Alpha-tocopherol exerts protective function against the mucotoxicity of particulate matter in amphibian and human goblet cells

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) in ambient air is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders and mortality. The cytotoxicity of PM is mainly due to the abnormal increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage cellular components such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. The correlation between PM exposure and human disorders, including mortality, is based on long-term exposure. In this study we have investigated acute responses of mucus-secreting goblet cells upon exposure to PM derived from a heavy diesel engine. To this end, we employed the mucociliary epithelium of amphibian embryos and human Calu-3 cells to examine PM mucotoxicity. Our data suggest that acute exposure to PM significantly impairs mucus secretion and results in the accumulation of mucus vesicles in the cytoplasm of goblet cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed that acute responses to PM exposure significantly altered gene expression patterns; however, known regulators of mucus production and the secretory pathway were not significantly altered. Interestingly, pretreatment with alpha-tocopherol nearly recovered the hyposecretion of mucus from both amphibian and human goblet cells. We believe this study demonstrates the mucotoxicity of PM and the protective function of alpha-tocopherol on mucotoxicity caused by acute PM exposure from heavy diesel engines

The role of PET/CT for evaluating breast cancer

Positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) has been receiving increasing attention during the recent years for making the diagnosis, for determining the staging and for the follow-up of various malignancies. The PET/CT findings of 58 breast cancer patients (age range: 34-79 years old, mean age: 50 years) were retrospectively compared with the PET or CT scans alone. PET/CT was found to be better than PET or CT alone for detecting small tumors or multiple metastases, for accurately localizing lymph node metastasis and for monitoring the response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

First Demonstration of Ultra-Thin SiGe-Channel Junctionless Accumulation-Mode (JAM) Bulk FinFETs on Si Substrate with PN Junction-Isolation Scheme

A SiGe-channel junctionless-accumulation-mode (JAM) PMOS bulk FinFETs were successfully demonstrated on Si substrate with PN junction-isolation scheme for the first time. The JAM bulk FinFETs with fin width of 18 nm exhibits excellent subthreshold characteristics such as subthreshold swing of 64 mV/decade, drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) of 40 mV/V and high Ion/Ioff current ratio ( \u3e 1 x 105). The change of substrate bias from 0 to 5 V leads to the threshold voltage shift of 53 mV by modulating the effective channel thickness. When compared to the Si-channel bulk FinFETs with fin width of 18 nm, Si and SiGe channel devices exhibits comparable subthreshold swing and DIBL. For devices with longer fin width, SiGe channel devices exhibits much lower DIBL, indicating superior top-gate controllability and robustness to substrate bias compared to the Si channel devices. A zero temperature coefficient point was observed in the transfer curves as temperature increases from -120 to 120°C, confirming that mobility degradation is dominantly affected by phonon scattering mechanism

Infantile Myofibromatosis:A Case with Skull and Rib Involvement

A case of infantile myofibromatosis with skull and rib involvement was reported. The patient was an 8-month old female infant presented with an enlarging skull mass. On systemic evaluation, 2 skull masses and three rib lesions were detected. Diagnosis was made histopathologically with excised skull mass. The clinicopathological features of the case are described

Volumetric analysis and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min as predictors of post‐hepatectomy liver failure

AbstractObjectivesThe actual future liver remnant (aFLR) is calculated as the ratio of remnant liver volume (RLV) to total functional liver volume (TFLV). The standardized future liver remnant (sFLR) is calculated as the ratio of RLV to standard liver volume (SLV). The aims of this study were to compare the aFLR with the sFLR and to determine criteria for safe hepatectomy using computed tomography volumetry and indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICG R15).MethodsMedical records and volumetric measurements were obtained retrospectively for 81 patients who underwent right hemi‐hepatectomy for malignant hepatic tumours from January 2010 to November 2013. The sFLR was compared with the aFLR, and a ratio of sFLR to ICG R15 as a predictor of postoperative hepatic function was established.ResultsIn patients without cirrhosis, the sFLR showed a stronger correlation with the total serum bilirubin level than the aFLR (R2 = 0.499 versus R2 = 0.239). Post‐hepatectomy liver failure developed only in the group with an sFLR of <25%, regardless of ICG R15. In patients with cirrhosis, the aFLR and sFLR had no correlation with postoperative total serum bilirubin. An sFLR : ICG R15 ratio of >1.9 showed 66.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity.ConclusionsRegardless of ICG R15, an sFLR of ≥25% in patients without cirrhosis, and an sFLR of ≥25% with an sFLR : ICG R15 ratio of >1.9 in patients with cirrhosis indicate acceptable levels of safety in major hepatectomy

Splenic Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Gastric Variceal Bleeding Secondary to Splenic Vein Thrombosis Complicated by Necrotizing Pancreatitis: Report of a Case

Splenic vein thrombosis is a relatively common finding in pancreatitis. Gastric variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of splenic vein thrombosis, resulting from increased blood flow to short gastric vein. Traditionally, splenectomy is considered the treatment of choice. However, surgery in necrotizing pancreatitis is dangerous, because of severe inflammation, adhesion, and bleeding tendency. In the Warshaw operation, gastric variceal bleeding is rare, even though splenic vein is resected. Because the splenic artery is also resected, blood flow to short gastric vein is not increased problematically. Herein, we report a case of gastric variceal bleeding secondary to splenic vein thrombosis complicated by necrotizing pancreatitis successfully treated with splenic artery embolization. Splenic artery embolization could be the best treatment option for gastric variceal bleeding when splenectomy is difficult such as in case associated with severe acute pancreatitis or associated with severe adhesion or in patients with high operation risk

Hemophagocytic Syndrome in a Patient with Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Secondary to Hepatitis A Virus Infection

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is generally a self-limited disease, but the infection in adults can be serious, to be often complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) and rarely by virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). Our patient, a 48-yr-old man, was diagnosed with HAV infection complicated by dialysis-dependent AKI. His kidney biopsy showed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis with massive infiltration of activated macrophages and T cells, and he progressively demonstrated features of VAHS. With hemodialysis and steroid treatment, he was successfully recovered

Imaging Findings of Castleman's Disease Localized in the Axilla: A Case Report

Castleman's disease is a rare benign lymphoproliferative disorder of uncertain origin which most commonly involves the mediastinum but rarely affects the axilla. We report a case of localized Castleman's disease involving the axillary lymph node. Mammography revealed a well-defined, homogeneously dense ovoid mass, 3 cm in size, in the left axilla, while gray-scale ultrasonography (US) demonstrated a well-defined, uniformly hypoechoic ovoid mass with good through transmission. Peripheral hypervascularity was observed at power Dopper US, and early rapid homogeneous enhancement at contrast-enhanced dynamic CT