A study of arteriosclerosis in healthy subjects with HBV and HCV infection

Background It is unclear whether infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects arteriosclerosis. We performed a cross-sectional study to clarify the effect of HBV and HCV infection on arteriosclerosis. Methods The study subjects were 1806 healthy individuals who visited Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation for routine medical check-ups. Serum levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose were investigated in all subjects. The degree of arteriosclerosis was assessed using systolic blood pressure, the bilateral ankle brachial index (ABI), the heart-carotid pulse wave velocity (HCPWV), and the heart-ankle PWV (HAPWV). These cardiovascular parameters were compared between control subjects and subjects with HBV and HCV infection, using analysis of covariance to adjust for confounding factors (sex, age, body mass index, and smoking and drinking). Results Of the 1806 subjects, 39 and 31 were diagnosed as positive for HBV and HCV infection, respectively. The remaining 1736 were considered to be the controls. Adjusted serum lipid levels in the subjects with HBV and those with HCV infection tended to be lower than those in the control subjects. Adjusted arteriosclerotic parameters in the subjects with HBV and HCV infection were similar to those in the control subjects, even after adjusting for serum lipid levels. Conclusions Infection with HBV or HCV does not influence the severity of arteriosclerosis in healthy subjects.     

Risk factors and prediction of bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients on antithrombotic therapy: newly developed bleeding prediction application software,SAMURAI model

Bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) remains problematic, especially in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the risk factors. In this retrospective study, patients (n = 1,207) who underwent gastric ESD while receiving antithrombotic therapy were enrolled at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital and 18 other referral hospitals in Japan. Risks of post-ESD bleeding were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. The dataset was divided into a derivation cohort and a validation cohort. We created a prediction model using the derivation cohort. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using the validation cohort. Post-ESD bleeding occurred in 142 (11.8%) participants. Multivariable analysis yielded an odds ratio of 2.33 for aspirin, 4.90 for P2Y12 receptor antagonist, 1.79 for cilostazol, 0.95 for other antithrombotic agents, 6.53 for warfarin, 5.65 for dabigatran, 7.84 for apixaban, 10.45 for edoxaban, 6.02 for rivaroxaban, and 1.46 for heparin bridging. The created prediction model was called safe ESD management using the risk analysis of post-bleeding in patients with antithrombotic therapy (SAMURAI). This model had good predictability, with a C-statistic of 0.77. In conclusion, use of the SAMURAI model will allow proactive management of post-ESD bleeding risk in patients receiving antithrombotic therapy.     

SNARE mediates autophagosome–lysosome fusion

Autophagy is an intracellular bulk degradation/recycling system that turns over cellular constituents. This system has also been shown to play a crucial role in host defense, termed antimicrobial autophagy (xenophagy), in which it functions to degrade intracellular foreign microbial invaders. Xenophagosomes undergo a stepwise maturation process that consists of fusion with lysosomes, after which the cargo undergoes degradation. We have previously shown that intracellular group A Streptococcus (GAS) is captured by xenophagosomes termed GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuoles (GcAVs), where GAS organisms are degraded following fusion with lysosomes. Our recent investigations have shown that endocytic soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are involved in the fusion of xenophagosomes and lysosomes. Confocal microscopic analysis has shown that SNAREs, including VAMP8 and Vti1b, colocalize with GFP-LC3 in GcAVs. Our findings also suggested that Vti1b is derived from autophagic compartments, whereas VAMP8 originates from lysosomes. Knockdown of the combinational SNARE proteins VAMP8 and Vti1b with siRNAs disturbed the autophagic fusion of xenophagosomes with lysosomes, and cellular bactericidal efficiency significantly diminished. Furthermore, knockdown of these SNAREs inhibited the fusion of canonical autophagosomes with lysosomes. These findings strongly suggest that a combinatorial SNARE complex with VAMP8 and Vti1b mediates the fusion of antimicrobial and canonical autophagosomes with lysosomes, an essential event for autophagic degradation.     

Self-reports of eating quickly are related to a decreased number of chews until first swallow, total number of chews, and total duration of chewing in young people

ObjectiveThe validity of a self-questionnaire about eating quickly remains unclear. If a significant relationship between subjective and objective methods to evaluate eating quickly can be confirmed, then the subjective method can be widely and reliably used in many fields. This study investigated relationships between subjective and objective methods to evaluate eating quickly and also numerically characterized the kinesis of eating quickly in young people.DesignOne hundred and thirteen students (44 males and 69 females; mean age 22.8 ± 2.0 years) were selected. All subjects completed written questionnaires, and number of chews until first swallow, total duration of chewing, number of chews, chewing rate and bite size were measured using test products (a Japanese cracker and rice ball).ResultsBoth male and female subjects who reported eating quickly showed a significantly lower number of chews until first swallow (Japanese cracker), a lower number of chews overall (rice ball), and a shorter total duration of chewing (rice ball) than other subjects. There was no difference in chewing rate between subjects who ate quickly or not.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that using test products, self-reports of eating quickly are related to a decreased number of chews until first swallow, total number of chews, and total duration of chewing, but not chewing rate, and that a self-reported questionnaire to evaluate eating rate is valid in young people.     

A randomized,placebo-controlled,double-blind clinical trial of rikkunshito for patients with non-erosive reflux disease refractory to proton-pump inhibitor: the G-PRIDE study

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of rikkunshito (RKT), a traditional Japanese medicine, combined with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with PPI-refractory non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).

Methods

Patients with PPI-refractory NERD (n = 242) were randomly assigned to the RKT group [rabeprazole (10 mg/day) + RKT (7.5 g/t.i.d.) for 8 weeks] or the placebo group (rabeprazole + placebo). After the 4- and 8-week treatments, we assessed symptoms and quality of life (QOL) using the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (FSSG), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and Short-Form Health Survey-8 (SF-8).

Results

There were no significant differences in FSSG and GSRS score improvement between these groups after the 4- and 8-week treatments. The mental component summary (MCS) scores of the SF-8 improved more in the RKT group (from 45.8 ± 8.1 to 48.5 ± 7.4) than in the placebo group (from 47.7 ± 7.1 to 48.4 ± 7.5) after the 4-week treatment (P < 0.05). The 8-week treatment with RKT was more effective for improvement of the degree of MCS score in patients with a low body mass index (<22) (P < 0.05) and significantly improved the acid-related dysmotility symptoms of FSSG in female and elderly patients (≥65 years).

Conclusion

There were no significant differences in improvement of GERD symptoms in patients with PPI-refractory NERD between these groups. However, RKT may be useful for improving mental QOL in non-obese patients and acid-related dyspeptic symptoms, especially in women and the elderly.     

Esophageal function worsens with long duration of diabetes

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the duration of diabetes and esophageal dysfunction. METHODS: We examined 66 patients with type 2 diabetes. Duration of diabetes was determined by asking patients and from their medical records. The patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of their diabetes: group A, 1-4 years, n=26; group B, 5-9 years, n=20; and group C, 10+ years, n=20. Ambulatory esophageal 24-h pH and motility were monitored, and gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders were estimated in detail. RESULTS: When the duration of diabetes was long, the percentage of time with pH<4 tended to increase. The amplitude of esophageal peristaltic waves and the frequency of effective peristalsis were reduced when the duration of diabetes was long. A significant correlation was observed between the duration of diabetes and the frequency of effective peristalsis. The number of esophageal peristaltic waves per minute and the percentage of multipeaked peristaltic waves increased significantly in group B, and decreased when the duration of diabetes became longer. CONCLUSIONS: Gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal motility disorders worsened with long duration of diabetes. These esophageal dysfunctions should be considered in patients with long-standing diabetes.     

SCG10 mRNA localization in the hippocampus: comparison with other mRNAs encoding neuronal growth-associated proteins (nGAPs)

SCG10 is a nerve growth factor (NGF)-inducible, neuron-specific protein whose expression is tightly correlated with axonal and/or dendritic growth. We have recently shown that the mRNA encoding SCG10 is expressed at significant levels in certain subsets of neurons in the adult rat brain, while its expression is undetectable or negligible in other non-neuronal tissues. Here we show that regional SCG10 mRNA expression in the adult mouse brain is comparable to that in the rat, however, in the hippocampus its expression profile is distinct. In the mouse, SCG10 mRNA is expressed at high levels in pyramidal cells of CA3–CA4 sub-fields of Ammon's horn and at low levels in the CA1–CA2 sub-fields, while it is found rather uniformly throughout the pyramidal cell layer of the rat hippocampus. SCG10 mRNA is not detectable in the dentate gyrus of the mouse hippocampus, although it is expressed in the rat dentate gyrus. Comparison with other mRNAs encoding neuronal growth-associated proteins (nGAPs) such as GAP-43, MAP2, α1-tubulin and stathmin suggests that dentate granule cells express a different repertoire of neuronal growth-associated genes in mouse and rat.