Music Improves Subjective Feelings Leading to Cardiac Autonomic Nervous Modulation: A Pilot Study.

It is widely accepted that listening to music improves subjective feelings and reduces fatigue sensations, and different kinds of music lead to different activations of these feelings. Recently, cardiac autonomic nervous modulation has been proposed as a useful objective indicator of fatigue. However, scientific considerations of the relation between feelings of fatigue and cardiac autonomic nervous modulation while listening to music are still lacking.

Autonomic nervous activity of patients with gagging problems during dental mirror insertion.

Objective: To investigate autonomic nervous activities in patients with gagging problem.

Methods: Subjects were 12 and 12 individuals, graded as Group G2 (mild gagging problem) and Group G3 (middle gagging problem), respectively, according to the Classification of Gagging Problem index (CGP) and compared with 15 normal patients. Heart rate (HR), low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (L/H), the coefficient of component variation for high frequency (CCVHF), and the coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR) were assessed by heart rate variability on electrocardiogram.

A case of progressively transformed germinal center-type IgG4-related lymphadenopathy.

Progressively transformed germinal centers (PTGC), a lymph node process unfamiliar to most otolaryngologists, is a morphological variant of reactive lymphofollicular hyperplasia of lymph nodes. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly identified condition, characterized by hyper-IgG4-γ-globulinemia and mass-forming or hypertrophic lesions associated with infiltration of IgG4(+) plasma cells in the affected organs. Recently, a case study of PTGC was reported that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of IgG4-RD (IgG4(+) PTGC) [1].

Structure of perosamine-containing polysaccharide, a component of the sheath of Thiothrix fructosivorans.

A sheath-forming and sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Thiothrix fructosivorans, was heterotrophically cultured. The sheath, which is an extracellular microtube, was prepared by selectively removing the cells using lysozyme, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium hydroxide. Solid-state (13)C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum revealed that the sheath is assembled from a glycan possessing acetyl and methyl groups.

Regulation of tight junctions in upper airway epithelium.

The mucosal barrier of the upper respiratory tract including the nasal cavity, which is the first site of exposure to inhaled antigens, plays an important role in host defense in terms of innate immunity and is regulated in large part by tight junctions of epithelial cells. Tight junction molecules are expressed in both M cells and dendritic cells as well as epithelial cells of upper airway. Various antigens are sampled, transported, and released to lymphocytes through the cells in nasal mucosa while they maintain the integrity of the barrier.

Autonomic function is associated with health-related quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease: a case-control study.

Objective: In the present study, we assessed the associations among fatigue, quality of life (QOL), clinical parameters, and body mass index (BMI) with autonomic function in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis as well as fatigue-free healthy subjects.

Design And Methods: This was a case-control study. This study compared autonomic function in ESRD patients (n = 192) to that of healthy subjects (n = 282) and evaluated its association with fatigue, QOL, and clinical parameters such as glucose, albumin, cholesterol, and BMI.

A spatial relationship between sheath elongation and cell proliferation in Sphaerotilus natans.

Sphaerotilus natans is a filamentous sheath-forming bacterium. A method of selective fluorescent-labeling of its sheath using conventional reagents was developed. Terminal expansion of the sheath was confirmed by this method.

Conformational analysis of an extracellular polysaccharide produced by Sphaerotilus natans.

Sphaerotilus natans is a filamentous sheath-forming bacterium, commonly found in bulking activated sludge. The bulky nature of this bacterium is caused by an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS). EPS is a linear acidic polysaccharide with the following chemical structure: [ → 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 2)-β-D-GlcpA-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1 → 3)-β-L-Rhap-(1 → ](n).

Patterns of sheath elongation, cell proliferation, and manganese(II) oxidation in Leptothrix cholodnii.

Leptothrix cholodnii is a Mn(II)-oxidizing and sheath-forming member of the class β-Proteobacteria. Its sheath is a microtube-like filament that contains a chain of cells. From a chemical perspective, the sheath can be described as a supermolecule composed of a cysteine-rich polymeric glycoconjugate, called thiopeptidoglycan.

Identification and characterization of a mycobacterial (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase.

Bacterial strain B-009, capable of using racemic 1,2-propanediol (PD), was identified as a rapid-growing member of the genus Mycobacterium. The strain is phylogenetically related to M. gilvum, but has slightly different physiological characteristics.

Presence of alternating glucosaminoglucan in the sheath of Thiothrix nivea.

A sheath-forming sulfa oxidizer, Thiothrix nivea, was mixotrophically cultured in a medium supplemented with acetic acid and sodium disulfide. Its sheath, a microtube-like extracellular supermolecule, was prepared by selectively removing the cells with lysozyme, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium hydroxide. The sheath was not visibly affected by hydrazine treatment, suggesting that it is not a proteinous supermolecule.

Mucosal immune barrier and antigen-presenting system in human nasal epithelial cells.

The upper respiratory tract including the nasal cavity, which is the first site of invading antigen exposure, plays a crucial role in host defense via the mucosal immune response. The epithelium of nasal mucosa forms a continuous barrier against a wide variety of exogenous antigens. The epithelial barrier function is regulated in large part by the apical-most intercellular junction, referred to as the tight junction.

Study of a novel glycoconjugate, thiopeptidoglycan, and a novel polysaccharide lyase, thiopeptidoglycan lyase.

A typical filamentous bacterium, Sphaerotilus natans, secretes a thiolic glycoconjugate which is assembled into a microtube, so called sheath. The glycoconjugate is known to consist of a pentasaccharide-dipeptide repeating unit, but its chemical structure has not been completely elucidated. In order to determine its chemical structure, the sheath was broken down by performic acid oxidation.

Epithelial barrier and antigen uptake in lymphoepithelium of human adenoids.

Invasion of antigens through the mucosal surface can be prevented by the common mucosal immune system, including Peyer's patches (PPs) and nasopharyngeal-associated lymphoreticular tissue (NALT). The adenoids (nasopharyngeal tonsils) comprise one of the NALTs and constitute the major part of Waldeyer's lymphoid ring in humans. However, the role of the lymphoepithelium, including M cells and dendritic cells (DCs), in the adenoids is unknown compared with the epithelium of PPs.

Poly(I:C) reduces expression of JAM-A and induces secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α via distinct NF-κB pathways in human nasal epithelial cells.

Human nasal epithelium is an important physical barrier and innate immune defense protecting against inhaled substances and pathogens. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, which plays a key role in the innate immune response, has not been well characterized in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs), including the epithelial tight junctional barrier. In the present study, mRNAs of TLR1-10 were detected in hTERT-transfected HNECs, which can be used as an indispensable and stable model of normal HNECs, similar to primary cultured HNECs.

Transcriptional control of tight junction proteins via a protein kinase C signal pathway in human telomerase reverse transcriptase-transfected human pancreatic duct epithelial cells.

In human pancreatic cancer, integral membrane proteins of tight junction claudins are abnormally regulated, making these proteins promising molecular diagnostic and therapeutic targets. However, the regulation of claudin-based tight junctions remains unknown not only in the pancreatic cancer cells but also in normal human pancreatic duct epithelial (HPDE) cells. To investigate the regulation of tight junction molecules including claudins in normal HPDE cells, we introduced the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene into HPDE cells in primary culture.

PPARgamma agonists upregulate the barrier function of tight junctions via a PKC pathway in human nasal epithelial cells.

Peroxisome proliferator activated (PPAR)gamma plays a critical role in the control of not only adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism and immunity but also the barrier functions of epithelial and endothelial cells. In the present study, to investigate effects of PPAR gamma agonists on the tight junctional barrier of human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs), hTERT-transfected HNECs, which highly express both PPAR gamma and tight junction proteins, were treated with the PPAR gamma agonists rosiglitazone and troglitazone. Treatment with the PPAR gamma agonists enhanced the barrier function of hTERT-transfected HNECs together with the upregulation of tight junction molecules claudin-1 and -4, occludin, and tricellulin at the transcriptional level.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin induces tight junction protein claudin-7 via NF-kappaB in dendritic cells.

Epithelial-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an IL-7-like cytokine that triggers dendritic cell (DC)-mediated Th2-type inflammatory responses. The activated DCs can penetrate the epithelium to directly take up antigen without compromising the barrier function. Although it is reported that DCs express tight junction molecules and can establish tight junction-like structures with adjacent epithelial cells to preserve the epithelial barrier, the regulation of expression of tight junction molecules in DCs remains unknown.

Solubilization and structural determination of a glycoconjugate which is assembled into the sheath of Leptothrix cholodnii.

The sheath of Leptothrix cholodnii is constructed from a structural glycoconjugate, a straight-chained amphoteric heteropolysaccharide modified with glycine and cysteine. Though the structure of the glycan core is already determined, its modifications with amino acids and other molecules are not fully resolved. In this study, we aimed to determine the chemical structure of the glycoconjugate as a whole.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin enhances tight-junction barrier function of human nasal epithelial cells.

Epithelial-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) triggers dendritic cell (DC)-mediated Th2-type inflammatory responses and is a master switch for allergic inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the expression and induction of TSLP and the effects of TSLP on the tight-junctional barrier of human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) have been investigated in order to elucidate the role of TSLP in allergic rhinitis. We have found high expression of TSLP in the epithelium from patients with allergic rhinitis with recruitment and infiltration of DCs.

Induction of JAM-A during differentiation of human THP-1 dendritic cells.

Junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A is not only localized at tight junctions of endothelial and epithelial cells but is also expressed on circulating leukocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, to investigate the regulation of JAM-A in DCs, mature DCs were differentiated from the human monocytic cell THP-1 by treatment with IL-4, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and ionomycin, and some cells were pretreated with the PPAR-gamma agonists. In the THP-1 monocytes, mRNAs of tight junction molecules, occludin, tricellulin, JAM-A, ZO-1, ZO-2 and claudin-4, -7, -8, and -9 were detected by RT-PCR.

Adsorption and abiotic oxidation of arsenic by aged biofilter media: equilibrium and kinetics.

Removal of arsenic from groundwater by biological adsorptive filtration depends largely on its interaction with biogenic iron and manganese oxides surfaces. In the present study we investigated the arsenic adsorption and abiotic oxidation capacities of an aged biofilter medium (BM2) collected from a long time established groundwater treatment plant for removal of iron and manganese by biological filtration. Batch oxidation/adsorption kinetic experiments indicated that BM2 can easily oxidize As(III) to As(V) with the rate of oxidation less affected by pH-variations from 4 to 8.

Removal of Mn2+ from water by "aged" biofilter media: the role of catalytic oxides layers.

The present work was aimed at evaluating the surface coatings characteristics and autocatalytic manganese oxidation potentials of two groups of "aged" biofilter media. This refers to the anthracite filter media of a biological water treatment plant on which metal oxides and a biofilm have deposited on the surface of the filter media over long time of filtration. Duplicate samples of anthracite filter media were collected from each of the six filter wells in the plant and classified into two groups, based on their duration of operation, as 3-years filter media and 15-years filter media.

Prosthecobacter fluviatilis sp. nov., which lacks the bacterial tubulin btubA and btubB genes.

Leptothrix cholodnii is a sheathed bacterium often found in metal-rich and oligotrophic aquatic environments. A bacterial strain that is able to degrade the NaOH-treated sheath of L. cholodnii was isolated.

Protein kinase C enhances tight junction barrier function of human nasal epithelial cells in primary culture by transcriptional regulation.

The epithelium of upper respiratory tissues such as human nasal mucosa forms a continuous barrier via tight junctions, which is thought to be regulated in part through a protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway. To investigate the mechanisms of the regulation of PKC-mediated tight junction barrier function of human nasal epithelium in detail, primary human nasal epithelial cells were treated with the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylophorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In primary human nasal epithelial cells, treatment with TPA led not only to activation of phosphorylation of PKC, myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, and mitogen-activated protein kinase but also expression of novel PKC-delta, PKC-theta, and PKC-epsilon.