Administration of oxygen ultra-fine bubbles improves nerve dysfunction in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model

Ultra-fine bubbles (<200 nm in diameter) have several unique properties and have been tested in various medical fields. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oxygen ultra-fine bubbles (OUBs) on a sciatic nerve crush injury (SNC) model rats. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with 1.5 mL saline, OUBs diluted in saline, or nitrogen ultra-fine bubbles (NUBs) diluted in saline three times per week for 4 weeks in four groups: (1) control, (sham operation + saline); (2) SNC, (crush + saline); (3) SNC+OUB, (crush + OUB-saline); (4) SNC+NUB, (crush + NUB-saline). The effects of the OUBs on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and Schwann cells (SCs) were examined by serial dilution of OUB medium in vitro. Sciatic functional index, paw withdrawal thresholds, nerve conduction velocity, and myelinated axons were significantly decreased in the SNC group compared to the control group; these parameters were significantly improved in the SNC+OUB group, although NUB treatment did not affect these parameters. In vitro, OUBs significantly promoted neurite outgrowth in DRG neurons by activating AKT signaling and SC proliferation by activating ERK1/2 and JNK/c-JUN signaling. OUBs may improve nerve dysfunction in SNC rats by promoting neurite outgrowth in DRG neurons and SC proliferation.Matsuoka H., Ebina K., Tanaka H., et al. Administration of oxygen ultra-fine bubbles improves nerve dysfunction in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 19, 1395 (2018); https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19051395

Subserosal Inflammatory Pseudotumor Causing Intussusception

We present an adult case of intussusception caused by subserosal inflammatory pseudotumor of the terminal ileum. Enteric intussusception was diagnosed by characteristic Xray finding, so called "beak-like" filling defect in the terminal ileum. An exploratory laparotomy revealed focal subserosal thickening in the terminal ileum, and partial ileocolectomy was performed. Microscopically, we identified a pseudotumor that extended through the muscularis propria into serosa. The pseudotumor was composed of fibrous stroma and chronic inflammatory cells with calcification

〈Original〉NF1 and KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer secondary to alcoholic chronic pancreatitis

[Abstract]The risk of developing pancreatic cancer is significantly higher in the patients with chronic pancreatitis than in those without chronic pancreatitis (CP). However, the genetic mechanisms for this increased risk remain unclear. We hypothesized that different genetic mechanisms may exist in the process of carcinogenesis secondary to CP.We included patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatectomy between 2012 and 2016 at Kindai University　Hospital. Among them,3 patients had alcoholic CP for more than 2 years.We examined 3 types of tissue samples from each patient: cancerous, CP, and　normal tissues. We extracted DNA from each tissue type and used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to detect mutations.We found genomic comutation of　KRAS and NF1 in 1 patient. There were no mutations in normal tissues, but mutations occurred in CP tissues.The rate of dissection of pancreatic ductal　adenocarcinoma(PDAC) from cancerous tissues was approximately 30%, and the variant frequency of NF1 and KRAS was 34% and 32%, respectively.The rate　of dissection of pancreatic ductal tissue from CP tissues was approximately 20%, and the variant frequency of NF1 and KRAS was 19% and 21%, respectively.　Comutation of NF1 and KRAS may be a carcinogenic mechanism of pancreatic cancer in patients with alcoholic CP. NF1 and KRAS mutations may be a　therapeutic target in patients with pancreatic cancer secondary to CP

Examination of the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score and other prognostic factors in patients undergoing hepatectomy for naïve hepatocellular carcinoma: A retrospective observational study

Aim: To identify prognostic factors in patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) with a C-reactive protein (CRP) cutoff value of 0.5 mg/dl. Methods: All study participants underwent hepatectomy for naïve HCC at Kindai University Hospital between January 2004 and December 2013. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively to identify prognostic factors including the mGPS. Patients with elevated CRP levels (>0.5 mg/dl) and hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dl) were assigned an mGPS score of 2 (mGPS2), those with one of these factors were allocated a score of 1 (mGPS1) and patients with neither factor were allocated a score of 0 (mGPS0). The patients were then divided into an mGPS1–2 group (including mGPS1 and mGPS2; n = 51) and an mGPS0 group (n = 150). Results: There were significant differences between the groups regarding tumor diameter, PIVKA-II expression, microvascular invasion, and TNM stage. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients in the mGPS1–2 group had a significantly poorer prognosis in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival than those in the mGPS0 group. In a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model, TNM stage and mGPS were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival, while alphafetoprotein level, intraoperative blood loss, and mGPS were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusion: Tumor-related factors, intraoperative blood loss, and mGPS are important prognostic factors in patients who have been treated surgically for HCC. An mGPS with a CRP cutoff value of 0.5 mg/dl is a useful prognostic factor.departmental bulletin pape

Numerical Study on Fan Spray for Gasoline Direct Injection Engines

In gasoline direct injection engines, it is important to optimize fuel spray characteristics, which strongly affect stratified combustion process. Spray simulation is expected as a tool for optimizing the nozzle design. Conventional simulation method, ho