Usefulness of 3D T1-Turbo Spin Echo Imaging for the Evaluation of Intracranial Stent Placement.

Objective: Evaluation of intracranial stent placement by MRI suffers the problems of signal artifacts during time-of-flight MRA (TOF-MRA). Therefore, angiographic examination is required for detailed intravascular assessment of the stent placement site. Recently, 3D T1-turbo spin echo (3D-TSE) has been developed for evaluation of carotid artery stent placement. We investigated the use of the 3D-TSE imaging method for the evaluation of intracranial vascular stent placement. Methods: The subjects consisted of nine patients who underwent intracranial vascular stent placement between April 2015 and December 2019. Postoperatively, the lumens of the placed stents were measured by TOF-MRA, DSA, and 3D-TSE imaging. Analysis was performed by type of stent and placement site. Results: The stents used were Neuroform Atlas (3 patients), LVIS (3 patients), LVIS Jr (2 patients), and Integrity (1 patient). TOF-MRA of the stent placement site showed defects in the image or poor visualization in all nine patients, whereas 3D-TSE imaging visualized the lumen at the stent indwelling site in all patients. The blood vessel diameter measured by the DSA and 3D-TSE imaging exhibited positive correlations regardless of the stent type and placement site. Conclusion: 3D-TSE imaging allows visualization of the lumen of the site of an intracranial vascular stent, regardless of the type of stent or the vessel. Thus, this method may be useful for evaluating the vascular lumen of a lesion.

Health Beneficial Food Emulsifier Produced from Fishery Byproducts.

The bioavailability of DHA-bound phospholipids, especially the DHA-bound lysophospholipid (DHA-LPL) could be considered the most effective DHA chemical forms for DHA accretion in the brain. Such a DHA-LPL should also have very high emulsifying stability performance based on its analogy with conventional soy LPL. Therefore, in this study, we describe two fishery byproducts, rich in DHA-bound phospholipids, to derive DHA-LPL via sn-1 positional specific lipase partial hydrolysis of the phospholipids. Through this reaction, the DHA composition increased to 43.8 % from 29.1 % in the salmon head phospholipid-derived DHA-LPL, and to 84.0 % from 47.4 % in the squid meal phospholipid-derived DHA-LPL. In fact, these obtained DHA-LPLs exhibited far higher emulsifying stability than the conventional food emulsifiers in the market. For example, the prepared high-purity squid meal phospholipid-derived LPL sustained an emulsion form for a week even under 80°C. Thus, food emulsifiers produced from fishery byproducts are considered to exhibit very high values of both in a sense of outstandingly high health benefits and sustaining emulsions even under very high temperatures.

Lipid Composition of Liposomal Membrane Largely Affects Its Transport and Uptake through Small Intestinal Epithelial Cell Models.

Lipid composition of liposomal bilayer should alter the cell response for permeability, transport, and uptake in small intestine. This work was done to investigate the transport and uptake of liposomes composed of docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) derived from marine products on multilamellar vesicles (MLV) in small intestinal epithelial cell models. The results showed that addition of PtdSer and SQDG as liposomal bilayer could improve the efficiency entrapment of liposomes. The liposomes containing PtdSer showed higher transport and uptake through both Caco-2 cell and M cell monolayers as compared to PtdCho-MLV. SQDG-containing liposomes exhibited only higher transport through M cell monolayer, while its uptake effect was higher both in Caco-2 cell and M cell monolayers. The results of experiments done with endocytosis inhibitors indicated that PtdCho-MLV must be transported via macropinocytosis and uptaken by phagocytosis in M cell monolayer model. PtdCho/PtdSer-MLV and PtdCho/SQDG-MLV might be transported and uptaken through M cell monolayer by phagocytosis. The result also indicated that PtdCho/SQDG-MLV could open the tight junction of small intestinal epithelial cell monolayers. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that the surface status of cholesterol-containing liposomes were smooth, but they did not affect their transport and uptake through Caco-2 cell and M cell monolayers.

Systemic metabolism and energy consumption after microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The postoperative metabolic states of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients were investigated using indirect calorimetry (IDC) and various nutritional evaluations to establish any difference in perioperative metabolic and nutritional states between microsurgical and endovascular treatment. METHODS: This study included 30 acute aneurysmal SAH patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysms treated by surgical clipping (n = 16) or coil embolization (n = 14) at a single institute. The resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory quotient were measured using IDC on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, and 17-21 after the operation. Various blood tests, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and prealbumin, were evaluated on the same days. RESULTS: The clipping group showed a significant increase in REE/basal energy expenditure (BEE) compared with the coiling group on days 1 and 4 (p = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). No significant differences were found on days 7, 10, 14, and 17-21. The mean REE/BEE on days 1-14 and 1-21 showed no significant differences between the groups with repeated measures analysis of variance. The clipping group showed a significant decrease of prealbumin on day 4 and significant increase in CRP on days 1, 4, and 7. CONCLUSIONS: The clipping group was in the hypermetabolic state compared with the coiling group during the very early postoperative period. However, the difference associated with the treatment modality was relatively small compared to the effects of the SAH and of the sequelae.

Isogloiosiphone B, a novel acetal, and hydrophobic compounds as ß-glucuronidase inhibitors derived from the red alga Neodilsea yendoana.

A novel acetal named isogloiosiphone B was isolated from the red alga Neodilsea yendoana, along with three known hydrophobic compounds as ß-glucuronidase inhibitors. The acetal was determined as a naturally occurring compound from the extraction experiments with several kinds of solvent. The acetal showed the highest inhibition against ß-glucuronidase among the compounds examined.

Segmental Aplasia of Bilateral Internal Carotid Arteries Accompanied by Intracranial Aneurysms: A Case Report.

A 68-year-old woman presented with segmental aplasia of bilateral internal carotid arteries accompanied by unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The abnormality was discovered incidentally at the age of 44 years. Cerebral angiography showed occlusion of bilateral internal carotid arteries, and the carotid territory was supplied by each posterior communicating artery with small intracranial aneurysms. Endovascular treatment for the intracranial aneurysms was planned. However, the patient did not want to undergo the endovascular procedure because of the increased risk due to the associated bilateral carotid abnormalities. Cerebral angiography was performed again at the age of 66 years, and the size of the aneurysms had not changed. Based on their segmental identity, aplasia of segment 6 of the internal carotid artery (ICA) including the first portion of the ophthalmic artery was observed bilaterally.

Production of a Health-Beneficial Food Emulsifier by Enzymatic Partial Hydrolysis of Phospholipids Obtained from the Head of Autumn Chum Salmon.

Phospholipids and their partial hydrolysates, namely lysophospholipids (LPLs), have been widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products as highly efficient emulsifiers. This study was conducted to produce docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-esterified LPLs by enzymatic modification of phospholipids obtained from the head of autumn chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). The emulsifying properties of the obtained LPLs were also evaluated. Two different types of substrates of salmon head phospholipids were prepared via silica gel and cold acetone precipitation. Enzymatic partial hydrolysis was carried out using immobilized phospholipase A1 (PLA1) and Lipozyme RM IM. Results showed that the increase in DHA in the LPLs was much higher in the silica-separated phospholipids than in the acetone-precipitated phospholipids. When silica-separated phospholipids were used as the substrate, the DHA content of the LPLs increased from 23.1% to 40.6% and 42.6% after 8 h of partial hydrolysis with Lipozyme RM IM and immobilized PLA1, respectively. The yield of the LPLs was comparatively higher in the Lipozyme RM IM than in the immobilized PLA1 hydrolysis reaction. The critical micelle concentration values of the LPLs and purified lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) were 100 mg/L and 5 mg/L, respectively. The surface tension values of the LPLs and LPC were reduced to 30.0 mN/m and 30.5 mN/m, respectively. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of the LPLs and LPC were 6.0 and 9.4, respectively. Based on the emulsifying properties observed, we conclude that LPLs derived from the phospholipids of salmon head lipids could be used as a health-beneficial emulsifier in the food industry.

Transport and uptake effects of marine complex lipid liposomes in small intestinal epithelial cell models.

Nowadays, marine complex lipids, including starfish phospholipids (SFP) and cerebrosides (SFC) separated from Asterias amurensis as well as sea cucumber phospholipids (SCP) and cerebrosides (SCC) isolated from Cucumaria frondosa, have received much attention because of their potent biological activities. However, little information is known on the transport and uptake of these lipids in liposome forms in small intestinal cells. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of these complex lipid liposomes on transport and uptake in Caco-2 and M cell monolayer models. The results revealed that SFP and SCP contained 42% and 47.9% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), respectively. The average particle sizes of liposomes prepared in this study were from 169 to 189 nm. We found that the transport of the liposomes across the M cell monolayer model was much higher than the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The liposomes consisting of SFP or SCP showed significantly higher transport and uptake than soy phospholipid (soy-PL) liposomes in both Caco-2 and M cell monolayer models. Our results also exhibited that treatment with 1 mM liposomes composed of SFP or SCP for 3 h tended to increase the EPA content in phospholipid fractions of both differentiated Caco-2 and M cells. Moreover, it was also found that the hybrid liposomes consisting of SFP/SFC/cholesterol (Chol) revealed higher transport and uptake across the M cell monolayer in comparison with other liposomes. Furthermore, treatment with SFP/SFC/Chol liposomes could notably decrease the trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values of Caco-2 and M cell monolayers. The present data also showed that the cell viability of differentiated Caco-2 and M cells was not affected after the treatment with marine complex lipids or soy-PL liposomes. Based on the data in this study, it was suggested that marine complex lipid liposomes exhibit prominent transport and uptake in small intestinal epithelial cell models.

Inhibition of algal bromophenols and their related phenols against glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

A novel bromophenol, n-butyl 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl ether, and known bromophenols were isolated from Rhodomelaceae algae as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) inhibitors. Among them, bromophenol dimers showed stronger inhibitory activity against Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Saccharomyces cerevisiae G6PDs than the corresponding monomers. The dibenzyl ether-type dimers had lower IC50 values than the diarylmethane-type dimers against L. mesenteroides G6PD among the bromophenols examined. In contrast, the inhibitory activities of diarylmethane-type dimers against S. cerevisiae G6PD were stronger than those of dibenzyl ether-type dimers. Especially, 3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether selectively inhibited S. cerevisiae G6PD compared to L. mesenteroides G6PD.

Carotid Artery Stenting in Right-sided Aortic Arch: A Case Report.

The present report describes a patient with pseudo-occlusion of the left internal carotid artery accompanied by aortic anomalies consisting of right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery arising from Kommerell's diverticulum. Initial attempt of carotid artery stenting via the trans-femoral approach was unsuccessful because of low origin of the left common carotid artery. Therefore, carotid artery stenting (CAS) via the trans-brachial approach was successfully performed with distal balloon protection. Eight months later, the patient presented with restenosis of the left internal carotid artery, and CAS via the trans-brachial approach was performed again. CAS via the trans-brachial approach should be considered when standard femoral access is relatively contraindicated due to aortic anomalies consisting of a right-sided aortic arch.

EPA-enriched phospholipids ameliorate cancer-associated cachexia mainly via inhibiting lipolysis.

Excessive loss of fat mass is considered as a key feature of body weight loss in cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). It affects the efficacy and tolerability of cancer therapy and reduces the quality and length of cancer patients' lives. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of EPA-enriched phospholipids (EPA-PL) derived from starfish Asterias amurensis on cachectic weight loss in mice bearing S180 ascitic tumor, and TNF-α-stimulated lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and to elucidate the possible mechanisms involved. Our findings revealed that oral administration of EPA-PL at 100 mg per kg body weight (BW) per day for 14 days prevented body weight loss in CAC mice by preserving the white adipose tissue (WAT) mass. We found that serum levels of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 increased in CAC mice but decreased significantly after oral treatment of EPA-PL. In addition, EPA-PL treatment also suppressed the overexpression of several key lipolytic factors and raised the mRNA levels of some adipogenic factors in the WAT of CAC mice. Moreover, treatment of EPA-PL (200 and 400 µM) markedly inhibited TNF-α-stimulated lipolysis in adipocytes. Furthermore, the antilipolytic effects of EPA-PL were stimulated by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) inhibitor PD 98059 and blocked via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor compound C and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY 294002. Taken together, these data suggest that the dietary EPA-PL ameliorates CAC mainly via inhibiting lipolysis and at least in part for recovering the function of adipogenesis.

Fucophlorethol C, a phlorotannin as a lipoxygenase inhibitor.

Fucophlorethol C, a phlorotannin, was isolated from the brown alga Colpomenia bullosa (Scyto-siphonaceae) as a novel lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. It was obtained as a free form from natural origin for the first time. The compound inhibited a soybean LOX to the same extent as the known inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

Lipoxygenase inhibitors derived from marine macroalgae.

The solvent extracts from the algae Sargassum thunbergii (Sargassaceae) and Odonthalia corymbifera (Rhodomelaceae) were subjected to soybean lipoxygenase inhibitory screening. Two hydrophobic inhibitors were obtained from the extracts of S. thunbergii through inhibitory assay-guided fractionation. The inhibitors were identified as known exo-methylenic alkapolyenes (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-1,6,9,12,15-henicosapentaene (1) and (6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z,18Z)-1,6,9,12,15,18-henicosahexaene (2). The alkapolyenes 1 and 2 showed higher inhibitory activity than the known inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). Pheophytin a (3) was obtained from the extract of O. corymbifera. The inhibitor 3 also showed higher inhibitory activity than NDGA. This is the first report on lipoxygenase inhibition of exo-methylenic alkapolyenes and a chlorophyll a-related substance.

Intratumoral heterogeneity of genomic imbalance in a case of epithelioid glioblastoma with BRAF V600E mutation.

Epithelioid glioblastoma is among the rarest variants of glioblastoma and is not formally recognized in the World Health Organization classification; it is composed of monotonous, discohesive sheets of small, round cells with eccentric nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm devoid of cytoplasmic stellate processes, showing the retention of nuclear staining of INI-1 protein. Here, we report a case involving a 22-year-old man with a right occipital lobe tumor, which comprised mainly epithelioid tumor cells with a small area of diffusely infiltrating less atypical astrocytoma cells showing a lower cell density. Array comparative genomic hybridization separately performed for each histologically distinct component demonstrated eight shared copy number alterations (CNAs) and three CNAs observed only in epithelioid cells; one of the latter was a homozygous deletion of a tumor suppressor gene, LSAMP, at 3q13.31. BRAF V600E mutation was observed both in epithelioid tumor cells and in diffusely infiltrating less atypical astrocytoma cells. Our findings suggest that the regional loss of LSAMP led to the aggressive nature of epithelioid cells in the present case of epithelioid glioblastoma.

Red algal bromophenols as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Five bromophenols isolated from three Rhodomelaceae algae (Laurencia nipponica, Polysiphonia morrowii, Odonthalia corymbifera) showed inhibitory effects against glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). Among them, the symmetric bromophenol dimer (5) showed the highest inhibitory activity against G6PD.

Synthesis of novel phospholipids that bind phenylalkanols and hydroquinone via phospholipase D-catalyzed transphosphatidylation.

Phenylalkanols such as tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol (h-tyrosol), which possess antioxidant and anticancer properties, were phosphatidylated by phospholipase D (PLD)-catalyzed transphosphatidylation. After a 24-hour reaction of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and tyrosol with PLD, a new product was detected by TLC and identified to phosphatidyl-tyrosol by high-resolution MS and NMR analyses. The optimum reaction conditions were as follows: soyPC 50µmol, tyrosol 500µmol, ethyl acetate 1.6ml, PLD 1.6U, 0.2m sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.6) 0.8ml, 37°C for 24 hours. Under the optimum reaction conditions, the yields of phosphatidyl-tyrosol, hydroquinone (HQ), 2-(4-aminophenyl)ethanol (4APE), h-tyrosol and 2-phenylethanol (PEA) were 87±3.7, 13±1.3, 90±2.3, 64±5.5 and 85±1.0mol%, respectively. Furthermore, from the results of transphosphatidylation of soyPC with several phenylethanols and phenylpropanols, we established the following details about the reaction specificity of transphosphatidylation by PLD from Streptomyces sp.: (1) para-amino and para-hydroxyl groups in the benzene ring of PEA derivatives do not affect the transphosphatidylation by PLD, whereas meta-hydroxyl group slightly inhibits the transphosphatidylation. (2) Meta- and ortho-methyl groups in the benzene ring of PEA derivatives also slightly inhibit the transphosphatidylation. (3) Secondary and tertiary alcohols and hydroquinone are difficult to transphosphatidylate by PLD.

Resolution of immune thrombocytopenic purpura associated with extranodal B-cell lymphoma of the petroclival region after radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Secondary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) associated with extranodal B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is extremely rare. The optimal management is not established. We report a first case of ITP in association with extranodal B-cell NHL originating in the lower petroclival region, successfully managed by local tumor control using conventional radiotherapy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 75-year-old man presented with a two-month history of hearing loss, hoarseness, and dysphagia. Neuroimaging revealed a large enhanced lesion in the left lower petroclival bone near the jugular foramen. Isolated unilateral parotid lymphadenopathy was also noted. Preoperative laboratory findings were normal, except for elevation of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level. A suboccipital craniotomy was performed and a biopsy sample was taken. Histological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed small B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation. After initiation of radiotherapy, thrombocytopenia (24,000/µl) rapidly developed. Serological and bone marrow examination confirmed ITP. Prednisone was given at 1 mg/kg/day and radiation therapy was continued. After more than 32Gy, platelet count rapidly normalized. Radiotherapy to the tumor site achieved local tumor control and ITP was resolved. No evidence of recurrence and normal platelet count were confirmed at the two-year follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Local control of the tumor was considered important in the resolution of secondary ITP in association with extranodal NHL of the skull base region.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of bromophenol purified from the red alga Polyopes lancifolia.

A bromophenol, bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether, was purified from the red alga Polyopes lancifolia. Its IC(50) values were 0.098 and 0.120 microM against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-glucosidases, respectively, and 1.00 and 1.20 mM against rat-intestinal sucrase and maltase. This bromophenol competitively inhibited S. cerevisiae alpha-glucosidase with a K(I) value of 0.068 microM and was very stable at pH 2 for 60 min at 37 degrees C. Therefore, this P. lancifolia bromophenol may have potential as natural nutraceutical for the management of type 2 diabetes.

Effect of halotolerant starter microorganisms on chemical characteristics of fermented chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) sauce.

Chum salmon sauce mash was inoculated with barley koji (barley steamed and molded with Aspergillus oryzae ) and halotolerant microorganisms (HTMs), Zygosaccharomyces rouxii , Candida versatilis , and Tetragenococcus halophilus , in nine different combinations under non-aseptic conditions similar to the industrial fish sauce production and fermented at 35 +/- 2.5 degrees C for 84 days. The changes in the chemical components, color, and sensory properties during fermentation were investigated. Free amino acid content was increased, and the browning of fish sauce was enhanced by the usage of barley koji during fermentation. The halotolerant yeast (HTY) produced ethanol and repressed the browning by consumption of reducing sugar. Inoculated Z. rouxii in the fish sauce mash produced 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) and 4-hydoxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (HEMF), and C. versatilis in the fish sauce mash produced 4-ethylguaiacol (4-EG), known as characteristic flavor compounds in soy sauce, adding soy-sauce-like flavor to the fish sauce. Thus, inoculation of HTMs and barley koji was effective for conferring the soy-sauce-like flavor and increasing free amino acid and ethanol contents in fish sauce product.

Microbiota during fermentation of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) sauce mash inoculated with halotolerant microbial starters: analyses using the plate count method and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).

Nine different combinations of mugi koji (barley steamed and molded with Aspergillus oryzae) and halotolerant microorganisms (HTMs), Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Candida versatilis, and Tetragenococcus halophilus, were inoculated into chum salmon sauce mash under a non-aseptic condition used in industrial fish sauce production and fermented at 35 +/- 2.5 degrees C for 84 days to elucidate the microbial dynamics (i.e., microbial count and microbiota) during fermentation. The viable count of halotolerant yeast (HTY) in fermented chum salmon sauce (FCSS) mash showed various time courses dependent on the combination of the starter microorganisms. Halotolerant lactic acid bacteria (HTL) were detected morphologically and physiologically only from FCSS mash inoculated with T. halophilus alone or with T. halophilus and C. versatilis during the first 28 days of fermentation. Only four fungal species, Z. rouxii, C. versatilis, Pichia guilliermondii, and A. oryzae, were detected throughout the fermentation by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). In FCSS mash, dominant HTMs, especially eumycetes, were nonexistent. However, under the non-aseptic conditions, undesirable wild yeast such as P. guilliermondii grew fortuitously. Therefore, HTY inoculation into FCSS mash at the beginning of fermentation is effective in preventing the growth of wild yeast and the resultant unfavorable flavor.