Accumulation of beta-catenin protein and mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin gene in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.

The molecular basis of carcinogenesis in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors is not well understood. To clarify the contribution of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling to this type of carcinogenesis, we investigated 72 cases of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor both immunohistochemically and by direct sequencing of beta-catenin. Accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus was observed in 57 cases (79.

Myrsinionosides A-E: megastigmane glycosides from the leaves of Myrsine seguinii Lev.

Eight megastigmane glycosides were isolated from the leaves of Myrsine seguinii collected in Okinawa. Three of them were found to be known compounds, i.e.

Regression of both pituitary and ovarian cysts after administration of thyroid hormone in a case of primary hypothyroidism.

We report a 19-year-old woman who was diagnosed as polycystic ovary. Hypothyroidism with a markedly elevated TSH level and an enlarged pituitary gland on MRI were noted. The 123I uptake was decreased to 6.

[Patient-controlled epidural analgesia with bupivacaine and fentanyl suppresses postoperative delirium following hepatectomy].

Postoperative delirium occurs frequently following major surgery, especially after hepatectomy. We hypothesized that better methods of postoperative pain control would decrease postoperative delirium. To clarify the magnitude of postoperative pain and incidence of postoperative delirium in hepatectomy patients, subjects received patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) using bupivacaine and fentanyl (Group P), or continuous epidural mepivacaine (Group E) following intraoperative epidural administration of morphine.

SGLT gene expression in primary lung cancers and their metastatic lesions.

Cancer cells show increased glucose uptake and utilization in comparison with their normal counterparts. Glucose transporters play an important role in glucose uptake. We previously reported the differential gene expression of the GLUT family in primary and metastatic lesions of lung cancer.

Small dose of prostaglandin E(1) increases cardiac output without altering blood volume.

Study Objective: To investigate the effect of small dose of intravenous (IV) prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) on blood volume (BV) and cardiac output (CO) by pulse dye-densitometry (PDD) in patients administered isoflurane anesthesia.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: University hospital.

Induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 by docetaxel in peripheral mononuclear cells and its expression in lung cancer.

Several recent studies have demonstrated that the cytochrome p450 (CYP) family plays an important role in the metabolism of taxanes. However, the role of CYP gene expression in tumors and peripheral mononuclear cells (PMN) is unknown. We therefore investigated the levels of CYP3A4 and CYP2C gene expression using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in PMN from 16 previously untreated lung cancer patients to determine whether the expression of the two genes is induced by docetaxel (TXT).

Determination of acrolein by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

We developed a headspace solid-phase microextraction (headspace SPME) method to measure acrolein in human urine. This new technique resolves some problems with the headspace gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method which we developed previously. With the original method, a column and a filament were damaged by the injection of air.

Glochiflavanosides A-D: flavanol glucosides from the leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum (Gaertn) A. Juss.

From the leaves of Glochidion zeylanicum collected in Okinawa, four flavanol glucosides, named as glochiflavanosides A-D were isolated along with known flavone C-glucosides, vitexin and isoorientin. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses.

Nitric oxide in guinea pig vestibular sensory cells following gentamicin exposure in vitro.

Gentamicin-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) in the vestibular end organs of the guinea pig was investigated using the new fluorescence indicator 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate for direct detection of NO. Utricular maculae and isolated vestibular sensory cells were examined to locate NO production sites. The fluorescence intensity of the sensory cells was augmented by stimulation with gentamicin.

An iridoid gentiobioside, a benzophenone glucoside and acylated flavone C-glycosides from Tripterospermum japonicum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim.

From aerial parts of Tripterospermum japonicum, 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylmorroniside, benzophenone glucoside, named triptephenoside and 2'''- and 4'''-O-acetyl-2''-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosylisovitexins were isolated, along with known iridoid and secoiridoid glucosides, and C-glycosyl flavones.

Are DNA ploidy and epidermal growth factor receptor prognostic factors for untreated ovarian cancer? A prospective study.

To identify prognostic factors for untreated ovarian cancer, DNA ploidy, proliferative index (P.I.) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression were analyzed in a prospective series of 40 patients with ovarian cancer and 7 patients with borderline malignant ovarian tumor followed up for 5 years or more (median, 77 months).

Apoptosis is not increased in myocardium overexpressing type 2 angiotensin II receptor in transgenic mice.

To determine whether angiotensin type 2 (AT(2)) receptor stimulation induces apoptosis in cardiomyocytes in vivo, we developed transgenic mice overexpressing the AT(2) receptor in a cardiac-specific manner, using the alpha-myosin heavy-chain promoter. Ten- to 12-week-old male homozygous transgenic mice (n=44) and wild-type mice (n=44) were used. Both transgenic and wild-type mice were given either saline (control), a subpressor dose of angiotensin II (100 ng.

[Measures against environmental and life-style problems in the patients with hypertension].

It is well known that the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is multi-factorial, and that the environmental and genetic factors and their interaction play important roles on pathogenesis of hypertension. The environmental factors consist of natural environmental factors, such as weather, seasons, temperature, soil and water, and social environmental factors, such as human relationship, socioeconomic status, residence, education, stress and life-style. Life-style modification including salt restriction, body weight reduction, mineral supplementation, aerobic exercise, alcohol restriction, cessation of smoking and release from psychoemotional stress is the basic strategy for antihypertensive therapy.

Gasless hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer: an option for poor cardiopulmonary reserve.

Gasless hand-assisted surgery, an alternative technique for colorectal cancer, is described. The abdomen is lifted by two metal disks especially designed for this procedure. The gasless condition evokes no hazard from pneumoperitoneum, and the procedure is greatly simplified by the hand assistance.

[A case of juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma with unusual neuroimaging features].

We present a case of cerebellar juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma(JPA) with unusual neuroimaging features. The patient was a 14-year-old male who suffered from chronic headaches for a couple of weeks. Plain craniogram showed a decalcification and bulging of the occipital bone.

[A case of lung adenocarcinoma showing diffuse air-space consolidation with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia].

Routine chest radiography demonstrated abnormal opacities in the right lower lung field of a 54-year-old man with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. A high-resolution chest CT scan showed diffuse air-space consolidation in the right lower lung with replacement of a honeycomb area. The diagnosis was adenocarcinoma, and a right lower lobectomy was performed.

Identification of leukemia inhibitory factor as a potent mast cell growth-enhancing factor produced by mouse keratinocyte cell line, KCMH-1.

Inoculation of KCMH-1 cells, a keratinocyte-derived cell line established from a chemically induced skin tumor, into the skin of mice results in accumulation of mast cells around the resulting tumors. The conditioned medium of KCMH-1 cells enhances the growth of mast cells in vitro when they are cultured in the presence of NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, suggesting an important role for keratinocytes in mast cell hyperplasia in the skin. The aim of this study was to identify this mast cell growth-enhancing factor (MCGEF) by screening a KCMH-1 cDNA library.

Prediction of accelerated Ca-induced Ca release rate by clinical findings in malignant hyperthermia susceptible subjects.

Background: An abnormally accelerated Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) rate is known to be correlated with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS).

Objective: To analyze significant clinical findings concerning CICR rate and develop a computer program for its prediction in human MHS.

Patients And Method: Using data from 146 subjects who had received a muscle biopsy for the determination of CICR rate, because of their anesthesia-related MHS history, we analyzed 23 different clinical features.

The main factor causing prolonged reaction time on force producing process following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

This study investigated the electromechanical properties of atrophied human quadriceps femoris muscle during a voluntarily elicited maximal isometric contraction (MVC) and a peripherally stimulated twitch contraction. Nineteen patients were recruited 2-3 months following a unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Both the involved leg as well as the uninvolved leg were studied.

Emergence of anti-inflammatory monocytes in long-term surviving hosts of IL-10-transduced liver allografts.

We previously reported that transduction of IL-10 to rat liver allografts facilitates survival prolongation after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). In the current study, we examined Lewis hosts of IL-10-transduced allografts that had survived longer than 50 days in order to characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Phenotype analysis of the PBMC demonstrated an 18-fold increase in monocytes (CD11b/c(+)) with a massive increase in the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio.

Cardiac vagal and sympathetic efferent discharges are differentially modified by stretch of skeletal muscle.

We directly measured cardiac vagal efferent nerve activity (CVNA) and cardiac sympathetic efferent nerve activity (CSNA) in cats decerebrated at the level of the precollicular-premammillary body while the hindlimb or the triceps surae muscle was passively stretched. CVNA gradually decreased during passive stretch of the hindlimb, and this decrease was sustained throughout the stretch. CSNA increased at the onset of passive stretch, but this increase was not sustained.