Escherichia coli-derived outer-membrane vesicles induce immune activation and progression of cirrhosis in mice and humans.

Background And Aims: Decompensated cirrhosis with fibrosis progression causes portal hypertension followed by an oedematous intestinal tract. These conditions weaken the barrier function against bacteria in the intestinal tract, a condition called leaky gut, resulting in invasion by bacteria and bacterial components. Here, we investigated the role of outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs) of Escherichia coli, which is the representative pathogenic gut-derived bacteria in patients with cirrhosis in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis.

Small extracellular vesicles and liver diseases: From diagnosis to therapy.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially small EVs (sEVs) derived from liver cells, have been the focus of much attention in the normal physiology and pathogenesis of various diseases affecting the liver. sEVs are approximately 100 nm in size, enclosed within lipid bilayers, and are very stable. The lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, including miRNAs, contained within these vesicles are known to play important roles in intercellular communication.

Synthesized HMGB1 peptide prevents the progression of inflammation, steatosis, fibrosis, and tumor occurrence in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis mouse model.

Aim: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with fibrosis eventually leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, the development of therapies other than dietary restriction and exercise, particularly those that suppress steatosis and fibrosis of the liver and have a long-term beneficial effect, is necessary. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the HMGB1 peptide synthesized from box A using the melanocortin-4 receptor-deficient (Mc4r-KO) NASH model mouse.

Lone-Pair-Induced Intra- and Interlayer Polarizations in Sillén-Aurivillius Layered Perovskite BiNbOBr.

Sillén-Aurivillius layered perovskite oxyhalides BiO ( = Nb, Ta; = Cl, Br) are of great interest because of their potential as lead-free ferroelectrics in addition to their function as visible-light-responsive photocatalysts. In this work, we revisited the crystal structure of BiNbOBr (space group: 2), revealing that the intralayer polarization is not based on the reported NbO octahedral tilting but is derived from the stereochemically active Bi lone pair electrons (LPEs) and the octahedral off-centering of Nb cations. The revised structure (space group: ) has additional interlayer polarizations (calculated: 0.

Novel Strategy for Diagnosis of Focal Nodular Hyperplasia Using Gadolinium Ethoxybenzyl Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic Acid: Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Elastography.

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most frequent benign liver tumor, and it is a fiber-rich stiff lesion. Typically, FNH can be diagnosed by imaging without biopsy. However, liver biopsy and diagnostic resection may be required to differentiate atypical FNH from other liver tumors, such as hepatocellular adenoma (HCA).

Synthesized HMGB1 peptide attenuates liver inflammation and suppresses fibrosis in mice.

The liver has a high regenerative ability and can induce spontaneous regression of fibrosis when early liver damage occurs; however, these abilities are lost when chronic liver damage results in decompensated cirrhosis. Cell therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and macrophage therapies, have attracted attention as potential strategies for mitigating liver fibrosis. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of HMGB1 peptide synthesized from box A of high mobility group box 1 protein.

Risk of delayed bleeding after hot snare polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection in the colorectum with continuation of anticoagulants.

Background: Current guidelines recommend the temporary discontinuation of anticoagulants before colonoscopic polypectomy, but the effect of this practice on reducing the risk of delayed bleeding after hot snare polypectomy (HSP) and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the impact of anticoagulants on the risk of colorectal delayed bleeding after HSP and EMR, and evaluate the necessity of drug withdrawal.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of patients with colorectal polyps using antithrombotic drugs who underwent HSP and/or EMR between January 2016 and September 2020 at Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital.

Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells and their exosomes in severe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

The novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the ensuing worldwide pandemic. The spread of the virus has had global effects such as activity restriction, economic stagnation, and collapse of healthcare infrastructure. Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a cytokine storm, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ failure, which are very serious health conditions and must be mitigated or resolved as soon as possible.

Esophageal Ulcers Associated with Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Series and Literature Review.

Ulcerative colitis, a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease, is localized to the colonic mucosa but can affect other organs and lead to various complications. Gastroduodenitis associated with ulcerative colitis has been reported. However, little is known about esophageal ulcers.

Foucault imaging and small-angle electron diffraction in controlled external magnetic fields.

We report a method for acquiring Foucault images and small-angle electron diffraction patterns in external magnetic fields using a conventional transmission electron microscope without any modification. In the electron optical system that we have constructed, external magnetic fields parallel to the optical axis can be controlled using the objective lens pole piece under weak excitation conditions in the Foucault mode and the diffraction mode. We observe two ferromagnetic perovskite-type manganese oxides, LaSrMnO (LSMO) and NdSrMnO, in order to visualize magnetic domains and their magnetic responses to external magnetic fields.

A Fluctuating State in the Framework Compounds (Ba,Sr)Al2O4.

The structural fluctuation in hexagonal Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Al2O4 with a corner-sharing AlO4 tetrahedral network was characterized at various temperatures using transmission electron microscopy experiments. For x ≤ 0.05, soft modes of q ~ (1/2, 1/2, 0) and equivalent wave vectors condense at a transition temperature (TC) and form a superstructure with a cell volume of 2a × 2b × c.

Differential effects of chrysin on nitrofurantoin pharmacokinetics mediated by intestinal breast cancer resistance protein in rats and mice.

Purpose: The activities of breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp/ABCG2) as well as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and drug-metabolizing enzymes can be inhibited by several flavonoids or drugs in rats. However, the species, gender and regional differences of effects of flavonoids on Bcrp/ABCG2 in rats and mice remain unclear, although Bcrp, like P-gp, is also important in controlling drug absorption and disposition.

Methods: We used chrysin as a model flavonoid because it possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and is used as a dietary supplement.

Wetting-Dewetting oscillations of liquid films during solution-mediated vacuum deposition of rubrene.

We found a novel oscillating phenomenon associated with surface wetting during the vacuum deposition of an organic semiconductor (rubrene) on a liquid film (bis(2-ethylhexyl)sebacate, B2EHS). In-situ observations by an optical microscope revealed that the oscillation was associated with the growth of the rubrene crystals. The oscillation frequency was proportional to the evaporation rate of rubrene.