Proximal tubule cell maturation rate and function are controlled by PPARα signaling in kidney organoids.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids are expected to be a useful tool for new drug discoveries, however, the immaturation of kidney organoids causes difficulties in recapitulating renal pharmacokinetics using organoids. Here, we performed time-course single-cell RNA sequencing of kidney organoids and revealed cell heterogeneity in the maturation rate of the proximal tubule. An unbiased analysis to identify upstream targets of genes that are expressed differentially between cells with low and high maturation rates revealed a higher activation of PPARα signaling in rapidly maturing cells.

Proof of concept testing of a positive reference material for in vivo and in vitro sensitization testing of medical devices.

In vivo skin sensitization tests are required to evaluate the biological safety of medical devices in contact with living organisms to provide safe medical care to patients. Negative and positive reference materials have been developed for biological tests of cytotoxicity, implantation, hemolysis, and in vitro skin irritation. However, skin sensitization tests are lacking.

Antitumor activity of α-pinene in T-cell tumors.

T-cell acute leukemia and lymphoma have a poor prognosis. Although new therapeutic agents have been developed, their therapeutic effects are suboptimal. α-Pinene, a monoterpene compound, has an antitumor effect on solid tumors; however, few comprehensive investigations have been conducted on its impact on hematologic malignancies.

deletion induces extraordinary Cxcl13 secretion and cachexia in VavP- transgenic mice.

Loss of , found in several types of lymphoma, induces excessive CXCL13 secretion through RNA dysregulation contributing to body weight loss and early death in lymphoma model mice. Follicular lymphoma (FL) is associated with overexpressed BCL-2 and other genetic aberrations, including 6q-. We identified a novel gene on 6q25, " ()," from a transformed FL.

Toward developing care outcome quality indicators for home care for older people: A prospective cohort study in Japan.

Introduction: Care quality in Japan's long-term care (LTC) agencies, including home care, is the responsibility primarily of individual agencies, and the evaluation of service processes and outcomes is minimal.

Objectives: To describe the development of quality indicators for LTC (QIs-LTC) in Japan.

Methods: QIs-LTC were developed through literature review and expert panel discussions and then were piloted and used in a 2-year longitudinal survey.

Effectiveness of home visit nursing on improving mortality, hospitalization, institutionalization, satisfaction, and quality of life among older people: Umbrella review.

This umbrella review followed the JBI methodology and synthesized systematic reviews of the effectiveness of long-term home visit nursing for older people (≥ 60 years) on improving mortality, hospitalization, institutionalization, patient satisfaction, and quality of life. Eight bibliographic databases were searched, and 10 reviews with 22 distinct relevant trials (n = 10,765 participants) were included. Mortality was the most frequently examined outcome and satisfaction was the least examined (n = nine and one reviews, respectively).

Family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential facilities for older people: A scoping review of the characteristics and outcomes.

Introduction: Family-oriented interventions in long-term care (LTC) residential facilities are heterogenous in design, characteristics, and outcomes.

Objectives: To synthesize characteristics (e.g.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Social Isolation in Long-term Care Homes: Perspectives of Policies and Strategies from Six Countries.

Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care homes is critical for the health of residents who live in these institutions. As a result, broad policies restricting visits to these facilities were put in place internationally. While well meaning, these policies have exacerbated the ongoing social isolation crisis present in long-term care homes prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings: a scoping review protocol.

Objectives: The objective of this review will be to identify the characteristics (eg, type, duration, and provider) of family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings. The authors will also identify which outcomes are reported in the literature when implementing family-oriented interventions.

Introduction: An array of family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings exist.

Needs of persons with dementia and their family caregivers in dementia cafés.

Background And Aims: Several studies have shown the effectiveness and diversity of dementia cafés, whereas there are few published articles in academic research focusing on what persons with dementia and their family caregivers need and whether the services provided satisfy their needs. This study aimed to identify the needs of persons with dementia and their family caregivers participating in dementia cafés in Japan.

Methods: Interviews and participant observations were conducted in nine dementia cafés.

A biological study establishing the endotoxin limit for osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widespread in adult organisms and are implicated in tissue maintenance and repair, regulation of hematopoiesis, and immunologic responses. Human (h)MSCs have applications in tissue engineering, cell-based therapy, and medical devices but it is unclear how they respond to unfavorable conditions, such as hypoxia or inflammation after transplantation . Although endotoxin testing is required for evaluating the quality and safety of transplanted MSCs, no reports on their dose response to endotoxins are available to establish the limits for MSC culture systems.

A biological study establishing the endotoxin limit for in vitro proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widespread in adult organisms and are implicated in tissue maintenance and repair, regulation of hematopoiesis, and immunologic responses. Human (h)MSCs have applications in tissue engineering, cell-based therapy, and medical devices but it is unclear how they respond to unfavorable conditions such as hypoxia or inflammation after in vivo transplantation. Although endotoxin testing is a requirement for evaluating the quality and safety of transplanted MSCs, there have been no reports on the dose response to endotoxins to establish limits for in vitro MSC culture systems.

Proof of concept testing of a positive reference material for in vivo and in vitro skin irritation testing.

In vivo and in vitro irritation testing is important for evaluating the biological safety of medical devices. Here, the performance of positive reference materials for skin irritation testing was evaluated. Four reference standards, referred to as Y-series materials, were analyzed: a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet spiked with 0 (Y-1), 1.

Validation of family conflict scales for family caregivers of persons with dementia in long-term care facilities and exploration of family conflicts and support.

Unlabelled: ABSTRACTBackground:The aim of the study was to develop a family conflict scale for family caregivers of persons with dementia in long-term care facilities and to explore the relationship between family conflicts and family support.

Methods: The scale was developed through forward- and back-translations, interviews with 12 staff members in long-term care facilities, and cognitive interviews with 12 family caregivers who met operational definitions in this study. The test was conducted with 334 family caregivers and a retest was conducted with 318 family caregivers who had indicated willingness to participate further.

Pilot study on novel blood containers with alternative plasticizers for red cell concentrate storage.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a typical plasticizer used for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood containers, is eluted from the blood containers and exerts protective effects on red blood cells. However, a concern for detrimental effects of DEHP on human health has led to the development of potential DEHP substitutes. Here, we compared the red blood cell preservation ability of two types of non-DEHP blood containers with safe alternative plasticizers to that of DEHP blood containers.

Evaluation of Pigment Distribution and Depth Analysis Methods for Decorative Soft Contact Lenses.

Objectives: This study evaluates pigment component distribution and depth in decorative soft contact lenses (DSCLs) using a variety of analytical methods.

Methods: We sampled 18 DSCLs using optical microscopy, optical coherence tomography analysis, Z-stack analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to evaluate the distribution and depth of pigment components.

Results: Pigment distribution in DSCLs was easily observed with optical methods including Z-stack analysis.

Alternative plasticizer, 4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid dinonyl ester, for blood containers with protective effects on red blood cells and improved cold resistance.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a typical plasticizer used for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is eluted from PVC-made blood containers and protects against red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis. However, concerns have arisen regarding the reproductive and developmental risks of DEHP in humans, and the use of alternative plasticizers for medical devices has been recommended worldwide. In this study, we propose that the use of a novel plasticizer, 4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid dinonyl ester (DL9TH), could help produce more useful and safe blood containers.

G-CSF-induced sympathetic tone provokes fever and primes antimobilizing functions of neutrophils via PGE2.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is widely used for peripheral blood stem/progenitor mobilization. G-CSF causes low-grade fever that is ameliorated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), suggesting the activation of arachidonic acid (AA) cascade. How G-CSF regulated this reaction was assessed.

A Mutation in the 16S rRNA Decoding Region Attenuates the Virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis contains a single rRNA operon that encodes targets for antituberculosis agents, including kanamycin. To date, only four mutations in the kanamycin binding sites of 16S rRNA have been reported in kanamycin-resistant clinical isolates. We hypothesized that another mutation(s) in the region may dramatically decrease M.

Posttranscriptional modulation of cytokine production in T cells for the regulation of excessive inflammation by TFL.

Posttranscriptional machinery regulates inflammation and is associated with autoimmunity as well as tumorigenesis in collaboration with transcription factors. We previously identified the tumor suppressor gene transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL) on 6q25 in a patient with follicular lymphoma, which transformed into diffuse large B cell lymphoma. TFL families have a common RNase domain that governs macrophage-mediated inflammation.

[Comprehensive analyses of hydrolyzed wheat protein using shotgun proteomics].

Hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP; hydrolyzed gluten) is used in various types of products worldwide. Several cases of wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis following exposure to HWP (Glupearl 19S) in cosmetics have been reported. Glupearl 19S was produced from the gluten after partial hydrolysis with hydrogen chloride, and its allergenicity is larger than that of gluten (Adachi R.

Casein kinase Iepsilon down-regulates phospho-Akt via PTEN, following genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis in hematopoietic cells.

Here, we show a functional role of casein kinase I (CKI) epsilon in hematopoietic cell survival through the modification of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling. Introduction of wild-type (WT)-CKIepsilon into interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent 32D cells increased the sensitivity to genotoxic stresses, such as gamma-irradiation, etoposide, and IL-3 deprivation, whereas kinase-negative (KN)-CKIepsilon suppressed it. Contrary to KN-CKIepsilon, WT-CKIepsilon attenuated the IL-3-induced activation of Akt with the increase of PTEN activity.