Dach1 is essential for maintaining normal mature podocytes.

Dach1 is highly expressed in normal podocytes, but this expression rapidly disappears after podocyte injury. To investigate the role of Dach1 in podocytes in vivo, we analyzed global, podocyte-specific, and inducible Dach1 knockout mice. Global Dach1 knockout (Dach1-/-) mice were assessed immediately after birth because they die within a day.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor-mediated signaling regulates hypoxia-induced biological functions of lymphatic endothelial cells.

The tumor microenvironment is an extremely complex composed of cancer cells and various non-cancer cells, including lymphatic endothelial cells. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors (LPA to LPA) activate a variety of malignant properties in human malignancies. In the present study, we examined the roles of LPA receptor-mediated signaling in biological responses of lymphatic endothelial SVEC4-10 cells induced by hypoxia.

Endogenous CCL21-Ser deficiency reduces B16-F10 melanoma growth by enhanced antitumor immunity.

The chemokine CCL21 regulates immune and cancer cell migration through its receptor CCR7. The gene encodes the isoform CCL21-Ser, predominantly expressed in the thymic medulla and the secondary lymphoid tissues. This study examined the roles of CCL21-Ser in the antitumor immune response in -knockout (KO) mice.

CCL21-Ser expression in melanoma cells recruits CCR7 naïve T cells to tumor tissues and promotes tumor growth.

CCL21-Ser, a chemokine encoded by the Ccl21a gene, is constitutively expressed in the thymic epithelial cells and stromal cells of secondary lymphoid organs. It regulates immune cell migration and survival through its receptor CCR7. Herein, using CCL21-Ser-expressing melanoma cells and the Ccl21a-deficient mice, we demonstrated the functional role of cancer cell-derived CCL21-Ser in melanoma growth in vivo.

Identification of a novel type of focal adhesion remodelling via FAK/FRNK replacement, and its contribution to cancer progression.

Numerous studies have investigated the various cellular responses against genotoxic stress, including those mediated by focal adhesions. We here identified a novel type of focal adhesion remodelling that occurs under genotoxic stress conditions, which involves the replacement of active focal adhesion kinase (FAK) with FAK-related non-kinase (FRNK). FRNK stabilized focal adhesions, leading to strong cell-matrix adhesion, and FRNK-depleted cells were easily detached from extracellular matrix upon genotoxic stress.

Firefly luciferase-based chronological measurement of effector CD8 T-cell activity using a multi-chamber luminometer.

Although cell-mediated cytotoxicity has been evaluated with various protocols, methods for monitoring cytotoxicity in a time series have not been established. This work describes a method for evaluating cytotoxicity using a multi-chamber real-time luminometer. The efficiency of effector CD8 T-cell expansion from melanoma-bearing splenocytes was analyzed.

Cell-Free and Concentrated Ascites Reinfusion Therapy during Hemodialysis for Intradialytic Hypotension and Intractable Ascites.

A 60-year-old woman with POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes) syndrome and intractable ascites presented with acute renal failure and received hemodialysis (HD) therapy. Due to frequent intradialytic hypotension, ultrafiltration with cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) was performed to adequately manage the body fluid status and massive ascites. During HD with CART, her blood pressure was maintained compared with that during HD without CART, and an ultrafiltration volume of 3.

Dach1 transcription factor regulates the expression of peripheral node addressin and lymphocyte trafficking in lymph nodes.

Lymphocytes regulate the immune response by circulating between the vascular and lymphatic systems. High endothelial venules, HEVs, special blood vessels expressing selective adhesion molecules, such as PNAd and MAdCAM-1, mediate naïve lymphocyte migration from the vasculature into the lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. We have identified that DACH1 is abundantly expressed in developing HEV-type endothelial cells.

Extracellular ATP Limits Homeostatic T Cell Migration Within Lymph Nodes.

Whereas adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is the major energy source in cells, extracellular ATP (eATP) released from activated/damaged cells is widely thought to represent a potent damage-associated molecular pattern that promotes inflammatory responses. Here, we provide suggestive evidence that eATP is constitutively produced in the uninflamed lymph node (LN) paracortex by naïve T cells responding to C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7) ligand chemokines. Consistently, eATP was markedly reduced in naïve T cell-depleted LNs, including those of nude mice, CCR7-deficient mice, and mice subjected to the interruption of the afferent lymphatics in local LNs.

Clinical factors affecting cerebral oxygenation in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Although cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO) is significantly lower in hemodialysis (HD) patients than that in healthy controls, investigations on cerebral oxygenation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are limited. We aimed to confirm the cerebral oxygenation status and identify the factors affecting cerebral rSO in PD patients.

Methods: Thirty-six PD patients (21 men and 15 women; mean age, 62.

Association between Cerebral Oxygenation, as Evaluated with Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, and Cognitive Function in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Introduction: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) is higher than that in healthy controls. To date, studies on the association between cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation in these patients are limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to cross-sectionally investigate the association between cognitive assessment scores and clinical factors, including cerebral oxygenation, in patients undergoing HD.

Measurement of Tissue Oxygenation using Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Patients undergoing Hemodialysis.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has recently been applied as a tool to measure regional oxygen saturation (rSO2), a marker of tissue oxygenation, in clinical settings including cardiovascular and brain surgery, neonatal monitoring and prehospital medicine. The NIRS monitoring devices are real-time and noninvasive, and have mainly been used for evaluating cerebral oxygenation in critically ill patients during an operation or intensive care. Thus far, the use of NIRS monitoring in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) including hemodialysis (HD) has been limited; therefore, we investigated rSO2 values in some organs during HD.

Associations of cerebral oxygenation with hemoglobin levels evaluated by near-infrared spectroscopy in hemodialysis patients.

Hemoglobin (Hb) is associated with cerebral oxygenation status owing to its important role of carrying oxygen to systemic tissues. However, data concerning the associations between Hb levels and cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) of hemodialysis (HD) patients is limited. We aimed to identify these associations to consider a target Hb level for renal anemia management.

Cerebral oxygenation improvement is associated with hemoglobin increase after hemodialysis initiation.

Introduction: Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used to measure the regional oxygen saturation (rSO) of the brain, and decreases in cerebral rSO have been reported to lead to cognitive impairment in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, reports about the association between changes in cerebral oxygenation and clinical parameters at hemodialysis initiation, including hemoglobin level, are lacking.

Methods: This study included 33 patients at the hemodialysis initiation phase.

Weak anti-localization in spin-orbit coupled lattice systems.

The quantum correction to electrical conductivity is studied on the basis of two-dimensional Wolff Hamiltonian, which is an effective model for a spin-orbit coupled (SOC) lattice system. It is shown that weak anti-localization (WAL) arises in SOC lattices, although its mechanism and properties are different from the conventional WAL in normal metals with SOC impurities. The interband SOC effect induces the contribution from the interband singlet Cooperon, which plays a crucial role for WAL in the SOC lattice.

Continuous monitoring of changes in cerebral oxygenation during hemodialysis in a patient with acute congestive heart failure.

A 71-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis (HD) was admitted to our hospital with congestive heart failure (CHF) and pneumonia. After admission, ultrafiltration with HD was urgently performed because of a lack of respiratory improvement despite the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. During HD, cerebral regional saturation of oxygen (rSO) was monitored by INVOS 5100c oxygen saturation monitor (Covidien Japan, Japan) to evaluate changes in tissue oxygenation.

Changes in tissue oxygenation in response to sudden intradialytic hypotension.

A 76-year-old woman on hemodialysis (HD) for diabetic nephropathy was admitted to our hospital with occasional intradialytic hypotension (IDH). We continuously monitored the regional oxygen saturation (rSO) in the brain, liver, and lower limb muscle during HD. The time course of changes in rSO ratios in each region was evaluated throughout HD.

Utility Of An Automatic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate Kinetic Turbidimetric Test For Endotoxin Screening Of Dialysate Samples.

Background: Endotoxin contamination of dialysate has serious adverse effects on patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, endotoxin activity in dialysate is closely monitored. Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) has been used as a reagent to measure endotoxin activity.

Differences in cerebral and hepatic oxygenation in response to intradialytic blood transfusion in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients frequently experience severe anemia, requiring intradialytic blood transfusion. Severe anemia leads to deterioration of systemic tissue oxygenation. However, few reports have examined the effect of intradialytic blood transfusion on tissue oxygenation changes.

Deterioration of Cerebral Oxygenation by Aortic Arch Calcification Progression in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Near-infrared spectroscopy revealed that the regional saturation of oxygen (rSO) in cerebral tissue is lower in hemodialysis (HD) patients than in healthy subjects. However, no study has examined the changes in cerebral oxygenation by aortic arch calcification (AAC) progression in HD patients.

Methods: A total of 104 HD patients were divided into four groups by AAC grade determined using chest radiography: 23 patients at grade 0, 24 at grade 1, 30 at grade 2, and 27 at grade 3.