Evaluation of the digestion protocol of mouse neonatal epidermis for single-cell RNA sequencing.

The skin is primarily composed of keratinocytes and forms an effective barrier between the organism and external environment. Neonatal skin analysis is essential for understanding developmental processes and rare skin diseases. However, efficient single-cell dissociation methods for the neonatal mouse epidermis remain underexplored.

Local treatment of HVJ-E with T cell costimulatory molecule stimulation elicits systemic anti-tumor effects.

The tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) is a crucial factor in controlling tumor growth. A therapeutic method activating TIL is desired for treating patients with metastatic tumors. Here, we show that treating a local tumor with a combination therapy of UV-irradiated hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) plus agonist antibodies, including OX40, against T cell costimulatory molecules induces systemic anti-tumor effects in a T cell-dependent manner in multiple cancer cell lines.

Mechanoresponses mediated by the TRP11 channel in cilia of .

Cilia are organelles involved in motility and sensory transduction, but how these two functions coexist has not been elucidated in depth. Here, the involvement of the ciliary transient receptor potential (TRP) channel TRP11 in mechanoresponses is studied in using a TRP11-knockout mutant. The mutant has defects in the conversion of the bending mode of the cilium from forward to reverse when tapped with a glass rod, the detachment of cilia when shear is applied, the increase in ciliary beat frequency upon application of mechanical agitation by vortex mixing, and the initiation of gliding while both cilia are attached in opposite directions to a glass surface.

Efficacy of daikenchuto after laparoscopic surgery for perforated appendicitis.

Background: Although many recent studies have scientifically verified the efficacy of the traditional herbal medicine daikenchuto (DKT) for postoperative gastrointestinal function, its efficacy has not been established in children. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of DKT in pediatric patients with panperitonitis associated with perforated appendicitis (PaPA) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy.

Methods: Among 34 children with PaPA who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy from May 2012 to May 2021, 19 received DKT (group D) and 12 did not (group C).

DNA barcoding and gene expression recording reveal the presence of cancer cells with unique properties during tumor progression.

Tumors comprise diverse cancer cell populations with specific capabilities for adaptation to the tumor microenvironment, resistance to anticancer treatments, and metastatic dissemination. However, whether these populations are pre-existing in cancer cells or stochastically appear during tumor growth remains unclear. Here, we show the heterogeneous behaviors of cancer cells regarding response to anticancer drug treatments, formation of lung metastases, and expression of transcription factors related to cancer stem-like cells using a DNA barcoding and gene expression recording system.

Propionic Acid, Induced in Gut by an Inulin Diet, Suppresses Inflammation and Ameliorates Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice.

Liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the obstacles in liver surgery such as liver resection and transplantation. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect on mouse liver IRI by feeding mice with inulin, which is a heterogeneous blend of indigestible fructose polymer. Mice were fed either a control ordinary diet (CD) or an inulin diet (ID) containing 5% inulin in the CD, for 14 days before the ischemia and reperfusion (IR) maneuver.

A simple method using CRISPR-Cas9 to knock-out genes in murine cancerous cell lines.

CRISPR-Cas9 system can be used to generate knock-out cancer cell lines. An insertion or deletion induced by a single guide RNA (gRNA) is often used to generate knock-out cells, however, some cells express the target gene by skipping the disrupted exon, or by using a splicing variant, thus losing the target exon. To overcome this unexpected expression of the target gene, almost the entire gene can be swapped with a selection marker.

Evaluation of HPV16 E7 expression in head and neck carcinoma cell lines and clinical specimens.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 infection in the oropharynx is one of the major risk factors for oropharyngeal carcinoma. Although the HPV E6 and E7 proteins are known to have a role in head and neck carcinogenesis, whether their expression is maintained once the tumour has developed still remains unclear. We evaluated the expression of these proteins in HPV16-positive cancer cell lines and clinical oropharyngeal specimens.

The lectin-like domain of thrombomodulin is a drug candidate for both prophylaxis and treatment of liver ischemia and reperfusion injury in mice.

Ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) can occur in any tissue or organ. With respect to liver transplantation, the liver grafts from donors by definition experience transient ischemia and subsequent blood reflow. IRI is a problem not only in organ transplantation but also in cases of thrombosis or circulatory disorders such as mesenteric ischemia, myocardial, or cerebral infarction.

Improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Japanese obese patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) using computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: We analyzed data from 57 patients who underwent LSG and had CTs performed before and after surgery. The patients included 34 women and 23 men (with an average age of 43 years); their mean preoperative weight and body mass index were 120 kg and 46 kg/m, respectively.

Pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy preserving the right gastroepiploic vessels following proximal gastrectomy: report of two cases.

Background: Blood flow of the remnant stomach is supplied via the right gastric and right gastroepiploic vessels after proximal gastrectomy (PG). Whether the remnant stomach can be safely preserved in patients who undergo pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) after PG remains unclear. We herein report two cases in which the remnant stomach was safely preserved by performing PPPD.

Direct Temperature-Swing Extraction of Rare-Earth Elements from Acidic Solution Using the Hydrophobic Interactions of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with Diglycolamide-typed Ligands.

The phase transition-based gelification phenomenon of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAAm)] has great potential in developing new waste-free extraction processes. In this study, we realized the direct and complete temperature-swing extraction of all trivalent rare-earth (RE) ions from a multi-component nitric acid solution onto a poly(NIPAAm) gel as chelate complexes with hydrophobic diglycolamide-typed ligands. Moreover, we elucidated that the extractabilities are affected by not only the coordination ability of the ligands with RE ions but also by the hydrophobic interaction between the poly(NIPAAm) and the ligands.

Secondary Unconjugated Bile Acids Induce Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key players in liver fibrosis, cellular senescence, and hepatic carcinogenesis. Bile acids (BAs) are involved in the activation of HSCs, but the detailed mechanism of this process remains unclear. We conducted a comprehensive DNA microarray study of the human HSC line LX-2 treated with deoxycholic acid (DCA), a secondary unconjugated BA.

Clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before laparoscopic bariatric procedures in Japanese patients.

Purposes: The choice between performing routine and selective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) before bariatric surgery remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of UGE before laparoscopic bariatric procedures.

Methods: We enrolled 155 obese Japanese patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric procedures at our institute and evaluated their endoscopic findings, such as reflux esophagitis (RE), hiatal hernia (HH), Barrett's esophagus, gastritis, duodenitis, gastroduodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, and polyps.

Prognostic factors of non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma, excluding carcinoma in the ampulla of Vater, is a rare disease. Although several prognostic factors have been reported, they remain controversial due to the rarity of non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma. The aims of this study were to investigate prognostic factors in patients with non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinoma and to assess chemotherapy in patients with recurrence.

Laparoscopic liver resection in cirrhotic patients with specific reference to a difficulty scoring system.

Purpose: Laparoscopic liver resection is widely used for liver tumors, but its utility in patients with cirrhosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in patients with liver cirrhosis with specific reference to a difficulty scoring system.

Methods: From January 2010 to March 2016, the outcomes of laparoscopic liver resection in 95 patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Effect of pre-firing compression on the prevention of pancreatic fistula in distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major complication of distal pancreatectomy (DP). Several procedures for resection and closure of the pancreas have been proposed; however, the rate of POPF remains high. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between perioperative factors and POPF and to clarify the advantages of pre-firing compression of the pancreas in the DP.

Digital gene atlas of neonate common marmoset brain.

Interest in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as a primate model animal has grown recently, in part due to the successful demonstration of transgenic marmosets. However, there is some debate as to the suitability of marmosets, compared to more widely used animal models, such as the macaque monkey and mouse. Especially, the usage of marmoset for animal models of human cognition and mental disorders, is still yet to be fully explored.