Protective immunity and mast cell and eosinophil responses in mice infested with larval Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks

WBB6F1 -+- /+ mice were infested with larval Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks twice at an interval of 14 days: apparent resistance against ticks was expressed in the second infestation. The first infestation induced degranula-tion of a small number of mast cells at the feeding sites within 6 days, and resulted in two-fold increases of mast cell numbers on day 14 with a significant elevation of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in sera and high proportion of IgE-bound mast cells. The second infestation resulted in the intensive degranulation of the increased mast cells at the feeding sites. Eosinophils infiltrated into the feeding sites of ticks: the second infestation led to a greater maximal level of the infiltrating eosinophils. These data suggest that the resistance against larval H. longicornis ticks in mice may be expressed as a result of immediate hypersensitivity and many eosinophils infiltrating from the blood to the feeding sites might contribute to the tick rejection.     

Further studies on the resolution of human mercapt- and nonmercaptalbumin and on human serum albumin in the elderly by high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of human serum albumin (HSA) on Asahipak GS-520 showed at least two peaks, the principal component corresponding to human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and the secondary one to nonmercaptalbumin (HNA). HPLC analysis of HSA on Asahipak ES-520 N showed three peaks, the principal component corresponding to HMA, the secondary one to HNA having mixed disulfide with cysteine or glutathione and the tertiary one to HNA oxidized higher than mixed disulfide. Two kinds of rapid HPLC for the resolution of HSA into HMA and HNA were developed by the present authors. Using these HPLC, the present authors found a significant decrease in the fraction of HMA in the elderly.     

Resolution of human mercapt- and nonmercaptalbumin by high-performance liquid chromatography

Gel-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of human serum albumin (HSA) on PGP 2000 column (0.10 M sodium phosphate buffer, 0.30 M NaCl, pH 6.86) showed at least two peaks, the principal component corresponding to human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and the second one to human nonmercaptalbumin (HNA). Mechanism for the separation of HMA and HNA might be due to weak resin-HSA interaction. HPLC analysis of bovine plasma albumin (BPA) showed a single peak on PGP 2000 column. The elution volume of HSA was larger than that of BPA, resulting in a clear resolution of HSA and BPA.     

Ten-year trends in long-term sickness absence among Japanese public servants: 2009–2018

Sickness absences are a significant public health and economic problem worldwide. However, sickness absence diagnoses and trends have not been reported in much detail in Japan. This study was a retrospective cohort study. We examined data on certified diagnoses and the durations of sickness absence lasting over 90 days (long-term sickness absence) from 2009–2018 among city public servants in Japan. We found that 1) “Mental and behavioral disorders” (495.0–780.6 per 100,000 employees) was the most prevalent reason for long-term sickness absence, and “Mood disorders” (318.6–584.3 per 100,000 employees) was the most prevalent mental disorders diagnosis in each study year; 2) the prevalence of long-term sickness absence for mental disorders showed decreasing trends (781/100,000 in 2009 to 622/100,000 in 2018; [p=0.005, for the trend test]); 3) the trends differed by gender (p<0.05) and age (p<0.001); and 4) the duration of long-term sickness absence related to mental disorders (13.2 ± 9.0 months) was longer than long-term sickness absence resulting from all physical disorders except for diseases of the circulatory system (15.1 ± 11.6 months). Increased focus on significant depressive and neurotic disorders is needed when promoting mental health in the workplace.     

Fas-mediated apoptosis is involved in the elimination of gene-transduced hepatocytes with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors

Gene-transduced hepatocytes with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors are eliminated immediately and the expression of transduced genes disappears rapidly following the vector administration. In this report, we analysed the involvement of apoptotic cell death in the elimination of hepatocytes infected with adenoviral vectors. An E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vector expressing Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (LacZ) was injected via the portal vein into congenitally Fas-deficient mice (lpr), Fas ligand-deficient mice (gld) and their control mice, MRL and C3H. 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactoside (X-gal) staining of the liver specimens showed that 80–100% of hepatocytes were LacZ positive at 7 days after virus administration, suggesting that most of the hepatocytes received the injected adenoviral vectors. In normal mice, the number of LacZ-positive cells decreased dramatically at 14 and 21 days after transduction and few positive cells were observed at day 28. β-Galactosidase activity, quantified by the O-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside assay, gave comparable results to X-gal staining. At days 14 or 21, many apoptotic hepatocytes and apoptotic infiltrating cells were detected with the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) in situ apoptosis detection method. This observation suggested that the apoptotic process was associated with the elimination of adenovirus-infected hepatocytes. To test the involvement of the Fas—Fas ligand interaction in this apoptotic process, the period of transgene expression was measured in 1pr and gld mice, which had received the same amount of AxCALacZ. X-Gal histochemical analysis detected many LacZ-positive cells in 1pr or gld mice liver even at 21 or 28 days after AxCALacZ injection. There were significant differences in the reduction rates of β-galactosidase activity of liver homogenates between lpr and MRL, or gld and C3H mice. Based on these observations, we conclude that the Fas-mediated apoptotic process is involved in the elimination of hepatocytes infected with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors.     

Overall pesticide effects on growth and emergence of two species of Ephemeroptera in a model stream carrying pesticide- polluted river water

The overall pesticide effects on mortality, growth and emergence of two dominant species of Ephemeroptera in Japanese rivers, Epeorus latifolium and Ecdyonurus yoshidae, were assessed using an outdoor channel carrying water from the Kokai River. Young larvae collected from another river were introduced into cages in the channel after their body lengths were measured. The concentrations of 17 pesticides were measured three times a week from April to August 1993. A shrimp mortality test on water samples was conducted concurrently. A relationship between the high mortality of the shrimp in the water samples and of E. latifolium in the channel was recognized. The mortality of E. yoshidae increased only when the shrimp mortality increased drastically in early June, reflecting the difference in insecticide susceptibility between the two mayfly species. Almost all the larvae which had been introduced into the channel in winter and/or early spring, when pesticides had cleared from the river, emerged in spring, although their growth rate during the winter was low. The shrimp mortality in the river water samples was caused by the overall pesticide toxicity. The increase in the mortality of the mayfly larvae in the channel might be due to the overall pesticide toxicity, although their concentrations were low and varied independently     

Testicular seminoma associated with massive necrosis

A 70-year-old man presented with 2 years history of a painless hard mass in the left scrotum. Both pelvic computed tomography and magnetic resonance image showed enhancement only in the wall of the tumor, indicating a benign disease, rather than a neoplastic lesion. Physical examination 3 weeks after the first presentation showed the remarkable reduction of the left testicular size. Left inguinal orchiectomy was carried out and pathological diagnosis was seminoma with extensive necrotic areas occupying mostly the tumor. Either shrinkage or enlargement of testicular size with a long history demands full investigation for malignancy.     

Plasma human atrial natriuretic peptide levels in patients with liver cirrhosis

Plasma levels of human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) were investigated in patients with liver cirrhosis, and the relationships between plasma hANP levels and the following factors were studied: presence of ascites, serum and urine electrolytes, plasma renin activity, angiotensin I and II, aldosterone, catecholamines, prostaglandin derivatives, conventional liver function tests and circulating blood volume. Plasma hANP level was significantly (P less than 0.05) elevated in patients with ascites (mean = 58.6 pg/mL, s.e.m. = 8.8) compared with cases without ascites (mean = 36.6 pg/mL, s.e.m. = 2.6). With the disappearance of ascites, the level fell to normal in most cases. Urine sodium excretion was positively correlated with plasma hANP in patients without ascites, but not in patients with ascites. The plasma hANP level was disproportionately high for the rate of urinary Na excretion in cirrhotics with ascites. The plasma hANP level was not correlated with any of the other factors such as blood volume, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone levels, catecholamines and liver function tests. These results suggest that plasma hANP levels are elevated in cirrhotic patients especially with ascites, but the natriuretic response of the kidney to this raised hANP level can be impaired in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites.     

Midline extraperitoneal approach to upper urinary tract surgery: Anatomical basis of surgical technique

Aim: To overcome the disadvantages inherent in the standard surgical approach to the kidney, we introduced a novel surgical technique via a midline extraperitoneal approach. The surgical technique is not substantially different from that of the standard midline transperitoneal approach, except no entry is made into the peritoneal cavity. Although the peritoneum itself is extremely thin and fragile, the peritoneum together with underlying subperitoneal fascia can be dissected readily as a substantial layer, if the proper plane is dissected. Further medial mobilization of the peritoneal sac en bloc by pursuing the fusion fascia plane allows full exposure of the kidney, ureter and great vessels. This approach was adopted for consecutive 51 patients during a 10-month period in 2003. All operations, including 33 radical nephrectomies and 11 nephroureterectomies were completed successfully without significant technical difficulties and differences in operation time and estimated blood loss compared to the transperitoneal approach. No intra- or perioperative complication occurred. All patients did seem to have a much more comfortable postoperative period with minor pain and few abdominal complaint, and the clinical impression was that they resumed the physical activity and oral intake earlier than those after the transperitoneal approach (P = 0.056). There are no operation-related problems such as intra-abdominal adhesion or abdominal muscle weakness resulting in some deformity at 2-year or more follow up. This approach combines the advantages of the transperitoneal midline and extraperitoneal flank approach. Its use will undoubtedly reduce the complications inherent in the transperitoneal approach or the flank approach.     

Recovery of health related quality of life after radical prostatectomy in Japanese men: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: We performed a longitudinal survey of health related quality of life (HRQOL) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) in Japanese men with localized prostate cancer. METHODS: The present study started with self-reported HRQOL assessments provided by 72 patients who received only RP. The RAND 36-Item Health Survey and the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index were administered before and 3, 6 and 12 months after RP. RESULTS: Patients who underwent RP showed problems in some domains of general HRQOL, but these problems diminished over time. Urinary function declined substantially at 3 months and continued to recover at 6 and 12 months, but scored lower than the baseline. Urinary bother at 3 months had a significant decrease, but at six months it turned out to be the same as the baseline. The data of sexual function and bother showed a substantially lower score after RP. The sexual bother score of the younger men was significantly worse than that of the older men. Those who underwent nerve sparing procedures experienced significantly better recovery of urinary and sexual functions than the non-nerve sparing group. CONCLUSION: Despite reports of problems with sexuality and urinary continence, general HRQOL was mostly unaffected by RP after 6 months. Although there was a substantial decrease in urinary function, recovery from urinary bother was rapid. Deterioration of the sexual domain was remarkable throughout the postoperative period. Therefore, careful attention should be given to preoperative counseling, especially for younger patients.