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Abstract Background In humans, skipping meals, especially breakfast, has been associated with obesity and other related syndromes. Recent studies in rodents suggest that fasting and feeding times are potential factors that affect the peripheral circadian clocks and metabolism. However, the link between fasting and obesity in rodents has yet to be fully demonstrated. Method We conducted early nocturnal fasting (ENF) from zeitgeber time (ZT) 12 to 18 for 4 consecutive days in C57B6 mice. The first set of experiments was performed under ad libitum conditions, where ENF and free-feeding (FF) control groups were compared. The second set was performed under isocaloric adjustment by restricting the diet to 90% of the basal intake of ENF mice. Calorie-restricted ENF (ENF-CR) mice were then compared with isocaloric controls (IC-control). Body weight, food intake, core body temperature, activity, adiposity, and clock-related gene expression levels in the liver and adipose tissues were investigated. A stable isotopic analysis was also conducted to estimate de novo lipogenesis fluxes. Results In the ad libitum condition, the ENF mice ate more during the day, increased their overall daily food intake and gained more weight than FF-control mice. The amplitude of the body core temperature rhythm in ENF mice was also lower than in the FF-controls. Under isocaloric conditions, ENF-CR attenuated the CR-induced body weight loss, compared with the IC-control. ENF-CR also altered the acrophase time of the expression of the clock genes, which is associated with time-shift of genes involved in lipid metabolism and increased lipogenesis, compared with the IC-control. Conclusions ENF in nocturnal mice disturbs the peripheral clock and increases de novo lipid synthesis and results in a predisposition to obesity.

A necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) can be life-threatening if not treated promptly, posing a high risk of limb amputation. Here, we report a case of an NSTI extending from the buttocks and perineum down to the left lower limb. The case involved a 48-year-old male patient who presented with fever, altered consciousness, and limb swelling. Computed tomography showed the infection had spread to the perifascial, intermuscular, and intramuscular regions, making it difficult to save the patient's life and limb. Despite prompt surgery and antibiotic treatment, multidrug-resistant bacteria presented difficult wound management challenges. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) was initiated, which resulted in dramatic wound improvement and successful skin grafting. Due to limb preservation, the patient was able to recover his preadmission activities of daily living and successfully reintegrate into society. Standard treatments for NSTI include early surgical treatment, antibiotics, and intensive support. The adjunctive use of HBO therapy may have contributed to the successful outcome in this case., (© 2024 HMP Global. All Rights Reserved. Any views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and/or participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of ePlasty or HMP Global, their employees, and affiliates.)

Objectives: A multivariate index calculated using plasma free amino acids (PFAA index) was reported as a diagnostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer (PaC). Although diabetes mellitus (DM) is expected to be an early diagnostic indicator of PaC, identifying the high-risk individuals among patients with DM is warranted. We evaluated the diagnostic yield of the PFAA index for PaC in patients with DM., Methods: We compared the diagnostic yield of the PFAA index between individuals with and those without DM. Cases and controls were recruited prospectively, and controls were matched to cases at a 1:1 ratio for age, sex, and DM status., Results: A total of 180 case-control pairs were included in the analysis. The prevalence of DM was 53.3%. The sensitivity of the PFAA index was 66.7% in cases with DM and 56.0% in those without DM (P = 0.14), and the specificity was 92.7% in controls with DM and 94.0% in those without DM (P = 0.95)., Conclusions: This matched case-control study revealed a comparable diagnostic yield of the PFAA index for PaC in individuals with and those without DM. The PFAA index can be used as a biomarker for further diagnostic imaging in selected patients with DM., (Copyright © 2019 IAP and EPC. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: We developed a novel plasma amino acid profile-based index (API) to detect ovarian, uterine, cervical, and endometrial cancers. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether abnormal API values could be normalized after curative treatment in patients with gynecological malignant tumors., Methods: Patients with gynecological cancer with abnormal API values were included in this study. Pre-operative absolute API values were compared with those after curative treatment. The normalization rates of API values in patients negative for the expression of three well-known tumor markers (SCC, CA125, and CA19-9) were also evaluated. In addition, related amino acid profiles in healthy controls and patients under pre- and post-treatment conditions were analyzed., Results: Among 94 patients with abnormal pre-operative API values, the median API value was decreased from 9.52 to 2.17 after treatment (normalization rate: 88.3%). The decreased ranges were similar in patients with adenocarcinoma (6.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.43-6.95) and squamous carcinoma (7.44; 95% CI: 3.04-8.46). In 93.5% (43/46) of patients negative for tumor markers prior to operation, API values were normalized after the successful treatment. In addition, some pre-operative abnormal amino acid profiles, including Ile, Trp, and His, were reversibly normalized after treatment., Conclusion: The API is a promising tumor marker in gynecological malignancies for the diagnosis of remission, particularly in patients negative for general tumor markers. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms related to the normalization of abnormal amino acid profiles.

The frequency of breast cancer in men is extremely rare, reported to be less than 1% and there is currently no available animal model for male mammary tumors. We compared the characteristics of various immunohistochemical markers in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in male and female Crj:CD(SD)IGS rats including: estrogen receptor α (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), androgen receptor (AR), receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (HER2), GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Female mammary adenocarcinomas were strongly positive in the nuclei of tumor cells for PCNA and ER (100%) with only 60% and 53% expressing PgR and GATA3, respectively. 100% of male adenocarcinomas also exhibited strongly positive expression in the nuclei of tumor cells for PCNA, with 25% expressing AR and only 8% showing positivity for ER. Male carcinomas did not express PgR or GATA3 and none of the tumors, male or female, were positive for HER2. Based on the observed ER and PgR positivity and HER2 negativity within these tumors, MNU-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in female rats appear to be hormonally dependent, similar to human luminal A type breast cancer. In contrast, MNU-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in male rats showed no reactivity for ER, PgR, HER2 or GATA3, suggesting no hormonal dependency. Both male and female adenocarcinomas showed high proliferating activity by PCNA immunohistochemistry. Based on our literature review, human male breast cancers are mainly dependent on ER and/or PgR, therefore the biological pathogenesis of MNU-induced male mammary cancer in rats may differ from that of male breast cancer in humans., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The effect of mead acid (MA; 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid) on the suppression of the development and growth of N -methyl- N -nitrosourea (MNU)-induced mammary cancer in female Sprague-Dawley rats was examined. The MA diet (2.4% MA) or control (CTR) diet (0% MA) was started at 6 weeks of age, MNU was injected intraperitoneally at 7 weeks of age, and the rats were maintained on the respective diets for the whole experimental period (until 19 weeks of age). All induced mammary tumors were luminal A subtype carcinomas (estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and HER2/neu negative). The MA diet significantly suppressed the initiation and promotion phases of mammary carcinogenesis; MA suppressed the development (incidence, 61.5 vs. 100%; multiplicity, 2.1 vs. 4.5) and the growth (final tumor weight, 427.1 vs. 1,796.3 mg) of mammary cancers by suppressing cell proliferation, but not by accelerating cell death. There were evident changes in the major fatty acid composition of n-3, n-6, and n-9 fatty acids in the serum of the MA diet group; there was a significant increase in MA and significant decreases in oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In non-tumorous mammary tissue, there was a significant increase in MA and a significant decrease in OA in the MA diet group. The n-6/n-3 ratios in serum and mammary tissue of the MA diet group were significantly decreased. The MA diet suppressed MNU-induced luminal A mammary cancer by lowering cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, MA may be a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent. In addition to hormone therapy, MA supplementation may be a beneficial chemotherapeutic agent for the luminal A subtype of breast cancer.

Cresol, which is used as a disinfectant and insecticide, has erosive effects on epidermal and epithelial tissues in the body. Oral exposure causes gastrointestinal corrosive injuries as a direct chemical burn. We report herein a case of suicidal poisoning by ingestion of cresol solution. An octogenarian man with depression was found dead approximately 14 h after exposure to less than 500 mL of saponated cresol solution. Macroscopically, corrosive lesions such as red-to-brown-colored epithelium and edematous thickening of walls were seen in the skin, mouth, oral cavity, esophagus, and stomach. Histopathologically, coagulative necrosis and vascular dilatation were detected from mucosal to muscular layers in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Congestive edema of the lungs, edematous changes in the brain, and proximal tubular necrosis of the kidneys were seen, suggesting acute circulatory disturbance due to shock. This human case offers valuable information on the direct irritation and shock induced by systemic exposure to corrosive substances., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been used to prepare and examine many types of samples. However, the use of Romanowsky stains for LBC has not yet been evaluated. Herein, we report a technique for the use of the Romanowsky May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stain using a ThinPrep(®) preparation technique (MGG-LBC)., Methods: KPL-1 breast cancer cells at a density of 1.25 × 10(5)/20 ml were compared in conventional smear and MGG-LBC preparations. Cell size, nucleus/cytoplasm (N/C) ratio, and morphological findings were investigated. Clinical samples including voided urine and pleural effusion were also examined in MGG-LBC preparations., Results: Cellularity appeared lower with MGG-LBC compared with Papanicolaou-stained smears using the ThinPrep(®) method, though the cell size and N/C ratio showed similar tendencies. Reactive mesothelial cells, normal urothelial cells, urothelial carcinoma cells, crystals, and bacteria were all clear enough for diagnostic purposes after MGG-LBC., Conclusion: Romanowsky staining is necessary for the cytodiagnosis of some conditions. MGG-LBC may contribute to the cytodiagnostic results using LBC preparations., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)