In this study, the effects of extracts and flavone derivatives from the rhizome of Kaempferia parviflora on multidrug resistance associated-proteins (MRP)-mediated transport in A549 cells were examined. The cells employed express MRP1 and MRP2, but not P-glycoprotein. The cellular accumulation of calcein, an MRP substrate, was significantly increased by various MRP inhibitors without being affected by verapamil, a typical P-glycoprotein inhibitor. Ethanol and aqueous extracts from K. parviflora rhizome increased the accumulation of calcein and doxorubicin in A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory potency of the ethanol extract for MRP function was greater than that of the aqueous extract. Among six flavone derivatives isolated from K. parviflora rhizome, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone exhibited a maximal stimulatory effect on the accumulation of doxorubicin in A549 cells. The accumulation of doxorubicin was increased by four flavone derivatives without 5-hydroxy group, but not by the other two flavone derivatives with 5-hydroxy group. In addition, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone and 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone decreased resistance to doxorubicin in A549 cells. These findings indicate that extracts and flavone derivatives from the rhizome of K. parviflora suppress MRP function, and therefore may be useful as modulators of multidrug resistance in cancer cells.

Biochemical alterations of cellular membranes in chilling-sensitive mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) hypocotyls were invesfigated with reference to chilling injury. Reversible decreases in activities of tonoplast H+-ATPase and in vivo respiration became manifest within 24 hours of chilling when tissues suffered no permanent injury as assessed by electrolyte leakage and regrowth capacity. These changes were found to be the earliest cellular responses to chilling. A density-shift on a sucrose density gradient was observed in Golgi membranes early in the chilling treatment, suggesting that Golgi function and/or membrane biogenesis via the Golgi may have been altered upon chilling. After chilling more than 2 days, irreversible changes were generally produced in cellular membranes including the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. Respiratory functions remained intact in mitochondria isolated from tissues prechilled for 24 hours, but were impaired after prechilling for 3 days. Given the important role of the tonoplast H+-ATPase in the active transport of ions and metabolites, the early decline in the tonoplast H+-ATPase activity may give rise to an alteration of the cytoplasmic environment and, consequently, trigger a series of degenerative reactions in the cells. uncertainty as to how the chill-induced physical changes in those membranes can be sequentially transduced into cell injury. Furthermore, there seems to be no specific reason to assume that those organelles are exclusive cellular sites for sensing low temperatures.In our earlier studies, using extremely chill-sensitive cultured cells (27), degeneration ofcell structures occurred within a short period of chilling, i.e., 6 to 12 h at 0°C. Partial dilation and microvesiculation of RER and other deteriorative changes were followed by marked morphological changes in the intramembranous particles on the tonoplast fracture faces. Furthermore, the chilled cells retained the capacity to grow after transfer to a warm temperature until the onset of the structural alteration in the tonoplast. It is assumed that chillinduced structural and functional deterioration in the tonoplasts is also involved in the earliest cellular events triggered by chilling. In the present study, we have attempted to analyze the biochemical changes in various cellular membranes, which take place during chilling in the cells in chill-sensitive mung bean seedlings. Special attention was paid to determining the earliest changes manifested in intact cells immediately upon chilling and to distinguish them from the secondarily transduced ones.Although a number of studies have been carried out to elucidate the mechanisms involved in chilling injury in plants, many problems remain to be explained. For a better understanding of the mechanisms, it is important to identify the cellular site(s) and the physical features of the primary reaction(s) sensing low temperatures and to determine the physiological transducers transmitted from the low temperature sensing reaction...

BackgroundThe incidence of acute epidural hematoma not accompanied by fracture is low, and it mostly occurs right below the impact point in children. Acute epidural hematoma on the contralateral side of the impact point without fracture is very rare.Case presentationCase 1: a 52-year-old Japanese woman fell and was bruised in the left occipital region, and acute epidural hematoma developed in the right frontal region. No fracture line was observed in the right frontal region on head computed tomography or during surgery, and the source of bleeding was the middle meningeal artery. Case 2: a 56-year-old Japanese man fell down the stairs and was bruised in the right occipital region, and acute epidural hematoma developed in the right occipital supra- and infratentorial regions and left frontal region. Separation of the lambdoid suture was noted in the right occipital region, but no fracture line was present in the left frontal region on either head computed tomography or during surgery, and the source of bleeding was the middle meningeal artery.ConclusionsTwo rare cases of frontal contrecoup acute epidural hematoma without facture near the hematoma were reported. It is possible that the dura mater detaches from the inner surface of the skull due to cavitation theory-related negative pressure and blood vessels in the dura mater are damaged, causing contrecoup acute epidural hematoma even though no fracture occurs, for which careful course observation is necessary.

This study aims to evaluate the academic activities of female neurosurgeons at all branch meetings of the Japan Neurosurgical Society and identify related issues they encountered. The programs of all seven branch meetings of the Japan Neurosurgical Society (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku/Shikoku, and Kyushu) were used to determine the number of presentations and chairpersons by sex. The covered period was from January 2008 to December 2020, which was available for viewing during the survey. Of note, only the Kinki branch used data from January 2008 to December 2019. The Neurologia Medico-chirurgica (NMC), the journal of the Japan Neurosurgical Society, was also reviewed to identify publication achievements during the same period. In all seven branches, the percentage of presentations given by female physicians increased from 7.9% in 2008 to 9.6% in 2020 (p < 0.05). Conversely, the percentage of female chairpersons in all branch meetings did not change over time and it was significantly lower (1.1%) than that of female presenters (7.9%) for all branch meetings combined in over 13 years (p < 0.01). In the NMC, the number of articles with female physicians as first authors did not increase or decrease over the years. We conclude that efforts to smoothly promote female neurosurgeons as chairpersons and increase the number of female first authors are necessary to facilitate their academic activities.

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