Adipocytes contribute to tumor progression and invasion of peritoneal metastasis by interacting with gastric cancer cells as cancer associated fibroblasts.

Background: Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is one of the most common causes of noncurative surgery and the most frequent recurrence pattern in gastric cancer (GC). During the process of PM, GC cells detached from primary tumor interact with human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) overlapped with adipose tissues such as the omentum or mesentery. Although the interaction with HPMC promotes the malignancy of GC, the role of adipose tissues remains unclear.

Glial cell type-specific gene expression in the mouse cerebrum using the piggyBac system and in utero electroporation.

Glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes play crucial roles in the central nervous system. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and the biological functions of glial cells, simple and rapid techniques for glial cell-specific genetic manipulation in the mouse cerebrum would be valuable. Here we uncovered that the Gfa2 promoter is suitable for selective gene expression in astrocytes when used with the piggyBac system and in utero electroporation.

The role of peripheral corticotropin-releasing factor signaling in a rat model of stress-induced gastric hyperalgesia.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder associated with persistent or recurrent upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms such as pain without any obvious pathological changes. Psychological and psychiatric factors might have a pathogenic role in FD. Changes in the sensation of stomach pain were determined after application of stress to adult rats.

Phosphodiesterase III inhibitor attenuates rat sinusoidal obstruction syndrome through inhibition of platelet aggregation in Disse's space.

Background And Aim: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a serious drug-induced liver injury. However, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of cilostazol (CZ), a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, in a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced rat model of SOS.

Chemoprevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma in a rat model by ursodeoxycholic acid.

Reflux of bile acid into the esophagus induces esophagitis, inflammation-stimulated hyperplasia, metaplasia such as Barrett's esophagus (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Caudal-type homeobox 2 (Cdx2) via nuclear factor (NF)-κB induced by bile acid is an important factor in the development of BE and EAC. In colorectal cancer, experimental data suggest a chemopreventive effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

Validated Liquid Culture Monitoring System for Lifespan Extension of Caenorhabditis elegans through Genetic and Dietary Manipulations.

Nutritional and genetic factors influence aging and life expectancy. The reduction of food intake without malnutrition, referred to caloric restriction (CR), has been shown to increase lifespan in a wide variety of species. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

Formulation study of topically applied O/W lotion containing vitamin D3 derivative, focusing on skin permeability of the drug.

Permeation of 22-oxacalcitriol-1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (OCT) through excited hairless mouse skin was determined after application of OCT as solutions and O/W lotions consisted of different polarities of solvents: medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride (MCT), myristate isopropyl (IPM), 1,3-butylene glycol (1,3-BG), and propylene glycol (PG). OCT concentration in skin was also followed after applying these formulations. A two-layer diffusion model was composed to analyze dermatopharmacokinetic profiles of OCT for each vehicle.

Tumor-derived trypsin enhances proliferation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells by activating protease-activated receptor-2.

In primary malignant liver tumors, trypsinogen-immunoreactivity was present in 70% of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) specimens, but absent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens. We suggest the secretion of trypsinogen to be a key difference in biological behavior between ICC and HCC cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the secretion of tumor-derived trypsin and the expression of its specific receptor, protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2), in ICC using cell lines and surgical specimens.

Regulation of alternative splicing of the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) through G-rich cis-elements and heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H.

Receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is a cell-surface receptor. The binding of ligands to membrane-bound RAGE (mRAGE) evokes cellular responses involved in various pathological processes. Previously, we identified a novel soluble form, endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) generated by alternative 5' splice site selection in intron 9 that leads to extension of exon 9 (exon 9B).

Effect of porto-systemic shunting on NOS expression after extended hepatectomy in rats.

Aim: Several surgical procedures have been developed for reducing portal vein pressure to prevent postoperative liver injury. Nitric oxide synthase expression (NOS) induced by elevation of portal vein pressure is thought to play an important role in liver regeneration, but the details are not well understood.

Methods: Rats in the control group and in the subcutaneous splenic transposition (SST) group underwent 90% partial hepatectomy.

Role of Caenorhabditis elegans protein phosphatase type 1, CeGLC-7 beta, in metaphase to anaphase transition during embryonic development.

In Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis, phosphorylation events are critical to chromosomal changes. To investigate the dephosphorylation of chromosome behavior, we cloned and characterized the cDNA that encodes C. elegans protein phosphatase type 1 (CeGLC-7 beta), which is composed of 333 amino acids.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor D is associated with lymph node metastasis in human colorectal carcinoma.

Objective: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D by tumors is associated with metastasis to lymph nodes in mice. However, there are few reports concerning the clinical significance of VEGF-D protein in human carcinoma.

Methods: After confirming production of VEGF-D by eight colorectal carcinoma cell lines, we investigated relationships between the expression of VEGF-D protein, lymph node metastasis and postoperative survival in 83 colorectal carcinoma patients.

Essential role for nuclear factor kappaB in ischemic preconditioning for ischemia-reperfusion injury of the mouse liver.

Background: Ischemic preconditioning protects various organs from subsequent ischemic insult, but the precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain undefined. To investigate the molecular mechanism by which ischemic preconditioning exerts its protective effect, we examined the activity of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and subsequent inflammatory gene expression.

Methods: Mice were used for total hepatic ischemia-reperfusion experiments after subcutaneous transposition of the spleen.

Extended longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans by knocking in extra copies of hsp70F, a homolog of mot-2 (mortalin)/mthsp70/Grp75.

The Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of mortalin/mthsp70/Grp75 (called mot-2 hereafter) was isolated by screening of a nematode cDNA library with mouse mot-2 cDNA. The isolated clone matched to hsp70F of C. elegans.