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Background: The main aim of this survey was to analyze how liver surgeons perform liver resections and to define their conception of anatomic procedures within the incorporation of minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS). Methods: The survey was distributed among liver surgeons. It mainly focused on personal experience on open and MILS, methods and landmarks, and experience on anatomic resections and Glissonean approach. Results: A total of 445 valid answers from 54 countries was obtained. Surgeons performing MILS mainly have below 10 years of experience (81.8% of responders) and one third has never done complex MILS. New techniques, including indocyanine green demarcation are marginally used (<25%). More than 60% of surgeons do not make a full exposure of hepatic veins during MILS, mainly due to the risk of injury or not considering it to be of utility. Although 88% of responders agreed with the concept of anatomic resection as the "resection along the border/watersheds of each order division identified by the portal vein flow", only 55% of surgeons have ever performed MILS Glissonean approaches. Conclusions: Liver anatomy is not a static concept. Anatomic resections need training and precision. Standardization of complex anatomic resections by a minimally invasive approach should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Glissonean approach has been widely validated for both open and minimally invasive anatomic liver resection (MIALR). However, the possible advantages compared to the conventional hilar approach are still under debate. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the application of the Glissonean approach in MIALR. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted on PubMed and Ichushi databases. Articles written in English or Japanese were included. From 2,390 English manuscripts evaluated by title and abstract, 43 were included. Additionally, 23 out of 463 Japanese manuscripts were selected. Duplicates were removed, including the most recent manuscript. Results: The Glissonean approach is reported for both major and minor MIALR. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd order divisions of both right and left portal pedicles can be reached following defined anatomical landmarks. Compared to the conventional hilar approach, the Glissonean approach is associated with shorter operative time, lower blood loss, and better peri‐operative outcomes. Conclusions: Glissonean approach is safe and feasible for MIALR with several reported advantages compared to the conventional hilar approach. Clear knowledge of Laennec's capsule anatomy is necessary and serves as a guide for the dissection. However, the best surgical approach to be performed depends on surgeon experience and patients' characteristics. Standardization of the Glissonean approach for MIALR is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In preparation for the upcoming consensus meeting in Tokyo in 2021, this systematic review aimed to analyze the current available evidence regarding surgical anatomy of the liver, focusing on useful landmarks, strategies and technical tools to perform precise anatomic liver resection (ALR). Methods: A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE/PubMed for English articles and on Ichushi database for Japanese articles until September 2020. The quality assessment of the articles was performed in accordance with the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). Results: A total of 3169 manuscripts were obtained, 1993 in English and 1176 in Japanese literature. Subsequently, 63 English and 20 Japanese articles were selected and reviewed. The quality assessment of comparative series and case series was revealed to be usually low; only six articles were qualified as high quality. Forty‐two articles focused on analyzing intersegmental/sectional planes and their relationship with specific hepatic landmark veins. In 12 articles, the authors aimed to investigate liver surface anatomic structures, while 36 articles aimed to study technological tools and contrast agents for surgical segmentation during ALR. Although Couinaud's classification has remained the cornerstone in daily diagnostic/surgical practices, it does not always portray the realistic liver segmentation and there has been no standardization on which a single strategy should be followed to perform precise ALR. Conclusions: A global consensus should be pursued in order to establish clear guidelines and proper recommendations to perform ALR in the era of minimally invasive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Brisbane 2000 Terminology for Liver Anatomy and Resections, based on Couinaud's segments, did not address how to identify segmental borders and anatomic territories of less than one segment. Smaller anatomic resections including segmentectomies and subsegmentectomies, have not been well defined. The advent of minimally invasive liver resection has enhanced the possibilities of more precise resection due to a magnified view and reduced bleeding, and minimally invasive anatomic liver resection (MIALR) is becoming popular gradually. Therefore, there is a need for updating the Brisbane 2000 system, including anatomic segmentectomy or less. An online "Expert Consensus Meeting: Precision Anatomy for Minimally Invasive HBP Surgery (PAM‐HBP Surgery Consensus)" was hosted on February 23, 2021. Methods: The Steering Committee invited 34 international experts from around the world. The Expert Committee (EC) selected 12 questions and two future research topics in the terminology session. The EC created seven tentative definitions and five recommendations based on the experts' opinions and the literature review performed by the Research Committee. Two Delphi Rounds finalized those definitions and recommendations. Results: This paper presents seven definitions and five recommendations regarding anatomic segmentectomy or less. In addition, two future research topics are discussed. Conclusions: The PAM‐HBP Surgery Consensus has presented the Tokyo 2020 Terminology for Liver Anatomy and Resections. The terminology has added definitions of liver anatomy and resections that were not defined in the Brisbane 2000 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of minimally invasive anatomic liver resection (MIALR) is gaining popularity. However, specific technical skills need to be acquired to safely perform MIALR. The "Expert Consensus Meeting: Precision Anatomy for Minimally Invasive HBP Surgery (PAM‐HBP Surgery Consensus)" was developed as a special program during the 32nd meeting of the Japanese Society of Hepato‐Biliary‐Pancreatic Surgery (JSHBPS). Methods: Thirty‐four international experts gathered online for the consensus. A Research Committee performed a comprehensive literature review, classifying studies according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network method. Based on the literature review and experts' opinions, tentative recommendations were drafted and circulated among experts using online Delphi Rounds. Finally, formulated recommendations were presented online in the Expert Consensus Meeting of the JSHBPS on February 23rd, 2021. The final recommendations were validated and finalized by the 2nd Delphi Round in May 2021. Results: Seven clinical questions were selected, and 22 recommendations were formulated. All recommendations reached more than 85% consensus among experts at the final Delphi Round. Conclusions: The Expert Consensus Meeting for safely performing MIALR has presented a set of clinical guidelines based on available literature and experts' opinions. We expect these guidelines to have a favorable effect on the safe implementation and development of MIALR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the number of minimally invasive liver resections (MILRs) has been steadily increasing in many institutions, minimally invasive anatomic liver resection (MIALR) remains a complicated procedure that has not been standardized. We present the results of a survey among expert liver surgeons as a benchmark for standardizing MIALR. Method: We administered this survey to 34 expert liver surgeons who routinely perform MIALR. The survey contained questions on personal experience with liver resection, inflow/outflow control methods, and identification techniques of intersegmental/sectional planes (IPs). Results: All 34 participants completed the survey; 24 experts (70%) had more than 11 years of experience with MILR, and over 80% of experts had performed over 100 open resections and MILRs each. Regarding the methods used for laparoscopic or robotic anatomic resection, the Glissonean approach (GA) was a more frequent procedure than the hilar approach (HA). Although hepatic veins were considered essential landmarks, the exposure methods varied. The top three techniques that the experts recommended for identifying IPs were creating a demarcation line, indocyanine green negative staining method, and intraoperative ultrasound. Conclusion: Minimally invasive anatomic liver resection remains a challenging procedure; however, a certain degree of consensus exists among expert liver surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum autoantibodies have been reported to react with tumor‐associated antigen (TAA) in various cancers. This multicenter study evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of six autoantibodies against a panel of six hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)‐associated antigens, including Sui1, p62, RalA, p53, NY‐ESO‐1 and c‐myc. A total of 160 patients with HCC and 74 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled from six institutions. Serum antibody titers were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The sensitivities were 19% for Sui1, 18% for p62, 17% for RalA, 11% for p53, 10% for NY‐ESO‐1 and 9% for c‐myc. Overall sensitivity of the TAA panel (56%) was higher than that of α‐fetoprotein (41%, P <.05). The combined sensitivity of the TAA panel and α‐fetoprotein was significantly higher than that of α‐fetoprotein alone (P <.001). The difference in overall survival of TAA panel‐positive and panel‐negative patients was significant when the Stage I/II patients were combined (P =.023). Overall survival was worse in NY‐ESO‐1 antibody‐positive than in NY‐ESO‐1 antibody‐negative patients (P =.002). Multivariate analysis found that positivity for the TAA panel was independently associated with poor prognosis (P =.030). This TAA panel may have diagnostic and prognostic value in the patients with HCC. What's new? Serum autoantibodies that react with tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs) in the early stages of tumorigenesis are promising biomarkers for cancer detection. Several such autoantibodies have been identified specifically in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), though their prognostic value remains inconclusive. Here, the authors evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic impact in HCC patients of autoantibodies against six TAAs, including Sui1, p62, RalA, p53, NY‐ESO‐1, and c‐myc. The data indicate that autoantibodies against the TAA panel had an additive effect on α‐fetoprotein (AFP), a biomarker currently used in HCC detection. Moreover, positivity for serum autoantibodies was independently prognostic for unfavorable overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a grossly visible papillary biliary neoplasm with morphological variations and occasional invasion. Recently a new classification of IPNB into type 1 and type 2 was proposed in which the type 1 IPNBs consist of fine papillary neoplastic glands and the type 2 IPNBs consist of complex branching glands, seldom with foci of solid‐tubular components. However, clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of these types of IPNBs are yet to be identified. We aimed to uncover clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of the types of IPNBs. Thirty‐six IPNBs were studied retrospectively. Clinicopathological features as well as molecular alterations of 31 genes were evaluated by means of targeted next‐generation sequencing and immunohistochemical examination of expression of mucin and cancer‐associated molecules. The 36 IPNBs were classified into 22 of type 1 and 14 of type 2. The type 1 IPNBs were associated with a non‐invasive phenotype, intestinal and oncocytic subtypes, development in the intrahepatic bile duct, overt mucin production, and a relatively good prognosis. The type 2 IPNBs were associated with an invasive phenotype, the pancreatobiliary subtype, development within the extrahepatic bile duct, and worse prognosis compared with the type 1 IPNBs. In the molecular analysis, recurrent mutations were found in TP53 (34.3%), KRAS (31.4%), STK11 (25.7%), CTNNB1 (17.1%), APC (14.3%), SMAD4 (14.3%), GNAS (11.4%), PBRM1 (11.4%), ELF3 (8.6%), KMT2C (8.6%), NF1 (8.6%), PIK3CA (8.6%), ARID1A (5.7%), ARID2 (5.7%), BAP1 (5.7%), BRAF (5.7%), EPHA6 (5.7%), ERBB2 (5.7%), ERBB3 (5.7%), KMT2D (5.7%), and RNF43 (5.7%). Mutations in KRAS and GNAS were enriched in the type 1 IPNBs, whereas mutations in TP53, SMAD4, and KMT2C were enriched in the type 2 IPNBs. These results indicate that IPNBs consist of two distinct types of neoplasms specifically associated with clinicopathological features and molecular phenotypes. © 2020 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a wearable system using oxide semiconductor (OS) transistors, which enables reduced static power of a dynamic logic device utilizing OS transistors and resulting longer continuous use of a wearable device. We fabricated a wearable‐watch‐oriented device. The results indicated that the static power could be reduced by 51%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous multiple malignant colorectal lesions are rare, and there have been very few studies about one-stage laparoscopic operations in these cases. Here, we evaluated the short-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted colectomy (LAC) for synchronous double colorectal cancers. Seven patients underwent one-stage LAC that required two resections and anastomoses in our hospital from 2010 to 2014. We retrospectively examined each patient's background and subsequent surgical outcomes. The median age of patients was 78 years, and the median BMI was 19.8 kg/m2. The median operative time was 190 min, and blood loss was minimal. All resected specimens were extracted through a transumbilical incision. A radical operation was performed safely without procedural accidents or postoperative complications in all cases. The median postoperative hospital stay was 12.5 days. One-stage LAC is considered a safe and viable procedure for resecting synchronous double colorectal cancers. It involves minimal invasiveness and is similar to standard LAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A display controller used in an oxide-semiconductor (OS) display was fabricated based on OS technology. Setting parameters were stored in non-volatile registers comprising OS FETs; thus, power shutdown and restart of the power supply along with 'idling stop' driving are possible. The power consumption was reduced by 75%. Optimal setting parameters can also be obtained with AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oxide semiconductor (OS) display system built with normally-off devices, nonvolatile OS LSI and an OS display, is proposed. The power consumption of the system is reduced by the nonvolatile OS LSI performing power gating without vanishing setting data when the OS display is in an idling stop (IDS) mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction To identify a colorectal cancer tumor site for surgery, preoperative endoscopic marking methods, such as India ink tattooing or clipping, are generally performed. However, India ink tattooing causes problems such as impaired surgical view because of adverse events, ink leakage into the peritoneal cavity, and peritonitis or adhesion ileus as a result of leakage. The clipping method requires checking by palpation, which is unsuitable for laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Surgical Techniques We devised a preoperative marking method for colorectal cancer surgery (laparotomy) by applying the fluorescent dye indocyanine green. Herein, we report its usefulness. Discussion We report the application of fluorescent dye indocyanine green in laparoscopic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among young residents, there seems to be a decreasing desire to become surgeons, resulting in a decrease in the number of surgeons. There is concern regarding a shortage of hepatobiliary pancreatic (HBP) surgery residents in Japan. A questionnaire survey was designed to assess the work motivations of Japanese gastrointestinal (GI) and HBP surgeons. Methods: Questionnaires assessing seven domains related to motivation (aptitude, satisfaction/dissatisfaction, knowledge/skill, evaluation/approval, self‐management, community/expectation from other parties, and emotion) were sent to GI and HBP surgeons throughout Japan. Differences between HBP and GI surgeons were analyzed. Results: Responses were received from 27 institutions in Japan between May and August 2014. Mid‐career and senior HBP surgeons (11–20 years after graduation) working in university hospitals were significantly less satisfied with their work than GI surgeons (P = 0.036). Evaluation/approval factors were significantly lower in senior HBP surgeons than in GI surgeons 16–20 years after graduation (P = 0.048). Conclusions: The future satisfaction of young residents seeking to become HBP surgeons should be enhanced, providing an appealing workplace for young residents and preventing discontinuation by mid‐career and senior surgeons. Highlight Kaibori and colleagues revealed that hepatobiliary pancreatic surgeons have less work motivation than gastrointestinal surgeons, especially in the domains “satisfaction/dissatisfaction” and “evaluation/approval”. The future work motivation of young residents seeking to become hepatobiliary pancreatic surgeons should be enhanced, providing an appealing workplace and preventing discontinuation by mid‐career and senior surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraportal islet transplantation has a long history as a procedure for clinical islet transplantation. However, many recent studies revealed that the intraportal procedure has some disadvantages in transplant efficiency and safety. Many candidates as an optimal transplant site for islets have been assessed, but further studies and clinical trials are still necessary. Intramuscular and subcutaneous spaces are important candidates, because the transplant and biopsy procedures are simple approaches with minimal invasion and few complications. Although they are sites with hypovascularity and hypoxia, which contribute to the poor transplant efficiency, many experimental trials for improving the outcome in intramuscular and subcutaneous islet transplantations have been performed, focusing on early angiogenesis and scaffolds for engrafting transplanted islets. We review current progress in intramuscular and subcutaneous islet transplantations and discuss ways to develop them as optimal transplant sites for islets. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese government is planning to send a rover to investigate the moon's surface in the near future, and it has been carrying out a considerable amount of research and making significant developments to make this possible. Toward that end, we have been developing and proposing expandable three-wheeled rovers. This paper proposes a new concept for a three-wheeled rover, namely the Tri-Star IV, and its mechanical design is described herein. Tri-Star IV has two arms that can rotate around horizontal shoulder axes and connect the rover's main body, and two rear wheels with off-centered crank-type axles that can expand from a storage posture. The two arms can be adjusted to adapt to traversing over sloped terrain, including recovery from rollover. The new wheels for traveling on the moon's surface, which is covered with regolith, are composed of a spring spoke and canvas cloth. In this project, two types of Tri-Star IV were developed and field-tested. The first was designed for mobility over rough sloped terrain. The other rover had a new front wheel installed that was designed for tethered descent/climbing over steep slopes. This paper reports on the mobilities of Tri-Star IV, which were verified in experiments conducted on real sand and a test bed and in a field test at the Nakatajima sand dune in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution function of relaxation time of distant-pair (DP), or nongeminate recombination is derived in an analytic form from the existing theories of DP recombination to analyse the data of quadrature frequency resolved spectroscopy (QFRS) of photoluminescence (PL) in a-Si:H with the competing recombination model. The distribution function has a single parameter of metastable carrier density n and yields too narrow QFRS spectrum to fit the experimental data. This is improved with introducing the fluctuation Δ of the electron localisation radius ae. The devised formula is demonstrated to predict the dependence of the DP recombination on the photogeneration rate and the defect density in the QFRS data of the high-quality and defective a-Si:H. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laparoscopic liver resection has recently gained wide acceptance for various liver tumors, thanks to advances in surgical techniques and devices. However, if the tumor is located in the subdiaphragmatic area of segments 7 and 8, resection is difficult. We demonstrate herein a novel technique for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery hepatectomy (VATS-H) for liver tumors located in the subdiaphragmatic area. Methods: Five patients underwent VATS-H for a liver neoplasm. One port or two ports and two laparoscopic protectors were placed on the chest surrounding the tumor. Using intraoperative thoracoscopic ultrasonography (IOTU), the portion of the diaphragm located just above the tumor was cut and opened using laparoscopic coagulating shears. IOTU was performed on the liver surface, and the tumor margin was marked by electrocautery. For liver resection, microwave tissue coagulation or radiofrequency ablation was used for coagulation before liver transection and for coagulation of liver parenchyma during the transection. Results: The mean operating time was 137 min (range 95-185 min), and the mean operative blood loss was 43 g (range 0-200 g). No postoperative complications were encountered. Conclusions: VATS-H appears useful for resecting liver tumors located in the subdiaphragmatic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preoperative imaging is widely used and extremely helpful in hepatobiliary surgery. However, transfer of preoperative data to a intraoperative situation is very difficult. Surgeons need intraoperative anatomical information using imaging data for safe and precise operation in the field of hepatobiliary surgery. We have developed a new system for mapping liver segments and cholangiograms using intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence under infrared light observation. Method: The imaging technique for mapping liver segments and cholangiogram based on ICG fluorescence used an infrared-based navigation system. Eighty one patients with liver tumors underwent hepatectomy from 2006, January to 2009, March. In liver surgery, 1 ml of ICG was injected via the portal vein under observation by the fluorescent imaging system. Fourteen patients were underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis with gallstones. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 5 ml of ICG was administered intravenously just before operation and the bile duct was observed using the infrared-based navigation system. Result: This new technique successfully identified stained subsegments and segments of the liver in 73 of 81 patients (90.1%). Moreover, clear mapping of liver segments was obtained even against a background of liver cirrhosis. Fluorescent cholangiography clearly showed the common bile duct and cystic duct in 10 of 14 patients (71.4%). No adverse reactions to the ICG were encountered. Conclusion: Application of this technique allows intraoperative identification of anatomical landmark in hepatobiliary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In malignant hepatic neoplasm, anatomic resection could improve survival and limit complications from hepatectomy. Our purpose was to develop an intraoperative method for identifying segment and subsegment of the liver with high-sensitivity near-infrared fluorescence imaging. The subjects were 35 patients with hepatic malignant liver disease who received hepatectomy in 2006. The segments of liver method of identification that used infrared observation camera system termed Photo Dynamic Eye-2 (PDE-2) with indocianine green (ICG) for the patient with malignant liver tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma: 13 cases; metastatic liver cancer: 18 cases; intrahepatic cholangio carcinoma: 4 cases) were performed before liver resection. Although greenish stain of the liver surface after the injection of ICG via portal vein is not visible clearly without infrared observation camera system PDE-2, 1 minute after injection of ICG with fluorescent using infrared observation camera system PDE-2, demarcation of liver segment and subsegment was clearly detected. Ten minutes after injection of ICG with fluorescent using infrared observation camera system PDE-2, fluorescence of liver subsegment remained. Stained subsegment and segment of liver were identifiable in 33 (94.3%) of the 35 patients. There were no complications or side-effects related to the injection of patent blue dye. We demonstrated here that near-infrared fluorescence imaging system is a novel and reliable intraoperative technique to identify hepatic segment and subsegment for anatomical hepatic resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hepatocyte transplantation is a potential alternative to whole organ liver transplantation. To realize this procedure, a hepatocyte bank system capable of supplying large numbers of hepatocytes must be established. We previously reported an easy method for cryopreserving hepatocytes using a microencapsulation technique. Here, we investigated how cryoinjury to microencapsulated hepatocytes could be avoided during cryopreservation. Methods: Hepatocytes from Sprague–Dawley rats were harvested in situ using a two-step ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)/collagenase digestion protocol. The cells were microencapsulated using alginate-poly L-lysine. The microencapsulated hepatocytes were put into vials and immediately immersed in liquid nitrogen. The growth of ice crystals in the vials containing the microencapsulated hepatocytes was observed using cryomicroscopy. The microencapsulated hepatocytes were sectioned for ultrastructural examination to investigate their intracellular conditions. Finally, total RNA was isolated from the cryopreserved microencapsulated hepatocytes and analyzed for hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) analysis. Results: Cryomicroscopy showed that the alginate microencapsulation technique protected the hepatocytes from physical damage caused by the growth of extracellular ice crystals. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the intracellular environment of the microencapsulated hepatocytes was maintained. The RT–PCR analysis additionally suggested that the alginate gel also maintained the HNF level. Conclusion: Our microencapsulation technique protects hepatocytes from cryoinjury. This novel technique could be utilized by hepatocyte banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 3-year-old Japanese boy who had been born by normal vaginal delivery after an uncomplicated pregnancy. In this context, the authors describe a sporadic case of congenital isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD) with psychomotor retardation. IAD is a rare pituitary disease in childhood and is considered to be a differential diagnosis in cases of ketotic hypoglycemia.

It is well known that prolonged exposure to morphine results in tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception. In the present study, we found that either intrathecal (i.t.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of the selective metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) antagonist, methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine hydrochloride (MPEP), attenuated the development of tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception. Using the receptor binding assay, we found here that the number of mGluR5 in the mouse spinal cord was significantly increased by repeated treatment with morphine. Furthermore, repeated treatment with morphine produced a significant increase in the level of mGluR5 immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Double-labeling experiments showed that the increased mGluR5 was predominantly expressed in the neurons and sparsely expressed in the processes of astrocytes following repeated treatment with morphine. Consistent with these results, the response of Ca2+ to the selective group I mGluR agonist, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), in cultured spinal cord neurons was potently enhanced by 3 days of in vitro treatment with morphine. These findings support the idea that the increased mGluR5 following repeated treatment with morphine leads to enhanced neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and, in turn, suppresses the morphine-induced antinociception in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of the metabotropic glutamate 5 (mGlu5) receptor subtype in the development of rewarding effect induced by a prototypicalµ-opioid receptor agonist morphine in the mouse. In the conditioned place preference paradigm, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of a selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist, 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), attenuated the morphine-induced rewarding effects. Using immunoblot analysis, we confirmed that the increased level of protein kinase Cγ (PKCγ) isoform was observed in the limbic forebrain of ICR mice conditioned with morphine. Here we found for the first time that the treatment with MPEP significantly inhibited the up-regulation of PKCγ isoform in the limbic forebrain of mice showing the significant place preference. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the protein level of mGlu5 was significantly increased in membrane preparations of the limbic forebrain obtained from morphine-conditioned mice compared to those from saline-conditioned mice. As well as the result from the immunoblot analysis, we demonstrated using the receptor binding assay that the number of mGlu5 receptors in the mouse limbic forebrain was significantly increased by morphine conditioning. The present data provide direct evidence that the activation of mGlu5 receptor linked to the increased PKCγ isoform in the mouse limbic forebrain is implicated in the development of rewarding effect of morphine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To find applicability of tin/tin contacts to connectors used in communication systems requiring high reliability electrical connection, damp heat cycle tests have been carried out and the accelerated degradation characteristics of the tin/tin contact have been compared with those of the gold/gold and gold/tin contacts. The results are as follows. (1) The contact resistance of the tin/tin contact is close to that of the gold/gold contact and it was found to be a tellable contact in high reliability connectors for the first 20 insertions. (2) In the tin/tin contact, the worn-off area is smaller and the apparent contact area is larger than in the gold/tin contact. These factors contribute to the stability of the contact resistance and are basis for contact resistance in the tin/tin contact is more stable than in the gold/tin contact. From these results it is found that the tin/tin contact can be used in high reliability connectors within the range of a few insertions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]