Protective effects of fermented rice vinegar sediment (Kurozu moromimatsu) in a diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma animal model

Kurozu moromimatsu is the sediment of Kurozu, a jar-fermented Japanese black vinegar produced from unpolished rice. Here, we examined the protective effects of Kurozu moromimatsu in a diethylnitrosamine-induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-two F344 rats were divided into two groups; the control group received basal CE-2 diet, and the Kurozu moromimatsu group received CE-2 diet containing Kurozu moromimatsu. At 16 weeks after initial intraperitoneal administration of diethylnitrosamine (150 mg/kg/week), serum was collected from half the rats. These rats were sacrificed and the liver was resected for histological examination of hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections and assay of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 levels in tumor tissues. Glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci were evaluated by immunostaining for glutathione S-transferase placental form. The remaining rats were maintained for evaluation of survival. There were no significant differences of serum transaminases, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and also no marked hepatic histological differences, between the two groups. However, the size of hepatocellular carcinomas was greatly decreased and the levels of activated matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 were significantly reduced in the Kurozu moromimatsu group. Further, survival was significantly prolonged in the Kurozu moromimatsu group compared with the control. These results indicate that Kurozu moromimatsu inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma

Leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia provides superior myocardial protective effects in association with myocardium-derived nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production for patients undergoing prolonged aortic crossclamping for more than 120 minutes

AbstractObjectivesThis study was designed to examine the myocardial protective effect of leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia in association with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production, especially for patients undergoing prolonged aortic crossclamping.MethodsFifty-four patients (34 men, 20 women, mean age 56.7 ± 12.7 years) undergoing aortic valve replacement were randomly allocated to one of two groups; group LDTC (n = 27) received 10 minutes of leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegic solution, and group CONT (n = 27) served as controls. Each group was subdivided into 2 groups: aortic crossclamping for less than 120 minutes in groups LDTC-S (n = 13) and CONT-S (n = 14); aortic crossclamping for 120 minutes or more in groups LDTC-L (n = 14) and CONT-L (n = 13).ResultsAfter aortic unclamping, group LDTC-L showed higher incidence of spontaneous defibrillation (78.6% vs 30.8%, P = .0213), higher plasma nitrate + nitrite in the coronary sinus effluent (32.5 ± 4.1 vs 28.7 ± 3.0 μmol/L, P = .0013), lower differences between coronary sinus effluent and arterial blood in the percentage ratio of nitrotyrosine to tyrosine (myocardium-derived peroxynitrite; 2.987% ± 0.576% vs 3.951% ± 0.952%, P = .0036), and plasma polymorphonuclear-elastase (113.9 ± 21.3 vs 155.5 ± 41.6 μg/L, P = .0029) and malondialdehyde (2.75 ± 0.67 vs 4.02 ± 0.96 μmol/L, P = .0005) than group CONT did. Postoperatively, group LDTC-L showed lower human-heart fatty acid–binding protein (111.4 ± 25.2 vs 156.4 ± 38.6 IU/L, P = .0013), lower creatine kinase–muscle and brain (19.2 ± 4.7 vs 24.8 ± 6.5 IU/L, P = .0120), and smaller requirement of catecholamine (5.44 ± 2.29 vs 8.45 ± 3.42 μg · kg−1 · min−1, P = .0122). There were no significant differences in these parameters between groups LDTC-S and CONT-S.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia provided superior myocardial protective effects and regulated myocardial-derived nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production only for patients undergoing aortic crossclamping for more than 120 minutes. The results suggest that prolonged aortic crossclamping deteriorates the tolerance to leukocyte-mediated myocardial injury accompanied by endothelial dysfunction associated with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production

An SU(2) Formulation of the t-J model: Application to Underdoped Cuprates

We develop a slave-boson theory for the t-J model at finite doping which respect a SU(2) symmetry -- a symmetry previously known to be important at half filling. The mean field phase diagram is found to be consistent with the phases observed in the cuprate superconductors, which contains d-wave superconductor, spin gap, strange metal, and Fermi liquid phases. The spin gap phase is best understood as the staggered flux phase, which is nevertheless translationally invariant for physical quantities. The physical electron spectral function shows small Fermi segments at low doping which continuously evolve into the large Fermi surface at high doping concentrations. The close relation between the SU(2) and the U(1) slave-boson theory is discussed. The low energy effective theory for the low lying fluctuations is derived, and new lying modes (which were over looked in the U(1) theory) are identified.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, RevTe

Theory of Excitonic States in CaB6

We study the excitonic states in CaB6 in terms of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. By minimizing the free energy and by comparing with experimental results, we identify two possible ground states with exciton condensation. They both break time-reversal and inversion symmetries. This leads to various magnetic and optical properties. As for magnetic properties, it is expected to be an antiferromagnet, and its spin structure is predicted. It will exhibit the magnetoelectric effect, and observed novel ferromagnetism in doped samples and in thin-film and powder samples can arise from this effect. Interesting optical phenomena such as the nonreciprocal optical effect and the second harmonic generation are predicted. Their measurement for CaB6 will clarify whether exciton condensation occurs or not and which of the two states is realized.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figure

Investigation of Bacteremia due to Aeromonas Species and Comparison with That due to Enterobacteria in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Background. The role of Aeromonas species (sp.) in bacteremia in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis is poorly understood. Aim. To establish the importance of Aeromonas sp. as a cause of bacteremia in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. Clinical and serological features and short-term prognosis were retrospectively investigated and compared in Japanese patients with bacteremia due to Aeromonas sp. (=11) and due to enterobacteria (E. coli, Klebsiella sp., and Enterobacter sp.) (=84). Results. There were no significant differences in patients’ clinical background, renal dysfunction, or short-term mortality rate between the two groups. However, in the Aeromonas group, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Pugh score were significantly higher than in the enterobacteria group. Conclusion. These results indicate that the severity of liver dysfunction in Aeromonas-induced bacteremia is greater than that in enterobacteria-induced bacteremia in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis