A Case of Gallbladder Cancer with Trousseau Syndrome Successfully Treated Using Radical Resection

Trousseau syndrome is characterized by cancer-associated systemic thrombosis. We describe the first case of a successfully treated gallbladder adenocarcinoma accompanied by Trousseau syndrome. A 66-year-old woman presented with right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging identified multiple cerebral infarctions. Her serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and D-dimer levels were markedly elevated, and a gallbladder tumor was detected via abdominal computed tomography. Venous ultrasonography of the lower limbs revealed a deep venous thrombus in the right peroneal vein. These findings suggested that the brain infarctions were likely caused by Trousseau syndrome associated with her gallbladder cancer. Radical resection of the gallbladder tumor was performed. The resected gallbladder was filled with mucus and was pathologically diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and she received a one-year course of adjuvant therapy with oral S-1. No cancer recurrence or thrombosis was noted 26 months postoperatively. Despite concurrent Trousseau syndrome, a radical cure of the primary tumor and thrombosis could be achieved with the appropriate treatment

Repeated Starvation Leads Fat Accumulation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Our aim is to define the effect of repeated-starvation on organism using nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Adult worms were exposed to two cycles of 6 hr starvation-18 hr feeding protocol, and fat content in worms was analyzed by Nile Red staining and biochemical quantification. The expression of genes involved in fat synthesis (pod-2, fasn-1, mboa-2, sbp-1) and fat degradation (hosl-1, lipl-4, cpt-1, cpt-2, B03003.3, F53a2.7) was also analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. Both Nile Red staining and biochemical quantification showed that fat content in worms that experienced repeated-starvation increased. There was no obvious change in the expression of genes involved in fat synthesis, but those of genes involved in fat degradation tended to decrease, which is consistent with the increment of fat in worms experienced repeated-starvation. The lifespan, fecundity and mobility of worms that experienced repeated-starvation did not show remarkable differences compared to those of the fed worms. However, the pharyngeal pumping increased upon experiencing starvation, indicating amount of food intake increased by starvation. Our results indicate that repeated-starvation caused metabolic and nutritional effect in worms. It is often mentioned that repeating weight loss leads to weight regain, sometimes referred as “weight rebound”, and our data may also provide a molecular basis of weight regain

The HIV-1 Vpr displays strong anti-apoptotic activity

AbstractMutations in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vpr gene only slightly reduce the replication rate of the virus. To study the role of HIV-1 Vpr in biological effects on cells, HEp-2 cells, which express HIV-1 Vpr constitutively but at a low level, were established. While control HEp-2 cells underwent apoptosis when incubated with sorbitol, the morphological and biochemical apoptotic changes were inefficiently induced in the HIV-1 Vpr-expressing cells by the same treatment. These results clearly indicate that HIV-1 Vpr has anti-apoptotic activity, and raise the possibility that Vpr acts as a weak activator of virus replication through anti-apoptosis

血管内皮細胞における酸化LDLおよびリゾホスファチジルコリン誘導によるカベオリン-1発現に対するケルセチンおよび代謝物の効果

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein contributes to atherosclerotic plaque formation, and quercetin is expected to exert anti-atherosclerotic effects. We previously reported accumulation of conjugated quercetin metabolites in the aorta of rabbits fed high-cholesterol diets with quercetin glucosides, resulting in attenuation of lipid peroxidation and inhibition of lipid accumulation. Caveolin-1, a major structural protein of caveolae in vascular endothelial cells, plays a role in atherosclerosis development. Here we investigated effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, quercetin and its metabolite, quercetin 3-O-β-glucuronide, on caveolin-1 expression. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein significantly upregulated caveolin-1 mRNA expression. An oxidized low-density lipoprotein component, lysophosphatidylcholine, also induced expression of both caveolin-1 mRNA and protein. However, lysophosphatidylcholine did not affect the location of caveolin-1 proteins within caveolae structures. Co-treatment with quercetin or quercetin 3-O-β-glucuronide inhibited lysophosphatidylcholine-induced caveolin-1 expression. Quercetin and quercetin 3-O-β-glucuronide also suppressed expression of adhesion molecules induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein and lysophosphatidylcholine. These results strongly suggest lysophosphatidylcholine derived from oxidized low-density lipoprotein contributes to atherosclerotic events by upregulating caveolin-1 expression, resulting in induction of adhesion molecules. Quercetin metabolites are likely to exert an anti-atherosclerotic effect by attenuating caveolin-1 expression in endothelial cells

Subjective evaluation of swallowing screening test by speech therapists

目的：本研究は言語聴覚士の主観的評価により，4種の嚥下スクリーニングテストを臨床における使用感の良さという観点から順位付けすることを目的とした． 方法：評価対象の嚥下スクリーニングテストは国内で多用されるRSSTとMWST，主に国外で使用されるStandardized Swallowing Assessment（以下，SSA）とThe Toronto Bedside Swallowing Screening Test（以下，TOR－BSST）の4種とした．臨床経験のある言語聴覚士27名（平均臨床経験年数5.2±3.5年）に，独自に作成した教則ビデオにて3症例の嚥下機能について，各テストを用いて評価させた後，4つのテストをそれぞれ2対に組み合わせ，「どちらのテストがより優れていると感じますか」と二項選択式にて質問し，選択させた．サーストンの一対比較法によるZ平均値から順位付けを行った． 結果：Z平均値はTOR－BSST 0.820，SSA 0.816，MWST 0.082，RSST－1.786となった． 結論：言語聴覚士の主観的評価によれば，臨床において使用感の良い嚥下スクリーニングテストはTOR－BSST，SSA，MWST，RSSTの順であった．Objective：The purpose of this study subjective evaluated four swallowing screening tests by speech therapists’． Methods：Twenty－seven speech therapists evaluated three dysphagic cases on video records with four screening test ; RSST，MWST，SSA， and TOR－BSST, and then administered the alternative formats. Thurstone’s paired comparison method was used to select one of the useful tests. Results：The mean Z scores of the paired comparison method were as follows： TOR－BSST， 0.820；SSA，0.816；MWST，0.082；and RSST，－1.786． Discussion：The results indicated that comprehensive evaluation method, including a water consumption test, was required. Conclusion：TOR－BSST was selected as the most useful among the four swallowing screening tests by speech therapists’

Role of virus-induced apoptosis in a host defense mechanism against virus infection

Many animal viruses are known to induce apoptosis in infected cells. This virus-induced apoptosis has been often described as a mechanism of host defense against virus infection, based on the finding that mutants of an insect virus with the ability to induce extensive apoptosis in some cells cannot grow in the same cells. In animal virus infection, we have shown that (1) viruses can somehow overcome this defense mechanism and that (2) virus multiplication in the apoptotic cells is not as completely suppressed as in the insect virus infection. These results suggest that, in the case of animal viruses, the virus-induced apoptosis does not play the same role in the host defense system as in insect cells. However, by examining the virus infection under the conditions comparable to the infection in vivo, we demonstrated the defensive role of apoptosis in animal virus infection

Androgen’s effects in female

The metabolic effects of androgens and their underlying mechanisms in females have been revealed by recent studies. An excess of androgens can have adverse effects on feeding behavior and metabolic functions and induce metabolic disorders / diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes, in women and experimental animals of reproductive age. Interestingly, these effects of androgens are not observed in ovariectomized animals, indicating that their effects might be dependent on the estrogen milieu. Central and peripheral mechanisms, such as alterations in the activity of hypothalamic factors, reductions in energy expenditure, skeletal muscle insulin resistance, and β-cell dysfunction, might be related to these androgens’ effects

Molecular Species Disturbing the Fluid–Solid Phase Transition of Nitrogen Adsorbed on Graphite: Importance of Aromaticity

The fluid–solid (FS) phase transition of N 2 adsorbed on graphite is known to be depressed abnormally by conjugated coplanar molecules such as benzene and copper phthalocyanine. This paper describes an investigation of the influence of a non-aromatic conjugated species (1,3-butadiene), a non-aromatic cation acceptor (18-crown-6), a strong electron donor (tetrathiafulvalene) and a strong electron acceptor (tetracyanoquinodimethane) on the FS phase transition of N 2 , when they were preplated on graphite. These species were, in fact, found to have no significant effect. This implies that molecular properties such as cation acceptance and electron transfer are of no importance, whereas the aromaticity of co-existing species plays a crucial role in disturbing the phase behaviour of N 2