Oral medicine psychiatric liaison clinic: study of 1202 patients attending over an 18-year period.

Patients with orofacial pain and discomfort often suffer from psychiatric disorders. However, few studies involving a large sample have examined the diagnostic results of patients with orofacial pain or discomfort in relation to psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to summarize and clarify the characteristics and demographic data of 1202 patients attending the psychiatric liaison clinic at Aichi Gakuin University Hospital. Psychiatric diagnosis was performed by psychiatrists for all patients, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition. Among the 1202 patients, 992 (82.5%) were female. The average age of the patients was 57.2±15.0years. The predominant broad categories of orofacial pain and discomfort seen were burning mouth syndrome (n=484, 40.3%), persistent idiopathic facial pain (n=258, 21.5%), and oral dysesthesia (n=215, 17.9%). The predominant broad categories of psychiatric diagnoses seen were somatic symptoms and related disorders (n=934, 77.7%) and depressive disorders (n=76, 6.3%). Among the 934 patients with somatic symptoms and related disorders, 678 had a somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain. The results confirmed that most patients with orofacial pain and discomfort were middle-aged and elderly women suffering from a somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain.

Effects of resistance training on arterial compliance and plasma endothelin-1 levels in healthy men.

Arterial compliance (AC) is an index of the elasticity of large arteries. Endothelial dysfunction has been reported to result in reduced arterial compliance, which represents increased arterial stiffness. A reduction in AC is elicited by high-intensity resistance training, however the mechanisms are obscure. Because a single bout of resistance exercise causes a transient increase in circulating plasma endothelin-1 in humans, some vasoconstrictors may play a role in the mechanisms. The present study aimed to investigate whether resistance training-induced decrease in AC is associated with changes in circulating vasoconstrictors levels in young men. Young sedentary men were assigned to control (n=5) or training (n=9) groups. The training group performed four-week high-intensity resistance training (weight training exercise; three sessions/week). We measured AC and plasma levels of endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine before and after intervention. Resistance training significantly decreased AC, whereas the changes in plasma levels of neither endothelin-1, nor angiotensin II, nor norepinephrine were significantly different between the control and the training groups. Moreover, we found no significant correlations between changes in circulating plasma levels (endothelin-1, angiotensin II, and norepinephrine) and in the AC. Despite of no alteration of the resting circulating plasma levels (endothelin-1, etc.), we cannot exclude a possibility that the tissue/local concentrations of vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1, etc.) around the vessels might be increased and also involved in a reduction of AC in the training group. Taken together, the present results suggest that circulating vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1, etc.) in plasma are not involved in a reduction in AC by the resistance training.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide improves hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice partly via normalization of reduced ET(B) receptor expression.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist liraglutide is an incretin hormone mimetic used in the treatment of diabetes. However, the effects of liraglutide on pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary endothelin (ET) system are unknown. Eight-week-old C57BL6/J mice were injected liraglutide or vehicle for 5 weeks. One week after injection, the mice were exposed to either room air (normoxia) or chronic hypoxia (10 % O(2)) for 4 weeks. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was significantly higher in hypoxia + vehicle group than in normoxia + vehicle group. ET-1 mRNA expression in the lungs was comparable among all the groups. ET(B) mRNA and protein expression in the lungs was significantly lower in hypoxia + vehicle group than in normoxia + vehicle group. The above changes were normalized by liraglutide treatment. The expression of phospho-eNOS and phospho-AMPK proteins in the lungs was significantly higher in hypoxia + liraglutide group than in normoxia + vehicle group. We demonstrated for the first time that liraglutide effectively improved RVSP and RV hypertrophy in hypoxia-induced PH mice by activating eNOS through normalization of impaired ET(B) pathway and augmentation of AMPK pathway. Therefore, GLP-1R agonists can be promising therapeutic agents for PH.

Diagnostic features of acquired dermal melanocytosis of the face and extremities.

Acquired dermal melanocytosis of the face and extremities (ADMFE) is an unusual form of acquired dermal melanocytosis (ADM). In this paper, we report a case of ADMFE and review the published literature. Our review highlights several clinical differences between ADMFE and ADM: (i) more frequent involvement of the nasal alae in ADMFE than in ADM, (ii) less frequent involvement of the cheeks in ADMFE than in ADM, (iii) limbs affected in all cases of ADMFE but in few cases of ADM, and (iv) frequent involvement of conjunctiva and/or gingiva in ADMFE but very rare involvement in ADM. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that ADMFE is clinically distinct from the classic form of ADM, and gaining an understanding of its phenotype will enable accurate diagnosis and early intervention by Q-switched laser therapy, which should benefit those patients with disease-related cosmetic issues.

Diagnosis of inguinal hernia by prone- vs. supine-position computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of prone-position computed tomography (CT) for detecting and classifying inguinal hernia relative to supine-position CT before laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: Seventy-nine patients who underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of inguinal hernia were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia by physical examination underwent abdominal CT in the supine and prone positions for preoperative assessment. The anatomy of the right and left inguinal regions was confirmed during the surgery and compared with the preoperative CT findings. RESULTS: The 79 cases included 87 operated lesions and 71 non-operated contralateral inguinal sites. Of the 84 clinical hernias, inguinal hernia was detected significantly more frequently on prone-position CT images (84, 100%) than on supine-position CT images (55, 65.5%). In addition, the inguinal hernia type was determined with significantly greater accuracy on prone-position CT images (96.4%) than on supine-position CT images (58.3%). Twenty-two occult hernias were detected by laparoscopy. The detection rate and accuracy for determining the type of occult hernia were significantly greater when using prone-position CT images [19 of 22 lesions (86.4%) and 77.3%, respectively] than when using supine-position CT images [8 of 22 lesions (36.4%) and 27.3%, respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Prone-position CT is adequate for detecting and classifying inguinal hernia and for evaluating occult hernia.

Thrombomodulin Attenuates Inflammatory Damage Due to Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in Mice in Toll-Like Receptor 4-Dependent Manner.

Liver ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important problem in liver transplantation. Thrombomodulin (TM), an effective drug for disseminated intravascular coagulation, is also known to exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect through binding to the high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1) known as a proinflammatory mediator. We examined the effect of recombinant human TM (rTM) on a partial warm hepatic IRI model in wild-type (WT) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) KO mice focusing on the HMGB-1/TLR-4 axis. As in vitro experiments, peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with recombinant HMGB-1 protein. The rTM showed a protective effect on liver IRI. The rTM diminished the downstream signals of TLR-4 and also HMGB-1 expression in liver cells, as well as release of HMGB-1 from the liver. Interestingly, neither rTM treatment in vivo nor HMGB-1 treatment in vitro showed any effect on TLR-4 KO mice. Parallel in vitro studies have confirmed that rTM interfered with the interaction between HMGB-1 and TLR-4. Furthermore, the recombinant N-terminal lectin-like domain 1 (D1) subunit of TM (rTMD1) also ameliorated liver IRI to the same extent as whole rTM. Not only rTM but also rTMD1 might be a novel and useful medicine for liver transplantation. This is the first report clarifying that rTM ameliorates inflammation such as IRI in a TLR-4 pathway-dependent manner.

Management of angiogram-negative acute colonic hemorrhage: safety and efficacy of colonoscopy-guided superselective embolization.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of superselective embolization with assistance of colonoscopy for acute colonic hemorrhage. METHODS: Of 92 cases of acute colonic hemorrhage requiring colonoscopic intervention, 11 (12 %) could not be successfully treated. Of these, 10 patients (9 men, mean age 65.5 years, range 39-75 years) underwent superselective embolization. Hemorrhage was caused by diverticular disease (n = 8), polypectomy (n = 1), and vascular malformation (n = 1). In all 10 cases, the radiopaque clips were placed at the bleeding point via colonoscopy. Microcatheters were used in all procedures, and embolization was performed at the level of the vasa recta leading to or near the clips with Gelfoam particles, microcoils, or both. RESULTS: Immediate hemostasis was achieved in all patients. In 6 of 10 patients (60 %), selective angiograms showed no active extravasation at the time of the procedure and the embolization was performed using clips as a landmark. In the remaining four patients, selective angiograms showed active extravasation from the vasa recta leading to the clips. The mean number of embolized vessels with no active extravasation and with active extravasation was 1.83 (range 1-3) and 1.25 (range 1-2), respectively. The mean duration of clinical follow-up was 11.6 months (range 1-29 months). One patient (10 %) bled from a different site than the treated site a month after embolization, but the bleeding ceased after endoscopic intervention. All the patients (100 %) were evaluated for objective evidence of ischemia by colonoscopy. Four of the 10 patients (40 %) were found endoscopically to have small areas of ischemia involving only the mucosa, but they remained asymptomatic. There was no bowel infarction or stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy-assisted superselective embolization may be a safe and useful procedure for acute colonic hemorrhage without active extravasation on angiogram.

Hypermethylation of serotonin transporter gene in bipolar disorder detected by epigenome analysis of discordant monozygotic twins.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Serotonin transporter (HTT) is a target of antidepressants and is one of the strongest candidate molecules of mood disorder, however, genetic study showed equivocal results. Here, we performed promoter-wide DNA methylation analysis of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from two pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for BD. To rule out the possible discordance of copy number variation (CNV) between twins, we performed CNV analysis and found the copy number profiles were nearly identical between the twin pairs except for immunoglobulin-related regions. Among the three genes we obtained as candidate regions showing distinct difference of DNA methylation between one of the two pairs, hypermethylation of SLC6A4, encoding HTT, in the bipolar twin was only confirmed by bisulfite sequencing. Then, promoter hypermethylation of SLC6A4 in LCLs of BD patients was confirmed in a case-control analysis. DNA methylation of SLC6A4 was significantly correlated with its mRNA expression level in individuals with the S/S genotype of HTTLPR, and mRNA expression level was lower in BD patients carrying the S/S genotype. Finally, DNA methylation of the same site was also higher in the postmortem brains of BD patients. This is the first study to report the role of epigenetic modification of SLC6A4 in BD using an unbiased approach, which provides an insight for its pathophysiology.

Enhancement of adhesion strength and cellular stiffness of osteoblasts on mirror-polished titanium surface by UV-photofunctionalization.

Ultraviolet (UV)-photofunctionalization of titanium substantially enhances the strength and quality of osseointegration by promoting osteogenic cellular attachment and proliferation. However, the mechanism underlying the initial interaction between the cells and the surface of the material remains to be elucidated, especially where the influence of surface roughness is excluded as a factor. The effect of UV-photofunctionalization on the adhesive strength and cellular stiffness of a single osteoblast and its association with the extent of cell spread, cytoskeletal development and focal adhesion assembly on a very smooth titanium surface was evaluated. Rat bone marrow-derived osteoblasts were cultured on UV-treated or untreated mirror-polished titanium disks. The mean critical shear force required to initiate detachment of a single osteoblast (n=10) was >2000nN on a UV-treated surface at 3h incubation, which was 17 times greater than that on an untreated surface. The mean total energy required to complete the detachment of osteoblasts (n=10) was consistently >60pJ on a UV-treated titanium surface after 24h culture, which was up to 42 times greater than that on an untreated surface. Cellular shear modulus, which represents cellular stiffness, was consistently greater on a UV-treated surface than on an untreated surface after 24h incubation (n=10). This strengthening of cell adhesion and cellular mechanical properties on UV-treated titanium was accompanied by enhanced cell spread and actin fiber development and increased levels of vinculin expression. These results indicate that UV-photofunctionalization substantially strengthens osteoblast retention on titanium bulk material with no topographical features, and that this is associated with enhancement of intracellular structural development during the cell adhesion process.

[Reconstruction of the left common carotid artery for dissective occlusion detected by intra-operative ultrasonography].

We describe a case of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. Replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch was performed using an "arch 1st technique". Following the completion of replacement, hypotension of the left superficial temporal artery pressure was detected. Ultrasonography revealed dissection of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and compressive occlusion of the true lumen. Reconstruction of the LCCA was performed in the neck. The patient did well after the operation without any neurological abnormalities.

Involvement of endothelin-1 in habitual exercise-induced increase in arterial compliance.

AIM: Habitual aerobic exercise results in a significant increase in central arterial compliance. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide and could play a role in mediating the habitual aerobic exercise-induced increase in central arterial compliance. The aim of the present study was to examine whether ET-1 is involved in the mechanisms underlying the increase in central arterial compliance with aerobic exercise training. METHODS: Seven apparently healthy middle-aged and older (60 +/- 3 years) adults underwent systemic endothelin-A/B (ET(A/B))-receptor blockade (500 mg of Tracleer) before and after 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training (70 +/- 1% of maximal heart rate, 44 +/- 2 min day(-1), 4.4 +/- 0.1 days week(-1)). RESULTS: Basal carotid arterial compliance (via simultaneous B-mode ultrasound and arterial applanation tonometry on the common carotid artery) increased significantly after exercise training. Resting plasma ET-1 concentration decreased significantly after exercise training. Before exercise intervention, carotid arterial compliance increased significantly with the administration of the ET(A/B)-receptor blockade. After training, however, increases in carotid arterial compliance previously observed with the ET(A/B)-receptor blockade before training were abolished. CONCLUSIONS: Regular aerobic exercise training enhances central arterial compliance in middle-aged and older humans. The increase in arterial compliance was associated with the corresponding reduction in plasma ET-1 concentration as well as the elimination of ET-1-mediated vascular tone. These results suggest that reductions in ET-1 may be an important mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of exercise training on central artery compliance.

[Anaphylactic shock related to aprotinin induced by anti-aprotinin immunoglobulin G antibody alone; report of a case].

Anaphylactic shock related to aprotinin has been reported to be induced exclusively in the presence of IgE antibody. And the possibility of anaphylactic shock induced by anti-aprotinin IgG antibody alone was controversial. In this paper, we describe the first case of anaphylactic shock induced by aprotinin-specific IgG antibody alone. A 55-year-old man underwent surgical repair of the descending aorta with the use of aprotinin at 2 months after first aprotinin usage. Immediately after initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass with the continuous infusion of aprotinin, clinical symptoms of anaphylactic reaction were found. Postoperative drug lymphocyte stimulation test for aprotinin and aprotinin-specific IgE antibody were negative, but aprotinin-specific IgG antibody was 163 mg/l and positive.