responses leading to the induction of T cell IL-12/IL-18 responsiveness in patients with relatively large tumor burdens.

The induction of interleukin-12 (IL-12) responsiveness in T cells depends on T cell receptor (TCR) triggering, and is regarded as a parameter of recently TCR-sensitized T cells. Here, we investigated whether IL-12 responsiveness could be detected in freshly prepared T cells from tumor-bearing patients, and if so whether such patients exhibited additional immunological parameters related to IL-12 responsiveness. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell populations from an appreciable proportion of tumor-bearing patients exhibited high levels of IL-12 responsiveness as evaluated by IL-12-stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production.

Suppression of T-cell function in gastric cancer patients after total gastrectomy with splenectomy: implications of splenic autotransplantation.

Background. In Japan since the 1960s, patients with gastric cancer have routinely had splenectomy combined with gastrectomy to ensure that lymph node dissection is complete. However, the influence of splenectomy on long-term immunity is unclear.