Downregulation of ALDH1A1 expression in non-small cell lung carcinomas--its clinicopathologic and biological significance.

ALDH1A1 metabolizes a variety of endogenous and exogenous aldehyde, and also oxidizes retinol to synthesize retinoic acid and modulate cell differentiation. Moreover, ALDH1A1 is also suggested to participate in the maintenance of cancer stem cells. To investigate the potential role of ALDH1A1 in carcinogenesis of the lung, the present study examined two hundred and sixty eight cases of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) for its immunohistochemical expression and analyzed associations between ALDH1A1 levels and a series of clinicopathologic parameters.

Stretch of atrial myocytes stimulates recruitment of macrophages via ATP released through gap-junction channels.

Atrial inflammation is critical to atrial fibrillation initiation and progression. Although left atrial dilatation is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation, the mechanism linking atrial dilatation and inflammation is unclear. We evaluated the mechanisms underlying infiltration of macrophages induced by stretch of atrial myocytes.

Antigen 85A and mycobacterial DNA-binding protein 1 are targets of immunoglobulin G in individuals with past tuberculosis.

Development of accurate methods for predicting progression of tuberculosis (TB) from the latent state is recognized as vitally important in controlling TB, because a majority of cases develop from latent infections. Past TB that has never been treated has a higher risk of progressing than does latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in patients who have previously received treatment. Antibody responses against 23 kinds of M.

Whole-genome sequence of the hypervirulent clinical strain Mycobacterium intracellulare M.i.198.

We report herein the draft genome sequence of Mycobacterium intracellulare clinical strain M.i.198, which consistently exhibits hypervirulence in human patients, human macrophages in vitro, and immunocompetent mice.

Differential pattern of cell-surface and soluble TREM-1 between sepsis and SIRS.

Objective: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) was reported to play a key roll in amplification of production of inflammatory cytokines. TREM-1 is suggested to be a specific biomarker for sepsis for this reason, but the clinical significance of TREM-1 has not been elucidated. We investigated TREM-1 expression on the cell-surface, and plasma levels of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) in patients with non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and sepsis admitted to the ICU.

Development of mice without Cip/Kip CDK inhibitors.

Timely exit of cells from the cell cycle is essential for proper cell differentiation during embryogenesis. Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors (CKIs) of the Cip/Kip family (p21, p27, and p57) are negative regulators of cell cycle progression and are thought to be essential for development. However, the extent of functional redundancy among Cip/Kip family members has remained largely unknown.

ARID1A expression loss in gastric cancer: pathway-dependent roles with and without Epstein-Barr virus infection and microsatellite instability.

The AT-rich interactive domain 1A gene (ARID1A), which encodes one of the subunits in the Switch/Sucrose Nonfermentable chromatin remodeling complex, carries mutations and is responsible for loss of protein expression in gastric carcinoma, particularly with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and a microsatellite instability-high phenotype. We used immunohistochemistry to investigate the significance of ARID1A loss in 857 gastric carcinoma cases, including 67 EBV(+) and 136 MLH1-lost gastric carcinomas (corresponding to a microsatellite instability-high phenotype). Loss of ARID1A expression was significantly more frequent in EBV(+) (23/67; 34 %) and MLH1-lost (40/136; 29 %) gastric carcinomas than in EBV(-)MLH1-preserved (32/657; 5 %) gastric carcinomas (P < 0.

Characterization of two mobilizable plasmids isolated from enterobacter cloacae.

We isolated two plasmids, pS51A and pS51B which were 5782 bp and 4854 bp in size, respectively, from the third generation cephalosporin-resistant E. cloacae suspected to express metallo-beta-lactamase, and analyzed their structures. These two plasmids encode RNA I/RNA II genes for replication origin, relaxase genes of mobABCD for plasmid transfer, and several open reading frames.

Duration of well-controlled core temperature correlates with neurological outcome in patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome.

Purpose: Detailed procedures for optimal therapeutic hypothermia (TH) have yet to be established. We examined how duration of well-controlled core temperature within the first 24 hours after cardiac arrests (CA) correlated with neurological outcomes of successfully resuscitated out-of-hospital CA (OHCA) patients.

Methods: OHCA patients who survived over 24 hours and treated with TH were included.

Late-onset increases in oxidative stress and other tumorigenic activities and tumors with a Ha-ras mutation in the liver of adult male C3H mice gestationally exposed to arsenic.

Tumorigenesis is a complex process involving genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic alterations. Gestational arsenic exposure has been shown to increase hepatic tumors in adult male offspring of C3H mice, which spontaneously develop hepatic tumors often harboring activating Ha-ras mutation. We explored tumor-promoting changes by gestational arsenic exposure with a focus on Ha-ras mutation and gene expression changes.

Evaluation of ovarian toxicity of sodium valproate (VPA) using cultured rat ovarian follicles.

Sodium valproate (VPA) is a major antiepileptic drug that is widely used for the treatment of epilepsy as well as other neuropsychiatric diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate the ovarian toxicity of VPA using cultured rat ovarian follicles. Secondary follicles were isolated from the ovaries of 14-day-old female rats and cultured for 48 hr with VPA (0, 0.

Evaluation of ovarian toxicity of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) using cultured rat ovarian follicles.

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is the most toxic metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). It has been reported that DEHP causes abnormal reproductive development in women, and suppresses estradiol synthesis and ovulation in female rats with diminished size of preovulatory follicles. The present study was conducted to evaluate the ovarian toxicity of MEHP using cultured rat ovarian follicles.

A novel mechanism of growth phase-dependent tolerance to isoniazid in mycobacteria.

Tuberculosis remains one of the most deadly infectious diseases worldwide and is a leading public health problem. Although isoniazid (INH) is a key drug for the treatment of tuberculosis, tolerance to INH necessitates prolonged treatment, which is a concern for effective tuberculosis chemotherapy. INH is a prodrug that is activated by the mycobacterial enzyme, KatG.

Effects of tiotropium on sympathetic activation during exercise in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Background: Tiotropium partially relieves exertional dyspnea and reduces the risk of congestive heart failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, its effect on the sympathetic activation response to exercise is unknown.

Aims: This study aimed to determine whether tiotropium use results in a sustained reduction in sympathetic activation during exercise.

Ghrelin treatment of cachectic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Pulmonary cachexia is common in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), culminating in exercise intolerance and a poor prognosis. Ghrelin is a novel growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide with GH-independent effects. The efficacy and safety of adding ghrelin to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in cachectic COPD patients were investigated.

Trends in and perspectives on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure.

Various approaches such as ventilator management involving lung-protective ventilation, corticosteroids, prone positioning, and nitric oxide have failed to maintain sufficient lung oxygenation or appropriate ventilation competence in very severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been aggressively introduced for such patients, although in only a few institutions. The clinical usefulness of ECMO in a large-scale multicenter study (CESAR trial, 2009) and continued development/improvement of ECMO devices have facilitated performance of ECMO, with further increase in the number of institutions adopting ECMO therapy.

Long-term radiographic outcome of nodular bronchiectatic Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Background: Although Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) is a growing health problem, little is known about long-term radiographic outcome and factors for deterioration in patients with MAC-PD.

Methods: Data on patients with nodular bronchiectatic (NBE) MAC-PD who underwent regular follow-up for >5 years were retrospectively reviewed. Changes in plain chest radiograph (CXR) and baseline characteristics were compared between the stable and deteriorated groups.

Treatment of septic shock with continuous HDF using 2 PMMA hemofilters for enhanced intensity.

Purpose: Cytokines play pivotal roles in the pathophysiology of severe sepsis/septic shock, and continuous hemodiafiltration using a polymethylmethacrylate membrane hemofilter (PMMA-CHDF) removes cytokines efficiently and continuously, mainly through adsorption to a hemofilter membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of enhanced intensity PMMA-CHDF in treating refractory septic shock.

Methods: Seventy-two septic shock patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) underwent critical care including PMMA-CHDF.

Evaluation of salivary cortisol measurements for the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome.

Late-night salivary cortisol (NSC) has been recognized as a sensitive and easy-to-perform screening test for the diagnosis of overt Cushing's syndrome (CS). However, there have been few reports on the diagnostic utility of salivary cortisol (SC) measurement in the diagnosis of subclinical Cushing's syndrome (SCS). Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of SC measurements at late-night and after overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) for the diagnosis of SCS in 42 patients with adrenal incidentaloma.

Multi-locus genotyping of bottom fermenting yeasts by single nucleotide polymorphisms indicative of brewing characteristics.

Yeast plays a capital role in brewing fermentation and has a direct impact on flavor and aroma. For the evaluation of competent brewing strains during quality control or development of novel strains it is standard practice to perform fermentation tests, which are costly and time-consuming. Here, we have categorized DNA markers which enable to distinguish and to screen brewing strains more efficiently than ever before.

[A case of gastric neuroendocrine cell carcinoma successfully treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

A 74-year-old man, whose chief complaint was epigastralgia, was referred to our hospital and diagnosed gastric cancer with liver metastasis. Gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a tumor on the lesser curvature of cardia of stomach. He was diagnosed as neuroendocrine cell carcinoma by biopsy specimens.

Gastric carcinoma with invasive micropapillary pattern and its association with lymph node metastasis.

Aims: This study aimed to characterize the clinicopathological features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) of the stomach.

Methods And Results: Seventeen cases of gastric IMPC were identified from histological reviews of 1178 consecutive cases. IMPC components occupied 10-90% of the entire tumours.

Effects of a peripheral cholinesterase inhibitor on cytokine production and autonomic nervous activity in a rat model of sepsis.

Purpose: Recently, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway manipulation has been proposed as a new strategy to control cytokine production in sepsis. We investigated whether hypercytokinemia can be controlled via this pathway in an animal model of sepsis, with concomitant monitoring of autonomic nervous activity involving heart rate variability (HRV) analysis of electrocardiographic R-R intervals.

Methods: Sixty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used (28 for examination of cytokine production and autonomic nervous activity; 40 for survival analysis).

High resolution N2 adsorption isotherms at 77.4 K and 87.3 K by carbon blacks and activated carbon fibers--analysis of porous texture of activated carbon fibers by αs-method.

The standard α(s)-data of N(2) at 87.3 K by graphitized and nongraphitized carbon black samples (GCB-I and NGCB) (cf.Figs.

Genetic reevaluation of the role of F-box proteins in cyclin D1 degradation.

D-type cyclins play a pivotal role in G(1)-S progression of the cell cycle, and their expression is frequently deregulated in cancer. Cyclin D1 has a half-life of only ~30 min as a result of its ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation, with various F-box proteins, including Fbxo4, Fbxw8, Skp2, and Fbxo31, having been found to contribute to its ubiquitylation. We have now generated Fbxo4-deficient mice and found no abnormalities in these animals.