Prevalence of nocturia among Japanese adults

The prevalence of nocturia among Japanese community-dwelling adults was associated with insomnia, taking into account other correlates of insomnia.     

Evaluation of the inner-surface morphology of an artificial heart by acoustic microscopy

The total artificial heart (TAH) is being developed for permanent replacement of the natural heart instead of heart transplantation. The need for detecting the material fatigue in the TAH is increasing in order to guarantee long-term use. In this study, the inner surface morphology of the TAH was evaluated by a specially developed scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) system operating in the frequency range of 100-200 MHz. The inner sac of our TAH consisted of polyvinylchloride coated with polyurethane, and the SAM investigations were performed before and after the implantations in goats. The amplitude images of the SAM demonstrated protein adhesion on the inner surface of the TAH after the animal experiment, and the phase images showed distortion of the wall with spatial resolution of 0.2 microm. These results suggest the feasibility of a high-frequency ultrasound for evaluating the material fatigue of TAH.     

Molecule-to-Material-to-Bio Nanoarchitectonics with Biomedical Fullerene Nanoparticles

Nanoarchitectonics integrates nanotechnology with various other fields, with the goal of creating functional material systems from nanoscale units such as atoms, molecules, and nanomaterials. The concept bears strong similarities to the processes and functions seen in biological systems. Therefore, it is natural for materials designed through nanoarchitectonics to truly shine in bio-related applications. In this review, we present an overview of recent work exemplifying how nanoarchitectonics relates to biology and how it is being applied in biomedical research. First, we present nanoscale interactions being studied in basic biology and how they parallel nanoarchitectonics concepts. Then, we overview the state-of-the-art in biomedical applications pursuant to the nanoarchitectonics framework. On this basis, we take a deep dive into a particular building-block material frequently seen in nanoarchitectonics approaches: fullerene. We take a closer look at recent research on fullerene nanoparticles, paying special attention to biomedical applications in biosensing, gene delivery, and radical scavenging. With these subjects, we aim to illustrate the power of nanomaterials and biomimetic nanoarchitectonics when applied to bio-related applications, and we offer some considerations for future perspectives.     

Chronic Pulmonary Disease Caused by Tsukamurella toyonakaense

Unidentified Mycobacterium species are sometimes detected in respiratory specimens. We identified a novel Tsukamurella species (Tsukamurella sp. TY48, RIMD 2001001, CIP 111916^T), Tsukamurella toyonakaense, from a patient given a misdiagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease caused by unidentified mycobacteria. Genomic identification of this Tsukamurella species helped clarify its clinical characteristics and epidemiology.     

Impact of Dietitian-Led Nutrition Therapy of Food Order on 5-Year Glycemic Control in Outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes at Primary Care Clinic: Retrospective Cohort Study

The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the effect of 5-year follow-up of dietitian-led medical nutrition therapy (eating vegetables before carbohydrates) on glycemic control in outpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) at a primary care clinic. A total of 138 patients with dietitian-led medical nutrition therapy (intervention group) and 104 patients without dietitian-led nutrition therapy (control group) were compared for glycemic control, serum lipid, blood pressure, and diabetic complications for 5 years. Each patient in the intervention group received dietary education focused on food order (eating vegetables before carbohydrates) by dietitians. A significant improvement in HbA1c after 5 years in the intervention group [8.5 ± 1.7% (69 mmol/mol) to 7.6 ± 1.1% (59 mmol/mol), p < 0.001] was observed, whereas no change was observed in the control group [7.9 ± 1.2% (62 mmol/mol) to 8.0 ± 1.2% (63 mmol/mol)]. Dietary intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and salt in the intervention group demonstrated significant reduction, while the intake of dietary fiber significantly increased after the dietary education. Simple dietary education of ‘eating vegetables before carbohydrates’ presented by dietitians achieved good glycemic control after a 5-year period in outpatients with T2DM at primary care clinic.     

Clinical factors that impair health-related quality of life in ulcerative colitis patients vary with the disease duration

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) can be impaired because of the chronic symptoms. Although UC patients suffer from such symptoms over the long term, there have been few reports on the changes of HRQOL with disease duration. The aim of this study was to clarify these changes. METHODS: The HRQOL of 331 Japanese UC patients was examined using the validated Japanese version of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (J-IBDQ). HRQOL and factors affecting HRQOL identified using multiple linear regression analysis were stratified by disease duration. RESULTS: Of the 15 clinical factors examined, the clinical activity index score was the strongest determinant (P<0.0001) of all the scores of IBDQ regardless of disease duration. HRQOL did not differ significantly among patients with different disease durations. The factors, however, that affected HRQOL varied according to disease duration. In patients with disease duration of less than 5 years, the clinical activity index score was the predominant factor affecting HRQOL. Being 'on sick leave or hospitalized' was a significant factor impairing HRQOL in patients with disease duration of 5-9 years. Moreover, complications due to corticosteroids significantly impaired all of the IBDQ scores in patients with disease duration of 10 years or more. CONCLUSION: Factors that affected the HRQOL of UC patients varied according to the patients' disease duration. Our findings should assist in the development of a long-term strategy for the treatment of UC patients.     

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for cancers of the remnant stomach after distal gastrectomy

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer is less invasive than surgical resection, and if technically feasible, it may result in less long-term morbidity than does incisional surgery. However, ESD is technically difficult in patients who have had a previous distal gastrectomy. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to retrospectively assess the results of ESD of early gastric cancer in the remnant stomach. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A total of 31 lesions in 30 patients with early remnant gastric cancer were treated with ESD at Okayama University Hospital, Tsuyama Central Hospital, Hiroshima City Hospital, Kagawa Prefectural Central Hospital, and Mitoyo General Hospital from March 2001 to January 2007. INTERVENTION: ESD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: En bloc resection rate, complete resection rate, operation time, and complications. RESULTS: En bloc resection and complete resection were achieved in 30 (97%) and in 23 (74%) lesions, respectively. The median operation time required for ESD in the remnant stomach was 113 minutes (range 45-450 minutes). Perforation occurred in 4 (13%). The incidence of delayed bleeding requiring blood transfusion was 0%. LIMITATION: Short duration of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: ESD is feasible in the remnant stomach but has a relatively high complication rate and should only be performed by experienced endoscopists.     

Analysis of the T cell receptor V beta repertoire in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid induced colitis in mice

The aim of this study was to analyze which types of T cells are at work and the specific nature of their response, using a mouse 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis model. The response of T cells to TNBS was analyzed by anti-TNBS mixed-lymphocyte reaction. T cell clones were established by limiting dilution. Phenotypes and T cell receptor (TCR) V beta of T cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Colitis was induced by administration of TNBS enemas, and lamina propria lymphocytes were isolated and analyzed. The proliferative responses to TNBS of spleen T cells were partially inhibited by the addition of antimouse CD4 or CD8 antibodies to the mixed-lymphocyte culture. Conversely, these were inhibited by the addition of both antibodies. Flow cytometric analysis showed that TCR V beta 14 T cells specifically increased in the CD8+ T cell population. We established CD8+ TCR V beta 14 T cell clones which were TNBS reactive and self-restricted. Investigation using lamina propria lymphocytes in TNBS-induced colitis revealed that the rate of CD8+ TCR V beta 14 T cells changed with histological inflammatory activity which also attained a peak on day 5 following enema administration. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets responded to TNBS, and the rate of CD8+ TCR V beta 14 T cells changed with histological inflammatory activity in TNBS-induced colitis.     

Endothelin-1 enhances calcium entry through T-type calcium channels in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-amino acid vasoconstrictive peptide, increases intracellular Ca2+ level and has hypertrophic action on ventricular myocytes. To elucidate a possible role of Ca2+ entry through sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels on this ET-1 action, we examined effects of ET-1 on L-type (ICa,L) and T-type (ICa,T) Ca2+ currents in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes using the patch-clamp technique. ET-1 at a concentration of 10 nM increased the maximum current density of ICa,T from -3.0 +/- 1.4 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -4.4 +/- 1.6 microA/cm2 (p < 0.01). Although the peak amplitude of ICa,L was decreased during ET-1 application (from -9.7 +/- 1.9 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -5.0 +/- 1.4 microA/cm2 [p < 0.01]), this magnitude of decrease in ICa,T (52 +/- 19%) was comparable to that of spontaneous "run-down" of ICa,L (47 +/- 26%). The enhancement of ICa,T by ET-1 was dose dependent; it was initiated as low as 0.32 nM, and the maximal response was attained at approximately 10 nM, with a half-maximal dose of 1.26 nM. The enhancement of ICa,T by ET-1 was antagonized by protein kinase C inhibitors staurosporine (0.2 microM) and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7, 20 microM) applied to the pipette solution. Extracellular application of tumor-promoting phorbol esters, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, augmented ICa,T. PDBu (0.2 microM) increased the maximal current density of ICa,T from -4.2 +/- 0.5 microA/cm2 in the control condition to -5.5 +/- 1.0 microA/cm2 (p < 0.01). In the presence of H-7 (20 microM) in the pipette solution, PDBu failed to enhance ICa,T, and an inactive isomer of PDBu (4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, 0.2 microM) did not augment ICa,T. Thus, ET-1 enhances Ca2+ entry through the sarcolemmal T-type Ca2+ channel, possibly through a pathway involving activation of protein kinase C. This ET-1 action may be involved in the rise of the intracellular Ca2+ level and may contribute to the induction of cardiac hypertrophy by ET-1.     

Effect of post-transplant double filtration plasmapheresis on recurrent focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in renal transplant recipients

In the present study, we reviewed the effect of post-transplant double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) on recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the transplanted kidney allograft. Sixteen patients with post-transplant recurrent FSGS were enrolled in this study. Out of 16 patients with recurrent FSGS after transplantation, five did not receive DFPP and lost their grafts, while 11 did receive DFPP and four of these patients lost their grafts. Seven patients were able to maintain normal renal function for an average observation period of 57.1 +/- 40.7 months (range 7-125 months). In five patients who had a significant reduction in urinary protein after DFPP, the urinary protein level decreased from 26.60 +/- 23.05 g/day (range 3.34-62.6 g/day) to 2.95 +/- 3.42 g/day (range 0.02-8.64 g/day) and renal function was maintained. The beneficial effects of DFPP on graft outcome were more likely to occur if the patients experienced a marked drop in urinary excretion. Thus, post-transplant DFPP appears to be effective for reducing urinary protein levels and improving long-term graft survival. With the small numbers in this trial, however, none of the findings were statistically significant. We recommend the use of post-transplant DFPP to prevent the progression of recurrent FSGS.