High serum gamma-glutamyltransferase level after hepatitis C virus elimination is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is known as an oxidative stress marker, induced by alcohol consumption and metabolic disorders, and is reported as a predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development after hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination. However, it is not clear whether GGT serves simply as a surrogate marker for overlapping metabolic diseases or reflects HCV-specific carcinogenicity. We investigated the association between GGT and hepatocarcinogenesis after achieving a sustained viral response (SVR), accounting for drinking habits or diabetes, and examined predisposing factors associated with GGT levels after SVR.

COVID-19 severity is associated with the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: The association between the severity of COVID-19 and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the severity of COVID-19 is a risk factor for GI bleeding.

Design: A multicentre, retrospective cohort study was conducted on hospitalised patients with COVID-19 between January 2020 and December 2021.

[Multimodal therapy improved carcinoid syndrome secondary to liver metastases of an atypical lung carcinoid tumor:a case report].

A 69-year-old male presented for an annual medical examination, and his chest X-ray showed an abnormal shadow. He presented to our hospital, and was diagnosed with typical carcinoid tumor of the lung by bronchoscopy. We recommended surgery, however the patient did not agree to the operation.

Pressure accelerates the circadian clock of cyanobacteria.

Although organisms are exposed to various pressure and temperature conditions, information remains limited on how pressure affects biological rhythms. This study investigated how hydrostatic pressure affects the circadian clock (KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC) of cyanobacteria. While the circadian rhythm is inherently robust to temperature change, KaiC phosphorylation cycles that were accelerated from 22 h at 1 bar to 14 h at 200 bars caused the circadian-period length to decline.

Funding map using paragraph embedding based on semantic diversity.

Maps of science representing the structure of science can help us understand science and technology (S&T) development. Studies have thus developed techniques for analyzing research activities' relationships; however, ongoing research projects and recently published papers have difficulty in applying inter-citation and co-citation analysis. Therefore, in order to characterize what is currently being attempted in the scientific landscape, this paper proposes a new content-based method of locating research projects in a multi-dimensional space using the recent word/paragraph embedding techniques.

Analysis of O-binding Sites in Proteins Using Gas-Pressure NMR Spectroscopy: Outer Surface Protein A.

Internal cavities in proteins produce conformational fluctuations and enable the binding of small ligands. Here, we report a NMR analysis of O-binding sites by O-induced paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (PREs) on amide groups of proteins in solution. Outer surface protein A contains a nonglobular single-layer β-sheet that connects the N- and C-terminal globular domains.

Effect of water impurity in CsLiB6O10 crystals on bulk laser-induced damage threshold and transmittance in the ultraviolet region.

We investigate the effect of water impurity in a CsLiB(6)O(10) (CLBO) crystal on the ultraviolet properties of the bulk laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and transmittance. The water impurity was eliminated by heating the CLBO sample with dimensions of 5 mm x 5 mm x 10 mm at 150 degrees C in an ambient atmosphere and subsequently in a dry atmosphere. The bulk LIDT of the sample after heat treatment improved by about 1.

[Case of severe ulcerative colitis successfully treated with intravenous cyclosporine without high dose corticosteroid].

A 44-year-old women developed marked myopathy one year earlier, when she was treated with intravenous prednisolone for acute severe exacerbation of ulcerative colitis. When she was admitted to our hospital for another severe exacerbation, intravenous cyclosporine A was administered as monotherapy because she could not tolerate corticosteroid. The treatment was successful and she obtained complete remission.

Extracorporeal elimination of TNF-alpha-producing CD14(dull)CD16(+) monocytes in leukocytapheresis therapy for ulcerative colitis.

Background: In recent years leukocytapheresis using a leukocyte removal filter (known as lymphocytapheresis, LCAP) has been applied to the treatment of various autoimmune diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC). In the present study we aimed to clarify how LCAP therapy modifies inflammatory responses by modulating circulating TNF-alpha-producing monocytes.

Methods: Mononuclear cells were obtained from blood before and after the first treatment, and the expression profiles of various immune cells (naive versus.

[A case report: Severe bone marrow suppression caused by 6-mercaptopurin in Crohn's disease patient].

A 23-year-old man was admitted for treatment of acute exacerbation of ileitis and perianal abscess caused by Crohn's disease. After incision and drainage of the abscess, coupled with antibiotic therapy, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was commenced. His white blood cell (WBC) count on day 12 after initiation of 6-MP was not decreased.

[A case of sacroiliitis complicated by ulcerative colitis that was successfully treated with steroid].

A 23-year-old woman was admitted in November, 2002, complaining pain of the left side and buttock. She had ulcerative colitis when she was 16 and received medical treatment. Based on physical examination and findings of magnetic resonance imaging and bone scintigrapy, as sacroiliitis complicated by ulcerative colitis.

Ameliorating effect of saporin-conjugated anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody in a murine T-cell-mediated chronic colitis.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease that is associated with several changes in the immune system, including an increased number of infiltrating macrophages. These macrophages release a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) which are critically involved in the onset and the development of CD. The present study was performed to explore the initial involvement of macrophages in the development of T-cell-mediated chronic colitis.

TH1/TH2-mediated colitis induced by adoptive transfer of CD4+CD45RBhigh T lymphocytes into nude mice.

Background: Transfer of CD4CD45RB T cells from normal donors to SCID/Rag-1, 2-deficient mice, which lack T and B cells, leads to the development of a TH1-mediated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like syndrome characterized by extensive mononuclear cell infiltrates and epithelial cell hyperplasia. Because it is well known that B cells are also involved in a multitude of mechanistic pathways in human IBD, this study attempts to establish a new model of colitis in nude mice.

Methods: We transferred CD4CD45RB T cells into athymic nude mice, which lack thymus-dependent T cells but retain normal B cells, to establish and investigate a B cell-involving chronic colitis model.

Ectopic CD40 ligand expression on B cells triggers intestinal inflammation.

Several studies indicate that CD4(+) T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells initially mediate intestinal inflammation in murine models of human inflammatory bowel disease. However, the initial role of B cells in the development of intestinal inflammation remains unclear. In this study we present evidence that B cells can trigger intestinal inflammation using transgenic (Tg) mice expressing CD40 ligand (CD40L) ectopically on B cells (CD40L/B Tg).