Evaluation of resectability after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for primary non-resectable colorectal liver metastases: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The Kyushu Study Group of Clinical Cancer (KSCC) previously reported the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 + bevacizumab for H2/H3 liver metastases of colorectal cancer. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the resectability of these metastases before and after chemotherapy as determined by independent liver surgeons. METHODS: Between May 2008 and April 2010, 40 patients were registered in a multicenter phase 2 trial of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (KSCC 0802). In Study 1, 5 independent liver surgeons from five different KSCC centers evaluated the resectability of liver metastases of colorectal cancer based on imaging studies performed before and after chemotherapy. Each surgeon was blinded to the other surgeons' evaluations. In addition, no information about the patients' characteristics was provided. In Study 2, 3 surgeons evaluated the resectability of these lesions based on imaging studies with discussion with each other, with the surgeons being provided with information on the patients' characteristics. RESULTS: In Study 1, 13 patients (36.1%) were evaluated to be resectable at baseline, whereas 17 patients (47.2%) were evaluated to be resectable after chemotherapy. In Study 2, 4 patients (11.1%) were evaluated to be resectable at baseline, compared to 23 patients (63.9%) after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 + bevacizumab was confirmed to increase the resectability of non-resectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer according to the independent assessments of surgeons.

Lower plasma arginine in enteral tube-fed patients with pressure ulcer and improved pressure ulcer healing after arginine supplementation by Arginaid Water.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the presence or extent of arginine deficiency in pressure ulcer (PU) patients on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding and to examine the effects of arginine supplementation on PU healing. DESIGN: All eligible PEG patients, with and without PU, were cross-sectionally assessed for plasma arginine. Three-month supplementation with arginine-enriched water (Arginaid Water) was performed on a subset of patients with PU. This intervention study was a prospective, non-controlled trial with 5 PU patients. SETTING: Geriatric ward of a rural clinical hospital in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine inpatients with PEG feeding were assessed for plasma arginine. Five of the 13 patients with PU and five of 26 patients without PU underwent amino acid profiling. INTERVENTION: Five of the patients with PU received Arginaid Water supplementation. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma amino acid measurements and biochemical analyses were performed. For those with PU on Arginaid Water supplementation, plasma arginine concentration and PU status were monitored every month. RESULTS: Patients with PU showed significantly lower plasma arginine concentration compared to those without PU (control vs. PU; 80.2±21.3 vs 62.8±14.7 nmol/ml, p<0.01). After the addition of Arginaid Water, plasma arginine concentration increased (before vs 3 months later; 57.9±1.8 vs 83.1±8.5, p<0.01), and PU area, perimeter, DESIGN-R and PUSH scores significantly improved. CONCLUSION: Plasma arginine was lower in PEG patients with PU. The healing rate of PU is improved with Arginaid Water supplementation. The findings from this study support the use of arginine supplementation in PEG patients with PU.

Effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on P300 of event-related potential.

When the odd stimulation is presented, the positive component of electroencephalograph is induced at around 300 ms after the odd stimulation. This positive component is called P300. Many studies suggest that P300 may result from the summation of activity from multiple generators located in widespread cortical and subcortical areas. However, there is still no conclusive indication of the sources of P300. In this paper, we focus on the left supramaginal gyrus as one of the sources of P300. We investigated the temporal aspect of this area using TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation). We investigated the relationship between the latency of the P300 and an effect of TMS when the left supramarginal gyrus was stimulated by TMS. In our previous study, we reported a method of removing stimulus artifact during TMS with Sample-and-Hold circuit and electroencephalogram (EEG) activity evoked by TMS could be measured successfully. In addition to this method, independent component analysis (ICA) was also applied to recorded EEG data in order to remove the stimulus artifact by off-line analysis. By using these methods, short latency (< 15 ms) EEG responses to TMS could be obtained. We stimulated the left supramarginal gyrus using a figure-eight coil during auditory oddball task. The TMS at 150 ms and 200 ms after the oddball sounds were presented. When the TMS was applied at 200 ms after the oddball stimulation, the peak response of P300 was delayed around 50 ms. Difference of the peak latency between the control measurement and the case of TMS applying at 150 ms was not significant. However, the differences of the peak latency of the control measurement and the peak latency of the measurement in the cases of TMS applying at 200 ms and 250 ms was significant (p<0.05). We considered that this delay was due to inhibiting to recognize the target stimulation.

The effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on experimental inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunoproteasome up-regulation enhances the processing of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and degradation of IkappaBalpha, which correlates with increased amounts of NF-kappaB in the various cells. Aberrant activation of NF-kappaB is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on experimental IBD. We investigated the effects of MG132 on intestinal inflammation and epithelial regeneration in both interleukin-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mice and mice with dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Body weight, histological findings and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA expression, epithelial cell proliferation and NF-kappaB p65 activity in colonic tissues were examined. The effects of MG132 on cell proliferation, migration and multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene expression were determined in vitro. MG132 ameliorated intestinal inflammation of IL-10(-/-) mice by decreasing TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the colonic tissues, which was associated with suppression of NF-kappaB activation, and reduced significantly the number of Ki-67-positive intestinal epithelial cells. On the other hand, MG132 did not reduce intestinal inflammation in mice with DSS-induced colitis, and delayed significantly the recovery of body weight and epithelial regeneration. MG132 also suppressed significantly epithelial cell proliferation, cell migration and MDR1 gene expression in vitro. Proteasome inhibition reduces T cell-mediated intestinal inflammation, but may interrupt both epithelial regeneration and barrier function of colonic mucosa. Optimal use of proteasome inhibitor should be kept in mind when we consider its clinical application for patients with IBD.

Global and region-specific analyses of apparent diffusion coefficient in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is an autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. Techniques for the quantitative assessment of neurodegenerative lesions remain to be established in this disease. We attempted to quantify global and region-specific neurodegeneration in DRPLA using analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. METHODS: Diffusion-weighted images (b = 1000 s/mm(2)) by echo-planar sequences were obtained with the use of a 1.5T clinical scanner. Whole-brain histogram and region of interest (ROI) analyses of ADC values as well as conventional MR imaging studies were performed in 6 patients with genetically confirmed DRPLA. RESULTS: Histograms demonstrated significantly higher mean ADC values in the patients than in age- and sex-matched control subjects (P < .01). ROI analysis revealed that the patients had significantly higher ADC values in the cerebellum and globus pallidus, preferentially affected regions (P < .05), but not in the thalamus, the region relatively spared in this disease. ADC values in the white matter were higher only in patients with adult-onset disease. Histogram analyses could more sensitively identify abnormalities than ROI analyses, because the former avoided errors associated with setting ROIs and thus had smaller P values on statistical analysis than the latter. CONCLUSIONS: Histogram ADC analyses were more sensitive for the detection of neurodegeneration in DRPLA than ROI analyses, whereas ROI analyses revealed regional alterations reflecting the distribution of pathologic changes. Thus, histogram and ROI analyses complement each other and may permit the sensitive, quantitative evaluation of neurodegeneration in DRPLA, especially that involving the globus pallidus showing normal T2 signals.

Identification and characterization of novel developmentally regulated neural-specific proteins, BRINP family.

Processes of neuronal differentiation involve activation of a set of neuronal specific genes and cessation of cell proliferation in postmitotic neurons. Previous studies revealed that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and retinoic acid (RA) play important roles in the differentiation of peripheral sympathetic neurons such as the synergistic induction of responsiveness to specific neurotrophic factors. In the present study, while trying to clarify the mechanism of the BMP/RA-actions, we identified a novel neural-specific protein, BMP/RA-inducible neural-specific protein-1 (BRINP1) which shows no similarity to other known proteins. Subsequently, two homologous proteins, BRINP2 and BRINP3, making up the BRINP family, are identified. Individual BRINP genes have distinct regulatory mechanisms of expression within the nervous system. In rodent brain, BRINP1 is expressed from earlier developmental stage, i.e. E9.5, and widely expressed in various neuronal layers and nuclei of the adult animal, while BRINP2 and BRINP3 were detectable from E11.5 and expressed in rather limited regions in a complementary manner. During the course of perinatal development of sympathetic neurons, BRINP1 is induced from earlier embryonic stage and further increased toward adult stage, while BRINP3 expressed from earlier stage is replaced by BRINP2 expression which increases postnatally in accordance with the action of BMP2 and RA. Furthermore, when expressed in nonneuronal cells, all three BRINP family proteins suppressed the cell cycle progression. Possible physiological functions of BRINP family members in the development of the nervous system are discussed.

Occurrence of organo-arsenicals in jellyfishes and their mucus.

Water-soluble arsenic compound fractions were extracted from seven species of jellyfishes and subjected to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) for arsenicals. A low content of arsenic was found to be the characteristic of jellyfish. Arsenobetaine (AB) was the major arsenic compound without exception in the tissues of the jellyfish species and mucus-blobs collected from some of them. Although the arsenic content in Beroe cucumis, which preys on Bolinopsis mikado, was more than 13 times that in B. mikado, the chromatograms of these two species were similar in the distribution pattern of arsenicals. The nine species of jellyfishes including two species treated in the previous paper can be classified into arsenocholine (AC)-rich and AC-poor species. Jellyfishes belonging to Semaostamae were classified as AC-rich species.

Brain lateralization for mismatch response to across- and within-category change of vowels.

Differences in hemispheric predominance between across- and within-category change perception of vowels were assessed using a whole-head magnetoencephalography. The magnetic mismatch responses (MMNm) to pure-tone and vowel within-category changes were significantly predominant in the right hemisphere; on the other hand, vowel across-category MMNm did not differ in power between hemispheres. The results suggest that both hemispheres are symmetrically activated in the preattentive across-category change perception of vowels, while the within-category change of a vowel is analyzed as the change in physical features of the stimuli, thus predominantly activating the right hemisphere. Thus, the relative contribution of the left auditory cortex in the preattentive speech processing may occur only at the level of perception of the vowel across-category change.

Sak serine-threonine kinase acts as an effector of Tec tyrosine kinase.

The murine sak gene encodes a putative serine-threonine kinase which is homologous to the members of the Plk/Polo family. Although Sak protein is presumed to be involved in cell growth mechanism, efforts have failed to demonstrate its kinase activity. Little has been, therefore, elucidated how Sak is regulated and how Sak contributes to cell proliferation. Tec is a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) which becomes activated by the stimulation of cytokine receptors, lymphocyte surface antigens, heterotrimeric G protein-linked receptors, and integrins. To clarify the in vivo function of Tec, we have tried to isolate the second messengers of Tec by using the yeast two-hybrid screening. One of such Tec-binding proteins turned out to be Sak. In human kidney 293 cells, Sak became tyrosine-phosphorylated by Tec, and the serine-threonine kinase activity of Sak was detected only under the presence of Tec, suggesting Sak to be an effector molecule of Tec. In addition, Tec activity efficiently protects Sak from the "PEST" sequence-dependent proteolysis. Internal deletion of the PEST sequences led to the stabilization of Sak proteins, and expression of these mutants acted suppressive to cell growth. Our data collectively supports a novel role of Sak acting in the PTK-mediated signaling pathway.

[Effects of nilvadipine on retinal microcirculation and systemic circulation].

PURPOSE: The effects of nilvadipine on retinal blood flow and systemic circulation were studied by the hydrogen clearance method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 10 male beagles. Under general anesthesia, nilvadipine (32 micrograms/ml/kg), dissolved in polyethylene glycols was injected into the stomach of 5 beagles, and only polyethylene glycols was injected into the stomach of the other 5 beagles as controls. Retinal tissue blood flow, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, central vein pressure, cardiac output, and systemic vessel resistance were measured over time and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Retinal tissue blood flow showed significant increase only in the Nilvadipine group (max 29.2%). No marked changes were observed in the systemic circulation in either group. The time to maximum blood concentration of Nilvadipine was 120 min, and the maximum blood concentration was 1.27 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Nilvadipine may directly and selectively increase retinal tissue blood flow, while having only minimal effect on systemic circulation including arterial blood pressure.

Magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots for the treatment of stress incontinence: an investigational study and placebo controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We designed an investigational study and placebo controlled trial to evaluate the potential efficacy of magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots for the treatment of stress incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 75 patients with stress incontinence were studied. A 15 Hz. repetitive magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots with 50% intensity output and duration of 5 seconds per minute was applied for 30 minutes. Urodynamic investigations under magnetic stimulation were performed in 13 patients to evaluate acute effects to lower urinary tract function. There were 62 women (mean age 58 years) enrolled in a placebo controlled study to investigate the short-term efficacy of magnetic stimulation. The number of leaks for 3 days, amount of urine loss on a pad test and quality of life score were evaluated before and 1 week after stimulation. RESULTS: The urodynamic investigations revealed an apparent elevation of urethral closure pressure induced by stimulation (mean 8.2 +/- 3.0 cm H2O, p = 0.0000004) and a significant increase in bladder capacity after stimulation (mean 40.0 +/- 51.0 ml., p = 0.0152). In the placebo controlled study the number of leaks and amount of urine loss on a pad test significantly decreased more in the active than in the sham stimulation group (p = 0.0023 and 0.0377, respectively). The quality of life score significantly improved in the active stimulation group (p = 0.0006) in contrast to no significant improvement in the sham stimulation group. The improvement rate in the active stimulation group was 74%, which was significantly higher than the 32% in the sham stimulation group (p = 0.0009). No adverse effects were noted in any patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots may be useful for the treatment of stress incontinence. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this potential treatment.

Early post-operative hyperbaric oxygen therapy modifies neutrophile activation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the effect of acute hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on post-operative sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) damage caused by activated neutrophils. METHODOLOGY: 12 non-cirrhotic patients (Group H), who underwent elective hepatectomy for liver cancer, were given 2 courses of HBOT: 2.0 atm with inhalation of 100% oxygen, for 60 min, at 3 hours and 24 hours after hepatectomy; they were then compared with the 12 patients (Group C) who had been treated to maintain normal hemodynamic values. RESULTS: In group H, peak levels of polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase (PMNE) and thrombomodulin (TM) were clearly diminished and delayed compared to Group C. All subjects in Group C showed more than a 10% increase in CD18 12 hours after surgery; however, in Group H, the elevation of CD18 expression was clearly suppressed compared to Group C. No patient in Group H had post-operative hyperbilirubinemia or hepatic failure; however, 3 had post-operative hyperbilirubinemia and 1 had intraperitoneal infection in Group C. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide direct evidence that HBOT, especially at 3 hours after hepatectomy, has favorable effects on the activation of neutrophiles decreasing SEC injury.

Expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha4 subunit mRNA in the rat cerebellar cortex.

In order to compare the previous immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical data on the distribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha4 subunit-like immunoreactivity with the expression of alpha4 mRNA in the rat cerebellar cortex, the present study determined the cellular distribution of alpha4 mRNA in the rat cerebellar cortex. Northern blot analysis revealed two alpha4 mRNA bands in the rat cerebellum and three in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus and striatum. The total level of these transcripts was lower in the cerebellum than in the other four regions. The expression of alpha4 mRNA was high in Purkinje cells and granular cells, whereas low expression was detected in the molecular layer. These results suggest that the expression of alpha4 mRNA is closely related to the alpha4-like immunoreactivity in the molecular and Purkinje cell layers. In the granular layer, alpha4 mRNA was very highly and broadly expressed in comparison with the alpha4-like immunoreactivity.

alpha-Tocopherol transfer protein gene: exon skipping of all transcripts causes ataxia.

This report concerns the characterization of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) gene in a Japanese family affected by ataxia with isolated vitamin E deficiency (AVED). The sequence analysis revealed a G-to-A transition at the 3' end of exon 3 in both alleles, which predicts outsplicing of this exon from premessenger RNA and the concomitant frame shift in the ataxic patient. We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to analyze alpha-TTP gene transcripts. All transcripts in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the AVED patient, who was treated with large doses of vitamin E, lacked exon 3. The deduced truncated protein shares only 43% of the normal alpha-TTP. Normal control tissues and cells contained normal transcripts and, unexpectedly, also the same mutant transcripts as those of the patient, although with different transcription levels. Treatment of normal fibroblasts with clinically relevant concentrations of vitamin E increased production of transcripts in a dose-dependent manner. We propose that exon skipping of all transcripts through the complete inactivation of the splice site accounts for the clinical onset of AVED and for the clinical resistance to vitamin E in our patient.

Assembly of the chimeric Na+/K+-ATPase and H+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit with the Na+/K+-ATPase alpha-subunit.

Two sets of chimeric beta-subunits were constructed from subunits of Torpedo californica Na+/K+-ATPase and pig gastric H+/K+-ATPase. Five unique restriction sites (SnaBI, EcoRV, MunI, SphI and EcoT22I) were created at equivalent positions of the respective cDNAs and were used as joining points for the construction. One set of chimeras (HxN series) was made by exchanging the 5' portion of the Na+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit cDNA with the corresponding portion of the H+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit cDNA at the respective joining point. Complementary constructs were also prepared (NxH series). In the HxN series, the chimera joined at the SnaBI site formed a stable trypsin resistant complex with the Na+/K+-ATPase alpha-subunit, which was functional with respect to ATP hydrolysis and pump current generation, although the activities were less than those of the complex with the Na+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit. Trypsin resistance decreased for the complex of the chimera joined at the EcoRV site. In the NxH series, the chimeras joined at the SnaBI site and the EcoRV site formed rather trypsin-resistant complexes, but the expressions of the alpha-subunits were below 50% of the control. The chimeras joined at the MunI, SphI and EcoT22I site formed complexes susceptible to tryptic digestion. None of the chimeras in the NxH series were functional. These results suggest that at least two regions of the Na+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit [SnaBI site(Tyr40) to EcoRV site(Ile89) and EcoT22I site(Cys176) to C-terminus)] are involved in stable assembly with the Na+/K+-ATPase alpha-subunit and that the cytoplasmic domain [N-terminus to SnaBI site(Tyr40)] is functionally replaceable with the corresponding domain of the H+/K+-ATPase beta-subunit.

Source estimation of spontaneous MEG activity and auditory evoked responses in normal subjects during sleep.

This study focuses on source estimation of spontaneous MEG activity and auditory evoked responses during sleep. Sources of K-complexes and auditory evoked responses were investigated by magnetoencephalograph (MEG) and electroencephalograph (EEG) measurements, simultaneously. Sources of K-complexes during stage 2 sleep were investigated. The MEG results suggested that the sources of K-complexes can be modeled by two current dipoles. Dipoles for the K-complexes were estimated to be located 5 mm away from the sources of the N100 components of auditory evoked responses during wakefulness. Sources of auditory evoked responses during each sleep stage were also investigated to clarify the origins of the K-complex, the vertex sharp transient, and delta waves. Estimated dipoles for the N100 component for each sleep stage were estimated to be at slightly different locations in the auditory area. Based upon results of the MEG measurements and the EEG topographies, sources of the N330 component can be modeled by multiple current dipoles, which are seen to be distributed diffusely throughout the cerebral cortex.

Source localization of middle latency auditory evoked magnetic fields.

The magnetic counterparts of middle latency auditory evoked responses (MLR) were measured for seven normal subjects with a 7-channel de superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The source of each component (Na, Pa, Nb and Pb) was estimated and plotted onto the individual magnetic resonance images (MRI). The source of Na, as well as those of Pa, Nb and Pb, was estimated to be in the supratemporal auditory cortex. The positions of Pa, Nb and Pb sources were compared with one another. No significant difference was observed between the positions of Pa and Nb sources. On the other hand, the source of Pb was found to be anterior to the sources of both Pa and Nb. It was suggested that there are more than two separate areas activated in the human auditory cortex during MLR.

The expression of Na+/K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit cRNA injected into Xenopus oocytes is affected by coinjection with alpha-subunit cRNA.

The cRNA for Torpedo californica Na+/K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit (cRNA beta) was injected into Xenopus oocytes alone or with the cRNA for the Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit (cRNA alpha). When cRNA beta was injected alone, the amount of the beta-subunit that accumulated in oocytes increased with increasing amounts of injected cRNA beta. When cRNA beta and cRNA alpha were injected simultaneously, less beta-subunit accumulated than when cRNA beta was injected alone, whereas the Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity increased markedly. The decrease in the accumulation of the beta-subunit was dose-dependent upon the cRNA alpha. The mutant beta-subunit unable to assemble with the alpha-subunit accumulated in oocytes independently of cRNA alpha, suggesting that post-translational control mechanisms may serve to reduce the accumulation of the beta-subunit.

Expression of (Na, K) ATPase/Ca-ATPase chimeric proteins in Xenopus oocytes revealed that the COOH-terminal one-third of the (Na, K) ATPase alpha-subunit is involved in assembly with the beta-subunit.

Chimeric proteins consisting of parts from the alpha-subunit of Torpedo californica (Na, K) ATPase (N) and the rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (C) were expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injecting the respective chimeric cRNA in combination with cRNA for the beta-subunit of Torpedo (Na, K) ATPase. The chimeric protein (NCN) that consisted of the NH2-terminal and COOH-terminal one-thirds of the alpha-subunit of the (Na, K) ATPase and the central one-third of the Ca-ATPase was able to assemble with the beta-subunit in the same fashion as the wild-type alpha-subunit of the (Na, K) ATPase (NNN). On the other hand, chimeric proteins in which the COOH-terminal one-third was derived from the Ca-ATPase (NNC and NCC) were unable to form stable complexes with the beta-subunit. These results suggest that the COOH-terminal one-third of the (Na, K) ATPase alpha-subunit is required for the assembly with the beta-subunit.