Effect of protease inhibitors on degradation of recombinant human epidermal growth factor in skin tissue

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF), a polypeptide of 53 amino acid residues, is subject to degradation by numerous enzymes, especially proteases, when it is applied on the skin for the treatment of open wound. Amastatin, aprotinin, bestatin, EDTA, EGTA, gabexate, gentamicin, leupeptin, and TPCK were investigated for the possible protease inhibitors, which may use to protect rhEGF from degradation by the enzymes in the skin. Skin homogenates containing protease inhibitors and rhEGF were incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes. After the reaction was stopped with trifluoroacetic acid, the amount of rhEGF remaining in the sample was determined with an HPLC method. The percentages of rhEGF degraded, at the skin/PBS ratio of 0.25, in the mouse, rat, and human skin homogenate were 85%, 70%, and 46%, respectively. The degree of degradation of rhEGF in the cytosolic fraction was higher than that in the membrane fraction and these enzyme reactions were completed in 30 minutes. Bestatin, EGTA, and TPCK showed significant inhibitory effects on the degradation of rhEGF in the two fractions (p<0.05), while the other protease inhibitors had no significant inhibitory effects or, even resulted in deleterious effects. Therefore, the formulation containing one or several inhibitors among these effective inhibitors would be a promising topical preparation of rhEGF for the treatment of open wound.     

Profile Analysis of Sexual Assault Experiences among Adult Women and Their Implications for Mental Health

ObjectiveExtant studies indicate that just one characteristic of sexual assault cannot properly represent the whole experience of sexual assault and, especially, the severity of sexual assault. This study aimed to understand the totality of sexual assault experiences and elucidate subtypes of sexual assault victims based on the detailed characteristics of their sexual assault experiences and those relationships with mental health. MethodsA total of 255 adult sexual violence victims who used intervention services and a comparison group were included. Information on their sexual assault experiences was gleaned from case records data. ResultsThe following four distinctive profile groups were identified: “Sexual Touching” (19.6%), “Rape/Social Relation” (30.4%), “Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)” (18.8%), and “Rape/Stranger” (31.3%). The subgroups differed in terms of secondary victimization and adverse childhood experiences. The Rape/Social Relation and IPV subgroups most frequently experienced secondary victimization and childhood adversity. The four profile subgroups demonstrated different relationships with mental health outcomes, with a complicated pattern. The Rap/Social Relation and IPV subgroups scored higher on mental health problem screening measures compared to other groups. However, a considerable proportion of victims in the Sexual Touching subgroup also reported suicidal behaviors and self-injury. ConclusionBased on the results, theoretical and clinical implications were discussed.     

General anesthesia for dental treatment in a Williams syndrome patient with severe aortic and pulmonary valve stenosis: suspected episode of postoperatively malignant hyperthermia

A 28-month-old boy (height, 76 cm; weight, 9.4 kg) diagnosed as having Williams syndrome presented for dental care. We report a case of postoperatively suspected malignant hyperthermia after the administration of general anesthesia for dental treatment in this patient with severe supravalvular aortic stenosis and pulmonary artery hypoplasia. Anesthesia was maintained through the inhalation of nitrous oxide and sevoflurane with oxygen. The patient was hemodynamically stable and no other abnormalities were observed. After the completion of the dental treatment, he was transferred to the pediatric ward. On arrival at the ward, the patient's core temperature increased to 39.5 degrees C and tachypnea (RR, 30 breaths/min) was observed. The SPO2 during inhalation was slightly low (92%-93%). Serum biochemistry revealed an elevated CK level (1345 U/L) but no other abnormal findings. Twelve hours after the dental treatment, the patient's core temperature fell to 37.4 degrees C. After hospitalization for 4 days, the patient was discharged in good condition. In the present case, general anesthesia was employed for dental treatment despite severe supravalvular aortic stenosis and peripheral pulmonary artery hypoplasia, because conventional dental therapy was very difficult as a result of the patient's mental retardation and hyperkinesia. The present case suggests that the use of volatile agents that could trigger malignant hyperthermia should be avoided wherever possible.     

Performance Assessment of the Post-Tensioned Anchorage Zone Using High-Strength Concrete Considering Confinement Effect

Post-tensioned anchorage zones need enough strength to resist large forces from jacking forces from prestress and need spiral reinforcement to give confinement effect. High-strength concrete (HSC) has high-strength and brings the advantage of reducing material using and simplifying reinforcing. We tested strain stabilization, load–displacement, and strain of lateral reinforcements. Specimens that used one and two lateral reinforcements without spiral reinforcement did not satisfy the strain stabilization. Load capacity also did not satisfy the condition of 1.1 times the nominal tensile strength of PS strands presented in ETAG 013. On the other hand, specimens that used three and four lateral reinforcements without spiral reinforcement satisfied the strain stabilization but did not satisfy 1.1 times the nominal tensile strength of PS strands. However, the secondary confinement effect could be confirmed from strain stabilization. In addition, the affection of HSC characteristics could be confirmed from a reinforcing level comparing other studies. The main confinement effect could be confirmed from the reinforcement strain results; there was a considerable difference between with and without spiral reinforcement at least 393 MPa. Comprehensively, main and secondary confinement effects are essential in post-tensioned anchorage zones. In addition, the performance of the anchorage zone could be increased by using HSC that the combination of high-strength and confinement effect.     

Evaluation of Dynamic Properties of Sodium-Alginate-Reinforced Soil Using A Resonant-Column Test

Ground reinforcement is a method used to reduce the damage caused by earthquakes. Usually, cement-based reinforcement methods are used because they are inexpensive and show excellent performance. Recently, however, reinforcement methods using eco-friendly materials have been proposed due to environmental issues. In this study, the cement reinforcement method and the biopolymer reinforcement method using sodium alginate were compared. The dynamic properties of the reinforced ground, including shear modulus and damping ratio, were measured through a resonant-column test. Also, the viscosity of sodium alginate solution, which is a non-Newtonian fluid, was also explored and found to increase with concentration. The maximum shear modulus and minimum damping ratio increased, and the linear range of the shear modulus curve decreased, when cement and sodium alginate solution were mixed. Addition of biopolymer showed similar reinforcing effect in a lesser amount of additive compared to the cement-reinforced ground, but the effect decreased above a certain viscosity because the biopolymer solution was not homogeneously distributed. This was examined through a shear-failure-mode test.     

Treatment of lateral node metastasis from lower rectal cancer

Lateral lymphatics of the rectum originate in the area where branches of the inferior hypogastric plexus and the middle rectal vessels from the internal iliac vessels enter the mesorectum below the level of the peritoneal reflection in the pelvis, then reach the bifurcation of iliac vessels along the internal iliac vessels. Among lateral lymph nodes, the middle rectal, obturator, and internal iliac lymph nodes are important from the viewpoint of both the incidence of metastais and treatment effects. Although total mesorectal excision (TME) had become the standard surgical treatment for rectal cancer by the 1990s, this technique does not treat lateral node metastasis. A randomized clinical trial of TME versus D3 lymphadenectomy (JCOG0212) was started in 2003, and the registration of 701 patients with lower rectal cancer was completed in August 2010. The results of this clinical trial are highly anticipated. In Japan, where the rate of local recurrence after surgery is low, patients at high risk of local recurrence such as those with lateral node metastasis, T4 disease, and multiple lymph node metastases in the mesorectum should be selected to receive preoperative chemoradiation. Japanese surgeons who treat rectal cancers are in an advantageous position because they have the additional measure of lateral node dissection along with TME and chemoradiotherapy.