Improving Visualization of In-stent Lumen Using Prototype Photon-counting Detector Computed Tomography with High-resolution Plaque Kernel.

The study aimed to compare the performance of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD CT) with high-resolution (HR)-plaque kernel with that of the energy-integrating detector CT (EID CT) in terms of the visualization of the lumen size and the in-stent stenotic portion at different coronary vessel angles. The lumen sizes in PCD CT and EID CT images were 2.13 and 1.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level is a prognostic factor for survival in rat and human chronic liver diseases.

Chronic liver disease patients often have complications, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and acute bacterial infection. Model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh scores are useful prognostic factors for chronic liver diseases but not for all chronic conditions, such as HCC. Our investigative aim targeted the prognostic abilities of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in rat and human chronic liver diseases.

[Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Cooporative Surgery(LECS)for Superficial Non-Ampullary Duodenal Tumor - A Case Report].

Introduction: We report a case ofsuperf icial non-ampullary duodenal tumor(SNADT)resected by laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery(LECS)technique.

Case Presentation: A 55-year-old man underwent screening esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Endoscopy revealed 0- II a+ II c mucosal lesion measuring 15mm in size located the portion ofduodenum contralateral to the ampulla ofVater.

Crystal structure-based selective targeting of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme kynurenine aminotransferase II for cognitive enhancement.

Fluctuations in the brain levels of the neuromodulator kynurenic acid may control cognitive processes and play a causative role in several catastrophic brain diseases. Elimination of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme kynurenine aminotransferase II reduces cerebral kynurenic acid synthesis and has procognitive effects. The present description of the crystal structure of human kynurenine aminotransferase II in complex with its potent and specific primary amine-bearing fluoroquinolone inhibitor (S)-(-)-9-(4-aminopiperazin-1-yl)-8-fluoro-3-methyl-6-oxo-2,3-dihydro-6H-1-oxa-3a-azaphenalene-5-carboxylic acid (BFF-122) should facilitate the structure-based development of cognition-enhancing drugs.

Activity-dependent localization in spines of the F-actin capping protein CapZ screened in a rat model of dementia.

Actin reorganization in dendritic spines is hypothesized to underlie neuronal plasticity. Actin-related proteins, therefore, might serve as useful markers of plastic changes in dendritic spines. Here, we utilized memory deficits induced by fimbria-fornix transection (FFT) in rats as a dementia model to screen candidate memory-associated molecules by using a two-dimensional gel method.

A new PET scanner with semiconductor detectors enables better identification of intratumoral inhomogeneity.

Unlabelled: An autoradiography method revealed intratumoral inhomogeneity in various solid tumors. It is becoming increasingly important to estimate intratumoral inhomogeneity. However, with low spatial resolution and high scatter noise, it is difficult to detect intratumoral inhomogeneity in clinical settings.

Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis of rat heart proteins in ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury occurs in acute myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, and heart transplantation. However the precise mechanisms still remain unclear. In order to identify proteins that are involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury, we compared precipitated 100,000g fractions of normal, ischemic, and ischemic-reperfused rat hearts using two-dimensional (2D) difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE).

18O-labeling quantitative proteomics using an ion trap mass spectrometer.

We describe a method for simultaneous identification and quantitation of proteins within complex mixtures. The method consists of 18O-labeling, a simple stable isotope-coding that requires merely enzymatic digestion in 18O-water, in combination with a capillary-liquid chromatography electrospray ion-trap mass spectrometer. In a separate experiment using the same sample and a spike test, we demonstrate that the difference ration was calculated accurately using the 18O-labeling method even if the protein was part of a complex mixture.

Identification of major proteins in the lipid droplet-enriched fraction isolated from the human hepatocyte cell line HuH7.

Recent studies have revealed the presence of intracellular lipid droplets in wide variety of species. In mammalian cells, there exist proteins specifically localize in lipid droplets. However, the protein profile in the droplet remains yet to be clarified.

Function of ubiquitin-like domain of chicken 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in conformational stability.

2'-5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS), an interferon (IFN) induced enzyme, synthesizes 2'-5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) from ATP when activated by dsRNA. Chicken OAS (ChOAS) has a ubiquitin-like (UbL) domain of two consecutive sequences (UbL1 and UbL2) at its carboxyl-terminus. The OAS gene has at least two alleles, OAS*A and OAS*B.

Cutting edge: Requirement for growth hormone-releasing hormone in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) is a neuropeptide that stimulates secretion of GH from the pituitary gland. Although GHRH and its receptor (GHRHR) are expressed in leukocytes, physiological function of GHRH in the immune system remains unclear. To study the influence of GHRH in autoimmunity, susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was examined in C57BL/6J-Ghrhr(lit/lit) (lit/lit), mice deficient in the GHRHR gene.

Proteomic analysis of rat heart in ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion using fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major complication occurring in acute myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, and heart transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify proteins that were involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury using fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. We compared the 100,000 x g precipitate fractions of normal, ischemic and ischemia-reperfused rat hearts and detected six spots which changed more than two-fold in expression level and two additional spots related to these spots.

Protocadherin LKC, a new candidate for a tumor suppressor of colon and liver cancers, its association with contact inhibition of cell proliferation.

Protocadherins are a major subfamily of the cadherin superfamily, but little is known about their functions and intracellular signal transduction. We cloned a novel human protocadherin gene, containing seven EC domains, and identified functional aspects of this gene. The gene was predominantly expressed in liver, kidney and colon tissues, and was thus designated Protocadherin LKC.