Blockade of the fractalkine-CX3CR1 axis ameliorates experimental colitis by dislodging venous crawling monocytes.

Chemokine systems modulate inflammatory and immune responses in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The colons of IBD patients show increased levels of fractalkine (FKN) and high numbers of FKN receptor-positive (CX3CR1+) cells; however, the FKN-CX3CR1 axis's role in intestinal inflammation, especially in intravascular leukocyte behaviors, still remains unclear. Here, we show that interruption of the FKN-CX3CR1 axis by anti-FKN monoclonal antibody (mAb) ameliorates murine colitis through regulation of intravascular monocyte behaviors in murine colitis models.

Cryopreserved cultured epithelial allografts for pediatric deep partial dermal burns: Early wound closure and suppression of scarring.

Background: In deep partial thickness dermal burns (DDB) where greater than 50% of the dermis is lost, severe pain, scarring and contractures occur. Therefore, skin grafting may be required. In children, scar contracture occurs because scarred skin does not stretch with growth creating the need for additional scar-releasing or skin-grafting surgeries.

LIM homeobox 8 (Lhx8) is a key regulator of the cholinergic neuronal function via a tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA)-mediated positive feedback loop.

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons play an important role in cognitive functions such as learning and memory, and they are affected in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome. Despite their functional importance, the molecular mechanisms of functional maturation and maintenance of these cholinergic neurons after the differentiation stage have not been fully elucidated. This study demonstrates that the LIM homeobox 8 (Lhx8) transcription factor regulates cholinergic function in rat septal cholinergic neurons in primary cultures from E18.

N-type calcium channel in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

One of the family of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), the N-type Ca(2+) channel, is located predominantly in neurons and is associated with a variety of neuronal responses, including neurodegeneration. A precise mechanism for how the N-type Ca(2+) channel plays a role in neurodegenerative disease, however, is unknown. In this study, we immunized N-type Ca(2+) channel α(1B)-deficient (α(1B)(-/-)) mice and their wild type (WT) littermates with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 and analyzed the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

V-Y fasciocutaneous flap of the medial thigh including the long saphenous vein for reconstruction of intrapelvic dead space.

Some patients develop an intrapelvic infection and fistula caused by the presence of intrapelvic dead space after the resection of rectal cancer, and the treatment is sometimes quite difficult. We have developed a new surgical technique for the treatment and prevention of such fistulas that uses a fasciocutaneous flap from the medial thigh. A V-shaped fasciocutaneous flap with a pedicle on the anterior side of the thigh is designed on the medial thigh and gluteal region.

Tranilast, an anti-allergic drug, down-regulates the growth of cultured neurofibroma cells derived from neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromas are benign tumors that comprise primarily of Schwann cells and fibroblasts. Mast cells have been found scattered in the tumor tissue, and their role in promoting the proliferation of neurofibroma has been suggested. Tranilast (N-[3,4-dimethoxycinnamolyl]anthranilic acid) is an anti-allergic drug that inhibits release of the chemical mediators from mast cells and it used for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars by its inhibition of growth-promoting transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) from fibroblasts.

Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Donepezil hydrochloride is a potent and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and has been treated for Alzheimer's disease, in which the cholinergic dysfunction is observed. Recently, the degeneration of medial septal cholinergic nuclei in adult rat suppressed the neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was reported. Then, we determined whether donepezil which activated the brain cholinergic system could modulate hippocampal neurogenesis in normal rats.

Investigation of the dominant hydration structures among the ionic species in aqueous solution: novel quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations combined with the theory of energy representation.

In the present work, we have performed quantum chemical calculations to determine preferable species among the ionic complexes that are present in ambient water due to the autodissociation of water molecule. First, we have formulated the relative population of the hydrated complexes with respect to the bare ion (H(3)O(+) or OH(-)) in terms of the solvation free energies of the relevant molecules. The solvation free energies for various ionic species (H(3)O(+), H(5)O(2) (+), H(7)O(3) (+), H(9)O(4) (+) or OH(-), H(3)O(2) (-), H(5)O(3) (-), H(7)O(4) (-), H(9)O(5) (-)), categorized as proton or hydroxide ion in solution, have been computed by employing the QM/MM-ER method recently developed by combining the quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) approach with the theory of energy representation (ER).

New continuous negative-pressure and irrigation treatment for infected wounds and intractable ulcers.

Background: Continuous irrigation and the vacuum-assisted closure system are effective methods for the treatment of infected wounds and intractable ulcers. The objective of this study was to simultaneously use both of the above methods as a new approach for obtaining more satisfactory, accelerated wound healing.

Methods: After debridement of the wound, indwelling irrigation and aspiration tubes are placed in the wounds that have been sutured closed.

A surgical treatment of severe late posttraumatic enophthalmos using sliced costal cartilage chip grafts.

The efficacy of sliced costal cartilage chip grafts for the treatment of late posttraumatic enophthalmos was investigated. Surgery was conducted based on the method reported by Matsuo et al. in 1989.

Refinements in the elevation of reconstructed auricles in microtia.

Background: In the treatment of microtia, the search has been for surgical techniques that prevent postoperative complications and realize sufficient and stable projection of the constructed ear.

Methods: Cartilage was fixed with absorbable synthetic thread instead of wire because wire has a high risk of exposure. A subcutaneous pedicle was added to the concha to prevent skin necrosis.

Reconstruction of the form and function of lateral malleolus and ankle joint.

Soft-tissue reconstruction alone cannot obtain normal ankle function in patients with large defects in the area of the lateral malleolus. The authors report a functional reconstructive method for the lateral malleolus, utilized in a male patient whose osteosarcoma in the fibula was resected with surrounding soft tissue. In order to reconstruct the lateral malleolus, the remaining half of the fibula at the knee was removed, and the fibular head was fixed with the tibia at the ankle joint.

Effect of E6060 [4-{5-[7-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzo[b]furan-2-yl]-1H-2-pyrrolyl}benzoic acid], a novel subtype-selective retinoid, on lupus-like nephritis in female (NZBxNZW)F1 mice.

Disease amelioration by retinoids in various nephritic models has been reported from either immunological or pathophysiologic viewpoints. It has also been reported that retinoids exert immunosuppressive effects in a retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha-dependent manner. In particular, synthetic retinoid agonists with selectivity to RAR-alpha have been reported to have a remarkable disease-ameliorating effect in some immune disease models via their potent immunosuppressive activities; however, there has been no report in which the effect of RAR-alpha-selective agonists in the nephritic models was examined.

Prevention of acute and chronic allograft rejection by a novel retinoic acid receptor-alpha-selective agonist.

To investigate the involvement of retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-alpha in allograft rejection, we investigated the effect of a novel selective agonist to the receptor, ER-38925, in a mouse cardiac allograft model. Prophylactic treatment with ER-38925 inhibited the acute rejection of the mouse cardiac allograft (BALB/c --> C3H/HeN) at 0.3 and 3 mg/kg, and its effect was enhanced in combination with tacrolimus.

Effects of TGF-beta and TGF-beta-neutralizing antibody on normal skin fibroblasts and scar-derived fibroblasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is known as an important cytokine for scar formation in wound healing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TGF-beta and its neutralizing antibody on normal skin fibroblasts and scar-derived fibroblasts in culture. Endogenous TGF-beta levels were similar in all fibroblasts.

False aneurysm of the ascending aorta concomitant with chronic mediastinitis after tube graft replacement in octogenarian.

An 81-year-old man developed impending rupture of a false aneurysm of the ascending aorta concomitant with chronic mediastinitis lasting for 10 years after tube graft replacement. He had undergone various infection-related mediastinal surgical procedures. He was successfully treated by debridement of infected tissues, patch repair of the false aneurysm, and transposition of the right latissimus dorsi muscle flap.

A library construction of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole compounds by using solid/solution-phase syntheses.

Using solid- and solution-phase synthesis, a library of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole compounds was constructed. This is the first report that Stetter reaction was applied to the solid-phase synthesis for C-C bond formation. Some of 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole compounds showed the inhibitory activity of LPS-induced mouse B-lymphocyte proliferation.

Minimally invasive functional reconstruction after extended oropharyngeal resection including soft palate and base of tongue using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.

Excision of large oropharyngeal carcinomas that affect the base of the tongue and the soft palate severely impairs swallowing and articulation. In the present study we describe a minimally invasive technique that effectively restores swallowing and articulation by the insertion of a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap with a bilobular skin island. One lobe of the skin island is used to reconstruct the base of the tongue and the other to reconstruct the oropharynx.