Usefulness of immunohistochemical expression analysis of metabolic-related molecules in differentiating between intracranial neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.

As the histologic features of reactive glial proliferation seen in many non-neoplastic lesions and of diffusely infiltrating gliomas overlap, tumor-specific diagnostic markers are needed. A mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), the enzyme involved in lipid metabolism and glucose sensing, has been identified in a variety of diffuse gliomas. The expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), the enzyme responsible for the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, has been examined in several types of tumors including high-grade meningiomas, but not or less examined in normal tissues and benign tumors.

Identification of a new species of digenean Notocotylus malhamensis n. sp. (Digenea: Notocotylidae) from the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and the field vole (Microtus agrestis).

Notocotylus malhamensis n. sp. is described from the caecum of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and the field vole (Microtus agrestis) from Malham Tarn Nature Reserve in North Yorkshire, UK.

Induction of autophagic cell death of glioma-initiating cells by cell-penetrating D-isomer peptides consisting of Pas and the p53 C-terminus.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and fatal brain tumor. GBM is resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Recent studies have shown that glioma-initiating cells (GICs), which have characteristics of cancer stem cells, are responsible for the resistance to chemotherapy and radiation and regrowth.

The transcription factor KLF2 mediates hepatic endothelial protection and paracrine endothelial-stellate cell deactivation induced by statins.

Background & Aims: Statins improve hepatic endothelial function and liver fibrosis in experimental models of cirrhosis, thus they have been proposed as therapeutic options to ameliorate portal hypertension syndrome. The transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) may be induced by statins in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC), orchestrating an efficient vasoprotective response. The present study aimed at characterizing whether KLF2 mediates statins-derived hepatic protection.

Mizoribine treatment for antihistamine-resistant chronic autoimmune urticaria.

Chronic autoimmune urticaria is routinely diagnosed using an autologous serum skin test. Mizoribine is a newly developed immunosuppressive agent that has low toxicity. The pharmacological effects of mizoribine are similar to those of another purine biosynthesis inhibitor, mycophenolate mofetil.

Pituitary apoplexy associated with endocrine stimulation test: endocrine stimulation test, treatment, and outcome.

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare clinical syndrome attributable to hemorrhage or hemorrhagic infarction of pituitary tumors or pituitary glands. The features of pituitary apoplexy associated with the endocrine stimulation test remain to be elucidated and the importance of surgical treatment has not been discussed enough. We report two rare patients who were treated successfully by endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery within several hours after onset of pituitary apoplexy associated with the endocrine stimulation test.

Novel PKCα-mediated phosphorylation site(s) on cofilin and their potential role in terminating histamine release.

Using specific inhibitors, kinase-negative mutants, and small interfering RNA against protein kinase Cα (PKCα) or PKCβI, we find that PKCβI positively regulates degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 cells, whereas PKCα negatively regulates degranulation. Mass spectrometric and mutagenic analyses reveal that PKCα phosphorylates cofilin at Ser-23 and/or Ser-24 during degranulation. Overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable form (S23,24A), but not that of a mutant-mimicking phosphorylated form (S23,24E), increases degranulation.

Fatty acid synthase is a predictive marker for aggressiveness in meningiomas.

Meningiomas are the most frequent intracranial tumors. Although most are benign WHO grade I tumors, grade II and III tumors are aggressive and survival is poor. Treatment options for grade II and III meningiomas are limited, and molecular targets are few.

Cellulose sulfate suppresses immunoglobulin E production by murine B lymphocytes in vitro.

Background: Immunoglobulin (Ig) E plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma.We previously reported that a sulfate polysaccharide, fucoidan, suppressed IgE production by murine B cells in vitro. However, the mechanism by which fucoidan suppresses IgE production remains unclear.

A randomized, open-label, multicenter trial of topical tacrolimus for the treatment of pruritis in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Background: Pruritis caused by atopic dermatitis (AD) is not always well controlled by topical corticosteroid therapy, but use of tacrolimus often helps to soothe such intractable pruritis in clinical settings.

Objective: To determine the anti-pruritic efficacy of topical tacrolimus in treating AD in induction and maintenance therapy.

Methods: Prior to the study, patients were randomly allocated into two groups, induction therapy followed by tacrolimus monotherapy maintenance, and induction therapy followed by emollient-only maintenance.

Differences in iNOS and arginase expression and activity in the macrophages of rats are responsible for the resistance against T. gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii infects humans and warm blooded animals causing devastating disease worldwide. It has long been a mystery as to why the peritoneal macrophages of rats are naturally resistant to T. gondii infection while those of mice are not.

Aneurysm treatment in Europe 2010: an internet survey.

Background: Aneurysm (AN) treatment appears to differ from country to country and even from centre to centre. Therefore we decided to conduct a survey in order to better understand the "state of the art" in aneurysm treatment in Europe. The primary aim was to understand the roles of clipping and coiling in aneurysm treatment.

Histamine release-neutralization assay for sera of patients with atopic dermatitis and/or cholinergic urticaria is useful to screen type I hypersensitivity against sweat antigens.

We previously reported that about 80 % of patients with atopic dermatitis and 60 % with cholinergic urticaria revealed type I allergy against sweat, by means of skin test against autologous sweat and/or histamine-release test for peripheral blood basophils with semi-purified sweat antigen. In this study, we developed an assay for sera to neutralize histamine-releasing activity of semi-purified sweat antigen. The semi-purified sweat antigen was pre-incubated with serially diluted sera for 30 min at 37 °C and was subjected to histamine-release activity.

Chronic endotoxin exposure produces airflow obstruction and lung dendritic cell expansion.

Little is known about the mechanisms of persistent airflow obstruction that result from chronic occupational endotoxin exposure. We sought to analyze the inflammatory response underlying persistent airflow obstruction as a result of chronic occupational endotoxin exposure. We developed a murine model of daily inhaled endotoxin for periods of 5 days to 8 weeks.

Population differences in transcript-regulator expression quantitative trait loci.

Gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) are useful for identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with diseases. At times, a genetic variant may be associated with a master regulator involved in the manifestation of a disease. The downstream target genes of the master regulator are typically co-expressed and share biological function.

Novel loci for adiponectin levels and their influence on type 2 diabetes and metabolic traits: a multi-ethnic meta-analysis of 45,891 individuals.

Circulating levels of adiponectin, a hormone produced predominantly by adipocytes, are highly heritable and are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and other metabolic traits. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in 39,883 individuals of European ancestry to identify genes associated with metabolic disease. We identified 8 novel loci associated with adiponectin levels and confirmed 2 previously reported loci (P = 4.

Establishment of a novel fluorescence-based method to evaluate chaperone-mediated autophagy in a single neuron.

Background: Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a selective autophagy-lysosome protein degradation pathway. The role of CMA in normal neuronal functions and in neural disease pathogenesis remains unclear, in part because there is no available method to monitor CMA activity at the single-cell level.

Methodology/principal Findings: We sought to establish a single-cell monitoring method by visualizing translocation of CMA substrates from the cytosol to lysosomes using the HaloTag (HT) system.

[The sensitivity and clinical course of patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis sensitized to hydrolyzed wheat protein in facial soap].

Background: Recently an increasing number of patients with wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA), developed during or after using hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP)-containing soap (HWP-WDEIA), were reported in Japan.

Methods: To clarify the relation between WDEIA and HWP-containing soap and their prognosis, we investigated the patients who visited Hiroshima University Hospital and were diagnosed as WDEIA from January 2010 to June 2011. We took detailed clinical histories, performed skin prick tests, serum immunoassays for antigen-specific IgE and basophil histamine release test, and followed up their clinical courses after the diagnosis.