Vasopressin V1a receptor is required for nucleocytoplasmic transport of mineralocorticoid receptor.

We previously reported that a deficiency in the vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) results in type 4 renal tubular acidosis, which suggests that vasopressin exerts direct effects on the physiological actions of aldosterone. We investigated the role of vasopressin for nucleocytoplasmic transport of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the intercalated cells. Vasopressin V1aR-deficient (V1aR(-/-)) mice showed largely decreased expression of MR and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11βHSD2) in the medulla of the kidney, which was partially ameliorated by fludrocortisone treatment.

Helicobacter pylori, a carcinogen, induces the expression of melanoma antigen-encoding gene (Mage)-A3, a cancer/testis antigen.

Cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) are known to be expressed in various cancer types but are minimally or not expressed in normal tissues except for germline tissues. CTAs are attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy and diagnosis because of their restricted expression. The mechanisms of CTAs expression are unclear because the inducers of CTAs expression remain to be elucidated.

[A case of squamous cell cancer of the breast in which effective hemostasis was obtained by preoperative emergency radiation].

A case was a 40-year-old woman. Her right breast was presented with massive bleeding ulcer and fixed with a pectoral muscle. Diagnosis of Stage IIIb breast cancer( T4b, N1, M0) showed a high inflammatory response and severe anemia.

Acute intrahepatic cholestasis accompanied with Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection.

We report a case of Chlamydophila (C.) pneumoniae infection presenting with fever and rapid intrahepatic cholestasis. A 63-year-old man had a week-long history of intermittent high fever and rapidly progressive jaundice with atypical erythema.

Oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 augments protection against influenza virus infection in mice.

Host-defense mechanisms against influenza virus (IFV) infection involve both innate and acquired immunities. Among other components, secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the airway mucosa plays a particularly pivotal role in preventing IFV infection. Among 150 strains of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) has the highest IgA-inducing potency in mouse Peyer's patch cells.

Overexpression of apelin receptor (APJ/AGTRL1) on hepatic stellate cells and sinusoidal angiogenesis in human cirrhotic liver.

Background: The apelin receptor (APJ) is related to angiotensin-like-receptor 1 (AGTRL1). This study was designed to elucidate the in vivo localization and changes of APJ in cirrhotic liver, and the in vitro changes of APJ expression in cultured hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and capillarized sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) activated by growth factors.

Methods: In vivo studies used control liver samples, cirrhotic liver samples from patients with Child's A cirrhosis undergoing surgical resection (Child-A-LC), and cirrhotic liver samples from autopsied cases of decompensated Child's C cirrhosis (Child-C-LC).

Aberrant expressions of aquaporin-1 in association with capillarized sinusoidal endothelial cells in cirrhotic rat liver.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are key regulators of water channels across the cell cytoplasm. Little is known about AQP localization and changes in the hepatic microvascular system. This study aimed to clarify the localization of AQP-1 in the microvessels in normal and cirrhotic rat liver.

Generalization of prism adaptation for wheelchair driving task in patients with unilateral spatial neglect.

Objectives: To verify the efficacy of prism adaptation as a practical means of rehabilitation for subjects with unilateral spatial neglect by conducting goal-directed tasks in the presence of similar visual flankers in the right hemispace using an activity of daily living, namely, wheelchair operation.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Rehabilitation center located in Japan.

Synchronization between cardiac and respiratory rhythms in healthy subjects and patients.

Synchronization between cardiac and respiratory rhythms may be important for oxygen transport to tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the synchronization between cardiac and respiratory rhythms. We evaluated the rhythms in 12 healthy males and 24 patients.

Caveolin-1 and Rac regulate endothelial capillary-like tubular formation and fenestral contraction in sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Background/aims: Rho guanidine triphosphatases (GTPases) are major regulators of cell migration. We investigated the cytoskeleton and Rho GTPases during cell migration and morphogenesis processes in isolated rat liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) cultured on Matrigel while stimulated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Methods: To obtain primary monolayers, LSECs were cultured on Matrigel for 5-17 h with or without VEGF.

Autoimmune hepatitis associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

A 46-year-old woman presented with arthralgia. She had a history of fluctuating liver function impairment for 6 months. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated liver function test results, positive antinuclear antibodies and elevated serum IgG.

A case of primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with chronic hepatitis C.

We report a case of primary hepatic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 67-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C. Laboratory data revealed slightly elevated liver function parameters and positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody. Abdominal ultrasonography showed hypoechoic lesions approximately 5 mm in diameter in the whole liver.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with long-term survival treated by S-1/paclitaxel as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy].

A 61-year-old male presented with advanced gastric cancer with lymph node swelling around the root of superior mesenteric artery lymph nodes and invasion of pancreas. We thought a complete resection would be difficult, so he was given neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in combination with S-11 20 mg/body/day (3 weeks administration and 1 week rest) and paclitaxel (PTX) 80 mg/m(2) (day 1, 8, 15). After 2 courses of this neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor and lymph node swelling decreased in size.

New insights into the dynamics of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Ultrastructural studies have shown that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) contain a cytoskeletal framework of filamentous actin, and that the presence of actin in the form of a calmodulin-actomyosin complex is responsible for regulation of the diameter of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrae (SEF). Rho has emerged as an important regulator of the actin cytoskeleton and consequently of cell morphology. We investigated actin filaments in relation to SEF in LSEC using heavy meromyosin decorated reaction and elucidated the roles of Rho and actin cytoskeleton in morphological and functional alterations of SEF.

Isolated volar dislocation of the fifth carpometacarpal joint: a case report.

Isolated volar dislocation of the fifth carpometacarpal joint is a very rare injury. We present two cases of isolated volar dislocation of the fifth carpometacarpal joint treated successfully with percutaneous skeletal fixation.

[A case report of a terminally ill patient who achieved good pain control by pharmaceutical intervention in home terminal care].

We provided consultations with pharmacists to a terminally ill patient with radicular pain at his home. Before pharmaceutical intervention, the patient's compliance had been poor and consequently he had not achieved stable pain. The pharmacists suggested changes in the pharmacological and physical regimen that satisfied both the patient and his family.

Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer dynamic and static single photon emission computed tomography in crossed cerebellar diaschisis.

A 69-year-old man with a past history of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion had cerebral single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD). Dynamic SPECT in the super-early phase revealed normal uptake in the left cerebellum and hypoactivity in the right MCA territory. Conventional static SPECT revealed decreased cerebral blood flow in the right MCA territory and the left cerebellum, indicating crossed cerebellar diaschisis.

[A case of long-term, high-dose transdermal fentanyl application for lung cancer pain].

Transdermal fentanyl patch represents a new administration route for cancer pain relief. We reported here a successful experience with a high-dose of transdermal fentanyl for cancer pain therapy. A 71-year-old woman suffering from metastatic lung cancer to bone had already been treated with radiation at a different hospital.

Quantitation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene messenger RNA in gliomas by means of real-time RT-PCR and clinical response to nitrosoureas.

1. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) mRNA was measured in 50 malignant gliomas that had received 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidynyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) after the resection of the tumor by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using TaqMan probe. 2.

Down-regulation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase gene expression in gliomas by platinum compounds.

Forty-two patients with malignant gliomas that had received two courses of chemotherapy more than 2 months apart were examined. Among these 42 patients, 31 were treated with 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidynyl) methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU), and 11 were treated with platinum compounds such as cis-platinum (CDDP) or carboplatin (CBDCA), as the first-line chemotherapy. The response rate of the second chemotherapy in the 31 patients treated first with ACNU was significantly lower than that in the 11 patients treated with platinum compounds, regardless of the type of the second chemotherapy (P=0.

Compensation of intraoperative transcranial motor-evoked potential monitoring by compound muscle action potential after peripheral nerve stimulation.

It is often difficult to evaluate the results of transcranial motor-evoked potential (TCMEP) monitoring in patients under general anesthesia because these results are strongly affected by anesthetics and muscle relaxants. To exclude effects of muscle relaxants on TCMEP, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) by supramaximum stimulation of the median nerve immediately after transcranial stimulation (300 to 600 V) was recorded in 70 neurosurgical operations. A relative amplitude index (RAI) was defined as the amplitude of TCMEP after the operative procedure divided by the amplitude of TCMEP before the operative procedure.

Expression of adhesion molecules on mature cholangiocytes in canal of Hering and bile ductules in wedge biopsy samples of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Aim: To examine the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) expression on canals of Hering (CoH) and bile ductules associated with the autoimmune process of bile duct destruction in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Methods: Ten wedged liver biopsies of PBC (five cases each of stages 2 and 3) were studied. The liver specimens were processed for transmission electron microscopy.