Changing Models for Commercialization and Implementation of Biocontrol in the Developing and the Developed World

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive, selective, and cost-effective cancer therapy. The development of readily accessible templates that allow rapid structural modification for further improvement of PDT remains important. We previously reported thiophene-based organic D-π-A sensitizers consisted of an electron-donating (D) moiety, a π-conjugated bridge (π) moiety, and an electron-accepting (A) moiety as valuable templates for a photosensitizer that can be used in PDT. Our preliminary structure-activity relationship study revealed that the structure of the A moiety significantly influences its phototoxicity. In this study, we evaluated the photoabsorptive, cellular uptake, and photo-oxidizing abilities of D-π-A sensitizers that contained different A moieties. The level of phototoxicity of the D-π-A sensitizers was rationalized by considering those three abilities. In addition, we observed the ability of amphiphilic sensitizers containing either a carboxylic acid or an amide in an A moiety to form aggregates that penetrate cells mainly via endocytosis

Robotic Mediastinal Tumor Resections: Position and Port Placement

This study aimed to determine the optimal position and port placement during robotic resection for various mediastinal tumors. For anterior mediastinal tumors, total or extended thymectomy is commonly performed in the supine position using the lateral or subxiphoid approach. Although it is unclear which approach is better during robotic thymectomy, technical advantages of subxiphoid approach are beneficial for patients with myasthenia who require extended thymectomy. Partial thymectomy is performed in the supine position using a lateral approach. Superior, middle, and posterior mediastinal tumors are resected in the decubitus position using the lateral approach, whereas dumbbell tumor resection, which requires a posterior approach, can be performed in the prone position. The position and port placement should be chosen depending on the size, location, and aggressiveness of the tumor. In this study, we describe how to choose which of these different robotic approaches can be used based on our experience and previous reports

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis after lung transplantation: Two case reports and literature review

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) affecting transplanted lungs is not well recognized. Herein, we report two cases of PAP after lung transplantation (LTx). The first case was a 4-year-old boy with hereditary pulmonary fibrosis who underwent bilateral LTx and presented with respiratory distress on postoperative day (POD) 23. He was initially treated for acute rejection, died due to infection on POD 248, and was diagnosed with PAP at autopsy. The second case involved a 52-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who underwent bilateral LTx. On POD 99, chest computed tomography revealed ground-glass opacities. Bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy led to a diagnosis of PAP. Follow-up with immunosuppression tapering resulted in clinical and radiological improvement. PAP after lung transplantation mimics common acute rejection; however, is potentially transient or resolved with tapering immunosuppression, as observed in the second case. Transplant physicians should be aware of this rare complication to avoid misconducting immunosuppressive management

Transtibial pullout repair of the lateral meniscus posterior root tear combined with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction reduces lateral meniscus extrusion: A retrospective study

Background Lateral meniscus (LM) posterior root tear (PRT) is often associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and can result in rotational instability, joint overloading, and degenerative changes in the knee. Improved rotational stability and kinematics have been reported after LMPRT repair. However, it is unclear what repair technique can achieve the greatest reduction in LM extrusion (LME). Hypothesis We hypothesized that transtibial pullout repair would decrease LME to a greater extent than other repair techniques. Patients and methods Seventeen patients with ACL injury and complete LMPRT were evaluated. Nine underwent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and transtibial pullout repair, and eight underwent ACLR and other repairs such as inside-out suturing. Double-bundle ACLR was performed using hamstring tendons, and LMPRT pullout repair was performed through the bone tunnel for the posterolateral bundle. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed immediately preoperatively and at > 6 months postoperatively, and LME was measured from coronal images only. Results A significantly greater decrease in the value of LME from pre- to postoperative measurement was observed in the transtibial pullout repair group (−0.5 ± 0.7 mm) than in the other-repair group (1.0 ± 0.9 mm, p Discussion The most important finding of this study was that transtibial pullout repair resulted in a greater decrease in LME than other repair techniques in patients with ACL injury and LMPRT. This technique might be useful for restoring hoop tension by decreasing LME

The distance between the tibial tunnel aperture and meniscal root attachment is correlated with meniscal healing status following transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus posterior root tear

Background To investigate the relationship between tibial tunnel aperture location and postoperative meniscal healing. Methods We enrolled 25 patients (20 women and five men, mean age: 62.5 years) who underwent transtibial pullout repair for medial meniscus (MM) posterior root repair. The expected MM posterior root attachment center (AC) and tibial tunnel center (TC) were identified using three-dimensional computed tomography, and the minimum AC–TC distance was calculated. The meniscal healing status following transtibial pullout repair was assessed by second-look arthroscopy (mean postoperative period: 15 months) using a previously reported scoring system (meniscal healing score; range: 0–10). The association between AC–TC distance and meniscal healing score was investigated using univariate linear regression models. The optimal AC–TC distance cut-off for improved MM healing score (≥ 7) was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results The AC–TC distance and meniscal healing score were significantly associated (y = − 0.42x + 9.48, R2 = 0.342; P = 0.002), with the optimum AC–TC distance being 5.8 mm. This cut-off had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 53%. Conclusions This study demonstrates that AC–TC distance is significantly correlated with postoperative meniscal healing. Anatomical repair within 5.8 mm of the AC may result in improved meniscal healing

The effect of Coicis semen and Rhizopus oligosporus-fermented Coicis semen (tempeh) on serum cholesterol in the rat

はとむぎ(Coicis semen)をテンペ菌(Rhizopus oligosporus)で発酵したはとむぎテンペ(テンペ)の血清コレステロール代謝に対する作用を検討した｡生後12週齢のSprague-Dawley系雄ラットに市販固形飼料(コントロール群),はとむぎ混合飼料(はとむぎ群),テンペ混合飼料(テンペ群)を投与し,2,6,18週間後に高速液体クロマトグラフィー法で血清コレステロールを測定した｡体重増加,総コレステロールはいずれの時点でも3群間に差がなかったが,テンペ群では投与前と比較して2,6,18週間後にLDLコレステロールが有意に低下し,LDLコレステロール/HDLコレステロール比も2,18週間後に有意に低下した｡テンペ群はコントロール群と比較してもLDLコレステロールとLDLコレステロール/HDLコレステロール比が低く,はとむぎ群でも低い傾向がみられたが,有意差はなかった｡以上から,テンペがコレステロール代謝改善作用をもつことが示唆された｡The effect of Coicis semen and Rhizopus oligosporus-fermented Coicis semen (tempeh) on serum cholesterol fractions was examined in the rat. Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were received commercial MF meal (control group), Coicis semen-containing MF meal (Coicis semen group), or tempeh-containing MF meal (tempeh group). Cholesterol fractions were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography at the start of experiment, and 2, 6, 18 weeks later. No difference was found in body weight nor total cholesterol among the three groups. LDL cholesterol was significantly lowered in the tempeh group at 2, 6, 18 weeks. LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio also decreased at 2 and 18 weeks. In the both Coicis semen- and tempeh-fooded groups, LDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were lower than the control group although they were not statistically significant. No difference was found in HDL cholesterol among the three groups. The results suggest that tempeh may have a favorable effect on cholesterol metabolism

Serum Concentrations of Eosinophil Cationic Protein and Eosinophils of Patients with Kimura's Disease

ABSTRACTBackground: To clarify the role of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of Kimura's disease and the values of measuring serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) for monitoring disease activity might be very important, but there are few reports about this matter.Methods: A total 14 serum and 7 tissue samples from patients with Kimura's disease were studied. The concentrations of ECP and cytokines (interleukin-4 (IL-4), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin 5 (IL-5)) in sera from patients with Kimura's disease were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The density of eosinophils and the degree of activation of eosinophils in the tissue were also studied immunohistochemically.Results: The concentration of ECP in sera from patients with Kimura's disease was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). At the time of the remission, a significant decrease of ECP was observed. In interfollicular areas, most infiltrated eosinophils were positive for EG2 antibody (64.0-94.0%) and the mean percentage of EG2-positive eosinophils was 75.7%. The concentrations of IL-4, gM-CSF, and IL-5 in sera from patients with Kimura's disease were within normal ranges or below the detectable level in all sera examined.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of Kimura's disease and ECP may be used as an additional parameter of disease activity

Transtibial fixation for medial meniscus posterior root tear reduces posterior extrusion and physiological translation of the medial meniscus in middle-aged and elderly patients

Purpose To investigate changes in meniscal extrusion during knee flexion before and after pullout fixation for medial meniscus posterior root tear (MMPRT) and determine whether these changes correlate with articular cartilage degeneration and short-term clinical outcomes. Methods Twenty-two patients (mean age 58.4 ± 8.2 years) diagnosed with type II MMPRT underwent open magnetic resonance imaging preoperatively, 3 months after transtibial fixation and at 12 months after surgery, when second-look arthroscopy was also performed. The medial meniscus medial extrusion (MMME) and the medial meniscus posterior extrusion (MMPE) were measured at knee 10° and 90° flexion at which medial meniscus (MM) posterior translation was also calculated. Articular cartilage degeneration was assessed using International Cartilage Research Society grade at primary surgery and second-look arthroscopy. Clinical evaluations included Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form, Lysholm score, Tegner activity level scale, and pain visual analogue scale. Results MMPE at 10° knee flexion was higher 12 months postoperatively than preoperatively (4.8 ± 1.5 vs. 3.5 ± 1.2, p = 0.01). MMPE at 90° knee flexion and MM posterior translation were smaller 12 months postoperatively than preoperatively (3.5 ± 1.1 vs. 4.6 ± 1.3, 7.2 ± 1.7 vs. 8.9 ± 2.0, p  Conclusions MMPRT transtibial fixation suppressed the progression of MMPE and cartilage degeneration and progressed MMME minimally in knee flexion position at 1 year. However, in the knee extension position, MMME progressed and correlated with cartilage degeneration of medial femoral condyle. MMPRT transtibial fixation contributes to the dynamic stability of the MM in the knee flexion position