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Objective: The quality of life (QOL) and psychological states of patients with pectus excavatum (PE) have yet to be well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the health-related QOL (HRQOL), psychological states, and personality traits of patients with PE, alongside the associations of these factors with the severity of PE. Methods: A cross-sectional evaluation was prospectively performed in patients scheduled to undergo PE repair surgery between July 2019 and April 2021. The primary outcome was the patients' HRQOL, and the secondary outcomes were depression, social anxiety, self-efficacy, and personality traits. Results: In total, 129 patients were subjected to analyses. Patients' HRQOL had a lower role component summary score (mean ± standard deviation: 41.8 ± 12.8, P < .001) than the general population controls. Patients' HRQOL had a significantly better physical component summary (54.0 ± 10.4, P < .001) and mental component summary (53.3 ± 8.8, P < .001) than that of the general population. Fourteen patients' (10.9%) and 56 patients' (43.4%) scores indicated the presence of depression and social anxiety disorder, respectively. Patients' self-efficacy (46.1 ± 11.4, P, .001) and level of extraversion (46.5 ± 11.8, P < .001) were lower than those of the general population. No significant correlation was found between the severity of PE and these scores. Conclusions: Our study revealed that patients with PE had decreased social-role QOL, depressive tendencies, increased social anxiety, lower self-efficacy, and introversion. No correlation between the severity of PE and the patients' psychological outcomes leads us to conclude that surgical implications of PE should not be decided solely by a physical index.
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The NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2 (NAC) domain transcription factor VND-INTERACTING2 (VNI2) negatively regulates xylem vessel formation by interacting with another NAC domain transcription factor, VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7 (VND7), a master regulator of xylem vessel formation. Here, we screened interacting proteins with VNI2 using yeast two-hybrid assay and isolated two NAC domain transcription factors, Arabidopsis thaliana ACTIVATION FACTOR 2 (ATAF2) and NAC DOMAIN CONTAINING PROTEIN 102 (ANAC102). A transient gene expression assay showed that ATAF2 upregulates the expression of genes involved in leaf senescence, and VNI2 effectively inhibits the transcriptional activation activity of ATAF2. vni2 mutants accelerate leaf senescence, whereas ataf2 mutants delay leaf senescence. In addition, the accelerated leaf senescence phenotype of the vni2 mutant is recovered by simultaneous mutation of ATAF2. Our findings strongly suggest that VNI2 interacts with and inhibits ATAF2, resulting in negatively regulating leaf senescence.
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Compensatory plastic changes in the remaining intact brain regions are supposedly involved in functional recovery following stroke. Previously, a compensatory increase in cortical activation occurred in the ventral premotor cortex (PMv), which contributed to the recovery of dexterous hand movement in a macaque model of unilateral internal capsular infarcts. Herein, we investigated the structural plastic changes underlying functional changes together with voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of magnetic resonance imaging data and immunohistochemical analysis using SMI-32 antibody in a macaque model. Unilateral internal capsular infarcts were pharmacologically induced in 5 macaques, and another 5 macaques were used as intact controls for immunohistochemical analysis. Three months post infarcts, we observed significant increases in the gray matter volume (GMV) and the dendritic arborization of layer V pyramidal neurons in the contralesional rostral PMv (F5) as well as the primary motor cortex (M1). The histological analysis revealed shrinkage of neuronal soma and dendrites in the ipsilesional M1 and several premotor cortices, despite not always detecting GMV reduction by VBM analysis. In conclusion, compensatory structural changes occur in the contralesional F5 and M1 during motor recovery following internal capsular infarcts, and the dendritic growth of pyramidal neurons is partially correlated with GMV increase.
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The activity of deep-focus earthquakes, which increases with depth from ~400 km to a peak at ~600 km, is enigmatic, because conventional brittle failure is unlikely to occur at elevated pressures. It becomes increasingly clear that pressure-induced phase transitions of olivine are responsible for the occurrence of the earthquakes, based on deformation experiments under pressure. However, many such experiments were made using analogue materials and those on mantle olivine are required to verify the hypotheses developed by these studies. Here we report the results of deformation experiments on (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 olivine at 11-17 GPa and 860-1350 K, equivalent to the conditions of the slabs subducted into the mantle transition zone. We find that throughgoing faulting occurs only at very limited temperatures of 1100-1160 K, accompanied by intense acoustic emissions at the onset of rupture. Fault sliding aided by shear heating occurs along a weak layer, which is formed via linking-up of lenticular packets filled with nanocrystalline olivine and wadsleyite. Our study suggests that transformational faulting occurs on the isothermal surface of the metastable olivine wedge in slabs, leading to deep-focus earthquakes in limited regions and depth range.
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A 71-year-old man complained of nausea and loss of appetite for eight months prior to admission. He was transported to a hospital with disorientation and diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism by laboratory examinations. However, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and technetium-99m labeled methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) with single-photon emission computed tomography did not yield definite results. In contrast, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy successfully identified the lesion responsible for the over-secretion of parathyroid hormone within the middle mediastinum. The tumor was successfully resected by surgery, and a histopathological analysis confirmed the parathyroid adenoma nature of the tumor.
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Adenoma , Neoplasias das Paratireoides , Adenoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Adenoma/cirurgia , Idoso , Humanos , Masculino , Glândulas Paratireoides , Neoplasias das Paratireoides/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias das Paratireoides/cirurgia , Cintilografia , Compostos Radiofarmacêuticos , Receptores de Somatostatina , Tecnécio Tc 99m Sestamibi , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão de Fóton ÚnicoRESUMO
Sleeve resection and double-barreled reconstruction are very rarely adopted for peripheral bronchial tumors. This surgical procedure was used for a carcinoid tumor in the bifurcation of the left upper and lower lobe bronchi. Bronchoplasty was accomplished by suturing the upper and basal bronchi together and anastomosing them to the left main bronchus. The techniques for double-barreled reconstruction described in this report obtained a successful result. These manipulations may be applicable to resection of other bronchial and tracheal bifurcations.
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Brônquios/cirurgia , Neoplasias Brônquicas/cirurgia , Tumor Carcinoide/cirurgia , Procedimentos de Cirurgia Plástica/métodos , Pneumonectomia/métodos , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Torácicos/métodos , Brônquios/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Brônquicas/diagnóstico , Broncoscopia , Tumor Carcinoide/diagnóstico , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) was readily converted into Chl-d under mild conditions without any enzymes. Treatment of Chl-a dissolved in dry tetrahydrofuran (THF) with thiophenol and acetic acid at room temperature successfully produced Chl-d in 31% yield. During the acidic oxidation, removal of the central magnesium, pheophytinization, was sufficiently suppressed. This mild pathway can give insights into the yet unidentified Chl-d biosynthesis.
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Clorofila/química , Oxigênio/química , Absorção , Ácido Acético/química , Clorofila A , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão/métodos , Radicais Livres , Furanos/química , Técnicas In Vitro , Magnésio/química , Modelos Químicos , Oxirredução , Fenóis/química , Spinacia oleracea/metabolismo , Compostos de Sulfidrila/química , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Tumor angiogenesis is necessary for solid tumor progression and metastasis. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is known to play an important role in cancer growth and invasion, and it activates the signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. COX-2 is reported to be expressed in many cancer cells. Several studies have reported successful treatment of cancer cells with COX-2 inhibitors (COX-2is). However, the effect of COX-2 inhibition on the tumor endothelium remains to be elucidated. Our study shows that COX-2 is expressed in the vasculature of surgically resected human tumors. To investigate the effects of COX-2 inhibition on the tumor endothelium in vitro, we isolated tumor endothelial cells (TECs) from human melanoma and oral carcinoma xenografts in mice, in which we confirmed that tumor growth was suppressed by inhibiting angiogenesis with the COX-2is NS398. COX-2 mRNA was upregulated in TECs compared to normal endothelial cells (NECs). Cell migration and proliferation were suppressed by NS398 in TECs but not in NECs. The effects of NS398 in vivo were consistent with the in vitro results. The number of CD133+ /vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2+ cells in circulation was significantly suppressed by COX-2 inhibition. In addition, the number of progenitor marker-positive cells decreased in the tumor blood vessels after COX-2i treatment, which suggests that the homing of progenitor cells into the tumor was also blocked. We conclude that NS398 specifically targets both TECs and vascular progenitor cells without affecting NECs.
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Inibidores de Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/uso terapêutico , Endotélio Vascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Melanoma/irrigação sanguínea , Melanoma/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Bucais/irrigação sanguínea , Neoplasias Bucais/tratamento farmacológico , Neovascularização Patológica/prevenção & controle , Células-Tronco/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Western Blotting , Movimento Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Cultivadas , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/química , Ciclo-Oxigenase 2/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Melanoma/patologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Nus , Neoplasias Bucais/patologia , Nitrobenzenos/uso terapêutico , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Sulfonamidas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
The C3-vinyl group of a chlorophyll derivative, methyl pyropheophorbide-a, was converted into the formyl group by a novel one-pot reaction with thiophenol at room temperature. The mild reaction can provide insight into development of 'green' catalysts displacing OsO(4) or O(3), and into elucidation of unknown biosynthetic processes of chlorophyll-d.
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Clorofila/análogos & derivados , Catálise , Clorofila/síntese química , Clorofila/química , Clorofila A , Tetróxido de Ósmio/química , Oxirredução , Fenóis/química , Compostos de Sulfidrila/químicaRESUMO
Tumor angiogenesis is necessary for solid tumor progression and metastasis. Increasing evidence indicates that tumor endothelial cells (TECs) are more relevant to the study of tumor angiogenesis than normal endothelial cells (NECs) because their morphologies and gene expression are different from NECs. However, it is challenging to isolate and culture large numbers of pure ECs from tumor tissue since the percentage of ECs is only about 1-2% and tumor cells and fibroblasts easily overgrow them. In addition, there has been concern that isolated TECs may lose their special phenotype once they are dissociated from tumor cells. In this study, we have successfully purified murine TECs from four different human tumor xenografts and NECs from murine dermal tissue. Isolated ECs expressed endothelial markers, such as CD31, VE-cadherin (CD144), and endoglin (CD105), for more than 3 months after isolation. TECs maintained tumor endothelial-specific markers, such as tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) and aminopeptidase N (APN), as in tumor blood vessels in vivo. In addition, TECs were more proliferative and motile than NECs. TECs showed a higher response to VEGF and higher expression of VEGF receptors-1 and -2 than NECs did. Stem cell antigen-1 was up-regulated in all four TECs, suggesting that they have a kind of stemness. Cultured TECs maintain distinct biological differences from NECs as in vivo. In conclusion, it was suggested that TECs are relevant material for tumor angiogenesis research.
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Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Células Endoteliais/patologia , Neovascularização Patológica/patologia , Inibidores da Angiogênese/isolamento & purificação , Inibidores da Angiogênese/farmacologia , Animais , Antígenos CD/biossíntese , Antígenos CD1/biossíntese , Biomarcadores Tumorais/biossíntese , Caderinas/biossíntese , Ensaios de Seleção de Medicamentos Antitumorais , Endoglina , Células Endoteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Camundongos , Proteínas dos Microfilamentos , Neovascularização Patológica/metabolismo , Receptores de Superfície Celular , Receptores de Peptídeos/biossíntese , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/farmacologiaRESUMO
The polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) in green tea suppresses tumor growth by direct action on tumor cells and by inhibition of angiogenesis, but it is not known whether it specifically inhibits tumor angiogenesis. We examined the anti-angiogenic effect of EGCG on tumor-associated endothelial cells (TEC), endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), and normal endothelial cells (NEC). EGCG suppressed the migration of TEC and EPC but not NEC. EGCG also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt in TEC but not in NEC. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor-induced mobilization of EPC into circulation was inhibited by EGCG. MMP-9 in the bone marrow plasma plays key roles in EPC mobilization into circulation. We observed that expression of MMP-9 mRNA was downregulated by EGCG in mouse bone marrow stromal cells. In an in vivo model, EGCG suppressed growth of melanoma and reduced microvessel density. Our study showed that EGCG has selective anti-angiogenic effects on TEC and EPC. It is suggested that EGCG could be a promising angiogenesis inhibitor for cancer therapy.
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Anticarcinógenos/farmacologia , Catequina/análogos & derivados , Células Endoteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Melanoma/metabolismo , Neovascularização Patológica/metabolismo , Células-Tronco/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Western Blotting , Catequina/farmacologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Movimento Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Regulação para Baixo , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Citometria de Fluxo , Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Metaloproteinase 9 da Matriz/efeitos dos fármacos , Metaloproteinase 9 da Matriz/metabolismo , Melanoma/genética , Melanoma/patologia , Camundongos , Microvasos/efeitos dos fármacos , Microvasos/metabolismo , Neovascularização Patológica/genética , Neovascularização Patológica/patologia , Fenóis/farmacologia , Polifenóis , RNA Mensageiro/análise , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Chá , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de XenoenxertoRESUMO
Field emission energy distributions of electrons from one of the six pentagons located at the end of a multi-wall carbon nanotube have been measured by means of a high-resolution cylindrical energy analyzer. In a clean pentagon, the sub-peak was obtained at about 500 meV below the main peak, exhibiting a shift with increasing applied voltage. For electrons emitted from an adsorbate onto the pentagon, no fine structure was observed in the spectra. The broadening of the leading edge was also observed for both clean and adsorbed pentagon, indicating the field penetration into the nanotube due to its semimetallic nature. The full-width at half-maximum was 280 meV at the applied voltage of 660 V and increased linearly with applied voltage.