The Efficacy of Endoscopic Papillary Balloon Dilation for Patients with Acute Biliary Pancreatitis

Background. No study investigated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) for the treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). Method. We retrospectively reviewed the effects of EPBD on patients with ABP from February 2003 to December 2012. The general data, findings of image studies, details of the procedure, and outcomes after EPBD were analyzed. Result. Total 183 patients (male/female: 110/73) were enrolled. The mean age was 65.9 years. Among them, 155 patients had mild pancreatitis. The meantime from admission to EPBD was 3.3 days. Cholangiogram revealed filling defects inside the common bile duct (CBD) in 149 patients. The mean dilating balloon size was 10.5 mm and mean duration of the dilating procedure was 4.3 minutes. Overall, 124 patients had gross stones retrieved from CBD. Four (2.2%) adverse events and 2 (1.1%) intraprocedure bleeding incidents but no procedure-related mortality were noted. Bilirubin and amylase levels significantly decreased after EPBD. On average, patients resumed oral intake within 1.4 days. The clinical parameters and outcomes were similar in patients with different severity of pancreatitis. Conclusion. EPBD can be effective and safe for the treatment of ABP, even in patients presenting with severe disease

Selective Reduction of Post-Selection CD8 Thymocyte Proliferation in IL-15Rα Deficient Mice

Peripheral CD8+ T cells are defective in both IL-15 and IL-15Rα knock-out (KO) mice; however, whether IL-15/IL-15Rα deficiency has a similar effect on CD8 single-positive (SP) thymocytes remains unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the absence of IL-15 transpresentation in IL-15Rα KO mice results in a defect in thymic CD8 single positive (SP) TCRhi thymocytes. Comparison of CD8SP TCRhi thymocytes from IL-15Rα KO mice with their wild type (WT) counterparts by flow cytometry showed a significant reduction in the percentage of CD69− CD8SP TCRhi thymocytes, which represent thymic premigrants. In addition, analysis of in vivo 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation demonstrated that premigrant expansion of CD8SP TCRhi thymocytes was reduced in IL-15Rα KO mice. The presence of IL-15 transpresentation-dependent expansion in CD8SP TCRhi thymocytes was assessed by culturing total thymocytes in IL-15Rα-Fc fusion protein-pre-bound plates that were pre-incubated with IL-15 to mimic IL-15 transpresentation in vitro. The results demonstrated that CD8SP thymocytes selectively outgrew other thymic subsets. The contribution of the newly divided CD8SP thymocytes to the peripheral CD8+ T cell pool was examined using double labeling with intrathymically injected FITC and intravenously injected BrdU. A marked decrease in FITC+ BrdU+ CD8+ T cells was observed in the IL-15Rα KO lymph nodes. Through these experiments, we identified an IL-15 transpresentation-dependent proliferation process selective for the mature CD8SP premigrant subpopulation. Importantly, this process may contribute to the maintenance of the normal peripheral CD8+ T cell pool

Effect of Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation on Post-Hemorrhoidectomy-Associated Pain, Anxiety, and Heart Rate Variability: A Randomized-Controlled Study

[[abstract]]Hemorrhoidectomy is the current best treatment for severe hemorrhoids, but it causes significant postoperative pain and anxiety, which is associated with heart rate variability (HRV). Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation (TAES) was assumed to alleviate pain and anxiety, and modify the autonomic nervous system. This study aimed to examine the effects of TAES intervention on postoperative pain, anxiety, and HRV in patients who received a hemorrhoidectomy. A randomized-controlled trial with five repeated measures was conducted. The TAES group ( n = 39) received four 20-min sessions of electrical stimulation at chengshan (BL57) and erbai (EX-UE2) after hemorrhoidectomy, whereas the control group ( n = 41) did not. Data were collected using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), State Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and HRV physiological signal monitor. TAES resulted in a significant group difference in pain scores, anxiety levels, and some HRV parameters. The findings indicate that TAES can help reduce pain and anxiety associated with hemorrhoidectomy. TAES is a noninvasive, simple, and convenient modality for post-hemorrhoidectomy-associated pain control and anxiety reduction

Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue 1 Is an Oncogene Inducing Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Tumor Growth via the Upregulation of NF-κB Activity in Human Prostate Carcinoma Cells

Prostate cancer is one of the most common seen malignancies and the leading cause of cancer-related death among men. Given the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, it is worth to identify a potential novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) is a novel gene involved in nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signal transduction by acting as an adaptor protein and paracaspase, with an essential role in inflammation and tumorigenesis in many cancers. This study investigated the functions and the potential regulatory mechanisms of MALT1 in the human prostate cancer cells. We found that MALT1 is abundant in prostate cancer tissues. MALT1 facilitated NF-κB subunits (p50 and p65) nuclear translocation to induce gene expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5) in prostate carcinoma cells. MALT1 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. MALT1 enhanced NF-κB activity in prostate carcinoma cells; moreover, NF-κB induced MALT1 expression determined by reporter and immunoblot assays, implying there is a positive feedback loop between MALT1 and NF-κB. In conclusion, MALT1 is a NF-κB-induced oncogene in the human prostate carcinoma cells

IL-6 induced angiotensinogen expression in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes.

<p>(A) Time course of IL-6-induced (10 ng/ml) angiotensinogen protein expression as detected by enzyme immunoassay (n = 3/group). (B) Dose response of IL-6-induced angiotensinogen protein expression after 24 hours of culture, as detected by enzyme immunoassay. Comparisons are between the indicated groups. *<i>P</i><0.05, n = 3.</p

Effect of IL-6-related signaling inhibition on angiotensinogen protein expression and liver regeneration in remnant livers after 70% partial hepatectomy in mice.

<p>Mice were pretreated with chemical inhibitors of JAK2 (AG490, 10 mg/kg subcutaneously), p38 (intraperitoneal SB203580, 15 mg/kg), and STAT3 (intraperitoneal 5,15-DPP, 15 mg/kg) for 4 hours prior to partial hepatectomy. (A) Serum angiotensinogen levels of mice pretreated with different chemical inhibitors (AG490, SB203580, and 5,15-DPP) as detected by enzyme immunoassay. (B) Changes in the ratio of remnant to original liver weight after 70% partial hepatectomy. Remnant liver weight was estimated retrospectively from the excised liver weight after 70% PH. Data are presented as mean ± S.D., and comparisons were made between groups as indicated. *<i>P</i><0.05. (C) Ki-67 staining of regenerated liver tissue sections of the indicated group. Magnification, 400x. (D) Quantification of Ki-67 staining. Data presented here are the quantification of Ki-67-positive nuclei per high-power field. Data are presented as mean percentage of positive nuclei ± S.D., and comparisons were made between groups as indicated. *<i>P</i><0.05.</p

Signal transduction pathways involved in IL-6-induced angiotensinogen expression in primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes.

<p>(A) Inhibition effects of chemical inhibitors 1 to 6 on IL-6-activated signaling mediators detected by Western blotting and quantified by calculating the ratios of phosphorylated/non-phosphorylated protein forms. The ratio in lane 1 is defined as 1. Comparison is between lanes 2 and 3 in each group. *<i>P</i><0.05, n = 3. (B) The effects of different chemical inhibitors on IL-6-induced angiotensinogen protein expression as detected by enzyme immunoassay. Comparison is between the indicated groups. *<i>P</i><0.05, n = 3.</p

Serum IL-6 and angiotensinogen levels, angiotenisogen mRNA and protein expression in remnant livers after 70% partial hepatectomy in mice.

<p>(A) Serum angiotensinogen levels detected by enzyme immunoassay (n = 5/group). (B) Angiotensinogen mRNA detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction quantified by calculating the ratios of angiotensinogen/GAPDH. (C) Angiotensinogen protein expression detected by Western blot and quantified by calculating the ratios of angiotensinogen/ß-actin. The ratio in lane 1 is defined as 1. Comparison is between the time 0 group and specified time periods. *<i>P</i><0.05, n = 5.</p

Examination of CD69-negative SP thymocytes in WT and IL-15Rα KO mice.

<p>Thymocytes of WT and IL-15Rα KO mice (n = 6) were immunostained for CD4, CD8, TCR, and CD69. The percentages of CD69-negative (A) and CD69-positive (B) CD8SP TCR^hi (left panels) and CD4SP TCR^hi thymocytes (right panels) among total TCR^hi cells were compared. By calculation, the cell numbers of CD69⁻ CD8SP TCR^hi thymocytes in WT and IL-15Rα KO mice were about 1.6×10⁶±3.8×10⁵ and 9.0×10⁵±2.8×10⁵, respectively. The cell numbers of CD69⁻ CD4SP TCR^hi thymocytes in WT and IL-15Rα KO mice were about 3.6×10⁶±1.3×10⁵ and 3.2×10⁶±1.4×10⁵, respectively. Data are presented as means ± SD and were analyzed by single-classification ANOVA. *<i>p</i><0.05; n.s., not significant.</p

<i>In vivo</i> proliferation of CD8SP TCR^hi and CD4SP TCR^hi thymocytes analyzed by BrdU incorporation.

<p>WT and IL-15Rα KO mice (n = 7) were injected i.p. with BrdU. Total thymocytes were isolated 1 hr later, and the degrees of BrdU incorporation by CD4SP TCR^hi and CD8SP TCR^hi cells was determined. (A) Upper panel; The BrdU incorporation of IL-15Rα KO CD8SP TCR^hi cells (3.2×10⁴±1.1×10³ cells) was compared with that of WT CD8SP TCR^hi cells (9.4×10⁴±3.1×10³ cells). Lower panel; The percentages of WT (1.6×10⁵±1.0×10⁵ cells) and IL-15Rα KO CD4SP TCR^hi (1.5×10⁵±0.7×10⁵ cells) thymocytes that incorporate BrdU. (B) Values of each experimental group are averaged and the means are indicated by horizontal lines. Data are presented as means ± SD. **<i>p</i><0.005; n.s., not significant. Single-classification ANOVA.</p