Dose-related effects of olprinone on hypercapnia-Induced impairment of diaphragmatic contractility in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs

AbstractBackground: In a previous study, olprinone was found to be more effective than milrinone in improving hypercapnic depression of diaphragmatic contractility in dogs.Objective: The purpose of this experimental study was to assess the doserelated effects of olprinone on hypercapnia-induced impairment of diaphragmatic contractility.Methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. Hypercapnia (partial pressure of carbon dioxide [C02] in arterial blood 80-90 mm Hg) was induced in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs by adding 10% C02 to their inspired gas. When hypercapnia was established, the dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (all dogs were administered a bolus dose of olprinone 10 mg/kg) group 1 was maintained with olprinone 0.1 μg/kg · min-1; group 2 was maintained with olprinone 0.3 μg/kg · min-1; group 3 was maintained with olprinone 0.5 μg/kg min-1; and group 4 received no study drug. The study drug was administered IV for 60 minutes. Diaphragmatic contractility was assessed by transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi). The study investigator was not blinded to treatment assignment.Results: Twenty-four healthy adult mongrel dogs were used in the study; 6 dogs were assigned to each treatment group. In the presence of hypercapnia in each group, Pdi (mean [SD], cm H2O) at low-frequency (20-Hz) and high-frequency (100-Hz) stimulation significantly decreased from baseline (all, P = 0.001). During study drug administration in groups 1, 2, and 3, Pdi at both stimuli levels increased significantly from hypercapnia-induced values (all, P = 0.001); in group 4, Pdi to each stimulus did not change significantly from hypercapnia-induced values. There was a significant correlation between olprinone dose and Pdi at both stimuli (all, P = 0.001). The regression equations were: Pdi at 20-Hz stimulation (cm H2O) = 24.97 × olprinone dose (μg/kg · min-1) + 13.54 (r = 0.887; n = 24) and Pdi at 100-Hz stimulation (cm H2O) = 29.18 × olprinone dose (μg/kg · min-1) + 20.55 (r = 0.911; n = 24).Conclusion: Olprinone was associated with a dose-dependent improvement of hypercapnia-induced impairment of diaphragmatic contractility in these pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs

A Simplified Rapid-Freezing of Rat Embryos by Liquid Nitrogen Gas

哺乳動物胚凍結保存法を簡易化するため,家畜動物胚のモデルとしてラット胚を用い,液体窒素ガスによる簡易急速凍結を試みた. 凍結保護物質には比較的高濃度感作後でもin vitroにおけるラット胚の発育性に影饗を及ぼさなかったerythritolを選定した. 冷却方式は凍結開始後,胚の温度が20分で-20℃､25分で-60℃,30分で-180℃になるようにし,融解方式はストローを液体窒素から30℃温湯へ直接入れるようにした時に,その生存率が最も高かった. 10% erythritolによるラット胚の凍結法において,-20℃から-38℃までの冷却脱水温度域を持った冷却法による融解胚の生存率は50%以上であった. -43℃から-74℃までの冷却脱水温度域を持った冷却法による融解胚の生存率は40%以下で,しかも冷却脱水温度域の下降に供なって生存率も低下していった. そしてこの冷却脱水温度域と融解胚の生存率の関係から凍結の機序を検討した. erythritol を凍結保護物質としてラット胚を凍結した際に最も生存率の高かった冷却融解方式で他の凍結保護物質を用いてラット胚を凍結してみたが,inositol,ethylene glycol,glycerinでは融解胚の生存率は0%であった

Research and development strategy for fishery technology innovation for sustainable fishery resource management in north-east Asia

The development of fishery technologies supports food sustainability to achieve a steady supply of fish and fishery products. However, the priorities for research and development (R&D) in fishery technologies vary by region due to differences in fish resource availability, environmental concerns, and consumer preferences for fishery products. This study examines trends in fishery technology innovations using data on patents granted as an indicator of changing R&D priorities. To clarify changes in R&D priorities, we apply a decomposition analysis framework that classifies fishery technologies into three types: harvesting, aquaculture, and new products. This study mainly focuses on China, Japan, and Korea as the major fishing countries in the north-east Asia region. The results show that the number of fishery technology patents granted increased between 1993 and 2015; in particular, the number of aquaculture patents granted has grown rapidly since 2012. However, the trend in Japan was the opposite, as the apparent priority given to aquaculture technology innovation decreased between 1993 and 2015. The trends and priority changes for fishery technology inventions vary by country and technology group. This implies that an international policy framework for fishery technology development should recognize that R&D priorities need to reflect diverse characteristics across countries and the technologies employed

Fetal calf serum increased the zona pellucida penetrability of rat oocytes matured in vitro.

We examined the effect of fetal calf serum (FCS) on meiotic division, subsequent fertilization, and first cleavage to the 2-cell stage of rat oocytes during in vitro maturation. FCS had no effect on the nuclear progression from dictiate to metaphase of the second maturation in vitro and, FCS had no effect on the first cleavage to the 2-cell stage of fertilized oocytes. However, FCS efficiently increased penetration rate of oocytes and shortened the time required for dissolution of the zona pellucida by alpha-chymotrypsin. These results showed that FCS did not affect cytoplasmic maturation necessary for oocytes to develop to the 2-cell stages. We found that FCS only affects the zona pellucida and does not affect the nucleus or cytoplasm of rat oocytes. FCS may prevent hardening of the zona pellucida. </p

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Iberin on TNF-α-Stimulated Human Oral Epithelial Cells : In Vitro Research

Iberin is a bioactive chemical found in cruciferous plants that has been demonstrated to have anticancer properties. However, there have been no reports on its effects on periodontal resident cells, and many questions remain unanswered. The aim of this study was to examine whether iberin had anti-inflammatory effects on human oral epithelial cells, including influences on signal transduction pathway activation in TNF-α-στιμυλατεd χελλσ. Iberin inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), as well as the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated TR146 cells, a human oral epithelial cell line. Moreover, iberin administration increased the expression of antioxidant signaling pathways, such as Heme Oxygenase (HO)-1 and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1). Furthermore, we found that iberin could inhibit the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K)-S6 ribosomal protein (S6) pathways in TNF-α-stimulated TR146 cells. In conclusion, iberin reduced inflammatory mediator expression in human oral epithelial cells by preventing the activation of particular signal transduction pathways

Increased nitric oxide levels in exhaled air of rat lung allografts

AbstractIn organ transplantation nitric oxide has been reported to be involved in allograft rejection. We examined in a rat lung transplantation model whether nitric oxide is overproduced in acute rejection and can be detected in exhaled air. Thirteen rat right lung transplants were separated into three groups: group 1 (n = 5), untreated allografts (Brown-Norway [RT1n] to Lewis [RT1l]); group 2 (n = 4), cyclosporine-treated allografts; and group 3 (n = 4), isografts (Lewis to Lewis). We examined exhaled nitric oxide levels with a chemiluminescence analyzer and chest roentgenograms on days 2 through 5. Histologic samples were obtained on days 3 and 5. On day 5, the recipients were killed and we measured exhaled nitric oxide from the right and left lungs separately. Blood samples were also obtained for measurement of serum nitrite/nitrate. The exhaled nitric oxide level in untreated allografts increased significantly from day 5 (63.9 ± 39.2 ppb, p = 0.0095) and was significantly higher than that in treated allografts (9.1 ± l.6 ppb) (p = 0.0085) and isografts (6.9 ± 0.5 ppb) (p = 0.0068). The nitric oxide level in untreated allografts (826.5 ± 416.1 ppb) was 75 times as high as that from the contralateral normal left lungs (11.2 ± 2.6 ppb) (p = 0.0118). The level of exhaled nitric oxide correlated significantly with the histologic rejection grade (p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the serum nitrite/nitrate levels between allografts and isografts. These data suggest that increased exhaled nitric oxide levels might reflect acute rejection in lung transplants. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;113:830-5

Interrupted aortic arch without differential cyanosis due to aberrant subclavian artery

Differential cyanosis indicates a lower percutaneous oxygen saturation （SpO2） level in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities and is generally observed in patients with interrupted aortic arch （IAA）. We report a case of the absence of differential cyanosis in a neonate with IAA. A male neonate was born at 38weeks of gestation. Despite routine care, his SpO2 level dropped to 90％ at 1h after birth. On admission, there was no evidence of differential cyanosis. Systolic murmur was noted 12h after birth, leading to suspicion of IAA on echocardiography; IAA type B was confirmed by computed tomography. IAA type B occurs between the left carotid artery and left subclavian artery. In our patient, the levels of SpO2 were different between the ear and lower extremities without signs of differential cyanosis because his right subclavian artery branched from the aorta distal to the interruption and left subclavian artery. In conclusion, despite the absence of differential cyanosis and lack of detailed echocardiographic evaluation, careful observation is mandatory. SpO2 measurement in the ear is important to rule out IAA

Results of surgical treatment of thymomas with special reference to the involved organs

AbstractObjective: The purpose of this study is to clarify the significance of the particular involved organ as a prognostic factor and its relation to other previously reported factors. Methods: The prognoses of 194 consecutive patients with thymoma who had undergone complete or subtotal resection were reviewed retrospectively. Survival was evaluated as actuarial freedom from tumor death. Analysis of prognostic factors was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method with the log rank test and Cox's proportional hazards model. Results: The Masaoka staging system and involvement of the great vessels were the independent prognostic factors in the entire study group; age, sex, histologic subtype, completeness of resection, association of myasthenia gravis, or involvement of other organs were not factors. The 10-year and 20-year survivals were 99% and 90% in stage I, 94% and 90% in stage II, 88% and 56% in stage III, 30% and 15% in stage IVa, 0% and 0% in stage IVb, 93% and 83% in the absence of involvement of the great vessels, and 54% and 20% in the presence of it. Involvement of the great vessels was also the single independent prognostic factor in the patients with stage III disease although completeness of resection or involvement of other organs were not. The 10-year and 20-year survivals in patients with stage III disease were 97% and 75% in the absence of involvement of the great vessels, and 70% and 29% in the presence of it. Conclusion: Although the Masaoka staging system is a valuable prognostic factor, the category of stage III is heterogeneous and consists of 2 groups with distinct prognoses depending on involvement of the great vessels. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:605-13