Clinical characteristics of patients with inguinal hernia mesh migration into the bladder.

Introduction: We report two cases of mesh migration into the bladder after inguinal hernia surgery. Case presentation: In the first case, a 48-year-old woman who underwent right internal inguinal hernia repair, 18 months prior, presented with pollakiuria and microscopic hematuria that was resistant to antibiotics. A submucosal tumor was detected at the bladder dome by cystoscopy, and transurethral resection was performed. Intraoperatively, a migrated mesh was observed in the submucosal lesion. In the second case, a 55-year-old man who underwent a right external inguinal hernia repair, approximately 14 years prior, presented with persistent microscopic hematuria and pyuria. Cystoscopy revealed mesh migration to the upper right bladder wall. Both patients underwent partial cystectomy with mesh removal, and their complaints were resolved after surgery. Conclusion: Mesh migration should be suspected in patients with a history of inguinal hernia repair, accompanied by persistent lower urinary tract symptoms or abnormal urinalysis findings.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer diagnosed during leuprorelin treatment for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

Introduction: We report a prostate cancer case diagnosed during leuprorelin treatment for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy which is a X-linked recessive, lower motor neuron disease. Case presentation: A 64-year-old man who had received leuprorelin treatment over 3 years for his spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy presented with an enlarged prostate accompanied by abdominal pain and constipation. An abnormally high serum prostate-specific antigen of 17.7 ng/mL and a low (castration level) serum testosterone level of 0.23 ng/mL were measured. Prostate needle biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Orchiectomy, darolutamide, and radiation therapy for the prostate were initiated, resulting in a favorable response which was maintained at 12 months of treatment. Conclusion: Prostate cancer can occur even when leuprorelin is used for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy; therefore, checking serum prostate-specific antigen to screen for prostate cancer before leuprorelin administration should be considered.

Toxicological effects of Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate exposure in adult male rats differ depending on the history of exposure in the neonatal period.

There is increasing concern about multiple high concentration exposure to toxins in disaster and emergency situations. However, conventional toxicology testing methods may not adequately address these situations. Thus, we assessed whether the toxic effects of exposure in the adulthood differ depending on the presence or absence of neonatal exposure to Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) in male rats to investigate the effects of exposure history of chemicals. In the neonatal stage [postnatal days (PNDs) 1-7], animals were treated with either sesame oil (5 ml/kg/day) as a control or TDCIPP (250 mg/kg/day) dissolved in sesame oil. In adulthood (PND 101-107), animals were treated with either sesame oil (5 ml/kg/day) or TDCIPP (650 mg/kg/day). One day after the final administration, dissection was performed, and body and organ weight, hematology, blood biochemistry, and histopathology were examined. The results demonstrated that the toxic effects of TDCIPP exposure in adulthood on adrenal gland size, serum iron content, and unsaturated iron binding capacity were enhanced by TDCIPP exposure in the neonatal stage. From these findings, it was indicated that the toxic effects of TDCIPP exposure in the adult stage are affected by pediatric exposure. These results suggest that the toxic effects of high-dose and long-term unsteady exposure to chemicals in large-scale disasters may change based on the exposure history of chemicals.

Possible effects of voluntary exercise intensity on anxiety-like behavior and its underlying molecular mechanisms in the hippocampus: Results from a study in Hatano rats.

The prevalence of neuropsychiatric diseases, including anxiety disorders, has increased in recent years. A better understanding of the mechanisms mediating symptoms in these disorders is essential for developing treatments. Although voluntary exercise can alleviate symptoms, its anxiolytic effect varies with the intensity of the activity. Therefore, to investigate the usefulness of voluntary exercise in alleviating the symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders, assessing its effect based on intensity is required. Hatano rats, consisting of high- and low-avoidance animals (HAA and LAA, respectively), differ in their propensity to voluntary exercise. These animals are useful for examining the effects of voluntary running activity differing in intensity on anxiety-like behavior. We housed Hatano rats in cages containing locked or unlocked running wheels starting at 4 weeks of age, conducted elevated plus maze test at 8 weeks of age, followed by plasma corticosterone measurement and DNA microarray analysis on hippocampal tissue at 9 weeks of age. Our results show that only LAA (mild-intensity running animals), but not HAA (high-intensity running animals), had reduced anxiety-like behavior without plasma corticosterone change. In addition, LAA had increased immunity-related gene expression, but decreased proteolysis-related gene expression. Our findings suggest that mild-intensity voluntary running mediates the anxiolytic effect of exercise and is regulated through increasing the expression of immunity-related genes or decreasing the expression of proteolysis-related genes in the hippocampus.

Effects of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate on epididymal sperm parameters in adult male rats.

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) is widely used as a flame retardant and is known to exhibit anti-androgenic effects in vitro and in vivo. To assess the reproductive toxicity potency of TDCIPP, we investigated the effects of 7 days of TDCIPP oral administration on epididymal sperm motion and concentration in adult male Wistar-Imamichi rats. Thirty-five days after the final administration, sperm parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Results showed that sperm swimming progression and vigor and sperm concentration in TDCIPP-treated rats were unexpectedly higher than those in control rats. TDCIPP did not significantly affect the percentage of motile sperms or sperm swimming pattern. These results contribute to the understanding of the biological effects of TDCIPP.

Novel toxicity of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate in adult male rats.

The widespread use of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) as a flame retardant has led to its release to the environment. Thus, the toxicological effects of TDCIPP on humans and animals are of importance. For better understanding of its potential toxicities, TDCIPP (250, 500, or 650 mg/kg/day) or vehicle control was administrated orally to adult male Wistar-Imamichi rats for 7 days. After the final administration of compounds, organ weights, histopathology, blood biochemistry, and hematology were examined. Hepatic toxicity was observed at doses ≥ 500 mg/kg/day of TDCIPP, and renal toxicity was observed at 650 mg/kg/day. The anti-androgenic activity of TDCIPP was previously confirmed in vitro and in vivo, but weights of epididymis, an androgen-dependent organ, were not affected by TDCIPP treatment in adults. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly decreased in all TDCIPP-treated rats independent of dose. Hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, red blood cell count, and reticulocyte count were decreased in all TDCIPP-treated rats, but mean corpuscular volume, total iron-binding capacity, and serum iron were normal, suggesting that renal anemia was caused by TDCIPP. Together with previous reports on effects of anti-androgenic substances on red blood cell indices, anemia caused by TDCIPP could be due to its anti-androgenic activity. These considerations will contribute to further assessment of the toxicity of the compound.

Muse Cells, Nontumorigenic Pluripotent-Like Stem Cells, Have Liver Regeneration Capacity Through Specific Homing and Cell Replacement in a Mouse Model of Liver Fibrosis.

Muse cells, a novel type of nontumorigenic pluripotent-like stem cells, reside in the bone marrow, skin, and adipose tissue and are collectable as cells positive for pluripotent surface marker SSEA-3. They are able to differentiate into cells representative of all three germ layers. The capacity of intravenously injected human bone marrow-derived Muse cells to repair an immunodeficient mouse model of liver fibrosis was evaluated in this study. The cells exhibited the ability to spontaneously differentiate into hepatoblast/hepatocyte lineage cells in vitro. They demonstrated a high migration capacity toward the serum and liver section of carbon tetrachloride-treated mice in vitro. In vivo, they specifically accumulated in the liver, but not in other organs except, to a lesser extent, in the lungs at 2 weeks after intravenous injection in the liver fibrosis model. After homing, Muse cells spontaneously differentiated in vivo into HepPar-1 (71.1 ± 15.2%), human albumin (54.3 ± 8.2%), and anti-trypsin (47.9 ± 4.6%)-positive cells without fusing with host hepatocytes, and expressed mature functional markers such as human CYP1A2 and human Glc-6-Pase at 8 weeks after injection. Recovery in serum, total bilirubin, and albumin and significant attenuation of fibrosis were recognized with statistical differences between the Muse cell-transplanted group and the control groups, which received the vehicle or the same number of a non-Muse cell population of MSCs (MSCs in which Muse cells were eliminated). Thus, unlike ESCs and iPSCs, Muse cells are unique in their efficient migration and integration into the damaged liver after intravenous injection, nontumorigenicity, and spontaneous differentiation into hepatocytes, rendering induction into hepatocytes prior to transplantation unnecessary. They may repair liver fibrosis by two simple steps: expansion after collection from the bone marrow and intravenous injection. A therapeutic strategy such as this is feasible and may provide significant advancements toward liver regeneration in patients with liver disease.