Risk factors for rectal bleeding after volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy of prostate cancer

Background: It is crucially important to understand the risk factors for rectal bleeding after volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) for prostate cancer to prevent subsequent rectal bleeding. We assayed clinical and dosimetric data to investigate the risk factors for rectal bleeding after VMAT of prostate cancer. Materials and methods: This study included 149 patients with prostate cancer who received VMAT from February, 2012 to June, 2020. Irradiated total doses were 78 Gy/39 fractions in 33 patients (22.1%), 76 Gy/38 fractions in 89 (59.7%), 74 Gy/37 fractions in 4 (2.7%), and 72 Gy/36 fractions in 23 (15.4%). We investigated multiple clinical and dosimetric factors with reference to rectal bleeding. Results: The median observation period was 38 months. Fourteen patients (9.4%) experienced rectal bleeding: five (3.4%) were classified as grade 2, and nine (6.0%) as grade 1. There were significant differences between Grade ≥ 1 and Grade 0 patients in the overlap region of the planning target volume (PTV) and the rectum, the rectal V30–75, and the mean rectal dose (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between Grade 2 and Grade 0–1 patients in rectal V30–65 and mean rectal dose (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Rectal bleeding occurred, but its grades and rate of occurrence were permissible. Higher rectal doses were shown to be related to rectal bleeding, and reduction of low/intermediate and mean rectal doses will be important for preventing rectal bleeding

Neurotrophic Effect of Citrus Auraptene: Neuritogenic Activity in PC12 Cells

The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) leads to a number of cellular changes associated with the development of long-term memory. Using cultured cortical neurons, we previously showed that the n-hexane extract prepared from the peels of Citrus grandis (Kawachi bankan) induces the activation of ERK1/2 and that one of the compounds with this ability in the extract is 3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone (HMF), a Citrus polymethoxyflavone. In fact, we found that HMF has the ability to rescue mice from drug-induced learning impairment. This hexane extract contains auraptene (AUR), a coumarin derivative with a monoterpene unit, together with HMF. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of AUR in vitro. Our results show that 1) AUR had the ability to induce the activation of ERK1/2 in not only cortical neurons but also the rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells), which is a model system for studies on neuronal proliferation and differentiation; and 2) AUR had the ability to promote neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells

Relationship between soy and isoflavone intake and periodontal disease: The Freshmen in Dietetic Courses Study II

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Much research has shown that soy products inhibited various diseases. However, no published studies have examined the effects of consumption of soy and isoflavones on periodontal disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether soy and isoflavone intake is associated with the prevalence of periodontal disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The subjects were 3956 Japanese female students, aged 18 to 22 years, who were taking a dietetic course. Periodontal disease was defined as present when a subject reported diagnosis of the disorder by a dentist. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated diet history questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios and their confidence intervals of periodontal disease. Adjustment was made for cigarette smoking, toothbrushing frequency, region of residence, and body mass index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of periodontal disease was 8.0%. Intake of total soy product and tofu was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of periodontal disease; multivariate odds ratios in comparison of the highest with the lowest quintile were 0.68 and 0.68, respectively (95% confidence intervals = 0.47–0.97 and 0.47–0.98, <it>P </it>for trend = 0.01 and 0.004, respectively). A significant inverse dose-response relationship between the intake of isoflavones and the prevalence of periodontal disease was observed, although the difference in the adjusted odds ratio between the extreme quintiles was of borderline significance (<it>P </it>for trend = 0.04). There were no measurable dose-response relationships between consumption of tofu products, fermented soybeans, boiled soybeans, miso, or miso soup and the prevalence of periodontal disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that soy and isoflavone intake may decrease the likelihood of periodontal disease. Further investigations with objective measures for periodontal disease are needed to confirm our findings.</p

Oligomerized CARD16 promotes caspase-1 assembly and IL-1β processing

AbstractIncreasing evidence indicates that caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-mediated caspase-1 (CASP1) assembly is an essential process for its activation and subsequent interleukin (IL)-1β release, leading to the initiation of inflammation. Both CARD16 and CARD17 were previously reported as inhibitory homologs of CASP1; however, their molecular function remains unclear. Here, we identified that oligomerization activity allows CARD16 to function as a CASP1 activator. We investigated the molecular characteristics of CARD16 and CARD17 in transiently transfected HeLa cells. Although both CARD16 and CARD17 interacted with CASP1CARD, only CARD16 formed a homo-oligomer. Oligomerized CARD16 formed a filament-like structure with CASP1CARD and a speck with apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD. A filament-like structure formed by CARD16 promoted CASP1 filament assembly and IL-1β release. In contrast, CARD17 did not form a homo-oligomer or filaments and inhibited CASP1-dependent IL-1β release. Mutated CARD16D27G, mimicking the CARD17 amino acid sequence, formed a homo-oligomer but failed to form a filament-like structure. Consequently, CARD16D27G weakly promoted CASP1 filament assembly and subsequent IL-1β release. These results suggest that oligomerized CARD16 promotes CARD-mediated molecular assembly and CASP1 activation

Targeted disruption of FSCN2 gene induces retinopathy in mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.

PURPOSE. To investigate the morphology and function of photoreceptors in mice with mutation of the FSCN2 gene. METHODS. A mouse line was generated carrying the 208delG mutation (point mutation, or p-type) and another with replacement of exon 1 by the cDNA of a green fluorescent protein (GFP knock-in, or g-type). The expression of retinal mRNA was determined by reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization performed on retinal sections. Morphologic analyses of the retinas were performed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and functional analyses by electroretinogram (ER