Covalent Stem Cell-Combining Injectable Materials with Enhanced Stemness and Controlled Differentiation In Vivo.

Biohybrid materials, which are defined as engineered functional materials combining living components with nonliving synthetic materials, are considered promising bioactive materials for applications in in vivo tissue engineering. However, the rational design of biohybrid materials applicable to in vivo tissue engineering faces major challenges associated with techniques for combining living cells with nonliving synthetic materials and cell sources. Here, we report injectable covalent stem cell-combing biohybrid materials prepared via a bio-orthogonal click cross-linking reaction of azide-modified adipose-derived stem cells (N[+]ADSCs), one of the most promising cell sources utilized clinically, with alkyne-modified biocompatible alginate polymers.

Liddle's-like syndrome associated with nephrotic syndrome secondary to membranous nephropathy: the first case report.

Background: Liddle's syndrome is a rare monogenic form of hypertension caused by truncating or missense mutations in the C termini of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) β or γ subunits. Patients with this syndrome present with early onset of hypertension, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hyporeninemia and hypoaldosteronism, and a potassium-sparing diuretics (triamterene or amiloride) can drastically improves the disease condition. Although elderly patients having these characteristics were considered to have Liddle's syndrome or Liddle's-like syndrome, no previous report has indicated that Liddle's-like syndrome could be caused by nephrotic syndrome of primary glomerular disease, which is characterized by urinary excretion of > 3 g of protein/day plus edema and hypoalbuminemia, or has explained how the activity function of ENaC could be affected in the setting of high proteinuria.

Standardized Prevalence Ratios for Atrial Fibrillation in Adult Dialysis Patients in Japan.

Background: While it is assumed that dialysis patients in Japan have a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) than the general population, the magnitude of this difference is not known.

Methods: Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) for AF in dialysis patients (n = 1510) were calculated compared to data from the general population (n = 26 454) living in the same area.

Results: The prevalences of AF were 3.

Associations of marital status with mortality from all causes and mortality from cardiovascular disease in Japanese haemodialysis patients.

Background: Marital status is an important social factor associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all causes. However, there has been no study on the association of marital status with mortality in haemodialysis patients.

Methods: We analysed data from a 5-year prospective cohort study of 1064 Japanese haemodialysis patients aged 30 years or older.

Seropositivity for anti-HCV core antigen is independently associated with increased all-cause, cardiovascular, and liver disease-related mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Background: It is not known whether chronic or past hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection contributes to the high mortality rate in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: This prospective study of 1077 adult hemodialysis patients without hepatitis B virus infection used Poisson regression analysis to estimate crude and sex- and age-adjusted rates (per 1000 patient-years) of all-cause, cardiovascular, infectious disease-related and liver disease-related mortality in patients negative for HCV antibody (group A), patients positive for HCV antibody and negative for anti-HCV core antigen (group B), and patients positive for anti-HCV core antigen (group C). The relative risks (RRs) for each cause of death in group B vs group C as compared with those in group A were also estimated by Poisson regression analysis after multivariate adjustment.

The blood compatibilities of blood purification membranes and other materials developed in Japan.

The biocompatibilities in blood purification therapy are defined as "a concept to stipulate safety of blood purification therapy by an index based on interaction in the body arising from blood purification therapy itself." The biocompatibilities are associated with not only materials to be used but also many factors such as sterilization method and eluted substance. It is often evaluated based on impacts on cellular pathways and on humoral pathways.

Serum selenium levels are inversely associated with death risk among hemodialysis patients.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that serum selenium levels are decreased in hemodialysis patients. Selenium deficiency may contribute to an increased risk for death among hemodialysis patients.

Methods: A population-based prospective cohort study in adult hemodialysis patients was conducted.

Serum selenium levels in hemodialysis patients are significantly lower than those in healthy controls.

Serum selenium levels have been thought to be decreased in hemodialysis patients; however, results of previous studies have been inconsistent. Population-based hemodialysis patients (n = 1,041) and randomly recruited healthy controls (n = 384) were enrolled. Serum selenium levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and compared in hemodialysis patients and controls using analysis of covariance after adjustment for confounding factors with p < 0.

Standardized prevalence ratios for chronic hepatitis C virus infection among adult Japanese hemodialysis patients.

Background: Many studies have estimated the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody among hemodialysis (HD) patients; however, the prevalence of HCV core antigen-which indicates the presence of chronic HCV infection-is not known.

Methods: Standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs) for anti-HCV antibody and HCV core antigen among HD patients (n = 1214) were calculated on the basis of data from the general population (n = 22 472) living in the same area.

Results: The prevalences of anti-HCV antibody and HCV core antigen were 12.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk and progression of renal cell carcinoma in a Japanese population.

Aim: Biological and epidemiologic data suggest that 1 alpha, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) levels may influence development of renal cell carcinoma. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a crucial mediator for the cellular effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and additionally interacts with other cell signaling pathways that influence cancer progression. VDR gene polymorphisms may play an important role in risk of incidence for various malignant tumors.

Mortality risk attributable to atrial fibrillation in middle-aged and elderly people in the Japanese general population: nineteen-year follow-up in NIPPON DATA80.

Background: The extent to which atrial fibrillation (AF) contributes to mortality in the Japanese general population has not been clarified.

Methods And Results: A randomly sampled general population from all over Japan (4,154 men, 5,329 women; age > or =30 years) was enrolled. Single electrocardiogram recordings were taken in the baseline survey.

Eight year experience with Studer ileal neobladder.

Background: We reviewed our experience with orthotopic continent urinary reconstruction after radical cystectomy to assess the feasibility of Studer ileal neobladder for patients who are relatively advanced in age.

Methods: Between June 1997 and January 2005, 31 consecutive male patients (mean age: 64 years) underwent lower urinary tract reconstruction after radical cystoprostatectomy. Perioperative and late complications, functional outcome of the neobladder, urinary continence, upper urinary tract status and renal function with the metabolic balance were evaluated in all patients.

Cardiovascular risk factors in hemodialysis patients: results from baseline data of kaleidoscopic approaches to patients with end-stage renal disease study.

Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of comorbidities in adult hemodialysis patients in Japan are not fully understood.

Methods: In "Kaleidoscopic Approaches to Patients with End-stage Renal Disease Study" (The KAREN Study, 2003), trained research stuff examined 1,214 adult hemodialysis patients (mean age, 61.2 years; 779 males and 435 females) of 1,506 patients in northern areas of Iwate Prefecture.

CRP levels are elevated in smokers but unrelated to the number of cigarettes and are decreased by long-term smoking cessation in male smokers.

Background: It is not clear whether there is a dose-response relationship between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and CRP level and whether there is a relationship between the length of smoking cessation and CRP level.

Methods: Geometric mean levels of CRP were compared in smoking status groups for 1926 men aged 40 to 69 years using analysis of covariance.

Results: After adjusting for several confounding factors, geometric mean levels of CRP (mg/L) were significantly different among the three smoking status groups (0.

[Central and peripheral nerve disorder induced by interferon alpha therapy for renal cell carcinoma].

Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy was conducted for a male patient aged 70 years old, who underwent a two-stage radical nephrectomy for bilateral renal cell carcinoma with multiple pulmonary metastasis. He was hospitalized due to leg weakness and disorientation 45 days after this treatment was started. We discontinued INF-alpha therapy immediately after neurologists indicated the disorder of the central and the peripheral nervous systems induced by the administration of this cytokine.