A case of small cell gastric carcinoma with an adenocarcinoma component operated curatively.

We present a case of a primary advanced gastric tumor that was composed of 2 different pathological components: small cell carcinoma and moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient was still alive four years after the surgery was performed, without recurrence. A large part of the tumor consisted of a diffuse sheet of small cell carcinoma, which transitioned into another small portion consisting of moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma components. Therefore, this case raised the possibility that small cell gastric carcinoma may originate from totipotential stem cells of the stomach. Although small cell carcinoma progresses aggressively, and patients with it have an extremely poor prognosis, this patient recovered uneventfully after the surgical resection, and has remained in good health, without any recurrences.</p

The Role of Focal Adhesion Kinase-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-Akt Signaling in Hepatic Stellate Cell Proliferation and Type I Collagen Expression

Following a fibrogenic stimulus, the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) undergoes a complex activation process associated with increased cell proliferation and excess deposition of type I collagen. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway is activated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in several cell types. We investigated the role of the FAK-PI3K-Akt pathway in HSC activation. Inhibition of FAK activity blocked HSC migration, cell attachment, and PDGF-induced PI3K and Akt activation. Both serum- and PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylation was inhibited by LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3K. A constitutively active form of Akt stimulated HSC proliferation in serum-starved HSCs, whereas LY294002 and dominant-negative forms of Akt and FAK inhibited PDGF-induced proliferation. Transforming growth factor-beta, an inhibitor of HSC proliferation, did not block PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylation, suggesting that transforming growth factor-beta mediates its antiproliferative effect downstream of Akt. Expression of type I collagen protein and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA was increased by Akt activation and inhibited when PI3K activity was blocked. Therefore, FAK is important for HSC migration, cell attachment, and PDGF-induced cell proliferation. PI3K is positioned downstream of FAK. Signals for HSC proliferation are transduced through FAK, PI3K, and Akt. Finally, expression of type I collagen is regulated by the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

The Role of p70 S6K in Hepatic Stellate Cell Collagen Gene Expression and Cell Proliferation

During fibrosis the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) undergoes a complex activation process characterized by increased proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition. The 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) is activated by mitogens, growth factors, and hormones in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent manner. p70S6K regulates protein synthesis, proliferation, and cell cycle control. Because these processes are involved in HSC activation, we investigated the role of p70S6K in HSC proliferation, cell cycle control, and type I collagen expression. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulated p70S6K phosphorylation, which was blocked by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Rapamycin blocked phosphorylation of p70S6K but had no affect on PDGF-induced Akt phosphorylation, positioning p70S6K downstream of Akt. Transforming growth factor-beta, which inhibits HSC proliferation, did not affect PDGF-induced p70S6K phosphorylation. Rapamycin treatment did not affect alpha1(I) collagen mRNA but reduced type I collagen protein secretion. Expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin was not affected by rapamycin treatment, indicating that HSC activation was not altered. Rapamycin inhibited serum-induced DNA synthesis approximately 2-fold. Moreover, rapamycin decreased expression of cyclins D1, D3, and E but not cyclin D2, Rb-Ser780, and Rb-Ser795. Together, p70S6K plays a crucial role in HSC proliferation, collagen expression, and cell cycle control, thus representing a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis

ラットにおけるサルファ剤の吸収におよぼす牛血清アルブミンの影響

Effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the absorption of sulfonamides was studied employing in situ recirculating perfusion method in the rat. The absorption rate constant of sulfamethoxazole was greatly decreased by addition of BSA to the perfusion solution. But, the decreasing effect of BSA on the absorption rate was diminished after removing BSA from perfusion solution. The decreasing effect of BSA on the absorption rate constant of sulfanilamide was not observed. The binding of sulfonamides to BSA was studied using an equilibrium dialysis method. Sulfamethoxazole was bound to large extent, whereas sulfanilamide was little bound. The bound fraction of sulfamethoxazole increased as the concentration of BSA increased. Influence of BSA on permeability of intestinal mucosa was not observed. Thus, the decreasing effect of BSA on the absorption rate constant of sulfamethoxazole was attributed mainly to the binding to BSA which results in the decrease of unbound drug permeable to mucosal membrane. However, experimental results were slightly deviated from the theoretical value calculated by assuming that bound drug was unabsorbed from the intestinal mucosa

A large hornet mimic clearwing moth of the genus Lamellisphecia Kallies & Arita 2004 (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) from Nanling, Guangdong, southern China

Arita, Yutaka, Kallies, Axel, Yata, Naoki (2019): A large hornet mimic clearwing moth of the genus Lamellisphecia Kallies &amp; Arita 2004 (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) from Nanling, Guangdong, southern China. Zootaxa 4706 (3): 477-482, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4706.3.

First-pass metabolism of ONO-5046 (N-[2-[4-(2,2-dimethylpropionyloxy) phenylsulfonylamino]benzoyl]aminoacetic acid), a novel elastase inhibitor, in rats

The first-pass metabolism in the intestine and liver of ONO-5046 (N-[2-[4-(2, 2-dimethylpropionyloxy)phenylsulfonylamino]benzoyl]aminoacetic acid), a newly synthesized elastate inhibitor, was separately estimated in rats. When ONO-5046 solution was administered into the whole intestine via the bile duct at a dose of 5 μmol/rat, the extent of bioavailability was only 1.5%. A small but significant increase in the bioavailability with an increase in the dose suggested marked first-pass metabolism with a saturable process. Hepatic first-pass metabolism was estimated by determining the hepatic extraction ratio of ONO-5046 after administration into the portal vein at two different infusion rates (5 μmol/kg/9 min or 5 μmol/kg/20 s). The extraction ratio was relatively small and constant (about 20%) under 2 different infusion rates of the drug. Intestinal first-pass metabolism was estimated by determining the drug recovery in the measenteric plasma after administering the drug into the intestinal loop in situ (mesenteric blood collecting method in situ). The recovery percentage of ONO-5046 in the mesenteric plasma was small (2.58±0.04% at a dose of 1 μmol/rat), and the remaining ONO-5046 recovered in the mesenteric plasma and in the intestinal loop was a metabolite of ONO-5046 (EI-601, N-[2-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonylamino]benzoyl]aminoacetic acid). Recovery percentage of ONO-5046 in the mesenteric plasma increased significantly with an increase in the dose, although the recovery percentage was still low, even at a higher dose (9.55±1.17% of dose at a dose of 5 μmol/rat). These results indicate that the low oral bioavailability of ONO-5046 in vivo is mainly due to the marked intestinal first-pass metabolism, including the metabolism in the intestinal fluid, and the dose-dependent oral bioavailability was derived from the saturable intestinal first-pass metabolism

Hierarchically of Knowledge and Skill, and Consideration of Learning Processes about Cultivation of Crops in Technology Education

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the knowledge and skills acquired during technology education that are necessary for the cultivation of crops. Knowledge and skills were organized hierarchically based on the standards for technology teacher training proposed by the Japan Society of Technology Education. As a result, basic knowledge and skills required for learning activities and teaching guidance were classified as large (4items), medium (9items) and small (18items). Learning processes regarding the cultivation of crops were examined from structure of medium classification as 'crops', 'environment and society', 'breeding management', 'growth management', 'management and adjustment of soil', 'protection of crops', 'weather management', 'cultivation planning', and 'cultivation practice'. This structure have the framework of two learning processes, and these processes were compared with the composition of the authorized textbook

On the taxonomy and biology of the clearwing moth Aegeria montis (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae)

Yata, Naoki, Gorbunov, Oleg G., Arita, Yutaka, Aoki, Yoshichika (2018): On the taxonomy and biology of the clearwing moth Aegeria montis (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae). Zootaxa 4369 (3): 443-450, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4369.3.