Transcatheter Embolization for Systemic-pulmonary Artery Collaterals after Correction of Extreme Tetralogy of Fallot

The selective obliteration of systemic-pulmonary arterial collaterals by wire coil embolization, usually recognized in cyanotic congenital disease, is described in this report. A 11 year-old boy, who had received Blalock-Taussig shunt for extreme tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) at 1.5 year-old, had total correction and ligation of Blalock-Taussig shunt. After cardiac surgery, two times successful collateral transcatheter embolizations were performed for difficulty of weaning from left heart failure. We stressed that post operative transcatheter embolization was very effective and had many merits in these cases than the ligations of collaterals by means of thoracotomy

Clinical Evaluation of Immune Response in Patients with Lung Cancer

In patients with lung cancer, the immune response was observed with an analysis of various factors which mostly related to its prognosis. Its response was extremly depressed in the course of following surgery in advanced cases of stage III and IVas well as in unresectable cases for lung cancer, compared with those of stage I and II . Furthermore, it showed that the high levels of immune response were seen in those of long term survivors given OK-432 during follow-up period. It was obvious from this study that the use of OK-432 was suitable for activation of the immune reaction against host as one of the immunopotentiators. Meanwhile, from the immunological mechanism of view, the hyperactivity of immune response enable the patient to be free from recurrence of cancer for a long term following surgery, in contrast the low level of the immune response showed to be poor prognosis owing to early appearance of recurrence. Furthermore, the effectiveness in use of OK-432 was clinically presented in patients with malignant pleural effusion, which showed direct cytocidal action of OK-432 given intrapleurally with a 10 or 14 days interval

Discrimination of Dormant and Active Hematopoietic Stem Cells by G₀ Marker Reveals Dormancy Regulation by Cytoplasmic Calcium

Quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are typically dormant, and only a few quiescent HSCs are active. The relationship between “dormant” and “active” HSCs remains unresolved. Here we generate a G0 marker (G0M) mouse line that visualizes quiescent cells and identify a small population of active HSCs (G0Mlow), which are distinct from dormant HSCs (G0Mhigh), within the conventional quiescent HSC fraction. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses show that the gene expression profiles of these populations are nearly identical but differ in their Cdk4/6 activity. Furthermore, high-throughput small-molecule screening reveals that high concentrations of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]c) are linked to dormancy of HSCs. These findings indicate that G0M separates dormant and active adult HSCs, which are regulated by Cdk4/6 and [Ca2+]c. This G0M mouse line represents a useful resource for investigating physiologically important stem cell subpopulations

Stimulation of Na⁺/H⁺ Exchanger Isoform 1 Promotes Microglial Migration

Regulation of microglial migration is not well understood. In this study, we proposed that Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE-1) is important in microglial migration. NHE-1 protein was co-localized with cytoskeletal protein ezrin in lamellipodia of microglia and maintained its more alkaline intracellular pH (pHi). Chemoattractant bradykinin (BK) stimulated microglial migration by increasing lamellipodial area and protrusion rate, but reducing lamellipodial persistence time. Interestingly, blocking NHE-1 activity with its potent inhibitor HOE 642 not only acidified microglia, abolished the BK-triggered dynamic changes of lamellipodia, but also reduced microglial motility and microchemotaxis in response to BK. In addition, NHE-1 activation resulted in intracellular Na+ loading as well as intracellular Ca2+ elevation mediated by stimulating reverse mode operation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCXrev). Taken together, our study shows that NHE-1 protein is abundantly expressed in microglial lamellipodia and maintains alkaline pHi in response to BK stimulation. In addition, NHE-1 and NCXrev play a concerted role in BK-induced microglial migration via Na+ and Ca2+ signaling. © 2013 Shi et al

Discrimination of Dormant and Active Hematopoietic Stem Cells by G₀ Marker Reveals Dormancy Regulation by Cytoplasmic Calcium

Quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are typically dormant, and only a few quiescent HSCs are active. The relationship between “dormant” and “active” HSCs remains unresolved. Here we generate a G0 marker (G0M) mouse line that visualizes quiescent cells and identify a small population of active HSCs (G0Mlow), which are distinct from dormant HSCs (G0Mhigh), within the conventional quiescent HSC fraction. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses show that the gene expression profiles of these populations are nearly identical but differ in their Cdk4/6 activity. Furthermore, high-throughput small-molecule screening reveals that high concentrations of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]c) are linked to dormancy of HSCs. These findings indicate that G0M separates dormant and active adult HSCs, which are regulated by Cdk4/6 and [Ca2+]c. This G0M mouse line represents a useful resource for investigating physiologically important stem cell subpopulations

Limited Resection for Lung Cancer

Based on clinical as well as experimental studies, limited operation of choice was evaluated for the management of lung cancer. From clinical analysis of 39 cases who underwent limited lung resection, our clinical experiences indicated that this operative procedure would be feasible for a large tumors of approximately 4cm in diameter. However, the incidence of lymphnode metastasis is more likely to be high when applied to the tumors of more than 3cm in diameter. The favorable indication, therefore, is for the cancer less than 3cm in diameter. By careful evalution of 7 cases with postoperative recurrence, it has become obvious that either the degree of cell differentiation or the existence of lymph nodes metastasis strongly participate in its prognosis. According to hemodynamic studies immediately after surgery, limited resection of the lung is preferred to conventional radical lobectomy for patients with cardiovascular malfunction because it serves to eliminate a possible left ventricular failure after surgery. An experimental research also demonstrated favorably hemodynamic benifits of limited resection for reducing left ventricular overloading on coronary diseased heart which is experimentally prepared by either creation of stenosis of the main left coronary artery or ligation of the left descending coronary artery. The immune response in the lymphnodes to a tumor growth also was attested in C3H mice with use of MH 134 tumor inoculated, especially in relation to the time of tumor resection. The results of our experiments confirmed that tumor resection on the 7th and 10t

An Experimental Evaluation of Tracheal Blood Flow with Special Referrence to Operative Procedure of Tracheal Mobilization

Based on the study with special referrence to blood flow in the trachea, the factors influential on the operative procedure of tracheal mobilization were carefully evaluated to ensure optimal surgical results. It has already been assumed with an aid of microangiographic technique that the main trancheal blood flow comprise two routes, namely, adventitial and submucosal layers. The amount of blood flow in the trachea divided into individual two layers were measured by hydrogen clearance test with wire electrodes placed in either adventitial or submucosal layer. When employed the procedure of extensive mobilization of the trachea, the level of tracheal blood flow reduced in adventitial layer rather lthan in submucosal layer. Blood flow in submucosal layer, however, remain closely near the normal level, which is thought to compensate a decreased blood supply in the tracheal adventitia. Meanwhile, when proposed an excessive tension of more than 800g at the site of anastomosis, a decrease in submucosal blood flow has become manifest despite of a slight decrease in adventitial blood flow simultaneously. Greater emphasis has been focused upo

Experimental Evaluation of Tumor Inhibitory Effect of Induced Infection on Tumor Growth

To evaluate as to whether coexisting infection is helpful to achieve the tumor regression, the inhibitory effect was experimentally assessed from the view point of survival, the degrees of reticuloendothelial activation (Congo-red clearance test) and immune response (Jerne\u27 plaque forming cell test and macrophage migration inhibition test). A 3×107 to 2×108 of β-streptococcus inoculated in C3H mice of 6 week-old were prepared for producing a varying models of infection. As a control study, survival challenging for a 1X106 of Ehrlich tumor inoculation was surveyed. It averaged 16.6 days, whereas it increased when added infection. The most longest survival was 24.4 days when infection was provoked when a 3×107 β-streptococcus were inoculated subcutaneously 5 days prior to Ehrlich tumor cell implantation. Phagocytic activity in the recticuloendothelial system was found to be consequent of stimulation by the varying variety of infection. To assess the inhibitory effect of induced infection on tumor growth, a directly weighing method was applied for inoculated methylcholantrene tumor at interval of 5 days. It is proved that infection is more effective in depressing tumor growth. Furthermore, our experiment indicated that infection enabled the host to enhance the immune response to various antigen, which might be originated from the reticuloendothelial hyperactivity. As the result of this study, we concluded that a mild and long-standing infection might play a key role in inhibiting tumor growth to some extent