Febuxostat for management of tumor lysis syndrome including its effects on levels of purine metabolites in patients with hematological malignancies - a single institution's, pharmacokinetic and pilot prospective study.

Background/aim: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening oncological emergency, and control of serum uric acid level (S-UA) is most important. In this single-institution, short-term and pilot prospective study, the efficacy of a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor, febuxostat, as an alternative to conventional allopurinol, including its effects on hypoxanthine and xanthine, was evaluated in 10 consecutive patients with hematological malignancies at intermediate risk for TLS.

Patients And Methods: Febuxostat at 40 mg (n=7) or 60 mg (n=3) daily was administered according to renal function, and induction chemotherapy was started within 24 h.

A multicenter retrospective survey of poisoning after consumption of products containing synthetic chemicals in Japan.

Objective: We conducted a multicenter retrospective survey of patients poisoned by synthetic chemicals (SCs) in Japan.

Methods: Letters were sent to 467 emergency facilities requesting participation in the study, and questionnaires were mailed to facilities that agreed to participate. Patients The study participants were patients who were transported to emergency facilities between January 2006 and December 2012 after consuming SC-containing products.

The EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal-transition)-related protein expression indicates the metastatic status and prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer.

Objectives: The epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is an important step in the invasion and metastasis of cancer. A critical molecular feature of this process is the downregulation of the E-cadherin expression, which is primarily controlled by Snail-related zinc-finger transcription factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the expression of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin and Snail) in patients with ovarian cancer.

The response to induction therapy is crucial for the treatment outcomes of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: single-institution experience.

Background/aim: The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients remains poor due to their poor general condition and the intrinsic chemotherapy-resistant nature of their leukemia cells. The present retrospective study evaluated the clinical background as well as the response to treatment, of an unselected group of elderly patients with AML who were admitted to our Institution over a period of six years.

Patients And Methods: Patients aged 65 years or older with AML admitted to our Institution between January 2005 and May 2011 were evaluated retrospectively.

The enhancing effect of fucoidan derived from Undaria pinnatifida on immunoglobulin production by mouse spleen lymphocytes.

In this study, we revealed that a Mekabu (Udaria pinnantifida) extract enhanced immunoglobulin (Ig) production of mouse spleen lymphocytes. Furthermore, it was suggested that water-soluble and high molecular weight ingredients in the Mekabu extract have significant enhancing effect on Ig production. Therefore, fucoidan was estimated as the active component.

Controlling serum uric acid using febuxostat in cancer patients at risk of tumor lysis syndrome.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening oncological emergency, in which control of serum uric acid (S-UA) levels is important. S-UA-lowering efficacy of a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor, febuxostat, was retrospectively evaluated in seven patients with hematological malignancies who were at an intermediate risk of developing TLS. A 10-mg dose of febuxostat was initiated and chemotherapy was started within 24 h of administering the first dose of febuxostat.

Influence of pulmonary vascular reserve on exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) is considered as an early preclinical functional phase of resting PH in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this study, we investigated the prevalence of exercise-induced PH in patients with SSc and evaluated the influence of pulmonary vascular reserve on exercise-induced PH.

Methods: This prospective study included 568 SSc patients.

Contribution of the maxillary sinus to the modularity and variability of nasal cavity shape in Japanese macaques.

The nasal cavity is essential for conditioning of inspired air, and its form likely impacts its function. Since humans and other anthropoids have reduced nasal turbinates when compared to other mammals, variation in relative surface area is mainly brought about by changes to overall nasal architecture. Previous studies of modern humans suggest that variation in the transverse dimensions of the nasal cavity is likely possible because of the presence of the maxillary sinuses.

Unsaturated long-chain fatty acids inhibit the binding of oxidized low-density lipoproteins to a model CD36.

Transmembrane protein CD36 binds multiple ligands, including oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Our aim was to determine whether LCFAs compete with oxLDLs for binding to CD36. We addressed this issue by examining the inhibitory effect of LCFAs against the binding of Alexa-fluor-labeled oxLDLs (AFL-oxLDL) to a synthetic peptide representing the oxLDL-binding site on CD36 (3S-CD36₁₅₀₋₁₆₈).

Further validation of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids as inhibitors for oxidized low-density lipoprotein binding to CD36 via assays with synthetic CD36 peptide-cross-linked plates.

We recently obtained evidence that unsaturated long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) (e.g. oleic acid) inhibit binding of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) to CD36.

Reverse adipofascial flap after resection of a malignant perineurioma of the forearm.

The authors describe a patient with recurrent perineurioma arising in the subcutaneous tissue of the dorsal forearm and extending along the forearm fascia. Soft tissue perineurioma is a rare, originally benign peripheral nerve sheath neoplasm arising from the perineurium, a protective cell barrier surrounding the individual fascicles in peripheral nerves. Perineurioma has only recently been recognized as an entity distinct from other nerve sheath tumors, such as schwannoma and neurofibroma, with unique morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunoreactive features.

Impaired β-cell function attenuates training effects by reducing the increase in heart rate reserve in patients with myocardial infarction.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is characterized as a metabolic disorder syndrome that is upstream of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigated exercise training effects on the exercise tolerance and heart rate dynamics in patients with IR or pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.

Methods: Seventy patients (mean age, 60.

Transbronchial needle aspiration through a guide sheath with endobronchial ultrasonography (GS-TBNA) for peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Purpose: Although, endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath is becoming a common procedure for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions, there remain to be some inaccuracies in cases wherein the probe is located outside the lesion. We tested whether adding transbronchial needle aspiration through a guide sheath to the conventional technique increases efficacy for diagnosing peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Methods: We performed transbronchial needle aspiration through a guide sheath for 37 subjects with peripheral pulmonary lesions between September 2012 and April 2013.

Construction of nanoantennas on the bacterial outer membrane.

We demonstrate a simple manipulation of gold nanoparticles that creates a structure-dependent nanometer-scale antenna on the surface of bacteria. Our studies illuminate the concept of the "effective use of light" based on the absorption and emission of light by antennas formed on bacteria.

Computed tomography examination of the face of Macaca anderssoni (Early Pleistocene, Henan, northern China): Implications for the biogeographic history of Asian macaques.

Macaca anderssoni, a fossil macaque from the Early Pleistocene of northern China, has attracted much attention from researchers in terms of reconstructing the biogeographic history of Asian macaques, while its phylogenetic position remains debatable. In the present study, we evaluated patterns of variation in external and internal craniofacial morphologies among four phylogenetic groups of extant macaques (the fascicularis, sinica, silenus, and sylvanus groups), using computed tomography and multivariate analyses. We also reassessed the holotype of M.

Lectin-tagged fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles for targeting of sialic acid on living cells.

In this study, we fabricated lectin-tagged fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles approximately 35 nm in diameter using biocompatible polymers conjugated with lectins for the purpose of detecting sialic acid on a living cell surface, which is one of the most important biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Through cellular experiments, we successfully detected sialic acid overexpression on cancerous cells with high specificity. These fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles can be useful as a potential bioimaging probe for detecting diseased cells.

Gemcitabine as a molecular targeting agent that blocks the Akt cascade in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Background: Gemcitabine (2', 2' -difluorodeoxycytidine) is one of many nonplatinum drugs that exhibit activity in recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Gemcitabine treatment inhibits the proliferation of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells still remain unclear. We investigated whether Gemcitabine increases the efficacy of Cisplatin in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer models in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of the distribution of adsorbed proteins on cellular adhesion behaviors using surfaces of nanoscale phase-reversed amphiphilic block copolymers.

In order to create suitable biocompatible materials for various tissue engineering applications, it is important to be able to understand protein adsorption and cell adhesion behaviors on the material's surfaces. It is known that the nanoscale distribution of adsorbed proteins affects cell adhesion behaviors. However, how nanoscale structures affect cell adhesion behaviors is still unclear.

Is a switch from insulin therapy to liraglutide possible in Japanese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients?

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of switching from insulin to the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Methods: The subjects were 231 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus being treated with liraglutide for the first time. For 161 patients, liraglutide was continued for 24 weeks (continuation group), and for 70 patients, liraglutide was discontinued before 24 weeks (discontinuation group).

Safety and efficacy of adding sitagliptin to insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes: the ASSIST-K study.

We retrospectively studied more than 1000 patients with type 2 diabetes attending 36 Japanese clinics to investigate the efficacy and safety of adding sitagliptin to various insulin regimens. We found that the treatment with add-on sitagliptin for 6-months was effective, irrespective of the type or dose of concomitant insulin.

Ecogeographical and phylogenetic effects on craniofacial variation in macaques.

The widespread and complex ecogeographical diversity of macaques may have caused adaptive morphological convergence among four phylogenetic subgroups, making their phylogenetic relationships unclear. We used geometric morphometrics and multivariate analyses to test the null hypothesis that craniofacial morphology does not vary with ecogeographical and phylogenetic factors. As predicted by Bergmann's rule, size was larger for the fascicularis and sinica groups in colder environments.

Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits overexpression of P-glycoprotein induced by doxorubicin in HepG2 cells.

The hepatoprotective action of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was previously suggested to be partially dependent on its antioxidative effect. Doxorubicin (DOX) and reactive oxygen species have also been implicated in the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by the MDR1 gene and causes antitumor multidrug resistance. In the present study, we assessed the effects of UDCA on the expression of MDR1 mRNA, P-gp, and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in DOX-treated HepG2 cells and compared them to those of other bile acids.

Retrograde colon intussusception in an adult due to adenoma: treatment by combined laparoscopic and endoscopic approach.

This report describes the case of a young patient who underwent laparoscopic surgery to reduce for a retrograde intussusception of the sigmoid-descending colon caused by adenoma of the sigmoid colon. A 36-year-old woman visited our hospital, complaining primarily of vomiting and abdominal pain. Abdominal CT scan showed the typical finding of intussusception.

Navigation-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis with Extra-Articular Femoral Deformity and/or Retained Hardware.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis (OA) patients with extra-articular deformity is still challenging because angular deformity, canal sclerosis, or the retained hardware that precludes the use of the traditional intramedullary guide. In addition, atypical bone cut for intra-articular correction leads to imbalanced soft tissue gap. Furthermore, corrective osteotomy should be considered for severe deformity or para-articular deformity cases.

Emergency Life Support System aiming preprimed oxygenator.

Development have been achieved of a new blood pump for next generation Percutaneous Cardio-Pulmonary Support (PCPS) system and a novel surface coating method for silicone membrane hollow fiber by physical adsorption using a copolymer composed of a 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) unit and a hydrophobic unit. The new blood pump, named the Troidal Convolution Pump (TCP), is based on the principle of a cascade pump and perfused 5 L/min and 350 mmHg at 2450 rpm. The novel copolymer composed of 30% MPC unit and 3-(methacryloyloxy) propyltris (trimethylsiloxy) silane (MPTSSi) unit (PMMSi30) was the most suitable molecular design on a silicone surface.