Possible involvement of sphingomyelin in the regulation of the plasma sphingosine 1-phosphate level in human subjects.

Objectives: Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid mediator. Although the plasma S1P concentration is reportedly determined by cellular components, including erythrocytes, platelets, and vascular endothelial cells, the possible involvement of other factors, such as serum sphingomyelin (SM) and autotaxin (ATX), remains to be elucidated.

Design And Methods: We measured S1P using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), SM and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) using enzymatic assays, ATX antigen using a two-site enzyme immunoassay, and ATX activity using a lysophospholipase D activity assay.

Possible involvement of minor lysophospholipids in the increase in plasma lysophosphatidic acid in acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: Lysophosphatidic acids (LPA) have important roles in the field of vascular biology and are derived mainly from lysophosphatidylcholine via autotaxin. However, in our previous study, only the plasma LPA levels, and not the serum autotaxin levels, increased in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to elucidate the pathway by which LPA is increased in patients with ACS.

Exacerbation of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis deriving from zinc deficiency in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease.

The role of zinc (Zn) in hepatic steatosis of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD-C) remains uncertain, although persistent HCV infection often evokes hepatic steatosis. The primary purpose of this study was to elucidate the contribution of Zn deficiency to hepatic steatosis in patients with CLD-C. Fifty nondiabetic patients with CLD-C were enrolled.

Diversity of humoral responses to the centromere proteins among HCV-related chronic liver disease, PBC and AIH patients.

Background: Anticentromere antibodies (ACAs) have been observed in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease (CLD-C) as well as those with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, little is known about the differences in immune responses to the centromere proteins among these liver diseases.

Objective: By synthesizing recombinant proteins consisting of the N- and C-termini of major centromere proteins, we investigated the humoral responses against them in each disease.

[A case of acute autoimmune hepatitis presenting after incomplete-type CREST syndrome and chronic thyroiditis].

A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute hepatitis of unknown origin. She had a history of incomplete-type CREST (calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia) syndrome and chronic thyroiditis approximately 10 years earlier. Although she achieved spontaneous remission without treatment, she was re-admitted 18 months later due to recurrent liver dysfunction.

Oral administration of eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid modifies cardiac function and ameliorates congestive heart failure in male rats.

This study assessed the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on normal cardiac function (part 1) and congestive heart failure (CHF) (part 2) through electrocardiogram analysis and determination of EPA, DHA, and arachidonic acid (AA) concentrations in rat hearts. In part 2, pathologic assessments were also performed. For part 1 of this study, 4-wk-old male rats were divided into a control group and 2 experimental groups.

Effects of squalene/squalane on dopamine levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and fatty acid composition in the striatum of Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Active oxygen has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD); therefore, antioxidants have attracted attention as a potential way to prevent this disease. Squalene, a natural triterpene and an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol, is known to have active oxygen scavenging activities. Squalane, synthesized by complete hydrogenation of squalene, does not have active oxygen scavenging activities.

The effects measurement of hand massage by the autonomic activity and psychological indicators.

This study examined the effects of hand massage on autonomic activity, anxiety, relaxation and sense of affinity by performing it to healthy people before applying the technic in actual clinical practice. Findings were showed below: 1) the significant increase in the pNN50 and the significant decrease in the heart rate meant the intervention of massage increased the autonomic nervous activity, improved the parasympathetic nerve activity and reduced the sympathetic nerve activity. This means the subjects were considered to be in a state of relaxation.

[New parameters "average flow" and "acceleration wave": comparison with current parameters in the flow volume curve].

Aim: The flow volume curve is an essential test method for diagnosis and treatment of the respiratory diseases. However, this curve depends on patient's continuous effort toward optimal expiration and it has been reported that differences in this effort may possibly result in error in flow speed. To overcome the potential error, we devised the "average flow" and the "acceleration wave" that comprehends the overall data of the expiration flow speed, and have done comparative analysis with the current parameters.

Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in epithelial ovarian cancer: an approach to anti-VEGF therapy.

Aim: A monoclonal antibody that targeted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) resulted in a dramatic suppression of tumor growth in vivo, which led to the development of bevacizumab, a humanized variant of anti-VEGF antibody, as an anticancer agent. The aims of this study were to clarify the significance of VEGF gene expression in relation to clinicopathological parameters and to identify potential candidates for anti-VEGF therapy with bevacizumab.

Patients And Methods: VEGF gene expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 178 surgical epithelial ovarian cancer specimens.

Association of metastin/a G-protein-coupled receptor signaling and Down syndrome critical region 1 in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Unlabelled: It has been revealed that metastin/a G-protein-coupled receptor (AXOR12) signaling enhances the expression of Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1), known to be duplicated in Down syndrome, and suppresses tumor metastasis in in vitro study. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether gene expression of metastin/AXOR12 signaling system is correlated with that of DSCR1 and consequently affect prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: The expression levels of metastin, AXOR12, DSCR1 isoform 1 (DSCR1-1), DSCR1 isoform 4 (DSCR1-4), calcineurin, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene expression were analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 102 epithelial ovarian cancer surgical specimens.

Expression of metastin and a G-protein-coupled receptor (AXOR12) in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background: Metastin, a product of the KiSS-1 gene, is a ligand for a G-protein-coupled receptor (AXOR12) and is a strong suppressant of metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether metastin and AXOR12 gene expressions affect prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Methods: The expression levels of metastin, AXOR12 and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene expression were analysed by the real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 76 epithelial ovarian cancer surgical specimens.