Background Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrogenesis and inflammation. Ethanol, a major cause of chronic pancreatitis, directly ...induces PSC activation and oxidative stress. Inhibition of PSC activation or stimulation to PSC might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the prevention of pancreatic fibrosis, and (–)‐epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea extracts, is a potent antioxidant of polyphenols. Therefore, we examined the mechanisms through which ethanol induces oxidative stress on PSCs and evaluated the effect of EGCG on activation and cell functions of ethanol‐stimulated PSCs.
Materials and methods The PSCs were isolated from the pancreas of male Wister rats with Nycodenz gradient methods and cells between passages one and four were used. Isolated PSCs were cultured with ethanol (50 mM) in the absence or presence of EGCG (5 µM or 25 µM).
Results The EGCG pre‐treatment abolished ethanol‐induced lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane, loss of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and suppressed ethanol‐induced gene expressions of Mn‐ and Cu/Zn‐SOD. EGCG also suppressed ethanol‐induced p38 mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, α‐smooth muscle actin production in PSCs and activated transforming growth factor‐β1 secretion into the medium. Furthermore, EGCG inhibited ethanol‐induced type‐I procollagen production and collagen secretion. In addition, EGCG inhibited transformation of freshly isolated cells to activated myofibroblast‐like phenotype.
Conclusions Our results suggest that green tea and polyphenols could prevent pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting PSC activation through the antioxidative effect.
The technique of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) needs special skills and involves a long procedure. We therefore developed a new type of dissection knife, the irrigation cap-knife (the Kume ...cap-knife attachment, which uses a fixed snare), that facilitates ESD by just sliding over the muscle layer with a coagulating current. The ESD procedure using the irrigation cap-knife was performed in seven patients with intramucosal gastric cancer. The tumor was separated from the surrounding normal mucosa using the insulated-tip knife. Submucosal dissection was then performed by pushing our device along the muscle layer while applying a coagulating current, at the same time as a grasping forceps, deployed through the accessory channel, was used to push the lesion away from the muscle layer. The rate of en bloc resection was 100% (7/7). The irrigating cap-knife was extremely useful for ESD of large intramucosal cancers in the stomach.
In order to evaluate three peak detection algorithms, the influences of parameter values used were examined using digitized synthetic XPS spectra with different levels of noise. The three peak ...detection algorithms are the Threshold Curve of the Second Derivative (2nd DER method), the Directly Calculating Peak and Background Relations at a Candidate Peak (PB method), and the Rough Estimation of Spectrum Background (BGD method). The peak detection results clearly showed that particular combination of parameter values produce the best performance for each algorithm. The validity of those parameter values was assessed by comparing the results from the peak detection algorithms with those of visual detection. On the whole, the BGD method was found to be the most practical. The importance of choosing effective parameter values and the advantages and disadvantages of these three peak detection methods were summarized.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) views the lunar lander SELENE-2 as the successor to the SELENE mission. In this presentation, the mission objectives of SELENE-2 are shown together with ...the present design status of the spacecraft. JAXA launched the Kaguya (SELENE) lunar orbiter in September 2007, and the spacecraft observed the Moon and a couple of small satellites using 15 instruments. As the next step in lunar exploration, the lunar lander SELENE-2 is being considered. SELENE-2 will land on the lunar surface and perform in-situ scientific observations, environmental investigations, and research for future lunar utilization including human activity. At the same time, it will demonstrate key technologies for lunar and planetary exploration such as precise and safe landing, surface mobility, and overnight survival. The lander will carry laser altimeters, image sensors, and landing radars for precise and safe landing. Landing legs and a precisely controlled propulsion system will also be developed. A rover is being designed to be able to travel over a wide area and observe featured terrain using scientific instruments. Since some of the instruments require long-term observation on the lunar surface, technology for night survival over more than 2 weeks needs to be considered. The SELENE-2 technologies are expected to be one of the stepping stones towards future Japanese human activities on the moon and to expand the possibilities for deep space science.
•Introduction of the Japanese previous moon mission (Kaguya/SELENE).•Mission objectives of SELENE-2 which is the next Japanese moon landing mission.•System configuration and observation instrument of SELENE-2.•Technologies which we accomplish for the SELENE-2 mission.•Future roadmap for Japanese space exploration.
Endoscopic mucosal resection using a cap (EMR-C) is an established method for curative resection of early neoplastic lesions; prelooping of the snare may however be difficult and lead to imprecise ...resection. We therefore compared two modifications of the conventional technique using outer snare placement with an accessory channel in a prospective, nonrandomized study.
Between October 2004 and March 2007, 54 patients (men 37, women 17; mean age 71 years) underwent EMR. One method involved an internally retained snare (IRS) cap, with a fixed prelooped snare inside the cap; the other method used an externally guided snare (EGS) cap with the snare guided over an oblique cap. The main outcome parameters were specimen size, en bloc resection, and complications.
There was no difference between use of the IRS and EGS cap methods in relation to specimen size (27.6 vs. 27.1 mm), or rates of en bloc resection (88.9 % vs. 83.3 %); only one perforation occurred, and this was in the EGS group.
Both techniques appeared to provide similar efficacy, the inner rim of the IRS cap stabilizes aspiration of the lesion compared with the EGS cap that does not have it.
Bioglass 45S5 is a bioactive glass that can create a layer of calcium-phosphate crystals on mineralized hard tissues. In this study, 45S5 bioglass was mixed with phosphoric acid and irradiated with ...CO
2
laser and examined as a possible aid in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. The dentinal surface modified by the aforementioned technique was chemically and micro-morphologically examined with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscope (EDS), and the crystalline structures of the examined dentinal surfaces were examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the mechanical properties of the newly formed layer were examined by nanoindentation. The results showed that 45S5 bioglass could occlude the dentinal tubule orifices with calcium-phosphate crystals. The application of CO
2
laser potentially improved the mechanical organization of these crystals.
The basic principles of the initial management of acute pancreatitis are adequate monitoring of vital signs, fluid replacement, correction of any electrolyte imbalance, nutritional support, and the ...prevention of local and systemic complications. Patients with severe acute pancreatitis should be transferred to a medical facility where adequate monitoring and intensive medical care are available. Strict cardiovascular and respiratory monitoring is mandatory for maintaining the cardiopulmonary system in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Maximum fluid replacement is needed to stabilize the cardiovascular system. Prophylactic antibiotic administration is recommended to prevent infectious complications in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. Although the efficacy of the intravenous administration of protease inhibitors is still a matter of controversy, there is a consensus in Japan that a large dose of a synthetic protease inhibitor should be given to patients with severe acute pancreatitis in order to prevent organ failure and other complications. Enteral feeding is superior to parenteral nutrition when it comes to the nutritional support of patients with severe acute pancreatitis. The JPN Guidelines recommend, as optional measures, blood purification therapy and continuous regional arterial infusion of a protease inhibitor and antibiotics, depending on the patient's condition.
Estrogens reduce adipose tissue mass in both humans and animals. The molecular mechanisms for this effect are, however, not well characterized. We took a gene expression profiling approach to study ...the direct effects of estrogen on mouse white adipose tissue (WAT). Female ovariectomized mice were treated for 10, 24 and 48 h with 17beta-estradiol or vehicle. RNA was extracted from gonadal fat and hybridized to Affymetrix MG-U74Av2 arrays. 17beta-Estradiol was shown to decrease mRNA expression of liver X receptor (LXR) alpha after 10 h of treatment compared with the vehicle control. The expression of several LXRalpha target genes, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, apolipoprotein E, phospholipid transfer protein, ATP-binding cassette A1 and ATP-binding cassette G1, was similarly decreased. We furthermore identified a 1.5 kb LXRalpha promoter fragment that is negatively regulated by estrogen. Several genes involved in lipogenesis and lipolysis were identified as novel targets that could mediate estrogenic effects on adipose tissue. Finally, we show that ERalpha is the main estrogen receptor expressed in mouse white adipose tissue (WAT) with mRNA levels several hundred times higher than those of ERbeta mRNA.
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