Mesenteric panniculitis presenting as liver dysfunction

Mesenteric panniculitis is a non-specific inflammatory disorder affecting adipose tissues of the mesentery. Mesenteric adipose tissues contain macrophages and other inflammatory cells, which may secrete tumor necrosis factor ??, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6. These cytokines collect into the portal vein and thereby flow into the liver, possibly influencing hepatic function. Mesenteric panniculitis often occurs with inflammatory reactions such as fever and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Systemic inflammatory disorders can evoke acute cholestatic liver involvement, which is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines. However, no reports have focused on the association between mesenteric panniculitis and liver involvement. We report a rare case of mesenteric panniculitis presenting as liver dysfunction. Immunohistochemical staining of the liver demonstrated a marked decrease in expression of canalicular transport systems. These findings indicated cholestatic liver dysfunction associated with mesenteric panniculitis.     

Association of RGS2 variants with panic disorder in a Japanese population

Panic disorder (PD) is a severe and chronic psychiatric disorder with significant genetic components underlying its etiology. The gene regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) has been reported to be associated with anxiety disorders. To confirm the association of RGS2 with PD, we investigated three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of RGS2 (rs10801152, rs4606, and rs1819741) in 677 Japanese PD cases and 460 controls. The SNP rs10801152 was suggestive of an association with PD (allele P = 0.045 adjusted using sex and age as confounding factors). The three‐SNP haplotype was significantly associated with PD (global permutation P = 4 × 10^?4). The haplotypes T‐G‐C and T‐C‐T showed significant association and protective effect on PD (T‐G‐C, permutation P = 0.038, OR = 0.80, 95%CI = 0.68–0.95; T‐C‐T, permutation P = 0.004, OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.21–0.70). These results provide support for an association of RGS2 with PD in a Japanese population. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Fluorination and chlorination effects on quinoxalineimides as an electron-deficient building block for n-channel organic semiconductors

The quinoxalineimide (QI) unit, containing the electron-withdrawing quinoxaline and imide groups, is an electron-deficient building block for organic semiconductor materials. In this study, three fluorinated or chlorinated QIs (QI-1F, QI-2F, and QI-2Cl), have been designed and developed. We report the impact of the fluorination or chlorination of the QI unit on the electronic structures and charge carrier transport properties as compared to unsubstituted QI (QI-2H) bearing the same n-hexyl side chains. The frontier molecular orbital energy levels downshifted with the incorporation of fluorine or chlorine atoms onto the π-framework of QI. Single-crystal structure analyses revealed that all QI-based molecules have an entirely planar backbone and are packed into two-dimensional slipped stacks with diagonal electronic coupling that enables two-dimensional charge carrier transport. Notably, the doubly fluorinated or chlorinated QIs formed compact molecular packing in the single-crystal structures through an infinite intermolecular network relative to unsubstituted QI (QI-2H). The field-effect transistor-based QI molecules exhibited typical n-channel transport properties. As compared to unsubstituted QI (QI-2H), the chlorinated QI exhibited improved electron mobilities up to 7.1 × 10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. The threshold voltages of the fluorinated or chlorinated QI devices were clearly smaller than that of QI-2H, which reflects the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital levels of the molecules. This study demonstrates that the fluorinated or chlorinated QIs are versatile building blocks in creating n-channel organic semiconductor materials.

Three fluorinated or chlorinated quinoxalineimide units (QI-1F, QI-2F, and QI-2Cl) have been designed and developed.     

Cyclosporine A induced histological changes of Cathepsin L and CD2AP expression in renal glomeruli and tubules

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Cyclosporine A (CsA) is used globally as an immunosuppressant for the treatment of immune-mediated nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, its long-term use causes...     

The effects of nicardipine given after 10-minutes complete global cerebral ischemia on neurologic recovery in dogs

The effect of nicardipine (NC) on neurologic recovery from ischemic insult after 10-minutes complete global cerebral ischemia was evaluated in dogs by examination of neurologic recovery score (NRS: complete recovery = 100, death = 0). Ischemia was achieved by occlusion of ascending aorta, and NC, 10µg·kg^–1 in bolus followed by infusion of 0.33µg·kg^–1·min^–1 for 2 hours, was administered immediately after re-establishment of circulation. The mortality at 7th day was 2/9 in the control © and 1/9 in the NC group (ns). NRS on 2nd day was 52.3 ± 6.8 in the C and 70.6 ± 6.5 in the NC (P 0.05), but that on 7th day did not differ between the two groups. The numbers of dogs recovered to over 80 in NRS on the 2nd day was 1/9 in the C and 5/9 in the NC (P 0.05), but that on the 7th day increased to 3/9 in the C and remained at 5/9 in the NC (ns). These results suggest that NC accelerates the early neurologic recovery from ischemic damage, but influences little the final outcome.(Iwatsuki N, Ono K, Takahashi M et al.: The effects of Nicardipine given after 10-minutes complete global cerebral ischemia on neurologic recovery in dogs. J Anesth 4: 337–342, 1990)     

Projecting future supply and demand for physical therapists in Japan using system dynamics

ObjectivesJapan is the oldest country in the world, and its demand for medical care is expected to increase. Although a clear vision regarding the supply and demand for physical therapy services is necessary, there has been no research that forecasts the supply and demand for physical therapists in Japan. Consensus has not been reached on whether the supply of physical therapists is sufficient. This study projects this supply and demand to provide medical policymakers with basic data.MethodsA system dynamics model was created to predict the number of physical therapists working in hospitals and clinics in Japan from 2014 to 2040. The future demand for physical therapy was estimated using the rehabilitation service utilization data from Open National Database, a publicly available nationwide health claims database. Sufficiency rates (supply/demand) were calculated, and sensitivity analysis was conducted on supply-related parameters.ResultsThe number of physical therapists was projected to be 1.74 and 2.54 times greater in 2025 and 2040, respectively, than in 2014. The sufficiency rates were 1.72, 2.39, and 3.30 in 2015, 2025, and 2040, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that attrition rates had the greatest effects on sufficiency.ConclusionsAlthough the current supply appears to be needed, considering the expected increase and uncertainty in medical needs. However, there is a possibility of a future oversupply, especially after 2025, when the rate of increase in demand will lessen. Further studies are required to evaluate the distribution of physical therapists among regions and specialties.