Spatial confinement of active microtubule networks induces large-scale rotational cytoplasmic flow.

Collective behaviors of motile units through hydrodynamic interactions induce directed fluid flow on a larger length scale than individual units. In cells, active cytoskeletal systems composed of polar filaments and molecular motors drive fluid flow, a process known as cytoplasmic streaming. The motor-driven elongation of microtubule bundles generates turbulent-like flow in purified systems; however, it remains unclear whether and how microtubule bundles induce large-scale directed flow like the cytoplasmic streaming observed in cells. Here, we adopted Xenopus egg extracts as a model system of the cytoplasm and found that microtubule bundle elongation induces directed flow for which the length scale and timescale depend on the existence of geometrical constraints. At the lower activity of dynein, kinesins bundle and slide microtubules, organizing extensile microtubule bundles. In bulk extracts, the extensile bundles connected with each other and formed a random network, and vortex flows with a length scale comparable to the bundle length continually emerged and persisted for 1 min at multiple places. When the extracts were encapsulated in droplets, the extensile bundles pushed the droplet boundary. This pushing force initiated symmetry breaking of the randomly oriented bundle network, leading to bundles aligning into a rotating vortex structure. This vortex induced rotational cytoplasmic flows on the length scale and timescale that were 10- to 100-fold longer than the vortex flows emerging in bulk extracts. Our results suggest that microtubule systems use not only hydrodynamic interactions but also mechanical interactions to induce large-scale temporally stable cytoplasmic flow.

Does respiratory drive modify the cerebral vascular response to changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide?

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? There is an interaction between the regulatory systems of respiration and cerebral blood flow, because the mediator (CO2 ) is the same for both physiological systems. We examined whether the traditional method for determining cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 is modified by changes in respiration. What is the main finding and its importance? Cerebrovascular reactivity was modified by voluntary changes in respiration during hypercapnia. This finding suggests that an alteration in the respiratory system may result in under- or overestimation of cerebrovascular reactivity determined by traditional methods in healthy adults. ABSTRACT: The cerebral vasculature is sensitive to changes in the arterial partial pressure of CO2 . This physiological mechanism has been well established as a cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 (CVR). However, arterial CO2 may not be an independent variable in the traditional method for assessment of CVR, because the cerebral blood flow response is also affected by the activation of respiratory drive or higher centres in the brain. We hypothesized that CVR is modified by changes in respiration. To test our hypothesis, in the present study, 10 young, healthy subjects performed hyper- or hypoventilation to change end-tidal CO2 ( PET,CO2 ) with different concentrations of CO2 in the inhaled gas (0, 2.0 and 3.5%). We measured middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography to identify the cerebral blood flow response to change in PET,CO2 during each set of conditions. In each set of conditions, PET,CO2 was significantly altered by changes in ventilation, and middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity changed accordingly. However, the relationship between changes in middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity and PET,CO2 as a response curve of CVR was reset upwards and downwards by hypo- and hyperventilation, respectively, compared with CVR during normal ventilation. The findings of the present study suggest the possibility that an alteration in respiration might lead to under- or overestimation of CVR determined by the traditional methods.

Serum HER2 as an adjunct to assess HER2 status for advanced gastric cancer: A prospective multicenter trial (SHERLOCK).

BACKGROUND: Intratumoral human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) heterogeneity of gastric cancer can be an obstacle to accurate HER2 assessment. Serum HER2, concentrations of the HER2 extracellular domain shed into the bloodstream, has a potential to compensate HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) but has not been scrutinized in gastric cancer. This study sought to explore the clinical utility of serum HER2 in gastric cancer. METHODS: We performed a prospective multicenter trial (SHERLOCK trial) involving patients with all-stage gastric or gastro-esophageal junction cancer. Serum HER2 was measured using direct chemiluminescence while tissue HER2 status was determined using IHC and fluorescent in situ hybridization. For stage IV cases, concordance between local and central laboratories in tissue HER2 assessment was also evaluated. RESULTS: Of 224 patients enrolled, both tissue HER2 status and serum HER2 levels were successfully determined in 212 patients and 21% (45/212) were tissue HER2-positive. Serum HER2 levels, ranged from 4.5 to 148.0 ng/ml (median 10.3), correlated with tissue HER2 status (p = 0.003). At a cut-off level of 28.0 ng/ml determined by receiver operating characteristics analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of serum HER2 were 22.6%, 100%, 100% and 82.3%, respectively. All nine cases with elevated serum HER2 were tissue HER2-positive stage IV cases. Among 61 stage IV cases, the agreement rate for IHC scoring between the local and the central laboratories was 82% and tissue HER2 judgment was conflicting in five (8.2%) cases. Of these five cases, four were confirmed as false-negative and two of these four patients demonstrated elevated serum HER2. CONCLUSIONS: Serum HER2 levels correlated with tissue HER2 status in gastric cancer. Although the low sensitivity is a drawback, serum HER2 might be a useful adjunct tool to detect tissue HER2 false-negative gastric cancer.

Micromechanics of the vertebrate meiotic spindle examined by stretching along the pole-to-pole axis.

The meiotic spindle is a bipolar molecular machine that is designed to segregate duplicated chromosomes toward the opposite poles of the cell. The size and shape of the spindle are considered to be maintained by a balance of forces produced by molecular motors and microtubule assembly dynamics. Several studies have probed how mechanical perturbations of the force balance affect the spindle structure. However, the spindle's response to a stretching force acting at the spindle pole and along its long axis, i.e., the direction in which chromosomes are segregated, has not been examined. Here, we describe a method to apply a stretching force to the metaphase spindle assembled in Xenopus egg extracts and measure the relationship between the force and the three-dimensional deformation of the spindle. We found that the spindle behaves as a Zener-type viscoelastic body when forces are applied at the spindle pole, generating a restoring force for several minutes. In addition, both the volume of the spindle and the tubulin density are conserved under the stretching force. These results provide insight into how the spindle size is maintained at metaphase.

Three-Component O-Demethylase System Essential for Catabolism of a Lignin-Derived Biphenyl Compound in Sphingobium sp. Strain SYK-6.

Sphingobium sp. strain SYK-6 is able to assimilate lignin-derived biaryls, including a biphenyl compound, 5,5'-dehydrodivanillate (DDVA). Previously, ligXa (SLG_07770), which is similar to the gene encoding oxygenase components of Rieske-type nonheme iron aromatic-ring-hydroxylating oxygenases, was identified to be essential for the conversion of DDVA; however, the genes encoding electron transfer components remained unknown. Disruption of putative electron transfer component genes scattered through the SYK-6 genome indicated that SLG_08500 and SLG_21200, which showed approximately 60% amino acid sequence identities with ferredoxin and ferredoxin reductase of dicamba O-demethylase, were essential for the normal growth of SYK-6 on DDVA. LigXa and the gene products of SLG_08500 (LigXc) and SLG_21200 (LigXd) were purified and were estimated to be a trimer, a monomer, and a monomer, respectively. LigXd contains FAD as the prosthetic group and showed much higher reductase activity toward 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol with NADH than with NADPH. A mixture of purified LigXa, LigXc, and LigXd converted DDVA into 2,2',3-trihydroxy-3'-methoxy-5,5'-dicarboxybiphenyl in the presence of NADH, indicating that DDVA O-demethylase is a three-component monooxygenase. This enzyme requires Fe(II) for its activity and is highly specific for DDVA, with a Km value of 63.5 µM and kcat of 6.1 s(-1). Genome searches in six other sphingomonads revealed genes similar to ligXc and ligXd (>58% amino acid sequence identities) with a limited number of electron transfer component genes, yet a number of diverse oxygenase component genes were found. This fact implies that these few electron transfer components are able to interact with numerous oxygenase components and the conserved LigXc and LigXd orthologs are important in sphingomonads.

[Successful thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal parathyroid tumor with preoperative intravenous methylene blue infusion; report of a case].

A 56-year-old woman was referred to our hospital presenting high serum levels of calcium (Ca) and intact-parathyroid hormone (PTH) and an anterior mediastinal nodule of 18×13 mm in size on chest computed tomography (CT). Tumor was suspected of a parathyroid tumor. 99mTc-methoxy-isobutylisonitrile( MIBI) scintigram showed abnormal radioactive tracer accumulation in the lesion. 3 ml/kg of methylene blue was administered intravenously an hour before surgery, and the stained tumor was successfully resected by thoracoscopic surgery. Pathological diagnosis was parathyroid hyperplasia. Postoperative course was uneventful and serum levels of Ca and intact-PTH returned to normal ranges.

Expression of hypoallergenic Der f 2 derivatives with altered intramolecular disulphide bonds induces the formation of novel ER-derived protein bodies in transgenic rice seeds.

House dust mites (HDM) are the most common source of indoor allergens and are associated with allergic diseases worldwide. To benefit allergic patients, safer and non-invasive mucosal routes of oral administration are considered to be the best alternative to conventional allergen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, transgenic rice was developed expressing derivatives of the major HDM allergen Der f 2 with reduced Der f 2-specific IgE reactivity by disrupting intramolecular disulphide bonds in Der f 2. These derivatives were produced specifically as secretory proteins in the endosperm tissue of seeds under the control of the endosperm-specific glutelin GluB-1 promoter. Notably, modified Der f 2 derivatives aggregated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen and were deposited in a unique protein body (PB)-like structure tentatively called the Der f 2 body. Der f 2 bodies were characterized by their intracellular localization and physico-chemical properties, and were distinct from ER-derived PBs (PB-Is) and protein storage vacuoles (PB-IIs). Unlike ER-derived organelles such as PB-Is, Der f 2 bodies were rapidly digested in simulated gastric fluid in a manner similar to that of PB-IIs. Oral administration in mice of transgenic rice seeds containing Der f 2 derivatives encapsulated in Der f 2 bodies suppressed Der f 2-specific IgE and IgG production compared with that in mice fed non-transgenic rice seeds, and the effect was dependent on the type of Der f 2 derivative expressed. These results suggest that engineered hypoallergenic Der f 2 derivatives expressed in the rice seed endosperm could serve as a basis for the development of viable strategies for the oral delivery of vaccines against HDM allergy.

Inhibition of allergen-induced airway inflammation by low-dose oral immunotherapy with transgenic rice seeds independently of immunoglobulin e synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Oral immunotherapy is potentially useful for the treatment of allergic diseases. We previously demonstrated that allergen-induced airway inflammation and immunoglobulin E (IgE) production in mice were suppressed by oral administration of high-dose transgenic (Tg) rice seeds (approximately 50 g/kg/day) expressing a T cell epitope of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 1 allergen (Der p 1). However, this amount of Tg rice seeds was not realistic in our daily life. In this study, allergen-induced airway inflammation and IgE production following oral immunotherapy with a realistic (lowest) dose of Tg rice seeds were investigated. METHODS: Mice orally administered with Tg or non-Tg rice seeds at approximately 5 g/kg/day for 1 week were immunized with recombinant Der p 1, and then challenged with the corresponding allergen. The infiltration of inflammatory cells into the airways and the levels of allergen-specific serum IgE were examined. RESULTS: Low-dose oral administration of Tg rice seeds significantly inhibited the allergen-induced infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes into the airways, but allergen-specific IgE synthesis was not changed. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose oral immunotherapy with Tg rice seeds could suppress allergen-induced airway inflammation through mechanisms other than the downregulation of IgE synthesis.

Site-specific different dynamic cerebral autoregulation and cerebrovascular response to carbon dioxide in posterior cerebral circulation during isometric exercise in healthy young men.

Different cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to exercise between the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and vertebral artery (VA) have been previously observed, though the physiological mechanisms remain unknown. There is regional heterogeneity in sympathetic innervation between the PCA and VA, which may affect CBF regulation, especially during sympathoexcitation. Thus, in the present study, we hypothesized that different CBF regulatory mechanisms between PCA and VA contribute to heterogeneous CBF responses to isometric exercise. To test this hypothesis, in thirteen healthy young men, dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) and cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity (CVR), were identified in each artery during a 2-min isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction. Similar to previous data, PCA cerebrovascular conductance (CVC) index was decreased from rest (P < 0.004), but not VA CVC during IHG exercise (P > 0.084). Dynamic CA in both PCA and VA were unaltered during the IHG exercise (P = 0.129). On the other hand, PCA CVR was increased during the IHG exercise (P < 0.001) while VA CVR was unchanged (P = 0.294). In addition, individual exercise-induced changes in end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 was related to the individual change in PCA blood velocity (P < 0.046), but was not observed for VA blood flow (P > 0.420). Therefore, these exercise-induced differences in CVR between PCA and VA may contribute to exercise-induced heterogeneous CBF response in the posterior cerebral circulation. These findings indicate that the site-specific posterior CBF should be considered in further research for assessing posterior cerebral circulation.

Prevention of allergic asthma by vaccination with transgenic rice seed expressing mite allergen: induction of allergen-specific oral tolerance without bystander suppression.

This study tested the feasibility of oral immunotherapy for bronchial asthma using a newly developed subunit vaccine in which a fragment (p45-145) of mite allergen (Der p 1) containing immunodominant human and mouse T cell epitopes was encapsulated in endoplasmic reticulum-derived protein bodies of transgenic (Tg) rice seed. Allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin responses, T cell proliferation, Th1/Th2 cytokine production, airway inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and lung histology were investigated in allergen-immunized and -challenged mice. Prophylactic oral vaccination with the Tg rice seeds clearly reduced the serum levels of allergen-specific IgE and IgG. Allergen-induced CD4(+) T cell proliferation and production of Th2 cytokines in vitro, infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils and mononuclear cells into the airways and BHR were also inhibited by oral vaccination. The effects of the vaccine were antigen-specific immune response because the levels of specific IgE and IgG in mice immunized with Der f 2 or ovalbumin were not significantly suppressed by oral vaccination with the Der p 1 expressing Tg rice. Thus, the vaccine does not induce nonspecific bystander suppression, which has been a problem with many oral tolerance regimens. These results suggest that our novel vaccine strategy is a promising approach for allergen-specific oral immunotherapy against allergic diseases including bronchial asthma.

Massilia sp. BS-1, a novel violacein-producing bacterium isolated from soil.

A novel bacterium, Massilia sp. BS-1, producing violacein and deoxyviolacein was isolated from a soil sample collected from Akita Prefecture, Japan. The 16S ribosomal DNA of strain BS-1 displayed 93% homology with its nearest violacein-producing neighbor, Janthinobacterium lividum. Strain BS-1 grew well in a synthetic medium, but required both L-tryptophan and a small amount of L-histidine to produce violacein.

Anorectal melanoma with a KIT-activating mutation, which is a target for tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Recent advances in our understanding of the genetic mutations associated with melanoma have led to the classification of distinct melanoma subtypes. A number of reports have consistently demonstrated that mucosal and acral melanomas more commonly harbor KIT-activating mutations than do other subtypes. Success in treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors with imatinib has led to speculation that KIT-mutated melanoma might also be effectively managed using this approach. A 78-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of rectal bleeding. A colonoscopy revealed a black polypoid mass, 30 mm in diameter, originating near the dentate line, and a biopsy revealed malignant melanoma. Computed tomography showed multiple liver and lung metastases. A KIT mutation analysis showed the L576P mutation in exon 11. The patient did not want to undergo chemotherapy including a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, so palliative radiotherapy for rectal symptoms was performed, but the patient died 4 months later due to disease progression. We describe the first case of anorectal melanoma with a KIT-activating mutation in Japan and summarize findings from the literature regarding the efficacy of KIT kinase inhibitors on this melanoma subtype.

Kattan postoperative nomogram for renal cell carcinoma: predictive accuracy in a Japanese population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to establish the predictive accuracy of the Kattan postoperative nomogram for non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a Japanese population. METHODS: A total of 211 patients with stage T1-3N0M0 clear cell RCC who underwent radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery between 1991 and 2004 were included in this analysis. Median follow up was 81 months (range: 4-208). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and the influence of age, sex, clinical presentation, T stage, histological tumor size, grade, and microvascular invasion on disease recurrence-free survival (RFS) was determined. For each patient, the prognostic score for 5-year RFS was calculated using the Kattan nomogram. The discriminating ability of this model was assessed by the concordance index, and bootstrapping was used to evaluate confidence intervals. RESULTS: The 5-year RFS rate for all patients calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method was 80.6%. In multivariate analysis, the statistically significant prognostic factors for 5-year RFS were high-grade tumors (P=0.019) and symptomatic disease (P=0.017). The concordance index for RFS predicted by the Kattan nomogram was 0.735 (95% confidence interval: 0.734-0.736). There was a slight discrepancy between the RFS predicted by the Kattan nomogram and the likelihood of being recurrence-free at 5 years according to the Cox analysis in the current patient population. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the necessity of constructing a more useful nomogram for predicting the prognosis of Japanese patients with non-metastatic RCC.

[Clinical study of forty-two patients who underwent resection for pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma].

Pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor as defined by the Japan Lung Cancer Society Classification. At our institution, of the 1,023 patients who underwent resection for primary lung cancer, 42 (4.0%) had adenosquamous carcinoma. Here, we present the clinical features of this malignant tumor. The male : female ratio was low. Many tumors were located peripherally, and the positive rate for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was 54.8%; these clinical findings were similar to those of adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, many tumors had relatively large diameter, and most of the patients were heavy smokers; these findings were consistent with those of squamous cell carcinoma. Hence, the cases of adenosquamous carcinoma had the characteristics of both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis of patients with adenosquamous carcinoma was poorer than those of patients with adenocarcinoma and those with squamous cell carcinoma, irrespective of whether it was stages I or II. Adenosquamous carcinoma is characterized by a highly aggressive biological behavior and a high rate of early metastasis. Therefore, even if the diagnosis is made at an early phase, an aggressive approach, including adjuvant chemotherapy, might be necessary for adenosquamous carcinoma.

Irinotecan as the key chemotherapeutic agent in second-line treatment of metastatic gastric cancer after failure of first-line S-1 or S-1/CDDP therapy.

BACKGROUND: S-1, an oral fluoropyrimidine, is one of the standard chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of metastatic gastric cancer(MGC). However, the most effective second-line regimen after failure of treatment with first-line agents such as S-1 is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the various second-line chemotherapy regimens in MGC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients with MGC who received second-line treatment after failure of the first-line S-1 or S-1/cisplatin treatment. The overall survival times with each second-line regimen were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the effect on overall survival was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The median survival time for all patients was 14. 2 months(95% confidence interval(CI): 12. 88-15. 43 months)with a 1-year survival rate of 60. 4%. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the second-line regimens containing irinotecan significantly improved the median survival time as compared to regimens without irinotecan(median survival time: 16. 5 and 13. 8 months, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that irinotecan-containing regimens were associated with improved overall survival(hazard ratio: 0. 165; 95% CI: 0. 041-0. 665). CONCLUSION: The use of irinotecan-containing regimens as second-line chemotherapy after failure of first-line S-1 therapy may be beneficial for MGC patients.

Reconstructed Diaphragm by Fascia Lata: 13 Years In Vivo.

We report a case of resection of a reconstructed diaphragm with fascia lata after 13 years. A 66-year-old man was diagnosed with a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Thirteen years prior, resection for left postoperative pleural dissemination of solitary fibrous tumor with diaphragmatic resection was performed, and left fascia lata was used for diaphragmatic reconstruction. He relapsed, and the diaphragm was re-resected and re-reconstructed with right fascia lata. The resected, reconstructed fascia lata had microvessels in the fibrous stroma, and it was observed that the autologous tissue had become more resistant to infection by obtaining a blood supply.

Effects of acute interval handgrip exercise on cognitive performance.

Previous studies have reported that even a single bout of dynamic exercise improves cognitive performance. However, the acute effect of the interval handgrip (HG) exercise protocol, which is effective in reducing resting blood pressure, on cognitive performance is poorly understood. Cognitive performance was assessed in 17 young healthy subjects before and after a resting control (e.g., time control) and the interval HG exercise (Exercise), which consisted of four trials of 2-min HG exercise at 25% of maximum voluntary contraction with 3-min recovery in between each trial. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA V) were measured continuously throughout the experiment. Memory recognition and executive function were assessed using memory recognition and Go/No-Go tasks, respectively. During interval HG exercise, MAP and mean MCA V increased from the resting baseline condition (both P < 0.049) and returned to the resting baseline levels during recovery after the interval HG exercise (both P = 1.000). The reaction time and performance accuracy of the memory recognition task did not change in either the time control condition or Exercise condition (P = 0.514 and P = 0.414 respectively). However, the changes in reaction time of Go/No-Go task from the baseline in Exercise condition was significantly shorter than that in time-control condition (P = 0.004) without affecting performance accuracy (P = 0.482). The results of the present study show that an acute interval HG exercise could improve the processing speed in executive function despite no post-exercise improvement in hemodynamic parameters in young healthy subjects. These findings suggest that the interval HG exercise is a useful exercise mode that can be expected to have a positive effect on the processing speed in executive function regardless of cardiovascular adaptation to exercise.

Greater increase in internal carotid artery shear rate during aerobic interval compared to continuous exercise in healthy adult men.

Interval exercise has been determined to be more effective than continuous exercise for achieving improvement in the cardiovascular function of individuals suffering from cardiovascular disease. However, whether interval exercise improves the cerebrovascular function remains unclear. As per our hypothesis, interval exercise induces a higher cerebrovascular shear rate (SR) than continuous exercise. In this study, 11 adult men randomly performed continuous exercise for 12 min or work-equivalent (57.6 kJ/exercise session) interval exercise of semi-recumbent cycling. The SR in the internal carotid artery (ICA) represents an index of the cerebrovascular SR, which was measured during both the exercises using Doppler ultrasonography. Both the aerobic exercise modes increased the ICA SR. Moreover, the average ICA SR of the interval exercise for the final 4 min of exercise or 2 min of recovery was significantly higher than that for continuous exercise (exercise, 351 ± 75 vs. 330 ± 61/s, p = .038; recovery, 327 ± 86 vs. 290 ± 56/s, p = .014). To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that aerobic interval exercise increased the ICA SR more than equivalent work volume of aerobic continuous exercise. Thus, aerobic interval exercise may be more effective at stimulating the cerebrovasculature, resulting in greater improvements in cerebrovascular function as compared to continuous aerobic exercise in healthy adult men. These findings provide some important information that would help enhance exercise therapy programs for patients with arteriosclerosis, especially in the cerebral circulation.

Effect of sublingual immunotherapy on antigen-induced bronchial and nasal inflammation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is effective in the treatment of a variety of allergic diseases, including bronchial asthma and rhinitis. However, how this local therapy exerts such wide effects is unclear. In this study, we comparatively examined the effect of SLIT on antigen-induced airway inflammation in bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities in mice. METHODS: Mice were treated sublingually with ovalbumin (OVA) once a day for 2 weeks. Subsequently, they were immunized with the corresponding antigen. Following intratracheal and nasal challenge with OVA, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities was investigated in these mice. RESULTS: Massive infiltration of eosinophils as well as neutrophils into the bronchoalveolar cavity was induced by intratracheal OVA challenge. Eosinophils accumulated in the nasal cavity, but the number of neutrophils did not significantly change in response to nasal antigen challenge. These antigen-induced airway inflammatory responses, including the increases in the numbers of eosinophils and/or neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities, were clearly suppressed by SLIT. CONCLUSIONS: This animal model displaying differential inflammatory responses in the bronchoalveolar and nasal cavities may be useful to elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of SLIT against various allergic diseases.

An evaluation of the surgical morbidity of polyglycolic acid felt in pulmonary resections.

PURPOSE: Several methods using various materials have so far been reported to repair pulmonary air leaks, which is an essential problem in general thoracic surgery. Although the efficacy of these materials has been often discussed, the safety has only rarely been examined. This study evaluated the safety of polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt, one of the most commonly materials employed at this institute. METHODS: A total of 1026 patients who underwent a pulmonary resection from January 2000 to December 2007 were enrolled in this study. The status of PGA use, type of surgery, and incidence and type of surgical site infection (SSI) were reviewed retrospectively from the clinical records. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-four patients were treated with PGA. Although two patients in the PGA group underwent a reoperation, PGA itself was not causative. In one case, the PGA felt strictly adhered to both the parietal and visceral pleura. CONCLUSION: Polyglycolic acid felt can be used safely in general thoracic surgery and did not influence the incidence or type of SSI. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of adhesion around the material at the time of re-operation, and the criteria of PGA use should be strictly discussed.