Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a dominantly inherited human disorder characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis and mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation. LKB1 (STK11) serine͞threonine kinase is the product of the causative gene of PJS, which has been mapped to chromosome 19p13.3. However, several studies have produced results that are not consistent with a link between LKB1 gene mutation and PJS. We constructed a knockout gene mutation of Lkb1 to determine whether it is the causative gene of PJS and to examine the biological role of the Lkb1 gene. Lkb1 ؊/؊ mice died in utero between 8.5 and 9.5 days postcoitum. At 9.0 days postcoitum, Lkb1 ؊/؊ embryos were generally smaller than their age-matched littermates, showed developmental retardation, and did not undergo embryonic turning. Multiple gastric adenomatous polyps were observed in 10-to 14-month-old Lkb1 ؉/؊ mice. Our results indicate that functional Lkb1 is required for normal embryogenesis and that it is related to tumor development. The Lkb1 ؉/؊ mouse is suitable for studying molecular mechanism underlying the development of inherited gastric tumors in PJS.tumor ͉ embryo development

Nausea and vomiting is one of the most frequently reported patient complaints following anesthesia (1, 2). This phenomenon, known as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is of greater concern to patients than postoperative pain (3). PONV occurs in approximately 30% of all patients undergoing generalized anesthesia (4). PONV can result in several post-surgical complications including discomfort or pain, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, surgical wound dehiscence, hemorrhage, and aspiration pneumonia (4). PONV has four main risk factors including : female gender, history of PONV Abstract : Purpose : Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains the most frequently reported patient complaint after anesthesia. Aprepitant is the first neurokinin-1(NK1) receptor antagonism available for use as an antiemetic. We investigated whether aprepitant can effectively decrease PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods : Sixty four patients receiving general anesthesia for laparoscopic gynecological surgery were randomly assigned to either receive a preoperative dose of 80 mg aprepitant or no drug. Efficacy was assessed in 2 and 24 hours after surgery. Primary and secondary endpoints were analyzed for the time intervals 0-2 hours (acute phase) and 2-24 hours (delayed phase). Vomiting, nausea, use of rescue anti-emetic, and visual analog scale (VAS) were assessed. Nausea was assessed on a 4-point scale, from 0 to 3. Results : Sixty patients participated in the study. At acute phase, PONV was present in both control and NK1 group and were 63% % and 43% % respectively. The severity of nausea was much less in the NK1 group. PONV prevalence at delayed phase was present in control but absent in NK1 group 27% % vs. 0% %, respectively. The amount of pain medication used by patients in the NK1 group was significantly less for diclofenac and pentazocine suggesting increase pain tolerance. Conclusions : Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonism effectively lowered PONV increased pain tolerance, and expedited recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. J. Med. Invest. 58 : 246-251, August, 2011 ORIGINAL Neurokinin

No abstract

No abstract

Isoflurane induced O-GlcNAc modification of mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel. This modification inhibited the opening of the mPTP and conferred resistance to ischemia-reperfusion stress.