Advanced Preoperative Clinical Stage Is Associated With More Lymph Node Harvest in Patients With Right Colon Cancer.

Purpose: The adequacy of lymph node (LN) harvest is important in oncological colon cancer resections. While several studies have suggested factors influencing LN yield in colon cancer, limited data are available only regarding right hemicolectomies with complete mesocolic excision (CME) and central vessel ligation (CVL).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 169 patients who underwent right hemicolectomies with CME and CVL for right-sided colon cancer between February 2019 and March 2023.

Trans-abdominal single-incision robotic surgery with the da Vinci SP® surgical system for 8 cases of retrorectal tumour.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate transabdominal single-incision robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP (dVSP, Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) surgical system for retrorectal tumours.

Methods: Eight patients who underwent surgical excision of retrorectal tumours using the dVSP surgical system were retrospectively analysed.

Results: Five patients (62.

Radioprotective effects of mistletoe extract in zebrafish embryos in vivo.

Radioprotectors can enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy, but their clinical use remains uncommon. The present study aimed to assess the radioprotective potential of mistletoe extract (commercial name: Abnoba Viscum), a well-known complementary cancer medicine, in zebrafish larvae. Wild-type AB zebrafish embryos at 4 h-post-fertilization were exposed to 5 Gy 9-MeV electron beam irradiation after being treated for 1 h with 4 mMl/L amifostine or 0.

In vivo assay of the potential gadolinium-induced toxicity for sensory hair cells using a zebrafish animal model.

Recently, intratympanic injection of gadolinium-based contrast agent (GdC) is growing in use to visualize the endolymphatic hydrops. Although GdC has been quite safely used over 20 years through intravenous injection, the biological influence of GdC on sensory hair cells needs to be thoroughly assessed for wider clinical application of it through intratympanic injection. In this in vivo experimental study, the summated number of sensory hair cells (SO1, SO2, O1 and OC1 neuromasts) showed a steep decrease in the group exposed to 10% and 20% GdC (35.

What Is the Role of Epidural Steroid Injections in Lumbar Spinal Disease with Moderate Disability?

Unlabelled: Epidural steroid injections have been gaining popularity as an alternative to surgical treatment of radicular pain with associated spinal derangement. To determine the effectiveness and indications of lumbar epidural steroid injections in patients with or without surgery, we performed a prospective observational study. We gathered data from 262 degenerative short-segment spinal disease patients (affected at one or 2 levels) with greater than 12 weeks of medication-resistant radicular pain without neurological deficits but with moderate disability (visual analog scale < 6.

A Novel Long-Acting Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonist with Improved Efficacy in Insulin Secretion and β-Cell Growth.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone produced by cleavage of proglucagon in intestinal L-cells. In the pancreas, GLP-1 stimulates post-prandial insulin secretion, promotes insulin biosynthesis, and improves insulin sensitivity. Because of its insulinotropic activity, GLP-1 has been considered a good candidate drug for treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Indications for repeat diagnostic medial branch nerve blocks following a failed first medial branch nerve block.

No studies have directly measured the false negative rate of medial branch block (MBB) with correlation to medial branch neurotomy (MBN) outcome. We investigated the potential false negative MBB rate and the subsequent MBN outcome on a consecutive audit of all patients undergoing a double MBB protocol. We prospectively collected audit data and retrospectively collected data by phone on 229 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic MBB.

Nociceptive and pro-inflammatory effects of dimethylallyl pyrophosphate via TRPV4 activation.

Background And Purpose: Sensory neuronal and epidermal transient receptor potential ion channels (TRPs) serve an important role as pain sensor molecules. While many natural and synthetic ligands for sensory TRPs have been identified, little is known about the endogenous activator for TRPV4. Recently, we reported that endogenous metabolites produced by the mevalonate pathway regulate the activities of sensory neuronal TRPs.

Recombinant fusion protein of albumin-retinol binding protein inactivates stellate cells.

Quiescent pancreatic- (PSCs) and hepatic- (HSCs) stellate cells store vitamin A (retinol) in lipid droplets via retinol binding protein (RBP) receptor and, when activated by profibrogenic stimuli, they transform into myofibroblast-like cells which play a key role in the fibrogenesis. Despite extensive investigations, there is, however, currently no appropriate therapy available for tissue fibrosis. We previously showed that the expression of albumin, composed of three homologous domains (I-III), inhibits stellate cell activation, which requires its high-affinity fatty acid-binding sites asymmetrically distributed in domain I and III.

Inhibition of sensory neuronal TRPs contributes to anti-nociception by butamben.

Butamben (n-butyl-p-aminobenzoic acid) is a pain-relieving local anesthetic for topical use. Blockade of voltage-gated channel expressed in the peripheral sensory neurons has been suggested as a mechanism of action. Its effects on another sensory neuronal channel family, transient receptor potential (TRP) have remained unclear.

17(R)-resolvin D1 specifically inhibits transient receptor potential ion channel vanilloid 3 leading to peripheral antinociception.

Background And Purpose: Transient receptor potential ion channel vanilloid 3 (TRPV3) is expressed in skin keratinocytes and plays an important role in thermal and chemical nociceptions in the periphery. The presence of TRPV3 inhibitors would improve our understanding of TRPV3 function and help to develop receptor-specific analgesics. However, little is known about physiological substances that specifically inhibit TRPV3 activity.

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate is a novel antinociceptive substance that inhibits TRPV3 and TRPA1 ion channels.

Transient receptor potential ion channels (TRPs) expressed in the periphery sense and electrically transduce noxious stimuli to transmit the signals to the brain. Many natural and synthetic ligands for the sensory TRPs have been found, but little is known about endogenous inhibitors of these TRP channels. Recently, we reported that farnesyl pyrophosphate, an endogenous substance produced in the mevalonate pathway, is a specific activator for TRPV3.

Endogenous lipid-derived ligands for sensory TRP ion channels and their pain modulation.

Environmental or internal noxious stimuli excite the primary sensory nerves in our body. The sensory nerves relay these signals by electrical discharges to the brain, leading to pain perception. Six transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels are expressed in the sensory nerve terminals and play a crucial role in sensing diverse noxious stimuli.

Resolvin D1 attenuates activation of sensory transient receptor potential channels leading to multiple anti-nociception.

Background And Purpose: Temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential ion channels (thermoTRPs) expressed in primary sensory neurons and skin keratinocytes play a crucial role as peripheral pain detectors. Many natural and synthetic ligands have been found to act on thermoTRPs, but little is known about endogenous compounds that inhibit these TRPs. Here, we asked whether resolvin D1 (RvD1), a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid molecule is able to affect the TRP channel activation.

Albumin expression is required for adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells.

We have previously demonstrated that albumin is directly involved in the formation of cytoplasmic lipid droplets in pancreatic stellate cells and may act as a downstream effector of adipogenic transcription factors, PPAR-gamma and C/EBP-alpha. Here, we investigated the role of albumin in adipocyte differentiation using 3T3-L1 cells. Albumin expression was significantly increased at later stages of adipocyte differentiation, which was accompanied with increased C/EBP-beta binding to albumin promoter.

Farnesyl pyrophosphate is a novel pain-producing molecule via specific activation of TRPV3.

Temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential ion channels (thermoTRPs) expressed in epidermal keratinocytes and sensory afferents play an important role as peripheral pain detectors for our body. Many natural and synthetic compounds have been found to act on the thermoTRPs leading to altered nociception, but little is known about endogenous painful molecules activating TRPV3. Here, we show that farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), an intermediate metabolite in the mevalonate pathway, specifically activates TRPV3 among six thermoTRPs using Ca(2+) imaging and electrophysiology with cultured keratinocytes and TRPV3-overexpressing cells.

Albumin mediates PPAR-gamma or C/EBP-alpha-induced phenotypic changes in pancreatic stellate cells.

Activation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblast-like cells is a key event of liver fibrosis, and adipogenic transcription factors, PPAR-gamma and C/EBP-alpha, reverse HSC activation. As albumin was reported to maintain the quiescent phenotype of stellate cells, we examined whether it plays a role in PPAR-gamma and C/EBP-alpha-mediated effects. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) were isolated from rat pancreas and used in their culture-activated phenotype.

Lipoxygenase inhibitors suppressed carrageenan-induced Fos-expression and inflammatory pain responses in the rat.

Lipoxygenase (LO) metabolites are generated in inflamed tissues. However, it is unclear whether the inhibition of the LO activity regulates the expression of c-Fos protein, a pain marker in the spinal cord. Here we used a carrageenan-induced inflammation model to examine the role of LO in the development of c-Fos expression.

Formation of vitamin A lipid droplets in pancreatic stellate cells requires albumin.

Objective: Quiescent pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) store vitamin A as cytoplasmic lipid droplets, and, when activated by profibrogenic stimuli, they transform into myofibroblast-like cells characterised by the loss of vitamin A droplets. Activation of stellate cells is central to fibrogenesis, but the mechanism for the formation of vitamin A droplets and its relationship to stellate cell activation remain unclear.

Methods: With use of cultured PSCs, an attempt was made to characterise the function of albumin endogenously expressed in stellate cells.

TRP-independent inhibition of the phospholipase C pathway by natural sensory ligands.

Menthol, cinnamaldehyde, and camphor are activators for temperature-sensitive transient receptor potential ion channels (thermoTRPs). Here we found that these three compounds inhibit the phospholipase C (PLC) signaling. P2Y purinoceptor-mediated or histamine receptor-mediated cytosolic calcium mobilization through the PLC pathway was significantly suppressed by menthol, cinnamaldehyde, and camphor.

Gamma-irradiation enhances RECK protein levels in Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells.

Radiotherapy is an important treatment for many malignant tumors, but there are recent reports that radiation may increase the malignancy of cancer cells by stimulating expression of type IV collagenases. In this study, we examined changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors, such as the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2 and RECK, in response to irradiation in Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells. Irradiation increased RECK protein levels but not mRNA levels, whereas no significant changes were found in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2.

Transient receptor potential A1 mediates acetaldehyde-evoked pain sensation.

Six transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels expressed in the sensory afferents play an important role as body thermosensors and also as peripheral pain detectors. It is known that a number of natural compounds specifically activate those sensory neuronal TRP channels, and a well-known example is cinnamaldehyde for TRPA1. Here we show that human and mouse TRPA1 are activated by acetaldehyde, an intermediate substance of ethanol metabolism, in the HEK293T cell heterologous expression system and in cultured mouse trigeminal neurons.

Current concepts of nociception: nociceptive molecular sensors in sensory neurons.

Purpose Of Review: A large number of channels that are in some way linked to sensory transduction including nociception have been discovered in recent years. This review summarizes newly discovered channels that are implicated in nociception. Furthermore, details are discussed with emphasis on their possible application to clinical use as analgesics.

Transient receptor potential V2 expressed in sensory neurons is activated by probenecid.

Temperature-activated transient receptor potential ion channels (thermoTRPs) are known to function as ambient temperature sensors and are also involved in peripheral pain sensation. The thermoTRPs are activated by a variety of chemicals, of which specific activators have been utilized to explore the physiology of particular channels and sensory nerve subtypes. The use of capsaicin for TRPV1 is an exemplary case for nociceptor studies.