Dietary Ferulic Acid-Mediated Suppression of Fat Deposits Is Associated with Induction of Beige Adipocyte Formation and Thermogenesis in Inguinal White Adipose Tissue in Mice.

Ferulic acid (FA) is the most abundant phenolic acid in wheat grains. Recent studies have reported that FA intake significantly suppresses body weight gain and accumulation of fat deposits in mice. However, the mechanism by which FA intake affects body fat accumulation remains unclear. We hypothesized that dietary FA induces the formation of beige adipocytes and contributes to the suppression of body fat accumulation. In this study, we investigated whether dietary FA significantly induces beige adipocyte formation and thermogenesis in mice. We found that intake of dietary FA (control diet supplemented with 10 g of FA/kg diet) for 4 wk significantly decreased white adipose tissue (WAT) deposits and body weight gain and significantly induced beige adipocyte formation in inguinal WAT (iWAT) in mice. Furthermore, dietary FA specifically induced thermogenesis in iWAT, dependent upon the significant induction of uncoupling protein 1 expression. These findings suggest that the dietary FA-mediated reduction of WAT accumulation and body weight gain is associated with the induction of beige adipocyte formation and thermogenesis in iWAT, which increases energy expenditure. Our study presents a novel example of dietary FA intake-mediated bioactivity as a functional food-derived factor.

A simple sandwich technique using buttons combined with a tie-over technique for an intraoral split-thickness skin graft.

A simple sandwich technique using buttons to compress grafted tissue combined with a tie-over technique for intraoral split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) is introduced. This technique yielded an excellent engraftment rate (90.5%) and no instances of total graft failure were recorded. This simple sandwich technique for STSGs is readily applicable and inexpensive, and the present results show that it would be potentially useful for repair of defects in the oral cavity.

Molecular detection of apicomplexan protozoa in Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis) and Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus).

Many tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are present in wildlife. The objective of this study is to reveal the role of wild bears in maintaining TBPs. A total of 49 brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis) from Hokkaido, and 18 Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) from Tochigi, and 66 Japanese black bears from Nagano were examined by two molecular methods, reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization, and nested PCR. A total of 5 TBPs (Hepatozoon ursi, Babesia sp. UR2-like group, Cytauxzoon sp. UR1, Babesia sp. UR1, and Babesia microti) were detected from bear blood DNA samples. B. microti was detected from blood DNA samples of Japanese black bear for the first time, with the prevalence of 6.0% (5/84). Out of detected pathogens, H. ursi, Babesia sp. UR2-like pathogens, and Cytauxzoon sp. UR1 were considered as three of the most prevalent TBPs in bears. The prevalence of H. ursi were significantly higher in Japanese black bear (0% vs 96.4%) while that of Babesia sp. UR2-like group was higher in Hokkaido brown bears (89.8% vs 40.5%). The prevalence of Babesia sp. UR1 were significantly higher in Japanese black bears from Tochigi (44.4%), comparing with those from Nagano (18.2%). The prevalence of the detected TBPs were significantly higher in adult bears, comparing with those in younger bears. The present study suggests that Japanese bear species contribute in the transmission of several TBPs in Japan. The expanding distribution of bears might cause the accidental transmission of TBPs to humans and domestic animals.

Weekly Cetuximab and Paclitaxel for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Head and neck cancers account for 8% of all cancer cases worldwide. However, identifying the optimal treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (R/MHNSCC) has been challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and prognostic factors of the outcome of patients with R/MHNSCC who were treated with weekly cetuximab and paclitaxel (Cmab-PTX). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of R/MHNSCC patients who were treated with Cmab-PTX in our institution between June 2013 and September 2017 were collected. We analyzed Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), prognostic factors and adverse events. RESULTS: The records of 59 patients treated with Cmab-PTX were analyzed. The median PFS was 5.7 months, and the median OS was 11.8 months. Patients who had been administered cetuximab previously had shorter PFS and OS than those who had not. CONCLUSION: Cmab-PTX may be considered as a treatment option in head and neck R/MHNSCC patients.

Automatic On-line Solid-phase Extraction-Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Exploiting Sequential Injection Analysis for Trace Vanadium, Cadmium and Lead Determination in Human Urine Samples.

A fully automated sequential injection column preconcentration method for the on-line determination of trace vanadium, cadmium and lead in urine samples was successfully developed, utilizing electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Polyamino-polycarboxylic acid chelating resin (Nobias chelate PA-1) packed into a handmade minicolumn was used as a sorbent material. Effective on-line retention of chelate complexes of analytes was achieved at pH 6.0, while the highest elution effectiveness was observed with 1.0 mol L(-1) HNO3 in the reverse phase. Several analytical parameters, like the sample acidity, concentration and volume of the eluent as well as the loading/elution flow rates, have been studied, regarding the efficiency of the method, providing appropriate conditions for the analysis of real samples. For a 4.5 mL sample volume, the sampling frequency was 27 h(-1). The detection limits were found to be 3.0, 0.06 and 2.0 ng L(-1) for V(V), Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively, with the relative standard deviations ranging between 1.9 - 3.7%. The accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated by analyzing a certified reference material (Seronorm(TM) trace elements urine) and spiked urine samples.

Feasibility of extended-coverage perfusion and dynamic computer tomography (CT) angiography using toggling-table technique on 64-slice CT.

PURPOSE: The major drawbacks of brain computed tomography (CT) perfusion are limited coverage in the z-axis, radiation exposure and the use of contrast medium, all of which increase when CT angiography (CTA) is performed with double acquisitions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the 'toggling-table' technique using a 40-mm detector. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical usefulness of CT perfusion and 4D-CTA (time-resolved 3D-CTA), as well as the time taken and radiation exposure, were assessed in 14 non-ischemic patients clinically indicated for CT perfusion and CTA. RESULTS: A perfusion map and 4D-CTA was successfully achieved in all patients. The total time needed for scanning and processing was approximately 30 min per examination. The 80-mm CT perfusion coverage and 4D-CTA images were advantageous for analyses of the anatomy and widely distributed lesions. The estimated effective radiation dose was 2.22 mSv, and the amount of contrast media was 40 mL. CONCLUSION: The 'toggling-table' technique acts as a 'one-stop-shop' protocol for perfusion mapping and 4D-CTA over a wide area, following a single contrast injection and scan.

Case of refractory otitis media with high-titer positive serum MPO-ANCA value.

A 56-year-old-woman presented a local otolaryngologist with a complaint of hearing loss. She was treated with antibiotics as acute otitis media, however her symptom did not improved. She admitted to our hospital because of hearing loss on both sides, fever, otorrhea and vertigo. On admission, an audiogram showed bilateral mixed conductive-sensorineural hearing loss, and CT image revealed the exudates in bilateral middle ear cavities and mastoid air cells. Moreover, serum level of myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (MPO-ANCA) elevated (133EU). Although pulmonary, renal and cutaneous involvements were not noted and the histopathological examination of operated specimen taken from otitis media revealed non-specific inflammatory changes, in the absence of any other obvious causes of otitis media, these findings might be associated with positive serum MPO-ANCA value itself. After the initiation of therapy with methylprednisolone and azathioprine, her symptoms and hearing ability ameliorated and both CRP value and the titer of ANCA became normalized. But, after the improvement by the immunosuppressive treatment, MRSA in the otorrhea persisted. This case suggests that otitis media may be one of the symptoms of vasculitis, and some previous cases described otitis media or hearing loss as rare manifestations of vasculitis. It is important to make an early diagnosis for good prognosis of hearing ability, and we have to consider the differential diagnosis including of ANCA-related vasculitis.