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We investigated whether the feeding of high H2-generating dietary fibre and resistant starch (RS) could suppress hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, which results from oxidative stress, in rats fed a pectin (Pec) or high-amylose maize starch (HAS) diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a control (C) diet, with or without Pec (0-5 % Pec) or HAS (0-30 % HAS) supplementation for 7 d. Portal H2 concentration showed a significant dose-dependent increase with the amount of Pec or HAS supplementation. Plasma alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities remarkably increased in the C rats (5 % cellulose) due to IR treatment, while it decreased significantly or showed tendencies to decrease in 5 % Pec and 20 % HAS diet-fed rats. The hepatic oxidised glutathione (GSSG):total glutathione ratio increased significantly in IR rats maintained on the C diet compared with sham-operated rats. On the other hand, reduced glutathione (GSH):total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios decreased significantly. The GSSG:total glutathione ratio that increased due to IR treatment decreased significantly on HAS and Pec intake, while GSH:total glutathione and GSH:GSSG ratios increased significantly. Hepatic sinusoids of IR rats fed the C diet were occluded, but those of IR rats fed the Pec diet were similar to those in the sham-operated rats. In conclusion, we found that Pec or HAS, which enhance H2 generation in the large intestine, alleviated hepatic IR injury. The present study demonstrates another physiological significance of dietary fibre and RS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcitonin, one of the calcium-regulating hormones, is known to have diverse biological effects including those on the gastrointestinal tract. In this organ, the hormone is reported to inhibit gastric acid secretion, gastric motility, and gastrin secretion and to stimulate release of somatostatin, thereby exerting antiulcer and antilesion effects on stress-induced as well as other types of experimental gastric ulcers or lesions. This fact prompted us to examine changes in serum calcitonin concentration during the development of stress-induced gastric lesions in rats. DA rats were constrained in a stress cage after a 24-h fast and then immersed in 24°C water to the level of the xiphoid process for 2 or 5 h. Serum calcitonin concentrations in stressed rats were significantly lower than those in control rats. To investigate the mechanism of the decline in serum calcitonin level under stress in these rats, we conducted a time-course study of serum calcitonin concentration and ionized calcium level during water-immersion stress, lasting 2 h, and during 4 h following release from the stress. Water immersion caused a remarkable decrease in serum calcitonin concentration as early as at 30 min. After release from stress, serum calcitonin concentration gradually recovered. The ionized calcium level in the blood did not change significantly throughout the experimental period. Furthermore, to examine if the sympathetic nerve system was involved in the stress-induced change of serum calcitonin concentration, α- and β-receptor antagonists were administered intraperitoneally before stress exposure. Administration of α-receptor antagonist at a low dose that did not have any effect on serum calcitonin concentration in a preliminary study, restored the decline of serum calcitonin level, whereas β-receptor antagonist did not. These results suggest that stress-provoked decrease of serum calcitonin concentration may be mediated not by a change of ionized calcium level but by alteration of sympathetic nerve activity (particularly via the α-receptor). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-dependent changes of bone mass in ambulant chronic respiratory failure patients 60 or more years of age were compared between those on home oxygen therapy (HOT) and those still free of HOT (non-HOT). HOT (n = 31) showed initial PaO2 of slightly greater than 60 Torr and non-HOT (n = 32) had PaO2 moderately greater than 60 Torr (64.4 Torr vs 75.1 Torr). PaCO2 in HOT was significantly higher than that of non-HOT (44.8 Torr vs 40.0 Torr). There was no difference in pulmonary function test results. The whole bone mineral density (BMD) as adjusted by age and sex was significantly lower in the HOT group than that in the non-HOT. At endpoints of the follow-up period over 2 years or more, daily bone losses in the whole BMD, whole bone mineral content, and lumber BMD were significantly more accelerated in HOT compared with non-HOT. When the Wistar rats were pair-fed and their locomotion was limited, the animal group placed for 4 weeks under hypoxic air showed a reduction in BMD as compared with the control. We suggest that hypoxemia contributes to bone mass loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tracheobronchial lumen has a continuous horseshoe arch morphology. We formed Z-stents accordingly to support the weakened cartilagenous portions. With this type of stent we treated a patient with acquired saber-sheath type tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), Rayl's type II, Johnson's grade III, whose condition was aggravated even under positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) therapy. The patient improved gradually. No immediate complication was observed. Bronchofiberscopic examination revealed that the tracheobronchial arcade was closely strut-braced and showed no expiratory collapse. Six months later, when the patient was intubated due to asthmatic attacks, tissue ingrowth through the stent was found and removed. There was no recurrence of TBM. The patient died 2 years later of pneumoconiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Z-stents partially covered with an expandable Dacron mesh into which epinephrine and thrombin were infiltrated, were used to reopen both mainstem bronchi, stenosed by bronchogenic carcinoma and to deliver hemostatic agents to the lesion. On follow-up 4 and 6 weeks later, airway patency was retained, the tumor surface was compressed, and the glossy surface of the stent suggested that it was covered with mucosa. For treatment of airway stenosis due to cancer invasion, a stent covered with a Dacron mesh sheet is thought to be effective in compressing the tumor and preventing tumor ingrowth into the stent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers frequently are detected in alcoholic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, risk factors for the development of HCC in patients with HBs antigen (Ag)- and anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV)-negative alcoholic cirrhosis have not been clearly documented. The present study was conducted to elucidate the occurrence rates of HCC in HBs Ag- and anti-HCV-negative male alcoholic cirrhosis and to assess the risk factors for hepatocellular carcinogenesis. METHOD: We prospectively studied 91 consecutive patients with HBs Ag- and anti-HCV-negative alcoholic cirrhosis for 0.5 to 12.5 years (median 5.9 years). Potential risk factors assessed for liver carcinogenesis included the following six variables: age, total alcohol intake, association of continuing alcohol intake after diagnosis, indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min, anti-HB core antibodies (anti-HBc), and association of diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Cumulative occurrence rates of HCC were 6.4%, 18.9%, and 28.7% at the end of the 5th, 7th and 10th years, respectively. When classified by anti-HBc, the occurrence rates of HCC in 31 patients with anti-HBc and 60 patients without anti-HBc were 15.6% and 2.9% at the 5th year, 28.4% and 13.5% at the 7th year, and 40.4% and 22.1% at the 10th year, respectively. The occurrence rates of HCC were also significantly related to the cumulative alcohol intake. Cox proportional hazard model identified that cumulative alcohol intake (p = 0.0047) and positive anti-HBc antibodies (p = 0.0598) were independently associated with the occurrence rates of HCC. CONCLUSION: These epidemiologic results suggest that heavy cumulative alcohol intake and prior exposure to HBV infection are risk factors for the development of HCC in patients with HBs Ag- and anti-HCV-negative alcoholic cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In Japan, population-based epidemiological data on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are limited. To elucidate the epidemiology of RSV before the introduction of new prophylactic drugs, we conducted a population-based study during and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic., Methods: This study was performed in four hospitals in Chiba City and three hospitals in Ichihara City. Clinical information and residual samples from RSV rapid antigen tests of infants under one year old were collected. Samples from patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) were analyzed using the FilmArray Respiratory 2.1 panels., Results: A total of 1200 infants underwent the RSV rapid antigen test, with 497 diagnosed with LRTI. Although five samples could not be stored, 252 out of 492 (51.2%) were positive for RSV. Among the RSV PCR-positive infants, 63 (25.0%) had underlying diseases, compared to 100 out of 240 (41.7%) RSV PCR-negative infants (P < 0.05). In Chiba City, the annual incidence of hospitalization per 1000 children was 12.7 in 2021, 4.4 in 2022, and 9.2 in 2023., Conclusions: During and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, most hospitalized infants with RSV-LRTI did not have underlying diseases. Widespread use of prophylaxis in infants without underlying disease is desirable., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Preoperative intervention for smoking cessation reduces the prevalence of postoperative complications in spine surgery. To date, however, the impact of these interventions on the length of stay (LOS) and cost for patients is unclear., Patients/methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 317 patients who were current smokers and underwent spine surgery between January 2014 and December 2019 at a single facility in Tokyo, Japan. Most patients (262) received preoperative intervention for smoking cessation within 60 days before spine surgery; the remaining 55 patients did not receive the intervention. The postoperative LOS was compared using propensity score matching. Patients were matched for age, gender, body mass index, surgical plan (cervical surgery, anterior approach surgery, minimally invasive surgery), preoperative comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic cardiac disease, chronic lung disease), and recent history of steroid therapy, which yielded 48 pairs of patients., Results: The length of postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the intervention group (-10.60 days, [95% CI, -15.79 to -5.42]). The cost for service was significantly lower in the intervention group (coefficient, Japanese yen [JPY] -1,515,529; [95% CI, -2,130,631 to -900,426]; 110 JPY equivalent to 1 United States dollar)., Conclusions: Preoperative interventions for smoking cessation may decrease postoperative hospital stay and hospitalization costs., (Copyright © 2023 Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation (Sfar). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)