Development of a Semiquantitative Barcode Readout Approach for Paper-Based Analytical Devices (PADs) for Enzymatic HO and Glucose Detection.

The integration of barcode technology with smartphones on paper-based analytical devices (PADs) presents a promising approach to bridging manual detection with digital interpretation and data storage. However, previous studies of 1D barcode approaches have been limited to providing only a "yes/no" response for analyte detection. Herein, a method of using barcode readout for semiquantitative signal detection on PADs has been achieved through the integration of barcode technology with a distance-based measurement concept on PADs.

Endothelial-specific deletion of connexin 43 improves renal function and structure after acute kidney injury.

Background: We have previously reported that the gap junction protein connexin 43 (Cx43) was upregulated in chronic renal disease in humans and rodents and plays a crucial role in the progression of experimental nephropathy. In this study, we investigated its role after renal ischemia/reperfusion (rIR), which is a major mechanism of injury in acute renal injury (AKI) and renal transplant graft dysfunction.

Methods: Wild-type mice (WT) and mice in which Cx43 expression was genetically reduced by half (Cx43 ±) were unilaterally nephrectomized.

Enhancing Corneal Drug Penetration Using Penetratin for Ophthalmic Suspensions.

Eye drops, including solutions and suspensions, are essential dosage forms to treat ophthalmic diseases, with poorly water-soluble drugs typically formulated as ophthalmic suspensions. In addition to low bioavailability, suspensions exhibit limited efficacy, safety, and usability due to the presence of drug particles. Improving bioavailability can reduce the drug concentrations and the risk of problems associated with suspended drug particles.

Impact of compliance with salt management guidelines before dialysis introduction on peritoneal dialysis technique survival: The importance of pre-dialysis care and education.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a mode of therapy in which the patients themselves actively participate in the care of their own disease. We examined a possible association of salt reduction before starting dialysis with PD technique survival.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 42 patients who started PD between April 2014 and March 2018.

Menstrual Status and Pregnancy in Former Elite Long-Distance Runners With Menstrual Disorders.

Objective: To estimate the ratio of menstrual abnormalities, infertility, and other problems related to pregnancy and childbirth in former long-distance runners. We hypothesized that the female athlete triad during an athletic career affects future fertility and childbearing in former athletes.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Co-Application with Tannic Acid Prevents Transdermal Sensitization to Ovalbumin in Mice.

Transdermal sensitization to allergens is of great concern as a sensitization route for food allergies. This skin-mediated invasion and sensitization to allergens is involved in skin barrier breakdown and inflammation, followed by the production of several kinds of cytokines. Cytokines such as thymic stromal lymphopoietin and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine are also involved.

Kiwifruit defense protein, kiwellin (Act d 5) percutaneously sensitizes mouse models through the epidermal application of crude kiwifruit extract.

Background: Kiwifruit is a popular fruit consumed worldwide and is also used as a cosmetic ingredient. However, it is known to cause allergic reactions in humans. Recent studies have suggested an association between food allergy and food allergens entering the body via the skin.

A case of Spigelian hernia after laparoscopic incisional hernia repair.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement is often performed in clinical practice. We herein describe a patient who developed a Spigelian hernia at the edge of the mesh due to rupture of the muscular layer in the abdominal wall. A 69-year-old woman developed a left-sided abdominal bulge 15 months after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Adenocarcinoma Arising From a Gastric Duplication Cyst With Lymph Node Metastasis.

Gastric duplication cysts (GDCs) are a relatively rare congenital anomalies and are mostly diagnosed in the early years of life. Herein, we report a very rare surgical case of adenocarcinoma arising from a GDC with lymph node metastasis. A 78-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of elevated serum levels of cancer antigen (CA) 19-9.

Thaumatin-Like Protein (Pru av 2) Is a Cherry Allergen That Triggers Percutaneous Sensitization in Mice.

Numerous recent studies have suggested that food allergens enter the skin and predispose individuals to food allergies through the production of IgE antibodies in the body. Cherries are a popular fruit eaten worldwide. However, cherries are an allergenic food and percutaneous sensitization with cherry allergens through the perioral region may occur while ingesting cherries.

[Brain Metastasis and Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis after Surgery for Esophageal Cancer-A Case Report].

A 70-year-old man had undergone thoracoscopic esophagectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma 3 years before presentation. He was undergoing whole-brain irradiation following surgery for a solitary brain metastatic tumor. The chief complaint was left leg pain during irradiation.

A case of light chain (AL) amyloidosis with heart failure, renal dysfunction, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia successfully treated with peritoneal dialysis.

A 65-year-old woman was hospitalized for heart failure and pneumonia in a nearby hospital. She had been previously diagnosed as light chain (AL) amyloidosis and treated with melphalan plus dexamethasone (Mel-Dex), and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (Len-Dex). She started treatment including antimicrobials and diuretics, but her renal function worsened progressively, and she was transferred to our hospital for nephrological care.

Acute Kidney Injury Induces Remote Cardiac Damage and Dysfunction Through the Galectin-3 Pathway.

Acute kidney injury is associated with increased risk of heart failure and mortality. This study demonstrates that acute kidney injury induces remote cardiac dysfunction, damage, injury, and fibrosis via a galectin-3 (Gal-3) dependent pathway. Gal-3 originates from bone marrow-derived immune cells.

[Effect of Proteinuria in Patients Receiving Anti-VEGF Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer].

Grade 2 or 3 proteinuria was observed in 54 patients out of 158 metastatic colorectal cancer patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy. Patients with diabetes and hypertension were risk for severe proteinuria. ARBs were more frequently used in patients with severe proteinuria.

Determination of the Rayleigh Ratio with an Uncertainty Analysis by Static Light-Scattering Measurements of Certified Reference Materials for Molecular Weight.

The most important parameter for light-scattering measurements in the Rayleigh scattering region is the Rayleigh ratio, which is necessary to obtain the absolute scattered light intensity from the relative scattered light intensity. The absolute scattered light intensity is directly related to the molar masses of polymers, colloids, biomolecules, and the like. A new Rayleigh ratio was determined by measuring static light scattering from certified reference materials with highly accurate certified values of the molecular weight determined by several other techniques, such as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry or size-exclusion chromatography.

Better Healing of the Exit Site with Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy.

Exit-site infection poses a risk for peritonitis and can shorten peritoneal dialysis (PD) vintage. A loose fit of the skin around the catheter at the exit site can push bacteria surrounding the catheter into the subcutaneous tunnel. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used to hasten healing of the wound after an operation or to treat pressure ulcers.

Effects of Angular Dependency of Particulate Light Scattering Intensity on Determination of Samples with Bimodal Size Distributions Using Dynamic Light Scattering Methods.

The angular dependency of light scattering intensity from differently sized particles strongly influences the apparent particle size distribution, as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) methods. Manufactured nanomaterials have size distributions more or less; therefore, the effect of detecting the angular dependency of the apparent size distribution by DLS is crucial. Commercial DLS instruments typically have two different types of detector angular position.

First Case Report of a Huge Giant Cell Tumor of Soft Tissue Originating from the Retroperitoneum.

BACKGROUND Giant cell tumor of soft tissue (GCT-ST) is a rare disease generally generated from superficial tissue. We report an extremely rare case of giant cell tumor of soft tissue arising from retroperitoneal tissue. CASE REPORT A 78-year-old man visited our medical center with the chief complaint of fatigue and weight loss for 1 month.

Acidic organelles mediate TGF-β1-induced cellular fibrosis via (pro)renin receptor and vacuolar ATPase trafficking in human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

TGF-β1, which can cause renal tubular injury through a vacuolar-type H-ATPase (V-ATPase)-mediated pathway, is induced by the glucose degradation product methylglyoxal to yield peritoneal injury and fibrosis. The present study investigated the roles of V-ATPase and its accessory protein, the (pro)renin receptor, in peritoneal fibrosis during peritoneal dialysis. Rats daily administered 20 mM methylglyoxal intraperitoneally developed significant peritoneal fibrosis after 7 days with increased expression of TGF-β and V-ATPase, which was reduced by the inhibition of V-ATPase with co-administration of 100 mM bafilomycin A1.