Photodynamic therapy exploiting the anti-tumor activity of mannose-conjugated chlorin e6 reduced M2-like tumor-associated macrophages.

M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) in cancer tissues are intimately involved in cancer immunosuppression in addition to growth, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Hence, considerable attention has been focused on cancer immunotherapies targeting M2-TAMs. However, systemic therapies inhibit TAMs as well as other macrophages important for normal immune responses throughout the body.

Changes in Peritoneal Transport and Peritoneal Damage in Japanese Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis Using Neutral-pH Dialysate: A Retrospective Cohort Study at Two Centers.

The effects of medium- or long-term use of neutral-pH dialysate on peritoneal transport and peritoneal damage have not been sufficiently researched.We retrospectively evaluated time-dependent changes in the dialysate-to-plasma ratio of creatinine (D/P Cr) and biomarkers of peritoneal damage in the effluent of 65 patients who underwent peritoneal dialysis (PD) with neutral-pH dialysate, including 48 who underwent medium-term PD (≥3 years) and 17 who underwent long-term PD (≥5 years).Patients who underwent medium-term PD initially had a D/P Cr of 0.

A Comparison Study of Glucose Fluctuation During Automated Peritoneal Dialysis and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis.

In recent years, it has become possible to examine an individual's daily glucose profile with a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS). The aim of the present study was to use a CGMS to evaluate the difference in glucose fluctuation between diabetic patients on automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) and those on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). We retrospectively studied 20 diabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis (16 men, 4 women; mean age: 55 ± 10 years) who used a CGMS a total of 23 times (12 times by APD users, 11 times by CAPD users).

Subcutaneous pathway diversion for peritoneal dialysis catheter salvage.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter-related infection is still is the most troublesome problem for continuation of PD without the need to switch to hemodialysis. We have been performing subcutaneous pathway diversion (SPD) as a surgical treatment for refractory exit-site and tunnel infection (ESTI). To clarify the efficacy and safety of SPD, we conducted a retrospective study.

Efficacy of oral powder compared with chewable tablets for lanthanum carbonate administration in hemodialysis patients.

Lanthanum carbonate (LC) has been administered in a chewable tablet form for patients with hyperphosphatemia undergoing dialysis. However, some patients have difficulty chewing the tablets. LC oral powder has recently been released in Japan.

The first case report of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis caused by Microbacterium paraoxydans.

Peritonitis is still the major complication associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Microbacterium spp., a type of coryneform bacteria, is an environmental bacterium isolated from soil, waste water and animals.

Physical activity is associated with serum albumin in peritoneal dialysis patients.

The incidence of metabolic syndrome is about 50% in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The positive association of metabolic syndrome with lower physical activity (PA) has been reported in the general population, but the effect of PA in PD patients has not been clarified. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate PA in PD patients and to clarify the correlations between PA and various clinical parameters in PD patients.

Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) in effluent is a useful marker for peritoneal permeability in peritoneal dialysis patients using neutral dialysate.

To clarify the influence of neutral dialysate (ND) on peritoneum, we examined changes in peritoneal permeability and in various markers of the coagulation and fibrinolytic system in effluent and the correlations between peritoneal permeability and those markers in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients using ND. We evaluated 14 patients (8 men, 6 women; mean age: 58.6 +/- 12.