Vascular heterogeneity of tight junction Claudins guides organotropic metastasis.

Carcinomas are associated with metastasis to specific organs while sparing others. Breast cancer presents with lung metastasis but rarely kidney metastasis. Using this difference as an example, we queried the mechanism(s) behind the proclivity for organ-specific metastasis.

Transcriptome Analysis by RNA Sequencing of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Stocked on International Space Station for 1584 Days in Frozen State after Culture on the Ground.

As a space project, in "Stem Cells" by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), frozen mouse ES cells were stored on the International Space Station (ISS) in the Minus Eighty Degree Laboratory Freezer for ISS (MELFI) for 1584 days. After taking these cells back to the ground, the cells were thawed and cultured, and their gene expressions were comprehensively analyzed using RNA sequencing in order to elucidate the early response of the cells to long-time exposure to space radiation consisting of various ionized particles. The comparisons of gene expression involved in double-stranded break (DSB) repair were examined.

Comparison of biological measurement and physical estimates of space radiation in the International Space Station.

Nowadays, ordinary people can travel in space, and the possibility of extended durations in an environment such as moon of the Earth and Mars with higher space radiation exposures compared to past missions, is increasing. Until now, the physical doses of space radiation have been measured, but measurement of direct biological effects has been hampered by its low dose and low dose-rate effect. To assess the biological effects of space radiation, we launched and kept frozen mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in minus eighty degree Celsius freezer in ISS (MELFI) on the International Space Station (ISS) for a maximum of 1,584 days.

Nutritional Status Association With Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis Assessed by Nutritional Risk Index.

Background: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are frequently observed in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). To elucidate whether malnutrition is associated with sarcopenia in those cases, the relationship of nutritional status with sarcopenia was investigated.

Methods: Nutritional status was assessed using a nutritional risk index (NRI) developed for patients undergoing MHD.

Xanthine Oxidoreductase Inhibitor Use Associated With Reduced Risk of Sarcopenia and Severe Sarcopenia in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Background: Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) inhibition reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and enhances adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. We investigated the protective effects of XOR inhibitor treatment on sarcopenia, frequently observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), in which increased ROS and ATP shortage are known to be involved.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 296 HD patient (203 males, 93 females).

BMP7 Signaling in -Deficient Stromal Cells Provokes Epithelial Carcinogenesis.

Deregulated transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling is a common feature of many epithelial cancers. Deletion of in fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP1)-positive stromal cells induces squamous cell carcinoma in the murine forestomach, implicating fibroblast-derived hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) as the major driver of the epithelium carcinogenesis. Prior to cancer development, hyperproliferative FSP1 fibroblasts lacking accumulate in the forestomach, disrupting the regulatory signaling cross-talk with the forestomach epithelium.

Low-dose irradiation of mouse embryos increases Smad-p21 pathway activity and preserves pluripotency.

Purpose: To study the outcomes of mouse preimplantation embryos irradiated with low doses of X-rays (≤ 1 Gy) and investigate apoptosis and pluripotency of the irradiated embryos.

Methods: Mouse embryos at the 2-cell stage were collected for in vitro culture. After reaching the 8-cell stage, embryos were irradiated with various low doses of X-rays (0-1 Gy).

Gene-modified embryonic stem cell test to characterize chemical risks.

A high-throughput test of cell growth inhibition was performed using mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to assess chemical toxicities. We herein demonstrated using a 96-well culture plate approach and the MTT assay that this method was suitable for prioritization of chemicals for their cytotoxic properties. In order to categorize chemicals, we used p53 gene-modified mouse ES cells as well as wild-type ES cells.

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition as a novel mechanism for generating myofibroblasts during diabetic nephropathy.

This Commentary provides perspective on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic nephropathy.

Different risk factors for vascular calcification in end-stage renal disease between diabetics and nondiabetics: the respective importance of glycemic and phosphate control.

Vascular calcification is highly prevalent in dialysis patients, and significantly increases cardiovascular mortality. The presence and progression of vascular calcification is significantly associated with chronic inflammation and malnutrition. Disorders of mineral metabolism, particularly hyperphosphatemia, have been emphasized as risk factors for vascular calcification.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products is involved in impaired angiogenic response in diabetes.

Angiogenic response is impaired in diabetes. Here, we examined the involvement of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in diabetes-related impairment of angiogenesis in vivo. Angiogenesis was determined in reconstituted basement membrane protein (matrigel) plugs containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) implanted into nondiabetic or insulin-deficient diabetic wild-type or RAGE(-/-) mice.

[Mechanism of vascular calcification].

Vascular calcification in dialysis patients is associated with morbidity and mortality risks. Recent evidence suggests that vascular calcification is an active process resembling osteogenesis and chondrogenesis process. In this process, hyperphosphatemia is one of the important regulators.

Statins inhibit in vitro calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells induced by inflammatory mediators.

Although lipid-lowering therapy with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) decreases the progression of coronary artery and aortic valve calcification, the mechanism of action of these drugs to inhibit the calcification process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of statins such as cerivastatin and atorvastatin on vascular calcification by utilizing an in vitro model of inflammatory vascular calcification. Cerivastatin and atorvastatin dose-dependently inhibited in vitro calcification of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) induced by the following inflammatory mediators (IM): interferon-gamma, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and oncostatin M.

Matrix Gla protein is associated with coronary artery calcification as assessed by electron-beam computed tomography.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is an extracellular matrix protein with wide tissue distribution. It has been demonstrated that the expression of MGP is detected not only in the normal blood vessels but also calcified atherosclerotic plaques, and that MGP deficient mice develop extensive arterial calcification. MGP is thought to be a regulator of vascular calcification.

Arterial wall stiffness is associated with peripheral circulation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in diabetic patients is manyfold higher than that of age- and sex-matched nondiabetic subjects. This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between quantitatively determined peripheral circulation in the lower extremities and arterial wall thickness or stiffness in 68 patients with type 2 diabetes. Peripheral circulation during treadmill-exercise was monitored by transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) and was expressed as percentage of post-exercise TcPO2 adjusted by that of pre-exercise (TcPO2 index).