Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suppressing invasiveness of bile duct cancer cells: An study.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features are associated with pathological severity in the progression and metastasis of various cancer types, including bile duct cancer (BDC). Our previous study demonstrated that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) blocked the EGFR-MAPK signaling pathway and inhibited the invasion of BDC cells. The present study was performed to determine whether UDCA inhibits EMT and promotes the expression of E-cadherin to inhibit the invasion and aggressiveness of BDC.

Hydrogen-Rich Water Improves Cognitive Ability and Induces Antioxidative, Antiapoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in an Acute Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Mouse Model.

Background: Cerebral ischemia and its reperfusion injury facilitate serious neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia due to cell death; however, there is currently no treatment for it. Reactive oxygen species is one of the many factors that induce and worsen the development of such diseases, and it can be targeted by hydrogen treatment. This study examined the effect of molecular hydrogen in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is emerging as a novel therapeutic agent for various diseases.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone Changes Following Laparoscopic Ovarian Cystectomy: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Purpose: To investigate whether laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy (LOC) affects ovarian reserve.

Patients And Methods: In 46 premenopausal women, who underwent either LOC (study group, n=26) or laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) (control group, n=20), serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels were measured pre-operatively (AMH0), and postoperatively at 7 days (AMH1), 2 months (AMH2), and 6 months (AMH3). Changes in AMH from baseline level (AMH0) in each group were compared.

Impact of Dexmedetomidine on Tourniquet-Induced Systemic Effects in Total Knee Arthroplasty under Spinal Anesthesia: a Prospective Randomized, Double-Blinded Study.

Background: Clinical studies on the impact of dexmedetomidine on tourniquet-induced systemic effects have been inconsistent. We investigated the impact of dexmedetomidine on tourniquet-induced systemic effects in total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: Eighty patients were randomly assigned to either control (CON) or dexmedetomidine (DEX) group.

Risk Factors Associated with Failure of Cephalomedullary Nail Fixation in the Treatment of Trochanteric Hip Fractures.

Background: Intramedullary (IM) nailing is widely performed in elderly patients with trochanteric fractures. Thus, it is important to identify causative factors associated with fixation failure. We investigated fixation failures after IM nailing in elderly patients with trochanteric fractures and compared the failure group with nonfailure group to identify risk factors of fixation failure.

The Effect of Buccal Fat Pad Graft in the Palatoplasty and the Risk Factor of Postoperative Palatal Fistula.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of buccal fat pad (BFP) in the palatoplasty and to investigate the risk factors associated with postoperative palatal fistula formation.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-five cleft palate patients were enrolled for this study. Clinical data regarding sex, age, type of cleft, surgical technique, the ratio of cleft width, and BFP graft were collected.

Clinical Outcomes of U-blade Gamma3 Nails Used to Treat Patients with Trochanteric Fractures: Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the radiologic and clinical results of U-blade Gamma3 nail use for the treatment of trochanteric fractures.

Materials And Methods: Between September 2015 and May 2018, all patients aged 65 years and older who underwent surgery with U-blade Gamma3 nails were analyzed. A total of 129 patients were selected based on having at least six months of follow-up.

Case series: Use of stromal lenticule as patch graft.

Purpose: To introduce cases of the use, as patch grafts, of stromal lenticules obtained by small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery.

Observations: Case 1 was a 79-year-old man who presented with Ahmed-valve-tube exposure in his left eye. His uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/40, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 20/32, and intraocular pressure (IOP) 11 mmHg.

Impending extrusion of Ex-PRESS shunt treated by shunt-position adjustment: a case report.

Background: To report a case of impending extrusion of Ex-PRESS shunt treated by shunt-position adjustment.

Case Presentation: A 56-year-old Asian woman presented with impending extrusion and malposition of Ex-PRESS shunt in her left eye. The bleb of the left eye was shallow and diffuse.

Baseline Renal Function Predicts Hyponatremia in Liver Cirrhosis Patients Treated with Terlipressin for Variceal Bleeding.

Objectives: Terlipressin is safely used for acute variceal bleeding. However, side effects, such as hyponatremia, although very rare, can occur. We investigated the development of hyponatremia in cirrhotic patients who had acute variceal bleeding treated with terlipressin and the identification of the risk factors associated with the development of hyponatremia.

Prognostic Significance of Hemodynamic and Clinical Stages in the Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Goals: Early identification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with improved survival for patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). We evaluated the prognostic significance of hemodynamic stage (HS) and clinical stage (CS) in predicting HCC in CLD patients.

Methods: Between January 2006 and May 2014, 801 patients with CLD who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement were prospectively enrolled.

Fluorometric determination of the redox state and distribution of mitochondria in human malignant glioblastoma cells grown on different culturing substrates.

Objectives: To evaluate the redox state and the spatial distribution of mitochondria in malignant human brain cancer cells grown on different substrates.

Methods: Cellular autofluorescence images were obtained through an inverted fluorescence microscope and the redox fluorometric ratio was evaluated (after the subtraction of background) as the net fluorescence signal through the DAPI filter divided by the net fluorescence signal through the FITC filter. Spatial mitochondria distribution patterns were evaluated by division of the cell area at the midpoint between the nuclear and cell membranes.