Induced pluripotent stem cell-based assays recapture multiple properties of human astrocytes.

The majority of the population of glial cells in the central nervous system consists of astrocytes, and impairment of astrocytes causes various disorders. It is useful to assess the multiple astrocytic properties in order to understand their complex roles in the pathophysiology. Although we can differentiate human astrocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), it remains unknown how we can analyse and reveal the multiple properties of astrocytes in complexed human disease conditions.

[A Case of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of Accessory Mammary Gland That Was Difficult for Evaluate for Lesion Spread].

A 48-year-old female discovered a mass in her left axilla. A thorough examination resulted in a diagnosis of left invasive lobular carcinoma(ILC)of the accessory mammary gland with wide ductal spread. Considering the wide ductal spread, massive resection of the left axilla mass, left lymph node dissection, and a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap procedure were performed.

Aneurysmectomy and Revascularization of Anterior Tibial Artery Aneurysm: Case Report.

An 86-year-old man presented with a pulsatile mass in the anterior compartment of the right lower leg. He had become aware of it two months earlier. Computed tomography angiography revealed a fusiform 3.

DNA triplex-based fluorescence turn-on sensors for adenosine using a fluorescent molecular rotor 5-(3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl) deoxyuridine.

Fluorescence turn-on sensors for adenosine were developed using DNA triplexes modified with a fluorescent molecular rotor 5-(3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)deoxyuridine (dUMBF) and abasic sites. Binding of adenosine to the abasic site next to the dUMBF changed the microenvironment and conformation (from the twisted to planar state) of dUMBF and enhanced the fluorescence. Adenosine could be selectively detected over other nucleosides and adenosine phosphates.

Controlling the fluorescence of benzofuran-modified uracil residues in oligonucleotides by triple-helix formation.

We developed fluorescent turn-on probes containing a fluorescent nucleoside, 5-(benzofuran-2-yl)deoxyuridine (dU(BF)) or 5-(3-methylbenzofuran-2-yl)deoxyuridine (dU(MBF)), for the detection of single-stranded DNA or RNA by utilizing DNA triplex formation. Fluorescence measurements revealed that the probe containing dU(MBF) achieved superior fluorescence enhancement than that containing dU(BF). NMR and fluorescence analyses indicated that the fluorescence intensity increased upon triplex formation partly as a consequence of a conformational change at the bond between the 3-methylbenzofuran and uracil rings.

Cytoprotective effects of 12-oxo phytodienoic acid, a plant-derived oxylipin jasmonate, on oxidative stress-induced toxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Background: Jasmonates are plant lipid-derived oxylipins that act as key signaling compounds when plants are under oxidative stress, but little is known about their functions in mammalian cells. Here we investigated whether jasmonates could protect human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative stress-induced toxicity.

Methods: The cells were pretreated with individual jasmonates for 24h and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 24h.

Cuprizone short-term exposure: astrocytic IL-6 activation and behavioral changes relevant to psychosis.

A growing body of evidence suggests the involvement of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Four- to 8-week exposure to cuprizone, a copper chelator, causes robust demyelination and has been used to build a model for multiple sclerosis. In contrast, we report here the effects of 1-week cuprizone exposure in mice.

Fluorescent properties of oligonucleotides doubly modified with an indole-fused cytosine analog and 2-aminopurine.

Single- and double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) incorporating both 2-aminopurine (2AP) and an indole-fused cytosine analog (PPI) were prepared and studied for their fluorescence properties. PPI and 2AP can be excited simultaneously by irradiation at 300 nm, with emission observed at 500 nm for PPI and 370 nm for 2AP. We demonstrated the utility of these properties in the dual fluorescence labeling of ODNs giving well-separated emission peaks.

Converging evidence that sequence variations in the novel candidate gene MAP2K7 (MKK7) are functionally associated with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating psychiatric disease with a strong genetic contribution, potentially linked to altered glutamatergic function in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Here, we report converging evidence to support a functional candidate gene for schizophrenia. In post-mortem PFC from patients with schizophrenia, we detected decreased expression of MKK7/MAP2K7-a kinase activated by glutamatergic activity.

Optimization of thromboelastography-guided platelet transfusion in cardiovascular surgery.

Objectives: Platelet dysfunction is a major cause of bleeding complications in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Thromboelastography (TEG) can be used to assess post-CPB coagulopathy, but its utility in guiding platelet transfusion (PT) after CPB is unclear. This study assessed the utility of a TEG-guided PT protocol in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery under CPB.

Involvement of CarA/LitR and CRP/FNR family transcriptional regulators in light-induced carotenoid production in Thermus thermophilus.

Members of the CarA/LitR family are MerR-type transcriptional regulators that contain a C-terminal cobalamin-binding domain. They are thought to be involved in light-induced transcriptional regulation in a wide variety of nonphototrophic bacteria. Based on the distribution of this kind of regulator, the current study examined carotenoid production in Thermus thermophilus, and it was found to occur in a light-induced manner.

A papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve that presented with repeated chest pain.

A 70-year-old woman without any previous history of heart disease was referred to our hospital for repeated chest discomfort. She had experienced temporary hemiparesis because of a cerebral infarction of unknown etiology. Clinical evaluations were all within normal limits except for echocardiography.

Successful surgical treatment of tricuspid valve endocarditis associated with vertebral osteomyelitis.

Right-sided endocarditis is relatively rare and can occasionally be complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis (VO). We describe successful treatment, including valve repair for tricuspid endocarditis associated with VO. A 77-year-old man presented with back pain and high fever.

[Efficacy of vacuum-assisted closure therapy for various non-healing wounds after cardiovascular and thoracic surgery].

Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy is an efficacious modality for treating chronic and difficult wounds. We present 3 cases that responded well to VAC therapy after cardiovascular and thoracic surgery: 1 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infection after Stony's incision, 1 inguinal lymphorrhea, and 1 empyema after a traffic accident The duration of VAC therapy was 9, 18, and 90 days, respectively, and all 3 wounds healed completely. Familiar equipment and supplies available on the hospital ward were used, and patients were able to leave their beds.

Video-assisted transaortic left ventricular thrombectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting.

A 59-year-old man with cardiac dysfunction was admitted to our hospital because of thrombus formation in the left ventricle 10 days following acute myocardial infarction. Echocardiography revealed evidence of two mobile thrombi, each measuring about 2 cm in diameter. Urgent coronary artery bypass grafting and video-assisted transaortic thrombectomy were performed without making a left ventricular incision to preserve his cardiac function.

[Resuscitation using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support and beating heart surgery with balloon technique for a patient with penetrating cardiac injury].

We used percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) and beating heart hemostasis with a balloon technique to resuscitate an 80-year-old woman who had been stabbed in the chest with pruning shears. She developed pulseless tamponade while waiting for surgery. Resuscitative thoracotomy was impossible in the emergency room due to the lack of appropriate equipment.

Preoperative respiratory physiotherapy for a patient with severe respiratory dysfunction and annuloaortic ectasia.

A 23-year-old man with Marfan syndrome, who had undergone surgery for pectus excavatum and scoliosis and who had severe respiratory dysfunction, was referred for surgical repair of annuloaortic ectasia. The preoperative pulmonary function test revealed severe obstructive and restrictive respiratory dysfunction, with forced expiratory volume in one second of 650 ml and vital capacity of 1,220 ml. These parameters improved after 4 months respiratory physiotherapy.

Intraoperative transesophageal sonographic monitoring of tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava during radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma.

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman with renal cell carcinoma in whom real-time transesophageal sonographic monitoring of the tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava provided dynamic information, allowing us to determine the appropriate operative procedure to use. Observation of the thrombus throughout the operation showed that mobilization of the liver resulted in compression of the inferior vena cava against the spine, increasing the risk of migration of the tumor thrombus and reinforcing the need to maintain adequate positioning of the liver to prevent such compression. The surgery was completed successfully, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful.

Transcription modulation by a rat nuclear scaffold protein, P130, and a rat highly repetitive DNA component or various types of animal and plant matrix or scaffold attachment regions.

The XmnI fragment, a highly repetitive DNA component, and animal and plant matrix or scaffold attachment region (MAR/SAR) were examined for similarity in interaction with nuclear scaffold. As the XmnI fragment bound a 130 kDa scaffold protein (P130) in vitro, various types of MAR/SAR fragments could bind 130 and 123 kDa scaffold proteins. The native XmnI and MAR/SAR fragments clearly augmented SV40 promoter-mediated luciferase gene transcription following transient transfection of recombinant plasmids into various types of recipient cells.

Changes in graft flow pattern from the descending aorta due to intraaortic balloon pump.

During surgery for lung cancer in a patient who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting through the descending aorta by left thoracotomy, we measured graft bypass blood flow from the descending aorta under intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) assistance. Under IABP assistance, the diastolic waveform changed to a spiky pattern with a sharp drop in blood flow of approximately 16% compared to that without IABP assistance. We report changes in graft flow pattern during IABP assistance when the graft is placed from the descending aorta.

Respiratory insufficiency caused by an aneurysm with multiple vascular lesions.

A 71-year-old woman, who presented tracheobronchial obstruction caused by a thoracic aortic aneurysm, was admitted to our institution. Although she had multiple cerebral infarctions, old myocardial infarction, bilateral iliofemoral atherosclerotic lesions with abdominal aortic aneurysm, and superior vena cava syndrome, aneurysmectomy was undertaken in order to rescue her from respiratory insufficiency. The operation successfully relieved her of exertional dyspnea and dysphagia.

Special cerebral perfusion in surgery for the ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Background: For surgical treatment of the ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), it is important to control bleeding and to protect the brain, spinal cord, and myocardium. We have developed and performed a new procedure on 6 patients with a ruptured TAA, a true aneurysm in 3 patients and a type A dissection in the other 3.

Method: Cardiopulmonary bypass is installed with cannulations to the iliac artery and vein and to the common carotid arteries on both sides of the neck before the sternum is divided.

The role of lymphatic drainage of the liver in gallbladder cancer: a case report.

We report a case of a patient with a unique lymph node relapse after right hepatectomy and aggressive lymph node dissection for gallbladder cancer. There was extensive involvement of the hepatic parenchyma from the primary tumor, but no extension to the lymph nodes or other adjacent organs. Seventeen months later, the patient underwent re-dissection of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes with right nephrectomy and partial resection of the vena cava because of lymph node recurrence at the hilum of the right kidney.

Surgical management of cardiovascular lesions caused by systemic inflammatory diseases.

Background: The surgical treatment of cardiovascular disorders caused by inflammatory diseases presents many difficulties, including suture detachment and progression of vascular lesions. We here report the various surgical procedures used to treat these disorders and their long-term outcomes.

Methods: We operated on 14 patients: eight with Takayasu's disease, three with systemic lupus erythematosus, two with rheumatoid arthritis, and one with Behçet's disease.

Biocompatibility of a silicone-coated polypropylene hollow fiber oxygenator in an in vitro model.

Background: A silicone-coated microporous hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator has been developed to prevent plasma leakage during long-term use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility of the oxygenator.

Methods: A silicone-coated oxygenator was compared with an uncoated oxygenator in an in vitro model of cardiopulmonary bypass.