Enhanced autophagy and phagocytosis of apoptotic lymphocytes in splenic macrophages of acute ethanol-treated rats: Light and electron microscopic studies.

Autophagy is a prosurvival mechanism for the clearance of damaged cellular components, specifically upon exposure to various stressors. In lymphoid organs, excessive ethanol consumption increases lymphocyte apoptosis, resulting in immunosuppression. However, ethanol-induced autophagy and related phagocytosis of apoptotic lymphocytes in the spleen have not been studied yet.

Laboratory Test Predictors for Major Bleeding in Elderly (≥80 Years) Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated With Edoxaban 15 mg: Sub-Analysis of the ELDERCARE-AF Trial.

Background We investigated the predictors related to major bleeding events during treatment with edoxaban 15 mg in patients aged ≥80 years with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and high bleeding risk, for whom standard oral anticoagulants are inappropriate, focusing on standard laboratory tests related to bleeding. Methods and Results This was a prespecified subanalysis of the on-treatment analysis set of the ELDERCARE-AF (Edoxaban Low-Dose for Elder Care Atrial Fibrillation Patients) trial. Major bleeding was the primary safety end point.

Trousseau's syndrome associated with an ovarian borderline tumour.

A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of sudden onset of weakness on the left side of her body. Her medical history was unremarkable, and on physical examination, hemiparesis and hyperreflexia on the left side were found. MRI of the brain showed multiple areas of restricted diffusion in both parietal lobes and in the cerebellum, consistent with embolic shower.

Preference or flexibility? Spatial navigation by Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in a multiple-cue environment.

We investigated if and how Syrian hamsters () show flexibility in their use of multiple sources of information in a spatial learning task. In Experiment 1, hamsters were trained to exit an arena through one of three doors. The goal, marked by a beacon, was fixed during the training phase.

Upregulation of FGF9 in Lung Adenocarcinoma Transdifferentiation to Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Transdifferentiation of lung adenocarcinoma to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been reported in a subset of lung cancer cases that bear EGFR mutations. Several studies have reported the prerequisite role of and alterations in transdifferentiation. However, the mechanism underlying transdifferentiation remains understudied, and definitive additional events, the third hit, for transdifferentiation have not yet been identified.

Characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with robust progression of emphysematous change.

Emphysema is a major pathological change in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the annual changes in the progression of emphysematous have not been investigated. We aimed to determine possible baseline predicting factors of the change in emphysematous progression in a subgroup of COPD patients who demonstrated rapid progression.

Reliability of measurement using Image J for reach distance and movement angles in the functional reach test.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) of reach distance and movement angle analyses using Image J. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-eight healthy young males performed the functional reach test (FRT) twice, and their reach movements were recorded using a digital video camera. Image J was used to combine the digital photographs taken at the start position and maximum reach and to measure each movement.

Genome-wide association study in patients with pulmonary complex disease.

Rationale: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental mycobacteria that can cause a chronic progressive lung disease. Although epidemiological data indicate potential genetic predisposition, its nature remains unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to identify host susceptibility loci for complex (MAC), the most common NTM pathogen.

The Effectiveness of Nasal Airway Stent Therapy for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) experience excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia and they are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease and stroke. Continuous positive airway pressure therapy could improve symptoms and decrease these risks; however, adherence is problematic. Although the oral appliance is another therapeutic option, patient satisfaction is limited and the effect of the nasal airway stent - a new device - remains unclear.

Simple Synthesis of a Heterocyclophane Exhibiting Anti-c-Met Activity by Acting as a Hatch Blocking Access to the Active Site*.

A simple approach to the synthesis of heterocyclophane consisting of two 4,4'-bithiazoles has been developed in mild conditions. The heterocyclophane with two short chains was conveniently prepared by Hantzsch thiazoles synthesis using the reaction of 3-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-azapentanethiocarboxamide with 1,4-dibromobutane-2,3-dione in methanol under reflux for only 15 min. Amino groups at the linkers of this heterocyclophane can be functionalized to give acylated and carbamate derivatives.

The Impact of Smoking on Pulmonary Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer.

Introduction: Recently, clinical studies have revealed that smoking can contribute to the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and, additionally, can be a risk factor for pulmonary metastasis of CRC. However, there has been no basic research regarding the underlying molecular mechanism. The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism by which smoking causes pulmonary metastasis of CRC.

Phylogeny and ontogeny of mental time.

Humans have mental time in our mind, apart from physical time that is a part of system that governs the physical world, and memory is our key cognitive ability for recognizing the passage of time. Recent studies have suggested that the memory system of several nonhuman animals may have an incidental nature, which is also a feature of episodic memory. In addition, apes, which are phylogenetically close to humans, have an ability to remember a single past event.

Risk factors for poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy in patients with moderate to severe asthma.

Background: Poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy is a common reason for worsened asthma control.

Objective: We investigated the characteristics of patients with moderate to severe asthma who showed poor adherence to therapy, to identify the barriers for optimal ICS therapy in a real-world observational cohort.

Methods: We enrolled patients aged ≥20 years presenting with moderate to severe asthma who were enrolled at 18 hospitals in Japan.

Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Enhances the Stemness of Alveolar Type 2 Cells.

Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) causes chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of epithelial cells, which results in destruction of the lung matrix. However, the mechanism by which the lung fails to repair the CS-induced damage, thereby succumbing to emphysema, remains unclear. Alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells comprise the stem cells of the alveolar compartments and are responsible for repairing and maintaining lung tissues.

ADAM17 protects against elastase-induced emphysema by suppressing CD62L leukocyte infiltration in mice.

Pulmonary emphysema is a major manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is associated with chronic pulmonary inflammation caused by cigarette smoking, with contributions from immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. Although matrix metalloproteinases are well known to contribute to emphysema progression, the role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family proteins, other major metalloproteinases, in disease pathogenesis is largely unknown. ADAM17 is a major sheddase that cleaves various cell surface proteins, including CD62L, an adhesion molecule that plays a critical role in promoting the migration of immune cells to the site of inflammation.

Factors associated with improvements in subjective symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Purpose: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy improves subjective symptoms in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients; however, factors predicting symptom improvement post-CPAP therapy and the CPAP duration necessary for improving subjective symptoms are unclear. This study aimed to identify these factors and the appropriate nightly CPAP duration for improving subjective symptoms.

Methods: We recruited 359 subjects who completed both overnight polysomnography and subjective symptom assessments using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Zung Self-Depression Scale (SDS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Drug-induced pneumonitis following the administration of laninamivir octanoate: The first two reported cases.

Laninamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI), has been used for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A/B. To date, pneumonia has not been reported as an adverse effect of NAIs. Here, we report the first 2 cases of drug-induced pneumonitis after the administration of laninamivir octanoate (LO), a pro-drug of laninamivir.

Effect of FGF/FGFR pathway blocking on lung adenocarcinoma and its cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are known to promote tumourigenesis through various mechanisms. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)/FGF receptor (FGFR)-dependent lung cancers have been described. We have developed a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma that was constructed through the induction of Fgf9 overexpression in type 2 alveolar cells.

Disseminated histoplasmosis from a calcified lung nodule after long-term corticosteroid therapy in an elderly Japanese patient: A case report.

Rationale: Histoplasmosis occurs most commonly in Northern and Central America and Southeast Asia. Increased international travel in Japan has led to a few annual reports of imported histoplasmosis. Healed sites of histoplasmosis lung infection may remain as nodules and are often accompanied by calcification.

Retrospective evaluation of natural course in mild cases of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

Background: There is no proven management for mild cases of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease, who do not immediately receive treatment and are managed with observation alone, because its long term-natural course, factors predictive of deterioration, and the effect of treating the disease remain unclear. Thus, we sought to investigate the natural course of mild cases of MAC pulmonary disease.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective study.

Obesity worsens the outcome of influenza virus infection associated with impaired type I interferon induction in mice.

Increasing evidence indicates that obesity is a risk factor for increased severity of influenza virus infection. However, its precise immunological mechanism is not fully understood. To investigate this, diet-induced obese (DIO) mice were established by feeding C57BL/6 male mice a high-fat diet for 16 weeks.

Black pleural effusion caused by pancreatic pseudocyst rupture.

The images show the path of pancreatic pleural effusion from the pancreatic pseudocyst in a patient with alcoholic pancreatitis who presented with black pleural effusion, however, without symptoms. Pancreatic pseudocyst rupture rarely causes pleural effusion; however, it should be considered in patients with chronic pancreatitis with black pleural effusion.

Predictive and modifying factors of bone mineral density decline in patients with COPD.

Rationale: Various determinants of osteoporosis have been previously identified. However, only a few longitudinal studies have examined related factors. We aimed to investigate factors predicting and modifying rapid decline of bone mineral density in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.