Long-term Ultrasonographic Follow-up Study of Gastric Motility in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

Although patients with functional dyspepsia complain of epigastric symptoms, the relation between these symptoms and gastric motility remains controversial. There are few reports on the clinical course of functional dyspepsia, including changes in gastric motility, observed over a considerably long period. We conducted a study to examine association between changes in symptoms and changes in ultrasonographically evaluated gastric motility over a long-term follow-up period in patients with functional dyspepsia. Forty patients (18 men, 22 women; mean age, 53.7 years) with functional dyspepsia were followed up by medical interview, physical examination, endoscopy, and ultrasonography for gastric motility. Follow-up ranged from 1.0 to 7.8 years (mean, 3.0 years). Ultrasonographic evaluation of gastric motility included gastric emptying rate and antral contractions. During the follow-up period, patients were treated with proton pump inhibitors, H2-blockers, or prokinetics. Symptoms improved in 21 patients (group A), but symptoms persisted or worsened in 19 patients (group B). There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. Gastric motility improved in group A but not in group B. In conclusion, improved gastric motility appears to correspond to and may explain improved symptoms in some patients with functional dyspepsia

Clinicopathological Features and Surgical Outcomes of Small Bowel Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

Small bowel metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare, and its clinicopathological characteristics are unclear; thus, we revisited the concept of this tumor and reviewed its diagnostic and treatment modalities. We filtered MEDLINE searches of articles published in English between 1950 and 2019, and identified 100 patients who had undergone treatment, including 1 patient from our clinic. We extracted patient characteristics, treatment, and prognostic data, resulting in clinicopathological data on 100 patients (83 men, 17 women). Mean age was 63 years (range, 16-86 years). Tumor sites were duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and multiple sites in 30, 37, 25, and 7 patients, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates after diagnosis were 53.0%, 36.0%, and 36.0%. Curative resection patients showed 62.1% 5-year survival after surgery, vs. 27.5% in noncurative surgical management cases. Good prognoses can be expected if these tumors are identified early for complete removal. Surgery is the only curative option. To determine the best management strategy and improve prognostic accuracy, we continue to collect and analyze epidemiological and pathological data. Although this condition is rare, surgery should be considered if curative resection is expected. Prognosis after curative resection is not poor, but recurrence is not unlikely

Impact of educational video on performance in robotic simulation training (TAKUMI-1): a randomized controlled trial

The use of virtual reality for simulations plays an important role in the initial training for robotic surgery. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of educational video on the performance of robotic simulation. Participants were randomized into the intervention (video) group that received an educational video and robotic simulation training or the control group that received only simulation training. The da Vinci® Skills Simulator was used for the basic course, including nine drills. The primary endpoint was the overall score of nine drills in cycles 1–10. Secondary endpoints included overall, efficiency, and penalty scores in each cycle, as well as the learning curves evaluated by the cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. Between September 2021 and May 2022, 20 participants were assigned to the video (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The video group had significantly higher overall scores than the control group (90.8 vs. 72.4, P < 0.001). Significantly higher overall scores and lower penalty scores were confirmed, mainly in cycles 1–5. CUSUM analysis revealed a shorter learning curve in the video group. The present study demonstrated that educational video training can be effective in improving the performance of robotic simulation training and shortening the learning curve

Complement-5 Inhibition Deters Progression of Fulminant Hepatitis to Acute Liver Failure in Murine Models

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening condition with limited treatment alternatives. ALF pathogenesis seemingly involves the complement system. However, no complement-targeted intervention has been clinically applied. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of Complement-5 (C5)-targeted ALF treatment. METHODS: ALF was induced in C5-knockout (KO, B10D2/oSn) mice and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (B10D2/nSn) through intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and d-galactosamine (D-GalN) administration. Thereafter, monoclonal anti-C5 antibody (Ab) or control immunoglobulin was administered intravenously. Furthermore, a selective C5a-receptor (C5aR) antagonist was administered to WT mice to compare its efficacy with that of anti-C5-Ab-mediated total C5 inhibition. We clarified the therapeutic effect of delayed anti-C5-Ab administration after LPS/D-GalN challenge. We also assessed the efficacy of anti-C5-Ab in another ALF model, using concanavalin-A. RESULTS: Liver injury was evident 6 hours after LPS/D-GalN administration. C5-KO and anti-C5-Ab treatment significantly improved overall animal survival and significantly reduced serum transaminase and high-mobility group box-1 release with decreased histological tissue damage. This improvement was characterized by significantly reduced CD41+ platelet aggregation, maintained F4/80+ cells, and less infiltration of CD11+/Ly6-G+ cells with lower cytokine/chemokine expression. Furthermore, C5-KO and anti-C5-Ab downregulated tumor necrosis factor-α production by macrophages before inducing marked liver injury. Moreover, single-stranded-DNA cells and caspase activation were reduced, indicating significant attenuation of apoptosis. Anti-C5-Ab treatment protected the liver more effectively than the C5aR antagonist, and its delayed doses were hepatoprotective. In addition, anti-C5-Ab treatment was effective against concanavalin-A-induced ALF. CONCLUSIONS: C5 inhibition effectively suppresses progression to ALF in mice models of fulminant hepatitis, serving as a new potential treatment strategy for ALF

Complement 5 Inhibition Ameliorates Hepatic Ischemia/reperfusion Injury in Mice, Dominantly via the C5a-mediated Cascade

[Background. ] Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a serious complication in liver surgeries, including transplantation. Complement activation seems to be closely involved in hepatic IRI; however, no complement-targeted intervention has been clinically applied. We investigated the therapeutic potential of Complement 5 (C5)-targeted regulation in hepatic IRI. [Methods. ] C5-knockout (B10D2/oSn) and their corresponding wild-type mice (WT, B10D2/nSn) were exposed to 90-minute partial (70%) hepatic ischemia/reperfusion with either anti-mouse-C5 monoclonal antibody (BB5.1) or corresponding control immunoglobulin administration 30 minutes before ischemia. C5a receptor 1 antagonist was also given to WT to identify which cascade, C5a or C5b-9, is dominant. [Results. ] C5-knockout and anti-C5-Ab administration to WT both significantly reduced serum transaminase release and histopathological damages from 2 hours after reperfusion. This improvement was characterized by significantly reduced CD41+ platelet aggregation, maintained F4/80+ cells, and decreased high-mobility group box 1 release. After 6 hours of reperfusion, the infiltration of CD11+ and Ly6-G+ cells, cytokine/chemokine expression, single-stranded DNA+ cells, and cleaved caspase-3 expression were all significantly alleviated by anti-C5-Ab. C5a receptor 1 antagonist was as effective as anti-C5-Ab for reducing transaminases. [Conclusions. ] Anti-C5 antibody significantly ameliorated hepatic IRI, predominantly via the C5a-mediated cascade, not only by inhibiting platelet aggregation during the early phase but also by attenuating the activation of infiltrating macrophages/neutrophils and hepatocyte apoptosis in the late phase of reperfusion. Given its efficacy, clinical availability, and controllability, C5-targeted intervention may provide a novel therapeutic strategy against hepatic IRI

Transplantation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mononuclear Cells Improves Mechanical Hyperalgesia, Cold Allodynia and Nerve Function in Diabetic Neuropathy

Relief from painful diabetic neuropathy is an important clinical issue. We have previously shown that the transplantation of cultured endothelial progenitor cells or mesenchymal stem cells ameliorated diabetic neuropathy in rats. In this study, we investigated whether transplantation of freshly isolated bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) alleviates neuropathic pain in the early stage of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Two weeks after STZ injection, BM-MNCs or vehicle saline were injected into the unilateral hind limb muscles. Mechanical hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in SD rats were measured as the number of foot withdrawals to von Frey hair stimulation and acetone application, respectively. Two weeks after the BM-MNC transplantation, sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV), sciatic nerve blood flow (SNBF), mRNA expressions and histology were assessed. The BM-MNC transplantation significantly ameliorated mechanical hyperalgesia and cold allodynia in the BM-MNC-injected side. Furthermore, the slowed MNCV/SNCV and decreased SNBF in diabetic rats were improved in the BM-MNC-injected side. BM-MNC transplantation improved the decreased mRNA expression of NT-3 and number of microvessels in the hind limb muscles. There was no distinct effect of BM-MNC transplantation on the intraepidermal nerve fiber density. These results suggest that autologous transplantation of BM-MNCs could be a novel strategy for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy

Properdin inhibition ameliorates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury without interfering with liver regeneration in mice

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) often causes serious complications in liver surgeries, including transplantation. Complement activation seems to be involved in hepatic IRI; however, no complement-targeted intervention has been clinically applied. We investigated the therapeutic potential of Properdin-targeted complement regulation in hepatic IRI. Male wild-type mice (B10D2/nSn) were exposed to 90-minute partial hepatic IRI to the left and median lobes with either monoclonal anti-Properdin-antibody (Ab) or control-immunoglobulin (IgG) administration. Since the complement system is closely involved in liver regeneration, the influence of anti-Properdin-Ab on liver regeneration was also evaluated in a mouse model of 70% partial hepatectomy. Anti-Properdin-Ab significantly reduced serum transaminases and histopathological damages at 2 and 6 hours after reperfusion (P &lt;0.001, respectively). These improvements at 2 hours was accompanied by significant reductions in CD41+ platelet aggregation (P =0.010) and ssDNA+ cells (P &lt;0.001), indicating significant amelioration in hepatic microcirculation and apoptosis, respectively. Characteristically, F4/80+ cells representing macrophages, mainly Kupffer cells, were maintained by anti-Properdin-Ab (P &lt;0.001). Western blot showed decreased phosphorylation of only Erk1/2 among MAPKs (P =0.004). After 6 hours of reperfusion, anti-Properdin-Ab significantly attenuated the release of HMGB-1, which provokes the release of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines (P =0.002). Infiltration of CD11b+ and Ly6-G+ cells, representing infiltrating macrophages and neutrophils, respectively, were significantly alleviated by anti-Properdin-Ab (both P &lt;0.001). Notably, anti-Properdin-Ab did not affect remnant liver weight and BrdU+ cells at 48 hours after 70% partial hepatectomy (P =0.13 and 0.31, respectively). In conclusion, Properdin inhibition significantly ameliorates hepatic IRI without interfering with liver regeneration