Oren-to extract alone was administered to 28 patients who had pain in the tongue but without organic lesions, and who had either a “hypofunctioning constitution” or a “normal functioning constitution”. The patients were predominantly women in their 50's. Treatment was continued for at least two months. The results were excellent in nine, good in 15, and unchanged in four. No side-effects attributable to Oren-to were observed. When the effect was compared in patients with and without dryness of the mouth, no significant difference was found. Thus it was shown that Oren-to was effective in the treatment of pain in the tongue in patients with either 'hypofunctioning constitution“ or ”normal functioning constitution“, regardless of whether they ”had dryness of the mouth or not. It seems that this preparation is also effective for the treatment of pain in the tongue in patients with psychosomatic disease who have a “hypofunctioning constitution” or “normal functioning constitution”. We discuss our study focusing on this condition.

A study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of bone atrophy in various strains of inbred mice under the influence of tail-up suspension. Nine inbred strains of mice (NZB/N, NZW/N, AKR/N, Balb/C, C 57 BL, C 3 H/He, A/J, DBA, CBA/N) aged six weeks were used. Each strain was divided randomly into two groups, a suspension group (SG; n=5) and a control group (CG; n=5) . The suspension group were etherized and suspended with an elastic bandage. After one week, the tibiae were removed and their bone weights were measured using an electric balance (Metler; AE 240) . Their length was also measured with a vernier caliper. In all strains, body weight in the SG was significantly lower than that in the CG. From the bone weight and length in the CG, bone growth in the NZB/N, AKR/N, NZW/N and C3H/He strains was considered to be higher than in the other strains. On the other hand bone growth in the DBA, A/J, Balb/C, and CBA/N strains were lower than in the others. The absolute value of bone weight in the SG was significantly smaller than that in the CG in six strains (NZB/N, C 57 BL, A/J, NZW/N, C 3 H/He, Balb/C) . However in the DBA strain, the absolute value of bone weight in the SG was significantly higher than that in the CG.
From the results of this investigation we suggest that the mechanism of normal bone growth is not the same as the mechanism of bone atrophy induced by tail-up suspension.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated distinctive types of physical predisposition in patients with common side effects.
Method: We selected 500 and 1,200 individuals with and without a previous diagnosis of side effects, respectively, through web-based research.  Then, we conducted a decision tree analysis for investigating the status of 100 types of physical predisposition in these individuals.
Results and Conclusion: The individuals who had suffered from hepatic disorder and answered “relevant” for “predisposition to swelling” (likelihood ratio of a positive result [LR+] 2.17; p=0.004) and “very relevant” for “predisposition to skin dryness” (LR+ 3.52; p<0.001) enhanced the probability of extracting individuals who developed side effects.  The individuals who had suffered from skin disorder and answered “relevant” for “predisposition to eczema and inflammation” and “not relevant” for “predisposition to higher temperature” had an LR+ of 2.22 (p<0.001).  The individuals with “predisposition to worsening of physical condition on a rainy or high-humidity day” are more likely to develop side effects with the use of antibiotics and NSAIDs, compared to those without this predisposition (antibiotics: LR+ 2.33; NSAIDs: LR+ 2.51).  The results of this study indicate that we can identify patients with a high risk of side effects through an interview on predisposition.

To investigate the efficacy of human superoxide dismutase (h-SOD) in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion with difference of administration of h-SOD, twenty four dogs were subjected to 120min ischemia by the cross clamping of the ascending aorta, and followed by 60min reperfusion, The dogs were randomly assigned to three groups: group G, h-SOD (8mg/kg) was injected into the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit 5min prior to reperfusion; group L, h-SOD (3mg/kg) was administered by bolus injection through the aortic root into the coronary artery 1min prior to reperfusion; group C, nothing was administered. The values of creatinine phosphate MB isozyme (CPK-MB) and a-hydroxydehydrogenase (HBD) in coronary effluent, and lipid peroxides (LPO) in coronary artery and sinus blood, were measured during CPB. Cardiac function was evaluated by cardiac index (C. I.) and LV max d_p/d_t, and it was expressed as a percent recovery of pre-CPB state. Myocardial water contents as myocardial edema were measured after CPB. Effluents of CPK-MB and HBD at 60min after reperfusion were less in group L than group G, C. Generations of LPO (A-Cs difference) were less at 5min after reperfusion in group G, L than group C and there were significant differences between group G, L and group C. The percent recovery of C. I. and LV max d_p/d_t at 60min after reperfusion was superior in group G, L than group C and there were significant difference between group G, L and group C. Myocardial water contents at 60min after reperfusion were less in group G, L than group C and there were significant difference between group G, L and group C. In the lipid peroxides generation, cardiac function and myocardial edema except effluents of cardiac enzymes, group G was as well as group L. These data suggest that the injection of h-SOD into the CPB circuit just before reperfusion is effective to prevent the reperfusion injury as well as the administration through the aortic root.

We investigated biochemical and morphological changes in electrically stimulated gastrocnemius muscle of rats fed normal (20% casein) and low-protein (5% casein) diets. Tissue weight and protein content per tissue weight of gastrocnemius muscle were significantly decreased in rats fed 5% casein diet than in rats fed 20% casein diet. Immunohistochemically, cathepsin B antigen was detected in inflammatory cells, and injured sites determined immunological intensity of anti-cathepsin B were lower in 5% casein diet group than 20% casein diet group. Electron microscopically, there was delayed repairment of muscle components (sarcometric units) in 5% casein diet as compared with that in 20% casein diet group.

Neuronal plasticity induced by changes in synaptic morphology and function is well known to play a pivotal role in leaning and memory as well as adaptation to stress. It is suggested that these plastic changes are due to orchestration of alterations in gene expression in the brain. Recent advances in molecular biology have provided evidence that epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, are crucial to gene transcription in the mammalian brain. Our research group has recently investigated the involvement of histone actylation at the promoter of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene in stress-induced reduction in BDNF, as well as in fear conditioning-induced enhancement of BDNF, in the rat hippocampus. The results of the stress study demonstrated that single-immobilization stress significantly reduced the levels of total, exon I, and exon IV BDNF mRNA, and also significantly reduced acetylation levels of histone H3, but not H4, at the promoter of exons I, IV, and VI. The results of the fear conditioning study showed that footshock stress significantly increased the levels of total, exon I, and exon IV BDNF mRNA, with significantly increased acetylation levels of both histone H3 and H4, at the promoter of exons I and IV, followed by enhanced freezing to fear-context exposure. These findings suggest that changes in BDNF transcription in the rat hippocampus in response to stressful stimuli are, at least in part, regulated by histone acetylation status.
Acetylation ; Animals ; Brain ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Exons ; Freezing ; Gene Expression ; Hippocampus ; Histones ; Memory ; Molecular Biology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Plastics ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger

1. 5-HT inhibits spontaneous fluid secretion as well as stimulated secretion with secretin (cAMP mediated) or ACh (Ca2+ mediated) in the isolated guinea pig pancreatic ducts. 2. The inhibitory effect of 5-HT is reversible and is dependent on the concentration in the range 0.01-0.1 microM, which is much lower than those that affect intestinal motility and secretion. 3. The 5-HT3 receptor in duct cells appears to mediate the inhibitory effect of 5-HT. 4. [Ca2+]i is unlikely to mediate the inhibitory effect of 5-HT.
5-Methoxytryptamine/pharmacology ; Acetylcholine/pharmacology ; Animal ; Calcium/metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Pancreatic Ducts/metabolism* ; Pancreatic Ducts/drug effects ; Secretin/pharmacology ; Serotonin/pharmacology ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Serotonin/analogs & derivatives* ; Vasodilator Agents/pharmacology

No abstract available.
Animal ; Bicarbonates/metabolism* ; Biological Transport/physiology ; Pancreatic Ducts/metabolism* ; Perfusion

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We applied a back light system (BLS) with a magnifying glass to improve the ability to assess the adequacy of specimen sampling using endosonography. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy of the BLS in sampling of specimens by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of solid pancreatic masses. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, crossover, single-center clinical trial. An endosonographer evaluated adequacy on gross visual inspection and identified whitish specimen sampling sites with and without the BLS according to a randomization sequence in the first and second passes with a 25-G needle. On cytological evaluation, the presence of well-defined pancreatic ductal epithelium was evaluated by a cytopathologist who was blinded to any clinical information. RESULTS: A total of 80 consecutive patients were eligible during the study period. Adequacy was observed for 52 specimens (65%) with the BLS and 54 (68%) without the BLS (p=0.88). In assessment of specimen adequacy on gross examination, only fair agreement was observed both with and without BLS (kappa score 0.40 and 0.29, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The BLS did not influence the ability to identify specimen sampling sites or reliable assessment of specimen site adequacy using gross visual inspection.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cross-Over Studies ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Endosonography ; Epithelium ; Glass ; Humans ; Needles ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prospective Studies ; Random Allocation

A 72-year-old woman underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for an aortic arch aneurysm at a previous hospital. During follow-up, although the aneurysm was found to have become bigger, no further treatments were given, except for conservative follow-up. The patient sought a second opinion and thus visited our hospital. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a type I endoleak that required repair. Total arch replacement with removal of the partial stent-graft system was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patient made a steady progress postoperatively and was discharged without any complications. Endovascular repair is minimally invasive and frequently used in various medical facilities but carries a considerably high risk of reintervention. Treatment strategies for aortic aneurysm, including open surgery, should be carefully chosen.