External validation of the HACOR score and ROX index for predicting treatment failure in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia managed on high-flow nasal cannula therapy: a multicenter retrospective observational study in Japan.

Background: The HACOR score for predicting treatment failure includes vital signs and acid-base balance factors, whereas the ROX index only considers the respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO). We aimed to externally validate the HACOR score and ROX index for predicting treatment failure in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy in Japan.

Methods: This retrospective, observational, multicenter study included patients, aged ≥ 18 years, diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated with HFNC therapy between January 16, 2020, and March 31, 2022.

Rhabdomyolysis with Multiple Electrolyte Imbalances under Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment after Total Thyroidectomy.

A 90-year-old man presented with muscle weakness, difficulty concentrating, and dysphagia. About eighteen months prior to presentation, lansoprazole had been initiated to prevent stress ulcers; he also had a history of total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid cancer ten years prior. Laboratory findings were as follows: K 2.

Bicarbonate concentration as a predictor of prognosis in moderately severe COVID-19 patients: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients reportedly have high bicarbonate concentration. However, its relationship to the disease progression are obscure.

Methods: In this two-center retrospective study, we included COVID-19 patients with moderate severity between March 2020 and May 2021.

Effect of peripherally derived steroid hormones on the expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the rat choroid plexus.

Peripherally derived steroids affect steroid production in the brain via the blood-brain barrier. However, steroid concentrations are lower in the cerebrospinal fluid than those in the blood, indicating restricted influx of steroids because of their metabolization by choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells. Here, we analyzed the gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes [cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 17α-hydroxylase/C17-C20 lyase (P450c17), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD1), aromatase (Cyp19a1), and 5α-reductase type 1 (5α-R1)].

Infection dynamics of Toxoplasma gondii in gut-associated tissues after oral infection: The role of Peyer's patches.

Toxoplasma gondii is a common perorally transmitted parasite; however, its immunopathogenesis in gut-associated tissues remains unclear. Here, we compared disease manifestation in C57BL/6 immunocompetent wild type (WT) mice and immunocompromised interferon (IFN)-γ-deficient (GKO) mice after peroral infection (PI) with T. gondii cysts (Fukaya strain).

Transplantation of skin grafts and organs infected with Toxoplasma gondii as a source of toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised mice.

The possibility of Toxoplasma gondii infection resulting from transplantation of a skin graft and various organs has been investigated. The parasite was detected in very low numbers in all organs examined in wild-type (WT) BALB/c (B/c) mice that received skin grafts from infected interferon gamma knockout (GKO) B/c mice both with and without sulfamethoxazole treatment; all recipient mice survived. In contrast, transplantation of skin grafts from untreated infected WT B/c mice to naïve GKO B/c mice led to the death of all recipients within 20 days post-transplantation; T.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 induces lethal anaphylactic reaction through activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and platelet-activating factor via Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) was proven to induce IFN-gamma-dependent lethal anaphylactic reaction in T.

In vivo study of toxoplasmic parasitemia using interferon-gamma-deficient mice: absolute cell number of leukocytes, parasite load and cell susceptibility.

Toxoplasma gondii infection was induced in wild type (WT) C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice and same-background interferon-gamma knockout (GKO) mice by peroral inoculation of Fukaya strain cysts. We studied parasitemia, absolute cell number of leukocytes, and cell susceptibility in peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) subsets in vivo. Parasitemia was observed in both WT and GKO mice, although the pattern of the parasite load was totally different among them.

Role of F4/80Mac-1 adherent non-parenchymal liver cells in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice.

Aim: Non-parenchymal liver cells (NPLC) play an important role in the regulation of immune responses and the inflammatory process. In this study, we hypothesized that F4/80(+)Mac-1(high+) cells were involved in the regulative feedback-modulated regulation of inflammatory responses during concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis.

Methods: Hepatitis was induced in BALB/c mice by the intravenous injection of Con A.

The clinical significance of anti-heat shock cognate protein 71 antibody in myasthenia gravis.

Anti-heat shock cognate protein 71 antibody (HSC71 Ab) formation in the sera of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients was measured, and the correlation between HSC71 Ab titers, clinical features and therapy efficacies for MG patients were examined. Clinical evaluations were performed according to the MG Foundation of America (MGFA) clinical classification. Therapy efficacies were measured using the MG activities of daily living (MG-ADL) score.

Maternal-fetal transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in interferon-gamma deficient pregnant mice.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons but can be life-threatening in immunocompromised persons and for fetuses in the case of maternal-fetal transmission. The effect of interferon (IFN)-gamma, which plays a crucial role in the protective immunity against T. gondii infection, on maternal-fetal transmission of T.

Anaphylactic reaction induced by Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) is a virulent molecule specific for tachyzoites of T.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 stimulates maturation of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells via Toll-like receptor 4.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) induced maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) of wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice as evidenced by an increase in surface expression of MHC class I and II molecules and costimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80, and CD86.

The involvement of immunoproteasomes in induction of MHC class I-restricted immunity targeting Toxoplasma SAG1.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) plays an indispensable role in inducing MHC class I-restricted CD8+ T cells and was exploited in the development of a DNA vaccine against the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii by constructing a chimeric DNA encoding a fusion protein between murine ubiquitin and the toxoplasma antigen SAG1. The SAG1 peptide was promptly degraded in antigen-presenting cells (APCs) transfected with the chimeric DNA. Degradation, however, was hampered by incubating the APCs with the proteasome inhibitor epoxomicin.

Effects of sulfamethoxazole on murine ocular toxoplasmosis in interferon-gamma knockout mice.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on experimental ocular toxoplasmosis by quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) assay.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and WT BALB/c mice and interferon-gamma knockout (GKO) mice were infected orally with Toxoplasma gondii of the Fukaya strain. Mice were classified into groups.

A novel B-2 suppressor cell regulating susceptibility/resistance of mice to Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Irradiation treatment enhanced resistance of C57BL/6, but not BALB/c against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Six Gy-irradiated (IR) C57BL/6 recipients of B-2 cells from T. gondii-infected C57BL/6 died after infection.

Toll-like receptor 4 mediates tolerance in macrophages stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70.

Peritoneal macrophages (PMs) from toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice were responsive to recombinant Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (rTgHSP70) and natural TgHSP70 (nTgHSP70) in NO release, but those from TLR2-, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-, and interleukin-1R-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4)-deficient mice were not. Polymyxin B did not inhibit PM activation by TgHSP70 and nTgHSP70 from WT and TLR4-deficient mice, while it inhibited PM activation by lipopolysaccharide. Pretreatment of PMs from WT but not from TLR4-deficient mice with rTgHSP70 resulted in suppression of NO release on restimulation with rTgHSP70.

[Toxoplasma encephalitis in a patient receiving cyclosporine monotherapy for Behçet disease].

We report a 44-year-old woman with toxoplasma encephalitis that occurred during cyclosporine monotherapy for Behçet disease. She had been treated with cyclosporine for 8 years. She experienced headache and, nausea, and then consciousness disturbance developed.

Peroral infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii in bile and feces of interferon-gamma knockout mice.

Toxoplasama gondii appeared in the bile and feces of interferon-gamma knockout (GKO) but not wild type mice on days 7-8 after peroral infection with T. gondii cysts of Fukaya strain. Both tachyzoite-specific SAG1 and bradyzoite-specific T.

Deterioration of visual function as examined by electroretinograms in Toxoplasma gondii-infected IFN-gamma-knockout mice.

Purpose: To investigate by ERG the effects of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the visual function of interferon gamma knockout (GKO) mice, as a model of immunocompromised hosts.

Methods: Susceptible wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and GKO C57BL/6 mice were infected with five cysts of the avirulent T. gondii perorally.

Roles of Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 in host defense against T. gondii infection.

C57BL/6 mice receiving intraperitoneal injection of Toxoplasma gondii -derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g. HSP70) on day 3 post T.

Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 stimulates the maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

We investigated the role of Toxoplasma gondii-derived heat shock protein 70 (TgHSP70) as a dendritic cell (DC) maturation-inducing molecule. TgHSP70 induced the maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells as determined by increased levels of surface markers, namely, CD40, CD80, CD86, and HLA-DR. Moreover, TgHSP70 also reduced phagocytic activity and increased the allostimulatory capacity of DCs, suggesting the functional maturation of DCs by TgHSP70.

The role of IFN-gamma and Toll-like receptors in nephropathy induced by Toxoplasma gondii infection.

The pathologic links between Toxoplasma gondii infections and renal diseases have not yet been established. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are involved in the host defense mechanism against T. gondii infection.

Up-regulation of phospholipase Cgamma1 and phospholipase D during the differentiation of human monocytes to dendritic cells.

Phospholipase C (PLC)gamma and phospholipase D (PLD) play pivotal roles in the signal transduction required for various cellular responses, including cell proliferation and differentiation. Dendritic cells (DCs), which are professional antigen-presenting cells, can be generated from human monocytes by stimulating the cells with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). We investigated whether PLCgamma and PLD expression levels can be changed during the differentiation of the human monocytes into DCs.