Internet survey of childhood asthma and use of inhaled therapy in the home in Japan.

Background: The aim of the present study is to undertake a survey of childhood asthma and details of the use of inhaled therapy from mothers with asthmatic children
Methods: This study was done on a nationwide scale in Japan during the latter half of July 2001.

Results: Responses were obtained from 748 mothers.

Endoscopy-assisted transanal division of an apical pouch bridge after restorative proctocolectomy with a J-shaped ileal pouch.

Restorative proctocolectomy and J-shaped ileal pouch-anal anastomosis have been performed as a standard operation for ulcerative colitis. However, functional problems are sometimes troublesome in the postoperative period. The J pouch was constructed from 2 ileal limbs using the gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA) stapler.

Performance of integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT in the diagnosis of recurrent uterine cancer: comparison with PET and enhanced CT.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) with iodinated contrast agent and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in the diagnosis of suspected uterine cancer recurrence and to assess the impact of PET/CT findings on clinical management, compared with PET alone and enhanced CT alone.

Methods: Of 103 women who had undergone treatment for histopathologically proven uterine cervical or endometrial cancer, 90 underwent FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT examination for suspected recurrence. PET-alone, CT-alone, and fused PET/CT images were interpreted by two radiologists by consensus for each investigation.

Effects of Th2 pulmonary inflammation in mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Background And Objective: Leucocytes, especially lymphocytes and neutrophils, as well as alveolar macrophages, that infiltrate into the lung are involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the role of T helper (Th)2-type inflammation, mediated by Th2 cells and eosinophils, in fibrosis remains unknown. Transgenic mice deficient in the transcriptional repressor, Bcl6, display an attenuation of Th2 cytokine production.

Anti-proliferative effect of interferon-gamma is enhanced by iron chelation in colon cancer cell lines in vitro.

Background/aims: The receptor of interferon-gamma (IFN-gammaR) consists of IFN-gammaR1 and R2. Resistance to the anti-proliferative effect of IFN-gamma is due to downregulation of IFN-gammaR2. The aim of this study was to investigate whether iron chelation could upregulate IFN-gammaR2 and enhance the anti-proliferative effect of IFN-gamma in colon cancer cell lines.

Newly designed ergonomic surgical binocular telescope with angulated optic axis.

Objective: Magnification by surgical loupes has the distinct merits of agility and nimbleness in observation, a wide stereo base effectuating superior depth sensation, and light augmentation by an objective lens that is larger than the pupil. However, continuous use of these loupes causes neck strain for surgeons as a result of flexion posture and fatigue. To minimize the strain and fatigue and maximize the advantages and performance of binocular telescopes, we have developed a novel optical design.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus with rapid growth of lymph node. A case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the esophagus (UCE) treated with chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil plus nedaplatin and radiotherapy. The patient developed rapid growth of lymph nodes and died of massive hematemesis 2 months after the diagnosis. UCE is rare but highly malignant.

Cilostazol inhibits cytokine-induced nuclear factor-kappaB activation via AMP-activated protein kinase activation in vascular endothelial cells.

Aims: Cilostazol is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 that increases intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels and activates protein kinase A, thereby inhibiting platelet aggregation and inducing peripheral vasodilation. We hypothesized that cilostazol may prevent inflammatory cytokine induced-nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in vascular endothelial cells.

Methods And Results: Cilostazol was observed to activate AMPK and its downstream target, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Diagnostic accuracy of integrated FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT in staging ovarian cancer: comparison with enhanced CT.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of integrated positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) with IV contrast for preoperative staging of ovarian cancer, in comparison with enhanced CT, using surgical and histopathological findings as the reference standard.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients with ovarian cancer underwent FDG-PET/contrast-enhanced CT scans for staging before primary debulking surgery. PET/CT and the CT component separately, were interpreted by two experienced radiologists by consensus for each investigation.

POSSUM is an optimal system for predicting mortality due to colorectal perforation.

Background/aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the most useful predictive scoring system for the postoperative mortality of patients with colorectal perforation using the Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality (POSSUM).

Methodology: First, the 3 scoring systems were applied to all patients, and the efficacy of these systems was compared between survivors and non-survivors. Second, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, optimal cut-off values were determined for each system and patients were divided into another two groups (high score group and low score group).

Development of the human parvocellular red nucleus. A morphological study.

Morphology of the human parvocellular red nucleus (RNp) was investigated in 14 fetuses aged from 12 to 39 weeks of gestation (WG). The brains were processed into celloidin-embedded serial sections. At 12 WG, the anlage of RNp was observed as an ovoid mass of immature neurons clustering into some groups.

[Characterization of eosinophils in soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma].

Background: Soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma assumes the form of a poorly-demarcated painless mass, and is characterized by marked eosinophil infiltration. Although this tumor decreases in size in response to steroid therapy, it grows again after discontinuation of it, and ultimately proves intractable to treatment. We recently attempted to characterize electron-microscopically the eosinophils in the area affected by soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma.

Role of the Transcriptional Repressor BCL6 in Allergic Response and Inflammation.

Various molecules participate in different phases of allergic reactions. This means that many genes are encoding molecules related to allergic reactions, such as cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors as effect or molecules. The transcriptional repressor BCL6 has emerged as a multifunctional regulator of lymphocyte differentiation and immune responses.

Glimepiride upregulates eNOS activity and inhibits cytokine-induced NF-kappaB activation through a phosphoinoside 3-kinase-Akt-dependent pathway.

Aims: Several studies suggest increased mortality postcoronary angioplasty in patients on sulphonylureas. However, a theoretical reduction in cardiac risk has been suggested with the newer sulphonylurea agents, which differ from the first-generation agents. In the present study, we investigated whether a third generation of sulphonylurea, glimepiride, might stimulate nitric oxide (NO) production and thereby inhibit cytokine-induced nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation in endothelial cells compared with the classical sulphonylurea glibenclamide.

EXTL3 promoter methylation down-regulates EXTL3 and heparan sulphate expression in mucinous colorectal cancers.

Exostoses like-3 (EXTL3) is a putative tumour suppressor gene but its involvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. We have investigated the role of methylation of the EXTL3 promoter as a mechanism for EXTL3 regulation and tested the hypothesis that loss of EXTL3 expression is associated with mucinous differentiation and alteration of glycoprotein expression in CRC cells. The methylation status of the EXTL3 gene promoter was analysed by methylation-specific PCR following bisulphite modification in CRC cell lines and microdissected primary CRC tissues and their corresponding adjacent normal colorectal mucosa.

Expression of hepcidin mRNA is uniformly suppressed in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The present study evaluated the expression of hepcidin mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Samples of cancerous and non-cancerous liver tissue were taken from 40 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy. Expression of hepcidin mRNA was evaluated by real-time PCR, and compared in tumors differing in their degree of differentiation, number of tumors, and vessel invasion.

Adiponectin induces NF-kappaB activation that leads to suppression of cytokine-induced NF-kappaB activation in vascular endothelial cells: globular adiponectin vs. high molecular weight adiponectin.

Adiponectin circulates in plasma as various isoforms. However, the biological activity of each isoform has not been firmly established. High molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin may be the active form of adiponectin, while a proteolytic cleavage product of adiponectin, known as globular adiponectin (gAd), has recently been shown to activate vascular endothelial cells.

Neuromodulation for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Neuromodulation has been reported to be effective for the treatment of stress and urgency urinary incontinence. The cure and improvement rates of pelvic floor neuromodulation in urinary incontinence are 30-50% and 60-90%, respectively. In clinical practice, vaginal, anal and surface electrodes are used for external, short-term stimulation, and sacral nerve stimulation for internal, chronic (long-term) stimulation.

Accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of integrated PET and CT (PET/CT) using (18)F-FDG in detecting pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer, using surgical and histopathologic findings as the reference standard.

Subjects And Methods: Forty patients with clinical stages IA to IIIC underwent radical hysterectomy, including pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without paraaortic lymphadenectomy, after FDG PET/CT. Lymphadenectomy involved removing all visible lymph nodes in the surgical fields.

Middle bile duct cancer with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Background: Tumor thrombus in the portal vein is a common complication of hepatocellular carcinoma, but an extremely rare complication of common bile duct cancer.

Case Presentation: A 78-year-old woman was referred to our department because of jaundice. Laboratory data showed severe liver dysfunction with high serum levels of total bilirubin and CA19-9.

Herbal medicine, Hachimi-jio-gan, and its component cinnamomi cortex activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha in renal cells.

Hachimi-jio-gan is widely used to improve several disorders associated with diabetes, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. In an attempt to clarify the mechanism of Hachimi-jio-gan, we investigated the effects of this herbal medicine and its components in transfection studies of CV1 cells, especially nuclear receptor-mediated actions. One half (0.

High molecular weight adiponectin activates AMPK and suppresses cytokine-induced NF-kappaB activation in vascular endothelial cells.

Various isoforms of adiponectin circulate in the plasma. We purified high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin from human plasma. HMW adiponectin was observed to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), thereby increasing the phosphorylation of eNOS and NO production in endothelial cells.