AIM： To examine the effects of anti-high mobility group box 1 （HIGB1） neutralizing antibody in experimental severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. METHODS： SAP was induced by creating closed duodenal loop inC3H/HeN mi...AIM： To examine the effects of anti-high mobility group box 1 （HIGB1） neutralizing antibody in experimental severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. METHODS： SAP was induced by creating closed duodenal loop inC3H/HeN mice. SAP was induced immediately after intrapedtoneal injection of anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibody （200 pg）. Sevedty of pancreatitis, organ injury （liver, kidney and lung）, and bacterial translocation to pancreas was examined 12 h after induction of SAP. RESULTS： Anti-HHGB1 neutralizing antibody significantly improved the elevation of the serum amylase level and the histological alterations of pancreas and lung in SAR Anti-HHGB1 antibody also significantly ameliorated the elevations of serum alanine aminotransferase and creatinine in SAR However, anti-HHGB1 antibody worsened the bacterial translocation to pancreas. CONCLUSION： Blockade of HHGB1 attenuated the development of SAP and associated organ dysfunction, suggesting that HHGB1 may act as a key mediator for inflammatory response and organ injury in SAR展开更多
The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases(NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH), has been increasing. NASH causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and is one of the most se...The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases(NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH), has been increasing. NASH causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and is one of the most serious health problems in the world. The mechanism through which NASH progresses is still largely unknown. Activation of caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-induced hepatocyte apoptosis plays a role in the activation of NAFLD/NASH. Apoptotic hepatocytes stimulate immune cells and hepatic stellate cells toward the progression of fibrosis in the liver through the production of inflammasomes and cytokines. Abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as microbiota accelerate these processes. The production of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress is also involved. Cell death, including apoptosis, seems very important in the progression of NAFLD and NASH. Recently, inhibitors of apoptosis have been developed as drugs for the treatment of NASH and may prevent cirrhosis and HCC. Increased hepatocyte apoptosis may distinguish NASH from NAFLD, and the improvement of apoptosis could play a role in controlling the development of NASH. In this review, the association between apoptosis and NAFLD/NASH are discussed. This review could provide their knowledge, which plays a role in seeing the patients with NAFLD/NASH in daily clinical practice.展开更多
AIM:To use leptin-deficient(ob/ob) mice with demonstrated differences in steatosis levels to test a new diagnostic method using the acoustical structure quantification(ASQ) mode and the associated analytical parameter...AIM:To use leptin-deficient(ob/ob) mice with demonstrated differences in steatosis levels to test a new diagnostic method using the acoustical structure quantification(ASQ) mode and the associated analytical parameter,"focal disturbance ratio"(FD-ratio).METHODS:Nine ob/ob mice,at 5,8,and 12 wk of age(n = 3 in each age group),were used as models for hepatic steatosis.Echo signals obtained from ultrasonography in the mice were analyzed by ASQ,which uses a statistical analysis of echo amplitude to estimate inhomogeneity in the diagnostic region.FD-ratio,as calculated from this analysis,was the focus of the present study.FD-ratio and fat droplet areas and sizes were compared between age groups.RESULTS:No fibrosis or inflammation was observed in any of the groups.The fat droplet area significantly(P < 0.01) increased with age from 1.25% ± 0.28% at 5 wk to 31.07% ± 0.48% at 8 wk to 51.69% ± 3.19% at 12 wk.The median fat droplet size also significantly(P < 0.01) increased with age,from 1.33(0.55-10.52) m at 5 wk,2.82(0.61-44.13) m at 8 wk and 6.34(0.66-81.83) m at 12 wk.The mean FD-ratio was 0.42 ± 0.11 at 5 wk,0.11 ± 0.05 at 8 wk,and 0.03 ± 0.02 at 12 wk.The FD-ratio was significantly lower at 12 wk than at 5 wk and 8 wk(P < 0.01).A significant negative correlation was observed between the FD-ratio and either the fat droplet area(r =-0.7211,P = 0.0017) or fat droplet size(r =-0.9811,P = 0.0052).CONCLUSION:This tool for statistical analysis of signals from ultrasonography using the FD-ratio can be used to accurately quantify fat in vivo in an animal model of hepatic steatosis,and may serve as a quantitative biomarker of hepatic steatosis.展开更多
Plant metabolomics developed as a powerful tool to examine gene functions and to gain deeper insight into the physiology of the plant cell. In this study, we screened Arabidopsis lines overexpressing rice full-length ...Plant metabolomics developed as a powerful tool to examine gene functions and to gain deeper insight into the physiology of the plant cell. In this study, we screened Arabidopsis lines overexpressing rice full-length （FL） cDNAs （rice FOX Arabidopsis lines） using a gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry （GC-TOF/MS）-based technique to identify rice genes that caused metabolic changes. This screening system allows fast and reliable identification of candi- date lines showing altered metabolite profiles. We performed metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of a rice FOX Ara- bidopsis line that harbored the FL cDNA of the rice ortholog of the Lateral Organ Boundaries （LOB） Domain （LBD）/ Asymmetric Leaves2-1ike （ASL） gene of Arabidopsis, At-LBD37/ASL39. The investigated rice FOX Arabidopsis line showed prominent changes in the levels of metabolites related to nitrogen metabolism. The transcriptomic data as well as the results from the metabolite analysis of the Arabidopsis At-LBD37/ASL39-overexpressor plants were consistent with these findings. Furthermore, the metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of the Os-LBD37/ASL39-overexpressing rice plants indicated that Os-LBD37/ASL39 is associated with processes related to nitrogen metabolism in rice. Thus, the combination of a metabolomics-based screening method and a gain-of-function approach is useful for rapid characterization of novel genes in both Arabidopsis and rice.展开更多
AIM: To identify the hepatic vascular architecture of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) using superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and investigate the use of SMI in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.METHODS: SMI was ...AIM: To identify the hepatic vascular architecture of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) using superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and investigate the use of SMI in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.METHODS: SMI was performed in 100 HCV patients. SMI images were classified into five types according to the vascular pattern, and these patterns were compared with the fibrosis stage. Moreover, the images were analyzed to examine vascularity by integrating the number of SMI signals in the region of interest ROI [number of vascular trees (VT)]. The number of VT, fibrosis stage, serum parameters of liver function, and CD34 expression were investigated.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between SMI distribution pattern and fibrosis stage (P < 0.001). The mean VT values in each of the fibrosis stages were as follows: 26.69 ± 7.08 in F0, 27.72 ± 9.32 in F1, 36.74 ± 9.23 in F2, 37.36 ± 5.32 in F3, and 58.14 ± 14.08 in F4. The VT showed excellent diagnostic ability for F4 [area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC): 0.911]. The VT was significantly correlated with the CD34 labeling index (r = 0.617, P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: SMI permitted the detailed delineation of the vascular architecture in chronic liver disease. SMI appears to be a reliable tool for noninvasively detecting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis in HCV patients.展开更多
The incidence of acute pancreatitis in Japan is increasing and ranges from 187 to 347 cases per million populations. Case fatality was 0.2% for mild to moderate, and 9.0% for severe acute pancreatitis in Japan in 2003...The incidence of acute pancreatitis in Japan is increasing and ranges from 187 to 347 cases per million populations. Case fatality was 0.2% for mild to moderate, and 9.0% for severe acute pancreatitis in Japan in 2003. Experts in pancreatitis in Japan made this document focusing on the practical aspects in the early management of patients with acute pancreatitis. The correct diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and severity stratification should be made in all patients using the criteria for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and the multifactor scoring system proposed by the Research Committee of Intractable Diseases of the Pancreas as early as possible. All patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis should be managed in the hospital. Monitoring of blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate, body temperature, hourly urinary volume, and blood oxygen saturation level is essential in the management of such patients. Early vigorous intravenous hydration is of foremost importance to stabilize circulatory dynamics. Adequate pain relief with opiates is also important. In severe acute pancreatitis, prophylactic intravenous administration of antibiotics at an early stage is recommended. Administration of protease inhibitors should be initiated as soon as thediagnosis of acute pancreatitis is confirmed. A combination of enteral feeding with parenteral nutrition from early stage is recommended if there are no clear signs and symptoms of ileus and gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis should be transferred to ICU as early as possible to perform special measures such as continuous regional arterial infusion of protease inhibitors and antibiotics, and continuous hemodiafiltration. The Japanese Government covers medical care expense for severe acute pancreatitis as one of the projects of Research on Measures for Intractable Diseases.展开更多
Osteoclast differentiation depends on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK) signaling,which can be divided into triggering,amplifying and targeting phases based on how active the master regulator nuclear fact...Osteoclast differentiation depends on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK) signaling,which can be divided into triggering,amplifying and targeting phases based on how active the master regulator nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1(NFATc1) is. The triggering phase is characterized by immediateearly RANK signaling induced by RANK ligand(RANKL) stimulation mediated by three adaptor proteins,tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6,Grb-2-associated binder-2 and phospholipase C(PLC)γ2,leading to activation of IκB kinase,mitogen-activated protein kinases and the transcription factors nuclear factor(NF)-κB and activator protein-1(AP-1). Mice lacking NF-κB p50/p52 or the AP-1 subunit c-Fos(encoded by Fos) exhibit severe osteopetrosis due to a differentiation block in the osteoclast lineage. The amplification phase occurs about 24 h later in a RANKLinduced osteoclastogenic culture when Ca2+ oscillation starts and the transcription factor NFATc1 is abundantly produced. In addition to Ca2+ oscillation-dependent nuclear translocation and transcriptional auto-induction of NFATc1,a Ca2+ oscillation-independent,osteoblastdependent mechanism stabilizes NFATc1 protein in dif-ferentiating osteoclasts. Osteoclast precursors lacking PLCγ2,inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors,regulator of G-protein signaling 10,or NFATc1 show an impaired transition from the triggering to amplifying phases. The final targeting phase is mediated by activation of numerous NFATc1 target genes responsible for cell-cell fusion and regulation of bone-resorptive function. This review focuses on molecular mechanisms for each of the three phases of RANK signaling during osteoclast differentiation.展开更多
Polarization holography is a newly researched field,that has gained traction with the development of tensor theory.It primarily focuses on the interaction between polarization waves and photosensitive materials.The ex...Polarization holography is a newly researched field,that has gained traction with the development of tensor theory.It primarily focuses on the interaction between polarization waves and photosensitive materials.The extraordinary capabil-ities in modulating the amplitude,phase,and polarization of light have resulted in several new applications,such as holo-graphic storage technology,multichannel polarization multiplexing,vector beams,and optical functional devices.In this paper,fundamental research on polarization holography with linear polarized wave,a component of the theory of polariz-ation holography,has been reviewed.Primarily,the effect of various polarization changes on the linear and nonlinear po-larization characteristics of reconstructed wave under continuous exposure and during holographic recording and recon-struction have been focused upon.The polarization modulation realized using these polarization characteristics exhibits unusual functionalities,rendering polarization holography as an attractive research topic in many fields of applications.This paper aims to provide readers with new insights and broaden the application of polarization holography in more sci-entific and technological research fields.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)results from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to the transformation of normal colonic mucosa to adenocarcinoma.Approximately 75%of CRCs are sporadic an...Colorectal cancer(CRC)results from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to the transformation of normal colonic mucosa to adenocarcinoma.Approximately 75%of CRCs are sporadic and occur in people without genetic predisposition or family history of CRC.During the past two decades,sporadic CRCs were classified into three major groups according to frequently altered/mutated genes.These genes have been identified by linkage analyses of cancer-prone families and by individual mutation analyses of candidate genes selected on the basis of functional data.In the first half of this review,we describe the genetic pathways of sporadic CRCs and their clinicopathologic features.Recently,large-scale genome analyses have detected many infrequently mutated genes as well as a small number of frequently mutated genes.These infrequently mutated genes are likely described in a limited number of pathways.Gene-oriented models of CRC progression are being replaced by pathway-oriented models.In the second half of this review,we summarize the present knowledge of this research field and discuss its prospects.展开更多
BACKGROUND: In approximately 20% of patients, necrotizing pancreatitis is complicated with severe acute pancreatitis, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Minimally invasive step-up approach is both safe and effec...BACKGROUND: In approximately 20% of patients, necrotizing pancreatitis is complicated with severe acute pancreatitis, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Minimally invasive step-up approach is both safe and effective, but sometimes requires multiple access sites.METHODS: A 62-year-old woman was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis, and initial computed tomography(CT) revealed no evidence of acute pancreatitis. She was clinically improved with insulin therapy, fl uid administration, and electrolyte replacement. However, on the 14 th day of admission, she developed a high-grade fever, and CT demonstrated evidence of acute necrotizing pancreatitis with a large collection of peripancreatic fl uid. Percutaneous transgastric drainage was performed and a 14 French gauge(Fr) pigtail catheter was placed 1 week later, which drained copious pus. Because of persistent high-grade fever and poor clinical improvement, multiple 8 and 10 Fr pigtail catheters were placed via the initial drainage route, allowing the safe and effective drainage of the extensive necrotic tissue that was occupying the bilateral anterior pararenal space.RESULTS: After drainage, the patient recovered well and the last catheter was removed on day 123 of admission.CONCLUSIONS: Multiple percutaneous drainage requires both careful judgment and specialist skills. The perforation of the colon and small bowel as well as the injury of the kidney and major vessels can occur. The current technique appears to be safe and minimally invasive compared with other drainage methods in patients with extended, infected necrotic pancreatic pseudocysts.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) using a suspension of a fine-powder formulation of cisplatin(DDPH) for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:The study population was comp...AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) using a suspension of a fine-powder formulation of cisplatin(DDPH) for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:The study population was comprised of 164 patients who were treated by TACE alone.Of these patients,76 underwent TACE using a suspension of DDPH in lipiodol(LPD)(DDPH group),and the remaining 88 underwent TACE with an emulsion of doxorubicin(ADM) with LPD(ADM group).We compared the DDPH group with the ADM group in terms of the objective early response rate,progression free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS).RESULTS:The objective early response rate in the DDPH group was significantly higher than that in the ADM group(54% vs 24%,P < 0.001).The PFS rate in the DDPH group was also significantly higher than that in the ADM group(P < 0.001).Moreover,the OS in the DDPH group was significantly longer than that in the ADM group(P = 0.002).Although the incidence rate of nausea or vomiting in the DDPH group was higher than that in the ADM group,the ADM group showed a higher incidence rate of the adverse events of hepatic arterial damage and leucopenia.No other serious complications were observed in either group.CONCLUSION:We conclude that TACE using a suspension of DDPH in LPD could be a useful treatment for HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infect...BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infection after splenectomy in a patient with LC.METHODS:A 72-year-old woman with a history of LC was admitted to our emergency department because of respiratory failure.The patient had received left lateral segmentectomy of the liver and splenectomy three months before admission.Pulmonary examination revealed significant wheezing during inspiration and expiration,but no crackles and stridor.Chest radiography and CT showed no infiltrates.A presumptive diagnosis of bronchial asthma caused by upper respiratory infection was made.Four days after admission,GBS infection was confirmed by blood culture and penicillin G was administered.Antibiotics were given intravenously for a total of 12 days.RESULTS:The patient was discharged on the 12th day after admission.CONCLUSIONS:Although efficacy of splenectomy in patients with LC has been reported,immune status should be evaluated for a longer period.Patients who have undergone splenectomy are highly susceptible to bacteria;moreover,LC itself is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with sepsis.Since prophylaxis against GBS has not been established,immediate action should be taken.Emergency physicians should be aware of invasive GBS infection in the context of the critical risk factors related to splenectomy and LC,particularly the expected increase of splenectomy performed in LC patients.展开更多
Various kinds of new engineering technologies have been studied to realize the low-carbon and sustainable power supply systems all over the world.In actual implementation of these technologies,mostly,there are multipl...Various kinds of new engineering technologies have been studied to realize the low-carbon and sustainable power supply systems all over the world.In actual implementation of these technologies,mostly,there are multiple objectives with trade off relationships among each other,and also various constraints in the achievement of these objectives.Therefore,it should be essential to solve multiobjective optimization problems effectively in the applications of these new technologies in power systems.This paper proposes an improved method to realize multiobjective optimization for critical challenges in advanced power systems.To realize that,in an optimal dispersed generation installation problem,that is,one of effective measures for low-carbon power systems,various optimization methods and their combination methods are evaluated and a hybrid method for evolutionary algorithms was developed.The method can provide improved results compared with other state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization methods.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus(CMV) remains a critical complication after solid-organ transplantation. The CMV antigenemia(AG) test is useful for monitoring CMV infection. Although the AG-positivity rate in CMV gastroente...BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus(CMV) remains a critical complication after solid-organ transplantation. The CMV antigenemia(AG) test is useful for monitoring CMV infection. Although the AG-positivity rate in CMV gastroenteritis is known to be low at onset, almost all cases become positive during the disease course. We treated a patient with transverse colon perforation due to AG-negative CMV gastroenteritis, following a living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 52-year-old woman with decompensated liver cirrhosis as a result of autoimmune hepatitis who underwent a blood-type compatible LDLT with her second son as the donor. On day 20 after surgery, upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy(GE) revealed multiple gastric ulcers and transverse colon ulcers. The biopsy tissue immunostaining confirmed a diagnosis of CMV gastroenteritis. On day 28 after surgery, an abdominal computed tomography revealed transverse colon perforation, and simple lavage and drainage were performed along with an urgent ileostomy. Although the repeated remission and aggravation of CMV gastroenteritis and acute cellular rejection made the control of immunosuppression difficult, the upper GE eventually revealed an improvement in the gastric ulcers, and the biopsy samples were negative for CMV. The CMV-AG test remained negative, therefore, we had to evaluate the status of the CMV infection on the basis of the clinical symptoms and GE.CONCLUSION This case report suggests a monitoring method that could be useful for AGnegative CMV gastroenteritis after a solid-organ transplantation.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric ca...Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric cancer only in cases without atrophy or IM. However, histological changes with eradication have yet to be fully clarified. We evaluated 38 H. pylori-positive cases before and after eradication at the gland level;pyloric glands were classified as showing gastric proper (G) and IM gland types, with the latter including gastric-and-intestinal mixed IM (GI-IM) and solely intestinal IM (I-IM), depending on the remaining gastric phenotypes. On eradication, acute and chronic inflammation attenuated rapidly and gradually, respectively, whereas levels of MUC5AC and MUC6 expression were not markedly altered. Gland width, size of nuclei and cytoplasm and their ratio in surface foveolar epithelium, the number of Ki-67-positive cells and the length of the proliferating zone in each gland were significantly decreased in G glands after eradication compared with those in GI-IM and I-IM. The number of mitotic phase cells, positive for phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 28, was increased in both types of IM compared to that in G glands in the H. pylori-infected state, but unexpectedly remained unchanged with eradication. These results suggest that GI-IM, as the beginning of IM, could represent a histological irreversible point with eradication and be considered as a “histological point of no return”.展开更多
We fabricate photonic crystal slab microcavities embedded with GaAs quantum dots by electron beam lithography and droplet epitaxy. The Purcell effect of exciton emission of the quantum dots is confirmed by the micro p...We fabricate photonic crystal slab microcavities embedded with GaAs quantum dots by electron beam lithography and droplet epitaxy. The Purcell effect of exciton emission of the quantum dots is confirmed by the micro photoluminescence measurement. The resonance wavelengths, widths, and polarization are consistent with numerical simulation results.展开更多
Two-dimensional shear wave elastography(2D-SWE)is used in the clinical setting for observation of the liver.Unfortunately,a wide spectrum of artifactual images are frequently encountered in 2D-SWE,the precise mechanis...Two-dimensional shear wave elastography(2D-SWE)is used in the clinical setting for observation of the liver.Unfortunately,a wide spectrum of artifactual images are frequently encountered in 2D-SWE,the precise mechanisms of which remain incompletely understood.This review was designed to present many of the artifactual images seen in 2D-SWE of the liver and to analyze them by computer simulation models that support clinical observations.Our computer simulations yielded the following suggestions:(1)When performing 2D-SWE in patients with chronic hepatic disease,especially liver cirrhosis,it is recommended to measure shear wave values through the least irregular hepatic surface;(2)The most useful 2D-SWE in patients with focal lesion will detect lesions that are poorly visible on B-mode ultrasound and will differentiate true tumors from pseudo-tumors(e.g.,irregular fatty change);and(3)Measurement of shear wave values in the area posterior to a focal lesion must be avoided.展开更多
Cr(Ⅵ),one of the most hazardous metal pollutants,poses significant threats to the environment and human health.Herein,a novel MoS_(2) composite(MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM)modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)and polyacrylamide(...Cr(Ⅵ),one of the most hazardous metal pollutants,poses significant threats to the environment and human health.Herein,a novel MoS_(2) composite(MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM)modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)and polyacrylamide(PAM)was synthesized to enhance the removal of Cr(Ⅵ).Characterization analysis including SEM,XRD,FTIR,and XPS indicated that PVP and PAM could increase the interlayer spacing and the dispersibility of MoS_(2),and introduce pyrrolic N and amino functional groups.The batch experiments showed that MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM represented excellent Cr(Ⅵ)removal performance over a wide p H range,and exhibited a significantly higher maximum Cr(Ⅵ)adsorption capacity(274.73 mg/g,at p H 3.0,and 298 K)than pure MoS_(2).The adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ)followed Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic model,which was a homogeneous monolayer chemisorption process.MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM showed stable removal of Cr(Ⅵ)in the presence of humic acid(HA),interfering cations and anions at different concentrations.Moreover,it had excellent selectivity for Cr(Ⅵ)(K_(d) value of 1.69×10^(7)m L/g)when coexisting with a variety of competing ions.Multiple characterization revealed that Cr(Ⅵ)was reduced to low toxicity Cr(Ⅲ)by Mo^(4+)and S^(2-),and then chelated on the surface of the adsorbent by pyrrolic N.This research expanded the design concept for MoS_(2) composites by demonstrating the potential of MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM as a promising material for selective elimination of Cr(Ⅵ)in water.展开更多
基金Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan and from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan
文摘AIM： To examine the effects of anti-high mobility group box 1 （HIGB1） neutralizing antibody in experimental severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. METHODS： SAP was induced by creating closed duodenal loop inC3H/HeN mice. SAP was induced immediately after intrapedtoneal injection of anti-HMGB1 neutralizing antibody （200 pg）. Sevedty of pancreatitis, organ injury （liver, kidney and lung）, and bacterial translocation to pancreas was examined 12 h after induction of SAP. RESULTS： Anti-HHGB1 neutralizing antibody significantly improved the elevation of the serum amylase level and the histological alterations of pancreas and lung in SAR Anti-HHGB1 antibody also significantly ameliorated the elevations of serum alanine aminotransferase and creatinine in SAR However, anti-HHGB1 antibody worsened the bacterial translocation to pancreas. CONCLUSION： Blockade of HHGB1 attenuated the development of SAP and associated organ dysfunction, suggesting that HHGB1 may act as a key mediator for inflammatory response and organ injury in SAR
文摘The number of patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases(NAFLD) including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH), has been increasing. NASH causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and is one of the most serious health problems in the world. The mechanism through which NASH progresses is still largely unknown. Activation of caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-induced hepatocyte apoptosis plays a role in the activation of NAFLD/NASH. Apoptotic hepatocytes stimulate immune cells and hepatic stellate cells toward the progression of fibrosis in the liver through the production of inflammasomes and cytokines. Abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as microbiota accelerate these processes. The production of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress is also involved. Cell death, including apoptosis, seems very important in the progression of NAFLD and NASH. Recently, inhibitors of apoptosis have been developed as drugs for the treatment of NASH and may prevent cirrhosis and HCC. Increased hepatocyte apoptosis may distinguish NASH from NAFLD, and the improvement of apoptosis could play a role in controlling the development of NASH. In this review, the association between apoptosis and NAFLD/NASH are discussed. This review could provide their knowledge, which plays a role in seeing the patients with NAFLD/NASH in daily clinical practice.
文摘AIM:To use leptin-deficient(ob/ob) mice with demonstrated differences in steatosis levels to test a new diagnostic method using the acoustical structure quantification(ASQ) mode and the associated analytical parameter,"focal disturbance ratio"(FD-ratio).METHODS:Nine ob/ob mice,at 5,8,and 12 wk of age(n = 3 in each age group),were used as models for hepatic steatosis.Echo signals obtained from ultrasonography in the mice were analyzed by ASQ,which uses a statistical analysis of echo amplitude to estimate inhomogeneity in the diagnostic region.FD-ratio,as calculated from this analysis,was the focus of the present study.FD-ratio and fat droplet areas and sizes were compared between age groups.RESULTS:No fibrosis or inflammation was observed in any of the groups.The fat droplet area significantly(P < 0.01) increased with age from 1.25% ± 0.28% at 5 wk to 31.07% ± 0.48% at 8 wk to 51.69% ± 3.19% at 12 wk.The median fat droplet size also significantly(P < 0.01) increased with age,from 1.33(0.55-10.52) m at 5 wk,2.82(0.61-44.13) m at 8 wk and 6.34(0.66-81.83) m at 12 wk.The mean FD-ratio was 0.42 ± 0.11 at 5 wk,0.11 ± 0.05 at 8 wk,and 0.03 ± 0.02 at 12 wk.The FD-ratio was significantly lower at 12 wk than at 5 wk and 8 wk(P < 0.01).A significant negative correlation was observed between the FD-ratio and either the fat droplet area(r =-0.7211,P = 0.0017) or fat droplet size(r =-0.9811,P = 0.0052).CONCLUSION:This tool for statistical analysis of signals from ultrasonography using the FD-ratio can be used to accurately quantify fat in vivo in an animal model of hepatic steatosis,and may serve as a quantitative biomarker of hepatic steatosis.
文摘Plant metabolomics developed as a powerful tool to examine gene functions and to gain deeper insight into the physiology of the plant cell. In this study, we screened Arabidopsis lines overexpressing rice full-length （FL） cDNAs （rice FOX Arabidopsis lines） using a gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry （GC-TOF/MS）-based technique to identify rice genes that caused metabolic changes. This screening system allows fast and reliable identification of candi- date lines showing altered metabolite profiles. We performed metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of a rice FOX Ara- bidopsis line that harbored the FL cDNA of the rice ortholog of the Lateral Organ Boundaries （LOB） Domain （LBD）/ Asymmetric Leaves2-1ike （ASL） gene of Arabidopsis, At-LBD37/ASL39. The investigated rice FOX Arabidopsis line showed prominent changes in the levels of metabolites related to nitrogen metabolism. The transcriptomic data as well as the results from the metabolite analysis of the Arabidopsis At-LBD37/ASL39-overexpressor plants were consistent with these findings. Furthermore, the metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of the Os-LBD37/ASL39-overexpressing rice plants indicated that Os-LBD37/ASL39 is associated with processes related to nitrogen metabolism in rice. Thus, the combination of a metabolomics-based screening method and a gain-of-function approach is useful for rapid characterization of novel genes in both Arabidopsis and rice.
文摘AIM: To identify the hepatic vascular architecture of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) using superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and investigate the use of SMI in the evaluation of liver fibrosis.METHODS: SMI was performed in 100 HCV patients. SMI images were classified into five types according to the vascular pattern, and these patterns were compared with the fibrosis stage. Moreover, the images were analyzed to examine vascularity by integrating the number of SMI signals in the region of interest ROI [number of vascular trees (VT)]. The number of VT, fibrosis stage, serum parameters of liver function, and CD34 expression were investigated.RESULTS: There was a significant difference between SMI distribution pattern and fibrosis stage (P < 0.001). The mean VT values in each of the fibrosis stages were as follows: 26.69 ± 7.08 in F0, 27.72 ± 9.32 in F1, 36.74 ± 9.23 in F2, 37.36 ± 5.32 in F3, and 58.14 ± 14.08 in F4. The VT showed excellent diagnostic ability for F4 [area under the receiver operator characteristic (AUROC): 0.911]. The VT was significantly correlated with the CD34 labeling index (r = 0.617, P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: SMI permitted the detailed delineation of the vascular architecture in chronic liver disease. SMI appears to be a reliable tool for noninvasively detecting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis in HCV patients.
基金Supported by the Research Committee of Intractable Diseases of the Pancreas (Chairman M. Otsuki) provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Japan
文摘The incidence of acute pancreatitis in Japan is increasing and ranges from 187 to 347 cases per million populations. Case fatality was 0.2% for mild to moderate, and 9.0% for severe acute pancreatitis in Japan in 2003. Experts in pancreatitis in Japan made this document focusing on the practical aspects in the early management of patients with acute pancreatitis. The correct diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and severity stratification should be made in all patients using the criteria for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis and the multifactor scoring system proposed by the Research Committee of Intractable Diseases of the Pancreas as early as possible. All patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis should be managed in the hospital. Monitoring of blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate, body temperature, hourly urinary volume, and blood oxygen saturation level is essential in the management of such patients. Early vigorous intravenous hydration is of foremost importance to stabilize circulatory dynamics. Adequate pain relief with opiates is also important. In severe acute pancreatitis, prophylactic intravenous administration of antibiotics at an early stage is recommended. Administration of protease inhibitors should be initiated as soon as thediagnosis of acute pancreatitis is confirmed. A combination of enteral feeding with parenteral nutrition from early stage is recommended if there are no clear signs and symptoms of ileus and gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis should be transferred to ICU as early as possible to perform special measures such as continuous regional arterial infusion of protease inhibitors and antibiotics, and continuous hemodiafiltration. The Japanese Government covers medical care expense for severe acute pancreatitis as one of the projects of Research on Measures for Intractable Diseases.
基金Supported by Grants from MEXT Japan,No.23790265(to Kuroda Y)and No.21390425(to Matsuo K)
文摘Osteoclast differentiation depends on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB(RANK) signaling,which can be divided into triggering,amplifying and targeting phases based on how active the master regulator nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1(NFATc1) is. The triggering phase is characterized by immediateearly RANK signaling induced by RANK ligand(RANKL) stimulation mediated by three adaptor proteins,tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6,Grb-2-associated binder-2 and phospholipase C(PLC)γ2,leading to activation of IκB kinase,mitogen-activated protein kinases and the transcription factors nuclear factor(NF)-κB and activator protein-1(AP-1). Mice lacking NF-κB p50/p52 or the AP-1 subunit c-Fos(encoded by Fos) exhibit severe osteopetrosis due to a differentiation block in the osteoclast lineage. The amplification phase occurs about 24 h later in a RANKLinduced osteoclastogenic culture when Ca2+ oscillation starts and the transcription factor NFATc1 is abundantly produced. In addition to Ca2+ oscillation-dependent nuclear translocation and transcriptional auto-induction of NFATc1,a Ca2+ oscillation-independent,osteoblastdependent mechanism stabilizes NFATc1 protein in dif-ferentiating osteoclasts. Osteoclast precursors lacking PLCγ2,inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors,regulator of G-protein signaling 10,or NFATc1 show an impaired transition from the triggering to amplifying phases. The final targeting phase is mediated by activation of numerous NFATc1 target genes responsible for cell-cell fusion and regulation of bone-resorptive function. This review focuses on molecular mechanisms for each of the three phases of RANK signaling during osteoclast differentiation.
基金supports from National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFA0701800)Project of Fujian Province Major Science and Technology(2020HZ01012).
文摘Polarization holography is a newly researched field,that has gained traction with the development of tensor theory.It primarily focuses on the interaction between polarization waves and photosensitive materials.The extraordinary capabil-ities in modulating the amplitude,phase,and polarization of light have resulted in several new applications,such as holo-graphic storage technology,multichannel polarization multiplexing,vector beams,and optical functional devices.In this paper,fundamental research on polarization holography with linear polarized wave,a component of the theory of polariz-ation holography,has been reviewed.Primarily,the effect of various polarization changes on the linear and nonlinear po-larization characteristics of reconstructed wave under continuous exposure and during holographic recording and recon-struction have been focused upon.The polarization modulation realized using these polarization characteristics exhibits unusual functionalities,rendering polarization holography as an attractive research topic in many fields of applications.This paper aims to provide readers with new insights and broaden the application of polarization holography in more sci-entific and technological research fields.
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)results from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to the transformation of normal colonic mucosa to adenocarcinoma.Approximately 75%of CRCs are sporadic and occur in people without genetic predisposition or family history of CRC.During the past two decades,sporadic CRCs were classified into three major groups according to frequently altered/mutated genes.These genes have been identified by linkage analyses of cancer-prone families and by individual mutation analyses of candidate genes selected on the basis of functional data.In the first half of this review,we describe the genetic pathways of sporadic CRCs and their clinicopathologic features.Recently,large-scale genome analyses have detected many infrequently mutated genes as well as a small number of frequently mutated genes.These infrequently mutated genes are likely described in a limited number of pathways.Gene-oriented models of CRC progression are being replaced by pathway-oriented models.In the second half of this review,we summarize the present knowledge of this research field and discuss its prospects.
文摘BACKGROUND: In approximately 20% of patients, necrotizing pancreatitis is complicated with severe acute pancreatitis, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Minimally invasive step-up approach is both safe and effective, but sometimes requires multiple access sites.METHODS: A 62-year-old woman was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis, and initial computed tomography(CT) revealed no evidence of acute pancreatitis. She was clinically improved with insulin therapy, fl uid administration, and electrolyte replacement. However, on the 14 th day of admission, she developed a high-grade fever, and CT demonstrated evidence of acute necrotizing pancreatitis with a large collection of peripancreatic fl uid. Percutaneous transgastric drainage was performed and a 14 French gauge(Fr) pigtail catheter was placed 1 week later, which drained copious pus. Because of persistent high-grade fever and poor clinical improvement, multiple 8 and 10 Fr pigtail catheters were placed via the initial drainage route, allowing the safe and effective drainage of the extensive necrotic tissue that was occupying the bilateral anterior pararenal space.RESULTS: After drainage, the patient recovered well and the last catheter was removed on day 123 of admission.CONCLUSIONS: Multiple percutaneous drainage requires both careful judgment and specialist skills. The perforation of the colon and small bowel as well as the injury of the kidney and major vessels can occur. The current technique appears to be safe and minimally invasive compared with other drainage methods in patients with extended, infected necrotic pancreatic pseudocysts.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE) using a suspension of a fine-powder formulation of cisplatin(DDPH) for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:The study population was comprised of 164 patients who were treated by TACE alone.Of these patients,76 underwent TACE using a suspension of DDPH in lipiodol(LPD)(DDPH group),and the remaining 88 underwent TACE with an emulsion of doxorubicin(ADM) with LPD(ADM group).We compared the DDPH group with the ADM group in terms of the objective early response rate,progression free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS).RESULTS:The objective early response rate in the DDPH group was significantly higher than that in the ADM group(54% vs 24%,P < 0.001).The PFS rate in the DDPH group was also significantly higher than that in the ADM group(P < 0.001).Moreover,the OS in the DDPH group was significantly longer than that in the ADM group(P = 0.002).Although the incidence rate of nausea or vomiting in the DDPH group was higher than that in the ADM group,the ADM group showed a higher incidence rate of the adverse events of hepatic arterial damage and leucopenia.No other serious complications were observed in either group.CONCLUSION:We conclude that TACE using a suspension of DDPH in LPD could be a useful treatment for HCC.
文摘BACKGROUND:Splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC)is expected to become more common owing to its efficacy on portal hemodynamics.In this report we describe an alarming case of group B streptococcus(GBS)infection after splenectomy in a patient with LC.METHODS:A 72-year-old woman with a history of LC was admitted to our emergency department because of respiratory failure.The patient had received left lateral segmentectomy of the liver and splenectomy three months before admission.Pulmonary examination revealed significant wheezing during inspiration and expiration,but no crackles and stridor.Chest radiography and CT showed no infiltrates.A presumptive diagnosis of bronchial asthma caused by upper respiratory infection was made.Four days after admission,GBS infection was confirmed by blood culture and penicillin G was administered.Antibiotics were given intravenously for a total of 12 days.RESULTS:The patient was discharged on the 12th day after admission.CONCLUSIONS:Although efficacy of splenectomy in patients with LC has been reported,immune status should be evaluated for a longer period.Patients who have undergone splenectomy are highly susceptible to bacteria;moreover,LC itself is an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with sepsis.Since prophylaxis against GBS has not been established,immediate action should be taken.Emergency physicians should be aware of invasive GBS infection in the context of the critical risk factors related to splenectomy and LC,particularly the expected increase of splenectomy performed in LC patients.
文摘Various kinds of new engineering technologies have been studied to realize the low-carbon and sustainable power supply systems all over the world.In actual implementation of these technologies,mostly,there are multiple objectives with trade off relationships among each other,and also various constraints in the achievement of these objectives.Therefore,it should be essential to solve multiobjective optimization problems effectively in the applications of these new technologies in power systems.This paper proposes an improved method to realize multiobjective optimization for critical challenges in advanced power systems.To realize that,in an optimal dispersed generation installation problem,that is,one of effective measures for low-carbon power systems,various optimization methods and their combination methods are evaluated and a hybrid method for evolutionary algorithms was developed.The method can provide improved results compared with other state-of-the-art multi-objective optimization methods.
文摘BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus(CMV) remains a critical complication after solid-organ transplantation. The CMV antigenemia(AG) test is useful for monitoring CMV infection. Although the AG-positivity rate in CMV gastroenteritis is known to be low at onset, almost all cases become positive during the disease course. We treated a patient with transverse colon perforation due to AG-negative CMV gastroenteritis, following a living donor liver transplantation(LDLT).CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 52-year-old woman with decompensated liver cirrhosis as a result of autoimmune hepatitis who underwent a blood-type compatible LDLT with her second son as the donor. On day 20 after surgery, upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy(GE) revealed multiple gastric ulcers and transverse colon ulcers. The biopsy tissue immunostaining confirmed a diagnosis of CMV gastroenteritis. On day 28 after surgery, an abdominal computed tomography revealed transverse colon perforation, and simple lavage and drainage were performed along with an urgent ileostomy. Although the repeated remission and aggravation of CMV gastroenteritis and acute cellular rejection made the control of immunosuppression difficult, the upper GE eventually revealed an improvement in the gastric ulcers, and the biopsy samples were negative for CMV. The CMV-AG test remained negative, therefore, we had to evaluate the status of the CMV infection on the basis of the clinical symptoms and GE.CONCLUSION This case report suggests a monitoring method that could be useful for AGnegative CMV gastroenteritis after a solid-organ transplantation.
文摘Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric cancer only in cases without atrophy or IM. However, histological changes with eradication have yet to be fully clarified. We evaluated 38 H. pylori-positive cases before and after eradication at the gland level;pyloric glands were classified as showing gastric proper (G) and IM gland types, with the latter including gastric-and-intestinal mixed IM (GI-IM) and solely intestinal IM (I-IM), depending on the remaining gastric phenotypes. On eradication, acute and chronic inflammation attenuated rapidly and gradually, respectively, whereas levels of MUC5AC and MUC6 expression were not markedly altered. Gland width, size of nuclei and cytoplasm and their ratio in surface foveolar epithelium, the number of Ki-67-positive cells and the length of the proliferating zone in each gland were significantly decreased in G glands after eradication compared with those in GI-IM and I-IM. The number of mitotic phase cells, positive for phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 28, was increased in both types of IM compared to that in G glands in the H. pylori-infected state, but unexpectedly remained unchanged with eradication. These results suggest that GI-IM, as the beginning of IM, could represent a histological irreversible point with eradication and be considered as a “histological point of no return”.
基金supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education,Science,Sports,and Culture of Japan under Grant No.20340080.
文摘We fabricate photonic crystal slab microcavities embedded with GaAs quantum dots by electron beam lithography and droplet epitaxy. The Purcell effect of exciton emission of the quantum dots is confirmed by the micro photoluminescence measurement. The resonance wavelengths, widths, and polarization are consistent with numerical simulation results.
文摘Two-dimensional shear wave elastography(2D-SWE)is used in the clinical setting for observation of the liver.Unfortunately,a wide spectrum of artifactual images are frequently encountered in 2D-SWE,the precise mechanisms of which remain incompletely understood.This review was designed to present many of the artifactual images seen in 2D-SWE of the liver and to analyze them by computer simulation models that support clinical observations.Our computer simulations yielded the following suggestions:(1)When performing 2D-SWE in patients with chronic hepatic disease,especially liver cirrhosis,it is recommended to measure shear wave values through the least irregular hepatic surface;(2)The most useful 2D-SWE in patients with focal lesion will detect lesions that are poorly visible on B-mode ultrasound and will differentiate true tumors from pseudo-tumors(e.g.,irregular fatty change);and(3)Measurement of shear wave values in the area posterior to a focal lesion must be avoided.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51920105012)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFC3201403)。
文摘Cr(Ⅵ),one of the most hazardous metal pollutants,poses significant threats to the environment and human health.Herein,a novel MoS_(2) composite(MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM)modified by polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)and polyacrylamide(PAM)was synthesized to enhance the removal of Cr(Ⅵ).Characterization analysis including SEM,XRD,FTIR,and XPS indicated that PVP and PAM could increase the interlayer spacing and the dispersibility of MoS_(2),and introduce pyrrolic N and amino functional groups.The batch experiments showed that MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM represented excellent Cr(Ⅵ)removal performance over a wide p H range,and exhibited a significantly higher maximum Cr(Ⅵ)adsorption capacity(274.73 mg/g,at p H 3.0,and 298 K)than pure MoS_(2).The adsorption of Cr(Ⅵ)followed Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic model,which was a homogeneous monolayer chemisorption process.MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM showed stable removal of Cr(Ⅵ)in the presence of humic acid(HA),interfering cations and anions at different concentrations.Moreover,it had excellent selectivity for Cr(Ⅵ)(K_(d) value of 1.69×10^(7)m L/g)when coexisting with a variety of competing ions.Multiple characterization revealed that Cr(Ⅵ)was reduced to low toxicity Cr(Ⅲ)by Mo^(4+)and S^(2-),and then chelated on the surface of the adsorbent by pyrrolic N.This research expanded the design concept for MoS_(2) composites by demonstrating the potential of MoS_(2)/PVP/PAM as a promising material for selective elimination of Cr(Ⅵ)in water.
