Structural basis for plastic glycolipid recognition of the C-type lectin Mincle.

Mincle (macrophage-inducible C-type lectin, CLEC4E) is a C-type lectin immune-stimulatory receptor for cord factor, trehalose dimycolate (TDM), which serves as a potent component of adjuvants. The recognition of glycolipids by Mincle, especially their lipid parts, is poorly understood. Here, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, revealing that titration of trehalose harboring a linear short acyl chain showed a chemical shift perturbation of hydrophobic residues next to the Ca-binding site.

Impact of Frailty and Age on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Endovascular Therapy.

Purpose: Information on the relationship between frailty and the outcome of endovascular therapy (EVT) in elderly patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is scarce. This study aimed to reveal the impact of frailty on the prognosis of super-elderly patients who underwent EVT.

Materials And Methods: From August 2015 to August 2016, 335 consecutive patients who underwent EVT were enrolled in the I-PAD registry from 7 institutes in Nagano prefecture.

IgG4-related Disease with a Cardiac Mass Causing Cerebral Infarction.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by infiltration of extensive IgG4-positive plasma cells and lymphocytes. Although IgG4-RD has been observed in almost all organs, it rarely affects the myocardium. Cardiovascular lesions of IgG4-RD appear as aortic (aortic aneurysm and aortitis) and pericardial (constrictive pericarditis) lesions as well as pseudotumors around the coronary arteries.

A case of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis with long-term patency using pharmaco-mechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis in the acute phase.

Although upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is considered rare, its prevalence appears to be increasing, and this may be related to expanding indications for catheter-based interventions. In contrast, few cases have been reported related to strenuous exercise, especially in healthy young adults with thoracic outlet syndrome (Paget-Schroetter syndrome). In contrast to lower-extremity DVT, optimal treatment strategies for UEDVT have not been robustly studied.

A case of pregnancy-associated acute myocardial infarction with refractory ventricular fibrillation and heart failure.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rare among women of childbearing age. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare cause of AMI, is the leading cause of pregnancy-associated acute myocardial infarction (PAMI), and is associated with critical complications, including pump failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death. Optimal treatment strategies for SCAD and PAMI remain unclear.

Assessment of lipophilic vs. hydrophilic statin therapy in acute myocardial infarction – ALPS-AMI study.

Background: Statins reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events, but no randomized trial has investigated the best statins for secondary prevention. We compared the efficacy of hydrophilic pravastatin with that of lipophilic atorvastatin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods And Results: A prospective, multicenter study enrolled 508 patients (410 men; mean age, 66.

Effect of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 in fermented milk on abdominal adiposity in adults in a randomised controlled trial.

Consumption of fermented milk (FM) containing a probiotic, Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055), previously showed a reduction in abdominal adiposity in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) using FM with 10(8) colony-forming units (cfu) of LG2055/g. However, whether the effectiveness is observed at lower concentrations, the recommended minimum or intermediate levels of probiotics (10(6) or 10(7) cfu/g, respectively), remains to be examined. A multi-centre, double-blind, parallel-group RCT was conducted using 210 healthy Japanese adults with large visceral fat areas (80·2 - 187·8 cm(2)).

Regulation of abdominal adiposity by probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055) in adults with obese tendencies in a randomized controlled trial.

Background/objectives: In spite of the much evidence for the beneficial effects of probiotics, their anti-obesity effects have not been well examined. We evaluated the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055) on abdominal adiposity, body weight and other body measures in adults with obese tendencies.

Subjects/methods: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial.

The fragmented testis method: development and its advantages of a new quantitative evaluation technique for detection of testis-ova in male fish.

A new quantitative evaluation technique, termed the fragmented testis method, has been developed for the detection of testis-ova in genotypic male fish using the medaka (Oryzias latipes). The routine traditional histological method for detection of testis-ova in male fish exposed to estrogens or suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals has several disadvantages, including possible oversight of testis-ova due to limited sampling of selected tissue sections. The method we have developed here allows for the accurate determination of the developmental stages and the number and the size of testis-ova in a whole testis.

5-Azacytidine suppresses RNA polymerase II recruitment to the SLPI gene.

Histone methylation is regarded as a stable modification important in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Transcriptionally active chromatin is methylated at H3-K4 whereas repressed chromatin is methylated at H3-K9. To investigate the role of histone methylation in an acute inflammatory response, A549 cells were treated with IL-1beta and/or the methylase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-aza), and histone H3-K4 methylation levels and transcription of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) were measured.

Radioactive iodine waste treatment using electrodialysis with an anion exchange paper membrane.

In order to simply and safely treat radioactive iodine waste, a study of the removal of iodide ion from radioactive waste using electrodialysis with an anion exchange paper membrane, in which trimethylhydroxylpropylammonium groups were homogeneously dispersed with high density. In Na125I and Na36Cl concentration-cell system, electric ion and water conductances, phenomenological coefficients, have been experimentally determined on basis of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Prepared paper membrane had higher permselectivity of 125I ion than 36Cl ions by approximately 21%.

How signaling pathways interact with gene transcription.

Activation of inflammatory cells by extracellular stimuli such as cytokines, viruses, allergens or oxidants lead to stimulation of intracellular amplifying signalling pathways. These activation pathways lead to enhanced inflammatory gene expression through activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). Upon activation, NF-kappa B translocates to the nucleus where it binds specific sites in the promoter regions of responsive genes in a time-dependent manner.

Glucocorticoid suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B: a role for histone modifications.

Corticosteroids are by far the most effective treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma. Inflammation in asthma is characterized by the increased expression of multiple inflammatory genes, including those that encode cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory enzymes and receptors. Increased expression of inflammatory genes is regulated by pro-inflammatory transcription factors, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B).

Aortic dissection complicating failed coronary stenting.

We present a case of coronary dissection with retrograde extension to the sinus of Valsalva and ascending aorta after transradial percutaneous coronary intervention. Sealing the entry port of the coronary dissection with a stent resulted in failure. We made careful observation of the patient s course because the dissection did not seem to progress.

Glucocorticoid-mediated transrepression is regulated by histone acetylation and DNA methylation.

Glucocorticoids are highly effective in controlling chronic inflammatory diseases by inhibiting the expression of cytokines and chemokines. Glucocorticoids act through binding of their receptor resulting to inhibition of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B). This may occur via the transcription integrator protein, CREB binding protein (CBP), which has intrinsic histone acetylase (HAT) activity.

Diverse gene expression and function of semaphorins in developing lung: positive and negative regulatory roles of semaphorins in lung branching morphogenesis.

Background: Previously, we reported that Sema3A, one of the secreted repulsive axon guidance molecules, CRMP (collapsin response mediator protein)-2, a putative intracellular signalling molecule for Sema3A and Sema3A receptor neuropilin-1 are expressed in the developing lung. Sema3A inhibits branching morphogenesis of embryonic lung in organ culture.

Results: We examined the gene expression of Sema3A, Sema3C, Sema3F and their receptors, NP-1, NP-2 and plexin-A1 by in situ hybridization.

Emotional stress-induced 'ampulla cardiomyopathy': discrepancy between the metabolic and sympathetic innervation imaging performed during the recovery course.

Four patients had the clinical features of 'ampulla cardiomyopathy', consisting of acute-onset transient left ventricular apical akinesis with basal normokinesis, normal coronary angiogram, ST-segment elevation and subsequent giant T wave inversion, which mimicked acute coronary syndrome, the onset of which occurred shortly after extreme mental stress. Myocardial necrosis was minimal, although 2 patients showed elevated serum catecholamine levels in the acute phase. Each patient underwent serial cardiac radionuclide single-photon emission computed tomography of myocardial functional sympathetic innervation, fatty acid metabolism and perfusion using I-123-metaiodobenzyl-guanidine (MIBG), I-123-beta-metyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and thallium-201 (201Tl), respectively.

[Acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients: feasibility of transradial intervention and rapid mobilization].

Objectives: Rapid mobilization and discharge following rapid acute phase reperfusion are recommended for elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction to achieve a better outcome and performance. The safety and efficacy of new and old treatment protocols were retrospectively compared for patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: The new protocol used transradial intervention, encouraged stent implantation, beta-blocker administration, and rapid mobilization for rapid discharge (10-14 day hospital stay).

Reaction of various lectins to mucin derived from the different layers of rat gastric mucosa: comparison of enzyme-linked lectin binding assay with lectin histochemistry.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the histochemical staining reactivities of lectins in rat stomach actually represent the gastric mucins, and to estimate the utility of the lectins for mucin histochemistry. In this paper, the lectin histochemistry was compared with an enzyme-linked lectin binding assay (ELLA) of the mucins derived from distinct regions and layers of the Sprague-Dawley rat stomach and it was examined to determine the definite binding and problematic binding of the conventional lectin. Among the 10 different biotinylated lectins, Canavalia ensiformis (ConA), Griffonia simplicifolia II (GS-II), Triticuin vulgaris (WGA), Ricinus communis I (RCA-I), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), Glycine max (SBA), Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Ulex europaeus I (UEA-I), Sambucus nigra (SNA) and Maackia amurensis II (MAL-II), examined in this study, GS-II, SBA, DBA, UEA-I, SNA and MAL-II bound clearly to the mucin of distinct regions and layers of the Sprague-Dawley rat stomach in agreement with the results of ELLA.

Repulsive axon guidance molecule Sema3A inhibits branching morphogenesis of fetal mouse lung.

Semaphorin III/collapsin-1 (Sema3A) guides a specific subset of neuronal growth cones as a repulsive molecule. In this study, we have investigated a possible role of non-neuronal Sema3A in lung morphogenesis. Expression of mRNAs of Sema3A and neuropilin-1 (NP-1), a Sema3A receptor, was detected in fetal and adult lungs.

Removal of 125I from radioactive experimental waste with an anion exchange paper membrane.

The behavior of radioactive iodide and chloride ions through an anion exchange paper membrane to remove 125I from radioactive experimental waste has been studied with nonequilibrium thermodynamic analyses. Anion exchange paper membrane was found to be electroconductively more permeable to iodide ion than to chloride ion. The iodide ion bound more strongly to the anion exchange site within a membrane phase than the chloride ion by more than twice.

Effects of anion exchange resin as phosphate binder on serum phosphate and iPTH levels in normal rats.

In order to investigate the characteristics of anion exchange resins that may safely and effectively bind dietary phosphate in digestive tract, phosphate binding experiments were carried out in vitro and in vivo with normal rats by comparing anion exchange resins, PAA-B (which has the same chemical structure as Sevelamer HCl) and Dowe 1x8, with CaCO3. In in vitro phosphate binding experiments, PAA-B bound 32.3% less phosphate than CaCO3 at pH 7.

[Acute myocardial infarction in elderly patients: medical and social problems].

The number of elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction has been increasing. However, the choice of treatment remains controversial. Medical records of 310 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction were reviewed.

Rat gastric mucous gel layer contains sialomucin not produced by the stomach.

The sialylated mucus components of the normal gastric mucosa and mucous gel layer of rats were studied by using various histochemical staining methods including Maackia amurensis II (MAL-II) and Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectins, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5 -- periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and high iron diamine (HID) -- AB pH 2.5.

Effects of Y-24180, a receptor antagonist to platelet-activating factor, on allergic cutaneous eosinophilia in mice.

We examined the effects of Y-24180, a potent and long-acting antagonist to platelet-activating factor (PAF), on allergic cutaneous eosinophilia and cytokine production in the skin of mice. Mice sensitized actively with ovalbumin (OA) were challenged by an intradermal injection of OA solution. The number of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity reflecting eosinophil infiltration into the tissue increased in OA-challenged skin 12 hr after the challenge.