Arginine vasopressin neuronal loss results from autophagy-associated cell death in a mouse model for familial neurohypophysial diabetes insipidus.

Familial neurohypophysial diabetes insipidus (FNDI) characterized by progressive polyuria is mostly caused by mutations in the gene encoding neurophysin II (NPII), which is the carrier protein of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP). Although accumulation of mutant NPII in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) could be toxic for AVP neurons, the precise mechanisms of cell death of AVP neurons, reported in autopsy studies, remain unclear. Here, we subjected FNDI model mice to intermittent water deprivation (WD) in order to promote the phenotypes.

Usefulness of monitoring cell-mediated immunity for predicting post-kidney transplantation viral infection.

Background: Monitoring cell-mediated immunity (CMI) can be used to estimate the risk of viral infections in kidney transplant recipients. The Immuknow (IMK) assay measures CD4(+) T-cell adenosine triphosphate activity, assesses patient CMI status, and assists clinicians in determining the risk of viral infection.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 224 IMK values in 39 kidney transplant recipients at our institution from April 2012 to January 2013.

Limited expression of cancer-testis antigens in renal cell carcinoma patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of expression of the cancer-testis antigens (CTAs) NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A4 and SAGE, in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients compared to that in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, which represent a positive control with a high incidence of CTA expression, to identify novel target antigens for immunotherapy. We prospectively examined frozen tissue samples collected from surgery or biopsy from 35 RCC and 40 HNC patients. Total RNA was extracted, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT)-PCR was performed to determine the expression of MAGE-A4, NY-ESO-1 and SAGE.

Immune response following liver transplantation compared to kidney transplantation: usefulness of monitoring peripheral blood CD4+ adenosine triphosphate activity and cytochrome P450 3A5 genotype assay.

Seventy living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 39 kidney transplantation (KT) patients were randomly screened by using the peripheral blood CD4+ adenosine triphosphate activity (ATP) assay (IMK assay). The patients were divided into 2 groups in each organ transplantation with low IMK ATP level (<225 ng/mL) or high (>225) (LT-L: n = 23, KT-L: n = 19, LT-H: n = 47, and KT-H: n = 20, resp.).

Development of duplex PCR assay for detection and differentiation of typical and atypical Melissococcus plutonius strains.

Melissococcus plutonius is the causative agent of an important honeybee disease, European foulbrood (EFB). In addition to M. plutonius strains with typical characteristics (typical M.

Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of recurrent bone and soft-tissue sarcomas in non-surgical candidates.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical utility of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) retrospectively in non-surgical candidates with recurrent bone and soft-tissue sarcomas.

Methods: Percutaneous RFA was used in 52 patients (21 female, 31 male; mean age, 52.2 ± 21.

[First 25 cases of photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) with 120-watt high performance system for benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Purpose: We examined the safety and efficacy of photo-selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) using a 120-W high-performance system (HPS) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Patients And Methods: We prospectively reviewed the records of 25 patients who had undergone PVP using a 120-W HPS in our institution. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively, and at 2 weeks and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

GABA type B receptor signaling in proopiomelanocortin neurons protects against obesity, insulin resistance, and hypothalamic inflammation in male mice on a high-fat diet.

There is evidence suggesting that the GABA system in the arcuate nucleus, where orexigenic neuropeptide Y and agouti-related peptide as well as anorexigenic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) are expressed, plays an important role in energy balance. In this study, we generated POMC-specific GABAB receptor-deficient [knock-out (KO)] mice. Male KO mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) showed mild increases in body weight (BW) at the age of 9 weeks compared to wild-type (WT) mice, and the differences remained significant until 16 weeks old.

A 68-year-old phenotypically male patient with 21-hydroxylase deficiency and concomitant adrenocortical neoplasm producing testosterone and cortisol.

The steroidogenic enzyme 21-hydroxylase is necessary for the synthesis of both glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. 21-hydroxylase is a cytochrome P-450 enzyme and is encoded by the gene CYP21A2. Here we report a 68-year-old phenotypically 'male' but genetically female patient with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) and the concomitant virilizing adrenocortical carcinoma.

[Secondary osteoporosis or secondary contributors to bone loss in fracture. Osteoporosis associated with chronic hyponatremia].

It has been reported that the cognitive dysfunction and the gait instability associated with chronic hyponatremia causes falls, resulting the higher frequency of bone fracture. We demonstrated that hyponatremia is associated with significantly increased odds of osteoporosis using cross-sectional human data and that hyponatremia markedly reduced bone mass via increased bone resorption using a rat model of SIADH. In addition, we showed the sustained low extracellular sodium ion concentrations ( [Na (+) ] ) directly stimulate osteoclastogenesis and that hyponatremia-induced oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism.

[Clinical study of 62 patients with symptoms of male climacterium].

We prospectively reviewed the records of 62 patients who had sought evaluation at our hospital with a chief complaint of male climacteric symptoms. Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH)-related symptoms were evaluated during the initial visit based on the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) score, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) -5 score, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Laboratory and endocrinologic testing, including the free testosterone (FT) level, was performed with blood samples collected before 10 : 00 am.

Expression of neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein mRNA stimulated by glucocorticoids is attenuated via NF-κB p65 under ER stress in mouse hypothalamic cultures.

There are several lines of evidence suggesting that glucocorticoid signaling in the hypothalamus plays an important role in energy balance, and recent studies suggest that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the hypothalamus could affect signaling related to energy balance. In the present study, we examined the regulation of glucocorticoid signaling under ER stress in mouse hypothalamic organotypic cultures. Incubation of the hypothalamic explants with dexamethasone (DEX) significantly increased expression levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) mRNA, and treatment with thapsigargin (TG), an ER stressor, significantly attenuated DEX-induced NPY and AgRP mRNA expression.

Activation of FGF2-FGFR signaling in the castrated mouse prostate stimulates the proliferation of basal epithelial cells.

The prostate gland is unique in that it undergoes rapid regression following castration but regenerates completely once androgens are replaced. Residual ductal components play an important role in the regeneration of a fully functional prostate. In this study, to examine how androgen status affects prostate structure and components, we conducted histopathological studies of the involuted and regenerated mouse dorsolateral prostate (DLP).

Radiofrequency ablation versus radical nephrectomy: clinical outcomes for stage T1b renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To compare clinical outcomes of radiofrequency (RF) ablation retrospectively with those after radical nephrectomy in patients with stage T1b renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and the requirement to obtain written informed consent was waived. From June 2002 to March 2012, 60 patients (mean age, 65.

Oral naftopidil suppresses human renal-cell carcinoma by inducing G(1) cell-cycle arrest in tumor and vascular endothelial cells.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is an angiogenesis-dependent and hypoxia-driven malignancy. As a result, several targeting agents are being investigated. However, the efficacy of current regimens is generally insufficient for their toxicity and poor overall response rates.

The relationship between positive and negative automatic thought and activity in the prefrontal and temporal cortices: a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) study.

Background: Recently, neurobiological studies of the cognitive model of depression have become vastly more important, and a growing number of such studies are being reported. However, the relationship between the proportion of positive and negative automatic thought and activity in the prefrontal and temporal cortices has not yet been explored. We examined the relationship between brain activity and the proportion of positive and negative automatic thought in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), using multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

[A case of primary malignant lymphoma of the prostate with characteristic MRI findings].

Here, we report a case of malignant lymphoma (ML) of the prostate. A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital with the chief complaint of left lumbago. Computed tomography imaging showed a large mass below the bladder, as well as left hydronephrosis resulting from infiltration of the mass.

Reactive oxygen species enhance excitatory synaptic transmission in rat spinal dorsal horn neurons by activating TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels.

Central neuropathic pain (CNP) in the spinal cord, such as chronic pain after spinal cord injury (SCI), is an incurable ailment. However, little is known about the spinal cord mechanisms underlying CNP. Recently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized to play an important role in CNP of the spinal cord.

Accuracy of iodine removal using dual-energy CT with or without a tin filter: an experimental phantom study.

Background: The effects of a tin filter on virtual non-enhanced (VNE) images created by dual-energy CT have not been well evaluated.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of VNE images between those with and without a tin filter.

Material And Methods: Two different types of columnar phantoms made of agarose gel were evaluated.

Impact of pre-treatment prostate tissue androgen content on the prediction of castration-resistant prostate cancer development in patients treated with primary androgen deprivation therapy.

Great advances in tissue androgen analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have made it possible to evaluate the tissue androgen content from a single needle prostate biopsy specimen. In this study, we investigated if pre-treatment androgen content in prostate biopsy specimens could predict their response to primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and future castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). One-hundred and sixty-five prostate cancer patients who received primary ADT were enrolled.

Predicting recovery of cognitive function soon after stroke: differential modeling of logarithmic and linear regression.

Cognitive disorders in the acute stage of stroke are common and are important independent predictors of adverse outcome in the long term. Despite the impact of cognitive disorders on both patients and their families, it is still difficult to predict the extent or duration of cognitive impairments. The objective of the present study was, therefore, to provide data on predicting the recovery of cognitive function soon after stroke by differential modeling with logarithmic and linear regression.

Renal cell carcinoma: radiofrequency ablation with a multiple-electrode switching system--a phase II clinical study.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation with a multiple-electrode switching system for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Materials And Methods: From November 2009 to December 2010, 33 patients (mean age, 70.7 years; range, 44-86 years) with histologically proved RCCs--including 24 men (mean age, 69.

[Management of sunitinib-associated adverse events].

Patients diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are currently treated with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Sunitinib malate (Sutent R Pfizer INC) is an oral multitargeted TKI and is the mainstay of therapy for mRCC patients in Japan. Although it shows a high therapeutic response and prolonged survival rates, sunitinib exhibits a novel and distinct toxicity profile that requires appropriate monitoring and management.